Obama is the US president!

Another man to live his dreams!!!

Videos of Barack Obama claiming victoy in the US 2008 elections. The first African-American to ever climb the stairs of the White House.

Listen to his opening statement...

Part-1



Part-2



Part-3

Google turns 10!!!

The Google doodle (as seen on Google.com homepage) on its 10th birthday (today) is explained by Marissa Mayer, VP Search Products & User Experience, and Dennis Hwang, Webmaste, on the official google blog (http://googleblog.blogspot.com) -

Today you'll see a special design that commemorates our 10th birthday. We've incorporated a little bit of history by using the original Google logo from 1998. And since everyone keeps asking what we'd like for our birthday (besides cake and party hats) -- the first thing we thought of was a nice new server rack.

(Interesting) Did you knows about Google -

1. When the "Google Guys" (Larry Page and Sergey Brin) met at Stanford, and started a search engine... it was initially called BackRub! It was so widely used in Stanford that many times the servers went down. A web archive from the stanford library saying that the search engine is down is below (click on the link) - Sorry, many services are unavailable due to a local network faliure beyond our control. We are working to fix the problem and hope to be back up soon. 12/4/97

2. The academic paper they submitted at Stanford explaining the PageRank algorithm is here. Click on this link - Academic paper.

3. Google's first headqurters.... was a garage!!! Click here to know more on the house that helped build Google.

4. Google's April fools jokes -

Google MentalPlex - (Year 2000) - FAQ and Illustrations for correct usage :))
Googlunaplex - (2004) - Google hiring for its new research centre on the moon!!
Google Romance - (2006) - Google Romance is a place where you can post all types of romantic information and search for your Soulmate! :)

Read on for more of Google history here - Google Timeline

Happy Birthday Google!!! :))

Dream of a producer - Debutant producer Ravi Rai has sent "Tingya" to Oscar as an independent category.

After the selection of Aamir Khan's directorial debut, Taare Zameen Par (TZP) as the official Indian entry for the Oscars, Marathi film 'Tingya' is set to enter in nomination of the coveted award through independent entry. The Marathi film 'Tingya' directed by debutant Mangesh Hadawale is based on the on the issue of farmer suicides in Maharashtra. The plot of the film deals with the life and surroundings of six year child named Tingya and his obsession for his bull. The makers of the film said that 'Tingya' will be sent to Oscars as an independent entry in the Foreign Language Film category.

Produced by Ravi Rai, 'Tingya' has garnered much of appreciation in all national and international film festivals apart from winning 37 awards including five international ones. The film has also bagged two awards at Pune Film Festival. The child artist of the film Shrad Geokar has also clinched the Critics' Award for Best Actor at the Pune Film Festival.

Read on - TINGYA pips CHAK DE INDIA, TZP

India's entry @ the Oscars this year is....

Taare Zameen Par
Source - TimesOfIndia

Today the FFI (Film Federation of India) announced that the Amir Khan's directorial debut Taare Zameen Par will be India's official entry for the Oscar award for the best foreign film category.

A wonderful movie indeed.. desevers to be showcased at the world stage. Im sure that it will be appreciated by one n all. It has already won these many awards...

2008 Filmfare Awards

1. Best Movie- Aamir Khan (producer)
2. Best Director - Aamir Khan
3. Best Story - Amole Gupte
4. Critics Award Best Performance - Darsheel Safary
5. Best Lyricist - Prasoon Joshi

2008 Star Screen Awards

1. Best Director - Aamir Khan (shared with Shimit Amin for Chak De India)
2. Best Debut Director - Aamir Khan
3. Best Supporting Actor - Aamir Khan
4. Special Jury Award - Darsheel Safary
5. Best Child Artist - Darsheel Safary
6. Best Story - Amol Gupte
7. Best Dialogue - Amol Gupte
8. Best Lyricist - Prasoon Joshi

2008 Zee Cine Awards

1. Zee Cine Award for Best Director - Aamir Khan
2. Zee Cine Award for Best Lyricist - Prasoon Joshi, Maa
3. Zee Cine Award for Most Promising Director - Aamir Khan
4. Zee Cine Award - Critics' Choice Best Actor - Darsheel Safary
5. Most Promising Debut (Child Artiste) - Darsheel Safary
6. Zee Cine Award for Best Story - Amol Gupte

Best foreign film category at Oscar -

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has mailed Foreign Language Film award entry forms to 96 countries. As per the Academy’s press release, in order to qualify for the 2008 awards "a film must be released in the submitting country between October 1, 2007, and September 30, 2008, and be publicly screened in 35mm or 70mm film or in a qualifying digital cinema format for at least seven consecutive days in a commercial motion picture theater.

