28.8.08

will the World END in 2012 ??

Scientific experts from around the world are genuinely predicting that five years from now, all life on Earth could well finish. Some are saying it'll be humans that set it off. Others believe that a natural phenomenon will be the cause. And the religious folks are saying it'll be God himself who presses the stop button...


1. Mayan Calendar



The first mob to predict 2012 as the end of the world were the Mayans, a bloodthirsty race that were good at two things:

Building highly accurate astrological equipment out of stone and
Sacrificing Virgins.

Thousands of years ago they managed to calculate the length of the lunar moon as 329.53020 days, only 34 seconds out. The Mayan calendar predicts that the Earth will end on December 21, 2012. Given that they were pretty close to the mark with the lunar cycle, it's likely they've got the end of the world right as well.

2. Sun Storms



Solar experts from around the world monitoring the sun have made a startling discovery: our sun is in a bit of strife. The energy output of the sun is, like most things in nature, cyclic, and it's supposed to be in the middle of a period of relative stability. However, recent solar storms have been bombarding the Earth with so much radiation energy, it's been knocking out power grids and destroying satellites. This activity is predicted to get worse, and calculations suggest it'll reach its deadly peak sometime in 2012

3. The Atom Smasher

Scientists in Europe have been building the world's largest particle accelerator. Basically its a 27km tunnel designed to smash atoms together to find out what makes the Universe tick. However, the mega-gadget has caused serious concern, with some scientists suggesting that it's properly even a bad idea to turn it on in the first place. They're predicting all manner of deadly results, including mini black holes. So when this machine is fired up for its first serious experiment in 2012, the world could be crushed into a super-dense blob the size of a basketball.

4. The Bible says...
If having scientists warning us about the end of the world isn't bad enough,religious folks are getting in on the act aswell. Interpretations of the Christian Bible reveal that the date for Armageddon, the final battle between Good an Evil, has been set down for 2012. The I Ching, also known as the Chinese book of Changes, says the same thing, as do various sections of the Hindu teachings.

5. Super Volcano



Yellowstone National Park in the United States is famous for its thermal springs and Old Faithful geyser. The reason for this is simple - it's sitting on top of the world's biggest volcano, and geological experts are beginning to get nervous sweats. The Yellowstone volcano has a pattern of erupting every 650,000 years or so, and we're many years overdue for an explosion that will fill the atmosphere with ash, blocking the sun and plunging the Earth into a frozen winter that could last up to 15,000 years. The pressure under the Yellowstone is building steadily, and geologists have set 2012 as a likely date for the big bang.

6. The Physicists

This one's case of bog-simple maths mathematics. Physicists at Berekely Uni have been crunching the numbers. and they've determined that the Earth is well overdue for a major catastrophic event. Even worse, they're claiming their calculations prove, that we're all going to die, very soon - while also saying their prediction comes with a certainty of 99 percent- and 2012 just happens to be the best guess as to when it occurs.

7. Slip-Slop-Slap-BANG!


We all know the Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field that sheilds us from most of the sun's radiation. What you might not know is that the magnetic poles we call north and south have a nasty habit of swapping places every 750,000 years or so - and right now we're about 30,000 years overdue. Scientists have noted that the poles are drifting apart roughly 20-30kms each year, much faster than ever before, which points to a pole-shift being right around the corner. While the pole shift is underway, the magnetic field is disrupted and will eventually disappear, sometimes for up to 100 years. The result is enough UV outdoors to crisp your skin in seconds, killing everything it touches.

:)

Mayawati - CM of India's most populous state U.P. - makes her debut in Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women

FORBES' The 100 Most Powerful Women


#59 - Mayawati Kumari - Chief minister, Uttar Pradesh, India

"In the running to be prime minister, from her perch as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state. In 1995, at 39, she was the youngest politician elected to the post and was also the first Dalit (India's lowest, "untouchable" caste) to head a state government. Commands a large following and goes simply by Mayawati. In 2007 she shrewdly built an alliance with Brahmins, and the Bahujan Samaj Party, which she heads, has started to increase its national presence. Some say she could trail-blaze again as India's first Dalit prime minister." - Forbes

Mayawati-led BSP recently withdrew its outside support to the Gandhi-led ruling combine in the country. The magazine said that Mayawati has aligned herself with the nationalist Hindu BJP party and joined its members in vociferously opposing Gandhi's party's historic agreement with the US on nuclear cooperation.

According to Forbes, its annual ranking of the most powerful women measures "power" as a composite of public profile and financial heft. The economic component considers job title and past career accomplishments, as well as the amount of money the woman controls.

