Google exits Digg, enter Microsoft!

Software giant, Microsoft, is hitting on the online advertising space -- big time...
According to reports, the company has tied-up both- with popular news site, Digg.com, and with game developer, Electronic arts (EA); for selling adverts online.

However what is interesting is in case of the Digg deal, Microsoft has managed to replace previous online advertising partner, Google.

Under the Microsoft-Digg deal, for a period of three years, Microsoft will remain exclusive provider of display advertising and contextual ads that are ultimately determined by the site's content.

Just last year, Redmond had struck a similar deal with Facebook, a social networking Web site.
According to Steve Berkowitz, a senior vice president in Microsoft's online services group, the company is working on technology and design ideas for getting users engaged with the advertising, and making them a part of it.
Reportedly, Digg gets over 17 million visitors each month, with placement of content largely dependent on user votes or 'digs' as they are popularly called.

A second deal with EA makes Microsoft exclusive provider of advertisements in 5 upcoming EA games including Madden, NFL 08, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (Xbox 360 and Windows PC).
ThomLeeL

Rajasthan ! A land of colors

It is a land of colors, land of Kings and palaces, land of forts and havelis, land of spicy cuisines, land of rich music and dances, land of diverse topography.Tourists from India and abroad alike flock to this magnificent state. Former US president Bill Clinton’s visit to Rajasthan made him and his family to come back for more. The majestic palaces and forts now turned into resorts help Rajasthan emerge as a popular wedding destination. British Actress Liz Hurley’s wedding to Arun Nayar one among many celebrity wedding. There are tour operators offering packages to help you to make your dream come true for a fairytale wedding.It is also a favorite destination for movie shooting both Indian and foreign languages.Rajasthan is located in the Northwestern part of India. The west part of, Rajasthan includes the golden sand dunes of the Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert and is relatively dry and infertile. Whereas the southwestern part of the state, the land is wetter, hilly, and more fertile. The lofty hills of Aravali's - one of the oldest mountain ranges of the world runs across the state from southwest Guru Peak (Mount Abu), which is 1,722 m in height to Khetri in the north visit : ThomLeeL

Towards a New Beginning - a North American Portal

Canada! Canada is the second largest country in the world with close to 10 Million km2. Population in Canada is just over 30 Million. Canada's capital is Ottawa, but the largest city in Canada is Toronto (ON, Canada), following by Montréal (QC, Canada) and then Vancouver (BC, Canada). Other major cities in Canada are: Victoria (BC, Canada), Edmonton (AB, Canada), Calgary (AB, Canada) and Winnipeg (MB, Canada). The Largest province in Canada is Quebec. However the largest population is in Ontario with capital city of Toronto whose population is almost half of the population in Ontario. Visit other Canadian cities as well: London, Burnaby, Red Deer, Mississauga, Saint John, Regina and Yellowknife in NorthWest Territories>visit Thomleel

India Will be $30 bn hub for engineering outsourcing

India’s engineering process outsourcing (EPO) business would grow 10-fold over the next seven years to touch $30 billion and make the country a major hub in this area, says a new study.“The estimated demand for engineering process outsourcing to India has grown at 30-35 percent since 2004-06,” said the study released here by Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, adding the momentum would be sustained in the ensuing years.The global EPO market, on the other hand, will grow to around $110-$140 billion by 2015, taking India’s share to 20-27 percent, said the study conducted by the state-run Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC).According to EEPC chairman Rakesh Shah, engineering exports from India touched $26 billion in 2006-07 but expressed concern over the decision to do away with the duty entitlement passbook scheme, an export incentive programme, next year.But Kamal Nath assured that the government was working to develop an alternative duty neutralisation scheme that would replace the current scheme to be in tune with the norms set by the World Trade Organisation.The minister asked the engineering exporters to use the focus market scheme to their advantage in promoting exports to the identified markets, especially to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).As many as 16 new destinations, including CIS, had been included this year in the focus market list and exporters will find it useful to concentrate on developing the markets in these countries, Kamal Nath added.“Indian exports including engineering exports are likely to face increased non-tariff barriers, considering that average tariffs for industrial products in all countries is headed southwards,” he warned.“This process has already begun for engineering products and is likely to gain greater momentum as India’s share in the world exports increases in the coming years.”

Sponsor a HopeChild: Why it Works

AIDS is more than a pandemic. It is the greatest humanitarian crisis of all time. More than 40 million people are infected with the virus.

A HopeChild lives in an area with a high prevalence of HIV, has been identified by his or her community as "vulnerable," and requires extra assistance. This does not mean that the sponsored child has HIV.

