Swami's Ramblings'

Shankar Tucker – New sensation

2011-06-25T15:22:00.004+05:30

I came to know about Shankar Tucker via FB and he is really producing some good music. His YouTube videos appear to be the latest phenomenon to hit the internet. Check out. Enjoy.

Even though one of his video, a remake of ‘Munbae Vaa’ has already over a quarter of a million views in two weeks, so far I liked these two...
1. Night Monsoon ft. Amit Mishra
2. Nee Nenaindal ft. Vidya and Vandana Iyer

Bulk-Installs Great Free Windows/Linux Apps

2010-08-24T05:07:00.001+05:30

One of the most irritating things about reinstalling your operating system is installing all the non-OS applications you love. Ninite or Allmyapps lets you select all your favorite apps and roll them into a bulk installer to make rebuilding easy.

Both sites offers free web-based service and provide bulk-installation. Very handy.

Winning against odds ...

2010-05-25T21:05:00.001+05:30

Most of you would have seen the news that Vishy Anand won against Bulgarian Veselin Topalov to become four-time World Champion in Chess. There were also reports that Anand had to travel by road for 40 hours because the airspace in Europe was closed at that time due to volcanic ash.

When Anand reached Chennai few days back, the media asked him about his journey from Frankfurt to Chennai. He remarked “Oh this one [compared to his grueling bus ride to Sophia] was nothing at all. I slept through it.”

To understand that epoch-making road trip, read through this report from one of his team members …

21.04.2010 – On Thursday Vishy Anand embarked on a trip from his house in Madrid, Spain, to the World Championship match. He got as far as Frankfurt, Germany, and was stopped by the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland. Frantic planning followed, and on Tuesday morning, after a 40-hour drive, he arrived with his team in Sofia, Bulgaria. A team member’s report

Avatar movie review

2010-03-06T22:48:00.003+05:30

Finally after two-and-half months of the release I managed to see AVATAR today. Wow what a fantastic fantasy film indeed.

I was simply mesmerized by James Cameron who chooses to play god and creates a whole new world with such exquisite finesse, aesthete and eye for detail, he almost takes your breath away. In terms of sheer technology, Avatar marks the coming of age of both CGI and 3-D cinema with its art house special effects and its shock and awe treatment. The best part I like is Cameron's cry against war and violence that makes Avatar an eloquent testimonial to the present.

Avatar is a simple story told straight of an ex-Marine who finds himself thrust into hostilities on an alien planet filled with exotic life forms. As an Avatar, a human mind in an alien body, he finds himself torn between two worlds, in a desperate fight for his own survival and that of the indigenous people.

Don’t miss it.

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan wins Chemistry Nobel

2009-10-07T21:35:00.001+05:30

Tamil Nadu-born Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, a senior scientist at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology at Cambridge, has won the 2009 Nobel Prize for Chemistry along with two others Thomas E Steitz (US) and Ada E Yonath (Israel) for their "studies of the structure and function of the ribosome".

Ramakrishnan earned his B.Sc. in Physics (1971) from Baroda University and his Ph.D. in Physics (1976) from Ohio University. He moved into biology at the University of California, San Diego, where he took a year of classes, then conducted research with Dr Mauricio Montal, a membrane biochemist.

Watched historical 15th grand slam of FedX

2009-07-06T12:48:00.002+05:30

What a brilliant game? Yesterday watched Roger Federer winning his 15th grand slam title at Wimbledon (beating the previous all-time record of Pete Sampras). It was indeed a historic match and one of the most heart-stopping and unforgettable finals seen in a grand slam arena, Federer held his nerve for four hours and 16 astonishing minutes before finally subduing Andy Roddick 5-7 7-6 7-6 3-6 16-14 to claim the trophy he cherishes above all for the sixth time.

In terms of match time, it was not quite as long as last year’s battle between Federer and Rafael Nadal, but it soon took on similarly epic proportions. And for much of the match, it seemed that Roddick would emulate Nadal's feat as he hammered away at his opponent. Federer wavered a few times, but never toppled and in the end won on merit. He returns to number one in the world, too, by way of yet another win bonus.

Among the 15,000 souls lucky enough to witness the momentous occasion was a beaming Pete Sampras, whose milestone of 14 majors Federer eclipsed on Sunday, in the front row of the Royal Box. Sampras was not the only great in attendance on Sunday. Sitting alongside him in the Royal Box was Laver and Bjorn Borg and all three were perhaps thanking their lucky stars their careers did not coincide with the magician from Basel.

