Sunday, May 30, 2010

Are Indias Cyber Laws adequate?

Till over ten years back, India did not have any specific cyber laws. It was in October 2000, the (ITA) Information Technology Act came into force in India. Over the last ten years, despite the technological measures adopted, the Indian cyber laws are still grossly inadequate in relation to the contemporary situation.

Spam

There are currently some relatively good methods to block spam, but they aren't very effective and hence a new cyber law is badly required to sort out this problem.

Cyber Pornography

Though the ITA states in detail about obscene information as being cyber crime, they don’t specifically define the difference between obscene and pornography. As per India's cyber laws it is only publishing of obscene material that is an offense, but not viewing of pornography.

Cyber Phishing

As the ITA doesn't carry anything specific against cyber phishing, it is imperative that such a law is introduced at the earliest.

Privacy/ Intellectual Protection

The absence of a specific privacy law in India has resulted in a substantial loss of foreign business and it is important that a legislation addressing various privacy related issues is issued at the earliest.

Data Protection via Internet Banking

Bank transactions and information on their customers change hands several times and this information becomes all the more dangerous when it is available on the internet. Electronic Banking is a high risk area and strong cyber laws are needed to protect any leakages or data tampering

In short, an Indian cyber law has many shortcomings and is far from satisfactory and should strive to address these issues at the earliest.

Friday, May 21, 2010

The Role of Mobile Phone in our Society with perspective on Indias Growth

Like other similar developing countries, India often considers mobile phones more as a precious resource to be shared by other family members and sometimes with friends, rather than treating it purely as a personal device.

One conspicuous difference between the mobile phone usage pattern in developed countries and India is reflected in the poor rural areas of India, where mobile phones are being bought by families and not by individuals. Most of these families do not have a landline, and the mobile phone in these poor rural families is a common resource for all the members of the family serving for emergency purposes.

Hence, the average size of a family can also be an important factor in the rate of the mobile phone usage in India. The average household in India which have a mobile phone averages over 5 persons, which is relatively higher than that of China, which averages over 3 persons.

The quick spread of mobile phones from an incredibly very low base provided a boost to communications, thereby largely increasing productivity. India as of today is identified as the quickest growing market segment for mobile phones, having an average growth rate factor of over 80% every year since 2000. India's technology spending is still low and there remains substantial scope for improvement.

If India's mobile phone segment is identified to grow further, it will only do so by targetting more small users. Hence, it is doubtful if high sales volumes and lower costs will put a strain on profits, thereby causing lower average revenue per user.

Monday, May 17, 2010

The Smile Train

The Smile Train is an international charity helping children with cleft lips and palates, founded in 2000 by Brian Mullaney and Charles Wang.

It has been classified as the world’s largest and most cost-effective cleft charity and it also meets extensive standards of America's most experienced charity evaluator. The Smile Train uses technology such as surgery-training software and grading of operations via digital imaging to make it "one of most productive charities, dollar for deed, in the world."

According to a press source, it is said that over the last eight years, Smile Train has performed more than 360,000 cleft surgeries in 74 of the world’s poorest countries, while raising some $85 million last year with worldwide staff strength of just 30 people.

Mullhaney worked in advertising for over 20 years, founded Schell/ Mullaney Advertising, served as Senior Vice President, Creative Director at J. Walter Thompson and Vice President, Creative Director at Young & Rubicam. Mullaney earned a bachelor's degree in business economics from Harvard College. He currently lives on Long Island, New York with his wife Cricket and three children.

Should someone ever search an alternate definition of “selfless”, they might want to consider three words: "Doctor Hirji Adenwalla." To know Dr. Adenwalla, 70, is to understand that no one, anywhere, is more emblematic of the word "selfless." What better way to describe a unique man who, as head of the Charles Pinto Centre for Cleft Lip and Palate in Kerala, India for the past 42 years, has devoted his considerable skills to improving - some might say "salvaging" — the lives of more than 7,000 underprivileged children by giving them the life-transforming ability to smile. Equally remarkable, Dr. Adenwalla has performed every one of these surgeries himself, free of charge, on a budget historically so modest that much of it has resulted from speaking fees. He typically spends his annual vacation making speeches to social service organizations in order to raise funds for the Centre.

In 2001, the first year that The Smile Train was privileged to provide the Charles Pinto Centre with funding, Dr. Adenwalla performed cleft lip and palate repair on an additional 530 children who would otherwise have never received it. "With the help of The Smile Train, we're able to reach out to many more children and change many more lives." says Dr Adenwalla. "I am very excited about what the future holds for this partnership."

A longtime professional associate described the Charles Pinto Center’s work as "truly remarkable," and Dr. Adenwalla as "a legendary surgeon who has touched thousands of lives with his heart, his head and his hands. A very rare combination of huge talent and tiny ego. Dr. Adenwalla himself, of course, dismisses such praise and deflects all compliments. But he reveals at least a part of what motivates him in a short speech he made recently at a Smile Train press conference, the lessons that we learn from human misery are to love, to never forget and to never, never look away.

