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Thursday, December 9, 2010

Sachin knocked over

He will be ready to face the Proteas next Thursday

If Sachin Tendulkar did not know what he was in for on South African cricket pitches this summer, he quickly found out yesterday.
 
India's batting maestro was felled by a bouncer in the nets at Claremont Cricket Club. To add insult to injury, he was knocked over by one of his own.

Facing a battery of Indian seam bowlers on another sweltering day in Cape Town, Tendulkar was taken by surprise as a ball from 23-year-old Umesh Yadav reared up from back of a length.

Tendulkar ducked straight into the ball, which clattered into his helmet. The clang sounded serious but Tendulkar was only shaken and physically unhurt. He will be ready to face the Proteas next Thursday in the first Test.

Tendulkar is the most genial of men, but he was clearly irritated by the incident, possibly because he made the mistake of ducking into the ball instead of away from it.

When Yadav apologised from a distance, the Indian great spoke sharply to him and the young bowler rapidly came down the wicket to make a more humble apology.

Tendulkar will face much faster and livelier bowling on this tour and won't receive the same deferential treatment from Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.

He will no doubt have realised that his immense powers of concentration will be tested in the face of the South African pace barrage that will materialise.

However, the incident, which ended without injury and saw Tendulkar immediately return to the crease and continue to strike the ball with deadly precision, was exactly what coach Gary Kirsten wanted.

India have never won a series in South Africa, largely because the batsmen have been exposed against pace and bounce.

Kirsten's main objective before the first Test at Centurion, starting on December 16, is to ensure his top order have acclimatised to the conditions. And lesser men than Tendulkar are going to kop some bruises along the way.

Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virendar Sehwag and MS Dhoni were among the top batters that each spent in excess of an hour in the nets. Tendulkar perhaps had a little longer, having started with throw downs from Kirsten.

The coach was impressed with what he saw, and after Tendulkar had creamed a dozen of Kirsten's best throws with his mighty bat, the coach was moved to say: "It's already fizzing off the middle, Sach."

There is no substitute for the real thing, of course, but the Indian batsmen were certainly picking up the pace and bounce of a group of eager young net bowlers.

Some were wild, but they were quick and the cocktail certainly made the batsmen stay watchful.

"I haven't given the bowlers specific instructions to bowl short in the nets, but you know what it's like. As soon as a fast bowler sees some bounce the ball starts fizzing around the batsman's head," Kirsten said.

"I'm not worried about injuries because that's what happens at nets. It happens in India as well and it's not something I can control. We just hope that no one gets too badly injured if they take a knock."

Kirsten said he wanted his top order to face between 2000 and 3000 balls before the first Test and most of them received in excess of 300 deliveries yesterday.

Tendulkar is in search of his 50th Test century and the amount of time he will spend in the nets before D-day is sure to improve his chances of reaching that incredible milestone.

He has a career Test batting average of 56.55, but in South Africa his record shows a more modest average of 39.76. It's his lowest average against any country away from home.

For India to win their first series over here, the feeling is that Tendulkar will have to bat closer to his overall career average.

And after being struck on the head, his technique looked even more solid and his ball striking crisper.

Is it an ominous sign for the home team?

Spices are good for you!

We deliver Indian Food, Indian Spices and Cooking Ingredients direct to your Door...
Here are the benefits of some popular spices.... 


Indians are known to like their food hot and spicy. So to imagine your food without spices is rather unimaginable, isn't it?! They say wherever you find an Indian, chances are you will find a range of aromatic spices. But along with the taste that spices and herbs provide, they also have several medicinal benefits as well. Spices have been used for centuries for their medicinal qualities and researchers continue to study their healing properties. Here are some of their benefits: 


Chili powder: It relieves painful joints. Research shows that capsaicin, found in chili peppers, has an anti-inflammatory effect, which may help ease arthritic swelling and pain. 


Cinnamon: Protects against type 2 diabetes and heart disease. A study has discovered that about half a teaspoon lowered blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. 


Garlic: Improves your heart's health. Garlic consumption can lower your cholesterol and triglyceride levels by an average of 10 per cent. 


Cloves: Clove oil is a well known treatment for toothache, and its antiseptic properties make it an excellent mouthwash. The main ingredient in the oil is eugenol, which is anti-inflammatory and can help ease the stiffness and pain associated with arthritis. It is a warming spice, which can help reduce congestion and stimulate digestion. 


Ginger: Ginger contains antioxidants and can help protect against diseases. It calms down spasms and reduces flatulence in the digestive system. It is also an excellent treatment for nausea associated with travel sickness, pregnancy and hangovers. 




Read more: Spices are good for you! - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/diet/Spices-are-good-for-you/articleshow/5921555.cms#ixzz17gkLxhic

From couples to parents


You're all set to tread the family way and have a baby. Undoubtedly, the thought must be keeping you happy, but inevitably it might change the equations between you and your partner. Whilst you may be overjoyed at the arrival of your bundle of joy, but newer demands might strain your relationship to an unexpected extent. However, there are certain pointers that can make your transition easier as you go the family way. 

Do a finance check 
Shobha and Ramesh Singh were planning for a baby after three years of their marriage. Recalls Shobha, "We were quite apprehensive about starting our family. Though, we wanted the baby, but we couldn't make an estimate of the financial aspects involved. Ramesh kept telling me that we could manage, but I didn't want a situation where we would end up fighting over monetary issues. Finally, we decided to consult a family counselor."
Help at hand 
Psychologist Meena Tiwari explains, "Having a baby requires figuring out the basic cost structure. It's a happy event in every couple's life and one can make the most of it only when you can adjust everything in your financial chart. Money gives you the satisfaction and security to welcome the newest member. So, don't go easy on it. Consult others who have just had a baby. Overlooking your finances will only cause traumatic pressures later on, which can be avoided with proper planning."

