Hare Rama Hare Krishna

Free group SMSes from Google soon

2008-10-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

After SMS-based search, Google Labs in India has launched Google SMS channel – a platform to send free group SMS. Currently, in a pilot phase, Google is testing the product in India and intends to launch it to global audiences later. It supports English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada languages. No commercial date for the launch has been announced.
The SMS channel was fully conceptualised by Google India Labs. Prasad Ram, head (R&D), Google India, says, “The SMS channel is in line with our endeavour to connect the 250-million mobile subscribers who have no access to information.”
Unlike other group SMS providers, Google’s SMS channel does not add any advertisement on the message footer, so group publishers get full 160 character messages to post. But Prasad is not ruling out monetary opportunity from embedded advertisements during the commercial launch. “Banner advertisement and contextual marketing can be among many ways to monetise this channel.”
At present, Google allows publishers to create individual channels and publish content that other users can subscribe to after registering with valid mobile numbers. Google expects non-governmental organisations (NGOs), corporates and schools among others to create groups over SMS for communication and regular updates.
Ram says, “Google foresees a large uptake for similar mobile services and will continue to work from our India labs to deliver such products for both international and domestic markets.”
As of now, one can subscribe to a maximum of 30 channels and by default receive a maximum of 10 SMSes per day, which can be changed later. Subscribers can even define the time slot for receiving SMS. A content publisher doesn’t need a mobile phone to send an SMS to his group as there’s an option in Google SMS channel that lets him compose and send SMS via the web itself.
The Google service looks like an improved version of existing group messaging services such as Zook, SMSgupshup and Mytoday. Zook had recently announced an alert service that enables users to track local shopping deals or movie and content updates such as events, weather, traffic, cricket news among others. Google’s SMS channel can work great for publishers as they get a dedicated marketing hook to keep users engaged, which none of the other services offer. For instance, a neighbourhood bookstore on SMS channel can inform subscribers about new titles and special offers.

http://business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=336583

Random Photos Worth Looking At

2008-10-05T21:42:00.001-07:00

Random Photos Worth Looking At

Funny words english vs German

2008-10-05T20:21:00.000-07:00

word	meaning in English	meaning in German
GIFT	a present	poison
DANK	chilly wet	gratefulness, thanks
STARK	bare, grim, harsh	strong
KIND	nice, generous	a child
HUT	small building	a hat
ROCK	a stone; to move back and forth	a skirt
STOCK	a share in a company	a cane
MITTEN	a glove	in the middle
SAGE	a wise person	say [first person, present tense]; also a saga
LINKS	plural of link, connections	left [opposite to right]
TOLL	a charge for road usage	fantastic
BOOT	a tall shoe	boat
LUNGE	a sudden thrust	lung
GUT	intestine or stomach	good
MIST	light fog	dung, manure
NOT	in no way	an emergency
LAST	at the end	freight, burden
HANDY	easy to handle	cellular phone [new word]
MOST	superlative of many	apple cider [Southern Germany, Austria]
RIND	a tough outer covering, of cheese for example	an individual of cattle
LOT	a considerable quantity	a plumb
TALK	speak	talc
BAD	evil, harmful	bath
RAT	a rodent	advice
TRUNK	the nose of an elefant	a drink (together with some people)
LIED	past tense of "to lie"	a song
HALL	a large room	a short echo
FAST	quickly	almost
BRIEF	short	a letter
SAME	identical, e.g., at the same time	a seed
BALD	lacking of natural covering, e.g., hair	soon
SOLD	past tense of "to sell"	a soldier's salary
LAG	to fall behind	past tense of "legen" (intransitive verb, i.e., lie)
GLUT	an oversupply	embers
LACK	to be deficient	lacquer
WAR	an armed conflict	past tense of "sein" (to be)
TOT	a small child	dead (adverb)
TOTE	to carry by hand as in tote-bag	dead (adjective)
GRAB	to seize	a grave
LIST	a sequence	craftiness
JAMMER	one that jams	misery
KIPPER	a fish cured in salt	a dump truck
STERN	firm and unyielding	a star
DICK	short form of Richard; colloquial for penis	stout, corpulent
SEE	to behold with your eyes	a lake
ART	The production of beautiful forms of sound or shape	a species
ANGEL	a spiritual being attendant upon God	a fishing rod
BAT	A flying mammal; a wooden club	past tense of "bitten" (to ask for something)
HAT	a head covering	third person present tense for "haben" (to have)
MUTTER	to speak indistinctly in a low voice	mother
LEG	a lower extremity in a human	imperative for "legen" (to lay)
LOG	the fallen trunk of a tree	past tense of "lügen" (to lie)
TEE	a t-shaped peg to place a golf ball on	tea
MADE	past tense of "to make"	a maggot
SUCH	As in "such as"	imperative for "suchen" (to search)
LURCH	to roll or pitch suddenly	a salamander
MARK	a sign or visible impression	marrow (like "Knochenmark" bone-marrow)
QUALM	a sensation of doubt, uneasiness ("to have no qualms about it")	thick smoke
MAUL	to bruise or tear ("mauled by a wild animal")	the mouth of an animal ("das Maul halten" to shut up)
WELT	a ridge or bump raised on the skin by a lash or blow	the world

