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Thanks to everyone who sent me an email or scrap wishing me a Merry Christmas.
I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday whether on Orkut or off, and I hope the Orkut team enjoys their Christmas vacations (as they duly deserve after all the improvements they have made to Orkut).
For your enjoyment, here is a video (that is not related to Orkut) that I discovered while surfing across YouTube. Enjoy!
It seems of all the places to mention this, I ironically forgot this here!
Even Orkut remembered, to my shame.
Thanks for everyone who scrapped, emailed, called, etc. wishing me a happy valentines day. I (unfortunately) was not able to reply in kind electronically (as there are way too many forms of communication on this planet) here is something I did pull up while surfing Orkut today in the Valentines Day forum.
(AVIJIT) Shortcut to find your valentine from ORKUT
To love is good, too: love being difficult.
For this reason young people, who are beginners in everything, cannot yet know love: they have to learn it.
But learning-time is always a long, secluded time, and so loving, for a long while ahead and far on into life, is--solitude, intensified and deepened loneness for him who loves.
Are you engaged? Or not?
if you have a lover then post N-GAGE [:D] or if you don't have then post BLANK [;]
(Hat Tip: Os Humanos Do Orkut)
On this day three years ago a Googler by the name of Orkut Buyukkokten founded Orkut, Google's bluest social network.
Although Orkut designed Orkut (note: hmm...that sounds weird) for Americans, it ironically became a hit in first Brazil, then India.
Despite missing the American market, Orkut became a thrill for me personally because it allowed me to actually meet people from various cultures, faiths, philosophies, as well as get a better understanding of the world through the eyes of its users.
Happy Birthday Orkut! And congrats to the Google team for hanging in there when nobody knew who you were and for making Orkut a fun place to hang out.
PS
So, when are you guys (and Ellen) finally going to roll out the Jot Spot integration?
Yeah, I know I'm late on this one, but Happy New Years everyone! I hope everyone enjoyed visiting their friends, family, and the parties (especially the fireworks).
With 2007 finally here, and the competition heating up online, I wonder what surprises Orkut has for us this upcoming year?
I think the one thing I like about Christmas is that almost everybody (at least everybody that I meet) tends to swallow their pride and smile to complete strangers. The second thing I enjoy about Christmas is the presents! (although I enjoy giving out presents more than receiving...unless its a gift card of course!)
Speaking of presents, one cool thing I like about Orkut is that I can see what my friends want thanks to the wish list underneath their profile (and everybody knows finding the perfect gift is half the battle).
Aside from the materialistic part of giving, some Orkut members have started preparing for the holidays and here is what I noticed while surfing the forums:
Today many of you may have noticed the (RED)TM word underneath your Google search bar.
Well, if you click on the link you will get a little preview from Bono explaining that today is World AIDS Day with some instructions on how you can help. (via YouTube)
Well, in America we are getting ready to celebrate one of my favorite holidays, Thanks Giving!
For those of you who are unfamiliar with this American tradition, wikipedia provides an excellent explanation of the holiday, although it can be basically summed up in a simple phrase: being thankful for what you have in life.
Some Orkuteers have decided to celebrate early in Orkut's only Thanks Giving forum (in English at least).
For those of you who think eating meat is blasphemy is not healthy, you can receive free veggie pasta recipes from Bharat by simply posting your email address over here.
Note: As far as Orkut thanks goes, I am thankful for Google developing this site as it has given me a greater understanding of the world around me internationally, especially people of other faiths.
(Hat Tip: Share Skype)
Unless you have lived in a box (or perhaps never heard about this until now) today is the International Talk Like A Pirate day (believe it or not, it's true).
Over at Clifton's Pirate Crew, Captain Clifton is leading his swashbuckling crew in the ways and mannerisms of piratehood.
heed this notice!
Come this morn, like the black spot caught up with ye at last, this date swabs all scuttlebutt with a touch of the maritime!
MATIES, it be TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY! Accord the day's parlance with that of the corsairs and gulp rum, or walk the plank!
YAAAAAR!
-Captain Clifton
Well, the fireworks are now officially over and members are giving their congrats to Americans over in the United States of America forum. Bruno pretty much sums up how Americans feel by saying:
A Happy Independence Day for all americans. May the star-spangled banner wave over the land of the free and the brave for another two centuries and thirty years, at least!
couple of brews and talked to my girlfriend while watching fireworks from my balcony. Yep, pretty wweet.
