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Friday, December 16, 2011

Designer creates fashionable dress from ford car parts

The unique ‘car dress’ was planned by Judy Clark, who is a nominee for Scottish designer of the year and has also worked with Alexander McQueen. She accepted the challenge to make the costume using Ford car parts within 1 week. The materials she worked with include a variety of parts from a Ford Focus, along with Chiffon, Silk, and Tweed, Lace, Leather and Spray paint.
She describes in detail how she used every part to create the entire dress. Clark calls the back of the dress the ‘engine’, comprising of the smaller components stitch into a crinoline type bustle. She constructs a biker jacket with the car’s seat covers, along with some tweed and spray paint. Layers of silk chiffon were died the color of diesel and make used for the skirt. Her main aspire was to create a dress that captured the contrast between soft feminine layers and industrial car mechanics. Clark took motivation for the dress from the Edwardian period.

Monday, November 7, 2011

7-Year-Old Girl Forced Dance in Inappropriate dress to Support Her Family


Huang Doudou, a primary school student from Urumqi, China, has in recent times caused controversy in Chinese media, after her shocking story became viral. The 7-year-old lives with her parents in room just 12-square-meters in size. Her mother has a crippled left leg and tries to support the family by peddling in the streets and babysitting, while her father, who suffer from a serious stomach condition, can only do light jobs. They hardly managed to make ends meet every month, so young Huang Doudou stepped in and decided to use her dance skills to contribute to the family budget and pay for her dance tuition.
During the day, Huang Doudou looks like a normal 7-year-old girl, but seeing her perform at her night job, wearing extreme makeup and dressed inappropriately, you would think she was twice her age.
Asked what her biggest wish was, Doudou answered she always want to go to the cinema. Her mother had won a ticket in a text messaging contest, but by the time they manage to get to the cinema, they said their tickets were expires…
Huang Doudou’s story made headlines because of her young age, but there are thousands of Chinese children required to do all kinds of inappropriate things for their age, in order to help their family survive.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

The Wonderful Masterpiece of a British Artist on Swan Feathers

Ian Davey an artist who has found a normal and maintainable canvas to paint his masterpieces on – swan feathers. Right now his light mechanism sells for thousands of dollars.

Every individual piece of art can take up to a week to complete, but Ian Davey’s feather paintings in fact something extraordinary to look at.

Ian Davey who is 46 years old has been put in a converted farmhouse in Snowdonia National Park, Wales. He paints on swan feathers which are collected from a close by swannery. He uses only those feathers that naturally drop on the ground during the birds’ annual flaking period. He starts the artistic process by cleaning and individually straightening them with tweezers and constantly depicts a sketch of what he means to paint on the feather, since he only has a one-foot-long, three-inches-wide print to work with so he has to know accurately what goes where. He applies a basic coverage and works with a particular acrylic paint that guards the feather. To secure the most detailed parts, this unique artist uses an expert 000-size brush.



Friday, September 30, 2011

Discover the benefits of online ticket booking

Transportation is imperative since it enables trade between people's, which in turn establishes development. Bus travel is one of the most widespread and suitable means of transportation in a few growing nations like India. People who can’t afford to travel by air and train opt for bus services in travelling.
Travelling has become a part of life and it’s a routine affair for business people either for urgent meeting, industrial trips or the passion to visit new places. With the advent in technology booking your bus tickets online has become popular and acts as a time-saving element.
Motive for traveling consist of recreation, tourism or vacationing, research travel, volunteer travel for charity, religious pilgrimages and business travel.
With the help of internet and cyber space a person can book tickets online which is a great way to save money and time. Online ticket booking for deluxe bus services from anywhere like BUS DC TO NYC is very easy. The whole process is just a few buttons click away and people consider it to be beneficial than going to the travel agency and booking the ticket.
Vanished are the days once you had to visit bus ticket counters, stand in long queues waiting for your turn to buy bus tickets. No matter where you are, you just need an internet connection to get your tickets.
Difference in needs: Tourists and business travelers have different needs. Nevertheless, the business traveler is further likely to need Wi-Fi access, which is offered when traveled in a deluxe bus.
A luxury bus offers many benefits and it includes free Wi-Fi, upscale buses, power outlets, clean bathrooms and on time reaches is what liked most by the business people who travels often.
In case of a business trip from NY to DC or any places, it is very essential to get Wi-Fi access as business people get immediate updates related to their business which acts as an essential element in their business role.
Frequent traveler gets great discounts and thus travelling becomes more pleasurable.
 Conferences, industrial visits, meetings and many more these terms generates with the entrepreneurs that is with the business people who often travels to get updates or to attend any important official meetings in that case reaching on time is an essential factor.
Another important advantage in booking tickets for deluxe bus services online is that you can cancel when you feel that, suppose you have bought a ticket a few days earlier than and now suddenly find out that you cannot make the bus travel due to certain inevitable state of affairs. In this instance, you can easily cancel your ticket online and be at ease without walking to the counter every time.
Due to the discounts and various deals offered by the travel agencies people are travelling a lot and for the comfort provided during travelling, pleasure and lots of services.
Buying online tickets helps you to know about the various deals provided by the travel agencies and you can take hold of the deal of your choice and take pleasure in bus travelling at an affordable fare.
Journey and alter of place impart fresh drive to the mind.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Numberism – Using numbers to make unbelievable works of art



