Monday, February 19, 2007

1000 Hyderbad IT professionals fired!

It is sleepless nights for Hyderabad's IT employees. About a 1000 lost their jobs overnight after they failed their employers' background checks. CNBC-TV18 gives the details.

It has been a harrowing week for Satyam's
staff, as 500 of their work mates have already been fired overnight. That is after the company conducted background checks on its middle and junior-level employees to curb fraud and minimise the risk of data theft.

But Satyam is not alone. HSBC too fired over 350 employees at its call centre in Hyderabad over the past week. Officials from Satyam say it is conducting checks at all its facilities in India and if an employee is found to have falsified any certification, he or she is being asked to leave immediately.

Satyam officials say they will not file criminal proceedings, but other IT and ITeS companies have begun similar checks. They hope to make their companies virtually fraud free.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Amnesty honour for Jennifer Lopez


Hollywood star Jennifer Lopez has been honoured by human rights group Amnesty International for her latest film.

Bordertown is set in the Mexican town of Ciudad Juarez, which has witnessed a grisly decade of unsolved rapes and murders of young women.

Lopez, who produced the movie, stars as an investigative journalist reporting on the serial killings.

She was awarded the Artists for Amnesty prize ahead of the film's premiere at the Berlin Film Festival on Wednesday.

The actress, 37, said she was "very humbled" as she was given the award by East Timor's Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta, a Nobel peace laureate.

'Shocking'

No-one knows how many murders have been committed in Ciudad Juarez since the killings began in 1993, but Amnesty says it is more than 400.

Police have made several arrests, and the murders have been variously attributed to serial killers, drug cartels and domestic violence.

Several gangs have also been mentioned as the perpetrators.

But every time the police trumpet an arrest or conviction, the murders continue.

Lopez described the situation as "one of the world's most shocking and disturbing, underreported crimes against humanity."

Also at the Amnesty ceremony in Berlin was Norma Andrade, whose 17-year-old daughter was found murdered in February 2001.

Following her daughter's death, she co-founded Our Daughters Back Home (Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa), a legal support group for victims' parents.

"She's a remarkable woman and a true inspiration," Lopez said.

Bordertown also stars Antonio Banderas and Martin Sheen. It does not yet have a release date.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Valentine's Day: The Good, The Bad, The Lovely

Once again, St. Valentine's universal day of affection has arrived. It is traditionally a day of euphoria, during which recipients of Cupid's arrows go about their day lulled by the warmth of romantic love and bubbly floating hearts that fill the air.

Reality check: It's freezing outside, and for many, Valentine's Day is not always the stereotypical love-fest it is sometimes made out to be. As these students prove, some of the most amusing stories are those of romance gone awry.

Premature proposal

Debbie Reedy's boyfriend could not wait until Valentine's Day to propose to his girlfriend of nearly a year, so he popped the question on Feb. 1 of this year.

Reedy, a sophomore early childhood education major, said she never even suspected he was going to ask her to marry him.

"I had just got out of the bath tub and he came in, and I was like wait a minute I'm not ready yet!" she said. "He was like, 'Don't make me yell at you before I propose to you.'"

Reedy's boyfriend did not have to yell, but instead told her he wanted to be her "only Valentine."

"I cried and said yes," Reedy said.

Too much love?

The men's chorus at Kent State University has traditionally provided a singing telegrams service on Valentine's Day. Sometimes members of the group practice their skills on unsuspecting victims.

Sophomore nursing major Lindsey Eble was one such victim. Two members of the chorus happened to be resident assistants in the hall she was living in.

"I got serenaded by my RAs in the middle of the Student Center," she said. "They were trying to advertise for it (singing telegrams). It was a little embarrassing."

Motherly love

Valentine's Day is known to be a day of love, but it doesn't always have to be romantic. For some, it can be about love between friends and family as well.

"My mom's always been my Valentine," said Patrice DeLeon, Kent State alumnus and volunteer for the university health center.

DeLeon said it started with a bad week she had during her senior year of high school. She failed a test, was a having problems with a guy she liked and was nervous for her brother, who was competing in an upcoming wrestling tournament — all during the week of Valentines Day.

"My mom actually bought me a half dozen roses and a Scooby Doo twin bed set that glowed in the dark," she said.

Now her mom calls her every Valentine's day, she said.

No "yolking"

Differing beliefs can be a big hurdle in relationships, but for Nik Kolenich, a freshman interior design major, and his ex-girlfriend, it was a deal breaker.

Kolenich's girlfriend of six months was a Christian who came from a Christian family. He was not.

"I took her out to this fancy Valentine's Day dinner, and I could tell there was some tension," he said.

During the dinner Kolenich' girlfriend broke up with him, citing their conflicting beliefs as their biggest problem.

"She said, 'We're not evenly yoked,'" Kolenich said. "It had something to do with religion, but all I could think about was scrambled eggs."

Bitter irony

Maddie Richards, freshman justice studies major, knows all too well that Valentine's Day can prove to be a painful experience.

"Last Valentine's Day I got a broken nose," she said.

Richards said another girl had a crush on Richards' boyfriend and was jealous of their relationship.

"She came over to his place while I was there," she said. "I told her to leave because it was my day with him."


Richards said the girl jumped on her, punched her in the face and then left.

Richards called the police, but when they arrived she was dealt another blow: Her boyfriend, who had a warrant out for his arrest, walked away from their celebration in handcuffs.

http://media.www.stateronline.com

Giving Flowers This Valentine's Day? Read This First


Flowers and Valentine's Day are a cherished tradition, whether you're sending a dozen roses, an elaborate flower arrangement, or hand-delivering a bouquet of daisies. And, as if you needed additional reasons to send flowers this Valentine's Day, new research shows that the mere presence of flowers can change people's moods for the better.A behavioral study conducted at Harvard University shows people feel more compassionate toward others, have less worry and anxiety and feel less depressed when flowers are present in their home."Other research has proven that flowers make people happy when they receive them," says Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., who conducted the study. "What we didn't know is that spending a few days with flowers in the home can affect a wide variety of feelings."

