“The headcount reductions have begun and will continue into 2009… the company also plans to forgo 2009 salary increases in most of the company’s markets,” Unisys Corporation said in a statement.

Unisys said that it is exploring a wide range of cost-reduction options and that actions currently underway are expected to reduce its annual cost structure by more than USD 225 million.

The cost-reduction actions –led by new Unisys Chairman and CEO Ed Coleman — are part of an overall programme to simplify the company’s business structure, concentrate its resources more effectively and drive improved market success and profitability, Unisys added.

The initial cost-reduction actions are focused on reducing selling, general and administrative (SGandA) expenses and controlling or reducing labor costs across the board.

“The company plans to reduce its spending on third-party expenses, facility consolidations, head-count reductions and a suspension of company matching contributions to the US 401(k) plan, which had been costing about USD 50 million annually,” the statement added.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/241/20081223/1265/tbs-unisys-to-axe-1-300-jobs-suspends-sa.html

With 35.5 percent votes, Wi-Fi has beaten Sky+, Sat Navs, iPods and Blackberries to win the poll conducted by a leading gadget magazine.

In the survey by ‘Stuff’ magazine, the readers were asked to choose the greatest technological innovation of the past ten years.

More than a third voted for Wireless Internet.

SKY+, the personal video recorders (PVR) by Sky, at the second place, has emerged as the best known and best loved PVR.

“It really has given power to the consumer to allow them to watch what they want when they want,” the Telegraph quoted Fevzi Turkalp, who runs the Gadget Detective website, as saying.

Sat Nav, provided in almost every car now, stood at the third place, while energy-efficient Hybrid Cars have marked fourth place in the list.

Apple’s iPod has taken the fifth place in the list.

Simon Osborne-Walker, the publisher of Stuff magazine, said that he was confident readers had managed to sum up the best of the last decade.

“It’s been an amazing ten years for technology. Gadgets have gone from being big black boxes under the television to lightweight, portable devices,” he said.

Stuff’s list of the best technological innovation of last decade:

1. Wireless Internet – 35.5 percent

2. Sky+ – 16.9 percent

3. Sat Nav – 16.6 percent

4. Hybrid Cars – 8.9 percent

5. iPod – 5.6 percent

6. Chip and Pin – 5.6 percent

7. Nintendo Wii – 3.9 percent

8. Skype – 1.7 percent

9. Oyster Card – 1.5 percent

10. Blackberry – 1.1 percent

Other – 2.6 percent

http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20081223/393/ttc-wifi-tops-best-technological-innovat.html

Understanding how these holes form will help them better predict the electrical storms that cause power grid blackouts and the aurora, activity that will peak in 2012 as sunspots hit their maximum level.

Scientists at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco said they had been entirely wrong about how solar particles that cause the storms were entering the Earth’s magnetosphere.

The magnetosphere is a bubble of magnetism that surrounds Earth and protects us from solar wind.

Scientists once believed that the particles entered when the sun’s magnetic field was aligned opposite to that of the Earth’s. But findings presented at the meeting show that 20 times more solar particles enter the Earth’s magnetic field when it is aligned in the same direction as the sun’s magnetic field.

The alignment causes the two magnetic fields to connect and tears holes in the Earth’s magnetic field over the poles.

“What we observed was the breach in the levee,” said Jimmy Raeder, a physicist at the University of New Hampshire. “This has taken us completely by surprise.”

In June 2007, NASA’s five THEMIS spacecraft probes flew through one of the tears just as it was opening. Sensors recorded a torrent of solar wind particles streaming into the magnetosphere, said Raeder.

“The opening was huge — four times wider than Earth itself,” said Raeder. “This kind of influx is an order of magnitude greater than what we thought was possible.”

Most of the particles are deflected back into space, but some circulate in the magnetosphere, get energized, and cause electrical storms that trigger power grid outages, cause problems for aircraft flying over the poles, and can damage satellites in geosynchronous orbit.

“There’s a bigger risk because we have more stuff in space now,” said Raeder.

Scientists said that the majority of solar storms take place midway through and on the tail end of the solar cycle. This 11-year cycle of activity is at its minimum now and electrical storms will be at their peak in 2012.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/137/20081217/776/tsc-holes-in-earth-s-magnetic-cloak-let.html

“I tell my fellow politicians, particularly those belonging to my own party, that it is our duty to erase this image of the ‘ugly Indian politician’….it is necessary for the best and the brightest among the youth to join politics and serve the nation,” Advani said.

He was speaking at a seminar on “National Values Crisis and its Redressal” organised by the Foundation for Restoration of National Values.