27.8.08

Norman h Pritchard - first Indian athlete to participate and win in Olympics

Norman Gilbert Pritchard - the controversial iconic Indian figure
(also known as Norman Trevor)
(June 23, 1877 – October 31, 1929)

was an athlete from India who went on to star in Hollywood and . He was of British descent and moved to England permanently in 1905.

The controversy that runs till date is that
whether he is an Indian or an British ?? - to read on this click here plz

Pritchard was born in Calcutta to George Petersen Pritchard and Helen Maynard Pritchard.

Pritchard was the first Indian athlete to participate in the Olympic Games.

He was also the first athlete from India and first athlete representing an Asian nation to win an Olympic medal. He won two silver medals in the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.

He came second in the 200 meters behind John Tewksbury of the United States and second in the 200 meters hurdles behind the legendary Alvin Kraenzlein of the United States. Pritchard set a world record in the second heat of the 100 metre hurdles which was bettered by Kraenzlein in the final. He reached the final of the 110m hurdles where he placed 5th, and participated in 60m and 100m sprint where he failed to qualify for the final.

In 2005 the IAAF published the official track and field statistics for the 2004 Summer Olympics. In the historical records section Pritchard was listed as having competed for Great Britain in 1900. Research by Olympic historians has shown that Pritchard was chosen to represent Great Britain after competing in the British AAA championship in June 1900. The IOC still regard Pritchard as having competed for India and his two medals are credited to India.[4]

Pritchard won the Bengal province 100 yards sprint title for seven consecutive years from 1894 to 1900 and set a meet record in 1898-99. He also won the 440 yards run and the 120 yards hurdles.

He studied at Saint Xaviers College, Calcutta, and is credited with the first hat-trick in an open football tournament in India, for Saint Xavier's against Sovabazar in July 1897.

He served as Secretary of the Indian Football Association from 1900 to 1902. He moved permanently to England in 1905.

He later moved to the United States where he became a silent movie actor under the screen name Norman Trevor. He acted alongside Hollywood legends like Ronald Colman in movies like Beau Geste (1926), Clara Bow's father in Dancing Mothers(1926) and Tonight at Twelve (1929). He also appeared in several Broadway shows.

He wrote a poem book - the Matrix - to read it online Click here

He died in Los Angeles of a brain malady.

Olympic Gold medalists for India

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

P

R

S

S cont.

T

V

Y

24.8.08

Michael Phelps - Most successful Olympian

He was the bullied kid who rose from a working class background to become a sporting phenomenon - and in the 2008 Olymics Michael Phelps joined a unique band of Olympic greats.

The 23-year-old swimming sensation stormed into the record books with an 11th gold medal, his fifth at these games.

Not even faulty goggles could stop the man they call Superfish adding another gong to his incredible haul.

If computer experts could build the best swimmer on the planet, they would probably come up with Michael Phelps.

He has a 6ft 7in reach, is 6ft 5in tall and recovers from racing faster than any other man alive.

Michael said: "If you sell yourself short, you never reach your potential."

Marketing men, merchandisers and NBC TV paid £424million to Olympic organisers to ensure Michael was beamed out prime time in the United States.

The entire swim programme was duly changed so the finals were in the morning.

It is all a far cry from Michael's days as a troubled schoolboy in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was bullied over his big ears and lisp and suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

His state trooper dad Fred did not speak to him for years, and his mum Debbie struggled with her son's problems, which made him hyperactive and difficult to deal with.

Teacher Debbie said: "In kindergarten I was told, 'Michael can't sit still, Michael can't be quiet, he can't focus. I said, 'maybe he's bored'.

"But they told me 'Your son will never be able to focus on anything'."

Michael was put on permanent medication because of his ADHD. But after two years he told his mum he did not want to take the drugs any more. Swimming became his refuge. The third and youngest child, Michael followed sisters Hilary and Whitney to the North Baltimore Aquatics Club. It was also an escape from his family problems.

Separated before Michael was born, the Phelps made final their split just as their son started to swim competitively at the age of seven and discover his amazing talent.

His dispute with his father created a rift which threatened to overshadow his sporting exploits. But three days after his son's high-school graduation in 2003, Fred visited the family's townhouse in Baltimore.

He was told his boy's two complimentary tickets to the world championships in Barcelona would go to his mother and Hilary. Fred walked out and missed his son's graduation party.

The pair only made up just before the Olympic Games in Athens.

But his mother has remained by his side throughout his career, and is in Beijing as the records fall - he has set new world bests in each swim.

His medals haul has beat all the greats - the nine golds won by sprinter Carl Lewis, swimmer Mark Spitz, Soviet gymnast Larysa Latynina and Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi.