Numberism is a unique picture technique invented in 2008, by Portland-based artist Sienna Morris. She uses numbers and scientific formulas to draw gorgeous works of art.
27-year-old Sienna Morris has been a painter and designer for most of her life, but she really found her passion in 2008, when enthused by her obsession with time and the unanswerable question of how much we have left, she started drawing pieces using only the numbers of the clock (1 – 12). She tried to capture stunning moments of our lives and just how fleeting they are, reminding us all to appreciate the present, knowing we only have one shot to do so. Sienna’s early works were drawn in pencil, but as she started creating larger scale pieces, she moved on to brown micron pen (005), and later to scratchboard, where she etches the numbers using an exact blade and finishes with an ink or watercolor wash.
Numberism is much related to pointillism, only Morris uses numbers instead of dots. There are no lines or smudges in her artworks, just lots of numbers, sometimes drawn over other numbers to create the desired effect.

Friday, August 26, 2011

The Creepy Taxidermy Creatures of Andrew Lancaster




Andrew Lancaster is a New Zealand taxidermist who has used the art of stuffing animals to innovative heights by producing impractical hybrids like three-headed chickens of winged possums.

Taxidermist is defined as the act of increasing or reproducing dead animals for put on show or for additional sources.

Lancaster has been producing his frightening creatures for about two years. 

But he began his working as taxidermy after he shifted to New Zealand, from England which is on the subject of 14 years ago. 

After considering plenty of dead animals on the roadside, he thought to himself “what a waste”. 

On that day he determined that they were high-quality matter for his fine art. 

Now a day at anytime he drives past roadkill, he backs up and puts in his chest. 

At house, he either places them in the freezer, “right under the ice cream and vegetables” or on top of the hot water cylinder, to dry.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Magnitude 5.8 earthquake hits Virginia


The seismically sleepy mid-Atlantic states were struck by a magnitude 5.8 earthquake on August 23. At 1:51 p.m. EDT on Tuesday an earthquake struck Virginia, 135 kilometers southwest of Washington, D.C. It’s among the largest temblors to strike the state in recorded history.

The quake’s epicenter was located in central Virginia about 61 kilometers northwest of Richmond, at a preliminary estimated depth of 6 kilometers. Reports of the quake were posted on the U.S. Geological Survey’s Did You Feel It? website from as far away as Ohio and New York. That’s not unusual for earthquakes on the East Coast, which are commonly felt over a wide area.

“An event of the same size is felt over a much larger area in the East, compared to the West,” says Charles Ammon, an earthquake seismologist at Pennsylvania State University in University Park.
Vibrations from an 1897 temblor centered on Virginia’s Giles County, magnitude 5.9, reached Georgia and Pennsylvania and as far westward as Kentucky and Indiana. Chimneys crumbled and visible fissures appeared during this event.

On Tuesday, buildings rattled and lights flickered as people took to the streets in the nation’s capital. Both the U.S. Capitol Building and the Pentagon were evacuated, the Associated Press reported — as was the building that houses the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program in Reston, Va. While it’s unclear if the city’s buildings suffered much structural damage from the quake, three pinnacles did snap off the central tower of the Washington National Cathedral, says Richard Weinberg, media spokesperson. Stone masons and engineers are assessing the full extent of the damage.