Many children have been orphaned as a result of AIDS. However, often a family member, neighbour, or friend in the community will take them in. In many cases, these children would consider their caregivers to be "parents," and would not think of themselves as orphans.

HopeChild sponsorship provides things like:

basic health care as well as HIV and AIDS treatment
access to schooling as well as HIV and AIDS prevention education
nutritious food and clean water
care for orphans and vulnerable children
training of volunteers to look after children's emotional, physical, and spiritual needs
World Vision can not do this without the support of caring Canadians like you. Together—and with God's help—World Vision can bring a better life to these children and their families.

For $40 a month, you can make a difference in children's lives and turn hope into a reality.

"Outsource Everything. Insource Marketing "

These marketing guys seem to have achieved a bit of a coup with this outsourcing thing.

Let’s look at this in the publishing context, since that’s what I’m most familiar with.

Domain-specific activities:
Circulation: Outsourceable
Customer service: Outsourceable
Printing: Outsourceable
Distribution: Outsourceable

Now, the core activities:
Writing: Outsourceable
Editing: Outsourceable
Design: Outsourceable

And the regulars:
Sales: Outsourceable
Finance: Outsourceable
Accounting: Outsourceable
HR: Outsourceable
IT: Outsourceable

Reg the core activities: Many publishers will consider outsourcing of content (especially writing) blasphemous. But isn’t that what many have begun to do? And isn’t that what content aggregation is all about? For those not familiar with publishing, content aggregation is the online term for content syndication, when companies use content generated by other companies for a fee or credit.

So, if we agree that even content can be outsourced (that it isn’t extensively being done is another matter), what process does that leave in-house? Marketing (branding, business development)? Could it be that publishers need to hire people only for brand enhancement and outsource management?

Let’s look at another industry — airlines. What does an airline company need to keep in-house?

Airlines
Aircraft manufacture: Outsourceable
Aircraft maintenance: Outsourceable
Billing: Outsourceable
Passenger reconciliation: Outsourceable
Ticketing and reservations: Outsourceable
In-flight staff: Outsourceable
Ground staff: Outsourceable
Freight handling: Outsourceable
Catering: Outsourceable
In-flight entertainment: Outsourceable
Sales, finance, accounting, HR, IT: Outsourceable

Can I conclude that even in airlines, companies need only invest in marketing and outsource management?

Why am I getting the feeling that the marketing guys may have achieved a coup with this outsourcing thing?

Hollywood…..it’s Sugarless in India

Hollywood is trying it’s level best to emancipate Indian film industry which is engraved on a civilization almost 5000 years plus .Whilst ,it’s easy to link the names that is Hollywood to bollywood…etc considering the fact that every state in India has its on Hollywood in the making there is a big difference how a movie is conceived . Consider the most recent film “Cheeni Kum”.It Simply Said means sugarless but what needs to be concluded is “Is it that after 60 + years life is sugarless! or age has evolved to be sugarless ! or is it that age has lost its sweetness to something sour ! or the past is gone for futuristic taste

Well , even Mark twain will not be able to predict whether these two industries across the zones will have any integration but it’s true that the Indian civilization has its on place on mother earth ……….Cheeni Kum

Go Green!

Some years back go Green would have meant use the principles of Allen Green Span i.e. leaner, profitable organizations; Or for the green bill Dollar! But now “ Go Green ”means go environment friendly. Organizations are slowly adapting to this new eco security .If one were to watch the advertisements of the some of the global oil conglomerates you will realize they are investing hugely on the eco security.The latest to join the bandwagon is apple…hey the green apple in the grocery store is not one that largely picked .But Steve being Jobs will change the trend ! Green Apple Every day will keep Bill (Gates & Windows) away!

GET OUT OF IRAQ ! GOI

I am not an avid supporter of George Bush , but do support him on policy basis .

It was interesting to see him read his written speech after he vetoed the new Iraq bill .Whatever the reasons may be , he seems to be running out of steam and there is no reason to be in Iraq .Either divide the country into 3 one each for the sect or just walk out and the flame will settle down .Once the flame settles down support them . Great Britain will walk a different path with the new PM Mr. Gordon Brown .

So the slogan now for the US should be GOI – Get out of Iraq !

An Inconvenient Period of Adaptation and Mitigation!

