Why are we so addicted to facebook?

It is ironical.
I am writing a post using blogger – a google

product, which is about facebook ( or “THE FACEBOOK”, as it is initially known to be) and by the time you read this I had already posted the link to this blog on whatsapp!(Ofcourse apart from facebook).

Oh! Now, you see how hard it is to first write something and then promote the same?

Note:  you can help me by liking my page on facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/ishikaguptablogs

Okay enough of promotion, coming back to the topic.

Those who are friends with me on facebook would say – “she is writing about this topic as she just watched “The Social Network” movie.”

But let me tell you this is not the case.

Or it may be.

Okay it is.

May be if have not watched the movie yesterday, I would have been writing about the union budget (Grin).

I am a facebook addict! Or probably am addicted to everything on internet *sigh*

It’s hard to admit but I am. So do most of you.

It’s quite tough for me not to check my facebook account for at least once in 2-3 hrs.

Well I don’t think so there will be anyone who doesn’t know about facebook, but still I would like to tell you about it.

Facebook, a social networking site was founded on February 4, 2004, by Mark Zuckerberg with his college roommates and fellow Harvard University students Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes. The founders had initially limited the website's membership to Harvard students, but later expanded it to colleges in the Boston area, the Ivy League, and Stanford University. It gradually added support for students at various other universities and later to their high-school students.

Facebook had over one billion active users as of September 2012.

thefacebook home page in 2004

 

Facebook homepage 2014

So, what’s there in FB that have made us so addicted to it?

Let me recall my journey of social networking.

It was when I was in class 11th I came to know about ORKUT. It was a hit among Indians then.

Orkut was also launched in 2004. It was started by Orkut Büyükkökten and was later purchased by Google resulting in more publicity of Orkut and more members, though it is not much famous in United States it has many fans and members from India and Brazil.

Orkut's profile on Orkut

 

Orkut was a complete different thing. There we had friend request, scrapbook, chat options and what not.

I remember being as silly as, when a boy(with whom I was not much friendly) sends me a friend request, I used to ponder for 30 to 60 minutes whether to accept the request or not, as if it was a marriage proposal (embarrassed).

I remember that beautiful 1hour I used get on alternate days to access orkut using my brother’s cell phone.

But, then something happened. There came a new buzz in the market. Something called facebook.

I eagerly sign up to the same.

But, I found it too complex. The walls, home page, apps everything was just so difficult to understand.

So, I decided to remain loyal with orkut and forgot about facebook.

Later I noticed fewer people remain active on orkut. What was that keeping everyone so busy or it was just me who was so idle?

I found everybody going gaga over facebook.

I was forced to again log in to facebook.

 After the forced use of the website for about a week, things started to get easier. Now, I understood what the wall is, what is the purpose of “like” button (oh! by the way do you remember I asked you to “like” something?”), notifications and so on.

I develop likeliness towards FB. Now, it seems much easier to me.

Moreover I found it better than orkut as now you can know if your profile picture was good enough, your privacy was in your own hands, and you had a wall instead of scrapbook.

Plus no recent visitors tab, a plethora of unlimited apps, it was the photo tagging that really gets the "cool factor" experience going and everything was so enchanting.

Orkut was better than Facebook earlier but as the time passed Facebook overtook Orkut.

It was not that orkut did not try to be competitive.

On 28 November 2009, Orkut was redesigned and many people loved it but on the other hand many people said that it was a copy of Facebook and Twitter.

The migration was swift and almost cruel. The land now wore a deserted look. Former citizens occasionally visit, just to see if something was stirring. Nothing ever stirred there anymore. It just was not happening.

From September 30, 2014, the land is going to be no more.

Orkut was for most Indians the first social networking experience.

But, what was there in Zuckerberg, a Harvard drop out’s facebook that keeps us so engaged?

I think it is the hardwork of its founders and a more important thing in which they believe according to me – “Change is good”.

I am always annoyed that when you just start to get used to the current setting of FB, you get something new. But, this may be the thing that keeps it going as the world’s biggest social networking site.

But the picture is not always greener for FB. Recently there came a time when whatsapp started to take hold over facebook’s user base (especially in INDIA).

 

WhatsApp Messenger is a proprietary, cross-platform instant messaging subscription service for smart phones and selected feature phones that uses the internet for communication.

