Sparking Ruminations

Center plans 43 new IT cities in India

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:57:00 +0000

New Delhi: As rising cost of infrastructure and employees in big cities started threatening the Indian IT industry, the government has announced its plan to develop 43 new IT cities in the country, in order to tap the huge surge in demand for IT-enabled services over the next 10 years, while maintaining its cost effective appeal, reported The Economic Times.

The move comes when IT and BPO companies are losing their global cost advantage with the emergence of countries like Vietnam and the Philippines which offer similar services at cheaper rates and are threatening India's status as the world's back office.

The plan seeks to find a way out of the situation where companies find it difficult to recruit quality employees as the allure of BPO jobs dulls and attrition rates go up.

Infrastructure constraints in Bangalore, Gurgaon and elsewhere are other spanners in the work.

Source: SiliconIndia.com

It is felt that these new towns will provide a steady supply of workers besides being specifically geared towards the needs of the IT and BPO sectors. The proposal, suggested by a high-level group on service sector, has been cleared by the Planning Commission. "The modalities for the ambitious plan will be finalized very soon," sources said.

Indian inflation races to seven-year high

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:44:00 +0000

India’s inflation rate hit its highest level in seven years at the end of May, prompting speculation that the central bank would be forced to increase interest rates for the second time in a matter of weeks to contain soaring prices.
In a surprise increase, inflation jumped to an annual rate of 8.75 per cent on May 31, up from 8.24 per cent a week earlier, with economists warning it was likely to breach 10 per cent in figures to be released next week that will reflect fuel price rises at the start of June.

“Headline inflation is about to reach double digit levels,” Morgan Stanley economist Chetan Ahya said. “The RBI will likely hike the policy rate again.”
Central banks across Asia are facing off against inflation as a surge in the price of oil beyond $130 is driving up the cost of basic goods in a region that imports most of its fuel.
India’s United Progressive Alliance, the ruling coalition led by the Congress party, has taken a series of administrative measures to contain prices, ranging from curbing exports of essential commodities to suspending futures trading in key food items.

But the moves have proven largely futile in quelling inflation. Friday’s surprise increase was partly the result of a rise in the cost of some edible oils, an item whose price the government had earlier sought to control through import duty cuts and the suspension of futures trading.
Another contributor to Friday’s sharper-than-expected increase in inflation was the textile sector, an industry that is heavily dependent on petrochemicals as a raw material.
With the central government measures faltering, the RBI was forced to take emergency action, announcing after market hours on Wednesday an emergency increase in its key “repo” lending rate by 25 basis points to 8 per cent, its highest level in more than five years.
Economists now expect the RBI to increase rates by a further 25 basis points on July 29, its next scheduled policy meeting, in an effort to send a strong signal on inflation and to support the rupee, which has depreciated 8 per cent against the dollar this year.
Economists say India’s policymakers are now making a priority of controlling inflation even at the expense of growth – the economy expanded 9 per cent in the fiscal year that ended in March.
But with inflation emerging as the number one political issue ahead of a general election that must be held by May next year, that is a price India’s government is happy to pay.
India’s hundreds of millions of poor voters are highly sensitive to even minor increases in the cost of living.
Sonal Varma, an economist with Lehman Brothers, said the inflation figures for the week ended June 7, to be released next Friday, would probably reflect a government increase in India’s retail fuel prices of an average of 10 per cent as well as potentially an increase in aircraft fuel prices.
It is also likely to be driven higher by the base effect of a year earlier, when inflation dipped during the same period.
“Everything seems to be bunched up in a week where you will already have fuel prices and will already be coming off a negative base. That’s the reason why we are looking at a step increase up to 10 per cent next week,” Ms Varma said.

Source: FT.com

India's Business Schools Need an Upgrade

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 09:48:00 +0000

A business group study finds that most MBA programs need better faculty, texts, and certification
Business education is booming in India, but the bulk of rank-and-file programs in the country suffer from outdated textbooks, professors who don't keep up with economic trends, and narrow curriculums, according to a recently released report by an Indian business group.
The Business Barometer study was issued last month by the the Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (Assocham), the country's leading chamber of commerce organization. It found that beyond the top 30 institutions, most business school professors and lecturers in India's business schools are ignorant of the world's major economic trends and key developments, such as the subprime crisis in the U.S. Few read business publications.
The study's author, Jyoti Bhutani, called the findings "shocking," adding that Indian businesses are finding it difficult to get top-quality graduates. She said there is "a huge gap" between the pay packages offered to grads of top Indian business schools (BusinessWeek.com, 4/13/08) and those provided to grads of the lesser institutions.
Faculty Not Up to Par
The survey was done to assess the faculty's grasp on practical subject matter and general economic awareness at India's various MBA schools. The business school market in India has exploded in the past few years, with more than 1,600 business schools offering undergraduate business and MBA programs (BusinessWeek.com, 9/13/05). But their academic standards remain uneven: No single, independent regulator oversees the universities and colleges. As a result, the quality of many faculty members falls short, leaving students with a degree that is "devoid of any real value," said Bhutani, assistant director of Assocham's research bureau.
"While the top B-schools of India are increasingly getting recognized internationally, the remaining thousands of management institutes in the country have dismal standards of faculty," Bhutani said via e-mail.
The study found that only 6% of the 258 faculty members she surveyed read any business newspaper on a regular basis, with steady readership of business magazines "negligible." As a result, teachers are often unaware of key economic developments in India and the world. For example, 89% of the teachers did not know what India's gross domestic product growth rate was in 2006-07. Almost 92% weren't aware that the country's foreign exchange reserves have surpassed $300 billion. The study found that 91% of lecturers teaching a Business Environment class called did not know how to read financial documents, and 90% did not know that the U.S. might be in recession.
Additionally, most of the case studies or examples discussed in class are outdated because the library books used by lecturers are old. Many of the books are written by authors outside India, and teachers use case studies that lack Indian content.
A Patchwork of Certifying Agencies
"As the teachers themselves are ill-informed, even the students remain unaware of real-world developments," Bhutani said. "It has a direct bearing on the employability of the students."
Adding to the problem is a patchwork of more than a dozen accreditation agencies in India. The National Knowledge Commission, which serves as an advisory group to India's Prime Minister, criticized existing Indian regulators and accreditation bodies in a 2006 report.
"There are several instances where an engineering college or a business school is approved, promptly, in a small house of a metropolitan suburb without the requisite teachers, infrastructure, or facilities, but established universities experience difficulties in obtaining similar approvals," the commission wrote in the report.
M.S. Shyamsundar, deputy adviser for the government-run National Assessment & Accreditation Council, said his agency had accredited about 15 business schools, all of which adhered to his agency's strict criteria and guidelines. He acknowledged that the academic quality of business schools varies widely throughout the country. "I think we have different shades of quality institutions, ranging from very mediocre to very good," Shyamsundar said in a telephone interview.
Accreditation Must Be Improved
He said he hopes more business schools will come forward for accreditation in the next few years, a step that will go a long way to improve the reputation of these management institutions. "Quality is one of the pressing concerns," he said. "This is why we are asking them to come forward for accreditation. Once they do this, the schools can know their strengths and weaknesses."
John Fernandes, president of the U.S.-based Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), said his agency is working with four or five of the top Indian business schools that are seeking AACSB accreditation. Most are members of the "elite" business school cadre in India, known as India Institute of Managements. None of the top Indian business schools has accreditation from AACSB, one of the leading business school accrediting agencies.
Setting a high standard for Indian business schools by satisfying a quality accrediting agency is an important step for Indian business schools, said Assocham's Bhutani. An improved accreditation process would have a ripple effect on all Indian business schools, he continued, forcing them to improve the quality of teachers, materials, and professional development.

