Rules of Luck

As you seek for greater levels of success in your life, remember these "Luck Rules":

1. Listen to unexpected impressions that come to mind: they can lead to unexpected lucky opportunities!

2. Hard work puts cause and effect into motion. Once you have experienced the effects and rewards of hard work, luck willingly climbs aboard.

3. Don't stand immobilized waiting for opportunity. Instead, turn an everyday occasion into an extraordinary and lucky one.

4. Prepare, prepare, and prepa re for opportunity. There is nothing more demoralizing than being unprepared when an amazing, lucky opportunity presents itself.

5. Know exactly what you want and be fully determined to relentlessly pursue it and luck will find you.

6. When one door closes, don't stand and stare. Immediately open another one full of luck and opportunity.

7. Give 110%, then luck will kick in.

8. When opportunity knocks, answer immediately and luck will morph into something you have earned.

Follow these Luck Rules and luck will rule your life!

2011 International / World Days List

World Days in January 2011
04	World Braille Day 2011

World Days in February 2011
04	World Cancer Day 2011
05	World Nutella Day 2011
20	World Day of Social Justice 2011
21	International Mother Language Day 2011
22	World Thinking Day 2011

World Days in March 2011
06	National Donut Day 2011
08	International Womens Day 2011
22	World Water Day 2011
24	World Tuberculosis Day 2011

World Days in April 2011
07	World Health Day 2011
11	World Parkinson's Day 2011
17	World Hemophilia Day 2011
23	World Book and Copyright day 2011

World Days in May 2011
01	International Labor Day 2011
03	World Press Freedom Day 2011 and World Asthma Day and World Asthma Day 2011
05	World Athletics Day
08	World Red Cross Day 2011
10	World Lupus Day 2011
12	International CFS Awareness Day and International Nurses Day 2011
15	International Day of Families 2011
17	World Telecommunication Day
19	World Hepatitis Day 2011
21	World Anti Terrorism Day 2011
22	International Day for Biodiversity and International Day for Biological Diversity 2011
25	World Meteorological Day 2011
31	World No Tobacco Day 2011

World Days in June 2011
01	International Childrens Day 2011
04	International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression and World Naturist Day 2011
05	World Environment Day 2011
08	World Ocean Day 2011
14	World Blood Donor Day 2011
19	World Sauntering Day 2011 and World Sickle Cell Day 2011
20	World Refugee Day 2011
21	World Music Day 2011
23	International Olympic Day 2011
26	International Anti Drugs Day 2011

World Days in July 2011
02	World Sports Journalists Day
06	World Zoonosis Day
07	International Day of Cooperatives
11	World Population Day

World Days in August 2011
12	International Youth Day 2011
13	International Left Handers Day 2011
16	World Youth Day 2011

World Days in September 2011
08	International Literacy Day 2011
15	World Lymphoma Awareness Day and International Day of Democracy 2011
21	International Peace Day 2011
22	World Maritime Day 2011
24	World Heart Day 2011
27	World Tourism Day 2011

World Days in October 2011
01	World Vegetarian Day 2011
02	World Farm Animal Day 2011
03	World Habitat Day 2011 and World Architecture Day
04	World Animal Day 2011 and UN World Space Week 2011
05	World Teachers Day 2011
07	International Day for Older Persons 2011
09	World Post Day 2011
10	World Egg Day 2011 and UN World Mental Health Day 2011
12	UN International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction 2011
13	World Sight Day 2011
15	World Handwashing Day 2011
16	UN World Food Day 2011
17	International Day For Eradication Of Poverty 2011
23	UN Disarmament Week 2011
24	World Development Information Day 2011
25	World Pasta Day 2011

World Days in November 2011
14	World Diabetes Day 2011
16	International Day of Tolerance 2011
20	Africa Industrialization Day 2011 and Universal Children Day 2011
21	World Television Day 2011

World Days in December 2011
01	World Aids Day 2011
02	International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 2011
03	International Day of Disabled Persons 2011
07	International Civil Aviation Day 2011
09	International Anti Corruption Day 2011
10	Human Rights Day 2011
11	International Mountain Day 2011
13	World Violin Day
18	International Migrants Day 2011

A Collection Of Sonal's Series Of Articles - A Calmer You !

For all the Fans Of Sonal Kalra out there, here's a small gift for you guys. I've collected links to some of the articles from the series 'A Calmer You' which is published every week in HT City. Read them one by one & stay calm cause calmness works wonders. :)

A calmer you

Did you hop on the wagon ?

