Time left until 2011 around the WORLD...

What is your New Year's Resolution? or Do you even have one?

Top 10 New Year's Resolutions according to recent survey....

1.  Lose Weight
2. Better Job
3. Fit
4. Pay off Debt
5. Save Money
6. Go Back to School
7. Take a Trip 
8. Volunteer More
9. Quit Smoking
10. Reduce Stress 

New Year Eve Events in Vancouver Canada...WELCOME 2011...bye bye 2010

Sorry Being in Vancouver...How can I forget not to show all the fun places for tomorrow night? Aprt from all of these places lots of people will be ringing the new year at their home...Have fun Everyone...Don't Drink and Drive....Vancouver laws are lot tougher now...besides, you dont want to jeopardize yours or some one's life in the new year....Be responsible and enjoy the new year. May God Bless us all.

"Happy New Year"..........Welcome 2011.......Good Bye 2010.

Happy 2011...7 Superb destinations to ring in the new year

on behalf of my family, I wish everyone a Joyus and a "Happy New Year". May Supreme Power bring in "PEACE" in the "WORLD" and in your families. May almighty fulfill all your dreams and give you good returns on your good "DEEDS". May supreme power Bless us all....Enjoy and Have Fun.

Year by Year Review - 1900-2010

Year 2010 Wiki way...

OK...How about flying cars? This new invention should wow you....

MIT students from the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics have actually succeeded in creating and flying a winged car. This is said to be the wave of the future. Take a look at Terrafugia's "Transition" Flying cars...may be you might see these flying cars soon in 2011.

You can order your flying cars here...

Volvo's new Air Motion car that runs on compressed AIR...No Gasoline...No Electricity...Very Very environmentally friendly.

IBM XIV - GRID based Storage Computing

Moshe Yanai is the founder/inventor of XIV who happend to have invented EMC Symmetrix as well.....read on.

Moshe Yanai comes from EMC where he invented Symmetrix arrays ten or more years ago, becoming Symmetrix VP of engineering for ten years, as well as an EMC Fellow and reporting directly to CEO Joe Tucci. He owns several patents for Symmetrix technology and today's DMX4 arrays still use that technology. He left EMC, 'was ousted publicly' according to IBM senior storage consultant Tony Pearson, in 2001. After that he co-founded de-duplication company Diligent with Doron Kempel, and then founded XIV in Israel. Yanai is still a director at Diligent.

EMC bought the Data General Clariion disk operation when it realised that mid-range arrays were needed alongside the top-end Symmetrix. Yanai reportedly opposed this purchase.

Now IBM owns XIV and competes with major competitiors like EMC, Hitachi and Netapp...Concept is very interesting where there is no raid involved but the usable capacity is half of raw capacity that makes the array with raid 1/0 but IBM denies this theory. Recently I've had the opportunity to play with this toy in iTech seminar in Vancouver and I must confess, GUI looks really cool. Volume creation took only 4 clicks. overall  storage management seems much more simpler that even a highschool kid can manage XIV.

EMC support pages - you will require a powerlink account for access.

https://support.emc.com/products/ControlCenter - for Ionix or ECC

https://support.emc.com/products/CLARiiONCX3 - CX3 Support

https://support.emc.com/products/CLARiiONCX4 - CX4 Support

https://support.emc.com/products/Symmetrix - DMX/VMAX Support

https://support.emc.com/products/ConnectrixMDS - Cisco MDS Support

https://support.emc.com/products/PowerPath - Powerpath Support

https://support.emc.com/products/Avamar - Avamar Support

EMC's FAST (Fully Automated Storage Tiering) Launch Video

I'm going to put on my Storage hat and post some Storage related topics now...Please let me know your areas of interest.

Amazing Cucumber - Home Remedy/Green way to clean things

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa- like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles, too!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!

Fact about Banana that will blow you away

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!

This is interesting.  After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't! the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives..

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if yo u suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking/Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance.

When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels.. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium

banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes??

Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe....polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit !!!

GOOG411 to stop it's services from November 12th 2010....Bye Bye GOOG411...

Back in 2007 Google launched 1-800-GOOG-411, a voice-powered directory assistance service that connects you quickly to businesses across the U.S. and Canada. On November 12, 2010, Google will shut down the service.

GOOG-411 was the first speech recognition service from Google and helped provide a foundation for more ambitious services now available on smartphones, such as:

•Voice Search - search Google by speaking instead of typing.

•Voice Input - fill in any text field on Android by speaking instead of typing.

•Voice Actions - control your Android phone with voice commands. For example, you can call any business quickly and easily just by saying its name.

Google's success encouraged them to aim for more innovation. Thus, google is  putting all of their resources into speech-enabling the next generation of Google products and services across a multitude of languages.

If you don’t use a smartphone, and you’re trying to call a business, you can send a text message with the name and location of the business to 466453 ("GOOGLE") and we’ll text you the information, or on Gmail you can use the new phone-calling features to call any U.S. business free of charge. Also, if you don’t have the free voice search app pre-installed on your phone, you can download it from http://www.google.com/mobile/google-mobile-app/

How to stop intruders stealing your wireless signals...secure your wifi...using this post

This article describes how you can secure your Wireless Network from hackers and you’ll also learn about free tools that people generally use to intercept your Wi-Fi signals.

Wireless Networking (Wi-Fi) has made it so easy for you to use the computer, portable media player, mobile phones, video game consoles, and other wireless devices anywhere in the house without the clutter of cables.

With traditional wired networks, it is extremely difficult for someone to steal your bandwidth but the big problem with wireless signals is that others can access the Internet using your broadband connection even while they are in a neighboring building or sitting in a car that’s parked outside your apartment.

This practice, also known as piggybacking, is bad for three reasons:

■It will increase your monthly Internet bill especially when you have to pay per byte of data transfer.

■It will decrease your Internet access speed since you are now sharing the same internet connection with other users.

■It can create a security hazard* as others may hack your computers and access your personal files through your own wireless network.

How to Secure Your Wireless Network:-

The good news is that it is not very hard to make your wireless network secure, which will both prevent others from stealing your internet and will also prevent hackers from taking control of your computers through your own wireless network.

