10 Cars That Sank Detroit

The global financial crisis is suffocating the Detroit automakers, but the problems at General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler have been festering for years—even when the mighty "Big Three" were earning billions. Aging factories, inflexible unions, arrogant executives and shoddy quality have all damaged Detroit. Now, with panicky consumers fleeing showrooms, catastrophe looms: Without a dubious federal bailout, all three automakers face the prospect of bankruptcy.

There will be plenty of business-school case studies analyzing all the automakers' wrong turns. But, as they say in the industry, it all comes down to product. So here are 10 cars that help explain the demise of Detroit (For a slideshow, click here):

Ford Pinto. This ill-fated subcompact came to epitomize the arrogance of Big Auto. Ford hurried the Pinto to market in the early 1970s to battle cheap imports like the Volkswagen Beetle that were selling for less than $2,000. Initial sales were strong, but quality problems emerged. Then came the infamous safety problems with exploding fuel tanks, which Ford refused to acknowledge. Message: The customer comes last. "The problems for the domestics really started in the '70s when they were offering cars like the Pinto up against higher-tech, better-built Toyota Corollas and Honda Civics," says Jack Nerad of Kelley Blue Book.

Chevrolet Cavalier. GM sold millions of Cavaliers in the 1980s—and decided the thrifty car was so successful the company didn't need to update it for more than a decade. To milk the model, GM even added some lipstick and high heels and tried to peddle the upgrade as the Cadillac Cimarron—a legendary flop. Honda and Toyota, meanwhile, were updating their competing models every four or five years, and grabbing market share with each quality improvement. A new Cavalier came out in the mid 1990s—then languished for another decade, while GM put most of its money into big trucks and SUVs. GM has since improved its small cars. "But they have to be miles better than the imports for Americans to forget how bad their small cars used to be," says Jamie Page Deaton of U.S. News's Rankings and Reviews car-ranking site. Even if they are better, many Americans wonder why they should give Detroit a second—or third—chance.

Chevrolet Astro. While Chrysler, Toyota, and Honda were refining their minivans in the 1990s and coming up with innovations like hideaway seats and electric sliding doors, GM was offering an old, truck-based van gussied up with carpeting and cupholders. "It showed GM's repeated failure to market competitive products based on styling and packaging," says Tom Libby of J. D. Power & Associates. The Astro drove like a bread truck, and consumers noticed. It also earned the worst safety ratings in its class. Before long, GM was effectively out of the minivan segment. No biggie—those were just mainstream American families the automaker decided to ignore.

[Check out 10 cars that can help salvage Detroit, and photo gallery.]

Ford Taurus. Try to explain this logic: After its 1986 debut, the Taurus became a perennial bestseller. So for the next 20 years, Ford let quality decline and neglected the family sedan, while pouring love and money into trucks and SUVs. By early this decade, the Taurus had become a dowdy, rental-lot staple. So Ford simply retired the Taurus in 2006 and replaced it with the 500 sedan—which went on to set records as one of the most short-lived models ever. A year later, Ford revived the Taurus name and applied it to a bastardized 500. But by then, the damage was done.

Ford Explorer. This breakout vehicle helped launch SUVs and drove record profits at Ford in the 1990s, as Americans flocked to big utilities that could take them off-road if they ever got adventurous. It also blinded Ford to the future. "Executives could not see beyond the green piling up at their feet," says David Magee, author of How Toyota Became No. 1. "The Explorer helped create an addiction that lasted 15 years." GM and Chrysler followed right behind, with SUVs like the Chevy Trailblazer and the Dodge Durango—lockstep moves that reveal how the Detroit automakers focused on each other rather than the broader marketplace.

Jaguar X-Type. Ford bought the British luxury brand Jaguar in 1990, when all three Detroit automakers were seeking ways to expand their global reach. Eventually, Ford decided to build an entry-level Jaguar starting at around $30,000 for people looking to move up from, say, a Mercury Marquis. The down-market move "represented everything that Jaguar is not," says Libby of J. D. Power. The X-Type was built on an ordinary sedan platform from elsewhere in Ford's lineup, and the front-wheel-drive system underwhelmed enthusiasts used to rear-drive European makes. Jag purists were horrified, and aspiring luxury buyers shunned the X-Type in favor of BMWs, Lexuses, and Acuras. After fumbling the luxury brand for nearly two decades, Ford sold Jaguar to an Indian conglomerate in 2008.

