Facts and News!

Mobile Number Portability is here!

2010-11-25T23:18:00.005+05:30

Yes, you heard it right. Finally the much awaited Number Portability has become a reality in India. It was launched in Haryana on Thursday, 24th Nov 2010. And by the beginning of 2011, it will be available to all the subscribers in India. In simple words, Number Portability allows consumers to retain their phone numbers even when they switch operators. Now this is going to benefit both the consumers as well as the service providers. How? Well, here in this post, I've gathered some information about it from various sources so that it can help people to have more idea about it.

What is Number Portability?

Number Portability allows consumers and businesses to keep their existing telephone numbers when they switch operators. It, literally, means that numbers are portable from operator to operator - whether that opertor is a mobile, wireline, or VoIP service provider.

How does it benefit the consumer?

It gives subscribers the freedom to choose operators based on criteria like services, price, and customer service. Their freedom of movement is not influenced by the inconveniences and costs that come with changing numbers.

How does it benefit the operators?

It also makes it easier for operators to compete for customers, precisely because it eliminates a major barrier to churn - that is, reluctance to change numbers. Although this increased risk of churn is a concern among some operators, number portability has been a huge success around the world, because it helps to level the playing field, giving all operators more opportunities to grow their subscriber bases and revenues.

(Source: MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions)

How to Port your Number?

The six simple and quick steps for porting your number is shown in the image below.

(Source: LiveMint.com)

How much will it cost you?

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has fixed a ceiling of Rs. 19 as porting charges that the new service provider may collect from the subscriber. The money will go to the clearing house for facilitating the service.

For pre-paid customers, do note that migrating your number to a new carrier will mean that you shall be losing any prepaid balance that you have in your existing account. So remember to use up all your carrier minutes before you approach the new carrier.

Post-paid users need to remember that the MNP application could be rejected if you have not completely paid all your dues with the existing carrier. Make sure your last bill has been paid for.

I hope these informations would help you in understanding what Number Portability means and how you can change your service provider without changing your number.

Fastest Century in One Day Cricket was from Sachin Tendulkar's bat.

2009-06-01T17:41:00.002+05:30

I found this interesting news from various websites. I was really surprised and excited by this news. As i'm a die hard Sachin Tendulkar fan, any news about Sachin excites me.

Shahid Afridi, who was playing his debut ODI against Sri Lanka in Nairobi, Kenya in 1996, used the bat which actually belonged to the Master Blaster and one the best cricketer in the world cricket history. Shahid Afridi went on the score the fastest century in One Day Cricket in that match, just taking 37 balls which included 11 sixes and 6 fours. The records still stands as an unbreakable record.

The bat was once gifted to Waqar Younis from Sachin Tendulkar and he had asked him to make similar model bats from Sialkot, Pakistan. Waqar gave the bat to Afridi when he was making the debut for Pakistan and wished him that "it could be lucky as it belonged to a great player".

Shahid Afridi has scored many other good scores with that particular bat and he values it a lot. He had got many offers to auction the bat. But he had put down all those because of the emotional attachment with the bat and has no intention to auction it in the future as well.

Mickey Mouse Loses his Voice!

2009-05-26T14:10:00.003+05:30

It's a sad new for all Mickey Mouse lovers... Mickey Mouse loses his voice for the 3rd time.

Yes, Wayne Allwine, 62, the actor who has been giving voice to Mickey Mouse for the past 30 years died on Monday, 18th May, 2009 because of complications from Diabetes.

Wayne Allwine had dedicated his entire professional life to Walt Disney and have given so much joy, happiness and comfort to so many around the world by giving voice to the most beloved iconic character, Mickey Mouse.

He was born in Glendale, California. He joined Walt Disney in the year 1966 where he took his job in the mail room. He went on to work in the sound effects department and began voicing the company's main mouse in 1977 after using his natural falsetto to win an open audition.

Allwine was only the third man to give voice to Mickey Mouse. The first person to give the voice was Walt Disney himself. He gave the voice to the mouse from 1928 to 1947, after which he passed the role to Jimmy MacDonald who was the studio's sound effects wizard. Jimmy MacDonald was the mentor of Allwine and while passing on the reins to him, he said, "Just Remember kid, you're only filling in for the boss."

"Mickey is the real star. You know you just have to love the little guy while you have him, because he won't be yours forever". These were the words of Wayne Allwine.

Allwine first gave the voice for Mickey in the television. After which he gave his voice in various movies like "Mickey's Christmas Carol" (1983), "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (1988), "The Prince and the Pauper" (1990), and for the Disney Theme Parks, Radios and Live Stage Events.

He is survived by his wife, Russi Taylor, whom he married in Hawaii in 1981. She is one of the most famous voice actresses in Hollywood and is the voice of Minnie since 1986.

Back Again!!!

2009-05-25T17:48:00.002+05:30

Well, its been a long time that i was away from this blog...

And today when i was sitting bored and thinking how to kill my time, this thought striked my mind and i decided to start posting and blogging again. I'm not sure how long this will go, but still i'll try to post stuffs whenever i am free and hope that i share stuffs which are knowledgeable and helps someone.

