Airbus A380

The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, an EADS subsidiary. The largest passenger airliner in the world, the A380 made its maiden flight on 27 April 2005 from Toulouse, France, and made its first commercial flight on 25 October 2007 from Singapore to Sydney with Singapore Airlines. The aircraft was known as the Airbus A3XX during much of its development phase, but the nickname Superjumbo has since become associated with it.





The A380's upper deck extends along almost the entire length of the fuselage, and its width is equivalent to that of a widebody aircraft. This allows for a cabin with 50% more floor space than the next-largest airliner, the Boeing 747-400, and provides seating for 525 people in standard three-class configuration or up to 853 people in all economy class configuration. The A380 is offered in passenger and freighter versions. The A380-800, the passenger model, is the largest passenger airliner in the world, but has a shorter fuselage than the Airbus A340-600 which is Airbus' next biggest passenger aeroplane. The A380-800F, the freighter model, is offered as one of the largest freight aircraft, with a listed payload capacity exceeded only by the Antonov An-225. The A380-800 has a design range of 15,200 kilometres (8,200 nmi), sufficient to fly from New York to Hong Kong for example, and a cruising speed of Mach 0.85 (about 900 km/h or 560 mph at cruising altitude).






Looks fantastic. I definetely want to fly on that thing. But wait! Those seats look too roomy and the aisles too wide… is this First and Business class? Oh c’mon Airbus, that’s cheating! Show us some pictures of your coach cabin, or as I like to call it, “the hole”. That’s where all of us common folk will be spending countless hours, so you better show us what you are doing to make our lifes less miserable on that Los Angeles - Auckland non-stop flight. I can show you some shots taken in the First Class cabin of an old-ass Varig MD-11 and they look fantastic as well. I want to see coach. Real coach. Packed shoulder-to-shoulder with angry dads, bothered moms and screaming kids. Coach, where drinks cost $5. Coach, where you spend those long hours over the ocean pondering how long would it take for a stray blod clot to go from your cramped legs to your lungs and kill you, and how agonizing would that be. Coach, where you could use your laptop if you wanted too, but you run the risk of either suffocating after 10 minutes of the keyboard squeezing your diaphraghm or having a claustrophobia attack.

Hacking

Hacking is a felony in the United States and most other countries. When it is done by request and under a contract between an ethical hacker and an organization, it's OK. The key difference is that the ethical hacker has authorization to probe the target.

We work with IBM Consulting and its customers to design and execute thorough evaluations of their computer and network security. Depending on the evaluation they request (ranging from Web server probes to all-out attacks), we gather as much information as we can about the target from publicly available sources. As we learn more about the target, its subsidiaries and network connectivity, we begin to probe for weaknesses.


Hacking is unauthorized use of computer and network resources. (The term "hacker" originally meant a very gifted programmer. In recent years though, with easier access to multiple systems, it now has negative implications.)


Examples of weaknesses include poor configuration of Web servers, old or unpatched software, disabled security controls, and poorly chosen or default passwords. As we find and exploit vulnerabilities, we document if and how we gained access, as well as if anyone at the organization noticed. (In nearly all the cases, the Information Syhstems department is not informed of these planned attacks.) Then we work with the customer to address the issues we've discovered.

The number of really gifted hackers in the world is very small, but there are lots of wannabes.... When we do an ethical hack, we could be holding the keys to that company once we gain access. It's too great a risk for our customers to be put in a compromising position. With access to so many systems and so much information, the temptation for a former hacker could be too great -- like a kid in an unattended candy store.

From the interview with Dr. Charles C. Palmer, IBM.

An all-new YZF-R1 for the 2007 model year was announced on 9 October, 2006. Key features include an all-new inline four-cylinder engine; going back to a more conventional 4-valve per cylinder rather than Yamaha's trade mark 5-valve genesis layout. Other new features are the Yamaha Chip Control Intake (YCC-I) electronic variable-length intake funnel system, Yamaha Chip Control Throttle (YCC-T) fly-by-wire throttle system, slipper-type clutch, all-new aluminum Deltabox frame and swingarm, six-piston radial-mount front brake calipers with 310 mm discs, a wider radiator, and M1 styling on the new large ram-air ports in the front fairing. 2008 brought BNG and the ability to buy limited edition Fiat plastics.




The fuel injection is impressively slick, even after coming off the silky-smooth carbs of the Kawasaki. The brakes are a perfect combination of power and feel, while the engine has loads of go. It carries its weight well and it turns quickly too and, in spite of the compact feel, stability isn't a problem as it is with the 2003 FireBlade. At this level all I can do is say, “Oooh, it's gorgeous, I like the silver, I do.” That's it, I'm reduced to talking about colours and shapes. Oh, hang on, the screen is too small and low. Whaddya mean buy an Ermax?
An incredible road bike.