[Tell us what cars would you add to this list, and why: flowchart@usnews.com]

Hummer H2. It sure seemed cool back in 2003, when gas was less than $2 per gallon. And it sure seems gaudy now. This supersized SUV clearly had a heyday, but it also helped paint parent company GM as an enviro-hostile corporation that sold only gas guzzlers. Sales collapsed as gas prices rose toward $4 a gallon in mid-2008, and GM has been trying to sell the division for six months—with no takers, so far. "GM wanted to make Hummer a signature company brand," says Magee. "Instead, it showed the company was out of touch with the needs of the 21st century."

Toyota Prius. While GM was spending $1 billion to build up the Hummer franchise, Toyota was spending $1 billion to develop a high-mileage hybrid—even though gas prices were still low. After the Prius debuted in the United States in 2000, GM execs seized yet another opportunity to display their intimate knowledge of American consumers, arguing that hybrids didn't make economic sense and that only environmentalists would buy them. Today, Toyota can barely keep up with demand for the Prius, and it has plans to start building them in the United States. GM, meanwhile, is scrambling to rush hybrids and other high-mileage cars into dealerships—far too late.

Chrysler Sebring. Did Chrysler engineers set out to build the world's most boring car? Of course not. Yet Chrysler still produces this blandmobile to keep assembly lines running and maintain a presence, however weak, in the sedan market. In the new Darwinian auto industry, this model seems destined for extinction, since the only way to sell marginal cars is with steep discounts, which money-losing automakers can no longer afford. In fact, if Chrysler ends up being carved into pieces and sold to competitors, as many analysts expect, most of its passenger-car lineup could get the axe, since there's little to distinguish it. Besides—what's a sebring, anyway?

Jeep Compass. Quick, what's the difference between the Jeep Compass, the Jeep Liberty, and the Jeep Patriot? The bosses at Chrysler, which owns Jeep, could explain, but the real answer is that Chrysler has oversaturated its strongest brand lineup in a desperate attempt to boost sales. "The Compass is not needed," says James Bell of Intellichoice.com. "Just the Liberty, please." The Compass has the same mechanical underpinnings as the Dodge Caliber, which helps illustrate one of Detroit's favorite tricks: Create multiple versions of every product under a bunch of different brand names, hoping that if buyers shun one, they'll take a more favorable view of another. Message to Detroit: Consumers aren't that stupid. Give them a bit more credit, and you might have a future.

Mathematics study, to cure Cancer!

When kids complain that math homework won't help them in real life, a new answer might be that math could help cure cancer.

In a recent study that combined math and medicine, researchers have shown that patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) may be cured of the disease with an optimally timed cancer vaccine, where the timing is determined based on their own immune response.

The researchers' findings were reported in the June 20 edition of the journal PLoS Computational Biology.

In their paper, Doron Levy, University of Maryland associate professor of mathematics; Peter P. Lee, Stanford Medical School physician and associate professor of medicine (hematology); and Peter S. Kim, École Supérieure d'Électricité (Gif-sur-Yvette, France) describe their success in creating a mathematical model that predicts anti-leukemia immune response in CML patients using the drug Imatinib can be stimulated in a way that might provide a cure for the disease.

Israel, the bourne culprit ??

Employee termination continues Worldwide..

Pepsi Bottling Group: 3,150 jobs

The global economy is in the doldrums. Nations are battling a nightmare called recession. Balance sheets are studied with a frenzy and companies are struggling to stay in the black. Yet, the saddest story of the financial meltdown is the common man. In less than 20 days this month, 30 well-known international companies have announced job cuts. Soft drink distributor Pepsi Bottling Group Inc is planning to slash about 3,150 jobs across US, Canada Europe and Mexico as part of its restructuring plan. This is expected to result in pre-tax savings of up to $160 million. "These moves will allow our business to better deal with the challenging macroeconomic conditions that currently exist, " Pepsi Bottling Group's chairman and chief executive officer Eric Foss said.

