Nasa's future Lunar exploration truck-size vehicle

Nasa's future electric Lunar Rover for exploration

17 January, 2009. I came across this article and was fascinated by this prototype version of the planet exploration Lunar Rover.

Sweet ride ... the Rover has beds and a toilet for lunar overnighters / NASA image

A PROTOTYPE of NASA's Lunar Electric Rover will make the journey along Washington's Pennsylvania Avenue on the day of Barack Obama's presidential inauguration, the space agency says.

The pickup truck-sized vehicle, which is equipped with beds and a toilet, can accommodate two astronauts for a fortnight for extended lunar explorations.

To be able to cover the moon's rugged terrain, the electric-motored vehicle can also move in any direction - even sideways, like a crab.

Its versatility may not be as useful on January 21 (Australian time), but it will have a good view of the elite guests, dignitaries and Washington insiders that will line the inaugural parade route, as Mr Obama moves from the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol to his new residence at the White House.

Unless the Obama administration makes changes to current plans, US astronauts are set to return to the moon before 2020 under the Constellation program, with the aim of establishing permanent lunar bases.

The visit is widely considered to be the first step towards further exploring the solar system, including an eventual colonisation of Mars.

NASA also said it is also developing new technologies for the rover that can be applied to electric vehicles on Earth. (http://www.news.com.au/story)

Hudson River Miracle...cartoon..Not funny

Hudson River Cartoon. Is it offensive, I ask?

17 January, 2009. NOT VERY FUNNY......SILLY SKETCH. I came across this sketch by "MATT", cartoonist for the Telegraph, UK. This guy needs a kick up his ass. OK. Not funny. Ask those poor passengers.. I'll let my readers make their own opinions....

Like I said, ask these poor passengers below..what it must have been like a few minutes before crashing in the river...facing almost certain death... Yes, your silly sketch is definitely not funny.....

Top Hat and Suit of Abraham Lincoln on diaplay at the Smithsonian

Abraham Lincoln's top hat, suit on view at Smithsonian

16 January, 2009. Below is seen the suit and top hat that were worn by Abraham Lincoln. Since this coming week is Presidential inauguration of Barack Obama and the fact that he is using Lincoln's bible to take the Presidential oath, I came across this article and thought that my readers may want to see something from the Lincoln era. I am also looking at this picture for the first time.

A black broadcloth suit and top hat worn by President Abraham Lincoln during his presidency is seen.

WASHINGTON – More than 60 objects from President Abraham Lincoln's life are going on display at the National Museum of American History days before President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration, which will echo themes from the 16th president.

The exhibit, "Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life," opens Friday and features the top hat Lincoln wore the night he was assassinated. Other items include his office suit and Mary Todd Lincoln's purple gown, signs from the 1860 presidential campaign and casts of Lincoln's face and hands. The gallery also includes pictures from Lincoln's inaugurations in 1861 and 1865.

"In some ways, it's an exhibit we've been working on for about 140 years," said curator Harry Rubenstein. Lincoln's top hat was the first of Lincoln's belongings to come to the Smithsonian Institution in 1867, though it was hidden away for 26 years.

"I think when you see all of these pieces, you will see a different Lincoln — a more intimate look, " Rubenstein said. "It also helps to make the mythic Lincoln come to life."

This is the first major Lincoln exhibit at the Smithsonian in about 50 years and the first to gather all the museum's objects together in a single exhibit, curators said. It was planned for the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth in February.

The exhibit will be on view for at least two years in a gallery near the "American Presidency" exhibit. Another temporary exhibit opening Friday features documents on loan from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Illinois.

A rare signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, on loan from Washington businessman David Rubenstein, also is on temporary display.

Washington's historical attractions have been drawing big crowds in recent months. More than 550,000 people have visited the American History museum since it reopened in November following a two-year renovation, museum director Brent Glass said.

Obama's inauguration theme, "A New Birth of Freedom," is a phrase from Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

(http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20090116/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_smithsonian_lincoln_display)

India is NOT all slums and Dogs says AB

India ain’t all slums and dogs

15 January, 2009. While watching the Golden Globe Awards the other day, I noticed that the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" picked up quite a few awards. However, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, the legendary Indian film actor (one time politician) disagrees with all the silly hoopla associated with this movie. I mean come on, here in the US you can see terrible slums, in London too and in many other western cities in Europe.... but nobody want's to make a movie about these 'western slums'. Never heard of the character "Danny Boyle'...maybe he should also make a movie about slums in NY and London, right in his own backyard...He will be surprised what he would find ... I agree with the comments below.

