Karan Nakra's Official Blog

Why Google Employees Quit?

2009-08-15T15:47:00.001+05:30

Now here comes the big question of despite having so many perks why the employees quit? During our analysis and research we actually went to a lot of Internet search and blogs that talked about working at Google and to our surprise we saw that no other company has dedicated blogs or sites which said not to work there other than Google eg ‘no2google.wordpress.com’developed and managed by ex-Googlers.
To our surprise Google was everywhere compared with Microsoft and people said they were happy working for MS and one more fact was revelaed that a lot of people have worked with both of them, either they started with MS then switched to Google or vice versa.
Still what we found that MS was more positive in terms of reviews now we know we are challenging the Workplace of the Year choosen by Forbes but that’s what we found during our research.
Now the reasons behind the finding were:
1. Not keeping promises: We found that Google did not keep the promises it made hugely popular. The perks recieved were not as per the standards. Only the office infrastructure was the actual USP and that too not for all.
Here’s a statement we found to support it:
‘I was hired to work in Google’s Singapore office. I found out very
quickly that Google International is not the same as Google-US. The
offered pay was way too low to survive in Singapore, so I left after I
got another job offer that I felt was better for me. I really do
believe that Google is doing some important work with humanitarian
mapping projects and digitizing libraries. But for me, I felt that
Google’s popular image did not match its actions in the work place,
and that some of the things they did were not very “Googly.”’
2. 20% is your benefit and your responsibility : One of the most popular 20% time of Googlers for their personal project is a different reality altogether. Here’s the statement supporting it.
‘In other words, it’s your job to carve out 20% of your work week for a project. If you don’t carve out the time, you don’t get it. Your project needs to be tacitly approved by your manager. Whatever it is, is owned by Google. If you’re organized, you can “save up” your 20% and use it all at once. It’s not unheard of for people to have months and months of “20% time” saved up.’
3. No privacy: The Googleplex which boosts about its colourful lava lamps and ambience actually bugs a lot of people when it comes to their privacy issues and comfort to work. Although we agree it’s a breakthrough décor of the Googleplex but for techies its kinda too much disruptive as they require a lot more attention and precision to work with. The not so organized structure bugs some of them .
‘Google believes that developers are, with few exceptions, interchangeable parts. This philosophy shows through in their office arrangements which in Mountain View are all over the map. There are glass-walled offices, there are open-space areas, there are cubicles, there are people who’s desks are literally in hallways because there’s no room anywhere else. There are even buildings that experiment with no pre-defined workspaces or workstations – cogs (err, people?) just take one of the available machines and desks when they get to work.

In terms of employees per square-foot, every Microsoft Building 9-sized office is a triple at Google. Google doesn’t seem to think that private offices are valuable for technical staff. They’re wrong.’

4. Low Payscale: It was found that actually Google is not a paymaster. It only looked as if it payed well but after some research we found that the payscale was only good for freshers and some Top Execs but not for Middle Level Managers and Techies. The only thing they did were to provide a nicely crafted titles for employees that sounded good and different to pump in some pride in employees.
‘It took two months(lesser than others I guess) for my hiring process
to complete, and I made it clear that I had an offer from IBM in hand
which was paying me good … but I was offered the same salary as my
previous employer … which always kept me de-motivated throughout my
tenure. I joined the job due to company’s name and reputation as well
as I had the option to work in day shifts.’
5. Too much pressure on Employees: Google employees says that there to much pressure on them to be innovative and creative all the time and they say that Managers feel that all individuals should be equal in their competency and innovation without respecting their individual capability in consideration,
‘There was no proper mentoring for 6 months and within 9 months of my
tenure my manager was not happy with my performance, and mgmt always
stressed on “Putting some Extra Effort” - in other words “Spending
some extra hours” … this may not be the case at Google-MV but this
is what it is in India.
If you don’t put extra hours then you won’t get promoted, no promotion
means no salary hike.
I feel sad about my decision on choosing Google over IBM … Small
pay, No work, No Team spirit, No Hike in 12 months, No balance between
Family Life and work are few things which motivated my move out. I am
still jobless after 5 moths of leaving Google, but I am happy with my
decision(I feel like it is better be jobless than work for google as a
Field Tech).’
6. Too much informal culture: The ex googlers feels that the culture is only suited for Freshman and is too much casual which actually bugs people with Work Experience. Actually we found that all thius is because of the perks provided to the employees that actually make them stay at Googleplex for longer than required . Freshman kinda like it as they can lay on couches and surf net for free and have 3 meals a day. It all discourages them to go back home and they develop a habit to stay at the office unnecessarily which is not a good culture to promote.
‘College kids tend to like it because it’s just like college – all of their basic needs are taken care of. In fact, even most of your personal-life can get tied up in Google benefits. Google provides free or subsidized broadband to every employee. Google runs its own, private, bus lines in the Bay Area for employees. Google provides free or subsidized mobile phones. A college kid can literally join Google and, like they did as freshman at university, let Google take care of everything. Of course, if Google handles everything for you, it’s hard to think about leaving because of all the “stuff” you’ll need to transition and then manage for yourself.’
‘I think a lot of people
spent quite a bit of time either just before or just after dinner
hanging out and not really being all that productive, which is nice
for the mostly 20-something crowd, but I can sympathize with the
people who have families that didn’t fit in. I had my own reasons for
not wanting to hang out at work, so I never really got that far into
the Google social scene. And my experience was that the people who
spent all their time at Google were the ones that ended up on the
sexier projects or in charge of things. ’
7. Overqualified Employees: Now heres what this company always boosted about having quiet a qualified employee but in their perspective they were overqualified for the job they were doing. Now this always leaves a reason for them to quit.
‘There’s a huge
discrepancy between engineers and non-engineers. Most of the adwords
support people I talked to complained a lot about their situation.
Not only were they generally overqualified for the jobs (given what
the work actually was, but Google has always prided itself on having
people with extra education) but they could fairly easily have gotten
higher-paying jobs elsewhere. The usual reason for sticking around
that I heard was that after a few years at Google, their resume would
look a lot better on the job market.’

Social Shopping Essential Websites

2009-07-29T23:17:00.001+05:30

1.Kaboodle
2.MyItThings
3.Stylefeeder
4.Zebo
5.ProductWiki
6.ShopStyle

.....Fashion......

2009-07-25T23:57:00.003+05:30

'Fashion is a factory that manufactures desires'

It would be foolish to underestimate the importance of fashion in a society. Clothes and accessories are expressions of how we feel, how we see ourselves- and how we wish to be treated by others. Fashion is too prevalent to be trivial. Even when you say you are not interested in fashion , you have been enforced to confront it. Fashion is everywhere. What you choose to wear or not to wear has become a political statement.
This identity is linked to brand values that have been communicated via marketing . Are you elegant, flighty, debonair, streetwise, intellectual, sexy ... or all above, depending on your mood? Dont worry Fashion has got everyone for you.

Over the last past decade or so, fashion has stolen into every corner of the urban landscape. Our mobile phones, our cars, our kitchens , our choice of media and places where we meet friends- these too have become subject to the vagaries of fashion. Its not enough to wear the clothes; you have to don that lifestyle too. Fashion brands have encouraged this development be adding their names to be a wide range of objects, fulfiling every imaginable function and selling them in stores that resemble theme parks.

People will go to any length to consume Fashion.

