Thursday, October 29, 2009

Female Force - Princess Diana comic'ized'

Princess Diana has become the latest Heroine of  "Female Force", a US series of biographical comic series. The American Political Heavy Weights like Caroline Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Condoleeza Rice, Sarah Palin have also featured as Heroines for Female Force.

The Female Force Princess Diana features the memorable events from the life of Princess of Wales who has been the most admirable British Icon and won the hearts of millions around the World as Princess, Celebrity and the Philanthropist. The comics potrays the late princesses in very positive light and also potrays the more painful private moments in her life.


Well,can't wait to get hold of one and run thru it. All the fans of Princess Diana just grab one copy and go at it.
Image Courtesy: http://www.bluewaterprod.com

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

My Ideal Work Place - Top 50 Most Attractive Employers


Universum, the Employer Branding Company has presented the World's Top 50 most attractive employers. From the World's Leading Economies nearly 120,000 students at top academic institutions are surveyed to choose their ideal companies to work for. The Global Rankings are based on the Employer Preference of the students from India, China, Japan, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain, US and Canada. This is the first Global Index of Employer attractiveness and highlights the World's Most Powerful Employer Brands, those companies that excel in talent attraction and retention.

The well-known and World-known German companies BMW, Siemens, Bayer were listed in the top 50. Despite Economic Crisis and debacle in the Automotive Industry, BMW topped at the 4th position.



The result of survey is as below:

Global Top 50 Business

Company
Ranking 2009
Google
1
PricewaterhouseCoopers
2
Microsoft
3
Goldman Sachs
4
Ernst & Young
5
Procter & Gamble
6
J.P. Morgan
7
KPMG
8
McKinsey & Company
9
Deloitte
10
The Boston Consulting Group
11
BMW
12
Coca-Cola
13
L'Oréal
14
Morgan Stanley
15
Sony
16
IBM
17
Johnson & Johnson
18
Deutsche Bank
19
General Electric
20
Citigroup
21
HSBC
22
Accenture
23
Nestlé
24
Credit Suisse
25
Bain & Company
26
Unilever
27
UBS
28
Nokia
29
Intel
30
Esso/ExxonMobil
31
Kraft Foods
32
Shell
33
Hewlett-Packard
34
Mars (Masterfoods)
35
Pfizer
36
Siemens
37
Philips
38
Oracle
39
Bayer
40
Philip Morris
41
DHL
42
BP
43
Bosch
44
Cisco
45
Daimler
46
Ericsson
47
ABB
48
Novartis
49
Schlumberger
50

Global Top 50 Engineering

Company
Ranking 2009
Google
1
Microsoft
2
IBM
3
BMW
4
Intel
5
General Electric
6
Sony
7
Siemens
8
Shell
9
Procter & Gamble
10
Johnson & Johnson
11
Hewlett-Packard
12
Cisco
13
Esso/ExxonMobil
14
McKinsey & Company
15
Schlumberger
16
BP
17
L'Oréal
18
Nokia
19
Accenture
20
Coca-Cola
21
Philips
22
Goldman Sachs
23
Nestlé
24
Pfizer
25
Bosch
26
The Boston Consulting Group
27
J.P. Morgan
28
Deloitte
29
Morgan Stanley
30
GlaxoSmithKline
31
Ericsson
32
Ernst & Young
33
ABB
34
Bayer
35
Unilever
36
PricewaterhouseCoopers
37
Deutsche Bank
38
HSBC
39
Kraft Foods
40
Bain & Company
41
Citigroup
42
Alcatel-Lucent
43
Daimler
44
Novartis
45
Mars (Masterfoods)
46
KPMG
47
Credit Suisse
48
DHL
49
UBS
50
The companies that find themselves in these ranking should count themselves as more fortunate as the appeal among the academics is increasingly becoming added advantage to the employers as it is predicted that sooner or later there may be a dearth of qualified professionals.
Excerpts from: http://universumglobal.com/IDEAL-Companies-Rankings/Global-Top-50-Rankings

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

When do I get vacinated for Swine Flu?

