How to Celebrate Earth Hour

We all know what to do during world hour, switch off lights; simple, yet effective. Buts lets take it to a whole new level, shall we???after all just ‘’switch off lights’’ seem a bit…crappy and textual..........here’s some tips you can follow for at least 1 hour in a year

1. Get off facebook, youtube or any other site- infact switch off your desktop/laptop also. The world can wait for 1 hour

2. While saving electricity, save water too- wash your stinking body in advance. But obviously you all are not master plumbers, so keep a utensil under a leaking tap (if you want, give it to some friend of yours to drink 3:) )

3. Organize a party- not THAT type of party, just roam around with friends on the streets, tell everyone about it(maybe by the time the hour ends, you might get at least 2-3 people listening to you)

4. Be close to nature- if there is any sign of vegetation in vicinity, apart from your fridge, go and water it, talk to it(its all crappy, but maybe the tree is actually a fairy tale in disguise and will grant you 3 wishes; if it happens, ask for unlimited wishes, you cant trust them )
For ex. There is this lonely tree near my house, which has gone yellow due to dust, so I think I would give it a bit of water

5. Switch off mobile phone- I forgot about this part, until mine rang(message from qtel, my insufferable girlfriend). You don’t need to send your BFF your per minute progress troughout earth hour (18:57-I am going out; 18:58- nahhh, just sticking in my house)

6. Try to recycle your last years books- you will be getting rid of them, plus helping mother nature

Well, with these tips im sure you are going to have a peaceful blast for that 1 hour…….

p.s. in case you chicken out or feel lazy or some other reason, then we’ll…………………………………………….what can we do after all, you will STILL lie to us, you hypocrites , and those who do celebrate the hour, KUDOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Botball Regional Tournament

AIM

This years theme was 'Airport'. We had to create a set of robots to accomplish the tasks summed up by the following video.

2011 Botball Challenge

DOCUMENTS

These are the seven documents which were submitted as a part of the competition by us. We scored 100 points for each document and won third place for documentation :)

Period 1

• Design Concepts
• Project Plan
• Software
  

Period 2

• Mechanical Systems Design
• Project Plan
• Example Commented Code

Period 3

• Lessons Learned

By the way, here is a video of our robot's testing on the day of the competition. We were not using a proper board so we had to make major modifications to our programs and test it out.

Here are a few photos of our robots

RESULT

We came fifth overall and won third prize in Documentation. We were a bit disappointing as we had hoped for a higher position. Still it was a great learning experience and I am proud of what I and my team accomplished.

Happy New Year for the 2011th Time

A very happy new year to all of you!!!! It was a very exciting 2010- I must say. It’s a sorry that we have to say goodbye to that wonderful year. But onwards to 2011, another great year for us and humanity…blah blah blah….we keep repeating this same clichéd stuff on every 1st of January, but still haven’t gotten used to it.

1st jan has become a global phenomenon (as Captain Obvious would say), but why??? Are we celebrating the birthday of the Gregorian calendar? Instead of saying “happy birthday Grego. God bless you” we get to shout “happy new year”:D. Are we celebrating the movement of the second hand from 59 to 00 and the consequent change of minute hand from 59 to 00 and then the consequent change of hour hand from 11 to 00 and then the …….you get the general idea don’t you? Or do people celebrate 1st Jan because they know they won’t get to enjoy another wild party for the next 365 days?

Whatever the reason preparation for New Year’s Eve is a hectic task for many people. Pyrotechnicians from all over the world are supposed to produce a dazzling display of fireworks in major cities. (Point to be noted- Doha gets this job done 13 days earlier on December 18th). Then we have the journalists and reporters, they have to compile a whole freaking list of various freaking topics, evaluating the works of dozens of freaking awesome achievers. TIME doesn’t play bluff with its person of the year at all. After a long evaluation only did Mark Zuckerburg become “TIME Person of the Year 2010”. The jobless reporters in E24 and ZOOM do need to create and present the most unforgettable moments of Bollywood (note- unforgettable doesn’t mean that we won’t forget it, it means that these channels will make sure we don’t forgot this nonsensical crap). Reporters at zee news and india tv must pick some new suckers to show (the man who didn’t take a bath for 18 years, the woman who can talk to ghosts) and some more sucking news to break (breaking news- kalmadi wears a pink underwear which has a mickey mouse label).

