Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Osama 'worth more Alive than Dead' to the US, says his son
Al Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden's fourth son, Omar, has told the Rolling Stones magazine in an interview that his father is worth more to the United States alive than dead because his death could unleash "very,very nasty" attacks by militants.
The interview, which was conducted in part in a Damascus strip club, saw Omar saying that his father had already won the War on Terror because he had achieved his aim of humbling the US and would probably not feel the need to launch more big attacks.
According to The Times, he also described US President Barack Obama's decision to increase troop numbers in Afghanistan as a big mistake that would damage the US economy.
"It is like adding water to sand, as we say in the Arab world. It only makes the sand heavier," Omar Osama bin Laden told the magazine.
"If I was in his (Obama's) position, the first thing I would do is make a truce. Then, for six months or one year, no fighting, no soldiers. Afghanistan can never be won. It has nothing to do with my father. It is the Afghan people," Omar said.
"It is going to be worse when my father dies. The world is going to be very, very nasty then. It will be a disaster," he added.
Omar makes a living as a scrap metal merchant in Jeddah. He has been banned from entering Britain with his wife, Zaina, over fears that his presence would cause "considerable public concern.
He said that he respected former president Bill Clinton for his "smart" decisions to attack his father's training camp with cruise missiles in retaliation for attacks on US interests in Africa.
Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20100122/882/twl-osama-worth-more-alive-than-dead-to.html
The interview, which was conducted in part in a Damascus strip club, saw Omar saying that his father had already won the War on Terror because he had achieved his aim of humbling the US and would probably not feel the need to launch more big attacks.
According to The Times, he also described US President Barack Obama's decision to increase troop numbers in Afghanistan as a big mistake that would damage the US economy.
"It is like adding water to sand, as we say in the Arab world. It only makes the sand heavier," Omar Osama bin Laden told the magazine.
"If I was in his (Obama's) position, the first thing I would do is make a truce. Then, for six months or one year, no fighting, no soldiers. Afghanistan can never be won. It has nothing to do with my father. It is the Afghan people," Omar said.
"It is going to be worse when my father dies. The world is going to be very, very nasty then. It will be a disaster," he added.
Omar makes a living as a scrap metal merchant in Jeddah. He has been banned from entering Britain with his wife, Zaina, over fears that his presence would cause "considerable public concern.
He said that he respected former president Bill Clinton for his "smart" decisions to attack his father's training camp with cruise missiles in retaliation for attacks on US interests in Africa.
Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20100122/882/twl-osama-worth-more-alive-than-dead-to.html
Friday, January 15, 2010
White House seeks tips from Nooyi, Corporate Chiefs
The White House has invited dozens of America's top executives, including Pepsico's India-born chief executive Indra K. Nooyi, on Thursday seeking tips on how the US bureaucracy can become leaner and meaner.
Besides Nooyi, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, Sprint Nextel chief executive Dan Hesse, and Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes are among those expected to attend. The idea is to find ways to cut costs and getting federal agencies to place a higher priority on better serving the public, in areas including immigration, education and the census, the Washington Post reported Thursday.
White House officials hope tips from the executives may help translate private sector's entrepreneurial zeal to federal agencies as they turn to new technologies, such as web and text messaging, to make that all happen.
For example, the Census Bureau spent $600 million on a project to make its 2010 count electronic, but the effort failed and the census will be conducted by paper this year.
'We see a big gap in technology from the private sector and the federal government in terms of productivity and service quality,' Jeffrey Zients, the Office of Management and Budget's deputy director for management was quoted as saying.
Zients, federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra and federal Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra told the Post in a group interview Wednesday that they invited executives from various industries who have demonstrated excellence in cost management, customer service, and the use of high-tech tools to achieve those ends.
One challenge facing the administration is that federal workers aren't motivated by the shareholder pressures and corporate bonuses of the private sector.
The executives will break out into three working groups and then present their ideas to all attendees, including Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama, and Peter Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Post said.
The government has started to implement some of the administration's ideas. It's cut nearly a dozen information technology contracts that appeared wasteful. The US Customs and Immigration Services is using text messages to inform applicants for citizenship when their paperwork moves through the seven steps of the application process.
Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100114/838/tbs-white-house-seeks-tips-from-nooyi-co.html
Besides Nooyi, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, Sprint Nextel chief executive Dan Hesse, and Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes are among those expected to attend. The idea is to find ways to cut costs and getting federal agencies to place a higher priority on better serving the public, in areas including immigration, education and the census, the Washington Post reported Thursday.
White House officials hope tips from the executives may help translate private sector's entrepreneurial zeal to federal agencies as they turn to new technologies, such as web and text messaging, to make that all happen.
For example, the Census Bureau spent $600 million on a project to make its 2010 count electronic, but the effort failed and the census will be conducted by paper this year.
'We see a big gap in technology from the private sector and the federal government in terms of productivity and service quality,' Jeffrey Zients, the Office of Management and Budget's deputy director for management was quoted as saying.
Zients, federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra and federal Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra told the Post in a group interview Wednesday that they invited executives from various industries who have demonstrated excellence in cost management, customer service, and the use of high-tech tools to achieve those ends.
One challenge facing the administration is that federal workers aren't motivated by the shareholder pressures and corporate bonuses of the private sector.
The executives will break out into three working groups and then present their ideas to all attendees, including Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama, and Peter Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Post said.
