Interesting Readings

BMW - 2011 NAIAS

2011-08-30T03:38:00.000-07:00

Attitude

2011-05-23T05:39:00.000-07:00

Attitude is a psychological term that refers to a person’s prospective toward a specific target and way of saying or doing things. It represents an individual’s degree of like or dislike for an item. Attitudes are judgments. They simultaneously possess both positive and negative views of an individual towards as object.

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference” - Winston Churchill

Unlike personality, attitude is expected to change as a function of experience. Attitude can be changed through persuasion and we should understand attitude change as a response to communication.

Positive Attitude:

To achieve a success and lead a happy life, one should possess a positive attitude towards objects. These attitude objects can be anything ranging from things to circumstances.

“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but will annoy enough people to make it worth the effect.”

Positive attitude helps to cope more easily with the daily affairs of life. Positive attitude helps in visualizing the bright side of life become optimistic and expect the best to happen in life.

Manifestations of Positive attitude:

• Positive , creative and constructive thinking

• Optimistic

• Motivation to accomplish ones goal

• Being inspired

• Choosing happiness

• Not giving up and looking at failures and problems as blessing in disguise

• Self-belief

• Displaying self-esteem and confidence

• Looking for solutions and being opportunistic.

A positive attitude can lead to happiness and success and change your whole life. Benefits of positive attitude being:

• Helps achieving higher goals and achieving success

• Success achieved faster and more easily

• More happiness

• More energy

• Greater inner power and strength

• The ability to inspire and motivate yourself as well as others

• Fewer difficulties encountered along the way to achieve the goal

• Gaining respect from people

• Achievement of mental peace and a happy life.

If you are developing negative attitudes and expecting failures and difficulties in your endeavours, it is the time to change the way you think. It is the time to get rid of all negativities and odds in life and march towards a successful life with a positive attitude and self-confidence.

Following are some of the ways to develop a positive attitude:

• Choose to be happy

• Look at the bright side of life

• Stay optimistic and be affirmative

• Find reasons to smile more often

• Contemplate upon the futility of negative thinking and worries

• Associate yourself with happy people

• Read inspiring and motivational stories and quotes

• Don’t be a dreamer; instead be a visionary. Visualize only what you want to happen.

• Learn concentration and meditation

• Learn the art to master your thoughts.

Remember “wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.”

According to Hugh Downs, a happy person is not the person in certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with certain sets of attitudes.

Hot Controversies in Bollywood

2011-03-27T05:28:00.000-07:00

Bollywood can not be away from controversies for a long

Here are some controversies in recent years

1)In a press conference held for HIV-AIDS awareness, Hollywood star Richard Gere giving Shilpa Shetty a kiss on her cheek. Hell actually broke loose. Effigies were burnt, protests were carried out and a court in Rajasthan even issued a warrant for their arrests. Fortunately, nobody was arrested.

2)Amir Khan and Jessica : British journalist Jessica Hines claimed that perfectionist bollywood super star Aamir Khan was the father of her son, Jaan Harry Hines, who was born in 2003. Aamir denied the rumors.

3)Mika kisses Rakhi Sawant: In a party singer Mika grabbed Rakhi by her hair and kissed her straight on the mouth/lips. This gesture didn’t go down well with Rakhi and a drama queen that she is, filed a police complaint against him. Mika didn’t keep quite. He said he was prompted to kiss her coz of her flirtatious behaviour.

Steam rises from stricken Japan plant; Radiation concern persists

2011-03-22T05:08:00.000-07:00

TOKYO — Smoke and steam rose from two of the most threatening reactors at Japan's quake-crippled nuclear plant on Tuesday, suggesting the battle to avert a disastrous meltdown and stop the spread of radiation was far from won.
The world's worst nuclear crisis in 25 years was triggered by a huge earthquake and tsunami on March 11 that left at least 21,000 people dead or missing.
Technicians working inside an evacuation zone around the stricken plant on Japan's northeast Pacific coast have attached power cables to all six reactors and started a pump at one of them to cool overheating nuclear fuel rods.
Kyodo news agency said steam appeared to rise from reactor No. 2 and white haze was detected above reactor No. 3. There have been several blasts of steam from the reactors during the crisis, which experts say probably released a small amount of radioactive particles.
Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) said later the smoke had turned to steam and it was deemed safe to continue work in bringing the plant under control. Japan's nuclear safety agency said steam was believed to be coming off a spent nuclear fuel pool at reactor No. 2.
"Things are beginning to trend in the right direction. TEPCO will need to get electrical power back on line to all six reactors and they will have to make sure that components are working," said Mark Prelas, director of research for the Nuclear Science and Engineering Institute at the University of Missouri.
Reuters earlier reported that the Fukushima plant was storing more uranium than it was originally designed to hold and that it had repeatedly missed mandatory safety checks over the past decade, according to company documents and outside experts.
Questions have also been raised about whether TEPCO officials waited too long to pump sea water into the reactors and abandon hope of saving the equipment in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami.
Away from the plant, mounting evidence of radiation in vegetables, water and milk stirred concerns among Japanese and abroad despite officials' assurances that the levels were not dangerous.
TEPCO said radiation was found in the Pacific Ocean nearby, not surprising given rain and the hosing of reactors with seawater. TEPCO officials have said some of the water from the hosing was spilling into the sea.
Radioactive iodine in the sea samples was 126.7 times the allowed limit, while caesium was 24.8 times over, Kyodo said. That still posed no immediate danger, TEPCO said.
"It would have to be drunk for a whole year in order to accumulate to one millisievert," a TEPCO official said, referring to the standard radiation measurement unit. People are generally exposed to about 1 to 10 millisieverts each year from background radiation caused by substances in the air and soil.
Japan has urged some residents near the plant to stop drinking tap water after high levels of radioactive iodine were detected. It has also stopped shipments of milk, spinach and a vegetable called kakina from the area. The plant lies 240 kilometres north of Tokyo.
Experts say readings are much lower than around Chernobyl after the 1986 accident in Ukraine.
Japan is a net importer of food but it also exports fruit, vegetables, dairy products and seafood, with its biggest markets in Hong Kong, China and the United States.
China said it was monitoring food imports from Japan and South Korea is expanding inspection of Japanese food. Australia's food regulator said the risk was negligible and no extra restrictions on Japanese food were in place.
Authorities in Taiwan were extending monitoring while Thai food authorities were making random checks.
Despite the concern about elevated radiation readings, Japan said there was no need to extend a 20-kilometre evacuation zone around the plant.
More than 170,000 people have been moved out of the zone since the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and 10-metre tsunami smashed into the nuclear complex.
"At the moment, there is no need to expand the evacuation area," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told a briefing.
Latest available readings from an area 10 kilometres outside the evacuation zone show a level of 110 microsieverts per hour in the air, well below a level that would cause health risks but much higher than normal background levels.

PLANT SITUATION MAY BE STABILIZING

Experts have offered a glimmer of hope in Japan's darkest time since the Second World War, saying the situation appeared to be improving at the Fukushima plant, especially after more advances than setbacks in the past 48 hours.
The priority on Tuesday was patching up the No. 2 reactor so electricity, already connected, can be turned on. By Tuesday morning, reactor No. 1 was receiving power and No. 5 had both electricity and working cooling pumps.
Toshiba said it had sent 100 engineers to help and Australia was sending a remotely operated water canon system to help spray water on the plant.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said the crisis appeared close to stabilizing.
The prospects of a nuclear meltdown in the world's third-biggest economy — and its key position in global supply chains, especially for the automobile and technology sectors — rattled investors worldwide last week and prompted rare joint currency intervention by the G7 group of rich nations.
Investors in Tokyo stocks took heart from signs of progress at the plant, with the main index jumping more than 4 per cent after a holiday on Monday.
The yen edged up putting traders on heightened alert form more central bank intervention.
Damage from the earthquake and tsunami is estimated at $250 billion, making it the world's costliest natural disaster.
The official death toll exceeded 9,000 but with 12,654 people reported missing it is certain to rise. Police say more than 15,000 people probably died in Miyagi prefecture, one of four that took the brunt of the tsunami.
The quake and tsunami obliterated towns, which are now wastelands of mud and debris, leaving more than 350,000 people homeless.
Japanese are famed for resilience, though, and there was none of the chaos or looting that major disasters often spark.
In one devastated northern town, Rikuzentakata, rebuilding has begun. Steel structures, with walls and wood floors, have been erected at a hilltop school, to provide temporary housing.

