Leverage

Leverage in the general sense means influence of power i.e. utilising the existing resources to attain something else. Leverage in terms of financial analysis is the influence which an independent financial variable has over a dependent or related variable. When leverage is measured between two financial variables it explains how the dependent variable responds to a particular change in the independent variable. Algebraically, the leverage may be defined as:

Measures of Leverage: To better understand the importance of leverage in financial analysis, it is imperative to understand the three measures of leverage.
1. Operating Leverage
2. Financial Leverage
3. Combined or Total Leverage
1. Operating Leverage: Operating leverage examines the effect of change in the quantity produced on the EBIT (Earnings before Interest and Taxes) of a firm. It refers to the use of fixed costs in the operation of the firm. If the firm has fixed costs, it would have operating leverage and the percentage change in the operating profit would be more for a given change in the costs. Operating profit of a highly leveraged firm would increase at a faster rate for any given increase in sales and it would suffer more loss than an unleveraged firm if the sales fall.
Operating leverage is measured in terms of Degree of Operating Leverage, (DOL) which is defined as the ratio of percentage change in EBIT to percentage change in output.

Where EBIT = Q(S-V)-F; S is selling price per unit; V is variable cost per unit; F is fixed cost per unit and Q is the quantity produced.
The DOL can also be computed as:

Applications of Operating Leverage:
1. DOL helps in determining the behaviour of EBIT when the level of output is changed. A higher DOL indicates that even small fluctuations in the output will significantly affect the level of operating income.
2. DOL measures the business risk associated with a firm. A higher DOL implies greater uncertainty or variability in the firm’s EBIT and hence greater business risks.
3. A firm can plan its production based upon the effect of producing a particular level of output on the DOL.

Determining Behaviour of EBIT: DOL helps in ascertaining change in operating income for a given change in output (quantity produced and sold). A large DOL indicates that small fluctuations in the level of output will produce large fluctuations in the level of operating income.
a) Measurement of Business Risk: Business risk refers to the uncertainty or variability of the firm’s EBIT. So, everything else being equal, a higher DOL means higher business risk and vice versa.
b) Production Planning: DOL is also important in production planning. For e.g., the firm may have the opportunity to change its cost structure by introducing labour – saving machinery, thereby reducing variable labour overhead while increasing the fixed cost. Such a situation will increase DOL.
2. Financial Leverage: Financial Leverage measures the effect of the change in EBIT of the company on its EPS.
Financial leverage is measured in terms of Degree of Financial Leverage, which is computed as:

Q is the quantity produced; S is the selling price per unit,
V is the variable cost per unit,
F is the fixed cost,
I represent the interest payments,
Dp is the preference dividend paid and T is the corporate tax rate.
DFL can also be computed as:

Iterative Enhancement model

The iterative enhancement life cycle model removes the limitations of the waterfall model and tries to combine the benefits of both prototyping and the waterfall model. The basic idea is that the software should be developed in increments, where each increment adds some functional capability to the system until the full system is implemented. At each step extensions and design modifications can be made. An advantage of this approach is that it can result in better testing, since testing each increment is likely to be easier than testing entire system like in the waterfall model. Furthermore, as in prototyping, the increment provides feedback to the client, which is useful for determining the final requirements of the system.
In the first step of iterative enhancement model, a simple initial implementation is done for a subset of the overall problem. This subset is the one that contains some of the key aspects of the problem which are easy to understand and implement, and which form a useful and usable system. A project control list is created which contains, in an order, all the tasks that must be performed to obtain the final implementation. This project control list gives an idea of how far the project is at any given step from the final system.

Each step consists of removing the next step from the list. Designing the implementation for the selected task, coding and testing the implementation, and performing an analysis of the partial system obtained after this step and updating the list as a result of the analysis. These three phases are called the design phase, implementation phase and analysis phase. The process is iterated until the project control list is empty, at the time the final implementation of the system will be available. The process involved in iterative enhancement model is shown in the figure below.
The project control list guides the iteration steps and keeps track of all tasks that must be done. The tasks in the list can include redesign of defective components found during analysis. Each entry in that list is a task that should be performed in one step of the iterative enhancement process, and should be simple enough to be completely understood. Selecting tasks in this manner will minimize the chances of errors and reduce the redesign work.

Links Between Parents and Schools

It is imperative for modern-age parents to constantly bear in mind that their responsibility for their child's education does not end merely with getting him/her admitted in a reputed schools and paying his/her fees on time. Nor does it end with attending parent- teacher meetings and checking progress reports. Rather it involves all this and more.

