Sandira - through the looking glass

Stand by Me - Playing for Change

2009-04-05T01:06:00.000-07:00

Playing For Change | Song Around The World "Stand By Me" from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.

Elizabeth Gilbert, humility and genius

2009-02-17T07:34:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Prey, Love, inspires us about to bring back sanity into the creative process, by redefining the concept of genius. In doing so, she allows us to share the daunting anguish she felt after her enormous success for potentially not being able to live up to it, and how she freed herself from this vertigo. I can certainly relate to that feeling, even outside of creative circumstances, especially after making it successfully to the US. You would think staring at any kind of oneself's achievements would make oneself proud, but in turn it opens that new door to anxiety when it comes to projecting 'what's next?'. Elizabeth helps us looking at it from a humble perpective. We are not solely responsible for our spikes of genius, neither are we for when genius does not show up. Either way, we have to show up for work (and make sure we have enough oil with us - cf. Parable about the Ten Maidens).

SIGNS

2009-02-13T05:31:00.001-08:00

Sandira's Birthday May 2008 in SoHo, NYC

2009-01-04T20:09:00.001-08:00

My next phone... the Nokia N97

2008-12-31T09:51:00.000-08:00

When I'm done with Sony Ericsson P1i, I'll probably jump on this one.
By then, hopefully I will have tried it myself...

With or Without You - Sungha Jung

2008-12-21T08:06:00.001-08:00

Quote of the Day inspired by the Collyer brothers

2008-12-18T07:59:00.000-08:00

As I was talking about my domain name bulimia with a colleague, the latter mentioned that instead of bulimia, I should use the word hoarding, and I was like: "what?" which led him to introduce me to the the Collyer Brothers with the help of Wikipedia...

The New York Times on March 26, 1947 wrote:

There is, admittedly, something unattractive about the avidity with which society now pores over every detail the Collyer brothers vigorously withheld from public scrutiny... It is almost as though society were taking revenge upon the brothers for daring to cut the thread that binds man to his fellows.

Xmas tree made entirely of SCSI drives (seen on Engadget)

2008-12-18T07:02:00.000-08:00

13 year-old playing "Super Mario" on ukelele

2008-12-09T08:25:00.001-08:00

Karma Kitchen, promoting generosity

2008-11-25T18:39:00.001-08:00

Karma Kitchen is a restaurant that charges nothing for its meals and people can volunteer as waiters, etc.

Verizon Wireless employees accessing Obama's cell phone records

2008-11-21T11:35:00.000-08:00

Oulala!!!
Details on this RCR Wireless News article:
http://www.rcrwireless.com/article/20081121/WIRELESS/811219995/1083/811219995/

Slumdog Millionaire - a magnificent must see movie!

2008-11-16T19:54:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in quite a while, but this is definitely worth the effort and my time, and your time... When my friend Adam (STRONGLY) recommended this movie to me, I was like, OK I'll see it, I checked the trailer earlier today and again I was like OK. But this is not OK, this is UNBELIEVABLY GOOD! That's what this movie is! On top of being amazing. Slumdog Millionaire manages to intertwine some complex layers of India, yet encompassed in a beautiful love story taking the audience onto an emotional journey stripping those layers one after the other, making it accessible for anyone to understand and more important to feel. Anyone will most certainly be entertained and touched by this counter-fatalist tale, this inspiring ascension. If you suffer from hopelessness and extreme cynicism, ask your doctor to prescribe you Slumdog Millionaire. Side effects include compassion, altruism, laughing, crying.

Yes We Can - Barack Obama Music Video

2008-11-06T06:22:00.001-08:00

What PBS has to say about the Sarah Palin Poll

2008-10-16T08:58:00.000-07:00

John Siceloff, Executive Producer of NOW on PBS, posted his comments and a recent update about their 'now' (in)famous poll "Do you think Sarah Palin is qualified to serve as Vice President of the United States?" and its legitimacy:
http://www.pbs.org/now/palin-poll.html

Here is an excerpt of yesterday's update:
"As of October 15th, the Palin poll had received over 52 million votes. We've received inquiries about why the percentages in the poll results have not changed much in the last couple of weeks. There's a simple answer. There are so many votes now that even the hundreds of thousands of new votes each day don't have much of an effect on the overall totals.
Another question is about math. As of October 15th, the "Yes" answer had 49%, the "No" answer had 49% and the "Not Sure", 0%. The question is why these numbers don't add up to 100%. Here's the reason: the poll software rounds the results down to the nearest whole number. The "Not Sure" is less than one percent, so it rounds down to zero. The rounding-down is why why the numbers may not total 100%.
With all the questions--and answers--about the percentages and the math, it's easy to take a further step and regard the results as accurate and scientific. Not so! The Palin poll is a measure of voter interest and mobilization in the closing weeks of the campaign. It should not be taken as an accurate barometer of the views of the wider public about Sarah Palin's qualifications."