Smile Train is close to reaching a historic break-even point: it will perform more operations each year than the number of children born each year in developing countries with cleft deformities.

Wish them the best….and anyone who wishes to donate, can do so by CLICKING HERE

Monday, May 10, 2010

How to Make a Figurine Made of Styrofoam

Styrofoam is commonly used as packing material and come in a variety of shapes, boards and colors. Styrofoam figurines although solid are very light and can float. They can be purchased at most craft stores or home decorating department stores. The price for these Styrofoam figurines depends on the size and intricacy of the design. If you are creative, you can make Styrofoam figurines from the comfort of your own home and making these are moderately easy. All you need is a few supplies and a steady hand.

Below are a list of the things that you will need;

Styrofoam block
Variety of Styrofoam figurines
Stencil
Pen
Pencil
Paper
Scissors
Pins
Box Cutter
Small utility knife
Toothpicks
Craft glue
Spray paint
Newspaper and painters tape

Step 1
Decide on the figurine that you want to create. If you are unable to get the desired figurines from shops, find a stencil in the desired shape for your Styrofoam figurine and then sketch it out while keeping the figure simple.

Step 2:
Get your Styrofoam figurine and prepare your pieces. You can use plastic stencils, print pictures from your computer.

Step 3
Place your Styrofoam on a hard, flat surface. Then position your stencil on top of the Styrofoam. Adjust the stencil so that it is where you want the figurine to be. A flat surface will help to hold the Styrofoam steady while you are cutting it. Once you start cutting you won't be able to make adjustments.

Step 4
Cut your Styrofoam to the desired size using the utility knife. Clean them before and after using on Styrofoam. Make sure to put some newspapers under the surface where you are cutting so you don't destroy the tabletop or other surface.

Step 4:
Connect the pieces. Smear a thin layer of glue on either side of the two pieces you are going to connect. Then place some glue at the end of a toothpick and stick them between the two sides as an anchor. Keep gluing until each piece is secured. Prop the figure in a safe place to dry thoroughly.

Step 5:
Decorate the pieces. Once the glue is dry, spray paint your figure as desired. Spray paint works well on Styrofoam since it is very porous. Remember to cover those places that you do not want to be painted with newspaper taped with painters tape.

Tips
You can glue on button eyes to give your figure more personality. Spray paint and other adornments can be found at craft stores. You can also go online to find pieces that match the figurines that you need.

Warnings
While spray painting, if you plan to use more than one color, then allow each portion to fully dry.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

How to Build Muscle for Kids

A child's muscle building program should not just be a scaled-down version of an adult's weight training regimen. Muscle building for kids should not be confused with weight lifting, bodybuilding or powerlifting which are strongly disapproved for kids as they can risk injuring their growing bones, muscles or joints should they participate in these sports. However, building muscles is something moderately challenging for kids with the fitness consciousness that prevails now.

Kids cannot build muscle until they reach puberty, because that is when their body starts producing hormones. Lifting weights can be a good way to strengthen muscles but it is not a safe activity for kids who are unsupervised. The physical trainer should have experience in working with kids should be in a position to show your child the proper techniques, safety precautions, and how to properly use any weight training equipment. As with any sport, it is also wise to have your child visit a doctor before beginning a muscle building program.

Items required

Basic weight training equipment
Dumbbells
Skipping rope

Step 1
Drink milk, eat lots of food, and get lots of rest. If your kid is eating a balanced diet that includes food such as lean chicken and meat, fish and legumes, he or she shouldn't need any additional protein powder or any other nutritional supplements.

Step 2
Kids can usually start on muscle building activities such as pushups and sit-ups everyday, as long as they perform the exercises safely and follow instructions. These exercises can help kids build an awareness of their bodies. Skipping and jogging a mile would also be a good idea. As kids have started engaging in a sedentary lifestyle much like adults, it is very important to educate your child in healthy habits and to help develop a workout routine that is suitable for him or her.

Step 3
Start on basic weight training regimen with dumbbells and the weight of the dumbbells will start on the child's body structure and strength level. Kids, in general must be able to lift a weight with proper technique for about 10 times. If they can't lift the weight at least 7 times, it's obvious that the weight is far too heavy for them.

Step 4
Results won't come overnight. But eventually, the kid will slowly begin to notice a difference in muscle strength, which would fuel a fitness habit in them.

Tip
If your child is ready and has begun to participate in sports such as baseball, soccer, or gymnastics, it can be considered that it is also safe to start muscle training.

Warning
Some people might tell you that using drugs called steroids can help you build muscle. This is a bad idea. Steroids are illegal, and can be bad for your health, causing problems like dizziness, mood swings, damage to your hear and increased risk for some diseases.