Save Windows XP! The clock started ticking..!

Microsoft will end OEM and shrink-wrapped sales of Windows XP on June 30, 2008, forcing users to shift to Vista. (System builders, meaning those who do white-box PCs, can sell XP through December 31) Don't let that happen!

Millions of us have grown comfortable with XP and don't see a need to change to Vista. It's like having a comfortable apartment that you've enjoyed coming home to for years, only to get an eviction notice. The thought of moving to a new place - even with the stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and maple cabinets (or is cherry in this year?) - just doesn't sit right. Maybe it'll be more modern, but it will also cost more and likely not be as good a fit. And you don't have any other reason to move.

That's exactly the conclusion people have come to with Vista. For most of us, there's really no reason to move to it -- yet we don't have a choice. When that strong desire to stick with XP became obvious in spring 2007, major computer makers such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard quietly reintroduced new XP-based systems. Come June 30, however, even that option goes away.

So what to do? Let Microsoft decide where you’re personal and enterprise software "lives"? Or send a loud and clear message that you don't want to move?

We're going for the loud-and-clear option. Join us, and tell Microsoft that you want to keep XP available indefinitely. Not for another six months or a year but indefinitely.

And ask your friends and colleagues to join in, too. Just point them to SaveXP.com for a quick link to this page.

Don't think Microsoft will listen? Consider this: Although Microsoft denies that anything is wrong with Vista or that most people don't want it, the company has already postponed XP's demise by six months. That's a start, but it's not good enough. Microsoft doesn't have to admit failure; it can just say it will keep XP available indefinitely due to customer demand.

Make your voice heard to Microsoft. Sign our petition to save XP today. We will present it to Microsoft.

Keywords: Microsoft Corp., Microsoft XP, Microsoft Vista, Bill Gates,

Reliance Power Bonus Shares Issue: 3 Bonus Shares for Every 5 Held

As Reliance Power Board announced to give free bonus shares to all it’s shareholders to compensate the losses everyone has suffered when the company was listed and was down by 32%. The company had issued the shares at Rs 450 while giving a discount Rs 20 a share to retail investors and accrued Rs 7,500 crore from IPO.

As per our updated before on Reliance power bonus shares, Anil Ambani promoted Reliance Power declared a bonus share ratio for this bonus issue. The investors would cut down their losses by as much as 40% over the IPO price after the company announced the bonus issue on Sunday.

The board of directors at its meeting considered and approved a bonus issue, excluding promoters, wherein three shares would be allotted for every five held by the non-promoter shareholders.

“This move would effectively reduce the cost of Reliance Power shares from the IPO price,” Reliance Power Chairman Anil Ambani said.

Reliance Power has informed that the Register of Members & Share Transfer Books of the Company will remain closed from June 03, 2008 to June 05, 2008 for the purpose of Issue and allotment of Bonus shares.

All shareholders of the Company's records hold shares as at the end of business hours on June 02, 2008, irrespective of whether such shares were subscribed by the shareholders in the Company's Initial Public Offering (IPO) or such shares were purchased from the secondary market or otherwise after the IPO, shall be eligible to receive the bonus Shares.

Here are few questions answered for you people:

What will be the new value of IPO shares for retail investors?

The new IPO shares price for retail investors would be Rs 269

Whom these Reliance Power bonus shares are allotted to?

These shares will be allotted to every shareholder who has the shares on record date.

Keywords: Reliance, Reliance IPO, Reliance Power Ltd, Anil Ambani, Initial Public Offer (IPO)

NASA’s Mission Phoenix on MARS

A telescopic camera in orbit around Mars caught a view of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander suspended from its parachute during the lander's successful arrival at Mars Sunday evening, May 25.

The image from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter marks the first time ever one spacecraft has photographed another one in the act of landing on Mars.

Meanwhile, scientists pored over initial images from Phoenix, the first ever taken from the surface of Mars' polar regions. Phoenix returned information that it was in good health after its first night on Mars, and the Phoenix team sent the spacecraft its to-do list for the day.

"We can see cracks in the troughs that make us think the ice is still modifying the surface," said Phoenix Principal Investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson. "We see fresh cracks. Cracks can't be old. They would fill in." Camera pointing for the image from HiRISE used navigational information about Phoenix updated on landing day. The camera team and Phoenix team would not know until the image was sent to Earth whether it had actually caught Phoenix.

McEwen said, "We've never taken an image at such an oblique angle before."

Monday's tasks for Phoenix include checkouts of some instruments and systems, plus additional imaging of the lander's surroundings.

