World AIDS Day

World Aids Day : -
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The number of people living with HIV is continuing to rise in every part of the world - including in the UK. There are now 33 million people living with HIV worldwide and 80,000 people living with HIV in the UK.


People living with HIV may find it hard to tell others about their condition as they worry that people will reject them, or they will experience prejudice from friends, family and colleagues. People living with HIV can also experience discrimination in their workplace, in healthcare settings (e.g., GPs and dentists), from members of their local community and through the media.

HIV prejudice is often the result of ignorance about how HIV is passed on and unfounded fear of becoming infected. Encouraging those around us to talk about HIV and find out the facts can help overcome this.

Around 95% of people with HIV/AIDS live in developing nations. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world.

Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

How include Flash in Blog : -

Flash is very attractive to use on web pages. Now read the following to learn
how to add falsh files on your blog.



At first you have to create a flash file and then upload it to any picture
sharing web sites. But now some sites offering free for Flash files (*.swf).


example : www.2and2.net



then add the following code to your site



Change the Height and width as you wish, and replace the (*.swf) direct link
from the picture sharing site marked in red.

---------------------------------------

<object width="400" height="200"
type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.2and2.net/files/493102b7aa577.swf">

    <param value="http://www.2and2.net/files/493102b7aa577.swf"
name="movie">

    <p>Enter your text here to display.</p>

</object>



----------------------------------------

As a result you can see the following

"Turn Off Computer" is missing on Start Menu

"Turn Off Computer" is missing on Start Menu : -
_________________________________

When you click Start Menu, the Turn Off Computer option may be missing. This is due to a group policy / registry restriction.

1. Open Registry Editor by typing REGEDIT.EXE in the Start, Run dialog.

2. Navigate to the following locations:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Policies \ Explorer

3. In the right-pane, double-click the value NoClose and set it to 0.


Note : - Backup the Registry before modifying !!!!!!!!!

Increasing booting speed of Windows XP

Increasing booting speed of Windows XP : -
_______________________________

Follow these steps to increase booting speed of Windows XP

1. Click on start and then click on "Run"


2. On the Run Dialog box enter "MSCONFIG" and then press enter


3. Shows the System Configuration Utility window
4. On System Configuration Utility window click on Start Up Tab
5. On Start Up Tab Click on "Disable All" Button and Click OK

'Screen Saver' tab missing on Display Properties

'Screen Saver' tab missing on Display Properties:-
__________________________________

Some times due to spy ware or virus the Screen Saver tab on display Properties is found missing. But don't worry you have replace it very easily by following some simple steps.

1. Click Start button on the left Side of the System and click "Run" you will see a window like below

2. On the run dialog box enter 'REGEDIT' and press enter, The registry editor window opens
3. On registry editor follow the path on left pan

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

4. On the right pan right click on "NoDispScrSavPage" and click Modify

5. On the Edir DWORD Value window check the value data, change the value data to "0" (zero) and click Ok


6. After doing this right click on desktop and click on properties, now you see the Display Properties window like this

Taking Screen Shots on Windows XP

Taking Screen Shots on Windows XP : -
---------------------------------------
Its very easy to take a screen shot. Just press the "Print Screen" button, which is usually located to the right of the F12 button and paste it to any Picture editing software like Photo Shop, MS Paint, Coral Draw or to MS office itself.

See one print screen sample below

Display the Quick Launch toolbar

Display the Quick Launch toolbar : -
_________________________________________

If you don't see the Quick Launch Toolbar on your taskbar, right-click an empty spot on your taskbar and select toolbars->Quick Launch.

Maybe the Quick Launch Toolbar doesn't show the icons you want. You can add programs to your Quick Launch Toolbar like this :

• Click start->all programs and navigate to the program you want to add
• right-click this program and drag it to the Quick Launch Toolbar
• you will see an l-shaped cursor where Windows will insert the icon when you release the mouse button
• after you release the mouse button, select "copy here"

Don't select "move here" because doing so will remove the program from its original location under all programs.

To remove an icon from the Quick Launch toolbar, right-click it and select delete. This will only remove the icon from the Quick Launch Toolbar, not from your computer.

You will notice pretty soon that the space on the Quick Launch Toolbar is fairly limited. To enlarge it, move your mouse pointer over the vertical dotted pattern just to the right from the Quick Launch Toolbar until it changes into a double arrow and then drag the handle to the right. If you don't see the dotted pattern, you need to unlock the taskbar first. Right click an empty space on the taskbar and select "Lock the taskbar" if there is a checkmark.

Note : - If you don't see this handle, you need to unlock your taskbar first

Enabling the hidden files and folders option in XP

Normally in windows XP, you can view the hidden files and folders using the path, Tool>Folder Options>View, and then check the "Show hidden files and folders" radio box. But sometime due to some spyware/trojan attacks, this radio box is unchecked automatically and you could not show the system hidden files and folders.

Follow the given steps to visible the hidden files and folders:

To edit the computer registry, first you should log onto your computer with administrative rights.

Click Start button and type regedit in Run option then press Enter for next.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced\Folde r\Hidden\SHOWALL

 

Now in right side panel, double click on the DWORD value "CheckedValue", here a small dialog box will appear with the title "Edit Dword Value".

To modify the "Value data" information as DWORD Value to 1 then click on Ok button to finish the process.

Now you can easily view the hidden files and folders using the path, Tool>Folder Options>View and then check "Show hidden files and folders" radio box.

But next time, if you want to disable this functionality then simply change the value of data box to old value.

Using Run box in windows XP applications

Executable Filename        Function

Access.cpl                Used to run Add/Remove wizard

Accwiz.exe                Runs the Accessibility Wizard

appwiz.cpl                 Runs the new add or remove programs wizard

wab.exe                      Runs the Windows Address Book

ntbackup.exe            Runs the Windows backup program

charmap.exe            Runs the Windows Character Map

Control.exe               Runs the Control Panel

Timedate.cpl            Launches the computer’s date and time panel

Devmgmt.msc          Runs the Device Manager settings

Cleanmgr.exe           Lets you play the Disk Cleanup utility

netstat.exe                View information about network settings

hdwwiz.cpl                Run the new hardware search wizard

Chkdsk.exe               Runs the utility that checks your hard disk problems

cmd.exe or command.exe   Both use to run MSDOS commands

Defrag.exe                 Run the Disk Defragmenter, which organizing files on your hard disk

Desk.cpl                    Launches the Display properties dialog box

fxsclnt.exe                 Use to  Runs the Fax Console panel

control.exe folders      Display the Folder option dialog box

control.exe fonts        Display the Fonts Folder option dialog box

freecell.exe                Runs the  FreeCell game

joy.cpl                       Runs the Game Controllers dialog box

mshearts.exe             Launches the Hearts game

helpctr.exe                 Display the windows Help and Support Center

hypertrm.exe              Runs the HyperTerminal application

bckgzm.exe               Run the Internet Backgammon game

chkrzm.exe                Run the Internet Checkers game

iexplore.exe               Run  the Internet Explorer

inetcpl.cpl                  Run the Internet Properties dialog box

main.cpl                     Help you to manage the Keyboard Properties

logoff.exe                   Shortcut to Logoff Windows XP

magnify.exe                Launches a program to magnify windows applications

conf.exe                     Runs the Microsoft NetMeeting conferencing program.

Movie projector

A movie projector is an opto-mechanical device for displaying moving pictures by projecting them on a projection screen. Most of the optical and mechanical elements, except for the illumination and sound devices, are present in movie cameras.

Projection elements

As in a slide projector there are essential optical elements:

Light source

An incandescent lamp or an electric arc light produces light. The traditional carbon arc or modern xenon arc light source produces sufficient heat to burn the film should the film remain stationary for more than a fraction of a second. Xenons were introduced in the 1950s and are now the more common source, being easier and safer to maintain for the most part.

Reflector and condenser lens

A curved reflector redirects light that would otherwise be wasted toward the condensing lens.

A positive curvature lens concentrates the reflected and direct light toward the film gate.

Douser

(Also spelled dowser.)

