Bebo, Bips bound by yoga

Kareena Kapoor More Pics

Kareena Kapoor, who partied with Bipasha Basu in Colombo recently, shares a common trait with her.

Both actresses insist on travelling to outdoor locations with their yoga instructors. Incidentally, Kareena’s yoga instructor is a sweet girl who actually wants to be a full fledged pilot someday.

But since she is still very young... she is happy making Bebo bend to her tunes.

Check out Kareena Kapoor’s homepage

Imran Khan is Bollywood's new 'it' boy

Imran Khan More Pics

Punit Malhotra’s I Hate Luv Storys is carrying the right vibe. Trade pundits are of the opinion that Dharma Productions rom-com set to hit theatres on July 2, is near perfect.

It’s priced correctly, it’s a love story coming from Karan Johar — the man who knows romance better than most filmmakers, and it has Imran Khan — the actor with the ‘it’ factor going for him.

Imran, who stormed the film scene two Julys ago with Aamir Khan’s sweet mushy flick Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na, is the quintessential chocolate boy who with his fair skin and light eyes makes the girls go weak in the knees. Take what happened at a bookstore in a mall. The girls who strolled in and caught Imran in their midst screamed the mall down. They were so excited, they almost tore the actor’s shirt off in their attempt to get closer to him.

Imran is flattered with this attention he has been from the trade and the janta. The actor who has a fabulous sense of humour, says, “It is always flattering for an actor to feel wanted, but for a few minutes I wondered if all this squealing and shouting was stage-managed by the PR of the film. We’re in the business of selling ourselves, and being labelled sexy and being spoken of as having that ‘it’ quality is the ultimate goal. When I see people reacting to my body, I feel it was worth all the hard work I put in. I remember all those bland meals that I suffered and those heavy weights I lifted to be able to get this body. There is a sense of personal gratification when I see my image in the mirror. But there is also the need here for me to thank Manish Malhotra, Karan and Punit who are responsible for the way I have been projected in IHLS.’’

The actor who confesses that he is very romantic but doesn’t believe in the superfluous flowers, chocolates and SMS routines when it comes to professing his feelings for his loved one, adds, “I must still be doing something correct. Otherwise the same girl wouldn’t be with me for the last eight years.’’ He has a point — when it comes to romance he has what it takes — both on screen and off it.

Check out Imran Khan’s homepage

Vivek flirts with Shazahn

Vivek Oberoi More pics

Vivek Oberoi was recently seen at a party hitting on Sharon Prabhakar’s daughter Shazahn, Ranbir Kapoor’s co-star in Rocket Singh, Salesman Of The Year.

An eyewitness, who also overheard a conversation between Vivek and Shazahn reveals, “Shazahn came to the party with her mom Sharon. When Vivek saw Shazahn standing alone in a corner he started asking her where she was going later and with whom.

He was at his flirtatious best, when Shazahn’s mom Sharon, who was scandalised to see Vivek standing so close, pulled her daughter away and left.”

When contacted, Shazahn Padamsee said, “I don’t wish to comment.” Vivek Oberoi, in turn, also declined to comment.

Check out Vivek Oberoi’s homepage

Abhi's offered Rs.7 crores for next!

Abhishek Bachchan More Pics

So Raavan is reportedly dead meat. So what? There are many Bollywood superstars out there who have given more than two flops in the last two years and who are still getting big money from producers.

The same goes for Abhishek Bachchan. Rumours (no one in Bollywood ever talks money, they only drop huge hints) have it that Junior B has just reportedly been offered Rs.7 crores for a film with Raj Kumar Santoshi to be bankrolled by a film corporation. Actually, the full rumour goes like this. That Raj Santoshi will make a film with the Bachchan family — Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya.

And the fee earmarked for Abhi alone is Rs.7 crores. Incidentally, Raj Santoshi is also making another film with his current favourite Katrina Kaif with whom he gave that hit Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani.

Check out Abhishek Bachchan’s homepage

I would do it again: Ash

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan More pics

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on Raavan, Abhishek Bachchan and Mani Ratnam

Raavan has been a gruelling experience for you?
Why just me? Everyone in the film has gone through an equal amount of hardships to create a film we all believe in. There we were, getting drenched in the rain, and Mani Ratnam, Santosh Sivan . ..everyone was there facing the weather. We were all friends in the project. Everyone was there for one another. We could joke and say it was like an adventure sport, or a video game while we were making our way through the most impossible conditions. But we knew what the truth was.

Were you prepared for the severe hardships when you read the script?
It was still a bit of shock and surprise when we had to face the climatic conditions in the jungles. On top of that Mani loves to make on-the-spot changes. He improvises all the time. He doesn’t want to strictly follow the written word. He’s a master of creating magical moments out of the seemingly ordinary. What he does is incredible. Just the pleasure of working with him again (after Iruvar) was amazing.

But for a lady to be climbing those slippery rocks ....
Really (laughs), we didn’t know how slippery those rocks would be. There was this huge waterfall where we shot a lot. One never thought one would leap down those heights in and around the waterfall. Of course we were wired. But once you’re going down there’s no control. The rocks were so mossy, we had no control over our movements. We were climbing so close to the waterfall we could feel its power. It was the power of Nature in all its glory.

How could you focus on emoting while doing such dangerous stunts?
That’s magic of the camera, the magic of cinema. As for getting the emotions right, you know Mani Ratnam. Do you think he would relent until he got the emotions he wanted? We’d go through the most incredibly impossible scene. Then he’d come up to us and say, ‘I’ve got a better idea. Let’s do the whole thing again.’ I was like, ‘Are you for real? Do you know what we’re doing? And we’ve another version to capture before the light fades.’ I’d do it in Hindi and then do it all over again in Tamil.

Was the scale of your emotions higher in Tamil?
I haven’t seen the Tamil film. No time! The nuances alter from one language to the same. But the emotions were the same. Some of the lines were changed to show a difference in culture. What would seem theatrical in Hindi is natural in Tamil. But I didn’t consciously move into a different zone in the two languages. Our camereman Santosh Sivan was so innovative. The changes in lighting and mood were done by him. He was having a party while we were trying to get it right in two languages. He doesn’t only create fabulous images. He creates a magic in the language of the film. You can be sure that Mani and Santosh will together bring it all together finally. You know, Manikandan was doing the cinematography earlier. But you can’t tell where and when Santosh took over.