With students

Parents can help in the multifarious activities and functions going on in the school all round the year, in more ways than one. For instance, they could share information with students, teachers or a class about general health, information about an upcoming career, or a hobby. Moreover you could disseminate personalised information to the students about a place or country you visited or lived in. Interact with students to induce the importance of human/social values in them. Try tutoring one or a small group of students in reading, developing skills, coach students taking part in an academic competition, quiz, debate, decalamtion etc. Similarly you could coach an athletic or sports team for a particular game, which you were good/proficient in.



This list is virtually endless. You could perform any or all of the following: Demonstrate art/dance/music/cooking from a particular area /country or culture to students. This will enhance their knowledge about the world. Try sharing a particular expertise with the school's faculty, e.g. use of computers, dealing with disruptive students. Help students plan and build an outdoor garden, rockery, cacti collection or a similar project to beautify the outside of the school.

These days, high school students undergo a lot of stress and strain, tensions and emotional turmoil, in their everyday lives and more particularly during their final examinations. This is where you, as a concerned and sympathetic parent, could step in and help the students in relieving stress.

With other parents



Share your views with other parents about the quality of education in the school. Give other parents some tips for develop their parenting skills. Help conduct a class for parents where they can learn methods of being stronger and better parents. If you do possess some literary skills you could produce some written articles /materials for parents on ways they can be more effective parents. Even otherwise, try to write, publish, and distribute a list of parenting tips. Whenever you get an opportunity, serve on an advisory or decision-making committee, serve as an officer in the school's PTA. Help design a parent or student survey for the school. Ensure that such surveys get conducted in an effective manner.

How can I contribute my time towards the welfare
of my children' s school?

* Help and organise study tours for the students to business organisations, industries, corporate houses production centres and similar places where the students can gather information and learn about various activities.
* Help set up an internship or apprenticeship for a student at your business, organization, or agency.
* Host a one-day 'shadow study' for a few small group of senior students about career prospects in business world or corporate organization.
* Go on a local field trip with a teacher and a group of students.
* Alternatively go on an extended cross-country field trip with a teacher & students.
* Contact a particular local business houses and organization regarding possible cooperation.

Is it possible to do some PR work for my child's school?

Yes, you could try out some or all of the means, underlined below:

* Contact a particular local business or organization regarding possible cooperation.
* Write a letter to the government officials about the school.
* Write a letter to school board members about the school, suggesting some improvements and developments
* Go to another school to provide information about this school.
* Help translate information regarding the school into a language other than English or vice -versa.
* Help translate at a parent-teacher conference for people who don't speak English well and/or vice-versa.
* Write an article about the school's activities and salient features and get it published in one or more reputed periodicals.
* Help arrange for a political leader (mayor/MLA/MP/Governor, city council/ state representative) to visit the school to preside over a function or event.

Can I financially contribute to the development of the school where my ward studies?

Outlined below are some simple methods in which you could do this:

* Help to finalise a proposal to the local or governing body that would bring new resources to the school.
* Donate materials to the school.
* Arrange for a business establishment or an industrial to donate useful materials and utility items to the school.
* Organise a fundraiser for the school, from time to time

Crisis in Higher Secondary

In recent years, great changes have taken place in the field of education. Not only have these changes influenced the techniques and methodologies of imparting education, but also challenged in certain ways, the very purpose and objectives of higher education.

On the one hand we find a technological revolution taking place. On the other hand we cannot ignore the maladies of higher education where the whole process has become warped and disoriented, and a number of unemployable young men and women are being produced year after year.

Over the years, a number of National Committees have recommended educational reforms to promote national consciousness and character building. Three decades later, the field of higher education still remains warped and dysfunctional. Various causes have been highlighted for this operational fatigue - massive expansion in the number of colleges and universities, lack of professionalism in the management of higher education, inadequate funding, political interference and a general indiscipline. The list does not stop here. Out of this, two major maladies have emerged namely, the reluctance to act and the failure to count costs.

While it is recommended that at least 6 % of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) must be spent on education, putting this into practice is seldom the case. Given that there is uncertainty in the course of action and a greater uncertainty in its success, there is a tendency to lapse into inaction. It is habitual now to preach more than to practice what is preached.

In order to carry out a programme of action successfully, everyone involved must be united in accepting the objectives , understanding the goals that have been set, and striving towards its fulfillment. The result should be measured by the contribution of the group to the overall objective. In the absence of such a unity, the implementation of the programme is most likely to fail. Little wonder then that the recommendations on higher education seldom progress beyond the written stage, for those involved do not share the same objectives. If an educational scheme is important for nation building, everyone involved in its implementation must consent- if necessary, by compulsion. Complex missions in the field of agriculture and Space have triumphed in the past. Therefore, this kind of approach can be adopted successfully. The time is ripe for the launching of autonomous colleges, the establishment of which has been discussed many times in the past. These colleges will not only uplift the standard of education but will also shoulder the enormous burden of conducting examinations, hitherto being the sole responsibility of universities. Investing in the improvement of the present day colleges is the urgent need of the hour. Till date, the UGC has granted autonomous status to only 60 colleges - a very small number indeed considering that there are more than 7000 colleges spread out all over the country.

