Blue Bonnet Trail, Plano

Yesterday I went cycling on the Blue Bonnet Trail in Plano, Tx. The trail is within a mile from our apartment and hence very easily accessible. Before I go on to describe the 5-mile paved bicycle trail I'd like to say something about the planning that has gone behind creation of this trail. Blue Bonnet trail is the by-product of electricity. Yes the entire trail runs along high-voltage cables and electrical transformers. Town planning engineers/ architects have utilized this trail so efficiently made use of this trail to create a green space for the entertainment of all city folk.

Thinking back about my home town (Bangalore) in India I have seen similar large electrical cabling and transformers back home in India and these are usually converted into medians of main roads. Lack of space coupled with insensitive planning has led to these grotesque steel monsters being installed on roads close to homes. This is not only unsafe but also makes it very difficult to service in case of problems.

But I certainly am impressed by the thoughtfulness exhibited by the town planners of Plano who have created this unique space for sports, leisure and entertainment of the tax paying public.

Starting point/ trail head

Efficient land management between the electrical pillars

Wild flowers make the trail appear beautiful

Anyway coming to the train per se, Blue Bonnet Trail is 5-miles in length and starts at a stadium on Alma Road and ends rather abruptly at Preston Road. In my eye estimate the average width of the trail would range from 75 meters to 500 meters. The grass along the trail is neatly manicured and at places there are mounds of earth to give a landscaped effect. There are quaint bridges when a creek intersects the trail. The best part of the trail is the wild flowers, every season has its own variety of blooms giving an aesthetic feel to the trail. The trail is good for both the individual like myself who cycles for pleasure and love of bicycling and for the serious cyclist who trains for races.

Bridges across creeks make the trail more interesting

Creeks with water support aquatic life forms

PS. Lance Armstrong the 7-time Tour De France winner is a Texas Boy.

Power Steering Makes Driving Easy and Safe

Everyone who owns a car knows the importance of the steering wheel. If there is any problem in this section of the automobile, it would be dangerous to drive. With advancement in technology steering has become powered. Gone are the days when one had to have powerful arms to steer a large truck or car around.

But one has to understand that modern technology will function only when one takes care of it. Mechanical parts work most efficiently when they are well maintained. Let me tell you all a bit about Power steering and its mechanism. Most power steering mechanisms employ hydraulic system which makes it easier for the driver to turn the vehicle's wheels. The power steering apparatus comprises of a steering rack, steering box and hydraulic rotary pump among others.

Spares for a power steering system are difficult to find. Hitherto only dealers had access to the high quality parts. But now thanks to several online stores end users can go online and order the same high quality parts. If you are looking for a steering box or rack for your car you don't need to spend huge amounts of money at dealerships. You can simply go online to Power Steering Pros website and order the part you need.

Whatever part of power steering you may need, http://www.powersteeringpros.com/ has it all. In order to ensure 100 percent customer satisfaction, the company offers full warranty and free shipping. So go ahead and shop online with full confidence for your power steering parts.

Mobile Photography

Morning started cloudy and drizzling, as I ran errands driving up and down DFW Metroplex I snapped few pictures from the mobile camera. Here they are....

Politician's Drama

Back home in India the elections are going on to elect a new government. Around this time every politician worth his salt will indulge in tactics to gain sympathy, support and finally garner enough votes to win. And of course once they win, politicians will get busy in their own lives... making money, partying, foreign junkets, transfers, getting their loyalists into key positions, etc.

Couple of days ago I received these e-mail forward of two images about two well known politicians in India. One young and inexperienced and another old and a tad too experienced. But both have one thing in common: Political Drama. If the younger one wanted to show that he is with the people in their struggle, the older one wanted to struggle for the people. But both ended making a fool of themselves in front of the thinking class (educated people in India who don't vote but comment liberally about what should be done to make the country developed).

Anyway the pictures are self explanatory, do take a look at them and let me know what you feel.

Rahul created a ripple by acting like a laborer.

Veteran politician Karunanidhi created a world record, the shortest Fast unto death. Yes the septuagenarian fasted for 4 hours by sleeping in air conditioned comfort. The fast started after breakfast and ended before lunchtime

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I am sure Indian politicians would have made lot more money and achieved respectable fame if they had become comedians. But now they are making a joke of our country by behaving in this ridiculously comical fashion.

Playing Raquet Ball

Since coming to the US I have done lots of things for the first time in my life. Rollerskating, hiking through forests on a fenced up trail, exploring underwater caves, driving on the right side of the road, etc. Today I added one more thing to this list... Playing Racquetball. Well our new apartment has some cool sports facilities including a beautiful Racquetball court and the management company lends the equipment required, rackets and balls. We just need to get there and play when the court is free. And that is what we did this evening after I came back from college.

