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Thursday, December 11, 2008

Russia to get a Miss Constitution

The winner of a new Russian beauty contest must be attractive, talented and witty.

But never mind wanting to help children. She should also symbolize Russia’s constitution.

Russia’s main progovernment youth group, Nashi, is to stage the “Miss Constitution 2008” contest as the Kremlin is pushing for changes to the constitution that critics say aims to let Prime Minister Vladimir Putin become president again. “This constitution is a state brand and today we want to choose a girl worthy of its image,” a Nashi spokeswoman.

Nashi will crown Miss Constitution on December 12 to celebrate the document’s 15th anniversary. Other Russian youth groups will also take part in the event. “The girls must prove they are gifted in many ways,” the spokeswoman said. “Talented, clever, erudite, artistic, witty, graceful, flexible and most important of all not without sparkle.”

The Kremlin wants to extend the Russian presidential term to six years from four, a change critics say could be designed to allow Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to reclaim the top job.

Parliament has already approved the changes which now must be approved by Russia’s regional legislatures. Last year thousands of Nashi protesters marched to support Putin in parliamentary elections and demonstrate against his opponents but in 2008 the group has adopted a far lower profile.

Palin tops 2008 Google search

Sarah Palin may have ended up on the losing side of the landmark US electoral battle for the White House, but she has finished first on Google’s image search list.


In the Google’s list of the most popular searches in 2008, the photogenic defeated US vicepresidential candidate, topped the the web search chart.


The glamorous Palin finished number one on Google image search in 2008, Google said. “Beijing Olympics 2008” came in at number two on the Google list of “fastest-rising” searches around the globe this year followed by “Facebook login” and “Tuenti,” a Spanish social networking website.

Searches for “Heath Ledger,” the Australian actor who died in January, was listed at number four followed by as in Barack Obama.

Pick up tech slang before you are dubbed ‘404’

A new type of slang, dubbed the “tech slang”, is making its way into people’s inboxes, as more people are using technology driven terms in messages, according to a new study. So, from now on, if you read “404” in your mobile inbox, it will mean “clueless”, inspired by the error message given when a browser cannot find a webpage. According to slang lexicographer Jonathon Green, some such terms and abbreviations have evolved as a result of the limited speed and space afforded by text messaging. And more use of SMS can actually come up with new terms. As part of the study, the researchers closed in on an unlikely slang source- Oyster system, a card-based payment scheme on the London Underground. Usually, the card readers show the number 35 if the card has run out of credit. Thus, “Code 35” now means penniless. In the same way you can be named “Code 11” if you are behind the times, for in Oyster’s system, that’s how one refers to an out-of-date card.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

What does Roadrunner refer to?

What does Roadrunner refer to?
It’s the world’s fastest supercomputer built by scientists at IBM and Los Alamos National Laboratory for the US military. It can compute about 1.026 quadrillion calculations per second. It will be primarily used for military problems, particularly to ensure the accurate functioning of ageing nuclear weapons.

Who are the youngest and oldest captains to win the soccer world cup?
The youngest captain was Cafuaka Marcos Evangelista de Moraes from Brazil. Born on June 7, 1970, he won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002. The oldest captain is Dino Zoff from Italy, born on February 28, 1942. He won the World Cup in 1982.

What is the Armenian genocide?
The Armenian genocide was carried out by the Young Turk government of the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1916 and from 1922 to 1923. About 1.5 million Armenians out of the 2.5 million in the empire were killed. Armenians all over the world commemorate the tragedy on April 24 every year.

What is a gluten-free diet?
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. In some genetically predisposed children, food containing gluten causes small-bowl mucusal damage resulting in a disease called gluten-sensitive enteropathy or celiac disease. The treatment is a strict gluten-free diet i.e. elimination of wheat, rye and barley products from the diet.

What is Riemann Hypo thesis?
Riemann Hypothesis is an important result in Mathematics whose truth or otherwise is not yet known. This was conjectured by the German mathematician Gerhard Riemann in 1859. A lot of results have been proved on the assumption that the Riemann Hypothesis is true. They would all stand or fall based on whether the hypothesis is proved or disproved.

What is Fat Tuesday?
Fat Tuesday is Mardi Gras, where gras is French for fat and Mardi is French for Tuesday. The name comes from the tradition of slaughtering and feasting on a fattened calf on the last day of a carnival. The annual festivities start on January 6 and build to a climax on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, which always occurs on the day before Ash Wednesday.

What is a gazebo?
A gazebo is a pavilion structure, often octagonal, commonly found in parks, gardens, and spacious public areas. Gazebos provide shade, basic shelter, ornamental features in a landscape and a place to rest.

What’s distinctive about Davos?
Situated at an altitude of 1,560 metres, in the heart of the Alps in Switzerland, the town of Davos has the distinction of being the largest mountain resort in the Alps and the highest town of Europe. Its major tourist attraction are winter sports. It is also a preferred place for holding international conferences like the World Economic Forum.

ANY ANSWERS?

Who owns Antarctica and its resources?
Who came up with the concept of vacuum?
Who are carpet-baggers?
What is apomixis? How does it differ from amphimixis?
How much data does the Internet contain?
What is the unit of magnetic power?

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Bruni becomes global AIDS ambassador


Wearing a red ribbon, French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy became a global AIDS ambassador, vowing to direct the media spotlight on her toward a “more important” cause. The wife of President Nicolas Sarkozy chose World AIDS Day to announce her new mission as ambassador for the global funds to fight diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Nine months after her marriage to Sarkozy, the super modelturned-singer said on Monday she wanted to use her celebrity status to draw attention to “the most vulnerable victims of AIDS”, women and children. “I benefit from your regular and constant attention,” Bruni-Sarkozy told journalists.

“And today, I finally have an opportunity to direct your attention to something more important and more serious.” Bruni will focus her work on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV— which is virtually wiped out in Europe through treatment but still affects 30% of newborns in Africa.


Thursday, November 27, 2008

Karkare: 'An iconic hero at the service of the nation'

Nation pays rich tributes to its hero Hemant Karkare, an IPS officer who laid his life in the line of duty while fighting the terrorists from the front as the chief of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
With the country living in a constant terror ridden atmosphere and questioning the efficacy of the counter-terror mechanism including the police, Karkare with his sacrifice has left the nation startled and moaning for the irreparable loss.

mastii-kustii.com sifts through the readers' messages pouring in hundreds in expressing the feelings of a nation grieving over the loss of a top cop.
Vincent Mattammel referred to the deceased ATS chief, Hemant Karkare, as a police officer who never shied away from the dangers and threats on his life. "He was an iconic hero at the service of the nation! A person, every sensible Indian is immensely proud of," feels Mattammel.

For Aishwarya and Ankita Mathur, death of Karkare is a loss to the entire nation. "We offer our salutations to this brave man and hope his family and the country can recover from this tragic loss. Salutations! to the brave cop, who lead his team from the front."
Ramesh blames the killing of officers like Karkare on the undue interference of politics. "We loose an honest cop over the vote bank and still feel to be living in safe world. Our politicians are the main cause of bad law and order," he rues.
Dhayanithi complains as to why the Government cannot find some mechanism of attacking the terror-elements by providing a fully covered dress (to the cops), so that those fighting terror can protect themselves against the bullets of the terrorists.

Ganesh Shenoy feels that Kakare's sacrifice will dispel the clouds of darkness and cowardice.
Calling Karkare a light of inspiration, Shenoy feels that the brave officer was an ideal for the nation. "We are proud of you and will remain grateful to you. You are immortalized in our hearts forever, forever, forever," he adds emotionally.
Swetha says Karkare's death is a big loss to the police force." It is really sad that we have lost one of the most capable officers... All the terrorists organizations need to be bombed down to put an end to such acts".
Nirmal Singh feels that the nation has lost the real hero with the death of Karkare. "Condolences to his family will hardly compensate the loss. We need more people like him".
Hanif feels that it won't be easy for the nation to get one more Karkare in future. "I am crying too much about Hemant Karkare. He was a real hero of the nation. The way he has left us, we have missed something for nation".

Archana calls Karkare's death as unjustified as she feels offering condolences and help to the family is not enough. "Much more is required to be contributed by the society and a sense of awareness of what is happening in India and where it is going to lead us amongst the youth, should be there," she asserts.
Varghese Joseph wonders, as to when our politicians will stop meddling in the internal affairs of the security. "This is a time when the whole nation should support the country and our police force".
M M Naazim refers to Karkare as a disciplined soldier of the country. "It is a very sad day for India to have lost one of its best IPS officers, known for his discipline and fair investigations. We are proud of him .He was in news for solving blast cases and including the sensational probe in Malegaon," Naazim elucidates.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Michael Jackson converts to Islam


Pop singer Michael Jackson has converted to Islam and changed his name to Mikaeel. The 50-year-old star pledged his allegiance to the Koran in a ceremony at a friend’s mansion in Los Angeles. Jackson sat on the floor wearing a tiny hat after an Imam was summoned to officiate — days before the singer is due to appear at London’s HC where he is being sued by an Arab Sheik, media reports said.

