Canadian Pop Star Nellie Furtado to visit Goa

6. Mar. The Independent. My Life in Travel. Nelly Furtado interviewed by Aoife O'Riordain. Question: Where would be your trip of a lifetime? Answer: Going to the rainforest in Brazil. My partner and I also dream of going to Goa - the combination of the Portuguese and the Indian fascinates me. My daughter is also a quarter Indian and Portuguese, so Goa's the place for her. See: http://travel.independent.co.uk/news_and_advice/story.jsp?story=498282

Which is better -- DVD and VCD? Editors Note Here is expert advice from an Ex-Goan School Student (Nairobi) People wanting to buy movies, not only in India but also in many other countries, are confronted with 2 major video formats -- VCD and DVD. Most people find this confusing. What is the difference between a DVD and VCD? Which is better? I hope that the following information will be helpful.

A DVD (Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) and a VCD (Video Compact Disc) both look very similar (just like a regular audio CD or a computer CD-ROM), but they are encoded in different ways. DVD Characteristics --------------------------- - DVD is an MPEG-2 formatted movie which is created by using advanced digital audio/video encoding and advanced compression methods. As a result, a DVD can hold up to 18 Gigabytes on one disc (double layer, double sided). This is usually enough to store an entire movie on a single disc. - Compared to VCDs, movies on DVD have a higher quality video and audio, comparable to laser disc or even better. - But a DVD must be played on a compatible DVD player and a TV set which matches its format (NTSC in N.America, or PAL in India and UK and most other countries). - A DVD usually cannot be played on a PC. VCD Characteristics ---------------------------- - VCD has a lower quality audio and video that a DVD. - VCD is created by recording the movie from a videotape and with the MPEG-1 format. A typical VCD can store about 70 minutes of video and audio. A full movie therefore needs 2 or 3 VCD discs. - VCD discs provide better sound and picture quality than VHS tapes and are less expensive than DVD discs. - A VCD has the advantage that it can be played on almost all recent DVD players (typically the DVD player should be of 2002 vintage or later) and has no region-specific formatting. So you will almost certainly be able to watch the movie, no matter which country you live in. - Unlike a DVD which can be played only on a compatible DVD player and a compatible TV set, a VCD can be played back on a PC with programs such as Windows Media Player or Real One Player. Bottom line: -------------- - If you are sure that the DVD is compatible with your TVsystem (NTSC or PAL), buy the DVD. You will get better audio and video quality, and there will be no interruptions for changing discs during a movie. - If you are not sure about the formats, buy the VCD. We bought several VCDs in India. They all worked on our DVD player and TV set in USA and produced very good quality audio and video. For further information: ----------------------------- If you want to make a DVD, VCD, etc, have a look at: http://www.dvdrhelp.com/forum/userguides/94288.php#why If you want more information on what is MPEG, have a look at: http://www.licensing.philips.com/information/mpeg/documents3 53.html

Wind Energy Could Power Every Home in Europe by 2020
LONDON, March 1 /CNW/ - Every home in Europe could be powered by clean green offshore wind energy, according to a new report released by international energy experts. Researchers at the respected Garrad Hassan group examined wind speeds, sea depths, economic infrastructure and advancements in offshore wind technology. They concluded that as many as 50,000 turbines could be built in European seas, generating the equivalent of 720 billion domestic units of electricity - enough to power well over 150 million homes.
The report can be found at http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/seawindeurope.htm