Laptop Users - Beware !!!

A couple lost their 25 year old son in a fire at home on June 4th. The son who had graduated with MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison two weeks earlier had come home for a while. He had lunch with his dad at home and decided to go back to clean up his hostel room. His father told him to wait, to meet his mother, before he went back for a few days. He decided to take a nap while waiting for his mom to come back home from work. Some time later their neighbors called 911 when they saw black smoke coming out of the house.

Unfortunately, the 25 years old died in the three year old house. It took several days of investigation to find out the cause of the fire. It was determined that the fire was caused by the laptop resting on the bed. When the laptop was on the bed cooling fan did not get the air to cool the computer and that is what caused the fire. He did not even wake up to get out of the bed because he died of breathing in carbon monoxide.

The reason I am writing this to all of you is that I have seen many of us using the laptop while in bed. Let us all decide and make it a practice not to do that. The risk is real. Let us make it a rule not to use the laptop on bed with blankets and pillows around. Please educate as many people as you can.

"Please pass to everyone you know, you might save one's life"

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Floating Sustainable Cities

Cities like Sydney, New York and London which have to invest huge amount on flood defenses are looking forward to create such sustainable floating cities. This innovative and ingenious concept has been given by Belgian architect Vincent Callebaut and is believed to be a long term solution to rising sea-levels.These cities could accommodate as many as 50,000 refugees and could generate power using various renewable sources including wind, wave and solar heat.

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Drought- and Heat-resistant crops

It’s not only difficult for human beings to survive in scorching heat but it is impossible for crops too to stay alive in such conditions. Researchers are using selective breeding methods to adapt crops with the changing climatic conditions. Behavior and characteristics of the drought-tolerant species is studied carefully and their features are added to the crops by genetic engineering. Researchers are already experimenting with oilseed rape and maize, and their drought-tolerant samples are ready with 40 percent better yield than conventional variety. Similarly tests are being carried out on wheat in Egypt which is claimed to use one-eighth of the water used by conventional wheat crop.

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General Motors plans to launch 5 small cars in 14 new variants by 2012

GM managing director Carl Slim said that even the cars sales are downgrading, they are not going to reduce the prices. As the fuel rates are increasing there is huge demand for diesel cars, so they are planning to give more importance to diesel cars. Planning to release electric version of beat, he added. All the cars planning to release will be in the similar prices of Spark and Beat.

GM said that, with financial aid from U.S. government, the once mighty General Motors, is planning to launch a new set of hybrids and all-electric cars in the next couple of years to inject life into the company’s dead accounts statements. The company is planning to set things rolling with the launch of a new plug-in SUV in 2011.

Other than the SUV, the company is also hinting towards the development of an all-electric small car for congested cities and a line of about 14 new fuel-saving hybrid cars by 2012. Currently GM is focusing on the Volt, which is slated to be released in late 2010. The Volt will have a 40-mile range on a single charge, which the company claims is more than the round trip commute of most urban travelers.

In 2008, General Motors also announced its plans for a plug-in version of its Saturn Vue sport-utility vehicle which would carry a lithium-ion battery pack rechargeable at a standard outlet – thus lessening the need for using gas from its 3.6-liter engine.

The Saturn Vue plug-in SUV was being designed with the capability to be driven 10 miles on electric power only. However, the company’s plans to launch the rechargeable Saturn Vue plug-in SUV were complicated by a decision in 2009 to abandon the Saturn brand.

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Typhoon Talas kills 20 in Japan, over 50 missing

A typhoon that pummelled western Japan left at least 20 people dead and more than 50 missing, reports said on Sunday, after swollen rivers swept away buildings and landslides crushed houses. 

One of the victims drowned after flood waters gushed into his car and streets were submerged in scenes that rekindled memories of the March 11 tsunami disaster. Thousands of people were left stranded. 

Typhoon Talas, which made landfall on Saturday and is one of the deadliest in recent years, packed gusts of up to 108 kilometres (68 miles) per hour as it cut across the island of Shikoku and the main island of Honshu. 

The government set up an emergency task force as the number of victims looked set to grow and landslides and damaged roads hampered relief efforts.

In Wakayama prefecture, 12 people were killed and 29 were missing. 

One man drowned after flood waters surged into his car, and another man was killed after a landslide hit his house, the local government said. 

In Nara prefecture's Totsukawa village, an overflowing river washed away apartments, leaving at least two people dead and seven missing, the local government said. 

In the Kansai region and elsewhere up to 30,000 people were evacuated, according to the fire and disaster management agency. 

Television footage showed massive landslides crushing wooden houses in mountainous communities, with muddy water submerging streets and washing away wooden debris and cars. 

A tally by the Kyodo news agency showed at least 20 people had been killed, more than 50 were missing and 3,600 were left stranded by landslides and collapsed bridges.