Utter at your own risk !

Just a game. Really?

Hamein toh accent ne maar diya...

An open letter to a suicidal friend.

3 things we feel inferior about... and never should

Where's my praise?

Spare me the tattoo trauma

Hamare zamane mein toh...kya?

Jo dar gaya... woh?

Made in heaven? Are you sure?

Taking us for a ride

The joke's on them, my dear

5 stress inducing foods and why I'll still never give them up

Old PC, New Use !

In J.K. Rowling's own words: 'If you choose to use your status and influence to raise your voice on behalf of those who have no voice; if you choose to identify not only with the powerful, but with the powerless; if you retain the ability to imagine yourself into the lives of those who do not have your advantages, then it will not only be your proud families who celebrate your existence, but thousands and millions of people whose reality you have helped change. We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.'

DonateYourPC.in (or DYPC as we love to call it!) is such an initiative. It is a platform to take usable but outdated PCs which usually end up being given off as junk and giving them to needy schools/NGOs who can put it to better use. DYPC was started in January 2008 by couple of software professionals as an experiment to see if people would want to donate their old PCs to charity. Since in our country PCs are 'inherited' in the family by one's younger siblings and cousins. Well the experiment succeeded, and many individuals have donated their old PCs and/or peripherals to needy NGOs.

How does it work?

As a donor one has just has to register their donations in the DonateyourPC website (http://donateyourpc.in). As soon as a NGO contacts the group asking for a PC, the donor will be contacted. The donor's contact details will be kept confidential and will only be provided to the requestor after his/her consent. Similarly, a requestor has to login and register their requirements in the site and also provide the reason for their request. The requestor will receive the PC as soon as a donation matching their request is found. They can also check the donations offered page in the site and choose a particular PC.

How can you help?

Volunteering

--------------------

Volunteers form the backbone of DonateYourPC.

As a DYPC volunteer, you can:

·           Spread the word and promote the causes, awareness->activation->action

·           Introduce DYPC to your own city or your organization/institution.

·           Verify donor and beneficiary requests and co-ordinate donations in your    city.

·           Help us grow through your suggestions and initiatives

Donating

-------------------- 

As a DYPC donor:

·           You can donate entire PC (including CPU and peripherals) or only the        peripherals (monitor, mouse, keyboard etc)  Ensure that the items you are          willing to donate are in working condition

·           Register on the DYPC site and tell us what all you want to donate

·           You will be contacted by us only when your donation offer matches a        suitable genuine requirement. 

Spreading the Word!

---------------------------- 

Lend us support. Working professionals and students like you and me keep this campaign afloat

• Visit  http://donateyourpc.in  and share the DYPC link. (Easiest way is to keep it in your email signature!)
• Follow and Tweet about DonateYourPC (@dypc)
• Join the DYPC group on Facebook
• Talk to your friends and family about it.
• Blog it! Digg it!      

DYPC doesn’t take ANY monetary donations. All we need is your support which you can extend to us by telling more people about us. Join us and let's try to gap the digital divide in the country one old PC at a time!

Top Jobs Sites In India

These are the top Job Sites which provides the latest jobs and job related information. It is advisable to fill your resume and get updated with the latest jobs and requirements in the market.

Naukri
Naukri is the largest job site in India with highest number of people registered for getting information about jobs. Since its inception in the year 1997, this job site has earned a good name from the job seekers and the providers. It is regarded as one of the top job sites in India. The group operates across all the major ventures namely, real estate, jobs and matrimony.

Monster India
Like Naukri, Monster India is recognized as the second top job sites in India. The main objective of this job search site is to enable the job seekers to find out their relevant job, a new career avenue, and discover the latest job opportunities that exactly match your profile.

Times Jobs
Times Jobs is one of the most popular job search sites in India. The site contains all types of jobs and helps an individual to find out the right job of his or her choice relevant to his or her area of study.

Careerjet
Careerjet is one of the leading job search engines which have been specially designed to make the entire process of finding a job on the internet much easier for the Internet users. It lists down all the job offerings available in Internet from recruitment agency websites to top company websites and specialist recruitment sites.

Naukri Hub
Naukri Hub is regarded as one of the best job sites in India which has good recognition in North India. Naukri Hub is a popular web portal which is committed towards guiding millions of job aspirants to find the correct way. A good website which believes that there is no shortcut to quality and always inspires people to set their dreams sky high. The way Naukri Hub executes all the relevant and best sorted job information, places it at a bench mark position. The site indeed leaves a mark to tremendous teamwork, provides an innovative approach, and leads to an excellently well built customer relationship.

