The two extremes of human behaviour are complacent and the ego-driven, restless, overstrivers. The enlightened ones are beyond these two extremes.
Three people are fishing in a pond. The first one is ego-driven, self-centered mentality. The second is complacent type and the third on is an enlightened seer.
The first fisherman raves and rants when he dose not catch any fish. He blames his equipment , his wife, and his stars. He sits there with turmoil in his mind. He drives satisfaction from the fact that no one else have caught any fish either. If also he catches any fish , he compares with what others have caught and is unhappy if his catch is less or if his fishes are smaller, and if his catch more, he crows with satisfaction. In either cases, he strives to get more next time.
The complacent fisherman who has not caught any fish, spends the day reading and drinking. Finally, he sighs, withdraws his line, collects his belongings and goes home, thinking that is what his destiny is and he cannot help it if he dose not catch any fish. He will not try any better the next time, as he has convinced himself that destiny is not in his hands.
The enlightened fisherman lives every moment he is by the pond in the state of super consciousness. He feels the wind on his face not only in his point of view but also of the wind. He sees himself as a part of boat, he finds himself revelling in every wave on the pond. He flies with every bird. And what of the fish? He is there on the pond. Knowing this fish will come to him like iron to a magnet. Because of that, his line is conscious will, not coarse thread. You can substitute money, followers,knowledge and whatever else you wish, for fish.
When the fishermen go home they feel differently. The ego-driven fisherman will be in a foul mood if he has not caught any or fewer fish, throwing his bag on the floor, kicking the chair and making his and everyone else's life miserable. If he has caught more fish than the others, he will boast about this to everyone he meets.
The second one will go home and sleep complacently, and the third one is at home whenever he is and will continue to enjoy the bliss of being equally intensely everywhere.
Life is too short to feel jealous, angry and miserable be an enlightened one and enjoy every moment as and when it come to you with conscious will...Life will be wonderful.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
Apple, Pear and Blueberry Puree For Babies
Ingrediants:
1 small, sweet apple, peeled, cored and diced
1/2 ripe pear, peeled, cored and diced
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
Method:
Remove any stems from the blueberries, then place all the ingredients in a small saucepan. Just cover with water and simmer gently for approximately 5 mins, until the fruits are tender. Drain (reserving the cooking water), then transfer the ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth. Use the reserved cooking liquid to thin the puree, if necessary.
1 small, sweet apple, peeled, cored and diced
1/2 ripe pear, peeled, cored and diced
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
Method:
Remove any stems from the blueberries, then place all the ingredients in a small saucepan. Just cover with water and simmer gently for approximately 5 mins, until the fruits are tender. Drain (reserving the cooking water), then transfer the ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth. Use the reserved cooking liquid to thin the puree, if necessary.
Why Blueberries Are So Good for Baby!
Unrelated to strawberries and raspberries - and related instead to the less allergenic cranberries and bilberries - blueberries are not subject to the usual 'berry baby food' rules!
Whilst medical professionals usually recommend waiting until at least 12 months before introducing other berries (strawberries in particular), blueberries are not as likely to cause allergic reactions and many pediatricians will suggest offering them to your baby at some point between 6 and 9 months of age.
Please remember, though, that a risk of allergy to blueberries DOES still exist - and you should watch your baby carefully once you have introduced them. Signs of an allergy to blueberries include
->congestion
->wheezing
->coughing
->fatigue
->itchy/swollen eyes
->swollen lips
->itchy rash
->hives
Blueberry facts
Blueberries are native to North America, where they are in season from May to October. They are also grown in a few other parts of the world, including Australia, South America and - more recently - the UK and Ireland!
Whilst truly fresh blueberries are unbeatable for taste and texture, they are also available individually quick frozen - possibly the only form available in some parts of the world. Frozen blueberries are acceptable for use in baby food as long as you can feel them moving freely in the bag - if they are all stuck together, then they have probably thawed and refrozen at some point. This will affect both their taste and nutritional quality.
Blueberries are also available canned, although sugar is often added, making them less desirable for use in your baby food recipes.
Blueberries are a 'superfruit'
In research carried out by the USDA/Tufts University, blueberries were named as the number one source of antioxidants of all fruits and vegetables!
The role of antioxidants in the human body is varied - helping prevent conditions such as peptic ulcers, cataracts, glaucoma, hemorrhoids, varicose veins - and serious diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
The anthocyanins in blueberries (which give them their distinctive colour) are believed to protect the brain and - in later life - limit the effects of conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease.
And that's not all - blueberries are also packed with manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K and fibre.
Fresh blueberries have a very mild laxative effect on the body, meaning that they can be very useful in preventing and relieving constipation. Dried blueberries, on the other hand, seem to have the opposite effect and are often recommended for firming up the stools after a bout of diarrhea.
Another interesting characteristic of blueberries is their ability to prevent urinary tract infections, in much the same way as cranberries do. If your child experiences frequent urinary tract infections, then including blueberries in his diet or offering blueberry juice will be a far more palatable and popular solution for him than offering cranberries!
PLEASE NOTE: Eating lots of blueberries can make your baby's poop look almost black in colour - so beware!
Whilst medical professionals usually recommend waiting until at least 12 months before introducing other berries (strawberries in particular), blueberries are not as likely to cause allergic reactions and many pediatricians will suggest offering them to your baby at some point between 6 and 9 months of age.
Please remember, though, that a risk of allergy to blueberries DOES still exist - and you should watch your baby carefully once you have introduced them. Signs of an allergy to blueberries include
->congestion
->wheezing
->coughing
->fatigue
->itchy/swollen eyes
->swollen lips
->itchy rash
->hives
Blueberry facts
Blueberries are native to North America, where they are in season from May to October. They are also grown in a few other parts of the world, including Australia, South America and - more recently - the UK and Ireland!
Whilst truly fresh blueberries are unbeatable for taste and texture, they are also available individually quick frozen - possibly the only form available in some parts of the world. Frozen blueberries are acceptable for use in baby food as long as you can feel them moving freely in the bag - if they are all stuck together, then they have probably thawed and refrozen at some point. This will affect both their taste and nutritional quality.
Blueberries are also available canned, although sugar is often added, making them less desirable for use in your baby food recipes.
Blueberries are a 'superfruit'
In research carried out by the USDA/Tufts University, blueberries were named as the number one source of antioxidants of all fruits and vegetables!
The role of antioxidants in the human body is varied - helping prevent conditions such as peptic ulcers, cataracts, glaucoma, hemorrhoids, varicose veins - and serious diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
The anthocyanins in blueberries (which give them their distinctive colour) are believed to protect the brain and - in later life - limit the effects of conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease.
And that's not all - blueberries are also packed with manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K and fibre.
Fresh blueberries have a very mild laxative effect on the body, meaning that they can be very useful in preventing and relieving constipation. Dried blueberries, on the other hand, seem to have the opposite effect and are often recommended for firming up the stools after a bout of diarrhea.
Another interesting characteristic of blueberries is their ability to prevent urinary tract infections, in much the same way as cranberries do. If your child experiences frequent urinary tract infections, then including blueberries in his diet or offering blueberry juice will be a far more palatable and popular solution for him than offering cranberries!
PLEASE NOTE: Eating lots of blueberries can make your baby's poop look almost black in colour - so beware!
Friday, July 4, 2008
A Better Juice For Your Sick Baby
A sick tummy got your baby down? It may be time for a change of juice. Researches have found that children recover more quickly from diarrhoea when they drink white grape juice than when they stick to those high chair standards, apple and pear. They're also less likely to experience a recurrence on the white grape. Apparently, the sugar and carbohydrate composition of white grape juice is better for digestive system (and a lot less challenging in the laundry department than its purple cousin) . Apple and pear juices naturally contain sorbitol (an indigestible carbohydrate that can cause gas, bloating and discomfort) and a higher amount of fructose than glucose, while grape juice is sorbitol free and has an even balance of glucose to fructose.
Before switching to white grape juice though, discuss it with the doctor who might recommend water or rehydration liquids instead. In some cases, too much of any type of juice can create tummy troubles.
Before switching to white grape juice though, discuss it with the doctor who might recommend water or rehydration liquids instead. In some cases, too much of any type of juice can create tummy troubles.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Banana Kulfi
INGREDIENTS:
1 liter milk
5-6 tbsp of sugar
3 tbsp banana pulp
For Garnishing:
Pices of banana and cherries
Method
To make the banana pulp:
Peel the bananas and mash with a fork. Mix 1tbsp sugar syrup and blend gently with fork to get a smooth pulp.
To prepare the kulfi mixture:
Boil milk in thick bottomed pan. Reduce the flame and stir from time to time, taking care that it does not burn at the bottom. Boil and thicken the milk till it is reduced to one-fourth of its quantity. Mix in the sugar and stir till the sugar melts. Put off the flame and allow it to cool.
Mix the banana pulp and stir gently. Pour into moulds and freeze overnight in a freezer, till it gets frozen and set . Unmould and serve with slices of fresh banana or banana syrup or sweetened cherries.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Badam Milk
Ingredients:
20 almonds
20 Pistacios
2 glasses milk
1 cardamom crushed
1 tablespoon sugar
2 drops rose-water
Instructions:
1. Soak the almonds and pistachios in water for 4-5 hours.
2. Peel off the almonds.
3. grind the almonds and pistachio into a paste by mixing small milk , to get get a toothpaste like consistency.
4. Heat the milk and add the almond and pistachio paste.
5. Add some cardomom powder for flavour.
5. Add sugar to taste.
It can be served hot or cold.If serving cold you can also add Rose Syrup in it.
20 almonds
20 Pistacios
2 glasses milk
1 cardamom crushed
1 tablespoon sugar
2 drops rose-water
Instructions:
1. Soak the almonds and pistachios in water for 4-5 hours.
2. Peel off the almonds.
3. grind the almonds and pistachio into a paste by mixing small milk , to get get a toothpaste like consistency.
4. Heat the milk and add the almond and pistachio paste.
5. Add some cardomom powder for flavour.
5. Add sugar to taste.
It can be served hot or cold.If serving cold you can also add Rose Syrup in it.
Usability Challenge 2008
Join the Usability Challenge 2008 and participate in the world’s first global usability drive!
On 1 August 2008, we are asking anyone with a passion for usability to solve a usability problem…any usability problem at all…and help make the world a better/safer/less annoying place.
What you need to do on 1 August 2008 is:
1. Find a usability problem - it could be a poorly designed toaster, a confusing or redundant letter from your bank, or even a problem with your experience boarding, flying and disembarking an aeroplane.
2. Design a solution - solve the usability problem, and write your solution down, sketch it up or (if you’re feeling particularly keen) make a quick prototype of the improved product/service.
3. Share it with a person who can solve the problem by implementing your solution - write to the toaster designer, call your bank manager, or talk to a stewardess. Hand him/her your idea. Encourage them to implement it. Be persuasive! and don’t forget to post what you’ve done on the Google Group or the Facebook group. Find out more about the Usability Challenge
On 1 August 2008, we are asking anyone with a passion for usability to solve a usability problem…any usability problem at all…and help make the world a better/safer/less annoying place.