Who wants to buy a firetruck this Wednesday?

2008-10-10T13:17:00.000-07:00

Come to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Auto Auction this Wednesday, October 15, at 570 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn. Doors open at 8:30 am for inspection; sale starts at 9:00 am. Over 200 items are available including scooters, SUVs, vans, and sedans!

Click here for images of Selected Values

To learn more about New York City Auctions and Sealed Bids information, visit: www.nyc.gov/dcas or dial 311.

Cool design reusable water bottle, the Kor One launches in 2 hours

2008-10-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

The Kor One, a well-thought reusable bottle, will be available for sale in a few hours. Its sleek design reminds of the Voss disposable bottles, packed with innovative features such as "the small release button that allows easy one-hand opening and closing, the hinged cap that stays open while you drink and the extra-wide mouth," to quote the NY Times article. I like the fact that you have the option to insert a mantra you can read when opening the cap, why not insert your kid's or lover's picture? Available @ $29.95.

Android vs. iPhone

2008-09-26T12:53:00.001-07:00

The Making-of Radiohead's "House of Cards" video

2008-09-25T21:21:00.001-07:00

A music video without cameras...

First Google Android phone in the US: G1, by HTC & T-Mobile

2008-09-23T12:02:00.000-07:00

HTC Dream is the first handlheld to run Android (Google's mobile operating system). It will be available @ $179 from T-Mobile on October 22.

That might make me drop AT&T... after 5 years...

Check today's press conference video.

ShopSavvy and mobile barcoding, what about Scanbuy, etc.?

2008-09-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

ShopSavvy, a company promoted by the T-Mobile Google peeps during the launch of the G1 earlier today. They developed an app running on Android that basically does what Scanbuy set via its ScanbuyShopper mobile app: capture the barcode displayed on a product in the real world and/or at a retail store and let the user know right there and then how much it costs online and/or get access to online reviews. Will ShopSavvy be sued by Neomedia too? What does it mean for other companies in the space in the mobile barcoding space, including 2D? If those patents are not a problem, then we should see money pouring into companies developing apps using the barcode as a point of entry. Why not the guys @ RINEN for OpenTrace.org...

Topknot by Cornershop

2008-09-22T12:08:00.001-07:00

When I was little, my mom used to tell me about when she was little too and how she enjoyed the flying kites competitions in India.

What Should We Do With Our Life?

2008-09-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

By: Po Bronson

The real meaning of success -- and how to find it.

A fantastic article about why and how each individual should find meaning in what he/she does and go for it. I especially like how the author, Po Bronson, finds out about some misconceptions and kills in the process the idea of wanting to make (tons of) money 'first' in order to fund/unleash that meaningful dream.
To me, it's like parents who plans to have kids when they earn enough, thinking that this financial comfort will automatically bring the emotional balance required for the 'preparation of the nest'.
The article is from 2002 (published in Fast Company), I wonder if the author still thinks that way, or if he made some new discoveries on the topic.
Apparently he wrote a bunch of books:

Inside the Angel investor's mind @ TechCrunch50

2008-09-16T11:55:00.000-07:00

I want to be a Yossi Vardi when I grow up... :)

Why has Lehman Brothers collapsed?

2008-09-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

Lehman Brothers collapse: Q&A

By Harry Wallop, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
Last Updated: 4:38pm BST 15/09/2008

Q. Why has Lehman Brothers collapsed?

A. It was one of the most exposed banks to the US sub-prime mortgage market. It did not give out mortgages to ordinary American citizens. Rather, it bought up billions of dollars worth of these loans from US banks, re-packaged them, and sold them on to global investors.

It also invested heavily in property, both commercial and residential. With the US housing market in free-fall these re-packaged loans and its property portfolio have plummeted in value. In June to August last year, the bank said it would write off $700 million (£390 million), from its balance sheet as a result.

