tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127915422024-03-17T20:03:20.045-07:00The world of GSB Konkani .GSB Konkani's in NewsThe world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.comBlogger1413125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-54664112589302362152010-09-30T07:57:00.000-07:002010-09-30T07:57:33.242-07:00Reports of financial turmoil in MSCB lead to panic among co-operative housing societies<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some co-operative housing societies are worried over reports about the financial mess in Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank Ltd (MSCB), and they have started to withdraw they money from the bank or are considering doing so soon. <br />
Yesterday, <em>Moneylife </em>had reported that MSCB, the nodal bank for all co-operative banks in the state, is in deep financial trouble due to its suspicious loan distribution to some of its favoured co-operative banks and some loss-making sugar co-operative factories. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<b>Nagesh N Kini, chartered accountant and secretary of Mahim Co-operative Housing Society</b>, told <em>Moneylife</em>, "We have moved our money from the bank, because if something happens to this bank, at the most, you'll get Rs 1 lakh deposit insurance cover and that too doesn't come easily. It's advisable for people to move the money from there to stronger co-operative banks or public sector banks."<br />
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The apex co-operative bank has been found to have misreported facts and has been given a 'D' grade for the financial year 2009-10 by its auditors, Joshi Nair and Associates. The bank has shown deposits of Rs21,500 crore and a net profit of Rs2.83 crore. However, according to the audit report, the bank has suffered a loss of Rs1,070 crore, mainly due to non-performing assets (NPA). As per the provisional figures for FY10 provided on the bank's website, NPAs are 20.9%. While converting the same into net NPAs, the bank has shown the figure at 7.7%. A majority of the directors of MSCB belong to Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party and many of the others belong to some of the other mainstream parties. </span> <span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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Vinod Sampat, advocate and founder, Vinod C Sampat and Co, said that the profit claimed by MSCB was nothing but "window dressing." He said, "Co-operative banks are not following proper laws and it is not run on a professional basis. There is lack of accountability and they are surviving because of monopoly and patronage of the co-operative department. No one likes to invest in a co-operative bank, but they are forced to do so under the statutory rules. There is a lot of political interference also. It is full of double-standards."</span> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mr Sampat was critical of the NPAs reported by the bank. "Anything becoming an NPA is a clear example of the casual approach of the bankers. In one day, the account will not become an NPA. There has to be continuous defaults for an account to become an NPA," he said. "When an amount is not being paid, why should there be political patronage? One of the basic reasons for NPAs is inefficiency and political patronage."</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mr Kini's Mahim Co-operative Housing Society is among the oldest in central Mumbai, and as MSCB was the only bank available to them when the society was set up, they opened an account with the bank. According to Mr Kini there are thousands of housing societies in Maharashtra that have their money locked up in MSCB. "Earlier, according to co-operative laws, you had to put your money in a co-operative bank only. But, now one has the choice of banking with a stronger co-operative bank, such as Saraswat Bank, or with any of the public sector banks."</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>SS Pai, advocate, S.S. Pai & Co.,</b> however, called for a "middle path" approach to resolve the crisis. "We have to go to the root cause of the problem and see whether we can have a middle path, so that there will be no political revenge. In future, if they are diverting funds to sugar co-operatives, we should stop them. Now, we should see that the bank survives after taking strong action. Maybe the Reserve Bank of India should call them and tell them to improve, and take stern action as the last resort." <br />
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Mr Pai pointed out that the sugarcane industry should be modernised. "If the bank survives, then also the industry survives. Otherwise, what will happen is that if the bank goes into trouble, small depositors will lose their money. So let there be no political revenge and let us have the best possible solution," he said.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the NPAs reported by the bank, Mr Pai said that the focus should be on development and not entirely on NPAs. "Admitted, NPAs are high. But we are a developing country. Money in a stock exchange and money in the corpus of a bank are like lockers. They don't lose anything unless someone is using that money in an improper way. More than NPAs, we should think of development and look forward. Chinese banks have so much NPAs but they have moved forward. We should take precautions and move forward."</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mumbai-based consumer activist, Achintya Mukherjee, has called for awareness regarding the crisis in the Maharashtra apex co-operative bank. "Many consumers are not aware of this as many leading newspapers have not even carried the news," he said. </span>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-74695859574215272172010-09-29T07:35:00.000-07:002010-09-29T07:35:36.782-07:00Sixty is the new forty<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When people hit 60, most plonk themselves on their favourite couch and watch the remaining days of their life pass by quietly. What about the rest? They begin to enjoy life. Like Malini Kini who isn’t demure about her age or her newfound zest for life.</span></div><table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; width: 100px;" summary=""><tbody>
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</tbody> </table><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Before she reached the ‘age of retirement’, she was busy taking care of her husband and their children. Before she knew it came the day when ‘our two daughters flew the nest and I found myself at a loose end’.</span> <div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>RUN FOR FUN</strong><br />
Left with a lot of time on her hands, Malini began exploring her options. What stood out was that both her daughters are marathoners. “Among others, they have participated in the San Francisco and New York marathons. But they would never have gotten that trait from my husband. It must be from me,” she realised.<br />
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Despite being an indoors person all through her life, Malini decided to start running at 55. “Initially, I was scared to run even for five minutes. I feared that something would happen to me. But now, I can run 10 km easily.” The confidence in her voice is unmistakable when she says, “I participate in the annual Sunfeast Marathon and, this year, ran the entire 12.5 km.”</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>HOW CAN I TOP RUNNING?</strong><br />
By climbing. One year before she turned 60, Malini and husband Naveen undertook the toughest Indian pilgrimage — trek to Mount Kailash, the mythical abode of Lord Shiva in the Himalayas.<br />
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“Nothing can beat Mount Kailash,” she says grandiloquently. “It’s so tough, most people don't even attempt it. Normally, people start off with less strenuous pilgrimages to Badrinath and Kedarnath in Uttarakhand before embarking on Mount Kailash. But we started off with the toughest.”<br />
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<strong>THE TOUGHEST TREK</strong><br />
Firstly, it’s not merely about climbing the peak. “You have to do a pradakshina (circumambulate the mountain), which took us two-and-a-half days,” she informs.<br />
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At 6,714 metres, the couple were introduced to altitude sickness (feeling of dizziness, nausea and shortness of breath due to insufficient oxygen). Plus, the couple and fellow travellers had to make do with minimum amenities. “No toilets, no running water,” she says before adding, “You really get in touch with nature there.”<br />
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These problems seemed minor when it came to the perils of the route. “The paths are so narrow that one misstep means certain death. We hired a pony for the last 54 km. At that height, the 54 km seemed like a 1,000 km. To help you tread the treacherous path, you hire one person to hold your hand and another to hold the pony,” she says. “When we finally reached the peak, we cried and called our families.”<br />
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As Malini relives the two-week-long journey, it becomes apparent that the experience has left an indelible impression. “It makes you realise there is more to life than just enjoying,” she says philosophically.<br />
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Stirred by the adventure, Malini undertook another challenging two-week trip to the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand. For Malini, an expert in Ikebana or the Japanese art of arranging flowers, the choice of destination was a no-brainer. <br />
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That was a month ago. Right now, she’s planning her next trip. <br />
