Hey all!!
I wish a very Happy Independence Day to INDIANS all around the World :)
Friday, August 15, 2008
Happy Independence Day!!
Hey all!!
I wish a very Happy Independence Day to INDIANS all around the World :)
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Quakes Caught By Laptop Sensor
A device originally put into laptops to prevent damage to the hard drive if the machine is dropped has been put to a novel use by scientists.
The tiny devices that detect unexpected movement are being used to give warnings on earthquakes.
The Quakecatcher Network has been built by combining the readings of sensors in laptops known as accelerometers.
It successfully detected last month's quake in Los Angeles.
Jesse Lawrence, assistant professor of geophysics at Stanford University and colleagues from the University of California Riverside, told BBC World Service's Digital Planet programme that accelerometers are perfect for monitoring earthquakes.
In the case of laptops, the accelerometer detects when the machine has been knocked off a desk or dropped. Before impact the heads on the hard drive are pulled clear of the platters where data is stored to prevent physical damage.
"When you accidentally knock your laptop off the desk, the accelerometer is detecting a large, strong new motion," he said.
Triggers
Currently the system is iin its early stages with only three laptops fully connected.
While an individual machine "can't necessarily tell the difference" between a quake and someone just getting up quickly and knocking their laptop forcefully, Dr Lawrence explained the key is the number of machines networked together.
"If there's just a few of them, then the server will know it's just people knocking their laptops around accidentally," he said.
Opening in the San Andreas Rift Zone.
People wait outside during LA earthquake
The recent quake in LA was captured by the network
There is a 99.7% chance of a 6.7 or higher quake by 2037
"But if we're flooded with a large number of triggers, then we'll know that there is a large, significant earthquake in the area."
The sensitivity is variable, depending on distance from the quake.
Once movement is detected, the information is sent to the server, where it is verified as to whether it is an earthquake.
Although this may only provide a few moments' warning, every second counts in such a situation.
"If it is an earthquake, we could potentially send out signals to those who need it even before the energy from the quake has expanded out from the epicentre to those other people," Dr Lawrence said.
"In California, we train pupils in schools to jump underneath desks when there's an earthquake drill.
"We can do the same thing in all sorts of varieties of situations, and those few seconds can count.
The tiny devices that detect unexpected movement are being used to give warnings on earthquakes.
The Quakecatcher Network has been built by combining the readings of sensors in laptops known as accelerometers.
It successfully detected last month's quake in Los Angeles.
Jesse Lawrence, assistant professor of geophysics at Stanford University and colleagues from the University of California Riverside, told BBC World Service's Digital Planet programme that accelerometers are perfect for monitoring earthquakes.
In the case of laptops, the accelerometer detects when the machine has been knocked off a desk or dropped. Before impact the heads on the hard drive are pulled clear of the platters where data is stored to prevent physical damage.
"When you accidentally knock your laptop off the desk, the accelerometer is detecting a large, strong new motion," he said.
Triggers
Currently the system is iin its early stages with only three laptops fully connected.
While an individual machine "can't necessarily tell the difference" between a quake and someone just getting up quickly and knocking their laptop forcefully, Dr Lawrence explained the key is the number of machines networked together.
"If there's just a few of them, then the server will know it's just people knocking their laptops around accidentally," he said.
Opening in the San Andreas Rift Zone.
People wait outside during LA earthquake
The recent quake in LA was captured by the network
There is a 99.7% chance of a 6.7 or higher quake by 2037
"But if we're flooded with a large number of triggers, then we'll know that there is a large, significant earthquake in the area."
The sensitivity is variable, depending on distance from the quake.
Once movement is detected, the information is sent to the server, where it is verified as to whether it is an earthquake.
Although this may only provide a few moments' warning, every second counts in such a situation.
"If it is an earthquake, we could potentially send out signals to those who need it even before the energy from the quake has expanded out from the epicentre to those other people," Dr Lawrence said.
"In California, we train pupils in schools to jump underneath desks when there's an earthquake drill.
"We can do the same thing in all sorts of varieties of situations, and those few seconds can count.