You actually dubbed your own lines in Tamil?
Oh yes, as far as dubbing is concerned I’ve come a long way. I remember during my first film Iruvar in Tamil, I panicked at the language. Now of course I am far more confident. But two films simultaneously in Hindi and Tamil meant pressure full-on. Until we were on the sets none of us knew what pressures we were getting into. After a while Mani was giving me scenes on the sets. Then he’d humour me saying, ‘Come come let’s do it.’It was the toughest thing I’ve ever done. I’d be standing there, having just completed a harrowing scene with Abhishek, and then without a minute’s pause I’d have to do the same scene with Vikram. We were all passionate about the project to the point of being obsessive. Everyone in the crew was there in the jungles throughout. We would tell one another that we were on a picnic or a safari adventure. But we knew what we were going through.

Would you do it again if you have to?
While we were shooting Raavan we felt the situation was impossible and we didn’t know how we’d get through it. But now that we did ...yes, I’d do it again! Just before the film’s release we all met up and we kept looking at each other thinking the same thing. ‘Is it all done already?’ And we kept saying, ‘We can do it any time again.’ And Mani was like, ‘You guys are crazy.’

You feel ill with serious viral infections during the film?
It just got widely reported. Even Abhishek and Vikram fell ill. These things happen when working under tough conditions. Mani got it. His wife Suhasini visited us. And she too got it. Such things do happen specially when you have to remain drenched from head to toe. During childhood we were taught to keep our head dry. And here I was getting drenched from early morning till late night. There was no point in drying myself because I was soaked in seconds.

Curiously you shot with two of the finest directors Mani Ratnam and Sanjay Leela Bhansali almost simultaneously, Mani completely outdoors and Sanjay fully on the sets.
And both so fulfilling in their own way. Let me tell you, I consider myself blessed. I’ve worked repeatedly with both. And both have taken my acting abilities seriously.

drmitaljohn Home Remedies for Liver Cirrhosis and Tips for Liver Care

It also most stores and releases energy that helps the body in performing various functions. It is the only organ in the body that regenerates itself when injured. Any damage in the liver interferes with all these functions. There are around four liver disorders.

In fact, liver infection is one of the top ten causes of death in the United States and even though many forms of liver disease are avoidable and many more if detected early can be treated effectively.

Some symptoms which indicate something is wrong with the liver are:-

• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Flatulence
• Pain in the abdomen
• Difficulty in breathing and coughing

There are many ways to maintain the healthy liver like many drugs are available to deal with the liver disorders but excess usage of drugs can cause you many side effects like headache, insomnia and may also feel weakness in the body and also problem in breathing. Liver cirrhosis is mainly caused due to the excess consuming alcohol and smoking. Smoking and alcohols are very harmful to the health in various ways.

Step by Step Pregnancy and Great Home Remedies for Pregnancy

When you find out that you’re pregnant is not the time to create a new diet or exercise program. If you are preparation to become pregnant, make sure you are at a healthy weight and in the best physical action

Your Baby is What You Eat:

Your baby depends on the lifeline that you and they share to grow correctly. Following a diet that include all the major food group is almost certainly the simplest approach to a healthy diet

Exercise regularly:

While a rigorous exercise list is unsuitable when you are pregnant, it is a good idea to try and get some exercise every day.

Avoid the big no-nos:

If you follow only one step in this plan for a healthy pregnancy, avoid the big no-nos: don’t drink, smoke, or take drugs (this includes medications that your doctor has not approved).

Simple to find Lost Mobile

An IMEI number-The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is an international identity number used to uniquely identify a mobile phone. The 15-digit IMEI number is an electronic fingerprint transmitted every time a phone is used, which reveals the identity of the mobile handset.

How can I find out my IMEI number? IMEI numbers are independent of the phone number and are usually written underneath the battery or on the back of the handset. Mobile phone users can also check their 15 digit IMEI number by dialling *#06# on their mobile handset. Mobile phone owners should make a note of their IMEI number and keep the details in a safe place.

If u lost your mobile, send an e-mail to cop@vsnl.net with the following info.
Your name:
Address:
Phone model:
Make:
Last used No.:
E-mail for communication:
Missed date:
IMEI No.:

"No need to go to police station"

Import Excel Data into MySQL in 5 Easy Steps

This is probably nothing new to many, but I spent quite some time to figure it out so I thought I’d post my notes on it.

To import data from Excel (or any other program that can produce a text file) is very simple using the LOAD DATA command from the MySQL Command prompt.

1. Save your Excel data as a csv file (In Excel 2007 using Save As)
2. Check the saved file using a text editor such as Notepad to see what it actually looks like, i.e. what delimiter was used etc.
3. Start the MySQL Command Prompt (I’m lazy so I usually do this from the MySQL Query Browser – Tools – MySQL Command Line Client to avoid having to enter username and password etc.)
4. Enter this command:
   LOAD DATA LOCAL INFILE ‘C:\\temp\\yourfile.csv’ INTO TABLE database.table FIELDS TERMINATED BY ‘;’ ENCLOSED BY ‘”‘ LINES TERMINATED BY ‘\r\n’ (field1, field2);
   [Edit: Make sure to check your single quotes (') and double quotes (") if you copy and paste this code - it seems Wordpress is changing them into some similar but different characters]
5. Done!

Very quick and simple once you know it 

Some notes from my own import – may not apply to you if you run a different language version, MySQL version, Excel version etc…

• TERMINATED BY – this is why I included step 2. I thought a csv would default to comma separated but at least in my case semicolon was the deafult
• ENCLOSED BY – my data was not enclosed by anything so I left this as empty string ”
• LINES TERMINATED BY – at first I tried with only ‘\n’ but had to add the ‘\r’ to get rid of a carriage return character being imported into the database
• Also make sure that if you do not import into the primary key field/column that it has auto increment on, otherwhise only the first row will be imported

City man eyes Guinness for most ailments

MUMBAI: Sham Soma Solanki is short but his list of ailments is excruciatingly long.

From the humble hernia to the mind-numbing cancer, from long-standing diabetes to a crippling stroke, this mukadam from the Thane Municipal Corporation has suffered 20 various diseases in his 47 years of life, says his family as well as his doctors. In fact, his doctors have sent his medical papers to the Guinness World Records for consideration.

Solanki was discharged from Jupiter Hospital in Thane last week after recovering from his latest health emergency, a heart attack that was followed by a high-risk bypass surgery.

Considering that he suffers from congestive heart failure (last year, doctors drained out five litres of liquid from his lungs) and two of his ribs were removed after they got gangrene, Solanki's heart was indeed a difficult one to operate, cardiac surgeon Dr Jayesh Dhareshwar, who was among the 10-member team treating Solanki, said. "His lung condition was so bad that four hospitals refused to operate on him. His heart's pumping action too was barely 25," cardiologist Dr Vijay Surase from the same hospital said.

