The toughest part of being the first boat to sail the 37,286 miles around the world using only solar power turns out not to be, say, that the sun won’t shine, or that machinery will break down. It’s a more common problem associated with shipping these days: pirates.
Raphaël Domjan, a Swiss national, who has just returned to Monaco after a 19-month journey aboard the MS Tûranor PlanetSolar says by far the hairiest bit was crossing the Gulf of Aden, a notorious place for kidnapping and hijacking.
"It was one month with soldiers onboard, and a lot of stress," he says. "We were at 5 knots with the solar energy, and we were between Yemen and Somalia. In Yemen, with the soldiers and guns we had, we could have gone to jail. And in Somalia, we could be hostages, and eat rice for one year."
It’s more normal for ships crossing the stretch to go at 15 to 20 knots, to make it as quickly as possible. And Domjan says most boats that do it are a lot larger than the Tûranor, which is 115 feet long and 75 feet wide.
To get the best sunlight, the four-strong crew followed the equator as closely as possible. Leaving the Mediterranean, they went across the Atlantic to Miami, and then down through the Panama Canal, across the Pacific and the Indian Ocean, and eventually through the Suez Canal.
Domjan says the solar power worked almost perfectly, powering the boat and everything onboard except for a gas-powered cooker. He says the crew never feared it would run out of power, because even on dark days the panels could generate some power. "We had one whole week of bad weather, and we were able to manage," he says. Batteries provided three days of back-up power, if needed.
Domjan says the point of the expedition was to prove that solar power is "for today and not tomorrow," and that it’s possible to be "optimistic" about the future of energy, despite gloom about its cost, and the worsening threat of climate change.
"We know that climate change is a challenge for our civilization, but there are also opportunities, and we have to be optimistic," he says.
An important part of the voyage, as with other renewable energy expeditions, was to stop in different locations to show off the boat, and make the case for solar. In all, the boat stopped 28 times, including in Tangier, the Galápagos, Brisbane, and Abu Dhabi.
Domjan says the boat could have gone nonstop, but probably would have taken a different route round the world’s three main capes to do so.
Aside from becoming a world record holder, Domjan says he wants the world to know that solar power can be used in many different boats if inventors put their mind to designing them.
"We can use solar boats for diving boats and tourism. Not everywhere but in many places," he says.
"It’s very nice because you have no noise and no vibration. To see the wildlife and the dolphins, it’s much better than on a normal motor boat." You just need to avoid those pirates.
Best Buy Chairman Steps Down
Via Reuters: Best Buy founder Richard Schulze has resigned as chairman of the company he started in 1966. An investigation revealed that Schulze knew about ex-CEO Brian Dunn's improper relationship with a female co-worker. Schulze has admitted that he found about the relationship and "confronted" Dunn, but failed to inform the board. This is the latest leadership shakeup for the company (Dunn resigned in early April) which is being challenged by online electronics merchants like Amazon.
Small And Smaller: Apple And Intel's Vision Of Chip Innovation
Via Engadget, TechEye: Thanks to Intel and Apple, chips are shrinking, and could lead to future devices that are smaller, faster, and better-behaved battery hogs. Reports have leaked about Paul Otellini, Intel chief's grand plans for tiny chip innovation as small as 10 nanometers, targeted to hit the market by 2015. For the latest manifestation of the ongoing slide towards tinier chips, you only need look as far as the newest versions of Apple's iPad 2. Codenamed the iPad 2,4, the new models are coming outfitted with a newer, smaller chip about three quarters the size of earlier versions (and three times the size of Otellini's 2015 target), that has 16 percent more battery life.
Meyer Sound Wires Eatery For Custom Noise Control
Via the San Francisco Chronicle: Restaurants are modernizing their interiors with online booking features and touch-screen ordering options, but one restaurant in California is remodeling a more subtle part of the dining experience--noise. Comal, a Mexican restaurant in Berkeley, is wired with a high-tech noise control system made by Meyer Sound, featuring equipment that's usually found in concert halls and recording studios. Art on the walls hide noise dampeners, and an army of microphones all around the restaurant pick up noise in the room as patrons bite down on their burritos. Depending on how busy (or buzzy) he wants his restaurant to feel, owner and ex-band manager John Paluska lets the sound back into the restaurant, controlling the system with his iPad.