The star decided to adopt the new religion while he was recording a song at the home of his friend where a Jehovah’s witness was brought up to help him through the ceremony.
Apparently, the star of hits like ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’, was convinced by his producer and songwriter friends David Wharnsby and Phillip Bubal. “An Imam was summoned from the mosque and Michael went through the shahada, which is the Muslim declaration of belief,” the source revealed. Mikaeel is the name of one of Allah’s angels. “Jacko rejected an alternative name, Mustafa, meaning the chosen one,” the source added.

Interesteing FAQ

What is mooching?
Mooching refers to aimlessly wandering around, begging or sponging off others. Due to market crises all over the world, families in the US have taken to mooching others as a means to cut costs on a daily basis. This includes bumming rides from friends more frequently than before, asking colleagues if they need their wallet when going out for lunch and not meeting the bellboy’s eyes to avoid tipping.

What is the Hadrian Wall?
Hadrian Wall was a frontier that began to be built in 122 AD by Roman Emperor Hadrian. It is located in northern Great Britain. It stretched for 120 km, was 15 feet high and 10 feet wide. It ran from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway in the west to the Tyne River near Newcastle in the east. It was established to prevent military raids on Roman Britain by the Pictish tribe in the north, to improve economic stability and provide peaceful conditions in Britain. It is thought that the gates of the wall would also have served as customs posts to allow trade taxation. A significant portion of the wall still exists. One of the most popular tourist attraction in northern England, it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Which is the oldest lighthouse in the world?
The first definite and documented lighthouse in the world was the Pharaohs of Alexandria built in 200 BC, although beacons were certainly used before that. The oldest working lighthouse in the world is at La Coruqa in north-west Spain near the town of Ferol. A lighthouse has been on this site since the time of the Roman emperor Trajan. The world’s first stone lighthouse tower at sea was the Smeaton Eddystone lighthouse built in 1756-9. Smeaton is today known as ‘the father of civil engineering’. When his lighthouse was finished, it was lit with just 24 candles. Today, the power of lighthouse lights can be equivalent to as many as several million candles.

How is an atom’s mass measured?
The atomic mass of a specific atom or molecule is determined by using an experimental technique called mass spectrometry. This technique separates different isotopes of atoms to allow determination of the percent abundance or isotopic composition of the element in the given sample. Each isotope of the element appears as a peak in the mass spectrum. The intensity (height) of each peak depends on the abundance of that isotope in the sample and the unique location of the peak on the x-axis indicates the mass-to-charge ratio of the isotope. Knowing the charge on the isotope, we can calculate the mass of the isotope and from the relative abundance of different isotopes of the elements, the average relative atomic mass is calculated.

What is Bowman’s Capsule?
Each human kidney contains about 1 million filtering units called nephrons. The nephron has a renal tubule and dilated blind end like a funnel. This dilated funnel like part is called Bowman’s Capsule. It has a tuft of capillaries. The fluid which comes out of these capillaries is filtered by Bowman’s Capsule. The renal tubules do further processing to make 1.5 litres of urine out of 180 litres of filtered fluid in 24 hours.

What’s the bellows in the accordion?
The bellows is the flexible part which controls the air for musical notes in an accordion. This is made of leather, rexine, etc. Bellows is also used by goldsmiths for gilting purposes and shaping metals by heating as the air let out of bellows fans the fire.

ANY ANSWERS?

What is radioactive toothpaste?
Why is the money plant named so?
Why are cats and dogs great enemies?
Why doesn't the number zero have a positive or negative sign?
What is zero budgeting?
Can fish hear?

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Software is the blue chip of our soft power

Soft power is the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payments. – Joseph Nye Curse the devil for political stonewalling which saw India bypass the Manufacturing Revolution. But thank God for liberalisation that a young and enterprising India has woken up.

This transition was best illustrated six years ago by US management guru Thomas Peters at a conference in India: “Fifteen years ago, not one in 1,000 Americans could spot Bangalore on the map. Today, six out of seven think Bangalore is the only city in India. They basically believe 1 billion people live in Bangalore.”

Much of the credit for that, as has become legend, was because of a bunch of youngsters who dared to dream. Then, over two and a half decades ago, India was still under the dark shadow of the Permit Raj. Infosys mentor N R Narayana Murthy, Nandan Nilekani and five others had to jump through the hoops. In Murthy’s words, it would then take them one or two years and about 50 trips to Delhi to import a computer worth $1,500.

Infosys was essentially an idea that mutated into a revolution. Even as its founders were charting out plans, the potential of India’s vast physical and human resources to become a world power was being foreseen. Thinkers like Octavio Paz believed the country which gave the world Buddha, Gandhi and the concept of zero in mathematics could find its own way to economic development.

As history bears it, no component of India’s soft power has been as far-reaching, influential and beneficial as IT. In a sense, independent India’s show of soft power began with Nehru’s global peace initiatives in the 1950s. That and the dalliance with non-alignment, didn’t bring much distinction but there were signs of cultural strengths that could appeal. From within the confines of the socialist setting, Raj Kapoor’s aura immortalised by the Chaplinesque Awaara earned him a following from Tehran to Tashkent. Around that time, Mahesh Yogi introduced transcendental meditation to the West and became the Beatles’ spiritual guru.

Yet only after the unclanking of the nuts and bolts of the rusty Licence Raj, was there hope. To spread the message in a flattening world, you didn’t need to scream. Because the world had come into a huddle. This suited India fine because the new methods of the market were more persuasive. For it isn’t in our blood to go about blustering and invading.

Suddenly it seems we held all the aces. Cola ads sprung up on the walls of thatched huts in the boondocks. Our music, literature, dance, art, cuisine and sport appeared on international billboards. Bollywood has been going to London and Rajnikanth has cast a spell on Japanese viewers. Amid all this, the IT juggernaut rolled on.

Clearly, the binary vision of wealth creation and enhancement of new knowledge has earned India a global stature. The staggering impact shows in McKinsey report projections which put IT exports from India by the end of 2008 to $50 billion and employment figures at 2.2 million. Nerds armed with technical degrees and dreamy-eyed entrepreneurs have become the new raiders. For all the scornful remarks about “software coolies”, the revolution is not about coding alone as shown by the enterprise of Sabeer Bhatia or the evangelism of the late Dewang Mehta. That the IT brigade is still the strongest exponent of soft power is because there has been no enigma in its arrival. The software pro doesn’t find himself out of place in the new world. And unlike in the areas of culture, he isn’t speaking an ethnic language. Technology and programming are global expressions. Besides, they are great enablers. The Rajus from the hinterland who are sipping coffee at Starbucks are armed with self-esteem. Technology is about saying, “Yes, we can” even in providing computer graphics imaging for Hollywood. It’s about the empowerment of the supranational Indian who has learnt English at school. Shifts such as the dwindling cost of hardware and the spiralling prices of software have only ensured India remains on the crest of a wave.

So, can the great Indian jumbo fly? Indeed, yes. The future as gurus of the economy put it, lies in solidifying, broadbasing and diversifying this strength. All packaged in top-quality services and active marketing. The tap of talent can’t run dry. Only the nerds have to turn into geeks, the geeks into Gateses. Thank God, too, we have the hunger and are not belching yet.

Interesting FAQ's

What is the Network Relief Kit?
It’s a portable device that provides steady internet access in remote areas. It was used in Banda Aceh, Indonesia when a tsunami destroyed communication infrastructure on the island. NetHope, a collaboration between NGOs and technology companies, created this contraption that is powered by solar energy.

What is a volantor?
A volantor is a prototype of a flying saucer-style hovercraft. It is also known as VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) craft. It was invented by Paul Moller. It’s currently under development. ‘Volantor’ is a term coined by Moller meaning: a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that’s capable of flying in a quick, nimble and agile manner. It has ducted fans powered by Wankel rotary engines. The fans allow for vertical takeoff and landing and, once the vehicle is aloft, it relies on the ground effect to create a cushion of air that the vehicle sits upon while flying. The vehicle has only two controls, one for speed and direction and the other for altitude. The driver does not need to know flying but only needs to know how to control speed, direction and altitude.


What is a Bolero?
It’s a Spanish dance and song in moderate tempo and triple metre that was popular at the end of the 18th and throughout the 19th century. Its rhythms are closely related to the polonaise, a Polish slow dance. The Cuban Bolero, which superseded the Spanish version in Latin America, is in double time. Beethoven wrote the ‘Bolero a solo WoO 158’. Later examples in classical music include those by Berlioz, Chopin and Ravel.

What is vishing?
Vishing, coined from the words voice and phishing, is a criminal practice of using voice over phone to gain access to details about PIN, date of birth and expiry date of credit card holders and using it for fraudulent activities. The criminal configures the system to pretend that the questions asked are for either verification or statistical purposes and records the information so gained for committing financial fraud.

Is it possible for all planets in our solar system to align in a straight line?
Theoretically, no, as the plane of orbit of each planet is tilted slightly in relation to other planets. However, if we ignore the intraorbital plane tilt, then the chance of all planets (eight now excluding Pluto) to be at the right ascension with respect to sun at same time would be once in 180 trillion years. For an exact alignment, when all the planets are inclined with respect to the ecliptic, we must factor the line-of-nodes recession into calculations, that makes the chance once in 86 billion trillion trillion trillion years (86 followed by 45 zeros). The odds strongly favour the fact that an exact planetary alignment will never occur within the lifetime of the solar system that now has only about 12 billion years left.

