Category Archives: fun

For English, press 1. For a human, try Fonolo.

Posted on September 19, 2008 by Rakesh Agrawal

After telemarketers, the most excruciating phone experience is dealing with interactive voice response systems. That’s what the industry calls those things that I call phone mazes and most people just call damned annoying. Unlike telemarketers, IVRs are hard to avoid. … Continue reading →

Posted in customer service, fun | Tagged mobilizeconf | 2 Comments

Technology moves on, language doesn’t

Posted on July 14, 2008 by Rakesh Agrawal

One of my favorite iPhone apps is Rotary Dialer. There’s just something fun about making the latest and greatest device act like something from the 60s. Rotary Dialer isn’t like the “classic” phones from Pottery Barn, where the buttons are … Continue reading →

Posted in apple, fun, iphone | 4 Comments

Google offers fresh perspectives on travel photography

Posted on June 3, 2008 by Rakesh Agrawal

Google’s Panoramio has launched one of the most exciting advances in online pictures since flickr added geotagging. A new “Look around” feature shows you when pictures are available from other angles. In the screenshot below, you can see the dome … Continue reading →

Posted in flickr, fun, geotagging, google, microsoft, photography, travel, web 2.0 | 1 Comment

Occasional reader – Saying no to Google, popcorn prices popping, economics and height, Pringles

Posted on June 3, 2008 by Rakesh Agrawal

North Oaks tells Google Maps: Keep out – we mean it (Star Tribune) — A suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota has demanded that Google remove all images from Street View, citing its laws against trespassing. The city’s roads are privately … Continue reading →

Posted in fun, google, maps, movies, privacy, random, reader, street view, weekly reader | 1 Comment

Old and new

Posted on May 17, 2008 by Rakesh Agrawal

Saw this odd juxtaposition of a Corona manual typewriter and Windows Vista Home Premium at a Noe Valley sidewalk sale today.

Posted in fun, random | 1 Comment

Pimp my ride at Yahoo! Brickhouse

Posted on April 24, 2008 by Rakesh Agrawal

Web 2.0 has brought a lot of innovation in how we connect with people. Sites like flickr, Wikipedia, Facebook and YouTube have unleashed the creativity of hundreds of millions of people across the planet. People have struggled to come up … Continue reading →

Posted in fun, random, web 2.0 | Comments Off

Occasional reader – Pennies, GPS, bribing Congress, Nats opener

Posted on April 15, 2008 by Rakesh Agrawal

Some interesting stories from the last couple of weeks: Penny Dreadful (New Yorker) — Please, please let’s kill the penny already. It’s one of the nuisances of everyday life. Aside from Lincolnphiles and the companies that make money selling zinc … Continue reading →

Posted in consumer electronics, elections, fun, gps, local search, mobile, mobile search, random, reader, weekly reader | Comments Off

Grumble. Saaaaaaad. The hell?

Posted on April 8, 2008 by Rakesh Agrawal

As I was checking out of the spa at Princeville a few weeks ago, the receptionist said “You Welcome,” exactly the same way my friend Wanita does. It got me thinking about the distinctive ways we express ourselves. There is … Continue reading →

Posted in fun, personal | Comments Off

Occasional reader – WSJ, GPS, food orgies, tax rebates

Posted on April 2, 2008 by Rakesh Agrawal

Some interesting reads from the last few weeks: Wall St. Journal Makes Politics Its Business (Washington Post) – Media critic Howard Kurtz takes an in-depth look at changes at the Wall Street Journal since its takeover by Rupert Murdoch’s News … Continue reading →

Posted in consumer electronics, fun, gps, journalism, maps, media, newspapers, reader, satellite navigation, weekly reader | Comments Off

Take me out to the ball game

Posted on March 31, 2008 by Rakesh Agrawal

I was out at AT&T Park yesterday for an exhibition game against the Oakland A’s and was reminded why this is one of my favorite parks in baseball. Although I’ve been to the park many times before, in its various … Continue reading →

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