Keywords: NASA, NASA's Phoenix, MARS, HiRISE, Earth, Globe

Indian Govt. to take Fuel Price RISE decision soon..!

With the price of oil skyrocketing Indian consumers are waiting anxiously for their governments' decision on raising petrol prices. After pressure from the left, second round of cabinet talks are planned with a decision expected soon. India's Petroleum Ministry on Friday said a domestic fuel price hike was "inevitable" to bail out state oil firms that sell fuel at hugely discounted rates and are reeling from surging global prices.

A "price hike is inevitable," Petroleum Secretary M.S. Srinivasan said, but added the "specific quantity of the price increase" was still being worked out. The Press Trust of India reported without naming sources that the petroleum ministry was seeking a 10-rupee-a-litre increase in Petrol prices and a 5-rupee-a-litre hike in Diesel prices. Based on current pump prices in New Delhi, this would represent a 22 percent increase for Petrol and 16 percent on Diesel.

State-owned refiners have been reporting combined revenue losses of 105 million dollars a day as international prices have surged. The government sets the massively discounted prices at which fuels are sold to shield the country's poverty-hit masses from high fuel costs and to help contain inflation.

The ministry was proposing a combination of price hikes and duty cuts to reduce the revenue shortfalls suffered by state-owned refiners from sales of petrol, diesel, liquid petroleum gas and kerosene.

But the Congress-led government which faces general elections within a year, is fearful any fuel rise could trigger a backlash from voters already reeling from high overall inflation running at 7.82 percent, far above the central bank's target of 5.5 percent.

In February this year, India hiked gasoline and diesel prices for the first time in 20 months.

Keywords: Indian Petroleum Ministry, Petroleum, Petrol, Diesel, Indian Economy

Google expands Free Phone Number and Voicemail Project

Google is partnering with homeless shelters in San Francisco to distribute free phone numbers and voicemail accounts to those without homes, the company said Wednesday.

The Internet giant is expanding a service that was started by Grand Central, a San Francisco-based start-up that Google acquired last year. Grand Central's technology allows calls to be routed to a home, business, or cell phone using a single phone number. The service offers people a way to organize and unify their communications, a Google spokesman said.

Grand Central had already been offering the free phone number and voicemail service to people in San Francisco through Mayor Gavin Newsom's Project Homeless Connect, which brings together nonprofit organizations and other social-service providers in one location to provide on-the-spot services for homeless. The services include medical, mental health, substance abuse, housing, dental, and legal services, plus free eyeglasses, California ID, food, clothing, and wheelchair repair.

Since the acquisition of Grand Central last year, Google has been participating in periodic Project Homeless Connect events in which it has been providing the homeless with free phone numbers and voicemail accounts that they can access from any phone. More than 4,000 phone numbers and voicemail accounts have been distributed this way, Craig Walker, a senior product manager of voice products for Google, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

On Wednesday, Google announced that it would expand Grand Central's project and partner directly with homeless shelters that will now be able to give out phone numbers and voicemail accounts and help individuals set up their accounts anytime. The idea is to expand the service, and eventually offer it in other cities, a Google spokesman said.

"When you lose your home, you lose more than your house," said Google's spokesman. "You lose a permanent way of staying in touch with family members, employers, and social service providers. Being able to give a phone number to people and access voicemail can be a very powerful thing in sustaining quality of life."

Keywords: VoIP, Google, Grand Central, Free voicemail and Phone number

Top Golden Rules of Dalal Street for Investments/Savings

Currently, the Indian markets are in doldrums and nobody is talking of stocks or investments. You may think justifiably so, as the markets are headed in no direction. Is it not exactly the opposite of the exuberant times we were witnessing a few months back. Conversely, bottoms are made in turbulent times.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to say when the markets will halt their southward journey and change direction for the better. Who knows, we might have already hit the bottom and the markets may soon return back to their upward trajectory. My empirical observation and research have proved it that wealth making in the market has more to do with discipline and the power of time to compound growth than being smart at stock picking and timing the markets just right.

To help you in your quest to make wealth in our markets, I suggest you follow the golden rules of markets that will virtually ensure reasonable, steady wealth appreciation.

Bear in mind, you cannot have your cake and eat it too. Saving and consumption do not go hand-in-hand. You need to plan today for the lifestyle you want after you stop working, i.e. the finances you will require after you retire. Accordingly, save the necessary portion of your income to invest in equities. Equities, or stocks, may appear risky, but they are just volatile, they go up and down, and time is the perfect hedge against volatility.

