Tsunami bomb (Project Seal)

Tsunami Bomb

During its search for the 'ultimate weapon' to end World War II, the United States apparently teamed up with New Zealand to test a 'tsunami bomb,' which could be used to destroy the enemy's coastal cities.
Ray Waru, an author, film maker and television producer in New Zealand, uncovered the top secret files of "Project Seal" from the national archive, which told how the two countries conducted tests of this 'tsunami bomb' in the waters around Auckland and New Caledonia in the 1940s.
"If you put it in a James Bond movie it would be viewed as fantasy but it was a real thing," Waru said, according to the Telegraph. "I only came across it because they were still vetting the report, so there it was sitting on somebody's desk [in the archives]."


A total of 3,700 bombs were detonated underwater in these tests, and ultimately showed that exploding a line of 10 bombs (totaling about two million kilograms of explosive), roughly eight kilometres from shore, could generate a 10-meter-high wave when it reached land. For comparison, the tallest wave peaks from the tsunami that devastated Japan's west coast in 2011 were recorded at just over nine meters.
“It was absolutely astonishing,” said Waru. “First that anyone would come up with the idea of developing a weapon of mass destruction based on a tsunami — and also that New Zealand seems to have successfully developed it to the degree that it might have worked.”
"Presumably if the atomic bomb had not worked as well as it did, we might have been tsunami-ing people," he added, and he is likely right about that.


Given that most of the world's major cities are coastal, it would have been a very effective weapon (and likely a lot more environmentally-friendly than nuclear war). The down-side of developing this and going public with it is that it wouldn't be hard to duplicate. You need specialized knowledge, materials and facilities to build nuclear weapons, thus only some nations have them. The relatively simple explosives required to produce one of these 'tactical tsunamis' would be far easier to produce (even for the large quantity required), putting this weapon into far more hands.
Since I'm sure that the environmental impacts of nuclear weapons contributed (at least in part) to our planet emerging from the Cold War without nuking ourselves into oblivion, I'm quite happy that they shelved this weapon, since governments may have been far more willing to use it.

Google unveils detailed map of North Korea

google maps

SEOUL: Weeks after its chairman Eric Schmidt's secretive visit to North Korea, Google has rolled out a detailed map of the isolated state that even labels some of its remote and infamous gulags.

Until now North Korea was pretty much a blank canvas to users of Google's "Map Maker", which creates maps from data that is provided by the public and fact-checked in a similar process to that used by Wikipedia.

"For a long time, one of the largest places with limited map data has been North Korea. But today we are changing that," Jayanth Mysore, a senior product manager at Google Map Maker said in blog posting on Monday.

Mysore said the North Korea section had been completed with the help of a "community of citizen cartographers" working over a period of several years.

"While many people around the globe are fascinated with North Korea, these maps are especially important for the citizens of South Korea who have ancestral connections or still have family living there," he added.

With the two countries still technically at war, decent maps of the North are almost impossible to come by in South Korea.

Ironically, the people least able to benefit from the Google publication are the North Koreans themselves, who live in one of the most isolated and highly censored societies on the planet.

The North has a domestic intranet, but it is cut off from the rest of the world, allowing its very limited number of users to exchange state-approved information and little more.

Access to the full-blown internet is for the super-elite only, meaning a few hundred people or maybe 1,000 at most, experts estimate.

The Google version offers a detailed map of the capital Pyongyang, showing hospitals, subway stops and schools.

Outside the capital, the detail is sketchier, but noticeable on an overview of the country are a series of city-sized, grey-coloured areas which, when zoomed in on, are identified as sprawling re-education camps.

As many as 200,000 people are estimated to be detained in the North's vast gulag system, many under a guilt-by-association system that punishes those related to someone perceived as an enemy of the state.

The release of Google's new North Korea map came just weeks after Schmidt returned from a controversial trip to Pyongyang as part of a US "humanitarian" mission.

On his return, Schmidt said he had told officials in the North that the country would never develop unless it embraces Internet freedom.

Health benefits of Amla (Indian Gooseberry)

Everyone is familiar with amla or the Indian gooseberry, it is used in a variety of products like sweets, jams, powder, pickles, while some simply like to pluck and eat them.

But are the health benefits of amla overrated? Along with Dr. Jaishree Bhattacharjee, Ayurvedic consultant with Satvikshop, we explore this popular Indian fruit.

Amla is known as a good source of vitamin C, but is that all? What are the other health benefits of the Indian gooseberry? Dr. Jaishree gives us a detailed list, "Amla has loads of benefits. It is a super food of Ayurveda due to its antioxidant property. It has beneficial effects on almost all the systems and organs of body." She explains:

-It controls blood sugar in diabetes

-Lowers cholesterol level

-It is a natural anti ageing agent for skin; nourishes scalp and hair roots and encourages hair growth

-It improves digestion and alleviates constipation

-It improves blood circulation

-It ensures proper functioning of liver.

-It is a strong immunomodulator and protects from the onset of many diseases if taken regularly

-Amla is a good hematinic as it raises hemoglobin level

She also goes on to list out other sources of vitamin C, "There are many good sources of vitamin C beside amla:

-All leafy vegetables like palak, bathua etc.

-All kind of peppers have loads of vit-c

-Fruits like mangoes, pine apple, oranges, kiwi, strawberry, berries, papaya,

-Vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, red cabbage, etc

-Herbs like basil, mint, coriander, rosemary"

You can get these health benefits by including amla and the other vitamin C rich foods in your diet. On the other hand, if fresh produce is a problem, you can invest in some organic amla products.
    

19.

Wife comes home late at night
and quietly opens the door to her bedroom.

From under the blanket
she sees four legs instead of two!

She reaches for a baseball bat
and starts hitting the blanket as hard as she can.

Once she's done,
she goes to the kitchen to have a drink.

