Lets do more to spread computer literacy TOI Edit 300911

Logging on

Sep 30, 2011, 12.00AM IST

Human resources development minister Kapil Sibal brings good news for Indian consumers, particularly students. Next week, the 'world's cheapest computer' will finally see light of day. The Rs 1,500 computing-cum-access device - a rejoinder to the $100 laptop used in the UNDP-backed global One Laptop Per Child programme - has been over seven years in the making. Those years haven't treated India kindly as far ascomputer literacy goes. The direct correlation between a computer literate workforce and economic productivity has been proved time and time again. In India's case, the IT sector accounts for about $78 billion worth of exports. But it employs only around 11 million people - a minuscule portion of our labour force. Factor in the increasing necessity of computer literacy in both classrooms and industries across the board and the demand is huge. But where is the supply? 

Government initiatives to spread computer literacy have fared poorly. In semi-urban and rural areas especially, there's often lack of basic educational infrastructure even when computers are provided. Lack of electricity, absence of computer literate teachers, inadequate security for equipment - these have all been problems. The new tablet-form in question can sidestep some of those issues: for instance, with availability of solar power, power supply shouldn't be an issue. But there are several hurdles to overcome if we're to bridge the digital divide in this country. Internet access is increasingly a crucial part of computer literacy. We're faced with just a 6.9% internet penetration rate as of 2010 and a serious lack of the infrastructure necessary to increase the user base. 

Much more needs to be done in these areas. Putting affordable computers in the market as a gateway device is an important step. But it's only the first one.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/opinion/edit-page/Logging-on/articleshow/10174236.cms?prtpage=1

Learning life’s lessons: Swapan Seth

Ad-man Swapan Seth confesses that writing a book on advertising would have been the natural course of events for him. Instead, the 44-year-old settled on offering his readers gyaan (pearls of wisdom) on a universal subject— life. "I've spent two decades in advertising, but twice as much living life. It (the book) was not something I had planned. The idea came and I just knew I had to write it then. I think there's a story inside each of us that needs to be told," he says.

What started as a gift on his elder son Reyhaan's 13th birthday, ended up being a precious nugget about the life and times of Seth for his two sons. His book, This Is All I Have To Say, says a lot about the author, as well as his roles as a student, father, lover and more.

Wonder years
From a boy who failed class 8 to a 17-year-old college dropout who eventually became India's youngest creative director at 24, Seth's book is peppered with anecdotes capturing life's highs and lows. The quick read features simple free verse interspersed with colourful vignettes on life.

His frank jottings touch upon everything from wisdom, love, passion, failure and many other universal themes. "It's not a kid's book, a self-help book nor an instruction booklet. Rather it's a value-enhancer. Most people leave their kids with material wealth, I wanted to leave them with my life's lesson" he says.

And what did his teenage sons make of it? "They thought it was a tad emotional and sentimental," he laughs. When not writing punchlines for his latest ad campaigns, Seth dishes out a-tip-a-day on his Facebook page, Swapan's Shot. Ask him if he enjoys doling advice out to others and he replies, "The Facebook page is just a suggestion on what to read or listen to or where to eat and shop."

And does he stick by his written word? "I would like to. But I must say it's difficult. On many occasions, I find myself believing in something and acting in another way. Now it's more evident since I have put it all down in words. But I do falter, that's human nature."

Seth Says:

On fatherhood: Are your children your best friends? Can you speak to them about everything? Can they?

On life: Either you lead it. Or it leads you. I prefer the latter.

On writing: Words are just pictures that changed their mind along the way.

On your work: Would you like to be marooned on a lonely island with it? If so, you are doing what makes you happy.