Warren Buffett’s 10 Ways to Get Rich

2008-10-05T19:12:00.000-07:00

1. Reinvest your profits - this is the only way to take advantage of compound growth, which is money growing on money.

2. Be willing to be different - you follow the herd, you’re gonna get hurt. Going against the herd may be scary, but can pay off if done properly.

3. Never suck your thumb - If you find something good, act. Don’t sit around doing nothing.

4. Spell out the deal before you start - Get all the details in writing before you follow through.

5. Watch small expenses - The article mentions a guy who counted 500-sheet rolls of toilet paper to make sure he wasn’t being ripped off. That seems a bit extreme to me but I see the point of not wasting money.

6. Limit what you borrow - I believe that the only acceptable forms of debt are student loans, car loans (reasonable car loans), mortgages, and possible 0% deals that may pop up every once in a while. Now, don’t mistake that sentence to mean that I think it’s okay to have debt—that’s not what I’m saying. The main thing is to use debt as a tool and use it wisely.

7. Be persistent - Always remember the saying: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

8. Know when to quit - You have to know when to say, “when.”

9. Assess the risks - Do some worst-case-scenario analysis before you proceed. In other words, count the costs before you begin.

10. Know what success really means - I love the fact that Buffett is not on an ego trip with his giving. According to the article, Buffett does not want any buildings named after him. That’s soooooo cool! I really respect that about him.

Anyway, there’s a quick summary of the article with my thoughts added. You can read the article here.

http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/09/09/warren-buffetts-10-ways-to-get-rich/

India is Truly Secular (Picture)

2008-10-02T20:15:00.001-07:00

10 Overused Words in Writing

2008-10-02T19:04:00.000-07:00

All words are good words. Some, however, are overused without adding value to what you write. As a result, they reduce the readers’ interest, make text seem redundant, and cause the writer to appear amateurish.

We have created a list of 10 overused words, based on the documents we have edited over the last 5 years. We don’t recommend that you remove these words from your writing. Instead, we recommend that you become aware of how often you use them and that you revise your documents to limit their use.

1. There
When writers are not sure about the subjects of their sentences, they will often use this word as the subject. This results in weak writing. (For advice on correcting this problem, see our article “Where Is There?”)

Example: “There was no one at home.” This can be revised as “No one was at home.”

2. You
Writers often use this word when referring to general or reoccurring situations. “You” rarely refers to the reader and should be avoided.

Example: “Our grandmother was nice. She always gave you candy.” This can be revised as “Our grandmother was nice. She always gave us candy.”

3. If
Although “if” is a fine word, it is overused by writers trying to describe options and thought processes.

Example: “If she took the bus, she wouldn’t have time to stop by the grocery store.” This can be revised as “Taking the bus would leave her too little time to stop by the grocery store.”

