Panobot Taking Pictures in 360' using Arduino Duemilanove

Phil Warner turned his digital SLR camera into a 360 panoramic photo robot.  The mechanical arrangment  is nicely designed using aluminium frame. The camera moves by using two heavy duty R/C servos  : one for pan and another for tilt.  All the work is done by Arduino.
Here is an example panoramic picture taken with this project.

A Solderless Arduino board!!!

 

Here is a solderless Arduino mini on a mini breadboard. Neat pin mapping and wiring works for DIY example. There are 13 digital pins , 6 analog pins, including restart, RX, TX , Gnd and Vcc.

Gravity Has Some New Discoveries

WHAT exactly is gravity? Everybody experiences it, but pinning down why the universe has gravity in the first place has proved difficult.

Although gravity has been successfully described with laws devised by Isaac Newton and later Albert Einstein, we still don't know how the fundamental properties of the universe combine to create the phenomenon.

Now one theoretical physicist is proposing a radical new way to look at gravity. Erik Verlinde of the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, a prominent and internationally respected string theorist, argues that gravitational attraction could be the result of the way information about material objects is organised in space. If true, it could provide the fundamental explanation we have been seeking for decades.

Verlinde posted his paper to the pre-print physics archive earlier this month, and since then many physicists have greeted the proposal as promising (arxiv.org/abs/1001.0785). Nobel laureate and theoretical physicist Gerard 't Hooft of Utrecht University in the Netherlands stresses the ideas need development, but is impressed by Verlinde's approach. "[Unlike] many string theorists Erik is stressing real physical concepts like mass and force, not just fancy abstract mathematics," he says. "That's encouraging from my perspective as a physicist."

Newton first showed how gravity works on large scales by treating it as a force between objects (see "Apple for your eyes"). Einstein refined Newton's ideas with his theory of general relativity. He showed that gravity was better described by the way an object warps the fabric of the universe. We are all pulled towards the Earth because the planet's mass is curving the surrounding space-time.

Yet that is not the end of the story. Though Newton and Einstein provided profound insights, their laws are only mathematical descriptions. "They explain how gravity works, but not where it comes from," says Verlinde. Theoretical physics has had a tough time connecting gravity with the other known fundamental forces in the universe. The standard model, which has long been our best framework for describing the subatomic world, includes electromagnetism and the strong and weak nuclear forces - but not gravity.

Many physicists doubt it ever will. Gravity may turn out to be delivered via the action of hypothetical particles called gravitons, but so far there is no proof of their existence. Gravity's awkwardness has been one of the main reasons why theories like string theory and quantum loop gravity have been proposed in recent decades.

Verlinde's work offers an alternative way of looking at the problem. "I am convinced now, gravity is a phenomenon emerging from the fundamental properties of space and time," he says.

To understand what Verlinde is proposing, consider the concept of fluidity in water. Individual molecules have no fluidity, but collectively they do. Similarly, the force of gravity is not something ingrained in matter itself. It is an extra physical effect, emerging from the interplay of mass, time and space, says Verlinde. His idea of gravity as an "entropic force" is based on these first principles of thermodynamics - but works within an exotic description of space-time called holography.

Like the fluidity of water, gravity is not ingrained in matter itself. It is an extra physical effect

Holography in theoretical physics follows broadly the same principles as the holograms on a banknote, which are three-dimensional images embedded in a two-dimensional surface. The concept in physics was developed in the 1970s by Stephen Hawking at the University of Cambridge and Jacob Bekenstein at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel to describe the properties of black holes. Their work led to the insight that a hypothetical sphere could store all the necessary "bits" of information about the mass within. In the 1990s, 't Hooft and Leonard Susskind at Stanford University in California proposed that this framework might apply to the whole universe. Their "holographic principle" has proved useful in many fundamental theories.

Verlinde uses the holographic principle to consider what is happening to a small mass at a certain distance from a bigger mass, say a star or a planet. Moving the small mass a little, he shows, means changing the information content, or entropy, of a hypothetical holographic surface between both masses. This change of information is linked to a change in the energy of the system.

Then, using statistics to consider all possible movements of the small mass and the energy changes involved, Verlinde finds movements toward the bigger mass are thermodynamically more likely than others. This effect can be seen as a net force pulling both masses together. Physicists call this an entropic force, as it originates in the most likely changes in information content.

This still doesn't point directly to gravity. But plugging in the basic expressions for information content of the holographic surface, its energy content and Einstein's relation of mass to energy leads directly to Newton's law of gravity. A relativistic version is only a few steps further, but again straightforward to derive. And it seems to apply to both apples and planets. "Finding Newton's laws all over again could have been a lucky coincidence," says Verlinde. "A relativistic generalisation shows this is far deeper than a few equations turning out just right."

Some More Titles

• Ultimate computer case fan controller: you got 6 analog inputs and 6 PWM outputs.
• Fountain and/or lights that respond "happy to see you" via proximity and/or motion sensors.
• Ham radio Morse code keyer/propagation beacon.
• A small ball of individually addressable LEDs.
• Fail Safe lock using keypad, LCD, electric deadbolt with optional proximity sensor.
• Colour following robots: Two or more robots that follow lines of a certain colour, so on follows blue the other follows Red.

Advanced Arduino Project Ideas

• Monome
• Synthesizer
• Motion Tracking Turret
• Autopilot with GPS waypointing
• Gameconsole
• Learning Maze Solver Robot
• Energy efficiency/reporting: put current sensors on each circuit breaker in the AC panel and report usage/stats.
• Whole house climate control: Control HVAC and ceiling fans, watch for diffs between upstairs/downstairs, ceiling/floor and outside temps.
• UPS/power control system: Add power control and usage reporting to a normal UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)
• Voice recognition library
• Use Arduino to collect and process position/weather/telemetry data and then output data strings serially into an amateur radio transmitter using APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System).
• Ham radio repeater controller with DTMF control.
• Arduino communication: Create robots with IR blasters and receivers that can "talk" to each other and tell one's "voice" from another'.

Arduino code for Arduinoscope

   #define ANALOGA_IN 0
   #define ANALOGB_IN 1
   #define ANALOGC_IN 2
   #define ANALOGD_IN 3
   #define ANALOGE_IN 4
   #define ANALOGF_IN 5

void setup() {
Serial.begin(38400);
}

void loop() {
int val[5];

val[0] = analogRead(ANALOGA_IN);
val[1] = analogRead(ANALOGB_IN);
val[2] = analogRead(ANALOGC_IN);
val[3] = analogRead(ANALOGD_IN);
val[4] = analogRead(ANALOGE_IN);
val[5] = analogRead(ANALOGF_IN);

Serial.print( "A" );
Serial.print( val[0] );
Serial.print( "B" );
Serial.print( val[1] );
Serial.print( "C" );
Serial.print( val[2] );
Serial.print( "D" );
Serial.print( val[3] );
Serial.print( "E" );
Serial.print( val[4] );
Serial.print( "F" );
Serial.print( val[5] );
}



// This code alone will not work as there's an application I have written in Processing 1.0 which creates a
// window like oscilloscope on PC screen.

