Wednesday, June 16, 2010

High tides in mumbai

The Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has alerted a high tide of 4.70 metres at 1521 hours on Wednesday.

"Any tide above 4.5 metres is coupled with heavy rains and is a matter of concern," Joint Municipal Commissioner S S Shinde said.

Another tide of 4.07 metres is expected at 1421 hours, the civic body said.

"We appeal to Mumbaikars not to venture into the sea and stay away from the coastline area as a high tide has been predicted today," Shinde added.

The civic body had earlier said that the city would witness high tides measuring about 4.70 metres till June 17.

In the month of June, there will be tides from June 13 to 17 measuring between 4.58 m to 4.73 m, the BMC had said.

Heavy rains coupled with strong winds lashed the city and its suburbs on Wednesday, disrupting air and rail traffic and leading to water logging in many areas.

The city received 60.77 mm rainfall since Tuesday. Colaba in south Mumbai received 78.6 mm and suburban Santacruz received 95.0 mm, the MET department said.

On July 26, 2005, the metropolis saw unprecedented floods as 944 mm of rainfall coincided with a 4.48 m tide.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Terrorism today

The world , as you know is infected with terrorists who are brainwashed by their so called mentors to Do Or DIE.

I have a question....

If dieing for your ideologies is so easy why are the so called terrorist leaders alive today. they should have setup an example & died before brainwashing thousands of innocent teens to be human bombs or to die while on a killing spree. what is achieced by this?

The best eaxample of this is Kasab who is sentenced to death by the Indian Judiciary for killing hundreds of innocent people on the streets of Mumbai. What did he get out of it?

Can anybody explain to me what is behind all this brainless ideologies. I just cannot understand.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Judgement Day for Kasab-the Killing Machine

At around 12.15 pm, Judge Madan Tahilyani arrived late in the courtroom which was packed to the capacity. He was about to deliver the verdict on the case known as the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. This was the unique case where a Pakistani national Ajmal Kasab was tried in a terrorism case in India .

It was the case where India and Pakistan are engaged in high-level diplomacy. This is the case whose potential is still unfolding.

This is the case which India is showcasing to Pakistan that in India the 'rule of law' prevails and court judgements are free and fair. This is the case whose verdict will bleed many families in Pakistan because they know their children died for a useless and fruitless cause which was not worth fighting for.

Kasab, the main accused, came minutes after court started. He was gheraoed by policemen as soon as he sat next to Fahim on the bench. He was wearing a white salwar kameez, clean but wrinkled. He had a little stubble on his face. He kept looking at the floor. For almost next 90 minutes he didn't move. Not even once did he turn around to look at the media's enclosure to his left. When the court proceedings began on May 8, 2009, Kasab used to look into eyes of many media men and women frequently. The judge used to reprimand him for his playful conduct.

But since last the few months, his solitary confinement is having an effect. Ramesh Mahale, chief investigating officer, disagrees. He claims Kasab is playing smart. He says, "Only in the courtroom, before the media, he is 'acting'. Otherwise he behaves normally."

However, on Monday, when he was about to be declared guilty Kasab sat on the bench like a wooden statue. No emotions and no eye contact. It's difficult to judge anyone correctly without having eye contact.

This lone-surviving Pakistani accused, who has a Rs 300 million security operation around him, was the centre of attraction.

Judge Tahilyani took his own time to read the final verdict. He ensured that television journalists kept patience and listened to him. He forbade the media from leaving court till his entire explanation was over. This courtroom has many air conditioners, a fine audio system and full-proof security.

He told journalists, who wanted to flash the news of Kasab's conviction, "Don't leave the room till I give permission." Tahilyani has his way of handling situation with a carrot and stick approach.

Before pronouncing the historic verdict, the judge told Kasab to stand up in his box.

Then, in Hindi he told Kasab that, "Aap ke khilaf khun karne ki aur saazish karne ka aarop hai. (You were charged for murder and conspiracy) You are found guilty."

He also tried to educate journalists by giving a detailed account of his verdict. He said his verdict is 1,522 pages long. "I am not going to read the entire verdict," he said.

Then, he went on to explain in detail that since the case was so voluminous he has made it simpler by preparing 14 tables. That are attached to the verdict and all details of the tables are explained in the findings.

He said this case contained large numbers of casualties, arms and ammunitions so to sum up all details in context he has prepared tables.

Like the first table contained the nature of crime committed, which police company was assigned investigations and name of the police investigations under which place the crime falls. Table two gave entire details of 166 deaths in the attacks. A column in the table showed where they were killed, another column on nature of injuries.

The third table attached to the judgment showed 238 injured people's names and a column narrating the nature of injuries, details of medical examination/treatment.