4. When
Readers realize that actions can occur at the same time, which is what the word “when” indicates. Thus, “when” is usually unnecessary.

Example: “When she opened the door, she saw blood on the floor.” This can be revised as “She opened the door and saw the blood on the floor.” Some writers use “when” to describe actions that cannot occur at the same time, as in “When she woke up, she made coffee.” Actually, she first wakes up and then makes the coffee. This can be revised as “She woke up and made the coffee.”

5. As
We once worked on a book in which the author used this word repeatedly to describe the timing of actions, often 3 or 4 times in one paragraph.

Example: “He was shouting ‘Follow me!’ as he ran down the road.” This can be revised as “He ran down the road shouting ‘Follow me!’ ”

6. Very
Mark Twain made this comment about using “very”: “Substitute ‘damn’ every time you're inclined to write ‘very’; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” “Very” is a crutch for finding the right word to describe what you mean to say. Find the right word.

Example: “He was very old.” This can be revised as “He was ancient.”

Also, in this example, you can simply write, “He was old,” and then provide text to further explain what you mean by “old.” For example, you could write, “He was old. He walked hesitantly, knowing that his brittle bones would surely break were he to stumble over an unseen obstacle.”

7. Really
Generally, this word can be removed without changing the meaning of a sentence. Anything that is true is also really true.

Example: “He was really nervous about speaking in public.” This can be revised as “He was nervous about speaking in public.” To show a greater degree, use a different word, as in “He was panicky about speaking in public” or “Public speaking scared him.”

8. Am/Is/Are/Was/Were (“to be” verbs)
Action verbs are always preferable to state-of-being verbs. Use words that describe the action occurring. Rather than saying what something/someone is, show the reader what something/someone does.

Example: “I am envious of her success.” This can be revised as “I envy her success.”

Example: “She was dressed in leather chaps and a flannel shirt.” This can be revised as “She wore leather chaps and a flannel shirt.”

9. So
See #7. “So” is also overused as a conjunction.

Example: “Her face was inches from his own, so he leaned forward and kissed her.” This can be revised as “Her face was inches from his own. He leaned forward and kissed her.”

10. Because
This word is overused to provide explanations. To fix this, use the word “and” with action verbs.

Example: “He wanted to go to the fair because his friends would be there.” This can be revised as “He wanted to go to the fair and meet with his friends.”

Example: “I want to leave because I am tired।” This can be revised as “I’m tired and want to leave.”

http://preciseedit.com/Article10OverusedWords/tabid/215/Default.aspx

A Masterpiece between Sweden and Denmark

2008-09-30T20:29:00.000-07:00

This bridge is between Sweden and Denmark which is half under the water for ships to pass, and comes out on the other side.

Source: Email Forward

50 Rules To Being A Gentleman

2008-09-29T21:41:00.000-07:00

50 Rules To Being A Gentleman

50. A warm iron and a can of spray starch can do wonders. Invest in them even if you don’t wear slacks and button-ups regularly.

49. “If you buy one pair of shoes and one suit per year, you’ll have a nice collection soon enough. It’s an investment. Also, know your measurements and sizes, because you might find a woman who wants to hook you up and get a suit made.”—Chris Mathis, 36, barber

48. Wearing a fitted hat on your commute to work with your business suit or with just pants and a dress shirt isn’t a good look.

47. “Tone down the bagginess a bit without wandering into nut-hugger territory. Showing your ass and boxers is not appealing in any setting.”—Anslem Samuel, 31, magazine editor

46. Find a good tailor.

45. T-shirts should fall just below your waist, and the seam of the shoulder should be right on your shoulder.

44. Wear a belt. It’s called underwear for a reason.

43. Don’t try to outdress a woman. She should be the center of attention and should not feel that she’s underdressed.

42. “The world is bigger than your hood and the places your favorite rappers represent. Try to travel to a place where your cell phone won’t work. That’s when you know you’ve actually gone somewhere. If you can’t afford to put your passport on pivot, try reading a book or travel guide about the place you’d like to visit.”—A. Samuel

41. Barnes & Noble should be your best friend.

40. “[As far as books], start with the classics: Catcher in the Rye, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Odyssey, Crime and Punishment.”—Q-Tip, 38, rapper/producer/actor

39. If reading books the size of War & Peace seems daunting, peruse different types of magazines—ones covering art, architecture, design or photography.