Champions League: Milan's Flaws Brutally Exposed Against Man Utd

It was a difficult task even before kick off as Milan had to score at least twice at Old Trafford. Their challenge became nigh-on impossible when Alexandre Pato and Alessandro Nesta were forced to sit on the sidelines through injury, but their absences cannot excuse the lack of imagination or inspiration on show at the Theatre of Dreams.

Leonardo's side are advocates of playing free-flowing, attacking football but even in Serie A, the system leaves them vulnerable at the back. Thiago Silva's displays without the calming presence of Alessandro Nesta are often not representative of his true standard, but the Brazilian was the more composed of the two centre-backs tonight. The ease with which Wayne Rooney beat Daniele Bonera in the air to score the first goal was demonstrative of the reliance that Milan have on Nesta.

Meanwhile on the flanks, the atrocious Ignazio Abate was beaten time after time by Nani, while Marek Jankulovski fared little better against either Antonio Valencia or Gary Neville. The Czech must also take responsibility for the first goal as he failed to close down Neville, while there were several occasions on which Abate simply allowed Nani to cut inside without even attempting a challenge.

Abate is no defender - and had Gianluca Zambrotta been match fit then he would not have needed to fill in at full-back - but clearly these positions need to be addressed in the summer. Had Leonardo had another option to play at right-back, Abate could have been utilised further forward in Pato's position. The youngster is obviously far more comfortable playing in an attacking role, while his pace and delivery could have given Patrice Evra more of a problem.

Instead, the lack of incision from the front three was staggering - Marco Borriello looked as immobile as he had for Italy against Cameroon, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar failed to take a gilt-edged opportunity in the first half and Ronaldinho's passes often failed to find their intended target.

David Beckham's introduction - which received a great reaction from the home fans - gave Milan a far better option on the right hand side, with the Englishman putting in several dangerous crosses, but it was too little, too late from Leonardo.

In the end, it was far too easy for Manchester United to overcome the Rossoneri for the first time ever over two legs of a European tie. Milan's forward line failed to help out their overrun midfield, while the full-backs' limited qualities were exposed for the entire 90 minutes. Sir Alex Ferguson's side were able to contain the Rossoneri with consummate ease after scoring an early goal to heap the pressure on the Italians, while Rooney settled matters with his second goal less than a minute into the second half.

From thereon, it was a matter of how many the hosts wanted to score. Edwin van der Sar was only rarely tested with shots from range - Andrea Pirlo, Mathieu Flamini and Beckham all tried their luck - and in the second half, an uninformed spectator could have been forgiven for thinking that it was Manchester United who were 4-2 down on aggregate.

Unfortunately for president Silvio Berlusconi, Leonardo and Italian football fans hoping that Serie A can cling onto its fourth Champions League spot, Milan's flaws, particularly in their lack of squad depth, were all on display against Ferguson's side. Manchester United can look forward to a quarter-final against one of Europe's elite, but while Milan's challenge of overturning the first leg deficit was almost inevitably doomed to failure, the manner of the defeat will leave a sour taste in the mouths of the Rossoneri.

Paper Presentation at IIT Roorkee

Hi all,
           Its been a rollicking few days as the Cognizance '10 is about to kick off in a couple of weeks time at IIT Roorkee. I sent my abstract along with Aditya and our paper topic has been selected in the category of Communication in the EC track.
           We've proposed a bandwidth reduction technique using speech recognition at either ends which can plummet the voice data-rates from existing 13~16 kbps to as low as a few bps.
           The event is on 26 and 27th of March. We'll be there in Roorkee in Uttaranchal and be battling with other 14 teams selected from across the country. I'll post the results as well as all the things those happen there to keep you people aware. As it is my first national level paper presentation, I can't imagine the atmosphere and magnitude of the erudition in the jury panel. Though one thing is certain that its going to be a great two days' outing at the backdrop of Dehradun. Hence every efforts for a few days are channelized in this direction.
            I will be bringing back a very happy and distinct pack of memoirs from there for sure as the location itself is astouding and aesthetic. Hope to write again soon. Till then, godspeed...

Six Reasons why Real Madrid would falter against Lyon and Crash out of CL

1. The Nine European Cups

Perhaps it was Spanish national team coach Vicente del Bosque who put it best before Spain’s friendly match against France last week when he warned, “football can be cruel to those who think they are better”.

While Real Madrid’s illustrious history in Europe makes the club one of the world’s greatest and most successful, it can also serve as an Achilles heel as a prestigious history can breed overconfidence and hubris. If Los Blancos are to be successful in the Champions League this season, they must remember that reputations mean nothing on the football pitch and that they must fight for the elusive 10th European crown, affectionately and often times obsessively refereed to as La Decima in the Spanish capital, as if it were their first.

2. The Five-Year Jinx

Chalk it up to bad luck, lack of ability in the squad, instability at the coaching position, or simply that one cannot buy success, Real Madrid have suffered defeat in the first knockout stage of the Champions League for five consecutive years. In every one of those years, the press and fans speculated a strong showing in Europe only to be met with crushing defeat, misdirected anger and despair, and unrequited dreams at the final whistle.

Few Madridistas have forgotten Thierry Henry’s wonder goal when Arsenal visited the Bernabeu; the fastest goal scored in Champions League history as Roy Makaay raced past Roberto Carlos to put Bayern Munich in pole position to progress; or last season when Madrid dominated Liverpool in the match at the Bernabeu but, unable to crack through the opposing defence, were stunned by the Reds’ away goal and then proceeded to be dismantled in the return leg at Anfield by a 4-0 scoreline.

In many ways, the Blanco-aficionados have come to worry that Real Madrid may suffer the same fate that the Spanish national team suffered, unable to progress past the quarter-finals of a competition for what became a 44-year trophy drought. Such a trend of failure, even for five years, becomes very difficult to shake and over time and players, fans, the media can come to fear that instruments of fate are somehow involved instead of approaching a match with the calm and level-headed confidence needed to win.

3. The Demanding Bernabeu

Most fans of football are happy when their team have won. But in the Spanish capital, securing a victory is simply not enough. Madrileños attend football matches as they would the theatre, the opera, or a bullfight: they expect to be entertained, to leave their seats in awe, having enjoyed a spectacle. Rarely (if ever) will one walk into a stadium of any sport and hear the home fans whistling and jeering their own team, but in the Santiago Bernabeu such a phenomenon is common, if not, expected.

The Bernabeu die-hards have jeered coaches, players, presidents, and have even cheered on the opposition if their team has not performed up to the platinum-gold standard of silky smooth attacking football that will forever be Real Madrid. The Madrid-based media only amplifies the problem, embellishing certain quotations and perpetuating rumours that sometimes border the realm of libel, all in the name of selling a dramatic narrative.