How do anti-allergen drugs work?
On contact with an allergent, chemical substances are released from mast cells and basophils. The chemical mediators (e.g. histamines) in turn attach themselves on to H-1 receptors to produce allergic effects. Anti-allergen drugs block these chemical mediators. The drugs also produce down regulation of H-1 receptors.

What is RTGS in banking?
Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) is an online system for settling transactions of financial institutions, especially banks. RTGS systems are push payment systems with transactions initiated by the paying bank. If Bank A or one of its customers needs to pay $1,000 to Bank B or one of its customers, Bank A initiates the transaction and Bank B is immediately paid $1,000 electronically by Bank A. Examples of RTGS systems include CHAPS in the UK and Fed Wire in the United States. Each country has its own RTGS system. This electronic payment system is normally maintained or controlled by the central bank of a country. The RTGS system is suited for low-volume, high-value transactions. It lowers settlement risk, besides giving an accurate picture of an institution’s account at any point of time.

Why is Wuhan called the ‘thoroughfare of the nine provinces’?
Wuhan is the capital of the Hubei province in the central part of China and is one of the largest and most populous cities of the region. It is also an important centre for trade, finance, industry, and information technology. Wuhan is also the place where the river Hans joins Changjiang, the third largest river of China. Three major railways meet and two major expressways intersect here. That’s why since the 14th century, Wuhan has been known as the ‘thoroughfare of nine provinces’. The term nine provinces stands for multiple directions.

ANY ANSWERS?
What is the Hadrian’s Wall?
Which is the oldest lighthouse in the world?
How is an atom’s mass measured?
What is the Sorlod Space System?
What is Bowman’s Capsule?
What is Ekistics?

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Interesting FAQ's

Who’s the youngest king?
Who is the world’s youngest king?Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk of Bhutan is, at 28, the world’s youngest king. This Oxford-educated monarch took over from his father Jigme Singye Wangchuk on November 6. His coronation took place at the Golden Throne Room at Tashichhodzong, a fortress and the power centre of Bhutan.

Why are the people of Japan also known as Nipponese?
Nippon is the Japanese name for Japan. It literally means ‘the sun’s origin’, which is often translated as the land of the rising sun. The Japanese name Nippon is used mostly for official purposes, including on the currency, in the constitution, on postage stamps and at many international sporting events. Nippon first appeared in history only at the end of the 7th century in the Old Book of Tang which said that the Japanese envoy disliked his country’s then name Woguo and changed it to Nippon. Another 8th -century chronicle, True Meaning of Shiji states that the Chinese Empress Wu Zetian ordered a Japanese envoy to change the country’s name to Nippon. And hence, people of Japan are also known as Nipponese.

What is a go-go fund?
It’s a mutual fund that invests in highly risky but potentially rewarding stocks. During the 1960s, many go-go funds shot up in value, only to fall dramatically. In some cases, they even went out of business.

What is the meaning of kemo sabe?
The phrase kemo sabe is often heard in the American radio and TV serial Lone Ranger. Its hero, a Texas Ranger, and his assistant, an American Indian called Tonto, keep calling each other Kemo Sabe. In an early episode, these characters run into each other for the first time. When they recognise each other as childhood friends, they utter the phrase kemo sabe. This phrase is not found in English or Spanish. Therefore, it is likely that the series writer coined the phrase based on some words in American dialects. According to many, the director of the radio version of Lone Ranger derived it from a Michigan dialect and suggested it to the writer. Apparently, in this dialect, the phrase means faithful friend or trusty scout. There are other theories related to kemo sabe as well.

What is green fluorescent protein?
Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) is a naturally fluorescent protein isolated from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria. GFP is a fluorescent marker that makes possible the visualisation of protein in the cell. Cells can be stained by them and examined by fluorescence microscopy to reveal the location of a protein of interest. For example, glucocorticoid receptor protein is a transcription factor that controls gene expression in response to the steroid hormone cortisone. The receptor is linked to the GFP. Fluorescence microscopy reveals that, in the absence of the hormone, the receptor is located in the cytoplasm and in its presence, the receptor is translocated to the nucleus, where it binds with the DNA.

If noble gases are supposed to be inert and unreactive, how is krypton difluoride formed?
While krypton is generally an inert element, in extreme volatile conditions, it can form compounds in very small quantities. There are several ways that krypton can form its fluoride: by passing through an electrical arc, proton bombardment or photochemical process. All these processes require a very heavy amount of energy. Krypton has achieved a unique importance in science. In 1960, it was decided that the fundamental unit of length, the metre, should be defined in terms of the orange-red spectral line of Krypton 86.

What is VIX?
The VIX is calculated and disseminated in realtime by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE). It’s a weighted blend of prices for a range of options on the S&P 500 index. The formula uses a kernel-smoothed estimator that takes as inputs the current market prices for all out-of-the-money calls and puts forth front month and second month expirations. The goal is to estimate the implied volatility of the S&P 500 index over the next 30 days. Investors believe a high value of VIX (CBOE Volatility Index) translates into a greater degree of market uncertainty, while a low value of VIX is consistent with greater stability.

What is the Cuban Wushu?
The term Wushu consists of two Chinese characters: wu meaning martial or military and shu meaning skill or method. Together, it translates as martial art. Bruce Lee films brought the first images of kung fu to Cuba. Since then, martial art fans in Cuba started discovering the harmonic, philosophical and therapeutic bases of what is known as Wushu today — a combination of Chinese martial art. In 1990, Roberto Vargas Lee, a fifth Dan black belt holder in Jyoshinmon karate went to China to learn the secrets of Wushu and developed it later in Cuba. He later established the Cuban school of Wushu.

ANY ANSWERS?
What is a volantor?
What is the bolero?
Is it possible for all planets in our solar system to align together in a straight line?
How do anti-allergen drugs work?
What is RTGS in banking?
What is vishing?

Youth vote carried Obama to White House

The Swing Has Fascinated Political Operatives Majority Of Young White Voters Too Backed Him


As India, with one of the youngest demographic profiles in the world, gears up for another round of geriatric leadership, it turns out that US President-elect Barack Obama has been substantially powered into the White House by the youth vote.

Analyses of the voting patterns in US Presidential elections 2008 show 66% of voters under age 30 preferred the 47-year old Obama while just 32% favored John McCain, 72. The margin was 25% more than the 9-point youth vote advantage John Kerry had over President Bush in the 2004 election.

According to political operatives who have dissected last week’s voting pattern, Barack Obama’s share of youth vote is nearly four times the size of John Kennedy’s lead with the group in 1960, which led the latter to famously declare in his inaugural address that “the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans.”

Around 2.2 million more young people—accounting for 18% of the electorate— voted in this election, which is only a slight increase from the 17% in 2004. But if the vote had stayed along the same lines as in 2004, then Obama’s margin of victory in terms of popular votes would have been only about 2 points instead of around 5 points, according to one study.
But for the youth vote, Obama might not have won 73 electoral votes from Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, or Indiana, according to an analysis by the blog thenextright.com. In other words: Obama’s youth margin= 73 electoral votes.

Obama also got stronger support from African-Americans (95%) than Kerry did in 2004 (88%). Turn-out of African-Americans went up from 12% to 13%
Overall, based on initial numbers, it is estimated that over 133 million people turned out to vote on Tuesday—11 million more than voted in 2004— producing the highest turnout rate in 44 years (62.5%), which compares favorably with the turnout in India. By way of comparison, the turnout rate in 1996 was just over 49%.

Significantly, the share of white voters, who accounted for 81% of all voters in 2000, declined to 74% this year, with increases in African-American, Hispanic, and Asian vote share. Obama scored handsomely even among Hispanics, squashing speculation that they might not vote for an African-American.

But it is the swing in the youth vote that has fascinated political operatives. Even a majority of young white voters backed Obama.

While no Democratic presidential nominee had won more than 45% of young whites in at least three decades, Obama won 54% of young white voters, according to one study. He beat McCain 52-45 among white youth without a college degree and 57-41 among those with a degree. He also beat McCain among young white women without a degree (54-45) and young white college-educated woman (61-38).

“In other words, never in post-war American politics have youth voted so differently than older generations as they did in 2008,” the blog Politico.com observed. According to the political pundit Ariana Huffington, the US is witnessing “a tremendous ideological shift among young voters—one that could reshape our politics for decade to come.”

From 1976 through 2004, young voters basically supported the same candidate as older voters in most elections, she said. During that time, the average gap in presidential choice between young voters and the overall electorate was only 1.8%. In 2008, that gap was 28%, with Obama winning by 6%—but carrying the youth vote by 34%.

These developments in the US come at time when India, which has a national median age of 24.9 with around 70% of its population under the age of 30, faces a geriatric leadership in the upcoming parliamentary election. BJP leader L.K.Advani, who is 81, is the projected leader of the opposition alliance, while incumbent Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is 76. Most key world leaders are in their 50s, and Obama, at 47, will be one of the youngest.

Obama goes headhunting online
New york: President-elect Barack Obama is inviting online applications from across the world to fill various positions in the new regime, reaffirming his tech-savvy nature. Obama along with his deputy Joe Biden is looking for people for “noncareer positions” in the White House or any federal body. “Applicants for any of these non-career positions — whether in the White House or in any federal department agency or commission — should use this website, as applying online is the fastest and most accurate way to get your information to us,” reads a notification on the official website of the President-elect. The call for applicants online is another affirmation of the ‘tech-savvy’ Obama, who has exploited electronic and new media like never before during his Presidential campaign. The website ‘www.change.gov’, of the office of the President-elect says Obama would make appointments throughout the federal government.