Roger Federer is clearly a genius on the tennis court and a perfect gentleman off of the court. He is gracious, contrite, and eloquent when addressing the crowd of admirers in the stands. It's so wonderful to have such great guys like Andy and Roger represent the best in the sport at Wimbledon. Who knows what might have happened if Nadal had been there. What great tennis, and now that Roger is the king, he will continue to do the game proud with his brand of great behavior, elegance, and spectacular athleticism.

Top 10 Michael Jackson Songs

2009-07-06T12:15:00.002+05:30

My Top 10 Jacko Songs...

1. Beat It
2. Man in the Mirror
3. Billie Jean
4. Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough
5. Ben
6. Thriller
7. Smooth Criminal
8. Black or White
9. You Are Not Alone
10. I Just Can't Stop Loving You

How to Moonwalk like Michael Jackson

2009-07-06T11:36:00.001+05:30

On March 25, 1983, Michael Jackson took one small, backward step onto a television stage — and one giant leap into dance-floor history. The thin, angular pop star was only 24 years old when he took an obscure break-dancing move and transformed it into one of the most recognizable routines of all time. Jackson debuted the moonwalk during his performance of "Billie Jean" on the ABC television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, and the heavy rotation that the song's video enjoyed on MTV injected it into America's pop-cultural consciousness. The moonwalk is so fluid, so effortless — and yet when amateurs slip on some old gym socks and try to glide across a kitchen floor, it always turns out horribly.

Step 1: Start with your feet together. That's easy enough, right?

Step 2: Raise your right heel so that you're standing on the ball of your right foot.

Step 3: Shift your weight onto that still raised right foot so that the left one feels weightless.

Step 4: Lower your right heel slowly while moving your (still weightless) left foot backward until the toes of your left foot are aligned with the heel of your right foot. If you do it right, it should look like your left foot is floating backward across the floor.

Step 5: Lift your left heel and shift your body weight so that you're now standing on the ball of that foot.

Step 6: Repeat steps 4 and 5, this time with the opposite feet.

And that's the moonwalk. It's actually a very simple dance — and one Jackson didn't invent out of thin air. Its origins can be traced back to French mime Marcel Marceau's "Walking Against the Wind" trick, in which he pretended to be pushed backward by an imaginary gust of wind.

The Cost Question

2009-07-03T12:43:00.002+05:30

Have you ever been strolling through a shopping mall or car lot when - POW! - THE perfect product captures your attention? Perhaps it's the sporty convertible with a V-8 engine and unbelievable acceleration. Maybe it's the adorable dress that's exactly your style, has a flattering fit, and accentuates all of your finest features. Whatever the case, there's an initial moment when you're enamored with THE product. For a split second reality is suspended as you imagine the joys of owning it. Unfortunately, two words generally bring this pleasant daydream crashing to a halt: price tag.

When you first think about a dream, you only see possibilities and potential. As Collin Sewell observed, all dreams begin obstacle-free. However, at some point we have to confront the Cost Question: Am I willing to pay the price of my dream?

If you want to achieve a dream, you have to be willing to do more than just imagine the outcome. You have to be willing to pay a price to start the journey. Dreams don't fall into our laps by accident or good fortunate. They must be attained at the cost of personal sacrifice.

Dr John Maxwell in this wonderful article asks us to ponder the Cost/Price Question as we look at its four key qualities:

* The Price Must Be Paid Sooner Than You Think

Dreams can't be bought on impulse. Buy now, pay later financing isn't an option. If you want to own a dream, then be prepared to make a hefty down payment. I think most people realize that there will be some cost for achieving their dream. They have a vague notion that someday they will have to pay a price. But they don't realize how quickly the costs come. Stepping toward a dream is like launching a rocket; massive amounts of energy must be expended at the beginning. Otherwise, gravity takes hold and the journey never gets off the ground.

* The Price Will Be Higher Than You Expect

All dreams have price tags attached, and the cost is always higher than we expect to pay. Not once in my conversations with successful people have I heard someone say, "Getting to the top was much easier than I anticipated." The reverse is true. Those at the pinnacle of their professions point to the hardships and sacrifices they had to endure to reach the top.

Having done a good deal of travel, I've learned the taxi principle: ALWAYS find out the cost before you get in the cab. Unfortunately, dreams are far too complex for us to accurately access the costs upfront. A noble dream is worth the expense, but the full costs won't be apparent until we're already on the journey.

* The Price Must Be Paid More Than Once

As a young leader, I mistakenly thought acquiring a dream was like buying a ticket to Six Flags: pay once and enjoy the rides. Experience has taught me otherwise. Following a dream forces you to make continual sacrifices.

Just as a rocket must shed weight to escape gravity, so to a leader has to let go of some goals to accomplish others. You have to give up going up. Let's face it: dreams don't work unless you do. Easing off the accelerator and coasting won't get you to your desired destination. For dreams to be apprehended, leaders must have an appetite for hard labor.