The government has started to implement some of the administration's ideas. It's cut nearly a dozen information technology contracts that appeared wasteful. The US Customs and Immigration Services is using text messages to inform applicants for citizenship when their paperwork moves through the seven steps of the application process.
Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100114/838/tbs-white-house-seeks-tips-from-nooyi-co.html
Bajaj's small car to be smaller than Alto: Renault
The small car being developed by Bajaj Auto that will be marketed by Renault-Nissan alliance in India will be smaller than Maruti Suzuki's Alto, according to the French car maker.
"The car that we are discussing with Bajaj is smaller than the small car. A small car like Maruti Suzuki's Alto or a 1.2 litre car is not on the table for discussion of Renault Bajaj. We are discussing a smaller car than the small car," Renault Asia Africa Management Committee Executive Vice-President Katsumi Nakamura said.
Last year, Renault Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn had announced that the Renault-Nissan combine along with Bajaj Auto have finalised an ultra low-cost product that will be launched by 2012, a year behind schedule than originally planned.
Ghosn had stated that design, engineering, sourcing and manufacturing will be handled by Bajaj Auto, while marketing and selling will be looked after by Renault-Nissan alliance.
More importantly, the car will have no Bajaj brand on it.
Subsequently, Bajaj Auto Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj had made it public that the small car will have 70-80 per cent of the parts common with its two and three wheelers.
The small car, initially supposed to hit the market by 2011, was delayed by a year due to differences between the partners over pricing and design.
Initially, when the project was announced in 2007 Renault wanted the car to compete with Tata's Nano but Bajaj wanted to focus on delivering fuel economy.
In 2008 Nissan joined the project and a tripartite joint venture was formed with Bajaj holding 50 per cent stake and Renault and Nissan having 25 per cent each and envisaging to produce 400,000 units of the small car annually.
Source: http://in.biz.yahoo.com/100114/50/bauwk5.html
"The car that we are discussing with Bajaj is smaller than the small car. A small car like Maruti Suzuki's Alto or a 1.2 litre car is not on the table for discussion of Renault Bajaj. We are discussing a smaller car than the small car," Renault Asia Africa Management Committee Executive Vice-President Katsumi Nakamura said.
Last year, Renault Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn had announced that the Renault-Nissan combine along with Bajaj Auto have finalised an ultra low-cost product that will be launched by 2012, a year behind schedule than originally planned.
Ghosn had stated that design, engineering, sourcing and manufacturing will be handled by Bajaj Auto, while marketing and selling will be looked after by Renault-Nissan alliance.
More importantly, the car will have no Bajaj brand on it.
Subsequently, Bajaj Auto Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj had made it public that the small car will have 70-80 per cent of the parts common with its two and three wheelers.
The small car, initially supposed to hit the market by 2011, was delayed by a year due to differences between the partners over pricing and design.
Initially, when the project was announced in 2007 Renault wanted the car to compete with Tata's Nano but Bajaj wanted to focus on delivering fuel economy.
In 2008 Nissan joined the project and a tripartite joint venture was formed with Bajaj holding 50 per cent stake and Renault and Nissan having 25 per cent each and envisaging to produce 400,000 units of the small car annually.
Source: http://in.biz.yahoo.com/100114/50/bauwk5.html
Effect of the Solar Eclipse on all Rashis - 2010
Moon signs are an integral part of Vedic Astrology practised in India since times immemorial. Moon plays a vital role in Vedic predictions just like the Ascendant (Rising sign) and the Sun signs. Sun is considered important in Western Astrology as it signifies the Soul. Moon signifies the Mind and mind governs the actions, thus it has a great importance in Vedic Astrology. It is decided on basis of the position of Moon in your Natal birth chart. If you do not know your Moon sign log on to www.GaneshaSpeaks.com to check yours.
The Partial Solar Eclipse or Kankana Surya Grahan taking place on January 15, 2010 is in Uttarashada Nakshatra of Makara Rashi (zodiac sign of Capricorn). The effect of this Solar Eclipse on finances of individuals of all the lunar Rashis along with the remedies or zodiac signs are as mentioned below.
Aries:
The Solar eclipse will hit your 10th house so you may feel restless with your present assignment and may have a strong urge towards options which can give you better financial rewards. You may look for higher growth in your profession. By defining solid goals and working maturely in a direction, you will be able to take advantage of beneficial effects of eclipse and achieve the financial and emotional security.
Remedy
Consecrate a 'Surya Yantra' and perform ablutions on it.
Taurus:
The Solar eclipse will occur in your 9th house. So there will be increased expenses for higher education, religious rituals, philosophical knowledge and world travel. This could be a phase when you will be especially busy initiating new projects or activities to earn more and expand your horizon. You must avoid contemplating on schemes that are like building castles in the air particularly for people born in Krutika Nakshatra.
Remedy
Chant Om Surya Namaha
Gemini:
The solar eclipse will hit your 8th house of joint finances so this is not an easy time; many difficulties will arise and you will have to work hard and shoulder more responsibilities. You will feel the pressure of commitment and likely to be dogged by worries and problems. Your financial condition may be very variable, with money coming in and going through sudden heavy expenses, draining your reserves and bank balance. It will teach you the value of partnership and joint efforts and sharing of responsibilities in order to derive desired gain.
