If you run Adwords / PPC Campaigns then you probably keep an eye on the text ads you see during your web journey.

Here’s the one I found when I was doing research before I bought my cycle. (Btw I bought Ridgeback Cyclone which is a beauty!)

The adtext is so compelling I had to click. I m sure they must have an amazing CTR but not many conversions!

I saw the ad in Gmail where I had saved some info about some cycles.

Couple of weeks back I went to Sen’s gig at The Cavendish Arms in Stockwell (Finding that place is like a treasure hunt!).

Apparently Sen would not be doing any more gig before his album is out, as ordered by his record label.

Here’s Senadee performing “My Fault” at The Cavendish Arms. Brilliant song- dedicated to me. Enjoy!

Also check out his site Senadee.com.

Every year millions of people try to lose weight, and most fail. We are constantly bombarded with advice about dieting and the latest slimming fads. But what really works? In BBC  programme, medical journalist Michael Mosley investigated latest scientific breakthroughs in slimming, uncovering ten of the simplest ways to shed those pounds.

For those who missed the programme here’s 10 Things you need to know about losing weight:

1) Don’t Skip Meals
When we skip meals our brain responds/craves for high calorie food to compensate. This is caused by the hormone Ghrelin. Ghrelin is the hunger hormone. It’s made in the stomach, and it tells the brain when it’s time to eat. Ghrelin doesn’t cause obesity, but scientists think taming it might help us get our scales back in balance.
Grhelin accelerates appetite, while leptin decreases appetite.

2) Use Smaller Plates
Change your plate size from 12 inches to 10 inches and you’re likely to eat up-to 22% less food. If you increase your portions by using large plates or bowls you’ll tend to eat much more.

3) Count your Calories
If you choose low calorie meal instead of high calorie you can reduce your calorie intake by half.
for e.g – Black Coffee (10 cal) over Cappuccino (100 cal)
Toasted Bread (125 cal) over Pastry (270 cal)
2 Apples a day (120 cal) over bar of Chocolate (300 cal)
Thin Crust Cheese & Tomato Pizza (850 cal) over Deep Pan Pepperoni ( 1400 cal)
Bloody Marie (125 cal) over Pina Colada ( 280 cal)
A series of small changes in your diet can make a massive difference to your waist line.

4) Don’t Blame your Metabolism – Count your calories even of healthy food.
Metabolic rate is simply the rate at which your body burns calorie by simply being alive.

Even if you eat healthy food but in large quantities then you’ll pile on calories
If you’re overweight you’ve eaten more than your body needs and the excess is stored as fat.

5) Protein Staves Off Hunger Pangs.
Certain foods keep you feeling fuller for longer.
Protein rich food helps you do that – fish, eggs, beans, lean ham,… But do keep counting your calories.

Protein triggers the PYY hormone, one of a number of hormones that stimulate or suppress hunger, is released by the gut as you eat. It tells the part of the brain that controls appetite when you are full.

6) Soup Keeps you Feeling Fuller for Longer

7) The Wider the choice the more you eat.
Variety triggers our instinct to try everything that leads to overeating.
We are likely to eat 30% more at buffets.

8) Low Fat Dairy helps you excrete more fat!
Low fat dairy (Skimmed milk, low fat cheese and yogurt & Co may help you absorb less fat from your food.

9) Exercise Goes on Buring Fat even while you sleep!
A great news for exercise lovers – not only you loose fat while exercising, you also loose fat afterwards, even while we are sleeping.

The Afterburn effect – A lot of fat is burned after you’ve exercised not while you exercise.
Our body uses different fuels to give use energy – Carbohydrates & Fats. When we exercise our body uses our Carbohydrate, because they are easy for our body to burn. Our body would take another 22 hrs to replace that used carb. So in the mean time it our body is forced to burn fat to keep you going – walking talking & even sleeping.

So don’t worry how much fat you’ve burned during your exercise, its the after burn that matters (you’ll burn much more fat later on)

10) Keep Moving (Be Active) And Loose Weight
You don’t need to join gym to burn extra calories. Small changes in your daily routine (taking stairs, getting off one stop earlier, walking during lunch & so..) significantly increases the number of calories you burn. Be active – but don’t eat more just because you’re doing some exercise, keep same diet.