* It Is Possible To Pay Too Much for Your Dream

Although sacrifices go hand in hand with success, it is possible to overpay for a dream. Don't mortgage relationships or discard your moral compass in pursuit of career goals. I've seen it happen all too often. I've watched people sacrifice marriages, neglect their kids, ignore their health, and abandon their conscience - all in the name of a "dream."

As Jesus of Nazareth once said, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul?" Some prices aren't worth paying. Do not allow your dream to dictate your values. Rather, make sure your values inform and govern your dream.

Jacko Dies

2009-06-26T23:46:00.004+05:30

Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop" who once moonwalked above the music world, died Thursday as he prepared for a comeback bid died at the age of 50. After hearing the shocking news I wished it was another rumour which would fade away soon. It took me time to believe that one of the world’s most popular entertainers is no more. I first started listening to Jacko during my sophomore. Even though now I listen to varied collection of genres, still MJ music is always special at my heart. I really admire him for his extraordinary musical talent. He is so fascinating to me because he went from beloved child star to a young adult icon to a strange troubled freak show. His 13 number 1 one hits on the Billboard charts put him behind only Presley, the Beatles and Mariah Carey.

By 1972, he had his first solo album, "Got to Be There," which included the title hit as well as "Rockin' Robin." His first solo No. 1 single came the same year -- the forlorn theme song from the movie "Ben." In 1978, Jackson made his film debut as the Scarecrow in "The Wiz," a black-cast adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz." The movie launched a creative and commercial partnership with Jones

He was perhaps the most popular performer of the 1980s, with continued success in the ‘90s, the first performer to make $100 million and winner of too many awards and maker of too many hits to name. In 80s, he became the world's most popular entertainer thanks to a series of hit records -- “Beat It,” "Billie Jean," “Thriller” -- and dazzling music videos. In Nov 1982 he released “Thriller” that became the best-selling studio album in history and a cultural landmark. Its music video created an impact in the music industry.

In 1983 he electrified the world with his moonwalk, a dance step he created his own iconography, the illusion of levitation. He took the stage in a black sequined jacket, silver shirt, black fedora and black trousers that skimmed the tops of his white socks. The final touch was a single white glove, studded with rhinestones. His dance style combined the robotic moves of break-dancers, and the quicksilver spins. Not only did "Thriller" smash sales records as the best-selling album of 1983, it made him the first artist to top four charts simultaneously: pop single, pop album, R&B single and R&B album. It earned five Grammys. The "Thriller" success enabled him to negotiate what were believed to be the highest royalty rates ever earned by a recording artist. But it also put him in a cage of his own anxieties and obsession.

He bonded himself to past pop-music royalty by marrying Lisa Marie Presley in 1994. The marriage was short-lived, however, and his wealth was imperiled by an extravagant lifestyle that included the 2,700-acre Neverland ranch. It is named after Neverland, the fantasy island in the story of Peter Pan, where children never grow up.

In recent years, he has been more infamous than famous, known for his increasingly alarming appearance, the charges of child molestation and his subsequent business-arrangement marriage that led to his single fatherhood. Years of plastic surgery had made his face a weird landscape. He was deeply in debt and had lost his way as a musician.

In 2005, he was cleared of charges he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor at Neverland in 2003. He had been accused of plying the boy with alcohol and groping him, and of engaging in strange and inappropriate behavior with other children.

A frail-looking Jackson had spent his last weeks in rehearsal for an ambitious comeback attempt and 50 already-sold-out shows at London's O2 Arena. A major motivation was the $300 million in debt run up by a star who lived like royalty even though his self-declared title of King of Pop was more about the past than the present.

To me he was fascinated by celebrity tragedy. It’s hard to remember another celebrity death in which the crowds gathering to mourn were repeatedly compared to the crowds that gathered for the recently deceased’s sexual abuse trial. In later years he became a professional eccentric, glimpse of him in public a bit like alien sightings.

It is a big loss to all of us Jacko fans. I like many million fans love you for your music, regardless of all the controversies! We will truly miss you...

History of web development

2009-06-21T21:52:00.002+05:30

Want to know the history of web development? Check this out…

Microwaving a cell phone is surprisingly cool

2009-05-08T15:43:00.001+05:30

Although I wouldn’t dare to sacrifice my own microwave & cell phone to replicate this experiment showing the surprising effects of a mobile phone, but it is interesting to watch the (monster) video.

99 Seinfeld References

2009-03-28T21:41:00.002+05:30

Seinfeld was one of the greatest television programs of all time. With a countless number of inside jokes, nicknames, characters, and story lines, it didn’t take long for the show to develop its very own social language.