Therefore, Rule No 1: Plan for tomorrow, today. Start saving for it now! Stagger your investments throughout your earning phase. Invest regularly and invest for the long term to buy in at an average price that includes both markets’ up and down ticks.

Never wait until you have large amounts of money to invest. However small the amount you are able to save, start early. The earlier you start, the better are your chances of making great wealth. Remember to make great gains. Time is a crucial factor, as wealth creation is a factor of both the power of compounding and the returns on your investments.

Accordingly, Rule No 2: Start early so that the power of compounding begins sooner; time is the magic that converts paise into rupees. In exuberant phases, when we have earned good money from our investments, most of us get greedy, and derivatives and futures provide an outlet for the expression of human greed. While such instruments often satisfy the whims of human greed, if taken to unrealistic levels, irresponsible investment in these securities can lead to financial ruin.

Hence, Rule No 3: Do not leverage, it is difficult, if not impossible, to predict short-term trends.

Buy markets, not stocks. We all know that our economy is in a secular phase of prosperity and the stock market is the best proxy for the growth of an economy. To benefit from our soaring economy, buy the market as a whole and not any single stock.

Consequently, Rule No 4: Buy stocks that mirror the broader indexes, but never buy a single, or a handful of stock exposures. This means that you need to spread your risk across various market segments in the event a particular stock does not perform for reasons beyond the company’s control. It is easier to predict company earnings, but difficult to predict stock prices of the same company in the short run. Ironically, over the long term, stock prices mirror growth in a corporation’s earnings.

“Wish you all happy savings and happy investments” – Global NEWS.

Keywords: Investments, Savings, Sensex, Dalal Sreet, Equities, Mutual Funds.

US Recession may be Worse than Feared: Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett, the world's richest person, said on Monday the US Economy is in a Recession that will be more severe than most people expect. Buffett made his comments on CNBC television after his Berkshire Hathaway Inc agreed to invest $6.5 billion in the takeover of chewing gum maker Wm Wrigley Jr Co by Mars Inc in a $23 billion transaction.

"This is not a field of specialty for me, but my general feeling is that the recession will be longer and deeper than most people think," Buffett said. "This will not be short and shallow. I think consumers are feeling gas and food prices," he added, "and not feeling they've got a lot of money for other things." He was not immediately available for further comment.

Known for his frugality, the 77-year-old Buffett has lived in the same 10-room Omaha, Nebraska, house for a half-century, despite being worth an estimated $62 billion. On Wednesday, the U.S. Commerce Department is expected to say how fast the economy grew in the first quarter. Economists on average have projected that gross domestic product grew at an annualized 0.2 percent rate in the quarter.

Two quarters of declining GDP is a traditional indicator of recession. That last happened in 2001. Economists expect the U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday to cut a key lending rate for a seventh time beginning last September. Berkshire is a $197 billion conglomerate best known for its insurance holdings, such as auto insurer Geico Corp, but it owns more than 70 businesses.

In March, Forbes magazine pegged Buffett's net worth at $62 billion, ahead of Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim's $60 billion and Microsoft Corp Chairman Bill Gates's $58 billion. Gates is a friend of Buffett and a Berkshire director.

Keywords: Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Carlos Slim, USA Economy, USA Recession, Berkshire Hathaway Inc, Wm Wrigley Jr Co.

Microsoft's Board Fails to Decide on YAHOO Bid

Microsoft Corp's board met on Wednesday to discuss its stand-off with Yahoo Inc over its $41.8 billion takeover bid, but failed to reach a decision on what to do next, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Microsoft's board of directors is still weighing whether to adopt a hostile approach and nominate a proxy slate of directors to replace Yahoo's board, sweeten its cash-and-stock offer for Yahoo, or possibly walk away from the deal, the Journal said. A Microsoft spokesman was not available for comment. A Microsoft-imposed deadline for Yahoo to start talks on a final deal or face a proxy battle passed last Saturday. An announcement from Microsoft is expected later this week, the report said.

Microsoft, according to the report, has indicated it would be willing to raise its bid to as much as $33 per share but such an offer may still fall short of the $35 to $37 per share that Yahoo's major shareholders are looking for. Meanwhile, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, who is also a member of the board, has appeared ready in recent days to abandon the offer since Yahoo and its major shareholders want significantly more money, according to the Journal.

Ballmer had said last week that Microsoft was considering walking away from the deal. But most Wall Street analysts dismiss this as a hardball negotiating tactic rather than a real threat to end its two-year-long pursuit of a deal.