On this incredible form Michael remains on target to surpass Spitz's achievement of seven gold medals in one games.

He keeps up his incredible energy by consuming 12,000 calories a day - six times that of the average bloke his age.

He starts his day with three fried egg sandwiches. Two more carb-packed meals follow before he rounds the day off with pasta and a whole pizza.

Michael's quest for glory has been helped by Beijing's Water Cube, according to one of Britain's most successful swimmers Karen Pickering.

The 36-year-old also said the pool is the reason so many records are being made.

Karen added: "It's inside so swimmers don't have to deal with the wind, rain, humidity or heat. They only use 10 of the eight lanes to race, meaning waves disperse at the outsides and don't splash back on the swimmers. The pool is at deck level, so the water dissipates and doesn't bounce back.

"And it's very deep which means waves from the kicking go down a long way but don't come back up and hit swimmers."

PHELPS' GOLD TALLY SO FAR..

ATHENS 2004

14 August: 400m individual medley: Gold Medal, World Record: 4:08.26.

17 August: 200m butterfly: Gold Medal, Olympic Record: 1:54.04.

17 August: 4 x 200m freestyle relay: Gold Medal, National Record: 7:07.33.

19 August: 200m individual medley: Gold Medal, Olympic Record: 1:57.14.

20 August: 100m butterfly: Gold Medal, Olympic Record: 51.25.

21 August: 4 x 100m medley relay: Gold Medal, World Record: 3:30.68.

BEIJING 2008

August 10: 400m individual medley: Gold Medal, World Record: 4:03.84.

August 11: 4 x 100m freestyle relay: Gold Medal, World Record: 3:08.24.

August 12: 200m freestyle: Gold Medal, World Record: 1:42.96.

August 13: 200m butterfly: Gold Medal, World Record: 1:52.03.

August 13: 4 x 200m freestyle: Gold Medal, World Record: 6:58.56

MEDALS HE'S STILL AFTER..

And the three he could still collect in Beijing:

August 15: 200m individual medley. August 16: 100m butterfly.

August 17: 4 x 100m medley relay.

THE GREATS HE'S NOW BEATEN..

With his incredible tally of 11 gold medals - won in Beijing and four years ago in Athens - US swimmer Michael Phelps is now the most successful Olympian in history.

He has overtaken fellow American swimmer Mark Spitz, Soviet gymnast Larysa Latynina, US sprint and long jump legend Carl Lewis and Finnish distance runner Paavo Nurmi.

They only got nine golds each...

How he swims like a fish...

HEIGHT

6ft 5ins

WEIGHT

13st 9lbs

HANDS

His large hands act as paddles to propel him through the water

ARMSPAN

Unlike almost all other humans, his armspan is, at 6ft 7in, two inches wider than his height

HEART

Pumps more than 30 litres of blood per minute to his major muscle groups, twice the average. Helps him to compete at his outstanding level two or three times a day

WAIST

His remarkably narrow waist increases his aero-dynamism in the water

TORSO & LEGS

He has a long torso and comparatively short but powerful legs, providing minimal resistance in the water

FEET

He has giant size 14 feet - dubbed flippers

#################################################

DIET

Phelps eats a colossal 12,000 calories a day.

His daily intake is six times that of the average man of the same age.

BREAKFAST

Three fried-egg sandwiches loaded with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions and mayonnaise.

He follows that up with two cups of coffee, a five-egg omelette, a bowl of grits, three slices of French toast topped with powdered sugar and three chocolate-chip pancakes.

LUNCH

A pound of enriched pasta and two large ham and cheese sandwiches slathered with mayo on white bread.

Plus 1,000 calories worth of energy drinks.

DINNER

Another pound of pasta and an entire pizza, washed down with another 1,000 calories worth of energy drinks.

His Official Site

http://www.michaelphelps.com/

From Wikipedia:

Michael Fred Phelps (born June 30, 1985, in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American swimmer. He is a 14-time Olympic gold medalist (the most by any Olympian) and he currently holds seven world records in swimming.

Phelps holds the record for the most gold medals won at a single Olympics with the eight golds he won at the 2008 Olympic Games. With this record, he surpassed Mark Spitz (pictured below), who was also a swimmer and had held the previous gold medal total with the seven that he won at the 1972 Olympic Games.



Overall, Phelps has won 16 Olympic medals: six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. In winning these medals, he has twice equaled Soviet gymnast Alexander Dityatin's record of eight medals (of any type) at a single Olympics; Dityatin garnered eight at the 1980 Summer Olympics, while Phelps won eight medals at both the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2008 Summer Olympics. Out of his eight gold medals from Beijing, five were won in individual events, tying the record for individual gold medals at a single Games originally set by Eric Heiden in the 1980 Winter Olympics and equaled by Vitaly Scherbo at the 1992 Summer Games. Phelps ranks second in total career Olympic medals, after Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina, who won a total of 18 medals (nine gold) spanning three Olympic Games.