At last there is some relief from Swine Flu scare which has been declared as a pandemic across the globe. In Germany around 23,000 people are infected with swine flu and it  is predicted to spread further this Autumn and Winter. Three people have already  succumbed to this deadly  H1N1 virus.

 
As a measure several German states have already started with vaccinations against Swine Flu on 26th October 2009.

Who will get vaccinated in the First phase of Immunization?
  • Medical Workers - as they come in contact with more H1N1 Infected people
  • Police Officers 
  • Fire Workers
  • People suffering from Chronic diseases like Asthma, Diabetes etc.
  • Pregnant  woman
  • Pop Stars who travel a lot and perform with huge crowds.


I am a normal person, When can I get Vaccination?
The Normal Public will have to wait till the end of Novemeber to get vaccinated.


Who will pay for the Vaccinations?
According to http://www.neuegrippe.bund.de  and http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/ischgkvlv/index.html, the expenses are born by the private and public insurances one is insured with. So no worries of burning out your pockets.

Whom should I contact for vaccinations?
NRW: 0180-310 02 10
Rheinland Pfalz: 06131-16 52 00
Saarland:  0681-501 36 94 and 0681-501 36 95
Sachsen: 030-346465100 (http://www.gesunde.sachsen.de/5786.html)
Sachsen-Anhalt: 0391-537 71 11
Schleswig-Holstein: 0431-160 66 66
Thüringen: 0361-37 74 30 99
Baden-Württemberg: 01805-633 22 5
Bayern: 089-31 56 01 01
Bremen: 0421-36114444 (Bremerhaven: 0471-59614444)
Hamburg: 040-428 37 37 95
Hessen: 0800-440 05 50
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: www.regierung-mv.de
Niedersachsen: 0511-450 55 55

Contact the above Hotlines for more information on Vaccination Program in your state. You can also contact your Local Health Office (Gesundheitsamt).

I think this step towards Swine flu has a got a sign of relief in people and a new hope to beat the H1N1 virus. Yet there seem to be growing unwillingness to get vaccinated in Germany because of rumored risks associated with it. According to one survey every one-fifth is unwilling to get vaccinated. But dont believe in rumors, vaccination is a must for everyone though it is left to the individuals discretion.

The famous adage goes this way:
"Prevention is better than Cure"

References: www.bild.de
                    www.thelocal.de

Saturday, October 24, 2009

I'm a Chakkr - the Courier Wheel

You all might have known that taxation system of Germany is the most complicated in the World. I do really cannot follow it, and I see how much my hubby struggles to get our tax declarations done. Well, not only the language does hurt you a lot, but also the ever-changing the taxation rules add to the complications. I really wonder if even the people who work in Finance Offices (Finanzamt) are aware of all the rules.

We shell out almost 40% of what we earn every month, yes indeed Germany's income tax rate is the highest in the World, we try here and there to get some tax returns. There are lots of things for which you can claim a little portion of tax back, yet with different clauses and regulations which I think even the one who framed those might not understand on the whole. Recently, we ran thru some tax hurdles of which one of them is the "Family Maintenace Support" (Unterhaltungserklärung) for which we needed to produce a "Family Maintenance Support Certificate" (Unterhaltungsbescheinigung) duly signed by the Head of your place of residence in your country of permanent residence or nationality. Infact for our tax declarations we did produce one but was sent back stating it was unacceptable and we need to get a new one duly signed by the Head of District of your place of residence in your country. We have to respond to this request from Finance Office within a stipulated period until then our tax declarations are not processed further and if we do fail to respond, the "Family Maintenance Support" returns would be scrapped from our declaration.

By the time, we could understand what we have to do from our tax consultant our deadline was nearing, then CHAKKR came to our rescue. We heard about Chakkr from our frens here who has already tried and very quite satified with it.