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Some 60-year-olds, it is difficult to keep up with.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>MALINI’S TIPS TO LIVE THE 60s</strong><br />
“You are as old as you feel. I am into positive thinking. I never let any problem bog me down. I don’t crib about aches or pains. If someone talks about depressing issues, I immediately change the topic.<br />
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“I eat right and engage in physical activities every day, including yoga, swimming and walking.<br />
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“It is easy to look younger. For younger looking skin, do facercises where you pout, grin, frown etc,” Malini says. </span></div>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-31909495731516793402010-09-29T07:31:00.001-07:002010-09-29T07:31:30.479-07:00Global Goans convention to be held in Kuwait from Nov 16<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The annual Global Goans Convention will be held in Kuwait from November 16 and 17 this year, a senior functionary said.Goa's NRI Commissioner Eduardo Faleiro said that India's Ambassador in Kuwait, senior officials of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, leaders of Goan community across the world as well as leaders of Indian community in the Gulf countries will participate in the convention.The convention is organised by the Goan cultural centre, Kuwait.Faleiro said that during the convention, there will be open house for the benefit of Goan domestic and industrial workers in Kuwait."Concerned officials of the union and of the Goa governments will address their grievances and the suggestions made at the meeting," the NRI commissioner told reporters in Panaji.He said that Vishwa Konkani Sammelan will be organised on the second day in which Konkani speaking people from Goa, Mangalore and Kerala will take part.</span></div>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-81576846243127703882010-09-27T23:09:00.000-07:002010-09-27T23:09:54.894-07:00Kaav to rock the city<span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lblDetailNews1">KOCHI: Three friends — a graphic designer, a website content writer and a dog trainer. When they got together, they rocked, literally. And that was how ‘Kaav’ was born. The music of the three-piece band with <u><b>Shyam Pai on the lead guitar, </b></u></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Shabeer Ali on the bass and Arun Kumar on the drums is a heady mix of Indian classical music, folk, rock, metal and more. “It’s up to the listener to describe our music. At the most you can call it psychedelic,” say the trio, who are self-taught musicians based in Vypeen.The three-song debut album (Extended Play or EP) they released recently was a low budget maiden attempt and they were dumbstruck when they found their video ‘Daya’ featured in the website of none other than Coldplay! “At first we didn’t know what was happening. The Youtube hits for our album suddenly rose by hundreds within hours,” says Shyam. “Then we learnt that Coldplay had featured it in their ‘Exhibits’ section. I had sent it to them months back and forgotten all about it.” ‘Daya’ can still be found in Coldplay’s site. Interestingly, ‘Kaav’ doesn’t have a vocalist. But they are happy without one as of now because “the equation we share with each other is more important to us.” Moreover, being purely instrumental has now become their signature. Produced by Baiju Dharmarajan of MotherJane, it was a long cherished dream come true for the trio. “For a long while, we had no exposure to western music, no support from family and no money for the right instruments.” ‘Daya’ has been shot and edited by Shyam on his handycam. It has been shot entirely in and around coastal Kochi but Shyam’s artistic skills have given it a surreal quality.It was destiny which brought the three together. Shyam and Shabeer were classmates at school and later, they used to have jam sessions together. After college, Shyam left for Delhi while Shabeer turned to dog training. But the dream of forming a band stayed in their minds and the two got together again and looked out for a drummer. last year a common friend introduced them to Arun, who had earlier played in a deathmetal band. Arun had let go of all his musical ambitions to work at Chennai. The trio soon found that they had a lot more in common than their birthdays which fall in October 1981, and felt that it was time to realise their dream.“Forming a band is easy. Continuing to stay together is difficult,” they say. Their next aim is to make themselves heard in music festivals and other shows. They have not yet decided what they will compose next. “Our music is influenced by everything we have listened to,” they say. That ranges from Indian classical music and old Hindi film songs to the music of Coldplay, Opeth and Porcupine Tree. “Even the music of a wayside beggar inspires us. It has sweet melancholy.” With a set of talented musicians and a lot of enthusiasm, ‘Kaav’ is set to go places. “What matters more is the emotion that our music evokes, not the genre of music,” they say.Their songs can be downloaded at www.kaav.in. They are going to perform on September 26 at the ‘Gathering Storm’ rock festival at the K T Poulose Hall near the public library. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CEpOuUJMBnc?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CEpOuUJMBnc?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> </span></span>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-70625594718219207932010-09-27T20:37:00.000-07:002010-09-27T20:37:14.092-07:00Kini, Bolisetti consolidate in JK Tyre racing<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ajay Kini of Wallace Sports and Sailesh Bolisetti of RAD Racing consolidated their positions at the top of the Formula LGB and Super Saloons class at the end of the fourth round of the JK Tyre National Racing Championship Sunday. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Kini, who finished second in the first race Saturday, came third today behind the experienced Amerya Walavalkar (TVS Girling) and Ravikumar Deepak (Mars Racing) in the second Formula Swift race that was stopped due to rain after six laps. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Bolisetti from Vizag extended his dominance with a double in the Super Saloon class despite handling issues, especially in the second outing this morning in wet conditions. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> His car, prepared by veteran and former champion Radha Selvarajan had a set up for wet going, but the race was eventually run on a drying track. Yet, Bolisetti had enough pace to keep his challengers at an arm's length to win comfortably. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The Formula Rolon races witnessed close battles with Saran Vikram (Mars Racing) winning the first time out, but falling away in the next due to mechanical problems. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> His nearest competitor, Sarosh Hataria (Meco Racing) had a miserable outing in the first race when he spun after the gear fell into neutral at Turn-4 and he finished down the order. But in the second run, he passed the stricken Vikram's car to win. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> With two more rounds to be run, Vikram heads the championship with 33 points followed by Hataria and Vishnu Prasad (Amaron Pro Racing) at 29 points each. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The wet track resulted in pile-up of cars in several races leading to delays in the schedule, but fortunately, none of the drivers involved suffered any injury. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The results: </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Formula LGB Swift (Race 2, 6 laps): Ameya Walavalkar (TVS Girling) 1 (13mins, 07.748secs); Ravikumar Deepak (Mars Racing) 2 (13:17.720); Ajay Kini (Wallace Sports) 3 (13:27.203). </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Formula Rolon (Race 1, 10 laps): Saran Vikram (Mars Racing) 1 (19:00.479); Nikhil Kashyap (Amaron Pro Racing) 2 (19:18.575); Vishnu Prasad (Amaron Pro Racing) 3 (19:23.072). Race 2 (10 laps): Sarosh Hataria (Meco Racing) 1 (19:09.658); Chittesh Mandody (Mohite's Racing) 2 (19:14.287); Vishnu Prasad (Amaron Racing) 3 (19:51.671). </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Polo Cup (Race 1, 12 laps): Sailesh Bolisetti 1 (25:25.172); Vikash Anand (RAD Racing) 2 (25:35.536); Parth Ghorpade (Meco Motorsports) 3 (25:36.609). Race 2 (12 laps): Parth Ghorpade (Meco Motorsports) 1 (25:13.862); Mohd Fahad Kutty (Game Over) 2 (25:18.214); Imran Majid (Game Over) 3 (25:26.826). </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Touring Cars - Super Saloons (Race 2, 7 laps): Sailesh Bolisetti (RAD Racing) 1 (15:03.557); Raj Virudhan (Prime Racing) 2 (15:10.440); Mohammad Fahad Kutty (Game Over) 3 (15:20.296). </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Touring Cars - Junior Cup: (Race 1, 9 laps): B Balavijay (Moto Rev India) 1 (20:26.907); Dilijit Singh (Meco Motorsports) 2 (20:27.411); Mhir Dharkar (Game Over) 3 (18:41.300, +1 lap). Race 2 (7 laps): B Balavijay 1 (16:47.597); Diljith Singh 2 (16:49.929); Vignesh Devarajan (Pvt) 3 (16:53.427). </span></div>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-60691013252969794542010-09-27T19:35:00.000-07:002010-09-27T19:35:14.723-07:00Artist interprets verses of saints through his paintings<span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Famous verses by saints from all over India have been my inspiration to come up with a series of paintings,” says Vasudeo Kamath, an internationally acclaimed artist whose exhibition Mogara Fulala: blissful fragrance will be inaugurated on Tuesday at 5pm in Jehangir Art Gallery. The exhibition </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> that will be inaugurated by Shankaracharya HH Shri Vidya Nursinh Bharati (Karveer Peeth Kolhapur), will be on till October 4.