Happy New Year 2021

WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY, HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS AND PURPOSEFUL NEW YEAR 2020

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Facts and Figures-2: Growth of Knolwedge-based Industries in Karnataka

Karnataka's biggest success story in recent years has been the growth of knowledge-based industries : Information Technology (IT) and Biotechnology. It accounts for approximately 37% of India's IT and IT-enabled Services (worth Rs.50,000 crore). Around 40% of the country's biotech firms are located in Karnataka. (Excerpt from 'Soaring Economy' (Special Feature on Karnataka) by Ravi Sharma, Bangalore, in 'Frontline', Sep.7, 2007)(Grateful thanks to Mr Ravi Sharma and Frontline).

A Thought for Today-78: September 11, 2007

You can have anything you want if you want it desperately enough. You must want it with an exuberance that erupts through the skin and joins the energy that created the world - Sheila Graham

Facts and Figures-1: Taj Mahal Tourists and Cell Phone Market

As I read somewhere during my college days, "Statistics is like a bikini; what it reveals is interesting but what it conceals is signficant." Maybe right. Still I thought as long as it is interesting I can use it in my blog. So here is a series: Facts and Figures and the first two entries are -


(1) 26,03,571 tourists visited the Taj Mahal in 2006-07, according to the
tourism ministry.

(2) 6 million users are being added every month to India's cell phone market.

Courtesy: Facts & Figures, The Week, Sep.2, 2007.

Grateful thanks to The Week.

Blogs to Watch-11: "Desire to Inspire"

Authors:
Midcenturyjo and Kim. It is listed at Blogger Buzz as a Blog of Note. Contains a lot of beautiful and fascinating designs and some pretty photos. One can pick up a lot of ideas for colorfully decorating interior of one's home.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

A Thought for Today-77: September 10, 2007

The problem is our mind is so busy we can't hear the wisdom of our Heart.

- Dr. Paul Pearsall

A Thought for Today-76: September 10, 2007

Think highly of yourself, for the world takes you at your own estimate - Source Unknown

A Thought for Today-75: September 9, 2007

A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist — Louis Nizer

A Thought for Today-74: September 8, 2007

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do - Johann von Goethe

A Thought for Today-73: September 7, 2007

When we accept tough jobs as a challenge and wade into them with joy and enthusiasm, miracles can happen - Arland Gilbert

A Thought for Today-72: September 6, 2007

"Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think. " - Benjamin Disraeli

A Thought for Today-71: September 5, 2007

"Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on you." - L. Thomas Holdcroft

Self-Improvement: Take the time to live!!!

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight, and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop,"The devil's name is Depression.
4. Enjoy the simple things. When the children are young, that is all that you can afford. When they are in college, that is all that you can afford.When you are on retirement, that is all that you can afford.
5. Laugh often, long, and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. Laugh so much that you can be tracked in the store by your distinctive laughter.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be alive while you are alive, don't put out a mailbox on the highway of death and just wait in residence for your mail.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it is family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Go to the mall, the next county, foreign country, but not to guilt country.
10. Tell the people you love, that you love them, at every opportunity. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER. Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
May today, there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
"I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."

Author Unknown

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

A Thought for Today-70: September 4, 2007

I learned that courage was not absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear - Nelson Mandela

Websites to Watch-3 : 'Online Photo Editor'

Online Photo Editor is a site that can come in handy whenever your regular photo editor is not handy. Simply upload a photo (or point to the photo's url), edit the photo with some easy to use photo tools (crop, rotate, sharpen, color balance, convert to black and white etc). Phixr actually has a nice selection of tools! To finish, either save your photo or email it.


Courtesy: 'Insite Info', Deccan Chronicle, Chennai, Sep.24, 2007.

Grateful thanks to Deccan Chronicle.

Eyecatchers-31 : 'Tagore, Nazrul Songs Enchant Chinese Crowd' - IANS

Dhaka: A renowned Chinese ethnomusicologist who trained and researched in India is introducing the songs of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and Qazi Nazrul Islam to the people of China with help from Bangladeshi artists.

The styles and techniques of the two great subcontinental greats were presented by Adity Mohsin and Anup Barua, renowned artists from Bangladesh who performed eight songs each at a program recently organized in Beijing by the Central Conservatory of Music (CCM), China.