Now, thanks to Kiersten Essenpreis whose beautiful painting depicting a massive, heaping pile of 99 references and a reference key is also given

Image courtesy - http://youfail.com

Kobe, Shaq Reunite to Lead West to Blowout Win

2009-02-16T21:17:00.010+05:30

It is always fun to watch Kobe and Shaq. Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal reunited as teammates for the first time since 2004 to lead the Western Conference to a 146-119 victory over the East in the National Basketball Association’s All-Star Game.

During pregame introductions, Shaq emerged wearing a white plastic mask — the trademark look of the JabbaWockeeZ dance troupe — and he danced with them for two minutes before the rest of the West team was introduced.

Bryant and O’Neal, who won three straight NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000-02, helped the West outscore the East 74-52 during the second half.

The two shared the MVP award as Bryant, who is still with the Lakers, finished with a game-high 27 points. O’Neal, now with the Phoenix Suns after 3 1/2 seasons in Miami, added 17 points and five rebounds.

Bryant, a 6-foot-6 guard, and O’Neal, a 7-foot-1 center, played together with the Lakers from 1996 to 2004 before their falling out led to O’Neal leaving the team. While they’ve been publicly critical of each other in the past, Bryant and O’Neal said they had fun playing together again.

“It felt like old times,” O’Neal, who played 11 minutes, said in a televised interview. “We did that for eight years. We were the best little-man, big-man tandem ever created.”

Watch the highlights

Michael Moore on Bailout of US Auto Makers

2008-11-22T19:32:00.003+05:30

Michael Moore was a recent guest on Larry King talking about the auto bailout. Moore's terrific documentary, "Roger & Me," targeted the auto companies in 1989 while they closed plants and lay off workers. Moore tells Larry King that in the movie when the GM representative said that 30,000 people could be laid off in Flint, he thought it was a joke. Years later, it came true. Moore says he's conflicted, as many of us are, about what to do. He doesn't have any confidence in the leaders of this industry.

Moore doesn't want to see the loss of more jobs in the US auto industry. He also doesn't trust the current management teams that got them into this mess.

CNN Video

Since this interview, the CEOs of the Big Three had a humbling day on Capitol Hill, unable to defend their use of separate corporate jets to bring them to the hearing and more importantly, unable to articulate what they would do with the money they're asking for. They've supposedly gone back to Detroit to work on a proposal and muster the courage to go back to Washington in December.

The Dark Knight Meets Toy Story 2

2008-10-12T09:21:00.003+05:30

A wonderful mashup… {YouTube Link}

Failing Forward

2008-10-11T19:30:00.001+05:30

The not-talked-about, terrible truth is that all roads to achievement lead through the land of failure. Every person you admire has walked this road: the Wright brothers, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Blaise Pascal, George Bernard Shaw and Mother Teresa have all experienced failure and learned how to turn it into a stepping stone for success. Leadership expert Peter Drucker says, "The better a man is, the more mistakes he will make, for the more new things he will try." Mistakes really do pave the road to achievement. Failure is either your friend or your enemy - and you choose which it is. If you play a dirge every time you fail, then failure will remain your enemy. But if you determine to learn from your failures, you actually benefit from them - and that makes failure your friend.

William Bolitho said, "The most important thing in life is not to capitalize on our gains. Any fool can do that. The really important thing is to profit from your losses. That requires intelligence; and makes the difference between a man of sense and a fool."

As we come to this eventful years close let us ask the following searching questions in our endeavour to succeed from our failures.

1. WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE?
2. WHAT SUCCESSES ARE CONTAINED IN THE FAILURE?
3. WHAT CAN I LEARN FROM WHAT HAPPENED?
4. WHO CAN HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE?
5. WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

John Maxwell in his book ‘Failing Forward’ teaches you the steps to turning mistakes into steppingstones for success!..

Anyone can make failure their friend by maintaining a teachable attitude and using a strategy for learning from their mistakes. To turn your losses into profits, ask the following questions every time you face adversity:

1. WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE?

You won't learn all you can unless you're willing to find out what went wrong in the first place. Were you in a no-win situation? Is there a certain point when things broke down? Can you pinpoint one central mistake?

After his near death experience on Mount Everest, climber Beck Weathers admitted, "When you're up that far, you get high-altitude stupid."

2. WHAT SUCCESSES ARE CONTAINED IN THE FAILURE?

My friend Warren Wiersbe says, "A realist is an idealist who has gone through the fire and been purified. A skeptic is an idealist who has gone through the fire and been burned." Don't allow the fire of adversity to make you a skeptic. Allow it to purify you.

