Thursday, September 06, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Freedom Flower!
You could call it a strange but pleasant co-incidence. I found this flower among the roadside trees today (14August2007) a day before we celebrate 60 years of independence on 15th August 2007. It has just the colors of out Tricolour Flag. I found it very unique and more because It was found in the most unlikely environments, among dust, cut branches of trees (that the electricity dept. does) and next to an open drain.
What could it signify...? I leave that to one’s imagination. To me it poetically indicates a new beginning, a very optimistic one. So what if we are surrounded with all the usual ‘garbage’ of ups and downs, calamities, bad politics, crime and corruption. There will always be a positive side to look at.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
What could it signify...? I leave that to one’s imagination. To me it poetically indicates a new beginning, a very optimistic one. So what if we are surrounded with all the usual ‘garbage’ of ups and downs, calamities, bad politics, crime and corruption. There will always be a positive side to look at.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Suzuki GSX 1300R Hayabusa 2008
Check these pictures of the new Suzuki Hayabusa 2008 model. Makes me feel good about a bike that was so desirable, but I would think twice about buying one, just for the not so delighful looks of the previous model. (ok! lets assume I did manage to save up the dough... now do away with that teasing smile). I agree it still is chunky, but improvised drastically in the cosmetics department. The chunky part I guess is required for holding that monster down and making it cut through the wind with ease. You can see how thats intended to happen in one of the pictures.
For some to relate better, this is the new version of the legendary hayabusa - the bike that was made more popular out here bt the movie DHOOM (though a small section called the biking population already knew about it). One of the fastest production bikes, only to be challenged by the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14. I guess with this new one here, someone must be getting ideas for DHOOM 3
Nothing else to say, just enjoy the visual treat.
Picture courtesy: www.bikewalls.com
For some to relate better, this is the new version of the legendary hayabusa - the bike that was made more popular out here bt the movie DHOOM (though a small section called the biking population already knew about it). One of the fastest production bikes, only to be challenged by the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14. I guess with this new one here, someone must be getting ideas for DHOOM 3
Nothing else to say, just enjoy the visual treat.
Picture courtesy: www.bikewalls.com
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
TVS Apache RTR 160 - the hot new bike in town
The new n hot TVS Apache RTR 160 is here finally. Check the video, but before that let me pour out my excitement in words
The bikes already been displayed at few showrooms. It comes after a long wait. Delayed by couple months I guess. Been reading about it. Hope I soon get my hands on it for a test ride.
If this ones in (well it is almost), it clearly displaces the current 150cc category leader the CBZ Xtreme. Yes, it kind-of looks more like the existing simpleton Apache150cc but I wouldn’t be misled, the performance specs, looks and goodies indicate a wild animal approaching
The real story however is when we get the first hand reviews. Hope the bikes lives up to the silent hype. So far it’s been all praises from magazine scribes, the bike groups watching it and the ads of course
160cc, 15.2bhp, 0-60kms in 4.8 seconds, 120kmph top sped (company specs).
The new, well styled digital speedo console beats the one Karizma and Pulsars have.
The split handle bars, with 2 adjustable positions, look awesome.
Rear LED lights and split grab rail… Look mean!
The footpegs and brake+clutch levers look great.
A cool dash of body work at the bottom, the tiny bottom faring.
New Petal discs for the front disc brakes… as big as the ones on Karizma, but crafted differently like petals (than a circular disc). Helps in cooling the disc better.
Check the median strip painted along the center of the bike. You would have seen it on those drag-race cars. It looks cool here too.
And hey the RTR in the name stands for Racing Throttle Response. I hope the growl we hear in the video is real too :) not just a extra bass
What more a very cool ad-video with loads of attitude, am sure the bike too will match up. The price claimed to be around 66K is a decent deal compared to what it offers. Mileage... I don't think its built to give great mileage but 40kmpl should work, no indications as of now.
One small concern… wish it was a 250cc level. 150s are getting way to common here.