Internet Crime Report Records $485 Million Lost To Scams In 2011
The Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3 as the group is also known, has released its annual Internet Crime Report for 2011. The center received 314,246 complaints during the year, adding up to an estimated $485 million in losses for the year. The most commonly reported scams were FBI-related, in which victims would encounter criminals posing as the FBI. Romance scams on dating forums and chat rooms, in which "scammers use poetry, flowers and other gifts to reel in victims, while declaring 'undying love,'" accounted for about $50 million in known losses over the year (about $5,700 every hour). Identity theft, auto auction frauds (in which criminals posted sale ads for vehicles that they did not own) and loan intimidation schemes (particularly nefarious because criminals provided accurate personal details of their victims like their social security number or bank account number) were also major culprits.
Yahoo's CEO Saga Sees Thompson Out, Levinsohn In
Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson has now left his post, in a dramatic and speedy switch after the company had seemed to drag its heels in dealing with Thompson's falsified résumé. According to AllThingsD Thompson will say he's leaving for "personal reasons." His replacement comes from inside Yahoo's ranks, having recently headed its American unit and being a senior executive at Fox before that. As part of the closure of the Thompson affair, new board member Fred Amoroso--involved in inestigating Thompson--will be promoted to being chairman of the board.
Update: As reported by the Wall Street Journal, prior to resigning Scott Thompson disclosed to the board of directors of Yahoo that he has very recently been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. This explains the "personal" nature of his resignation, although details are still scarce.
The merger consideration represents an approximately 48% percent premium over the closing price of Tii Network Technologies' common stock as quoted on the website of the NASDAQ Stock Market on May 11, 2012.
Kelta intends to fund the acquisition with a combination of existing cash and funds available under Kelta's current credit facilities.
Brian Kelley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tii Network Technologies, said, "...Not only does it provide our stockholders with a significant premium to the market price of our stock, it also represents a significant benefit to our customers and employees. We have had a positive, long term working relationship with Kelta, the contract manufacturer of our products. With Kelta's financial and other resources and capabilities, the Company will be better able to develop and produce new and improved products to meet the ever changing technology requirements of our Telco customers."
Tii Network Technologies expects the transaction to close in the third quarter of 2012.
Shutterstock Inc., the online seller of stock photos and images, filed to raise $115 million in a U.S. initial public offering.
Shutterstock applied to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SSTK, according to a regulatory filing today. The New York-based company didn’t say how many shares it’s offering or at what price. The $115 million is a placeholder used to calculate registration fees and may change.
Shutterstock generated revenue from more than 550,000 active users in 2011 and has a library of more than 19 million images for sale, the filing shows. The site collects pictures from contributors, who receive fees when their material is downloaded by paying customers.
The company, led by Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Oringer, posted $120.3 million in sales last year, a 45 percent increase. Net income rose 15 percent to $21.9 million, its filing shows.
Oringer is Shutterstock’s largest shareholder, and Insight Venture Partners also has a stake, the filing shows, without specifying percentages. Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank AG and Jefferies Group Inc. are leading the offering.
Shutterstock applied to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SSTK, according to a regulatory filing today. The New York-based company didn’t say how many shares it’s offering or at what price. The $115 million is a placeholder used to calculate registration fees and may change.
Shutterstock generated revenue from more than 550,000 active users in 2011 and has a library of more than 19 million images for sale, the filing shows. The site collects pictures from contributors, who receive fees when their material is downloaded by paying customers.
The company, led by Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Oringer, posted $120.3 million in sales last year, a 45 percent increase. Net income rose 15 percent to $21.9 million, its filing shows.
Oringer is Shutterstock’s largest shareholder, and Insight Venture Partners also has a stake, the filing shows, without specifying percentages. Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank AG and Jefferies Group Inc. are leading the offering.
The show Satyamev Jayate is really bringing the change in a society and important thing is that actions are taken in no time from authoritative government agencies. It will really help the society to see the much needed change. Aamir Khan and Satyamev Jayate might be a new"Time" Magazine Cover soon.
After the broadcast of First Episode of Satyamev Jayate about female foeticide, Rajasthan Government and Madhya Pradesh Government have took immediate steps to show a support to the society. Whether it will really lead to change or just a cheap publicity from government, we will see in future. But clearly the effect of the show is visible.
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| Satyamev Jayate |
Just three days before the much talked about episode of the Aamir Khan hosted Satyamev Jayate on child sexual abuse, the Rajya Sabha passed The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Bill, 2011.