38. Try not to go straight to the sports section of the newspaper.

37. Watch the news, preferably more than one channel. Suggestions: BBC, MSNBC, CNN and, yes, even FOX News.

36. Being open-minded and aware of the world around you shows class and sophistication, but avoid seeming pretentious by being modest instead of showing off what you know.

35. “There will come a time when you outgrow the dudes you grew up with. Have a beer with them once in a while, but it’s OK to move on and be friendly with new people.”—Adam Matthews, 36, journalist

34. Go easy on the slang, especially among those who are already judging you based on race and age.

33. Don’t just talk the talk.

32. Look people in the eyes when you greet them and shake their hand.

31. “Take criticism with an open mind. You can improve from listening to superiors and by changing your actions to serve them. Don’t mess with the pack order—it’s there for a reason.”—A. Matthews

30. Be on time to meetings—early if you can.

29. In meetings, don’t hold conversations at the same time someone else is speaking. Let the person finish his point before giving yours.

28. “Memphis Bleek had one good line: ‘The strong move quiet, the weak start riots.’ Don’t be the guy who always needs attention on him or starts problems over small stuff.”—Mark Rooney, 31, salesman

27. Don’t talk down to coworkers, including subordinates. You may be above them in rank, but as a human being, you’re on a level playing field.

26. “Look for the people who will make your job easier. You can’t do everything yourself, so you’re going to need help. These people will be pivotal to your success. And always thank them and show your appreciation when they come through for you.”—Claveria “JoJo” Gumersindo, 36, quality management

25. Don’t be afraid to share the spotlight in your workplace. Rather than being self-centered, work together with somebody of equal ambition. You don’t always have to be in the front seat—the backseat is cool.

24. Don’t think because someone has money, he’s a good businessman; there are people with no money who are better.

23. “You don’t want to do anything and everything just for a buck. I’ve walked away from deals a number of times that I think were good deals, but I didn’t think they were good people.”—Grant Hill, 35, Phoenix Suns small forward

22. Learn more about food and where to eat it cheaply. Most cities have great ethnic food; you just have to go to a specific neighborhood to get it.

21. If you initiate a dinner date or meeting, then you should expect to pay. That works both ways.

20. At a restaurant, let women order food first, and stand up when a woman leaves the table.

19. Avoid unnecessary use of expletives in public, especially in the presence of a woman you’re trying to impress.

18. Unless your Fight Club membership is in danger of being revoked, walk away from altercations.

17. Always put your napkin in your lap at dinner. Stuffing it in your shirt is grounds for getting slapped.

16. Caveman behavior at the dinner table isn’t good. Use utensils, avoid chewing with your mouth open and don’t leave a messy plate.

15. When eating out, always tip more than 20 percent. Waiters live off of customers’ kindness. And you don’t want to make other people at your table reach into their pocket to cover your cheapness.

14. “Treat older women as if they were your own mother.”—C. Mathis

13. Always have a woman walk on the inside of the sidewalk and on the side of parked cars in a parking lot, basically using your body as a barrier from harm.

12. Sometimes the best movies are in the independent market. Documentaries are great educational sources, too.

11. If you’re trying to have a relationship, let the woman know. If you’re not, and you’re just trying to hit, let them know that, too.

10. Brush your teeth, gargle or have a breath mint before getting up close and personal.

9. If the opportunity presents itself on the first night, don’t pull a condom out of your wallet. She’ll get the impression that you’re premeditated and will be turned off.