As she enters,
she sees her husband there, reading a magazine. :s

"hi darling", he says,
"your parents have come to visit us,
so I let them stay in our bedroom.
Hope you have said hello to them.

A sneak peek into the tablets of the future

future Tablet

San Francsico: Tablets with paper-thin screens that can be folded and tucked into your back pocket, artificial intelligence and augmented reality - the stuff of science fiction may be coming to a store near you.

It's been two years since Apple launched the iPad and spawned rival tablets from the likes of Samsung Electronics, Amazon.com, Sony, and now Google and Microsoft.

Much of the competition so far has centered on making smartphone and tablets lighter, slimmer, faster and longer-running than their predecessors, and the trend shows no signs of slowing. The increasingly crowded marketplace is also galvanizing hardware designers and software engineers to explore new technologies that may revolutionize the look and feel of mobile devices in coming years. 

"We should think beyond just the touch-screen device," said Lin Zhong, a professor at Rice University who does research on mobile systems. "Why do we have to hold tablets, carry many displays? We should think about wearable computers."

Some researchers are experimenting with wearable devices, such as Google Glass, a stamp-sized electronic screen mounted on eyeglass frames to record video, access email and surf the Web. Others, like Microsoft, are investigating the use of 3D cameras to create images that pop up when a person calls. Samsung has a concept video that shows a bendable, transparent 3D smartphone-hybrid tablet that can also be used as a real-time interpreter.

Few of these new technologies will hit store shelves any time soon - companies and researchers are more actively working on touchscreen innovations in the near term.

In particular, organic-light-emitting diodes, or OLED, is widely touted as the successor to liquid crystal displays. OLED displays, such as in Samsung's Galaxy Note smartphone, are lighter, thinner and tougher than current displays.

The main attraction of OLED at first are their ruggedness, but the technology could one day allow tablets to be folded or rolled up like a newspaper. Reaching that point poses challenges like making the delicate chips and components inside them more flexible and resistant to damage.

Google Image search gets a new design, will load faster

Google Image Search

WGoogle has just revamped how Image search will work on the search engine.  The new search format which will be rolled out in a couple of days, will see images load faster and in a newer, cleaner design.

Google made the announcements on its webmastercentral blog.

Once the changes come into effect, users will be able to quickly flip through a set of images by using their keyboards. What this will mean for search results:

• Google will now display detailed information about the image (the metadata) right underneath the image in the search results, instead of redirecting users to a separate landing page.
• Key information such as the title of the page hosting the image, the domain name it comes from, and the image size will be displayedmuch more prominently next to the image.

• The domain name is now clickable, and there’s a new button to visit the page the image is hosted on.

• The source page will no longer load up in an iframe in the background of the image detail view. This speeds up the experience for users, reduces the load on the source website’s servers, and improves the accuracy of webmaster metrics such as pageviews.

Nokia to pack 41-mp camera into Windows Phone, report says

The device, codenamed EOS, reportedly will come with the 41-megapixel camera found in the company's 808 PureView handset and will launch on AT&T's network.

Nokia could be planning to bring its true 41-megapixel PureView camera to a Windows Phone handset this year, according to a new report.

The company is working on a device, codenamed EOS, that will come with its full PureView camera, The Verge is reporting today, citing people who have knowledge of Nokia's plans. The device will be the first Windows Phone from Nokia that comes with the company's genuine PureView camera.

Although Nokia throws the "PureView" name around rather casually, the true, high-end camera has really just been available in its Symbian-based Nokia 808 PureView handset. The camera has 41 megapixels and a larger lens that captures more light. In a review of the Nokia 808 PureView last year, CNET editor Jessica Dolcourt said that the camera is "excellent" and "envelope-pushing," adding that it "will satisfy photo enthusiasts."

Aside from the camera, the EOS will be built with aluminum, according to The Verge's sources. Nokia's current line of Lumia phones are built with polycarbonate. The Verge's sources say that the aluminum designs will also make its way to other phone launches the company is planning this year, including an update to the Lumia 920.

The Nokia EOS (which will likely be renamed at launch) will go on sale sometime later this year on AT&T's network, according to The Verge.

In an e-mailed statement to CNET, a Nokia spokesperson said that the company does not comment on "media speculation."

Nice Quotation

Success

18.

Hitler says,
"There is no word like IMPOSSIBLE in my dictionary"

Sardar says:Ab bolne se kiya fayidah?

"Jub kharidi thi tab hi check karna tha na":D

Give time to our family

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, “I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.” The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. “What’s wrong, are you well?” she asked.

My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. “I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you,” I responded. “Just the two of us.” She thought about it for a moment, and then said, “I would like that very much.” That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary.


She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel’s. “I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed, “she said, as she got into the car. “They can’t wait to hear about our meeting.” We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. “It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,” she said. “Then it’s time that you relax and let me return the favor,” I responded. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation – nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other’s life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, “I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.” I agreed.


“How was your dinner date?” asked my wife when I got home. “Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,” I answered. A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn’t have a chance to do anything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: “I paid this bill in advance. I wasn’t sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates – one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son.” At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: “I LOVE YOU” and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till “some other time.”  

Ways to beat holiday weight gain

Holiday Weight Gain

Just when you've finally managed to get your weight under control, boom comes the holiday season. We can't blame you for a li'l indulgence. We will tell you ways to get rid of the excess weight. All you have to have is focus and discipline. Happy Working Out!

The few weeks filled with holiday feasting and no work-out regime become a dire threat to your increasing waistline. Wellness expert Namita Jain says, "Most people find it very difficult to get back into their strict exercise and diet right after the holidays. But it is crucial to motivate yourself to exercise to get back into shape."

The hardest part about exercise is getting started. So, make your fitness programme fail-proof with this simple DIY guide.

Go easy
It is important to start with a routine which is easier. Since getting back to strenuous working out is difficult, starting on a simpler one will boost your confidence. Start going to the gym four to five times a week and concentrate more on cardio than weights.