Remedy
Recite Japakusuma Sankasham Kashyapeyam Mahadhyutim
Tamorim Sarvapaapaghanm Pranatosmi Divakaram
Cancer:
The solar eclipse will fall in your seventh house so you will try to assert yourself overly and will act on your own hunches and impulses without consulting your partners or associates and ignoring their feed-backs which will affect your finances as well. There will be strong craving for luxury and pleasures and you may have to incur loans to satisfy your needs which will put pressure on your finances. You will be able to achieve your goals only through cooperation with others and for that you will have to attain the necessary inner balance.
Remedy
Recite the 'Surya Kavach' strotra.
Leo:
The Solar eclipse will occur in your sixth house which will provide you with some excellent opportunities for gains and to develop new financial resources. It may also inspire you to take up a new of job or adopt a line of work. But you must not borrow money just for pomp and show or for useless things. Do not borrow money beyond your limits otherwise it may become difficult for you to repay in time. Actually it is ideal time for debt consolidation. Your debt management plans can help you to overcome debt issues and enable you to become debt free rapidly without putting an undue strain on your finances.
Remedy
Take good care of your father, grandparents and elders.
Virgo:
The Solar eclipse will fall in your fifth house so your business and resultant load seems to increase in coming months. It will amplify your speculative tendencies. You may also derive good gains from speculations but you may also have major fluctuation in the fortune. There are chances of taking wrong decision which will ultimately cause looses through speculations particularly people born in Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra. So act carefully.
Remedy
Recite the 'Aditya Hridaya Stotra'
Libra:
The Solar eclipse will occur in fourth house, so there will be tremendous volatility in your emotional relationships. The disturbances on domestic level may not allow you to take right decisions and that can affect your finances as well. Stay put and do not be rash for money or any new venture.
Remedy
Offer Anjali to the rising Sun while reciting Gayatri Mantra 21 times daily for 21 weeks
Scorpio:
The Solar eclipse will occur in your 3rd house suggesting a new approach in your daily routine and there will be a change in your attitude as well as the way you handle your daily activities. You may have an increased awareness and alertness in regard to your finances. It will make you very ambitious and you will involve in risky affairs to fulfill your dreams. But you need to adopt a more practical and conciliatory approach and try to take maximum advantage of beneficial effects of this Eclipse.
Remedy
Pray to your family / House Deity.
Sagittarius:
The Solar eclipse will hit your 2nd house so you may have a new approach to handling your finances and resources and may also try to develop new sources of income. Your focus will now be shifted to increase your income in the coming months. There are also chances of huge expenditure or loss of money due to hasty decisions particularly for people born in Uttarashada Nakshatra . All you need is to control your greed and unnecessary wants and desires.
Remedy
Recite "Gayatri Mantra".
Capricorn:
Solar eclipse will occur in your sign so you will feel that things are just automatically going in a certain direction may be against your wishes. You can be quite logical in your thinking but in your effort you may be slightly wavering or indecisive and that can cause problems. You need to allow the energy to show you the path to the next step and think twice before taking vital financial decisions particularly if your birth star or Nakshatra is Uttarashada Nakshatra.
Remedy
Recite the "Aditya Hridaya Stotra"
Aquarius:
Solar eclipse will fall in your 12th house so some unexpected events will draw you for new beginnings. You will be forced to review and restructure your financial planning. It can cause financial instability, expenses for health problems, wasteful expenses, losses on account of disputes and professional stability. Over indulgence in worldly pleasures or intoxication will also cause severe problems in your life.
Remedy
Recite the 'Surya Kavach' or donate cash or in kind to blind people.
Pisces:
The Solar eclipse in the 11th house suggests that you will be associated with large networks and groups and electronic webs, world culture, global issues will direct your emotional life. There will be strong desire of getting what you want here and now. It will also provide you some good opportunities to develop extra financial resources and increase in your income.
Remedy
Recite Om Dhruni Suryaye Aadi Vyom
The Solar eclipse in the 11th house suggests that you will be associated with large networks and groups and electronic webs, world culture, global issues will direct your emotional life. There will be strong desire of getting what you want here and now. It will also provide you some good opportunities to develop extra financial resources and increase in your income.
Remedy
Recite Om Dhruni Suryaye Aadi Vyom
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Sleep Hygiene for Health
Good sleep is not only a blessing for your health, it is also a good indicator of the state of your health. Sleep is therapeutic and healing, and impacts your body in various ways.
* While you sleep, your brain sorts out the day's events, learning and information and stacks it all away in such a way that you can retrieve the memories when you need them. So if you don't sleep properly, you are likely to have trouble with both your short-term and long-term memory. This is bad news for students - indeed, for anyone who has learned any new skill during the day. This is why sleep hygiene is such an important part of the training schedules of world-class athletes.
* Your body also repairs itself while you sleep. The healing of wounds and bone and muscle injuries takes longer than usual when the quality of your sleep is poor. * Also, if you are sleep deprived, chances that you will have an accident of some sort are higher than usual. You see this typically on highways, factories and construction sites. That's because sleep deprivation affects your ability to stay alert. * Several metabolic diseases such as polycystic ovary, diabetes and hormonal disorders are linked to a lack of quality sleep. This is because hormones fluctuate throughout the waking-sleep cycle and are affected when the sleep quality is bad. This, in turn, may affect insulin and cortisol secretion, which ultimately affects the ability of the body to balance its hormones.