WhatsApp Inc. was founded in 2009 by US citizens Brian Acton and Jan Koum (also the CEO), both former employees of Yahoo!, and is based in Mountain View, California. Company employs 55 people.

The main features of whatsapp are:

Simplicity (your phonebook automatically become your friendbook),

Speed (instant messaging which requires only an internet connection),

Privacy (more personal then facebook as you have to exchange phone numbers to be connected),

No Advertisements that annoys user (that means virtually no revenue).

Whatsapp was co-founded by Brian Acton, who himself as well his idea of whatsapp were rejected by facebook inc. earlier.

Later, he went on with watsapp and in mere 5 years builds a large user base of 400+ million active monthly users.

In a December 2013 blog post, WhatsApp claimed that 400 million active users use the service each month.  As of 22 April 2014, WhatsApp had over 500 million monthly active users, 700 million photos and 100 million videos are shared each day, and the messaging system handles more than 10 billion messages each day!

Zuckerberg probably gets the hint and decided to acquire whatsapp, something with negligible revenues, for a whooping US$19 billion.

The company is currently in the process of takeover after Facebook Inc. announced its acquisition of WhatsApp Inc. on February 19, 2014.

It seems zuckerberg wants to own all the popular social media!

The term “actoned” became popular, which indicates a revenge of US$19 billion for rejecting Brian as a part of facebook earlier.

Now, facebook owns whatsapp but whatsapp continues to work as an ad free, independent entity under facebook.

Moore's law states that computer technology doubles every 18 months. In the case of Facebook, Zuckerberg's Law should state that social media connections double every six months.

Will an even more dazzling world appear? Will Facebook, a social networking site which is powered by 800+ million users, be abandoned too?

Though it does not appear likely as of now, a growing disenchantment with Facebook may be a sign.

Let’s just wait and watch.

References :

http://en.wikipedia.org

http://www.shoutmeloud.com

you can connect via facebook for updates :

 

https://www.facebook.com/ishikaguptablogs

 

-Any Suggestions or Comments are most welcome.

 

THANKS AND HAPPY READING, ADIEU.

ISHIKA GUPTA

LABYRINTH : The final journey

Bonjour friends,

LABYRINTH : The final journey

This is the 3rd and the final part, which is in continuation to the other two parts :

Part 1 : http://ishikagupta99.blogspot.in/2014/06/labyrinth-short-fiction.html

Part 2 : http://ishikagupta99.blogspot.in/2014/06/labyrinth-continues.html


Please bear with this part as well :P



THE FINAL JOURNEY

As Mr. Anderson was approaching the 14^th floor, he immediately stopped.

He remembered the words of his mother – 

“Andy, as you know u got a wonderful gift; you should understand that a huge responsibility is also involved. Plus god forbidden if ever you sense any danger to your life, never ever follow your mind, instead follow your heart, your sixth sense.

Also remember, in order to diverge the future set of events, intervention of someone special might be required. As today you were present to protect me from getting smashed under this huge chandelier.”  

Anderson felt a chill of air, defying what is logical, he stood still on the stair, approximately at the middle of the staircase.

 He could feel someone approaching but he did not move, instead closed his eyes, tight.

After a while he opened his eyes, there was a cat, just a CAT.

He took a deep breath. He could feel the fresh air in his lungs.

Without wasting further any time, Anderson started rushing down towards the 13^th floor.

He passed the same passage, where smith accidently shot himself.

But now, there was NOBODY!

Anderson could now feel Goosebumps.

“Am I still dreaming?”

Then he saw the stains of blood. He felt a bit relieved.

“Smith might shot himself in him arm and is probably still alive.”- Anderson murmured.

He rushed towards his room 131 and the blood stains followed the same route.

On reaching, he found the door was unlocked. He pulled out the pistol from the inner pocket of his well stitched suit.

He entered the room with caution. There were blood stains everywhere; all his things were messed up with the briefcase lying on the floor, cracked.

“May be Smith is still here.”

He carefully checked each and every corner of the room. There was no one.

Anderson locked the door. He was sitting on the bed thinking – “Why the hell I stopped by at this place. I could have called someone for help. Even I could have stayed in my car.”

As he was thinking, a phone rang up – TRIN! TRIN!

He looked around. It was the phone lying on a small table, kept in a corner of the room, by the bedside.