Innovate
Try and bring fun elements to your work-out regime. Include rope jumps or hula hoop in between your work-out to make it interesting. If you find it boring to do the same exercises every day, change your routine. Take a walk, cycle or go for a swim.

Stress buster
Stress plays a huge role in gaining weight during the holidays. Excess stress hormones in the body encourage the storage of fat. Find something that you enjoy doing. Practice yoga or meditation. If you find it difficult to gym for an hour or 45 minutes at a stretch, make your resolution more attainable by devoting just about half an hour daily.

Get enough sleep
Sleep is a must. Sleep deprivation leads to several hormonal problems, one of them being weight gain. When you are tired, unhappy or dissatisfied, you tend to eat more and exercise less. Experts say that when you are not well rested, you don't want to move and that essentially leads to fewer calories burnt.

Eat healthy
Foods that are loaded with carbohydrates are a major source of problem. Not only does it play havoc on your blood sugar level, but also produces insulin which triggers weight gain in your body. Jain says, "Include fibre in your diet. Fibre fills you up and helps you lose weight. Good choices are veggies, fruits, whole grain cereals, unpolished rice and whole grain bread."

Stay hydrated
Drink at least eight glasses of water every day. Also consume high water content fruits like watermelon, oranges, pineapples, tomatoes and cucumber which help in the reduction of weight.   

18.

Santa asks Priest: Why did god make women so beautiful?

Priest: So that you will love them.

Santa thinks for a short time...

Santa: But why did God make them so dumb?

Priest: So that they will love you.

10 foods that protect your heart

Protect Your Heart

Heart disease is one of the most feared ailment and a side effect of sedentary lifestyle. You can control the effects of your lifestyle by eating the right food.

It's quite often difficult to change your lifestyle drastically in this competitive world. But you can surely change a little bit of eating and ensure you are protecting your heart.

Here's a list of food that can help you protect your heart.

1. Black beans: Black beans are packed with folate, antioxidants, magnesium which are good for lowering blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. This in turn keeps your heart in safe zone. But if you are planning to use tinned beans, please drain the liquid and wash them before use to reduce the sodium content.

2. Salmon and tuna: These two fish are rich in anti-oxidants and omega-3, two important candidates who help heart.

3. Walnuts: A handful of them a day helps lower your cholesterol and reduce inflammation in the arteries. Replace them as mid-meal snacks instead of chips etc.

4. Oranges: They contain cholesterol-fighting pectin. The fruit is also rich in potassium that helps control blood pressure. Antioxidant hesperidin also helps lower blood pressure.

5. Carrots: Though sweet, they are good to control diabetes, which increases heart attack risk. They also help fight bad cholesterol.

6. Sweet potatoes: They are rich in vitamin A, fiber and lycopene making them a healthy substitute for the white brethren.

7. Oats: Oats in all forms help your heart by lowering bad cholesterol.

8. Flaxseeds: Fiber, phytochemicals called lignans, and ALA - these three ingredients in these small seeds make them a powerhouse of health. Sure protector of heart if had spoonful in powdered form everyday in cereals or salads.

9. Chilli powder: Difficult to believe, but these Indian tasty spice actually protects heart and body from diabetes with its ability to spike up the natural insulin levels in the body.

10. Coffee: It can keep away type 2 diabetes, but people having high blood pressure should be cautious as it can have a counter effect.

Rolls-Royce to unveil most powerful car in Geneva motor show

Rolls-Royce

Luxury British automotive marque Rolls-Royce will be unveiling an all-new coupe version of the Ghost, called the Rolls-Royce Wraith, at the 2013 Geneva motor show in March

The new two-door car will be the most powerful Rolls-Royce model yet, with insiders indicating its twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine delivers in the region of 450kW and what they describe as a proportional amount of torque

According to stuff.co.nz, the new car will have an overall length of around 5200mm and ride on a wheelbase about 180mm shorter than that of the four-door Ghost

In announcing plans for the introduction of the Wraith at dealer conference in London, England, Rolls-Royce’s chief executive officer, Torsten Müller-Ötvös said it would ‘draw superlatives’ when it is revealed.

He said that the boldest design, the most dramatic performance and the most powerful Rolls-Royce that has ever played host to the famous Spirit of Ecstasy figurine can be expected at the show.

17.

A Scotsman who was driving home one night, ran into a car driven by an Englishman. The Scotsman got out of the car to apologize and offered the Englishman a drink from a bottle of whisky. The Englishman was glad to have a drink.
"Go on," said the Scot, "have another drink."
The Englishman drank gratefully. "But don't you want one, too?" he asked the Scotsman.
"Perhaps," replied the Scotsman, "after the police have gone."

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

Shuchi and Shubhrata were given utmost importance in our Indian culture, since ever. Right from small things like brushing teeth etc. fixed rules and regulations have been placed, such that utmost cleanliness prevails in the society. The following story portrays the obsession of Indian culture for cleanliness.

Long ago there used to live an obedient shishya of the great Paila maharshi. His name was Udanka. Udanka, due to his obedience, learnt quickly his lessons. After completing his Vidyaabhyaasam, before leaving the Guru-aashramam, Udanka requested his Guru to take Guru-dakshina. Paila maharshi replied “you being a shishya of me is itself enough. It is difficult to get good shishyas like you. Please go on”. Upon many times being requested by Udanka, finally Paila maharshi said “do the work that your Guru-patni tells you and then leave”.

He approached Guru-patni, did Yathaa-vidhi namaskaaram, with Vinayam, asked her to give him some work. She asked him to get the kundalas of the country’s Mahaaraani for a Vratam. Udanka immediately set out for it. On the way he sees a radiant brightly glowing God coming on a huge Vrushabham. He does the required namaskars to him and the God gives him goomayam. He eats the goomayam, takes leave from the God and continues his journey to meet Poushya, the king of the country. Poushya was a very great king, ruled his subjects as his own kids and made dharma walk on its four legs.

