Thursday, May 31, 2012
Stay connected while you go: Bathrooms go high-tech
Stay connected while you go: Bathrooms go high-tech
Not even the bathroom is free from technology these days.
Now it's becoming the iBathroom.
As bathrooms overtake kitchens as the nation's top remodeling priority, more consumers
are going high-tech: steam showers with built-in speakers, medicine cabinets with integrated
TVs, and toilets with MP3/phone docking stations.
Pricey new gadgets are making it even easier for people to stay connected. Already,
three-quarters of Americans say they use their smartphones in the bathroom, according to
a survey this year by marketing firm 11Mark.
STORY: Baths are popular remodel targets with practicality as goal
"They're for the guy taking his iPod into the bathroom anyway," says Home Depot bath merchant Jennifer Hartman. What's on tap?
•Programmable steam showers with built-in speakers for music from personalized playlists,
offered by Kohler and Steamist.
•Tubs that vibrate with the rhythm of music from invisible speakers. "It's like you're at
an underwater concert," says Kohler's Travis Rotelli of the $3,000-plus VibrAcoustic Bath,
launched last month. MTI Bath also makes one.
•Mirrors that double as flat TV screens, offered by Seura and Electric Mirror, speakers that
attach to existing medicine cabinets or cabinets with an integrated TV. "It's really slick,"
Tony Sweeney says of the $2,200-plus Robern TViD in his remodeled Chicago bath.
•Toilets, dubbed iPoos by critics, with automatic bidet-like cleansing, heated seats,
built-in speakers and smartphone docking stations. "It's completely unnecessary but just fun,
" Sweeney says of his $6,000-plus Kohler Numi. Inax's Regio Smart Toilet has similar features.
Not all are buying. Jerry Levine, a Washington, D.C.-area remodeler, says many clients want to
upgrade their bathrooms — the most common remodeling projects in a survey this month by the National Association of Home Builders— but still struggle with cost.
"We're still seeing more interest on the practical side," says Home Depot's Hartman.
She says $20 to $40 non-slipping toilet seats sell well, adding: "You never have to worry
about the seat shifting again."
Not even the bathroom is free from technology these days.
Now it's becoming the iBathroom.
As bathrooms overtake kitchens as the nation's top remodeling priority, more consumers
are going high-tech: steam showers with built-in speakers, medicine cabinets with integrated
TVs, and toilets with MP3/phone docking stations.
Pricey new gadgets are making it even easier for people to stay connected. Already,
three-quarters of Americans say they use their smartphones in the bathroom, according to
a survey this year by marketing firm 11Mark.
STORY: Baths are popular remodel targets with practicality as goal
"They're for the guy taking his iPod into the bathroom anyway," says Home Depot bath merchant Jennifer Hartman. What's on tap?
•Programmable steam showers with built-in speakers for music from personalized playlists,
offered by Kohler and Steamist.
•Tubs that vibrate with the rhythm of music from invisible speakers. "It's like you're at
an underwater concert," says Kohler's Travis Rotelli of the $3,000-plus VibrAcoustic Bath,
launched last month. MTI Bath also makes one.
•Mirrors that double as flat TV screens, offered by Seura and Electric Mirror, speakers that
attach to existing medicine cabinets or cabinets with an integrated TV. "It's really slick,"
Tony Sweeney says of the $2,200-plus Robern TViD in his remodeled Chicago bath.
•Toilets, dubbed iPoos by critics, with automatic bidet-like cleansing, heated seats,
built-in speakers and smartphone docking stations. "It's completely unnecessary but just fun,
" Sweeney says of his $6,000-plus Kohler Numi. Inax's Regio Smart Toilet has similar features.
Not all are buying. Jerry Levine, a Washington, D.C.-area remodeler, says many clients want to
upgrade their bathrooms — the most common remodeling projects in a survey this month by the National Association of Home Builders— but still struggle with cost.
"We're still seeing more interest on the practical side," says Home Depot's Hartman.
She says $20 to $40 non-slipping toilet seats sell well, adding: "You never have to worry
about the seat shifting again."
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Great British in Public
Dudley, The Black Country, England. An area in the midlands, The Black Country gained its name in the mid 19th century due to the smoke from the many thousands of ironworking foundries and forges. Street games at the Black Country Living Museum. 2011
Read more: http://lightbox.time.com/2012/05/30/great-british-public/#ixzz1wPuhBhUw
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Addiction to the internet could cause damage to the brain
Addiction to the internet could cause damage to the brain similar to that by use of alcohol and drugs, a Chinese study has said.
According to scientists, the internet addiction disorder (IAD) is a recently recognised condition where individuals spend unhealthy amounts of time online, Sky News reported.
