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This is shame on Indian Goverment

2008-12-05T08:31:00.000-08:00

If Sachin & dohni kick a six. He gets crores
u have any idea how much they are getting in salary
u can't believe they are getting only range from 5600-13800.
we need not to worry about those who have come through boat but...........
its high time we must worry about those who have come through vote for note

We have to salute the brave officers who laid down theirs lives in Protecting us and our country.

We have only one option to solve this or save our lives.................

Please Don't vote for any political leader every one should demand for president rule and give army for handle this country.............

Every time i must say that plz vote but now iam saying plz Do not VOTE !!!!!!!!

plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Don't VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTE

Two kidnaper MBA students

2008-11-25T07:28:00.000-08:00

In the shocking news for youth gerneration . Two MBA student who had apparently lost heavily on investments in stocks and real estate decided to make good their losses by joining in a plot to kidnap a 15 years old boy in south delhi. The operation went awry when the mastemind ,a cousin of the victim ,, panicked and dumped him at OKhla from where a passerby brought him home. Both MBA students were pursuing their course through correpondence.Police said Piyush Jain had enrolled in IMT Gaziabad and also dabbled in shares. His close friend rohit chopra who is doing an MBA from Ignou.is a property dealer in gurgaon . He had apparently lost a lot of money due to the slump in prices of flats. rohit had also invested in the stockmarket at piyush's insistence.

Dave Batista in india

2008-09-19T06:34:00.000-07:00

Three time world heavyweight champion ,Dave Batista say he loved tajmahal.
and respects the indian culture and tradition wrestling. he say about great khali. Khali is tough and very big guy. khali chppoed me once and i felt as though my spine was bent in half. WWE wreslter dave batista is in delhi and there's alot of excitement amoung his indian fans. Its only 3 days vacation for india( Delhi or Mumbai).But there's lot lined up for the 6 feet 6 inch tall wrestler. Dave batista is best wrestler in WWe. He is tough and very big guy.Dave Batista say about india he heard a lot ,escpecially from my peers who have already visited the country-john cena, rey mysterio and of course, the great khali, india has a great tradition and in tems of wrestling, a rich heritage which i really respect.he about the great Khali he's very gud fighter as an opponent,he is tough guy. Its awesome to fight the great Khali. In the locker room Im an honest guy and people who know me know that i wear my heart on my sleev, but that how iam. I have friends, too, but nobody with the animal.

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2008-09-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

My site is worth $379.6.
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Welcome to nuclear Family(India)

2008-09-07T10:56:00.000-07:00

The deal is done. It has gained status as the only nuclear Family power to be allowed global nuclear commerce family power to be allowed global nuclear commerce without signing either the nuclear Non treaty .

abhinav bindra has won the olympics gold in 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, India's First gold medal in Olympics 2008.

2008-08-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

India's abhinav bindra won the gold medal in the men's 10m air riffle i beijing on aug. 11.

Bindra shot a total score of 700.5 china 's zhu qinan took the silver with 699.7 points and fineland henri hakkinen got the borzne with 699.4. Bindra had been fourth after qualifying but had a brilliant final round and even hit a near pefect 10.8 onhis last shot to pull in front of henri hakkinen of fineland, who dropped to bronze with poor final shot off 9.7.
That allowed china zhu the defending olympic champion and heavy favourite to pass him on his final shot and win the silve medal.
It's just great , " Bindra told reuters just before climbing on to the podium.
Abhinav Bindra is a great man and best sportman in india not . Cricket is losser guy
Congratulation Abhinav Bindra
HUUURUURRURURURURRURURURRURRURURRURURURURU

singh is king Review

2008-08-09T05:59:00.000-07:00

Singh Is King is one of the most hyped Bollywood movies in recent times. There are several reasons for the hype

Akshay Kumar, the superstar, is the biggest reason for all the hype surrounding the movie. Akshay’s fan following has increased tremendously in the past 2 years. Also his pairing with co-star Katrina Kaif has created box-office magic in the past.
The movie is directed by Anees Bazmee whose last two movies, No Entry and Welcome, were box office Blockbusters.
Producer Vipul Amruthlal Shah has left no stone unturned in promoting the movie. More than 5 crores has been spent just on promotion.

Is Singh Is Kinng worth all the hype it has generated over the past few weeks? Well to a certain extent, Yes.

First the story. Singh is Kinng is about Happy Singh (Akshay Kumar) a simpleton, from a village in Punjab, with a heart of gold. He always tries to do good, but exactly the opposite happens. He tries to help a villager and ends up ruining the whole village. Frustrated the villagers decide to send him far away to Australia, to bring back Lakhan Singh a.k.a Lucky, an underworld don in Australia.

But as always when Happy Singh sets out to do good, he does the opposite. Happy accompanied by his friend Tony land in Egypt instead of Australia. Here Happy meets Sonia (Katrina Kaif) and falls head over heels in love, at first sight.

Happy then makes his way to Australia. Without any money, Happy and Tony starve for days until Happy bumps into Rose Lady (Kirron Kher) who gives him a place to stay and food to eat. Happy then meets King Lucky, but due to an attack on the gang, Lucky is hurt and now cannot speak a word. After a lot of confusion, Happy is crowned the King (don) of the dangerous underworld gang. After a series of comical errors and misadventures, Sonia turns out to be Rose Lady’s daughter who returns to Australia with her boyfriend (Ranvir Shorey).

Does Happy end up with Sonia or does she marry her boyfriend? Does Happy succeed in taking Lucky back to his village in Punjab? Forms the rest of the hilarious tale.

Singh is King is a perfect example of a great first half ruined by an average second. The pre-interval portions of the movie are filled with hilarious scenes.

Happy chasing a chicken only to end up ruining the whole village is side-splitting.
The scenes between Tony and Happy in Egypt and Australia. The dialogues are rib tickling, especially a few by Tony (Om Puri).
The way Singh (Happy) becomes King is brilliantly written, enacted and executed.

After the extremely entertaining first half, you expect an even better second. Unfortunately, it pales in comparison. The song picturised on Javeed Jaffrey was unnecessary. Also the lack of scenes between Tony and Happy is a negative as their chemistry was brilliant. The climax seemed to be hurried up and before you realise the movie comes to an abrupt end.

Another aspect that could go against the movie is, at times it’s hard to understand the Punjabi dialogues. Also at times in the first half, the voice is not in sync with the lip movement. Wonder why such minor flaws are overlooked in an A grade bollywood movie.

The music is above average. Few songs like ‘Teri Ore’ and ‘Singh is King’ title track standout.

Akshay Kumar is a great entertainer, he puts his heart and soul into the character of Happy. His comic timing is as good as ever. Katrina Kaif does exactly what’s required of her; she manages to look great in every scene. Must say, her smile has a very pleasing effect on the viewer. She’s also looking better with each passing film. Om Puri is brilliant and his chemistry with Akshay Kumar is one of the reasons to watch the movie. Sonu Sood has improved a lot acting wise since his debut in B grade flicks. Neha Dhupia looks hot, does a decent job. Javeed Jaffrey is funny. The rest of the character actors are good.

Overall Singh is King is a typical Akshay Kumar mindless entertainer which has a great first half, beautifully picturised songs and a gorgeous Katrina Kaif. But what makes Singh is King more worthwhile is Akshay Kumar, who holds the movie together, well supported by Om Puri.

If your are a die hard Akshay fan and enjoyed his movies like Welcome, Heyy Babyy last year, dont think twice.. Just go for it! Others can wait for the DVD.

Ill go with 3 on 5 for the most hyped movie of the year!

Review: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

2008-08-02T01:42:00.000-07:00

Anupama Chopra, Consulting Editor, Films

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is the third installment in the Mummy series. The first film, made in 1999, was originally planned as a low-budget reworking of a 1932 film, which starred Boris Karloff.

But The Mummy turned out to be such a blockbuster that it inspired a sequel, an animated series, a spin-off film called The Scorpion King, video games and even a roller coaster at Universal Studios called The Revenge of the Mummy.