Poushya welcomed Udanka and offered him a warm welcome when he arrived at his courtyard. Udanka tells the reason for his arrival and immediately the kings granted him permission to collect the kundalas. He asked udanka to go to the queen’s palace and collect them from her personally. Udanka went into the palace and searched for the queen everywhere. Failing to find her returns to poushya informing that he could not find the queen. Poushya hesitantly says “O great Brahmana! How can I say that you are not clean? My queen is a Pativrata and hence only people who are clean can see her”. Udanka recalls why he was not in a clean state and realizes that in the hurry to finish gurupatni’s task, he forgot to wash his hands, feet and mouth and do aachamanam, after eating the gomayam. He immediately washes and does aachamanam and goes back to see the queen and sees her in her palace.

Story will be continued later in some other contexts. So will Udanka be able to complete his gurupatni’s task? who was the God? Keep reading for answers …. :)
Morals in the Story:
It is very basic and important to always be clean.

Anil Kumble set to take over as Mumbai Indians mentor

Mumbai Indians mentor

MUMBAI: Former India captain and current chairman of the International Cricket Council technical committee Anil Kumble will join the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians as its chief mentor.

In doing so, Kumble will replace Shaun Pollock who started as a player with the Mumbai team in 2008 and went on to take up the mentor's role. Kumble's assignment with his new employers will begin starting IPL 6 this year.

"Mumbai Indians is a very competitive team in the IPL and it is my honour to join the franchise as its chief mentor," Kumble said on Monday.

The third highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, Kumble took over as ICC's technical head in October this year. He was also associated with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the last five years as player and mentor.

RCB said on Monday that the franchise and Kumble have agreed to a separation with immediate effect. "It is a consensual decision after considering various aspects," the franchise said in a statement.

"Anil has been a great asset to RCB as captain, chief mentor and advisor. He helped shape the entire team and was instrumental in creating a unique sense of passion and commitment," RCB owner Vijay Mallya said.

Mumbai Indians are expected to undergo a complete overhaul with Kumble's appointment.

The franchise may see middle order batsman Rohit Sharma elevated as captain in place of off-spinner Harbhajan Singh this season.

Kumble's role will also be to work towards the 2014 player auctions, which is likely to see all capped cricketers going back into the auction pool again.


Mumbai Indians have made it to the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) only once, in 2010, when they lose to Chennai Super Kings, and are yet to lay their hands on the title.

However, they won the Champions League T20 in 2011. Kumble's role therefore assumes importance in helping the beleaguered franchise to bring home the eluding trophy.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians are yet to officially announce if the rest of the team's support staff will continue. It is reliably learnt that team coach Robin Singh has joined the US national team as head coach and there is uncertainty over his availability this season.  

Are you getting enough fruits?

fruits for Health

Fruits are delicious, juicy, fun to eat and healthy ingredients for great desserts; but are you getting enough fruits in your daily diet?



We use a lot of skin care products that boast of properties and vitamins from fruits, but why do we still select creams over natural fruits? Let's take a look at how many fruits you need to eat every day before you can say that you are getting enough fruits in your daily diet.



Based on a study in 2010 reported by the Dietary Guidelines of America, you need 1.5 - 2 cups of fruits daily, but 'the amount depends on the number of calories per day recommended for your healthy weight.'


(Via) Also, it is recommended that you eat five servings of fruits and veggies a day, but it depends on your age and gender: Women between the ages of 19-50 should eat 7-8 servings, while men should eat 8-10 servings.


And for those above 50, men and women should consume seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day.


All this preaching is in good spirit. Fruits help fight cancer, obesity and heart disease. Fruits provide nutritional vitamins. Certain fruits contain a good amount of natural sugar and fluids, which also keep us hydrated.


Fruits are rich in fiber, and are great for bowel movement and weight loss. It is also advised that you consume fruits whole, instead of skinned or juiced.


Tips on how to make fruits a part of your daily diet:


Since two cups of fruits are the norm, you can break this down into four servings a day; for instance, breakfast, mid day, mid evening and after dinner.


Avoid fruits from cans that mention preservatives like artificial sugar or high levels of salt, or processed fruits in the form of juices. Opt for fresh fruits as their nutritional value is higher. Try different seasonal fruits from time to time.

Honda GEAR concept previews trendy city car ambitions

Honda Gear Concept

Honda’s eye-catching NSX concept unsurprisingly caught the most attention last week, but the Japanese car company also had a fetching urban alternative in the shape of the Honda GEAR concept. Previewed not in Detroit but at the Montreal International Auto Show, the Honda GEAR is an angular sub-compact that the company believes is ideal for “young, urban, Gen-Y lifestyles” – or, in other words, the car the Honda Fit really should’ve been.

Technical details of the GEAR concept are in short-supply, with Honda instead preferring to focus on the styling decisions its US R&D team took. The claim is that the GEAR is inspired by fixed-gear bicycles, as well as being “simple and utilitarian, but also customizable, connected and full of personality.”

Great buzzwords, though they perhaps unnecessarily dress up Honda’s real goal with the GEAR: to create a car that’s “cool” enough for young drivers to covet, but also affordable enough for them to buy. Honda isn’t saying exactly how much it envisages any production version of the GEAR costing, mind.

Interior shots haven’t been released (it’s possible Honda hasn’t even designed the cabin yet), and the degree to which the GEAR is connected is also unstated. If, though, the company could bring a distinctive four-seater to market, preferably a hybrid, at a price point – and with running costs – undercutting the roughly $15,000 starting price of the Fit, it would certainly get its fair share of attention.

World's first bendable battery unveiled!

