Amazing India: Science

Chargesheet filed in Delhi gangrape case

Posted by Creative Dude Science 5:09 AM

Violin maestro M.S. Gopalakrishnan dies at 82

Posted by Creative Dude Science 5:00 AM

TN announces 13-point plan for women’s safety

Posted by Creative Dude Science 3:11 AM

Aakash 3 may come with SIM slot, more exciting apps

Posted by Creative Dude Science 12:49 AM

The Aakash 2 tablet is available for students at subsidised rate of Rs. 1,130. File Photo: Sushil Kumar Verma

The third version of low cost tablet ‘Aakash’ will be a delight for its users as developers are likely to equip it with a SIM slot and more exciting apps, all within the existing price band.

About 50 lakh ‘Aakash 3’ tablets are expected to be rolled out in the next phase, the global tender for which may be floated in February, 2013.

According to committee members engaged in developing the third version of Aakash, the endeavour will be to make the product as indigenous as possible and involve multiple vendors.

“Our ultimate aim is to imbibe the usage of tablets in the education system and create an ecosystem for this,” said Deepak B. Phatak, committee member and professor in IIT- Bombay’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

According to Mr. Phatak, computer giants world over are amazed with the device and there is a keen interest among several vendors to participate in this venture.

Aakash 3 will have a faster processor supporting both Linux and Android operating systems and come with advanced memory, he said.

“It could also have a SIM card slot so that people can use it as a communication device,” Mr. Phatak said.

Apart from Mr. Phatak, Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala of IIT-Madras along with hundreds of students and other partners are also involved in making the new Aakash 3.

One of the aims of students involved in the project is to develop an application for the tablet that can tell pulse rate among many others.

It will also have a larger distribution and servicing system so that owners can get their tablets repaired locally.

Playing down controversies suggesting that several of the tablet’s components were of Chinese make, Mr. Phatak said emphasis has been placed on adding value to the product with the objective of enhancing its efficacy among students.

He also suggested two models for Aakash 3 — one for schools and the other for colleges.

The most recent version, Aakash 2, developed by IIT-Bombay along with C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing), was launched by President Pranab Mukherjee in November.

The tablet is available for students at subsidised rate of Rs. 1,130 while the government purchases it at Rs. 2,263.

Gang-rape: Delhi Police to invoke murder charges

Posted by Creative Dude Science 1:35 AM

Former England cricket captain Tony Greig dies

Posted by Creative Dude Science 1:33 AM

Cricket commentator Tony Greig in Australia on December 10, 1991. Photo: V.V. Krishnan

Hospital officials say former England captain and cricket commentator Tony Greig has died after suffering a heart attack. He was 66.

Greig had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer, but the cause of death was a heart attack at his home on Saturday morning and he died early Saturday afternoon.

Australian Associated Press quoted St. V

incent’s Hospital spokesman David Faktort as saying “he was rushed into St Vincent’s hospital. The staff of the emergency department worked on Mr. Greig to no avail.”

The Sydney-based, South Africa-born Greig was initially diagnosed with bronchitis in May, but the condition lingered and in October he had tests that revealed a small lesion at the base of his right lung. Upon his return to Australia from the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, he had fluid removed from the right lung and testing revealed the cancer.

“It’s not good,” Greig had said after the surgery. “The truth is I’ve got lung cancer. Now it’s a case of what they can do.”

A confident and occasionally abrasive character, Greig reveled in the on-field contest and at times stirring up crowds, such as during the 1974-75 Ashes series.

Standing 1.96 meters (6 foot 6) with a shock of blond hair, Greig was an imposing and charismatic figure whose strong performances and ability to bond the team earned him the England captaincy. He played 58 tests for England and scored 3,599 runs at an average of 40.43 and took 141 wickets at 32.20.

Greig was a key figure in recruiting international players for Kerry Packer’s anti—establishment World Series Cricket which began in 1977, the year Greig played his last test for England.

