Too many pills lately....

We've both been down with the flu this past week and been feeling miserable generally. The doctors here seem to love to dole out all sorts of medication, so we've been having mountains of pills morning, noon and night, between the two of us. Probably everything but a diet pill or two, which they probably would have tried to slip in, regardless of the fact that we don't need it. It's like the new age rock salt and mint gargle tablets I was prescribed for my sore throat...they were pathetic and didn't do any good, but the plain old salt gargles worked like a charm.

My never ending camera saga!

Sometimes, taking one's time and doing the research before buying something is a smart thing, but then at others, it is a sure way to end up more confused, which is what I have become regarding what camera to buy. I seem to have asked too many people, and no two people have given me the same answer (ie. camera option), and with the unlimited choices, I think I'm going to go batty! Decide on the brand, the mega pixels, the type, the size, the cost, the micro sd and so on, and I go from being kind-of sure about what I want to be running from store to store, pointing at hundreds of cameras and trying them out. Not a pretty picture, is it! Although the pun isn't too bad ;-)

photo: home-home feet

It's become a bit of a tradition to take shots of my feet on every vacation! This time I got to take several footy-shots, since I was on quite a long vacation. I love feet shots and think this is a fun way to capture the moment. The other thing that I do on vacations, especially when we go to the hills etc, is to collect leaves to bring back. I really don't do much with the leaves after wards, but still like to bring them back. I probably should start pasting/framing them in a journal, so I can keep track of dates and places.

More than just a pet

I've never really had a pet of my own, so sometimes struggle to understand how attached pet owners are to their pets. They actually become more than just a pet, but a family member, and often provide more support and show more love than family members themselves :-) This explains the rise of the pet accessories and the pet supplements industry, which have continued to rise even during this ongoing slowdown, since for most pet owners, their pets need just as much as their family, whether it is to do with food, supplements, medical treatment and toys. It's all about good marketing for sure.

the simple pleasures of life

Summer is the time for everyone to buy new patio furniture, organize the area for barbeques and so on. But for us it is the winter that is the prime season for outdoor furniture, when the weather is fabulous, the sky full of stars and the nights a bit nippy. There is something so special about dining al fresco, isn't there? I find that it just makes even the simplest of meals into something special and memorable. I'm looking forward to the time, when we can sit outside and enjoy a meal too!

photo: the downside of living with history

I love taking street scene shots, but I find I get too flustered and embarrassed when people start staring at me, so in that way drive-by shots are a great alternative for me. I took three shots this day, and this was the first one. It was also the best one of the lot.

questions and answers

I just posted on my other blog, how people seem to single me out to ask for advice on weight loss, to find the best fat burner and diet pills. I'm not really sure why that happens. I don't go around wearing a T-shirt that says "ask me", but oh well, I suppose it gives me stuff to write about here. I think I should probably start a specific blog to deal with all the queries about all of this!

modern day watch towers

The modern day landscape is not complete without these cell towers and surprisingly they make some very interesting sights when taking shots of a city, especially if one takes them at sunrise or sunset, when the warm light seems to highlight them and almost make a showcase of them. In the old days, there were watch towers and forts, but in modern times, it is these that have taken on the role of watching over our cities. I especially like spotting them in unusual places, like in the middle of the wilderness in the mountains.

photo: layers

As much as I love taking shots of the books I'm reading along with tea or coffee, I really do love my shots of doors, walls and windows. They have a more abstract nature, so maybe that's why they appeal more to me, or maybe because they are simpler compositions, starker even.

changing the way we get married

It seems that weddings are becoming more and more practiced and matter of fact. The clothes such as the traditional tuxedo is rent-able along with most of the other furnishings, which although makes it so convenient for most people, I find it makes it somewhat matter of fact and routine. A custom made tuxedo is more to my line of thinking since it will have more meaning and remain with you, as part of the wedding memorabilia.

understanding the pros and cons

As a researcher, one often gets assignments for topics that are completely out of your realm. When I first undertook a diet pills comparison, I wasn't sure how good I would be, since I don't have a medical background, but after a good amount of research I managed to find some very qualitative information about how to compare them and how to evaluate them. I would recommend anyone who wants to use any kind of pills also do a bit of research of their own.

photo: down the escalator

Noticing the light and patterns created by the sun from the top level of Festival City. Took this from outside Fitness First, where one has a nice view towards the parking lot, the outside sitting area, and airport beyond. I find Festival City to be one of the nicest malls in terms of architectural interest...beyond just large chandeliers and grand columns. The glass roof creates wonderful patterns everywhere you look.

announcing in style

These days it seems like everything has to be so perfectly planned and organized. One of the area that has really benefited from this line of thinking is party planning and especially for things such as birth announcements and baby showers. The trends towards creating something unique has always been there, but it seems to have taken an even grander scale lately! Apart from the grandness, the attention to detail in these aspects is quite fascinating.

a little step that goes a long way

I'm always surprised at home many mom and pop stores just don't care for modern technology, even if it is going to increase their sales. For a lot of the old-fashioned retailers it's all too much of botheration to try and learn about new technologies and of course the cost involved with them as well. What most don't know is that how easy it actually is to use something like a Symbol LS2208 barcode scanner, and how this along with a proper inventory system can transform their business.

Often, it's just a case of one slightly-modern thinking retailer who switches and everyone else watches him and sees the difference and switches as well, some reluctantly and some enthusiastically. I've spoken to so many small neighborhood grocers who will make the investment only if pushed into it, but once they have done it, they are quite amazed at the difference it makes. If only they realized it earlier.

photo: looking out

Looking out into the courtyard of the Orient Cafe and Guesthouse in Bastakiya in Dubai. They have some really great tiramisu and also serve Starbucks coffees and drinks! There are just five or six tables in this tiny courtyard so it fills up pretty quickly.



More photos of the area here, and a map here.

Do you trust your car insurance agent?

