Hakia is focused on bringing quality results via its semantic search technology.

Save Time and Effort: Quality results eliminate the time and effort required to assess the credibility, freshness, and relevancy of the search results.

Get Correct Information: Credibility-stamped results ensure that the information you found is the best available out there. It prevents from the consequences of using misleading or commercially-biased information.

Reach Unique Information: hakia’s semantic search can bring results to unique, personal, and complex queries that are unreachable by popularity methods due to the limitations of statistics (known as the long tail challenge).

Get Second Opinon: Even when popular results are good (say, when using Google), hakia’s results will offer a new perspective, and a valuable second opinion from credible Web pages.

A semantic search engine is the one that brings relevant results based on concept match rather than keyword match or popularity ranking.

Tata Motors announced recently that it has entered into a definitive agreement with the Ford Motor Company for the purchase of Jaguar Land Rover, comprising brands, plants and Intellectual Property Rights.
The transfer of ownership to Tata Motors is expected to close by the end of the next quarter, subject to applicable regulatory approvals.
The total amount to be paid in cash by Tata Motors for Jaguar Land Rover upon closing will be approximately US $2.3 billion. At closing, Ford will then contribute up to approximately US $600 million to the Jaguar Land Rover pension plans.

Tata Motors earlier unveiled the cheapest car in the world for $2,500, but is also India’s largest automobile company, with revenues of US$ 7.2 billion in 2006-2007.
With over 4 million Tata vehicles in India, it is the leader in commercial vehicles and the second largest in passenger vehicles.

This luxury car deal might look like a contradiction but Tata wants to establish a global brand and this deal will help them immensely. I bet on that.

Dear Reader,

By now, you’ve probably heard about the phenomenon called “The Secret”.

Using this ’secret’ you can create anything you want in your life:
more money, bigger house, more business, find your soul mate.

Anything you want!

Well, if you didn’t know, the ’secret’ behind “The Secret” is a universal principle called the Law Of Attraction (Wikipedia). You may have heard it referred to as “like attracts like”, or “karma”, or several other things, but the concept is this: what you think about the most, becomes your reality. I agree with that.

Check this out and let me know what do YOU think.

As per Wikipedia definition, Earth Hour is:

… an international event that asks households and businesses to turn off their lights and non-essential electrical appliances for one hour on the evening of 29 March at 8 pm local time until 9 pm to promote electricity conservation and thus lower carbon emissions.

Why?
Because climate change is scary as hell. Think about environmental awareness and energy efficiency.

When?
Saturday, March 29th, from 8pm to 9pm.

Just Vancouver?
Are you kidding?! People around the World will be joining together to turn out their lights for Earth Hour, taking a stand against climate change.

How?
There should be a switch somewhere in your house And yes that means also your computer, TV, radio clock, fridge.

WWF Canada one of the promoter, said:

Many iconic buildings and landmarks around the world will be turning out their lights for Earth Hour including the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco; Alcatraz Jail, San Francisco; Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia; Brighton Pier, UK and the Sears Tower, Chicago.

Canada has one of the highest participation rates around the globe with over 150 cities participating! Many buildings and landmarks will turn off their lights. These include the CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Toronto Eaton Centre, Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Honest Ed’s in Ontario; the Olympic Flag, City Hall Clock and all buildings in which the City of Vancouver operate; and the MacDonald Bridge, City Hall, and Parade Square in Halifax.

Happy, Earth Hour!

This is my world map generated by World66 - Visited Countries Project.
What about you?

create your own visited country map

“British science fiction writer Sir Arthur C Clarke has died in his adopted home of Sri Lanka at the age of 90.” BBC News says.

His visions of space travel and computing sparked the imagination of readers and scientists alike. He served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, and foresaw the concept of communication satellites.
When asked why he never patented his idea for communication satellites, he said:

“I did not get a patent because I never thought it will happen in my lifetime.”

He was the author of more than 100 fiction and non-fiction books. He collaborated on the screenplay for “2001: A Space Odyssey” with Kubrick.
He was a honorary Chairman for Arthur C.Clarke Foundation.
He was …

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Minister Diane Finley recently announced that, effective immediately, travelers from Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Lithuania will no longer need to obtain Temporary Resident Visas to visit Canada.
These four countries are latest European Union Member States to be granted visa-free status in Canada’s ongoing review of visa requirements for all EU countries.

Both Romanians and Bulgarians will still need a Visa to enter Canada, however, the Canadian Immigration minister declared it would collaborate with Romanian and Bulgarian authorities to eliminate their visa requirements as well.