Hi, My Name is, my Name is
My name is Slim Shady Devang!

I’ve always been asked what does my name mean? Well like most Indian names mine has a meaning as well.

Dev means God, ang means body part!
So Dev-ang means part of God (not sure which part ;) )

But here the modern take on my name, found on Urban Dictionary. I think this one’s more appropriate!!

This is how my 2009 Running Calendar looks. All the races take place in London (UK). I’ve selected the races carefully, starting off with a warm up event - The British Heart Foundation Jog (which is the only free event) then going on to two 10k runs, then the London Duathlon (I’m not sure about this – yet to register) and finishing off 2009 with two Half Marathons!

So its time to get back in shape. No more wine & dine!  I’ve shed few kilos in last 6 months but haven’t trained much. So the long training sessions will commence. With my ipod on and listening to my top running songs.

Last year I was plagued by injuries, specially before my races. I ran The Nike Human Race with a strapped right ankle and had to pull out of Royal Parks Half Marathon. Hopefully 2009 should be a better.

Happy Running!

Off late I’ve been watching videos from TED – Technology, Entertainment, Design.

“TED, an annual conference which brings together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes). “

The best talks and performances from TED available to the public, for free. You can watch the videos online or download to your iPod & watch them on the go.

This video is from 2003 by Hans Rosling : Debunking third-world myths
Rightly said “You’ve never seen data presented like this!”

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed.

Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you’d better be running!

Here’s my current Top 10 20 Running Songs, in no particular order. These are great if you are training for an event. Links are to song videos.

1) Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen

2) La Copa de la Vida/The Cup Of Life – Ricky Martin

3) Lose Yourself – Eminem

4) 8 Mile Road – Eminem

5) Sing For The Moment – Eminem

6) Till I Collapse – Eminem

7) Shine – Shannon Noll (Love to hate this song as its my morning alarm;) )

8) In The End – Linkin Park

9) Breaking The Habit – Linkin Park

10) Numb – Linkin Park

11) Papercut – Linkin Park

12) Harder to Breathe – Maroon 5

13) Fighter – Christina Aguilera

14) Pump It – Black Eyed Peas

15) Mausum & Escape – Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack

16) Jai Ho – Pussycat Dolls (Slumdog Millionaire Remix)

17) It’s My Life – Bon Jovi

18) Sexyback – Justin Timberlake

19) Crazy In Love – Beyonce feat. Jay-Z

20) Takin’ Back My Love (Remix) – Enrique Iglesias feat. Ciara
(Remix video on available online)

Last week I took the Google Analytics Individual Qualification test and scored 93 %.  I was going for the kill, wanted to get all right. The test is so easy to say the least. I was expecting it to be a bit more challenging not a cakewalk! So I am even more disappointed on not getting 100%. May be Google can make future tests more fun.

The test covers Google Analytics – inside & out. If you’ve used or using GA give it a go, but make sure you go through the lessons from Conversion University. Even if you’re not planning to take the test read through the lessons. If you’re new then you’ll have an idea how GA works. If you’ve been using it for a while – then you’ll be refreshed & updated on GA.

Surprisingly the result does not segment your test performance – that would be very helpful. You’re just give an overall performance report.

But if you’re serious about Analytics you must read Avinash Kaushik’s – Web Analytics An Hour a Day. The book is everything you need and its for everyone – whether you’re Beginner, Pro, CEO, Marketing Manager or an average web user. An Hour well Invested!

I have seen pic’s in email Fwd’s…but didn’t believe it. Until I saw this video on CNN!!
Modern Toilet is a restaurant in Hong Kong!!

I assume.. after you finish your dinner you’ll get Toilet paper rather than finger bowl!!

This is their interpretation of Food cycle…You eat from toilet and eventually it goes back there… Hope you’re not eating at this moment !!

First with Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwairya Rai, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and now Sachin Tendulakar, Merlin Entertainments Group is targeting the large Asian population in UK.

I had been to Madame Tussauds in 1996, was ok! Was not too keen on another visit.. but now with SACH about to have his life size wax statue in Spring of 2009…. (my) next visit is round the corner.