Modonna LV Ad 2009

2009-07-07T11:14:00.002+05:30

Michael Jackson to be buried in a Gold-plated, $25,000 solid bronze casket

2009-07-04T23:43:00.003+05:30

Michael Jackson’s final resting place will be a solid bronze, 14k Gold plated casket worth $25,000, featuring a plush blue velvet interior and a hand-polished, mirror finish. The casket, called Promethean was ordered last night from Batesville Casket Company and is quite similar to the one used to bury soul singer James Brown. Jackson’s funeral will be held at the Staples Center, the home of LA Lakers on the coming Tuesday.

My Favourite Chuck Norris Quotes

2009-06-05T14:21:00.002+05:30

If you have five dollars and Chuck Norris has five dollars, Chuck Norris has more money than you.

There is no 'ctrl' button on Chuck Norris's computer. Chuck Norris is always in control.

Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice.

When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s pushing the Earth down.

Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.

Chuck Norris can sneeze with his eyes open.

Chuck Norris can eat just one Lay's potato chip.

Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird.

Chuck Norris invented a language that incorporates karate and roundhouse kicks. So next time Chuck Norris is kicking your ass, don’t be offended or hurt, he may be just trying to tell you he likes your hat.

Most boots are made for walkin'. Chuck Norris' boots ain't that merciful.

Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table, because Chuck Norris only recognizes the element of surprise.

Q: How many Chuck Norris' does it take to change a light bulb? A: None, Chuck Norris prefers to kill in the dark.

Industrial logging isn't the cause of deforestation. Chuck Norris needs toothpicks.

Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.

When Bruce Banner gets mad, he turns into the Hulk. When the Hulk gets mad, he turns into Chuck Norris.

Chuck Norris once went skydiving, but promised never to do it again. One Grand Canyon is enough.

Hiss Movie Trailier

2009-06-03T15:10:00.001+05:30

The business card of the future

2009-05-29T12:14:00.001+05:30

If you talk to someone who claims to work in Search or is an SEO expert ask them what you can Google to test their skills. What better test of search engine optimization than their name, in my case Eric Friedman.

Recently Google offered free cards promoting your Google Profile in conjunction with iPrint to produce the follow business cards:

Microsoft's Search Engine:BING

2009-05-29T12:05:00.001+05:30

Microsoft took the wraps off Bing, the rebranded and rebuilt search engine formerly code-named Kumo, designed to replace Live Search. It's a solid improvement over the previous search product, and it beats Google in important areas. It will help Microsoft gain share in the search business. It's surprisingly competitive with Google.

Superman the costliest movie ever

2009-05-27T15:29:00.002+05:30

Superman has been the ultimate favourite with kids all over the world. He has become a household name over the ages. With spider-man and bat-man having done their jobs, its time for the super-cool superman to prove his mettle. ‘Superman returns’ will be releasing on June 30th. The costs by then will be reaching $300 million. Phew! I wonder how many supermen are returning with that much moolah invested. Originally it was $200m with first director McG before Bryan Singer took over. When Bryan took over they had to re-shoot. And now it's anywhere between $290m and $300m.Warner Brothers, the studio producing the film, claims the budget to actually be $204 million, but industry experts say that roughly $255 million has already been spent.

In point of fact it surpasses movies like spider-man, King Kong and titanic where the budget is concerned. Hope this magnum opus venture turns out to be a huge sensation. In any case the ‘superman sensation’ prevails!

World's 10 Most Amazing Airport Lounges

2009-05-27T15:23:00.002+05:30

1) Air France l'Espace Premiere lounge, Pa
2) American Airlines Flagship Lounge, New York
3) British Airways Concorde Room, London
4) Cathay Pacific The Pier, Hong Kong
5) Emirates Airlines Lounge, New York
6) Lufthansa First-Class Lounge, Frankfurt
7) Qantas First-Class Lounge, Sydney
8) Qatar Airways Premium Terminal, Doha
9) South African Airways Cycad First Class Lounge, Johannesburg
10) Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, London

Jenna Jameson:The Entrepreneur

2009-05-22T11:49:00.003+05:30

Jenna Jameson, the world's most famous porn star, has done a far better job of exploiting herself than any sleazy peddler could hope to do. Since 1993 the onetime blonde (now brunette)bombshell has starred in 50-odd adult movies, selling millions of copies worldwide. Today thousands of members pay $35 a month for access to her Web site, ClubJenna.com, where they can linger over nude pictures of her, download her racy movies and read her lurid diary. Her fans can rent her digital moan as the ringer on their cell phones and buy Jenna sex toys, action figures--and even a piece of herself, molded in soft plastic, anatomically accurate and priced to move at $200.

But here's the weird part:Jenna Jameson hasn't had sex on-camera with a male partner (other than her husband) in seven years; better yet, she hopes to build her thriving business even bigger without ever again having video sex with anyone--male, female or herself. "Ialways wanted to be a star," says Jameson, 31. "I've always embraced my hard-core roots, but becoming a household name was an important thing to me."

She has transcended the sex trade to become a bona fide celebrity, hounded by the tabloids and fervid fans. Her memoir, How to Make Love Like a Porn Star, spent six weeks on the New York Times bestseller list last year. She has appeared 30 times on Howard Stern's radio show, most recently to disclaim a rumor that she was sleeping with Britney Spears, and had a small role in his 1997 film, Private Parts. She shows up on such TV talk shows as The O'Reilly Factor. The A&E network is looking at the just-completed pilot for her hoped-for reality series, and she wants to do a film on her life story.

Her holding company, ClubJenna, will hit revenues of $30 million this year, up 30% in a year; the profits may approach half of that. She owns and operates ClubJenna with her husband, Jay G. Grdina, a producer or director of 900 adult films. "This has developed from an individual star into a porn conglomerate," he says. "Her brand has been developed with the reputation of being the best, and now we are capitalizing on that and monetizing the name." They hope to move into Jenna-branded strip clubs, cosmetics, an apparel line and bejeweled sex toys.

Jameson says she has shot enough new hard-core footage with her husband (who performs under the name "Justin Sterling") to let them release a couple of Jenna flicks each year for a decade. The typical adult release sells 3,000 copies in the first month; a Jenna Jameson sells 50,000 at a retail price of $50 each. Moreover, she has lined up a stable of five new actresses to make films under the ClubJenna label, boosting her production from three films last year to a projected three dozen in 2005. The first release, which debuted late last year and stars Krystal Steal, features Jameson beside her on the cover and includes a tryst between them--and sold 30,000 copies in the first month.

"Not doing my movies doesn't mean retirement," Jameson says in an interview at her plush home in Scottsdale, Ariz. "It means more work--and more money." She pays her new stars a base of $50,000 to $150,000 a year, plus a 3% cut of any sales over the 10,000-copy mark. It is a rare setup in a business that releases 11,500 films a year, racking up $4 billion of a total $15 billion in U.S. sales of sex-related goods. Had Jameson herself gotten a cut of sales of her early films, she now would bring in an extra $750,000 a year.

The duo formed ClubJenna as an Internet porn company in 2000; ClubJenna.com was one of the first adult sites to feature fare beyond explicit picture and video content. Jenna provided diaries, advice on relationships and plastic surgery, even stock tips. They were profitable in their third week, but "Dot-com became dot-bomb pretty quickly," says Grdina, "so we decided to diversify." They began running other porn stars' Web sites and still run them for 16 actors, including all 5 ClubJenna women and Vivid Entertainment starlets Tera Patrick and Briana Banks. Web site management and membership fees make up $12 million, or 40%, of ClubJenna's annual revenue.