</span></span> <div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The exhibition displays 27 paintings based on famous verses written by Indian saints such as Dyaneshwar, Tukaram, Surdas, Namdev, Kanhopatra, Janabai, Chokhamela, Savtamali and Thiruvalluvar.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“While reading the verses of these saints, some images formed in my mind. I have been listening to them since my childhood. The impact resulted in the series of paintings.” While 17 paintings in the exhibition use oil on canvas, the rest are in watercolour.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Conducting his sixth exhibition at Jehangir, Kamath has exhibited his work across India and abroad. Before this exhibition, the 54-year-old realist artist has done many series of paintings based on Guru-Shishya and Krishna.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“I love the medium of portrait and landscapes. Displaying reality is my forte. For this exhibition I had made a list of almost 500 Indian saints but every exhibition has its limitation!” adds Kamath.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Senior artist and president of Bombay Art Society, Prafulla Dahanukar said: “Kamath is a perfect realist painter. His skills are flawless when it comes to imagination, anatomy and ideas. His thoughts become his paintings.”</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kamath is the only Indian artist to have won the Draper Grand Award by portrait society of America for his portrait titled My Wife in 2006. Last year, he painted a live portrait of President, Pratibha Patil.</span></div>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-63571646608236353962010-09-27T17:10:00.000-07:002010-09-27T17:10:27.012-07:00Honour for screenplay writer Gopalkrishna Pai<span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mangalore:</b> Members of the Konkani community felicitated national award winner for the best screenplay writer Gopalkrishna Pai at a function here on Wednesday. Konkani fortnightly “Kodial Khabar” had organised the felicitation ceremony.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mr. Pai and director Girish Kasaravalli jointly won the national award for their film “Kanassemba Kudureyanneri”.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Humble background</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In his acceptance speech, Mr. Pai, who spent his childhood in Perla village in Kasargod taluk of Kerala state, said that films were not screened in his village very often. Coming from such a village, winning the national award is a great honour for him. Describing the script, which brought him the award, he said “it was an experiment” and that it was “uniquely presented in the film”. According to him the speciality of the script was that it engaged the audience and there was a lot of scope for their participation.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the scope for audience participation, Mr. Pai told The Hindu that “There is scope for mental participation. The script gives some clues and the audience have to create a story based on it,” he said.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mr. Pai shared the information with the gathering that once he had written and submitted the script to Mr. Kasaravalli, he had told the latter that he would like to be present when the film was shot, instead he would prefer to be there when it was edited. However, “When the editing began, I greatly regretted having missed the shooting”, he said.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the filmmaker's he admires most is Norman McLaren, he said.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Swapna Saraswat'</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mr. Pai is author of the Konkani novel “Swapna Saraswat”, which was published last year. Introducing the writer, secretary of the Konkani Bhasha Vidyarthi Mandal Venkatesh Nayak said that the Mr. Pai had referred to 4,000 books and collected 15,000 photographs for the novel which is about the Goud Saraswat Brahmin community.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He began researching for the book in 1990, and the first draft contained 620 pages, which was then reduced to 475 pages. The book was translated into English, Marathi, Malayalam, Hindi, Bengali, and Tamil.</span></div>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-5269009521115637222008-09-04T22:06:00.000-07:002008-09-04T22:08:56.245-07:00Shenoy takes the bugs out of Web sites of flea markets<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" id="storycontent"><p><span style="font-size:100%;">Inspiration comes from strange places.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">In <strong>Kat Shenoy</strong>’s case, it came from a flea market in Solebury, Bucks County.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Shenoy, the president and CEO of Blue Bell software developer <strong><a href="http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/gen/E-SoftSys_22148E3E6BD74D518B04027BDF24CEFD.html"><strong>E-SoftSys</strong></a> Ltd.</strong>, had always thought flea markets were small-time affairs with maybe two dozen vendors, tops. As a result, it had never occurred to him to develop software for the people who run them.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Both things changed in early 2001 when he visited <strong>Rice’s Market</strong>, which says on its Web site that it hosts as many as 700 vendors and 15,000 shoppers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">The manager, <strong>Chuck Kane</strong>, is a friend of Shenoy’s. And he told Shenoy that there were no good software packages for running markets like Rice’s and that there were plenty of markets like Rice’s around the country.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">That was all Shenoy needed to hear. He had E-SoftSys, which he had founded the previous year, develop software for running flea markets. The company sold it to Rice’s and then sent representatives to the <strong>National Flea Market Association</strong>’s next annual convention where they landed some other big markets as customers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">“Based on the success of this, I started looking for other, smaller industries where people rent space,” Shenoy said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">He found two — the trade-show industry and the self-storage industry — and had E-SoftSys send people to conventions for both. As Shenoy suspected, both industries had software requirements that were similar to each other and to the flea-market industry. So he had E-SoftSys come up with software for both of them.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">“What we focused on was the technology and the customer support,” he said. “My philosophy is, you provide the best customer support possible and the product will sell itself based on referrals from other customers.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">That philosophy appears to be working. E-SoftSys has grown to 100 employees and, although it still gets half its revenue from custom software development, the other half comes from its flea-market, trade-show and self-storage management software.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">E-SoftSys recently landed a big customer in the last industry when <strong>Stor-All Management Ltd.</strong> of Deerfield Beach, Fla., which has more than 29,000 units in 44 locations, implemented its Self Storage Manager software.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">“It’s not often you get a company with 44 sites switching their applications,” Shenoy said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Jeff Anderson</strong>, Stor-All’s CEO, said his company evaluated all the leading self-storage management systems available.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">“With the exception of Self Storage Manager, none came close to meeting our key requirements,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Among other things, Stor-All needed to be able to smoothly import the information about its tenants from its old software and to keep its management operations up and running after a hurricane or other natural disaster.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">Shenoy attributes Self Storage Manager’s popularity in part to its architecture, which features both a centralized database and databases at each site. That gives self-storage companies the ability to centrally control prices and programs, as well as generate reports, while allowing individual sites to be able to keep operating when the Internet connection to their headquarters is down.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">“Individual sites can do all the operations they need to do,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">E-SoftSys’ background is also a plus. Because it started out as a custom software developer and still does custom software projects, it’s willing to customize its products for flea-market, trade-show and self-storage customers in ways its competitors often aren’t, Shenoy said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">It also does search-engine optimization and Web-site development for its customers, including the National Flea Market Association and Rice’s, which it developed Web sites for.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;">“Our clients like the fact that we are a one-stop shop for all [information-technology] services,” Shenoy said.