A Glimpse of the Future MEMSbased Storage Totally Green Thumbnail Size
Nanochip lands $10M in financing Citation: A Glimpse of the Future MEMS-based Storage: Totally Green & Thumbnail Size (2009, June 23) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2009-06-glimpse-future-mems-based-storage-totally.html Explore further MEMS technology is currently used in iPhone and Wii devices. Dr. Khatib’s MEMS technology differs insofar as it optimizes the technology for use as a data storage device. The high-end Green technology discovery is less expensive to produce. The cost to operate will be cheaper than any other known memory device available for mobile devices. Dr. Khatib’s discovery is as effective as flash memory, but more cost-effective in all respects.According to the University of Twente spokesperson, “this new green storage technology with extremely high data densities has shown experimentally a storage density of 4Tb/in2 in a demonstration. In effect this means that when this technology is fully developed, it will be possible for a storage device to be reduced to the size of a fingernail, with a capacity of 1 Tb, (200 DVDs) and energy consumption remains extremely low. Thereby, MEMS combines the advantages of a disc (inexpensive) and a memory card (energy efficient).”Nearly everyone is familiar with digital still or video cameras. Video cameras often use storage on a disc such as a DVD (disk storage). Cameras often store their data on a memory card, such as a flash card (flash memory). Both methods have their own disadvantage. The cost of disk storage requires a lot of energy and the battery must be recharged often. Storage on a memory card is costly. Dr. Khatib’s method combines the best of both worlds and delivers a product which has low energy consumption with the advantages of high-density data storage on a low cost disc. Dr. Khatib received his PhD on June 11, 2009 from the TU Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science and the Centre for Telematic and Information Technology under the supervision of Professor Pieter Hartel and Dr. Leon Abelmann. The research was funded by the technology Foundation, STW. The University of Twente–Enschede, The Netherlands published newly conferred PhD Mohammed Ghiath Khatib’s thesis, “MEMS-based Storage Devices: Integration in Energy-Constrained Mobile System”. The new MEMS, (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) discovery will allow video camera batteries to increase their charging life approximately 2-1/2 times, consume 1/5th of the energy of disc storage and store 1-Tb on a postage stamp size device. Dr. Khatib expects this new technology to be available to the public within the next five-years. Micro-Electro-Mechanical System. Credit: Zurich IBM Lab This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
This is an image of the planet Uranus taken by the spacecraft Voyager 2 in 1986. Image: NASA (Phys.org)—French researchers Sébastien Charnoz and Aurélien Crida have proposed in a paper published in the journal Science that moons that orbit some of the planets in our solar system came about due to accretion from material in rings that used to surround the planets, rather than as entities that took shape while their host planets were forming. Citation: Research model suggests moons of some planets developed from rings (2012, November 30) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2012-11-moons-planets.html Explore further ‘Hot Jupiter’ planets unlikely to have moons More information: Formation of Regular Satellites from Ancient Massive Rings in the Solar System, Science, 30 November 2012: Vol. 338 no. 6111 pp. 1196-1199 DOI: 10.1126/science.1226477ABSTRACTWhen a planetary tidal disk—like Saturn’s rings—spreads beyond the Roche radius (inside which planetary tides prevent aggregation), satellites form and migrate away. Here, we show that most regular satellites in the solar system probably formed in this way. According to our analytical model, when the spreading is slow, a retinue of satellites appear with masses increasing with distance to the Roche radius, in excellent agreement with Saturn’s, Uranus’, and Neptune’s satellite systems. This suggests that Uranus and Neptune used to have massive rings that disappeared to give birth to most of their regular satellites. When the spreading is fast, only one large satellite forms, as was the case for Pluto and Earth. This conceptually bridges the gap between terrestrial and giant planet systems.
Space researchers have long proposed that moons circulating planets generally came to exist in one of three ways: as entities that formed on their own as their host was developing, as clumps that coalesced from material shed from a planet struck by some other body, or by being captured as they passed by. In this new research, Charnoz and Crida propose a fourth possibility – that the moons were formed from material in rings that surrounded their host planet.In attempting to explain how moons orbiting planets such as Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, came about, the researchers created mathematical models that could predict moon formation from material surrounding a planet. Their models suggest that when material in a ring reaches a certain critical point at some distance from the host, called the Roche radius, the gravity from the host planet is offset by the gravitational pull that each piece exerts on others in the ring. Because of this, material in the ring begins to coalesce with some pieces eventually accreting enough material to form a moon. They add that the speed at which material in the ring orbits the host may account for the number of moons that form. Slow moving material might result in the formation of several small moons, while fast moving material may result in just one, as might have been the case with Earth and its single moon. Their model explains, they suggest, why all of the moons orbiting planets (except for Jupiter) in our solar system grow in size as they orbit farther from the host planet. Jupiter they say, is an exception, with its moons likely originating in tandem with the planet birth itself.The researchers concede that their models can’t explain how the rings themselves came to exist, but suggest it’s possible that they came about due to collisions with other bodies moving through space. © 2012 Phys.org Journal information: Science This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
Physicists first to create new molecule with record-setting dipole moment Molecules with atoms that have unequal numbers of electrons are known as dipoles—different sides can be positively or negatively charged causing interactions with other molecules to come about. Interactions between dipoles is a major area of research because it is part of such important processes as photosynthesis. In plants, dipole interactions aide chromophore couplings—helping to transfer energy from sunlight to other molecules that later convert it to energy. How exactly this process works is still not fully understood, unfortunately, and for that reason, researchers have been trying to capture images of it as it occurs—but until now, have been unsuccessful because light based microscopes can only see images to a certain small size. In this new effort, the researchers used scanning tunneling microscopy to get the job done.To capture the images, the researchers used chromophores that were made using a purple dye and then focused a red light on them to further highlight details. Next, they used the tip of the tunneling device to push some of the chromophores together—as they did so, they noticed that at approximately 3 nanometers apart, the light given off by the chromophores began to change; imagery of that change showed the process of dipole-dipole interactions taking place.But, that was not the end of the story, in recent years some scientists have begun to suspect that entanglement occurs during dipole-dipole interactions. As part of their experiments, the researchers varied the numbers of chromophores involved in the coupling, trying clusters up to four in size. In so doing they found that the way that the light changed between them, might be an indication of entanglement. This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Journal information: Nature (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with the University of Science and Technology in China has for the first time, imaged dipole-dipole interactions using scanning tunneling microscopy. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the team describes how they captured the imagery and why they believe they may have also captured an instance of entanglement of chromophores. Guillaume Schull with Institutde Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg outlines the work done by the team in a News & Views article published in the same journal issue and explains in more detail the importance of better understanding the interactions of dipoles in biological processes. Explore further © 2016 Phys.org Citation: Dipole-dipole interactions imaged at sub-molecular resolution for first time (2016, March 31) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2016-03-dipole-dipole-interactions-imaged-sub-molecular-resolution.html STM image showing isolated single ZnPc molecules adsorbed on either a three-monolayer NaCl island or bare Ag(100) (image size: 34 nm × 25 nm; scanning parameters: −1.7 V, 2 pA). Credit: (c) Nature (2016). DOI: 10.1038/nature17428 (Left) Artistic rendering of the experimental scheme (Right) The spatial distribution of the excitonic coupling of zinc-phthalocyanine dimers in real space mapped by STM-based electroluminescence at sub-nanometer resolution. Credit: Image on left provided by WANG Guoyan and SUN Daping, Image on right provided by DONG Zhenchao’s group More information: Yang Zhang et al. Visualizing coherent intermolecular dipole–dipole coupling in real space, Nature (2016). DOI: 10.1038/nature17428AbstractMany important energy-transfer and optical processes, in both biological and artificial systems, depend crucially on excitonic coupling that spans several chromophores. Such coupling can in principle be described in a straightforward manner by considering the coherent intermolecular dipole–dipole interactions involved. However, in practice, it is challenging to directly observe in real space the coherent dipole coupling and the related exciton delocalizations, owing to the diffraction limit in conventional optics. Here we demonstrate that the highly localized excitations that are produced by electrons tunnelling from the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope, in conjunction with imaging of the resultant luminescence, can be used to map the spatial distribution of the excitonic coupling in well-defined arrangements of a few zinc-phthalocyanine molecules. The luminescence patterns obtained for excitons in a dimer, which are recorded for different energy states and found to resemble σ and π molecular orbitals, reveal the local optical response of the system and the dependence of the local optical response on the relative orientation and phase of the transition dipoles of the individual molecules in the dimer. We generate an in-line arrangement up to four zinc-phthalocyanine molecules, with a larger total transition dipole, and show that this results in enhanced ‘single-molecule’ superradiance from the oligomer upon site-selective excitation. These findings demonstrate that our experimental approach provides detailed spatial information about coherent dipole–dipole coupling in molecular systems, which should enable a greater understanding and rational engineering of light-harvesting structures and quantum light sources.
Researchers discover the initial stages of the folding mechanism of membrane proteins © 2019 Science X Network Journal information: Journal of the American Chemical Society Explore further To induce spontaneous folding, the researchers added saltwater. They note that their molecule needed a nucleobase to form the macrocycle, but others, such as guanine or adenine, would work equally well. They next plan to work with the molecule they created to learn how to modify its self-assembly properties to create designer macrocycles in the future. They also note that their process demonstrates that folding molecules might have played a role in the beginning of life on Earth at an earlier stage than has been thought. Core part of the foldamer, showing five stacks of three phenyl rings connected by disulfide bonds. Credit: Bin Liu, University of Groningen Top view of the central cavity of the folded molecule. Credit: Bin Liu, University of Groningen
In nature, there are a number of proteins that fold spontaneously to carry out various functions. But misfolding can lead to problems, such as the development of neurological diseases. Scientists have been interested in such folding not only because it might help in understanding human ailments, but because it might be relevant to understanding how life began on Earth. In this new effort, the researchers sought to replicate the folding seen in nature by building their own spontaneously folding molecules.The researchers report that they achieved their goal—they found a way to create a self-assembling, self-folding molecule called a macrocycle. More specifically, a 15mer macrocycle made up of 75 atoms. To achieve the folding, the molecule was formed in the shape of a ring. The researchers note that the end result (called a foldamer) had a hydrophilic surface and a hydrophobic core, which they note mirrors the structure of naturally occurring folding proteins. They further note that the foldamer was held together by hydrogen bonds, the interaction between ring stacking and a disulfide bridge. The molecule also had a third tiled structure made of stacks of rings. More information: Bin Liu et al. Complex Molecules that Fold like Proteins Can Emerge Spontaneously, Journal of the American Chemical Society (2018). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b11698Press release Citation: Researchers make complex molecule that spontaneously folds like a protein (2019, January 11) retrieved 18 August 2019 from https://phys.org/news/2019-01-complex-molecule-spontaneously-protein.html In biology, folded proteins are responsible for most advanced functions. These complex proteins are the result of evolution or design by scientists. Now, a team of scientists led by University of Groningen Professor of Systems Chemistry, Sijbren Otto, have discovered a new class of complex folding molecules that emerge spontaneously from simple building blocks. The results were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society on 16 January.A team of researchers from the Netherlands, Italy and Poland has developed a way to make complex molecules that spontaneously fold like proteins. In their paper published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the group describes their approach to manipulating molecules in useful ways, what they discovered, and the ways they believe their results might be used. This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
We headed over the check out what they had to offer and we were not disappointed! Conceptually a 24-hour coffee shop, Eggspectation has an incredible menu where you can pick food off a breakfast list, light snacks and proper meals as well. We started off with Page from the juice bar which is an incredible bled of fruits and a ‘multi vitamin blast’ as they like to call it. As the name would make you expect, Eggspectation has a long list of omelettes that you can pick from including the ever-favourite scrambled eggs and more exotic ones like the Southwestern Sunrise and the Mykonos Omellette. Also Read – ‘Playing Jojo was emotionally exhausting’Make sure you try the Salmon Crostini – it is incredible and so light that you would have to stop yourself from just bingeing on that! Take your pick from pastas, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas and something the chef calls the flatbread. Flatbreads are like thin crust pizzas but they are not baked in the oven – instead made on the open stove with the choice of toppings. But don’t worry – they are just as delectable as your pizzas.Eggspectation also offers a wide array of meats and seafood. We picked the grilled fish that we absolutely loved. And for dessert have the Smores French Toast – though ideally meant for breakfast, this can surely be had all day long and you will love it! Keeping up with the spirit of the season, Eggspectation is whipping up some yummy eggnogs. Make sure you try them. A meal for two comes to around Rs 1600 plus taxes.
