My Playstation Game List

Recently got 2 games for PS-3: Grand Theft Auto IV and Gran Tourism. My friend also downloaded Resident Evil, Lego Batman, Lego Indiana Jones etc. After playing these games my hands and eyes are tired. Though PS-3 is good in graphics and sounds, its controller is hard to learn. I hope to enjoy blue-ray movies more than playing games.

Blue Ray Disk Player

I recently purchased Sony Playstation-3 slim model with 120GB hard disk space. I am going to use this mostly to watch movies on Blue Ray Disk. Blue-ray disks are 6 times better than DVD in picture. DVD was made for high resolution analog tv (700lines) whereas Blue-ray disks are made for new high resolution HDTV 1080p.

What is interesting is I paid $299 for my first Sony DVD player in 2000 and paid $299 for Sony Playstation-3 in 2009. Nowadays new Sony DVD players start from $29. Is DVD absolute technology or mass technology?
Here is link for new Playstation:

Trying Google Voice

Trying new Google Voice. So far only use I see is call forwarding.

20 ways to waste your money

Many good tips on
on Yahoo "20 Ways to Waste Your Money". My score 12/20.

Cost of old car

My 8 year old Honda Accord needs $3K for repair. The current KBB value is $8K. Should I repair or buy new car ? New car is not affordable and not advisable in this economy. So I think repairing the car in few installment is better option.

Amitabh Bachchan's Blog

I am following Amitabh Bachchan's Blog on http://srbachchan.tumblr.com/
Amitabh Bachchan's Twitter account
He writes very well and touches many different issues. In a very natural way he puts his point of view. He is doing it with full of energy and inspiring me to continue writing on this blog :)

Enjoy Amitabh Bachchan's family photo after voting in India's election:
http://bigb.bigadda.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/vote3.jpg

Amitabh: "So when the four of us are asked by paparazzi, to show our fingers in acknowledgment of us having punched our votes, we show it to them. It is another matter that, the Government marks our middle finger with an indelible ink, to avoid duplication and therefore unfair electoral procedures. Showing of the middle finger in the Western world apparently has different connotations. So I guess, in usual fashion, that is all that the press shall flash tomorrow !! And for those that may miss it here is the photo..!!"

USD hits INR 52 and now sliding back

USD to INR was as high as INR 52. After $1 trillion plan from Federal Reserve Bank USD is loosing its strength in global market.

One interesting thing: In last one year USD has gain 25% against INR. USDINR where as S&P 500 has lost 41%. So your actual loss in INR will be 16% only.

Put Your 401k Back to Work

Some useful and useless advice on Yahoo Finance:

My retirement portfolio fell 35% last year. How long will it take for it to recover?

Unfortunately, it could take years. Let's assume you had a portfolio of $250,000 that fell 35%, to $162,500. If you don't add anything and earn pretax annual returns of 5% -- about half of the stock market's long-term rate of return -- it would take more than nine years for your account to recover, according to calculations by T. Rowe Price. However, if you add $4,000 a year and your investments earn 5% annually, your account would rebound to about $250,000 in six and a half years. Higher investment returns and larger contributions would produce faster results and a bigger nest egg.

Tax Refund

Did you file your taxes yet ? If yes did you receive any refund? Do not get excited if you receive refund on filing your taxes. It only means that YOU GAVE INTEREST FREE MONEY TO GOVERNMENT. Go back and check your W-4. Make sure that your W-4 deductions are up to date for current financial year.
From April 1, tax rates are changing. Make sure that you are taking advantage of new tax rates which are due to Obama's Stimulus Plan.