In the 1980s Greig became a high-profile member of the commentary team for Australia’s Nine Network and his decades behind the microphone made him an institution in Australia’s sporting life. Nine Network described Greig as a “beloved” figure.

“Tony Greig is a name synonymous with Australian cricket from his playing days as the English captain we loved to hate, to his senior role in the revolution of World Series Cricket, his infamous car keys in the pitch reports and more than three decades of colorful and expert commentary,” Nine said.

Greig’s involvement in WSC caused an abrupt end to his international cricket career. “When the enterprise was made public, his stocks plummeted,” cricket writer Gideon Haigh wrote on the cricinfo website. “He lost not just England’s captaincy, but what would have been a record-breaking benefit. “He was diminished, too, by his indifferent on-field performances in World Series Cricket, where he seemed to cast himself as pantomime villain. “Nonetheless, subsequent generations of professional cricketers owe him a debt of gratitude.”

Air India ferries record 50,000 passengers in single day

Posted by Creative Dude Science 12:47 AM

Actor & Producer Bhushan Sharma

Posted by Creative Dude Science 6:34 AM

By : Prembabu sharma

Actor & Producer Bhushan Sharma Khushi Motion Pictures is a new entrant in the second largest film industry in the world. As a company, it believes in embracing talent that strives to bring forth new and innovative ideas for movie going audiences.

In the shortest of time, Khushi Motion Pictures has come up with two films, “PRANAM WALEKUM” and “COUCHING TIGER MANNU”.Through these films KHUSHI MOTION PICTURES has offered socially relevant drama, satire, comedy, love story, fantasy and so much more in a single package. KHUSHI MOTION PICTURES strives to make movies which shall be appreciated by critics and audiences’, delivering innovation and quality in films cutting across various genres.KHUSHI MOTION PICTURES chooses to work with likeminded people, whether writers, technicians or the actors and has ensured that untried talent is given due exposure.

“Pranam Walekum ” is a film directed by well known artist Mr. Sanjai Mishra. Set in a remote society, the movie is about people losing their innocence and simplicity by getting attracted to certain things which do not belong to them, leading to confusion and chaos.

“Couching Tiger Mannu” is a contemporary tale by director Akshay Choubey showcasing the urban and young generation of the capital. The film portrays different dimensions of friendship formulating a massive drama, controversy and danger which tests the limits of friendship.

Sanjai Mishra is a veteran actor, but yet untested as a director, has been given the reigns of ‘Pranam Walekum’. The same could be said for Akshay Choubey, the director of ‘Couching Tiger Mannu’.The cast of both these films include, apart from Sanjai Mishra, veteran actors like Kanwaljeet Singh, Vijay Raaz, Manoj Pahwa, Tinnu Anand and upcoming actors like Arjun Mathur, Namit Das, Giselle Monteiro.

Khushi Motion Pictures has successfully involved skilled technicians like James Fowlds who is a renowned cinematographer from London and has worked with Tom Cruise. James also has been cinematographer for Hollywood movies such as Duplicity and Woundings and Indian films Mumbai Cutting and Lamhaa: The Untold Story of Kashmir.Sanjay Shankla has been roped in as the editor. The music is well composed by RDB with leading singers like Sunidhi Chauhan, Mika, Kailash Kher, Mamta Sharma, Amit Mishra lending their voices.

Mr. Bhushan Sharma is planning a different release for both his films even as they are ready to hit the big screen. While ‘Couching Tiger Mannu’ caters to a young audience and will see a wide release, Mr. Bhushan Sharma plans to take ‘Pranam Walekum’ to film festivals around Australia as a representative of Indian Films.

‘Pranam Walekum’ not only displays a creative and critical understanding of film making but also has a rawness of Indian society which has been missing in the cinemas from quite a long time.In spite of having full creative involvement in the project Mr. Bhushan Sharma insisted on giving full creative liberty to the directors, allowing them to implement their vision in its entirety.

