Sunday, February 27, 2011

Gas Price going up

Current gas price in USA is all time high for last six years; for the month of Feb.
The shock wave of the unrest in the Afro-arab region has come to usa in the form of the increase in gas prices.
I wish there was a closed form equation for everything!

If you are wondering what is the gas price near your location head to http://gasbuddy.com/


If you look into the trend chart [here] you can only imagine the gas price for this summer!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Give up and declare victory!

Freaky TriggerYes, sometime it is just easy to let it go.
I can remember a lot of times bugging myself down to not giving up.

When you try your best, and still can not get it done... give up and declare the victory!

http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2008/12/11/the-best-way-to-solve-a-problem-give-up/

"The one who gains the most is the one who lost the most, at the least s/he gains the experiences"
-IDK


Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Google has not lost it yet!

Today's Online world seems to be dominated by the blue facebook button. Nearly all the pages seem to have the F button. Is Facebook going to be the ultimate name for internet?


Wait for it, google has not lost it yet.
Google has so many products it can combine and use. However, they are fragmented all over the place.
  • Two years ago I stopped using picasa, as it was nearing the quota limit. Well, facebook has no limit I guess...
  • Youtube is still the best video sharing site... it does have annoying advertisements at unexpected places. (I wonder the CTR for such video-ads.)
  • "I signed up for Email in Gmail not for buzz"... that was my own feeling when I was surprised. Because myGmail was intended for Email. That scenario can be changed by promoting google account system.
  • Google social toolbar for website can do so much more than like button of facebook... I suppose.
  • Yahoo group will close down soon, Google group has to get the root before facebook group gets it.
  • etc etc...
Now it seems that google is also trying to bring the products like picasa, buzz, gmail, search, youtube, and other google's services under one profile.
Let the Giants collide!!!

Inspired by:
http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/16/google-new-toolbar/
http://techcrunch.com/2011/02/17/google-social-search/


Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Google Credit cards Comparison

Google's search engine has nice feature to compare the competitive credit cards in USA.

https://www.google.com/comparisonads/uscredit

Recently Lifehacker also did a user survey on the best credit card. Amazon.com/Chase credit card pulled out to be the best.
Amazon.com $25 Gift Card (0108)

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Cracking the code

If you like solving problems, you will like this:
http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/01/ff_lottery/all/1
There must be some algorithm behind the scratch games sold in stores. Here is one story of how a mathematician/statistician solved the puzzle. Not all of the tickets are meant to win and vice versa.   The trick is to search for the code that lays behind generating the winning lottery tickets. 




Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Year Twenty Eleven: The year of DominoDemocracy ?

Blame it on social media or internet, the wave is there. The movement is quite different in the sense that the crowd is driving the energy. The leaders are trying to catch up onto the wave.
The wave is spread across the northern african-arab region.
What does this mean? If the domino ripple wipes out the establishments, a new beginning would prevail and no one exactly knows where it will lead the world into.

Detailed report from BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12482291

Oh, by the way, the countries  with less emission of CO2 are the one having trouble. See the CO2 emission map
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CO2_responsibility_1950-2000.svg



Friday, February 11, 2011

Google goes Edison

"Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration."
– Thomas Alva Edison


Google got it right!
A shiny google logo dedicated to Thomas Edison on the occasion of his 164th birthday.


More:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Fraud Email posing as DV/Green Card



Can you tell what is wrong with this Email???


From: U.S. Department of State <gov.states.usa@usa.com>
Date: Tue, Feb 8, 2011 at 5:21 AM
Subject: U.S. Department of State - Permanent Resident Card for Your Name
To: Your Name  /Email
 U.S. Department of State sent this message to Your Name
Your registered name is included to show this message originated from U.S. Department of State.
Congratulations, you've won !

Dear Your Name,

Congratulations ! You are among those randomly selected and registered for further consideration in the diversity immigrant program. Selection guarantees that
you will receive a United States Permanent Resident Card(also known as Green Card or Diversity Visa) only if you follow the instructions for further processing.



Acceptance Date:
Tuesday 8th of February 2011 01:21:02 PM


Winner Name:
Your Name


Country of Birth:
Nepal


Phone Number:
977-- 5555555




Is the Diversity Visa FREE ?
No. There is a big confusion. Only the participation in the Diversity Visa Lottery was free but the winners must pay the visa processing fees.
The fee is used to process your visa related documents and verify your identity.
Type of Residence Card
Status
Amount (per person)
United States Permanent Resident Card
Granted! - Waiting for payment of processing fee
$684

Processing fees
Included
Total
$684


INSTRUCTIONS
Please read and follow all the instructions very carefully. With the Diversity Visa (also known as Green Card) you will enjoy all the advantages and benefits of a US permanent resident, including health and education benefits, and employment opportunities along with guidance in your new country, orientation sessions and programs to integrate into mainstream American society. Once received you can use it at any time you want to move in the United States or just travel. The visa must be renewed after 10 years.
Although you will have all the rights that a U.S. citizen has in the United States, without a relative or friend in the United States you may find the relocation difficult and expensive due the lack of experience in the American society. Therefore the U.S. Government helps you with the accommodation and offers you along with each visa Health Insurance (Freedom HSA Direct Individual Health insurance for 1 year),Dwelling(Apartment in any city you prefer, 1 bedroom for 3 months ), a guaranteed job(in the field that you are are currently qualified so you can start working even from the first week you arrive in the United States and get paid as U.S citizen. ) and education (for U.S. Students or Higher Education through EducationUSA. It includes transfer to a U.S college or Univeristy so you can continue your educational study. More details can be found at http://educationusa.state.gov/ .)
We remind you that only the visa processing fee ($684) is mandatory and the visa is guaranteed upon receiving the payment.

Accompanying family members(wife/husband, fiancee, brothers, sisters, children, cousins) may be included in the program and their visas will be provided at the same time with yours so you can travel/move together in the same time. However the fees must be paid per person and each member(e.g wife, brother, parents, children, cousin) must pay $684. There is no discount for children.

Visa Payment processing instructions

The fees must be paid using Western Union money transfer and will be processed by the U.S. embassy in the United Kingdom.
Western Union is a leading provider of International person-to-person money transfer. With more than 150 years experience and 245,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories, Western Union is recognized for sending money quickly, reliably, and safety.
You can send the payment in U.S. dollars or equivalent of your local currency.

Click on the following link to find the nearest Western Union agency and send the fees payment :
If you are unable to find a Western Union agency near your location, you may ask a relative or friend to pay the fee on your behalf.

After you find a Western Union agency you need to go with cash money, an identity card(e.g passport or national identity card) and send the payment to the U.S. embassy agent address in United Kingdom:

Name : Robert Twin
Address: 24 Grosvenor Square
London, W1A 2LQ
United Kingdom

The payment must be sent to the above U.S. embassy agent address in United Kingdom because the U.S. Government decided this based on the diplomatic relations with your country.After you send the payment follow the next steps :a) Email copy/scan of the Western Union receipt at gov.state.usa@usa.com
b) Email at gov.state.usa@usa.com with the following details (you can find them on the money transfer receipt): 

1) Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN):
2) Exact sender's name on file with Western Union:
3) Exact sender's address on file with Western Union:
4) Exact receiver's name on file with Western Union:
5) Amount sent:

Then wait for the confirmation that the payment was received.

Within 72 hours, you will receive a confirmation via email with your Case Number/Confirmation Number and exact date and time(approx. 2 days) of the final interview. Upon successful interview you will receive your documents and travel information to move in the United States. Under no circumstances your visa status won't be affected by the interview.