Petition to be submitted to Prime Minister of India for AssertiveAction

Dear all, Pl. find below the link to the petition which outlines the minimum action that is expected of the government. Idea is to present a humungous amount of signatures (minimum 1 million, if the media participates unitedly, this no. can go upto even 20-30 million) A group of people from cross-section of the society (hopefully backed by a large rally and media coverage) will present this petition to the Prime Minister around the 15 December asking for a formal reply from the Government to the action expected by the public and the timeframes within which the action should be expected. Requesting not only your signature on the petition but also your support to forward this to all your friends. Should your organisation be maintaining any email databases, request your support to mass email this petition request to all on your database. Please view and endorse the below link at PetitionOnline.com. Please type in your full Name. (if clicking on the below link does not take you to the page, pl. cut and paste the link in the address bar of your Internet Explorer or Firefox) http://www.PetitionOnline.com/26novAct/petition.html

Zero revenues? Tech firms can still pay employees for 4-10 months!

Tech titan Bill Gates be­lieved that Microsoft should have am­ple cash so that it can survive a year without a single dollar in sales. With that as his intent he built huge cash reserves for Microsoft.
With Gates fun-da in mind, The Times of India de­cided to do a raincheck on Indian tech bellweathers. What if suddenly some of our biggest IT companies face a zero-revenue scenario? If they ain't fired, employees at the top four IT firms can be sure that they will be paid their monthly pay cheques! The Big Four - Infosys, TCS, Satyam and Wipro - can pay salaries to their combined battalion of 3.7 lakh employees for about 4-10 months, an analysis shows. Assuming a no revenue scenario, Satyam, which reported a staff strength of 52,000 odd at the end of September, would be able to last the longest i.e. 9 months.
If variable pay is cut (which is likely), then the Hyderabad-based firm would be able to pay staffers another extra month. At the end of September 30, Satyam's balance sheet had total cash and equivalents totalling to Rs 5,361 crore or $1.15 billon. In the similar breath, Infosys has enough cash to pay its employees for 8 months, assuming no revenues. If Infosys' variable pay is cut drastically, this period extends to aroUnd 9 months. Infosys with most of its Rs 7,821 crore in banks, reported 1 lakh plus employees on its payroll in September.
With close to Rs 6,000 crore at the company's disposal, Wipro's 97,000-odd employees can expect to get their pay cheques for 7 months, if variable pay is cut. In contrast to the other three, the country's largest software exporter TCS can pay salaries for a maximum 4 months to its 1.21-lakh employees.
"On the basis of safety and cush­ion, Infosys and Satyam are most com­fortably placed, followed by Wipro and TCS. Infosys and Satyam can feel both smug and predatory However, this is not to suggest that Wipro and TCS are under stress, just that they may have fewer options available, given their cash positions," IT analyst Viju George of Edelweiss said.
While Infosys and Satyam liter­ally have most of their 'money in the bank' (largely with scheduled banks), Wipro has only one-third of its kitty in cash and bank balances.

INDIA-Top Losers at stock market

Mukesh Ambani
Net worth: $47.9 billion (on January 11, 2008) 
Now 
Net worth: $25.3 billion (on October 10, 2008) 
Loss: $22.6 billion 
Percentage change: 47.2%

Ratan Tata
Net worth: $27.4 billion (on January 11, 2008) 
Now 
Net worth: $13.8 billion (on October 10, 2008) 
Loss: $13.6 billion 
Percentage change: 49.5%

Anil Ambani
Net worth: $44.2 billion (on January 11, 2008) 
Now 
Net worth: $13.8 billion (on October 10, 2008) 
Loss: $30.4 billion 
Percentage change: 68.8%

Sunil Mittal
Net worth: $17 billion (on January 11, 2008) 
Now 
Net worth: $12.2 billion (on October 10, 2008) 
Loss: $4.8 billion 
Percentage change: 28.4%

K.P.Singh
Net worth: $36.8 billion (on January 11, 2008) 
Now 
Net worth: $8.7 billion (on October 10, 2008) 
Loss: $28.2 billion 
Percentage change: 76.5%

Aziz Premji
Net worth: $11.5 billion (on January 11, 2008) 
Net worth: $6.3 billion (on October 10, 2008) 
Loss: $5.3 billion 
Percentage change: 45.7%

Kumara Mangalam Birla
Net worth: $3.6 billion (on January 11, 2008) 
Now 
Net worth: $2.3 billion (on October 10, 2008) 
Loss: $1.3 billion 
Percentage change: 35.5%

Anil Agarwal
Net worth: $13.2 billion (on January 11, 2008) 
Now 
Net worth: $4.2 billion (on October 10, 2008) 
Loss: $9 billion 
Percentage change: 67.9%

O.P.Jindal
Net worth: $7.1 billion (on January 11, 2008) 
Now 
Net worth: $2.1 billion (on October 10, 2008) 
Loss: $5 billion 
Percentage change: 70.6%

Ramesh Chandra
Net worth: $12.8 billion (on January 11, 2008) 
Now 
Net worth: $2 billion (on October 10, 2008) 
Loss: $10.8 billion 
Percentage change: 84.1%

39 things wrong with the Iphone !

