2paisa

Noksapyeong. The Waffle Factory. Taco Chilli Chilli. The heater and the humidifier.The house on top of the hill.
Fox (Phox) Life. Story On. Soju. Gojujang. T-money card. Free coffee and peppermint with your bill
Gangnam. Fish pedicures. Cold days. Short skirts. Colder days. Shorter skirts. Boots. High heels.
Itaewon. Foreigners. English teachers. Cass, Hite, Max, OB. Kimchi with all meals.
Cherry blossoms. Beautiful palaces. Beautiful temples that look like beautiful palaces. Gyeongju.
Tombs. Buddha. Snack on boiled silkworm larvae. Waterfalls and lava tubes in Jeju.
White day. Lovers. In matching clothes. Subways-people watching mini-TVs and playing games on the cell phone.
Hikers. In matching gear. Fake eyelashes. Nail bars. Mascara. Subways-girls putting their make-up on.
Ajjumas and ajashes. Noaraebang. Makgeoli. In big pots and little cups. Insadong.
Naked women. Breasts. Legs. Sauna. Hot room. Cold room. Jacuzzi. Jimjilbang.
Lotus lantern festival. Stalls. Foreigners. Experience culture. Song. Dance. Illuminating.
Deli manjoo. Fish waffle. Subway station shops. A maze that’s Co-Ex. Frustrating.
The old and the young. The sky scraper and temple roof captured in one frame.
Souvenirs. Swings and ropes. Namsan park. Tapgol Park. Ajashes playing games.
Slippers outside room. Use both hands to serve. Drink but look away.
Metal chopsticks. Dak galbi. Dokbokki. Woodstock. Club night. Hongdae.
One of the few options for vegetarians-Bibimbap.
Nobody,nobody but you. Korean pop.
Couchsurfers. Friends from all over. Makes one not want to go.
Kamsahamnida Korea. Annyonghi Khaseyo!

You would have all noticed the April 15th post titled “Writer’s Blog”. This is the first post under a new category I have set up on 2paisa. A close friend of mine who has been wanting to begin blogging for some time now has finally decided to do so now. And, I am lending some space on my own blog for this friend’s first blogging experiences. Since this friend of mine wishes to post anonymously, posts under the “Writer’s Blog” category will be posted using the userID “writersblog”.

I hope you all enjoy reading this new category as I am sure it will add more variety to the blog content.

A very warm welcome to “writer’s blog”!

Cheers,
Devang

It is truth universally acknowledged that everyone between the age group 6-86 years have blogs. It is <also> truth universally acknowledged that the first part of the first sentence of Miss Austen’s book Pride and Prejudice finds its way to most literary works of the most non-literary people. No offence to Mr. Dickens whose ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…’ has been copied borrowed only half as many times as Miss Austen’s famous opening has been. But now I’m rambling- which I’ve been told is my way of procrastinating. But in my defence, this non-blogging for the past five years was because of writer’s block. And now, I think I may be finally over it. Not SO over it that I’m going to create my own blog (maybe five years from now I’ll be ready for that!) Over it just about enough to ask a friend for my own little space in his blog. A place for MY writing in HIS blog- is this equivalent to a live-in-relationship in the virtual world?

After this advancement in our association from friendship to virtual live-in-relationship, I was ready with the name for my space (scroll up to see the e.e. cummings inspired blogspace name and please do comment-I take criticism fairly well and compliments even better).Now I had to pick one topic that I was going to give my expert opinion on. Except that procrastination is not my worst flaw. Indecisiveness is. So after much ruminating, I have decided that I am not going to pick one topic. writer’s blog is going to be as random as quizzes on social networking sites. But it may just be more interesting.

P.S: A sneak-peek into the topics of some of my unwritten blogs- Chronicling Korea. Stay tuned.

It is a very interesting time for everyone around the world with dynamic changes continuing to take place in the digital media space, even through a deepening economic recession. At a time when the sluggish economy is being a cause of worry to everyone, web 2.0 offers to help in at least one thing less to do - make decisions.

Hunch, a new startup from Flickr co-founder Caterina Fake is a consumer web application looking to help users make up their minds. It helps users make decisions by asking them a series of questions, then using their answers to make a suggestion. The system uses the answers to the questions to offer the user a suggested solution, along with an percentage indicating how confident it is with its decision.

In some respects the site is like a hybrid between Wikipedia (where users come to a consensus) and Yahoo Answers (where everyone’s opinion is shown). All of the questions asked are submitted by other members, who also play a role in deciding how answers are judged.

The process works like this: you pick a topic from Hunch’s various categories (or by searching for a specific question), and Hunch then asks you a brief series of questions that have been submitted by other members. Hunch uses your answers to narrow the field and ultimately suggests a decision. Once Hunch offers you its recommendation you can also see other possible recommendations, see any specific pros and cons members have submitted, learn why Hunch selected that option for you and, most importantly, tell Hunch whether or not you agree with its decision.

The last part is key because it’s one of the main ways Hunch’s algorithm gets smarter — the more feedback and data it gets, the more it can adapt and correct, so as more people use Hunch the site should improve.

I asked Hunch where I should have dinner tonight. Hunch then asked me how spicy I like my food to be, whether I want something heavy or light, whether I eat beef, whether I want  hot/cold I want my food to be, and so on before rendering its decision.

Hunch is currently a beta version and does not have open registration, but you can add your e-mail address to the invite list and hopefull you should get to try it.