Chakkr, basically is a network of people whereby you can either offer a courier service or seek a courier service for some minimal price left at the discretion of the individuals. We quickly enrolled thru it and we browsed thru the courier offers and fortunately enough we found someone flying from Düsseldorf to India offered to be a Courier. We contacted him who offered us to help with a minimal price and well we handed our certificate to him and whom my family did contact in India and took the certificate from him. We could also manage to find a courier offer from Bangalore to Düsseldorf. Pefect, we got our signed in certificate much faster than normal postal and courier services yet cheaper.

Now we are also Chakkrs. Chakkr has indeedly helped us a lot and it is more reliable and fast. I believe Chakkr indeed is doing a great job, it does not only help us our courier services get done much faster and cheaper, it also helping us build a network and earn the satisfaction of helping someone and also earn a few bucks.

Well, frens, as an ardent follower of Chakkr, I do really advise you to be CHAKKRS, yet atelast try it out. It is not only for India, it is for everyone and everywhere around the globe. Be a Chakkr and build your network.

http://www.chakkr.com/

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Politically (in)Correct words of 2009

The Global Language Monitor included "Swine Flu", the words the whole World is scared about, in its top 10 most politically (in)correct words and phrases of 2009.

The top 10 Politically Correct Words and Phrases of 2009 are:

1. Swine Flu - Though millions know the current pandemic as Swine Flu, the various governments and agencies for political motives ranging from protecting pork producers to religious sensitivity have chosen to call the virus by its formal name, influenza A(H1N1).

2. Flush Toilet - Green Movement has made Flush Toilets, Toiler Paer and Toilet use more watchful.

3. Green Revolution - Green Revolution gained popularity because many believe that the world has paid a s "stiff price in environmental degaradation".

4. Minority - Talking about minorities is considered insensitive to minorities since this can make them feel, well, like minorities.

5. Saint - In addition to the word "saint", 'bishop', 'chapel'. and 'Pentecost' Oxford has removed these words from the Junior Dictionary.

6. Politically Correct – The term politically correct has, itself, is now politically correct, Be careful how you use it.

7. Oriental – In the US considered offensive to Asians because the term is based on the geographic relationship of Asia from a Western perspective. In Europe (and in most Asian nations), however, Oriental is acceptable.

8. Founding Fathers – Though all the Signers of the American Declaration of Independence were men, this is considered sexists in some quarters. Founders, please.

9. Black Sheep – Though originally referring to the rare birth of a lamb with black fur, now considered ethnically insensitive; the same is true for Black Day, Conversely, terms like White Collar and Whiter than White all can be used to encourage a hierarchical value of skin tone.

10. Senior Citizen – In the name of ‘inclusiveness,’ the UK’s Loughborough University’s suggests replacing senior citizen with ‘older person’.

The Top Politically Incorrect Terms and Phrases for previous years include:

    * 2008: “He Can’t Win” – Hillary Clinton’s coded reference to Barack Obama’s ethnic background as an insurmountable impediment to him winning the US Presidency

    * 2007: Nappy-headed Ho — Radio personality Don Imus’ reference to the women on the Rutgers University championship basketball team.

    * 2006: Global Warming Denier – Scientists not denying climate change, but the role of humans in the millennia-old process.

    * 2005: Misguided Criminals – A BBC commentator attempts to strip away all emotion from the word ‘terrorist’ by using ‘neutral’ descriptions for those who carried out the 7/7 tube bombings.

    * 2004: Master/Slave computer jargon – LA County re-labels computer documentation to remove this alleged slur that has been used for decades describing computer hierarchies.


Sunday, October 18, 2009

Nefertiti is back at its Home in Berlin after 70 years

The World's most admired statue of Nefertiti, the Queen of Egypt,  is finally back in its Neues Museum, Berlin, its original home in Germany after 70 years. The statue is 3500 years old and already has a missing eye, despite it is admired all over the world for its elegance and exact symmetry of her face and long swan-like neck.