Till now, whatever i have posted were all copied from some other website and posted into this. Well, that was because i was too lazy to type all things. But this time, although i'll be gathering stuffs from various websites and sources, i'll be trying my best to write it my myself. :D

How to Tell If You Are Addicted to Technology

2008-06-20T13:54:00.001+05:30

They're not called "Crackberries" for nothing. Some people may be as addicted to Blackberries and other personal electronics as junkies are to drugs, according to John O'Neill, director of addictions services for the Menninger Clinic in Houston.

These over-wired people are so focused on their gadgets, they neglect relationships with other people, O'Neill said. Communication aids such as texting and e-mail may actually hamper our abilities to have more important face-to-face conversations.

But some experts object to labeling the techno-savvy as addicts without verifying that they meet the precise psychological definition of addiction.

* In 2006, psychiatrists at Stanford University surveyed people over the phone to try to determine how compulsively they used the Internet. They found a sizable portion of respondents displayed troubling tendencies, but could not determine whether their use merited a medical diagnosis and said more research needed to be done.

* A 2006 article in the journal Perspectives in Psychiatric Care said the Internet can "promote addictive behaviors" and advocated formally recognizing its use as a possible addiction to improve treatment.

* Another research paper, published in 2007 in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology by a psychiatrist at Tel Aviv University, recommended that Internet addiction be regarded as an extreme disorder on par with gambling, sex addiction and kleptomania.

O'Neill admitted that there is not enough research to establish whether excessive technology use qualifies as addiction, but cited people who can’t sit through a movie without checking their cell phones or make it through dinner without peeking at their Blackberries as potential addicts.

"Technology can become more than a passing problem and more like an addiction," he told LiveScience. He listed some danger signs: "You become irritable when you can't use it. The Internet goes down and you lose your mind. You start to hide your use."

He said he can see corollaries between drug and alcohol addiction and the way some people use technology.

But some experts object to calling any excessive behavior "addiction."

"People use the term 'addiction' pretty indiscriminately, without considering the formal criteria that need to be met," said Robert A. Zucker, director of the Addiction Research Center at the University of Michigan.

He said patients must display certain behaviors including craving, compulsive use, neglecting other responsibilities, withdrawal when the addictive object is not available, and other habits to be considered addicts.

"I am not aware of any work that has formally examined whether persons who make heavy use of cell phones, Blackberries and the like meet these criteria, but until that happens, I remain skeptical of the characterization," Zucker said. "It is trendy but not scientific."

Whether or not it qualifies as addiction, O'Neill said, our all-consuming relationships with technology are getting in the way of more important relationships — with people.

"I believe that technology has benefited us greatly," O'Neill said, "but my concern is that many of us have taken it too far, and it's become a substitute for those necessary face to face conversations."

Some experts agree that people who are over-wired may experience similar brain processes as people who are addicted to other things, such as drugs.

Eugene Samoza, director of the Addiction Research Center at the University of Cincinnati, said that addiction hijacks the brain's natural reward center, the nucleus accumbens. This center rewards humans for acquiring things they need biologically, such as sex and food, by releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with happiness.

"If it causes a release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, it acts like addiction," Samoza said. "That’s true of lots of things that people end up liking to do. So basically I think probably one could become addicted to technology."

But even if you are a techno-junkie, it is possible to change, O'Neill said.

"The first thing to do is take a long, hard look at how you are using technologies, and then to start to set some limits," he said. "You have to take off a couple hours and make those hours important enough that you don't allow yourself to be interrupted. I think we should have certain rules. We don’t break up, fire people or break traumatic news to people via e-mail or text message."

(Source : Livescience.com)

Top 10 Weird Ways We Deal with the Dead

2008-05-20T14:21:00.016+05:30

Dying is a fact of life, as is the disposal of a body after the fact. You know all about burial and cremation, but here are the other ways people, past and present, have dealt with the departed.

10. Towers of Silence

Zoroastrians believe the body is impure and shouldn't pollute the earth after death through burial or cremation. Instead, the deceased are brought to a ceremonial "tower of silence", usually located on an elevated mountain plateau, and left exposed to the animals and elements. When the bones have been dried and bleached by the sun, they are gathered and dissolved in lime.

9. Tree Burials

Indigenous tribes in many parts of the world discovered that the best way of disposing the dead was to put them up high, rather than down below. Groups in Australia, British Columbia, the American southwest and Siberia were known to practice tree burial, which involved wrapping the body in a shroud or cloth and placing it in a crook to decompose.

8. Viking Ship Burials

Middle Age Vikings lived and literally died by the sea. After death, wealthier Vikings were placed in ships filled with food, jewels, weapons and even sometimes servants or animals for their comfort in the afterlife. The boats were interred in the ground, set alight or sent out to sea. The ultimate postmortem destination for Viking warriors was Valhalla, or "Odin's Hall", made famous in the Old Norse sagas.

7. Tibetan Sky Burial

Ever wanted to fly? In Tibet, you get to do just that, only after you're already dead. Instead of trying to bury bodies in the hard, rocky ground, some Tibetans send their loved ones to the top of a mountain and leave them to be eaten by the vultures. The disassembled corpses are even mixed with flour and milk for a tastier treat, to make sure every bit leaves the Earth for good.

