TownBuzz

What is the business model of Reliance Jio?

2016-09-02T21:43:00.001-07:00

It is really simple. Most of you are going to pay the same or probably more money to Jio compared to your current network provider. After reading this answer, you will realize what a clever businessman Mukesh Ambani is.

Questions:
a. How are they offering 4G data at such cheap rates?
b. And how are they providing unlimited voice calls (local/STD) free to every JIO customer?
c. How they are offering unlimited 4G data at night?

Which plan would you choose? If you are a voice-only kind of person, then you would be okay with the Rs 149 per 28 days plan, as you will get free unlimited voice calls. But, even though you are not explicitly paying for voice, you are already paying over Rs 150 per month, thus their ARPU will by default be as good as the current players.

If you are someone who uses over Rs 150 worth of voice calls every month then it is a totally awesome plan for you. But, my point is that other telecom companies make about Rs 150 per month on average from each user by charging for voice, SMS, data and roaming. Jio will be making the same/more amount of money on average from each user even after providing SMS, roaming and voice calls for free, by just pricing things differently.

Now, if you are a moderately data using person, which plan would you choose? Did you see that there is no plan in-between the Rs 149 and Rs 499 plans? This is basically a psychological trick to get you into the Rs 499 plan. Many people will compare it with the smaller plan and see that you are getting Unlimited 4G night data and choose atleast the 499 plan.

Now, again see that if you want to really use more than 4GB of 4G, then you have to spend double and move to the 999 plan. Did you notice that there is nothing in-between?

What does 1GB costs?

If we exclude the unlimited night data and the wifi data which many of us may not have access to, then the price per GB of these plans will be

0.3GB for Rs149 = ~Rs 497/GB (Will anyone choose this for data?)
4GB for Rs 499 = ~Rs 125/GB
10GB for Rs 999= ~Rs 100/GB
20GB for Rs 1499= ~Rs75/GB
35GB for Rs 2499= ~Rs71/GB
60GB for Rs3999= ~Rs66/GB
75GB for Rs 4999= ~Rs66/GB

Did you see that even their highest plans doesn’t go as low as their advertised Rs 50/GB rate.

How can they provide unlimited night data?

Once you have build an entire network infrastructure, it really doesn't cost anything for the network provider to give you internet data. I have explained this in the form of a story in one of my other answers - Kshitij Salgunan's answer to What is the cost of the Internet? How much extra are we paying?

The reason why most internet providers limit your data is basically because they do not have enough bandwidth to handle so much data. In the case of Jio, they have already laid an awesome fiber optic network which is designed to even handle the 5G and 6G. So, they do not have much of the data bandwidth problem.

Other telecom companies were primarily made to handle voice calls and they have limited data bandwidth. Also, other companies do not own nationwide fiber network, so they have to pay to use the fiber network of other companies. This is the reason other companies don’t usually provide unlimited plans.

Jio currently have the ability to provide truly unlimited data plans, but they will not do so, because that will decrease their profits. They have already decreased prices on average by 50%. This means people will anyway be happy to use their services. If they provide more GBs in the lower end plans, then lesser people will buy their higher plans. So, currently their pricing is optimally placed to increase their profit. When other companies reduce their prices, it is likely that Jio will also further reduce their prices.

And, the unlimited night usage is only valid for hours in-between 2AM and 5AM

How can they provide unlimited free voice calls?

Again, Jio has an all IP network, so all voice calls will go through the internet just like skype or whatsapp. There is not really any point in charging for voice anymore. It is an outdated system and there shouldn’t really be any surprise in why Jio totally abandoned it.

If hypothetically, Jio had tariff for voice calls, then some company similar to WhatsApp would have launched an app through which you can do free voice call over the internet (infact WhatsApp itself has a voice-call option). Once everyone has a good internet connection, people would anyway use such services to make their calls.

The real money is in Jio Apps

Many people may consider their apps to be bloatware and don’t even install it. I also thought of it as a bloatware when I first heard of it. But, when I tested them out, I saw real potential in them.

JioPlay : This has the potential to become a TV channel company. My prediction is that Jio will soon release something like Google Chromecast to provide this service directly to TVs. The ability to watch Live TV channels on smartphones is also a cool idea, especially in India. This may become the most used app in rural areas too.
JioOnDemand : This has the potential to become the Netflix of India. Imagine if those who currently pirate movies had an option to get those movies in HD quality legally for nearly free. It can benefit both the users and the producers.
JioBeats : Legal music. It has the potential to become Spotify of India.
JioMags : Most popular magazines in eBook format. My cousin who reads tech magazines on a regular basis loved it.

You get the point? They can make any type of app in the future and dominate that category with minimal efforts.

They are currently giving these apps for free till 2018. But, that is done so that they can get maximum users to get addicted to these apps. Then they can start subscription charges for these apps. Instead of paying for your TV service or Movie-DVD or Magazines, Jio wants you to pay them.

Apart from that, these apps are locked to Jio network. So, a person using any other internet service won’t be able to use it. Thus, this will force other people into joining Jio. Currently, only Airtel is capable of properly competing with Jio in the 4G market, but they too may not be able to release such apps on time.

You will likely spend the same

If you are someone who uses 5GB of data every month, and you were currently spending Rs 1000 per month with the current providers, you will be happy that you can get same amount of data for Rs 500.

But, you are likely to spend the same amount of money over the time and consume 10GB of data for Rs 1000, instead. This is because 4G speeds are awesome and now there are many more ways to spend the data. And, since you have the budget for it, you are likely to spend more.

So, even though you are getting much more value than the current operator, Jio can still make the same/better revenue. This may not be applicable to everyone, but may happen to most people.

Is this good?

Yes, we need companies like Reliance to make such bold moves and invest in India. This is good for everyone. It is a win-win situation. It will increase the progress rate in India and will improve our quality of life. It will also give much needed jobs to millions of people.

Also, we absolutely need competition in this stagnated telecom industry which is currently dominated by players who may have secretly made agreements with each other to not compete on the basis of price. Why do you think Idea, Airtel and Vodafone have similar looking pricing which charges Rs 250 for one GB data?

Conclusion

By just making their tariff plan in such a way that most people interested in 4G have to pay over Rs 500 per month, Jio will be making way more money than the current players. Most of the high value customers of other players will instantly port to Jio, and they maybe able to achieve a huge market share in next couple of years.

You, as a customer will get 2x to 3x more value for your money, yet Jio will make make as much profit as existing telecoms by pricing things differently.

Thalassemia : Causes, Symptoms & Diagnosis

2015-11-19T22:10:00.004-08:00

What is Thalassemia?

Thalassemia is a blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The disorder results in excessive destruction of red blood cells, which leads to anemia. Anemia is a disorder in which your body doesn’t have enough normal, healthy red blood cells (RBC).

This disease is inherited, meaning that at least one of your parents must be a carrier of the disease. It is caused by either a genetic mutation, or a deletion of certain key genes.

The two main forms of thalassemia are alpha thalassemia and beta thalassemia. In alpha thalassemia, at least one of the alpha globin genes has a mutation or abnormality. In beta thalassemia, the beta globin genes are the ones affected.

Each of these two forms of thalassemia has several distinct types. The exact form you have will affect the severity of your symptoms and your prognosis.

Interesting Facts about Thalassemia Carriers :

It is a genetic disorder inherited from either or both of your parents.
It is the commonest single gene disorder in the global population .
In Malaysia, it is estimated that 1 in 20 people is a thalassemia carrier.
The disorder primarily affects your red blood cells (RBC) resulting in reduced or absent production of haemoglobin –the oxygen carrying vehicle in your body resulting in a medical condition known as anaemia.

Causes and Risk Factors for Thalassemia

Thalassemia occurs when there is an abnormality or mutation in one of the genes involved in hemoglobin production. This genetic defect is inherited from your parents.

If only one of your parents is a carrier for thalassemia, you may develop a form of the disease called “thalassemia minor.” If this occurs, you will probably not have symptoms, but you will be a carrier of the disease. Some people with thalassemia minor do develop minor symptoms.

If both of your parents are carriers of thalassemia, you have a 25 percent chance of inheriting a more serious form of the disease.

Thalassemia is most common in people from Southeast and Central Asia, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, India, and North Africa.

What Are the Symptoms of Thalassemia?

The symptoms of thalassemia depend on which type you have.

Thalassemia minor

Thalassemia minor usually does not cause any symptoms. If it does, it causes only minor anemia.

Beta thalassemia

Beta thalassemia comes in two serious types: thalassemia major (also called Cooley’s anemia) and thalassemia intermedia.
The symptoms of thalassemia major (Cooley’s anemia) generally appear before a child’s second birthday. The severe anemia related to this condition can be life-threatening. Other symptoms include:

fussiness
paleness
frequent infections
poor appetite
failure to thrive
jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
enlarged organs

This form of thalassemia is usually so severe that it requires regular blood transfusions.
Thalassemia intermedia is a less severe form of beta thalassemia. While people with this condition still have anemia, they do not need blood transfusions.

Alpha thalassemia

Alpha thalassemia also has two serious types: hemoglobin H disease and hydrops fetalis.
Hemoglobin H disease can cause bone issues. The cheeks, forehead, and jaw may all overgrow. In addition to the bone issues and the anemia associated with any kind of thalassemia, hemoglobin H disease can cause these other symptoms:

jaundice
extremely enlarged spleen
malnourishment

Hydrops fetalis is an extremely severe form of thalassemia. It occurs before birth, and most individuals with this condition are either stillborn or die shortly after being born.

