Happy Birthday Twitter

On the 21st of March 2006, Jack Dorsey sent the first public tweet into the world (“just setting up my twttr”). Can you believe that was 6 years ago yesterday?

Dorsey was evidently one of the key people in the early days of Twitter, and today he still serves as the company’s executive chairman and product lead, combining the job with his role as CEO of Square (another company he co-founded).

His ‘twttr’ tweet was the first of several billions, and counting.

Fun facts: it took Twitter 3 years, 2 months and 1 day to reach the first billion tweets, and it took about 18 months for the first 500,000 users to sign up.

Twitter-the-company has obviously come a long way since Dorsey published the first tweet on ‘Twttr’, as it was known back then, and today some estimate that 500 million people use its real-time information and social networking service today. I’m skeptical about those estimates but they shouldn’t be too far off the real number.

Last time Twitter itself shared the number of registered users for the service was in April 2011, when they announced that more than 200 million people had signed up.

Twitter says ‘more than’ 100 million users were active in 2011. That number is most certainly higher today, but it’s been a while since Twitter has provided updated numbers. Here’s to hoping their 6th birthday will be an excuse for doing just that.

Last October, Twitter did say they were seeing 250 million tweets per day, a number that’s likely also higher presently.

The service still sees massive spikes from big ‘watercooler’ events like the Super Bowl,the Grammys and Super Tuesday.

Over the years, Twitter has matured and made an impact in the areas of politics, sports, media, and more. But what about, you know, making money from it?

According to eMarketer, Twitter’s advertising revenue is to triple by 2014, hitting over $540 million (up from an estimated $260 million this year).

Recently, the company has been paying close attention to the different ways it canderive revenues from all those tweeters. Twitter has also recently added more languages and acquired blogging software maker Posterous.

However, with rising headcount costs (over 900 employees today, up from about 400 last year) and costly infrastructure and operations, the company is still reportedly losing a ton of money after its first 6 years in business.

We’ll be watching closely what happens next. But today, we raise our glasses to Twitter and wish them a very happy birthday, and many years to come.

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Kahaani : A must watch movie

Vidya Baghchi's (Balan) husband Arnab has gone missing and she arrives in Kolkata, seven months pregnant and desperate to find him. The cops at the Kalighat police station are thrown and initially dismiss Vidya's case as one of a husband having fled after knocking up his wife. Vidya finds a friend in rookie officer Rana (Parambrata Chattopadhyay), who helps her piece together a trail that she hopes will lead to Arnab. But the hunt turns deadly when Vidya and Rana discover clues that hold answers to other unsolved mysteries, that are fiercely being kept under wraps.

As the packaged water-guzzling, bellied protagonist, Vidya turns in another fine performance, segueing from steely determination to quiet desperation with ease. And while several supporting characters comfortably hold their own even when sharing presence with Balan (especially Saswata Chatterjee, who plays Bob Biswas), the one that deserves most mention is the city of Kolkata that plays Vidya's friend, foe and silent spectator while it readies to ring in Durga Puja celebrations. 


But there are a few grouses. One wishes that the movie had subtitles, as there's plenty of Bengali in 'Kahaani' that throws the non-speaking viewer off. This reviewer would have totally missed Tagore's song 'Eka', had she not had some help from another viewer who was Bong. There's an unnecessary love angle that turns Chattopadhyay's character into Balan's simpering sidekick. Also the movie's climatic 'aha!' moment feels like the last chapter of a Nancy Drew novel - where the pieces all magically fall in place, motives are suddenly obvious and the characters are all slapping each others' backs for a job well done instead of looking sheepish about not having figured it out earlier.

What to do?
There's certainly a story, but that alone isn't why you're going to enjoy 'Kahaani'. Go watch it for Vidya, Kolkata and thrills that won't have you gripping the handles, but will keep you glued to the seat anyway.