Ever since Katrina hit the shores of USA 2 years back global warming has been an important topic in north America .Thanks to Al Gore and his movie environment issues form the headlines of most media .This week was no different too .Al Gore was in Canada lashing out the present government on its futuristic plans of environment protection .Governments across the globe has been fighting shyly on the environment matters , primarily because any changes to protect the ozone layer would be increase in cost and burden to the economy . So global warming has become a Civilizational challenge. Citizens in the third world countries do have the enormous communication challenge on matters related to environment .Not much of attention is given to this subject .But with severe weather in most parts of the world things are changing and people are rising to give their best support for the cause. Cess should be levied from industries based on the carbon they let out to the environment and that fund should be used to protect and clean that city

Al Gore has become a champion to the cause of global warming .I support his candidature to the white house. What if one is the head of world’s largest economy and still pursues a global cause!

Gere and the Bizarre Kiss!

No doubt it was a bizarre kiss .But if the kiss was preluded by a simple announcement that Gere was going to enact a seen from one of his movies probably it would not have caused such an uproar. The fact of the matter is Indian business have opened to the western world, but not the Indian society. Indian homes still do want to change to western life. The reasons being plenty .That said the story should end with the apology by Gere and Shilpa.
The other interesting thing to watch on the TV was a dance by George Bush while celebrating African culture .Needless to say all the late night shows picked on him, but it was wonderful to see him loosen up even thru the crisis that he goes thru.

All the said and done the India’s first couple has flown off to France for their honey moon

Idol Gives back " American Idol "

Watching American Idol- Gives back program was interesting .Its sad to see the abject poverty in some of the African Countries .Having said that , the program has collected around 30 million USD .This amount can really change the life’s of millions of the people shown . No doubt the implementation of the plans is not going to be easy .But however we need to see that amount or the proposed help get to the hands of those people shown so that they can live a worthy life.

The show organizers did a great job of bringing to millions of home the life of some of those African countries .What needs to be seen is the next season of the American Idol is change in life .Those pictures will remain in our minds all thru , but we need to see the change that the money can bring .We need to see some of those people smiling!!!!

Saturday April 21st- A view from the stands !

Well the weather in Ontario has changed ...it was 20 + degrees this weekend .Lovely place to be.I enjoy the morning run in Mississauga.The fragrance from trees sprouting leaves mixed with the smell of mud reminds of mangalore in India.

Cannot miss what TV is splashing out.It was interesting to watch on BBC about Gulf air and the re-structuring/retrenchment .One question kept poping up as you watch the programmes was " Is Indian Corporates good on corporate governance ? especially the Indian Airline industry .You have airlines like Jet airway fully geared to fly into any country and take on comptetion .Jet airways acquisition of Sahara and its future plans jets it ahead of American Airlines which is loosing revneues. I am sure with kingfisher and many other Indian airline brands including AI/Indian will be corporations to watch in this industry .

The news of Sanjaya and Britney getting together is good .Should we call it East Meets West and the TWAIN shall Meet !

well this blog will give the reader " View from the stands " of happenings where a India or Indian is a part....

Titanic's passenger list goes online

The names, ages and professions of passengers listed on the Titanic's fateful journey have gone online for the first time, 95 years after the luxury ocean liner sank on its maiden voyage.
Dozens of pages featuring the original handwritten passenger list are available, revealing the cabin class of passengers.
They poignantly show the emigration plans of many hopefuls setting sail from Southampton for a new life in America in 1912.
The White Star liner, touted as "unsinkable," left port on April 10, only to sink after hitting an iceberg, with the loss of 1,523 lives.
Among the passengers, for example, was George Mackay, a 20-year-old butler from Scotland travelling third class and hoping to start a new life in America.
In first class the Countess of Rothes is recorded as travelling with her cousin Gladys Cherry and her personal maid Roberta Maioni. They survived after being picked up by the ship Carpathia.
The list, which is available for free for one
week at findmypast.com, could help genealogists trace family members. Previously, the list could only be seen at the National Archives in Kew, southwest London.
Findmypast is an online research site that provides information on genealogy.
The online listing coincides with a commemoration service to be held in the British port of Southampton on Sunday for the hundreds of residents who took the voyage as either passengers or crew and who died when the Titanic went down mid Atlantic.
The list completes the set of passengers lists for the ships leaving the UK during the decade between 1910 and 1919.
A spokesman for findmypast said the lists were considered so high-profile by the National Archives that they qualified for the same level of security as Henry VIII's divorce papers and the Domesday Book and could only be consulted under supervision.
He said it also gives details of the lucky few who narrowly escaped the fate of the other passengers when they disembarked from the ship in France.
The original documents also show that some passengers who intended to board at Queenstown (Cobh in County Cork) did not actually embark, despite having purchased tickets, he said.

