Data Source: Cricinfo
UI Credits: Google Motion Chart Gadget
| Notes: The other variation of visualizing the same data is here. There are some features of that API that are absent in Google Motion Chart and would be very useful here. Currently, the data for this motion chart has to be manually updated in the Google Spreadsheet. (Google Docs API may be able to automate this). I will do my best to update it daily
I have access to data from 07 May 2008 only. If you know how to get the data from Cricinfo as of a particular previous date, please let me know.
The three young women who won top awards for their "science projects" for the 2008 Intel® Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) each won $50,000 scholarships from the Intel Foundation as part of their awards. They are already at the level of Eve Curie! Take a look at their "science projects!"
1. Sana Raoof (left) contributed mathematics research that assists in solving classic biochemistry problems.
Raoof's research provided new insight into how a better understanding of mathematical knot theory could help resolve classic biochemical problems. Specifically, her work focused on the Alexander-Conway polynomial invariant for chord diagrams to help prove how to classify molecules on a structural basis. Sana Raoof, 17, is from Muttontown, NY.
2. Yi-Han Su (center) identified a way to make methanol convert to hydrogen with greater efficiency.
Su was awarded for her efforts to identify a high-activity catalyst that could improve methanol reforming reactions in order to generate hydrogen more efficiently. Yi-Han Su, 17, is from Chinese Tapei. 3. Natalie Sarange Omattage developed a biosensor to screen for contamination in foods.Omattage developed a more efficient and less expensive way to screen for food additive contaminants, including those responsible for the recent deaths of many pets. By developing biosensors based on quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), Omattage's research provides a new way for ports and warehouses to more thoroughly screen for food additives and other contaminants that could be found in food imported into the United States. Natalie Sarange Omattage, 17, is from Cleveland, MS Wow! It's hard to believe that these women are still in high-school and I'm reporting the winners of the ISEF and not of the Nobel Prize! Congratulations to Raoof, Su, and Omattage for your accomplishments and thank you for setting the bar high for teens who aspire to the ISEF. There were 500 other ISEF winners in grade school, middle school, and high school categories; congratulations to you all! press release
Picture it - thousands of Mickey Mouse heads floating over Orlando, Florida. That is the plan for later this month when Walt Disney Co. uses a new invention to promote Disney World. Now picture the Nike logo or the Apple Logo or even your logo taking to the air. How? Flogos!
What is a Flogo? It's lighter than air foam, made from proprietary surfactant (fancy word for soap), and pressed into the shape of a logo. 
Source: WTPOP News Flogos have a life expectancy of minutes to an hour or more, depending on wind speed and direction. They travel slowly, can go twenty to thirty miles in distance and as high as twenty-thousand feet in the air. 
Source: ABC News First conceived of in the 1990s by Francisco Guerra and Brian Glover, two international special effects inventors, it takes about ten days for the in-house Flogo art department to create your Flogo stencil, then a certified Flogo tech will place a Flogo generator in the optimum location, and Presto, Flogo! Sky trash or innovative ads that really soar? 
Source: Armageddon One great thing is they are a Green product, 100% environmentally safe. Currently available in white, in 2009 they will launch a line of colored Flogos. Maybe one day, they'll even figure out how to write messages in the foam. 
Source: MSNBC Flogos come in 24-inch and 36-inch models, but a new 48-inch generator is in development. While the most intricate design I could find was the Olympic circles (picture unavailable) the possibilties seem endless. What do you think of these innovative soap bubble ads? Sources: The Denver Post and Flogos
As biologists are busy working on cloning living organisms, engineers are working on a mechanical counterpart - creating non-living things that can replicate themselves. 
Recently, more than 100 researchers from around the world have been working on a project called RepRap (Replicating Rapid-prototyper), which started in 2004. At the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK, the team displayed their creation: the world's first 3D printer than can print pieces which can be assembled by hand to make an exact copy of the original printer. The replica is no mule, either - it can also print another copy of itself.  So far, RepRap can only reproduce its plastic parts, and not its metal or electronics. It takes a human a few hours to assemble the copied pieces into another printer.