Obama team weighs what to take on in first months
Washington:
With the economy in disarray and the treasury draining, Barack Obama and his advisers are trying to figure out which of his expansive campaign promises to push in the opening months of his tenure and which to put on a slower track. Obama repeated on Saturday that his first priority would be an economic recovery program to get the business system back on track and people back to work. But advisers said the question was whether they could tackle health care, climate change and energy independence at once or needed to stagger these initiatives over time.

Polish conservatives apologise for racist Obama comments
Warsaw:
The Polish political party led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, twin brother of President Lech Kaczynski, apologized on Sunday for abusive and racist remarks about US President-elect Barack Obama made by one its deputies. On Wednesday a member of the Conservative PiS party Artur Gorski called Obama a “black crypto-communist”, and a “naive individual whose election must delight al-Qaida.” Barack Obama “is a disaster, it is the end of the white man’s civilisation,” he told the Parliament.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Write away

It’s Author’s Day. Mastii-kustii turns the spotlight on three Indian new-age writers

Advaita Kala, author of Almost Single

Chick-lit:
When I wrote the book, there wasn’t much talk about this genre. Now it’s seen as a popular one. I didn’t know I’d written chick-lit till someone told me so.
On men reading chick-lit:
I don’t know how many men would admit to reading it since it’s not considered macho, but I know many did.
The chick-lit formula:
I’ve not read Bridget Jones’s Diary, but have seen the film. In this genre, what really works are the characters. That’s the power of the genre. Yes, the issues discussed in all chick-lit may overlap since they all talk about what women face.
Being a best-seller:
The definition of a best-seller has changed. Earlier, it was 5,000 copies, now it’s much more. My book’s sold 30,000 copies.
The reading habit:
If you ask young people for the top three things they love doing, reading might not be among them. Tastes are changing. People are looking for books that are part of their own experience.
Amruta Patil, author of Kari, India’s first graphic novel by a woman

On graphic novels:
It’s a seductive medium. There’s a tightly wrought tale, there are pictures and the stories are getting more layered and diverse. Interest is bound to grow. Some days ago, I heard graphic novels being discussed at a Diwali party of well-heeled agriculturists in rural Punjab.
Graphic novels she likes:
I’ve enjoyed some of Neil Gaiman’s collaborative work with Dave McKean such as Mister Punch or the intriguing Signal to Noise and the spare prose of Paul Hornschemeier’s Mother Come Home, the drama of Frank Miller’s 300, the colour palette and quirkiness of The Rabbi’s Cat, the windy beauty of Melancholia.
Her next work:
Stories decide how they want to be told; some need just words, others want pictures. As an author, the best I can do is listen. My next book, 1999, promises to be relatively picture-free. ‘Relatively’ because the stray picture always seems to weave its way into the work! I wish there weren’t such a distinction between literary fiction and graphic fiction. No medium is inherently smart or inherently dumb.
Is pulp fiction the only thing that sells today?
It’s like a literary snack. And how bad can that be, so long as you aren’t snacking every day of the year!
The printed word in the eage:
There’s something a real bookshelf brings to your room that a thousand PDFs or saved bookmarks in your computer cannot. The intimacy and happiness that comes with holding a good book is unmatched. Unless we’re unscrupulous about replacing cut trees, or something else goes horribly wrong, the medium will linger awhile.
Chetan Bhagat, best-selling author of Five Point Someone, One Night @ The Call Center and Three Mistakes Of My Life

On his brand of books:
When you’re targetting a big readership, remember that people like simple books. One man’s pulp is another man’s great literature. My books are in the middle. I like to read books that are simply written. That’s why I like Hemingway and George Orwell.
Being an author in India:
Books are becoming more mainstream, but authors don’t get their due in India. Money and awareness about books are low. In India, one should write only if there’s a mad urge to do so. I don’t want to write in the west since the writing gets diluted. They may not want to read about the India I write about.
His success mantra:
I’m already a best-seller. Now it’s about making an impact. My books have been successful because the youth has connected with them. Critics who review these books are 60-year-olds. They get frustrated that my books are doing well. The critics have been so harsh on my books that my fans get defensive. Writing a Bollywood script:
I’m doing a script for a production house. But I haven’t started writing it. It’s going to be a full-on commercial film. I write for the masses and no apologies for that.
On Hello, the celluloid adaptation of One Night...:
I liked the movie and the BO collections have also been fairly good. But people say the book was better. It was my first attempt at Bollywood. Now I’ll try to have more control over the films that are adapted from my books.

Interesting FAQ's

What does precycling mean?
Precycling is a form of waste minimisation. It involves reducing the use of outer packaging and instead opting directly for what’s inside. This would involve buying things loose instead of opting for a prepackaged product, bringing your own container to the store and shopping for locally-produced things. The rationale is to accumulate less waste.

What is Strepulsion Physics?
In the 17th century, Sir Isaac Newton discovered the universal gravitational force. In the 21st century, Navinchandra K Shah, Prof. P N Jain and Prof. P P Jain of Hubli discovered a universal repulsion force (URF). It’s an astronomical force exerted by the sun and stars and therefore called stellar repulsion force (SRF). The science which deals with repulsive phenomena of stellar universe and the strepulsion force of stars is Strepulsion Physics.

Why is an august gathering called so?
The word ‘august’ in itself means magnificent or majestic. The term ‘august gathering’ refers to a gathering marked by dignity or grandeur. August originates from Augustus Caesar, the first emperor of the Roman Empire. The month of August, earlier known as Sextilis, was also named so in his honour.

What is anthropophagy?
Anthropophagy means cannibalism — the practice of human beings eating other human beings. The word is a combination of Greek words: anthropos meaning human being, and phagein meaning to eat. Cannibalism might involve eating other humans after killing them intentionally or eating body parts of those whose death has occurred due to other causes. The practice of eating humans of one’s own community is called endocannibalism and eating humans of other communities is called exocannibalism. According to anthropologists, cannibalism might have been more common in the early human evolution than in modern societies. Today, it is rumoured to be practised by tribals in different parts of the world as part of their rites. Due to the extreme stigma associated with such things, evidence and claims related to cannibalism are highly unreliable.
If it has existed, the causes must be the following:
1. Situations of extreme food scarcity, such as famine;
2. Insanity;
3. Superstitions such as the belief that eating of another’s brain would serve to increase one’s own powers and
4. In wars, to show one’s power over the enemy. The universal symbol of cannibalism is a lolling tongue.

What are Codd’s Rules?
Codd’s Rules that are 12 in number specify what a database must support in order to be relational. The rules were defined by Edgar F Codd in a paper published in 1985. Hence, they are known as Codd’s Rules. For example, data are represented only one way; as values within columns and rows. Every value can be assessed by providing table name, column name and key, and all data are unique.

Who is a troglodyte?
Originally, troglodyte referred to a prehistoric cave dweller. The name was also used to denote an anthropoid ape such as a gorilla. Now, it often refers to an old-fashioned person or to one who is a wilfully brutal obscurantist.

What is the origin of the name Belarus?
The word Belarus means white Russians. The Scandinavians who moved in the east were called Rus and from them came the word Russia. During the Mongol era, the Russians were classified into three different groups: Belarussians (white Russians), little Russians, and great Russians. The name Belarus and the country evolved from Belarussians.

Belarus was known as Belorussia or Byelorussia in the days of Russian monarchy headed by tsars to underscore the extent of their empire. Russians occupied this country in 1919 and then it came to be known as Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR). Later, BSSR was a founding member of the USSR in 1922. This status continued till July 27, 1990 when BSSR issued a declaration of state sovereignty. In 1991, the Supreme Soviet of BSSR decreed by law that the independent country be called Belarus, henceforth, in Russian and all other languages and its language be known as Belarussian. The country’s name was changed to Republic of Belarus on August 25, 1991. The heads of state of Belarus along with those from Russia and Ukraine jointly announced the dissolution of the USSR and formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States in December 1991.

What is a Pipestone Pipe?
A Pipestone Pipe, also called a peace pipe, calumet or medicine pipe is a ceremonial smoking pipe used by many native American tribes, traditionally as a token of peace. The most common and sacred thing smoked was tobacco. A prayer would be said to each of the four directions as well as `Mother Earth’ and `Father Sky’ as they filled the pipe. Also, some tobacco would be sprinkled on the ground. To show respect, smoke would be blown into one’s face. Captives would, at times, take this the wrong way, but it was actually a sign of kindness or respect.


ANY ANSWERS?
Why are the people of Japan also known as Nipponese?
What is a go-go fund?
What is VIX?
What is green fluorescent protein?
If noble gases are supposed to be inert and unreactive, how is krypton difluoride formed?
What is the meaning of ‘kemo sabe’?

Thursday, October 23, 2008

India’s first moon mission has successful launch


VIEW - 1

Of course we need to go to the moon

Alot of people think it’s a waste of time, effort and money repeating something that’s been done by the United States and former USSR 42 years ago. But that’s like saying we shouldn’t have invested resources in satellite technology either because Sputnik had been sent up successfully in 1957. Or that Dakshin Gangotri should not have been set up in Antarctica in 1984 since Argentina was there from 1904. Besides, just because there’ve been other lunar expeditions doesn’t mean all the exploration and research that needs to be done is over. For one thing, previous missions have all been undertaken by individual countries which have not necessarily shared crucial data with others.