It feels like if one has an Internet connection, one can find just about anything there is to be found in the world. Well, of course, one cannot find out how something smells or feels like just from the Internet, apart from reading about it second hand, but one can certainly find information like car insurance coverage recommendations and so on. Everyone knows that the most expensive automobile insurance is provided by the agent who sits at the car dealership, but we often just go ahead and take if for the simplicity of it all. In the long run, this adds up to a lot of difference, and the fine print is so important to read. When we moved from Bombay, it was a month and a half after renewing our car insurance, and the company refused to pay us back the unused amount, refused to transfer it to the new car owner and basically made us curse them. I suppose, that's how one learns!

understanding why...

Oh, I forgot to mention, the other thing that I get a ton of inquiries about is appetite suppressant, again something that I did a research assignment on and have personally never used myself. I did meet some people who used them as part of my research and it was certainly very interesting to get some first hand information from them. What I was really curious about was the though process during the time when a person takes these? Is it a sure-fire thing that it will work, or does it work like a placebo and positive thinking is what the magic trick is? Very interesting indeed!

Me, an expert? No way!

Ok, now seriously people, by the amount of inquiries and mails and spam comments I get on best diet pills is simply quite amazing. I've written about them before thanks to a research project I was assigned to do on them, but I'm certainly not an expert on them! But I suppose any information in the online world takes on some sort of importance, right? Well, I'm telling you right here and now, please do your own research, check with your doctor and so on, since I am not an expert on them, I have never used them and don't plan to either. My study on them was based on several published reports and consumer feedback and I don't claim to know any more than that.

photo: at the fairground

This winter we've made a concerted effort to get out of our comfort zones and explore Dubai and its surrounding areas, before it gets too hot. Now going to a new shopping area doesn't really seem like a worthy exploration, but in Dubai the shops and restaurant areas are created quite wonderfully and have lots of other interesting things to do as well. I'm not into shopping much or window shopping either, but it was nice to explore The Walk in Jumeirah Beach Residences, mostly for its architecture and great angles.

what to blog about?

I can't seem to stop writing about the oddest things, such as the best diet supplements or where to buy dog food or how to create rubber stamps and so on. They're not exactly what I had in mind for this blog, but sometimes its required and so here I am writing about such things. Well, if nothing else it is variety for the blog at least. Let's hope my topic list of blogging improves!

the focus....

The focus of this blog has become quite wide lately. It was meant to be about technology, communication, the web and so on, but somehow it has spread to travel, reading, my life and so on. None of the actual topics are my field, but they are an interest, since I like to be well informed and like to write about them, but maybe it was just all too different from what I usually do to keep it up. The problem of being the "second blog" also arises here, as my first priority is always the other one, and so the quality has deteriorated. I've got to rethink it all and see what I want this blog to me. I'm leaning towards writing more about consumerism, but will take some time to dwell on it.

looking for sales jobs?

Since I write quite a bit on retail on another blog, I get a lot of inquiries about finding sales jobs. While I don't run any kind of business myself on this front, I am really getting inundated with inquiries for jobs, franchising offers and supplier queries. A lot of people are not getting the point of blogging or differentiating it from news sites or company websites. Clarifying the matter hasn't made any difference at all and the queries still continue. Oh well!

stamping

Since I just wrote a post about stamping and ordering stamps online, I thought I would post a shot of the one that I got made several years back. It's made from a sketch that I doodle all the time, just reduced on the photocopy machine to the size that I wanted the stamp in. In retrospect, I realize that I reduced it too much, as the lines all blur together.

stamping online

I love putting aside a bit of time each weekend for being creative. A couple of weekends back I did a bit of stamping, which ended up quite fun. I've always loved stamps, as it is so easy to make so many different things from them. I had carved out a little simple stamp from an eraser a few months back, but had never got around to using it, so it was nice to test it out as well. If you're keen on stamping, it is a good idea to get a custom rubber stamp made to your specification. They are relatively simple to order online and the quality is quite good. I got one made of a paisley pattern that I keep doodling and it came out nice, but next time I know how to make it even better.

photo memory space

As a freelance writer, I really rely on my laptop, for work, for communicating, for surfing and for keeping in touch. So, when things go wrong as they did at the end of last year, I was in quite a fix. I had to make sure I didn't lose any of my work and that my tech problems did not affect my client at all. I did end up losing some of my photos but getting a compact flash memory card really did help a lot and I'm really glad my tech savvy friend told me about them. Live and learn, I guess!

In Central Perk

We all love Friends don't we? I do to, and have been watching it right from when it started. Thursday nights were sacred, to be spent with friends in front of the TV, watching Friends and then ER. When I read about the real Central Perk cafes in Dubai, I knew I had to visit....for nostalgia's sake. Well, we finally did and it was nice. Here's a photo from our visit of the Central Perk in Uptown Mirdiff in Dubai.

It's all in the eyes!

So, this is something that every girl could probably use, at some time or the other. Having a good eye cream can be quite a lifesaver when you're not sleeping well or are unwell, but need to look professional and with-it. I'm not much of an experimenter when it comes to make-up, lotion and potions, I just like to find a good one, usually one that is recommended, buy it, use it and forget all about the fine details! Including the fine lines under the eyes :-)

Award yourself

OK, admit it, aren't there some days when you want to give yourself an award or one of those grand trophies, a day when you really need to feel on top of the world? Well, if you really want to you actually can, you can even get yourself a set of softball trophies if you'd like for the company sponsored game or just for yourself. The only cup that I've ever won was for a marathon when I was in school and I'm incredibly proud of it. It makes an ordinary race seem like a great achievement and that's quite something.