Education is becoming far too expensive to be supported by public funds alone. Delay in release of funds by the State Governments is a constant source of anxiety. Under these circumstances, Universities have no choice but to resort to diverting funds from development grants. The need is therefore felt to take a closer look at the financing of higher education and the possible areas of improving efficiency. Some measures that can be adopted are suggested -

• Financing higher educational institutions should be the responsibility of the Government.
• There is an urgent need to expand the opportunities for higher education since secondary school education does not equip the student to meet the vast and varied job requirement.
• At least 30% of the cost of higher education must be met by the student.
• As other costs go up, there must be an annual increase in fee structure as is being done by universities and colleges in Maharashtra.
• A rational fee structure which is supportive to both students as well as universities can be established.

REDEFINING THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY

In a rapidly changing global economy, Universities must learn to cope up with emerging challenges, choose appropriate technology and make best use of new opportunities as they unfold. This calls for a new vision, new approaches to the traditional methods of teaching, creating more dynamic curriculum, raising resources and creative planning.

Higher education prepares leaders for various walks of life with Universities functioning as the focal centres. The quality of university education has a direct bearing on the economic prosperity of a country and the ideological climate that is required for a better quality of life is created by these universities. The role of universities is now more diverse - social transformation, nation building, scientific development and development of human resource.

As we enter the new millennium, we must admit that higher education is indeed in a state of turmoil. Over the last several years, there has been a phenomenal increase in the enrolment of students, with the population increasing from 2, 50,000 to over 60 lakhs in 1996. By the turn of the century we can easily account for 9000 colleges, eight million students and over 4,50,000 teachers.

Uneven and unbalanced expansion has resulted in a growing mismatch between the supply and demand in the labour market. The decline in the quality of teaching, poor infrastructure, high drop-out rates does not keep up with the changing needs of the society. The skills and areas of specialisation of graduates does not reflect the real needs of the productive sectors.

Given the serious challenges being faced by universities, there is an urgent need for better and more effective management of our higher educational institutions. The need of the hour is to change the management pattern allowing for greater flexibility, dynamism and the ability to respond to the fast changing needs of a developing society.

Onam Festival

A festival immersed in myths, folklore and traditions Onam is an occasion for Keralities to celebrate plenitude and togetherness. The ten-day Onam celebrations begin on the Atham asterism of the Malayalam month Chingam (August-September). Onam the harvest festival of Kerala which tells almost all the cultural and ritual activities practised during the Onam days.

During these days children prepare floral designs called Pookkalam in front of their houses to welcome Onathappan (an affectionate term of address for Maveli or King Mahabali). Thiruvonam, the tenth day, is the most auspicious. On this day all members of the family gather together, usually at the ancestral home for Sadya - the traditional lunch served on plantain leaves.

Disclaimer : In Kerala, some of the festival dates are decided in accordance with the Malayalam Calendar. Local practices also influence the dates of some traditional, customary and auspicious events. Being the case, the dates appearing in this section are approximate, which the users need to confirm with the local authorities

Quick Gun Murugan - a Tollywood movie review

Quick Gun Murugan a film acted by Telugu Comedy king Dr Rajendra Prasad is now at high alert throughout the world.

Film: Quick Gun Murugun (Comedy)

Cast: Dr Rajendra Prasad, Rambha, Nasser, Raju Sundaram, Vinay Pathak.

Director: Shashanka Ghosh

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Critic's Rating:

Readers' rating :

Review this movie:

And SRK's Yanna rascala in Om Shanti Om and MS Dhoni's Mind It act for a cola company show his memory endures.

Now QGM arrives on the big screen in a familiar green shirt that only Govinda would have dared to wear, with tight orange trousers that could suffocate a stray bug, a flashing pink scarf, a leopard spotted jacket, white boots and a whiter cowboy hat barking the opening line, "The earth is my bed. The sky is my ceiling. The whole world is my native place," in accented English that smells as much of fresh sambar as of an old-fashioned open heartedness.

Over the next hour and half, QGM fires bullets through the frizzy hair of a rowdy named Gunpowder. He survives hoodlums flying from one tree to another (as in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) hurling coconuts like grenades. And he finally battles Rice Plate Reddy, the mean and vicious villain who hates vegetarian dosa and dreams of selling the world's most popular non-vegetarian dosa in his food chain, McDosa. He is assisted by Mango Dolly (Rambha) --- one look at her and you can guess how she got that name -- the moll who flaunts a golden wig with her golden heart. In between, there are memorable lines such as, "If you are lightning, I am 250 volt current."