Keywords: Microsoft Corp, Yahoo Inc, Steve Ballmer, Wall Street Journal

VODAFONE and Microsoft to launch SMS Search Services in INDIA

Mobile service provider Vodafone on Tuesday said it has joined hands with Microsoft India to provide its users SMS search service at a rate of 30 paisa per query.

This SMS search service, powered by Microsoft's live search, is being developed at Microsoft India Development Center (MSIDC), a joint statement said.

The search service would enable users to send their queries through SMS text message at a rate of 30 paisa per query.

"We have incorporated some unique features in SMS search service like local results based on the users city location, keeping track of users search session for 24 hours and delivering results formatted to match the users phone capabilities," Gurpreet S Pall, Director of Live Search and Emerging Markets at MSIDC said.

The service will provide Vodafone mobile users to search contents such as ringtones, images, local directory information.

However, currently the new search directory information service would be available in 8 cities mainly Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad with 21 more cities expected to join the list soon

Keywords: Vodafone, Microsoft, Nokia Mobile, SMS Search Service, MSIDC

INDIA PSLV-C9 Launched Successfully with 10 Satellites

India's PSLV-C9 blasted off into space, carrying ten satellites including the country's latest remote sensing satellite CARTOSAT-2A, from Indian Space Research Ogranisation's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Monday.

It was an awesome sight as the workhorse launch vehicle of ISRO roared into the skies leaving behind a trail of smoke and a rumble that shook the earth. A galaxy of scientists, led by ISRO Chief G Madhavan Nair, watched the course of the flight with bated breath.

Scientists cheered as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its thirteenth flight, soared into the clear sky in a perfect lift off at 9.23 am from the second launch pad.

Besides the 690 kg CARTOSAT-2A, the PSLV is also carrying ISRO's Indian Mini Satellite-1, weighing 83 kg, and eight nano satellites built by universities and research institutes in Canada and Germany.

While the CARTOSAT-2A, carrying state-of-the-art panchromatic camera, will be used for mapping purposes and management of natural resources, the IMS-1 will be used as a platform for trying out advanced technology in future launches.

“India can build any type of SLV”, said by A P J Abdul Kalam and we hope the same and wish India all the very success.

Keywords: PSLV-C9, CARTOSAT-2A, ISRO, Sriharikota, India

Indian Premier League Analysis

Indian Premier League already witnessed some exciting contests and wonderful performances from world cricket stars. But teams like Hyderabad surprisingly lost all three matches due to lack of proper planning. Everyone can learn cricket/real life lessons from these IPL T20 matches.

Lessons from Indian Premier League Cricket match so-far:

1. Hyderabad Deccan Chargers: This is a classic case of fall from grace.

A. You need a motivational leader to win a contest. A weak leader like Laxman is a minus point.

B. You need proper planning and unbiased selection to win in any sport.

C. You need a team which is strong in all departments. Hyderabad bought 4 hard hitters and forgot about other departments.

D. You need bench strength in case of emergency. What will they do when Symonds will not available in the last weeks of May?

2. Kolkata Knight Riders:

A. It has exciting passionate owner like Shahrukh Khan (He is like Mark Cuban of NBA).

B. It has inspirational leader like Sourav Ganguly who will not settle for second place.

3. Jaipur IPL: Shane Warne is doing magic both on and off the field with his bowling, inspiring captaincy and tactical coaching. A genius leader like Warne can spot ability in young cricketers and raise their game level.

4. Delhi Daredevils: They believed in true world class players but not bits and pieces. Bowlers like Glenn McGrath and Mohammad Asif are giving superb starts with their accurate bowling. Class is permanent.

5. Bangalore Royal Challengers: They too believed in world class bowlers like Dale Steyn, Anil Kumble, Nathan Bracken and Zaheer Khan. True all-rounder like Praveen kumar is an additional bonus. But they picked world class test batsmen for Twenty20 cricket games.

6. Mohali IPL: They picked players for advertisement needs. Yuvraj picked wayward bowler like Sreesanth because of friendship which cost them both matches.

7. Mumbai Indians: When a real icon like Sachin Tendulkar will not play, their game plans will not work and team members will miss that “some thing”. But they tried their best in both matches. Return of Sachin will change the fortunes of Mumbai Indians.

8. Chennai Super Kings: What you will need when you have a cool, glamorous and inspiring captain like Dhoni in your team? What you will need when you have talented and committed players like Hayden and Hussey in your ranks?

Most awaited matches:

1. Chennai Super Kings Vs Kolkata Knight Riders.

2. Delhi Dare Devils Vs Chennai

3. Kolkata Vs Delhi IPL.

We will learn new lessons after seeing the results of above match. Mathew Hayden will miss Man of the tournament award due to Australia's tour of West Indies.