39 things wrong with the iPhone:

1. Can't copy & paste text.
2. Except for the first and last SMS messages in a session, iPhone text messages lack timestamps.
3. iPhone's Safari browser does not support Java or Flash, so you can't watch videos (except for YouTube ones) or see parts of certain websites.
4. The on-screen keyboard can't be used in landscape mode in applications other than Safari.
5. Vibrate mode for incoming text messages is weak.
6. Incoming text messages appear word-for-word on the screen upon receiving them, which may be a privacy issue for some.
7. No Undo function for when you've accidentally erased or mistyped text.
8. Scroll bars don't appear in some text fields in the browser, and there are no arrow keys to maneuver through text.
9. Can't save usernames and passwords in Safari.
10. The YouTube app does not allow you to view or post comments on videos.
11. Can't download or save Word documents, PDF files, or any other file for that matter. Why not add a My Documents folder?
12. No spell check feature for web forms.
13. Can't send more than one image in an email.
14. Except for in the Camera Roll, photos can't be edited or removed directly from the iPhone. You have to edit them on your computer and then re-sync them.
15. The iPhone lacks a Find function for sorting through contacts, e-mails, calendar appointments, notes, etc.
16. Can't update your Facebook status via iPhone's Safari browser. Facebook is a fast-growing social network, so iPhone should support it. (Update: Facebook now has an iPhone version of the site, located at iphone.facebook.com)
17. No mass edit feature for handling calendar items, notes and e-mails.
18. Can't search within web pages in the browser.
19. Its 3-day, expensive battery replacement plan.
20. Can't highlight text.
21. Limited ringtones. Can't set songs as ringtones. (Update: Apple now lets you convert some songs into ringtones via iTunes for $0.99 each.)
22. Difficult to rewind and fast-forward through long audio and video files (like audiobooks and TV shows or movies).
23. No AIM or iChat application.
24. One too many steps to dial a contact. (Update: In a software update, Apple added a feature that lets you double tap the home button to access your Favorites list of contacts.)
25. Because it is recessed, the headphone jack is incompatible with non-Apple headphones. Griffin's headphone adapter can solve this problem.

*Bonus* - MORE things wrong with the iPhone
Here are a few more things wrong with the iPhone, as readers have pointed out in the comments below.
26. iPhone's camera is archaic (no zoom, poor image stabilization, poor quality in low-lit areas).
27. No speed dial or voice dial functionality.
28. Cannot add attachments to emails.
29. Can't use iPhone as a hard drive storage device, unlike the iPod.
30. Can't change the sound notifications for email, voicemail, etc.
31. Can't delete individual entries from the recent calls list without deleting them all, a potential privacy issue.
32. No 3G data speeds. EDGE is slow at times.
33. Cannot send photos via text messages.
34. Cannot send mass text messages. (Update: Apple added mass text messaging to the iPhone via firmware update 1.1.3)
35. iPhone lacks a video camera.
36. No tasks or To-Do widgets.
37. No support for games.
38. Can't disable auto-correct on the keyboard. Every time it makes a suggestion you don't want, you have to tap X to cancel it, which can slow down typing a lot.
39. iPhone's calculator lacks a backspace, so you have to clear the entire process if you accidentally touch an unintended digit.

N.B: If you still want to buy an iphone then hang on...let the prices slash. Surely 31k is not worthy for the above features lacking in a phone.

Chronology of major bombings in India

Wed, Jul 30 06:05 AM

A list of bombings that Indian authorities have blamed on Islamic militants since 2005:

Oct. 29, 2005 Sixty-two people are killed when three blasts rip through markets in New Delhi ahead of Diwali, a Hindu holiday.

March 7, 2006 Three explosions rock a Hindu temple and a train station in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi, killing 20 people. July 11, 2007 Seven blasts rip through railway stations and commuter trains in Mumbai, India's commercial capital, killing at least 187.