A metal blade which cuts off light before it can get to the film - usually this is part of the lamphouse, and may be manually or automatically operated. Some projectors have a second, electrically-controlled douser that is used for changeovers (sometimes called a "changeover douser" or "changeover shutter"). Some projectors have a third, mechanically-controlled douser that automatically closes when the projector slows down (called a "fire shutter" or "fire douser"), to protect the film if a failsafe causes the motor to shutdown. Dousers protect the film when the lamp is on but the film is not moving, preventing the film from melting from prolonged exposure to the direct heat of the lamp. It also prevents the lens from scarring or cracking from excessive heat.

End to Mars Phoenix mission

"Phoenix has given us some surprises, and I'm confident we will be pulling more gems from this trove of data for years to come," said Phoenix Principal Investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona in a statement on NASA's website.

The Phoenix lander last sent a signal to Earth on November 2. NASA says that colder temperatures, lack of sunlight and increased dust particles on the lander's solar arrays has stopped its on board batteries from charging, causing the instruments to fail.

Despite the news, Phoenix had operated two months longer than scheduled. The lander had been operating for over five months.

Phoenix was responsible for several discoveries on Mars, including the confirmation of the presence of water-ice, which had previously only been detected from space.

"Phoenix provided an important step to spur the hope that we can show Mars was once habitable and possibly supported life. Phoenix was supported by orbiting NASA spacecraft providing communications relay while producing their own fascinating science. With the upcoming launch of the Mars Science Laboratory, the Mars Program never sleeps," said Doug McCuistion, director of the Mars Exploration Program.

NASA officials will continue to listen for a signal from Phoenix, in hopes that it will phone home again in the near future.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) developed by the United States Department of Defense. It is the only fully functional GNSS in the world. It uses a constellation of between 24 and 32 Medium Earth Orbit satellites that transmit precise microwave signals, that enable GPS receivers to determine their current location, the time, and their velocity. Its official name is NAVSTAR-GPS. Although NAVSTAR-GPS is not an acronym, a few backronyms have been created for it. The GPS satellite constellation is managed by the United States Air Force 50th Space Wing. GPS is often used by civilians as a navigation system.

Similar satellite navigation systems include the Russian GLONASS (incomplete as of 2008), the upcoming European Galileo positioning system, the proposed COMPASS navigation system of China, IRNSS of India, and DORIS of France.

After Korean Air Lines Flight 007 was shot down in 1983 after straying into the USSR's prohibited airspace, President Ronald Reagan issued a directive making GPS freely available for civilian use as a common good. Since then, GPS has become a widely used aid to navigation worldwide, and a useful tool for map-making, land surveying, commerce, scientific uses, and hobbies such as geocaching. Also, the precise time reference is used in many applications including scientific study of earthquakes, andsynchronization of telecommunications networks.

The first satellite navigation system, Transit, used by the United States Navy, was first successfully tested in 1960. Using a constellation of five satellites, it could provide a navigational fix approximately once per hour. In 1967, the U.S. Navy developed theTimation satellite which proved the ability to place accurate clocks in space, a technology that GPS relies upon. In the 1970s, the ground-based Omega Navigation System, based on signal phase comparison, became the first worldwide radio navigation system. The design of GPS is based partly on similar ground-based radio navigation systems, such as LORAN and the Decca Navigatordeveloped in the early 1940s, and used during World War II. Additional inspiration for the GPS came when the Soviet Unionlaunched the first Sputnik in 1957. A team of U.S. scientists led by Dr. Richard B. Kershner were monitoring Sputnik's radio transmissions. They discovered that, because of the Doppler effect, the frequency of the signal being transmitted by Sputnik was higher as the satellite approached, and lower as it continued away from them. They realized that since they knew their exact location on the globe, they could pinpoint where the satellite was along its orbit by measuring the Doppler distortion.

Yuvraj's another regal performance

In a memorable four-day span, Yuvraj Singh has banished self-doubts and embraced sunshine.

His second century (118) on the trot and 10th overall in One Day Internationals allied with some handy left-arm spin (four for 28) that crackled on a sluggish pitch, helped India defeat England by 54 runs in the second ODI of the seven-match series at the Maharani Usha Raje Stadium here on Monday. India leads the series 2-0.

Raina does a Jonty

Chasing India’s 292 for nine in 50 overs, England scored 238 in 47 overs. England was ambushed in the very first over as Suresh Raina’s ‘Jonty Rhodes’ moment — an accurate throw unleashed with airborne momentum — left Ian Bell stranded.

Opener Matt Prior (38) and Owais Shah’s (58, 78b, 8x4, 1x6) second-wicket partnership of 96 runs that stretched into the 24th over, built a sedate structure rather than a launch-pad.

Shah reached his fifty with a six off Yuvraj but the ‘Man-of-the-Match’ breached the partnership. Delivering wide off the crease and slinging it across, Yuvraj’s angle pushed Shah and Prior to their backfoot and as pads were ruffled and stumps knocked out, England was down for the count.

Belated sparkle

Skipper Kevin Pietersen (33) and Andrew Flintoff (43, 35b, 4x4, 3x6) lent some belated sparkle in their 74-run fourth-wicket partnership, which included a productive third power-play from the 33rd to 37th overs yielding 59 runs. Flintoff waded into a Harbhajan over with three sixes that melded power and placement. However Yuvraj scalped Flintoff and Pietersen as England wilted.

In the morning after India opted to bat, Stuart Broad scythed through the top-order on a pitch of variable bounce while the batsmen failed to recalibrate their bat-speed.

Virender Sehwag chopped one onto his stumps, Raina played a wee-bit early and Rohit Sharma hooked without getting used to the slowness of the surface as Broad enjoyed a first spell of 5-1-14-3.

Yuvraj, declared fit in the morning, was just strapping on his pads when Rohit started his walk back with India struggling at 29 for three after just 26 minutes of play.

Testing Yuvi, but…

Yuvraj shuffled out, touched the turf in a mark of respect and as he settled into his stance, Broad and Flintoff angled across a few short-pitched deliveries, tempting the pull to test the southpaw’s sore back as he tried to swivel.

Yuvraj (118, 122b, 15x4, 2x6) paused his back-lift and evaded. It was ungainly but he had taken a deep breath and when he exhaled with a four to fine-leg off a Flintoff no-ball and then slammed the free-hit high over mid-wicket, Mexican waves resumed in the stands.

His partner Gautam Gambhir (70, 76b, 6x4, 1x6) meanwhile tucked in to a half-volley from Harmison and when he cover-drove Flintoff through an off-side manned by four men, the 134-run fourth-wicket partnership off 136 deliveries, shed its wait-and-watch mode and galloped ahead.

Yuvraj then cut a fine arc skywards as he hoisted Paul Collingwood for six. Runs flowed as the England seamers tried to bounce him, hoping for a tame catch at short mid-wicket while Yuvraj kept hitting over the in-field.

Eventually Gambhir dragged one from Pietersen onto his stumps while Yuvraj fell in the slog after a splendid hundred, a knock that came after his unbeaten 138 at Rajkot.

Skipper M.S. Dhoni and the tail neither dropped anchor nor found their big hits but there was no denying Yusuf Pathan (50 n.o., 29b, 2x4, 4x6) as he struck two sixes in the final over bowled by Harmison and helped India finish with a total that looked improbable before Yuvraj took flight.

SCOREBOARD

India: G. Gambhir b Pietersen 70, V. Sehwag b Broad 1, S. Raina c Samit b Broad 4, Rohit Sharma c Shah b Broad 3, Yuvraj Singh c Prior b Broad 118, M.S. Dhoni b Collingwood 15, Yusuf (not out) 50, Harbhajan Singh (run out) 8, Zaheer Khan (run out) 1, R.P. Singh b Harmison 4, Munaf Patel (not out) 0; Extras (b-3, lb-9, w-4, nb-2): 18; Total (for nine wkts. in 50 overs): 292.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-15, 3-29, 4-163, 5-206, 6-239, 7-258, 8-261, 9-274.