Here a few simple things that you should to secure your wireless network:

Step 1. Open your router settings page

First, you need to know how to access your wireless router’s settings. Usually you can do this by typing in “192.168.1.1” into your web browser, and then enter the correct user name and password for the router. This is different for each router, so first check your router’s user manual.

You can also use Google to find the manuals for most routers online in case you lost the printed manual that came with your router purchase. For your reference, here are direct links to the manufacturer’s site of some popular router brands – Linksys, Cisco, Netgear, Apple AirPort, SMC, D-Link, Buffalo, TP-LINK, 3Com, Belkin.

Step 2. Create a unique password on your router

Once you have logged into your router, the first thing you should do to secure your network is to change the default password* of the router to something more secure.

This will prevent others from accessing the router and you can easily maintain the security settings that you want. You can change the password from the Administration settings on your router’s settings page. The default values are generally admin / password.

[*] What do the bad guys use - This is a public database of default usernames and passwords of wireless routers, modems, switches and other networking equipment. For instance, anyone can easily make out from the database that the factory-default settings for Linksys equipment can be accessed by using admin for both username and password fields.

Step 3. Change your Network’s SSID name

The SSID (or Wireless Network Name) of your Wireless Router is usually pre-defined as "default" or is set as the brand name of the router (e.g., linksys). Although this will not make your network inherently* more secure, changing the SSID name of your network is a good idea as it will make it more obvious for others to know which network they are connecting to.

This setting is usually under the basic wireless settings in your router’s settings page. Once this is set, you will always be sure that you are connecting to the correct Wireless network even if there are multiple wireless networks in your area. Don’t use your name, home address or other personal information in the SSID name.

[*] What do the bad guys use - Wi-Fi scanning tools like inSSIDer (Windows) and Kismet (Mac, Linux) are free and they will allow anyone to find all the available Wireless Networks in an area even if the routers are not broadcasting their SSID name.

Step 4. Enable Network Encryption

In order to prevent other computers in the area from using your internet connection, you need to encrypt your wireless signals.

There are several encryption methods for wireless settings, including WEP, WPA (WPA-Personal), and WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access version 2). WEP is basic encryption and therefore least secure (i.e., it can be easily cracked*, but is compatible with a wide range of devices including older hardware, whereas WPA2 is the most secure but is only compatible with hardware manufactured since 2006.

To enable encryption on your Wireless network, open the wireless security settings on your router’s configuration page. This will usually let you select which security method you wish to choose; if you have older devices, choose WEP, otherwise go with WPA2. Enter a passphrase to access the network; make sure to set this to something that would be difficult for others to guess, and consider using a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters in the passphrase.

[*] What do the bad guys use - AirCrack and coWPAtty are some free tools that allow even non-hackers to crack the WEP / WPA (PSK) keys using dictionary or brute force techniques. A video on YouTube suggests that AirCrack may be easily used to break WiFi encryption using a jail-broken iPhone or an iPod Touch.

Step 5. Filter MAC addresses

Whether you have a laptop or a Wi-Fi enabled mobile phone, all your wireless devices have a unique MAC address (this has nothing to do with an Apple Mac) just like every computer connected to the Internet has a unique IP address. For an added layer of protection, you can add the MAC addresses of all your devices to your wireless router’s settings so that only the specified devices can connect to your Wi-Fi network.

MAC addresses are hard-coded into your networking equipment, so one address will only let that one device on the network. It is, unfortunately, possible to spoof a MAC address*, but an attacker must first know one of the MAC addresses of the computers that are connected to your Wireless network before he can attempt spoofing.

To enable MAC address filtering, first make a list of all your hardware devices that you want to connect to your wireless network**. Find their MAC addresses, and then add them to the MAC address filtering in your router’s administrative settings. You can find the MAC address for your computers by opening Command Prompt and typing in “ipconfig /all”, which will show your MAC address beside the name “Physical Address”. You can find the MAC addresses of Wireless mobile phones and other portable devices under their network settings, though this will vary for each device.

[*] What do the bad guys use - Someone can change the MAC address of his or her own computer and can easily connect to your network since your network allows connection from devices that have that particular MAC address. Anyone can determine the MAC address of your device wireless using a sniffing tool like Nmap and he can then change the MAC address of his own computer using another free tool like MAC Shift.

Step 6. Reduce the Range of the Wireless Signal

If your wireless router has a high range but you are staying in a small studio apartment, you can consider decreasing the signal range by either changing the mode of your router to 802.11g (instead of 802.11n or 802.11b) or use a different wireless channel.

You can also try placing the router under the bed, inside a shoe box or wrap a foil around the router antennas so that you can somewhat restrict the direction of signals.

Apply the Anti-Wi-Fi Paint – Researchers have developed a special Wi-Fi blocking paint that can help you stop neighbors from accessing your home network without you having to set up encryption at the router level. The paint contains chemicals that blocks radio signals by absorbing them. "By coating an entire room, Wi-Fi signals can’t get in and, crucially, can’t get out."

Step 7. Upgrade your Router’s firmware

You should check the manufacturer’s site occasionally to make sure that your router is running the latest firmware. You can find the existing firmware version of your router using from the router’s dashboard at 192.168.*.

Connect to your Secure Wireless Network

To conclude, MAC Address filtering with WPA2 (AES) encryption (and a really complex passphrase) is probably the best way to secure your wireless network.

Once you have enabled the various security settings in your wireless router, you need to add the new settings to your computers and other wireless devices so that they all can connect to the Wi-Fi network. You can select to have your computer automatically connect to this network, so you won’t have to enter the SSID, passphrase and other information every time you connect to the Internet.

Your wireless network will now be a lot more secure and intruders may have a tough time intercepting your Wi-Fi signals.

Who is Connected to your Wireless Network

If you are worried that an outsider may be connecting to the Internet using your Wireless network, try AirSnare – it’s a free utility that will look for unexpected MAC addresses on your Wireless network as well as to DHCP requests. Another option is that you open your router’s administration page (using the 192.168.* address) and look for the DHCP Clients Table (it’s under Status > Local Network on Linksys routers). Here you will see a list of all computers and wireless devices that are connected to your home network.