"The dialogue track must be predominantly in a language or languages other than English. Accurate English subtitles are required.

"Entry forms and film prints must be received at the Academy by Wednesday, October 1, 2008. Only one picture will be accepted from each country."

==================
Plot of Taare Zameen Par
==================

Ishaan Awasthi(Darsheel Safary) is an eight-year old boy who hates school. Every subject is difficult for him and he perpetually fails his exams. He also lacks motor coordination skills and finds it difficult to throw a ball in a straight line. Rather than helping him, his teachers and classmates subject him to constant acts of public humiliation. At the same time, Ishaan's internal world is rich with wonders that no one else seems to appreciate:magical lands filled with color and animated animals;letters which morph into an advancing army of spiders; and adventures in space between the battling planets 9 and 3.

It is no better at home. His father (Vipin Sharma) is a successful and busy executive who expects the best from his boys. His mother (Tisca Chopra) is a housewife who is perpetually frustrated by her inability to help Ishaan excel. Ishaan's elder brother Yohaan (Sachet Engineer) is a successful scholar/athlete, a fact which Ishaan is constantly reminded of. After discovering that Ishaan "bunked" school (in addition to having poor grades), his parents send him to boarding school to be 'disciplined'.

Life at the boarding school does not help Ishaan to excel, despite being befriended by Rajan (Tanay Cheda). Instead, he sinks into a perpetual state of fear and depression as he now has to contend with the added trauma of separation from his family. This changes, however, when a new temporary art teacher "Nikumbh Sir" (Aamir Khan) joins Ishaan's boarding school. Nikumbh, with his characteristic teaching style that is markedly different that his strict predecessor, soon becomes popular among the students. He begins to notice that Ishaan is unhappy and a non-contributor to activities in the class (despite creating an atmosphere in the class that actively seeks contribution from the students). Disturbed, Nikumbh begins to review Ishaan's past work and determines that all of his "failures" are actually reflective of dyslexia.

On his day off, Nikumbh visits Ishaan's parents and asks to review more of his work. He is also stunned by the sophistication of Ishaan's paintings. Nikumbh tells Ishaan's parents that Ishaan is a bright child who processes information differently than the other children in class. He describes dyslexia to them and clarifies that this is a neurological condition which is not a sign of low intelligence. He also tells them he can provide extra tutoring which will help Ishaan succeed. To support this argument, Nikumbh highlights Ishaan's artistic ability as demonstrated by his many paintings and creative works-of-art. In order to make his point, Nikumbh demands that Ishaan's father read a box with Japanese text. When Mr. Awasthi states that he cannot read the text, Nikhumbh reprimands him. In doing so, Nikhumbh demonstrates to them what Ishaan struggles with on a daily basis.

When he returns to the school, Nikumbh brings up the topic of dyslexia one day in class and offers a list of famous people who are considered dyslexic: Albert Einstein, Leonardo Da Vinci, Walt Disney, Agatha Christie, Thomas Edison, Pablo Picasso, and actor Abhishek Bachchan. As the students are leaving the classroom Nikumbh asks Ishaan to stay back. At that time Nikumbh reveals that he has experienced the same difficulties with dyslexia. Nikumbh also conveys the same information to the principal of the school and asks if he can act as a tutor for Ishaan. After gaining the Principal's assent, Nikumbh then proceeds to teach Ishaan using remedial techniquesLalita Lajmi (who portrays herself in the movie). Ishaan, with his strikingly creative style is declared the winner, while his teacher, Nikumbh (who paints Ishaan's portrait) is declared the runner up. developed by specialists in the area of dyslexia. Ishaan soon develops interest in language and mathematical skills and his grades improve. Towards the end of the year, Nikumbh organizes an art fair for staff and students alike. The competition is judged by

When Ishaan's parents meet his teachers on the last day of school, they are speechless over the changes in him as he has improved in all of his subjects. Before leaving for the holidays, Ishaan runs to hug his teacher. The film ends with a freeze frame shot of Ishaan being tossed in the air by Nikumbh as if he were flying.