Career India
Career India is also one of the top job sites in India. It features sections like Walk-ins, Walk-in-interviews, Post your Seekers and Resumes, IT Jobs in India, Government jobs in India, software jobs in India etc which helps you to select from the list of jobs.

Bixee
Bixee is also one of the most popular job sites in India. It was launched during the latter part of 2005. In this site, you can find lots of information on Jobs in India, Chennai, Delhi, Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore over the internet.

ClickJobs
Click Jobs is a career opportunity site which gives you the option of keeping your profile in the site’s database. The site allows you to keep some of your information confidential if you desire to do so. If a potential employer is interested to view your full profile, you will be directly contacted via email and will be given the name of the potential employer.

CareerAge
CareerAge was created in the year 1996 and the portal was officially launched in December 1999. This job site was launched for the purpose of making available the various types of jobs and career information over the internet. It is regarded as one of the most comprehensive job portals in India which help the students as well as the career builders by providing detailed information on various career options.

Freshersworld
This is a portal catering to the jobs for freshers in India. It features sections like Hot Jobs, government Jobs, Defense, Software Jobs, Careers, Placementweek, Company List and Interview Tips.

Shine
Shine is another good Job related site in India which has links with top companies. It provides job related information to hundreds of users online and gives you updated information about the latest jobs in market.
Fill in your resume in these top Job Sites in India and get your dream come true by getting a chance to find jobs in top companies in India.

Source: http://www.mytechnogrill.com/top-job-sites-in-india

2010 World Days List

World Days in January 2010

27 International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust

World Days in February 2010

4 World Cancer Day

20 World Day of Social Justice

21 International Mother Language Day

World Days in March 2010

8 International Women's Day and

United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace

21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

21-28 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination

22 World Water Day

23 World Meteorological Day

24 World Tuberculosis Day

World Days in April 2010

4 International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action

7 World Health Day

23 World Book and Copyright Day

World Days in May 2010

1 International Labor Day

3 World Press Freedom Day

5 World Athletics Day

8 World Red Cross Day

12 International Nurses Day

15 International Day of Families

17 World Information Society Day

21 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

22 International Day for Biological Diversity

25-June 1 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories

29 International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers

31 World No-Tobacco Day

1st Tuesday of May World Asthma Day

World Days in June 2010

1 International children's day

4 International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

5 World Environment Day

17 World Ocean Day

17 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

20 World Refugee Day

21 World Music Day

23 United Nations Public Service Day

26 International Anti Drugs Day and

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

World Days in July 2010

First Saturday International Day of Cooperatives

2 World Sports Journalists Day

6 World Zonnosis Day

11 World Population Day

World Days in August 2010

9 International Day of the World's Indigenous People

12 International Youth Day

23 International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

World Days in September 2010

8 International Literacy Day

15 International Day of Democracy, World Engineer's Day

16 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

19 International Talk Like A Pirate Day

21 International Day of Peace

24 World Heart Day

27 World Tourism Day

During last Week World Maritime Day

World Days in October 2010

1 World Vegetarian Day and

International Day for Older Persons

2 World Farm Animals Day

4 World Animal Day

4 - 10 World Space Week

5 World Teacher's Day

First Monday World Habitat Day

Second Wednesday International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction

9 World Post Day

10 World Egg Day and

World Mental Health Day

15 Global Handwashing Day

16 World Food Day

17 International Day for the Eradication of Proverty

24 United Nations Day and

World Development Information Day

24-30 Disarmament Week

25 World Pasta Day

First Monday of October World Habitat Day

World Days in November 2010

6 International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

14 World Diabetes Day

16 International Day of Tolerance

Third Sunday World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

20 Universal Children's Day, and

Africa Industrialization Day

21 World Television Day

25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

29 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

World Days in December 2010

1 World AIDS Day

2 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

3 International Day of Disabled Persons

5 International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development

7 International Civil Aviation Day

9 International Anti Corruption Day

10 Human Rights Day

11 International Mountain Day

18 International Migrants Day

19 United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation

20 International Human Solidarity Day

Top IT skills that can get you a better job

With the job markets opening up, it is time for all the aspiring techies to be equipped with the right skills that can land them in a job now. Recently, several reports have indicated that the job market is booming again after the slump due to the economic slowdown. Based on inputs from some industry watchers, Siliconindia has come out with the list of the Top IT Skills currently in demand.