So far this IPL has been so successful for entertaining the audiences and hope the same in the coming matches.

Keywords: IPL, Indian Premier League, Twenty-Twenty, T20, IPL T20, DLF IPL

Now, Airlines charge for e-Booking in INDIA

Flying is fast getting more expensive. Within days of all domestic airlines hiking fuel surcharge, some carriers have added yet another surcharge to their ticket costs. Low-cost carriers SpiceJet and IndiGo have started levying a Web transaction (e-booking) charge of Rs 50 on each ticket, taking total levies to Rs 2,225 (for flights about an hour duration, excluding basic fares) and Rs 2,425 for longer domestic flights.

"Our cost of hosting the website by systems in US had gone up. We had been absorbing this but now felt that some part could be passed on. Hence the Rs 50 Web Transaction Charge," said Kamal Hingorani, SpiceJet VP. IndiGo has also levied the same charge. GoAir has had a 'service' charge of Rs 25 for a while. IndiGo CEO Bruce Ashby said the airline had a flat transaction surcharge of Rs 100 for both call centre and website bookings for a year, starting from its launch in August 2006 and then suspended it.

"Some companies retained their surcharge for different booking channels, like call centers. Last Friday, we decided to reintroduce Rs 50 surcharge for website and Rs 100 for call centre bookings for each ticket," Ashby said.

Asked if this additional charge -- coming on heels of a hike on fuel surcharge from Rs 1,650 to Rs 1,800 and Rs 2,000 (for short and medium sector) -- could affect passenger flow, Hingorani said: "Primarily because of expensive jet fuel, the last quarter has been a bloodbath. We are hoping that summer vacation -- from mid-April to June-end -- sees a good passenger flow."

Airlines are now desperate to increase revenues from ticket sales. For instance, GoAir offers an advance seat booking facility for an extra charge of Rs 25.

Keywords: Airlines, GoAir, SpiceJet, IndiGo

Apple fights NYC over green apple logo

Look at this logo for a moment:

If you saw it on a reusable cloth shopping bag, would you think for a moment, "Hey, that must be Apple's new iBag!"? Apparently, Apple is worried that's the case. The above logo is actually the emblem of New York City's GreeNYC campaign, the Big Apple's move to encourage denizens and visitors to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases.

In case you can't tell, the GreeNYC logo is a combination of the infinity symbol and a green apple, the implied message being something along the lines of, "Let's keep the Big Apple green for all eternity." Apple maintains that the GreeNYC looks too much like its own corporate logo, which, of course, looks like this (in green).

The company has gone so far as to file a formal complaint with the U.S Patent and Trade Office against the GreeNYC logo, according to Wired, claiming that it will confuse people -- and potentially tarnish Apple's good name. "Any defect, objection or fault found with [GreeNYC's] goods and services marketed under [GreeNYC's] marks would necessarily reflect upon and seriously injure the reputation which [Apple] has established for its goods and services," the claim states

NYC's response, according to Wired: ’The city believes that Apple's claims have no merit and that no consumer is likely to be confused,’ says Gerald Singleton, the intellectual-property lawyer representing the Big Apple. 'This well-known city is using its new design in a variety of contexts that have absolutely nothing to do with Apple Inc.'

Keywords: Apple Computers, Apple Inc, NYC, GreenNYC, Big Apple.

WiMax coming to Nokia's N810 Internet Mobile..!

Turns out the rumors were true - the feature-packed Nokia N810 will, indeed, be getting WiMax connectivity, although finding a WiMax Network to use it on will be a challenge. Nokia just announced that the N810 WiMax Edition will hit the streets this summer, in "areas where WiMax connectivity is available." Pricing hasn't been set yet, although it's worth noting that the standard Wi-Fi N810 goes for $480.

WiMax, as you may recall, is the upcoming wireless technology that promises much greater speed and range than standard Wi-Fi; in fact, a few WiMax access points could conceivably cover an entire city.

The only problem, however, is that WiMax is just barely getting off the ground here in the States. Sprint is the prime mover for WiMax here in the States, and the last I heard, its planned WiMax network (dubbed Xohm, pronounced "Zoom") will soft-launch in just three markets—Chicago, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.—later this month. Beyond that, Sprint's WiMax rollout plans remain maddeningly nebulous.

Besides its WiMax capabilities, the new N810 will comes with the same basic features as the Wi-Fi version, including a WVGA touch screen, a slide-out QWERTY keypad, GPS, Nokia's Web browser (complete with Ajax and Flash support), Bluetooth 2.0, and a VGA Web cam.

