Favourite Books: Mathematics

Higher Engineering Mathematics
by J. O. Bird
List price: £24.99

Synopsis
John Birds approach, based on numerous worked examples and interactive problems, is ideal for students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, and can be worked through at the students own pace. Basic mathematical theories are explained in the simplest of terms, supported by practical engineering examples and applications from a wide variety of engineering disciplines, to ensure the reader can relate the theory to actual engineering practice. This extensive and thorough topic coverage makes this an ideal text for a range of university degree modules, Foundation Degrees, and HNC/D units. An established text which has helped many thousands of students to gain exam success, now in its fifth edition, "Higher Engineering Mathematics" has been further extended with new topics to maximise the books applicability for first year engineering degree students, and those following Foundation Degrees.New material includes: inequalities; differentiation of parametric equations; differentiation of hyperbolic functions; and homogeneous first order differential equations. This book also caters specifically for the engineering mathematics units of the Higher National Engineering schemes from Edexcel, including the core unit Analytical Methods for Engineers, and the two specialist units Further Analytical Methods for Engineers and Engineering Mathematics in their entirety, common to both the electrical/electronic engineering and mechanical engineering pathways. A mapping grid is included showing precisely which topics are required for the learning outcomes of each unit, for ease of reference.The book is supported by a suite of free web downloads such as: Introductory-level algebra - to enable students to revise basic algebra needed for engineering courses; Instructor's Manual - featuring full worked solutions and mark scheme for all 19 assignments in the book and the remedial algebra assignment; and, Extensive Solutions Manual - 640 pages featuring worked solutions for 1,000 of the further problems and exercises in the book. New edition includes new and extended coverage of additional topics for undergraduate study and Foundation Degree courses. It includes over 1,000 worked examples and over 1,750 problems, to enable the student to apply mathematics in real-world engineering contexts. An extensive Solutions Manual provides solutions to over 1,000 of the 1,750 further problems and is available as a free download for lecturers.

Book details
Format: Paperback 744 pages
Date of publication: 24/11/2006
Publisher: Newnes
(source: waterstone's website)

Sen McCain's 'Thank You' message

Remarks from Senator John McCain

November 4, 2008
Thank you. Thank you, my friends. Thank you for coming here on this beautiful Arizona evening.

My friends, we have -- we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly. A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Senator Barack Obama to congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love.

In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving.

This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.

I've always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Senator Obama believes that, too. But we both recognize that though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation's reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound.

A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt's invitation of Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters. America today is a world away from the cruel and prideful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African American to the presidency of the United States. Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth.

Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. I applaud him for it, and offer in my sincere sympathy that his beloved grandmother did not live to see this day, though our faith assures us she is at rest in the presence of her creator and so very proud of the good man she helped raise.

Senator Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain. These are difficult times for our country, and I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.

I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences, and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.

Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that.

It is natural tonight to feel some disappointment, but tomorrow we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again. We fought as hard as we could.

And though we fell short, the failure is mine, not yours.

I am so deeply grateful to all of you for the great honor of your support and for all you have done for me. I wish the outcome had been different, my friends. The road was a difficult one from the outset. But your support and friendship never wavered. I cannot adequately express how deeply indebted I am to you.

I am especially grateful to my wife, Cindy, my children, my dear mother and all my family and to the many old and dear friends who have stood by my side through the many ups and downs of this long campaign. I have always been a fortunate man, and never more so for the love and encouragement you have given me.

You know, campaigns are often harder on a candidate's family than on the candidate, and that's been true in this campaign. All I can offer in compensation is my love and gratitude, and the promise of more peaceful years ahead.

I am also, of course, very thankful to Governor Sarah Palin, one of the best campaigners I have ever seen and an impressive new voice in our party for reform and the principles that have always been our greatest strength. Her husband Todd and their five beautiful children with their tireless dedication to our cause, and the courage and grace they showed in the rough-and-tumble of a presidential campaign. We can all look forward with great interest to her future service to Alaska, the Republican Party and our country.

To all my campaign comrades, from Rick Davis and Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter, to every last volunteer who fought so hard and valiantly month after month in what at times seemed to be the most challenged campaign in modern times, thank you so much. A lost election will never mean more to me than the privilege of your faith and friendship.

I don't know what more we could have done to try to win this election. I'll leave that to others to determine. Every candidate makes mistakes, and I'm sure I made my share of them. But I won't spend a moment of the future regretting what might have been.

This campaign was and will remain the great honor of my life. And my heart is filled with nothing but gratitude for the experience and to the American people for giving me a fair hearing before deciding that Senator Obama and my old friend Senator Joe Biden should have the honor of leading us for the next four years.

I would not be an American worthy of the name, should I regret a fate that has allowed me the extraordinary privilege of serving this country for a half a century. Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant. That is blessing enough for anyone and I thank the people of Arizona for it.

Tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Senator Obama, I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president.

And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties but to believe always in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here.

Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history, we make history.

Thank you, and God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you all very much. 9(source: www.mccainpalin.com)

Man United to sign a winger in January

Tosic granted work permit
Manchester United have secured a work permit for Zoran Tosic.

The 21-year-old Partisan Belgrade winger was linked with the Reds in various UK papers last weekend and the club can now confirm the application for his work permit has been successful. No transfer can be completed until 1 January.

Tosic, renowned as a dead-ball specialist, is a full Serbian international. (Source: www.manutd.com)
...............

My views:
May be Ronaldo is on the way out, if he doesn't show commitment and loyalty to the club! Let's wait and see!!

EPA: Mramba, Yona 'ndani'

Mramba, Yona wadaiwa kuathirika kisaikolojia

Wakati Basil Mramba na Daniel Yona wanaokabiliwa na mashitaka ya kutumia vibaya madaraka yao, wakiendelea kusota katika gereza la Keko kwa siku ya nne sasa, mawakili wao watetea wamedai kuwa wateja wao wameathirika kisaikolojia kutokana na masharti magumu ya dhamana.

Kiongozi wa jopo la mawakili wanaowatetea washitakiwa hao ambao walikuwa mawaziri waandamizi wa serikali ya Awamu ya Tatu, Joseph Thadeo, jana alidai kuwa wameamua kwenda Mahakama Kuu kupinga masharti magumu ya dhamana yaliyotolewa na Hakimu Mkazi wa Mahakama ya Kisutu, Hezron Mwankenja.

Alidai kuwa kiasi ambacho wateja wao wameshitakiwa nacho ni Sh. bilioni 11.75 na kwa mujibu wa masharti ya dhamana kwa pamoja wangetakiwa watoe nusu ya kiasi cha fedha hizo ambazo ni Sh bilioni 5.87 ambazo ni Sh bilioni 2.97 kwa kila mteja.

Alidai kinyume chake Mahakama iliwataka kila mmoja kulipa Sh bilioni 3.9 kwa pamoja ni sawa na Sh bilioni 7.8

Maombi ya kupinga masharti ya dhamana yanaanza kusikilizwa leo chini ya Jaji wa Mahakama Kuu Kanda ya Dar es Salaam, Njengafibili Mwaikugile.

Mramba na Yona walifikishwa mapema wiki hii katika Mahakama ya Hakimu Mkazi Kisutu, mbele ya Hakimu Mkazi, Hezron Mwankenja na kusomewa jumla ya makosa 13 yakiwamo ya kutumia vibaya madaraka yao ambayo yaliisababishia serikali hasara ya Sh. bilioni 11.75.

Baada ya washtakiwa kusomewa mashitaka yao, mahakama ilitoa masharti ya dhamana ambayo ni pamoja na washtakiwa hao kujidhamini kwa Sh. bilioni 7.8, ambapo kila mmoja alipaswa kulipa Sh. bilioni 3.9.

Washitakiwa pia walitakiwa kuwasilisha hati za kusafiria na walitakiwa wasitoke nje ya Mkoa wa Dar es Salaam bila kibali cha mahakama hiyo.

Baada ya mahakama kutoa masharti hayo, mawakili wa upande wa utetezi hawakuridhika na uamuzi huo na waliwasilisha barua ya kuomba mwenendo wa uamuzi wa dhamana.

Mawakili hao waliomba mwenendo wa uamuzi huo uchapishwe kwa madhumuni ya kutaka kuupinga.
Juzi mawakili hao walionekana katika harakati zao Mahakama ya Hakimu Mkazi Kisutu jijini Dar es Salaam kujaribu kuwatoa wateja wao katika gereza la Keko ambako wanashikiliwa.

Mawakili wa washitakiwa wanadai kwamba kiwango cha dhamana kilichowekwa na Mahakama ya Kisutu ni kubwa mno hivyo kuwaathiri kisaikolojia wateja wao.

Wakati wa kusomewa mashitaka, Mwendesha Mashitaka wa Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (Takukuru), Joseph Ole, aliwasomea mashitaka yao akidai kuwa, kati ya Agosti mwaka 2002 na Juni 14 mwaka 2004 jijini Dar es Salaam, washitakiwa wakiwa watumishi wa umma kama mawaziri walitumia vibaya madaraka yao.

Ilidaiwa kuwa walitumia madaraka yao vibaya kwa kuipatia mkataba wa kukagua uzalishaji wa dhahabu kampuni ya Alex Stewart (ASSAYERS) ya Uingereza na kampuni yake tanzu Alex Stewart (ASSAYERS) Government Business Corporation, kinyume cha sheria ya Manunuzi ya Umma ya mwaka 2002 na ile ya Madini ya mwaka 2002.