Bendable Battery

Scientists have developed world's first imprintable and bendable lithium-ion battery, paving way for flexible smarphones.

A research team from South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology claim they have developed a "fluid-like" polymer electrolyte that are used for lithium-ion batteries.

"This could help speed up the production of smartphones with flexible displays, such as Samsung's Youm flexible OLED display." At the CES 2013, Samsung showed off a prototype for a flexible smartphone, which it calls 'Youm'.

The batteries use nanomaterials which can be applied to any surface to create fluid-like polymer electrolytes, say researchers.

"Conventional lithium-ion batteries that use liquefied electrolytes had problems with safety as the film that separates the electrolytes may melt under heat, in which case the positive and negative may come in contact, causing an explosion," the lead of the project Prof. Lee Sang-young said.

"Because the new battery uses flexible but solid materials, and not liquids, it can be expected to show a much higher level of stability than conventional rechargeable batteries."

This research was funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation of Korea.

16.

 Some scientists decided to do the following experiments on a dog.

For the first experiment, they cut one of the dog's legs off, then they told the dog to walk. The dog got up and walked, so they they learned that a dog could walk with just three legs.


For the second experiment, they cut off a second leg from the dog, then they told the dog once more to walk. The dog was still able to walk with only two legs.

For the third experiment, they cut off yet another leg from the dog and once more they told the dog to walk. However, the dog wasn't able to walk with only one leg.

As a result of these three experiments, the scientists wrote in their final report that the dog had lost it's hearing after having three legs cut off.

Great people are always humble

Lord Raama, the paramaathma, was ofcourse the greatest warrior ever. Lord Krishna in Bhagavadgita remarks “I am Raama among warriors”. He learnt all the Shastras and unparalled Dhanurvidya under the guidance of the great Vasishtha. He was also given super-human powers like bala, ati bala by the great Vishwamithra, the Rishi of Gayathri manthra. Vishwamithra maharshi also taught him all the secret astras that ever existed, which only he in this whole universe knew (he originally learnt it from Lord Shiva). In addition to these, Agasthya mahamuni gave him many additional powers.A few glimpses of Lord Raama’s valour:

    With one arrow Raama kills taataki, the mighty raakshasi.
    With two simultaneous arrows he kills subaahu and throws Maaricha seven seas away.
    Effortlessly lifts the Shiva dhanush, which was pulled to the court by around 50000 well built people.
    Raama kills Khara, Dhushana, their 1000 brothers and their army in 14 minutes single handed.

Despite being such a great warrior, he never displayed in strength on his own to show others. The anger on the samudra stands as a good example for this quality of Raama:

Raavana gives 30 days time to sita maata to decide if she will marry him, else will kill her. Bharata took word from Raama saying that if he does’nt return on the next moment of 14 yrs of aranyavaas, then he will sacrifice himself. Raama and his army reaches the shores of ocean with barely 30 days in hand. They have to cross the ocean, defeat Ravana & his army, take sita back to ayodhya in around 30 days time. With such a press for time and given the strength of Raama, Lakshmana suggests Raama not to spend time asking ocean God for way, but to order him.

What Raama does is unbelievable. Though he had the strength and power to control the ocean God, he did not do it. He did penance on the shores of the ocean for 3 long days to give them a way. Finally after 3 days Raama gets angry on the ocean and to make remember his duty, aims an astra at him and immediately ocean God appears and suggests a way of crossing him…

Exercises for staying mentally fit

Mental Health

Staying fit mentally is as important as maintaining our physical health. It is vital to exercise our brain regularly just like we exercise the rest of our body.

According to studies, physical activity and brain exercise programs help reduce anxiety and depression in individuals. Moreover, such programs also play a key role in enhancing the plasticity of the brain which is its ability to continue to develop and change throughout your life.

Due to this unique physical process of brain plasticity, people can grow and develop their mental capacities throughout their lifetime. There are various ways by which you can stimulate your brain to strengthen its functioning and remain fit mentally. Read on...


Solving puzzles: Did you know that brain growth in humans is a continuous process? Even in old age, studies have shown that the brain can rewire itself and grow new neurons or brain cells. Whatever, age-related memory loss occurs is due to the lack of adequate mental stimulation. Stimulating your brain with crossword puzzles or Sudoku helps to improve brain function and prevent any form of cognitive decline.

According to Cognitive Rx, such exercises particularly help to improve your left brain function which uses logic, knows facts and is detail oriented. You can even add complexity to such exercises by choosing puzzles with hidden themes.


Strategy games: Games of strategy like card games or board games are regarded as great brain stimulators. This is because they enable a person to think in logical patterns. With advancement of technology, computer or gaming systems also offer a great opportunity to challenge one's cognitive functions. However, it is imperative to avoid playing the same games at all times. Strategy games should be subjected to frequent alterations in terms of nature of the games and complexity.


Cardiovascular fitness: An effective way to boost your mental fitness is by indulging in cardio trainings. Besides improving your mental health, such form of exercises also prevents the fall of brain cells with age. Hence, cardio workouts are regarded as a great way to prevent age-related memory loss like Alzheimer's disease.


Neurobic exercises: These exercises involve intentional stimulation of the brain for increased mental fitness and flexibility. Wondering what is so specific about these exercises? For an exercise to be regarded as neurobic, it involves using more than one of your senses at a time for performing an ordinary work. Taking a shower with your eyes closed or using only visual cues while eating are all examples of neurobic training. This also involves breaking routine habits in an unexpected, novel way like taking a new route to work.


Relaxation techniques: The beneficial effects of relaxation techniques for stree relief have been known since a long time. Merely grabbing a few extra hours of sleep is not sufficient to combat stress. You need to activate the natural relaxation process of your body with the help of specific techniques.

This involves practicing deep breathing techniques, meditation, visualization, rhythmic exercises and yoga postures. All these fitness modules will enable you to overcome stress when it becomes overwhelming at times.

