Year-2011

2011 (MMXI) will be a common year starting on Saturday in the Gregorian calendar. It is the 2011th year of the Common Era, also known as the Christian Era or the Anno Domini designation; the 11th year of the 3rd millennium and of the 21st century, and the 2nd of the 2010s decade.

The United Nations has designated 2011 the International Year of Forests and International Year of Chemistry.



Predicted and scheduled events

January
January 1 – The Y1C Problem will occur.
January 1 – Start of the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union.
January 1 – Estonia is set to adopt the euro.
January 1 – Inauguration of Dilma Rousseff as President of Brazil, making her the first woman to hold that office.
January 1 – Civil partnerships will become legal in Ireland
January 1 – ASAIBO INDIA will begin helping out with open source projects India
January 2 – Conjunction between Jupiter and Uranus at 13:41 UTC, with Jupiter 34 minutes of arc to the south; the third conjunction of a triple conjunction.
January 4 – Partial solar eclipse visible over most of Europe, the Arabian peninsula, North Africa, and Western Asia.
January 9 – Southern Sudan will hold a referendum on independence.

February
19 February – 2 April – 2011 Cricket World Cup will be held in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

March
March 18 – NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft is scheduled to arrive in orbit around Mercury.
March 18 – NASA's Pluto probe New Horizons will cross the orbit of Uranus, after a five-year journey. This will be faster than Voyager 2, which took eight years.

April
April 1 – The Space Shuttle will undertake its final mission before retirement.
April 29 – 2011 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships will start in Slovakia.
April 29 – Wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton will take place in Westminster Abbey on St. Catherine's Day.
Pakistan will launch its first space satellite.
The Universal House of Justice will announce the new Five Year Plan.

May
Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, and Mars all visible within a roughly 6° area of sky.

June
June 1 – Partial solar eclipse in the Arctic.
June 15 – Total lunar eclipse, mainly visible in Africa, India, and the Middle East.

July
The Dawn spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at the minor planet 4 Vesta during July. The exact date remains uncertain.
July 1 – Start of the Polish presidency of the European Union.
July 1 – Partial solar eclipse off the coast of Antarctica.
July 6 – The International Olympic Committee will decide the host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
July 10 – Neptune completes its first full orbit since its discovery in 1846.

August
August 15 – The comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdušáková will pass within 0.0601 astronomical units (about 5,589,300 miles (8,995,100 km)) of Earth.[4]
August 15–21 – XXVI World Youth Day will be held in Madrid, Spain.

September
September 9 – October 23 – New Zealand will host the 2011 Rugby World Cup.


November
November 25 – Partial solar eclipse in Antarctica.

December
December 10 – Total lunar eclipse, visible mainly in Asia, Australia and Alaska.
December 31 – All United States troops are scheduled to leave Iraq

Phishing

(fish´ing) (n.) The act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. The e-mail directs the user to visit a Web site where they are asked to update personal information, such as passwords and credit card, social security, and bank account numbers, that the legitimate organization already has. The Web site, however, is bogus and set up only to steal the user??s information.

For example, 2003 saw the proliferation of a phishing scam in which users received e-mails supposedly from eBay claiming that the user??s account was about to be suspended unless he clicked on the provided link and updated the credit card information that the genuine eBay already had. Because it is relatively simple to make a Web site look like a legitimate organizations site by mimicking the HTML code, the scam counted on people being tricked into thinking they were actually being contacted by eBay and were subsequently going to eBay??s site to update their account information. By spamming large groups of people, the "phisher" counted on the e-mail being read by a percentage of people who actually had listed credit card numbers with eBay legitimately.

Phishing, also referred to as brand spoofing or carding, is a variation on "fishing," the idea being that bait is thrown out with the hopes that while most will ignore the bait, some will be tempted into biting.

Indian Black Money In Swiss Bank

Deposits in Banks located in the territory of Switzerland by nationals of following countries

Top 5

India---- $1456 billion
Russia----- $470 billion
UK-------- $390 billion
Ukraine $100 billion
China------ $96 billion

Now do the math India with $1456 billion or $1.4 trillion has more money in Swiss banks than rest of the world COMBINED.
Public loot since 1947: Let us bring back our money

It is one of the biggest loots witnessed by mankind -- the loot of the aam aadmi (common man) since 1947 by his brethren occupying public office.

It has been orchestrated by politicians, bureaucrats and some businessmen. The list is almost all-encompassing. No wonder, everyone in India loots with impunity and without any fear.

What is even more depressing in that this ill-gotten wealth of ours has been stashed away abroad into secret bank accounts located in some of the world's best known tax havens. And to that extent the Indian economy has been striped of its wealth.

