Key Features Of Hybrid E-Learning

Jennifer Pauli


Jennifer Pauli graduated from Corvinus School of Management and finished the faculty of Journalism at Corvinus University of Budapest. Currently, she is an editor, business writer, and copywriter, working with enough well-known companies, blogs, and personalities.


Have you ever wondered whether it is possible to combine the classical learning environment and the e-learning to provide students with more interesting and more effective educational experience? Here is the answer – yes, it`s possible! This instructional method, called the hybrid e-learning, is becoming more and more popular these days because most of the educators believe that such an unusual combination tends to boost the learning outcomes. So, what is the secret of the hybrid e-learning?

How Organizations and Colleges Can Benefit from Hybrid E-Learning

By combining both online and offline classes together, hybrid e-learning increases the efficiency of education and enhances the quality of teaching. Due to this powerful modern method, educational establishments offer a better quality of education than ever. It really works because:

•         It saves time, money, and productivity
•         It deepens the retention and understanding of information
•         It increases the engagement level of the learners
•         It addresses the problem of limited classroom space
•         It helps all types of learners
•         It uses a plethora of different material types
•         It gives students the opportunity to access courses when they want
•         It gives students the chance to receive personalized training
•         It improves collaborative learning and communication
•         It keeps students focused for longer
•         It prepares students for the future
•         It breaks the traditional walls of teaching
•         It removes the limitations on tutor`s availability, location, and time that are 
            imposed by a physical classroom       

How to Implement Hybrid E-Learning Model

If you are going to implement a hybrid e-learning model, you should definitely be aware of its key components and steps. These tips will help you to get started:

Tip 1. Make sure that both face-to-face and online activities complement each other. Students shouldn`t perceive them as separate contexts that have very little to do with one another. You have to get the right mix if you want to make your course successful.

Tip 2. Identify your learning objectives. It can help you build the structure of your hybrid e-learning content in a proper way. Make your objectives realistic, achievable, and appropriate for your learners. Don`t forget to provide them with the course structure and learning goals at the very start of the course so they know exactly what to expect.

Tip 3. Ensure that you have a sustained financial support to establish a hybrid e-learning.

Tip 4. Determine how to present the content effectively. Content organization plays a big role in creating high-quality e-learning. You can even turn to the essay writing service where you will be able to hire a professional who would help you produce new e-learning content from scratch.

Tip 5. Provide opportunities for interaction. Allow your students to communicate in meaningful ways – both online and face-to-face. Help them share their experiences and learn from each other by setting up a collaborative platform.

Tip 6. Offer a list of references and resources to your learners. Students will learn even more if you add some links to interesting articles and reference sites. It is also very important to make all your educational materials accessible via multiple devices.

Tip 7. Create online assessments for a blended learning environment. Find a tool for creating online tests that will work best for you. Online assessment will be definitely a great supplement to classroom training.

Tip 8. Incorporate various instructional methods and approaches. Try to respond to different learner preferences. Give presentations, provide students with interactive practice exercises and interact with them through chat rooms, private messaging or discussion forums.

Tip 9. Enhance learning during the live training sessions by using computer-based exercises and multimedia content.

Tip 10. Ensure that all the students are prepared to participate in the face-to-face activities. Online content should help them learn the basic information needed.

To sum it all up, the rapid technological and socio-economic changes make universities and business organizations examine their educational practices from a new perspective. John Dewey, a prominent educational reformer, once said that “if we teach today`s students as we taught yesterday`s, we rob them of tomorrow”. A hybrid e-learning seems to be a powerful tool for maximizing outcomes of modern students, increasing deeper learning, and teaching tomorrow`s skills today.

Eyeing WT20 glory at home...

When a World Cup is staged in India, it isn't just a World Cup. It's much bigger than that! It's an extravaganza; a festival of cricket where big things are expected from the home team. And if they don't live up to the expectations, there are a lot of people waiting with open swords. Just like 2011, the Indian junta expects the team to go all the way this time around too. And by the looks of it, the team won't disappoint.

India has been playing very good T20 cricket as of late. They white-washed Australia in Australia and recently, won an eight-nation tournament very convincingly. If they continue from where they had left off in the Asia Cup, they'll have a great chance of winning the prestigious trophy.



