Maverick

IM all your friends in one place. Pidgin !!

2009-05-14T15:13:00.000-07:00

Pidgin is an easy to use and free chat client used by millions. Connect to AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and more chat networks all at once.

Download the free Pidgin chat client. Pidgin runs on Windows and Linux/UNIX.

Download Pidgin

Supported chat networks:

AIM
Bonjour
Gadu-Gadu
Google Talk
Groupwise
ICQ
IRC
MSN
MySpaceIM
QQ
SILC
SIMPLE
Sametime
XMPP
Yahoo!
Zephyr

KMess Open Source Messenger for Linux

2009-05-14T14:58:00.000-07:00

KMess is an alternative MSN Messenger chat client for Linux. It allows Linux users to chat with friends who use MSN Messenger in Windows or Mac OS. The strength of KMess is it's integration with the KDE desktop environment, focus on MSN Messenger specific features and an easy-to-use interface.

Like many Linux and KDE applications, KMess is free software.

Download

Read more here

Building an Ubuntu Live CD from Scratch

2009-04-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

( This document was written in connection with the one day Live Cd workshop held at college of Engineering Attingal. )

1. Introduction

This document describes how to build a minimal live CD based on ubuntu 8.10.. The most recent version of this document can be found at http://brainstorms.in.

2. System Requirements

A Host System with ubuntu 8.10 installed. ( Other versions will also work)
Plenty of Disk space.
A steady Internet connection or access to ubuntu repositories.
Root access on the host system.

3 Exploring an existing ubuntu CD.

In order to understand the working of a live CD, let us look at an existing ubuntu CD

If you have the CD with you , put it into your CD drive. If you have an image , mount it on the loop device.

# mount -o loop ubuntu-8.10-desktop-i386.iso /cdrom

The directory structure of a typical ubuntu CD look as below.

autorun.inf dists isolinux pics preseed ubuntu wubi.exe

casper install md5sum.txt pool README.diskdefines umenu.exe

The exe files and autorun.inf are for installing under MS Windows. Some of the other files are self explanatory. Our main focus will be on isolinux and casper directories..

The isolinux directory contains files needed to boot from the live CD, Infact, isolinux belongs to a set of bootloaders written by Peter. H Anwin. The home page is here. As I mentioned isolinux , is the bootloader.. If you look at isolinux subdirectory, you will find several files. Some of them will be as shown below.

isolinux.bin isolinuc binary

isolinux.cfg Configuration File

boot.cat boot catlogue

bootlogo Logo

There are several other files. They are mainly for providing language support. ( Please feel free to look at some of them). The isolinux.cfg includes several other configuration files corresponding to differnt boot options. We will write a simple isolinux.cfg later.

The casper directory contains the following.

filesystem.manifest filesystem.squashfs vmlinuz

filesystem.manifest-desktop initrd.gz

vmlinuz and initrd.gz are the kernel and ram image from which isolinux will boot the system.

The filesystem.squashfs contains a compressed image of the filesystem. When we boot the live CD, this image will be uncompressed and moounted as the root filesystem.. All remastering programs and custom distros try to rebuild this image.. Filesystem,manifest and filesystem.manifest-desktop are text files which contain a list of packages inside the squashfs image.

The squashfs image can be loop mounted like an iso image.

# mount -o loop filesystem.squashfs /mnt /tmp

4 Preparing the host system.

Ensure that the Ubuntu 8.10 is installed on the host system. Log to the host system and update the system using apt. (I am assuming that you have direct access to Internet..)

a) Install necessary packages

apt-get install syslinux squashfs-tools mkisofs sbm

b) Prepare a working directory

Open a terminal on the host system, Become root.

$sudo su

Create a temporary work directory.

# mkdir work

Inside work create the following.

# mkdir work/filesys

#mkdir work/image

#mkdir work/image/casper

#mkdir work/image/isolinux

#mkdir work/image/install

We will be building the iso image from the image directory. We will populate the image directory one by one and finally build a CD image. The filesys directory is a temporary area where we will build the root filesystem of the Live CD.