Katika shitaka la pili, Mramba na Yona wanadaiwa kuwa Mei 28, mwaka 2005 wakiwa watumishi wa umma jijini Dar es Salaam, wakiitumikia serikali katika nafasi za uwaziri wa Fedha na Nishati na Madini, kwa pamoja walitumia vibaya madaraka yao kwa kusaini mikataba ya kuiongezea kampuni hiyo muda wa miaka miwili wa kuendelea kukagua madini ya dhahabu kuanzia Juni 2005 hadi Juni 2007 kinyume cha Sheria ya Manunuzi ya Umma.

Ole aliendelea kudai kuwa, katika shitaka la tatu wote wawili wanadaiwa kuwa kati Machi na Mei mwaka 2005 wakiwa watumishi wa umma, walitumia vibaya madaraka yao kwa kumualika Dk. Enrique Segura wa M/S Alex Stewart (ASSAYERS) Government Business Corporation kuja kusaini mkataba wa nyongeza wa miaka miwili kabla Timu ya Majadiliano ya serikali haijaanza kulifanyia kazi suala hilo.

Katika shitaka la nne, kati ya Machi na Mei mwaka 2005, washitakiwa wanadaiwa kuwa walitumia nyadhifa zao vibaya kwa kukaidi kupeleka kwa Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali suala la kodi kama ilivyopendekezwa na Timu ya Serikali ya Majadiliano, jambo ambalo lilisababisha mkataba uongezwe wa miaka miwili bila kupitishwa na Timu ya Majadiliano.

Shitaka la tano, ilidaiwa kuwa mshitakiwa Mramba Oktoba 10, mwaka 2003 akiwa Waziri wa Fedha alidharau mapendekezo ya Mamlaka ya Mapato Tanzania (TRA) ya kutokutoa msamaha wa kodi kwa kampuni hiyo.

Katika shitaka la sita, Mramba anadaiwa kati ya 18 na 19 Desemba mwaka 2003, akiwa Waziri wa Fedha, alitoa kibali namba GN 423/2003 kilichotoa msamaha wa kodi kinyume cha mapendekezo ya TRA.
Katika shitaka la saba, Mramba anadaiwa kuwa Desemba 19, mwaka 2003 akiwa Waziri wa Fedha, alitumia madaraka vibaya kwa kutoa msamaha wa kodi kwa kampuni hiyo.

Ole aliongeza kuwa shitaka la nane, Oktoba 15, mwaka 2004 akiwa Waziri wa Fedha alitoa kibali namba GN 497/2004 kilichotoa msamaha wa kodi kwa kampuni hiyo kinyume cha mapendekezo ya TRA.

Shitaka la tisa, Mramba anadaiwa kuwa kati 14 na 15 Oktoba 2004, akiwa Waziri wa Fedha alitumia madaraka yake vibaya kwa kutoa kibali namba GN 498/2004 kilichotoa msamaha wa kodi kwa kampuni hiyo kinyume cha mapendekezo ya TRA.

Katika shitaka la 10, Mramba anadaiwa kuwa Novemba 15, mwaka 2005 akiwa Waziri wa Fedha alitumia madaraka yake vibaya kwa kutoa kibali namba GN 377/2005 kilichotoa msamaha wa kodi kinyume cha mapendekezo ya TRA.

Katika shitaka la 11, Mramba anadaiwa kuwa Novemba 15, 2005 akiwa Waziri wa Fedha alitumia madaraka yake vibaya kwa kutoa kibali namba GN 378/2005 kilichotoa msamaha wa kodi kwa kampuni hiyo kinyume cha mapendekezo ya TRA.

Katika shitaka 12, Mramba na Yona wanadaiwa kuwa kati ya Juni 2003 na Mei 2005 wakiwa na nyadhifa hizo za uwaziri kwa makusudi na kutowajibika waliruhusu mkataba wa kuzuia kulipa kodi ili kuipendelea kampuni hiyo na kuisababishia serikali hasara ya Sh. 11, 752,350,148.00.

Katika shitaka la mwisho, Mramba anadaiwa kuwa kati ya 2003 na 2007 akiwa Waziri wa Fedha kwa makusudi alishindwa kuwa makini au kutotimiza wajibu wake alisaini vibali vilivyotajwa katika mashitaka yaliyoelezwa hapo juu, kuruhusu kampuni hiyo kutokulipa kodi na kuisababishia serikali hasara ya Sh. bilioni 11.75.

Washitakiwa kwa nyakati tofauti walikana mashitaka yote.

Hata hivyo, upande wa mashitaka ulidai kuwa upelelezi bado haujakamilika na kwamba hauna pingamizi la dhamana dhidi ya washitakiwa. Kesi yao itatajwa Desemba 2, mwaka huu. (SOURCE: Nipashe, 2008-11-28 10:25:32
Na Joseph Mwendapole)
.........................................................................