The Bill seeks to protect children from sexual abuse with provision for setting up special courts for speedy trial and stringent punishment including life sentence for committing sexual assault on minors under the age of 16.
Iran Begins To Lock Out The World From Its Intranet, Beginning With Email
Iran has just forbidden its nationals working in certain institutions to only use it's own Iranian-sourced email providers, and to stop interacting with emails received from any other source--effectively forbidding access to the outside world by email. The move affects employees in banks, insurance firms and telecoms companies. Universities are similarly affected, which also closes off email access by Iran's academics and researchers. The government argues it's to prevent scraping of data from email by foreign entities, but it looks a lot like one of the primary moves to create a long-rumored Iran-only intranet in reaction to the use of the net to foment anti-government resistance and spread news of Iran's treatment of its population.
Iran has just forbidden its nationals working in certain institutions to only use it's own Iranian-sourced email providers, and to stop interacting with emails received from any other source--effectively forbidding access to the outside world by email. The move affects employees in banks, insurance firms and telecoms companies. Universities are similarly affected, which also closes off email access by Iran's academics and researchers. The government argues it's to prevent scraping of data from email by foreign entities, but it looks a lot like one of the primary moves to create a long-rumored Iran-only intranet in reaction to the use of the net to foment anti-government resistance and spread news of Iran's treatment of its population.
Scott Thompson, CEO of Yahoo Inc was in the news headlines as he has misguided Yahoo Board and its investors and became a CEO. Now, he is quitting his post after a lot of criticism. He was convicted as not having cited qualification as per his resume. Now he has announced that he has been diagnosed with a Thyroid cancer. After such blunder, is anyone there to believe him that he diagnosed cancer the day before he is going to quit yahoo? After a breach of trust, probably nobody in corporate will believe him, before verifying it like his resume.
| Scott Thompson Yahoo CEO |
The outgoing chief executive of Yahoo told the board of directors and colleagues that he had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer days before quitting the post, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal on Monday.
Scott Thompson disclosed his illness late last week before handing in his resignation as evidence appeared to emerge that contradicted his claim that he wasn’t responsible for an error in his resume regarding his academic record, sources told the newspaper.
It reported Thompson’s decision to step down as CEO at Yahoo was in part influenced by the diagnosis which occurred in recent days while the board was still investigating why his resume included a computer science degree which he had never attained.
The error in Thompson's resume appeared in a Yahoo regulatory filing and on Yahoo's and other corporate websites.
The struggling internet firm said on Sunday that Thompson, its third CEO in three years, would be leaving immediately and would be succeeded by Ross Levinsohn, a senior Yahoo executive who becomes interim CEO.
The firm has also brought an end to a proxy fight with hedge fund Third Point – it’s largest shareholder—by giving it three more seats on the board.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Thompson told one colleague that he didn't want to publicly discuss the cancer diagnosis because he wanted to keep personal details private.
The man behind the snack: John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, is said to be the man after whom the sandwich was named, 250 years back. When he ordered beef served between slices of bread about 250 years ago he probably did not think his request would become a global convenience meal.
The story goes that the Earl asked for the particular serving so that he could eat while continuing to play cards and his friends asked “to have the same as Sandwich”, according to the British Sandwich Association.
The first written record of the sandwich was in 1762 and the Kent town of Sandwich, which is the earldom of the Montagu family, is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the meal. Montagu, a prominent naval commander, became the first Earl of Sandwich when he was offered a peerage in 1660.
Steve Laslett, one of the organisers of the Sandwich Celebration Festival, said Montagu chose the title because “at the time Sandwich was the premier sea port in England”. “He was a daring man to eat in such a way coming from his social background,” Foodsmith Sam Bompas said.
A tradition
Over the weekend the east Kent town hosts sandwich-making competitions and re-enactments of the moment the fourth Earl of Sandwich asked for the food in bread. Sandwich Celebration Festival organiser Mandy Wilkins said that it had had interest from around the world, including America, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, France and Russia.
“The sandwich is a global food and Sandwich, our town, is just a little town full of medieval buildings,” Wilkins said. “It’s bizarre that such an important food item should be named after us."
On Sunday the 11th Earl of Sandwich, who shares his name with the fourth Earl after which the sandwich is said to be named, hosts a lunch in Sandwich. “I am delighted to wish a happy 250th birthday to the sandwich,” John Montagu said.