Source: BusinessWeek

The iPhone 3G Unveiled

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 09:21:00 +0000

Apple's new mobile device features improvements galore, not the least of which is a more attractive price tag that will likely ignite demand.

Almost a year after upending the mobile-phone world with its first wireless handset, the iPhone, Apple unveiled a souped-up second version of the device, the iPhone 3G.

Introduced by Apple (AAPL) CEO Steve Jobs in a June 9 keynote address in San Francisco, the iPhone 3G will sell for $199 for an 8GB version and $299 for a 16GB version. The new prices represent a departure from a year ago when the first devices sold for $599 on the upper end. The iPhone 3G will be available in 22 countries beginning July 11, and will eventually be sold in 70 countries in all.
The new phone derives its name from the faster Internet downloads available on advanced, or third-generation (3G), wireless networks. Jobs told the audience the new iPhone downloads Web pages as much as 36% faster than comparable phones from Nokia (NOK) and Palm (PALM). The new phone also sports a feature that lets users know their location using GPS satellites. Phones that run GPS technology are able to access an array of location-aware applications, including mapping within address books. Other improvements over the original device include improved audio quality on phone calls.
Juicing Demand
Improvements to the first version of the iPhone—the lower price in particular—will likely generate greater demand for one of Apple's most successful products to date. "If anyone needed proof that Apple was ready, willing, and able to go after lots of mobile-phone users, they got it today," says Gartner (IT) analyst Mike McGuire. "Apple is showing itself to be really serious about the phone market." Apple has sold 6 million units since the iPhone was introduced at the end of June, 2007. "More people desired to buy it, but they couldn't afford it," Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook says.
Demand for the iPhone also stands to benefit the wireless carriers on whose networks the device runs—although Cook says the lower price reflects a subsidy that will be absorbed by the service providers. The official iPhone provider in the U.S. is AT&T (T). "The launch of 3G iPhone will be another opportunity for [Apple's] exclusive providers to boost [revenue per user] and market share gains, continuing what 2G iPhone started," UBS (UBS) analyst John Hodulik wrote in a research report.
Apple's stock dropped during the keynote, falling as much as $7.25, or nearly 4%, by 2 p.m. Eastern time, though it later recouped losses. Apple shares had slipped $4.03, or 2.2%, to 181.61 by the close of trading.
Apple also added features designed to make this version of the iPhone more attractive to business users. These include the ability to read documents from Microsoft Office (MSFT), including documents in Word, spreadsheets in Excel, and PowerPoint presentations. "We sort of checked the boxes on everything the enterprise wanted," Cook says.
Several New Features
Another new feature is a service called MobileMe, an expansion of Apple's existing .Mac Web service, which offers hosted e-mail, online storage, and other services for users of Apple's Macintosh computers. During the presentation, Apple Senior Vice-President Phil Schiller described the service as "Exchange for the rest of us," referring to Microsoft's widely used corporate e-mail, calendar, and contact-list tools.