What you need to do on 1 August 2008 is:
1. Find a usability problem - it could be a poorly designed toaster, a confusing or redundant letter from your bank, or even a problem with your experience boarding, flying and disembarking an aeroplane.
2. Design a solution - solve the usability problem, and write your solution down, sketch it up or (if you’re feeling particularly keen) make a quick prototype of the improved product/service.
3. Share it with a person who can solve the problem by implementing your solution - write to the toaster designer, call your bank manager, or talk to a stewardess. Hand him/her your idea. Encourage them to implement it. Be persuasive! and don’t forget to post what you’ve done on the Google Group or the Facebook group. Find out more about the Usability Challenge
Friday, May 2, 2008
Test your English
Who said English is easy? Fill these blanks with a Yes or No.....
1._______________ I don't have a brain.
2._______________ I don't have sense.
3.______________ I am stupid.
All the best...
1._______________ I don't have a brain.
2._______________ I don't have sense.
3.______________ I am stupid.
All the best...
Be Deaf to Negativity
Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs....
who arranged a running competition.
The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.
A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race
and cheer on the contestants. ...
The race began....
Honestly:
No one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.
You heard statements such as:
"Oh, WAY too difficult!!"
"They will NEVER make it to the top."
or:
"Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"
The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one.
Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher....
The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"
More tiny frogs got tired and gave up....
But ONE continued higher and higher and higher....
This one wouldn't give up!
At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!
THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?
A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?
It turned out....
That the winner was DEAF!!!!
The wisdom of this story is:
Never listen to other people's tendencies to be negative or pessimistic. ...
because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!
Always think of the power words have.
Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!
Therefore:
ALWAYS be.... POSITIVE!
And above all:
Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!
Always think:
God and I can do this!
MANY SMILES BEGIN BECAUSE OF ANOTHER SMILE...
who arranged a running competition.
The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.
A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race
and cheer on the contestants. ...
The race began....
Honestly:
No one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.
You heard statements such as:
"Oh, WAY too difficult!!"
"They will NEVER make it to the top."
or:
"Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"
The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one.
Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher....
The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"
More tiny frogs got tired and gave up....
But ONE continued higher and higher and higher....
This one wouldn't give up!
At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!
THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?
A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?
It turned out....
That the winner was DEAF!!!!
The wisdom of this story is:
Never listen to other people's tendencies to be negative or pessimistic. ...
because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!
Always think of the power words have.
Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!
Therefore:
ALWAYS be.... POSITIVE!
And above all:
Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!
Always think:
God and I can do this!
MANY SMILES BEGIN BECAUSE OF ANOTHER SMILE...
3 Keys To A Happy Marriage
1. Be thankful. It all starts with attitude. If you don't stay on the positiveside, failure is inevitable. You cannot have a happy marriagewithout happy people. Have you noticed that unthankful peopleare never happy?
2. Express your appreciation. Let your spouse know by word and deed that you appreciate them.Be specific and lavish in your praise and thanks. Nothingencourages people like encouragement.People love people who love them. If you want your spouse tolove you, the best thing you can do is love them, and let themknow it.
3. Aim to please. If you make them happy, you will be happy. True happiness isnever found in trying to please ourselves. Fulfillment comesfrom accomplishment, and the greatest accomplishment is helpingsomeone else in their life.
2. Express your appreciation. Let your spouse know by word and deed that you appreciate them.Be specific and lavish in your praise and thanks. Nothingencourages people like encouragement.People love people who love them. If you want your spouse tolove you, the best thing you can do is love them, and let themknow it.
3. Aim to please. If you make them happy, you will be happy. True happiness isnever found in trying to please ourselves. Fulfillment comesfrom accomplishment, and the greatest accomplishment is helpingsomeone else in their life.
Pregnancy Myths
Pregnancy is that special time in a woman's life, when she gets special attention from everyone. Even strangers on the road sometimes stop to enquire, "Which month?"
To add to that, we Indians have a special penchant for both speculation and superstition. "Hmmm, your tummy has not gotten that large, so...", "Your face is glowing, you will definitely have a..." -- the list of myths is endless.
Here, in random order, are some popular pregnancy beliefs:
Myth no 1: The shape and size of your belly can indicate your baby's gender.
Expert opinion: It is believed that a woman carrying a boy has a low belly, while a woman carrying a girl has a high belly. Some also say that women with small, round bellies are carrying a boy, while those with large bellies are carrying a girl. Gynaecologists on the other hand, say that the shape of your belly is determined by the original shape of your abdomen, the amount and distribution of the fat, the strength of the abdominal muscles, the number of babies conceived, the presentation and the position of the baby. In India, it is not legal to determine the sex of your baby beforehand. Hence, myths like these get a lot of attention
Pregnant? Here's what you should eat
Myth no 2: The glow on your face indicates the sex of your baby.
Expert opinion: Some believe a glow on the face indicates you will deliver a baby girl, while a lack of any glow indicates you will deliver a boy. Most pregnant women start sporting a glowing face during the second trimester. That's when the morning sickness ends, the mother-to-be eats well, blood circulation improves and there is a general feeling of well being. It has nothing to do with the sex of the baby.
Myth no 3: Heartburn indicates that your baby will have lots of hair.
Expert opinion: Gynaecologists say that heartburn is a common pregnancy complaint. It is mainly because of reflux oesophagitis, during which the contents (food particles) of the stomach come back up the food-pipe. Due to the acidic nature of the content, it causes burning, which is commonly known as heartburn. A lot of women who deliver babies with thick hair experience practically no heartburn.
Myth no 4: When you're pregnant, you have to double your food intake, because you're eating for two.
Expert opinion: Gynaecologists pooh-poohs this idea. They say, "During pregnancy dietary demands definitely increase. The nutritional status of the mother is most important, however, as the baby is dependent on her for its supply of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. This does not mean that a pregnant woman should eat for two."
They suggests that a pregnant woman maintain a well-balanced, nutritious diet throughout her pregnancy. "She should eat small meals every two hours rather than two or three bulky portions a day. Eating in excess will only lead to increases in fat deposits," they say.
Myth no 5: Food cravings indicate that you are deficient in the nutrients that the specific food offers.
Expert opinion: Food cravings are food cravings. They do not indicate anything. Do not take cravings as an indicator that you are deficient in any nutrient. Your doctor will have more solid methods of finding nutritional deficiencies."
Myth no 6: Sex during pregnancy induces labour.
Expert opinion: Many women swear by this theory. Check any pregnancy website, and there are women who openly advocate it. Of course, there are those who say it didn't work for them also. This is not to say do not have sex. If you are physically fit throughout your pregnancy, there is no reason why you should stop. Doctors merely ask couples to be careful about the position they adopt so that it does not cause discomfort to the mother.
Myth no 7: Methods of delivery are hereditary.
Expert opinion: People believe that if a pregnant woman's mother had a Caesarian section, she is likely to have the same. So, if your family has a history of normal deliveries, you are lucky. Mode of delivery has nothing to do with heredity. It depends on the number of babies conceived, presentation, as well as the position of the baby, the mother's pelvic bone structure and conditions, if any, complicating the pregnancy. Doctors make every effort possible for a normal delivery. Cesarean sections are only performed when absolutely necessary.
Pregnant moms look pretty too
Myth no 8: You can't get pregnant as long as you are regularly breastfeeding your baby.
Expert opinion: Tell this to thousands of women who are now with their second child, while the older one is hardly a year of age, or less! Doctors advise to use some contraception to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. Breastfeeding is reliable only upto a certain period, about one-and-a-half months after the delivery. However, a woman can get pregnant even without getting the first menstrual cycle post-delivery, ie in lactational amenorrhea. There are many simple methods available for contraception. Choose the right one for yourself.
Myth no 9: Eating lots of ghee ensures you will have a normal and safe delivery.
Expert opinion: Your mother or mother-in-law probably says, "Ghee provides lubrication, therefore you must have lots of ghee to ensure a normal delivery."
While the medicinal value of ghee cannot be discounted, it is definitely not the elixir it is touted to be in this case.No one can a predict normal delivery, not even doctors. Eating a lot of ghee does not ensure normal delivery. A pregnant woman should eat a normal healthy diet, do some form of exercise to keep herself fit and healthy, and should have a positive mindset while going in for the delivery. Even relatives should boost her confidence, and not pressurise her with regard to a normal delivery.
She also adds that Cesarean sections are not something to shy away from. They are only performed to save the life of the baby, and avoid health complications in the mother.
Myth no 10: Avoid using a computer while pregnant; it can harm your baby's development.
Expert opinion: There is no evidence indicating that computers harm your baby's development. Of course, if you are working and are likely to use the computer for eight to 10 hours a day, you may face problems like backache. But that has no effect on your pregnancy.
To add to that, we Indians have a special penchant for both speculation and superstition. "Hmmm, your tummy has not gotten that large, so...", "Your face is glowing, you will definitely have a..." -- the list of myths is endless.
Here, in random order, are some popular pregnancy beliefs:
Myth no 1: The shape and size of your belly can indicate your baby's gender.
Expert opinion: It is believed that a woman carrying a boy has a low belly, while a woman carrying a girl has a high belly. Some also say that women with small, round bellies are carrying a boy, while those with large bellies are carrying a girl. Gynaecologists on the other hand, say that the shape of your belly is determined by the original shape of your abdomen, the amount and distribution of the fat, the strength of the abdominal muscles, the number of babies conceived, the presentation and the position of the baby. In India, it is not legal to determine the sex of your baby beforehand. Hence, myths like these get a lot of attention
Pregnant? Here's what you should eat
Myth no 2: The glow on your face indicates the sex of your baby.
Expert opinion: Some believe a glow on the face indicates you will deliver a baby girl, while a lack of any glow indicates you will deliver a boy. Most pregnant women start sporting a glowing face during the second trimester. That's when the morning sickness ends, the mother-to-be eats well, blood circulation improves and there is a general feeling of well being. It has nothing to do with the sex of the baby.
Myth no 3: Heartburn indicates that your baby will have lots of hair.
Expert opinion: Gynaecologists say that heartburn is a common pregnancy complaint. It is mainly because of reflux oesophagitis, during which the contents (food particles) of the stomach come back up the food-pipe. Due to the acidic nature of the content, it causes burning, which is commonly known as heartburn. A lot of women who deliver babies with thick hair experience practically no heartburn.
Myth no 4: When you're pregnant, you have to double your food intake, because you're eating for two.
Expert opinion: Gynaecologists pooh-poohs this idea. They say, "During pregnancy dietary demands definitely increase. The nutritional status of the mother is most important, however, as the baby is dependent on her for its supply of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. This does not mean that a pregnant woman should eat for two."
They suggests that a pregnant woman maintain a well-balanced, nutritious diet throughout her pregnancy. "She should eat small meals every two hours rather than two or three bulky portions a day. Eating in excess will only lead to increases in fat deposits," they say.
Myth no 5: Food cravings indicate that you are deficient in the nutrients that the specific food offers.
Expert opinion: Food cravings are food cravings. They do not indicate anything. Do not take cravings as an indicator that you are deficient in any nutrient. Your doctor will have more solid methods of finding nutritional deficiencies."
Myth no 6: Sex during pregnancy induces labour.
