Dreamz Unlimited

Audi Q5 Premium SUV launched in hyderabad

2009-08-06T22:47:00.000-07:00

Media personnel take images of the Audi Q5 during its launch in Hyderabad on Saturday. The Audi Q5 will be available in six colours with the price range beginning at Rs3894,000.

Rajiv M. Sanghvi, Managing Director of Olympus Motors Pvt. Ltd. and dealer for Audi cars, poses near the Audi Q5 during its launch in Hyderabad.

The Audi logo is pictured at the launch of the Audi Q5 at a press conference in Hyderabad.

Audi employees attend the launch of the Audi Q5 at a press conference in Hyderabad on Saturday. The Audi Q5 range starts at Rs38,94,000 and will be offered in six colours.

The slowdown in the automobile market notwithstanding, German luxury car maker Audi Thursday launched its premium sports utility vehicle Q5 in the local market.

Audi India Managing Director Benoit Tiers and two models pose during the launch of the new Audi Q5 car in Mumbai on Thursday. The limited edition Sports Utility Vehicle Audi Q5, available in two models, will be priced at upward of Rs3,829,000. Indian passenger car sales growth edged higher in March from a year earlier but commercial vehicle sales plummeted, reflecting a worsening economy. Global carmakers has been steering towards India, one of the world's least penetrated car markets seeking to exploit its low wages and tax changes aimed to offset sluggish Western sales.

Audi India Managing Director Benoit Tiers answers questions during the launch of the new Audi Q5 car in Mumbai Thursday.The Q5 will cost Rs 38,29,000 for the 2.0 TSFI (petrol) version and Rs 44,19,000 for the 3.0 TDI (diesel) version, ex-showroom Mumbai. The company already sells the Q7 in India, a bigger version of the Q5.

Audi saw sales of 1,050 units last calendar year and targets to achieve more than 40 per cent growth this year with sales of 1,500 units. It currently sells as many as six models in India, including A4, A6, A8, TT, R8 and Q7.

Audi India Managing Director Benoit Tiers answers questions during the launch of the new Audi Q5 car in Mumbai on Thursday.

Benoit Tiers, managing director, Audi India said: "We feel the growth potential for luxury cars in the Indian market is huge and that is evident from the demand for Audi cars."

"We will continue with our launches in the coming period. We hope for a sustainable growth this year when we have already dispatched 600 cars so far in the first 5 months," Benoit Tiers continued."The market for the SUV segment has seen tremendous growth in this country during the last few years," he further added. The vehicle will be available in six colours and at 11 dealerships across the country starting Thursday.

Designer Manish Arora poses with models wearing his creations during the launch of the new Audi Q5 car in Mumbai on Thursday.

Manish Arora watches a model showcase his creation during the launch of the new Audi Q5 car in Mumbai.

Note to God

2009-07-30T07:16:00.000-07:00

Have any ever thought to send a note to God, when you have no one around you to share. Is that possible? The answer is yes.

Note To God allows the user to enter a personal note to god. The app is non-denominational and meant to allow anyone with any belief to communicate with their own higher power.

In many religions, the act of writing a letter to god is seen as a holy commitment and a legitimate way of communicating one’s spiritual emotions. The Note To God app is simply a digital expression of those same honest feelings.

After the note is sent, it disappears. A user can not recall past notes. This way, the writing of the note can be completely honest and the hitting of send is a true commitment to what’s in the note.

Every note that is entered is stored anonymously within the database. Users can read through the notes of others to see what people are praying about. Topics can be searched, notes can be seen at random, or viewers can look at the “Notes In The Cloud,” a custom designed interface that shows the most common words that are being prayed about. The larger the word, the more often it appears. Tap on a word to read notes and prayers that include that word.

We hope that this app will help people form a stronger relationship with their own spirituality. We also hope that this app will serve to remind us all that we have more in common than we often realize.

This idea was submitted by Allen Wright of Northern California who said in his submission, “I think that there should be an app so that when you don’t have anyone you can talk to, you can write a note to God.”

source: http://www.medlmobile.com/Applications/NotetoGod/notetogod.shtml

Internet Bus by Google in Andhra Pradesh,India.

2009-07-27T06:01:00.000-07:00

Google India is continuing it's efforts to increase awareness about benefits of the Internet in India. Google Internet Bus is an initiative to reach out to people with limited knowledge and exposure to Internet. After an overwhelming response from people in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, we are excited to announce the arrival of the bus in Andhra Pradesh. The bus will visit educational institutes and public places in 16 towns of Andhra Pradesh in the next 48 days. The campaign will focus on four themes – education, information, communication and entertainment. Interactive content - in English and Telugu - will be used to highlight benefits of Internet in people's daily lives.

The Internet bus has traveled across 35 towns so far, reaching thousands of first-time Internet users in each town. The interest we have seen has surpassed our expectations. It has been very exciting to see people from different walks of life, visit the bus and learn about what Internet could do for them. The Bus has helped introduce the Internet to many people, such as a group of farmers in Karnataka, who explored the Internet for agro-development, and a local artist, who learned how tools like Picasa can be used to showcase his work to a global audience.

Mobile based products have been a big hit. In Andhra Pradesh, we will lay special emphasis on this medium and showcase how people can access Internet even on low cost data plans and handsets. We will also engage cyber café owners with an aim to build local advocacy for this powerful medium.

Users across India can follow the bus through its journey, see pictures & videos,
and join online communities by simply visiting http://www.google.co.in/internetbus.
They can also subscribe to receive SMS alerts in Telugu and English with useful
tips on the Internet.

Source:http://googleindia.blogspot.com/2009/07/internet-bus-arrives-in-andhra-pradesh_21.html

Google utilities

2009-07-24T05:13:00.000-07:00

GMail Drive shell extension

GMail Drive is a Shell Namespace Extension that creates a virtual filesystem around your Google GMail account, allowing you to use GMail as a storage medium.
GMail Drive creates a virtual filesystem on top of your Google GMail account and enables you to save and retrieve files stored on your GMail account directly from inside Windows Explorer. GMail Drive literally adds a new drive to your computer under the My Computer folder, where you can create new folders, copy and drag'n'drop files to.

Gmail Storage Drive - Download

GSpace

Gspace is the FON friendly site that provides FREE Online Storage to access your files everywhere.

Gspace turns the 2GB of your Gmail account into free online storage. With Gspace you can manage unlimited Gmail accounts to store all type of files within its simple, user friendly interface.

Listen your favourite stored music directly from your Gspace, view your collections of pictures and manage your Gdrive files as well.

Download Gspace now and transfer files between your computer and Gspace at anytime, from everywhere!

GSpace is a firefox extension that turns your 3GB of your Gmail account into free online storage. With Gspace you can manage unlimited Gmail accounts to store all type of files within its simple, user friendly interface. You can also listen your favourite stored music directly from your Gspace, view your collections of pictures and manage your Gdrive files as well.

Gspace Download

G-Share

G-Share is a PHP script that allows you to share your gmail attachments in a webpage,it is a download center with files stored in your gmail account. You need a MySQL database to store data such as download counters, visitors, etc...