For the men in blue, surprisingly, the bowlers have impressed time and again in the recent past. The two pacers, Ashish Nehra and Jasprit Bumrah, with their unorthodox bowling actions have caused havoc for the opposition batsmen. The spin department looks settled as well, with Ashwin there as the mystery spinner. The batsmen, as has always been the case, are very skilful and dependable. All in all, the team looks really strong and well-balanced.



Although the Indians should fancy their chances, they can't afford to relax as other teams look dangerous as well. Pakistan and Australia, in particular, with their bowling, could give the Indians a run for their money. Moreover, the Proteas have been in red-hot form against India in the last three T20 matches that the two nations have played in India. Hence, as Faf du Plessis rightly said, it's an open tournament.

T20 cricket is really unpredictable and as we have seen before, a single over can change the outcome of the match. Such is the format that declaring a team as favourites before the start of the tournament is actually not right. India have the home advantage, but still, anything can happen. The last edition of the World T20 showed us that!

Sizzling Summer Days

It's vacation time, and students can be seen chilling out with friends and family. The holidays serve as the much required break after the exams. The possibilities are endless as there's a lot of free time to make use of. With the temperatures rising with each passing day, one needs to pursue happiness and health in order to have a memorable summer vacation.



A nice start to the day is essential. What better than an early morning walk in a park? Take someone along, and talk about things that interest you. Talk about wildlife, sports, philosophy and lifestyle. However, if the person walking with you is your grandfather, as is mostly the case with me, make it a point to listen attentively even if he talks on topics such as history, politics or economy. Get out of your comfort zone, and debate on topics that are new to you. At the same time, keep walking briskly, in order to keep in shape.



Plan ahead and stick to it. Decide on a skill or two you'd like to master. Read books, write, play a musical instrument or take up a course. Once you make up your mind, be diligent and committed. It's much easier said than done, especially in today's world. There are a number of distractions, including the television, internet and electronic gadgets. The idiot box is a major hazard, which can keep you from work. Learn to control yourself. Remember, it will benefit you in the long run!



Summer food is the best, as most people would agree. Desserts and drinks are the best part. A royal breakfast, a heavy lunch and a sumptuous dinner! Moreover, mouth-watering desserts and delicious drinks are served in the heat, which are very refreshing. Cold fruit juices and shakes are possible only during summers, and one should take full advantage of this facility during this time of the year.



Play! Live as if there's no tomorrow! Play indoor games when it's hot outside. Challenge yourself and challenge others. Remember, happiness is contagious. In the evening, play outdoors. Put your body on the line. Learn to handle pressure when it goes down to the wire. Eliminate complacency. There is so much that sport teaches us. Learn while you play!



Plan a vacation with friends or family. Visit a place you've never been to before. Explore the place. Learn about its culture, wildlife and people. Travelling is a great way of discovering yourself, as many people believe. We, Indians, are lucky to have been born and brought up in a diverse country such as ours. There are so many places to visit! Himachal in the north, Goa in the west, Kerala in the south and the seven sisters in the east.Take advantage of the rich heritage and varied culture that India has to offer.



Summer days are the most sought-after days of the year. Summer days are fun-filled and playful. They can be really productive and satisfying. The key is to keep it simple. Enjoy, but enjoy responsibly. Keep yourself busy. Work. Play. Travel.

Cricket World Cup 2015- The semifinals

Four very one-sided quarter-final matches have resulted in the advancement of four most deserving teams into the semi-finals. Pressure on the sides would be immense as they look to take a step forward towards lifting the Cup.It is that stage of the tournament where the skills won't matter. Infact, its the way the sides handle pressure that is going to make the difference. The first semi-final would see the 'chokers' face each other; a couple of teams which have qualified for the knockouts time and again only to succumb to pressure. On the other hand, the second semi-final would be contested between two teams who know how it feels to lift the prestigious trophy. The semi-finals would most certainly be thrilling and nerve-wracking and would pave the way for a dream final.



In the first semifinal, both the teams would look to carry on from where they left off in the quarter-finals. New Zealand have remained unbeaten in the tournament thus far, but, they'll have to start from scratch when they take on a strong South-African side. The Proteas have the most destructive bowling attack. It would be interesting to see what transpires when this bowling line-up takes on the likes of Brendon Mccullum and Martin Guptill. The Proteas, known for repeatedly choking at crunch situations, would want to go all the way this time around. The Black Caps, though, stand in way of the South-African dream. Infact, the Blacks enjoy home advantage and thus, according to me, hold slight edge over South Africa in this contest.

