Latheef's Web Log

I’ve encountered my fair share of punctuality stories–tales of extreme punishments & horrid ultimatums. I’ve even lived through a few of my own–like the time I was ten minutes late to high school volleyball practice & the coach just smiled and told me to take a seat in the bleachers while the rest of the team ran “suicide sprints” as punishment. There was nothing quite like that; I could just feel all my meager social collateral evaporating. But the most egregious story of all came from someone I recently met, who told me that a habitually tardy actor on the set of a film once begged him to break his fingers because he needed a good–and verifiable–excuse for being late, or else the director would fire him. My friend tried to talk him out of it, but the actor wouldn’t relent, and my friend found himself breaking this guy’s fingers: two, to be safe. The actor kept his job…But who knows to what lengths he’ll go next time! Elsewhere, Ray Emery, goalie for the Ottawa Senators, is be...

If you have a lot of small supplies to store but would rather not invest in a permanent storage system yet, you can make your own from boxes and add to it as your collection grows. It's not the sturdiest system, but it's flexible, easy and inexpensive, and that might be just what you're looking for! Full Story

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Transistor radios tinier than a grain of sand, made using nanotechnology, can not only tune in to the traffic report, but may end up outperforming current silicon-based electronics, U.S. researchers said on Monday. The researchers made the microscopic radios out of carbon nanotubes -- tiny strands of carbon atoms -- and say in theory they could lead to faster devices. They overcame a series of obstacles that have defeated efforts to make nano-radios, including getting amplification, by making their devices on quartz wafers. "Our goal is not to make tiny radios per se, but really to develop nanotubes as a higher-performing semiconductor," said John Rogers, a professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Illinois. He said the devices are meant to showcase a new way of making carbon nanotubes in perfectly aligned rows, much like strands of silky hair that have been combed flat. These strands are a hundred thousand times smaller than the ...

Last summer I found myself with a dozen pumpkins and no plans for what to do with them. I ended up giving some away, and using the rest for porch decorations. After a couple of hard freezes, they were ready for the compost heap from which they sprouted about a year ago. I retrieved some seeds (a messy job after the pumpkins go soft) because I have real plans for them this year. I’m going to experiment with geometric pumpkins! Read It

DavidBissonette When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her. Sacha Guitry After marriage, husband and wife become two sides of a coin; they just can't face each other, but still they stay together. SocratesBy all means marry. If you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher. AnonymousWoman inspires us to great things, and prevents us from achieving them. Dumas The great question... which I have not been able to answer... is, "What does a woman want? Sigmund Freud I had some words with my wife, and she had some paragraphs with me. Anonymous "Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays." Sam Kinison "There's a way of transferring funds that is even faster than electronic banking. It's called marriage." James Holt McGavran ...

A Japanese company unveiled a new device that will allow people "speak" through their ear so they can use their mobile telephones in noisy places. The device -- named "e-Mimi-kun" (good ear boy) -- doubles as an earphone and a microphone by detecting air vibrations inside the ear, developer NS-ELEX Co. said. Full Sotry

If you own a video camera and want some easy tricks to better your filming, check out these amazingly simple ideas below brought by the greatKipkay: 1) Prop up your camera with an inexpensive door stop. Place the stopper under the lens and move it back and forth to adjust the height. 2) For softer video without expensive lens replacement, use pantyhose. Besides being extremely cheap and easy to find, this trick also grants that ability to enhance the shot. Wrap the pantyhose around the lens as many times as you wish to provide a number of different images. 3) If wires or cables are in the way and can be hazardous for those around, don’t use duct tape, for it leaves residue. Instead, use painter’s scotch tape. This alternative is easy to remove and is both bright and colorful to make sure it is noticeable. 4)Keep your camera leveled at all times by taping a compact bubble level to the camera. Use two-sided tape to keep the level in place and remove when desired. This will show you at al...

