What’s new in Google Earth 6

Google has announced the release of Google Earth 6. The latest version is available for Windows, OS X and Linux. The update that follows Google Earth 5.2 release earlier this year adds three major updates to the virtual geographical tool.

Here’s looking into what the latest update includes:

Integrated Street View

The Google Maps Street View experience is now fully integrated into Google Earth. Pegman (the small guy that represents your Street View position) is now placed alongside the Google Earth navigation controls, where he launches Street View just like he does in Google Maps. Just pick up Pegman and drop him wherever you see a highlighted blue road to fly right down to the ground.

Once there, you can use the navigation controls or your mouse to look around. And unlike Street View layer, you can now move seamlessly from one location to another as if you’re walking down the street by using the scroll-wheel on your mouse or the arrow keys on your keyboard. If you want to visit somewhere farther away, simply click the “exit” button and you’ll immediately return to an aerial view where you can easily fly to your next destination.

3D Trees

3D buildings has been there on Google Earth for some time now. Trees have now been added to liven up the environment. To enjoy these leafy additions to Google Earth, make sure you turn on the 3D buildings layer on the left side panel. As a starting point, try a search for “Palace of Fine Arts San Francisco.” Once you arrive at your destination, click the zoom slider. You’ll then be taken down to the ground where you can use our new ground-level navigation to walk among the trees.

Better Historical Imagery

Historical imagery in Google Earth allows users to look at map views of times like Warsaw in 1935, London in 1945 and Port-au-Prince Haiti before and after the January earthquake. The feature was first added in Google Earth 5, but it wasn’t always clear when and where it was available. With this version, Google has made it easy to discover historical imagery.

When you fly to an area where historical imagery is available, the date of the oldest imagery will appear in the status bar at the bottom of the screen. If you click on this date, you’ll instantly be taken back in time to view imagery from that time period. You can then browse through all the historical imagery available for that location, or simply close the time control and return to the default view.

Source: TOI.

Calculation of pension after 6CPC.

The pension payable to eligible pensioners retired on after 01.01.2006 from Central Government, under various retirement schemes is explained below. The OM dated 02.09.2008 and 10.12.2009 issued by DOPT is crucial in calculating pension.

There is a school of thought which opine that  the benefit of addition to QS which was available under Rule 48 B of CCS(Pension) Rules 1972 but which was withdrawn vide DOPT OM dated  o2.09.2008  should be re introduced at least for the purpose of calculation of pension only and in which case full pension is payable only after 20 years of service and those with <20 years of service should be paid pro rata pension. The benefit of addition need not be provided  for calculation of DCRG. This will remove all existing anomaly and different/misinterpretation of  para 5.3 of DOPT OM dated 02.09.2008.

Having said so, the  calculation of pension of post-2006 pensioners as per present Rules in force is as given below:

CALCULATION OF PENSION

• Linkage of full pension with 33 years of qualifying service is dispensed with from 1.1.2006.  Once a govt. employee has rendered the minimum qualifying service of 20 years, pension shall be paid at 50% of the emolument last drawn or 50% of the average emoluments drawn during ten months immediately preceding the date of retirement whichever is more beneficial to the retiring employees, shall be applicable to all govt. servants retiring on or after 1.1.2006.

• In cases where Govt. employee becomes entitled to pension on completion of 10 years of qualifying service in accordance with Rule 49(2) of CCS Rules, 1972, pension in those cases shall also be paid at 50% of the emolument last drawn or average emolument whichever is more beneficial to govt. employee.

• Hence, the Govt. servant who is retiring under Rule No.30 (Post-graduate Research appointments), Rule No.35 (Superannuation), Rule No.37 (Absorption in an undertaking or Autonomous body, Rule No.38 (Invalid pension), Rule No.39 (Compensation pension), Rule No.40 (Compulsory retirement), Rule No.41 (Compassionate Allowance) & FR.56 (j & k) will be entitled for 50% of the emoluments last drawn or average emoluments whichever is more beneficial to Govt. servant if he had completed ten (10) years of qualifying service at the time of retirement, in accordance with Rule No.49(2) of CCS Pension Rules, 1972.

• The Govt. servant who is retiring under Rule No.29 (Voluntary retirement on declaring a govt. servant as surplus) will be entitled for 50% of the emoluments last drawn or average emoluments whichever is more beneficial to Govt. servant if he had completed fifteen (15) years of qualifying service on declaring as surplus and opts for voluntary retirement.

• The Govt. servant who is retiring under Rule Nos. 48 & 48A (Retiring pension – Retiring in advance of the age of superannuation) will be entitled for 50% of the emoluments last drawn or average emoluments whichever is more beneficial to Govt. servant if he had completed thirty  (30) & twenty (20) years of qualifying service respectively.

