Difference between a Build-Great-Brands client and a Save-My-Ass client!

This one is for all the creative folks who are struggling to get some good work out!!

Types of content and what they are about!

Here's another infographic that is quite interesting, and I am sharing. It tell you about the different types of content around and what each kind can do for your brand, and what it takes to create each type and how much effort is needed by your TA to engage with it. Great stuff!

Arjun, Arjunah

ARJUN

ARJUNAH

Where is God asks Ivan

The similarities between Twitter and birding - an Infographic!

See the full size infographic here - http://twitpic.com/ar3q60/full

Marketing is changing drastically, the olde marketing ways are dead, traditional advertising is dead and buried, mass media is going to fade away... WTF?

Let's get one thing clear right away, I am not a marketing expert. I am a person who is keenly interested in advertising and therefore also in marketing.

That said, I can fearlessly begin with this potentially completely flawed post on what is happening with marketing these days.

Let me begin with why I am writing this post. It’s because I have come across way too many pieces of online and offline communication about what this post's headline talks about - Marketing is changing drastically, the olde marketing ways are dead, traditional advertising is dead and buried, mass media is going to fade away.... These messages, posts, articles, videos, comments, tweets… have been crowding my mind without quite forming any kind of tangible picture.

So I thought I should try and get a clear picture in my head (to the extent that is possible) by writing about it.

The basic discussions seems to be about the fact that it is no longer relevant to broadcast your message, now your message has to be discovered and shared.

The reason being that now nearly the entire planet is on the Internet, and nearly everyone is searching the Internet for information, reviews, tweets, posts, Facebook comments and such, to gather information before choosing a particular product or service.

That is absolutely correct. However, back when the Internet wasn’t there, whenever possible we used to ask friends and if we knew one, even experts, before choosing a product or a service. Now, this is happening on a much wider scale and everyone is doing it. Therefore it is a very very important factor to consider when marketing your brand. OK, got it loud and clear!

Now, social media is enabling groups of people to broadcast their message far and wide without spending any money on media - Twitter, Facebook, Google+ et al. 

And it has brought down Governments. 

Wow that’s amazing. However, can a brand do something like that, very doubtful. No brand can have a

Why don't passenger airplanes have giant emergency parachutes built into them?

It doesn't sound impossible, nor will it need new technology. Hey, I have no idea at all about exactly what size and number of parachutes will be needed to keep a passenger aircraft  afloat, but it does seem plausible.

If we take a smaller private jet, I think it can have a built in safety parachute system, for emergencies. And with safety being the most important factor why not manufacture smaller planes with this safety mechanism built into them.

Just a thought that I wanted to share with you all :)

Do put in a comment if you know why it can or cannot happen!

And finally someone was good enough to share some pretty good information on it, thanks 'Anonymous' for the link from Yahoo Answers UK, here it is - http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091130051003AAjSZ5m  

OR click here to go directly to the link!

Bird Checklist for Yamuna Biodiversity Park

The Birds Checklist for Yamuna Biodiversity Park!


Yamuna Biodiversity Park
Jharoda Majra (Near Village Jagatpur)
Wazirabad, Delhi
Tel: +91 11 2761 6569
Email: ybp@biodiversityparks.org

1.                               Alexandrine Parakeet

2.                               Ashy Prinia

3.                               Ashy Wood Swallow

4.                               Asian Koel

5.                               Asian paradise Flycatcher

6.                               Asian Pied Startling

7.                               Bank Myna

8.                               Bar-headed Geese

9.                               Barn Owl

10.                           Barn Swallow

11.                           Baya Weaver

12.                           Bay-backed Shrike

13.                           Black Bittern

14.                           Black Drongo

15.                           Black Ibis

16.                           Black Kite

17.                           Black Redstart

18.                           Black-breasted Weaver

19.                           Black-crowned Night Heron

20.                           Black-headed Gull

21.                           Black-headed Munia

22.                           Blackrumped Flameback Woodpecker

23.                           Black-shouldered Kite

24.                           Black-winged Stilt

25.                           Bluethroat

The Big Bird Day was a surprise, Ranjit Lal was a bigger surprise and the snake capturing was the final surprise!! Birding at Yamuna Biodiversity Park on 5th Feb, 2012.

