Thursday, December 27, 2012

The smallest, cheapest computer in the world - Raspberry Pi

Resembling little more than a credit card-sized scrap of exposed circuit board, the Raspberry Pi is a fully programmable PC that runs a free, open-source Linux operating system, plugs into any TV, can power 3D graphics and connects to the Internet.

In a world where computers are increasingly powerful and are concealed within ever more glossy slabs of aluminum, the Raspberry Pi (RPi) offers surprising proof for the virtue of moderation.
Resembling little more than a credit card-sized scrap of exposed circuit board, the RPi is a fully programmable PC that runs a free, open-source Linux operating system, plugs into any TV, can power 3D graphics, connects to the Internet and, with a little ingenuity, be used to create your own personalized robot slave.

The computer's miniature frame is crowded with two USB ports, an SD card slot, an Ethernet connection and microchip in the middle -- all powered by a universal USB mobile charger.


Not only is it the world's smallest personal computer but, perhaps most importantly of all, at just $25 the RPi is also the world's cheapest. Eben Upton, the UK-based University of Cambridge professor and inventor behind the wallet-friendly PC, says he set out to create a computer so affordable that every child in Britain could have one. With its rough-around-the-edges aesthetic, however, he didn't expect it to catch on very fast and, in the early days of development, set a sales target of 10,000 units within his lifetime.

But when the RPi launched in February of this year, demand far outran supply, and all 10,000 sold out immediately -- crashing the distributing websites in the process.




Thursday, December 20, 2012

Wedding celebration in Arab Countries. Firing in Air




Kindly ignore the title in the Youtube video. These are not terrorists but people celebrating the wedding.
In Arab countries it is normal for the guests to fire in the air during the wedding celebrations :)

But in recent years most of the people are against the firing as there have been many cases of injuries and casualties because of the bullets falling down on people.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Chinese myna bird placed under house arrest for shouting 'f*** you' at visitors to zoo


Naughty: Myna birds are famed for their ability to mimic speech (file picture)

A rude myna bird has been put in solitary confinement at a zoo after shouting 'f*** you' at visitors. 
The bird had been trained to welcome people to Jiufeng Forest Zoo in Wuhan, central China, but keepers were shocked to hear it insulting tourists in recent weeks. 
Staff believe the bird picked up the rude words from visitors and signs have now been put up warning zoo-goers about teaching mynas bad language. 
A sign erected at the zoo read: 'Please do not use foul language to get a rise out of the Myna.'
The common myna bird has been isolated to stop the other birds from copying the rude words. 
Keepers say they will withhold food from the common myna bird when it swears and play tapes of polite words to change its bad habits. 
Caretaker Li Yun said he had heard some tourists try to teach the birds rude words. 
He told China's Global Times: 'The bird has a good memory. It's possible that some visitor taught it how to say these things.'
He said the birds are 'good mimics' and quick learners. 
Eight talking mynas were introduced to the zoo in 2010 from Vietnam and four of them were put on show to welcome visitors.
They were taught to speak in full Chinese sentences and welcomed people with phrases such as 'I wish you prosperity' and hello and goodbye. 
Myna birds are native to Asia and is a popular pet for its ability to mimic language.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

The world's first magnetic strip credit card up for sale


One of only two prototypes of the very first magnetic strip credit cards developed by IBM is up for sale for the first time.
Sotheby's are offering the relic of financial history for sale at their New York branch, with an estimate of between $10,000 to $15,000.
Made of card, with its magnetic strips printed stuck somewhat askew across both sides, the card has been carried for nearly 50 years in the wallet of its developer Jerome Svigals.
Relic of financial history: This unassuming oblong of brown card is one of only two of the original prototypes of the modern day credit card developed by IBM in the late Sixties
Relic of financial history: This unassuming oblong of brown card is one of only two of the original prototypes of the modern day credit card developed by IBM in the late Sixties



Credited with making possible today's trillion dollar consumer credit industry, the card is a unique piece of financial history.
While credit cards for individual companies had been in use in the U.S. since the Twenties, it was only in the Fifties that the idea of a universal credit card came into general use and acceptance.
However, these raised letter cards required extensive customer service and substantial time to process.
Seeking to create an application that would increase computer sales, IBM set about transforming the raised letter credit card to make it more efficient.
Going under the hammer: The card is available for sale at Sotheby's at an auction set for December 14, with an estimate of between £10,000 and $15,000
Going under the hammer: The card is available for sale at Sotheby's at an auction set for December 14, with an estimate of between £10,000 and $15,000

Mr Svigals' prototype card goes on sale December 14 as part of a fine books and manuscripts sale at Sotheby's in New York. 
On one side the magnetic strip has come away and been stuck back down with sellotape, but it is not thought to have affected the value of the almost unique item.
The only other example is kept at the Computer History Museum in California.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

The top ten skyscrapers of the year named.. Kuwait's Al Hamra Tower Second !