Another table showed the details of medical reports, nature of injuries etc. One table showed a panchnama made of arms like AK-47 rifles and pistols. Table nine and ten showed details of all empties and bullets and cartridges found at the places of crime. The judge said that tables show details of seizures and comments of the ballistic reports. Table 14 showed various types of DNA tests that the court got.

Interestingly, Monday's judgment has accepted almost all the investigation into 26/11 except Arun Jhadhav, a Mumbai policeman's statement that the court found 'exaggerated'.

Jadhav was in the police vehicle in which senior police officers Hemant Karkare [ Images ], Vijay Salaskar and Ashok Kamte [ Images ] were killed. Also, the court has said it's not sure how Karkare and Kamte were killed because the bullets went through their bodies and empties found around didn't match with the terrorists' rifles.

As soon as judge started narrating how he has accepted that Kasab had forged an I-card of an Indian college and said he has convicted him for forgery, there was an excitement in the courtroom. The judge acknowledged that the US Federal Bureau of Investigations testimony was important. He said that the FBI's findings on the global positioning system used by the terrorists was vital. FBI's proof of how ten terrorists travelled from Karachi to Mumbai was accepted as evidence.

It was music to ears of Public Prosecutor Ujjawal Nikam when the judge, in his first half hour, kept saying, "I have accepted your case."

As he started accepting the evidence one by one, many knew, as expected, that Kasab will be pronounced guilty. The judge first talked about Kasab's offence of around 66 deaths under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. He said he found Kasab guilty of directly killing seven people that included policeman Tukaram Ombale. The judge said Kasab's rifle's bullets tally with those on these seven victims.

The court also said that 47 people were killed by Abu Ismail and Kasab. He says he appreciated the prosecution's evidence in this case. The court was very appreciative of photographer Sebastian D'Souza's testimony where he narrated how he took Kasab's picture while he on the killing spree at CST station.

One of the most important things that judge said while delivering the judgment was that he has accepted Kasab's statement made before a magistrate but he has also taken care to see that corroborative evidence is taken into account.

Kasab has retracted his statement that narrated his journey from Pakistan to India and his actions on 26/11. But the judge said Kasab's retraction is 'bald' without any reasons.

He said the law of prudence required that confessions of accused are corroborated by evidence. The judge assured that he has taken care of it. The court's decision was heavily depended on the confession of Kasab that was retracted.

The judge said he has accepted the evidence that Kasab was not at all under duress when he made the confession before the magistrate after his arrest. The court found him guilty of conspiracy charge also for which only circumstantial evidence exists.

The court has found Kasab guilty of deaths that occurred at other places also where he was not present.

The judge made 196 points in the 85-page summary of his 1,522-page judgment. The judge said, "These are crimes committed not by a normal criminal but by a committed man who wanted to wage war against India."

Friday, November 13, 2009

26/11 -A year After

I read a news item recently regarding the terrorist attack on Mumbai on 26/11 last year. The news stated that the bulletproof jackets worn by the police officers who were fighting the terrorists from Pakistan were substandard & were from a lot which was rejected earlier & accepted later. You know what that means.

Substandard equipment was purchased by the Government of India which ultimately led to the death of top police officials like Hemant Karkare just because they were wearing so called bulletproof jackets which were not bulletproof at all.

Is that the value we have for the lives of the brave people who fight to keep us & our country safe?

GUYS, PLEASE HELP ME IN RAISING VOICES AGAINST THIS ACT OF CORRUPTION WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE RIGHT AT THE TOP & LED TO THE LIVES OF OUR VALIANT OFFICERS.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Coolest Calmest Place On Earth!!!!!!!!!!


In a study to assess the many factors that affect astronomy, a joint US-Australian research team has found the ideal location for an observatory -- known simply as "Ridge A".

The untouched stretch of Antarctic terrain has been dubbed the coldest, calmest and driest place on Earth. It is expected to yield images of the heavens three times sharper than any ever taken from the ground.

The team combined data from satellites, ground stations and climate models to assess factors that affect astronomy -cloud cover, temperature, sky-brightness, water vapour, wind speeds and atmospheric turbulence.

The researchers pinpointed a site -- known simply as Ridge A -- that is 4,053m high up on the Antarctic Plateau. It is not only particularly remote, but extremely cold and dry.

The study revealed that Ridge A has an average winter temperature of minus 70 degree Celsius and that the water content of the entire atmosphere there is sometimes less than the thickness of a human hair.

It is also extremely calm, which means that there is very little of the atmospheric turbulence elsewhere that makes stars appear to twinkle: 'It's so calm that there's almost no wind or weather there at all,' says Dr Will Saunders, of the Anglo-Australian Observatory and visiting professor to UNSW, who led the study.