Katika hatua nyingine, (mwandishi wa Majira anaripoti kuwa) leo Mahakama Kuu itasikiliza maombi ya Bw. Mramba na Yona ya kuitaka Mahakama Kuu iingilie kati kile watuhumiwa hao wanacholalamikia kuwa ni masharti magumu ya dhamana waliyowekewa na Mahakama ya Hakimu Mkazi Kisutu.

Watuhumiwa hao kupitia mawakili wao waliwasilisha rasmi maombi yao hayo jana kwenye Mahakama Kuu Kanda ya Dar es Salaam.

Kwa mujibu wa vyanzo vyetu vilivyo karibu na watuhumiwa hao, rufaa hiyo itasikilizwa leo ambapo vigogo hao watawasilisha hoja za kupinga masharti ya dhamana kama yalivyotolewa na Hakimu Hezron Mwankenja wa Kisutu.

Mahakama hiyo iliwataka watuhumiwa hao kila mmoja kujidhamini kwa sh. bilioni 3.9 ambapo katika kesi ya msingi, washitakiwa hao wanadaiwa kutumia madaraka yao vibaya na kuisababishia serikali hasara ya sh. bilioni 11.7.

Bw. Mramba na Bw. Yona walifikisha mahakamani hapo juzi wakikabiliwa na mashitaka 13, ikiwemo matumizi mabaya ya ofisi, madaraka na kuisababishia serikali hasara ya Sh. bilioni 11.7.

Washitakiwa hao walisomewa mashitaka yao mbele ya Hakimu Mkazi Hezron Mwankenja anayesikiliza kesi hiyo.

Mwendesha Mashitaka wa Taasisi ya Kuzuia na Kupambana na Rushwa (Takukuru) Joseph Ole, aliwasomea mashitaka watuhumiwa hao mapema wiki hii alidai kuwa, kati ya Agosti mwaka 2002 na Juni 14 mwaka 2004 jijini Dar es Salaam, washitakiwa wakiwa watumishi wa umma kama mawaziri walitumia vibaya madaraka.

Ilidaiwa kuwa kwa kupitia kampuni ya Alex Stewart (ASSAYERS) ya Uingereza iliyoingia mkataba wa kukagua kampuni za madini nchini ambapo kwa kupitia kampuni tanzu ya Alex Stewart (ASSAYERS) Government Business Corporation waliingia mkataba na kampuni tanzu kuzalisha madini ya dhahabu kinyume na Sheria ya Manunuzi ya Umma.

Katika shitaka la pili, ilidaiwa kuwa Mramba na Yona wanadaiwa kuwa Mei 28, mwaka 2005 wakiwa watumishi wa umma jijini Dar es Salaam, wakiitumikia serikali katika nafasi za Uwaziri wa Fedha na Nishati na Madini, kwa pamoja walitumia vibaya madaraka yao kwa kusaini mikataba ya kuiongezea kampuni hiyo muda wa miaka miwili wa kuendelea kuzalisha madini kuanzia Juni 2005 hadi Juni 2007 kinyume cha Sheria ya Manunuzi ya Umma.

Ole aliendelea kudai kuwa, katika shitaka la tatu wote wawili wanadaiwa kuwa kati Machi na Mei mwaka 2005 wakiwa watumishi wa umma, walitumia vibaya madaraka yao kwa kumualika Dk. Enrique Segura wa M/S Alex Stewart ( ASSAYERS) Government Business Corporation kusaini mkataba wa nyongeza wa miaka miwili kabla timu ya majadiliano ya Serikali kulifanyia kazi suala hilo.

Katika shitaka la nne, kati ya Machi na Mei mwaka 2005, washitakiwa wanadaiwa kuwa walitumia nyadhifa zao vibaya kwa kukaidi kupeleka kwa Mwanasheria Mkuu wa Serikali suala la kodi kama ilivyopendekezwa na Timu ya Serikali ya Majadiliano, jambo ambalo lilisababisha mkataba uongezeke kwa miaka miwili bila kupitishwa na timu ya majadiliano.

Shitaka la tano, ilidaiwa kuwa mshitakiwa Mramba Oktoba 10, mwaka 2003 akiwa Waziri wa Fedha alidharau mapendekezo ya Mamlaka ya Mapato Tanzania (TRA) ya kutotoa msamaha wa kodi kwa kampuni hiyo.

Katika shitaka la sita, Mramba anadaiwa kati ya 18 na 19 Desemba mwaka 2003, akiwa Waziri wa fedha, alitoa kibali namba GN 423/2003 kilichotoa msamaha wa kodi kinyume na mapendekezo yaliyopendekezwa na TRA.

