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Pippa Middleton's Perfect Posterior Leads to Demand For Bottom-Lifting Treatments in Britain.

2011-05-18T02:48:00.000-07:00

Cosmetic surgeons in Britain report a 60 per cent increase for work on backsides after royal wedding. The frenzy surrounding Pippa Middleton’s derriere has led to a spike in bookings for bottom-lifting treatments in Britain.

Pippa Middleton as Maid of Honour for her Sister Catherine Middleton's Wedding to Prince William on April 29

Since last month’s royal wedding, cosmetic surgeons have reported a 60 per cent increase for work on British backsides.

One cosmetic clinic has even named a surgery, The Pip Package Perfect Posterior, which can cost up to £ 8,000.

Middleton became known around the world for her buttocks during her role as maid of honour for her sister Catherine’s wedding to Prince William on April 29 at Westminster Abbey.

“We are now seeing scores of female clients seeking the perfect bottom,” said Lesley Khan of London’s Harley Street Skin Clinic.

“A few years back everyone wanted the Jennifer Lopez look, but now everyone asks for a bottom like Pippa’s — curvy but not too peachy.” With William and Kate enjoying their honeymoon on a private island in the Seychelles, the British media have been turning their attention to Pippa Middleton and her rump.

In Madrid with ex

Photos of her boating with two pals in Madrid were splashed across the major UK papers yesterday as she enjoyed a day out with former flame George Percy, the son of the Duke of Northumberland.

Yesterday, the 26- year- old Percy came in handy on a boat trip in Retiro Park, Madrid’s largest park.

No one had to lift a finger as the son of the Duke of Northumberland — one of Britain’s richest men — showed off his rowing skills.

Party girl

Earlier, Pippa had dressed in a smart beige skirt, black jacket and heels, and partied until 4 am at a swanky bar, The Penthouse.

On Friday night the group spent the evening at the city’s exclusive Fortuna nightclub — Pippa carrying a bottle of champagne in her red bag.

And if it was a heavy night, Pippa wasn’t going to let it show, emerging on Saturday morning sporting dark sunglasses and wearing a strapless black- and- white spotted sundress as she led her friends on a shopping and sightseeing trip, tourist map in hand.

Pippa and Percy dated while at Edinburgh University and have been friends for nearly 10 years.

Fugu - Fish Which is 1,200 Times More Poisonous Than Cyanide

2011-05-17T05:12:00.000-07:00

Fugu is the Japanese word for pufferfish or Blowfish and is also a Japanese dish prepared from the meat of pufferfish

If your chef is not certified (Certifications are given by the government of Japan after the chef passes an Exam) to serve it, it could be the last thing you eat. Because pufferfish is lethally poisonous if prepared incorrectly, fugu has become one of the most celebrated and notorious dishes in Japanese cuisine.

The Fugu or the blow fish is a fatuous-looking fish that has a peculiar defense mechanism. It gulps large amounts of water, filling its abdomen, inflating into a menacing spiky balloon that's twice its normal size, making it tough for predators to swallow it. While the flesh, skin, fins, and milt are eaten, the innards (intestine, eyes, kidneys, ovaries, and especially the liver) are highly toxic. One Fugu contains enough Tetrodotoxin to kill up to 30 people in a matter of seconds.

The puffer toxin paralyzes human muscles. Records reveal that 6.8 % deaths have occurred due to consumption in restaurants. In the last 10 years, 321 people have fallen ill and 26 people have died in Japan alone. If caught and cooked by a layman, chances of death shoot up to 90%. The fish is exported out of Japan only after it is cleaned thoroughly.

How they make it:

It is sliced, stuffed it with rice, garnished with some chopped chilli and served

A Fugu chef is given certification only if he samples what he serves, before handing it over to a patron. To make Fugu Sushi, They slice the clean lump of fish into thin slices, stuff it with a fistful of boiled rice before garnishing it with sliced green chillies. It's placed in a dish accompanied by soya sauce.

The fish is chewier than most others, even a tad sweet. It goes well with soya sauce, chive and bitter orange sauce.

what it looks like before it reaches your plate

Some Interesting facts about Fugu:

>>The Emperor of Japan is forbidden from eating it for his own safety.
>>Some professional chefs choose to leave behind a tiny bit of poison in the meat, leaving a prickly feeling and numbness on your tongue and lips.
>>In Japan, lanterns can be made from the bodies of preserved Fugu, hung outside restaurants, and sold as toys for kids and souvenirs to tourists.
>>Its poison, Tetrodotoxin, is 1,200 times more potent than cyanide.

Corset Piercing - Sewing Ribbons Into Skin is The Bizarre New Craze Sweeping the UK

2011-05-08T04:05:00.000-07:00

A CORSET YOU’LL NEVER HAVE TO SLIP OFF: A new trend that’s making tongue and nipple piercing looking like kid’s play, involves sewing ribbons into a client’s skin

This BIZARRE new craze called ‘corset piercing’ is sweeping the UK. The painful trend involves sticking hoops into the skin and then threading them with ribbon to give a ‘corset’ effect.

Corset Piercing

Corset Piercing - Sewing Ribbons Into a Client’s Skin

The ‘ decoration’, which can cost up to £ 300 ( Rs 21,960), can be applied to any area of the body where the skin is loose enough to pinch in order to thread a needle through. Popular areas include the back, ribs and, in some cases, even the throat. Anyone who wants the unusual decoration must endure an hour of pain to achieve the effect. However, it’s only temporary since after a few weeks of wear the hooks simply grow out, leaving scars in their place.

The craze is the latest in the ‘ body modification’ phenomenon, which has seen people going to extraordinary levels in a bid to stand out from the crowd. Today it’s possible to be branded, scarred and even have silicone implanted under the skin to create bumps and ‘ horns’. Kooky popstar Lady Gaga is just one celebrity who has jumped on the bandwagon.

She sported bizarre flesh- coloured ‘ horns’ on her face during a television interview in February this year.

According to piercing experts, the ‘ corset’ modification is growing in popularity as more and more brave the pain. But consultant plastic surgeon Kevin Hancock, a council member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons who works at Spire Murrayfield Hospital, Merseyside, warned of the problems it can cause. He added, “ I can’t believe it’s something that people would be attracted to.” Any piercing, superficial or otherwise, produces a scar and different people scar in different ways. “ For some, the scarring may be slight but for others it can produce problems where the tissue overgrows and you end up with a red lump which is permanent. “ In some cases this can be absolutely horrendous. I have to say it seems absolutely barking to me. I was amazed when I saw pictures of this piercing — it would be extremely painful and it’s only temporary.” “ This is a row of rings which could also bleed and become infected.

There is a risk of the rings pulling the skin and also getting caught on something. I can’t believe that people are going out with these things on display — they are open to any sort of infection. It’s verging on masochistic. It’s just bizarre,” he said.

Laura Hunt offers corset piercing at her Tattoo and Piercing Studio, called Dragstrip, in Southampton, Hants, and charges £ 5 ( Rs 365) per hoop. The 25 year- old from Southampton, who has had the piercing herself, insists it isn’t dangerous. She explains, “ Corset piercing is becoming more popular. Body modifications have recently become really popular as everyone wants to be different. It can be quite painful. It involves pinching the skin and pushing the needle through by hand.

A lot of people know about it and would like to have it done but for some it can be too painful. It’s not dangerous because it’s a surface piercing and doesn’t go deep enough.” It’s an open wound so it has to be cleaned to prevent infection, like any other piercing, she explained. “ We get a lot of different people asking to have it done — one was a 45 year- old mum who wanted it done for a tattoo convention. We’ve also had a couple of students doing art degrees and others who are in to fetishes and pain. Others have it done because they want to look nice for a particular occasion,” said Hunt.

Pictures of Victoria & David Beckham At The Royal Wedding of Prince William With Kate Middleton

2011-05-05T11:23:00.000-07:00

Victoria and David Beckham arrived at Westminster Abbey for the Royal Wedding on the mornign of April 29, 2011. While David wore a Ralph Lauren suit, Victoria Beckham looked great in a trapeze navy blue capsleeve dress from her own Fall 2011 RTW collection. Victoria teamed her dress with Christian Louboutin Daffodile platform pumps and a Philip Treacy hat. David Beckham donned slicked back hair. Watch video below:

Photographs of David Beckham and Victoria Beckham At Wedding of Prince William With Kate Middleton

A Princess is Born! Special Moments From Prince William and Kate Middleton's Wedding

2011-04-30T04:16:00.000-07:00

Prince William and his princess puckered up to celebrate their fairytale wedding yesterday afternoon. The couple shared a brief but tender kiss on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, flanked by the Royal Wedding party and watched by the world.

It was their first public display of affection since becoming husband and wife in an historic ceremony at Westminster Abbey on the morning of 29th April 2011. The couple pledged their love for one another before a 1,900-strong congregation and a TV audience estimated at two billion.

PRESENTING THE DUKE & DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE...We bring you some special moments from the fairy-tale wedding of William and Kate MiddletonBEAUTY IN WHITE: Kate Middleton in a gown that was an elegant lace appliqué bodice with a 9-foot train, inspired by Grace Kelly.

EYE-GRABBING: A nervous William jokes with Kate Middleton, right before the couple said their vows. Kate had to hold back her tears as she recited her vows

MAN AND WIFE: Prince William and Kate Middleton walk out of Westminster Abbey

As Prince William and Kate Middleton kiss on the balcony to rapturous cheers from the 5-lakh strong crowd gathered below, William’s goddaughter three-year-old Grace Van Cutsem wonders what all the fuss is about.

Fiona Cairns stands next to the Royal Wedding cake. The confectionery masterpiece covered in cream and white icing and decorated with up to 900 delicate sugar-paste flowers tookcentre-stage at the Buckingham Palace reception. Indian origin Kishore Patel is the man behind the company that has crafted the elaborate confection

Elton John and his partner David Furnish adjust their ties during the wedding service

FASHION FAUX PAS: David Beckham and wife Victoria, who is pregnant with their fourth child arrive at the Abbey. The football superstar was left redfaced after proudly wearing his Order of the British Empire medal on the “wrong” lapel. The sportsman pinned the honour to the right side of his suit jacket —but convention dictates it should be worn on the left side

Kate’s sisterand Maid of Honour Pippa Middleton arrives at the Abbey with three-year old bridesmaids Grace Van Cutsem and Eliza Lopes (Camilla’s granddaughter)

Prince Harry and his cousin seven-year-old Lady Louise Windsor (daughter of Prince Edward and his wife Sophie) ride in a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace from the Abbey

Prince Charles and Michael Middleton (Kate's Father) chat outside the Abbey

With the formalities of their champagne reception over, the newlyweds had a surprise for the crowds. They drove out of the gates of Buckingham Palace in Prince Charles’s blue Aston Martin convertible festooned with balloons and an L plate. It also had a licence plate reading ‘Just Wed’, echoing what the boys did when their father wed Camilla

Carole Middleton (Kate's Mother) and Camilla flank Queen Elizabeth II after the wedding service

Best man Prince Harry and Maid of Honour Pippa Middleton on the balcony. It is reported that the two laughed and joked, while Harry’s girlfriend Chelsy) looked on

Princess Beatrice’s (right) headpiece was deemed to be a ludicrous addition, perching on her forehead at an impossible angle and detracting from her sophisticated outfit. Sister Eugenie picked a gaudy blue and green Vivienne Westwood suit that pulled too tightly around her bosom and waist.

Australian swimming icon Ian Thorpe looks pensive

Chelsy Davy, Prince Harry's Girlfriend

Also Visit: Pictures of Victoria & David Beckham At The Royal Wedding >>

Prince William and Kate Middleton's Wedding Pictures, Photos of Prince William and Kate Middleton Wedding, Images of Prince William and Kate Middleton Marriage/Wedding

A Back Pack Machine That Allows You to See and Spy Through Walls

2011-04-29T05:01:00.000-07:00

BACKPACK THAT WILL LET YOU SEE THROUGH A WALL: A British company has launched a machine that allows the operator to lean against a wall and record activity on other side

Back Pack Machine To Spy Through Walls

Machine That Will Let You See Through a Wall

A TECHNOLOGY firm has launched a backpack- sized machine that can spy through walls. By placing the device against the outside wall of a room or building, it can evaluate the position and movement of people on the other side. The Prism 200c fits covertly inside a backpack and is the first time such a device has been manufactured small enough for just one person to use.

The operator simply leans against a wall to either monitor or record the activity within a building, maintaining cover by operating it via a handheld laptop computer or similar personal device on site.

With the press of a button, operators can switch between front, plan or profile views for a complete picture. The user can also observe the scenario in a 3D view, where the perspective can be rotated to look at a room or building from various vantage points. It uses ultra- wideband radio frequencies to highlight moving people and objects in cluttered environments, through doors or brick, block and concrete walls. Ultrawideband is difficult to detect and able to work in a large area. British company Cambridge Consultants say they have developed the device as a covert solution for counter terrorism forces and Police Special Operations teams, who already deploy Prism technology.

A statement explains the Prism 200c has been created “ for high risk and hostile situations with minimal time and very narrow margin for error” using technology that “ has been successfully deployed by homeland security, defence and special forces, police, SWAT teams and military officers worldwide.”

The spy who rides on piggy- back

The Prism 200c is a discrete backpack- sized machine that can spy through walls. By placing the device against the outside wall of a room or building, it can evaluate the position and movement of people on the other side. It fits covertly inside a backpack and is the first time such a device has been manufactured small enough for just one person to use.

FIFA World Cup 2010 Opening Ceremony/Inauguration in South Africa, Pictures

2010-06-11T13:05:00.000-07:00

The first World Cup on African soil began on June 11, 2010, kicked off by a colourful African-themed ceremony. Before a jubilant crowd at Soccer City, a colourfully dressed cast of African dancers paraded onto the field to start the opening ceremony of the month-long tournament.

Artists perform during the World Cup opening ceremony at Soccer City.

Planes fly over Soccer City during the opening ceremony before the World Cup group A match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Artists perform during the World Cup opening ceremony.

A performer in traditional clothes sings during the opening ceremony.

Nigerian singer Fela Kuti, centre, performs during the opening ceremony.

U.S. performer R. Kelly sings during the opening ceremony.

People watch the World Cup opening ceremony on a big screen at Trafalgar Square in London.

A South African supporter waits outside the stadium before the World Cup group A match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

South African football fans wave in joy during an event marking the opening day of the World Cup.

A recording of former South African President Nelson Mandela is shown on a giant display during the opening ceremony.

South African fans cheer prior to the match between South Africa and Mexico at Soccer City.

Mexican fans arrive at Soccer City stadium for the opening match of the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg.

Supporters of the South Africa team hold up a replica World Cup trophy before the group A match between South Africa and Mexico.

South African President Jacob Zuma, left, and retired Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, right, speak prior to the World Cup match between South Africa and Mexico.

Mercedes Benz SLS AMG to Be Available in India For INR 5-6 Crores

2010-05-21T13:27:00.000-07:00

Unlike other global markets, the Indian auto industry is still expected to post 10-12 per cent in the current fiscal, giving a new sigh of relief to all auto makers which includes the luxury end types. Mercedes-AMG GmbH, commonly known as AMG, which is the subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz car company specialising in high-performance luxury cars, is betting big on the Indian market too.

AMG models are typically more expensive, have aggressive looks, offer higher performances, better handling and better stability than their regular Mercedes counterparts. If ET report is to be believed, Mercedes Benz India has managed as many as 6 confirmed bookings for the Rs. 2 crore worth model even before its launch in the country.

Read more: Mercedes Benz SLS AMG luxury grand tourer to be in India by third quarter of 2010 - WheelsUnplugged Automobile Industry News
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

News Source : wheelsunplugged.com

Jupiter's Two Main Cloud Belts Have Disappeared

2010-05-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

Jupiter has lost one of its prominent stripes, leaving its southern half looking unusually blank. Scientists are not sure what triggered the disappearance of the band.

Jupiter's appearance is usually dominated by two dark bands in its atmosphere – one in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern hemisphere.

But recent images taken by amateur astronomers show that the southern band – called the south equatorial belt – has disappeared.

News Source : newscientist.com

Google Launches Google TV

2010-05-21T13:15:00.000-07:00

Introducing Google TV

Google launched a new service today called Google TV in an attempt to expand beyond its usual area of business. At the launch, Google took a few jabs at Apple for not supporting Adobe Flash, saying, “It turns out on the Internet people use Flash.” The Google TV will use the next version of Flash.TV meets web. Web meets TV.
Learn more about Google TV at: www.google.com/tv

Nokia X2 Cell Phone Announced, To be Launched in June 2010

2010-05-01T03:29:00.000-07:00

Nokia adds a new member to its X series family, Nokia X2. It will be available in the Indian market at a price of Rs 5000.

Nokia is all set to unveil a new member of the X series, Nokia X2. The Nokia X2 has been announced close on the heels of the Nokia N8 announcement. The Nokia X2 beefs up the X series alongside its stable mates – the Nokia X3 and Nokia X6. The X series from Nokia is aimed at the lower end of the technical and feature packed spectrum which means this is a budget mobile phone.

This mid range cell phone is scheduled to be launched in June and will be available in the Indian market at a price tag of Rs 5000. Nokia X2 is available for 85 Pounds in European nations. Nokia x2 price in US could be $110. The Nokia X2 is the next cell in X series in India. It will be available in stores by June this year.

This monoblock body handset is equipped with advanced features such as 2.2” QVGA display, 48 MB embedded memory, 16 GB MicroSD flash card, dual stereo speakers and FM tuner, dedicated music keys, 3.5mm headset jack, Nokia Messaging, Facebook integration and MicroSD card support.

It comes with MP3 player and 5 MP camera accompanied by LED flash, digital zoom, USB port, wireless adapter and Bluetooth 2.1.

Apart from this it also has other specifications such as talk time of 13, 5 hours, call waiting of 540 hours, Instant messaging, facility of downloading games and checking Facebook status on homepage.

The phone, unlike other X-Series handsets, runs Nokia's proprietary S40 OS. On the imaging front, it has a very impressive 5 megapixel camera at the rear. This is a rather surprising because the X3, which is positioned above the X2, has a 3.2 megapixel camera.

Madhuri Gupta, Indian First Diplomat Found Spying For Pakistan: Inside Details of the Case

2010-04-28T23:17:00.000-07:00

Who is Madhuri Gupta, What is Her Profile and Biography Details ?
She was posted as a second secretary in the media section of India's high commission in Pakistan, where her job had been to provide English and Hindi summaries of Pakistan's Urdu-language newspapers. Which means Madhuri Gupta has not exactly been near the center of Indian decision-making.

Madhuri Gupta

Born in 1957, Madhuri Gupta an Indian diplomat and an alleged ISI agent, had perviously worked with the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), a foreign policy think tank, before she was posted at the Indian high commission in Islamabad. Gupta is an IFS (Indian Foreign Service) B-grade officer serving as an Urdu translator in India's Islamabad embassy. She is currently under investigation and is suspected of having transfered sensitive and classified materials to Pakistani intelligence.

According to the Indian press, Gupta is reported to be very fluent in Urdu and was "desperate" to go to Pakistan, suggesting she may have had cross-border links for some time.

What is Madhuri Gupta's Inside story ? Her Family Background
"At 53, she was bored, alone and attractive. Single, but definitely one step ahead to mingle." That's how the man who led the operation to bust Madhuri Gupta, the first Indian diplomat to be found spying for Pakistan, described her. For most of her two years in espionage, Gupta was a lone-wolf, conducting a classic spy operation from her base in Islamabad. Old-school "dead drops," in which she passed off information without even meeting her Pakistani handlers, were her signature style. Yet it was a silly indiscretion — sending e-mails to her spy bosses from her office computer — that finally led to her arrest.

Controversial Madhuri Gupta in a photo from February 2009

Gupta has not exactly been near the center of Indian decision-making, posted as a second secretary in the media section of India's high commission in Pakistan's capital, where her job had been to provide English and Hindi summaries of Pakistan's Urdu-language newspapers. On April 22, the 53-year-old was summoned back to New Delhi ostensibly to help colleagues prepare for the ongoing South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) summit in Bhutan. After landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport, she was whisked away by officials of the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (IB), India's internal intelligence agency, straight to an interrogation chamber in an undisclosed location. Twenty-four hours later, she was handed over to Delhi police, charged with treason and accessing confidential documents under India's Official Secrets Act.

"Her spy game was up the moment a Joint Secretary — an IB officer — inside the Islamabad mission suspected her around October 2009 and reported back," a high-level IB case officer in New Delhi told TIME. The IB launched a massive counter-intelligence operation, in which even its counterparts in the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), the country's external intelligence agency, were kept out of the loop.

Over the next six months, Gupta's every step was monitored. She was found to be taking undue interest in informal discussions among the senior embassy officials regarding important policy matters, including India's strategic plans in Afghanistan and resuming a dialogue with Pakistan. She was even fed with incorrect information to be passed on to her Pakistan handlers, suspected to be from the Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI).