The plan was to set out from Noida at 7.30 am. We set out at 7.45 am, excellent by any standards. We took just 20 minutes to reach the Yamuna Biodiversity Park (YBP) as there was hardly any traffic. A note for others who go to YBP, when you see the first road sign proclaiming ‘Yamuna Biodiversity Park’ and see a bridge over the ‘nallah’ on your right, leave that one, and move ahead. Within 200-250 meters, you will see another small bridge across the ‘nallah’ and a similar road sign. This is the one you should take, and for that you need to go down the road for some distance and take a U-turn. Then go straight down the bridge and along the straight road till after about 200 meters you see YBP to your left. By the way, the first bridge takes you to the same Jagatpur area but you have to follow a very narrow and bumpy service road along the ‘nallah’ to reach the other bridge and then turn right, therefore better to take the second bridge after the U-turn.

Phew! Direction instructions over, now I can get down to the actual birding experience. Me and an office colleague Koushik had planned this trip for Saturday, but I wasn’t able to make it, so we went the next day, Sunday. When we reached YBP, Dr. A K Singh, with whom I had spoken to the previous evening, was at the gate. The first thing he said was, “Will you wait for the Big Bird Day group?”.

I literally jumped with joy as did my friend, because we had no clue that it was the Big Bird Day (the day every year, when a bird count happens all across Delhi’s main birding areas). Of course we waited, and soon met up with at least 20 birders, and amongst them a well known birder Dr. Oswal.  However, at the helm of things was Dr. Faiyaz A. Khudsar, scientist in-charge of YBP. A very impressive person who quickly handed out bird-lists for YBP and started to mobilise the birding forces. He quickly and efficiently organised everyone into 3 groups. I and Koushik got attached to a group that would go through all the wooded areas, and would have three other birders and a guide from YBP, Mr. Mohan.

The Big Bird Day walk in progress, Mohan is right in front.

As we started to walk, I enthusiastically pointed out an Indian Koel hiding between the branches of a tree, and wondered who the three people with us were. Mohan, a wonderful naturalist and person,  started to spot birds with great expertise, as we began our walk. A short , bespectacled slightly elderly gentleman with us, was making quite amusing remarks about the birds. He described one as wont to do a lot of make-up, especially with the lipstick. We were looking at the red-crested pochard which is found only in the YBP in the Delhi region. As I peered through the binocs I did notice that they looked like they had applied quite a bit of red lipstick.

A Red Crested Pochard, this photo is from the
FlevoBirdwatching site, specifically from this page - 

http://www.birdsnetherlands.nl/uk%20visitors%20amsterdam.htm

At one point, to make some conversation, I asked one of the birders, a tall pepper haired person, if Dr. Oswal the well known birder was in the other group. He said, yes, and then he said, “There’s a famous birder amongst us too…”.

As I wondered who it was, he pointed at the short bespectacled gentleman and said, “That’s Ranjit Lal”.

The great divide, or the shape of things to come in advertising!

I usually don't post graphics or pictures created by others, but I felt that this infographic created by http://www.voltierdigital.com/ is a really useful one for everyone who wishes to remain relevant as a brand in the foreseeable future.

Have a look... and in case you are not able to see the infographic properly go to this mashable post where it is very clearly visible - http://mashable.com/2011/10/30/inbound-outbound-marketing/

10 ways to get the top 25 videos about the 5 best things that the 20 top people use for the 100 best sites about the 5 best things that use the 10 biggest mistakes that get the 10 best results!

When will everyone get tired of the 10 ways, 25 top things, 100 best sites that seem to have taken over the entire Internet, from social media to blogs to whatever, everything is about 10 ways…

The Internet needs a new way to share content and write headlines. Any ideas?