Source: Times of India & Image from ఈనాడు news paper

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One mosquito coil equals 100 cigarettes

Smoke emitted from one mosquito repellant coil is equivalent to those of 100 cigarettes, thus causing harm to a large number of people in India, an expert said Wednesday. 

"Not many people know about it, but the damage done to your lungs by one mosquito coil is equivalent to the damage done by 100 cigarettes. This was according to a recent study conducted in Malyasia," said Chest Research Foundation director Sandeep Salvi. 

He was speaking at the conference 'Air Pollution and Our Health', organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) along with the Indian Council for Medical Research and the Indian Medical Association. 

Salvi said there is a lack of awareness about the impact of air pollution on human health. 

Pointing out the "lack of research culture" among Indian doctors, Salvi said that indoor air pollution too is a health risk factor. 

Participants at the event, which included doctors and health researchers, also spoke about vehicular air pollution in the capital. 

According to estimates, about 55 per cent of Delhi's population lives within 500 metres from main roads - and is, therefore, prone to a variety of physical disorders. 

"The vehicular pollution is a major concern for the environment. The rising incidents of genetic disorder has a lot to do with air pollution. India loses one million children under five because of respiratory problems every year," said Sanjeev Bagai, the chief executive officer of Batra Hospitals. 

He said industries also contribute to the air pollution and these need to be shifted out of the capital.

Source: Times of India

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24 Free schools set to open in UK during the month of September

A total of 24 new free schools set up by parents, faith groups and others will open in England next month.

The state-funded but semi-independent schools have mostly been created in the 15 months since the coalition came to power.

Education Secretary Michael Gove says the schools will drive up standards, especially in poorer areas.

But critics say they will take resources and pupils from other schools and lead to less local accountability.

The schools will open in church halls, listed buildings and temporary classrooms, as well as in former office blocks and libraries which are being refurbished.

The free schools programme was one of the Conservatives' flagship policies in the last election.

About half of the schools opening next month only signed their final contracts with the government in the past few weeks, although their plans and works were advanced and children had been recruited.

There had been applications from 323 groups.

A total of 17 of the new schools are primaries, 5 are secondaries and 2 are "all-age" schools.

Eight are in London, with eight more in other parts of southern England, three in the midlands and five in the north.

Some of the schools are being set up by academy trusts or chains - groups which are already behind several academies in England.

Academies are similar to free schools in that they are also funded directly from central government (as all state schools will be under planned changes), sit outside local authority control and have more control over the pay and conditions of staff than other schools.

The government says half of the new free schools are in deprived areas. Some critics of the free schools programme have claimed they will be set up and used mainly by the middle classes.

Mr Gove said: "The most important thing for any parent is to be able to send their child to a good local school, with high standards and strong discipline. That is why we are opening free schools across the country. I am delighted to announce that the first 24 will open this year".

"Too many children are being failed by fundamental flaws in our education system. The weakest schools are concentrated in our poorest towns and cities, and we are plummeting down the international education league tables.

"By freeing up teachers and trusting local communities to decide what is best, our reforms will help to raise standards for children in all schools."

The government has also given details of the amount of money it expects to spend in capital costs, on buildings for the first 24 free schools.

It says current estimates put this at between £110m and £130m.

Originally it had set aside £50m in capital funding, when the policy was announced. It says that amount was for free schools in 2010-11.

Many of the schools will start up in temporary accommodation, both on and off their permanent sites.

There are shortages of primary school places in London and the Midlands and the government hopes these new schools will help ease that problem.

'Reckless experiment'

Strong opposition to the new free schools has come from some Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs, as well as the teaching unions, who say they will take resources and pupils from other schools and destabilise the system.

Chris Keates, the general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, describes the free schools programme as a "reckless experiment with the future of children and young people".

"There is no evidence that the free school model raises standards but there is evidence from abroad, especially Sweden, where there are huge concerns," she said.

"Free schools have been selective and socially divisive - and there is no evidence they have raised standards."

The government says the US Charter schools movement is closer to its free school programme and that in Chicago and New York, Charter schools have helped close the achievement gap between rich and poor students.

More applications for free schools are in the pipeline.