*It is also a good idea to turn off the router completely when you are not planning to use the computer for a longer period (like when you are out shopping). You save on electricity and the door remains 100% shut for wireless piggybackers.

**If you ever want to let a new device connect to your network, you will have to find its MAC address and add it to your router. If you simple want to let a friend connect to your wireless network one time, you can remove his MAC address from the router settings when he or she leaves your place.

Thanks Giving is here on Monday....Happy Thanks Giving Everyone....

Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day (Canadian French: Jour de l'Action de grâce), occurring on the second Monday in October (since 1959), is an annual Canadian holiday to give thanks at the close of the harvest season.

India on it's way to be dominating in the commonwealth games....or should I say...Is India becoming the sports powerhose too?

Wow....we are into day 6 in the commonwealth games and India has won whooping 24 GOLD Medals....WOW! Hats off to the sports team...Way to go.... Check out the medal tally.

http://www.fullhyderabad.com/hyderabad-news/cwg-2010-medals-tally-cwg-medal-tally-commonwealth-games-2010-medals-tally-latest-cwg-2010-standi-1894

Common Wealth Games starts in Delhi from Tomorrow

Here is the official calendar for the 2010 Commonwealth Games:

2nd October means Gandhi Jayanti

Who doesn't know "Gandhiji" or we call him "BAPU". Today his 141st birthday. He was born in Porbandar Gujarat on 2nd October 1869. Gandhiji was a preacher of truth (Satyagraha) and 'ahimsa' (non-violence). He started the 'Satyagraha' movement for the Indian freedom struggle. He believed in living a simple life and in 'Swadeshi'.

He proved to the world that freedom can be achieved through the path of non-violence, a true symbol of peace and truth.

The United Nations had declared in 2007 that Oct 2 would be observed as "International Day of Non-Violence."

Want to migrate to Canada as a skilled immigrant?

Here are some links you can follow to find information on how to migrate to Canada. ....Good Luck.

http://www.saskimmigrationcanada.ca/sinp

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/index.asp

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-who.asp

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before.asp

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before-move.asp

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/e-services/work.asp

RIM launches Playbook to fight against rival Apple's IPAD.

Rim PlayBook won’t be available until early 2011. RIM PlayBook has a 7" display, 1Gb of RAM, features a dual-core 1-Ghz ARM Cortex-A9 processor, which should be faster than competing tablets. It has dual HD cameras, HD video recording capability, and HDMI output.

It supports MP3, AAC, and WMA, making it capable of handling even Apple and Microsoft proprietary audio formats. Its support of Adobe Flash Player, and HTML5 ensures that it is compatible with virtually any interactive Web site or online video content.

The PlayBook runs a new operating system, which is based on QNX Neutrino, a product RIM bought earlier this year. Neutrino is a modern, UNIX-like operating system that currently runs in many embedded systems, including cars, and is said to be faster than anything the competition has to offer.

World's smallest Computer

OQO's Model 2+ is the world's smallest computer that runs on Intel's Atom processor, has 2 gb memory and a whooping 120gb harddrive with hdmi, usb, docking station option, OLED display, bluetooth, 3g connectivity and touch screen functionality. it weighs less than a pound and can run either windows vista or xp. This computer runs on LI-ion polymer battery and lasts for about 3 hours on a full charge.

Revolutionary toothbrush may signal end of toothpaste

Japanese scientists are collaborating with an oral health company on a revolutionary toothbrush that uses electricity to make teeth pearly white and does away with the need for toothpaste.

First dreamed up 15 years ago by Dr. Kunio Komiyama, who is now a professor of dentistry at Canada's University of Saskatchewan, the Soladey-J3X has a solar panel at its base that requires minimal amounts of light to transmit electrons to the head of the toothbrush through a titanium dioxide semiconductor embedded in the body.

Once there, the electrons react with acid that occurs naturally in the mouth, creating a chemical reaction that breaks down plaque and kills bacteria, according to Dr. Komiyama and his colleague, Dr. Gerry Uswak, dean of the university's College of Dentistry.

Prototypes of the cutting-edge device have been developed by Shiken Inc. - "shi ken" translates as "dental health" in Japanese - and research is underway.

To date, according to the Osaka-based company, tests in cultures of bacteria that cause periodontal disease have shown that the process brought about the "complete destruction of bacterial cells," as well as breaking down the plaque.

The gadget has already received the recognition of the oral care industry, winning first prize at the recent annual FDI World Dental Conference in Dubai, fighting off 170 other entrants.

Patents on the toothbrush have already been taken out in nine countries, including Japan, although the company says the product will not be released onto the market until the early months of next year. Price should be around 40 euros

Nick Vujicic - Best Motivational/Inspiriational Video.....

Finally Iphone 4 is in Canada today....

Hundreds of people lined up in Toronto, many overnight, to be the first in Canada to hold the new iPhone 4.

Despite complaints pouring in from the United States about Apple's latest gadget, many people outside the store Friday said they weren't concerned about the reports of minor signal problems with the phone.

Pepole waited overnight to get the iphone 4 first and according to Mr Chan - “It was worth the wait,” said an exhausted but happy Mr. Chan as he held the phone in his hand.  According to him “The improved screen, it's really crisp. It's beautiful, and the improved camera, HD video recording, and it can finally multi-task,”

The iPhone 4 differs from its previous incarnation, the iPhone 3GS, because it offers video calling and a high-resolution display, which the Apple website says produces a “sharper” image. It also has a 5-megapixels flash camera and HD video recording capabilities.

Despite complaints pouring in from the United States about Apple's latest gadget, many people outside the store Friday said they weren't concerned about reports that calls were being dropped when the phone was held a certain way.

For the first time, consumers were able to buy an unlocked iPhone, without a contract, which means they will be able to shop around with other carriers to find the best deal.

The 16 gigabyte model retails at $659 before taxes and the 32 gigabyte phone is $779.

Apple had promised to give away free rubber cases meant to improve reception. But customers in line were told they would not be receiving the cases, and could request them online.

1) There was no pre-order option in Canada.