Airbus A380 cockpit (incredible interactive view)

Police in India have issued an alert for a doctor alleged to be involved in an organ trading racket. Last week, police in Gurgaon, a suburb of the capital Delhi, raided a house which was used to carry out illegal kidney transplants. Hundreds of poor labourers were tricked into selling kidneys, officials says. Trade in human organs is banned in India but many continue to sell their kidneys to clients, including Westerners, waiting for transplants. Gurgaon is an affluent suburb of Delhi, home to high-rise apartment blocks and call centres. Full Story

Demand freshness! Check the characteristic signs of freshness such as bright, lively color and crispness. Vegetables are usually at their best quality and price at the peak of their season. Fresh vegetables are key ingredients in the kitchen. With the right preparation and some of your homemade creativity, they make everyday meals just as magical as special occasions. Don't buy because of low price alone. It doesn't pay to buy more vegetables than you can properly store in your refrigerator or use without waste. How do you know whether your cabbage is ready to cook or your peppers are a little too ripe? Full Story

A four-year-old video of Tom Cruise talking about Scientology is making the rounds in the blogosphere. It’s just in time for a new unauthorized biography by Andrew Morton, alleging, amongst other things, that his baby Suri was impregnated conceived a la Rosemary’s Baby with the preserved semen of the deceased Scientology founder and sci-fi author L. Ron Hubbard. But back to the video: In it, Tom talks about how he wants to spread the message of Scientology . He said this about being a Scientologist: "It’s rough and tumble and it’s wild and woolly and it’s a blast. It’s a blast. It really is fun because there is nothing better than going out there and fighting the fight and suddenly you see things are better." And please note the purty, shiny logo of the Church of Scientology. Update 1/17/07: Predictably, the video was taken off YouTube. Head ye on to Gawker, who I just found out - goes to show you how I live under a rock - started this whole thing anyhow.

This is the granddaddy of all not-so-secret secret societies. Freemasonry, or “The Craft” as its members call it, most likely has its roots in 17th-century stoneworkers’ guilds. Mason lore, however, extends its origins back to biblical times, linking the society to the building of the Temple of Solomon. Freemasonry is split into numerous subgroups and orders, all of which consider God the Grand Geometrician, or Grand Architect of the Universe. At their hearts, these groups are all means of exploring ethical and philosophical issues, and their rituals and symbols are famous (or infamous). Take, for instance, the square-and-compass logo often seen on the backs of Cadillacs. Or the use of secret handshakes, passwords, and greeting postures/gestures called “due guards,” all collectively known as the Modes of Recognition. The list of famous Masons is massive, a virtual Who’s Who of modern history, explaining the many conspiracy theories regarding the Masons’ influence and intentions. Mozart...

More than 1 million skin cancers are diagnosed annually in the United States, and that number has been rising for the past few decades. No matter where you live or how dark your skin is, you are vulnerable to skin cancer if you spend any time exposed to UV rays, whether it's from the sun or from tanning beds. Along with taking preventiative measures, the best way to prevent the threat skin cancer is to detect it early on. Fortunately, all you need to do this are eyes and a mirror. Full Story

Review this topic before you need it. Then, when you are faced with an emergency or injury, you will know where to turn. Your confidence in dealing with both major and minor emergencies will be reassuring to an injured person. Enter

A "large" US spy satellite has gone out of control and is expected to crash to Earth some time in late February or March, government sources say. BBC News

Source: The U.S. Geological Survey MERCURY Named for the winged Roman god of travel because it appears to move so swiftly. VENUS Roman name for the goddess of love. This planet was considered to be the brightest and most beautiful planet or star in the heavens. EARTH The name Earth comes from the Indo-European base 'er,' which produced the Germanic noun 'ertho,' and ultimately German 'erde,' Dutch 'aarde,' Danish and Swedish 'jord,' and English 'earth.' Related forms include Greek 'eraze,' meaning 'on the ground,' and Welsh 'erw,' meaning 'field.' THE MOON: Every civilization has had a name for the satellite of Earth that is known, in English, as the Moon. The name is of Anglo-Saxon derivation. MARS Named by the Romans for their god of war because of its red, bloodlike color. Other civilizations also named this planet from this attribute; for example, the Egyptians named it “Her Desher,” meaning “the red on...

NASA’s Spirit rover landed on Mars on January 4, 2004 - and promptly sent this image of its welcoming party: a small humanoid . Full Story

We’ve posted about Japan’s futuristic underground sewer , but that’s more of an exception than the rule. Fact is, dirty and trash-strewn open sewers are more common, especially in third world countries. Crooked Brains has a list of photographs of people living and children playing near open sewers: Link - via Presurfer Full Story

Israel has been hit in recent years by thousands and thousands of rockets, mortar shells, and missiles. And that could be just a preview of the onslaught Iran may one day unleash. So Israeli military leaders have begun early planning for a new, robotic defense system, armed with enough artificial intelligence that it "could take over completely" from flesh-and-blood operators. "It will be designed for... autonomous operations,' Brig. Gen. Daniel Milo, commander of Israel's air defense forces, tells Defense News ' Barbara Opall-Rome. And in the event of a "doomsday" strike, Opall-Rome notes, the system could handle "attacks that exceed physiological limits of human command." Full Story