Here you Go! http://brainstorms.in/

VirtualDub Video capture/processing utility

2009-04-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

VirtualDub is a video capture/processing utility for 32-bit Windows platforms (95/98/ME/NT4/2000/XP), licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). It lacks the editing power of a general-purpose editor such as Adobe Premiere, but is streamlined for fast linear operations over video. It has batch-processing capabilities for processing large numbers of files and can be extended with third-party video filters. VirtualDub is mainly geared toward processing AVI files, although it can read (not write) MPEG-1 and also handle sets of BMP images.

DOWNLOAD

Audacity Audio editor and recorder for Linux, BSD, Mac OS, and Windows.

2009-04-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

A fast multi-track audio editor and recorder for Linux, BSD, Mac OS, and Windows. Supports WAV, AIFF, Ogg, and MP3 formats. Features include envelope editing, mixing, built-in effects and plug-ins, all with unlimited undo.

Download

Angry IP Scanner

2009-04-19T09:22:00.000-07:00

Angry IP Scanner (or simply ipscan) is an open-source and cross-platform network scanner designed to be fast and simple to use. It scans IP addresses and ports as well as has many other features.

It is widely used by network administrators and just curious users around the world.

It runs on Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X, possibly supporting other platforms as well.

DOWNLOAD ipscan2-binary 2.21

ipscan3-binary 3.0-beta4

Kicad An open source PCB design software

2009-04-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

Kicad is an open source (GPL) software for the creation of electronic schematic diagrams and printed circuit board artwork.
This software (using WXWIDGETS) is MULTI-PLATFORM. It is running under LINUXWindows (XP or 2000), for which updates are regularly provided.
Currently, the precompiled version of Linux has been tested using Mandrake 9.2 or 10.0 (works with 10.1).
Sometime the softwares are also been tested under other O.S., especially FreeBSD and Solaris.
and

Download Here

Wafer-Level Camera Technology for Mobile Phones

2009-04-15T01:22:00.000-07:00

A new wafer-level camera technology has been designed to significantly advance the integration of miniaturized cameras in mobile phones.

Tessera Technologies, a leading provider of miniaturization technologies for the electronics industry,announced a new wafer-level camera technology designed to significantly advance the integration of miniaturized cameras in mobile phones, personal computers, security cameras, and other electronics. Tessera's OptiML WLC technology makes it possible for cameras to be manufactured at the wafer level, drastically reducing the size and total bill of material cost of camera modules. As a result of these and other significant benefits, Tessera is providing the electronics industry a powerful tool for integrating cameras into a wider range of electronic products.

Tessera's solution is designed to overcome the cost, size and manufacturing roadblocks facing the industry as cameras become pervasive in mobile phones and other electronics. Using OptiML WLC technology, thousands of lenses are manufactured simultaneously on a wafer, and then bonded at the wafer level to create the optical element of the camera. The result is simplified assembly and up to 30% cost savings for the optical component of the camera module. OptiML WLC technology also reduces the size of the camera to a minimum, delivering up to 50% size reductions over conventional camera modules in camera phones today. Tessera's recently acquired Eyesquad technology can be easily integrated into the OptiML WLC solution, providing advanced auto-focus and digital optical zoom without the use of moving parts, resulting in greatly enhanced camera functionally and reliability at lower costs and smaller form factors. www.tessera.com

Jam cellphone, wifi, GPS, BT. Wave Bubble: a self-tuning, wide-bandwidth portable RF jammer

2009-04-15T00:56:00.000-07:00

This website details the design and construction Wave Bubble: a self-tuning, wide-bandwidth portable RF jammer. The device is lightweight and small for easy camouflaging: it is the size of a pack of cigarettes.

An internal lithium-ion battery provides up to 2 hours of jamming (two bands, such as cell) or 4 hours (single band, such as cordless phone, GPS, WiFi, bluetooth, etc). The battery is rechargeable via a mini-USB connector or 4mm DC jack (a common size). Alternately, 3 AAA batteries may also be used.