Cast -

• Aamir Khan as Ram Shankar Nikumb
• Darsheel Safary as Ishaan Awasthi
• Tanay Cheda as Rajan Damodran
• Sachet Engineer as Yohaan Awasthi/Dada
• Tisca Chopra as Mrs. Awasthi/Mama
• Vipin Sharma as Mr.Awasthi/Papa

For more visit TaareZameenPar.com - Official website of TZP

Bear v/s Bulls of World Stock Market

Last few weeks Stock market has seen the biggest slump in recent times. With Lehman filing for bankruptcy and other financial institutions dragging, its really a bad time for investors. The ripple effect can be seen - low investments, small companies closing, jobs lost, delay in new projects/ventures etc etc. The bearish market is here to stay for sometime. Some researchers say that it could see swings for another 3-6 months depending on how the federal banks pump money and support these companies.

Talking of market, there are two prominent figures that is refered to always in Stock Market. The Bear and the Bull - two animals associated with the stock market movement. Now, i was just wondering why bear and bull... why not giraffe and rat, or horse and snail.... u know!

For those who don't spend a lot of time on Wall Street/sensex, bulls and bears refer to opposite trends in the stock market. According to Investor Words, a bull market is "a prolonged period in which investment prices rise faster than their historical average." Conversely, a bear market means "a prolonged period in which investment prices fall, accompanied by widespread pessimism." So, bulls good, bears bad...

No one's quite sure how the two animals came to symbolize the market, but there are a few theories floating around. According to Motley Fool, a bear market earned its name because bears tend to swat at things with their paws in a downward motion (as in "the market's going down"). A bull market, on the other hand, got its name because bulls swing their horns upward when they strike (as in "the market's going up").

Another theory proposes that the animals' personalities are behind the symbolism. Bears move with caution, while bulls are bold and like to charge ahead. So a "bearish" investor thinks the market will go down, while a "bullish" investor thinks it's headed up.

Now you know why bear v/s bull!!!! :)

The Battle Inside

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between 2 wolves.

"One is Evil. It is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

The other is God. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

India makes it to the Elite Club

India could not have been kept out of the elite club any longer. Well, there is no better illustration of India's impeccable stature at the world stage... Today the NSG has given a go ahead to the India-Centric wavier of Nuclear fuel supplies. Surely an historic day for India. The magnitude of this gesture/decision is very significant as far as India is concerned. When the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) approved a US plan to engage in nuclear trade with India, it means that India is no more isolated from the Elite club of nuclear nations to exchange nuclear technology/fuel for civilian purposes. More than that i feel the world recognises India, values and trusts its commitment to the non proliferation of nuclear technology/weapons. I use the words recognises, values and trusts because, India has shown great maturity in its nuclear program that it was just a matter of time that the world rewarded India and backed the Indo-US nuclear deal. Mind you, this recognition comes without india signing NPT or even the CTBT. In other words India's commitment and its moratorium on conducting further nuclear tests and its non-proliferation is seen almost as being on par with NPT agreement. This is stupendious victory for India, and history has always shown that India is unique and special, and cannot be seen like any other nation around the world. India is indeed incredible, thats the voice that seems to be buzzing at the NSG meet. With the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Cooperation being approved and given a go ahead, India has finally come out of the 34-year old nuclear apartheid. India was barred from holding any nuclear trade with any of the NSG member nations after the May 1998 Pokhran tests by India. With the help of US proposal to NSG, this fencing has been demolished so that it clears/paves the way for India to have bilateral nuclear commerce with any of the NSG member nations.