Latest version is G-Share 1.5beta3 - G-Share Download

You also need the libgmailer 0.9 beta3 update (replace the "includes/libgmailer.php") - Download

You can see a demo here

What do I need to do?
G-Share

A webserver with PHP support
php_curl extension enabled on the webserver
FTP client to upload files
A gmail account would become handy to use this script.

How to install?

Upload the contents of "upload" to your webserver.
Create a Database on your MySQL server.
Point browser to http://www.your_domain.com/gshare/install.php (change to your needs)
Go to your gmail account and create some labels that start with a "Z." and they will be visible in the script.
In eg: Z.Pictures, Z.Music, Z.Software, etc...

GmailFS

GmailFS or Gmail File System is a virtual file system developed by Richard Jones which allows users to mount and use their Gmail email account’s storage as a local disk drive. GmailFS is written for Linux, but Windows and Mac OS X ports do exist. Using GmailFS will provide the user with roughly three gigabytes of online storage. The speed of this filesystem is limited by the speed of the user’s Internet connection, and the upload/download speed of the Gmail server. Files can be any size, and are stored as (segmented) attachments.

Download

gmailfs-app - Google Code

PHP Gmail Drive(PGD)

PGD ( Php Gmail Drive ) from Rahat Ayub

PhpGmailDrive is a new type of file sharing utility. Unlike typical file servers (say xDrive) it uses Gmail as backend file server. You can enjoy it simply by hosting a small PHP script in your web site without any database. Gmail file space is more than 2GB, so you can imagine you already have such a big space on internet. However, you will require a Gmail account (If you don't have any Gmail address, go GmailSwap or ask your friends.). PGD automatically connects Gmail server and fetches list of all attached files and generate downloadable links in a tree like view. If you are looking for a file server to upload your music or notes without any hassle, PGD is ideal for you. Technically speaking PGD is wrapper of Gmailer . Thought there is no need to know hecks of PHP or Gmailer. Just you have to check that your PHP hosting service provider has curl extension of PHP to handle HTTP/HTTPS traffic.

For more details & downloads

Funniest Video

2009-07-22T00:14:00.000-07:00

Planning to buy a mobile

2009-07-14T04:15:00.000-07:00

First Check the prices of mobile through these sites considering your budget.
http://www.themobilestore.in/mobilestore/faces/tiles/catalogue.jsp?catalogueID=3
http://www.fonearena.com/mobile_phone_pricelist.html
http://www.india-cellular.com/Handset-Prices.htm
http://www.indiagsm.com/phone_prices.php
http://mobilephone-price.blogspot.com/
http://www.univercell.in/
http://www.themobilestore.in/mobiles...?catalogueID=3
http://www.mobilenxt.com/

II.Read in detail regarding the speculations.
http://www.indiagsm.com/
http://www.compareindia.com/products.php?sectionid=23
http://www.fonearena.com/brands.php
http://www.gsmarena.com/

III.To know the reviews from the experts.
http://www.mobile-review.com/ *
http://www.mobileburn.com/
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phones/
http://www.phonearena.com/ *
http://www.gsmarena.com/reviews.php3 *
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/reviews/phones/
http://www.trustedreviews.com/mobile-phones/
http://www.tech2.com/india/mobile/
http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp...prodcat_id=451
http://www.phonegg.com/

"Happy Shopping"

ICET,EAMCET counselling

2009-07-13T02:08:00.000-07:00

((click on the image to maximise))
The Admission process for the Integrated Common Entrance Test (ICET)-2009 will begin on July 19 and for Engineering,Agriculture,Medicine Common Entrance Test(EAMCET)-2009 will begin on July 28.

For Icet-2009 web-based counselling, certificate verification of students would start on July 19 and end on July 27. The students can opt for colleges on the website between July 22 and 30.

For Eamcet, the certificate verification process would start on July 28 and go on till August 7. The students can opt for colleges and courses online between July 31 and August 11.

To download the e- halltickets of icet & also to find out the rank : http://icet09.net/
For more information on Eamcet 2009: http://www.apeamcet.org/
For more updates,keep on browsing this blog.

Awesome Presentation of Mumbai Dabbawala

2009-07-08T22:27:00.000-07:00

Mumbai dabbawala

Bandra-Worli Sea Link

2009-06-30T01:04:00.000-07:00

Bandra Worli Sea Link Project has been one of the most highly recommended project of all the transport studies done for the metropolitan region during the last forty years.
At present, Mahim causeway is the only link connecting western suburbs to island city of Mumbai. The existing north south western corridor is highly congested and during the peak hours results in a bottleneck at Mahim Causeway.
Vehicular traffic admeasuring about 1,20,000 PCU travels on the Mahim causeway everyday and during peak hours and it takes about forty minutes to travel from Mahim causeway to Worli, a distance of about 8 km
Project Features:
An 8-lane bridge with 2 lanes dedicated for buses.

Unique bridge design for the Link Bridge to emerge as a land mark structure in the city.

Single tower supported 500 meters long Cable Stayed Bridge at Bandra Channel and Twin tower supported 350m Cable Stayed Bridge at Worli Channel for each carriageway.

Modern toll plaza of 16 lanes with automated toll collection system.

An intelligent bridge with state - of - art systems for traffic monitoring, surveillance, information and guidance, instrumentation, emergency support etc.

Development of promenade and landscaping to enhance the environment.

Official website: Bandra Worli Sea Link

Alert!!! New Web Ads Contain Hidden Viruses

2009-06-17T02:21:00.000-07:00

On a Saturday night at the end of May, visitors to the forums section of Digital Spy, a British entertainment and media news Web site, were greeted with an ad that loaded malicious software onto their computers. The Web site's advertising system had been hacked.

A number of such attacks have occurred this year, as perpetrators exploit the complex structure of business relationships in the online advertising world, with its numerous middlemen and resellers.

Web security experts say they have seen an uptick in the number of ads harboring malware as the economy has soured and publishers, needing to boost their ad revenues, outsource more of their ad-space sales.

Viruses can be incorporated directly within an ad, so that simply clicking on the ad or visiting the site can infect a computer, or ads can be used to direct users to a nefarious Web site that aims to steal passwords or identities.

In most cases, the problem becomes apparent within a matter of hours and quick fixes are put in place, but that's not fast enough for Internet surfers whose computers end up infected or compromised.

"The system is only as safe as its least secure members, and some of these members can be strikingly insecure," says Ben Edelman, an assistant professor at Harvard Business School who researches Web security issues.

EWeek.com, a technology news site owned by Ziff Davis Enterprise, in February displayed an ad on its homepage masquerading as a promotion for Lacoste, the shirt maker.

The retailer hadn't placed the ad -- a hacker had, to direct users to a Web site where harmful programs would be downloaded to their computers, says Stephen Wellman, director of community and content for Ziff Davis.