Health check 
Bank executive, Reena Talwar speaks of her experience. "My in-laws wanted us to have a baby, but when I consulted my doctor he told me to wait a while, since I was anemic and my hemoglobin count was low. I was very scared and discussing it with my husband only led to arguments as he sided mostly with his parents. I just couldn't show him the reason for my reluctance. All this led to a lot of misunderstandings between us and I ended up hating any discussion related to children. It forced me to rethink whether I really wanted a baby after all or not."
Help at hand 
According to nutritionist Radha Sharma, women should go through a complete health check-up before opting for a baby. "Both the partners must ensure they have perfect health before they go ahead. Women especially should consume a proper diet with sufficient proteins and iron supplements to ensure that the pregnancy period is smooth. Also, a proper exercise regime ensures a safe delivery. People in our country usually ignore these aspects and suffer in the long term, especially if the child is born with a weak immune system or faces congenital problems. Often they want a baby at the cost of the wife's health, which involves a risk as grave as death of the mother or the baby. And it doesn't just end there. Incase of a wrong diet or weakness, the woman may not be able to bear a child in the future too."

Family support 
In the modern day, couples choose to go nuclear. However, it's always better to ensure your families' support when you decide to opt for a baby. Ravi Kulkarni, a manager with an MNC says, "My wife and I were living away from our respective parents. So, when she got pregnant, we were tensed about how to handle the pressures once the child arrives. Finally, my parents decided to come over although they did not want to shift. However, thanks to them, everything went off very smoothly."
Help at hand 
Explains psychologist Aakash Verma, "Parental support plays a crucial role for expectant couples. Having a set of parents or someone close around you provides a mental security to the mother-to-be. It ensures that the woman is happy and comfortable. The psychological temperament of the pregnant woman not only affects the mother, but also the baby. The heightened hormonal activity in a pregnant woman puts her at a risk of having mood swings or going into depression. Thus having a mother-father figure lends security and strength to the often nervous couple."

I'm taking sanyas from TV: Smriti


Smriti Irani
She was and still is, in many ways, Indian television's most famous and favourite bahu. Setting the benchmark for many future reel daughters-in-law through her show "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi", Indian television phenomenon, Smriti Irani has now entered Telugu filmdom with, "Jai Bolo Telangana. 


While the shift from TV to films is almost like a natural progression, one wonders what brought the actor-turned-politician to Telugu cinema, that too in a movie dealing with the issue of Telangana? I was reccomended to the director of the movie, N Shankar, by a journalist. 


Shankar was looking for a neutral face to play the character of a woman who has lost a lot due to the agitations. I heard the script and gave my nod immediately. For me, as long as the script is interesting, language doesn't matter. In fact, I just did a Bengali movie in which I play a woman who completes all her responsibilities towards her family and goes in 
pursuit of her own dreams," explains Smriti. 


While regional cinema welcomes her with open arms, Hindi films are still off her radar. "I did get offers from mainstream Hindi cinema projects, but they were similar to my image in "Kyunki Saas..." That did not excite me," she reveals. 


Smriti, who has done an impressive research on Telangana for the film, assures that the movie doesn't take sides. "Cinema doesn't take sides. If it does, it won't be successful," However, she opines that the agitation for a separate state is a genuine wish of the people in the region. "My mom worked in Vizag for sometime and I am aware of the agitations in the state. I have spoken to the people in the interiors — Karimnagar, Warangal et al, and realized that the agitation is genuine at the grass root levels and not just intellectual. The demand for a separate state is close their hearts," observes Smriti. And while at it, she also plans to tour the state on behalf of her party (BJP) sometime soon. 


Surprisingly, in both her Bengali and Telugu films, Smriti plays an older woman. Doesn't that bother her? "Well, I played a much older woman in "Kyunki Saas..." than what I am playing now. I'm a confident actor and my on screen looks don't matter." 


Having started a TV production company that is is now producing Gujarati plays, Smriti also runs an NGO, and heads the women's wing of the BJP. She however confesses that her first love among all the other things she is doing now, is politics. "After I joined politics I went to places where without even basic transport facility. I saw the length and breadth of this country. Life is very rosy in cities, but extremely tough in rural 


areas. Politics has taught me a lot. I have decided to take sanyas from TV for the next two years because politics is a huge responsibility. When my party needs me, I can't say I'm busy. For now politics is my priority," she confirms. 


While she enjoys being a mom, Smriti feels that multi-tasking comes naturally to Indian women. She attributes her hassle-free career to a supportive family. "My family has a history of working women. It is a joint family, so kids are taken care of even if I am travelling 25 days a month. We know how to balance work and family time quite well." 


Despite the influx of reality and game shows, she believes the Indian audience have not shifted their loyalty from family sagas. ""Kyunki Saas ..." was magic on TV. Today the highest TRPs of the most successful TV show is lesser than the lowest ratings "Kyunki Saas..." ever got. It's tough for any programme to break that record. The audience hasn't changed much because human emotions are limited. When I am unemployed, I know I can go back to TV. I will never be out of work. My goal in life is to be better than yesterday in terms of work," she says before signing off. 


Read more: I'm taking sanyas from TV: Smriti - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv-/Im-taking-sanyas-from-TV-Smriti/articleshow/7071384.cms#ixzz17ghJG7uT





Khalli's the new captain of Bigg Boss





Day 66 in the Bigg Boss house starts with loads of surprises and mixed emotions. The alarm bell rings with vodafone song 'Little things you do for me'. 