Waiting on the Hondas, Karizmas, Pulsars to ‘grow’. Ok am talking so much in the Indian context. No super-bikes discussed here, not as yet
Let’s wait till I return to Bangalore and get some pics myself. Till then Google around and see this video below. I could have cross posted the ones I have seen, but did not want to, plus I am in a hurry, going out of town tomorrow.
THE VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBq7AfP8iHk
The bikes already been displayed at few showrooms. It comes after a long wait. Delayed by couple months I guess. Been reading about it. Hope I soon get my hands on it for a test ride.
If this ones in (well it is almost), it clearly displaces the current 150cc category leader the CBZ Xtreme. Yes, it kind-of looks more like the existing simpleton Apache150cc but I wouldn’t be misled, the performance specs, looks and goodies indicate a wild animal approaching
The real story however is when we get the first hand reviews. Hope the bikes lives up to the silent hype. So far it’s been all praises from magazine scribes, the bike groups watching it and the ads of course
160cc, 15.2bhp, 0-60kms in 4.8 seconds, 120kmph top sped (company specs).
The new, well styled digital speedo console beats the one Karizma and Pulsars have.
The split handle bars, with 2 adjustable positions, look awesome.
Rear LED lights and split grab rail… Look mean!
The footpegs and brake+clutch levers look great.
A cool dash of body work at the bottom, the tiny bottom faring.
New Petal discs for the front disc brakes… as big as the ones on Karizma, but crafted differently like petals (than a circular disc). Helps in cooling the disc better.
Check the median strip painted along the center of the bike. You would have seen it on those drag-race cars. It looks cool here too.
And hey the RTR in the name stands for Racing Throttle Response. I hope the growl we hear in the video is real too :) not just a extra bass
What more a very cool ad-video with loads of attitude, am sure the bike too will match up. The price claimed to be around 66K is a decent deal compared to what it offers. Mileage... I don't think its built to give great mileage but 40kmpl should work, no indications as of now.
One small concern… wish it was a 250cc level. 150s are getting way to common here.
Waiting on the Hondas, Karizmas, Pulsars to ‘grow’. Ok am talking so much in the Indian context. No super-bikes discussed here, not as yet
Let’s wait till I return to Bangalore and get some pics myself. Till then Google around and see this video below. I could have cross posted the ones I have seen, but did not want to, plus I am in a hurry, going out of town tomorrow.
THE VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBq7AfP8iHk
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Yahoo! Photos is closing!
Yahoo! Photos is closing on September 20, 2007.
Fear not! you can still transfer all photos from those accounts to a different service (from the options given by Yahoo).
However, I thought since Flickr was now a Yahoo company this should have happend automatically. I am not sure I saw Yahoo photos in the form that used to be before. I've been on Flickr whenever I logged into Yahoo. So not quite sure how that works and why do they still want us to validate a migration... anyways, there are few other options than Flickr. The message goes-
" Move your photos to Flickr, Yahoo!'s award-winning photo sharing site that Time Magazine calls "completely addictive." And since Flickr is a Yahoo! company, moving is easy - just sign in with the same Yahoo! ID and password you use on Yahoo! Photos.Or if Flickr's not for you, you can also move your photos to services such as Kodak Gallery, Shutterfly, Snapfish or Photobucket. Select from the options below!
Dear (User),
Thank you so much for using Yahoo! Photos. Before we go, we can help you move your photos to a new home.
You must decide what to do by September 20, 2007, because any photos still here after that date will be deleted. Learn more.
Please choose from one of three options below: "
The options are-
1) Migrate to Flickr , Kodak Gallery , Photobucket , Shutterfly , Snapfish with help from Yahoo.[alrite! Thank you so much for this Yahoo]
2) Download all your pics by Sep2007 [Good Luck on that!]
3) Order DVDs of the back-ups [Gee, now we talk business :)]
Anyways... thanks I have some on Google's Picassa. Won't have to move them. And Photobucket too was a favorite :).
Log-in to you Yahoo photos accounts today! and get updated. You will see all the migration info proactively displayed. Get going save all those 'memory pichs'
Fear not! you can still transfer all photos from those accounts to a different service (from the options given by Yahoo).