ILU ! ILU

I didn't marry you because you were perfect. I didn't even
marry you because I loved you. I married you because you
gave me a promise. That promise made up for your faults.
And the promise I gave you made up for mine. Two imperfect
people got married and it was the promise that made the marriage.
And when our children were growing up, it wasn't a house that
protected them; and it wasn't our love that protected them - it was that
promise.

Abhi-Ash marriage

The electronic media and the paparazzi are going ballistic with supposed details about the Ash-Abhishek marriage.
But the facts are extremely and exasperatingly contrary to what you see hear and read. And you heard the true facts here….for the first and last time.
The wedding on 20 April is not going to be a lavish affair. Only the immediate and extended family of the Bachchans—brother Ajitabh and his family, sister Shweta and her in-laws which includes all the Kapoors –are being invited.

Besides these the only people you'll see at the event are Abhishek's close friends like Sikandar Kher, Goldie Behl and Rohan Sippy.
Karan Johar, who's like a son to the Bachchans with mom Hiroo Johar, and J.P. Dutta whom Abhishek looks on as a father figure, are expected to be at the wedding. Yash Chopra, his wife Pam and sons Aditya and Uday are also expected at the wedding.

The lady of the house Jaya Bachchan is supervising every detail. In fact the Big B and the dulha are keeping completely out of the preparations, and that includes the invitees' list.

Jaya being firm of mind and resolute in her purposes, has kept the fanfare to the barest minimum. The guest list would be in accordance with the size and capacity of the Bachchans' residence and of course the imperativeness of the potential invitees' presence on the premises.

All the invitees are keeping a low profile as they don't wish to unintentionally divulge details about the wedding.

Suffice it to say that some of the atrocious untruths being cooked up on the news and entertainment channels have the Bachchans enormously amused.

According to reports all the neighbours have been asked to keep their gates shut to media persons and the Bachchan family has requested the aviation ministry not to allow any planes to hover over their residence during the wedding.

These are completely baseless stories planted by people who have an axe to grind, or perhaps this is their way of feeling important. As Bachchan Saab told a friend, "My son's wedding is a very private solemn and precious moment for me and my family. Surely we're entitled to our privacy if and when we need it."

Dog-poop fuel

The problem was immediate and unquestionable: dog poop on his shoe, but the solution didn't come to Vancouver park board commissioner Spencer Herbert until he was wiping it off.

"At first I was angry, and then as I was cleaning, I thought, how do we deal with this better?" said Herbert. "We think just throwing it out in the garbage means we're done with it."

Herbert said yesterday he began questioning why all the dog waste in Vancouver should go to waste. Responsible owners picked up their dog droppings in plastic bags to throw away, and the irresponsible just left it on the grass or sidewalk.

He soon discovered San Francisco was pondering the same problem and looking at the possibility of turning dog waste into bio-fuels to heat homes.

The proposal in California is still in its pre-planning stage with a feasibility study, but Herbert would like to see the idea take form in Vancouver. Dog waste would be collected at neighbourhood drop-off spots and deposited in a vat for bacteria to digest, leaving methane gas as the end result. The methane could then be used to heat and light park washrooms or greenhouses.

Herbert said his preliminary research shows turning dog waste into some type of usable energy can be done with technology that already exists, but the question is whether pet owners would co-operate.

Dealing with the dog waste in a city with 60,000 dogs is a big task.

Last month, Herbert's proposal that the park board prepare a report on environmentally friendly disposal was rejected by a majority of commissioners. But Herbert is determined and trying to gather public support to force the issue back before the board.

Park board chair Ian Robertson said the commissioner's proposal to study sustainable disposal is redundant because a city dog task force is already considering ideas.

One pilot project is a dog composting system in a Vancouver park.

"We're looking at the issue already and we're letting the task force do its job. I get more emails as a commissioner about dogs than on any other issue. Non-dog owners tell me that we're too lenient on dogs and dog owners say we don't have enough parks for dogs. There are valid points on both sides."

As the father of two soccer goalie players, Robertson said he knows the agony of watching his sons attempt a save only to fall in dog poop.

Harnessing dog waste into some form of energy may be far down the line, but he said composting poop is in the works.

City Farmer, a non-profit organization that promotes urban agriculture and composting initiatives, has started a dog waste composting demonstration.

Executive director Michael Levenston said City Farmer set up the demo because so many people want to know how to dispose of dog waste.

A bin is buried down a hole, flush with the surface, with the bottom cut out and holes on its side. Dog waste is deposited inside along with septic powder and decomposes naturally.