SAP
The surging demand in the ERP market is expected to increase the adoption of SAP in organizations around the globe. "The demand for SAP market is currently booming and with many companies adopting ERP these days, SAP continues to dominate this space," says Harry CD, Executive Director-Operations at 3G Labs India. Currently, SAP and Oracle are the two major ERP players, however the former is having an advantage over the latter when it comes to the demand in the market. The reason behind this dominance of SAP in the ERP market is because of the customer satisfaction, according a study conducted by Panorama Consulting Group. Analysts have also predicted that SAP's Business ByDesign offering will do well this year, which will drive the demand for more SAP professionals.

Some of the applications developed by SAP that are seeing major demand are:

SAP Web Dynpro: It is a proprietary web application user interface technology developed by SAP. The increasing number of web applications around the globe needs professionals having this skill.

SAP Plant Maintenance: It deals with the preventive maintenance of manufacturing equipment that accompanies a streamlined production process. SAP PM also monitors downtime of equipment, workforce production hour as well as the time, materials and labor necessary for such maintenance.

SAP Advanced Planner and Optimizer: With the boom in the retail segment this is one tool that is bound to see growth in the coming days. Advanced Planner and Optimizer is designed to help a company improve production planning, pricing, scheduling, and product shipping. It works by getting real-time updates from retailers about customer demand.

SAP Governance, Risk management and Compliance: Today, every organization must chart its own course to embrace governance, risk management and compliance framework, weighing critical business requirements with organizational maturity and top-level commitment. Companies may choose to start by identifying one or two high-priority risk areas and initiate a business-specific or initiative-driven deployment of the applications.
Java
Today, Java is being used in more than 4.5 billion devices around the world and the usage is expected to rise further because of the growth in the number of mobile phones, personal computers and smart cards. Java applets help to have an improved functionality while browsing the internet also making it more attractive. "Java is in demand because there are more companies developing user interface and web applications for their clients. The rise in popularity of software as a service (SAAS) model is also giving the edge to Java professionals," says Rishi Das, Co-founder and CEO of CareerNet Consulting.
C++
Many believe that the demand for C++ has always been there and there are not many signs that show the fall of this computer language in the near future. Satish Kumar, a HR executive with an IT firm believes that the demand for programmers like C++ remains constant because these are used in segments such as automobile, healthcare and communication systems, which are always in the growth trajectory.
PHP
PHP, which facilitates the production of dymanic web pages, was created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1995 and its growth has been phenomenal. Last year, PHP was estimated to have been installed on more than 20 million websites and over one million web servers, the number would have multiplied today considering the current surge in the online world. Today, there are several companies that are getting into this space that is driving the demand for professionals with knowledge about PHP.
 
IT Infrastructure Management
With more companies identifying the importance of infrastructure management services, there is a great demand for people who are specialized in this space, says Reuben Prem, an IT Recruiter in Bangalore. According to research firm IDC, currently investments in infrastructure management have the largest single impact on an organization's revenue. Today, some of the top IT firms have also entered into this segment by identifying the opportunities that are available. Recently, TCS signed a five year contract with Malaysia Airlines for managing the airline's datacentres, IT networks and IT security.
Oracle
Though there seems to be more demand for SAP professionals compared to Oracle, the demand for professionals in the overall ERP software market is on the rise. Forrester Research predicts that ERP software revenue from new licenses would have fallen 24 percent in 2009. However, 2010 looks good for ERP for several reasons such as the growth in open-source market and players like Microsoft broadening its ERP offerings. Anuj Agrawal, Director of Zyoin believes that the acquisitions that Oracle has been making in the recent past, especially the Sun Microsystems deal, may alter the ERP market and give some advantage to Oracle over SAP. In the financial services space Oracle applications still holds a high position with Oracle Financials, Oracle HRMS, Oracle Projects, Oracle CRM and Oracle PO considered as the most widely used applications and demand for them is moving upwards.
.NET
Since the birth of multi-core computing, there has been a requirement for parallel-programming architecture. Incidentally, almost every programmer considers .NET Framework 3.5 as getting distant and out of the way. To prevent its programming market fiasco, recently, Microsoft released the beta version of .NET Framework 4. Primarily, the MSDN site shows that the parallel extensions in the .NET 4, has been improvised to support analogous programming, targeting multi-core computing or distributed computing. Thus, making it the right time to be equipped with the .NET skills.

