Over the past 7 years, Nepal has been under the shoddy reign of surviving brother, Gyanendra, which incited one too many violent uprisings by Prachanda’s Maoists. Though the King did express his support for the elections, the Maoists were still jittery and belligerent.

But, the hope for a democratic Nepal without further armed struggle seems brighter now as the Maoists inch towards a win. Though there has been much violence from the Maoist front in the past, over the past couple of years they have been on a peace pact, in and out of interim coalition government and the Nepali people are optimistic they’ll act responsibly once they have the power. They have spoken of the possibility of putting into place a new constitution and stable government.

The final results will be out within a week, and it looks like it’s about time Nepal was in the news for no more than being the home of a pristine natural wonder of the world.

Via: Timesnow

But not all is lost yet. A year after the Virginia Tech massacre where 32 people were killed (only one in a series of shoot-outs in institutions all across the USA), and following much campaigning, Wal-Mart, the country’s largest seller of firearms finally agreed to a 10-point plan designed to prevent weapons falling into the hands of criminals.

Under the agreement with Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group led by New York’s mayor, Wal-Mart will tighten rules at about a third of its 3,200 stores across the country. A further third will stop trading guns altogether, though this is for reasons of declining sales,which is surely good news by itself. The new restrictions include more extensive background checks on Wal-Mart staff selling guns, and all firearms sales will be filmed.

Of course, there was opposition from the National Rifle Association (NRA), but it looks like their iron grip over the gun debate may finally be loosening. And hurray for that!

Via Guardian

Image msnbc

Life must be a roller coaster ride for Paris Hilton. She’s famous just for being famous. She’s a favorite with tabloids for her innumerable newsworthy escapades, and it looks like she just loves to be the centre of scandal and gossip columns, because she keeps dishing out more. If I had a penny for every time I saw her in the news…

Anyway, her latest fad is to already get married to her not-so-longtime boyfriend Benji, mostly so that she won’t be overshadowed by Nicole Richie who is engaged to Benji’s brother Joel. So now it’s going to be a double wedding and imagine the loot for the paparazzi in that case. Although Paris isn’t officially engaged to Benji, there’s a rumour that she’s already planning to sell the wedding photos to weekly magazines for exorbitant prices. Eh? Wasn’t it quite enough to be born with a gem-studded golden spoon?

Next thing you know she’ll be getting pregnant just to keep up with the trends in tinsel town. What will this world be like with a bunch of little Paris Hiltons running about it and going haywire? One shudders to think. In any case, the award for top attention-starved socialite of the decade goes to the not-yet-Mrs. Paris Hilton.

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Via: DotSpotter

When I first heard about CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) and checked up on some statistics about their energy consumption, I was rather pleased. They may cost a bit more than Edison’s electric bulb, but in the long run they save a good amount of energy, thus also cutting down bills by a fair bit. I blush to say that I made the transition only too recently. Now, I hear they’ve invented the OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) which enables 100 percent efficiency out of a single, broad spectrum of light, and mimics sunlight after dark. This could transform lighting applications and energy consumption altogether.

Moreover, companies like Ingo Maurer are integrating this concept into the modern home as designers start to realize its potential for efficient and inexpensive lighting. This design resembling a tiny tree blossoming with lucent leaves called the Early Future lamp, designed by the artists of Ingo Maurer in cahoots with Osram’s engineers, is the world’s first to pack energy efficient OLED lighting into a tabletop form. The two-dimensional panels emit diffused light which is ideal for internal lighting and can even be rendered in a flexible format. Nor do they require reflectors to direct the light. And they work on regular sockets.

The Early Future lamp will provide a veritable bridge between abstract design and functional lighting. At the moment, it bears a rather heavy price tag, but this is overlooked as surely such a concept will set the pace for a widespread transition towards energy efficient yet aesthetic lighting.

Via Inhabitat

The balance between the environment and human manipulation of it is a vicious cycle and a see-saw that is getting only more delicate. The issues of global warming and our inevitable need to adapt to the changing climate are teeter-tottering – neither can bear emphasis without affecting the other.

While awareness about this situation is spreading at about the rate of slime at a track-meet of snails, there are some folks who are quick at looking for newer means of human comfort giving due consideration to long-term consequences to ecological balance. Like, say, this bunch of Canadians that despite their proximity to the snow-line, call themselves ‘Cooler Solutions’. They have developed a high efficiency thermostat which they call the Biosync.