2) Going to the US to buy one means buying it on Contract, breaking the contract and unlocking the phone.

3) We can buy unlocked iPhones in Canada.

4) The phones are cheaper here in Canada on contract than in the US.

OOPs- it's been a while since I've posted here...Here is my lame excuse

Sorry guys- I have not forgotten about this blog but I'm in a dilemma on what to put here and also I'm being lazy to be honest. I am also planning to take Netapp NCDA certification and preparing for that as well.so it's a juggling task. If you have any suggestions on topics, please share them with me and I'll definately look at them and try to bring the content based on appropriate material.

Want to use Office 2010 apps but don't want to pay a dime - Well Microsoft made it easy for you - Here is how you can take advantage

Starting today Microsoft will allow you to view, edit, store, and share Office documents with others online for free using Windows Live with Microsoft Office Web Apps (Technical Preview). Office documents stored on Windows Live can be viewed and edited with either the Office Web Apps or with the Office client applications on your desktop.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/en/office-web-apps/overview.aspx

Diabetic or prediabetic? Do this and you will see the difference for yourself.

1. After you wake up in the morning, swallow one teaspoon of whole fenugreek/Methi and drink some water
2. Brisk walk minimum 20-40 minutes a day
3. Stop eating Rice, Potato, any types of soft drink, SUGAR, Chocolates, ICE-CREAM and any type of sweet

Now do the following two times a day for minimum 6-9 months for best results and continue doing so as long as you can to stay at the same level (non diabetic)

Guava leaves – 6

Mango leaves -3

Neem tree leaves– 12

Peepal tree leaves– 6

Black Cumin/Kalijiri powder– ½ spoon

Indian gooseberry (amla) powder – ½ spoon

Mix all of these ingredients and make a paste out of this and eat it 2-3 times a daily...

If you are a type 1 diabetic, you will stop taking insulin and  eventually your blood sugar level will come under control and if you are a type 2 diabetic, you will be free from medicine all together. Do this experiment religiously even if you don't like it and trust me you will thank me.

Thyroid - How to reduce or eliminate thyroid completely

All of these natural remedies, I have posted on this blog is from ancient Hindu sources, so I'm confident that it will help you to overcome these issues. My desire is to help anyone and everyone to make them healthy naturally without spending too much money. If any of my readers can't understand any of these ingredient(s), please google the word and you will find the english word for it. I appologize if I have missed that.

Thryoid - Natural Remedy

1 teaspoon of cumin powder

½ spoon coriander powder

¼ spoon black salt powder

¼ spoon black pepper powder

½ spoon Ajwain powder (carom seed)

1 spoon Saunf/Fennel seed powder

Mix all of these ingredients in ½ to ¾ glass of water and drink it twice a day.

Besides this you can try this zesty juice also....

½ cup of apple juice

½ cup of carrot juice

½ cup beetroot juice

½ cup cabbage juice

with 2-3 spoons of Ginger juice

Mix them all and drink ½ portions in the morning and ½ portions in the evening

Try this for 3-6 months and you will see a difference in your thyroid results....Good Luck

Falling Hair/ Hairloss prevention

Many people are suffering from hairloss including me so that made me do a research on how can I stop the hair loss naturally without any medications...This is what I learned....Hairloos is caused by heat in your body,  and lot of tension/Stress...This remedy will make your body cool and your anxiety/strees level will come down as well.

• Stop spicy food, no pickles or fermented food and a big no no fried or deep fried food
• Drink milk atleast 1-2 times a day

Rice, sorghum, finger millet, bottle gourd, pointed gourd, zucchini have cooling properties so increase intake of these food that will reduce “pitta” in your body

Take 4-5 Figs, 2 spoonfuls of Sesame seeds, 5 almonds, 1 spoon saunf/fennel seeds, 3 cardamoms– soak all of these for 3-4 hours and  after 3-4 hours make a milk shake and add 1/4 spoon of clarified butter (Ghee) to the drink and drink it twice a day, first thing in the morning  (so make ahabit of soaking this night before)empty stomach and at 5 O'clock in the afternoon.

Try this receipe for minimum of 5-6 months and it will make your body cool and if you're under 30-40 years of age, new heads will start growing and hairfall will completely stop.

Increase Metabolism - Natural Remedy

Recently I've been reading a lot about natural remedy and how it can help us without taking any medicine to improve our health. I will bring them in different posts so stay tuned...

How to increase your Metabolism and convert your fat into muscle

a. 1 spoon cumin seed powder
b. 1 spoon curry leaves powder
c. 1 pinch of hing/asphotedia
d. 1/4 spoon ajwain/carom seed powder

Mix all of these items and drink it with 1/2 glass of water - 3 times a day....and

Exercise...Exercise atleast 30-40 mins a day on a regular basis

Combination of this will make the difference....

Want to be a VEGETARIAN but can't leave MEAT? Wathch this...Part 3

Want to be a VEGETARIAN but can't leave MEAT? Wathch this...Part 2

Want to be a VEGETARIAN but can't leave MEAT? Wathch this...Part 1

Where do vegetarians get their protiens? (Click on the Heading)

This site has a various vegetarian/vegan receipes, vegetarian restaurants throughout US and Canada. Vegetarian diet is becoming more and more popular throughtout North America and some carnivors are adopting veg diet on a regular basis, so I think it is appropriate to bring some of this to my readers...Enjoy.

83 year old Indian YOGI has not eaten or drank for seven decades.....He has a healthy brain of 25 years old...Amazing.

An 83-year-old Indian holy man who says he has spent seven decades without food or water has astounded a team of military doctors who studied him during a two-week observation period.

Prahlad Jani spent two weeks in a hospital in the western India state of Gujarat under constant surveillance from a team of 30 medics equipped with cameras and closed circuit television.

During the period, he neither ate nor drank and did not go to the toilet.

"We still do not know how he survives," neurologist Sudhir Shah told reporters after the end of the experiment. "It is still a mystery what kind of phenomenon this is."

The long-haired and bearded yogi was sealed in a hospital in the city of Ahmedabad as part of a study initiated by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the state defence and military research institute.