The schools opening in September are:

1. Aldborough E-ACT Free School, Redbridge
2. All Saints Junior School, Reading
3. ARK Conway Primary Academy, Hammersmith & Fulham
4. ARK Atwood Primary Academy, Westminster
5. Batley Grammar School, Kirklees
6. Bradford Science Academy, Bradford
7. Bristol Free School, Bristol
8. Canary Wharf College, Tower Hamlets
9. Discovery New School,West Sussex
10. Eden Primary School, Haringey
11. Etz Chaim Primary School, Barnet
12. The Free School, Norwich Norfolk
13. Krishna-Avanti Primary School Leicester
14. Langley Hall Primary Academy Slough
15. Maharishi School, Lathom Lancashire
16. Moorlands School, Luton
17. Nishkam Free School, Birmingham
18. Priors Free School, Warwickshire
19. Rainbow Free School, Bradford
20. Sandbach School, Cheshire
21. St Luke's Church of England Primary School, Camden
22. Stour Valley Community School, Suffolk
23. West London Free School, Hammersmith & Fulham
24. Woodpecker Hall Primary Academy, Enfield

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Millions flee as Hurricane Irene lashes US east coast

Hurricane Irene is pummelling the US east coast after making landfall in North Carolina.

At least eight people have been killed in North Carolina, Virginia and Florida, as Irene sweeps north.

The 500-mile wide storm, with winds of around 80mph (129km/h), is moving slowly northwards. New York and other large cities are in its predicted path.

More than two million people have been ordered to leave their homes after warnings of storm surges and flooding.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced on Saturday afternoon that "over a million people have left the Jersey shore in the last 24 hours".

In New York City, 300,000 people living in low-lying areas have been told to leave in an unprecedented mandatory evacuation.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said those who had not evacuated should now stay put until the storm had past.

"The edge of the hurricane is finally upon us," he told reporters.

"The time for evacuations is over. At this point, if you haven't evacuated, our suggestion is you stay where you are."

More than 90 shelters with room for about 70,000 people have been opened in New York but by early evening on Saturday only about 5,500 people had checked in.

New York's entire transit system of subways, buses and commuter rails stopped running at midday on Saturday - the first time officials have closed the network because of bad weather.

It was not expected to reopen until at least Monday. Airports are also closing.

Energy firm Con Edison also shut down miles of steam pipes under the city to prevent explosions if they come into contact with cold water.

President Barack Obama, who cut short his holiday to return to Washington, had a conference call about the hurricane with emergency officials on Saturday.

He earlier warned Irene could be "a historic hurricane" and that everyone should take the storm seriously.

The National Hurricane Center has downgraded Irene from a category two to a category one hurricane but says winds gusting up to 90mph extend outwards some 90 miles from the eye of the storm. Tropical-force winds extend as far as 290m.

The NHC expects Irene to weaken after hitting North Carolina, but it is forecast to remain a hurricane as it moves north along the Atlantic coast on Sunday.

Irene remains a "large and dangerous" storm, US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano warned on Saturday.

'Dangerous surges'

The eye of the storm crossed the North Carolina coast near Cape Lookout at about 0730 local (1130 GMT) on Saturday - at the start of what is predicted to be a 36-hour assault on the US east coast.

Power lines have been toppled and more than 600,000 people are without electricity in North Carolina and neighbouring Virginia.

"Extremely dangerous" storm surges have been forecast in some areas that could raise water levels by up to 11ft (3.35m).

Residents hoping to ride out the storm have stocked up on food, water and fuel.

"There's nothing you can do now but wait. You can hear the wind and it's scary," one man who rode out the storm told the Associated Press.

"Things are banging against the house. I hope it doesn't get worse, but I know it will. I just hate hurricanes," said Leon Reasor in the Outer Banks town of Buxton.

In New York City, parts of Manhattan and into Staten Island are at particular risk, according to projections issued by city authorities.

Hospitals in affected areas have evacuated patients.

n Washington DC, Sunday's dedication of the new memorial for Martin Luther King Jr - which President Obama had been expected to attend - has been postponed until at least September. The power company serving the Washington area warned of "potential widespread power outages" at the weekend.

Supermarkets along the east coast were reportedly running out of supplies as people stock up before the storm arrives.

The Pentagon has loaded 200 trucks with emergency supplies, and 100,000 National Guard troops are on standby.

The American Red Cross said it was preparing dozens of emergency shelters along the east coast.

The north-eastern seaboard is the most densely populated corridor in the US, with more than 65 million people living in major cities along the coast from Washington DC in the south to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston further north.

States of emergency have been declared in North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

"We're going to have damages, we just don't know how bad," Craig Fugate, head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, told the Associated Press news agency.

"This is one of the largest populations that will be impacted by one storm at one time."

If Irene hits New York and New England at category two, it will be the region's strongest storm since Hurricane Bob glanced off Massachusetts in 1991, and Hurricane Gloria, which caused extensive damage to New York City in 1985.

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Purple Super Tomato Invented to fight against Cancer

It looks like a cross between an orange and a black pudding, but this genetically modified purple 'super tomato' could be the latest weapon in the fight against cancer.

The fruit, which tastes and smells like a normal red tomato, has been given two genes from a snapdragon flower that produce the dark colour. 

The distinctive hue is created by antioxidant pigments that protect against diseases including cancer, heart problems and diabetes.

