Anything Is Possible
How many times did you want to be a DJ?
Now you can podcast.
How many times did you want to be a movie maker?
Now you can Vimeo.
How many times did you want to be a rock star?
Now you can garageband.
How many times did you want to write music for TV shows?
Now you can Freeplay.
How many times did you want to be a journalist?
Now you can blog.
Anything is possible in this world we are living in.
It's an incredible time with the barriers to entry coming down for so many things. The revolution of the ants is upon us.
Enjoy it.
(via Musings of a VC in NYC)
March 19, 2005 in Web/Tech | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 18, 2005
School stories
School stories (long out of print in English) of Frigyes Karinthy. Short, funny, and occasionally bittersweet; favorites include The Good Student and The Bad Student Tested, and Hanging From the Apparatus.
March 18, 2005 in Fun | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 17, 2005
Fairfax county school text books
Petition open to Fairfax County Residents Fairfax County is in the process of selecting social studies textbooks for 5th, 9th, and 10th grades. These textbooks cover world history and culture. India and Hinduism are part of the curriculum in 5th, 9th, and 10th grades.
As you all know that the textbooks give a very negative picture of India and Hinduism. In the textbooks, Hinduism starts with caste system and end with sautee. In between somewhere buried is child marriage. The treatment of Hinduism and India emphasizes clichés, and the textbooks focus on material that is not important or illuminating. The treatment of Hinduism is oversimplified and often lacks context. Hinduism is examined from a cultural and anthropological perspective, often emphasizing the exotic, while other religions are examined from the perspective of followers. The books do not adequately present the fundamental belief systems of the religion or explore the core values of the culture.
This is an effort to get the School Board change the textbooks and adopt only those textbooks which give a balanced portrayal. The final selection of the textbooks will be made on March 31st. Please sign the petition to make your voice heard.
Go to the URL (http://www.indiapetitions.com/) and clicked on our subject "Corrections facts about Hinduism and India in Fairfax county, VA school text books" (http://www.indiapetitions.com/pms/showpetition.php?p_am=141&)
March 17, 2005 in Info, Reality, World News | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack
March 16, 2005
Pacemaker 'cure' for depression
SCIENTISTS claim to have developed a "brain pacemaker" that can cure depression through an electronic stimulus.
The discovery raises hopes for thousands for release from depression by drilling holes into their skull and attaching electrodes to the brain which create a brighter mood.
But psychiatrists warn such "surgery" is a drastic measure that must be used with caution.
Scientists in Toronto studied six patients who had suffered years of untreatable clinical depression. Four women and two men had electrodes planted deep into their brain to stimulate one of the areas involved in mood control.
Continue reading ...
March 16, 2005 in Tech/Science | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 15, 2005
India wins landmark patent battle
India has won a 10-year-long battle at the European Patent Office (EPO) against a patent granted on an anti-fungal product, derived from neem.
EPO initially granted the patent to the US Department of Agriculture and multinational WR Grace in 1995.
But the Indian government successfully argued that the medicinal neem tree is part of traditional Indian knowledge.
The winning challenge comes after years of campaigning and legal efforts against so-called "bio-piracy".
Continue reading ...
March 15, 2005 in Reality, Tech/Science , World News | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 14, 2005
Internet satire takes on mighty drug industry
Taking a page from the Internet bloggers' playbook, public policy advocates at Consumers Union this week are releasing an animated satire of the drug industry -- "The Drugs I Need" -- to get Americans' attention about the need for safer, more effective and affordable prescription drugs.
The satirical song is being released through the Internet and radio stations as the United States Senate holds hearings on the safety of prescription drugs.
The animated song, created by Texas bluegrass band the Austin Lounge Lizards, is a humorous take on drug companies' billion-dollar marketing budgets, the sometimes serious side effects associated with blockbuster drugs, and the high costs that Americans pay. Among the lyrics:
You've got a headache, I've got some strange disease
Don't worry about it, this pill will set your mind at ease
It's called Progenitorivox, it's made by SquabbMerlCo.
It's a life-enhancing miracle, but there are some things you should know...
It may cause agitation, palpitations, excessive salivation,
Constipation, male lactation, rust-colored urination
Hallucinations, bad vibrations, mild electric shock sensations.
But it's worth it for the drugs I need.