Obviously then, in the interest of commerce, mummies continue to haunt us on screen.

In this film however, there isn't a single traditional, bandage-bound mummy. Instead the action has been transported to post-World War II China where an evil emperor who has been buried for thousands of years is awakened by an equally evil general.

The emperor, who was cursed by a witch, is now an unattractive mixture of mud and hot lava. He is understandably testy and wants to quickly get to the pool of eternal life in Shangri-la, which will make him immortal and allow him to conquer the world.

As always, the O’Connells, are the only people who can stop the un-dead baddie and his terracotta army.

The first Mummy movie was fun in a cheesy, brain-dead sort of way but by the third, the series has become a bargain basement Indiana Jones.

We have archeologists unearthing fabled treasures, car chases, clever repartee and assorted fantastical creatures. Here some bizarre, fang-baring Yeti’s show up just in time to kick the general’s behind.

The Dragon Emperor has loads of special effects and fine actors like Brenden Fraser, Michelle Yeoh and action superstar Jet Li but the writing is infantile.

These action adventures are usually formulaic but this film doesn’t have the imagination or wit to make the formula fun.

By the time, the Emperor and the O’Connells were locked in a climactic battle, I felt pretty un-dead myself. This one is for fans only.

India hopes US will 'deliver' in securing NSG waiver

2008-08-02T01:41:00.001-07:00

VIENNA: After getting the IAEA nod for a safeguards agreement, India on Saturday hoped the US will "deliver" in securing for it "clean and unconditional exemption" from the Nuclear Suppliers Group which meets later this month.

"We look forward for a clean and unconditional exemption and it is for the US to deliver as per the July 18, 2005 statement," Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar said here ahead of his departure to India.

Kakodkar, who had spearheaded the tough negotiations at the Friday meeting of the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors, said "I am hopeful that NSG will appreciate India's position and go ahead with the clean waiver."

However, Kakodkar struck a note of caution taking into consideration the challenges that may confront India at the 45-nation NSG, which is expected to meet on August 21 here.

"Of course, in international affairs, we have to wait till it happens on the ground level," he said. New Delhi is lobbying hard to rope in support from a non-committal China and convince countries like Brazil, Iran, Japan, Ireland, Austria and Switzerland that voiced reservations on the safeguards agreement.

With the IAEA approval, India now needs the go-ahead from the NSG and then await the approval of the American Congress to operationalise the Indo-US nuclear deal opening the doors for nuclear commerce after over three decades of isolation.

13 injured in Jammu clashes, Army called in

2008-08-02T01:39:00.000-07:00

Jammu (PTI): Army troops today marched through city streets in the curfew-bound Jammu and Samba districts as tense situation prevailed following violent protests over the Amarnath land controversy.

At least 13 people were injured overnight when protesters demanding restoration of forest land to the Amarnath board burnt several offices and clashed with security forces.

Army personnel conducted flag marches and took positions in several sensitive areas the curfew in the districts enters the second day today, official sources said.

Two people were killed yesterday and several injured as angry Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti supporters clashed with police while trying to ransack the district magistrate's office in Samba. The agitators defied curfew and also manhandled Deputy Commissioner Saruv Bhagat. They also set several offices on fire after talks between the Samiti and Governor N N Vohra failed.

Reports of unrest also poured in from Hiranagar in Kathua district.

The Governor had proposed an eight-point formula to end a month-long deadlock, which included allowing the Shri Armarnath Shrine Board (SASB) to maintain infrastructure during the yatra period.

But the Samiti remained adamant that the decision to cancel land transfer to the board should be revoked. Meanwhile, authorities removed SSP Vijay Kumar and posted Prabhat Singh in his place on the directions of Inspector General of Police K Rajendra.

The Army was deployed in Jammu city today morning and staged a flag march, sources said adding that troops have taken over guard duty at all major exit and entry points with intensified patrolling.

Small protest rallies were still taken out in Bantalab, Talab Tilloo, Panjtirthi, Nai Basti, Rampura and Doodadari Temple areas.

In some areas, police fired teargas shells to disperse protesters, sources said adding that situation is tense but under control.

The state administration has appealed to the people and various political parties for maintaining peace in the region. The state government has promised all possible logistical support from Lakhanpur to the cave shrine both from Baltal and Pahalgam routes.

Moreover, the SASB will continue to conduct the yatra, Governor Vohra said adding that the SASB will soon be reconstituted. Besides, an advisory committee will be set up to suggest ways for ensuring a smooth and regulated yatra every year, he said.

China's Olympic organizers renege on Web access pledge

2008-07-30T22:01:00.000-07:00

BEIJING — China reversed its pledge to allow uncensored Internet access to foreign journalists covering the Olympics, dealing another blow to hopes the Games would lead to political change here.

When China was bidding for the Olympics seven years ago, the Communist government promised the news media would have "complete freedom to report." That was one of several assurances designed to ease Western concerns about Beijing's repression of political dissidents.

Beijing Games spokesman Sun Weide said Wednesday that while journalists at the Olympic press center would have "sufficient access" to the Internet, several politically sensitive websites would be blocked, including:

• Those linked to the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which is banned in China.

• Websites mentioning Tibet, the region where Chinese police cracked down on separatists in March, leaving at least 22 people dead.

Team India's fight for survival at Galle

2008-07-30T21:59:00.001-07:00

The time for practice and planning is over, as the second Test between India and Sri Lanka kicks-off today (July 31) at Galle in Sri Lanka.

Anil Kumble's men are desperate to avenge the record loss at Colombo and eager to erase the scars of a humiliating defeat. The veteran spinner said the team was confident of bouncing back in the second Test.

"We will try to come up with a better performance," Kumble said.

"There will be more or less the same combination of the Indian team for tomorrow's match," he added.

However, the curator has tipped the track to be a rank turner; and team India will look to counter the menacing Lankan spin pair of Murali and Mendis - who accounted for 19 of the 20 Indian wickets in the first Test. However on the eve of the all important clash at Galle, the Lankans are confident of a repeat dose.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said besides top spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, Sri Lanka was also looking to the fast bowlers to get early breakthroughs in these conditions.

"When you have two quality spinners in your side they will definitely try to play a big part. We want to create more opportunities with our pacers as well if that is possible," said a confident Jaywardene after the team's practice session at the Galle stadium.

"We will probably play the same team. We have spoken to the selectors and they are happy to have the same team," he added.

The Indians are trailing the three-Test series 0-1 after losing the opening match inside four days in Colombo, collapsing against the spin duo of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis.

India's pride at stake

Team India will look to draw inspiration from their spirited fight backs against the higher ranked South Africans and the Aussies this year. And as they gear up for battle at Galle, there is a lot more at stake than just the series.

India are currently ranked third in the ICC Test rankings. With the Proteas going great guns against the English, a series loss could hurt India badly in the race.

The signs are, however, ominous. The Lankans thrashed India by 10 wickets in their only match at this venue way back in 2001. But as optimistic as fans can be, Kumble and his men know true Champions are those who can re-write history.

Akshay declines Sallu's olive branch

2008-07-30T21:57:00.000-07:00

Salman Khan has brought star cricketers on board for his game show 'Dus Ka Dum', but when Salman extended an invitation to actor Akshay Kumar, it was turned down on the pretext of Akshay hosting a show for a rival channel.

Every move that Salman makes hits headlines, be it his relationship with Katrina, his recent spat with srk or the rumours of his breakup with Kats. Sallu has constantly been under the scanner.

This time though it is Salman attempt to mend his ways that has got him back under the spot light.

Salman Khan invited none other than Akshay kumar to be on his show Dus Ka Dum. But that is just the tip of the iceberg; the invite was for Akshay and Katrina

So while that may have been a brow raising act. It is Akki's refusal that doesnt come as as a surprise. Akshay Kumar declined the invitation to appear on 'Dus Ka Dum' citing the fact that he's already hosting another show for another channel.