Some quotes on technology

Technology: No Place for Wimps!
-Scott Adams, "Dilbert"

As industrial technology advances and enlarges, and in the process assumes greater social, economic, and political force, it carries people away from where they belong by history, culture, deeds, association and affection.
-Wendell Berry

Engrave this Quote We've been slaves to our tools since the first caveman made the first knife to help him get his supper. After that there was no going back, and we built till our machines were ten million times more powerful than ourselves.
We gave ourselves cars when we might have learned to run; we made airplanes when we might have grown wings; and then the inevitable. We made a machine our God.
-John Brunner, Judas [1967]

in a tree house

What is it about tree houses that endear them to us so well? I've always loved them. not only for their vantage point and views but for their sense of adventure. You have to be adventurous to go up into one, you have to a bit kiddish to love them, and you have to love them for the feeling of joy that they give.

self-storage anyone?

We've been moving so often in the past seven years, that I sometimes feel like I could open my own business! Well, if not a packing and moving business, then at least a self storage business, since I'm pretty good and organizing and packing as well. Or, maybe not! The thing is that I've always been rather fascinated by all these storage facilities for some reason. Maybe, it's the thought of traveling or moving to new places, and collecting too many things along the way as well, that endears them to me. What ever it is, the fact is that I am fascinated by them!

on topics far and wide

As a writer, one can't control the kind of assignments one gets. Sometimes it's all about traveling to Turkey, other times about the best acne treatments available in the market and at other times about supply chain networks. In a way, I suppose the work never quite gets boring at least, but it can test one's patience for sure. Well, in the sense that, you work hard and do a lot of research on some complicated topic and write a fantastic piece, and then you get a completely inane subject! There is always a option to refuse, but I usually find it too intriguing to refuse. I'm one of those people who needs to be busy, I love doing a couple of things at a time and so on!

a cup of tea!

Will you have a cup of tea with me?

I never, ever thought the day would come when I would enjoy drinking a cup of tea, or even two cups a day. Well, it has come and I am really relishing the cold weather for the opportunity to enjoy my cup of cha!

searching for...

I can not really believe just how many research articles I get for anything related to diets, the diet pill, losing weight and so on. There is a vast amount of research on all of these topics and sometimes it can get really confusing as to what is real and what is someone's opinion. I think the best way to deal with that is to stick to known and reputable sources, that are backed or recommended by a hospital or a doctor. Get a second opinion as well, it will do you no harm.

Being calm...is a state of mind

A vacation is always good for the soul. Often we relegate it to the lowest of our priorities, sometimes due to lack of time, at other due to lack of money or interest, but it really is very important to get out of one's daily routine and do something different. Sometimes a day is all it takes to get refreshed and often one need not go very far from home either. It's just a state of mind, kind of like leaving one's watch behind, turning off one's phone and not letting any problems intrude.

The right first impression

These days, it is absolutely essential to have an Internet site, a place where you can build your brand, your image and connect to a new category of buyers. Having the right kind of digital signage is very important, as that is a viewer's first impression and is the deciding factor, whether they stay or move on. There are some really great places to get all your work done, so you actually don't need to understand any of it, but only the importance behind it.

Become environmentally aware

All through our travels we found that all the places we stayed at had installed these new and quite impressive tankless water heaters. It certainly what I had been expecting of the region, but it is a great use of the resources at hand, and limited waste to a bare minimum. I think everyone must make a concerted effort to be aware of the problems around us and try to help the environment at each step. Something as simple as installing an efficient water heater can make all the difference!

back to my warm home

Back home to lovely warm sights like this one. I love seeing the sunshine wander through my home, changing its course in the seasons. It's been a wonderful start to the new year. Hope to see it continue in the same vein. Having a beautiful, specifically a warm and inviting home is very important to me, and everyone who visits my home or sees its pictures conveys the same to me. Thank you all so much.

hotel pampering

What is the first thing you check when you enter a hotel room? For me, it's the bathroom. If the bathroom is good, then you can be assured that the room will be great as well, which is not always the case the other way around. I find that I must have good bathroom light fixtures as well, since that really makes a huge difference to the feel of a room. One is there only for a short time, but if that time is enjoyable, then it's certainly worth it. Many hotels I have found are going all out in putting in the most luxurious of settings in the baths, since they have found that guests really do like to feel pampered when they come to a hotel, even if it is just a business trip or in transit.

using barcode scanners

Retailers worldwide have adapted to the use of barcode scanners as part of their retail requirements, but many of the small retail stores have still not invested in this very basic implement of a retail store. For many, it is the price which is an impediment, but for others it is the new technology that is the main hindrance to getting pos scanners. One has to remember that a lot of small retailers are simply mom-and-pop stores, which have been conducting their business in the same manner for generations, and are not exactly willing to change.r

meter reading

One of the popular games going around on flickr is being tagged to post the fifth photo from the fifth folder from your computer. I recently got tagged and looked up what the photo in question was. Well, I was happy to find it was a decent shot, one that I was planning to retake and so never got around to posting. Here it is!

The anything and everything!

What is the one place that you can find anything and everything? The one place where you can combine your searches from across the world all in one place? Well, it's really not a tough question, it's the Internet. Whether you're searching for Zyporex or for garden gnomes, it's the one stop shop for you and millions of others around the world. I don't even bother looking for information in encyclopedia's anymore, it's just much faster and more efficient on the Internet. And I'm not even adding the fact that it's all interactive. So, continue your searches and find that things that you want quicker and easier.

The power of the Internet

Have you ever wondered how you start searching for one thing on the Internet, but end up with a completely different agenda after a bit! With the endless choices, it is quite easy to get distracted. I started off looking for something else and then 15 minutes later was looking at a site for pain pump and assorted issues. How interesting, I thought! I hadn't planned to be here, but a little learning on a new subject never harmed me. In the end, I stayed on the site for a while and forgot about what my original search had been! That's the power of the Internet!

who is watching whom?

The new Dubai Mall is finally open. We visited it last week and like everyone else were drawn to the huge aquarium, which has over 33,000 fish behind the largest single pane of glass and the largest aquarium in the world. Is there anything that is not "the largest" in this city? It's getting old now....we need to have something different besides crowing about the tallest tower, the largest mall, and so on.