Solanki smilingly says that his family — wife Sujata is a Shiv Sena corporator and two sons — were convinced that this was the last stop. "We had approached many doctors who said that, given my poor heart condition, I wouldn't make it beyond the operation table. We are ecstatic that I managed," says Solanki, who has a story to relate for most of the cuts and stitches on the various parts of his body.

Dr Surase said, "We have performed various immunology tests on Solanki but he doesn't seem to have any one particular condition that seems to have contributed to these 20 diseases." The count of 20 also includes bouts of malaria, dengue and typhiod that the patient has suffered.

He has, in fact, sent Solanki's case study along with his health reports to the Guinness World Records in London. The 40-day scrutiny may or may not earn Solanki the unhealthy distinction of having suffered from the maximum number of diseases but doctors are convinced that he is among the rarest of patients. "Each disease is mutually exclusive of the other," Dr Surase added.

"The last seven years have been terrible. Every few months, there has been a new health problem," says Solanki, who has been in and out of various hospitals in this period. His problem actually began 15 years back when he discovered that he had diabetes. "I had only had a hernia operation before that."

In 2003, he discovered he had cancer, which was quickly followed by a stroke that paralysed his right side. "If not for my wife and elder son, who kept nudging me to carry on, I wouldn't have managed," he said. "When doctors discovered my cancer, Hodgkin's Lymphoma (lymph node cancer), my friends told me that I should make merry till I am alive. Their advice was to smoke unlimited and drink unlimited," he says.

Not surprisingly then, Solanki used to smoke 10 cigarettes a day till his heart attack on May 28 this year. But he now promises to reform. "Given my son's dedication to ensure that I stay healthy, I will take care of myself now," he says.

In 2004, doctors found TB meningitis that was followed by an attack of gangrene in his left arm. "One of the scariest moments was in 2006," Solanki admits, "when doctors discovered an abscess in my hip." He was advised an amputation as the muscles were nectorised (dead). "It took an year of daily cleaning up to save my leg," says Solanki, showing off the four-clover mark on his buttock. Then, a mass was discovered on his windpipe that temporarily robbed him of his voice even as his kidney suddenly failed in 2008.

Last year, gangrene developed on two of his rib bones, needing them to be removed. Then came the discovery of heart failure and asthma before the heart attack on May 28. A senior doctor from a south Mumbai hospital, however, feels that Solanki's plight is the combination of compromised immunology and a bad lifestyle.

"He must surely have some predisposing factors such as alcohol or smoking and some genetic predisposition that must have led to such multiple condition," the doctor said.

Konark waterlogged, experts rushed to site

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa government on Saturday sent an expert team to study the drainage system of Konark Sun Temple which has been waterlogged for the last three days.


A six-member team comprising engineers and construction officials from the state government and state-owned Orissa Construction Corporation (OCC), inspected the 13th century monument. They will soon submit a plan to drain out the water to a nullah. No representative of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which has been looking after conservation of the world heritage site for decades, was part of the visiting team.


"As ASI looks after the monument, we will hand over our plan to them. After getting their nod, we will build a 1,900m concrete drain to connect the temple with the Patharabuha nullah (about two km away on the Konark-Bhubaneswar route). The total expenditure would be around Rs 1 crore," executive engineer (drainage) S K Sahu told TOI. "We will also request ASI to either construct the proposed drain in the protected area (covering a radius of 120m from the shrine) or allow us to do it," he said.


Chief secretary T K Mishra said, "The state government in association with ASI would do the needful to ensure that the Sun Temple does not face drainage problems in future. We will soon convene a joint meeting to work out the strategy." ASI superintendent in Bhubaneswar, A K Patel, was not available for comments.


Sources said the expert team was rushed to Konark on the advice of chief minister Naveen Patnaik as the ASI had been cold shouldering demands for putting in place proper drainage facilities at the monument.

Saina reaches summit clash of Indonesian Open

JAKARTA: Defending champion Saina Nehwal dished out yet another dominating performance, routing Japan's Eriko Hirose 21-9, 21-10 to storm into the final of the Indonesian Open Super Series badminton tournament on Saturday.

With this win, Saina has earned a shot at her second successive Super Series title, having won the trophy in Singapore last week.

The top seeded Indian was all over her fourth seeded rival as she collected points in heap and never allowed Hirose to come back.

It took her 27 minutes to finish on the right side of the result, which gives her a chance to notch up a hat-trick of titles.

Before winning the Singapore Open, Saina had won the Indian Open Grand Prix on home turf.

The world number three will now face off with another Japanese in Sayaka Sato, who ended the superb run of local qualifier Ana Rovita with a 21-19, 21-14 win in the other semifinal.

Continuing her scorching form, Saina began to dismantle the challenge of Hirose right from the start as she opened up a huge lead in no time.

Merely nine minutes into the match and the scoreline was 17-8 in Saina's favour and the Indian pocketed the opening game in just 12 minutes.

With such a superb start there was no stopping the Hyderabadi as she scored five points in a row to create a 9-2 lead in the second game.

Not even once, the Japanese could garner two consecutive points. The Indian took another four points to make it 15-5 and from there on, it was just a matter of time to complete the formalities.

Yuvraj, Dravid return to India's Test squad for Lanka series

CHENNAI: Out of favour in ODIs due to slump in form and fitness, middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh on Saturday returned to the 16-member Indian Test squad, along with veteran Rahul Dravid for the three-match away series against Sri Lanka next month.


Both Yuvraj and Dravid had to miss India's last Test assignment against South Africa at home due to injuries suffered during the Bangladesh Test series early in the year.


Yuvraj, who was dropped from the ODI side for the just-concluded Asia Cup, had missed out against the Proteas due to a ligament injury.


Senior batsman Dravid, who was hit by a rising Shahdat Hossain ball in the Mirpur Test and was advised three weeks' rest, returned to the side at the expense of S Badrinath.


Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha was preferred over Dinesh Karthik, who failed to get the Kris Srikkanth-led selection panel's nod despite his decent ODI showing in the Asia Cup, which India won after a gap of 15 years.


Saha had made his debut in Nagpur against South Africa but was left out for the Kolkata match.


Except for this minor shuffling, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led squad is more or less the same that played against South Africa.


The pace attack comprises the troika of Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma, while the spin department has Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha.