Katika shitaka la saba, Mramba anadaiwa kuwa Desemba 19, mwaka 2003 akiwa Waziri wa Fedha, alitumia madaraka vibaya kwa kutoa msamaha wa kodi kwa kampuni hiyo.

Ole, aliongeza kuwa shitaka la nane, Oktoba 15, mwaka 2004 akiwa Waziri wa Fedha alitoa kibali namba GN 497/2004 kilichotoa msamaha wa kodi kwa kampuni hiyo kinyume na mapendekezo ya TRA.

Shitaka la tisa, Mramba anadaiwa kuwa kati 14 na 15 Oktoba 2004, akiwa Waziri wa Fedha alitumia madaraka yake vibaya kwa kutoa kibali namba GN 498/2004 kilichotoa msamaha wa kodi kwa kampuni hiyo kinyume na mapendekezo ya TRA.

Katika shitaka la 10, Mramba anadaiwa kuwa Novemba 15, mwaka 2005 akiwa Waziri wa Fedha alitumia madaraka yake vibaya kwa kutoa kibali namba GN 377/2005 kilichotoa msamaha wa kodi kinyume na mapendekezo ya TRA.

Katika shitaka la 11, Mramba anadaiwa kuwa Novemba 15, 2005 akiwa Waziri wa Fedha alitumia madaraka yake vibaya kwa kutoa kibali namba GN 378/2005 kilichotoa msamaha wa kodi kwa kampuni hiyo kinyume na mapendekezo ya TRA.

Katika shitaka la 12, Mramba na Yona wanadaiwa kuwa kati ya Juni 2003 na Mei 2005 wakiwa na nyadhifa hizo za uwaziri kwa makusudi na kutowajibika waliruhusu mkataba wa kuzuia kulipa kodi ili kuipendelea kampuni hiyo na kuisababishia Serikali hasara ya Sh. 11, 752,350,148.00.

Katika shitaka la mwisho, Mramba anadaiwa kuwa kati ya 2003 na 2007 akiwa Waziri wa Fedha kwa makusudi alishindwa kuwa makini au kutotimiza wajibu wake alisaini vibali, kuruhusu kampuni hiyo kutokulipa kodi na kuisababishia serikali hasara ya sh. bilioni 11.7. (source: majira 28/11/2008. Mwandishi: Rabia Bakari)

Ajali za barabarani zaua Dom na Singida

Ajali zaua 25 papo hapo
*Zahusisha mabasi ya Zuberi, Sai Baba na Fuso
*Abiria 84 wajeruhiwa, 50 walazwa Dom, Singida
*Basi la Zuberi labiringika korongoni Sekenke

Hillary Shoo, Singida na Flora Amon, Dodoma
ZAIDI ya watu 25 wamekufa na wengine 84 kujeruhiwa ambapo 50 wamelazwa katika hospitali za Singida na Dodoma baada ya mabasi mawili kupata ajali tofauti katika mikoa hiyo.

Katika ajali ya Singida, watu zaidi ya 20 walipoteza maisha na 35 kulazwa katika hospitali ya Iramba, huku ajali ya Dodoma walikufa watu watano na 15 kulazwa katika hospitali ya Mkoa ya Dodoma.

Wakati ajali ya Singida ilitokea juzi saa 2.30 asubuhi katika Mlima Sekenke ilihusisha basi la Zuberi lililokuwa likitoka Dar es Salaam kwenda Mwanza, ya Dodoma ilihusisha basi la Sai Baba lililokuwa likitoka Dodoma kwqenda Dar es Sakaam na kugongana uso kwa uso na lori aina ya Fuso.

Basi la Zuberi ni aina ya Scania lenye namba T 677 AGJ wakati la Sai Baba ni namba T 700 ADK na lori la Fuso ni namba T 870 ASK.

Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari kwenye eneo la tukio jana, Kamanda wa Polisi wa Mkoa wa Singida, Bibi Celina Kaluba alisema chanzo cha ajali hiyo ni ubovu wa basi hilo na mwendo wa kasi.

Kamanda Kaluba alisema hadi jana idadi kamili ya watu waliofunikwa na basi hilo ilikuwa haijajulikana vizuri kutokana na ugumu wa kazi ya uopoaji ambapo basi hilo lilipinduka na kuporomoka kwenye korongo na kulala chali.

Hata hivyo, Kamanda Kaluba alisema hadi juzi saa 10 jioni idadi ya abiria waliokuwa wamekufa ilifikia 17 na kazi kubwa ilikuwa ni namna ya kuligeuza basi hilo ambalo limepinduka chali huku zana zinazotumika zikiwa duni, hali iliyofanya kazi ya uopoaji kuwa ngumu.

Akisimulia chanzo halisi cha ajali hiyo Kamanda Kaluba alisema imetokea kutokana na ubovu wa basi hilo na ubishi wa abiria wakimlazimisha dereva kuendelea na safari huku wakijua kuwa basi hilo lilikuwa likihitaji matengenezo.