Kolkata: Two separate incidents of fire took place in the city on Saturday afternoon with no casualties or injuries being reported.A fire broke out at the second floor of an old two-storeyed building on Elliot Road on Saturday triggering panic among the residents of the building at the time of the incident. Five fire tenders were pressed into action and the situation was brought under control after nearly two hours.Some of the locals spotted smoke billowing out of a room situated on the second floor of the building that lacked any fire fighting mechanism. The matter was immediately reported to the fire brigade. The fire fighters initially faced difficulties to spot the source as thick black smoke had already covered the area. Senior police officers also rushed to the spot. Also Read – Rain batters Kolkata, cripples normal lifeThe traffic movement through Elliot Road was restricted for a couple of hours. A disaster management team also swung into action to bring the situation under control.According to the police, the second floor of the building houses a few private offices. The employees fled the building after a fire alarm was triggered by the locals. According to preliminary investigation, the fire officials suspect that the old building had no fire safety mechanism in place and steps will be taken against the owners if any lapses are found. The cause of the fire and extent of the damage are yet to be ascertained.In another incident, a fire broke out from the meter box of a multi-storeyed building on Sambhunath Pandit Street on Saturday afternoon. Three fire tenders extinguished the flames which might have been caused due to an electrical short circuit. A probe has been initiated.
The 5-day-long festival, set to begin on September 21, also celebrated as International Day of Peace, will also usher in the United Nations’ 12-day peace campaign here. “This year the Flute Festival will take place in the first few days of the 12-day-campaign. The flute, is a pan-Indian instrument apart from being a global peace instrument. It links and binds this nation with its sweetness and brings together the human, spiritual and divine elements in a way that is unique and so beautiful,” Rajiv Chandran, currently heading United Nations Information Centre for India and Bhutan (UNIC) said.27 flautists will form the international component of the festival. Major attractions will include Riga Saxophone Quartet from Latvia and Arcadio Baracchi from Italy among others. Some Indian performers include Pandit Pravin Godhkindi, Pandit Ronu Majumdar and Pandit Chetan Joshi.
Kolkata: Taking immediate steps soon after receiving information, the Eastern Railway authorities have saved life of a 35-year-old man who fell off from a train in Bandel-Burdwan section on Saturday late night. According to the Eastern Railway authorities, loco pilot of 13019 Up Howrah-Kathgodam Bagh Express has passed information that a 35-year-old man fell off from a compartment in between Pundooah and Simlagarh stations of Bandel-Burdwan section. It was informed to the authorities that the incident took place at around 11.17 pm on Saturday. Soon after receiving the information, initiatives were taken to rescue the person. A diesel pilot engine from Baichi was pressed into action. The officers in the rescue team found the man lying with injuries. It was midnight when the person was rescued. They took him in the diesel pilot engine and brought him to Simlagarh. From Simlagarh they took the injured man to Chinsurah in Hooghly by car and admitted him to Chinsurah Hospital. He underwent necessary treatment in the hospital. The Diesel pilot engine was sent soon after receiving the information from the loco pilot of 13019 Up Howrah-Kathgodam Bagh Express. The prompt action of the Eastern Railway authorities has saved the life of the man.
With a discernment to give their guests a remarkable culinary experience, The Lalit New Delhi hosted Chef Ollie Dabbous and Mixologist Oskar Kinberg, co-owners of the Michelin-starred Dabbous, London from September 29 to October 2.In this one-of-its-kind endeavour, the Michelin Chef and The Lalit Team planed three exceptional gourmet nights at The Lalit New Delhi, which included re-launching European speciality restaurant The Grill Room. The menu was an amalgamation of Chef Ollie’s signature recipes and thoughtful innovations while Mixologist Oskar churned some exotic cocktails to compliment the flavours. Also Read – Add new books to your shelfThe List at Kitty Su (the only Indian club to be featured in DJ Mag’s Top 100 Clubs) welcomed its patrons, where Oskar showcased some of his signature cocktails and Ollie delighted the guests with finger food. Bespoke dishes combining contemporary creations with local flavours, prepared by Chef Ollie were served at Baluchi dinner night.Talking about his experience Chef Ollie said, “It is our first time in India and we are very excited to showcase our food to such a varied audience. We are already overwhelmed by the response and also by the Lalit hospitality. I would like to thank Mr Keshav Suri to have given us this opportunity.” Also Read – Over 2 hours screen time daily will make your kids impulsive“We always like to do something innovative and path breaking for our guests. From Naanery to cheese wheel pasta to Michelin star Chef, I plan to make it bigger and better, for all the food lovers,” added Keshav Suri, Executive Director of The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group. The group has twelve 5-star hotels, palaces and resorts throughout India. However the residency will also introduce international audiences to the Baluchi concept that will be an integral part of The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group’s first overseas hotel, The Lalit London is set to open later this year.
Winter brings in a lot of confusion in terms of choosing the right outfit that not only keeps you away from chilly season but also protects you from winter. Bomber jackets and velvet are some of the pieces that you opt for to stay both fashionable and warm, says an expert.1. Velvet: Arriving in a shocking array of bright hues, velvet is no longer the fabric of dark, romantic, gothic evening-only clothes, but one to be mixed into the most vibrant street styler’s daytime wardrobes. You’ll find it used in everything from trouser suits to thigh-high boots. Blazers,velvet in the form of kick-around sneakers, sleek flats, and flirty evening options Also Read – Add new books to your shelf2. Bomber jackets: The bomber has recently taken over the fashion world, but this year it takes on a new twist in unusual colors and fresh silhouettes. Whether oversized or embroidered, it’s all about the details in 2016.3. Slip dresses: The slip dress can seem intimidating because of its clinging, slinky silhouette. But trying an A-line version of this trend is just as chic and a much easier wear. Pair it with an oversized sweater or a crossbody bag with plenty of hardware, heels, and a leather jacket. Also Read – Over 2 hours screen time daily will make your kids impulsive4. Metallic dress: Metallic dresses are yet another eye-catching trend in winter. We saw both micro-sequined dresses to metallic fabrics in colours like gold, brass, silver, metallic fuchsia to burnt gold.5. Fur collars: The fur collars in coats and dresses, which is quite wintry! Try it in the deep colours like black and grape , or in light pastels or even the marble patterned one. 6. Ruffles: Ruffles can be seen in different styles – some on dresses, some on skirts or tops, but they were seen in the collections of so many of design houses like Roberto Cavalli, Dior and Oscar de la Renta .7. Trench vest: The trench coat will always be a classic staple in all of our closets, but this year it’s trending in a fresh sleeveless silhouette. Whether you’re running to brunch or heading to a meeting, this vest is a perfect layering option to step up your favorite outfit.