To help those good feelings last as long as possible, check out the Flower Doctor's hotline sponsored by The Flower Promotion Organization at (888) FLOWRMD (356-9763) for tips on keeping cut flowers looking their best. Throughout the month of February, the hotline plays recorded tips by horticulturist Dr. Bridget Behe, a professor of horticulture at Michigan State University, on the care and handling of cut flowers.The hotline will be live from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST on Feb. 14 and 15, with cut flower experts on hand to answer questions. Dr. Behe also answers e-mail questions from flower lovers through www.flowrmd.com and www.flowerpossibilities.com year-round.Here are some pointers for your Valentine's Day blooms:Q. How do I keep my fresh cut flowers alive as long as possible?A. Re-cut the stems -- about one additional inch -- with floral clippers or sharp knife. Dissolve commercial flower preservative in warm water and immediately place the flowers in the solution. Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from drafts.Q. When re-cutting, is it better to cut in warm or cold water?A. Warm water is best.Q. Which cut flower lasts longest?A. Flower life is a function of genetics and environment. Generally, though, chrysanthemums and carnations last the longest.Q. Does removing leaves harm the flowers?A. No. In fact, removing leaves that will be under water will help reduce bacteria and fungi growth that can harm the stems and shorten your enjoyment period.Q. Is a vinegar and water solution better than floral food?A. No. Nothing extends the life of a cut bloom as well as a measured amount of commercial floral preservative dissolved in warm water.The Flower Promotion Organization also offers recipes for creative floral arrangements on its Web site, www.flowerpossibilities.com. This Valentine's Day, consider something unique, like this recipe for romance:

Roses To Go

Materials - for small take-out container:

  • Small Chinese food take-out container

  • Five stems "classy" red roses

  • One stem brown hypericum berries

  • Floral clippers and floral preservative
Directions:

  • Thoroughly wash the container. Fill with water that has been treated with floral preservative.

  • Insert the fresh cut flowers. Cut the stems short so that just the rose blooms peer out over the Chinese food take-out container.

  • Cut the hypericum so that their berries are a bit taller than the roses, then insert them among the roses.
Ref : http://www.thebostonchannel.com/valentines/

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Grammy Awards honour music stars

R&B singer Mary J Blige and rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers have won three prizes each at this year's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

American Idol star Carrie Underwood and country band The Dixie Chicks also took home three awards apiece.

The ceremony was opened by reformed pop group The Police - one day before they are expected to announce a world tour.

Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland played their 1979 hit Roxanne to a standing ovation from 12,000 fans.

Sting began with the words: "Ladies and gentlemen, we are The Police and we are back."

Mary J Blige at the Grammy Awards
Mary J Blige's awards included best R&B album
The band are expected to confirm their tour at a press conference on Monday.

The Grammy Awards are the most prestigious honours in the global music calendar, with 108 categories ranging from pop to jazz to gospel to polka.

Blige went into the show with the most nominations, with eight, followed by the Red Hot Chili Peppers with six.

Blige's night kicked off with awards for best R&B song and best female R&B vocal performance for her track Be Without You.

And her album The Breakthrough was named best R&B album. "I thank you so much," she said, accepting her first trophy.

Dixie Chicks at Grammy Awards
The Dixie Chicks have bounced back from political controversy
"For so many years I have been talked about negatively but this time I'm being talked about positively by so many people. This is a great night for me."

But she was beaten to the best song prize by Not Ready to Make Nice by country group The Dixie Chicks.

That song was written in response to death threats the female group received after they said in 2003 they were "ashamed" the US President was from their home state of Texas.

"For the first time in my life I'm speechless," singer Natalie Maines said at the podium.

The trio also won best country album and best country performance by a duo or group.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers' single Dani California scooped both best rock song and best rock performance by a duo or group.

Beyonce at Grammy Awards
Beyonce won best contemporary R&B album for B'Day
Carrie Underwood, who won TV talent show American Idol in 2005, was named best new artist - beating R&B prodigy Chris Brown and British singers James Blunt, Corinne Bailey Rae and Imogen Heap.

Underwood also took best country song and best female country vocal performance for her song Jesus, Take the Wheel.

Justin Timberlake picked up best dance recording for Sexy Back and best rap/sung collaboration for My Love, featuring TI.

TI also won best solo rap performance for What You Know, while best rap song went to Ludacris featuring Pharrell for Money Maker.

Gnarls Barkley's smash hit Crazy was named best urban/alternative performance, while their album St Elsewhere was judged best alternative album.

Bruce Springsteen also won two awards, scooping best traditional folk album for We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions and best long form video for Wings For Wheels: The Making of Born To Run.

Madonna picked up best dance/electronic album for Confessions On A Dance Floor, while Christina Aguilera, John Mayer and The Black Eyed Peas took home pop prizes.

BBC

Shilpa wows Britain's bold and beautiful


The brouhaha over racism in the "Celebrity Big Brother" house has died down, but Indian actress Shilpa Shetty continues to make news by sashaying across Britain and holding forth on the British bold and the beautiful, including on Prime Minister Tony Blair.

After Shetty distracted the attention of MPs in the House of Commons by sitting in the visitors' gallery and meeting Blair on Thursday, she travelled to Leicester, a city in the east Midlands with a large minority of Indian origin.

By all accounts, she is clearly enjoying her post-reality show peregrinations across Britain.

For much of the time this week, she has been chaperoned by Keith Vaz, Labour MP from Leicester of Goan origin. In the process, Vaz invited snide remarks in political circles of basking in reflected glory, appearing alongside Shetty in television appearances and elsewhere.

Ratan Tata may have recently taken over Corus in a multi-billion pound deal, but ask any anyone on the streets of Britain and you will be told that Shetty is the only Indian they know of. Every news media outlet, including the mass circulation 'Sun', has been devoting blanket coverage to Shetty's interaction with leading lights in Britain's political and social circles.

