Heart What a MARVEL! The blue and red lizard with a striking resemblance to comic book superhero Spider-Man

One has to wonder whether this lizard's spider-senses are tingling. For the reptile bears more than a passing resemblance to the Marvel comic superhero Spiderman.

The lizard's amazing red and blue markings are strikingly similar to the suit worn by the crime-fighting, web-weaving daredevil.

And - as the reptile was captured crawling around on his rock - he appeared to strike an identical pose to Spidey's favoured crouching pose.

Strike a pose: The brightly-coloured Mwanza Flat Headed Agama lizard even mimics Spidey's famous crouch

The lizard is a Mwanza Flat Headed Agama, which are native to Africa and usually live in groups with one dominant male - usually the most colourful.

Rich Nunn from Nostalgia and Comics in Birmingham said the resemblance was uncanny.

He said: 'This is the only animal I have ever seen with colouring so unbelievably similar. It's especially like Spiderman in the chest, arms and legs.

'His colourings are extremely bright making him look like he's dressed in a suit - crawling around on the rock.

 

Your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman: The classic Marvel comic superhero in action

'I'm sure there are loads of comic fans who would want a lizard like this one because it looks so much like their hero.'

The colourful creature was captured on camera by photographer Cassio Lopes on a trip to the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya with his wife Alessandra.

The 38-year-old, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, said: 'We were on a photography workshop and on one afternoon we were parked for a couple of hours near Rongai river.

'It was dry at that time of the year and we'd been told a female leopard had been seen in the morning roaming around so we decided to spend some time there looking for it.

Lucky shot: The image of the lizard was captured by photographer Cassio Lopes (right) while he was on holiday in Kenya with his wife Alessandra (left)

Solar Floating Resort

Solar Floating Resort is a design concept for a comfortable and adventurous eco-conscious getaway at sea by Italy-based industrial designer Michele Puzzolante. The self-sustaining structure has a sleek and modern design, as these sorts of projects often do, that simultaneously serves as a luxurious yacht and an accommodating private hotel suite for six people.

 SFR is 20 meters in length and offers both a relaxing venue for laying out on a pristine deck by the water as well as a more exotic, underwater experience of marine life in its submerged "observation bulb."

The disc-like floating structure connects an upper deck to an underwater room enclased in a thick glass through a winding staircase. The submerged room offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding aquatic life that many tourists are keen to photograph and memorialize. 

There are a series of spot lights that circle the chamber for nighttime viewings of oceanic life. Up, at sea-level, guests are free to roam the expanse of the watercraft that boasts a chic Italian style, equipped with a six-person jacuzzi.

The design is built to function on solar power generated through the photo-electro-chemical-cells (PECCs) incorporated into the vacationing vessel's walls—both interior and exterior to absorb and store both artificial light and sunlight.

 Unlike traditional solar panels, which can be more expensive and less agreeable with a clean aesthetic, PECCs provide more flexibility in its price and its integration into architecture.

SFR is a conceptual project that has defined its prospective design and amenities, attributing most of the details to a fine knowledge of advanced industrial design techniques.

Crazy Green Ideas!!

1. Hotel offers free meal to guests who are willing to generate electricity

The Crown Plaza Hotel in Copenhagen , Denmark , is offering a free meal to any guest who is able to produce electricity for the hotel on an exercise bike attached to a generator. Guests will have to produce at least 10 watt hours of electricity - roughly 15 minutes of cycling for someone of average fitness. They will then be given meal vouchers worth $36 (26 euros).

2. Disco pub gets electricity produced by people dancing at specially modified dance floor

 
All the flashing strobes and pounding speakers at the dance club are massive consumers of electrical power. So Bar Surya, in London, re-outfitted its floor with springs that, when compressed by dancers, could produce electrical current that would be stored in batteries and used to offset some of the club's electrical burden. The club's owner, Andrew Charalambous, said the dance floor can now power 60 percent of the club's energy needs.