The weighing scale task gets over and it's the time for housemates to heave a sigh of relief. Bigg boss announces the results and Ashmit reads out the letter sent by Bigg Boss. The letter says that the housemates did not succeed in doing the task well and hence they get 0 budget. While Dolly who did her secret task of making veena and Shweta sit on the weighing scale continuously for almost 12 hours gets 3 times more budget. She is given a discretion that she can have the three time more budget all to herself, can order whatever she wants and need not eat with other housemates if she so wishes to. When the housemates learn this, they get upset but Dolly is too happy about winning the task and orders for Chicken, Badam etc. 


After this the housemates wait for thier new captain. As per the changed format, three names are nominated for the captaincy role and the names being Dolly, Seema and Khali. Khali manages to win maximum votes. Even Dolly and Seema vote for Khali. Khali becomes the house-captain.for the second time. Housemates then discuss that they are relieved that Dolly is no more the captain of the house. 


Later in the night Ashmit and Sara have a tiff. Sara tells Ashmit that she now wants to leave the house and has started missing 'Ted' (Ali). To this Ashmit over-reacts and tells Sara that she is a two faced personality and is not genuine. Sara tries to reason with him when Ashmit shouts and tells her that She kept on nominating Veena continuously despite of being a friend. She always goes to Shweta and bitches about him and Veena. This leads to a very big fight till Veena comes in between and separates Ashmit and Sara from the fight. 


The atmosphere of the house gets disturbed. All the housemates discuss about the nominations to be held tomorrow. 


Read more: - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv-/Khallis-the-new-captain-of-Bigg-Boss/articleshow/7071663.cms#ixzz17gfSWJdZ

Movie Review - No Problem

No Problem Wallpaper


Story: Take two petty crooks (Sanjay Dutt and Akshaye Khanna), a mean gangster and his moll (Suniel Shetty and Neetu Chandra), a bumbling cop and his schizophrenic wife (Anil Kapoor and Sushmita Sen), a bimbette on the beach (Kangana Ranaut), a bank heist and a puppet in the hands of all these people ( Paresh Rawal) and shake them all together in madcap measure...End result: a bunch of clueless people hunting for a cachet of stolen diamonds and relentlessly stepping on each other's toes. 


Movie Review: Anees Bazmee is fast donning the mantle of the comedy king in commercial Bollywood. Having delivered big laugh riots like Singh is Kinng, Welcome and No Entry, Bazmee seems to be spinning box office magic in a style reminiscent of David Dhawan's oeuvre during the 1990s. There's a similar incoherence and a method in his madness as he spins implausible yarns that have just one objective. They want to tickle your funny bone, any which way, even if means throwing reason and logic out of the window. But hey, when did the desi box office ever bother about inanities like sense and sensibility. 


So go ahead and have a blast with a film that celebrates chaos and hopes to be the stress buster you have been looking for after a hectic twenty-tenner. And yes, don't forget your crispies because this one's meant to pop the corn with its crazy characters and its cornball humour. Leading the brat pack is Anil Kapoor who tries a desi Pink Panther with his foolish cop act. He may have the responsibility of nabbing all the criminals running around in sylvan South Africa, but rest assured his handcuffs -- meant for the bad guys -- are always going to hang loose on his hips and the bullets in his gun will never meet their target. Small wonder then, hardcore robber Marco (Suniel Shetty) can barely stifle a yawn when the bumbling officer announces his arrival. But his foolishness elicits the best response from his wife, Sushmita Sen, who is torn between loving her husband or killing him for his stupidity. Her murderous bouts are the high point of the film, as are Paresh Rawal's attempts to set things right by setting them all wrong. Both Sanjay Dutt and Akshaye Khanna too seem to get their comic timing right as the goon buddys who are out to make a fast buck. Sadly, Kangana Ranaut's attempts to re-fashion her image from girl interrupted to giggly-headed beauty queen don't seem to have an edge. 


The film does seem to be roughly edited in places and could do with some nips and tucks. Even the music (Sajid Wajid, Pritam, Anand Raj Anand) doesn't have the chartbuster flavour of the Singh is Kinng audio track. But rest assured, No Problem will make you forget your problems, provided you are willing to get goofy and give up your quest for meaning in masala


Read more: No Problem - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/hindi/No-Problem/articleshow/7059572.cms#ixzz17geA5BKr
No Problem Pics & Photos


No Problem Pics & Photos
No Problem Pics & Photos


No Problem Gallery

Kissing Jolie was easy: Depp

Dec. 6: Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp at the premiere of their new film "The Tourist."

Johnny Depp feels on-screen kisses are always awkward but it wasn't difficult filming kissing co-star Angelina Jolie in 'The Tourist'.

"I've had more difficult days at work," mirror quoted Depp, 47, as saying.

"But those kind of things are always awkward. So you just laugh your way through, and you just kind of giggle and feel stupid," he said.


Read more:- The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/Kissing-Jolie-was-easy-Depp/articleshow/7070674.cms#ixzz17gdOjtbb

Katy wants to be called Mrs.Brand

Katy Perry picture

Newly wed Katy Perry has revealed that she wants to become Mrs. Katy Brand.

The Firework songstress chatted to Ellen DeGeneres on her daytime chat show this week about how she has already begun the process to legally take her husband Russell Brand's name, reports the Daily Mail.

When asked if she already gets called Mrs Brand she admitted: "I do actually!"

"Sometimes when people try to get my attention, like at an event or something and they want special attention," she added

Read more: - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/Katy-wants-to-be-called-MrsBrand/articleshow/7071290.cms#ixzz17gcAq2yn

I'm not even kind of lesbian:Oprah

Be on the Show


In an emotional interview with Barbara Walters, talk show queen Oprah Winfrey dismissed rumours that she's gay . 


"I am not even kind of lesbian" the Daily Telegraph quoted her as saying in response to a question about her close relationship with best friend Gayle King. 


