What are ‘magic mushrooms’ and why did Denver vote to decriminalise it?

Psychedelic mushrooms, also known as " magic mushrooms" is a hallucinogenic chemical obtained from certain types of fresh and dried mushrooms.

Denver is likely to become the first city in the United States to decriminalise the use and possession of psychedelic mushrooms, also known as “magic mushrooms, ” after residents voted on an ordinance demanding a change in status.

According to Denver Elections Divisions, the final unofficial count on its website on Wednesday was 50.56 per cent of voters in favour and 49.44 per cent against. The results will be officially announced on May 16.

This would make the personal use and possession of psilocybin mushrooms by those 21 years or older Denver’s “lowest law-enforcement priority.” It, however, does not legalize psilocybin or permit its sale by Denver’s cannabis businesses.

What are psychedelic mushrooms

Psychedelic mushrooms, also known as ” magic mushrooms” is a hallucinogenic chemical obtained from certain types of fresh and dried mushrooms. It is classified as Schedule 1 substance by the US Drug Enforcement Administration along with drugs like heroin, marijuana and LSD.

The agency has deemed that it has a high potential for abuse with no accepted medical application.

But according to Decriminalize Denver, the group behind Tuesday’s ballot initiative, psilocybin has a wide range of medical benefits. It has been shown to reduce depression and anxiety and to help in treating tobacco, alcohol and opioid addictions, and with alleviating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to the organization, it said.

Some opponents worry that if passed, the initiative would increase the city’s image as a haven for drugs, given that Colorado was one of the first states to legalize possession and sale of marijuana for adult recreational use.

Source: Indian Express, 5/07/2019

Chandigarh University makes national record in the field of research, files 500 patents in 7 years

Working with a mission to make India a self-reliant nation in developing new technologies and acclaimed top position in global innovation index, Chandigarh University Gharuan has emerged as the leading university of the country which has filed maximum number of patents in 2018-19.

The economic status of a nation depends upon the efforts putting by the respective countries in the field of research and innovation. Developed nations such as US, Japan ,Germany are amongst the top nations which have major share in global innovation index, whereas countries like India lag behind and are dependent on such countries for new age technologies. As per the data available from world intellectual property organization (WIPO) with more than 1.5 million patents filed ,China leads the list of countries who has filed the maximum number of patents in 2019 which is followed by USA with 0.6 million . India has been ranked 7th in this list with more than 50,000 patents being filed in 2019 with just 2.3 % increase over the last year. The main reason attributed to the current situation is that India with 0.85% contribution of its GDP for R&D currently ranks 52nd amongst the nations which contributes higher percentage of their GDP towards research and innovation.

Working with a mission to make India a self-reliant nation in developing new technologies and acclaimed top position in global innovation index, Chandigarh University Gharuan has emerged as the leading university of the country which has filed maximum number of patents in 2018-19.

According to the latest data released by government of India’s Office Controller General of patent design and trademarks for the year 2018-19 , Chandigarh University, Gharial has emerged as the leading university with highest number of 336 patents filed by its students and faculty .According to the statistics ,23 IITs have jointly filed 557 patents which is followed by 336 patents filed by Chandigarh University alone, followed by 239 patents filed by India’s leading IT company Tata consultancy services (TCS). The fourth position in this list is held by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) with 202 patents which is followed by PSU company Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) got fifth rank by filing 135 patents.

While giving details about the patents filed by university students and faculty, Dr. R.S.Bawa, Vice-Chancellor Chandigarh University said,’’ Department of Mechanical Engineering leads the university departments with 176 patents filed which is followed by department of Electronics and Communication Engineering with 59 patents and 44 patents by the Department of Computer Science”. Understanding its Institutional Social Responsibility, students and faculty of Bio-Technology and Pharmacy at Chandigarh University are contributing in the field of research and have filled more than 25 patents in the field of Health Sciences and Medicine which is yet another way of contributing towards society, Vice-Chancellor added.

“Higher Education Institutions or Universities have major role to play in the field of research which contributes towards the economic prosperity of any nation” said Satnam Singh Sandhu, Chancellor. We at Chandigarh University are through our intensive R&D initiatives are trying to convert Make in India dream turn into a reality so that our country no longer has to be dependent on other nations like USA, Japan for the transfer of technology, he added. Due to robust work being undertaken by Core Research Groups, the number of patents filed by Chandigarh University has increased from 336 to 500 in 2019.

