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Who stays ONLINE? Facebook or MySpace...

When Rupert Murdoch, the owner of New Corporation (Fox News), bought MySpace for $580 million in 2005 it was viewed by many as one of his savviest acquisitions ever. At that time, MySpace was arguably the most successful social networking site on the Web and its financial future was extremely bright. Shortly after the acquisition, a young, upstart college social networking site called Facebook began operations without much fanfare. Back in 2005, MySpace had 14 million monthly users and Facebook was still raising capital. Now, MySpace has 126 million users whereas Facebook’s user base has grown to over 200 million. Facebook continues to expand while MySpace’s growth appears to be stagnant. This led to the dismissal last week of one of MySpace’s co-founders and the appointment of a former Facebook executive as CEO.

Since 2005, MySpace has generated about $1.6 billion in revenues and earned 200 million last year alone. However, it is important to note that a major portion of its operating capital comes from $900 million that Google guarantees every year. That agreement comes up for renewal next year and the likelihood of Google agreeing to the original terms is questionable. This is probably why Murdoch is shaking things up at MySpace. While it is likely that Google will attempt to renegotiate the terms of the original agreement, I seriously doubt that it will severe all financial ties with MySpace. That would be a bad business decision and Google doesn’t make many of those!

While many social networking pundits attribute Facebook’s ongoing success to its connectivity rather than its content, I still contend that “content is king” and social networking sites built around user-generated content are great investment opportunities. After all, status updates, pithy wall comments and photo tagging tend to “get old” quickly after a few months.

While the possible loss of Google’s annual cash infusion will hurt MySpace, I don’t think that MySpace is on its “deathbed” yet and rumors of its demise are premature. The social networking universe is vast and niche networks—not large unfocused ones—will ultimately prosper because of targeted advertising and other business opportunities. That said, I believe there will always be a place for MySpace in the social networking world.

Until next time...

Good Luck and Good Networking!!!!!!!!!!

5 tips on dealing with CIRCUMSTANCES

There is a winner and loser within every person. Sometimes, no matter how much effort you put in winning, you end up losing and sometimes without even additional effort you end up on a winning note. I believe what differentiates in life is when you have won and when you have lost than what you have won and what you have lost. While my brain ponders over the sentence I have written, let me write few lines about my previous post. I want to thank the people close to my heart for being so supportive and accepting me like always. I promise that I would never let you down.

Alright, back to the discussion, I see that my life is getting directed towards a strange path. Like most of us, even I am victim of circumstances. When the circumstances are favorable, we let it control our life and when circumstances are not in favor, we start complaining about life. So, instead of complaining, I wanted to design a strategy so that I come out of the troubles and be a winner in life. But then, if it was so easy, every Tom Dick and Harry would have been successful in life. That’s when I thought, is there any generic way of dealing with circumstances? And this is what I have found.

1. Ask yourself about all the things you have done wrong which people are not aware of.

2. Nine of ten times, troubles in life are due to getting caught about something you have done in past. Make sure that everyone close to you is aware of your darkest secrets. So, when they come to know about it from others, they won’t leave you.

3. Make sure that you analyze circumstances in life as much scientifically as possible. There are lot many things in life that can be defined using probabilities/numbers. But there will be few critical situations in life where you have to listen to your “heart”. And when you do that, make sure you let people know that you have taken that decision listening to your “heart”.

4. Opening up on discussions is very critical in life. Make sure you communicate what you are to all the people around you including your parents, relatives, friends, etc. At the same time, try to understand their needs. Analyze scientifically about your capabilities in helping and loving them.

5. We all are human beings and there is nothing called “perfection”. It only depends on how you are viewing a person. Therefore, when you find out something wrong in others. Don’t react like that person has betrayed you, help them in coming out of it because everyone needs support during bad times. Relationships are meant for supporting each other.

As of now, this is the best I can think of. And I am making a huge attempt in getting all five of them. Let’s see how far this leads me to!

Physical meaning of orthogonality of wave functions...

During wave spreading at the water surface, the waves are orthogonal, when they doesn't intefere, i.e. when coming from mutally perpendicular directions. For example the electrons of the opposite spin numbers, occupying the very same energy level (orbital) around atom. When these wave functions of these two electrons aren't orhogonal, they coincide and the probaility of one particle is complement of the other one.