'The astronomical images taken at Ridge A should be at least three times sharper than at the best sites currently used by astronomers,' says Dr Saunders.

'Because the sky there is so much darker and drier, it means that a modestly-sized telescope there would be as powerful as the largest telescopes anywhere else on earth,' the expert added.

They found that the best place in almost all respects was not the highest point on the Plateau -- called Dome A 00 but 150km away along a flat ridge.

'Ridge A looks to be significantly better than elsewhere on the Antarctic plateau and far superior to the best existing observatories on high mountain tops in Hawaii and Chile,' says Dr Saunders.
The finding was published on Tuesday in the Publications of the Astronomical Society.

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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

The New Online Experience!

What exactly is ShopWiki?
Shop wiki is really an experience in online Shopping you must have.

ShopWiki revolutionizes online shopping since it finds every store on the internet by crawling like Google. Traditional shopping sites will only show you stores that have PAID for placement, and ShopWiki will give a shopper everything.

For a shopper, this means they can find anything and everything for sale on the web at ShopWiki.com. More products from more stores means better deals and savings for your readers.

ShopWiki is an Internet shopping search engine founded in 2005 and launched in early 2006. It was founded by the former DoubleClick CEO Kevin P. Ryan, the former CTO and DoubleClick co-founder Dwight Merriman and Eliot Horowitz. Their primary distinguisher is crawling the internet for stores instead of using data feeds from merchants.

What more does a online searcher want if he gets every thing he wants under one site.

So guys what are you waiting for? Get clicking & start shopping.

Tide of the Century

The “Tide of the Century” may hit Mumbai on 24th July 2009.

Mumbai could be facing a re-enactment of the catastrophe that devastated life and property four years ago—perhaps on the very same dates. While the severity of the flooding would probably be unabated, better preparedness and closer co-ordination among government bodies, corporate & general public can help in minimizing its impact.

What caused floods in 2005?

Mumbai is at an average elevation of 10-15 meters above sea level and receives an annual rainfall of 2,200 mm out of which 50% is in the month of July.

On 26 July 2005, Mumbai got a record single day rainfall of 944mm (42% of the city’s annual rainfall). This coupled with a high tide of more than 4.8m, overwhelmed the drain-age systems and flooded the city.

Mumbai lost close to $200 million of revenue and over 1,000 lives. The floods also caused serious damage to property, infrastructure and left serious diseases in its wake. Many were even traumatized.

Mumbai faces a similar situation now!

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has indicated the possibility of a high tide of 5.01m & 5.05m on 23rd and 24th July 2009 respectively.

The South West Monsoon which is expected to hit Mumbai by 10th June could prove disastrous if it rains heavily on any of these two days. Low lying areas could experience flooding even with moderate rains.

While MCGM has apparently undertaken measures to improve the city’s disaster management capabilities, it is imperative for individuals & corporate’s to review their pre-paredness for responding effectively.

Checklist- Preparing for the 'danger days'

Before :

• Restrict all non-essential travel on critical days. Advise inbound travelers as well
• Familiarize yourself & family/colleagues with warning signs, alert systems & designated high land areas
• Be aware of the potential flooding zones and the evacuation routes
• Keep all the emergency contact numbers handy
• Stock food, drinking water and other essential emergency supplies
• Dispose all garbage and inform public authorities of any clogged drainage
• Teach children, how & when to call first responders and train them on flood response drills**

During :

If Indoors:

• Turn off the electric supply
• Using the available source of communication, intimate your family members
• Use battery operated radio to get latest emergency information
• If instructed by authorities to evacuate, do so immediately

If Outdoors:

• If stranded in a vehicle, exit the vehicle and move to a higher land
• Avoid walking / travelling through any flooded routes
• Avoid unnecessary calling on Emergency Contact Numbers
• Rely on authentic information & don’t spread rumours

After :

• Don't return/enter your home until authorities declare it safe`
• Help neighbours who may need assistance
• Watch out for poisonous insects & reptiles
• Beware of loose electrical wires
• Beware of water borne diseases
• Go for Medical checkups if exposed to flood waters
• Discard any food item which has been in contact with the flood water
• Contact your insurance company for claims
• Consult a crisis counsellor in case of post traumatic stress syndrome

Emergency Contact Details

Disaster Help Line 108
Mumbai Police 100
Fire Brigade 101
Central Complaint Registration System 1916
Medical Emergency 101
Local Ward
Office HR
Family Acquaintance
Family Doctor
Insurance Company

* For respective Ward Representative & Emergency Contact Details visit www.mcgm.gov.in

Friday, July 3, 2009

Railway Budget

Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee presented the Railway Budget for 2009-10 in Parliament on Friday.