"We were answering a call," Levenston said. "People are very enthusiastic."

Anything has got to be better than the present system, said Jim Heeps, Vancouver's superintendent of street cleaning.

Sanjaya impresses US record company

Los Angeles: Indian origin Sanjaya Malakar, an "American Idol" contestant, seems to have impressed Sub Pop Records, a recording firm in the US, even though most Americans say he cannot sing.

The record company is based in Seattle, Sanjaya's hometown, and has recorded the likes of Nirvana and The Shins. And Stuart Meyer, an artist and repertoire representative, feels that being able to sing is not the only quality a pop star needs, reports www.hollywood.tv.

"He has a charm about him that is key to being a pop star. Some of the biggest pop stars like Madonna and Britney Spears aren't exactly the best singers," Meyer said.

He feels Sanjaya has "a bright future ahead" and is sure that someone will sign him because "he has personality".

Lastly, "you have to give him credit for getting out there and singing live", Meyer added. "A lot of the biggest pop stars out there today rarely do that."

FESTIVALS OF INDIA

April 7 : Ramnavami
Ramnavami, the nine-day Hindu festival, celebrated in the month of April (Chaitra), is when Lord Vishnu took the seventh avtar and Lord Ram was born to destroy the demon King Ravana
April 11: Mahaveer Jayanthi
The main Jain festival of the year is Mahavir Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism. This religious event is largely observed by the Jains by visiting sacred sites and worshipping the Teerthankara. The event holds special significance in Gujarat and Rajasthan due to the ancient shrines at Girnar and Palitana in Gujarat. Mahavir Jayanti is also celebrated at Parasnath Temple in Kolkata and at Pawapuri in Bihar.

April 16: Easter
On Easter, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, as it is told in the Bible. This holy day celebrates the triumph of life over death.
May 13: Buddha PurnimaThe Buddha was born on the full-moon day in the month of Vaisakh in 563 BC. He achieved enlightenment as well as nirvana on the same date.
August 16: Krishna JanmashtamiThis is a festival dedicated to Lord Sri Krishna and commemorates his birth. This festival occurs on the eight day (Astami) of a lunar fortnight hence the name.
August 27: Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom. Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival in his honour and is celebrated with geity and fervour.Images of Ganesha are installed within homes as well as in places of assembly. Elaborate arrangements are made for lighting and decoration and Ganesha is fervently worshipped for about seven to ten days. On the day of the Chaturthi, the last of the days dedicated to the elephant-headed god, thousands of processions converge on the beaches , tanks and rivers for immersion the holy idol. This immersion is accompanied by drumbeats, devotional songs and dancing.Ganesha is one of the most popular deities in the Hindu pantheon. He is closely associated with the daily lives of millions of Hindus even today. As he is reputed to be a remover of obstacles he is propitiated before the beginning of any new venture whether it is the building of a new house, the writing of a book, the beginning of a journey or the starting of a new business. His images adorn the walls of innumerable business establishments across India. It is customary for businessmen to seek his blessings each morning before they get down to business. Ganesha is also the god of wisdom and prudence. These qualities are signified through his two wives: Buddhi(wisdom) and Siddhi (prudence).
SEPTEMBER 4:UTHARADAMThe penultimate day of the ten-day harvest festival of Onam is called Uthradam. It is the time for sports, festivities, and ritual celebrations in Kerala. Uthradam is the day when people prepare to welcome the spirit of King Mahabali. In some parts of Kerala, Onam festivities start from Uthradam itself. Some people also call Uthradam as the first Onam and the next day Thiru Onam as the second Onam. On the day of Uthradam tenants and dependents of Nair Tharawads (traditional large joint families sharing a common kitchen)bring produce of their farms or the product of their toil to the Karanavar (eldest member of the Tharawad). These gifts from the tenants to the Karanavar are called Onakazhcha. Karanavar greets these people warmly and treats them with a sumptuous meal on Thiru Onam. Village artisans also bring their handicrafts to the Karanavar and are graciously rewarded.

SEPTEMBER 5 ONAM Onam, the foremost festival among the cultural repertoire of Malayalees, falls in the harvest season. Chingam or Bhadrapada, the first month of the calendar ushers in Onam. After the rain drenched Karkidakam with its privations, Chingam is a welcome month of plenty. This picturesque ten-day harvest festival is celebrated with traditional fervour with visit to temples, family get-togethers, gifting each other clothes called Ona-kkodi and lots of merry making.Onam originated as a joyous annual reminiscence of the golden rule of King Mahabali, a mythical king, who ruled Kerala a very long time ago. It recalls the sacrifice of the great king, his true devotion to God, his human pride and his ultimate redemption. Onam welcomes the spirit of a great king, wish him well and assures him that his people are happy.