Embedded C++
The increasing demand for embedded systems is driving the growth for Embedded C++, which was defined by an industry group to address the shortcomings of C++ for embedded applications. The official website states the goal of Embedded C++ as to provide embedded systems programmers with a subset of C++ that is easy for the average C programmer to understand and use. "If your interest lies in embedded systems, having the knowledge of Embedded C++ will surely get you a job," says Kumar.
C
C is still one of the most popular programming languages though it was developed nearly three decades ago and there are very few computer architectures for which a C compiler does not exist. C has greatly influenced many other popular programming languages, most notably C++, which originally began as an extension to C. "For all those who have been working on C, the demand still exists in the market because their application is wide," says Prem.

IPL 2010 Schedule

3/12/2010 Deccan Chargers vs Kolkata Knight Riders 20:00 (IST) Match 1

3/13/2010 Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals 15:00 (IST) Match 2

3/13/2010 Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils 20:00 (IST) Match 3

3/14/2010 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 16:00 (IST) Match 4

3/14/2010 Chennai Super Kings vs Deccan Chargers 20:00 (IST) Match 5

3/15/2010 Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Daredevils 20:00 (IST) Match 6

3/16/2010 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab 16:00 (IST) Match 7

3/16/2010 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings 20:00 (IST) Match 8

3/17/2010 Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians 20:00 (IST) Match 9

3/18/2010 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals 20:00 (IST) Match 10

3/19/2010 Delhi Daredevils vs Chennai Super Kings 16:00 (IST) Match 11

3/19/2010 Deccan Chargers vs Kings XI Punjab 20:00 (IST) Match 12

3/20/2010 Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders 16:00 (IST) Match 13

3/20/2010 Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 20:00 (IST) Match 14

3/21/2010 Deccan Chargers vs Delhi Daredevils 16:00 (IST) Match 15

3/21/2010 Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab 20:00 (IST) Match 16

3/22/2010 Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders 20:00 (IST) Match 17

3/23/2010 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings 20:00 (IST) Match 18

3/24/2010 Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals 20:00 (IST) Match 19

3/25/2010 Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings 20:00 (IST) Match 20

3/26/2010 Rajasthan Royals vs Deccan Chargers 20:00 (IST) Match 21

3/27/2010 Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders 16:00 (IST) Match 22

3/27/2010 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Daredevils 20:00 (IST) Match 23

3/28/2010 Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings 16:00 (IST) Match 24

3/28/2010 Deccan Chargers vs Mumbai Indians 20:00 (IST) Match 25

3/29/2010 Delhi Daredevils vs Kolkata Knight Riders 20:00 (IST) Match 26

3/30/2010 Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab 20:00 (IST) Match 27

3/31/2010 Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 16:00 (IST) Match 28

3/31/2010 Delhi Daredevils vs Rajasthan Royals 20:00 (IST) Match 29

4/1/2010 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Deccan Chargers 20:00 (IST) Match 30

4/2/2010 Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 20:00 (IST) Match 31

4/3/2010 Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals 16:00 (IST) Match 32

4/3/2010 Mumbai Indians vs Deccan Chargers 20:00 (IST) Match 33

4/4/2010 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab 16:00 (IST) Match 34

4/4/2010 Delhi Daredevils vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 20:00 (IST) Match 35

4/5/2010 Deccan Chargers vs Rajasthan Royals 20:00 (IST) Match 36

4/6/2010 Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians 20:00 (IST) Match 37 

4/7/2010 Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab 16:00 (IST) Match 38

4/7/2010 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils 20:00 (IST) Match 39

4/8/2010 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Deccan Chargers 20:00 (IST) Match 40

4/9/2010 Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians 20:00 (IST) Match 41

4/10/2010 Deccan Chargers vs Chennai Super Kings 16:00 (IST) Match 42

4/10/2010 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders 20:00 (IST) Match 43

4/11/2010 Delhi Daredevils vs Kings XI Punjab 16:00 (IST) Match 44

4/11/2010 Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians 20:00 (IST) Match 45

4/12/2010 Deccan Chargers vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 20:00 (IST) Match 46

4/13/2010 Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Daredevils 16:00 (IST) Match 47

4/13/2010 Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders 20:00 (IST) Match 48

4/14/2010 Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore 20:00 (IST) Match 49

4/15/2010 Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Daredevils 20:00 (IST) Match 50

4/16/2010 Kings XI Punjab vs Deccan Chargers 20:00 (IST) Match 51

4/17/2010 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians 16:00 (IST) Match 52

4/17/2010 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals 20:00 (IST) Match 53