6. Bog Bodies

Plenty of travelers perished accidentally crossing the murky bogs of northern Europe, but at least some individuals, especially in the Middle Ages, were buried there carefully and on purpose. Lucky for archaeologists, the chemical make-up of a bog preserves human flesh very well, allowing them to study the unlucky bog bodies closely.

5. Neanderthal Cave Burials

Before they began interring their dead in the ground proper around 100,000 years ago, Neanderthals routinely left the deceased deep inside the caves of Europe and the Middle East. To Neanderthals, the dark, mysterious recesses of a cave may have seemed like a good place to transfer over to the otherworld, some archaeologists have argued.

4. Plastination

Send your corpse on a tour of museums 'round the world with plastination, developed by German scientist Gunther von Hagens. His popular "Body Worlds" exhibits showcase the controversial preservation technique, which involves dissecting the body into bits, embalming it with a hardening fluid and reposing the body into various 'educational' positions.

3. Balinese Cremation

Contrary to the more somber western funerals, cremation ceremonies among the Hindus of Bali have an almost carnival-like atmosphere. Festive floats parade down local streets accompanying the body to a burning ground, where it is transferred into a ceremonial bull receptacle and set alight.

2. Cryonics

Who's never heard of Walt Disney's quest for immortality by having his body frozen? While that was an urban legend, cryonic science is a reality, currently only legal to perform on those who've been pronounced dead. Soon after dying, participants are stored in a liquid nitrogen solution to prevent decay until that time when death becomes a reversible phenomenon. Until then, the bodies remain on ice.

1. Mummification

The mummies of ancient Egypt are probably the world's most famous dead bodies. Reserved for members of the upper classes, mummification involved the removal of all organs including the brain, which was pulled through the nose by a hook. The body was then stuffed with dry materials like sawdust and wrapped in linens. The Egyptians believed that mummification preserved the soul for its journey into the afterlife.

Computer Learns to Spot Attractive Women

2008-04-09T09:46:00.000+05:30

If a bunch of researchers from Tel Aviv University get to have their way, soon, computers (in addition to men) will be chasing skirts. The researchers claim they've managed to successfully 'teach' a computer -- any computer how to spot an attractive woman.

The project's leading light, an Indian Israeli by the name Amit Kagian, along with colleagues Professor Eytan Ruppin and Professor Gideon Dror explained that they'd married the worlds of computer programming and psychology to get a computer to make an aesthetic judgement. Said Kagian, "Until now, computers have been taught how to identify basic facial characteristics. But our software lets a computer make an aesthetic judgment."

The first step of the study had 30 men and women judging the beauty of 100 different faces of Caucasian women, roughly the same age. The men and women rated the faces for beauty on a scale of one to seven, not giving reasons for the scores they meted out. The second step saw Kagian and team processing, mapping geometrical shapes of facial features mathematically into the computer. The researchers also fed features like face symmetry, skin smoothness, and hair color into the analysis. It was found that based on human preferences, the computer 'learnt' the relationship between facial features and attractiveness quotient (scores). This ability of the computer was subsequently put to test on a fresh set of faces. The third and final step of the study had a jubilant Kagian say, "The computer produced impressive results -- its rankings were very similar to the rankings that people gave." Kaigan said this is indeed a remarkable achievement for its as though the computer had 'learnt' implicitly how to interpret beauty through processing previous data it had received.

And while beauty may be skin deep, on a more serious note, the study is significant in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in computers. It may see application in fields such as plastic and reconstructive surgery, and computer visualization programs like face-recognition technologies.

Microsoft unveils innovative "Surface Computer"

2007-05-31T16:37:00.000+05:30

Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday unveiled a coffee-table-shaped "surface computer" that turns an ordinary tabletop into a vibrant, dynamic surface that offers effortless interaction with all forms of digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects, giving a face to co-founder Bill Gates's dream of a future where the mouse and keyboard are replaced by more natural interaction using voice, pen and touch.

Company CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled the new machine, called “Microsoft Surface”, the first in a new category of surface computing products from Microsoft that responds to touch and special bar codes attached to everyday objects, at the Wall Street Journal's "D: All Things Digital" conference in Carlsbad, California yesterday.

"With Surface, we are creating more intuitive ways for people to interact with technology," Ballmer said. "We see this as a multibillion dollar category, and we envision a time when surface computing technologies will be pervasive, from tabletops and counters to the hallway mirror. Surface is the first step in realizing that vision."

The coffee- table-shaped touch-controlled computers, which consist of a 30-inch acrylic horizontal display that fixes on top of a nearly 2-foot-tall table, are set to arrive in November in restaurants, hotels, casinos and stores with a price tag between $5,000 and $10,000 per unit.

Initially pitched at businesses, the new products will be introduced by Harrah's Entertainment, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, T-Mobile USA and global gaming machine designer International Game Technology (IGT).

Although, “Microsoft Surface” will launch as a commercial application, but Microsoft plans to market it for students and domestic use too. The software giant will probably release a consumer version of the Surface computer in three to five years, according to Microsoft General Manager Pete Thompson.

Surface Computer, which is the result of five years' research and is being launched by Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division, is essentially a Windows Vista PC fitted inside a shiny black table base, topped with a horizontal monitor, where users can move screen objects around with their fingertips. It will automatically identify the objects placed on it. Beneath the screen, there are five cameras that can sense nearby objects.