On gratitude: Remember you were your parent's thank you to their God. Be thankful, always.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/747203.aspx

 

Misguided activism TOI Edit, Sep 22, 2011

Energy-hungry India's ambitious plan to raise nuclear capacity to 63,000 MW by 2032 makes sense. But meeting the target won't be easy, going by demonstrations against nuclear power projects countrywide. The latest agitation over Tamil Nadu's Kudankulam plant - agitators there have just ended an 11-day fast - shows yet again how easily passions can be whipped up. Why nuclear energy appears open to mischievous fear-mongering isn't hard to see. These mega-ventures, involving big bucks and foreign collaboration, need to be built and maintained with top-grade safety standards. However rare, when mishaps do occur as in Japan's Fukushima, they serve as fodder for anti-nuclear power lobbies besides provoking knee-jerk local protests.

Sometime ago, Fukushima was used to justify calls to scrap the Jaitapur plant in Maharashtra. Haryana, Andhra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have had their share of troubles while Bengal junked the Haripur project. In Tamil Nadu, NGO-backed protesters now want Kudankulam's atomic power plant closed, citing misgivings over safety and displacement. The chief minister's detailed statement about safety measures in place fell on deaf ears and the Centre - reportedly ready to 'reconsider' the project - seems on the verge of caving in. When people adopt agitation for agitation's sake, goaded by myopic activists with ideological axes to grind, the first casualty is reasoned debate. Yet public awareness can hardly be raised without cool-headed discussion on both the benefits and risks of nuclear energy use.

It is no one's case that public concerns over safety needn't be addressed. If anything, Fukushima torpedoed complacency about nuclear power, driving home that disaster preparedness must plan for even freak accidents. Mishaps, however, can happen as much in a chemical plant, a coalmine or an oilrig as in a nuclear power plant. Managing concerns demands open debate about our nuclear edifice, whose decision-making processes must be more transparent. Periodic reviews of existing plants are in order, along with public education about security assessments and contingency plans. Reinforcing the structural integrity of sites must be top priority. This mandates upgrade in installation design - reactors, control rooms, containment areas, cooling systems, power backups - to help plants better withstand calamities.

The aim, ultimately, is to have our nuclear power programme take off. Fast-developing India can't rest content with Luddite responses to technology, as frequently manifested in misguided activism be it against transgenic crops or nuclear energy. Our power consumption is set to increase by leaps and bounds. Environment-friendly energy use being critical to our high growth path, we require alternatives to polluting fossil fuels. Renewables - coming with their own set of headaches concerning use of land and other resources - can't do the trick alone. We need a diversified energy basket, which includes an emissions-free source like nuclear power generated to benefit people on a mass scale.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-22/edit-page

Grammar and Vocabulary Online Resources

hhttp://www.basic-english-grammar.com/

http://www.englishtenseswithcartoons.com/tenses/future_perfect_cont

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

http://oxforddictionaries.com/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/

http://towson.edu/ows/

GK Quiz September 1-10, 2011

        NP-IQ Knowledge is power r

1.      In which city of India we will soon have a world-class institute that will impart training to people and chalk out strategies to curb the effects of climate change

Delhi will soon have a world-class institute that will impart training to people and chalk out strategies to curb the effects of climate change, CM Sheila Dikshit said.

2.   The Special judge behind Amar Singh's arrest

Sangita Dhingra Sehgal

 Master of Art in Public Administration from Punjab, University;d) LLB from Delhi University

3.   What is the allegation against Mr. Amar Singh

Cash-for-vote scam

4.   Which trophy has moved out of India?

Champions Trophy moves out of India The International Hockey Federation has snatched the annual Champions Trophy tournament from India because of an ongoing tussle over who runs the sport in the country.Regretting the move,the federation said it was the only way to maintain the integrity of our sport

5.   Which water-sharing agreement was to be signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs Bangladesh visit to Bangladesh

Teesta pact with Dhaka put off after presuure from the WB government.

6.    Who is the speaker of the Lok Sabha

Ms. Meira Kumar 

7.    Arvind Kejriwal was a part of which branch of the Elite Civil Services?

The Indian Revenue Services

8.     Who has accused Team Anna member Kejriwal of flouting service rules while serving as an Indian Revenue Service officer and collecting lakhs of rupees for his NGO through donations.