Such pressure both from fans and media pundits creates a volatile atmosphere for the team when things are not going as well as expected and can quickly engender instability in the team, only exacerbating the problem. Los Blancos live and die by this pressure: in Sunday’s epic comeback against Sevilla, the energy at the Bernabeu reflected that of a fan base that was full steam behind its team. If Madrid are to experience success this season, they need those fans behind them in full voice even if things are not going according to plan.

4. Chasing The Parked Bus

In seasons past, Madrid have notoriously capitulated when they were throwing men forward trying to chase a victory: The 5-0 aggregate loss to Liverpool in the Champions League, the 6-2 humiliation at home to Barcelona, just to name but two examples, were all instances where the Merengues simply had to go for the win as nothing else would do, but ended up with a pummelling instead.

History could very well repeat itself on Wednesday evening when Madrid welcome Lyon, hoping to overturn the 1-0 deficit. The French are likely to set up shop at the back and hit the 'Men in White' on the counter attack, just as they did to Liverpool in the group stage when the Reds poured forward desperately looking for three points and allowed Cesar Delgado to punish them with an injury time winner at Anfield.

And because of Madrid's failure to find an away goal a fortnight ago, they can ill-afford to allow Lyon to ripple the back of their net as for every goal that Claude Puel's troops score at the Bernabeu, Pellegrini's charges will have to score two more.

5. The Missing Xabi Factor

Madrid have enough depth in their squad to cover for any missing players. And you wouldn't be wrong. The place of Xabi Alonso, who will be suspended for the clash, can easily be deputised by Mahamadou Diarra or Fernando Gago. But neither can provide the same kind of security in defence and thrust in attack that Xabi can.

The deep-lying playmaker has a very distinct style of play, recovering possession from deep and bringing the ball forward, dictating the direction and rhythm with his well-measured, sprawling passes. Diarra has no problems doing the dirty work at the back, but he's not quite as adept linking up with the offence. Gago can run for 180 minutes, chase down every ball, and even ghost into the penalty box, but he doesn't have as good a positional sense and not as sharp with his passing.

The absences of Marcelo and Karim Benzema could also prove vital. It's true that the ex-Lyon striker hasn't been firing on all cylinders anyway and the Brazilian wing-back can sometimes cause more harm than good if played in the wrong position, but it's always better to have that extra option and dimension on the bench, as Pellegrini will tell you, especially after his masterstroke substitutions at the weekend against Sevilla.

Although 'Benz' hasn't been scoring much, he has shown that he is now well integrated into the team and he can contribute upfront when needed. Marcelo meanwhile has often given the Blancos an extra gear in the attacking half when things tighten up thanks to his pace and his dribbling runs, and without these three, Pellegrini will be restricted in implementing alternative strategies and tactics.

6. Big-Game Struggles

The Real Madrid attacking steamroller have scored more goals than any other side in La Liga, in fact, more goals on average than any other team in Europe's top leagues, and they were easily the top scorers in the group stages of the Champions League.

They've only lost three times in the Primera Division and twice in the Champions League so far, but all have been against tough opposition  and rivals of their own calibre. Put simply, Manuel Pellegrini's men are struggling against the big teams. They lost to Sevilla earlier in the season, to Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, they failed to beat Milan twice and they stumbled against Lyon two weeks ago.

At the weekend, they had to labour - although admirably - to fight back from two goals down to beat Sevilla 3-2 at the Bernabeu, while two other victories against their fierce rivals, Valencia and Atletico Madrid also ended with an identical 3-2 triumph.

A win is a win regardless, but while that may be the case in league competition, it's not the case in a knockout tournament where away goals are extremely vital. And if Madrid were to relicate another 3-2 win over Lyon, then they will be heading for the exit for the sixth straight season.

Finally got Arduinoscope running!!!

Here's the pic of my latest inception of the Arduino based oscilloscope for the real-time pin value mapping of Analog Input pins... It's based on a cute little Arduino code and a massive hand-coded Processing code. Will be publishing the code shortly.

Sir Alex says United will twist, not stick

David Beckham returns to Old Trafford as AC Milan look to overturn a 3-2 UEFA Champions League first knockout round deficit against a Manchester United FC side who, Sir Alex Ferguson insists, will attack as normal as they continue their quest to reach a third successive final.

Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United manager

In Milan it was a landmark victory for us. Perhaps we should have killed off the tie in the middle of the second half, but Seedorf's goal near the end keeps the tie on a tightrope. Milan have to score which should make it very open. I don't think we're very good at defending leads, so we'll be looking to play our normal game and our normal game includes attacking.

Three years ago they beat us 3-0 in the second leg, but the preparations for that game were completely different. You can talk as much as you like, but my team have got to produce and they will produce. I think David [Beckham's] strength has always been his crossing. I'm finding it difficult to see what team they'll pick. If he plays, that [crossing] will be the threat, as well as his set-piece play of course.

Leonardo, Milan coach

I think my confidence stems from what we're doing, the way we're playing. Even in the first leg there were many positive aspects to our play and it's still an open tie. We were playing well before and have done since and I've got confidence in the performance we'll put in. These occasions are always different to normal games. It is difficult to prepare when you have to go out there and get a specific result, just like it is when you're holding the upper hand.

I don't think these games are so much decided by tactics as they are by the players' attitude and approach on the day. We've got many choices in our squad, and lots of players used to playing in these big games. Clearly David Beckham is an important player for us and we will make our choices on a range of different criteria, but we know he has experience and that we can call on him if necessary.

Gunners salvage pride at home turf

Goalkeeper Helton believes FC Porto will take a while to come to terms with their humbling UEFA Champions League exit against Arsenal FC – having lost 5-0 in north London to bow out 6-2 on aggregate in the first knockout round.

The 31-year-old was beaten twice by Nicklas Bendtner before the break, and although the Portuguese champions briefly threatened a second-half comeback – Samir Nasri clearing substitute Cristián Rodríguez's header off the line – further goals from Nasri, Emmanuel Eboué and Bendtner completed the rout.

"We tried to react and keep our shape, as we did after conceding a goal in the first leg, but unfortunately we weren't able to," Helton said. "To lose a game like this, in the manner we did, isn't easy to accept."

The result was an even more chastening experience than Porto's 4-0 defeat by Arsène Wenger's side in last season's group stage. Bendtner started the scoring in the tenth minute, prodding into an empty net after a collision between Helton and defender Fucile, which left the goalkeeper requiring lengthy treatment. "After the collision I don't know what went on," he added. "Of course the ball ended up in the back of the net, but I didn't see anything."

Helton, capped three times by Brazil, was largely blameless for the goals conceded, even receiving praise from the Portuguese media for a string of first-half saves from Bendtner, Nasri and Andrey Arshavin which kept the tie in the balance. That, however, was no consolation. "It's very kind for people to say that, but I don't do the work that I do thinking only of myself," he said. "Unfortunately we went out in the way we did, and I can only feel very sad."