This gadget “utilizes thermal efficiency formulas, differential temperature and biophilia to inspire and educate the home owner towards a smaller energy footprint.” What they’re basically saying is that they’ve applied a bit of science and common sense to create a product that will save energy (when compared with your average A/C or heater)while making your environment comfortable. And they’ll tell you straight up what role you play in the messing up our environment.

Biosync’s ambient LCD interface displays energy efficiency information as nature imagery. When energy usage is efficient, the interface displays stimulating nature imagery and when energy consumption exceeds thermal efficiency, the plants wither and die. “This Biophilic feedback educates the home owner that their actions do in fact directly effect the environment. As people strive for a maximum biophilic inspiration, they learn their comfortable temperature range and reduce their home’s energy footprint.” So, not only will they help you relax, they’ll also keep you right on your toes.

Via: Core77

As it happens, it didn’t take long for the paparazzi to make a cent out of it and of course, the press presumed there was something cooking between the two celebrities.

In retaliation to these possibly false claims, Butler said in true British style,

So if I take my dog out for a walk apparently I’m fucking my dog? Not true!

Hmm, not the most politically correct statement, and worse still, a terrible give away. Now, had he responded with the usual celebrity cliché and shrugged it away, he might have caused less of a stir.
But being in the public eye is a tough job and I know how he feels. I hate gossip too.

Via: agentbedhead

G24 Innovations has introduced a portable, flexible solar panel with adaptor to charge mobile phones. When your phone is back to full power, it folds back into a pocketable size. The battery charges in two to three hours and can be configured to charge cameras, MP3 players and radios. What’s more good news is that these sheets of solar panels are cheaper to manufacture and should therefore be able to reach a lot more people. G24i wants people without dependable access to electricity to use these things, I say, anyone who lives under the sun should get one. The company claims that the panels even work in cloudy conditions, so it should be just as well in Cherrapunji as in the Sahara.

Moreover, this product is manufactured using an organic dye technology much like natural photosynthesis. This makes it a lot less energy-consuming than if manufactured with silicon (which still seems to be the most popular material for solar panels). I can hear the style esquire say, “Oh, but it’s so geeky.” But that’s where you’re wrong. It looks sleeker than your SUV and let’s be honest, those chunky adaptors are passe. So, though this new slice of technology isn’t available yet, every person that ever cared about a tree will be getting it soon enough.

Via: Smartplanet

There’s a lot being said about global warming and the urgent need for a shift to alternative fuels. Though few seem to be taking genuine large-scale action, this new building in Seattle designed by Weber Thompson seems to have set the pace for energy efficiency.

Its architecture incorporates ‘passive cooling’ concepts and elements that have completely eliminated the need for high-powered air conditioning. Conventional cooling by electric energy and gadgetry has been replaced with strategic shading and orientation, green-tinted glass shades (similar to sunglasses) that negate heat while allowing light into the building. While heat-reflective coating will reduce temperatures, window adjustability will allow employees to actively manage their environment.

An airy central courtyard within the 40,000 square foot structure will grant unhindered passage for cross breezes to divert to all parts of the building.

Thermal modeling was initially conceived for application in space, so this Weber Thompson design is likely to form a ‘test case’ for the incorporation of passive cooling in more earthly blueprint. Although this could not be practical in a less temperate climate, it is enriching to know that by employing passive cooling, they might already have saved at least one third-world village.

Via: Metaefficient

Here’s something you’ll want to put in your room soon as you’re out of rehab. Though the ‘beer mug lamp’ is something that the last few creative cells of the alcoholic mind has surely devised before, it looks like all the free time between drinks has propagated the new idea of a ‘pouring beer lamp’. So, not only will it make Edison proud by illuminating your room, it’ll also make your malt drinking peer look at you in new light. Of course, it’s a pity that the ‘pouring beer’ is merely an optical illusion, but how long would the idea last if it were not. To quell such disappointment, the makers of this product insist that the Pouring Beer Mug Lamp can be used to “regulate the moisture of the room.” Perhaps this is a selling point for the hydrophobic; for the rest, just spending hours of staring at a never ending flow of ale must be incentive enough.

Price: 19.89