Looking for information on diet pills

I managed to get some pretty good feedback on the research I have been doing on diet pills, but am still looking out for anyone who has used Fentraphen to lose weight. I would love to hear from you and document your experience, so please do contact me if you have tried this. While the mainstream media is generally quite skeptical about any kind of diet pills, the research I have done shows that they do work, although it's really not the quick fix that a lot of people are looking for. They do need to be taken with caution and with a careful study of what your body is experiencing. If you are able to do that, then it will probably work quite well for you.

does one forget pain?

It's absolutely amazing just how lovely the weather has become here. Considering how hot it gets in the summer and how one just wilts, it is such a reprieve to be able to actually spend some time outdoors, instead of doing a fast sprint to the car from the house etc. That's the thing about bad things or pain, that one is able to forget it once it's past. Feels weird to be so philosophical about the weather, but it's a likely analogy!

Is this the best way to lose weight?

I been talking to some people about how popular pills are becoming in a lot of people's weight loss plans. Everyone seems to have the best diet pills that work for them, usually found after a few trials, but with the holiday season coming up, everyone seems to be stocking up on them and using them to get to look their best. With the way our diet has changed over the years, it's often just not possible to change our weight with the older techniques of losing weight, as in exercising and eating less and better balanced meals. For a lot of people, using medication is the only way to trick their body and mind into losing weight. And since it has worked well for so many people, more and more are sighing up!

rain shelter

Here's another pic from my trip to the hills. I took over 300 photographs...don't worry I'm not going to post them all here! I really loved the walks and these charming rain shelters that can be found every so often. Not only is the idea such a great one, but the design and upkeep of these rain shelters is really quite good too.

time to ride

Since the weather has turned beautiful here, there are tons of riding classes available, mostly using english saddles like this. The racing season will be starting here soon too, which is again going to increase the interest in riding, especially for kids, as it does each year. I must say, that I've never ridden a horse, but am quite tempted to learn this year, since I seem to be in the right time and place for it. I will definitely be letting you know once I start on my new adventure.

Fall colors

Fall is a wonderful time of the year. The weather is just so perfect, with just a hint of cold in the air, the colors are so amazing, everything from the trees to the flowers and leaves seem to burst into wonderful golden shades. While we don't have much of a fall here, I did manage to find some nice leaves while on my trip to the hills of Mussoorie. I loved the warm yellow color of these leaves.

An all-round destination

Suspense is good, right? Well, I am not about to reveal our next vacation destination, but will instead right about another place, a place that is world famous for fun, for crazy-ness and for amazing-ness. It's las vegas nv, fun central! The really great thing about Las Vegas is that it is different for different people. For those who want to gamble, it's superb. For those who want to shop, it's a great place. And for those who want to relax and rejuvenate in a spa, it's one of the best places to head to. Or if you'd like you can go in for a combination of everything above! I'd love to go to Las Vegas for the spa treatments, which are said to be some of the best in the world. So, there really is a lot more to the city than just gambling and strip clubs!

Making travel plans

Traveling has always been something I have loved and looked forward to from the time I was a child. The past few years, we have been able to travel a lot and I am looking forward to new sights to see and places to visit. We've already planned and booked our next vacation and I'm getting so excited about it, since it's a completely different place from where I've been so far, a place that I haven't even gone close to, a place that I have heard so much about, and a place that I've been wanting to go to for absolutely ages. More on this later....

The right way

Losing weight is big business, for both who want to lose weight and for those who want to help you lose weight. The thing is that there is no easy way, but only a slightly easier way, but one that you have to approach with caution, since it requires you to pay close attention to your body, the signs that it sends out. The thing with diet pills is that people often take them as an easy way out, a shortcut, but they have to be followed with the proper discipline and only then it is worthwhile. Some have known side effects, others don't, but as with any kind of weight loss plan, even the old-fashioned way of eating less and working out more, one needs to have a plan and meet a dietitian and doctor to ensure that you're doing it correctly.

SLV

Taking photos has become such a wonderful pastime for me and it has made me so much more aware of the things around me, especially the simple things. One always sees the large and the grand, but often misses the little things of beauty, the unobtrusive, the hidden, and that is what has been a really fun thing to explore. When I take pictures in public, I get odd looks..."what is she taking pictures of? there is nothing worth photographing there?" and so on, but the end result can be worth it most times. Here's one of the times when I got those looks!

Getting rid of them forever!

Everyone goes through it, or at least a lot of people go through it, but it doesn't make it any easier. Having any kind of acne, is painful, physically and emotionally. There are many kinds of acne treatments available these days, but one has to remember that there is a lot more than just medicine that eventually rids one of these pesky things. A good diet, a good lifestyle and being healthy is a major factor to getting rid of acne and combined with the right kind of treatments, they can be gone forever. Sounds good right?

Buying art online

Have you looked through the Etsy site lately? There are a lot of new things there and as always I am constantly amazed at the the variety of the works. I admit, not everything there is in my taste, but I applaud it for its creativity, for its ingenuity, for its energy and for its unabridged imagery. I bought something from Etsy several months back and really found the interaction of the whole process to be quick and straightforward. The artist that I purchased from, is a well known Canadian artist Mandy Budan and I was really happy to be able to get some of her works. Even better, she sent a free print of one of her works, which is the kind of generosity that personifies Etsy and its artists.

A hole-in-one!

Our home course has been holding night golf several times a week and last night my mother got a hole-in-one! She didn't even realize it until they couldn't find the ball on the green and then eventually looked in the hole....and there it was! She has always been a very disciplined golfer, right from the beginning, focusing on getting her technique right, using the right golf clubs in the right and lucky golf bags. Being a golfer myself, I can understand the incredible feeling, the euphoria and disbelief and the hope to repeat it again. I must add that I myself have never achieved quite a feat, but feel good about the good golfing genes I have!

back!