Since Virender Sehwag is nursing a hamstring injury, the selectors have decided to keep Murali Vijay as a back-up opener.


Squad:


Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Murali Vijay, Wriddhiman Saha, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, S Sreesanth.

Viveka followed contemporaries Nafisa, Kuljeet

viveka babajee.jpg
Viveka followed contemporaries Nafisa, Kuljeet(BCCL)
Well-known faces of the fashion industry, Nafisa Joseph, Kuljeet Randhawa and now Viveka Babajee, have ended their lives in a similar fashion...

Viveka Babajee, 32, a beautiful supermodel, was found dead under mysterious circumstances. She is the third Indian model who has settled the score with life in this manner. Here are some more names who have had a similar tragic end...

Nafisa Joseph
A good-looking model, bubbly VJ, glamorous former Miss India and Miss Universe finalist, Nafisa left one and all stunned when she hung herself in her Mumbai flat on 29 July 2004. Lies and deception in her love life forced the 25 year-old young to take the grave step. Just a few weeks before she was supposed to tie the knot with long-term boyfriend Gautam Khanduja, she discovered that the man was still married. Naturally, the marriage was called off and out of sheer agony, Joseph took the drastic step.

Kuljeet Randhawa
It seemed she had her fate connected to Nafisa Joseph. The two girls shared screen space in television series C.A.T.S, and were great friends as well. Within six months of Joseph's demise, Randhawa was found hanging in her Juhu apartment. According to her suicide note, it was her failure to cope-up with the pressures of life that made her choose death. Kuljeet was seen on TV in serials including Hip Hip Hurray, Kohinoor series and Special Squad. She, too, was barely 30.

Marilyn Monroe
The eternal beauty, who has many a talents to her name including modeling, acting and singing, Marilyn ended her life at the age of 36 years. When her popularity was soaring high and adulations and accolades, she was busy enjoying, there was one part of her existence that was suffering. Illness, personal problems and a tag of being unreliable and tough to work with forced her towards her doom. It was an overdose of barbiturates that took her life. Now, whether it was intentional or accidental is still being debated upon.

Apart from these names, there have been many models, who chose death when life left them with no option. For some it was a failed love, while for others the mad race to survive in the glam world became the catalyst taking them to doom. Some of the names we would like to mention include Lucy Gordon, Lois Hamilton, Margaux Hemingway, Daul Kim, Ruslana Korshunova and Lina Marulanda.

While they have found their answers to life’s woes by embracing death, the world has moved on. But a question lingers on...why? Why do so many models face a dark end? Is it the lack of will power that fails to fight back a gloomy love life? Or is it the never ending demands of their profession that brings such an end? Or something else we are yet to explore....

Kill Switch in Google Android!

NEW DELHI: Google has a Kill Switch in Android. In a blog post, the company disclosed that it has remotely removed two applications from Android phones that ran contrary to the terms of the Android Market.

According to Rich Cannings, Android Security Lead, "Every now and then, we remove applications from Android Market due to violations of our Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement or Content Policy.

In cases where users may have installed a malicious application that poses a threat, we’ve also developed technologies and processes to remotely remove an installed application from devices. If an application is removed in this way, users will receive a notification on their phone."

According to the blog post, "The remote application removal feature is one of many security controls Android possesses to help protect users from malicious applications.

In case of an emergency, a dangerous application could be removed from active circulation in a rapid and scalable manner to prevent further exposure to users. While we hope to not have to use it, we know that we have the capability to take swift action on behalf of users’ safety when needed."

In a filing to US Federal Communications Commission in 2009, Google reportedly said that it had taken down about 1% of applications that had been uploaded to the Android Market because they failed to comply with Google's terms.

A survey by SMobile Systems of over 48,000 apps in the Android Market recently noted that "one in every five applications request permissions to access private or sensitive information that an attacker could use for malicious purposes."

Panel suggests 70% weight for Class 12 marks in IIT entry

NEW DELHI: In what may mark a major shift away from the current scheme of admission to the country's bluechip engineering institutions, an HRD ministry panel has recommended 70% weightage to class XII marks and 30% for performance in an aptitude test to be conducted more than once a year, for the IIT-Joint Entrance Examination.

A cut-off list on the basis of the class XII result and the aptitude test will be prepared in the month of June every year and the top 40,000 will have to take the additional test for IITs. Right now, more than four lakh students appear for IIT-JEE in a single test.

The panel headed by Damodar Acharya, director of IIT Kharagpur, that gave its report to HRD minister Kapil Sibal on Wednesday, has also suggested that the aptitude test be an ongoing affair which students can take more than once.

However, the best score in the aptitude test -- which will have questions on reasoning, numerical ability and communication skills -- should be taken into account. It is only the add-on test for the top students that will have questions on physics, mathematics and chemistry. However, the panel has put a restriction on the number of times the add-on test can be taken.

Also, unlike the present system, right at the beginning, students will have to give their choice of IIT or other institutes -- like Indian Institute of Science Education & Research -- whose admission test is conducted through JEE. Students will also have to spell out their choice of branch of engineering or stream of pure science.

HRD sources said the ministry's first task would be to bring all state boards as well as CBSE on par with each other by developing a comprehensive weighted performance index so that there is no gross inequality among them and students do not suffer. Already, a core science and mathematics syllabus has been mooted by the HRD ministry and approved by the Council of Board of Secondary Education. "The move will ensure that students from small towns and even those who cannot afford expensive coaching can aim to be in IITs," a source said. 

NSG meet steers clear of China-Pakistan nuke deal

NEW DELHI: In the end, the Nuclear Suppliers Group steered clear of two difficult subjects: the China-Pakistan nuclear deal and the US's efforts to sew up an agreement restricting transfers of enrichment and reprocessing technology to non-NPT compliant countries.

In an official statement the 46-member group observed that participating countries "continued to consider implementation" of civil nuclear cooperation with India. "It noted actions taken to adhere to the NSG guidelines and the voluntary commitments made by India."

According to sources, the China-Pakistan deal came up for a lot of discussion but it didn't make it as an agenda item, especially after the numerous questions to China failed to elicit any clear replies from Beijing.

However, Chinese nuclear companies have already reportedly signed agreements to build two new reactors in Pakistan, well before the NSG meet. NSG confined itself to calling for consultation and transparency in dealings with non-NSG states, an oblique reference to the Pakistan deal.