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> </div>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-64659669321600657592008-09-04T21:59:00.000-07:002008-09-04T22:01:55.926-07:00Manipal Institute of Technology Makes India Proud by Launching “Formula Manipal”<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Manipal Institute of Technology’s students had crossed a spectacular mile stone in the History of India. A team of 15 students of MIT dreamt of making a racing car when they were in Second year of engineering. They formed a team named FORMULA MANIPAL, from various engineering branches.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Manipal Formula car was unveiled on the 4th of September 2008, at the Manipal University Main building (MAHE building) at 10 AM. Dr.Ramdas Pai Chairman, Manipal Education * Medical Group Flagged off the Event. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ramdas Pai, Chairman, Manipal Education & Medical Group, said “" One small step for Manipal, but one giant leap for Indian engineering…</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The car has been designed, conceived and fabricated by the students themselves and will take part in the prestigious Formula SAE –FORMULA SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Competition to be held in Italy from 20th to 22nd of September. 200 universities from world over will participate in this international competition. The event will be held at the Ferrari Fiorano Racetrack in Italy. This is the only Indian and the only Asian team to take part in the Italy event.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Dr. Pabla, Director M.I.T- "Couple of years back, the team had approached us with the idea for designing and manufacturing of this race car. At first we were a little skeptical and apprehensive whether this is possible at Manipal. But I am glad that the students have erased all doubts from our mind and will do themselves, Manipal University and more importantly the country proud at Italy".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> It was a jam-packed event with the audience comprising of students and faculty members from Manipal Institute of Technology and including prominent dignitaries, the audience were astonished that their college mates could pull off such a massive project, and went berserk once the car was started.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Team members:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 1. Kausik Mani</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 2. Shelav Jain</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 3. Vineet Jain</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 4. Siddhartha Jain</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 5. Arjun Samara Divakera</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 6. Ankit Kumar Banka</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 7. Srikanth Toppaladodi</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 8. Ratnesh Kumar</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 9. Aditya Raghunandan</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 10. Sagnik Niyogi</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 11. Rachit Mathur</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 12. Nishant Jain</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 13. Eklavya Singh</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 14. Aayush Gupta</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> 15. Dhawal Bavishi</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Driver Name – Ankit Banka</span></span> </div>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-69364856184381546702008-09-04T21:56:00.000-07:002008-09-04T21:58:58.354-07:00Narayana Karvi inducted as president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The newly appointed president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Mr. Narayana Karvi(60) took over the charge during the function held today 4th of September 2008 at 5 p.m at the Konkani Sahitya Academy office premises.</span> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mr Kharvi was welcomed by the outgoing president of the academy Mr. Eric Ozario to the office premises when he arrived in a procession led by Mangalore's own well known Harry's Century Band. All the guests were honoured with floral bouquets.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mr.Shiva Rudrappa registrar of Karnataka Sahitya Academy, introduced Mr. Narayana Karvi to the gathering. In his introductory speech, Mr Rudrappa explained Narayana Karvi's contribution to the growth of Konkani and thanked Mr. Eric Ozario former president of Konkani Sahitya Academy, for his sincere commitment and dedication towards the academy during his tenure.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mr. Ozario speaking on the occasion lauded the contribution of Mr Karvi to Konkani folklore and relentlessly working towards preserving the culture among the Karvi community. "The appointment of Mr Karvi as the president has erased the Brahamanism(caste based domination) in the administration of the academy which has been headed in the past mostly by GSB or Konkani Catholics. Mr Karvis appointment is victory for the Karvi(fisherman) Community," he said. Mr Ozario also thanked everyone who have supported the organization and media for giving it a wide coverage during his tenure. He also suggested that all Konkani speaking communities be given an opportunity to lead the academy.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dr. Edward Nazreth, Mr. Roy Castelino, Mr. Louis Pinto (President of Mandd Sobhann), Mr. Venugopal (President of Tulu Sahitya Academy) congratulated Mr. Karvi with floral bouquets and garlands. Speaking on the occasion Dr. Edward expressed his happiness over the appointment of Mr Karvi and assured his support to him.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mr Roy Castelino speaking on the occasion said that Eric Ozario has made Konkani community proud through his commitment to the cause of language and culture. Mr Ozario believed in bringing Konkani to a stage where it is today considered as one of the optional languages in schools in the state. Mr Castelino said Karvi is a considerate and compassionate person who has tirelessly worked towards preserving Karvi Konkani culture through his immense contribution and expressed his confidence over his support in making Konkani as a compulsory language.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The President of Tulu Sahitya Academy Mr. Venugopal termed Mr Karvi a humble and a capable man. He thanked all past presidents of the academy for their support towards Tulu Sahitya Academy. "We have been organizing many events with the support from Konkani Sahitya Academy and we will continue to work together for the growth of our languages," said Mr. Venugopal assuring his support to the new president.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The president of Mandd Sobhann Mr. Louis Pinto too speaking on the occasion expressed his confidence over the new president. He recalled that when he requested Mr Ozario to continue as the president for another term, he said that he believed in Mr Karvi who was a capable person to take over the mantle and lift the Konkani flag high. "We should give equal opportunity to every Konkani speaking community," he had said.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mr. Eric Ozario formally handed over the charges of Academy to Karvi. Mr Karvi thanked Eric for his support and encouragement in taking over the charges. "If I am taking this charge of the academy, it is due to Eric who questioned the Government why a person from minority community couldn't come to power. Hopes and dreams are like clouds, some will disappear while some bring rain," he said. "I have been given a great responsibility and I request everyone to continue supporting the academy towards its growth," he said promising to work for Konkani and its growth. He also called upon more children to come forward to take up Konkani as an optional language. Mr Karvi thanked Mr. Krishana Palemar, Raghupathi Bhat, Lalaji Mendan, Mr. Ronald Colaco and others for their support.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mr. Eric Ozario took Mr. Karvi to his new office and handed over the President's chair to Mr. Karvi. Mr. Felix D'Souza who had arrived from Mumbai to attend the programme, on behalf of the Konkani community of Mumbai congratulated Mr. Karvi. Mnsgr. Alexnder D'Souza, Former President of Konkani Sahitya Academy was also present on the occasion. Mr. Stany Alvares compeered the entire programme.</span></p>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-32657942815048717232008-09-03T06:22:00.000-07:002008-09-03T06:23:50.168-07:00Mallya bullish on aviation industry growth prospects<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >UB Group Chairman Vijay Mallya said on Tuesday that he was bullish about the growth prospects of the Indian aviation industry.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Speaking at the launch of the non-stop flight service from Bangalore to London, he pointed out that several airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Lufthansa, have been seeking permission to increase frequency of flights to the country.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >He noted that Indian Airlines represented just 30 per cent of all internationalflights, and there was ample opportunity to grow.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Mallya also gave a thumbsup to the much-maligned Bangalore International Airport.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >‘’The roads to the airport are quite impressive. It takes me only 45 minutes from the heart of the city to the airport,’’ he added.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >However, he noted that the airport could have been slightly larger.