The DRDO hopes that the findings, which are set to be released in greater detail in several months, could help soldiers survive without food and drink, assist astronauts or even save the lives of people trapped in natural disasters.

"[Jani's] only contact with any kind of fluid was during gargling and bathing periodically during the period," G. Ilavazahagan, director of India's Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, said in a statement.

Jani has since returned home to his village near Ambaji in northern Gujarat where he will resume his regular routine revolving around yoga and meditation.

He says that he was blessed by a goddess at a young age, which gave him special powers.

During the 15-day observation, which ended Thursday, the doctors took scans of Jani's organs, brain and blood vessels, as well as doing tests on his heart, lungs and memory capacity. "The reports were all in the pre-determined safety range through the observation period," Shah told reporters at a press conference last week. Other results from DNA analysis, molecular biological studies and tests on his hormones, enzymes, energy metabolism and genes will take months to come through.

"If Jani does not derive energy from food and water, he must be doing that from energy sources around him, sunlight being one," said Shah.

"As medical practitioners we cannot shut our eyes to possibilities, to a source of energy other than calories."

Bootable USB stick with Ubuntu and iRobot

Bootable USB Stick With Ubuntu

Here a two methods for putting the fresh new release of Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lucid Lynx) on a USB stick. The first method will create a bootable USB stick with a live version and the second process will create a live version with persistence. Both methods are an excellent way to always have your favorite Ubuntu system and software with you.

http://lxer.com/

iReboot

iReboot sits in your taskbar at startup (only taking up 400KB of memory) and lets you choose which operating system you want to reboot into. Instead of pressing restart, waiting for Windows to shut down, waiting for your BIOS to post, then selecting the operating system you want to boot into (within the bootloader time-limit!), you just select that entry from iReboot and let it do the rest.

http://howtogeek.com/

Kids need minimum of 30 mins of exercise during a day....New Study

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology now recommends a minimum of 30 minutes a day.

Children and teens need less daily exercise than previously thought, a new study says.

Previous guidelines recommended children ages five to 17 get at least 90 minutes of daily physical activity. However, the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology now recommends a minimum of 30 minutes a day - but 60 minutes or more would be better.

The Public Health Agency of Canada funded the society's research.

"We hope that these new findings will inspire inactive or sedentary Canadians of all ages to add more physical activity to their lives," said Dr. Mark Tremblay.

The study says most physical activity should be aerobic, such as walking, skating or riding a bike.

Activities like running and playing soccer should be done at least three times a week, the new guidelines say. Activities like skipping, jumping and playing in a park - which help build bone and muscle mass - should also be done three times a week.

As little as 30 minutes of exercise a day will produce health benefits, but the study says 60 minutes to several hours of moderate physical activity would be better.

"Some is good but more is clearly better," Tremblay said.

The research shows the more variety, intensity and longer duration, the greater the benefit. But reaching the minimum physical activity recommendations still helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure and reduce the risk of diabetes.

The minimum threshold to see health benefits has also been reduced for adults. The study says adults need 90 minutes of vigorous exercise a week, or 150 minutes of moderate physical activity.

Previous guidelines had recommended 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity "most days of the week.² Brisk walking, swimming, raking leaves, jogging, hockey, aerobics, weight training and tennis are listed as options for adults to get exercise.

Blackberry Lovers - Blackberry Tablet may be on it's way before the end of this year?

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd, an asian company that produces the "Kindle"states that it has received an order from RIM for an 8.9-inch tablet. 

The sources state that the device will be able to sync with your other BlackBerry devices, making it a “companion device” similar to the canceled Palm Foleo.

According to Boy Genius Report, the tablet will not have any cellular networking built in and will therefore rely on the Bluetooth or the built in Wi-Fi to tether to your Blackberry Smartphone. The device is designed for multimedia like emailing and web browsing and may even include GPS.

The BlackBerry tablet, codenamed “Cobalt,” will be challenged coming into the market so late with the Apple iPad already on the market and with other tablets from Asus, Android, HTC and other companies already on their way. It is expected to be released late this year, possibly in December, but rumors are that the team is attempting to release it earlier if possible.

Canada Benifits

Yogurt Diet - Why it is a must read ???? - Read Ana Luque's book

You Tube turned 5 on April 23rd 2010.............Belated "Happy Birthday YouTube"

Grey Hair Remedy - Many people seems to have this issue - Try this

• Eat protein rich foods. Proteins - Sources: sprouted whole grains, cereals, meat and soy in your diet.
• Eat foods rich in iron, minerals and vitamin A and B.
  Vitamin A - Sources: dark green vegetables & yellow fruits. Vitamin B - Sources: fresh green leafy vegetables, bananas, tomatoes, cauliflower, cereals, liver kidney, yogurt, yeast and wheat germ.
  Minerals like zinc, iron and copper - Sources: zinc - red meat, chicken & green vegetables
  iron - beef, dried apricots, red meat, parsley, eggs, wheat & sunflower seeds (Iron Rich Foods)
  copper - sunflower seeds, cashews, almonds, crabs and oysters, egg yolk & whole grains.
• Eat foods rich in iodine such as banana, carrots and fish.
• Drink butter milk with a 2 teaspoons each of yeast and wheat germ will prevent and cure premature greying of hair.
• Rub Indian gooseberry (Amla) mixed in coconut oil into the scalp regularly. It can show wonderful results, your gray hair will turn black. Boil some dried amla pieces in coconut oil till it turns black. Apply this oil to prevent hair greying.
• Grate some fresh ginger. Mix with honey and place it in a jar. Eat 1 teaspoon everyday.
• Massage your hairs with coconut oil and lemon juice everyday.
• Boil some dried ribbed gourd (i)torai in coconut oil till it turns black. Massage this oil in scalp and hair roots should be massaged into the scalp.
• Mix 1 tablespoon of table salt to a cup of strong black tea without milk. Massage this water on the scalp. Wash your hair after an hour.
• Boil some curry leaves in coconut oil and apply in scalp and hair roots.
• Make a paste of 2 tspn henna powder, 1 tspn yogurt, 1 tsp fenugreek (methi seed powder, 3 tspn coffee, 2 tspn basil juice and 3 tspn mint juice and apply to the hair. Wash hair with shampoo after 3 hours.
• Massage your scalp and hair with butter made from cow milk twice a week.