Over the past two decades, Manoj Kachangal’s artistic output has been dominated by visions of tangled brushstrokes and limpid landscapes. Dense thickets of lines obscure distinctly divisional backgrounds, entangling the human eye in webs of wandering tendrils that invite full contemplation of what lies beyond. By emphasizing the hand of the artist through horizontal sweeps and zagged brushstrokes, Kanchangal explores broad themes of chaos, catharsis and rebirth in his work, while silently challenging perceived boundaries between abstract and landscape painting. In the world of art, Kachangal is a neo abstractionist. Also Read – Add new books to your shelfTumultuous landscapes”My biggest realization over the years has been how to use line, colour and form to convey my responses to issues, shapes, experiences and feelings. I learned how to use my feelings to engage in a critical examination of subjects close to my heart, rather than producing acrylic paintings that merely visually describe my patterns of exploration,” he states.These are not facile, painterly or merely beautiful landscapes but they are tumultuous “landscapes” that tend towards the abstract, seeking to convey a sense of the subliminal rather than accurately represent the world around him. Beyond the net of painted lines, these works appear to capture a moment of creation emerging from chaos – the light suggesting a harmonic presence bringing illumination to the landscape. Kachangal’s selective use of bold, intense colours and a tendency towards dramatization also evokes the works of early expressionists, who sought to capture the emotional resonance of their subjects over their physical form.In these Landscape Series, the planes that are interwoven across the canvas surface suggest troubles and tribulations; the jagged “branches” that dominate these seemingly sunset laden landscapes have neither beginning nor end, and the rippled disturbance-like structures are actually discernable. Dabs of primary colour and streaks of grey/ochre/ straw lend definition to the overall composition, providing balance and tempering the darker tones, but no attempt is made towards a perfect dimensional modelling. The artist has stated anecdotally that it was his reading of the Puranas and shastras that inspired his interest in the interiority of forms, shown in the intensity of the brushwork and tactility of the paint he uses to ground this series strongly within the abstract realms.Visual oscillationWhen translated into different dimensional forms, Kachangal’s work deconstructs the viewer’s understanding of mass, for the landscapes are at once airy as well as deeply dense. The visual oscillation between positive and negative space within Kachangal’s interconnected construction creates an optical motion. As the viewer perceives one form, another spatial combination suggests itself, contradicting the first and lending the viewer to reconsider the canvasses as a whole. Thus, we see early hints of a ‘dematerialized’ and highly intellectualized formula: a canvas can embody the volume of human experiences and relationships as revealed in the complex manipulations of form and linear horizontals in striations of colour.
Diversity is the art of thinking independently together, and a new vibrancy is created when this action results in linking different forms of cultural events under one roof – particularly when they bring about unison of different countries.The International Ancient Arts Festival/Symposium (IAAF) being held in the Capital in March is aimed at achieving this difficult task by bringing together various forms of dance and music and dance in a single event. Also Read – Add new books to your shelfSlated for March 10 and 11 at The Ashok Amphitheatre, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, the event will show how music and dance are vital therapeutic tools in traditional systems of healing. Adding to the value of this event is the fact that it will have artists from Guinea and Switzerland along with those from India. According to the festival Director, Reela Hota, who founded the Ray of Wisdom Society, “This is the only multi-arts event of its kind which tries to educate while entertaining.” The danseuse, who started a new chapter in Odissi dance and its spiritual aspect, said that the event will highlight how dance can help achieve a more balanced lifestyle and rounded personality in a common man’s life filled with stress and strain. Also Read – Over 2 hours screen time daily will make your kids impulsiveThe Rays of Wisdom Society is organizing the festival with the support of the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with ITDC and The Ashok. The event consists of lectures and discussions on various aspects of dance, music, allied arts and their relevance in urban life, proceeded by actual performances. There will be performances by the World Music Group, Nandighosha from Switzerland, Djembe player Babara Bangoura from Guinea and a Kathak performance by Guru Shikha Khare. Odissi Dance on Vedas by renowned dancer and spiritualist Reela Hota with a fashion show on healing colours is one of the highlights of Day 1. Yoga and dance meet in Reela Hota’s Odissi recital whose theme is self-liberation. The age-old exercises are presented in the dance form. ‘The Vedas: Eko Ham Bahu Shyam’ showcases the different aspects of the Vedic culture and lifestyle as Vedas are the scriptures of ultimate knowledge that show the path to purge negative past karmas and fulfil all human desires while maintaining the harmony in society. It will depict the nature and philosophy of Vedas, human desires, the ashram system and the realization of the ultimate truth –that is Advaita – in Odissi.Dr Prerna Kohli, a Clinical Psychologist, and Sonia Bhandari, Consultant Art Therapist at Vimhans Hospital, will speak on ‘Arts and Healing’. Some of the subjects that will come up for discussion are – the psychotherapeutic use of movement and dance to support intellectual, emotional, and motor functions of the body and the unique and life-enhancing benefits of music available to many vulnerable, marginalized people. Since the dawn of creation, tantriks and yogis have realized that in this physical body there is a potential force. It is not psychological, philosophical or transcendental; it is a dynamic potential force in the material body, and it is called kundalini. This Kundalini Shakti is a source of great peace, bliss and the awakening of this potential force is the goal of every individual. Based on this ancient practice, Reela Hota will present ‘Vishwasya Beejam-Kundalini’ at the festival.The finale would be an award presentation to cultural impresario Churchil Pandhian from Chennai.
Kolkata: The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) has waived the processing fees of students seeking inspection of their answer scripts under Right to Information (RTI) Act.However, for supply of certified photocopy of the answer scripts, a charge of Rs 2 will be charged for each page. The petitioner will have to deposit the money in cash against the receipt of a challan at the board office. A student dissatisfied with his/her marks in a particular subject and wanting to see the answer script of Madhyamik examination under RTI Act had to pay a fee of Rs 100 for taking photocopies of their scripts home. Also Read – Rs 13,000 crore investment to provide 2 lakh jobs: Mamata”Now the student will have to pay only the photocopy charges and no processing fee,” an official in WBBSE said. A notification in this regard undersigned by WBBSE president Kalyanmoy Ganguly has been uploaded in the website of the board. It may be mentioned that the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has introduced a new system, through which students who have already appeared for their higher secondary examination can apply for self inspection of their answer scripts. An online interface has been made available at the council website from July 5, through which the students can apply for self inspection of his/her answer scripts of the examination, by filling up a prescribed format. The student will be able to keep track of the latest status of the application as well. The council will make the scripts available and the student will be notified to pay a visit on a particular date.