• The benefit of adding additional years of qualifying service for the purpose of computation of pension shall stand withdrawn.  Rule No.29 (Voluntary retirement on declaring a govt. servants as surplus), Rule No.30 (Post-graduate Research appointments), Rule No.48 (Voluntary retirement on completion of 30 years of qualifying service), Rule No.48A (Voluntary retirement on completion of 20 years), Rule No.48C (Pioneer in general reserve engineering force), of the CCS Pension Rules, 1972 & FR 56k (on attaining the age of 50 or 55 years as the case may be shall stand modified to this extent.

• For all classes of pension (including compassionate allowance), the method of determination of pension is the same.

• In no case, a pension including compassionate allowance granted shall be less than Rs. 3,500/- p.m. and in the case of retirement on invalidation; the amount of monthly pension granted shall not be less than the amount of Family Pension admissible at the normal rates.  The maximum pension is 50% of the highest pay in the Govt. (The highest pay in the govt. is Rs.90,000 since 01/01/2006).

• The amount of pension should be rounded off to the next higher rupee.  This should be done only at the final stage (Rule No. 49 (4))

• Payment of pension for part of a month if worked out in fraction of a rupee should also be rounded off to the next higher rupee. (Rule No. 49 (4))

• The quantum of pension payable to the old pensioners shall be increased as follows :-

Age of pensioners	Additional quantum of pension
From 80 years to less than 85 years	20% of basic pension
From 85 years to less than 90 years	30% of basic pension
From 90 years to less than 95 years	40% of basic pension
From 95 years to less than 100 years	50% of basic pension
100 years or more	100% of basic pension

The Pension Sanctioning Authorities should ensure that the date of birth and the age of the pensioner is invariably indicated in the pension payment order to facilitate payment of additional pension by the Pension Disbursing Authority as soon as it becomes due.  The amount of additional pension will be shown distinctly in the pension payment order.  For example, in case where a pensioner is more than 80 years of age and his pension is Rs.10,000 pm, the pension will be shown as (i) Basic pension = Rs.10,000 and (ii) Additional pension = Rs.2,000 pm. The pension on his attaining the age of 85 years will be shown as (i) Basic pension = Rs.10,000 and (ii) Additional pension = Rs.3,000 pm.

The additional quantum of pension, on attaining the age of 80 years and above, would be admissible from the first day of the month in which his date of birth falls including pensioners whose date of birth is first of the month.

When number portability is enabled….

 

  Telecom minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday will unveil mobile number portability in Haryana, allowing 18 million cellphone users in the state to retain their number while changing the service provider. Most of the country will have this facility by the New Year, while it will be available throughout the country by March 2011.

Here we bring you the to-dos of mobile number portability in six quick steps:

• Send an SMS to 1900 in following format: PORT – eg. PORT 9999999999.
• You will get an SMS reply that contains a unique porting code.
• SMS to the preferred operator quoting the unique code. This code is valid only for a few days, and one must apply again if it expires.
• Your existing operator will check with new operator & if there are no dues then approval will be given for porting.
• You will get an SMS on the time and date when porting will take place. Rules mandate that process be completed within 4 days of applying.
• After porting is complete, wait for an SMS from your new operator confirming the switch. Your phone may be dead for about 2 hours when the porting takes place.

Thanks: afakar

From Jan 20, switch mobile operator but keep number

 NEW DELHI: Exasperated with your present mobile service provider but unwilling to switch because that would mean changing your number? Soon, you’ll be free to change operators at will, for a nominal transaction fee of Rs 19. On Thursday, telecom minister Kapil Sibal launched mobile number portability (MNP) in Haryana. Nationwide implementation is expected to be completed by January 20.

Of course, the implementation of MNP has missed many deadlines. In March 2006, Trai had recommended that MNP be implemented by April 1, 2007. In December 2009, the government set a deadline of March 31, 2010 for its implementation, which was extended to June 30, 2010 and later to October 31, 2010.

From Friday, mobile phone customers in Haryana can port their numbers provided a minimum period of 90 days has elapsed after subscription to the mobile service of the current service provider. For change of service provider or porting, a subscriber has to send an SMS (PORTMobile Number) from the number s/he wishes to be ported, to number 1900 whereby a Unique Porting Code (UPC) will be received on SMS from the current serviceprovider. The subscriber will need to apply in the prescribed application form to the chosen new service provider quoting the UPC which will act as a reference while filling up the application form with the new service provider.

The new service provider will then take action to get the required processes completed to enable the subscriber to get connected to his network. Porting has to be completed within seven working days. Before making the porting request, subscribers have to make sure that their last bill has been paid failing which the request for change to new service provider shall be rejected. In the case of pre-paid subscribers any balance amount left will not be carried forward when the number is transferred to the new service provider.