E-mail messages, calendar updates, and contacts are updated live via a wireless Internet connection, and data are synchronized between the iPhone and a Macintosh or Windows PC.
Google's (GOOG) map application has been integrated into contact lists. The service also lets users update their online photo albums directly from iPhones. Users will also be able to store up to 20GB of data from both their computers or their iPhones via an application called iDisk. The service will be available for $99 a year, and also available for a free 60-day trial starting in July.
Apple is able to make such a large price cut because wireless carriers including AT&T will subsidize about half the price of the new phone. Under existing arrangements, Apple takes a cut of the revenue collected by carriers for iPhone service plans. Analysts have speculated that Apple's share is as high as 30%, though precise deal terms have not been disclosed.
Under arrangements for the new iPhone, Apple is relinquishing the revenue-sharing arrangements in exchange for subsidies it hopes will move more phones off shelves. "Higher unit volumes will offset removal of carrier revenue share payments," Piper Jaffray (PJC) analyst Gene Munster wrote in a June 9 research note. AT&T said in a regulatory filing that its bottom line will take a hit as a result of the subsidies. Earnings will be cut 10¢ to 12¢ through the end of 2009, the company said. Owners of iPhones tend to generate double the monthly service revenue as owners of other devices, AT&T added.
Apple also introduced several new software applications created by third-party developers. Earlier this year, Apple made available a kit that makes it easier for software writers to create applications for the iPhone (BusinessWeek.com, 3/6/08).
New applications include an auction program from eBay (EBAY), a series of games from Sega and Pangea Software, a friend locator from wireless startup Loopt, and a pair of medical programs from Modality. The Associated Press, the global news organization, also demonstrated a service called the Mobile News Network, which gathers news content based on the phone's location, but also gives iPhone owners the ability to send photos and text to the AP when they see news happening. The blogging service TypePad also debuted an application for blogging directly from the iPhone.
Widespread Apps
Jobs said applications will be available from Apple's iTunes store and will be available in 62 countries. Small applications that require 10MB of memory or less will be downloadable over the air, while larger ones will require either a Wi-Fi connection or installation directly from iTunes. Developers who sell their software through iTunes will set the prices and will be allowed to keep 70% of the revenue from sales.
Corporate customers will be able to distribute applications to employees. Corporate technology managers will have the ability to authorize phones on their networks, and then create an approved list of applications that can run on those phones.

Source: BusinessWeek.

Why the Indian markets falling

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:29:00 +0000

It all started with the US subprime problem and the global credit crunch, which led the BSE Sensex nosediving from its peak of 21,206 on January 10, 2008 to 14,677 on March 18. A part of the fall can also be attributed to the concerns pertaining to the increase in crude oil prices and its impact on India's economic growth.
Some of the early signs were also visible from rising inflation and the slowdown in domestic industrial production numbers. This further led to concerns over high interest rates, slowdown in GDP and thus, corporate earnings as well.
Sensing these developments, foreign institutional investors were the first ones to move out of the market, and they partly became the reason for the markets to fall.
End of the bloodbath?
If the global and domestic problems persist, experts predict the Sensex to fall to 12,000-14,500 levels. Though bold and unbelievable, there are few players who are predicting that the Sensex may touch the 9,000 levels.
While we are not predicting the Sensex levels, we jot down and bring certain factors that may determine the future course of the markets and what investors should do during these uncertain times.
Crude realities
No investor will be willing to invest in an asset headed for reporting lower profits and no asset can be profitable if costs are higher than realisations.
Crude oil is one such commodity, whether it is the economy (macro) or corporate profitability (micro), which is considered to be the source of most of the problems.
While crude oil prices had corrected to $125 levels, after crossing $135 a barrel mark, it again scaled a new peak of $139.12 a barrel last week. There are reports predicting that it will go to $150 to $200 a barrel.
There are several reasons attributed to the recent spike in the crude oil prices including increased financial investments and a marginal rise in costs of oil production.
Whether the crude oil price rises to such high levels or not, experts suggest that the good old days of cheap oil may be gone for a long time to come.
Bloating deficit
According to studies, a $10 increase in the crude oil prices may reduce India's GDP growth by about 0.3 percentage points and an increase in the consumer price index by 1.2 percentage points.
India imports about 70 per cent of its oil requirements, suggesting that at current levels, it will have to pay a significantly higher amount to meet demand. It has already led to a large trade deficit (over 7 per cent of the GDP).
How they compare
Fiscal deficit, which is currently at about 3 per cent of the GDP, could reach to 10 per cent levels if the fertiliser, food, farm and oil subsidies are added.
Hence, further rise in crude oil prices will only make things worse. Not only this, rising oil will have serious consequences on others things as well.
"If crude oil touches $150 levels and sustains there, it will be a crude awakening for the global as well as for India. India's annual import bill will touch to $140 billion against the $78 billion estimated for the FY08," says Devendra Nevgi, CEO and CIO, Quantum Mutual Fund.
High inflation
High crude oil prices would have a sweeping impact on the Indian economy.
To put forth some of them: Higher inflation rate, rupee depreciation, increasing trade account and fiscal deficit, and firm interest rates. The other side of an oil shock would probably the ensuing political instability and social unrest.
Sector fortunes
The inflation rate, which is already high at over 8 per cent, could emerge as a key concern. Economists share different views with regards to inflation reaching the double digit figure in the short term, and if not, it could range at about 7-8 per cent, especially after the recent hike in the petrol and diesel prices
Source : Business Standard

Lagi Aaj Sawan Ki Phir Wo Jhadi Hai --chandini

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:25:00 +0000

jihale masti.....

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:21:00 +0000

Lambi Judaai - Reshma - HERO

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:08:00 +0000

Sathiya ye tune kya kiya --Love

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:04:00 +0000

Ae zindagi gale laga le---Sadma

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:02:00 +0000

Tare zameen par--Maa

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:52:00 +0000

Dating Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:05:00 +0000

Lighten Up
We worry too much about dating. We worry about everything from talking too much to whether our boy/girlfriend really likes us. If you worry too much or have little confidence in your dating skills, lighten up!1) Be kind to everyone. This will create success because everyone likes being around kind people.2) Be upbeat! No one likes to be around someone who is constantly negative.3) If someone likes you, expect them to treat you with respect and warmth. If they don´t, don´t waste your precious dating years on someone who is going to abuse you.Remember, people are attracted to people who calm, centered and happy. And if you act that way, you will begin to feel that way!

Cleanliness and Attire
The impression you leave on a date begins the moment you see each other. Even before you speak your first words, your date has made judgments based on what he/she sees. That is why your appearance, cleanliness and clothing are so important on a date. Making a misstep in these three categories can negate any other positive thing you do during the remainder of the date. It is better to ensure that you have showered and are appropriately dressed than to hurry to avoid being late. If you need to, make a phone call and delay...but look nice for your date. It shows you care.