Simple concepts about heredity that you need to know.

In every generation, genes are shuffled and re-shuffled. Half of your genetic make up comes from your father and the remaining half comes from your mother.
Eye color is an example of inherited characteristic, i.e. assuming that the roots of your family trees are “purely”Asian, that explained why you have “brown eyes” instead of blue eyes.
Similarly, this concept is applicable in thalassemia gene inheritance.
There is one important term that you need to be clear of to understand how thalassemia is inherited , i.e. ‘thalassemia carrier’.
A thalassemia carrier is a person who has a copy of the thalassemia gene.If you are a carrier, most of the time you will appear healthy and do not manifest the symptoms of thalassemia. However, a carrier can pass the abnormal gene to the future child (remember it was mentioned earlier, every individual carries one copy of gene from the mother and one from the father).

How Is Thalassemia Diagnosed?

A doctor who is trying to diagnose thalassemia will typically take a blood sample. It will be tested for anemia and for abnormal hemoglobin. A lab technician will also look at the blood under a microscope to see if the red blood cells appear misshapen. Abnormally shaped red blood cells are a symptom of thalassemia. Another test may be performed called hemoglobin electrophoresis. This test separates out the different molecules in the red blood cells, allowing the abnormal type to be identified.

Depending on the type and severity of the thalassemia, a physical examination might also help in the diagnosis. For example, a severely enlarged spleen might suggest to your doctor that you have hemoglobin H disease.

How is Thalassemia Treated?

The treatment for thalassemia depends on the type and severity of disease involved. Your doctor will give you a course of treatment that is customized to your particular case.
In general, treatments you may receive include:

blood transfusions
bone marrow transplant
medications and supplements
possible surgery to remove the spleen and/or gallbladder

You may be instructed not to take vitamins or supplements containing iron. This is especially true if you require blood transfusions. People who receive blood transfusions receive extra iron that the body can’t easily get rid of and iron can accumulate in tissues, which can be potentially fatal.
If you are receiving a blood transfusion, you may also need chelation therapy, which generally involves receiving an injection of a chemical that binds with iron (and other heavy metals). This helps remove extra iron from your body.

Disclaimer: This article Is Not Medical Service. It Should Not Be Taken As Medical Advice. All Concerns About Your Health Should Be Discussed With A Health Professional.

Chris Brown : My Baby is Royalty!!!

2015-03-05T04:54:00.000-08:00

Chris Brown's baby girl answers to Royalty! We”ve learned Nia named the kid Royalty. What we don”t know … whether she consulted Chris before inking the birth certificate.

TMZ broke the story … Chris and Nia got it on summer of 2013 and she gave birth 9 months ago. As we reported, Karrueche was blindsided … she had no idea until minutes before TMZ posted the story Tuesday afternoon.

As for Chris” involvement … we”re told he calls Nia regularly and now says he wants to openly participate in raising the baby. Nia and Roy alty live in Texas, and Chris says he”ll gladly fly there regularly to parent her.

We've learned Nia named the kid Royalty. What we don't know ... whether she consulted Chris before inking the birth certificate.

Swine Flu (H1N1 Flu, Swine Influenza Virus)

2015-03-04T03:45:00.000-08:00

Swine influenza, also called pig influenza, swine flu, hog flu and pig flu, is an infection caused by any one of several types of swine influenza viruses. Swine influenza virus (SIV) or swine-origin influenza virus (S-OIV) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses. Subtypes of influenza A known as H1N1, H1N2, H2N1, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3.
What is H1N1 flu?

H1N1 is a flu virus. When it was first detected in 2009, it was called “swine flu” because the virus was similar to those found in pigs.

The H1N1 virus is currently a seasonal flu virus found in humans. Although it also circulates in pigs, you cannot get it by eating properly handled and cooked pork or pork products.

What causes swine flu?

The cause of the 2009 swine flu was an influenza A virus type designated as H1N1. In 2011, a new swine flu virus was detected. The new strain was named influenza A (H3N2)v. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported increased numbers of people infected in the 2012-2013 flu season. Currently, there are not large numbers of people infected with H3N2v. Unfortunately, another virus termed H3N2 (note no "v" in its name) has been detected and caused flu, but this strain is different from H3N2v. In general, all of the influenza A viruses have a structure similar to the H1N1 virus; each type has a somewhat different H and/or N structure.

What are the symptoms of swine flu?

Symptoms of swine flu are similar to most influenza infections: fever (100 F or greater), cough, nasal secretions, fatigue, and headache, with fatigue being reported in most infected individuals. Some patients may also get a sore throat, rash, body aches, headaches, chills, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In Mexico, many of the initial patients infected with H1N1 influenza were young adults, which made some investigators speculate that a strong immune response, as seen in young people, may cause some collateral tissue damage.The incubation period from exposure to first symptoms is about one to four days, with an average of two days. The symptoms last about one to two weeks and can last longer if the person has a severe infection.

How does H1N1 flu spread?

The H1N1 flu virus spreads between people in the same way that seasonal flu viruses spread.

How can I prevent H1N1 flu?

The best way to prevent the H1N1 flu is to get the seasonal flu vaccine which also includes protection against the H1N1 flu virus. However take these everyday steps to protect your health:

Cover your cough: Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it
Wash your hands: Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid spreading germs: Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Try to avoid close contact with anyone who is sick. Germs spread this way.
Stay home if you are sick: If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making them sick.

I have H1N1. What should I do?

If your health care provider has diagnosed you with H1N1, you should follow treatment recommendations and your health care provider’s orders.
For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick.

Experts recommend that people who suspect that they have H1N1 infection stay home and avoid contact with other people.

Specification compared : Xperia T/TX vs. Xperia V vs. Xperia J

2013-01-27T20:41:00.000-08:00

Any new phone launch always brings a certain amount of confusion, especially when it comes to Sony Mobile releasing a number of handsets that on the face it may look broadly similar. To help you all we have painstakingly broken down the specifications of these newly announced handsets (Xperia T, Xperia TX, Xperia V and Xperia J).

The table below should make it a bit easier when comparing one against another so that you can confidently decide which (if any) of these new Xperia handsets is your next phone. We have included two variants of the Xperia T: the HSPA+ version (LT30p) and the LTE version (LT30at) that is bound for AT&T. The latter includes a different chipset and is nine grams heavier (most likely due to its metallic rear versus the plastic rear in the LT30p).

DDB : Digital Direct Broadcast

2012-09-27T21:20:00.002-07:00

DDB : Digital Direct Broadcast Faq's

DDB TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM for Televisions

Q.1 : What is DDB Foundation ?

The DDB Foundation, is a union of seven technology giants.The foundation has come up with its most prestigious innovation Digital Direct Broadcast (DDB) technology platform. The DDB technology platform is an advanced TV operating system, which allows the DDB enabled televisions to perform multiple functions never experienced before on one single platform.

This revolutionary technology is pioneered by STMicroelectronics - World’s leading semiconductor company, Irdeto – World’s leading innovative software and application maker, Nivio – World’s leading cloud computing brand, Faroudja – Emmy award winning audio-video technology, Strata – World’s leading sound technology and is presented by Videocon d2h - India’s most advanced DTH service provider and Phillips – World’s leader in healthcare, lighting and consumer lifestyle brand.

Q.2 : What is DDB ?

DDB - Digital Direct Broadcast platform is an advanced TV operating system, which allows the DDB enabled televisions to perform multiple functions never experienced before on one single platform. This new technological wave rides high on features such as- receiving, processing and display capability of real Full HD 1080p digital signals without the help of any set-top box, giving you an audio-visual experience never seen or heard before, dual core processor – 450 Mhz, 14-bit video processor; Motion Enhancement and Motion Correction (MEMC), which interpolates and constructs the “in between” frames to eliminate issues related to both motion judder and motion blur, giving you an outstanding viewing experience, 3D Technology, Faroudja Video and Audio Optimized that eliminates any distortion caused by noise signal and gives you a vivid and clear image for your viewing; Strata Certified Audio and 10-band Graphic Equalizer. Its cloud computing abilities help you access your files remotely which are saved on it.And last but not the least is full fledged internet experience alongwith net buttons like Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Picassa, eWeather, Internet Radio, mail and chat client and various applications viz UPnP and File Sharing.

Q.3: Is it a Television or a Service ?

DDB is a TV Operating system.

Q.4 : How DDB is going to change the traditional way of watching television?

DDB is a TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM for Televisions that will fuel future innovations in the category -TV+ D2H convergence, True Smart capabilities, Cloud Convergence, best in class audio & Video output.

This new technology helps receive digital signals without the help of any set-top box, giving you an audio-visual experience never seen or heard before. Its cloud computing abilities help you work and save your files on it too, while giving you a superior browsing experience of your favourite websites, It also has the ability to convert 2D channels into life-like 3D quality, making this digital technology platform nothing short of being magical.

Q.5 : How is it different to DTH service?

DTH services just helps in receiving signals. Where as, DDB as a platform recieves direct digital signals from satellite without any transmission loss, and thats too without help of any seperate set top box. Not only this, it gives yout an audio-visual experience never seen or heard before. Its cloud computing abilities help you access your files remotely which are saved on it.It allows you to experience flicker free 3D viewing. It also has the ability to convert 2D channels into life-like 3D quality, making this digital technology platform nothing short of being magical.It has full fledged internet access alongwith net buttons like Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Picassa, eWeather, Internet Radio, mail and chat client and various applications viz UPnP and File Sharing.