Nevertheless, RepRap is the first 3D printer that can reproduce its own components. And, with its pieces costing around $600, the printer is much less expensive than other 3D printers (which cost around $50,000). Besides replicating itself, it can also print plastic 3D objects including coat hooks, water-filter insects, children's sandals, and much more. The RepRap collaborators hope that the printer can be useful for reproducing plastic objects of just about any shape, especially for hobbyists and communities in the developing world. People already "run their own CD burners, printing presses and photographic laboratories", said Adrian Bowyer, the University of Bath mechanical engineer who launched the RepRap project. "There's no reason they shouldn't run their own factories as well." At RepRap.org , you can find more information, including instructions for building your own replicating RepRap printer. via: New Scientist
 IT was a real pleasure to go through the profiles of women like Dr. Lakshmi Sehgal, who was a medical graduate way back in 1938 and who joined the Indian National Army; Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy, who took a stand against child marriage and the abhorrent devdasi system, then widely prevalent; K.P. Janaki, the “Amma” of the poor; Mallu Swarajyam, the brave leader of the Telangana armed struggle; Ahilya Rangnekar, one of the founders of the All Indian Democratic Women’s Association; Suseela Gopalan, once tipped to be the Chief Minister of Kerala; K.R. Gouri Amma, the longest serving member in the Kerala Assembly; and Mrinal Gore, fondly called “Paniwali Bai” (Cover Story, June 6). These women, who carved out a space for themselves in the public sphere at a time when it was much more difficult for women to do so than it is today, are the real heroines of our country. Frontline has really made a mark by unearthing these stories of the real heroines of india... Read about The Pioneers:Dr. Lakshmi SehgalDr. Muthulakshmi ReddyK.P. JanakiMallu SwarajyamAhilya RangnekarSuseela GopalanK.R. Gouri AmmaMrinal Gore
Can the police go public with “evidence” when an investigation is still incomplete?
The character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of; the tree is the real thing”. Abraham Lincoln
Though the investigation in the Aarushi murder is still ongoing, the investigating agency has not done much to generate faith in their ability to discover the truth. The over anxiety to speak to the press and to bring every possible “evidence” to public knowledge appears hopelessly misplaced.
But this is not what this is about. Whatever may happen with the investigation or trial, the image of the teenager, the victim of this bizarre double murder, has been tarnished. The investigating agency has made public the “preposterous story” of the “objectionable position of the girl with the servant” without any basis.
Legal angle Should the investigating agency have made public this allegation without any apparent basis? The National Commission for Women has rightly insisted that they would serve a notice upon Uttar Pradesh Police for using language that shows ‘disrespect’ towards women. The dead cannot deny or contradict these remarks. Reason and prudence demand that the investigating authorities should scrupulously abstain from making statements that amount to character assassination of a minor dead girl. Sections 499 (defamation) and 509 (insulting modesty of a woman) of IPC prescribe offences for defamatory statements. The Press Council of India has provisions barring use of “such” personalised statements specifically when a person is dead.
The laws of the country and the Supreme Court hold that the identity of a girl should not be disclosed. The Supreme Court dealing with a case of rape in State of Punjab vs Gurmit Singh (1996) said, “The courts should, as far as possible, avoid disclosing the name of the prosecutrix in their orders to save further embarrassment to the victim of (a) sex crime.”
Obviously, this confidentiality is meant to preserve the dignity of the victim and not to expose her to public shame. Strict adherence to high standards of ethical behaviour by the police is what the time demands. But, in this case, the 14-year-old girl, a minor now dead, suffers repeated character assassination by the police.
Trite though it is, even a perfunctory look shows that, when the victim is a girl, aspersions are frequently cast on her character as in the case of Hetal Parekh, the 16-year-old raped and murdered by Dhananjay Chatterji, who was ultimately sentenced to death.