Alisema baada ya mabishano makali dereva wa basi hilo, ambaye alinusurika katika ajali na kukimbia, aliamua kulipeleka gari hilo kituo cha Polisi kwa ajili ya ukaguzi.

"Baada ya ukaguzi tuliwaamuru walipeleke gereji iliyopo eneo la Namfua mjini hapa lakini baadae tukasikia kuwa abiria walimlazimisha dereva kuendelea na safari," alisema Kamanda Kaluba na kuongeza kuwa basi hilo lilikuwa na matatizo kwenye 'kompresa' na breki.

Alisema majina kamili ya waliokufa bado hayajajulikana lakini kazi inaendelea kwenye eneo hilo na majina kamili ya marehemu na majeruhi yalitarajiwa kupatikana jana baada ya kazi hiyo kumalizika.

Mmoja wa majeruhi aliyenusurika kwenye ajali hiyo, Bw. Ahmad Seleman mfanyabiashara wa Mwanza, alidai kuwa mara baada ya kufika kwenye mlima huo mkali, aliona basi likiwa katika mwendo mkali.

"Baadaye lilipanda kwenye kilima kikali kwa kasi na kujikuta likitumbukia kwenye korongo kubwa la mlima huu, kwa kusema kweli dereva pale hakuwa na ujanja, kwani mwendo ulikuwa mkali mno, we fikiria kupanda kwenye kile kilima si mchezo," alisema.

Akizungumza kwenye eneo la tukio, Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Singida, Bw. Parseko Kone, alisema alisikia kuwapo kwa ajali hiyo akiwa kwenye ziara ikabidi kuahirisha na kwenda eneo la tukio hilo saa 3 asubuhi jana.

Hata hivyo, Bw. Kone alisema tayari ameagiza tingatinga kutoka kampuni ya kichina ya CGC iliyoko Isuna kwenda Sekenke kusaidia kuligeuza basi hilo ili kuopoa miili zaidi iliyokandamizwa kwenye korongo hilo.

Bw. Kone alisema vifaa vinavyotumika ni duni, hivyo kazi ya kuopoa miili ni ngumu, lakini aliwapongeza vijana wa Shelui kwa kazi kubwa wanayoifanya ya kuhakikisha miili hiyo inaopolewa yote ili kupata idadi kamili.

"Kwa kweli hii ni ajali mbaya sana kutokea katika mkoa wangu, huwezi kuamini kama kuna watu wamepona kwenye ajali hii, inanisikitisha sana," alisema kwa masikitiko Mkuu huyo wa Mkoa, huku machozi yakimlengalenga.

Nako Dodoma, Flora Amon anaripoti, kwamba watu hao watano walikufa papo hapo na wengine 15 kujeruhiwa katika ajali hiyo iliyotokea Manchali.

Mganga Mkuu wa Hospitali ya Mkoa wa Dodoma, Dkt. Godfrey Mtey, aliwaambia waandishi wa habari hospitalini hapo jana kuwa walianza kupokea maiti na majeruhi jana saa 7.30 mchana.

Dkt. Mtey alisema kati ya watu watano waliokufa ni mmoja tu ndiye aliyetambuliwa kwa jina la Bw. Seleman Hassan, mkazi wa Tanga ambapo wengine wanne majina yao bado hayajafahamika.

Aliwataja walijeruhiwa kuwa ni Bw. Miraji Omar (17) mkazi wa Kiteto, Bw. Michael Kibisa mkazi wa Chinangali, Bibi Scholastica Zakaria, Bw. Jonas Jefunila wa Maili mbili, Dodoma, Bw. Zacharia Mgalo (30), mkazi wa Dar es Salaam, mtoto Erasto Peter miezi 9, wa Mpalanga na Bw. Baraka Mlumba wa Ihumwa.

Wengine ni Bw. Maneno Ngomai (29), Bw. Mahomanyika, Bibi Mariam Senyo (23) mkazi wa Chadulu, Dodoma, Bw. Shaaban Mustapha (14) wa Vingunguti Dar es Salaam, Bw. Yohana Seterina (26) wa Dar es Salaam, Bw. Shaaban Bakari (10) wa Kiteto na Bw. Haruna Saimon wa Majengo, Dodoma, Bibi Feli Nemsudi (28) wa Arusha na Bw. Alikadi Emmanuel (32) wa Singida.

Alisema jumla ya majeruhi 49 walifikishwa hospitalini hapo na kati yao 34 walitibiwa na kuruhusiwa na aliongeza kuwa waliolazwa wamevunjika mbavu, miguu na mikono.
(source: majira, 25/11/2008)

Health: Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a condition where the amount of glucose in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. Glucose comes from the digestion of carbohydrate containing food and drinks and is also produced by the liver. Carbohydrate comes from many different sources including starchy foods such as bread, potatoes and chapattis, fruit, dairy products, sugar and other sweet foods.