Whether that is the real reason for not appearing on Sallu's show we do not know for now. But one can't help but wonder whether the scene at Katrina's birthday bash a couple of weeks ago had something to do with it.

That's "Mr. Adamle" to you!

2008-07-29T10:22:00.001-07:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After weeks spent leaderless and awash in mayhem and disarray, Raw finally has a new General Manager: Mike Adamle.
At the top of Monday night’s show, Shane McMahon announced that he and Executive Vice President Stephanie McMahon had selected a new GM, but that he wouldn’t be announced until later that night. Raw’s final moments were shocking ones, as Shane introduced new GM Adamle, known to most of the WWE Universe as the typically dunder-headed ECW commentator. In spite of that perception, however, Adamle made his presence felt during his first night on Raw, making numerous matches over the course of the night.
SummerSlammed
One of the matches made by Adamle was the night’s main event, a tag team match pitting John Cena & Batista against JBL & Kane. Though they began the show in an argument over who should face World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk at SummerSlam, Cena & Batista were able to work together in their match to defeat JBL & Kane. After their victory, however, the new Raw GM made sure that the two Superstars’ partnership wouldn’t be a lasting one, as Adamle announced Raw’s first epic match for SummerSlam: John Cena vs. Batista for the first time ever. (WATCH)
What’s Old is New Again
Prior to their tag-match against Cena & Batista, JBL & Kane butted heads following World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk’s match for the night. The Straightedge Champion competed in a non-title match against an athlete touted by Shane McMahon as “the hottest free agent in sports-entertainment.” To the surprise of the auditorium, that moniker belonged to the returning William Regal, who in spite of his recent crowning as King of the Ring, was unable to defeat Punk. After the match, both JBL and Kane came to the ring, leading to a free-for-all which ended with the tag team partners standing tensely over the World Heavyweight Champion.
A Farewell to Highlights
In addition to receiving a brand-new GM, Monday’s Raw also saw another historic moment: The final edition of Chris Jericho’s talk-show, the Highlight Reel. Y2J used the platform to gloat over ending the career of Shawn Michaels, urging the fallen Superstar to “stay home” and “move on.” However, despite Jericho’s warning, HBK will be appearing next week on Raw in the first interview since his Bash loss to Y2J.
The segment’s host then went on to air a series of clips of the more fan-friendly Jericho. With protégé Lance Cade by his side, he announced that he is no longer interested in trying to please the audience, and that those clips were the last they would see of Chris Jericho the “entertainer.” Before leaving the ring, Y2J then revealed the one person he feels is entitled to a World Heavyweight Title Match: Himself. (WATCH)
For the Love of a Woman
In his continuing attempts to impress and woo the lovely Layla, Jamie Noble competed against Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston. In spite of the presence of his “part-time lady acquaintance,” Noble was unable to get the win and was pinned by the Jamaican Superstar.
Defending a Legacy
Flowing out of their confrontation on last week’s Raw, World Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase were set to defend their titles against Jerry “The King” Lawler & Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Before the match could begin, however, ring announcer Lillian Garcia was alerted that the new General Manager had changed the match, substituting Duggan for a very confused Michael Cole. Lawler’s experience ended up being no match for the ambition and vitality of the World Tag Team Champions, who won by pinning a defenseless Cole. (WATCH)
Twisted Sister
It was a busy night for Raw’s champions as WWE Women’s Champion Mickie James competed against Jillian. The Women’s Champion defeated the Diva songstress, but before she could celebrate her win, Katie Lea Burchill ran to the ring and attacked Mickie in a bid to impress Raw’s new GM. Katie Lea then escaped back to the ramp where her brother Paul awaited, and stated their desires for the WWE Women’s and Intercontinental Championships, respectively.
Rules of Attraction
Though they shared an in-ring kiss on last week’s Raw, Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix agreed that there was nothing between them before their intergender tag team match. They were victorious against D-Lo Brown & Kelly Kelly, celebrating with a chaste handshake afterward. However, the passion of the moment must have been too much for The Glamazon, who pulled the Italian Superstar in for a victory smooch. (WATCH)

Pranab talks tough as Pakistan violates LoC ceasefire

2008-07-29T09:39:00.000-07:00

Tehran, July 29: Amidst Pakistan’s breach of LoC ceasefire and reports of its aircraft violating Indian airspace thrice this year, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukharjee has reacted sharply, warning Pakistan of maintaining “peace and tranquillity on the border.” Mukherjee, who is on a two-day visit to Tehran to attend the 15th Ministerial Conference of the NAM countries, has said “Pak should respect the ceasefire agreement with India.” “The composite dialogue between the two countries should be allowed to continue,” he said adding, “India’s chief concern is peace across the border and I will appeal to Pakistan to stick to ceasefire and do not violate it at any cost” Asked whether the ceasefire violation had put the Indo-Pak relations in choppy weather, Mukherjee said "I would not like to say that." "The fact of the matter is unfortunately in the last few weeks occasions of violation of ceasefire have taken place and ceasefire is very important," he said. A Pakistan Army spokesperson however has denied any intrusion by the Pak forces into Indian territory. But TV reports indicate that the Air Force has confirmed the violation of Indian air space on three occasions in May and June. As a result, the Air Force is maintaining operational readiness. Meanwhile, the cross border firing between Indian and Pakistani troops across the Line of Control stopped in the afternoon on Tuesday after continuing for 16 hours. The flag meeting between the sector commanders of India and Pakistan convened in the Teetwal sector concluded and the neighbouring troops returned to their respective sides. The meeting was convened to sort out issues in view of the tension caused due to heavy firing along the LoC in Jammu and Kasmir. In a clear violation of the ceasefire, at least 15 Pakistani soldiers crossed Line of Control (LoC) on Monday and opened fire on Indian positions in Nowgaon sector of Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the Army sources, the incident took place at around 3:30 pm yesterday. The Indian troops monitoring the border objected to the intruding Pakistani soldiers, who retreated and opened indiscriminate firing on the Indian side. Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel A K Mathur has confirmed violation along the LoC, shortly after the report of transgression. In the cross border shelling, one Indian Army solider, identified as Mahesh, was killed. The body of the slain Indian soldier, who belonged to 22nd Rajput battalion, fell into a deep gorge. Indian armed forces have recovered the body of Mahesh, who was hit by a Pakistani bullet. The soldier’s death infuriated the Indian troops manning the border and they retaliated the heavy firing with small firearms. The Army sources claimed that at least four Pakistani soldiers were killed in the cross border shelling. However, the Pakistani side denied any deaths of its soldiers. The Director General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both sides spoke over phone and discussed the situation. Earlier, Pakistani Army had asked for Indian Observation post to be vacated. This is the first violation of ceasefire between the two neighbouring states. Violations had been reported in Tangdhar, Poonch and Rajouri sectors of the state earlier this year. Both the sides have agreed to a ceasefire along the international border and LoC in 2003.

18 bombs defused in Surat; 3 suspects detained

2008-07-29T09:35:00.000-07:00

SURAT/AHMEDABAD: Terror clouds hung ominously over the diamond city of Surat as 18 bombs ticking in residential areas were defused by police which suspected a sinister design to spread panic in the state. ( Watch ) Three suspects - Abdul Qadir, Hasil Mohammad and Hussain Ibrahim - were detained near Limbi on Rajkot-Ahmedabad highway in Surendranagar district while they were leaving Ahmedabad soon after Saturday's synchronised blasts that took several lives and left over 145 injured. Their possible links with outlawed SIMI and 'Indian Mujahideen', which has warned of more terror strikes, are being investigated, police said. All the bombs were recovered in a span of four hours from different parts of Varacha area, housing most of Surat's diamond processing units, putting pressure on the city's bomb disposal squad. Three bombs were deactivated in the Mini Diamond Market area, three in Labeshwar, Santoshinagar and Matavadi localities and three under the Varacha-Kapodra flyover. The contents of the neutralised explosive devices have been sent for forensic analysis. "This seems to be an attempt to distract attention from Ahmedabad serial blasts or they are planning to strike somewhere else," a senior state government functionary claimed. A top police official felt the manner in which the bombs were placed indicated that the purpose was something else, possibly a "sinister" game plan aimed at spreading panic in the state. This view was shared by a government minister who contended that terrorists are not fools to allow people and police to trace the bombs in such large numbers. "We have found explosives from 18 places in Surat which have been defused by the police. I thank the people of Surat for their cooperation in these difficult times," Surat Police Commissioner R M S Brar told reporters. "There is no need to panic. I request you not to go to crowded places unnecessarily," he advised the people.

