Google In my life

Was surprised lately by the list of Google applications I tend to use in my day to day activities. As it is the time of the year to put forward a list here’s my list of Google applications that I use. I have not added Gmail and Blogger to the list since those are obvious ones

1. Google Maps

I am directionally challenged and this is one important tool which I use before going out for any trip or outing. I have a GPS device but by the time it announces the turn I would be in a wrong lane and would have to drive 20 miles to get back to that point. In India I would have taken a illegal U-turn somewhere where there are no watching Mamas. Everybody tends to act the good guy here in the US. Beats me why.

Anyway I digress. I take a look at the routes and decide which one is the best for me. Not sure how effective this is going to be when I go back to India. When I had no GPS the Google maps in my mobile was a major help.

2. Google Voice

This is one great application that allows me to make cheap calls. It is not available in India as of now

3. Youtube

No intros needed for this

4. Picasa

All my photos go here for sharing.

5. Google Docs

Google’s answer to cloud computing. You can store up to 1 GB and pay for the additional storage.I have started uploading a few critical files

6. Google Wave

This would be helpful from a project management perspective. Not sure how good its going to be on a personal front.

7. Calendar

Have started using this one recently. The best usage will be when I buy a smart phone that would allow me to sync up to the calendar.

8. Google desktop

Started recently on this one. Need to see how I can leverage this.

9. Orkut

In spite of Facebook’s popularity still the more prevalent social networking site in India

10. Gtalk

Do not use this any more. However there was a time when this was my trusty companion.

I would love to have a Nexus phone to complement all these. However the contract / price makes me think. Lets see when they roll it out to India

Lullaby

All parents would have committed this monstrous crime against their child at one point or other. I believe we all have been corrupted by the mid 90s tamil movies that have a village backdrop. The common unifying factor in all these movies would be infants crying in the village. Enter our portly hero singing a lullaby. Precisely when the song ends all the children would go to sleep. I sure wish I could have put my son in that village. He would have given our hero a run for his money.
In our house at the first sign my son shows of going to sleep, I take him from the missus with a assured glance. I take him to a separate room lest I terrify her. Then I would bring out the inner artist in me at full flow. I serenade him with a whole bunch of philosophical songs that ponder on the Heavenly home to the Beatles. No full stops there. I bring out a lot of special effects , runs what not to my audience of one. He will start with a glance of "What is the issue with this guy" to "O My God Why me". And in spite of my concert would go to sleep.
At this point of time my wife will take over. She knows if I continue with the same enthusiasm he might wake up with nightmares. She will start the mothers only patented lullaby that goes with just a single sylable and humming a tuneless tune. Well its kind of effective. Of course anything after my solo recital would be music from the heavens.
Well speaking of lullabies my special favourite is the one by Eric clapton.

Good night my angel time to close you eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you've been asking me
I think you know what I've been trying to say

I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Where ever you may go
No matter where you are
I never will be far away

Good night my angel now it's time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay

And like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep
The water's dark and deep
Inside this ancient heart
You'll always be a part of me

Goodnight my angel now it's time to dream
And dream how wondeful your life will be
Someday your child will cry and if you sing this lullaby
Then in your heart there will always be a part of me

Someday we'll all be gone
But lullabies go on and on
They never die that's how you and I will be

The kings Singers version of the song is superb. You can view it here.

Of course it is nowhere near mine.