In the literal sense of the term, a green robot is being developed by a team of scientists led by Andy Adamatzky and they are calling it Plasmobot. The plasmodium algae, a slimy mould found in damp places in UK is its basis.

Plasmodium branches its protoplasm in search of nutrients and finds the shortest distance to get it. It is stimulated by sunlight or other chemical stimuli. By feeding it oat flakes it oscillates and grows in a specified direction carrying objects with it. Similarly, plasmobot will span the shortest distance between objects and carry signals in specified directions. The robots will have parallel inputs and outputs, a network of sensors and the number crunching power of super computers. It will be a fully controllable and programmable amorphous intelligent robot. Seems typical sci-fi stuff doesn’t it!

Foot Note- Before developing a biological brain for a robot, could not they find a way to install one in humans? I seriously believe some people need them real bad.

Image of US Embassy in Pretoria

December 1st is observed as the World AIDS day internationally. World AIDS Day, observed each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS among people.

AIDS is a vicious pandemic which has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007.

On each year’s World AIDS day, WHO gives a theme. This year 2009 World AIDS day theme was “Universal Access and Human Rights“.

Previous themes are -  “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise – Lead – Empower – Deliver” and “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise – Leadership” of 2008 and 2007 respectively.

The World AIDS day is observed with the symbol of Red Ribbon. The Red Ribbon is the global symbol for solidarity with HIV-positive people and those living with AIDS. It is important that more and more youngsters are made aware of the risks involved concerning AIDS.

The World AIDS day is a perfect way to raise awareness and questions for those who lack knowledge about this killer disease.

1. SCRAPBOOK

This will require some time and effort. But it’ll be all worth it at the end. Pick up a diary, and pick a theme. If its for your partner, you could have a chronological pictorial representation. Paste pictures of not just the two of you but also places you frequented (cafes, buses, cinema halls.. anything!) and things you liked (a special pastry, magazines you both read together.. etc). You can also make up small verses. Remember to pour your heart out. There’s no better way to say all that you feel. If its for a friend, parent or teacher, you can ask others who are close to that person to contribute to it also.

2. TREASURE HUNT

 Make it wild, crazy and super fun. Help your best friend or girl/boy friend bring the child out in them. Try and make the clues using words that the two of you use a lot. That will give it an even more personal touch. Don’t forget to make the treasure worth all the effort!

3. MOBILE COVER

What’s different about a mobile cover? Nothing! Except the fact that you’re going to make this yourself! You could knit, embroider or crochet… whatever you like doing. And if you don’t know any.. go and learn!

4. PHOTOFRAME

You could make one out of cloth or paper. Decorate it with pressed flowers, ribbons or buttons. If you want to get more adventurous, instead of one photograph, you could make a collage of many.

 5. PAPIER MACHE PEN STAND

Make a papier mache pen stand. If you don’t know how to make one, check out this site- http://www.papiermache.co.uk/tutorials/getting-started-with-papier-mache/

 You can personalize it using lots of paints or you can even stick some photos.

 1. REBECCA- DAPHNE DU MAURIER

“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again”.

Daphne du Maurier’s ‘Rebecca’ is an evergreen classic. ‘Rebecca’ will continue to haunt you long after you have turned the last page over. The beauty of Rebecca lies in the first person narration of an extremely touching thriller. Wondering what I mean by a touching thriller? This emotional story suddenly takes the most thrilling turn you could ever imagine. The story unfolds many mysteries. But the one you are left with is the identity of the narrator. All you know about her are her feelings, her tumultuous thoughts, her insecurities, jealousies and her story.. beautifully told.

2. MY FAMILY AND OTHER ANIMALS- GERALD DURRELL

This hilarious autobiographical account takes us to Corfu, a Greek island where Gerrald Durrel spent four years of his childhood between 1935 and 1939. Durrel’s narration of his family comprising of his widowed mother, diet-conscious sister Margo, gun- crazy Leslie and Larry together with their various pets on and off the house does more than just tickle your funny bone.