4/18/2010 Kings XI Punjab vs Chennai Super Kings 16:00 (IST) Match 54

4/18/2010 Delhi Daredevils vs Deccan Chargers 20:00 (IST) Match 55

4/19/2010 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians 20:00 (IST) Match 56
4/21/2010 T.B.C. vs T.B.C. 20:00 (IST) 1st Semi Final 

4/22/2010 T.B.C. vs T.B.C. 20:00 (IST) 2nd Semi Final 

4/24/2010 T.B.C. vs T.B.C. 20:00 (IST) 3/4 place playoff 

4/25/2010 T.B.C. vs T.B.C. 20:00 (IST) Final 

CA top salary zooms to Rs. 70 Lakh

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has created a record by placing three of its candidates at a record salary of close to Rs. 70 lakh with Singapore-based Olam International. This is the highest ever salary offered to fresh CAs recruited from the ICAI campus, the apex body that conducts the CA examination and places the successful candidates every year, reports Economic Times.

In 2007, a record salary of Rs. 38.25 lakh was offered in 2007. The three candidates who have been offered the record salary, were picked by the agriculture supply chain major from ICAI's Chennai campus. Olam plans to hire around eight candidates from ICAI.

According to Economic Times, ICAI started its first phase of placements through five out of 15 campuses on March 4. The first day itself saw 320 candidates being picked up. Companies which hired successful CAs on the first day include IOC, ITC, Tolaram, Vedant, S R Batliboy, Yes Bank, GE Capital, REC, L&T, Axis Bank, Morgan Stanley, HCL Technology and Delloite.

"We are very happy with the offers we have seen on very first day of our campus recruitment. It suggests that now we are out of the global recession and recruiters are ready to offer right packages to right candidates," said Subodh Agrawal, Chairman of the Committee for Members in Industry, ICAI, in a reaction to the record offer. "It is a 100 percent rise from our earlier best," he added. Explaining the hiring sentiment Agarwal said, "Now with the upturn, good candidates keen to work within the country. Therefore, companies need to pay a premium to hire them for global positions."

When contacted by Economic Times, Olam International confirmed the Rs. 70 lakh offer." Michael Joseph who handles global recruitments at the company said, "We are operating in a recession-free industry. So, there are really no limits now," he said.

Auto driver turns web entrepreneur

An auto rickshaw driver from Chennai, M Samson has studied only till Standard-VII, but understands the medium of internet and online banner advertisements better than many local businessmen available in the society.

Samson runs an advertising website named as NetwayAdvertise.com. Talking to Satrajit Sen of AlooTechie, Samson said, "I started this website mainly for local businessmen who can't advertise in print or TV due to their high ad rates." Samson charges Rs.500 a year for hosting a display ad. Currently, there are about 15 banner ads running on the site and with that rate, he earns around Rs.7,500 a year from his online advertising business. The expenditures for the portal include a fee of Rs.2,000 per year for site maintenance and upgrading the domain registration, and a payment of Rs 60 to the webmaster for creating and uploading each banner ad.

It was not an easy journey for a local auto rickshaw driver to learn about the internet medium and the ways of earning money through that, but the ability to learn new things and earn more money helped Samson to reach where he is today. According to Samson, he was first introduced to the world of internet in 1997 by a traveller from Japan who taught Samson how to access and use Hotmail so that he could communicate with his foreign clients, whenever they would want to visit the city. Gradually, Samson became familiar with emails, and also came to know that news and information can be gathered from internet. In 2006, a British Airways co-pilot, who was Samson's client then, saw him accessing hotmail and gave him the idea to advertise his services on internet. "Initially, I couldn't understand how one can advertise on internet. So, my client from British Airways explained to me the concept of a website and how it could be used to communicate across the world. I asked him to help me in setting up the site and he was the person who went back to London and designed the website TukTastic.com for me," Samson said. [TukTastic is a play with two words Tuk-Tuk, which means an auto rickshaw, and fantastic.

Once the site was launched, Samson started getting a lot of queries on email and SMS from travellers. "Though, I can't recount the numbers, most of the queries came from the foreigners. But gradually Indians were also catching up to the number of queries. Presently, I get between three to five queries every day," said Samson. Later on, Samson told some of his businessmen friends about TukTastic and explained the global nature of internet, some of them became interested and wanted to advertise their business as well on internet. But they didn't know where to go. "I saw this as an opportunity to earn money and thus launched the online advertising site NetwayAdvertise.com to help my friends," said he.

Now with Internet becoming one of the fastest growing medium to connect with people across the world, many people may try to follow the path of M Samson and try to do something different in life.