Sept. 8, 2006 A series of explosions, including one at a mosque, kill at least 31 people in Malegaon, a town northeast of Mumbai.

Feb. 19, 2007 A train heading from India to Pakistan is torn apart by two bombs, sparking a fire that kills at least 68 people.

May 18, 2007 A bomb goes off during Friday prayers at a historic mosque in the southern city of Hyderabad, killing 11 worshippers. Police later shoot and kill five people in clashes with hundreds of enraged Muslims protesting the attack.

Aug. 25, 2007 At least 43 people are killed by three explosions at a park and a street-side food stall in Hyderabad.

Oct. 11, 2007 A blast at the shrine of a venerated 12th century Sufi Muslim saint in north Indian town of Ajmer kills three people.

Oct. 14, 2007 A bomb explodes in a packed movie theater in the northern industrial town of Ludhiana on one of the holiest days of the Muslim calendar, Eid al-Fitr, killing six people.

Nov. 24, 2007 A series of near-simultaneous explosions rip through courthouse complexes in the north Indian cities of Lucknow, Varanasi and Faizabad, killing at least 16 people.

May 13, 2008 Seven bombs tear through crowded markets and rip apart streets outside Hindu temples in the western city of Jaipur, killing at least 61 people. July 25, 2008 Seven small bombs hit Bangalore, a southern city that is the hub of India's technology industry, killing at least two people.

July 26, 2008 At least 22 small bombs explode in Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat, killing at least 42 people.

India has power shortage of 73,050 million units

Wed, Jul 30 10:14 AM

New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) India, Asia's third largest economy, faced a power deficit of 73,050 million units between April 2007 and March 2008, an internal official audit says.

Even as hope of power sufficiency emanates from the India-US nuclear deal, the audit says 6,53,172 million units of power were supplied last fiscal against a demand of 7,26,222 million units.

The 73,050-million unit deficit was largely in Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh.

These states accounted for 80 to 90 percent of the total power demanded.

The audit by the ministry statistics and programme implementation (S&PI) Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala met at least 90 percent of their power needs.

Some of the states and union territories that supplied 100 percent or marginally less electricity were Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Chandigarh, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.

'There was a shortage of 64,368 million units in April 2007-February 2008, which rose to 73,050 million units by March-end,' a ministry official, who did not wish to be identified, told IANS.

Given the fact that only around 56 percent of India's rural population or 78 million households do not have access to electricity, the mismatch between demand and supply will widen in time to come if the supply side is not improved, the official said.

'It has to be done on the priority basis as the government intends to provide access to electricity to all the households by 2009.'

The government has estimated that India will require an installed capacity of over 200,000 megawatt (MW) by 2012 to meet the electricity demand, which will be 60 percent more of what the country has at present.

'By 2020, India will require 400,000 MW of electricity. Energy is going to be required in a large quantity in view of rapid economic growth. The government also aims to increase per capita consumption of electricity to 1,000 units by 2012,' said the official.

At present, about 26 percent of installed power generation capacity in India is hydropower against 50 percent in the 1960s, while around 66 percent is thermal generation including gas.

The official said nuclear energy constituted only about three percent of the country's total power generation, and non-conventional energy sources, of which wind energy is predominant, accounted for about five percent.

'The share of hydropower in electricity generation will go up with the government launching a 50,000 MW hydro initiative. It aims at making optimum utilisation of available hydro potential of the country,' the official said.

So,you thought inflation in India was a problem?

1.00 INR	=	434,637,557. 63 ZWD
India Rupees		Zimbabwe Dollars
1 INR = 434,637,557. 63 ZWD		1 ZWD = 0.00000000230077 INR

The amazing story of Zimbabwe from our colleagues covering the story...


A street vendor holds a recently issued Zimbabwe $250-million notein the capital Harare May 10, 2008. The Zimbabwe 's central bank released the new Z$100-million and Z$250-million notes this week in its latest attempt to ease the effects of hyperinflation. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo ( ZIMBABWE )



Zimbabwe 's President Robert Mugabe attends a U.N. crisis summit on rising food prices at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome June 3, 2008. World leaders opened a conference on the global food crisis on Tuesday with the World Bank and humanitarian agencies demanding action to curb soaring prices that could push up to 100 million people into hunger. REUTERS/Alessandro Di Meo/Pool ( ITALY )