Then there’s the question of resources. Chandrayaan-I and its followers in the years to come will be looking for Helium-3 which is scarce on Earth but abundant on the moon. If it can be brought back even decades from now, it would be the ideal fuel for fusion reactors of the future to generate power and meet the energy needs of the country to a great extent. The probes will also try to identify and source important minerals like titanium, uranium-238 and possibly water ice — the latter being vital for setting up a base on the moon. People who grumble that India never anticipates the future till it arrives would do well to eat their words now.

And, of course, who can deny there is always pride and a sense of accomplishment in doing science at the cutting edge? To be just one of a handful of countries who have the technical skills and expertise to launch an indigenously developed space craft that can reach the moon is a tremendous achievement by itself.

Not only will it provide challenging opportunities for working scientists, it will also get young

people interested in space sciences. As G Madhavan Nair, chairman of ISRO, said minutes after the successful launch, “Today what we have started is a remarkable journey.” Let’s not forget that in a hurry.

VIEW - 2

Is there anybody down here?

The moon’s surface was once believed to be perfectly smooth. In 1609, Galileo’s telescope revealed it to have craters. Not all illusions are optical. Launching Chandrayaan-I, India is believed to have joined the Big League of space cowboys. Like craters on the moon, the beauty of that argument is flawed. Just who’s in the business of such moon missions any longer? Once upon a time they dropped jaws — think Soviet Luna series. In the 21st century, that’s prehistory. The US, on its part, ended its Apollo jigs back in 1972. Let’s not forget those sojourns were manned. So our space prom is like close encounters of the yawn-inducing kind.

But, as interplanetary wannabes, we can’t expect to be outshone by China in acts of pure symbolism, can we? The Chinese have done flag-waving up there and chestthumping down here with a rather modest spacewalk — even the Beijing Olympics hogged more limelight. So Asia’s elephant had to outdo Asia’s dragon. Had we caught up with China’s growth rate instead, we’d make more sense. If competitive flag-waving is the issue, a giant leap for mankind was taken in 1969. In an anti-climactic finale to the space race, the Stars & Stripes, not the UN colours, was planted on the moon.

No wonder our scientists can barely explain what they’re after. Most of what’s to know is already known, down to the moon’s approximate 350 km-radius core. If handy spinoffs of moonlandings are the prize, we already have Velcro, adult diapers and microwaves. Ah, but we’re searching for exotica: Helium 3 and lowdown on the possibility of lunar picnics for humans. Why must we go sci-fi on energy instead of chasing fuel-efficiency? Why build distant biospheres, and not clean up earth? With due apologies to Lalu Prasad, we have enough road craters still to be made as smooth as Hema Malini’s cheek. But no, we’re dreaming of earth, moon and — hold your breath — Mars as a single spacefarers’ complex. Help!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Interesting FAQ's

What is Iceland’s HDI ranking?

With a ranking of 0.968, Iceland had the highest Human Development Index (HDI) ranking in 2007. The HDI ranking takes into consideration a country’s life expectancy, literacy, educational attainment and GDP per capita. Currently though, Iceland’s top-ranking status is rather ironic, considering the global financial crisis has almost wiped out its economy and the country is virtually bankrupt.


What is the Aufbau Principle?

The Aufbau Principle states that in the ground state of an atom, an electron enters the orbital with lowest energy first and subsequent electrons are fed in the order of increasing energies. The word ‘aufbau’ in German means ‘building up’. Here, it refers to the filling up of orbitals with electrons.


What is Chargaff’s rule of base equivalence?

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the genetic material found in the chromosomes of all animals and plants. It is made up of only four types of organic nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), thymine (T) and cytosine (C). Of these, A and G are the purines and T and C are the pyrimidines. Chargaff gave the base pairing rule or the rule of base equivalence which states that only one purine can combine with one pyrimidine. That means A can combine with T and G with C. Two purines or two pyrimidines cannot combine with each other; if they do so, there will be a sudden change in the characteristic of an organism. This sudden change is called mutation.



Why are acentric chromosomes genetically inactive?

Acentric chromosomes are formed as a result of inversion of genes in one of the chromosomes in a homologous pair. This is a type of chromosomal aberration. Homologous loci are paired at meiosis. The meiotic anaphase will contain a chromatid connecting the two centromeres, called a chromatid bridge; a chromatid lacking a centromere altogether is called an acentric fragment. Neither of these behaves normally in cell division and both are eventually lost. The only viable products of meiosis in inversion heterozygotes are the chromatids that underwent no crossing over within the inverted section. Thus, the acentric chromosomes are genetically inactive due to absence of centromere.


What are auroras?

The beautiful patterns of green and blue lights that occur in the atmosphere of the polar region are known as auroras. Although there are several mythological stories related to auroras, perhaps the first scientific research on auroras began in Europe in 1716. They occur in the mesosphere, which is present about 50 to 80 miles above sea level. They are known as Aurora Borealis or northern lights, and Aurora Australis or the southern lights, in northern and southern hemisphere respectively. Auroras are natural phenomena and occur when a flow of charged particles from the sun (called solar wind) collide with air molecules in the atmosphere. Ionization takes place and this produces coloured light. Although such collisions only take place near magnetic poles of the Earth, auroras are also visible in mid-latitude regions in case of intense solar activity.


Who invented the board game Snakes and Ladders?

The board game, today called Snakes and Ladders, originated in ancient India, where it was known with the name Mokshapat or Moksha Patamu. It’s not exactly known when or who invented it, though it’s believed the game was played at a time as early as 2nd century BC. According to some historians, the game was invented by Saint Gyandev in the 13th century AD. Originally, the game was used as a part of moral instruction to children. The squares in which ladders start were each supposed to stand for a virtue, and those housing the head of a snake were supposed to stand for an evil. The snakes outnumbered the ladders in the original Hindu game. The game was transported to England by the colonial rulers in the latter part of the 19th century, with some modifications. The modified game was named Snakes and Ladders and stripped of its moral and religious aspects and the number of ladders and snakes were equalized. In 1943, the game was introduced in the US under the name Chutes and Ladders.


Who are NEO consumers?

The NEO consumers are new highvalue consumers of the new economic order (NEO). It is a newly emerging segment of customers from all age groups, ethnicities, income bands, locations and have high propensity to spend their income on disposable goods. NEO consumers are valuable as they consume constantly and favour a sense of investment, discretionary choices and value-added services. They seek rich information and authenticity; are motivated by choice, options and quality; sceptical about whether deals and discounts will deliver to their expectations; loyal to brands that understand them and comfortable with calculated risk.


What is Pansori?

Pansori is a folk art which has lasted since the 17th century in Korea. Singers sing and gesture according to the beats of the traditional Korean drum, tambour. Pansori consists of 12 episodes and is based on classical literature. It typically takes a few hours to complete a Pansori performance. Most young Koreans don’t go see to see it now. It is aired on television on traditional Korean holidays like the lunar new year day and Korean thanksgiving day called ‘Chuseok’.

ANY ANSWERS?

How does a laser mouse work?
What is love bombing?
What are the average speeds of diesel and electric locomotive engines?
Who is Capeta?
What is a carrom ball in cricket?
What is pork barrel politics and why is it called so?

Sunday, October 12, 2008

wOrlds uns0lveD mYsteRies

1. Atlantis: Paradise Lost? It is said that much before Summerian civilization, a great civilization existed in the Atlantic Ocean. It was a paradise, where civilization was at its zenith. But then a volcano erupted and the entire grand civilization was washed away. The story of Atlantis civilization was first told by Greek philosopher Plato. But how far can we believe Plato? This is a question which many ask. After all where did Atlantis disappear? Why do we have no historical proof? Or was the story of Plato a fable? True or fiction? Myth or reality? These are the questions which have inspired many to carry out research. Yet the truth is unknown, untold.

2. Haunted People 'Ghosts' is the subject which baffles everyone, everywhere. Even after the advancement of science, the reality about ghosts remains a mystery till this day. But human beings have always been inquisitive. Harry Price spent 40 years in unraveling the mystery about ghosts in vain. Spirits' photographers tried their best to substantiate the facts. But again progresses with little success. In fact, all efforts have been without success. Often people who claim to have seen a ghost are labeled as fraud or suffering psychologically. Science has totally disbelieved in the existence of ghosts. Yet, the phenomenon exists and is as true as our reflection in the mirror.

3. Eldorado – A golden myth Human beings have always been fond of possessing gold. This lure led to many weird and strange adventures. And the strangest of all the expeditions had been the search of Golden Land – Eldorado. For centuries the legend of Eldorado, the fabulous land of gold led many to undertake the courageous feat. Some lost their fortune, some their reputation and some their life. Still the men remained undaunted. Year after year, decades after decades, men went out in search of the Golden Land. After all, what were they seeking? Gold? A Golden City? A Golden Man? Or was everything juast a myth, a story which destroyed many adventurers?