Hrithik sneaks into a nude beach

It’s not what you think, so get your mind out of the gutter, Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin aren’t, er, stripping for this film. The Censor Board may as well relax. The unit of Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, including Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar and co-producer Ritesh Sidhwani, were actually in for a surprise when they landed on the sandy shores of Costa Brava in Spain. All the vacationers there were sunbathing in the nude. And, seeing the actors and crew descending upon them with cameras, they initially thought that somebody was out to shoot them. Once realisation dawned, they got back to catching their sun tans. And Messrs Hrithik, Kat, farhan, Abhay and Kalki went about their work undisturbed. Well, not quite. Because, as one unit hand said, “We had a hard time shooting... and making sure that we didn’t capture any nudists on the beach... that would have given the Censor Board a fit. In fact, we looked like the odd ones out dressed up as we were!”

Ranjita to pen 'how to survive a scandal'

CHENNAI: Three months after the telecast of controversial tapes that allegedly showed her with godman Nityananda in a compromising position, actor Ranjita is busy working on a self-help book tentatively titled 'How to survive a scandal.' And it will be drawn from her experience.

"I am writing this based on my experiences in the past six months, and there are so many people out there feeling traumatised," the actor told TOI in an interview, the first after the controversy. "My book will help people come to terms with personal problems, and I am in talks with a couple of publishers," she says.

"I am also writing a fiction, aimed at the youth of today, but the one drawn from my experiences will come out first," says the actor. 'Autobiography Of A Yogi' and other books by renowned spiritual gurus line the book shelf in her living room. "I was always a bookworm and you move from fiction to philosophy. I am especially fond of Indian spiritual writings," says the actor, who came to Chennai early this month. She also took time to meet up with CB CID officials in connection with the Nityananda case.

Asked why she went underground when the controversy broke, Ranjita said: "I do not want to hang on to the past. I want to move on. I was very hurt and went through stress and trauma. I decided to hibernate for a while. The media was writing so many negative things about me, and some were fabricated interviews."

She said one needs time to deal with such things, "but people think actors do not deserve that kind of time," she says. She quickly adds that her husband, sisters, parents and in-laws have been pillars of strength for her. She has a short role in 'Raavanan', but she is yet to watch the film.

Any more film offers? "I am not thinking about work right now, I want to take a break," says Ranjita. "When not working, I was like any other army wife, doing social work and attending official parties," says Ranjita who got married to Rakesh, a colonel in the army, in 1998.

Unlike the controversy over Khushboo's comments on safe sex which had women activists and others extending support to the actor, Ranjita had none speaking out for her. "I have not been in touch with anyone for months now, and it will be some more time before I am ready to socialise," she says. What is her state of mind now, when she is not wielding a pen? "I want to put my best foot forward. To a large extent, trust is going to be missing from my dictionary for a long time," says the actor.

Beggar who gave alms to the poor

 AHMEDABAD: A beggar on Saturday proved that charity only needs a big heart rather than deep pockets. Khimjibhai Prajapati, 64 and a beggar in Mehsana for a decade, donated clothes to 11 poor hearing and speech-impaired girls at the Shrimati Kesarbai Kilachand School for the Deaf.

Rich philanthropists have been a more common sight but it was the first time ever that a beggar had walked into the school to share his savings. It was an unusual sight. An unkempt Khimjibhai in tattered, unwashed clothes, limped through the school gates on crutches and placed the brand new clothes in the hands of 11 eager girls. He had used his savings of Rs 3,000 to buy the clothes.

Khimjibhai begs outside the Simandhar Swami Jain Temple in Mehsana and outside the Hanuman Temple. He lives nearby and asks the devotees for alms.

So why did he give alms to the unfortunate children at the school? Khimjibhai said, "I just need two meals a day and some money to send back to my ailing wife in Rajkot to cure her ulcers and lung infection. Apart from this, whatever I earn I use to buy food for poor, hungry people. Since a long time I wished to do something for girls and I am happy to donate for them".

Khimjibhai used to run a tea stall in Rajkot but escalating prices and shrinking profit margins wreaked huge losses and left him on the streets.

His faith in God brought him to Mehsana where he took shelter outside the Jain temple. "Whether rich or poor, one should always try to help the needy," he says. Khimjibhai helped an orphanned girl marry some time ago.

Bharat Shah, a trustee of the institution that runs the school, said, "I have never seen such philanthropy in the 35 years of career. He just goes on to prove that the true donor is he who has one roti and shares half with the hungry."

One of those who received clothes was Swati Bhagwandas, an orphan who has been at the residential school for years. The 18-year old's eyes shone with happiness.

Tendulkar leads sports stars in Wimbledon royal box

LONDON: Sachin Tendulkar was among a host of sports stars who packed out the royal box on Centre Court at Wimbledon on Saturday, with top internationals and Olympic gold medallists among the throng.

India's master batsman Tendulkar and West Indies hero Brian Lara were in attendance from the world of cricket, while England football greats Bobby Charlton and Glenn Hoddle were also invited.

Former Wimbledon champions included Martina Navratilova, Budge Patty, Jan Kodes and Australian trio Ashley Cooper, Neale Fraser and Evonne Goolagong-Cawley.

Romanian tennis legend Ilie Nastase and former British number one Roger Taylor joined them.

From rugby union, the world's most capped forward Jason Leonard, England captain Lewis Moody, and former England internationals Alastair Hignell and Martin Bayfield watched the action.

Among the British Olympic gold medallists present were cyclists Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton, athlete Kelly Holmes, canoeist Tim Brabants and skeleton racer Amy Williams.

US skiing gold medallist Julia Mancuso, New Zealand golfer Bob Charles, who won The Open in 1963, and British former swimming world record holder Mark Foster also attended.

Saturday was Armed Forces Day in Britain and representatives from the military in the royal box were given a standing ovation.

The stars saw reigning women's champion Serena Williams defeat Dominika Cibulkova, 2008 men's champion Rafael Nadal take on Philipp Petzschner and British favourite Andy Murray play Gilles Simon.

IITs say no to common engineering entrance test

MUMBAI: The Indian Institutes of Technology have trashed the idea of selection through a single national admission test for all engineering colleges. Instead, in a throwback to the earlier system of a two-stage test (2000-2004) to enter an IIT, an HRD ministry-appointed committee has come up with a plan of holding an "add-on" test to select candidates.

TOI has a copy of the interim report of the committee, which is headed by IIT-Kharagpur director Damodar Acharya and comprising IIT-Madras director M S Ananth, IIT-Bombay director Devang Khakhar and IIT-Roorkee head S C Saxena. They wrote the report after extensive discussion with state officials, university heads, faculty and other stakeholders nationwide.