As pointed out on my previos blog, the three vital points of Indo-US nuclear deal seeing light were-

1] Get the US congress to change laws which will permit America to extend civilian nuclear help to India,

2] Get the Nuclear Suppliers Group to accept the deal and be open to nuclear cooperation with India and

3] Have IAEA to prepare India-specific safeguards, which indicates that the nuclear rules and regulations which apply to NPT countries will not be the same for India.

India and US have successfully crossed the first two hurdles. The thrid one is all procedural now for both the nations to start the nuclear co operation.

Well done India!!!!!

India and US have emerged from the all the hurdles and hassles, in getting the nod for this deal, which is indeed historic and very important for the energy security of India and or the Indo-US relations.

Take care of your thoughts

"Thoughts lead to purposes;
Purposes go forth in action;
Actions form habits;
Habits decide character;
Character fixes our destiny."

So take care of your thoughts!

Making life more intersting.. Calvin way!!! :)

Just a few weeks back got Creative 2.1(Inspire M2600) for my swanky laptop(Inspiron 1525). Music takes me to a whole new world.. it soothes ones mind. i dont know if music therapy ever works, but for me it hits the right chord to take me out from my clogged confused stressed mind to a completely different plane from where i can see the pleasentnes that life brings to all of us. That young flower you had seen in the garden, tht bird soaring sky high above ur head, the endless green patch of beautiful landscape that you had once captured on ur camera, the clouds that almost seem insync with ur emotions... all start talking to you with music in ur ears.. aint it???... esp when needed most.

Very recently one of my frend said she wanted to listen Bob Dylan, so i burnt a cd for her of the songs i had.. i have a good collection of Dylans, if not huge... like Blowing in the wind, Like a rolling stone, I want You.. Changing of Guards and a few more. different kind of music work for differnt people.. some like it to be soothing, some like bollywood tunes, some like it all hard(rock), while for a few its just the instrumental... its all there in finding and clinging onto it!

Beleive me... Music does a lot of things to you than you ever knew it could. Just sit back and lose yourself amidst the rythms of life(music)... :-)

OMG... this is senseless!!

India is becoming more intolerant and conservative. There are hazars(read thousands) of ads/movies which are more vulgar in nature than this one. Why cant anyone take the lighter side of it. I mean, come on Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Govt of India.. grow up! get matured!!!

Read on....

"Axe's chocolate deo ad raises stink with Govt"

Source - ibnlive.com

Keeping in line with its crackdown on suggestive advertisements being televised, Government on Friday took strong objection to the promotional campaign of a deodorant brand, terming it indecent, vulgar and repulsive.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has sought information from the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) regarding the advertisement of Axe's 'Dark Temptations' deodorant, asking whether the body has received any complaints about it from the Consumers' Complaint Council (CCC).

"We have found that the advertisement of Axe Dark Temptation deodorant is indecent, vulgar and repulsive," a statement from the ministry to ASCI stated.

In the same communication, the Ministry held that in the event of no complaints being received against the advertisement, the ASCI should treat its query as a formal complaint and advise the advertisers "to refrain from airing the said advertisement".

A copy of the complaint has also been forwarded to the secretary general of Indian Broadcasting Foundation asking them to advise broadcasters to air the advertisement only after precautionary measures have been taken to avoid some objectionable portions.

The advertisement shows a model wearing the chocolate-smelling deodorant, eliciting “objectionable reactions” from women.

The Ministry, in the recent past, had issued similar notices to television channels airing an advertisement of a popular undergarment brand.

It had asked the channels to run precautionary scrolls while airing the said advertisement. The advertisement was eventually pulled off the air.

Ad details-

Product: AXE
Agency: VegaOlmosPonce, Buenos Aries
Creatives: Martin Ponce (Art Director)
Hernan Ibarra Puentes (Art Director)
Mario Crudele (Copywriter)
Jose Silva (Agency Producer)
David Zander (Executive Producer)
Jeff Scruton (Executive Producer)
Scott Kaplan (Producer)
Director(s): Tom Kuntz
Production Company: MJZ
Country: Argentina
Other Credits: Post/Special Effects: The Mill

Go ahead n watch it - http://www.bestadsontv.com/ad_details.php?id=11246

I dint find anything offensive/vulgar about it! Did u??