Q.6 : Can this technology be used in my existing devices or I need to purchase a new device?

A new DDB enabled device is required to enjoy the benefits of this technology.

Q.7 : What are the basic technical requirements to have a DDB connection?

DDB enabled Television, LAN/Wi-fi/ datacard connection, D2H connection are some of the few basic requirements to experience DDB.

Q.8 : Can this be plugged and played like DTH?

Yes

Q.9 : Where can I purchase DDB?

Many top technology brands are approaching DDB for the tie up. The DDB enabled TVs will soon be available in the markets near you.

Q.10 : What is the Price?

The Price of DDB enabled TVs will be decided by the respective TV manufacturing companies offering DDB TVs.

Q.11 : Is there some running periodic cost?

No, one just needs to pay for the services like DTH, cloud computing, Internet surfing etc.

Q.12 : Is there any business partnership scope for me?

Yes, by owning a retail outlet for DDB enabled TVs.

Powerful 8.6 magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia

2012-04-11T21:02:00.000-07:00

Indonesian quake: Kenya, Tanzania issue tsunami warnings

Kenya and Tanzania issued tsunami warnings along their eastern Indian Ocean coastlines after a powerful 8.6 magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia on Wednesday.

Some 164 people were killed and more than 2,300 were displaced in Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Seychelles, and Somalia after the disastrous 2004 Asian tsunami.

The waves are expected to hit the Kenyan coast, a popular tourist destination, at about 1700 GMT, officials said. One person in Kenya was killed in the 2004 tsunami.

"The government of Kenya has consequently issued a tsunami warning for the people living along the Kenyan coastline," Esther Murugi, the minister of state for special programmes said in a statement.

"The water levels are expected to rise up to 2 to 3 metres in areas of Malindi, Lamu, up to Kiunga while in Kilifi, Mombasa up to Shimoni, the levels are expected to rise up to 2 metres," she said. Senior Assistant Director at Kenya's Met office, Ali Mafimbo, said an alert had been issued to keep people on the lookout and to stay out of the sea once they saw water levels receding.

Tanzania said it expected waves of up to 1.5 metres to hit the coastline between 1600 GMT and 1800 GMT. "There will likely be huge waves in the Indian Ocean all fishermen and other vessels should keep off the sea," Tanzania's Meteorological Agency director, Agness Kijazi, told Reuters.

"People should evacuate coastlines, especially in northern parts of the country." Madagascar's National Office for Disaster and Risk Management said they did not expect the tsunami to cause damage on the Indian Ocean island.

"We don't expect the wave to have a big impact on Madagascar. We are not planning to move anybody. We urge people not to panic," Louis de Gonzague Rakotonirainy said, before the latest wave of aftershocks.

"In the event the situation develops, the inhabitants of the east coast will be advised to move to higher ground. A meeting is taking place right now to evaluate the situation."

Nokia Codes Tips and Tricks

2012-04-03T21:22:00.000-07:00

To check the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) Type-
*#06#
Information you get from the IMEI-
XXXXXX XX XXXXXX X
TAC FAC SNR SP
TAC = Type approval code
FAC = Final assembly code
SNR = Serial number
SP = Spare
To check the phones Software revision type-
*#0000#
Information you get from the Software revision-
V 05.31
18-02-99
NSE-3
1ST Line = Software revision
2ND Line = The date of the software release
3RD Line = Phone type
To enter the service menu type-
*#92702689# (*#WAR0ANTY#)
Serial number (IMEI)
Production date (MM/YY)
Purchase date (MM/YY) You can only enter the date once.
Date of last repair (0000=No repair)
Transfer user data to another Nokia phone via Infra-Red
Clock Stopping

To check weather your SIM Card supports clock stopping type-
*#746025625# (*#SIM0CLOCK#)
Revealing the Headphone and Car-Kit menus
Please note that if you do these next tricks, the new menus can’t be erased without retoring the factory default settings. To do these tricks you need to short-circuit the pins on the bottom of the phone next to where you plug in you charger.
1. To activate the “Headset” menu, you need to short-circuit pins “3″ and “4″. After a short time the word “Headset” will be shown in the display. Menu 3-6 is now enabled.
2. To activate the “Car” menu, you need to short-circuit pins “4″ and “5″. After a short time the word “Car” will be shown in the display. Menu 3-7 is now enabled.

THE REBOOT TRICK
This should work on all software versions of the 6110.
1. Go to the Calendar (Menu-8)
2. Make a note or reminder.
3. Enter some text into the edit box.
4. Hold “Clear” until the whole text is cleared, then press “Back”.
5. Press “0″. The main screen will now be showing but a space appears on the screen. (you can’t see it)
6. Enter 4 digits (e.g. 1234).
7. Use the down arrow to move the cursor to the left side of the numbers and the space (Down arrow twice).
8. Now enter 6 digits and press the call button.
Wait for a few seconds, the screen should start to flash and reboots. It should alsowork on other menus like the “Profiles” menu.

EFR CALL QUALITY
To activate EFR (Enhanced Full Rate) Enter the code-
*3370#
This improves call quality but decreases batterylife by about 5%
To deactivate it, Enter the code-
#3370#

THE JAMES BOND TRICK
If you short-circuit theleft middle and right pins on the bottom of the phone with all connections touching each other, the Nokia software hangs! The profile “Headset” will be activated. Before you do this just activate the “Automatic Answer” in the headset profile and set the ringing volume to “Mute”. Now you can use your phone for checking out what people are talking about in a room. Just place it under a table in a room and call it. The phone receives the call without ringing and you can listen to what people are saying.

NETWORK MONITOR
There is a hidden menu inside your Nokia phone. If you want to activate it, you’ll have to re-program some chips inside of your phone.
Check your software version. You can only continue if you have v4.33, v4.73 or v5.24.
Take apart the phone.
De-solder the EEPROM (ATMEL AT 24C64).
Read out the data with an EEPROM programmer and save it to a file (Backup).
If you have v.33 or v4.73, change the address “03B8″ from “00″ to “FF”.
If you have v5.24 then change the address “0378″ from “00″ to “FF”.
Write the new data to the EEPROM and solder it back to the phone,
Power on your phone and you should have “Netmonitor” enabled.
The Network Monitor gives you the following information.

Carrier number
MS RX Level in DBM
Received signal quality
MS TX power level
C1 (Path loss criterion, used for cell selection and reselection). The range is -99 to 99.
RTL (Radio link timeout).
Timeslot
Indication of the transmitter status
Information on the Network parameters.
TMSI (Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity).
Cell identification (Cell ID, Number of cells being used).
MCC (Mobile country code)
MCN (Mobile network code)
LAC (Location area code)
Ciphering (On/Off)
Hopping (On/Off)
DTX (On/Off)
Discard cell barred information

CHECK SIM-LOCK
Note – If you bought your Nokia on UK Vodafone or UK Cellnet you do not need to check this because they both transmit on GSM900, and they don’t lock the phones. However if you bought your phone on UK Orange or UK One2one your phone may be blocked. The reason is that they both transmitt on GSM1800. To make a call on GSM1800 you need what is known as a “Dual band” phone. A dual band phone is able to transmit on both GSM900 and GSM1800, so they lock the phones so you can’t use it with any other network simcard. If you find that your phone is locked you can try different software to unlock it. (we havn’t found one that works yet), or you can ask your service provider who will gladly exchange the 10 digit code for about £35.
This is how to check the status of the 4 different locks. Aslo don’t try entering the wrong number, because after 3 times it will block the phone for good.
There are 4 different locks on your Nokia phone.
COUNTRY-LOCK
NETWORK-LOCK
PROVIDER-LOCK
SIMCARD-LOCK
The code to read out the sim-lock status of your phone is
#PW+(MASTERCODE)+(Y)#
# = DOUBLE-CROSS
W = PRESS “*” THREE TIMES
P = PRESS “*” FOUR TIMES
+ = PRESS “*” TWO TIMES
MASTERCODE = 1234567890
Y = NUMBER 1 TO 4
The master code is a secret code. The code has 10 digits, To read out the sim-lock status you can enter every combination you want!
“Y” Shows the status of the network-lock. Here you can enter a number from “1″ to “4″. The “4″ is for the sim-card lock.

SIM-LOCK CHECKS
#PW+1234567890+1# = GIVES PROVIDER-LOCK STATUS
#PW+1234567890+2# = GIVES NETWORK-LOCK STATUS
#PW+1234567890+3# = GIVES COUNTRY-LOCK STATUS
#PW+1234567890+4# = GIVES SIM-CARD-LOCK STATUS.

Get Peyton Manning ?

2012-03-13T00:23:00.000-07:00

Peyton Williams Manning (born March 24, 1976) is an American professional football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He played for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons from 1998 to 2011. He is the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and the elder brother of current New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

Manning played college football at the University of Tennessee, leading the Volunteers to the 1997 SEC Championship in his senior season. He was chosen by the Indianapolis Colts with the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. From 1998 to 2010, he led the Colts to seven AFC South division championships, two AFC championships, and to a Super Bowl championship (Super Bowl XLI). He has won a record four league most valuable player awards,[1] was the most valuable player of Super Bowl XLI, has been named to eleven Pro Bowls, has eleven 4,000-yard passing seasons (including a record six straight), and is the Indianapolis Colts' all-time leader in passing yards (54,828) and touchdown passes (399). In 2009, he was named the best player in the NFL and Fox Sports along with Sports Illustrated named him the NFL player of the decade of the 2000s.