"Sometimes humor is the best way to focus attention on a serious problem," said said Rob Schneider, director of Consumers Union's www.PrescriptionforChange.org campaign. "The Internet is now the place where Americans can go to directly take action on issues that affect their lives. We know consumers can take on the powerful pharmaceutical industry and change the marketplace if they join together."
Click to listen:
Windows Computers:
Most Windows computers have Windows Media Player software to view the video. If that doesn't work, try one of the other players.
Select your Internet Speed to Watch the Video:
Windows Media Player: Modem or High-Speed Internet
QuickTime Player: 'NewWindow','toolbar=yes,location=yes,directories=no,status=no,menubar=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=no,copyhistory=yes,width=400,height=400')" href="http://sv.typepad.com/forsv/2005/03/Advocacy?id=415">Modem or 'NewWindow','toolbar=yes,location=yes,directories=no,status=no,menubar=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=no,copyhistory=yes,width=400,height=400')" href="http://sv.typepad.com/forsv/2005/03/Advocacy?id=415">High-Speed Internet
RealPlayer: 'NewWindow','toolbar=yes,location=yes,directories=no,status=no,menubar=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=no,copyhistory=yes,width=400,height=400')" href="http://sv.typepad.com/forsv/2005/03/Advocacy?id=415">Modem or 'NewWindow','toolbar=yes,location=yes,directories=no,status=no,menubar=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=no,copyhistory=yes,width=400,height=400')" href="http://sv.typepad.com/forsv/2005/03/Advocacy?id=415">High-Speed Internet
Apple Computers:Most Apple computers have Quicktime software to view the video. If that doesn't work, try the other player.
Select your Internet Speed to Watch the Video:
QuickTime Player: 'NewWindow','toolbar=yes,location=yes,directories=no,status=no,menubar=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=no,copyhistory=yes,width=400,height=400')" href="http://sv.typepad.com/forsv/2005/03/Advocacy?id=415">Modem or 'NewWindow','toolbar=yes,location=yes,directories=no,status=no,menubar=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=no,copyhistory=yes,width=400,height=400')" href="http://sv.typepad.com/forsv/2005/03/Advocacy?id=415">High-Speed Internet
RealPlayer: 'NewWindow','toolbar=yes,location=yes,directories=no,status=no,menubar=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=no,copyhistory=yes,width=400,height=400')" href="http://sv.typepad.com/forsv/2005/03/Advocacy?id=415">Modem or 'NewWindow','toolbar=yes,location=yes,directories=no,status=no,menubar=yes,scrollbars=yes,resizable=no,copyhistory=yes,width=400,height=400')" href="http://sv.typepad.com/forsv/2005/03/Advocacy?id=415">High-Speed Internet
March 14, 2005 in Fun, Reality, World News | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 13, 2005
memory champion
Once again Ram Kolli has won the National Memory Championship!
CONGRATULATIONS!
March 13, 2005 in Fun, Info, World News | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Using air to charge cellphones? IIT-Delhi does it!
All you need to charge your mobile is -- air!
Students at the Department of Industrial Design at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi have attached a turbine with a mobile phone that helps charge it even when the user is travelling, Head of the Department Professor Lalit Kumar Das told PTI.
"The electricity generated by the turbine when moved by wind energy could charge a cellphone in an emergency. It generates electricity to the tune of 3 to 4 watts which is sufficient to charge a mobile phone," he said.
The specially designed turbine, which costs about Rs 200 to be developed inside a laboratory, is so small that it could be easily kept in a pocket, he said.
The primary objective of the device is to extend mobile 'connectivity' where there is no electricity. The device also saves energy, though not to a significant extent, he said.
The electricity could also be used for other purposes such as illumination and playing a radio. High intensity light devices (HILDs) and radio require low energy to function that could be easily provided by the turbine, he said.
The device is best suited for coastal areas where the wind flows almost continuously.
The technique is not yet commercialised but the department has sent a proposal to the ministry of science and technology to help manufacture the turbine on a large scale, Das said.
"The device will help mobile phone users charge their phones while travelling in a bus, a car or a train. All they need to do is -- place the turbine against the wind flow. It will use wind energy to move the turbine thereby generating energy," he said.
The students have also used a spring in the device that can store energy through a handle. It could be used to charge a mobile during power cuts, the scientist added.
(via Rediff)
March 13, 2005 in Tech/Science | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
# posted by SV @ 3/19/2005 12:00:00 AM