Unlike most touchscreens, Surface can simultaneously recognize dozens of movements such as touch and gestures. The world's largest software maker has planned to manufacture the machine itself, rather than deploying personal-computer manufacturers.

While using the Surface, the fourth-largest U.S. mobile-phone company T-Mobile USA would let store visitors get information on new phones and load content such as ring tones and games. Similarly, Harrah's, which operates casinos such as Caesars Palace and the Paris, would allow users place their Harrah's reward card on the screen and make purchases with the points on the card.

Impressed with Redmond mammoth’s multi-touch, object-recognition software, analysts say the first few applications only give glimpse of what is possible in future. "The potential for the interface is huge," said Matt Rosoff, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft, an independent research firm. "Once you open it up to applications, what you can think of is limitless."

Another analyst from Jupiter Research, Michael Gartenberg labels the “Surface” as a big breakthrough for Microsoft in terms of evolving the notion of what a personal computer is.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, standing firm on their mission to provide top-tier technology, deliver great software and reliable services.

Surface is the first commercially available surface computing platform from Microsoft Corporation that comes to life for exploring, learning, sharing, creating, buying and much more. Soon to be available in restaurants, hotels, retail and public entertainment venues, this experience will transform the way people shop, dine, entertain and live, Microsoft said on its Surface Website.

Visit http://www.microsoft.com/surface for demo and details

Brain Teaser No. 6

2007-05-24T20:52:00.000+05:30

CASTLE
A square medieval castle on a square island was under siege. All around the island, there was a 10 metre wide water moat. But the conquerors could make foot-bridges only 9.5 metres long. Nevertheless a wise man was able to figure out how to get over the water. What do you think was his advice?
(There's a place on the other side to put the bridge against, not just a sheer wall. the water moat has square corners - that section of the moat is about 14.1 metres wide.)

Linux users say 'Sue me first, Microsoft'

2007-05-22T20:11:00.000+05:30

May 22, 2007 (IDG News Service) -- In an unconventional request, some users of Linux and other open-source software are inviting Microsoft Corp. to sue them.

The users have put their names on a public wiki as a way of protesting Microsoft's recent claims that Linux and other open-source software infringe on at least 235 of its patents. They've listed the open-source OSes and software they use, along with frequently snarky comments.

"If you would like to invite a visit by Brad Smith, Microsoft's head litigator, please feel free to add your name here," according to the wiki, part of a blog by Digital Tipping Point, a video project centered around open-source software.

Microsoft maintains it has no immediate plans to sue, although it is encouraging companies to license its intellectual property. Open-source advocates on the list want Microsoft to prove that it has valid patent claims against Linux.

Microsoft has been evasive about details, saying broadly that the patents involve the Linux kernel and user interface; the OpenOffice productivity suite and other open-source applications, including e-mail programs.

The list had more than 250 people on it as of Tuesday morning.

"I use Gentoo Linux and exclusively FOSS (free and open-source software) tools to write experimental speech and natural language processing prototypes," wrote Sean Jensen, of London. "And for music. And other fun stuff. No, Microsoft, you did not invent any of this. It ain't yours, it ain't mine, it ain't theirs. It's ours. All of ours."

Joe Grigg of Kalamazoo, Michigan, wrote that he has used the Ubuntu and Vector Linux distributions since Windows XP's security left him "sickened."

"Microsoft's business practices made me ashamed to own a computer," Grigg wrote. "I now run a LAMP (Linux, Apache MySQL, Perl) server and develop professional websites on LAMP servers and am 100 percent Microsoft free."

Emrah Ünal, who listed his locale as Turkey and Finland, wrote: "As a Linux user for nine years, I believe I deserve to be sued. There's no escape from justice."

Microsoft did not have an immediate comment on Tuesday morning.

Want better job? Flex your funny bone

2007-04-06T12:26:00.000+05:30

Are you sick and tired of your job, have been looking for a much deserved pay hike or a promotion for long? How about this: Flexing your funny bone can significantly enhance your professional prospects.

Ninety-one percent of executives surveyed by specialized staffing firm Robert Half International, UK consider a sense of humor important to career advancement.

Displaying levity on the job can help you build rapport with those around you, facilitate open communication, and contribute to a positive work environment. And, perhaps most importantly, a comic touch can help you relieve tension on even the most stressful days.