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >The UB Chairman also urged the State government to lower its sales tax on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). He said: ‘’Th e lowering of sales tax will stimulate air traffic growth to BIAL. The government will make up the lost revenue through increased sales.’’ On User Development Fee(UDF),Mallya said that he was opposed to any move whereby airlines will charge customers UDF on behalf of the airport. Mallya announced that Kingfisher Airlines will launch its non-stop flight from Bangalore to London from Wednesday. The first flight has already been booked to nearly 70 per cent capacity, he said.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >The UB Chairman also announced that future plans include the launch of Bangalore- San Francisco, Bombay- Singapore and Bombay-Dubai flights.</span></div>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-76963971116604832152008-08-14T16:20:00.000-07:002008-08-14T16:21:18.617-07:0050 Year Old Video Footage of Tirupati Venkateswara Balaji<a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-010628888609813891 visible" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/RDKRHerBDhk&hl=en&fs=1"></a><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RDKRHerBDhk&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RDKRHerBDhk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-45439370017002788532008-08-14T16:09:00.000-07:002008-08-14T16:11:38.246-07:00Indians For McCain holds Independence Day barbeque<p class="style34" style="padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 9px; font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Washington: 'Indians For McCain' (IFM), a group of Indo-Indians that campaigns for American presidential candidate John McCain, held a barbeque for its supporters in honor of India's 61st Independence Day. The event was hosted by </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >IFM co-founder Sudhakar Shenoy </span><span style="font-size:100%;">at his home in Great Falls, VA. "Most of our community is still undecided and we have a great opportunity to win votes and affect the outcome of this election," Shenoy said.<br /><br />Fiscal-conservative leader Grover Norquist was a special guest of the event. Norquist urged IFM to spread its message and reach nationwide. "Indian voters, largely entrepreneurial in spirit, will respond to this message of fiscal restraint, small business promotion, and lower taxes," he said.<br /></span> </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" > Special Indians For McCain bumper stickers were distributed at the event and sent to IFM's chapters nationwide in advance of Independence Day. Those wishing to obtain a bumper sticker should contact IFM National Director Kishan Putta.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" > The attendees were also treated to viewing a special video message from John McCain to the Indian-American community on the occasion of Independence Day.</span></div>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-18344781030906680182008-08-14T15:56:00.000-07:002008-08-14T15:59:17.364-07:00Virtual hand gets under the skin<p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">These new amazingly realistic animations of the human hand go way beyond the demands of Hollywood (see video, right). They are detailed enough to shed light on the mystery of how the tendons and muscles of the human hand interact when we move, and should help surgeons reconstruct damaged hands more effectively.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Computer animators are adept at making characters that move realistically, largely thanks to advances in motion capture technology that records the way people move.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">But even the best motion capture only records the movement of the body's surface. That's fine for a movie, but surgeons are less superficial. They are interested in the movement of muscles and tendons beneath the skin.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now hand animations that go below the surface (see video, right), have been made, by Shinjiro Sueda, Andrew Kaufman and <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.cs.ubc.ca/%7Epai/" target="ns">Dinesh Pai</a> at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><h5 style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moving muscle</span></h5><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">They used anatomical data from medical images to model the 17 bones and 54 tendons and muscles of the hand and forearm.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The team's software can coordinate the contraction and relaxation of muscles, and the way forces are transmitted by tendons to produce any desired hand gesture.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Motion capture is data driven – you just capture the data and play it back," says Sueda. "Our approach is a simulation in which the starting point is the physics of muscle and tendon movement."</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sueda's team also clothed their virtual muscles and tendons in a layer of skin. Just like real skin its shape depends on the anatomy beneath it.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><h5 style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Helping hand</span></h5><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"The parameters to control the deformation of the skin aren't biomechanical – it's just cosmetic," says Sueda. But because the underlying controlled muscles and tendons are accurately placed, the result is a hand animation that is highly realistic.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">When Sueda's team took screen grabs of their animated hands and compared them to photographs of real hands in the same position, the two sets of images match closely.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The model should be a boon to surgeons, says Sueda. "The network of muscles and tendons in the hand is very complicated," he adds. "Even now people don't know how it actually works in detail."</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Although the anatomy of the hand was worked out long ago from dissections, the interplay of all the components when in motion has largely remained a mystery. For this reason, the results of hand surgery can be unpredictable.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><h5 style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Adding realism</span></h5><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">When a tendon is damaged, the muscle it's attached to no longer functions properly. Surgeons try to restore movement by taking a nearby tendon and re-routing it along the path of the damaged one. But predicting the results of that is difficult.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Using our technique, you can show what effect rerouting a tendon would have on the hand before you actually do the surgery," says Sueda.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The new technology has also been built as a plug-in for existing graphics software to allow animators to quickly and easily add more realism to their hand animations.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The new hand animation models will be presented at the SIGGRAPH computer graphics conference in Los Angeles on 15 August 2008.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Movie file can be downloaded here:</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">http://www.cs.ubc.ca/labs/sensorimotor/projects/hands_sig08/</span></p>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-7497325159931542722008-08-13T16:39:00.000-07:002008-08-13T16:40:30.951-07:00Event planned to attract IT industry to north Kerala<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Calicut IT Initiative (CITI), an organisation formed to promote Kozhikode as a major information technology destination in north Kerala, will hold a meet Aug 30 to showcase the human resource available in the region for the IT industry.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;" id="more-10967"></span></span> </div><p style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Information Technology-Human Resource summit is being organised with the help of the IT mission of the Kerala government and Nasscom (National Association of Software and Services Companies).</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">According to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Nityanand Kamath, CITI president, </span>around 2,000 students from colleges in the region are expected to take part.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">‘We expect participation of around 25 companies at the summit. The human resource managers and their infrastructure managers are also expected to take part,’ K. Purushothaman, regional director of Nasscom, said at a press conference here Monday.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">‘The event will provide human resource managers with an opportunity to assess the manpower available in the region. They will test the software and soft skills of the students here,’ said Saji Gopinath, member faculty at the Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode and an office bearer of CITI.