The quality of your sleep could be affected by:
* Taking your worries and indecisions to bed on a regular basis
* The consumption of tea or coffee close to bed time
* Too much alcohol
* Viewing disturbing visuals at night
* Reading disturbing information at night
* Having an unkempt, unhygienic place to sleep, or sleeping in your work clothes
* Having a blaring television or radio on in the room
* Having an erratic bed tim
* Eating a very heavy meal at night
* The side effects of any medication you are on
Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/32/20100110/1074/tod-here-s-why-you-need-good-sleep.html
* While you sleep, your brain sorts out the day's events, learning and information and stacks it all away in such a way that you can retrieve the memories when you need them. So if you don't sleep properly, you are likely to have trouble with both your short-term and long-term memory. This is bad news for students - indeed, for anyone who has learned any new skill during the day. This is why sleep hygiene is such an important part of the training schedules of world-class athletes.
* Your body also repairs itself while you sleep. The healing of wounds and bone and muscle injuries takes longer than usual when the quality of your sleep is poor. * Also, if you are sleep deprived, chances that you will have an accident of some sort are higher than usual. You see this typically on highways, factories and construction sites. That's because sleep deprivation affects your ability to stay alert. * Several metabolic diseases such as polycystic ovary, diabetes and hormonal disorders are linked to a lack of quality sleep. This is because hormones fluctuate throughout the waking-sleep cycle and are affected when the sleep quality is bad. This, in turn, may affect insulin and cortisol secretion, which ultimately affects the ability of the body to balance its hormones.
The quality of your sleep could be affected by:
* Taking your worries and indecisions to bed on a regular basis
* The consumption of tea or coffee close to bed time
* Too much alcohol
* Viewing disturbing visuals at night
* Reading disturbing information at night
* Having an unkempt, unhygienic place to sleep, or sleeping in your work clothes
* Having a blaring television or radio on in the room
* Having an erratic bed tim
* Eating a very heavy meal at night
* The side effects of any medication you are on
Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/32/20100110/1074/tod-here-s-why-you-need-good-sleep.html
FBI warns Internet users of Haiti Relief Scams
The FBI Thursday issued a warning about e-mails offering bogus online fundraising to help victims of the devastating quake in Haiti, which left thousands of people dead.
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti Tuesday. The quake's epicentre was 15 km southwest of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince. It was followed by dozens of aftershocks, including two measuring 5.9 and 5.0.
Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said the death toll from the quake could reach 'well over 100,000'.
In a press release, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned Internet users that 'past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organisation and/or a good cause'.
'The FBI today reminds Internet users who receive appeals to donate money in the aftermath of Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests,' the statement reads.
The bureau recommended being sceptical about individuals who say they were victims of the quake and requesting financial assistance in incoming spam e-mails and social networks.
It also urged to make contributions only to well-known charity organisations and to avoid disclosing personal or financial information.
Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100114/890/twl-fbi-warns-internet-users-of-haiti-re.html
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti Tuesday. The quake's epicentre was 15 km southwest of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince. It was followed by dozens of aftershocks, including two measuring 5.9 and 5.0.
Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said the death toll from the quake could reach 'well over 100,000'.
In a press release, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned Internet users that 'past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organisation and/or a good cause'.
'The FBI today reminds Internet users who receive appeals to donate money in the aftermath of Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests,' the statement reads.
The bureau recommended being sceptical about individuals who say they were victims of the quake and requesting financial assistance in incoming spam e-mails and social networks.
It also urged to make contributions only to well-known charity organisations and to avoid disclosing personal or financial information.
Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100114/890/twl-fbi-warns-internet-users-of-haiti-re.html
Lord Ram and Climate Change
Ram, Ramayana and global warming - the association may sound odd, until you realise how the religious context helped an NGO in Uttar Pradesh combat the ill effects of climate change.
The NGO Raunak Evam Jagruk Samaj Sanstha (REJSS) in Sonbhadra district, some 250 km from Lucknow, conducts recitation of the Ramayana epic in parts of Uttar Pradesh, holds prayers for Lord Ram and distributes saplings as prasad (consecrated offering) among the devotees.
'You can say it's our religious formula to protect the environment and fight against global warming. Planting trees is something simple everyone can do to reduce carbon dioxide, a principal greenhouse gas that causes global warming,' REJSS director Arvind Singh Chattan told IANS on phone from Sonbhadra.
'You know the importance of prasad amongst Hindus, who traditionally accept it after prayers as they believe the prasad has been blessed by the almighty. Unlike the usual prasad that usually comprises different fruits, sweets, panchaamrit (made from curd, milk and dry fruits), we provide saplings as prasad to the devotees, who readily accept them and plant them taking into account the religious context,' he added.
REJSS launched its Ram, Ramayana and Global Warming programme six months ago and has already distributed over 18,000 saplings.
'We started our programme in June 2009 and till now we have successfully conducted it in several districts including Varanasi, Chandauli, Mirzapur and Sonbhadra,' said Dimple Singh, a member of REJSS.
'Though for the last five years we have been organising environmental awareness programmes in different schools of Uttar Pradesh, frankly speaking we were not able to involve the commoners to work towards environment protection. Later, we decided to connect religion with environment, as there is no denying that people of our country, particularly Hindus, are governed by religion,' she added.
According to REJSS members, earlier their environmental programmes remained confined to school students, but now it has representation from all walks of life.
'Be it children, youth or elders, all turn up in huge numbers whenever we organise religious gatherings. In fact, most of the time we hand over the saplings to devotees as they come in the camp and bow their head before the almighty,' said another member of REJSS, K.P. Singh.