3. Brothel offers discount to eco-friendly customers who use bikes 

 A Berlin brothel came up with an innovative way to attract customers during the economic crisis, and do something to help avoid climate change at the same time. They're offering a discount to patrons who arrive on bicycles. According to Thomas Goetz, owner of the 'Maison d'envie' brothel, the recession hit their industry hard. Customers who arrive on bicycle or who can prove they took public transport get a �5 (�4.30) discount from the usual �70 (�60) fee for 45 minute sessions. (Link).

4. Company creates a desktop printer that doesn't use ink nor paper 

 
Who says printers only use paper to print documents? It's time for you to meet the PrePeat Printer then. Different from conventional printers, PrePeat adopts a thermal head to print on specially-made plastic sheets. These plastic sheets are not merely water-proof, but could be easily erased, just feed the sheets through the printer again, and a different temperature will erase everything or just write over it. Also claimed by the manufacturer, such one sheet could be used up to 1,000 times so that you'll reduce your expenses on paper for sure.

                  5. University constructs a green roof as a gathering place

 

Green design is an enormously popular trend in modern architecture, just take a look at this amazing green roof at the School of Art , Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore . This 5-story facility sweeps a wooded corner of the campus with an organic, vegetated form that blends landscape and structure, nature and high-tech and symbolizes the creativity it houses. The roofs serve as informal gathering spaces challenging linear ideas and stirring perception. The roofs create open space, insulate the building, cool the surrounding air and harvest rainwater for landscaping irrigation. Planted grasses mix with native greenery to colonize the building and bond it to the setting.

      6. Designer creates a sink that uses wasted water to grow a plant

 
Made of polished stained concrete, the Zen Garden Sink has a channel that allows the water used while washing your hands to water a plant. Created by young Montreal designer Jean-Michel Gauvreau the sink comes in single or double basin model. The sink is designed in a way you won't get your plants all soapy. There is a main drain at the bottom of the basin for soapy grime. Your little plant friend just gets whatever you choose to dole out. 

 

7. Designer creates a shower that forces you to leave when you've wasted too much water

 

20% of our total domestic energy usage is from hot water for showering and bathing. That's over 6 times the energy usage of domestic lighting. So designer Tommaso Colia came up with his eco-friendly shower design that will force you to get out when you take too long and waste much water. The eco_drop shower features beautiful concentric circles that will rise to force you to stop showering when you take too long, and accordingly save water. 

 8. Designer creates light-switch that changes colors to teach children how to save energy

 

Teaching the importance of energy conservation is the goal of this design from Tim Holley. He calls it Tio, and it's a ghost-shaped light switch that gives kids a visual reminder of how much energy they've used by leaving lights on. Tio starts out green and smiling. If the light is left on for more than four hours, he turns yellow and looks shocked. And if you dare to leave that light on for more than eight hours, sweet little Tio turns into a raging red hulk, complete with frowny mouth and angry eyes. But he won't just visually remind your kids about their energy habits; information from the light switch is sent to Tio's computer program so the entire family can see how they're doing. In a brilliant piece of visual positive reinforcement, Holley's program lets kids grow a virtual tree � which gets bigger and healthier the more energy they save. 


9. Environmental company creates a staple-free stapler to avoid staple pollution

 


Staples are supposed to be so bad to the environment that a company decided to create a staple-free stapler. This product promises to make collation eco-friendly. Instead of using those thin metal planet-killers, the staple-free stapler "cuts out tiny strips of paper and uses the strips to stitch up to five pieces of paper together." You can even order them customized with your corporate logo so you can, you know, brag about what your company is doing to stop the staple epidemic. 

10. Designer creates an iPhone charger powered by a hand grip

  A green idea that gives you a great hand workout as well. Charge your iPhone by a hand grip! This concept is called You can work it out, designed by Mac Funamizu.

 

A Tree That Bleeds Red Sap - The Dragons Blood Tree

The Dragons Blood tree (Dracaena Cinnabari) is a rare type of tree originating in Socotra archipelago, a small group of four islands in the Indian Ocean. Also known as the Galpagos of the Indian Ocean, the group of islands is host to a number of fascinating species. Found in many surrounding areas, including mainland Yemen, the tree contains a marvelously red resin called Dragons Blood, which has been used for a variety of purposes throughout history. Starting in the first century AD, Dragons Blood was used as a dye and medicine to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal problems. Later uses include a blood coagulant and treatments for diarrhea, fever, dysentery, ulcers in the mouth, throat, intestines and stomach, as well as an antiviral for respiratory viruses.