England bowling: Anderson 6-0-26-0, Broad 10-1-55-4, Flintoff 9-0-49-0, Harmison 7-1-50-1, Samit 5-0-37-0, Collingwood 8-0-43-1, Pietersen 5-0-20-1.

England: I. Bell (run out) 1, M. Prior b Yuvraj 38, Owais Shah lbw b Yuvraj 58, K. Pietersen b Yuvraj 33, A. Flintoff lbw b Yuvraj 43, P. Collingwood c & b Harbhajan 2, Samit Patel c Gambhir b Sehwag 20, Ravi Bopara c Raina b Yusuf 3, S. Broad b Sehwag 22, S. Harmison st. Dhoni b Sehwag 6, J. Anderson (not out) 1; Extras (lb-2, w-6, nb-3); 11. Total (in 47 overs): 238.

Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-102, 3-109, 4-183, 5-184, 6-187, 7-191, 8-222, 9-233.

India bowling: Zaheer 8-1-37-0, Munaf 7-0-31-0, R.P. Singh 5-0-49-0, Yuvraj 10-0-28-4, Harbhajan 10-0-45-1, Sehwag 5-0-28-3, Yusuf 2-0-18-1.

Critical Security Updates for Firefox, Safari

Apple and Mozilla have each issued updates to fix a large number of critical security flaws in their respective Safari and Firefox Web browsers. The Apple update, which brings Safari to version 3.2, is reportedly causing many users to experience frequent browser crashes.

According to an article Friday at MacFixIt, some of the problems seem related to several Safari plug-ins, including "Concierge" bookmarks manager, "PithHelmet" ad-blocking software, and "AcidSearch" search enhancement software.

Other problems with this update may be related to a new anti-phishing feature built into Safari 3.2 (Firefox and Microsoft's Internet Explorer have had this feature for more than two years now). MacFixIt and other forums suggest those having trouble with the Safari update should disable the phishing filter and see if that helps. If not, check to see if removing any installed add-ons fixes the problem.

While the Safari update fixes more flaws in the version built for Windows (all 11 flaws fixed in this bundle affect Windows vs. just four on the Mac version), I haven't yet seen any reports of major problems with the Windows flavor.

The Firefox patch is an overall "critical" update that corrects at least nine security holes in the browsers. The update brings Firefox 3 users to 3.0.4, and Firefox 2 users to 2.0.0.18. It looks like Mozilla somehow skipped 2.0.0.17, and Mozilla has said that its last update for the 2.0 version would be 2.0.0.19, which is probably due out before the end of the year.

Intel Nehalem

Intel's next-generation microarchitecture (codenamed "Nehalem") represents the next step in processor energy efficiency, performance, and dynamic scalability. Designed from the ground up to take advantage of hafnium-based Intel® 45nm hi-k metal gate silicon technology, Nehalem will also be the first to introduce Intel® QuickPath technology.

Now performance really does come "on-demand"

We've expanded and redefined what's possible for technologies to come:

• Dynamic scalability, managed cores, threads, cache, interfaces, and power for energy-efficient performance on demand.
• Design and performance scalability for server, workstation, PC, and mobile demands with support for 2-8+ cores and up to 16+ threads with simultaneous multi-threading (SMT), and scalable cache sizes, system interconnects, and integrated memory controllers.
• Simultaneous multi-threading brings high-performance applications into mainstream computing with 1-16+ threads optimized for a new generation multi-core processor architecture.
• Scalable shared memory of Intel QuickPath technology features memory distributed to each processor with integrated memory controllers and high-speed point-to-point interconnects to unleash the performance of next-generation Intel® multi-core processors.
• Multi-level shared cache improves performance and efficiency by reducing latency to frequently used data.

Ubuntu on Smartphones

The deal will produce a version of the operating system for small net-browsing computers known as netbooks.

It marks a departure for Arm, which before now has been best known for designing the chips inside smartphones and feature phones.

The new operating system for Arm-powered machines looks set to be available in April 2009.

Battery power

Rob Coombs, director of mobile marketing at Arm, said he expected to see the first devices running the version of Ubuntu by the time of the Computex show in June.

The devices will be based around the Arm7 architecture and, in particular, the Cortex A8 and A9 processors.

"It's significant in that it is taking Arm onto larger screen formats," he said.

The resultant netbooks were likely to sport screens up to 25cm (10in) across and be able to run good quality video, web browsers, and the well-known suite of Open Office programs, said Mr Coombs.

Equally, he said, these netbook devices would have the long battery life enjoyed by many mobiles.

"They'll be for people who want a small internet-centric device," he said.

Small form-factor notebooks have proved hugely popular with many people looking for a small device that they can use to go online while out and about.

The interest in the market sector is being driven by devices such as the XO laptop from the One Laptop Per Child project and the Eee machine from Asus.

Arm produces chip designs that firms such as TI, Qualcomm and many others turn into processors that power 70-80% of the world's mobiles.

Arm-designed chips also drive many smartphones such as the G1 - the first phone powered by Google's Android software.

The tie-up with Arm builds on Canonical's announcement in May 2007 that it would develop versions of Ubuntu specifically for low-cost note books.

Nokia E71

 

It fits perfectly well into your palm and comes across as a smart, trendy mobile phone. But that’s not its only claim to fame. Nokia E71 is a smartphone from the E-series range, a Series 60 third edition, second generation Feature Pack 1, device with a QWERTY keyboard targeting business users worldwide.
One look, and I found the phone — trim and fitted with a full keyboard — a tad crammed, with so many tiny buttons (read keys) jostling for space. But the impression ends the moment you start pressing the keys. The buttons come full-on your fingers and offer a great typing speed — re-stating the obvious: Nokia E71 is impeccably tailored for business movers, with fast and easy access to messaging, including your business and personal mail, without the complexity.
The build quality of the phone, with steel frames, is solid and is well equipped. It also has a decent a 3.2 megapixel auto focus camera and LED flash that is probably comparable to one that we can find on E90 which means it is not the best camera out there but still it is a pretty good deal for a business-related phone. Of course, there is an also Wi-Fi and the built-in GPS feature.
What’s more interesting, the phone has two home screens, meaning thereby that the two home screens let you choose between work and leisure modes. You can also choose application shortcuts to suit your schedule with message notifications on or off. One thing that’d strike you the moment you use the phone is the great application speed. In fact, switching between applications seems real easy if you have such a high-performing phone as Nokia E71. The other pluses include integrated and assisted GPS, and FM radio 87.5-108 MHz with visual radio.
But what’s definitely missing in this smartphone is a good resolution screen. The 2.4 inch QVGA display leaves much to be desired Rs 22,949.

Asianet & Star joint venture

At last the Australian-American global media mogul Rupert Murdoch has entered into a joint venture with the Jupiter Entertainment Ventures owned by Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Justifying CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan’s apprehensions, the Asianet Communications Limited has come out in the open for the first time that they are going for a joint venture with the STAR network. But the only difference being that their news channel would not be coming under this joint venture.

Under the agreement and subject to regulatory approvals, STAR Jupiter (the new name) will have majority interest in the channels such as Asianet, Asianet Plus, Kannada channel Suvaran, Telugu channel Sitara and will own Tamil channel Vijay. The current management team of Asianet Communications Ltd, including vice-chairman and managing director K.Madhavan, will continue in their roles under the joint venture.

``I am very excited at this joint venture and partnership, which will potentially transform the entertainment television business in India. STAR has impressed me with its commitment to this marker, to its consumers and to its partnership with Jupiter. I am sure that this venture will set new standards in quality television entertainment for our customers and viewers,’’ said Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a press release issued here.

K.Madhavan said that this would enable Asianet to expand its horizons further and to extend better quality services to millions of its existing viewers who patronised Asianet so far and with whom Asianet enjoyed an emotional bond.

He also clarified that all the other Asianet companies including the company that owns and operates the news channels will continue to be under the same management and ownership as in the past.

``This partnership allows us to connect deeply with the rapidly growing south Indian audience by providing compelling television that truly resonates with the viewers there. By adding the south Indian channels to our extensive portfolio of Hindi and regional language channels, STAR takes a big step towards becoming a truly national broadcaster in India,’’ said Paul Aiello, CEO of STAR.

