'Quiet' Mach 6 wind tunnel helps shape future aircraft

Last updated on: January 7, 2006 at 10:47 pm By Desh Kapoor

Is this the future of air travel? If the noise, heat and friction could be reduced at high speeds - then it could mean more efficient aircrafts! Purdue University engineers have developed a wind tunnel that is the only one of its kind in the world capable of running quietly at "hypersonic" speeds, helping researchers to design advanced aircraft and missiles. No other wind tunnel runs quietly while conducting experiments in airstreams traveling at Mach 6 – six times the speed of sound, said Steven Schneider, an aerospace engineer and professor in Purdue's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Read more

Tondulkar and Yash Gandhi: Bright Batting stars on Horizon

Last updated on: January 7, 2006 at 6:14 pm By Desh Kapoor

Looks like the Indian cricket is in for another round of fresh talent in batting after Tendulkar and Dravid go away! With Dhoni already whipping it up and Sehwag going strong... influx of these kids in the next 5 years could create an unbeatable Team India!When Rahul Tondulkar (IES VN Sule Guruji School) surpassed Vinod Kambli's unbeaten 349, the city was just as surprised as happy.Kambli's triple (for Shardashram HS) was the highest individual score in the Harris Shield after the city's inter-school tournament became 'time-based'. Earlier the event was played on a 'play to finish' format (teams play on till there is a result).It took close to two decades for someone like Tondulkar to break it.And as he was gearing up to represent the Mumbai under-17 side against Assam in Kolkata yesterday, little did he know that his record would barely last a week. Just seven days after Tondulkar's achievement, Yash Gandhi (Don Bosco, Matunga) went ton to score an unbeaten 365 against St Sebastian (Marine Lines) at Azad Maidan in the Plate Division semi-finals.Gandhi's colossal knock came with the help of 40 boundaries after the opponents were dismissed for 198. ... read more Read more

Truthiness: Sign of times

Last updated on: January 7, 2006 at 5:53 pm By Desh Kapoor

This is the sign of times! Truthiness is what describes the world these days - appropriating truthfulness to yourself without the essence of fact being present!A panel of linguists has decided the word that best reflects 2005 is "truthiness," defined as the quality of stating concepts one wishes or believes to be true, rather than the facts. The American dialect society chose the word yesterday after a runoff with terms related to hurricane Katrina, such as "Katrinagate," the scandal erupting from the lack of planning for the monster hurricane.Michael Adams, a professor at North Carolina state university who specializes in lexicology, said "Truthiness" means "Truthy, not fact." Read more

NRIs may get voting rights

Last updated on: January 7, 2006 at 5:34 pm By Desh Kapoor

Its time this privilege was extended to Indians living outside the country... until now.. it was presumed that once a citizen had left the borders - he/she was as good as lost! Not a good assumption for the long term interests of the country!Unveiling a string of initiatives for the benefit of NRIs, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the government would soon grant voting rights to overseas Indian workers and professionals, launch a liberal insurance scheme for them and modernise the process of emigration. Inaugurating the 4th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, an annual convention of Indian diaspora, the Prime Minister launched Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme that confers a hassle-free, life-long multiple entry visa for overseas Indians. Amidst applause from a gathering of about 2,000 NRIs from across the world, Singh handed over the first set of OCI cards and related documents to two NRIs -- Nibriti Rai (US) and Ifthekar Ahmad Sharif -- fulfilling a long-cherished dream of overseas Indians. The OCI cards, considered the first step towards conferring full citizenship rights, will enable overseas Indians holding foreign passports a free access to the country, obliterating the need for police verification. Read more

Google to buy Monster.com?

Last updated on: January 7, 2006 at 5:03 pm By Desh Kapoor

It seems that Google can buy anything these days! SAP... Monster... and many other tech giants!! Did I make a mistake by NOT buying Google at $200? Probaby yes!Some have speculated that Google could make an even bigger splash in the online classifieds business by acquiring Monster Worldwide, which runs the popular online job site Monster.com.Officials at Google were not immediately available for comment. Monster Worldwide (Research) chief financial officer Lanny Baker declined to comment about takeover speculation. Read more

India's biggest Game show winner!

Last updated on: January 7, 2006 at 1:24 pm By Desh Kapoor

The world of middle class India is changing.. here is a regular guy who won Rs 1.5 crore (over USD300,000) in a game show. Now, in India THAT's big money! Creating history on television, Ravinder Vats from Faridabad became the first man in the country to take home the biggest prize money from a game show.The 41-year-old businessman from Haryana initially had no plans to be a part of Zee's Kam Ya Zyaada that offers a total prize money of three crores."My daughter Tanvi coaxed me into watching the show. She wanted me to try my luck at winning the prize money. After winning 9000 loyalty points I got a call from the show on December 13 inviting me to be a part of Kam Ya Zyaada." Read more

Google Introduces Software Starter Kit

Last updated on: January 7, 2006 at 1:16 pm By Desh Kapoor

The war heats up with Microsoft too! Google's stock has gone up from around $400 to $460 in a matter of a week! Is this the end of Microsoft?Google Inc. is distributing a free software startup kit designed to make computing safer and easier - a generous gesture driven by the company's desire to steer technology offline as well as online. The software bundle, unveiled Friday in Las Vegas during a speech by Google co-founder Larry Page, represents the Internet search engine leader's latest jab at industry kingpin Microsoft Corp. Read more

VIRGIN COMICS: JV of Deepak Chopra, Shekhar Kapoor & Richard Branson

Last updated on: January 7, 2006 at 1:09 pm By Desh Kapoor

Here is an annoucement that was made by Gotham Chopra (son of the awesome Deepak Chopra) about their partnership with Shekhar Kapoor (Indian Movie Director - also directed "Elizabeth") and Sir Rihcard Branson to create VIRGIN COMICS.At long last, I get to unleash the news! Welcome to Virgin Comics!Virgin comics in many ways started as Shekhar's vision. Some people smirked when he used to say that not too far in the future, Spiderman would take off his mask and he'd be an Indian boy. Well last year that happened, when our initial partner - India's largest publisher of comic books - in collaboration with Marvel Comics published a book called SPIDERMAN INDIA. Read more

Coke and Pepsi and their Water Abuse in India

Last updated on: January 7, 2006 at 12:47 pm By Desh Kapoor

This is a post by Sandeep Pandey on Intentblog - an activist from India on the Water Problems that are being created by Pepsi and Coke!Farmers in rural India and students in American universities may have more in common than it would seem. While Cola companies have run into opposition in several states in India, student bodies in North America are pressuring universities to wind up contracts letting the firms exclusively sell water and soft drinks on campus.Labour rights' violations in Colombia and water rights of local communities in India have become a cause of concern for Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola, as students across campuses in United States and Canada are beginning to question unethical practices of the companies. The firms impact the lives of students in North America as they usually have exclusive contracts with universities which prevent products of other companies besides their own to be sold on campuses. Several student bodies are up in arms as they think that they should have the freedom to choose their products and their choices should not be dictated by corporations like Coke and Pepsi. The firms are also making attempts to replace the free water fountains in campuses with their vending machines. Read more

Using a New Blogging Client: Blog Writer

Last updated on: January 7, 2006 at 12:03 pm By Desh Kapoor

I an using a new Blogging Client - Zoundry's Bog Writer today... for some reason the wbloggar that I have been using all this while doesnt seem to work this morning.. so I looked for a better alternative.. and found this one.Any of you use any blogging client to blog? Technorati : Blog Read more