September 21- October 2: NAVARATRI: When the last showers of the monsoon are beginning to fall sparsely between spells of bright sunshine , comes the month of Ashwin. In this month, the festive season in India reaches a crescendo with the beginning of the nine-day Navaratri festival.


October 24: RAMADAN: For more than a billion Muslims around the world,Ramadan is a "month of blessing" marked by prayer, fasting, and charity. This year Ramadan began on Oct 4, with the sighting of the new moon.

October 20: KARWA CHAUTH: Karwa Chauth is a fast undertaken by married Hindu women who offer prayers seeking the welfare, prosperity, well-being, and longevity of their husbands. It is said to have an extraordinary observance rate among married Hindu women. After a bath well before dawn, the woman adorns new clothes and partakes of a meal of very select grains and fruit. For the rest of the day, she abstains from food and even water. The fast is not to be broken until the moon is sighted. The woman then sees the face of her husband and breaks the fast.

Deepavali - A five day fiesta
October 19: DHANTERAS
DhanTeras falls on the thirteenth day of the month of Ashwin and marks the beginning of Diwali. Dhanteras is celebrated to seek blessings of Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth. The day is considered auspicious and people purchase gold or silver or at least one or two new utensils. This day is of particular significance to the mercantile community.
October 20: NARAKA CHATURDASI: The word 'Diwali' means an array of lights. The people of Dwaraka greeted Lord Krishna with illumination and rejoicing in honour of his victory over Narakasura on this day. The darkness of the Chaturdasi night compelled them to use many lamps on the occasion, and subsequently the illumination became a part of this celebration.
October 21: LAKSHMI POOJA:
The THIRD day of the festival of Diwali is the most important day of Lakshmi pooja which is entirely devoted to the propitiation of Goddess Lakshmi. This day is also known by the name of "CHOPADA-PUJA".
October 23: BALIPADYAMI:
The Fourth day is Padya or Varshapratipada which marks the coronation of King Vikramaditya and Vikaram-Samvat. Another legend is about King Bali of the nether world mighty power had become a threat to the gods. In order to curb his powers Lord Vishnu in the guise of a Batu Waman- a small boy- visited him and begged him to give him only that much land which he could cover with his three steps.
October 24: BHAYYA-DHUJ:The fifth and final day of Diwali Festival is known by the name of "Bhayya-Duj" in the Hindi-speaking belt "Bhau-Bij" in the Marathi-speaking communities and in Nepal by the name of "Bhai-Tika".
November 13: TULSI VIVAH:Normally celebrated a fortnight after Deepavali, it signifies the day Tulsi married Lord Vishnu.On this day, Tulsi `katte' or vrindavan is decorated like a bride. Sugarcane and branches of tamarind and amla trees are planted along with the tulsi plant. Various dishes are offered to Lord Vishnu. In Karnataka, the day is called Tulsi Habba (festival) while others call is Tulsi Vivah, or the wedding day of Tulsi with the Lord.
November 5 : GURU NANAK JAYANTHI : Sikhs celebrate Gurupurab festival with religious fervour, marking the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, founder of Sikh religion. Devotees queue up in holy Gurdwaras and light candles to mark the occasion. They visit shrines, chant hymns and eat a `langar' or community meal in the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. They take out processions amidst chanting of hymns.
KARTIK POORNIMA: Kartik Poornima celebrated on the 15th of the full moon day of Kartik (November-December), alluding to Shiva's destruction of the demon Tripura. It signifies the subjugation of evil and fostering goodness. Fireworks and lamps are lit in celebration of the victory. It is therefore also called the Dev-Deepavali or Diwali of the Gods. The ghats of Varanasi come alive with thousands of brightly-lit earthern lamps. Visitors throng in large numbers to watch this spectacular event.
DECEMBER 25: CHRISTMAS
Christmas is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. According to the Christian gospels, Jesus was born to Mary in Bethlehem, where she and her husband Joseph had traveled to register in the Roman census. Christ's birth, or nativity, was to fulfill the prophecies of Judaism that a messiah would come, from the house of David, to redeem the world from sin. Christians in India decorate banana or mango trees. They also light small oil-burning lamps as Christmas decorations and fill their churches with red flowers. They give presents to family members and baksheesh, or charity, to the poor people. In India, the poinsettia is in flower and so the churches are decorated with this brilliant bloom for the Christmas Midnight Mass.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK FROM THE WORLD OF HINDI CINEMA

WATCH THE MOVIE NAMSASTE LONDON..GOOD MOVIE...

