When it comes to surf on the internet, the activities vary with every other person’s interest. Some simply log into their email inboxes and that’s all about it. Where as, others prefer to check their social networking accounts along with their emails. Yet their are those who check whether or not their favourite websites, say the Karachi Metblog for instance, have been updated.
However, there is definitely one group of individuals who wants to surf the Internet to find out for some new and interesting websites. In view of some it would be branded as an aimless browsing, but the group of people who admires it is more eager to do on daily basis. For them, sticking to a daily fare of gmail, Orkut and Google isn’t enough. They want more out of their Internet experience.
It is basically to facilitate these people with websites like Stumble Upon have appeared in cyberspace. Stumble Upon, to put it concisely, is simply an add-on in the popular browser, Mozilla Firefox. But it is definitely much more than that, even more than a toolbar. After you have installed the toolbar from the list of Mozilla add-ons, all you need to do is to sign up.
To sign up for Stumble Upon is quite easy. You simply need to log onto the website and make an account. It will then give you a vast selection of topics. This is significant because you can select all those areas which are of interest to you, and the theme on which you like to visit new websites. These categories are quite exhaustive because of the vast collection, you have quite a lot to select from. Once you are done in assorting the tpoics, you can save the changes you’ve made and then of course, you are ready to browse. Interestingly, note here, that you can update the list of topics at any time you want.
Once the installation is done and you have made your account, all you need is to click on the button in your toolbar which says “Stumble.” Then a random website related to any one of your topic of interest will load in your browser window. You can either go through the website if it appeals to you. Or you can simply click “Stumble” again to go to the next website.
You can also indicate your preferences for the websites to appear. Say, you really like a website that appears, you can click on the thumbs up sign in the toolbar. This will send a message that this website is the most relevant to your interest topic. If you think a website is not relevant to any of the topics that you have selected, simply click the thumbs down button to indicate displeasure.
However, most of the websites that Stumble Upon, loads are definitely interesting as well as enlightening. They make for a good read and you can be rest assured that these websites do not usually turn up if you try to hunt down websites of your topics of interest on a conventional search engine.
So, at the end of the day, without having to bear any search engine, you can get a wide assortment of websites to browse at leisure. That’s definitely not a bad deal considering the time that you save as well as the fact that you get access to websites which are more relevant for you! Many people are quite wary of toolbars, but this one is definitely worth a try.
Enhance your browsing experience at http://www.stumbleupon.com
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Movie Magic
AS the communication technologies become more and more advanced, the line between traditional print and electronic media and alternative media (Internet and cell phones) is blurring to a large extent.
As all major television channels run the commercial of a telecommunication company advertising its mobile television, people are using the latest recording technology to bring to people the daily television fare to be accessed through the Internet and Desktop Computers.
Of course, at the outset, it seems like just another forum where you can rant about the makeup of female characters on television getting gaudier by the day or the colour scheme of the set of the drama serials making you want to put on sun glasses. But there is much more to it than that.
There are certain members on this forum, who watch almost every soap which graces the private channels of this country. And not only do they watch it, they record it as well, and then they upload it first to their PCs and then to any website which provides the facility of uploading videos for free – there are quite a few these days. The link is then posted on the forum.
Then, there are other members on the same forum, who painstakingly organise these links into separate threads. So once you have logged onto the forums and made an account, all you would need to do is to search for the thread of your favourite soap. You will get the links of all the episodes that have been aired to date. There is an extensive drama glossary here as well, which you can use as well in case you are unable to locate your favourite soap yourself.
It goes without saying that to avail the services offered here, you would need a very good Internet connection because the size of the videos is humungous – at times it goes up to 30 MB, so if you are downloading on a slow connection, it can get quite annoying. However, if you simply cannot download, you can read the written reviews of each episode of the dramas/soaps. Some members actually do written reviews on a daily basis, so you can keep up with what’s happening, even if you don’t have time to watch them.
There are some interesting polls too – which way should one drama/soap end, who should end up with whom and of course is a specific drama/soap being stretched out unnecessarily. You can participate in these polls and give your expert opinion on your choice as well.
In a nutshell then, this website can easily keep you occupied for hours. Of course there are some pretty pointless threads here too which you can skip easily. But by and far, this is a really interesting website and one which you can use to keep up with what’s happening on television.
To have your say in what gets aired on television, log onto www.india-forums.com/forum_topics.asp?FID=56
As all major television channels run the commercial of a telecommunication company advertising its mobile television, people are using the latest recording technology to bring to people the daily television fare to be accessed through the Internet and Desktop Computers.
Of course, at the outset, it seems like just another forum where you can rant about the makeup of female characters on television getting gaudier by the day or the colour scheme of the set of the drama serials making you want to put on sun glasses. But there is much more to it than that.