MORSE CODE transmission from Arduino

int led = 13; // LED connected to digital pin 13
int buzzer = 12; // buzzer connected to digital pin 12
int unit = 50; // duration of a pulse

char * morsecode[] = {
"-----", // 0
".----", // 1
"..---", // 2
"...--", // 3
"....-", // 4
".....", // 5
"-....", // 6
"--...", // 7
"---..", // 8
"----.", // 9
"---...", // :
"-.-.-.", // ;
"", // < (there's no morse for this simbol)
"-...-", // =
"", // > (there's no morse for this simbol)
"..--..", // ?
".--._.", // @
".-", // A
"-...", // B
"-.-.", // C
"-..", // D
".", // E
"..-.", // F
"--.", // G
"....", // H
"..", // I
".---", // J
"-.-", // K
".-..", // L
"--", // M
"-.", // N
"---", // O
".--.", // P
"--.-", // Q
".-.", // R
"...", // S
"-", // T
"..-", // U
"...-", // V
".--", // W
"-..-", // X
"-.--", // Y
"--.." // Z
};

void setup() {
pinMode(led, OUTPUT);
pinMode(buzzer, OUTPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void say_morse_word(char * msg){
int index = 0;
while(msg[index]!='\0'){
// say a dash
if(msg[index]=='-'){
dash();
}
// say a dot
if(msg[index]=='.'){
dot();
}
// gap beetween simbols
intragap();
index++;
}
}

// beep
void beep(int time){
int i;
int t = 100; // period of the wav. bigger means lower pitch.
int beepduration = (int)((float)time/t*1800);
digitalWrite(led, HIGH);
for(i=0;i digitalWrite(buzzer, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(t);
digitalWrite(buzzer, LOW);
delayMicroseconds(t);
}
delay(time);
}

// silence
void silence(int time){
digitalWrite(led, LOW);
delay(time);
}

// general procedure for .
void dot() {
beep(unit);
}

// general procedure for -
void dash() {
beep(unit*3);
}

// gap between dots and dashes
void intragap() {
silence(unit);
}

// gap between letters
void shortgap() {
silence(3*unit);
}

// gap be tween words
void mediumgap() {
silence(7*unit);
}

void say_char(char letter){
if((letter>='0')&&(letter<='Z')&&(letter!='<')&&(letter!='>')){
Serial.print(morsecode[letter-'0']);
Serial.print(' ');
say_morse_word(morsecode[letter-'0']);
shortgap();
} else {
if(letter==' '){
Serial.print(" \\ ");
mediumgap();
}else{
Serial.print("X");
}
}
}

void loop(){
if(Serial.available()){
say_char((char)Serial.read());
}
}

A Salute to Life - in the memory of those whose ended untimely...

Hi all,
Its been a tumultuous last couple of days for the students who are now wondering whether they should be really proud of the institute they willingly chose to study in, or are all the people here are just a puppet in the play which is pre-planned without the well-beings of the students taken into account? Its all a fault of the reservation system or quota as they call it... Many students who don't really have that 'potential' or rather the capability to sustain under the arduous pressures of the present education system, come to be apart of the institute with the only help of the quota or reservation system. Now who would have thought that a student studying in the fourth semester, who should be enjoying his youth to the fullest with joy and felicity would be put to a situation or under unbearable pressure of failure that he would commit suicide??
I strongly oppose those who say that the students should be made accustomed to withstand extreme pressure and tensions. Now that is completely not what a student is supposed to be doing. He/She should be made to think independently, think innovative and always in a complete sanity of senses.
Now that that fourth semester student has done what was done previously by three different students and hundreds do across India is something which is more than enough to agitate our so called education ministers to alter the existing orthodox text-book exam oriented system.
I also appeal to all my fellow students not to succumb to the tensed situations and pressures and enjoy the precious life they are given to the fullest. Exams will come and go but the friends and memories will always remain.
Be grateful for the parents for what they did for you and also to your friends. Never commit such a ghastly mistake and make them languish forever in your memories for the rest of your life. Sympathies go out to the Family of Saurabh. May his soul rest in peace.


...Viva la Vida...

LED Fading from Digital output control by a switch

int lastState = 0; // last state of the switch
int currentState = 0; // current state of the switch
int ledLevel = 0; // level of the LED analogWrite
long lastFadeTime = 0; // last time you decremented the LED level

void setup() {
pinMode (2, INPUT); // the switch pin
pinMode(6, OUTPUT); // the LED pin
Serial.begin(9600); // initialize serial communication
}

void loop() {
// read the switch:
currentState = digitalRead(2);

// if the switch has changed, do something:
if (currentState != lastState) {
// if the switch is high:
if (currentState == 1) {
// set the LED level
ledLevel = 255;
Serial.println("turned on");
}
// save the current state of the switch as the last state for next time through:
lastState = currentState;
}

if (millis() - lastFadeTime > 5) {
// fade the LED level:
if (ledLevel >0 ) {
// turn on or off the LED
analogWrite(6, ledLevel);
// decrement the LED level:
ledLevel--;
}
else {
// turn the LED off:
digitalWrite(6, LOW);
}
// note the last time you faded the LED:
lastFadeTime = millis();
}
}
-------by Hardik Pandya

Big Money Little Value

Real Madrid have topped the league table of the world's richest football clubs for the fifth straight year, according to Deloitte's sport unit.

Its Football Money League, based on data for season 2008/09, also says Real are the first global sports team to see annual revenues top 400m euros (£357m).

Real's arch-rivals Barcelona have taken second spot in the list, ahead of Manchester United who drop to third.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.


With international TV rights becoming an increasingly important source of income and leagues competing for attention around the world, the Spanish model has clear dangers.
Nils Blythe, Business correspondent

Why TV is the key to Real success

The authors said that United would have been top of the Money League if the pound was still at June 2007 levels.

But they point out that, despite exchange rate issues, seven of the top 20 in its table are from England, the other three being Tottenham (15th), Manchester City(19th), and relegated club Newcastle United (20th).

All the 20 clubs represented are from the "big five" European leagues, with Germany contributing five clubs, Italy four, and France and Spain two each.

'Challenges'

Real retained top position despite a disappointing season, coming second in La Liga and exiting the Champions League at the Round of 16 stage.

But they were boosted by a much-improved television contract with Mediapro, guaranteeing the club more than 1.1bn euros over seven seasons.

Arch-rivals Barcelona had a hugely successful season, winning La Liga and the Champions League - beating Manchester United, who won the English Premier League in 2008/09, in the final.

"We continue to assert that the game's top clubs are well placed to meet the challenges presented by the difficult economic environment," said Deloitte's Dan Jones, who compiled the report.