When the last Aztec Empress was born in the early 16th century to the Great Moctezuma II, all she had was her distinguished name. By the time she died at the age of 50, she had survived five husbands, mothered seven children, built a large estate and established a line of nobility that still endures today. At her birth, which came in either 1509 or 1510, she was named “Tecuichpotzin Ixcaxochitzin,” which means “Lord’s Daughter” in the Nahuatl language. Being that she was the daughter of Moctezuma and his principal wife Teotlalco, Tecuichpotzin was recognized as the legitimate heir to the house of her father.Moctezuma II, from the Codex Mendoza.First, she was married to the Aztec emperor Atlixcatzin, but he died shortly after, making her a widow at about 10 years of age. On November 8, 1519, the Spanish Hernán Cortés invaded Tenochtitlan and led the siege of Montezuma’s palace.Moctezuma’s Palace from the Codex Mendoza (1542).When Moctezuma was taken a hostage and killed, the Aztec people took Tecuichpotzin and married her to her uncle, Emperor Cuitláhuac.While the Aztecs managed to drive Cortés out of Tenochtitlan in June of 1520, the Spanish had brought the deadly smallpox disease with them. Cuitláhuac fell victim to the disease and died, leaving Tecuichpotzin a widow for the second time.Tenochtitlan. Photo by Mariana277 CC BY-SA 3.0Next, she was married to emperor Cuauhtémoc. In 1521, Cortés returned to Tenochtitlan in greater numbers. By that time, the Aztec population had been devastated by the smallpox epidemic. Emperor Cuauhtémoc was outmanned and forced to retreat by boat.However, Cortés and his army caught up with Cuauhtémoc and captured him. This officially ended the Spanish conquest but the bloodshed at the hands of the Spanish was not over. In 1525, Cuauhtémoc was executed by Cortés and Tecuichpotzin was widowed for the third time.Cortés and La Malinche meet Moctezuma in Tenochtitlan, November 8, 1519.But Cuauhtémoc had made a dying plea for Cortés to treat the women of his court with respect, especially his young wife, Tecuichpotzin. Cortés respected the wish and considered Tecuichpotzin the personification of what he hoped would be the melding of the Spanish and Aztec cultures.After being taught by the Spaniards about Christianity, Tecuichpotzin became a Catholic and was renamed “Doña Isabel.” In June 1526, she was married to a Spaniard, Alonso de Grado, and granted the most expensive “encomienda” in the Mexican Valley. Doña Isabel used her wealth to pay such generous alms to the Augustinians that she was asked to stop.Great Hollywood7 Things you may not know about The Mayans legends quotesWhen Alonso de Grado died, Cortés took the seventeen-year-old widow into his house. They were never married, so when Doña Isabel became pregnant, Cortés quickly wed her to Pedro Gallego de Andrade. But Doña Isabel did not acknowledge the child, and Cortés ended up caring for her himself.Modern reproduction of the Aztec feather headdress attributed to Moctezuma II exhibited at the Museo Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Mexico City. Photo by Thomas Ledl CC BY-SA 4.0Doña Isabel bore a son with her fifth husband and named him Andrade Gallego Moctezuma. Gallego died in 1532, and Doña Isabel married Juan Cano de Saavedra. He was her sixth and final husband. The union produced five children: Pedro, Gonzalo, Juan, Isabel, and Catalina Cano de Moctezuma.When Doña Isabel died, she willed that all her Indian slaves be freed and that all outstanding debts to her servants be paid. She also left one-fifth of her estate to the daughter whom she had born by Cortés.Genealogy of Tecuichpoch (Isabel Moctezuma). Photo by HJPD -CC BY-SA 3.0Doña Isabel willed the majority of her encomienda to her firstborn son, Juan de Andrade, and it endured for centuries after she was gone.Read another story from us :New Evidence on 5,600-yr-old Recipe Used for Embalming a BodyAll of her children became well-educated. Her two daughters became nuns at El Convento de la Conception de la Madre de Dios, and her sons founded the title of Duke of Moctezuma de Tultengo, which still exists today.
Sam Kinison became one of the most controversial yet highly-regarded comedians of the 1980s. He wasn’t a global star but made a name for himself in the U.S. thanks to his volcanic performances, topped off by a trademark piercing scream. A Rolling Stone profile summed up his act in 1989, saying “It’s hard to tell if Kinison’s audience is being entertained or simply getting led down his highway to hell.”Fire and brimstone were familiar concepts to the young Kinison, who was born at the end of 1953 in Yakima, Washington. Perhaps surprisingly for this unpredictable figure, he was raised in a deeply religious household.Kinison in the 1980s. Photo by The World Famous Comedy Store CC BY-SA 2.0His father Samuel Earl Kinison addressed audiences in a different fashion, as a Pentecostal preacher. His son had a rebellious streak from an early age, but it took a while to truly emerge and become his defining characteristic.Tragic events were waiting in the wings beforehand to shape this future rock star of comedy. Sam experienced two major impacts — first, he suffered brain damage after being hit by a truck as a three-year-old. His personality changed and he developed epilepsy.Second, the family was split following a divorce between his parents, Samuel Earl and Marie Florence Kinison. One of four brothers, Sam (now aged 12) and his brother Kevin decided to move in with their mother. Meanwhile Richard and future manager Bill went with Dad.Saturday Night Live – Episode 4 – Pictured: (l-r) Jan Hooks as Mrs. Geebler, Kevin Nealon as Mr. Geebler, Sam Kinison as Teacher during the ‘Parent-Teacher Conference’ skit on November 15, 1986. Photo by Al Levine/NBC/NBCU Photo BankAs a teenager Sam studied at a Bible-oriented boarding school. His father passed away in the early ’70s, whereupon it looked as if Sam might follow in his footsteps.In tribute to Samuel Earl he attempted to preach God’s word like his brothers did, and married first wife Patricia Adkins.However as the decade drew to a close he’d embraced his interest in stand up comedy and was starting to get attention from notable names such as Rodney Dangerfield.Intriguingly Sam was dynamite in the comedy clubs but no great shakes as a preacher man, according to brother Bill. Quoted in a 2012 GQ tribute, he remarked that “Ironically he had no stage presence. He never had one year that he made more than $5,000 being a minister.”Sam Kinison during taping for 1988 MTV New Year’s Eve Party in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, IncKinison’s marriage was ending and he turned that heartache into a signature theme of his act. Combined with religion, he crafted a double-barrelled comedic onslaught which both delighted and shocked audiences.GQ referred to a classic example of this, writing that “He was a preacher who made comedy-club audiences his congregation, treating his sets as protracted sermons…. One of his favourite tricks was recounting the argument Jesus has with his wife following his return home after the Resurrection.”Abandoning the church also meant his interest in sex and drugs came to the fore, particularly after relocating to LA. The man himself explained, “I have lived a carnal life. My view of life is, ‘If you’re going to miss heaven, why miss it by two inches? Miss it!’”Stand up was a far better outlet for Sam’s extreme outlook. He got hitched again, to Terry Jean Marze, and while that lasted throughout the ’80s, it was a turbulent union. He remained the eptiome of a henpecked husband, though one styled like a rock star.Williams at the Happy Feet Two