There are certain members on this forum, who watch almost every soap which graces the private channels of this country. And not only do they watch it, they record it as well, and then they upload it first to their PCs and then to any website which provides the facility of uploading videos for free – there are quite a few these days. The link is then posted on the forum.
Then, there are other members on the same forum, who painstakingly organise these links into separate threads. So once you have logged onto the forums and made an account, all you would need to do is to search for the thread of your favourite soap. You will get the links of all the episodes that have been aired to date. There is an extensive drama glossary here as well, which you can use as well in case you are unable to locate your favourite soap yourself.
It goes without saying that to avail the services offered here, you would need a very good Internet connection because the size of the videos is humungous – at times it goes up to 30 MB, so if you are downloading on a slow connection, it can get quite annoying. However, if you simply cannot download, you can read the written reviews of each episode of the dramas/soaps. Some members actually do written reviews on a daily basis, so you can keep up with what’s happening, even if you don’t have time to watch them.
There are some interesting polls too – which way should one drama/soap end, who should end up with whom and of course is a specific drama/soap being stretched out unnecessarily. You can participate in these polls and give your expert opinion on your choice as well.
In a nutshell then, this website can easily keep you occupied for hours. Of course there are some pretty pointless threads here too which you can skip easily. But by and far, this is a really interesting website and one which you can use to keep up with what’s happening on television.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Weekend Venture
With exclusive weekend spots like Dreamworld Resort and recreational outlets like Safari Park, Karachi plays host to quite a few, albeit unknown, places where people can go simply to relax and have a good time. The latest on the block is Go Aish, an adventure park situated on University Road which was recently inaugurated and opened to the public.
One thing that immediately made this park stand out from others was the website. This was definitely a far cry from others in the same league. Pakistani websites, most of the time, leave a lot to be desired. Is this one any different?
One should hope so because the website does seem quite appealing but the problem is that it lacks the kind of content one would expect from the official website of an adventure park.
For starters, you will find a brief description of the park. The company claims that Go Aish is “is not only the first of its kind within our metropolis but the first of its nature in the Middle East and the subcontinent.” It further claims that adequate safety measures have been taken and international experts hired to ensure just that. One should hope so, considering the activities that this park offers from a rope course and paintball arena to wall climbing and ATV track.
Then, there are details of timing as well as tickets for all those of you who are planning to give it a try sometime in the near future. This section is definitely quite handy as well as convenient so you don’t end up at the park and find out that it is closing for the day. Each activity is explained in detail as well. This includes a brief description along with what you are required to do as part of that activity.
There is also a career section. If you are interested in working you can send in your resume. The only problem is that the website does not mention any job positions or their descriptions.
Perhaps the most annoying thing about this website is the oft-appearing “under construction” notice. All right, so one can understand that it’s a new venture and the website will take eons to develop properly. Still, one can’t help wondering why these sections which are under construction are devoid of anything of substance. It has been quite a while since the park was inaugurated — there shouldn’t be a lack of content. Besides, the “under construction” sign on the site map certainly does not make any sense.
In the end, the website gives the impression that it was made in a hurry and, apparently, no one seems interested in updating it. However, one hopes this isn’t true and the people behind it actually take note. It does seem promising if maintained and updated properly and considering the extent to which it is advertised, it is fervently hoped that just as much is spent on developing it as well.
To find about more about the park, visit www.goaish.com
One thing that immediately made this park stand out from others was the website. This was definitely a far cry from others in the same league. Pakistani websites, most of the time, leave a lot to be desired. Is this one any different?
One should hope so because the website does seem quite appealing but the problem is that it lacks the kind of content one would expect from the official website of an adventure park.
For starters, you will find a brief description of the park. The company claims that Go Aish is “is not only the first of its kind within our metropolis but the first of its nature in the Middle East and the subcontinent.” It further claims that adequate safety measures have been taken and international experts hired to ensure just that. One should hope so, considering the activities that this park offers from a rope course and paintball arena to wall climbing and ATV track.
Then, there are details of timing as well as tickets for all those of you who are planning to give it a try sometime in the near future. This section is definitely quite handy as well as convenient so you don’t end up at the park and find out that it is closing for the day. Each activity is explained in detail as well. This includes a brief description along with what you are required to do as part of that activity.
There is also a career section. If you are interested in working you can send in your resume. The only problem is that the website does not mention any job positions or their descriptions.