"Tagore and Nazrul (who set their poems to music) were Asia's greatest musicians," said Professor Chen Zi Ming, president of the China World Music Association. He said he had been looking for an opportunity to introduce the music of the two maestros to his students in the Chinese mainland and beyond.

Bangladesh eagerly responded to his interest and Huawei Technologies (Bangladesh) Ltd, the Chinese company with a growing presence in the country's telecommunication sector, sponsored the program.

The Bangla Lanugage Department of China Communications University and China Radio International, Bangla Service, also contributed.


Courtesy: IANS/Deccan Chronicle, Chennai, Sep.24, 2007.

Grateful thanks to IANS and Deccan Chronicle.

Eyecatchers-30 : 'Wi-Fi Dreams Fading Fast' - AFP

Plans for Wi-Fi networks to provide free or low-cost wireless Internet access are being abandoned or scaled back by U.S. cities as the economics is turning out to be challenging.

San Francisco and Chicago in recent weeks abruptly halted plans to set up municipal Wi-Fi networks while Internet giant, Earthlink, a partner for a number of cities, begun a reorganisation that would limit new projects.

Cities and companies are finding the economics more difficult, with many expensive access points needed and relatively small numbers of subscribers signing on.

Analysts however says that despite the problems of municipal Wi-Fi programs, wireless Internet access is growing and more networks will be coming in some form.

Courtesy: AFP/The Hindu, Chennai, of Sep.24, 2007

Grateful thanks to AFP and The Hindu.

Eyecatchers-29 : 'The Earth is a borderless entity: Sunita Williams'

The Indian-origin American astronaut, Sunita Williams, arrived at Ahmedabad on Thursday, the September 20, 2007, for a six-day visit to her native Gujarat, the first since she returned from her historic six-month sojourn at the International Space Station.

She was accorded a tumultuous reception by people who turned up in large numbers at the Ahmedabad airport.

She began her visit by paying homage to the 'Father of the Nation' at the Sabarmati Ashram. There she attended a prayer meeting. She interacted with a large number of school students. She told them about her experiences in space an d how the earth looked like from the window of the space station.

Ms Williams told the gathering that "borders" between the nations were all "creations of the mind" of the people and from outer space, the earth was a single "borderless" entity. She said India looked the "most beautiful" from space.

Excerpt from the news report of Manas Dasgupta in The Hindu of Sep.21, 2007.
Grateful thanks to Manas Dasgupta and The Hindu.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Websites to Watch-2 : 'The Nobel Prize : Offical Website'

The Official Nobel Prize Website

This is another interesting website which I like. I am reproducing information about the website from the website itself ('About Nobelprize.org and Nobel Web').
Nobelprize.org is the official web site of the Nobel Foundation. Here you will find information for every Nobel Prize since 1901, including the Nobel Laureates' biographies, Nobel Lectures, interviews, photos, articles, video clips, press releases, educational games and more.

Nobelprize.org (http://nobelprize.org/) is a registered trademark, and is produced, managed and maintained by Nobel Web. Nobel Web AB is a Swedish corporate entity and subsidiary of the Nobel Foundation Rights Association, a non-profit association managing the rights of the Nobel Foundation. Alongside its own productions, Nobel Web AB processes and publishes information from the Nobel Foundation, the Nobel Prize-Awarding Institutions, the Nobel Laureates and other Nobel Prize-associated entities. Its dedicated staff is assisted by advisers, whose knowledge and expertise about Nobel Prize topics and the Nobel Laureates' achievements ensure the reliability and quality of the information presented at Nobelprize.org.

Nobelprize.org provides comprehensive, first-hand information about the Nobel Prize and Nobel Laureates in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Peace starting in 1901, as well as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel and the Economics Laureates starting in 1969. Visitors to the site also get to know about Alfred Nobel, the man behind the Nobel Prize.

As the official online information source for the Nobel Prize, visitors learn about the names of the year's Nobel Laureates just seconds after the prize announcements are made by the Nobel Prize-Awarding Institutions in October. Aside from the press releases, information about the Nobel Laureates and their work is made available through interviews, Nobel Lectures, speeches, articles, and more.