Earthquakes in the mid-Atlantic tend to be small — like last year’s magnitude 3.6 temblor beneath Germantown, Md. The East Coast lacks the active fault systems created by colliding continental plates characteristic of California and the West Coast. The crust that underlies the mid-Atlantic region tends to be older, cooler and more stable. The recent quake likely started on a previously unknown fault that has been dormant for a long time in the middle of the Central Virginia Seismic Zone.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Five exciting activities that you don’t want to miss in Blue Ridge

The Blue Ridge Mountains is renowned for its natural beauty of their bluish color. Surround yourself with the beauty of mountains and natural fun in Blue Ridge. There are so many exciting activities to do in Blue Ridge.

Watch a sunset at Brass town Bald

Brass town Bald is the highest point in Georgia with a height of 1,458m above the sea level. The sunset in Brass town is a must watch scene. My elder son and I went 12 times to Brass town Bald and never seen the same sunset. Every time it is different even in back to back days.

Discover Waterfalls

There are many falls in Blue Ridge like Amicalola Falls, Helton Creek Falls, Desoto Falls, Fall Branch Falls, Sea Creek Falls, and Jacks River Falls. These waterfalls are distinctive as they are spring fed from a spotless natural mountain high above any pollution.

Whitewater Rafting

The season of white water rafting is from March to October. River like Ocoee comes alive with whitewater fans from around the world who journey to capture the world-class white water in rafts, canoes, and kayaks. More than 300,000 people experience fun of white water rafting by staying in their rental homes.

Horseback Riding

There are many places to experience horseback riding in the Blue Ridge Mountain. There are also several horse trails and guides to take you out on more extreme adventures.

White Bass Fishing

 If you are a fishing fan, Lake Blue Ridge is a home to bass, bream, catfish, perch and crappie. You can fish Lake Blue Ridge for Walleye, Small Mouth Bass, White Bass, Bluegill, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish and Flathead Catfish. Fish the Toccoa River, Rock Creeks, Cooper Creek, and Noontootla Creek for some of the best trout fishing in Georgia.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Diamond Encrusted, Gold Plated Contact Lenses


Indian Optometrist had created a unique Gold Plated, Diamond Coated Contact Lenses. Chandrashekhar Chawan optometrist at India’s Shekhar Eye Research Center has been stimulated by the ornaments in his wife’s teeth has created gold plated, diamond coated contact lenses.He has created this unique lens in order to bring a special twinkle in the eyes.
  
If anyone is looking for the most excessive trend in eyewear, then without any delay go for the contact lenses of Chandrashekhar Chawan.The thought of making this gold plated, Diamond coated contact lens has been drawn from his wife. His wife had diamonds planted on her teeth recently and that made the optometrist to realize the love for jewelry by the people. So he determined to create a sequence of diamond encrusted, gold plated contact lenses. 

He uses Boston Scleral lenses to clutch the jewelry in such a way that it should not touch the cornea, thus making the fashion ornament “very safely”. His invention of this Gold Plated, Diamond encrusted contact lens has got a mixed response from the public. This unique contact lens made some people to scare. But most of the people loved it, and the optometrist thinks that this will be the next big thing in Bollywood.

He acknowledges that his jewel-studded lenses are a fashion accessory and not a necessity. But he thinks that it is a must for people who want to attract attention. He also added to TODAY.com that “We always talk eye to eye and if your eyes are dazzling with diamonds, no one can look away; their eyes will be glued to you and your individuality.”


Friday, August 5, 2011

Launch of ‘3G Max’- A Wireless Hotspot Device



A fresh wireless portable hotspot appliance called the Beetel 3G Max will soon be launched in India by Beetel Teletech, a Bharti Enterprises group company. It is a company that provides solutions for IT and connectivity needs. This unique tool has the capacity to join to a mobile phone transporter and in the process, offer internet access to up to five devices. Hence it can be used by many users, tiny businesses or maybe even ventures.

The company has a important share in sell and telecom repair provider segments in the landline group and is also a distributor of memory and storage devices (HDD) for Transcend. Beetel is also in distribution and marketing of brands like Blackberry, Apple, Samsung, Panasonic and Transcend among others and has goods and keys organized in over 35 countries across 5 continents.