Choose a music video, a movie trailer, or a fun game with a wave of your hand! While most storefronts in shopping malls are trying to lure you inside with bright colored displays, this one gives you more interactivity while you are still outside. Orange has revealed a wonderful new way to play with content on a screen without the need to make any physical contact or touch. This new technology resembles the User Interface of Minority Report , but in real life. With it, you are able to move objects displayed on the screen with a simple movement (or stroke) of your hands. The video below shows this new Gesture Based Technology in action not just by the Orange representatives, but also by regular passerby individuals. It presents the simplicity of actions needed to carry out tasks such as flipping through movie titles, music videos, and even making a selection to be played. Now that the fun is outside the actual store, I wonder what will get people to actually step inside. Watch it

There once was a happy monkey wandering the jungle, eating delicious fruit when hungry, and resting when tired. One day he came upon a house, where he saw a bowl of the most beautiful apples. He took one in each hand and ran back into the forest. He sniffed the apples and smelled nothing. He tried to eat them, but hurt his teeth. They were made of wood , but they were beautiful, and when the other monkeys saw them, he held onto them even tighter. He admired his new possessions proudly as he wandered the jungle. They glistened red in the sun, and seemed perfect to him. He became so attached to them, that he didn't even notice his hunger at first. A fruit tree reminded him, but he felt the apples in his hands. He couldn't bear to set them down to reach for the fruit. In fact, he couldn't relax, either, if he was to defend his apples. A proud, but less happy monkey continued to walk along the forest trails. The apples became heavier, and the poor little monkey thought abo...

The much awaited micro car from Tata is finally here. As the media waited with baited breath and almost caused a stampede while getting into the launch arena at the Auto Expo in Delhi, Mr. Ratan Tata fulfilled his promise to the people of India by launching the 'Nano' the already famous Rs. 1 lakh peoples car. The 'Nano' is an appropriate name for the smallest, lightest automobile on Indian roads or roads across the world for that matter. The first thing that strikes you about the 'Nano' is that it is not a bad looking ugly boxy hatch but for the price it’s quite proportionate and well styled. Its mono box design might seem boxy but generates a lot of interior space which can seat four adults comfortably. It has four doors, is 3.1 metres long and 1.5 metres wide with a height of 1.6 metres. The 'Nano' has an all aluminum two cylinder 623cc (33bhp) petrol engine mated with a four speed manual gearbox. Company officials during the press conference confir...

My very first green gadget was a SavaPlug that I wired to an old freezer that was used to store my allotment produce. The old freezer saw its demise a few years ago and has been replaced with a super-efficient model, but it was the start of my love affair with green gadgetry. Wow, haven’t things moved on? Be warned, I’m no ecogeek , so don’t go expecting technical specifications and other techno-bafflement. This is my pick of green gadgets for the masses. Full Story

Another one of those Japanese skits where they do crazy miming stuff. This time, they have a chick using judo, beating up other people, and they make it look like it's a washing machine. Watch it

Can’t sleep? Maybe it’s your cell phone’s fault (and it doesn’t even involve ringing in the middle of the night): a recent study by scientists at the Wayne State University showed that prolonged exposure to cell phone signal can lead to bad sleep Fulls Story

There is a foundation called TANKER (Tamilnadu Kidney Research Foundation), where they treat all kidney related problems free of cost. They even do Dialysis free of cost. Please forward this message and let people utilize this opportunity. It can help people who are in need. Don't neglect please forward this message. For further details, please visit http://www.tankerfoundation.com or contact: Tamilnad Kidney Research Foundation17, Wheatcrofts Road,Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600 034. Phone: +91-44-2827 3407 / 2824 1635E Mail: tankerfoundation@tankerfoundation.com

In Windows XP add program item into the new-sub-menu (Right click in desktop>new>)? -Create blank file from the desired application (e.g. Autocad). -save it in %systemroot%\ShellNew\filename.ext (e.g.Untitled.dwg). -run registry editor (regedit). -under Hkey_Classes_Root look for .ext (e.g. .dwg) -create new key under the extension type named ShellNew. -create under ShellNew a string value name it FileName with a value="filename.ext" (in our example Untitled.dwg) -refresh or wait for seconds and check the menu list you will find the program name in it (e.g. AutoCad Drawing). To remove and Item for the list just go to regedit Hkey_Classes_Root>.ext>ShellNew and rename it e.g. to ShellNewOld

