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Its Australian Open Fever right now, ain’t it ? After cricket and football, Tennis is one game that i can’t do without.The hectic work schedule did not allow me to catch the action at this year’s Australian Open but I ain’t missing the Finals for no one.Job Be Dammned 
Here is how the Finals are lined up
Men’s Singles
The gutsy Andy Murray has prevailed and is knocking on the Championship Doors where he awaits either Roger Federer or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final .I don’t even have to say where i am putting my money
Women’s Singles
Serena Williams looks the clear favourite to walk away from glory.But, the back hand goddess Justin Henin has come back in style.After a brief hiatus, she looks as hungry as ever.This one promises to be a nail biting finish.
But then, you did not come here to read my Australian Open commentary, did you ? “Predict and Win” is what got you here, right Oh, common you can tell me
So, here is it? Think you know your tennis? Do you have the winners sorted out? Well, if you think you know who is gonna walk away with the crown, why not win some goodies to predict the winner.
The folks at Idubba are running a contest where they will be giving you awesome T-shirt and Tennis Goodies for predicting the Australian Open Winners
How cool is that? If you remember I had earlier covered as to What Is Idubba ? Now, this is an awesome give away from the folks who watch TV for a living I mean , they are making the TV sexy again, so they ought to spend time on it.
Ok, you must be pissed by now right. How on earth do i enter the contest is what you want to know ?
Sure, you should have asked me earlier no . Here is the one-click way to do it.Click on the Image below and wham, we take you to the place where you can claim your name to fame
Now, all you need to do is.
- Select your Men’s and Women’s Singles Final
- Invite your friends and tell them about the contest.These guys have some secret algorithm going. The more you refer, the more are your chances to win
- You need to login to save your entry.If you are not registered already, it takes only a minute to sign up.
I have predicted my winners and i eagerly await the Finals.Have you ? Go do it now and come back to tell me you won the contest
I have never been actively involved in giving back to the society in any little way possible.One of my resolutions for this year to get active with an NGO and do my bit to contribute to a Noble Cause.
I always told myself that I have too many personal and professional commitments to actively associate with an NGO.However, ever since the amazing #deepwish campaign that happened on twitter during Diwali , where close to Rs. 55 k were raised in two days alone , I realized that all it takes is a desire to contribute in every little way possible.More than that, with Non Profit organizations leveraging Social Media successfully the barriers for contribution and possible reach have shrunk.
So, when this morning I received a mail from IndiBlogger titled ‘A call for help: Blog once and educate 40,000 underprivileged children of India’ , i got curious.I have had the opportunity of meeting with the Indiblogger founder Renie Ravin , and I instantly knew that if Indiblogger has joined hands to help a cause, it really means something.
In the call to the Indiblogger community, Indiblogger is trying to reach out to as many people as possible to help support a NGO working for the betterment of the unprivileged children of India.The community support is needed to help Giveindia win a competition on Facebook organized by Chase.
One of India’s most trusted and credible NGOs, GiveIndia is taking part in a competition on Facebook to win a US$1 million grant. The winner will be the NGO that gets the highest number of votes from Facebook users. The prize of $1 million will help put or keep 40,000 children across India in school for one year!
The contest has NGO’s from all parts of the world and it is going to need some real community support to see Giveindia reach the top.Imagine, 40k thousands being able to go to school should Giveindia get the US $1 million grant.
What You Need To Do: It does not get any simpler then this.All you need is a Facebook account and a few mouse-clicks.Yes, Just click the link provided below and register your vote.
http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/338730
You can also click on the Community Badge embedded here to register your vote
How Many Days Do We Have : The contest is running for a week only from January 15 – Friday, January 22, 2010. It is still not late.A good 4 days to make a difference.Spread the word to as many friends you can
I have voted!! Have You….
WTF!! Is that you reaction after reading the title.Please bear with me till the end of the post and i might just be able to convince you that the title is apt.And if you belong to the BFSI sector, you can thank me for opening your eyes to a brilliant growth market
For those who have been in Chennai might be able to relate to the title.However, for the uninitiated let me get you familiar with the circumstances and the potential benefits of Chennai Auto Rickshaw for the BFSI sector.