Researchers said internet disrupts nerve wiring in adolescent brains in a similar way to people exposed to cocaine and cannabis.
On being denied access to computers, people may experience distress and withdrawal symptoms including tremors, obsessive thoughts and involuntary typing movements of the fingers, the study said.
Earlier research on IAD have focused on psychological assessments rather than the impact on the human body.
The new study involved scans of the brains of 17 internet-addicted teenagers and 16 non-addicted individuals in China.
The scientists, led by Hao Lei from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, found in the IAD-diagnosed teenagers evidence of disruption to "white matter" nerve fibres connecting vital parts of the brain involved in emotions, decision making, and self-control.
Earlier studies have shown abnormal white matter structure in brains of people who were addicted to alcohol, cocaine and cannabis.
According to scientists, the internet addiction disorder (IAD) is a recently recognised condition where individuals spend unhealthy amounts of time online, Sky News reported.
Researchers said internet disrupts nerve wiring in adolescent brains in a similar way to people exposed to cocaine and cannabis.
On being denied access to computers, people may experience distress and withdrawal symptoms including tremors, obsessive thoughts and involuntary typing movements of the fingers, the study said.
Earlier research on IAD have focused on psychological assessments rather than the impact on the human body.
The new study involved scans of the brains of 17 internet-addicted teenagers and 16 non-addicted individuals in China.
The scientists, led by Hao Lei from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, found in the IAD-diagnosed teenagers evidence of disruption to "white matter" nerve fibres connecting vital parts of the brain involved in emotions, decision making, and self-control.
Earlier studies have shown abnormal white matter structure in brains of people who were addicted to alcohol, cocaine and cannabis.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Unexpected allies aid ants at war with “zombifying” parasite
Unexpected allies aid ants at war with “zombifying” parasite
May 4, 2012
Courtesy of Penn State University
and World Science staff
Tropical ants plagued by a parasite that turns them into “zombies” have unexpected allies in their struggle: other parasites, scientists say.
A group of “zombifying” parasites known as Ophiocordyceps are fungi that hijack ants' brains. The fungus them alters ant's brain mechanisms so that the insect marches to its death, all in an orchestrated process that facilitates the parasite's reproduction.
A dead "zombie" ant with the brain-manipulating fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis s.l. growing out of its head. Its stalk is in turn parasitized by another fungus, the whitish-yellow material, which scientists say castrates it. (Credit: David Hughes, Penn State U.)
But the fungal tyrant suffers oppression in turn from other fungi—which basically castrate it chemically and disrupt its reproduction, according to the researchers. The counter-parasites keep the first one in check and help prevent it from overrunning entire ant colonies.
It's truly a case where “biology is stranger than fiction,” said David Hughes of Penn State University, who led a research team that produced the findings. The research was published May 2 online in the scientific journal PLoS One.
A parasite of a parasite, called a hyperparasite, “effectively castrates the zombie-ant fungus so it cannot spread its spores,” said Hughes. This saves not a few hapless ants from a horrifying death. After commandeering their brains, the zombifying fungus makes them march to a mass ant grave near the ants' home, where it drops dead. The fungus then promptly sprouts out of the ant's head—forming a stalk from whence it spreads its fetid spores to claim more victims.
But the battle—which the researchers studied as it plays out in the Atlantic rainforests of Brazil but which also occurs in other parts of the world—isn't so simple. Far from resting easy in its cadaverous new home, the zombifying fungus falls prey to its own tormentors. These parasites spread onto its own stalk and make their home there. “Because the hyperparasitic fungi prevents the infected zombie-ant fungus from spreading spores, fewer of the ants will become zombies,” Hughes said.
As part of their research, Hughes and colleagues created a detailed model to reveal details of the interactions between the fungus-infected ants and the parasite-infected zombie-ant fungus. Scientists previously had known that ants defend their colonies against microscopic enemies such as fungal spores by efficiently grooming each other. In this study, the researchers also modeled the effect of such ant behavior on limiting infection.
“Interestingly, beyond the well-known effect of defensive ant behavior, our new research reveals the added effect of the castrating actions of the hyperparasite fungi, which may result in significantly limiting the spread of the zombie-ant fungus,” Hughes said.
The scientists report that only about 6.5 percent of the spore-producing organs of the zombie-ant fungus were viable. “Even though there are a lot of dead and infected zombie ants in the neighborhood, only a few of the spores of the zombie-ant fungus will become mature and able to infect healthy ants,” Hughes said. “Our research indicates that the danger to the ant colony is much smaller than the high density of zombie-ant cadavers in the graveyard might suggest. This complex interaction between ant colonies, their brain-manipulating parasites, and other fungi capable of lending assistance to the colony underscores the need to study social insects under natural conditions.”