Battlefield Robot Is a Snake

2009-06-17T01:36:00.000-07:00

Israeli defense researchers are working on a robot snake that can sneak through cracks and into buildings to send back sound and video of enemy movements — or even plant explosives.
That's according to the Jerusalem Post, which cites a news report from Israel's Channel 2.
A video clip shows the six-foot-long robot, covered in camouflage, winding its way through rocks and tree stumps, its "head" a flat camera lens ringed by LED lights.
The "snake" can also prop up its front sections vertically to peer over obstacles.
It's remote-controlled by a soldier, who uses a laptop both to guide the robot and to see and hear what it's feeding back. The Israel Defense Forces plan to equip combat units with search-and-surveillance models, which could also be useful to find survivors trapped within collapsed buildings.
Future models might be used to plant bombs in enemy facilities.

There's little that humans fear more in the natural world than snakes. The phobia is ingrained in our DNA, some scientists think, and may have driven the evolution of our keen eyesight.
So how appropriate that a battlefield spy robot would be designed to look and slither like a snake. The 2-foot robot, with a camera at its snout, is covered in a snake "skin" and was made after researchers studied how real snakes move.
You'd have to be on the same team to love this bot (and soldiers do love their robots).
Other engineers have designed snake-like robots because they can get into tight corners to do work or inspect things. Even NASA has dabbled in Snakebots.

According to sources,the snake is also potentially able to explode on reaching a suitable target, after which it isn't good for much any more.

A good story

2009-06-10T21:29:00.000-07:00

This is Awesome !!!

Father : "I want you to marry a girl of my choice"
Son : "I will choose my own bride!"
Father : "But the girl is Bill Gates's daughter."
Son : "Well, in that case...ok"

Next - Father approaches Bill Gates.
Father : "I have a husband for your daughter."
Bill Gates : "But my daughter is too young to marry!"
Father : "But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank."
Bill Gates : "Ah, in that case...ok"

Finally Father goes to see the president of the World Bank.
Father : "I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president. "
President : "But I already have more vice- presidents than I need!"
Father : "But this young man is Bill Gates's son-in-law."
President : "Ah, in that case...ok"

This is how business is done!!
Moral: Even If you have nothing, You can get Anything. But your attitude should be positive
Think +ve !!!!

Recession Effect-ads which remakes researchers to rockstars

2009-06-07T23:07:00.000-07:00

There have been some cool ads recently, after the chapter zoozoo’s for Vodafone now its time for the IT biggies to bring out their own. The coolest of em all is the Intel’s ‘Our Kind of Hero’ ad. The ad shows Ajay Bhatt (Sadly the one in the ad is not the real Ajay Bhatt) co-creator of USB (Universal Serial Bus), walking to get coffee amid adolation from his Intel junior collegaues. They have T-Shirts with his picture,autographs and more.

who's Ajay Bhatt ??
• Title: Intel fellow, and chief client architect for Intel's mobile platforms
• Claim to fame: Co-inventor of the Universal Serial Bus (USB), a standardized outlet for connecting devices to computers. He's currently working on highly efficient, high-performance laptops.
• Age: 52
• Family: Married, with a daughter in college
• Background: The son of a university professor, Bhatt moved from Baroda, India in 1981 to study in the U.S. He's been with Intel since 1990, and moved to Oregon in 1996.

Ajay Bhatt, Chief Platform Architect at Intel, and co-creator of the USB port on PCs and laptops, is featured in one of Intel's new global ad campaigns. The tag is "our rock stars are different from your rock stars." Only, the rock star in the ad is an actor, playing a too-cool Bhatt.

Intel picked the Beaverton researcher as one focus of a national ad campaign that launches Monday, highlighting the people behind the chip maker's technology and making light of the obscurity in which they labor.

The concept is simple: What if Bhatt, and Intel's other scientists, were treated like rock stars?

In the commercial, which will air coast-to-coast and around the globe, Bhatt struts into an Intel cafeteria and is greeted by a loud guitar riff, as womenswoon and colleagues press in for his signature.
Except it's not Bhatt, but an actor.
Intel's ads, dubbed "Sponsors of Tomorrow," represent the company's biggest marketing campaign in three years. Hoping to draw a parallel between itself and its researchers, Intel is making a lighthearted argument that they play a key role in creating new technologies, a role that generally goes unseen in PCs, laptops and other high-tech gadgets. It's a tricky pitch, inasmuch as Intel doesn't sell anything the everyday consumer can buy.

It isn't always. For example, Microsoft recently began its own "I'm a PC campaign," showing everyday consumers choosing inexpensive PCs over Apple's Macintosh brand.
Unnoticed in the ads, except by techies, is that some of those consumers pick bargain PCs with chips by Intel's much smaller rival, Advanced Micro Devices. (All Macs use Intel processors.)

A R Rahman- A Music Maestro

2009-06-03T23:44:00.000-07:00

A. R. Rahman is the man who has redefined contemporary Indian music, is the pride of the Indian nation and a role model for millions around the world. Rahman, hailed by time magazine as the ‘Mozart of Madras’ is one of the most successful artistes of all time and according to a BBC estimate, has sold more than 100 million albums of his works comprising of music from movies.

Early Days Rahman was born in a musically affluent family and he started playing the piano at a very young age. His father, R K Shekhar was a composer, arranger and conductor for Malayalam movies. Unfortunately, his father died when he was only 9 and the family started renting out musical equipment to make ends meet. Young Rahman then joined noted composer Ilayaraja’s troupe as a keyboardist and computer programmer. After working with several renowned composers like Ilayaraja, Vishwanathan-Ramamurthy, Zakir Hussain and L Shankar, he set out on his own to compose jingles and scores for popular Indian television features. During this period, he also obtained a degree in western classical music from the Trinity College of Music, London and went on to set up his own in-house studio called Panchathan record- inn at Chennai which is arguably Asia’s most sophisticated and hi-tech studio.

The Musical Journey
In 1991, noted film maker Mani Ratnam offered Rahman a movie ‘Roja’ which was a run-away success and brought nationwide fame and acclaim to the composer. The movie also led Rahman to receive the Indian National Award for the Best Music Composer, the first time ever by a debutant. Time magazine rated the soundtrack of ‘Roja’ in their top ten compilations of the all time 100 best movie soundtracks of the world.

Rahman is widely considered as the man who single-handedly revived public interest in Indian film music in the nineties. Rahman followed up ‘Roja’ with ‘Gentleman’, ‘Thiruda Thiruda’, ‘Kaadhalan’, ‘Bombay’ and ‘Minssara Kannavu’ all of which were huge chartbusters and were dubbed in Hindi as well. Some of the other hits in Tamil include ‘Alaipayuthey’, ‘Kandukondein Kandukondein’, ‘Jeans’, ‘Mudalvan’, ‘Kannathil Muthamittal’ & ‘Boys’. His foray into Hindi movies started off with a big bang with ‘Rangeela’ followed by ‘Dil Se’, ‘Taal’, ‘1947 Earth’, ‘Pukar’, ‘Lagaan’ , ‘Zubeida’, ‘Meenaxi’, ‘The Legend of Bhagat Singh’, ‘Yuva’, ‘Tehzeeb’ ‘Swades’, ‘Bose: The Forgotten Hero’, ‘Water’ and ‘Rang De Basanti’ all of which have been critically acclaimed and well received.