Pakistani authorities refused to comment on the case, but analysts in Islamabad saw her arrest as an attempt to scupper upcoming planned talks between India's and Pakistan's prime ministers. "The timing was supposed to send a signal that India is not ready to talk to Pakistan yet," said Cyril Almeida, an editor and analyst at Pakistan's Dawn newspaper. "India has not moved beyond its post-Mumbai [the terror attack which Indian and Western authorities say originated in Pakistan] phase. It is not looking for talks with Pakistan any time soon."

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was scheduled to meet his Pakistani counterpart, Yousuf Raza Gilani, this week, although the purpose of such talks is contested. After breaking off all dialogue with Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Indian officials had suggested a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the SAARC summit to discuss a long-running water dispute, but Pakistan has made clear that it wants a formal, open-ended peace talks. As Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told the India's CNN-IBN network on Tuesday, "We need to go beyond a handshake."

Asked whether the two prime ministers would still hold talks in Bhutan this week, Pakistan's Deputy Foreign Minister Malik Amad Khan told TIME, "Maybe, maybe not, but that's totally independent of [the spying] allegations."

Almeida notes that espionage efforts to "turn" the other country's diplomats are par for the course between the long-time rivals, "But given [Gupta's] relatively junior position it is unlikely that she would have had access to sensitive documents, unless there was a real breakdown internally."

Indian government sources say Gupta had been spying for Pakistan since September 2008. "We have reasons to believe that she was not recruited inside Pakistan," says a senior officer in R&AW. "Possibly she was picked up and nurtured either in Baghdad or Kuala Lumpur where she was posted earlier." The agency also says this could have been a reason why she was keen for a Pakistan posting — usually a last choice among Indian diplomats and intelligence officials.
(See the top 10 news stories of 2009.)

Vishnu Prakash, a spokesman for India's Ministry of External Affairs, says that Gupta "is co-operating with the investigations and inquiries." Sources told TIME that she has told interrogators that she spied for Pakistan to settle scores with senior Indian diplomats who mistreated her during her early career. She has also reportedly confessed that a prominent Pakistani journalist put her in touch with Pakistani intelligence officers.

Her bank account records are being scanned, her official computer and personal laptop have been brought back to Delhi for analysis, and her personal relationship with a Pakistani intelligence officer, identified thus far only as "Rana," is being investigated. Gupta claims she was romantically involved with "Rana," but she was also being blackmailed by him into sharing information. Gupta now faces dismissal from service, an in-camera trial and a maximum of 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.

An IB investigator says the only sensitive material that Gupta managed to pass on to Pakistan concerned "partial information on [India's] strategic plans in Afghanistan." That has come as a relief to Delhi, though investigators are still checking whether Gupta was used to plant bugs in the Indian mission in Islamabad.

Australia Win Hockey World Cup 2010

2010-03-13T22:34:00.000-08:00

ON TOP OF THE WORLD:The Australian team presents a happy picture after regaining the World Cup by dethroning Germany at the Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday.

Australia's 24-year wait for glory ends

New Delhi: The Aussie dream of regaining the glittering hockey World Cup was realised after a hiatus of 24 years on Saturday.

With a display that underscored the efficacy of efficiency and effort, not to mention admirable athleticism, Australia won 2-1 in the Hero Honda-sponsored championship at the Dhyan Chand Stadium to deny the Germans a hat-trick of triumphs.

Doerner nets winner

The trump card for coach Ric Charlesworth, was Luke Doerner, who produced a whiplash of a shot from a penalty corner in the second half, to signal Australia's second triumph. The victory also confirmed the fact that Australia's win against Germany in the Champions Trophy was no aberration.

If there was commiseration for Germany it was truly spontaneous. Everyone played his heart out but none more than the lithe skipper Max Muller, whose work in the zone, especially in the circle, was outstanding. His save of a Luke Doerner's shot, after goalkeeper Tim Juessulat was beaten, was mind-boggling.

The role of Aussie skipper Jamie Dwyer was admirable. Moving smoothly on the flanks, he sent the huge crowd into raptures. Useful work by Desmond Abbott, Mark Knowles and Grant Schubert projected Australia's strength in attack and defence.

Goalkeeper Nathan Burgers also deserves mention for the saves he made, especially when the Germans attacked, prompted either by Matthias Witthaus or Benjamin Wess.

What brought Australia's display into full bloom was the early lead.

A rare, momentary confusion in the German defensive zone, following a free hit, culminated in Edward Ockenden slotting in.

Goalkeeper Jessulat blocked at least one dangerous hit by Doerner and rendered a few more attacks fruitless.

Germany increased the pace after the break and the heavy pressure at the Australian end signalled danger. Moritz Furste slammed in the equaliser amidst vociferous cheers.

The 1-1 scoreline transported the encounter to a different octave. Ten minutes before the hooter, the memorable moment for the Aussies dawned when Doerner pumped in the match-winner.

As the final whistle sounded, the Aussies emoted joyfully even as the Germans fell to the ground in disappointment. A weeping Jessulat had to be consoled by one of the German officials. The scene was a clear picture of ecstasy and agony.

Earlier, Rogier Hoffmann triggered an impromptu celebration as the Netherlands, fighting a 1-3 leeway at half-time, came back to claim the bronze.

The Dutchmen deserve unalloyed commendation for their fortitude and focus to overcome England 4-3, the match-winner coming three minutes before the final whistle. This was the three-time champion's second bronze after the one in 2002 at Kuala Lumpur.

It was an emotional moment to cherish for veteran Teun di Nooijer at the end of his fifth World Cup. His touch and elegance were there for all to see when he gave the Dutch the lead in the first half after a pass by Joeren Heartzburger.

England fought gamely thanks to a goal by Alistair Bragdon, followed by two superbly executed penalty corners by Ashley Jackson.

But the Dutch came roaring back, with Taeke Taekema's penalty corner conversion and the equaliser by Klaas Vermeullen. What followed when Rogier Hoffmann hit the boards is now part of Dutch folklore.

The results: 3-4: The Netherlands 4 (Teun di Nooijer, Taeke Taekema, Klaas Vermeuellen, Rogier Hoffmann) bt England 3 (Alistair Bragdon, Ashley Jackson 2). HT 1-3.

Final: Australia 2 (Edward Ockenden, Luke Doerner) bt Germany 1 (Moritz Furste). HT 1-0.

Final positions: 1. Australia, 2. Germany, 3. The Netherlands, 4. England, 5. Spain, 6. Korea, 7. Argentina, 8. India, 9. New Zealand, 10. South Africa, 11. Canada, 12. Pakistan.

Special awards:
Man of the final: Luke Doerner (Aus)
Man of Steel of the final: Martin Haner (Ger)
Best goalkeeper of the tournament: Guus Vogels (Ned)
Man of Steel of the tournament: Maximilian Muller (Ger); Top-scorers of the tournament (eight goals each): Luke Doerner (Aus) and Taeke Taekema (Ned); Man of the tournament: Guus Vogels (Ned); Fairplay trophy: New Zealand .

Match 2 Highlights: Mumbai Indians Vs Rajastan Royals

2010-03-13T22:24:00.000-08:00

Mumbai Indians win over Rajastan Royals in the Indian Premier League T20 match at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday. Here are the highlights from the cricket match.

Match 2 Report: Mumbai Indians Edges Out Rajasthan Royals By 4 Runs

2010-03-13T22:03:00.000-08:00

Mumbai Indians celebrate their win over Rajastan Royals in the IPL T20 match at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.

MUMBAI: Lasith Malinga's determination to keep going at the batsmen and Sathish's fielding brilliance swung the fortunes in Mumbai Indians' favour, resulting in a thrilling four-run win over Rajasthan Royals in the second game of DLF-IPL III at the Brabourne Stadium on Saturday.

The Lankan paceman snared one batsmen with a slow bouncer and ran out the next on his follow-through with a diving throw before the visitor's challenge ended at 208 for seven.

Record-breaking knock

Sathish had earlier run out century-maker Yusuf Pathan (100, 9x4, 8x6) in his follow-through, anticipating striker Paras Dogra's drive and flicking the ball by instinct at the stumps at the non-striker end.

A stunned Yusuf, who had smashed the fastest century in the IPL, walked back with Royals at 173 for five.

The Royals power-hitter punished every bowler, except Zaheer Khan, by messing up the line and length with intimidating hot-making and some late cuts before Sathish got him.

Good stand

Earlier, Saurabh Tiwary and Ambati Rayudu displayed absolute contempt for reputation, building on the momentum gained by the veterans Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar over the first four overs after Mumbai Indians had opted to bat.

Ruthless

The youngsters were ruthless in execution of strokes. Tiwary's reach and power helped him get to the pitch of the ball and clear the field with huge hits.

He stepped out against Warne for the first of three sixes, walked out against Yusuf and gave medium-pacer Uniyal the same treatment for a 30-ball 50.

Rayudu's hitting was more deliberate as he picked up the length early to force the ball in the direction he wanted.

One straight six off Jhunjhunwala stood out for ease of execution. His half-century, which came in 30 balls, had six fours and two sixes.

Jayasuriya and Tendulkar had got cracking straightaway to put the Royals on the defensive.

Three boundaries — slashes to cover and a crisp drive to the ropes— in Mascarenhas' first over saw the Sri Lankan in full flow. The Indians' captain got into the mood with flicks off the pads to the square leg fence.

Fighting back

Royals fought back into the game with Uniyal deceiving Jayasuriya with a slower one, Mascarenhas claiming Tendulkar and Aditya Tare before the stroke-makers could do more damage. Then Tiwary and Rayudu took over to delight the home crowd.

The scores:

Mumbai Indians:
S. Jayasuriya lbw b Uniyal 23 (14b, 3x4, 1x6),
S Tendulkar lbw b Mascarenhas 17 (11b, 3x4),
A. Tare c Warne b Mascarenhas 23 (13b, 3x4, 1x6),
S. Tiwary c Ojha b Tait 53 (33b, 4x4, 2x6),
A. Rayudu c Dogra b Uniyal 55 (33b, 6x4, 2x6),
R. Sathish (run out) 6 (5b, 1x4),
Harbhajan (retd. hurt) 8 (6b),
R. McLaren (not out) 11 (5b, 2x4),
Zaheer (not out) 0 (1b),
Extras (lb-3, w-13) 16,
Total (for six wkts. in 20 overs): 212.

Fall of wickets:
1-38, 2-69, 3-70, 4-180, 5-191, 6-192.

Rajasthan Royals bowling:
Mascarenhas 4-0-34-2,
Tait 4-0-46-1,
Kamran 1-0-10-0,
Uniyal 4-0-41-2,
Warne 3-0-29-0,
Jhunjhunwala 2-0-27-0,
Yusuf 2-0-22-0.

Rajasthan Royals:
G. Smith c b Sathish 26 (22b, 4x4),
S. Asnodkar (run out) 0 (0b),
N. Ojha c Zaheer b Murtaza 12 (12b, 2x4),
A. Jhunjhunwala b Malinga 14 (11b, 1x4, 1x6),
Yusuf (run out) 100 (37b, 9x4, 8x6),
P. Dogra (run out) 41 (29b, 2x4, 2x6),
D. Mascarenhas (not out) 9 (7b),
A. Uniyal b Malinga 0 (1b),
S. Warne (not out) 1 (1b),
Extras (w-5) 5,
Total (for seven wkts. in 20 overs): 208.

Fall of wickets:
1-0, 2-38, 3-40, 4-66, 5-173, 6-201, 7-201.

Mumbai Indians bowling:
Zaheer 4-0-27-0,
McLaren 4-0-43-0,
Malinga 4-0-22-2,
Murtaza 4-0-46-1,
Sathish 3-0-51-1,
Jayasuriya 1-0-19-0 .

Match 1 Report: Kolkata Knight Riders Win Against Deccan Chargers by 11 Runs

2010-03-13T01:36:00.000-08:00

KKR batsman Owais Shah plays a shot against Deccan Chargers in the opening match of the third edition of IPL in Navi Mumbai on Friday.

Deccan Chargers stumbled at the first hurdle, stunned by Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening game of the DLF-Indian Premier League 2010. The 2009 champion lost the way despite a superb 54 from captain Adam Gilchrist, scoring 150 for seven in the face of a spirited show from the Knight Riders bowlers.

Chargers lost by 11 runs chasing the 162-run target set by Sourav Ganguly's side. Ganguly used six bowlers, all of them chipped in with wickets at the D.Y. Patil stadium. Charl Langeveldt got two for 26 and the others managed a wicket each as KKR held its nerve when defending.

Taking into account the dropped catches under pressure and lapses in the field, the turnaround was remarkable against a side boasting of big-hitting batsmen.

V.V.S. Laxman, opening for Chargers, tried to tune into the T20 wavelength with a swatted six over long-on, then let captain Gilchrist show how bowlers can be tamed. The Aussie got cracking with two sixes, number one off Langeveldt over mid-wicket and bettered the effort next time with a straight six, stepping out against L.R. Shukla.

Gilchrist's mastery

Two dropped catches did not diminish Gilchrist's mastery, spotting the length early for clean hits, sending the ball soaring in a 35-ball 54 (3x4, 3x6). Hodge got him eventually, caught by Manoj Tiwary on the fence. Rohit Sharma (13 off 12 balls) took on the scoring duties, a late cut to third man and an on-drive. He fell for the bait from Mathews, chopping a short delivery towards short mid-on for Hodge to run across and do the rest. Knight Riders recovered from early upsets to post 161 for four. Mathews flexed his arms for an unbeaten 65 (46b, 5x4, 4x6) and saved his team from embarrassment.

The Sri Lankan, taking charge at number six, put on 130 runs in a fifth-wicket stand with England's Owais Shah 58 not out (46b, 3x4, 3x6). Shah used the pace of the wicket to stroke the ball, Mathews re-arranged his footwork to smash anything within range.

Vaas strikes

Vaas removed Tiwary with his first ball, the opener stunned when an attempted flick ended in Rohit Sharma's hands at square-leg. Skipper Sourav Ganguly was deceived by late swing, edging to Anirudh in the slips three balls later.

Cheteshwar Pujara broke the shackles with a crisp cover drive, but hit an uppish drive off R.P. Singh. Jaskaran Singh Bhuttar overcame stage fright in his first over with the valuable wicket of Brad Hodge off the next, inducing the Aussie to slash into Gibbs's hands at point, and then came up with a leg-cutter to leave the cautious Mathews in a tangle.

Deccan Chargers pressed slow bowlers Pragyan Ojha and Andrew Symonds into the attack from the seventh over.

Strategic break

Gilchrist took the first strategic break after eight overs with Knight Riders scrambling to 50 off 50 balls. Shah and Mathews attacked the slow bowlers, bold hitting taking the team past the 100-run mark off 94 balls.

Deccan Chargers took the second break after 16 overs and Vaas was brought back for his final burst. Shah and Mathews lashed sixes in a 100-run stand off 75 balls.

Knight Riders opted for Mathews, Hodge, Langeveldt and Shah among overseas players, resting Sri Lanka spinner Ajantha Mendis.

Deccan Chargers fielded all foreigners available in Symonds, Vaas, Gibbs, apart from captain Gilchrist.

Left-handed batsman Anirudh Singh made his IPL debut for Deccan Chargers, while Knight Riders opted for experienced hands.

The scores:

Kolkata Knight Riders:
M. Tiwary c R. Sharma b C. Vaas 0,
B. Hodge c Gibbs b Jaskaran 13,
S. Ganguly c Anirudh b Vaas 0,
C. Pujara c Ojha b R.P. Singh 10,
O. Shah (not out) 58,
A. Mathews (not out) 65,
Extras (lb-8, nb-1, w-6): 15;
Total (for four wkts. in 20 overs): 161.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-31, 4-31.

Deccan Chargers bowling:
Vaas 3-1-22-2,
R.P. Singh 4-0-35-1,
Jaskaran 4-0-35-1,
Ojha 4-0-19-0,
Symonds 4-0-26-0,
Suman 1-0-16-0.

Deccan Chargers:
A. Gilchrist c Tiwary b Hodge 54,
V.V.S. Laxman c & b Kartik 22,
H. Gibbs c Mathews b Langeveldt 19,
A. Symonds c Ganguly b Ishant 5,
Rohit c Hodge b Mathews 13,
Anirudh c & b Shukla 14,
T. Suman (not out) 7,
C. Vaas b Langeveldt 0,
Jaskaran (not out) 4,
Extras (b-4, lb-1, nb-2, w-5): 12;
Total (for seven wkts. in 20 overs): 150.

Fall of wickets: 1-61, 2-99, 3-102, 4-116, 5-128, 6-141, 7-142.

Knight Riders bowling:
Langeveldt 4-0-26-2,
Ishant 4-0-31-1,
Shukla 3-0-30-1,
Kartik 3-0-17-1,
Mathews 4-0-27-1,
Hodge 2-0-14-1.

Watch the final over of the Kolkata Knight Riders' innings:

Ravindra Kantrolu, Once Accused of Being a Serial Killer, Spotted Painting Faces at IPL

2010-03-13T01:19:00.000-08:00

Beer man makes a killing at IPL: Ravindra Kantrolu, once accused of being a serial killer, was spotted painting faces and selling water outside D Y Patil stadium yesterday.

Ravindra Kantrolu paints Tricolours on the face of a spectator at D Y Patil stadium yesterday.

What would you expect to see on the day of the first IPL match, outside the stadium? A frenzied, energised crowd, lots of chatter, and a general sense of excitement.

But a MiD DAY photojournalist came across Ravindra Kantrolu alias Raheem the same man Mumbai police had detained for serial killings in the city, nearly three years ago. He was painting the faces of fans with poster colours.

Kantrolu narrated his story about how the police used to beat him up regularly and wanted him to confess that he was the serial killer.

"They used to torture me, and tried to pressurise me into admitting to crimes I was not guilty of. They even asked me to prove my credentials, but I was homeless, and hence I had no documents," said Kantrolu.

Kantrolu can't thank his friends enough for helping him while he was in jail, and says that they repeatedly tried to convince the police that he was innocent, but to no avail.

He added: "The police now want me to leave the city as my acquittal has brought them a bad name. They don't want anyone to see me, and hence want me to leave Mumbai. But I am going to stay here and work hard, and make a living."

Ravindra Kantrolu paints Tricolours on the face of a spectator at D Y Patil stadium yesterday. Kantrolu now earns nearly Rs 500 a day doing odd jobs, and on good days, up to Rs 1,000.

For now, he is charging Rs 10 to paint one side of the face, and he says that the Tricolour is still a huge favourite among cricket fans. He also sells water bottles around the stadium.

Kantrolu plans to continue to hang around all IPL match venues this season. So you might just happen to bump into him if you happen to watch any of the future IPL matches in Mumbai.

Previously...

Kantrolu was charged of killing three people and leaving beer cans near their bodies between 2006-07. Although the prosecution had sought a death penalty for him, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment.

In June 2008, the high court acquitted him of any involvement in the murders, due to lack of evidence.

Sorce: Mid-Day

IPL 2010 Inauguration/Opening Ceremony (With Pictures)

2010-03-12T04:36:00.000-08:00

The Opening Ceremony of DLF, Indian Premier League T20 tournament, was held at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. The inaguration of the 3rd edition of T20 Championships was a grand affair with celebrities from various walks of life participating in the event.

The inaguration ceremony started with the introduction of the captions of the 8 teams participating in the tounament by Ravi Shastri. All the captions were there to support the Spirit of Cricket initiative and the Green cause. They signed the globe to support the environment cause.

One of the celebrities who performed on the occasion was Deepika Padukone

Here are some photographs from the Inauguration Ceremony

Deepika Padukone Performing at the Function

Deepika Padukone Performing at the Function

Here are some photos of DY Patil Stadium at Navi Mumbai, where the Opening Function of DLF IPL 2010 twenty20 Competition took place.

A Look at the IPL 2010 Cheerleaders

2010-03-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

Have a look at the girls who will be cheering for the different teams this IPL

IPL 2010 Launch Dinner Party (View Pictures)

2010-03-12T03:23:00.001-08:00

Stars at DLF IPL Red Carpet: Photographs Photo: Sachin Tendulkar with wife Anjali

Shahrukh Khan with Modi

Symonds with Modi

Shilpa Shetty Kundra With Husband Raj Kundra

Shilpa Shetty with Modi

Shamitha Shetty

Hrithik Roshan's Wife Suzzane with SRK's wife Gauri Khan and Sanjay Kapoor

Ravi Shastri

SRK with Modi

Tendulkar, Modi and Mukesh Ambani

Brain Lara

Cricketers Ravi Shastri, Agarkar, Zaheer khan, Gavaskar

Shane Warne

Robin Singh

Youtube to Broadcast DLF IPL 2010 Live on The Internet.