It was four years ago when India eliminated Australia from the 2011 World Cup, thus preventing Australia from winning the Cup for the fourth consecutive time. Australia would like to return the favour this time around, and they have a great chance of doing so as they enjoy home advantage. Moreover, the Aussies would rely on their quicks, who have been very impressive in the tournament so far, to deliver the goods one more time. India, on the other hand, depend massively on their batsmen. They would want a couple of their batsmen to score big and keep the opposition bowlers at bay. The toss is expected to play a huge role in this game, as the team batting first would have a clear advantage. Australia, as of now, have an all-round and a well balanced team. They seem to be the stronger team on paper and thus, according to me, have a greater chance of making it to the finals.

Though the home teams seem to have their noses slightly in front, its hard to say which two teams would find themselves in Melbourne on the 29th of this month. The final knockouts of this World Cup have the potential to be classics, as many experts would agree. Any of the four teams can end up victorious, and thats the beauty of it.

What Cricket Teaches Us...

Cricket, being a team game and a popular sport worldwide, teaches us many lessons in life. Sportsman spirit, team leadership and mental toughness are a few attributes one can pick up courtesy of cricket. In this article, I discuss three crucial life morals, a true cricket fan would relate to.

To begin with, what history teaches us is that you've got to be all-round in order to be successful over a period of time. The Australian cricket team, ten years ago, was often considered invincible. They had explosive batsmen at the top of the order and good finishers constituting the middle order. Moreover, they had agile, wicket-taking bowlers. They had all facets covered, and hence they dominated world cricket for a good ten years. This was the time when India had the best batsmen in the world and Pakistan had the most talented bowlers, but these teams were weak in one department of the game. The West Indies team in the early 1980s had destructive bowlers along with batsmen like Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd who were capable of demolishing any opposition. Nowadays, its South Africa dominating world stage for obvious reasons.



One phase every individual goes through at some point or the other in life is failure. Its not embarrassing to fail, but its embarrassing to keep failing for a long time. How a person reacts to failure and retaliates is what defines him. All those cricketers who are right now in the 'Hall of Fame' were once struggling to find a place in the side. Many of them were sidelined and criticized, but they all came back stronger and better-prepared. The Australian Cricket Board selects its players very carefully, based on their first-class careers. The runs scored or wickets taken aren't the only factors taken into account. Infact, the selection committee looks for players who have gone through the hard times at first-class level, and have subsequently come back with good performances. You might take things for granted when everything is going like a song. Its when things go deadly wrong that you need to change a few things and fight back.



Handling the pressure in crunch situations isn't for the feeble hearted. This is a skill you learn only with experience. The pressure factor comes into play whenever there's a do-or-die situation. For instance, when the play-offs of a multi-nation tournament are played, the previous matches in the tournament hold no importance and are forgotten. You've got to start from scratch. India might be the best team in the Cricket World Cup 2015 thus far and they might win all their group games. However, in order to lift the Cup, they'll have to win three pressure matches on a trot. There's no other alternative but to remain positive and stay mentally strong. Its much easier said than done.

Cricket World Cup 2015-The Contenders

With just three days to go for the biggest cricketing extravaganza to kick off, I couldn't have thought of a better time to return to my blogging ways.Just like the 2011 edition, the World Cup this year too promises to be fiercely competitive as the sides look to get the team combinations right in order to dominate world stage.Here, I analyse the top eight teams and examine their chances of winning cricket's most coveted event, scheduled to be played Down Under.

Australia: Inarguably the favourites to win the Cup, Australia, on paper, seems to be the team to beat this season. It proudly possesses some of the most dangerous hitters of the cricket ball, namely, David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell. The bowling attack seems excellent too with Mitchell Johnson all set to lead the pace attack.Moreover, the aussies, being sharp fieldsmen, would most certainly make the opposition team work hard for their runs, thus bettering their chances.Being the home team, and having a talented bunch, they would be very hopeful of lifting the Cup for the fifth time.