HSBC: 500 jobs

HSBC Holdings PLC , Europe's largest bank (when market value is considered) , plans to cut 500 jobs in Asia due to the global economic slump , says wire service Associated Press. The cuts will be made in various parts of the business, including back office functions, with about 450 jobs in Hong Kong to be shed, the London-based lender announced to employees on November 17. In September, the bank announced 1,100 job cuts worldwide in the wake of the financial turmoil. HSBC has been hit hard by the financial crisis. The bank was forced to reduce the value of its assets by $4.9 billion in the third quarter, as the cost of bad loans in the US continued to mount and the credit market faltered.

Citigroup: 52,000 jobs

Citigroup has announced it will cut more than 52,000 jobs in the coming months and reduce expenses by 20 per cent in 2009. It said it intends to reduce the total head count to less than 300 , 000 soon. In terms of expenses , the financial services major aims to save $ 50-52 billion in 2009. These cuts are expected to have a 'limited' impact on its India staff strength. Citigroup has about 22 , 000 employees currently working in India . Of which, 12,000 work for Citigroup Global Services Ltd. Citigroup had a workforce of 352,000 in the third quarter of 2008. In the same quarter , it reported a loss of $ 2.8 billion. In the first three quarters of 2008, Citigroup has reduced its workforce by about 23,000 persons.

Fidelity Investments: 3,000 and counting

Leading fund house Fidelity Investments will cut about 1,300 jobs later this month, followed by another 1,700 jobs in the first quarter next year. This means Fidelity is looking at reducing its 44,400 employee-strong workforce by about 7 per cent. Fidelity Investments, which managed assets worth $ 3 trillion as on September 30, 2008, has seen its assets decline sharply following the meltdown in the stock markets.

Royal Bank of Scotland : 3,000 jobs

The Royal Bank of Scotland will cut about 3,000 jobs in the next few weeks. 'The positions will go in its global banking and markets workforce, spanning more than 50 countries. Jobs are likely to go in the City of London , 'said a BBC report. The bank has about 170,000 employees, of which about 100,000 are in the UK .

Sun Microsystems: 6,000 jobs

Sun Microsystems has said it is eliminating 6,000 jobs or 18 per cent of its global work force. It expects to reduce its costs by $375-450 million in the current fiscal. Sun Microsystems is also reorganizing its software organization into new business groups. Besides, it will implement a restructuring plan aimed at reducing costs by approximately $700 to $800 million annually.

United States Steel Corp: 675 jobs

United States Steel Corp has laid off about 3 per cent of its production workers in North America as the global economic slowdown cut into the demand for steel used in construction, autos and appliances. The layoffs, effective immediately, include 500 employees in the US and 175 in Canada .

British Telecom: 10,000 jobs and counting

UK-based telecom major British Telecom will cut 10,000 jobs by March 2009. About 4, 000 of the job losses will be direct BT staff, the remaining 6,000 will be from related employees. The cuts will mainly affect agency and contract staff and offshore workers, the company said, but sub-contractors and other indirect employees would also lose their jobs. BT has also said its India operations won't be affected. The move to cut jobs comes after the company posted an 11 per cent decline in pre-tax profits at pound 590 million for the September quarter. A report in The Telegraph said, 'BT has cut its headcount from 250,000 at privatization in 1984 to 160 , 000 today and indicated there is scope for more job losses. The company said 4,000 employees have already left the business this financial year and a further 6,000, mostly in the UK , will go by the end of March.' BT has a global workforce of 160,000.

Morgan Stanley: 19 per cent of its staff

Morgan Stanley has outlined plans to cut 10 per cent of its staff by the end of the year. The layoffs follow a 10 per cent cut made earlier this year. Morgan Stanley also plans to restructure its money management business by cutting 9 per cent of its staff. It was not immediately clear how many positions will ultimately be eliminated from the company's total ranks of about 44,000 employees.