The Vinoculars, what I’ve imagined and dreamed of for years now, are actually here! Yipeeeeee… And now for the price…

Many a times I thought and labored about why a binocular and a digital camera cannot be merged into one awesome birdwatching device. I have searched the internet in vain looking for something that can do this.

Now, it is finally here - the ultra-awesome Sony Video Binoculars or Vinoculars, a dream come true for birdwatchers in all aspects (except the price)!

There are two model DEV 3 and DEV 5, and since for us birdwatchers there is no question that it is the ultimate device, let me get to the price right away. They plan to price them at $1400 (Rs. 64,300) and $2000 (Rs. 91,800) each.

That’s a lot, so let me start telling you about what they can do.

Go on! Click on it for a much bigger image. 

Primarily, they can take 7.1 megapixel still images and 1080 high definition video. Their magnification is 10X optical through Sony G lenses (F1.9 to F3.4) with optical stabilization, and a very useful feature, a pair of backside-illuminated CMOS sensors that help capture good photographs in low-light situations. The 7.1-megapixel still images are captured in 4:3 aspect ratio and they also capture 5.3-megapixel still images in 16:9 aspect ratio.

There is built-in optical steady shot image stabilization and auto focus or manual focus.

Also there is a powerful microphone so that you can record bird song. Man… what a dream device!

The video capture is incredible, in 1080p high-definition recording at 60 frames per second and 24 frames per second. There is also 3-D still and video capture that sounds like an unnecessary extra, it must have gone a long way to increase the price of the Vinoculars!

By the way, the more expensive Vinoculars also have 20X telephoto like magnification through digital zoom, and geo-tagging through a built in GPS receiver (so you can tell others exactly here you were when you saw that rare bird!).

They weight 1200 grams as compared to 850 grams for a typical Olympus 10 X 50 binoculars. That’s just 350 grams heavier than a normal pair of binoculars.

This is all I need... no food no water no nothing, just Vinoculars!

These awesome devices work through two small cameras inside the Vinoculars and the 2-D still and Video happens through one of them, while for the 3-D both camera record.

I want them! I want them now! I am starting to save money right now for the November launch of the Vinoculars…

Birds-ctasy!

A little rain in the night meant that it wasn’t a very bright morning, so it was all very well that our plan got delayed. We were to reach the Ridge near the polo grounds by 7.30 am, but reached only at about 8.45 am.

A little bit of mist was still there in the air, as we turned our car into the first left after the statues of Gandhi Ji and his followers at the end of SP Marg. It was going to be our very first birding jaunt in this part of the Delhi Ridge. Right after the turning there were a few tenements of construction labourers, whom we asked for directions. We were told that the army polo ground was just down the road.

We drove over the rough road, and suddenly came upon a large regal tree, and the polo ground behind it. Oh the joy of discovering a beautiful place which is so near yet so completely hidden from us. The polo ground and the area around it was like a wind-blown hill station, especially on that winter morning. We got out of the car, and were struck by the crispness of the air and the sheer beauty of nature all around.

The tree next to the polo ground

We walked along a motorable road lined by tall trees, with the polo ground on our left and inviting forests to our right. We could hear a variety of birdcalls right away, and there were so many, that we quickened our steps to get into the forested area.

The road leading into the forested ridge

Birds, trees and butterflies at the Yamuna Biodiversity Park! - A Photo Walk.

It was a dreary January 1st 2011, when at about 8 am, we set out for the Yamuna Biodiversity Park. We had only seen the directions on the website of the biodiversity park, and went straight on the ring road after the ITO crossing, looking for a place where the road was split into two by a divider. We found it and took a right turn over a 'nalla', and entered the lane alongside the 'nalla'. This lane was supposed to take us to the biodiversity park, and was also supposed to have a few signboards. There were no signboards, and it took many turns and twists before taking us to the biodiversity park. 