Some facts and trivia
It tells you who you are: Choice of sandwich filling could provide an interesting insight into our characters, the study revealed. Dr Elizabeth Jones and colleagues identified eight ‘Key Sandwich Personalities’ after interviewing 2,000 people.
Those who enjoyed cheese and pickle were more likely to have a high IQ, while people who like BLT on seeded bread are considered opportunists. Ham salad on white bread signified a ‘forward thinker’, beef rolls are chosen by impulsive people and egg mayo by quiet ‘home bodies.’
High flyers were more likely to go for a classic tuna and sweetcorn, while sensitive souls preferred prawns on brown bread and extroverts chose chicken salad wraps.
The best sandwich in the world: A sandwich, made with a little kunyit (turmeric) by a Malaysian chef, was named Best Sandwich in the World at a competition in France. Darren Chin, 32, prepared a sandwich of pork combined with herbs and spices and decorated it with vegetables.
Bacon sandwich is the best cure for hangover: Are last night’s festivities making your head pound, stomach queasy and skin a deathly shade of grey? Well, then go ahead and grab a big, fat bacon sandwich to save your life, say scientists.
The yummy grub has always been a popular cure for a hangover, and now scientists have come up with proof to claim that it really works.
Largest sandwich ever made: A 46 metres long sarnie has entered into the running for the largest sandwich ever made. The super-sub was prepared by as many as 150 cooks in Mexico City and weighed 750 kilograms. Interestingly, they took only 6 minutes and 20 seconds to make the sandwich.
| Sandwich |
The first written record of the sandwich was in 1762 and the Kent town of Sandwich, which is the earldom of the Montagu family, is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the meal. Montagu, a prominent naval commander, became the first Earl of Sandwich when he was offered a peerage in 1660.
Steve Laslett, one of the organisers of the Sandwich Celebration Festival, said Montagu chose the title because “at the time Sandwich was the premier sea port in England”. “He was a daring man to eat in such a way coming from his social background,” Foodsmith Sam Bompas said.
A tradition
Over the weekend the east Kent town hosts sandwich-making competitions and re-enactments of the moment the fourth Earl of Sandwich asked for the food in bread. Sandwich Celebration Festival organiser Mandy Wilkins said that it had had interest from around the world, including America, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, France and Russia.
“The sandwich is a global food and Sandwich, our town, is just a little town full of medieval buildings,” Wilkins said. “It’s bizarre that such an important food item should be named after us."
On Sunday the 11th Earl of Sandwich, who shares his name with the fourth Earl after which the sandwich is said to be named, hosts a lunch in Sandwich. “I am delighted to wish a happy 250th birthday to the sandwich,” John Montagu said.
Some facts and trivia
It tells you who you are: Choice of sandwich filling could provide an interesting insight into our characters, the study revealed. Dr Elizabeth Jones and colleagues identified eight ‘Key Sandwich Personalities’ after interviewing 2,000 people.
Those who enjoyed cheese and pickle were more likely to have a high IQ, while people who like BLT on seeded bread are considered opportunists. Ham salad on white bread signified a ‘forward thinker’, beef rolls are chosen by impulsive people and egg mayo by quiet ‘home bodies.’
High flyers were more likely to go for a classic tuna and sweetcorn, while sensitive souls preferred prawns on brown bread and extroverts chose chicken salad wraps.
The best sandwich in the world: A sandwich, made with a little kunyit (turmeric) by a Malaysian chef, was named Best Sandwich in the World at a competition in France. Darren Chin, 32, prepared a sandwich of pork combined with herbs and spices and decorated it with vegetables.
Bacon sandwich is the best cure for hangover: Are last night’s festivities making your head pound, stomach queasy and skin a deathly shade of grey? Well, then go ahead and grab a big, fat bacon sandwich to save your life, say scientists.
The yummy grub has always been a popular cure for a hangover, and now scientists have come up with proof to claim that it really works.
Largest sandwich ever made: A 46 metres long sarnie has entered into the running for the largest sandwich ever made. The super-sub was prepared by as many as 150 cooks in Mexico City and weighed 750 kilograms. Interestingly, they took only 6 minutes and 20 seconds to make the sandwich.
A small Dornier plane belonging to a private company crashed in the mountains of Nepal on Monday morning killing 14 people including 13 Indian pilgrims. The plane belonging to Agni Air had 21 people on board including three crew members. It crashed after hitting a hill top while attempting to land at the Jomsom airport in northern Nepal, said an official at the Rescue Coordination Committee of Tribhuvan International Airport.