MNP works best with post-paid customers, as they are the highest paying of the lot. Of India’s over 700 million users, post-paid customers are no more than 7%-8 %, while the rest are pre-paid. Even with an expected 5% churn in the post-paid category, a limited impact on price or quality is expected, as the larger pre-paid customers usually don’t worry about changing mobile numbers, while switching operators. Operators believe they will lose and gain roughly the same number of users.

However, a recent study by The Nielsen Company said that as many as 18% of India’s mobile subscribers are waiting to change their operator.

This contrasts severely with data flaunted by India’s mobile operators, who have not supported the launch of MNP for many years on the grounds that globally, only 1% of mobile consumers port their numbers, which makes the introduction of MNP a waste of money.

Source: Times of India

Story of Appreciation

One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company.

He passed the first interview, the director did the last interview, made the last decision.

The director discovered from the CV that the youth’s academic achievements were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never had a year when he did not score.

The director asked, “Did you obtain any scholarships in school?” the youth answered “none”.

The director asked, ” Was it your father who paid for your school fees?” The youth answered, “My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees.

The director asked, ” Where did your mother work?” The youth answered, “My mother worked as cloth cleaner. The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.

The director asked, ” Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?” The youth answered, “Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.

The director said, “I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother’s hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.*

The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back, he happily requested his mother to let him clean her hands. His

mother felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings, she showed her hands to the kid.

The youth cleaned his mother’s hands slowly. His tear fell as he did that. It was the first time he noticed that his mother’s hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises were so painful that his mother shivered when they were cleaned with water.

This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fee. The bruises in the mother’s hands were the price that the mother had to pay for his graduation, academic excellence and his future.

After finishing the cleaning of his mother hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for his mother.

That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.

Next morning, the youth went to the director’s office.

The Director noticed the tears in the youth’s eyes, asked: ” Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?”

The youth answered, ” I cleaned my mother’s hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes’

The Director asked, ” please tell me your feelings.”

The youth said, Number 1, I know now what is appreciation. Without my mother, there would not the successful me today. Number 2, by working together and helping my mother, only I now realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done. Number 3, I have come to appreciate the importance and value of family relationship.

The director said, ” This is what I am looking for to be my manager.
I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are hired.

This is a powerful message in our modern society. We seemed to have lost our bearing & our sense of direction.

CHENNAI HIGH COURT ALLOWS 5400 TO ACP INSPECTORS AFTER 4 YEARS IN 7500

We have reproduced the full text of the post published in hyderabadcustoms.blogspot.com and given below for your information…

GOOD NEWS – CHENNAI HIGH COURT ALLOWS 5400 TO ACP INSPECTORS AFTER 4 YEARS IN 7500

THANKS TO SRI. M.SUBRAMANYAM SUPDT. OF CHENNAI FOR HIS RELENTLESS EFFORT TO FIGHT FOR 5400 IN HIGH COURT OF CHENNAI.
THE HIGH COURT HAS FINALLY ALLOWED HIS PETITION AND DIRECTED SECRETARY REVENUE TO GIVE 5400 TO ACP INSPECTORS AFTER COMPLETING FOUR YEARS IN 4800 GP(7500)

More details click the link…
http://www.hyderabadcustoms.blogspot.com/

Free Mobile Connection for BSNL Landline Customers

Saturday, November 06, 2010

Sachin Pilot Launches free Mobile Connection for BSNL Landline Customers free Home Calling Facility from Mobile

Shri Sachin Pilot, the Union Minister of state for Communications and Information Technology, today launched a Unique plan “PYARI JODI” combining Landline and Mobile Services of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), on the auspicious occasion of Diwali. Launching the promotional scheme, Shri Sachin Pilot said, “The aim of this promotional plan “PYARI JODI” is not only to boost mobile business of BSNL, but also arrest steep decline in the landline business. This is consistent with the role of BSNL as the truly national telecom provider with the core philosophy of connecting all parts of the nation”

The landline customers of BSNL can now take a free SIM card and can make unlimited free local calls to his/her landline/WLL number. In addition, the customers can also call two BSNL Local numbers at a reduced rate of 20p per minute and one BSNL number anywhere in India at a reduced rate of 30p per minute, without paying any additional monthly charges. On activation, customer will also get Rs.15 talk value, 1000 Local SMS, 1000 National SMS and 1000 MB data free.

The Minister said that BSNL has achieved substantial growth in mobile services by adding 22.89 lakh customers in August, 2010, 23.41 lakh customer in the month of September, 2010 and 25 lakh customers in the month of October, 2010. He directed BSNL on the occasion to maintain and even better the growth trends in the coming months also by introducing such attractive offers. He added that the quality of services offered by BSNL would continue to be closely monitored

The Minister has also launched special festive offers for BSNL 3G customers wherein all new 3G activation will get one week unlimited data download free in addition to normal freebies.

Source: PIB

Safety – Fireworks- Crackers

A small Power Point Presentation on ‘Safety – Firecrackers’ which I received from another group.

 Click here to view  Fireworks Safety