India @ 61.. Happy Independence Day!

Best advice from our PM - "Don't expect a level playing field"

India Vision 2020... yes when the blue print for this was envisioned by Adbul Kalam he knew the most important components driving this are the nations's youth and its leaders. It needs the leaders, at national and state level to toil, think and channelize the resources, and the youth to make this vision a reality. Agriculture, manufacturing, education, power, telecom, infrastructure, GDP.. so many things that has to shape up. India has no doubt made a mark on the global stage. Everyone wants to have a deal with India. The market, the potential, the hugely available talented workforce has turned heads towards India. But its just the beginning, India has just entered the field. I always believe that its always the second step that matters. Whatever the task may be, however uphill it may seem, the second step is very crucial. Motivation and eager to perform always drives the first step, but its the perseverence that requires to march ahead and take the second. Everyone takes the first step, its the second step which most of them falter at. Either they fail to take that step or fault at the step. Our Prime Minister Manmohan singh is preparing our youth for this second step. Addressing to business leaders of India Inc. he said -

"They are an example for our business leaders, who must also learn to compete on unlevel playing fields and prove their mettle. There is, in fact, no game that is ever truly played on a level playing field,’’

Citing example of cricket players, he asserted: "Playing fields differ, as every cricketer will tell you. Cricketers do not sit back and demand fields and pitches of their kind. They learn to play on the pitch they are given and try to defeat the opponent."

Citing the example of former president of India, K R Narayanan, the Prime Minister said that Narayanan came from a poor and underprivileged background. He went to the United Kingdom for higher education but never asked for a level playing field, the PM added.

Singh said he derives great satisfaction from the achievements of the youth in the highly competitive world of learning. "Long before Indian business was willing to face global competition, Indian students were willing to do so."

I felt this is so far the best advice given by India's Prime Minister to the young emerging, vibrant business leaders, since long. One with faith and the vision in mind, at the same time telling the Young India to be catious and get strong to take on the world, and make the dreams of India 2020 a reality.

Read complete news here - Don't expect a level playing field: PM to India Inc.

And..... hows this??
News on Yahoo Website - Yahoo may consider Google alliance

Why Yahooites fear Microsoft takeover?
“Everyone sees Microsoft as the big octopus from ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’ that wants to swallow everybody up,”

Here is more - Google CEO Eric Schmidt, calls on Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang to offer his company's help in an effort to thwart Microsoft's bid - Click Here

Show no mercy... Kill the competition

Steel, pertoleum, aviation, pharmacuticals, IT, services.... you name it and every industry has adopted this mantra. We have seen some of the biggest buy-outs/take-overs/mergers in the history of corporate world, AOL buying Times Warner, Oracle gobbling Peoplesoft, Tatas taking over Corus,.. why... even my previous company Netkraft was taken over by Adea SOlutions. Well, if u have read it, heard of all these.. then its nothing... the mother of all bids is here... Microsoft Bids for Yahoo!!! Yes, unable to withstand the Google's dominance over the search, ad and email services on the world web, Microsoft is back into its sheepish way of emerging as the fittest. On Jan 31, 2008 Microsoft has bid US $44.6 billion for Yahoo Inc.

Charles Darwin only in the human evolution put forth the theory of "Survival of the fittest". But the ever hungry business world has come up with... "Kill the competition" kinda stuff.

And it doesnt end without a fight... Google could play spoiler, may bid too.

Emergence of the great trio (Microsoft, Google and Yahoo) -

1975
Microsoft founded.

1995
Yahoo founded (co-founders), begins serving ads online. Microsoft launches MSN Web portal.

1997
The company Google Inc. was incorporated in the Sept of 1997.

2000
Yahoo starts delivering search results generated by Google’s technology. Google introduces AdWords, its system for displaying ads next to search results based on keywords used.

May 2001
Terry Semel becomes Yahoo’s chairman and CEO.

