Archives November 2012

The year 2000 hosted a variety of new computer viruses that brought ruthless distribution to many computer systems as well as widespread damage to many businesses. During this year, a malicious Trojan horse program attacked Microsoft, and the "Melissa" virus terrorize (the cyber-community of users who used Outlook Express; as their e-mail program. While the sophistication of viruses continues to evolve, the basis for their pervasive nature remains the same. In general, computer viruses are programs [hat latch onto other program files that dwell on the hard drive of a computer, and are usually inadvertently downloaded by the user onto the computer. The virus is activated when the program it is attached to is launched, and its destructive acts include overwriting system files, deleting valuable data, and doing various other types of damage. These programs then replicate themselves, spreading to other disks or systems connected to the computer. Thinking on more...

There have been occasional noises being made from time to time. Mr. Vasant Sathe put forth the suggestion for system change, when Mrs. Gandhi was being exposed to dramatic and traumatic uncertainties during the emergency days. It was then argued that he was not speaking on his own, that his plea was a surrogate advocacy on behalf of his leader. According to Mr. R.K. Murthy, a noted constitutionalist, the situation of the Congress government at the Centre, is occasionally rocked by internal dissension, sometimes triggering the strokes of the old war-cry based solely on the assumption that if the nation is administered by a President, directly elected and free from the bonds of political support from the diverse parties/groups which are represented in the Parliament, the maladies which nag the nation will vanish. In other words, the Presidential system, in the eyes of those who see nothing but commendable perfection more...

India embarked on an ambitious nuclear programme over four decades ago. The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was set up in 1948, to lay down policies on use of atomic energy for peaceful applications. To execute these policies, the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was formed in 1954. The activities of DAE can broadly be grouped under research and development, nuclear power production, and industries and. minerals. The Department also extends financial support to several institutions carrying out basic research in nuclear and allied sciences. To use uranium and vast thorium resources of the country, a three-stage atomic power programme was envisaged in 1940s. The ongoing first stage of the programme uses natural uranium fuelled pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) for producing electricity. The spent fuel, when reprocessed, yields plutonium which will be used as fuel along with depleted uranium in the second stage fast breeder reactors (FBRs). Reprocessing of the more...

Politics is an essential part of every one's life directly or indirectly. Poliitics must effect the life of everyone. In dictatorship there must be a dictator who rule over the country by his own wish and will. But in democracy the role of politics is very important. India is now the biggest democracy of the world in which public elect their representatives in the Muncipil Corporation, State Legislative Assembly and Parliament of India and then those elected representatives rule the country on behalf of the public of India. When any person elect any leader it is expected from him that he must serve people and put the problems of the public before the Government and then solve those problems. But this is not done and the expectations of the public are totally crushed by their repsentatives. Now the politics became a shelter place of the criminals. Now a large number more...

Cicero defined superstition as "Fear of God". In earlier times people looked upon natural pehnomena as particular signs from the gods. Thunder warned of the displeasure of LordIndra and havoc of floods was a sign from Lord Varuna. Today in the age of computers, irrational fear appears to be an anachronism. It is considered holy to bathe in the Ganges especially during Kumbha Mela days, to get rid of one's sins. If sins could be washed by a holy dip, then fish would have the first claim to a place in Heaven, according to Sufi Saint Bulbe Shah. Our elders observe Shradhs by offering sumptuous meals and Charity (Daan) to Brahmins for the satisfaction of the souls of our forefathers. Does it not amount to pampering the Brahmins whom we are ourselves making divine agents? When one goes for an examination, it is a must to eat sweetened curd or more...

Much dust of controversy has been raised round the question whether or not the students should take part in politics. Some people are of the opinion that politics must, under no circumstances, be allowed to divert students from their studies, while others believe that it is necessary for students to take a very active part in politics so that they may receive some training for the struggle that awaits them. In fact, this controversy is the legacy of India's struggle for independence. During the days of non-co-operation movement, the students' participation in politics was deemed to be synonymous with their interest in the welfare of their country. It was a time when the whole country was ablaze with the fire of revolt. The new party of young revolutionary leaders set before the country the soul-stirring ideas of complete independence and gave a siren call to people of all classes and more...

At the Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island in East Coast, Virginia, USA, the base for NASA's sound rocketing programme, a visitor from India spotted a painting displayed prominently in the reception lobby, depicting a battle scene with a few rockets flying in the background. The visitor's curiosity was kindled when he saw that the soldiers launching the rocket were not white-skinned, but dark with racial features distinctly Indian. It soon turned out that Tipu Sultan's army was fighting the British with rockets. When the ruler of Mysore was killed in the battle of Turukhanahally in 1799, the British seized more than 700 rockets and subsystems of 900 rockets. Tipu's army had 27 brigades, called Kushoons, and each brigade had a company of rocket men, called Jourks. These rockets were taken to England by one William Congreve. History has turned full circle two centuries later in the land of Tipu more...

At the Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island in East Coast, Virginia, USA, the base for NASA's sound rocketing programme, a visitor from India spotted a painting displayed prominently in the reception lobby, depicting a battle scene with a few rockets flying in the background. The visitor's curiosity was kindled when he saw that the soldiers launching the rocket were not white-skinned, but dark with racial features distinctly Indian. It soon turned out that Tipu Sultan's army was fighting the British with rockets. When the ruler of Mysore was killed in the battle of Turukhanahally in 1799, the British seized more than 700 rockets and subsystems of 900 rockets. Tipu's army had 27 brigades, called Kushoons, and each brigade had a company of rocket men, called Jourks. These rockets were taken to England by one William Congreve. History has turned full circle two centuries later in the land of Tipu more...

In India, the Public Distribution System (PDS) was introduced during the Second World War after the Great Bengal Famine, but over the years, the PDS has degenerated to such an extent that there are periodic calls by Government officials to streamline it. This article shall consider the PDS as it is organized in Tamil Nadu where every family is entitled to a ration card to buy subsidized provisions. The foodstuff is procured by the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation and there is an allotment from the "Central Pool", which is handed over to the cooperative societies with over 20,000 shops all over the State, the rest managed by the TNCSC. A report in The Hindu, (February 19, 1994) said, "Cocking a snook at the authorities are innumerable employees of the nearly 22,000 fair price shops (FPS) spread all over the States. The charges against them relate to underweightment and diversion more...

There is quite a debate on whether or not computers have positively effected education. Some proponents of computers in school argue the fact that computers are vast in the supply of resources as well as the fact that computers dominate society and will continue to do so. Opponents of computers in education take the position of experiencing things actually and not just on a computer screen, a reality versus virtual reality argument (www.realworld.org). In addition to this, there is the aspect of time involved with using a computer as opposed id interaction with actual living things. Computers have inmany ways enhanced education but it has also weakened other skills taught in school as well. The first skill lost is obvious with the use of word processing programs today. Of course they are convenient for typing papers because of the neatness and uniformity they provide as opposed to handwriting. Computers also more...