Serial blasts in Ahmedabad

2008-07-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

AHMEDABAD: Terror struck Gujarat capital when 17 serial blasts ripped across the city on Sunday night leaving 15 killed and 30 injured sending a wave of panic. (Watch) The synchronised explosions in the space of 90 minutes in the eastern and western areas after the first blast hit Maninagar at 6.45 pm occurred in 13 places. There were two blasts each in Maninagar--the constituency of Chief Minister Narendra Modi--and in Sarkej targeting a state transport CNG bus and Sangam theatre. Significantly two hospitals were also the target of attack. An NSG team has been rushed to Ahemedabad. The low-intensity explosions occurred at eight areas of Maninagar, Isanpur, Narol circle, Bapunagar, Hatkeshwar and Sarangpur bridge, Sarkej and Odhav and created a wave of panic. There were two blasts in Maninagar and the first blast occurred in this area at 6.45 PM. The second blast here occurred near LG hospital. Maninagar is the constituency of Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The Ahmedabad blasts came a day after the multiple explosions in Bangalore in which two persons were killed. The mobile network in the area has completely collapsed. Police said at least two had died and 25 injured, some of them seriously, in the blasts. The injured have been rushed to civil hospital and LG hospital. Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said in New Delhi there were eight blasts. Unconfirmed reports said there were 13 blasts. The explosion in the sensitive Sarkej area occurred in a CNG bus. Some of the bombs were believed to have been placed in cycles eerily similar to the Jaipur blasts on May 13 in which 65 persons died. A couple of bombs were reported to have been placed in tiffin boxes in a modus operandi similar to the explosions outside a Lucknow court last year. President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the blasts and appealed for calm.

Seven bomb blasts in Ahmedabad

2008-07-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

Seven bomb blasts took place in Ahmedabad on Saturday evening. All of them were low intensity blasts, according to television reports. At least six people have gotten injured in the blasts, initial reports said.
The explosions occured at six areas of Maninagar, Isanpur, Narol circle, Bapunagar, Hatkeshwar and Sarnagpurbridge, police said. Rescue services rushed to the spot. The injured have been taken to LJ hospital in Mani Nagar. One of the blasts took place in a bus. Police trying to keep the public away from the areas.
The seventh explosion occured in the sensitive Sakrej area, police said. Police fear two deaths in the serial blasts.

India crash to Sri Lankan spin in first Test

2008-07-26T04:28:00.000-07:00

COLOMBO (AFP) — Sri Lanka tightened their grip on the opening Test against India here on Saturday after yet another impressive performance from spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis.
Muralithatan grabbed four wickets and debutant Mendis two as India struggled to reach 103-6 in their second innings at tea on the penultimate day after conceding a 377-run lead.
India were shot out for 223 in their first innings in reply to the hosts' massive 600-6 declared.
The Sri Lankan spin duo, who shared nine wickets in the first innings, returned to haunt India again with their clever variations. They never allowed any batsman to settle even on an easy-paced track.
Indian opener Virender Sehwag (13), star batsman Sachin Tendulkar (12) and Rahul Dravid (10) were initially given not out by umpires Mark Benson of England and Billy Doctrove of the West Indies.
But Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene requested the officials to review the decisions under a new experimental rule. They changed their decisions after consulting TV umpire Rudi Koertzen of South Africa.
Sehwag was trapped leg-before by off-spinner Muralithatan, while Tendulkar was caught by a diving Tillakaratne Dilshan at leg-slip off the same bowler after TV replays showed the ball hit pad and bat.
Dravid was caught bat-pad by close-in fielder Malinda Warnapura off Mendis.
India failed to read the spinners for the second successive time in the match, losing wickets at regular intervals. Opener Gautam Gambhir, Venkatsai Laxman and Sourav Ganguly also fell to spin.
Laxman, promoted in the batting order following his first-innings 56, contributed 21 this time before being trapped leg-before by Mendis, while Gambhir was stumped off Muralitharan after being beaten in the flight.
Muralitharan grabbed 5-84 in the first innings for his 64th haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings, while Mendis took 4-72.
Laxman was the lone Indian batsman to defy the spinners, completing his 34th Test half-century with six fours. He was the last man out, failing to read a Mendis googly.
He had only tail-enders to keep him company after India lost six wickets for a meagre 159 on Friday. But only last-man Ishant Sharma stayed with him for more than an hour in the morning session.
Sharma faced 54 balls for his unbeaten 13 after the fall of skipper Anil Kumble (one), Harbhajan Singh (nine) and Zaheer Khan (five) in the space of 18 runs.

Kismat Konnection Story

2008-07-25T08:39:00.001-07:00

Raj (Shahid) is a struggling architect. Brilliant in his college in studies, sports and drama, he finds it tough in the real world. As luck would have it, he learns about a certain Haseena Banu Jaan (Juhi Chawla wasted in the role) who is a fortuneteller. She tells him that he will find something that will be his lucky charm. And that something happens to be a someone called Priya (Vidya Balan). Whenever Vidya is around, Shahid gets lucky. Vidya is attached to one Community Centre where the old are taken care of and Shahid is about to clinch a deal with the firm to build a shopping mall where the Community Centre exists. Somehow, Shahid manages to convince Vidya that the Community Centre will co-exist, which he knows is not the truth. The movie shines in patches. There are a few scenes that are very well handled, but the rest is just your normal Bollywood fare. One instance is when Vidya and Shahid try to tell their feelings to each other at a party; another is when Vidya is agitating against the mall coming up. However, these scenes are few and far between. I must admit that Manoj Bohra who plays Dev Kataria, a character with shades of grey, really stands out. In the first scene they meet, he dwarfs the rest with his personality, presence and acting. And that I think is a huge plus. This lad has a future in Bollywood. Director Aziz Mirza will manage to rake in the initials in the first week, thanks to Vidya and Shahid, after that I fear that the connection will be lost.

Kismat Konnection Movie Review

2008-07-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

What you look for in KISMAT KONNECTION is the chemistry between the two lead actors, Shahid Kapoor and Vidya Balan. What you also look for is telltale signs of a broken heart in Shahid Kapoor. Remember the film shooting began in Canada immediately after Saif Ali Khan whisked Kareena Kapoor, then Shahid�s girlfriend, away. On both counts, I don�t get what I�m looking for. The chemistry isn�t all that hot, and no, Shahid is not brooding in Canada. All talk of romance between Shahid and Vidya, I guess, was just a publicity gimmick to rake up interest in this flick, but Kismat, has let the producers down. The Konnection just does not work. More than having anything to do with the lead pair, I think it has everything to do with the storyline, which is so flimsy, that you fear it will snap mid-way. No novelty in the drama, no ideation put through when the two first meet, no novelty in planning the end as well. You can just guess what is coming up. And yes, there is no standout performance as well. Vidya Balan looks gorgeous, but there are certain angles in which she looks way older than she actually is. Also, the girl will have to hit the gym, pronto. Shahid Kapoor was fabulous in JAB WE MET. Had it something to do with the presence of Kareena Kapoor? Here, he just about manages to pull through the scenes. Nothing extraordinary. There is no one else, the rest just support the two in their romance. The music too, is nothing to write about.