I found the game to be a highly intensive and fitness oriented game. As we chase ball in the wooden cage we will lose calories and gain strength. I like this game and hope to continue playing. Both here at the apartment and also outside when I get the opportunity.

Website and Hosting Solutions

I have been using the internet since the past 10-12 years and have seen how the world wide web has evolved. Initially the websites were meant for information, communication and little bit of entertainment. Over the years websites have transformed into portals which provide live news, information, videos and audio entertainment, interactive discussion platforms etc. All these has been possible because of two things 1) Advancement in technology and 2) Enhancement of hosting services.

A few years ago companies had one domain but now every corporate worth its name opts for multiple domain web hosting only. The virtual world has become a very competitive space and to remain at the top one has to constantly innovate and change strategies. One way to do it is to continuously upgrade websites and get better and faster hosting service. But finding a good website hosting company whose prices are competitive is the greatest challenge of every entrepreneur.

I recently came across this website aptly titled Web Hosting Geeks. This website is all about informing people about the top-10 best hosting service providers. Their list is constantly updated with new information about various aspects of website hosting, design, technologies, etc. I feel this is a very important reference guide for all those who are looking for website hosting services. This site could give them the right information and empower them to make informed decisions.

One of my favorite sections of this website is their blog. I love to read their well-written and informative blog posts on interesting topics such as Search Engine Optimization, web technologies, hosting, IFrames, etc. My suggestion to all of you reading this post is to visit Web Hosting Geeks and learn about website hosting and internet technology.

Interesting and Strange Signboards

America is all about business and marketing. Everyone here wants to sell something to you. These people have certainly mastered the art of selling over the past few generations. Everything here has a price tag attached to it... that is capitalism I suppose. But as a country which respects its history (very short), heritage and the contributions of most of its citizens (born or otherwise), I really have great respect for the US.

I have been living here since the past year and a half and have seen many interesting, beautiful and sometimes downright funny sights. I'd like to share some of them in this blog.

You can't get a decent funeral without paying a lot of money. And funeral homes compete like FMCG brands for business. This can happen only in a highly capitalistic economy like the US

One can view numerous memorial signs across the US, honoring the memory of people who worked for this country. Respecting those who contributed for the nation is very integral and should be emulated everywhere else.

And this is also possible in the US... I wonder whether the board has been purposely placed reverse or it is a mistake...

Be Kind to Animals week: May 3-9

This is the Be Kind to Animals Week and what are your plans? How can this day be best celebrated? In my opinion the first and foremost thing to do is to take extra care of your pet, give it a treat, take your dog to the park and let it enjoy the outdoors. One way to pamper your pets is to buy cool stuff for them online at Bring Pets Home website. By doing so you not only get direct access to the offerings of several popular retailers but also you are helping abandoned and shelter animals. Because a percentage of the proceeds will directly go to the health care and food expenses of shelters.

Due to the recession and the large number of home foreclosures, hundreds of pets have been abandoned. These abandoned but highly lovable animals are now at shelters across the country. In a bid to raise awareness about the importance of treating animals kindly and not to abandon them the American Humane Association has launched the Be Kind to Animals Week® May 3-9, 2009. One way you could show your kindness to animals is by donating to shelters. You can start by giving just $1 at this a fundraising Web site specifically created to help shelter animals.

Another reason why animals end up at shelters is by accident. Some pets don't wear their identification on them always, sometimes owners may forget to put them on. If they get lost during this time then it is pretty much impossible to trace its owner. Hence it is important that every pet has its own identification tags which are comfortable, firm and easily readable. You could buy these cool stuff online on the Home Again Web Site and add a $1 donation for shelter animals. As part of the Be Kind to Animals week HomeAgain will make a donation through the website for every pet registered during this week.

HomeAgain is one of the premier agencies in the area of helping recovery of pets. Several owners lose pets and find it very hard to find them again, Home Again steps in and helps recover them. Till date HomeAgain has helped recover over 500,000 lost pets, commendable achievement indeed.

HomeAgain also offers medical insurance for pets and a toll free 24/7 emergency medial assistance hotline. If you are facing a medical emergency related to your pet call 1-888-HomeAgain. HomeAgain suggests that Microchipping is the safest, non-tamperable method of identification which also offers the most sure shot way for reunification of pets with owners.

Getting closer to the finish!!!