No matter what kind of adversity you experience, there is always a potential jewel of success contained in it. Sometimes it may be difficult to find. But you can discover it if you're willing to look for it.

3. WHAT CAN I LEARN FROM WHAT HAPPENED?

Unfortunately many people react to adversity the same way Peanuts character Charlie Brown does in a comic strip I once read. Charlie is at the beach and has just finished building a beautiful sand castle. But as he stands back to admire his work, his masterpiece is pummelled by a huge wave. Staring at the smooth mound that had been his creation, he says, "There must be a lesson here, but I don't know what it is."

People that approach adversity like Charlie Brown become so consumed by the events that they miss the whole learning experience. But there is always a way to learn from adversity and mistakes. The key is to always maintain a teachable attitude and embrace the idea that Lord Byron once conveyed: "Adversity is the first path to truth."

4. WHO CAN HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE?

Generally speaking, there are two kinds of learning: experience, which is gained from you own mistakes, and wisdom, which is learned from the mistakes of others. Admiral Hyman Rickover said, "All of us must become better informed. It is necessary for us to learn from others' mistakes. You will not live long enough to make them all yourself."

As much as possible, glean wisdom from the wise counsel of others. Seek advice, but make sure it's from someone who has successfully handled mistakes or adversities.

5. WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

In their book "Everyone's a Coach," Don Shula and Ken Blanchard state, "Learning is defined as a change in behavior. You haven't learned a thing until you can take action and use it."

When you are able to learn from bad experiences and turn them into something good, you make a major transition in your life. For several years I've taught that people change when they HURT enough that they have to, LEARN enough that they want to, or RECEIVE enough that they are able to. You may have experience with each of those situations. Make sure that they are agents of positive change in your life each time you face them.

Writer Sydney Harris said, "A winner knows how much he still has to learn, even when he is considered an expert by others. A loser wants to be considered an expert by others before he has learned enough to know how little he knows."

Make a new commitment to learn something from every mistake or adverse experience in your life. The lessons are there for the learning. But failure won't reach out and teach you. You must be willing to make failure your friend by seizing the opportunity to learn.

Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book

2008-10-02T19:39:00.001+05:30

Watch Neil Gaiman read The Graveyard Book on a 9-city video tour. At each stop on the tour, Neil will read one chapter from The Graveyard Book. By the end of the tour, on October 9th, you will be able to watch the master storyteller himself read The Graveyard Book in its entirety.

Full Steam Ahead !!!

2008-08-25T18:37:00.003+05:30

In most organizations, when executives create a vision for the entire company, they believe it provides clarity, focus and direction. And it is true that it does, at least for those at the top of the organization. Unfortunately, it gradually loses strength as it works its way to the front lines. In fact, research by The Gallup Organization indicates that senior executives are more than twice as likely to feel that an organization’s mission and purpose inspire them to higher levels of performance as frontline workers.

That’s a shame considering that customers are much more likely to come in contact with frontline employees than they are with senior executives in an organization’s corporate headquarters. Why there is disconnect? Why might senior leaders resonate with an organizational vision while the rest of the company does not relate to it? There are many possible answers, but according to Ken Blanchard & Jesse Stoner explains in their book Full Steam Ahead!: Unleash the Power of Vision in Your Work and Your Life a good place to start is by looking at one or more of the following factors: how the vision is created, how it is communicated, and how it is lived or modeled in the organization.

Common Problems with Creating a Vision

While the ultimate responsibility for ensuring an organizational vision rests with the top management, the organization needs to put in place mechanisms to allow other people to have an opportunity to help shape the vision—to put their thumbprint on it. Otherwise, only the senior leaders who created the vision will truly be engaged by it.

Organizations that do not allow other people within the organization to have a hand in influencing their company’s vision statement are missing out on an important opportunity to engage their people. When people have a voice in creating the vision, they develop a deeper understanding of what the vision is really about. It becomes more than just words on a piece of paper, and they see how they can make a contribution, giving purpose to their work. While many successful companies began as the result of the early vision of their leaders—Walt Disney, Bill Gates, and Herb Kelleher, for example—“these pioneers would not have been able to realize their dreams had they not shared those dreams with the people around them.”3 Sharing dreams means helping people see how their own dreams can be incorporated into the vision articulated by the leader so that they want to sign up to bring the dream to reality.

Instead of simply taking the top management to a retreat to put the vision together and then announcing it to others, they recommend that senior leaders encourage dialogue about the vision by asking people these questions: “Would you like to work for an organization that has this vision? Can you see where you fit in the vision? Does it help you set priorities? Does it provide guidelines for making decisions? Is it exciting and motivating? Have we left anything out? Should we delete anything?” They explain that involving people will deepen their understanding and commitment and create a better vision.

