Monday, July 21, 2008

Eee PC 1000H Price Drop by $100



The latest news about the newer, bigger and better Eee PC from ASUS “1000H” is that the company has dropped its price by $100 bringing down the price to $549 from the orginal$649 in the US market, writes Engadget.

This price drop comes less than a week after its launch in Australia. So, no joy for the buyers in Australia. The Eee PC 1000H is an improved version of the original Eee PC with a bigger screen measuring 10-inches, 80GB worth of hard drive space and 1GB DDR2 RAM. It comes equipped with Intel Atom chipset.This version of Eee PC is an answer for those worried about the small screen and keyboard of the original Eee PC, whose small keys took some getting used to. The original keyboard was also uncomfortable to work on for long hours. The rationale for the small size was based on the fact that it was purely targeted at school children. The target audience and differentiation in looks sure caught the attention of users, and created a space for Eee PC 1000H in the market. Let’s see how Eee PC 1000H consolidates its market position in the wake of this price drop.

Jessica Simpson reeling under sex tape rumours


Wellington, Jul 21 : Jessica Simpson reportedly reeling from the news that a sex tape starring her and ex-hubby Nick Lachey has hit the internet.

In the alleged X-rated home video, the 25-year-old star is said to be seen engrossed in various sexual acts with Lachey.”Jessica is horrified her name and seShe’s always been a girl of high morals and principles,” Stuff.co.nz quoted a source, as telling Britain’s Daily Sport newspaper.

Reports suggest that the tape does exist and has now landed in the hands of people who were behind making the Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee sex video public.

It is also said that these miscreants are now threatening Jessica that they would leak the tape if she fails to pay an undisclosed sum of money to keep the tape a secret.

While Nick is now dating MTV presenter Vanessa Minnillo, Jessica is dating American football star Tony Romo.x tape are being mentioned in the same sentence.

Jiajuri silica set to boost economy

Nagaon, Jul 21 : With discovery of silica in the hills of Jiajuri, the area has now become a focal point of business activities. Located nearly 30 km away from Nagaon town, Jiajuri is completely isolated from the mainland and people living in the area are economically backward. But after the geological survey carried out by the Minerals Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL), the people of Jiajuri are extremely happy.

“It was a near 10-month long study on the hills of Jiajuri and the silica content in the area is over 90 per cent which is conducive to ceramic and glass industries,” J Topno, who was a member of the exploration team, told this correspondent over telephone from Jharkhand today.Providing more information on the exploration, he informed that nearly 100 trenches were dug in the hills to know the texture of soil and rocks for setting up industries. “The entire belt is rich in minerals that are very useful for pottery and ceramic industries,” Topno, who is also a senior geologist observed. He said that the report along with the mapping in the hills were submitted to the Centre for taking further steps.

It may be recalled that the State Directorate of Geology and Mining had conducted a similar kind of study in 1976 and found quartzite rock structure. The department also made a detailed trenching maping, but unfortunately it did not get adequate attention from the authorities concerned.

The new activities have ushered in a ray of hope among the economically weak local residents. “At last our underdeveloped area will witness some kind of developmental activities,” K Borgohain, a senior citizen of Chapanala told this correspondent while sharing his views on the new discovery. Borgohain added that no government pays attention to the area for which Jiajuri has remained underdeveloped and cut off from the main land. “Unemployment is a major problem in the area. Hence, if an industry is set up in the locality, it will herald positive changes,” he added.

Striking a similar note, Manabjyoti Gogoi who is closely associated with social activities hailed the move by Centre in this connection, saying it would boost industrialisation in the district. “The people in Jiajuri have been encountering a plethora of problems for the past several decades, but proper steps are yet to be initiated. We want our place to be prosperous,” he added.

The Federation of Industries of North Eastern Region (FINER) which has been voicing need for industrialisation has welcomed the move. RS Joshi, chairman of FINER while talking to this correspondent said that the new discovery would give a fillip to industrialisation. “We have to harness local potential by using proper technology so that we can compete with international standards,” he observed.

Myanmar: The revived route of NE rebels


Aizawl, Jul 21 : With reports of Myanmarese guerillas being more active in their hinterlands bordering Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Bangladesh, it is now being apprehended in intelligence circles that north east extremists are using the country not only as their bases, though not a new fact, but also as a corridor to ship arms and ammunitions.