In 1997, to commemorate 50 years of Indian Independence, Sony Music signed up Rahman as its first artiste in South Asia. The result was ‘Vande Matram’, an album that instantly made Indian youth relate to it and succeeded in rekindling the spirit of patriotism.

Global Calling
In 2001, Andrew Lloyd Webber, the well known composer of musicals like ‘Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Cats’, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ etc., invited Rahman to compose for the musical, ‘Bombay Dreams’. The first time he would produce a musical he did not compose for. Bombay dreams opened to packed houses at London’s West End. The show had an unprecedented run for 2 years and later premiered at New York’s Broadway. Rahman also composed the score for a Chinese film, ‘Warriors of Heaven and Earth’ and a piece for the award winning violinist/musician Vanessa Mae called ‘Raga’s Dance.

His most recent work was for the stage adaptation of J R R Tolkien’s ‘Lord Of The Rings’ that premiered in Canada in 2006 and in London in 2007.

The ‘Bombay Theme’ from the movie ‘Bombay’ features was most prominently noticed in the movie ‘Lord of War’ starring Nicholas Cage. The track, ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ from the movie ‘Dil Se’ features in the Spike Lee movie, ‘Inside Man’, starring Oscar winner, Denzel Washington. Recognition Rahman has won 18 Filmfare Awards, 3 MTV Awards, 4 IIFA Awards, 6 Tamil Nadu State Awards, 6 Zee Awards, 4 Screen Awards and lots more. He has also been conferred the prestigious ‘Padmashree’ ,the highest civilian honour in India by the Government of India in the year 2000 for outstanding contribution to the Indian film industry.

Philanthropy
Rahman is also involved with charitable causes. In 2004, he was appointed as the global ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership, a project by the World Health Organization (WHO).

As a producer on the single ‘We can make it Better’ by Don Asian alongside Mukhtar Sahota, he showed his charitable side with all the proceeds going to the tsunami victims, as did his 2004 tsunami relief concert in India.

More recently, Rahman launched the A R Rahman Foundation, which is a step towards eradication of hunger and poverty. The aim of the foundation is to tackle the issue of poverty by providing education to the poor and equipping them with knowledge and skills to earn a living.

An immediate outcome of this initiative was Rahman’s first single in the English language called ‘Pray for me brother’, which released in early 2007 wherein all proceeds from sales are towards the A R Rahman Foundation.

Awards

Academy for Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars)
Best Achievement in Original Score for a Motion Picture - Slumdog Millionaire (2009)
Best Achievement in Original Song for a Motion Picture - Jai Ho, Slumdog Millionaire (2009)
BAFTA
Best Music(Slumdog Millionaire)
Golden globe awards
Best Composer(Slumdog Millionaire)
Civilian Awards
Padmashree (Jan 2000) Title awarded by the Government of India
Awadh Sammaan (May 2001) awarded by Uttar Pradesh government
Al-Ameen Education Society Community Award (2001)
Amir Khusro Sangeet Nawaz Award (2002)
Lata Mangeshkar Samman, awarded by Madhya Pradesh Government 2005
Mahavir Mahatma Award Awarded by the Oneness Foundation, April 2005
Stanford University Award for Contribution to Global Music Jan 2006
National Awards
Roja (1993)
Minsara Kanavu (1997)
Lagaan (2002)
Kannathil Muthamittaal (2003)
FILMFARE Awards
Best Music Roja (Tamil, 1993)
Best Music Gentleman (Tamil, 1994)
R D Burman Award for Best new musical talent (for Roja, Hindi; 1995)
Best Music Kadhalan (Tamil, 1995)
Best Music Rangeela (Hindi; 1996)
Best Music Bombay (Tamil, 1996)
Best Music Kadhal Desam (Tamil, 1997)
Best Music Minsara Kanavu (Tamil, 1998)
Best Music Dil Se.. (Hindi; 1999)
Best Music Jeans (Tamil, 1999)
Best Music Taal (Hindi; 2000)
Best Music Mudhalvan (Tamil, 2000)
Best Music Alai Payuthey (Tamil, 2001)
Best Music Lagaan (Hindi; 2002)
Best Background Score Technical Award The Legend of Bhagat Singh (Hindi; 2003)
Best Music Saathiya (Hindi; 2003)
Best Background Music Swades (Hindi, 2005)
Best Music Rang De Basanti (Hindi; 2007)
Best Music Sillunu Oru Kadhal (Tamil; 2007)
Best Music - Guru (Hindi, 2008)
Best Background Score - Guru (Hindi, 2008)
Best Background Score - Jodhaa Akbar (Hindi, 2009)
Best Music - Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (Hindi, 2009)
Screen Awards
Kadhal Desam (South - Tamil; 1997)
Minsara Kanavu (South - Tamil; 1998)
Vande Mataram (Non-film; 1998)
Taal (Hindi; 2000)
Best Background Score Rang De Basanti (Hindi, 2007)
Best Composer Guru (Hindi; 2008)
Best Background Score Guru (Hindi; 2008)
Best Music - Guru (Hindi, 2008)
Best Background Score - Jodhaa Akbar(Hindi, 2009)
Best Music category - Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na(Hindi, 2009)
Dinakaran Cine Awards
Minsara Kanavu (1998)
Jeans (1999)
Mudalvan, Kadhalar Dhinam (2000)
Tamil Nadu State Award
Roja (1993)
Gentleman (1994)
Kadhalan (1995)
Bombay (1996)
Minsara Kanavu (1998)
Sangamam (2000)
Cinema Express Award
Roja (1993)
Gentleman (1994)
Kadhalan (1995)
Kadhal Desam (1997)
Jeans (1999)
Kalasaagar Award
Roja (1993)
Gentleman (1994)
Kadhalan (1995)
Bombay (1996)
FilmFans' Award
Roja (1993)
Gentleman (1994)
Kadhalan (1995)
Bombay (1996)
CineGoers' Award
Roja (1993)
Gentleman (1994)
Kadhalan (1995)
Bombay (1996)
Zee Awards
Zee Cine Awards (2008) Best Composer and Best Background Score Guru
Zee Sangeet Awards (1999) Dil Se.. Zee Cine Awards (2000) Taal
Zee Gold Bollywood International Awards (2000) Taal
Zee Fairglow Awards (2002) Best Music Lagaan
Zee Gold Bollywood Awards (2002) Lagaan
Zee Cine Awards (2003) Best Music Saathiya
Zee Gold Bollywood Awards (2003) Best Music Saathiya
Zee Cine Awards 2003 Best Background Music The Legend of Bhagat Singh
Zee Cine Awards 2007 Best Composer Rang De Basanti
International Indian Film Awards (IIFA)
Best Music Taal (2000) Best Music Lagaan (2002)
Best Music Saathiya (2003)
Best Background Score Saathiya (2003)
Best Background Score Rang De Basanti (2007)
Best Song Recording Rang De Basanti (2007)
Best Composer Rang De Basanti (2007)
Best Music - Guru (Hindi, 2007)
Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA)
Best Background Music Rang De Basanti, 2007
Best Music Rang De Basanti, 2007

About e-Cigarettes - Electronic Cigarettes

2009-06-03T23:31:00.000-07:00

There is a new product available thanks to high technology; the e-Cigarette. The electronic cigarette is a revolutionary device that acts much the same way an ordinary tobacco cigarette would, but rather than producing smoke from combustion, it produces vapor from atomization.