Virgin Media: 2,200 jobs

The Virgin Media cable group will be slashing 2,200 jobs, or 15 per cent of its workforce, by 2012. This will result in annual cost savings of more than pound 120 million by 2012. The group said it would not start cutting jobs until the fourth quarter of next year, with the majority of the role reductions taking place before the end of 2010. It also said the cuts were not related to the strained economic environment. Virgin Media was formed through the merger of Telewest and ntl in 2006; Virgin Mobile was later acquired by it. The group has already reduced 4,000 staff jobs after the ntl and Telewest deal.

Yell Group: 1,300 jobs

Yell Group, the publisher of the Yellow Pages in the UK , is planning to cut 1,300 jobs over the coming year , which is expected to reduce costs by pound 100 million. The company has already cut 1,300 jobs since September last year, resulting in a saving of pound 150 million.

Nokia Siemens Networks: 1,820 jobs

Telecommunications solution provider Nokia Siemens Networks said it will slash around 1,800 jobs as part of its restructuring efforts. The company is a 50:50 joint venture of Finnish cell phone maker Nokia and German firm Siemens. Nokia Siemens plans to cut about 750 jobs in Finland . It will also close its Hofmannstrasse site in Munich , Germany , which will affect nearly 500 employees. The company separately announced an agreement whereby its manufacturing site in Durach , Germany , will be purchased in a management buy-out. 'That agreement will result in the transfer of around 500 employees. At the completion of the planned headcount restructuring and employee transfer activities, Nokia Siemens Networks expects to have in the range of 10 , 000 employees in Germany , from an initial base of approximately 13,000, 'the statement noted. In addition, the company has planned reduction of headcount by about 50 in Egypt and by 20 in the United States .

Volvo AB: 1,000 jobs and counting

Swedish truck and bus maker Volvo AB has said it will lay off 1,000 staff at its powertrain unit in Sweden and the United States as the global financial crisis continues to affect the demand for heavy vehicles. He said a number of consultants in Sweden could also receive notices. The Volvo group has previously announced layoffs of 2,000 workers at their truck plants in Belgium and Sweden and 1,350 workers at its construction unit. It has more than 100,000 employees worldwide, including its subsidiaries Renault Trucks, Mack Trucks and Nissan Diesel.

DHL US Express: 9,500 jobs

German logistics giant Deutsche Post AG announced it would slash 9,500 jobs at its DHL US Express business and shut all service centres following the economic downturn. This is in addition to the 5 , 400-odd positions already reduced since the beginning of the year. DHL US Express will also close all ground hubs and reduce the number of stations from 412 to 103, said a company statement. As a result, its annual operating costs are expected to reduce to less than euro 770 million from the present euro 4.2 billion. The US international express network, with a total of 3,000 to 4,000 employees, will be re-tailored to the needs of the group's international express service customers.

Nortel Networks Corporation: 1,300 jobs

Global telecom equipment vendor Nortel Networks Corporation, which reported a net loss of $3.4 billion on November 10, said it will slash about 1,300 jobs as part of its cost cutting measures for 2009. The firm had a net income of $ 27 million in the same period a year ago. Nearly 25 per cent of the reduction would take place this year and the rest in 2009.

General Motors Corp: 3,600 jobs

General Motors Corp, which plans to slow down production at 10 of its assembly plans, says it will indefinitely lay off about 3,600 workers. To cope with the shrinking market demand, General Motors is also planning to reduce inventory though production line re-rates.

EW Scripps Co: 400 jobs

Faced with a 20 per cent drop in advertising revenue, US media company EW Scripps Co has announced it would cut 400 jobs. Scripps also reported a Q3 loss of $21 million; in the same quarter the previous year, it registered a profit of $16.6 million. The Ohio-based company owns 10 television stations and newspapers in 15 US markets. Scripps also hosts the National Spelling Bee, which is in its 78th year.

Ford Motor Company: 2,600 jobs

Battling a net loss of $129 mn million in its third quarter, US car maker Ford Motor Company has introduced cost cutting measures including 2,600 job cuts. According to a company statement, it is also planning an additional 10 per cent reduction in North American salaried personnel related costs. Earlier this year, Ford had sold its two iconic brands, Jaguar and Land Rover, to Tata Motors for $2.3 billion.

Volvo: 6,000 jobs

As part of its restructuring plans, Volvo, a Ford unit, plans to cut 6,000 jobs -- including 1,200 agency employees -- worldwide.