‘Pranam Walekum’ which was being produced by a Delhi based company didn’t turn out to be as expected after post production. Mr. Bhushan Sharma who was the co-producer at that time bought the rights for the film and reshot portions of if as per the director’s vision.

Thus, the formation of KHUSHI MOTION PICTURES happened under trying circumstances for Mr. Bhushan Sharma.It is Mr. Bhushan Sharma’s strong belief that KHUSHI MOTION PICTURES should always make entertaining, yet sensible cinema. Even as KHUSHI MOTION PICTURES is ready with two films of contrasting genres, it is, at the same time also looking forward to reading some exciting new scripts from talented writers.

Khushi Motion Pictures is also looking for new directors with a different approach towards filmmaking. With two feature films ready for release, Khushi Motion Pictures has charted course to a promising future and plans of staying in the movie industry for a long time to come.

Vested interests indulge in violence: police on protests

Posted by Creative Dude Science 4:10 AM

Journalist killed in police firing during bandh

Posted by Creative Dude Science 3:37 AM

A journalist was killed in police firing on the second day of the indefinite strike in Manipur called by a film body demanding the arrest of a Naga militant for allegedly molesting a film actor.

Nanao Singh (29) was killed this afternoon when the police opened fire at Thangmeiband area in Imphal West district at supporters of the general strike who torched a police vehicle and obstructed the plying of public and

Bandh supporters vandalise a vehicle in Imphal on Saturday. Various organisations have called for an indefinite bandh to protest against the alleged molestation of a film actor by NSCN (IM) Lt. Colonel Livingstone in Chandel.

security vehicles, official sources said.

Mr. Singh, a reporter of the newspaper ‘Prime News’ was hit by a bullet on his chest. He succumbed to his injury at a hospital.

As the news of the death spread, violence took place in different parts of Manipur valley areas, particularly in Imphal East and Imphal West districts, official reports from the districts said.

The bandh supporters, who have been demanding the arrest of NSCN(IM) militant Livingstone Anal for allegedly molesting Manipuri film actress Momoko in public view during a musical concert in Chandel district on December 18, stepped up their blockade of all major roads and brickbatted the police when they tried to remove them.

They damaged and set afire at least four public vehicles who defied the general strike at Shingjamei, Sagolband and some other areas despite the large deployment of police forces.

State Home Minister Gaikhangam visited the hospital and condoled the death of Nanao Singh. He also appealed to the agitators to remain calm and cooperate with the authorities to restore the situation.

Hundreds of journalists gathered at the Regional Institute of Medical Science and Hospital where Singh died. The body was later taken to the Manipur press club.

Earlier, police burst tear gas shells to disperse a mob which threw stones at the police vehicles in Imphal West district, official reports said.

The protesters had put logs and boulders on the roads and burnt tyres to prevent movement of patrolling police vehicles and the general people.

When the police personnel tried to clear the road at Khurai near here, the bandh supporters pelted stones at them leading to the police action, the reports added.

Gaikhangam appealed to the strikers, particularly Manipur Film Forum (MFF), to remain calm and said all out efforts were on to trace and arrest the Naga militant.

He said Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh is meeting Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in Delhi to discuss the militant’s arrest as NSCN—IM is engaged in peace talks with the Centre.

The general strike has affected the enthusiasm surrounding Christmas as people, particularly from hill districts could not come here for their purchases for the festival, the reports said.

Shakti Mohan Launches Dance Calendar

Posted by Creative Dude Science 3:28 AM

Miss USA Olivia Culpo is crowned Miss Universe

Posted by Creative Dude Science 8:07 PM

Twitter offers digital scrapbook of past tweets

Posted by Creative Dude Science 8:02 PM

An update in progress on Twitter during a debate at Birmingham University, England.