South Africa: The proteas have a formidable bowling line-up, probably the best in the tournament. The awesome trio of Dale Steyn,Morne Morke and Vernon Philander are a big source of worry for any opposition. In batting, they have the likes of De Villiers,Hashim Amla and Faf Du Plessis who have repeatedly shown us what they are capable of. The young Quinton De Kock at the top of the order can be absolutely devastating if it's his day, as he showed in the ODI series against India which was played in the Rainbow nation, not very long ago. Often criticized for choking at crucial moments in ICC events, the proteas would fancy themselves to win the World Cup, which has for long eluded them.

New Zealand: Just like Australia, this team consists of stupendous strokemakers at the top of the order. Brendon Mccullum, Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor, known for their cross-batted shots, would be very effective on bouncy pitches. Kane Williamson adds stability to the middle order while Corey Anderson can be extremely lethal in the death overs. The team also has very fine fast bowlers in Trent Boult, Kyle Mills and Tim Southee who aren't only quick, but accurate as well. The Black caps play well at home, as is evident from previous results. They do have the right ingredients required to end up victorious.

England: Unlike most other teams, this side doesn't have match winners who can single-handedly win the match for the side.But, what's impressive about England is that all its team members contribute in some way or the other towards team success. For instance, if we look at the team composition, we find that Stuart Broad, a proper all-rounder, bats at number nine. Infact, James Anderson who comes in next is no mug with the bat either! England is a team of all-rounders, of skilful men who are determined to contribute.Pitches downunder don't spin much, which favours English batsmen. Don't be surprised if this team ends the tournament with the Cup in their hands.

India: The defending champions, under the leadership of Captain Cool M.S Dhoni, would dearly miss the match winners who contested in the 2011 World Cup. The team this year,apparently, isn't as strong as the former World Cup squad,but, its much younger,much more energetic and dynamic. The fact that this team depends heavily on the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma cannot be denied.The bowling line-up is weak and ineffective, especially on the bouncy pitches downunder. India has always relied on its batsmen to deliver the goods time and again. If the batsmen fire, there's no reason why India can't lift the prestigious trophy for the third time.

Sri Lanka: Like India, this team lacks good fast bowlers. The team would want its veteran players, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene to score big and at the same time, keep the other players cheered up on the field. A big positive for Sri Lanka is the skipper, Angelo Mathews who contributes massively both with the bat and the ball.A genuine all-rounder, he also lifts up the team's spirit with his brilliant fielding. Having finished second best in the 2011 World Cup, Sri Lanka would be hoping to go all the way this time around.

Pakistan: Pakistan have a very inexperienced side for this World Cup. They can be very unpredictable, as they have often showed before. The team consists of decent bowlers in Junaid Khan,Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz who would hit the deck hard and extract bounce.The spinners are phenomenal, although they wouldn't get much help from the wickets. The batsmen have under-performed consistently which is a cause of worry for them. Pakistan had won the World Cup downunder in 1992. They can do it again, but, they certainly need to sort out a few issues before the play-offs if they wish to repeat the feat.

West Indies: For the West Indies, Chris Gayle,Dwayne Bravo and Marlon Samuels hold the key at the top of the order. Heavily reliant on these three players, the team needs to perform much better than what they have been performing to stand any chance of winning the Cup. The absence of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard in the squad would certainly limit their chances. They are capable of surprising the top teams if they play to their full potential. However,at the moment, lifting the Cup for them is a distant dream.

The World Cup 2015 promises to be bigger and better. What it does guarantee is exciting cricket and some nerve-wracking moments. So, turn on your TV sets and watch, keeping your fingers crossed.

The Lumbering Loner

                             Chapter 2:Sam visits Shawn's place

Shawn was, by nature, a submissive and a timid person. However, fortunately for him and all those who believe in humanity, he had a brother who was very different. While Shawn was known for making heavy weather of cases of villainy, his brother used to solve them in the most ingenious of ways. Sam was, in fact, one of the most reliable and sought-after detectives in the whole of the country. There was just the one mystery that had remained inexplicable in Sam's entire career as a detective, while a single case had been completely deciphered in Shawn's case. Though Sam was the younger of the two, he had a much more mature mind than Shawn.