ALSO DO NOT MISS..NISHABDH !!!!!!!!!!!

BANGALORE THIRD RICHEST CITY IN INDIA

BANGALORE: Bangaloreans are getting seriously rich, millionaires by the dollar yardstick. The city is the third-largest hub for high-networth individuals (HNIs), after Mumbai and Delhi. Bangalore is home to over 10,000 individual dollar millionaires and around 60,000 super-rich people who have an investable surplus of Rs 4.5 crore and Rs 50 lakh respectively. In this Richie-Rich class are professionals, retirees, entrepreneurs, consultants, US-returned Indians and expats. According to a study conducted by American Express, there are 83,000 HNIs and 7,11,000 super-rich people in India and the latter figure is expected to cross a million by 2009. While Mumbai and Delhi account for the bulk of this number, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata had shared the third position until recently. Bangalore's share in the mutual fund market is an index of its wealth. In March 2006, the city has seen mutual fund investments worth Rs 22,000 crore against Rs 8,000 crore in June 2004. Also, in 2006, its invested individual wealth — across all forms of financial instruments like stocks, shares, securities, debentures, mutual funds, etc — was $25 billion, as compared to $200 billion in Mumbai and $50 billion in Delhi. Some of the key drivers of this wealth are a large number of rich Indians moving back to Bangalore from abroad, the city incubating dozens of high-value entrepreneurs and companies creating wealth for professionals by way of ESOPs and other options. "India is the fastest growing wealth base in Asia Pacific and here too, Bangalore is growing faster than the industry average of 35%," said Vishal Kapoor, head & senior director (financial advisory services), American Express India. The HNI base is growing at 19.2% in the country and Bangalore records a greater momentum. To tap this wealth, American Express is hosting an exclusive dinner and Elvis Presley music — Heartbreak Hotel — for around 300 select super-rich couples in the city. Amex has also brought in a wide range of highly-protected items from the personal collection of Presley's family. These include his records, costumes, letters, manual jottings that later became popular numbers and albums, his social security card, condolence wires sent by eminent personalities from around the world and tickets to his maiden concert.