"Their large and loyal supporter bases, ability to drive broadcast audiences, and continuing attraction to corporate partners, provide a strong base to underpin revenues."

He said that this was shown by the fact that the combined revenues of the top 20 Money League clubs was over 3.9bn euros in 2008/09, up 26m euros on the previous year.

And the majority of Money League clubs maintained average match attendances when comparing 2008/09 with 2007/08.

There was not a great deal of movement in the top 20, with two new clubs - Werder Bremen and Manchester City - replacing VfB Stuttgart and Fenerbahce.

WEALTHIEST CLUBS BY REVENUE
1) Real Madrid: 401.4m euros
2) Barcelona: 365.9m euros
3) Man Utd: 327m euros
4) Bayern Munich: 289.5m euros
5) Arsenal: 263m euros
6) Chelsea: 242.3m
7) Liverpool: 217m euros
8) Juventus: 202.3m euros
9) Inter Milan 196.5m euros
10) AC Milan: 196.5.m euros
Source: Deloitte: 2008/09

Mr Jones said the limited change "reflects the fact that those clubs with the largest supporter bases in strongest economic markets, high attraction to commercial partners, and consistent participation in European competition, will dominate the top positions".

Football income

However, there were warnings that many clubs now face "increased pressure on ticket pricing strategies and all clubs will continue to face challenges in managing match day" returns.

And the report also points out that the current season, 2009/10, will offer clarification about whether the global recession has had a major impact on clubs' revenues.

The Deloitte review does not include the cost of transfer fees or player wages, or VAT and other sales taxes, and concentrates solely on day-to-day income from football business.

Income includes money from ticket sales, sponsorship, merchandising and other commercial revenues, television monies, corporate hospitality, and non-match day stadium use such as for conferences.

The list had been headed by Manchester United for eight years until Real Madrid deposed them.

PussyCat Dolls lose 2 dolls

Ashley Roberts announced on micro-blogging site Twitter that she had "an amazing ride" and had "learned so much".

She added she will "always love those girls. My sistas 4 life."

Kimberley Wyatt who recently judged Sky One's Got To Dance talent show left over the weekend saying "money and fame can't buy happiness".

In a statement, Roberts added that she has "gotten the acting bug and am falling in love with it. I have a few projects in the works and when ready I will announce more details to all of you".

She also said she is "in the studio recording some of my own music".

Roberts' and Wyatt's exits follow the departure of former group member Carmit Bachar, who quit the group in 2008.

It follows rumours of a rift in the group over the elevation of member Nicole Scherzinger to lead singer.
Kimberley Wyatt and Ashley Roberts
The pair are understood to be working on other projects

Scherzinger, who dated former F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, has just been announced in the line up for US television show Dancing With the Stars.

Initially forming in 1995 as a burlesque troupe based in Los Angeles, the changing line-up settled on six members who began recording music in 2003.

Their single Don't Cha was number one in the UK in 2005 and a chat-topping debut album PCD followed in 2006.

United look to restore home rule

David Beckham is back in town but Manchester United FC will be more concerned with rediscovering their formidable home form when they look to protect a slender first-leg advantage against AC Milan.
And The White Pele is all set to put the Theatre of Dreams ablaze with his pin-point headers and slingshot shoots... Can't wait to latch on to the match on 10th night at 1.15am.

But one thing is for sure, that this time, it will not be a happy hunting for Beckham at Old Trafford.

UEFA Champions League further proceedings...

Arsenal 20:45 Porto More »
Referee: TBD
Stadium: Arsenal Stadium, London (ENG)

Fiorentina 20:45 Bayern More »
Referee: TBD
Stadium: Artemio Franchi, Florence (ITA)

10 March 2010
Home Away Status Match info
Real Madrid 20:45 Lyon More »
Referee: TBD
Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid (ESP)

Man. United 20:45 Milan More »
Referee: TBD
Stadium: Old Trafford, Manchester (ENG)

16 March 2010
Home Away Status Match info
Sevilla 20:45 CSKA Moskva More »
Referee: TBD
Stadium: Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, Seville (ESP)

Chelsea 20:45 Internazionale More »
Referee: TBD
Stadium: Stamford Bridge, London (ENG)

17 March 2010
Home Away Status Match info
Barcelona 20:45 Stuttgart More »
Referee: TBD
Stadium: Camp Nou, Barcelona (ESP)

Bordeaux 20:45 Olympiacos More »
Referee: TBD
Stadium: Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux (FRA)

An Age Of Extremes

A few months ago, when Sarah Palin, the postergirl of right wing Republicans was contracted by Fox News to be a guest anchor, she remarked, "I am thrilled to be joining the great journalistic talent at Fox News. It's wonderful to be part of a place that so values fair and balanced news."

Ah! "Fair" and "balanced", those wonderful words that Fox News has made its tagline, words that every aspiring journalist is reminded are critical to professional credibility. Unfortunately, since I didn't go to journalism school, I am still not sure what those words mean. After all, if the channel that has often been accused of being 'the propaganda arm of the Republican party' can proudly claim to be 'fair' and 'balanced', then I guess we need to redefine the meaning of the words.

We still don't have a Fox News equivalent in India - although a few channels have slipped dangerously in that direction - but the dilemma of what constitutes 'fair' and 'balanced' television is universal. On Indian news television, the escape route has been to ensure that any discussion programme represents strikingly contrary viewpoints. So, if you have a right wing voice which believes that Hindutva is the core of Indian nationalism, you must have a left-liberal view that is convinced that Hindutva is a communal platform. If you have someone who condemns human right violations in Kashmir, you must have someone who believes that human rights activists are apologists for militants.

If there is one thing that contemporary news television has done, it has accentuated the polarities in public debate. The limited discussion time on television does place a premium on short, snappy soundbites. On television, the moderate viewpoint that might qualify its responses with a considered 'on the other hand' is quickly discarded. By contrast, the more direct, extreme view is celebrated because it leads to, let's be honest, a 'big fight'. As someone who has 'moderated' many such 'fights', let me say that the experience has been mostly enjoyable. To have two articulate speakers slug it out - lets say an Arun Jaitley from the BJP and a Kapil Sibal from the Congress - does make for terrific television: it can be edgy, dramatic and exciting. But also, at times, dare I say, a little predictable.

The recent debate over Naxalism typifies the problems associated with converting a highly complex subject into a binary black and white conflict. Much like a boxing match, the participating pugilists are placed in their respective corners. On one side, you have the votaries of the strong state: for them, the Naxals are terrorists who must be eliminated. On the other, you have the so-called Naxal 'sympathisers' who believe that the Indian state is brutal and repressive. Bring them to a television studio, and the debate follows a familiar pattern: loud, accusatory and, in many instances, highly personalised.