In an excerpt released Wednesday, the unmarried Winfrey declared herself frustrated that gay rumours continue to follow the pair. 


"I have said we are not gay enough times. I am not lesbian, I''m not even kind of lesbian," she said. 


"The reason why it irritates me is somebody must think I''m lying. Why would you want to hide it? That''s not the way I run my life," the billionaire said. 


Earlier in the interview, Winfrey struggled to put into words how much King means to her life. 


"She is the mother I never had; she is the sister everybody would want; she is the friend that everybody deserves. I don''t know a better person," Winfrey said through tears. 


When asked why the larger-than-life host could not maintain her composure, Winfrey called for tissues to staunch the tears. 


"I wasn''t going to cry here. It''s making me cry because I''m thinking about how much I probably have never told her that," she said. 


The complete special airs in the US this week while Oprah is in Down Under for her " Ultimate Australian Adventure."


Read more:- The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/Im-not-even-kind-of-lesbianOprah/articleshow/7070493.cms#ixzz17gbRgj8f

Emraan won't miss a kiss!

He's the self-professed serial kisser. And every time he claims he'll stop the 'lip-smacking' act, he's back at it again with a lovely missey every time.

Apparently, few years ago, in an interview, Emraan had confessed that he would stop kissing the day he becomes a daddy. But well, the 'kiss'sa went on. Recently, when zoOm refreshed his memory about his promise, he paused and said, "Well, life is all about contradictions. At times it is surprising how you say certain things and then, eventually, change your agenda." Hmnnn...so much for philosophy, Emraan. We're just talking about kiss here.

We doubt you think so hard before one of those smoochies onscreen, huh? So, keep kissing. Who is stopping you? Not us, at least.... For more Bollywood news and gossip, watch Planet Bollywood, everyday at 7pm only on zoOm.

Read more: Emraan won't miss a kiss! - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Emraan-wont-miss-a-kiss-/articleshow/7070891.cms#ixzz17gayjFQ4

Delhi replaces Mumbai in bollywood

For any movie that dealt with reality, or the simple pleasures of life, a scene in Chowpatty in Juhu was a must in the '70s, '80s, and even in the '90s, just as a romantic scene involved a drive down Marine Drive. But that backdrop and those landmarks have been replaced over the years as an increasing number of movies are now being based in, and therefore, shot in Delhi . 


The new stories, often by Delhiites who've found a foothold in Tinseltown, are stories of their memories and experiences in the capital. They keep coming back to the city that shaped their formative years even though their profession drags them to Mumbai. As director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra says, "I've moved out of Delhi, but Delhi hasn't moved out of me." 


Many of these movie makers are well-versed with the modern Delhi as well as its lifestyle options and geo-social nuances. If Auro wants a ride in the Metro, "Paa" will have to be shot in Delhi, right? Think of the film "Aisha", with its beautiful houses and gorgeous clothes, and abundant brands. This glamourous film was an out and out Delhi Bollywood film! Or if "Delhi-6" needs a foggy, wintery morning, can Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra think of any place else to shoot? 


The mushrooming nightclubs in the city provide another yo-place for filmmakers to shoot movies revolving around youngsters. Imtiaz chose Delhi pubs for his "Rockstar", and much before that, Urmila Matondkar had shot at a Delhi pub for "Ek Haseena Thi". 


More and more filmwallahs find that shooting in Delhi farmhouses is a delight. Often while scouting for locations, they've realised that Delhi has a climate and culture like no other place in the country, and that weaving their projects around this maximum city will lend a very unique flavour to their movie. 


There are other things these directors notice too. As the writer of "Aisha", Devika Bhagat, puts it, "When I was asked to adapt "Emma", I immediately thought it fitted Delhi perfectly because the Delhi society here is based on fairly clear class structures." 


While locations are one reason, Delhiites also make for interesting characters for directors. Is there a quintessential Delhi girl that they've discovered in their movies? Well, many of them are trying to. As actress Sonam Kapoor, who has shot two films in Delhi, says, "The basic reason for choosing Delhi is that it has many stories to say. More than Bombay, there are a lot of real people here in the city." 


So there. As filmmakers shoot more films here, Delhiites you better be prepared to come across Bollywood celebs – perhaps right in your locality – more often now. 




Read more: - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Delhi-replaces-Mumbai-in-bollywood/articleshow/7071237.cms#ixzz17gaa3SEM

Zoho's students can teach Microsoft a lesson or two

CHENNAI: When 17-year-old Saran Babu was looking to help his father cope with rising family expenses, a call centre job or a part-time sales assignment was the most he could look forward to in his hometown Chennai. 


That was until April 2005 when Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu decided to challenge software giants Google and Microsoft with products designed and supported by undergraduates hired from neighbourhood schools in Tamil Nadu. 


Five years on, Babu is busy helping a team of engineers at Zoho design applications — from word processing and worksheet to making presentations — that rival similar solutions from Microsoft, Google and Salesforce.com and are subscribed by over 3.5 million users worldwide, nearly half of whom are based in the US. 


Babu's father was about to retire from a local label printing unit and the family needed to ensure an alternate income stream. "I was planning to take up a part time job, but Zoho changed it all," says Babu. He was among the first batch of six students at Chennai's Guindy Corporation School to be picked up by Zoho to undergo an eighteen-month training programme. Later, all of them were hired by the company, with Babu now playing an important role in Zoho's online database creation tool. 


When Zoho visited Babu's institute, around 50 students applied, some 30 were shortlisted and finally only six joined. The attraction was the Rs 3,000-4,000 monthly stipend that Zoho promised to pay, apart from potentially getting absorbed in the company. However, "not all were ready to take that leap of faith, and looking back, I am glad I trusted Zoho," says Babu. 