"Scores in a well-designed National Aptitude Test should be used to capture parameters of interest such as raw intelligence, aptitude, general awareness, comprehension and written communication skills. NAT should not require extensive preparation and coaching. The questions should be so designed that it would not require inputs beyond plus-2 level," an HRD ministry-appointed committee said in its report. The NAT high-performers will then have to clear another test to get into IITs and other top institutes.

To soften stress, it has been proposed to make NAT an online test conducted throughout the year. Every students' composite weighted performance score will then be drawn up; it will be based on marks in NAT and marks each student tots up in science subjects in Class XII boards.

The Art of the Google Homepage

Last week, Google announced a feature that would allow users to make their favorite pictures or photos their Google homepage.

They also included images of works of some famous artists like Dale Chihuly, Jeff Koons, Tom Otterness, Polly Apfelbaum, Kengo Kuma (隈研吾), Kwon, Ki-soo (권기수) and Tord Boontje. There will also be pictures from acclaimed photographer, Yann Arthus-Bertrand and National Geographic.

Groove to Google's Music

Google Inc is planning to launch an online music downloading service tied to its search engine, the Wall Street Journal reported, a move that would pit it against Apple Inc and its popular iTunes site. Google's plans are still vague, but it has been "stepping up conversations" about offering music services online as well as over mobile phones that use its Android operating system, the Journal said, citing people familiar with the company's talks with the music industry.

It was unclear whether Google had signed deals with record labels, the report said, adding that the launch of a music downloading store was still months away. Google and Apple have become competitors since the launch of Google's Androidoperating system, a rival to Apple's iPhone.

McAfee launches Innovative Program for Added Security in the Cloud

McAfee, Inc. today announced the McAfee Cloud Secure program, a program for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers to add additional security to their cloud deployments.  

“SaaS vendors have a difficult time convincing prospects that their services are secure and safe. However, McAfee’s security products and hosted services expertise are well positioned to help SaaS vendors with security problems and customer doubts,” said Christian Christiansen, vice president of security products and services for IDC. “Through certification and automation, McAfee can enable SaaS growth by pro-actively addressing customer concerns.”

McAfee Takes Steps to Further Secure the Cloud:

The McAfee Cloud Secure program adds security to the cloud. The current program includes:

• Cloud Security Certification Services: McAfee will partner with leading Certification delivery vendors to provide Certification services tailored for SaaS and Cloud vendors. The certification services, which are provided on an annual basis, will include existing security controls, processes and certifications, as well as futureCloud security standards.
• Automated Auditing, Remediation & Reporting: Coupled with Certification, McAfee performs automatic and daily security audits, remediation of vulnerabilities and reporting of the security status of their service and network using theMcAfee Cloud Secure service. Cloud vendors who pass the daily scan and other checks receive a “McAfee SECURE” trustmark, providing credible, third party validation to be used on their solutions and in customer-facing marketing collateral.
• Security Credibility: The McAfee Cloud Secure program will leverage the trusted McAfee SECURE technology and trustmark.  Currently, the McAfee SECURE trustmark appears on more than 80 thousand websites worldwide.  With more than 80 billion touch points, the McAfee SECURE trustmark gives users confidence when doing business with a McAfee SECURE customer.  McAfee Cloud Secure combines rigorous security testing, business practice review, compliance certification, and ongoing vulnerability evaluation for Cloud vendors.

McAfee plans to build on the program by leveraging its comprehensive SaaS portfolio of Cloud-based security services along with its unrivaled Global Threat Intelligence network, helping make the broader cloud-computing ecosystem more safe and secure.

Internet Authorities Adopt New .org Security

The company that oversees Web addresses ending in .org said on Wednesday it was introducing extra security measures to guard against identity theft. .Org, which is monitored by the Washington-based Public Interest Registry, is the first generic domain name system (DNS) to adopt the extra measures, but others, such as .com and .net, are expected to follow. In the United States alone identity theft is estimated to have risen 37 percent to affect 11 million people last year, at a total cost of $54 billion, according to the 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report by Javelin Strategy and Research. Eight million websites use the .org suffix, which is one of the Internet's original domain names, established in 1985.

.Org is frequently used by nonprofit groups and hosts many credit unions' online banking services, making it a target for fraudsters who want to tap into bank accounts or donations being made online to charities and other organisations. More than $1 billion is now being donated electronically each year in the United States, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, with the figure growing by nearly 40 percent between 2005 and 2006.

The new DNS security measures will authenticate the origin of data on .org websites, ensuring its integrity, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers said during a week-long meeting in Brussels. "In very simple terms, DNS (security measures) allow Internet users to know with certainty they have reached the website or location they intended to," said Rod Beckstrom, chief executive of ICANN, which oversees the Internet on behalf of the U.S. government. In effect, the measures introduce a key to validate data, ensuring it has not been tampered with in transit. Suchsecurity measures are already used by web addresses with the national suffixes for Brazil, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Puerto Rico and Sweden. Internet domain registrars Comcast and Go Daddy, which sell web addresses, have already agreed to implement the measures, which other registrars are expected to adopt, the chief executive of Public Interest Registry, Alexa Raad, said.

Ordinary Web surfers will not notice any change when accessing .org websites. Websites ending in .com and .net are expected to adopt the extra DNSsecurity measures by the first quarter of 2011.

Nokia N900 MID

 Nokia N900 MID

UI is well designed Supports popular video formats like DivX, XviD, FLV Very responsive display Excellent browser Music player lacks settings and volume is low UI is sometimes sluggish and buggy Switching orientation when a call comes in was an issue Skype was not preloaded Poor Battery Life

Nokia’s N900 is, like I said before, more of a mobile computing device or an MID (Mobile Internet Device). It could be misconstrued as a miniature tablet PC as even the ones on their way will comply with most ‘mobile phone’ standards like taking and making calls and messages, but it’s really not. We ran a poll recently asking our readers to share their experiences and views on the N900 and received plenty of feedback (thank you dear readers). This is however my experience with the device and after having sat with some of Nokia’s tech advisors, a few of my issues were cleared up and I’d like to share those with you, should you be interested in buying the device. Take a closer look.

Form Factor

It’s bulky, I’ll say that, but not very much unlike the N96 or N95 for that matter so it’s still easy to carry around even if it does weigh in at 181 grams. The 3.5-inch display is bright and clear enough to view in all conditions and sports an 800 x 480 pixel resolution. I just couldn’t believe they went with a resistive touchscreen. But I was pleasantly surprised to find response was a non-issue. Like the N96, the N900 also has a prop up stand that’s placed around the 5MP camera that’s hidden away by a sliding lens cover (it also activates the cam when slid open).

