MOSYN’S WORLD

The Hindu News Update Service: “Budget anti-dote to poverty: Chidambaram

New Delhi, Feb. 28 (PTI): Discounting Opposition criticism that the Budget was pro-rich, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, said it was aimed at pushing up growth, which was the best anti-dote for poverty, and that it would help in holding price line that hit the common man most, besides contained number of measures to help farmers including short-term lending at concessional interest rates.

‘The common farmer is not a rich man and short-term crop loans at concessional 7 per cent interest is aimed at helping indebted small farmers,’ he said, adding ‘we will try to keep inflation rate below five per cent. Allocations to core sectors are intended to growth.’

He also pooh-poohed the criticism that fiscal consolidation has been given a go-by and said that in fact fiscal deficit is less than the targeted 4.1 per cent of GDP in 2005-06 and the Budget has promised to bring it down to 3.8 per cent of GDP in 2006-07, keeping in line with the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act parameters.

He said the one-by-six formula has been withdrawn as it has outlived its utility and served its purpose during the nine years. There are now other sharper instruments like Annual Information Return, which is being expanded, to check tax evasion. Due to the one-by-six formula, the tax net has been widened.”

Sony Ericsson introduces blogging phonesHAVING SOLD over three million of its Walkman phone range, Sony Ericsson has decided to build on another Sony brand – the Cyber-shot digital camera.

It’s just released the first two models in its new Cyber-shot phone range – the K800i (with an approximate price of £300), and a slightly cheaper version – the K790.

While various Java apps have been available to allow cameraphone shots to be uploaded directly to a blog, these new handsets are the first to come with a built-in blogging capability.

All the user has to do is select a picture and then pick the option for sending via ‘blog’ rather than MMS (picture messaging) or email. By default this will link the user directly to Google’s Blogger service.

The first time the user selects ‘blog’, Google’s servers automatically create a unique address on its blogspot for that particular handset/SIM card combination.

Better still it will be entirely feasible for the user to customize his or her blogspot address from the handset – no need to access a PC.

Sony Ericsson’ Steve Walker claimed it will also be possible to alert friends and family to new blog postings via RSS – but presumably that will require PC access.

All of the seven new handsets Sony Ericsson announced today (February 28th) will be available Q2 2006 except for one – the W950 ultra thin Walkman handset.

This – along with Sony Ericsson’s first clamshell Walkman phone, the W300 – will bring the number of Walkman handsets to seven.

Steve Walker neatly side-stepped a question about the very early Walkman phones frying their memory cards. Might be something to watch out for. Especially since the company in now using Memory Card Micro cards in the latest models. µ

Details unfolding on Microsoft’s ‘Origami’ | CNET News.com: “As rumors unfurl about a new gadget upcoming from Microsoft, the company’s Origami Project is starting to take shape as a very small tablet computer, one perhaps affordable enough to appeal to mainstream consumers.

The concept, which Microsoft plans to detail next month, is built on top of the Windows XP operating system but aims to be a new kind of device, rather than a replacement for existing PCs, according to sources familiar with the effort. With a screen bigger than that of a handheld but smaller than a notebook PC screen, Origami devices won’t fit in the pocket, but they’ll make it into purses and even the smallest of backpacks, sources said.

Microsoft’s goal is to create a blueprint for devices that could sell for $600 or less, although the actual prices will depend greatly on what manufacturers decide to include. Origami is capable of supporting features like GPS, Bluetooth, 3G cellular technology and Wi-Fi, though each of these adds to the cost of the device.

Rumors have been swirling about the device over the past week. The Origami Project Web site, which is owned by Microsoft, pledges that more information will come Thursday. However, sources say this is likely to be more buzz, with actual details not expected until later in March, likely at the CeBit show that takes pl”

Benjamin Franklin: “enjamin Franklin 1706 – 1790

You probably know him as one of the Fathers of the United States, a great leader and diplomat. He signed the major documents of the founding of the U.S. including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Maybe you know him as an inventor, or as a scientist who flew kites in lightning storms, or as a writer and printing press operator.

But did you know that in 1726, at the age of 20, while on an 80-day ocean voyage from London back to Philadelphia, he developed a ‘Plan’ for regulating his future conduct? He was partially motivated by Philippians 4:8 ‘Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.’ He followed the plan he created ‘pretty faithfully’ even to the age of 79 (when he wrote about it), and he was even more determined to stick with it for his remaining days because of the happiness he had enjoyed so far by following it.

His ‘Plan’ was made up of 13 virtues, each with short descriptions:

1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.

2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.

3. Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your”

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Amul’s latest on Rang De Basanti – Sify.com: “Amul’s latest on Rang De Basanti
By IndiaFM | Friday, 10 February , 2006, 19:51

Amul latest hoarding is nothing short of funny and creative. Unlike some of their past hoardings there is no insult to any film over here. We all recall the amazing scene in Rang De Basanti where the four leading guys Aamir Khan, Kunal Kapoor, Sharman Joshi and Siddharth run into a field near an air base and take off their T-Shirts and jump sky high. “