2010-03-12T00:21:00.000-08:00

There is great news for all cricket fans who cannot catch IPL Matches at home on TV. YouTube will be presenting IPL 3 cricket series Live Streaming which means the viewers can now watch all 60 matches of IPL 2010 live on youtube. Youtube will have a dedicated Indian Premier League Channel this year. The third season of DLF IPL Twenty20 cricket competition is scheduled to be held in India from 12 March 2010 over a period of 45 days. Click here to Visit the youtube site for Live Cricket

IPL Live

Google is managing to telecast live cricket match (except in India where there is a 5minute delay and for the U.S viewers who will be sleeping at that time- 2 hours delay) via webcast all over the world. In cricket, IPL version is most famous among the cricket fans and now Google’s is presenting it live through Youtube only for sake of sport’s fan

To provide support to IPL 3 season and eight main advertisers, Google is administering a healthy version of mixture to both of them. It too involves some other advertisers like Great Britain, Southeast Asia and Australia. Google by the Youtube telecast the live cricket match of IPL season 3 to offer live updates to near about two billion fans worldwide.

Today on 12th March first the inauguration ceremonies will take place and after that the Deccan Chargers will play the first match of this IPL cricket series against Kolkata Knight Riders. We have already let you know about the IPL 2010 schedule. So don’t miss the chance to watch the full IPL series of cricket matches on Youtube. If you want to see how the Youtube will broadcast the IPL season 3 live then click here to watch.

IPL 2010 Live Telecast Timings on TV and Internet Broadcast

2010-03-11T23:08:00.000-08:00

In India, Sony Max channel will be telecasting live the DLF IPL 2010 matches. India's Sony Entertainment Television network and Singapore-based World Sport Group secured the global broadcasting rights of the Indian Premier League. The inaguration/Opening ceremony of IPL 2010, on 12 th March will be telecast live at 6 PM IST on Sony Max TV

Matches will be played in cricket stadiums across India from March 12, 2010 to April 25, 2010. The match telecast timings in India would be either 4.00 PM or 8.00 PM IST.
Final fixtures and schedules of IPL 2010 can be seen below.

Telecast Time Table of the IPL Matches on Sony Max Television

Day 1 – Date: March 12, 2010, Friday
Match - Deccan Chargers vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Telecast Time - 8 pm IST

Day 2 – Date: March 13, Saturday
Match - Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals
Telecast Time: 4 pm IST

Match - Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils
Telecast Time - 8 pm IST

Day 3 – Date: March 14, Sunday
March - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Time - 4 pm IST

Match - Chennai Super Kings vs Deccan Chargers
Chennai, March 14, 8 pm IST

Day 4 – Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Daredevils
Ahmedabad, March 15, 8 pm IST

Day 5 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab
Bengaluru, March 16, 4 pm IST

Day 5 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings
Kolkata, March 16, 8 pm IST

Day 6 – Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians
Delhi, March 17, 8 pm IST

Day 7 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals
Bengaluru, March 18, 8 pm IST

Day 8 – Delhi Daredevils vs Chennai Super Kings
Delhi, March 19, 4pm IST

Day 8 – Deccan Chargers vs Kings XI Punjab
Vizag, March 19, 8 pm IST

Day 9 – Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Ahmedabad, March 20, 4 pm IST

Day 9 – Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Mumbai, March 20, 8 pm IST

Day 10 – Deccan Chargers vs Delhi Daredevils
Vizag, March 21, 4 pm IST

Day 10 – Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab
Chennai, March 21, 8 pm IST

Day 11 – Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Mumbai, March 22, 8 pm IST

Day 12 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings
Bengaluru, March 23, 8 pm IST

Day 13 – Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals
Mohali, March 24, 8 pm IST

Day 14 – Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings
Mumbai, March 25, 8 pm IST

Day 15 – Rajasthan Royals vs Deccan Chargers
Ahmedabad, March 26, 8 pm IST

Day 16 – Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Mohali, March 27, 4 pm IST

Day 16 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Daredevils
Bengaluru, March 27, 8 pm IST

Day 17 – Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings
Ahmedabad, March 28, 4 pm IST

Day 17 – Deccan Chargers vs Mumbai Indians
Hyderabad, March 28, 8 pm IST

Day 18 – Delhi Daredevils vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Delhi, March 29, 8 pm IST

Day 19 – Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab
Mumbai, March 30, 8 pm IST

Day 20 – Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Chennai, March 31, 4 pm IST

Day 20 – Delhi Daredevils vs Rajasthan Royals
Delhi, March 31, 8 pm IST

Day 21 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Deccan Chargers
Kolkata, April 1, 8 pm IST

Day 22 – Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Mohali, April 2, 8 pm IST

Day 23 – Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals
Chennai, April 3, 4 pm IST

Day 23 – Mumbai Indians vs Deccan Chargers
Mumbai, April 3, 8 pm IST

Day 24 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab
Kolkata, April 4, 4 pm IST

Day 24 – Delhi Daredevils vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Delhi, April 4, 8 pm IST

Day 25 – Deccan Chargers vs Rajasthan Royals
Hyderabad, April 5, 8 pm IST

Day 26 – Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians
Chennai, April 6, 8 pm IST

Day 27 – Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab
Jaipur* / Ahmedabad, April 7, 4 pm IST

Day 27 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils
Kolkata, April 7, 8 pm IST

Day 28 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Deccan Chargers
Bengaluru, April 8, 8 pm IST

Day 29 – Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians
Mohali, April 9, 8 pm IST

Day 30 – Deccan Chargers vs Chennai Super Kings
Hyderabad, April 10, 4 pm IST

Day 30 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Bengaluru, April 10, 8 pm IST

Day 31 – Delhi Daredevils vs Kings XI Punjab
Delhi, April 11, 4 pm IST

Day 31 – Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians
Jaipur* / Ahmedabad, April 11, 8 pm IST
*To be confirmed subject to inspection

Day 32 – Deccan Chargers vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Hyderabad, April 12, 8 pm IST

Day 33 – Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Daredevils
Mumbai, April 13, 4 pm IST

Day 33 – Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Chennai, April 13, 8 pm IST

Day 34 – Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Jaipur* / Ahmedabad, April 14, 8 pm IST
*To be confirmed subject to inspection

Day 35 – Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Daredevils
Chennai, April 15, 8 pm IST

Day 36 – Kings XI Punjab vs Deccan Chargers
Dharamsala, April 16, 8 pm IST

Day 37 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians
Bengaluru, April 17, 4 pm IST

Day 37 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals
Kolkata, April 17, 8 pm IST

Day 38 – Kings XI Punjab vs Chennai Super Kings
Dharamsala, April 18, 4 pm IST

Day 38 – Delhi Daredevils vs Deccan Chargers
Delhi, April 18, 8 pm IST

Day 39 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians
Kolkata, April 19, 8 pm IST

IPL Semi-Finals Telecast Schedule

Day 40 – SemiFinal 1
Bengaluru, April 21, 8 pm IST

Day 41 – SemiFinal 2
Bengaluru, April 22, 8 pm IST

Day 42 – 3rd Place
Mumbai, April 24, 8 pm IST

IPL 2010 Finals Telecast Schedule

Day 43 – FINAL
Mumbai, April 25, 8 pm IST

Live Internet Broadcast of IPL 2010

You Tube will Broadcast Live on Internet all the DLF IPL 2010 matches.
Click Here, to catch all the information on IPL 2010 Live Streaming on YouTube.

DLF IPL 2010 Time Table of Matches and Their Schedule

2010-03-11T22:30:00.000-08:00

DLF IPL Matches will start from March 12, 2010 and end on April 25, 2010. In IPL 2010, there will be a total of 60 matches and you can view full IPL Timetable 2010 below. Here, get the 2010 Indian Premier League matches Schedule timings with date, IPL Cricket Teams, and location details.

Matches will be played in cricket stadiums across India and the match telecast timings would be either 4.00pm or 8.00pm IST.

Calendar of Scheduled Matches for DLF Indian Premier League

Day 1 – Deccan Chargers vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Location: Mumbai
Date: March 12, 2010
Time: 8 pm IST

Day 2 – Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals
Mumbai, March 13, 4 pm IST

Day 2 – Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils
Mohali, March 13, 8 pm IST

Day 3 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Kolkata, March 14, 4 pm IST

Day 3 – Chennai Super Kings vs Deccan Chargers
Chennai, March 14, 8 pm IST

Day 4 – Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Daredevils
Ahmedabad, March 15, 8 pm IST

Day 5 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab
Bengaluru, March 16, 4 pm IST

Day 5 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings
Kolkata, March 16, 8 pm IST

Day 6 – Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians
Delhi, March 17, 8 pm IST

Day 7 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals
Bengaluru, March 18, 8 pm IST

Day 8 – Delhi Daredevils vs Chennai Super Kings
Delhi, March 19, 4pm IST

Day 8 – Deccan Chargers vs Kings XI Punjab
Vizag, March 19, 8 pm IST

Day 9 – Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Ahmedabad, March 20, 4 pm IST

Day 9 – Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Mumbai, March 20, 8 pm IST

Day 10 – Deccan Chargers vs Delhi Daredevils
Vizag, March 21, 4 pm IST

Day 10 – Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab
Chennai, March 21, 8 pm IST

Day 11 – Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Mumbai, March 22, 8 pm IST

Day 12 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings
Bengaluru, March 23, 8 pm IST

Day 13 – Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals
Mohali, March 24, 8 pm IST

Day 14 – Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings
Mumbai, March 25, 8 pm IST

Day 15 – Rajasthan Royals vs Deccan Chargers
Ahmedabad, March 26, 8 pm IST

Day 16 – Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Mohali, March 27, 4 pm IST

Day 16 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Daredevils
Bengaluru, March 27, 8 pm IST

Day 17 – Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings
Ahmedabad, March 28, 4 pm IST

Day 17 – Deccan Chargers vs Mumbai Indians
Hyderabad, March 28, 8 pm IST

Day 18 – Delhi Daredevils vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Delhi, March 29, 8 pm IST

Day 19 – Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab
Mumbai, March 30, 8 pm IST

Day 20 – Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Chennai, March 31, 4 pm IST

Day 20 – Delhi Daredevils vs Rajasthan Royals
Delhi, March 31, 8 pm IST

Day 21 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Deccan Chargers
Kolkata, April 1, 8 pm IST

Day 22 – Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Mohali, April 2, 8 pm IST

Day 23 – Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals
Chennai, April 3, 4 pm IST

Day 23 – Mumbai Indians vs Deccan Chargers
Mumbai, April 3, 8 pm IST

Day 24 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab
Kolkata, April 4, 4 pm IST

Day 24 – Delhi Daredevils vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Delhi, April 4, 8 pm IST

Day 25 – Deccan Chargers vs Rajasthan Royals
Hyderabad, April 5, 8 pm IST

Day 26 – Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians
Chennai, April 6, 8 pm IST

Day 27 – Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab
Jaipur* / Ahmedabad, April 7, 4 pm IST

Day 27 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils
Kolkata, April 7, 8 pm IST

Day 28 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Deccan Chargers
Bengaluru, April 8, 8 pm IST

Day 29 – Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians
Mohali, April 9, 8 pm IST

Day 30 – Deccan Chargers vs Chennai Super Kings
Hyderabad, April 10, 4 pm IST

Day 30 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Bengaluru, April 10, 8 pm IST

Day 31 – Delhi Daredevils vs Kings XI Punjab
Delhi, April 11, 4 pm IST

Day 31 – Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians
Jaipur* / Ahmedabad, April 11, 8 pm IST
*To be confirmed subject to inspection

Day 32 – Deccan Chargers vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Hyderabad, April 12, 8 pm IST

Day 33 – Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Daredevils
Mumbai, April 13, 4 pm IST

Day 33 – Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Chennai, April 13, 8 pm IST

Day 34 – Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Jaipur* / Ahmedabad, April 14, 8 pm IST
*To be confirmed subject to inspection

Day 35 – Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Daredevils
Chennai, April 15, 8 pm IST

Day 36 – Kings XI Punjab vs Deccan Chargers
Dharamsala, April 16, 8 pm IST

Day 37 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians
Bengaluru, April 17, 4 pm IST

Day 37 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals
Kolkata, April 17, 8 pm IST

Day 38 – Kings XI Punjab vs Chennai Super Kings
Dharamsala, April 18, 4 pm IST

Day 38 – Delhi Daredevils vs Deccan Chargers
Delhi, April 18, 8 pm IST

Day 39 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians
Kolkata, April 19, 8 pm IST

IPL Semi-Finals

Day 40 – SemiFinal 1
Bengaluru, April 21, 8 pm IST

Day 41 – SemiFinal 2
Bengaluru, April 22, 8 pm IST

Day 42 – 3rd Place
Mumbai, April 24, 8 pm IST

IPL 2010 Finals

Day 43 – FINAL
Mumbai, April 25, 8 pm IST

IPL 2010 - List of Teams and Players Participating

2010-03-11T22:08:00.000-08:00

The 3rd season of Indian Premier League starts on 12th March and ends on 25th April, 2010. The first match will be held between defending champions Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday, 12th March 2010. Four new venues- Nagpur, Vishakapatnam, Ahmedabad and Dharamsala have been added apart from the 8 home venues of the teams.

All 8 franchises announced teams for the 3rd edition of the DLF Indian Premier League with some new faces included in the teams . Some of the important inclusions this year are Kieron Pollard, Shane Bond and Wayne Parnell while none of the Pakistani players were selected this year.

List of teams taking part in DLF IPL 2010 are as follows:
Deccan Chargers (DC)
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Mumbai Indians (MI)
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Kings XI Punjab (KXIP)
Delhi Daredevils (DD)
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

List of Team Members in Each Team

Mumbai Indians Team, Squad for IPL 3, 2010

Sachin Tendulkar (C)
Sanath Jayasuriya
Kieron Pollard
Abhishek Nayar
Jean Paul Duminy (WK)
Lasith Malinga
Graham Napier
Ryan McLaren
Dilhara Fernando
Dwayne Bravo
Luke Ronchi
Zaheer Khan
Harbhajan Singh
Jude Singh
Jaydev Shah
Rahil Shaikh
Yogesh Takawale (WK)
Pinal Shah (WK)
Ajinkya Rahane
Chetanya Nanda
Rohan Raje
Saurabh Tiwary
Harshal Patel
Dhawal Kulkarni
Shikhar Dhawan
R Sathish

Delhi Daredevils Team, Squad for IPL 3,2010

Gautam Gambhir (C)
Virender Sehwag
AB de Villiers
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Paul Collingwood
David Warner
Yo Mahesh
Dinesh Karthik (WK)
Amit Mishra
Moises Henriques
Daniel Vettori
Wayne Parnell
Dirk Nannes
Farveez Maharoof
Mithun Manhas
Rajat Bhatia
Aavishkar Salvi
Ashish Nehra
Andrew McDonald
Pradeep Sangwan
Umesh Yadav
Yogesh Nagar
Tejaswi Yadav
Manan Sharma

Deccan Chargers Team, Squad for IPL 3,2010

Adam Gilchirst (C/WK)
Andrew Symonds
Herschelle Gibbs
Scott Styris
VVS Laxman
Rohit Sharma
Venugopal Rao
Dwyane Smith
T Suman
Arjun Yadav
Kalyankrishna
Paidikalva Vijay Kumar
Abhinav Kumar
Manvinder Bisla (WK)
Jaskaran Deep Singh
Harmeet Singh
Azhar Bilakhia
Kemar Roach
Dwaraka Ravi Teja
Pragyan Ojha
Ryan Harris
Fidel Edwards
Chaminda Vaas
RP Singh
Harmeet Singh

Kolkata Knight Riders Team, Squad for IPL 3,2010

S Ganguly (C)
B McCullum (WK)
David Hussey
B Hodge
Chris Gayle
Owais Shah
A Mendis
M Mortaza
A Mathews
Harpreet Singh
S Bangar
Shoaib Sheikh
S Gaekwad
G Chabbra
Sunny Singh
S Rana
A Chowdhury
S Sanyal
Amit Das
Bhavik Thakkar
Kl Waingankar
S Bond
Charl Langeveldt
M Tiwary
V Indulkar
Ameya Shrikhande
Arindam Ghosh
S Sarkar
Murtuza Hussain
Gnaneshwar Rao
Sheldon Jackson
Mohnish Parmar
I Choudhary
Laxmi R Shukla
Debabrata Das
W Saha
A Dinda
Aditya Dole
Rajesh Verma
Anureet Singh
Iqbal Abdulla
M Kartik
Ishant Sharma
A Agarkar
C Pujara

Chennai Super Kings Team, Squad for IPL 3,2010

M S Dhoni (C/WK)
Matthew Hayden
Michael Hussey
Suresh Raina
S Badrinath
M Vijay
Justin Kemp
Jacob Oram
Albie Morkel
M Muralidaran
Sudeep Tyagi
Viraj Kadbe
Shadab Jakati
R Ashwin
Abhinav Mukund
Anirudha Srikanth
Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan
Palani Amarnath
K B Arun Karthik
N Einstein
Suresh Kumar
Manpreet Gony
Joginder Sharma
Makhaya Ntini
Thilan Thushara
George Bailey
Parthiv Patel (WK)
L Balaji
Thisara Perera.

Royal Challengers Bangalore Team, Squad for IPL 3,2010

Kevin Pietersen (C), Anil Kumble (C), Rahul Dravid, Jesse Ryder, Virat Kohli, Ross Taylor, Cameron White, Jacques Kallis, Manish Pandey, Robin Uthappa, Wasim Jaffer, Eoin Morgan, Mark Boucher (WK), Roelof van der Merwe, Dillon Du Preez, Dale Steyn, Ashok Menaria, Sunil Joshi, K P Appanna, J Arun Kumar, Devraj Patil (WK), B Akhil, Bharat Chipli, Tinu Yohanan, Saurav Bendekar, Gaurav Dhiman, Jitendra Patil, Udit Patel, ohit Sabharwal (WK), Ishank Jaggi, Rajesh Bishnoi, Raju Bhatkal, Gautam.C.M, Kedar Jadhav, Mithun.A, Karan Sharma, Aravind S, Bhuvanesh Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Pankaj Singh, Suteesh R, Srivats Goswami (WK).

Kings XI Punjab Team, Squad for IPL 3,2010

Kumar Sangakkara(C/WK), M Jayawardene, Ravi Bopara, Jerome Taylor, Yuvraj Singh, James Hopes, Shaun Marsh, Simon Katich, Mohammad Kaif, Brett Lee, Irfan Pathan, S Sreesanth, Piyush Chawla, Karan Goel, Uday Kaul (WK), Wilkin Mota, Ajitesh Argal, Tanmay Srivastava, Sunny Sohal, Ryan Ninan, Yash Gandhi, Yusuf Abdulla, V R V Singh, Ramesh Powar.

Rajasthan Royals Team, Squad for IPL 3,2010

Shane Warne (C), Graeme Smith, Shane Watson, Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja, Damien Martyn, Adam Voges, Swapnil Asnodkar, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Morne Morkel, Shaun Tait, Munaf Patel, Paras Dogra, Amit Singh, Raphi Vincent Gomez, Kamran Khan, Ashraf Makda, Paul Valthaty, Srideep Mangela, Mohd Arif, Gajendra Singh, Atul Sharma, Pratmesh Salunkhe, Pushkarraj Chavan, Johan Botha, Sidharth Chitnis, Naman Ojha (WK), Sidharth Trivedi, Niraj Patel, Mahesh Rawat (WK), Anup Revandkar, Dinesh Salunkhe

IPL Takes Off on Friday With Deccan Chargers Taking on Kolkata Knight Riders at Navi Mumbai

2010-03-11T10:41:00.000-08:00

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is back in India after shifting to South Africa last year because it could not get the expected security as it clashed with the general elections. The third edition of the Twenty20 razzmataz will spring to life Friday night when the 2009 champions Deccan Chargers take on Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening game in Navi Mumbai.

The tournament has been involved in fresh controversies. First, there were no takers for the Pakistani players at the January mini auction and the IPL authorities and the franchisees came in for severe criticism for not coming up with a satisfactory explanation for ignoring the Twenty20 World champions.

Second, the IPL's restrictive clause on the usage of television footage by the news channels led to their umbrella organisation, the National Broadcasters Association (NBA), threatening to boycott it. The two warring parties are still negotiating and hoping to arrive at a settlement before the first ball is bowled Friday.

The international news agencies also continue to have problems with the IPL.

Then, reigning champions Deccan Chargers had a problem with their home games as they had been shifted out of Hyderabad in view of the Telangana agitation. Eventually, they agreed to move their games out of the state.

The Chargers and the Royal Challengers, who finished at the bottom of the eight-team table in the inaugural edition, bounced back stongly by making the final last year, underscoring the unpredictability of the outcome in the shortest version of the game.

South Africa saw an even contest between the ball and the bat. But India is a study in contrast. The tracks will predictably be batsman-friendly, more so as the pitches would be baked under the summer sun.