Corus: 400 jobs

British steel giant Corus, now part of Indian conglomerate Tata Steel, will cut 400 jobs in its distribution business. A company spokesperson said Corus would consult its workers and have as many voluntary redundancies as possible. He added that the decision had to be taken because of a steep slump in the demand for steel and softening global prices. Corus's distribution business employs nearly 2,400 people at 36 sites in the UK and Ireland .

American Express: 7,000 jobs

In order to slash costs by $1.8 billion in 2009, US credit card group American Express will lay off 7,000 of its employees, amounting to around 10 per cent of its worldwide workforce. The company is also planning to suspend management salary increases, put a freeze on new hires, slash investment spending and cut expenses for consulting, travel and entertainment.

Bank of America : 7,500 jobs and counting

Bank of America has said it will eliminate 7,500 jobs after buying Countrywide. Thousands of more job cuts are likely as the bank integrates its acquisition of Merrill Lynch.

Development Bank of Singapore Group: 900 jobs

Even the Development Bank of Singapore Group -- Southeast Asia 's biggest bank when one looks at assets -- has not escaped the mayhem. It has reduced its staff strength by 900 employees in its battle to survive the global credit crisis and a 38 per cent slump in third quarter net profit. The cuts will affect its offices in Singapore and Hong Kong .

Mattel Inc: 1,000 jobs

The makers of Barbie and Fisher Price products have not escaped the economic crisis either. Toy maker Mattel Inc has announced it will cutting about 1,000 jobs worldwide. The cuts, which will affect 3 per cent its workforce and 8 per cent of its professional and management staff, will include a combination of layoffs, attrition and retirements.

New York City: 3,000 jobs

The economic downturn has hit New York City hard , with Mayor Michael R Bloomberg announcing the laying off 3,000 employees, cutting expenditure on several other fronts, rescinding a popular 7 per cent property tax cut and suspending checks for annual property tax rebates. These measures will save some $ 1.5 billion but the city will still be in the red.

Other Miscellaneous Comics, I enjoyed !

Below, are some other pieces of comic work that I really enjoyed cramming through.

I guess, all viewers of my blog will appreciate and really make up to it.

Meow! Cat Blogging.

According to Neilsen metrics, 99% of the blogosphere is comprised of “cat” posts. This trend began five years ago, when crankygeek John C. Dvorak (inventor of the Dvorak Mouse) issued a challenge to the kitty-loving world.

Within months, blog search indexes like Technoerrati and BlogDagger were flooded with meowy messages and faux Feline fansites. Cat bloggers look up to one industry puppet in particular: Henrietta Pussycat. Says Henrietta about the Neilsen number:

In an effort to curb growth of this virtual litter box, Google has begun blacklisting bloggers who have [at one time] published posts about their cat.

Mac Vs. PC

PC is for the commons, Mac is for the caliber and the class =).
At least, that's what I assume.

Wirless Connection Without Router - ADHOC

Set up a wireless network without a router

Wireless networks are helpful because they let you use your computer and connect to the Internet anywhere in your home or office. However, most wireless networks use a wireless router, which can be expensive. If you have more than one computer, you can set up a wireless network without buying a wireless router and save yourself some money.

In a traditional wireless network, a wireless router acts as a base station, much like the base station for cordless phones. All wireless communications go through the wireless router, allowing nearby computers to connect to the Internet or to each other.

Ad hoc wireless networks work more like walkie-talkies, because the computers communicate directly with each other. By enabling Internet Connection Sharing on one of the computers, you can share Internet access.

Ad hoc networking might seem like a much smarter alternative to using a wireless router, but it does have a couple of disadvantages:

•	If the computer connected to the Internet is shut down, all computers that are part of the ad hoc network lose their Internet access.
•	To connect to the Internet, one computer always needs a wired network connection.

To connect your computers to the Internet using an ad hoc wireless network, follow these high-level steps (described in more detail later in this article):

1.	Enable Internet Connection Sharing on the Internet-connected computer. You can skip this step if you don't need to access the Web.
2.	Set up the ad hoc wireless network on the Internet-connected computer.
3.	Add your other computers to the wireless network.