For the record, I am going to consider two species of auto rickshaw that are prevalent in this part of the world. One is your usual Auto Rickshaw which we have come to call as Dedicated Auto .No, dedicated not because i have a relation with a specific auto.It is because of the other species known as Share Auto , a close relative of the Tempo which is more prevalent in the northern part of India.So Dedicated Auto seemed like an apt name to differentiate with its Counterpart Share Auto
That’s fine but why does Auto Rickshaw in Chennai is an untapped opportunity for the Banking,Finance and the Insurance sector.Allow me to put forward the most outrageous theories courtesy my genious mind
Insurance : Ever seen the VISA ad with Pierce Brosnan pulling stunts in an Auto.Do see it here . Now, i am sure the actors were trained for the advertisement.But, had they shot the same in Chennai, no prior training would have been necessary.The way Auto Drivers drive their Autos here , you wonder if its a Ferrari or Lamborghini steering they are maneuvering :-) I hope those who have experienced will agree.
The share auto guys take the stunts to a different level and can give the folks who showcase their skills at the Independence Day parade a run for their money.The Share Auto is marginally bigger than your normal auto but the driver seems to think he is driving a effing bus.The average number of people in share auto can be anything from 8-10 with a few adventurous drivers stretching the limits by sacrificing their seating space too
Every single time i sit in an Auto here, i have my fingers crossed.People talk about living life dangreously , and here in Chennai I just have to sit in an Auto to live the dangerous life
Potential For the Insurance Vertical :
- Instead of having your salesman randomly rolling out pamphlets at weird locations, get them posted at Auto Stands.People will be able to instantly realize that they sure as hell need Life Insurance . Moreover, to justify the cause tie up with a few Auto Wallah’s to pull some stunts every time they stop their autos near the stand or take off on 2 wheels alone. That will get the Insurance guys the maximum buck for their marketing dollar.
- Advertise on the Autos: This is a no brainer. Have your designer create a relevant advertisement and stick it behind every single auto. The punch line could very well be , ” Taking An Auto, But Do you Have Life Insaurance” or have a picture of poor bloke in a Auto Crash with the line ” It could be you, Act Now, Insure Your God Darn Life ”
Banking: If you think a rented Mercedes is the most extravagant ride you can afford to travel from one place to another, you have never experienced Chennai Auto travel.The Autokars (as they are known here) have been bestowed with the gift of demanding exorbitant sums of money to take you from Place A to B.What’s more, they do not know that a device known as METER exists.If at all its there, its because it was factory fitted and adds to the aesthetics of the auto.If you can’t imagine the scale of price charged, have a look at one of poor bloke’s grievance at the Consumer Forum
What’s more.If you thought you will end up paying the price you settled on before parking you arse in the Auto, think again.The Auto guy will evidently realize that he has not been given the right price after reaching the venue and he shall not accept the pre decided amount.If you do not know Tamil, prepare to listen to an unending saga of how you are not giving the Auto Guy the amount he so rightfully deserves.
Potential For The Banking Sector( Credit/Debit Card)
With the prices the Chennai Autokars demand and the way they will never settle for the amount you agreed on the first place, i beg to wonder if the banks should install Swipe Machines in the Autos.Hell, the meter could be replaced with a Swipe machine, which will accept the Credit/Debit cards.The denomination will never be a problem since most of the times your fare will be in denominations of 100 .
This will also come as a blessing in disguise for folks who have to get their travel bills reimbursed. if you intend to travel by Auto and plan to get the amount reimbursed from the finance dept in office, you sure as hell will get laughed at the amount you ask.No one will agree to the amount in the bill you produce and you will not have any way to prove it.
With payments by Credit Cards, you will have a bill as a testimony that you were indeed travelling in an Auto and not a MERC
So, you think that the BFSI sector has not monetized a potential market.Chennai Auto is the Holy Grail for any Banking /Insurance company looking to convert prospects into customers
Disclaimer : I do not intend to malign Chennai or its people in any way. I have been here for a good bit of time and the place has been super nice to me.It was an attempt to add some humor to a true and unjust practice of the Auto Wallhas in Chennai.