A Flower On The Second Date?
Bring a flower or two on a second date. It will show your date that you have been looking forward to it.
1) A couple of casual flowers, such as carnations or daisies would be great!
2) Try to stay away from red roses till you have seen each other for awhile.
3)You can even give one flower with some leaves and baby's breath with a ribbon!

Don´t Rush A Relationship
When you like someone, it's often tempting to rush in and shower him or her with affection, gifts, phone calls and all your time and attention. Unfortunately, this extreme focus can be too much too soon and might scare away the person. Rein in your enthusiasm and try to let the relationship grown and develop on its own. Don't try to do everything; let your dating partner initiate some things as well. You'll find it's rather nice to be on the receiving end of some of that attention and affection, too.

Being Attentive
The simplest way to convey interest on a date is listening. Listening is incredibly important for any successful dating experience. Not only will you actually learn something about the person you are dating, they will feel both desired and interesting. Listening goes way beyond merely "looking interested." You have to be attentive to what your date is saying. You should ask questions, and occasionally chime in with your own anecdotes. This way you will seem both attentive and interesting.

Beyond Attraction
Attraction is very important in every dating relationship; in fact, most individuals say that attraction is the reason they sought out their dating partner for the first date. But once attraction has been established, other key factors come into play. Consider the following questions. Does this person talk openly with me? Can I share my thoughts with him/her? Does he/she care about what I am doing? Does this person respect me and my desires? Does this person push me to do things I am uncomfortable with? Remember, attraction is only one of many elements of a successful relationship. Make sure your relationship has more than just attraction to survive.

ConversationHere are a few dating tips for conversation. Start small. You can't come charging into a date with both conversational barrels blazing – heavy topics like life and politics should come later in the conversation. Begin by simply asking about her or his day. Listen to what your date has to say, and take turns directing the conversation. The point of the date is to get to know the other person; don't try to rush anything. If in-depth topics come up, good; if they don't, don't worry. Hopefully they'll surface during another date. Remember, remain true to your opinions -- don't browbeat the person, but don't agree for the sake of agreeing either.

Advanced Planning
Spontaneity is a wonderful thing, but not always when you have a date on the calendar. A nice evening usually requires some preparation. When you ask out a date, it is a good idea to make plans. For example, if you are going out to eat, make reservations. Discuss your plans with your date before hand so he/she can prepare as well. It is good to tell a date what time you will pick them up and what time you expect to have them home. Even if you have been dating someone for a long period of time, you should still take the time to plan ahead. It shows you care and you will have more fun because you put more thought and caring into the process.

Don´t Lead Me On
It's surprising how much damage can be done by people who are trying to be nice. If you are dating someone who you like as a friend, and you know that person has much stronger feelings about you, don't think that the 'nice' thing to do is to continue to date them without explanation. That would be leading the person on -- intentionally or unintentionally. Always let the person know the extent of your feelings. You are not being nice when you pretend; you will both be better off when you are honest. Their time will not be wasted, and their feelings will be honored.

Dating Resolutions
Most people start the new year with a list of resolutions. It's a nice way to start fresh, to start anew. As you begin a new relationship, consider making some dating resolutions so that your new relationship can have a fresh start, too. Some resolutions to consider include:

1) I will listen more than I talk.
2) I will be more positive.
3) If I criticize my partner, I will show an increase in love afterwards.
4) I will be more patient.
5) I will be loyal to my partner.

Sex Should Be LastIt's the million dollar question: when should a couple have sex? The answer is probably a bit different for every couple. But at the 2001 Smart Marriage conference, Dr. John VanEpp recommended the following sequence of events, which applies to all couples considering a serious relationship.

1. Know--you must know someone before you get too serious with them. You must know about their family, their habits, their values and their lifestyle.

2. Trust--When you start knowing someone, you begin to trust them more. Trust is something that should be earned and not easily given.

3. Rely--Once you know someone and you trust them, you can start relying on them.

4. Commit--Once we know, trust, and rely on someone, we can then make a stronger commitment to them. That is why the marriage commitment is so important.

5. Sex--Finally, sex. If you start off with sex, you have started in the wrong place. In order for a relationship to be healthy, you MUST know each other, you must trust each other, you must rely upon each other, and you must be committed to each other. It is at this point, and only at this point, that sex is wise and healthy.

A Few Do´s & Don´ts
DO NOT call and ask for a date for the same day.

DO plan interactive activities on a first date to get to know the person better. (Translation: no movies).

DO NOT be late for a date.

DO plan dates in different environments to see how your partner responds to a variety of situations.

DO NOT talk about yourself the whole night--find out more about your date.

DO kiss on the first date if the feeling moves you! Be spontaneous.

Do NOT forget to give a tip to your waiter if you go out to eat.

summer skin care

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:38:00 +0000

Summer is the season when you have to take special care of your skin. You may be surprised that your summer skin, which looked radiant throughout winter, suddenly looks dull, blemished and oily. This is because, in winter your skin's natural oils solidifies, whereas in summer it flows freely. It's estimated that 90 percent of wrinkles cause due to sun exposure. The sun's long- and short-wave ultraviolet rays, or UVA and UVB, penetrate the deepest layers of skin, damaging the collagen -- the spongy protein that gives skin it's structure, firmness, and elasticity. Fair skin wrinkles more readily than dark skin because it contains less pigment, which acts as a natural sunscreen, blocking some of the sun's damaging UVA and B rays. To prevent wrinkles caused due to sunrays stay out of the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when it's almost directly overhead and UV radiation is strongest. Stay in the shade as much as possible. And wear protective clothing and plenty of sunscreen. Strive to apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before stepping outside. Sunscreen should always be reapplied after contact with water or after sweating. Sunscreen also should be worn year round--every time you leave the house. Shop for sunscreen that blocks against UVB and UVA rays both believed to induce skin cancer.