But keep in mind that it's crucial to take into consideration your organization's and co-workers' perspectives when it comes to comic relief. Humor should be appropriate and never mean-spirited or at the expense of others.
Say no to sarcasm
People often use humor as an indirect way of berating others. Here's an example: "I can't believe you're here on time -- what's the occasion?" Sarcasm is rarely a good idea, so keep these types of comments to yourself.
Be the butt of your own joke
Go ahead, poke fun at your foibles. Doing so can put others at ease in your presence, and you don't risk offending someone else by making him or her the target of your joke. For example, if you trip while giving a presentation, a comment like, "I hope you're as head over heels about this idea as I am" can help ease any awkwardness. Just be sure to keep your comments light; you don't want your co-workers to think your attempt at humor is a cry for help.
Laugh with others
You can be perceived as having a great sense of humor without ever telling a joke. Just tune in to the humor styles of those around you and share in the fun.
Create a 'funny file'
You have files for various projects or committees you're involved in, so how about developing a "funny file," as well? Create a folder filled with appropriate workplace cartoons (such as the Dilbert comic strip), amusing newspaper articles, humorous letters or e-mails from friends, or anything else that tickles your funny bone. The next time one of your co-workers feels overwhelmed or under the weather, you can surprise him or her with a snippet from your file. Just be mindful to avoid items that are offensive or otherwise in poor taste.
Convene a fun committee
Invite co-workers to join in your quest to "up the office fun factor." Together, brainstorm ways to add excitement to the workweek -- surprising co-workers with breakfast or treating the team to an afternoon at the park, for instance. Just be sure to consult your department head before executing any plans; you'll want to obtain his or her approval and determine other details, such as budget and scheduling.
Issue trivia quizzes
What did Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes name their baby? From which state did the last "American Idol" hail? Most people enjoy keeping up with pop culture, so why not create a friendly competition around it? You also can grill people on sports, geography or food--whatever topics the team finds interesting. Even if the only prize for answering the most questions correctly is posting the name of the winner in a prominent spot, the joy of conjuring up random information and discussing the "stumpers" can increase the general playfulness of any work area.
Capture Kodak moments
Keep a disposable camera on hand for all to use to capture those moments when you and your colleagues are at your best—or worst. Then, post the pictures on a community bulletin board. A candid snapshot from the day everyone unintentionally wore lime-green shirts, for example, is bound to brighten the mood.

A culture of fun at work can improve communication, reduce stress and increase productivity. So don't be afraid to flex your funny bone—just be sure to do so in a business-appropriate way.

World's tallest man's wife is half his size

2007-04-06T12:24:00.000+05:30

Beijing: The world's tallest man, whose search for a bride covered the world, ended up marrying a woman about half his age and half his height from his home town, Chinese media reported on Wednesday.
Bao Xishun, 56, a seven-feet-nine-in herdsman listed by Guinness World Records as the tallest living man, married a 29-year-old Chinese saleswoman, the Beijing News said.
"After sending out marriage advertisements across the world and going through a long selection process, the efforts have finally paid off," the newspaper said.
His bride, Xia Shujuan, a mere 1.68 metres, comes from Chifeng in Inner Mongolia, as does Bao.
Bao reached his height in a seven-year spurt that began in his teens and which doctors have yet to explain, according to Guinness.
After a career in the army, where he was recruited for a basketball team, he returned to Inner Mongolia where he hires himself out for publicity stunts in addition to herding livestock.
In December, Bao saved the lives of two dolphins by reaching deep into their stomachs to pull out pieces of plastic, according to Chinese media.

Drink milk to quit smoking

2007-04-06T12:16:00.001+05:30

Milk not only does the body good it may also help you quit smoking, says a study.
Consuming milk makes the taste of cigarette bad and by making a few modifications to the diet one can make quitting a bit easier, said the study published in April 2007 issue of the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
The study is said to be the first to explore the taste-altering effects of food and beverages on cigarette palatability.
The study examined 209 smokers and asked them to name items that worsen or enhance the taste of cigarettes.
Nineteen per cent of them reported that dairy products, such as milk or cheese, worsen the taste of cigarettes; 14 per cent reported non-caffeinated beverages, such as water or juice; and 16 per cent reported fruits and vegetables.
Forty-four per cent of them reported that alcoholic beverages enhance the taste of cigarettes; 45 per cent reported caffeinated beverages, such as tea, cola and coffee; and 11 per cent reported meat.
Identifying which components of foods and beverages ruin the taste of cigarettes could lead to new treatments to deter smoking, said co-investigator Jed E Rose of the Duke University Medical Center study.
The researchers are now looking at the possibility of using the chemical silver acetate, known to alter the taste of cigarettes, to help smokers quit.
The additive could be given in the form of a gum or a lozenge as part of smoking cessation treatment, according to a science portal, EurekAlert.

Pigeon feathers to judge pollution levels

2007-04-06T12:13:00.000+05:30

Can the pollution level of a city be judged by pigeon feathers? Yes, if research done at a university in Jaipur is to be believed.
According to researchers in the zoology department of the University of Rajasthan, the shed feathers of pigeons can indicate the pollution level of the area they inhabit.
Research Scholar Bhumesh Bhadoriya reached the conclusion after three years of study under the guidance of Professor PP Bakre.
"It is the first time in the country that bird feathers have been used to assess the pollution level," said Bakre.
The pigeon feathers are first collected and then tested in the laboratory for length and the heavy metals in it. The feathers are chemically tested in nitric and perchloric acid.
Pigeons normally have a fixed habitat in a particular area. The heavy metals in the environment enter the feather, and remain even after they are shed. The feathers are tested in the lab.
Initially, 25 pigeons were caught from different areas. Their feathers were then studied. Several heavy metals such as lead, copper, chromium and cadmium were detected in the feathers, indicating high pollution levels in the city.
During the course of the study, it was found that feathers of pigeons from Sanganeri Gate and Ajmeri Gate of the city had the highest levels of heavy metal pollutants.