I'm back from my trip! Well, actually I got back at the beginning of the month, but have been busy catching up with stuff...work-wise and house guest-wise, so it's been a pretty hectic time. The trip was superb...I will post a few photos here later on. The bast part was of course being in the hills in Mussoorie for a few days, which was a really nice place to chill for a few days.

a different setting

I know this is not your usual coffee drinking spot, but then nothing in Dubai is usual and normal. Everything is larger than life, exaggerated, grander, and more fantastical. This is in the Ibn Batutta Mall in Dubai, in the Persia Court where there is also a Hediard Cafe behind the Starbucks. It's certainly a great place, although so very incongruous, for a cup of coffee. I find it very interesting to see modern signs in such an old setting, but then everything is new in this city, things are just made to look old that's all.

Finally, a little respite...

As the weather is turning better once again, it is time to think about getting some new outdoor furniture covers so that one can fully enjoy the nice weather. The barbecue area needs a bit of an update as well and hopefully we will be able to find some nice extras to add there as well. One of the best things about the fall and winter here is that the evenings become pleasant and it is wonderful to be able to enjoy that time of the day, after so many months of long hot days.

sorting out the photos

Since I now have so many photographs taken over the past 8 months, I have begun to go through them and start deleting some of the repeats, similar ones, or simply bad ones. As I was going through them, I found this shot, which I had completely forgotten about. I really liked this series of shots that I took, since they are so simple and minimal, in the color or non-color rather, the composition etc. It is quite different from what I thought I would photograph, so am happy with the result.

getting trendy

Lately I have been noticing a very strong trend towards all sorts of embellishments that teenagers and young adults are going in for. Everything from body jewelry, tattoos, airbrushing and so on is very popular these days it seems. Fashion is extremely cyclical and lately the cycles have been getting shorter and shorter, quite similar even though they are are still variations of the original trend. Open any popular fashion magazine and you will understand what I mean. Younger people today are greatly influenced by what they see around them and on the television and are creating their won style of clothing and jewelry to define them.

The downsizing trend

US consumers are changing the way they shop and live. In a recent survey done by DisplaySearch, it was found that US consumers are switching to smaller size televisions, along with smaller cars. While the number of LCD TVs shipped last year increased by 52%, the bulk of this increase was made up of smaller size TVs of the 19, 21 and 32 inch sizes. Samsung still remains the number one flat screen TV manufacturer, followed by Sony. It will be interesting to see the effect of these changes in the long term, not only on the economy but also on the environment as every small change will definitely have an impact of that aspect as well.

freeing up memory

I've been running dangerously low in memory in my laptop lately and have had to delete some of the programs that I no longer use to free up some space. I spent some time researching add on memory, micro sd and so on, and have come to the conclusion that I actually need a new laptop. I've had this one for 3 years, which in the life of a laptop is quite a bit. The way I work and use the laptop has changed quite a bit too in the past few years and so I need to re-figure what all I use it for and buy one with the correct specifications. I do hope it's not going to mess up my settings for connections that I have here and when I travel, since that will be a major hassle.

Driving by

Here's a picture that I took last month, but only recently uploaded to my Flickr page. I've been taking lots of shots while in the car and a decent number of them are pretty good and interesting. It's been so hot lately, that I've been avoiding going out into the heat too much and taking a shot from the comfort of one's car is so, so easy. Not every shot is worth keeping of course, but one does get lucky...as I have found!

Enjoy!

summer woes

Summer time is the worst time of the year for the skin. Besides battling sunburn, its acne that is on everyone's minds thanks to the high humidity levels. A certain amount of humidity is really great for the skin, but too much can wreck havoc on ones skin if one is not careful enough. One has to have a good skin care regimen to tackle acne, and one has to catch it as it starts. Only then one can have a nice peaceful summer! There are so many options available for acne treatments, but one must try them out for oneself and see what suits ones skin, instead of just relying on what the magazine's say. Good luck!

this past month

The past month has been unbelievably busy and I can't imagine just how fast it has gone by. It was just the start of July the other day and now August is here. Work wise the time has been really great, as I've had lots of assignments, and have been kept really busy. It's also been a good time for reading and I finished four books this past month. I had set myself the task of reading at least 2 books every month and so I am really happy that I managed to read double that amount. Two of the books were very serious stuff, about the Bush administration and the other two were more lighthearted, one about the wives of Henry VIII and another about a British writer's year in France. Great stuff, all of them.

The marketing behind the product

I constantly am amazed at how much difference there is in the way the different products are marketed by companies. Since electronics are deemed to be a masculine area, these ads are always edgy and manly, while for things like bedroom sets, the format is usually more feminine. That is how the marketing and consumer worlds function, but what I find interesting is that they almost have a sort of sociology undercurrent going on. Interestingly, more and more companies are realizing this bias and changing the way they make their ads, and focusing some of their ads more towards women.

not overlooked any more

The thing about photography is that it makes you notice all the things that you never even gave a second glance to earlier. I've always been an observant person but was really surprised to discover that I was actually not as observant as I could be. Since I've started taking photographs, I'm always looking out for things to photograph and so have started noticing all the little things and details that I missed earlier. It's certainly been quite a fun experience.

summer tribulations

Summer is meant to be a fun time, away from school and sometimes work, but for a lot of teenagers, the problem of acne gets exacerbated due to the weather conditions and probably also due to eating a lot more junk food. There are a variety of acne treatments available in the market and come summer, there is a huge surge in the advertisements surrounding these products. The thing with acne is that there are so many causes, that it's often hard to pinpoint and separate just one cause. Trial and error is one of the most common ways of deciphering what works and what doesn't.