In July 2011, Manning signed a five-year, $90 million contract extension with the Colts. In May 2011, he underwent neck surgery to alleviate neck pain and arm weakness he dealt with during the previous few seasons. Manning had hoped to play in the 2011 season, but in September 2011, he underwent a much more serious second surgery: a level one cervical fusion procedure. Manning had never missed an NFL game in his career, but was forced to miss the entire 2011 season. He was released by the Colts on March 7, 2012.

ESPN.com first reported Titans coach Mike Munchak will meet with Manning after a session with Miami coach Joe Philbin.

The person spoke to The Associated Press Monday about Manning's meeting with the Titans on the condition of anonymity because the location and time of that meeting remains confidential.

Titans owner Bud Adams made it known Sunday he will do whatever it takes to sign Manning to get back to the playoffs and win his team's first Super Bowl. Adams told The Tennessean he had talked to Manning's agent, Tom Condon, asking for a visit with the quarterback.

Manning has plenty of connections to Tennessee.

He starred at the University of Tennessee, leading to his first name becoming a popular choice for newborns in this state. His wife is from Memphis, and Manning already knows the Titans' facility a bit, having practiced against Tennessee a few years ago when the Colts came to town for some joint practices.

Munchak also was a teammate of Archie Manning in 1982 and briefly in 1983 with the then-Houston Oilers. Munchak just hired Dennis Polian -- son of former Colts general manager Bill Polian -- as his assistant.

But the biggest key is Adams, the 89-year-old billionaire who wants back in the playoffs. His Titans have been only twice since 2004 with both trips in 2007 and 2008 lasting only one game each. A meeting with Manning could come in Houston where Adams still lives after relocating his Oilers to Tennessee in 1997.

"I want Manning," Adams told The Tennessean. "I'd love to see him in Titan blue after watching him so many years with the Colts. ... I want him. I am ready to do what it takes to get him aboard, and I think he'd be the guy to get us into the playoffs."

In a story in the Daily News this morning, the anonymous quotes are flying thick and fast. The headline says it all: "NY Jets players bash Mark Sanchez, say they want Peyton Manning and GM Mike Tannenbaum should trade young quarterback away."

All of this talk, as you probably know, is the fallout from Peyton Manning's missing the season, Indianapolis collapsing into the worst team in the league, and the likelihood that the Colts will now draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with their number one draft pick. Would the Jets then make a deal for Manning -- perhaps one that involves letting Sanchez go?

Joseph Kony Elusive

2012-03-13T00:03:00.002-07:00

Joseph Kony born: 18-Sep, 1964 Atyak/Odek, Uganda, he's an Internet star now.

Joseph Kony considers himself quite a good Christian, and he wants Uganda to be a Christian nation. So in 1987 he formed a resistance group called the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), and the LRA has been at civil war against the Ugandan government ever since. If the LRA wins, Kony has promised that Uganda will become a theocracy, with laws based on the Biblical Ten Commandments.

Kony's LRA has kidnapped an estimated 20,000 children for use as fighters or sex slaves. As part of their initiation, these children are often required to kill their own parents, so they'll have no homes to return to. (It's not clear which of the Ten Commandments Kony's strategy is based on.) Once kidnapped, children are used as pack mules, carrying LRA supplies until they are too weak to walk, at which time they're killed or simply left to die. Kidnapped boys also serve as targets and decoys, sent to the front lines -- unarmed -- whenever the Ugandan Army engages the LRA. Kidnapped girls that Kony or his senior commanders find attractive become their "wives" (Kony is reputed to have 60). Troublesome captives have their noses, lips, and/or ears cut off, and are then made to eat their own flesh.

A video about the atrocities carried out by Kony's Lord's Resistance Army has gone viral, racking up millions more views seemingly by the hour.

The marketing campaign is an effort by the advocacy group Invisible Children to vastly increase awareness about a jungle militia leader who is wanted for atrocities by the International Criminal Court and is being hunted by 100 U.S. Special Forces advisers and local troops in four Central African countries.

The group's 30-minute video, which was released Monday, had more than 32 million views on YouTube by Thursday. The movie is part of an effort called KONY 2012 that targets Kony and the LRA.

"Kony is a monster. He deserves to be prosecuted and hanged," said Col. Felix Kulayigye, the spokesman for Uganda's military.

But Kulayigye said that Kony's forces -- once thousands strong -- have been so degraded that he no longer considers Kony a threat to the region. Because of the intensified hunt for Kony, his forces split into smaller groups that can travel the jungle more easily.

Experts estimate that the LRA now has only about 250 fighters. Still, the militia abducts children, forcing them to serve as soldiers or sex slaves, and even to kill their parents or each other to survive. The LRA now operates in Congo, the Central African Republic and South Sudan.

Uganda, Invisible Children and #stopkony were among the top 10 trending terms on Twitter among both the worldwide and U.S. audience on Wednesday night, ranking higher than New iPad or Peyton Manning. Twitter's top trends more commonly include celebrities than fugitive militants.

Jolly Okot was abducted in 1986 by the militia group that later became the LRA. The then-18-year-old could speak English so was valuable to the militants. She was also forced to have sex. Kony's Ugandan rebel group is blamed for tens of thousands of mutilations and killings over the last 26 years.

"Kony gives you the impression that he is harmless, that he cannot catch a fly," Rugunda said, recalling his conversations with Kony, who was an altar boy before he became an elusive rebel leader. Rugunda last saw Kony in a forested camp in eastern Congo before the rebel leader and his men fled to the Central African Republic, where they have retained the capacity to harass villagers for food.

Adolf Hitler had a son

2012-03-09T21:38:00.000-08:00

The late Jean-Marie Loret, a French railway worker, claimed for many years to be the son of Adolf Hitler and while some believed him, more didn’t.

Adolf Hitler had a son with a French teenager while serving as a soldier during the First World War, according to new evidence.

Jean-Marie Loret, who died in 1985 aged 67, never met his father, but went on to fight Nazi forces during the Second World War.

His extraordinary story has now been backed up by a range of compelling evidence, both in France and in Germany, which is published in the latest edition of Paris's Le Point magazine.

Hitler is said to have had an affair with Mr Loret's mother, Charlotte Lobjoie, 16, as he took a break from the trenches in June 1917.

Although he was fighting the French near Seboncourt, in the northern Picardy region, Hitler made his way to Fournes-in-Weppe, a small town west of Lille, for regular leave.
There he met Miss Lobjoie, who later told their son: "One day I was cutting hay with other women, when we saw a German soldier on the other side of the street.

Carnival Celebrations at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2012-02-20T20:41:00.000-08:00

Decked up in colorful enticing samba costumes, millions jammed up the streets of Brazil on the first night of extravagant Rio de Janeiro's Carnival parade Sunday.

Amid the majestic set-up, frenetic samba music, thumping of drum beats and magnificent fireworks, the annual carnival parade kicked-off in Rio's Sambadrome, the "Temple of Samba."

Around thirteen best samba schools of the city participated in the parade. The two-day event also saw Hollywood celebrities like Madonna, J.Lo, Beyonce, Jude Law, Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson and Kevin Spacey, Associated Press reported.

Tens of thousands of fans packed Rio's iconic Sambadrome for a second night of dazzling Carnival parades featuring lavishly costumed performers, elaborate floats and thumping music.

The night parades in the Sambadrome are the high point of the pre-Lent Carnival festival, which has brought this racially diverse country of 191 million people to a near-standstill.

Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez was one of several foreign celebrities to lend their star power to the event, appearing late Sunday in skinny red jeans and a sequined top.

With a deafening burst of fireworks, Sao Clemente was the first of six elite samba schools to take center stage Monday, taking inspiration from a selection of popular Broadway musicals such as "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Cabaret".

Uniao da Ilha do Gobernador was to follow with a presentation illustrating the connection between London and Rio, which will host the next two Summer Olympics in 2012 and 2016.

The schools are vying for the title of Carnival champion. A total of 13 schools are competing for the honor, to be bestowed on Wednesday. Seven schools held their parades late Sunday.

Several have chosen to celebrate the culture of Brazil's northeast, particularly the rich Africa heritage of Bahia state.

Salgueiro, which won the title in 2009, will present a tribute to so-called Cord literature, a genre of folk novels and poems which is very popular in northeastern Brazil.

Mangueira, viewed as the country's most popular samba school, will offer a homage to a popular Rio Carnival band, Cacique de Ramos, which has just celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The school has many national and foreign star followers, including Argentine football great Diego Maradona.

Unidos da Tijuca, which finished 2nd last year, and Grande Rio, one of the newest schools, will round out the proceedings.

Preparation for the Carnival parades starts months in advance, as each samba school mobilizes thousands of supporters who must create the various parts of the school's display.

Favela residents are often members of a local samba school and are deeply involved with the performance and preparation of costumes.

The Carnival turns the spotlight on the artistic talent, creative genius and zest for life found in those predominantly black shantytowns which often lack running water, electricity and sewage systems.

The Sambadrome, which recently reopened after a nine-month makeover, now has a boosted capacity, elevators, and access ramps for the handicapped.

Seats cost between $50 and several thousand dollars, depending on whether one sits on packed benches in the open or in air-conditioned VIP boxes stocked with champagne. Big-name companies invite luminaries like Lopez to their skyboxes to promote their brands.