Volume/zoom keys, a screen lock/power button and the camera’s shutter release are situated at the top. A slider lock for the display and 3.5mm handsfree socket are located on the side, since this is a device that’s meat to be used in landscape mode, this would be considered the side and not the top. This would have been very badly placed if it were to be used in portrait consider the speaker (for calls) is located at the other end beside the display. A micro USB port is placed on the opposite side and doubles up for a charging. Speakers are strategically placed on either side. A stylus can be pulled out from one side at the bottom, but I hardly ever required its use.

The slide out QWERTY keypad, took me a little while to get used. I think it’s just a little small but the placement of the keys are, nevertheless, well laid out. In addition to the 32GB of built-in memory, theN900 also supports external memory via MicroSD cards(hot swap under the rear panel) up to 16GB.

While the N900 may be a large (ish) device it’s quite well balanced, the only problem is, this is not easy using with one hand.

Features and Performance
Interface

I am officially a Maemo 5 Fan but I do believe there is still room for improvement. Keeping with today’s multiple-desktop trends, theN900 also offers widget, shortcut and bookmark support for these desktops enabling quick and easy access to all your favorite features and functions. While the multitasking menu set up makes it very easy to switch between running tasks, I noticed that quite a few simple applications and functions somehow took quite a long time to load even if nothing was running in the background. Running more than 4 apps at a time made things even worse. It seemed like the devices ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz processor had quite a bit of trouble multitasking. The weird part is there was no lag at all while actually using any of these apps, even if multiple were running, it just took the processor an effort to get it’s foot in the door, so to speak.

For existing Nokia users, switching over to the new OS will be a cinch as they’ve tried to retain as much of the Symbian UI as possible with familiar icons so the transition isn’t going to be an issue. Good thinking. The best part is you can use any and every part of the UI, irrespective of how tiny some options are, without the use of the pesky stylus. After you’ve calibrated the screen you’re good to go. The layout of the menus and over all set up of the new OS is well planned but the icons and fonts could have been just a little larger. There didn’t seem to be any option to enlarge them either.

The onscreen QWERTY keypad is very large and makes for easy typing. Too bad it doesn’t switch to portrait view because using this handset in landscape is not a good idea while commuting. Another rather serious problem I faced with this piece is when calls came in. The device didn’t really let me answer a call in landscape and the switch to portrait was anything but smooth. Most of the time it would hang and display a blank screen with the ringtone still ringing out loud. Since there are no physical keys I was unable to answer those calls.

Media

As media a device I have mixed feelings about the N900. The music player, although capable of clear tones, dishes them out a very low decibel level. Even with Nokia’s new canal type in-ear earphones, the volume (at peak) was too low to really enjoy my music in this noisy city. The speaker phone was however loud enough to place on your desk and have a handsfree conversation without an issue. The lack of any EQ settings is sincerely missed. TheN900 doesn’t have a preloaded FM radio although it has built in antenna. What you’ll have to do is head on over to the App Manager and you can download an FM radio app as well as tons of other useful stuff from there. Unfortunately the radio didn’t really work out too well in my case. All I got was a lot of static most of the time even in locations where I usually get good reception on other devices. Internet Radio worked great though.

I tried using my iPhone earphones with the N900 and all I seemed to hear was static. So I tried it with another pair of standard earphones and had the same issue. It seemed like theN900 was poised to accept only the bundled handsfree as that seemed to work without a hitch.

At last, Nokia has decided that at least one of their devices will support drag and drop video playback. I was ecstatic. The native player supports codecs for almost all kinds of video files including AVI and FLV. Now if only Nokia could incorporate support for DivX and XviD codecs in other handsets they would reign supreme with no peers. It also has TV out support for which cables are provided. 

Paddy's Pod - 5 iPhone Apps Every Girl Wishes Existed

These days there is an iPhone app for nearly everything but here are a few apps seriously needed for better quality of life. Unfortunately, some are too far from existence for my liking. These are mostly from a girl's point of view but guys would highly benefit from them too.

1. The Track-Your-Friends-As-They-Keep-You-Waiting App: As Indians, we like to massage the truth a bit. For instance, if we're 10 minutes away from being somewhere, we'll tell the person we're meeting, we're 3 minutes away. Now I for one feel personally violated when my time is wasted so if someone made an app where you can track your friends on a map and know where they've reached, so you're not wasting your time, I'd reward them generously. Of course there are invasion of privacy issues here so this would have to be a Facebook type, approve your friends thing, like a 'Map Mates'. Or something else less cheesy.

2. The Zap-The-Letch-In-The-Eyeballs App: Everyone knows, as you're walking down the street, there is an ample number of men with acute scopophilia (if you don't know what it means, look here). Of course, to distract myself from the anger felt towards these roadside romeos, I fiddle with my phone as I walk. This experience would be significantly better if I had an app which after putting an o'clock-position for the happy voyeur, gives him a solid zap in the eyes. Would be nice. And funny. Just saying.

3. The Find-Your-Keys-In-Your-Purse App: Girls carry big purses. This is a given even from the cave days. What else were women going to do with the left over skin from carcasses? Keys however, the most important element to daily existent are ironically small and insignificant in comparison. There needs to be an app which, as one scans their phone (presumably in hand or placed in back pocket, or at least, easier to find in purse) around the bag, there is a beeping sound that gets more persistent as the phone nears the keys. Kind of like a metal detector but tremendously helpful.

4. The What's-That-Movie App: Applications like this one exist for music like Shazam and Midomi. However, how many times has a movie been playing in a coffee shop and it looks interesting but you don't know or you've forgotten what it is. Now this app would have to work without sound coming from the movie so it would have to be on an actor and location recognition system. Would be a must for every movie-buff, someone just has to make it first...

5. The Put-Foot-In-Mouth App: Everyone says stupid stuff. Everyone. Now what would really help here is a Freeze Time app but since time manipulation hasn't been invented yet (come on Cupertino!), the next best option is a put foot in mouth app before you say something stupid. Now this would require some mind reading on your phone's part, also difficult to invent, but I think the human race would be a happier race from this one handy phone feature.