Coming to the batsmen's aid are new bats, especially designed for the Twenty20 cricket, for power hitting. Matthew Hayden has come up with the Mongoose bat with a long handle and shorter blade but a bigger sweet spot than the conventional cricket bat. The bowlers are in for a rough ride with the hard-hitting Australian 'quite liking' the new bat.

Apart from Hayden, the spotlight would be on a dozen other Australians who have been the star attractions in the last two editions. This time, however, they had to ruminate a lot on safety issues, especially after the Pune blasts, before taking the flight to India.

But quashing all doubts over security, Rajasthan Royals' lastest buy Damien Martyn wrote on his blog: 'Our home base has been a fortress. From outside the hotel to inside the grounds, there are policemen everywhere, even to the extent that on each of our floors, there are guards and scanners.'

Deccan Chargers' captain Adam Gilchrist feels the relationships forged last year will be the key to success this time around.

'We've got a great bond that is a legacy of last year's victory. It's certainly something that will be an asset for us,' Gilchrist was quoted as saying.

The third edition will also see some younger players in action. West Indian speedster Kemar Roach and Mitchell Marsh, the younger brother of Shaun and son of former Australian opener Geoff, have been key inclusions in Deccan Chargers.

'We are very excited about the new players. I am looking forward to playing positive and entertaining cricket again. We've made up for the loss of Fidel Edwards with the inclusion of Kemar -- he was very impressive during West Indies' series in Australia. Then there is young Mitchell, an exciting talent, a hard-hitting batsman and a good bowler,' Gilchrist added.

A new feature in this year's IPL would be the strategy breaks. The two-and-a-half minute strategy break can be called between the sixth and eighth overs by the bowling captain.

Mumbai Indians' bowling captain Zaheer Khan feels the new rule will be of help to the bowlers.

'The game is heavily tilted towards the batsmen and this break helps to change the momentum because sometimes the batting team is going after the bowlers and the break helps. Twenty20 cricket is so dynamic and the teams are rushing between the overs. A two-and-half minute break will help to regroup,' Zaheer said.

Preity Zinta to Spread AIDS Awareness Via IPL

2010-03-11T10:37:00.000-08:00

Bollywood actor Preity Zinta, who was Thursday appointed as the goodwill ambassador for UNAIDS in India, will create awareness against AIDS along with the members of her Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kings XI Punjab.

'All our players will sport red ribbons during their matches. In our first match against Delhi Daredevils, we will take an HIV positive person to the toss to convey our message against stigma and discrimination,' Preity said here.

'Me and my team will produce a short commercial to spread awareness against the disease. I will be there, our captain Kumar Sangakkara and other players will also be there,' she added.

Besides, Kings XI Punjab will donate 25 percent of the profit they will earn from selling their merchandise to UNAIDS, which will decide its usage for the betterment of HIV positive people.

On being appointed goodwill ambassador for UNAIDS, Preity said: 'I have done many roles. This one is different. I am very happy.'

'All human beings, wherever we are, have the basic right to be happy and healthy. I see this as a great opportunity to bring the realities faced by people living with HIV to the forefront and to call for attention to the injustices faced by them,' she said.

Preity will work to create awareness on HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, with an emphasis on women, children and oppressed classes, the UN body said.

'Goodwill ambassadors are celebrities with a demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of people living with HIV. Highly talented in their own right, they all share an ability to bring issues to global attention, to galvanize support from the public and leading decision makers, and to raise urgently needed support and attention for vital UN programmes,' Charles Gilks, country coordinator, UNAIDS, said.

'I am very pleased to appoint Preity Zinta as UNAIDS' special representative,' Gilks added.

India is home to at least 2.3 million HIV positive people.

Kings XI Punjab Has the "Strong Will" and "Enough Fire" to Win the Third Edition of IPL, Says Preity Zinta

2010-03-11T10:25:00.000-08:00

New Delhi: Preity Zinta, co-owner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kings XI Punjab, on Thursday said her team has "strong will" and "enough fire" to win the third edition of the T20 tournament that begins on Friday.

"We have a very talented side and we have strong will to go and win the tournament," Preity said.

"Last time we had seven injured players which no one could help. I believe an IPL team is judged by the strength of strong domestic players and not the international players. We have three-four new domestic players and I hope they will strengthen the base," she added. Preity was here to participate in a health event organised by UNAIDS.

Yuvraj Singh led Preity's team in the first two editions of the IPL but this time Sri Lankan all-rounder Kumar Sangakkara is set to lead Kings XI Punjab.

Asked about the change in captaincy, she said: "Many IPL teams are re-shuffling in batting, bowling and other departments. Sangakkara is a talented man (to lead the team)."

"But Yuvraj is our most valuable player. In our team, I want to say, there is no place for 'I'. It's 'we'. We as a team will win or lose."Commenting on important bowler Brett Lee's injury, Preity said: "He is recovering."
She, however, said that they are keeping their fingers crossed and "praying" for a great show in the tournament.

Interview of Zaheer Khan Where He Talks About DLF IPL 3

2010-03-11T07:59:00.000-08:00

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians' Zaheer Khan is set to return to action against Rajasthan Royals in the DLF-IPL III league match at the Brabourne Stadium on Saturday. The left-arm seamer bowled only six overs in the second innings against South Africa at Kolkata because of a muscle tear.

On Wednesday (March 10th), speaking to the media he said, “We will try to focus on our strengths and play accordingly. All the teams are balanced and it's a tough tournament. But Mumbai Indians will pay attention to its own goals.''

Excerpts Form the Interview

Did you have to get the all clear signal from the NCA and the BCCI to play in IPL III?

I had a few sessions with the NCA physios in Mumbai. It was not a serious injury. It was important that I did not aggravate it.

It was probably a Grade I muscle tear of the quadricep. I knew it was not serious, it was just frustrating because I could not bowl much in the second innings of the Kolkata Test against South Africa.

So it was not a scare after having gone through the ankle and shoulder injuries in the last three years?

I have dealt with bigger injuries. I was not worried about this. All I had to do was put in the required work to be fit again.

You have played in two IPLs. What is the difference bowling in a 50-over and 20-over game?

If you see the last auction, a lot of teams were going for genuine fast bowlers because I guess everyone feels the importance of fast bowlers bowling upfront in Twenty20. A good bowler can increase the chances of early breakthroughs which restricts opponents from getting off to a good start. With the first six overs Power Play it is important to get early wickets.

Your comments on the two-and-a-half minute new Strategic Time Out for the fielding team in between the 6th and 8th overs

It's good that the captain has the option. It's interesting and we will see how it goes for the teams. We have to get used to the breaks in between.

If you look at the last IPL, there was a chance of getting a wicket after every STO break. Several teams lost a wicket or two after the break taken immediately after the 10th over. It worked well in favour of the fielding side and changed the momentum of the game.

Now it's in the hands of the captain as to when he wants to take that break. Twenty20brings in different dynamics, actually rushing through the overs in particular.

You have a new opening partner in Lasith Malinga?

I played with him in the last IPL. I had to opt out of the competition half way through because of an injury. It was good bowling in tandem with him.

The first six overs are very crucial. It's good to have someone like him and improve the chances of getting an early breakthrough.

Mumbai Indians targeted Kieron Pollard at the auction.

He's really developed and everyone is recognising him. He is a hard hitter of the ball and a genuine talent. I am looking forward to meeting him in person and playing with him.

Is the IPL III going to see focussed performance from all players in order to catch the attention of the franchises who will have to select a fresh team for IPL IV?

I guess every IPL is important because one wants his team to do well and end up on the winning side. As a cricketer I am just looking at it as an important tournament.

I want me and my team to do well. As cricketers we just look to perform and make use of all the opportunities.

Will you risk playing the initial 14 league matches?

I love playing cricket; injuries are part and parcel of the game. I enjoy all formats of the game. Well, I am thinking of playing 16 (semifinal and final).

First IPL Theatre Ticket Signed By Sachin Tendulkar Fetches Rs 11 Lakhs

2010-03-10T10:40:00.000-08:00

Sachin Tendulkar created history of another sorts on Wednesday, when he unveiled the first ticket of the theatrical screenings of the Indian Premier League matches.

It would be the first time ever that cricket matches would be shown in theatres across India, during the third season of the IPL, which will kick off in Mumbai on Friday, March 12.

The first ticket, autographed by the master batsman, was auctioned for charity. The bid started at a base price of Rs 5 lakh and ended up being sold for more than double the amount for a whopping amount of Rs 11 lakh, which was donated to charity trust Apnalaya.

Tendulkar also announced that he would be donating his bat, which he used for international matches during this season, for charity. The bat would be kept on display at all the cinema theatres around the country telecasting the IPL matches after which, it will be auctioned and the proceeds would once again go to Apnalaya.

"I have been supporting this charity for a long time now. I am trying to help the charity in whatever possible manner by raising money and creating a platform for the underprivileged kids to express their talent. I am sure if everyone decides to do this our country will head in a different direction," Tendulkar said in Mumbai.

The Mumbai Indians captain also indicated that his team is now preparing hard to come up with a good showing in the IPL after their failures in the last two seasons.

"I am now preparing for IPL with the Mumbai Indians. The preparations have become quite intense and I am looking forward to playing in the third season of the IPL," he said.

MiG-29K Fighter Planes Inducted Into Indian Navy

2010-02-20T09:38:00.000-08:00

The sophisticated and lethal Russian-made MiG-29K maritime fighter aircraft, were today formally inducted into the Indian Navy's air arm by defence minister AK Antony on February 19 2010. They will be based on under-construction aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. Four MiG 29Ks of the 'Black Panthers' squadron were inducted at a ceremony that was also attended by Navy chief admiral Nirmal Verma

Girls Can Now Stand and Pee With GoGirl, a Female Urinary Device That Lets Women Stand And Urinate

2010-02-20T00:19:00.000-08:00

What is Go Girl
Simply put, GoGirl is the way to stand up to crowded, disgusting, distant or non-existent bathrooms. It’s a female urination device (sometimes called a FUD) that allows you to urinate while standing up.

To Play This Video, Click on Play Arrow Button Below

A GoGirl is a reusable, softsilicone device with a short funnel that, after a little practice for most women, seals to their body and enables them to pee without sitting or squatting. The GoGirl, which sells for between $8 and $10, comes rolled — along with tissue and a bag —in a small tube slightly larger than a glue stick. It fits easily in a purse. Dillon launched the product just 13 months ago at the annual Women's Expo at the Minneapolis Convention Center in the US.

Sarah Dillon is expecting to sell a million units of GoGirl, a female urinary device that lets girls stand with the boys. And Dillon, a 47-yearold American, hopes to become, in a friend's words, the "Betty Crocker of the pee business," by selling GoGirl, a cheap, reusable silicon funnel that allows women to pee standing up.

Who Would Need it
"Men have been able to use the world as their bathroom," quipped Dillon. "Today's active women go off to war, fishing, running and bicycling, but when we go to the bathroom we have to undress. I mean, who really wants to drop their pants in a Porta-Potty? "A GoGirl enables a woman to stand up and to be as discreet as a man."

It’s essential for women who enjoy travel, active women who camp, hike and go boating, and for women who simply want to avoid germs in public restrooms

GearPower - Mobile Pocket Power Portable Battery for Mobile Devices From IOGEAR

2010-02-16T01:33:00.000-08:00

The divice 'GearPower - Mobile Pocket Power' from IOGEAR, is an ultra-slim, lightweight mobile power pack makes it easy to charge your portable devices on the go, eliminating the hassle of finding a power outlet and/or charger. Running out of battery is often the worst thing that can happen to a mobile professional. Mobile Pocket Power allows you to charge your mobile phone up to 3 times before recharging, and with 6 interchangeable tips (included) you can charge any standard portable device in the market. Whether on the road, at the game, or in a meeting, the dependable GearPower - Mobile Pocket Power provides the mobile power to keep your vital electronic devices energized. You'll never have to worry about running out of battery again.

Features:

>> Light weight and portable mobilebattery pack
>> High capacity and reliability
>> Work with most mobile phones, iPod®*, MP3 players, PDA, Bluetooth headsets, and other mobile devices
>> Built-in short-circuit, over-charge, and temperature protection
>> Supply voltage 5V
>> Smart LED capacity display
>> USB output for most USB charging devices
>> Rechargeable cycle up to 500 times
>> Includes multiple connector tips for different mobile devices
* USB iPod® only

Requirements:

For charging GearPower
Available USB port

Package contents

1 x GearPower - Mobile Pocket Power
1 x USB Charging Cable
1 x Carrying Case
6 x Connector
1 x Quick Start Guide
1 x Warranty / Registration Card
Warranty: 1-YEAR

Google For Stand-Alone Version Of Buzz

2010-02-16T01:18:00.000-08:00

Google Inc said it may create a standalone version of its Buzz social networking product but won’t separate Buzz from its Gmail service, a linkup that has spurred controversy over privacy.

Google, the world’s No.1 Internet search engine launched Buzz earlier this week in a bid to tap into the fast-growing social networking market dominated by companies like Facebook and Twitter.

Buzz allows users to broadcast messages and share photos and videos with friends and colleagues online, similar to Twitter and Facebook.

But unlike those services, Buzz is built directly into Google’s Gmail and the product automatically creates each users’ social network based on the person’s most-frequently emailed contacts.

“We have considered, among all the other features that we add to Buzz in the future, to create a standalone experience in addition to it being in Gmail,” Google spokeswoman Victoria Katsarou said.

BUZZ TWEAKED TO TACKLE PRIVACY FLAWS

Google moved quickly to contain a firestorm of criticism over Buzz, and tweaked it to address privacy problems. Under fire was the ready circle of friends that Buzz gave new users.This was based on the most frequent e-mail and chat contacts. Now, Buzz suggests to new users people they may want to follow or want to be followed by. Buzz will also no longer connect public Picasa albums and items users shared on Google Reader automatically.

Also, Google is creating a new Buzz tab in Gmail’s settings page that allows users option to disable Buzz, deleting their posts and removing Google profile, which in many cases listed publicly a user’s circle of contacts.

Efforts to Save the Tiger Find Support Online, But Nothing’s Happening at Ground Level

2010-02-15T22:03:00.000-08:00

Acampaign to save the tiger has caught the imagination of people on networking sites, including Facebook and Twitter. Several lakh people are following the issue. However, conservationists want them to act rather than simply make noises online.

M C Vinay Kumar, state director, Worldwide Fund for Nature, says, “Hats off to this [social networking] generation for being concerned. But, I will give only 30 per cent marks for tweeting or joining an online group. For full marks, you have to go beyond posting messages and deal with the problem at the ground level.”

The chatter on the social networking sites has its own benefits. “More people are becoming aware that previous generations were unsympathetic to conservation issues. Hence, the campaign to save the tiger is gaining momentum,” he says.

THE NETWORKERS’ PROBLEM

Sharad supports the campaign online, but does not know what else he can do. “There is no information, no website where I can know more. What can I do to help the tiger?” One ‘tweet’ says, “How can general public help save Tigers? Give suggestions

Vinay Kumar says, “They can involve themselves in any reliable organisation working for conservation in whatever capacity they can. Doctors, politicians, religious leaders, teachers, housewives, businessmen...whatever you are, you can play important roles in conservation.”

THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Graphic designers can make posters and pamphlets to educate other people and field operatives

• Website developers
Can make websites for organisations involved in conservation

• Mechanical and electrical engineers can help the Forest Department make better use of solar energy at the ground level. For example:To re-charge wireless sets

• Doctors can treat people living in and around protected areas so that they can protect the forests better

• Agricultural scientists
can teach better farming techniques to people dwelling near forests so that crops can be less palatable to crop-raiding wildlife.This will reduce human-wildlife conflicts

• Public Relations for the tiger: people with contacts in governments and legislatures can share their contacts with conservationists.
Suggestions from Sanjay Gubbi, assistant director (conservation science and policy), Wildlife Conservation Society-India Programme. He says, “People must first educate themselves about the priorities and important threats to tiger conservation. Once priorities are clear, the rest will follow."

Google Introduces a New Service Called Google Buzz

2010-02-10T00:04:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, Google introduced a new service called Google Buzz, a way for users of its Gmail service to share updates, photos and videos. The service will compete with sites like Facebook and Twitter, which are capturing an increasing percentage of the time people spend online.

No setup needed
Automatically follow the people you email and chat with the most in Gmail.

Share publicly or privately
Publish your ideas to the world or just to your closest friends.

Inbox integration
Comments get sent right to your inbox so it's easy to keep the conversation going.

Photo friendly
See thumbnails with each post, and browse full-screen photos from popular sites.

Connect sites you already use
Import your stuff from Twitter, Picasa, Flickr, and Google Reader.

See updates in real time
New posts and comments pop in as they happen. No refresh required.

Just the good stuff
Buzz recommends interesting posts and weeds out ones you're likely to skip.

Google Buzz Website

Take a Hard Look at Year 2012: Is the World Going to End or Will We Evolve Into Higher Beings

2010-02-06T10:14:00.000-08:00

Reality or heresy?

Is the world going to end in Armageddon or are we going to evolve into higher beings or is it all a hoax, just like Y2K was? We take a hard look at Year 2012

From a mere curiosity standpoint, 2012 is a year full of "happenings". Firstly, the Mayan Long Count Calendar ends on December 21, 2012 (the calendar spans almost 25,800years) and predicts that the alignment of the Sun, the Milky Way, the Earth and the Dark Rift will herald the beginning of a "new world". In 2012, in astronomical terms, the Sun conjuncts with the intersection of the Milky Way and the plane of the ecliptic. The Milky Way, as most of us know, extends in a general north-south direction in the night sky. The plane of the ecliptic is the track the Sun, Moon, planets and stars appear to travel in the sky, from east to west. It intersects the Milky Way at a 60 degree angle near the constellation Sagittarius.

The Maya called the Cosmic Cross, formed by the intersecting Milky Way and plane of the ecliptic, the Sacred Tree. The trunk of the tree, the Axis Mundi, is the Milky Way, and the main branch intersecting the tree is the plane of the ecliptic.

Mythically, at sunrise on December 21, 2012, the Sun — our Father — rises to conjoin the center of the Sacred Tree, the World Tree, the Tree of Life! And also on this day, the Sun touches the Dark Rift, which is located near the Galactic Center.

According to the Mayans, the Dark Rift is the cosmic womb: the place of dead, transformation, regeneration and rebirth. Hence, their prophecy and the end of their calendar.

Apart from the Mayans, there are innumerable inputs from varying sections announcing December 21, 2012 as the apocalypse — blending together seamlessly to create an almost-perfect doomsday pot-boiler. I present a few of the leading characters below:

Nibiru or Planet X
The Sumerians first laid claim to a 12th planet in our galaxy which they called Nibiru (Planet of the crossing — aka Planet X). This planet is claimed to have a 3,600 year orbit of our Solar System and brings with it great destruction every time it gets closest to Earth. The next time this is likely to happen is 2012. This theory suggests that Nibiru is the real cause of climate changes, volcanic activities, and intensification of the seismic activity etc and will ultimately lead to the melting of the glaciers and will also cause great floods (the flood during Noah's time is linked with the passing of Nibiru).

Polar Shift Theory
Geophysicists know that the Earth's magnetic fields are changing dramatically to the extent that we may have to make new compasses in a few hundred years. They also believe that it is possible for the earth to experience a "polar shift" if the Sun's magnetic field gets close enough to the Earth. NASA predicts that during 2012, as the Sun reaches the end of the current 11-year sunspot cycle, it will reverse its own magnetic poles, as well as emit harmful charged particles (known as solar storming) which may further amplify the effects of the shifting magnetic fields on earth. If this were to happen, the mantle of the earth would shift in a matter of days or perhaps even hours, causing worldwide disaster, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters.

Kaliyug to Satiyug
The Hindu belief is that in the slow, spiraling journey of the collective Man towards "final mergence" or nirvana, He must transgress cyclically through the four yugas before He reaches His final destination. His final mergence coincides with the
end of the universe of this creation. The transition from yuga to yuga is marked by a change of polarity and hence tumult.

2012 is seen as the time when the Earth's polarity and magnetic fields will change. This further coincides with the recent ending of "kali yug" in 2004 and the beginning of "sati yug", which is the fourth and final cycle that some claim will end in 2012.

I Ching
Written in 2,800 BC and revered even today, the I Ching has become an oracle for doomsday. The highs and lows of the I Ching graphs, coined the "Time Wave Theory", seems to have accurately mapped numerous world events such as the fall of the Roman
Empire, the discovery of the New World and the World Wars of the 20th century. What is interesting in the context of the 2012 doomsday melee is that it too comes to an end on December 21, 2012.

Web Bots
Then there is the "technological" prediction of the devastation that will occur in 2012. The Web Bot Project was developed in the late 1990s to assist in making stock market predictions. The Web Bot Technology uses a system of spiders to crawl the Internet and search for keywords, and then takes snap shots preceding and following the key words. This snapshot is sent to a central location where it is then filtered to define meaning.