The tool, announced this week, is designed to make it easier for people to review all their activity on Twitter’s trend-setting messaging service. Twitter is offering its more than 200 million users a chance to keep a digital scrapbook of all their tweets. When it’s available, the downloading option will appear at the bottom of each user’s settings menu. Twitter, which is based in San Francisco, said it may take a several weeks, or even months, before everyone gets the feature.

After a records request is made, users will receive an email on how to download their personal archive. For Twitter’s earliest users, the records date back to 2006 when Twitter started.

Twitter users already have been able to peruse their past tweets by navigating to their personal profile page. But going that route is more cumbersome because it requires scrolling down a page that can sometimes be slow to display additional tweets.

The company said that users who download their entire histories should find it easier to search for particular tweets and organize the messages by month, for example.

The new tool also should serve as a reminder that a copy of everything people have tweeted still resides on Twitter’s computers.

Other widely used services, such as Facebook’s popular social network, also have been creating digital portraits of people’s lives as more content gets posted on their sites. Facebook gives its more than 1 billion users the option to download everything they have shared on the service. It has become easier this year for Facebook users to look at their past musings and photos as the service converted people’s profiles into a timeline that sorts content by the month it was shared.

Path, another social network founded by former Facebook executive Dave Morin, is also trying to position itself as a treasure chest of memories. A new feature released on Thursday in an update to Path’s’ mobile app allows users to search their past posts on devices running on Apple and Android software. The content can be quickly retrieved by typing in their names’ friends, a specific event or time of year, or just a phrase encapsulating a vacation highlight, such as “hiking in Kauai.”

It’s old, yet new it’s meant for you”- Upanishad Ganga

Posted by Creative Dude Science 8:42 PM

Mumbai : Chinmaya Mission in association with Shemaroo Entertainment released Upanishad Ganga on DVDs – the first-ever TV serial based on Upanishads at the Yogi Sabhagruha Auditorium behind Swami Narayan Temple Complex, Dadar.

Conceptualised by His Holiness Swami Tejomayananda, Head of Chinmaya Mission worldwide, written and directed by Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi and Executive Production by Wisdomtree Productions, Upanishad Ganga is a dedicated and mammoth effort covering the entire gamut on Indian culture, heritage, philosophy and wisdom spanning more than 5000 years. Just as Mother Ganga generously graced the plains, the perennial flow of wisdom is now captured in a modern twist to enrich the human mind and nourish the eternal values of life.

A unique and riveting feature of this serial is that it employs 3 mediums- theatre, story-telling and television. Through the innovative Great Indian Theatre, the ancient Indian wisdom is shared in a style which synergises the traditional with the modern. The invaluable insights into culture, right living, the four goals of human life, glory of human birth, ethics and much more are delivered in a simple yet engrossing manner through 52 episodes. The depth and clarity of concepts, the practical applicability and powerful depiction leaves the viewer wanting to delve deeper to transform one’s life. Upanishad Ganga is an ideal reference material for individuals as well as research and educational institutions, spiritual organisations, corporate companies, management and consulting firms.

Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi, Writer/Director of Upanishad Ganga, says on behalf of the entire creative team, “the most rewarding and intellectually satisfying experience. We all consider ourselves fortunate to be part of this legacy”

Swami Advayananda, President of Chinmaya International Foundation and integral part of the Upanishad Ganga research team, says “it captures the entire depth and magnitude of Indian Wisdom....that is Upanishad Ganga.”

Hiren Gada, Director, Shemaroo Entertainment shared his thought on the occasion, “Upanishad Ganga is the only series that connects today’s generation to our ancient teachings of Upanishads. It is not only an attempt explain the epic in simple language but also establishes the relevance of it in today’s life.”

Special Features of the DVD includes as a compilation of the Sanskrit verses with Roman transliteration and translations in English for each episode, a collection of resources including books and DVDs for further reflection on the concepts from each episode, easy access to watch powerful scenes, songs and chants and the option for English subtitles.

