Paris’ ancient ‘rose line’ was the world’s first prime meridian, as given in The Da Vinci Code. Then why, when, and by whom was it later shifted to Greenwich?
–Heba Ahmed, Kolkata
It was shifted by Tom Hanks because he was late for a shoot and needed an extra hour. No, actually the Greenwich line had become the most popular among several competing reference meridians (not just the Rose Line) of the time, and was being used on more maps: in 1884 the International Meridian Conference was held in Washington, DC, to select one of them and end the confusion which was beginning to resemble a Dan Brown novel. 22 of 25 nations voted to make Greenwich the official ‘initial meridian for longitude’. The French abstained, continuing to use their old meridian till 1911, the year in which India also shifted its capital north-westward: from Calcutta to Delhi. I’m convinced there was a conspiracy.
How to be a topper in IIT-JEE? Is a computer/laptop (i.e. Net) needed to do so? If yes, please recommend a good all-rounder but a cheap one.
–Karna Kitab Kumar, Mumbai
There is no substitute for studying the recommended books. Coaching can also help. (So can cheating, but don’t try it!) Using computers and the Internet isn’t essential, though it could supplement your learning. Educational software is available to better explain certain concepts, such as three-dimensional models of molecules. The main benefit of the Internet, especially if you can’t afford coaching classes, is that you would find sites which offer free training, and discussion with IITians including professors. Previous question papers and practice papers would also be found. Solutions to specific problems could be requested. As for cheap computers: you’ll need a minimum configuration to get normal broadband speed. Go for an assembled desktop: something like an Intel Atom Processor with 1GB RAM and 160 GB HD drive plus CRT monitor with keyboard, etc.: you’ll get this for roughly Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 12,000. If you’re okay with a second-hand monitor and system, then it might cost Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000. If you want to acquire a still cheaper one, then I suggest an abacus.
I have recently visited a web site called deathnote.com. On that web site there was an option to see your death by just putting your name, birth date, age, weight, height etc. I filled in all the criteria and the result was that I would be dying in 2011. Then when I scrolled down the result page I saw that it was written how I could extent my lifespan i.e. by eating such and such food. My question is whether these sites are true and if I am going to die in 2011 or the sites are totally fraudulent and are made to cheat people?
–Piyali Das Gupta, Kolkata
There’s only one way for you to stay alive after 2011, and that would be by giving me your bank account details and also sending Rs. 1,000,000 to me immediately. Apart from myself, do not trust any other source or web site that predicts your date of death. Needless to say, those who create such sites don’t have much of a life themselves (and would be least disturbed at discovering their own death date). Or they might merely be talking about the (fictional!) manga series Death Note.
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