Expert opinion: Many women swear by this theory. Check any pregnancy website, and there are women who openly advocate it. Of course, there are those who say it didn't work for them also. This is not to say do not have sex. If you are physically fit throughout your pregnancy, there is no reason why you should stop. Doctors merely ask couples to be careful about the position they adopt so that it does not cause discomfort to the mother.
Myth no 7: Methods of delivery are hereditary.
Expert opinion: People believe that if a pregnant woman's mother had a Caesarian section, she is likely to have the same. So, if your family has a history of normal deliveries, you are lucky. Mode of delivery has nothing to do with heredity. It depends on the number of babies conceived, presentation, as well as the position of the baby, the mother's pelvic bone structure and conditions, if any, complicating the pregnancy. Doctors make every effort possible for a normal delivery. Cesarean sections are only performed when absolutely necessary.
Pregnant moms look pretty too
Myth no 8: You can't get pregnant as long as you are regularly breastfeeding your baby.
Expert opinion: Tell this to thousands of women who are now with their second child, while the older one is hardly a year of age, or less! Doctors advise to use some contraception to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. Breastfeeding is reliable only upto a certain period, about one-and-a-half months after the delivery. However, a woman can get pregnant even without getting the first menstrual cycle post-delivery, ie in lactational amenorrhea. There are many simple methods available for contraception. Choose the right one for yourself.
Myth no 9: Eating lots of ghee ensures you will have a normal and safe delivery.
Expert opinion: Your mother or mother-in-law probably says, "Ghee provides lubrication, therefore you must have lots of ghee to ensure a normal delivery."
While the medicinal value of ghee cannot be discounted, it is definitely not the elixir it is touted to be in this case.No one can a predict normal delivery, not even doctors. Eating a lot of ghee does not ensure normal delivery. A pregnant woman should eat a normal healthy diet, do some form of exercise to keep herself fit and healthy, and should have a positive mindset while going in for the delivery. Even relatives should boost her confidence, and not pressurise her with regard to a normal delivery.
She also adds that Cesarean sections are not something to shy away from. They are only performed to save the life of the baby, and avoid health complications in the mother.
Myth no 10: Avoid using a computer while pregnant; it can harm your baby's development.
Expert opinion: There is no evidence indicating that computers harm your baby's development. Of course, if you are working and are likely to use the computer for eight to 10 hours a day, you may face problems like backache. But that has no effect on your pregnancy.
Top 9 Funniest News paper Classifieds
Top 9 Funniest News paper Classifieds
(Actual excerpts from classified sections of city newspapers)
1. Illiterate? Write today for free help.
(man....if only I knew A B C....)
2. Auto Repair Service. Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once; you'll never go anywhere again.
(sure...thanx for the warning!)
3. 3-year old teacher needed for pre-school. Experience preferred.
(in months or years?)
4. Used Cars: Why go elsewhere to be cheated. Come here first.
(check it out)
5. Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.
(howwww sweeeet)
6. Man wanted to work in dynamite factory. Must be willing to travel.
(wow! A free trip to heaven?)
7. Tired of cleaning yourself? Let me do it.
(uh...huh!)
8. Wanted. Man to take care of cow that does not smoke or drink.
(hey....who taught cows the bad habit??)
9. We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it carefully by hand.
(nice work!)
(Actual excerpts from classified sections of city newspapers)
1. Illiterate? Write today for free help.
(man....if only I knew A B C....)
2. Auto Repair Service. Free pick-up and delivery. Try us once; you'll never go anywhere again.
(sure...thanx for the warning!)
3. 3-year old teacher needed for pre-school. Experience preferred.
(in months or years?)
4. Used Cars: Why go elsewhere to be cheated. Come here first.
(check it out)
5. Dog for sale: eats anything and is fond of children.
(howwww sweeeet)
6. Man wanted to work in dynamite factory. Must be willing to travel.
(wow! A free trip to heaven?)
7. Tired of cleaning yourself? Let me do it.
(uh...huh!)
8. Wanted. Man to take care of cow that does not smoke or drink.
(hey....who taught cows the bad habit??)
9. We do not tear your clothing with machinery. We do it carefully by hand.
(nice work!)
Paradox
Few centuries ago, a Law teacher came across a student who was willing tolearn but as unable to pay the fees. The student struck a deal saying, "Iwill pay your fee the day I win my first case in the court". Teacher agreed andproceeded with the law course. When the course was finished and teacherstarted pestering the student to pay up the fee,the student reminded him ofthe deal and pushed days. Fed up with this, the teacher decided to sue thestudent in the court of law and both of them decided to argue forthemselves.
The teacher put forward his argument saying: "If I win this case, as perThe court of law, the student has to pay me as the case is about hisnon-payment of dues. And if I lose the case, student will still pay me because he wouldhave won his first case. So either way I will have to get the money".Equally brilliant student argued back saying: "If I win the case, as per the courtOf law, I don't have to pay anything to the teacher as the case is about mynon-payment of dues. And if I lose the case, I don't have to pay himbecause I haven't won my first case yet. So either way, I am not going to pay theteacher anything".
Nice paradox Right!!!!!!!!!!!
The teacher put forward his argument saying: "If I win this case, as perThe court of law, the student has to pay me as the case is about hisnon-payment of dues. And if I lose the case, student will still pay me because he wouldhave won his first case. So either way I will have to get the money".Equally brilliant student argued back saying: "If I win the case, as per the courtOf law, I don't have to pay anything to the teacher as the case is about mynon-payment of dues. And if I lose the case, I don't have to pay himbecause I haven't won my first case yet. So either way, I am not going to pay theteacher anything".
Nice paradox Right!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Adding Wheat Germ to Your Baby's Food
What is wheat germ?
Wheat germ is the smallest, most nutritious part of a wheat grain. A whole wheat grain is composed of four parts
-the husk (which is the outer layer)
-the bran (a nutritious, high fibre part of the grain)
-the endosperm (this is the main part of the grain and is used in processed grain foods)
-the germ (the smallest part, yet one of the most nutritionally valuable products available)
Why wheat germ is wonderful!
The following list shows just how many beneficial nutrients wheat germ can bring to your baby's diet:
-iron
-vitamin A
-vitamins B1 and B3
-vitamin B5 (helps your baby's body assimilate energy from food)
-vitamin E (strengthens your baby's immune system)
-folic acid
-dietary fibre
-phosphorus (promotes healthy bones and teeth)
-potassium
-riboflavin
-zinc
-calcium
-magnesium
-protein
Tips for adding wheat germ to your baby's food
One of the great things about wheat germ is that its taste is so subtle, it blends nicely with both savoury and sweet dishes. In fact, wheat germ is barely noticeable when combined with other foods, making it ideal for 'picky' babies. Adding wheat germ is a wonderful way to get important nutrients into your baby if he eats little, or will only eat a limited variety of foods.
-Use wheat germ to make an interesting 'topping' for cooked veggies.
-Wheat germ serves as an ideal thickener for overly runny purees.
-If you are baking for your baby, try using a small amount of wheat germ as a substitute for an equivalent amount of flour (for example - if your recipe calls for 6oz flour, use 1oz wheat germ and 5oz flour).
-Stir wheat germ into your baby's yogurt.
-If you are breading foods like tofu or chicken for your baby, stir some wheat germ into the bread crumbs.
-Stir it into your baby's soups, stews and casseroles.
-Make a 'baby apple pie' by topping sugar free applesauce with wheat germ.
-If your baby finds finger foods like bananas, peaches and pears too slippery to handle, coat them with wheat germ and they'll be much easier to pick up!
Wheat germ is the smallest, most nutritious part of a wheat grain. A whole wheat grain is composed of four parts
-the husk (which is the outer layer)
-the bran (a nutritious, high fibre part of the grain)
-the endosperm (this is the main part of the grain and is used in processed grain foods)
-the germ (the smallest part, yet one of the most nutritionally valuable products available)
Why wheat germ is wonderful!
The following list shows just how many beneficial nutrients wheat germ can bring to your baby's diet:
-iron
-vitamin A
-vitamins B1 and B3
-vitamin B5 (helps your baby's body assimilate energy from food)
-vitamin E (strengthens your baby's immune system)
-folic acid
-dietary fibre
-phosphorus (promotes healthy bones and teeth)
-potassium
-riboflavin
-zinc
-calcium
-magnesium
-protein
Tips for adding wheat germ to your baby's food
One of the great things about wheat germ is that its taste is so subtle, it blends nicely with both savoury and sweet dishes. In fact, wheat germ is barely noticeable when combined with other foods, making it ideal for 'picky' babies. Adding wheat germ is a wonderful way to get important nutrients into your baby if he eats little, or will only eat a limited variety of foods.
-Use wheat germ to make an interesting 'topping' for cooked veggies.
-Wheat germ serves as an ideal thickener for overly runny purees.
-If you are baking for your baby, try using a small amount of wheat germ as a substitute for an equivalent amount of flour (for example - if your recipe calls for 6oz flour, use 1oz wheat germ and 5oz flour).
-Stir wheat germ into your baby's yogurt.
-If you are breading foods like tofu or chicken for your baby, stir some wheat germ into the bread crumbs.
-Stir it into your baby's soups, stews and casseroles.
-Make a 'baby apple pie' by topping sugar free applesauce with wheat germ.
-If your baby finds finger foods like bananas, peaches and pears too slippery to handle, coat them with wheat germ and they'll be much easier to pick up!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Baby care - Check your indoor plants for safety
As soon as your baby is able to hold objects in her hand, you will notice that he uses his mouth to explore them - the highly developed senses in her mouth make it perfect for the job! But as soon as your baby is mobile - whether crawling or toddling - your baby's need to "mouth" items becomes a cause for concern. This is because your baby does not discriminate - anything and everything will end up in her mouth!
Most of us move dangerous or delicate items out of our babies' reach at this point - but items that often get overlooked are house plants and flowers.
Although most house plants are non-toxic, there are some that could upset your baby's stomach or cause severe illness if she were to put them in his mouth.
It's impossible to provide a complete list of all toxic plants here, but the following list contains examples of common household and garden plants that would be poisonous to a young baby. If you are not sure of the names of all the plants you have at home, then it's a good idea to take a cutting to a local garden centre or nursery for identification.
List of poisonous plants and flowers
-delphinium
-lily of the valley
-caladium
-dieffenbachia
-rhododendron
-oleander
-wisteria
-yew
-laurel
-poinsettia
-holly
-mistletoe
-deadly nightshade
-hyacinth (and bulb)
-narcissus bulb
-daffodil bulb
-ivy
-hydrangea
The California Poison Control System provides a comprehensive list of toxic plants, plus a list of safe plants (it's worth taking a moment to browse this site more fully, as it contains lots of useful information about preventing poisoning within the home).
As soon as your baby is crawling, begin teaching her that it's wrong to pull leaves straight from a plant and put them into his mouth - even if you know that YOUR plants are safe, she may one day be in an environment with plants that could be harmful.
If you are concerned that your baby may have ingested part of a toxic plant, seek medical advice immediately. If you are taking your child to hospital, take a cutting from the plant with you.
Remember, though, that toxicity isn't the only hazard to your baby from plants. Even "safe" plants can be dangerous - leaves still pose a choking risk and some babies may try to eat the soil or small pebbles from the pot. If you have a plant that overhangs the surface it's sitting on, then keep it in a room your baby doesn't have access to - otherwise your baby may pull the plant down on to her head.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Voice based service by Google!!!