Juno Award Winners April 2010

•Juno Fan Choice Award: Michael Bublé
•Artist of the Year: K'Naan
•Album of the Year: Michael Bublé, Crazy Love
•New Artist of the Year: Drake
•New Group of the Year: Arkells
•Songwriter of the Year: K'Naan, Wavin' Flag
•Group of the Year: Metric
•Single of the Year: Michael Bublé, Haven't Met You Yet
•Rap Recording of the Year: Drake, So Far Gone
•Pop Album of the Year: Michael Bublé, Crazy Love
•Adult Alternative Album of the Year: Joel Plaskett, Three
•Alternative Album of the Year: Metric, Fantasies
•Rock Album of the Year: Billy Talent, III

How the Body Works

Great site for Parents/Kids and Teens

Benifits of GINGER

Ginger has been used as a natural remedy for many ailments for centuries. Now, science is catching up and researchers around the world are finding that ginger works wonders in the treatment of everything from cancer to migraines. Here are ten health benefits of this powerful herb:

Ovarian Cancer Treatment

Ginger may be powerful weapon in the treatment of ovarian cancer. A study conducted at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center found that ginger powder induces cell death in all ovarian cancer cells to which it was applied.

Colon Cancer Prevention

A study at the University of Minnesota found that ginger may slow the growth of colorectal cancer cells.

Morning Sickness

A review of several studies has concluded that ginger is just as effective as vitamin B6 in the treatment of morning sickness.

Motion Sickness Remedy

Ginger has been shown to be an effective remedy for the nausea associated with motion sickness.

Reduces Pain and Inflammation

One study showed that ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and is a powerful natural painkiller.

Heartburn Relief

Ginger has long been used as a natural heartburn remedy. It is most often taken in the form of tea for this purpose.

Cold and Flu Prevention and Treatment

Ginger has long been used as a natural treatment for colds and the flu. Many people also find ginger to be helpful in the case of stomach flus or food poisoning, which is not surprising given the positive effects ginger has upon the digestive tract.

Migraine Relief

Research has shown that ginger may provide migraine relief due to its ability to stop prostaglandins from causing pain and inflammation in blood vessels.

Menstrual Cramp Relief

In Chinese medicine, ginger tea with brown sugar is used in the treatment of menstrual cramps.

Prevention of Diabetic Nephropathy

A study done on diabetic rats found that those rats given ginger had a reduced incidence of diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage).

Have YEAST infections??? Ladies....Read this

Tea Tree Oil can be used as a highly effective douche treatment against yeast infections. It is recommended that you purchase a small dropper bottle that can be used to store the solution.

•Combine 1 teaspoon of Tea Tree Oil with 1 teaspoon of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol).

•Mix the solution, which should appear milky white.

•Store the solution in the dropper bottle.

•Add 10 drops of the solution to a pint of water.

•Use this douche once a day for a week in order to rinse the vagina.

NOTE: Using Tea Tree Oil during pregnancy is not recommended. During pregnancy, it is best to consult with your doctor before using any treatment.

Natural Remedy for Yeast Infection With Yogurt

The active bacterial cultures in yogurt help to fight yeast, which is one of the main reasons why many people have found it to be effective at treating a yeast infection. In the case of vaginal infections, a simple remedy is to dip a tampon in plain, unsweetened yogurt, and insert the tampon into the vagina. Repeat this twice a day until symptoms disappear. For other types of yeast infections, applying yogurt directly onto the surface for 10 to 15 minutes each day works well.

If your infection persists for longer than a week, it is best to consult your doctor.

Garlic as a Natural Cure for Yeast Infection

Many people have found that garlic is wonderful at fighting yeast infections. Simply insert one garlic clove directly into the vagina, and repeat this every few hours for 2 days. You can also take garlic internally, either as tablets or by crushing a fresh garlic clove into a few small pieces and quickly swallowing the pieces with a glass of water.

Teeth Whitening Using Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

Baking soda is known to help make teeth appear whiter since it helps to scrub the surface of the teeth without damaging tooth enamel. This is one of the reasons why many toothpastes advertise their baking soda content. A simple home remedy is to mix baking soda with hydrogen peroxide and use this mixture as a toothpaste. The hydrogen peroxide acts as a bleaching agent, and it also helps break down stain-absorbing particles between teeth, allowing them to be easily rinsed away.

•Add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide into a small cup.

•Add one tablespoon of baking soda.

•Mix together until a paste is created.

•Add some of the paste onto your toothbrush, and brush your teeth gently.

•Rinse your mouth, and then brush your teeth using a regular toothpaste with fluoride.

Use this remedy once per week, and you should start to see results within one month. It is important to avoid using this remedy on a daily basis, since the abrasive properties of baking soda can wear down the enamel on your teeth.

Teeth Whitening by Rinsing with Water

Rinsing your mouth with water right after you drink soda, coffee, tea, or any flavored and colored drink is one of the best teeth whitening remedies. This prevents the color from building up in your teeth, which is one of the leading causes of yellow stained teeth. Brushing your teeth after every meal is an even better idea, but water is excellent since it is much more convenient than carrying around a toothbrush.

Fenugreek can treat arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, improve digestion and maintain a healthy metabolism.

Fenugreek (also known as Greek Hay, Fenigreek and Methi), is a herb that is commonly found growing in the Mediterranean region of the world. While the seeds and leaves are primarily used as a culinary spice, it is also used to treat a variety of health problems in Egypt, Greece, Italy, and South Asia.

Fenugreek seeds have been found to contain protein, vitamin C, niacin, potassium, and diosgenin (which is a compound that has properties similar to estrogen). Other active constituents in fenugreek are alkaloids, lysine and L-tryptophan, as well as steroidal saponins (diosgenin, yamogenin, tigogenin, and neotigogenin).

What are the Benefits of Fenugreek?