A man shops inside a clothing shop in central Harare May 13, 2008. Traders in Zimbabwe --which has the highest inflation rate in the world above 165,000 percent, are now selling clothes in millions and billions of Zimbabwe dollars. The Zimbabwe dollar, which had been officially pegged at 30,000 to the United States dollar before the rules were changed, traded at an average Z$165 million to the greenback. The interbank exchange rate was significantly lower than black market rates, which hovered around Z$130 million to the United States dollar. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo ( ZIMBABWE )


Emily Moyo buys tomatoes at a market in the capital Harare March 21, 2008. Her husband Tendai is a school teacher earning 500 million Zimbabwe dollars a month. Tomatoes at this stall are normally sold at 3 million dollars for three. Zimbabwe is suffering an economic meltdown with inflationofficially pegged at over 100,000 per cent per annum. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo ( ZIMBABWE )





Zimbabwe opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters show old worthless bank notes at an election rally in Chitungwiza, near the capital Harare , March 27, 2008. REUTERS/Howard Burditt ( ZIMBABWE )

9 serial blasts rock IT Capital Bangalore, 3 dead, several injured

BANGALORE: Terror struck the country's IT capital on Friday as seven near-simultaneous blasts rocked the southern city leaving 3 dead and several persons injured.

The crude bombs, concealed near refugee camps and roadside stuffed with nuts and bolts, exploded during the busy lunch hour at Adugodi, Madivala, Nayandahalli, Pantharapalya, Vittal Mallya Road and Mysore road.

A woman waiting at a bus stop in Madivala on the Bangalore-Hosur Road was killed in the blast, while her husband and another person were seriously injured.

The blasts took place between 1.30 pm and 1.45 pm. Four of the blasts were between Hosur Road and Madiwala; the other three at Nayandahalli, Vittal Mallya Road and Richmond Circle, City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari said.

Except in two places, low intensity explosives were used for the blasts, which occurred within a few minutes of each other, he said.

Police have recovered gelatine sticks, mainly used in quarry operations, from one of the blast sites.

Sources in the Union Home Ministry said that the hand of local cadre of banned SIMI was suspected to be behind the blasts and the expertise in assembling the low intensity
devices possibly being provided by Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba.

Bidari said the blasts took place between 1.40 and 1.45 pm at Mysore Road, two places in Adugodi, R V College locality, Madivala, Richmond Circle and Pantharapalya.

On Vittal Mallya road, the explosion took place in a park. No one was injured in that blast, police said.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, while condemning the blasts, said "such incidents will not deter the government from pursuing its policy of dealing with terrorists in an resolute manner".

Karnataka Welfare Minister Shoba announced a solatium of Rs one lakh to the family of the deceased woman and said the government would bear the medical expenses of those
injured.

In 2005, terrorists had attacked the Indian Institute of Science complex and a Delhi IIT professor was killed and four persons injured in the firing.

Indo-US nuclear deal

Please Give Attention to this Matter:

This is the article published in Hindu Newspaper Last September month.

There are lot of talks about 1 2 3 Agreement between India & USA and it
almost led to the topple of Central Government. In this mail I am trying
to explain the commercial & technical aspects relating to this Agreement
which I have read and sharing with you.

What is 123 Agreement?

This is called 123 Agreement because this comes under USA 's Atomic Power
Act Section 123.
Let's see how India 's (Indians?) Sovereignty & Independence are
pledged...

(1) After this Agreement USA will supply all fuel, machinery / equipment
& technology to India for producing Nuclear Power.

(2) All these days from about 22 Nuclear Power Plants, India is
producing power as well as Atom. It's a high security / secret that
from where which is produced, how much is produced, where it is
supplied, what research is being done with that, etc. to anybody. But
if we sign this Agreement, we have to disclose these secrets and also
agree to 14 of our Nuclear Power Plants to be under the scanner of
International Atomic Power Organization.

(3) The fuel utilized to produce Atomic Power can be recycled for reuse
and this plant will be under direct supervision of IAPO.

If India does nuclear test, this agreement gets cancelled. But

(1) USA will take back all the machinery / equipment / technology
supplied to India thus far.

(2) Those 14 plants will continue to be under scanner irrespective of
the status of the agreement.

On the other hand, if any of the commitments given by USA is breached by
them, then there is no clause for cancelling this agreement.

The agreement is apparently like this... USA can either hug India or
slap India . India will not ask why are we hugged or why are we slapped.
On the other hand, India cannot hug or slap USA for breach of agreement.

This is only capsule so that easy to read and digest.

Subject: India Pledged.... Part 2

Requirement of Power

The most important requirement for India 's Economic Growth in the coming
years will be the power & infrastructure. The argument put forth
favouring the 123 Agreement says that we need Nuclear Power Production
to be increased to meet the demand..

