Microsoft on 25 October 2011 launched their futuristic visionary illustration aptly titled: PRODUCTIVITY FUTURE VISION

In 5-10 years, how will people get things done at work, at home, and on the go?

Watch the concept video to get a glimpse of the future of productivity, then explore the stories and technology in more detail.

These are the opening lines on Microsoft Office's homepage for this futuristic offering under the aegis of its MSOffice platform.

The video, uploaded across all media including its homepage and YouTube to name a few, is available in all popular video formats including in high definition (HD). The video explores the facets of our lives in the near future when it would so very well be interwoven and synchronized with hi-tech amalgamation that living & thinking without technology's involvement in our modern lives would be difficult if not impossible.

The video showcases its enigmatic prowess of technology in every sphere of life through three characters- Ayla, Qin, and Shannon- whose life and day-to-day productivity cycle is shown to be immensely improved by use of future technology.getting seamlessly interwoven with our lives.

Check out the video and post your feedback in the comments section of this post as what you make of the video. Do let us know if it impressed you also immensely the way it appealed to us.

Check out related links:
-  Microsoft's productivity future vision - Homepage
-  Microsoft Office Labs - Future Vision Montage
Similar previous posts here at bricks-n-mortar.com:
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-  Plan, Design and Model your Home with FLOOR PLANNER web utility 
-  About Google LatLong blog 

Indians, South-East Asians and others all around the world celebrated the festival of lights- 'Deepawali' (also called 'Diwali') that represents victory of good over evil yesterday, i.e., 26 October 2011.

On occasion of Diwali-- which is an official national holiday in many a countries like India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji-- people light up 'diyaas' (earthen or metallic eye-shaped oil-filled lamps), candles and electric lights primarily to mark the significance of triumph of good over evil following the mythological epic 'The Ramayana'.

Oil-filled Earthern Clay Lamps called 'DIYAAS'

However the day after the celebrations and festivities are over, the household cleaning process starts again. Removal of candle-wax-burns, diya oil-spills, etc. from the walls, floors, window sills, etc. becomes a priority as the stains that are resulted could very well damage the painted surfaces of the walls and the likes.

We provide our readers two quick tips for cleaning the wax spill-overs/ left-overs and diya oil stains from the floors, parapets and especially from the painted surfaces:

Cleaning of Candle Wax spill-overs/ left-overs

The wax or paraffin based products like the candles are usually lighted up and stuck with its own molten wax onto any kind of horizontal surface-- be it the floor, or the parapet top, or the window sill, etc. etc. While the candle burns, some of the molten wax, especially that at the bottom, remains there firmly stuck to the surface.If not removed sooner, they leave stains behind. Here are a few simple tips to remove such wax / paraffin based left-overs and stains:

• Remove excess of the wax left-over surface slowly by any sharp edged tool, like- spatula/ knife/ painter's sheet, trowel, or any similar tool that has a sharp end surface. Inclined slow sweeps onto the wax left-over may help in loosening the otherwise hardened patch.
  
  
• Once the excess of wax left-over been swiped-off, removal of the stubborn wax-stain becomes the next step. For this, take hold of a longish tool of iron/ steel/ alloy tool (especially having flatter end on one side and something to hold on on the other side) and heat its flatter/broader end on low temperature.
  
  
• Once the iron tool becomes reasonably hotter, place an absorbing tissue paper or piece of thin absorbing cloth on the hot part of the tool and then slowly but steadily press the same against the wax end-patch.
  
  
• This will help in melting of the wax end patch by the hotter tool, and thereafter absorbance of the inherent paraffin oil into the tissue. Repeat this step numerous times till the entire end deposit of wax/paraffin is melted and absorbed by the tissue paper.

Cleaning of Oil spill-overs from the Earthen Lamps (Diyaas)

Diyaas are usually lighted after filling them up with mustard oil and using a cotton based 'batti' (a twisted longish cotton wick). While the diyaas are providing flame-based lighting, the oil used as fuel usually drips down the diya surface in tiny droplets by a combination of capillary/ osmotic action (school science terms).

This results in leaving behind oil stains on the horizontal surfaces where the diyaas were placed. The stains if not removed/ wiped-off quickly may damage the painted surfaces. A few steps that could help removing such leftover oil stains are:

'Namma Metro' meaning 'Our Metro' in the native Kannada language of India's Information Technology (IT) super-hub city Bangalore start its operations today, the 20th day of October 2011, in the Byappanahalli to M.G. Road section under Phase-1 of the project.

With this, Bangalore (officially rechristened as Bangaluru now) has become the third Indian city to boast of its own Metro Train service (Tube/ Subway called elsewhere around the globe) after Kolkata (Calcutta) and Delhi.