Bangalore shaken by deadly blasts

2008-07-25T07:59:00.000-07:00

Bangalore: A series of low intensity blasts rocked southern and central parts of Bangalore, a city that has been on the radar of terror groups, on Friday afternoon. At least one person was killed and five were injured in the explosions that created panic among Bangloreans on a routine working afternoon. (Agencies said two people died.)
While seven explosions were reported in a span of one hour starting at 1.30 p.m., the eighth incident occurred around 5 p.m. Though the police suspect that the blasts could be the handiwork of some terrorist group, Bangalore Police Commissioner Shankar M. Bidari told presspersons that some "miscreants" had triggered the blasts to "spoil the peace" in the city.
According to police sources, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) fitted with timers were used in all the explosions. Preliminary investigations have revealed that ammonium nitrate, bolts and nuts and small cement chips were packed into the devices.
The first explosion that occurred at a bus stop near the Madivala check-post on the busy Hosur Road claimed the life of Sudha Ravi who was waiting for a bus with her husband. Two more explosives went off in the adjoining Audugodi area, in which three persons were injured.
Low intensity explosions were also reported from three places on Mysore Road and two spots in the heart of the city, near the Mallya Hospital and near Rashtriya Military School on Langford Road.
In Audugodi, explosives were planted behind a telephone junction box near a commercial complex under construction, and another near a storm water drain. On Mysore Road, explosives were placed under a power supply transformer near a mall, a storm water drain and near the Regional Transport Office.
In view of the blasts, the police have heightened vigil all over the city and are screening vehicles and people. Security has been heightened at vital installations, including the railway and bus stations, defence establishments and places of worship. The government has said that schools will remain open on Wednesday.
Related Link:
The 2005 attack in IISc Bangalore
Photos of blast sites

how to answer freshers "tell me about your self?"

2008-07-23T22:29:00.000-07:00

my name is Mahender Devangan
to talk about my acadamic qualification i have completed
B.sc Multimedia fromSikkim Manipal University, and  B.A
 from Delhi University i have completed my
intermediate and schooling from Kendriya vidyala No.2
and Delhi C.B.S.E Board
to talk about ma family back ground i belong to a lovely
family of 6 members, my father is a  retired Govt.
Employee man,and my mother is a intelligent home maker,i
have 2

brother.i am a fresher to this industry and i want to build ma good

career.and i am looking for a good opportunity
my strenght are my positive attitude, self confidence, and
flexibilty .
i love to play , surfing on net And My India

that is all about me.
thank you for giving me this opportunity

Flash help

2008-07-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

The next generation of the Flash Player is here. Adobe has released a beta version of Flash Player 10, which promises better performance, improved text handling, custom photo effects filters and native 3D animations. It's available as a free download at the
Adobe Flash is the most widely-used presentation technology for video, audio and animated user interfaces on the web. The current version of Flash Player is installed on roughly 95% of the world's internet-connected PCs. It also runs on a number of phones and mobile devices, though the percentage of such Flash-capable hand-helds is much smaller. In an effort to speed the adoption of Flash across mobile devices, Adobe recently necessary to develop for the platform.
As Tom Barclay, senior product marketing manager for Adobe’s Platform Business Unit told Wired.com in a telephone interview, many of Flash Player 10’s improvements are based on feedback the team has received from the development community. He says that most of the features in this release were included in direct response to their demands. By aiming to transcend specific limitations within the previous versions of the Flash player, Barclay hopes to help developers push the envelope and extend their online applications even further than was previously capable.
Once piece of welcome news is that Adobe is releasing the Flash Player 10 beta for all major platforms — Windows, Mac and Linux. Adobe has even upped the Linux ante with a new installer specially tailored for Ubuntu users. Barclay says that Adobe considers Linux a major platform and will continue to make all Flash releases simultaneous across platforms.
Flash Player 10 beta packs a slew of new developer-centric features, but the most visible change for users will be the speed boost, which comes from new hardware acceleration tools that can offload some rendering tasks to your graphics card rather than relying solely on the CPU. That means your favorite sites using Flash interfaces will be much snappier.
Video playback gets a boost in Flash Player 10, as well. Although it only works with video streaming from Flash Media Server, the new Flash Player can new detect and modify bitrates on the fly, automatically adjusting video quality as bandwidth fluctuates. That could mean much smoother streaming without the annoying pauses or stuttering that happens when you watch videos online.
It might be some time before these new feature make to your favorite sites, especially given that this is only beta release. But don’t expect to wait too long, the last Flash Player update (which wasn’t even a major update) managed to reach 62 percent of users in the first three months. That may not be a wide enough adoption for sites as big as YouTube, but it’s great news for nimbler sites looking to push the envelope a little bit.
One place where Flash developers are really pushing the envelope is online photo editing -- taking tasks usually reserved for desktop apps like Photoshop and making them available in the browser. Indeed, this is one area where Flash Player 10 can make a significant impact.
Users of online photo editors like Picnik may one day benefit from Flash's new custom filters and effects for tweaking and enhancing images. While Creative Suite 3, Adobe's software suite for building Flash presentations, ships with a wide range of effects, the new tools will allow Flash developers to come up with their own effects. Adobe is even planning to set up an exchange site where developers can swap filters. Developers can create custom filters and effects using Adobe Pixel Bender (formerly code named Hydra) which is also the engine behind many of the special effects found in Adobe’s After Effects video editing software. Pixel Bender is a free download and can be found on Adobe Labs.
If sites like Picnik or FotoFlexer choose to leverage the new filter tools, expect your online photo editing capabilities to shoot through the roof.
For those users worried about bloat or sluggishness in their favorite Flash apps, fear not. Adobe claims that even very sophisticated effects or photo filters won’t slow down performance thanks to the new hardware acceleration feature.
Adobe is also introducing a new set of 3D tools aimed at beginner-level developers. Adobe’s 3D offerings aren’t as sophisticated as some of the third-party libraries already available, but if you’re looking to build a 3D interface without needing to revisit your high school trig class, this could be the ticket.
Flash Player 10 also brings some much-requested improvements in Flash’s text handling capabilities. International developers will be glad to know that Flash can now handle vertical, bi-directional and right-to-left text. Font nerds will also be happy about Flash Player 10's support for anti-aliasing for device fonts, as well as more sophisticated text handling like proper rendering of complex ligatures.
Another item that will be welcome news for a small but vocal group of Flash developers — Flash Player 10 ships with a number of new low level audio APIs. The new version also fixes a nasty latency bug that has hindered many an attempt at building online audio editors. [Update: The audio hackers are pleased! See Eliot Van Buskirk's report on their reaction at Listening Post]
If you’d like to test out the new beta of Flash Player 10, head over to the Adobe Labs site to download a copy. To check out some of the new features in action have a look at Adobe’s demo apps.
[Update: A number of commenters have been wondering about a 64 bit version of Flash 10. I hate to dash your hopes, but Adobe's Tom Barclay says "Adobe is not currently providing a 64-bit version of Flash Player 10." On the bright side he went on to say, "we will evaluate that requirement, which has been requested before, for inclusion in possible future releases based on customer demand."]