Keywords: Nokia, Nokia N Series, Nokia 810 Mobile, WiMax, Wi-Fi Network.

The iPhone of Digital Photo Frames?

It's hard to say whether this is innovative or just another company jumping on the touch-based gesture bandwagon, but Pandigital's announced a new line of Digital Photo Frames with "intuitive" touch controls. Not surprisingly, the line's called PanTouch, but what's weird about it is that the whole touch part doesn't apply to the screen itself but the frame around the display.

What's this mean exactly? Well, check out the image and you'll notice that good looking index finger is touching the edge of the frame, not the screen itself. The press release says, "Customers can use touch and swipe motions on the surrounding matte to access to digital images, MP3 music and video clips." On a more mundane level, PanTouch frames will come in three models and sport 512MB of internal memory.

OK, this isn't exactly the way Apple would do a photo frame, but Pandigital appears to be doing its best to inject a little flare into the digital photo frame game. We'll let you know if it's a stupid idea--or not--when we get our hands on one, which should be soon.

Keywords: Apple Computers, Digital Photo Frames, PanTouch Frames

Anil Ambani & Kotak groups setting up Commodity Bourses?

The Reliance Anil Ambani group is believed to have decided to enter the commodity trading business by setting up a large exchange in the country as part of its plans to capitalize on the vast opportunities in this market.

Besides Anil Ambani, another corporate giant Kotak Group is also thinking over setting up a Commodity Bourse by acquisition of some regional exchange to get the platform and other technical support, sources close to the development said.



Keywords: Reliance, Anil Ambani, Kotak Group, Kotak Bank, Kotak Securities

Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR)

An artificial disc is a device that is implanted into the spine to replace a degenerative disc, whose regular function is to carry weight and allow motion. A disc is the soft cushioning structure between the individual bones of the spine, (called vertebra).

Artificial discs are usually made of metal and plastic-like (biopolymer) materials, or a combination of the two. These materials have been used in the body for many years.

The reasons for choosing to replace a disc may vary for each condition. Generally, if the pain caused by the affected disc has not been reduced enough with non-surgical treatments, such as medication, injections, or physical therapy, a doctor may suggest disc replacement.

Currently, Artificial Disc Replacement is considered experimental and is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Most of the research that has been conducted on artificial discs has been carried out in Europe. Total disc replacements have been used in Europe since the late 1980s.

In addition to the potential complications associated with undergoing surgery and general anesthesia, the complications associated with artificial disc replacement may include breakage of the metal plate, dislocation of the implant, and infection. To help minimize complications associated with the implant itself, proper selection of patients and size of implant is very important.

Finally, like joint replacement surgery, artificial implants may fail over time due to wear of the materials and loosening of the implants. Therefore, long term studies that track the life span of the implants are needed.

To read more about ADR visit the following links:

http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article1671.html http://www.dhmc.org/ortho/Spine/ArtificialDiscReplacement.html

To see the first advanced ADR surgery in INDIA, click the below link: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/First-advanced-artificial-disc-replacement-surgery-done-in-city/228525/

Keywords: Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR), Spine, FDA, Disc Replacements

10,000 Health Workers Stop Polio in Somalia

Geneva (Switzerland), March'08: Somalia is again polio-free, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) announced today, calling it a 'Historic Achievement' in public health. Somalia has not reported a case since March 25, 2007, a major landmark in the intensified eradication effort launched last year to wipe out the disease in the remaining few strongholds.

Against a backdrop of widespread conflict, large population movements and a dearth of functioning government infrastructure, transmission of poliovirus in the country has been successfully stopped.

This landmark victory is a result of the efforts of more than 10,000 Somali volunteers and health workers who repeatedly vaccinated more than 1.8 million children under the age of five by visiting every household in every settlement multiple times, across a country ranked one of the most dangerous places on earth.

The use of innovative approaches tailored to conflict areas was pivotal in stopping polio in the country. These included increased community involvement and the effective use of monovalent vaccines to immunize children in insecure areas with several doses, within a short period of time.

"This truly historic achievement shows that polio can be eradicated everywhere, even in the most challenging and difficult settings," said Dr Hussein A Gezairy, Regional Director for the World Health Organization's Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.

§ Polio, which can cause lifelong paralysis, has been stopped nearly everywhere in the world following a 20-year concerted international effort. Only four polio-endemic countries remain.

§ Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan – and the eradication of polio globally now depends primarily on stopping the disease in these countries. Consistent financial commitment continues to be crucial to completing polio eradication.