Update:
INSTEAD Electronic Cigarettes is proud to offer the most unique e-cigarette kit on the market. You won't find anything like it elsewhere. Our sets come in a water resistant tin with everything an e-smoker needs: 2 Batteries (blue LEDs), 2 atomizers, 1 AC charger, 5 empty cartridges and a bottle of ELiquid to fill/refill those cartridges. We also provide a velvet carrying pouch for electronic smoking on the go.

To buy this,visit http://www.e-cig.org/sale/

Man Jailed 153 times

2009-06-03T23:25:00.000-07:00

A man from Portsmouth, New Hampshire was arrested Sunday for the 153rd time, one week after his release from a one-year jail term on a theft charge.

Paul Baldwin, 49, was arrested over the weekend for allegedly punching someone in the face. He told a judge Monday that he plans to plead guilty to the assault, along with trespassing and alcohol charges. He said he has had a long battle with alcohol and was trying to correct the problem during his most recent one-year jail term.
“All I need is help with the drinking, your honor,” he told the judge."
Bail was set at $1,500 cash and Baldwin was ordered to have no contact with the alleged assault victim. If he is able to post bail, he is also court-ordered to observe a 7 p.m. curfew.
Last May he was described in the district court as “a leech on the resources of this community” after he was caught stealing a can of beer from a Mobil station.

Acccording to the Foster's Daily Democrat newspaper, Baldwin's record dates to 1984 and includes 152 other arrests, eight trespass orders, 75 citations, four Social Security aliases and 17 name aliases.

Top Mobiles

2009-06-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

Looking out into the mobile landscape, it would seem that it’s the end of the PDA and the beginning of a whole new era where smartphones merge with multimedia monsters to reign the prosumer’s heart.

Whether you need something to keep track of your emails, or something to edit documents on the move, there’s something out there that caters for both these needs. But all work and no play would make Jack a dull boy, so it’s only natural manufacturers include some features to bring joy into your day. Here’s our rundown of the top 10 handsets that merge work with the all-important play.

Apple iPhone 3G

There’s no doubt about it; the iPhone 3G is the ultimate play gadget. Not only does it feature direct links to the iTunes store, a hefty hard drive, stunning touch screen and seamless interface, but you can also download a whole host of work applications too. The iPhone 3G has one up on the original with push email and a third-party document viewer can also be downloaded. The browser is yet unmatched on other devices but a decent keyboard would be welcomed.

HTC Touch Diamond

The Touch Pro may be impressive, but the original Touch does well too. There’s no Qwerty keyboard, but this handset does have stunning looks. HSDPA and Wi-Fi make an appearance, as does Pocket Office and GPS. And, this handset also office the kind of out-of-office gaming fun the Renoir does with its motion gaming feature. You’ll have to get used to not being able to view your photos from the 3.2-megapixel camera or videos on your TV mind, as sadly you’ll find no TV out support here.

HTC Touch Pro

HTC leads its class in the business market and that’s no mean feat. And the HTC Touch Pro is a handset that certainly mixes business with pleasure.

Document viewing and editing? Check. Push email? Check. Fast internet? HSDPA sir. To top it off, there’s a slide out Qwerty keyboard. So, what’s in it for those looking for a little something for the weekend and out of hours? A 3.2-megapixel camera is nothing revolutionary, but with TV-out support, you can view your photos on your widescreen plasma. Of course, there’s also a stereo radio with RDS and GPS too.

Samsung Omnia (i900)

Samsung’s first Windows Mobile device certainly takes its looks from the LG design school. Like the Renoir, there are minimal buttons, but it also plays home to a stunning touch screen.

Samsung has terrifically skinned the Windows Mobile interface to make it more bearable with the essential business applications still present and correct. A five megapixel camera, GPS and a top-class media player (with DivX and Xvid support) goes a fair way to top up the play features, but the Windows interface makes it a little slow at times in comparison to Samsung’s other business-ready device, the i8510.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

Sony Ericsson’s Windows Mobile handset could almost be a mobile office, with a Qwerty keyboard and full Windows Mobile functionality. The huge screen and optical track pad makes browsing a doddle and push email will ensure you get those all-important emails instantly. Multimedia wise, there’s Windows Media player to play music and videos, plus an FM radio with RDS coupled with a 3.5mm headphone jack to while away those non-business moments.

LG KC910 (Renoir)

The LG KC910 (Renoir) isn’t the most business savvy handset, but it’s LG’s best. The document viewer lets you take a peek at email attachments, while easy email set up will get your business on the move in seconds. The eight megapixel camera features more photo tweaking functions than you’ll ever use and video recording in VGA resolution at 30fps means you can record in slow or fast motion. GPS and Google Maps will guide you from A to B, and Dolby Mobile gives you eardrum-puncturing sound – which could come in handy for drowning out the verbal blurb that normally accompanies death by PowerPoint situations.

Nokia N96

The N96 is the most hyped up Nokia multimedia device out there. Fact. But it’s no surprise because the multimedia beast boasts a five megapixel camera, 16GB of beefy storage, a huge range of video playback formats, an iPlayer application for on demand TV services on the go, plus a stunning 2.8-inch screen for watching this all on. Because it’s a Symbian device using the S60 interface, the N96 naturally features a document viewer, push email service, Nokia’s impressive browser and Wi-Fi connectivity for business users on the move.

Nokia E66

It’s not surprising the E66 is one of the top 10 handsets out there for work and play. The slider features a 3.2-megapixel camera with flash and auto focus. It'll record video to VGA quality at 15fps too, which isn’t bad for a business-centric smartphone. Two customisable home screens mean you can switch easily between business and personal configurations, plus business software highlights include Nokia's ActiveNotes, a PDF reader, a version of QuickOffice for reading Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents, plus the all-important HSDPA.

Samsung i8510

Samsung’s move to a Symbian handset with the S60 interface is certainly a bold move for a mostly consumer market - but the flexibility provides a major advantage. On the fun front, there’s DivX support, plus an eight megapixel camera and 8GB of internal memory. GPS, 3D games and the Google Apps make this handset fantastic for play, but on the work side, there’s a document viewer and editor, push email and a fantastic browser with optical joystick navigation.

BlackBerry Bold

BlackBerry’s multifunctional Bold takes business features seriously, but doesn’t miss out on multimedia in the process. The Qwerty keyboard is heaps easier to use than its predecessor’s SureType alternative and BlackBerry’s Enterprise Server allows you to hook your email for communication on the move. There’s a Facebook client, Google Maps and a few games thrown in for good measure plus a revamped browser for seamless surfing. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is quite frankly music to our ears.