Party planning

Party planning has got a huge boost thanks to all the tools one can find on the Internet. I use Hallmark Smilebox for all my cards since I am able to add photographs to the cards and email them to friends and family. Today, when searching on the Internet, I found a site called MyPunchbowl where you can plan a party, right from selecting the date, creating a menu, offering a potluck list and even being able to send photographs to the party invites as well. I signed up for this site, but have yet to use it as yet. I will probably test it out just to see how it works, especially the look of the party invites and if I will be able to add photos to the invites or not.

Summer's lists

I am so amazed at the amount of money people spend to follow the trends. With the number of celebrity magazines constantly increasing, the trend of looking slim and trim at all times is not going to be going away anytime soon. The list of new kinds of diet foods, diet pills, slimming underwear and so on are always going to be top sellers I think, since we all have a fascination of looking as good as we possibly can at all times. I think that's an unbearable amount of pressure, but no one is caving and instead the trend is only getting bigger, with everyone watching celebrities losing their baby weight faster and faster.

A new passion

The past six months have been an incredible ride thanks to my new hobby of taking photographs! Sometimes I find it quite unbelievable that I am actually spending so much time doing this, but the fact is that it has been such an enjoyable and a thoroughly eye-opening experience, that I can't imagine why I didn't get into it before. I love to explore new areas, a lot of times just for the sake of getting to take photographs, which is quite a change from my normal self.

Here's a shot I took some time back on my morning walk.

Shuffling vacations

We try to take different kinds of vacations each time we travel. Even though I love going to the beach and the mountains, if we were to do that every time, it would get boring really quickly. So, the trick is to alternate between hectic city vacations, historical jaunts, peaceful sojourns and party filled Vegas vacations. It certainly makes life a lot more interesting I feel. A lot of people invest in a cottage by the lake or on the beach and then get tied down to only going there, which I think is a total waste. The whole world is out there waiting to be explored, so don't go to the same place again and again. I agree, there is a certain charm in going for repeat vacations, since one really gets a higher level of comfort with a certain place, but combine those with new spots as well. It'll be totally worth it, I assure you.

early, early

I love heading outdoors early in the morning for some fresh air, a new perspective and some quiet time. It really is a great way to get a head start on the day. One day I left home slightly earlier than normal was was greeted with this sight. The light was incredible, the blue sky unbelievable (especially since we've had so many dust storms lately) and I was so glad I had my camera with me. Every minute the light changes at dawn, so it is really important to capture the moment quickly.

Enjoy!

Getting that xbox 360

Everyone knows that one of the best gifts to give a teenager is an xbox 360! It's just something that everyone wants, regardless of where they live, how good or bad they've been and whether they actually know how to play it. It simply is a must have item for the majority of teenagers and well, many adults as well, across the world. I, however, am not one of them! So, when I needed to buy a super-awesome present for a special teenager, I asked my all knowing neighbor and this is the answer she gave me. So off I went to my computer to find the best prices and the best places to buy it from and it turns out that buy.com is where one gets the most awesome prices. Problem solved!

Walmart changes its logo

Walmart announced that it has redone its logo, after a two year customer based transformation has been taking place at its US stores. The company's US stores will be getting the new updated look as it redoes most of its stores by the fall, but customers are already seeing the new logo in the company's new TV ads and print commercials. This is not the first time that Walmart has changed its logo, the company has freshened up its logo several times, with the last one happening in 1992. Besides the new logo, the company is also using its name without the hyphen in between as it earlier did, and has softened the letters and made them more customer friendly, instead of the old ones which were too bold and sharp.

The right way to exercise

For many people who love to be fit, the heat and the cold are not a bother at all. They seem to be oblivious to the sweltering temperatures and the icy winds and carry on regardless. I, however, am not quite built that way and need to be somewhat comfortable to be able to exercise decently. So, I need to have some basic strength equipment in an indoor environment that is temperature controlled so I can focus on the exercise instead of focusing on the crippling heat or the freezing cold. It would certainly be simpler if I were like that, since then I would not need anything, but a pair to good shoes and an open road, but unfortunately, it is the way it is!

Steve & Barry's in trouble

Low cost seller Steve & Barry's might be shutting down over 100 of its stores and is considering a full liquidation if it does not find some emergency financing. The company reportedly requires about $40 million in debtor-in-possession financing so that it can file for bankruptcy protection. According to a report, Weil Gotshal & Manges, a law firm, has been preparing the bankruptcy filing and Harvey Miller will be handling the case. Steve & Barry's has created quite a following among those who loved fashion, but did not want to pay inflated prices.

everyone's crazy for beer pong!

I have a really fun neighbor and she is set on getting one of these beer pong tables for her parties, which she thinks will be a great addition and will shake things up as well. She got the idea from one of her beer pong crazy friends who convinced her that they will be a great addition. I've never played or used one of them, so I was quite curious about them and went online to search for them. It seems that they are a huge craze and there are several very special types of tables. She is planning to get one of the portable ones, which will be really easy to put away once they are used. I'm looking forward to her getting one of these so that I can try it out myself.

No late night stores in Japan?

Round the clock convenience stores have been struggling with decreasing sales and slow growth and might have another hurdle to cross, that of government's decision to close stores that operate late at night. In places such as Saitama, close to Tokyo, stores are urged to close late at night to limit carbon dioxide emissions. Kyoto also is working to convince its 24-hour stores to shut down late at night so as to improve the evening views and reduce energy consumption.

The industry has strongly opposed the closure as it feels it will negatively impact the sector that is already faced with a high tobacco tax that has hit sales. According to Toshiro Yamaguchi, President of Seven-Eleven Japan, "Even if we only operate the stores for 16 hours, we can't stop the refrigerators." Adding that reduction in working hours would reduce their store's profit margin by 20%.

running low on space

While on the topic of photographs, I have to say that they have started to take up a lot of space on my laptop lately, and I've got to do something to supplement my laptop memory so that I can continue taking photographs like I have been doing. I have several stages of deletion, on the camera, while I'm downloading them, once I've had a good look at them and then after a couple of weeks when I get time to do a review. But still the memory is running a bit low, so the solution is to get additional memory, which is quite an easy step I believe. Here's looking forward to unlimited photographs in the future!