Long semesters somehow give this feeling of fatigue towards the end. First the four months of the long semester seems to drag on for ever, then every other day we have a test/ quiz/ exam which makes the course seem stressful. Now after four months of grueling drudgery the semester is finally coming to an end. Each one of my classmates appear stressed about grades and glad that it is coming to an end.

On my front, I am glad this is over, but this is not the end. It is just a station in my journey, I have a long way to go before I can get off the train and say I have arrived. So far the academic journey has been pretty good, mostly As... I hope this continues the same way till the end.

For now I look forward to the semester ending on Monday when I have my final exam and then for the next one month I can concentrate on finding a job, before summer classes begin. For now finding a job is the priority.

Win Charter Gift Cards worth $1000-5000

Do you think you are paying too much for your internet, phone and cable bundle? How would you wish to win gift cards worth $1,000-5,000? Well in this economy each one of us would be happy to get any money or gift. Well the opportunity is here, thanks to Charter's Free Gift Card Sweepstakes.

Charter Communications has launched new products in the area of home entertainment. Their new bundle offers give you savings on cable television, internet and phone every step of the way. To promote the new bundles and make it popular among consumers the company has launched a new marketing campaign. One of the most attractive parts of the campaign is the rewards. Come end of this month (May 2009), Charter Cable will be giving away high value gift cards.

The sweepstakes are open to every resident of United States and there is no purchase or conditions attached to enter. The company promises that everyone who enters will win a minimum of $75-100 worth gift, depending on the offer they choose.

Are you all cued up about the contest? Do you want constant updates? Well then you can FollowCharter on Twitter and get all the latest info about their offers, sweepstakes and savings.

Unique bicycles at MS-150

One thing that never ceases to astound me is the innovation that people do to get their custom set of wheels. Be it motorized or human powered, people imagine, think and work hard to create what they want. During the MS-150 I noticed that there were several participants who rode bicycles that looked different. Their vehicles actually set them apart and made them the center of attraction (at least for me). Since I didn't carry a camera during the ride I googled and found couple of pictures on Flickr. Here they are for your viewing pleasure.
Pictures from the photostream of cotmweasel on flickr

Enjoyable Holidays in Kissimmee Florida

Florida is ranked among the most popular holiday destinations in mainland US. Within this sunshine state, the city of Kissimmee has been gaining popularity among visitors lately. Kissimmee is especially suitable for individuals and families who wish to enjoy a multitude of activities such as heritage trails, arts, dining out, music and theater, etc.

Kissimmee, Florida has something to offer for every discerning traveler. For history buffs the heritage trail would enable exploration of the region's glorious past. The area's cattle ranches, antiquated homes, arts districts and museums are well worth a visit. A very popular pastime in Kissimmee is going to the theater.

Apart from the mainstream tourist haunts, Kissimmee offers numerous attractions that are absolutely free such as the charming old town shopping, dining, and entertainment complex. The Friday and Saturday night car shows on the streets provide an opportunity to look at old beauties. For architecture enthusiasts, there is the historic courthouse (oldest in the state) and the Kissimmee Sculpture Experience, a vast open area of tree-lined streets with numerous artworks on display.

With so many things to do it would take lot more days than just a weekend for the complete Kissimmee experience. How would you like to enjoy a Kissimmee holiday absolutely free? Sounds unbelievable, doesn't it? But it is possible. As part of the sweepstakes, Kissimmee is offering three weekend getaways (3 days and 2 nights) for couple and two week long vacations for family of four.



Are you wondering how to win these free holidays? Well all you need to do is to visit their website and sign up for their sweepstakes, the last of which will be drawn on June 1, 2009. There is not much time left, enroll now. Just log on and register and who knows you may be the lucky one!

MS-150 Video

Last weekend's MS-150 was not a complete success. Weather played spoilsport and the organizers had to cancel the 2nd day's ride. Here is a video I found on youtube which shows views of rain and flooding in the Texas Motor Speedway area.

Online Stock Trading Game

With the bloodbath going on in the stock market, people are trying to learn new tricks to keep up with the tough economy. How would you like it if you could indulge in a game of virtual stock trading? This game from UMDO is a fantasy stock trading game which provides the same thrill and profits of the real world.

This is one game which I am sure everyone interested in the financial market, speculation and making money would find thrilling. How does one play the game? Simple just log in and pay the fees to enter the game. From then on it is how you position your portfolio against other players. The person who earns the highest return on his/ her portfolio is the winner. It is not tough and you don't need to know economics, accounting or do extensive research to be good at this. It is all made very easy and simple, everyone could play, enjoy and learn from this platform.

The gaming platform offers real-time market data, information and numerous reference tools to help players make trading decisions. So if you are interested in the financial market and want to make money, stop going to wall street and rush to UMDO.