Does that sound like a rip-roaring entertainer? The problem with QGM is that it is not half as good on celluloid as it sounds as an idea. To make a smooth transition from a TV filler to a full-length feature, QGM needed more than mere attitude. But it ends up feeling like a spoof of a spoof.

The movie, though, has its moments. The action scenes occasionally raise a chuckle. In the climax, Murugan even grabs a bullet fired at him in his mouth. Some of the gags work. And Rajendra Prasad gets the protagonist's part right. His exchanges with Rambha offer the most endearing and hilarious moments of the film. When Dolly confesses having failed to win a beauty contest, he says, "It is not IAS. You can try again."

You cannot blame director Shashanka Ghosh and writer Rajesh Devraj for not trying something different. They are bang on with the movie's looks. Too bad, the team fails to create its soul.

Jindal Cotex IPO to hits capital market

Textile company Jindal Cotex which is coming with over 1.12 crore equity shares will open its initial public offer from 27th August 2009.

The company is coming with 1.24 crore shares for public subscription with price band for the issue at Rs 70-75.

The Ludhiana-based company, at the upper price band expects to garner Rs 93.40 crore, while at the lower price band it hopes to raise Rs 87.17 crore.

Up to 50 per cent of the issue would be allocated to Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs).

The fund for the forthcoming issue would be used mainly to enter technical textile space through investment in wholly-owned subsidiaries -- Jindal Medicot and Jindal speciality Textiles.

Jindal Cotex is engaged in manufacturing acrylic and polyester yarns, including polyester viscose, polyester cotton, and combed and carded yarns, used in the making of apparels, suiting and knitted fabrics.

Coal India plans stock split

Ahead of its planned initial public offering (IPO), the public sector Coal India Ltd (CIL) is planning to go in for a stock split to improve the retail affordability of its shares.

Accordingly, the navratna PSU is seeking government approval for splitting its shares of Rs. 1,000 each to Rs. 10 per share. The company is also planning a preferential allotment, for giving shares to its employees.

Besides, it has sought government nod for getting a fair valuation of its share price. “A host of preparatory actions are being taken by the company which is also getting converted from a private limited company to a public limited one,” Chairman P. S. Bhattacharyya told The Hindu. CIL now has an equity base of Rs. 6,316 crore and a net worth of Rs. 19,165 crore as on March 31, 2009.

Alongside, CIL is planning to form a ‘Trust’, which will hold the shares proposed to be offered to its prospective land-givers. “Offering shares of the projects that they were giving up their lands for, would be a way of rewarding people who gave their land,” officials felt. The price of these shares would be fixed on a fair value basis. For this, CIL is proposing to approach the Disinvestment Ministry and its parent Coal Ministry for getting a valuation done.

In order to fulfil the condition of a navratna, CIL will have to go public by October 2011. The company was accorded the navratna status in October 2008. CIL had 4.11 lakh employees on its rolls as on May 31, 2009. Senior officials in the Disinvestment Ministry told The Hindu that while CIL’s IPO was at least a year away, it would be an interesting case to watch, being the single-biggest coal producer in the world. CIL’s IPO would be from disinvestment of government shares.

Women literacy at unacceptable level - Sibal

Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal today said that the literacy rate of women in the country at present is at an unacceptable level of 54 percent.

While speaking at the 11th meeting of National Literacy Mission Authority here today, Sibal said, "While the total budgetary support during the last three plans for the programme was Rs. 2862.95 crores, the outlay for the 11th plan is at a much higher level of Rs.6000 crores".

Sibal stated that the Mission would be run in active participation with the State Governments unlike in the past when the mission was run directly from the Centre through the different implementation agencies at the district level.

He said that Adult Education Centres would be setup at the Gram Panchayat which will be the unit for implementation of the programme. The Panchayat will work in tandem with the community to implement the programme.

The HRD Minister underlined that a Curriculum Framework for Adult Literacy will be developed with adequate reflection of locally relevant issues and aspects.

"To ensure uniformly high standards, all the materials for basic education, equivalency and life-long learning will be quality-assured; Quality of Literacy Educators will be further augmented through participatory and learner centered process and a framework for learner assessment will be developed to assess the learning outcomes. Only on satisfactory outcome a learner will be declared literate", he added.

He pointed out that unlike in the past, each learner will be tagged and tracked for the learning achievement. Besides an efficient MIS system, concurrent monitoring systems will be put in place for field validation.

Thirty two of the forty four members of the NLMA participated in the Meeting, which passed the agenda put before it. C.P. Joshi, Union Minister for Rural Development, D. Purandeswari, Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Anshu Vaish, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy were among those present in the meeting.

UPSC to conduct CDS Exam II 2009 on Sep 13

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) will conduct the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDS) II, 2009 on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 41 centers across the country.