As it happens with every year, many special dates are set for the jolly fun of it- this year it happens to be first of January itself (1-1-11). Bless my soul, as if I am one of those freaking 6.5+ billion people who witnessed this rare occasion. Serious threats are also issued each and every year- this year the earth is predicted to have 4 days on which it will get destroyed. Poor mother earth can’t handle so much attention. I feel sorry for her.

One thing which is always connected to New Year is a resolution which we never have followed and our only new year resolution is that we shall not fulfil any of our resolutions (this one surprisingly is fulfilled on a large scale). For the past 3 years, I pledged not to eat pasta sauce with biscuits (while this note was being written, 10 biscuits were dipped in pasta sauce and then digested). Many people make a resolution to deactivate their facebook account. Had this one been followed to the book, Mark Zuckerburg would have been the biggest pauper alive. Had we actually fulfilled our pledge to study hard, everyone on this freaking planet would be an IITian.

Well, looking back at 2010, it was eventful no doubt. The year when Sachin Tendulkar became the God of cricket, the year when Julian Assange hit the jackpot by exposing the US cables, the year of FIFA WORLD CUP- deservingly won by Spain, deservingly lost by France and Italy, a major competition to Messi and Ronaldo in the form of Diego Forlan- the year of the Vuvuzuela, the year FIFA showed the balls by giving chance to Russia and Qatar, the year of huge flops in Bollywood and a huge hit by Salman Khan aka Dabangg, the year where Hollywood gave its best in ‘127 hours’, ‘Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows Part 1’ and ‘Inception’, the year where Eminem stole the show with Recovery and Lady Gaga stole our common sense with her wardrobe (does she actually put MEAT in her closet ?!?!?!?), the year of reign of FITTJEE, the year in which I turned a year older and the year which marked the end to another decade.

Looking forward to next year, we have the 2011 Cricket World Cup, we as Indians will have the tag of living in the most populous country, we have a free Aung San Suu Kyi, a tensed but about-to-be-50 Barack Obama, more leaked cables on Wikileaks, a shock break by A.R. Rahman from composing music, and more magic from Zuckerburg’s keyboard and Tendulkar’s bat and award ceremonies like the Oscars and Grammys. I will become a man (18 years), have my driving license and a second hand car.

Moving on, we have 2012, the year of doom (note- I’m not talking about 21-12-2012, im talking about March 2012 when my 12th boards arrive to haunt the hell outta me). This will the decade when sagas like Harry Potter (loved it!!), Chronicles of Narnia(boring!!!!!) and Twilight(sucks!!!!!!) will finally end, when India shall start looking at its priorities and become a major superpower(hopefully!!!!), when most of us graduate and chose- to be handsome men/beautiful ladies or the geeks who rule the world, when major developments happen in Qatar thanks to 2022, when leaders will change, governments will rise and collapse, global warming will show its true effects, people will die and children will be born, but most importantly, my friends the decade when we, when this generation starts ruling the world.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

15 Questions for SuperMan

These cracked up questions have been heavily thought upon…In case you find this Super Hero, do ask him these questions before he flies away.

Q1. Why red and blue? There are so many colors to choose from, why only these two? Be careful Superman, Bulls hate red colour, and we don’t want the destroyer of destruction and chaos to sit at home with a leg fracture…because a bull ran over him.

Q2. No mask? All the other superheroes have masks, we can’t you have. Did your cleaning lady throw it because she thought it was some pathetic fancy dress costume? Or have you...

Read more: http://quazen.com/shopping/15-questions-for-superman/#ixzz0wVQIv5sg

Diego Forlan

Diego Forlán has been instrumental in the performance of Uruguay at the FIFA World Cup. No surprises that he won the Best Player of the Tournament.

Diego Forlán was born into a family of footballers, his father Pablo having played for Uruguay in the 1966 and 1974 FIFA World Cups and his grandfather, Juan Carlos Corazo, for Independiente in Argentina. Forlán joined Independiente after rising through their youth team, and after a successful four year spell signed for Manchester United.

Read more: http://sportales.com/soccer/diego-forl/#ixzz0tz3IOhlj

World Cup Final Experience

For the first time ever I was going to the Fan Zone to watch the the ultimate clash. It was a truly blissful experience, seeing Spain win for the first time.