However, I thought since Flickr was now a Yahoo company this should have happend automatically. I am not sure I saw Yahoo photos in the form that used to be before. I've been on Flickr whenever I logged into Yahoo. So not quite sure how that works and why do they still want us to validate a migration... anyways, there are few other options than Flickr. The message goes-
" Move your photos to Flickr, Yahoo!'s award-winning photo sharing site that Time Magazine calls "completely addictive." And since Flickr is a Yahoo! company, moving is easy - just sign in with the same Yahoo! ID and password you use on Yahoo! Photos.Or if Flickr's not for you, you can also move your photos to services such as Kodak Gallery, Shutterfly, Snapfish or Photobucket. Select from the options below!
Dear (User),
Thank you so much for using Yahoo! Photos. Before we go, we can help you move your photos to a new home.
You must decide what to do by September 20, 2007, because any photos still here after that date will be deleted. Learn more.
Please choose from one of three options below: "
The options are-
1) Migrate to Flickr , Kodak Gallery , Photobucket , Shutterfly , Snapfish with help from Yahoo.[alrite! Thank you so much for this Yahoo]
2) Download all your pics by Sep2007 [Good Luck on that!]
3) Order DVDs of the back-ups [Gee, now we talk business :)]
Anyways... thanks I have some on Google's Picassa. Won't have to move them. And Photobucket too was a favorite :).
Log-in to you Yahoo photos accounts today! and get updated. You will see all the migration info proactively displayed. Get going save all those 'memory pichs'
Friday, June 15, 2007
Jittery Jerry Mouse
We had an unlikely visitor this morning outside our house. It was Jerry Mouse! Scared to a corner by... no, not Tom Cat but by a black dog (our black lab). He seemed to be stuck up at the Kennel. Lucky for him the dog was chained on the opposite side for cleaning up. The dog kept barking at him non-stop, that’s what got us out..
He wouldn't move one bit, the barking had scared him off so bad. I tried to nudge him away with a stick "Go man go... he won't harm you" and he would have be saying " Man!! You are telling me? Look at the carnivorous infrastructure in the black dude's muzzle; I prefer not to take your advice after seeing that". Hell! What do we do now? If that dog's desperation to get hold of the little fellow ends up in a broken belt/chain, we not only have bloody mess but also a problem of getting him settled.
Enter the savior, my uncle who gives a damn to these little animals. He uncaringly (actually he did care, he wanted to save the mouse from this nightmare.) He rolled him off with a stick, the bugger still wouldn’t move. No he was not injured; he did run a few paces here and there. Uncle finally got hold of his tail (man! I wouldn’t be able to do that with a living mouse) and put him outside the compound wall into the grass.
"Off you go little fella!... next time be more careful"
He wouldn't move one bit, the barking had scared him off so bad. I tried to nudge him away with a stick "Go man go... he won't harm you" and he would have be saying " Man!! You are telling me? Look at the carnivorous infrastructure in the black dude's muzzle; I prefer not to take your advice after seeing that". Hell! What do we do now? If that dog's desperation to get hold of the little fellow ends up in a broken belt/chain, we not only have bloody mess but also a problem of getting him settled.
Enter the savior, my uncle who gives a damn to these little animals. He uncaringly (actually he did care, he wanted to save the mouse from this nightmare.) He rolled him off with a stick, the bugger still wouldn’t move. No he was not injured; he did run a few paces here and there. Uncle finally got hold of his tail (man! I wouldn’t be able to do that with a living mouse) and put him outside the compound wall into the grass.
"Off you go little fella!... next time be more careful"
Monday, March 26, 2007
PowerShot - Back to power
Finally, I have my digicam back. My Canon Powershot A95 that gave a whole new dimension to my creativity. Ah! yes and also an alternative pastime too.
So where did it go and why the big deal?
Well... it just got back from the second repair.
The first time... moisture some how got into the cam and just when I thought the cam was dry enough. I switched it on only to put it back to sleep... and a strange burning smell. Obviously something went kaput inside. INR 7K for that kaput thingy.