Phelps's international titles, along with his various world records, have resulted in him being awarded the World Swimmer of the Year Award in 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 and American Swimmer of the Year Award in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007. Phelps has won a total of 48 career medals thus far: 40 gold, six silvers and two bronze. This includes all of the Championships in which he has competed: The Olympics, the World Championships, and the Pan Pacific Championships.

Personal life

Phelps was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, and grew up in the Rodgers Forge neighborhood. He graduated from Towson High School in 2003. His father, Fred Phelps, worked for the Maryland State Police and his mother, Debbie Davisson Phelps, is a middle school principal. The two divorced in 1994. Michael, whose nickname is "MP", has two older sisters, Whitney and Hilary. Both of them were swimmers as well, with Whitney coming close to making the U.S. national team for the 1996 Summer Olympics before injuries derailed her career.

In his youth, Phelps was diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). He started swimming at age seven, partly because of the influence of his sisters and partly to provide him with an outlet for his energy. He excelled as a swimmer, and by the age of 10 held a national record for his age group. More age group records followed, and Phelps's rapid improvement culminated in his qualifying for the 2000 Summer Olympics at the age of 15.

In November 2004, at the age of 19, Phelps was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in Salisbury, Maryland. He pleaded guilty to driving while impaired the following month and was granted probation before judgment and ordered to serve 18 months probation, fined $250, obligated to speak to high school students about drinking and driving and had to attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) meeting. Questioned about the incident later that month by Matt Lauer on the Today Show, Phelps said it was an "isolated incident" and that he had "definitely let myself down and my family down...I think I let a lot of people in the country down."

Between 2004 and 2008, Phelps attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, studying sports marketing and management. In May 2008, Phelps said he intends to return to Baltimore following the 2008 Olympics, joining Bob Bowman there when he leaves the University of Michigan, saying, "I'm not going to swim for anybody else. I think we can both help the North Baltimore Aquatic Club go further. I'm definitely going to be in Baltimore next year." The club has announced that Bowman is leaving the University of Michigan to become the club's CEO. Phelps purchased a house in the Fells Point section of Baltimore, where he intends to reside after returning from the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Phelp's teammates call him "Gomer" because he reminds them of Gomer Pyle, the good-natured, naive country boy played by Jim Nabors on The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C..

He has made an estimated $5 million per year in endorsements, plus a $1 million bonus from swimsuit maker Speedo for winning eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Physique and lifestyle

Five physical attributes particularly suit Phelps to swimming: his long, thin torso (low drag in the water), arms which span 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm) (long, powerful, propulsive "paddles") disproportionate to his height of 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm), relatively short legs (lower drag, and perhaps the speed enhancement of a hydrofoil),[13][14] coupled to size 14 feet (providing the effect of flippers) by hypermobile ankles he can extend beyond the pointe of a ballet dancer, enabling him to whip his feet (as if they were fins, for maximum thrust through [if not over] the water).

In a front page illustrated article profiling Phelps on the eve of the 2008 Summer Olympics, The Baltimore Sun described the hometown swimmer as "a solitary man" with a "rigid focus" at the pool prior to a race, but afterwards "a man incredibly invested in the success of the people he cares about". Bowman told a Sun interviewer, "He's unbelievably kind-hearted", recounting Phelps's interaction with young children after practices.

According to an article in The Guardian, Phelps eats around 12,000 kcal each day, or about six times the intake of a normal adult male.

Throughout the 2008 Olympics, Phelps was questioned by the press if perhaps his feats were "too good to be true", a reference to unsupported rumors that Phelps may be taking performance enhancing drugs. In response, Phelps noted that he had signed up for Project Believe, a project by the United States Anti-Doping Agency in which U.S. Olympians can volunteer to be tested in excess of the World Anti-Doping Agency guidelines. During the Games, Phelps was tested nine times, and passed all of them.

23.8.08

Chinese Astrology - worked for me - You too check !!

Most Precise part of Chinese Astrology is the prediction by Birth Time.

The Chinese zodiac is also used to label times of day, with each sign corresponding to a "large-hour" or shichen (時辰), which is a two-hour period (24 divided by 12 animals). It is therefore important to know the exact time of birth to determine it. The secret animal is thought to be a person’s truest representation, since this animal is determined by the smallest denominator: a person’s birth hour. As this sign is based on the position of the sun in the sky and not the time of your local clock, it is important to compensate for daylight saving time. However, some online systems already compensate for daylight savings time, and astrologers may compensate your time for you oblivious to the fact that you've compensated it yourself, leading to an inaccurate reading.