May 4, 2012
Courtesy of Penn State University
and World Science staff
Tropical ants plagued by a parasite that turns them into “zombies” have unexpected allies in their struggle: other parasites, scientists say.
A group of “zombifying” parasites known as Ophiocordyceps are fungi that hijack ants' brains. The fungus them alters ant's brain mechanisms so that the insect marches to its death, all in an orchestrated process that facilitates the parasite's reproduction.
But the fungal tyrant suffers oppression in turn from other fungi—which basically castrate it chemically and disrupt its reproduction, according to the researchers. The counter-parasites keep the first one in check and help prevent it from overrunning entire ant colonies.
It's truly a case where “biology is stranger than fiction,” said David Hughes of Penn State University, who led a research team that produced the findings. The research was published May 2 online in the scientific journal PLoS One.
A parasite of a parasite, called a hyperparasite, “effectively castrates the zombie-ant fungus so it cannot spread its spores,” said Hughes. This saves not a few hapless ants from a horrifying death. After commandeering their brains, the zombifying fungus makes them march to a mass ant grave near the ants' home, where it drops dead. The fungus then promptly sprouts out of the ant's head—forming a stalk from whence it spreads its fetid spores to claim more victims.
But the battle—which the researchers studied as it plays out in the Atlantic rainforests of Brazil but which also occurs in other parts of the world—isn't so simple. Far from resting easy in its cadaverous new home, the zombifying fungus falls prey to its own tormentors. These parasites spread onto its own stalk and make their home there. “Because the hyperparasitic fungi prevents the infected zombie-ant fungus from spreading spores, fewer of the ants will become zombies,” Hughes said.
As part of their research, Hughes and colleagues created a detailed model to reveal details of the interactions between the fungus-infected ants and the parasite-infected zombie-ant fungus. Scientists previously had known that ants defend their colonies against microscopic enemies such as fungal spores by efficiently grooming each other. In this study, the researchers also modeled the effect of such ant behavior on limiting infection.
“Interestingly, beyond the well-known effect of defensive ant behavior, our new research reveals the added effect of the castrating actions of the hyperparasite fungi, which may result in significantly limiting the spread of the zombie-ant fungus,” Hughes said.
The scientists report that only about 6.5 percent of the spore-producing organs of the zombie-ant fungus were viable. “Even though there are a lot of dead and infected zombie ants in the neighborhood, only a few of the spores of the zombie-ant fungus will become mature and able to infect healthy ants,” Hughes said. “Our research indicates that the danger to the ant colony is much smaller than the high density of zombie-ant cadavers in the graveyard might suggest. This complex interaction between ant colonies, their brain-manipulating parasites, and other fungi capable of lending assistance to the colony underscores the need to study social insects under natural conditions.”
Art appreciation, self-reflection may go together in the brain
Art appreciation, self-reflection may go together in the brain
April 26, 2012
Courtesy
and World Science staff
A network of brain structures activated during intense aesthetic experiences overlaps with another that’s associated with inward contemplation and self-assessment, researchers have found.
New York University scientists asked 16 paid study subjects, having slight to moderate levels of past exposure or education in art, to examine 109 images of pictures from museums in a database. The artworks were from a wide range of cultures, time periods and styles, including some abstract works; none were particularly famous.
Subjects were asked to rate each work based on how strongly it “moved” them—not focusing necessarily on beauty, but rather on what struck them as “powerful, pleasing, or profound.” During all this, their brain activity was scanned with a technology called functional magnetic resonance imaging.
There was little agreement among viewers in terms of which artworks received their highest ratings—fours, on a scale from one to four. But one consistent finding was that a specific network of brain regions went into action for viewers as they looked at those artworks that they found special, according to the researchers.
The network consisted of frontal areas of the brain, just behind the forehead, and “subcortical” regions, which are relatively deep in the brain. This activity also included several regions belonging to the brain’s “default mode network,” which had previously been associated with self-referential thinking, the investigators said.
“Aesthetic judgments for paintings are highly individual, in that the paintings experienced as moving differ widely across people,” they wrote, reporting their findings in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. “But the neural systems supporting aesthetic reactions remain largely the same from person to person. Moreover, the most moving paintings produce a selective activation of a network of brain regions which is known to activate when we think about personally relevant matters such as our own personality traits and daydreams, or when we contemplate our future.”
April 26, 2012
Courtesy
and World Science staff
A network of brain structures activated during intense aesthetic experiences overlaps with another that’s associated with inward contemplation and self-assessment, researchers have found.