Here are some highlights of her Railway Budget speech:

* Banerjee says an expert committee will be set up to advise her on implementation of the so-called economically unviable but socially desired projects.
* "My priorities will include better passenger amenities, safety and security and provision of good quality food and drinking water," says Banerjee.
* Railway ministry has plans to develop important stations through private-public partnership. These include CST Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Howrah, Sealdah, Varanasi, New Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Kanpur, Chennai Central, Thiruvananthapuram Central, Secunderabad, Bangalore City, Byappanahalli, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Habibganj, Agra Central, Chandigarh, Kolkata, New Jalpaiguri, Puri and Kochi.
* Railways to develop multi-functional complexes with shopping malls, food stalls, medicines and variety stores in different parts of the country.
* Infotainment services to be provided in major long-distance trains, Banerjee says.
* Banerjee says an expert committee will be set up to advise her on implementation of the so-called economically unviable but socially desired projects.
* Develop 50 stations as world class stations
* Improvement of trains amenities
* Railways is trying to keep up with change
* Committed to the cause of the underpreviliged.
* India wants better rail connectivity.
* Book stores, PCOs to be set up across stations
* Infotainment services on Rajhandi and Shatabdi trains
* To take the private-public partnership route to develop stations
* Priority for food and water on trains
* Developing multi-functional complexes at stations
* Priority to passenger amenities
* Rail projects shouldn't be gauged by economic viability but governed by social viability: Mamata
* To set up panel for financing unvaiilable rail projects

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Where has the Plane gone?


Five days after an Air France plane -- travelling from Brazil to France -- sunk into the Atlantic Ocean (or somewhere else), there is no trace. The wreckage -- initially said to be the Air France debris -- was nothing but sea trash, emerging reports indicate. New reports say there is no evidence of the crashed plane.

That leads to a puzzling and mysterious question: Where has the plane gone?

Indian Student Attacked

A 23-year-old Indian student was beaten up for the second time in a fortnight by a group of youths in Melbourne -- the 11th person from India to be assaulted within one month in Australia .

Kamal Jit was found unconscious and bleeding by another Indian student in western suburb of the city yesterday.

It was the second attack in two weeks on Jit, who was previously pelted with eggs by several masked men after getting off a late night train at St Albans station in western suburb.

"It is very bad because we pay a lot of money and we are living far away from our country and from our families and we are without protection," Jit was quoted as saying in 'The Age' newspaper today.

As he walked home at about 1:40 am yesterday, Jit said, he noticed three men acting suspiciously in a car and he tried to avoid them.

He then saw two men come out of it near a pizza shop, while another waited in a car.

"The two guys pushed me to the ground and I was hit on the head, I think with a steel rod," Jit said.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Who is John Galt

WHO IS JOHN GALT?

THIS WAS THE NEW SLOGAN WITH WHICH AYN RAND REVOLUTIONISED THE MATERIALIST WORLD WITH HER PHILOSOPHY IN THE RECORD BREAKING NOVEL 'THE ATLAS SHRUGGED'. HERE JOHN GALT IS THE PROTAGONIST WHO BELIEVES THAT 'I WORK FOR NOTHING BUT MY OWN PROFIT, WHICH I MAKE BY SELLING SOMETHING TO MEN WHO NEED IT & WHO ARE WILLING & ABLE TO BUY IT. . . . . WE DEAL AS EQUALS BY MUTUAL CONSENT & TO MUTUAL ADVANTAGE & I AM PROUD OF EVERY PENNY I HAVE EARNED IN THIS MANNER'.

AYN RAND'S MASTERPIECE INTEGRATES THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF AN ENTIRE PHILOSOPHY INTO AHIGHLY COMPLEX YET DRAMATICALLY COMPELLING PLOT, SET IN A NEAR FUTURE USA WHOSE ECONOMY IS COLLAPSING AS A RESULT OF THE MYSTERIOUS DISSAPEARANCE OF LEADING INNOVATORS & INDUSTRIALISTS. THE THEME IS THE ROLE OF MIND IN MANS EXISTENCE & ITS SUPREME IMPORTANCE.

IS 'ATLAS SHRUGGED' RELEVANT?

IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES IN SOUTH AMERICA (BOLIVIA , VENEZUALA , ARGENTINA & A FEW OTHER), GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTTUTING POLICIS OF GOODS PRODUCTION CONTROL (ESTABLISHING QUOTAS , DEFINING WHICH PRODUCTS SHOULD BE PRODUCED & BY WHOM) & STATISATION OF COMPANIES, WHILE ESTABLISHING PROGRAMMES OF REDIDTRIBUTION OF WEALTH WHICH INCLUDES FREE SALARIES TO NON WORKERS & TAXES ON EXPORT OF GOODS UPTO 85% ( ON THE PREMISE THAT THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL EARNINGS). THE MAIN THEME OF THOSE GOVERNMENT DISCOURSES IS 'THOSE THAT CAN PRODUCE SHOULD HELP THOSE THAT NEED MOST'. ALSO THAT 'HUNGER OF THE PEOPLE COMES FROM THE SELFISHNESS OF THE PRODUCERS' WELL ALIGNED WITH THE LOOTERS DISCOURSE IN THE BOOK.IN FACT , THE BOOK IS A GREAT PREDICTOR OF THE MEASURES TAKEN AFTER A GIVEN SITUATION THAT MATCHES A SITUATION IN ATLAS SHRUGGED. AN EXODUS OF INDUSTRIES, INVESTORS & EVEN WORKERS HAS BEEN OBSERVED AS A RESULT, WITH MANY MORE JUST STOOPING WORK AS THE PAYOFF OF GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES TO NON WORKERS IS MUCH BETTER THAT THAT OF PRODUCTION.

A BOOK WRITTEN IN THE 1950'S IS VERY RELEVANT TILL TODAY.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Sexy!

What exactly do you mean when you say Sexy!!!!!!!!!

Do you really imply that the person in front of you is physically sexy? I have seen a very simple girl called sexy . Sometimes even if you are in front of one of the most sexiest of persons, sexy is the last word which will come to your mind. So the question remains....

What exactly do you mean when you say Sexy!!!!!!!!!

Is the meaning of the word physical or mental?

Or is it similar to 'Beauty is in the art of the beholder'. Something like 'Sexiness is in the eyes of the beholder.

This thought is really intriguing. What do you say guys?

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Tata's Nano


Tata calls it the 'People's Car'.

Given the modest price tag -- Rs 100,000 -- and an ambitious roll-out scheme, the Nano could very well become a true car for the common man, ubiquitous on Indian roads and part of the nation's identity.

In that sense, the Nano is just the latest in a long line of affordable, mass-produced automobiles to lay claim to the 'People's Car' title.

One hundred years ago, when Henry Ford launched his Model T in 1908, he is famously said to have declared: "I will build a car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one - and enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of pleasure in God's great open spaces."

At roughly half the price of its competitors, the Model T empowered an entire generation of working-class families to buy vehicles, and is still referred to colloquially as the car that 'put America on wheels'. In the 1930s, in Germany, the Volkswagen (which in German literally means 'People's Car'), became a source of national pride, symbolic of the Third Reich's hyper-patriotism and rush for modernity.

These two iconic automobiles, along with many other 'economy' models released over the past century, have worked to revolutionise the auto industry, by encouraging greater and greater segments of the population to become car owners.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

A volcano erupts






Scientists sailed Thursday to inspect an undersea volcano that has been erupting for days near Tonga — shooting smoke, steam and ash thousands of feet (meters) into the sky above the South Pacific ocean.

Authorities said Thursday the eruption does not pose any danger to islanders at this stage, and there have been no reports of fish or other animals being affected.

Spectacular columns are spewing out of the sea about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from the southwest coast off the main island of Tongatapu — an area where up to 36 undersea volcanoes are clustered, geologists said.

Trade winds continued to blow gas and steam away from the island Thursday.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Beautiful Scenes

Are boys becoming weaker !

Considering the present situation where the girls are succeeding in every field & wining hands on in every competition leaving the boys far behind, the thought certainly comes to mind " Have the boys become weaker than the girls".

By weaker, I dont mean physically, I mean mentally. Is it just possible that this has happened. Let us for a moment consider this as true, then how has this happened?

The phenomenon starts from the very first day at school. The boys are taught by ladies teachers who do not understand their psychology. The teachers are not wrong, but who is to tell them that boys are by nature boisterous & girls are quiet. This nature of the boys is being stopped at a very young age. Let these kids make a little noise for gods sake. Dont compare them with the quiet girls.

As the boys become older this comparison continuous. At every step they are compared with their girl classmates by their teachers parents, teachers or other elders which again affects them psychologically.Nature has made the two sexes different , so why do we want to mould one like the other.

Dont get me wrong, I am not against the ladies coming up in life. On the contrary their progress is very much needed for the progress of the society. But at what costs? Do we want to become a society with weak men who are unable to take decisions? The day will not be far mind you if this continues.

DONT COMPARE THE BOYS AND GIRLS> THEY AR BY NATURE DIFFERENT, PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

More Battered Cricketers


Sri Lankan cricketer Tharanga Paranavitana is carried on a stretcher as he is being taken inside a local hospital in Lahore after a dozen gunmen attacked their bus near the Gadaffi stadium on Tuesday.

Paranavitana, who opened the batting for Sri Lanka in the second Test, had a shrapnel wound to his chest and was out of danger.