British scientists behind the crop believe their purple tomato is the respectable face of genetic modification and could help convince the public of the benefits of GM food.

But critics say the potential health benefits are a distraction from the harmful environmental side effects of GM farming. 

The tomato  -  developed by the John Innes Centre in Norwich  -  contains high concentrations of anthocyanins, pigments found in blackberries and cranberries.

Anthocyanins are chemicals called flavonoids which mop up potentially harmful oxygen molecules in the body. Although they are produced naturally by tomato plants, they are normally found only in the leaves.

The scientists transferred the genes from the snapdragons using specially adapted bacteria.

Professor Cathie Martin, who led the John Innes research  -  the results of which are published today in the journal Nature Biotechnology  -  said one tomato contained the same anthocyanins as a spoonful of cranberries.

'Most people do not eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day,' she said.  'But they can get more benefit from those they do eat if common fruit and vegetables can be developed that are higher in nutrients.'

The scientists found that mice bred to be vulnerable to cancer lived longer when fed the GM tomatoes. They now hope to test the effects on men at risk of prostate cancer.

Dr Lara Bennett, of Cancer Research UK, said: 'It's exciting to see new techniques that could make healthy foods even better for us.'

But critics warn that genetic modification is tied in with factory farming methods that harm communities  -  and that any seeds from a GM tomato could produce unexpected effects on the environment.

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Vasuki Sunkavalli is Miss Universe 2011 from India, Andhra Pradesh

Vasuki Sunkavalli is Miss Universe India 2011

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Bahamas become fourth country to ban shark fishing

The Bahamas on Tuesday approved a law banning shark fishing in its waters, along with selling, importing and exporting shark products. This makes the Bahamas the fourth country to ban shark fishing, joining the Maldives, Honduras, and Palau. The 630,000 sq km of water around the Bahamas has now become an official shark sanctuary.

The ban is welcomed by many, including environmentalists. The President of the Bahamas National Trust, Neil McKinney, spoke about the issue saying, "They desperately need protection if we're not going to drive them to extinction." Deputy Prime Minister Brent Symonette also commented on the ban: "This is in keeping with the government's commitment to pursue conservation policies and strategies in order to safeguard the marine and terrestrial environment."

However, some feel that the ban will affect relations with China. Shark-fin soup is highly popular in China, with around 73 million sharks killed every year. To prepare shark-fin soup, the fins are often scraped off, and the body of the shark is thrown back into the water. A report published by the Pew Charitable Trusts found that shark populations have fallen by 70 to 80 per cent, with a third of all shark species being threatened or nearly threatened by extinction.

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Facebook allow users to move from Facebook to Gooogle+

Application geeks are cashing in on users' craze to move from Facebook to Google's new social media site, Google+.Applications and websites that enable this migration are already showing up. Check this out. 

Move2Picasa is a small application that allows users to move their photos from Facebook to Google+. Coded by Pune-based Web developer Aman Kumar Singh, Move2Picasa saw over 10,000 users put in requests for migrating their photos from their Facebook accounts to Google+ profiles. 

"I did not think it will get such a response. We moved 4 lakh photos which took up lot of resources. We have a long request queue waiting, so we have temporarily paused accepting requests," said Singh, cofounder of the web app developing firm Amiworks. 

The app doesn't have all features yet. It either moves all photos or moves none. Users cannot choose photos to move, nor can it pull in photo tags and comments. It took over three hours to migrate all photos. The photos get added to the Picasa albums in Google accounts, and can then be shared on Google+ profiles. 

Singh stated that he received $150 in response to a donation appeal for hosting expenses of the website. "I have also got around 25 requests for a paid app that can move photos on a priority basis. They want to move large volumes of photo. We are in the process of developing it and also scaling up resources to clear the current queue of requests," he stated. 

Though the app moves out or rather copies out photos from Facebook into the rival Google+, Singh does not expect Facebook to block it soon. "The app uses Facebook's APIs and does not violate any of Facebook's rules. So, I do not think Move2Picasa will face any block from the Facebook authorities.

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Indian Railways launches mobile ticketing application: SMS to be used as ticket

The Indian Railways has a launched M-Ticket as a mobile phone application allowing users with an internet enabled mobile to book railway ticket through their phones. Users will need to carry the SMS that would be sent as the proof of the booking within 20 minutes of booking. Users will still need to carry a valid id proof along with the SMS for their booking to be valid.

Users will need to download the mobile ticketing application from Indian Railways’ portal IndianRailways.gov.in. Users can use their mobile phones and visit the website to register for the service. An SMS will then bring the link of the mobile ticket application on the phone. Once it is installed, one can get tickets on the phone. On completion of booking and payment formalities, an SMS containing ticket details will be sent to the user, which is referred to as the Mobile Reservation Message (MRM).

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