How to enable Internet Connection Sharing

On networks with wireless routers, the router has the important job of forwarding communications from the computers on your home network to the Internet. On ad hoc networks, you must designate one computer to serve this role. The computer you choose must have a wired connection to the Internet, and it should be left on whenever you want to be able to use your other computers.

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How to set up the first computer

To set up an ad hoc wireless network that allows computers to share an Internet connection without a router

1.	If necessary, install a wireless network adapter.
2.	Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3.	Under Pick a category, click Network and Internet Connections.
4.	Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Network Connections.
5.	Right-click your wireless network connection, and then click Properties.
6.	In the Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box, click the Wireless Networks tab.
7.	On the Wireless Networks tab, under Preferred networks, click Add.
8.	In the Wireless network properties dialog box, on the Association tab, type the name of your ad hoc wireless network in Network name (SSID) box (shown in step 10). For example, you could name your wireless network MyHomeNetwork.
9.	Clear the The key is provided for me automatically check box and select the This is a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network check box.
10.	Create a 13-digit password and type it in both the Network key and Confirm network key boxes. For the best security, include letters, numbers, and punctuation. Then click OK.
11.	Click OK again to save your changes.

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How to set up additional computers

If the computer you want to add to your network does not have built-in wireless network support, install a wireless network adapter.

Windows XP automatically detects the new adapter and notifies you that it found a wireless network.

Now connect your computer to your wireless network

Note: These steps apply only if you're using Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). If you haven't installed SP2, visit Microsoft Update to install it before connecting to the ad hoc network.

1.	Right-click the Wireless Network icon in the lower right corner of your screen, and then click View Available Wireless Networks. Note: If you run into any problems, consult the documentation that came with your network adapter. Don't be afraid to call the manufacturer's technical support department for help.
2.	The Wireless Network Connection window appears and displays your wireless network listed with the SSID you chose. If you don't see your network, click Refresh Network List in the upper left corner. Click your network, and then click Connect in the lower right corner.
3.	Windows XP prompts you to enter a key. Type your encryption key in both the Network key and Confirm network key boxes, and then click Connect.

Windows XP shows its progress as it connects to your network. After you're connected, you can close the Wireless Network Connection window.

Repeat these three steps on each computer that you want to connect to your ad hoc wireless network.

Now you're ready to browse the Web wirelessly, from any computer you add to your home network.

Drives And Devices - The Autoplay Issue

In some situation especially when anti-virus program has cleaned, healed, disinfected or removed a worm, Trojan horse or virus from computer, there may be error happening whenever users try to open or access the drive by double clicking on the disk drive icon in Explorer or My Computer window to try to enter the drive’s folder. The problem or symptom happens in hard disk drive, portable hard disk drive or USB flash drive, and Windows will prompt a dialog box with the following message saying :


"Choose the program you want to use to open this file with"

The symptom occurs because when "autorun.vbs" is created by Trojan horse or virus. The virus normally loads "autorun.inf" file to root folder of all hard drive or USB drive, and then execute "autorun.bat" file which contains script to apply and merge "autorun.reg" into the registry, with possible change to the one of the registry key to ensure that virus is loaded when system starts.




Now, to correct this agitated havoc what you have to do is type the following command consecutively by hitting Enter key:

del c:\autorun.* /f /s /q /a

del d:\autorun.* /f /s /q /a

del e:\autorun.* /f /s /q /a

c, d, e each represents drive letters on Windows system. If there are more drives or partitions available, continue to command by altering to other drive letter. Note that you must also clean the autorun files from USB flash drive or portable hard disk as the external drive may also be infected.

Hidden files - The Agenda

I figured out something interesting, thought I should share it to the e-world. Most of us basically termed as newbies are unaware of computer threats around. Making slightest of mistake can lead gigs of data to go blank and corrupt. For example the widespread virus around these days is really a blot. If you have some hidden files that you would like to un-hide, the virus wont let you do so. It mugs up in the registry and terminates systems ability to un-hide system or any other ordinary file.

Here's the trick, Just copy the following text in Notepad. Now save it as "something.reg" and double click it. The system will ask you whether to add the file to registry or not. Click yes

This will enable you to un-hide files easily. What the command basically does it erases the blotted commands of the virus that will restore the same registry again.

