Religion Cricket

Here's a picture seen on one of the most popular Indian news website (TimesOfIndia.Com).
He is giving his blessings to Team India for the Worldcup.















Another picture where a fan is flying kites with all the Indian cricket player.

Prop 87 and Vinod Khosla

by Robert Rapier

More links by Robert Rapier:
Vinod Khosla Debunked

Video: Vinod talks Ethanol

Startup and VCs

Some things I was reading last year when we were close doing a startup

Term Sheets

Paul Graham on Startups

Hackers and Painters

Kitchen Remodel (contd.)


3) Range Hoods

Since our cooking range is going to be on the island, we had the option of downdraft system or Island/Peninsula hood/chimney. With the amount and style of cooking we do, the downdraft system would not have been so effective so we went with Island Chimney which will had a great look as well to the room. Island Chimney's are far more expensive that their regular (wall) counterparts.

During the research, we also found out that the chimneys which have glass in them, may look cool but over the years (2-3 yrs), the glass will absorb the grease and the edges will start to look a little dirty and dark/blackish. So, we went with a all stainless hood. There are still some choices, but not a whole lot for mounting on the island. Also, you need a chimney which is slightly wider than the gas stove since its an island.

A 36 inch wide chimney would work fine with 30 inch stove.

All the models below are:

- Stainless
- Atleast 36inch wide

Kitchen Remodel (contd.)


2) Cooking Range

This was slightly simpler than refrigerators since there are not so many options available. The common factors among the compared ranges are:


- Slide In model
- Dual Fuel
- 30 inches width
- Stainless Finish
- Energy Star

GE has only one model which fits the bill while Frigidaire has three different models to choose from.

Frigidaire FCS366E C is the very basic model with Black steel door handles. The second model FCS36E C has mathinc color Steel handles but they don't look as sleek. Both these models have some kind of 'SpeekBake' Convection system which give ok performance. The third, professional, model is PLCS389E C which has much sturdier and professional looking grates with better Pro Matter finish. This has a different Convection, 'Even Cook' which adds another coil around the fan which eliminates temperature fluctuations and provides even cooking. This also has a Star-K Sabbath mode Kosher cooking. This also has a Warm and server drawer which is not available in first two models.

KitchenAid and Jenn Air are also ver professional looking serious type ranges, but slight expensive as compared to GE and definitely Frigidaire.

a little off-track (Kitchen Remodel)


I've taken some time off from work and we are going thru the process of total kitchen remodel. This gave me a chance to see what appliances are out there so we can decide on what fits our style and budget.

The style decisions were based on contemporary, stainless looks with performance. There are awful lot of major appliances out there and with a limited set of manufactures making them under different brands, it could get confusing very fast. Like Amana, earlier, was the only manufacturer making bottom freezer refrigerators, but now its bought by Maytag which is bought by GE?... So some Maytags are now Amana. And, LG makes for other folks as well, like for Kenmore.

Anyways, we mainly researched in the stores for available models, checked manufacturer's websites, read consumer reviews and magazines.

1) Refrigerator

There are so many styles available, so we wanted to narrow down to smaller subset before doing a comprehensive research. All the models in the matrix below share the following characteristics:

- Bottom Freezer
- Stainless
- NOT Counter depth
- Energy Star

Summary: LG combines good set of features and looks and a decent price.

LG is fairly new in US market but has been aroudn for decades in other countries and is a very reliable brand. In LG terminology,
- 'FC' in the model name along with '7x0' as in the model (LFC25760 or LRFD22750) means that the model doesnot has any water or ice dispenser on the door
- 'FD' and '8x0' in the model number (LFD25860 or LRFD22850) means that it has door water dispenser but no ice on the door.
- FX' and '9x0' in the model number (LFX25960) means that it has door water and ice dispenser. Note that having ice on the door will take up nearly the whole door shelf space.

GE has alot of models, but none are in the full size. Their models are all 22.2 cu.ft. In few of their models like PFS22SBSSS and PFS22SBSRSS/PFS22SBSLSS, they have ice maker as optional since they don't have internal water dispenser. What "the people who drink water from the fridge dispenser don't use the ice either." ? This is stupid. Plus, having the water dispenser inside the fridge where you have to keep the door open isn't that convenient and kinda defeats the purpose.

Amana is good, but their high end model is around $2650 MSRP and none of the other models have french doors.

MeCommerce

Yet Another contextual advertising network. This just launched from GoodStrom.Com (Capatalism Done Right) which combines Amazon Affiliates and Google AdSense.
Although, Amazon is testing its own advertising network to be combined with its Affiliates program.

http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2006/mft06070505.htm?source=eptyholnk303100&logvisit=y&npu=y

Historic crash for Indian Stock Market

"Every breath You Take" by Friday Follies

Just saw the complete video on CNBC. Apparently it's Glenn Hubbard's response to Ben Bernanke being the Chairman of Fed. Glenn is now the Dean of Columbia Biz School.

Very funny and hilarious video

http://www0.gsb.columbia.edu/everybreath/