Got a Volkswagen Beetle .... I Really Love It !

Make: Volkswagen
Model: 1300 Beetle
Year: 1972

Bionic hand makes inventions list

The world's first commercially available bionic hand has beenrecognised as one of the top inventions of 2008.

The hand, developed by Livingston company Touch Bionics, was named alongside the Super Hadron Collider in Time magazine's top 50 innovations.

It came in at 14th place, beating competition from the latest Mars Rover, designed to explore the red planet.

The hand took 20 years to develop and has five separately working fingers.

This makes it more versatile than previous hands, which have often been hook-like and limited to simple opening and closing movements.

The i-limb hand has a much wider range of capabilities. It has a credit-card grip, for taking hold of narrow objects, and a power hold for larger objects such as mugs.

'Tremendous achievement'

It is made of high-strength plastics, and the fingers can easily be unscrewed from the hand, making it easy to service.

Other prosthetic hands have to be removed entirely if they break meaning amputees are sometimes left for weeks without a hand while they wait for a repair.

More than 400 patients have now been fitted with the i-limb hand since its launch.

Touch Bionics chief executive Stuart Mead hailed the recognition as a "tremendous achievement".

He said: "We are delighted to have been identified by Time as one of the inventions of the year, a real honour for any innovative company."

Source:  news.bbc.co.uk

World's Cricket New Spinning Sensation - "Mystery Spinner" - Ajantha Medis Sets a New World Record!

Hi All Cricket Lovers,

As I kept writing on Ajantha Mendis from the debut of his international cricket, it's the best time to write another note on him. The reason is, Ajantha—who's called as "Mystery Spinner delivers Carom Balls," has broken a 62 years old world record established by Sir Alec Bedser, who was an English bowler. Sir Alec Bedser had established his record in 1946.
Ajantha broke the record by taking 25 wickets in his debut test series—Bedser had taken only 24 wickets. Ajantha took the wicket of one of the world's greatest batsmen, Sachin Tendulkar to set this new world record. He finished his debut test series by taking 26 wickets.
Sri Lanka won the test series against India by 2-1—Ajantha was named as the man of the series.

CONGRATULATIONS Ajantha! All Sri Lankans are proud of you.

Read my previous posts on Ajantha Mendis:

• The Next Murali? | Ajantha Mendis
• A Star Is Born to the World of Cricket !
• 23 Years Old Mystery Spinner—Ajantha Mendis

Cheers
CJ

Introduction to Blogging—What is a "blog"?

Hi All,

Few people asked me questions like "what is a blog?" "What's the difference between normal website and a blog?" Here in this article I found a great answer for all the questions.
After reading this introduction, if you like to learn more on blogging, please refer to the link below.

"Blog" is an abbreviated version of "weblog," which is a term used to describe web sites that maintain an ongoing chronicle of information. A blog is a frequently updated, personal website featuring diary-type commentary and links to articles on other Web sites. Blogs range from the personal to the political, and can focus on one narrow subject or a whole range of subjects.
Many blogs focus on a particular topic, such as web design, home staging, sports, or mobile technology. Some are more eclectic, presenting links to all types of other sites. And others are more like personal journals, presenting the author's daily life and thoughts.
Generally speaking (although there are exceptions), blogs tend to have a few things in common:

• A main content area with articles listed chronologically, newest on top. Often, the articles are organized into categories.
• An archive of older articles.
• A way for people to leave comments about the articles.
• A list of links to other related sites, sometimes called a "blogroll".
• One or more "feeds" like RSS, Atom or RDF files.

Some blogs may have additional features beyond these.

Learn more on blogging: Wordpress.org

Regards,
CJ

Proud to Be a Kandyan!

Hi All, Here's the point table of Caltex-Leage Rugby tournament - 2008 as at Monday, July 21, 2008.

As at today, Kandy Sports Club is at the top of the table. Have a look.

Cheers!
Cj

A Star Is Born to the World of Cricket !

According to the commentators of Asia Cup 2008 - Final cricket match "A New Star Is Born to the World of Cricket."
Can you guess who is that? None other than—my favorite—Mystery Spinner—AJANTHA MENDIS.
By the time I'm writing down this happy note, Sri Lankan Cricket team has won the Asia Cup -2008, with an outstanding performance by all the players. It was a fantastic cricket match to watch. Throughout all the performances, there are two things to mention specially.

• "Master Blaster" still fires: It was another stunning inning of champion left-handed batsman Sanath Jayasuriya, who scored 125 runs facing only 114 balls. "Sana" is 39 years of age now. Still Sri Lankan team can't find a solution without him. When he gets going, no one can stop him. CONGRATULATIONS! "Sana." I am so proud of you as a Sri Lankan.
• Second thing is very special for all the Sri Lankan cricket lovers. If I say this in one of the commentators words, "Sri Lanka has found another Murali." It was fantastic to watch. New youngster, Ajantha Mendis performed his career-best, which is 6 for 13 as India were bowled out for 173 to hand Sri Lanka the Asia Cup in Karachi. Sri Lanka won the match by 100 runs.

None of the Indian Batsmen could read the Mystery of Magician Ajantha Mendis. He has his unique techniques of balling, which is now called as "Carom Ball." It is because, he uses his middle finger to create this magic, which is used to strike at the Carom disc.
Ajantha Mendis won "Man of the Match," as well as "Man of the Series" award, showing his consistency of great performance.
He took 17 wickets in this Asia Cup cricket tournament. He performed his carrier best, as well as he is the holder of 9th best balling performance in the One-day cricket history now.