All the knowledge you need

Although usability evangelists often consider Flash to be a usability nightmare, used properly, Flash can provide users with a rich and interactive interface which would be impossible otherwise. Today Flash is the de-facto standard for interactive elements on the Web as most users install Flash plug-in by default. And in fact, there are many paths creative designers can take to create a more interactive and user-friendly interface. Full Story

We recently installed a large-format poster printer but it didn't come with any large-format layout software. The printer drivers work OK, but we keep ending up with letter-sized printouts centered on three-foot paper. What can we use to print poster-sized poster documents? Full Story

For all of human history, people have managed to feed themselves, either by fishing , hunting , gathering and/or subsistence farming. Now, with large-scale food production, gardening is often only a hobby. But growing one's own food could mean increased security, health, and enjoyment. Since the details of growing your own food depend on your unique locale, here's a general overview to get you started. Full Story

Full Story There was once a civilization that was the greatest in the world. It was able to create a continental super-state that stretched from ocean to ocean, and from northern climes to tropics and deserts. Within its dominion lived hundreds of millions of people, of different creeds and ethnic origins. One of its languages became the universal language of much of the world, the bridge between the peoples of a hundred lands. Its armies were made up of people of many nationalities, and its military protection allowed a degree of peace and prosperity that had never been known. The reach of this civilization’s commerce extended from Latin America to China, and everywhere in between. And this civilization was driven more than anything, by invention. Its architects designed buildings that defied gravity. Its mathematicians created the algebra and algorithms that would enable the building of computers, and the creation of encryption. Its doctors examined the human body, and found new cure...

"At the age of seven, a young boy and his family were forced out of their home. The boy had to work to support his family. At the age of nine, his mother passed away. When he grew up, the young man was keen to go to law school, but had no education. At 22, he lost his job as a store clerk. At 23, he ran for state legislature and lost. The same year, he went into business. It failed, leaving him with a debt that took him 17 years to repay. At 27, he had a nervous breakdown. Two years later, he tried for the post of speaker in his state legislature. He lost. At 31, he was defeated in his attempt to become an elector. By 35, he had been defeated twice while running for Congress. Finally, he did manage to secure a brief term in Congress, but at 39 he lost his re-election bid. At 41, his four-year-old son died. At 42, he was rejected as a prospective land officer. At 45, he ran for the Senate and lost. Two years later, he lost the vice presidential nomination. At 49, he ran for Senate ...

With more than 585,000 human-edited definitions, Acronym Finder is the world's largest and most comprehensive dictionary of acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms. Combined with the Acronym Attic , Acronym Finder contains more than 4 million acronyms and abbreviations. Visit the Site

While many of us now use cell phones in place of land-line phones in our homes, the primary benefit of cell phones remains their portability. A cell phone is only as portable as its power source, however, so to get the most out of your phone you need to get the most out of your battery. When it comes to battery life, there are two separate, but connected, considerations: how to make the battery last longer between charges, and how to prolong the overall life of the battery Read it

Receive live weather conditions for anywhere in the world on your Sidebar. Get detailed forecasts, radar, weather cameras, and severe weather alerts from any of WeatherBug’s 8,000 Tracking Stations. Download

Install Windows Vista SP1 Release Candidate through Windows UpdateWindows Vista Service Pack 1 RC Refresh is available to Beta testers through Windows Update. Experience the WU installation path for Windows Vista SP1 by following these simple steps and give us your feedback to improve our quality. Link

Read It

day two with xTrain.com @ Macworld 2008. Seconds after Apple opened their booth at Macworld Expo 2008, I got this video of the brand new, wafer-thin Macbook Air laptop. come by booth 416 to see speakers all four days during the exposition! follow me on twitter.com/giovanni for up to the minute updates on the speakers, events and mac nerd celebrity sightings. Watch it

Many of us are familiar with large congested cities. Places such as New York contain so many people that traffic and parking becomes a major dilemma. The city cars are revisited with an awesome video presenting this cool concept. It is an electric vehicle that is extremely compact to be available for rent throughout highly congested places. Their design is very space efficient by each being able to stack against the other. Enjoy the video! Visit the site

While many of us now use cell phones in place of land-line phones in our homes, the primary benefit of cell phones remains their portability. A cell phone is only as portable as its power source, however, so to get the most out of your phone you need to get the most out of your battery. When it comes to battery life, there are two separate, but connected, considerations: how to make the battery last longer between charges, and how to prolong the overall life of the battery. Read Full