Image:Astrologyproject.svg

The large-hour in which a person is born is their secret animal. It is a person's own true sign which their personality is based on. Note that while this chart is quite precise, the exact time at which each animal begins shifts by the day.

  • 23:00 - 01:00: 子 rat
  • 01:00 - 03:00: 丑 ox
  • 03:00 - 05:00: 寅 tiger
  • 05:00 - 07:00: 卯 rabbit
  • 07:00 - 09:00: 辰 dragon
  • 09:00 - 11:00: 巳 snake
  • 11:00 - 13:00: 午 horse
  • 13:00 - 15:00: 未 sheep
  • 15:00 - 17:00: 申 monkey
  • 17:00 - 19:00: 酉 rooster
  • 19:00 - 21:00: 戌 dog
  • 21:00 - 23:00: 亥 boar
(Problems with English Translation -Due to confusion with synonyms during translation, some of the animals depicted by the English words did not exist in ancient China. For example, 羊 can mean both goat and sheep, but goat is the species that existed in central China since the beginning of time, and goat is the species seen in illustrations, not sheep. Similarly, 豬 (pig) is sometimes translated to boar, and 牛 (water buffalo) is commonly thought to be ox, whose female counterpart is the dairy cow. )

Categorizations of the twelve signs

Power Signs

  • Rat
  • Ox
  • Tiger
  • Dragon
  • Snake
  • Monkey
Romance Signs
  • Rabbit
  • Horse
  • Sheep
  • Rooster
  • Dog
  • Pig

The Four Animal Trines

The First Trine

The first trine consists of the Rat, Dragon, and Monkey. These three signs are intense and powerful individuals, capable of great good or great evil. They make great leaders, but the three may have different approaches. Frustrated when hampered, these signs are ruled by highly potent energy and unpredictability. At their worst, Rats are ruthlessly power-hungry, vindictive, and Machiavellian, Dragons are inflexible megalomaniacs and dogmatists, and Monkeys are destructive manipulators and hedonists. They are intelligent, magnanimous, charismatic, charming, authoritative, confident, eloquent and artistic. They can also be tyrannical, bombastic, prejudiced, deceitful, imperious, ruthless, power-hungry, and megalomaniacal.

The Second Trine

The second trine consists of the Ox, Snake, and Rooster. These three soul mates conquer life through endurance, application, and slow accumulation of energy. Although each sign is fixed and rigid in opinions and views, they are genius in the art of meticulous planning. They are hardworking, discreet, modest, industrious, charitable, loyal, punctual, philosophical, patient, and good-hearted individuals with high moral standards. They can also be self-righteous, vain, critical, judgmental, myopic, narrow-minded, petty, and pessimistic.

The Third Trine

The third trine consists of the Tiger, Horse, and Dog. These three signs seek a true lover, and are like-minded in their pursuit of humanitarian causes. Each is a gifted orator and excels at verbal communication. Relationships and personal contact are of highest priority and each one seeks their intimate soul mate. Idealistic and impulsive, the Tiger, Horse and Dog follow the beat of their own drummer. Defiant against injustice, these three signs wilt without large amounts of physical affection and loyal support for causes. They are productive, enthusiastic, independent, engaging, dynamic, and honourable. They can also be rash, rebellious, quarrelsome, hot-headed, reckless, anxious, moody, disagreeable, and stubborn. Although these three signs are loyal, they can be very protective when lied to. The three signs do not enjoy being told what to do, but will listen when it is a person they love or trust whole-heartedly.

The Fourth Trine

The fourth trine consists of the Rabbit, Sheep, and Pig. The quest for these three signs is the aesthetic and beautiful in life. Their calm nature gives them great leadership abilities. They are artistic, refined, intuitive, and well-mannered. These souls love the preliminaries in love, and are fine artists in their lovemaking. The Rabbit, Sheep and Pig have been bestowed with calmer natures than the other 9 signs. These three are compassionately aware, yet detached and resigned to their condition. They seek beauty and a sensitive lover. They are caring, unique, self-sacrificing, obliging, sensible, creative, emphatic, tactful, and prudent. They can also be naive, pedantic, insecure, cunning, indecisive, and pessimistic.

Mobile users - please read this :)

Very informative mail for you, please don't forget to forward.

Would you like to know if your mobile is original or not ?????