Moisturisation is the most important part of daily skin care. Your skin needs more water than anything else and moisturisers are more needed in summer when you lose most of your body salts by sweating. Buy a water-based moisturizer and use it without fail. Make it a habit to wash your face gently with water a number of times in a day (try and use mineral water). You can splash as many as 20 times as long as you don't use very hot or cold water on your skin (which can cause fine vein to appear on your face). Steam your face regularly to open the pores and clean your face of the dirt (five minutes for dry skin and 10 minutes if it is oily). Pat dry with tissue and moisturize.

A few moisturisers you can make at home:

1. Take cucumber juice and watermelon juice in equal proportions and apply on face. You can cool it in the frig before use.

2. Rose water is also a good moisturiser and it can be sprayed on the face to tone and refresh it.

Beat the heat with a glow on your face Here are some face pack which makes ur skin Beautiful:

A facemask of egg white and honey gently removes the tan from your face.

Mix oats with honey, yogurt and ground almonds. Apply this in your face, leave it for five minutes and wash with lukewarm water.

Cucumber is a natural cleanser. Mix cucumber juice with milk and use it instead of a cleanser.

Take 1/3-cup cocoa, three teaspoons of heavy cream, 1/3-cup ripe papaya, 1/4-cup honey and three teaspoons of oatmeal powder. Mix it all together. Apply on your face. After 10 minutes, wash your face with warm water. This is best for oily skin

For oily skin, apply a mixture of grapes, lemon and egg white. Leave it for 20 minutes and rinse with warm water. While lemon acts as a natural cleanser, grapes will soften your skin and egg whites will tighten it. Don’t be alarmed if your skin tingles.

Cut the lemon and rub the wedge all over your face. Leave it for about 20 minutes, then rinse off with cold water. This will refresh your face. Avoid doing this if you have dry skin.

Mix honey, lemon and vegetable oil .This mixture is a good moisturiser for dry skin. Apply this mask for 10 minutes.

Apply the mixture of honey and milk on the face . This will make your skin glow.

Prepare a mask by mixing a slice of pumpkin with egg yolk and milk. Let this mask set on your face for 30 minutes for a glowing skin.

Mix half-a-cup honey to your bath water for soft and smooth skin.

For a soothing body pack, prepare a paste of mint leaves and almonds. Mix it with warm water and apply all over your body. Leave it till it dries and rinse with warm water.

Buttermilk dabbed on skin for 15 minutes will soak up oil from your skin without drying it.
Carrot juice applied daily fades blemishes.

For dark underarms and neck apply lemon juice mixed with cucumber juice and a pinch of turmeric daily. Leave this on for 20 minutes.

For removing facial hair.. Apply a sticky paste of egg white blended with sugar and corn flour. When it dries, gently peel it off. Repeat this three to four times a week.

Thin apple slices rubbed onto oily skin will help in controlling oily shine.

For supple skin, apply a ripe smashed banana on your face for 20 minutes daily.

Cauliflower juice applied on warts regularly will make them fall.

For a fair skin, try this natural bleach. Mix orange peels (sun dried and powdered) with milk. Apply this paste for 25 minutes and wash off.

Mix half teaspoon dried curry leaf powder with multani mitti (fullers earth) and apply on the face. Wash it after it gets dry.

Apply the mixture of tomato juice and honey on the face and neck , wash it after 15 minutes.

Apply the mixture of carrot juice and basin. Leave it till it dries and wash the face.

Add two teaspoon of tomato juice with 4 teaspoon of curd and apply on the face.

Add a pinch of yeast with 2 teaspoon of cabbage juice and apply.

Mix 1 table spoon of barley powder with half teaspoon of lime juice and 1 teaspoon of honey. Apply it on the face and wash after 20 minutes.

Mix pineapple juice and carrot juice together and apply it on the face and wash it after 15 minutes.

Mix vinegar and rose water in equal quantities and apply.

Mix curd and cucumber juice and apply it on the face.

Apply the mixture of coconut water and thick pineapple juice.

Make a paste with 1/2 teaspoon of milk powder, 1/4 teaspoon of egg white and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice and apply on the face.

For dry skin, Make a paste with egg yolk, olive oil and lemon juice. Apply it on the neck and face, wash it out after 10 minutes.

For oily skin, take a mixture of oatmeal and egg white and apply it on the neck and face

For glowing skin, use basin or green gram powder mixed with milk instead of soap.

Apply the mixture of raw turmeric and cream of milk on the face and wash it after 20 minutes. It will make your skin fair.

Apply the mixture of honey, basin, cream of milk and olive oil as a face pack.

Apply the paste of fenugreek with milk on the face and let it dry. Wash off with luke warm water.

Make a paste of red sandal wood and apply it on the face every day for glowing skin.

Make a paste with red sandal powder and coconut milk and apply on the face for soft skin.

IT tax sop scheme might extend beyond 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:45:00 +0000

The Indian government is likely to extend the tax-free software technology parks of India (STPI) scheme beyond 2009, a central minister said on Wednesday.

"The STPI scheme, initially brought out to develop IT industry in the country, might be extended so that IT industry continues to achieve its stupendous growth," said Communications and IT Minister A. Raja here.

He was addressing the India Leadership Forum 2008 organised by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom).

The minister said his ministry was in complete sync with the demands of the STPI and special economic zone (SEZ) schemes for the industry and was pushing its case.

The STPI scheme, which is set to expire in 2009, provides a 10-year income tax exemption for units situated in software technology parks. Nasscom had Monday sought the extension of the STPI scheme.

While large companies could move over to SEZs, small and mid-sized companies were finding it difficult to follow suit owing to cost barriers. SEZs are mostly located in and around large cities.

Raja said his ministry is trying to extend the concessions currently available to SEZs.

He lauded the IT industry for achieving its targeted growth despite global recession and a strong rupee.

"I am deeply impressed that the IT industry is on par to reach $60 billion in revenues by 2008 and provide employment to two million people, an increase of 370,000 over the previous year."