MS-150: 87 miles in 5 hours

Yesterday was the first day of MS-150 (2nd day was canceled due to rain). Got up at 5 in the morning and was pretty tensed because I wasn't sure how good my stamina was and I didn't want to make a spectacle out there. We proceeded to the starting point and were with the Team Bike Mart by 6.30 am. The entire area around the Frisco Roughriders Stadium was full of bicyclists, all of them attired in professional gear, colorful jerseys, cycling shorts, gloves, helmets etc. There were very few people like me who were not in bicycling gear but in normal sporting attire.

Looking like the odd man in sporting clothes:), that's meeee.

After some customary speeches by the National MS Society officials, sponsors and government officials the rally was flagged off. I was in the second team to be flagged off and we set off on a steady clip, moving at 20 miles per hour. I was surprised with myself that I could maintain this high a speed, maybe it was the crowd and maybe it was the road. But my average speed to the first rest point 9 miles away was 17.6 miles per hour. This was the fastest average of the day.

The real countryside roads began after the first break point and we passed through vast open spaces of back country Texas. Vast ranches, occasional homes and open space with a few horses running around characterized most of the route. At the second break point my average speed had dropped to 15 mph, which I maintained for the rest of the ride. It was a humbling experience to see people around double my age passing me on the road. I lost count of how many people passed me rushing speedily onwards towards the finish line. Just after the third rest point the route took us along the banks of the 30,000 acre Lake Ray Roberts, this humongous water body looked more like an ocean, than a dam/ lake/ reservoir. The 2.5 miles water front ride was one of the most beautiful in my opinion.
Half way through we stopped at Sanger, Tx a small town of 4,500 people and I was shocked to see an ultra-modern soccar and tennis stadium in this back of the boon docks place. Sprawling parking lots were enough to house over 3,000 cyclists, volunteers and service personnel.
Post lunch the ride took us through the hilly part of the DFW metroplex. This was perhaps the toughest section of the ride as we meandered up and down hills, dales and added to that the roads were pathetic, loose gravel, potholes and what not. Cars and trucks whizzed past us. It was a common to hear the rider at back shouting "Car Back" and "On your left". The latter uttered when someone wanted to overtake another rider. I picked up the rhythm and started yelling "On your left" as I passed couple of riders.
Frankly I expected to take lot more time, perhaps the full 8 hours to complete 87 miles of bicycling. I am glad I was able to finish it in just about 5 hours time including the last 5 miles through a thunderstorm. I was drenched to the bone by the time I rode across the finish line in the Texas Motor Speedway. Every millimeter of my skin was soaked, I was cold, hungry and my butt was sore. As I crossed the finish line, official photographers flashed, one of the officials congratulated me that I was among the first 500 to finish. Boy! I was glad it was all over. Then after couple of hours of socializing with riders and strutting around the Texas Motor Speedway, I loaded the bike onto the car and returned home for a hot shower and dinner.

Best place for genuine Volvo and Saab Parts

Volvo and Saab are two premium brands of cars here in the United States. Being premium cars, spare parts of both cars can be quite pricey. Sometimes finding the right part to replace the worn one in your trusted Saab or Volvo could be quite tough. The internet has some solutions in the form of websites which sell automobile parts. But there again not every website would hold an inventory of
Saab parts or Volvo parts.

While recently helping a friend find some parts for his Volvo, I came across this website known as Swedish Parts Network, which prides itself in having a vast inventory of Volvo and Saab parts. This site is a no-frills website, simple and easy to navigate and find parts that you need. They are not trying to impress you with fancy graphics or music. They just want to help you find the parts your car needs.

The selection of Volvo and Saab Auto parts is complete and comprehensive. Everything ranging from power steering, brakes, engine spares, etc are available. All you need to do is just order them and they will be shipped to your doorstep. Sounds cool! doesn't it?

I would recommend you to visit the Saab Parts website and confirm for yourself about their offerings.

Tomorrow is MS-150

I woke up this morning with a sense of anticipation and thrill. Today is the MS-150 expo at Frisco and tomorrow morning we are riding towards the Texas Motor Speedway. There has been a slight change of plans due to the Swine Flu scares and the second day's ride starts and ends at the Texas Motor Speedway. This ride will be a testing one for me because it has been 16 years since I did any serious bicycling. As part of my training the best time I could manage was 12.3 miles per hour and the longest distance I did in a day was about 50 miles. The first day's MS-150 ride is about 80 miles. I sure I don't collapse midway and cause a nuisance for the organizers. I am quite determined to complete the ride, but let us see what happens tomorrow.