§ The global effort currently faces a shortage of 525 million American dollars for 2008-2009, funding urgently needed to fight the disease in the remaining endemic areas and protect children in high-risk polio-free areas.

Keywords: Somalia, Polio, Geneva, Global Polio Eradication Initiative

Apples, apple juice may help keep Colon Cancer at Bay

Listening to your mother and ‘eating an apple a day to keep the doctor away’ seems to be a really good idea, for a new study has found that apple pectin and apple juice extracts have anticarcinogenic effects on the colon.

German researchers led by Dr. Dieter Schrenk found that Apples and Apple Juice enhance biological mechanisms that produce Anticarcinogenic compounds during the Fermentation process. The researchers believe that the presence of apple pectin and apple juice extracts increase the presence of the compound butyrate which is believed to be a Chemopreventative metabolite that might prevent the occurrence of Colorectal Cancer.

Butyrate is a short chain fatty acid that, the research states, “not only serves as a major nutrient for the colon epithelia but is also thought to play an important role in the protective effect of natural fiber against colorectal cancer.”

Dr Schrenk and his colleagues conducted laboratory tests in which they found that by the increased production of butyrate via the addition of apple components, Histone Deacetlyases (HDAC) were inhibited. With slowed production of HDAC, there would be significantly less growth of Precancerous and Tumour Cells.

The researchers therefore noted: “Apples are a major source of natural fiber and of low molecular weight plan polyphenols in the Western diet. Pectin-rich apple products can thus be expected to exert anticarginogenic effects in the colon.”

So don’t forget ‘an apple a day keep doctor away’.

Keywords: Apples, Health, Wellness, Histone Deacetlyases

Worst Fiscal for Sensex in last Five Years???

Stock market appears to be heading for its worst fiscal in the past five years with a 951-point fall in the benchmark Sensex on Monday dragging its year-to-date gain to just about 13 per cent. Following Monday's fall of over Six per cent, which saw the Sensex dropping to the sub-15,000 level, at least one in every three stocks is currently trading below the level it was at the beginning of the current fiscal.

The Sensex closed at 14,809.49 points at the end of today's trading, which saw an intra-day loss of 1,022 points. This represents a gain of 13.3 per cent over its level at the end of last fiscal ended March, 2007. Analysts believe there is no immediate signs of recovery in sight for the domestic market as global cues continue to worsen each passing day.

There are less than 10 days of trading left in the current fiscal, which ends on March 31, 2008. In 2006-07, the Sensex had gained 15.9 per cent, when it moved from 11,279.96 points to 13,072.10 points. Prior to that, the 30-share benchmark had registered a whopping gain of 73.7 per cent in the fiscal ended March 2006, while in 2003-04, the rise was even steeper at 83.4 per cent. In the fiscal ended March 2005, the gain was 16.1 per cent.

The market had seen losses in three consecutive fiscals before the uptrend began in the fiscal ended March 2004. The losses were of about 12 per cent, four per cent and 28 per cent in fiscals 2002-03, 2001-02 and 2000-01 respectively. Before that, the Sensex had gained about 34 per cent in 1999-2000, while it had dropped by about four per cent in 1998-99 and gained about 16 per cent in the fiscal prior to that.

An analysis of share price movements since the beginning of the current fiscal shows that close to 1,000 companies are currently trading at levels below those where they ended the last fiscal. However, close to 1,500 stocks are still maintaining a gain for the fiscal.

Today itself, as many as 125 stocks dropped to their all-time lowest levels.

Keywords: Sensex, Nifty, NSE, BSE, Indian Stock Market

Microsoft's Yahoo buy might hurt Internet World: Google

Google Inc, the world's leading search engine, said on Monday it was concerned about the free flow of information on the Internet if Microsoft Corp were to succeed in acquiring Yahoo Inc.

Last month, Microsoft proposed buying Yahoo in a deal originally worth $44.6 billion, but Yahoo's board has rejected the offer, saying it was too low. "We would be concerned by any kind of acquisition of Yahoo by Microsoft," Chief Executive Eric Schmidt told reporters.

"We would hope that anything they did would be consistent with the openness of the Internet, but I doubt it would be." Schmidt pointed to Microsoft's past history and "the things that it has done that have been so difficult for everyone", but he did not elaborate.

Last year, a European court upheld a landmark 2004 decision that Microsoft abused the near-monopoly power of its Windows OS to damage competitors, along with a 497 million euro ($695 million) fine. "We are concerned that there are things Microsoft could do that would be bad for the Internet World," said Schmidt. Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer pledged earlier this month that his company would gain market share against Google in online advertising and Web searching, even if led to his "last breath" at the company.