Google has launched voice based local searches by putting up a call center in hyderabad.Just dial service was started in the same city and everyone says that this is special coz you get connected to the third party absolutely free. But i dont think it can work in that. Well, using these serivces you can get to know about restaurants, movies, bars, clubs, etc. this service is available for all network providers expect vodafone for now.
For all people out there in Bangalore. You all may try this Ubona. pretty neat voice regonition tool. Well, what you know Voice based service is not new to anyone it’s the regular stuff.
For all people out there in Bangalore. You all may try this Ubona. pretty neat voice regonition tool. Well, what you know Voice based service is not new to anyone it’s the regular stuff.
Create easy websites using Google
With only a few clicks, just about anyone will be able to quickly set up and update a Web site featuring a wide array of material, including pictures, calendars and video from Google Inc’s YouTube subsidiary, said Dave Girouard, general manager of the division overseeing the new application. Google acquired many of the Web-site tools when it bought a Silicon Valley startup, JotSpot, last year. The tools are the latest addition to a bundle of applications that Google offers to consumers and businesses as alternatives to similar products sold by Microsoft Corp, one of Google’s fiercest rivals. Google’s latest service represents a challenge to Microsoft’s SharePoint, which charges licensing fees. Google is unveiling its alternative just a few days before Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft hosts a SharePoint conference in Seattle.
While Microsoft’s programmes typically are installed on individual computers, Google keeps its application on its own machines so users can access them from anywhere with an Internet connection. By gradually introducing free versions of word processing, spreadsheet, and calendaring programmes over the past two years, Google has been threatening to siphon revenue away from Microsoft, which makes most of its money from software sales. Microsoft, in turn, hopes to take a bite of out Google’s bread-and-butter in online search and advertising by buying Yahoo Inc for more than $40 billion.
While Microsoft’s programmes typically are installed on individual computers, Google keeps its application on its own machines so users can access them from anywhere with an Internet connection. By gradually introducing free versions of word processing, spreadsheet, and calendaring programmes over the past two years, Google has been threatening to siphon revenue away from Microsoft, which makes most of its money from software sales. Microsoft, in turn, hopes to take a bite of out Google’s bread-and-butter in online search and advertising by buying Yahoo Inc for more than $40 billion.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Gold backs off New Highs
Gold touches a new high of $1034 during intra day tradingPrecious metals created another new record on Monday, 17 March, 2008 after gold touched the $1034/ounce mark for the first ever time in history. Traders started selling off the precious metals to cover their losses in other market, mainly equity market. But at the end, gold pared most of its gains for the day and ended $3 higher. Silver prices fell substantially today.Comex Gold for April delivery rose $3.1 (0.3%) to close at $1,002.6 ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange, marking the first time the price has closed above $1,000. Earlier in the day, prices touched a high of $1033.8/ounce but then the metal gave up some of its gains later in the session. This year, gold prices have gained 19.5% till date. In January, prices gained 11%, the highest monthly gain since April 2006. For February, it gained 6%.Stocks plunged worldwide yesterday after Bear Stearns accepted a buyout from JPMorgan Chase to avoid collapse. Last weekend, acting to prevent a run on major global financial firms, the Fed took the extraordinary steps of cutting the U.S. discount rate by a quarter of a point, to 3.25%, and offering to lend money to a longer list of firms than ever before. Gold reached the record in overnight trading after JPMorgan agreed to buy Bear Stearns for $2 a share, striking a deal backed by the Federal Reserve. Last week, gold prices gained $25.3 (2.6%).Comex Silver futures for May delivery fell 35.5 cents (1.7%) to $20.30 an ounce. Silver has gained 32.5% in 2008. The metal had climbed 16% in FY 2007. The metal also has gained for seven straight years. In January this year itself, prices climbed 14%. In February, it gained another 15%.Gold has traditionally been used as a safe-haven asset against rising inflation. Investor sentiments are boosted by the fact that gold and silver are alternate sources of good investment in the face of declining dollar and rising energy prices. On the other hand strong dollar reduces the appeal of the metal as alternate source of investment.In the energy market on Friday, crude oil fell by more than $4 today and closed a little above $105/barrel.The dollar has been dampened since last year, more since start of FY 2008 after interest rates were cut twice in January, 2008. Gold, as a dollar-denominated commodity, suffers from dollar strength. On the contrary, gold prices rise with falling dollar as inflationary concerns boosts the metal's appeal as an inflation hedge.The Fed has cut the federal funds rate to 3% this year from 5.25% in mid-September, 2007. January 2008 itself saw two rate cuts in a gap of ten days.Gold witnessed the greatest annual gain in twenty eight years by gaining $200/ounce (31%) in FY 2007 as lower interest rates had sent the dollar tumbling, and crude-oil prices rose to a record. The Fed reduced federal funds rate three times in FY 2007. In 2006, silver had jumped 46% while gold gained 23%.At the MCX, gold prices for April delivery closed higher by Rs 30 (0.2%) at Rs 13,065 per 10 grams. Prices rose to a high of Rs 13,397 per 10 grams and fell to a low of Rs 13,030 per 10 grams during the day’s trading.At the MCX, silver prices for May delivery closed Rs 716 (2.7%) lower at Rs 26,032/Kg. Prices opened at Rs 26,800/kg and fell to a low of Rs 25,867/Kg during the day’s trading.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Problems with P/E
P/E ratio can help us determine whether a company is over- or under-valued. But P/E analysis is only valid in certain circumstances and it has its pitfalls. Some factors that can undermine the usefulness of the P/E ratio include:
Accounting Earnings is an accounting figure that includes non-cash items. Furthermore, the guidelines for determining earnings are governed by accounting rules (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)) that change over time and are different in each country. To complicate matters, EPS can be twisted, prodded and squeezed into various numbers depending on how you do the books. The result is that we often don't know whether we are comparing the same figures, or apples to oranges. (For more on this, see Different Types Of EPS.) Inflation In times of high inflation, inventory and depreciation costs tend to be understated because the replacement costs of goods and equipment rise with the general level of prices. Thus, P/E ratios tend to be lower during times of high inflation because the market sees earnings as artificially distorted upwards. As with all ratios, it's more valuable to look at the P/E over time in order to determine the trend. Inflation makes this difficult, as past information is less useful today. Many Interpretations A low P/E ratio does not necessarily mean that a company is undervalued. Rather, it could mean that the market believes the company is headed for trouble in the near future. Stocks that go down usually do so for a reason. It may be that a company has warned that earnings will come in lower than expected. This wouldn't be reflected in a trailing P/E ratio until earnings are actually released, during which time the company might look undervalued. What goes up ... well, sometimes it stays up for an awfully long time.
A common mistake among beginning investors is the short selling of stocks because they have a high P/E ratio. If you aren't familiar with short selling, it's an investing technique by which an investor can make money when a shorted security falls in value. (For more on this, check out the Short Selling tutorial.) First of all, we believe that novice investors shouldn't be shorting. Secondly, you can get into a lot of trouble by valuing stocks using only simple indicators such as the P/E ratio. Although a high P/E ratio could mean that a stock is overvalued, there is no guarantee that it will come back down anytime soon. On the flip side, even if a stock is undervalued, it could take years for the market to value it in the proper way. Security analysis requires a great deal more than understanding a few ratios. While the P/E is one part of the puzzle, it's definitely not a crystal ball.
Accounting Earnings is an accounting figure that includes non-cash items. Furthermore, the guidelines for determining earnings are governed by accounting rules (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)) that change over time and are different in each country. To complicate matters, EPS can be twisted, prodded and squeezed into various numbers depending on how you do the books. The result is that we often don't know whether we are comparing the same figures, or apples to oranges. (For more on this, see Different Types Of EPS.) Inflation In times of high inflation, inventory and depreciation costs tend to be understated because the replacement costs of goods and equipment rise with the general level of prices. Thus, P/E ratios tend to be lower during times of high inflation because the market sees earnings as artificially distorted upwards. As with all ratios, it's more valuable to look at the P/E over time in order to determine the trend. Inflation makes this difficult, as past information is less useful today. Many Interpretations A low P/E ratio does not necessarily mean that a company is undervalued. Rather, it could mean that the market believes the company is headed for trouble in the near future. Stocks that go down usually do so for a reason. It may be that a company has warned that earnings will come in lower than expected. This wouldn't be reflected in a trailing P/E ratio until earnings are actually released, during which time the company might look undervalued. What goes up ... well, sometimes it stays up for an awfully long time.
A common mistake among beginning investors is the short selling of stocks because they have a high P/E ratio. If you aren't familiar with short selling, it's an investing technique by which an investor can make money when a shorted security falls in value. (For more on this, check out the Short Selling tutorial.) First of all, we believe that novice investors shouldn't be shorting. Secondly, you can get into a lot of trouble by valuing stocks using only simple indicators such as the P/E ratio. Although a high P/E ratio could mean that a stock is overvalued, there is no guarantee that it will come back down anytime soon. On the flip side, even if a stock is undervalued, it could take years for the market to value it in the proper way. Security analysis requires a great deal more than understanding a few ratios. While the P/E is one part of the puzzle, it's definitely not a crystal ball.
Price /Earning ratio of a Stock
When it comes to valuing stocks, the price/earnings ratio is one of the oldest and most frequently used metrics. Although a simple indicator to calculate, the P/E is actually quite difficult to interpret. It can be extremely informative in some situations, while at other times it is next to meaningless. As a result, investors often misuse this term and place more value in the P/E than is warranted.
As the name implies, to calculate the P/E, you simply take the current stock price of a company and divide by its earnings per share (EPS):
P/E Ratio = Market Value per Share
Earnings per Share(EPS)
Most of the time, the P/E is calculated using EPS from the last four quarters. This is also known as the trailing P/E. However, occasionally the EPS figure comes from estimated earnings expected over the next four quarters. This is known as the leading or projected P/E. A third variation that is also sometimes seen uses the EPS of the past two quarters and estimates of the next two quarters. There isn't a huge difference between these variations. But it is important to realize that in the first calculation, you are using actual historical data. The other two calculations are based on analyst estimates that are not always perfect or precise. Companies that aren't profitable, and consequently have a negative EPS, pose a challenge when it comes to calculating their P/E. Opinions vary on how to deal with this. Some say there is a negative P/E, others give a P/E of 0, while most just say the P/E doesn't exist. Historically, the average P/E ratio in the market has been around 15-25. This fluctuates significantly depending on economic conditions. The P/E can also vary widely between different companies and industries. Theoretically, a stock's P/E tells us how much investors are willing to pay per dollar of earnings. For this reason it's also called the "multiple" of a stock. In other words, a P/E ratio of 20 suggests that investors in the stock are willing to pay $20 for every $1 of earnings that the company generates. However, this is a far too simplistic way of viewing the P/E because it fails to take into account the company's growth prospects.