Frugality-a best practice for recession

2009-05-28T23:08:00.000-07:00

frugality is the practice of resourcefully using already owned economic goods and services.
For most people, frugality is a lifestyle choice born out of necessity. A lost job, increase in expenses, or a battle with debt has forced them to take extreme measures to balance their budget. Sometimes, however, frugal choices can hinder you beyond the benefit of the dollar saved.
Here are few telltale signs that you've done yourself no favors in your quest to cut costs:

You spend more than you save- Unless you are investing for the future in a specialty item, there is usually no justification for spending more money via "frugal" methods than if you'd just done your normal shopping. This happens often with coupons, for example. I applaud those who've mastered the art of getting stuff for less(or even free), but I'm personally aware that using coupons most likely leaves me buying unnecessary things and ultimately increasing my shopping bill by at least 20% more than if I'd stuck to a list and didn't entertain extra "deals."
Buying something on clearance (even at 90% off) isn't a great buy if you didn't have the money to begin with, or you didn't need the thing you just bought.
You're not fun to be around-Some folks will never be the life of the party, but that's not what I'm talking about. If your obsession with cost-cutting has left you looking stingy and insane in the eyes of your friends, it could be that you need new friends. More likely, however, is the fact that you've let your penny-pinching ways rule every decision, and worse yet, it's affected your relationships.
If you're intent on letting the almighty dollar invade every thought for the day, do us all a favor and keep it to yourself. Some of us truly understand what it means to be frugal, but strive to keep it in balance with the rest of our lives.
Your frugality isn't safe- Some money-saving habits have the potential to cause harm, but only need a few extra safeguards to make them safe. Making your own laundry soap, for example, would require extra care to keep little ones out of the commonly used buckets that the soap is stored in. Other tips -- like reusing plastic containers that aren't meant for food storage -- can cause others to get sick or degrade the quality of your possessions.
Before you head out into the Wild West of ultimate frugality, check with trusted sources to make sure you're keeping it harmless.
You hate it-Granted, most of us make frugal decisions out of necessity. Others, however, make the choice out of habit or the sense of control it gives them over a situation. If you've found yourself doing things that could save a bit here and there, but it's left you despising money, life, or other people, maybe it's time to take a hiatus. Life, after all, is meant to be experienced, and most of the precious experiences don't cost much.
Take time to asses where you're saving, and where you're simply causing extra work and heartache. If you're able to loosen up on a few of your frugal rules (even for a little while) it might be worth taking a fresh stab at it after a small break. Opportunities to save money generally aren't going anywhere.
Where are you in your frugality? Are you new and growing? Have you been doing this "cheapskate" stuff for a while? Do you still enjoy those times when you've succeeded in a plan to pinch pennies, or are you dreading the work involved with taking care of your finances?
Share your comments for keeping frugality fresh. We'd love to hear how you do it.

Pets - Recession Victims

2009-05-28T22:52:00.000-07:00

The family dog is the latest casualty of rising foreclosures.
As more families are forced to sell their homes, an increasing number of pets are being left behind in shelters or, worse, empty houses. Though it is difficult to put an exact figure on the number of abandoned pets, shelters across the country say they are seeing double-digit percentage increases in the number of animals left in their care. The Humane Society estimates that more than 3 million animals will be euthanized this year.
"The more foreclosures, the more abandoned pets," said Dawn Lauer, outreach coordinator with the Humane Society. "The majority of shelters we speak to have been seeing an increase in animals coming in. There are heartbroken families that are moving to rentals or in with family members and are unable to keep their pets."
Caring for a pet adds hundreds of dollars to the yearly bills. Pet food costs between $125 and $500-per-year, depending on the size of the pet, according to PetEducation.com. Vaccinations and standard veterinary bills often add another $100 to $500-a-year to the cost, depending on the age of the animal. Add the cost of regular medications, such as heartworm pills, chew toys, and the occasional trip to the groomers and it's not difficult to see why Americans spent a combined $32 billion on their pets last year.
"When somebody gets a pet, they should really be considering any kind of financial problems they could have and make sure that they are planning ahead," says Lauer, adding "if they are going to give the animal to a shelter, they need to call ahead because, unfortunately, there are a lot of people in similar situations."

Shelters across the country are taking steps to stop the influx of abandoned animals. In Richmond, Va., the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers to board pets until families get back on their feet. They also have pantries and clinics that provide free pet food and veterinary care to pet owners who don't want to give up their animals, but can't afford to care for them at the moment.
During the past several months, the Richmond SPCA has seen a 15% to 25% increase in the number of pet owners who come in and qualify for its free services.
"We recognize that families are struggling to get ongoing care for their pets," says Tamsen Kingry, Chief Operating Officer of the Richmond SPCA. Kingry estimates that the free programs helped keep between 300 and 400 animals in their homes last year.
Unfortunately, there are not enough grants and free programs to meet the needs of all the families and shelters asking for help. Earlier this month, the Humane Society of the United States temporarily suspended a grant program for rescue groups because demand exceeded funding.
Shelter owners say they are seeing more pets that have simply been abandoned in their former home.
"They assume that people will come into the home, but it can take a long time," says Lauer, "and the pet cannot survive on its own."
Aside from taking advantage of free services, where available, pet owners have other options to reduce costs. Dog food companies will often offer coupons and discounts to loyal customers that call and ask for them, says Cathy Bendzunas, a Virginia Beach resident with four dogs who writes the dog-lovers blog "bloggydoggies."
"You can email the customer service department and tell them how much you love their product and ask for coupons, and they will send you some," says Bendzunas. "I've done that, but you have to ask."
Another tip? Bendzunas says that pricier dog food can actually turn out to cheaper because the dogs seem to get full faster.
"There's always a way to keep your pet," says Bendzunas, adding that if she ever finds herself without a home. "My dogs are coming with me."

Pegasystems SmartBPM

2009-05-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

Pegasystems SmartBPM™ Suite consists of PegaRULES Process Commander, Process Analyzer, and Process Simulator. It includes componentized business services you can use for analytics, reporting, modeling, simulation, presentation, case management, process flows, business rules, and an enterprise repository for your organization’s policies and procedures. In short, everything you need to build a complete BPM solution. Pegasystems offers additional options, including a rich library of Solution Frameworks and integration components to help get off to a running start and work within your existing infrastructure.

Pegasystems SmartBPM is the only completely unified BPMS (business process management suite) available today. That means you can do everything you need to do for your BPM solution without having to learn separate tools. It also means new levels or real time agility, a capability Pegasystems calls “build for change”, something that offers those starting their BPM journey the confidence that Pegasystems can grow and scale with them.

What do we mean by “build for change”? Well for one thing, shouldn’t it be possible to update goals and policies or specific business rules and have them take effect immediately across an entire enterprise? We think so, and only Pegasystems SmartBPM can give you that kind of competitive power and agility. Pegasystems converts information technology into business technology, making it easy for business and IT to collaborate – no more specification gaps between business intention and process execution. Pegasystems SmartBPM is used by leading organizations of all sizes to start small, find quick wins, and beat their competition by building for change.