Dragons Blood also has a history in ritual magic and alchemy. Apparently Dragons Blood can increase the potency of neopagan witchcraft spells for protection, love, banishing, and sexuality. Often touted as red rock opium, the resin is often sold as a narcotic, although its effects are mild at best when smoked. The bizarre shape of the blood tree helps it survive arid conditions and areas with limited soil. The shading helps the seedlings survive in the harsh environment.

India Launched Cheapest Tablet At $35

The HRD ministry distributed its low-cost tablet to 500 college students from all over the country on Wednesday. The device that took six years to develop and was once subject to widespread ridicule comes dirt-cheap at Rs 2,250.The government would pick up 50% of the cost and a student will be able to buy it for Rs 1,125.

India released a $35 laptop / Tablet PC for students and teachers in colleges and Universities. The device is currently not available for sale in the market as government has decided to launch it for students in 2011.
The year 2011 would be a technologically effective one as the once high priced laptops are getting low in their price. This laptop would bring the buyer, savings up to 50 percent.

According to reports, it is clear that the laptops would see a noticeable fall in their price which would be lesser by Rs.4800. National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology is supporting this project to enlighten the more and more students. There may be many methods to spread education but this one would prove to be an innovative style of imparting knowledge.

The education which would touch the lives of every student through this mode of technology would be possible easily. Thus, these laptops would be available at lesser cost. This style is meant to edify the large population to widen the horizon of knowledge among all in every aspect of life. This project has plans to sell the laptops at remarkably lesser rate.

As a part of India�s National Mission for Education, Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) 504 universities and 25,000 colleges countrywide would be the recipients of these laptops.

This project was the outcome of experts coming together. The IT specialists came up with this idea at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras and IIT Bombay. These laptops are going to be given out by HRD ministry. It is being considered that these laptops would prove to be an asset for the students and will give them opportunity to excel in education.

By 2011, the newbies who wish to try their hands on computers would get funding of 50 percent on the purchase of each product. The Government of India has planned to reduce the price of the computer by Rs.4800. This initiative is undertaken as an element of National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology. It is an effort to offer the high definition interactive education.

The Centre purports that these laptops would be offered at such a low price because they are a source of spreading literacy via technological methods. This mode of education would help create the awareness among the masses. The laptops are really going to see a huge drop in price.

Under the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT), connectivity is projected to be offered to 504 universities and 25,000 colleges throughout India.

This project was a result of discussions on this project with a group of experts at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras and IIT Bombay by the human resource development ministry. The human resource development ministry would send out these laptops. This product is expected to bring bright prospect for learners.

Initially, when the low priced laptop were being planned to introduce, the officials ruled out that its price would be around Rs.500. But, now it would be almost three times the price that was estimated earlier.

The project of launching this product is running successfully and it would be available to students, about after five to six months. It is been reported that this low cost laptop would be low in price but the final price of the product would be determined depending upon the transportation cost.

The Rs.1500 Laptop would be seeing a great deal of success and the expectations are already high that this would be popular. The launching this laptop at Rs.1500 is seen as one of the major steps which would be taken to brighten the future of Indian students.

Sakshat is the latest Tablet by the HCL technologies with the collaboration of Government of India. Although full technical specifications have not been made public, but in general have a very basic set of components are sufficient for most users, especially for a child. Highlights its 5, 7 and 10-inch touch screen with which will enhance the team.

According to the first out look of the Tablet the unit is a basis hand held device which has only one basic features like 2GB of RAM, web-conferencing, PDF reader unzip, WiFi, camera and USB connectivity.

The Company will first introduce only 100,000 units at this price. The whole project is covered under the technical educational awareness among the people of India.