Growth of Earnings Although the EPS figure in the P/E is usually based on earnings from the last four quarters, the P/E is more than a measure of a company's past performance. It also takes into account market expectations for a company's growth. Remember, stock prices reflect what investors think a company will be worth. Future growth is already accounted for in the stock price. As a result, a better way of interpreting the P/E ratio is as a reflection of the market's optimism concerning a company's growth prospects. If a company has a P/E higher than the market or industry average, this means that the market is expecting big things over the next few months or years. A company with a high P/E ratio will eventually have to live up to the high rating by substantially increasing its earnings, or the stock price will need to drop. A good example is Microsoft. Several years ago, when it was growing by leaps and bounds, and its P/E ratio was over 100. Today, Microsoft is one of the largest companies in the world, so its revenues and earnings can't maintain the same growth as before. As a result, its P/E had dropped to 43 by June 2002. This reduction in the P/E ratio is a common occurrence as high-growth startups solidify their reputations and turn into blue chips. Cheap or Expensive? The P/E ratio is a much better indicator of the value of a stock than the market price alone. For example, all things being equal, a $10 stock with a P/E of 75 is much more "expensive" than a $100 stock with a P/E of 20. That being said, there are limits to this form of analysis - you can't just compare the P/Es of two different companies to determine which is a better value. It's difficult to determine whether a particular P/E is high or low without taking into account two main factors:
1. Company growth rates - How fast has the company been growing in the past, and are these rates expected to increase, or at least continue, in the future? Something isn't right if a company has only grown at 5% in the past and still has a stratospheric P/E. If projected growth rates don't justify the P/E, then a stock might be overpriced. In this situation, all you have to do is calculate the P/E using projected EPS.
2. Industry - It is only useful to compare companies if they are in the same industry. For example, utilities typically have low multiples because they are low growth, stable industries. In contrast, the technology industry is characterized by phenomenal growth rates and constant change. Comparing a tech company to a utility is useless. You should only compare high-growth companies to others in the same industry, or to the industry average. You can find P/E ratios by industry on Yahoo! Finance.
As the name implies, to calculate the P/E, you simply take the current stock price of a company and divide by its earnings per share (EPS):
P/E Ratio = Market Value per Share
Earnings per Share(EPS)
Most of the time, the P/E is calculated using EPS from the last four quarters. This is also known as the trailing P/E. However, occasionally the EPS figure comes from estimated earnings expected over the next four quarters. This is known as the leading or projected P/E. A third variation that is also sometimes seen uses the EPS of the past two quarters and estimates of the next two quarters. There isn't a huge difference between these variations. But it is important to realize that in the first calculation, you are using actual historical data. The other two calculations are based on analyst estimates that are not always perfect or precise. Companies that aren't profitable, and consequently have a negative EPS, pose a challenge when it comes to calculating their P/E. Opinions vary on how to deal with this. Some say there is a negative P/E, others give a P/E of 0, while most just say the P/E doesn't exist. Historically, the average P/E ratio in the market has been around 15-25. This fluctuates significantly depending on economic conditions. The P/E can also vary widely between different companies and industries. Theoretically, a stock's P/E tells us how much investors are willing to pay per dollar of earnings. For this reason it's also called the "multiple" of a stock. In other words, a P/E ratio of 20 suggests that investors in the stock are willing to pay $20 for every $1 of earnings that the company generates. However, this is a far too simplistic way of viewing the P/E because it fails to take into account the company's growth prospects.
Growth of Earnings Although the EPS figure in the P/E is usually based on earnings from the last four quarters, the P/E is more than a measure of a company's past performance. It also takes into account market expectations for a company's growth. Remember, stock prices reflect what investors think a company will be worth. Future growth is already accounted for in the stock price. As a result, a better way of interpreting the P/E ratio is as a reflection of the market's optimism concerning a company's growth prospects. If a company has a P/E higher than the market or industry average, this means that the market is expecting big things over the next few months or years. A company with a high P/E ratio will eventually have to live up to the high rating by substantially increasing its earnings, or the stock price will need to drop. A good example is Microsoft. Several years ago, when it was growing by leaps and bounds, and its P/E ratio was over 100. Today, Microsoft is one of the largest companies in the world, so its revenues and earnings can't maintain the same growth as before. As a result, its P/E had dropped to 43 by June 2002. This reduction in the P/E ratio is a common occurrence as high-growth startups solidify their reputations and turn into blue chips. Cheap or Expensive? The P/E ratio is a much better indicator of the value of a stock than the market price alone. For example, all things being equal, a $10 stock with a P/E of 75 is much more "expensive" than a $100 stock with a P/E of 20. That being said, there are limits to this form of analysis - you can't just compare the P/Es of two different companies to determine which is a better value. It's difficult to determine whether a particular P/E is high or low without taking into account two main factors:
1. Company growth rates - How fast has the company been growing in the past, and are these rates expected to increase, or at least continue, in the future? Something isn't right if a company has only grown at 5% in the past and still has a stratospheric P/E. If projected growth rates don't justify the P/E, then a stock might be overpriced. In this situation, all you have to do is calculate the P/E using projected EPS.
2. Industry - It is only useful to compare companies if they are in the same industry. For example, utilities typically have low multiples because they are low growth, stable industries. In contrast, the technology industry is characterized by phenomenal growth rates and constant change. Comparing a tech company to a utility is useless. You should only compare high-growth companies to others in the same industry, or to the industry average. You can find P/E ratios by industry on Yahoo! Finance.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
How do you talk to a baby
The roads to communication with a baby are endless, and each parent travels some more than others. Here are some you may want to take:
Do a running commentary: Don’t make a move, at least when you are around your baby, without talking about it. Narrate the dressing process: “ Now I’m putting nappy….here goes the T-shirt over your head…. Now I’m buttoning your dungarees”. In kitchen describe washing of dishes, or process of making a dish. During the bath explain about the soap and rinsing, and that a shampoo makes the hair shiny and clean. It doesn’t matter that your baby hasn’t the slightest inkling of what you’re talking about. Blow-by-bowl descriptions help get you talking and baby listening – thereby starting him or her on the path to understanding.
Ask a lot: Don’t wait until your baby starts having answers to start asking questions. Think of yourself as a reporter, your baby as an intriguing interviewer. The questions can be as varied as your day: ‘Would you like to wear the red trouser or the green one?’ ‘Isn’t the sky a beautiful blue today?’ ‘Should I buy green beans or broccoli for dinner?’ Pause for an answer ( one day your baby will surprise you with one), and then supply the answer yourself, out loud (‘Broccoli? Good choice’).
Give baby a chance: Studies show that infants whose parents talk with them rather than at them learn to talk earlier. Give your baby a chance to get in a coo, a gurgle or a giggle. In your running commentaries, be sure to leave some openings for baby’s comments.
Keep it simple – some of the time: Though in the second month your baby would probably derive listening pleasure from a dramatic recitation of Hamlet’s soliloquy or an animated assessment of the economy, as he or she gets bit older, you’ll want to make it easier to pick out individual words. So at least part of the time, make a conscious effort to use simple sentences and phrases: ‘See the light’, ‘Bye-bye’, ‘Baby’s fingers, baby’s toes’, and ‘Nice doggie’.
Put aside pronouns: It’s difficult for a baby to grasp that ‘I’ or ‘me’ or ‘you’ can be mummy, or daddy, or grandma, or even baby – depending on who’s talking. So most of the time, refer to yourself as ‘mummy’ or ‘daddy’ or ‘grandma’ and to your baby by name: ‘Now mummy is going to change Sonu’s nappy’.
Raise your pitch: Most babies prefer a high pitched voice, which may be why women’s voices are usually naturally higher-pitched than men’s, and why most mothers’ voices climb an octave or two when addressing their infants. Try raising your pitch when talking directly to your baby, and watch the reaction.
Imitate: Babies love the flattery that comes with imitation. When baby coos, coo back; when he or she utters and ‘Ahh’ , utter one, too. Imitation will quickly become a game that you’ll both enjoy, and which will set the foundation for baby’s imitating your language – it will also help build self-esteem (‘What I say matters’).
Set it to music: Don’t worry if you can’t carry a tune – little babies are notoriously undiscriminating when it comes to music. They’ll love what you sing to them whether it’s a current hit, an old favorite or just some nonsense you’ve set to familiar tune.
Read aloud: Though at first the words will have no meaning to baby, it’s never too early to begin reading some simple rhyming stories or board books out loud. When you aren’t in the mood for baby talk and crave some adult-level stimulation, share your love of literature (or recipes or gossip or politics) with your little one by reading what you like to read, aloud.
Take your clues from baby: Incessant chatter and song can be tiresome for anyone, even an infant. When your baby becomes inattentive to your wordplay, close or averts his or her eyes, become fussy or cranky, or otherwise indicates the verbal saturation point has been reached, give it a rest.
Do a running commentary: Don’t make a move, at least when you are around your baby, without talking about it. Narrate the dressing process: “ Now I’m putting nappy….here goes the T-shirt over your head…. Now I’m buttoning your dungarees”. In kitchen describe washing of dishes, or process of making a dish. During the bath explain about the soap and rinsing, and that a shampoo makes the hair shiny and clean. It doesn’t matter that your baby hasn’t the slightest inkling of what you’re talking about. Blow-by-bowl descriptions help get you talking and baby listening – thereby starting him or her on the path to understanding.
Ask a lot: Don’t wait until your baby starts having answers to start asking questions. Think of yourself as a reporter, your baby as an intriguing interviewer. The questions can be as varied as your day: ‘Would you like to wear the red trouser or the green one?’ ‘Isn’t the sky a beautiful blue today?’ ‘Should I buy green beans or broccoli for dinner?’ Pause for an answer ( one day your baby will surprise you with one), and then supply the answer yourself, out loud (‘Broccoli? Good choice’).
Give baby a chance: Studies show that infants whose parents talk with them rather than at them learn to talk earlier. Give your baby a chance to get in a coo, a gurgle or a giggle. In your running commentaries, be sure to leave some openings for baby’s comments.
Keep it simple – some of the time: Though in the second month your baby would probably derive listening pleasure from a dramatic recitation of Hamlet’s soliloquy or an animated assessment of the economy, as he or she gets bit older, you’ll want to make it easier to pick out individual words. So at least part of the time, make a conscious effort to use simple sentences and phrases: ‘See the light’, ‘Bye-bye’, ‘Baby’s fingers, baby’s toes’, and ‘Nice doggie’.
Put aside pronouns: It’s difficult for a baby to grasp that ‘I’ or ‘me’ or ‘you’ can be mummy, or daddy, or grandma, or even baby – depending on who’s talking. So most of the time, refer to yourself as ‘mummy’ or ‘daddy’ or ‘grandma’ and to your baby by name: ‘Now mummy is going to change Sonu’s nappy’.
Raise your pitch: Most babies prefer a high pitched voice, which may be why women’s voices are usually naturally higher-pitched than men’s, and why most mothers’ voices climb an octave or two when addressing their infants. Try raising your pitch when talking directly to your baby, and watch the reaction.
Imitate: Babies love the flattery that comes with imitation. When baby coos, coo back; when he or she utters and ‘Ahh’ , utter one, too. Imitation will quickly become a game that you’ll both enjoy, and which will set the foundation for baby’s imitating your language – it will also help build self-esteem (‘What I say matters’).
Set it to music: Don’t worry if you can’t carry a tune – little babies are notoriously undiscriminating when it comes to music. They’ll love what you sing to them whether it’s a current hit, an old favorite or just some nonsense you’ve set to familiar tune.