The company claims that the original device can function efficiently from a maximum space of 10 meters (around 33 feet) and it will supply internet or network access to Wi-Fi enabled devices like mobile phones, tablets, laptops among others. Windows 7, XP, Vista, MAC and Linux operating systems are well-matched with the device and the company promises a battery life of 4 hours and a standby time of 40 hours for the device (with a 1500mAh battery).

This new device has a USB 2.0 port and will cost Rs.5, 500.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

UN declares famine in another three areas of Somalia

3 August 2011 –
The United Nations today declared a famine in three more areas in drought-ravaged Somalia, bringing to five the number of regions in the Horn of Africa country where acute malnutrition and starvation have already claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden, said the Afgoye corridor outside Mogadishu, the capital itself, and the Middle Shabelle region are now in a state of famine. On 20 July the UN declared outright famine in Lower Shabelle and in southern Bakool region.

A famine can be declared only when certain measures of mortality, malnutrition and hunger are met. They are: at least 20 per cent of households in an area face extreme food shortages with a limited ability to cope; acute malnutrition rates exceed 30 per cent; and the death rate exceeds two persons per day per 10,000 persons.

The spread of the famine conditions highlights the seriousness of the food crisis facing internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mogadishu. The declaration of famine in the capital follows the massive influx of starving adults and children into the city in the past two months.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), meanwhile, said that the appeal for funds to respond the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa region, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Djibouti, is still only 44 per cent funded, with an additional $1.4 billion still required to cover unmet needs. An estimated 12.4 million people in the entire region are in need of assistance, according to OCHA.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Monday mornings are so depressing

 If you are feeling down in the dumps before midday, take heart. You are not alone. Most of find the start of the week so demoralising that we can't even bear to crack a smile until 11.16am.Half of us will be late for work today after struggling to get up after the weekend, according to researchers.And as we struggle to shake off the Monday blues we will only manage three and a half hours of productive work.People between the age 45 to 54-year-olds are likely to suffer the most and will moan for around 12 minutes.According to experts the hatred of Monday mornings is governed by deep-rooted tribal instincts.Workers like to feel part of their tribe again after the weekend and need to chat to each other and spend time in communal areas, according to clinical psychologist Professor Alex Gardner. Professor Gardner said: "Work could be the best place for you on Monday because we are essentially cavemen in city suits.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Guinness world record – A baby with 34 fingers

A boy named Akshat with age one has registered his name in the Guinness world records for having a total of 34 fingers and toes. He has been put up in Bareilly a district in Uttar Pradesh. The Guinness world record has been for having the highest number of fingers and toes and hails. It was very difficult fro Amrita Saxena, the child’s mother to believe that her son has broken the world record.

Previously a baby born in China has got 31 fingers. But Akshat has broken that record by having 34 fingers. It was very hard for Akshat mother’s to believe that her son has broken the record. In a while, along with her husband and her younger sister Akshat’s mother registered the data in the Internet. Then she was asked to submit definite papers after which his name was in the Guinness World Records.

Doctors said that it was a rare occurrence and identified it as polydactyly and this miracle was happened due to certain defects in the bone development of the uterus. The cause behind this imperfection can be either developmental congenital formation or chromosomal anomalies, which is due to maternal infection or drugs," said Dr. Parul Gupta, a gynaecologist. Then the doctor said that this congenital physical anomaly could be cured without difficulty by performing a surgery.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Three blasts reported in India’s Mumbai

Three bomb blasts rocked India’s largest city, Mumbai, in congested areas during the evening rush hour Wednesday, killing at least 21 people and injuring more than 100 others.

Prithviraj Chavan, Maharashtra state’s chief minister, said it was too early to talk about suspects but at least one of the apparently coordinated blasts was “quite powerful.” He warned the death toll could rise.
Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram called the explosions a “coordinated attack by terrorists” and appealed for calm as Mumbai residents voiced anger at the government because their city has been a repeated target for terror.

Forensic experts and security forces using sniffer dogs pored over the bloody scenes, looking for evidence. Dazed survivors were comforted and police hosed down burning debris in the streets.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik said at one scene, an improvised-explosive device was placed in an umbrella near a motorcycle.



