Etcetera

How things work
Solar Flares

The US space research agency NASA has warned that solar flares in 2013 could wreck global satellite communication and knock out electricity grids, causing blackouts in major parts of the world. Even as the thought of life without air conditioning, (or worse, Twitter) sounds scary, can something happening 149 million kilometres away really affect us? The answer is - yes. A powerful solar flare releases as much energy as 100 million hydrogen bombs, each of which is several thousand times bigger than the bombs that laid waste to Hiroshima. To make a point, a particularly large solar flare in 2005 released a high concentration of protons, which reached the earth in less than 15 minutes. And what does such a proton storm do?

In a spacecraft or a satellite, they fry communication systems, "causing short circuits and computer reboots", according to NASA. Even worse, they penetrate space suits and that is not good news for astronauts. So, is it Apocalypse time in 2013? Not necessarily. Spacecraft can be put on a safe mode and transmitters downed temporarily, if you know when a solar flare is likely to erupt. Question is: do we? The answer: not for sure.

Just wondering
Walking on water

Here is another Mumbai project that has been on paper forever. Twentyseven years, to be precise. The idea of connecting the business hub of Nariman Point to the outskirts of Borivali through a waterway with hovercraft and catamarans was mooted first in 1983. It found mention in a report titled "Development of waterways around Bombay Harbour for Commuter Traffic" which was prepared by an expert group of the Home Department, Government of Maharashtra. Since then, five more studies have been tabled - the last one in 1995. Bids went for auction several times, winners were announced, followed by litigation and fresh round of bidding. Last heard, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), the government body overseeing the project, had awarded the contract to Pratibha Industries a few months ago and a previous bidder had litigated. The Bombay High Court ruled in favour of MSRDC. Once the government approves the project, the first boat can ply within two years. And hope floats.

Quirky
Of Munni and Kaka

Bollywood B-grade movie fans may remember a movie called Agar Tum Na Hote. Back in 1983, this flick was a comeback vehicle of sorts for rapidlyfading superstar Rajesh Khanna. The movie was the beginning of in-film advertising in India and Emami products were spotted by the cinegoers. Twentyseven years later, Khanna and even his daughter have bid adieu to cinema and Emami reels in over Rs 1,600 crore in annual revenues. However, Emami's promoters actually slapped a notice on the makers of the Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg for copyright violation and using the name of their brand 'Zandu Balm' without their permission in the biggest hit song of 2010, Munni Badnam Hui. In a twist to the plot, last heard, the two sides had patched up and Munni (Malaika Arora) would now be the brand ambassador for Zandu Balm. Guess what works for Kaka also works for Munni.

Snoot Corner
The Golden Pen

Well, if you have that bungalow with the temperature-controlled swimming pool and that manadatory Merc, here's good news for you. Luxury penmaker Mont Blanc has just hit the market with a $27,000 pen. The diamond- and saphirestudded pen has been dedicated to Beatle John Lennon and has the words "Imagine" embossed in white gold. This is not the first time that Mont Blanc has made a pen with such a heavy price tag. Last year, the penmaker courted controversy by bringing out a Mahatma Gandhi Limited Edition pen for just $25,000. Don't know about the late Beatle, but the man in the loincloth, who wrote prolifically, would not have approved of this extravagance.