STAR and Jupiter are also exploring a wide-range of areas for cooperation including film co-production by STAR Fox Studio Indian and Indigo Movies, Jupiter Entertainment’s movie production arm.

Rajkot's Youvraj

Post a huge total and watch the opposition buckle is often a foolproof recipe in Indian conditions. M.S. Dhoni’s men did that with a 158-run victory over England in the first One-Day International of the seven-match series that commenced at the Madhavrao Scindia Stadium here on Friday.

India was helped by Kevin Pietersen’s decision to field after winning the toss. The host recorded 387 for five in 50 overs with Yuvraj Singh’s unbeaten 138 being the pivot and England, always short of breath and far behind the required run-rate of 7.76, was bowled out for 229 in 37.4 overs.

Poor chase

England never recovered after Mathew Prior poked at Munaf Patel and Zaheer Khan scalped Owais Shah with a diving Virender Sehwag exulting at first slip. Zaheer also forced Ian Bell to nibble and at 34 for three, England banked on Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff but Zaheer darted one into the allrounder’s pads and found approval for a vociferous appeal.

Paul Collingwood too left after fencing at R.P. Singh’s line from around the stumps.

Pietersen’s 63 (56b, 7x4, 2x6) shed some light amidst the gloom as he carted Yusuf Pathan and along with Samit Patel, built a 70-run sixth-wicket partnership. And when Pietersen failed to beat Rohit Sharma’s throw, hope was snuffed out in the England dressing room though Ravi Bopara (54 n.o., 38b, 2x4, 5x6) struck big blows in a losing cause.

Fiery knock

Earlier, Yuvraj Singh’s fiery knock (138 n.o., 78b, 16x4, 6x6) high on adrenaline and airborne shots dented Pietersen’s decision to field.

Yuvraj walked in after Virender Sehwag’s exit and shared a fluid 89-run third-wicket partnership with Suresh Raina (43). Later he and skipper M.S. Dhoni (39) blitzed a 105-run fifth-wicket partnership off 58 deliveries.

Yuvraj distracted Steve Harmison with three fours before dismissing Flintoff high into the pavilion tier, while Raina lofted James Anderson and Kevin Pietersen. Raina succumbed to the belated steer and Yuvraj clutched his back as Gautam Gambhir stepped in as his runner.

The lone blip was Yusuf Pathan’s tame pull but Yuvraj was a picture of panache despite a back that twitched in pain. He tip-toed to cut Harmison, knelt and struck left-arm spinner Patel and smote Stuart Broad over sweeper-cover. And when he notched up his ninth ODI hundred, the embrace with Dhoni and Gambhir, mirrored relief after his last 10 innings had yielded 229 runs.

Openers sparkle

Prior to Yuvraj’s heroics, openers Gambhir (51, 63b, 8x4) and Sehwag (85, 73b, 10x4, 3x6) shared a 127-run partnership. Helped by James Anderson and Broad’s errant opening spells, the Delhi duo revelled.

There was a lull as Andrew Flintoff fired in his first over, banging it short but on a tight leash. Steve Harmison at the other end, angled across Gambhir’s futile jabs as the England fielders got some respite. However, normal service resumed as Gambhir smote Harmison and Sehwag pummelled Paul Collingwood for two sixes.

Gambhir fell chipping Samit while Sehwag continued to bludgeon. Sehwag struck Samit for a six and two fours but was cramped for space while attempting the heave and found a diving Ian Bell.

The stage was set for ‘Man-of-the-Match’ Yuvraj and he complied with a luminous innings that shut England out of the match even before it commenced the chase.

SCOREBOARD

India: G. Gambhir c Shah b Patel 51, V. Sehwag c Bell b Patel 85, S. Raina c Collingwood b Flintoff 43, Yuvraj (not out) 138, Y. Pathan c Bell b Harmison 0, M.S. Dhoni b Harmison 39, Rohit Sharma (not out) 11, Extras (b-1, lb-9, w-10): 20; Total (for five wkts. in 50 overs): 387.

Fall of wickets: 1-127, 2-153, 3-242, 4-247, 5-352.

England bowling: Anderson 8-0-52-0, Broad 10-0-74-0, Flintoff 10-0-67-1, Harmison 10-0-75-2, Patel 9-0-78-2, Collingwood 1-0-15-0, Pietersen 2-0-16-0.

England: I. Bell c Dhoni b Zaheer 25, M. Prior c Sehwag b Munaf 4, O. Shah c Sehwag b Zaheer 0, K. Pietersen (run out) 63, A. Flintoff lbw b Zaheer 4, P. Collingwood c Dhoni b R.P. Singh 19, Samit Patel st. Dhoni b Harbhajan 28, Ravi Bopara (not out) 54, S. Broad c Gambhir b Sehwag 26, Harmison (run out) 0, Anderson lbw b Yusuf 0, Extras (lb-2, w-4): 6; Total (in 37.4 overs): 229.

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-17, 3-34, 4-38, 5-76, 6-146, 7-150, 8-195, 9-207.

India bowling: Zaheer 7-1-26-3, Munaf 6-1-20-1, R.P. Singh 4-0-25-1, Yusuf 3.4-0-41-1, Sehwag 9-0-68-1, Harbhajan 8-0-47-1.

Indian tricolour flag lands on the moon

The Indian space programme achieved a historic milestone on 14 November 2008 with the placing of the Indian tricolour on the moon's surface on the occasion of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's birthday. ISRO said the Moon Impact Probe (MIP), one of the 11 payloads of Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, successfully hit the lunar surface today at 20:31 hrs (8:31 pm) IST.

The Indian space programme was initiated in 1962 by the then prime minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Amongst a series of historic firsts, the landing also makes the MIP the first Indian built object to reach the surface of the moon.

According to ISRO, the MIP came down near the moon's south polar region. The Indian space agency said that the box-shaped MIP carried three instruments – a video imaging system, a radar altimeter and a mass spectrometer.

While the video imaging system was intended to take pictures of the moon's surface as the MIP approached it, the radar altimeter was included to measure the rate of descent of the probe to the lunar surface. The agency said such data would be necessary for future lunar soft landing missions.

The mass spectrometer was for studying the extremely thin lunar atmosphere.

MIP's 25 minute journey to the lunar surface began with its separation from Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft at 20:06 hrs (8:06 pm) IST. This was followed by a series of automatic operations that began with the firing of its spin-up rockets after achieving a safe distance of separation from Chandrayaan-1.

Later, the probe slowed down with the firing of its retro rocket and started its rapid descent towards the moon's surface.

Information from its instruments was radioed to Chandrayaan-1 by the MIP. The spacecraft recorded the information in its onboard memory for a later readout, the agency said.

Finally, the probe had a hard landing on the lunar surface that terminated its functioning.

The hard landing also successfully concluded the country's first mission to dispatch a probe to the moon's surface from a spacecraft orbiting the moon. Data from this sub-mission will be of immense importance when ISRO sends Chandrayaan-2 to the moon a few years from now.

Meanwhile, with the dispatch of the MIP to the moon's surface and the turning on of two of Chandrayaan-1's payloads – Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC) and Radiation Dose Monitor (RADOM) – on its journey to moon, it is now time to activate the remaining eight payloads of the spacecraft in the coming days.

Chandrayaan-1 was successfully launched on the PSLV-C11 rocket on 22 October 2008 from India's spaceport at Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (Sriharikota) into its intended initial elliptical orbit around the earth. Following this, the spacecraft's orbit was raised in steps and it was made to pass near the moon by repeatedly firing its 440 Newton liquid engine.

After Chandrayaan-1's entry into its planned lunar orbit on 8 November 2008, the orbital height was reduced in steps to its intended operational altitude of 100 km from the lunar surface.

Since its launch, the health and orbit of Chandrayaan-1 is being continuously monitored from the Spacecraft Control Centre of ISRO's Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) at Bangalore with critical support from antennas of Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) at Byalalu. IDSN antennas have also received the images and scientific information gathered by TMC, RADOM, and more recently, by the MIP.