It was a bright, sunny day when Sam ambled towards the main door of his brother's new dwelling, plodding past an animated crowd. One might have imagined Sam to have built the notion that Shawn had cracked a case or two. Sam, anxiously, knocked at the door and was warmly greeted by his sibling.
"Why is there a massive crowd in front of the door?", Sam asked.
"Oh! I am actually quite famous among people. They apparently relate me with His Majesty Mr.Holmes himself.", was the response.
"That's great! By the way, evidently, your tidily combed hair indicate you've had a recent bath, the redness and fatigue in those eyes indicate excessive television viewing while neatly polished shoes suggest that you plan to go out someplace soon."
"Ah! Very well! The worn-out chapeau on your head shows that its hackneyed, your muddled shoes prove that its a trite pair and your tired eyes indicate that.......probably, you are tired."
"So blatant.....", Sam secerned.
Poor Sam, after travelling all day, had all his hopes shattered too. Added insult to injury, did Shawn, with all his asinine remarks. Sam could now appraise how many cases his brother might have solved, how much of a Sherlock Holmes he had become and how mindless of Sam himself it was in being so sanguine.



As Sam made himself comfortable on the antique couch which mostly had Shawn overly comfortable, perhaps a bit too much, a thought ran through his mind which reminded him why he was in London in the first place. As an obligation towards his elder brother, he said, "I have a case to solve in South London, which is the reason I am here. Would you like to accompany me? We'll leave today evening."
Sam would have hoped for a reply in the negative, but, it was just not his day. Shawn disturbingly agreed, much to the despondency of Sam and his clients. Sam, apparently and very understandably, had little faith in Shawn's crime-solving abilities. As the two brothers left at dusk, Sam took along with him Olanzapine tablets in case his brother had a fit and a colossal cause of distress, courtesy of his very own brother. He had a mystery to solve and from it, his brother to absolve.

Supertraits of Superstars by Priyanka Sinha Jha

Bollywood has become synonymous with money and fame; the stories of young actors, struggling to make it in the industry only to later blossom as wonderful actors, are all that we hear about the stars. Little do we know about the effort, conscious and subconscious that go into the making of such a star.

With examples from eleven different Bollywood stars' life, Priyanka Sinha Jha brings about a new dimension wherein she highlights the important qualities in each actor which propelled them forward to make them the star they are now. Big B's Discipline, King Khan's Passion, Vidya Balan's Reinventing Mentality, Aamir Khan's Pursuit of Perfection, Katrina's Perseverance, John Abraham's Enterprising nature, the Maximal Focus of Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya's Grace, Hrithik's Mental Resolve, Karan Johar's Tact and Sallu bhai's Generosity are the main qualities covered in the book.

The main selling point of this book is definitely the fact that every commoner can relate with it. Every person at some time or another has dreamed of becoming a superstar as the grandeur and fame that surrounds the mystic profession draws us towards it; however, this book paints the actual picture of becoming a superstar: hardwork and excellence. With humorous and quirky anecdotes from the real lives of the reel actors, Priyanka Sinha Jha has made even a simple man appreciate the pain and effort put in by each actor to achieve their goal.

While the entire book was a good read, it was the little known actor stories which I cherished reading more. Though this doesn't indicate that the stories of the big-shot ones were written poorly, just the fact that Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh and Aamir Khan's stories are a bit too popularly known anyway. Out of the rest, I felt Hrithik Roshan's will and determination to change his fate from being speech impaired to one of the greatest actors of modern Bollywood definitely takes the cake. I would love to see a second book under the same banner and theme to come out with some lesser known actor stories like that of Boman Irani and Nawazuddin Siddiqui and that of the old and gold Kapoors,
if the author could manage it.

Bytes and Banter Verdict :  A Piece Of Art  -  4/5

The book was received as part of Reviewers Programme on The Tales Pensieve.

Delhi Comicon 2014

Comicons are a way of life; it is this place where thousands of comic book aficionados come together discussing about various comic issues, shop merchandise to decorate their homes with supremely geeky stuff and have a great time. The Delhi Comicon, which I was finally able to attend after procrastinating for 4 years, was teeming with fans as early as 11 am. Not only did this event house DC and Marvel comic heroes but also paved the way for Raj Comics, Comixology, Fanfare, Garbage Bin and Tinkle Enthusiasts.

Photo Credits - Rohit Lathkar

Ordinary to Extraordinary!

I started slow, allowing others to surge ahead...

Steadily they ran and never looked back...

To see how far behind they had left me!

Half a lap had I done...

When they already completed one!

My mind was all cluttered up...