Sakshat Tablet Features and Specifications:

* 5, 7 and 10 inches display
* 2GB of RAM
* PDF reader
* Unzip
* WiFi
* Camera
* USB connectivity
* Internet browsing
* Zip and PDF Reader
* OpenOffice
* Internet Browser
* Wireless communication for audio/video
* Cloud computing option
* Remote device management
* Support open source Flash players
* Playback: AVCHD
* Multimedia I/O interfaces: DTV, IPTv, DTH
* Video out and Headphone jack
* Solar Power Charging Option
* SIM Card Slot
* Wi-Fi and USB Port

Have you ever seen a Water Bridge over a river?……..

Even after you see it, it is still hard to believe!

Magdeburg Water Bridge in Germany . What a feat!

Six years, 500 million euros, 918 meters long…….now this is engineering!

This is a channel-bridge over the River Elbe and joins the former East and West Germany, as part of the unification project. It is located in the city of Magdeburg , near Berlin.

The above photograph was taken on the day of inauguration.

Over 50 percent U.S. green card holders plan to return home: Survey (Daily Dose)

The United States may experience reverse brain drain as thousands of Indian IT professionals contemplate returning to India, according to a survey conducted by Corp-Corp.com , a U.S.-based technology job portal.

The finding was based on a survey of more than 1,000 survey respondents of Indian origin, nearly half of which were IT professionals that plan to return to India.

About 50 percent of the respondents have plans to return soon, while 6.4 percent of them have already returned to their homeland.

Survey participants included permanent residents, U.S. citizens and work visa holders.

Fifty-one percent said their decision was based on wanting to rejoin family and 26 percent cited better opportunities as the reason to return to their homeland.

Around 10 percent are planning to return for they believe their kids will get a better education in India.

"The results are very important for American businesses because they may face challenges in filling the gap of these resources," said Prabakaran Murugaiah, CEO of Corp-Corp.com.

"Businesses cannot replace an experienced workforce overnight," he said.

The survey results show 69 percent of visa holders and 57 percent permanent residents or citizens intend to return.

These are some of the motivation to return to India: Nearly 51 percent for the return is rejoining their family members in India; 26 percent for better opportunities in India.

Only 3 percent says they are returning due to job loss, which is consistent with low unemployment of around 6 percent in the IT sector even though the generic unemployment is over 8 percent.

Around 10 percent are planning their return to provide better education to their kids in India.

There are about two million Indians living in U.S. and many of them hold bachelor or higher degrees.

Indians share a large percentage in the numbers of PhD holders.

Among the Asian Indian population, around 60 percent are in management or professional occupations.

Murugaiah says, "Many of the returning Indians have aged parents back home to take care. Also, recent economic growth in India with many good opportunities fueled their thought process of heading back."

"In addition to that, many U.S. companies are opening their offices in India and hiring more to target the growing market in Asia. There may be some challenges in filling the gap created by these resources, because we cannot create a 10 years experienced resource the next day," he said.

"However, there are 6 million IT professionals working in the US and this may not pose a bigger impact for the US tech industry. This trend may very well be a win-win situation for both countries," he added.

Believe it Or not

Believe it Or not
It is a tree nareepol
Naree(woman) pol (tree) is like a sanskrit word.
It is located at Petchaboon province 500 kms away
from Bangkok.

How to Catch Plasma

Since early childhood everyone knows that substance can exist in three states: solid, liquid and gas. A perfect example of it is ordinary water. We can observe it in all the three states in our daily life (especially in a kitchen). However, there exists another state which is called plasma…

The Novosibirsk Institute of Nuclear Physics is one of the world’s leaders in studying plasma. They have some very interesting setups, so-called “plasma traps”. Let’s see how they work and what they are needed for.

The substance in a plasma state is gaseous but gets an additional property – electrical conductivity. That means a current is able to pass through it.

And this may be very dangerous! If the air was in a state of plasma, we would easily get an electric shock standing near a simple plug or any other source of energy (even without touching it!).

But this property of plasma may be effectively used for generating energy. That’s for plasma traps were created. They allow to study the properties of plasma, its behavior and possible ways of its keeping.

There is a very high radiation level near these machines, so all the workers must use dosimeters here.

Now these traps are purely experimental. But in the future they may become an important part of our lives…

Women gave birth to six babies