Common Problems with Communicating the Vision

Visioning is an ongoing process; you need to talk about it constantly to keep it alive. Too often leadership will introduce a new direction by sending out a letter, creating an announcement, and hosting an event to share the vision with the rest of the company. Then they move on to other things, believing that everyone is on the same page. This is a great way to start but it is not enough to create the kind of ongoing dialogue that needs to occur to bring a vision to life.

Common Problems with Living the Vision

Creating a vision—for your organization or department, for your work, and for your life—is a journey, not a one-time activity. Blanchard and Stoner recommend two strategies that will support your efforts to live your organization’s vision:

* Always focus on your vision — Your vision should be the foundation for your organization. If an obstacle or unforeseen event throws you off course, you may have to change your short-term goals, but your vision should be long lasting. Change is bound to happen. Unforeseen events are bound to occur. When that happens, take stock of where you are, refocus on your vision, and reset your path.
* Show the courage of commitment — True commitment begins when you take action. There will be fears; feel them and move ahead. It takes courage to create a vision, and it takes courage to act on it. Get everyone moving together, trusting each other in committing to the vision. In the words of Goethe, “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”

To help your organization remain focused and committed to its vision, Blanchard and Stoner suggest that you periodically ask yourself these questions:

* Are our goals aligned with our vision?
* How are we progressing toward these goals?
* Has there been a major shift in our business environment that requires a shift in our focus?
* Are we on target, or do we need to readjust?

As Dr. Stoner points out, the launch of the first mission to the moon required thousands of mid-course corrections in addition to great up-front planning and aiming. If the engineers in charge of the project had just pointed and launched without making these corrections, the astronauts would have ended up in the middle of outer space instead of landing successfully on the moon. Setting a clear direction is important. Checking to make sure that you are still on course is just as critical.

A Compelling Vision is the Hallmark of a High Performing Organization

When everyone supports an organizational vision it creates a deliberate, highly focused culture that drives the desired business results. In these organizations, people are energized by, excited about, and dedicated to making the vision a reality. They can describe the vision, are deeply committed to it, and clearly see what their role is in supporting it. They have a noble sense of purpose that creates and focuses energy. The result is an organization where values are aligned and everyone is in the same boat together moving full steam ahead.

Universities Offering Free Courses Online

2008-08-01T10:11:00.003+05:30

MIT - “MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) is a web-based publication of virtually all MIT course content. OCW is open and available to the world and is a permanent MIT activity.” MIT’s offering covers a huge range of courses. They have a YouTube channel and offer both audio and video versions of many of their lectures.

Courses Offered - Over 1800

University of California: Berkeley - “Every semester, UC Berkeley webcasts select courses and events for live viewing and on-demand replay over the Internet.” Berkeley’s offering is a little more limited than MIT’s, but it is still substantial. Like MIT, Berkeley has most of its lectures in both audio and video formats.

Courses Offered - Biology, Chemistry, Computer Sciences, Electrical Engineering, History, Geography, Physics, Psychology among others.

CMU (OLI) - “Using intelligent tutoring systems, virtual laboratories, simulations, and frequent opportunities for assessment and feedback, OLI builds courses that are intended to enact instruction – or, more precisely, to enact the kind of dynamic, flexible, and responsive instruction that fosters learning.” CMU offers a handful of courses concentrated around the Sciences. The course materials that they provide alongside are really well organized.

Courses Offered - Engineering Statics, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, French, Logic, Physics, Research Methods and Discrete Math

Tufts - “Tufts OpenCourseWare is part of a new educational movement initiated by MIT that provides free access to course content for everyone online. Tufts’ initial course offerings demonstrate the University’s strength in the life sciences in addition to its multidisciplinary approach, international perspective and underlying ethic of service to its local, national and international communities.”

Courses Offered - Agricultural Sciences, Medicine, Genetics, Dentistry, Negotiations, Modern Physics, Law, Nutrition, Film Making and Public Policy among others.

Stanford - “Stanford on iTunes U provides access to a wide range of Stanford-related digital audio content via the iTunes Store, Apple’s popular online music, video, and podcast service.”

Courses Offered - Human-Computer Interaction, The Future Of The Internet, Straight Talk About Stem Cells, Anatomy of Movement, Global Geopolitics, Convex Optimization and Introduction to Robotics among others.

Utah State University - “Utah State OpenCourseWare is a collection of educational material used in our formal campus courses, and seeks to provide people around the world with an opportunity to access high quality learning opportunities.” Utah’s courses are entirely text-based, but they do cover an extremely broad range of topics including Theater Arts and Education.