For now take a look at the map of both days ride and you will get an idea of what I am up to.

Hawaii - Great Destination for leisure, adventure and weddings

During the past 18 months that I have been in the US, I have met several people who claim that Hawaii is their favorite holiday destination. I have never been to Hawaii but I have seen pictures and I am definitely mesmerized. Recently I came to know of Maui Resort , one of the best in Hawaii and it offers some amazing activities. Being born in the Pisces sun sign I am a great water sports lover and to my delight this resort offers a plethora of activities including Snorkeling expeditions, hiking, bicycling, helicopter rides, historic cruises and whale watching.

Apart from being a holiday destination, Hawaii is also popular for its glamorous and beautiful Maui Weddings . Couples plan their wedding here because they are organized with such pomp and glamor unmatched elsewhere. So if you and your significant other wish to get married or if you are already married and wish to renew your vows head to Hawaii and I am sure you will come back rejuvenated and happier.

One day remaining for the MS-150

The day is finally dawning upon me and I don't know whether I am fully prepared or not. I haven't been able to train during the past week because of moving. I am quite confident that I will complete the ride but only thing is that it wouldn't be as effortlessly as I had originally envisaged. Tomorrow is the grand inaugural expo of the MS ride and I am definitely looking forward to it.
I received an email from the organizers that there will be a change of route because of the Swine Flu pandemic which is raging across the continent of North America. There has been one confirmed death in Texas and several cases reported in the DFW metroplex too. Some county governments have prohibited all public gatherings to stem the spread of the virus through carriers. Hence the original end of the route has been changed and a new route has been set up which we will know about tomorrow. Let us see what day after tomorrow holds.

Enjoy outdoors without worrying about mosquitos!

Spring and summer provide a much awaited break from cold winters which confine us to heated indoor spaces and prevent us from enjoying the great outdoors. Activities such as sun bathing, barbecue, outdoor picnics are best enjoyed in the warm weather. But with warm weather brings its own problems, a plague of mosquitoes and other biting into your backyard. These insects pose a big irritation and play spoilsport to your enjoyable time with family and friends.

Mosquitoes are natural blood suckers and get attracted by our body warmth. Some people think that mosquitoes don't live that long and after a few weeks they disappear on their own. First fact is that this is grossly false. The second is a greater reason to guard against these flying pests. Mosquitoes are air-borne carriers of several disease causing viruses such as the West Nile virus and different strains of bacteria. These microscopic organisms cause diseases such as Malaria, Dengue and Encephalitis.

People have tried numerous methods to get rid of this mosquito menace. Things like mosquito repellent ointments, window meshes, mosquito repellent sprays, etc have been introduced in the market by various companies. But none have provided a proven, lasting, long-term and safe solution to the problem of mosquitoes. But now there is a huge ray of hope for those of us pestered by mosquitoes. I read the review of Mosquito Magnet traps online and I am quite impressed by the different things this product can do. This is a unique gadget which mimics the human body and attracts mosquitoes towards itself and kills them all. This can be placed anywhere indoors or outdoors, they can run non-stop for 24 hours. After watching an explanatory video on their website I think this is going to provide the much needed relief from mosquitoes.

The product has received glowing reviews. One mosquito magnet review from K. McLeod Hanover, MA reads something like: "I live in Hanover, Massachusetts and purchased a Mosquito Magnet® for my pool area. I turned it on last May and it immediately started catching bags full of mosquitoes. During the course of last summer I noticed the mosquito population around my home had decreased and by August had almost completely disappeared. I have already started the trap this year and noticed an unbelievable difference in the limited amount of mosquitoes in my yard this year. We enjoy our pool more than ever and appreciate that the Mosquito Magnet® has made our backyard safer for our kids and a more pleasurable place to be."

This is just a sample review, there are hundreds of others who have been helped by this amazing product. They have been able to use their backyard again, spend time at the pool, enjoy outdoor activities with family, let kids play in their backyards, etc. This summer I am going to install one of these cool gadgets in our backyard and we will also enjoy summer in true outdoor style, thanks to Mosquito Magnet.

Bicycle tricks and stunts

When I started training for the MS-150 bicycle ride last month, I added another facet to the training. To learn some cool and wacky bike tricks while training. How do I learn them? If it was old days when Internet wasn't there, I'd have to depend on TV and memory and a lot of trail and error. But now with Youtube there are thousands of self-styled experts teaching how to do stunts on a bicycle and a host of other things.

I liked these two stunts very much and tried practicing them during my training. Of course I haven't succeeded in mastering the tricks yet... but I hope to get there some day and when I do get there I will surely post some nice videos. And till then you could enjoy watching these guys.