In the coming weeks, REJSS will hold its programme in new parts of Uttar Pradesh -- the dictricts of Lucknow, Kanpur, Unnao, Shahjahanpur and Hardoi. REJSS buys the saplings with funds raised by the public.
'Residents in different districts, primarily Sonbhadra and Varanasi, voluntarily contribute for the campaign. For collecting funds, REJSS members visit door-to-door and the residents donate money depending upon their income,' said Ranbeer Dogra, a resident of Robertsganj town in Sonbhadra.
Arvind Giri, a resident of Sonbahdra's Chopan town, said: 'The initiative taken by REJSS will surely be of immense help in expanding the green cover of the state. In my view their drive is a unique mix of religion and science that would definitely ward off a number of environmental problems.'
Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100114/812/tnl-combating-climate-change-with-help-f.html
The NGO Raunak Evam Jagruk Samaj Sanstha (REJSS) in Sonbhadra district, some 250 km from Lucknow, conducts recitation of the Ramayana epic in parts of Uttar Pradesh, holds prayers for Lord Ram and distributes saplings as prasad (consecrated offering) among the devotees.
'You can say it's our religious formula to protect the environment and fight against global warming. Planting trees is something simple everyone can do to reduce carbon dioxide, a principal greenhouse gas that causes global warming,' REJSS director Arvind Singh Chattan told IANS on phone from Sonbhadra.
'You know the importance of prasad amongst Hindus, who traditionally accept it after prayers as they believe the prasad has been blessed by the almighty. Unlike the usual prasad that usually comprises different fruits, sweets, panchaamrit (made from curd, milk and dry fruits), we provide saplings as prasad to the devotees, who readily accept them and plant them taking into account the religious context,' he added.
REJSS launched its Ram, Ramayana and Global Warming programme six months ago and has already distributed over 18,000 saplings.
'We started our programme in June 2009 and till now we have successfully conducted it in several districts including Varanasi, Chandauli, Mirzapur and Sonbhadra,' said Dimple Singh, a member of REJSS.
'Though for the last five years we have been organising environmental awareness programmes in different schools of Uttar Pradesh, frankly speaking we were not able to involve the commoners to work towards environment protection. Later, we decided to connect religion with environment, as there is no denying that people of our country, particularly Hindus, are governed by religion,' she added.
According to REJSS members, earlier their environmental programmes remained confined to school students, but now it has representation from all walks of life.
'Be it children, youth or elders, all turn up in huge numbers whenever we organise religious gatherings. In fact, most of the time we hand over the saplings to devotees as they come in the camp and bow their head before the almighty,' said another member of REJSS, K.P. Singh.
In the coming weeks, REJSS will hold its programme in new parts of Uttar Pradesh -- the dictricts of Lucknow, Kanpur, Unnao, Shahjahanpur and Hardoi. REJSS buys the saplings with funds raised by the public.
'Residents in different districts, primarily Sonbhadra and Varanasi, voluntarily contribute for the campaign. For collecting funds, REJSS members visit door-to-door and the residents donate money depending upon their income,' said Ranbeer Dogra, a resident of Robertsganj town in Sonbhadra.
Arvind Giri, a resident of Sonbahdra's Chopan town, said: 'The initiative taken by REJSS will surely be of immense help in expanding the green cover of the state. In my view their drive is a unique mix of religion and science that would definitely ward off a number of environmental problems.'
Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100114/812/tnl-combating-climate-change-with-help-f.html
Haryana Expecting 10 lakh Pilgrims during Solar Eclipse
Haryana is expecting nearly 10 lakh people to visit the holy city of Kurukshetra on the occasion of solar eclipse Friday, officials said Thursday.
'About 10 lakh people are likely to visit Kurukshetra on the occasion of solar eclipse. Nineteen special trains and 300 additional buses have been arranged for the conveniences of the pilgrims coming to this city,' state Chief Secretary Urvashi Gulati said.
She said pilgrims have been visiting this holy place since ancient times during the eclipse to take a dip in the two 'sarovars' (ponds) - Sannehit Sarovar and Brahmsarovar to attain salvation.
Duration of the solar eclipse Friday will be from 11.55 a.m. to 3.09 p.m.
Gulati said that adequate arrangements have been made for the safety and security of the pilgrims. Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code had been imposed in the area and extensive checking of the people at entry points was being conducted, she said.
Meanwhile, 70 medical officers, along with para-medical staff and 18 ambulances, have been pressed into service to provide immediate medical care to any person needing it, she added.
Seeing this huge influx of pilgrims, the district administration has also made elaborate arrangements to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and sufficient parking arrangements have been made here.
Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100114/812/tnl-haryana-expecting-10-lakh-pilgrims-d.html
'About 10 lakh people are likely to visit Kurukshetra on the occasion of solar eclipse. Nineteen special trains and 300 additional buses have been arranged for the conveniences of the pilgrims coming to this city,' state Chief Secretary Urvashi Gulati said.
She said pilgrims have been visiting this holy place since ancient times during the eclipse to take a dip in the two 'sarovars' (ponds) - Sannehit Sarovar and Brahmsarovar to attain salvation.
Duration of the solar eclipse Friday will be from 11.55 a.m. to 3.09 p.m.
Gulati said that adequate arrangements have been made for the safety and security of the pilgrims. Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code had been imposed in the area and extensive checking of the people at entry points was being conducted, she said.
