How to use the Ibibo new blogs platform

October 8th, 2008

Hi friends, It is been two and half years with Ibibo and I had good and bad experiences with ibibo. But no regrets, without any pain there is no gain and I thank ibibo for bringing some changes and listening to its users. The new look Ibibo blog platform is confusing many friends of mine, so, I thought of putting a review which gives them all the help related to ibibo blogs.

The new blog tab consists of Blogs Home, My Blog, My Dashboard, Create, Hall of Fame, Manage, settings. The image of tab is given in the below Picture 1:

Picture 1:

a) Blogs Home: If this option is clicked it will lead to featured blogs sections and recently posted blogs. As shown as below picture 2.

Picture 2:

b) My Blog: This option will take you to your blog posts page. As shown as below picture 3.

Picture 3:

c) My Dashboard: In this page you will find all details of your posts. To access Manage and settings option you have to come for your Dashboard. Please see the below picture to get an idea.

Picture 4:

d) Create: This option will take you to create new blog post. As shown in the below picture.

Picture 5:

e) Hall of Fame: This will take you to the Hall of fame page.

f) Manage: This option is very important to change the look and manage the below features like Posts, Pages, Links, Categories, Tags, Comments, Users, Themes and Widgets

The tab looks like the below picture 6:

1) Posts: In this section you can organize your earlier posts and present posts as well. It is very easy to delete the post from here and can also edit comments and posts as well.

2) Pages: This section will show all the pages you have created a post under this section. I am not clear why this feature is there. So, to know more about this feature please contact Ibibo admin.

3) Links: This feature is to edit the external links or your blog links. I did not much use it, please feel free to explore this feature and if you guys know anything new please let me know.

4) Categories: In this section you can add categories for your blogs and delete the present categories. For suppose if you write about sports then add a category Cricket and Sports and when you post a new post just add this category to your post, so, that users who come to your page can easily access your pages which is related to cricket without much searching.

5) Tags: In this section also you can add tags and delete the present tags. Tags are just like keywords, for suppose you create a tag mobile to your blog post then when any other user searches for mobile in Google or nay other search engine, they will find your blog post there, so, smart tagging will increase your blogs traffic.

6) Comments: In this section you can approve or mark as spam or delete comments, if you have enable to moderation approval, you can edit that information as well. You can search even comments.

7) Users: In this section you can change your privileges or give privileges to other users to edit your post or comments, Add user from community to your account etc.

8 ) Themes: In this section you can change your theme colors of your blog.

9) Widgets: This section is very important for all of you understand very clearly friends. In this section you can add or remove widgets such as Pages, Calendar, Archives, Links, Search, Text (this option is for putting up ads of Google and Ad winks or anything you like), Tag Cloud, etc.

Other than adding and removing, you will have the option where to place these widgets whether in sidebar 1 or sidebar 2. Many of my friends have asked where will be these sidebars, please see the below picture to get some idea about sidebars and adding the widgets. Save changes button as well.

Picture of Sidebars:

You can add any widget to either sidebar1 or sidebar2, so, if you want to add a particular widget in sidebar 2 then select that option as shown in the above picture and add the widget and press the save changes button.

For every widget there will an edit button as shown in picture above. You have to press that edit link to edit the content of the widget or name the widgets, etc.

For example if you want to add an ad winks code to your blog then follow the below steps:

1) Press the add text widget

2) Press the edit link and a new window appears as shown in the below picture.

3) Add the ad winks code here and content area as shown in picture below and in the title area give a name of your choices like join or offers or ads, etc.

4) After finishing you have to press the change button and then press the save changes button in right hand bottom side.

Like adding you can remove the widgets as well. So, friends, explore and see the new look of Ibibo blogs.

g) Settings: This option you will find just side of Manage option. To see this option you have to go into your Dashboard or else you will not find this option. To get an idea please look the picture 1 in the top. In this section you will find options like General, Writing, Reading, Discussion, Privacy and Permalinks. Please go into each category and explore friends, it is very easy to understand.

I dedicate this post to all my friends who are facing problems to use this new system, if still confused you can take a tour of this new blog platform, please click me.

Signing off with lots of love and if any doubts please give a blurb to me for help. Next time I will write about the Ibibo messenger advance features.