Insulin is vital for life. It is a hormone produced by the pancreas and helps the glucose to enter the cells where it is used as fuel for energy so we can work, play and generally live our lives.

Diabetes types
There are two main types of diabetes. These are:

Type 1 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes
Type 1
Type 1 diabetes develops if the body is unable to produce any insulin. This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40. Type 1 diabetes is the least common of the two main types and accounts for between 5 – 15% of all people with diabetes.

Type 2
Type 2 diabetes develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance). In most cases this is linked with being overweight. This type of diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40, though in South Asian and African-Caribbean people often appears after the age of 25. However, recently, more children are being diagnosed with the condition, some as young as seven. Type 2 diabetes is the most common of the two main types and accounts for between 85 - 95% of all people with diabetes.

There are currently over 2.5 million people with diabetes in the UK and there are more than half a million people with diabetes who have the condition and don’t know it. (source: www.diabetes.org)

Digital Versatile Discs players: The basics

DVD player Buyer's Guide
Buyers guides providing up-to-date information on the latest products and technologies. Each buyers guide contains comprehensive impartial advice for consumers. Read our guides to help your decision making and to ensure you choose the best product to meet your needs. Individual guides are thoroughly researched and written by an independent expert.

Since they first went on sale in 1997, DVD Players have largely replaced the video cassette recorder. The reason's simple. Even the cheapest DVD Players give better picture and sound quality and can process information more efficiently than a VCR. You will get a better home entertainment experience with a DVD Player.

A DVD looks like a CD but can hold both audio and video data. It does this in a compressed format (MPEG-2) that the DVD Player then decodes to turn into a video signal. The greater storage capacity of a DVD means that as well as the audio data you would get on a CD, you also get a full-length movie and extra data like subtitles, index information and special features on the one disc.

Summary
Choosing a DVD player Key features of DVD players Connections Related products
Choosing a DVD player
While DVD players may have been around for less than a decade, the rapid change in the market is similar to other electrical consumer goods. Features that existed on the most expensive models alone are now found almost across the range. Meanwhile, new technological improvements aimed at exploiting the capabilities of digital high-definition TVs are being introduced at the top end. To help you make the right choice of DVD player we have outlined what you can expect to find on basic, advanced and expert models.

Beginner
Cheap DVDs
Choose a basic player if you just want to rent or buy pre-recorded DVDs and play them back using a player and an existing analogue TV set. With any basic player, you'll get excellent picture quality, CD-quality sound and the ability to select scenes, see special features, and enjoy any added features included on the disc. And there will be no fading of picture or sound quality that repeated playing of a videotape is likely to produce. If you are not going to use the player as part of your sound system than a single disc player is cheaper and will take up less room. Basic players will have a remote control and will connect easily to your TV. They will also be able to read multiple formats including, among others, CD audio and MP3 files.

Intermediate
Choose a mid-range player if you want to use your DVD Player with an LCD, Plasma or Widescreen TV and your current sound system to take full advantage of the better sound quality. Advanced players will have more features like multi-disc play and more sophisticated connections to your TV and sound system that mean that you can use them as replacements for sound systems. These players are more likely to be able to handle DVDs recorded in other formats, too, so will be useful for playing material recorded by friends and family, for example, as well as commercial offerings.

Advanced
Finally, choose an expert level player if you want to use the player as part of a complete system. For an enhanced viewing and listening experience that includes audio as well as video or if you think that you will be upgrading your television to high-definition technology this option is also for you. These players can be used as part of a home cinema set-up and can include progressive scan technology and component video connections to give extremely sharp and flicker free pictures. This will mean more equipment than just a player and a TV, notably speakers, but on the plus side you will experience a DVD as shoulf be experienced.

Key features of DVD Players
Assuming that the content is on the disc, basic DVD Players offer language choice, special effects, parental lock, programmability, digital audio output, support for multi-angle movies and the playing of audio CDs. The feature set increases with more expensive players. Simply put, the more you spend on a player, the more formats you will be able to play and the picture and sound quality will be better.

Multi-region players: Film studios, keen to protect release dates, price differentials and the amount of information given in certain markets, originally imposed a constraint on DVD Players by restricting which countries DVDs play in. All pre-recorded DVDs have one of six regional codes and region-locked DVD Players can only play DVDs from the same region. So, for example, a Region 1 player (USA and Canada) can only play Region 1 films. Multi-regional players can play DVDs from any region allowing for the widest choice of DVDs.