Meanwhile, 70 medical officers, along with para-medical staff and 18 ambulances, have been pressed into service to provide immediate medical care to any person needing it, she added.
Seeing this huge influx of pilgrims, the district administration has also made elaborate arrangements to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and sufficient parking arrangements have been made here.
Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100114/812/tnl-haryana-expecting-10-lakh-pilgrims-d.html
Saturday, January 9, 2010
I like Being with Girls: Shah Rukh Khan
Seated at a restaurant in London surrounded by some 10 women, including his wife Gauri, when Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh says that he 'likes being with girls', you simply have to believe him.
'I don't have many boyfriends. I like being with girls - and probably that's why people think I'm a little girlish. But I don't have any such male bonding with anyone...,' Shah Rukh said in the first episode of Discovery Travel & Living's upcoming series 'Living With A Superstar - Shah Rukh Khan'.
Most of Shah Rukh's closest friends are of the opposite sex - Kajol, Farah Khan, Juhi Chawla, Rani Mukerji and so on.
Among his best known male friends is filmmaker Karan Johar, with whom he has done many hit films like 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham' and 'Kabhie Alvida Naa Kehna'. Shah Rukh's most awaited film of the year 'My Name Is Khan' is also Johar's baby.
The new TV series 'Living With A Superstar...' chronicles Shah Rukh in his real, day-to-day life. It aims at taking viewers into the private spaces of the 44-year-old, who is fondly known as King Khan by many of his fans and colleagues.
The 10-part series, which has Shah Rukh's voiceover, will go on air Feb 26 at 9 p.m. with a slice of his life from a family vacation in London.
He is seen taking a rickshaw ride on the street, cheering for a street performer, playing football with his children Aryan and Suhana at Hyde Park, bingeing on food, smoking, visiting Madame Tussaud's wax studio - and most of all just being himself.
In subsequent episodes, viewers can know about Shah Rukh's relationship with his children, wife, sister and friends, unique style of shooting, time management, interactions with fans and staff and about his house Mannat.
The series, jointly produced by Shah Rukh's Red Chillies Entertainment and Blue Mango Films, is the biggest ever by the channel, according to Rahul Johri, senior vice president and general manager, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific.
'This is the biggest thing we have done. We have shot in Dubai, San Jose, San Francisco, London, Mumbai, New Delhi - we had been following Shah Rukh wherever he went since March 2009 and he gave us complete access,' Johri told the media, without divulging the investment made for it.
The series will have eight repeats in a week, justifying the fan following that Shah Rukh commands across the globe.
Source: http://in.movies.yahoo.com/news-detail/75899/I-like-girls-Shah-Rukh.html
Shah Rukh pitches for Hockey Team
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who played a motivating hockey coach in 'Chak De! India', has now expressed solidarity with the country's hockey team, which boycotted a training camp in Pune over non-payment of sponsorship money and match fees.
'(I) feel awful for the Indian hockey team. To play for the country...(the) national sport and (they) have to ask for salary. And (then) we complain (that) we don't win gold,' Shah Rukh has posted on popular social networking site Twitter.
The players, who are preparing for the World Cup at Pune's Balewadi Complex under chief coach Jose Brasa, Thursday decided to 'boycott' the camp until their dues are paid and the issue is resolved.
Actress Gul Panag also joined King Khan and rued the condition of the hockey team.
'Sad that our hockey team has to constantly fight for its dues - and not just financial. Whereas cricket...,' she posted.
Movie baron Pritish Nandy too is upset with the way the players are being treated.
'I feel sad for our hockey players. India has won eight Olympic golds and one World Cup in hockey and we now treat them as beggars,' he said.
Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20100109/914/ten-shah-rukh-pitches-for-hockey-team.html
Billionaire Predictions 2010: Adi Godrej
Citizenship: India
Net Worth: $3.3 billion
Age: 67 Source of wealth: diversified
What is the most alarming trend facing the economy today?
The most alarming trend facing the global economy today is the negative to low growth rates in the developed world as well as some developing countries.
When will the Fed step in to strengthen the U.S. dollar?
I don’t think the Fed will be able to do much to strengthen the U.S. Dollar. It will keep weakening.
In what direction will your country's stock market move, and what kind of returns do you anticipate?
I expect the Indian stock market to appreciate by about 20% within the next two years.
Gold: buy, hold or sell?
Gold is a buy.
Which emerging world economy is the best bet for investors?
India is the best emerging economy for investors.
What's the best asset to own in 2010?
Stocks.
Will Twitter be a viable business in 2010? And do you use it?
Twitter will do well. I use it rarely.
Global warming: fact or fiction? How much money should your government invest in emissions cuts?
Solutions in global warming need to be technological. Tackling global warming in India could be both financially advantageous as well as add to sustainability.
Who is going to win the World Cup?
Brazil will win the football World Cup.
What will be the biggest surprise of 2010?
India will be back to its earlier growth rate of 9% plus in 2010.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Sculpt your Looks with Yoga
Breathe easy or rough it out
Some swear yoga is the best way to keep fit. Others say they'd collapse without the gym. Four celebrities share their experiences with both and tell us what works for them - and why. Raageshwari, Actress and Singer
The singer and actress is a yoga fanatic. It's a holistic discipline, she says. It sculpts the body and also the mind.