Power Production in India

Presently following are the figures:

Thermal Power 66%

Hydel Power 26%

Solar & Wind Power 5% - Presently Rs.600 Crores are spent for producing
this power.

Nuclear Power 3% - If this is to be increased to 6%, it
requires additional Rs.50,000 Crores.

Naturally it will be wise to increase other 3 modes of power production
rather than the expensive & dangerous Nuclear Power. Isn't??

URANIUM

We used to import Uranium from various other countries. After the
Pokran Test, we are not getting it. To augment the supply, we need to
sign the 123 Agreement to get Uranium from USA . But we will have to
declare to USA from which power plant India takes raw material for
producing Atom Bomb. Why should we disclose our internal secrets to
those bitches? Will any one allow an outsider to continuously monitor
what's happening in your Hall & Kitchen of your house? Other study
reveals that Uranium is available in India aplenty. Only hurdle is the
acquisition of land. To produce Atomic Power & Bomb in the next 40
years, the requirement of Uranium is 25,000 MT whereas the availability
is 78,000 MT across India .

PLUTONIUM

Presently 35% of Plutonium is used to produce Atomic Bombs. After
signing the Agreement, we will be allowed to use only 10%. Who are those
bitches to restrict the usage of our natural resource ? That is though
you are capable of cooking & eating 10 idlis as your breakfast, you are
allowed only 3 idlis henceforth. How can it be? Why should we accept
this?

THORIUM

As told by Dr.APJ, we have abundant Thorium. In fact we are the 2nd
largest producer of Thorium next only to Australia . India has to
explore this further for producing power. For your information, in
South India - particularly around Kanyakumari, the availability of
Thorium is abundant.

INDIA-IRAN-CHINA

USA does not like the amicable relationship between India-Iran and also
India-China. If India-China relationship gets stronger, then both these
can rule the Eastern Part of the Globe which USA wants to break as per
their divide & rule.

By signing this agreement, USA wants India to depend on it for producing
power which is going to be a crucial factor in future. There is a talk
of bringing Natural Gas from Iran to India with a big pipeline project.
USA doesn't like this proposal.

Atomic Power Technology

Whether power is produced or Bomb is produced, using Atomic power
without spoiling the infrastructure and without allowing the radiation
is always under threat. Moreover preserving the wastes coming out of
Atomic Power Plants is expensive & unsafe.

There was an accident in Three Miles Island in USA . To close this plant
nearly USD 200 Crores spent with tons & tons of concrete but yet to be
fully closed.

In an another accident at Soviet Union's Serbia Plant, even the next
generation child are affected due to the radiation.

It will be very very expensive to defuse & close down an Atomic Power
Plant than its construction cost.

France

France has got 56 Nuclear Power stations producing 73% of the country's
total power requirement. They are catching up the problem of
eliminating the wastes / emissions from out of those plants at the same
time increase the power production capacity. Government of France is
now thinking how to reduce the power consumption in the country.

Conclusion

In view of the above danger, rather than signing the agreement and
pledging India to USA , it will be prudent to increase the Solar & Wind
Energy and more importantly Hyder Power Production can be increased by
linking all rivers across India and by constructing DAMS. (Ofcourse Dam
construction projects can be given to L&T's B&F Sector:-)

The whole process of this Agreement started in the year 2005 when
Manmohan visited USA . In a span of just 2 years a major decision of
signing this agreement has taken place with political motive. On the
contrary, neither this Government nor any other earlier Central
Government could not amend the Constitution thereby nationalize the
rivers across the country thereby effectively utilize the water
resources for both Agriculture purpose and producing Hydel Power. What
an irony?

Whenever someone is helping the needy, you can't expect the TERMS AND
CONDITIONS BETWEEN THE needy and the helper to be EQUAL??? BUT

(1) the helper's ulterior motive should be seen with broad eye because
he is capable of digging a grave behind you and

(2) better to be self-sufficient and explore new avenues with available
resources.

INDIA-CHINA-USA

India is very rich in Culture, follow Religions, Value Ethics, Level of
Education is Very Good.

China is also rich in Culture, follow Religion, better disciplined.

USA does not have Culture, does not have Ethics, only want power over
others. Particularly wants a firm footing in South Asia . Remember the
introduction EURO by European Countries and it is stronger than Dollar?
So their "DAL" cannot be boiled at " EUROPE ". They are trying in India
as already Pakistan is in their clutches.