The Rio Carnival, billed as "the greatest show on Earth," generates 250,000 jobs and revenues of $640 million for hotels, bars and restaurants, according to state estimates.

Carnival is celebrated with equal gusto in other cities and towns, including Sao Paulo, Brazil's economic capital and Latin America's most populous city, and Salvador, the heart of the rich Afro-Brazilian culture.

Sony Xperia S vs Samsung Galaxy S2

2012-02-10T22:53:00.000-08:00

Sony Xperia S vs Samsung Galaxy S2

We compare Samsung's Galaxy S2 to the latest Sony Xperia S smartphone

Form

Samsung Galaxy S2 - 125.3x66.1x8.5mm, 116g

Sony Xperia S - 128x64x10.6mm, 144g

The Samsung Galaxy S2 launched this time last year but it's still up there as one of the more attractive looking handsets on the market with its imposing proportions and more angular styling.

Overall the design is minimalist, which makes everything look clean and modern, though it does have a textured back panel to spice things up a little.

The Sony Xperia S is a much striking device with next to no curvature or softening on the corners. In contrast to this the backpanel is completely smooth, which does provide some interesting contrast.

The other significant visual tweak is that the screen takes precedence over the bodywork, leading to a very thin bezel and a more ‘premium' look and feel.

We think Sony's device looks much smarter.

Winner - Sony Xperia S

DisplaySamsung is traditionally pretty consistent at producing some top quality displays for its devices, so much so that other manufacturers, such as Nokia, even buy them for their own handsets too.

The Galaxy S2 uses Samsung's Super AMOLED Plus technology, which offers excellent picture quality, brightness, colour depth and is a bit more battery friendly than your avergae LCD panel.

The 4.3-inch multi-touch capacitive display is also reinforced with Corning's impressively resilient Gorilla Glass and boasts an 800x480 pixel WVGA resolution, giving a pixel density of 217 pixels-per-inch (ppi).

However Sony seems keen to take the South Korean manufacturer down a peg or two.

The Xperia S's display measures the same 4.3-inches as its Samsung rival and while its not Super AMOLED Plus, it still uses a fancy LED backlit LCD screen resulting in some sharp imagery.

As might be expected it's multi-touch capable, but what you might not expect is support for all 10 of your digits.

We can't quite fathom what kind of app we might need all 10 for but we suppose it's always nice to have the option and its certainly not something we're going to hold against the Xperia S.

It's also scratch-resistant and boasts a very impressive resolution of 1280x720 pixels, which is not something you see very often on a smartphone.

The pixel density comes at an astounding 342ppi, which is higher than even the Apple iPhone's acclaimed, and significantly smaller, Retina display.

We have to commend Sony here for producing a brilliantly high-spec display.

Winner - Sony Xperia S

StorageSamsung's Galaxy S2 has two storage options. You've got a choice of either 16GB or 32GB and either one you choose comes with 1GB of RAM and a microSD slot for up to an additional 32GB of card storage.

Sony's new handset only has the one option but it's an ample 32GB and 1GB of RAM. Unfortunately, Sony has decided to forego the usual card slot on this particular model, which is a bit of a shame.

Samsung is holding the trump card for this round with its microSD capability.

Winner - Samsung Galaxy S2

ProcessorInside the Galaxy S2 is a 1.2GHz dual core ARM Cortex-A9 processor running on Samsung's brilliant Exynos chipset alongside a Mali-400MP graphics processing unit (GPU).

It might not have the fastest clock speed on the market but thanks to the chipset and GPU combo this setup is still one of the better performing hardware configurations currently available.

The Xperia S is also a dual core device loaded with a 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor on the MSM8260 Snapdragon chipset and features Qualcomm's new Adreno 220 GPU, which should pack quite a punch.

We think this qualifies as a draw as both phones are capable of high-end performance.

Winner - Draw

Operating SystemBoth handsets are currently running Android 2.3 Gingerbread but are due to be updated to Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 at some point this year, which should offer a performance boost and a much quicker and more intuitive user interface.

These devices are on an equal footing in this context as well.

Winner - Draw

CameraThe Samsung Galaxy S2 may not have the absolute best 8-megapixel camera out there but it's certainly one of the better ones available, showing the majority of contemporary handsets how it's done.

The resolution clocks in at 3264x2448 pixels and camera features include 1080p video capture, an LED flash, geo-tagging, autofocus, touch focus, image stabilisation and face and smile detection. There's also a reasonably good 2-megapixel secondary camera on the front.

Sony has come straight out of left field with the Xperia S, taking no prisoners with a 12-megapixel beast of a primary camera sporting a 4000x3000 pixel resolution and an Exmor R CMOS sensor.

Features wise it has the same setup as the Galaxy S2 for still images, plus the addition of 3D ‘sweep' panoramic capture.

Again, we were impressed with the quality of its predecessor, the Xperia Arc S, in this category and with that pedigree it should deliver some pretty snazzy pictures.

For video it can capture in 1080p on the primary camera and features continuous autofocus, a video light and video stabilisation. The 1.3-megapixel secondary camera can also capture video in 720p.

Sony is offering one of the most competitive camera set-ups we've seen for some time on the Xperia S so we've no qualms about voting it the winner in this round.

Winner - Sony Xperia S

Final Thoughts
Sony has come close to toppling Samsung's Galaxy S2 from its perch. It doesn't quite achieve this and we'd mainly pin that on the lack of a microSD card so instead it ends up sitting awkwardly on the same branch in this weird phones-as-birds metaphor we've created.

Regardless, It's on an equal footing in terms of the operating system and processing power but has sharper looks, a far superior camera and a much better display.

All in all we have to say that if we were pushed we'd likely go with the Xperia S over the Galaxy S2.

Manchester United vs Liverpool RIVALRY

2012-01-27T04:12:00.000-08:00

Manchester United vs Liverpool RIVALRY

Liverpool FC have always held the title as the most successful club in England because of their record breaking 18 First Division Premier League Titles. But recently Manchester United was able to tie with Liverpool’s record during the 2008-2009 seasons. Both clubs are located in the North West of England and the rivalry between the fans of the two clubs has become a part of their culture. Manchester United was the first club to lift the European Cup in 1968 under the leadership of the Scottish manager Sir Matt Busby while Liverpool did not win the European Cup until the 1970s. However Liverpool won that trophy five times while Manchester United only has three European Cups.

Liverpool became very successful in the 1970s and the 1980s while Manchester United became successful in the 1990s and 2000s. Liverpool has not won the League Title in England for the past 19 years. Even if Liverpool won a double over Manchester United during the 2008-2009 Premier League seasons Manchester United was still able to win the League by four points. Matches between these two rivals are often called North West derby. Both teams have won a total of 117 titles. Manchester United has 59 Titles while Liverpool has 58. Games for these rivals are usually played during the midday because of TV interests and to discourage fans from drinking before the games. Games and matches between these two teams are very popular that’s why tickets are very hard to get hold of due to high demand.
The team rivalry is also present among the clubs players. Wayne Rooney is a famous Manchester Striker that grew up in Liverpool but hated his local club while Steven Gerrard plays for Liverpool hates Manchester United. Another player from Manchester United – Gary Neville has been very open and vocal of his hatred for Liverpool. Both clubs currently claim the title of the Greatest English football clubs because they are nearly equal in terms of achievements. Liverpool and Manchester United are considered as the two most successful English clubs in the European competition.

Liverpool used to lead the League but Manchester United was able to get ahead of them during the 2010-2011 Premier League seasons with a record of 19 Premier League Titles. Current records for Cup Titles for both teams are very competitive. Liverpool has won a total of 7 FA Cups and 7 League Cups while Manchester United has 10 FA Cups and 1 League Cup. Both teams are very strong and well accomplished and have a very strong fan base that supports their respective teams.

The fixture between Liverpool and Manchester United is one of the most significant sporting rivalries in football, sometimes referred to as the North West derby. Both clubs hail from the North West of England. With both cities of Liverpool and Manchester historically being part of the county of Lancashire, this fixture has been known as a Lancashire derby.

The clubs are also the two most successful teams in England; between them they have won 118 honours: 60 for Manchester United and 58 for Liverpool. The fixture is usually played at midday due to media interest and to discourage fans from drinking before the game.[citation needed]

Long-serving Manchester United player Ryan Giggs claimed that Liverpool against Manchester United is "probably the most famous fixture in English football". This rivalry is one of the most high-profile derbies in the country.

Inter-city rivalry

The rivalry can be considered as a manifestation of one which already had existed between the two cities since industrial times. During this time both were competing with each other for supremacy of the north-west, with Manchester famous for its manufacturing prowess while Liverpool was famous for the importance of its port.

Once the Manchester Ship Canal was built, ships could bypass Liverpool and transport goods directly into Manchester. The Ship Canal was an audacious project and upon completion in 1894 it was the longest man-made ship canal in the world. The Ship Canal meant less dues for Liverpool merchants which consequently resulted in job losses at the Port and resentment from the local people of Liverpool. Historians generally regard this as the key incident as to why such inter-city rivalry exists. Furthermore, the crest of Manchester United includes a ship representing the Manchester Ship Canal and reflects Manchester's trade roots. Furthermore this ship is also included on many other Mancunian institutions such as Manchester City Council and rivals Manchester City F.C..

During the late 1970s and 1980s, the two cities had been in decline due to the downturn of industries. However, both cities have again grown and found success, with Manchester now being recognised as a world-class city. Recently, Manchester hosted the 2002 Commonwealth Games, while Liverpool was awarded the title of 2008 European Capital of Culture.