New York University scientists asked 16 paid study subjects, having slight to moderate levels of past exposure or education in art, to examine 109 images of pictures from museums in a database. The artworks were from a wide range of cultures, time periods and styles, including some abstract works; none were particularly famous.
Subjects were asked to rate each work based on how strongly it “moved” them—not focusing necessarily on beauty, but rather on what struck them as “powerful, pleasing, or profound.” During all this, their brain activity was scanned with a technology called functional magnetic resonance imaging.
There was little agreement among viewers in terms of which artworks received their highest ratings—fours, on a scale from one to four. But one consistent finding was that a specific network of brain regions went into action for viewers as they looked at those artworks that they found special, according to the researchers.
The network consisted of frontal areas of the brain, just behind the forehead, and “subcortical” regions, which are relatively deep in the brain. This activity also included several regions belonging to the brain’s “default mode network,” which had previously been associated with self-referential thinking, the investigators said.
“Aesthetic judgments for paintings are highly individual, in that the paintings experienced as moving differ widely across people,” they wrote, reporting their findings in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. “But the neural systems supporting aesthetic reactions remain largely the same from person to person. Moreover, the most moving paintings produce a selective activation of a network of brain regions which is known to activate when we think about personally relevant matters such as our own personality traits and daydreams, or when we contemplate our future.”
Loving the mountain trainsVM
Loving the mountain trains
VM Govind Krishnan, a resident of Sector 13, Dwarka, grew up in Mount Pleasant, Coonoor, watching the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) chugging past his home. He distinctly remembers the first journey he took on that train with his grandmother. He was in awe of the way the little train climbed its way through the dense forest and steep hills.
“The sight of the train entering a tunnel and coming out bellowing steam was mesmerising. Even today, the sight moves me beyond words,” says he.
All his professional life (34 years) he worked with Air India, but his heart remained firmly on movement on the ground. He has been in love with trains in general and more specifically with the mountain trains in India.
He has travelled a number of times on all the five operating mountain trains in India and has written extensively on these journeys.
His book, Nilgiri Mountain Railway - From Lifeline to Oblivion, narrates the struggle to save the NMR and throws light on the importance of the railway, as an engineering marvel and from the heritage point of view.
A revised edition of the book, with more photographs, was released this year in February. The first edition of the book came out in 2008.
It took him 40 years to collect the material to write this book.
Says he, “I had started collecting material for the book when the Union Government had proposed to dismantle the scenic railway in 1968 as it was not economically viable. I just wanted this train to continue chugging along.”
He also took hundreds of pictures of the NMR covering all sections of its 46-km route. One of these pictures is displayed in the office of the station master, Coonoor.
“The efforts of train enthusiasts like me met with success when the NMR was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in July 2005. NMR has only one parallel in the world, in Switzerland. Today the revival of the NMR is truly on. The Southern Railways is building new engines that will continue to run the train in the times to come,” he says.
His love for mountain trains does not end with the NMR. He has travelled extensively in other mountain trains of India and has written about them, besides coming out with a picture book on these other mountain trains to Darjeeling, Joginder Nagar (from Pathankot), Shimla and Matheran (Maharashtra).
“If you fall in love with trains, you will never come out of it all your life. A mountain train journey is the most beautiful and romantic journey one can take and we should make sure that our future generations do not miss out on that experience,” says he.
- Hindustan Times, New Delhi
VM Govind Krishnan, a resident of Sector 13, Dwarka, grew up in Mount Pleasant, Coonoor, watching the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) chugging past his home. He distinctly remembers the first journey he took on that train with his grandmother. He was in awe of the way the little train climbed its way through the dense forest and steep hills.
“The sight of the train entering a tunnel and coming out bellowing steam was mesmerising. Even today, the sight moves me beyond words,” says he.
All his professional life (34 years) he worked with Air India, but his heart remained firmly on movement on the ground. He has been in love with trains in general and more specifically with the mountain trains in India.
He has travelled a number of times on all the five operating mountain trains in India and has written extensively on these journeys.
His book, Nilgiri Mountain Railway - From Lifeline to Oblivion, narrates the struggle to save the NMR and throws light on the importance of the railway, as an engineering marvel and from the heritage point of view.
A revised edition of the book, with more photographs, was released this year in February. The first edition of the book came out in 2008.
It took him 40 years to collect the material to write this book.
Says he, “I had started collecting material for the book when the Union Government had proposed to dismantle the scenic railway in 1968 as it was not economically viable. I just wanted this train to continue chugging along.”
He also took hundreds of pictures of the NMR covering all sections of its 46-km route. One of these pictures is displayed in the office of the station master, Coonoor.
“The efforts of train enthusiasts like me met with success when the NMR was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in July 2005. NMR has only one parallel in the world, in Switzerland. Today the revival of the NMR is truly on. The Southern Railways is building new engines that will continue to run the train in the times to come,” he says.