Nefertiti was discovered in 1912 in Egypt and was brought to Neues Museum in Berlin. Due to bombings during World War II, it was moved to safety in Harz Mountains of Central Germany. After the World War, Americans seized the Bust and moved it to Frankfurt and finally ending up a Central Warehouse of Weisbaden State Museum. In 1956, it was moved back to Berlin, but not to its original home Neues Museum as it was destroyed a lot during the war. It was placed in Dahlem Museum, Berlin. In 1967, it was moved to Egytian Museum at Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin. It was also moved to Berlin's ultramodern Postdamer Platz and then to Altes Musuem of Berlin before it reached back to its renovated Neues Museum.

Neues Museum is open for public and hopefully we dont want to miss the chance of marvelling the beauty of Nefertiti once we visit Berlin again.
http://www.neues-museum.de/

Image Courtesy: www.spiegel.de

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Frankfurt Book Fair 2009 - Printed Words or Virtual Worlds

The Frankfurt Book Fair has already started (14th October) and shall last till 18th October, 2009 in Frankfurt. You may be wondering what`s so special about Frankfurt Book Fair though Book Fairs are organized in many countries. Yet the Frankfurt Book Fair is very unique and the biggest and well very special as Germany, which we may all know or may not be everyone, is where the first printing machines were invented by Gutenberg. (http://www.frankfurt-book-fair.com/en/fbf/general/)
 

This year 6900 exhibitors from around 100 countries have gathered in Frankfurt, yet these figures are smaller compared to the last year, well for the obvious resons of  "the great economic crisis". Well, there is one more reason, the virtual world. Nowadays more and more shift is towards the digital media. Ebooks and Kindle have been dominating the traditional paper books, yes why not, when we do spend most of the time on the PCs and our smartphones which are capable of rendering the ebooks, and obviously we may feel more comfortable using these gadgets than to carrying the bulky paper books. And also Amazon Kindle has been getting much popularity.

Despite all these, yet I feel comfortable reading those bulky paper books, probably I am used to them. May be things change sooner or later. Well, how about you, what are you comfortable of?

I am hereby posting an opinion poll, please post your opinion in the comments :-)

How do you prefer to read your favorite Book or Books?
Printed Paper Book
Ebook on Ebook Readers (Kindle etc)
Ebook on PC/Notebook
Ebook on Smartphone






Please donot forget to leave your comments with your opinion.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Floods in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka - Flood Relief - Help - Donate

The worst floods in 100 years has devasted most of South Andhra Pradesh and North Karnataka. The floods have created a massive havoc leading to the death of more than 250 people in Andhra Pradesh and around 200 people in Karnataka and rendered more than 3 million people homeless. There was death and destruction in those regions.

The governments of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have appealed for help from individuals and NGOs to rebuild the devasted areas and provide a new hope for the people affected.

I am hereby posting some of the links whereby you can contribute in aiding those affected towards flood relief.

For those living in India:
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Relief Fund:

Karnataka NGOs:
Sochara:

            1. Community Health Cell (CHC - SOCHARA), 
              85/2, Ist Main, Maruthi Nagara,
              Madiwala, Bengaluru – 560068 

              (Contact: Pushpa, 9449870223);
              Email : solidarity@sochara.org 
           2. Janarogya Andolana Karnataka (JAAK),
                Bangalore.
                (Contact: Obalesh, 9740524128); 

                Email: jaaksecretariat@gmail.com
           3. Association for India’s Development (AID), 

                Bangalore
                Contact: Prasanna Saligram 9916937280, 

                             Guru : 9845294184),
                Email: prasanna_aid@yahoo.com           

Headstreams:

       1. Headstreams, 
         2200, HAL II Stage, 5 E Cross, 
         17 A Main, Bangalore – 560 008
         (Contact: Naveen Thomas, 9342858056, 080-25200318), 