For Vembu and his team hand-picking students like Babu, to go through a programme at the Zoho University, means more than just doing philanthropy. Started in April 2005, with a batch of six students, the Zoho University programme has already placed hundred students in the company with another 30 of them set to join over the next few months. "You really do not need to be an IIT or an MIT graduate to develop world-class products," says Vembu, an IIT Madras graduate who did his PhD at Princeton University in 1994. 


Babu is among 120 pre-University students who form 10% of 1,200 professionals Zoho employs. Over the next three to five years, the company wants to have 30-40% of its staff picked up from second and third-rung colleges in non-metro cities. 


Having seen the benefits of 'dropping out' from school, Babu also got his brother Parthivan to join the Zoho program three years ago. "He (Parthivan) is 20 and is already managing a team," says Babu who now earns nearly Rs 40,000 a month. 


In an industry scrambling to hire and retain restless engineers from top engineering and business schools, Zoho offers lessons to other entrepreneurs in terms of looking beyond traditional hiring, apart from demonstrating that India can produce software product for users across the globe. 


For over a decade now, India's low-cost software exports industry has been waiting to have a home-grown, software product to compete with larger rivals at the global stage, and in some ways aimed at a mass user base. It remained a holy grail for what's now over $50 billion industry, until a little-known firm called Zoho arrived on the scene and challenged Microsoft and Google—two of the biggest software companies around. 


"One of our problems here is that we take things too seriously, including building a world-class product from India. We need to have fun while we are at it," he says.


Read more: Zoho's students can teach Microsoft a lesson or two - The Times of India http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/Zohos-students-can-teach-Microsoft-a-lesson-or-two/articleshow/7068275.cms#ixzz17gZzJ62s

Siemens unveils new media platform for digital content

BANGALORE: Siemens IT Solutions and Services Limited unveiled a new media platform that enables enterprises in the broadcasting, education and publishing segments to offer digital content with social media value. 


Coined iNeevM, the next generation platform facilitates content owners and service providers to manage and deliver digital content over the internet to multiple online users with an option to provide social media benefits and advertisement as a revenue stream. 


"Our platform enables enterprises to manage and distribute rich digital content along with the benefits of social media collaboration to enhance efficiency, engagement and productivity," Siemens IT Solutions vice-president Seetharaman Krishnamoorthy told reporters here. 


As the wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of the $5.5-billion German major, the Bangalore-based Siemens provides IT solutions and delivers outsourcing services ranging from consulting, software deployment and system integration to management of IT infrastructure to enterprises across verticals. 


"Our revenue model provides a choice of hosted and in-premises services. In the former, there is an upfront investment on customisation and configuration with periodical charges for the usage of the platform, while in the latter, the platform is hosted at the customer's site with a one-time license fee and an annual maintenance contract," Krishnamoorthy said. 


The company is in talks with two international educational institutions and two broadcasters to hard-sell the platform as a one-stop solution to help them enhance their offerings, increase audience share, maximise revenue and strengthen customer relationships. 


"As enterprises and service providers face the challenge of audience fragmentation, escalating content costs and changing media consumption habits, they need to broaden their delivery options and expand from traditional channels of distribution," Krishnamoorthy noted. 


The key features of the platform are management and distribution of digital content via media portal, on-demand personalised videos for streaming or online play, live-stream of an event or channel, geo-specific locking, content discovery, portal management, user-generated content (UGC) management and business intelligence support for targeting and reporting. 


"The platform, developed in-house with support from our development centres in Germany and Britain, protects infringement of content rights and enables incremental revenue streams by supporting local, remote and live ingest, automated transcoding, frame-accurate annotation for stored and incoming live feeds and online collaboration," Siemens senior consultant Kishlay Baranwal said. 


The company is targeting enterprises in broadcasting, education and publishing areas in the Indian and North American markets where the convergence of telcos and IT have created an ecosystem for leveraging the platform to offer innovative services. 


"For education institutes, the platform helps two-way conversation among parents, teachers and students on academic progress and individual development with far-reaching outcomes for the system," Krishnamoorthy added. 


Read more: Siemens unveils new media platform for digital content - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/personal-tech/computing/Siemens-unveils-new-media-platform-for-digital-content/articleshow/7072058.cms#ixzz17gZ3InJH

'3G mobiles more vulnerable to hacking'

NEW DELHI: As 3G mobile services are set to be rolled out soon in the country, cyber experts sound a word of caution about the high tech enabled mobile phones, which they say are more vulnerable in the world of technology related crimes. 


While the next generation technology aims to make life simpler enabling downloading of movies and music within minutes, it can also be used for various unscrupulous activities. 


"With 3G, cellphones will have faster broadband Internet and with such speed you can watch television live, make video calls and download music and movies in no time. But through spying software and virus, the hacker can easily break into your system," says Ankit Fadia, an ethical hacker and cyber security expert. 


"The hacker can record all the audio conversation and video files. Not many people in India install anti-virus in the phones. I would recommend them to install anti-virus and fireballs while using 3G, says Fadia who recommends switching off the bluetooth function of the phone when not required to protect the user's password. 


Not limited to an individual's privacy issues, the 3G technology will also lead to increase in piracy of films and music, thereby giving a staggering amount of losses to the entertainment industry that is battling the piracy threat. 


"It will become extremely easy for anybody to download an entire Bollywood film in few minutes using 3G. This is going to lead to further tremendous growth of websites like torrents," says advocate Pavan Duggal, a cyberlaws expert. 


The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) points out that Bollywood would be hit most by the 3G and wants service providers to adopt a stricter approach to check cybercrimes. 