We had taken the wrong turning after the divider. We should have gone on straight on the ring road and taken a right turn after a petrol pump, where there was a signboard of the Yamuna Biodiversity Park.

Not withstanding that, we came to a road that went alongside the Yamuna river. On this road, we saw some pretty interesting areas where birding could be a possibility. Finally after reaching a place called Jagatpur, we reached the biodiversity park.

The time was 8.55 am, and we walked into the gates. We were met by a few grizzled old men sitting around a small bonfire. They told us that we could not enter the park wihtout permission or without the scientist-in-charge being there. However an old man was very helpful, and made a few calls, and on contacting one of the people in charge, he allowed us to go for a small round with one of the men  there.

The man told us that there were many snakes in the park, and in the summers they are often seen on the paths, which is why it was mandatory to go with someone from the park. 

We set out, and the first thing we saw was a signboard about the nursery.

A sign board that captures the basics of the park 

It was a cloudy day, but the park was looking wild and inviting.

The wilderness is taking shape

A very large area and clear walking routes

Thick undergrowth perfect for small mammals and birds

We saw some interesting plants, including cactii.

From cacti to all kinds of exotic flora

Arctic chemical waste dead poison river drain Yamuna - A Photo Walk!

It was a cold December morning, and we reached Okhla Bird Park. We stepped on to the bamboo bridge that joined the main path to watchtower no. 2. It was a sturdy and exciting bridge.

We walked to the watchtower and a little beyond right up to the water, but there were very few birds around. A purple heron was waiting to catch some fish.

Seeking more excitement, we came back from the watchtower and drove down the road that goes along the water body and on to the Kalindi Kunj main road. Surprisingly, there were a huge number of swallows flying over the water.

There were quite a few black headed gulls too.

We drove onto the main road and turned into the lane that goes along the 'nalla' flowing parallel to river Yamuna. We wanted to get aboat ride, but the fishermen there had shifted across the river on to the other bank. On the way back we saw a rapotor perched on a tree, it lookde like a Serpent Eagle but finally we agreed that it was nothing more exciting than a Black Kite.

On reaching the other bank, after driving into the road that heads out towards 'khader', we negotiated with a fisherman to take us around on the river. We stepped into the boat amidst an arctic landscape. It wasn't snow or ice though, it was industrial affluent foam that had formed a thick layer over the river water.

How to reach Yamuna Biodiversity Park - with photos, landmarks and contact number!

We made a few mistakes while reaching Yamuna Biodiversity park, so I thought I could take a few pictures to help others reach it (many were taken on the way back so are unclear, still they might help).

The basic route as currently given on websites and blogs is something like this, directions to Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Delhi:

Go along the ring road straight down ISBT (kashmere Gate), for a couple of kilometres beyond Majnu Ka Tila. Go towards Wazirabad, till you come to the big Wazirabad crossing (for ID – there is short divider here which splits the straight-going lane into two). Carry on straight and then take a right after the Wazirabad crossing. Go across a nalla. Once on the other side, take a left so that you are running parallel to the nalla. Now, look out for and follow the Yamuna Biodiversity Park signboards. Take a right again which will lead you to the Yamuna Biodiversity Park.

HERE ARE THE UPDATED DIRECTIONS FOR YAMUNA BIODIVERSITY PARK:

Go straight along the Ring Road pass ISBT, keep going straight till you come to the Wazirabad Crossing.

                                                        On the left it says Wazirabad! 

                                              The Road Directions near Wazirabad crossing!

At this point a divider appears on the road that splits the road in two, however there is a lot more too. There is construction happening on a large scale, and there are screening boards on both sides.

Fishing, birding, bathing and beering!

A trip to Marchula and Bhikyasen in the Corbett area.

We started from Noida at about 11.30 am, after several false starts. A critical component of the trip was going to be the incredible photography equipment that my friend KP from Bangalore had got along. Incredible by my standards, as the best I ever had was a Nikon digital camera that had 10X optical zoom.