It looks like the "Great White North" (also known as Canada) has just celebrated their Independence Day which was on July 1st. Over in the Canadians (go Canada!) forum, Marcella leads the celebration.
just wanted to say HAPPY CANADA DAY TO EVERYONE!!!!!
PROUUUUUUUUUUD TO BE CANADIAAAAAAAAAAN wooooooooo!!!
Happy Mother's Day to all of the current and future Mothers out there! I am thankful that they exist, because without their intervention (with a little help from Dad) I would not be here. ;)
In the I love My Mother forum, users are celebrating their mothers in three words while in another discussion members are wishing their mommy's a happy Mother's Day. And it even appears Google is celebrating...to a degree. (Hat Tip: Google Operating System).
Note: Although not Orkut related, here is a Google Video of two brothers displaying their..."appreciation" of Mother's day.
Today's daily profile features Linda from the Persian empire. Linda has a funny personality and enjoys a sport that I loathe, Tennis, mainly because I can never hit the ball between those white lines (I prefer ping pong). Here is a little about Linda:
I love having friends from all over the world so that’s why I’m here :c)
Also I love traveling I've been to many counties but still some are left undiscovered by me that I hope I can be able to see them all before God sends me an invitation to heaven or hell maybe! That of course would be the last undiscovered place to visit!!!! LOL
I'm cool and I have my own style of living something like still CRAZZZZZZZZZZZY!!!!!!! [...]
Something else:
Don't try to understand me, just like me ;c)
"As food is needed for the body, them same way love is needed for the soul. Food strengthens the body while love strengths the soul. A person is incomplete without love."
The winners of the Orkut Valentines Prince and Princess are Faraz Ahmed and Loving Princess. Congratulations! The Loving Princess image is to the right and here is a little "something" I noticed on her profile.
Today's Prince is Faraz who has some really cool text art on his profile (everything from hearts to guitars to horses--you get the picture). He seems to be really popular as he posts:
WeLl It SeEmS LoTs Ov PeoPle CoPIed My ProFile, I gOt No PrObleM, EvEry1s InVitEd.
Visiting the Valentine's Day forum I came across two different legends on how Valentines Day came about posted on their front page (i.e. forum description). Here is the first.
There are some storice around about the history of Valentine's Day. The first legend says that Vlentine was a religious man who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudus ll decided that single men were better soldiers than married ones, he announced that young men should not get married. Valentine believed that this decision was not fair, so he continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Vlentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered his soldiers [t]o kill him.
According to another legend, Saint Valentine actually sent the first Valentine greeting himself. While he was in prison, Vlentine decided to marry a young girl who had visited him in prison. Before his death, he worte her a letter, which he signed From your Valentine, an expression that is still in use today.
In the Valentine forum (not to be confused with the other two), Imran is asking if anyone knows the history of Valentines day. The Valentine's day forum (a different community) tries to answer this question on their front page.
Unfortunately a spammer named Inram (I wonder if they are related?) has posted a message telling everyone to visit his site. Although I do not mind free market advertising, (as Orkut is just as useful for business as it is for romance--potentially) unrelated linkage can be rather annoying.
Meanwhile a new "word game" variation has appeared asking if people would go out with the person above them. Unfortunately it seems to be filled with mostly guys, and the most common phrase that I'm hearing thus far is "no."
Today is Valentines day and here is what Orkut citizens are posting about this holiday.
Over in the Valentine day forum (there are many here so you have to keep up) Ali has posted a beautiful "text image" of a rose, a talent I have yet to perfect on Orkut.
Meanwhile in the original Valentine forum, Xhery Xheikh makes a plea for everyone to vote for her in the Orkut's Best Profile Contest while Hassam does not seem to be thrilled about Valentines day and writes a poem expressing his thoughts.
In the Be My Valentine forum, Sara wishes everyone a happy valentines (although she wrote it in another language so Bobak had to translate).
Love is in the air (or at least on Orkut) and it will be interesting to see what many people gave to their lover/spouse/significant other/etc. on Valentines day. :)