"Today it takes several hours to download a new release Bollywood film but with 3G it will be in minutes that will encourage people to use illegal means to view a film," says Rakshit Tandon, consultant, IAMAI. 


According to a PricewaterhouseCoopers report titled, "Indian 3G broadband subscribers," the mobile subscriber base is projected to cross one billion in 2014. The 3G broadband subscriber base is expected to cross 107 million by 2015. 


Indian law enforcement lacks the necessary training to deal with cyber-crimes and there is a distinct need for amending the law and making security agencies aware about the Internet, say experts. 


"Laws are there to protect but our police agencies are yet not ready to take-up the cyber crime challenges, especially 3G. They need to be trained to tackle the growing usage of Internet by criminals," says Fadia. 


Duggal, who is a Supreme Court lawyer, says there is a distinct need for amending the law so as to provide for far more broad generic provisions which can withstand the onslaught of any other new technology. 


"Further adequate statutory protections needs to be given to users so that whatever limited right to privacy they have in the context of the electronic ecosystem are not appropriately compromised with the advent of new technology," he says. 


As mobile handsets is becoming an integral part of the consumer experience, the availability of a large number of feature-rich handsets at affordable prices or in attractive bundled offers is likely to further drive the adoption of 3G value-added services, according to a report by RNCOS. 


The industry analysis provider also predicts that the number of 3G mobile subscribers is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 80 per cent during 2011-2013.


Read more:- The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/news/telecom/3G-mobiles-more-vulnerable-to-hacking/articleshow/7070945.cms#ixzz17gYYELtV

Facebook told to improve its privacy policies


SEOUL: Facebook Inc, owner of the world's most popular social-networking site, was asked by South Korea's telecommunications regulator to improve privacy policies to better protect users of the service in the country. 


Facebook is "inadequate" in notifying users about how personal information is collected and in getting their consent for its use, the Korea Communications Commission said in a statement yesterday. Should Facebook offer personal information to a third party, it needs to notify users of the purpose and the period in which the details will be used, it said. 


An e-mail seeking comment sent to Jonathan Thaw, a spokesman for Palo Alto, California-based Facebook, wasn't immediately answered after working hours. 


The commission also asked Facebook, which has about 2.32 million users in South Korea, to submit documentation on how it uses personal information for customized advertising and whether it's complying with measures to protect personal information.


Read more: - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/social-media/Facebook-told-to-improve-its-privacy-policies/articleshow/7071194.cms#ixzz17gVqCeXK

Google Chrome OS to make PCs cheaper

NEW DELHI: Google has launched a test version of the Chrome OS, its much-awaited and delayed internet-centric operating system that analysts say could make the personal computer cheaper by up to 25% in India. 


"Chrome OS is essentially a free software," says Sundar Pichai, vice-president for product management at Google, and one of the two leaders of a team that developed the new software. 


An operating system makes up for roughly a fifth, and in many cases a fourth, of a PC's cost. For this reason, experts expect a fall in computer prices in 2011 because the Google OS is free. For example, a Rs 22,000 PC shipped from an original equipment maker costs as much because it comes with an operating system priced at nearly Rs 4,000. 
Likewise, a Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic version costing Rs 5,690 and the Windows 7 Ultimate at Rs 11,190 add to PC prices. 


"Google Chrome is bound to bring down PC costs, given that it will be opensource and will not have associated licensing fees," says Pankaj Arora, Managing Director of Protiviti Consulting. 


The price factor apart, users of the Chrome OS computers can also look forward to other benefits. For starters, they do not have to install software. Rather, the PCs rely on applications delivered over the internet, making it easy for users to access files and applications from any machine. 


Chrome ideal for people on the move 
Chrome PCs also start up quickly, taking users to a browser within 10 seconds after booting. "The Chrome is ideal for \an increasing number of people who need to access or record information in their daily work, but are seldom at a desk with a PC and ethernet connection," says tech consultancy Ovum. Though aimed at netbooks, the lightweight Chrome can support desktops and laptops as well because it runs on both X86 ( Intel Pentium, Atom family) as well as the ARM chip systems. 


Besides Google features such as Docs for spreadsheets, presentations and word processors as well as Reader for PDF documents, users can hook up with common accessories such as calculator and tabs for Facebook, YouTube and built-in security features via a browser. 


Google first announced Chrome OS in July 2009 along with plans to sell netbooks running the software from the second half of 2010. Tuesday's news conference in San Francisco at which the internet giant began distributing a limited number of PC models running the software does not mean that users are about to lay their hands on the Chrome OS. 
Google's inability to go beyond a test version means that customers are staring at a further delay. The Chrome OS will only be available to a select group of users because the new devices running the software are being shipped by Google's partners such as Samsung and Acer for now, says Mr Pichai. Acer and Samsung devices are expected to hit the market in mid-2011. 


"We are (also) working with multiple PC manufacturers to bring a number of netbooks to the market next year," he adds. 


In the meantime, "Technical people can download and install it easily after a bit of tweaking, though," says Pichai. The company will hand out about a few thousand laptops with Chrome OS for education and non-profit use. 


For Google, the Chrome OS presents an opportunity to take aim at Microsoft and Apple by offering an alternative to their operating systems, the Windows and Mac OS. 


"Provided there is huge demand for the Chrome OS in 2011, PC prices may fall by a couple of thousands, since the OS may come free," says Vishal Tripathi, principal research analyst at Gartner. 


Still, it will be interesting to see if Google convinces manufacturers to move away from Microsoft and produce Chrome OS netbooks, he says. 


"Partnerships of Microsoft with PC makers remain strong as ever and demand for Chrome will depend upon its performance." Microsoft India had no comment on the impact of Chrome OS on the operating system market. Dell, HP, HCL, Acer and Lenovo are the largest PC sellers in India. The partnership with Acer, which has a 10% share in the Indian PC market, is the only one officially announced by Google yet. 