premiere in Sydney, December 2011. Photo by Eva Rinaldi CC BY-SA 2.0This ultimately manifested itself as the high-pitched, primal scream he’d produce during his sets. Rolling Stone called it a “a supersonic boom born of bile” and friend Robin Williams said, “Most people go to the edge and then stop. Not Sam…. I think that scream he was famous for was just the sound he made on the way down.”Making full use of his lungs, he also went on to record albums. He had a long-standing interest in music from his school days. Versions of Are You Lonesome Tonight and Wild Thing were interspersed with his trademark ranting about broken relationships.Despite some highly objectionable material, some of which earned him death threats, Sam was beloved of his audience. This could be because, behind the furious demeanor, there appeared to be an almost cuddly aspect to Kinison.Sam Kinison at the Comedy Store c. 1980s. Photo by The World Famous Comedy Store CC BY-SA 2.0Rolling Stone commented that “Up close, the former preacher’s daunting charisma and imposing bulk are undercut by a Muppet-like cuteness.”Movie stardom eluded Sam. He wanted to take the lead in Atuk, a notoriously disaster-laden adaptation of Inuit hunter comedy novel The Incomparable Atuk. This hit a dead end, but he appeared in Dangerfield’s Back To School (1986) and starred in the sitcom Charlie Hoover (1991).It was another automobile accident that would claim Sam’s life in 1992, just days after he got married to Malika Marie Souiri. En route to a show in Nevada, his sports car was struck by a pickup in California. He died from injuries, aged 38.The New York Times reported, “The California Highway Patrol… did not dispute the account by Mr. Kinison’s spokeswoman, Florence Troutman, who said that Mr. Kinison’s brother and manager, Bill, had been following in a van. She quoted him as saying that the accident occurred when the oncoming pickup tried to pass another vehicle and that the accident littered the road with beer cans that did not come from Mr. Kinison’s car.”He influenced a generation of controversial comedians, most famously Bill Hicks. Yet he never lost sight of his spiritual roots.Read another story from us: Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis – The Comedy of an Era and Enduring Brotherly BondRolling Stone’s profile followed him to his home, where they describe Sam walking “up the wooden gangplank to his own massive front door. ‘I love this place,’ he says. ‘The door’s very cathedral, and my folks lived in a church till I was fifteen. It reminds me of that.’”From rebellious teen to Hollywood hellraiser, Sam Kinison’s life was forever steered by faith, either in God or himself.
It’s been over 30 years since the release of the classic dystopian future science fiction film The Running Man starring none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger at the height of his popularity, 1987. Although the film had lackluster reviews from critics it was extremely popular with audiences and continues to be a cult favorite amongst sci-fi geeks throughout the world. It could also be considered especially relevant now considering the movie takes place around our present time, the year 2017 and onwards. Here is a collection of cool info you’ll want to know about the film even before you watch since this article doesn’t contain any spoilers.#1 – Future Leaders GaloreWe all know about the political success of Arnold Schwarzenegger following his career as one of the world’s most adored action heroes. He would go on to become the Governor of California from 2003 until 2011. Giving props to his background as an action hero was part of the campaign and he appropriately named his campaign tour bus The Running Man after the film.What you may not have known is that Jesse Ventura is also in the film as the stalker Captain Freedom. Ventura would go on to join the political scene as well, running for office in Minnesota as Governor with the Reform Party. Ventura won the election and served as Governor of Minnesota from 1999 until 2003, but chose not to seek reelection.#2 – Written by Stephen KingStephen King, American author, at the 2007 New York Comicon. Photo by “Pinguino” CC BY 2.0The film is based on a book published in 1982 by Stephen King under his alternate name, Richard Bachman, which King uses for books that he writes outside his normal horror/thriller genre.When producer Rob Cohen bought the rights to the film, he was unaware that King was the actual author. King is said to have found some inspiration for the book from a disturbingly real Japanese game show. However, the film adaptation veered sharply from King’s vision where a poor, underfed man chooses to join the Running Man game in order to win money to support his starving wife and child.Stephen King in 2011. Photo by Stephanie Lawton CC By 2.0King was severely disappointed in Schwarzenegger as the lead character since he certainly doesn’t look malnourished and King wanted his name nowhere near the credits. It’s food for thought if King would have felt the same way if Christopher Reeve or Patrick Swayze had been cast as the lead. Both actors were considered for the role.#3 – What a Great Idea!Following the release of the film, several game shows started utilizing similar formats to that of the film. The most popular of these “copycats” was the American Gladiators television program, which became popular in different versions throughout the world.Steven DeSouza, who wrote the screenplay, claims that when the creators of American Gladiators pitched the idea to producers they used film footage from the movie and stated, “We’re doing exactly like this, except the killing part.”#4 – Predicting the FutureThe film’s depiction of the future set around 2017 – 2019 has been remarkably accurate on many things including viewers obsessions for reality television, the influence of Hollywood in politics, more aggressive police, and “media spin” on news.Writers for the New York Post, BBC, and others have pointed to the widening gap of the rich and poor, economic collapses, and other social similarities portrayed in the film. Fortunately, we have evolved beyond the use of cassette tapes as a medium for music and we still don’t have “court appointed agents”. Not yet at least.#5 – Directors EverywhereStarsky and Hutch, circa 1977. Photo by Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty ImagesThe film had five different directors at one point or another. Three of the directors were fired during production and one backed out, before the final director finished out filming. In the end, Paul Michael Glaser aka Starsky from the T.V. show Starsky and Hutch took the reigns several weeks already into filming. Schwarzenegger was reportedly very unhappy with the switch from director Andrew Davis.In the end, Stephen King didn’t like Schwarzenegger who in turn didn’t like Glaser, but somehow the film went on to gross over $38 million in the U.S. alone, against a budget of $27 million.