Football rivalry

Both clubs claim the title of 'the Greatest English Football Club', having won over 50 major trophies each. Liverpool dominated English football during the 1970s and 1980s, claiming the league title eleven times and the European Cup on four occasions during that period, including winning a treble of the League, the League Cup and the European Cup in 1984. Manchester United, however, have dominated the 1990s and 2000s, winning the league title a record twelve times, a European Continental Treble (European Cup, the Premier League and the FA Cup) in 1999, two domestic Doubles and The European Double of the Premier League and European Cup in 2008. Both clubs are also the two most successful English sides in European competition, with Liverpool having been European champions 5 times, and Manchester United 3 times. With Manchester United's victory in the Premier League season 2010–11, they moved ahead of Liverpool with a record 19 league titles. Despite Liverpool's success in England, they have never won the Premier League since its founding in 1992. Winning the League Cup in 2010, Manchester United then set a new English record of 33 domestic honours - moving one clear of the Merseysiders for the first time. Manchester United currently have 34 domestic honours after their victory in the 2010–11 Premier League season.

As well as competing on the football pitch, both teams are also two of the biggest-earning, and widely-supported, football clubs in the world.

The rivalry has extended to the players as well: United striker Wayne Rooney, a product of Liverpool's city rivals Everton described how, although he is from Liverpool, he grew up hating the Reds,[6] while Liverpool's Steven Gerrard took a film crew on tour of his home where he showed off a collection of football shirts he had swapped with opposing players as part of the after match routine; he pointed out that there were no Manchester United shirts in there and that he would never have one of them in his house. Manchester United's Gary Neville has been publicly vocal in the past with regards to his dislike of Liverpool; following a fixture in which John O'Shea scored a stoppage-time winner in front of the Kop in 2007, Neville described O'Shea's achievement as "a lifelong dream" for himself. Neville was berated by Liverpool fans for his role in celebrating in front of them in 2006, kissing the crest on his jersey and appearing to shout angrily towards the fans.

Player transfers

The rivalry between the two clubs has become so intense that since the 1964 transfer of Phil Chisnall from United to Liverpool, no player has been transferred directly between the two clubs.[8] Some players, however, have played for both clubs, but having played elsewhere between each tenure, such as Paul Ince (playing for Internazionale in between) and Peter Beardsley (Vancouver Whitecaps and Newcastle United) and more recently Michael Owen (Real Madrid and Newcastle United).

In 2007, there was a bid from Liverpool to sign Gabriel Heinze from United, but United refused to allow him to join their biggest rivals due to the ongoing feud. United claimed that it was agreed Heinze would only join a foreign club if he chose to leave. Heinze went public with his request to join Liverpool which was seen as the ultimate betrayal by the Manchester United fans. The Manchester United fans who once chanted "Argentina" in honour of the player now turned their backs on him. Heinze was eventually sold to Real Madrid instead.

Hooliganism

With the rise of football hooliganism across English football during the 1970s and 1980s, matches between the two clubs brought some minor and major incidents of hooliganism.[citation needed] Since then, the modern game has seen a decrease in violence between the rival supporters and incidents are fairly uncommon. This is more likely due to an increase in Police presence and CCTV with huge steps taken to keep the fans separated. To this day, both sets of fans still hold a resentment toward each other. As well as physical violence, sections of the clubs' fan bases often taunt each other with unsavoury chants about the Munich air disaster and the Hillsborough disaster respectively.

At the 1996 FA Cup Final, an unidentified Liverpool fan spat at Eric Cantona and threw a punch at Alex Ferguson as a victorious Manchester United team walked up the steps at Wembley Stadium to collect the trophy from the Royal Box.

After an FA Cup match in 2006 between the clubs, an ambulance carrying Alan Smith, who had broken his leg during the match, was attacked on its way to the hospital by Liverpool fans. The same match featured foreign objects thrown at Man Utd fans by Liverpool supporters, including human excrement. A Liverpool FA Cup Semifinal game against Chelsea later that year also resulted in damage to Old Trafford, including graffitti about serial killer Harold Shipman.

At Anfield, fans are banned from going near the away team entrance on matchdays following an incident in the late 1990s where a Liverpool fan threw an egg at Alex Ferguson.[citation needed]

In March 2011, the Daily Mail reported that an FA Youth Cup game between the two clubs was marred because of "sick chants" about Hillsborough and Heysel coming from the Manchester United fans present at Anfield. The article also claims that six Manchester United fans were ejected from the stadium due to bad behaviour. Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge was at the game and told the Liverpool Echo that "the level of abuse was absolutely sickening."

In January 2011, the Manchester Evening News reported clashes between the M.I.B (Manchester United Firm) and the Urchins (Liverpool Firm) in Deansgate after Manchester United's FA Cup 3rd Round win over Liverpool at Old Trafford. Several Liverpool fans were injured and around 20 to 30 people were arrested.

Significant games

In 1977, the two clubs met in a cup final for the first time, when they reached the final of the FA Cup. The two clubs took to the field at Wembley on 21 May, with Liverpool having just won the league title, knowing that winning this game would put them on course for a unique treble as they had the European Cup final to look forward to four days later. However, United ended Liverpool's treble dreams with a 2-1 win, with goals from Stuart Pearson and Jimmy Greenhoff, five minutes apart with a Jimmy Case consolation goal in between.

Six years later, on 26 March 1983, the two sides met for the Football League Cup final. Goals from Alan Kennedy and Ronnie Whelan won the game 2-1 for Liverpool, who collected the trophy for the third year in succession. Norman Whiteside scored United's consolation goal. It was the last of Liverpool manager Bob Paisley's nine seasons in charge (during which Liverpool had dominated the English and European scene) before his retirement, and his players allowed him to climb the 39 steps to collect the trophy from the Royal Box.

On 4 April 1988, Liverpool were 11 points ahead at the top of the league and almost certain of winning the First Division title with barely a month of the league season remaining. United, in their first full season under the management of Alex Ferguson, were their nearest rivals. The two sides took to the field for a league encounter at Anfield and with the second half just minutes old the home side had a 3-1 lead with goals from Peter Beardsley, Gary Gillespie and Steve McMahon, with United's only goal coming from Bryan Robson. Robson then pulled a goal back for United, and with 12 minutes remaining fellow midfielder Gordon Strachan equalised to force a 3-3 draw.

Nearly six years after this clash, Anfield was the scene of another 3-3 draw in the league between the two sides, only this time it was the home side who climbed back from the jaws of defeat. On 4 January 1994, in the second season of the new FA Premier League, United took a 3-0 lead at Anfield in the opening 25 minutes with goals from Steve Bruce, Ryan Giggs and Denis Irwin. Liverpool managed to claw back to draw 3-3 with two goals from Nigel Clough and another from Neil Ruddock. It was one of the last games in charge of Liverpool for manager Graeme Souness, who had resigned by the end of the month.

On 1 October 1995, United's Eric Cantona made his comeback to the side after serving an eight-month suspension for attacking a spectator in a game against Crystal Palace. His comeback game was against Liverpool in the Premier League at Old Trafford. United took an early lead through Nicky Butt, only for Liverpool's Robbie Fowler to score twice and give the visitors a 2-1 lead. However, United were awarded a penalty in the 71st minute and Cantona converted it successfuly, forcing a 2-2 draw.[28]At the end of the season, the two sides met again at Wembley for the FA Cup Final. The game stayed goalless until the 85th minute, when Liverpool condeded a corner, which David Beckham swung into the box to be cleared by David James, only for Eric Cantona to fire home United's winner.

On 14 March 2009, the two sides met at Old Trafford in the Premier League. United were ahead at the top of the league and Liverpool were looking to make a late run to the title which had eluded them since 1990. United went ahead in the 23rd minute with a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, but Fernando Torres equalised five minutes later for Liverpool, and a Steven Gerrard penalty just before half time put Liverpool in the lead. United had Nemanja Vidić sent off in the 76th minute, and their misery was swiftly confounded by late goals from Fabio Aurelio and finally Andrea Dossena, condemning them to a 4-1 defeat - their heaviest at Old Trafford in any competition for 17 years.[30]However, United managed to finish the season as league champions for the third season in succession,with Liverpool finishing second.

Google privacy policy updates

2012-01-26T21:22:00.001-08:00

Google announced a new privacy policy and terms of service on Jan. 24. Here’s a look at some of the Google products that will be affected by the policy change.

Google will soon know far more about who you are and what you do on the Web.

The Web giant announced Tuesday that it plans to follow the activities of users across nearly all of its ubiquitous sites, including YouTube, Gmail and its leading search engine. Google has already been collecting some of this information. But for the first time, it is combining data across its Web sites.

Consumers won’t be able to opt out of the changes, which take effect March 1. And experts say the policy shift will invite greater scrutiny from federal regulators of the company’s privacy and competitive practices.

Consumers could also benefit, the company said. When someone is searching for the word “jaguar,” Google would have a better idea of whether the person was interested in the animal or the car.

Google can collect information about users when they activate an Android mobile phone, sign into their accounts online or enter search terms. It can also store cookies on people’s computers to see which Web sites they visit or use its popular maps program to estimate their location. However, users who have not logged on to Google or one of its other sites, such as YouTube, are not affected by the new policy.

The change to its privacy policies come as Google is facing stiff competition for the fickle attention of Web surfers. It recently disappointed investors for the first time in several quarters, failing last week to meet earnings predictions.

