The Autos in Bangalore are like law into themselves. But RTO seems to be this time cracking the whip. With increase in Auto fare sometime back the Autos are suppose to re-calibrate their meters to meet the new standards. Now minimum fare is Rs 17 which will let you travel 2 km. Earlier it was Rs 14. RTO says the deadline has already passed and they are not going to increase the deadline. There are thousands of auto drivers who have not re-calibrated their meter till now. So getting tough the RTO said after October 15th any Auto with the old meter will have to charge the old fare. Yes, this what the RTO is asking the public to do. If the Auto driver protests, you can tell about the RTO. For more info visit: http://rto.kar.nic.in/

One of the best thing coming from the present congress led Indian government is the foreign universities bill. Recently, the foreign university bill has been approved the union cabinet and is ready to be tabled in the parliament. The union HRD minister Kapil Sibal is working on the draft and is very anxious about it. He said foreign universities have already opened campus in Malaysia and they provide education at half the price compared to their central campus in US or UK.

The news is that world famous universities like Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge, Wharton etc are waiting to invest in India. They are watching anxiously every move of the Indian government and some has event sent representatives to talk with the Indian government. This bills have multiple effects:

1. World class universities will open campus in India
2. Students need not leave India for better education
3. World class education can be availed here at half the cost
4. Thousands of jobs will be created and many Indian teachers teaching abroad can come home
5. This can result in saving of outflow of huge sum of money. It seems every year around 5 lakh students go overseas to pursue education and results in outflow of $7.5 billion (about Rs 34,500 crore) annually.

But there may be some ill effects also like:

1. This will also interest many crooks from around the world to lure Indian students and mint money. If not properly regulated or checked then this will allow crooks to play with our students.

2. If too regulated then this may make top universities think twice before coming to India. The government will have walk a very fine balance.

3. Also, it has been to seen where this universities open their campus as this will effect resources from that particular city and jobs.

Gender equality is the buzz these days. But one thing women always complained but could not do was, the ease of standing and peeing. For man, the world is a urinal. He relieves almost everywhere. But women may not lag behind with Go Girl. It is a female urination device which will help women stand and pee. It is a reusable silicon funnel. Go Girl has been been targeted at active women and has been developed by a 47 year old American women Sarah Dillon. Go Girl launched just over an year ago in the US, has been received enthusiastically. It sells in between $8 – $10 per piece. It is available in Bangalore from Disha Devices.

So Go Women, the world is yours!

Go Girl official website: www.go-girl.com

There are just 1411 tigers left in India now. If we do not act now then we may never get a chance to save the tigers and in tun the forest. Tigers are central to the forest eco system. I read in a journal by tiger conservationist Valmik Thapar that if the tigers are lost then it will create an imbalance in the eco system and will result in erosion of forest. So if forests become extinct then where you will go on your vacations, where will you go to bust your stress and where will you go to be with nature? There were around 40,000 tigers by the start of 20th century but now we are left with just over a thousand.

Our forefathers has left has this amazing animal to see and it is our duty to make sure that coming generations can see the tigers too. In 1973 to save the tigers, Project Tiger was launched but it was an utter failure in most places. Because most of the tiger reserve created lacked personal, training and equipment. It has shown good result in some places like Corbet national park. In a country like India where people are surrounded by poverty, people are ready any route to survive or make money. So security of the forests is very essential. So lets highlight this issues in any form we can. One can blog, tweet, sms, write articles, word of mouth, email etc. I am done my bit by writing this article.

Watch a moving video:

For more information you can visit:

http://www.saveourtigers.com

http://www.wwfindia.org/

Batti bandh is an initiative to bring down carbon emission, pollution and global warming. They are organizing an event Batti Bandh Bengaluru in our city on 16th January 2010.

Venue: Cubbon Park
Timings: 7 – 8 pm

They plan to organize events around the city, from the 9th to the
16th of January that will include:

· Flash plays
· Flash performances of music and singing
· Flash performances of dance
· Hula hooping
· Djembe performances
· Events at malls
· Posters in Schools & Colleges
· Using of Facebook & other social networking sites

On 16th they will hold events at a few select locations in Bangalore featuring music and fun without electricity, malls will dim their light etc.

Website: www.battibandh.org

Phishing protection tips from ICICI Bank. Click here to view the tips

Attending parties in Bars and Restaurants may not be safe anymore in Bangalore. A group of people have entered Beach Restaurant and Lounge Bar located on 100 ft Road, Indiranagar and Manhandled guests and damaged property. Bangalore Mirror claimed those who went were self styled gaurdian of Indian culture. If this is true then this is not something good. Those people were celebrating a birthday party on Saturday afternoon. The incident which took place in Mangalore where we saw girls were thrashed should not take place in Bangalore. These people went in there with TV channel teams. This simply means one thing that they wanted to rake in publicity. If they are so much concious of Indian culture then they should stay put at Majestic bus stand where unruly thugs tease girls. They should stop prostitutes from standing at the Majestic subways, MG roads etc. Read the complete story.