Early one morning

I love my morning walks and they are even better when I find fun things to photograph. It really makes it completely worth it to wake up at 5am. I really have started liking the routine of waking up early and having more time to myself while I walk and ruminate. Other wise one is just so busy with work and house that one never has time to just be, to contemplate, to think, to dream. I love my morning walks! Yup, I can't say it enough.

summer plans for most girls: lose weight

Every summer the emphasis on looking good increases exponentially. Getting into that bikini without looking like a sausage is uppermost on most girl's minds and this kind of thinking has fueled the latest diet phenomenon. To be able to lose weight is considered a most enviable task and to do it fast even better. The trick is to get yourself checked by a physician to make sure that you are well enough to take any sort of rigorous exercise routine or for medications. A lot of people ignore this stop and end up with complications and side effects that are a lot worse than being a little overweight. So, do your homework and only then go for the plan that suits you and your body best.

Zappos offers employees $1,500 to quit

Online footwear company Zappos is offering its new recruits $1,500 to quit along with payment for all the hours they have already worked. The company has instituted the new policy to ensure that it's employees are there for more than just the money. The retailer has been offering this new payment to resign system for the past three weeks so far and have found that only 2-3% of the people take the money and leave the company, which the company attributes to their strong screening process.

Zappos was one of the pioneers of free delivery and free returns, and the company motto is: ”We are a service company that happens to sell.” All new hires except those working in the Zappos warehouse complete the month-long customer loyalty training program. Brown says about two-thirds go on to work in call center roles.

the deal with acne

OK everyone knows that not all acne medications and treatments are equal but this acne treatment is said to be pretty good and is reportedly quite popular. The thing with these treatments is to be patient and to make sure that you follow all he instructions to the T, since it really matters quite a bit. It is also important to be careful of one's diet etcetera when taking any kind of acne medication. A lot of them say to avoid the sun for some time, so that is important to follow. With so much emphasis on looking good and looking as close to perfect as possible, acne treatments are getting even more popular than before.

Lower priced electronic items are what consumers want

The slower economy is making consumers shop differently and the change can be felt across all sectors. Take consumer electronics for instance, shoppers are selecting items that are lower priced than they would have previously bought, such as buying a Canon PowerShot A470 camera for $129 instead of buying Canon G-series camera that costs around $500. Many shoppers are setting themselves budgets that they feel comfortable spending and do not go over it.

The most affected have been the larger ticket items such as flat screen televiisons, Blu-ray DVD players and so on. Items that have gained are smaller and lower priced items such as digital cameras, digital photo frames, MP3 players and so on, all things that are usually priced under $200. According to Susan Kevorkian, a retail analyst at market research firm IDC, "It's money that a consumer can part with ... without compromising other financial priorities or other parts of their lifestyle."

Consumer electronic retailers have already noticed the trend and are increasing their selection of these lower priced technology products to tempt shoppers. Canon has increased its lower priced cameras, those that sell for less than $200 to three from two last year, and its $129 camera is the lowest that it's ever manufactured.

Personal computers are also looking recession-proof these days. Analysts and computer vendors say that PCs do well even in uncertain times because the machines are fast becoming a commodity necessary for school, work or simple communication.

PC makers such as AsusTek Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co. have in the past year added smaller bare-bones notebook computers to their lineup. An EEE PC made by AsusTek costs $300 and targets users who mainly intend to surf the Internet and send email, says Donald Leung, a product manager for the company. Meanwhile H-P's Mini-Note PC costs $500 and aims to attract both students and traveling professionals.

The right perspective

As any Internet shopper knows, there is nothing more important than researching before buying. With the summer here, everyone seems to be going in for some diet or exercise treatment or the other and a lot of people don't even bother checking the credentials of the company, person and product. It is absolutely imperative that one does this vital step, since it's your body and health that one is talking about. Read as many diet pill reviews as you can, digest the information, cross check the facts, get feedback and once convinced, go ahead with it. One must think long term with these issues, instead of just that important pool party that you need to look your best for.

a bright diptych

I've been wanting to make some diptychs for a while, but wasn't quite sure how to make them. Last week, I experimented around a bit and found that I could make them in Paint very easily, so I made three of them. I thought they came out quite well, each with a great contrast and juxtaposition's. Here is one of the brightest ones. For a good diptych, it must balance and oppose each other, else it might end up being too boring.

Where to get the best deals on electronics

The one segment of items that I always look for on the web before heading out to the stores are electronics. Interestingly, what is happening now is that I often don't even need to go to the stores, since the best deal available is online. With sites like www.buy.com, you can be sure to find the best buy there, whether it is a digital camera or a new flat screen television. Electronic items are always highly competitive and with the advent of online electronic stores, the biggest winners have been consumers like us, who have been able to find the best deals with the least amount of hassle. I can't imagine how one did one's shopping before and wasted so much time and effort going from store to store to find the best deal.

Small business owners don't see web sales declining

Many smaller businesses don't think that the slowdown of the economy will necessarily impact web sales. According to a new survey done by Register.com, about 70% of respondents said that there will be no decline in web sales in the next year, while 34.6% predicted that they will see a rise in revenue from web sales. About34.4% said that they expect sales from web sites to remain the same as before. Of a total of 800 small business execs interview for the poll, about 70% of them were owners and partners.

Interestingly, while the majority said that they do not see a decline in the newer future, about 20% of respondents did not know what their current web sales figures were and 41% said that more than a quarter of their revenue came from web generated sales.

“Having a web site has become more than a luxury for small businesses and entrepreneurs, it is a necessity,” says Register.com CEO Larry Kutscher. “Our small business customers know that investing in a great web site is a more effective way to reach potential customers and stay in contact with existing clients. The response to our survey shows the result of this investment, as a majority of customers expect no decline -- and many expect growth -- in their web revenues over the next year.”