SUKU

New Changes To Windows Live

Microsoft is adding new communications and social networking tools on its Windows Live suite of online applications. Firstly, Microsoft links the contact lists in its Hotmail e-mail service and its Messenger instant message tool.
This way, users will be able to control who can see if they’re online, who can view their profiles or which of their groups can be accessed by other Internet users. Furthermore, other tools include an improved photo-sharing service and a calendar application that can be viewed consistently across Microsoft’s Hotmail, Windows Live Mail and Outlook e-mail applications.
A real step forward for the IT company represents its decision to integrate Windows Live with third-party social networking sites. Users will be able to pull in feeds from the Twitter micro-blogging service and share photos through Flickr. Now, with Windows Live, a user won’t have to manage multiple networks of friends, and that’s because address books from Facebook, Hi5 and Bebo will be accessible directly through the program.
Windows Live Essentials helps PC users connect with the online content stored on Windows Live. The tools will help users manage their e-mail and calendar, even when offline, create blogs and tag and post photos. Unfortunately for the anxious users, Microsoft has yet to announce a release date.
It seems Windows Live Essentials will emerge from beta testing soon and that many of the other new applications and services for Windows Live will be available “over the coming months.” The programs will be launched in 48 languages and 54 countries. This was announced in a blog posting on Wednesday by Windows Live General Manager, Brian Hall.

The robot that acts like Keanu Reeves

f you were going to design a robot to look like a real human being, which famous face would be your model?

Would you go for an Angelina Jolie because, well, she's already been Lara Croft and somehow the distance from video game character on your telly to robot in your living room is shorter than the walk to your garage?

Or might you prefer a warm-hearted intellectual such as Kanye West, the Marquis de Sade, or Ann Coulter?

Well, the University of West of England and the University of Bristol, as part of a project called Human-Robot Interaction, have been working to perfect an (allegedly) human-looking robot.

You know, one that can manage a few facial expressions, move its lips, and criticize you day after day.

Jules, as the robot is named, has a camera in his head that is connected to little electronic motors in his skin, and he copies the expressions his camera captures on an actual human's face. In a sense, he's like a ventriloquist's dummy. Without the ventriloquist in sight.

Yet if you watch the video above, you may think the same strange thoughts that passed through my mind: First, "Oh look, they've cloned Keanu Reeves." And second, "Why is he talking about destroying humanity?"

Jules, or Neo Keanu, seems keen on destroying three parts of the United Kingdom: Weston, Gloucester and Wales. Gloucester is quite nice in a twee English kind of way. Weston is a rather sad seaside resort. And Wales, well, it is the center of Britain's drug trade, so perhaps this is a robot on some kind of moral quest.

However, the more you watch him, the more you question whether he is real and whether Keanu Reeves isn't.

BlackBerry v/s iPhone

Apple's iPhone has half the failure rate of RIM's BlackBerry in the first year of use, says a study carried out by a mobile-phone war ranty firm.
The SquareTrade study, which analysed cell phone failure rates for more than 15,000 new phones, found iPhones had a malfunction rate of 5.6 per cent in the first year, compared to 11.9 per cent for BlackBerry smartphones. Palm's Treos fared worse, with 16.2 per cent having some sort of malfunction in the first 12 months of use.
The study noted that the most prominent malfunctions for iPhone users appear to be touchscreen-related, accounting for a third of all reported issues with the handset. However, 12 per cent of iPhone users reported accidental damage to their handsets within the first year of use -- the average for other handsets is nine percent.
"It's likely that any iPhone owner can guess the reason iPhone accidents are so common," the authors wrote. "After two minutes of handling an iPhone, it's impossible to escape noticing that the handsets are incredibly slippery. The form doesn't help, either. The dimensions make for a difficult grip, especially for those with small hands. These two factors conspire to make the iPhone more accident prone than just about any other handset model we've seen."
The report's authors also noted that fewer than half-a-percent of iPhone owners reported battery problems after a year of use, compared with around one percent for BlackBerry and Treo users.
SquareTrade's study did not take into account software issues handled directly by the retailer or fixed by firmware updates.

Web addiction

China could become the first country to classify Internet addiction as a clinical disorder amid growing concern over compulsive Web use by millions of Chinese, state media said on Monday.

The health ministry is likely to adopt a new manual on Internet addiction next year drawn up by Chinese psychologists that recognises it as a condition similar to compulsive gambling or alcohol addiction, the China Daily reported.

It cited psychologists involved in drafting the diagnostic manual.

China has the world's largest online population at 253 million people, according to official figures, and is growing rapidly as computer use rises along with income levels.

But that has also fed growing concerns over compulsive Internet use.

A top Chinese legislator said in August that about 10 percent of China's Web users under the age of 18, or four million people, were addicted to the Internet, mainly to "unhealthy" online games, state media said at the time.

Recent research by Internet media company InterActiveCorp showed that 42% of Chinese youngsters polled felt "addicted" to the Web, compared to 18% in the United States.

China's government has tried various measures to regulate the booming online gaming market and curb Web use by teens.

In 2006, it ordered all Chinese Internet game manufacturers to install technology in their games that demands players reveal their real name and identification number.

Social networking sites now in Mobile

Cellphone makers are increasingly pre-loading their handsets with social networking applications to woo internet-savvy consumers. LG Mobile has tied up with Mobile 2.0 service provider RockeTalk which will upload a social networking application on its phones. Similarly, Samsung Mobile has a tie-up with ShoZu, provider of mobile social media services, which has pre-loaded social networking software on select Samsung phones.
Says Samsung Mobile country head Sanjay Dutt: “Early next year, we plan to launch our own proprietary software for enabling social networking through mobiles. This will be pre-loaded on most Samsung multimedia phones. The idea is to enable users to stay connected while on the move.”
LG GSM business head Anil Arora: “Social networking is the next thing on mobile phones. In future, we plan to pre-load more mobile phone models with social networking application without any extra charge.” The company currently pre-loads the application only on LG KT 610 and KF 750 cellphones.
According to handset marketers, social networking on mobiles is a high-traction feature in the urban market where youths form a big consumer group for handsets. Says Motorola India and South-West Asia senior director (sales) Lloyd Mathias: “Social networking is an important feature, especially in the urban market and can define the purchase decision. Today’s internet-savvy youths seek access to social networking sites on mobile phones.” Motorola has social networking application pre-loaded on seven of its handset models, including all phones in the Moto Rokr and Moto Ming series.
Some handset makers are eagerly seeking a tie-up in the space. Says Meridian Mobile CEO Rajiv Khanna: “We see potential in this feature and are planning to make even our low-end phones internet-ready. Early next year, we will tie up with a local web 2.0 service provider and upload this feature in our phones at the shop-floor level.”
Service providers are spoilt for choice as manufacturers queue up seeking collaborations for pre-loading phones with social networking applications.
Says RockeTalk marketing director Sameer Agarwal: “Our application makes it easier for mobile users to send voice messages, pictures and videos. Social networking on mobiles is set to grow exponentially as mobile internet penetration increases.” The US-based service provider claims to be in advanced stages of talks with handset makers—Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and Spice Mobile—for pre-loading web 2.0 applications. Almost 10-million new handsets are sold in India every month, making it one of the biggest markets globally. No wonder, handset marketers like LG and Samsung are quick to adopt novel features to fuel sales.

Chandrayaan-1 has reached its destination

 

Chandrayaan-1 has reached its destination. The Indian spacecraft is now orbiting the moon over its poles at an altitude of about 100 km.

M. Annadurai, Project Director, said on Wednesday evening: “The entire team is very happy that in three weeks from the launch on October 22, we could safely send Chandrayaan-1 to the moon without any hiccups.” The Moon is 3,84,000 km from the Earth.

S.K. Shivakumar, Director, ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), Bangalore, called it “a fulfilling mission.” “We were given the job of sending a spacecraft to the moon. We have realised the mission.”

The spacecraft reached its final home after commands were radioed at 6.33 p.m. from the Spacecraft Control Centre (SCC), nerve-centre of the current operations at ISTRAC, to Chandrayaan-1’s engine, Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM), to fire.