Read aloud: Though at first the words will have no meaning to baby, it’s never too early to begin reading some simple rhyming stories or board books out loud. When you aren’t in the mood for baby talk and crave some adult-level stimulation, share your love of literature (or recipes or gossip or politics) with your little one by reading what you like to read, aloud.
Take your clues from baby: Incessant chatter and song can be tiresome for anyone, even an infant. When your baby becomes inattentive to your wordplay, close or averts his or her eyes, become fussy or cranky, or otherwise indicates the verbal saturation point has been reached, give it a rest.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Newborn's Reflexes
Mother nature pulls out all the stops when it comes to newborn babies, providing them with a set of inborn reflexes designed to protect these especially vulnerable creatures and ensure their care. Some of these primitive behaviours are spontaneous, while others are responses to certain actions.
Startle, or Moro, reflex.
When startled by a sudden or loud noise, or a feeling of falling, the Moro reflex will cause the baby to extend the legs, arms and fingers, arch the back, draw the head back, then draw the arms back, fists clenched, into the chest.
Duration: Four to six months.
Babinski's, or plantar, reflex.
When the sole of a baby's foot is gently stroked from the heel to toe, the baby's toes flare upwards and the foot turns in.
Duration: Between six months and two years, after which toes curl downwards.
Rooting reflex.
A Newborn whose cheek is gently stroked will turn in the direction of the stimulus, mouth open and ready to suckle. This reflex helps the baby locate the breast or bottle and secure a meal.
Duration: About three to four months, though it may persist when baby is sleeping.
Walking, or stepping, reflex.
Held upright on a table or other flat surface, supported under the arms, a newborn may lift one leg and then the other, taking what seem to be 'steps'. This 'practice walking' reflex works best after the fourth day of life.
Duration: Variable, but typically about two months.
Sucking reflex.
A newborn will reflexively suck when the roof of his or her mouth is touched, such as when a nipple is placed in the mouth.
Duration: Present at birth and lasts until two to four months, when voluntary sucking takes over.
Palmar grasping reflex.
Touch the palm of your baby's hand and his or her fingers will curl around and cling to your finger. An interesting bit of baby trivia: newborns grasp may be powerful enough to support full body weight - but don't try this at home or anywhere. Some more trivia: This reflex curls babies' feet and toes, too, when they're touched.
Duration: Three to six months.
Tonic neck, or fencing, reflex.
Placed on the back, a young baby will assume a 'fencing position' , head one side, with arms and legs on that side extended and the opposite limbs flexed. En grade!
Duration: Varies a lot. it may be present at birth or may not appear for at least two months, and disappear at about four to six months - or sooner, or later.
Startle, or Moro, reflex.
When startled by a sudden or loud noise, or a feeling of falling, the Moro reflex will cause the baby to extend the legs, arms and fingers, arch the back, draw the head back, then draw the arms back, fists clenched, into the chest.
Duration: Four to six months.
Babinski's, or plantar, reflex.
When the sole of a baby's foot is gently stroked from the heel to toe, the baby's toes flare upwards and the foot turns in.
Duration: Between six months and two years, after which toes curl downwards.
Rooting reflex.
A Newborn whose cheek is gently stroked will turn in the direction of the stimulus, mouth open and ready to suckle. This reflex helps the baby locate the breast or bottle and secure a meal.
Duration: About three to four months, though it may persist when baby is sleeping.
Walking, or stepping, reflex.
Held upright on a table or other flat surface, supported under the arms, a newborn may lift one leg and then the other, taking what seem to be 'steps'. This 'practice walking' reflex works best after the fourth day of life.
Duration: Variable, but typically about two months.
Sucking reflex.
A newborn will reflexively suck when the roof of his or her mouth is touched, such as when a nipple is placed in the mouth.
Duration: Present at birth and lasts until two to four months, when voluntary sucking takes over.
Palmar grasping reflex.
Touch the palm of your baby's hand and his or her fingers will curl around and cling to your finger. An interesting bit of baby trivia: newborns grasp may be powerful enough to support full body weight - but don't try this at home or anywhere. Some more trivia: This reflex curls babies' feet and toes, too, when they're touched.
Duration: Three to six months.
Tonic neck, or fencing, reflex.
Placed on the back, a young baby will assume a 'fencing position' , head one side, with arms and legs on that side extended and the opposite limbs flexed. En grade!
Duration: Varies a lot. it may be present at birth or may not appear for at least two months, and disappear at about four to six months - or sooner, or later.
A Pen that Records the Writer’s Emotions, being developed by Philips
The pen is undoubtedly mightier than the sword. For many of us our words are a way to vent our emotions, may it be in the form of articles, blog entries or perhaps poetries and autobiographies. But have you ever wondered how amazing would it be if your pen could actually reveal your state of mind and emotional state whilst you are using it to pen down something. Well, here it is! Philips has developed a truly amazing pen that can tell the writer’s exact emotional condition when he or she is writing something. Well this intuitive pen incorporates sensors that help in revealing the emotions, by finding physiological factors like heartbeat, blood pressure, skin temperature, and finger pressure. Further on, the pen includes a small actuator that has the ability to alter the properties of the line it traces out by changing inks and modifying the shape of the writing tip. The writer’s emotional condition if then concluded by an integrated chip that transforms the color and quality of the trace accordingly. The New Scientist magazine had a rather interesting quote by Philips: “Signatures are currently always the same, yet some documents will be signed with enthusiasm, others possibly with hesitation. Having a recording of this could be useful for historical reasons.” But all the same if you are not too keen for things to get very transparent, then you have a choice to simply change the on-off switch to “off” option to inactivate this function.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Top 15 Smashing Magazine Articles
1. 53 CSS-Techniques You Couldn’t Live Without
2. 70 Expert Ideas For Better CSS Coding
3. CSS-Based Forms: Modern Solutions
4. 83 Beautiful Wordpress Themes You (Probably) Haven’t Seen
5. 35 Designers x 5 Questions
6. Cheat Sheet Round-Up: Ajax, CSS, LaTeX, Ruby…
7. 50 Beautiful CSS-Based Web-Designs in 2006
8. 30 Scripts For Galleries, Slideshows and Lightboxes
9. Tutorials Round-Up: Ajax, CSS, PHP and More
10. Online Generators
11. Free Design Templates
12. 60 Elegant and Visually Appealing Designs
13. 45 Fresh, Clean and Impressive Designs
14. CSS-Based Navigation Menus: Modern Solutions
15. 19 More Free Quality Fonts
Friday, January 11, 2008
Monster jobs now on Mobiles…
Monster Worldwide, parent company of Monster.com, premier global online employment solution, has announced the launch of SMS based job search application in India.
“The SMS Job Search is a unique and effective way to search forjobs. This application leverages our Magic Search technology (proprietary search engine that allows jobs and resumes to be searched on various parameters through a single keyword text box)”, said Vikas Agarwal, VP- Product and Technology.
The application is simple and easy-to-use. The user can type free text such as “Jobs Brand Manager Delhi” and SMS to 53030 in India. The user will instantly receive the top three job matches back on the mobile as an SMS, he said.
“The key advantage of our application is that the accuracy of job matching is very high and it is driven entirely by keywords and free text (which is intuitive for SMS users), unlike other applications that require categories and locations to be selected”.
This is the second mobile application launched by Monster India. Earlier in 2007, Monster India launched SMS Express (SMS based application that helps employers contact jobseekers instantly on mobile, while searching resumes on Monsterindia.com).
In May 2007, PC World expert panel declared Monsterindia.com as the Best job Site in India on design, content, technology and usability. var RN = new String (Math.random()); var RNS = RN.substring (2,11); b2 = ‘ ‘; if (doweshowbellyad==1) bellyad.innerHTML = b2;
“The SMS Job Search is a unique and effective way to search forjobs. This application leverages our Magic Search technology (proprietary search engine that allows jobs and resumes to be searched on various parameters through a single keyword text box)”, said Vikas Agarwal, VP- Product and Technology.
The application is simple and easy-to-use. The user can type free text such as “Jobs Brand Manager Delhi” and SMS to 53030 in India. The user will instantly receive the top three job matches back on the mobile as an SMS, he said.
“The key advantage of our application is that the accuracy of job matching is very high and it is driven entirely by keywords and free text (which is intuitive for SMS users), unlike other applications that require categories and locations to be selected”.
This is the second mobile application launched by Monster India. Earlier in 2007, Monster India launched SMS Express (SMS based application that helps employers contact jobseekers instantly on mobile, while searching resumes on Monsterindia.com).
In May 2007, PC World expert panel declared Monsterindia.com as the Best job Site in India on design, content, technology and usability. var RN = new String (Math.random()); var RNS = RN.substring (2,11); b2 = ‘ ‘; if (doweshowbellyad==1) bellyad.innerHTML = b2;
Most awaited: Tata’s 1-lakh on the sets of auto expo 2008″Nano”
Nano is here. Ratan Tata seems to have achieved the feat of showcasing to the world a one-lakh rupee car that meets the specs of an international affordable peoples’ car. The small beauty claims to meet all the current safety requirements of a modern day car and has pollution levels that are even less than those of a two-wheeler. “Infrastructure is a major concern with India and I accept that we are behind our neighbours in the area. And India is working towards it with a new roads policy. But in the next five year, Tata Motors is only targeting to have 500,000 small cars that will constitute just 2.5 per cent of the total number of passenger vehicles in the country. With those numbers, the small car can hardly be an infrastructure nightmare as it is made out to be,” Ratan Tata said unveiling the company’s pride at the Auto Expo 08 on January 11 on Thursday.
The Nano with a 624 cc engine, will give a mileage of 20 kilometers per liter (50 miles a gallon). As per the safety norms, it has passed the full frontal crash test, the offset and side-crash test to meet the international safety norms. The legroom is expected to be 21 per cent more than Maruti 800. The car meets the Bharat 3 (Euro 4) emission standards. The car that will come in two variants - AC and non-AC, will come at a dealer price of Rs one lakh plus VAT and transport charges. “The car will cost one lakh and only because a promise is a promise,” he said brushing aside concerns over cost escalation and increase in raw material prices. Source: Economictimes.
The Nano with a 624 cc engine, will give a mileage of 20 kilometers per liter (50 miles a gallon). As per the safety norms, it has passed the full frontal crash test, the offset and side-crash test to meet the international safety norms. The legroom is expected to be 21 per cent more than Maruti 800. The car meets the Bharat 3 (Euro 4) emission standards. The car that will come in two variants - AC and non-AC, will come at a dealer price of Rs one lakh plus VAT and transport charges. “The car will cost one lakh and only because a promise is a promise,” he said brushing aside concerns over cost escalation and increase in raw material prices. Source: Economictimes.
Citizenship of infants born on Flight
Citizenship of infants born on Flight
In mid-air a woman gave birth to a child onboard a British Airways jet flying from London to Boston . The pilot received permission to land in Nova Scotia when it became clear there was a delivery in progress, but the baby was born before the plane could land. As far as what goes on this child’s birth certificate next to “Place of Birth” and of what country this child can claim citizenship, it all depends on who we ask. In this case, the a mother is an Egyptian and traveling on a U.S. passport, and a plane that took off in Britain bound for the United States that landed in Canada. So where is this child from?