Should I keep it slow and accelerate at the end?

Or should I maintain a steady pace?

I wondered till my head blew off!

'Slow and steady wins the race', I had heard...

But, I let that go for a nerd...

Further, up in the sky, I saw a bird...

And its behaviour left me stirred...

Unhurriedly, it flew in the air...

Its wanting eyes fixed on the wanted prey...

And, all of a sudden, I saw...

It charged towards the ground with stupendous speed...

"Oh! What speed!", I muttered to myself...

As the hunt was enjoyed by the elf...

Realize the Republic!

"Just an another day" for most people...

Alas!The celebrations are feeble.

A 'National Festival',as it is regarded...

But,does anyone care if the nation is guarded?

The Rajpath revelry begins early in the morning...

A prominent procession, but, the viewership is alarming!

Nice patriotic songs are scheduled to be sung...        

Some do sing, but very few remember those who were hung.

Immortals Of Meluha by Amish Tripathi

The concept of imagining Gods as ancient and legendary heroes is an idea which might have struck many people across ages but building a conceptually believable storyline revolving around the myths and beliefs of this God is truly impressive. Needless to say, Amish has done a fine job in creating a fast-paced, exciting novel series based on the many myths of the Hindu Mythology.

Through this book, Mr. Tripathi has taken up a very sensitive topic as Indians don't take literature on their Gods very lightly. He has carefully threaded through the plot without any sort of controversial discussions or diversions. Some of Lord Shiva's habits, like that of smoking ganja is a strict no-no in our modern society but in the book has been shown on a pretty light note allowing the reader to draw his own interpretation.

#17 Catwoman vs Black Cat

The feline forces of the comic universes, Black Cat representing Marvel and Catwoman representing DC take on each other for a fight to glory and death. With each having nine lives and cat like agility, the fight boils down to speed and accuracy.

Name : Selina Kyle
Affiliation : Justice League, The Batman Family
Background :  Surviving as a petty thief in the East End of Gotham city after her mother committed suicide and her father drank himself to death, Selina Kyle was inspired by Batman. Fighting to survive in the small world, she chose a cat as her aspiration and donned capes and claws to terrorise the villains of the East End. Having a love-hate relationship with Batman, she has always been portrayed as an anti-heroine with her own moral code. Despite her villainous nature, she works hard to protect the East End of Gotham City.


Name : Felicia Hardy
Affiliation : Avengers, Heroes For Hire
Background : Having a burglar father can have its perks, Felicia Hardy had initially mastered multiple martial arts in order to save her father from the prison but later fell in love with Spiderman and changed her ways to be a superhero.

LET THE FIGHT BEGIN!!!!

Cold January Nights

After the Sun sets, when the clock strikes seven...

You cover yourself with coats and quilts and feel like heaven.

You try to get up and engage in the home sciences...

But you just can't and unexploited lie the appliances.

You switch on the idiot box, in hope of resurrection...

As if it would change the whole complexion.

Constantly and casually, the channels are browsed...    

And soon, the curiosity fades away, which earlier had aroused.    

                                              

Sub Conscious Life Hacks

Every man, no matter how hard he works, eventually takes shortcuts to meet his goal. Whether it be by pushing it on to his subordinates or by 'Googling' his problems, the emphasis of smart work over hard work and dearth of time has severely changed the everyday man's philosophy. These shortcuts or life hacks are now ingrained and no matter how hard we try, we subconsciously do deploy them to make our lives easier.

DISCLAIMER  - None of these tips have been discovered or invented by me.

1. Bouncing Batteries - How do you know if the batteries are still functional? Simple, just bounce them on the floor to check if they still have juice in them, if they do, they won't bounce very high while the discharged ones are virtually heavy ping-pong balls. While this was initially thought of as a myth, the scientific reason behind this is quite interesting - as alkaline batteries discharge, the chemistry inside changes and produces Hydrogen gas, creating pressure and making it easier for the battery to bounce and topple. Sadly, it only works in the alkaline ones, so the ones throwing their Li-ion ones are clearly wasting their time.

2013 At A Glance and A Wish For 2014

Everybody has done it, so why not us !!! The year 2013 has come to a close and has left us with lifelong memories, some good and some bad. We recapitulate some key events which has affected India and we also hope for a much better and improved 2014.