Kits to Guard against Swine Flu

Swine flu has quickly assumed global proportions. The deadly disease has left over 140 dead in Mexico and hundreds more infected. Even the world's most powerful democracy, United States, has not been spared. The first death was reported today. The deceased, a child had traveled from Mexico to Houston, Tx for treatment of Swine flu and succumbed to the deadly disease. Incidences of this disease has been reported from as far afield as in India and New Zealand too.

As of now there has not been any major breakthrough in controlling the spread of this disease. The only thing one can do is to guard against contracting this disease by getting hold of a swine flu pandemic kit. These kits are selling like hot cakes as everyone wants to protect themselves and their loved ones. Get our kit and ensure your protection. This could save several lives, including your own.

Two More days for the big weekend!!!

The much-awaited Big Bike Weekend is just two days away. I have trained intermittently for this event, definitely not as much as I would have liked to have done. But more than the physical training part of the ride, I have been frustrated and saddened by the fact that only couple of my friends have actually agreed to donate to the cause and help me reach my modest fund-raising goal. Statistically the US is the largest giving country... almost $8 billion a year is given away to charity by people, corporations and foundations. But somehow I haven't been able to raise a mere $300, wonder why? Maybe my approach was not right, maybe I didn't talk to the right people, maybe I don't know the right people. Whatever the reason maybe... the bottom line is that I have failed in my goal to raise funds for a worthy cause.

I am pretty sure that Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and its ramifications upon patients is well known to most people. But still I wonder why 98% of the people I wrote to didn't consider donating towards research for finding a cure for MS. Maybe they have other pet charities to which they donate.

On the physical front also I haven't trained to the level I wanted to. For the past 5 days I haven't cycled even one mile. I could give a hundred reasons for not doing but the plain and simple truth is I haven't done it. Our moving homes did take a lot of my energy and time and also my approaching exams are taking me out of physical activity towards studies.

I just hope I would be able to ride the 160 miles smoothly... even if I am the last guy to cross the finish line it is fine. But my worst nightmare would be to collapse midway, unable to ride. I hope that wont happen...

And last but not the least, here is a last entreaty to all my blog readers to contribute to my cause, every $ counts. Do take time to visit my page and donate. All I am asking you all is to sponsor $0.10 for every mile I ride.. i.e. $16.00. That is not much is it?

Click here to contribute.

Rolex Watches at affordable price!

Yes you read it right, I just visited the website of Best of Time - Where Time Lasts Forever, where one could buy genuine Rolex watches for a fraction of its manufacturer suggested retail prices. How is this possible? Rolex is a globally respected brand name?? According to their website Best of Time is an independent dealer of new and pre-owned Rolex Watches, due to which they are able to pass on greater discounts to customers.

When I first saw the prices I couldn't believe it. Rolex watches priced at $4,000 can be bought for less than half its price here. Take for example one of my favorite Rolex Models, the Date just, it retails at $7800, but at Best of Time, you could buy it for just $2,899.95 only. Isn't that a great bargain price?

Another feature of Best of time is their strong customer orientation. Their goal is not just selling watches but make this process hassle free and comfortable for you, the buyer. So if you have always dreamed of owning a Rolex, this is the time to buy and the place to buy is Best of Time.

Permanent Abode for sale?

This advertisement was published in a local newspaper in their religion section. Feeling this kind of advertising and promotion even for after-death services is amazing. Simply put, people in the US have mastered the art of marketing. Everything under the sun is for sale for the right price.

Texas Road Views

Some pictures shot while traveling recently. These are nothing great but general sights I see on the road. Hope you all like the views.

This is a shopping mall.. built in a different style with parking lots bigger than the buildings

Loaded pick up trucks are a common sight in Texas

Texas is a state full of multi-level highway intersections.

Hacking could be a lucrative career option!

The days when gun-wielding, masked men barging into a home/ office/ bank with an intention to rob and loot are gone. In the modern wired world thieves are suave, tech-savvy, educated and skilled people. They tamper with the IT Security of banks, individuals and businesses and rob them through the computer, using internet and telecommunications technologies.

To combat these types of white-collared crooks a new genre of professionals known as "Ethical Hackers" are being deployed. Network and system security are very important in the modern world heavily dependent upon electronic media. What is Ethical Hacking? This is the process in which software experts help organizations take preventive security measures against hackers. These professionals work like a vaccine, they attack the system, but with an intention of strengthening its security.