Congress leader Digvijay Singh; Kejriwal collected lakhs for NGO as IRS officer 

9.    What does IED stand for?

 improvised explosive device (IED)

10.  THIS MAN USED TO FLY WITH RAJIV GANDHI: He was Killed in the Delhi blast on Wedenesday

Captain Ronald Nagar

 

11.  Which county's sports team was wiped out when their jet crashed leaving 44 dead?

Russian hockey team

Forty-four people were killed when a Russian jet carrying an ice hockey team crashed on take-off.P 22

12. Name the movie with which Big B will make his Hollywood debut; He's playing role of Meyer Wolfshiem with Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role

The Great Gatsby Big B to star with Leo in The Great Gatsby 

13.                President Pratibha Devisingh Patil gave away the 58th National Film Awards to emminent film makers and artists at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday. Who received the Dada Saheb Phalke Award?

 Veteran Tamil filmmaker K Balachander to receive Dada Saheb Phalke award. the man behind films like 'Iru Kodugal', 'Apoorva Raagangal' and 'Ek Duuje Ke Liye' at Vigyan Bhawan.The award consists of a Swarna Kamal , a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh and a shawl.

14.               Where is Miss Universe 2011 beauty pageant being held?

São Paulo (Saint Paul; /ˌsaʊ ˈpaʊloʊ/) is thelargest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere, and the world's eighth largest city by population. The city is very similar to New York in terms of culture, economy and population.

 

15. Who was the first High court Judge to be impeached by the Rajya Sabha?

Justice Soumitra Sen

16. What are the allegations against Justice Sen?

He was found guilty of misappropriating Rs 33.23 lakh, which were under his custody as a court-appointed receiver in the capacity as a lawyer and misrepresenting facts before a Calcutta court, had claimed he was being victimised and was made a "sacrificial lamb" to cleanse the judiciary.

17. Who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the ICICI Bank?

Chanda Kochar

ICICI Bank to hire 6,000 people this fiscal for biz expansion: Chanda Kochhar

18.  Name the company acquired by the world's number one search engine Google.

 

 Popular dining ratings authority, Zagat; to compete in this market against Yelp and OpenTable.

 

19.  Name the CEO of Tata Motors who resigned on Friday?

 

Carl-Peter Forster,The company said Forster resigned due to "unavoidable personal circumstances

 

20.  India's Bharti Airtel Ltd. has got a license to offer second-generation and third-generation mobile services in which country  taking its operations in Africa to 17 countries.

 

Rwanda

 

21.  In order to showcase its commitment to transparency and accountability, the government is likely to introduce which Bill in the winter session of Parliament. 

 

Companies Bill, 2011                           

 

22.  Which two teams will clash in the finals of the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy on Sunday

 

Arch rivals India and Pakistan

 

23.  What is the venue of the final match of the Asian Champs trophy?

 

Ordos (China),Malaysia beat Japan 3-2 in their last round robin league encounter on Friday to help India set up a clash with Pakistan in the final of the Asian Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament here.

 

24.  US Open Which pair from India has made it to the semi-finals of the mens' doubles event of the US Open defeating the British pair of Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins in a gruelling three-setter?

 

Bopanna-Qureshi through to SFs

 

25.  Who lead the revolt over safety at rain-hit US Open?

Rafael Nadal   Rafael Nadal lashed out at US Open organisers on Wednesday, claiming players' safety was being put at risk in a desperate effort to make up for lost time at the rain-ravaged Grand Slam tournament. 

26.  Who is playing 'the brother' in the latest movie release MBKD?

Ali Zafar

27.  Name the painful nerve condition for which Leading Bollywood actor Salman Khan underwent a surgery in the US last week.

Trigeminal Neuralgia, a nerve disorder that causes intense pain in the face, The surgery has been "successful" and he is advised a complete rest for the next fifteen days.

 

Deserve the best!