It would be a tall order to beat this lot.
The top ten skyscrapers of the year were named yesterday with a stunning New York residential block taking top spot.
Eight Spruce Street, in Manhattan, picked up the Emporis Skyscraper Award where judges chose the best buildings which were completed in 2011.
Sky's the limit: Eight Spruce Street, in Manhattan, picked up the Emporis Skyscraper Award for the word's best skycraper
Sky's the limit: Eight Spruce Street, in Manhattan, picked up the Emporis Skyscraper Award for the word's best skycraper

The 76-storey tower, designed by Frank Gehry, is the 12th largest tallest residential block stretching 265-metres into the sky.
Its stunning design consist of cladding made up of 10,500 stainless steel panels, almost all of them different shapes.
This means that as you move around, its shape constantly changes - with judges saying the building 'stands out even in Manhattan's already remarkable skyline'.
The Al Hamra Tower in Kuwait took second place
Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, stand at 217.5 and 305.3 metres
High flyers: The 412 metre Al Hamra Tower in Kuwait City (left) took second place while Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, which stand at 217.5 and 305.3 metres (left) took third 
KK100 in Shenzhen, China stands 441.8 metres tall
Victoria Tower, Stockholm is 117.6 metres tall
Impressive: KK100 in Shenzhen, China stands 441.8 metres tall and Victoria Tower, Stockholm reaches 117.6 metres


Wednesday, December 5, 2012

French police arrest Chinese pair with 1.8 MILLION euros in cash stitched inside car seats


Two Chinese men were arrested at a French checkpoint near Strasbourg last month with more than 1.8million euros in cash hidden in their car seats, according to French Customs.
The find, consisting of over 38,000 denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro notes, was hidden behind the seatback of an Audi A6. 
Customs made ​​the discovery during a check on the tollgate of the A4 motorway at Schwindratzheim.
The find, consisting of over 38,000 denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro notes, was hidden behind the seatback of an Audi A6
The find, consisting of over 38,000 denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro notes, was hidden behind the seatback of an Audi A6
The arrest was made on November 11, but Customs only made the finding public today because of the needs of the investigation
The arrest was made on November 11, but Customs only made the finding public today because of the needs of the investigation

The arrest was made on November 11, but Customs only made the finding public today because of the needs of the investigation, according to Customs official Marc Steiner.
The two individuals, who were living in Portugal, had travelled to Paris by plane.

There, they picked up a car, said they had intended to drive to Vienna, Austria, for a holiday, according to Mr Steiner.
They remain in custody.
Enlarge The two men had claimed they were en route to Vienna for a holiday
The two men had claimed they were en route to Vienna for a holiday
The pair are Chinese but reside in Portugal. They remain in custody
The pair are Chinese but reside in Portugal. They remain in custody




Monday, December 3, 2012

The paintings which are full of life: Incredible body art transforms people into living creatures and moving landscapes


Artist Gesine Marwedel's paintings are full of life - quite literally.
The German creates her stunning images not on a traditional blank canvas but on the bodies of people, as these breathtaking pictures reveal.
Using her subjects' limbs to create angles for her intricate work, she transforms them into moving masterpieces that represent landscapes and animals.
A model is turned into a human swan in this incredible piece of body art work
A model is turned into a human swan in this incredible piece of body art work
A desert scene, complete with camels, is represented on this woman
A desert scene, complete with camels, is represented on this woman
World cities are merged as Gesine Marwedel tries her hand at a more urban style
World cities are merged as Gesine Marwedel tries her hand at a more urban style

In one incredible image, a subject is turned into a human swan, while her other works show desert scenes, a bleak mountain, and a breathtaking cityscape that merges what appears to be Barcelona and Sydney.
Ms Marwedel, from Dortmund, has also turned one person into a flamingo, and ethched eye-catching paintings of an iguana and a tiger.

All her body art is created using eudermic colours, which are natural and based on mineral water and thermal mud.
The 25-year-old, who has attracted a large following in her native country, says she was inspired to paint after working at an Indian orphanage on completion of her university degree.
A bleak mountainscape under a moonlit sky transforms this woman
A bleak mountainscape under a moonlit sky transforms this woman
Amazing Body art by Gesine Marwedel\n©exclusivepixAmazing Body art by Gesine Marwedel\n©exclusivepix
Both men and women are used by the talented artist, whose highly intricate works reveal an incredible eye for detail. A jigsaw puzzle and eyes are shown here
Half-man, half-tiger: With meticulous attention to detail, a tiger painting merges into the model's natural form
Half-man, half-tiger: With meticulous attention to detail, a tiger painting merges into the model's natural form
Most people would jump out of their skin if they had an iguana on them but, luckily for this woman, it's just a painting, albeit incredibly lifelike
Most people would jump out of their skin if they had an iguana on them but, luckily for this woman, it's just a painting, albeit incredibly lifelike
German Gesine Marwedel has attracted a cult following in her native country with work like this
German Gesine Marwedel has attracted a cult following in her native country with work like this
She describes her style as 'mostly realistic or surrealistic' and also paints on traditional canvas using oil.
Traditionally, body art was, and still is, popular among tribal people.
It still survives in its ancient form among the indigenous people of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
Gesine Marwedel gets to work on one of her subjects, this time painting a tree on a beach
Gesine Marwedel gets to work on one of her subjects, this time painting a tree on a beach