Difficult interview questions

2008-07-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

Tell me about yourself. My background to date has been centered around preparing myself to become the very best _____ I can become. Let me tell you specifically how I`ve prepared myself . . . ..............
Why should I hire you? Because I sincerely believe that I`m the best person for the job. I realize that there are many other college students who have the ability to do this job. I also have that ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes me the very best person for the job--my attitude for excellence. Not just giving lip service to excellence, but putting every part of myself into achieving it. In _____ and _____ I have consistently reached for becoming the very best I can become by doing the following . . . ............( your few achievemnts)
What is your long-range objective? Where do you want to be 10 or 15 years from now? Although it`s certainly difficult to predict things far into the future, I know what direction I want to develop toward. Within five years, I would like to become the very best _____ your company has. In fact, my personal career mission statement is to become a world-class _____ in the _____ industry. I will work toward becoming the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities that might be presented in the long term.
How has your education prepared you for your career? As you will note on my resume, I`ve taken not only the required core classes in the _____ field, I`ve also gone above and beyond. I`ve taken every class the college has to offer in the field and also completed an independent study project specifically in this area. But it`s not just taking the classes to gain academic knowledge--I`ve taken each class, both inside and outside of my major, with this profession in mind. So when we`re studying _____ in _____, I`ve viewed it from the perspective of _____. In addition, I`ve always tried to keep a practical view of how the information would apply to my job. Not just theory, but how it would actually apply. My capstone course project in my final semester involved developing a real-world model of _____, which is very similar to what might be used within your company. Let me tell you more about it . . .
Are you a team player? Very much so. In fact, I`ve had opportunities in both athletics and academics to develop my skills as a team player. I was involved in _____ at the intramural level, including leading my team in assists during the past year--I always try to help others achieve their best. In academics, I`ve worked on several team projects, serving as both a member and team leader. I`ve seen the value of working together as a team to achieve a greater goal than any one of us could have achieved individually. As an example . . .
Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How was it resolved? Yes, I have had conflicts in the past. Never major ones, but certainly there have been situations where there was a disagreement that needed to be resolved. I`ve found that when conflict occurs, it`s because of a failure to see both sides of the situation. Therefore, I ask the other person to give me their perspective and at the same time ask that they allow me to fully explain my perspective. At that point, I would work with the person to find out if a compromise could be reached. If not, I would submit to their decision because they are my superior. In the end, you have to be willing to submit yourself to the directives of your superior, whether you`re in full agreement or not. An example of this was when . . .
What is your greatest weakness? I would say my greatest weakness has been my lack of proper planning in the past. I would overcommit myself with too many variant tasks, then not be able to fully accomplish each as I would like. However, since I`ve come to recognize that weakness, I`ve taken steps to correct it. For example, I now carry a planning calendar in my pocket so that I can plan all of my appointments and "to do" items. Here, let me show you how I have this week planned out . . .
If I were to ask your professors to describe you, what would they say? I believe they would say I`m a very energetic person, that I put my mind to the task at hand and see to it that it`s accomplished. They would say that if they ever had something that needed to be done, I was the person who they could always depend on to see that it was accomplished. They would say that I always took a keen interest in the subjects I was studying and always sought ways to apply the knowledge in real world settings. Am I just guessing that they would say these things? No, in fact, I`m quite certain they would say those things because I have with me several letters of recommendation from my professors, and those are their very words. Let me show you . . .
What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have? The key quality should be leadership--the ability to be the visionary for the people who are working under them. The person who can set the course and direction for subordinates. A manager should also be a positive role model for others to follow. The highest calling of a true leader is inspiring others to reach the highest of their abilities. I`d like to tell you about a person who I consider to be a true leader . . .
If you had to live your life over again, what would you change? That`s a good question. I realize that it can be very easy to continually look back and wish that things had been different in the past. But I also realize that things in the past cannot be changed, that only things in the future can be changed. That`s why I continually strive to improve myself each and every day and that`s why I`m working hard to continually increase my knowledge in the _____ field. That`s also the reason why I want to become the very best _____ your company has ever had. To make positive change. And all of that is still in the future. So in answer to your question, there isn`t anything in my past that I would change. I look only to the future to make changes in my life.
In reviewing the above responses, please remember that these are sample answers. Please do not rehearse them verbatim or adopt them as your own. They are meant to stir your creative juices and get you thinking about how to properly answer the broader range of questions that you will face.

21 Ways For Self Motivation

2008-07-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

1. Consequences - Never use threats. They'll turn people against you. But making people aware of the negative consequences of not getting results (for everyone involved) can have a big impact. This one is also big for self motivation. If you don't get your act together, will you ever get what you want?
2. Pleasure - This is the old carrot on a stick technique. Providing pleasurable rewards creates eager and productive people.
3. Performance incentives - Appeal to people's selfish nature. Give them the opportunity to earn more for themselves by earning more for you.
4. Detailed instructions - If you want a specific result, give specific instructions. People work better when they know exactly what's expected.
5. Short and long term goals - Use both short and long term goals to guide the action process and create an overall philosophy.
6. Kindness - Get people on your side and they'll want to help you. Piss them off and they'll do everything they can to screw you over.
7. Deadlines - Many people are most productive right before a big deadline. They also have a hard time focusing until that deadline is looming overhead. Use this to your advantage by setting up a series of mini-deadlines building up to an end result.
8. Team Spirit - Create an environment of camaraderie. People work more effectively when they feel like part of team — they don't want to let others down.
10. Recognize achievement - Make a point to recognize achievements one-on-one and also in group settings. People like to see that their work isn't being ignored.
11. Personal stake - Think about the personal stake of others. What do they need? By understanding this you'll be able to keep people happy and productive.
12. Concentrate on outcomes - No one likes to work with someone standing over their shoulder. Focus on outcomes — make it clear what you want and cut people loose to get it done on their own.
13. Trust and Respect - Give people the trust and respect they deserve and they'll respond to requests much more favorably.
14. Create challenges - People are happy when they're progressing towards a goal. Give them the opportunity to face new and difficult problems and they'll be more enthusiastic.
15. Let people be creative - Don't expect everyone to do things your way. Allowing people to be creative creates a more optimistic environment and can lead to awesome new ideas.
16. Constructive criticism - Often people don't realize what they're doing wrong. Let them know. Most people want to improve and will make an effort once they know how to do it.
17. Demand improvement - Don't let people stagnate. Each time someone advances raise the bar a little higher (especially for yourself).
18. Make it fun - Work is most enjoyable when it doesn't feel like work at all. Let people have fun and the positive environment will lead to better results.
19. Create opportunities - Give people the opportunity to advance. Let them know that hard work will pay off.
20. Communication - Keep the communication channels open. By being aware of potential problems you can fix them before a serious dispute arises.
21. Make it stimulating - Mix it up. Don't ask people to do the same boring tasks all the time. A stimulating environment creates enthusiasm and the opportunity for "big picture" thinking.

wwe The Great American Bash

2008-07-20T22:15:00.000-07:00

UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Edge approached Sunday’s WWE Title Match against champion Triple H as a desperate man, and, as he himself admitted: “When I’m desperate, I’m dangerous.”

Unfortunately for the Ultimate Opportunist, a man with nothing left to lose has never been much of a match against a woman scorned. That was the case Sunday night as well when a wild turn of events led Edge to spear his wife, Vickie Guerrero, and lose the match to Triple H.

The trouble all started last Friday night on SmackDown when Triple H offered his wedding gift to Edge and his Vickie Guerrero during their reception. As the newlyweds looked on, The Cerebral Assassin unspooled a video of Edge sharing a passionate kiss with wedding planner Alicia Fox.

The damning footage ruined the couple’s nascent marriage and sparked a concentrated hatred in the jilted bride.

The first flash of that animosity shown brightly Sunday night. It looked like Edge had finally gained an advantage in the match when Fox entered ringside and tried to hand him the WWE Title to use, presumably, as a weapon. Guerrero, however, charged down after her, leveling the homewrecker with a stiff clothesline.

The two women battled into the ring, where both men were exhausted and flat on their backs. As the referee tried to separate Fox and Guerrero, the Ultimate Opportunist rushed the ref, who dodged his spear at the last moment. What happened next was stunning.

The R-Rated Superstar speared his wife, slamming her frame to the canvas. The stunned former champion could hardly believe what he had done and stood in silence for several moments.

As Edge wandered about the ring in an effort to compose himself, Triple H overcame his exhaustion and managed to administer a match-ending Pedigree to ensure his title reign continue.