8. Even if you’re having a one-night stand with a woman, be respectful. Jay-Z might brag about kicking women out five minutes after having sex with them, but he’s not having sex with your date—you are. Casual sex needn’t be disrespectful. In fact, it’s more fun when its not.

7. “Don’t fall asleep when you’re done. Just because you got yours doesn’t mean the night is over.”—JoJo

6. “If you’re not into oral, you better get into it. Not with every woman, of course, but someone you’re serious with.”—C. Mathis

5. “If you want her to be your devil, treat her like an angel.”—Gerrell Gaddis, 32, songwriter

4. Don’t ask about the last guy she was with; as in, “Was I better than he was?” Being competitive is a young man’s game.

3. Never forget to introduce your woman as your girlfriend, spouse or otherwise to people when you’re out at functions together.

2. Avoid public fights with your woman. Keep things private to let her know there’s an exclusive world that you and her share.

1. “Young guys should pump their brakes. Don’t have kids until you’re 30, and look at her family and background to know what you’re getting into.”—C. Mathis

Twenty Five Tips to Stay Married

2008-09-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

I came across a great little online article this morning giving twenty five tips for a lasting successful marriage.

I wanted to share the great advice given by Sharon Randall from The Standard Times.

If your relationship is in need of lots of work, pick one or two of Sharon's tips and get going!

Twenty Five Tips on How to Stay Married *

"1. Always put her first - before work, friends, even
basketball. Act as if she's the best thing that ever happened to you, because we all know she is.

2. Keep no secrets. Pool your money. Allow nothing and no one to come between you.

3. Pick your fights with care. Play fair. Show some class. Hurtful words can be forgiven, but they're hard to forget.

4. Fall in love again every day. Kiss her in taxis. Flirt with her at parties. Tell her she's beautiful. Then tell her again.

5. Never miss an anniversary or a birthday or a chance to make a memory. Memories may not seem important now, but one day they'll be gold.

6. Never give her a practical gift. If she really wants a Shop-Vac, let her pick it out herself.

7. Go to church together, and pray every day for each other and your marriage.

8. Pay your bills on time and make sure you each have a living will, a
durable power of attorney and life insurance, lest, God forbid, you need them.

9. Love her parents as your own, but don't ask them for money. Never criticize her family or friends. On her birthday, send flowers to her mother with a note saying, "Thank you for giving birth to the love of my life."

10. Always listen to her heart; if you're wrong, say you're sorry; if you're right, shut up.

11. Don't half-tie the knot; plan to stay married forever.

12. Never go to bed mad; talk until you're over it, or you forget why you were mad.

13. Laugh together a lot. If you can laugh at yourselves, you'll have plenty to laugh about.

14. Never criticize, correct or interrupt her in public; try not to do it in private either.

15. Remember that people are the least lovable when they are most in need of love.

16. Never fall for the myth of perfectionism; it's a lie.

17. When you don't like each other, remember that you love each other;
pray for the "good days" to return and they will.

18. Tell the truth, only the truth, with great kindness.

19. Kiss at least 10 seconds a day, all at once or spread out.

20. Memorize all her favorite things and amaze her with how very well you know her.

21. Examine your relationship as often as you change the oil in your car; keep steering it on a path you both want it to go.

22. Be content with what you have materially, honest about where you are emotionally, and never stop growing spiritually.

23. Never raise your voice unless you're on fire. Whisper when you argue.

24. Be both friends and lovers; in a blackout, light a candle, then make your own sparks.

25. Finally, be an interesting person, lead your own life. But always save your best for each other. In the end, you will know you were better together than you ever could've been apart.

Here's to happily ever after.

*You can read Sharon's full article here: 25 Tips on How to Stay Married

Pakistani Armed Forces (Look closely!)

2008-09-28T19:47:00.000-07:00

10 ways to impress your dream mate

2008-09-28T18:13:00.000-07:00

If you've tried all crazy and weird means to lure that handsome colleague or win over your dream girl, here’s a quick guide to impress your dream mate...