Zone Region converter
Zone 1 USA, Canada
Zone 2 Europe, South Africa, Japan, Middle East (including Egypt)
Zone 3 South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan
Zone 4 Australia, New Zealand, Latin America
Zone 5 Africa, India, Asia
Zone 6 China

DVD types: In addition to regional format variation, DVD formats can vary in other ways. Common formats are DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD Ram. Not all DVD players can handle all the formats - so it is worth checking before you buy which format it is that you will most likely use.

Multi-disc players: If you're going to use your DVD player and associated sound system to play your CDs think about a multi-disc player. Sometimes referred to as DVD Jukeboxes they can store multiple DVDs or CDs. 30 discs is a reasonably common limit.

DVD audio: Any DVD player will play CDs but some will play newer types of audio disc (DVD-Audio or SA-CD) which offer better sound quality than a standard CD. Only more expensive DVD players and hi-fi equipment are compatible with these discs.

Digital surround sound: Utilises the information on the DVD to provide sound quality almost equal to cinema sound. This is accomplished by converting the audio track into signals for each individual speaker - usually five speakers and one sub-woofer used for low frequency effect. Dolby Digital and DTS are two popular surround sound formats.

MP3 playback: Some DVD players, especially portable ones, can play MP3 digital music files and other audio files from inserted media.

VCD playback: A popular movie format in Asia, Video CDs or VCDs are cheaper and lower quality than DVDs. They are stored on standard CDs, which means they do not have room for extra features. Many DVD players also play VCD Playback movies.

Display photos: Certain DVD players can also display digital photographs on your TV. These must be stored on a compatible disc.

CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R and DVD-RW discs: Some DVD Players can play audio and video content created on your computer. This can be played from recordable CDs or DVDs on CD-R, CD+RW, DVD-R and DVD-RW discs. Not all DVD Players can perform this function.

Bookmarking: Bookmarks allow you to store favourite scenes or places in a disc. More expensive players allow you to store bookmarks for several discs and remember them even if the disc is removed.

Resume: If you are going to view your discs repeatedly, the ability to resume where you left off can save a lot of searching. Multi-disc resume means that the player will remember where to start on up to 30 discs.

Connections
The connections between your DVD player and your TV and stereo can make a huge difference to the quality of the sound and picture. These are the connections to think about.

Component video: DVDs are encoded in component video (VHS and laser discs are composite video). If you have a TV with component video input (likely to be a new TV of the high-definition digital kind), buy a DVD Player with component video output. Then connect the player and the TV with a three-wire component video cable. Before buying a player with component video output make sure you understand the subtle difference between component progressive and component interlaced (and that your choice is compatible with your TV). The former will give the best results.

S-video connection: This is the next best thing to component video and is an option on DVD Players that do not have component output and TVs that do not have component input. You may need a separate cable for this but the picture difference should be worth it.

SCART leads: A common form of connection used in the UK is the SCART lead. This handles both audio and video signals. SCART connections are common on DVD players and newer TVs. Gold plated SCART leads give a better connection. A SCART connection will give you a better picture than S-Video and is close to component standard. SCART cables are not usually included with players. Expect to pay around £25.

Analog RCA connections: Available on almost all DVD Players this connection, while not producing results quite as good as others, will give you better pictures than your old VCR and, importantly, will connect DVD players to older televisions that don't have SCART connections.

Audio connectors: DVD players, especially the more expensive models, can have many audio outputs. Outputs can include phono, digital coaxial and digital optical. If you are connecting to a separate hi-fi system this can be a very important feature.

Progressive scan: The newest buzzword is progressive scan in the DVD Player market and while more expensive players include it, it can't actually be used unless you have a digital TV. With it your picture can be refreshed 60 times per second which makes for a sharper, almost flicker free picture and is better than anything delivered by the alternative interlaced scanning method.

DVD recorders can be used with a digital TV to record your favourite programs and films as well as to watch pre-recorded items. Great picture and sound quality, but the recording facility makes them more expensive than players and they can also be harder to use than VCRs. The variety of recordable formats available can also add to the confusion.

DVD Home Cinema Systems:
To get the best audio experience the DVD home cinema concept is becoming more widespread. It uses surround sound and additional noise enhancements to put you at the centre of the entertainment. The choice is between buying an off-the shelf package or putting together a combination yourself of DVD player, amplifier/decoder and speakers, specifically tailored to suit you. The amplifier is sometimes contained in the sub-woofer.

Portable DVD:
Perhaps the ultimate in mobile entertainment, a portable DVD can be heavy on battery use but is ideal for a long journey where you need to while away the hours.

DVD Drives:
Add a DVD drive to your desktop PC or your laptop and you could be looking at the latest movies without the need for a TV at all.

DVD/Video Combinations:
Combining two technologies means that while you can watch the latest films on DVD you can also record using the video element of the combo. And you will still be able to view all those old tapes! (source: kelkoo website, 22/11/2008)