"Admission certificates to the candidates have been dispatched. Letter of rejection, citing the grounds of rejection have also been issued. If any applicant has not received either the admission Certificates or Rejection Letter, he/she may contact UPSC Facilitation Counter on Telephone Nos. 011-23381125, 011-2338271 and 011-23098594 during working hours. The candidates can also send FAX messages on Fax No.011-23387310. Detailed venues information in respect of Admitted Candidates is also available at the Union Public Services Commission's website", the UPSC said in an official release today.

"The candidates who have not received the Admission Certificates may download the "Venue Information" from the above mentioned website and use it for appearing in the examination. Such candidates are also advised to carry two photographs and proof of identity such as Identity card, Election Identity Card, Driving License etc, otherwise they not be allowed to take the examination", the release added.

Kumaun University BCom Part 2 results to be declared tonight

Kumaun University will announce the results of the B.Com. Part II Examination 2009 tonight i.e. August 21, 2009 at 11:30 pm IST.

The results will be available at NNE's www.ExamResults.net and www.UttaranchalEducation.net.

For accessing the results through SMS, students need to send the following SMS to 56263:

SMS: RESULTKUBCOM2ROLLNO - to 56263
Example: RESULT KUBCOM2 123456 - Send it to 56263

A total of 3957 students appeared for the B.Com. Part II Examination of the University.

Bangalore University announces B.Com, BHM Results 2009

Bangalore University has announced the results of the B.Com. Second Semester Examination and B.H.M. Second & Fourth Semester Examination 2009.

The results are available at NNE's

www.KarnatakaEducation.net and www.ExamResults.net

For accessing the results on SMS, students need to send the following SMS to 56263:

B.Com. II Semester Examination 2009
SMS: RESULTBUBCOM2REGNO to 56263
Example: RESULT BUBCOM2 07AHC001 - Send it to 56263

B.H.M. II, IV Semester Examination 2009
SMS: RESULTBUBHMREGNO to 56263
Example: RESULT BUBHM 07AHC001 - Send it to 56263

A total of 32,435 students appeared for the B.Com. II Semester Examination and 1236 students appeared for the B.H.M. II & IV Semester Examination.

IIM-A seeks advice on swine flu prevention

The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) is seeking advice from health officials of the city's municipal corporation on preventive measures to ward off the threat of swine flu from its campus here.

"We have already taken a series of preventive measures to ward off any threat of the H1N1 virus spreading in the campus by following several recommendations made by the AMC's (Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation) health officials," an IIM-A spokesperson said in a statement on Monday. She said the swine flu situation in the campus is being monitored and the institute is adopting all preventive measures recommended by the civic body in Ahmedabad.

The move comes after a first year student tested positive for swine flu but left for her hometown in New Delhi without informing the management on Sunday. The girl left the campus even before health officials of the AMC could reach her and admit her to an isolation ward in one of the city hospitals, the official said.

The student reported high fever on Aug 13 and subsequent blood reports tested positive for swine flu, an official of AMC's health department said. The AMC health team has now asked the institute management to monitor the health of the students closely and report any sickness among them immediately in case they need to be isolated, he added.

Gauri Pooja at Home

Ganesh Chaturthi is the only festival where mother and son are welcomed, consecrated and worshipped together. The idol of Goddess Gauri is brought home with a lot of fanfare.

Before the idol enters the home, Her footsteps are drawn with Rangoli powder (colored powder) then married women bring Her into the house. Some families bring the idol of Goddess Gauri and some like we have done in the photograph have consecrated with the Kalash (copper vessel/pot) and the face of the Goddess is made with coconut. The Kalash contains barks of 5 different trees and then consecrated with mantras, with which Goddess’s Avahaan is done and She comes and resides. Next to the Goddess is another Kalash which represents Lord Shiva. So we have the whole family together with Lord Shiva, Goddess Gauri and their son Shri Ganesh.

The ceremony of Goddess Gauri during this festival ends in one and half days. Naivedya (fruits, cooked food and sweets) are offered and Aarti is done as per Vidhi (performing rituals based on the Panchang or the right and auspicious timings).

Families come together and enjoy the presence of Divine power in their home for few days and feel at loss when it is time to say good-bye to them during Visarajan or immersion. But Lord Ganesh promises to return again the following year and every time the devotees long for Him. Ganapati Bappa Morya!!

Vinayaka Chaturthi – Ganesh Puja Festival

Ganesh Chaturthi, or Vinayaka Chaturti, is the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the God of wisdom, prosperity and auspiciousness. Ganesha is today worshipped around the world and the Elephant-faced Hindu god is one of the most popular deities associated with Hinduism. Like symbol ‘Om’, Ganesha is slowly becoming the face of Hindu religion. The Ganapati Festival ends with the immersion (Visarjan) of the idol on Ananta Chaturdasi day.

Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the fourth day after new moon in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (August - September).Ganesha is the remover of obstacle - Vighneshwara or Vignaraja – and is always invoked when Hindus are beginning a new enterprise. It is believed that Goddess Parvati created Ganesha out of clay and breathed life into him. Letting him stand guard at the door, Goddess Parvati went to have her bath. When her husband, Lord Shiva returned, the child who had never seen him stopped him. Ganesha did not allow Shiva to enter and finally an enraged Shiva severed the head of the child. Goddess Parvati returned to find her son dead and was distraught and asked Shiva to revive him. Shiva cut off the head of an elephant and fixed it on the body of Ganesha and giving birth to elephant-headed Ganesha.

In Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for 10 days. In other parts of India, it is celebrated for one day on the Ganesh Chaturthi day. On the day special prayers are performed in all Hindu homes and hymns and songs are sung in praise of Lord Ganesha.

The origin of public celebration of Ganesh festival is traced to the period of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, the great Maratha ruler, who asked people to perform public celebration to promote culture and nationalism in the 17th century.

The large-scale Ganesh festival of today was revived by Lokmanya Tilak, freedom fighter, in the last decade of 19th century in Pune to spread the message of freedom struggle and to defy the British who had banned public assemblies.

Thousands of Ganesh statues are installed in various public places in India and in Hindu Temples around the world. Millions of small Ganesh idols are installed in Hindu homes in India, especially in Maharashtra, Goa and Andhra Pradesh. After the festival these statues are immersed in the sea (Ganesh Visarjan ceremony).

Ganesh Festival is also attracting lot of criticism from environmentalists and nature lovers primarily due to pollution caused by the use of Ganesh idols made of Plaster of Paris. Hinduism and Nature are so entwined that one cannot be separated from another. Ganesha itself is a classic example. But still we Hindus do little to stop pollution. At least we can stop creating more pollution in the name of Ganesha by only buying natural Ganesh idol and natural items for Ganesh Puja.

Ganesh Chaturthi or Ganesha Festival 2009

Ganesh Chaturthi, the birth anniversary of Lord Ganeshji, is celebrated with great pomp and show in India. It is a popular Hindu festival that is celebrated in a grand manner every year According to the Hindu calendar; the festival comes on the 4th day of Bhadarva Shukla-Paksh and falls around August or September. Though celebrated all over India, Ganesh Chaturthi has its celebrations grandest in Maharashtra.

Ganesha Chaturthi or Ganesha Festival is a day on which Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees and hence celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi. Siddhi Vinayak Vrat is also observed on this same day. While celebrated all over India, it is most elaborate in Maharashtra,Goa ( Biggest festival for Konkani people all over the world ) Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and other areas which were former states of the Maratha Empire. In this year 2008, this festival will be celebrated on 23rd of August.

Young journalist interviews President Obama!!

An Young School boy became a journalist for the instance and got the opportunity to have interview with US President Barack Obama. He is Damon Weaver has a new homeboy who interviewed the President Barack Obama.


The South Florida boy finally landed his coveted interview with Obama, who fielded questions about his basketball skills, education funding, and whether students could have mangos for lunch everyday. Weaver became an Internet sensation during the 2008 presidential campaign and has long sought an interview with Obama.

He even went to Washington for Obama's inauguration in January, but was unable to get through security lines for the ceremony. In the interview, which was filmed at the White House and posted on YouTube.com on Thursday night, the 11-year-old asks Obama about bullying, how parents can improve their children's education, and if the president could make school lunches better. "I remember when I used to get school lunches, sometimes they didn't taste so good, I've got to admit," Obama said.

"We are actually seeing if we can work to at least make school lunches healthier. Because a lot of school lunches, there's a lot of french fries, pizzas, tater tots. All kinds of stuff that isn't a well-balanced meal." Weaver then pitched his own plan. "I suggest that we have french fries and mangos everyday for lunch," he said.

Weaver, who already has a full scholarship to Albany State University in Georgia, created a buzz last year when he interviewed now-Vice President Joe Biden. Closing the bit, Weaver quipped: "Senator Biden is now my homeboy." At the end of his latest interview, Weaver asked Obama if he would also like to be his homeboy. "Absolutely," Obama said.

Weaver told Obama he noticed that he gets "bullied a lot," and asked how the president handled negative comments. "I think that when you're president, you're responsible for a lot of things," Obama said. "A lot of people are having a tough time and they're hurting out there. And the main thing I just try to do is stay focused on trying to do a good job, and try to be understanding that sometimes people are going to be mad about things."

Weaver, son of a single mom, lives in the town of Pahokee, which is about 77 miles northwest of Miami and plagued with crime and poverty. He attends Kathryn E. Cunningham/Canal Point Elementary and is the lead broadcaster for their in-house KEC TV station.