Fuel Checker
Fuel Checker Makes Sure You Grabbed The Right Handle
Have you ever put the wrong type of fuel in your car? I’m not talking about skimping out and getting regular when your car calls for premium. No, I’m wondering if you’ve ever put diesel into your gas tank by mistake? Well, now there’s a handy gadget that can check whether or not you’re putting the right stuff in your vehicle.
Install this little gadget on the inside of your fuel flap, then just hold the fuel nozzle up to it ever time you fill up. It will light up to tell you whether or not you’ve got the right type. Seriously, do we really need something like this? Why not just look at the pump and make sure you grabbed the right one? Heck, if I’m not mistaken, the nozzle on a diesel pump is actually larger than that of regular gas so it won’t fit into your car. If you’re really paranoid, then by all means pick one of these.
Have you ever put the wrong type of fuel in your car? I’m not talking about skimping out and getting regular when your car calls for premium. No, I’m wondering if you’ve ever put diesel into your gas tank by mistake? Well, now there’s a handy gadget that can check whether or not you’re putting the right stuff in your vehicle.
Install this little gadget on the inside of your fuel flap, then just hold the fuel nozzle up to it ever time you fill up. It will light up to tell you whether or not you’ve got the right type. Seriously, do we really need something like this? Why not just look at the pump and make sure you grabbed the right one? Heck, if I’m not mistaken, the nozzle on a diesel pump is actually larger than that of regular gas so it won’t fit into your car. If you’re really paranoid, then by all means pick one of these.
Palm Size LED Projector
LG launches in Korea market its HS102G, a palm size LED projector. LG HS102G features 160 ANSI lumens brightness, a 2000:1 contrast ratio, 30,000 hours of LED life and integrated 1.2-watt speaker. It offers a short throw distance of 1.1M. It has a high-glossy black finish with a red touch button. It weighs only 780g.
LG HS102G is priced at 790,000 Korean Won.
Aroma Alarm Clock
Osim Nioi Alarm Clock Concept Uses Smells Instead Of Sounds
I wonder if historians in the future will look back on these times as the renaissance for alarm clocks? It seems almost every day there’s a different model popping up that uses some clever trick to get you out of bed in the morning. Today we have the Osim Nioi alarm clock concept which was designed by Alfie Lake. Instead of using a loud buzzing or beeping sound to basically shock you out of a comfortable sleep in the morning (usually putting you in a bad mood) the Osim Nioi releases pleasurable scents, like the smell of freshly baked bread, to wake you up.
In fact the Osim Nioi goes one step further and allows for up to 3 different scent cartridges that can actually be used to give you a more relaxing sleep. For example, in addition to your 7:30am fresh bread wake up call, you can also set the clock to release a lavender scent at midnight, which supposedly calms the body and increases the amount of time you spend restfully sleeping. While I like the idea, I know that the smell of fresh bread isn’t enough to bring me out of my dormant coma in the morning. However, I imagine something that smelled a bit more unpleasant might actually do the trick.
I wonder if historians in the future will look back on these times as the renaissance for alarm clocks? It seems almost every day there’s a different model popping up that uses some clever trick to get you out of bed in the morning. Today we have the Osim Nioi alarm clock concept which was designed by Alfie Lake. Instead of using a loud buzzing or beeping sound to basically shock you out of a comfortable sleep in the morning (usually putting you in a bad mood) the Osim Nioi releases pleasurable scents, like the smell of freshly baked bread, to wake you up.
In fact the Osim Nioi goes one step further and allows for up to 3 different scent cartridges that can actually be used to give you a more relaxing sleep. For example, in addition to your 7:30am fresh bread wake up call, you can also set the clock to release a lavender scent at midnight, which supposedly calms the body and increases the amount of time you spend restfully sleeping. While I like the idea, I know that the smell of fresh bread isn’t enough to bring me out of my dormant coma in the morning. However, I imagine something that smelled a bit more unpleasant might actually do the trick.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Telephoto Lens For Mobile Camera
Here's something new for you guys...