Ordinary Indians may not be exactly aware of how such secret accounts operate and what are the rules and regulations that go on to govern such tax havens. However, one may well be aware of 'Swiss bank accounts,' the shorthand for murky dealings, secrecy and of course pilferage from developing countries into rich developed ones.

In fact, some finance experts and economists believe tax havens to be a conspiracy of the western world against the poor countries. By allowing the proliferation of tax havens in the twentieth century, the western world explicitly encourages the movement of scarce capital from the developing countries to the rich.

In March 2005, the Tax Justice Network (TJN) published a research finding demonstrating that $11.5 trillion of personal wealth was held offshore by rich individuals across the globe. The findings estimated that a large proportion of this wealth was managed from some 70 tax havens.

Further, augmenting these studies of TJN, Raymond Baker -- in his widely celebrated book titled Capitalism's Achilles Heel: Dirty Money and How to Renew the Free Market System -- estimates that at least $5 trillion have been shifted out of poorer countries to the West since the mid-1970s. It is further estimated by experts that one per cent of the world's population holds more than 57 per cent of total global wealth, routing it invariably through these tax havens. How much of this is from India is anybody's guess.

What is to be noted here is that most of the wealth of Indians parked in these tax havens is illegitimate money acquired through corrupt means. Naturally the secrecy associated with the bank accounts in such places is central to the issue, not their low tax rates as the term 'tax havens' suggests. Remember Bofors and how India could not trace the ultimate beneficiary of those transactions because of the secrecy associated with these bank accounts?

so lets unite and have some revolution to bring back our money from swiss bank....

What cloud computing really means

Cloud computing is all the rage. "It's become the phrase du jour," says Gartner senior analyst Ben Pring, echoing many of his peers. The problem is that (as with Web 2.0) everyone seems to have a different definition.

As a metaphor for the Internet, "the cloud" is a familiar cliché, but when combined with "computing," the meaning gets bigger and fuzzier. Some analysts and vendors define cloud computing narrowly as an updated version of utility computing: basically virtual servers available over the Internet. Others go very broad, arguing anything you consume outside the firewall is "in the cloud," including conventional outsourcing.

Cloud computing comes into focus only when you think about what IT always needs: a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software. Cloud computing encompasses any subscription-based or pay-per-use service that, in real time over the Internet, extends IT's existing capabilities.

Cloud computing is at an early stage, with a motley crew of providers large and small delivering a slew of cloud-based services, from full-blown applications to storage services to spam filtering. Yes, utility-style infrastructure providers are part of the mix, but so are SaaS (software as a service) providers such as Salesforce.com. Today, for the most part, IT must plug into cloud-based services individually, but cloud computing aggregators and integrators are already emerging.

InfoWorld talked to dozens of vendors, analysts, and IT customers to tease out the various components of cloud computing. Based on those discussions, here's a rough breakdown of what cloud computing is all about.

1. SaaS
This type of cloud computing delivers a single application through the browser to thousands of customers using a multitenant architecture. On the customer side, it means no upfront investment in servers or software licensing; on the provider side, with just one app to maintain, costs are low compared to conventional hosting. Salesforce.com is by far the best-known example among enterprise applications, but SaaS is also common for HR apps and has even worked its way up the food chain to ERP, with players such as Workday. And who could have predicted the sudden rise of SaaS "desktop" applications, such as Google Apps and Zoho Office?

2. Utility computing
The idea is not new, but this form of cloud computing is getting new life from Amazon.com, Sun, IBM, and others who now offer storage and virtual servers that IT can access on demand. Early enterprise adopters mainly use utility computing for supplemental, non-mission-critical needs, but one day, they may replace parts of the datacenter. Other providers offer solutions that help IT create virtual datacenters from commodity servers, such as 3Tera's AppLogic and Cohesive Flexible Technologies' Elastic Server on Demand. Liquid Computing's LiquidQ offers similar capabilities, enabling IT to stitch together memory, I/O, storage, and computational capacity as a virtualized resource pool available over the network.

3. Web services in the cloud
Closely related to SaaS, Web service providers offer APIs that enable developers to exploit functionality over the Internet, rather than delivering full-blown applications. They range from providers offering discrete business services -- such as Strike Iron and Xignite -- to the full range of APIs offered by Google Maps, ADP payroll processing, the U.S. Postal Service, Bloomberg, and even conventional credit card processing services.

4. Platform as a service
Another SaaS variation, this form of cloud computing delivers development environments as a service. You build your own applications that run on the provider's infrastructure and are delivered to your users via the Internet from the provider's servers. Like Legos, these services are constrained by the vendor's design and capabilities, so you don't get complete freedom, but you do get predictability and pre-integration. Prime examples include Salesforce.com's Force.com, Coghead and the new Google App Engine. For extremely lightweight development, cloud-based mashup platforms abound, such as Yahoo Pipes or Dapper.net.