         Email: naveen@headstreams.org
    

For those living in India and Overseas:
Aid India:
http://www.eurekachild.org/andhra-karnataka-flood/ 

Aid India Collection Points in India:
     * Hyderabed
          o Srihari D - +91-9390002143 - sriharidu@gmail.com
            Kiran V - +91-9701705743 - kiranvissa@gmail.com
            Suresh D - +91-9703654585
     * Bengaluru
          o Sathish Sundaram - +91-9900505975

            sathish.sundaram@gmail.com
     * Secunderabad: 
           134A East Marredpally,
           Secunderabad - 500026
           Contact: Vidya J @ 9394006036


    Sewa USA:
    Please do help as much as you can. I shall appreciate your inputs in further updating this list.

    Monday, October 5, 2009

    I am Farmer on Farmville-Facebook, Are you?

    Despite being a keen fan of social networking, I was never much busy on facebook as I am now. Well, for obvious reasons of the World, I am farming. Yes, I am a farmer on Farmville, a popular online game on Facebook. Well, I guess it is not just the case with me for all the hype Farmvilla has generated among Facebook followers across the globe. I never thought Farmville, thou in its Beta version would have such a big impact on my day-to-day activities. Initially, as a novice to it, I was little lacklustre, but once I got a niche over it and the very enthusiasm to surpass my friends (your competitor Farmers), I got glued to it.

    I do make sure, I spend some hours ploughing, seeding, harvesting and investing the money i earn to extend and decorate my farm. Since every harvest needs some specific time duration depending upon the type of crop you grow, I arrange my daily activities. If I fail to harvest in time, my crops may rot. So I do adjust my daily activities accordingly to the harvest schedules and I do schedule the harvests depending on my availability. Well, it sounds like I am freaked about Farmville.

    I know this has been a rage with many. Today, I read one article on Farmville which highlights how much it has engrossed the lives of young Indians, just read it here to know its impact and also read it if you dont know what Farmville is all about :-)

    http://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/2009/oct/051009-fyi-work-farmville-facebook.htm

    http://www.farmville.com/

    Why dont you share your experiences? By the way i reached level 24 in Farmville :-). Which level are you?

    Saturday, October 3, 2009

    Third October - Germany Reunification Day - Re-enacting Reunification using Puppets

    3rd October is celebrated as "Tag Der Deutschen Einheit", German Reunification Day. On 3rd October 1990 East Germany has been reunited with West Germany and marked the fall of famous Berlin Wall (Berliner Mauer) which separated East and West Germany.

    18 years now yet there are vast differences in East and Western parts of Federal Republic of Germany. The East complaints about the indifferences showed by West and West complaints about too much favoritism showed towards East. Western Germans shell about 5.5 % of Solidarity surcharge towards taxes on their income to support the development of East Germany. Offlate there has been quite a lot of frustration both in East and West for their own differences (economic crisis could also be a factor). Well, still it is an open question, were the East and the West prepared for re-unification? Definitely it does take time for both the parts to be perfectly re-united given that they give-up their differences and change their attitudes towards each other.

    This year, to mark the re-unification celebrations, a spectacular Puppet parade re-enacting the reunification has been led thru the streets of Berlin. One puppet, 5.5mts height and 800 kgs has been efficintly controlled and made not only to walk but ride scooter and a boat. One other puppet, 9.5mts height and 2.5 tons has been depicted as a deep-sea diver.

    The two puppets depict the following tale: Terrible events have torn a city in two and caused one part of the city to be walled in. The big puppet is stuck in the west of the city, and the smaller one in the east. The big puppet drags a dormant geyser along the riverbed and places it under a wall. Then it ignites the geyser to let it break down the city's barrier and allow the puppets to reunite.










    The puppets are made so realistic and very efficiently enacted with emotions too. Watch the vidoes:
    Video 1:


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnP-CyfUuxo

    Video 2:


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1jQcVfwnyg

    Image Courtesy and Excerpts from: www.spiegel.de