In between, Shetty and her mother Sunanda grapple with the continuing stream of sponsorship and other offers, many of them running into hundreds of thousands of pounds, including to present television shows in Britain.

In Leicester, she was expected to be given a rousing welcome, not only because her treatment on the reality show touched a raw nerve among the large minority of Asians there, but also because most of them voted for her victory. And Asians there did not disappoint her.

A large number of her fans screamed for her as she made a fashionably late entrance in the Indian-dominated Belgrave area as she was whisked out of a sports car in front of the adoring crowds. Many had waited for hours in freezing temperatures before she finally arrived at the Peepul Centre.

Dozens of photographers and cameramen, including many who had flown in from India, clamoured to see Shilpa as she arrived with mother Sunanda and Vaz, who was literally on home ground and was clearly the master of ceremonies.

Sabras Radio, a popular local radio station, claimed to be the first in the UK to interview her, while a minor scuffle among fans outside the radio station had the local police all worked up. The visit raised 5,000 pounds for her new charity foundation to increase awareness of HIV and AIDS in India.

Reports from Leicester say that she "dealt with the public and media scrum with her trademark dignified calmness". Her first reaction was: "Oh my gosh. I feel like I've come to a mini-India. Can I stay in Leicester?

"Big Brother hasn't changed me, but it's taught me never to do a reality show again. Also it's taught me how important it is to be dignified in any situation."

Local resident Krita Thakrar, 42, who works at the Shenton Primary School in Spinney Hill, said pupils had learned from Shilpa's dignified behaviour. She said: "The children have just taken her on like a role model."

But not every Shilpa Shetty story in the news media is celebratory. The Sun claimed that she faced accusations in a court in India of underpaying women workers at her family's factory.

The newspaper reported: "Investigators claim staff at the bottle-top plant were paid just Rs.86 - one pound - a day. The minimum wage is Rs.110. Men were also being paid more than female workers, which breaks employment laws.

"If the Bollywood star is found guilty, she faces a fine of between Rs.500 and Rs.2,000 for each worker. Shilpa, dad Surendra and mum Sunanda are directors of Esco Closures and have been named in papers filed by investigators.

"The family has run the plant since 1982. They employ 16 staff, including 10 women, 40 miles from Mumbai. Authorities said the family had failed to reply to correspondence about the probe and could face arrest".

Friday, February 9, 2007

Valentine's Day :: Not Like it Used To Be

February 14 is Valentine's Day. Although it is celebrated as a lovers' holiday today, with the giving of candy, flowers, or other gifts between couples in love, it originated in 5th Century Rome as a tribute to St. Valentine, a Catholic bishop.

For eight hundred years prior to the establishment of Valentine's Day, the Romans had practiced a pagan celebration in mid-February commemorating young men's rite of passage to the god Lupercus. The celebration featured a lottery in which young men would draw the names of teenage girls from a box. The girl assigned to each young man in that manner would be his sexual companion during the remaining year.

In an effort to do away with the pagan festival, Pope Gelasius ordered a slight change in the lottery. Instead of the names of young women, the box would contain the names of saints. Both men and women were allowed to draw from the box, and the game was to emulate the ways of the saint they drew during the rest of the year. Needless to say, many of the young Roman men were not too pleased with the rule changes.

Be My Valentine

Instead of the pagan god Lupercus, the Church looked for a suitable patron saint of love to take his place. They found an appropriate choice in Valentine, who, in AD 270 had been beheaded by Emperor Claudius.

Claudius had determined that married men made poor soldiers. So he banned marriage from his empire. But Valentine would secretly marry young men that came to him. When Claudius found out about Valentine, he first tried to convert him to paganism. But Valentine reversed the strategy, trying instead to convert Claudius. When he failed, he was stoned and beheaded.

During the days that Valentine was imprisoned, he fell in love with the blind daughter of his jailer. His love for her, and his great faith, managed to miraculously heal her from her blindness before his death. Before he was taken to his death, he signed a farewell message to her, "From your Valentine." The phrase has been used on his day ever since.

Although the lottery for women had been banned by the church, the mid-February holiday in commemoration of St. Valentine was still used by Roman men to seek the affection of women. It became a tradition for the men to give the ones they admired handwritten messages of affection, containing Valentine's name. Cupid

The first Valentine card grew out of this practice. The first true Valentine card was sent in 1415 by Charles, duke of Orleans, to his wife. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London at the time.

Cupid, another symbol of the holiday, became associated with it because he was the son of Venus, the Roman god of love and beauty. Cupid often appears on Valentine cards.

http://www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/

Shilpa outraged by Bobby Khan, Jazz Barton's fraud


Actress Shilpa Shetty's elation at her international triumph vanishes when she speaks about the two people - Bobby Khan and Jazz Barton, who allegedly exploited her name and position as the "Celebrity Big Brother" winner to make illegal deals on her behalf.

She is a mixture of grief and indignation.

"They've completely taken advantage of the fact that I wasn't allowed to speak to the press after I came out of 'Big Brother'. Yes, I've filed a defamation case against them. I believe in doing what's right. I considered Bobby a friend," Shilpa told sources.

At the same time Shilpa acknowledges Bobby's hand in her current status.

"I never denied that the 'Big Brother' deal came through him. I give him complete credit for that. I paid 6,000 pounds to Jazz. She was the common factor between me and Endemol (the company that produced 'Big Brother')."

She is honest enough to admit others were approached first for the reality show.

"They wanted a Bollywood actor. They first approached a couple of other actors. Then, finally, I did it. The next thing I know, when I come out of 'Big Brother' Jazz had signed a huge deal on my behalf with the British newspaper The Sun! How could she? Nobody has the power of attorney to do that.

"I've best PR people and agent in Britain, people who've handled Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and David Beckham. Who are Bobby and Jazz springing into the picture to claim they're my agents? They just want to make a quick buck."

Shilpa accuses Jazz of making a fool of herself on the BBC.