The 81-year-old leader cited Transparency International’s annual reports where India ranks high in the corruption index and the United Nations report in which India ranks low in the Human Development Index. He held responsible the lack of professionalism among politicians as the reason for this state of affairs.

“Politics was a noble profession during the freedom Movement…After Independence, the spirit of mission got gradually diluted…Unfortunately, in India today politics is seen neither as a mission nor as a profession, but as pure commerce,” Advani lamented.

However, the senior leader pointed out that it was not just in politics that the values had gone down. “The lack of integrity and professional ethics is seen among lawyers, judges, doctors…. and even security personnel. It is seen even in the media,” Advani said.

BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate said though the intelligence quotient of an individual could develop lifelong, his emotional, moral and spiritual quotient developed mostly between the age of 15 and 25 years.

“It is necessary for the young to join politics and serve the nation,” he said.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20081118/814/tnl-youth-can-change-image-of-ugly-india.html

http://rahulkumar127.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/08/india-s-olympic-gold-medal-and-role-of-administrators.htm

Following my post the state of music in Ramayana, there was some discussion about Sama and its relation to music. I was asked to say a little more about the music in Sama Veda; hence this post.

1. Sama Veda samhita

1.1. Sama Veda is linked to music through yajna. It was customary to invoke and invite deities by singing their hymns; and to recite the mantras while the rituals were being performed. Those who sang were designated: Udgatru .They selected those riks (mantras) from Rig Veda that could be sung. And, they compiled such selection into a collection; and that collection came to be known as Sama Veda Samhita. Out of the 1,549 mantras in Sama Veda, as many as 1,474 mantras are taken from Rig Veda. It is explained, SA stands for rik, while AMA stands for various notes (Brihad Up: 1-3-22). Sama Veda is thus, virtually, a musical rendering of the selected mantras from Rig Veda. In other words, Sama took maathu (words) from Rig Veda; and provided dhathu the musical substance to those words.

1.2. The Sama Veda Samhita was two segments. The first segment is called Sama – Yoni (adhara) mantra Samhita, meaning that it is the basic text. This segment contains the selected mantras as they appear in the Rig Veda .This, virtually, is the source book. The second segment called Sama –gana text, details how the selected mantras are to be sung. This is the text for singing; expanding each mantra of the first segment with notations. This is the Sama Veda as it is generally understood and sung.

2. Sama-gana

2. 1. As regards the styles of singing, Patanjali says that there were a thousand ways of singing of Sama “sahasravartma samvedah“. That might be just a poetic way of saying there were many styles of singing Sama. Of these, only three recensions Viz. Kauthumiya, Ranayaniya and Jaiminiya have survived. The Kauthumiya and Ranayaniya carry the same set of mantras; but they are grouped differently and there are variations in svaras (accent) too. The Jaiminiya is said to be different from the other two, in both the aspects.

2.2. Udgathrus , the singers at the yajna , for whose guidance the Sama Veda came to be compiled , are usually a group of three singers; and the group together renderers the mantras in five stages:

Prasthava: The initial portion of the mantra is sung by an Udgathru designated Prasthothru. He starts with Huuum sound (Hoon Kara).

Udgita: He is followed by the chef Ritwik (designated the chief Udgathru) who sings his portion of the rik. He commences with an Om Kara.

Prathihara: the mid-portion is sung loudly by Prathiharthra.

Upadrava: The chief Udgathru sings again; and

Nidhana: the final portion is sung by all the three together.

When a mantra, as per the above format, is sung three times, it is then a stoma.

3. Elements of chanting

3.1. The shiksha branch of Veda deals with elements of chanting and phonetics. According to Taittereya Upanishad (1. 2) , the elements of chanting includes six factors : Varna (syllable);svara(accent);maatra(duration);balam(time-duration);sama(even tone ) ; and Santana (continuity).The first four deal with correct pronunciation of individual syllables; and the last two with the pronunciation of the entire line or the verse.

3.2. Briefly, Varna is the correct pronunciation of every isolated syllable, combination of consonants and ovals and compound letters. Svara is how a syllable has to be pronounced in one of the three accents (udatta, anudatta and svarita).Maatra is the time duration for pronouncing a syllable. There are four types: hrasva- a short one-duration for short ovals; dhirga- two unit-duration for long vowels; plutam- longer than two –unit duration; and, the fourth is ardha- maatra, half unit, meant for consonants not accompanied by vowels.

4. Sama music

4.1. The music, based on Sama mantras was classified into:

(i). Grama_geya gana: was sung amidst people of the society. It was a natural way of singing.

(ii).Aranya gana: Sung in contemplation, in the woods and groves. This was also a natural singing.

(iii).Uhaa gana: Sung during the Soma yajna. The singing here followed a rather complicated pattern. And,

(iv).Uhya gana: secrect or singing within oneself.