Vivid, the world's largest adult film company, with $100million in sales in 2004, distributes and markets ClubJenna films for a 30% cut of sales. The raunchy movies, which often feature bondage and have Jenna canoodling mightily with myriad women, make up one-third of total revenue and are the most profitable part of the business, earning net margins well above 50%. Briana Loves Jenna, co-produced with Vivid, cost $280,000 to make in 2001. It grossed over $1 million in its first year and still sells more than 3,000 copies a month. This month ClubJenna releases Jenna Loves Pain.

Jameson also is in a six-year contract with sex-toy maker Doc Johnson, getting a flat licensing fee plus a cut of sales. Jameson takes an active role in the design and marketing of all her toys, says Ronald Braverman, Doc Johnson's chief executive, who dispels any notion that Grdina controls the business and Jenna is simply a pretty face. "Some people might think Jenna is some blonde bimbo because of her films, but they are wrong," he says. "When we sit down for business meetings, she never leaves the room."

Now she is taking on the ever-growing cell phone market (see FORBES, May 23). Y-Tell, ClubJenna's wireless company, sells Jenna "moan tones," pictures, chat services and games in 50-50 partnerships with 20 carriers around the world. Jenna content is available to 35 million people acrossthe globe, mostly in Europe and South America. Grdina says there have been at least 4 million Jenna-related downloads, though the U.S. market has yet to catch fire.

Now we can imagine why she is the wealthiest of the Porn Stars?

This is why Megan is a FOX!

2009-05-18T09:50:00.002+05:30

Facts about Grand Canyon

2009-05-15T09:58:00.005+05:30

Geologists place the age of the Earth at around 4.5 billion years. Grand Canyon Facts reveal that the oldest rock in the Inner Gorge is nearly 2 billion years old! The limestone that caps the rim of the Grand Canyon is a young 270 million years. The oldest human artifacts date back 12,000 years.

Can you imagine the persistence of the Colorado River to cut a canyon that is 4,000 feet deep for 277 miles, and digs down to 6,000 feet at its deepest and 15 miles at its widest? That's some river! It's hard to imagine how the Grand Canyon was formed by flowing water.

The Grand Canyon Sky Walk opened in March 2007. According to Grand Canyon Facts, it is an amazing feat of architecture, allowing you the feeling of floating over the depths as you look down through the glass-bottomed loop.

# Over 1,500 plant, 355 bird, 89 mammalian, 47 reptile, 9 amphibian, and 17 fish species are found in the park.

Jumpsuits for Spring 2009

2009-05-15T09:28:00.003+05:30

I think they are a comfortable and a nice alternative to our regular wardrobe.
They are smart , trendy and comfortable plus Monochrome is in this year so what are you waiting for , go grab one right now............

Kat Von D: The Tattoo Guru

2009-05-13T16:38:00.004+05:30

All About Kat
29 Random Facts

You just can't get enough of Kat, the Queen of Portraits. Well, today is your lucky day, buddy. We sat down with her and collected all the info that hard-core fans would wanna know.

1. Kat Von D stands for Katherine Von Drachenberg (my father is of German descent).

2. I speak fluent Spanish. It is my first language.

3. I dropped out of school, but I do not want to glorify that at all. I faced many, many downfalls.

4. My favorite tattoo artist is Kore Flatmo, who is based in Cincinnati. He tattooed the eyeball on my hand.

5. I am obsessed with photos of downtown L.A.

6. I have a brother and sister. I am close to both of them, and I have tattooed them both.

7. I have a tattoo portrait of my sister on my left arm.

8. I came to America when I was 4. I was born in Mexico.

9. Both of my parents are Argentinean.

10. The first tattoo I ever did was on a 14-year-old friend. It was of a Misfits skull.

11. In 2005, I got a chance to tattoo the Misfits drummer.

12. I love platform heels from the ‘70s.

13. I go to the movies all the time.

14. Favorite movies: The Devil’s Rejects, Zoolander, anything with Will Ferrell, Immortal Beloved, The Last Unicorn, Spinal Tap and Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventures.

15. Music is a huge part of my life. It influences my dress, my work … everything! I like everything from the New York Dolls to Slayer.

16. I love steak.

17. I never wanna have babies.

18. My favorite band is Motley Crüe. Seriously. But my favorite songs are by Beethoven.

19. My favorite Motley Crüe song is "Starry Eyes"; it's why I have stars on my face.

20. I own three pianos. One is in Dallas and the other two are in Hollywood.

21. I wear hair extensions (my hair is about shoulder length).

22. I love heavy metal, everything from glam to power metal.

23. I’m obsessed with Scandinavia, especially Finland. (I love the bands from there. I tattooed a Finnish band named Him and another named Bam Margera.)

24. I love glitter.

25. I own two sphinx cats (the hairless cats). One is named Hollywood and the other is Lebowski (Holly and Leebo).

26. I own a house in Dallas. I go there about once a month to tattoo.

27. I live in Hollywood, right in the center of everything. I can see the Chinese Theater from my apartment. I love L.A. and can’t see myself living anywhere else.

28. I love skateboarding. I skateboard to work all the time.

29. I am obsessed with Beethoven, and I have been playing classical piano since the age of 7. I love that Beethoven was a hopeless romantic, that he left everything he owned to the mysterious immortal beloved.

The latest 'in' thing: Bikini jeans!

2009-05-13T15:55:00.002+05:30

Just when common people thought fashion world couldn't get any weirder, along come -- the bikini jeans!
Priced at 62 pounds, the eye-catching apparel feature a thong sewn into a pair of supremely low-slung jeans.

Brainchild of Japanese clothing company Sanna's, the booty-cut bottoms were born after a customer said she wanted jeans that sat lower than the hips but did not need to be hoicked up in an unladylike fashion, reports Wales Online.

Designer Sandra Tanimura, who owns a pair of the bikini jeans herself, said: "This was very difficult without the trousers falling down, so I came up with the idea of using the bikini strings."

"They have already taken off in Japan and we believe they will be just as popular in the UK, especially with bold women who like their own bodies."

However, stylist -Wenda James-Rowe said: "They are totally tasteless and terrible -- it's taking things to the extreme."

"If you have a pair of jeans that fall down, just wear a belt. To wear these you would have to be stick thin or you would have big bulges coming out the gaps."

"It's not something I would wear -- maybe they would appeal to really young girls but even if they do, I think the attraction will be short-lived."

Source:MSN

Personally I hate this trend. its quiet cheap, but we cant help as everything sells and for a reason...........

Fashion Flashback - Nike's Faux Pas!

2009-05-13T15:45:00.001+05:30

Do you fancy shoes that look like your feet and in addition have hair sticking out of its toes? Well, I don’t. I wonder what prompted Nike to come up with this pair? They are outright ugly, though the concept is somewhat unique and quirky.

Shoes go modular!

2009-05-13T15:37:00.002+05:30

You’ve heard of modular furniture, modular kitchen and even modular bathroom but did you know that your shoe would be going modular too? The modular shoe that comes with an abundance of zippers allowing you to turn your footwear into shoes, sandals, flip-flops and many other styles won’t ask you to rush back home to change your footwear with a change in plan. This cool gadget shoe recently went on display in Barcelona and possibly will be hitting the market soon.