"These are people who've called themselves my friends. They're now shaming my country and me. What will people think? I was saddened by the loose statements Bobby made about my family and my mother in particular. How dare he even think of speaking like that about her? I was very hurt."

The hurt to the family precipitated the legal action.

"I can't take any slander against my family. Hit out at me, not my family. Even the money that I received as the last instalment for 'Big Brother' has gone to Jazz's account. I didn't stop that. I don't know how they can claim that Shilpa duped them. We don't belong to that class of people who deprive others of their rightful money."


MM

Cool millions for YouTube founders


The investors and founders of YouTube received hundreds of millions of dollars in Google shares as a result of the deal between the two companies late last year, according to new documents.

The big payout was revealed Wednesday in a regulatory filing Google made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The paperwork offered a more detailed account than previously disclosed of the sale's beneficiaries.

The $1.76 billion acquisition of the video-sharing Web site was the biggest in Google's history, and took place less than two years after YouTube was founded. The startup had about 70 employees when the deal was announced in October.

In total, online search leader Google Inc. registered about 3.23 million Class A shares to issue to former YouTube stockholders, according to the filing.

YouTube's three founders and Sequoia Capital, its main financial backer, received the biggest windfalls.

Chad Hurley, YouTube's chief executive, was paid in Google shares with a current indicated value of more than $345 million. He received 694,087 shares and an additional 41,232 in a trust.

Another founder, Steven Chen, received 625,366 shares and another 68,721 in a trust, for more than $326 million. Jarwed Karim, the third co-founder, received 137,443 Google shares, with an indicated value of $64.6 million.

Sequoia Capital, the sole venture capital backer of YouTube, received 941,027, valued at about $442 million.

At least two dozen YouTube employees received lesser share amounts. Shares were also divided up among dozens of limited partner investors in Sequoia Capital.

Since its Web site first began to catch on about a year ago, YouTube has relied on a mix of homemade and pirated videos to expand its audience.

Although YouTube has promptly removed pirated videos whenever copyright owners complained about violations, questions have continued to linger about the site's vulnerability to legal claims for distributing content owned by other media.

Google executives also have repeatedly vowed to protect the rights of copyright holders.

CNN

Amitabh: I was never as brave as Abhishek


Proud father Amitabh Bachchan is in raptures over son Abhishek's latest achievements and says he wasn't as daring in his selection of roles.

"I was never this adventurous. And had I been so, I doubt if I would've been able to carry it off with such conviction and aplomb. I never got the opportunities and also maybe I was never so brave," Amitabh told sources in an interview.

Abhishek's performance in "Guru" is being hailed as no minor achievement.

"'Guru' coming in the wake of 'Dhoom 2' has proved to all and sundry that given a role and an opportunity, Abhishek can deliver. He has in one stroke silenced all his detractors and critics. It's a slap on the face of those that thought unkindly of him. Large volumes of humble pie need to be devoured by them."

Commenting upon a media analysis that his days as brand ambassador are over, Amitabh said: "The brand endorsements have never been so good, contrary to certain media analysts, who recently headlined that 'The King Is Dead Long Live The King'. It is a rather prolonged thesis on my diminishing and expired brand value and the rising value of my colleague and dear friend Shah Rukh Khan."

Excerpts:

Q: Were you so adventurous in your heydays?

A: Adventurous in my heydays? Thank you for relegating my heydays to the past! But seriously though, I was never this adventurous. And had I been so, I doubt if I would've been able to carry it off with such conviction and aplomb. I never got the opportunities and also maybe I was never so brave.

Q: Considering Hrithik Roshan had an author-backed role in "Dhoom 2", do you think it was a mistake for Abhishek to do the film?

A: No, it was not a mistake. I've a huge respect for him and his decision. Because, knowing fully well that his was a minuscule role, he still went ahead for the sake of his relationship with Aditya Chopra and because without him in the film there is no story.

For all practical purposes, he is the hero of the film. The success of the film will go down in his record as his success as well. And the fact is that those who were with him in this project -- Aditya, Hrithik, Uday Chopra -- are aware of the sacrifice that he made and have expressed that to him too.

Q: Apparently director Sanjay Gadhvi has commented on Hrithik's larger impact in "Dhoom 2".

A: Gadhvi is the director of "Dhoom 2". Strangely, soon after its release he proclaimed in rather bold headlines that Abhishek is finished and beaten. I think very lowly of a director when he derides an artiste of his own film. Why take them to work for you if you consider them substandard? Why deliberately prop up and showcase the villain, as per the dictates of the script, and then scream that the other character has lost out? Somewhere your ethics are misplaced and wrong.

"Guru" coming in the wake of "Dhoom 2" has proved to all and sundry that given a role and an opportunity Abhishek can deliver. He has in one stroke silenced all his detractors and critics. It's a slap on the face of those that thought unkindly of him. Large volumes of humble pie need to be devoured by them.

Q: You continue to be the primary endorser in our entertainment business. Is it hard to juggle films with ads, specially now when you have so many movie assignments, family and social events claiming your attention?

A: Yes, the brand endorsements continue and have never been so good, contrary to certain media analysts, who recently headlined that "The King Is Dead Long Live The King". It is a rather prolonged thesis on my diminishing and expired brand value and the rising value of my colleague and dear friend Shah Rukh Khan.

Firstly, the King is not dead. The prayers and good wishes of the people of this country keep insuring that time and again. All my clients have renewed their contracts (Dabur, Emami, Reid & Taylor, Cadbury, Parker) and if I might add, at enhanced rates for a substantial period of time.

Fresh and new products are in negotiations and soon we should be announcing their presence in my life. In particular, one historic endorsement... more of which later. ICICI did not renew with me, and the reasons for that I would not like to discuss in public.

No, it is not difficult to find time for films and endorsements. A very proficient schedule manager in our organisation ensures that. Family and social events are a pleasure to be associated with and they find their own time.

But what really satisfying is the campaigns highlighting social and national causes. Polio and India Poised are a pleasure, as have been the campaigns for Uttar Pradesh, I being the brand ambassador for the state.