With lots of love,

Madhu Vamsi

Posted in Computers and Technology, Other Categories | 8 Comments

Low Calories cakes for Diabetes

October 5th, 2008

Hi friends, I have read recently cakes with low sugar and calories are made. So, I found the below two cakes very interesting:

MARBLE CHEESECAKE:

The combination of rich taste and creamy texture makes cheesecake one of the most beloved of all.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup (85 g/3 oz) low fat honey graham crackers (6 whole crackers)

1/2 cup toasted wheat germ

1 tablespoon plus I cup sugar

2 tablespoon extra-light olive oil

560 ml (19 oz) (about 2 cups) silken tofu, well drained

450 g (1 lb) fat-free cream cheese

3 tablespoons flour

1 large egg plus 2 large egg whites

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup chocolate syrup

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 180 � c (350 � f)

Combine the graham crackers, wheat germ, and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in a food processor and process into fine crumbs. Add the oil and process until moistened. Press the mixture into the bottom and partway up the sides of a 23-cm (9-in.) springform pan. Bake until set, about 10 minutes.

Add the tofu, cream cheese, flour, egg and egg whites, vanilla, and the remaining 1 cup sugar to the food processor and process until smooth.

Measure 1 cup of the tofu mixture into a small bowl and stir in the chocolate syrup. Pour the remaining filling into the crust. Pour the chocolate mixture in a ring on top of the filling and swirl in with a knife. Bake for 45 minutes. Turn off the oven and leave the cheesecake undisturbed for 45 minutes. Cool to room temperature before chilling overnight.

Tip: Instead of sugar, use an equal amount of sugar substitute such as Splenda Granular to reduce calories even more.

Fruit and Cream filled Sponge Cakes:

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons all-fruit preserves.

1 cup strawberries, blue-berries, raspberries, or other fruit, washed, trimmed and sliced as necessary.

1/4 cup blended low-fat yogurt (same flavor as fruit).

1/4 cup reduced-fat or fat-free sour cream.

8 sponge cake cups

Steps:

Place the preserves in a small dish and microwave for 1 minute to soften. Stir together with the fruit in a medium bowl, coating evenly.

Stir together the yogurt and sour cream in a small bowl, Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons into each cake cup and top with 2 to 4 tablespoons of the fruit.

Some of the above cake recipe might make your Christmas and New Year cheerful. So what are you waiting? Go ahead try to make the homemade cake.

So, what are you waiting for friends, I have already tried these cakes courtesy my mom. She and me both together made the above two cakes. My father is happy that he can again eat these delicious yummy cakes. So, go try out and enjoy friends…

With lots of love,

Madhu Vamsi…

Posted in Food, Drinks & Eating out, Other Categories | 9 Comments

Mithali Raj is my favorite

September 29th, 2008

Hi friends, good evening, my present write up is about the Women’s cricket in India. In the past India was able to produce players like Poornima Rao (retired from cricket and selector) and Anju Jain (retired from cricket and presently selector). Currently skillful and talented players like Anjum Chopra, Jaya Sharma (very talented opener), Jhulan Goswami, Hemalata Kala and many more. But I would like the way the captain Mithali Raj plays and her captaincy is outstanding as well.

Mithali Raj at the age of 19 years scored a superb double hundred and broke the record of highest individual score in tests. In her marathon innings she scored 214 runs and it was against the England in 2002. Previous record was held by Australian player K L Rolton, her score was 209 not out. Mithali was very talented vice captain at that time. She soon became the captain of Indian team. She was the first Indian Women’s team captain to help India to reach the finals of the World Cup 2005. In previously World Cups, India never reach the finals of a World Cup. But it is unfortunate that Indian eves could not able to win the 2005 World Cup but Mithali was inspirational for this team.

Mithali Raj is employee of South Central Railways and she is from Hyderabad. She represents for Railways in domestic matches. I like the way Mithali hits the cover drive and straight drive, she is cool and calm while she bats. She is good leg spinner and her bowling gives an added advantage for the team.

The recent tour of England was disaster for Indian eves because of out form players. I hope Mithali brings back senior player Anjum Chopra back to the squad who was not included in this tour due to unknown reason. Anjum Chopra is former captain and she won an Arjun award as well.

I would like to see the women�s team very strong but the physical fitness is not much taken cared by the coach of the team which is a draw back. If fitness and fielding is improved then this team is unstoppable. Recently BCCI has agreed to merge with Women�s Cricket Association. This is a good decision which BCCI took very late but this move will boost the women�s cricket and more sponsors will start approaching the women�s team. I hope BCCI take good steps for the development of Women’s cricket just like the men’s cricket.

I hope like Mithali Raj many young women take up the sport of Cricket. In India no drought for talent or skillful players, the selectors have to look for new talented player and make the domestic cricket more competitive. Something like IPL in men’s version of cricket must be introduced in women’s cricket as well. Three cheers for Women’s cricket from me…

The above picture is not my copyright picture

Another Bomb blast in Delhi:

One more blast and it is sad that government is not interested in stopping this blasts. It is cowardly act of the terrorists, I feel if one terrorist is found, he should we hanged in a public place or follow the brutal act these terrorists follow while killing the innocent people. They should be killed and no defense lawyer should be given for these terrorists to defend their act.