Kareena Kapoor is Bollywood’sexiest Women

2011-03-12T06:30:00.000-08:00

Kareena Kapoor, who off late is busy in signing and shooting films was spotted at the launch of Star Dust magazine which featured her as Bollywood’s sexiest women. Hosted by Rohit Roy, Kareena unveiled the latest edition of Star Dust along with Nari Hari. The actress was looking smoking hot in a red gown.

The magazine’s March edition would be featuring 10 sexiest women of Bollywood and after an intensive reader response and wide research the magazine placed Kareena Kapoor at the top. Names like Deeepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra and Sonakshi Sinha were overtaken by the 3 idiot’s actress.

Last year, it was Katrina who topped the list of sexiest women in Bollywood

WORLD CUP SCHEDULE 2011

2011-03-12T04:30:00.000-08:00

Timing	Teams	Venue
Sat Feb 19 (D/N) 14:00 PM	1st match Group B - India v Bangladesh	Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
Sun Feb 20 09:30 AM	2^nd match Group A- Kenya v New Zealand	MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
Sun Feb 20 (D/N) 14:30 PM	3^rd match Group A- Sri Lanka v Canada	Hambantota International Cricket Stadium
Mon Feb 21 (D/N) 14:30 PM	4th match Group A - Australia v Zimbabwe	Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
Tue Feb 22 (D/N) 14:30 PM	5th match Group B- England v Netherlands	Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur
Wed Feb 23 (D/N) 14:30 PM	6th match Group A - Kenya v Pakistan	Hambantota International Cricket Stadium
Thu Feb 24 (D/N) 14:30 PM	7th match Group B- South Africa v West Indies	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Fri Feb 25 09:30 AM	9th match Group A- Australia v New Zealand	Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur
Fri Feb 25 (D/N) 14:00 PM	8th match Group B- Bangladesh v Ireland	Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
Sat Feb 26 (D/N) 14:30 PM	10th match Group A- Pakistan v Sri Lanka	R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Sun Feb 27 (D/N) 14:30PM	11th match Group B - India v England	Venue TBC
Mon Feb 28 09:30 AM	12th match Group A- Canada v Zimbabwe	Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur
Mon Feb 28 (D/N) 14:30 PM	13th match Group B- Netherlands v West Indies	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Tue Mar 1 (D/N) 14:30 PM	14th match Group A- Kenya v Sri Lanka	R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Wed Mar 2 (D/N) 14:30 PM	15th match Group B - England v Ireland	M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Thu Mar 3 09:30 AM	16th match Group B- Netherlands v South Africa	Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh
Thu Mar 3 (D/N) 14:30 PM	17th match Group A- Canada v Pakistan	R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Fri Mar 4 09:30 AM	18th match Group A - New Zealand v Zimbabwe	Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
Fri Mar 4 (D/N) 14:00 PM	19th match Group B- Bangladesh v West Indies	Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
Sat Mar 5 (D/N) 14:30 PM	20th match Group A - Australia v Sri Lanka	R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Sun Mar 6 09:30 AM	21st match Group B- England v South Africa	MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
Sun Mar 6 (D/N) 14:30 PM	22nd match Group B - India v Ireland	M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Mon Mar 7 (D/N) 14:30 PM	23rd match Group A- Canada v Kenya	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Tue Mar 8 (D/N) 14:30 PM	24th match Group A- New Zealand v Pakistan	Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Wed Mar 9 (D/N) 14:30 PM	25th match Group B- India v Netherlands	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Thu Mar 10 (D/N) 14:30 PM	26th match Group A - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe	Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Fri Mar 11 09:30 AM	27th match Group B- Ireland v West Indies	Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh
Fri Mar 11 (D/N) 14:00 PM	28th match Group B - Bangladesh v England	Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong
Sat Mar 12 (D/N) 14:30 PM	29th match Group B- India v South Africa	Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur
Sun Mar 13 09:30 AM	30th match Group A - Canada v New Zealand	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Sun Mar 13 (D/N) 14:30 PM	31st match Group A- Australia v Kenya	M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Mon Mar 14 09:00 AM	32nd match Group B- Bangladesh v Netherlands	Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong
Mon Mar 14 (D/N) 14:30 PM	33rd match Group A- Pakistan v Zimbabwe	Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Tue Mar 15 (D/N) 14:30 PM	34th match Group B- Ireland v South Africa	Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Wed Mar 16 (D/N) 14:30 PM	35th match Group A - Australia v Canada	M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Thu Mar 17 (D/N) 14:30 PM	36th match Group B - England v West Indies	MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
Fri Mar 18 09:30 AM	37th match Group B - Ireland v Netherlands	Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Fri Mar 18 (D/N) 14:30 PM	38th match Group A- New Zealand v Sri Lanka	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Sat Mar 19 09:00 AM	39th match Group B- Bangladesh v South Africa	Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
Sat Mar 19 (D/N) 14:30 PM	40th match Group A- Australia v Pakistan	R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Sun Mar 20 09:30 AM	41st match Group A- Kenya v Zimbabwe	Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Sun Mar 20 (D/N) 14:30 PM	42nd match Group B - India v West Indies	MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
Wed Mar 23 (D/N) 14:00 PM	1^st Quarter Final – A1 v B4	Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
Thu Mar 24 (D/N) 14:30 PM	2^nd Quarter Final – A2 v B3	Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
Fri Mar 25 (D/N) 14:00 PM	3^rd Quarter Final – A3 v B2	Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur
Sat Mar 26 (D/N) 14:30 PM	4^th Quarter Final – A4 v B1	R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Tue Mar 29 (D/N) 14:30 PM	Semi Final – Winner of 1^st QF v Winenr of 3^rdQF	R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Wed Mar 30 (D/N) 14:30 PM	Semi Final – Winner of 2^nd QF v Winner of 4^thQF	Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh
*Sat Apr 2 (D/N)* *14:30 PM*	Final - TBC v TBC	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Salman's fitness funda

2011-03-12T03:58:00.000-08:00

Most of the popular Bollywood Actors like Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham, Arjun Rampal and Aamir Khan take good care of their bodies. And probably that is the reason why they look much younger to than their age.

Salman Khan’s Fitness Trainer:

This is what Style and Fitness Guru - Salman Khan has to say.........

“I cycle, swim, go to the gym, eat the right kind of food and sleep late as I don’t get sleep easily and wake up early, that’s the secret behind my age.”

Salman's physic trainer, Manish Advilkar , has this to tell all his fans across the world.

Manish Advilkar also trained Salman over six tedious years. When he first call me , I concentrated on fine-tuning is exercise routine, making it more structured and streamlined,"says Advilkar.

Today, of course his body speaks for his dedication. No matter how punishing his shooting schedule, Salman will find time to exercise...

He even calls me up at 3-4 am for a training session.

“He does unbelievable stuff like 1,000 push-ups a day or 2,000 sit-ups a day” says Manish Advilkar, Discipline and dedication have been the two pillars of Salman’s fitness success.

