RISAT

• ISRO on Monday(20th April 2009) successfully launched its first all-weather spy satellite that will help security agencies keep a watch on the movements on the borders.
• The PSLV-C12, carrying 300-kg Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT-2) and 40-kg micro educational satellite ANUSAT lifted off from ISRO's Satish Dhawan space Centre and placed into 550 km orbit around earth.
• RISAT has all-weather capability to take images of the Earth and would also be beneficial in mapping and managing natural disasters, such as floods and landslides, besides amplifying defence surveillance capabilities of the nation. It would also help keep track of ships at seat that could pose a threat.
• As per specifications, RISAT is different from previous remote sensing satellites as it uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), equipped with many antennas to receive signals that are processed into high-resolution pictures. The SAR, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, gives RISAT defence capabilities.
• ANUSAT is the first satellite developed by an Indian university (Anna University), which would demonstrate the technologies related to message storing and forward operations.
• ANUSAT is a store-and-forward communication satellite that will help transfer confidential academic materials, including exam question papers, to prevent question paper leakages. It will also help monitor drought and wasteland, urban planning and other studies. This is the 15th flight of ISRO's workhorse PSLV, which had launched 30 satellites (14 for India and 16 for foreign countries) into a variety of orbits since 1993.

Nano Booking

The big day has finally arrived. Bookings for the Tata Nano kick off on Thursday(9th April 2009) and will go on till April 24. Indications are that there could be over four lakh bookings across the country.

Sales of the booking forms, which began on April 1, extended to 30,000 locations across the country.
These included Tata Motors dealerships, branches of SBI (State Bank of India) and 15 other banks which are the preferred financiers as well as various Tata Group outlets such as Croma, Westside, World of Titan and Tata Indicom.
In addition, there were special incentives for Tata Sky subscribers keen on buying a Nano.
Although the exact number of booking forms sold is still not clear, there are no two ways about the fact that demand for them has been strong.

http://www.nanocar.com/
The booking amount for the base version, costing Rs 1.34 lakh (on road, Mumbai) is Rs 2,999 going up to Rs 3,499 and Rs 3,999 for the mid and top-end options with price tags of Rs 1.6 lakh and Rs 1.85 lakh.

http://tatanano.inservices.tatamotors.com/

Tata Motors will process and announce the allotments of 1,00,000 cars in the first phase of deliveries through a computerised random selection procedure.
If booking goes up on the expected lines the selection process may take a few weeks to complete. As the delivery of the Nano begins in July, two in every three applicants will perhaps have to wait longer.

Easter

• Easter is an important annual religious feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to Christian scripture, Jesus was resurrected from the dead three days after his crucifixion.
• Easter is the day when Jesus Christ was crucified and the Christians offer prayers and services in the Churches. Easter is another important festival for Christians. On this day Jesus Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Easter eggs and Easter bunnies are a major attraction during Easter, the festival of rejuvenation of life and living.
• To most Christians, Good Friday is really a misnomer in that it was a "bad" Friday—the crucifixion day of Jesus. Some believe the term "Good" evolved from "God" or God's Friday. Others believe "good" represents the good gift of salvation brought forth by the martyrdom. Regardless, it is a holy day throughout the Christian world.

Everything I Do lyrics

Look into my eyes - you will see What you mean to me Search your heart - search your soul And when you find me there you'll search no more
Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for You know it's true Everything I do - I do it for you
Look into your heart - you will find There's nothin' there to hide Take me as I am - take my life I would give it all - I would sacrifice
Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more Ya know it's true Everything I do - I do it for you
There's no love - like your love And no other - could give more love There's nowhere - unless you're there All the time - all the way
Oh - you can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more I would fight for you - I'd lie for you Walk the wire for you - ya I'd die for you
Ya know it's true Everything I do - I do it for you

Akshay Kumar in obscenity row

• Akshay Kumar recently walked the ramp in the Lakme Fashion Week for designer Tarun Tahiliani. After doing his act he went to wife Twinkle Khanna and asked her to unbutton his jeans. This act brought in cheers and roar from the crowd but a certain section was shocked and considered it to be obscene and in bad taste.
• A social worker ,Anil Nair has submitted a written complaint against the actor, his wife Twinkle, the designer and the organisers of the show to the Vakola police station. He has urged the police to book them for indecent, vulgar and obscene behaviour and submitted clipping and photographs of the event. He said they should be booked under section 292 related to sale of obscene objects and section 293, related with sale of obscene objects to young persons.
• The police on its part is investigating the case and a senior police official said that the evidence is being examined before registering an FIR so that the case stands a chance in court. He added that the opinion of the legal experts have to be taken before reaching a conclusion with the case. Akshay Kumar is the brand ambassador of Levis jeans in India and his act was to promote the new range of jeans which comes with a tag ‘Unbuttoned’.

BSNL Plan

• Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has introduced attractive discounts and freebies to its post-paid mobile customers with effect from April 1, 2009.
  The schemes feature increase in the number of monthly free calls and introduction of free/discounted call charges during night hours from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• The Plan 99 for government employees will have free monthly calls of 50 minutes to BSNL lines in Kerala in addition to the free 100 SMS allowed per month.
  Plan 725 has got maximum benefits in the revised scheme of things. It will have unlimited number of free calls within the BSNL network in Kerala and 725 minutes of free STD calls to any BSNL phone outside the State. In addition, unlimited number of free calls to any BSNL phone within the country will be available between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
  Plan 525 will have free calls worth Rs 300 and 300 free incoming calls while roaming within the country. For night calling, unlimited number of free calls are offered within the BSNL network in Kerala and 50 per cent discount for STD calls on the BSNL network in the country. The Plan has also got 40 free SMS per month.
  For Plan 225, the existing monthly free usage is enhanced from Rs 60 to Rs 125 with 30 free SMS and for Plan 325, the free usage has been increased to Rs 150 with 40 free SMS.