With over two decades worth of experience working with innovative organizations around the world, Pegasystems offers the right blend of pragmatism and domain expertise across a wide range of industries: financial services, insurance, retail and wholesale banking, healthcare, compliance, life sciences, government, retail, manufacturing, Six Sigma, and more. Pegasystems experience in helping organizations start small while planning globally, helps keep ROI benefits on track, sustaining a continuous cycle of improvement and growth.

As a result of using SmartBPM, customer experience improves, building loyalty. New and more appropriate products come to market more quickly. Global enterprise changes are managed with ease, eliminating massive amounts of manual effort and – more importantly – allowing the company to use its new found agility to competitive advantage.

Each BPM journey begins with a single step, and logging on to PegaRULES Process Commander is the best first step you can make in building a culture of continuous improvement and change in your organization!

Learn to weave a ladies purse

2009-05-20T23:21:00.000-07:00

Here's the idea for weaving a bag from the commonly made "magazine/shopping bags." However, in order to weave bags out of magazinepages, lamination or a lot of tape must be used instead use a shopping bag.
You will need:
-shopping bag
-paper cutter
-scissors
-sewing machine
-hot glue gun (not necessary, but helpful)
-old shower curtain (in the spirit of recycling, but any fabric that will work as a liner will do)
Take your shopping bag and cut out its handles, making sure not to damage them (they will be used later.)

Using a paper cutter, cut the bag into equally sized strips.

Then weave these strips together, making a square or rectangle. You can choose whatever size suits you.

Next cut a piece of shower curtain or any type of fabric that corresponds to the shape of your weaving and sew it onto the weaving.

To make the edges nicer, fold over two sides of the weaving and sew them down.
Next take the middle of the weaving and fold it inwards.

Bring the two sides up around the fold and either sew or hot glue gun those sides together. I tried to sew initially but the thickness of my particular shopping bag made it impossible for the needle to go through.

Then punch holes in the bag where you would like to place the handles. You can put two on each side, one on each end, use single handles or braid them for a thicker handle.

And now you have a lovely purse which keeps shopping bags from becoming waste and you from buying another purse, which benefits both the environment and your wallet.

10 Touch-Screen Technologies

2009-05-14T00:44:00.000-07:00

Our touch screen future is finally here. At the Consumer Electronics Show, Steve Ballmer talked about how Microsoft will put touch-screen capabilities into the next version of Windows. LG showed off a touch-screen watch. Sony hawked a touch-screen camera. Palm is betting its new touch-screen Pre can turn the struggling smart phone maker around. And Samsung introduced a touch-screen music player. Here's a list of devices that showcase the technology.

Windows 7

The next version of Windows, Windows 7, will boast support for touch-screen interfaces. While touch screens may not be useful for heavy-duty office chores--cranking out memos or blasting through spreadsheets--they could make Windows a better platform for kiosks, tablet computers and home entertainment systems.

iPhone

Apple's iPhone kicked off the latest touch-screen fad. The iPhone's innovation, however, isn't so such its touch screen as the way the phone can be controlled by gestures, such as pinching and swiping, which could become the building blocks for a whole vocabulary of gestures.

Palm Pre

The struggling smart phone vendor is betting the Pre will help lead it back to glory. Like the iPhone, Pre's interface can be controlled through gestures made on the gizmo's touch-sensitive screen.

Microsoft Surface

Microsoft Surface was the star of the Consumer Electronics Show in 2008. While it's gotten lots of attention, Apple has gone further and faster with its dinky touch-screen devices.

Sony DSC-G3

The headline feature on this camera is wi-fi, not its touch screen. In a connected world, this only makes sense: a photo is no longer really useful unless it can be sent to friends and relatives, posted to Web pages, or sent to a computer for editing. It also makes sense that such a device would have a touch screen, giving the user the ability to navigate wireless networks, and the camera's features, when they need to.

Samsung P3

Samsung's P3 is more than just another iPod touch knockoff. Sure, this media player has a touch screen. Unlike the iPod or iPhone, however, Samsung uses haptic feedback to give a user a little reassuring vibration whenever a menu item is selected. The P3 will go on sale sometime during the first half of 2009.

LG's Watch Phone

The idea of putting a phone on your wrist is as old as Dick Tracy. But it's a place where a touch-screen interface makes a lot of sense, since there's little room for buttons. LG's Touch Watch Phone comes with 3G Video Telephony service, thanks to a 7.2 Mbps 3G HSDPA connection. It goes on sale in Europe later this year. Oh, and it also tells time.

ATMs

Touch screens have become common on ATMs and kiosk machines.

Asus Eee Top

Asus' touch-screen tablet version of the "nettop" allows users to bop from one Web-based service to another with a touch of the finger.

Coke machines

Samsung's interactive uVend machine has a touch screen display to let users pick out a refreshing beverage. Samsung worked with Sapient and Coca-Cola to create the machine.

Exit Polls by Major TV Channels

2009-05-13T23:17:00.000-07:00

13th May '2009: Exit Polls by Major Tv Channels:
The real fun begins now. WIth after a month of intense speculations and opinion polls, here comes the next best thing to actual results on 16th - the exit polls for all 543 seats from different News Channels. Although, almost all show a Congress lead, but BJP is shown to lag not far behind. In this neck and neck race, wait till the 16th of May to checkout the real big picture.

Times Now National projection: The UPA ahead of NDA

The Congress-led UPA has been projected to have an edge over NDA and others in the Lok Sabhaelections which are expected to produce a highly-fractured verdict, according to the The Times Of India projection of the outcome of the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.

According to the TOI projection shown exclusively on TIMES NOW , UPA is likely to win 198 seats, the NDA 183, the Third Front 112 seats. The Congress is likely to get 154 seats, while the other UPA constituents could get around 44. In BJP, on the other hand, is likely to get 142 seats, while other parties in the NDA are likely to get 41 seats. In the Third Front, Left parties are projeced to bag 38 seats, BSP 27, AIADMK+ 24, TDP+ 20 and the JD(S) 3. The SP is pegged to get 23 seats, BJD 8, RJD+LJP 6, PRP 4, AUDG 1, SDF 1, NPF 1, HJC 1, JMM 2 and independents are projected to get about 3 seats.

That means that while Congress and BJP lose out a few seats from their 2004 performance, neither has a clear shot at forming the government 272 being the majority mark. Mayawati's BSP, which has been projected to win about 28 seats as well as the AIADMK+ with about 23 seats could well end up holding the key to the government formation.