“His body structure is not like a body builder's but good muscles, perfectly in shape and no fat” says personal trainer D’Souza.

Work keeps Salman busy most of the times. Thus, at times he starts his workout as late as 2 am. Salman works out for at least two hours continuously. His workout includes one hour of cardio, concentrating on any two body parts each time- triceps, legs, back and biceps

He is very particular and serious about his workout and once in the gym, nothing affects his concentration. While in the gym, if someone approaches him for an autograph or a photograph, he asks them to wait until he is finished with his training. He has got perfect abs and works a lot to keep them in shape. “He does five hundred crunches, pull-ups and chin-ups” adds D’Souza.

PUNISHING ROUTINE:
Exercise releases endorphins ,those feel good hormones in the brain, and riding the wave , trainer and pupil sculpt the body that earned bollywood star the moniker, "Shirtless Wonder".

While weights have gained for Salman the contours the camera captures so vividly, his cardiovascular routine is punishing too. When the mood overtakes Salman , he goes cycling three hours to panvel,"explains Advilkar."personally, I would find that a real challenge too."

FOR MORE HEALTH TIPS CLICK HERE

EARN HUGE MONEY WITHOUT INVESTMENT CLICK HERE

My India - Mera desh Mahaan

2011-03-10T03:46:00.000-08:00

Bollywood Movies Reviews and stories

2011-03-08T11:03:00.000-08:00

Movie Name: Tanu Weds Manu

Movie Review: The first thing that strikes you about Tanu Weds Manu is a striking sense of familiarity. It wasn't long before you saw Shahid Kapoor playing a similar sacrificial lover to Kareena Kapoor in Jab We Met. And like poor Kareena, who tries too sort out her confused emotions against the backdrop of the big fat Punjabi wedding, Tanu too must decide who is better husband material, first amidst the hustle bustle of her best friend's boisterous going- baraat and then at her chaotic Kanpuria community Mahal.

Movie Story : Mannu Sharma (R Madhavan), a London-based doctor has come to India to look for a bride as per his parents’ wishes. Their first stop is Kanpur where they go to see Tannuja Trivedi (Kangna Ranaut), an extrovert, bend the rules, be-a-rebel girl. Tannu is the exact opposite of Mannu, changes boyfriends frequently, always wants to run away and get married, smokes and drinks frequently and uses foul language. Still Mannu goes ahead and says “Yes” to the proposal, smitten by the beauty of Tannu.

Off go both the families to Vaishno Devi to seek blessings for the marriage. On the way, Tannu threatens Mannu of dire consequences if he does not say “No” to the marriage. On the return journey Mannu conveys that to the elders and all hell breaks loose! Mannu and family go for more window shopping for brides. In between, they also go to Kapurthala to attend Jassi’s (Ejaaz Khan) marriage. There, Mannu again comes across Tannu who arrives as the friend of the bride (Swara Bhaskar). Eyes cross and there are frequent instances of the boy meets girl kind of romance, only here, it is only love from one end.
The Audience will find a lot of similarity here with Jab We Met in terms of the introvert lead hero and the extrovert heroine. In terms of script and supporting cast, this movie actually appears to be better than JWM, the only comparison where it falls flat is the comparison with the lead actors.
In terms of performances, the lead pair of Madhavan and Kangana are just average but Deepak Dobriyal as Mannu Sharma’s sidekick “Puppy” steals the show. He has put life in all the scenes he is in. Watch out for the scene where he and Mannu are going for the Vaishno Devi yatra and he interspaces the Jai Maata Di slogans with his expressions or the scene where he refuses to pay for the toilet use! His dances are funny and even where he confesses to Mannu that he left his setting to come back with Mannu. This movie has to be watched for Deepak only!
Jimmy Shergill is also good as the Raja Bhaiyya, the way he carries himself in all the scenes, the dialogue delivery, the pathani suit, all suit his character. This is one negative character, the audience will love. KK Raina and Rajendra Gupta are good in their roles. Watch out for the scene where KK Raina confesses to Mannu that he always wanted to do something different in life and is proud of his son. Another character worth mentioning is that of Payal played by Swara Bhasker who is very good in all her confrontational scenes with Kangana. Ravi Kishen is wasted.
Music by Krsna is another highlight, the opening song “Mannu Bhaiya” looks good on screen having been shot inside the train in the sleeper class. Overall, if you are fan of Lucknawi and Kanpuri style language, and are used to those cycle rickshaws and narrow lanes of smaller cities, then you will love Tanu Weds Manu

Earn Money Indian Recipies Beuty Advice Healthy Habbits Baby Care Top

Some Interesting Questions and Answers

2011-02-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

Questions:
1. What programming language is GOOGLE developed in?
2. What is the expansion of YAHOO?
3. What is the expansion of ADIDAS?
4. Expansion of Star as in Star TV Network?
5. What is expansion of "ICICI?"
6. What does "baker's dozen" signify?
7. The 1984-85 season. 2nd ODI between India and Pakistan at Sialkot - India 210/3 with Vengsarkar 94*. Match abandoned. Why?
8. Who is the only man to have written the National Anthems for two different countries?
9. From what four word expression does the word `goodbye` derive?
10. How was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu better known?
11. Name the only other country to have got independence on Aug 15th?
12. Why was James Bond Associated with the Number 007?
13. Who faced the first ball in the first ever One day match?
14. Which cricketer played for South Africa before it was banned from international cricket and later represented Zimbabwe ?
15. The faces of which four Presidents are carved at Mt.Rushmore?
16. Which is the only country that is surrounded from all sides by only one country (other than Vatican )?
17. Which is the only sport which is not allowed to play left handed ?
Answers :
1. Google is written in Asynchronous java-script and XML, or its acronym Ajax .
2. Yet Another Hierarchy of Officious Oracle
3. ADIDAS- All Day I Dream About Sports
4. Satellite Television Asian Region
5. Industrial credit and Investments Corporation of India
6. A baker's dozen consists of 13 items - 1 more than the items in a normal dozen
7. That match was abandoned after people heard the news of Indira Gandhi being killed.
8. Rabindranath Tagore who wrote national anthem for two different countries one is our 's National anthem and another one is for Bangladesh- (Amar Sonar* *Bangla)
9. Goodbye comes from the ex-pression: 'god be with you'.
10. Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu is none other Mother Teresa.
11. South Korea .
12. Because 007 is the ISD code for Russia (or the USSR , as it was known during the cold war)
13. Geoffrey Boycott
14. John Traicos
15. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln
16. Lesotho surrounded from all sides by South Africa .
17. Polo.

ORGANIC COCONUT OIL

2011-01-28T02:43:00.000-08:00

ORGANIC COCONUT OIL

The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc.

Let us now explore the benefits of coconut oil in detail:

Hair Care: Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing them a shiny complexion. Regular massage of the head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, lice, and lice eggs, even if your scalp is dry. Coconut oil is extensively used in the Indian sub-continent for hair care. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. It is therefore used as hair care oil and used in manufacturing various conditioners, and dandruff relief creams. Coconut oil is normally applied topically for hair care.

Stress Relief: Coconut oil is very soothing and hence it helps in removing stress. Applying coconut oil to the head followed with a gentle massage helps in removing mental fatigue.

Skin Care: Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin. The benefit of coconut oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. Further, unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin with the application of coconut oil. Coconut oil therefore is a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections. Therefore coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care.

Premature Aging: Coconut oil helps in preventing premature aging and degenerative diseases due to its antioxidant properties.

Heart Diseases: There is a misconception spread among many people that coconut oil is not good for the heart. This is because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. However, coconut oil is beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in preventing various heart problems including high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The saturated fats present in coconut oil are not harmful as it happens in case of other vegetables oils. It does not lead to increase in LDL levels. It also reduces the incidence of injury in arteries and therefore helps in preventing atherosclerosis.