Details Of Astronaut Love Triangle Emerge

2007-03-06T21:33:00.000+05:30

Love notes and testimony from two women romantically involved with U.S. astronaut Bill Oefelein have been released by Florida lawyers prosecuting one of them.

The Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office released evidence Monday from the investigation into astronaut Lisa Nowak, who was charged last Friday with attempted kidnapping and burglary with assault, which could result in a life prison sentence, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported Tuesday.

Last month, Nowak drove from Houston to Orlando and allegedly confronted the rival for Oefelein's affection, Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman in the parking lot of the Orlando airport.
In interviews with the three, it emerged Oefelein considered his relationship with Nowak to be cooling as the relationship with Shipman was warming up, although Shipman said in her police interview she had doubts about how Oefelein felt about Nowak.

"We went to a club in Houston," Shipman told police. "And then we came home and we had a few drinks and we were laying in bed and he called me Lisa."

One e-mail message Shipman sent to Oefelein while he was aboard the shuttle Discovery in December said: "First urge will be to rip your clothes off," the newspaper reported.

Brain Teaser No. 5

2007-02-22T01:22:00.000+05:30

Magnet
You can hang the iron rods on a string and watch which one turns to the north (or hang just one rod).
Gardner gives one more solution: take one rod and touch with its end the middle of the second rod. If they get closer, then you have a magnet in your hand.
The real magnet will have a magnetic field at its poles, but not at its center. So as previously mentioned, if you take the iron bar and touch its tip to the magnet's center, the iron bar will not be attracted. This is assuming that the magnet's poles are at its ends. If the poles run through the length of the magnet, then it would be much harder to use this method. In that case, rotate one rod around its axis while holding an end of the other to its middle. If the rotating rod is the magnet, the force will fluctuate as the rod rotates. If the rotating rod is not magnetic, the force is constant (provided you can keep their positions steady).

More Hospital Time for Tiny Baby

2007-02-22T01:07:00.000+05:30

A girl born after just under 22 weeks in the womb among the shortest gestation periods known for a live birth will remain in a hospital a few extra days as a precaution, officials said Tuesday.

Amillia Sonja Taylor, born Oct. 24 after just under 22 weeks in the womb, had been expected to be sent home from Baptist Children's Hospital on Tuesday.

However, routine tests indicated she was vulnerable to infection, said Dr. Paul Fassbach, who has cared for the baby since shortly after she was born.

"She has been fine," Fassbach said, but doctors are being extra cautious "now that she's going into the world."

Doctors say Amillia is among the few babies known to have survived after a gestation of fewer than 22 weeks. She was just 9 1/2 inches long and weighed less than 10 ounces when she was delivered by Caesarean section. Full-term births come after 37 to 40 weeks.

Amillia, the first child for Eddie and Sonja Taylor of Homestead, now weighs 4 1/2 pounds and is just over 15 1/2 inches long.

She has suffered respiratory and digestive problems, as well as a mild brain hemorrhage, but doctors believe the health concerns will not have major long-term effects.

Amillia was conceived in vitro and has been in an incubator since birth. She will continue to receive a small amount of supplemental oxygen even after she goes home.

She was delivered because her mother was suffering from complications. Fassbach said that if doctors had known Amillia's real gestational age, they might not have intervened. He said he thought she was at least 23 weeks, and doctors were shocked when the Taylors' fertility specialist pinpointed the exact date of fertilization.

Fassbach cautioned against rushing to redefine the medical standards for fetus viability.
"We just don't know which 21- to 22-weekers are going to do well and which are not going to do well," he said. "I don't think we should change what we do, but it shows us we need to do more research and find out where our edge of viability is going to go."

Brain Teaser No. 4

2007-02-16T13:21:00.000+05:30

Ball
How can you throw a ball as hard as you can and have it come back to you, even if it doesn't hit anything, there is nothing attached to it, and no one else catches or throws it? (I think this is the most easiest one!)

IBM claims new eDRAM will double processor performance

2007-02-16T13:16:00.000+05:30

San Francisco (CA) - IBM today revealed first data about a new embedded DRAM device, which the company claims achieves record access times. The technology is expected to debut in 2008 as part of the 45 nm generation of IBM processors.

According to the company, the eDRAM chip "vastly improves microprocessor performance in multi-core designs and speeds the movement of graphics in gaming, networking, and other image intensive, multi-media applications." Shown as a 65 nm concept at the currently held International Solid State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), IBM claims that the eDRAM exceeds the performance of conventional SRAM, which is typically used for on-die CPU cache, in about one-third the space with one-fifth the standby power.

DRAM's history goes back to 1970 and was driven since then mainly by cost factors, while logic technologic has received a more performance-focused evolution. IBM said that this environment has led to a widening gap between slower memory and faster logic devices, which resulted in a need for increasingly complex levels of memory hierarchies. Today, "DRAM can provide six to eight times as much memory as SRAM in the same area, but has been too slow to be used at any cache level," IBM said.