Blogger Buzz: March 2007

Blogger Buzz: March 2007

KUDOS To All ! BOOSTING TRADE AND INVESTMENT BETWEEN ONTARIO AND INDIA

Premier Dalton McGuinty led Ontario's business mission to India to attract investment and jobs to the province and to help link Ontarians with business, education and cultural opportunities in India.
More than 100 leading Ontarians — representing 87 companies, universities and other organizations — took part in the mission. The mission focused on five key sectors: infrastructure, research and innovation, financial services, cultural industries and education.
The mission included meetings with top government officials, such as India's Minister of Finance Palaniappan Chidambaram; Deputy Chair, National Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia; Minister of Science and Technology Kapil Sibal; Minister of Commerce Kamal Nath; Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma; Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit; Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh; and Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Delegates also met with leading investors, including India's first multinational corporation, the Aditya Birla Group, and India's largest private sector bank, ICICI Bank.
A total of 35 agreements were reached during the mission.
Strengthening Trade and Investment Ties
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce: An agreement has been reached with the Confederation of Indian Industry, Northern Region, to share information, expertise and resources; identify and facilitate further trade opportunities; and advocate on issues affecting Ontario-India business relations to their respective governments.
PCI Geomatics of Richmond Hill: An MOU has been reached with Ramtech Corporation to develop a strategic partnership in the areas of research, innovation and investment to create India-based GeoCapacity. It will provide vital information for food security, disaster planning and other applications requiring geospacial information.
Gamma Engineering of Whitby: Gamma will collaborate with Concast (India) Ltd. Gamma Engineering will be represented in India by Concast (India) for the promotion and sales of Elector Static Precipitators and Slag Detection System for Steel Mills. Concast (India) will be represented in Canada by Gamma Engineering for the promotion and sales of Continuous Casting Machines.
Process Research Ortech of Mississauga: Process Research Ortech (PRO) announced with its India partner Resurgent, the commissioning of a Biomass Power Plant in Trichy, India. The partnership will market the ash by-product to the construction and agricultural industries.
R.V. Anderson Associates Ltd. of Toronto: The company will partner with Mott MacDonald Limited of the UK to design and supervise construction improvements to Mumbai's wastewater treatment and collection infrastructure with a capital value of $350 million.
Toronto Financial Services Alliance: In 2006, the Alliance signeda tripartite MOU in Mumbai with International Financial Services London and Bombay First to promote economic and sectoral links between the three cities for an initial two-year period. All three organizations have similar mandates to enhance and promote their respective cities as premier centres for financial services.
Strengthening Educational Ties
Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology: The college will work with Dr. D. Y. Patil Educational Enterprises Private Limited to collaboratively develop Commercial Pilot and Aviation Management training and Photonics training to be delivered in India and Ontario.
Brock University: The university will work with YCM Open University in Nashik, India, to establish research, knowledge transfer and academic exchange programs focusing on oenology, viticulture and biosciences.
The Canadian Institute of Telecommunications (CIT) of Mississauga: The CIT and Gian Jyoti Institute of Business and Technology of Chandigarh will consult on course outlines, lab development and academic infrastructure and work collaboratively on student exchange and international student placement. The CIT and the Institute of Aviation Hospitality and Management India will work together to provide language and soft skills training and student exchange. They will also collaborate on course outlines, lab development and academic infrastructure.
George Brown College: The college will work with the Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Nutrition in Mumbai to deliver a joint Chef Training certificate program and launch a joint externship program for students. The college will also work with the Chitkara Educational Trust and the Punjab Technical University to deliver a joint Computer Systems Technology/Bachelor of Computer Applications program and engage in related applied research activities.
McMaster University: The university will enter into several cooperative agreements in the fields of engineering and science to jointly develop educational programs, industry-based training and research projects. The partners will also explore the potential to exchange academic and research information and facilitate faculty, researcher and student exchanges. Its partners include: the National Physical Laboratory; GM Research and Development India; Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore; Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research; Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.
McMaster University, Faculty of Engineering: The faculty will work with the Ansal Institute of Technology to create a Computer Science Transfer Program that gives Ansal Institute students the opportunity to apply to the bachelor of applied science degree in honours computer science at McMaster.
Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities: The ministry announced the establishment of the Ontario-Maharashtra-Goa student exchange program. York University and the University of Pune in Maharashtra signed the agreement as the lead institutions to initiate the program. Fifty Canadian and Indian students from approximately 10 institutions in each jurisdiction are expected to participate annually.
Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario: The association will partner with the Trained Nurses' Association of India to strengthen the professional development of nurses and nursing practices through their respective associations.
Ryerson University: The university will enter into several agreements to promote student and faculty exchange programs, develop curriculum and collaborate on research projects, capacity building and private-sector training.
Its partners include: National Institute of Fashion Technology, Indian Retail School, Pearl Academy of Fashion, Confederation of Indian Industries.
Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology: The collegewill develop a joint program in Bio-Informatics with the Reva Group of Institutions of Bangalore.
It will also partner with the Provincial Academy of Learning Excellence of Nagpur to deliver a joint program and provide teacher training in the area of global logistics and supply chain management. Both programs will qualify trainees for the Ontario College Graduate Certificate from Seneca.
University of Waterloo: The university has entered into partnerships with:
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi to strengthen an existing faculty exchange program with additional collaborative research initiatives.
IIT Kanpur to create a Faculty Exchange Forum to promote collaborative research, student exchange and other initiatives. IIT Delhi will also partake in the Faculty Exchange Forum.
IIT Bombay to develop a joint research initiative in nano-technology research to allow for the exchange of students, faculty and research personnel.
Chennai Mathematical Institute to promote the exchange of students and research in actuarial science and financial risk management.
University of Windsor: The university will partner with the Ansal Institute, Gurgaon, Haryana, to provide exchange opportunities for students. The university will also partner with Bengal Engineering & Science University in Howrah, India, to develop collaborative research programs, and faculty and post-graduate exchanges.
York University: The university will partner with the following academic institutions:
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, and its branches at Goa, Hyderabad and Dubai to promote both faculty and student exchanges.
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, to promote faculty and student exchanges in computer vision, image processing, the theory of computation, biology and biomedical sciences.
St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, to facilitate short and long-term student exchanges in biology, health sciences and environmental sciences, including a summer study program in 2007.
University of Pune to establish the Ontario-Maharashtra-Goa student exchange program.
Ministry pages:
Economic Development and Trade
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
See also:
News Release: McGuinty Government To Build On India Business Mission: Successful Mission Opens New Trade, Research, Culture and Education Links
Backgrounder: Strengthening Cultural Ties Between Ontario And India

Brits and the Iran

What should be done .....get them out diplomatically or get go for war