Bonobos and Chimpanzees can 'speak' using gestures

New Scientist is reporting that researchers at Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Atlanta, Georgia, US have noticed a vocabulary of 31 gestures and 18 facial and vocal symbols used by apes - where meanings differ based on what context is used.

It should be noted that a lot of animals communicate using gestures and symbols but only humans are known to have different meanings of the same symbol based on the context.

Oh !! The more closely we look at Great Apes - the closer they seem to us.

Indian Mangoes are finally coming to USA

For the first time in 18 years Indian Mangoes are going to be allowed into the US.

Since India first applied to ship mangoes to the United States in 1989, the fruit has been barred because it can harbor the mango seed weevil, a pest absent from North America. A solution emerged in January 2006, when the Agriculture Department allowed the importation of produce treated with low doses of irradiation to kill or sterilize insects — a somewhat controversial issue. USDA has certified of an irradiation facility, 125 miles northeast of Mumbai (formerly Bombay), close to the prime coastal orchards growing Alphonsos, India’s most celebrated mango variety.

As of last Friday the NY Times announced they are here and I am looking forward to them expectantly. India has over 1000 varieties of mangoes. They come in varying shapes, colors, and tastes and it should change the impression of Mangoes as a fruit for average american.

Don't expect to see huge amounts or types of the fruit immediately available. Some transportation problems still have to be worked out and the product might cost as much as $5/pound when it arrives. But at least we will have Indian Mangoes in USA finally.

tv downloads over internet comes to india !!

IndyaOnDemand - a StarTV compnay - is offering many StarTV tv shows like Koffee with Karan, Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge etc for download at $1.99/episode. They are also offering music videos for $0.99/song.

With those prices, they are definitely targeting NRI market.
Hopefully, we will also see them on iTunes soon.