Sony unveils limited edition Classic White PlayStation 3 bundle in US for $299, coming Jan 27

Sony Classic White Playstation

Based on several user requests, Sony has finally announced the 500GB Classic White PS3 special limited edition bundle for gamers in the US. The bundle is priced at $299 and will be available across the nation on January 27.

Announcing via the PlayStation Blog, the company is also offering a one-year PlayStation Plus membership for the buyers of the limited edition bundle. That means in case you go ahead and purchase the bundle, your membership gets extended by a year.

The contents of the limited edition white PS3 bundle include PlayStation 3 System Classic White 500GB, 1 year of PlayStation Plus, 1 Dualshock 3 Wireless controller, an AC power cord, AV cable and USB cable.

Sony also seems to be drawing attention towards its PlayStation Mobile platform by offering one free game a week for the next six weeks. The only thing gamers need to get started is either a PlayStation Vita or a PlayStation Certified Android device.

PS Vita owners can simply head to the PlayStation Mobile Section of the PlayStation Store while owners of Sony smartphones or tablets and those with HTC Android devices that are PlayStation Certified just need to download and install the PlayStation Mobile Android App.

According to the official PlayStation Mobile blog, the generous people at Sony are spreading a bit of the remaining holiday spirit, which is much appreciated. The blog asks users to check the Store Update post each Tuesday until February 19th to see which new PlayStation Mobile game will be free for that week. One new game will be listed as free each Wednesday.

Importance of keeping one’s word

We all know that the pandavas left their kingdom for 13 long years for keeping up their word! Well, for Arjuna going away from the bhogas of a king, for the sake of truth, was not new. He did it once well before the aranyavaas. The story goes like this:

The kalyaanam of pandavas with Draupadi was an unusual one. However, it was perfectly according to dharma shastras. Infact Draupadi is one of the greatest pativratas and praised even by Lord Krishna for her Dharma vartana. A few reasons to justify the kalyaanam:

    Kunti Devi, the mother of pandavas, who never knew what a lie was, gave her will.
    Vyaasa Maharshi, one of the avataar of Lord Vishnu, ordered the kalyaanam to be done.
    Lord Shiva, pleased with her tapas, gave a boon to Draupadi to marry the pandavas.
    Pandavas, though were five physically, were all amshas of Indra, the King of the Gods. Hence, pandavas were actually one.

Naarada, again an avataar of Lord Vishnu, suggested some rules to be followed by pandavas and Draupadi for living together. This is because, though they were amshas of Gods and Godesses, since they had a human form some addition rules according to dharma shastras needed to be followed. One of the rules was that: Draupadi should spend one year with each of the pandavas and while she was with one of them, no other pandavas should visit the palace where they might be. In case of any breach of their rule, one-year pilgrimage was prescribed by way of penance leaving the kingdom.The pandavas and Draupadi were living happily until one day: a brahmana came running to Arjuna saying that the thieves had stolen his cows. Arjuna wanted to rush with him to catch the thieves but he realised that his bow and arrows were kept in Yudhisthira's palace and he was there in the company of Draupadi. He hesitated for a while, then seeing brahmana's plight he rushed in to Yudhisthira 's palace took his bow and arrows and ran to catch the thieves. After he caught the thieves and punished them, after restoring the cows of the brahmana, Arjuna came back to Yudhisthira and told him about his transgression of the rule.

Yudhisthira, knowing the reason of the breach of their rule, said their is no need for Arjuna to take the pilgrimage. Since it is a mistake committed towards him, and that too for a good reason, he will pardon arjuna . However, Arjuna would never break his word. He immediately set out for a one-year pilgrimage. May be this is why Arjuna is such a favourite sakha of Lord Krishna.

Morals in the Story:

    The story shows how important it is to keep up ones word, whether it is of any consequence or not, how much ever difficult it is.

A-Z of superfoods for weight loss

Superfoods

Take inspiration from this list of nutritious and delicious superfree foods and watch the pounds drop off without sacrificing on taste.

According to the British Nutrition Foundation, eating fruits and vegetables, which are low in energy density (i.e they provide fewer calories per gram) has been shown not to just help lose weight but also to keep it off long term.

This means you can eat as much of them as you fancy without having to weigh, count or measure them. Dr Jacquie Lavin, Head of Nutrition and Research at a slimming centre, reveals, "By filling one third of your plate with 'Superfree' foods (most fruit and vegetables) and making them your first choice between meals, you'll satisfy your appetite without feeling guilty and naturally limit your energy intake without counting a single calorie. It's a great way to enjoy a really healthy diet while making your weight loss easy."

Ais for apple, which contains slow-acting sugars to keep you fuller longer. Bis for blueberries, rich in healthy compounds, said to help prevent obesity. Cis for carrots. Natural sugars make them sweet. Cook whole before chopping. Dis for damsons that belong to the plum family and lower blood cholesterol levels. Eis for eggplant or aubergines, they contain dietary fibre, helping digestion. Fis for figs, which are high in cholesterol-lowering pectin and a source of calcium. Gis for grapes, said to do wonders for high blood pressure and cholesterol. His for Hubbard squash, great for healthy skin and good immunity. Iis for iceberg lettuce — its high water content makes it low in
energy density. Jis for jalapeno peppers. Nutritious and spicy, they give zing to recipes. Kis for kiwi. Virtually fat-free and even richer in Vitamin C than oranges. Lis for leek. The Ancient Greeks and Romans said leeks were therapeutic.