Weight Loss: Coconut oil is very useful in reducing weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreases, thereby burning out more energy and helping obese and overweight people reduce their weight. Hence, people living in tropical coastal areas, who eat coconut oil daily as their primary cooking oil, are normally not fat, obese or overweight.

Pancreatitis: Coconut oil is also believed to be useful in treating pancreatitis.

Digestion: Internal use of coconut oil occurs primarily as cooking oil. Coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have anti microbial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc., that cause indigestion. Coconut oil also helps in absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

Immunity: Coconut oil is also good for the immune system. It strengthens the immune system as it contains antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid which have antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. It helps in fighting harmful bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and heliobacter pylori, and harmful protozoa such as giardia lamblia.

Healing: When applied on infections, it forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from external dust, air, fungi, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil is most effective on bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues.

Infections: Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of infections due to its antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. According to the Coconut Research Center, coconut oil kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS, etc. It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, etc. Coconut oil is also effective on fungi and yeast that cause candidiasis, ringworm,athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, etc.

Liver: The presence of medium chain triglycerides and fatty acids helps in preventing liver diseases as they substances are easily converted into energy when they reach the liver, thus reducing work load on the liver and also preventing accumulation of fat.

Kidney: Coconut oil helps in preventing kidney and gall bladder diseases. It also helps in dissolving kidney stones.

Diabetes: Coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar, and improves the secretion of insulin. It also helps in effective utilization of blood glucose, thereby preventing and treating diabetes.

Bones: As mentioned earlier, coconut oil improves the ability of our body to absorb important minerals. These include calcium and magnesium which are necessary for development of bones. Thus coconut oil is very useful to women who are prone to osteoporosis after middle age.

Dental Care: Calcium is an important element present in teeth. Since coconut oil facilitates absorption of calcium by the body, it helps in getting strong teeth. Coconut oil also stops tooth decay.

HIV and Cancer: It is believed that coconut oil plays an instrumental role in reducing viral susceptibility of HIV and cancer patients. Preliminary research has shown indications of the effect of coconut oil on reducing the viral load of HIV patients .

Finally, coconut oil is often preferred by athletes and body builders and by those who are dieting. The reason behind this being that coconut oil contains lesser calories than other oils, its fat content is easily converted into energy and it does not lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries. Coconut oil helps in boosting energy and endurance, and enhances the performance of athletes.

National Campaign Against Corruption

2011-01-03T07:53:00.000-08:00

Time For Decisive Action - Please spare only few minutes.
Country will ever be grateful to you for your participation. We really think this is an important cause as the corrupt posed a greater threat to the country than terrorists.
http://www.killcorruption.org/
http://www.loksatta.org/
Join hands to build an Aandolan against Bhrashtaachaar in India.
Is Dr. Singh guilty, you decide
For the last few days, we have been deluged with details of the 2G spectrum scam. Every channel worth its salt has aired innumerable talk shows and discussions on this mother of all scams. On the one hand Subramanyam Swamy is accusing Dr. Manmohan Singh of refusing to act on his petition to prosecute Andimuthu Raja, and on the other we have the congress spokespersons eulogizing the Government’s morality sacking in Raja. All this reminds of a Vikramaditya and the vetal story I read years ago.
Once there lived an old and pious man, renowned for his honesty. One day his neighbor, a rich merchant comes to him with a request. The merchant was leaving on a voyage and wants the old man to safeguard his wealth, until his return. The old man agrees and with God as witness promises to protect and safeguard the merchant’s wealth.
The old man then entrusts the safe keep of the merchant’s wealth to his son, from whom he takes an oath of propriety and honesty. Slowly the son starts dipping into the merchants wealth, people notice this and warn the old man of the son’s misdeeds. The old man calls his son asks him to explain, he also reminds him of his oath on following the right path. The son rubbishes the accusations as rumors and the idle gossip of jealous people, who could bear to see his prosperity. The old man accepts the son’s explanation and things go on as before.
The merchant returns and demands his wealth. The old man calls his son, who hands over a quarter of the merchant’s wealth saying that is all there was. The merchant realizing that he has been cheated approaches the King. The King listens to the merchant’s complaint and summons the old man. The old man comes to the court with his son and handing him over to the King says “your majesty, the merchant is right. My son has confessed to the crime. Please punish him.”
The king has the son flogged and imprisoned. He then praises the old mans honesty and dismisses the case. But the merchant demands punishment for the old man saying, “I have still not received justice. I had entrusted my wealth to the old man which he swore by God to safeguard. The old man’s integrity is intact, but what of me, I have been robbed of my life’s savings, and made a pauper. It was the old man’s decision to entrust my wealth the son for safe keeping. As far as I am concerned the old man is the culprit, and should be punished.
The king is astounded by this demand. The old man, was neither a party to the theft nor did he benefit from it. In fact, he had sent his son to jail. Yet, the merchant was asking for the old man’s punishment.
The vetal asks Vikramaditya, “What should be the Kings decision.”
Vikramaditya’s replies, “Though the old man is innocent of the actual theft, he is guilty of dereliction of duty. The son’s crime was a straight forward one, the old man’s was a graver crime. He did nothing to protect the merchant’s wealth. Far from being vigilant he failed to take action even when he was warned of his son’s misdeeds. Because of his laxity the merchant is condemned to a life of penury. He should be punished.”
India 2010, Dr. Manmohan Singh, esteemed economist, former Governor of RBI, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, former Finance Minister, a man whose personal ethics and integrity are unblemished, takes oath to protect and safeguard the Nation and its assets. He appoints Raja, as his Cabinet Minister for IT & Telecom.
Raja the Telecom Minister has with him keys to the 2G spectrum a finite and precious National asset. Raja flouts all rules of propriety and transparency in Government, and in violation of his oath of office, sells the spectrum a throw away price of Rs.1651 crore.
1. DoT with Raja at its helm issues an astounding 120 UAS licenses in a single day, January 10, 2008. A feat unsurpassed in the history of Government anywhere in the world. Suspiciously 85 of these licenses are issued to companies which suppressed facts, disclosed incomplete information and submitted fictitious documents.
2. In issuing these licenses neither the High Powered Telecom Commission, which was expressly set up for this nor the Finance Ministry or the Ministry of Law and Justice are consulted. Vital decisions are taken without being deliberated and discussed at inter ministerial forums.
3. In sharp deviation of business practice, the cut off date for receiving applications gets advanced from Oct 1, 2007 to Sept 25, 2007, violating all canons of fair play and ethics.
4. Real estate companies which till date of application had no interest in Telecom are allotted Licenses and spectrum ahead of genuine applicants. These then go on to reap windfalls from foreign players by selling equity.
Unlike the story, this heist of a precious national asset is carried out in full view of Dr. Manmohan Singh and his cabinet colleagues. Newspapers across the country cry out at this outrage in front page headlines.
The Indian Constitution grants the Prime Minister absolute power in running the country. He is the head of the Government and the Union Cabinet functions at his pleasure. As per the Transaction of Business Rules the Prime Minister has the unrestricted right to demand and get any file, any record from any Ministry. Dr. Man Mohan Singh could have at any time stopped this heist of a National asset, yet he chose to remain silent. The Minister’s failure to exercise his constitutional rights has caused irreparable loss to the Nation.
Dr. Singh did not profit personally from Raja’s shenigans, but his failure to act, to honor the oath of office, to protect and safeguard the nation and its wealth is unforgivable. Like the old man, he has sacked Raja from his ministerial berth, but does his culpability end there.
The people of India had entrusted their faith and the future of the Nation in Dr. Manmohan Singh, believing him to be a man of integrity and honesty, and not to Raja. Does dismissing Raja absolve Dr. Singh or like the old man is he guilty of dereliction of duty and failure to safeguard the Nation and its citizens. Does he deserve punishment?
It is for the Indian citizen to decide, whether of not Dr. Singh is guilty.
courtesy: Hindi Milap, Hyderabad