Google's other partner Samsung has a less than 2% share in India. In comparison, Microsoft's share in the global operating system market is more than 90%. In India, that rises to 98%, thanks to the Windows OS. The Windows XP is the most-used OS in India with a market share of about 70%, followed by Windows 7 (about 20%) and Windows Vista (8%), says StatCounter, the online tracker of tech statistics. 


The balance 2% marketshare is divided between Mac OS and Linux users. And despite Google's best-laid plans, tech analysts say Chrome OS, which is primarily aimed at netbooks might lose out if tablet PCs swamp the netbook market. "Apple has a jump on Google in this market, and it will have a second version of the iPad with an updated version of its own iOS before Chrome is officially released to the world in the second half of 2011." 


Adds Ovum, "Given that a USP of Chrome is the 'instant on', will these workers want it on a device such as netbook or even the Cr-48 'pilot device' laptop being offered by Google for testing? No they will want a tablet." 


There are other challenges as well. "Awareness of opensource software is limited in India, especially amongst small businesses," says Rohit Chaudhary, CEO and founder of the newly-launched eTechies.in, a PC support provider. "Besides, resellers are not pushing netbooks to consumers because they come with lower margins."


Read more: The Times of India http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/infotech/software/Googles-new-Chrome-OS-to-cut-PC-prices/articleshow/7068481.cms?curpg=2#ixzz17gVMf7mQ

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg pledges to give away half his fortunes

NEW YORK: Another 17 US billionaires, including, Facebook co-founders Mark Zuckerberg and Dustin Moskovitz, have pledged to give away at least half their fortunes in a philanthropic campaign led by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.

A total of 57 billionaires now have joined The Giving Pledge, which was launched by Microsoft founder Gates and investor Buffett in June. The campaign announced the new pledges in a statement late on Wednesday.

Gates, his wife Melinda, and Buffett have asked US billionaires to give away at least half their wealth during their lifetime or after their death, and to publicly state their intention with a letter explaining their decision. The Giving Pledge does not accept money or tell people how to donate their money but asks billionaires to make a moral commitment to give their fortunes to charity. "People wait until late in their career to give back. But why wait when there is so much to be done?" Zuckerberg, who gave $100 million in September to the beleaguered public schools of Newark, New Jersey, said in a statement.

"With a generation of younger folks who have thrived on the success of their companies, there is a big opportunity for many of us to give back earlier in our lifetime and see the impact of our philanthropic efforts," he said.

In addition to Zuckerberg and Moskovitz, the world's youngest billionaires, pledges were made by AOL co-founder Steve Case, financier Carl Icahn and Michael Milken, a former Wall Street executive who went to prison in the early 1990s for securities violations.

Read more: The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Facebook-CEO-Mark-Zuckerberg-pledges-to-give-away-half-his-fortunes/articleshow/7070205.cms#ixzz17gUiSXxK

Indian Trains get new numbers

LUCKNOW: Get in tune with the new numerical identities of the trains. The mail/express trains, Shatabdi and Rajdhani have all got new numbers. Northern Railway (NR) on Thursday released the list of new train numbers. Lucknow Mail has been given a five-digit identity (12229/12230) and so is Shatabdi Express (12003/12004).

Come December 20 and railways will implement five digit numbers in place of the existing four digit numbers for all the trains. The numbers of existing express trains largely continue unchanged but have been prefixed with first digit of 1. Lucknow-New Delhi Duronto Express is numbered as (12271/12272) while New Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express is (12435/12436). The new train numbers are available on railway website.

"The reservation system will show the new numbers (on tickets) after December 22", said Neeraj Sharma, Sr DCM, Lucknow division, NR.

The Railways has decided to implement the five-digit train numbering scheme because the existing one (four-digit numbering scheme) has exhausted as there are more than 10,000 trains running every day. Besides, need has also arisen to integrate passenger and suburban train services in various information systems such as control office application, passenger reservation system and other software applications.

The passenger trains will be first numbered as per the present four digit train numbering scheme. To this four digit number, a fifth digit shall be prefixed as digit `0' for special trains, digit 5, 6 and 7 for conventional passenger trains, MEMU and DEMU trains, respectively. The suburban services in Kolkata will begin with digit 3, in Mumbai with digit 9 and in other parts with digit 4.

It is now proposed to capture all passenger trains running over Indian Railways for various software applications by giving them a unique number. Thus, there is need to shift to 5-digit train numbering scheme from a 4-digit train numbering scheme as Indian Railways presently runs over 11,000 passenger carrying trains on an average per day while 4-digit scheme can have train numbers only up to 9,999. The 5-digit numbering scheme is to be made effective from December 20, 2010.

The names of the trains are not being changed/modified. The introduction of new system covering all kinds of passenger carrying trains run by Indian railways will lay scientific and logical basis for numbering of trains on all India basis for all the trains which was earlier confined to express trains only, enabling better dissemination of information to the public.

The new system will go a long way in monitoring the movement of trains more effectively on all India basis and in facilitating dissemination and management of train information more scientifically benefiting the public/customers. This major initiative will create a unique train number which will be a national level identity for each train and will cover all the passenger carrying trains running in Indian railways network. 

Read more:  Trains get new numbers - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Trains-get-new-numbers/articleshow/7073585.cms#ixzz17gTiMtvy

Delhi Going Hi-Tech, Wi-Fi in DTC buses

NEW DELHI: Soon, when you catch the airport-bound special bus service of Delhi Transport Corporation, you can dispose of your unanswered mail or do background work on that pending report while on board. The transport department is working on a plan to give internet facilities on these elite buses by making them wi-fi enabled. 