He had a Canon D40 digital SLR with a plethora of lenses, including a 100-400 Canon, 70-300 Sigma, wide angle, 60 mm Canon besides several other lenses and accompaniments like filters, extenders and what not. The second most critical component of the trip was of course going to be the two fishing rods that he had also got along.

As we began to do the final loading of the bags in the car, which was a very complex task indeed, KP suddenly realized that he couldn’t find the battery of the camera. This was serious as not finding the battery, would render all the above mentioned equipment useless and our trip would be a disaster even before we set out. As for the camera’s battery, it was playing truant the second time. That very morning I had picked him up from another friend’s place, and there too at the time of leaving he had left the battery of the camera behind, and we had to turn the car back, search for it and bring it reluctantly along. The whole house including maids and helps went into a frenzy looking for the tiny grey black camera battery. After a few minutes the consensus was that it had got absent mindedly packed into one of the bags. We quickly got all the bags back into the house, and one by one started to unpack them. After ten minutes it was found inside a slot in the big camera suitcase. There was general joy and we got everything back into the car, and set out.

The journey was comfortable for a while, but then the roads began to crumble. The entire route had been a relatively smooth one until a few months back, but the recent rains had made large stretches of the road into stretches of potholes with occasional islands of intact road. Nevertheless, our spirits were high and we chugged along. There were frequent sightings of this bird and that, but we didn’t stop, our destination was many miles away and we didn’t want to do too much of night driving.

As we drove, KP mentioned that most of the towns that we passed looked like belched out industrial slag, and I agreed whole heartedly. We could see an inhuman desperation on the faces of the people who lined the roads as we passed through town after town. At places where it was particularly bad, we even imagined what it would be like to live there, and came to the conclusion that to be happy in life, each of us should spend 3 compulsory months running a hardware shop and living in such a town, so that we can better appreciate our so called terrible lives in Delhi and Bangalore respectively.

We stopped for a sad bit of lunch and a Thums Up bottle at a road side dhaba. Their toilet was well marked as ‘to let’. We ate very insipid yet chilly hot food, and then set off again.


Waiting for food at the lunch stop!


The toilet that was to let :)

The coal basket and the Bhagavat Gita!

This is a story I got by email, I thought I should share it with all of you!

An old farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson.

Each morning grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Bhagavat Gita. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I try to read the Bhagavat Gita just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bhagavat Gita do?"

The grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time", and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.

This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house.

The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See grandpa, it's useless!"

"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket."

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

"Son, that's what happens when you read the Bhagavat Gita. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Lord Krishna in our lives."

How to keep your peace with you!

This is going to be a short post, because it is very simple to keep your peace with you, even in the most difficult and trying circumstances. 

Forgive. And as quickly as possible, forget. But don't you dare forget the lesson. The lesson being to completely and totally avoid those people and those situations/circumstances. 

You either have to forgive someone or you have to forgive some situation/circumstance, and you can keep your peace with yourself. If someone makes you angry, in the quickest time possible, forgive that person. You are stuck in a bad situation or your circumstances are such that you are greatly troubled. As soon as the situation or circumstance ends, forgive the whole thing.

And you will be a peaceful person most of the time. There are also times when you have to forgive yourself. Just forgive. And let peace reign supreme.

Bombastic self important buffoons!

Everyone's met them, everyone's had to deal with them.

They have the loudest voice, they are completely and insanely focussed on themselves, and they are devoid of human emotions. And in their narrow minded quest to fulfill their bloated demented egos, they can do anything. Willingly destroy their own children's happiness, scare little toddlers so that they can feel important and powerful, attack the weakest to feel strong themselves. And if you manage to place yourself within their circle of influence, they will hound you till you decide to leave the premise, the neighbourhood, the town, the state, the country and even the planet if that were possible. They are God's way of teaching us patience and tolerance.

So, long live the bombastic self important buffoons.