It was a wild conclusion to an already rowdy night, costing Edge his chance at the WWE Title and possibly sabotaging any hope of a reconciliation with Guerrero. It also allowed Triple H to retain his WWE Championship, keeping The King of Kings nestled upon his throne

True Olympic spirit found in those who come last

2008-07-17T20:37:00.000-07:00

Beijing, July 18: True Olympic spirit is often found away from gold medallists with their agents and sponsorship deals it is found in its purest sense in those that come last. Swimmer Eric "The Eel" Moussambani and Paula Barila Bolopa may have made a splash in Sydney but only the best memories will recall Abdul Baser Wasiqi, Pyambuu Tuul, Charles Olemus, Mala Sakonninhom, Luvsanlkhundeg Otgonbayar, Mira Kasslin and Samia Hireche.These athletes, however, would have impressed modern Olympic founder Pierre de Coubertin who famously claimed in his native French: "L'important n'est pas de gagner, mais de participer (The important thing is not to win, but to take part)."Moussambani, Balopa, Wasiqi and co knew they would be nowhere near the winners' podium but, had he been alive, de Coubertin no doubt would have shaken their hands warmly considering them Olympic heroes.Moussambani of Equatorial Guinea at first created mirth with his choppy action, head held up water polo style, in stark contrast to the smooth efficiency of the fastest 100m freestyle competitors.His time of 1:52.72sec was the slowest ever 100m time and slower even than the 200m world record.But laughter quickly turned to admiration for a man who had only learned to swim eight months earlier, had never been in a 50m pool and only competed in the 2000 Games because of a special invitiation designed to encourage nations without the best training facilities.Later compatriot swimmer Barila Bolopa also gained Olympic hero status in front of a packed stadium, clocking the slowest ever women's 50m Olympic time of 1:03.97.Why did she gain an ovation from the spectators and have media microphones thrust in front of her on leaving the pool?She brought out the spectators' affection for a courageous, have-a-go hero who dared to compete knowing she would probably be the worst ever Olympian in that event.Abdul Baser Wasiqi of Afganistan came last in the men's marathon in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.His case was different to Moussambani's because he was a good marathoner, capable of close to 2hr 30min yet a hamstring injury had ruined his Olympic dreams and years of hard training.He had the courage to run anyway, to "take part," quoting de Coubertin, and struggled round in 4hr 24min 17sec, finishing in 111th place out of 111 competitors about 90 minutes behind the second to last athlete.He finished as officials were packing things away, preparing for the closing ceremony.Haiti's Olemus was the worst men's 10,000m runner in Montreal in 1976, clocking 42min 0.11sec, a time which recreational runners worldwide achieve, yet once more courage and spirit was shown in his insistence on competing and finishing.Sakonninhom of Laos came last in the women's 100m sprint in Seoul 20 years ago and her 15.12sec would have been beaten by average high school sprinters.Mongolian Otgonbayar came last in the women's marathon in Athens, Finnish track cyclist Kasslin managed just 37.145sec in the women's 500m time trial to come last in Sydney and Hireche of Algeria, competing in the women's single sculls rowing event, came last in Atlanta, finishing in 9min 28.41sec.The Olympic motto may be the Latin phrase "Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger) but spare a thought in Beijing for those who are "Slower, Lower, and Weaker", for many of those are heroes too.Bureau Report

wwe(Monday Night Raw)

2008-07-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

RALEIGH, N.C. – At the top of Monday Night’s Raw, Shane and Stephanie McMahon addressed the WWE Universe and the unpredictability and confusion that Raw has been embroiled in the past two weeks. Though they promised to take action if things don’t change, that didn’t prevent another hectic Monday Night Raw, as Kane continued his erratic behavior and the show crashed to a close with JBL appearing to crash a car into John Cena, who was propped up against another automobile. (WATCH)

“Priceless” Collision

Earlier in the night, John Cena & Cryme Tyme had challenged JBL and two partners of his choosing to a Six-Man Tag Team Match. The self-made millionaire went for the best, recruiting the “simply priceless” World Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase, after they interrupted Kelly Kelly's pending match and intentionally humiliated “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan.

Even though he handpicked his partners, JBL ended up disqualifying his team in the course of the match. Cena pursued his Great American Bash opponent into the parking lot, where the self-proclaimed “wrestling god” was waiting to club the Chain Gang Commander with a tire iron. After knocking Cena unconscious, Layfield propped him up and attempted to smash a car into the prone Superstar. Luckily, John Cena managed to escape at the last minute and was only grazed, meaning that Cena vs. JBL will still take place on Sunday night. (WATCH)

The Animal to the Rescue

The McMahons' warning also went unheeded by Kane, who continued to puzzle the WWE Universe, coming down to the ring with a mysterious bag and apologizing to Jerry “The King” Lawler and Michael Cole. Later in the night, the Big Red Monster asked World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk to face him one-on-one. But when the two met in a non-title match, Kane was counted out, and subsequently lost control, attacking the Straightedge Champion with a steel chair. Before much damage could be done to Punk, Batista rushed to the ring and attacked Kane to make sure that his Great American Bash opponent was in good shape to face him on Sunday. Batista then sent a clear message to his rival by refusing to shake Punk's hand. The Straightedge Superstar took exception to The Animal's competitive side and shoved his challenger, prompting Batista to plant him with a spinebuster. (WATCH)

Great American Clash

Two other Great American Bash opponents also had brutal interactions outside sanctioned matches on Monday: Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho. Before Raw could even properly begin, the rivalry between the two devolved into outright physical conflict which was quickly joined by Lance Cade, aiding Jericho in his attack on Michaels. Later in the evening, after Y2J defeated Paul London in singles competition, the Ayatollah of Rock 'n' Rolla had some choice words to share about HBK. The Showstopper came out to the ring in person however, and faced Jericho down one last time before their match on Sunday night, warning him that “the worst is truly yet to come.” (WATCH)

Quibbling Siblings

In a non-title match, WWE Women’s Champion Mickie James defeated Katie Lea Burchill, but soon afterward was subjected to the combined forces of Katie Lea and her brother Paul. As Paul grabbed onto Mickie, Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston rushed to the ring. The week before, Kofi had been subjected to Paul’s post-match brutality, and this week, the Jamaican Superstar suggested an Intercontinental Title Match to settle their rivalry. Though he’s still relatively new to Monday nights, Kofi persevered and pinned Burchill in this impromptu match.

Battle of the Sexes

Mickie and Katie Lea weren’t the only Divas to compete on Raw, as Beth Phoenix answered the open challenge of Santino Marella. The Glamazon is known for her strength and physicality, and brought every ounce of it to her contest with the Italian Superstar, pinning him in this rare intergender match. (WATCH)

For the Love of a Woman

Though Layla didn’t compete, she was the cause of another of the night’s unplanned altercations. Jamie Noble, who has been struggling to impress Raw Divas in recent weeks, set his charms to work on the 2006 Diva Search winner, promising to cut the next person he saw down to size. Unfortunately for Noble, the next person to come around the corner was Snitsky. Despite the obvious size difference, Noble stood up to the monstrous Snitsky, insulting him and leading him down to the ring. Unfortunately, Noble’s confidence and heart wasn’t enough to compete against his giant, nasty opponent, and Snitsky decimated Noble.

Arena Animation

2008-07-16T05:56:00.000-07:00

the global leader in hi-end Animation Training, has launched the brand new version of its 2.5 year comprehensive Animation Engineering programme - DAE. This prestigious programme is available only at select Arena Animation centres across the country.

Speaking at the course launch, Mr. R Krishnan, Global Head - Arena Animation, said "To keep pace with the growing and constantly evolving needs of the industry, the animation companies are hunting for animators with the knowledge of every aspect of animation, including both 2D & 3D animation. DAE is a specialized program designed as per the industry demands & with the objective of making the student a complete Animation Professional. Designed with inputs from the industry, the Animation Engineering course serves as the perfect launch pad for students keen to pursue a rewarding career in animation."

This program offers a unique blend of digital and analog art skills, as well as an understanding of the creative and technical processes involved. In this course students acquire a concrete foundation in art with drawing, storytelling and design skills. They learn to draw, visualize, and effectively apply colour principles. With the mastery of character drawing, principles of animation, texture mapping, motion capture and animation, students translate traditional art skills into the modeling of characters, objects, scenes, and virtual worlds. Skills in audio and video production are also covered, so that story continuity and believability become the hallmark of student productions.