In 2001, the project found that it could accurately predict other global trends apart from just stock markets by tapping into the "collective unconscious" of the universe and its inhabitants. The Web Bots present an interesting time concept as well as an unusual concept of a "tipping point" regarding the past, current, and future. In 2001, the Web Bots predicted 9/11. The Web Bots also predict great destruction and global annihilation in 2012.

Is it a coincidence that so many prophecies came to the same exact date and time for something cataclysmic to happen i.e December 21, 2012? The medieval predictions of Merlin, The Book of Revelation, the tribes of the Hopi and Cherokee Indians as well as various other religious sects are all canvassing 2012 as the year the earth will end.

Where does this leave us? How far do we take this? If hearsay is to be believed, nations and states are already building underground bunkers and stocking them with life supporting necessities. Should we all pack our bags and take extended leave?
Well, not yet. There is the other aspect to this "world change" which needs exploration.

Just as many predict Armageddon in 2012, there are as many organisations and sects that profess that we are nearing a time of spiritual awakening. That as a species, we will ascend into the "Golden Age".

What is astonishing with these predictions is that they too come from all over the world and from across all religions. The names given to this evolutionary rising are many, from "revelation" and "Ascension", to "becoming one with Gaia" and "rebirth". They all proclaim the same message to humanity — that we need to seek God within us to reach our final destination or "heaven".

There are countless books written by various authors — PHDs, engineers, healers, researchers, scientists, alien conspiracy theorists and the like. There are fascinating theories about our genetic make-up and how our DNA is changing so as to be able to "ascend". There is proof of the changing frequency of the Earth, called the Earth's Hum (which has rapidly risen from 7.8 cycles to 11). There are interviews and videos with prominent "mediums" or "channels" that bring word from the spirit world as to how to prepare for the "date with destiny". There are Alien conspiracy-theorists leading us to believe that it was aliens that first seeded the earth with life and that they will now return to either save/destroy the world.

Basically, there is information on just about any and every position one wishes to take on the entire 2012 episode — from the mundane to the extraordinary and I am quite certain that each "expert" is in a position to present enough data to support and add credence to their claims.

Now I am not sure where to draw the line myself — I must confess that I am intrigued, especially as even the major religions of the world seem to be drawing parallel conclusions about the year 2012. From the Meso-American civilisations who draw their prophecies from the galactic alignments and their references to "Quetzalcoatl" and "Kukulcan" to the Christians who quote the Bible (Book of Revelation) to portend to the same "ascension" or "rapture" to the fifth dimension, to the cosmically-conscious societies that hail the rising of The Morning Star (Venus) associated with the Second Coming of "Christ Consciousness" via the "uncoiling" in the serpentine double-helix strands of DNA to the Hindu mystics who believe that the synchronisation of the brain-heart cycle to the rising Kundalini will be magnified by the energy released by the alignment of the Milky Way, Sun, and Earth. The symbol of the Ouroboros in mythology where the snake eats its own tail speaks of the consummation of this Alpha and Omega cycle, the beginning and ending of time. Again, the Mayan End-Time refers to the release of a bursting, twisting, uncoiling serpent of light residing in the constellation Sagittarius, rising out of the Mouth of God, the bulge in core of the Milky Way, striking the Earth on the Winter Solstice, December 21, 2012.

2012 certainly seems to be at the heart of the "extinction" versus "salvation" battle. Is the world going to end in Armageddon or are we going to evolve into higher beings or is it all a hoax, just like Y2K was? People are going to have to make up their own minds and choose their own sides.

I, for one, would like to use this opportunity to reflect on our lives and the effect we are having on our environment.

Whether the Mayans had the knowledge and cognitive powers to predict the end of the world is debatable, but the depletion of our natural resources, global warming, erosion of the ozone layer, indiscriminate destruction of forests and natural environments, global climatic change, terrorism and inhumane conduct of our species are all very real and tangible deeds — and if we keep going at this rate, then our world will most certainly end. Maybe not in 2012, but definitely at some point soon thereafter.

LED Television Units Spell Elegance in Home Decor

2010-01-31T02:40:00.000-08:00

Futuristic home televisions blend technology subtly with the decor theme

HOME THEATRES INTEGRATED into the * central automated system provide entertainment that's the ultimate in indulgence. People are getting more discerning - cinematic picture and sound quality, where every nuance and detail of the music or sound track is heard, is now a prerequisite.

Settling down with friends to watch a movie, the host can close the blinds, adjust the sound levels in the surround speakers or sub woofer, turn on the AC, dim the lights, check whose at the door-all this and more without even budging from his reclinera smart move for the smart era.

LED flat screens

This being the era of LED flat screens, it is de rigeur to have a dedicated home theatre, that exclusive place for family and friends to view movies at their own leisure and pace, but without compromising on cinematic audio- visual quality.

Bedrooms too are incomplete without a flat screen-oh for the joy of lolling back against a bank of comfortable pillows for end-of the-day bed time viewing.

Boxy, cumbersome TVs were eventually banished from the living room in favour of a more discreet ambience of serenity and quiet relaxation, where people were more motivated to have a conversation, or read, or just simply reflect.

Equally importantly, as home owners got more discerning about their decor, they wanted their carefully envisioned living rooms, replete with bespoke detailing to be the focal point and not the screen of a TV. Seating arrangement too, now had flexibly, instead of being grouped around the TV.

Remote access
Today's homes often have to work on two quite different levels. Besides meeting the requirements of family members who want relaxing private spaces, these homes also need areas that are more formal and designed for entertaining. Consequently, TVs have now made a comeback into living rooms only to do the disappearing act again.

Remotely controlled motorised lifts installed in state-of-the-art cabinetry, conceal or reveal TVs at the touch of a button, while maintaining the design integrity of the room. They are otherwise concealed in the wall, masquerading as a framed piece of art, only to morph into a flat screen when activated, while the canvas retreats into the top of the frame. Or the framed two-way mirror can magically reveal a TV screen behind it when switched on.

The atmosphere of the living room could be transformed at will into that of an impromptu tavern, ideal for a convivial gathering of friends, to catch that crucial cricket match together, over lazy late lunch, while the spirit of bonhomie fills the air with warmth -catering to the owners' love of entertainment and also their conflicting need for quiet and solitude.

Source: TOI

Mouse Creater, Douglas Engelbart Turns 85 Today

2010-01-30T01:57:00.000-08:00

Douglas Engelbart apart from the First Computer Mouse invention, is credited with many other inventions

Mention the name ‘Engelbart’ in any circle — preferrably a tech group — and you will have people saying, “Isn’t that the guy who created the mouse?” This would indeed be right but Engelbart, who turns 85 on Saturday, was also responsible for a lot of other creations.

In fact, he and his team showed so many new technologies on Dec 9, 1968 in San Francisco that this is usually hailed as ‘The Mother of All Demos’. Some of the things demonstrated at this convention — apart from the ubiquitous mouse — include email and hypertext, something that all of us use. Things that not everybody uses, but are still popular, were videoconferencing and a collaborative real-time editor, which were also shown at the demo.

But this said, Engelbart remains firmly entrenched in our minds as inventor of the mouse, probably because this is a solid, physical object that we use to interact with computers on a daily basis.

As dougengelbart.org puts it, “Doug Engelbart is best known for inventing the mouse and other seminal computing tools; however, his greatest innovations have been in the visionary strategy he devised for bootstrapping the innovation process, creating a very fast sort of turbo-charged learning curve in his lab, out of which emerged unprecedented levels of breakthrough innovation.”

Much of his innovation was driven by the fact that he had at one time been a radar technician and, therefore, understood how information could be shown on a screen. He felt that one day, everybody would be sitting in front of such screens, communicating and collaborating with each other. Nobody could have described today’s world of the Web better.

Of course, in his time, not many could have understood the concept of what the Web could offer - in fact, even in the mid-90s, when the Web was operational, many people had difficulty in understanding what its true potential was. The greatness of Engelbart lies in the fact that he could envisage a future before anybody saw it,
and more importantly, contribute towards making it happen.

No doubt, people in his time would have ridiculed him for some of his ideas, which may have seemed like sci-fi then, but as he put it so succinctly, “The rate at which a person can mature is directly proportional to the amount of embarrassment he can tolerate.”

NICE TO KNOW

• The pointer device was called a mouse because the wire connecting it to a computer looks like the tail of a mouse
• The pointer that the mouse moves on the screen was originally called a bug
• Engelbart never received any royalties for his mouse invention

ISRO To Set Up a Simulator in Bangalore That Will Recreate Lunar Terrain

2010-01-30T00:48:00.000-08:00

MOON COMES TO EARTH
This helps us understand the problems encountered by rovers on the moon’s surface

India is set to take a huge leap in space science and Bangalore is once again in the forefront. In six months, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will set up a Simulator Lunar Terrain (SLT) in an as yet undisclosed location in the city. India will become the third country in the world to have an exclusive ‘extrasurface’ test drive.

“This will be a terrain testing facility. Our basic idea is to recreate the moon’s surface on earth which helps us in getting first-hand information on how a rover works.”

“The SLT will have features like lunar terrain and its gravitational force,” ISRO’s Chandrayaan project director M Annadurai told Bangalore Mirror. “This helps us understand the problems encountered by rovers on the moon’s surface. For example, if a rover encounters a problem on simulator, we can adjust its permiter and design so that we do not face the problems in real time. Once the simulator is ready, it will be a test drive similar to that cars currently undergo in its factories,” he added.
Annadurai, ISRO’s Chandrayaan project director

D Sreekumar, Group Director, Space Astronomy Group, ISRO said, “We are planning to create a small area which will look like the moon to test the lunar rover. With a simulator in place, it will be easy for us to understand the lunar rover’s path.”

D Sreekumar, Group Director, Space Astronomy Group, ISRO

ASTRONAUT CENTRE
According to ISRO officials, the SLT could be located at the state-of-the-art centre, costing Rs 1,000 crore, that is coming up close to the Bangalore International Airport. Besides housing offices of ISRO, this new facility will have a simulator for astronauts. The centre would be like a big swimming pool where astronauts can go below the water and learn to adjust to zero gravity situations. “Facilities like thermal cycling and radiation regulating chambers will also be established in this centre,’’ an ISRO official revealed.

This centre, to be ready in the next couple of years, will also train astronauts in new space technologies, acceleration aspects when the vehicle zooms into space, in dealing with rescue and recovery, study of radiation environments and to cope with long and potentially hazardous space journeys.

Mumbai Mono Rail Undergoes Test Run on India's 61st Republic Day

2010-01-28T23:04:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, the monorail planned for the city of Mumbai underwent trial run on its upcoming network. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) chose the 61st Republic day for the train run in the city.

The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Ashok Chavan, flagged off the rail from Wadala station of the network. The test run was for 108-metre on the Republic Day.

The proposed route between Jacob Circle and Chembur is 19.4-kilometers long and is expected to be completed by 2011. The project is to cost around Rs 2, 460 crore. The project is being implemented by L&T and SCOMI Engineering Bhd.

Monorail network will help ease Mumbai's traffic movement and supplement its existing public transport along with under construction metro rail network. Mumbai is the most populous city in India with an estimated population of 14 million people.

The plan is to launch 14 Monorails with four coaches initially which will have a capacity of 500 passengers. Monorail completes its journey in few minutes. The monorail will have a frequency of 4.5 minutes with a fare of approximately Rs 8 to 20

The Chief Minister said, "It is engineering marvel, only of its kind in India for the use of common man. It is going to help the people of Mumbai to commute."

Sharawa Backwaters - The New Tourist Attraction in Karnataka

2010-01-17T05:45:00.000-08:00

Camping in Sharavathi Backwaters
Sharava Backwaters is Sharavathi Backwaters

Overview of the destination

Sharavathi backwater is about 60 KM in length and about 15 KM wide !!!!. It became backwater when a dam was constructed in 1965 at Linganamakki of sagara taluk in Shivamogga(Shimoga) district to the river Sharavathi. As a result the water that blasted away, consumed large parts of the evergreen forest, and once the water settled a huge mass of blue spread over several kms. This backwater has created lots of islands, it is so great to explore all these, where thick vegetation still exists and there is lots of wild life in it including some rare birds.

The slow flowing water provides the perfect platform for swimming, boating, kayaking and other water sports. A small hill of moderate trekking difficulty gives the aerial view of the wonderful

Camp Site:- Sharavathi Backwater Near Sagara in Shimoga Dsitrict
Accomdation:- Dome tents on an ISLAND in the backwaters.
Food:- Food is going to be Simple Vegetarian food and it will be freshly cooked food at the camp site.

When to go there:
All year. Avoid the rains, it is best post-monsoon.

How to Get there:
Sharawa Backwaters is situated at a distance of about 300km from Bangalore, Sharavathi valley is a min 2 days trip. Take a bus to Sagara and then hire a taxi to GubbaGodu, 20km from Sagara.

Contact:
Mr. Sampath Kumar
prapancha@gmail.com
facebook.com/prapanchas

(or)

Call for Assitance: 08182-251444
STD Code: 08183

Things to carry:
Here is a list of accessories you must carry in-order to help yourselves during your stay in Sharavathi Valley.

- A proper BackPack.(A bag which can be put on our back and other kinds of bags wont do).
- A plate with a spoon for eating food. (Must)
- One cup for drinking water, tea etc. (Must)
- One light & thin bed sheet, Foam sleeping Mat will be arranged by them.
- A small hand torche. (Must)
- A 1 ltr. water bottle.
- Well worn in sports/canvas shoes/sandals.
- Toilet kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, comb)
- Sun cap and Sun lotion.

Places of Intrest:

Honnemaradu
A view of Honnemaradu (a place of golden sand) is a tourist place situated on the back waters of River Sharavathi. It is popular among watersports enthusiasts as a site for kayaking, windsurfing and other similar sports.

It is located in Shimoga district, Karnataka about 25 km away from Sagara, on the way to Jog falls. Visitors can stay overnight, with facilities for food, shelter and equipment rentals nearby.

Honnemardu is full of adventurer’s delight and offers a wide range of activities for everyone from the school children to the young at heart 60 year olds. Honnemardu is a small village perched on the hills that overlook the Linganamakki Reservoir. The reservoir is also known as Honnemardu after the village. In the middle of this huge water body there is a small island that attracts the campers. In addition to the various adventure activities, Honnemardu is also a birdwatchers paradise and one can spend endless hours watching and trying to identify the large variety of birds and butterflies.

Honnemaradu, a haven for water sports, is tucked away in the lush greenery of the Western Ghats along the Sharavati backwaters near Sagar. Encompassing an area of 50 km by 80 km, this reservoir stretches as far as the eye can see. One of the few places that cater exclusively to water sports, Honnemaradu or “Golden Lake” has some of the most spectacular views of the sunrise and sunset.

Deep in a forest, without the slightest trace of civilisation, Honnemaradu is a haven for die-hard outdoors fanatics as well as those who want a complete break from the City.

Some of the water sports activities here include coracling, canoeing, kayaking and wind rafting.

Kayaking in Honnemaradu:

If someone is fond of kayaking then he can plan for next vacation in the hill stations of Karnataka. Kayaking in Honnemaradu is a unique experience. Tourists come from India and abroad to experience the thrill of Kayaking in Honnemaradu.

The grace the Western Ghats of India adds to the charm of Kayaking in Honnemaradu. Honnemaradu is located in the Shimoga district, is about 25 kilometers from Sagara towards Jog Falls. It is also situated on the back waters of the Sharavathi River. It is home to many water sports including windsurfing, coracling, canoeing, kayaking and scuba diving.

Holebaagilu

Holebaagilu is situated on the banks of the Sharavathi River at about 30 km from Sagara. One has to take a diversion from B. H. Road towards Ikkeri Road to get there. The Sharavati backwaters of Linganamakki dam has submerged acres of land here. It is a place of natural beauty. It is situated in Kolur Grama Panchayat Limits. One has to take a "launch" (flatboat) to get across the backwaters to reach the other side where Sigandooru is located. The ride is really enjoyable. Madenur Dam which was submerged due to the construction of the Linganamakki Dam is at a short distance from here. It can be seen only during summer.

Sigandooru

Sigandooru is a holy place of Goddess Chaudeshwari. A large temple of Goddess Chaudeshwari is situated here. This Goddess is a highly believed deity in Sagara and the surrounding taluks as a protector against theft and robbery. Coupons for entry will be distributed on first come first serve basis.

Other Attractions Nearby:

Jog Falls: Jog Falls is created by the Sharavathi River. The river water plummets down from a great height of 829 ft, the highest in India. It’s located in Shimoga district.

Dabbe Falls: Located 30 km from Jog Falls, Dabbe is another enchanting waterfall in Shimoga. This waterfall is hidden in the mountains near Hosagadde.

How to Reach by train or bus

From Bangalore, you can catch the overnight Shimoga Express. Reaching Shimoga, you need to board an early morning train, which takes around 3 hours to reach Talguppa. Or, you can also catch a local bus to reach Talguppa. Reaching Talguppa, you can either trek or hire a jeep to reach Honnemardu. An awesome place to visit.

Some more pictures from Sharawati Backwaters

More Images From Aero India 2009 at Bangalore

2009-02-12T04:53:00.000-08:00

- Reuters Photos

Aero India 2009 Day 1 Pictures

2009-02-11T05:59:00.000-08:00

Aero India, South Asia's biggest air show opened here on Wednesday with firms from 25 countries showcasing their latest hardware in a chase for multi-billion dollar contracts with the Indian military.

Also Visit:
A Look at New MiG-29K Fighter Planes Inducted Into Indian Navy

For More Images From Aero India Show (Click Here)

View Photos From The Event Inauguration
Surya Kiran aerobatic team display during the inauguration of Aero India 2009 at Yelahanka airbase in Bangalore.

Indian Air Force's Surya Kiran aerobatics team performs during the inauguration of Aero India 2009 in Bangalore.

A Saras display during the inauguration of Aero India 2009 at Yelahanka airforce station on the outskirts of Bangalore.

A Sarang helicopter display during the inauguration of Aero India 2009.

A Sarang helicopter display during the inauguration of Aero India 2009 at Yelahanka airbase in Bangalore

A Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft display during the inauguration of Aero India 2009

Paratroopers perform during the inauguration of Aero India 2009 at Yelahanka airbase in Bangalore.

Members of the Indian Air Force Band take photographs of aircraft displays during the inauguration of Aero India 2009 at the Yelahanka airbase in Bangalore.

Click For More Images From Aero India Show

Google Mobile Internet Bus Launched in India

2009-02-03T00:32:00.000-08:00

The Internet Bus Project is an attempt educate people about what the Internet is, and how it may be beneficial to their lives, by taking the Internet experience to them through a customised Internet-enabled bus, which will travel to several towns and cities across India.

This very unique initiative is launched by Google India to educate the offline population in India about the benefits of Internet.

It is a web connected bus that will travel to different cities of India giving people an opportunity to experience the Internet first hand through the various computers installed inside the bus.

The Internet Bus website is http://google.co.in/internetbus. Here you can see the exact itinerary of the bus or check out Picasa - http://picasaweb.google.com/internetbusindia/ for more photos of this Internet bus.

The bus was flagged from Chennai and will cover most cities in the state of Tamil Nadu over the next six weeks. Prem Ramaswami & Srikanth Belwadi of Google India say that the bus will showcase Internet services like search, email, social networking, maps and others.

Rashtrapati Bhawan Glitters After Dusk On Indian Republic Day

2009-01-31T08:45:00.000-08:00

Dome's day - Rashtrapati Bhawan glitters after dusk on Indian Republic Day (26th January 2009)

Sweden’s Ice Hotel Created in Winter, Melts to The Ground by Summer

2009-01-24T06:42:00.000-08:00

Hundreds of couples marry in Sweden’s Ice Hotel every year; the 91-room structure, created in winter, melts to the ground by summer

SWEDEN: The temperatures are sub-zero, the walls are covered with snow, there are no doors or bathrooms.

Every bit of furniture, even the crockery, is carved out of ice.
The Jukkasjaervi Ice Hotel is expected to host over 150 weddings before the summer, when it will melt back into the river.

Every year just as winter begins, a team of snow builders, architects and artists from across the world gather at Jukkasjaervi, a small town far north of the Arctic Circle.

The hotel is created over a 6,000 sq m area using ice from the nearby Torne River, and stands from December to April.

The hotel also has a tiny chapel where, just as in the rooms, the temperature is minus five degrees Celsius.

Yet hundreds of couples brave the chill to have a memorable ceremony. They’re brought into the chapel in sleighs pulled by reindeer.

The food at the reception is served in bowls carved out of ice as the couples raise a toast using ice glasses.

That’s one well-iced cake!