This brings us to the question what should we do? Should the police be at liberty to make “evidence” public when investigation is not complete? Are the police governed by a code of conduct restraining them from maligning the character of a woman? Can the victim’s personal life be subject to public discussion because of such “disclosures”? Are the investigating agencies answerable for the character assassination of a minor victim? Do we need guidelines?
The writer is a senior practicing advocate, Supreme Court of India
Courtesy: The Hindu - Magazine
Off late blogging virus has hit many celebrities. Be it Amitabh Bachchan, Amir Khan or Salman Khan. But now it started hitting politicians too. Our own Lalu Prasad Yadav started blogging in mypoplorn.com .Lalu intend to post every week at his blog. To visit his blog clickhere.
It is not new for politician to start blogging. Omar Abdulla already blogs. But when Laluji blogs it creates lot of interest because it is definitely going to very humorous and funny to read. However Lalu’s first post was very political and he targeted Vasundhara Raje for Gujjar Agitation and said that the agitation reached this level because of mishandling by Vasundhara Raje Government. He also raised his concern on Gujjars demand and showed is displeasure at loses to railways and passengers due to agaitation.
We may see Lalu using this blog as a tool for targetting his political rivals or to his own political advantage. Nevertheless in coming days the blog will be in news both for humour as well as controversies. Lalu knows best what to strike, when to strike and whom to strike and what else other than blog can provide him a another big platform. To visit his blog clickhere.
Social influencers need to recognise India is a teenager.
A recent life insurance commercial shows a wife returning home and finding her husband sitting in the balcony ‘still'. She fears the worst only to realise in the end that he is resting and the advertisement ends with the message ‘dangers can happen anytime'
A mobile phone commercial shows a young teenager being harangued by his father. He shuts his father off by quietly listening to music on his phone.
In a mobile service commercial a young girl hoodwinks her parents to get permission to go out of town for a picnic with her boy friends. She gives her parents an impression that she may be swinging the wrong way.
All three commercials are interesting and engaging. The first one is provocative while the other two are both charming and entertaining. The life insurance ad touches upon the most basic need — protection in the case of eventuality. The mobile ads reflect what most of us have personally experienced in our youth — parents are people who have to be outsmarted. They are real. There is nothing particularly wrong in any of these executions .This is not a judgement on either their effectiveness to connect with the desired audience or actually make a sale. But it does beget the question: Is Indian society ready for such reality? In the last decade, Indian society has seen some interesting changes. Much has been written about the austere, conservative, mild, satisfied, non-materialistic, idealistic, family-oriented, boisterous and emotional Indian giving way to the optimistic, confident, "can-do" spirited, competitive and almost "hedonistic" consumerist new Indian. However, alongside this, there are two other significant changes — and it's beyond the superficial western cultural invasion that many media talk about and that took place in the 90s. First, this new Indian has given birth to "insecurity" in society. At a personal level, the high level of competition from school to college to work has created pressures from family and peers to perform like never before. The weakening of the physical family network — with the emergence of nuclear family and working parents, gives children (and even adults) fewer people to fall back on for managing emotional stress. The result is growing psychological loneliness. This is compounded by an environmental change. In the 60s and 70s, India, as a nation, faced known enemies. Today, with the growth of terrorism, the enemy is unknown — he could be anywhere, even next door! It's ironic that we talk about a more confident younger generation, but research shows that parents today are more scared of letting children go out freely. Mobiles have become a means to keep in touch with children as they go from school to vocational to tutorial classes — something earlier generations rarely worried about. India (and maybe the world too) has become a more unsafe place. The second characteristic of the new India is "aggression". When aggressive energy is expressed as trying to be better or actually exploring new lands, it's positive. However, there is a "darker" side to it. Shoot-outs in schools, revenge and murder killings among the educated class are a reflection of this new-found aggression — an outcome of society's inability to cope with emotional stress in an intelligent and mature fashion. The