A Quiz!!

What is the best place for the sun on earth?!? (pun intended!!)

Answer:
Sunnyvale!!

I moved to this place last week... And fell in love with it!! More later....

And you know the best part?

Saravanaa Bhavan is only 2.4miles from my apartment!!!!

Buds!

Some of my buddies are budding bloggers now!!! I am happy for them and happy that I could play a small part in their exploring their own hidden facets and expanding their horizons :-)

The Truth!

I came across this wonderful clip on the Modern Doomsday(Thanks to Erin!).

The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard

It's terrific! Like my friend Arun says, the best part of this story is that it is so catchy and so true!! truth - simple yet flabbergasting!!!

Quoting Cris B., "Annie Leonard does a brilliant job of distilling 10 years of research about STUFF into a fast-paced 20 minute presentation..." ...
"With the support of pen & ink sketch-like animations, Annie demonstrates how our materials economy is completely dysfunctional, how our linear production-consumption system is using up our limited resources. Smart, witty and factual, Annie explains in language school kids can understand that our finite planet is in crisis...it's being trashed by what we the people, our government and powerful corporations are doing to create, use and dispose of stuff...lots and lots of stuff, every day."

When the going gets tough...

Everyone (at least quite a lot of folks) are looking towards the possible fed rate cut on tuesday. There are tell-tale signs that the recession is already underway in some sectors of the industry and affecting the vulnerable sections of the economy.

There are talks of more lay-offs in the mortgage and financial sector... Other sectors (notably IT/software) too have started cutting the costs and tightening the budget. There is growing unemployment in the economy - supposed to be at the levels of 2003!

etc etc...

But, you know - When the going gets tough, the tough gets going!!

Detroit, nalla Detroit!!

Well, I am in Detroit now. Come here for a few days, on work. I don't know where work is going to take me in the coming weeks, but I do know that I will not continue in Los Angeles for long.

Detroit is so coool!!! well.... literally cold... with snow around and flurries falling... but is nice (to visit, don't know about staying though ;-)

The best part is that the snow and all-encompassing whiteness gives it a surreal feeling.. more like in those fantasy lands... of Santa & Snow white!!!

As I was driving to my friend's place, I was reminded of my time in the Netherlands some years ago. Bare leaf-less (but not life-less) trees and cold winds... amazing! And then, the shock on my friend's face (I had not told her about my visit) when I knocked their door in the middle of the night... Man, priceless!!

But then, as Govar says, living here could be an altogether different deal... But I am not going to worry about it... I am just a happy visitor now!!
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Downtown Detroit is supposed to be so crime-ridden... I went to a Tacos place... They had security cameras all over.... And even the counter was like a safe-deposit with thick glass panels... you deposit your money and close the door... only then, would the cashier's door open on the other side... he will keep the food packet and close the door again... And then you can pick it up your side....
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I almost drove to Canada... We were on our way to the MGM Grand casino downtown... we went past the ambassador bridge (that links to Canada)... There were a lot of construction work happening on the highway and many ramps were closed... We tried navigating our way and ended at a toll plaza. When enquired, she said that it was the toll leading to Canada... Well, imagine if I had not asked the question!!

Serial Entrepreneur...

Over the weekend, I came across someone who was supposed to be a serial entrepreneur... 'serial entrepreneur' - I thought what a funny title... in the lines of serial killers and such... Is this guy supposed to be a killer of startup ventures?! (On the contrary, this term refers to guys starting one business followed by another and often another...)

Why would somebody become a 'entrepreneur'?

Quoting Linda Pinson, creator of business plan software (business-plan.com)

First (of all), many entrepreneurs want to be masters of their own fate and they can't find this outside of entrepreneurship. While studies have shown that people derive tremendous satisfaction from their work, how many people are really doing exactly what they want to be doing? Entrepreneurs like to be in control of their future. They like to set their own course.

Many entrepreneurs feel that running a business offers far more security than being an employee. Entrepreneurs often argue that you can acquire wealth much faster if you own a business and you can build a buffer of personal financial security. Further, an entrepreneur's continued paycheck isn't dependent upon a single employer whose faulty business decisions could lead to being laid off. So, while some people see starting a business as more risky than conventional employment, other people see it as less risky.

Why would somebody become a 'serial entrepreneur'?

Well... I would say, if you know how to start a new venture and if you enjoy the process of establishing and building a structure 'built to last' - you should become a 'serial entrepreneur'!
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One of the best aspects of this society is that there is a big tolerance for failure. It is "OK" to be a failure. If you fail at something, you just brush the dust off yourself and then, start working on the next.

If you fail in your venture, collect the learnings and then, start off with your next venture.

If you fail at your married life, just take some time to collect yourself and then, look afresh at life.

Just that, you should not jump into something just because 'failure is ok'!!

After the Jazz...

After being temporarily distracted by romance(;-) and work, I am back here! Hope to see more of you around...
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Well, that video link below never got updated. The problem with You Tube is that it could not encode the .mov format video file into a flash-based video that it uses to upload.

And then I checked this other video uploading site, Viddler... And have updated the links to the video... check it out!!

I have some suggestions for You Tube, apart from support for .mov files.. Even though they work good otherwise and are simple and easy to use, view, upload... I am sure they can give a better user experience...
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I came across this quote... (Thanks Pads!) I just love it...

"This is no time to make new enemies." - Voltaire, when asked on his deathbed to forswear Satan.

Man, Voltaire, you are too much!!!