Now after a long gap. The CCD gave a problem, though the camera was functioning normally but the display was corrupted, more worse it affected the resultant picture too. Initially it would set right after a while, much like how freshly poured water settles down after a while. But the problem got bigger and pictures got worse.
This worse pics scenario costed me INR 4K to set that right.
Well all ok now but, felt like making a chronological analysis to scare people into being careful. Here we go :)
Before I start 'the end; of this post. PLEASE DO TAKE GOOD CARE of your gadgets (SERIOUSLY). Sometimes we tend to get a bit rough with them due to over use... which is ok but try to be a little more careful.
Canon Powershot A95
Purchased in 14Feb2005, NO! it wasn't a Valentine Day gift.
(2 years old now)
Phase 1 - 14 Feb 2005 - 03 Sep 2005
Approx 5000 snaps
Short Circuit due to moisture
Repair Exp - INR 7000
Phase 2 - 19 Dec 2005 - 12 Feb 2007
Approx 12000 snaps
Replaced the damaged CCD
Repair Exp - INR 4000
Phase 3 - 25 Mar 2007 - (not so soon I hope)
147 snaps so far. Actually in just a day
TOTAL: Till date approximately 17,000 snaps
So where did it go and why the big deal?
Well... it just got back from the second repair.
The first time... moisture some how got into the cam and just when I thought the cam was dry enough. I switched it on only to put it back to sleep... and a strange burning smell. Obviously something went kaput inside. INR 7K for that kaput thingy.
Now after a long gap. The CCD gave a problem, though the camera was functioning normally but the display was corrupted, more worse it affected the resultant picture too. Initially it would set right after a while, much like how freshly poured water settles down after a while. But the problem got bigger and pictures got worse.
This worse pics scenario costed me INR 4K to set that right.
Well all ok now but, felt like making a chronological analysis to scare people into being careful. Here we go :)
Before I start 'the end; of this post. PLEASE DO TAKE GOOD CARE of your gadgets (SERIOUSLY). Sometimes we tend to get a bit rough with them due to over use... which is ok but try to be a little more careful.
Canon Powershot A95
Purchased in 14Feb2005, NO! it wasn't a Valentine Day gift.
(2 years old now)
Phase 1 - 14 Feb 2005 - 03 Sep 2005
Approx 5000 snaps
Short Circuit due to moisture
Repair Exp - INR 7000
Phase 2 - 19 Dec 2005 - 12 Feb 2007
Approx 12000 snaps
Replaced the damaged CCD
Repair Exp - INR 4000
Phase 3 - 25 Mar 2007 - (not so soon I hope)
147 snaps so far. Actually in just a day
TOTAL: Till date approximately 17,000 snaps
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
This toddler doesn't give up!
Watch my newphew. Barely a year old, just learned to walk. He plays with the plastic chair, uses it like a wheel-barrow or a walker. He just dropped it and was not able to get it up immediately. But he ain't givin up! Fun watching him do that. Thought I should share :)
The Video
On Google Video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1627498782697292756
Or on Orkut http://www.orkut.com/FavoriteVideos.aspx?uid=5411747729123791256
The Video
On Google Video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1627498782697292756
Or on Orkut http://www.orkut.com/FavoriteVideos.aspx?uid=5411747729123791256
Monday, March 19, 2007
iPhone – Apple reinvents the phone
Technological revolutions are always on… there are some things which entirely change the way we have been doing things. The computer as compared to a mere calculator or a simple typewriter as compared to a top-end printer with x many other built in features. Recently came across one such device that is headed [or rather already is] in that way. Maybe most of the tech savvy among us already know.
It’s the Apple iPhone- the revolutionary phone by Apple. Happen to see the keynote by Steve jobs on the internet. Thanks to a friend who forwarded me that link and ever since I’ve been in love with the device and dream [like always] of owning one. I liked this so much that I am at risk of sounding like a Apple spokesperson :)
Here’s how Jobs introduces the device :) …excerpts from the presentation [not verbatim]. He talks of how Apple created a revolution by introducing the Macintosh in early 1984 and then the iPod in 2001 which entirely changed the way music business worked and then…
“… Today we are introducing three revolutionary products-
- Wide Screen iPod with touch controls
- Revolutionary Mobile Phone and
- Breakthrough Internet communications device.”