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The CITI officials pointed out that a large chunk of the around 10,000 students graduating from the region are girls who are not willing to relocate outside the region. ‘This will provide IT companies a loyal workforce with low level of attrition,’ they said. </span></p>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-63864571897417475072008-08-13T16:31:00.000-07:002008-08-13T16:33:12.794-07:00Manipal Cure and Care Center launch at Sarjapur in Bangalore<p style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Manipal Cure and Care (MCC) has launched their second center in Bangalore at Total Mall in Sarjapur. </span></p><p style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The center was inaugurated by Chief Guest, Minister for Medical Education, Ramachandra Gowda along with Dr. Ramdas Pai, Chairman, Manipal Education and Medical Group, Dr.Ranjan R Pai, CEO Manipal Education and Medical Group and Somnath Das, COO, Manipal Cure and Care. </span></p><p style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The MCC Sarjapur Center will introduce one new service ‘Back2Fitness’ (B2F) for the first time in India. </span></p><div style="float: right; font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-8962719107804215"; google_alternate_color = "FFFFFF"; google_ad_width = 336; google_ad_height = 280; google_ad_format = "336x280_as"; google_ad_type = "text_image"; google_ad_channel =""; google_color_border = "FFFFFF"; google_color_link = "000000"; google_color_bg = "FFFFFF"; google_color_text = "000000"; google_color_url = "000000"; //--></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div><p style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">B2F is end-to-end musculo-skeletal, sports and exercise medicine clinic offering evidence-based treatment to help patients cope with back, shoulder, knee and other musculo-skeletal problems. </span></p><p style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">For corporates, B2F will offer the services of professional Ergonomists and a host of services including ‘Evaluate onsite job skills and work environment’, ‘Job skills design advice’, ‘Workstation design advice’, ‘Employee education on body mechanics and injury prevention’, ‘Posture correction exercises’ and ‘Follow-up clinics’ </span></p><p style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">B2F also has specialised analytical and remedial programs for amateur and professional athletes. B2F can help with ‘Performance Enhancement’ program which includes ‘Video gait analysis’, ‘Specific musculo-skeletal assessment’ and ‘Daily conditioning and endurance programs’. </span></p><p style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">B2F is headed by Dr. Rajat Chauhan, (MBBS, MSc Sports and Exercise Medicine, MLCOM Osteopathic Medicine) </span></p><p style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ramachandra Gowda, Minister for Medical Education, said, “The work being done by the Manipal Education and Medical Group is commendable. They have been at the forefront of providing international level medical education and medical services to the society and that too at affordable rates. I wish them all the very best in all their future endeavours and hope that they continue the good work and more importantly guard the quality of services they provide.” </span></p><p style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">“I also congratulate Manipal Cure and Care for this revolutionising concept of Preventive Healthcare, Wellness & Beauty, under one roof, which is the need of the hour. This innovative concept will go a long way to keep our citizens healthy and hearty,” Gowda added. </span></p><p style="font-family: verdana; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dr. Ramdas Pai, Chairman, Manipal Education and Medical Group, said, “Prevention is better than Cure, is an old adage we very often repeat but rarely follow. MEMG and MCC are both committed towards strengthening the roots of preventive medicine in India. Our vision is to revolutionize healthcare delivery in India by providing preventive monitoring with a focus on wellness. Through Manipal Cure and Care centres, we will educate people to be proactive towards health issues and strive to make every Indian a healthy citizen.” </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Somnath Das, Chief Operating Officer, Manipal Cure and Care said, “We take the business of Preventive Medicine very seriously and will keep introducing newer products and services that will help Indian citizens understand and take advantages of its benefits and that too at affordable costs. Our critical differentiator is that the fact that all our centers offers services and counselling by well-trained doctor and paramedical staff, protocols and processes in line with international best practices and an in-store experience that is highly personalised for each customer.” </span></span></div>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-9585453438450894662008-07-15T09:44:00.000-07:002008-07-15T10:03:15.025-07:00G.S.B Varthaka Mandal (Kochi)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEwVkbWl8lgtlkwnJYquK6d0GxfTgYRQUUMcV8KWEMwqte_jw_ht69q-wyu_3_4Wv9CqwHd1UXQnQMqafb0Narg7HxDEzW6C3a216DvBQQ_WtLUSsAtzWjGJInFusxDhTLCv0MA/s1600-h/IMG_2135.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEwVkbWl8lgtlkwnJYquK6d0GxfTgYRQUUMcV8KWEMwqte_jw_ht69q-wyu_3_4Wv9CqwHd1UXQnQMqafb0Narg7HxDEzW6C3a216DvBQQ_WtLUSsAtzWjGJInFusxDhTLCv0MA/s320/IMG_2135.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223286871919639330" border="0" /></a>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-10252690616780168222008-06-24T19:46:00.001-07:002008-06-24T19:49:31.049-07:00The Uber Cool CEO<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrOpCxFfW0JGqn2i89ZZ5-gOABrst_8C46HByYXHWeIbYY_9v4p3TmxV8G6G9TOlLCjwc5vf3zYPTra8xuamR5hCIQ1g5VkEwP-KK1Sx5XUugRw4k4oYmxFB0UsvTrizjR7NAyA/s1600-h/konkani.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrOpCxFfW0JGqn2i89ZZ5-gOABrst_8C46HByYXHWeIbYY_9v4p3TmxV8G6G9TOlLCjwc5vf3zYPTra8xuamR5hCIQ1g5VkEwP-KK1Sx5XUugRw4k4oYmxFB0UsvTrizjR7NAyA/s320/konkani.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215645262780748450" border="0" /></a>Left: Dr Ranjan Pai and his wife with their favourite pugs<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcaLvWdIaammPJ8tn4irnSzxaCdTi7E9LK7kaNf1EYGs6ELsQrfY2ZXwsp2FOT0J3-HHl3KB3ChvsYAHBXSpiPISkqHqoZFFUOhAcRGjEkDHgopVEI-gvweYx-k_fHSWFUt9LrA/s1600-h/konkani.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcaLvWdIaammPJ8tn4irnSzxaCdTi7E9LK7kaNf1EYGs6ELsQrfY2ZXwsp2FOT0J3-HHl3KB3ChvsYAHBXSpiPISkqHqoZFFUOhAcRGjEkDHgopVEI-gvweYx-k_fHSWFUt9LrA/s320/konkani.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215645113798383346" border="0" /></a><br />At the helm of one of the largest and successful healthcare organisations— Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), Dr Ranjan Pai (35) is considered to be one of the youngest and ambitious growth engines fuelling the Indian healthcare industry. One may assume that it was easy to establish himself with his father Dr Ramdas Pai being the Chairman of the Manipal Group. But, he begs to differ. "Initially, which was almost three to four years ago, it was quite a challenge, as people considered me just as a kid. So, trying to gain a foothold was difficult. But over the years, one gain respects as one takes people into confidence and shows them respect. And it is, of course, a fact that I'm quite young, so I don't mind asking my seniors if I don't understand certain things. Also, I tend to avoid ego-hassles." And the circle that he also looks forward to getting advice and mentoring are his father Dr Ramdas Pai, Mohandas Pai, Director and Head of HR of INFOSYS and KV Kamath, MD and CEO, ICICI.</span> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Another aspect to his leadership style is his unfazed nature. "I don't think I would call myself as a tough task-master. I'm definitely sensitive to people issues, but that does not mean my decisions are ruled by the heart. I make quick decisions, I may be wrong, but I'll never be in doubt." </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Dr Pai went to the US to do his hospital administration (Wisconsin) after doing his MBBS from Manipal. He then worked in a Children's Hospital and a health insurance company before joining the Manipal Group. He joined his father's group at the age of 28 in the year 2000. "I was in charge of setting up the group's activities in Malaysia (set up a Medical College there). I lived there for five years and then returned to Bangalore in 2005," he shares. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"><span style="font-size:100%;"> The young leader has been responsible for the restructuring of the entire group and also in charting out strategic direction for the group. "I have also been responsible for inducting high quality talent from diverse backgrounds into the group which has led to our success," he says.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Leaving aside his big business plans, and shifting focus on his weekend activities, Dr Pai prefers to spend time with his wife Shruti (28) and his two pugs. Whilst pugs are considered quite cute, these dogs are known to entertain and give his guests quite a hearty laugh as their names are Gabbar and Mogambo! The fact that he has named his dogs behind such iconic villainous characters, one understands the subtle humorous side of Dr Pai.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"><span style="font-size:100%;"> His wife is an entrepreneur in her own right as she runs a spa and wellness resort. In this light, is it a mere co-incidence that he is promoting the concept of preventive care through 'Manipal Cure and Care'? "Oh I don't know! Maybe you need to ask her if she has a role to play," he grins.<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"><span style="font-size:100%;">He feels he is yet to follow his new-year resolution— to gym and lose weight! "It's been five months that New-Year has gone by, but I'm still determined to go for a work-out. I think it's more of an excuse that I don't have time. It is very important to be fit and in-shape," he remarks. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"><span style="font-size:100%;"> He is also a huge fan of cricket. He has regularly participated in the local cricket tournaments. "I play as a batsman," he states. Like millions, Sachin Tendulkar is his favorite. He also likes Anil Kumble. So, what is it that he admires in both? "He started off his career when he was just 16 and I have been following him right from that time. People have a tendency to write-off when they are in a bad phase of life, but I certainly believe that he is a true champion," he shares. And talking about Anil Kumble, he says, "He is a very consistent guy with a strong temperament, who never gives up and is a true gentleman." Anil Kumble also happens to be the brand ambassador for Manipal Education. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Discussing about movies, he says, "I like almost all kinds of Hindi and English movies." Catching up a movie along with his wife is his favorite time-pass. "The last movie I saw was 'Tare Zameen Par' and I thought it was fabulous," he says. He normally likes contemporary cinema like 'Dil Chahta Hai.' As far as music goes, he likes the era of 80s— be it the Eagles or Police and also popular Hindi music. "I don't particularly follow any particular Hindi song. Any current flavour of the season will do," he shares.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Dr Pai is not much into the world of books. "Unfortunately, I don't really like reading books. I read a lot of magazines and newspapers and keep myself abreast of the latest trends— be it business or politics."</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"><span style="font-size:100%;"> When asked to answer 'the mixed-bag' questions, he laughs, "Feels like I'm in Kofee with Karan!" </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-subhead"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Mixed Bag</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Your best prize in life so far</b><br /> My wife</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Your first day in school</b><br /> Oh, it was quite traumatic! I just remember crying in the local nursery at Manipal. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Your first ambition</b><br /> I always wanted to become a doctor as far as I can remember.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Your first day at work</b><br /> It was interesting. I had joined a paediatric Hospital in the US in the year 1997.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><b>The first time you fired somebody</b><br /> It was in the year 2000. I really felt very bad about it. I had a long chat with him and took this decision. I remember I was quite sensitive to his needs.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><b>The toughest decision you have taken</b><br /> I do not think that there has been such a moment in my life. Life has been pretty good to me.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><b>The best memory of your childhood</b><br /> Going for vacations with my parents and sisters. The time I spent with my father Dr Ramdas Pai is truly special.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Your happiest moment</b><br /> The college days at Manipal Medical College. Once in a while, I meet my college friends and we remember the good old days.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Three things I cannot do without</b><br /> My blackberry and laptop. That's it. Just two!</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><b>One trait you would like to change about yourself</b><br /> The fact that I'm quite shy.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><b>One parental advice that you remember</b><br /> My parents gave a lot of advice, but particularly the one I remember was humility— always have your feet firm on the ground. The credit more so goes to my mother, as my father kept busy. She was quite a disciplinarian and never gave us everything that we asked for. We were taught to prove our mettle and also the fact that we were brought up in a small town like Manipal assured us that we were kept away from the whims and fancies of the ultra glam world. So, we as a family led a very simple life.<br /> I also remember the advice, no smoking and no drugs, which luckily I followed.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;" class="art-text"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Your first vehicle</b><br /> It was Maruti-800 in the year 1990. I must have been 20. My father got it for me and being the 90s, I don't think there were many choices as well. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-12454411972303584972008-06-24T07:23:00.000-07:002008-06-24T07:24:46.163-07:00India Plethico Pharma eyes buys in US, Brazil<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">India's Plethico Pharmaceuticals Ltd (PLPH.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) plans to buy one company each in the U.S and Brazil in the next couple of years, spending a total $150 million, a top official said on Wednesday.<br /><br />Plethico plans to bid for a nutraceutical firm in the United States, and has also signed a preliminary confidentiality agreement with another nutraceutical firm there, Sanjay Pai said, adding the aim is to strike one deal for $80-$100 million.<br /><br />"There are so many good deals coming our way in the U.S. right now in the nutraceuticals space," Pai said. "People have started approaching us for acquisitions after Natrol."<br /><br />Last year, Plethcio acquired U.S.-based branded nutritional products maker Natrol Inc for about $81 million.<br /><br />Nutraceuticals are food extracts used as dietary supplements.<br /><br />In Brazil, Plethcio is in talks with two companies, one a herbal products maker and the other a maker of allopathic and over-the-counter products, Pai said. One of these firms could be acquired for about $50 million, he added.<br /><br />"Brazil is a great market. It offers great volume and decent margins," he said, adding the market offered 15-20 percent earnings before interest and tax margins.<br /><br />"We have been looking for acquisitions in U.S., Brazil and UK. Somehow, there have been no juicy deals forthcoming in UK so far."<br /><br />The company was in a strong position to raise funds through debt and various options, he said, adding that would be decided when a deal was sewn up.<br /><br />"Over the next 1- to 1-½ years there will be a lot of inorganic activities happening in the company."<br /><br />Shares in the company were trading 8 percent up at 404.45 rupees in a weak Mumbai market.</span></div>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-35668349018219662222008-06-24T07:21:00.000-07:002008-06-24T07:22:38.486-07:00Marathi chapters in Konkani textbook<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">It appears that the directorate of education is making a mockery of the education system by distributing textbooks with horrendous errors.</span> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">While on one hand the government is promoting Konkani, which is the official language of Goa, on the other hand Marathi chapters are incorporated in the Konkani textbook of standard VII.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">Several schools have complained of receiving V standard textbooks with several index pages, while the first two chapters are missing and the third is incomplete. Furthermore, from page 66, eighteen pages of Marathi text are repeated.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">The parents are dismayed over the irresponsible behavior of the education department and have demanding action against the responsible persons.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">Meanwhile, institutional heads, parents and teachers have expressed concern over the delay in getting the textbooks, especially of standard V and VIII.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">Heads of institutions also informed that they have not received the required textbooks even though the requirement was made known way back in March.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">The entire set of textbooks have not been given for VI and VIII standards while some school have only received the Mathematics and Hindi textbooks that too in parts.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">One institutional head said that the syllabus has been changed but no refresher courses for the teachers have been conducted.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">He said further that teachers are unable teach as they are not sure what to expect in the new books. Presently teachers are only revising grammar.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">Some teachers said the non-availability of textbooks is causing great inconvenience, as they have to finish the portion for the first mid-term exam, which is scheduled for August 6.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">One teacher said that though it appears that the schools have just begun, we barely have one month to complete the portion and added the students require the textbooks especially in languages.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">The teacher expressed concern about the students of standard V who have changed over from Konkani medium to English medium.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">“The longer it takes to get the books the more difficult it will be for them to cope with the portion,†she noted.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">On the other hand, the parents too have expressed their concern over the delay in getting the textbooks.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">Ms H D’souza, a parent expressing concern said that though providing textbooks is a novel idea, they should be provided before the school starts and asked how the students are suppose to study without the textbooks.