recent Harbhajan-Sreesanth slapgate during the IPL may seem amusing to some or just a venting of sporting aggression to others, but it is also symptomatic of the dark side of the "aggressive" Indian. There is discussion currently on championing that, besides skill development and psychological preparation; cricketers need to be "trained" in managing themselves and their emotions on the field — it's a recognition that the new Indian we are so proud of needs to leashed! The growth of the media has only compounded this "insecurity" and magnified "aggression". The rush for TRPs has triggered a proliferation of graphic descriptions of violent acts — often salacious, much like a low-brow murder mystery — which only subliminally spread a feeling of uncertainty. It may be facile to say that the media is giving people what they want — the real truth is that people may be natural voyeurs and enjoy it when given, but aren't really vicarious in nature — they don't seek to know gory details. "Positive" news turns the average viewer as much as "negative" news engages him. While such media coverage does help to raise the ante of the system and works towards bringing justice, it also has the other effect of spreading "paranoia" in society. Economics is taking over society and culture. In the new world, companies are the new government, guiding society — shaping it with their products and messages. With their privatisation, the media too is another corporate. Businesses and brands need to be sensitive to the larger role they unconsciously play. We need to realise that though India has over 2,000 years of history and culture and 60 years of independence, we are a teenage country. A "doddering" old man of 44 was re-born as a child in 1991. We are like an average teenager coping with change — in our own circumstances and in a transformational world around us. Any social stimulus needs to be viewed in this context. Social influences, whether media editorial or advertising messages, need to evaluate whether they can play a more encouraging role rather than just a commercial one. Simultaneously, the situation provides brands — media or product — an opportunity to take on the role of advisors and guides that help people — consumers and citizens — cope with change and uncertainty. In the recent IPL semi-final between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab, Kumar Sangakarra walked because he thought he was out even though the umpire did not raise his finger. It was a great act of sportsmanship. Yet, there were enough youth who said Sangakarra was foolish; he should have played by the book rather than the spirit — there are other times he gets bad decisions, so this could have been his lucky moment. The event by itself is small but is reflective of our times. Clearly, Indian culture and values, in the long term, will see society through this teenage tryst. However, social influencers need to be constantly aware of the impact of their actions on society today rather than fall back on the cushion of Indian cultural strengths that will see us through tomorrow. Maybe if the three ads quoted at the start of this piece are viewed with this filter, our perspective could change. Something worth thinking about. The views expressed are personal. The author can be contacted at madhukar.sabnavis@ogilvy.com Courtesy : Business Standard
The time had arrived. She was there too among the huge gathering of people. The friends surrounding him were more in number than his family for he was a popular & lovable person amongst them. But for her, he meant something more than that. Everybody knew who she was, but not as much as he did. They had been together only for a month, but still it seemed as if they had spent their entire life together. But all that was insignificant now. What was more important was that, he was leaving her, why only her, he was leaving a whole bunch of his loved ones.
There were tears welling up in her eyes, but then he didn't want to see tears, not now. Mustering up the last of the resolute courage that was left within her, she put up a good battle against her own self. But then his eyes kept going back to her. She simply wanted to hug him tight and say that she would always be there for him. No! She couldn't do that. She got her answer from him soon. A smile and a bat of the eyelid, that said things more than words could have explained. That was all that he could manage and that was all she needed.
The moment had passed, the time had finally arrived........ the electronic voice on the loudspeaker cried out loud .....
"All the passengers to the flight Luftansa 330 are requested to proceed to the security check"
Final handshakes, hi-fives, pats on the back, hugs and soppy teary kisses and a final look at his sweetheart, he pushed his trolley and moved towards his new destination. A place totally new to him, a place void of his family, friends and of course his lovely sweetheart. Last minute handshakes were exchanged and she kept looking till he reached the point of no visibility.