Courses Offered - Anthropology, Biology, Economics, Education, Electrical Engineering, English, Instructional Technologies, Physics, Theater Arts among others.

University of California: Irvine - “The University of California at Irvine has a long history of social engagement. As a leading public research University, an important part of its mission is to showcase and disseminate the research and scholarship of the University to the public. Open educational content is a concept that will advance human knowledge, creativity, lifelong learning, and the social welfare of educators, students, and self-learners across the globe.”

Irvine only offers a smattering of text-based courses, but if you are interested in business it isn’t a bad start.

Courses Offered - Capital Markets, Fundamental Of Business Analysis, Fundamentals Of Personal Financial Planning, Spa Operations among others

Wikieducator - Wikieducator is a program that is taking a different slant on education online. The idea is that through Wiki technology and a host of other learning tools they should be able to supplement traditional curriculums with online-only classes and in the long run provide a free version of the educational curriculum by 2015. The initiative is being developed in collaboration with the Free Culture Movement and is being sponsored by the Commonwealth of Learning, an organization designed to encourage the development and sharing of open learning/distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. As it stands they have courses ranging from Physical Chemistry to Design and Graphics Communication all the way to a comprehensive course on Facilitating Online Communities.

While this initiative has a lot of potential, they are in need of the type of grass roots support that Wikipedia received if they are going to provide a truly valuable service.

There is another great collection of free courses list available at ZaidLearn

Happy Reading…

Balancing toughness and tenderness in dealing with people

2008-07-27T17:09:00.003+05:30

Leaders’ must balance toughness and tenderness in dealing with their employees on a day to day basis. Tim Elmore describes these leaders who balance both task orientation (toughness) and people orientation (tenderness) as Velvet-Covered Bricks. They are firm and strong on the inside, but soft and pleasant on the outside.

Some leaders are so tough they could chew nails, but their insensitivity prevents them from connecting with their employees. Ignorant of the emotions around them, they rely on authority and scare tactics to earn the allegiance of their team.

Other leaders go the extra mile to earn the admiration of those they lead. They love to be seen as the “good guy,” and they go soft on their team. To protect their popularity, they sacrifice healthy confrontation or neglect holding employees accountable.

A Velvet-Covered Brick leader makes difficult decisions, but at the same time, they act as emotional caretakers to the people their choices affect. They instill discipline, but they also provide encouragement and inspiration.

Dr. John Maxwell tells how to equip you to become velvet covered brick leader. The summary comparison of the two types of leaders is given below

CONFRONT PROBLEMS BUT CONSIDER PERSPECTIVES
Velvet-Covered Brick leaders are not afraid to deal with conflict in order to iron out an unhealthy situation. By actively addressing problems, they are peacemakers as opposed to peacekeepers. At the same time, such a leader remains open to the perspective of others. Although supremely confident, a wise leader knows the fallibility of his or her judgment, and they turn an attentive ear to those who share differing opinions.

COMMITTED TO RESULTS AND COMMITTED TO RELATIONSHIPS
Leaders with a Velvet-Covered Brick mentality refuse to compromise goals or take the easy road out of tough spots. They relentlessly set the bar high so that the team achieves its potential. Yet, all the while, leaders value people just as much as productivity. They never sacrifice relationships simply to get results

PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL
The Velvet-Covered Brick type of leader maintains an aura of professionalism in the workplace at all times. Such a leader stays poised in the most heated moments and keeps control of his or her emotions. While approachable, they reserve part of themselves (their fears, knowledge, insights) so that they can effectively motivate the team from a place of authority.

At the same time, leaders don’t want to come across as aloof, distant, or plastic. The best leaders are warm, genuinely interested in their teammates, and intentional in understanding what makes each person unique. Additionally, to connect with the team, they may show selectively disclose information about themselves or even let down their emotional guard during a meeting.

TAKE CRITICISM AND SERVE THE CRITIC
Leaders who aspire to be Velvet-Covered Bricks develop thick skin and bypass the desire to retaliate against critics. Instead, they graciously accept criticism and welcome confrontation. Then, they take pains to win over their critics by reaching out them. They go the extra mile to wade through conflict until resolution can be reached.

RESPECTED AND APPROACHABLE
A leader earns respect on the basis of what he or she has done. More often than not, respect is gained on difficult ground. Adverse circumstances test the mettle of a leader and show a leader’s true merit.

For a Velvet-Covered Brick leader, respect is balanced by approachability. An approachable leader has a consistent mood, is quick to forgive, willing to apologize, and shows authenticity. A leader at ease with him puts others at ease. Secure leaders aren’t constantly seeking validation from others, and, as such they are free to add value to those they lead rather than deriving value from the approval of those around them.