Amitabh Bachchan isn’t as taken with Danny Boyle’s Oscar favourite, Slumdog Millionaire, as the rest of the world seems to be.

Amitabh Bachchan

Blogging from Paris a few days ago, where he saw migrants begging on the streets, the actor wrote, “They are migrants or asylum seekers from nearby or distant country and are begging he (his driver) informs me... On blog, comments for the film ‘SlumDog Millionaire’ and the anger by some on its contents, prompt me to say the above.

If SM projects India as Third World dirty under belly developing nation and causes pain and disgust among nationalists and patriots, let it be known that a murky under belly exists and thrives even in the most developed nations. Its just that the SM idea authored by an Indian and conceived and cinematically put together by a Westerner, gets creative Globe recognition.

The other would perhaps not... The commercial escapist world of Indian Cinema had vociferously battled for years, on the attention paid and the adulation given to the legendary Satyajit Ray at all the prestigious Film Festivals of the West, and not a word of appreciation for the entertaining mass oriented box office block busters that were being churned out from Mumbai. The argument. Ray portrayed reality... But look how rapidly all that is changing...”

(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/AB_India_aint_all_slums_dogs/articleshow/3984007.cms)

U2's New Album - A Review

A review of the U2's New Album

15 January, 2009. A review by Neil McCormick of the Telegraph, UK. For my readers who are fans of U2.

I got to hear the new U2 album in its complete and final form. I can't say too much about it now, for fear that the skylight of my attic office would explode in a shower of glass and a black pvc clad figure descend from wires to seize my computer, leaving behind only a pair of blue tinted wraparound sunglasses.

Prone to exaggeration: Bono of U2 PHOTO EPA

Actually, I'd be more likely to find a drum stick rammed up my hard drive. Bono is the least of my worries. If it was up to him, the U2 singer would take this album around to every house in the country and sell it door to door with a money back guarantee. He says 'No Line In The Horizon' is the album U2 always wanted to make. He always was an excitable fellow, but he might actually be right.

So what can I tell you without infringing copyright? It took two listens to find my way into it, which has to be good a thing. It is dense, twisty, shiny, modern pop music, a big mash up of Eno ambience, Edge electricity, rhythm and soul. There are verses and choruses, though not necessarily in that order (and quite often its hard to tell which is which). It doesn't feel the need to hit you over the head, but has the Ninja confidence to sneak up and take you unawares. It makes love like its making war. It hasn't frontloaded all its big guns. There is a surge in the middle perfectly timed to quell any uprising, and a killer twist at the end. It could be the glittering sonic mind meld of pop rock and soul that Zooropa wanted to be. Or maybe, like Bono, I'm am just prone to exaggeration.

Bono says I listen to their new albums like a bodyguard. He is probably right. I approach with trepidation, protective of the band's place in my heart and ready to defend them should they drop their guard or their standards. Fortunately, they haven't had to call on my fighting skills yet (though we have had a couple of skirmishes).

A disclaimer: look, I am well aware there are a lot of people out there who find The Man Who Saved The World (as he is known to close friends such as the Pope) (only kidding) a pompous, egotistic, over-bearing, messianic megalomaniac (I think that about covers it), and furthermore consider U2 to be overblown, over-rated stadium rockists with nary a hint of nuance or subtlety. Some of you read this blog and leave derogatory messages every time I mention Bono's name. Well, get over it. Yes, I like U2. Yes, I went to school with them and was a fan from before they were even U2, but only because they were great then, and they are great now.

Here's the thing: I am not alone in holding them in high esteem. They have been together for over 30 years and sold 130 million albums around the world. Many key rock bands of the moment (Coldplay, The Killers, Arcade Fire, Kings Of Leon, Keane) openly incorporate their influence, and covet their slot at the top of the pile. Brandon Flowers of the Killers recently told me, "They're unbelievable, but they're getting old ... It feels like it's time." On this evidence, anyone who wants to shift U2 off their pedestal is going to have to take it by force.