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">“You cannot blame the teachers for starting the portion. How long are they supposed to wait for the textbooks? If they do not teach then what else will they do in class? At the end of it all it is the student who has to suffer.â€</span></p>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-83563463290607869172008-06-24T07:20:00.000-07:002008-06-24T07:21:18.865-07:00PG courses in School of Konkani studies<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span class="articlecontentfont" style="font-size:100%;">School of Konkani Studies, a new venture in education, research, translation theory and practice of Konkani, is offering MA, M.Phil & Ph.D in Konkani themes and issues, comparative literature and cultural communication and translation. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span class="articlecontentfont" style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span class="articlecontentfont" style="font-size:100%;"> According to a press release, the school provides a place and opportunity for all who want to make contributions to Konkani beyond religion, caste, region and script; beyond Konkani as commercial and fiesta opportunity and cheap market success; beyond Konkani in Kannada script as a vehicle for self and group/identity propaganda. It has an erudite team of Konkani experts with postgraduate and doctoral to guide the venture from Goa, Karnataka and Maharastra and is directed by scholar Dr William Robert Da Silva.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span class="articlecontentfont" style="font-size:100%;">The first meeting of deliberations of the school was held on June 22 from 4 to 7 pm at ‘Providence’ (I Floor), A R D’Souza Lane, Bendorewell, Mangalore. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-27495521506306060842008-06-24T07:15:00.000-07:002008-06-24T07:17:02.051-07:00Individual physician ratings pose daunting challenges<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Michigan, U.S.A:<br /></span></div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Hospital and health system report cards by now are fairly common ways for consumers to gauge quality indicators, but not so for assessing physicians.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> <span style="font-size:100%;">"Individual physician report cards are being discussed," said <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Dr. Bala Pai, senior associate medical director at Health Alliance Plan.</span><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"We are planning on it, but don't have a date certain," Pai said, noting that there would have to be a universal coding and billing database that compared all processes the same. "And then, if you drill down to physician level, you have volume differences and patient demographic differences ... Reporting would be difficult. We are very cautious," he said.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Massachusetts Medical Society filed a lawsuit in May to halt such an evaluation process in that state, saying the methodology is flawed and has defrauded patients.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission, the agency that oversees health insurance for thousands of public employees there, implemented a report card two years ago and has been haggling with the MMS ever since.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">A large part of the issue is that doctors who see sicker patients are more likely to be ranked lower on the scale, because of worse outcomes.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">In addition, the system is so cumbersome, the MMS said, that incorrect treatment information had been included in the database as well.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Tennessee Blue Cross Blue Shield halted it's own program earlier this year for those same problems.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">HAP introduced a ranking on quality of health systems three years ago, Pai said, and that was the result of several years of collaboration and working with the systems for feedback and advice.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">That collaborative effort got the various players to buy into the idea, and built trust that a fair system is in place, he said.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Once we put out the public report, we had callbacks from physicians and (health) leaders saying, 'I want to be better than X, so what can we do to get a better rating?' So this was a healthy competition built in without animosity," Pai said.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> A next step could be individual physician report cards, Pai said, but there are so many variables that it has to be done properly or risk a backlash more problems.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Michigan State Medical Society has released a set of guidelines in the event that any agency or organization attempts to compile that data.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Grand Rapids-based health plan Priority Health started a rating program for its provider doctors three years ago, and will not rate a physician if he or she does not see enough Priority patients.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The health plan has a set of criteria that considers preventive practices, disease management, health screening, immunizations and patient satisfaction, said spokeswoman Juanita Smith.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Some scores are based not on the individual doctor's patients, but on the patients of all doctors who practice together.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The system formulates a percentage and assigns from one to four apples.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The first year, 12 physicians were in the top, the second year, 30 were in the top and last year 59 doctors earned four apples.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Priority has a feedback system for the physicians to discuss guidelines and how to attain higher rankings, Smith said.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"I do believe that physicians respond to measurement, we are competitive, we value the care we give our patients, we all ask 'how am I doing?'" said Dr. Greg Forzley, chairman of the board of the Michigan State Medical Society and medical director informatics at St. Mary's Health Care in Grand Rapids.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Forzley helped develop the Priority concept in its early stages and he calls it a fairly good system, but it only deals with the Priority population. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"The challenge has been some of the measures are very narrowly defined and don't cover the entire patient base," Forzley said. "It would be best to find how the patients are doing overall."</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">He also noted that processes and outcomes will be different in different geographical areas and might vary greatly between an urban community and an affluent suburban community. Those differences are hard to reconcile, Forzley said.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Michigan Department of Community Health compiles information about disciplinary action and factual data about the health industry, but "We don't have a ranking for individual doctors," spokesman James McCurtis said. "For the state to get involved would put us in a lot of liability issues.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">With more than 39,000 physicians in the state, compiling a comprehensive list would be cumbersome and fraught with problems, McCurtis said.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> "For one it would be biased and would do a disservice to the profession and it wouldn't do anything but create tension," he said.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-85812709162628830042008-06-24T07:13:00.000-07:002008-06-24T07:14:35.970-07:00Konkani singing contest on TV<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mandd Sobhann will be organising a Konkani singing competition on TV called ‘Soad-2,’ a search for sweet voices, for men and women above 15 years of age.<br /><br />The winners, one male and one female shall receive the titles ‘Rai Kogull’ and ‘Rani Kogull’ respectively along with Rs 25,000 in cash. Besides, an opportunity to sing for recordings and shows, free specialised training in singing for 1 year, and other prizes in kind.<br /><br />Apart from the above, the ‘Top-10’ will get Rs 5,000 each, opportunity to perform in a live show, VCD recording and other prizes in kind. The recording of the preliminary round will be held on June 29 at 9.30 am at Kalangann in Shaktinagar. For registration, interested may contact 0824-2232239/ 2230489 before June 28. There is no entry fee. The programme will be telecast on Namma TV every Sunday from 11 am to 12 noon from July 15 onwards</span></div>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-58751983273374092892008-06-19T06:33:00.000-07:002008-06-19T06:34:20.834-07:00A Giri Pai Jeweller Ad<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QMiigk2gigI&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QMiigk2gigI&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12791542.post-59746398071440846402008-06-18T22:40:00.001-07:002008-06-18T22:41:07.566-07:00Ad for A Giri Pai Jewellers<a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 0px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-003584206345710117 visible" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/iYgBDY5Fa6U&hl=en"></a><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iYgBDY5Fa6U&hl=en"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iYgBDY5Fa6U&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>The world of Konkanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03746446296481055331noreply@blogger.com0