The campus of Chandigarh University hosts more than 30 ultra modern R&D Labs and Innovation Centers established by top notch companies such as Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, SAP Labs, IBM, Honda, Hyundai, Volvo-Eicher, Virtusa, IHG Academy, The Taj Academy, Piramal Foundation and others where students are given hands-on practical exposure on the new age technologies under the guidance of Industry Experts. The University has earmarked an annual budget of Rs. 6.5 crores for the Research & Innovation which is assigned to the Core Research Groups for the development of futuristic products and technologies.

Source: Hindustan Times, 26/02/2020

UPSC civil services prelims 2020: Important notification issued by commission

UPSC civil services Prelims 2020 application: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has issued an important notification for the candidates who want to apply for the civil services preliminary examination 2020.

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has issued an important notification for the candidates who want to apply for the civil services preliminary examination 2020.

The commission has urged the aspirants of civil services exam 2020 to submit their civil services prelims application at the earliest. The last date to apply for the UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2020 is 6pm on March 3.

The commission has asked the candidates to submit the civil services prelims 2020 application as soon as possible and not wait for the closing date of application as their is heavy rush on last few days.

The official notification for the civil services preliminary examination 2020 was released on February 12 and Civil Services (preliminary) Examination 2020 will be held on Sunday, May 31.

To apply Online candidates should visit the UPSC websitehttps://upsconline.nic.in. Detailed instructions for filling up online applications has also been provided by the commission.

A photo ID card like Aadhaar Card, Voter Card, PAN Card, Passport, Driving Licence or any other photo ID card issued by the state or central government is required to fill the application.

Candidates should provide details of this Photo ID card while filling up the online application form. They also need to upload a scanned copy of the photo ID whose details have been provided in the online application.

This photo ID card will be needed for all future referencing and the candidates must carry the same photo ID card while appearing for examination or personality test.

Candidates have also been provided the facility of withdrawal of application and the instructions for the same have been provided.

In case of confusion regarding applications, candidates should contact UPSC’s facilitation counter near gate ‘C’ of its campus in person or over Telephone No. 011-23385271/011-23381125/011-23098543 on working days between 10am and 5pm.

Source: Hindustan Times, 26/02/2020

Finding The Key To Happiness And Success

What is the key to success and happiness in life? To live a life of your choice, you need to start making efforts in that direction. Hardship and suffering should not deter a person from the chosen path. No one achieves anything automatically. Besides the usual hardships, there are many external factors that impact our growth like colour of skin, physical appearance or material status. But internal qualities are really what are required to make us successful and happy. We need to understand and appreciate what one has received, to fully cherish it. Therefore, before embarking upon a new venture, journey or project, do some soul-searching. Ask yourself these questions: Why am I doing this? What are the consequences? Will I be able to succeed 100%? Once you have decided on moving forward with an idea after doing a lot of critical thinking about all the aspects of your life, step up your preparations keeping in mind the following guidelines to achieve success: 1. Put your energy into creating a future while living in the present. 2. Learn from past mistakes; avoid repeating them. 3. Never try to run away from the hurdles you face. 4. Face your problems and overcome them with determination. 5. Befriend people who have a similar outlook as yours. 6. Education is your best friend. It empowers you, generates new ideological energy and sharpness to perform daunting new tasks. 7. One should be honest and simple but avoid falling prey to selfish mentality of others. 8. Whatever you start with, ensure its completion. Even if the end-result is zero, this experience will definitely add to your success in life. Do not leave any task incomplete due to fear of failure. 9. Make a strategy before starting any work; how you will execute it. 10. Study religious texts; they will purify your thoughts. 11. Be positive and prudent. 12. Success is found only in silence. Wise people speak because they have something to say, whereas fools speak because they have to say something. 13. Overcome ignorance by befriending knowledge. 14. Do not share your secrets with anyone. 15. Choose your friends carefully. 16. The biggest challenge in the path of success is one’s own nature. 17. Nature examines a person’s ability, like an exam. For example, there’s an interview before any job. So get rid of faults in your own personality to achieve success. 18. Hard work and concentration are the first steps towards success. 19. In case of failure, change the strategy, never change the target. 20. Whatever religion one follows, it must be followed spiritually. By means of chanting, austerity, fasting and meditation, one stays in contact with the formless divine power and develops a positive outlook. This way one can cultivate qualities like service, generosity and humility. These virtues make life simple and relaxed. Such people are not comfortable in the company of those who blaspheme, conduct meaningless conversations, and pass on negative thoughts. Such associations should be discarded at the earliest. By adopting these guiding principles, all of us can smoothly move forward, on the path of a happy and successful life.

Source: Times of India, 27/02/2020

Quote of the Day

February 26, 2020

“Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being?”

‐ Swami Vivekananda

“हम ईश्वर को कहां पा सकते हैं अगर हम उसे अपने आप में और अन्य जीवों में नहीं देखते?”