Impressing her
No matter how much you hate it, but if you want to impress a woman, just help her carry those shopping bags. And in case that's not enough to flatter your lady, below are 10 best ways that will surely make them fall for you...

1. Ask questions
Over dinner, in a restaurant, nothing beats a good question or two. For instance "How was your day?"

2. Stop asking questions
After you have asked enough questions, particularly the right ones, there will come a time when you should stop - when you're in bed together.

3. Call me back straightaway
Verbose, over-worked text messages just look keen and girly. Be a man and say it in 350 characters or don't say it at all.

4. Don't be tight
When it comes to small change, taxi fares, coffee money, tips and treats, penny-pinching is a huge turn off.

5. Carry bags
If they're heavy, please don't make a fuss about it, just do it.

6. Don't hide your appreciation
There is no girl alive who doesn't want a priapic response to a new dress.

7. 'No' to:
Clammy hands, grunting in public, salivating into earholes, 'sexy' tickling, jokes about love handles and twanging bras.

8. 'Yes' to:
A firm touch and a smooth hand, a frank attitude to nudity, evident and matter-of-fact carnal enjoyment, and an attentive approach to often overlooked areas of the female body.

9. Talk about ex-girlfriends
Too much detail about ex-girlfriends is as harmful as not talking about them at all.

10. Criticism
Say what you like about her friends, work, flat, table manners.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3527159.cms

The Good Wife’s Guide

2008-09-24T21:51:00.000-07:00

I will control your life with this

2008-09-24T18:40:00.001-07:00

Best and Worst Motivational Posters

2008-09-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

Fidel Castro has slept with 35,000 women

2008-09-18T19:29:00.000-07:00

Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro has slept with 35,000 women in his 82 years of life, according to an upcoming documentary.

"He slept with at least two women a day for more than four decades - one for lunch and one for supper," The New York Post quoted an ex-Castro official named "Ramon" as telling filmmaker Ian Halperin. "Sometimes he even ordered one for breakfast," the official said.

"I don''t think he would have stayed on as long as he did if not for all the incredible women he had access to as president," the official added.

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz or Fidel Castro led his country from December 1959 until his resignation in February this year. Castro came to power as a result of the Cuban revolution that overthrew the dictator Fulgencio Batista, and shortly thereafter became Prime Minister of Cuba.

Although the US has tried hard to get rid of him, Castro outlasted no fewer than nine American presidents since he took power.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Castro_slept_with_35000_women/articleshow/3500538.cms

Quiz for You

2008-09-18T00:45:00.001-07:00

quiz_for_you

Fun of Mahatma Gandhi (Shame)

2008-09-17T20:38:00.000-07:00

Fun of Mahatma Gandhi

Life is easier, if you don't speak up.

Italian model puts virginity on offer

2008-09-17T18:34:00.000-07:00

An Italian model has planned to sell her virginity for one million euros.

Showgirl and men's magazine model Raffella Fico, 20, told an Italian magazine that she would use the cash to buy a house in Rome and pay for acting classes.

"I can''t wait to see who's going to pull out the money to have me," the Telegraph newspaper quoted her, as telling the magazine.

"I don't know what it's like to have sex," she told the magazine Chi adding that if the man who bought her virginity was ugly then she would quickly get over it." Fico siad in a statement.

"If I don''t like him I'll just have a glass of wine and forget about it," she added.

The aspiring actress, who also appeared in the Italian version of the television serial Big Brother earlier this year, is from Naples which is the hometown of screen siren Sophia Loren.

Fico's family insisted that despite her good looks and sexy image, the model had remained a virgin.

"She has never had a boyfriend. I swear on my mother's grave. She's a devout Catholic and prays to Padre Pio every night," her brother told the magazine in a statement.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Italian_model_puts_virginity_on_sale/articleshow/3495691.cms

Top 5 Things Girls Like to Hear

2008-09-17T02:49:00.000-07:00

1. Chart topper always is “You are beautiful.” And while saying it shows that you really mean it. There are also many variations of this most popular flirting pick up line like “You are HOT”, ”You are Sexy”etc. But keep in mind most of the girls will get offended if you start telling them, how sexy they are in your first meeting. So always rely upon tried and tested “You are beautiful” while looking directly into her eyes.