#6 – Musical CameosFleetwood Mac, Billboard magazine, 1977Fans of the 1980s will notice that two popular figures in 80s lore are featured on the same screen in the credits. However, only the most observant will notice the very Laker Girl-esque dance routines in the film choreographed by another future pop star.The leader of the “resistance” in the film is none other than the drummer and founder of the band Fleetwood Mac. Mick Fleetwood, who plays “Mic”. It states in the film that the police state has robbed him of his life’s work and stolen/erased his music.Fleetwood Mac in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 2009. Photo by Weatherman90 CC BY 3.0Another member of the resistance is guitarist/performer Dweezil Zappa. A controversial MTV VJ from the 80’s and son of the famous Frank Zappa, Dweezil is at his 80s best with a red beret and studded jacket with pins fastened along the front. The dance routines were all choreographed by, then up and comer, Paula Abdul before she became a pop sensation and future American Idol judge.Paula Abdul, 42nd Emmy Awards, September 1990. Photo by Alan Light CC BY 2.0The actual music of the film doesn’t disappoint either and was done by two-time Grammy winner Harold Faltermeyer, who also did Beverly Hills Cop with its iconic musical theme. Other credits for Faltermeyer include the Top Gun and Fletch (with Chevey Chase) soundtracks. Additionally, he has worked as producer or other capacity with performers like Donna Summer, Falco, and Billy Idol.Related Video: Sylvester Stallone Turned Down a Fortune to Play Rocky#7 – Year of the AhhhhnoldArnold Schwarzenegger on the set of ‘Predator’. Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images1987 was a good year for Schwarzenegger fans but his prolific work ethic presented a small problem for the studios as both The Running Man and Predator were set to be released in the summer of 1987. In order to keep audiences from having to choose between two Arnold films, The Running Man was given a later release date of November of that year. As a result, both films were commercial successes.Read another story from us: Schwarzenegger and James Cameron Return for New Terminator MovieIn a twist of fate, 1987 could have been the year of the “Governor” also since Jesse Ventura also co-starred in Predator with Schwarzenegger.Bonus point:Of course, no Schwarzenegger film would be complete without his famous one-liners and The Running Man doesn’t disappoint. In one exchange with co-star Richard Dawson’s character “Killian”, Schwarzenegger tells him, “I’ll be back.” To which “Killian” replies, “Only in a rerun.”
Advertisement To Embiid’s credit, he has been a freak show in his first full NBA season. In last night’s game, the 7’0″ Philly center intercepted a pass, drove the length of the court, and finished with a dunk form one step inside the free throw line.It’s not hard to see why Cousins is smitten.THROW IT DOWN BIG FELLA!JOEL EMBIID #NBAVOTE pic.twitter.com/f5Sn6KYXbs— Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) December 27, 2016 DeMarcus Cousins has a reputation as being hard to get along with. While Boogie doesn’t have any love for local beat writers, it looks like he really, really likes Joel Embiid.In Sacramento’s 102-100 win over the Sixers last night, Cousins felt the best way to express his admiration for the up and coming Embiid was by slapping him approvingly on the butt as they ran up the court. Embiid returned the friendly slap in kind. Cousins and Embiid then each got in another hearty whack to cement their friendship.These two are the NBA version of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly in Step Brothers.
After a summer spent subtweeting each other over social media, and an ugly divorce that ended up with Kyrie Irving traded to Boston, LeBron symbolically buried the hatched by selecting Irving in last night’s NBA All-Star Draft.The move was a shock to many because of the prolonged summer drama, but LeBron told Ernie Johnson, “It was an easy choice,” because Irving was the best player available. He added that he looked forward to getting the old Cavs band back together for a weekend trip down memory lane. Sounds fun.Maybe LeBron isn’t as salty about Irving jumping ship because he’s headed out of town, too. Who knows?“It was an easy choice for me.”LeBron James on picking Kyrie Irving for #TeamLeBron. pic.twitter.com/iV9NQAVfjR— Celtics Direct (@CelticsDirect) January 26, 2018 Advertisement
Attend this free webinar and learn how you can maximize efficiency while getting the most critical things done right. As the mobile workforce increasingly uses tablets and smartphones, a nonprofit group hopes to use the devices to reduce paperwork and cut printing costs.ChildNet, which focuses on child welfare, will use tablets and smartphones to upload and access case files remotely, which could ultimately help cut printing costs, said Emilio Benitez, president and CEO of ChildNet.ChildNet, which is based in and based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, works with Broward County to manage cases related to adoption and independent living of abused, abandoned and neglected children. The organization is moving toward using the Android mobile platform to help case workers remotely access documents.Printing is a huge expense for the small nonprofit, and cutting down on the paperwork could add up to significant cost savings.”For us, it’s a lot of money, it’s very measurable,” Benitez said.Case workers on an average spend 40 percent to 50 percent of their time filing and processing paperwork, and each child on an average has five binders, with each binder consisting of 550 pages. The time spent on paperwork also impedes the ability for case workers to spend more time with the children and families they serve, Benitez said.Tablets and smartphones could also save case workers from lugging around cartloads of binders when at court or when investigating a case on the road, Benitez said.The company currently uses HTC smartphones based on the Windows Mobile platform to access documents remotely. Windows Mobile is expressly designed for smartphones, and the organization is moving toward Google’s Android development platform, which is used on both smartphones and tablets.The cost related to printing, imaging and document management are usually hidden and can be very high, said Crawford Del Prete, executive vice president of research products and chief research officer at IDC. The costs could account for 11 percent of revenue for low-end manufacturing firms, and up to 15 percent for health-care firms, he said.One of the biggest savings could be achieved by controlling document printing and achieving better data flow, Del Prete said.It’s just not about the device, though. More workers are going mobile, and the amount of data available is exploding, so organizations need to manage mobile devices in sync with the data flow to effectively cut costs, Del Prete said.ChildNet is working with Ricoh to digitize existing case files so they become accessible through mobile devices, and has implemented an indexing system to provide quick access to certain data in compliance with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).Ricoh provides a number of options for organizations to print documents from tablets and smartphones, said Shogo Hyakutake, associate director of the global marketing group at Ricoh.Users can send an e-mail to a printer attached to the Internet, or use a remote printing service. Ricoh can also provide printer drivers for devices based on the Android OS to clients, Hyakutake said.Ricoh has not yet looked at developing drivers for the iPad as Apple maintains strong control over development of its devices, Hyakutake said. But the company may look at developing iPad drivers if consumer demand increases.Ricoh is investing US$300 million over the next three years to expand its managed document services offerings, including mobile printing services. That is a shift in strategy for Ricoh, which in the past has heavily relied on its printer business.But ChildNet will likely stick with Android in the future as it is gaining more traction in the smartphone and tablet markets, said Dipak Parekh, chief financial officer at ChildNet.Android provides the capability for ChildNet to build a security apparatus for mobile devices to access documents. Considering the security and sensitivity of documents, Android also provides the flexibility to test the application before full implementation.Parekh said that ChildNet has provided its Windows Mobile software to the Florida Department of Children and Families, which took some parts of the program to work on the BlackBerry platform. But for ChildNet, the screen space on Blackberry is small, and it does not provide enough real estate to record signatures, Parekh said. The HTC phones provide enough screen space for a case worker to record a signature, upload a picture and record the location through GPS.Parekh is looking at the Apple’s iOS platform, which is used on the iPhone and iPad, but will write applications only after the OS “is proven.” Brought to you by PCWorld January 27, 2011 Free Webinar | Sept 5: Tips and Tools for Making Progress Toward Important Goals 4 min read Register Now »