Due to its estrogen-like properties, fenugreek has been found to help increase libido and lessen the effect of hot flashes and mood fluctuations that are common symptoms of menopause and PMS. In India and China it has also been used to treat arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, improve digestion, maintain a healthy metabolism, increase libido and male potency, cure skin problems (wounds, rashes and boils), treat sore throat, and cure acid reflux. Fenugreek also has a long history of use for the treatment of reproductive disorders, to induce labor, to treat hormonal disorders, to help with breast enlargement, and to reduce menstrual pain. Recent studies have shown that Fenugreek helps lower blood glucose and cholestrol levels, and may be an effective treatment for both type 1 and 2 diabetes. Fenugreek is also being studied for its cardiovascular benefits.

Uses of Fenugreek

Home Remedy for Balancing Cholesterol

Studies have found people who took 2 ounces (56g) of fenugreek seed each day had significantly (around 14 percent) lower cholesterol levels after 24 weeks, and had lowered their risk of heart attack by more than 25 percent. Therefore, a recommended remedy for lowering cholesterol is to take 2 ounces of Fenugreek seeds throughout the day. The seeds can be sprinkled onto prepared food, or they can be consumed with water if they are in capsule form.

Treating Diabetes and Lowering Blood Sugar Levels

Studies have shown that participants with type 2 diabetes had significantly lower blood sugar levels after eating fenugreek. Therefore, a recommended home remedy for treating Type 2 diabetes is to consume 500mg of fenugreek twice daily.

Herbal Cure for Skin Inflammation

Research has shown that Fenugreek is an effective topical treatment for skin problems such as abscesses, boils, burns, eczema, and gout. Therefore, a simple skin inflammation remedy is the following:

•Take a spoonful of fenugreek and grind it into a powder.

•Mix the ground fenugreek with warm water.

•Take a simple piece of clean cloth and soak it into the mixture.

•Apply the soaked cloth directly onto the affected skin as a poultice.

Natural Cure for Heartburn and Acid Reflux

Fenugreek seeds contain a lot of mucilage, which helps sooth gastrointestinal inflammation by coating the lining of the stomach and intestine. Therefore, for an effective remedy against heartburn or Acid Reflux, simply sprinkle 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds onto your food. Another option is to take one teaspoon of Fenugreek seeds and swallow them with water or juice before any meal.

Home Remedy for Fever

The Fenugreek herb has been known to help reduce fever when taken with lemon and honey, since it nourishes the body during an illness. Therefore, to treat a fever, simply consume one to two teaspoons of Fenugreek seeds three times a day along with an herbal tea (such as green tea) with a teaspoon of honey and lemon juice. Some health food stores also sell herbal Fenugreek teas, which can be used instead of the green tea.

Breast Enlargement

Fenugreek is often used in many teas and other products that help balance women's hormones and/or enlarge the breasts. Therefore, a simple home remedy for breast enlargement is to make Fenugreek a part of your regular diet. A common suggestion is to consume up to 3g of Fenugreek per day.

Remedy to Ease Child Birth for Pregnant Women

Fenugreek stimulates uterine contractions and can be helpful to induce childbirth. However, pregnant women should only use Fenugreek for inducing labor after consulting with their doctor.

Remedy to Aid Milk Production in Lactating Women

Fenugreek has been known to increase milk production in lactating women. Research has even shown that milk production can increase by over 500 percent within 24 to 72 hours after consuming fenugreek. Although it is not known why this happens, researchers speculate that the oil contained in fenugreek seeds plays a role. Therefore, a recommended remedy to increase milk flow is to consume one capsule of fenugreek seed (at least 500mg) three times a day.

What are the Side Effects of Fenugreek?

While Fenugreek is generally considered to be safe when used moderately, there have been reports of a few minor side-effects. Nausea is one common side effect, while other people have reported gastrointestinal discomfort (diarrhea and/or gas). Also, when using fenugreek topically on the skin, it is important to watch out for skin irritations and rashes.

Fenugreek use during pregnancy is not recommended, since it has the potential to induce labor. If you are pregnant and wish to take it, you should do so only after consultation with your doctor.

If you are currently taking any oral medications, you should always use Fenugreek at least 2 hours before or after these drugs. This is important since Fenugreek fiber has the potential to interfere with the absorption of oral medications due to its mucilaginous fiber (which gives it a moist and sticky texture).

Ash from volcano grounds flights accross Northern Europe

Hundreds of flights worldwide were cancelled or delayed on Thursday as volcanic ash from Iceland swept across northern Europe, closing airspace above Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia and other countries.

Symmetrix - EMC enterprise storage still running even after falling on the floor after massive earthquake in Chile....Amazing

This is not a photoshop edited image, it is the fact and I have read that it is still serving data. and everything is still intact.

Metrocity Torronto to get additional area code and there are lots of other cities in Canada have extra number set aside for future use.

As the population grows and cellphone subscribers multiply exponentially, Canada is running out of new area codes.

The CRTC announced Tuesday that the suburbs surrounding Toronto will become the first region in the country to have three different area codes.

The new number, 365, will be introduced on March 25, 2013, a year before the area’s existing codes — 905 and 289 — are expected to be exhausted. A fourth area code, 742, has also been set aside.

Overlay or relief codes, as they are known, are multiple area codes assigned to one region, and there are only so many to go around. The available options are quickly being reserved for major urban centres across Canada, although they are not always accepted willingly.

In Vancouver, residents already dial 604 or 778, while the area code 942 has been identified as a potential future number for the 902 region of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Manitoba will soon have a second area code in addition to 204.

And next month, 343 will pop up on displays along with 613 for calls from the Ottawa region.

But while the new numbers are necessary, they are not always popular.

North America has about 750 usable area codes, said Mr. Pilley, divided among Canada, the United States and about 20 Caribbean nations. The codes cannot start with 0 or 1, which route directly to the operator or indicate a long-distance call. And they cannot end with the numbers 11, which are reserved for emergency or information calls. And no one, he says, wants the area code 666.

About 10 years ago, area codes began “going like hotcakes” in the United States as cellphones became popular. California, for example, has more area codes than all of Canada.

At the request of the Canadian government, 50 area codes were set aside for Canadian use, and fewer than 30 remain unassigned.