Battered Cricketers!

The most seriously injured player was Thilan Samaraweera, who was shot in the leg. Doctors will decide on Wednesday whether to try to remove the bullet.

Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis, who was injured during the attack by gunmen in Lahore on Tuesday, arrives at the Colombo airport early on Wednesday morning.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Cricket tour called off!

The Lahore second Test between Sri Lanka and hosts Pakistan has been called off after a gun attack on the touring team bus injuring players, a Sri Lankan cricket board official said.

"We are trying to bring the team back as quickly as possible. The Test match has been cancelled," the official said on Tuesday.

Six members of Sri Lanka's cricket team were wounded in a shooting attack in Pakistan on Tuesday, and two including an assistant coach were still being treated in hospital, Sri Lanka's sports minister said.

"Six members were injured including assistant coach Paul Farbrace. Four have been treated at hospital, and Thilan Samaraweera and the assistant coach are still being treated," Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge said.

Their injuries are not serious and the other players are safe at their hotel, he added.

Cricket Team attacked


Gunmen killed at least four people in an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus on Tuesday as it drove to the Gadaffi stadium in Lahore. Four players received minor injuries in the attack -- Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis , Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavithana.

Pakistan television channels said four people were killed. Two police commandos were killed along with a regular policeman and a traffic warden. The two police commandos had been driving behind the team bus when they were hit.

Pakistan had invited the Sri Lanka team to tour after India's team pulled out with security concerns following the militant attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai in November.

The incident took place when the Sri Lankan team was attacked by around 10 armed gunmen near the Liberty Chowk which is close to the stadium.

One explosion was also heard at the stadium.

The attackers later escaped in separate groups.

The liaison officer of the Pakistan team said players of the host nation have been sent back to the hotel.

"The Sri Lankan players are presently safe at the Gaddafi stadium and they are getting treatment," one PCB official told PTI.

Sources also claimed that the police had received a threat on Monday that the Sri Lankan team would be attacked so a different route was used to transport the team to the stadium.

"The firing took place from at least four sides and continued for some minutes," one police official said.

"There were 12 masked gunmen," Lahore police chief Habib-ur Rehman told reporters, adding that police battled against the assailants for about 25 minutes.

"They appeared to be well-trained terrorists. They came on rickshaws. They were armed with rockets, hand grenades, Kalashnikovs," he said.

Television channels aired footage of at least two of the gunmen, one of them wearing shalwar kameez and other jeans and a jacket. Both were armed with assault rifles and carrying backpacks.

Police cordoned off the area immediately after the attack and launched a search for the gunmen. The driver of the cricket team's bus drove away from the spot immediately after the firing started.

"We are assessing the situation," Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ejaz Butt said.

"Five policemen who were providing protection to the team sacrificed their lives," he added.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Look Alikes or Twins.

According to the Indian folk lore there are seven people in the world who look exactly like you. I have always been wondering whether this can be true. Many authors have written stories about these look alike, remarkable amongst them being 'Comedy of Errors'.

Is this theory really true? Have any of you really met the person who is your exact look alike but not your twin?

All this is very intriguing & I would really like to hear the stories about these people. Can any body help me solve this mystery because I, have not met a single person in real life who has the remotest resemblance to me.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Osama Hiding in Pakistan???


Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, the most wanted terrorist in the world, is likely to be hiding in a walled compound in a Pakistani border town, according to a satellite-aided geographic analysis released Tuesday.

A research team led by geographer Thomas Gillespie of the University of California-Los Angeles used geographic analytical tools that have been successful in locating urban criminals and endangered species.

Basing their conclusion on nighttime satellite images and other techniques, the scientists suggest Osama may well be in one of three compounds in Parachinar, a town 15 km from the Afghan border, the USA Today reported.

Parachinar is the capital of Khurram Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas, of Pakistan. It is about 290 km west of Islamabad and is situated on a neck of Pakistani territory south of Peshawar close to Afghanistan. Parachinar is the closest point in Pakistan to Kabul and borders on the Tora Bora region in Afghanistan.

The research incorporates public reports of Osama's habits and whereabouts since his flight from the Tora Bora region of Afghanistan in 2001.

Osama's, the main accused behind 9/11 attacks in US, whereabouts are considered "one of the most important political questions of our time", the study, reported in the MIT International Review, notes.

The study's real value, Gillespie says, is in combining satellite records of geographic locations, patterns of nighttime electricity use and population-detection methods to produce a technique for locating fugitives.

The study also makes assumptions that Osama might need:

- Medical treatment, requiring electricity in an urban setting

- Security combining a few bodyguards and isolation that requires a walled compound

- Tree cover to shield outdoor activities from aircraft.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Mental Block

Hey guys!