The engine fired for 58 seconds and Chandrayaan-1’s aposelene (the farthest distance from the moon) was reduced from 255 km to about 100 km. On Tuesday, its periselene was reduced from 187 to about 100 km. Thus, after the last orbit reduction on Wednesday evening, Chandrayaan-1 was truly home.

11 instruments

Chandrayaan-1 has 11 scientific instruments — five from India and six from abroad. Since Chandrayaan-1 is a remote-sensing spacecraft, it will help in identifying minerals and chemicals on the Moon. It will also look for the possible presence of water ice in the Moon’s Polar Regions. Its Terrain Mapping Camera (TMC), built by India, will help in preparing a three-dimensional atlas of the entire surface of the Moon.

As the spacecraft has reached its destination now, Mr. Annadurai said: “All activities lined up to commission the scientific instruments will start one after another.” One of them, Moon Impact Probe (MIP), will be commanded on Friday to eject from the mother-spacecraft Chandrayaan-1 and it will crash on the Moon’s surface. Of the remaining 10 instruments, the TMC has already been switched on and it has taken pictures of both the Earth and the Moon. Radiation Dose Monitor, an instrument from Bulgaria, to measure the radiation in the Moon’s atmosphere, has also been activated.

“By the end of this month, we will be able to commission all the instruments,” Mr. Annadurai said.

Screen Saver Tab Missing - Display Properties

Windows XP Screen Saver tab is missing from the Display Properties. The most likely cause of this is malware utilizing Group Policy Objects which enforces policies for system settings and/or user account(s) settings. The Group Policy for Hide Screen Saver tab will cause the Screen Saver tab to be removed from Display Properties when enabled.

Group Policies are typically applied at businesses to control access to programs, system properties, and user account settings. For Home users, Screen Saver tab can be removed these Group Policies but usually malware is the culprit. If you are a home user and the Screen Saver tab is missing from the Display Properties and looks like the pictures below then there is a good chance you are infected with malware.

NOTE: Ensure your computer is malware free before applying the following solutions.

CAUTION: Before making any changes to the Windows XP Registry, please backup your Windows XP Registry using the direction from "Using ERUNT to back up the Windows XP Registry".

Manual Steps Using Group Policy Editor

NOTE: The Group Policy Editor requires Administrative privileges and is only available for Windows XP Professional Edition. Windows XP Home users can use the Windows XP Registry method to remove the Group Policy restriction.

1. Click Start and then Run.
2. Type gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box.
3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
4. In the Group Policy Editor navigate to:
   User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Display
   
5. Double-click Hide Screen Saver tab.
6. Select Not Configured.

NOTE: If the Screen Saver tab is missing on a per User account basis then the above method will not work, you will need to use the Registry Editor to remove the Group Policy.

Manual Steps Using Windows XP Registry

1. Click Start and then Run.
2. Type regedit.exe in the Run dialog box.
3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
4. Navigate to:
   HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
   
5. Right-click NoDispScrSavPage to select Modify.
6. Change the value to 0.
7. Navigate to:
   HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
   
8. Right-click NoDispScrSavPage to select Modify.
9. Change the value to 0.
10. Quit the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).

NOTE: You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Manual Steps Using REG ADD

1. Open a Command Window.
2. Type:
   REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /v NoDispScrSavPage /t REG_DWORD /d 0
3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
4. Type:
   REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /v NoDispScrSavPage /t REG_DWORD /d 0
5. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
6. Type EXIT and press ENTER on your keyboard.

NOTE: You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Automated Fix Using an Registration File

1. Download ScrnSvrTb.Show.reg to a folder on your hard drive.
2. Right-click ScrnSvrTb.Show.reg to select Merge.
3. Now the registration entries are added for you.

NOTES: The ScrnSvrTb.Show.reg file is from my web server (http://www.lprf.ca).  You also can view the contents of the ScrnSvrTb.Show.reg file by right-clicking the file and selecting Edit. You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Platforms Tested

• Microsoft Windows XP Editions

Diabetes in children

Diabetes does not immediately spring to mind when thinking about childhood diseases. Most people think that only obese, well-to-do, middle-aged individuals develop the disease. Not any longer — no age is exempt from diabetes and the incidence in young people, often in the middle and lower income groups, is increasing by leaps and bounds.

 

Increasing prevalence

Even in the past, diabetes in children was not unknown. However, most children who developed diabetes in the past had Type 1 or insulin-dependent diabetes. This is a disorder which damages the insulin-secreting cells of the pancreas, rendering the individual incapable of secreting enough insulin to maintain blood sugars at normal levels. Untreated, the disease is fatal. Inadequately treated, affected children can develop complications such as eye disease, heart disease and kidney disease. Lifelong treatment with insulin injections, along with strict adherence to diet and lifestyle advice, can help patients to live a near-normal life and avoid complications.

Devastating as the diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes might be to affected children and their families, the disease is luckily rare and has been so for the past several decades. However, there is another form of diabetes, which is silently assuming epidemic proportions and threatening to hold an entire generation in its grip.

Diabetic capital

Type 2, earlier referred to as non-insulin dependent diabetes, is steadily increasing in prevalence throughout the world. The largest number of patients with this disease is found in India, earning the country the unwanted sobriquet of the “Diabetic Capital” of the world. The most alarming thing about this epidemic is that it is now affecting individuals at younger and younger ages. Whereas it was rare to find a 20 year old person with Type 2 diabetes 10 years ago, nowadays people are developing the disease even in their teens, as in Ravi’s case.

Why are our children falling prey to this disease of middle age? Heredity does play a role. In Ravi’s case, his father and mother had diabetes and they could have passed the gene on to their son. Unfortunately, we still do not know the exact genes that cause Type 2 diabetes. Even if we did discover any of those genes, it might not be of much help in preventing or treating the disease. In any case, hereditary factors cannot explain the increased prevalence of diabetes in the last 30 years — after all, genes do not change in such a short time!

A more important reason for the epidemic of diabetes in India is the drastic changes in lifestyle that have occurred over the past 30 years. Nowhere has this been more evident than in our children, and especially in urban areas. Children nowadays have no time for sports and games. All their time is taken up by academics. Any free time that they get is spent in front of the TV or computer. Food habits have gone from bad to worse, with easy availability of calorie-rich junk foods. No wonder childhood obesity is increasing in prevalence, and along with it, childhood Type 2 diabetes. Studies at Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre and the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation have shown a 10-fold increase in childhood onset Type 2 diabetes in the last 20 years. In addition to Type 2 and Type 1 diabetes, there are other forms of diabetes with affect children such as maturity onset diabetes of youth (MODY) and fibrocalculous pancreatic diabetes but as these are rarer forms of diabetes and do not have the danger of rising to epidemic proportions even in the future, they are not discussed further in this article.

Especially vulnerable

Getting diabetes is never a good idea at any age, but children with diabetes are at a particular disadvantage. Firstly, whether you develop diabetic complications or not depends to a large extent, on the duration of diabetes. A child getting diabetes has much more time in which to develop complications than a person getting diabetes in middle age. Secondly, diabetic control in children is often very difficult, particularly in teenagers, in whom hormonal changes and rebelliousness combine to make treatment especially challenging. Thirdly, girls with diabetes are feted to go through their subsequent pregnancies and deliveries as diabetic patients, with increased danger to both mother and baby.

So much for the bad news. The good news is that Type 2 diabetes can be prevented. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, which cannot be prevented, simple lifestyle modification can prevent diabetes from developing, or at least postpone it to a later age in those predisposed to the disease.

The first step is to identify those children at highest risk for developing diabetes. These are children whose father or mother or both have Type 2 diabetes. The second important clue is the presence of obesity. In girls there is often evidence of polycystic ovary disease with irregular periods and some signs of virilism including excessive facial hair growth. Targeting preventive steps towards the above groups of children will thus bear the maximum fruit.