2. Compliments: None of the girls can resist compliments even from the creepiest males. Every girl secretly will do anything for getting complimented. Compliment her for any and every thing. E.g. Compliment her cooking, Compliment her sense of Humor, Compliment her selection of color etc. Use many “I like… “ lines e.g. “I like your bracelet, can I see it?” Make sure your compliment should not be too boastful, too cheeky or too vulgar.

3. Every girl despite hating in-laws always wants to be appreciated by all people in the world. So something like “I want you to take home and meet my family” may do wanders.

4. “My life long ambition is to visit Paris (or whatever – try to pick a place that is in her wish list). Will you travel with me to Paris, if we get a chance”. With this line you are fulfilling her life long wish without really showing that it is her wish, not your wish. Who won’t like it?

5. “You complete me” – These are the lines from one of my most favorite one liner movie Jerry Maguire. These lines not only compliment a girl on physical beauty side, but these compliment on her overall personality.

However in summary always keep in mind a girl always likes to hear "COMPLIMENTS, COMPLIMENTS and COMPLIMENTS". However while passing a compliment, don't overdo it. Also make sure that compliment should look sincere.

Did You Ever Imagine... [PIC]

2008-09-17T01:48:00.000-07:00

Is There Any Country That Doesn't Have a Space Program?

2008-09-16T21:21:00.000-07:00

As technology makes the world smaller, it's also helping more countries escape to the heavens. (Ground control to Major Olawale!) But don't start daydreaming of UN meetings on Mars and space walks for peace: These space programs are all about blasting surveillance tech, comet chasers, super telescopes, and celestial probes into the (increasingly crowded) cosmos.
Nigeria
Program Founded: 1998
Budget: $93 million (initial funding)
Yes, Nigeria actually has its own space agency. The organization sent up its first satellite, a weather unit, back in 2003. In May 2007, China assisted in the launch of NigComSat-1, which helps provide Internet access to rural areas of the country.

Algeria
Program Founded: 2002
Budget: Unknown
France helped establish a constellation of desert launch sites more than 60 years ago. In 2002, the newly formed Agence Spatiale Algerienne blasted up Alsat-1, a 200-pound cube that has beamed back more than 1,000 photos as well as intel for disaster relief.

Israel
Program Founded: 1983
Budget: $50 million (est.)
Israel's Shavit launch vehicle is used primarily for communications, imaging, and research satellites — always over the Mediterranean to avoid flying above hostile neighbors. The first Israeli astronaut, Ilan Ramon, died aboard the NASA shuttle Columbia.

India
Program Founded: 1972
Budget: $1 billion
India's space agency is racing to be the sixth program to reach the moon (after Russia, the US, Europe, Japan, and China) with Chandrayaan-1 — an $83 million lunar orbiter carrying NASA and ESA instruments. India aims to send up its own manned lunar mission by 2020.

Iran
Program Founded: 2003
Budget: $100 million
In October 2005, Iran launched its first satellite, Sina-1, aboard a Russian rocket. Earlier this year, the country fired its own rocket, Kavoshgar-1, designed to scout future orbital paths. By 2010, Tehran expects to deploy four additional satellites.

Brazil
Program Founded: 1994
Budget: $125 million
In 2003, an explosion on the launch pad took 21 lives. But Brazil rebounded the next year, when a VSB-30 rocket reached an altitude of 160 miles. In 2006, Marcos Pontes became the first Brazilian in space, floating aboard the International Space Station for eight days.

Japan
Program Founded: 2003
Budget: $2.5 billion
Japan has yet to build a spacecraft fit for humans. But it did send the first journalist into space: 18 years ago, Toyohiro Akiyama spent a week on the Russian space station Mir. The Japanese are eyeing a lunar landing in 2020 and hoping to build a base on the moon by 2030.