In December, as the Nobel Laureates arrive in Stockholm and Oslo to receive the Nobel Prize Medal, Diploma and prize amount, Nobelprize.org follows their activities and presents them online. Visitors can also watch the Nobel Laureates present their Nobel Lectures, and experience the magic of the Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies through live web casts. Those who have missed these events can watch them afterwards through on-demand videos.

Through the assistance of foundations, corporate sponsors and educational bodies, Nobel Web AB produces interactive, multimedia documents aimed at inspiring young people to learn more about the achievements of the Nobel Laureates. These are rapidly becoming extremely popular resources for teachers and students.

Websites to Watch-1 : 'The Why Files'

The Why? Files : Science behind the News

This is an interesting website worth watching. I have just reproduced information about the website from 'About the Why files' from the website itself, which is self-explanatory.

Mission

The mission of The Why Files is to explore the science, math and technology behind the news of the day, and to present those topics in a clear, accessible and accurate manner. We are based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, but The Why Files covers science at all institutions that engage in scientific exploration and discovery. We hope this information will help explain the relationship between science and daily life.


Content

The Why Files produces a new story each week, alternating longer features with shorter shorties. We also post a biweekly column by science reporter Tom Siegfried, a series of interactive science animations, the ever-popular "Cool Science Images," and a series of Teacher Activity Pages linked to the national science standards.

History

The Why Files was founded in 1996 as part of the National Institute for Science Education, with funding from the National Science Foundation. Since 1998, we have been supported through the Graduate School of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Use policies

The Why Files is committed to offering broad access to the scientific enterprise. We encourage the use of our content -- on the web or as hard copy -- for non-profit, educational activities. Please credit, "Courtesy University of Wisconsin Board of Regents." Our material must be used without alteration, and such use does not abrogate or diminish our copyright in any way. Our articles may not be sold, or used for commercial purposes or to endorse any product.

Digging inside The Why Files

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Blogs to Watch-9 : LITERATURE yb

LITERATURE yb

Blogs to Watch-8 : UPANISHADS yb

UPANISHADS yb

Discussion on Upanishads

Blogs to Watch-7 : MANAGEMENT ISSUES yb

MANAGEMENT ISSUES yb

Personality Development, Management and Self-Improvement

Blogs to Watch-6 : Computerized World - Technical resources collection by Kamal Mettananda

Computerized World - Technical resources collection by Kamal Mettananda

Blogs to Watch-5 : Volunteers_srkm : Volunteers of Sri Ramakrishna Order

volunteers_srkm : Volunteers of Sri Ramakrishna Order

Blogs to Watch-4 : Devotees of Holy Trio | Google Groups

Devotees of Holy Trio Google Groups

Blogs to Watch-4 : BabyWhisperingLoudly: WTF is Hanford?: How Getting to Know The BOMB Helped Me Find My SELF

BabyWhisperingLoudly: WTF is Hanford?: How Getting to Know The BOMB Helped Me Find My SELF

Blogs to Watch-3 : Learning the Gita | God, Very, Means, Gita, Learn

Learning the Gita God, Very, Means, Gita, Learn

Blogs to Watch-2 : Rhapsodiz

Rhapsodiz

The title says it all. I want to write about everyday stuff you and I come across and tell you my opinion on it. If you dont like what I say, Comment and it will be looked into.

Blogs to Watch-1 : Silicon Sentient

Silicon Sentient

The latest happenings in the Indian Techonological sphere. Interviews, opinions and possible podcasts. And of course, the force behind it all, the sentience of working with silicon.

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

A Thought for Today-69: September 3, 2007

Strive and Succeed - Horatio Alger

A Thought for Today-68: September 2, 2007

The individual being has to find himself, his true existence; he can only do this BY GOING INWARD, BY LIVING WITHIN and FROM WITHIN..... - Sri Aurboindo (from 'The Life Divine')

A Thought for Today-67: September 1, 2007

The test of courage comes when we are in the minority; the test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority - Ralph W.Sockman

A Thought for Today-66: August 31, 2007

Solitude and Quiet connects you to your creative source and releases the limitless intelligence of the Universe - Robin S.Sharma in The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.