Interesting facts about Ants

2011-01-03T07:49:00.001-08:00

There are more than 12,000 species of ants all over the world.
The legs of ants are very strong so they can run very quickly. If a man could run as fast, for his size, he could run like a racehorse.
Ants can lift 20 times their own body weight.
An ant's brain has about 250 000 brain cells. A human brain has 10,000 million cells. So, a colony of 40,000 ants has collectively the same size brain as a human.
The average life expectancy of an ant is 45-60 days.
Ants use their antenae for touch and to smell.
Adult ants cannot chew and swallow solid food. Instead they swallow the juice which they squeeze from pieces of food. They throw away the dry part that is left over. The ant has two eyes, each eye is made of many smaller eyes called compound eyes.
The abdomen of the ant contains two stomachs. One stomach holds the food for itself and second stomach is for food to be shared with other ants.
Ants don’t have lungs. Oxygen enters through tiny holes all over the body and carbon-dioxide leaves through the same holes.
There are three kinds of ants in a colony: The queen, the female workers, and males. The queen and the males have wings, while the workers don’t. The queen is the only ant that can lay eggs. The male ant’s job is to mate with the future queen ants and they do not live very long afterwards. Each ant colony has at least one or more queens. The job of the queen is to lay eggs which the worker ants look after. Worker ants are wingless females that are sterile. They look for food, look after the young, and defend the nest.
Ants have four distinct growing stages, the egg, larva, pupa and the adult. The worker ants keep the eggs and larvae in different groups according to ages. Day and night, the worker ants move the eggs and larvae to warmer places within the colony.
Ants are clean and tidy insects. Some worker ants are given the job of taking the rubbish from the nest and putting it outside in a special rubbish dump!
Ant colonies also have soldier ants that protect the queen, defend the colony, gather or kill food, and attack enemy colonies in search for food and nesting space. If they defeat another ant colony, they take away eggs of the defeated ant colony. When the eggs hatch, the new ants become the "slave" ants for the colony. Some jobs of the colony include taking care of the eggs and babies, gathering food for the colony and building the anthills or mounds.
The Leaf Cutter Ants are farmers. A Tropical Leafcutter ant uses its sharp outer jaw to cut leaves and make them into pulp. The pulp is later used to make fungus gardens. These gardens are looked after and harvested for food.

World's Largest Republic of Scams

2010-12-28T09:19:00.000-08:00

Is India Republic Of Scams
Total Scam Money (approx) Since 1992:
Rs. 73000000000000 Cr.
(73 Lakh Crore)
Hard to digest ?
Just check the below given details
1992 -Harshad Mehta securities scam Rs 5,000 cr
1994 -Sugar import scam Rs 650 cr
1995 -Preferential allotment scam Rs 5,000 cr
Yugoslav Dinar scam Rs 400 cr
Meghalaya Forest scam Rs 300 cr
1996: -Fertiliser import scam Rs 1,300 cr
Urea scam Rs 133 cr
Bihar fodder scam Rs 950 cr
1997 -Sukh Ram telecom scam Rs 1,500 cr
SNC Lavalin power project scam Rs 374 cr
Bihar land scandal Rs 400 cr
C.R. Bhansali stock scam Rs 1,200 cr
1998 -Teak plantation swindle Rs 8,000 cr
2001 -UTI scam Rs 4,800 cr
Dinesh Dalmia stock scam Rs 595 cr
Ketan Parekh securities scam Rs 1,250 cr
2002 -Sanjay Agarwal Home Trade scam Rs 600 cr
2003 -Telgi stamp paper scam Rs 172 cr
2005 -IPO-Demat scam Rs 146 cr
Bihar flood relief scam Rs 17 cr
Scorpene submarine scam Rs 18,978 cr
2006 -Punjab's City Centre project scam Rs 1,500 cr,
Taj Corridor scam Rs 175 cr
2008 -Pune billionaire Hassan Ali Khan tax default Rs 50,000 cr
The Satyam scam Rs 10,000 cr
Army ration pilferage scam Rs 5,000 cr
The 2-G spectrum swindle Rs 60,000 cr
State Bank of Saurashtra scam Rs 95 cr
Illegal monies in Swiss banks, as estimated in 2008 Rs 71,00,000 cr
2009: -The Jharkhand medical equipment scam Rs 130 cr
Rice export scam Rs 2,500 cr
Orissa mine scam Rs 7,000 cr
Madhu Koda mining scam Rs 4,000 cr"
SC refuses to quash PIL against Mayawati in Taj corridor scam
Orissa mine scam could be worth more than Rs 14k cr
###########################################################################
1, Jeep Purchase (1948) :- Free India's corruption graph begins. V. K. Krishna Menon, then the Indian high commissioner to Britain, bypassed protocol to sign a deal worth Rs 80 lakh with a foreign firm for the purchase of army jeeps. The case was closed in 1955 and soon after Menon joined the Nehru cabinet.

2, Cycle Imports (1951) :- S.A. Venkataraman, then the secretary, ministry of commerce and industry, was jailed for accepting a bribe in lieu of granting a cycle import quota to a company.

3, BHU Funds (1956) :- In one of the first instances of corruption in educational institutions, Benaras Hindu University officials were accused of misappropriation of funds worth Rs 50 lakh.

4, MUNDHRA SCANDAL (1957):- It was the media that first hinted there might be a scam involving the sale of shares to LIC, Feroz Gandhi sources the confidential correspondence between the then Finance Minister T.T. Krishnamachari and his principal finance secretary, and raised a question in Parliament on the sale of 'fraudulent' shares to LIC by a Calcutta-based Marwari businessman named Haridas Mundhra. The then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, set up a one-man commission headed by Justice M.C.Chagla to investigate the matter when it becomes evident that there was a prima facie case. Chagla concluded that Mundhra had sold fictitious shares to LIC, thereby defrauding the insurance behemoth to the tune of Rs. 1.25 crore. Mundhra was sentenced to 22 years in prison. The scam also forced the resignation of T.T.Krishnamachari.

6, Teja Loans (1960):- Shipping magnate Jayant Dharma Teja took loans worth Rs 22 crore to establish the Jayanti Shipping Company. In 1960, the authorities discovered that he was actually siphoning off money to his own account, after which Teja fled the country.

7, Kairon Scam (1963):- Pratap Singh Kairon became the first Indian chief minister to be accused of abusing his power for his own benefit and that of his sons and relatives. He quit a year later.

8, Patnaik's Own Goal (1965) :- Orissa Chief Minister Biju Patnaik was forced to resign after it was discovered that he had favoured his privately-held company Kalinga Tubes in awarding a government contract.

9, Maruti Scandal (1974) :- Well before the company was set up, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's name came up in the first Maruti scandal, where her son Sanjay Gandhi was favoured with a license to make passenger cars.

10, Solanki Exposé (1992) :- At the World Economic Forum, Madhavsinh Solanki, then the external affairs minister, slipped a letter to his Swiss counterpart asking their government to stop the probe into the Bofors kickbacks. Solanki resigned when India Today broke the story.

11, Kuo Oil Deal (1976):- The Indian Oil Corporation signed an Rs 2.2-crore oil contract with a non-existent firm in Hong Kong and a kickback was given. The petroleum and chemicals minister was directed to make the purchase.