As a woke up from a slumber, only one thought crossed my mind-is it time? It was, and I quickly dressed up to meet my other friends and we headed towards the FIFA Fan Zone. As we reached the area, disappointment engulfed us.

The line towards the entrance was humongous . Apparently, only families had permission for entrance, and if there was any space left, “bachelors” would get permission. After much discussion, it was decided that one of our parents would be called, so that we would at least have a chance for entrance.

The FIFA Fan Zone was well built, showing clips and photos regarding the previous World Cups and the stadiums proposed by Qatar for their 2022 Bid.

Finally, it was time to watch Spain clobber Netherlands. Weaving through the crowds, we managed to get the first row seats. I admit, the first half was totally boring, except for a few incredible saves from both the goal-keepers.

Read more: http://sportales.com/soccer/world-cup-final-experience/#ixzz1iFVwcrAv

The Greatest Inventor

"Necessity is the mother of all inventions"

Google search for "greatest inventor" , you will find many searches (585,000 to be exact!). Do not worry; I shall summarize the top searches for you.

One Website (http://www.nikola-tesla.com/) tells us about Nikola Tesla being the greatest of all times. No doubt, his contribution in electromagnetism is unquestionable. According to me, his contribution IS the most important in this field. The only reason many people do not remember him is because of his American adversary Thomas Alva Edison and his lack of knowledge in patenting business. But to call him the greatest inventor... is not it kind of absurd.

Second link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_inventors) has to be Wikipedia; a list of all the inventors which appeared on the face of this earth. But it forgot one very important inventor; keep guessing, I will tell you in the end (Hint: initials of this inventor is M.N.)

Third link (http://library.thinkquest.org/5847/halloffame.htm) is created six students and contains the following names in its Hall Of Fame (you can also add a name to it)

Alexander Bell: invented the telephone; a very important invention, revolutionized telecommunications for good, no doubt an inductee in Hall Of Fame, but still not the best.

George Carver: invented many uses for peanuts; I am not a great fan of peanuts, so I cannot exactly say anything on it.

Marie Curie: discovered radium; with all due respect to her, we are talking about inventors, NOT discoverers. Otherwise she really deserved a top spot (Hint: M.N. is female.)

George Eastman: invented film; for me, film is a means of entertainment, not actually a very important invention, when you compare it with airplanes, cars, etc.

Henry Ford: invented assembly line and car; very important, no doubt. But then again, his one invention is single-handedly killing environment. He is a very important inventor, but not the best

Benjamin Franklin: part discoverer, part inventor, he belongs to a separate category, in which people like Leonardo Da Vinci, Isaac newton belonged. This category consists of people who aren't satisfied with one invention, so keep doing things until they are buried in their graves; Top candidates, but still, not the best.

Now this link (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_is_the_greatest_inventor_of_all_time) is very good. I will quote it for you

Q- Who is the greatest inventor of all time?

A-There is no exact greatest inventor of all time, as every great inventor's contribution is equally important to the society throughout history. But the most probable candidates for the greatest inventor include: Nikola Tesla, Leonardo Da Vinci, Robert Goddard, Alexander Graham Bell (who is the first to patent the telephone), Thomas Edison (for his invention of the improved light bulb), Archimedes and the guy who invented the first modern telescope back in the Renaissance Era, etc.

I noticed something peculiar- many notable inventors are not included. For example, the person who introduced counting and numbers to humanity, the inventor of wheel and clothes...all these are very important inventions. It's kind of insulting; not insulting our forefathers in this list, even if they are anonymous in the pages of history.

You can keep searching for more articles, each with different views and ideas. So I end by telling the name of the greatest inventor- according to me, which I hope all will agree.

Have you ever wondered about elements and substances which were discovered and are yet to be discovered; who made them? How did it come? How useful is it to us?

Consider the example of oxygen. Discovered in 1772, this gas was then known as "fire gas" . It's the crucial element for our survival, therefore a very important element. Carl Scheele discovered it. But who invented it? Well folks, the answer is simple...MOTHER NATURE. She IS the greatest inventor of all times. Mankind's every single discovery has been her invention. Early Man wanted food, clothes, fire and all other things, which was provided by Mother Nature, not some creepy looking Martian who came in ‘peace' "V" . Come to think of it, almost every invention of man is indirectly related to an invention of Mother Nature. Everything is being provided in this huge warehouse, you just have to find it. So I think I can safely say that

"Mother Nature is the mother of all inventions "