Output power is .1W (high bands) and .3W (low bands). Effective range is approximately 20' radius with well-tuned antennas. Less so with the internal antennas or poorly matched antennas.

Self-tuning is provided via dual PLL, therefore, no spectrum analyzer is necessary to build this jammer and a single Wave Bubble can jam many different frequency bands - unlike any other design currently available! To reconfigure the RF bands, simply plug it into the USB port of your PC and type in the new frequencies when prompted. Multiple frequency ranges can be programmed in, each time the device is power cycled it will advance to the next program in memory.

All you need is available for download

Treadmill disconnects ADSL!!

2009-04-13T04:10:00.000-07:00

I have recently bought a treadmill. Every time me turned it on, the adsl router would disconnect from the internet.
I verified that myself.
First I thought it's the noise the PWM motor derives to mains line. I could see some spikes with oscilloscope from 12V power supply when running the machine so I was pretty sure it was the case. I fed the ADSL modem/router with 12volt battery instead of 12V supply- but treadmill still disconnects the broadband so the line wasn't the issue.
I figured out that it has to be RF noise which is induced to telephone line hence distracting the ADSL.

I resolved the problem by plugging the treadmill in to a "Belkin PureAV" surge protector. Apparently, its "Power Filter Technology (PFT) isolates contamination to prevent AC and EMI/RFI power distortions". Whatever, it resolved the problem perfectly. Obviously, you would need the correct (voltage) version of this product for your country.

Ferroresonance in Power Transformers

2009-04-13T01:37:00.000-07:00

''This paper reports on the results of recent research and
development efforts to study and assess various impacts of
ferroresonance phenomenon on operating performance of power
transformers and to investigate ways to mitigate the effects of such
phenomenon. Three-phase core-type transformers are used in the study.
The results of the technical investigation and the associated
ferroresonance experimental work performed showed that ferroresonance
can cause dangerous overvoltages and overcurrents in three-phase core-
type transformers. Sensitivity analysis results are also presented to
determine the impact of various design and operating parameters on the
resulting overvoltages and overcurrents caused by ferroresonance.''

KEY WORDS: Power system transients, Ferroresonance, Transformers,
Sensitivity analysis.

Ferroresonance Phenomenon in Power Transformers

JetBee FREE 5.0.1 Burn any format CD/DVD/Blu-Ray/HD-DVD discs

2009-04-13T00:24:00.000-07:00

JetBee FREE provides reliable and accurate recording of everything you need onto discs.

At the stage of development we refused to implement any auxiliary options and concentrated upon two basic requirements of end-users, i.e. simplicity and its easy-to-use application in everyday life. From the other side main functionality of our software is at the level (very often even higher) of more sophisticated software.
Select required files, add to a new project (Data disc, Audio disc, DVD disc, UDF disc), push 'Burn' button and you will have a hot-baked disc of picture album collection, music compilation, video library, data or bootable disc in a few minutes. Full support of all-known burning devices: CD burners, DVD burners, Blu-Ray burners and HD-DVD burners has been provided.

Just have a look glimpse at the jobs that JetBee FREE could do for you:
- burn data cd and dvd from files and folders
- burn data cd and dvd in UDF format
- burn multisession cd and dvd discs
- create and burn bootable cd and dvd discs
- erase rewritable cd and dvd discs
- burn audio cd discs with from wav, mp3, wma and ogg files
- burn audio cd with cd-text
- burn dvd video discs from dvd media content of higher compatibility with hardware dvd players
- verify cd and dvd discs after burning

Download Now!

16-Layer 400GB Optical Disc

2009-04-13T00:18:00.000-07:00

"Pioneer is exhibiting its super multi-layer read-only optical disc which features 16 separate layers on a single side with 25GB storage capacity on each layer for a total capacity of 400GB at the IT Month fair taking place in Taipei.