If you have a tiny flash for your cell phone camera, but feel that there's still something missing when you're taking those unplanned cell phone photos of questionable quality, you might be interested in this inexpensive telescope/telephoto lens that you strap onto the back of your mobile. So what if you can carry a higher quality digital camera in the same amount of space? The point is to get as much use out of the camera that's in your phone as possible. Available for $19 for several Sony Ericcson and Nokia phone models, it provides 6X zoom.
Examples of both Sony Ericsson and Nokia are shown below:
- Sony Ericsson (W800i)
- Nokia(N73)
This Generic Mobile Phone Telescope with flexible adapter to mount 7x18 telescope. It can use on most of mobile phones or PDAs. With this telescope, you can zoom to focus distant objects clearly and to make a high quality photograph easily. Try this on your cellphone to become a high resolution camera phone.
Features:
Instruction:
Package Content:
* Mobile Phone Telescope using with some phone models may cause vignetting on the image.
* Please also switch off the flash light for better quality.
* Not suitable for the phone with the camera lens too close to the edge of the phone.
Tested models:
Here's the Demo Video:
Friday, August 8, 2008
Beijing Lights Up The World
The Olympics Games Begin
(One World, One Dream)
The 2008 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, is a major international multi-sport event which is being celebrated in Beijing,People's Republic of China from August 8 to August 24, 2008 and followed by the 2008 Summer Paralympics from September 6 to September 17. Ten thousand, five hundred athletes are expected to compete in 302 events in 28 sports, just one event more than was on the schedule of the 2004 games. The 2008 Beijing Olympics will also mark the third time that Olympic events will have been held in the territories of two different National Olympic Committies (NOC): at the 2008 Olympics, equestrian events will be held in Hong Kong, which competes separately from mainland China.The Olympic Games were awarded to Beijing after an exhaustive ballot of the International Olymic Committe (IOC) on july 13,2001. The official logo of the games, titled "Dancing Beijing," features a stylised calligraphic character jīng (京, meaning capital), referencing the host city. The mascots of Beijing 2008 are the five Fuwa, each representing both a colour of the Olympic rings and a symbol of Chinese culture. The Olympic slogan, One World, One Dream, calls upon the world to unite in the Olympic spirit. Several new NOCs have also been recognised by the IOC.
Beijing was elected the host city on July 13, 2001, during the 112th IOC Session in Moscow, beating Toronto, Paris, Istanbul, and Osaka. Prior to the session, five other cities (Bangkok, Cairo, Havana, Kuala Lumpur, and Seville) submitted bids to the IOC but failed to make the short list in 2000. After the first round of voting, Beijing held a significant lead over the other four candidates. Osaka received only 6 votes and was eliminated. In the second round, Beijing was supported by an absolute majority of voters, eliminating the need for subsequent rounds.
After winning the bid, Li Lanqing, the vice premier of China, declared "The winning of the 2008 Olympic bid is an example of the international recognition of China's social stability, economic progress and the healthy life of the Chinese people." Previously, Beijing had bid to host the 2000 Summer Olympics. It led the voting over the first three rounds, but ultimately lost to Sydney in the final round in 1993.
By May 2007, construction of all 31 Beijing-based Olympic Games venues had begun. The Chinese government is also investing in the renovation and construction of 6 venues outside Beijing as well as 59 training centres. Its largest architectural pieces will be the Beijing National Stadium, Beijing National Indoor Stadium, Beijing National Aquatics Centre, Olympic Green Convention Centre, Olympic Green, and Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center. Almost 85% of the construction budget for the six main venues is being funded by US$2.1 billion (RMB¥17.4 billion) in corporate bids and tenders. Investments are expected from corporations seeking ownership rights after the 2008 Summer Olympics. Some venues will be owned and governed by the State General Administration of Sports, which will use them after the Olympics as facilities for all future national sports teams and events.
Some events will be held outside Beijing, namely football (in Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Tianjin), sailing (in Qingdao), and equestrian (in Hong Kong, because of "uncertainties of equine diseases and major difficulties in establishing a disease-free zone").