Almost every country in the world, as well as the United Nations , has procedures and recommendations for how to properly classify the geographic details of an in-air birth. The United Nations considers a child born in-flight to have been born in the airplane’s registered country. Some countries point to the city where the child first disembarked the plane as the place of birth, and to the airplane’s registered country as the place of citizenship. Citizenship and birthplace are two different topics. Citizenship is typically a larger issue and may require some paperwork, while writing a child’s birthplace on a birth certificate is often a less legally significant consideration.
The state of Texas offers excellent details on how to document an in-air birth on a plane bound for Texas, even if the birth takes place over, say, Australia. Using a Texas birth certificate, a person can fill in the details with the country and city where the child was first removed from the plane.
Filing the physical birth certificate is another area that gets complicated when the birth is at high altitude. According to U.S. law, if we were looking for the birth certificate for a child born on a U.S.-registered plane (or ship), we’d have to figure out if the vessel was heading away from the United States or towards it when the birth occurred. For an outbound flight, we’d likely find the birth certificate stored at (or accessible through) the U.S. State Department. If the flight was inbound and landed somewhere in the United States after the birth, we would contact the county where the plane landed to find the record.
Considerations of citizenship, like birthplace, vary depending on which governing body we contact for an answer. U.S. authorities would tell us that if a child’s parents are both citizens of the United States and at least one parent has resided in the United States before the child’s birth, the child is automatically a U.S. citizen regardless of the altitude of the birth. The same applies to a case in which one parent is a U.S. national and the other is a U.S. citizen who lived in the United States for at least a year before the birth. Many countries also grant automatic citizenship to a child born on a vessel that is registered to that country, so it’s likely that an in-air birth could result in dual citizenship.
In mid-air a woman gave birth to a child onboard a British Airways jet flying from London to Boston . The pilot received permission to land in Nova Scotia when it became clear there was a delivery in progress, but the baby was born before the plane could land. As far as what goes on this child’s birth certificate next to “Place of Birth” and of what country this child can claim citizenship, it all depends on who we ask. In this case, the a mother is an Egyptian and traveling on a U.S. passport, and a plane that took off in Britain bound for the United States that landed in Canada. So where is this child from?
Almost every country in the world, as well as the United Nations , has procedures and recommendations for how to properly classify the geographic details of an in-air birth. The United Nations considers a child born in-flight to have been born in the airplane’s registered country. Some countries point to the city where the child first disembarked the plane as the place of birth, and to the airplane’s registered country as the place of citizenship. Citizenship and birthplace are two different topics. Citizenship is typically a larger issue and may require some paperwork, while writing a child’s birthplace on a birth certificate is often a less legally significant consideration.
The state of Texas offers excellent details on how to document an in-air birth on a plane bound for Texas, even if the birth takes place over, say, Australia. Using a Texas birth certificate, a person can fill in the details with the country and city where the child was first removed from the plane.
Filing the physical birth certificate is another area that gets complicated when the birth is at high altitude. According to U.S. law, if we were looking for the birth certificate for a child born on a U.S.-registered plane (or ship), we’d have to figure out if the vessel was heading away from the United States or towards it when the birth occurred. For an outbound flight, we’d likely find the birth certificate stored at (or accessible through) the U.S. State Department. If the flight was inbound and landed somewhere in the United States after the birth, we would contact the county where the plane landed to find the record.
Considerations of citizenship, like birthplace, vary depending on which governing body we contact for an answer. U.S. authorities would tell us that if a child’s parents are both citizens of the United States and at least one parent has resided in the United States before the child’s birth, the child is automatically a U.S. citizen regardless of the altitude of the birth. The same applies to a case in which one parent is a U.S. national and the other is a U.S. citizen who lived in the United States for at least a year before the birth. Many countries also grant automatic citizenship to a child born on a vessel that is registered to that country, so it’s likely that an in-air birth could result in dual citizenship.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
2008 Web Predictions!
1.Semantic Apps will become popular in 2008, due to their ability to get better content results and make better data connections. Think search engines like Hakia and Powerset, wikipedia-like efforts like Twine and Freebase, and apps that use semantic technologies under the hood (such as AdaptiveBlue and Snap).
2. In tandem with #1, Google will experiment more with Semantic Apps in ‘08. The Knols project, although not overly semantic, is a hint of this direction.
3. Web Services platforms will be a fierce battleground in ‘08, with Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Mozilla and others competing to provide ‘Web OS’ and online storage to consumers. Unfortunately this may spell the end of a number of startups in this space.
4. Zoho and/or ThinkFree will be acquired by big companies wanting to leapfrog into the Web Office space.
5. The online advertising market will consolidate, after the spate of acquisitions in 2007. CPM will continue to dominate for media brands and CPC for niche sites, although there will be experimentation in VRM and other forms of highly specific targeting of ads. Privacy issues will prevent the latter from becoming mainstream though. The much-hyped CPA (Cost per Action) will continue to be a pipe dream, because publishers simply don’t want it.
6. The big Internet companies will surprise us all by embracing open standards, and attempting to compete with each other with features instead of data lock-in (OK, this could just be wishful thinking!).
7. The most interesting innovations on the Web in 2008 won’t happen in Silicon Valley, but in Asia (China, Japan, Korea). At least one startup from China will break through in the US market with Twitter-like success in 2008 - and it will almost certainly be a Mobile Web app. Twitter will be acquired.
8. Most ad networks will start producing their own content to advertise against; and some content companies today will get acquired by ad networks.
9. Online video will become so ubiquitous, including live and mobile, that everyone will wonder how the internet existed without it. It won’t feel like a big deal, though.
10. A handful of big companies will let you start logging in with an OpenID associated with your account.
11. The value of recommendation engines will become all the more clear; the era of data will be celebrated.
12. Tumblr will be acquired.
13. Privacy will be a growing concern in the mainstream, but ultimately people won’t really take any action and for the most part, things won’t change. Some companies and groups (think Mozilla) will push for better privacy controls for users, while others (think Facebook) will continue to push the envelope and continue down a slippery slope. Users will eventually push back, but I am hesitant to say that proverbial “straw that breaks the camel’s back” will come in 2008.
14. OpenID will be adopted by more startups and larger web companies, but most people (mainstream users) still won’t use it - that’s a couple of years off.
15. Facebook will continue to grow and their platform will be adopted by other large social networks. Google will sweat.
16. Mobile web usage will be a big story in 2008. It’s already big in many parts of the world; and Westerners are about to get hooked. With new mobile devices that makes web surfing less painful, people will be more and more connected away from their computers.
17. Mainstream media coverage will be a catalyst for the adoption of Web Office apps by consumers; and Microsoft will eventually be forced to change their Web Office strategy and offer a fully online office suite (but that latter won’t happen in 2008). Offline mode (Gears, AIR, Silverlight, etc.) will be what really tips the scales and causes mainstream users to to embrace the as-of-yet unfamiliar world of Web Office applications.
18. Digg is going to be acquired by one of the mainstream media conglomerates.
19. Implicit applications, which monitor our habits and automatically infer our likes, will rise.
20. Facebook will acquire companies that do the following, in order to strengthen their advertising unit: personalization, behavior tracking, image recognition (Riya?)
21. Facebook will release a browser.
22. Google OpenSocial will be a failure; Google will try to create its own social networking empire by making acquisitions in this space.
23. Microsoft will become more aggresive and buy many popular companies at once (remember Ballmer’s quote). Candidates include SixApart, Technorati.
24. Google will really start looking vulnerable in 2008. While the ‘one trick pony’ comment by Steve Ballmer drew sarcastic responses, this will begin to look prophetic. While they’ll maintain market share in the search industry, the lack of traction in any other of their other initiatives will start to cause frustration. Plus, they will increasingly be perceived as the ‘evil’ company in many of these new initiatives.
25. Closely related, Yahoo’s Hack strategy (see ReadWriteTalk’s podcast with Bradley Horowitz) will start to bear fruit and things will look much more optimistic in Sunnyvale this year.
26. Facebook will start to feel pressure from two trends that will emerge on the web: distributed social networks and distributed commerce systems. For distributed commerce systems, look to see a first proof of concept from the VRM project. Chris Messina’s diso project with Wordpress will be a great proof of concept for distributed social neworks.
27. Non-search advertising on the web will increase in value significantly. This will be done through a lot of innovation in the ad targeting systems (both behavioral and contextual) and new metrics being adopted by Madison Ave beyond CPC and CPM.
28. There will be a lot of innovation in the hyper-local space, putting the final nail in the newspaper industry’s coffin. This will include companies like Outside.in and Yelp moving toward widespread use and new web properties (from both startups and big Internet Cos) emerging.
29. In the 1st Q 2008, the true “Google Killer” in search will be in Stealth Mode. In 2nd Q 2008 the first prototype will begin in closed Alpha mode. In 3rd Q 2008 it will be ready for the final closed Beta testing. In 4th Q 2008 it will launch and “Rock and Shock” the world!
30. The classic Vertical Search Engines (Job Search, Health, Consumer Electronics, Shopping, Video, People, more…) will continue their dominance over all other Search Engines in their various niches.
31. The Alternative Search Engines will pick up the pace of partnerships and cooperation, for their solid mutual benefit.
32. Mainstream Media interest in the Alts will increase until it begins to rival coverage of the five major search engines.
33. The trend towards ‘widgetization’ of the Alts will continue. Approximately 2 in 10 Alternative Search Engines (20%) have widgets now, and that number will double in 2008 to 4 in 10 or 40%.
2. In tandem with #1, Google will experiment more with Semantic Apps in ‘08. The Knols project, although not overly semantic, is a hint of this direction.
3. Web Services platforms will be a fierce battleground in ‘08, with Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Mozilla and others competing to provide ‘Web OS’ and online storage to consumers. Unfortunately this may spell the end of a number of startups in this space.
4. Zoho and/or ThinkFree will be acquired by big companies wanting to leapfrog into the Web Office space.
5. The online advertising market will consolidate, after the spate of acquisitions in 2007. CPM will continue to dominate for media brands and CPC for niche sites, although there will be experimentation in VRM and other forms of highly specific targeting of ads. Privacy issues will prevent the latter from becoming mainstream though. The much-hyped CPA (Cost per Action) will continue to be a pipe dream, because publishers simply don’t want it.
6. The big Internet companies will surprise us all by embracing open standards, and attempting to compete with each other with features instead of data lock-in (OK, this could just be wishful thinking!).
7. The most interesting innovations on the Web in 2008 won’t happen in Silicon Valley, but in Asia (China, Japan, Korea). At least one startup from China will break through in the US market with Twitter-like success in 2008 - and it will almost certainly be a Mobile Web app. Twitter will be acquired.
8. Most ad networks will start producing their own content to advertise against; and some content companies today will get acquired by ad networks.
9. Online video will become so ubiquitous, including live and mobile, that everyone will wonder how the internet existed without it. It won’t feel like a big deal, though.