Raja called upon the IT industry to come out with innovative products and services to help reach the rural India.

"Eighty per cent of the population is bereft of Internet connectivity and the IT industry should come with affordable products and services so that the fruits of IT revolution will reach the masses."

Raja also said the IT Ministry was planning to develop tier I and tier II cities into major IT hubs.

IT sector plagued with under-skilled staff

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:40:00 +0000

Insufficient IT staff availability, service delivery issues, and difficulty in proving the value of information technology (IT) continue to plague executives at IT organizations around the world, says a new report by the nonprofit, independent IT Governance Institute (ITGI).

ITGI commissioned a global survey of 749 CEO / CIO level executives in 23 countries to determine their IT governance priorities and their organizations' IT-related problems. According to the IT Governance Global Status Report 2008, which is available as a complimentary download at www.itgi.org, 58 percent of respondents noted an insufficient number of staff, compared to 35 percent in 2005.

Also, 48 percent said that IT service delivery problems remain the second most common problem, and 38 percent point to problems relating to staff with inadequate skills. Thirty percent of respondents also reported problems anticipating the return on investment (ROI) for IT expenditures.

The study is a follow-up to ITGI's 2003 and 2005 surveys and tracks IT governance trends over the past four years. Several important business developments relating to IT are identified in the report, including.

For 93 percent of respondents, IT is somewhat very important to the overall corporate strategy, while 32 percent of respondents say that IT is always on the board agenda - up from 25 percent in 2005. IT department, according to 18 percent of respondents, informs the business about potential business opportunities, up from 14 percent in 2005.

Fifty percent of respondents were aware of the Control Objectives for Information and related Technology (COBIT) framework for IT governance, nearly doubling since 2005.

Alignment between IT strategy and corporate strategy is average, poor or very poor, feel 36 percent of respondents. According to the survey, the percentage of organizations that are in the process of implementing or have already implemented IT governance practices in different regions are: South America - 27 percent, Asia - 44 percent, Europe - 50 percent, and North America - 50 percent.

"The bottom line is that many organizations around the world are needlessly sacrificing money, productivity and competitive advantage by not implementing effective IT governance," said Lynn Lawton, International President of ITGI.

Look Gorgeous on Valentine Days By using Home Remedies

noreply@blogger.com (sunita) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:43:00 +0000

Here is a small tip for natural glow, this will help you keep your skin glowing without a need to visit beauty parlour
-Mix one tbsp milk powder,
-two tbsps honey,
-the juice of half a lime and a pinch of turmeric.

Apply the paste on your face and neck.
Leave it on till it dries, and rinse.
Follow this beauty routine two to three times a week, and you will notice a difference in your complexion.

.Make a paste by adding wheat flour to milk and rub it well on your face. When the paste dries up, wash it off. The dirt and dust will come out along with the maida paste leaving the skin soft

.Blend equal quantities of strawberries, pear, grapes, apples and orange in a blender. Apply a thin film of honey on face and apply this deliciously good fruit mask. Let it stand for 30 minutes and rinse off with warm water

. For dry skin, use this regularly. Mix the yolk of one egg, two spoonfuls of orange juice, a few drops of sweet almond oil and half a spoon of lemon juice. Mix well, beat and apply. Keep it for half an hour before washing off.

. Make a paste of ground mustard seeds with either milk or water. Apply this paste on face and neck and leave on for ten minutes. Wash off with cold water.

Homemade face packs not only cleanses skin, but it also maintain the tautness of skin. Face packs removing wastes, impurities and dead skin cells. Some face packs you can make easily and use in minutes. There are many type of packs, you can make at your home.

Here are some Homemade Face Pack for Glowing n Beautiful skin:-

1.Mash up a ripe banana and add honey to make a pulp. Spread on face and remove with normal water.

2.Take 4-5 tablespoons of oatmeal and add to the juice of grapefruit. Make paste and apply over face.

3.Take 2 lettuce leaves and dip in olive oil. A few drops of lemon juice sprinkle on them. Now take it and place them on both sides of face, after that cover them with a towel dipped in mineral water. Wipe your face with cotton soaked in warm milk.At last rinse with warm water.

4.Half apple, peeled and sliced; one egg yolk, vinegar , two tablespoons oil, one table spoon of honey,one tablespoon of ascorbic acid. Put all ingredients into liquidizer and blend, make a paste. Apply it on the face and leave it some minutes. After dry the skin, wash with warm water.

5.Take 3 strawberry and rose water. Mash these strawberry and make a pulp. After take it appl y over the face and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Wash it with rose water. It leaves the skin glowing and shining.

6.Mix Fullers earth, one tablespoon glycerine ,2 tablespoon rose water, one spoon of tomato juice and make a mud. Mix all ingredients with liquid to form the paste . Apply the paste on face and let it dry. For washing the face milk is best instead of water. It makes the skin refreshing and smooth.

7.Take one teaspoon of fresh milk cream and a spoon of orange juice. Apply on the face ,keep it for 15 minutes and wash. It makes the skin soft and smooth.

8.Take 2 teaspoons of tomato juice and one teaspoonful of lemon juice. Mix them and apply on the face for 5-10 minutes. Wash with lukewarm water.

9. Take one tablespoon of fresh milk and 2 tablespoon of household starch. Make paste and apply on the face for smooth and firm skin.

10.Take one potato, then grate it and sqeeze it juice, mix half teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply this juice on the face with cotton wool. K eep for 5 minutes,this best for blemishes and dark spots.

CB Series - India Vs Australia 4th one day Highlights

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:16:00 +0000

India Vs Australia CB Series - 4th one day : Indian batting highlights

Australia VS India - part 1

Australia Vs India 4th ODI CB series - summary

Presentation - 4th ODI India Vs Australia

India 4th biggest loser among emerging markets in Jan: S&P

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:08:00 +0000

A study by financial market data provider Standard and Poor's (S&P) says that India has become the fourth worst performer among all the emerging markets in the first month of 2008, with a loss of close to 16 percent. In 2007, the country emerged as one of the top performers in the equity markets.