"The total number of targeted routes for these buses is eighteen. We will start off with a pilot project on one of them the route has not been decided yet and then gradually provide this on all the buses. The service is doing exceedingly well and this, we thought would be an added incentive for many people because this is just the kind of service that would interest the client base of the bus," explained transport minister Arvinder Singh. 


Talks are on with companies for fitting routers on these buses to make them wi-fi enabled. There will be one laptop on each bus but commuters with wi-fi-enabled mobile devices can work on their own machines too. There will be a fee for using the computer which will be over and above the usual bus fare of Rs 75/person for the domestic airport and Rs 100 for the international airport. 


The plan, Singh says, is part of the overall policy of the state government to encourage use of public transport and decongest the roads. "It is true that for various reasons, public transport had never really been a planning priority for Delhi. That has changed now and people have responded very well showing that if given appropriate options, Delhiites are willing to leave personal vehicles behind," he explained. Officials say the company has not been ascertained yet but the one working in the introduction of GPS in buses could be roped in. 


DTC officials say that the airport express service in the one month that it has started, the average daily occupancy is about 50%, going up to 70% on some weekends. The average daily earning, said an official, is in the range of Rs 3 lakh, conceding, however, that this is way below DTC's spending on the 60-odd buses that run on these routes. "We will take time to break even if at all. But the point of public transport is rarely to break even. World over public transport is subsidised because the cumulative advantages of a good public transport system for the economy far outweight the spending," said a senior transport department official.
Read more: Wi-Fi in DTC buses bound for IGI Airport - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Wi-Fi-in-DTC-buses-bound-for-IGI-Airport/articleshow/7074276.cms#ixzz17gSB16y3

Love Is Blind, So Are Lovers


One Of My dearest Friend, he has taken promise form me not to tell his name that I should publish this. This is his own story. Please read this and let me know what you feel. Lets call my friend here Mr. Hari. So let me know about your comments on Mr. Hari. 

Everybody in this world would have heard this most popular saying - ‘Love is Blind!’. While I don’t know whether love is blind or not, because no girl ever ‘Loved’ me so far(what a shame!), I can certainly say that ‘Lovers are blind’ or in other words ‘Love makes lovers blind’. I would like to recall couple of incidents that made me to come to this conclusion.

1)        Year 2002 – 06, good old Engg college days! Days of fun-filled madness and Ultimate freedom. We were 3 musketeers staying together at Men’s hostel. One of us was a TDH guy (Tall Dark Handsome). And there was our Heroine, who was at Ladies’ hostel. Everyone used to call her Chapati, because her face was sooo flat, not to mention the unmentionable. (apologies for being so rude). Through one of his friends our hero met heroine. As you all know(and probably would have done it), whenever a girl looks at a boy and smiles, everybody will start pumping that boy saying ‘Man… she is giving heavy LINE, defffinitely she has some feelings towards you, go check it out, blab la’ . So even me and my other roommate did our fundamental duty and started ‘Lifting’ our hero day and night. Months passed by and they became close friends. So close that he used to be around Ladies’ hostel more that Men’s J. One fine night when we were partying, our Hero interrupted us and told – “Guys, I love her very much. And we have decided to marry each other”. Suddenly silence prevailed in room for 5 mins!!. Then he went on to say - “We make a very good pair right?”. “Yes yes, sure you do. Like Rama and Sita” - told we, helpless but to laugh within ourselvesJ.


2)        Last year I was in Chennai for some time. There I got to meet one of my childhood friends. He is a year younger than me. Some months before that he had called me to tell about his new ‘Girlfriend’. That time I had taken it on my pride, just as in Asian paint ad – “wah chote, ab toh tu girlfriend bhi rakhne laga” “aisa nahin hai bhayya”. One day while walking on Marina beach shore, ssatakh…, there popped a photo out of his wallet.
“Guess who?” he asked.
“OMG is she your girlfriend?”.
“Yeah mann, what do you think, how is she?”.
“Beautiful man, you are one big luckly $#@$, congratulations”. (to be frank, she looked like ok kind of a girl. Can say little below average)
 “Seriously bro. Never in my life I thought that I will marry such a beautiful girl!” he exclaimed with joy, and his face enlarged like a pumpkin J.

They say that – women ‘fall’ for wealthy men and men ‘fall’ for beautiful girls. 1st part of this might be true literally, but the second part – ‘beautiful girl’ is a relative term. Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder.

I would like to close this very long blog with this quote which I read in some book. (not exact words) – “I follow the world’s most popular religion that - My Wife is so Beautiful and My Kids Are Smartest” J.

Testimony of wife lands man in jail

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has awarded a seven-year jail term to a man, convicting him on charges of trying to kill his brother-in-law even as the victim died around a fortnight later allegedly due to injuries sustained during the assault. 


The court convicted the man on charges of attempt to murder on the testimony of his wife as the prosecution failed to prove through forensic evidence that the victim died due to injuries inflicted during the assault . 


"It is a case in which the convict (Sanjeev Kumar) is held guilty for attempt to murder of his brother-in-law and his wife has given statement against him," District Judge S K Sarvaria said. Despite victim Nanak Chand's death, the court convicted accused on attempt to murder charges, noting the paucity of evidence to prove murder charges against him. 


"The direct nexus between the death of the victim and the injuries inflicting upon him by Kumar is not clearly established by the medical evidence ," the court said. "The prosecution has proved that accused attempted to commit murder of Nanak by inflicting injuries on his neck and chest... but it has failed to prove that death of victim surely is a natural consequence or not." it added.


Read more: Testimony of wife lands man in jail - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Testimony-of-wife-lands-man-in-jail/articleshow/7074433.cms#ixzz17gOggKGW