 3. SMALL MIRACLES : Extraordinary Coincidences from Everyday Life- Yitta Halberstam and  Bernie S. Siegel

This small book will bring in a lot of positivity into your life. A collection of real life ‘miracles’ this book will bring in the wonder and beauty of coincidences that make us wonder whether there is a higher power looking over us. A must grab to keep away everyday blues or brighten up the lining of a dark cloud.

Like all good business, Metrolyrics was launched as a product that the audience requires. This is what Milun Tesovic said,

“There were a lot of places where music and video games were available, but what I saw was music lyrics wasn’t that well represented. So I made a quick script with my own code and started a database of music lyrics. … It cost $9 a month to buy up the domain.”

This means that Metrolyrics started with a capital investment of $9 only. Amazing. Metrolyrics serves a very high number of visitors, 36 million unique monthly visitors, 100 million monthly page views, and is currently the 3rd largest music property in North America. The most recent achievement for Tesovic is that AOL music provider has tied up with Metrolyrics to be the official lyric service provider.

And what was his passion behind starting Metrolyrics?

“When I was 15, I knew that after I got my driver’s license, I wanted a decent-looking car,” he said. “I had my own hosting company (on the Internet), and then I started analyzing where a lot of people go on the web.”

And he did fulfil his dream. See photo.

Gary Neville

Gary Neville, club captain of Manchester United, made it clear to the young guns joining ManU that they’ll have to sweat it out themselves and get better.

 Gary Neville, the rare “one club man”, said that neophytes should not expect any help from older players, as his own lot didn’t get much help from the older pros.

 “It’s a tough place, this one,” said he. “You don’t get too much said to you by the senior players, to be honest. You have to do it yourself.”

 His remark is being seen as an attempt at overhauling the young players now joining ManU, and an effort to make them tougher players and to secure a future at Old Trafford. In a disguised threat to Chelsea, he said, “We’ve got to position ourselves better come January and February – because that’s when the real charge starts.”

British PM Gordon Brown

Even as the world eagerly awaits the proceedings of the Copenhagen summit about to take place come December 7th, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Friday called for the talks to raise a 10-billion-dollar fund for developing countries to help tackle global warming.

He said this in a interviews with British journalists in Trinidad, where a Commonwealth is about to begin.

The Copenhagen summit on climate change is being widely talked about, and promises to lay a critical milestone in the path of efforts to tackle climate change. A summit where almost all developed and developing countries will express their views and opinions, the summit might just decide the course of future efforts taken to tackle this challenge.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has promised that Britain itself will contribute 1.3 billion dollars over the next three years. He believes that the rest of Europe and America will also contribute with fervor to the developing countries, for this cause.

French President Nicholas Sarkozy backed such a position.

“When we got there, as we drove up the driveway, there was this huge sow, about a 120-odd kilo (265-pound) sow, and it was very obvious where the gas was coming from

We could not only smell it, but we heard it and it was quite funny,” said fire captain Peter Harkins.

“It was fairly obvious what it was. I think we dealt with it fairly professionally and had a bit of a giggle when we got back to the station,” said Harkins speaking on public broadcaster ABC.

English singer Robbie Williams best known for his single Feel has prosposed to his girlfriend Ayda Field. He proposed to her on an Australian radio show – and initially everyone thought it was a joke. Robbie Williams is 35-years old.

Robbie was appearing in the Australian radio station 2Day FM, when breakfast show host Jackie Henderson told him that Sydney had a reputation for celebrity proposals. Ayda Field was present in the studio. At this William proposed to Field,

“Ayda Field, I love you so much. Do you mind being my betrothed for the end of time?”

To which Ayda Field laughed before she replied: “I would love to be your betrothed ’til the end of time.”

Once this was done for the remainder of the show Robbie Williams was pre-occupied accepting congratulations from his fans. These fans phoned him at the show.

Even after the show many were not sure whether Williams had seriously proposed to Ayda or nor. It was not until Robbie’s mother Jan Williams confirmed it that people were sure. Apparently, Robbie had unvieled his proposal plans to his mother almost a week back.

This is what the future mother-in-law had to say,

“I’m very excited. I’m really pleased. They’ve been together for nearly three years, so it’s about time.

She’s a great mate, as well as a lover. She’s got all the qualities that he needs in a girl. It’s a lovely match.”