Some events will be held outside Beijing, namely football (in Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Tianjin), sailing (in Qingdao), and equestrian (in Hong Kong, because of "uncertainties of equine diseases and major difficulties in establishing a disease-free zone").
Beijing National Stadium:
The centrepiece of the 2008 Summer Olympics will be the Beijing National Stadium, nicknamed the "Bird nest" because of its nest-like skeletal structure. Construction of the venue began on December 24, 2003. The Guangdong Olympic Stadium was originally planned, constructed, and completed in 2001 for the Games, but a decision was made to construct a new stadium in Beijing.[clarify][11] Government officials engaged architects worldwide in a design competition. A Swiss firm, Herzog & de Meuron Architekten AG, collaborated with China Architecture Design & Research Group to win the competition. The stadium features a lattice-like concrete skeleton forming the stadium bowl and will have a seating capacity of over 90,000 people during the Olympics. Architects originally described the overall design as resembling a bird nest with an immense ocular—an opening with a retractable roof over the stadium. However, in 2004, the idea of retractable roof was abandoned for economic and safety reasons. The Beijing National Stadium will be the site of the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the athletics events and soccer finals. The stadium's designer Ai Weiwei has since withdrawn his support for China's Olympic games, saying "he wants nothing to do with them anymore".[12][13]
Most recently, the Beijing Olympic Village opened on July 16, 2008 and to the public on July 26, 2008.
The Fuwa:
The Fuwa (Chinese: 福娃; pinyin: Fúwá; literally "good-luck dolls" and can be known as "Friendlies"), are the mascots of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The designs were created by Han Meilin, a famous Chinese artist. The designs were publicly announced by the National Society of Chinese Classic Literature Studies on November 11, 2005 at an event marking the 1000th day before the opening of the games.
There are five fuwa: Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying, and Nini. Together, the names form the sentence "北京欢迎你", Běijīng huānyíng nǐ which means "Beijing welcomes you". Originally named 'The Friendlies', they were promoted as 'Fuwa' when there were concerns the name could be misinterpreted.
While originally given artistic licence in his commission, Han Meilin was subsequently requested by officials to include various Chinese design and fauna in the Fuwa. Han Meilin drew 1,000 models of possible Fuwa (including a dragon and an anthropomorphic drum) before settling on the five characters. He has since disowned the Fuwa and did not include them in his museum.
Torch Relay:
The design of the Olympic Torch is based on traditional scrolls and uses a traditional Chinese design known as the "Propitious Clouds" (祥云). The torch is designed to remain lit in 65 kilometer per hour winds, and in rain of up to 50 millimeters per hour.The relay, with the theme Journey of Harmony, is expected to last 130 days and carry the torch 137,000 km (85,000 mi)—the longest distance of any Olympic torch relay since the tradition began at the 1936 Berlin Games.
So far, the torch relay has been called a "public relations disaster" by The Times for China, with protests of China's human rights record, particularly about Tibet.
The relay began March 24, 2008, in Olympia, Greece. From there, it traveled across Greece to Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, and then to Beijing, arriving on March 31. From Beijing, the torch followed a route passing through every continent except Antarctica. The torch visited cities on the Silk Road, symbolizing ancient links between China and the rest of the world. A total of 21,880 torchbearers have been selected from around the world by various organizations and entities.
The international portion of the relay was a problematic, month-long world tour that has seen wide-scale protests to China's human rights abuses and recent crackdown in Tibet. After trouble in London saw several attempts to put out the flame, the following day, the flame was extinguished in Paris .The American leg in San Francisco on 9 April was altered without prior warning to avoid such scenes, although there were still demonstrations along the original route.The relay was further delayed and simplified after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake affecting western China.
The flame was carried to the top of Mount Everest on a 108 km (67 mi) long "highway" scaling the Tibetan side of the mountain especially built for the relay. The $19.7 million blacktop project spanned from Tingri County of Xigazê Prefecture to the Everest Base Camp.In March 2008, China banned mountaineers from climbing its side of Mount Everest and later persuaded the Nepalese government to close their side as well, officially citing environmental concerns.It also reflected concerns by the Chinese government that Tibet activists may try to disrupt its plans to carry the Olympic torch up the world's tallest peak.