Comments/Brickbats all appreciated
Img Source 1, 2
I did not want to write about it.A new year needs to begin with positive energy.But then, my twitter stream is oh so filled with the recent 3 idiots controversy pitting Chetan Bhagat against the producers of the movie that I couldn’t stop myself from offering my 2 cents on the matter.I have been ranting a bit bout it on twitter for sometime but then decided 140 chars were not enough.
I am not going to get into who’s wrong or whose right because when you get into the details, the whole thing is too technical.Technical as in with the legal terms of the agreement contract which has been surprisingly been posted online here .
Now, the whole controversy is known to all so there is no point repeating it again.As for uninitiated the whole issue floating around the controversy hangs on,
Chetan Bhagat’s grouse against the 3 Idiots production house of not giving the due credit to Chetan Bhagat and his Novel Five Point Someone, which is the inspiration of the movie
Again, from what i understand from all the content that has been generated over the Internet, it is clear that Chetan Bhagat’s side of the story reeks of un professionalism and a lot of whining.There i said it. The guy despite all his super awesome IIT-IIM credentials has gone completely wrong with his online life and now even the proffesional life.
Continue reading The Biggest Idiot In The Whole 3 Idiots Conspiracy
As a kid or rather as a teenager i always wondered why there is not enough traction for the game of GOLF.But, then i realized that Golf is a costly affair.From Golf club memberships to Golf accessories , every darn thing comes at a premium. It obviously then becomes a game not everyone plays.There are those rich folks who take it up as hobby and then are those select few who get into the Pro-Mode.
However, the true cost of playing GOLF has been bought to light by none other than the GOLFING Legend a.k.a Mr.Tiger Woodshimself.For the uninitiated he is to GOLF but Sachin is to Cricket, or may be even more.
I guess you know where i am going with this, don’t ya
Before i get into the details, let me tell you that i am huge fan of Tiger Woods for the perfection that he is.However, keeping with the end of the year festivity spirit, i thought a little humor won’t do much harm
So, What’s the price of playing the game of 18 holes ?
Continue reading Why The Game Of 18 Holes (Golf) Is Only For The Rich
Looks like the internet has conspired against me.Ever since i posted that streching-to-eternity post on my Buffet Fiesta , things have not been good:-(
I iz down with cold and a mild fever.On top of that, the whole body is aching with special mentions to my back.It is actually killing me [That smile took some effort]
 (Img Source)
I just hope I recover by tomorow morning, because i need to go earn my bread-butter-jam etc like any other day.No, Leave is no option.It is wrongly called Earned Leave.Even though i seem to be earning it, i can never take it when i want to.
Hope to return to the blogosphere soon.Till then Be good
Update:: Changed the Pic.Hat tip to @dagny
Now, if you are reading this article thinking it will have anything to do with the Oracle Of Omaha Warren Buffet, I apologise and suggest you stop right here
This post is about the one thing that i think God sent me to earth for. Indeed, it is about food or rather variety and unlimited food also reffered to as Buffet
Being Christmas and all, I had the perfect excuse to coax my buddies for a food fiesta and continue with our journey with the best Buffet’s in Chennai (yes, i work in this very city  )
Choosing a buffet place however is no joke.Almost all 5 star hotels seem to have buffet’s and a uncountable restaurants have tempting Buffet Menus.So, how does one choose the perfect place.Well, for one it depends on what you are looking for.
Continue reading My Tryst With Buffet (ology)
I wanted to refrain from writing this but it is getting insane off late. I had already written about the Search Engine love that my blog has been getting.I am no SEO expert and i could never write articles stuffing keywords which would bring traffic to my article.This is the trend and there are over thousands of keyword tools that suggest search engine keywords to make the articles tuned with SEO.