Bush Twins Advise Obama's Girls

2009-01-21T05:49:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama's Daughters Sasha and Malia Obama at the inauguration

WASHINGTON: Just in time for move-in day, the Bush twins offered their best advice Tuesday to Sasha and Malia Obama on living in a "magical place" called the White House.In an open letter to the Obama kids, 27-year-olds Barbara and Jenna Bush advised the girls to relish it all — to "go to anything and everything you possibly can"."Just go," they wrote in a letter published in the Wall Street Journal. "Four years goes by so fast, so absorb it all, enjoy it all!"

The twins reminisced about their favourite memories of the White House, and gave plenty of specific advice, too, to seven-year-old Sasha and 10-year-old Malia:

>>Surround yourselves with loyal friends.
>>Trick-or-treat down the plane aisle if you're travelling on Halloween.
>>Cherish your pets "because sometimes you'll need the quiet comfort that only animals can provide."
>>And this: "Slide down the banister of the solarium, go to T-ball games, have swimming parties, and play Sardines on the White House lawn. Have fun and enjoy your childhood in such a magical place to live and play."

Daddy's the best

The twins turned serious at the end, recalling how the public image of their own father got distorted over the years.

"He is our father, not the sketch in the paper or part of a skit on TV," they wrote.
As for the Obama girls' dad, they added, "Many people will think they know him, but they have no idea how he felt the day you were born, the pride he felt on your first day of school, or how much you both love being his daughters. So here is our most important piece of advice: remember who your dad really is."

Barack Hussein Obama Was on Tuesday Sworn in as America's 44th President

2009-01-21T05:05:00.000-08:00

Obama is administered the oath of office as the 44th US President by Chief Justice John Roberts with his wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha by his side.

Barack Hussein Obama was on Tuesday sworn in as America's 44th President, bringing a message of hope to a nation hungry for change after eight years of George W Bush regime.
The 47-year-old first African-American to enter to the White House, Obama was sworn in by the US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts at noon at the Capitol Hill.

Anil Ambani, A Regular At The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon

2009-01-19T07:35:00.000-08:00

Some things never change. Anil Ambani, a regular at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, is seen here practising on Saturday (18th Jan 2009) morning at Marine Drive

Circus Arts in Goa Had Performers From Across the World Participate in InJuCo

2009-01-12T06:43:00.000-08:00

Circus arts gained centrestage in Goa last week as performers from across the world participated in InJuCo, the Indian Juggling Convention, started by a German national in India

The moment you step into InJuCo you realise you've stepped into a whole new world that isn't anything like the one we've been living in all these years. People are artists, work is play and smiling, a way of being. For those who don't know what InJuCo is, it's short for the Indian Juggling Convention that took place in Goa all of last week. And for those who don't know what a Juggling Convention is, well, it's time you quit your job, join in and find out for yourself. I did!

At first, you maybe blinded by the dreadlocks, tattoos and piercings all around but once you get over that you'll start noticing the real essence behind all this hippy-ness. Simply put, it's a space where artists — jugglers, acrobats, fire dancers, staff and poi spinners, clowns, street artists, healers and musicians — come together to showcase their talent, develop their skills and selflessly share their magic with all those around. This is addiction taken to a whole different level. They practise relentlessly, from morning to night. There are times when the hoola refuses to spin anymore, the staff knocks the spinner hard on the head and the three colourful balls fall straight to the floor after their many-attempted flights of fantasy — but the artist doesn't stop. He's at it from morning to night. You'll always see a ball balancing on a juggler's head and a pen rotating between a staff spinner's fingers — be it when he's eating a meal, indulging in conversation or just sitting idle. Their art has not only become part of their lives but part of themselves as well.

"India needed a space for artists to come together. That's what InJuCo is all about. A space where artists meet, explore and exchange ideas," says Tom Heine, a German national who started InJuCo last year for the first time in India. "What I like most about conventions are the innocent child-like smiles on each face. We sometimes forget how important it is to play. And what could be better than learning to master your game from some of the best artists of the world."

It may seem like a completely international event with just a handful of local participants, which isn't much of a surprise as circus arts has not really been the most popular thing we've seen while growing up. But it's interesting to notice that one of the key organisers of the event, Lata Seth, 27, is an Indian, born and brought up in Pune. She has been performing for over 10 years, in India and internationally, and attends as many international conventions as she can in a year. "Performing, for me, is meditative. It takes care of my physical and emotional well-being," says Lata. "While practising you don't think as you have to be focused and that helps you to always live in the present."

The convention is a completely non-profit event. The artists conduct workshops for free. Every evening sees hair-raising performances, which are also free. And the core team works voluntarily to organise the convention. "It's all about your love for the arts and selfless giving. Internationally renowned artists come here, but not for the money, just for the pleasure of teaching, of passing on the magic," says Lata.

Last year the proceeds were handed over to Lion's Club for a community service project but this year the plan is to open a fund for InJuCo, which will help the convention to sustain itself each year. "InJuCo is just a start. My vision is to build a village of local and international artists; where people from all over the world come together. Art is communication — communication is understanding — and when there is understanding, there is peace," philosophizes Tom.

InJuCo in its humble avatar shares its spirit with its artists — modest yet overwhelming. No grand advertising, no great PR activities and no, I wasn't 'assigned' to write this story. I was part of InJuCo, I learnt well and the little I can do is to try to pass on the magic. Keep playing.

Source: Mid-day

Fly a 'Dhoni' for Rs 10, This Sankranti

2009-01-11T06:06:00.000-08:00

Ranchi: Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's popularity is touching the skies — literally. Kites with images of his face rule the market.

"I am unable to meet the demands of the Dhoni kite," said Mohammad Talib, who has been making and selling kites in this Jharkhand capital for years.

"Every day I prepare around 1,500 kites with photos of Dhoni. But I get over 2,000 young customers daily asking for these kites."

Shakar Singh, another kite maker, said, "All children come for Dhoni kites. Children and the youth are crazy to buy Dhoni kites and they are ready to pay any amount for it."Various clubs in Ranchi are organising kite flying competitions to mark Makar Sankranti on January 14.

"Dhoni is the pride of Jharkhand, and we love to see Dhoni kites flying in the sky," said Rizu Sen, a Class VII student.

Each Dhoni kite sells for Rs 10 and above. — Agencies

A Man Prepares To Fly a Huge Kite Ahead of The 18th International Kite Festival

2009-01-10T06:10:00.000-08:00

A Man Prepares To Fly a Huge Windsock Kite Ahead of The 18th International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad on Wednesday (January 14)

About 200participants from India and abroad are expected to take part in the festival which begins on saturday.

Big Plans For Wankhede Stadium, Getting Ready to Host the 2011 World Cup Cricket Final in Style (View Pictures)

2009-01-07T05:43:00.000-08:00

Next time you enter the Wankhede Stadium...... in 2011, it will look like this if all goes according to plan for the people behind the development

View Some Artist Graphic Images of how The Wankhede Stadium would Look after the Face-lift

Elevators that carry maximum of 20 people at a time will be used in North and South stands. Twenty such lifts are planned

A view of players dressing room with showers EOF8

Plush corporate boxes

The players’ dressing room (above the sight screen) and MCA President box (above the dressing room) at the Pavilion end

KEY MEN: Shashi Prabhu and Prof Ratnakar Shetty

MUMBAI is getting ready to host the 2011 World Cup cricket final in style — at a new and improved Wankhede Stadium which will now have colourful bucket seats and more facilities for spectators.

The plans indicate that spectators can look forward to some comfortable cricket-viewing at the stadium which was first built in quick time (11 months, 23 days) to host the fifth and final India vs West Indies Test in January 1975. Test cricket in Mumbai was played at the Brabourne Stadium prior to the 1974-75 series which ended 3-2 in favour of the West Indians.

In March 2011, cricket lovers will throng to the Wankhede to witness the finale."It was a challenge for us to comply with the guidelines set by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for international matches because there isn't much space to make any major changes," says architect Shashi Prabhu. Prof Ratnakar Shetty, the Mumbai Cricket Association Honorary Treasurer informed that the entire cost of the Wankhede redevelopment would work out to the tune of Rs 130 to 140 crore.

While cricket lovers can look forward to a plush and comfortable stadium, the capacity has been increased by only 4000."

We could not do much with the East and West Stands (due to railway lines and residential buildings on either sides respectively). That is why we decided to increase the height of the other two stands (North and South stand) to 24.95 metres as compared to the earlier 10.25m. It will be a multi-level stadium," added Prabhu.

The new structure will have a capacity of 39,000 spectators as compared to the earlier 35,000. "Our main aim was to give every spectator a clear view of the match, apart from comfort and world-class facilities. We have designed it in such a way that everyone can see the ball crossing the boundary line from any corner of the ground."

Asked about the not-so-substantial increase in capacity, Shetty said: "This is a redevelopment project. We have space constraints and so there was not much scope to increase capacity."

One of the highlights of the stadium is the suspended cantilever roofs. The Teflon fabric roof is lighter in weight and is also heat resistant. There will be no beam support for the roof so the spectators will have a better view. On the roof there will be exhaust fans to suck the hot air from the stands and allow the breeze from the West to flow in. The stadium will have 20 elevators for North and South stands.

There will be ramps for physically challenged people. Prabhu promises to have good toilets and spacious snack bars and a better drainage system. Water soaking will become much faster because of ejecto pumps. The men piloting the project are confident work will be over well before the December 2010 deadline.

Old

* Capacity: 35,000

* Narrow benches

* Staircases

* Badly maintained toilets

* Poor food stalls

* Ineffective drainage system

* Hot asbestos roof

New

* Capacity: 39,000

* Comfortable bucket seats

* Lifts, ramps for the handicapped

* Clean and spacious toilets

* Proper and spacious food stalls

* Ejecto pumps

* Teflon heat resistant roof

Pictorial Tribute to India's Cricketing Stalwart, Kapil Dev on His 50th Birthday

2009-01-06T05:07:00.000-08:00

Indian fans cannot conceal their joy and lift their hero to celebrate India’s third Test win over Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground

Lifting the Prudential World Cup watched by Man of the Match Mohinder Amarnath

PIC COURTESY: Patrick Eagar EOF8

Enjoying a joke at a function with Mohammed Azharuddin, who had just come into the Indian team

Being prsented a bouquet by actor Deepti Naval during India’s tour of the United Kingdom

One of the earliest photographs of Kapil Dev — during a Ranji Trophy game in Mumbai, 1977

Celebrating after equalling Richard Hadlee’s 431-wicket mark in Bangalore

Family Cracks Record of 50 Generations! Traces History Back to 600 AD

2008-11-19T05:54:00.000-08:00

Dani clan from Saurashtra traces history back to 600 AD; has applied to Limca and Guinness record books for recognition.

Devanshu Dani - left - points to the first member of the family, while Jayesh Dani points to the last. The 2 are residents of Borivli. A 5-member committee traced the clan to Anang Sha who migrated from Rajan to Gujrat

In a rare event, a Gujarati family has traced 50 generations and has now created a family tree, which, members claim, dates back to the seventh century.

The Danis, who hail from Saurashtra, had a grand get-together of over 500 family members from across the world at Mahuwa in Gujarat on November 2 where they formed the Dani Kutumb Mandal and released a copy of their family tree. The family is now aiming for recognition in the Limca Book of Records and Guinness World Records and has approached their authorities.

The 500 members of the Dani family at the get-together at Mahuwa, Gujarat, on November 2

HOW IT STARTED
“It struck us that we had a many about our recent generations. We decided to start working on our family history and held get-togethers (as many as 10),” said the Kutumb Mandal chairman Jayesh Dani. Initially a five-member committee was formed.

The committee approached the family’s elders and got talking to them about their history. In fact, from just one member they got the list of a few generations.

It wasn’t tough getting contact details of those abroad as the Gujarati community keeps a directory which mentions each member. The process took 18 months and at the end of it, the family had been traced to 50 generations. “It was a Herculean task, but the fruits were sweet,” said Jayesh Dani.

HOW THE DANIS TRAVELLED
The Dani family has traced their clan up to Anang Sha (about 600 AD) who migrated from the then marketplace of Ajmer in Rajasthan to Palanpur in Gujarat.

His primary task was to collect transit tax on goods — roughly 2.5 per cent of the goods. At the end of the day, he was required to sell off the collected goods and deposit the proceeds to the state treasury. He would get commission from the proceeds.

The family moved from Palanpur and Patan in Gujarat. The Danis stayed put in Patan, which was one of the richest towns in India then, despite plundering by Mohammed Ghazani, but later moved to Sri Nagar, which was then known as Paar-Khar (beyond desert). The family moved to Saurashtra around 1420 AD and then struck roots there. The long journey of the Danis thus ended at Gohilwad, Saurashtra, where many of the current descendants of the family live.

ORIGINS OF THE SURNAME
There were three main sources of income for the state — Aan, Dan and Khan (taxes and mining). The Danis had the responsibility of collecting transit dues on commerce within state. Those who collected taxes were named Dani. The task entrusted to the Danis was to collect 2.5 per cent tax on goods transiting through the state.

HOW THEY ARE PLACED TODAY
The Danis are now spread across the world. At the Dani Kutumb Mandal Mahotsav held at their native place in Mahuwa in Saurashtra, over 500 Danis from UK, US, Dubai and Singapore came to celebrate the family history.

The mandal’s general secretary Devanshu Dani said, “We had organised musical nights, game shows along with cultural programmes and navchandi yagna to attract youngsters. Every member took part in all the programmes. Now we will approach Limca Book of Records and Guinness World Records.”

Danis arranged various games to keep the family entertained

Devanshu Dani performs the Navchandi yagna

Locals at Mahwa village welcome the Danis

Source: Mumbai Mirror

The Loo With a View

2008-11-14T07:07:00.000-08:00

The loo in Terminal 3 of Changi airport at Singapore is a planespotter’s paradise

The loo in Tasman Saddle Hut, South Island, New Zealand gives a view from the edge

Peeing while guarding the Alcatraz prison in San Francisco, USA, would have been a tough task

The Toilet from the Tengboche Monastery in Nepal offers a great view of Mount Everest

The Tigers Who Swim With Humans

2008-11-08T06:55:00.000-08:00

Interaction - Tigers are known as the best swimmers of all the big cats with modified webbing between their toes to make their feet more like flippers

Hand-reared tigers at animal park in US get their exercise in a special pool with humans

MIAMI (USA): An animal park has found a unique way to develop bonds between humans and tigers. Traditionally, trainers have struggled to build an attachment with tigers because of the sheer bulk of the animals. But the Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species, or TIGER, claims to have overcome the problem by encouraging both tigers and humans to swim together in a specially adapted pool.

Although a number of wildlife parks have encouraged the animals to swim for exercise, the routine has usually consisted of little more than trainers throwing lumps of meat into the water for the tigers to collect.

'Not dangerous'

Bhagavan Antle, director of the centre, said he wanted to give the 90 kg, two metre long creatures an opportunity to exercise properly without giving them meat. Antle has about 200 animals at the TIGER park. The hand-reared tigers are introduced to the water a few months after birth and the trainers then give one-on-one tuition to each of the animals. But despite the apparent danger, he said his trainers are never at risk. "We found that in the water people and tigers were on a more equal footing when the tiger was swimming around on top of the person. As they were floating, we could manipulate them more easily because they couldn't stand up on their back legs."

The World's Remotest School

2008-11-04T06:52:00.000-08:00

Dangerous: Children walking to the school. The path is only 1 ft 4 inches wide at its narrowest

It's up a Chinese cliff and takes five hours to reachbeijing: Children in a remote part of China face a hazardous walk to school —because it is halfway up a sheer cliff.The school in Gulu village, Sichuan province, lies halfway up a mountain and climbing up from the base takes five hours.The elementary school has only one teacher who has been there for 26 years. Villagers say going to school is very dangerous for the children, since the path is only 1ft 4ins wide at the narrowest point and has a sheer drop on one side.Walking along the narrow, zigzagging path also makes the children feel dizzy. The school has five concrete buildings and a playground with a basketball hoop made of two wooden poles and a broken blackboard.However, the children are allowed to only pat the balls, as if they throw them and they go over the edge of the cliff, it would take half a day to retrieve them.Shen Qijun (45), who teaches Chinese and Math, but says only two students have gone on to university because of the isolation. "The students have never seen computers, cars or even flushing toilets."

Sushi Eaten Off Sexy Woman Model

2008-10-29T06:41:00.000-07:00

Comfort food: Diners eat the raw fish off a model
That's just how it was done in film Sx and the City

London: Sushi was eaten off a Sexy woman model, in a scene straight out of Sx And The City, for the launch of a new Japanese restaurant at a hotel.

Guests ate the raw fish delicacy off model Becky Wu, who recreated the pose opening of the V-Sushi bar of the Vincent Hotel. In the Sx and The City film Samantha, played by Kim Cattrall, strips off and covers herself in sashimi as a Valentine's Day treat for her partner Smith.

The Vincent designer hotel opened its doors earlier this year and the owners chose to open a Japanese restaurant to appeal to the influx of Asian guests.

Diners were treated to a meal served off Sexy model while saki was handed out by Geisha girls. One diner said, "The food was fantastic and I've never seen such a sexy table. We were just chatting when suddenly this stunning girl stripped off in front of us and climbed onto a table. "Staff put about 10 or 11 different starters over her body for people to try."

Travis Fessler: The Man Who Kept 11 Live Cockroaches in his Mouth

2008-10-20T03:07:00.000-07:00

Yuck: The cockroaches Travis Fessler put in his mouth were at least 2.5 inches long

Kentucky (USA): Have you ever seen a cockroach scamper across the living room floor and wondered, just what is the record for the most cockroaches in someone's mouth? No?

Well, that didn't stop Travis Fessler from the American state of Kentucky from claiming his moment of fame. Fessler knew the record was nine. But Fessler thought that if he just did 10, it would only encourage someone else to break it. So, he got 11 cockroaches of the Madagascar hissing variety, all at least 2.5 inches long, and held them in his mouth for the required 10 seconds (those are the roach rules). Another rule: The bugs had to come out alive. They did. He now eagerly awaits word from Guinness.

Put on Your Thinking Cap - Headgear That Could Unlock the Hidden Genius in You

2008-10-02T03:23:00.000-07:00

Scientists have developed new stimulating headgear that could unlock the hidden genius in you...

They say the spark of genius lurks within all of us. Now, a group of researchers is developing a “thinking cap” that can make the notion a reality and unlock the potential of the brain. The revolutionary device works by switching on and off certain sections of the brain, thereby unlocking its hidden potential.

Wearing the hairnet-like cap for a few minutes improved artistic ability and proofreading skills, trials found.

Once perfected, the device could be marketed as a cap slipped on to boost creativity and intellectual capacity. The technique is based on research into savants – people like the character played by Dustin Hoffman in the film Rainman, who have extraordinary abilities as well as severe mental disability.

The cap can reproduce the same affect by careful targeting of the magnetic pulses allows over or under-active parts of the brain to be calmed down or jump-started.

Professor Allan Snyder at Sydney University believes the experiments show that we all have hidden talents, but we just have trouble tapping into them.

“I believe that each of us has, within us, non-conscious machinery which can do extraordinary art, extraordinary memory and extraordinary mathematical calculations,” he said.

“We don’t normally access these skills because they are the machinery behind our daily lives and everything we do. “My theory is that there is a lot happening and maybe you could see it by shutting off that conscious part of the brain,” he added.

The researchers used a cap equipped with magnetic coil to zap the left side of the brain. This side generally sees the “bigger picture” and suppresses the detail-hoarding right side. In one experiment, volunteers were asked to draw a dog, horse or face from memory before and after being zapped for ten to 15 minutes. Four of the 11 volunteers produced more natural pictures after wearing the cap. And two also spotted more written mistakes in pieces of text that they’d overlooked earlier, the researchers said.

HOW IT WORKS
A cap containing a magnet that’s is connected to an electric current is placed on the head. The magnet – in the shape of an eight – is made up of a bundle of intertwined wires, and is located near the left ear.

The headgear generates tiny magnetic pulses that disturb the electric circuits on the left side of the brain, which is known to see the bigger picture. The stronger left side usually suppresses the detail-hoarding right side.

Since the right side remains undisturbed, details filed there come to the fore to create a burst of creative, mathematical, or other talent

Natalie Adler: The Woman Who Turns Blind 3 Days a Week

2008-09-29T07:05:00.000-07:00

Open and shut case: Natalie Adler tries to cram as much as she can into her open eye days, which are marked in her diary months ahead

Melbourne: An Australian woman becomes blind for three days a week when her eyes clamp shut voluntarily for the period and she can't open them, a baffling medical condition according to experts.

Natalie Adler (21), who doctors believe may be the only person in the world with this condition, has been living with the extraordinary visual impairment for four years.

"My eyes are closed for three days and then open for three days," said Adler. "I go to bed and I can open my eyes, and then when I wake up the next day I can't," she explained adding, "Nobody knows why."

During 'closed eye days' her eyes are completely shut, except for a small slit in her left eye. On 'open eye days' they function normally, although the left eyelid sometimes droops. Adler tries to cram as much as she can into those good days, which are marked in her diary months ahead. "On my 18th birthday my eyes were closed but on my 21st they were open, so I had a party," she said.