50 ways to light a Zippo

2009-05-12T12:51:00.000+05:30

Best Beatboxer!!!

2009-05-12T12:43:00.000+05:30

Amazing human beatbox

2009-05-12T12:42:00.000+05:30

Tips for a stylish spring wardrobe

2009-05-12T12:21:00.000+05:30

With flowers abloom, spelling the arrival of spring, its time to overhaul your wardrobe with the latest fashion trends that are going to dominate the fashion scene this season. Very modish, most of the trends are going to be loved by fashionistas for not being very OTT. Ken Downing, Fashion Director at Neiman Marcus has suggested nine must-haves this season.

Pink he says will be the new black, with the color splashed on shoes, bags, dresses, glares and everything imaginable. Uber practical, unstructured carryalls will add functionality to fashion, he suggests. One shoulder dressing will up the glam quotient of style divas manifolds. For more trendy tips visit Neiman Marcus.

Justin Timberlake: The most stylish American man

2009-05-12T12:16:00.001+05:30

Pop sensation Justin Timberlake has a style quotient that the fashion world has always raved about. The panache with which he carries off queer styles that end up becoming fashion norms has made him top the list of the ten most stylish men in America, compiled by the men’s magazine GQ.

The fashion-forward style icon who has endorsed unusual trends like the fedora hat, the formally informal three-piece, teamed with the sneakers look and the famous skinny tie, has always encouraged men to unconventionally experiment with their looks. His guy-next-door looks reflect in his clothing line - William Rast has helped him reach the fashion icon status, famous for endorsing functional fashion.

Looking forward to more trends from you, Justin!

Am I Ugly?

2009-05-11T17:29:00.002+05:30

In our modern, superficial society, nearly all of us ask the question "Am I ugly" at one time or another. While we seek to know "how ugly am I", and hope that the answer makes us feel good about ourselves, the honest truth is that we all are ugly in one sense or another.

It is often postulated that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Similarly, ugliness is in the eye of everyone else. To a mother, her children-- no matter how ugly-- are beautiful. When emotion is considered into the beautiful/ugly equation, the results are biased and inaccurate.

I dont blame it on us at all. Its a feeling generated by media all over the world where they always project models with hourglass figure and flawless skin as the "Only Beauty" symbols left and the only standards we al have to fight for.

If that was not true soaps like "Ugly Betty" or "Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin" would not have got success where they actually try to project that not so plastic looking people get ignored and are always bullied.

This media actually only projects The Angelina Jolies and Aishwarya Rais of the world hiding the fact that to maintain this artificial beauty how much health during their FAD Diets and Botox Surgeries they actually compromise.

I agree that looks create a difference but even not all of it can compensate a person's wit , intelligence and warmth.

So people stop worrying about your looks cause its just a "GOD'S GIFT" nothing of anyone's own achievement and no one should boost about it as its sheer luck nothing else..........

Enjoy what God has given us all and BE NATURAL

Victoria's Secret Most Luxurious Store

2009-05-11T11:16:00.000+05:30

What if Heidi Klum Worked at a Victoria's Secret Store?

2009-05-11T11:12:00.001+05:30

Save the Amazon Forest

2009-05-10T13:07:00.000+05:30

The Amazon rainforest is the biggest forest in the world and is also the last big space covered with tropical plants and animals. The Amazon forest territory is a tropical rainforest that is located in the north side of the South American continent and is shared by 9 countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, French Guiana and Guiana. Travel through the forest can be difficult, and a guide or a river tour are the best options to see the natural wonders of the rain forest.

The largest part of is located in Brazil (60%) and covers almost half of that country. The space covered with the forest is 5.5 million square kilometers (3.4 million square miles ). When the Old World explorers reached the Americas they were all looking for gold, silver and gems. The Portuguese explorers that colonized Brazil believed that somewhere in that huge forest they would find the "Eldorado", an entire city made of gold that has an almost intangible value. This hoax came along with the myth that the Eldorado was guarded by the women warrior race of the Amazons.

Expeditions started to go up the Amazon River trying to find the Eldorado. There was a race to find the gold before the Spanish and French arrived, and found it on their own. They never found the Eldorado or the Amazons, but the name was set.

The "Rain" forest is a nickname that describes the humidity that you find in tropical and equatorial forests, but it doesn't rain all the time. Tropical rainforests are always located near the equator, and are very hot. All this heat associated with great portions of water make a lot of evaporation into the air. The forest also helps to retain water in their branches, roots and soil. All of this makes these forests very humid and there's a well defined rainy season that works towards the establishment of this nickname for tropical and equatorial forests.

All this heat, rain and humidity make these forests a very rich ecosystem or habitat for many organisms. A rainforest has trees, like any other forest, but they are very different from the temperate forest you are used to seeing in colder places like in US, Europe and parts of Asia. There are 120 foot trees, thousands of different species of plants, and all sort of rainforest animals including the red eyed tree frog, insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. The rainforest canopy is home to thousands of animal species. The bio diversity one can experience here is unparalleled. And the most amazing part is that all this apparent chaos is actually a very balanced system, a product of million of years of evolution and natural selection.

But the forest is not only populated by animals and plants, there are many humans there too. The Indians are part of the equilibrium that existed there for thousands of years. The indigenous tribes of the forest live off the land as their ancestors have for thousands of years. The other humans, not native, have settled there for different reasons, but are always looking for opportunities in this unexplored land. Sometimes (usually) this has a negative impact over the forest. The idea of learn how to live from the forest by the forest is something that is not easy, but not impossible either. There are many examples of sustainable use. This type of information needs to become more popular, as deforestation is becoming a danger to the existence of the forest. While logging and forest clearing may be profitable in the short run, in the long run it is a danger to the amazon. It is also a danger the growing eco tourism that is a major attraction to the Amazon for tourists.

Amazonia is a huge and very complex place where nature created a unique set of biological and geological cycles, hardly seen in other places, and where mankind developed different cultures, languages, and art. The mysteries and awe around the Amazon jungle is something we should know and need to protect. There are several programs where on can buy an acre to save the land from harm.

Bangalore Best Hangouts....

2009-05-09T17:16:00.000+05:30

Yo, I am back to my favourite topic Bangalore.
But this time its just to tell you the places you must visit in the city.
I am trying to segregate it according to the tastes and preferences so please help yourself.

Best Pubs:
Purple Haze, Kormangala is the must visit if you really are among the ones who love head banging and can actually sing along with the crowd at the highest of your pitches. Cheap, Amazing and Lively(particularly at Fridays).this is the best place to be anyday.

Styx,MG Road is another good and decent option.

Tavern At The Inn is a fun and different place to be with decent ambiance and crowd.

Stones, Indiranagar for the ones who can have just Draught Beer and good retro jazz and soft rock as their Supper.

The Blue Bar, Race Course Road is one expensive and truly once in a blue moon option when you have earned and saved decent for one special evening.

The HARD ROCK CAFE, MG Road: Its the father of all Pubs and we all know that. It needs no explanation

Lounges:

The Couch, MG Road is the best with not creating a big hole in your pocket and with a decent young crowd.

The Vaayu,Brigade Road is the value for money for all .

Ivy-The Unwind Island, is the place to be with friends but only when u have whole lotsa time.