Blah Blah! and goes on to mention that these are not 3 separate devices... but just one…called the iPhone [audience cheers and continues] Apple has re-invented the phone… and shows a digitally morphed iPod with a analog phone dial [audience laughs :))]... and later goes on to reveal the actual iPhone :)
So let’s leave you to take a look at the actual presentation video. The link is at the end of this blog
So the top level things I noticed about the iPhone... er!! well here are couple of pictures… and then let me go ahead with my comments.
Ok, so going ahead the top level things I feel I should share are..
1) It has a revolutionary User Interface –
The controls are not physically set… permanent into the single device that you would have, it enables adding new controls/features in future just by upgrading the operating system, it’s their Desktop class application the OS X [read OS Ten] . Instead we have a giant screen… with a great pointing device. Like we had the mouse… er no… the Stylus? No just your finger, the device is intelligently configured to understand you finger pressure etc. to kind off read any unintentional touch [hmm this could be a little dicey though, hope not!]
2) More detailed integration with you computer. Has lot of inbuilt stuff, for example Google Maps is one.
3) Has BIG memory space
4) Has a inbuilt iPod [as mentioned earlier]
5) Easy email access [just stating, haven’t used it for real]
Here are the iPhone specifications:
Screen size: 3.5 inches
Screen resolution: 320 by 480 at 160 ppi
Input method: Multi-touch
Operating system: OS XStorage: 4GB or 8GB
GSM: Quad-band (MHz: 850, 900, 1800, 1900)
Wireless data: Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) + EDGE + Bluetooth 2.0
Camera: 2.0 megapixels
Battery: Up to 5 hours Talk / Video / Browsing
As promised the detailed keynote and introduction video by Steve Jobs on the Apple website. http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/j47d52oo/event/
Over here watch the iPhone Introduction (the second button)
More details on the features and their demo movies can be found on http://www.apple.com/iphone/
Hope you like it as much as I do :). Let’s see how fun this can be. I am very optimistic
PHOTOS
From the Apple website
It’s the Apple iPhone- the revolutionary phone by Apple. Happen to see the keynote by Steve jobs on the internet. Thanks to a friend who forwarded me that link and ever since I’ve been in love with the device and dream [like always] of owning one. I liked this so much that I am at risk of sounding like a Apple spokesperson :)
Here’s how Jobs introduces the device :) …excerpts from the presentation [not verbatim]. He talks of how Apple created a revolution by introducing the Macintosh in early 1984 and then the iPod in 2001 which entirely changed the way music business worked and then…
“… Today we are introducing three revolutionary products-
- Wide Screen iPod with touch controls
- Revolutionary Mobile Phone and
- Breakthrough Internet communications device.”
Blah Blah! and goes on to mention that these are not 3 separate devices... but just one…called the iPhone [audience cheers and continues] Apple has re-invented the phone… and shows a digitally morphed iPod with a analog phone dial [audience laughs :))]... and later goes on to reveal the actual iPhone :)
So let’s leave you to take a look at the actual presentation video. The link is at the end of this blog
So the top level things I noticed about the iPhone... er!! well here are couple of pictures… and then let me go ahead with my comments.
Ok, so going ahead the top level things I feel I should share are..
1) It has a revolutionary User Interface –
The controls are not physically set… permanent into the single device that you would have, it enables adding new controls/features in future just by upgrading the operating system, it’s their Desktop class application the OS X [read OS Ten] . Instead we have a giant screen… with a great pointing device. Like we had the mouse… er no… the Stylus? No just your finger, the device is intelligently configured to understand you finger pressure etc. to kind off read any unintentional touch [hmm this could be a little dicey though, hope not!]
2) More detailed integration with you computer. Has lot of inbuilt stuff, for example Google Maps is one.