Mis for melon, which contains an enzyme that reduces stress. Nis for nectarines. One large nectarine provides your whole day's Vitamin C. Ois for onions. Experts say just two or three a week can help your health. Pis for peppers, with three times the Vitamin C of citrus fruits. Qis for quince, related to apples and pears. Ris for raspberries. Ask your local vendor to get you some. Sis for strawberries. Absolutely jampacked with Vitamin C. Tis for tomatoes. The red colour comes from super healthy antioxidant lycopene. Uis for ugli fruit. Exotic hybrid of grapefruit, orange and tangerine. Vis for vine leaves. Fantastic source of iron to boost your energy levels. Wis for watercress. High in Vitamin B to improve mental function. Xis for Xigua (watermelon). Refreshing on a summer's day. Yis for yellow plums. All types of plums are packed with goodness. Zis for zucchini. They're 90% water and low in calories.

Megaupload's successor could offer up to 50GB of free storage

Megaupload

Kim Dotcom, the controversial creator of the now defunct Megaupload, has revealed a little more about his new project  Mega through a screen capture which suggests that this service could offer up to 50GB online cloud storage for free. Mega is set to be launched on Saturday, January 19,
2013.

As January 19, the official date of Mega's launch, draws nearer, Kim Dotcom has revealed a bit more about the project, which has created a buzz among those who miss Megaupload.

A screen capture posted on his Twitter account shows storage of up to 50GB on the standard page of a free account. The same image shows that it should be possible to define the parameters of simultaneous connections in ascending or descending flows to maximize download speeds.  According to Kim Dotcom, this upload/download accelerator will be a worldwide first. 

Mega will be very much like Megaupload: a cloud platform on which you can store and share multimedia content (songs, videos, games, books, documents...) in one click.

However, Mega will make sure that each folder is encrypted and stocked simultaneously on two servers in two different countries.

Honda, Toyota, Ford posted a cumulative loss of Rs 770 cr in FY12

Global carmakers who have been in India for over a decade now continue to have it rough. Three MNC auto majors racked up a collective loss of some Rs 770 crore in fiscal year 2012, as per the latest numbers filed with the Registrar of Companies (RoC).

Honda Cars India leads the pack with a Rs 604 crore splash of red ink on its balance sheet, almost three times the loss of the previous year.

Toyota slipped into the red with a loss of Rs 27 crore after notching up a healthy profit of Rs 222 crore in fiscal year 2011; and Ford India reported a 35% higher loss of Rs 140 crore as against 107 crore in the previous year.

Fiat India, meantime, has extended fiscal year 2012 by six months to help it start with a clean slate with a six-month fiscal year from October 2012 to March 2013, after setting off accumulated losses of Rs 300 crore.

For Ford and Honda, which entered India in the 90s with premium models before eventually entering the mass market a few years ago, the road to profits is turning out to be a long one, indeed.

Company officials justify the losses saying they are still in investment mode, expanding capacities and setting up new factories. The journey into the black will involve new models in new segments to have a well-rounded portfolio, increasing localisation efforts to bring down costs and selling overseas.

Honda clearly had the biggest setback, with losses ballooning from Rs 212 crore in fiscal 2011 to Rs 604 crore last year. Natural calamities in Japan and Thailand led to the non-availability of critical parts, which have taken a toll of the financial performance with sales turnover falling by roughly 20% to Rs 3,185 crore.

Sales volumes dropped by 8.5% to 54,526 units, as the gap between diesel and petrol prices widened - Honda has a nil presence in diesel in India, with the soon-to-be-launched Amaze sedan set to be its first model in this segment.

Megaupload founder to launch secure file-sharing sequel, Mega

Kim Dotcom

Internet tycoon Kim Dotcom will launch a new file-sharing site at his Auckland mansion on Sunday, exactly a year after armed police arrested him at the same venue in the world's largest online piracy case.

Dotcom's new venture, mega.co.nz, aims to recreate the success of his Megaupload empire, which boasted 50 million daily visitors and accounted for four percent of all Internet traffic before it was shut down after the police raid.

The 38-year-old, who changed his name from Kim Schmitz, remains free on bail in New Zealand as US authorities seek his extradition on a range of charges including money laundering, racketeering and copyright theft.

They allege Megaupload sites netted more than $175 million in criminal proceeds and cost copyright owners more than $500 million by offering pirated copies of movies, TV shows, music and other content.

Dotcom denies any wrongdoing and the charges, which carry jail terms of up to 20 years, have not discouraged him from launching the new Mega service, which he has enthusiastically promoted on Twitter in recent weeks.

"I think you will be very happy with the new #Mega," he tweeted Friday. "It's like time travel. We'll take you to the future!!!"

The tech entrepreneur has promised an "epic" launch for the new site and even impersonated Willy Wonka to promote it at an Auckland shop on Thursday, handing out tubs of ice cream with golden tickets to the event hidden in them.

Details of the planned service are scarce, but the site promises to use state-of-the-art encryption methods that mean only users, not the site's administrators, know what they are uploading.

That would theoretically stop authorities from accusing administrators of knowingly aiding online piracy, the central allegation facing Dotcom.

Dotcom has said Mega will offer users 50GB of free storage, significantly more than similar sites such as Dropbox and Google Drive, but most details remain under wraps until they are unveiled Sunday at the Dotcom Mansion.

15.

 Once husband and wife had fight. And they are not talking to each other.


Husband left one note in his table. Besides we had a fight. Woke me up at 5.

Next day husband woke up at 8.
And note was there on the table.

Wake up it is 5 O clock.

Five More Minutes

While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground.  “That’s my son over there,” she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide. 



“He’s a fine looking boy” the man said. “That’s my daughter on the bike in the white dress.”



Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter. “What do you say we go, Melissa?”  Melissa pleaded, “Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes.”



  The man nodded and Melissa continued to ride her bike to her heart’s content. Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his daughter. “Time to go now?”




Again Melissa pleaded, “Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes.”  The man smiled and said, “OK.”  “My, you certainly are a patient father,” the woman responded.



The man smiled and then said, “Her older brother Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I’d give anything for just five more minutes with him.



I’ve vowed not to make the same mistake with Melissa.  She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bike. The truth is, I get Five more minutes to watch her play.”