4. Olmecs: The founders of the American civilization? One of the most astonishing unsolved mysteries of the world is the knowledge about Olmecs. The world doesn't know who Olmecs were? And where did they suddenly disappear? Archeologists believe that Olmecs were the precursors of the Mayas. They were the great sculptors, who created remarkable sculptures. Even the intensive research of the archeologists has revealed little about them.

5. Who was queen of Sheba? For 30 years the Queen of Sheba has baffled people. According to the Bible, Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon with rare gifts. But the question is how far can one believe the Bible? Did she really exist? And if she really existed then where was the land Sheba? Was she a queen, a noble woman, a witch or simply a seductress? Did she marry Solomon? Was Haile Selassie, the last emperor of Ethiopia, the direct descendant of a union between the Queen and King Solomon?Innumerable questions surround the personality of the Queen of Sheba. And the field is open to controversy and research till now.

6. Project U.F.O Throughout the ages, man has always been eager to explain the happenings in the sky. Unidentified Flying Objects (U.F.O.) pose a great mystery to the present scientists. Some American scientists have categorically negated the phenomenon. But some do agree. They explain U.F.O. as objects from other distant galaxy. Yet no unanimous decision has been reached. The mystery of U.F.O. continues to be elusive and intriguing.

7. The mysterious Iron Pillar The Iron Pillar situated in Meharauli (New Delhi) does not rust, although scientific studies reveal that the metal from which the column is made is full of impurities. How is it so? This is the question which baffles us. And we are still groping in the dark about the truth.

8. The secret of Tutankhamen's Mummy American archeologists succeeded in locating the Tutankhamen's mummy. They also unearthed the large amount of wealth buried inside it. But they could not solve two mysteries. Inside the mummy, archeologists discovered 150 amulets. They could not fathom its meaning. Secondly, Tutankhamen's mummy had started decaying. Why? They could not answer. The historians and archeologists are still experimenting and speculating the significance of 150 amulets and the reason for decay of Tutankhamen's mummy.

9. The jungles of Angkor Angkor Thom, the remarkable capital of the Khmer empire, was the perfect combination of religious faith and economic necessity. The dense jungle of Angkor hid the secret of the civilization, where the rice farmers, with the help of their God-kings controlled the hostile surroundings. The kings built magnificent buildings temples and tanks. Yet, it saw its doomsday. It declined, degenerated and the people completely vanished into thin air. Even after so many years, historians have failed to know the place where they disappeared. The mystery still hangs in the air.

10. PSI – The science of seeing the unseen It is the science of knowing something or about somebody without having been told or met or seen. It is a science of extrasensory powers. Animals are supposed to have been endowed with it. But some human beings also have it. And modern science's attempts to prove the existence of extrasensory powers have inevitably given birth to extensive research resulting in a few facts, but in the process giving rise to much more controversy around it.

11. The secret of Mayas Archaeology in America is in infancy. Still we have discovered a civilization par excellence. This civilization was called the Mayas. They were far ahead of the Egyptians and Greeks. They had the knowledge of Zero and build impressive architecture. And all this was gazed to the ground before Columbus discovered America. The world is still waiting for documents to prove that how did these people built up such a magnificent civilization at a place, where even to this day, life is an unending struggle for survival? How was it that a flourishing civilization was created by the people of Stone Age? And who were these people whose classical age collapsed before even Columbus could discover America?

12. The mysterious Inca Treasure Conquistadors destroyed the great Inca Empire. They destroyed it so completely that historical documents lack evidences. These Spanish Conquistadors indulged in loot, plunder, pillaging and burning. They enslaved the last Inca ruler and killed him. But before his death he escaped to jungles with his wealth. What happened to the great mass of wealth is still to be identified. In fact, the identification of two primary cities – Vitcos and Vilcambamba is itself not known. The Spanish colonial maps do not mention it. But historians believe otherwise.

13. Is the earth shrinking? Till a few decades earlier nobody believed in the Continental Drift Theory. Now geophysicists accept the fact. They believe that many-many centuries ago the entire world was one place. It was united. But several geographical factors separated the continents. And they cannot answer that for how many more centuries the world will remain in this present condition. Will the earth keep on shifting slowly, or, suddenly something drastic will happen, they do not know. The scientists and scholars only speculate.

14. The unknown message of Nazca drawings Some specialists believe that the world's largest astronomical calendar was drawn by the Nazcas on the dry plains of Southern Peru. While others believe that the lines drawn on the expansive wastes are huge birds, animals and geometrical figures. What exactly do these lines signify – nobody knows. Yet they are laid across the desert by the Nazca Indians 1500 years ago – even long before man could fly, although now-a-days it is crossed by the Pan American Highway.

15. Is there a second life? Science has failed to reason out its existence. Neither has it been able to disprove all stories floating about this syndrome. Reincarnation til this day remains a mystery, beyond the comprehension of believers and non-believers. It is believed that child prodigies e.g. Mozart who composed simple music at the age of four and the 17th century mathematician Blaise Pascal , who had outlined a new geometric system by the time he had reached 11 years of age may have been reincarnations of talented people of earlier time. Annie Besant, 19th century feminist and leader in London's Theosophical Society, was convinced that she would be reincarnated. In the 20th century, the case of Shanti Devi is too well known. Despite all the vividness of the cases, science has not been able to accept it. It demands scientific explanations.

16. Bermuda Triangle – Is it a reality? Is there any point in the Atlantic ocean which is suicidal? Or is Bermuda Triangle mere writer's imagination? Many books have been even done a long arduous research on the Bermuda Triangle. Yet, till now, no satisfactorily evidence has come forth. The Triangle still baffles everybody and people avoid taking that route. Perhaps, the mystery of Bermuda Triangle can be summed up in the following sentence – 'at times truth is stranger than fiction'.

16. The stones which speak of past artistry The huge upright stones standing erect with an air of mystery make an unforgettable impression. There ser called Stonehenge. They have attracted men from all fields to study them. Scientists, astronomers, archaeologists, spiritualists – all studied them but failed to come to a conclusion. The questions remain unanswered. Was it a temple? Was it an observatory? Was it a magic shrine? Was it a computer built much before we came to know about the computer? There are questions and questions. Perhaps one day we will be able to discover the true and actual meaning of these splendid stones.

17. The navel of the world Easter Island is called the 'Navel of the World'. Its inhabitants are cut off from the rest of the world. It is the loneliest spot on earth. Yet, the inhabitants produced one of the most magnificent statues. They managed to create a prosperous society; they built and transported giant statues weighing up to 90 tones. The mystery prevails about their motive behind constructing such sculptures and how did they manage to do it?

18. The splendor of pyramids The skyline of the Nile Valley seems to be dominated by the mountains. But these are no natural mountains. They are man made mountains, known as Pyramids. What exactly was the purpose behind the construction of these pyramids is unknown. Perhaps, they were intended by the god-kings of Egypt as the everlasting sanctuaries for their dead bodies, since they believed in the theory of life after death.
The question arises how did the ancient Egyptian raise such tall structures? Who built them? Why did they build them? Is it true that the kings had some secret motive which passed away with them? There are questions and questions as the enigma of pyramids astonishes a traveler.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Any answers??

What is round tripping?

Round tripping has several meanings. In finance, it refers to money that leaves the country, often routed to the diaspora, making its way back to the country in the form of foreign direct investment. It also refers to a company that sells an unused asset to another company, while agreeing to buy it or a similar asset at the same price. This is also referred to as Lazy Susans. In technology, round tripping refers to the repeated conversion of a document from one format to another -- for instance, a rich text format to a doc format and so on. This sort of round tripping may affect the quality of the content.

What is creative capitalism?

It is a new idea that aims to achieve both the goals of generating profits as well as solving the problem of inequality between the rich and poor by using market forces in a better way. Several companies around the world have adopted this concept by integrating philanthropic motives with product development, and treating the poor as a new class of customers. It involves a systematic approach to research, product design, distribution, partnership and profit models to help this new class of customers which businesses have traditionally ignored.

What is the Kit-Cat Club?

Kit-Cat Club was London's political and literary club, active between 1700 and 1720. The four dozen members included leading Whig politicians and London's best young writers. Among them were Charles Seymour, the sixth duke of Somerset; Sir Robert Walpole; Thomas Pelham-Holles, the duke of Newcastle; William Congreve; Joseph Addison; Sir Richard Steele; and Sir Godfrey Kneller, who did portraits of the members. The club was the centre of opposition during Queen Anne's Tory ministry (1710-14).

What is the CAPTCHA Project?

CAPTCHA refers to a category of information technologies used to ensure that a human rather than a computer is making an online transaction. It is an acronym for Completely Automated Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart and patented by Carnegie Mellon University. It is a challenge-response test used in computing to determine whether the user is a human. A typical CAPTCHA requires a user to type the letters of a distorted image, sometimes with the addition of an obscured sequence of letters or digits that appear on the user's screen. The origin of the CAPTCHAs was to counter the characteristics of software agents (bots) that automatically fill up web forms as individual users.

What is a false vacuum?

False vacuum and true vacuum form a metastable system. Metastable state is a state which does not change with time but is susceptible to falling into lower-energy states with only slight interaction. It is analogous to being at the bottom of a small valley when there is a deeper valley close by. True vacuum is the name applied to a condition of the true lowest energy state of the vacuum. False vacuum refers to a condition with an elevated vacuum energy density. The two conditions are separated by some energy barrier — which is why they form a metastable system. If the current universe is in a state of false vacuum, it is conceivable that some experiment would concentrate enough energy into a small enough place to coax the vacuum over the energy barrier and into the true vacuum state. This could perhaps be catastrophic.


