The brave sons of the nation April 30, 2009

LT SAURABH Kalia of 4 JAT Regiment of the Indian army laid down his life at the young age of 22 for the nation while guarding the frontiers at Kargil.

His parents, indeed the Indian army and the nation itself, lost a dedicated, honest and brave son.

He was the first officer to detect and inform about Pakistani intrusion. Pakistan captured him and his patrol party of five brave men alive on May 15, 1999, from the Indian side of line of control (LOC).

They were kept in captivity for three weeks and subjected to unprecedented brutal torture, evident from their bodies handed over by Pakistan Army on June 9, 1999.

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Reality Shows: The best product on sale April 30, 2009

WHAT IS  it about the reality shows that makes us watch them with total addiction? It is demeaning in a way that people earn money out of someone’s misery and we as an audience find it so amusing. Isn’t it time for us to be making smart choices and deciding what is good entertainment.
 
In the days of Doordarshan it was much simpler, the shows at least had a cheering sense of morals and also made us lead a life of ease. Today we are stuck in an identity crisis that most of us go through as a part of growing up in a metro where everything is branded, placed and bought. We choose the costliest of brands for the sake of showing them off and we end up spending lavishly until we are broke. As viewers and consumers, we are the ones who make these channels earn their TRPs and so there is an urgent need for us to decide what must be worth watching.These reality shows are so popular as they serve the basest of our needs one of which is meaningless entertainment.

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Tags: Reality Shows, Reality Programs, Entertainment News

Random thoughts of a mad woman April 30, 2009

BELOW ARE some of many random thoughts, which keep haunting me, and keep me mesmerised ,they keep me hooked to you .These are all courtesy Khalil Gibran .I remember when Amrita (Pritam) spoke of first melody, first painting , first words . I envy them to have thought and said it before I do. I curse myself for not being the first painting ,the first melody, but I am there, I was there and will always remain…..will always remain ….

You ask me how I became a mad woman. It happened thus: One day, long before many gods were born, I woke from a deep sleep and found all my masks were stolen—the seven masks I have fashioned and worn in seven lives—I ran mask less through the crowded streets shouting, “Thieves, thieves, the cursed thieves.”

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Why teams need a good start April 30, 2009

WHY OPENERS need to fire at the beginning of an innings? The answer is straight – the team needs a good start to put pressure on the opposition. Well that is the theoritical part.

Lets put that in practical aspects and what could be the better way than the Indian Premier League (IPL). The mega event is in its second season that too abroad (South Africa).

Well there is no need to explain regarding the rules and regulations of the shorter format of the game. Just 20 overs a team gets to bat, within which a mammoth total has to be put up on the scoreboard. For that the team needs a good opening pair, who could destroy the opposition within few overs and make the opposition think tank run out of ideas. Suppose a team scores 50 to 80 runs within six or seven overs without losing any wicket, the opposition team always feel the pinch.

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Tags: IPL 2009, IPL Teams, IPL 2009 schedule

Recycling tomato waste April 30, 2009

TOMATO PROCESSING produces waste and consists of skin and seeds, which is difficult to handle. The volume of this waste is huge and goes unutilized due to lack of adequate technology. Presently most of the industries are dumping this waste into open spaces, which acts as breeding ground for pests. Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) in collaboration with Nijjar Agro Food Limited and Ujjwal Ujjala, an Amritsar-based NGO, has successfully recycled the tomato waste (peel and seeds) through vermin-composting using Eisenia foetida, an exotic earthworm. The project was conceptualized with the active participation of Dr SS Chahal, Director Research, Department of Zoology and Food Science and Technology (FST) Department of GNDU.

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India to host 2011 cricket world cup final April 29, 2009

INDIA WILL host 29 world cup matches including the first semifinal and the final of the 2011 cricket world cup. This was announced by the International Cricket Council World Organising Committee on Tuesday (April 28).

ICC has also decided to shift the World Cup secretariat to Mumbai from Lahore after it was decided that no match will be held in Pakistan owing to security concerns, in the aftermath of the Lahore attack.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat announced that India will hold 29 matches at 8 venues, including the final and one semifinal. Neighbouring Sri Lanka will hold 12 matches at three venues including a semi-final match.

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Feroz Khan: The Cowboy of the East April 29, 2009

FEROZ KHAN is no more. He breathed his last on April 27, 2009 (Monday), at the age of 69. He had been ailing for some time after being diagnosed for cancer. It’s tragic that April has claimed two legendary figures of Bollywood – Shakti Samanta on April 4 and now the dashing Khan.

Born in Bangalore (Sept 25, 1939) to SAK Tanoli (Afghani) and Fatima (Irani), he had Sajay, Sameer and Akbar for his brothers and one sister Dilshad Begum.

Post education, he came to Bombay and landed a role in Didi (1960). His first big hit was Oonche Log (1965). It led to his gradual rise in filmdom and road to success. He gave multitude of hits – Dharmatma (1975), Nagin (1976), Qurbani (1980), Janbaaz (1986) and Dayavaan (1988).

He then took break from acting and concentrated on being a producer, director and editor. Subsequently, he launched the career of his only son Fardeen Khan. Fardeen is now married to yester-year actress Mumtaz’s daughter Natasha Madhwani.

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Salman-Katrina-Asin love triangle a hoax! April 29, 2009

SALMAN KHAN has been haunted for too long. Whether he is unfriendly or friendly to media doesn’t really make any difference. His silence has been misconstrued, time and again.

Gossip mongers have separated him from his long-time girlfriend Katrina and linked him to the latest Bollywood sensation Asin Thottumkal. But even before the silence is broken, one can sense it to be the handiwork of some idle minds.

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How many Nanos have been booked? April 29, 2009

WE HAVE all been reading and reviewing the articles on Tata Nano. But the question that is haunting our minds is-  What is the number of bookings Tata Motors has finally received for the dream car: Nano? No body has the answer except from Tata Motors.

It was said that Tata would be announcing the official figures on April 28, but we have not heard any thing so far.

The news that the bookings are still being accepted is disturbing to all, as this would further dampen the chances of the allotment in the first batch.

It is pretty obvious that more the registrations, lesser would be the probability of an individual getting his name amongst those getting the first lot of one lakh cars.

I believe all of us as citizens of India and the people who have opted to register for the car need to stand together and tell Tata Motors of what is happening in the market and that it would spoil their reputation in the market.

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What is swine flu virus? April 29, 2009

A NEW strain of swine flu virus has killed a few hundred in Mexico and is causing illness to many in the United States. In order to stop the spread of this flu we need to pay attention to health warnings and take precautions.

Pigs spread their own strains of influenza to humans after contact with them. But, medical experts are saying the new strain of virus is a mix of pig viruses with some human and bird viruses.

Unlike more typical and common swine flu, it seems to be spreading from one person to another. Flu viruses can live on surfaces for several hours, like a doorknob, latches and handles. Swine influenza viruses don’t spread through food.

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