His love for mountain trains does not end with the NMR. He has travelled extensively in other mountain trains of India and has written about them, besides coming out with a picture book on these other mountain trains to Darjeeling, Joginder Nagar (from Pathankot), Shimla and Matheran (Maharashtra).
“If you fall in love with trains, you will never come out of it all your life. A mountain train journey is the most beautiful and romantic journey one can take and we should make sure that our future generations do not miss out on that experience,” says he.
- Hindustan Times, New Delhi
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
கோடிகளைக் குவித்த கோபப் பறவைகள்! Angry Birds...
கோடிகளைக் குவித்த கோபப் பறவைகள்!
Angry Birds... ஆண்டிராய்ட் போன்கள் அறிமுகம்போது, அதன் விற்பனைக்கு முக்கியக் காரணமான இருந்த மொபைல் கேம்!
சிறைப்பட்டிருக்கும் சிறு பறவைகளை விடுவிக்கும் வகையில் உருவாக்கப்பட்ட Angry Birds கேம்தான் முதலில் வ...ெளியிடப்பட்டது. இதற்கு கிடைத்த வரவேற்பைத் தொடர்ந்து, இரண்டாம் பாகம் அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. இம்முறை பச்சை நிறப் பன்றித் தலைகளை அடித்து வீழ்த்த வேண்டும் என்பதே விதிமுறை. இது, முந்தைய பாகத்தின் ரெக்கார்டை ஒரே நாளில் முறியடித்தது.
Angry Birds கேம் பாதிப்பில், ஆங்கிலத்தில் 'ரியோ' என்ற அனிமேஷன் படமும் வெளியிடப்பட்டது. இதுவும் ஹிட்.
இதனிடையே, Angry Birds Space புது வெர்ஷன் கேம் வெளியிடப்பட்டது. இதுவும் சூப்பர் ஹிட்!
தற்போது, ஆண்டிராய்டை தொடர்ந்து மைக்ரோசாப்ட், ஆப்பிள் கம்ப்யூட்டர்ஸ், பிளாக் பெர்ரி மொபைல் போன், கூகுள் குரோம், பிளே ஸ்டேஷன் 3 வரை சிறகடித்துப் பறக்கிறது, Angry Birds.
சுட்டிகளை விட, பெரியவர்கள் தான் இந்த கேமை அதிகமாக விளையாடித் தீர்க்கிறார்கள்.
இதெல்லாம் இருக்கட்டும்... இந்த Angry Birds கேம், ஒரே ஆண்டில் 100 மில்லியன் டாலர்கள் வருவாயை ஈட்டியிருக்கிறது என்பதே அண்மைத் தகவல்!
Angry Birds... ஆண்டிராய்ட் போன்கள் அறிமுகம்போது, அதன் விற்பனைக்கு முக்கியக் காரணமான இருந்த மொபைல் கேம்!
சிறைப்பட்டிருக்கும் சிறு பறவைகளை விடுவிக்கும் வகையில் உருவாக்கப்பட்ட Angry Birds கேம்தான் முதலில் வ...ெளியிடப்பட்டது. இதற்கு கிடைத்த வரவேற்பைத் தொடர்ந்து, இரண்டாம் பாகம் அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. இம்முறை பச்சை நிறப் பன்றித் தலைகளை அடித்து வீழ்த்த வேண்டும் என்பதே விதிமுறை. இது, முந்தைய பாகத்தின் ரெக்கார்டை ஒரே நாளில் முறியடித்தது.
Angry Birds கேம் பாதிப்பில், ஆங்கிலத்தில் 'ரியோ' என்ற அனிமேஷன் படமும் வெளியிடப்பட்டது. இதுவும் ஹிட்.
இதனிடையே, Angry Birds Space புது வெர்ஷன் கேம் வெளியிடப்பட்டது. இதுவும் சூப்பர் ஹிட்!
தற்போது, ஆண்டிராய்டை தொடர்ந்து மைக்ரோசாப்ட், ஆப்பிள் கம்ப்யூட்டர்ஸ், பிளாக் பெர்ரி மொபைல் போன், கூகுள் குரோம், பிளே ஸ்டேஷன் 3 வரை சிறகடித்துப் பறக்கிறது, Angry Birds.
சுட்டிகளை விட, பெரியவர்கள் தான் இந்த கேமை அதிகமாக விளையாடித் தீர்க்கிறார்கள்.