The technology of the super multi-layer read-only disc is based on Blu-ray Disc (BD) with a breakthrough in material of reflective layers, according to Pioneer High Fidelity Taiwan. The specifications of the pick-up head (PUH) of the disc is the same as those for the PUH of blank BD discs, and therefore the Pioneer discs can be read on BD players, the company said.

According to Pioneer's internal roadmap, its super multi-layer technology development is read-only (ROM) discs in 2008-2010, rewritable discs in 2010-2012 and 1TB (1,000GB) disc in 2013, the company indicated."

Blu-ray Disc

2009-04-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

Blu-ray, also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a next-generation optical disc format jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson). The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This extra capacity combined with the use of advanced video and audio codecs will offer consumers an unprecedented HD experience.

While current optical disc technologies such as DVD, DVD±R, DVD±RW, and DVD-RAM rely on a red laser to read and write data, the new format uses a blue-violet laser instead, hence the name Blu-ray. Despite the different type of lasers used, Blu-ray products can easily be made backwards compatible with CDs and DVDs through the use of a BD/DVD/CD compatible optical pickup unit. The benefit of using a blue-violet laser (405nm) is that it has a shorter wavelength than a red laser (650nm), which makes it possible to focus the laser spot with even greater precision. This allows data to be packed more tightly and stored in less space, so it's possible to fit more data on the disc even though it's the same size as a CD/DVD. This together with the change of numerical aperture to 0.85 is what enables Blu-ray Discs to hold 25GB/50GB. Recent development by Pioneer has pushed the storage capacity to 500GB on a single disc by using 20 layers.

Blu-ray is currently supported by about 200 of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer, recording media, video game and music companies. The format also has support from all Hollywood studios and countless smaller studios as a successor to today's DVD format. Many studios have also announced that they will begin releasing new feature films on Blu-ray Disc day-and-date with DVD, as well as a continuous slate of catalog titles every month.

http://www.blu-ray.com/

Set up Hotmail on the iPhone via Gmail!

2009-04-12T08:52:00.000-07:00

A few people who have had Hotmail address for a long time and don’t want to change. They also have bought iPhones and now have no way to use the built-in client on the iPhone to read mail. This solutions lets them read Hotmail on their iPhone. (Actually, the same setup can apply for Apple Mail, too.) One catch here is that your Hotmail account must support Forwarding. You can see it is does under the Hotmail Options.

Basically these instructions help you set up forwarding in Hotmail so that incoming messages are forwarded from Hotmail to a Gmail account. This also sets up Gmail and the iPhone to make replies and new messages look like they come from Hotmail. When complete, you can read, reply, and send messages in Gmail and the iPhone as if you were on Hotmail.

With this solution in place:

Email people send to your Hotmail address will be visible on your iPhone in the built-in iPhone Mail software.
If you reply to a message on the iPhone or in Gmail, to your recipients it will look like it came from your Hotmail address.
You can still check mail using Hotmail on the web if you like.
You can also log into Gmail and see your Hotmail messages there.
An added bonus is that you will benefit from Gmail’s junk mail filter, which is excellent.
Since Gmail supports IMAP, the iPhone and the Gmail mailbox is synced nicely as you read, delete and filter messages.
Note: While you can still read email on the Hotmail website as you currently do, there is an advantage to reading your Hotmail in your new Gmail account. The iPhone and the Gmail account will be synced — so for example, Gmail and the iPhone will keep track of which messages you have read on either device. If you get a message and read it on the iPhone, when you check your Gmail account it will also show as read. Were you to check your mail on Hotmail.com, messages you have already read on the iPhone will show as new.

The same goes for deleting messages. If you delete a message on the Gmail site, these will be deleted from the iPhone, too. The same is true for filters. You can set up filters on the Gmail site, and this filtering will by synced to the iPhone. None of this is synced with the mail you see on Hotmail.com. So basically, if you implement this, you are better off just checking and reading your Hotmail messages in Gmail, but its up to you.

In addition to these steps, you may need to do work to bring your Hotmail address book to Gmail. Gmail has some instructions to help with that.