5. MSP (managed service providers)
One of the oldest forms of cloud computing, a managed service is basically an application exposed to IT rather than to end-users, such as a virus scanning service for e-mail or an application monitoring service (which Mercury, among others, provides). Managed security services delivered by SecureWorks, IBM, and Verizon fall into this category, as do such cloud-based anti-spam services as Postini, recently acquired by Google. Other offerings include desktop management services, such as those offered by CenterBeam or Everdream.

6. Service commerce platforms
A hybrid of SaaS and MSP, this cloud computing service offers a service hub that users interact with. They're most common in trading environments, such as expense management systems that allow users to order travel or secretarial services from a common platform that then coordinates the service delivery and pricing within the specifications set by the user. Think of it as an automated service bureau. Well-known examples include Rearden Commerce and Ariba.

7. Internet integration
The integration of cloud-based services is in its early days. OpSource, which mainly concerns itself with serving SaaS providers, recently introduced the OpSource Services Bus, which employs in-the-cloud integration technology from a little startup called Boomi. SaaS provider Workday recently acquired another player in this space, CapeClear, an ESB (enterprise service bus) provider that was edging toward b-to-b integration. Way ahead of its time, Grand Central -- which wanted to be a universal "bus in the cloud" to connect SaaS providers and provide integrated solutions to customers -- flamed out in 2005.

Today, with such cloud-based interconnection seldom in evidence, cloud computing might be more accurately described as "sky computing," with many isolated clouds of services which IT customers must plug into individually. On the other hand, as virtualization and SOA permeate the enterprise, the idea of loosely coupled services running on an agile, scalable infrastructure should eventually make every enterprise a node in the cloud. It's a long-running trend with a far-out horizon. But among big metatrends, cloud computing is the hardest one to argue with in the long term.

Will CWG Bring Shame or Fame to India?

Commonwealth Games 2010 is by far the most blatant exercise in corruption and various bodies concerned with this highly touted and glamorised project have made a mess of the job at hand and the government is desperate to save face.
Added to this mess and chaos, five wrestlers selected for the event have failed the dope test, which is a major embarrassment for the host country ahead of the Commonwealth Games!
It is understood that many top international players are not participating due to one reason or the other. Queen of England is not interested in coming to Delhi for the CWG 2010! Ticket sales have not picked up with just a month to go for the Games and the chances of more tickets being sold in Commonwealth countries is negligible.
Many of these Commonwealth countries have a small population and therefore expecting a large turnout from those countries is not realistic. Dengue threat will seriously affect foreign participation and Mr Mike Hooper has already voiced his concern and warned the participating countries in advance.
The whole project is a cover-up exercise. Infighting amongst the various sports bodies, enquiry reports, tossing responsibility from one person to the other, corruption charges from top to bottom have all come to light through extensive media reports being flashed on TV channels which are being watched by people all over the world. The mega event of CWG 2010 has become a laughing stock all over the world!
A whooping Rs,65,000 crore is being spent on this extravaganza, which is a lot of money for a country like India, where millions of poor people go hungry every day! What is the rationale behind this huge and colossal waste of money? It will only fill the coffers of the corrupt politicians, several contractors and agencies connected with this project which, right from the beginning was a non-starter!
As the famous writer, Chetan Bhagat said, this is a golden chance for all the Indian citizens to put this corrupt and insensitive government to shame by boycotting the game. CWG is an amazing opportunity because all Indians have been robbed at the same time. People cannot become cheerleaders to a cheating exercise!
When the game starts on 9th of October, 2010, the absence of world famous athletes and record holders will reduce this mega event into a village Kabbadi game cheered and applauded by the corrupt politicians and the many sports bodies who toiled tirelessly day in and day out to produce such a world class stadium! This will be the crowning glory!

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering, the broadest of all Engineering disciplines deals with design and production of tools, machines and all other mechanical equipment to be used in industries. The industry offers a wide choice of options extending across many interdisciplinary interdependent specialties. Mechanical engineering is concerned with all types of machinery in industries and all aspects of their mechanism and functioning; the design, development, construction, production, installation, operation and maintenance; such as large steam and gas turbines, components of thermal power stations, internal combustion engines, jet engines, machine tools, air conditioning and heating machines, refrigerators etc to name a few. They not only design and create new products, but also develop materials for them and ways of making them.