With a random cycle time of 2 ns and a latency of 1.5 ns, IBM now is convinced that DRAM is ready to be integrated into the CPU with the goal to replace SRAM. "With this breakthrough solution to the processor/memory gap, IBM is effectively doubling microprocessor performance beyond what classical scaling alone can achieve," said Dr. Subramanian Iyer, distinguished engineer and director of 45 nm technology development at IBM, in a prepared statement. "As semiconductor components have reached the atomic scale, design innovation at the chip-level has replaced materials science as a key factor in continuing Moore's Law."

eDRAM so far has been used in applications ranging from supercomputing to gaming. For example, IBM's BlueGene/L system uses eDRAM as L3 cache technology, while game consoles such as the Gamecube, the Xbox 360 and the Wii have been using eDRAM as embedded memory technology for their graphics processors. Compared to conventional DRAM modules, integrating DRAM has provided a key advantage of performance gains eliminating the need to drive I/O signals to external memory chips. eDRAM manufacturers such as NEC also believe that the technology will make its way into mobile application due to the low power consumption of eDRAM devices.

Brain Teaser No. 3

2007-02-11T13:01:00.000+05:30

The Man in the Elevator
A man lives on the tenth floor of a building. Every morning he takes the elevator down to the lobby and leaves the building. In the evening, he gets into the elevator, and, if there is someone else in the elevator - or if it was raining that day - he goes back to his floor directly. Otherwise, he goes to the seventh floor and walks up three flights of stairs to his apartment. Can you explain why?(This is probably the best known and most celebrated of all lateral thinking logic puzzles. It is a true classic. Although there are many possible solutions which fit the initial conditions, only the canonical answer is truly satisfying.)

Brain scan 'can read your mind'

2007-02-09T21:04:00.000+05:30

Brain scans have been developed which it is claimed can predict what a person is about to do.
German, British and Japanese scientists were able to "read minds" using sophisticated functional magnetic imaging (fMRI) and computer programs.
Current Biology reported people were asked to think about adding or subtracting - scientists were able to read intentions in 70% of cases.
A UK expert advised caution, but said such technologies would develop.
Such techniques could be used to help people who are paralysed - there are already some steps being taken towards helping people using computer-assisted prosthetic devices linked to computers.
But this research might also allow abstract thoughts and intentions to be read.
It may even be possible to carry out instructions such as "send email" simply by thinking them - with a scanner picking up the wish and translating it in a way that the computer can act on.
'Spatial pattern'
The researchers, led by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, in Leipzig, asked people to hold their mathematical decision in their minds until they were shown two numbers on a computer screen.
The fMRI scans monitored brain activity for the few seconds they were thinking about their sum, and it was on this information that the scientists made their predictions.
The researchers used a method called "multivariate pattern recognition".
A computer is programmed to recognise characteristic activation patterns in the brain that typically occur in association with specific thoughts.
Once this computer has been "trained" it can be used to predict the decisions of subjects solely from their brain activity alone.
Dr John-Dylan Haynes, who led the research, said: "It has been previously assumed that freely selected plans might be stored in the middle regions of the prefrontal cortex, whereas plans following external instructions could be stored on the surface of the brain.
"We were able to confirm this theory in our experiments."
He added: "The experiments show that intentions are not encoded in single neurons but in a whole spatial pattern of brain activity."
It appears regions towards the front of the brain store the intention until it is executed, whereas regions further back take over when subjects become active and start doing the calculation.
Professor Colin Blakemore, director of the Medical Research Council, said: "We shouldn't go overboard about the power of these technologies at the moment.
"But what you can be absolutely sure of is that these will continue to roll out and we will have more and more ability to probe people's intentions, minds, background thoughts, hopes and emotions."
He added: "Some of that is extremely desirable, because it will help with diagnosis, education and so on, but we need to be thinking the ethical issues through.
"It adds a whole new gloss to personal medical data and how it can be used."

Samsung launches its version of the "iPhone Killer"

2007-02-09T21:00:00.000+05:30

Although the Apple iPhone has not even hit the market, it has already become an industry measuring stick for any new multimedia handset being launched, with the latest comparison coming through the introduction of Samsung's Ultra Smart F700 on February 8th.

Like the Apple iPhone, the F700 features a full touch screen. However, although Samsung noted that the device reflects the recent trend in the telecommunications industry by using a touch screen user interface, the F700 will still include a QWERTY key pad (unlike the iPhone) for users who are not yet familiar with a touch-screen-only user interface. The F700 also features VibeTonz technology which allows users to feel the buttons accompanied by responsive vibrations.

A "Drag and drop" method of touch screen was adopted for easier menu navigation, Samsung indicated, and the device includes a music play list control. Volume, play lists, brightness of screens as well as other menu controls can be controlled utilizing the touch screen.

Samsung has also touted the 3G capabilities of the Ultra Smart F700, with 3G not initially scheduled to be supported by the iPhone. Although a High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) network is not yet fully deployed, the handset supports the standard. Samsung pointed out that once the 7.2 Mbps HSDPA network is completely deployed, F700 users can download an 4MB MP3 song in 4.4 seconds.

Samsung added that a full HTML browser along with the QWERTY key pad enables access to the Internet for e-mail and data services. The device also features a 2.78-inch TFT LCD color display, a 5 mega-pixel camera with auto focus and Bluetooth support.

The company did not say when the handset will hit the market and at what price.

Brain Teaser No. 2

2007-02-09T19:52:00.000+05:30

Ball in a Hole
A table tennis ball fell into a tight deep pipe. The pipe was only a bit wider then the ball, so you can not use your hand. How would you take it out, with no damage?