Maya-The Lounge, MG Road is one decent option with some of the best Music.

Polo Club, Oberoi is one amazing and a must visit place.

Places for Romantic Dinner:

Take 5, 100 ft Road Indiranagar: Its my favo place as it has got the best ambiance to get cozy with your lady love and nice crowd everytime I was there.

The 13th Floor , MG Road: Only if you get the terris table this place is one of the best places for a Candle Light Dinner.

Indijoe Resto Pub, Airport Road : This place is not very cozy but surely serves the Best food in town with lovely interiors for a change.

I-Bar, Version- 2.01, The Park Hotel: Been there and loved it , Amazing is the word to describe it.

Sutra, The Ashoka is one stylish place but only good at Sunday Nights.

Coffee Houses:
CC DAy , 100 ft Road Indiranagar.

Barista, MG Road.

Mochas, Levelle Road.

The Coffee Shop, The Taj MG ROAD

There's one at UB City mall to which serves decent coffee but is usually crowded.

1498 AD - The Coffee Shop at The Atria Hotel is a must place to be if you have loads of time and money.

Hope you will thank me after visiting these places. Enjoy..........

Yamaha R1 2009:

2009-05-09T14:14:00.000+05:30

Engine
Type 998cc, liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC 16 valves (titanium valves)
Bore x Stroke 78.0mm X 52.2mm
Compression Ratio 12.7:1
Fuel Delivery Fuel Injection with YCC-T and YCC-I
Ignition TCI: Transistor Controlled Ignition
Transmission 6-speed w/multi-plate slipper clutch
Final Drive #530 O-ring chain

ALL NEW FOR 2009
*In the supersport liter class, there’s always lots of talk about power. You expect that. What you wouldn’t have expected – until now – is a radically superior way to deliver that power. Introducing the 2009 YZF-R1, the first ever production motorcycle with a crossplane crankshaft. Crossplane technology, first pioneered in MotoGP racing with the M1, puts each connecting rod 90° from the next, with an uneven firing interval of 270°- 180°- 90°- 180°.
*YCC-T (Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle) is MotoGP inspired fly-by-wire technology used to deliver instant throttle response. YCC-I is Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake which is a variable intake system that broadens the spread of power. The fuel injection system provides optimum air/fuel mixtures for maximum power and smooth throttle response.
*The R1 features Yamaha D-MODE (or drive mode) with rider-selectable throttle control maps to program YCC-T performance characteristics for riding conditions. The standard map is designed for optimum overall performance. The “A” mode lets the rider enjoy sportier engine response in the low- to mid-speed range, and the “B” mode offers response that is somewhat less sharp response for riding situations that require especially sensitive throttle operation. Switching maps is as easy as pushing a button on the handlebar switch.
*In keeping with this machine’s exceptional cornering ability and crisp handling, the all new aluminum frame has been designed to offer exceptional rigidity balance. The rear frame is now lightweight CF die-cast magnesium, contributing the optimum mass centralization. Suspension includes new SOQI front forks which use one of the tricks developed for our winning MotoGP bikes: independent damping.
*Slipper-type back torque-limiting clutch greatly facilitates braking/downshifting from high speed.
*The new SOQI rear shock both high and low speed compression damping plus an easy-to-use screw adjustment for preload. This unit also adopts a pillow-ball-type joint for exceptional shock absorption, road hold feeling, and damper response. To achieve maximum performance, a new bottom linkage is used to work with the rest of the chassis refinements for brilliant, crisp handling characteristics.
Factory racers get machines tailored to their preferences. Welcome to the club. R1 has adjustable footrests, with a 15mm height and 3mm front-to-rear adjustment.

Pick up lines...

2009-05-09T13:46:00.000+05:30

Some of the most effective one's:

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
"Would you like to dance?"
"Can I interest you in a glass of…?"
"Do you come here often? I could use your opinion about something…"
"Excuse me; can you help me with…?"
"Don’t you find this place…?"
"You look like you might be interested in some great conversation."
"Would you like an escort to your…"
"Wow! I really like that (insert item of clothing or fragrance) you’re wearing."
"I just thought you should know that you have a really nice…"
"Hey girl, you look so good, I'd marry your brother just to get in your family."
"Do you know what'd look good on you? Me."
"If I could rearrange the alphabet, I'd put U and I together."
"Please help the homeless. Take me home with you..."
"You are a 9.999. Well, you'd be a perfect 10 if you were with me."
"You're good at mathematics, right? Would you say 69 was a perfect square?"
"If beauty were time, you'd be eternity."
"Something tells me you're sweet. Can I have a sample?"
"Do you believe in love at first sight... or should I walk by you again?"
"Is it hot in here, or is it just you?"
"I don't dance. But I'd love to hold you while you do."
"There's so much to say but your eyes keep interrupting me."
"Clothes aren't sexy. Women are"
"Please be patient - this is my first time."
"You can't be real. May I pinch you to see if I'm dreaming?"

Top Luxury Brands

2009-05-09T00:16:00.000+05:30

Get acquainted with the Top Luxury Brands:
Here's a Crash Course
Versace
Armani
Gucci
Chanel
Prada
Calvin Klein
Dolce Gabbana
Fendi
Hugo Boss
Christian Dior
Ralph Lauren
Valentino
Hermes
Moschino
Giorgio Armani
Donna Karan
DKNY
Tommy Hilfiger
Louis Vuitton
Escada
Givenchy
Tiffany
Elizabeth Arden
Carolina Herrera
Cartier
Salvatore Ferragamo
Vivienne Westwood
Estee Lauder
Ferragamo
Roberto Cavalli
Liz Claiborne
Diesel
Adidas
Joop
miu miu
Benetton
Gianni Versace
Guess
Pucci
Davidoff
Coach
Aramis
Missoni
Krizia
Vuitton
Kenzo

What they wont teach u @ a B-School

2009-05-06T12:07:00.000+05:30

Probably the most common of the conversations among the Managers across the world, I thought I will contribute my thoughts and learning.
Its been a year being at a B-School I feel a big void between my expectations and what I got at my B-School.

What I observed that they wont tell you:
-> What exactly are the profiles related to all the Specializations we all go through?
-> How can you covert your passion into a Career?
-> Why you should opt for a specialization and why not follow your friends just to be with them or rather i would say in reality with your Girlfriends/Boyfriends?(I know that's quiet blunt for some of u there)
-> Whats the pros and cons of different profiles and how can you choose them to achieve your personnel goals in life like traveling , operating from home, interacting with people, advisory services etc.
-> They wont tell you that its a BIG BAD WORLD outside your campus and its ready to give you nightmares.
-> They wont even tell you that your Manager is the one who will decide your fate so better be aware and cautious.
-> They wont make you aware that how important Social Networking and Web Sites enabling them are in deciding how you can shape up your career?
-> They would always discourage you to ask questions that are beyond there realm of possibilities and you will ultimately feel that they are right.
-> They may even say that you will be able to crack all interviews with books and newspapers hiding the fact that they only make upto 40% of whats required other than your wit , smartness, communication and etiquettes.
-> They wont tell you that all of us are made for something specific not generic as they orient us for 2 years.
-> That Internet is the best gift to all of us by Mankind and will is the first food for survival in the Corporate world.
-> That the dumbest and weirdest of their batch mates will get the best placements despite of you wondering on what they think and say.
-> That everytime you will encounter a girl scoring the best grades despite of being the most silent creature in the lecture and not even knowing whats her Dream Company's CEO name is?
-> That even the canteen at their campus involves a lot of Management and we are not even aware of it basic operational stuff.
-> Last but not the least they wont tell you how important this BLOG is cause they themselves would not have read this.