In a way, mechanical engineers are involved in creating the future. They are the driving force behind many of our technologies and industrial processes including innovative products like mobiles, PCs and DVD etc in our modern world. The work of a Mechanical Engineer can be extremely challenging and fulfilling, requiring IT, design and analytical skills together with an ability to work as a team. As their work involves production, transmission and use of mechanical power and heat, they have to analyse the different materials used for the machines and their tolerances, investigate the different energy sources and the power they generate and the design problems if any. When designing and making a commercial product they have to take into account all the business and marketing aspects to make sure that the product is affordable. They share interests with many other engineers like Civil Engineers in structures and stress analysis; Electrical engineers in electronics, computing and control theory; Aeronautical Engineers in fluid flow and turbomachinery etc and also design tools needed by other engineers for their work. They work as part of a team with other engineers as well as financial, business and management professionals on a project together. Mechanical Engineers are also responsible for maintenance and repair of the devices. Care has to be taken that the plants give maximum output and the machinery is properly maintained.

The specialisations include in areas like thermal engineering, design, and production engineering etc. Mechanical engineers work mainly in manufacturing firms. They can find work in administrative and managerial positions in government departments or public and private sector industries or do research as well as teaching in Research and teaching institutes. They could also opt for technical sales / marketing or work as independent consultants.

Eligibility : To become a mechanical engineer one should have a graduate degree (B.E / B.Tech) or postgraduate degree (M.E) or at least a diploma in mechanical Engineering.

Job Prospects & Career Options : Mechanical Engineering finds applications in all fields of technology. They could work in many industries including private or public sector industries of various types, and their work varies by industry and function.

Remuneration : The remuneration and conditions of service depend on the industry and its function. Those engineers, who choose to work in the private sector, could negotiate their terms and conditions with the management themselves.

Computer Sc as a Career

What’s it about
Computer science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation, and of practical techniques for their application in computer systems. The study programme for computer engineering — the discipline is also called electronic and computer engineering or computer systems engineering — combines both electrical engineering and computer science. It involves studying the design of digital hardware and software systems. Prof. Sandeep Sen from IIT Delhi says that the BTech programme in computer science and the MCA programme, to an extent, stress on problem-solving paradigms rather than the use of specific software like Excel and PowerPoint. The emphasis is on comprehending the principles behind creating such complex software

Clock work
A computer engineer often carries work home, but a typical day goes something like this.
10 am: Reach office, ask team about the status of projects, weekly/biweekly project meeting with the team, work on project proposals, conference call with client from India or abroad
2.30 pm: Lunch
2.45 pm: Back to work, more of the same thing, talk in or participate in the weekly ‘masti ki paathshala’ — internal lectures series on topics of professional interest
8 pm: Back home

The payoff
The average salary for fresh CS engineers from good institutes is about Rs 4.5 lakh-Rs 6 lakh a year. Candidates typically start as trainees or development engineers, and then move to be design engineer, senior design engineer, (sometimes s/he might become architect and chief architect), project leader, (s/he might become business unit head) and then CTO, when the pay can range from Rs 20 lakh-Rs 30 lakh a year

Skills
A scientific temperament
Logical and reasoning skills
Abstract thinking
Good mathematical skills
Ability to work hard and sit at a computer for long hours

Sachin Tendulkar the Great

When Tendulkar walked out to bat in a Test match for the first time, Rajiv Gandhi was India’s Prime Minister, the Berlin wall stood and USSR still existed. The internet was nascent, mobiles phones were hardly used in US and never used in India. Most of us reading this article were probably not borned. The world has changed dramatically but Tendulkar remains the best in the world.

Tendulkar completed 20 years of international cricket on 15th November 2009. Out of the 21 men who played in his first test match he played in, all of them have retired over 5 years ago.

His technique, determination, brilliance, ability and talent all have been hailed over the years by everyone who has attempted to write about cricket. I do not want to write about it, it would be mere repeating of words. But hats off to a man who plays 20 years at the highest standard and has only let his bat do the talking.

I do not wonder at the ability to play for 20 years or the talent which scores the highest number of runs in Tests and ODIs. I wonder what goes on behind that cranium of Tendulkar. Does he feel the pressure at all? Does he feel tired of expectations and the criticisms? Does he think like we mortals do?

I reckon he is the perfect example of a person who feels comfortable with his own ability, does his best and puts on a invisible coat of something which makes him immune from all the pressure of expectations around him.

With a total of 12,773 runs in Test cricket and 17,178 runs in ODIs, Sachin Tendulkar has nothing to prove. He is already a legend and will remain so until Cricket is played. But he continues to play, as if he is not aware of his own achievements.

Some people have criticized Tendulkar at various times. Often the grouse being he doesn’t win India matches. Often people forget that Tendulkar has won India many matches but being a team sport he cannot win all matches. To all the critics of the great man and fans alike, I would like to remind that Tendulkar will someday retire and there will be a day when you wont ever get to see Tendulkar take his stance playing for India on live television or at your local city stadium. So sit back and enjoy the last few years of this great man’s career and appreciate anything that he has to offer because players like him don’t come along everyday and we are lucky to be around in the Tendulkar Era.