Freedom Flower!

You could call it a strange but pleasant co-incidence. I found this flower among the roadside trees today (14August2007) a day before we celebrate 60 years of independence on 15th August 2007. It has just the colors of out Tricolour Flag. I found it very unique and more because It was found in the most unlikely environments, among dust, cut branches of trees (that the electricity dept. does) and next to an open drain.

What could it signify...? I leave that to one’s imagination. To me it poetically indicates a new beginning, a very optimistic one. So what if we are surrounded with all the usual ‘garbage’ of ups and downs, calamities, bad politics, crime and corruption. There will always be a positive side to look at.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Suzuki GSX 1300R Hayabusa 2008

Check these pictures of the new Suzuki Hayabusa 2008 model. Makes me feel good about a bike that was so desirable, but I would think twice about buying one, just for the not so delighful looks of the previous model. (ok! lets assume I did manage to save up the dough... now do away with that teasing smile). I agree it still is chunky, but improvised drastically in the cosmetics department. The chunky part I guess is required for holding that monster down and making it cut through the wind with ease. You can see how thats intended to happen in one of the pictures.

For some to relate better, this is the new version of the legendary hayabusa - the bike that was made more popular out here bt the movie DHOOM (though a small section called the biking population already knew about it). One of the fastest production bikes, only to be challenged by the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14. I guess with this new one here, someone must be getting ideas for DHOOM 3

Nothing else to say, just enjoy the visual treat.




Picture courtesy: www.bikewalls.com

Yahoo! Photos is closing!

Yahoo! Photos is closing on September 20, 2007.

Fear not! you can still transfer all photos from those accounts to a different service (from the options given by Yahoo).

However, I thought since Flickr was now a Yahoo company this should have happend automatically. I am not sure I saw Yahoo photos in the form that used to be before. I've been on Flickr whenever I logged into Yahoo. So not quite sure how that works and why do they still want us to validate a migration... anyways, there are few other options than Flickr. The message goes-

" Move your photos to Flickr, Yahoo!'s award-winning photo sharing site that Time Magazine calls "completely addictive." And since Flickr is a Yahoo! company, moving is easy - just sign in with the same Yahoo! ID and password you use on Yahoo! Photos.Or if Flickr's not for you, you can also move your photos to services such as Kodak Gallery, Shutterfly, Snapfish or Photobucket. Select from the options below!

Dear (User),
Thank you so much for using Yahoo! Photos. Before we go, we can help you move your photos to a new home.
You must decide what to do by September 20, 2007, because any photos still here after that date will be deleted. Learn more.
Please choose from one of three options below: "

The options are-
1) Migrate to Flickr , Kodak Gallery , Photobucket , Shutterfly , Snapfish with help from Yahoo.[alrite! Thank you so much for this Yahoo]
2) Download all your pics by Sep2007 [Good Luck on that!]
3) Order DVDs of the back-ups [Gee, now we talk business :)]

Anyways... thanks I have some on Google's Picassa. Won't have to move them. And Photobucket too was a favorite :).

Log-in to you Yahoo photos accounts today! and get updated. You will see all the migration info proactively displayed. Get going save all those 'memory pichs'

PowerShot - Back to power

Finally, I have my digicam back. My Canon Powershot A95 that gave a whole new dimension to my creativity. Ah! yes and also an alternative pastime too.

So where did it go and why the big deal?
Well... it just got back from the second repair.

The first time... moisture some how got into the cam and just when I thought the cam was dry enough. I switched it on only to put it back to sleep... and a strange burning smell. Obviously something went kaput inside. INR 7K for that kaput thingy.

Now after a long gap. The CCD gave a problem, though the camera was functioning normally but the display was corrupted, more worse it affected the resultant picture too. Initially it would set right after a while, much like how freshly poured water settles down after a while. But the problem got bigger and pictures got worse.
This worse pics scenario costed me INR 4K to set that right.

Well all ok now but, felt like making a chronological analysis to scare people into being careful. Here we go :)

Before I start 'the end; of this post. PLEASE DO TAKE GOOD CARE of your gadgets (SERIOUSLY). Sometimes we tend to get a bit rough with them due to over use... which is ok but try to be a little more careful.

Canon Powershot A95
Purchased in 14Feb2005, NO! it wasn't a Valentine Day gift.
(2 years old now)

Phase 1 - 14 Feb 2005 - 03 Sep 2005
Approx 5000 snaps
Short Circuit due to moisture
Repair Exp - INR 7000

Phase 2 - 19 Dec 2005 - 12 Feb 2007
Approx 12000 snaps
Replaced the damaged CCD
Repair Exp - INR 4000

Phase 3 - 25 Mar 2007 - (not so soon I hope)
147 snaps so far. Actually in just a day

TOTAL: Till date approximately 17,000 snaps