With the rise in internet and technology proliferation the job opportunities for a well trained and
Certified Ethical Hacker is on the rise. Organizations increasingly depend on technology, the job of the ethical hacker is becoming more complex. Keeping this in mind there are numerous organizations such as EC-Council that offer courses and certify individuals interested in becoming a ethical hacker.

In my opinion though it sounds like a glamorous career option with great earning potential, this is not for everyone. To become an ethical hacker one needs to be creative and think out of the box and come up with innovative security solutions for organizations. If you are interested in a career in ethical hacking just go ahead and sign up for a course in the subject and you will be equipped for a great recession-proof career.

Wills Point - A Texas Village

Wills Point is a small town or rather I'd say a village in back country Texas. since this is sited on the way to Lake Tawakoni we stopped by for lunch here. Like most Indian villages this Texas rural hamlet is also a one-road town. In the sense that this city has one main road which is a highway running through its downtown/ commercial district. After lunch I just walked around few blocks to caputre some pictures of Wills Point.

Will Point's main square... doesn't it look familiar??? I have seen a similar square/ round gazebo-like intersection in almost every Indian village

Looks like the city's largest business house

Thanks to road infrastructure like this, there is no real village in the US

Wills Point even has a visitor information center... wonder why???

Lake Tawakoni - Reservoir which looks like an ocean!

Yesterday we visited Lake Tawakoni State Park, sited deep in the countryside of Hunt County of Texas. Though it is sited less than 100 miles from Dallas, the drive is through several tiny villages and towns. Since spring is just starting, the weather was not too hot and lush greenery could be seen all around, hence we could enjoy the drive without feeling hot and bothered. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife website, this is one hell of a big lake. The water spans across 36,700 surface-acres and stores the waters of Sabine river. When we visited the lake it was very very windy, due to which waters of the lake were as choppy as a stormy sea. Here are some pictures of this wonderful lake.
Like all other state parks in Texas there are numerous recreation and leisure facilities available. Clean bathrooms, trash pick up sites, camp grounds and electrified camp sites (luxury in the wild???)... biking trails, walking paths, etc are available. But my favorite is of course the vast sandy swimming beach where one can enter the water and enjoy to the heart's content. The love of water is inbuilt in me, belonging to the fishy zodiac sign.

Explore Switzerland the slow and steady way

In my opinion travel is best done slow and relaxed. Visiting some place is not to see everything there but to feel and absorb the essence of the location. This can be done only when the mode of transport is such that you becoming part of the scenery and not just look at it. What better way to do this than travel by bike?

Europe is a great place for bicycling. Within Europe one nation stands out in terms of scenic beauty, natural attractions and rolling countrysides. Yes you guessed right, it is Switzerland. One of my biggest dreams is to travel across this stamp-sized nation by bicycle! Being an avid bike enthusiast I have been exploring the net trying to find out ways and means of taking a quick bike holiday in this wondrous mountain nation.

I came across Bike Switzerland, a premier bicycle tour company based in Geneva. Their tours offer participants a glimpse to the rich diversity, history and outdoor grandeur of Switzerland. The tours emphasis is on luxury, relaxation, experience and value for clients money. The itineraries are designed such that cyclists get to travel on backroads of the nation and see end to end of Switzerland in just 7-8 days.

Of course if you are the explorer types, you could opt for an independent tour package and discover Swiss hospitality on your own. If you would rather enjoy the luxury of having all the arrangements taken care, then opt for a guided bicycle tour and you can experience stay in castles, monasteries, chalets and spa hotels.

You don't have to worry about your baggage transfers or on-road bike repairs or anything like that. All those little details are taken care of by Bike Switzerland. All you need to do is to bicycle and enjoy your holiday.

Last Year's MS 150

Since I registered and started training for the National MS Society's, MS-150 bicycle ride, I have been searching the web for videos about the previous events. This is basically to learn about the format of the event and also to get an idea of what its going to be like on May 2-3 this year. I found this video of last years event and felt that it would be great to share with all my blog readers.
My fund raising efforts are still on, few people have committed to donate for the cause of MS, nobody has actually donated yet. Hopefully in the next ten days I will achieve my fund-raising goal.

Single in Miami? Find your soulmate here!!!

Localization and micro-focussing is the buzzword in everything now. Similarly internet dating sites which are local, catering to a small geographic area are attracting more attention than ever. One draw is there is the possibility of being able to meet in person after a few e-mails which would be difficult in a long-distance romance. One of the newest websites launched in this space caters to residents of Miami. This miami personals website is a space where guys and girls based in Miami or those planning to move to Miami can find love.