In the most glaring example that indicated the company didn’t have a good grasp on what its workers were doing, Google acknowledged in May that one of its engineers had created a program that vacuumed up potentially sensitive personal information, including e-mails and passwords, from unsecured wireless networks while Google cars cruised neighborhoods around the world. The vehicles were dispatched primarily to take photos for Google’s online mapping service, but they also carried equipment to log the location of Wi-Fi networks.

The incident, which some critics have derisively labeled as “Wi-Spy,” was caused by “an engineer’s careless error as well as a lack of controls to ensure that necessary procedures to protect privacy were followed,” Canada Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart concluded in a report this week.

Several other countries have skewered Google for scooping up 600 gigabytes of data — equivalent to about six floors of an academic library — from Wi-Fi systems for more than two years before detecting a problem five months ago in response from to an inquiry from regulators in Germany.

Google initially said it had only captured fragments of people’s online activities, but Canada’s investigation determined that entire e-mails, passwords and website addresses had been obtained and stored. In confirming Canada’s findings Friday, Google said it wants to delete all the Wi-Fi data remaining on its computers as quickly as possible, but must hold on to most of the information while authorities in different countries conduct their own investigations.

So far, Google has purged the Wi-Fi data it got in Ireland, Austria, Denmark and Hong Kong after gaining clearance from regulators in those countries. It still has the data from more than 20 other countries, including the United States, where a coalition of state attorneys generals has been looking into the breach.

While some countries have asserted Google’s Wi-Fi snooping was illegal, the company has maintained it didn’t break any laws even as management apologized for its bad behavior.

Megaupload shutdown

2012-01-23T22:24:00.000-08:00

Megaupload, one of the internet's largest file-sharing sites, has been shut down by officials in the US.

The site's founders have been charged with violating piracy laws.

Federal prosecutors have accused it of costing copyright holders more than $500m (£320m) in lost revenue. The firm says it was diligent in responding to complaints about pirated material.

Police seized millions of pounds, a vast collection of luxury cars and sawn-off shotguns yesterday when they raided the mansion of a man accused of being one of the world’s biggest internet pirates.

Swooping on convicted fraudster Kim Dotcom’s £16million home outside Auckland by helicopter, officers had to cut their way in to arrest him after the founder of the MegaUpload website retreated into a fortified safe room.

Dotcom, 37 – nicknamed Dr Evil – has Finnish and German citizenship. He and six of his employees face charges by U.S. prosecutors in what they say is one of the biggest criminal copyright theft cases ever brought.

Filesonic.com stopped allowing people to download files that they had not uploaded themselves, while Uploaded.to blocked access from Internet locations in the United States.

However, just 3 percent of U.S. Internet users relied on digital lockers like Megaupload in the third quarter, according to NPD market research, compared with 9 percent who used peer-to-peer networks, which allow sharing of files among consumers' computers with little or no central organization.

Peer-to-peer systems, including BitTorrent and PirateBay, might gain more activity after the Megaupload charges, analysts said, while users may be afraid to upload content to lockers for fear they will lose access in a similar shutdown.

What Are Magnet Links, How To Use Them to Download Torrents?

2012-01-18T04:08:00.000-08:00

Torrent Magnet Links

Soon, popular torrent site The Pirate Bay will no longer host torrent files. Instead, it will only offer magnet links. Magnet what now?You may have seen the term "magnet link" before, but if you haven't used one, here's the lowdown on what this change means for you as a BitTorrent user.

How Magnet Links Are Different From .Torrent Files

When you download a .torrent file, you're essentially downloading a small file that contains information on the larger files you want to download. The torrent file tells your torrent client the names of the files being shared, a URL for the tracker, and more. Your torrent client then calculates a hash code, which is a unique code that only that torrent has—kind of like an ISBN or catalog number. From there, it can use that code to find others uploading those files, so you can download from them.

A magnet link does away with the middleman. A magnet link is essentially a hyperlink containing the hash code for that torrent, which your torrent client can immediately use to start finding people sharing those files. Magnet links don't require a tracker (since it uses DHT), nor does it require you to download a separate file before starting the download, which is convenient.

How to Use Magnet Links

Magnet links are dead simple to use. If you head to the Pirate Bay now, you'll notice that magnet links are now the default, with the "Get Torrent File" link in parentheses next to it (a link which will disappear in a month or so). Just click on the magnet link, and your browser should automatically open up your default BitTorrent client and start downloading. It's that easy.

What This Ultimately Means for You

The short answer is nothing. In fact, it could mean that downloading torrents takes one or two fewer clicks, since all you have to do is click on the link to start the download. When magnet links first came out, not all torrent clients supported them, but now you can use magnet links with just about any semi-popular torrent client out there—including our favorites uTorrent, Transmission, and Deluge, among others, so you shouldn't notice a problem with that.

The main reason torrent sites are moving toward magnet links—apart from convenience to the user—is that these links (probably) free torrent sites like The Pirate Bay from legal trouble. Since The Pirate Bay won't be hosting files that link to copyrighted content—that is, the torrent files—it's more difficult to claim the site is directly enabling the downloading of copyrighted material. Whether this semantic leap actually protects torrent sites remains to be seen, but for now, you can sleep soundly knowing that the sites will stick around for awhile longer and that your torrents will take one less click to get started. Of course, if you're using a public site like The Pirate Bay, we highly recommend you set up a proxy and encryption service like BTGuard to protect your downloading from prying eyes. If you want to read more about magnet links, check out the Wikipedia page on the subject.

Wikipedia, Google protest Internet bills

2012-01-18T00:27:00.000-08:00

Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia speaks during the opening session at the London Cyberspace Conference in London. Wikipedia will black out the English language version of its website on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012.

Wikipedia shut down the English version of its online encyclopedia for 24 hours to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) introduced in the House of Representatives and the Senate version, the Protect IP Act (PIPA).

Google meanwhile placed a black redaction block over the logo on its much-visited US home page to draw attention to the bills while social news site reddit and the popular Cheezburger humor network planned blackouts.

If a day without Wikipedia was a bother, think bigger. In this plugged-in world, we would barely be able to cope if the entire Internet went down in a city, state or country for a day or a week.

Sure, we’d survive. People have done it. Countries have, as Egypt did last year during the anti-government protests. And most of civilization went along until the 1990s without the Internet.

But now we’re so intertwined socially, financially and industrially that suddenly going back to the 1980s would hit the world as hard as a natural disaster, experts say.

No email, Twitter or Facebook. No buying online. No stock trades. No just-in-time industrial shipping. No real-time tracking of diseases.

If bill passed, this legislation will harm the free and open Internet and bring about new tools for censorship of international websites inside the United States," the Wikimedia foundation said.

The draft legislation has won the backing of Hollywood, the music industry, the Business Software Alliance, the National Association of Manufacturers and the US Chamber of Commerce.

SOPA and PIPA are real threats to the free and open Internet. Although recent media reports have suggested that the bills are losing support, they are not dead. On January 17th, SOPA's sponsor said the bill will be discussed and pushed forward in early February. PIPA could be debated in the U.S. Senate as soon as next week. There is a need to send a strong message that bills like SOPA and PIPA must not move forward: they will cause too much damage.

Although the bills have been amended since their introduction, they are still deeply problematic. Among other serious problems in the current draft of the bills, the requirement exists for US-based sites to actively police links to purported infringing sites. These kinds of self-policing activities are non-sustainable for large, global sites - including ones like Wikipedia. The legislative language is ambiguous and overly broad, even though it touches on protected speech. Congress says it's trying to protect the rights of copyright owners, but the "cure" that SOPA and PIPA represent is worse than the disease.

The founders of Google, Twitter, Wikipedia, Yahoo! and other Internet giants said in an open letter last month the legislation would give the US government censorship powers “similar to those used by China, Malaysia and Iran.”

Ben Breedlove: Leaves Touching YouTube Videos

2012-01-02T04:05:00.000-08:00

Ben Breedlove ( August 8, 1993 - December 25, 2011 )

Austin, Texas Teen Benjamin Daniel Breedlove (Ben Breedlove)'s Videos About Dying Life with a heart condition become an international viral sensation, More than 1,500 people attended a memorial service for Texas teenager Ben Breedlove.

While family, friends and fans gathered at Austin's Gateway Church, countless others watched a live-stream of the memorial online.

After cheating death three times, Westlake High School student Ben Breedlove, 18, lost his life on Christmas night after suffering from a heart attack.

But not before he recorded videos of his near-death experiences, capturing the hearts of viewers around the world as he described the peace he felt at leaving the world he knew.

In the videos, Breedlove can be seen silently sitting in a room and using handwritten note cards to tell his story. The teen suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which one part of the heart is thicker than the other parts, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood.

Breedlove posted the videos titled "This is my story" on Dec. 18 and died one week later on Christmas. Since then, the videos have been viewed more than 2.3 million times.

The memorial was held in a large auditorium where photos of a happy Breedlove with his family and friends were projected on a large screen.

His sister Ally Breedlove spoke during the service and recalled her brother's descriptions of powerful visions during previous episodes of cardiac arrest. He described a bright light and being overcome with a feeling of peace.

Ally Breedlove said her brother told her, "God let me feel that peace before I came back so that I would know that heaven is worth it."

Breedlove's father asked that his son's funeral be made available to fans after receiving "requests from people around the world who want to watch." The funeral will take place at 3 p.m. at Gateway Church.