The Caretaker Government in Bangladesh under pressure from India has been tightening its noose on North-east militant groups. This has been demonstrated by recent incidents of handing over of some extremists to BDR by BSF and the admission by Tripura based NLFT and ATTF surrenderees that they are facing a sort of crisis in food and support in Bangladesh.Another important factor now coming in the way of the free movement of extremists is the coming up of fencing along border with Bangladesh. It is also a fact that certain stretches of the international border, riverine, tough terrain still leave gaps for infiltration and exfiltration.

Intelligence inputs suggest with zero-fencing all along India’s border with Mynmar spreading from Arunachal Pradesh to Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, North-east militant groups find accessibility for movement easy. This is also facilitated by smaller groups of extremists operating in the area or close to the hinterlands.Way back in the nineties, NSCN (Khaplang), ULFA and UNLF formed Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front (IBRF) for liberation as their joint declaration stated that the people of the region (north east and the north western Burma) belong to the same racial and cultural group bound by a basic unity historically, culturally, socially and economically. The declaration signed by SS Khaplang, chairman of NSCN, Arabinda Rajkhowa, ULFA leader and Sana Yaima, general secretary of UNLF, called for united struggle for emancipation.

This came as a great fillip to the extremists groups to move to Mynmar for base, training and arms build up. Their access to the hills and port of Chittagong also became easier for shelter and to the extremists groups to move to Mynmar for base, training and arms build up. Their access to the hills and port of Chittagong also became easier for shelter and shipment of arms through Tripura and Mizoram. The strategic location of Zampui hills serves as a safe corridor between Mynmar and Chittagong.

Massive build up of bases by other extremist groups like PLA, Prepak, KCP, NLFT and ATTF necessitated joint air and ground strikes by Indian and Mynmarese security forces in the end part of 90’s, which resulted in huge loss to rebels, man and material. For more than a decade, this frontier theatre has been lying low. But, for quite some time, Mynmar is again in focus. Intelligence sources indicate how Arakanese, Chin, Karen and Shan rebels, who are in relentless fight against the military Junta of the country have become more than active.

North east extremists are once again being embraced by the Burmese rebels who have laid their hands on global arms and ammunition stocks which are smuggled through Laos and Thailand, besides the regular help from China, which dumps its arms in the troubled zone from Yunon. The recent interception of a Bolero at Verengtei check gate of Mizoram and seizure of seven AK 47 rifles from it is a part of the larger game plane of this revived Indo-Burma tie up. Mynmar as a corridor has to be brought under serious intelligence and security glare to frustrate subversive activities of the rebels.

Building regulations shatter widows dream for a home


Aizawl, Jul 21 : A widow in downtown Aizawl finds it tough to realise her years-old dream of having a home of her own, thanks to the newly introduced Aizawl Development Authority Building Regulations.

“I need to hire an architect that would cost me at least Rs 40,000 if I go by the new rules,” said the impoverished widow, who did not want to be named.“With a small amount of housing loan I obtained, I cant afford an architecturally planned building,” rued the widow, who has to support herself with a meagre income. Besides her, anyone who is about to build a house in Aizawl, is required to ensure that the building is an earthquake-proof. “As per the rules, I am required to use 20 iron rods per-a-foot square cement concrete beam, which again I can not afford”, she said adding, “What would be the use of my earthquake-proof building if a house next to mine, constructed before the building regulation, collapses on mine in an earthquake”. The building regulations, which came into force from May, require a design by competent engineer and other structural mechanism so that it could withstand big jolt in case of an earthquake as Mizoram falls under seismic zone.

Contravention of any of the regulations would be liable to imprisonment and fine, the regulations said. Among many others, the regulations restrict the height of the building to 12.85m (42.14 ft) from the ground level irrespective of the degree of the slope of the ground. Every building will have rainwater harvest system and garage as compulsory.

The regulations also demand that commercial buildings, apartment (flats), offices, hotels and theatre and auditorium will also have a minimum off-street parking space of 3m x 5m. Any existing building reported to be unsafe or damaged will be examined by a technical committee under the ADA. The authority willl give directions to the owner or occupier to complete repairs or to demolish the building within a specified time.