4.2. In the beginning, Sama-gana employed only three notes called Udatta, Anudatta and Svarita. The lyre (Vana-Veena) accompanying the singing had only three strings, one for each note.The songs were perhaps like Ga Ga -Re Re -Sa Sa Sa. This kind of singing might have suited for chanting hymns.

The three notes were differentiated depending on whether it was produced mfrom above or below the palate (taalu).

Udatta refers to sound produced from above the palate; and is acutely accented (uchchaih) .

Anudatta was gravely accented (nichaih); produced from below the palate.

Svarita is a combination of udatta and anudatta, with udatta in the first-half. It is called a circumflexed accent.

In the written/printed texts of the Rig Veda, Udatta is not indicated by any symbol; Anudatta is indicated by underlining the syllable; and Svarita is indicated by a vertical line above the syllable.

The Sama –gana texts, however, indicate udatta by writing the Sanskrit numeral –one above the letter; anudatta by writing the numeral –three above the letter; and svarita by writing the numeral –two above the letter. In sama text , the syllables that have symbols are called prachaya.

5. Sama svaras

5.1 .But, the scale, gradually, over a period of time, expanded from three to seven notes Narada Shiksha explaining the Sama music states: there were: seven notes (svaras); three gramas; 21 moorchanas; and 49 taanas in Sama music. It also gives the relation between the Sama notes (Sama svara) and notes on the flute (Venu svara):

In the later Sama texts, it became customary to write the numerals (one to seven) on top of the Sama mantras to indicate their note- delineations (Sama vikara).

5.2. Naradiya Shiksha (1.5.3; 1.5.4) explains that each sama-svara was derived from the sounds made by a bird or an animal in its appropriate season. For instance, bulls roar was Rishabha; kraunchaka’s (heron) cry was Madhyama; elephant’s trumpet was Nishadha; and koel’s (cuckoo) melodious whistle was Panchama and so on. Please see the table below.

Every teacher knows that a safe, clean, comfortable and attractive classroom can stimulate learning and help build a classroom community. But for many teachers, setting up the physical environment of their classrooms can be quite daunting, especially when faced with older buildings, crowded classrooms and insufficient storage space. You can make the most of your classroom environment by carefully considering your needs and the needs of your students.

Survey Your Classroom: Looking at the Basics : The first things to consider when organizing your classroom are cleanliness, light and temperature. Once you have checked the basic elements in your classroom, think about your floor plan. Your floor plan may depend on the grade you are teaching. For the lower grades, your classroom setup may include many different learning areas, such as a reading area, an art center and a technology center.

Classroom Decor: Facing the Blank Canvas : Encourage students to make the classroom space their own. Welcome their contributions to its decoration, and urge them to take responsibility for its maintenance. Interesting and attractive visual aids, such as bulletin boards and posters, are key components of an effective classroom. Wall decorations should be colorful, appealing and relevant to current classwork. They should be rotated and refreshed frequently.

The Greenhouse Effect : Caring for live plants can give your classroom a warm, comforting feel. It can also help teach students responsibility – and science! Local nurseries or greenhouses may even be willing to donate the plants to your class. Entrust children, especially older children, to care for the class plants. They can make sure that the plants receive adequate water, light and air.

Use Lots of Storage Space : The primary classroom should have as much storage space as possible, both for students’ personal belongings and for shared tools and materials. Each child should have a personal space, such as a desk or a cubby and a coat hook, for his or her own things.

When you’ve finished setting up your classroom, give it a practice run or two. Walk through a typical school day, making sure that both you and the students have enough space to work and move around, that everyone in the classroom can see and hear and that every part of the room is as pleasant as possible.Your classroom will continue to change and evolve as the school year progresses. These suggestions can help you create a classroom environment that is welcoming, comfortable, clean and secure.

http://teacher.co.in/2008/06/04/tips-to-create-effective-environment-in-classroom/

• show a genuine passion for teaching.
• care about helping children learn.
• are prompt, prepared, and organized.
• are flexible, enthusiastic and energetic.
• have classroom management skills.
• can maintain discipline.
• can create a calm, intellectually stimulating, and respectful classroom environment.
• have high expectations and hold students to high standards.
• possess knowledge of the subject matter.
• have an understanding of state standards and state testing.
• use a variety of teaching methods.
• have the ability to integrate technology into instruction.
• can motivate children to learn.
• can pace instruction so that student interest is maintained.
• can differentiate instruction.
• are amenable to changes.
• are willing to develop and implement new curricula.
• express an interest in collaborating with colleagues.
• have superior writing and verbal skills.
• exhibit “people skills,” i.e. get along well with other educators, students, parents, and community members.

http://teacher.co.in/2008/04/03/what-do-management-looks-in-before-appointing-a-new-teacher-interview-tips/

For most home-based business owners, that’s plenty of incentive to manage their time effectively. But how can you make the most of each work day? Start with these 10 tips:
Plan tomorrow today. Even the most successful and conscientious small business owners need help handling all they need to accomplish. Planning tomorrow’s schedule today is a great way to get ahead. At the end of each workday, jot down a to-do list of things you want to accomplish tomorrow, in order of priority. That will get you prepared for tomorrow, and you’ll avoid wasting time deciding or worrying about what should come next.

