13 out of the 1,125 billionaires of the Forbes list are true bloggers

By A Bisht at 12:17 AM

13 out of the 1,125 billionaires of the Forbes list are true bloggers.

Just to clarify, they are not people who became billionaires out of blogging; but these 13 are billionaires who blog.

These 13 range in age from 24 to 80.

Mark Zukerberg is youngest at 24.

T. Boone Pickens is the oldest at 80.

These billionaire bloggers span five industries, and blog(write) about different things.

Some use their blogs as a PR machine, some to take on critics, some simply to connect with people; and some to help those who want to learn from their lives.And so on...

Some billionaire bloggers who you may know:

Oprah Winfrey (The tear inducing, bee-hive hairdo sporting,gift-distributing hostess of "The Oprah Winfrey Show")

Donald Trump(The rich guy who promises jobs to aspirants in the reality show "The Apprentice")

J.K. Rowling(author of Harry Potter series; don't confuse with the name, it is the name of woman)

Mark Cuban (owner Dallas Mavericks baseball team)


Interesting fact about blogging:


More than 112 million or 11 crore people in the world blog regularly or are true bloggers.

Could our country, can use a similar reasoning ?

By A Bisht at 8:00 PM

I found a news particularly of interest. The news is about fake imported Nintendo games, which are proving to be getting popular with the UK citizens. The USP of these so called fakes is their price – which is at least 60% less than the original products. So in its bid to discourage the parents from buying such fakes the Government is warning the parents about the danger such fakes, pose to the safety of their children.
But the part of the story that particularly got my interest is one reason; among others; (other than the safety of the children) the Government communicated to the citizens, to discourage them to buy fakes.
The reason given by the Government spokesperson goes like this:
"When you buy these goods, you're not funding our economy, you're actually funding criminals in these far off places and it could be linked to terrorism,"
Now; After reading the story, I asked myself, could our country, if in a similar position (which it chooses not be in) can use such a reason; among others; to discourage people.
I’m afraid it can’t; as we (I included) don’t seem to be having a mindset to understand such reasoning.

Or Do we ?

Beauty is not flawless !

By A Bisht at 11:05 AM

The models who appear on magazine covers seem to be having blemish free flawless complexion.But in reality they're not that picture perfect, as they appear to be; their appearance is enhanced digitally and that too, in a big way.

Click here to see two photographs-- The one on the left is with the flaws; the one on the right is made flawless; digitally.

When times are tough, people are more likely to reassure their future

By A Bisht at 11:09 PM

In the midst of the global financial crisis a Japanese internet firm specializing in the prediction of future, is doing roaring business. As more number of people now; than in good times seek reassurance about the future.

Zappallas Inc., having Japan’s largest network of fortune-telling websites (catered as a mobile content), is seeing a big boost in its business, in the last couple of months.

If numbers are an indication of the skyward going business; have a look at some of them:

The Firm posted a 61% rise in net in the first half of this quarter.

The firm revised its expected profit upwards for this year.

Compared to last year, the firm’s registered users, who pay a set monthly fee, have already risen by 21 percent to 2.2 million or 22 Lakh.

Can't say of the people; but the firm is fully assured of its future.

A Girl and a Facebook account traced the bill dodger

By A Bisht at 8:35 AM

He and his friends ate expensive and choicest of food at the restaurant, dodged the hefty bill; But the fact that he enquired about a girl to the waiter and he also had an account at Facebook, nailed him. He had to pay the bill; and he along with his girlfriend had to search for a new job.

Read how Facebook helped the restaurant owner trace the bill dodger. Here.

Water pumped uphill, without burning a drop of fossil fuel

By A Bisht at 7:36 PM

A British Engineer has successfully made a device that uses the motion of waves (sea) to pump water up hill; so that it's stored there in a reservoir and then released down hill to run turbines, and make hydroelectricity.

The inventor says it's his contribution to his country that's aspiring to get 15 percent of its energy from renewable sources.

Why Organic vegetables for health, doesn't make for a compelling case

By A Bisht at 9:03 PM

Going by what Bjorn Lomborg, considered a think tank, with the Copenhagen Business School, has to say: All the propaganda about the health benefits of the organic vegetables seems misplaced.

According to him:

Going organic will prove detrimental to the world in long run. It goes like this:
If somebody tells you that organic vegetables prevent cancer; he/she may be technically correct; as there is a link between the chemicals and illness, but the risk is miniscule in any properly regulated society.

Now, there’s one more way to prevent cancer—by eating lots of vegetables and fruits.
But as organic vegetables and fruits cost 10-20 % more than regular produce in developed countries and 30-40% more in developing countries; going organic means consuming less quantities of vegetables and fruits.

And the chance of falling ill by decreasing one’s intake of vegetables is much more significant.

That apart, going organic will substantially reduce the global produce ; which will lower the intake of population in general; making them risk prone to various illnesses.

So it seems making a compelling case for the health benefits of organic produce, is difficult. But you can do so for taste.