Lost in the cacophony, there seems little space or time to discuss how a just and acceptable solution can be found to what is both a socio-economic and a security challenge. Why should every reference to alleged 'atrocities' committed by a local militia like the Salva Judum in Chattisgarh be seen as an exhibition of 'anti-national' behaviour? On the other hand, why should unbridled criticism of Naxal violence be seen as state propaganda? What if, one were to suggest, that both sides are in danger of being victims of their own propaganda machines, that maybe the Salwa Judum and the Naxals are two sides of the same violent coin? Maybe, the polarities on television mirror the divisions in society itself.

Perhaps, we have pigeonholed the world around us into neat little boxes. The space for exploring the grey areas of an issue, to be more accepting of a counter-argument to our entrenched belief system is shrinking. Or atleast we don't seem to wish to enter the hidden crevices of a vexed question that might force us to re-examine our convictions.

And yet, the question I ask is this: why can one not be equally critical of Udhav Thackeray and Digvijay Singh's brand of politics without having to constantly 'prove' ones credentials to be a 'fair' and 'balanced' journalist? Or is that the price one must pay for being a journalist in the age of extremes?

Post-script: If Fox News has chosen Sarah Palin as its brand ambassador for 'fair' and 'balanced' reporting, maybe we should also look for similar home-grown figures? Maybe, our tough-talking home minister is an option? Better still, why can't we have both Chidambaram and author-activist Arundhati Roy on the same programme on Naxalism? Would certainly make for fascinating television.



By Rajdeep Sardesai on IBN networks

Oh now... I m really tired of writing this about Chelsea again being cornered by another Manchester dialect... Blues thrashed again in a time of 10 days when they had just returned from San Siro crestfallen with an away goal -the only ray of hope. It seems as if the blues are losing the sublimity they preserved so well in the first half of the season... Drogba is the sole talisman but for how long?? Someone needs to step up. Or United is just a point behind now and really charged by heroics of Rooney who is in the form of his lifetime. Lets see what unfolds in Premier League.

Chelsea drubbed again...

Oh now... I m really tired of writing this about Chelsea again being cornered by another Manchester dialect... Blues thrashed again in a time of 10 days when they had just returned from San Siro crestfallen with an away goal -the only ray of hope. It seems as if the blues are losing the sublimity they preserved so well in the first half of the season... Drogba is the sole talisman but for how long?? Someone needs to step up. Or United is just a point behind now and really charged by heroics of Rooney who is in the form of his lifetime. Lets see what unfolds in Premier League.

Demolition at Motera (Figuratively ofcourse..!)

I had a strange deja vu at Motera... Blues again faltering against the Proteas. And its the same demolisher again... Abraham de Villiers did it in 2007 knocking 217* and here he is again with a century in 59 balls... he loves Motera I guess.

India look to wipe SA in the ultimate clash at Motera

Hi all,
The razzmatazz shifts to Ahmedabad as Team India look to narrow down on the Aussies for the run of Numero Uno in ODIs. Passion and patriotism will run through the veins tomorrow as the Indian team will take guard to claim the 3-match series against the Proteas. Exams are there, but who would want to miss Team India lifting the winner's trophy! I m there no matter what... I will also post every little worthwhile detail here. Absence of greats(Sachin n Viru) doesn't damp the occasion at all as Ahmedabad is always pumped and buzzing to welcome their national heroes...

Jai Hind.

Mourinho exults after win over Chelsea

"I always play to win, so we do nothing to draw and keep the record, nothing! I feel no pressure about it. I feel the record is so amazing that I must feel very relaxed. One day I will have to lose, and when this day arrives I will be very happy because I will be able to say: 'I didn't lose at home for x years, I didn't lose at home for x matches'."

Anderson and Ferdinand Ruled out for season

Manchester United FC midfielder Anderson has been ruled out for the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury and Rio Ferdinand could also miss the UEFA Champions League first knockout round second leg against AC Milan on 10 March.

Anderson was injured during Tuesday's 3-0 Premier League defeat of West Ham United FC and the 21-year-old Brazilian will undergo an operation in Portugal in early March. He is expected to be sidelined for six months. "With these injuries, it's usually something simple. He stretched to pass the ball and his knee just popped," manager Sir Alex Ferguson said. "It's a bad bit of news for him. He was just getting back into the team after being out for a few weeks. He was looking forward to it and was showing great energy in the match. So that is a blow, particularly with the Milan game coming up, because Michael Carrick is suspended for that."

Also likely to sit out Milan's visit is central defender Ferdinand, who skipped the West Ham match with a back problem which definitely keeps him out of Sunday's English League Cup final against Aston Villa FC at Wembley. "We think he'll be back in two weeks," added Sir Alex. "I don't think he'll be fit for Milan, but I don't think it'll be much longer than that." United, leading 3-2 in the tie, are hopeful that Ryan Giggs will be available against the Rossoneri as he returns to training next week following an absence with a fractured arm.

UEFA EURO 2012

The final tournament of the 14th UEFA European Football Championship will be held in Poland and Ukraine from 8 June to 1 July 2012. It will be the third time that the final tournament is jointly hosted by two countries (after Belgium/Netherlands in 2000 and Austria/Switzerland in 2008).

Sixteen national teams will compete in a total of 31 matches to be crowned European champions. The format of four groups of four teams will be used for the last time in this tournament. The competition format will change for the next edition in 2016 as the lineup of participants competing in the final tournament will be increased to 24.

The UEFA EURO 2012 matches will be played in eight stadiums, four in Poland – Gdansk, Poznan, Warsaw, Wroclaw – and four in Ukraine – Donetsk, Lviv, Kharkiv and Kyiv. The opening match will take place in Warsaw on 8 June and the final on 1 July in Kyiv. No fewer than 1.4 million fans will be expected at the stadiums and the matches will be broadcast live in more than 200 territories around the world.

UEFA Champions League - Chelsea Defeat

FC Internazionale Milano coach José Mourinho is confident of emulating past success when he returns to Stamford Bridge on 16 March looking to defend a 2-1 lead in the second leg of his side's UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie against Chelsea FC.

The Portuguese coach enjoyed three trophy-laden seasons with the London club and admitted it was strange coming up against his old team at San Siro. The acid test now awaits him at Stamford Bridge with Mourinho expecting his current charges to prosper there too. "Even in the tunnel before going out on to the pitch it was clear it was not a normal game for me or the Chelsea players," Mourinho said.

"Now I will return to Stamford Bridge, but in a different dressing room and sitting on a different bench. I will go back home but I will control my emotions because I'm a professional and I just want to win. This is not the ideal result, but I'm happy and the Chelsea players know I can be successful at Stamford Bridge. Before the game I told my players Chelsea are not superior to us. Both sides can play better than they did, but it's hard to deal with pressure in such important games."

The Italian champions were knocked out by English opposition at this stage in each of the last two seasons, and Mourinho believes victory over Chelsea lays down a significant marker. "We have proved we are a big team in the UEFA Champions League as well," he said. "Inter had failed to win games at this stage in the last few years. Now we have an advantage, but it's only the first half and Chelsea will try to change the result at Stamford Bridge. We know it's not over, but we created a few chances to score at Manchester United last season and I'm sure we can do the same at Stamford Bridge."