Start with Gmail. Create a new Gmail account. Note that you could use an existing Gmail account for this solution. This has some tradeoffs, one being that messages you send from the iPhone appear to come from that Gmail account instead of your existing Hotmail account. If you just want to keep your Hotmail account intact and use that as your main account, I think it’s better for to create a new Gmail account and just use that for handling Hotmail.

Under Settings, go to Forwarding and POP/IMAP » Enable IMAP. Save the changes. Under Settings and then Accounts, add another email address — add your existing Hotmail account.

Now go to Hotmail. In your inbox, there should be a message from Gmail; you need to click on a link in that message. Next go to Options and set up forwarding to your new Gmail account. It’s up to you whether messages are retained in Hotmail. (If you don’t have an option for forwarding, you may be out of luck. Perhaps others have advice on how to get Hotmail to allow this.)

Back to Gmail: There should be a message from Hotmail; you need to click on a link in that message. Now back into Gmail settings, under Accounts, you should see your Hotmail email address listed. Click on the link that says Make Default. From here on, you can use Gmail as your way to check Hotmail. You actually do not need to login to Hotmail any more to read mail, you can use your Gmail account as the web-based way to check Hotmail.

Now how to access from iPhone: On the iPhone, go to Settings and then Mail. Delete any previous attempts you’ve made to make a Hotmail account — these can cause problems with the new account you create. Create a new email account by clicking Add Account. On the next screen, choose Other (don’t pick Gmail). Here are the settings:

Name: Your Name
Address: Your current hotmail.com email address
Description: (can be anything) “hotmail”
Incoming Mail Server:
HostName: imap.gmail.com
UserName: yournewaddress@gmail.com
Password: the password for this gmail account
Outgoing Mail Server: smtp.gmail.com
UserName: yournewaddress@gmail.com
Password: the password for this gmail account
All other settings should match the defaults.
Send yourself a test message to your Hotmail account from another account. Give it a few minutes, and it should then show on your iPhone.

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20071218184905987

Tonsillitis and Homeopathic Treatment

2009-04-09T23:57:00.000-07:00

The tonsils are lymph nodes in the back of the mouth and top of the throat. They normally help to filter out bacteria and other microorganisms to prevent infection in the body. They may become so overwhelmed by bacterial or viral infection that they swell and become inflamed, causing tonsillitis. The infection may also be present in the throat and surrounding areas, causing pharyngitis.

Tonsillitis is extremely common, particularly in children.

Causes of Tonsillitis

In modern terms, tonsillitis is caused by microorganisms, but this statement is often denied by some group of people like homeopaths, immunologists, etc., who argue that it is mainly due to weak defence system.[citation needed] Because tonsillitis is often found in people with low defence activity.[citation needed] However, the following are the usual causative organisms.

* Streptococcus (commonly referred to as "strep") bacteria (the most common cause of tonsillitis)
* Adenoviruses
* Influenza virus
* Epstein-Barr virus
* Parainfluenza viruses
* Enteroviruses
* Herpes simplex virus

Symptoms of Tonsillitis

The set of symptoms of tonsillitis vary from individual to individual. However, following symptoms are commonly seen in tonsillitis patients.

* Sore throat more than 48 hours
* Swollen and red tonsils
* Yellow, gray or white coated tonsils
* Difficulty swallowing
* Blisters in the throat
* Ear pain
* Ulceration in the throat
* Fever and chills
* Headache
* Tender jaw and throat
* Loss or change of voice
* Loss of appetite
* Malaise
* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Abdominal pain

Homeopathic Medicine & Treatment for Tonsillitis

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc.

Following homeopathic remedies have been found effective in many cases of Tonsillitis:

Here you go for more... http://www.hpathy.com/diseases/tonsillitis-symptoms-treatment-cure.asp

Network Adapter Drivers for Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003

2009-04-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

Installs base drivers, Intel® PROSet for Windows* Device Manager, Advanced Networking Services (ANS), and SNMP for Intel® network adapters for Windows* 2000, Windows* XP, and Windows Server* 2003.