(http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/neil_mccormick/blog/2009/01/15/u2s_no_line_in_the_horizon_the_new_album)

Tips for keeping your email inbox SAFE

5 tips to keep your inbox safe

Emails asking people to send money abroad so that they can collect lottery money are passe now. Latest is a new online scam with an all new modus operandi that has left even security experts clueless.

Recently a college student received an email from his friend asking for 1,200 pounds as he had lost his wallet. It came from the account of someone she knew and even bore his digital signature. However, later she found out that his friend never wrote the email.

Few months back, a businessman approached the cyber crime cell after some of his friends received a mail from his Hotmail account requesting them to send him Rs 1.27 lakh. And mind you, such incidents are on a rise, security experts have warned that cyber criminals are hacking mail accounts and sending mails to addresses in the contact list to extract money.

So, how can you make sure you don't become a victim of one? Here are five golden rules to follow to make sure you don't become a victim. The best way to avoid such a situation is to have two email IDs with separate and long passwords -- one official, the other for personal use. Not only it will leave you better organised, but is the easiest way to keep cyber criminals at bay.

Also, be sure of the password you use. Remember, while easy passwords leave little room for forgetting, they leave a lot of scope for tinkering by cyber hackers. With Internet becoming an important repository of our personal information both financial and otherwise, the stakes can be high if the same is tampered with.

So try using some mixed combos that can secure your mail. Length is a huge advantage to memorise your password. And always remember your name, spouse name, children names or birthdays are a strict no no. In case you receive emails saying 'You have won $50,000' or 'You won a trip to US', beware. There is surely a hidden trap in it. Don't get tempted by such mails as these may lead you to malicious sites. You may end up downloading a virus or in a worst case surrender your computer to a hacker. Also, do not click on random links, especially on invitation from ‘hot sirens.’ Watch out for email-related scams such as phishing lotteries, windfalls, jobs, gifts, inheritance, etc.

If you receive an email asking you to give your personal information by clicking a website link in the email, do not do so. Instead, go directly to the sender’s website by typing in the sender’s website address. Install security software to scan and remove viruses and spywares. Regularly check for security updates for your computer. Most security updates are aimed at reducing risks to your computer, these may be data-related or otherwise.

In a 24X7 online environment, it is important to have anti-virus and anti-spyware programmes installed for secure online experience. Also, these programmes need to be frequently updated to avoid any attack on your computer. You can do a recee of the Internet for popular anti-virus and anti-spyware solutions. There are also several paid options like McAfee, Norton Anti-virus and Trend Micro. (http://infotech.indiatimes.com/quickiearticleshow/3956536.cms)

Obama's new Presidential Limousine

New Presidential limousine

14 January, 2009: I came across this article in the BBC,UK and I thought many of my readers would be interested.

It looks like something out of a James Bond film.

But the presidential seal on the side marks this hulking limo out as something not even the superspy will be able to get his hands on.

These are the first pictures of the new armoured limousine which will be used to ferry Barack Obama around.

Nicknamed "The Beast", the Cadillac will make its debut on 20 January, as part of the inaugural parade.

It is traditional to show presidential cars off for the first time in this way.

'State of the art'

The Secret Service said the 2009 limo would provide it with a "valuable asset" in providing its occupant with the highest level of protection.

As expected, they are not giving too much away about the car, but Nicholas Trotta, their Assistant Director for the Office of Protective Operations is quoted in their news release:

"Although many of the vehicles' security enhancements cannot be discussed, it is safe to say that this car's security and coded communications systems make it the most technologically advanced protection vehicle in the world."

Observers say the car is likely to include bullet proof glass, an armoured body, a separate oxygen supply, and a completely sealed interior to protect against a chemical attack.

Some joke the car is so tough it could withstand a rocket-propelled grenade. Its tyres are said to work flat, so the vehicle will keep going even if shot at.

While the car's interior is a closely guarded secret, there is no doubt "The Beast" has been kitted out with the best and most up-to-date equipment.

David Caldwell, a spokesman for General Motors which makes Cadillac, told the BBC that the car is made to specifications that the company is given by the federal government.

"One of the specifications is that we don't talk about the specifications," he said.

But Mr Caldwell did reveal that the car has been made in keeping with the design of a contemporary Cadillac, and would include a hand-crafted interior.

When asked if it included such extras as an ipod dock, he said he could not comment specifically, but added that the limo would have "state of the art electronics".
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7829475.stm)