Keywords: Microsoft Yahoo Bid, Google Inc

USA H-1B Visa: Two new Bills to raise Capacity

Has US Congress yielded to Bill Gates appeal on H1-B visa? Not yet. But the lobbying seems to be working. Just a day after the software czar headed for Capitol Hill to lobby for the increase in the annual quota of temporary skilled worker (H-1 B) visas, two bills were introduced in the Congress to fulfill Bill's wish.

The bills introduced by two members of the US House of Representatives -- one Republican and the other a Democrat -- have introduced legislations that would increase the annual cap of temporary skilled worker (H-1 B) visas. Senator Lamar Smith, from Texas introduced a bill that would increase the annual cap on H-1B visas to 195,000, while the Democrat Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona introduced another bill that aims to take the cap to 130,000 in 2008, and increase it further depending on demand.

Smith's legislation "Strengthening United States Technology And Innovation Now Act" (SUSTAIN Act) suggests making 1,95,000 H-1 B visas as the base level for the fiscal year 2009, which will begin October 1, 2008. Alongside, Compete America, a coalition of industry, research and education institutions have also begun pitching for an increase in the annual quota.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services will start accepting applications for temporary skilled worker (H-1 B) visas from April 1 for the fiscal year 2009 that begins on October 1. As was the case in the past couple of years, it is expected that the annual quota of H-1 B visas will be exhausted on the first day itself. At present, the quota is at 65,000 visas a year. Of this, 6,800 visas are set aside for Chile and Singapore as per their trade agreements with the US.

This leaves 58,200 H-1 B visa for applicants from the rest of the world. Let’s see this year breaks the record of last year total noof processing.

Keywords: Bill Gates, H1B Visa American Visas, USCIS, SUSTAIN

IT Companies look at India as offshore R&D Centre

Few companies will look at India as their destination for Offshore R&D Centers in the next 18 months. In fact, there is already a sort of slowdown in the number of such units being set up in the country.

From 75 new offshore R&D centers in 2005, the number has dwindled to just 15 last year. There are about 600 MNC captives in India and R&D off shoring activity in the country is estimated at $6 billion and is seen as growing at 23%. Software product development captures over 50% of R&D market, with the balance contributed by embedded systems space.

According to a study, some key reasons for this trend were cost escalation of 8% to 15%, attrition of up to 20%, difficulty in scalability and lack of recruitment bandwidth. However, the silver lining is that many of the large and established R&D centers will lend a lot of buoyancy to R&D activity from India. In fact, large companies will grow till their head count reaches 30%-40% of their global R&D workforce, the study says. While there are several challenges, what has worked for some of the successful R&D captives in India is stable and strong leadership team that has spent a good number of years to stabilize the centre.

Talking about future possibilities, Indian R&D centers would be at the centre of conceptualization, design and development of low-cost products like cars, mobile chips and consumer software products. “Business model innovations will be experimented to tap the SMB market place”.

Small companies are expected to use third party services and temporary contractors to keep a check on costs while mid-sized firms, who followed the collaborative model, may move into own captive centers. Also, operating costs and wage inflation are expected to stabilize after 2009, the study forecasts.

Keywords: Indian IT/ITES

Reliance, HDFC Bank to launch Virtual Credit Card..!

Imagine your Mobile Phone doubling up as your Credit Card. Reliance Communications and HDFC Bank have joined hands to offer Virtual Mobile Credit Cards in the country. Under the scheme, a Reliance Mobile phone will get credit card functionality and the mobile number will act as the credit card number.

“Initially, the service would allow card holders to make payments to merchant partners like Adlabs, Yatra and Billdesk, with the list to be expanded to other partners follwing the roll out,” Mahesh Prasad, president of the applications, solutions and content group at Reliance Communications said.

For HDFC Bank, this will be an additional payment choice for customers who don’t want to disclose their credit card details online. “This is not an exclusive agreement. Over the next few months, we might tie up with more mobile companies as well for similar services,” said CN Ram, country head for IT, said.

The service will come with a transaction passcode and there will be no financial liability to the user in the case of mobile phone theft. It could become a preferred way of making payment in future as it does away with the risks associated with carrying cards and revealing its details at merchant establishments. Security and convenience are two major benefits of the new facility, he said. Internationally, this technology was introduced only a couple of years ago and has been a great success in countries like South Korea, Japan and Philippines, Mr Prasad added.

Keywords: Mobiles, Reliance Communications, Virtual Mobile Credit cards,