 Moral: Life is all about making priorities, and family is one and only priority on top of all other, so spend all time you can with loved ones.

How to use meditation for pain relief?

Meditation to pain relief

With its origins in ancient religious and spiritual traditions, meditation is a widely used mind-body practice used even today, to complement medical procedures and treatments.

Although, used mostly for relaxation and stress reduction, meditation-based therapy is increasingly offered in medical centers and clinics today to manage pain and reduce anxiety prior to surgeries. Surprised? Recent studies have shown that frequent practice of meditation can lead to significant control of pain. Read on to know how meditation alters your pain perception and quells pain even better than some of the most powerful drugs.

Meditation and common forms
The term meditation refers to a set of techniques wherein a person minimizes the activity of the mind without altering the level of alertness. Broadly, the technique has been categorized under five basic categories:

Mantra meditation
This comprises the Transcendental Meditation techniques, Clinically Standardized Meditation and Relaxation Response. In this process, by repeatedly using a sound or phrase, a person focuses to achieve a state of perfect consciousness.

Mindfulness meditation
This form of meditation involves focusing on what you experience while performing the technique like the very flow of your breath.

Yoga
Here, a person attempts to achieve a state of calmness by combining bodily postures with controlled breathing.
Tai-Chi - A form of Chinese martial arts, the technique is performed using self-paced series of movements in a slow-graceful manner along with deep breathing.
Qi gong - This involves a combination of meditation, breathing exercise, relaxation and physical movements.

Meditation and pain management: In the past, meditation has been explored extensively for its effects on stress reduction and other similar clinical functions. However, researchers have now identified another significant health benefit of the technique that suggests that it is actually possible to overcome debilitating pain with the help of meditation. What's more, some of these studies have also suggested that the pain-relieving effects of meditation might be even more effective than morphine.

Back in April, 2011, a study by the researchers at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center indicated that a person can attain at least 40 per ent decrease in pain intensity and 57 per cent in pain unpleasantness merely by practicing these techniques regularly. This decrease in pain was found to be much higher than with morphine or other pain-relieving drugs. With the help of magnetic resonance imaging, the brain activity of study participants after meditation demonstrated how the technique increased the activity of certain areas which are responsible for pain perception.

Despite such findings, scientists were unable to ascertain the actual mechanism of this phenomenon until now. According to a recent research published at the Brain Research Bulletin, investigators from Harvard, MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital have identified a possible answer. They suggested that the explanation probably lies in alpha waves manipulation in the brain.

Facebook Messenger Adds Free WiFi Calls for iPhone Users

Free WIFI calls

The Facebook Messenger App for iPhones now lets users make phone calls to other iPhone users for free using WiFi.

Facebook Messenger now allows iPhone users to make calls to other iPhone users for free via WiFi, as the company continues to provide its users with new ways to reach out to their friends.

The new feature was launched Jan. 16 without any fanfare or announcement, according to a report by The Verge. The new capability is available to users in the United States following an apparently successful test of the service in Canada earlier this month.

Users of Facebook Messenger for iPhone will now see an "i" button on the top right of their app that when tapped offers the option to make a "Free Call" to another iPhone user using the service.

"Facebook has confirmed to The Verge that the feature began rolling out to U.S. users today, and requires no update through the App Store," said the report.

The service means that users can essentially avoid using their available minutes through their carrier's cell phone plans. If WiFi isn't available, users can make the calls applying their phone carrier's data plans, according to the article.

The Facebook Messenger app for iPhone can be downloaded free from the Apple Store.

The benefits of the new service are intriguing because users can save their calling minutes under their cell phone plans and also can use WiFi calling when local cellular networks don't provide adequate service.

Facebook didn't immediately reply to an email inquiry from eWEEK asking about the new service. It's not known if the company will also be rolling out similar services for users of Android and other mobile platforms.

This isn't the first time that Facebook has reached out to expand its calling services. In July 2011, Facebook partnered with Skype to offer free built-in video chat through Facebook that allows users to talk and view each other on video during Facebook sessions.

Dan Maycock, a mobile analyst with Slalom Consulting, said the new Facebook iPhone to iPhone service comes as the company continues to work to grow its presence in the mobile marketplace.

What's particularly interesting, Maycock told eWEEK, is that the move raises questions about rumors that have swirled about Facebook eventually launching its own smartphones to consumers. By launching the calling capabilities inside Facebook Messenger, one would have to wonder what the company would gain if it did eventually bring out smartphones, he said.

14.

Husband to wife: I invited my friend for lunch.

Wife: What the whole home is in mesh.

Husband: I wanted to show him all this. because he wanted to marry.

The Poor Man’s Wealth

Ramchand and Premchand were neighbours. Ramchand was a poor farmer. Premchand was a landlord.

Ramchand used to be very relaxed and happy. He never bothered to close the doors and windows of his house at night. He had deep sound sleeps. Although he had no money he was peaceful.


Premchand used to be very tense always. He was very keen to close the doors and windows of his house at night. He could not sleep well. He was always bothered that someone might break open his safes and steal away his money. He envied the peaceful Ramchand.


One day, Premchand call Ramchand and gave him a boxful of cash saying, “Look my dear friend. I am blessed with plenty of wealth. I find you in poverty. So, take this cash and live in prosperity.”


Ramchand was overwhelmingly happy. He was joyful throughout the day. Night came. Ramchand went to bed as usual. But, to-day, he could not sleep. He went and closed the doors and windows. He still could not sleep. He began to keep on looking at the box of cash. The whole night he was disturbed.

As soon as day broke, Ramchand took the box of cash to Premchand. He gave away the box to Premchand saying, “Dear Friend, I am poor. But, your money took away peace from me. Please bear with me and take back your money.”

Moral: Money can not get everything. Learn to be satisfied with what you have and you will always be happy.