The Pooch With Bionic Leg Worth Rs 8 Lakh in UK

2008-09-20T02:10:00.000-07:00

LONDON: What do you call a dog whose one leg alone is worth over Rs 8 lakh? His owner Reg Walker — the man who spent this whopping sum on him — calls him Coal.

Coal is one of two animals in the world to be fitted with a unique bionic limb costing £10,000 (approx Rs 8,26,000), which was a result of groundbreaking research.

Last year, Coal had to have his left paw amputated after suffering from cancer. But when doctors told Walker that the eight-year-old American bulldog would have to be put down since his other limbs weren’t strong enough to carry his weight, he was determined to do all he could to save Coal.

Walker, a top security expert in the music industry, said: “When I found out about Coal I was gutted. He goes everywhere with me — he goes on tour, he's the only dog to have allowed into Live 8 and the only dog that has ever been backstage at the Royal Albert Hall.” The advanced prosthetic technique was used to help a victim of the 7/7 London bombings. Experts say it is the only implant in the world that allows skin and bone to grow into it. “It is the holy grail of research,” Vet Noel Fitzpatrick said to the Enfield Independent. “If you have an accident and your bone sticks out through your shin, skin will try to grow round it. People have been trying for this for years and years because with this we get an umbrella of skin attached to the metal.”

And while researchers are thrilled with this breakthrough, Coal and Walker are just happy to be together. “Now he has an absolutely normal quality of life, which he wouldn't have had before.”

The 90-Year-Old Who Has Cheated Death 14 Times!

2008-09-20T01:46:00.000-07:00

The Lukiest man on Earth, Alec Alder survived four car crashes, three wartime bombings and even a plane crashing into his room.

LONDON: Alec Alder has survived car crashes, war-time bombing and has even walked away after a fighter jet smashed into the side of his house as he slept. Other escapes include a 15ft fall from a tree in 1926 and a close shave when he avoided being sent to Dunkirk in 1939 — where his whole squadron were killed. Now, the grandfather of six from Stroud says he must be the “luckiest fella alive” and is amazed he has made it to 90. The first of his near-death experie n c e s came as a 10-year-old, when he was hit by a car as he cycled down a narrow lane. Alder said, “I went around the corner and there was a car in front of me. I went straight into the car, up into the air and landed spread-eagle on the bonnet.” The driver turned out to be a doctor who was able to treat him at the scene and save his life.

Later, he managed to avoid getting wiped out in Dukirk during World Ward II. In 1942, he was taking part in military training exercises in Yorkshire, when he was run over by a tank. “It had gone over my foot when the engine stopped. If he had gone further, he would have killed me.”

Later that year, he survived a plane crash into his room. “It only missed my head by inches. The roof collapsed around me and the plane burst into flames and crashed into the garden,” he said.

Towards the end of the war, Alder was sent to Burma where he broke his leg playing football. He was sent to a hospital in India where a ward matron converted him to Christianity. He said, “She said, ‘You’re giving only five per cent of your time to God, but He wants a hundred per cent.’

ALEC’S 14 NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES
1926 Fell 15ft from a tree
1929 Collided head-on with a car and landed on the bonnet.
1939 Narrowly avoided death in Dunkirk as his company was changed due to his wedding
1940 Bombed as he guarded an airfield in Kent
1940 Bombed again
1942 A runaway tank’s engine stalled seconds before crushing him to death
1942 Almost hit by a plane that crashed into his room
1943 Avoided being destroyed after the engine on his ship cut out amidst German U-boats
1944 Threatened with being shot by a soldier in Burma
1944 Avoided being killed by the enemy in Burma after a fracture landed him in hospital
1945 Nearly sunk by a ferocious storm off Gibraltar
1947 Avoided being crushed in his car by a lorry
1977 Survived a head-on road collision because the other clipped the kerb.
1997 Nearly hit by doors that swung open on the lorry in front of him while driving

Cat Man: The Man Who Underwent Surgery to Look Like a Tiger

2008-09-12T02:15:00.000-07:00

Dennis Avner works as a computer programmer

London: He has surgically pointed ears, sharpened teeth, implanted whiskers and tiger tattoos covering his entire body and face. Cat Man, whose real name is Dennis Avner (50), is an American computer programmer by day, and a feline by night. Dennis has devoted much of his life to transforming himself into a tiger and now likes to be known simply as Cat. Claiming he has the soul of a tiger, he even eats raw meat and climbs trees to feel more at one with his animal friends. Cat was in London to publicise the new Ripley's Believe It Or Not! museum. Cat has spent a fortune on changing his face and body into that of a cat, but doesn't regret it.

20 surgeries

He said, "My work began in 1985, when I had tattoo work on my face. Since then I have spent an uncalculated amount on my transformation to tiger, including around 20 operations on my face to recreate my upper lip, implant silicone in my cheeks and implants to enlarge my brow and forehead. "I also have several piercings that I can attach whiskers."

Double life

Cat lives a double life, being a human at work and a cat on weekends. He said, "During the day, I'm like any other man who works in an office. The only difference is I look like a cat. "My free time is when I behave like a tiger. I love climbing trees, but as I get older I'm finding that that's not an easy job." Having so far failed to find his perfect mate, Cat is still on the prowl for a woman to share his life with. He says, "I'm seeing a couple of women now. They understand that being a tiger is important to me, which is difficult for many women to cope with."

More Images of Cat Man Dennis Avner

Pictures of Cat Man-Dennis Avner

The World's Largest Pencil

2008-07-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

This is a photograph of the World's Largest Pencil, a Castell 9000 located at Faber-Castell's facility in Malaysia near Kuala Lumpur. This pencil is nearly 65 feet tall and is housed in a glass enclosure. Completed in 2002, it is made from Malaysian lumber, fitted from small pieces tongue-and-groove fashion. Once the first half was built, a German-made polymer lead running the full length was inserted and the remainder was built, then sanded and finished. The project required over 7000 man-hours over a two year period to complete. The pencil is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest.

The previous record holder:- Is also from Faber-Castell, Germany. The Giant Grip 2001 Pencil is shown with Count Anton Wolfgang von Faber-Castell in front of the family castle at Stein near Nuremberg. It is triangular in shape, 12 m in length, weighing approximately 600 kg, and made of Weymouth Pine. The lead is genuine graphite about 12 cm in diameter.

Wow!!! A Car that Runs Solely on Water.

2008-06-24T12:30:00.000-07:00

TOKYO: Tired of petrol prices rising daily at the pump? A Japanese company has invented an electric-powered, and environmentally-friendly car that it says runs solely on water.

Genepax said that a litre of any kind of water – rain, river or sea – is all you will need to get the engine going for about an hour at a speed of 80 km.

“The car will continue to run as long as you have a bottle of water to top up from time to time,” Genepax CEO Kiyoshi Hirasawa said. “It does not require you to build up an infrastructure to recharge your batteries, which is usually the case for most electric cars,” he added.

Once the water is poured into the tank at the back of the car, a generator breaks it down and uses it to create electrical power.

The company said that a proprietary unit splits the water into hydrogen and oxygen using a chemical reaction, which provides fuel for a hydrogen fuel cell to run the car.

It also insists that the new process produces hydrogen from water for a longer time than the existing method.

Genepax informed that power is generated by its Water Energy System (WES) by supplying water and air to the fuel and air electrodes, the system being similar to that of a standard fuel cell.

Its fuel cell system – the company added – has an output of 300W. Genepax has mounted this system in the luggage room of a compact electric vehicle ‘Reva’, manufactured by Takeoka Mini Car Products Co Ltd.

Now, Genepax is planning to provide 1kw-class generation systems for use in electric vehicles and for residential applications.

While the current production cost is about $18,522 (Rs 8 lakh approx), it is estimated to be reduced to $5,000 and even lower if the company succeeds in mass production. ANI

The invisible threat - We can’t live without them, but can we really live with them?

2008-06-24T11:52:00.000-07:00

We can’t live without them, but can we really live with them? Find out how gadgets like mobiles and laptops could be seriously affecting our health.

It’s difficult to imagine life without the cellphone or the laptop. From being luxury gizmos earlier, they are almost human appendages now, attached to us 24x7. But are we paying a huge price for our dependence on such electronic items?

Recently, a Jawaharlal Nehru University pilot study found that 20 rats subject to mobile phone radiation had damaged DNA and low sperm count. And last week, the Union health ministry commissioned the first largescale study of the effects of radio frequency radiation from mobile phones on humans. With 250 million mobile phone subscribers currently in India, and many more using other appliances like television, computer, vacuum cleaner, microwave etc, the fear is that these ‘essentials’ of life may actually be posing a big health risk because of their electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

As such, research has not yet established anything definite about the impact of EMFs on the human body. They are everywhere, though we cannot sense them. Almost all electronic equipment have EMFs and we are constantly bombarded by the radiation from these fields. But then, not all EMFs have an impact. Only those with high frequencies —2mG (milliGauss) and above—cause the maximum harm. And these are usually found in appliances that we use on a daily basis—microwaves, cordless phones, computer monitors, fax machines, cellphones, cellphone towers, hair dryers and so on.

Cancer connection?

Various international studies have tried to establish the link between EMFs and some diseases. Doctors believe that constant exposure to high frequency EMFs leads to digestive disorders, fatigue, hypertension, insomnia, irritability, low blood pressure, infertility in males, cancer, neurological and cardiovascular problems. A Swedish study in 1993 demonstrated a 1.7 times higher risk of leukaemia in adults and a 2.7 times higher risk for childhood leukaemia from exposure to EMFs. A few years back, the California Department of Health Services concluded after a seven-year study that EMF exposure is a risk factor for childhood leukaemia.

The threat is real and omnipresent. Says oncologist Dr Ramananda Nadig, president, Health Care Global-Triesta Sciences, Bangalore, “Most, if not all, electrical appliances that emit EMFs, are harmful to a certain extent. While they may not be initiators of a malignant change, there is every likelihood that they promote/augment such a change. The more people are exposed, the greater the risk. That is why it’s important that we be cautious of EMFs.”

In recent years, experts hav been studying the impact of cellphones and cellphone towers on the h u m a n body, and the initial research results have not been too comforting. An Australian neurosurgeon of Indian origin, Dr Vini Khurana, recently published a research paper on the link between mobiles and brain cancer. He said using mobiles for over 10 years could more than double the risk of brain cancer. Mobile phone radiation, he says, could heat the side of the head or thermoelectrically interact with the brain, while Bluetooth devices and “unshielded” headsets could “convert the user’s head into an effective, potentially self-harming antenna”.

Similarly, cellphone towers are a cause of concern. A 2005 study by Gursatej Gandhi, a researcher in the Human Genetics Department, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, found that “exposure to radio frequency (RF) signals generated by the use of cellular phones has increased dramatically and is reported to affect physiological, neurological, cognitive and behavioural changes and to induce, initiate and promote carcinogenesis….”

Price of progress

Khurana admits that a link between mobiles and brain cancer has still not been definitely proven because mobiles have been in use only in the two decades and it takes years for solid tumours to form. Nevertheless, there is reason to be worried. Says Nadig, “There are currently over three billion cellphone users worldwide. In India, the numbers are equally big and they are growing by the day. We don’t realise it but holding the phone close to the brain regularly, increases our chances of brain tumour.” What is further worrying is the fact that children as young as three years are exposed to cellphones and their growing tissues are much more vulnerable to harmful radiation.Yet, most experts agree that the maximum harm is caused when the cellphone is used constantly and over a long period of time.

While cellphones can be monitored — they can be switched off or used on speaker mode — there is no way the mushrooming cellphone towers can be controlled. “The EMF generated from the tower is 24X7 and is of a much higher frequency. They are a huge threat,” says Ravinder Kohli, professor, centre for environment, Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Dr Howard W Fisher, a Toronto-based natural physician, has been vocal about the invisible threat to health from EMF radiation. And his concern is voiced in his bestselling books, The Invisible Threat series. “EMF radiation is a serious health risk and unfortunately, we are not aware of it. To spend 60 minutes in a wi-fi environment is equal to 20 minutes on a cellphone. If the EMF radiations can penetrate concrete walls and cellphones can work in basements, then there is no reason why they can’t penetrate human tissues,” reasons Fisher. On a recent visit to the country, he was alarmed by the number of power transmitters in residential areas and markets. They are dangerous, he says. “I was horrified to see children playing close to the transmitters. They have such powerful EMFs. I am sure people who live close to them would be suffering from irritation, fatigue and various other problems,” points out Fisher.

What is interesting is that the extent of the harm caused differs from individual to individual. Some people may be affected more, while it may take years for some others to develop a disease.
But not everybody feels that there is any reason to worry. Says Dr Anusheel Munshi, professor, radiation oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, “While too much exposure to EMFs is usually not good, till we have concrete proof of a correlation between cellphones and cancer, there is no cause for immediate alarm.” Besides, some people feel that a protective device, currently available in the market, can minimise the harmful rays. “The MRET polymer chip significantly reduces the damage caused by EMF,” informs Fisher.

Yet, the health risks from EMFs cannot be completely ruled out. There’s no escape from them in a world that is so dependent on all things electronic. Perhaps, what is required is some bit of caution.

A leopard tries to escape the rising level of water, due to rain

2008-06-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

WISH I COULD FLY!

A leopard tries to escape the rising level of water, due to rain over the past 72 hours at the Zoological Park in Jamshedpur on Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The 70-year-old with the world's smallest waist - just 15 inches

2008-06-17T11:34:00.001-07:00

Pensioner Cathie Jung has worn tight-fitting corsets for years to become the woman with the world's smallest waist.

The super-fit 70-year-old has a tiny waist which measures just 15in (38cm) - making her figure distinctly hourglass.

The Queen of Corsets, as she has aptly named herself, appears in the new edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.

But the super-thin 70-year-old insists there is no, ahem, corset for concern. Grandmother Cathie is perfectly healthy despite having a midriff that can be reduced to the size of a large mayonnaise jar.

And having the smallest living person’s waistline has got her into the new edition of the Guinness Book Of Records. Cathie’s astonishing 39-15-39 figure is the result of spending the last 25 years laced into tight corsets, which only come off when she showers.

Cathie, from Manteo, North Carolina, reckons that while her corsets restrict her waist they don’t hold her back from everyday tasks. She said: “I do everything that I want to do. I eat fairly small meals but I prefer that at my age anyway. I find it tricky sitting in low chairs and sometimes in restaurants I have to sit on the high chairs at the bar.

“I even have a special swimming costume with a corset sewn in it, so I can still go to the beach. And I am still able to do housework — unfortunately!”

Cathie’s husband Bob is an orthopaedic surgeon and he reckons his wife’s unique look does her no harm.

She said: “Bob has carried out X-rays on me and says the corset actually helps support my spine. Everything in the midriff is flexible."

Wooden Sculpture Images

2008-06-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

Cheat's Guide to Looking Thin ( ner )

2008-06-13T21:50:00.000-07:00

Few secrets that will help you appear at least one size smaller

So you’ve worked out for six months, but still haven’t reached your target weight? Stylist Ekta Rajani shares her tricks-of-the-trade to help you hide the bulge and flaunt the assets. Ladies, queue-up shape-wise

PEAR-SHAPED

Your upper body isn’t much of a problem, but you’d like to take attention away from the hips and waist (to a lesser extent).

Rajani says:

• Try straight-cut jeans, but not tapered cigarette pants.

• In skirts, go for soft fabrics such as medium-weight crepes, lycra-blends, corduroys, etc, that fit well on the hips and fall gently away with only a hint of a flare.

• Sit the pants or skirts under the navel. Opt for clean waist-bands, sans pleats which add bulk.

• Widen the neckline of tops and kurtas with boat or cowl necks or off-shoulders.

Experiment with details such as dualtoned embroidery, gathers, smocking at the shoulders etc. These jazz up your outfit and draw attention upwards. • In dresses, the empire line camouflages hips. Choose a length based on your leg-shape. • Dress in different shades of the same colour family (such as blue and greens); too many coloured separates will only highlight the hips.

APPLE-SHAPED

If you have a heavier upper body, you’re apple-shaped. The waist and hips are your biggest problem and you need to lengthen your upper body and accentuate your lower body and legs.

Rajani says

• Cigarette or slim pants direct attention downwards to your more slender side. Keep the pants simple with no gathers, waistbands, pleats or pockets that direct attention to the waist.

• Try pencil-skirts which add length.

• Don’t buy over-sized tops and kurtas, yet ensure they aren’t figure hugging. Straight cuts are best. Your tops should end either just below the hip or at mid-hip level.

• V- necks, wide necks, surface details that run vertically elongate the neckline and make your torso look slimmer.

PLEASANTLY PLUMP

If you’re well-endowed all over. Don’t reject it; work with it.

Rajani says

• Stand in front of a mirror and be completely honest. Give yourself credit by identifying the areas could be accentuated. Now build a wardrobe that has individual pieces that enhance your focal point(s).

• Wear sleeveless shirts if you have well toned arms.

• Keep a clean well-fitting shoulder line to look leaner.

• Experiment with different printed fabrics for tops such as prints. In bottoms, opt for medium-weight fabrics.

• Accessorise by focusing only on one area. When wearing a beautiful necklace, let that be the centre of attention.

TIPS FOR EVERYONE

• While hem-lengths depend on the season, knee-length is a classic. Any woman, of any height, can carry it off.

• Invest in at least one great fitting, crisp shirt in white, black or just your favourite colour. • No outfit is complete without accessories. Every season, invest in at least two bags.

• Stop slouching and stand tall and you’ll make a great impression, irrespective of your body-type.

Most Amazing Paintings Done On Roads

2008-06-13T13:25:00.000-07:00

The Man Who Survived Fall From 47-Storey Building

2008-06-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

Left: Pic of Alcides Moreno Right: Pic of the building he fell from

Alcides Moreno and his brother were cleaning windows when cables connecting their cleaning platform to the roof failed; his brother died

NEW YORK: A window cleaner who survived falling 47 storeys from the roof of a New York skyscraper has made a 'miraculous' recovery – and is walking again.

Alcides Moreno, a 37-yearold Ecuadorian immigrant, plummeted almost 500 feet when cables connecting his cleaning platform to the roof failed.

His brother, 30-year-old Edgar, was killed, but Alcides survived, and after months of operations and physiotherapy, the only physical reminders of his ordeal are a limp and a long scar on his left leg.

The accident last December left Moreno a critical condition with a collapsed lung, damaged kidneys and bone fractures. During six weeks in hospital he underwent 16 operations and doctors pumped 24 units of blood into his body – about twice his entire blood volume.

On Christmas Day, he opened his mouth and spoke for the first time since the accident, and six months on, he is able to walk his dog.

His wife, Rosario Moreno, cried as she thanked the doctors and nurses who kept him alive.

“Thank God for the miracle that we had,” she said after the accident. “He keeps telling me that it just wasn't his time.” Moreno has now returned home, although he requires intensive physiotherapy three times a week. Dr Philip S Barie, chief of critical care at the New York Hospital which treated the window cleaner, said: “Above ten storeys, most of the time we never see the patients because they usually go to the morgue. “This is right up there with those anecdotes of people falling out of airplanes and surviving.”

The World’s Most Stupid Thief?

2008-06-13T06:05:00.000-07:00

Mugger snatches necklace on tram then admires reflection in CCTV lens

LONDON: This is the moment when a mugger provided police with an unmistakable clue to his identity — by admiring his reflection in the lens of a CCTV camera. The image shows the thief moments after he had stolen a £200 silver necklace and bracelet from a 16-yearold boy.

Rather than escape, he decided to try on the jewellery, apparently unaware — or unconcerned — that he was being filmed by the camera he was gazing into.

'Not the brightest spark': How police described this thief trying on the stolen necklace in front of a camera The resulting image shows his face clearly.

London police have appealed for anyone who can identify the mugger to come forward. The robbery happened on a tram in Bromley. The victim was with his girlfriend and another boy when they were approached by the youth. The mugger demanded that the boy show him a bracelet he was wearing, then grabbed it before asking to see the necklace, which he also snatched.

After putting on the jewellery, the robber took at least 15 seconds to admire his reflection. When he made to get off the tram his victim asked for his jewellery back but the youth claimed he had a knife and would stab him.

Police said the boy is very upset as the necklace was given to him by his late mother and so has huge sentimental value. Dc Dan Arundell, of British Transport Police's robbery squad, said: “The CCTV images are very clear. It was quite clear that he was checking himself out in the reflection of the CCTV camera.

The general consensus is that he is not the brightest spark. He was there for a long time and either didn't care or wasn't aware he was being filmed.” He added that the victim tried to go after the mugger, adding, “The youth turned around to face him and said, 'You don't want me to use this,' with the knife in his pocket. All three were severely intimidated and felt they could not stop him.”