"Unfortunately, a lot of times if you've got a community that is lower income, they don't have as much money in their schools," Obama told Weaver. "A lot of that is state funding. And I want to see states be more fair in terms of how they give money to various schools around their communities. But, I do think that it's important to make sure that we can find help from the federal government from here in Washington, D.C., for those schools that need the most help."

Weaver, who has also interviewed Dwyane Wade, told Obama the star Miami Heat guard had promised to play a one-on-one game with the commander in chief if Obama sat for his questions.

"Would you be willing to play him on a one-on-one basketball game?" Weaver asked. "I would play Dwyane Wade ... I've got to admit, though, Dwyane Wade's a little bit better at basketball than I am," Obama said. Obama also told Weaver he used to be able to dunk, but no longer can.

"Well, I got an interview with President Obama," Weaver said at the end of the online video. "He's very tall and nice."

A eleven year old poses some tough questions to US President Barack Obama. He's had a 10-minute chat with the world's most famous man. It is making news because Damon Weaver from Florida is all of 11 years.

The US president replying to a question whether he would like to make an announcement about education, said that on September 8th, when young people across America will have just started or are about to go back to school, he was going to be making a big speech to young people all across the country about the importance of education.

When the young reporter asked whether he has the power to make school lunches better, Obama said, "We are actually seeing if we can work to at least make school lunches healthier, because in a lot of school lunches there's a lot of french fries, pizza, tater-tots -- all kinds of stuff that isn't a well balanced meal."

In reply, Damon suggested that the students should have french fries and mangoes everyday for lunch. The prompted the President to say, "See, and if you were planning the lunch program, it'd probably taste good to you, but it might not make you good and strong like you need to be."

To an observation that people bully the President a lot, Obama replied, "You mean people saying mean things about me? Well you know, I think that when you're President, you're responsible for a lot of things."

The young journalist also asked, "Everybody knows that you love basketball. I think it would be cool to have a President who could dunk. Can you dunk?"

The President replying to the question said that he does not dunk anymore but he used to do when he was young.

RWWCO inaugurates another wing of its nursery school

Mrs. Arvinder Kaur Khurana, President, Railway Women's Welfare Central Organisation (RWWCO), inaugurated a newly expanded wing of the Little Kingdom Nursery School, being run by the Organisation at Railway Colony, Sarojini Nagar, New Delhi.

The nursery school has gained tremendous popularity among the families of the nearby colonies.

As a part of its socio-welfare activities RWWCO has been running the Nursery cum Play School for nearly three decades.

Particular emphasis is laid on the overall development of tomorrow's citizens through the play way.

With a view to make them aware of our cultural heritage, various festivals are celebrated and the tiny tots actively participate in all the events.

Independence Day was also celebrated in the school premises when Mrs. Arvinder Kaur Khurana, unfurled the tri-colour.

The children sang the national anthem and also presented a very attractive cultural programme with great enthusiasm.

Khurana also planted a sapling on the occasion.

Sharing her vision for the nursery school Khurana said that RWWCO desires to create such standards for the school that others would envy.

RWWCO has been providing the best facilities, latest techniques and methods of elementary education and child care at very nominal price.

While other institutions might be pursuing commercial considerations, RWWCO runs the school only for the social cause.

The rates of fees being charged are a clear testimony to their spirit.

Railway Women's Welfare Central Organisation is the apex body of the chain of women's welfare organisations spread over all Indian Railways engaged in the task of Welfare of railwaymen and their families through various need-based socio-welfare activities.

While the primary concern of the Organisation is the welfare of Railway employees and their families, it has always risen to the call of the society and the nation - be it environmental awareness, family welfare drives, disturbances on the borders or the natural calamities etc.

NCC cadets felicitated before Independence Day

The Minister of State for Defence Dr. M.M. Pallam Raju felicitated NCC cadets and School Children here today who would participate in the 63rd Independence Day function at the Red Fort.

Addressing the children, Dr. Pallam Raju commended them for their patriotism, zeal and excitement.

He hoped that the children would set an example by upholding the unity and diversity of this country.

The Minister appreciated the children for their turnout, braving sweating heat and humidity.

Dr. Raju presented wrist watches as a memento to the children, group leaders and a teacher each of various schools on the occasion.

He called upon the children to flaunt their mementos on Saturday when the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh unfurls the flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

SSC announces SO Audit Exam 2008 Results

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has announced the results of the Section Officer (Audit) Examination 2008.

483 candidates have been recommended for appointment to the post in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

The results are available through www.ExamResults.net.

SSC had conducted a competitive examination for recruitment to this post in November 2008.

A total of 2,24,420 candidates registered for the examination. 1678 candidates qualified in the written examination for appearing in the interview held last month.