Press the following on your mobile
*#06# and the-international mobile equipment identity number appears. Then check the 7th and 8th numbers:


1

2

3

4

5

6

7 th

8 th

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

Phone serial no.

x

x

x

x

x

x

?

?

x

x

x

x

x

x

x


IF the Seventh & Eighth digits are 02 or 20 this means your cell phone was assembled in Emirates which is very Bad quality

IF the Seventh & Eighth digits are 08 or 80 this means your cell phone was manufactured in Germany which is fair quality

IF the Seventh & Eighth digits are 01 or 10 this means your cell phone was manufactured in Finland which is very Good

IF the Seventh & Eighth digits are 00 this means your cell phone was manufactured in original factory which is the best Mobile Quality

IF the Seventh & Eighth digits are 13 this means your cell phone was assembled in Azerbaijan which is very Bad quality and also dangerous for your health

THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW YOUR CELL PHONE COULD DO
There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies.
Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for
survival. Check out the things that you can do with it: -

(1 )
EMERGENCY


*
The Emergency Number worldwide for **Mobile** is 112 ..* If you find
yourself out of coverage area of your mobile network and there is an
emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to
establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. **Try it out.**
(2)
Have you locked your keys in the car? Does you car have remote keys?

This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone:
If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call
someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone.
Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock.

Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).
Editor's Note:
*It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a cell phone!"*
(3)
Hidden Battery power

Imagine your cell battery is very low , you are expecting an important call
and you don't have a charger. Nokia instrument comes with a reserve
battery.
To activate, press the keys *3370# Your cell will restart with
this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This
reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time.
AND
(4 )
How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?
To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone:
* # 0 6 #

A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. when your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.

You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.



Please spread this useful information around

21.8.08

only 3 % of India actually pays Income Tax

With the tax filing being completed yesterday, I came across an interesting article on Income Tax assessment in India… only 3 % of India actually pays Income Tax!

Six per cent of this country of over a billion people are income tax assesses. That is 60 million people. Of these, 30 million actually pay the tax, that is three per cent of the world's largest democracy pays taxes. Out of this, two out of three people don't have a choice because their salaries get deducted at source.

Following is excerpt from www.ibnlive.com

India's income tax payments are at an all time high and the country is experiencing what analysts call a bonanza of tax payments. From just 1.8 per cent of the GDP in the late 70s, tax collection today stands at Rs 3 lakh crore or seven per cent of the GDP. Indians are paying their taxes like never before and this time around, the I-T department expects three crore people to file their returns – a jump of 10 per cent from last year.

The question that was being debated on Face The Nation was - Are Indians coming to terms with paying income tax?

On the panel to discuss the issue were social activist Alyque Padamsee; tax consultant Subhash Lakhotia; and Hon Director, School of Convergence Paranjoy Guha Thakurta.

At the beginning of the discussion, 76 per cent people who voted in on the show said that Indians no longer evaded taxes, while 24 per cent said India had not yet come to terms with paying taxes.

How is it that India is suddenly seeing a rise in the number of people coming forward and paying their income tax? This is a trend that has never been seen before, so why has this happened suddenly? For the first time, direct tax collections are more than indirect tax collections.

Subhash Lakhotia said that these are not people who have come forward on their own. He said they came forward because salaries were good, income was great and so they were being called upon by the Government to pay taxes.

"It's not that one wants to pay income tax at a higher rate, but they are being made to do so because their salaries have gone up," he said.

"The inflation and the present income and the unprecedented growth in the salary structure is responsible for this high turnout for people wanting to pay taxes. This coupled with lower tax rates from the 1970s has brought people forward," he added.

He said it was a much easier process to file taxes now and that the new generation preferred to pay off their taxes and have an easier life.

However, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta was not convinced and said that the numbers told only a part of the truth.

"Six per cent of this country of over a billion people are income tax assesses. That is 60 million people. Of these, 30 million actually pay the tax, that is three per cent of the world's largest democracy pays taxes. Out of this, two out of three people don't have a choice because their salaries get deducted at source," he said.

He concurred with Lakhotia over the fact that it had become easier to pay taxes and that the system was more transparent, but said that it was important to put things in a certain perspective.

Thakurta said that farmers in Punjab who made lakhs cultivating strawberries and gherkins did not pay anything in taxes including the "gentlemen farmers" who had huge houses in big cities.

Subhash Lakhotia agreed saying that the Government should tax rich farmers so that the tax burden on the common man comes down some.

Cultural Change

There is a change in our culture and the way we behave these days. It has almost become a prestige issue to say that we pay our taxes.