PublicRadioFan.com features schedule listings for thousands of public radio stations and programs around the world. Follow the audio links to hear your favorite programs and discover new ones. Visit the Site

There is crying need to connect an ordincary citizen with the Police Services Visit the Site

Body and mind will tell you all you need to know about all the stull that matters Visit the Site

Are you frustrated by endless searches for features on the Ribbon? Download and install this software and easily use the familiar main menu and the standard and formatting toolbars of Office 2003. All of the new features in Microsoft Office 2007 have been added to the classic menu and toolbars. Classic Menu for Office 2007

When I born, I Black, When I grow up, I Black, When I go in Sun, I Black, When I scared, I Black, When I sick, I Black, And when I die, I still black.. And you White fella, When you born, you Pink, When you grow up, you White, When you go in Sun, you Red, When you cold, you Blue, When you scared, you Yellow, When you sick, you Green, And when you die, you Gray.. And you calling me Colored ??

IMEI is the International Mobile Equipment Identity, which can be used to block your mobile phone if it is missing. To get your IMEI number, dial *#06# on your mobile phone. Store this number in a safe place for reference and use it in case the mobile is lost/stolen to block the usage by reporting it to service provider.

The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) has published its final report (PDF) on Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007. The agency is largely sticking with its interim recommendations that schools steer clear of Vista in existing deployments and Office 2007 altogether. Read It

ASCI Animated Cat

Two great portable productivity products for those that must have a scanner or a printer with you at all times. Full Story

I received a message from yaari.com asking me that, do I know one of my closest friend, of course I know him and I said yes, then it took me to another page to fill a form to keep the friend ship group and I filled the form and the last page was asking me to send invitation to my outlook contacts, as I don’t want to send to any of my contacts I unselected all the ticks and completed the registration. The funniest part is the next day morning some of my colleagues started calling me and asking what is this yaari, because most of my colleagues are Arabs. You know what this grate yaari did, it hacked all my contacts and send an invitation to all my contacts it includes my Arab Director, my manager, my supervisor and everyone in my contacts. So be care full, if you are registering in yaari.com, if you manager is not a good one then you can expect a warning letter from him for misusing the internet connection in office hours. I hate yaari.com

At CES, GM says cars that drive themselves could be a reality within the next ten years. depict

Microsoft has acknowledged it made a mistake over a security advisory it released concerning Office 2003. depict

A computer systems administrator was sentenced to 30 months in prison on Tuesday for trying to sabotage his company's servers out of fear he was about to lose his job, prosecutors said. depict

Just learning about Windows Vista? Here are ten cool things to try. You'll see why it's easier, safer, and more entertaining than earlier versions of the Windows operating systems. Read It

Microsoft's web site offers us " 100 Reasons You'll Be Speechless " over Windows Vista. Quoth the copy: "Using Windows Vista for the first time may leave you searching for words". Read it

Earlier this evening Bill Gates gave his final Microsoft keynote at the 2008 CES show in Las Vegas. Throughout the keynote he made many references to what he will do with his free time once he retires from day to day operations at Microsoft. It turns out Bill has big plans in addition to his foundation after all. Full Story

After installing Microsoft Office 2003's Service Pack 3, some users have found certain Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Corel Draw files will no longer work. The reason behind that, the company said, is that the formats are less secure and could pose a risk. Microsoft's solution? Dig deep into the system's registry to perform modifications, which could lead to catastrophe if done incorrectly ... or buy Office 2007. Read it Full

1-run > regedit 2- H_KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE >Software> Microsoft> Windows> Current Version > Policies 3-click on Ratings folder , in the right pane , delete the icon called "key" 4- restart and open IE, go to tools> internet options > content> content Advisor, press "Disable" it will ask to enter new password, it is disabled now and you can freely browse internet.

All You Need to Know to Write Well Write 101.com

On one of those beautiful, fall Sunday mornings that can make you feel all is right with the world, filmmakers Molly Bingham and Steve Connors discussed their new documentary about Iraqis fighting the U.S. occupation, “Meeting Resistance,” 84 minutes of unflinching wallop destined to unhinge the way millions of Americans see their country’s role in the world. Continued below Video

Time Magazine's 2007 picks are the best examples of what's new and exciting about the Web right now. Here we honor sites with exceptional style and smarts, sites that offer new and improved ways to access and share content, generate our own and otherwise enrich the online (and off-line) experience. What do you think of our choices? Read It