We start with sports, because that is what interests the majority of the Indian population. In cricket,our biggest achievement of the year was the Champions Trophy win in England. Most people didn't give Dhoni's men a chance at the start of the tournament and very rightly so, given the fact that India were brutally beaten both in the test and ODI series in their previous tour of England. However, Dhoni's men defied all odds and emerged victorious, adding yet another trophy to the country's tally. India lost the last cricket series of 2013 going down to South Africa in the test series, further worsening their record away from home. A series win in the rainbow nation would have been a perfect ending to the year. Nevertheless, the tour to New Zealand begins shortly and we have a chance to begin well in 2014. Also, the T20 World Cup this year is a great opportunity for India to strengthen the team for the all important 2015 World Cup.

    

The 25th Celebration of Love

I dedicate the following poem to my parents, whose selfless and splendid love towards me, I greatly appreciate. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! I thank my parents and relatives for a wonderful and a memorable 25th evening here in Jodhpur. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

On this very day, 25 years back...
The Almighty himself redefined love...
Of liking and learning, there was no lack...
Their affection, as peaceful as a dove.

I write this poem, a satisfied son...
How could I have existed without you?
Without you, there would have been no great things done...
And there wouldn't have been this poem new.

Bilaspur was where it all began...
And then Vizag was where we all went...
There emerged an another kid, now a man...
We made wonderful brothers, in our happy tent.

Nagpur was the next city in line...
The five odd years we spent there were the best...
Hyderabad, the city of pearls, was just fine...
To move out, for us, was indeed a real test.

Today, in Jodhpur, in this beautiful resort...
On Christmas eve, and six days away from New Year...
The zeal and zest, today, shouldn't fall short...
My best wishes to mom,dad and all the ones dear.

Canvas Network :Society, Science, Survival: Lessons from AMC's The Walking Dead by UC Irvine

A Massive Open Online Course on a TV Series was least expected and perhaps one of the more exciting things to happen in the world of online education. Being a follower of the TV Series, I decided to take the course hoping it would be as interesting as the TV series. I was pretty impressed with the U.C. Irvine instructor line-up, they had a social science lecturer Dr. Joanne Christopherson, a public health doctor Dr. Zuzana Bic, a mathematician Dr. Sarah Eichhorn and a physicist Dr. Michael Dennin - all plotting and planning to educate us to survive a zombie apocalypse.

Tigers At Home, Timid In Another Dome

An ODI series win against Australia and victory against the West Indies was a perfect home season for India. At the end of the home season, India were numero uno in the ODI team rankings by a huge margin,10 rating points to be precise.The future of Indian cricket looked very promising and everyone was expecting a good show by the Indian team in South Africa and New Zealand.

                                           

Right after the conclusion of the 3rd ODI between India and West Indies, Virat Kohli had repeatedly emphasized on the significance of the South African tour. He had said that his team would do well in the all-important tour of the rainbow nation. Little did he know what horror and humiliation had to follow. India need to ask themselves a bunch of questions before they take on the Proteas for the test series.They indeed have a lot to ponder on.

#16 Doctor Fate vs Doctor Strange

After Zatanna faced off against the Scarlet Witch, it is now the turn of the male magicians to prove their mettle through spells and blasts.

Name : Doctor Stephen Vincent Strange
Affiliation : The Avengers
Background: Stephen earned his medical degree in record time and entered a five year residency at the New York Hospital where his talent allowed him to become the top neurosurgeon before he turned 30. Once quite wealthy, Dr. Strange spent all his money after a debilitating car accident which had rendered his nerves seriously damaged. He spent his last amount looking for the Ancient One, the mystic protector of the Earth Realm, hoping for a miracle. After being exposed to the mystic realm, Strange accepted the Ancient One's offer of tutoring him and soon became a Sorcerer Supreme.

Name : Kent Nelson
Affiliation : The Justice League, Justice Society Of America
Background: Kent Nelson was the son of an archaeologist. When on a trip to Mesopotamia, he found an ancient immortal Nabu, from planet Cilia, trapped in a state of animated suspension. When he freed him, the lever accidentally released a poisonous gas which killed his father. Nabu decided to mentor him and teach him the secrets of the universe. He was given an amulet, cloak and a helmet to serve as an agent of Lords of Order and a champion of the Good, Doctor Fate.

LET THE FIGHT BEGIN!!!!