3) Has BIG memory space
4) Has a inbuilt iPod [as mentioned earlier]
5) Easy email access [just stating, haven’t used it for real]
Here are the iPhone specifications:
Screen size: 3.5 inches
Screen resolution: 320 by 480 at 160 ppi
Input method: Multi-touch
Operating system: OS XStorage: 4GB or 8GB
GSM: Quad-band (MHz: 850, 900, 1800, 1900)
Wireless data: Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) + EDGE + Bluetooth 2.0
Camera: 2.0 megapixels
Battery: Up to 5 hours Talk / Video / Browsing
As promised the detailed keynote and introduction video by Steve Jobs on the Apple website. http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/j47d52oo/event/
Over here watch the iPhone Introduction (the second button)
More details on the features and their demo movies can be found on http://www.apple.com/iphone/
Hope you like it as much as I do :). Let’s see how fun this can be. I am very optimistic
PHOTOS
From the Apple website
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Look what ORKUT does!
Orkut, the new craze for all online netizens. Yahoo is good will always be, but Orkut seems to have induced some freshness into the whole idea of communicating/synching-up/networking/ etc. Interesting...very interesting!
Today, apart from my Yahoo or MSN chat friends list. I am talking to various other folks. My 6th, 7th grade classmates from one school, my 9-10th grade folks from another, my college mates, most of my ex-work places, and almost all of my current friends. The message on top of my Orkut profile saying “You are connected to 46,915,167 people through 90 friends" is proof enough and I bet some of us have triple the figure I have.
Ok now I agree that not all talk, but then the knowledge of each-other being around sort-of gives the feeling of being in-touch. You are free to message anyone, without being worried about disturbing him/her... and same for you replying back. You have the freedom of checking them whenever and replying whenever. However, we have to be responsive enough to make this two-way communication work.
This whole concept is just so wonderful. There are communities you can join and further collaborate personally, professionally or just for fun. Fan clubs, hobbies, and topics of interest everything can be done. If you remember names of you long lost friends go search them, but warning you might make friends or find ten others with the same name :)
Then there are provisions of photo sharing ( limited), video sharing, building up a detailed profile ( which 99% of us don't complete). You can post scraps (the term used for a message on Orkut) which are public, or send individual messages or messages to an entire group/community. We can configure it to get alerts on a selected email on receiving any scrap and also on receiving individual emails. You can add friends, sort them and maybe lots more that even I haven't explored. There are profile visits listed on you home page, so that you know the last 4-5 people who visited you. That’s one way of making friends too. You could end up visiting a friend’s scrap book and getting lined on to few more friends (new or old) who would have left messages there. See didn't I tell it was interesting!
Of course, we have to follow those basic etiquettes of being online, be responsible, responsive and behave. We need to exercise caution not to promote any illegal activity or harass or get harassed. Well as long as its fun there’s no problem. Hope no one ever gets into trouble here or causes trouble, but you cannot say for sure. There is so much to make use of there in a positive sense. Why would someone want to spoil the party? Best of all its FREE ;) All you need is a email ID to link that with.
In all this baby, a personal project of a Google engineer Orkut Buyukkokten is a sure hit among us. Read more about this and him on these links. Thanks Orkut! (both the person and Google's site) for making the net some more fun.
Link - http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=3302741
His personal website - http://www.stanford.edu/~orkut/
(Note: I also got to know that there might be iisues with the actual ownership... Google seems to be facing a lawsuit from another company in CA. Read...http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,64046,00.html )
Today, apart from my Yahoo or MSN chat friends list. I am talking to various other folks. My 6th, 7th grade classmates from one school, my 9-10th grade folks from another, my college mates, most of my ex-work places, and almost all of my current friends. The message on top of my Orkut profile saying “You are connected to 46,915,167 people through 90 friends" is proof enough and I bet some of us have triple the figure I have.
Ok now I agree that not all talk, but then the knowledge of each-other being around sort-of gives the feeling of being in-touch. You are free to message anyone, without being worried about disturbing him/her... and same for you replying back. You have the freedom of checking them whenever and replying whenever. However, we have to be responsive enough to make this two-way communication work.