Blind sense

With the way the heat is building up, I think I need to change my curtains and put up something more substantial to deal with the direct sunlight. I am veering towards installing some blinds and then adding my curtains in front of them, so that I will be able to control the light in the room, but also will be able to cut down on the heat generated from the direct sunlight outside. We get about 5 hours of direct afternoon sun, so it does get quite hot, but with the right curtains and colors, one can make quite a difference, I think. I've always liked having blinds for their simplicity and their utilitarian sense, something that is going to come in handy now.

ugh, the heat....the humidity!

It has become so hot lately that all one wants to do is stay indoors and keep ones cool. Besides the heat, it has also become humid all of a sudden and the high humidity levels are making things really uncomfortable and sticky. Even in the mornings the humidity makes going for my early morning walk quite uncomfortable. Thankfully, yesterday and today morning we had a lovely cool breeze, so it was a pleasure to be outside again.

a winning method

I find that the best way to find a job these days is online. I have heard first hand from so many of my friends who ended up with great jobs that they found online. For company's looking for a specific type of resume such as Philadelphia resumes or those of marine biologists, this is a great way to open new doors and find new talent. I had placed my resume in an online site a couple of years ago and used to get so many offers from great companies, which really surprised me that they were all recruiting from the online world and not just using the regular old-fashioned methods.

a new direction for shoppers

Shopping has become a real task for many Americans trying to save money and cut costs. It is a good time to evaluate how much one spends of luxuries and frivolous things, which we often deem as necessities, but actually have nothing so urgently required about them. What we need is not a physical thing, it's a completely mental equilibrium. We decide what we want to buy based on how we feel and what we feel, so it's best to avoid shopping when one is feeling down, since you're sure to end up going overboard to compensate for how you're feeling. Instead figure out what are the things you actually use and need, and buy only those things, nothing more. It might be hard initially, but it's for the best, and won't take long to adjust to at all.

looking smart

As fashion and trends go, this is a great time for experimentation, and no one has experimented more than men with their jewelery. At one time, this used to be quite a regimental and set kind of thing, something that no one made any changes to, but in recent times, men's jewelry has become so trendy and in vogue, that men who never wore it before are total converts. The thing to remember is that while trends might come and go, if something is elegant and classic, it will remain for a long period of time, and some of these are exactly that. In general men's jewelery is not for everyone, but those who can carry it off will be sure to get an edge over others. The base line is that it will make you look distinguished and suave.

A new shopping mantra

With the economy taking a downturn, retailers and shoppers are both rethinking what they need to do and how they need to live their lives. Shoppers are wondering if it really is all that important to have that pricey pair of shoes and retailers who are closely watching the trends will be able to make it work. Shoppers are turning to department stores such as Kohl's and JCPenney which have clearance racks and away from specialty stores such as Chico's.

Most customers are making decisive choices about where to shop based primarily on price and discounters and wholesalers such as Wal-Mart and Costco are the ones who are benefiting from this recent phenomenon. According to Howard Davidowitz, the head of a retail consulting firm based in New York, "We're seeing the consumer far more budget conscious and definitely trading down."

It's not all good for the discounters though, as they are getting more new traffic, but regular customers are also cutting back on spending and have reduced their spending. Wal-Mart has seen a boost in sales, but Target has not been able to win customers over as they have usually attracted impulse shoppers, which consumers are cutting down on buying, where as Wal-Mart attracts consumers looking for all the basics, which consumers are still buying.

Warehouse clubs such as Costco and Sam's Club, the Wal-Mart sibling, are seeing sales shoot up. And there's evidence more upper-income customers are heading in for gas and to buy brand-name detergent and groceries in bulk.

"It's a phenomenal shift. You see people who you never expected to be shopping at those stores," said Britt Beemer, founder of Charleston, S.C.-based America's Research Group consumer research firm. In a recent survey of 800 shoppers, he found many high-income households heading for warehouse clubs.

"Ten percent of those shoppers at the warehouse clubs had (household) incomes of over $100,000," Beemer said, double the number from a year ago. "That's not what you'd think is the typical warehouse club shopper."

The right kind of Visa

It's just not possible to manage without a credit card these days. Everything from travel bookings to hotels and cars are easily arranged just by having a credit card. I find it also really useful to send flowers internationally, which is a really quick and easy way to send a gift. And it's all thanks to having a credit card. I personally prefer Visa cards, since they offer a very good service and all round package. There are also usually some Visa credit card offer or the other, making it even more tempting when all the other other options might be the same or very similar.

Getting a credit card is a lot easier now days, thanks to all this information that is so easily available, but one must also be careful about how one selects a credit card, since it can have a lasting effect on your credit record if it's not the right one for you. Credit Organized makes it all simple for you and safeguards you from making the wrong decision. There are a million loopholes to look out for and if you apply for one from an unscrupulous site, then you've just opened a can of worms for yourself. It is important to be cautious about selecting the right card and getting one for the right reason as well.

getting an iPod

It's time to finally get one of these, I think. I've been wanted to get an iPod for quite some time now, but just never got around to it. There was always something or the other that I ended up buying instead, so now it's time for an iPod. We're also going to get one of the sound docks for it, the Bose one most likely. We went to the store the other day to listed to the speakers, and they sound really good, especially the more powerful new one which is also portable. So, most likely we will get one of those. Not sure which iPod to get though, between the classic and the iTouch, which seems like a tempting fun thing to get. Lets see what happens!

Too much moisture can be bad too!

While so far the weather has been getting very hot, it hasn't become too humid as yet, but once it starts, there is no way one can manage without some technological help. There are lots of varieties of industrial dehumidifiers that are easily available in the market and several for the home as yet, especially for musty basements that really need them the most. There is nothing that spoils things in your basement faster than too much moisture and just having a dehumidifier can take care of it for you.