இதெல்லாம் இருக்கட்டும்... இந்த Angry Birds கேம், ஒரே ஆண்டில் 100 மில்லியன் டாலர்கள் வருவாயை ஈட்டியிருக்கிறது என்பதே அண்மைத் தகவல்!
airport body scanners
airport body scanners
Homeland Security investigators have found "vulnerabilities" with the X-ray body scanning machines that are replacing the traditional "magnetometers" at the nation's airports, Wired magazine reports.
Wired cites an internal report from the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general. The report is classified, but DHS at some point did quietly publish a summary of the report, actually dated in November, on its website. The summary mentions eight recommendations for improved screening, but those apparently are only available in the classified version.
The summary also says the "quantitative and qualitative results of our testing are classified."
"Exactly how bad the body scanners are is not being divulged publicly," Wired notes.
DHS has spent $87 million replacing magnetometers with the X-ray body scanners designed to detect items a metal detector could miss. Another $7 million is being spent to "remove the human factor from the image review process" and replace the passenger's image with an avatar.
Wired has found flaw with the body scanners before. "Even the Government Accountability Office — Congress' investigative arm — said the devices might be ineffective," Wired says.
Homeland Security investigators have found "vulnerabilities" with the X-ray body scanning machines that are replacing the traditional "magnetometers" at the nation's airports, Wired magazine reports.
Wired cites an internal report from the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general. The report is classified, but DHS at some point did quietly publish a summary of the report, actually dated in November, on its website. The summary mentions eight recommendations for improved screening, but those apparently are only available in the classified version.
The summary also says the "quantitative and qualitative results of our testing are classified."
"Exactly how bad the body scanners are is not being divulged publicly," Wired notes.
DHS has spent $87 million replacing magnetometers with the X-ray body scanners designed to detect items a metal detector could miss. Another $7 million is being spent to "remove the human factor from the image review process" and replace the passenger's image with an avatar.
Wired has found flaw with the body scanners before. "Even the Government Accountability Office — Congress' investigative arm — said the devices might be ineffective," Wired says.
she landed in wrong place at the wrong time.
Melanie Marken was headed to her hotel to rest up for
a business meeting in Bloomington, Ind.,
last month when she made a discovery.
She was in the wrong Bloomington.
Marken's travel agent had mistakenly booked her on
a flight to Bloomington, Ill.
And she had to drive nearly five hours to make her meeting
in the Indiana city with the same name.
she landed in wrong place at the wrong time.
Even the most veteran of business travelers can inadvertently end up on the wrong flight — and in the wrong city. It's embarrassing, and even worse, it can foul up business meetings and potentially cost a company money.
Causes for a mix-up can range from the carelessness of a weary
traveler to a travel agent's error in booking a ticket to the wrong city,
Road Warriors and travel experts say.
"The traveler can e-mail a request for tickets to Philadelphia, for example,
and end up on a flight to Philadelphia, Miss., not the intended destination,"
says Kevin Mitchell, of the Business Travel Coalition. "Sure, there are opportunities
to catch such a mistake before leaving home or even at the airport.
However, sometimes a harried business traveler is operating on information overload,
or is just too tired to catch the error until an onboard announcement."
a business meeting in Bloomington, Ind.,
last month when she made a discovery.
Marken's travel agent had mistakenly booked her on
a flight to Bloomington, Ill.
And she had to drive nearly five hours to make her meeting
in the Indiana city with the same name.
she landed in wrong place at the wrong time.
Even the most veteran of business travelers can inadvertently end up on the wrong flight — and in the wrong city. It's embarrassing, and even worse, it can foul up business meetings and potentially cost a company money.
Causes for a mix-up can range from the carelessness of a weary
traveler to a travel agent's error in booking a ticket to the wrong city,
Road Warriors and travel experts say.
"The traveler can e-mail a request for tickets to Philadelphia, for example,
and end up on a flight to Philadelphia, Miss., not the intended destination,"
says Kevin Mitchell, of the Business Travel Coalition. "Sure, there are opportunities
to catch such a mistake before leaving home or even at the airport.
However, sometimes a harried business traveler is operating on information overload,
or is just too tired to catch the error until an onboard announcement."
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Garbage helps power up part of this township
Garbage helps power up part of this township
by Kiran Wadhwa, Hindustan Times
At Hiranandani Estate in Thane, wet waste is not just given away to the municipality garbage collectors. It is carefully segregated and sent to a biomethanation or biogas plant, where it is converted into fuel. This fuel is then used to power the sewage treatment plant in the estate. From solar lights in the compound to occupancy censors in common areas such as staircases and washrooms, where the lights only come on when people are around, the complex is a mix of fixtures that help save energy.