Frequency: I do Iyengar yoga and go for hour long classes three times a week. But I practice it at home every day for 45 minutes. Consistency is key. Weight / inch loss: I didn't start yoga to lose weight, but my brother did. I realised that with yoga you can lose weight and also align the body. My brother saw a difference in a month's time. Flexibility: I was a gymnast, so flexibility was never a problem. Stamina building: Within 15 days, I started to see an increase in my stamina levels.
Body toning: There are asanas that target every part of your body, even shins and the back of the thighs. You can't reach these places in a gym. You lose weight and inches and do away with flab. The body looks supple and not muscular or ripped.
overall looks: It gives you a glow. Energy gain: You don't get tired too often. Rather, you feel fresh. Healing: Yoga has asanas to cure all sorts of ailments. My father had knee trouble; after yoga, his knees have strengthened. My immune system picked up. I realised that I was completely healthy when everyone around me was catching some virus or the other. Also, I realised that onstage, while performing, because of all the breathing techniques I learnt, my lung control became great. I had face paralysis. Post yoga, I could feel my face getting back to normal. My eating habits automatically became healthy. Stress busting: I was never easily stressed. Still, after yoga, I felt calmer in difficult situations. Feel good factor: I feel happy and light. It's a positive addiction. Results: Yoga takes time. But benefits start to show within 15-20 days of regular yoga practice.
- Parul Khanna Hamza, DJ and Music Producer
though he used to play squash to keep fit, Delhi-based DJ Hamza gave it up for yoga, training under Yatharth Sehajpal. Hamza loves yoga. Its advantages are many, he says. It can be done in the privacy of his home or in the great outdoors, and when he travels, he never needs to look for a gym.
Frequency: I travel a lot, which makes a daily routine difficult, but I aim for a minimum of three times a week for at least thirty minutes. Weight / inch loss: When I started nearly a year ago, I weighed 98 kgs I have already lost more than eight kgs, with a target of seven more to go. There has been definite inch loss too. Flexibility / body toning: My flabby look has gone. Muscle building: You can build muscles with yoga. After I lose another seven kgs, I can also flaunt six-pack abs. Overall looks: Friends told me I looked fat. They now tell me how nice I have begun to look. Energy gain: I feel energetic all day. Since I work late nights, I really need to be on my toes. Healing: With all the bending I do while DJ-ing, I used to get aches and pains in my neck and back. Now I am cured. But if I don't do yoga for a few days, the aches and pains return. ' Stress busting: Since I started meditation, I've lost my hyper-ness and impatience.
Tensions still happen, but now I can tackle them calmly and with a lot of clarity. Feel good factor: With yoga, you feel good not just physically, but emotionally too. Paunch busting: With a little caution about what I eat, and regular yoga, I have got rid of my paunch. Results: Yoga may take longer than gymming to show results, but the results are there for a long time. - Veenu Singh Sammir Dattani, Film Actor
Though sammir has always been fitness conscious, he only started weight-training when he became an actor. He also swims, jogs and does yoga. He has tried power yoga to build his muscles. But weight and strength training work best
for him, he says. That's because muscle-
building is his goal.
Frequency: Weight training four times a week. Muscle building: I work on one or two body parts every day. If you need to build muscles, weight training is the most
effective way. But I wouldn't recommend heavy weights. I have realised that you can get the desired results with medium weights. Stamina building: I was a national level roller skater. My stamina and endurance levels have always been high. For stamina, I think outdoor exercise is best. I get better and quicker results running in the open for 20 minutes, than my friends who run for 45 minutes on the treadmill.
Flexibility: A year and half ago, I realised my body felt stiff post a weight training schedule. Regular stretches weren't enough to sort that out. So I started doing yoga. With that, my flexibility increased.
Energy giving: I don't gym for energy, I gym for muscles. If you want more energy, you must do cardio.
Healing: Apart from the feel-good factor, I did not experience any side-benefits of hitting the gym. Yoga, on the other hand, had a very healing affect on me. Because of my constant travelling, I would often catch colds and get a sore throat. Post yoga, I had a miraculous cure. Gymming only ups the stamina, makes me feel strong and burns calories. Stress busting: There's nothing like yoga to beat stress. Yoga clears my mind. I get a good night's sleep because of it. Feel-good factor: Swimming and running are draining, gymming peps me up but yoga rejuvenates me the most. Overall looks: Like any form of exercise, gymming makes my face look fresh. Toning/paunch busting: My paunch is quite fine. I don't need to tone it. But exercises like sit-ups, push-ups and cardio help to tone your body. Results: I have been trying to get a lean muscular look for the past eight months. I have come quite close to my aim. My body can go for a month without exercise,before it starts to lose its shape.
- Parul Khanna Anita Hasnandani, TV Actress
TV actress Anita Hasnandani started gymming eight years ago to lose weight. Though she has done yoga, she swears by the gym, because, according to her, it delivers good results. She gyms at the Leena Mogre Fitness Academy, Mumbai. Frequency: Five days a week, 45 minutes a day.
