FoxNews reports around 350,000 motorcyclists !!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,358085,00.html

President Bush was made an honorary member of Rolling Thunder today. It was a spectacular site to see these 1000s of Harleys today & I must have clicked around 100 or more pics of these beauties today. Will be adding these pics here in a couple of days.

The official url of Big B’s blog is http://blogs.bigadda.com/ab/

Kudos to Big B for using the net to directly communicate. This way, he does not have to rely on the traditional media to share his thoughts & views. You must be aware of the recent controversy Amitabh Bachchan was dragged into, so he has taken the most effective path to reach out & it has been successful so far.

Bloggers will envy the kind of success Big B’s blog has since going live, check these stats out: day 7 had 900 comments ! and since second week everyday has more than 200 comments or so & most have them start with “Dear Amit Ji”. That’s the kind of adulation & respect Big B draws & i bet that Amit Ji’s blog would be most popular blogs by an Indian actor.

I guess that due to this blog’s success there would be many more Indian actors and filmstars joining the blogosphere. In terms of competition only Rajnikanth or SRK’s blog would be able to attract the readership that Amitabh’s blog would draw.

On the footer of the blog is noticed this “Theme: Dialy Skin Care”, which is a link to a blog on Daily Skin Care & a typo included. Now, I guess some webmaster at BigAdda.com has forgot to remove the site from where he was ‘inspired’ to design this blog theme or if he is trying to sneak this link in then, his job could be on the line, hope he/she is aware of this.

Below is a printscreen of this ‘error’???

The take away from this blog post is;

a) Celebrities do not have to rely on traditional media to connect with their audience. In this case, the timing of the AB’s blog launch has more to do with the current controversy.

b) Achievers in life find time from their busy schedules to constantly explore new avenues, vistas & experiment with new innovative ways to further their cause.

c) It’s never to late to blog, no matter what your age or profession is

The same team which initially invested in Google & made Google what it is today have now invested in FutureBazaar.com which is the ecommerce portal of the Future Group [ Pantaloon & BigBazaar fame, led by Kishore Biyani]

According to ContentSutra, Sherpalo Venture’s Ram Shriram & Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers - KPCB , have invested an undisclosed amount for a 15% stake in FutureBazaar.com

Would lightning strike for the 4th time for Ram Shriram?
It did thrice already as he was involved with Netscape, Amazon & Google !!!

What’s so special about this? Well, In Sep 2007, I wrote a post “Online marketing strategy for FutureBazaar.com“,

in which I have mentioned only the NRI potential for FutureBazaar.com, which works out to 13 Billion USD$ read it here:

http://www.iprash.com/2007/09/13/marketing-strategy-futurebazaarcom/

Related posts:

Book Review - It Happened in India by Kishore Biyani

According to the now famous BRIC Report, India is projected to be one of the Tiger Economies of this century.

What an irony

In India, so many sport clubs, company logos, political parties, emblems proudly depict The Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris or Panthera tigris bengalensis) as it’s symbol. The tiger is also the national animal of India.

And what does the tiger get for all this..it becomes an endangered species itself, with only 1400 remaining, and we are a billion plus & growing

Maybe in the future, India will indeed be a tiger economy ….& what about it’s real Tigers? Gone forever??

But then the usual question that comes to our mind, is what can we city folks do?
At most, some of us may donate to some ’save tiger fund’ or some ‘wildlife fund’, & obtain some income tax benefit in the process, right?

Don’t blindly donate to some or any wildlife organization, see to it that your hard earned money reaches the right place where it is required.

For any real change to happen, it’s not just financial aid, but Genuine Collective Wish [or Thought, Will or Iccha] of several people for that change to happen.

If you have the will & a strong desire, then a way or direction will unfold in front of you.

Well, what does this caricature, have to do with Save the Tiger?

See on the top of the caricature, it says in aid of Save the Tiger.