10. A handful of big companies will let you start logging in with an OpenID associated with your account.
11. The value of recommendation engines will become all the more clear; the era of data will be celebrated.
12. Tumblr will be acquired.
13. Privacy will be a growing concern in the mainstream, but ultimately people won’t really take any action and for the most part, things won’t change. Some companies and groups (think Mozilla) will push for better privacy controls for users, while others (think Facebook) will continue to push the envelope and continue down a slippery slope. Users will eventually push back, but I am hesitant to say that proverbial “straw that breaks the camel’s back” will come in 2008.
14. OpenID will be adopted by more startups and larger web companies, but most people (mainstream users) still won’t use it - that’s a couple of years off.
15. Facebook will continue to grow and their platform will be adopted by other large social networks. Google will sweat.
16. Mobile web usage will be a big story in 2008. It’s already big in many parts of the world; and Westerners are about to get hooked. With new mobile devices that makes web surfing less painful, people will be more and more connected away from their computers.
17. Mainstream media coverage will be a catalyst for the adoption of Web Office apps by consumers; and Microsoft will eventually be forced to change their Web Office strategy and offer a fully online office suite (but that latter won’t happen in 2008). Offline mode (Gears, AIR, Silverlight, etc.) will be what really tips the scales and causes mainstream users to to embrace the as-of-yet unfamiliar world of Web Office applications.
18. Digg is going to be acquired by one of the mainstream media conglomerates.
19. Implicit applications, which monitor our habits and automatically infer our likes, will rise.
20. Facebook will acquire companies that do the following, in order to strengthen their advertising unit: personalization, behavior tracking, image recognition (Riya?)
21. Facebook will release a browser.
22. Google OpenSocial will be a failure; Google will try to create its own social networking empire by making acquisitions in this space.
23. Microsoft will become more aggresive and buy many popular companies at once (remember Ballmer’s quote). Candidates include SixApart, Technorati.
24. Google will really start looking vulnerable in 2008. While the ‘one trick pony’ comment by Steve Ballmer drew sarcastic responses, this will begin to look prophetic. While they’ll maintain market share in the search industry, the lack of traction in any other of their other initiatives will start to cause frustration. Plus, they will increasingly be perceived as the ‘evil’ company in many of these new initiatives.
25. Closely related, Yahoo’s Hack strategy (see ReadWriteTalk’s podcast with Bradley Horowitz) will start to bear fruit and things will look much more optimistic in Sunnyvale this year.
26. Facebook will start to feel pressure from two trends that will emerge on the web: distributed social networks and distributed commerce systems. For distributed commerce systems, look to see a first proof of concept from the VRM project. Chris Messina’s diso project with Wordpress will be a great proof of concept for distributed social neworks.
27. Non-search advertising on the web will increase in value significantly. This will be done through a lot of innovation in the ad targeting systems (both behavioral and contextual) and new metrics being adopted by Madison Ave beyond CPC and CPM.
28. There will be a lot of innovation in the hyper-local space, putting the final nail in the newspaper industry’s coffin. This will include companies like Outside.in and Yelp moving toward widespread use and new web properties (from both startups and big Internet Cos) emerging.
29. In the 1st Q 2008, the true “Google Killer” in search will be in Stealth Mode. In 2nd Q 2008 the first prototype will begin in closed Alpha mode. In 3rd Q 2008 it will be ready for the final closed Beta testing. In 4th Q 2008 it will launch and “Rock and Shock” the world!
30. The classic Vertical Search Engines (Job Search, Health, Consumer Electronics, Shopping, Video, People, more…) will continue their dominance over all other Search Engines in their various niches.
31. The Alternative Search Engines will pick up the pace of partnerships and cooperation, for their solid mutual benefit.
32. Mainstream Media interest in the Alts will increase until it begins to rival coverage of the five major search engines.
33. The trend towards ‘widgetization’ of the Alts will continue. Approximately 2 in 10 Alternative Search Engines (20%) have widgets now, and that number will double in 2008 to 4 in 10 or 40%.
Few minutes of cleaning can boost speed of your PC!
Most people have a little free time between Christmas and New Year. If you take 15 minutes to clean up your PC, you will probably be rewarded with a computer that runs faster and has space available for any new games you might find under the Christmas tree this year.
Checking your computer’s pre-installed software is a good starting point when looking for ways to free up hard drive space. Many computers come with redundant versions of programmes - for example, several different photo processing programmes even though most computer users use only one.
Most computers that run on Windows-based operating systems also slow down over time as many programmes install themselves as automatic start-up functions and while they remain in the background, they still use up memory.
However, there are ways of tackling the problem. One is by using the “msconfig” command. On computers with the Vista operating system, a user accesses this by typing the command in the computer’s search field. On computers that use the XP system, it’s accessed under “run” in “start” menu.
Starting msconfig allows the user to see all programmes in the automatic start-up menu. However, it’s not advisable to remove all programmes from the automatic start-up list, especially ones responsible for virus scans and computer security, says Axel Vahldiek of the Hanover-based c’t magazine.
De-fragmenting the hard drive is another possible fix for computers that have slowed down with time. On Windows XP systems, the “disk de-fragmenter” function can be found by first accessing “All Programs” and then searching “Accessories” followed by “System Tools.”
De-fragmenting takes data that belongs together, but has nonetheless been saved on different parts of the hard drive, and pulls it back together. But the biggest chunk of computer junk comes from regular installation and de-installation of computer programmes.
Software leaves an entry in the computer’s register every time it’s installed. That entry is then checked every time the computer is booted up. But that registry data is not always removed during de-installation. That means the registry keeps growing and slows down start up times. Nonetheless, neophyte computer users should probably let the registry be since poking can cause irreparable system damage. “You really have to pay close attention,” says Kock.
Starting any programme creates temporary data, which is stored in the C:\WINDOWS\TEMP directory. Frequently, temporary data remains there after the programme is ended. Vahldiek says these leftovers can be removed at the press of a button. By right clicking on the icon of the hard drive in question and choosing “properties”, the user gets the option of “disk cleanup”.
Checking your computer’s pre-installed software is a good starting point when looking for ways to free up hard drive space. Many computers come with redundant versions of programmes - for example, several different photo processing programmes even though most computer users use only one.
Most computers that run on Windows-based operating systems also slow down over time as many programmes install themselves as automatic start-up functions and while they remain in the background, they still use up memory.
However, there are ways of tackling the problem. One is by using the “msconfig” command. On computers with the Vista operating system, a user accesses this by typing the command in the computer’s search field. On computers that use the XP system, it’s accessed under “run” in “start” menu.
Starting msconfig allows the user to see all programmes in the automatic start-up menu. However, it’s not advisable to remove all programmes from the automatic start-up list, especially ones responsible for virus scans and computer security, says Axel Vahldiek of the Hanover-based c’t magazine.
De-fragmenting the hard drive is another possible fix for computers that have slowed down with time. On Windows XP systems, the “disk de-fragmenter” function can be found by first accessing “All Programs” and then searching “Accessories” followed by “System Tools.”
De-fragmenting takes data that belongs together, but has nonetheless been saved on different parts of the hard drive, and pulls it back together. But the biggest chunk of computer junk comes from regular installation and de-installation of computer programmes.
Software leaves an entry in the computer’s register every time it’s installed. That entry is then checked every time the computer is booted up. But that registry data is not always removed during de-installation. That means the registry keeps growing and slows down start up times. Nonetheless, neophyte computer users should probably let the registry be since poking can cause irreparable system damage. “You really have to pay close attention,” says Kock.
Starting any programme creates temporary data, which is stored in the C:\WINDOWS\TEMP directory. Frequently, temporary data remains there after the programme is ended. Vahldiek says these leftovers can be removed at the press of a button. By right clicking on the icon of the hard drive in question and choosing “properties”, the user gets the option of “disk cleanup”.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
New Year Resolution…Seriously it’s Fun
In Roman tradition, Janus, the two faced God was depicted on calendars as he could look back on past events and also look forward to the future. Eventually, Janus became a symbol of making resolutions. This has also given a handle to killjoys who deride resolute resolution-makers as being Janus-faced as they seldom keep their promises.
How ever, the first few days of the New Year are good time to reflect on the past as well as chalk out the future by resolving to do better. The ritual of making New Year resolutions is a way of undertaking mental spring-cleaning, throwing out useless stuff, shaking off unhealthy habits and introducing fresh lifestyle patterns that could brighten the future.
Most resolutions made in the New Year end up being just that. Mere promises we make to over selves but are unable to fulfill. Yet, come another year, we’re energized once again to draw up a list of dos and don’ts to follow in the days ahead. And so the cycle continues. But, in the process, with each new self-commitment- though it might not be kept – something happens that helps us evolve. Beginning the new year with a resolve to get rid of a pesky habit is much more fun than being cynical about it. And who knows? One day we might surprise over selves – and others- by sticking to our resolve for not just that one year but may be for the rest of our lives.
Most resolutions made on new year’s day are to do with correcting lifestyle habits- saying ‘no’ to smoking, choosing a diet plan, walking regularly or enrolling in a gym for physical fitness- but some are also about keeping in touch with friends and relatives, reading more, making time for leisure activity, being kind and budgeting well. Students might plan study schedules or aim to watch less TV. It does not matter if the enthusiasm is sporadic or short-lived. Making resolutions is as integral to the new year spirit as is partying on new year.
How ever, the first few days of the New Year are good time to reflect on the past as well as chalk out the future by resolving to do better. The ritual of making New Year resolutions is a way of undertaking mental spring-cleaning, throwing out useless stuff, shaking off unhealthy habits and introducing fresh lifestyle patterns that could brighten the future.
Most resolutions made in the New Year end up being just that. Mere promises we make to over selves but are unable to fulfill. Yet, come another year, we’re energized once again to draw up a list of dos and don’ts to follow in the days ahead. And so the cycle continues. But, in the process, with each new self-commitment- though it might not be kept – something happens that helps us evolve. Beginning the new year with a resolve to get rid of a pesky habit is much more fun than being cynical about it. And who knows? One day we might surprise over selves – and others- by sticking to our resolve for not just that one year but may be for the rest of our lives.
Most resolutions made on new year’s day are to do with correcting lifestyle habits- saying ‘no’ to smoking, choosing a diet plan, walking regularly or enrolling in a gym for physical fitness- but some are also about keeping in touch with friends and relatives, reading more, making time for leisure activity, being kind and budgeting well. Students might plan study schedules or aim to watch less TV. It does not matter if the enthusiasm is sporadic or short-lived. Making resolutions is as integral to the new year spirit as is partying on new year.
Sacred Space.....Things to Do
Spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that will grow up and leave your side.
Give warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a thing.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
There is no such thing as instant improvement in life, and as you know in agriculture, growth can only happen little by little over time…….
The things that you do daily may seem small and insignificant, but over time people will be surprised to learn how much you have grown in life.
Focus on the small things you do daily. The key word here is daily. If you do not have the persistence to do these small things consistently, you won’t be able to see the results over the long term.
Say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that will grow up and leave your side.
Give warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a thing.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
There is no such thing as instant improvement in life, and as you know in agriculture, growth can only happen little by little over time…….
The things that you do daily may seem small and insignificant, but over time people will be surprised to learn how much you have grown in life.
Focus on the small things you do daily. The key word here is daily. If you do not have the persistence to do these small things consistently, you won’t be able to see the results over the long term.
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