Have You Seen the Worl'd First Hard Drives

2008-06-13T01:09:00.000-07:00

The piglet with special boots - The World's only porker who is afraid of mud

2008-06-13T00:29:00.000-07:00

THE PIG WHO HATES MUCK

Cinders the piglet has been given special boots after refusing to walk in mud

LONDON: Cinders the pristine piglet looks hot to trotter — in a set of specially designed green wellies. The posh porker has become a sty-le icon after she was reckoned to have mysophobia... a fear of muck.

Farmers Debbie and Andrew Keeble were baffled when the six-week-old saddleback refused to get her feet dirty.

Debbie, 40, said: “She just stood in a corner shaking while her brothers and sisters romped in the mud. But we noticed that if we moved her to a dry patch she was perfectly happy.”

Andrew, 42, added: “We scratched our heads for a while — then came up with the idea of having some boots custommade for her.” The wellies did the trick — and now little Cinders is having a ball. Debbie and Andrew, from Bedale, North Yorks, also run a sausage firm — but Cinders isn't facing the breakfast table just yet. She has been made the face of a campaign to highlight the plight of the UK's struggling pig farmers. Andrew said: “She's so special we decided to make her our mascot.” DAILY MIRROR HAMAZING A pig likes to put its dung in one place away from its bed They can squeal at 115 decibels — three more than supersonic Concorde.

Skyscraper made of one million toy construction pieces

2008-06-13T00:24:00.000-07:00

‘What My Dad Gave Me’

NEW YORK: The latest skyscraper to go up in Manhattan is 20 metres tall, weighs seven tonnes and is constructed of about one million stainless steel toy construction set pieces.

The skyscraper — actually a sculpture by artist Chris Burden called “What My Dad Gave Me” — was to be unveiled at Rockefeller Center Tuesday.

Burden gained notoriety in 1971 as a performance artist when he had a friend shoot him in the arm with a rifle.

For the past decade, he has been working with replica Erector Set pieces. ‘What My Dad Gave Me’ is billed as his most complex work to date. The six-storey skyscraper will be on view through July 19. AP

Knitted Food - Art With Wool

2008-06-11T02:14:00.000-07:00

Japanese Chocolate Art

2008-06-11T02:08:00.000-07:00

Amazing Pencil Sketches

2008-06-10T12:48:00.000-07:00

Some Truths You Didn't Know About Coffee

2008-06-10T06:20:00.000-07:00

Your body may love those numerous cuppas, but is it the other way round too? wake up to some truths

With coffee houses at every corner, we are all consuming increasingly more amounts of caffeine. Catching up with friends over a cup has become a part of our everyday life. Even culturally, when we visit someone, the first thing we are offered is tea or coffee. The coffee pot is also an indispensable fixture in offices. And why not? A cup or two seems to give the burst of energy sought by office workers each morning, or to gain a slight edge on a mental task late at night. However, the caffeine contained in all these drinks plays havoc with your body and mind.

WHAT IS CAFFEINE?
In its pure form, caffeine is a bitter tasting fine white powder that looks like icing sugar. It is soluble in water and so is easily absorbed into the blood stream and rapidly reaches the brain. In general, a single dose of caffeine will appear in the bloodstream within 10 minutes of consumption. It reaches a peak concentration between 30 and 60 minutes later, but absorption is much slower on a full stomach.

PSYCHOACTIVE DRUG?
Experiments that measure the electrical activity of the brain have shown that the caffeine in just one or two cups of instant coffee dramatically changes the pattern of brain activity from a typical resting state to that of an alert, very awake person. Caffeine also stimulates the adrenal glands to raise the level of stress hormones - adrenaline, non-adrenaline and cortisol. These are the ones that are released when we are anxious, scared, angry or nervous and produce the 'fight or flight' response. These hormones also energise and stimulate the brain. Hence, caffeine not only increases the body's stress levels, but also blocks the action of one of the body's de-stressing chemicals.

DURATION OF EFFECT
It takes 24 hours for one cup of coffee to pass through the kidneys and urinary tract. People who have had several cups of coffee will have lots of caffeine in their bloodstream, inhibiting sound sleep. The body must expend energy in expelling the caffeine and as it is, due to lack of sleep we have less energy, causing a terrible cycle. Caffeine will continue to affect your functioning as long as it remains in the bloodstream. Enzymes in the liver also break down the drug and remove it from the system. Some people can drink large amounts of coffee without much effect, while others feel jittery, anxious and simply cannot tolerate caffeine. Smokers experience its effects for a shorter time while women on the pill tend to react to it strongly.

ADDICTION
Caffeine is habit forming. Many people certainly depend upon it and suffer significant withdrawal symptoms (headaches, dizziness, sluggishness, fatigue, tiredness, diminished concentration, anxiety, irritability and anger) when they stop consumption abruptly. As the initial stimulating effect of caffeine wears out, the person craves for another cup to experience the same lift. People taking more than four cups a day become dependent on it. These symptoms are often relieved by rushing to another cup of coffee, which creates a vicious circle re-enforcing the addictive habit further.

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF COFFEINE

CAFFEINE DRAINS ENERGY
Caffeine may give an initial boost, but this is soon followed by a let down and you feel drained of energy. It also increases urine output, being a diuretic, and thus dehydrates.

CAUSES CALCIUM LOSS
It increases faecal and urinary calcium excretion resulting in calcium deficiency. Calcium loss is greatest when caffeine is taken with sugar.

RAISES CHOLESTEROL
Not many people know that boiled coffee contains a lipid that powerfully raises serum cholesterol. Four cups of coffee can increase cholesterol in the blood by 5 per cent and ten cups by around 12 per cent.

HINDERS ASSIMILATION OF FOOD IN THE INTESTINES
Digestive tract problems such as colitis, constipation and piles can be aggravated by caffeine.

LOSS OF VITAMIN B
These vitamins play a crucial role in energy metabolism and so with a high caffeine intake, the body loses nutrients needed to produce energy.

AFFECTS THE HEART
Caffeine causes increased and irregular heart beat, and increases blood pressure which can be dangerous for those with a coronary heart disease.

INCREASES ACIDITY
It stimulates the production of acid in the stomach, causing heart burn, indigestion and ulcers.

ALTERS SLEEP PATTERNS
Consumers are more easily aroused by sudden noises and don't feel fresh after waking up, hence they become fretful and irritable, and find it difficult to concentrate.

OTHER EFFECTS
Kidneys and liver have to overwork in the body of a caffeine victim, so these may suffer after sometime. It raises blood sugar level and can aggravate existing diabetes problems. Studies show that consuming too much caffeine may delay conception and reduce fertility. Interferes with the immune system, making you prone to colds and flu.

REPLACE YOUR CUPPA WITH
• GREEN TEA
• HERBAL OR LEMON-HONEY TEA
• PLENTY OF WATER

No fuel needed: Now, a go-kart that runs on air

2008-06-09T22:27:00.001-07:00

Engineer David Alderson drives an air-powered go-kart that he helped build

It’s a balmy afternoon. Thousands of fans cheer wildly as race cars fly by at speeds nearing 320 kmph for 200 laps. They whiz down the pit road making pit stops, changing tires and refuelling. Only, the tanks are not being filled with petrol; they’re being filled with air.

That scenario may sound futuristic, but it may not be long before we see air-powered engines take to the track. Five mechanical engineering students from Dalhousie University in the US have already started the journey down that road.

David Alderson, Scott Allan, David Langille, Michael Roy and Dave Spencer were inspired by air-powered car concepts and decided to develop a compressed air engine of their own.

“We had done read a lot about renewable energy and became really interested in the airpowered car,” says Langille.

The students modified a 40-year-old snowmobile engine and ran compressed air through it to produce power similar to a petrol engine. They attached the engine to a refurbished go-kart using two scuba tanks to house the air. The air is released through a standard scuba fitting with a high-flow regulator. The released air travels through tubing to a ball-valve connected to the foot pedal and throttle. “It operates much like a normal rotary engine,” says Langille. While producing zero local emissions is a good thing, Langille adds that a generator is still required to get the compressed air in the tank, but that’s something he hopes can be researched to a greater extent.

In tests, the air-powered vehicle performed comparatively to the electric-powered carts in use. The greatest drawback however is that the cylinder runs out of air quickly. However, the students believe the engine will improve with refinements and could be a successor to conventional fuel-powered engines.

“We can do three laps here or just under two minutes going flatout at 43 kmph with two tanks,” Langille explains.

He and his four colleagues are thrilled with their project: “It was an awesome experience; very fulfilling. We’re excited to see it work so well because there were a lot of people who were doubtful and it was exciting to get an A+.”

Langille says he sees initial practical uses in forklifts and smaller indoor machines. “The zero local emissions make it attractive for indoor operations and the tanks are easy to refill.”

Want a New, Intact Hymen? Go to Malaysia!

2008-06-09T21:45:00.000-07:00

Malaysian plastic surgeons are offering a 'new' intact hymen to women who may need to prove their virginity for marital, social or religious reasons. It costs RM 2,500 (Rs 33,000 approx. for a 30-minute surgery, conducted for out-patients, after which the patient should not engage in sexual intercourse for six weeks, the New Sunday Times reported on Sunday.

Among the clientele are foreign students who are leaving the country not just with a new academic certificate, but with an intact hymen. The operation is also attracting some local university students who request for their hymen to be repaired. They are usually in their early 20s and most are in the final year of their studies. "The girls don't come alone (for the consultation and surgery). They come with their boyfriends or a trusted girlfriend," the newspaper quoted, but did not name, a consultant plastic surgeon with a private hospital. "To them, having the hymen intact is not just an important marriage commodity – their very lives depend on it," says the surgeon. – IANS

PlayStation 3 Processors Power World’s Fastest Petaflop Supercomputer

2008-06-09T20:39:00.000-07:00

IBM engineer Don Grice inspects ‘Roadrunner’, the world’s fastest computer, at the company’s plant

NEW YORK: A US military supercomputer, assembled from components originally designed for Sony’s PlayStation 3, has reached a long-sought-after computing milestone by processing more than 1,000 trillion calculations per second (petaflop).

The new machine is more than twice as fast as the previous fastest supercomputer, the IBM BlueGene/L, which is based at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, the New York Times reported on Monday.

The $133 million supercomputer, called Roadrunner, was devised and built by engineers and scientists at IBM and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

To put the performance of the machine in perspective, Thomas P D’Agostino, the administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, said that if all six billion people on earth used hand calculators and performed calculations 24 hours a day for seven days a week, it would take them 46 years to do what the Roadrunner can in one day.

It will be used principally to solve classified US military problems, ensuring that the country’s stockpile of nuclear weapons will continue to work correctly as they age.

Before it is placed in a classified environment, it will also be used to explore scientific problems like climate change.

The Roadrunner is based on a design that includes 12,960 chips that are an improved version of an IBM Cell microprocessor, a parallel-processing chip originally created for Sony’s PlayStation 3 video-game machine.

Roadrunner, which consumes roughly three megawatts of power, or about the power required by a large shopping centre, requires three separate programming tools because it has three types of processors. Programmers have to figure out how to keep all of the 1,16,640 processor cores in the machine occupied simultaneously in order for it to run effectively. IANS

C.J. McAlister Winter Surfing Festival in Australia (Images)

2008-06-09T10:20:00.000-07:00

BALANCING ACT: A couple participates in the tandem surfing division during the annual C J McAlister Winter Surfing Festival at Manly Beach in Sydney, held on June 7, 2008.

Australia's Simon Phin balances partner Nicole Ager in a semi-final of the tandem surfing division during the annual C.J. McAlister Winter Surfing Festival at Manly Beach in Sydney June 7, 2008.

Australia's Dave Flemming and his daughter Rachel wipe out in a semi-final of the tandem surfing division during the annual C.J. McAlister Winter Surfing Festival at Manly Beach in Sydney June 7, 2008.

Australia's David Pimm (L) and his partner Nicky Langbridge react before a wave crashes into them in a semi-final of the tandem surfing division during the annual C.J. McAlister Winter Surfing Festival at Manly Beach in Sydney June 7, 2008.

Dolphins surface near Australia's Graham McMillan and Ruth Goodall as they paddle out in their semi-final of the tandem surfing division during the annual C.J. McAlister Winter Surfing Festival at Manly Beach in Sydney June 7, 2008.

Australia's Vance King and daughter Ashley wipe out in a semi-final of the tandem surfing division during the annual C.J. McAlister Winter Surfing Festival at Manly Beach in Sydney June 7, 2008.

The World’s Longest Line of Pizzas

2008-06-09T02:23:00.000-07:00

PIZZAS FOR ALL: A Guinness World Record adjudicator measures a line of pizzas in Sydney, Australia. The line, made with more than 826 freshly cooked pizzas, measured 221m long and is the world’s longest line of pizzas

Twenty-five chefs used 500kg of flour, 250 litres of tomato sauce and 350kg of mozzarella cheese.

After the Guinness World Record adjudicator deemed the record broken, the pizzas where donated to the food rescue organisation, OzHarvest, to feed Sydney's homeless and disadvantaged.

Italian cruise ship company Costa Cruises sponsored the event as part of the Cruise's60th Birthday Celebrations, donating $10 for every metre of pizza to the children's charity, Variety.

Including donations, more than $5,000 was raised.

The previous pizza line record of 220 metres was set just three weeks ago in Fort Rustico, Florida.

Vipin Seth, With Honey Bees all Over his Body (Images)

2008-06-09T02:11:00.000-07:00

ALL FOR A RECORD: Vipin Seth, with honey bees all over his body, in New Delhi on Sunday. Seth attempted to set a world record for having more than 4-5 lakh bees on his body for about two-and-half hours

1GB 30 Years Ago in Comparison with 1 GB Now

2008-06-08T13:20:00.000-07:00

How Death Comes! The Odds Are ...

2008-06-08T04:30:00.000-07:00

Death may be the only certainty in life - but how it comes about is anything but certain. Papers released from secret UK government archives last week revealed that in 1980 government scientists were told to calculate the exact chances of a Briton being killed by a falling asteroid. The study was an attempt to persuade the public that nuclear power was safe, and that there were plenty of other things that were statistically more lethal than a neighbourhood reactor. After much consideration, the men in white coats calculated that one member of the public would be killed by an asteroid every 7,000 years. Here are some other causes of death - and just what the odds are of your meeting your Maker in that way...

SHARK ATTACK
300,000,000:1
ROUND 40 people are killed every year from shark attacks, with the numbers increasing as more people take holidays on coasts where sharks live.

DYING OF A SNAKE BITE
3,500,000:1
SNAKE bites kill an estimated 25,000 people a year. More people die from snakebite in India than in any other country in the world, with the total death toll estimated I to average 10 - 12,000 annually.

SCALDED BY HOT TAP WATER
5,000,000:1
CHILDREN under five are most at risk, with 126 accidents reported every year in Britain. In Japan, around 150 people die from hot water scalding every year.

DYING FROM A HEART ATTACK OR STROKE
2.5:1
THE leading cause of death in Britain, coronary heart disease and strokes account for over 200,000 deaths every I year. Someone has a heart attack every two minutes.

BEING KILLED IN A TRAIN CRASH
500,000:1
DESPITE a number of fatal crashes, public transport is still the safest way to travel. Buses are even safer than trains, with the odds of being killed 13 million to one..

DYING FROM CANCER
5:1
AROUND 130,000 people die from cancer every year, of whom 65,000 are ' aged under 75.The most common killers are lung, breast, colon and prostate cancer.

KILLED BY THE ESCAPE OF RADIATION FROM A NEARBY NUCLEAR POWER STATION
10,000,000:1
THE chances of an explosion at a nuclear reactor are increasing with the risk of terrorism and as conventional fuels run out.The Chernobyl nuclear disaster and its aftermath has killed an estimated 30,000 people.

FALLING COCONUT
250,000,000:1
COCONUTS apparently kill around 150 people every year. Falling from a height of 80 feet, they can build up an impact speed of 50 mph.

LEFT-HANDED PEOPLE KILLED USING A RIGHT-HANDED PRODUCT
4,400,000:1
MORE than 2,500 left-handed people are killed every year around the world from using equipment meant for righthanded people.The right-handed power saw is the most deadly item.

Really Smart and Creative Shopping Bags (Images)

2008-06-08T03:43:00.000-07:00

Visit classymishmash.blogspot.com for more

Meet the Miracle Baby Who was Born Twice: A Medical Marvel

2008-06-07T11:39:00.000-07:00

June 6: When her mother was six months pregnant, baby Macie Hope was taken out of the womb for life-saving surgery, then returned for 10 more weeks.

Baby Macie’s ultrasound showed a huge tumor.

When Chad and Keri McCartney say their infant daughter, Macie Hope, is born again, they aren’t referring to religion — the month-old miracle baby really was born twice.

The first “birth” was about six months into Keri McCartney’s pregnancy, when surgeons at Texas Children’s Hospital took the tiny fetus from Keri’s womb to remove a tumor that would have killed Macie before she was born.

The second time was on May 3, when the McCartneys welcomed their surgically repaired — and perfectly healthy — baby girl into the world.

The happy couple talked exclusively to TODAY’s Ann Curry on Friday from the hospital, where they were joined by Dr. Darrell Cass, the fetal surgeon who led the team that performed a surgery that has been successfully completed fewer than 20 times around the world. In Macie’s case, he said, “We were very, very fortunate. It really turned out perfectly.”

The McCartneys’ story began in Keri’s 23rd week of pregnancy, when the couple took their entire family to their obstetrician’s office to discover the sex of the baby Keri was carrying.
“We had our whole family,” Chad McCartney told Curry. “Our four kids had piled into the van, and we headed to our routine ultrasound to find out what the sex of the baby was going to be. That was the big discussion on the way up, so there was lots of excitement.”

A deadly revelation

Everyone went into the ultrasound room, eager to see the image of the fetus displayed on the screen. “All of a sudden the ultrasound tech had a very concerned look on her face,” Chad said. “She rushed our kids out of the room and then informed us there was a large mass on our baby.”

The ultrasound image showed what looked like a balloon growing out of Macie’s tailbone — except that it was full of blood vessels and was as big as the fetus itself. The tumor was noncancerous ... but still deadly.

“This tumor was gigantic,” Cass said. “It was the size of a grapefruit.”
The McCartneys’ obstetrician had never seen such a tumor in all her years of practice. After some research, she discovered that Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston — six hours away from the family’s Laredo home — was one of only three hospitals in the world that specialized in such conditions.

“This is incredibly rare. It’s about one in 40,000 births,” Cass said. “Many times, these tumors
can grow and remain small and they don’t really affect the fetus very significantly. In Macie’s instance, this tumor grew incredibly rapidly … and basically it was stealing the blood that her body needed to grow. She would have died if nothing had been done.”

A fitting name

Keri and Chad went home with the desperate prognosis and decided they needed to name their infant right then.

“We both made a decision that we have a name for her, because we had been told that there was less than a 10 percent chance that she was going to make it,” Chad McCartney said, fighting back tears as he told the story. “We wanted to pick a name that would be appropriate, so we named her Macie Hope — because that was all we felt we had.”

They went to Houston for the surgery, which Cass described, with a surgeon’s understatement, as “tricky.”

“It required that Mrs. McCartney went under a very, very deep anesthesia, about seven times deeper than the average operation,” he said. “That’s necessary in order to have the uterus very, very relaxed.”

He and two other surgeons opened Keri’s abdomen and brought her uterus entirely outside her body. “We had to find an area of the uterus that we could open safely so that we didn’t disturb the placenta,” he explained.

When they found such a place, they opened the relaxed womb and extracted about 80 percent of Macie Hope’s body — which weighed no more than a quarter of a pound — leaving just the head and upper body in the womb. Exposing the fetus to the air carried the danger that she would go into cardiac arrest, and the surgeons worked quickly to remove the tumor and return Macie to the safety of the womb.

That part of the four-hour procedure took about 20 minutes. The surgeons then had to carefully close up the uterus so that it would be watertight, to keep the amniotic fluid from leaking out.
“Then we had to hope that the pregnancy was going to last,” Cass added.

Born again
That hope was also answered. Macie Hope didn’t make it the entire nine months, but, Cass said, “The pregnancy lasted another 10 weeks, which allowed Macie to recover from this tumor that had been killing her.”

May 3, Macie Hope was born again, this time to stay. She and her mother have remained at Texas Medical Center since as they both fully recover from the miracle surgery. Macie still has a large scar on her backside, which surgeons say can be repaired when she gets older.

Keri and Chad McCartney were expecting to take their miracle baby home on Saturday, and they couldn’t have been happier.

We are doing great,” Keri McCartney told Curry. “I am so excited to think that we’re leaving tomorrow.”

She cradled Macie Hope in her arms. The infant, sporting a thick head of hair, slept through it all, prompting her mother to say, “Obviously she is completely at peace and content with it all.”

Source: TODAYShow.com
By Mike Celizic

Towel Art - Creative Works made from Towel

2008-06-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

Visit www.classymishmash.blogspot.com for more