In case you don't know how to un-hide files, Just go to windows explorer.
Go to tools-->Folder Options--> Check on the radio button namely "Show hidden files and folders".

*********************************************************************************

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden]
"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30499"
"Type"="group"
"Bitmap"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f
,00,74,\
00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,
00,5c,00,53,00,\
48,00,45,00,4c,00,4c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,
2c,00,34,00,00,\
00
"HelpID"="shell.hlp#51131"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\NOHIDDEN]
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced"
"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30501"
"Type"="radio"
"CheckedValue"=dword:00000002
"ValueName"="Hidden"
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000002
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"HelpID"="shell.hlp#51104"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL]
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\Advanced"
"Text"="@shell32.dll,-30500"
"Type"="radio"
"CheckedValue"=dword:00000001
"ValueName"="Hidden"
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000002
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"HelpID"="shell.hlp#51105"


***********************************************************************************

Preventing the Outcome!

I figured out some ways to prevent the Media devices to stop autoplaying. This prevents auto-start viruses, and there are less chances of screwing up.

One way to prevent the auto run USB viruses in XP is to turn off the auto insert notification for all drives, so that the virus/Trojan will not be executed when the USB is plugged in. Please see to it that you go to My Computer , right click and select “Open” or “Explore” and not “Auto play”.

Go to Start Menu > Run and type gpedit.msc [Group Policy Edit]

Select Administrative Templates > System

Select “Turn off Auto play” from right.

Set the radio button to Enabled, and change the “Turn off Auto play on” to All Drives. This way you can enjoy safe file surfing.

Its back, and the Race is onn!!

If you're a great sprinter, you've probably been in a few races. And if you're a great chess player, you've probably had your share of matches. But what do you do if you're a great programmer?

Well, if you're looking for the rush of competition, the feeling of matching your mind up against the greatest in the world, you can't do better than Google Code Jam. The contests are intense: you'll have two short hours to solve some fiendish algorithmic challenges. You'll read a problem, write your code, download our test cases, and tell us what you think the right answers are. If you're right, it's time to move on to another problem -- but if you're wrong, it's time to make a decision. Debug, or look for an easier challenge...?

Registration is now open, so you can find out more about the contest, and practice on some sample problems. Practice hard! If you make it to the top 500, you'll travel to a nearby Google office for our semifinal round. If you're in the top 100, we'll fly you to our Mountain View headquarters to compete with the world's very best.

My First Time.

Its my first time, since I started blogging. I am new to this stuff. Just made my blog, trying to figure out and decipher stuff around !

Will see how it works later, right now I have to leave for my Business Studies classes.

Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron

I didn't expect Hardy Heron, v. 8.04, to release this soon. I tired the VM ware version for it. Worked Fab! The feautres are exclusive and contain all the handy items.

A must try for all the critics and, the geeks.

That's right, Considering it seriously!

Achieving Avaya Certification is a significant milestone and sets one of the highest standards for measuring the skills required to integrate voice, data, and applications to create powerful business communication solutions. The requirements are internally designed to be challenging in order to signal your outstanding knowledge to the industry.

Achieving Avaya Certification is a distinction that sets you apart from, and ahead of, others in your field. By achieving Avaya Certification, you have the special privilege of using the Avaya Certified Logo denoting your level of achievement. This Logo clearly designates you as a leader in the field of converged business communications. For access to the Avaya Certification Logos, log on to the Avaya Learning Centre at http://www.avaya-learning.com, and click on Certification.

As the world of communication continues to change rapidly, your professional development should be a continual process. We strongly encourage you to continue as a leader in the integrated communication field.

Program Information:

Visit the Avaya Learning Centre at http://www.avaya-learning.com, and click on Certification in the navigation to access information on program objectives, recommended training courses and other resources for your review and preparation.

Avaya University applauds you for reaching this important milestone in your professional development. Know that we are here to support your efforts each step along the way.

For any further questions related to Avaya Certification, please feel free to contact the Avaya University Help Desk at http://www.avaya-learning.com/portal/content_public/preportal/NavPages/contact_us.asp.

Thank you,
Avaya University