Grateful thanks to Mr.Robin S.Sharma from an ardent admirer and regular reader of his books.

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Eyecatchers-28 : 'Intel to offer net-based content to schools' - Express News Service, The New Indian Express

Chennai, Sep.3: Craig R.Barrett, Chairman, Intel Corporation, on Monday said that Intel would provide Internet-based content to over 1,800 secondary schools in Tamil Nadu for student learning and teacher training.

Addressing reporters after holding discussions with Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi at his residence here, the Intel chief said the organisation would assist the State Government in providing WIMAX broadband access to 50 government schools in tier-two towns, such as, Coimbatore, Tiruchy, Madurai and Erode, for providing content and training to the schools.

Besides Intel would donate 500 personal computers to government schools.

Later, a press release from the company said that Intel and Tamil Nadu Govt would work together to expand the above network through support from USO funds, thereby connecting several schools, government offices, and health centres in more districts.

The release also said that Intel would work with the State Government in achieving leadership position in adoption of broadband and set an example for the rest of India, in terms of connectivity to schools, hospitals and government institutes.


Courtesy: Express News Service, The New Indian Express, Madurai, Sep.4, 2007

Grateful thanks to The New Indian Express.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Eyecatchers-27 : 'Let Us Know Gandhi Through Correspondence' - Riyas, K.P. in Education Express, Supp. to The New Indian Express

"My life is my message." It was Gandhi's message to the world. The Gandhi Study Centre, located in Chennai, is on mission to spread the message of Gandhi's life and philosophy to the common man with a special focus on youth. The purpose is to teach the society the positive message of Gandhi's life based on historical facts and analysis, which is becoming increasingly relevant to the world, the centre is conducting correspondence course and study classes for the public and the students.

'Let Us Know Gandhi Through Correspondence' is a course conducted in Tamil and English by Gandhi Study Centre, which gives a rare chance to know and familiarise with the life and thoughts of Mahatma.

The course duration is three months. Contact classes at the nearby cities will also be arranged for the benefit of the students. The question paper will be sent to the participants. They can write the exams in their residence itself and send the answer papers to the centre.

The date of exam will be January 30, 2008. Certificates will be sent in due course to the successful candidates. Registration fee and course fee per candidate is Rs.150/- and those who register their names will get study materials free of cost. There is no educational qualification and age limit for enrolling in the course.

The Centre has instituted an award in the name of its founder TD Tirumalai for the students and the schools who take up the exam on My Experiments with Truth. It consists of cash prizes: Rs.1000/- (one first prize), Rs.500/- (six second prizes) and Rs.250/- (six third prizes).

With a good collection of materials on Gandhi, its library and research center has been recognized as one of the resource centres on Gandhi. The library which contains 10,000 books, CDs, video tapes, cassettes and photo collections, is a good resource option for educational institutions, research scholars, social activists and the public alike.

For more details:
Gandhi Study Centre, 58,Venkatnarayana Road (near Hindi Prachar Sabha), T.Nagar, Chennai-600017. Ph: (044)24346549, 9444183198
(Excerpt from 'Let Us Know Gandhi...' by Riyas K.P. in Education Express, Supp. to The New Indian Express, Madurai, Aug.31, 2007)(Grateful thanks to Riyas K.P. and The New Indian Express)

Eyecatchers-26 : 'University of Madras Completes 150 Years' - Education Express, Supp. to The New Indian Express

150 GLORIOUS YEARS by Sharada Narayanan

The University of Madras campus in Chepauk wears a new look. There is more activity, and the rains have added more sheen to the buildings. There is not a trace of it wearing out with 150 years of usage. And to top it all, there are plans to have a new building with 2.5 lakh sq.ft space within the campus. If anything, the university only seems to be getting younger!

Madras University was established on September 5, 1857, based on the London University model, as there was a need for "creating a properly articulated system of education from the primary school to the University" in Madras Presidency. Today, it offers courses in over 70 departments and has linkages with 41 universities across 17 countries.

The university has taken this opportunity to indulge in community service measures. It had adopted 100 slums and 50 villages in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur and will provide for their educational, economical, social and health requirements.


(Excerpt from Education Express, Supp. to The New Indian Express, Madurai, Aug.31, 2007)