The state-wise TOI projection is as under:

BIHAR: 40 SEATS

CONG 3 NCP 1 BJP 10 JD(U)19 LEFT 1 RJD 4 LJP 2

ASSAM: 14 SEATS

CONG 5 BPF 1 BJP 4 AGP 3 LEFT 0 AUDF 1

NORTH EAST: 10 SEATS (MEGHALAYA, MANIPUR, MIZORAM, TRIPURA, NAGALAND,SIKKIM)

CONG 4 NCP 1 BJP 0 LEFT 2 NPF 1 SF 1

MADHYA PRADESH: 29 SEATS

CONG 6 BJP 23

GUJARAT: 26 SEATS

CONG 7 BJP 19

RAJASTHAN: 25 SEATS

CONG 12 BJP 11 IND 2

ORISSA: 21 SEATS

CONG 9 BJP 4 BJD 8

PUNJAB: 13 SEATS

CONG 9 BJP 1 SAD 3

KERALA: 20 SEATS

CONG 12 IUML 2 KC(M) 1 LEFT 5

KARNATAKA: 28 SEATS

CONG 9 BJP 16 JD(S) 3

MAHARASHTRA: 48 SEATS

CONG 12 NCP 11 BJP 13 SHS 12

UTTAR PRADESH: 80 SEATS

CONG 13 BJP 14 RLD 3 BSP 28 SP 22

WEST BENGAL: 42 SEATS

CONG 5 TMC 11 BJP 1 LEFT 24 SUCI 1

TAMIL NADU: 39 SEATS

CONG 4, DMK 7, BJP 1, LEFT 4 AIADMK+23

6th May - Times of India Result estimates after Phase Three:

Times of India suggests that BJP led NDA is catching up fast with its latest seat estimate for the elections. As compared to 176 in the last polls of 10th April, it now gives NDA an edge with 187 seats, just 8 behind the Congress led UPA. If you look at the figures closely, you'd realise the irony - just three Indian states basically decide the fate of this Lok Sabha: Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. It is well clear that neither BJP nor Congress led coalitions yet seem to be in a position to form the Govt on their own. The others and third front get majority of its seats from these three states, and they are the one's who'd decide who forms the next Govt.

Star News - Nielsen Opinion Polls:

Star News & Nielsen came out with their second opinion polls, made from data collected till 3rd of April. It must be kept in mind that a week has since passed and recent activities, such as the shoe throwing incident, removal of Jagdish ytler and Sajjan Kumar from contest, etc are bound to have some impact. However, one thing strikes out and that is that today's poll compares similar to the poll by Times of India which came out on 10th April(shown below). Both show Congress getting near to 155 seats and overall tally of UPA to be around 200 seats.
As compared from it's own previous poll on 23rd March, Star News-Nielsen shows a slight decline in the numbers of UPA, although individual tally of Congress is showed to increase from 144 to 155. In comparison, NDA is set to increase it's tally, mainly because of increase in seats to the BJP, from being at 137 to now 147. The third front, although still going no where, is said to increase its tally from 96 to 104.

Most Important Inventions of the Next 10 Years

2009-05-13T05:23:00.000-07:00

Innovation from Recession

Ocean-Driven Hydropower

Till now, hydropower has mostly been generated at dams. Now, turbines around the world are being designed to harness the power of the ocean. Blue Energy Canada is close to commercializing a turbine that captures energy from ocean currents, and already has purchased power agreements in India, Indonesia, and New Zealand. With a set of subway-size floating turbines, Pelamis Wave Power is converting wave power into electricity off the coast of Scotland.

Miniaturized Medical Equipment

Truly tiny implants that can test, diagnose, and even alert doctors to problems with their patients will replace costly routine visits. Researchers in the Netherlands say they've developed a pill that can be loaded with medicine and programmed to travel to a specific part of the body to unload it. A pen-size device is being developed at the University of Texas that can detect skin cancer without the need for a biopsy.

3D Printing

It has been around for a while, but 3D printing, in which three dimensional object is created by layering and connecting successive cross sections of material, is becoming more affordable, which in itself will unleash a host of new inventions and applications, pushing beyond prototypes and models. Scientists have been experimenting using the technology to reconstruct human tissue.

Even Smarter Apps

Mobile applications can already identify what song is playing, point you to a nearby restaurant, or manage your social networking utilities, but that was just the start. The relatively low cost of entry and the speed at which an app hits or misses creates a environment ripe for breakthrough innovation. What's next could be the first big business to arise from the downturn.

Next-Generation Bio-Fuels

The first round of biofuels caused a spike in global food prices. Now companies are developing the next generation from non-edible sources. Scientists at ADM (ADM) are creating cellulosic ethanol from corn stalks, and other companies are experimenting with switchgrass, woodchips, and the tropical grass miscanthus.

Electric Avenues

While Detroit struggles, would-be automakers are getting in on the action, with a host of electric vehicles now in various states of readiness to roll. Shai Agassi's Better Place is proposing a network of stations where drivers of electric cars can exchange dying batteries for ones freshly charged. For its part, GM's (GM) Chevy Volt is due in 2010.

Truly "On-Demand" Entertainment

As entertainment technologies converge, we're better able to watch, listen, or read anything we want any time we want. The Netflix Player by Roku streams an ever-growing library of Netflix and Amazon content directly to the TV. Apple TV offers both shows and movies for purchase or rental. Open-source media software, Boxee, aims to run on all third-party streaming boxes and plans to release its own box, too. Soon, these systems won't only be for the alpha geeks.

Nanotech Computing

In Chicago, two separate teams recently made breakthroughs that dramatically shrink the size of electronics. One team's new transistors allow for processors that will make silicon chips seem gigantic. The other came up with film material that can store the equivalent of 250 DVDs on the space of a quarter.

Cure for Cancer

Huge advances are being made that could some day eradicate cancer, AIDS, brain tumors, prostate cancer, and other diseases. Nanotech medicine provides a more targeted delivery to cells than chemotherapy or other treatments, which means doctors can lower dosages to minimize side effects.

Rahman unhappy with use of 'Jai Ho' in poll campaign

2009-05-12T22:14:00.000-07:00

Chennai, Music maestro A.R. Rahman, whose compositions in "Slumdog Millionaire" made him the first Indian to win twin Oscars, is critical of political parties using for a poll campaign the song "Jai Ho" that he composed for Danny Boyle's rags-to-riches drama.
"I was like in the bed, I was dehydrated, exhausted, and then all these things happened, somebody told me these people are using it. I hate politics. I just want people to serve the people. I want governments, whichever government comes in, to be unbiased and say there should be justice in the country and that's my purpose in life," Rahman said in an interview on CNN's Talk Asia. The interview will be aired on CNN May 20 and there will repeat telecasts May 21 and May 23. The Congress had bought exclusive rights to the song "Jai Ho" for its poll campaign but the jingle was later dropped as the party's theme song. In the interview, the shy composer also explains how his accolades for "Slumdog Millionaire" are also a recognition for India. "I got very emotional when saying this is for India, when you guys truly deserve it because there are so many different film industries in India, so many different markets, Hindi film industry, Tamil film industry, Malayalam, then Bengali, so in a way I think it culminates all their aspirations and so it's here," he said. Before he shot to stardom with the film "Roja", Rahman used to create radio jingles. He has since collaborated with international music superstars like Michael Jackson and Kylie Minogue. When asked about his next project post-Oscars, he said: "I have a couple of offers from Hollywood. Pure American movies which I thought for the heck of it let's do it and a couple of other surprises that you'll know very soon if it works out. Big surprises I think."