Every blog writer , or for that matter any writer(however good he may be), suffers from a mental block sometime or the other.I am sure all of you have suffered from the same.

Today morning I was thinking of writing something & suddenly went blank. Blank as in BLANK. I just could not think of anything to write & then I thought of an idea. It is said that internet has answers to every problems. I just googled mental block & came across a site named skribit.

This site claims that they can give suggestions about ideas to post on your blog. Great is'nt it? I went ahead n registered with them & placed their widget on my blog. Let me see how much help I get.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Al QAEDA WARNS INDIA.

A top Al Qaeda commander, who was reported to have been killed in a US drone strike last year, has appeared in a video warning India of more Mumbai-style terror attacks if it tried to attack Pakistan.

'India should know that it will have to pay a heavy price if it attacks Pakistan,' Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, believed to be Al Qaeda's military commander in Afghanistan and ranked behind No 2 Ayman al-Zawahiri, said in a 20-minute video in Arabic received by the BBC.

Yazid, who the Pakistani military said may have been killed in fighting last August in the Bajaur tribal region, said: 'The Mujahideen will sunder your armies into the ground, like they did to the Russians in Afghanistan. They will target your economic centres and raze them to the ground.'

Yazid denounced the ban on terrorist groups in Pakistan following the Mumbai attacks and asked the people of Pakistan to rise up and overthrow the government and President Asif Ali Zardari , the BBC reported.

The Al Qaeda leader is said to have been involved in a number of terror attacks, including last year's Danish Embassy bombings, in Pakistan and had claimed the responsibility of assassinating former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Grammy For Zakir Hussain.


While Slumdog Millionaire picked up seven BAFTA awards in a ceremony in London , the Indian presence was also felt at the Grammy awards with tabla maestro Zakir Hussain winning in the Contemporary World Music Album category for his collaborative album Global Drum Project.

Hussain worked with Mickey Hart of the rock band Grateful Dead, Nigerian percussionist Sikiru Adepoju and Puerto Rican jazz percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo for the album.

"Global Drum Project is the second collaboration between Hart and Hussain after their compilation Planet Drum, which was released in 1991 and went on to win the first ever Grammy Award in the World Music category.

But the other Indian Grammy hopefuls, slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya and classical vocalist Lakshmi Shankar, who were nominated in the Best Traditional World Music category, were disappointed as they lost out to Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African acappella singing group.

The ceremony this year was high on drama as a tearful Jennifer Hudson remembered her slain family while accepting her first Grammy. It has been a major comeback for the singer whose mother, brother and nephew were murdered last October.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Blame game

The people of India are really disgusted with every passing day after the Mumbai terrorist attacks. Its like both the Indian Government & Pakistan government are working hand in hand to just pass the time till people start forgetting about the tragedy & the public demand for action slows down. With every passing day either of the governments find some point or the other & pass on the blame to each other.
Till when will this game continue?

Do they really want to find a solution out of this?

From the look of it the people dont think so. What the general public thinks is that the Indian Government should act tough & give an ultimatum to the Pak Government. Say 24 hours. They have to act before 24 hours or face the consequences. What do you say? Something like this is necessary.

Everyday the foreign ministers of both countries keep giving statements about what is going on & what should be done to curb terrorism. Will this really help? Will any solution be achieved from this?

If the Indians think the root of terrorism is Pakistan, they should go the American way & attack Pakistan & if they dont have enough proof regarding that they should just shut their mouths & wait patiently for the next attack which has been happening continuously for the last many years.

Similarly if the Pakistan has proof that their land is not used for terrorist activities they should hand it over to India & finish the debate once & for all. All this blame game is not going to help.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Assault aginst Hamas


http://www.caledonian-comment.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/gaza.jpg
Israeli forces closed in on Gaza City (pictured above) yesterday, pressing home the ground assault against Hamas in the face of desperate diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire.
As the death toll rose towards 550, Hamas leaders remained defiant, promising to “fight on in the name of God”. Hamas “must lay the foundation for a tomorrow without Zionists”.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Messy Aftermath in Mumbai


Messy Aftermath in Mumbai
The Taj Hotel caught fire Early Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008, after the terror attack in Mumbai, India. Dozens of people were killed and more than 200 wounded in coordinated attacks on hotels, a train station and other locations frequented by tourists.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

The dancing, spider-like futuristic cruiser!


Call it the wave of the future -- a dancing spider-like cruiser that can take up to 12 people on a 5,000-mile journey.

Sounds like something out of a James Bond flick? Yes, you heard it right. Scientists have built the Proteus, a cruiser known as Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel or WAM-V, which blasts along on two giant inflatable tubes that let it 'dance' with waves.