What is Dissociative Identity Disorder?

Dissociative Identity Disorder is defined as the occurrence of two or more personalities within the same individual, each of which, during some time in the person's life, is able to take control. This is not often a mentally healthy thing when the personalities vie for control. It's also known as multiple personality disorder (MPD). In 1994, the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-IV replaced the acronym MPD with dissociative identity disorder (DID).

Why does the moon appear upside down in the southern hemisphere?

The moon orbits near the equator of the Earth. In the southern hemisphere, we are standing at the opposite side of the globe, from a person who is standing in the northern hemisphere. So, we are literally standing upside down with relation to the person at the other end. We, therefore, see the moon from a completely different vantage point. So, if a man sees the moon crescent facing up in the northern hemisphere, it'll appear upside down to a person in the southern hemisphere.

Which is the world's hottest pepper?

The bhut jolokia variety which grows in north-eastern India, was given a rating of 8,55,000 Scoville heat units by Ritesh Mathur and his colleagues at the Defence Research and Development Establishment, Gwalior. They reported their finding in an August 2000 issue of Current Science. The scientists tested a Tezpur variety of the bhut, or Capsicum Frutescens var. (botanists know it as Nagahari). The Guinness Book of World Records recently certified the bhut jolokia as the world's hottest chilli pepper. The chilli probably gets its name owing to its demonic bite — bhut means ghost and jolokia means chilli. A single seed of the bhut can cause intense spicy sensations in the mouth for up to 30 minutes. Smeared on fences, they are also employed to scare off wild elephants.

ANY ANSWERS?

What is the Aufbau Principle?
What is the Chargaff's rule of base equivalence?
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Who invented the board game `snakes and ladders'?
Who are NEO consumers?

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

No kidding: SMS jargon spells trouble for teachers

Schoolteachers across India are witnessing a strange phenomenon while correcting exam papers. With mobile phones having crept inside classrooms, SMS language has made its way into answer sheets: students facing a time crunch during tests routinely replace ‘are’ with ‘r’ and ‘you’ with ‘u’ and ‘through’ is now spelt as ‘thru’.

“Before any written assignment, our teachers have to remind the class that they’re not on SMS or internet chat and words have to be spelt the way they are in the dictionary,’’ says Anahita Devitre, principal of JB Petit High School in Fort.

Texting via SMS is not the only culprit. Computer spellchecks are giving birth to a generation that hasn’t learnt to spell; now the computer checks spellings for them. To add to the confusion, Devitre points out that children often forget that their computer spell-check is set to American standards, while at school, they’re learning the Queen’s English. As a result, children are rather confused when it comes to spelling words like colour, which they often spell as ‘color’ and organise, which they spell with a z.

Advertisements, with their bhelpuri of misspelt words, have only worsened the situation. “Children often spell Chocolate as Choklate, thanks to the ads around them,’’ says Yasmin Chagla, principal of Cumballa Hill School and Nepean Sea Road. The fact that several advertisements are now in Hinglish certainly doesn’t help children learn.

However, the city might just witness a reverse trend. Spelling Bee, one of America’s most popular classroom contests, which began in 1925 and went on air in 1941 is set to hit Mumbai next month. Children may soon go the extra mile to ensure they can spell well, sans spell-check.

The promoters of Spelling Bee in the US have approached The mastii-kustii to start the Indian chapter of the contest, which will begin in November.

Meanwhile, many parents say that it’s not just children hooked onto SMS or internet chat who’re having trouble with their spellings. “My son doesn’t chat online and he doesn’t own a mobile phone, but his spellings are getting worse. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that children don’t read books anymore. Now, there are just so many other things that they can do with their time,’’ says Kamal Katgara, a parent whose child studies at Bombay International School in Babulnath.

“With the pressure of studies increasing over the years, kids are struggling to cope with science and mathematics, so naturally languages take a backseat and spellings are just one of the casualties,’’ adds Carl Laurie, who heads Christ Church, a school in Mazgaon. Teachers across the city admit that they too, are no longer laying as much emphasis on spellings as they used to.

Raj Aloni, principal of JJ Fort Boys High School, is used to getting letters from students and parents in which she’s addressed as ‘The Principle’ instead of ‘The Principal.’

To Aloni’s horror, during a Geography examination, she found that children, while filling in the name of the subject in the answer paper, actually copied the correct spelling from the question paper.

Of the commonly misspelt words in Mumbai classrooms, those with double letters like ‘success’ and, ‘accommodate’ are routinely misspelt. ‘College’ invariably turns into ‘collage.’ Thanks to advertisements, Quality has now become Kwality. “Spellings are getting a little more phonetic,’’ points out Katgara.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Ramadoss is right to call for legalising gays

We have to endorse Anbumani Ramadoss on this one. The health minister has acquired a reputation as a maverick in the UPA cabinet, moreover one who’s so taken up with administrative politics in New Delhi’s elite All India Institute of Medical Sciences that he has little time to address the rot in the country’s public health-care system. Ramadoss, however, has done the right thing in arguing for decriminalising homosexuality, contradicting the home ministry’s stand on section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

The Delhi high court is examining a public interest litigation on the subject, which says that private consensual sex between adults shouldn’t be considered a crime. Section 377 renders certain kinds of private consensual sex — those which allegedly “go against the order of nature” — a crime. Homosexuality is deemed to fall under its purview. Punishments can be draconian, going up to 10 years in prison. This law has colonial and theological origins, having been incorporated by the British into the Indian Penal Code in 1860. It’s time now to take a fresh look at the law.

The problem with section 377’s antiquated provisions is twofold. Firstly, if one doesn’t go by theological certainties, how does one determine what is natural and what goes against the order of nature? Contraception can, from a certain point of view, be seen as going against the order of nature. But we don’t ban contraception for that reason. More fundamentally, however, banning private consensual activity between adults is a way of restricting personal choice. It’s a throwback to times when state and society were considered sacrosanct and the individual had no rights.

The government’s case against homosexuality doesn’t carry much logic. It has argued that homosexuality results in the spread of AIDS and decriminalising it can lead to breaches of peace. But soaring crime graphs haven’t really been recorded in the many countries that have decriminalised homosexuality. And as Ramadoss has observed, it’s precisely when gay populations are forced to go underground that AIDS control programmes can’t reach them, creating the greatest threat to themselves and others. Section 377 may have some validity as far as protecting the rights of children and minors are concerned. But with growth of the sphere of personal choice and alternative lifestyles, as well as increasing recognition of the rights of gays, the state should no longer concern itself with what consenting adults choose to do in private.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

!!! BEWARE OF BUYING iPhone 3G !!!

Friends .....those of you in India planning for iPhone... THINK TWICE BEFORE MAKING A DECISION... The short comings of iPhone are endless...

No video calling,

no AD2P on the Bluetooth,

CAN'T share ANY (mp3, images,videos....) files via bluetooth,

can't use as a wireless modem, (you pay ridiculous data charges to activate internet on your phone, but cannot connect it to your PC and browse when you are at home)

no copy and paste,(cannot copy a part of a.... say.... email & send it....have to type it out yourself)

no 3.2 or 5 megapixel camera,(the 2MP camera it carries is worst camera i've ever seen.....
photos look like they have come out of a VGA camera)

no video recording with camera,

no front camera,

no flash.

no JAVA support

No physical keyboard (BELIEVE me! this alone is a dealbreaker...touch keyboard as good as it looks...once you use it then only you come to know about the importance of having a hard keypad)

No 3G network yet in India..so why pay for expensive 3G phone if you cant use its 3G services ... so, for India, iPhone 2.0 is no better than its first version

No removable battery. (You cannot change battery. Have to send it to apple outlet.. Come on now!!!!...This is not an iPod. Its a bloody phone. You cannot live without phone for 2-3 days)

No haptic feedback and

cannot send MMS,

can't use as external storage device (16 GB of utter waste..next time you go to your friend's house & find some interesting songs, movies, etc...sorry you cannot connect your '16 GB' phone and share it!!!! Apple apparently has a solution.. " BUY MUSIC & MOVIES FROM iTUNES STORE "..... Give me a break will you APPLE!!!)

no FM radio,

can't use your mp3 files as ringtones,(This is heights man!!!)

cannot insert any other SIM card….

completely tied to iTunes... Connect to your friend's iTunes & you risk erasing everything on your phone.

list goes on & on & on….

We Indians are used to these features. Most of our phones already have these features. & we cannot do with out them.... i mean can you imagine paying so much for a phone with which you cannot transfer files via bluetooth. what age is this ...STONE AGE???

Some features may be activated by jailbreak.. But why the hell should you risk losing your warranty after paying so much.

And want to add third party softwares??.. YOU HAVE TO BUY THEM FROM iTUNES STORE ONLY!!! . (Shell out more money). Apple is a bloody control freak. Dont surrender your freedom to it.

Its good for american market (who have no idea what mobile freedom/choice is) which is in stone age compared to asian/european markets. When they want to buy a phone, they have to go to network operators and buy only those phones that are available on that network. & stick to that company till their contract expires. You want to change carriers? Not before paying damages, & buying another phone on the other network again.