He checked his rolex watch – 2.00 a.m.

“NOW WHAT!”

Anderson picked up the phone.

“I am extremely sorry to disturb you sir at this hour. But, this is for your safety.

 We have just now received information regarding the glitch in the wiring of 13^th floor. Lights can go out at any moment. We request you to shift to the 14^th floor carrying all your important things. Your other things can be left on the 13^th floor. We assure you they’ll remain safe.”

Phone hung up.

Anderson could felt the shiver in his voice as he said – “This 14^th FLOOR is too determined to kill me tonight.”

 Anderson grabbed his briefcase, gathered up all his things. He rushed down the stairs, to the main hall, in the reception.

Without paying any attention to what the receptionist was saying he hurriedly marched towards the exit.

Now he was out of the LABYRINTH, he thought.

Anderson reached his car parked on the other side of the street, unlocked it and got in.

He inserted the key into ignition and tried to start the car. No use.

Anderson decided to spend the rest of the night in the car itself. He was cursing the moment he got into LABYRINTH HOTEL.

After a while he heard some sound. Someone was climbing the roof of his car.

He loaded his pistol and got out of the car to saw a half wit beggar, sitting on the rooftop.

The next moment Anderson heard someone calling his name. As soon as he turned, a gunshot fired.

A bullet pierced through his flesh, near his heart. Rushing towards him came the 2nd bullet, then the 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th. All the six shots were loaded in his body and in front of him was standing, Smith.

Anderson was startled by a loud noise. He was sitting in his car. Someone was trying to climb the car.

Anderson started shouting- “That’s it, That’s it, I cannot take any more. I just want to be out of this Labyrinth.” He started shouting with the tears rolling down his eyes.

Remembering the words of his mother, he searched for some hint from within.

“MARGRET!”

He rushed to take out the phone from his pocket and dialed a number.

Margret was the daughter of Anderson. After his mother, it was Margret who knew everything about him. About his dreams. About his sixth sense.

“Hello, Margret this is Anderson. Today I am in a situation that your grandmother always feared of. Please come and pick me up. I am in my car, parked in front of Labyrinth hotel, in the backside of The Hudson Street. Please come as soon as possible.” 

Now, there was no noise. Probably the beggar had left.

Anderson was waiting impatiently for Margret.

After about 15minutes Anderson received a phone call from Margret- “ Hello daddy, I am almost here and will try and park my car as close to yours as possible.”

Moments later a car was standing beside Anderson’s.

He carefully opened the door and swiftly got into the other car.

As soon as he closed the door he heard a gunshot, but fortunately the bullet bounced back by the car’s bullet proof shield.

That was Smith, who was now sitting in Anderson’s car.

He probably got in when Anderson opened the door to get into Margret’s car.

Anderson took a deep breath of relief.

Margret drove her father to her apartment, which was at a distance of about 15 to 20 minutes.

They reached her apartment.

Anderson explained his daughter all the set of events in detail and that if she was not there, he would have died.

It was morning now. Anderson woke up as the rays of the sun fell on his face.

He looked around; he was at Margret’s house. Anderson felt like watching television, so, he grabbed the remote control and switched on the T.V.

He saw the breaking news flashing on the television screen:

“Today, Mr. Anderson, the Ex. Military Official was found dead in his car. His car was found crushed, probably by a bulldozer at the back side of Hudson Street, in front of a hotel named LABYRINTH!”

Anderson felt numb and a cold sweat drenched from his forehead.

This time he was not in a situation to take the pressure anymore. Anderson started shouting and weeping madly, simultaneously.

Hearing his voice, Margret enters the room and asked him what the matter was.

 Anderson looking through the vision blurred by his tears and asked – “Can you see me Margret? Am I not dreaming? Please pinch me and tell me I am not dreaming” and Anderson once again started crying like a baby.

“Of course not daddy.  What happened to you? Why are you crying”, Margret rushed to hug his father.

Anderson wiping off his tears pointed at the T.V. screen.

“Oh! Daddy, I did not tell you this as you were sleeping. But in the morning police found a crushed car with a man lying dead in it. From the car documents they presumed it’s you. But now, it has been cleared that the body found was not yours.

I have just made a call to the news channel’s office and they will be taking that news off at any moment.”

Anderson felt relieved and blessed.

The body found in Anderson’s car was of Smith and the postmortem report confirmed that.