This download is NOT for Microsoft Windows Vista* or Server 2008.

Download the self-extracting archive and run it. When you run it, it will extract the files to a temporary directory, run the installation wizard, and remove the temporary files when the installation is complete. All language files are embedded in this archive. You do not need to download an extra language pack.

See Link. http://downloadcenter.intel.com/detail_desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=4275

The Promise of Stem Cells

2009-04-09T11:16:00.000-07:00

Stem cells can develop into different cell types. They may offer a renewable source of replacement cells to treat diseases, conditions, and disabilities.

This primer on stem cells is intended for anyone who wishes to learn more about the biological properties of stem cells, the important questions about stem cells that are the focus of scientific research, and the potential use of stem cells in research and in treating disease. The primer includes information about stem cells derived from embryonic and non-embryonic tissues. Much of the information included here is about stem cells derived from human tissues, but some studies of animal-derived stem cells are also described.

Read more here.. http://stemcells.nih.gov/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell

Magnetic Levitation Train

2009-04-09T01:56:00.000-07:00

Magnetic Levitation Train, also maglev train, a high-speed ground transportation vehicle levitated above a track called a guideway and propelled by magnetic fields (see Magnetism). Magnetic levitation train technology can be used for urban travel at relatively low speeds (less than 100 km/h, or less than 62 mph). For example, a short-distance maglev shuttle operated for 11 years from 1984 to 1995 between the Birmingham, England, airport and the city train station. However, the greatest worldwide interest is in high-speed maglev systems. Train speeds of 552 km/h (343 mph) have been demonstrated by a full-size maglev vehicle in Japan, while in Germany a maglev train has run at 450 km/h (280 mph) and in China a maglev train has reached a peak speed of 432 km/h (268 mph).

Two different approaches to magnetic levitation train systems have been developed. The first, called electromagnetic suspension (EMS), uses conventional electromagnets mounted at the ends of a pair of structures under the train. The structures wrap around and under either side of the guideway. The magnets attract up toward laminated iron rails in the guideway and lift the train. However, this system is inherently unstable; the distance between the electromagnets and the guideway, which is about 10 mm (3/8 in), must be continuously monitored and adjusted by computer to prevent the train from hitting the guideway. A track 31.5 km (19.6 mi) long in Emsland, Germany, was used extensively to test this approach. As a result of these tests, the German government granted a commercial license to Transrapid International (TRI), a company headquartered in Berlin, Germany, to develop maglev systems based on the EMS design.

How do we vote in India with Electronic Voting machine

2009-04-09T01:29:00.000-07:00

India is going to polls during the months of April and May 2009. Elections in India employ Electronic Voting machine(EVM). These machines are manufactured by two companies owned by the defense department. I had the opportunity to get hands on training in operating the machine as a part of pre election training for polling officials.( I am going to work as a presiding officer in a polling booth in the first phase of elections.)

The electronic voting machines that we use, have two parts :- a control unit and a balloting unit. They are interconnected by a flat ribbon cable of 5m length.

The Indian Electronic Voting machine

The balloting unit enables the voters to cast their votes. Each balloting unit can accommodate 16 candidates. 4 such units can be cascaded and connected to a single control unit.

Balloting unit Control Unit

The connecting cable is permanently attached to the balloting unit. It is connected to the control unit via a connector on the rear. Also, the main on off switch is on the rear side of control unit.

The various parts of balloting unit is shown below.

Read the rest here http://brainstorms.in/?p=309

How would you know if someone you were in the presence of were suffering a stroke?

2009-04-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

How would you know if someone you were in the presence of were suffering a stroke? How would you react in this type of emergency situation? What could you do to assist the victim of a suspected stroke until emergency medical assistance arrives?

To answer these questions, you first need some background knowledge about strokes.

A stroke also known as a cerebrovascular accident or CVA, is a condition, which occurs when blood vessels that deliver oxygen-rich blood to the brain rupture and part of the brain does not receive the blood flow it requires. The nerve cells deprived of oxygen in the affected area of the brain are then unable to function causing them to die within minutes. The traumatic effects of a stroke are often permanent, because brain cells are not replaced.