On the contrary, we in India have so much freedom. We go to handset shops & buy which ever phone we like. Then go to carriers.. checkout the plans & buy SIM.. Dont like the plan or rival carrier came up with a better plan???? EASY .. just remove & replace the SIM.

Apple are trying to IMPOSE THEIR MODEL ON US riding on the hype iPhone has created in the US (yes it was a flop in Europe ..thats why Apple never talks about its sales in Europe).
Dont fall for the subsidized price of iPhone... CHECKOUT THE DATA PLAN ATTACHED TO ITS SIM ..they will recover the cost through ridiculous data plans. Bill might come to around Rs 2500/month.(ATLEAST AMERICANS PAY THAT MUCH)

Let me clear one thing though.. iphone is the best looking phone (its touch interface is nothing like you have ever seen ), & best browsing experience out there no doubt .... (& others are fast catching up..check out the android demo at Google IO 2008).... BUT AFTER A FEW DAYS IT ALL COMES DOWN TO FUNCTIONALITY...

Those of who buy it... You will be most happy for atmost a week... & then, MARK MY WORDS...YOU WILL START REGRETTING IT!!!

My advice...WAIT FOR HTC DREAM!! (powered by android). Still not convinced by then...by all means go for iPhone...

So friends lets spread this info to all our friends and help them in making a wise decision..... & those of you who have bought unlocked versions already please share your experiences with others

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.... GOODLUCK!!!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Clocky Robotic Alarm



This little wonderful wheeled alarm clock started as an engineering student's project. Having trouble waking up herself, Gauri Nanda developed Clocky to shriek annoyingly and effectively, waking you up.


The fun doesn't end there, kiddies. It leaps off of your night stand, and drives around your room, making random turns and racing away from your grasp. Now you have to get out of bed and hunt the little bugger down to turn it off.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

The Relevance Of The Panchatantra Today

The ‘Panchatantra’ by Vishnu Sharma, written thousands of years ago, has much to offer by way of insight into human behaviour though the characters are entirely from the animal kingdom. The earliest translations were Pehlavi and Arabic. This westward migration of the ‘Panchatantra’ is attributed to Borzuy, the personal physician of Nushirvan, the Persian emperor. Borzuy came to India in the 6th century around 570 CE looking for the mrutasanjeevini, the mystical herb that could revive a corpse. He did not find the herb but found the ‘Panchatantra’ instead. And reading it, realised that the magical herb was Knowledge and the corpse was Ignorance.

Not surprisingly, the running theme of the ‘Panchatantra’ is “Knowledge is the true organ of sight, not the eyes” and is a practical guide to niti, or the art of intelligent living.

This collection of fables in five books, are stories told by sage Vishnu Sharma to the three not-sobright sons of a king.The collection is divided thus: The Loss of Friends or Mitrabedha, The Winning of Friends or Mitrasamprapti, Crows and Owls or Kakolookiyam, The Loss of Gains or Labdhapranasha and Ill-Considered Action or Aprikshitakaraka.

Vishnu Sharma chose the fable as his medium because he understood that humans can accept their own foibles if they are presented entertainingly,configured as stories about beasts that they believe to be inferior to themselves in many ways. Tales of greed, treachery, stupidity, deceit, adultery and loyalty, unravel like a matroshka, a succession of Russian dolls-within-dolls.

The morals in the ‘Panchatantra’ are not preachy tales of good overpowering evil. Franklin Edgerton, the Yale professor known for his masterly translation of the ‘Bhagavad Gita’, calls the ‘Panchatantra’ Machiavellian. He notes, “This is a textbook of artha, ‘worldly wisdom’, or niti, polity, which the Hindus regard as one of the three objects of human desire, the others being dharma, ‘religion or morally proper conduct’ and kama ‘love’... The so-called ‘morals’ of the stories... glorify shrewdness and practical wisdom in the affairs of life, and especially of politics, of government.” Joseph Jacobs said, “...if one thinks of it,the very raison d’etre of the Fable is to imply its moral without mentioning it”.

This honest depiction of “practical wisdom” explains why in the original Sanskrit, the cunning and evil jackal is the winner in the end in the First Book. This outraged some clerics and so one translator rewrote the end in which the jackal was jailed, put on trial and finally executed.

The stories convey messages that are direct and simple. Malicious gossip can destroy even great friendships. Never trust an enemy; “reformed enemy” is an oxymoron. Deceit is the only way to overcome an unscrupulous enemy. Caste, colour and religion are no barriers to forming lasting bonds; against tyrants, unity is strength. A fool and his gains are soon parted. An intelligent man can overcome adversity by the use of his wit. The consequences of an ill-conceived hastily executed action could be death.

The stories of the ‘Panchatantra’ offer us the possibility of making our lives richer and more meaningful. Through the wisdom of its fables the ‘Panchatantra’ offers a vision of ourselves, warts and all. In so doing, it makes us aware of the fact that solutions lie within ourselves. The use of animals to present this message is particularly significant since animals are not sentimental; in the words of the translator himself, theirs is a view of life which, “piercing the humbug of every false ideal, reveals with incomparable wit the sources of lasting joy”.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Interesting FAQ's

What’s the Giri Raja chicken?
It’s a breed of chicken developed in Bangalore that can be used to produce both meat and eggs. Typically, poultry is reared specifically for one of these purposes. Animalwelfare experts believe that using this breed will be more humane, since the birds won’t develop health problems because of intensive breeding. Also, male laying birds needn’t be slaughtered since this breed can be used to produce both eggs and meat.

What is the Beer Google effect?
The Beer Google effect refers to the tendency to google information on someone we meet for the first time. This generally happens when one consumes alcohol, and under its influence, he looks up the person on the internet. For example, I met Geeta at ABC bar for the first time and she tells me that she works for XYZ Inc. Immediately on returning home, I beergoogle her using the search string ‘Geeta XYZ Inc’.

What is the principle of a voltage stabilizer?
A voltage stabilizer is an electrical appliance used to feed constant voltage current to costly electrical gadgets like ACs and computers, and protects them from damage due to voltage fluctuations. A voltage stabilizer works on the principle of a transformer, where the input current is connected to primary windings and output is received from secondary windings. Whenever there is a drop in incoming voltage, it activates electromagnetic relays which add to more number of turns in the secondary winding, thus giving higher voltage which compensates for loss in output voltage due to drop in incoming voltage. When there is rise in the incoming voltage, the reverse happens, and, thus, the voltage at the output side remains almost unchanged.

What is HAARP?
HAARP is an acronym for the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, a research initiative aimed at studying the effect on the performance of communication, navigation and surveillance systems by simulated heating of the ionosphere. It was started in 1993 and is expected to continue till 2013. It is defence oriented and funded by various US defence agencies, including the air force and the navy. A powerful HF signal is transmitted to heat a limited area of the ionosphere for a specified time. Scientists then record the effects of temporarily altered conditions through advanced instruments. It’s been at the centre of controversies, with some organizations claiming that the transmission antennae may be used as weapons.

What is argemone oil?
Argemone oil is extracted from argemone seeds. It is mixed with sunflower oil and sesame oil to raise their quantity. Consumption of this oil leads to health disorders among children. To avoid this, we must check the contents of the cooking oil. Many oil brands mention ‘no argemone oil’ on their packs.

What is switchgrass?
Switchgrass, known in Botany as Panicum Virgatum L., is the perennial tall grass found in the prairies of North America and many parts of Mexico. Its height varies from 5 ft to 12 ft, and the diameter of its stem at ground level is about 20 inches. It can grow easily even in poor-quality soil, with low requirement of inputs like fertilisers, and can tolerate hostile environmental conditions, including floods and drought. The grass has both main roots that penetrate deep into the soil, and many temporary fine roots, which enable it to conserve the soil in which it grows, and make the soil nutritionally rich. Therefore, switchgrass has been grown traditionally for soil conservation and to serve as fodder. Since the 1990s, interest in this plant has increased because it generates a lot of biomass, which can be used for producing fibre, ethanol, electricity, and other chemicals.

Which compound is used in making bulletproof jackets?
Bulletproof jackets were being manufactured with ballistic nylon material till the 1970s. In 1965, a compound — poly- paraphenyleneterephthalamide — was invented with the brand name Kevlar. This is a liquid polymer which can be spun into fibre and woven into cloth. Kevlar was originally developed for tyres and, later, for ropes, gaskets and various parts of planes and boats. The efficacy of the material led to its usage for the manufacture of bulletproof jackets. Another product with the brand name Spectra was developed in 1989 as a competitor for Kevlar. Spectra is a polyethylene fibre originally developed as a sail cloth and, later, used to make stronger and lighter non-woven material for bulletproof jackets.

Who invented the board game Monopoly?
Charles Darrow, a US citizen, invented Monopoly in 1931, during the Great Depression. Out of work, Darrow earned a living doing parttime jobs and inventing puzzles and games, to sell to toy-makers. With some difficulty, he sold Monopoly to Parker Brothers on a royalty basis. The game sold so well that Darrow soon became a millionaire. The original game had properties named after streets, hotels, etc. in Atlantic City, where Darrow lived. In India, we initially played with the British version, containing London-based names like Old Kent Road and Piccadilly. Later, an Indian version was released; it was called Trade and featured sites in Mumbai, such as Churchgate Station and Byculla.

ANY ANSWERS?

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