Alyque Padamsee joined the debate at this point saying that that it was wonderful that so many people were paying taxes. However, he added, "What bothers me is where is the tax money going? Why don't we have accountability? After collection, the Government should announce to the public how it plans to utilise the taxes. Are we paying money for filthy hospitals and unmanned schools?"

He said that the younger generation which is paying taxes should demand to know where the tax money is going.

Thakurta jumped into the debate at this point saying that Mr Padamsee as a concerned citizen had every right to ask where his money was being used and that it does not disappear into that "big black hole called the consolidated fund of India".

"However, the fact of the matter is that if you look at the Budget papers, you will find how much is coming from where. There are tax revenues and there are non tax revenues," he said.

Wealth Tax

In 1993, the gift tax was abolished and with this it became possible to declare good profits. But with the boom in the stock markets and the IPOs, a company that honestly declared profits could have a higher share value. There was a business incentive to be honest.

Subhash Lakhotia said that all these things are now irrelevant because under the wealth tax law, productive assets are completely exempt from wealth tax and the sky is the limit.

"This means even if I possess shares worth Rs 100 crore, I will not have to pay wealth tax at all. And with this, there is no need to hide your money and you can show your profits in your books. All this is due to the wealth tax regime being easier and exemptions being granted to productive assets one finds no problem in declaring their correct white income," he explained.

"I still feel though that the tax payers would be happy to higher to pay more taxes provided that retirement benefits are available. If the Government assures care in old age, then the revenue will increase manifold. I also feel the Government should stop scruitinising tax returns of existing tax payers and instead catch those who are not paying their income tax. Then the Government can reduce the income tax burden on existing tax payers of the country," he added.

Black Money Factor

More and more Indians were coming out into the open and filing their taxes simply because the process is easier, and beneficial even in some cases. So did this mean that the black money factor in the economy is lessening?

Subhash Lakhotia agreed saying that the component of black money had indeed decreased.

"I presonally feel that 90 per cent transactions these days are done under white money, especially residential transactions, because with black money, there was no chance of getting a loan," he said.

Thakurta disagreed saying that it was all about numbers. "Our tax paying population is much less than in those of capitalist countries. It is one-third of US' and half of Scandanavia's. We are a long way off from getting everyone to pay tax."

Lakhotia shot back saying that stamp duty rates have gone down and that was the reason for more turnout as well as more transactions in white money.

Alyque Padamsee stepped in at this point and said, "We have to understand that 50 per cent of the population of India is under the age of 25. As these people come into the work place and start to pay taxes, they have a differnt attitude to work to what their fathers had. He said that the only reason these people would keep black money would be because they have no idea where their money goes once it reaches the Government."

He said we needed to start a tax-payers' union which could go on strike whenever it felt that the Government was misusing tax money.

Subhash Lakhotia agreed with Padamsee. He went on to add that for the first time in 50 years, tax rates were reduced in India and this will help the revenue go up.

Final SMS Poll - Last date of filing I-T: Are Indians coming to terms with paying income tax?

Yes: 75 per cent

No: 25 per cent


20.8.08

INDIA shining at Olympics !!

I wrote a bad blog just a few days back on India's overall performance at Olympics.

BUT - this happening has surely something else to prove
-
Indians winning 3 medals in 2008 Beijing
- RECORD
breaking performance after 56 years


India's fledgling Olympic campaign on Wednesday received a sensational boost with unheralded grappler Sushil Kumar clinching a bronze medal and boxer Vijender Kumar assuring himself of at least a bronze to give the country a record three medals for the first time ever.

Abhinav Bindra




Abhinav Bindra

After Abhinav Bindra's gold-winning feat during the first week of the sporting extravaganza, the 25-year-old Sushil Kumar shot into fame by winning a bronze medal in the wrestling arena while Vijender has put himself on course for a silver or gold medal on a historic day for Indian sports.

Sushil Kumar



Kumar Sushil

Sushil and Vijender's heroics not only provided the late sparks to an otherwise dismal campaign but has created a record of sorts as India had never returned with three medals from the Olympics.
Vijender Kumar




Vijender Kumar

India had won two Olympic medals in the 1952 Helsinki Games when the hockey team had won the gold medal and wrestler KD Jadhav had won a bronze medal, a record which had stood for 56 long years.

13.8.08

all the Olympic Posters of last 112 years

As the Summer Olympics draws near every aspect of popular culture tends to involve itself in it. The design world especially plays an important part in inspiring people to get excited about the games. Recently there was a book released called "A Century of Olympic Posters" (which was mentioned in Fabiano's Best of the Week #18 post back in June). I've actually never seen the book, but I found that I didn't actually need it to see all the posters. Wikipedia has them all easily accessible.