Only seven people on board, including three Indians, could be rescued from the crash site. The injured people were taken to a hospital in Pokhara where condition of the three Indians were critical. Reports said that there were 16 Indians among the 18 passengers on board the plane.
The passengers had chartered the flight to take them from the central tourist hub of Pokhara to Muktinath, a famous Hindu pilgrimage in Jomsom near Tibetan border at the foot of the Thorong La Himalayan mountain pass, the official said.
The high-altitude Jomsom airport, about 200 km northwest of the capital, is a gateway to a popular tourism and trekking destination situated more than 2,600 m above sea level.
Indian Embassy officials said they were trying to collect the details as there was some confusion over the nationalities of the passengers on board the ill-fated plane.
Agni Air marketing manager Pramod Pandey said two Danish nationals were also among the passengers.
"It's not that much difficulty to land at the Jomsom airport. We are using experienced pilots over there. So, this pilot who flying this aircraft has a lot of flying hours," he added.
The plane turned into pieces but did not caught fire. The bodies of Pilot Prabhu Sharan Pathak and Co-pilot JD Maharjan have been recovered.
India has set up round-the-clock helplines in its embassy in Kathmandu to provide information on the air crash in Nepal.
According to official sources, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna was "directly" in touch with country's Ambassador to Nepal.
"I am deeply saddened to hear about the tragic air crash that occurred earlier this morning near Jomsong airport in Nepal. I would like to convey my deep condolences to the families of all those who have lost their lives in this accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all those who have lost their near and dear ones," the minister said.
Only seven people on board, including three Indians, could be rescued from the crash site. The injured people were taken to a hospital in Pokhara where condition of the three Indians were critical. Reports said that there were 16 Indians among the 18 passengers on board the plane.
The passengers had chartered the flight to take them from the central tourist hub of Pokhara to Muktinath, a famous Hindu pilgrimage in Jomsom near Tibetan border at the foot of the Thorong La Himalayan mountain pass, the official said.
The high-altitude Jomsom airport, about 200 km northwest of the capital, is a gateway to a popular tourism and trekking destination situated more than 2,600 m above sea level.
Indian Embassy officials said they were trying to collect the details as there was some confusion over the nationalities of the passengers on board the ill-fated plane.
Agni Air marketing manager Pramod Pandey said two Danish nationals were also among the passengers.
"It's not that much difficulty to land at the Jomsom airport. We are using experienced pilots over there. So, this pilot who flying this aircraft has a lot of flying hours," he added.
The plane turned into pieces but did not caught fire. The bodies of Pilot Prabhu Sharan Pathak and Co-pilot JD Maharjan have been recovered.
India has set up round-the-clock helplines in its embassy in Kathmandu to provide information on the air crash in Nepal.
According to official sources, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna was "directly" in touch with country's Ambassador to Nepal.
"I am deeply saddened to hear about the tragic air crash that occurred earlier this morning near Jomsong airport in Nepal. I would like to convey my deep condolences to the families of all those who have lost their lives in this accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all those who have lost their near and dear ones," the minister said.
As the uncertainty about Greek political situation and probability of second time polls has darkened the outlook of stock markets. Meanwhile US Economic growth left steam as stimulus faded. Hiring was subdued after first quarter jump and earning season is already over. Markets will now start focusing on Macro Economic fundamentals and start reacting according to it.
In Asia, Markets were under performers compared to US since April, although Shanghai Index has started outperforming since few weeks as analysts betting on economy rebound.
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| Bank of China |
If we look at the policy action that was announced today that the People's Bank of China cut the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves on Saturday, freeing an estimated 400 billion yuan ($63.5 billion) for lending to add to the roughly 800 billion injected in two previous 50 bps cuts since the government tilted its policy stance towards growth in October.
The move came after data on Friday showed the economy weakening, not recovering, from its slowest quarter of growth in three years. Industrial production growth slowed sharply in April and fixed asset investment — a key growth driver — hit its lowest level in nearly a decade, confounding economists expecting signs of a rebound in Q2 data.
Now question is the move should be taken as positive or may be more negative to the outlook of Chinese economic growth? If we see that more liquidity to flow in as a positive indicator but will it be sufficient to lift the industrial production and growth or it is still conservative step than what actually needed to boost economy as Inflation fear dampening the developing economies to free up capital.