These are done, obviously, without any monetary considerations, and fill me with a sense of great pride and fulfilment. Let me also say, nothing and nobody lasts forever... not Shah Rukh Khan, not me. It's how long you last and what you achieve within that time, that matters.

Q: Your movie assignments remain as dense this year as they were last year. Which are the films we can look forward to? Every other day we've a director clamouring for your attention and pouting when he doesn't get it.

Q: Yes, the assignments remain dense. Which is good... makes me feel wanted, though I haven't the foggiest idea why! Films due this year should be "Eklavya", "Nishabd", "Cheeni Kum", "Sarkar 2", "Sholay", "Bhootnath" and "Johnny Walker".

There are a host of others that shall start this year too. Rohan Sippy, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Rituparno Ghosh want to start films with me, and some very exciting projects with a new fresh lot of youngsters, brimming with unique ideas. They're an absolute joy.

As for the pouting directors, I haven't seen any. I've been very accommodating.

Q: There was a front-page report in a tabloid last week about your brother gifting you some land.

A: Yes he did.

Q: Speculation on Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai's marriage date abounds. Have you zeroed in on a date? How true is the February date being bandied in some part of the media? Where is the wedding likely to take place?

A: We are just about to sit down to discuss just that. And as soon as there is consensus on what it might be, we shall inform you. Dates and locations being bandied about are a lot of rubbish.

Wednesday, February 7, 2007

A TOUCHING STORY.................. PLEASE SPEND 10 MINS TO READ THIS...... DON'T NEGLECT...


This is a true story of a young college girl who passed away last month. Her name was Priya. She was hit by a lorry. She has a boy friend named Shankar. Both of them are true lovers. They always hang on the phone. You can never see her without her handphone. In fact she also changed her phone from Airtel to Hutch, so both of them can be on the same network, and save on the cost.

She spends half of the day talking with shankar. Priya's family knows about their relationship. Shankar is very close with Priya's family. (just imagine their love) . Before she passed away she always told her friends "If I pass away please burn me with my handphone" she also said the same thing to her parents.

After her death, people cant carry her coffin, I was there. A lot of them tried to do so but still cant , everybody including me, had tried to carry the coffin, the result is still the same. Eventually, they called their neighbour, a "bomoh" from
Thailand (pak Darin), who is a friend of her father. He took a stick and started speaking to himself slowly. After a few minutes, he said "this girl misses something here". then her friends told Darin about her intentions to burn her with her phone. He then opened the coffin and place her phone and SIM card inside the casket. after that they tried to carry the coffin. It could be moved and they carried it into the van easily. All of us were shocked. (can u feel the fear. I'm shaking at this moment)

Priya's parents did not inform Shankar that Priya had passed away. After 2 weeks Shankar called Priya's mom. Shankar :...."Atte, I'm coming home today. Cook something nice for me. Dont tell Priya that I'm coming home today, i wanna surprise her." Her mother replied....."You come home first, i wanna tell you something very important." after he came, they told him the truth about Priya.

Shankar thinks that they were playing a fool. He was laughing and said "dont try to fool me - tell Priya to come out, i have a gift for her Please stop this nonsense". then they show him the original death certificate to him. They gave him proof to make him believe. (Shankar started to sweat) ..

He said... "Its not true. we spoke yesterday. She still calls me. Shankar was shaking. Suddenly, Shankar's phone rang. "see this is from Priya, see this..." he showed the phone to priya's family. all of them told him to answer.he talked using the loudspeaker mode. all of them heard his conversation.

Loud and clear, no cross lines, no humming. It is the actual voice of Priya & there is no way others could use her SIM card since it is nailed inside the coffin they were so shocked and asked for pak Darin's help again. pak Darin brought his master (tok Chen) to solve this matter. He & Darin worked for 5 hours. Then they discovered one thing...


HUTCH has the best coverage :)

Wherever you go, our network follows!!!!

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Can Microsoft's Vista inspire consumers?


Microsoft has launched the latest version of its Windows operating system, called Vista. But can it inspire consumers?

Microsoft founder Bill Gates is passionate about Vista: "For the technology industry, it's a huge milestone."

The president of Microsoft International, Jean-Philippe Courtois, is equally impressed: "Vista is the biggest launch ever" in Microsoft's history, more important than Windows 95.

Considering the hype, it must be worrying for Microsoft that many technology experts believe that Vista is at best accomplished but not really a breakthrough.

Vista, they say, is not any better than OS X, the operating system of rival Apple.


Corporate IT bosses are not impressed either, surveys suggest. Some will move to Vista for security reasons, says George Colony, chief executive of technology consulting firm Forrester, but most will do so because Microsoft is forcing them.

While corporate users may have little choice, it's with consumers where Vista will have to prove its mettle. Here Microsoft has not just to capture the market, but also inspire it.

Only if Vista delivers its promise of managing the digital lifestyle will it become the central hub of consumers' connected world.

Success by default?

Let's make no mistake: Windows Vista will be a success. But it will happen almost by default.

Corporate IT administrators are tied into Microsoft's network architecture, while consumers will probably pick a PC because they trust brands such as HP, Dell or Sony and because PC manufacturers simply take up more shelf space than Apple's narrow product range.

"Very few consumers will choose to upgrade to Vista," says Mr Colony. "Nobody is choosing to install it, they will upgrade only by buying a new machine."

Forrester estimates that by the end of this year, Vista will have a 15% share of the North American consumer market, which amounts to about 12.2 million units. By 2011 it expects Vista to have 70% of the market, or just over 73 million installations.

Considering that Windows is one of Microsoft's two big profit engines (the other is the productivity software Office), executives at the company headquarters in Redmond, Washington, can probably relax.

But these numbers do not secure Microsoft's future in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.

The problem, says Mr Colony, is Microsoft's brand perception: A Forrester survey of 50,000 consumers suggests that Microsoft is the consumer brand with the highest number of installations, but also the company with the second-lowest approval rating among its customers, says Mr Colony.