Specification:

• Engine Type 20 valve , DOHC , liquid-cooled
• Cylinder arrangement Forward Inclined Parallel 4-cylinder
• Displacement 998 cc;
• Bore x Stroke 74 x 58 mm;
• Compression Ratio 11.8:1;
• Maximum power 150 bhp (110.3 kW)@ 10000 rpm;
• Maximum Torque 11 kg-m (108.3 Nm) @ 8500 rpm;
• Starting System Electric;
• Lubrication Wet sump;
• Carburation BDSR40;
• Primary Reduction Ratio 63/43 (1.465);
• Secondary Reduction Ratio 43/16 (2,688);
• Clutch type Multiple disc , Wet;
• Transmission Type Constant mesh 6-speed;
• Gear Ratio 1st 39/15 (2,600);
• Gear Ratio 2nd 35/19 (1,842);
• Gear Ratio 3rd 30/20 (1,500);
• Gear Ratio 4th 28/21 (1,333);
• Gear Ratio 5th 30/25 (1,200);
• Gear Ratio 6th 29/26 (1,115);
• Final Transmission Chain;
• Chassis
• Overall Length 2035 mm;
• Overall Width 695 mm;
• Overall Height 1095 mm;
• Seat Height 815 mm;
• Wheelbase 1395 mm;
• Minimum Ground Clearance 140 mm;
• Dry Weight 177 kg (390lbs);
• Frame Type Deltabox II;
• Caster Angle 24°;
• Trail 92 mm;
• Fuel Tank Capacity 18 L;
• Front Suspension Upside down telescopic fork;
• Front Shock Absorber Coil spring / shock absorber;
• Rear Suspension New monocross;
• Rear Shock Absorber Coil spring / Gas-Oil damper;
• Front Wheel 17 x MT3.50, Aluminum;
• Front Wheel Travel 135 mm;
• Rear Wheel 17 x MT6.00;
• Rear Wheel Travel 130 mm;
• Front Brake Dual discs, 298 mm diam;
• Rear Brake Single disc, 245 mm diam;
• Front tire 120/70 ZR17 58W;
• Rear tire 190/50 ZR17 73W

2006 BMW 325i

You won't roar from stoplight to stoplight, getting waves and nods from F-150 drivers smoking Marlboros, and you won't do smoky burnouts waiting in line at a NASCAR race, but the 2006 325i will make those wishes disappear with every click of its seamless six-speed stick and with every graceful move as it dances through the curves of a backcountry ballroom. The 325i's in-line six-cylinder engine seems a bit lackluster on paper; even the ultra-conservative Toyota Camry V-6 has more power than 215 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. But a car is more than an engine and four wheels, and the refinement and handling balance offered in the 2006 3-series is simply unparalleled.



While the current generation 7- and 5-series sedans offer amazing performance and bodies designed through the use of funhouse mirrors, the 2006 325i proves that Bangle-ism has a bright side. Finally we have a BMW we wouldn't prefer to be hidden under a shroud of darkness. Its lines are flared and aggressive, but less ostentatiousness than the Z4's. Much of the difference is found in light housings, where the wild stretches of the 5-series have been reigned in to appear more evolutionary than revolutionary.



The cabin strikes a similar balance of avant-garde style tempered with familiar ergonomics. Simple, straightforward controls are wrapped in flowing shapes and high-quality materials. You only get iDrive, the spinning joystick control for the complex infotainment system, if you order the satellite navigation: without it, everything is where you'd expect it to be. Ultra-supportive front sport seats with adjustable side bolsters are a must-have option, and come with the $1,600 sport package that also includes stylish split-five spoke 17-inch wheels, a lowered sport suspension, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Run-flat tires are now standard equipment on every 325i.




From a safety standpoint, electronic traction and stability control and front, front-side, and full-length head curtain air bags are all standard. But luckily, the nanny-tronics seldom intervene, as the chassis remains amazingly neutral. The bodyshell is claimed to be 25 percent stiffer, and provides a great platform for the front strut and rear multilink suspensions. The BMW cuts through tight twisties as if it were magnetized to the blacktop. Even through off-camber turns and through the pothole-infested roadways of southeast Michigan, the suspension never lacks composure.

Ahmedabad Serial Blasts

The Ahmedabad police on Sunday confirmed 21 explosions in Saturday’s serial blasts in the city. The death toll has crossed 50, while the number of injured is over 200. While the Army conducted flag marches around the city, the police began detaining suspects, checking on the vital leads for the bicycles used in the blasts.

The police are suspecting banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) behind the terror strike. The Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) arrested one Abdul Halim Maulavi from the city’s Danilimda area. He was wanted in a case registered under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, in 2003-04.

Halim is accused of sending 33 youths from Ahmedabad to Pakistan for terrorist training. “Halim was arrested in connection with an old case. But we may get some leads into yesterday’s blast,” said a senior DCB official.

As the city police is busy handling the law and order situation, the investigation of the case has been handed over to the Ahmedabad DCB.