However, search engines sometime seem to have a mind of their own.If you remember the post i had done earlier on Google Loves My Blog on TG Town , it was evident that my post on Tata Docomo got a lot of traction from the search engines.However, I had not written anything spectacular for the article to become search engine friendly.
With Statpress gone due to technical reasons, we now have FireStats installed on our blogs.It may not be as detailed as Statpress but it has a rather neat interface and does its job quite well.It has been hardly 3 days i activated Firestats on the blog and what did i notice.
Tata Docomo is still doing rather well for my blog on search engines.Infact, now even telecommunication related queries are being re-directed to my blog .I sure do not understand it completely but then I am not complaining
I took notice of the search engine traffic that i have been getting and look what i found.
Continue reading Google is showering a lot of “Tata Docomo” Love On My Blog
Its that time of the year again.Festivities are in the air, an year is passing by and another one beckons.It is time to look back at the year’s achievements,losses,gains and ponder over the plans for the year 2010.
Christmas has a very special place in my heart and tops the list of ‘Best Festivals’ . Why? Think of the delicious rum-soaked cakes and the red wine:-)
However, Christmas has become more dear to me ever since i started working.Yes, it is the time of the year when the developed part of the world( The U.S of A and the likes) goes on a long long holdiday.Yes, i get paid to help the Goras take their business ahead .So, a long weekend and a compraitvely relaxed week after that is one reason to totally go crazy celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
On a sidenote , Christmas is also a clear case of give and take. You offer the cute looking , cookie-hogger Santa milk and cookies with the hope that he will give you the gifts of your choice. Don’t we?Only if life was that simpler..huh.
However, keeping with the tradition and being the reasonable guy i am, I am only gonna ask for a few Apple’s .
Continue reading Jingle Bell,Jingle Bell, Jingle All The Way!! Merry Christmas
Award!! The word itself is enough to put anyone in celebration mode, isn’t it.
Well, but then it doesn’t come often and neither does it come easy.So, when one gets an award Celebration To Banta He
Without much further ado , let me share one of the best moments in my carrier till now!!
I or rather We haz been bestowed with the “Best Development Team” award for the year FY08-09.YaY
I would be lying if i were to say it was expected since my team had been working their arse off for more than a year now.Being a 3 member team with one of them being the Project Manager, it sure was a commendable effort, but then we are paid to do that, aren’t we.Hence, there was no expectation of sorts and that’s what makes the award special.
However, i received the award yesterday night and i did not blog about it that time.Why?
One prime reason is the fact that the enormisity or let’s say the importance did not dawn on me till now.It is crazy that sometimes we do not cherish what we have at the moment we receive them.However, the reasons to write this post is not to celebrate the achievement but to pour my alter-ego thoughts.
For the record, i am a technical consultant working for an IT services firm.So, the award is to appreciate my efforts that i poured in year in and year out.However, is the award going to truly motivate me? I don’t know because I already feel burnt out.The project has taken its toll on me and i have passed the phase where a recognition would have boosted my morale to outdo myself.
What would have motivated me more is a PAT ON THE BACK during the course of the project.Is that too much to ask for? Moreover, i need recognition,motivation when i am feeling really flustered and low.So, one applause from my department itself would have done wonders for my morale more than being feliciated at the annual award ceremony.
But an annual award ceremony exposes your good work to a larger audience, isn’t that good.You say?
It sure does but then given how my understanding of the reward-motivation theory works, it is imperative to understand when a reward will lead to maximum motivation.It is again a very individualistic thing and your opinions might differ.I just wanted to share what has been going on my mind ever since i received the award and to carry on the tradition of celebrating my every little achievement
It is also ironical that the award came at the time when the award will not serve the purpose of motivating me to do what i have been doing to qualify for the award.However, I shall keep that for the next time when things materialize.
Have you ever gone through the same flow of thoughts anytime? Did you ever feel that timely small awards( eg: A verbal “Great Work”) serves a better purpose.
PS:: I am in no way saying that I don’t like awards and i didn’t like this one:-) I love awards/rewards of all kinds and i am thankful to my employer for bestowing it on my team.I am going to cherish it for times to come.
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