Perhaps the most annoying thing about this website is the oft-appearing “under construction” notice. All right, so one can understand that it’s a new venture and the website will take eons to develop properly. Still, one can’t help wondering why these sections which are under construction are devoid of anything of substance. It has been quite a while since the park was inaugurated — there shouldn’t be a lack of content. Besides, the “under construction” sign on the site map certainly does not make any sense.
In the end, the website gives the impression that it was made in a hurry and, apparently, no one seems interested in updating it. However, one hopes this isn’t true and the people behind it actually take note. It does seem promising if maintained and updated properly and considering the extent to which it is advertised, it is fervently hoped that just as much is spent on developing it as well.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Around the world in a few minutes
IT is quite ironic to note that even though there is an onslaught of various media channels, still there are many people who choose to remain blissfully ignorant of what is happening in the world. One can only assume they are simply uninterested. It’s also possible that they just don’t have the patience to sit through an hour-long bulletin on a news channel or pore over the daily newspaper at length.
Regardless of the reasons, the fact of the matter is that they choose to remain ignorant. If nothing else, they can go online and learn more about the current global issues. and this is where globalissues.com comes in, provided that you have the time as well as the inclination to know more about current affairs.
To make things simple, here is a brief description — Global Issues basically aims at informing you about the major events in the world in the form of 550 articles that have been written by the webmaster. Along with these articles, there are about 7,000 external links to websites which feature similar content.
Global Issues is a pretty straightforward, no-nonsense website. If you still find the home page a bit intimidating (after all, there’s only so much of issues like poverty and environment that one can digest at a time), you can simply point and click at the site map to get an overview of all that is there and what you may find appealing in all of this.
There’s quite a lot to choose from. The basic categories on the website include a diverse set of themes from trade, economy, geopolitics, environment and health. At first glance, these themes seem to be quite less in number; however, there are several sub-divisions within these themes and articles.
For instance, when it comes to environmental issues, the topics which are covered here include biodiversity, climate change, genetically engineered food, human population, natural disasters, conservation of nature and animals. Geopolitics, on the other hand, covers arms control, arms trade, conflicts in the African continent, Middle East, foreign policy and military expansion.
It goes without saying that no website, which focuses on global issues, can afford to ignore the so-called war on terror. Global Issues is no different. It extensively covers the war on terror with specific sections dedicated both to Iraq and Iran.
One major advantage here is the content which is pretty comprehensive as well as concise, so rest assured you will not have to bear irrelevant material. The disadvantage is that it is purely a text-based website. You have to have a really avid interest in the issues covered here to actually read through all the articles. Of course, you can always avail a printer-friendly version of every article and put your printer to constructive use.
In a nutshell, it would be rather useful to keep up with the world through this website if not anything else. And if you happen to be a student of current affairs, the website will be useful if you want to catch up both with past and present issues through one outlet. At the end of the day, it’s all about being informed.
To keep up with what’s happening around the globe, log onto www.globalissues.org
Regardless of the reasons, the fact of the matter is that they choose to remain ignorant. If nothing else, they can go online and learn more about the current global issues. and this is where globalissues.com comes in, provided that you have the time as well as the inclination to know more about current affairs.
To make things simple, here is a brief description — Global Issues basically aims at informing you about the major events in the world in the form of 550 articles that have been written by the webmaster. Along with these articles, there are about 7,000 external links to websites which feature similar content.
Global Issues is a pretty straightforward, no-nonsense website. If you still find the home page a bit intimidating (after all, there’s only so much of issues like poverty and environment that one can digest at a time), you can simply point and click at the site map to get an overview of all that is there and what you may find appealing in all of this.
There’s quite a lot to choose from. The basic categories on the website include a diverse set of themes from trade, economy, geopolitics, environment and health. At first glance, these themes seem to be quite less in number; however, there are several sub-divisions within these themes and articles.
For instance, when it comes to environmental issues, the topics which are covered here include biodiversity, climate change, genetically engineered food, human population, natural disasters, conservation of nature and animals. Geopolitics, on the other hand, covers arms control, arms trade, conflicts in the African continent, Middle East, foreign policy and military expansion.
It goes without saying that no website, which focuses on global issues, can afford to ignore the so-called war on terror. Global Issues is no different. It extensively covers the war on terror with specific sections dedicated both to Iraq and Iran.
One major advantage here is the content which is pretty comprehensive as well as concise, so rest assured you will not have to bear irrelevant material. The disadvantage is that it is purely a text-based website. You have to have a really avid interest in the issues covered here to actually read through all the articles. Of course, you can always avail a printer-friendly version of every article and put your printer to constructive use.
In a nutshell, it would be rather useful to keep up with the world through this website if not anything else. And if you happen to be a student of current affairs, the website will be useful if you want to catch up both with past and present issues through one outlet. At the end of the day, it’s all about being informed.
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