According to DCB officials, mainly bicycles had been used as carriers of the explosive devices. A number of cycle traders in the city are being questioned by the police to find out the details of the culprits.

The places where the 21 blasts occurred include Raipur Police Chowky- one each near Chamunda Jewellers and M Narandas Medical Store, Sarangpur Chakla near the vegetable market, Sarangpur Darwaza, Mayur Hotel in Naroda, Thakkar Nagar Approach in Naroda, Civil Hospital Trauma Centre, Sardar Patel Diamond Market near a tea stall and a dosa centre. The other places include the New Kamdar Post Office and Khodiyar Nagar in Odhav, Hatkeshwar Circle near Archana School and a vegetable lorry, LG Hospital, Jawahar Chowk, Maninagar Cross Roads and Maninagar AMTS Bus Stop in Maninagar, Narol Circle in Danilimda, Govind Vadi in Isanpur and Sangam Theatre in Sarkhej.

Banglore Serial Blasts

Terror hit Bangalore Friday afternoon as nine low intensity blasts ripped through different parts of the IT city. Majority of explosions took place within a span of half an hour, starting at 1:45 pm. The sites that were targetted were Madiwala, Adugodi area, Koramangla, Hosur Road, Nayandahalli and Shivaji Nagar on Mysore Road and Langford Town. There were unconfirmed reports that the last two blasts took place in the evening around 5.30 pm near Gopalan Mall also on Mysore Road and at north Bangalore near a flyover.All the sites are located in the southern part of the city, with some hosting several upmarket malls. These are fairly congested with Madiwala being one of the biggest markets of the city. The blast here took place at the bus stand.

The strech from Brigade Road to the Hosur Road National Highway leading to Chennai bore the brunt in today's attack.

All the wounded have been rushed to nearby hospitals for medical aid. Some have been admitted to St John’s and Mallya hospitals.

Elaborating on the modus operandi, the Police Commissioner said that crude bombs with timer devices were used. Iron bolts had been fixed to them and each explosion had the intensity of 1-2 hand grenades.

The blasts are thought to be of low-intensity using gelatin sticks. Traces of ammonium nitrate has also been found.

One blast took place near tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi’s house. However, barring shattering some window panes, there was no other major damage.

Forensic experts and bomb disposal squads have reached the targetted sites.

The authorities have cordoned off the entire locality and sniffer dogs are being used for further clues. Mobile networks in certain areas have jammed and major artery roads have clogged due people rushing back home.

The pattern and intensity of blasts indicate the explosions were meant to cause panic rather than claim casualties.

Indian government survives no-confidence vote

Amid uproarious scenes, India's government avoided collapse Tuesday when it won a perilously close vote of confidence in parliament. The win means India can now focus on pushing through a much-vaunted, long-delayed nuclear deal with the United States.

Had the government lost the vote, the world's biggest democracy would have faced early elections and the Indo-US nuclear deal would almost certainly have been canned.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Congress party-led coalition, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) won 275 votes in its favor and 256 against in the confidence motion, the parliamentary speaker Somnath Chatterjee announced late Tuesday. The vote followed a two-day parliamentary debate.

"Parliament has spoken in an unambiguous manner," Mr. Singh told journalists outside parliament. "This augurs well for the country's development and for India's efforts to find its rightful place in the comity of nations. It is a convincing victory."

The vote of confidence, India's first in a decade, was prompted when the government's communist allies withdrew their support over the civilian nuclear deal, arguing that the pact made India a pawn of Washington. Their withdrawal left the government without a clear majority.

So close seemed the vote that four jailed members of parliament (MPs) – serving time for kidnap, murder, and arson – were temporarily released under constitutional provisions guaranteeing their right to vote. Several hospitalized MPs were also brought in, including one wheeled into parliament on a gurney.

J. K. Rowling

Joanne "Jo" Rowling (born 31 July 1965), who writes under the pen name J. K. Rowling, is a British writer and author of the Harry Potter fantasy series, the idea for which was conceived whilst on a train trip from Manchester to London in 1990. The Potter books have gained worldwide attention, won multiple awards, and sold nearly 400 million copies.

Aside from writing the Potter novels, Rowling is equally famous for her "rags to riches" life story, in which she progressed from living on welfare to multi-millionaire status within five years. The 2008 Sunday Times Rich List estimated Rowling's fortune at £560 million ($1.1 billion), ranking her as the 12th richest woman in Britain. Forbes ranked Rowling as the 48th most powerful celebrity of 2007, and Time magazine named her as a runner-up for its 2007 Person of the Year, noting the social, moral, and political inspiration she has given her fandom. She has become a notable philanthropist, supporting such charities as Comic Relief, One Parent Families and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain.

Harry Potter series:

1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (26 June 1997)
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2 July 1998)
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (8 July 1999)
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (8 July 2000)
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (21 June 2003)
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (16 July 2005)
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (21 July 2007)