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Kohli assault powers India to an extraordinary win

Virat Kohli produced a blistering 183 off 148 balls as India notched up their highest run chase ever to register an incredible six-wicket victory over arch rivals Pakistan and keep themselves afloat in the Asia Cup cricket tournament here today. Chasing Pakistan's stiff 329 for six, the Indians rode on Kohli's breath-taking heroics to pull off a sensational victory with 13 balls to spare in a high-voltage contest at the jam-packed Sher-e-Bangla national stadium.
Apart from Kohli's career-best knock, his second century in the tournament, Rohit Sharma (68) and Sachin Tendulkar (52) were the other notable contributors as India eclipsed their highest successful run chase of 326 for eight against England at the Lords in the NatWest Cup final in 2002. It was a stunning assault by the young Kolhi who smashed 22 boundaries and one six while Tendulkar also gave ample display of his vintage form during his knock. Rohit also marked his return to form with some glorious shots. The outstanding batting display by the Indians completely overshadowed the centuries of the two Pakistan openers Nasir Jamshed (112) and Mohammad Hafeez (105) who stitched a record 224-run opening partnership. But their efforts went in vain.


India, whose Asia Cup campaign was thrown into disarray after their upset five-wicket defeat against minnows Bangladesh, will now have to await the result of the last league match between Sri Lanka and Bangladeshon Tuesday. If Sri Lanka wins, India will go into the final but a Sri Lankan defeat will ensure that Bangladesh take on Pakistan in the final on March 22. As per the rules, if two teams are tied on points, head to head record will be considered, so Bangladesh will go into the final as they had beaten India in their league match. 

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Probability Events & Positive Thinking

Human life has so many twists and U turns. We face so many unexpected events in our

life. Sometimes it may bring Positive and sometimes Negative. We have no power on these

events. We can neither predict nor prevent as It occurs spontaneously.Last week I went

to see my friend's mother who was admitted in a hospital for cancer treatment. During our

conversation she frequently asked " why me? ". We have to face these type of questions

frequently in our daily life ,but what is the answer ?

When the events are positive, we enjoy and boast to take the sole responsibility for it,

But when they are negative we ask "Why me?". We frown and feel ourselves a weak one,

Some even take the cowardice decision of suicide to escape from the negative impact of

it.(A report of world health organisation WHO indicates that India has one of the highest

suicide rates in world wide)

Why are these events happening in human life? can we predict or prevent them

Science mentions these Events as "PROBABILITIES". For example,Take some coffee

seeds in a glass and drop them in a floor. The seeds will scatter anomalous. In this action

you can't assume or predict that, how will the seeds scatter? Every seeds scatter in a

different way. Even if you repeat this action, every time the seeds will scatter in a different

way from the previous action. This is "probability".

In science, there are probability theories and maths to assume probability events but they

are not accurate and also you can do probability maths only in the actions which you are

going to do but not on unexpected events.

Actually, In our life we face events unexpectedly. THE birth or death, a profit or loss, friend

or foe, good or bad etc... we don't know, assume, predict or prevent them.

For example, you play volley ball and hit the ball. After your hit, your action will come to an

end. you can't predict accurately that how will the opposite team react? They may block ,

hit forcefully or fail to tackle. That's the main reason, why the games are so interesting!

As in game, in our life also the fate ball may fall in our right side,left side,front or back.

we should always be ready to face it. If you fail because of your fault then try to correct

yourself. If you miss the victory after your excellent performance don't worry that's the

probability. Try to accept the things as it is. Live the life as a game.

If you do not have interest in probability theories of science and you are a spiritual

worm ,then in spiritual view also we have positive attitude. Science only talks about

probability, but it doesn't explain why it is happening in the universe. Science simply

narrates that the man and the universe are the results of an accident, big bang.

All the religions have the faith that, these probability events are pre planned by the

almighty. They believe that, Almighty makes birth and death to trail mankind to show

the world which are good in deeds. So every faith advises human to be patient in the

unexpected events. That's why they are praying "oh God!grant me the serenity to accept

the things which I can't change. Grant me the courage to change the things I can .Grant

me the wisdom to know the difference".

We may accept science or spiritual but be positive always.

-Ibnu Mohamed 

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Recognize Yourself

We were fortunate, we were humans. We were young, we followed everyone. We were a sport, we played a lot. We were eager, we learned a lot. We were loved, we loved. We were indulged in community, we were indulged in comfort. We enjoyed ourselves, we enjoyed companies. We loved self, we loved others. We thought we were great, we thought we thought big. We loved food, we loved life. The more we had the more we wanted. Now we are adults, we don't follow anybody, we are learned, and we are capable. We have a choice. We are still fortunate, we have resources. But we are doing the same we have been doing since our birth – struggling to rise above others.