The originally proposed route would have seen the torch carried through Taipei after leaving Vietnam and before heading for Hong Kong. Taiwan authorities, however, objected to this proposal, claiming that this route would make the portion of the relay in Taiwan appear to be part the torch's domestic journey through China, rather than a leg on the international route.
The originally proposed route would have seen the torch carried through Taipei after leaving Vietnam and before heading for Hong Kong. Taiwan authorities, however, objected to this proposal, claiming that this route would make the portion of the relay in Taiwan appear to be part the torch's domestic journey through China, rather than a leg on the international route.
This dispute as well as demands that the flag of the Republic of China and the National Anthem of the Republic of China be banned along the route led the Taiwan authorities to reject the proposal that it be part of the relay route, and the two sides of the Taiwan Strait subsequently blamed each other for injecting politics into the event.
Medals of 2008 Summer Olympics:
Medals of the 2008 Summer Olympics:
Silver (left), Gold (center), Bronze (right)
The ranking sorts by the number of gold medals earned by a country (in this context a country is an entity represented by a National Olympic Committee). The number of silver medals is taken into consideration next and then the number of bronze medals. If, after the above, countries are still tied, equal ranking is given and they are listed alphabetically. The host country, China, is highlighted in lavender. The greatest number of medals won in each medal category, gold, silver, bronze, and total, is in boldface.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
88888 LIGHTS OUT
88888 LIGHTS OUT
(A campaign to arrest Global Warming)
More often than not, even when individuals have the spirit and the determination to preserve and protect the environment, they do not have the know-how. Thus the question, “What can we do?”. It is in answer to this question that we propose ‘ 88888 Lights Out’ on the 8th of August, 2008 at 8 pm for 8 minutes.
An ‘eight minute’ public display of unison, when everyone will switch off their lights for 8 minutes in support of the fight against ‘Global Warming’. In the run up to August 8th, we intend to build awareness on various environmental issues caused due to human activities.
Where ever you are on August 8th, kindly join the campaign by turning off your lights for 8 minutes at 8 pm. We request you to pass on the message to all your colleagues, friends & relatives and make this campaign a resounding success.
Save our only HOME, The Planet
Save our only HOME, The Planet
Power Of Silence
Event-A campaign against Global Warming 8th of August(08-08-2008),
from 08:00:08 am to 08:08:08 am at Marina beach near Gandhi Statue.
What is Global Warming?
Global Warming refers to a gradual increase in the Earth’s average ground and atmospheric temperatures across the whole planet. The main reason for this temperature increase is the increasing content of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide, and man-made chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the atmosphere. Of these gases CO2 is the most abundant and is a by-product of burning fossil fuels and forests and this is an increasing phenomenon.
According to the World Bank, carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 88% since 1990. In India the annual consumption of coal has more than tripled since 1980. According to the International Energy Agency, Indian energy consumption is expected to more than double from 116 Giga Watts in 2002 to 252 in 2020 leading to tremendous increase in greenhouse gases. Such adding of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere has been likened to throwing another blanket on earth, thereby trapping the sun’s heat and causing the planet to warm up, thus causing Global Warming.
Global Warming refers to a gradual increase in the Earth’s average ground and atmospheric temperatures across the whole planet. The main reason for this temperature increase is the increasing content of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide, and man-made chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the atmosphere. Of these gases CO2 is the most abundant and is a by-product of burning fossil fuels and forests and this is an increasing phenomenon.
According to the World Bank, carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 88% since 1990. In India the annual consumption of coal has more than tripled since 1980. According to the International Energy Agency, Indian energy consumption is expected to more than double from 116 Giga Watts in 2002 to 252 in 2020 leading to tremendous increase in greenhouse gases. Such adding of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere has been likened to throwing another blanket on earth, thereby trapping the sun’s heat and causing the planet to warm up, thus causing Global Warming.
Here's a small video about 88888 Lights Out and Facts about Global Warming:
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