12, Antulay Trust (1981) :- With the exposure of this scandal concerning A.R. Antulay, then the chief minister of Maharashtra, The Indian Express was reborn. Antulay had garnered Rs 30 crore from businesses dependent on state resources like cement and kept the money in a private trust.

13, HDW Commissions (1987) :- HDW, the German submarine maker, was blacklisted after allegations that commissions worth Rs 20 crore had been paid. In 2005, the case was finally closed, in HDW's favour.

14, Bofors Pay-Off (1987) :- A Swedish firm was accused of paying Rs 64 crore to Indian bigwigs, including Rajiv Gandhi, then the prime minister, to secure the purchase of the Bofors gun.

15, St Kitts Forgery (1989) :- An attempt was made to sully V.P. Singh's Mr Clean image by forging documents to allege that he was a beneficiary of his son Ajeya Singh's account in the First Trust Corp. at St Kitts, with a deposit of $21 million.

16, Airbus Scandal (1990) :- Indian Airlines's (IA) signing of the Rs 2,000-crore deal with Airbus instead of Boeing caused a furore following the crash of an A-320. New planes were grounded, causing IA a weekly loss of Rs 2.5 crore.

17, Securities Scam (1992) :- Harshad Mehta manipulated banks to siphon off money and invested the funds in the stock market, leading to a crash. The loss: Rs 5,000 crore.

18, Indian Bank Rip-off (1992) :- Aided by M. Gopalakrishnan, then the chairman of the Indian Bank, borrowers-mostly small corporates and exporters from the south-were lent a total of over Rs 1,300 crore, which they never paid back.

19, Sugar Import (1994) :- As food minister, Kalpnath Rai presided over the import of sugar at a price higher than that of the market, causing a loss of Rs 650 crore to the exchequer. He resigned following the allegations.

20, MS SHOES SCAM (1994) :- Anyone who war old enough in 1994 to read will remember the advertisements- tens of them intriguingly headlined: 'Who is Pawan Sachdeva?' For the record, it was the peak of the public issued-led advertising boom and the ads were created by the Delhi branch of Rediffusion. Sachdeva, the promoter of MS Shoes, allegedly used company funds to buy shares (of his own company) and rig prices, prior to a public issue. He is alleged to have colluded with officials in the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and SBI Caps, which lead-managed the issue, to dupe the public into investing in his Rs. 699-crore public-***-rights issue. Sachdeva was later acquitted

21, JMM Bribes (1995) :- Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Shailendra Mahato testified that he and three party members received bribes of Rs 30 lakh to bail out the P.V. Narasimha Rao government in the 1993 no-confidence motion.

22, In a Pickle (1996) :- Pickle baron Lakhubhai Pathak raised a stink when he accused former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and godman Chandraswami of accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from him for securing a paper pulp contract.

23, Telecom Scam (1996) :- Former minister of state for communication Sukh Ram was accused of causing a loss of Rs 1.6 crore to the exchequer by favouring a Hyderabad- based private firm in the purchase of telecom equipment. He, along with two others, was convicted in 2002.

24, Fodder Scam (1996) :- The accountant general's concerns about the withdrawal of excess funds by Bihar's animal husbandry department unveiled a Rs 950-crore scam involving Lalu Prasad Yadav, then the state chief minister. He resigned a year later.

25, Urea Deal (1996) :- C.S. Ramakrishnan, MD, National Fertiliser, and a group of businessmen close to the P.V. Narasimha Rao regime fleeced the government and took Rs 133 crore from the import of two lakh tonne of urea, which was never delivered.

26, Hawala Diaries (1996) :- The scandal surfaced following CBI raids on hawala operators in Delhi in 1991. But it was S.K. Jain's diaries that had heads rolling.

27, CRB SCAM (1997) :- Another scam forged by greed and discovered through accident. Chain Roop Bhansali, a smart-talking entrepreneur, created a pyramid financial empire based on high-cost financing. At its peak, his Rs. 1,000-crore financial conglomerate had in its ranks a mutual fund, a financial services company into fixed deposits, and a merchant bank. That Bhansali knew how to work the system became evident when he also managed to secure a provisional banking license. Then his luck ran out. An executive in the State Bank of India Inadvertently discovered that some interest warrants issued by Bhansali were not backed by cash. The bubble finally burst in May 1997, but by that time investors had lost over Rs. 1,000 crore. This was among the first retail scams in India and it was played out, in smaller avatars, across the country-especially in the South where financial services companies promised returns in excess of 20 per cent and decamped with the principal. Bhansali was arrested for a few weeks and released later on bail.

28, MEHTA'S SECOND COMING (1998) :- The Big Bull returned to the bourses. This time, he allegedly colluded with the promoters of BPL, Videocon International, and Sterile Industries to rig the share prices of these companies. The inevitable collapse happened sooner than planned, Harshad Mehta orchestrated a cover-up operation that included a high=jinks effort by officials of Bombay Stock Exchange to (illegally ) open the trading system in the middle of the night to set things right, but the damage had been done. SEBI finally passed its ruling on the scam in 2001, banning the three companies concerned from tapping the market-BPL, for two years. Mehta was debarred for life form dealing in Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) in October 2001

29, VANISHING COMPANIES SCAM (1998) :- A passing remark heard by then Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram resulted in a furore over what was badly-kept secret on Dalal street. Chidambaram was told that hundreds of companies had disappeared after raising moneys form the public. An informal scrutiny revealed that perhaps over 600 companies were missing. Chidambaram ordered a probe by SEBI. The SEBI probe conducted in May 1998 revealed that while many companies are not traded on the bourses at least 80 companies that had rises Rs.330.78 crore were simply missing. Later that year, the Department of Company Affairs (DCA) was asked to probe and penalize these companies. DCA still investigating. Investigations continue to this day.

30, PLANTATION COMPANIES SCAM (1999) :- It was as innovative a swindle as any effected in the world. Savvy entrepreneurs convinced gullible investors that given the right irrigation and fertilizer inputs, teak, strawberries, and anything else that could be grown, would grow anywhere in the country. The promoters could afford to collect money from investors and not worry about retribution (or returns, for that matter). For, plantation companies fell under the purview of neither SEBI nor Reserve Bank of India. Indeed, they didn't even come under the scope of the Department decided to change things in 1999, enough investors had been gulled: 653 companies, between them, had raised Rs. 2,563 crore from investors. To date, not many investors have got their principals back, just another affirmation of the old saying about money not growing on trees.

31, Match Fixing (2000) :- Mohammed Azharuddin, till then India's cricket captain, was accused of match-fixing. He and Ajay Sharma were banned from playing, while Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar were suspended for five years.

32, KETAN PAREKH SCAM (2001) :- Ketan Parekh's modus operandi wasn't very different from Harshad Mehta's. If Mehta used banker's receipts, then Parekh used pay orders to ramp up the prices of his favourite scrips (the K-10). Apart from money form the banking system Parekh also rerouted money from corporated like HFCL (Rs. 425 crore), and Zee (Rs. 340 crore) to good effect. He was caught when pay-orders issued by Madhavpura Mercantile Cooperative Bank bounced. Although the total amount involved in the scam was just Rs. 137 crore, the impact was far greater.

Apparently, when a bear cartel sensed Parekh was in trouble, it stepped in and leveraged a dip in the NASDAQ to bear down stock prices. The resultant slump in the markets happened soon after Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha presented what he considered his best budget ever. Under pressure from the government, SEBI investigated the scam and heads began to roll. Among them: the entire management team of BSE, including its president Anand Rathi, CSFB, First Global, and, in an indirect connection, P.S.Subramanyam, the Chairman of UTL Evidently, for the 18 months that PSS was Chairman of UTI, the Trust had mirrored the actions of the bull cartel. The result? When the market tanked, so did the NAV of its holy cow, the US-64.