We live in a world, in which nowadays, every action or deed should have a Win-Win situation, right? [this is because, we no longer think of anyone else winning, right? sic]

So, what we have here is a ideal win-win situation for everyone involved.

Here is how it goes.

1) Pay to get a caricature of your self. You can then show it off to all your buddies on Orkut, Facebook, your blogs, etc. yippeee.

2) A guy meticulously in his spare time creates the caricature to your satisfaction.

3) The proceeds of this caricature sale go to a
REAL Organization which does REAL WORK for conserving the wildlife especially the tiger population in Central India.

Sounds interesting?? what’s more genuine is the sincerity behind the people involved.

The caricature is created by a Vikram Nandwani, who does this in his spare time as he works full time in IT for TCS.

He then donates the proceeds of the caricature income to Satpuda Foundation which is run by Kishore Rithe who has dedicated his life to the conservation of Tiger population in Central India.

Still Interesting??

Here’s Vikram Nandwani’s site: http://save-tiger.blogspot.com on how you can order a caricature for yourself.

& here’s Satpuda Foundation’s website : http://www.satpuda.org/ Please see the work being done by Satpuda & do not miss the touching story of a 10 year old who has contributed Rs 15,000 to Satpuda by polishing shoes !

read the story here:
http://www.satpuda.org/news2007.htm#10_years_old_out_to_save_tiger_

I shall be writing another post on Tigers soon, on what else we can do.

These are bootleg videos shot by fans attending the Mumbai Iron Maiden Concert of Somewhere Back in Time World Tour, these Iron Maiden concert videos are from Youtube & the quality is poor, but hey it’s Maiden! so any Live concert performance video footage rocks

Iron Maiden Mumbai - Powerslave Video- Feb 1, 2008

Iron Maiden Mumbai Video - Hallowed Be Thy Name

Bruce speaks about coming to India many times again in the future & then starts with Wasted Years - at the Iron Maiden Mumbai Live concert

Video of Eddie as he appears as Cyborg during the song ‘Iron Maiden’ at Live performance of Iron Maiden at the Mumbai - 1st Feb 2008 to kickoff the Somewhere back in Time World Tour 2008

Heaven Can Wait Video in which several fans join & has Bruce climbing up & running all over the stage.

Only 10 seconds Video of The Trooper from Iron Maiden Mumbai concert

You have any good quality photos of the Iron Maiden Mumbai concert pics, let meknow, I can post them here. Thx:)

I had the privilege to attend the Iron Maiden Mumbai Press Conference held at JW Marriott Mumbai, India on 31st January. Thank You Ajay. All major Indian newspapers & their photographers were present for this Iron Maiden Mumbai Press Conference.

Here are some of the questions & their replies from Iron Maiden band members.

1) Why was this tour named as Somewhere Back in Time World Tour.

Bruce Dickinson said that Iron Maiden are now than they have ever been before & that several fans all over wanted to play their greatest hits & favourite songs. Also, because Iron Maiden had a previous album called Somewhere in Time, so it was apt to name this current live tour as

2) what are the band member’s favourite concert Iron Maiden songs?

Bruce Dickinson : Moonchild, Rime of the ancient mariner.

Steve Harris : Hallowed by thy name

Nicko McBrain : Hallowed by thy name

Adrian Smith : Moonchild, Rime of the ancient mariner.

Janick Gers : Likes to play them all.

Dave Murray : Rime of the ancient mariner.

3) What does the band think of the current state of heavy metal music like speed metal or thrash metal.

Bruce said that everybody has their own taste in music & everyone is entitled to follow what their music taste desires. Even his son likes/plays thrash metal in which the singer goes…wrrroooohhh [ Bruce imitates a thrash metal vocal intro ]

4) What are the bands comments on 3 guitar line up?

Dave: The sound is lot more heavier, fuller & richer now. Since they are covering songs from the last 30 years, every guitarist’s sound comes across all these numbers.

5) Last year at Bangalore Iron Maiden Concert, all the songs were recorded on a Master track recording system, so would these songs be used anytime?