The biogas plant, for example, produces 125 units of energy every day, but has the capacity to do much more. "The plant can process five tonnes of biodegradable waste every day, but we only get a little over a tonne. Now, 21 more buildings are coming up in the estate so the plant will be sued to its full capacity," said Anant Palkar, general manager, Hiranandani Constructions Private Ltd. The plant was installed two years ago. "These systems are easy to maintain, but regular maintenance is a must," added Palkar.
Biogas can be used for anything from cooking to running motor vehicles. Biogas is the gas produced through the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen.
The company is now applying for carbon credits. But while the systems are in place, are the residents equally environment-conscious? "Residents of the complex are environmentally sensitive and work towards energy conservation. Without the support of the residents, all these systems would fail," added Palkar.
by Kiran Wadhwa, Hindustan Times
At Hiranandani Estate in Thane, wet waste is not just given away to the municipality garbage collectors. It is carefully segregated and sent to a biomethanation or biogas plant, where it is converted into fuel. This fuel is then used to power the sewage treatment plant in the estate. From solar lights in the compound to occupancy censors in common areas such as staircases and washrooms, where the lights only come on when people are around, the complex is a mix of fixtures that help save energy.
The biogas plant, for example, produces 125 units of energy every day, but has the capacity to do much more. "The plant can process five tonnes of biodegradable waste every day, but we only get a little over a tonne. Now, 21 more buildings are coming up in the estate so the plant will be sued to its full capacity," said Anant Palkar, general manager, Hiranandani Constructions Private Ltd. The plant was installed two years ago. "These systems are easy to maintain, but regular maintenance is a must," added Palkar.
Biogas can be used for anything from cooking to running motor vehicles. Biogas is the gas produced through the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen.
The company is now applying for carbon credits. But while the systems are in place, are the residents equally environment-conscious? "Residents of the complex are environmentally sensitive and work towards energy conservation. Without the support of the residents, all these systems would fail," added Palkar.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Cat washes its own dish plate-video
Cat washes its own dish - video
பூனைக் குட்டி ஒன்று தான் உணவு உண்ணுவதற்காகப் பயன்படுத்தப்படும் கோப்பையை தானே கழுவிச் சுத்தம் செய்கின்றது.
மனிதர்ளே சில வேளைகளில் இவ்வாறு சுத்தம் செய்வதற்கு தயக்கம் காட்டும் தருணத்தில் செல்லப்பிராணியாக வளர்க்கப்படுத் பூனைக்குட்டி மிகுந்த பொறுப்புடன் தனது கோப்பையை தானே சுத்தப்படுத்துவது ஆச்சரியம் ஊட்டும் வகையில் காணப்படுதுடன் சிலருக்கு இது ஒரு பாடமாகவும் அமைகின்றது.
பூனைக் குட்டி ஒன்று தான் உணவு உண்ணுவதற்காகப் பயன்படுத்தப்படும் கோப்பையை தானே கழுவிச் சுத்தம் செய்கின்றது.
மனிதர்ளே சில வேளைகளில் இவ்வாறு சுத்தம் செய்வதற்கு தயக்கம் காட்டும் தருணத்தில் செல்லப்பிராணியாக வளர்க்கப்படுத் பூனைக்குட்டி மிகுந்த பொறுப்புடன் தனது கோப்பையை தானே சுத்தப்படுத்துவது ஆச்சரியம் ஊட்டும் வகையில் காணப்படுதுடன் சிலருக்கு இது ஒரு பாடமாகவும் அமைகின்றது.
Bowling with My Family
I was very excited and I could not go back to sleep. So I tiptoed into the bathroom, brushed my teeth, took my bath, went to the garage to exercise, drank some milk with cereal and played a game alone.
Just then my mom came down and saw me. She asked me “Are you ready?” I said in a pleased voice, “Yes. I am waiting for everyone to get ready”.
Finally my mom, dad, uncle, aunt, sister and cousin got ready. We set out to the bowling alley. When we got there we booked the alley for one game and everyone rented a pair of bowling shoes. I got the shoe size two and half. The color of the shoes was green and it felt funny when I wore it. We got to our bowling lane. Then we typed in our names, youngest to the oldest. My youngest cousin, who is just three years old, was not included in the game. My older cousin, Esha bowled first and got eight points.
I took a six pound, green bowling ball and struggled to hold it. I managed to get enough strength to bowl it in the lane. Since there were no bumpers both my balls were gutter balls. Everyone at least put one pin down.
The same thing happened on the second round. I was very upset after that turn. Then, my parents saw me and said, “Don’t get upset, be a good sport and we will put bumpers for you”.
From the third round I scored some points but I still had to catch up with the rest of my family. Then on one turn, I made a strike without hitting the bumpers and gave everyone a high five.