That night, seconds after Anderson left with Margret, a bulldozer crashed into the car along with Smith.

Smith was bound to die that night, so did Anderson, as indicated by Anderson’s Sixth sense. But, the advice of Anderson’s mother and the intervention of Margret saved him.

Anderson and Margret thanked god for saving Anderson’s life as they sipped the morning tea.

                                                                    THE END

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

I hope you liked LABYRINTH, my first attempt to write a short fiction.

Thanks for bearing it.

you can connect via facebook for updates :

 

https://www.facebook.com/ishikaguptablogs

 

-Any Suggestions or Comments are most welcome.

 

THANKS AND HAPPY READING, ADIEU.

ISHIKA GUPTA

 

FIFA and WIMBLEDON: crashing out of the defending champions and a major upset, with Costa Rica in quarter finals

As the two major sporting events, FIFA’14 and WIMBLEDON’14 are going on, we are getting all the surprises.

Can we learn something from them? Here, I tried to figure it out.

Wimbledon, is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, and widely considered the most prestigious. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments (Majors), the others being the Australian Open, the French Open (Roland Garros) and the US Open. Since the Australian Open shifted to hard court in 1988, Wimbledon is the only Major still played on grass, the game's original surface, which gave the game its original name of "lawn tennis".

The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The World Cup is the most widely viewed and followed sporting event in the world, exceeding even the Olympic Games. The 2014 FIFA World Cup is currently being contested in Brazil. The next two World Cups will be hosted by Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.

THE BIG STORY :

The upset: Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios, ranked 144 has pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Wimbledon history, beating world number one Rafael Nadal in four sets to reach the quarter-finals.

Whereas kyrgios’s mother before the match believed it would be impossible for him to beat the world’s no.1, there was a big challenge in front of him.

This is quite inspiring rather than an upset (a term used when a higher seeded player beats a lower (better) one).

This clearly indicates that nothing is impossible if you have the right determination, dedication and a firm belief in yourself. Of course things take time, there is no magic wand.

Nick Kyrgios first picked up a tennis racquet aged four and has not looked back.

On the other hand, Nadal said while congratulating kyrgios,

 “Defeat was hard to take. I didn't think I played that badly. I was better in the first and third sets but I wasn't able to convert my opportunities. He was better at the other times. He did the things he needed to do to win on grass better than me."

Rafael Nadal

Nadal remains confident that he can win another title at Wimbledon and with such a spirit, I think he will.

COSTA RICA : Costa Rica is the biggest surprise among the last eight nations in FIFA in Brazil. Even as they win, a few suspects the use of drugs. 

This happens, people don’t be able to digest the success of others easily but the struggle must be continued to prove oneself.

Crashing out of the defending champions : Similar to nadal was the fate of FIFA World Cup and WIMBELDON tennis grand slam tournament, defending champions SPAIN and ANDY MURRAY respectively.

"Andy Murray's reign as Wimbeldon champion came to a stunning end as Bulgeria's Grigor Dimitrov cclinched a sensational 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, victory in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.”

 

“Spain had shocking exit from the ongoing Fifa World Cup in Brazil. Over the last six years, the Spanish team has appeared indomitable, winning two successive European Championship titles and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.”

This shows us that nothing is eternal. In order to keep oneself in the competition and moreover defend the throne or compete to acquire one, one has to constantly revise the strategies and learn from the mistakes of one’s own as well others’.
Try and never repeat the same mistakes and keep all the hopes alive.

“Hope is a good thing. May be the best of the good things and no good thing ever dies.”

-The Shawshank Redemption

SUMMARY:

So, on the whole the lesson that can be learnt is:

-If you are a champion, keep your feet on the ground and spirit up in the air. Never stop improving and never ever think “your opponent is weak enough”.

-If you are yet to be one then don’t lose hope, keep on improving, learn from your mistakes and surely get some inspiration from Costa Rica and Kyrgios.

P.S.: Remember there is no magic wand, right dedication is the only key.

REFERENCES:

http://en.wikipedia.org/

http://www.abc.net.au/

you can connect via facebook for updates :

 

https://www.facebook.com/ishikaguptablogs

 

-Any Suggestions or Comments are most welcome.

 

THANKS AND HAPPY READING, ADIEU.

ISHIKA GUPTA