Breedlove had fainted at school and went into cardiac arrest in hospital. When he passed out, he says, he saw himself in a white room with his favourite rapper, Kid Cudi. They were both in suits and Breedlove’s favourite song, Mr. Rager, was playing. Breedlove described how Kid Cudi sat him down at a glass desk, put his hand on his shoulder and said “Go now.” Breedlove says he then woke up to medics resuscitating him.

Ben Breedlove's parents

"This is my story"

On December 18, 2011, Breedlove released a 2-part video on YouTube, entitled "This is my story." Using note cards, he explained about his heart condition, as well as how it impacted his life. He also mentioned three near-death experiences.

"I was at school, walking in the hall. I could tell I was going to faint, so I sat on a bench. I passed out. The next thing I know, I woke up with EMS around me. I couldn't talk or move, I could only watch what they were doing. They put the shock pads on my chest. I heard one of them say 'They are ready'. And the other guy said 'Go!'. I passed out again. My heart stopped and I wasn't breathing for 3 minutes."
Breedlove on the third time he "cheated death".

In the video, Breedlove describes the first time he "cheated" death, which was at the age of 4 when he had a life-threatening seizure.[6] He goes on to describe an experience he had in a hospital while being wheeled on a stretcher, "There was this big bright light above me ... I couldn't make out what is was because it was so bright. I told my mom, 'Look at the bright light' and pointed up. She said she didn't see anything."

On May 3, 2009, Breedlove underwent surgery to insert a defibrillator. The defibrillator helped regulate his heart beat and gave him more energy. In the video he shows a red scar on his chest, where the pacemaker had been inserted.
In the summer of 2011, Breedlove fell into his second cardiac arrest, while in the hospital for a routine tonsillectomy. He stated that, "It was a miracle that they brought me back ... I was scared to die, but am so glad I didn't."

The third time Breedlove survived death was on December 6, 2011. While in the hall at Westlake High School, he felt that he was going to faint, so he sat down on a bench where he then passed out. The next thing he recollects is being surrounded by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, and that he was unable to speak or move. He remembers passing out a second time after being resuscitated with a "shock pad". During this time his heart ceased pumping blood for three minutes. While unconscious, Breedlove had a feeling of comfort similar to that of his first near-death experience. He recalls being dressed up in a white suit while standing alongside his favorite rap artist, Kid Cudi, in a white room.

Do rest in heaven peace Benjamin Breedlove................

UbiSlate 7+ (Upgraded Aakash)

2011-12-28T20:33:00.000-08:00

New Delhi: Disappointed, that you missed the booking of Aakash tab? This piece of news can cheer you up.

Makers of Aakash tablet, Datawind is ready with their new tablet Ubislate 7+ at an expected price of Rs 2999. Unlike Aakash (Ubislate7) which is a student version tab, Ubislate 7+ will be available everywhere and to everyone.

The upgraded version of Aakash, Ubislate 7+ tab will be available in the Indian market by last week of January, 2012.

Pre-order booking have already started from their website - ubislate.com/
Interested buyers can also call on a Toll Free No: 1800.180.2180 for more information.
Check out its configuration below:

The UbiSlate7+ is an Android 2.3 touch screen tablet that has a HD video co-processor for a high-quality multimedia experience and core graphics accelerator for faster application support. The Aakash tablet is the only Android device in the market to offer DataWind’s UbiSurfer browser, based on 18 international patents. The UbiSurfer browser accelerates web pages by factors of 10x to 30x, allowing for a web experience who’s speed is unrivalled.

The device includes WiFi connectivity and support for optional 3G modems. Two full-sized USB ports are integrated into the unit allowing pen-drives, external keyboards, web-cams, dongles and other inexpensive peripherals to be attached. “Pen drives are a common medium for storing and sharing content in India. They are even used by people that are not computer savvy, for access to music and videos. A full sized USB ports allowing regular pen-drives to be plugged-in is also available as an added advantage over other Tablets.

Specification

UbiSlate 7+ (Upgraded Aakash) Specification

Tribute to Apple's Steve Jobs

2011-10-10T21:38:00.000-07:00

India launches world's cheapest "Aakash" tablet

2011-10-07T02:36:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI INDIA: The wait for the world's cheapest tablet is finally over! The $35 tablet nicknamed Aakash was launched and will be available at retail stores at a maximum retail price of Rs 2999 ($60), said its maker Datawind.

The $60 tablet for retail sales has an inbuilt cellular modem and SIM to access internet, which will be absent in the $35 device, supplied to the government.

Both versions of the tablet, will run on Google's Android 2.2 (Froyo) platform , with WiFi connectivity for internet access and cloud storage. The tablets will have 256 MB of RAM, a 32 GB expandable memory slot and two USB ports.

The commercial version of the tablet would have no duty waivers or subsidy, as in the government's version. An inbuilt cellular modem and SIM card will add to the price of the commercial tablet.

The tablet comes with a 12-month replacement warranty and supports formats like DOC, DOCX, PDF and PPTX etc. Aakash has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack.

The tablet has a 2100mAh battery which can reportedly last for 2-3 hours depending on the usage. The device is also said to be completely made in India, as according to a review, a sticker at the back emphasises the fact. Aakash also reportedly packs some pre-loaded apps, however, lacks the Android Market Place.

The commercial version of the tablet, is expected be out within 60 days, of its launch on October 5.

DataWind, the British-based company that developed the tablet, said the cost would drop when mass production begins. The tablet will be commercially available from November for Rs 2999. The commercial version of the tablet would have no duty waivers or subsidy, as in the government's version and come with added features like an inbuilt cellular modem and SIM to access internet.

India trails fellow BRIC nations Brazil, Russia and China in the drive to get its 1.2 billion population connected to technologies such as the Internet and mobile phones, a report by risk analysis firm Maplecroft said this year.

Google Wallet: First Impressions

2011-09-20T09:51:00.000-07:00

Google Wallet is a mobile payment app developed by Google that allows its users to store credit cards, loyalty cards, and gift cards among other things, as well as redeeming sales promotions on their mobile phone, Launched in the US on the Sprint Nexus S 4G.

Initially, the only phone supported is Sprint's Nexus S 4G, but Google plans to produce NFC stickers associated with one credit card each, ostensibly to be affixed to non-NFC-capable phones. Two methods for providing money to the service are advertised, Citi Mastercards and "Google Prepaid Card", which can be loaded using any major credit card.

PayPal Lawsuit

Shortly after launch, PayPal filed a lawsuit against Google and two former employees of PayPal - Osama Bedier and Stephanie Tilenius. The complaint alleges “misappropriation of trade secrets” and “breach of fiduciary duty.” The lawsuit reveals that Google was negotiating with PayPal for two years to power payments on mobile devices. But just as the deal was about to be signed, Google backed off and instead hired the PayPal executive negotiating the deal, Bedier. The lawsuit notes that Bedier knew all of PayPal’s future plans for mobile payments, as well as an internal detailed analysis of Google’s weaknesses in the area.

Angola's Leila Lopes Wins Miss Universe 2011

2011-09-13T05:52:00.000-07:00

Miss Angola, Leila Lopes 25, emerged the winner of the 2011 Miss Universe Pageant in Sao Paulo, Brazil, beating out 88 competitors. In a brunette-dominated field of flat-stomached, leggy contestants, Lopes' sweet smile and hairstyle (up in topknot, not long cascading curls) set her apart from the start. She's also one of few black women ever to snag the crown, reports AP, and she's Angola's first winner.

Speaking in a timid voice after the pageant last night in Sao Paolo, Brazil, Lopes said her smile was her biggest weapon. She also told reporters that she has never had cosmetic surgery and that her three tips for beauty were to get a lot of sleep, use sun block even when it's not sunny and to drink lots of water.

When asked about racism, Lopes said that "any racist needs to seek help. It's not normal in the 21st century to think in that way."

Lopes also said that "as Miss Angola I've already done a lot to help my people. "I've worked with various social causes. I work with poor kids, I work in the fight against HIV. I work to protect the elderly and I have to do everything that my country needs," she said. "I think now as Miss Universe I will be able to do much more."

Her interview question wasn't particularly tough. She was asked what physical trait she would change if she could. "Thank God I'm very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn't change a thing," Lopes said. "I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life."

"Thank God I'm very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn't change a thing," Lopes said when asked her interview question, reports cbsnews.com.

"I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principals from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life," she said.

The first runner-up was Olesia Stefanko of Ukraine and the second runner-up was Priscila Machado of Brazil. Miss Philippines took the third spot and Miss China took the fourth.

Spain Boss Slams Chelsea Striker Fernando Torres

2011-09-08T21:06:00.001-07:00

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque says Chelsea striker Fernando Torres will not regain his place in the national set-up unless he improves his club form.

The 27 year-old former Liverpool ace has scored just one official goal for Chelsea, and was dropped by del Bosque for Spain against Liechtenstein.

Of course, this has happened before.

The difference for Torres this time was that del Bosque has not tended to leave him out of the team unless he switched to a single striker formation, with David Villa the first choice hitman.

Against Liechtenstein, Spain started with two strikers in Villa and Sevilla forward Alvaro Negredo.

Athletic Bilbao target man Fernando Llorente was the backup forward, but Torres didn’t even make the bench.

“Torres is an important player, but those who stand out with their clubs will get the call to the national team – not the other way around,” explained del Bosque.

Can Torres resurrect his club – and international – careeer?