Get your priorities straight. Prioritize your tasks. All your activities can be broken down into categories in order of importance. If you need to be networking and finding new business leads, set a time frame for that task. Then set aside time for growing and expanding current business. Then check off all the other tasks that need to be completed by the end of the day.
Maximize downtime. Keep a notepad or tape recorder with you whenever you’re away from the office. Jot down or record good ideas whenever they occur to you. Your cell phone also is a great tool. Call yourself and remind yourself of what you need to get done. If you’re traveling, bring your laptop and cell phone with you to the airport, and catch up on email and calls while you wait.

Emulate the early bird. Set your alarm clock for an hour before the rest of the family is due to get up. Get up and get an early start crossing off to-do items on your checklist.
Take breaks. Set aside time for breaks during the day to recharge and reenergize. It’s amazing how much something as simple as a half-hour walk or lunch (not at your desk!) can do to clear your mind and help you refocus on your goals.

Strike a balance. The key to time management is balancing your activities so that your life is not all work and no play. You have to make time to do the things necessary to keep your business growing, but don’t do it at the expense of the things you need to do to keep yourself growing.

Pay attention to the little things. It’s the little things that can trip you up and waste time. For example, using dial-up for your computer instead of a high-speed connection to the Internet costs you time. Connecting a fax machine to your main phone line every time you need to send or receive a fax costs you time, as does going back and forth to a printer set up in a different room. Each of these items may only take a few seconds here or there, but in aggregate they can add up and cost you big chunks of your day.

Take out the trash. Throw away everything you don’t need as soon as it lands in your mailbox. This will keep junk email and snail mail from piling up and becoming a major distraction.

Stay focused. Yes, the laundry is piling up, and the dishwasher needs to be emptied. But the truth is there will always be things that you could be doing instead of working. But to run a successful home-based business, many times you’ll just have to ignore these distractions and stay focused on the task at hand.

Separate church and state. To manage your time working at home efficiently, you have to delegate what hours are for what. Explain to family — especially children — that you aren’t choosing work over spending time with them, but that you have to work during work hours. Once the workday is over, focus entirely on your family, and don’t let business intrude on your time with them.

http://www.home-based-business-blog.blogspot.com/

If you deposit 5000 bucks every year, for 20 years @ 10% p.a. How much you will get in returns after 20 years can you guess…….?
That means you deposit 5000 bucks every year @10% p.a. for the period of 20 years.
At the end of 20th year you will have 315,012 Bucks!!! It’s 3 times your investment!!

So now I will share with you the success formula of multiplying your money via stock market.

Few things before I start, you need to take of the few things below listed,
1. Patience
2. Implementing the formula as per the rule.
3. Don’t go out of the Box.
4. Don’t be greedy as time goes on.

So here we go now.
Select a stock which should be an integral part of index.
The reason to select the stock from index is because the index stock is very liquid and fundamentally strong stocks.
The stocks must have an intraday moment of at least 2%-5% up or down.
These were the eligibility criteria for selecting the right stock.

Now suppose your selected stock is X and the current value of the stock X is 100 bucks.
And you only have 50,000 bucks with you in your account.

We need to segregate our investment in such a way that we should be able to buy the stocks even if it falls 50% from the current value (100) (i.e. we can buy the stocks at 50 bucks also).

Your capital is 50,000 and the stock value is 100, now 50,000/100 = 500.
You can buy 500 stocks in all.

You have to buy the stock in lot size of 50.
Every 5% fall, you have to buy 50 shares of stock X, and hence you can buy the stock till the maximum fall of 50%.

As the stocks falls you keep buying the lot size. And as the stocks rises 5% you release the stocks. That will keep booking profit at every 5% level rise and fall of the stock.
E.g. Day 1
Stock Value 95, Buy 50 shares.
Day 2
Stock value 90, Buy 50 shares
Day3
Stock value 95, Sell the last buy, i.e. 50 shares bought at 90 and hence you have booked 5% profit.

Keep following this buying and selling and you see enormous growth in your account.

http://sameer17.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/08/how-to-multiply-your-money.htm