"If investors thought the market could only go up, January's wake-up call pulled them back into reality," S&P said in its monthly update on world equity markets.

A bearish sentiment across both emerging and developed markets caused loss of a whopping $5.2 billion to the global stock markets, marking one of the worst ever starts to a new year, S&P said.

"There were few safe havens in January as 50 of the 52 global equity markets ended the month in negative territory, with 25 of them posting double-digit losses," S&P's Senior Index Analyst Howard Sliverblatt said.

While developed markets suffered a loss of 7.83 percent, the emerging markets registered a loss 12.44 percent during the month.

All the 26 developed markets posted negative returns, with 16 of them losing over 10 percent, reflecting a disappointing trend in emerging markets despite gains seen by Morocco (10.17 percent) and Jordan (3.11 percent).

Among emerging markets, Turkey was hit the hardest losing 22.70 percent followed by China at 21.40 percent. Russia lost 16.12 percent, while India lost close to 16 percent, S&P said.

Easy way to get Glowing Sking By Using Home Remedies

noreply@blogger.com (sunita) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:51:00 +0000

Skin Type

Normal skin

~ Extract the juice of half an orange or tomato, mix with two teaspoons of curd. Lightly massage onto your face in an upward direction. Let it dry. Then, wash your face with cold water and wipe dry. This will give your skin a nice glow.

~ Rub the inner part of the skin of a papaya on your face. Let it dry. Then, wash your face with cold water and wipe dry. This will give your skin a nice glow.

Whenever you cut a papaya to eat, save a small portion of the peel for this purpose. You can store the peel in an airtight container for about two days in the fridge; however, it is preferable to use it fresh.

~ Grind 50 grams (around half a cup) of cabbage and extract the juice. Apply this on your face. After it dries, wash with cool water and wipe dry. This helps tighten your skin and prevents wrinkles.

~ Grind one small carrot and squeeze the pulp to remove the juice. Apply the juice on your face and let it dry. Then, wash with cold water and wipe your face dry. This helps to rejuvenate your skin.

~ Whenever eating an apple, do not discard the skin. Use it as a skin cleanser.

Just rub the inner side of the peel in an upward direction and let your face dry. Then, wash with cool water and pat dry. This helps tighten your skin.

~ Take an ice cube and rub on your face. Then, pat dry. This helps to improve blood circulation and keeps your skin healthy.
Variation: Boil some lemon grass in a small container of water and cool. Pour it in the ice tray and freeze. Later, rub the ice cube on your face.

~ Beat the white of one egg and apply on your face in an upward direction. Once it dries, wash with cold water. It helps tighten your skin and delays wrinkles.

Oily skin

~ Make a paste of 2 tbsp of wheat flour using as much water as needed. Apply on your face in an upward motion. Leave to dry. Then, wash with cool water and pat dry. This helps remove excess oil from your skin.

~ Mix two teaspoons of raw milk, around the same quantity of cucumber juice and few drops of lemon. With a cotton ball, apply the solution on your face and leave to dry. Then, wash with water and pat dry.

~Soak two to three teaspoons of methi (fenugreek) seeds overnight. Grind into a paste, then rub on your face. Once it dries, wash with cool water.

The granular effect helps remove blackheads. Methi also helps remove excess oil from your skin.

The excess paste can be stored in the refrigerator but should be used within a week.

~ Soak two to three teaspoons of whole masoor dal (red gram) overnight. Grind into a paste and apply on your face. Once it dries, wash your face with cold water and pat dry. It gives the same effect as methi.

The excess paste can be stored in the refrigerator but should be used within two days.

~ Grind half a cucumber and squeeze to remove the juice. Apply the juice on your face and leave to dry. Then wash with water and pat dry.

It helps refresh and tighten your skin.

For dry skin

~ Mash half a ripe banana, add a teaspoon of honey and make a paste. Apply on your face. Once it dries, wash with cold water and pat dry.

This acts as a moisturiser and helps in tighten your skin.

~ Soak khus khus (poppy seeds) overnight. Grind it with just enough milk to make a paste. Apply on your face. Once it dries, wash with cold water.

The natural oil present in khus khus helps to moisturise your skin.

~ Just before boiling milk, remove two tablespoons. Massage it lightly on your face in an upward motion. Leave to dry, then wash with water and pat dry.

This helps to keep your skin supple.

Variation: Add � teaspoon of salt to the raw milk and follow the same process. However, avoid doing this if you have pimples on your face.

~ Make a paste of 2-5 tablespoons of raw peanuts with milk. Add � teaspoon of honey to it. Apply on your face. Leave to dry. Then wash with cold water and pat dry.

The natural oils present in the peanuts help moisturise your skin.

~ Make a paste of one teaspoon of malai, a pinch of turmeric and four to five drops of olive oil. Apply on your face, leave to dry. Wash with cold water and pat dry.

Malai acts as a natural moisturiser and turmeric and olive oil helps rejuvenate your skin.

Combination skin

~ Mix 3-4 tablespoons of Multani mitti (Fuller's Earth) with 8-10 ground pudina (mint) leaves. Freeze the pack overnight.

Keep outside for 10-15 minutes and then apply on your face. After 10-15 minutes, wash off and pat dry. It helps in cooling and cleansing your skin.

~ Boil a handful of lemon grass leaves in one litre of water, until you get the aroma. Then, place in an ice tray and freeze.
After returning home from work or an outing, rub a lemon grass ice cube all over your face. It cleanses the dirt and grime accumulated in your skin's pores and shuts them.