33, Tehelka Sting (2001) :- Tehelka, an online news portal, used spycams to catch army officers and politicians accepting bribes, in their sting operation called Operation Westend. Investigative journalism turned another corner in the country.

34, Stockmarket Scam (2001) :- The mayhem that wiped off over Rs 1,15,000 crore in the markets in March 2001 was masterminded by the Pentafour bull Ketan Parekh. He was arrested in December 2002 and banned from acccessing the capital market for 14 years.

35, Home Trade Scam (2002) :- Under the pretext of gilt trading, Rs 600 crore was swindled from over 25 cooperative banks in Maharashtra and Gujarat by a Navi Mumbai-based brokerage firm Home Trade. Sanjay Agarwal, CEO of the firm, was arrested in May 2002.

36, Stamp Paper Scam (2003) :- The sheer magnitude of the racket was shocking-it caused a loss of Rs 30,000 crore to the exchequer. Disclosures of the mastermind behind it, Abdul Karim Telgi, implicated top police officers and bureaucrats.

37, Oil-for-Food Scandal (2005) :- K. Natwar Singh was unceremoniously dropped from the Cabinet when his name surfaced in the Volcker Report on the Iraq oil-for-food scam.

Priceless picture of a family

2010-12-03T08:28:00.000-08:00

This is the Columbus, Ohio family that just had the six kids.

Fast and Beautiful - Ferrari 458 Italia

2010-12-02T08:39:00.000-08:00

The 8-cylinder two-seater "berlinetta" has a mid-rear mounted engine and a max speed of 202 miles per hour. Its three rear tailpipes, single-opening front grille, side air intakes and swooping Pininfarina design underscore the "performance-oriented efficiency" that inspired the project, Ferrari says.

Beauty of Dodge Challenger SRT8

2010-12-02T08:35:00.000-08:00

The vintage throwback has a 6.1-liter V8 HEMI engine, with a five-speed automatic transmission and 425-horsepower. Inside, heated leather bucket seats with an accent stripe and illuminated cup-holders help make the car viable as a daily driver.

The Beautiful Bentley Mulsanne

2010-12-02T08:32:00.000-08:00

Mulsanne is inspired by the company founder W.O. Bentley's crowning achievement, the 8-liter auto first shown at the 1930 London Motor Show. A 6 3/4-liter, V8 engine gets 505bhp; inside, exotic woods, leather hides and solid stainless-steel brightware are hand-crafted for maximum luxury.

The Hottest cars of 2011

2010-12-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

Some of the hottest cars to hit the scene in 2011 make their way to showrooms this spring.

Here is a list ,which will make you dream of owning one starting with Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport the world's fastest production car (it hit 268 miles per hour last summer in Germany) but it is also one of the most refined--with interior cues taken from its sister company, Bentley. Its cockpit is wrapped in hand-stitched soft-grain leather and trimmed to the hilt in carbon-fiber; the rear-view camera, Bluetooth capability and Satellite radio make driving to the store a pleasant experience rather than the sweat- and stress-inducing jolt provided by other exotic autos.
Exterior of Super Sport's is too hot, with bold lines that look modern but evoke Bugattis from the 1920s and '30s . At a retail price of $2.5 million, only the world's wealthiest people can afford to put a Super Sport in their garages.
Ferrari's street-legal 599XX variant, the GTO, the elegant Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI Quattro and McLaren's first-ever solo production car, the MP4-12C, will quicken lots of heart rates when they hit the streets next year.
A common thread between some of the hottest new cars is an emphasis on weight control. Almost every car in 2011 including the Range Rover Evoque, boasts a streamlined frame, light-as-air carbon fiber components or a super-efficient, whittled down engine.
Porsche's latest 911 variant, the lightening-quick GT2 RS, embraces that ethic. The BMW 1 Series M Coupe is also lighter than its closest family member, the M3. The much-anticipated Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, a Detroit-made animal whose $75,000 limited-edition Neiman Marcus variant sold out in three minutes last month. The standard version will have a 312-horsepower V6 engine and will go to production in the first quarter of 2011. There will also be a V8 SS option, which will likely be priced near $36,000.
Sure the Camaro packs a lot less punch than the Super Sport, as will even Lamborghini's Jota, the code-named successor to the Murcielago coupe. But for drivers in need of an ego boost next year, either will easily do the trick.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan - Then and Now (2010)

2010-11-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. She is one of the most beautiful women in the world. She has eyes that talk and the poise of a diva. As she turns a year older, we take a look at her - then and now.

THE KING OF BOLLYWOOD-SHAHRUKH KHAN

2010-10-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

Born 2 November 1965 (age 43)New Delhi, IndiaOther name(s) Shah Rukh Khan, King Khan, SRK, King of Bollywood, Badshah KhanOccupation Actor, Producer, Television presenterYears active 1988–presentSpouse(s) Gauri Khan (1991-present )
Khan was born in 1965 to Muslim parents of Pathan descent in New Delhi, India. His father, Taj Mohammed Khan, was an Indian freedom fighter from Peshawar, British India. According to Khan, his grandfather was originally from Afghanistan. His mother, Lateef Fatima, was the adopted daughter of Major General Shah Nawaz Khan of the Janjua Rajput clan. Khan has an elder sister named Shehnaz.He has a dog called Chewbacca.Khan attended St. Columba's School where he was accomplished in sports, drama, and academics. He won the Sword of Honour, an annual award given to the student who best represents the spirit of the school. Khan later attended the Hansraj College (1985-1988) and earned his Economics (honors). Though he pursued a Masters Degree in Mass Communications at Jamia Millia Islamia, he later opted out to make his career in Bollywood.After the death of his parents, Khan moved to Mumbai in 1991.In that same year, before any of his films were released, he married Gauri Chibber (who is a Hindu) in a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony on 25 October 1991.They have two children, son Aryan Khan (b. 1997) and daughter Suhana (b. 2000). According to Khan, while he strongly believes in Allah, he also values his wife's religion. At home, his children follow both religions, with the Qur'an being situated next to the Hindu gods.Shahrukh started his career on a TV serial called "Fauji" (1988), that won him instant recognition. He also acted in another TV soap called "Circus" (1989).Khan has been awarded a number of honours. In April 2007, a life-size wax statue of Khan was installed at the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, London. During the same year, he was accorded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of the Arts and Literature) award by the French government for his “exceptional career”.His favorite food is Tandoori Chicken and Chicken Thikka.Suffers from back, knee and neck problems.Firmly insists and had promised himself that he would never kiss on the lips of any of his female co-stars after he had done the movie Maya Memsaab.Launched Deepika Padukone's career in Bollywood.His debut film was Dil Aashna Hai but due to the delay in the release of the film Deewana was considered as his debut film.His acting career in Bollywood was launched by his friend Vivek Vaswani and Hema Malini.

Is very scared of riding horses.