We have cleared bachelor’s and we have cleared master’s and even we cleared doctor’s, and what we learned was life was about degrees and clearing. We accumulated nothing, we grabbed nothing, we retained nothing, and we swept clear everything that was to be held. We ran for degrees, we ran for numbers, we ran for grades and we forgot to learn. And we developed out of ourselves the breed that understands nothing but logic. And we have become so rational in our approach that we have forgotten imagination. We have forgotten life and have learned “imagination is such a waste of time”.

We have duplicated our own selves everywhere. Individualism is the thing of the past. Everywhere we look we find our replicas. We think the same, we read the same, we listen the same, we look the same. Yes this is globalization: Globalization of humans, where the differences are like the color of skin, hair and clothes; the kind of gadgets we possess, the kind of social community we have joined. Knowledge is dead and so is intellect.

Look at the things surrounding you. What are you reading? Gossip, fake news: where is wisdom? What are you discussing? What are you connecting for? Chats, sharing your routine; Do you believe in change? Do you think things should change?

A change is on the horizon, the individualism is back. The intellect is back.

Let you know yourself again. Let you imagine what have not been imagined, let you once again identify the objectives; let you diversify what you learn.

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Why do we Wear Uniform in School?

My dear little ones, I know you are all rebels and you just don’t accept certain things in your schools and at your homes. You just hate some things. You love your jeans, shorts, jackets, belts, shirts, tops, skirts and all other accessories and you look great wearing them. Why would you wear the boring and common uniform at school? Some of you innovate your way to be different even with the common uniform. You fold your sleeves; some of you loosen your ties and such other things.

When I see you, I remember my childhood. I used to be the same. I used to question a lot – why? And I also questioned about the uniform. We were punished for not wearing the complete uniform. Though the methods of our teachers to make us wear the uniform were not right, the motive behind wearing a uniform is right.

So why do we have to wear uniform in schools? We wear uniform so that everybody looks, feels and be seen as the same. In a learning institution, we should be ready to learn and not show our social status or power. There are no rich, no poor, no beautiful or “un-beautiful” children. All are just students. To create this uniformity, a common dress code is given. A uniform also gives us an identity and relatedness to the entity or group we belong to. It inculcates a sense of unity and oneness in the individuals. We should feel proud to be students, to be learners. And uniform gives that identity to us.

SO WEAR FULL UNIFORM, TAKE PRIDE IN WEARING IT AND JUST ENJOY THE ONENESS DESPITE HAVING INDIVIDUAL IDENTITIES.

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Why this Kolaveri ?

Kolaveri di is a cult today, they sing it with pride and laughter gay.

They consider it to be the story of their life,

They feel that song is an anthem for their lonely lives.

They play it in their cars and keep the volume high,

They think themselves to be the kings of the road but you
are left to sigh.

They can do whatever they want,

They can sing it loud and look at you with a murderous
glance.

They honk at you when you are walking on the road,

This earns them respect among the kinsmen and a better
abode.

They are the shining stars and consider household chores a
menial job,

But they cry when depressed and escape to drugs when they
sob.

They are so gullible that they simply follow the trend,

Be it kolaveri, corruption or Mr. Sibal, they say it without
a stand.

Do they know that the female who cleans their dishes is a
victim of domestic violence?

Have they ever noticed that their counterparts in villages
are so silent?

Do they know the plight of the women abandoned by their
families?

Have they ever seen the life existing under the flyover or
child living next to the tree?

Why are they so insensitive and why can’t they stand for the
less privileged?

Why do they need someone to tell them when they can see it
through our own aged eyes?

These questions pinch me everyday,

They tear me apart when I talk to the women in the village.

I stand next to them with my head held high,

I can feel the bruises on their body which they get everyday
from their guy.

This guy is the owner and he possesses their body form top to
bottom,

He is the one who writes her destiny and is no less than a
phantom.

He can leave her, beat her and at times she earns to feed
him,

But he has no respect for her and is neither afraid of her
kith nor kin.

When she tells me her story,

Only this line strikes me “Hand la glass, glass la scotch,
eyes-u full-aa tear-u”

She doesn’t know the
meaning of the song but it suits her,

It is meant for her and now it seems more meaningful to me.

Swinder

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