China
Program Founded: 1993
Budget: $2 billion (est.)
From the Gobi Desert, China sent its first human into orbit in 2003 — becoming the fourth agency to do so. Today, manned missions are taking off on a regular basis. Officials are planning China's first space walk this fall and expect to launch a moon rover by 2012.

European Space Agency
Program Founded: 1975
Budget: $5 billion
On the ESA's plate: launching the James Webb Space Telescope (with NASA and Canada) in 2013. The following year, its Rosetta spacecraft will meet up with 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko for the first long-term analysis of a comet.

Russia
Program Founded: 1920s
Budget: $1.5 billion
Russia helps fund its space program by licensing its rocket tech and assisting other countries' initiatives. (South Korea paid $25 million to send up its first citizen.) A joint effort with China aims to launch a soil-collecting satellite to the Martian moon Phobos in 2009.

* Wired apologizes to those countries funding space exploration that we did not mention, such as Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, and, likely, North Korea and Iraq.
http://www.wired.com/science/space/magazine/16-06/st_spacerace#

OMG...Child Bear sold in India..!:

2008-09-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

'100 women raped daily in Karachi'

2008-09-16T19:00:00.000-07:00

If a Karachi police surgeon is to be believed, on an average 100 rapes take place in the port city of Karachi alone, and mostly working women are the victims.

He said because of the "lengthy medical process and delayed justice system in Pakistan", only 0.5% of rape cases are reported to the police.

"On average, 100 women are raped every 24 hours in Karachi city alone, and a majority of them are working women. I am saying with full authority that such a large number of rape cases happen in the city. But very few rape survivors have the courage to come forward in search of justice," Additional Police Surgeon Zulfiqar Siyal said on Monday.

He added that a majority of the victims working as domestic help.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/100_women_raped_daily_in_Karachi/articleshow/3491246.cms

Japanese Metro Train

2008-09-15T20:57:00.000-07:00

Chandigarh's per capita income highest in India

2008-09-15T17:52:00.000-07:00

Chandigarh has done it again! Leaving behind states with desirable metros and cities that seem to offer flashy lifestyles, it has walked away with the crown to be the country's jewel with the highest per capita income (PCI).

With its growth pegged at 11.49% monetarily and 6.39% in real terms, the coveted position comes to the UT for the fifth time in a row.

As per the latest figures released on Monday by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, the per capita income of Chandigarh for 2006-07 is Rs 99,262 at current prices and Rs 70,361 at constant prices.

Goa follows it with Rs 82,903 and Rs 54,850 for the same. Closest neighbour Punjab fares poorly with Rs 40,566 PCI at current prices and Rs 30,158 at constant prices.

Fortunately for Haryana, its scores are better at Rs 49,039 and Rs 35,779. The all-India figure for 2006-07 is Rs 29,642 at current prices and Rs 22,553 at constant prices. Delhi is rated third in the list, with figures of Rs 66,728 and Rs 50,565.

Tracing Chandigarh's trajectory RS Bawa, professor of economics, Guru Nanak Dev University), Amritsar, said, "The trend can be attributed to the overall character of the city which not only attracts well-paid executives but also retired top brass from the Army and other government departments." Calling it one of the most preferred places to settle down, he added, "It has an enviable infrastructure."

Even as the city can't boast of industrial growth, the Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park has added to its attraction, drawing a lot of BPO units. "The city is likely to maintain its lead with improved air connectivity and more industries," said Bawa, ex-president of Indian Economics Association.

Throwing light on Punjab which has definitely lost its industrial edge, he added, "The government has taken some initiatives but these will take time to pay off. A large section of the industry has lately moved out of Punjab."

He also pointed out that the low paid strata of Chandigarh were concentrated on peripheral areas falling under Punjab or Haryana, much to the discredit of the two states. Interestingly, the detailed break-up of statistics proves that Chandigarh has moved away from the primary sector of occupation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chandigarhs_per_capita_income_highest_in_India/articleshow/3487128.cms