Samsung Launches Next Generation Camera 'NX10' in India

Samsung today announced the launch of NX10 – its first foray into the mirror-less interchangeable lens camera segment. The Samsung NX10 has the heart of a DSLR embedded inside the compact frame of a digital camera, successfully integrating the APS-C size CMOS sensor with a mirrorless interchangeable lens, in a small, light and ergonomically designed body that ensure maximum portability for users. With the launch of its flagship, next generation NX10 camera model, Samsung is looking to establish itself as an innovator in Digital Still Camera market.

The NX10 incorporates a fast and decisive auto focus (AF), 14.6 MP APS-C size CMOS sensor and unique, large 3.0” AMOLED screen, allowing users to easily view their images, even in bright sunlight. The NX10 ensures users never miss a moment, as the new DRIMe II Pro engine and advanced AF algorithm, provide ultra fast AF speed with the higher precision of contrast AF. And consumers are not just limited to taking shots but can also tell their own stories in video format with HD movie recording (H.264 codec).

The 3.0” AMOLED screen facilitates by providing easier viewing in bright sunshine or at acute viewing angles, meaning users no longer need to shield their screen with their hand. The AMOLED screen also provides 30,000 times faster response rate than conventional LCDs, has lower power consumption and a higher contrast ratio – 100,000:1 vs. 500:1.

The NX10 also contains a range of intelligent features to put professional quality images within reach of the amateur photographer. The NX10 incorporates in-depth manual controls and a Smart Auto function which automatically detects the surrounding environment of the shot, selecting the right shoot mode and a Smart Range feature that enables the user to vividly express both bright areas and dark areas in the same frame. It even senses when the user brings the camera close to their face to look through the viewfinder, and puts the AMOLED screen on standby to conserve power. The NX10’s Supersonic Dust Reduction system keeps those dust particles clear of the image sensor that can often impair an image. 

Slim and light at just over 350g, the NX10 is available in black with two variants.1st with an 18-55mm lens kit (Rs 42,990) & 2nd with 30mm Pan Cake lens (Rs. 44,990). With the addition of this new model, Samsung’s Digital Still Cameras range now comprises a total of 31 models priced between Rs. 6,990 to Rs. 44,990. 

World's biggest gold coin fetches over €3m

The world's largest gold coin, a 2007 Canadian $ 1,000,000 Maple Leaf weighing 100kg and with a diameter of 53cm on display at Dorotheum auction house in Vienna. The coin is made exclusively of pure 999.99/1000 gold. (Reuters Photo)

VIENNA: A Spanish precious metals trading company bought the world's largest gold coin for 3.27 million euros, its exact material worth, from the estate of an insolvent investment firm at a rare auction in Vienna on Friday.

The 100 kg (220.5 lb) piece, one of only five Canadian $1,000,000 Maple Leaf coins the Royal Canadian Mint has ever produced, was snapped up immediately in a written bid from ORO direct, a gold trading company based in Madrid.

There were no counter offers in an auction room packed with more journalists than potential buyers. It sold for the catalogue sum, the coin's pure gold value based on Friday's market price. This was four times its face value.

The auction was ordered by the administrator of Austrian investment group AvW Invest, which filed for insolvency in May after its owner and chief executive was arrested on suspicion of fraud, breach of trust and other charges.

AvW had acquired the coin in 2007, joining an exclusive club of owners including Queen Elizabeth, who is also displayed on one side of the coin, two unidentified investors in Dubai and one who is so reclusive even his or her residence is unknown.

AvW had lent its coin, 53 cm (21 inches) in diameter and 3 cm thick, to Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum where it had been on display as part of its coin collection.

Its purity is 99.999 percent, the purest type in the market.

The Royal Canadian Mint launched the coin in 2007 to showcase its production facilities and steal the entry in the Guinness Book of Records for the world's biggest gold coin.

That title had previously been held by the Austrian mint, who in 2004 produced fifteen 100,000-euro coins weighing 1,000 troy ounces (31.1 kg) to celebrate the 15th anniversary of its best-selling Philharmonics coin.

Create Twitter Screenshots from the Address Bar

Twitter Screenshots

If you want to quickly create a well-formatted screenshot image of any message on Twitter , here’s a nice and easy trick courtesy Haochi Chen:

http://twitter.comchen.vc/SrBachchan/status/15992240583

To turn a tweet into an image, all you have to do is open that tweet in your browser, replace twitter.com in the address bar with chen.vc and hit enter.

You should now see a JPG image of the tweet that you can embed in web pages or send as an email attachment.

Here’s a quick video demonstrating the trick:

When Robots Play a Game of Pool

You’ve got to see this video to believe it.
Willow Garage, a company that develops software for robotics applications, have taught their robot to play a game of pool and they’ve done this in just a week!
There’re no humans assisting the robot – he can hold the cue and select shots completely on his own. Very impressive!
Willow Garage was founded by Scott Hassan who earlier launched eGroups, a service that was later acquired by Yahoo! and is now known as Yahoo! Groups.

One Good Reason to Allow Pop-up Windows in your Browser

Pop-up windows are considered evil as they open on your screen without asking and can sometimes lead you to annoying websites.

That explains why most browsers now block pop-ups by default but here’s one good reason why you may want to temporarily disable that blocker and allow pop-ups.

 

Stewart Smith has created an highly addictive and fun version of the Pong game using nothing but pop-up windows while your entire desktop becomes the playing table.
You can either play the game with the computer or invite a friend and both of you can use the same keyboard to control your racquets. You play with Up & Down arrows while he uses the A & Z keys on the other side to move the racquet up or down.
Browser Pong is done in HTML5 and you may therefore want to use Firefox or Chrome while playing pong. 

Access your Photos & Music from Anywhere with Libox!

It’s a common requirement. You store all your photos, music and videos on your home computer that you would like to access from other computers or even from your cell phone and other mobile devices that you carry while on the move.
It takes times (not to mention the cost if you are on a metered connection) to upload all these media files to the Internet so if you are looking for something dead-simple that would let you stream media directly from your home computer without having to upload it anywhere, check out Libox.
To get started, all you have to do is install the Libox client on your home computer (it supports both PCs and Macs) and you can then access the media files on that computer from any other computer or mobile phone.

There are several other services (see option #3) that offer similar functionality but what makes Libox a little different is that it is designed to handle HD audio and video formats and also allows offline access to your media files on other computers.
You need to install the Libox client on all your computers and the service will automatically sync media across all the various machines (through peer to peer) so you always have access to the files even if the source (home computer) is turned off or if your current computer is not connected to the web.
Libox is completely free and there are no limitations so you can share virtually any number of files and folders with the service. You can currently access your media files on mobile phones through the device browser but they are also coming up with apps for Apple and Android devices later this year so that should make it even more useful.