According to them, the spider-like craft, powered by twin diesel engines, can be crewed by just two people as it tackles voyages of up to 5,000 miles.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Introduce Yourself & Your Blogs Here.


Hey Guys!

I want you to introduce yourself & Your Blog here so that like minded people can read your blog, get to know you & react with you. So what are you waiting for? Get set and go.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

ULTIMATOM FOR PAKISTAN!!!

The people of India are really disgusted with every passing day after the Mumbai terrorist attacks. Its like both the Indian Government & Pakistan government are working hand in hand to just pass the time till people start forgetting about the tragedy & the public demand for action slows down. With every passing day either of the governments find some point or the other & pass on the blame to each other.
Till when will this game continue?
Do they really want to find a solution out of this?
From the look of it the people dont think so. What the general public thinks is that the Indian Government should act tough & give an ultimatom to the Pak Government. Say 24 hours. They have to act before 24 hours or face the consequences. What do you say? Something like this is necessary.

Friday, December 26, 2008

TERRORISTS OR GUNMEN??????????


The British Broadcasting Corporation, a state-sponsored but independently run, media organization has attracted sharp criticism for having "double-standards" in its coverage of the Mumbai terror attacks. Most times the BBC reporters referred to the terrorists who attacked Mumbai as "gunmen" or "militants".
When Britain finds a group of men plotting in a home laboratory your government has no hesitation in creating an international storm, and the BBC has no hesitation in calling them terrorists. When nearly two hundred Indian lives are lost, you cannot find a word in your dictionary more persuasive than 'gunmen'.
In India most critics have pointed out that how BBC termed the July 7, 2005 attackers in London as "terrorists" without hesitation. While in case of Mumbai they used "gunmen" and at odd places "suspected terrorist."
It is a shame that the BBC cannot see the difference between a criminal and a terrorist, and chooses in fact to protect the terrorist by giving him the camouflage of a criminal. This is not a matter of semantics. Terrorists are always happy to fudge the definition.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Mumbai Terror Probe

Less than a month after the unprecedented terror strikes in Mumbai , the Federal Bureau of Investigation has completed its probe in India and found evidence of a Pakistan security establishment being involved in the carnage.

An FBI team is likely to go there to prepare a chargesheet against the guilty.

As the FBI winds up the probe that commenced on December one, top US Intelligence official John Michael McConnell, who heads the Director of National Intelligence, air dashed to New Delhi and held series of meetings with the FBI team probing the case.

The FBI is understood to have found evidence about the role of a Pakistani security establishment other than the ISI being involved in the November 26 terror strikes in Mumbai that left over 180 people dead including six American nationals, official sources said.

McConnell has passed on the findings of FBI team to the officials in the government and the US probe agency would now be giving final touches to chargesheet in which it would be naming the accused persons.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

BrahMos Supersonic Cruise missile

A BrahMos supersonic cruise missile with a strike-range of 290 km was on Thursday successfully test-fired in a vertical launch configuration for the first time by the Indian Navy.

With this launch, BrahMos has become the world's first and only supersonic cruise missile capable of being launched from both vertical and inclined positions from naval platforms.

"BrahMos missile was successfully test fired in vertical-launch configuration from an Indian Navy ship in the Bay of Bengal on Thursday," Defence Ministry sources said in New Delhi .

The test, the sources said, was carried out at noon from a moving Rajdoot class warship. The vertical launcher used in the test has been designed and developed by the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos Corporation.

"The test has proved and demonstrated the new universal vertical launcher designed and developed by the Corporation," they said, adding, "The mission objectives of the test were fully achieved."

The launch, carried out in presence of senior Navy officers and DRDO scientists, will give a boost to the future deployment of BrahMos in the naval platforms, they said.

"This will give a boost to ongoing programme of future ship installation for the missile. It will be installed in vertical launch configuration in all the future ships of the Indian Navy. This will include the both ships under construction and the ones who come back to shipyards for refurbishment," the sources added.

Indian Navy's second line of Talwar Class ships, under construction in Russia's Kaliningrad Shipyard, will also be equipped with new universal vertically launcher modules.

"Indian Navy's second line of Talwar Class ships, known as the 1135.6 Class in Russia, will also have these vertical launchers," the sources said.

BrahMos has already been inducted in INS Rajput ship in inclined configuration and its land launched version is also in service with the Indian Army .

The IAF is carrying out structural modifications on the Su-30MKI aircraft to develop an air launched version of the missile.

Attempts of integrating the missile in submarines are also on at Russian shipyards.

During the recent visit of Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to India, both sides agreed on developing a hypersonic version of the missile to be known as BrahMos-2.

The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya: A Symbolic Journey from Controversy to Harmony

  Introduction: The Ram Mandir, located in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India, is a sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ram, one of the most re...