I would like to request from all the Sri Lankan cricket lovers to join with me wishing our new "Star of the Cricket World" all the success, all the courage to keep our mother lands flag up, everywhere in the world, by putting a comment on this post.

Dear Ajantha, CONGRATULATIONS on your outstanding performance. Keep it up!

Cheers,
CJ

Best PowerPoint presentation I've Ever Seen :)

Hi All,

Here's the best PowerPoint presentation I've ever seen. Put on your head sets. Have fun!



You can download the PowerPoint version here. If you want to have a look at the technical papers version being used please click here.

Cheers!

CJ

The Next Murali? | Ajantha Mendis

Listen to what Colin Croft—West Indies (1977–1982), has to say about Ajantha Mendis.

23 Years Old Mystery Spinner—Ajantha Mendis

Full name: Balapuwaduge Ajantha Winslo Mendis

Born: March 11th, 1985 Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Age: 23 years

Debut: Against West Indies, 1st ODI, Sri Lanka in West Indies 2007/08, Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, West Indies (on Apr 10, 2008)
Profile: Although classified as a right-arm, slow-medium bowler, Ajantha Mendis is a spinner who bowls a mixture of googlies, off-breaks, top-spinners, flippers and leg-breaks. Batsmen have been confounded by the variety of deliveries he has up his sleeve and are at a loss to figure out what his stock delivery is. Mendis was a prolific wicket-taker for Sri Lanka Army in the 2007-08 season and had taken 46 wickets at an average of 10.56 and strike-rate of 31 from six matches. His performances did not go unnoticed for Mendis was called up to the Sri Lanka squad for the tour of West Indies in April 2008.

He has been playing for Sri Lankan cricket team only 2 months and 20 days now. International cricket commentators calling him as, "Mystery Spinner" now—because of the variety of deliveries he has.

We were thinking that what would be the replacement for Muttiah Muralitharan, when Sri Lankan cricket team couldn't find a replacement for Sanath Jayasuriya, by the time he got retired from test cricket.
In fact, "Murali" and "Sanath" are champion players, who can't be replaced. But now, we have a new expectation about the future of Sri Lankan Cricket. That is with the promising new comer—"Mystery Spinner"—Ajantha Mendis.
Read the following articles on Ajantha Mendis. That will tell you the story.

• Mendis joins Kolkata Knight Riders (May 18, 2008)
• The future of Sri Lankan spin (Apr 28, 2008)
• International men of mystery (Apr 28, 2008)
• Mystery spinner (Apr 17, 2008)
• We need to make a plan against Mendis: Bravo (Apr 12, 2008)

As Sri Lankans, please join with me to wish this promising new comer, all the success in his carrier.

Dear Ajantha, Keep up your great performance !!!

Cheers,
CJ

I Have My Own Domain Now ... Yeah!

Hi all,

I am so happy to tell you that I have my own domain now. Which is www.chathuraj.com.
I integrated "Google Apps" by Google™ with Chathuraj.com.

So, I would like to introduce few of the Google Apps that I've integrated with my domain.

• My own search page http://search.chathuraj.com
  This runs on our favorite Google search. I can customize my search page in the way I want using number of gadgets provided by Google Apps.
• Standalone e-mail server:
  I can create number of user accounts (email IDs) for all my friends, which include my domain name. (e.g., yourname@chathuraj.com). Users can log-in to there email account using the link on http://search.chathuraj.com
  As well as, using http://mail.chathuraj.com
• Users of my email accounts can chat in Google™ Talk using their email IDs like "user@chathuraj.com."
• They are provided with "Google™ Docs," "Google™ Calendar," "Google™ Sites," and many more.

My ultimate target is to collect all my good friends from my young ages, in to one place, since most of them have lost contacts with each other.

Please help me to get this success.

Feel free to email your thoughts at "chathuraj@gmail.com" or "thoughts@chathuraj.com."

Finally, I am glad to say a big "CHEERS" to Google™ for their excellent Google Apps.

Regards,
CJ

Web Content Administrator Vacancy @ Aranxa

Aranxa Software (Pte) Ltd., is a Software Products and Services delivery company in Nawam Mawatha, Colombo 02. Our development team requires the following skilled Web Content Administrator to support our on-going development projects.

REQUIRED SKILLS;

• Upload new content, and update existing content on websites when needed, using mainly the Content Management System.
• Quality check texts to be published on the web.
• Contribute to optimizing content for web publishing.
• Manage the Webmaster mailbox and follow up issues raised in incoming mails.
• Provide support to web quality assurance, control and perform functional tests on websites.
• Ensuring the proper functioning of websites and making sure that the links are correct.

RANGE OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS;

• Experience of using a Web Content Management Systems.
• Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS and SQL.
• High general IT skills, including professional experience of MS Office programs (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access).
• Ability to understand and manage Database applications.
• Experience of format conversions, production of PDF files and graphic manipulation.
• Good communication skills.
• Fluent in spoken & written English.
• Team player.

Candidate should be prepared to travel overseas on project related work for short period of time.

Please send in your applications to naresh@aranxa.com with the mail subject line indicating clearly which position you are applying for. If there is a match between your profile and the requirements of this position, we will contact you for an interview.

Regards,

CJ

New Look to My Personal Website ...

Hi all,

I've given a new attractive look to my personal website. Still it's under construction though :)

please visit http://chathuraj.99k.org

I would like to have your thoughts. Please write down a comment on this post or email me chathura1922@gmail.com

Cheers!
CJ

Here I Am ...

Hi all,

I just created my new blog account. I would like to say "Hi" to whole blogging community.

Keep in Touch!

Cheers,
CJ