Video Games Can Improve Your Vision

2007-02-08T10:38:00.000+05:30

Playing high-action video games for a few hours each day can improve your vision, according to researchers in the U.S.
The researchers from the University of Rochester in New York found that people who play video games for a few hours a day over the course of a month can improve certain aspects of their vision by about 20 percent.
Playing the games changes the pathways in the brain responsible for visual processing, as the brain adapts to the additional pressure that playing such games puts on the visual system, they said.
The researchers found a group of students who played little or no video games -- which was a challenge in itself -- and gave them a test that measured how well they could discern the orientation of a letter "T" within a crowd of other, distracting symbols.
They then divided the students into two groups. One group was told to play the shoot-em-up game "Unreal Tournament" for an hour each day for a month, while a control group played "Tetris," a less visually complex game.
After about a month, the students playing the action game could determine the orientation of the "T" much more easily than before, while the Tetris players showed no improvement, the researchers said.
The T test measures visual acuity, or the clarity or clearness of a person's vision. The results suggest that people with visual defects could improve their visual acuity with special software that mimics the need to identify objects quickly in an action game, the researchers said.
The research, by professor of brain and cognitive sciences Daphne Bavelier and graduate student Shawn Green, is due to appear in next week's Psychological Science journal.

Apple: No iTunes For You If You Have Vista!

2007-02-06T23:03:00.000+05:30

Apple has posted a message on its website warning that customers using Windows Vista may experience compatibility issues with iTunes. Hold that upgrade!

According to Apple, iTunes 7.0.2, the latest version released by the Cupertino company, may work with Windows Vista on many typical PCs. But Apple advices that customers wait to upgrade Windows until after the next release of iTunes, available sometime along the next few weeks.

“iTunes 7.0.2 may work with Vista on many typical PCs, but Apple recommends that customers wait to upgrade Windows until after the next release of iTunes which will be available in the next few weeks,” the company stated.

Apple has already identified several compatibility issues with iTunes 7.0.2 and earlier versions. Among these:

* iTunes Store purchases may not play when upgrading to Windows Vista from Windows 2000 or XP;

* iPod models with the “Enable Disk Use” option turned off may be unable to update or restore iPod software, and make changes to iPod settings;

* iPod models configured to Auto Sync and have the “Enable Disk Use” option turned off may require being ejected and reconnected to resync;

* Ejecting an iPod from the Windows System Tray using the “Safely Remove Hardware” feature may corrupt your iPod. To always safely eject an iPod, choose Eject iPod from the Controls menu within iTunes;

* Cover Flow animation may be slower than expected;

* Contacts and calendars will not sync with iPod.

If a user insists to install iTunes on Windows Vista, Apple has a couple of recommendations. Users should deauthorize all iTunes Store accounts, enable Disk Use on all iPod models, uninstall iTunes and perform a clean install of Windows Vista (Highly recommended but not required).

They should then proceed to reinstall the latest version of iTunes, open iTunes and choose Authorize Computer from the Store menu in iTunes.

A customer who has upgraded to Windows Vista and is still experiencing issues playing iTunes Store purchases can rely on a tiny utility provided by Apple, called iTunes Repair Tool, which can be downloaded from Apple’s site.

A spokesman for Microsoft's Windows division, Adam Anderson, stated that the company has a dedicated team working with Apple on getting iTunes running smoothly on Vista, and it will keep at it “until they have the program running to the quality level they're shooting for.”

Microsoft has had a response of its own to this. A spokesman commented that more than 1.5 million hardware and software devices currently work with Vista, while more than 5,000 devices have either been certified for the new operating system, or carry a “Works with Windows Vista” logo.

“We are also committed to ensuring that all partners, including Apple, receive all the resources they need to ensure that their applications work with Windows Vista,” he said.

Apple has sold 90 million iPods since 2001.

Orkut describes Delhi girl a sex teacher

2007-02-06T22:37:00.000+05:30

The social networking website has come to light with a schoolgirl complaining that her fake profile has been posted on it. The father of the girl, a student of a South Delhi school, has approached the Cyber Cell of Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing after the family began receiving vulgar calls. The web-page describes the teenager as a "sex teacher" and has obscene photographs and contact details such as her home address and telephone numbers, police said. This is the second incident that has come to light about Orkut misuse in Delhi in less than three weeks. Earlier this month, an air-hostess had moved a court here alleging that someone has opened an account in her name wherein she is being described as a "sex struck woman". The teenager's family had received the first call almost a month ago where the caller wanted to speak to the girl. Similar calls poured in later, the police said, adding all the callers referred to Orkut. The family had a harrowing time when two strangers knocked at their door a fortnight ago and told them the girl had invited them for sex through Internet, they added. Police said a case has been registered and investigations were on.

Brain Teaser No. 1

2007-02-06T22:18:00.000+05:30

Bulbs :
This is one of my favorite logic puzzles.Imagine you are in a room with 3 switches. In an adjacent room there are 3 bulbs (all are off at the moment), each switch belongs to one bulb. It is impossible to see from one room to another. How can you find out which switch belongs to which bulb, if you may enter the room with the bulbs only once?