This whole concept is just so wonderful. There are communities you can join and further collaborate personally, professionally or just for fun. Fan clubs, hobbies, and topics of interest everything can be done. If you remember names of you long lost friends go search them, but warning you might make friends or find ten others with the same name :)
Then there are provisions of photo sharing ( limited), video sharing, building up a detailed profile ( which 99% of us don't complete). You can post scraps (the term used for a message on Orkut) which are public, or send individual messages or messages to an entire group/community. We can configure it to get alerts on a selected email on receiving any scrap and also on receiving individual emails. You can add friends, sort them and maybe lots more that even I haven't explored. There are profile visits listed on you home page, so that you know the last 4-5 people who visited you. That’s one way of making friends too. You could end up visiting a friend’s scrap book and getting lined on to few more friends (new or old) who would have left messages there. See didn't I tell it was interesting!
Of course, we have to follow those basic etiquettes of being online, be responsible, responsive and behave. We need to exercise caution not to promote any illegal activity or harass or get harassed. Well as long as its fun there’s no problem. Hope no one ever gets into trouble here or causes trouble, but you cannot say for sure. There is so much to make use of there in a positive sense. Why would someone want to spoil the party? Best of all its FREE ;) All you need is a email ID to link that with.
In all this baby, a personal project of a Google engineer Orkut Buyukkokten is a sure hit among us. Read more about this and him on these links. Thanks Orkut! (both the person and Google's site) for making the net some more fun.
Link - http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=3302741
His personal website - http://www.stanford.edu/~orkut/
(Note: I also got to know that there might be iisues with the actual ownership... Google seems to be facing a lawsuit from another company in CA. Read...http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,64046,00.html )
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
MOTORCYCLES without front forks!!
Came across some pics of the London MCN Bike show 2007 shared by a freind on another group. Tempted me to gather this info on one of the bikes seen there and share :)
MOTORCYCLE SUSPENSION:
Hub-center steering (A swingarm in the front)
Hub-center steering is one of several different types of front end suspension/steering mechanisms used in motorcycles. Hub-center steering is characterized by a swingarm that extends from the bottom of the engine/frame to the center of the front wheel instead of two forks. A sort of horizontal forks running to the center of the front wheel, a series of pushrods are used to hold the front wheel in place.
The advantages of using a hub centre steering system instead of a more conventional motorcycle fork are that hub centre steer separates the steering, braking, and suspension functions. With a fork the braking forces are put through the suspension, a situation that leads to the suspension being compressed, using up a large amount of suspension travel which makes dealing with bumps and other road irregularities extremely difficult. Also, having the steering working through the forks also causes problems with stiction, decreasing the effectiveness of the suspension.
Its complicated assembly is only one of the reasons hub-center steering is implemented in relatively few motorcycle models. The telescopic fork steering system is much more commonly used.
Currently, Bimota's Tesi 2D and the Vyrus 984C3 2V and the 985C3 4V are the only production motorcycles using hub-steer.
See pictures. Enjoy!
MOTORCYCLE SUSPENSION:
Hub-center steering (A swingarm in the front)
Hub-center steering is one of several different types of front end suspension/steering mechanisms used in motorcycles. Hub-center steering is characterized by a swingarm that extends from the bottom of the engine/frame to the center of the front wheel instead of two forks. A sort of horizontal forks running to the center of the front wheel, a series of pushrods are used to hold the front wheel in place.
The advantages of using a hub centre steering system instead of a more conventional motorcycle fork are that hub centre steer separates the steering, braking, and suspension functions. With a fork the braking forces are put through the suspension, a situation that leads to the suspension being compressed, using up a large amount of suspension travel which makes dealing with bumps and other road irregularities extremely difficult. Also, having the steering working through the forks also causes problems with stiction, decreasing the effectiveness of the suspension.
Its complicated assembly is only one of the reasons hub-center steering is implemented in relatively few motorcycle models. The telescopic fork steering system is much more commonly used.
Currently, Bimota's Tesi 2D and the Vyrus 984C3 2V and the 985C3 4V are the only production motorcycles using hub-steer.
See pictures. Enjoy!
PHOTOS
Photo courtesy: Googled 'em 
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