The first volume of four DVDs contains the first 17 episodes of Upanishad Ganga retailing at Rs 999/- and is available at all major music and books retail outlets or shop online.

Delhi rape victim’s condition deteriorates, say doctors

Posted by Creative Dude Science 8:26 PM

Shiv Sena finally vacates Shivaji park

Posted by Creative Dude Science 9:04 PM

Bangalore based HHV bags prestigious Russian order for a telescope mirror coater

Posted by Creative Dude Science 4:32 AM

Mumbai, The Bangalore based Hind High Vacuum Co. Pvt. Ltd. (HHV), announced that it has bagged a prestigious Russian order for export of a machine for re-coating the giant mirror of a telescope in the Caucasus mountain observatory of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute of the Moscow State University.

This is a path breaking initiative by HHV, the flagship company of the HHV Group, a multi-technology group of companies involved in the design, development and manufacture of equipment and products in the field of Vacuum Technology, Solar Photovoltaic Energy and Thin Films.

These days, when all one hears about is a cascade of Chinese products flooding into this country, it is a much-needed boost to the self-esteem of Indians to hear that an Indian company like HHV is exporting a very complex, high technology machine to an advanced nation like Russia. HHV has, in the last five decades, made its mark as a manufacturer of key equipment involving high vacuum for such demanding customers as ISRO, BARC, HAL and the like.

“Till recently, the ability to design and develop such complex coating equipment for large mirrors was limited to a few specialized companies in the advanced countries. HHV has now become a member of this select club by leveraging its expertise of designing and making vacuum-based equipment for depositing thin film coatings.” said Mr Nagarjun Sakhamuri, Managing Director, HHV. “HHV supplied its first machine for coating telescope mirrors in 2004 to the Indian Institute of Astrophysics for the Hanle observatory located in the Ladakh region of the Himalayas, at a height of 4570 meters above sea level. It is being used to coat the 2.1 metre diameter telescopic mirror of 1 tonne weight at the observatory.”

Modern astronomical observatories which peer into deep space use advanced optical telescopes which have very large size mirrors with diameters of 2 metres and above. These mirrors are coated with a reflective thin film of aluminium or silver or an alloy of both. Over time, this film gets damaged and tarnished due to oxidation, dust, impact of charged particles from space etc. Therefore, these mirrors need to be routinely cleaned by removing the old coating and coating fresh with a new layer of reflective film. Since the observatories are usually located in remote , high altitude locations ,the coating has to be done on the spot using special machines as it is very difficult to transport the fragile mirrors a large distance to a convenient location.

This coating has to be done under high vacuum and very controlled conditions, so that the deposition is spotlessly clean, highly accurate and very uniform. In addition to that, the coating equipment needs to employ specially designed and complex systems for safely, yet very accurately, handling the heavy mirrors of large diameters.

In 2006, HHV supplied a coater to the Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) for its telescopic mirror at Girawali near Ghodegaon on the Pune-Mumbai high way at an altitude of 1000 metres above sea level. The concave, 2.2 metre dia. mirror has a thickness of 200mm and weighs about 250 kgs.

In the first half of this year, HHV supplied a coating machine to the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences for its two new, state-of-the-art optical telescopes of 130-cm and 360-cm aperture at Devasthal, situated at an altitude of 2500 meters above Mean Sea Level, about 60 kms away from the town of Nainital in the lower Himalayas. It was a challenging assignment since the primary mirror of the bigger telescope has a large diameter ( 3.7 metres ) , a thin cross section ( only 12 cm thick ) and a large weight ( 4.5 tonnes ). To top it all, HHV has supplied the coater at half the price quoted by a European company which is one of the leading global vendors of such machines.

“It is because of the successful execution of the above domestic projects that HHV could win its first international order for a telescope mirror coater from Russia despite facing stiff competition from more established manufacturers in West Europe. The machine is being despatched in December 2012” added Mr Nagarjun Sakhamuri.