Some old grudge....

Thanekars. These people exist for the sole reason of existing. This city is surely well embedded in the history of Maharashtra, right from the times of the Portuguese and Maratha empire. It also saw its glory days in the times of the Peshwa dynasty, and maybe all this cause of this place called Ghodbunder. Going literally by the Marathi translation, Ghod means HORSE and Bunder means PORT. It was a place where the finest breeds of horses from all over the world, were off loaded from ships, and sent to traders all over Maharashtra. Literally, ain't that a refreshing piece of history.

Any Thane-kar reading this will boast about this glory forever. Duh!

*Chop chop chop*

This city is cruel. It gave me the best 8 years of my life, or so do I say. I mean its an amazing place, considering it has grown from a quaint port town, to what can be deemed as a extended arm of the teeming financial metropolis of Mumbai. And the credit for this goes, to the massive out crop of residential projects in this city. Every nook and cranny is being filled with high rise buildings. Are they done with the Rustomjee Builders and Hiranandani Meadows projects yet? If am not wrong, HDIL and Lokhandwala are squeezing in too.

But truly the Yeoor part of the town maybe all quiet and fancy with its pleasant and cool surroundings, but the true heart of the city is the old part of Thane. The part near the station. Brahman Society, Charai, Talaopali, Gaon-devi, Ghantali, Paanchpakhadhi and all. Just love these places. They maybe in the heart of the city, but they truly reflect the beauty and elegance of Thane.

Ah! Let me come to the main point now, enough of a residential guide of Thane. The people in this city. What grudge do they have against me?

Poking my eye in that umbrella shop, whacking with a gourd on my cheek, stepping on my foot, little tot Thanekars pulling the decoratives on my bag * One brat yanked off the Milan badge, as I was talking to Ojas on phone. Disgusting kid. *, pushing-pulling....

Thats what I mean. I have a complaint now. I mean on Sunday, this city is truly cruel. It maybe the shopping weekend, but people would go to any lengths to harm me. I write this entry on my blog, especially for these uncouth shoppers.

They can bloody whack the hell out of you.

Punekars, I owe you this one too. You are famed for your pathetic street mannerisms, and I attest the fact that YOU'LL SUCK at courtesy too. If I were to go to a tekdi for a stroll, one friendly aunty tells me of some girl who was molested there 2 days back. How does that affect me? If I ask for misal paav, all I get is a stupid usal chi bhaaji and Wibs ka bread slices. C'mon do these people really live in a rat hole?

Then coming to the other things, they are the worst shoppers. Yes, really worse than Thane-kars. One back swing, and that aaji's samai in Tulshi baug, landed on my eye. Does hitting youngsters really turn them on?

Mumbaikars, you'll are no less. Let me have no grudges against you, but your trains suck. They juice the life out of anyone.

Anyways, I'm too bored to write further...

Facebook integrates with Xbox Live

Facebook has just announced integration with Xbox Live at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles this morning. Now, users can can update their status, post photos, and play games with friends directly within Xbox Live.

In addition, Electronic Arts announced that Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010 would integrate Facebook Connect on Xbox when it is released this fall, marking the first Facebook Connect integration on a gaming console ever. Now, users can link their Xbox Live GamerTag to their Facebook profile and play Xbox games with Facebook friends through Facebook Connect, as well as easily post screenshots from the game directly to Facebook.

Ever since the Facebook Platform launched two years ago, Facebook has become an increasingly important platform for online game developers. Entirely new companies have been built on the back of the Facebook Platform, like Playfish, Zynga, and SGN, that are creating the next generation of social games.

However, today’s announcement shows Facebook’s potential as a content distribution channel that could actually lead to more viral growth for games on other platforms. Facebook’s Gareth Davis, hired to head up the company’s relationships with the gaming industry, is presumably talking with other platforms about similar integrations that could come soon.

Photo Courtesy- GIZMODO

The Curious Case of Juande Ramos. * late posting, was to be posted before Madrid- Liverpool UCL tie*

Few in England would have agreed with Rafael Benitez's assertion that Juande Ramos was a "great manager" in the wake of his unceremonious departure from Tottenham in October.