The match was an open affair, with Didier Drogba hitting the bar on the quarter-hour mark and both goalkeepers forced into key saves, so Cambiasso was pleased to have secured a slight edge ahead of the return leg. "It was an even contest between two top teams who wanted to win," he said. "We have a narrow lead at half-time in a 180-minute match. Now we have to go to London to play the remaining 90 minutes and qualify for the quarter-finals."

With all things said and heard, all remains to be seen is the all guns blazing Chelsea(or perhaps Inter??) to put up a redoubtable performance in 2nd leg or just pack the bags from the championship. Well, 16th March is the day!!!

International Instructables 2009 Winner Project based on Arduino

Instructables contest results
Sunday, December 6th, 2009
World Clock - winner of Instructables Arduino contest 2009



A couple of weeks ago we announced the Instructables Arduino contest, the results are now ready. The pretty World Clock won. I wonder if its maker will send me one this Xmass. The people at Instructables were overwhelmed with the response from the community. Believe me when I say there were a lot of entries, it was hard to be in the jury … the level in the projects presented got quite high.

I wish I had some time to join one of these contests myself. But … mm … it’s maybe better just being part of the jury, I don’t want to lose against you guys!

What Arduino is capable of...

All the Arduino lovers n aspirants plz have a look...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQhTi8rcRmM&feature=player_embedded

NEWS

# Sachin Tendulkar (pictured) becomes the first player to hit a double century in a One Day International match.
# Bal wins the Golden Bear at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival, becoming the first Turkish film to do so since 1964.
# Former U.S. Secretary of State and White House Chief of Staff Alexander Haig dies at the age of 85.
# Flooding on the Portuguese island of Madeira kills at least 43 people and paralyzes many basic services in the regional capital Funchal.
# The Dutch coalition government under Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende collapses over disagreements on extending the country's military mission in Afghanistan.
# IUPAC officially names the element with atomic number 112 as copernicium in honour of Nicolaus Copernicus.

Arduino - Open Source Hardware

Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments.

Arduino can sense the environment by receiving input from a variety of sensors and can affect its surroundings by controlling lights, motors, and other actuators. The microcontroller on the board is programmed using the Arduino programming language (based on Wiring) and the Arduino development environment (based on Processing). Arduino projects can be stand-alone or they can communicate with software on running on a computer (e.g. Flash, Processing, MaxMSP).

The boards can be built by hand or purchased preassembled; the software can be downloaded for free. The hardware reference designs (CAD files) are available under an open-source license, you are free to adapt them to your needs.

Arduino received an Honorary Mention in the Digital Communities section of the 2006 Ars Electronica Prix. The Arduino team is: Massimo Banzi, David Cuartielles, Tom Igoe, Gianluca Martino, and David Mellis.

26/11 What happened and the Aftermath...

Dear Reader, forgive my self-indulgence, but I write this as an angry and anguished Indian citizen and south Mumbaikar as much as a professional journalist. Over the last few days, as I have watched the city of my youth being ravaged by mindless terror, I must confess to feeling helpless, almost violated, as if someone had defiled the shrine of an old unhurried, SAFE Bombay.

Each terror site ignites a flash of memories, the roll call of the dead consist of names I grew up with. In the geography of terror, the horror has come precariously close to home: my mother lives just a block away from Nariman House in Colaba, an area that has been traditionally the most secure in the metropolis.

Its almost as if in the space of 72 bloody hours, an entire universe of memories has been shaken, perhaps irretrievably. Leopolds Café where I had my first beer in celebration of clearing the high school exam; Colaba market, where in the congested bylanes you got the best chicken rolls and patties in the city; Metro junction where you slipped out of college to catch the latest matinee; VT station which you passed every morning to work, the Oberoi hotel which left you awe-struck, one of the first high rises that dotted the Nariman Point landscape; and, of course, the Taj.

Mumbai without the Taj is a bit like a Queen without the crown. The Taj experience isn't just about the rich and famous, it's a symbol of Mumbai's urbane, cosmopolitan identity, undoubtedly elitist, but reflecting the civility that is so precious to the city. As a south Mumbai collegian, a monthly visit to the Shamiana, the coffee shop at the Taj was part of the growing up years. You saved up for it because being in that ambience made you feel just a little adult and sophisticated. Just the thought of maybe, just maybe, rubbing shoulders with a cricketer or a film star at the next table was enough to spend hours over a cappuccino.

In that sense, 26/11 has blown apart a certain way of life, each grenade exploding the innocence of another era. Not to forget the friends one has lost. Ashok Kamte, Xavierite from the batch of 85, a police officer with the muscle of a Schwarznegger and the heart of a giant teddy bear. For Ashok, being a police officer was not just a professional option, it was a family tradition: his grandfather had been Maharashtra's first inspector general of police.

Sunil Parekh, a successful businessman, two years senior in school, shot alongwith his wife, even as they dined at the Oberoi. The ever-smiling Sabina Sehgal Saikia, a colleague from the glorious Times of India days when there were no 24 hour news channels to shatter the idyll of an extended editorial meeting. Ashok Kapur, ex-president of the Bombay Gymkhana club, whose colonial environs still provide an old school refuge from the cut and thrust competitiveness of new India.

I am not alone. Most people in this old Mumbai world have been touched directly by the terrorist. 26-11 has given a face to terror to a community which until now was happily insulated from it. While buses were blasted in distant suburbs, train commuters were targeted and the crowded bazaars of central Mumbai were hit, south Mumbai was somehow a sanctuary where you felt protected, where the tryst with terror for a majority was limited to watching it unfold on television in some distant corner.

Now, sitting in your home verandah and watching NSG commandos being airdropped and gunshots being fired, there was no escaping the reality: terror had entered your neighbourhood.

Which is also why 26-11 is very different from Mumbai's original date with terror on March 12th 1993. Then, the serial blasts across the city left us dazed and fearful. Then, we thought the terror had sprung from the ghettoes, from the grimy underbelly of the city. We knew of Dawood, although we didn't quite know what RDX was. We saw the blasts as a continuum of the riots, a cycle of violence and vengeance that we hoped would soon end.

Fifteen years later, after repeated assaults, the perpetrator of the bomb blast has transformed himself into a far more terrifying phantom than in the early 90s. In the 21st century, this lethal and evil force has just demonstrated that it can strike at will whenever and wherever it wants and so called Rising India can't do a damn thing. Which is why the fear this time is matched by rage. Its an anger felt by a citizenry which feels betrayed by their leadership. When in 1993, RDX landed on the coastal coast it was felt that this was an unfortunate breach of security. Now we know that this was no aberration: a combination of callous politicians, bumbling bureaucrats and an emasculated police force have created a feeble and corrupted system that is simply incapable of taking on trained and highly motivated terrorists.