Steps To Get Youthful Beautiful Skin

noreply@blogger.com (sunita) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:40:00 +0000

A good daily skin care routine shouldn't take more than 10 minutes a day.A healthy complexion can transform your looks and your confidence. A great skincare regime can help but you need to do more to get truly glowing skin.

Step 1 - Cleansing
For the face, any type of soap works fine to remove dirt, but may not work as well to remove make-up. Instead, choose a facial cleansing agent in cream, water-based emulsion, lotion, or gel form that's formulated for your particular skin type. There are many different products on the market so you may want to try a few brands before you settle down on one that works best for you. Those with drier skin may want to choose cream or lotion products; those with oilier skin may want to use gel or water-based products. Those prone to breakouts may wish to use medicated soaps or lotions designed to reduce breakouts.

First, splash your face with warm water to open the pores. Apply your cleansing product to the skin in gentle upward strokes (to avoid stretching the skin and aggravating wrinkles), rinsing thoroughly with warm water for several minutes. If you use a product that must be applied with cotton balls or a cleansing towel, again, use gentle upward strokes and rinse thoroughly with warm water. Finish with a splash or two of cold water to close the pores.

This routine is same for the body. Cleanse your skin in the bath and shower with a cleansing product formulated for the body. Rinse with warm water and finish up with a dip or splash of cold.

Step 2 - Toning
Follow-up your cleansing routine with a facial toner, which removes any residual greasiness still left on the skin from your make-up or your cleansing product. It also closes the pores, stimulates circulation, and gives the skin a porcelain-like quality. There are a variety of toners on the market so try to choose one that's formulated for your skin type. Apply the toner with a cotton ball, using the same gentle, upward strokes that you used to apply your cleanser.

Only those with very oily skin need to use a toner on the body. If you have oily skin and breakouts on areas of your body, try using a toner formulated for use on the body. Otherwise, skip to moisturizing.

Step 3 - Moisturizing
All skin types, even oily skin, need a moisturizer everyday. But like toners and cleansers, there are different types of moisturizers for different types of skin. If you have dry skin you should choose a moisturizer containing oil (such as petrolatum); if you have oily skin you should choose water-based creams and oil-free formulations. You may also wish to choose different moisturizers for the face and body; facial moisturizers tend to be more expensive and complex for your most delicate skin.

Many moisturizing creams contain alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), which are fruit- and milk-based acids that help to remove the dull layer of surface skin and expose fresh skin below. AHAs can reduce the appearance of pores and fine wrinkles. If you have sensitive skin, you may wish to avoid these products since they can cause breakouts.

If you have sensitive skin you should look for hypo-allergenic products, which are usually free of perfumes and dyes that can cause skin irritation. If you go out in the sun daily, it's a good idea to choose a moisturizer containing a sunscreen.

The moisturizer should be applied to the face in upward strokes. Apply to the body in gentle strokes, applying the most moisturizer to your belly, chest, calves, thighs, and forearms.

Step 4 - Protection
The most important step you can take to protect your skin is to apply a sunscreen everyday. Use at least an SPF 10 to your face and exposed areas of your body whenever you are going to be out in the sun. Many moisturizers contain SPF 10-15 sunscreen, or you may wish apply a separate product that is specifically a sunscreen with a higher SPF level. Whichever option you choose, make sure you buy a sunscreen suitable for your skin type.

Origin of Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (sunita) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:10:00 +0000

Valentine's Day Origin
There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine". Other aspects of the story say that Saint Valentine served as a priest at the temple during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Claudius then had Valentine jailed for defying him. In 496 A.D. Pope Gelasius set aside February 14 to honour St. Valentine.
Gradually, February 14 became the date for exchanging love messages and St. Valentine became the patron saint of lovers. The date was marked by sending poems and simple gifts such as flowers. There was often a social gathering or a ball.
In the United States, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending the first valentine cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1800's and now the date is very commercialised. The town of Loveland, Colorado, does a large post office business around February 14. The spirit of good continues as valentines are sent out with sentimental verses and children exchange valentine cards at school.

The History of Saint Valentine's DayValentine's Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.
The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.
Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. At that time it was the custom in Rome, a very ancient custom, indeed, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honour of a heathen god. On these occasions, amidst a variety of pagan ceremonies, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.
The pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavoured to do away with the pagan element in these feasts by substituting the names of saints for those of maidens. And as the Lupercalia began about the middle of February, the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine's Day for the celebration of this new feaSt. So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the coming year, arose in this way.

Most Awesome Video ever

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 06:15:00 +0000

This is the awesome animated comic video, I have ever seens. Its worth watching this stuff

Australia Vs Sri lanka - 3rd ODI CB series - 2008 Highlights

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 14:55:00 +0000

Australina Inning

Sri Lankan Innings

Links for CB Series 2008 India Australia Sri Lanka Tri Series Cricket - free live streaming

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 14:14:00 +0000

Inspired by the meaty performance of Indian cricket team in the test series (Although we lost the series), I thought of putting live streaming links of India Australia Srilanka CB Series - 2008. The Traingular series dosen't started well as first 2 mathces were washed off due to rain.

Australia is now high in spirits after bundling srilanka to around 125.

Watch this page for Live streaming links of CB series 2008 cricket trie series.

Before you try out the links, Make sure you have installed Sopcast and TVU PLayer in your PC.

Click here to download Sopcast
click hereto downloadTVU PLayer

Following are the links:

** Sopcast Link 1
** Sopcast Link 2
** Sopcast Link 3
** Sopcast Link 4

Paid Broadcast link

More links at
Nihars World
The NewsPaper Blog
Mannerless Blog

Live score at
CricInfo
Cricbuzz

Channels telecasting the India Australia SriLanka Tri Series
* Star Cricket and Doordarshan
* Sky Sports
* Fox International
* Channel 9
* Supersport
* Directv
* ATN CBN

Sexy banned commercial microsoft AD

noreply@blogger.com (Rahul) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 10:51:00 +0000

Such a creative Microsoft XP ad...