'Vista is user-centric'

Vista is supposed to change that perception and "wow" computer users.


When you use Vista, "it's just not like using software anymore... it's more user-centric, less systems-centric," says Mr Gates, who is also the firm's chief software architect.

To make the right first impression, Microsoft has scheduled big launch events in 50 countries. In Paris, for example, fireworks will light the sky that will be larger than those at the start of the new millennium.

"This is about capturing the minds of the people," says Mr Courtois. "They have problems [with their computers], need help" and Vista is going to provide it.

The boss of Microsoft International tries to explain:

  • Looks: Vista looks much prettier than XP, with a 3D feel to it and see-through windows.
  • Security: "The company has learned its lessons, and Bill Gates was leading the work to make security central to Vista." The software will be secure by design and by default, he says, with all security options switched on straight out of the box. Better back-up software will protect your digital memories, parental controls will safeguard your children, and strong encryption software will ensure that a stolen laptop or PC will not give up your personal secrets (although this part of Vista is available only in Vista's most expensive version).
  • Connectivity: Whatever kind of device you want to connect to, eg using Wifi or Bluetooth, Vista will make it easier; and a new "meeting room" allows users to share a virtual workspace between computers in the same area.
  • Fun and entertainment: The gaming technology in Vista has "increased significantly". Better graphics boost the quality of game play, and the popular Flight Simulator, for example, now integrates real-time weather conditions. Watching and working with photos, music and videos has been improved, Mr Courtois says, and Vista comes integrated with Microsoft's Media Centre, which is optimised to watch media on a television.
  • Search: A fully integrated search function makes it easy to find the needles in the rapidly growing haystacks of our digital lives.

Microsoft has not left much to chance. To iron out bugs, some five million people have tested Vista over the past year or two.

In your living room

Microsoft's biggest challenge, however, will be for Windows to make the jump from the study into our living rooms.

Vista desktop - aero interface

Irritatingly for Microsoft executives, this make-or-break move is out of the company's control.

Windows is a platform; Microsoft's partners build on it by providing hardware and software.

If the industry develops and sells products with the right form factor, combining the beauty and simplicity of hi-fi equipment with the Vista operating system, Microsoft will sit at the top of our digital world.

Forrester's George Colony is dubious about Microsoft's chances of success: "Operating systems crash, they don't give you any pleasure," he says. "It's still too difficult to install and administer computers."

'Two sets of idiots'

So what about the long-awaited convergence between PCs and consumer electronics?

Niklas Zennstroem, the co-founder of internet telephony success Skype and backer of video-on-demand service Joost.com, believes that the "computerisation of television sets" is just a few years away.

Mr Colony is more sceptical: "You have two sets of idiots here, the PC idiots and the TV idiots," he says, and neither understands yet how to make convergence work.

So if Microsoft's hardware partners fail to deliver, the company has a problem.

Mr Courtois for his part points to "an incredible variety of form factors" in the pipeline, from media centres to what he calls "ultra-mobile PCs".

Why the rivals don't deliver

Microsoft's weakness, however, is also its biggest strength.

Rival Apple may grab the headlines (and the biggest share of the MP3 player market), but in the computer space it is puny.

The reason: Apple insists on controlling the whole package, from the operating system to the central hardware.

As a result, Apple lacks the breadth of hard- and software that attracts customers.

Apple may glow in the halo of its iconic iPods and gain kudos from the tech-savvy crowd. But so far, the shallowness of Apple's industrial ecosystem has made the firm's offering pricey and limited its success in the market place.

Microsoft's other rival, the open-source Linux operating system, has a similar problem.

Even though products like Ubuntu and Suse Linux show great promise, there are still issues with compatibility and ease of use.

Beyond Vista

But as Microsoft celebrates Vista, the company is already thinking about what comes next.

Consumers had to wait five years for the new operating system. A gap that long won't be allowed again, promises Mr Courtois.

But as it works on the next incarnation of Windows, Microsoft will have to face a profound shift in the world of software.

More and more companies are offering software online as a service. All that users need is a good browser.

And that could make operating systems somewhat irrelevant.

Last chance

So why is Vista so important?



Well, it may be Microsoft's last chance to confound the critics who say the company is not capable of developing a secure and user-friendly operating system.

One of Vista's new features is that it shuts down in just two seconds.

Microsoft is hoping that its customers won't shut down Windows for good.

BBC

Apple to Vista upgraders: 'Wait'


Apple has told iTunes users to "wait" before upgrading their computers to Microsoft Windows Vista, saying its music software may not work properly.

The company said it is aware of several issues including problems playing purchased files and synchronising data.

Apple's support website said a new version of iTunes for Vista should be ready "in the next few weeks".

iTunes allows computers to synch data with iPods. Vista, the newest version of Windows was launched 30 January.

Compatibility issues

Apple outlined the compatibility issues and suggested workarounds for those already using Vista in a support document on its website.

Some problems listed were: failure to play music and video purchased from the iTunes store; poor animation performance; and a failure to automatically synchronize media, contacts and calendars.

Apple has also offered Vista users a downloadable tool that will "repair permissions for important files," but does not specify the precise nature of the incompatibility.

According to Associated Press newswires, the company has sold more than 90 million iPods since October 2001.

Microsoft response

Microsoft has a team working with Apple to make iTunes fully functional on Windows Vista, Adam Anderson, a Microsoft Windows spokesman told AP.

He added that the company did not believe these issues were a reason stop using Vista.

When Vista launched, Microsoft said more than 5,000 hardware and software products were already compatible with the operating system.

Both Apple and Microsoft declined to comment on the issue further.

Monday, February 5, 2007

Brazil Web site counts violent deaths in Rio


"A street person was clubbed to death at dawn on Sunday," reads the Rio Body Count Web site, which counted 38 people dead and 25 wounded since Feb. 1, when the page launched.

Vinicius Costa, a 25-year-old systems analyst, and cartoonist Andre Dahmer, 32, founded www.riobodycount.com.br to capture the public's attention, which has become complacent to the daily brutality in the so-called Marvelous City.