Last year, the European Commission urged Ottawa authorities to open up the gates of their country for European citizens.

Ok, webmasters / web developers, here’s the news:

the oldest animated character in the world is … a goat leaping to get the leaves on a tree.

Without a website support to show it, our ancient artist used a painted bowl.

But if you start spinning … here’s the output:

Pretty cool, eh? Now, you can make your day and insert this public domain animated character to your website, or even better, take some pottery class and start build on this new media.

I know summer is close and a good sand beach sounds very appealing, but can you imagine yourself, here?!

More than 100,000 people packed in on a narrow, one mile strip of sand, on Haeundae Beach, South Korea.

I can’t imagine being there

Don’t forget, tomorrow, Sunday, March 9, 2008 at 2:00:00 AM clocks are turned forward 1 hour to 3:00:00 AM local daylight time instead.

Perhaps your computer it’s already set to do this for you, you should care only about your:
watch, car, oven, coffee maker, bedroom clock, omg … so many.

I’m wandering who’s in charge with Gastown Steam Clock time adjustment ?!

Today I got my Master Certificate in Project Management from University of Victoria – my first step to PMP Certification, stay tuned for that

Offered in partnership with The Schulich Executive Education Centre, this program is available in many other cities across North America, check this website: http://www.MastersCertificateInProjectManagement.com

“The Schulich program is the only Masters Certificate in Project Management program in Canada backed by not just one but nine leading Canadian Universities”

The next Masters Certificate in Project Management program starts in Vancouver and Victoria in October 2008! Hurry up, seats are limited.

“Blogging can help you feel less isolated, more connected to a community and more satisfied with your friendships, both online and face-to-face.”

The research done by James Baker and Professor Susan Moore from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, found after two months of regular blogging, people felt they had better social support and friendship networks than those who did not blog, so … happy blogging everyone.

Within 10 hours, Bill Gates got 1,200 answers to a question that he posted on professional networking site LinkedIn, with new comments coming in every minute. OMG!

Some people speculated that Gates’ very public use of LinkedIn indicates that he wants to buy the site, “since Linkedin was chosen over the Microsoft properties to ask this question”.

Read the whole ITWorld article here

I like LinkedIn and you should give it a try.

If yes … you can’t go swimming, soak in a hot bath or even enjoy a shower.
Unbelievable ?! … Believe it!

Ashleigh Morris a teenager from Melbourne, Australia, is allergic to water of any temperature, a condition she’s lived with since she was 14.

Check this out: DailyMail article

She suffers from an extremely rare skin disorder called Aquagenic Urticaria and there is no cure and no successful treatment for this.

Pakistan has blocked access to YouTube, because of content deemed offensive to Islam, says BBC.

Did you know that Morocco, Turkey, Iran and China are also on the list of countries who banned access to this popular video sharing website ?!

The good news is … Thailand have ended the ban. Way to go!

I live in Vancouver, THE most beautiful city in the world (we’ll talk about that later, don’t worry) and I drive a car with “Beautiful British Columbia” license plate Don’t believe ?! Check this out: http://www.plateshack.com/bc/bc.html

I am a Project Manager (by day) with a great Software Development background … but don’t expect so many posting here about that … and a blogger (by night).

I’ve just found recently that The Canadian Pacific Rail, the Royal BC Museum and the Province announced a partnership to celebrate the B.C’s 150th anniversary with a heritage rail tour across the province. Hmmm, sounds good.

If you live in Greater Vancouver or plan to travel in this part of the world, check the official website here: www.BC150.ca

“BC 150 Years celebrates the adventures, struggles, people, events and achievements that have shaped our provincial identity. It’s a celebration with a focus on five strong pillars: Heritage, Communities, Cultural Diversity, Aboriginal Peoples, Arts & Culture.”

YOU!

Ok, tonight … is the BIG night … and I’m not talking about THE NIGHT WHEN THIS BLOG (the best blog ever btw) was born, but I’m talking about Oscar Night, baby … or maybe not?!

Anyhow … are you a George Clooney or Johnny Deep fan? Check this out: http://www.oscar.com/nominees Or maybe Tommy Lee Jones?

Don’t tell me you don’t care … you are such a big RAT(atouille) !

Ok, time to clean up my TV, bye for now … don’t forget … stay tuned on this blog.

And BTW … expect here my rants about stories, articles, commentaries, opinions on diverse topics.