‐ स्वामी विवेकानंद

Rohingya refugees in India sketch their stories in a comic book

Put together by World Comics India, a collective that promotes comics as a communication and empowerment tool for the marginalised, the book is an outcome of a workshop conducted by the organisation with around 50-60 Rohingya refugees in Kalindi Kunj and Nuh, Mewat.

We see Zuhara Bibi and her family struggling to find a place in a bus, truck and train during their long journey from Myanmar to Jammu to Delhi. There is also Tasmida recounting being discriminated against in her school in Myanmar. Shamema is disgruntled with the dirty shared toilets in the refugee settlement where she stays with her family.

These are few of the snapshots of the life of Rohingya refugees in India, written and sketched by them as part of a comic book called Rendered Stateless Not Voiceless. Put together by World Comics India, a collective that promotes comics as a communication and empowerment tool for the marginalised, the book is an outcome of a workshop conducted by the organisation with around 50-60 Rohingya refugees in Kalindi Kunj and Nuh, Mewat. “The idea of documenting their stories is to reach out to people and authorities through first-person accounts… The book will help highlight the human face behind the refugee crisis,” says Sharad Sharma, cartoonist and founder of World Comics India. Having worked with immigrants previously, he had been following the news on the Rohingya refugees after they arrived in India in large numbers in 2012, but it was only last year that he decided to document their stories through art.

“A comic book can help us reach out to those who are literate and also others who may not be able to read,” says Ali Johar, who was only 10 when he had to flee his home in Myanmar to find refuge in Bangladesh in 2005. Seven years later, his family moved to Delhi. “It has been a constant struggle,” he says. Until recently, Johar stayed with his family in a shanty in Kalindi Kunj with several other refugees who have settled there. While he has now moved to Zakir Nagar, he visits his friends often. Managing education scholarships for select students from the community, he is also here to propagate how he feels that good education perhaps is the only means for a better tomorrow. “In Myanmar, my father was a businessman with political connections, but in India, we are refugees and have no rights; we can’t buy property, get a government job. But no one can deny us education,” says Johar. The graduate in political science is promoting the same message through his comic strip, Born Ali-en.

A resident of Delhi’s Kalindi Kunj camp, Sanjida Begum, 27, agrees with Sharma that art can help them tell their stories. In her story, Hum Khud Chale Jayenge, she sketches the concerns of her community on being deported back. “We are grateful that we have been allowed to stay for this long. We do have difficulties, but Myanmar is not safe for us. When it is peaceful, we will return on our own,” says the mother of two.

Mother-daughter duo Taslima and Mizan have also shared their concerns and aspirations through the book. Taslima notes that they should only be sent home after they are guaranteed safety and assured citizenship rights that existed till 1982. Mizan, a student of class VI at Gyandeep Vidya Mandir, is grateful to the UNHRC for helping her get admission in Delhi. “Back in Myanmar, we had a nice place to stay. Here we stay in such inhospitable conditions. We don’t know when will we get our rights,” says Mizan.

Source: Indian Express, 20/02/2020

The woman computer

With the death of Katherine Johnson, the era of the women with slide rules, who sent America into space, draws to a close.

Before computers were machines, they were women. At Nasa units like the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with paper, pencil and slide rule, they calculated the thrust-to-weight ratios that kept Dr Strangelove’s strategic bombers in the air, and plotted the trajectories that put landers on the moon. Their work helped the US to win the Cold War and the space race, but few got the recognition they deserved.

But the mathematician and physicist, Katherine Johnson, who has died aged 101, was honoured with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was a black woman, a prodigy who taught in school because, at the time, university campuses were racist. In 1953, she joined a team composed exclusively of black women at Nasa’s Langley facility.

Male-dominated at the time, computer technology inadvertently handed the advantage to women. In Alan Turing’s wartime project to crack the German Enigma code, women became pioneers by accident because male researchers considered working with masses of wires and switches as manual labour, fit for women. In US aerospace, 20 years later, men considered mental calculations to be more reliable than machines. So women were free to play with early IBMs, and numbered among the first programmers. Later, Margaret Hamilton of MIT wrote the code that landed Apollo 11 on the moon, on a stack of paper almost as tall as herself. And after doing the calculations that put Alan Shepard in space and John Glenn in orbit, Johnson had worked out the navigational charts which put Neil Armstrong down in Tranquillity Base. With her death, perhaps only one of the women computers of the Fifties remains — Susan G Finley, Nasa’s oldest serving woman. Involved with the Jupiter and Pluto missions, she has no retirement plans.

Source: Indian Express, 26/02/2020