"The intention is really to shock," Costa told Reuters by telephone. "The violence in Rio has become banal -- nobody grasps the dimensions of this tragedy that we live in every day."

Decades of inequality, corruption and increasingly powerful drug gangs have exposed city dwellers to regular bursts of violence that infiltrates daily life.

The head of the famous Cristo Redentor statue overhanging Rio from Corcovado overlaid in red crosshairs is the first image on the site, which combs through the local papers and tallies the violent deaths with a brief recount of each event.

The site received over 500 e-mails in its first two days.

"Only two people are complaining, asking if we are pushing negative propaganda about the city. I say that the negative propaganda of coming to vacation here and ending up dead or assaulted, is the subject. We only collect information."

Iraq Body Count (www.iraqbodycount.org), which was started after U.S. General Tommy Franks announced that the military that invaded Iraq in 2003 would not publish death counts, was the inspiration for its Brazilian counterpart.

Many of the site's page viewers are asking Costa, Dahmer and their five collaborators to start similar projects in Sao Paulo, Salvador and other capitals.

At least 19 were killed in Rio de Janeiro in December when drug gangs that overhang the wealthy neighborhoods from hill-top shanty towns clashed with police and civilians were caught in the cross fire.

Rio is about to host the Pan American Games in July. The public security crisis prompted the state government to seek help from the National Public Security Force, elite paramilitary troops.

"They (e-mailers) even suggested beginning a Brazil Body Count, but it would be an absurd amount of work," Costa said.

Barca ideal for Ronaldo - Scolari


The 22-year-old Portuguese star's form has attracted rave reviews this season, leading to rumours about a summer move.

Scolari, quoted in The Sun, said: "The basic education stage of his career is ending and I know Cristiano is ready for a change of atmosphere.

"Barcelona would hugely enjoy having Cristiano in their team because he would complement Ronaldinho perfectly."

Ronaldo scored his 15th goal of the season in United's 4-0 win at Tottenham on Sunday.

"Cristiano needs to move somewhere where the team is an integral part of the club "
Luiz Felipe Scolari

Reports have linked him with £40m move to Spain, with Real Madrid said to be interested.

But Scolari feels Barcelona would be an ideal destination for the star winger if he wants to improve.

He added: "For Cristiano, the Barcelona climate would be important - most days are sunny and it's hardly ever cold like England.

"That gives a player all the motivation he needs to train and play."

But he said a move to Real would not suit the former Sporting Lisbon star, who joined United for over £12m in 2003.

Scolari added: "Cristiano needs to move somewhere where the team is an integral part of the club - not somewhere where the system is based on individual 'heroes' or 'stars'.

"Moving to a club where there are four or five 'stars' who do their own thing is unworkable."

Last week, United chief executive David Gill said the club would immediately turn down a bid of £35m form Ronaldo as he is not for sale.

Craig wins acting prize for Bond


Daniel Craig has been named best actor by the London Evening Standard for his role as James Bond in Casino Royale.

It is the first prize the 38-year-old star, who was nominated for a Bafta last month, has won for his 007 role.

United 93 was named best film, while Borat creator Sacha Baron Cohen won the Peter Sellers award for best comedy.

But Oscar favourite Dame Helen Mirren missed out on another best actress prize for The Queen, the judging panel opting for Dame Judi Dench instead.

The Evening Standard British Film Awards were announced on Sunday at a celebratory dinner held at The Ivy restaurant in central London.

Outspoken

Dame Judi was honoured for her role as a vindictive schoolteacher in Notes on a Scandal, which has just been released in British cinemas.


But royal drama The Queen did not go away empty-handed, winning prizes for its director Stephen Frears and screenwriter Peter Morgan.

Frears was given the Alexander Walker Special Award - named after the outspoken Evening Standard critic who died in 2003 - for "making British film reverberate around the world".

Morgan was also honoured for his work on The Last King of Scotland, for which actor Forest Whitaker has been Oscar-nominated.

Paul Andrew Williams was named most promising newcomer for his direction of low-budget thriller London to Brighton.

BBC

S.D. billionaire donates $400 million

Around here, T. Denny Sanford is not known just for the billions he made in banking — he's also known for the millions he has donated.

When officials at Sioux Valley Hospitals & Health Systems told him of their dream to transform the facility into a major research institution for children's health, he donated $400 million, and they promised to rename the institution after him — Sanford Health.

"I have been quoted as wanting to die broke," Sanford , 71, said at Saturday's announcement before 1,800 employees and community leaders. Hospital president and CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft "is certainly doing the best job he can to make it happen."

The hospital began in 1894 and has grown to become the largest employer in the region, with 12,000 employees, 340 physicians, 115 clinics and 24 hospitals.

The $400 million will go toward several projects that will bear Sanford's name and expand the health system beyond its current patient base in South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska.

They include building five pediatric clinics in North America tied to the new children's hospital in Sioux Falls that will bear his name and is scheduled to open in 2009. It would also establish more than 20 separate specialized facilities around a medical center, with a goal of joining the ranks of the world's best hospitals

"One of my hopes is that we create a Mayo for kids," Sanford said later Saturday at a gala dinner to raise money for the children's hospital.

Sanford's net worth is roughly $2.5 billion. He made his fortune as the owner of First Premier Bank, and Premier Bankcard — among the nation's leading credit card providers.

Sanford was ranked 49th on a Business Week magazine list of the 50 most generous philanthropists in November. His biography states that his "primary interest is in helping sick, disadvantaged, abused and/or neglected children."

Sanford's other recent donations include $70 million to convert an abandoned mine into a science laboratory, $16 million for the children's hospital, and $20 million to the health system to expand projects involving the University of South Dakota's School of Medicine.

Yahoo

Sunday, February 4, 2007

Car drivers 'risking skin cancer'


Drivers who spend a lot of time behind the wheel increase their risk of skin cancer, US work suggests.