Having overseen the worst ever start to a league season at White Hart Lane, Ramos was ridiculed by many as Spurs failed to build on their early promise with a series of inept performances from players seemingly lacking direction.

Two months into the campaign and, having disposed of manager Bernd Schuster, Real Madrid came calling as they looked for someone to rescue a rapidly sinking ship - and rescue it Ramos has.

"Real Madrid were in complete confusion and chaos," Spanish journalist Guilleme Ballague told BBC Sport. "Juande Ramos has become the only stable hand in it."

He joined with Real fifth in La Liga - nine points adrift of leaders Barcelona - but since his one and only defeat away at the Nou Camp, Ramos has guided Madrid to nine straight league victories, culminating in Sunday's 6-1 mauling of Real Betis.
If the six-month appointment was initially met by a sense of bewilderment - the man himself even admitted his surprise - his reputation in Spain remained undiminished and has been further enhanced by his start at the Bernabeu.

"I think Spurs have lost a huge opportunity to have one of the best managers in the world," added Balague. "He has a prestige in Spain which is much bigger than the one he has left in England and he has a prestige all over the world.

"He was a surprise, but he was available and he had the approval of the key members of the squad of Real Madrid.

"They all knew what he had done at Sevilla, always getting the best out of what was available and always doing it with offensive football.

"In a way it was an easy choice, but certainly a surprising one."

Pre-Ramos, Madrid would have been an attractive proposition for any potential opposition and Liverpool fans could have been forgiven for rubbing their hands in delight when Benitez's side drew them in the last 16 of the Champions League in December.

However, with Wednesday's first leg looming, a side that once leaked goals for fun has now conceded just two since that defeat to Barca in December.

"I was pretty sure when the draw was made that if things didn't drastically change at Real Madrid, then they would not have had a chance," former Liverpool striker Michael Robinson, now a leading football presenter on Spanish television, told BBC Sport.

"I'm not making Liverpool out to be the greatest team in Europe, because they're not.

"But Real Madrid, before Juande got hold of them, were awful - properly awful.

"Now things have changed.

"Juande Ramos came in and has put some order and structure to the team, making it a team that doesn't let in so many goals and from that platform the side is trying to grow."

A mean defence now has a razor sharp attack to compliment it, as 10 goals in their last two games testifies, and the influence Ramos has had on the players is clear.

Under Schuster, Real "didn't train, they had no strategy, no conversation and no tactics - there was nothing," said Balague. It is a damning indictment of where Real were.

But Ramos and his backroom team have swiftly moved to change that culture with an entirely new approach, including vastly improved training regimes, and it appears to be paying dividends.

"He has done a series of things to change Real Madrid," continued Balague.

"First, psychologically he looked into what was wrong with the side and realised that people like (Fabio) Cannavaro, (Gabriel) Heinze and Raul - all experienced players - needed an arm around the shoulder and told they are very good.

"Secondly he had to improve the defence and once that was sorted the rest was going to come on its own.

"He also implemented more physical training, almost like a pre-season, with the idea of peaking just about now - you can see the benefits."

Such success in a short amount of time gives credence to those who never doubted Ramos' ability, so why did he fail so spectacularly at Tottenham?

His supporters will point to the north London club re-signing the likes of Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane, two players Ramos was reluctant to let go during his time in charge, while his detractors will mention the language barrier, resulting in communication problems on and off the pitch.

"There are so many reasons," said Balague. "He identified problems with the team and players that had to be signed, but the people in charge did not always follow his decision.

"The obsession of the club seems to be more the business than improving and becoming a top four club and some players acted behind his back.

"He is also partly to blame because he didn't understand the British football culture which, now looking with hindsight, he realises he probably could have done things a little bit differently."

It remains to be seen whether Ramos will stay beyond his current six-month deal, even if he is successful in bringing some silverware to Madrid.

Elections for the vacant presidency are due to take place in June and a new president is likely to want to bring his own man, although it will be difficult for any candidate to ignore the impact Ramos has made.

However, if he were to leave there would be no shortage of offers for his services and even a reunion with the Premier League may not seem as far fetched as it did a few months ago.