In the same three months this year, this figure soared to $7.8 billion (£4.34 billion). The bank tried to sell itself but no one – including the UK's Barclays – was willing to take on these "toxic" assets.

Q. Could others follow Lehman Brothers?

A. Yes. Merrill Lynch, one of the most venerable Wall Street firms, has been bought out by the Bank of America to save it going under. AIG, the world's largest insurance company is also running short of funds, it is understood. It is almost certain another major financial institution will collapse.

Q. Why does it matter that Lehman has collapsed and others are in trouble?

A. Lehman does not have any High Street branches, ordinary savers or mortgage customers. However, its collapse will have profound implications for people around the world – and not just for its 25,000 staff, 5,000 of them in the UK who are almost certainly out of a job.

Crucially, the US's central bank, the Federal Reserve has refused to step in to rescue the firm, even though it bailed out Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac earlier this year. This has rattled Wall Street and the City as investors realise that others could be allowed to go to the wall.

As a result, share prices have fallen heavily on stock markets around the world.

Q. But how does this affect ordinary householders?

A. Millions in the UK are hit when stock markets fall – not just investors that directly buy and sell shares. Anyone with a pension will have some of their retirement fund tied up in the stock market.

Added to this, is the £70 billion invested in stocks and shares by savers with Individual Savings Accounts. There are also 1.9 million Child Trust Funds – the Government-backed savings and investment accounts for children – that are invested in the stock market.

All of these investments have fallen over the last year as the credit crisis has taken hold. The fall out from the Lehman crisis means they are likely to continue falling. By the close of play on Monday, the FTSE 100 had fallen by nearly 5 per cent in one day.

Q. How about my mortgage?

A. The main symptom of the global credit crisis has been the unwillingness of banks to lend money to each other and to consumers.

This has caused, particularly in Britain, the complete drying up of the mortgage market, with 70 per cent fewer home loans sold compared with a year ago, according to the Bank of England. This has made it almost impossible for first-time buyers to get on the housing ladder, and very expensive for people re-mortgaging.

However, rates had been slowly improving in recent weeks, with optimists predicting the worst might be over for the mortgage market. The average interest rate on a two-year fixed-rate mortgage – the most popular deal taken out by home owners – has dropped from a peak of 7.08 per cent at the beginning of July to 6.39 per cent.

That optimism has been snuffed out by the chaos on Wall Street, with most experts predicting that rates are unlikely to fall any lower, as banks around the world once again sit on their hands.

More:

Ecolada is hiring a smart Product Manager

2008-09-02T12:52:00.000-07:00

Ecolada
is hiring a smart Product Manager

We are seeking a smart Technical Product Manager to help get our product to the next level.
Ecolada is a comparison shopping website with a twist about to be unleashed in the coming weeks.
This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate and hard working professional to play a pivotal role in a dynamic environment.
The Technical Product Manager reports to the Managing Director. The position is based in New York, NY.

Responsibilities include:

Define and champion product features and requirements.
Develop, implement, manage and continuously improve Ecolada's website to ensure traffic goals are met.
Manage internal and external resources to meet business and technical requirements.
Collaborate with marketing to support existing and create new traffic driving initiatives.
Analyzing and incorporating customer/market requirements.
Recommend new products and product enhancements.

Skills/Qualifications:

2+ years experience in successful consumer-facing web product management.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in order to lead and work proactively with a variety of cross-functional teams.
Exceptional project management skills; well-organized, detail-oriented, ability to set priorities, multi-task and stay on top of deliverables.
Experience working closely with developers and other outsourced technical teams.
Ability to balance technical and business issues.
Fast learner with a passion for web 2.0 and mobile trends.
Strong technology background (CS or Engineering).
Understanding of search engines and information classification (categories, tags).
Familiarity with affiliate platforms, SEO and PPC would be a plus.
Familiarity with internet technologies such as DHTML, Flash, AJAX including back-end languages, and databases (SQL Server preferably).
Experience with large-scale database applications preferable.
Must be a proactive, self-starter.
Good energy.
Experience and ability to thrive in small, dynamic, and entrepreneurial environments.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent in engineering or a related discipline.

If you fit the above profile, have great energy, breath/live the web, believe anything is possible, and want to be part of our exciting company, please send your resume/portfolio to: jobs[-at-]ecolada.com