Giving you all a lifetime opportunity to go through this Blog time and again so that you are clearer in your goals and motives.
Cheersssssssss.........

Karan Nakra's Blog

2009-05-04T12:14:00.000+05:30

Karan Nakra's Blog

How Porsche hacked the financial system and made a killing VW takeover

2009-05-04T10:17:00.000+05:30

In 1931, Austro-Hungarian engineer Ferdinand Porsche started a German company in his own name. It offered car design consulting services, and was not a car manufacturer itself until it produced the Type 64 in 1939. But things got interesting for Porsche long before then.

In 1933, he was approached by none other than Adolf Hitler, who commissioned a car designed for the German masses. Porsche accepted, and the result was the iconic Beetle, manufactured under the Volkswagen (lit. “people’s car”) brand. Today, Porsche’s company is one of the world’s premier luxury car brands, while Volkswagen (VW) is itself the world’s third-largest auto maker after General Motors and Toyota.

Three years ago, Volkswagen found itself fearing a foreign takeover. Porsche, the company, decided to step in and start buying VW stock ostensibly to protect the landmark brand, widely fueling market expectations that it would eventually buy Volkswagen outright. Of course, this isn’t quite what came to pass.

For three years, Porsche kept accumulating VW stock without telling anyone how much it owned. Every time it purchased more, the amount of free-floating VW stock would decrease, driving the stock price up slightly; your basic supply and demand at work. Eventually the share price became high enough that, to outside observers, it wouldn’t have made any sense for Porsche to buy Volkswagen. It would simply have cost too much.

To explain what happened next, I’m going to first tell you about a financial maneuver called shorting.

● ● ●

At any given point, only a certain amount of a publicly traded company’s stock is floating freely in the market. The rest is held in various portfolios, funds, and investment vehicles. Now, everyone’s familiar with the basic idea behind the stock market: you buy stock when it costs little, and you sell it when it costs a lot, profiting on the difference.

But that assumes a company’s value is going to increase. What if, instead of betting a company will go up, you want to make money betting the company will go down? You can — by selling stock you don’t own.

Say you borrow a certain amount of stock from someone who already owns it. You pay a fixed fee for borrowing the stock, and you sign a contract saying you will return exactly the same amount of stock you took after some amount of time. So, you might borrow a thousand shares of Apple stock from me (I don’t actually own any, but play along), pay me $100 for the privilege, and sign an obligation to return my stock in 3 months. At the time, Apple stock is worth $10 per share.

After you borrow the stock, you immediately sell it. At $10 a share, you get $10,000. Two and a half months later, another rumor about Steve Jobs’ health sends AAPL crashing to only $6 per share for a few hours, so you buy a thousand shares, costing you $6,000. You give me back those shares. Because you successfully bet the company would go down in value, you earned $4,000 minus the borrowing fee. This is called short-selling or shorting the stock, and the downside is obvious: if your bet was wrong, you would have lost money buying back the shares that you have to return to your lender.

● ● ●

Now things get kinky.

When Volkswagen’s share price exceeded the point where it made sense for Porsche to buy the company, a number of hedge funds realized that Volkswagen shares have nowhere to go but down. With Porsche out of the picture, there was simply no reason for VW to keep going up, and the funds were willing to bet on it. So they shorted huge amounts of VW stock, borrowing it from existing owners and selling it into circulation, waiting for the price drop they considered inevitable.

Porsche anticipated exactly this situation and promptly bought up much of these borrowed VW shares that the funds were selling. Do you see where this is going? Analysts did. According to The Economist, Adam Jonas from Morgan Stanley warned clients not to play “billionaire’s poker” against Porsche. Porsche denied any foul play, saying it wasn’t doing anything unusual.

But then, last October 26th, they stepped forward and bared their portfolio: through a combination of stock and options, they owned 75% of Volkswagen, which is almost all the company’s circulating stock. (The remainder is tied up in funds that cannot easily release it.)

To put it mildly, the numbers scared the living hell out of the hedge funds: if they didn’t immediately buy back the Volkswagen stock they were shorting, there might not be any left to buy later, and it isn’t their stock — they have to return it to someone. If their only option is thus to buy the VW stock from Porsche, then the miracle of supply and demand will hit again, and Porsche can ask for whatever price it wants per VW share — twenty times their value, a hundred times their value — because there’s no other place to buy. They’re the only game in town.

And that, my friends, is called a short squeeze.

● ● ●

Porsche’s ownership disclosure sent the hedge funds on such a flurry of purchases for any Volkswagen stock still in circulation that the VW share price jumped from below €200 to over €1000 at one point on October 28th, making Volkswagen for a brief time the world’s most valuable company by market cap.

On paper, Porsche made between €30-40 billion in the affair. Once all is said and done, the actual profit is closer to some €6-12 billion. To put those numbers in perspective, Porsche’s revenue for the whole year of 2006 was a bit over €7 billion.

Porsche’s move took three years of careful maneuvering. It was darkly brilliant, a wealth transfer ingeniously conceived like few we’ve ever seen. Betting the right way, Porsche roiled the financial markets and took the hedge funds for a fortune.

Rock Music is Dead

2009-05-02T12:05:00.000+05:30

I know I am starting a big debate here as i know i will offend a lot of people here.
But do you really think that Rock Music is alive anymore?
I myself hear all the contemporary music like JT,Jay-Z,Linking Park,Rihana etc but I confess that where I find peace is with Pink Floyd and Metallica.
I remember the times when i was in school then MTV and Music was something different as its today. I remember people listening to Eagles and AC/DC and thats what i grew with.
Nowdays what people call Rock Music is something produced out of thousands of Microprocessors across the world using different wave frequencies with the help of electricity.
Where is that acoustics of Dueling Guitars and that Music which used to trig millions for that insane Headbanging?

Rock music, is barely alive. Bands that once ruled the charts are gone. Guns n Roses, Metallica and Korn are no longer selling out arenas or compact disk racks.

What teenagers today define Rock is nothing which matches the music of 80's and 90's. Tell me where can you find know a song like "Comfortably Numb" or "Turn the page"?

There was a time when people used to go crazy as soon as Aerosmith touched the Stadium with 50000 fans just trying to catch a glimpse of the man with Long hair,Leather Pants, Sweat all over the body, Skinny Ass and insane passion with the best pitch to address all his lovers.

Well, here's a question: WHERE IS THE ORIGINALITY??? The only original new band I have heard is the Arctic Monkeys and they are from Britain! The problem with American music is that bands aren't willing to take chances! The last time that happened was when Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden suddenly burst onto the scene and destroyed 80's rock in general. It was a move that had to be done for the sake of music. That's just what American bands do…they take something that was original and turn it into something stale.
The last good bands I heard producing a nice Rock Music were Coldplay and Radiohead.
Still they are not par excellence as there ancestors.

Since living in Bangalore gave me a chance to be at the Best Rock Pubs in India like Purple Haze and Stones I have a small hope left that at least some of the people still are aware whats called a True Rock Music and I hope the Fraternity will keep it alive and contribute to it.
The rebellious, loud and obnoxious rock music that so many love will be continue and live.
I hope the generations to come will still respect the Mettalica and Pink Floyd as we do and will pass on the legacy........