Later by accident my youngest cousin threw the ball! Phew, no one got hurt. Because I was having so much fun, I did not realize the time passed by and the game was coming to an end. I was in the third place with 87 points and my aunt won with 97 points. It was the best day of my life!
The next time I go bowling I will make sure to put the bumpers before playing.
************
Prayer for Recovering Lost Items
Prayer for Recovering Lost Items
(Posted June 5, 2009 by meeraghu in lyrics, Madhwa Calendar.)
This prayer was also taught by my Father. We however lost track of the prayer and just remembered the name of Raja Kartivirarjuna and just said his name. As I said earlier also, the Madhwa Calendar has this prayer and I typed the same word by word into Baraha. Here it is for your recital.
Hope you don’t loose anything, but if you do, just say this prayer until you find the lost item.
Recover Lost Items or kaLeda vastu prAptigAgi
kArtavIryArjunO nAma
rAjA bAhusahasravAn
tasya smaraNamAtrENa
gataM naShTaM ca labhyatE
(Posted June 5, 2009 by meeraghu in lyrics, Madhwa Calendar.)
This prayer was also taught by my Father. We however lost track of the prayer and just remembered the name of Raja Kartivirarjuna and just said his name. As I said earlier also, the Madhwa Calendar has this prayer and I typed the same word by word into Baraha. Here it is for your recital.
Hope you don’t loose anything, but if you do, just say this prayer until you find the lost item.
Recover Lost Items or kaLeda vastu prAptigAgi
kArtavIryArjunO nAma
rAjA bAhusahasravAn
tasya smaraNamAtrENa
gataM naShTaM ca labhyatE
Left Eye Twitching
Left Eye Twitching Superstition - China
There is an old Chinese saying about twitching eyelids that says that "the twitching of the left eyelid indicates the coming of good fortune; while the right one is a warning about the coming bad luck." So while a twitch in the left eye indicates good luck or even a major gold rush, a twitching right eye is considered a bad omen which foretells of bad luck headed your way! In case of women the tables are turned, as a twitching right eye signifies good luck while a twitching left one is considered a bad omen. People also believe in other eyelid twitching superstitions where a twitch in the lower left eyelid means you can expect to cry soon or someone is gossiping about you.
Left Eye Twitching Superstition - India
In India, the left eye twitching superstition is the reverse of the Chinese version. It is again an old belief that if your right eye twitches, you are likely to hear good news. On the other hand, left eye jumping or twitching is considered inauspicious. At times, eyelid twitching can also be based on the gender as well. While left eye twitching is considered good for women, it might be a bad sign for men.
Left Eye Twitching Superstition - Parts of Africa
In certain parts of Africa, twitching in your lower eyelid signals that you will soon be shedding tears. When the upper eyelid twitches, it's a sign that you will meet someone unexpectedly. The Nigerians also follow the Chinese version of the left eye twitching and consider it to be a sign of bad luck.
Left Eye Twitching Superstition - Hawaii
In Hawaii, twitching in the left eye can signal the arrival of a stranger. In addition to these beliefs, there are some other versions of the left eye twitching superstition where a constant twitching of your left eye might signal a demise in the family and the twitching of the right may signal an impending birth.
Medical Causes of Left Eye Twitching
Although the left eye twitching superstitions might make for a good reading, there is a scientific reason behind left eye twitching. While the fluttering sensation that may sometimes be felt in and around the eyelids can certainly be irritating, it may not be a cause of serious concern. However, those who suffer from recurring episodes of constant repetitive contraction of the eyelid muscles must seek medical help in order to rule out the possibility of an underlying medical condition. Involuntary eye twitching, which is also referred to as eye muscle spasm, can be attributed to an eye problem known as benign essential blepharospasm. The condition is actually caused by uncontrollable contractions of the muscles around the eyelids. This chronic, uncontrollable blinking of the eyes could be the result of dry eyes, conjunctivitis or light sensitivity.
In addition to the aforementioned causes, eyelid twitching could also be attributed to neurological disorders like epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, Tourette syndrome or certain eye allergies and injuries. If it is an extreme condition you need to consult a doctor who might prescribe oral medications or certain eye drops. In an extreme case, myectomy or surgery for treating blinking eyes may have to be performed to cure the excessive twitching of the eyes. Eye twitches can also be triggered by eye strain. Watching television or working on a computer for long stretches of time can cause eye strain. Lack of sleep can also be a contributory factor. If excessive strain is causing twitching in the eyes, it can be cured by taking rest and cutting down on one's intake of caffeine or alcohol.
This was some information on superstitions associated with eye twitching. So the next time your left eye twitches, don't you worry about a catastrophe befalling you. Don't let such beliefs take away your peace of mind. Just stay calm and hope for the best.
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