Here are the most common signs and symptoms to look for related to strokes.

-The victim of a stroke commonly experiences weakness, numbness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg on one side of the body.

-The victim may express that their vision has blurred or decreased, especially in one eye.

-The victim may have problems speaking or understanding.

-The victim may complain of having a severe, sudden and unexplainable headache.

-The brain may be affected by a lack of oxygen causing the victim deviation of the eyes. Therefore the pupils would become unequal in size and non-reactive to light.

First aid for a victim suffering from a stroke is limited to supportive care until medical assistance arrives. Yet, do not underestimate this role. Caring for the victim with a calming presence and collecting important medical data to pass onto emergency medical personnel is very important. You can do this by taking mental notes of the above signs and symptoms and by following the steps below.

-Call emergency medical services immediately.

-If you are trained in CPR, check and monitor the victim’s airway, breathing, and circulation using your CPR and First Aid training skills.

-Lay the victim down with their head and shoulders slightly elevated. This will reduce blood pressure on the brain.

-If the victim is unresponsive but breathing place them on their left side with their chin extended. This serves as two purposes. It will assist in keeping the victim’s airway open and allow vomit and secretions to drain from their mouth.

-Never give a suspected stroke victim anything to eat or drink. Their throat may be paralyzed restricting them from the ability to swallow.

-Encourage the victim not to move and reassure them help is on the way to care for them.

TIA’s or Transient Ischemic Attacks are often referred to as “mini-strokes”, because the signs and symptoms are much the same. CVA’s, are closely associated and have similar symptoms, the difference is that the symptoms of a TIA are short lived. Victim’s symptoms normally last from a few minutes to a few hours, followed by a return to normal neurological function of the brain. Victims of a TIA should consider this a warning sign of a potential stroke since approximately one-third of TIA cases are followed by a CVA two to five years after their first TIA.

If you have any of the signs and symptoms of a TIA you should report it to your physician immediately. Your health care provider can help you to understand the possible causes of experiencing a TIA and can assist in changing diet, living a healthier life style and in some cases prescribe medication.

The common condition of high blood pressure can lead to many dangerous medical conditions including a stroke. One out of every four adults in the United States suffers from high blood pressure.

Just because a person feels well doesn’t mean his or her blood pressure is normal. In most cases, individuals with high blood pressure have no symptoms to warn them they have this condition. Having your blood pressure monitored often can alert you early on to this medical condition. High blood pressure is not something that can be controlled by staying calm or relaxed. It is a physical rather than emotional condition that can be treated by routine changes in diet, unhealthy habits and medication though it cannot be cured in most cases.

Using less salt in the foods you eat, losing weight, getting more exercise and stopping smoking can help lower your blood pressure in many cases.

If your doctor prescribes a medication for high blood pressure, take your pills everyday to keep your pressure down and possibly avoid having a stroke.

One last health related tip…

If you have not completed a First Aid and CPR training course, be sure to seek emergency medical attention in any type of emergency situation. Improper care can sometimes be more harmful than helpful. A few basic courses in CPR and first aid are recommended for preparation before a medical emergency exists. These training classes are neither time consuming or costly. Community groups all across the country provide this type of training and these training courses only require a few hours of your time. You could help save a life. Think about it!

Source..http://www.essortment.com/all/strokefirstaid_rnsi.htm

Elpicx 2.0 A dual-boot DVD based on Ubuntu 8.04 and Fedora 9 KDE

2009-04-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

A dual-boot live DVD (offering a choice between Ubuntu 8.04 and Fedora 9 KDE) with a collection of test emulators, reference cards, study notes and exercises for the LPI (Linux Professional Institute) certification exam: "I am proud to present elpicx version 2.0. The elpicx DVD is a dual-boot Linux live DVD to prepare students for the exams of the LPI certification, including documentation and exam simulators.