FILMOGRAPHY
1. Don 2 (2010) (announced) (rumored) .... Don 2. My Name Is Khan (2009) (filming) .... Rizvan Khan 3. Kal Kisne Dekha (2009) (post-production) (unconfirmed) 4. Billu (2009) 5. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)6. Kismat Konnection (2008) (voice) .... Narrator 7. Bhoothnath (2008) 8. Shaurya (2008) (voice) 9. Dulha Mil Gaya (2008) 10. Om Shanti Om (2007) 11. Heyy Babyy (2007) 12. Chak De! India (2007) 13. I See You (2006) 14. Don (2006/I) 15. Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)16. Alag: He Is Different.... He Is Alone... (2006)17. Paheli (2005) 18. Silsiilay (2005) 19. Kaal (2005) 20. Swades: We, the People (2004)21. Veer-Zaara (2004)22. Main Hoon Na (2004) 23. Yeh Lamhe Judaai Ke (2004) 24. Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003) 25. Chalte Chalte (2003) 26. Saathiya (2002) 27. Shakthi: The Power (2002) 28. Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam (2002) 29. Devdas (2002/I) 30. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001)31. Asoka (2001) 32. One 2 Ka 4 (2001) 33. Gaja Gamini (2000) 34. Mohabbatein (2000)35. Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega... (2000)36. Josh (2000) 37. Hey Ram (2000) 38. Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (2000) 39. Baadshah (1999) 40. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)41. Dil Se.. (1998)42. Duplicate (1998) 43. Dil To Pagal Hai (1997)44. Yes Boss (1997) 45. Koyla (1997) 46. Gudgudee (1997) 47. Pardes (1997) 48. Dushman Duniya Ka (1996) 49. Chaahat (1996) 50. Army (1996) 51. English Babu Desi Mem (1996) 52. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)53. Guddu (1995) 54. Karan Arjun (1995) 55. Oh Darling Yeh Hai India (1995) 56. Ram Jaane (1995) 57. Trimurti (1995) 58. Zamaana Deewana (1995) 59. Anjaam (1994) 60. Darr (1993)61. Baazigar (1993) 62. Maya (1993) 63. Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993) 64. King Uncle (1993) 65. Dil Aashna Hai (...The Heart Knows) (1992) 66. Chamatkar (1992/I) 67. Deewana (1992) 68. Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman (1992) 69. "Idiot" (1991) TV mini-series 70. "Circus" (1989) TV series 71. In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones (1989) (TV) 72. "Fauji" (1988) TV series

A Human Powered Hybrid Car

2010-08-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

HUMANCAR INC. creates a car that doesnot require gas,generates its own electricity,and may charge power back to the grid. The vehicle seats four and generates power through a system of hand cranks. Yes, hand cranks.The next big thing in hybrid vehicles does not come from the likes of Toyota or General Motors. Instead, it comes from Charles Samuel Greenwood. Greenwood has been working on a human-powered vehicle concept for decades, and all of his hard work is coming together in the form of the HumanCar Imagine_ PS.
One might think that a hand-cranked vehicle would be marketable only as a neighborhood vehicle with a limited top speed. However, the HumanCar has surprising potential--a top speed of 30 mph going uphill and 60 mph on a flat surface. All of this can be achieved via human power and nothing else.
However, Greenwood addresses the times when owners may not have three friends available to help power the vehicle. The HumanCar Imagine PS (power station) is equipped with electric plug-in capabilities so that a single person operating a hand crank can power the vehicle. That makes this a genuine human-electric hybrid. Forget the advanced gasoline-electric hybrids of today; tomorrow's hybrid is a true muscle car.
This zero-emissions vehicle is not only better for the environment; it improves the driver's health thanks to the workout you get while driving it. The human health aspect was part of Greenwood's decision to build and ultimately refine this concept.
"It was 1968. Traffic was at a complete standstill, again, on a busy boulevard in what is now known as the Silicon Valley," Greenwood wrote. "Sitting within their cars were many commuters who were overweight and out of shape, breathing unhealthy exhaust fumes. As a young engineer working at my first job at a research and development laboratory for a major corporation, it seemed intuitively that there must be a better way to move people around than this."
And with that, the concept for the HumanCar Imagine PS was born. The vehicle is street legal as a low-mass vehicle and is vehicle-to-grid (V2G) compatible. Greenwood plans to bring the vehicle to market next year but is already taking reservations on his website. A $50 fully refundable, no-questions-asked reservation fee will put you on the list for a $15,500 HumanCar Imagine PS.
The Ferrari Story

Salman Khan break-up with Katrina

2010-08-19T02:41:00.000-07:00

In an interview to TV channel Headlines Today, Salman Khan has strongly suggested that he has broken up with Katrina Kaif. He also said that they continue to be friends. "I have broken up with Katrina. We were friends then for everybody, we are friends now," Salman said. The actor was quoted by the channel as saying, "Koi cheez tootati hain toh isliye kyonki ya to different ways chali gayi hai, ya ek shakhs ki growth nahin hui, ya ek ne kuch aur path chun liya hai, ya sensibility samajh mein nahi aati, ya thinking galat ho gayi hain (A relationship breaks if it gets stretched in different directions, or one person does not grow, or the other person takes a different path, or there is some misunderstandingor they have grown out of love.)"
Salman was asked by the interviewer as to how he handles break-ups. To which he replied, "So there are different interferences, the parents perhaps... or the interference of anything," he said, adding, "it's just two people not getting along, something that obviously doesn't end peacefully. But if you can manage to stay friends, there is nothing like it."
Katrina Kaif too had hinted at something similar recently. She was quoted in an interview as saying, that she's still looking for a partner.
source- hindustantimes.com

The Celebrity 100 as per Forbes

2010-07-20T10:17:00.000-07:00

Pants-less pop stars, late-night warriors and sexy vampires spiced up the fame game last year, with Lady Gaga, Conan O'Brien and Twilight superstars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson joining the Forbes Celebrity 100 list for the first time.
Here is a complete list of celebrities according to Forbes :
1.Oprah Winfrey
2 Beyonce Knowles
3 James Cameron
4 Lady Gaga
5 Tiger Woods
6 Britney Spears
7 U2
8 Sandra Bullock
9 Johnny Depp
10 Madonna
11 Simon Cowell
12 Taylor Swift
13 Miley Cyrus
14 Kobe Bryant
15 Jay-Z
16 Black Eyed Peas
17 Bruce Springsteen
18 Angelina Jolie
19 Rush Limbaugh
20 Michael Jordan
21 Dr. Phil McGraw
22 Steven Spielberg
23 Ellen DeGeneres
24 David Letterman
25 Tyler Perry
26 Jennifer Aniston
27 Pink
28 LeBron James
29 Roger Federer
30 Brad Pitt
31 Floyd Mayweather
32 Michael Bay
33 Donald Trump
34 Jay Leno
35 Coldplay
36 David Beckham
37 Jerry Seinfeld
38 AC/DC
39 Howard Stern
40 Jonas Brothers
41 Tom Hanks
42 George Lucas
43 Glenn Beck
44 Ryan Seacrest
45 Phil Mickelson
46 Ben Stiller
47 Jerry Bruckheimer
48 Cristiano Ronaldo
49 Alex Rodriguez
50 Robert Pattinson
51 Conan O'Brien
52 Shaquille O'Neal
53 James Patterson
54 Kenny Chesney
55 Manny Pacquiao
56 Tom Cruise
57 Adam Sandler
58 George Clooney
59 Stephenie Meyer
60 Cameron Diaz
61 Serena Williams
62 Rascal Flatts
63 Charlie Sheen
64 Derek Jeter
65 Lance Armstrong
66 Kristen Stewart
67 Toby Keith
68 Sean (Diddy) Combs
69 Stephen King
70 Sarah Jessica Parker
71 Leonardo DiCaprio
72 Judge Judy Sheindlin
73 Robert Downey
74 Lil Wayne
75 Reese Witherspoon
76 Keith Urban
77 Julia Roberts
78 Steve Carell
79 Meryl Streep
80 Akon
81 Maria Sharapova
82 Daniel Radcliffe
83 Venus Williams
84 Ray Romano
85 Gisele Bundchen
86 Heidi Klum
87 Drew Barrymore
88 Alec Baldwin
89 Kiefer Sutherland
90 Tina Fey
91 Kate Moss
92 Eva Longoria Parker
93 Jeff Dunham
94 George Lopez
95 Katherine Heigl
96 Danica Patrick
97 Kate Hudson
98 Chelsea Handler
99 Jennifer Love Hewitt
100 Mariska Hargitay