Some wise soul once said - Time, tide and flights wait for none. How true !!
 six year old kid janani walked into her contemporary duplex house with a beatific smile on her face. The reason for the big grin was clenched tightly in her little fist. A cup testifying her first place in the singing competition held in her school. She walked in screaming- "Amma, ammaaaa, where are you?" Probably amma hadn't returned from office yet. She ran to the telephone and dialed the ten digit cell phone number. "The personyou are trying to call is currently not reachable" repeatedly uttered the electronic voice. Janani called up her father's office next - "Daddy, I won the first prize today" she exclaimed excitedly
"That's good darling, now I'm a little busy, we'll talk later baby"
She hung up with a long sigh took the cup upstairs to her disabled grandmother's room. Nandana never liked the room. It smelt of dettol and had the most dull and vapid interiors unlike the rest of the house.
But the moment Nandana walked in, her grandmother stretched her arms out and said - " I knew you'd win Nandu, I'm so proud of you my angel ! Will you sing once again for your grandmother?"
And the smile that was swept off from Nandana's face a few minutes back, lit up the entire room as she sang for her grandmother.
 Of late i've been postponing lot of things including blogging, and continuing my hobby(robots). I've tried to start myself every now and then to get back to what i was back thenbut often failed to catch up my lost dreams....
Here in my blog after series of poems,fiction, Technology, economy and news, im sure you ppl must've felt a bit boring. I too have started feeling that I'm losing that personal touch with my blog. Of course im thinking of introducing the stories wchichwill be interjected at regular intervals. I've seem to have lost continuity with the string of events happening around me. My working life can't get any boring ! The 5 and half working days of the week seem to pass at the slowest pace ever possible. I never seem to be catching up on my sleep and the rate at which my activities after-office-hours are increasing, I'd probably be an insomniac at the end of this year!
I've wanted to involve myself in so many activities that interest me, but other activitiestake the major share of my time and leave me void of any time to spend in activities of mychoice.
I wish my hibernation gets over soon, I have a lot of things planned for all these years... Trepidation grabs me eventually.. too fast so I'll just have to patiently hang in here and keep a cool head as much like Dhoni..
However the countdown begins. Finally !
Blessed are the souls who hop around the toddlers... Kids are the amazing creatures to be with. I had always envied their carefree life, without any worries or disputes. Thatpampered living void of any conspiracies, hassles, egos, hatred or tensions.
I live in an apartment complex that houses a half a dozen kids, majority of them who are so tall that, the top of their heads reach my knees. So, when the clock strikes 6, all of them rush out and well, its invited chaos.
Of late, I've been too moved with their cute simle and the way they play games. It remindsme the times i've been in one of my relatives house with around 7-8 kids during the summer holidays. During which im the one who is supposed to cook up new games for them daily and take them for go-round spins or at times a ride on my bike.
Running n catching, Hide n Seek, Red Letter, Spell the word, Tricycle Races and so many other activities. Those were the days even now i long for...
It happened to be a daily routine for me to think of new games everyday. My evenings thosetimes were spent with these lovely souls, who made me feel so young (not that I'm 60 already), happy and it seemed as if my life has been fulfilled. Their way of talking, their hoppity hoppity hop walks, their cycles, their squeeking shoes, their toys, shrieks, their grubby knees and muddy hands, their broken teeth issues and so much more. One really has to be around to capture the moment. Words fail always to describe beautiful things in the world !
I still savour those happiest moments of my life.. for thatz where i regain my strength from.Now that i've put a facade around myself as if hardened inside i still am that old soul longingfor these moments with the most gifted creatures on the world...
For everything I've said and done, For everything that made you run, Everytime I hurt you bad I'm sorry, I can't see you sad. Now I'm mild & meek, Forgiveness is all I seek, I cast my eyes upon the ground, Twiddle my thumbs, not making the slightest of sound. I don't want to run, escape or hide ! I confront you dumb & mute I'm so tongue-tied And so I plead with only the soul so resolute. You smile, I stutter My limbs start to flutter And all I have on my lips now is a simple Sorry.
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