Based on Fedora 9 KDE and Ubuntu 8.04 LTS. Ubuntu documentation and LPIC documentation were added together with software to prepare for the LPI exams.

Download Now!
ftp://linux-ds.unidu.hr/elpicx/elpicx_20_20080925_EN.iso

Internet Explorer the back door of Hackers

2009-04-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

If you've never tried Firefox, Safari, Opera Google Chrome or other Internet Explorer alternatives, now might be a good time. Microsoft's flagship browser, the default choice on countless Windows machines, currently has a serious security flaw that affects all versions of the browser running on any version of Windows. The vulnerability allows hackers to gain access to any sensitive data on your PC.

Even more worrying, the exploit is already in the wild and no there's no fix in sight, leading a number of security researchers to suggested that, in the interest of avoiding malicious software, users switch to another browser.

If you're the pry-it-out-of-my-cold-dead hands sort of IE fan, there is one bright side to news that some 10,000 sites are ready to pwn your PC: so far the sites are mostly Chinese and the malicious software is mainly after passwords for computer games, which can be sold on the black market.

But given the scope of the flaw and the fact that Microsoft has yet to release a patch, don't expect that to last. Eventually far more sophisticated trojans will likely emerge with far more dangerous goals.

Obviously Microsoft isn't recommending you ditch IE (though the company didn't hesitate to suggest dumping Apple's Safari browser when it suffered from a far less serious vulnerability). Instead the company has released a security bulletin with possible workarounds, including running IE in Protected Mode and running Windows as an non-administrative user (to limit the damage an attacker can inflict).

Microsoft also says it is investigating the flaw and may push out an emergency software patch, rather than wait for the next monthly patch cycle to roll around.

What to do if your iPhone gets wet

2009-04-06T11:38:00.000-07:00

Whether the culprit is a sink, toilet or rainstorm, getting your iPhone soaked in water or any other liquid is bad news. If the unthinkable happens, and you don’t have insurance, your best bet is to make sure the iPhone is off, swap it down with a dry cloth, then do one of the following immediately:

Put your iPhone in a tub or bag of uncooked rice and let it sit for several hours (up to 2 days).
Place your iPhone in a plastic bag with a few silica packets.
Put your iPhone in a hearing aid dryer for several hours.
The point with all of these methods is to draw all moisture out of the phone as quickly as possible. Just air-drying the unit is an option, but won’t act as quickly as the aforementioned methods.

If none of these tactics prove effective, and your iPhone loses significant or all functionality, an Apple FAQ states that if you own an iPhone and it requires service for any reason other than the battery (which costs $86 total to replace), Apple will repair your iPhone for the service fee listed below, plus $6.95 for shipping and handling:

4GB: $199
8GB: $249
Presumably this includes liquid damage, though Apple states “Service may not be available if your iPhone has been damaged due to accident or abuse.”

Vmware Player 2.5.2 Build 156735, run any virtual machine on a Windows or Linux PC

2009-04-04T15:31:00.000-07:00

VMware Player is free software that enables PC users to easily run any virtual machine on a Windows or Linux PC. VMware Player runs virtual machines created by VMware Workstation, GSX Server or ESX Server and also supports Microsoft virtual machines and Symantec LiveState Recovery disk formats.

How can I use VMware Player?

RUN: VMware Player can be used by anyone to run 32- and 64-bit guests in virtual machines on a Windows or Linux PC. VMware Player makes it quick and easy to take advantage of the security, flexibility, and portability of virtual machines.

SHARE: VMware Player can be used by anyone to run a virtual machine shared by a colleague or friend. For example, customer support and development teams can share a customer scenario encapsulated within a virtual machine.

EVALUATE: VMware Player is ideal for safely evaluating pre-built application environments, beta software, or other software distributed in virtual machines. With VMware Player, anyone can easily experience the benefits of preconfigured products rapidly without any installation or configuration hassles. Pre-built applications from leading software vendors are available from the VMware VMTN Virtual Machine Center: h**p://vmware.com/appliances/

http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmplayer/VMware-player-2.5.2-156735.exe