November 10, 2011 Hear from Polar Explorers, ultra marathoners, authors, artists and a range of other unique personalities to better understand the traits that make excellence possible. 6 min read How Success Happens Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Office technology can enhance productivity by automating time-consuming drudgery and offloading brain-draining tasks such as managing budgets and organizing records. But the same technology can also prove to be time-wasters, especially if used incorrectly.Business owners often come to rely too much on a specific tool or app because of its novelty or because it’s what they’ve been using for years without giving much thought to whether it’s making their companies and employees more productive.Take Bryan Council, co-founder and president of Birmingham, Ala.-based broadcast news-monitoring firm Metro Monitor, for example. Two years ago, he reevaluated the 18-year-old company’s technology processes. One of the biggest changes he made was switching from using Microsoft Office software such as Word and Excel to the online Google Docs applications. Service upgrades are made automatically and the web-based automatic version tracking functions eliminate the need for employees to pass documents around or rename files after making changes.”Conservatively, I would estimate we see about three hours a week in time savings [after switching to Google Docs],” Council says.We asked small-business owners about which applications they’ve found to be the biggest time-wasters. Here, they’ve identified the top seven and offer solutions for how to improve efficiency.1. Contact management appsBusinesses often don’t have client contact information stored in one centralized application. Instead, employees carry separate contact lists spread over numerous apps like Apple Address Book and popular email services including Microsoft Outlook and Google’s Gmail. It wastes time having to ask around about who has the relevant contact information or, worse, not being able to find it at all.Solution: For the same reason he likes Google Docs, Council suggests moving contacts online with Salesforce, a database that can be accessible by any employee, anywhere, with fields for recording details about client interactions. Pricing ranges from $5 to $25 per user per month, depending on the features.2. Social media apps.Even when used for business promotion, people can waste time using social-media apps such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn if they jump at every message or troll constantly for mentions of their company or other topics.Solution: First, don’t use a web browser for monitoring social media apps. Active social networkers should use a free dashboard app such as TweetDeck or Hootsuite, says Glenn Phillips, president of San Francisco-based computer consulting firm Forté. Dashboards aggregate multiple services for a quick overview and allow users to schedule several social posts at a time.Related: 10 Time Management Tips That WorkAlso consider checking messages at regular, predetermined intervals. For Twitter, Council suggests creating saved searches that collect mentions for later reading. He also recommends setting up a separate email account that’s dedicated specifically for social media so your updates don’t distract you from important work email.3. Email If not prioritized appropriately, checking and responding to email can be a time-killer, warns Jared Goralnick, founder of Walnut, Calif.-based AWAYfind, a maker of email alert software. People often respond to emails in the order that messages arrive rather than in order of importance, he says.Solution: Goralnick recommends moving non-urgent emails that might take more than a couple minutes to handle to a task list that prioritizes them. If you are still using Microsoft Outlook 2003, upgrade to the 2007 or 2010 versions, which provide better, faster searches — eliminating the need for meticulous filing.4. Microsoft PowerPointTwo extremes can hinder your productivity as well as that of your audience: Not having enough information on a slide can make your presentation hard to follow, while too much information might be too much work for you and mind-numbing for others.Solution: Keep information on slides minimal, but with bullets to highlight key points, recommends Tim Crawford, chief information officer of Foster City, Calif.-based small-business IT consulting firm All Covered. The real “meat” of the presentation, he says, should be delivered verbally. If extra detailed information is necessary, one option is provide it afterwards as a hand-out.Related: Essential Apps for Startups5. Instant MessengersEmployees may conduct prolonged exchanges over instant messengers including AOL Instant Messenger and Google Chat. As with texting, the problem is that it’s usually faster to have one full conversation rather than a series of conversation snippets.Solution: Save instant messaging for communicating with employees in remote offices or who aren’t within earshot. When you do send a message, keep it simple. If the conversation requires more than a few messages back-and-forth, try the telephone.6. Microsoft Access database Business users such as attorneys often use Access to store the thousands of records required for a complex case. But starting at $200, this software has limitations and can be slow when it comes to searching the database, says Bill McComas, a partner in Baltimore law firm Shapiro Sher Guinot & Sandler.Solution: For large projects that include thousands of documents, try using a structured query language (SQL) database such as Oracle’s cloud-based offerings, which are designed specifically for managing large amounts of data. The entry-level Oracle Database XE is free. The more advanced Standard Edition One is $180 per person per year. Both require an experienced database programmer to set them up.Related: A New Tool Lets Mobile Users Make and Send PDFsFor small projects, consider using Evernote. You can take notes directly in this free app as well as drag and drop documents, PDFs, spreadsheets and even audio and video files. And a browser plugin captures Web pages. A $5 monthly fee adds backup to the cloud and features additional search capability and version tracking of documents.7. Google AnalyticsWhile Google Analytics can be a useful, free tool for monitoring traffic and trends on a Web site, it can also become addictive for people who become “fixated,” constantly checking how a business site is performing, says Phillips.Solution: Google’s Web metrics might be more important for some businesses than others. Unless your company is web-based and your traffic is a direct function of your revenue, it’s probably “sufficient” for most companies to check this app once every couple weeks, Phillips says. Listen Now