There are numerous interactive tools which will help you zero-in the ideal partner and pursue a prospective love interest. The website offers a suitable platform to meet prospective lovers, friends and life partners. The best part of the deal is that it is absolutely free to join and post your profile. You can also browse the existing profiles for free. So if you are out there looking for a date, mate or a life partner go ahead and look up this website.

Inspirations for the MS-150 Bike ride

Since I registered for the Sam's club MS-150 bike ride I have been training on bicycling trails in the area and also looking up information, videos, pictures and articles about MS and the past rides. I found this video presentation of 2007 MS-150 bike ride and thought I'd share it with all of you.

Finding the right Dentist!

Finding the right dentist for your family can be a challenging task. Dentists are not only as important as any other medical professional you would consult with, but they are the ones who can make or mar your smile and facial appearance. Hence it is important that you find the right dentist for your entire family. I recently came across this Plano Dentist who offers services in all aspects of dentistry including cosmetic, general and family dentistry.

This dental office prides itself in making you feel comfortable and relaxed right from the moment you enter their office. Whatever your need maybe, just a routine cleaning or consultation for your child or even enhancing your smile to make it bright and glorious, the dentists here will offer you the right solutions.

And don't worry about the costs, these Plano Dentists don't expect you to pay an arm and a leg for their services. They accept all PPO insurance and will work with your checks, credit cards or cash payments. So if you want your teeth and smile to be in good hands get in touch with the best.

Training on Plano Trails

The past couple of days I have been training in the city of Plano, Tx. This city unlike Carrollton (where I live) has better maintained and longer bicycling trails. There are three trails which I frequent The Blue Bonnet Trail, Preston Ridge Trail and Chisolm Trail. Since I wanted to seriously train I didn't carry my camera, so you all will have to be content with word pictures.
Moreover today was perhaps a bad day for cycling because the wind was heavy and one direction of my cycling was a tough cookie... the harder I cycled the more resistant the wind became... so I guess I would have expended twice the amount of energy to do the same distance.

The Blue Bonnet Trail is a 5-mile long trail which passes through various residential neighborhoods and parks. This East-West trail is lined by large expanses of blue bonnet plants. It is a treat to the eye to watch these blue blossoms swaying in the wind as we whiz past on the trail. I kinda don't like this trail very much because this has too many street crossings and there is very little tree cover... actually no tree cover at all.

Then there is the Preston Ridge Trail... this is also a long trail which runs in the North-South direction and like the Blue Bonnet trail much of it is through residential communities and hence quite boring too. The one better feature of this trail is that this is wee bit hilly and one can experience climbs and down hills. The last mile of the trail, close the highway 121, is through a protected forest and has quite a bit of tree cover and a large artificial lake.

The last trail Chisolm Trail is my favorite, for two reasons, this a lots of tree cover, runs along a winding creek and has very few street crossings. Whenever a road has to be crossed the trail passes under the road via a cool bridge. There are beautiful lake views, forest areas, conservation buffer zones etc, along the trial. And of course I caught glimpses of urban wildlife... geese, ducks, cranes, egrets, and of course the ubiquitous cormorants and crows. Chisolm trail also passes along a large lake in an area known as Big Lake Park and a war memorial, known as Memorial Park. These attractions give a unique character to this trail and thus my favourite.

I enjoyed cycling 30 miles (50 km) today, took me 2 hrs 45 mins and hopefully I will do more tomorrow and the days to come.

Needless to say I am still looking for donations for my cause - Eradication of Multiple Sclerosis. Do visit my page and contribute generously to this needy cause.

Contemporary Furniture

I have always been of the firm opinion that a home should have minimum furniture and maximum space. But then this principle doesn't mean that we sacrifice any of our necessities. For example I need a utilitarian desk to work at home. But most desks available in furniture stores are so big and hog so much space I'd find it difficult to fit it in my corner niche.
Recently I visited this cool online rustic furniture store where I found just the right desk for my corner. The Walnut 3 Drawer Corner Desk is simply utilitarian, consumes little space and is shaped different making it a unique piece of furniture. The desk gives a natural earthy feel to my study and being hand-crafted it gives a human touch. Now that I have found this online store, I am sure I will be visiting this regularly to check out their offerings.

Vistas of Campion Trail, Irving

I had blogged earlier about my bicycling experience on the 5-mile Campion trail in Irving as part of my training for the MS-150 bike ride. Well one thing I must say about this trail is its natural and man-made beauty. While some of the river views along the trail are stunning.. the sight of the mega highways of Texas is no less awesome. If trees, river and birds soothe your soul, the road sight and traffic noises make you starkly aware of human intervention here.

Here are some more pictures shot along the trail.