However, the Hindu claimed that the bar remains open till late night and creates problem with guests parking vehicle all over the place. The management claimed that the premises are sound proof and no nuisance was caused to the public. Read more ……

Check the video of the incident:

Address:
The Beach
100 ft road, Indiranagar
PH: (080) 41261114-15

What is required now is greater awareness about Swine flu and its prevention. And if it occues how to face it. I have received an email which I will be sharing with here as follows:

The hype in media about the utility of face masks and N95 respirators as a tool for general protection against H1N1 can’t be deplored enough. Yesterday, a friend who listened wanted me to write down briefly what I advised so that he could tell others in similar words. Hence this short email to friends whom I have advised recently (and others whom I haven’t yet). Please realize that this is not an official advice, especially the one about face masks or N95.

Most N95 respirators are designed to filter 95% particulates of 0.3, while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1. Hence, dependence on N95 to protect against H1N1 is like protecting against rain with an umbrella made of mosquito net.

Tamiflu does not kill but prevents H1N1 from further proliferation till the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks (its natural cycle). H1N1, like other Influenza A viruses, only infects the upper respiratory tract and proliferates (only) there. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/ throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps – not fully highlighted in most official communications – can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. “Hands-off-the- face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat or bathe).

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

7. All these are simple ways to prevent, within means of most households, and certainly much less painful than to wait in long queues outside public hospitals.

1. Troy
2. Babylon
3. Akrotiri
4. Machu Picchu
5. Petra
6. Oradour – Surglane
7. Carthage
8. Tikal
9. Kuelap
10. Angkor

Recently, quite a few case of Swine flu (HiN1 influenza strain) is reported in Bangalore. Frank Anthony school located on Cambridge road has been closed for 1 week after one of the student shown symptoms of Swine flu. It companies like Infosys, Dell, Wipro, HP ect have issued travel advisories or guidelines in the face of Swine flu spreading. Bangalore now already has a number of H1N1 positive cases. In other parts of India it is spreading at a rapid space. In Pune, Mumbai and adjoining areas it is already taking alarming proportion. Already 11 deaths reported due to Swine flue in the country. Recentlly one of them in Mumbai. Read a chronological order of Swine flu updates.

So in such case our best weapon is to take precaution, indentify the symptoms and take early medication. Swine flu symptoms are just like seasonal flu symptoms.

Swine Flu Symptoms

According to the CDC, like seasonal flu, symptoms of swine flu infections can include:

* fever, which is usually high, but unlike seasonal flu, is sometimes absent
* cough
* runny nose or stuffy nose
* sore throat
* body aches
* headache
* chills
* fatigue or tiredness, which can be extreme
* diarrhea and vomiting, sometimes, but more commonly seen than with seasonal flu

Signs of a more serious swine flu infection might include pneumonia and respiratory failure.

If your child has symptoms of swine flu, you should avoid other people and call your pediatrician who might do a rapid flu test to see if he has an influenza A infection. Further testing can then be done to see if it is a swine flu infection. (Swine flu tests are being done free in Indian government hospitals and also medicine Tamiflu or is given free or at a very nominial charge. Recently, the government of many states including Karnataka has roped in private hospitals to tackle Swine Flu.)

Swine Flu High Risk Groups

With regular seasonal flu, infants and the elderly are usually thought to be most at risk for serious infections, in addition to people with chronic medical problems. Swine flu high risk groups, people who are thought to be at risk for serious, life-threatening infections, are a little different and can include:

* pregnant women
* people with chronic medical problems, such as chronic lung disease, like asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and immunosuppression
* children and adults with obesity

Serious Swine Flu Symptoms

More serious symptoms that would indicate that a child with swine flu would need urgent medical attention include:

* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish or gray skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Severe or persistent vomiting
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Swine flu symptoms details counrtesy: About.com

Treatment is available for Swine flu, however early treatment is required. Medicines used to treat swine flu are Relenza and Tamiflu.

Toll Free Number For H1N1 or Swineflu – 1075 or 1800114377

List of Hospitals to treat H1N1 flu in Bangalore:

Mallya ————— 080 22277979
Manipal ————- 080 25023512
St.Martha’s ——- 080 22275081
Malliage Medical Centre — 080 22203333
St.John’s —————- 080 22065000
Amedkar Hospital ——— 080 25476496
Vydehi Hospital ———– 080 28413385
M.S.Ramaiah ————- 080 23608888
City Hospital, Rajajinagar — 080 23131777
Pristine Hospital ———– 080 41354444
Mahabhodi Malligae Hospital – 080 26565678

Read more:

1. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/h1n1fluswineflu.html

2. http://pediatrics.about.com/od/swineflu/a/409_symptoms.htm