Experts say repeated sun exposure through the car's side windows is to blame, and drivers who roll down the window are at even greater risk.

Most glass used for windows blocks UVB rays that cause sunburn but not deeper penetrating UVA rays.

The Saint Louis University School of Medicine team presented their work to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Exposure

They looked at 898 patients (559 men and 339 women) with skin cancers occurring on either side of their body.

Among the men, the rate of cancers directly correlated to the areas of the body most often exposed to UV radiation while driving - which in the US is the left-hand side of the body.


Many of these tumours were cancers that develop over time and are linked to cumulative sun exposure rather than intense, intermittent sun exposure.

They affected sun-exposed areas like the head, neck, arms and hands.

Lead author Dr Scott Fosko said: "This finding supports our theory that drivers who regularly spend more time in the car over the course of several years are more likely to develop skin cancers on the left side of the body, particularly skin cancers that develop gradually over time."

Windows open

Dr Fosko's team is now starting to gather detailed information on the driving habits of the skin cancer patients they see in their clinic.

Initial data shows that those who spend the most time per week driving a car are more likely to develop left-sided cancers.

"We're also finding that all drivers who occasionally drive with the windows open had a higher incidence of left-sided cancers," Dr Fosko said.

He added: "Since there are more cars on the road than ever before, it is likely that this trend will continue. And with more women driving...higher reports of left-sided skin cancers in women in the future."

Harmful rays

Most windscreens, unlike the side windows of a car, are made of laminated glass that can filter both UVB and UVA.

Dr Fosko suggested tinting the side window glass or using UV filters on windows might help reduce a driver's risk of harmful exposure.

Cancer Research UK advises: "Although glass greatly reduces the risk of sunburn, it does not prevent long term damage from UVA.

"So if you are driving long distances or sitting in your conservatory every day for long periods of time, with the sun beaming in on you, then you are putting yourself at risk."

But Josephine Querido, cancer information officer for the charity, stressed this did not necessarily mean that you would get skin cancer.

"In terms of the amount of UV sunlight people are exposed to during the course of a year, the amount received through car windows is likely to be a very small percentage.

"It is important to take care whenever you are exposed to the sun, to know your skin type, and, above all, never burn as this can double your risk of getting skin cancer," she said.

BBC

iPhone court battle put on hold


The legal dispute between Apple and Cisco Systems over the iPhone name has been temporarily suspended.

Cisco's lawsuit has not stopped, but the two firms have agreed to extend talks aimed at "reaching agreement on trademark rights and interoperability".

The Apple iPhone, which the company has said will hit shelves in June, was launched last month in San Francisco.

Cisco immediately sued Apple for trademark infringement; Cisco has its own line of internet-enabled iPhones.

The company, which makes much of the hardware that underpins the internet, has owned the trademark on the iPhone name since 2000 after it acquired another company Infogear.

Different uses

Infogear's original filing for the trademark dates to 20 March, 1996. Cisco's Linksys division has been producing a range of wireless VOIP phones under the name since 2006.

The phones allow users to make calls over the internet

Apple unveiled its iPhone at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco in January.

The touch screen phone allows users to download music and videos and comes in two versions - one with 4GB of storage space, the other with 8GB.


At the time. Mark Chandler, senior vice president and general counsel for Cisco said: "There is no doubt that Apple's new phone is very exciting, but they should not be using our trademark without our permission."

Apple responded by saying the lawsuit was "silly" and that Cisco's trademark registration was "tenuous at best".

"There are already several companies using the name iPhone for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) products," said Apple spokesman Alan Hely.

"We are the first company to ever use the iPhone name for a cell phone, and if Cisco wants to challenge us on it we are very confident we will prevail."

Under US federal law, two companies are allowed to share the same name providing their uses are not similar.

Apple is no stranger to trademark battles. Last year the company was sued by Apple Corps, the Beatles' recording company, over its entry into the music business. Apple Corps lost the case.

The extended talks between Cisco and Apple are aimed at resolving the dispute before it goes to court.

A joint statement from the two companies read: "Apple and Cisco have agreed to extend the time for Apple to respond to the lawsuit to allow for discussions between the companies with the aim of reaching agreement on trademark rights and interoperability."

John Abraham works hard on his Hindi


Actor John Abraham was earlier looked at skeptically for his feeble command over Hindi and many of his earlier films were dubbed by professional artists. But all that has changed now with the Bollywood heartthrob working hard to get rid of his so-called anglicised accent.

Said John, "I admit it was one of the areas that I needed to work doubly hard on. I've been consistently working on it. But 'Baabul' truly made me confident of the way I speak my dialogues. First of all, the words were all in pure Hindi. Achala Nagar's dialogues were a bit complex for all of us, except of course Mr Bachchan.

"I had two options open in front of me. Either I asked the words to be simplified. Or I worked on the language. I opted for the latter. And believe me, if the impact of a role can be gauged by the spoken word, then 'Baabul' is the most influential film of my life. It has changed my thought process. Now I'm actually able to think in Hindi."

Nagar, who has written other socially relevant films like Raj Kapoor's "Prem Rog" and B.R. Chopra's "Nikaah", was physically present on the sets of "Baabul" to make sure the words were correctly spoken.

"The way she narrated the script was in itself a work of beauty and a joy forever. I fell for the words hook line and sinker. I wanted to absorb her words and use them as though they were mine," John remarked.

Post "Baabul", producers are actually eager to let John speak in his own voice on screen.

Some actors who had their voices dubbed initially:

Amisha Patel ("Kaho Na... Pyar Hai")

Rani Mukherjee ("Ghulam")

Sridevi (had her voice dubbed in her first dozen films)

Dino Morea ("Raaz", "Gunah")

Bipasha Basu ("Ajnabee", "Jism", "Gunah", "Phir Hera Pheri")

Kunal Kapoor ("Meenaxi")

Katrina Kaif ("Sarkar", "Humko Deewana Kar Gaye")

John Abraham ("Jism", "Aetbaar", "Paap")