Ubesexuals VS Metrosexuals

2009-04-30T10:07:00.000+05:30

Please let me share with you some enjoyable lines about the difference between two quite different lifestyle paterns...or are they marketing concepts? Lionel

"Ubersexuals Leaving Metrosexuals at the Spa

Look out metrosexuals, there's a new man in town.

He's the ubersexual — the man who can talk fashion with women but also compete for them with the fireman at the bar.

He's got male buddies, but also enjoys female friends. He might groom himself with expensive products, but he would never, under any circumstances, highlight, wax or self-tan.

He works out, but he's not vainly striving for a six-pack.

"The ubersexual man would look down on a Calvin Klein model," said Marian Salzman, who writes about ubersexuals in her book, "The Future of Men", co-written by Ira Matathia and Ann O'Reilly. "He still cares about the way he looks — he hasn't given up aesthetically on himself — he's just not doing it to satisfy what the outer world sees him as, he's doing it for how he feels about himself."

Who fits the bill? Advertising agency JWT, which employs Salzman as director of strategic content, says the Top Ten ubersexuals are Jon Stewart, Guy Ritchie, Pierce Brosnan, Ewan McGregor, Barack Obama, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, George Glooney and — at No. 1 — U2 rock star and world peace activist Bono.

This is a departure of sorts. For the last few years, the term metrosexual has been used as a defense of men's open adoption of traditionally female things. We are men, hear us ... blow dry. Magazines like Vitals, Details, GQ and Esquire began celebrating men's right to preen, primp and tweeze.

The ubersexual harkens back to a man from an older world — a man who might shave with a badger brush and an imported soap, but would never peel "in order to gently restore radiance to the skin."

More than just style, though, the ubersexual embraces the positive aspects of his masculinity —his "M-ness" — without giving into the stereotypes that give guys a bad name.

He's confident, passionate and feels good leading, but he respects women, is comfortable with his emotions and isn't completely ignorant of anything cultural outside of sports, beer and burgers.

Talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who reportedly was disappointed to be left off the list of ubersexuals, told listeners: "An 'ubersexual' is simply what men used to be before feminists came along and neutered them. It is hilarious that we now have a book claiming women want, essentially, a new type of man, who is in reality the traditional man."

Salzman would agree: "[For the past 15 years] women have become so comfortable in the idea that they could define what was feminine, they had also taken over responsibility of dictating what was masculine ... the uberman is not going to take it anymore."

Los Angeles-based psychologist Dr. William Hoppock said this issue comes up a lot in his sessions with female clients.

Another JWT poll asked 500 men and 500 women at what point in a relationship did they think it was OK to have sex. The majority of men said on the fourth or fifth date; women said between the first and second.

The roles have become reversed. And it's confusing men.

Jonah Meyers, a partner in a leading New York-based Internet firm, said his girlfriend wants him to be a man's man, but he has a hard time keeping up with her forever shifting perception of masculinity.

"It's very confusing. One day men are told to have a mustache, the next week, they're told to shave their chest. It's confusing, it's conflicting."

Then again, maybe the mark of the new masculinized man is that he just doesn't care. Maybe that's what makes the ubersexual so different from the metrosexual.

You asked for the man's man back, ladies. Are you sure you're ready for it?"

"the differences between uber and metro...

Passion
#Ubersexuals are passionate about business, politics and global affairs.
#Metrosexuals are passionate about themselves. Go ahead, just ask them!

The Sexes
#Ubersexuals respect and like women, but prefer the company of men.
#Metrosexuals consider women to be among their best (and only) friends.

Source of inspiration
#Ubersexuals follow their experience and reason.
#Metrosexuals follow Carson Kressley.

Priorities
#Ubersexuals are concerned with the world around them.
#Metrosexuals are concerned with their calorie intake.

Emotional level
#Ubersexuals are emotionally available.
#Metrosexuals are emotionally vacant.

Money
#Ubersexuals invest their money in sound business strategies.
#Metrosexuals invest their money in exfoliant.

Grooming
#Ubersexuals shave daily, if need be.
#Metrosexuals can tell you the exact time of their next Brazilian.

Obsessions
#Ubersexuals are obsessed with quality and integrity.
#Metrosexuals are obsessed with their buns."

Need I tell in which category I see myself? LC

Ferrari's World

2009-04-29T12:20:00.000+05:30

Back in 1928 a young guy named Enzo Ferrari never knew that one day his experiment with cars that had failed 3 times initially would give a new name to the world of 'Just Cars' as SuperCARS and world will discover a legend known as "FERRARI".
The Italian car lover created a new world that gave a new meaning to the color RED.
I am not so fond about cars as I am a Biker at Core but surely Ferrari is different and it makes me go weak in my knees.

The first time I saw this beauty I was amazed by this legendary creation . Its engine's moaning was the best a man can encounter in his whole life.
The Red color leaves your eyes dazzling and I am sure the medical pro who claim that green is the most soothing of all colors havent taken this RED into the sample.

Although the competition among Sports Cars have encountered the rise of Aston Martins , Bugattis and Dodges but Ferrari still stands tall and distinct and I am sure its the car that we all have fantasized and grown up just to catch a glimpse of her.

Here are some of the facts about it:
*One of Ferrari's most unusual projects was the "BIMOTORE" racer/record breaker. A single seater with an engine at both ends.
* Enzo wasn't making or racing cars he liked to relax by riding his (British) Rudge motorbike.
* Red, the color synonymous with Ferrari, is in fact the national race color of Italy.
*Most expensive Ferrari was a 250GTO which changed hands for £7.2m ($12m).
*Ferrari allows its clients to personalize their GT cars. The program enables the clients to have exclusive technical and aesthetical features in their vehicles, with about 50 different options available. Even the smallest need can be catered for.
* Ferrari offers 16 different color choices on its GT cars, including the famous Ferrari red .
* The F60 develops a blistering 650bhp, has seven gears and punches to 100kph from a standstill in 3.2sec, just 0.1sec slower than the Ferrari F2002 of Michael Schumacher! The F60 will follow in the footsteps of the legendary 288 GTO, F40 and F50 as Ferrari's definitive supercar. The production run is expected to be less than the F50's 349 and the price to be about Rs 2.5 crore.
* A robot checks the dimensions of the body at 893 points. 50 percent of 612 Scaglietti bodies are checked; versus 10 percent of 360 Modenas.
* The aluminum bodies for the 612 Scaglietti and the 360 Modena are built at Carrozzeria Scaglietti in Modena. Every car is hand-smoothed and hand-finished.
* The Ferrari symbol is a black horse on its hind legs with the initials "S.F." on beneath it. The black horse pays tribute to Francesco Baracca, a World War I fighter pilot for the Italian Air Force who died in combat and used to paint a horse on the side of his plane. When Ferrari met Baracca's mother, Countess Paolina, she asked him to use a similar horse on his cars. The "S.F." stands for "Scuderia Ferrari," which roughly translates into "Ferrari Racing Stables."