Encouraging regular physical activity is an essential step in any diabetes prevention programme. Time should be set apart for physical education and games, whatever be the age of the child. Most children need no second invitation to go out and play; what is needed is a change of attitude on the side of parents and teachers. Parents should also serve as role models by indulging in regular exercise themselves and making exercise a family activity. Sedentary activities like TV viewing should be kept to a minimum. Attention should also be paid to the diet by cutting down on junk foods, fried items and soft drinks and encouraging intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. These good habits inculcated in childhood will remain with the child throughout his or her life and help them in warding off not only diabetes, but also lifestyle-related diseases like obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease.

The focus of this year’s World Diabetes Day theme is diabetes in childhood and adolescence and is very relevant to India where childhood diabetes is emerging as a major threat to the future health of our nation. India is on the verge of emerging as an economic superpower and this is largely driven by our IT and other young professionals. Diabetes has the power to cripple the health of the nation unless urgent preventive steps are taken. It would be a pity to allow our children to fall prey to this serious disease when there are easy and inexpensive ways of preventing it. Action on the part of everyone concerned is essential to prevent the diabetes epidemic from assuming monstrous proportions.

Health worries for MP3 players

MP3 players may be harmful to certain heart-monitoring electronics, according to the American Heart Association (AHA.)

The group said that new research suggests the neodymium magnets used in the headsets for many players can cause harmful interference on patients with implanted pacemakers and cardioverter defibrillators.

The study found that the magnets in the headphones caused the interference when placed within 3 centimeters of the implanted device. When the headphones are kept outside of this range, the devices do not pose any risk.

"For patients with pacemakers, exposure to the headphones can force the device to deliver signals to the heart, causing it to beat without regard to the patients’ underlying heart rhythm," explained Dr. William H. Maisel, the senior author of the study and director of the Medical Device Safety Institute at Beth Israel Medical Centre.

"Exposure of a defibrillator to the headphones can temporarily deactivate the defibrillator."

This is not the first time portable media players have been accused of harming implanted medical devices. Earlier this year, the US food and drug administration conducted a study into the possiblehealth effects of the iPod following a presentation from a high-school science student.

The players were eventually found not to pose any health risk.

Nevertheless, computer hardware manufacturers are having to pay more attention to the possible side effects fo technological devices, for fear of an increasingly litigious customer base.

New PSP-3000 from Sony

Sony announced its updated PSP-3000 system at last week's Leipzig Games Convention. Pictures of the new system have already popped up online, but GameSpot has the first hands-on look at the new PSP here in the United States.

The PSP-3000 plays the same games and offers the same media support as the older PSP models, but Sony has upgraded the system with an improved LCD screen and a new built-in microphone. The LCD is the same size and resolution as older PSP displays, but it has a "wider color gamut and anti-reflection technology," according to the latest Sony press release.

The wider color gamut means that the new PSP screen is capable of displaying a wider range of colors. The new LCD also features five times the contrast ratio and quicker pixel-response times than the old PSP display. The response time has doubled in speed and will help eliminate ghosting or blurring during gameplay and video playback.

The increased color gamut and improved contrast ratio was noticeable when we placed the PSP-3000 system right next to a PSP-2000 (PSP Slim); colors looked richer and more vibrant on the PSP-3000. The vivid, ghost-free screen does draw more power than the old screen. John Koller, Sony director of hardware marketing told GameSpot that the new screen will reduce battery life by "about 20 minutes."

Full-length MGM films on YouTube

The partnership is aimed boosting advertising revenue for both YouTube and the Hollywood studio.

It will result in the launch of a video-on-demand channel called Impact, dedicated exclusively to action films, TV shows and clips.

"I think it will grow into a nice little business," said Jim Packer, co-president of MGM Worldwide Television.

He told the BBC that YouTube made an ideal partner because of its 280 million monthly users.

"I think YouTube has something that a lot of sites don't have.

"They have a lot of people walking through their front door everyday. And if they are smart in how they grow this, YouTube should have a successful business also," said Mr Packer.

Another channel that has been unveiled will showcase episodes from the popular programme American Gladiators from the 1980s and 1990s.

The videos will cost users nothing to download but will contain advertising.

Initially they will only be available in the US. But there are plans to open the service elsewhere once rights issues have been cleared.

'Entertainment destination'

Google, which bought YouTube two years ago for $1.65bn, has been searching for ways to make money out of the site without driving away its huge fan base.

The site has been facing competition from other video-sharing services such as Hulu, which offers programming from NBC Universal and News Corp's Fox as well as MGM.

Star Trek was first broadcast in 1966

Under an agreement YouTube has already signed with CBS, users can download classic TV shows such as Star Trek, MacGyver, and Beverly Hills 90210.

It has other arrangements in place with companies like the BBC, Sony, Lionsgate and Oprah.

YouTube said that striking a deal with MGM made sense given their commitment to deliver premium content online.

"YouTube is committed to helping our community of fans discover new content and reconnect with their all time favourite TV shows and movies," said Jordan Hoffner, director of content partnerships for the company.

"By partnering with MGM, YouTube is strengthening its position as an entertainment destination where Hollywood studios can reach a global audience."

'Growing forum'

The YouTube Impact channel will feature clips from MGM classics such as Rocky, Ronin, Legally Blonde, and The Magnificent Seven.

The films on show include Lone Wolfe McQuade and Bulletproof Monk, as well as those starring the actor Chuck Norris.

The Bond movies represent a major franchise for MGM

"It's safe to say you won't see those blockbuster theatricals shortly after their release or after their TV window," admitted Mr Packer.

Neither will users see any of the James Bond films playing on YouTube.

"They do very nicely on their own under existing licences and we are very protective of that content," Mr Packer said, adding: "There are plenty of other films we would like to expose."

He told the BBC that he did not expect to be the only studio to make these kinds of deals.

Mr Packer also said there were plans to launch another five to 10 channels.

One would be aimed at female viewers.

"We are in the process of figuring out a female-skewed brand," explained Mr Packer.

"We could put up a number of say romantic clips from shows like Moonstruck and put up a number of key feature films and create a female targeted site that would get a much higher advertising rate."

MGM said it hoped new channels would be launched within the next 18 months.

Mohanlal beating a fan on stage

35 mm film

35 mm film is the basic film gauge most commonly used for both still photography and motion pictures, and remains relatively unchanged since its introduction in 1892 by William Dickson and Thomas Edison, using film stock supplied by George Eastman. The photographic film is cut into strips 35 millimeters (about 1 3/8 inches) wide — hence the name. The standard negative pulldown for movies ("single-frame" format) is four perforations per frame along both edges, which makes for exactly 16 frames per foot (for stills, the standard frame is eight perforations).

A wide variety of largely proprietary gauges were used by the numerous camera and projection systems invented independently in the late 19th century and early 20th century, ranging from 13 mm to 75 mm (0.51–2.95 in). 35 mm was eventually recognized as the international standard gauge in 1909, and has remained by far the dominant film gauge for image origination and projection despite threats from smaller and larger gauges, and from novel formats, because its size allows for a relatively good tradeoff between the cost of the film stock and the quality of the images captured. The ubiquity of 35 mm movie projectors in commercial movie theaters makes it the only motion picture format, film or video, that can be played in almost any cinema in the world.

The gauge is remarkably versatile in application. In the past one hundred years, it has been modified to include sound, redesigned to create a safer film base, formulated to capture color, has accommodated a bevy of widescreen formats, and has incorporated digital sound data into nearly all of its non-frame areas. Since the beginning of the 21st century, Eastman Kodak and Fujifilm have held a duopoly in the manufacture of 35 mm motion picture film.

Difference between cold and flu

People often tend to mix up a common cold with flu or vice versa and can have mistaken beliefs over their causes and symptoms. Now, a health expert has shed some light on the sources of misery.

Dr. Seth Feltheimer, an internist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center explains the basic differences between the two.

While a cold is usually an upper respiratory tract infection with symptoms including a sore throat, head congestion, sinus pain and low-grade fever, a flu is generally marked by a higher fever, a sore throat, cough and body aches.

A common cold usually lasts two to three days while the flu can take as long as a week unlike a flu that can lead to more serious complications and even hospitalisation, especially in high-risk individuals like asthmatics and the elderly.