Steve: We record everything, these can be used later on. It’s important to have all recordings, as every gig has something special which can be used later on.

6) Why is India first on the list of the tour?

Bruce : Well, India is on the way to Australia LOL. But more seriously, that the way the flight path has been designed & also India, becuase, there are lots of fans & demand for Iron Maiden in India.

7) For guitarist, what would they advise newbie bands & musicians?

Janick Gers : Practice & more practice. Stick to your style & work hard, very hard.

Adrian : Work hard think of expressing yourself, through your work, to the point in which you evlove your own style.

Afterwards, lot of photo ops, autograph signing followed. I shall post a few pics here later.
You have any good quality pics of the Iron Maiden Mumbai concert photos, let meknow, I can post them here. Thx:)

And Iron Maiden Press Conference videos are here

S C R E A M for me MUMBAI

Just back from the Mumbai Iron Maiden Concert 2008,

Here’s the setlist played today in Mumbai:

Aces High
2 Minutes To Midnight
Revelations
The Trooper
Wasted Years
The Number Of The Beast
Run To The Hills
The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner
Powerslave
Heaven Can wait
Can I play with madness?
Fear of the dark
Iron Maiden
Moonchild
Clairvoyant
Hallowed Be Thy Name

The Iron Maiden concert started rather early 7:50 PM to be precise & ended by 9:45 PM
Maiden is no doubt the best LIVE Performance heavy metal for sure. Precision without faltering anywhere, Maiden delivered & thrilled the Mumbai crowd.

After the first 2 songs, Aces High & 2 Minutes To Midnight, Bruce said that he was happy to be here in Mumbai, which was earlier called as Bombay, however locals still like to call it Bombay.

After Trooper, Bruce said that this will be one of the many times that Iron Maiden will play in India. \m/\m/
|| Up the Irons ||

For PowerSlave Bruce wore a Egyptianlike headgear.

Like the Bangalore concert Fear of the Dark received maximum crowd participation, with everybody joining in the chorus.

During the song ‘Iron Maiden’ Eddie appeared as the Cyborg with a gun a hand.

After the break, Bruce introduced all the band members.

You have any good quality photographs of the Iron Maiden Mumbai concert, let me know, I can post them here. Thx:)

Here are links to several newspapers from Mumbai, India who have reviews of the Mumbai Iron Maiden Concert, India , 1 Feb 2008

SKY News exclusive Video on Iron Maiden’s Plane & World Tour

The evening city went Aces High - Mumbai Mirror

Iron Maiden rocks Mumbai - Hindustan Times

We want kanda bhaji - Mumbai Mirror

Change in music industry doesn’t affect us: Iron Maiden - DNA

Rockers Find Eager New Audience : SKY News

Rockers Take Control For Maiden Flight : SKY News

———–x-x——————-
Dear Iron Maiden Fans,

Just like the Bangalore concert review, I shall be posting everyone’s reviews of the Iron Maiden Mumbai Concert of 1st Feb 2008, which is a kickoff for the grand “SOMEWHERE BACK IN TIME World Tour 08”

So, after the concert, please do email or comment on your reviews of the Mumbai Iron Maiden concert here on this page. Email >>> iprash @ gmail dot com

Bruce will start of with SCREAM FOR ME - MUMBAI

I guess, words like ‘amazing, awesome, mindblowing’, etc, would be common for everyone. However, I request you to provide a more in depth review in ‘proper’ English, please.
Thank You. Cya all @ the concert.

The most probable set list for the Mumbai concert will be:

Run To The Hills
Hallowed Be Thy Name
The Number Of The Beast
2 Minutes To Midnight
Aces High
Flight Of Icarus
The Trooper
Wasted Years
Heaven Can Wait
The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner
Clairvoyant
Can I play with madness?
Revelations
Fear of the dark
Powerslave

The Official website is: http://www.tatapeoplescar.com which has photos, pics specs of Tata Nano