Rahman, British university join hands

Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman has joined hands with Britain's Middlesex University for a programme focusing on blending Asian and Western music.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between Rahman's Chennai-based KM Music Conservatory and the university that may also look at opportunities to provide a collaborative three-year music programme, said a press statement released on Thursday.

Rahman, who has also been awarded an honorary doctorate by the university, thinks of the collaboration in music instruction "as a great bridge between Indian and Western music".

Middlesex University offers programmes in music composition, music management, music performance, and jazz and popular music

M.Tech IT from KSOU

M.Tech IT program offered by Karnataka state open university is not AICTE approved. This course is yet not started in the university itself.
Course offered from Study centers only.
If you want to take only degree with no use in future then go for this.
No matter is available on the university site.
Rest is up to you.

WHAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC MUST KNOW ABOUT PANDEMIC INFLUENZA H1N1 2009

. What is Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009?

· Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 is a disease that is caused by a virus that

affects the respiratory system.

· The symptoms of Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 are:

_ Fever

_ Cough or sore throat

_ Body aches

_ Headache, chills and fatigue

_ In some cases, vomiting and diarrhoea

· Complications of the disease include pneumonia and difficulty in breathing.

· Death may occur in persons who have other medical problems or

complications

How does Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 spread?

· Influenza viruses are mainly spread from one person to another through

droplets released during coughing or sneezing;

· Sometimes people may become infected by touching surfaces or holding

objects contaminated with influenza viruses (e.g., hands, door handles,

handkerchiefs, tissue paper) and then touching their own mouth, nose or

eyes.

Points to consider when developing Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 1 messages

for the public:

· The information should be relayed to the public as soon as possible to

facilitate prevention and control of the Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009;

· The information should be adapted to specific socioeconomic circumstances,

especially culture and language;

· Messages must be accurate and simple and should be pre-tested for ease of

comprehension and applicability.

for more information visit: http://www.sharpya.com/Knowledge.aspx

Education of Women

How much has female literacy level gone up in India over the years? It is seen that the girl child is still left behind. Why do you think India is still lopsided when it comes to literacy level between the male and the female? Studies show that the main reasons behind this imbalance is the continuing occupation of the girl child in domestic chores, lower enrollment in schools and higher dropout rates.

Then what has been going on in India to initiate a change in the current trend? Campaigns are initiated with Bollywood stars and sportsmen endorsing the campaigns. But what can be done to usher in a complete turnaround in the mindset that plagues the Indian society? Will these campaigns really make the parents think of the girl child a little less of a liability? Some corporates like Cadbury, Glaxo, Star TV had also intervened to make an impact to educate the girl child. But of course a lot remains to be done. The country still revolves around education that is urban centric which further aggravates the gender related obstacle in education. Will we really achieve more educated women for the country specially in rural India, how long will it remain a distant dream?

The War of the Boards

Does evaluation of papers still haunt students in state boards in West Bengal? That the state board has aimed to develop the content of their course and make the process of evaluation faster and transparent is still the talk of the town. But then there are also events of parents asking the schools affiliated to state boards to opt for a change and shift towards ICSE/CBSE.Students who have passed out from state board examinations still sulk about evaluation not matching the expectation of the students. Further complaints are that district schools are given preference. Why is it so? Can that be termed as a manipulation by the administration? Or is the infrastructure of the state board affiliated schools and management not equipped enough to aptly deal with the flood of students who study in these schools? Can we ever forget the apprehension and sleepless nights while expecting our board results that would shape our futures or at least make an immediate impact? Is making a shift towards a different board the right solution? What will make the state board authorities opt for a change? If so, then how comfortable will students be to adapt to such a change? Does the syllabus and teaching methodology really not up to the mark when considered with the Delhi Board?

Study Sociology at Bangalore Management Academy

Bangalore Management Academy offers innovative and quality education to all the students of its institution. In association with other universities it has brought in new patterns in the education of India. BMA has association with Edith Cowan University, University of Aberdeen, Pondicherry University, Singapore Human Resource Institute and Nanyang Institute of Management. All the programs are updated and latest designed according to the latest Industry requirements. At BMA it offers many Bachelors and Master’s programs. Some of them are: Web Media Technology, Human resource Management, Marketing Management, Finance, Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Sociology at BMA is designed and programmed to develop a better understanding of the modern society. Students applying for Sociology can collect the application forms at Bangalore Management Academy, # 17, Ashirwad Towers, Doddanekkundi Cross, Marathahalli, Mahadevapura Outer Ring Road,Marathahalli Post, Bangalore - 500 037. Students can pay Rs. 200 for Brochure and Application forms. The course duration is of 2 years. During these two years you will study Rural Sociology, Sociological Thoughts and concepts, Social research methods and Statistics, Sociology of Education, Industrial sociology, Sociology of Health, Urban Sociology, and Sociology of Mass Communication. BMA has state of the art facilities which help the students in all their educational pursuits.