'Namma Metro' is rightly being pitched as the perfect  'Deepawali Gift' to the Bangaloreans. Its bright colors and tech-savvy outlook will surely appeal to one and all. Looking at the success of Delhi Metro and now Bangalore Metro, other major Indian cities and towns may also see Metro train service becoming a reality sooner or later. Fact of the matter is also that the Metro Rail service is surely going to be one of the best platforms of 'rapid mass transport system'. The sooner the cities and their respective corporations plan for their own metro rail service, the better would be the prospects of their growth and citizen's benefit.

The scheduled dates for completion of the sections under Phase-1 of the Bangalore Metro project being:

Yesterday, came across the online musings authored by one of India's finest architects - Architect Hafeez Contractor - on a blog titled: 'The Urban Vision'.

His post there on the aforementioned blog is intriguingly titled 'HOUSING INDIA' the opening section of which goes like this...
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The slums prevalent in many Indian cities are an evidence of the massive shortage of low cost housing. The census states that 42.6 million people lived in slums in 2001. This constitutes 15 per cent of the total urban population of the country and 22.6 per cent of the urban population of the states or union territories reporting slums.

Why the crisis?

The reason for this crisis is because India has not created housing in proportion to demand. We need to resolve this situation by two-ring strategy

1. Government subsidized Economically weaker section housing.
2. Drive the creation of Market drive affordable housing

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The blog post goes on deliberating upon the two key points that are termed as the possible reasons for the crisis that urban India faces. It presents therein interesting reading stuff that compels its readers to ponder upon the various facets and challenges that Urban Planning presents forth. Interested readers of our blog are suggested to go through 'The Urban Vision' blog and provide feedback as what is your opinion on the subject.

A quick note on the blog author (taken from the very same mentioned blog):

Architect Hafeez Contractor's FB link

Hafeez Contractor has a has a Graduate Diploma in architecture from Mumbai and a masters in Urban design from Columbia University, New York. He is a member of the Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. His organization firm has over 350 employees including senior associates, architects, interior designers, draftsmen, civil engineering team and architectural support staff. His firm has till date conceptualized, designed and executed a wide range of architectural projects like bungalows; residential developments; hospitals; hotels; corporate offices; banking and financial institutions; commercial complexes; shopping malls; educational institutions; recreational and sports facilities; townships; airports; railway stations, urban planning and civic redevelopment projects.

Received a query from Mr. Bharat Reddy in the comments section of one of our earlier posts titled: "What is E-Stamping | Legal Stamp Duty Online Submission ..." who asked...

Click to read more of Q&A

Recently I have entered into a rent agreement at Mumbai through e-stamping. I had
submitted the same as the address proof to my mobile service provider (Vodafone). I was shocked to hear from them that e-stamping is not valid under TRAI. They have asked me to submit any other document as address proof but I don't have any.

Could you please confirm if what they said is true. It would really be a great help to me if you could provide me a website link which could prove them wrong and prevent my account from getting deactivated.
Thank you

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BricksnMortar Edesk's reply...

Dear Mr. Bharat, a formal Registered Rent Agreement entered into with a landlord/ party/ entity is very much a valid address proof that should be acceptable to the telecom service providers here in India.

You may check the Vodafone India weblink also, and show it to the concerned personnel who seem to be ignorant of the requirements. In case you do not get any reprieve, call vodafone's centralized customer care there in Mumbai and report the matter to them.

For the ready reference of yours and our other readers who may find this information useful, we are reproducing herein below the generalized requirements towards validation of address and identity proofs, as stipulated by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and tabulated at the website of the said telecom operator too. These are:

Document	Note
Unregistered Lease and License Agreement on Rs100/- Stamp paper along with Police Verification Letter Certificate duly stamped and signed with Photograph	Clear Copy of the same - Expiry period should be within 2 months
Certificate from MLA/Class I Gazetted officer with photo.	Original Certificate acceptable
Water Bill (Not older than 3 months)	Generated in the last 3 months
Landline Bill (not more than 3 months old)-(MTNL, BSNL, TATA, RELIANCE, AIRTEL)	Bill should be in customer’s name for latest bill cycle (if bill is in the name of applicant’s Father/Mother/Spouse then the applicant's POI to be matched to establish relationship with that person. Bills only upto last 3 months to be considered valid inclusive of current month
Electricity Bill of a State owned company (not older than last 3 months)	Generated in the last 3 months
IT Assessment Order (last year only) with photograph(not necessary)	Only last year Assessment order valid
Rent / Lease & License/ Sales Agreement - Registered	Only Registered (in the requisite court of law)
For Foreign Nationals - Passport/ Visa: Local Reference Mandatory on Annexure F	Local reference to provide all supporting documents as proof and should not be a self declaration
Post Office Passbook with photograph of the applicant	With customer address and stamp of the Bank. Last Update Not older Than 3 Months
Passport copy of Spouse	Provided Relationship with Spouse is shown
House allotment Letter issued to Employee along with Company ID card of the Ltd Firm	From Private & Govt organisation with Residential address mentioned on it. Along with Company ID card only LTD companies
MOD Establishment - Certificate from Admin Officer	Address to be same as in CAF
Mahanagar Gas Bill ( Only Pipeline Gas)	Generated in the last 3 months
House Tax payment receipt/Purchase Deeds with applicant's address	Address to be same as in CAF. House or Flat Purchase deed without any time restriction
hop establishment certificate	Should be within Validity period
Credit Card Statement	Credit Card Statement Acceptable as POA (but, not older than last 3 months)
Vehicle Registration Certificate	Vehicle Registration Certificate With Address
Defence Personnel – Armed Forces :Canteen Card with photo & address	Can also be taken as POA if address is also mentioned on this
Exservice men ID card not having Ashoka Emblem	Clear Copy of the same
Income Tax PAN	Clear Copy of the same
Photo Credit Card/Photo Debit Card	Address to be same as in CAF
Tibetian/Napelese/Bhutanese citizens driving license issued by the local government with residence address	Driving license issued by the local government. For POA local address/reference is mandatory
International Driving License for POI or Signature proof	Along with Passport & Visa for Foreign National
Cast and Domicile Certificate with photo issued by State Govt. like Assam and other states	Cast and Domicile Certificate with photo issued by State Govt. like Assam and other states
Smart card issued by CSD, Defence / Paramilitary	Smart card issued by CSD, Defence / Paramilitary
Passport with photo & address	With customer address and photograph
Arms License with photo & address and if not expired	With customer address and photograph
Learner License with photo & address and if not expired	Must be Valid. Cant accept Expired
Driving License	With customer address and photograph not expired
Defence Personnel – Armed Forces: Dependent's Card valid for spouse / parents / children with Address	Can also be taken as POA if address is also mentioned on this
Bank employee ID cards with stamped photograph and address	Provided the bank name is in the bank list provided
Student ID Card with stamped photograph with address only for Government recognised Educational Institutes	Valid for Govt recognized College / Institution only* For details on POA please find the info given below regarding students
MOD Establishment - ID Card with photo & address	Address to be same as in CAF(MOD means Ministry of Defence)
Pensioner's Card	Pensioner's Card issued by Govt of India or Any of the Bank in the list provided. Photo and Address to be same as in CAF
Senior Citizen Card issued by the Govt with photo on it	Clear copy of the same
Photo ID Card by Govt/Statutory Authority/PSU with address /Parichay Patra by State Govt with photo	With customer address and stamped photograph
Election Commission Voter's ID Card	With customer address and photograph
Defence Personnel – Armed Forces; Certificate from (Group A-commissioned officers letterhead) Competent Unit Authority	Certificate from Competent Unit Authority mandatory as per Annexure B (Photocopy can be accepted)
College or Institute Certificate with photo (Govt recognised)	As per the Annexure (Photocopy also acceptable)
Certificate from Gram Panchayat with photo & address	Xerox copy of certificate to be accepted as per Annexure A
Caste Certificate with photograph with address	Issued by Government with seal and signature of Deputy Commissioner of the District/Town
Post Office Passbook with stamped photograph of the applicant	With customer address and photograph and stamp of the Postoffice
Current Passbook Bank	Current Passbook of any Schedule Bank acceptable as POA & POI if having photo. Passbook last update not older than 3 months
Freedom Fighter Card	Freedom Fighter Card is acceptable now as POI (if with photo) and as POA (if with Address)
Kisan Passbook	Kisan Passbook is acceptable now as POI (if with photo) and as POA (if with Address). Passbook last update not older than 3 months
CGHS / ECHS Card	CGHS / ECHS Card
Certificate of Photo Identity issued by Village Panchayat head or its equivalent authority (for rural areas)	Certificate of Photo Identity issued by Village Panchayat head or its equivalent authority (for rural areas)
Address card with photo issued by Dept of Posts, Govt. of India	Address card with photo issued by Dept of Posts, Govt. of India Within Validity Period
Current passbook of Post office/ any schedule Bank, having photo	Current passbook of Post office/ any schedule Bank, having photo. Last Update Not Older Than 3 Months

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