If any politician�s is involved, then, they should also get same treatment, no mercy should be shown.� That’s all for now and more soon…

Signing off with love,

Madhu Vamsi…

Posted in Cricket and sports, Sports, news | 28 Comments

This is the story of Reality shows

September 24th, 2008

Hello friends, these days when you on a TV Reality Shows are shown repeatedly all the day in some channels like Sony, Star Plus, Zee etc. First major reality shows which became popular was Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in 1995 and at that time Sonu Nigam was the anchor. In this show singers use to sing their own composed songs or composed songs of their gurus. The judges were also great legends like O. P. Nayyar, Naushad and Talat Aziz etc. The highlight of this show was no quarrels between the judges or contestants or no sympathy stories of contestants. No voting system was used to decide the winner of the contest. That is why this show had produced good playback singers like Shreya Ghoshal (winner of 1996 and Mega final 1999) and Kunal Ganjawala (participated in 1997 and again in 1998).

As years passed on, suddenly public started showing interest towards these reality shows and popularity increased for these shows. I don’t know which gentleman got the idea of public voting, this type of voting has suddenly spoiled the reality show’s thrill. Like politicians, the contestants started begging for vote and judges started cursing the public for choosing a wrong person as winner, etc. But I would blame the production team of these reality shows for putting such a system to gain profits for their channel. If the Channels are interested in this voting system, then it is their responsibility to see that the judges show more restraint while talking on the show and do not criticize or blame the public.

In almost all the reality shows, we are listening songs from the contestants which have already been sung by famous playback singers in the films. So, no originality is left in these shows and it looks very disgusting and indecent when judges argue or quarrel with each other. These judges are showing very bad example of behavior to youngsters or budding stars.

The auditions for Indian Idol are being presently shown on Sony channel and one of the judges, Mr. Anu Malik is making fun of some contestants. Unfortunately one Doctor participated and Anu Malik made fun of him. I found this very improper because if anyone’s singing is not fine then one should not make fun of that person. Not everybody is master in singing and one should give respect and take respect. Anu Malik’s voice is also very horrible while singing but he still sings in films because he is son of some famous music director of the past. Even now he did not change his voice and still sings songs in very horrible manner.

I feel Indian Idol production team should go to arts colleges or to places where singers are taking training instead of going on to the roads and asking ordinary public to participate in Indian Idol. When these contestants come for audition, the judges make fun of them, which looks sick. I already lost respect on Anu Malik for the way he talks with contestants and with other judges, as if he is only music director on this earth who knows more about singing.

Many of the reality shows these days are highlighting the personal life of contestants as if he is the only person on the earth who is having problems in life. There are hundreds of poor people who are struggling daily for food and employment. Highlighting their personal life and showing all the family plights is like an act being shown for gaining the sympathy of public. It is true that most people who are participating in these shows have problems, but showing them on the TV is not meaningful. When singing is the ultimate challenge here then one should show how much the contestant has learned after coming into the contest and how well he is performing instead of all the other issues.

Sooner or later these reality shows will make contestants to fight with each other, question the judges (which has already been done in one show), etc. Finally, I want to ask all my friends what are the winners of the contestants doing after their win. They are either anchoring in a reality show or participating in another reality show. No music director is giving them chance on regular basis.

I want to let you all know that A.R. Rehman, the famous and legendary music director is the person who had started a music school in Chennai and other regions of India. He is a music director, who has given chance to number of new talented singers in his films. Hat’s off to him. He talks less and shows the results. Not like Himesh Reshammiya or Anu Mallik, who speak too much and do less, that’s all for now….

Signing off with love,

Madhu Vamsi….

Posted in Movies TV | 46 Comments

My love for nature

September 20th, 2008

Hi friends, Good Morning to all of you, I am loving the new look of Ibibo blog post editor. So, many features are available but it will take some time for all of us to get use to it.

I found out some technical glitches which Ibibo need to solve. The comments are doubled up for each comment in my last post. For suppose if X gives one comment then it turned the same comment to one more time. Even by blog posts changed into 2 and I think Ibibo admin will be looking at these technical glitches very soon.

I have recently went to Annavaram which is in Andhra Pradesh. Here Lord Sri Satyanarayana Swamy temple is very famous and many tourists come to this place to offer their prayers. The prasadam is very famous as well..

Wherever I go I cannot forget to take the pictures of nature and I am sharing some of them…

Beauty of Nature

Cheers to all…..

With love, Madhu Vamsi..

Posted in annavaram, love for nature | 18 Comments