Common facts and tales:

1. “The best way to prevent a cold is to wash your hands.”
True. Also, try avoiding people with colds.

2. “You can catch a cold by staying outside in the cold too long.”
False. Colds are transmitted by touching something that an infected person has touched, or by breathing in moisture that an infected person has coughed out. The reason people get more colds in winter is that they spend more time indoors and have more contact with each other. Additionally, it is easier to catch the flu in dry, cold weather.

Did you know: Why common colds are so terribly annoying?

3. “Antibiotics can cure a cold or the flu.”
False. A cold or flu is a virus, and, therefore, cannot be treated with antibiotics. There are medications that can alleviate the symptoms of flu and make you feel better, but the best defense against the flu is to be vaccinated against it. There is no vaccine against the common cold.

4. “If you have the flu, you shouldn’t go to work.”
True. Going to work can expose your colleagues to infection. Sometimes, professional athletes play with the flu, but in those cases it is usually a different virus involved. The best advice is to rest and recover.

5. “Flu shots can give you the flu.”
False. Flu shots can produce very mild flu-like symptoms for a short period, but this happens very infrequently.

6. “If you have a flu shot one year, you don’t need it the next.”
False. Flu shots do not last for more than a year. And, the vaccine is reformulated each year to target the specific kind of virus, which may change from year to year.

Sachin's 40th Test Century

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday said his 40th Test century was very satisfying because it came in the series-deciding fourth

"This match is very important in deciding the series and making a century in this match is very satisfying," said the ace batsman at the end of the first day's play at the newly built VCA stadium.
Tendulkar made 109, his 10th ton against Australia and fourth in this city, before getting out at the fag end of the day after coming in when India were in some trouble at 116 for three before lunch.
He put on 146 runs with VVS Laxman, playing in his 100th Test, to put the hosts in commanding situation with a total of 311 for five at the close of play.
Tendulkar said India were in a good position now though ideally it should have not lost more than three wickets at close.
"We are in a good position. But we should have lost not more than three wickets. The wicket is helping the spinners and has some bounce too. We have an advantage in winning the toss but we need to put a good total and more importantly need to get the opposition out for a small score," he said.
Tendulkar said he was playing well without getting to three figures in the last seven games.
"I am batting well but three-figure innings eluded me. But that is not everything. I am more satisfied that on four occasions (in the period) I have played crucial innings and contributed to the team's purpose," he said.
Tendulkar, dropped twice in the deep when on 85 and then 96 off debutant off spinner Jason Krezja, did not agree that the Australian bowler was unlucky and also said there were no specific plans for attacking him.
"I don't think he was unlucky. There were no specific plans to attack him but we played the ball on merit," he said.
Tendulkar said the planned retirement of Sourav Ganguly after this match had not taken the focus of the team or the player himself.
"The emotions are under control. Even Sourav had not thought about it when he walked out to bat. Once you cross the line the thought process changes and the focus is there (on the immediate issue at hand)," he said.
He also did not agree with the view that after having crossed Brian Lara's record for the highest number of Test runs at Mohali in the second Test, he's batting more freely.
"I don't think so. I have batted as per the situation and pitch conditions," he said.
The champion batsman complimented debutant opener Murali Vijay by saying the 24-year-old youngster, pitch-forked into the Test battle against the world champions, batted well in making 33 and putting on 98 for the first wicket with Virender Sehwag who made a quick-fire 66.
"Vijay batted very well. He looked calm and composed," Tendulkar said about India's latest Test player.

Nokia ‘N96’ Multimedia Phone

Nokia’s most advanced multimedia device N96, which has already made its debut in India and UK, has now been introduced in the US market.

The Nokia N96, which sports a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and dual LED Flash, offers a memory size of 16GB, which can be increased to 24GB with an optional microSD card, permitting users to store hours of media and entertainment on the go.

The dual-side N96 is a perfect of style and superior technology and represents a complete new chapter in mobile technology. It  is best optimized for superb web and entertainment.

The N96 can store around 18,000 songs, up to 20,000 images at 5 mega pixel, upto 60 hours of video or full length movies. With multifunctional media keys and a 2.8” screen, music, movies and games and will be available at the touch of a button.

The phone also packs in turn-by-turn voice navigation with geotagging and N-Gage gaming back up with Ovi to share effigies online.

Other amazing features of the phone include built-in 3D stereo speakers, MPEG-4, Windows Media Video and Flash Video. Moreover, it is also compatible with USB 2.0 connection, WLAN and 3G HSDPA support.

Priced at Rs 42,839, the Nokia N96 is available for purchase in New York and Chicago through Nokia Flagship stores and in the US through open channels, online store and even at various independent retailers and e-tailers.

Spice S-930

Irrespective of a sleek metallic finish exterior, Spice S-930 has various incredible internal features as well, namely: 2 Mega Pixel Camera with Webcam facility, 2 GB Expandable memory, Complimentary 1 GB Memory Card, Video and MP3 player, FM Record and Play, and something new that steps in is the most awaited: The Finger Swipe Touch Screen Facility. Not to forget VAS’s new Opera Mini Browser and Thomson Reuters, for speedy browsing and keeping up abreast with the various worldly events.

With the help of this incredible technology, you can view your gallery images and even unlock your keypad with just a fingers swipe! Spice sure knows how to keep alive their Mantra of Innovation! Who would not want to own this latest technology, and that too just for a price of Rs. 7,999/-.

Obama Wins election

Democrat Barack Obama won an extraordinary two-year struggle for the White House, beating Republican John McCain to become the first black president in U.S. history.

Following are quotes from world leaders:

GRIGORY KARASIN, RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

"The news we are receiving on the results of the American presidential election shows that everyone has the right to hope for a freshening of U.S. approaches to all the most complex issues, including foreign policy and therefore relations with the Russian Federation as well."

HOSHIYAR ZEBARI, IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER

"I think you will hear a lot of discussion and goals and slogans during the election campaigns. When there is a reality check I think any U.S. president has to look very hard at the facts on the ground."

TZIPI LIVNI, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER

"Israel expects the close strategic cooperation with the new administration, president and Congress will continue along with the continued strengthening of the special and unshakeable special relationship between the two countries."

Nokia launches low-cost handsets

In an effort to increase mobile usage in rural areas, Nokia on Tuesday said it is beefing up its emerging markets strategy as it unveiled several handsets and a range of services targeted initially at India.

As part of the initiative, Nokia launched its lowest cost handset to date at €25 (around Rs 1,540), as well as a range of agriculture information and education services called Nokia Life Tools.

Nokia to unveil 7 devices for emerging markets

Estimated retail prices of the new devices range from €25 to €90, with several models expected to begin shipping in 2008. Nokia’s suite of Internet services for emerging markets will be available in 2009.

Mobile gaming troubles to continue: Nokia

“In 2002, Nokia unveiled a strategy to lower the cost of owning and operating a mobile phone and to bring the benefits of mobile telephony to people in emerging markets. Today, we are expanding that vision by introducing a number of devices and services that aim to bring the power of the Internet to these markets as well,” said Robert Andersson, Executive Vice-President, Devices, Nokia.

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The services being introduced by Nokia includes the Mail on Ovi, which offers the possibility to create an email account directly on the mobile phone without having to use a personal computer. Nokia will launch this service in a few select markets by this month-end.

Nokia Life Tools will provide farmers and students with relevant information through SMS. These services use an icon-based user interface, which can display information simultaneously in two languages.

“SMS is used to deliver the critical information to ensure that this service works wherever a mobile phone does, without the hassles of additional settings or the need for GPRS coverage,” said Jawahar Kanjilal, Global Head of Emerging Market Devices Services & Software, Nokia Corporation.

Kanjilal said Life Tools is aimed at helping farmers to get local information on seeds, crops, markets and weather. He expects full commercial service across India in the first half of 2009, with expansions to countries in Asia and Africa later.

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There will also be a service that sends subscribers an English word each day, explaining how it’s pronounced and what it means in the user’s native language. Each of these packages could cost between Rs 25 and Rs 50 a month.