The program greatly emphasizes on teaching the students to integrate both the processes of 2D as well as 3D, with a focus on skill development, right from ideation to execution.

However, an option of taking up a specialized DAE course focusing specifically on 2D or 3D Animation is also now available, with each of the streams having a duration of 1.5 years. This is meant for people who want to focus and specialize in one area only.

Beijing 2008: China invites Sonia, not PM or Prez

2008-07-14T21:48:00.000-07:00

NEW DELHI: Eighty heads of state and government will grace the Beijing Olympics in August but PM Manmohan Singh will not be among them.

Not because he is too busy, but because he was not invited. In fact, neither India's head of state nor government have been invited, with the invitation going to its most important politician, Sonia Gandhi.

The Congress chief is unlikely to attend, leaving that job to sports minister M S Gill. But even if you are really charitable, it can't be denied that it's yet another Chinese snub of pretty large proportions, and no amount of earnest protestations from government functionaries about the wonderful state of Sino-Indian relations will change that.

In October 2007, when Sonia visited Beijing, she received a welcome fit for a head of state. It raised eyebrows in India because it showed where the Chinese government was focusing its attention. It was then that the Chinese leadership first extended an invitation to her to attend the Bejing Olympic Games.

Although the government was the first to deny it, the scale of Sonia's visit prompted a delay in the prime minister's visit to Beijing. He was initially supposed to make his summit visit at the end of 2007, but this had to be pushed to the new calendar year. In 2008, the Beijing Olympics acquiring a distinct political hue with the Tibetan protests. Consequently, India-China ties took on a strained look, made worse by China's repeated incursions in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

China's internal troubles did not stop it from keeping the Indian government is a state of permanent squirm — first with repeated claims to Arunachal and then by incursions into Sikkim. In fact, foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee was faced with a sudden cancellation of his meeting with Chinese premier Wen Jiabao.

Also by this time, China had invited pretty much every world leader to the Olympics, but maintained a silence on India. India wasn't on the first list, or the second. While the Chinese government has invited the who's who in terms of heads of government to the Games, in the case of India, it made a clear distinction between the head of government and the most powerful political leader in the ruling combine. When Mukherjee visited Beijing in June, the formal invitation was finally made — to Sonia. Officials, when questioned, evaded the issue.

The PM would not have gone, said officials trying to defend the lack of an invitation. In October, Singh will be in Beijing for the ASEM summit, which officials say will be his second visit there this year. So a third visit during the Olympics was not on his radar. But as with much of India-China thorny issues, this too is looking more and more like a post-facto justification. Sources requesting anonymity said the Chinese leadership, which also derives its strength from the party, merely looked at the Indian leadership through that perspective.

However, seen in almost any light, the Chinese decision is little short of a snub to the PM personally and his office.

WWE (RAW)

2008-07-14T01:18:00.000-07:00

NEW ORLEANS - Raw this Monday opened with a special message from Stephanie McMahon, who expressed a desire for everyone on Raw to work together in the absence of the WWE Chairman. In spite of several unexpected occurrences, such as a lighting accident and a fan who managed to make his way into the backstage area, the show moved forward, with two new matches set for The Great American Bash, including a World Heavyweight Title Match between current champion CM Punk and his challenger, Batista.

Blind Fury

The rivalry between Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho had reached a fever pitch of late after Y2J smashed HBK’s head into the JeriTron-6000, severely injuring Michaels’ eye. The two have continued to have confrontations in recent weeks, with the rivalry culminating on this week’s Raw as the brand’s second Great American Bash Match was established. The Showstopper accepted Jericho’s challenge to face him in two weeks, even though he only has one good eye. Michaels went on to tell Jericho that even though he has had a fantastic career and won every title he’s ever gone after, he will never be HBK. (WATCH)

Snitsky gets Punk’d

At the beginning of Monday night’s show, World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk endured a tirade and a slap from SmackDown’s Vickie Guerrero for having won the World Title from Edge. The Straightedge Superstar went on to have another altercation in the locker room area, this time with Snitsky. The Straightedge Superstar went on to suggest that the two face in the ring that very night. Punk defeated the yellow-toothed monster in a non-title match, proving exactly why he deserves to hold the World Championship around his waist.

Mysterio’s Raw Debut

Another new member of the Monday night roster, Rey Mysterio, had his very first match as a Raw Superstar. Last week, the Master of the 619 was interrupted by Santino Marella, who went on to insult and degrade Mysterio. When the Ultimate Underdog had enough, he leapt into action, shutting up the Italian Superstar. This week, Mysterio continued to show Marella that he isn’t an athlete that you should underestimate as he defeated his opponent handily. (WATCH)

Kofi Tastes the Curb

Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston also experienced a win on Monday night by defeating Charlie Haas in a non-title match. Though the Jamaican Superstar tasted victory, he didn’t have a chance to enjoy it before Paul Burchill rushed into the ring, performing his vicious Curb Stomp on the Intercontinental Champion.

Chain Gang Carjack

Before they faced off in a Fatal Four Way Match, John Cena and JBL had an added altercation, involving the self-made millionaire’s limo. Cena, with some help from Cryme Tyme, worked over JBL’s private automobile with crowbars and baseball bats, before the Longhorn Loudmouth stomped off to prepare for their match. (WATCH)

Raw’s New Divas

Before the incident with JBL’s limo, Cena relaxed near the locker room area with WWE Women’s Champion Mickie James, as Mickie prepared for a Divas tag match. The two were soon approached by Mickie’s partner for the night: Kelly Kelly. Mickie explained that the former ECW Diva had just joined the Raw roster, after which the two went to go face Jillian & Layla in the ring. Though Mickie & Kelly are a new team, they showed that they know how to work together, picking up a win over their competitors.

The Animal Unleashed

Monday night ended with a long, brutal Fatal Four Way Match between John Cena, Batista, Kane and JBL. In spite of such fierce competition, The Animal won the match by pinning Kane, who went on a bizarre rampage outside the ring, assaulting WWE Production crew and announcers alike.

China steps up Olympic security

2008-07-14T01:07:00.000-07:00

Aljazeera.net - 1 hour ago
China has unveiled fresh steps to tighten security for the upcoming Olympics, warning of an unprecedented threat to the games less than four weeks ahead of the opening ceremony in Beijing.

Now, England roots for its own IPL

2008-07-13T08:55:00.000-07:00

Plans for a nine team English twenty20 Premier League starting in 2010 and worth up to euro1.3 billion has been proposed by two members of the ECB management board, the British media reported on Saturday
a document drawn by up by surrey chairman David Steward and MCC chief executive Keith Bradshaw, with assistance from the Hampshire and lancashire clibs , was leaked to the press before play inEngland's Test with South africa at Lord's on friday
The plans are for an annual competiton in june featuring leading overseas players staged by clubs at the nine test grounds.
A player auction would be held to stock each team and there would be a salary cap of about euro 1.5 billion. The prosposals for a 25 day, 57 match EPL financed by private backers and owned by a company called New t20 Ltd culd be on the agenda for consideration at a meeting for the ECB on tuesday.
A leading English daily reported the documen, 'consideration of an optional Twenty20 tournament based in England, 'had calculated deals over 10 years would be worth about euro 85 million annually in broadcasting match-day and commercial revenues.
Rights to each team --linked to a city ground, region or country-- would be sold for an average near euro 50 million . The proposal has triggered concern among the smaller counties who are worried they could miss out on the financial rewards flowing from a lucartive new tournament.
"We would be completely against this," Derbyshire chief executive Tom seras was quoted as saying . "We have been told by the ECB that they are looking at an EPL with 18 first-class teams included. Then I hear that two of the ECB management board have signed this document, which is really worrying . It would completely change the landscape. We would see the rich getting richer and the have-nots falling further behind,"