To determine an overlay area code for a specific region, the CNA compares the available numbers to local central office codes — the first three digits in a phone number — to avoid duplication.

“There’s so many rules it would make your head spin,” Mr. Pilley said of the selection process.

The reaction to the new area codes is more visceral than scientific.

According to UrbanDictionary.com, 905 is a term used by Toronto residents (416ers) to imply that someone is “bland, boring, unsophisticated and/or ignorant.”

And Toronto is not the only city to have such hang-ups about their digits.

In the 1990s, an episode of Seinfeld dealt with a character’s panic when she was assigned a new phone number in New York City, the first in North America to have more than one area code.

Since then, area codes have been used as shorthand for regional affinities in TV shows, movies and hip hop anthems.

Denis Carmel, a spokesman for the CRTC, said that because 10-digit dialling is now the norm across Canada, fewer people object to new area codes.

In Toronto, young people identify with the number 647, an area code that was once perceived as a telephone kiss of death.

And when Montreal got a new code recently, few people reacted strongly.

“It’s amazing how quickly people adapt,” he said.

The reintroduction of old numbers as people ditch their land lines and toss out their fax machines is expected to slow the pace of area code expansion.

But within the next 30 years, Mr. Pilley predicts that North America will run out of 10-digit numbers, leading to the next phone-related identity crises.

That’s when the CRTC will introduce four-digit area codes and central office codes, he said.

In the meantime, Toronto residents should avoid being smug about the 905 region’s new number.

A third area code for Toronto will be unveiled next year.

Terry Fox Marathon of HOPE - 30 years ago in April

Portable LED Monitor

MEDL Technology recently announced a prototype, The Panel, which they are calling the world’s first fully functional portable LED monitor. Basically, with the portable monitor anyone can add a second or third monitor to their laptop and carry it along with them easily too.

This is in fact the first multi-purpose 13″ LED display that weighs just 2.2 lbs and can be used almost anywhere. Ideally suitable for both business and home users, the 13″ portable LED monitor features its own battery which lasts for almost 5 hours and can be connected to your computers using a USB cable. Once connected, it takes less than 10 seconds before you are able to use the display. It works with almost any computer which runs on either Windows or Mac OS with USB support.

What else? The portable monitor can be used with video players, cameras, DVD players, iPhones, iPods and gaming platforms such as Xbox and PS3 as well

Travelling down South? starting tomorrow you can carry two carry-on bags...

Canadians flying to the U.S. can take two carry-on bags and personal items with them on a plane, starting Thursday April 8 2010 announced by Transport Minister John Baird

Restrictions on carry-on bags for Canadian airline passengers flying to the U.S. were made following the Dec. 25, 2009 terrorist attack on a Northwest Airlines flight between Amsterdam and Detroit.

Immediately after the failed bomb attack, Canada placed a ban on carry-on luggage. The government loosened restrictions in January, allowing passengers flying to the U.S. one carry-on bag and some personal items, including purses, laptops and camera bags.

“With more robust air security measures in place for passengers, we are able to remove the temporary carry-on baggage restrictions put into place following the December terrorist attack,” Baird said in a release. Those security measures include full body scanners at airports and screening systems to detect passengers exhibiting suspicious behaviours.

Passengers can check with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority or their airline for more information.

Baja earthquake kills 2 people in Mexico

At least two deaths are being blamed on a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that was centered in Baja California, Mexico and felt all over Southern California on Easter Sunday, rocking high rise buildings from San Diego to Los Angeles.

Both deaths occurred in Mexico, officials said. One man died when his home collapsed on him, according to Baja California state Civil Protection Director Alfredo Escobedo. The man's home was very close to the quake's epicenter, just outside Mexicali.

This home in Mexicali collapsed from the force of Easter Sunday's 7.2 magnitude quake.

A second man was killed when he panicked as the ground shook, ran into the street and was struck by a car.

According to Escobedo, there were reports of people trapped in collapsed homes in Mexicali and rescue teams from nearby Tijuana were called in to help.

There are no reports of U.S. deaths or injuries. The quake struck about 6 miles below the earth's surface at 3:40 p.m. PT Sunday, about 110 miles east-southeast of Tijuana, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

After examining data, seismologists upgraded the size of Sunday's 25-second quake from a magnitude 6.9 to 7.2, according to Dr. Lucy Jones of Caltech.

"This is the largest earthquake since the [7.3 magnitude] Landers earthquake of 1992," Jones said, "A 7.2 is going to happen over a pretty long fault, probably close to 50 miles long."

Scientists believe the quake originated on the Laguna Salada fault, which has not produced a major temblor in more than a century, according to preliminary data.

The last time the fault unleashed a similar-sized quake was in 1892.

It has since produced occasional magnitude 5 earthquakes. According to reports, the force from Sunday's temblor caused high-rise buildings in San Diego to sway back and forth around 30 seconds before rocking high-rise buildings in downtown Los Angeles.

Caltech officials reported that over 20 million people felt shaking related to the 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White - ice skating dance during Olympics 2010 on Jai Ho...

ipod creater Tony Fadell leaving Apple after 9 years to go green

Tony Fadell, one of the integral creators of the iPod, has resigned from his position at Apple, a move that ends a nine year relationship with Cupertino - a period that spanned a tremendous era of growth, much of which Fadell was personally responsible for.

Widely referred to as the godfather of the iPod, Fadell spent seven years as the Senior VP of the iPod division at Apple and another two years consulting Apple as the company hit new highs, both in consumer popularity and Wall Street dominance. In his last two years, Fadell worked closely with Steve Jobs and essentially served as a personal adviser to the Apple boss.

Interestingly, Fadell's days at Apple began when he joined the iPod engineering team nearly a decade ago. Fadell would even become head of the department when he replaced Jon Rubenstein. Does that name sound familiar? Rubenstein is now Palm's CEO. And while his name was not widely known or acclaimed, Fortune magazine cited Fadell as one of the chief architects of the modern portable music player.

Although Apple hasn't publicly offered comment on Fadell's departure, some are curious as to why he would choose this exciting time at his company to bid farewell. Fadell, however, tells the New York Times that he is eager to go green