Extortion bid case: Zee editors get bail

Posted by Creative Dude Science 4:24 AM

CALENDAR A VITAL TOOL TO REACH THE “AAM AADMI” - MANISH TEWARI

Posted by Creative Dude Science 5:09 AM

New Delhi, The Government of India’s Wall Calendar for 2013 was released today in the presence of Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Shri Manish Tewari along with Minister for Telecommunications and IT, Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of State for Personnel,

Public Grievances & Pensions and PMO, Shri V. Narayanasamy. Justice Shri Markandey Katju, Chairman PCI, Secretary (I&B), Shri Uday Kumar Varma and Prime Ministers Communications Advisor Shri Pankaj Pachauri were also present on the occasion. The theme of the calendar is based on “Bharat Nirman and other flagship schemes of the Government”.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Shri Manish Tewari said that the calendar as a tool of communication played an important role in disseminating information regarding the policies of the Government. This was despite the fact that media platforms were enhancing their reach through digital means of communication. The calendar ensured that the benefits of the flagship schemes reached the doorstep of the “Aam Aadmi” especially as the objective was to showcase images of rights, “Haq for the common man”. This initiative of the Government was a step to make the people aware of policies that aimed to achieve inclusive growth in the governance process. Shri Tewari further added that the people residing in rural areas always have the passion for wall calendars hence the calendar brought out by the Government can serve as an important source of information for them.

Earlier, Shri Kapil Sibal and Shri V. Narayanasamy highlighted the initiatives taken by the Government to promote the rights and entitlements of the common people through the various flagship schemes. Over the years Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) had been successful in developing a composite broadbased social advertising brand the “Bharat Nirman” which caters to disseminating information of various flagship and other welfare programmes and the achievements of Government of India. The visual portrayal in the 2013 Calendar too is based on this composite branding. The Calendar designed and printed by the DAVP of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting depicts the various flagship programmes of the Government of India. The theme of the calendar is: ‘Bharat Nirman- Sabka hit, Sabka Haq’. This year’s calendar portrays in colourful images the regime of Rights (Haq) for the common man (aam aadmi) by encouraging the intended beneficiaries to claim the benefits under the Bharat Nirman and other flagship schemes of the Government of India.January month displays the ‘AADHAR’ based Direct Cash Transfer Scheme being implemented in 51 districts from January 2013.The scheme ensures the intended beneficiaries to receive full benefit of the central government programmes.

February month shows the PM’s New 15-point Programme for welfare of Minorities. This programme provides various facilities to minorities to seek equitable share in economic activities, including education.

March month represents the ‘Sarva Shikha Abhiyan’, a prominent program which provides primary and upper primary education for children with new intervention as uniform, transport facility. April month is dedicated to a unique scheme, Mid Day Meal Scheme nurturing crore of children with hot cooked meals in schools.11.85 lakh schools have been provided with kitchen devices.May month exhibits one of the most popular scheme, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, which has benefited more than five crore families in the year 2011-12. Universal Immunization program is the key depiction of June month. About 2.5 crore children got the benefit of free vaccination. Literacy and education are the key to human resource development. July month is dedicated to ‘Saakshar Bharat Abhiyan’ launched in 372 districts. This mission will empower the seven crore illiterates is 1.6 lakh village panchayats to impart functional literacy.Healthy mothers and children build the brighter present and future of the nation. The month

of august presents ‘Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram’ benefiting one crore pregnant women with all free medical services.

September month page is dedicated to empowerment of schedule castes through Schedule Castes Empowerment Program which provides benefits to 48 lakh students, including new scholarship schemes.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is the theme of October month. Through this scheme over 46 thousand habitations have been connected through all- weather roads.

Power is the basis of development. November month throws light on Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana. This scheme completed electrification of one lakh villages till October 2012.

The well renowned scheme Indira Awas Yojana covers the December page of the calendar.

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