1896

1900

1904

1908

1912

1920

1924

1928

1932

1936

1948

1952

1956

1960

1964

1968

1972

1976

1980

1984

1988

1992

1996

2000

2004

2008

2012

India at the Olympics - why patahtic ??


India is credited for first participating at the Olympic Games in 1900, with a lone athlete (Norman Pritchard) winning two medals in athletics. The nation first sent a team to the Summer Olympic Games in 1920, and has participated in every Summer Games since then. India has also competed at several Winter Olympic Games since 1964.

Flag of India
INDIAn national flag

Indian athletes have won a total of 18 medals, mostly in field hockey. The men's field hockey team was dominant in Olympic competition, winning eleven medals in twelve Olympiads between 1928 and 1980, including six successive gold medals from 1928–1956.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Pritchard_1900.jpg
Norman Pritchard

The National Olympic Committee for India is the Indian Olympic Association, and was created in 1927.

India is remarkable among nations for having won very few Olympic medals despite a population exceeding a billion, around half of them under the age of 25. Numerous explanations have been offered for the dearth, including poverty, malnutrition, neglected infrastructure, lack of sponsorship, theft of money and equipment, political corruption, institutional disorganization, and cultural factors.

The Medalists
Medal Medalist Name Year of Game Sport Event
1Image:gold medal icon.svg Gold Pritchard, NormanNorman Pritchard 1900 Paris Athletics Men's 200 metres
2Image:silver medal icon.svg Silver Pritchard, NormanNorman Pritchard 1900 Paris Athletics Men's 200 metre hurdles
1Image:gold medal icon.svg Gold National team 1928 Amsterdam Field hockey Men's competition
1Image:gold medal icon.svg Gold National team 1932 Los Angeles Field hockey Men's competition
1Image:gold medal icon.svg Gold National team 1936 Berlin Field hockey Men's competition
1Image:gold medal icon.svg Gold National team 1948 London Field hockey Men's competition
1Image:gold medal icon.svg Gold National team 1952 Helsinki Field hockey Men's competition
3Image:bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Jadhav, Khashaba DadasahebKhashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav 1952 Helsinki Wrestling Men's freestyle bantamweight
1Image:gold medal icon.svg Gold National team 1956 Melbourne Field hockey Men's competition
2Image:silver medal icon.svg Silver National team 1960 Rome Field hockey Men's competition
1Image:gold medal icon.svg Gold National team 1964 Tokyo Field hockey Men's competition
3Image:bronze medal icon.svg Bronze National team 1968 Mexico Field hockey Men's competition
3Image:bronze medal icon.svg Bronze National team 1972 Munich Field hockey Men's competition
1Image:gold medal icon.svg Gold National team 1980 Moscow Field hockey Men's competition
3Image:bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Paes, LeanderLeander Paes 1996 Atlanta Tennis Men's singles
3Image:bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Malleswari, KarnamKarnam Malleswari 2000 Sydney Weightlifting Women's 69 kg
2Image:silver medal icon.svg Silver Rathore, Rajyavardhan SinghRajyavardhan Singh Rathore 2004 Athens Shooting Men's double trap
1Image:gold medal icon.svg Gold Bindra, AbhinavAbhinav Bindra 2008 Beijing Shooting Men's 10m Air Rifle

Medals by Summer Games

Games Gold Silver Bronze Total
1900 Paris 0 2 0 2
1904 St. Louis did not participate
1908 London did not participate
1912 Stockholm did not participate
1920 Antwerp 0 0 0 0
1924 Paris 0 0 0 0
1928 Amsterdam 1 0 0 1
1932 Los Angeles 1 0 0 1
1936 Berlin 1 0 0 1
1948 London 1 0 0 1
1952 Helsinki 1 0 1 2
1956 Melbourne 1 0 0 1
1960 Rome 0 1 0 1
1964 Tokyo 1 0 0 1
1968 Mexico City 0 0 1 1
1972 Munich 0 0 1 1
1976 Montreal 0 0 0 0
1980 Moscow 1 0 0 1
1984 Los Angeles 0 0 0 0
1988 Seoul 0 0 0 0
1992 Barcelona 0 0 0 0
1996 Atlanta 0 0 1 1
2000 Sydney 0 0 1 1
2004 Athens 0 1 0 1
2008 Beijing 1 0 0 1
Total 9 4 5 18

Medals by sport

Sport Gold Silver Bronze Total
Field hockey 8 1 2 11
Shooting 1 1 0 2
Athletics 0 2 0 2
Wrestling 0 0 1 1
Weightlifting 0 0 1 1
Tennis 0 0 1 1
Total 9 4 5 18