High Speed Rail

* RT @HSRail: Gov Quinn: "We need visionaries on high speed rail. Where there is no vision, the people perish."
* RT @HSRail: 50% of US flights are under 500 miles. These routes clog airports, should be replaced w/ high-speed rail. http://bit.ly/Ve3XH
* Annaheim's proposed rail hub. http://bit.ly/cA0Ll #rail #hsrail #highspeedrail
* High-speed rail might not deliver the Obama vision -> USAToday http://bit.ly/20foKs . #HSRail
* Modern Train Station in Belgium. http://ow.ly/15RE9I
* China: $88 billion in rail spending in 2009 alone, $186.3 since 2006. US: $8 billion committed in 2009 for investments beginning in 2010

Short Term Business Visa/Visitor Visa to Australia

Let us assume that either you have to go to Australia on a short term business trip or want to visit Australia for sight seeing, honeymoon etc. If you do not belong to the set of countries that are ETA eligible (US, UK, Canada, Singapore etc), then you will need to:
a) Apply form 456 for short term business visa.
b) Apply visitor visa (Form 48R).

After this, you have to send it by FedEx or UPS or USPS Express to:

Embassy of Australia,
1601 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington DC 20036

Tips:
1) Allow a minimum of 10 Working Business Days.
2) Do not book flight tickets before the visa arrival.
3) Clearly mark the date of intended travel.
4) Both the Immigration Officers and the help line are very very busy. So it makes sense to plan your travel properly and apply for visa well in advance.

The Help Line is based out of Ontario, Canada.
It is 1(905)280 1437. Note that you may be charged International rates to Canada. Do not use mobile phones to call this help line.

In my case, my packet reached on Feb 1, 2010. My confirmed travel was on Sunday, Feb 14, 2010 to Sydney. Due to record snow storm, Washington DC was shut down for 5 days. But immigration officer, Grace Dizon heroically approved my application on Feb 11 and then called me as to which courier to use so that I get it on Friday for Sunday travel. Remember both UPS and FedEx had not picked any packages for 5 days. She stayed beyond embassy close time of 4:30pm to personally hand the envelope to Fed Ex guy at the entrance (5:14pm). Then she called me on mobile and said "Have a nice trip". Hats off to her.

Indian Satellite Radio will not be same - WorldSpace Demise

It is very sad to learn the demise of the World Space satellite radio in India as of January 1, 2010. It seems to have been the part of majority of Indians' lives for the last few years.

Particularly, the senior citizens were relying on this radio for their favorite genre music - classical, oldies etc.

Some information on the demise of World Space radio in India is here and here.

The World Space Satellite Radio in India had a very flourishing business. The issue was the bankruptcy/debt syndrome of the US based parent company. I do hope that this service in India can be resurrected.

As of January 1, 2010, World Space Internet Radio in INDIA has ceased operations.

Apparently, there is a claims procedure for extra money paid in subscription via the US Bankruptcy courts for 2010. But there is no public information on this yet. If someone has it, please pass it on.