People are drawn to leaders who value them. They will approach a leader who makes them feel encouraged, helps them grow, and treats them honestly.

7 Essential Cheat Sheets

2008-07-16T10:00:00.003+05:30

7 quick cheat sheets* for some of the most widely used tools on the web.

1. Google Cheat Sheet
2. Gmail Cheat Sheet
3. Google Reader Cheat Sheet

4. Windows Shortcuts

5. Firefox Shortcuts for Windows
6. Firefox Shortcuts for Mac

7. Max OS Cheat Sheet

* courtesy - http://makeuseof.com

Random Wallpaper Changer For Windows

2008-07-14T06:54:00.000+05:30

Bionix Wallpapers is free software and light in size (1.5 MB) that allows you to gather wallpapers anywhere in your hard disk, pre-schedule and your desktop wallpaper will be changed at any time interval you prefer.

Wallpaper Juggler is another one very similar to Bionix Wallpapers.

Free/Legal Music & Streaming Music

2008-07-11T10:09:00.001+05:30

Downloading illegal music has become a hot topic on the Web. So that’s easy to forget about the plethora of sites dedicated to free, legal music. Here is a compiled list of 30+ sites that will keep your MP3 player playing until your batteries are completely drained. - Free Legal Music Sites.

Here is a compiled a list of 30+ awesome streaming music sites.

The Secrets of Servant Leadership

2008-06-11T11:17:00.001+05:30

After Princess Diana was killed in a tragic car accident, 2 ½ billion people tuned in to watch her televised funeral. Not only Great Britain, but the entire world, mourned her death. What accounted for the public’s emotional attachment to Princess Diana? Certainly, royalty and beauty attributed to Princess Diana’s popularity, but something else connected her to the hearts of people across the globe. Looks and lineage may have landed her on magazine covers, but Princess Di had an endearing quality that gave her even greater appeal. Princess Diana was beloved because she was a servant leader. For centuries, royal families epitomized self-serving leadership. Comfortably removed from the day to day troubles of those in their kingdom, they enjoyed opulent wealth and absolute power. Princess Diana broke the stereotype. She leveraged her popularity to lend support for AIDS research, to care for those with leprosy, and to ban land mines. In fact, the force of Diana’s compassion was so influential that Time Magazine named her one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century.

In their valuable book, The Secret, Ken Blanchard and Mark Miller shed light on the five practices that enable leaders, like Princess Diana, to serve others.

1. See the Future
Leaders have a compelling vision for the future stirring inside of them. The vision makes plain a leader’s identity, direction, and pattern of behavior. To affect the future, a leader spreads values throughout an organization. These values are core beliefs that become the cornerstones of organizational culture. A wise leader publishes the values so that they can be repeated, recognized, and rewarded. A leader cannot delegate the responsibility to see the future. They may share the responsibility, but ultimately, it’s the leader’s job to make time today to ensure the direction of tomorrow.

2. Engage and Develop Others
To create the future a leader envisions, he or she must have the right people, in the right roles, fully engaged to their work. Everything that you will accomplish as a leader ultimately hinges on the people you have around you. As the Law of the Inner Circle says, “A leader’s potential is determined by those closest to him or her.” Sadly, many people’s talents languish on the job because they are disengaged. Likely, the greatest waste in business is human potential. Leaders pull out the potential inside of their people by inspiring and motivating. They are quick to offer opportunities for growth, be mentors, or equip their employees with resources.

3. Reinvent Continuously
Great leaders reinvent continuously on a personal level. They are always interested in ways to enhance their own knowledge and skills. The very best leaders are learners. They realize that if they stop learning, they will stop leading. A leader sets the tone of the organization. If they cease growing personally, then the majority of those they lead will become stagnant as well. Reinvention is critical to survival. The solutions to problems of the past are inadequate to address the demands of today. Leaders must have fresh, innovative thinking and new ideas to respond to the challenges the organization faces.

4. Value results and relationships
When it comes to results and relationships, the best leaders take a both/and approach. A focus solely on results demoralizes the team, while an overemphasis on relationships undercuts the bottom line due to conflict avoidance and an absence of accountability. The greatest leaders make friends and profits. Leaders earn relational capital, and put it to work to gain results. As the Law of Connection states, “leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand.”

5. Embody Values
All genuine leadership is built on trust. Leaders build trust when they establish, articulate, model, and enforce values. In short, they walk the talk. If I say customers are important, my actions had better support that statement. If I choose to live as if customers are not important, people will have reason to question my trustworthiness. And in the final analysis, if I am deemed untrustworthy by my people, I will not be trusted – or followed as a leader.