Weight loss / inch loss: My weight loss was gradual. It started with inches, then I started to lose weight too. Weight loss is an on-going process. You understand your body with time. But I have to be careful about food. For me, the results of exercise show only when I am also careful about my diet. Also, the negative side of gymming is that you gain weight when you stop. Flexibility: I did feel more flexible after regular gymming. As you work out, your body opens up. Stamina building: When I started, I could only jog on the treadmill for seven to eight minutes. Now I can jog for 30 minutes without a break. Also, I feel lighter. Body toning: Toning does happen with gymming. My problem area is my stomach. I am still trying to achieve those perfect abs. I was initially worried about looking muscular. To avoid this, I do repetitions (repeats of exercises) and light weights. With heavy weights, women tend to get muscular. Energy giving: Post exercises at the gymnasium, I feel energetic and lively. Feel-good factor: I feel good after my exercises and also charged up and excited. Also, because I have been able to lose weight, I feel good about myself. Healing: I have not had any health problems and do not have any experience of exercise helping me heal. Stress busting: I guess it is. When I feel low, a 20-minute jog makes me feel good.
Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/32/20100102/1074/tod-breathe-easy-or-rough-it-out.html
Cyber Threats in 2010
A computer security firm has advised PC owners to keep their computer safe from new security threats in the new year.
The experts revealed that the way people use the Internet and their computers has evolved significantly and so have the cyber criminals.
They have changed their tactics accordingly.
"It really speaks to a Web 2.0 world. People communicate differently today, people transact and pay their bills differently today, and that drives today's criminals," ABC Science quoted David Marcus, director of security research and communications for McAfee Labs, which this week released its 2010 Threat Predictions report, as saying.
"Bad guys tend to go where the masses go," he added.
Not only has the volume of threats escalated dramatically, the delivery methods have also become more sophisticated, he said.
Cyber criminals increasingly leverage the news of the day to attack unsuspecting consumers.
Whether it is celebrity deaths or natural disasters, Marcus says criminals will find a way to conceal their malware in the headlines you want to read.
According to McAfee, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites-will become major targets for cyber criminals.
Web users often tend to trust Web links and e-mail messages sent by friends and family.
However, online attackers are learning how to exploit that trust, by delivering malware that appears to come from Facebook friends, Twitter followers and friends' e-mail accounts.
"When you consider there are 350 million users of Facebook, that's a pretty target-rich environment," said Marcus.
McAfee also warns that URL shorteners, like those used to accommodate Twitter's 140-character limit, make the cyber criminal's task even easier.
Symantec said in its recent report on 2010 threats, URL shortening services will "become the phisher's best friend."
"Because users often have no idea where a shortened URL is actually sending them, phishers are able to disguise links that the average security conscious user might think twice about clicking on," the company said.
As consumers continue to bank online, Marcus said attacks on financial sites will likely increase in 2010. Some criminals have already learned how to bypass the banks' second layer of protection.
McAfee noted one new technique that involves interrupting a legitimate transaction to make an unauthorized withdrawal, while simultaneously checking the user's transaction limits to fly below the radar and avoid alerting the bank.
McAfee said another target for online crooks this year will likely be Google's new operating system, Chrome. As the "new kid on the block," McAfee predicts attackers will attempt to break the code and prey on consumers.
McAfee expects it to be Adobe products, especially Flash and Acrobat reader.
"It really kind of speaks to Adobe's popularity," said Marcus. "When you're searching online for a document, chances are it's a PDF you're going to download."
Source:http://in.yearinreview.yahoo.com/2009/blog/19
The experts revealed that the way people use the Internet and their computers has evolved significantly and so have the cyber criminals.
They have changed their tactics accordingly.
"It really speaks to a Web 2.0 world. People communicate differently today, people transact and pay their bills differently today, and that drives today's criminals," ABC Science quoted David Marcus, director of security research and communications for McAfee Labs, which this week released its 2010 Threat Predictions report, as saying.
"Bad guys tend to go where the masses go," he added.
Not only has the volume of threats escalated dramatically, the delivery methods have also become more sophisticated, he said.
Cyber criminals increasingly leverage the news of the day to attack unsuspecting consumers.
Whether it is celebrity deaths or natural disasters, Marcus says criminals will find a way to conceal their malware in the headlines you want to read.
According to McAfee, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites-will become major targets for cyber criminals.
Web users often tend to trust Web links and e-mail messages sent by friends and family.
However, online attackers are learning how to exploit that trust, by delivering malware that appears to come from Facebook friends, Twitter followers and friends' e-mail accounts.
"When you consider there are 350 million users of Facebook, that's a pretty target-rich environment," said Marcus.
McAfee also warns that URL shorteners, like those used to accommodate Twitter's 140-character limit, make the cyber criminal's task even easier.
Symantec said in its recent report on 2010 threats, URL shortening services will "become the phisher's best friend."
"Because users often have no idea where a shortened URL is actually sending them, phishers are able to disguise links that the average security conscious user might think twice about clicking on," the company said.
As consumers continue to bank online, Marcus said attacks on financial sites will likely increase in 2010. Some criminals have already learned how to bypass the banks' second layer of protection.
McAfee noted one new technique that involves interrupting a legitimate transaction to make an unauthorized withdrawal, while simultaneously checking the user's transaction limits to fly below the radar and avoid alerting the bank.
McAfee said another target for online crooks this year will likely be Google's new operating system, Chrome. As the "new kid on the block," McAfee predicts attackers will attempt to break the code and prey on consumers.
McAfee expects it to be Adobe products, especially Flash and Acrobat reader.
"It really kind of speaks to Adobe's popularity," said Marcus. "When you're searching online for a document, chances are it's a PDF you're going to download."
Source:http://in.yearinreview.yahoo.com/2009/blog/19
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