Feb. 2002
Microsoft taps Overture Services Inc., later bought by Yahoo, to power its advertising-driven search engine. Google overhauls AdWords with cost-per-click model that makes online advertising easier and more cost effective for smaller businesses.

May 2002
AOL picks Google as search and advertising provider.

2003
Google AdSense launches, letting outside Web sites make money by plugging in targeted text ads by Google.

Oct. 2003
Yahoo announces plans to buy Overture, giving it a system for selling search ads similar to Google’s AdWords.

February 2004
Yahoo replaces Google search results with its own technology.

April 2004
Google launches free e-mail service Gmail, expanding ad opportunities.

August 2004
Google holds initial public offering.

December 2005
Google makes $1 billion, 5 percent investment in Time Warner Inc.’s AOL and extends ad partnership.

November 2006
Yahoo builds advertising partnership with consortium of daily newspapers.

February 2007
Yahoo launches long-awaited search and advertising technology overhaul, known as Panama.

April 2007
Google agrees to pay $3.1 billion in cash to acquire ad-management technology company DoubleClick Inc. Yahoo acquires online advertising exchange Right Media Inc. for $680 million.

May 2007
First rumors hit Wall Street that Microsoft is contemplating Yahoo buyout. Yahoo CFO Susan Decker promoted to oversee advertising operations. Microsoft says it will buy online ad company aQuantive Inc. for $6 billion in cash.

June 2007
Semel steps down as Yahoo’s CEO; co-founder Jerry Yang takes over. Decker becomes president.

July 2007
Yahoo launches SmartAds, a behavioral, demographic and geographic ad targeting system.

August 2007
Microsoft buys AdECN Inc., a stock market-like Web ad exchange. It also launches ContentAds, context-relevant ads on some sections of MSN.

September 2007
Yahoo announced plans to buy online behavioral targeting specialist BlueLithium Inc. for $300 million in cash.

October 2007
Yahoo announces plans to buy AdInterax, a rich media ad business, for undisclosed amount. Microsoft spends $240 million on a 1.6 percent stake in Facebook, ensures ad partnership will continue.

December 2007
Microsoft steals Viacom ad business from DoubleClick. Other ad deals since the acquisition of aQuantive include financial news site CNBC.com and Digg Inc., a reader-powered news site. Google’s proposed buyout of DoubleClick gets green light from U.S. regulators, still pending in Europe.

January 2008
Semel resigns as Yahoo’s chairman. Microsoft makes unsolicited $44.6 billion offer for Yahoo.

Did u know?

Microsoft in 1978?

How it all started for Yahoo?

Google's motto - Dont Be Evil!

Know your conflicting self

Swami Sukhabodhananda

Happiness is what we want but our overwhelming desire to attain happiness and freedom actually takes it away from us.

We are not able to love for we are filled with hope and expectations. We are all working for freedom but freedom is elusive. Happiness is what we want but in our overwhelming desire for happiness and freedom it slips away. We come to a master with the desire to be happy and that prevents us from being happy. What comes between oneself and happiness is desire. The possibility of attaining happiness is weakened by increasing one’s desire for it. So what should we do? It is not a question of doing but seeing the foolishness of the desire. Look what is happening now. There is an experience of what is happening and yet there is another part in oneself that does not want what is happening. That is, “I want something other than what is. I create a conflict with my self”. This conflicting self is the “me”, and with this self one wants to be happy. Unless one sees the whole foolishness of this conflict, unhappiness will exist and you hold it in your desire to be happy.

See that one part of you is experiencing what is happening while the other part says, “I don’t want this and I want something else”. See this basic conflict. Sharpen your seeing and let the seeing just see “what is”.

Now see this conflict of who you are and who you want to become as a dream. Don’t give it the importance of a waking reality; see it as a movement of a dream state.
Learn to dis-identify yourself from this conflict and go on witnessing it from a distance. Learn to see the witness and not the witnessed. See the witnessing consciousness- the ‘sakshi’ and slowly without any desire you will see it is complete and full.

Now from this fullness, you start living life. From this fullness even if you desire, then a desire would be out of fullness and not for fullness. Your desire is out of happiness and not for happiness. This is a state of nirvana — enlightenment.

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