This is not a partisan issue either: the fact is that bomb blasts have taken place across the country, from Narendra Modi's Gujarat to Vilasrao Deshmukh's Maharashtra. Intelligence failure is not the prerogative of any one political party or government, its reflective of an antiquated bureaucracy that is totally out of its depth when dealing with the international jihadist. Why, for example, does it take a formal request from the state government to the home ministry for the NSG commandos to be flown in several hours after terror has struck?

Where is the crisis management committee that needs to spring into action right away? And why should an officer investigating a terror case also be expected to be out on the street engaging in a gunfight with AK 47 wielding terrorists?

Today, every citizen is asking these questions. The candlelight vigils and sms campaigns may seem ineffectual, but lets not underestimate the power of an enlightened citizenry in the media age. There is a new vote bank out there, a vote bank of furious and articulate people, many of whom are directly responsible for driving the Indian dream forward. It is impossible for any politician to ignore this urban voter and rely on the rural masses alone. 26-11 has ensured that the Indian upper middle class emerge from its cocoon of privilege. The voices being heard at the Gateway of India are a slowly gathering momentum. Over the debris of the Taj, the Indian elite may finally be coming of age.


Above is the letter of a crestfallen common man - Rajdeep Sardesai...

My Paper snap

Rajdeep Sardesai's letter to Uddhav Thackeray

Dear Udhavjee,

At the very outset, my compliments for the manner in which you've literally 'stolen' the headlines from your cousin Raj in the last fortnight. After the Assembly election defeat last October, there were many who had written you off as a weak, namby-pamby politician, who would be better off doing photography. But now, it seems that the 'fire' which burns inside Bal Thackeray is alive in the son too. After years of struggling to establish yourself, you have finally discovered the mantra for success as a Shiv Sena leader: find an 'enemy', threaten and intimidate them, commit the odd violent act, and, eureka!, you are anointed the true heir to the original 'T' company supremo.

Your cousin has chosen to bash faceless taxi drivers and students from North India, soft targets who are totally unprotected. You've been much braver. You've actually chosen to target national icons: Sachin Tendulkar, Mukesh Ambani, Shah Rukh Khan, powerful figures who most Indians venerate. Shah Rukh is no surprise since the Sena has always been uncomfortable with the Indian Muslim identity. Forty years ago, your father had questioned Dilip Kumar's patriotism for accepting an award from the Pakistani government. You've called Shah Rukh a traitor for wishing to choose Pakistani cricketers in the IPL. That your father invited Javed Miandad, the former Pakistani captain and a close relation of Dawood Ibrahim, to your house is a matter of record that we shall not go into today.

I am a little surprised that you chose to question Ambani and Tendulkar though. The Sena has always enjoyed an excellent relationship with corporate India. Why then criticise India's biggest businessman for suggesting that Mumbai belongs to all? After all, no one can deny that Mumbai's entrepreneurial energy has been driven by communities from across India. The diatribe against Sachin is even more strange. He is, alongwith Lata Mangeshkar, Maharashtra's most admired and recognised face. Surely, you will agree that Sachin symbolizes Maharashtrian pride in a manner that renaming shops and streets in Marathi never can.

Of course, in-between some of your local thugs also attacked the IBN Lokmat office. I must confess that initially the attack did leave me outraged. Why would a political outfit that claims to protect Maharashtrian culture attack a leading Marathi news channel? But on reflection I realized that we hadn't been singled out: over the last four decades, the Shiv Sena has targeted some of Maharashtra's finest literary figures and journalistic institutions. That you continue to live in a colony of artists while attacking artistic freedom remains one of the many tragic ironies in the evolution of the Sena.

Just before the Assembly elections, you had told me in an interview that you were determined to shake off the Shiv Sena's legacy of violence. You spoke of the need for welfarist politics, of how you were saddened that rural Maharashtra was being left behind. I was impressed by the farmer rallies you had organized, by the fact that you had documented farmer suicides in the state. I thought that Uddhav Thackeray was serious about effecting a change in Maharashtra's political landscape.

I was obviously mistaken. Farmer suicides still continue, the after-effects of drought are still being faced in several districts, but the focus is now squarely on finding high profile hate figures. You claim to have a vision for Mumbai. Yet, on the day the Sena-controlled city's municipal corporation's annual budget revealed an alarming financial crisis, your party mouthpiece, Saamna, was running banner headlines seeking an apology from Shah Rukh Khan. You asked your Shiv Sainiks to agitate against Rahul Gandhi's visit to Mumbai, but why have you not asked them to wage a war against the water cuts that have made life so difficult for millions in the city?

At one level, I can understand the reasons for your frustration. The Congress-NCP government in the state has been thoroughly incompetent: the last decade has seen Maharashtra decline on most social and economic parameters. Yet, the Shiv Sena has been unable to capture power in the state. Your war with cousin Raj has proved to be self-destructive. The Assembly election results showed that a united Sena may have offered a real challenge to the ruling alliance. In fact, the Sena and the MNS together garnered around 43 per cent of the popular vote in Mumbai-Thane, almost seven per cent more than what was obtained by the Congress-NCP combine. Yet, because your vote was split, you won just nine of the 60 seats in the region, a result which proved decisive in the overall state tally.

Your defeat seems to have convinced you that the only way forward is to outdo your cousin in parochial politics. It's a strategy which has undoubtedly made you a headline-grabber once again. Unfortunately, television rating points don't get you votes or goodwill. There is space in Maharashtra's politics for a regional force, but it needs to be based on a constructive, inclusive identity.

Tragically, the Shiv Sena has never offered a serious social or economic agenda for the future. Setting up the odd wada pav stall in Mumbai is hardly a recipe for addressing the job crisis . Why hasn't the Sena, for example, started training projects to make Maharashtrian youth face upto the challenges of a competitive job market? Why doesn't the Sena give regional culture a boost by supporting Marathi theatre, literature or cinema? The wonderful Marathi film, "Harishchandrachee Factory", nominated for the Oscars, has been co-produced by Ronnie Screwvala, a Parsi, who like millions of other 'outsiders' has made Mumbai his home. Maybe, I ask for too much. Tigers, used to bullying others for years, will never change their stripes.

Post-script: Your charming son, Aditya, who is studying English Literature in St Xaviers College, had sent me a collection of his poems. I was most impressed with his writing skills. Let's hope the next generation of the T company will finally realize that there is more to life than rabble-rousing!

Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra!

MSE time-table:

2 March: Power
3 Antenna
4 Fiber Optics
5 DSD
6 TTS/MMS/VLSI
8 Elective

Antenna Syllabus

From J.D.Kraus, 2.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,13,15... then, 4.1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,13,17... then, 5.2,3... That's about it...

Antenna Syllabus

Here's the antenna syllabus.