I hope u had a good brief stint with Ferrari by now. Keep in touch for updates

The Uncoventional VS Rat Racer

2009-04-28T09:49:00.000+05:30

As they say a Lion always leads and lives in his own county with pride and satisfaction. He need no herds to move with and to feed himself and make him feel secure of the dangers existing at the woods.
Born as a Leo I never felt to be a part of the crowd. Right from my childhood people called me unconventional and different cause I never followed anyone and never felt the need to be a part of a group if it wasn’t where I really felt the sense of belongingness.
In fact I have always respected people who gel with anyone easily and become the part to spend some easy moments in their life. I know its goods to feel the belongingness as it boosts your ego and makes you fell shielded from the uncertain dangers of lifestyles.
I still always had been the same as I am today not able to follow people living just for the time and then moving on with some new companions. I rather stick with a few people and commit to them with a life long bonding as my target.
I always know one thing that everyone can justify themselves at their stand. So I tried to ask a few people who were not like me but still respected by my innersole. After long conversations I came out with a few conclusions that what exactly they think and why they always live for the moment?
I understood that they are very comfortable with themselves and are able to find happiness in the brief moments unlike me who search for long term satisfaction. They feel life is meant to be lived and not thought of. I have seen that they don’t like to think a lot to make decisions and they are comfortable with fellowship. They are not the one who are known as creators but certainly they are the one who support them through their journey. There are some of them who are the real catalysts for people like me to trig that spark where I feel the difference and therefore get motivated to create something bigger and better.
At the end I realized that’s its very true that nature always maintains equilibrium because Innovators/Leaders and Followers both can’t survive without each other as a lion cant survive without a deer in the food chain.
Therefore god created all kind of people so that we can synergize our competencies and achieve higher goals in life.

Bangalore- My First Love

2009-04-28T09:33:00.000+05:30

Bangalore where I have spent almost two years of my life is the best part of my journey so far. A Cosmopolitan city situated in the heart of Karnataka it’s the best place to live in India and I can claim that despite not living at other well known cities of India as I know that place can be certified ISO-9000 in terms of Lifestyle suiting my kinda Species. :)
When I first landed there it was raining and I remember the words of the Auto Ricksawala who took me to Indiranagar where I spent the rest of my time that “Whosesoever comes to Bangalore never goes back again”. I didn’t get him that moment as nothing justified that busy Airport Road and deafening honking of the city with highest no of two wheelers in India. But now I know he was right as there’s where my heart is .
I reached home and planned the weekend as I had to explore the Pub City of India. The very next day I find myself at the Face of Bangalore’s Culture and Fashion’s High Street called MG ROAD. Well to be honest I liked it a lot, as I have just left the city spoiled by Jaats and Biharis called Delhi.
The place rocked as I heard no abuses in haryanavi and no dumb people looking at Skimpy dresses and waiting them to malfunction somehow or else. I enjoyed a nice tea at Barista , listened to some great Trance played by them and watched the sun hiding behind the Clouds. It was amazing…….
A lot of people find my obsession with the city rather unjustified. They often ask me why do I love that place? Is it just the Amazing Pubs which is my preferred place to hangout or the Rock Music that’s Bangalore’s Legacy since the time Eagles first released their album?
I prefer to keep numb as I know its more to that city than its culture its actually the LIFESTYLE that it offers. It’s the feeling that you get when despite sitting alone at Barista you don’t feel the need to be with some dumb girl just for the heck of it. You have a new fresh morning filled with youth in that city.
The rain though spoiling the barely surviving roads chills you down after a long day of work. The Friday night fills you with an energy at Purple Haze with Metallica’s Karaoke night. The Saturday night is all about chilling out at The Couch with a Long Island Iced Tea or a Martini with “World Hold On” being played in the backdrop and Sundays are about visiting Gurudwara and then walking at Ulsoor lake and enjoying the last moments of your weekend with a nice cup of Coffee and 100 ft Indiranagar with someone special.
Its about going for a coffee at The Leela’s at 1 am and racing at the inner ring road connecting Kormangala and Indiranagar. Its about biking trips just to swim at Kaveri river and clicking pics at the innumerous waterfalls adjoining the city. Its about rasam and curdrice which I have started hating after being there. Its about cooking wai-wai with an egg at 10pm after I have no energy and taste to visit the restro nearby and shell 100 bucks for badly cooked so called North Indian food.
Its about amazing times spent with Ramesh at his place trying to decode Kannada through his expressions while conversing with his family. Its about the lake at IC office which looks beautiful at night.
Its about traffic jams right 100 ft before the MG Road red light where I wanted to park my bike.
Its about countless free meals Ramesh has feed me with when I was almost
broke cause of filling MBA application forms. Its about his courtesy of being the Ultimate Companion, Elder Brother and the Only support in my hardest times.
Its about Mysore road CCDAY and bowling at Amoeba. Its about exploring a new Pubs every weekend. Its about Grilled chicken feasts at Imperial with Ramesh and countless buffet we have had at all possible restaurants of Bangalore. Its also about feeling life touching 115+ km/hr with arms wide open at outer ring road and listening to Turn the Page. Its about a beer and Comfortably Numb at STONES,Indiranagar. Its about n no of grand spent on shopping at 100 ft as an Impulsive buyer.Its about Salsa classes and having fun at iflex .
Bangalore is all about Love , Relationships, Friendship, Bike Trips, Pubs , Rock Music, Loneliness, Smiles, XIME, iflex and its GYM, Rains and Indiranagar.
Life at Bangalore is all about Ramesh,Chandni,Ujala,Sumit,Henry,Ranjit…………………………….

Confessions of a BIKER

2009-04-27T16:44:00.000+05:30

I have always heard people talking about “Having Wings” so that they can fly. I really wonder why are they asking for it anyways. What makes them feel like having wings? What’s the core satisfaction they are looking from wings?
After all that I could make out it was nothing more than a need to feel free cruising through at swiftly and to feel the wind whistling in our ears. When I started biking at the age of 15(although illegally) I never knew what I am I gonna discover from this small commuting skill.
I never knew that a few years down the line I would discover one different world altogether which comprises of speed, life, freedom, nirvana, completion and The Ultimate Adrenaline Rush.
Its 3 am in the night when I am composing this Blog and this is my first one so far. I have just came back touching 137 km/hr on a runway look alike road. Its been ten years since I am riding bikes. There’s something about biking that still gives me a kick as it gave me the first time I rotated my wrist for the first time and felt that I was about to defy the gravity in the coming nanoseconds.
I remember the blood flowing through my veins and believe me I still feel the same rush as soon as I am cruising with my babe. Although now I am more responsible and careful as with “Great Power comes Great Responsibilities”(I am saying this as I have graduated from a basic 100cc commuters vehicle to a Sports bike and tasted 1000cc monsters like YAMAHA R1).
I feel that bikes are the best invention of the mankind. It’s the experience that god deprived us from by not giving us wings. Therefore he gave us an opportunity to swiftly attain 200 km/hr looking at monster trucks vanishing with a blink of an eye through our Rear Mirrors, listening to the Music of wind telling us to be faster and sharper and defying the rules of Gravity feeling the adrenaline taking over control of our bodies.
Theres no better way to live life than to fill in the inconceivable gaps on the roads created by blockages called Cars. Lets get together and explore the world through our helmets and I assure you the world looks beautiful through it. Lets feel free with not commute through boxes running on 4 wheels.
I welcome you all to the world that sees no limits, that has broken the laws of nature, which gives me the passion and goal to work and earn my dream machine R1.
Lets the front tyre rip the air and rear tyre burn the Road
Bikes are calling where are u?