The area in Dadar is near a train station used by millions of commuters. On July 11, 2006, a series of seven explosions killed at least 174 people on crowded Mumbai commuter trains and stations.

The U.N. Security Council condemned the terrorist attacks. The United States offered its “full support and assistance to India” and was monitoring the situation, the State Department said.
U.S. President Barack Obama, who visited Mumbai last year and signed a condolence book for the victims of the 2008 attack, condemned Wednesday’s attack.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is scheduled to travel to New Delhi and Chennai next week, but her spokesman said there were no immediate plans to alter her travel plans. Clinton “will have an opportunity to re-affirm our commitment to the U.S.-India partnership when she travels there next week,” Mark Toner said.
As in past attacks, the blasts Wednesday targeted congested areas. Mumbai police blamed makeshift bombs and told CNN’s sister network CNN-IBN that one was left in a car; another in a motorcycle.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Big birth statement: couple welcomes a 16-pound baby boy

This bundle of joy must bring an extra helping of happiness: couples in Texas are the proud parents of 16-pound, 1-ounce, 2-foot-long JaMichael Brown.
At 9:05 Friday morning, Janet Johnson and Michael Brown welcomed their son at Longview's Good Shepherd Medical Center. JaMichael, who was rapidly nicknamed "the Moose," is the largest child ever born in the hospital - and possibly the state.
The average weight of a newborn baby is about 7 1/2 pounds, which is why it's shocking - even in Texas -- which a woman has given birth to a 16-pound baby boy.
Two feet tall at birth, JaMichael Brown is the largest child ever born in the state of Texas.
"A lot of the stuff we bought him is too little," mother Janet Johnson told The Today Show.
The nurse who helps for deliver JaMichael said there are health implications for an infant this large.
The medical term for large infants is "macrosomia," accurately meaning "large of body." These babies frequently have high blood sugar at birth, and a greater chance of obesity or diabetes later in life, doctors say.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Balloon Artist create Life-Size Inflatable Dinosaurs


Mark Verge combines his balloon-twisting talent with a passion for collect fossils to generate life-size balloon models of dinosaurs. 43-year-old Mark Verge, from Ontario, Canada, first started working with balloons in 1995, after getting his hands on a book on creating balloon models. It was a lot trickier than he thought, as balloons would constantly pop when twisted, but after 16 years of practice he has reached a point where he can generate intricate sculptures using thousands of balloons. He has developed his own technique and uses a range of different-sized balloons to create his inflatable masterpieces.
The idea of making life-size models of dinosaurs was enthused by his passion for collecting fossils, so one day he just started twisting balloons to make a dinosaur skeleton. It was a success and now he has a collection of balloon dinosaurs, as well, including a spinosaurus made from 800 balloons, a stegosaurus and triceratops made from 700 balloons, and an utahraptor made from 200 balloons. But his most inspiring work yet is a 39-foot model of a T-Rex, made from 1,400 balloons. It took Verge 55 hours to finish, as he had to make each vertebra individually and put them together at the end, to make sure his T-Rex looked just right. You might think there’s a metal frame in there somewhere, but it’s all in the balloons. It took lots of effort, but this inflatable masterpiece won Mark Verge the first place in the world balloon-sculpting competition.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

World Music day



June 21 has been designated as World Music Day, a day the world celebrating the magical gift of music. It’s origins lie in France when, in 1976, American musician Joel Cohen, proposed an all-night music festival to mark the beginning of the summer solstice and since then, it has become a global phenomenon with over 32 countries worldwide having their own celebrations in their own way, regardless of the season.
It is a day of free music, where musicians - local and amateur - are allowed and encouraged to perform their music in public spaces without any limit. Of course, in Mumbai we would have to pay entertainment tax (and shut down by 10 pm), but still, it’s a marvelous day to celebrate the spirit of music in all its forms.


Monday, June 20, 2011

21-year-old Californian crowned Miss USA 2011



Beating out 50 other contestants, an auburn-haired beauty from California who was a favorite among Vegas odds-markers was crowning Miss USA at the end of the pageant's 60th anniversary contest on Sunday in Sin City.
Alyssa Campanella beat out her good friend, Miss Tennessee Ashley Durham, who was named first runner-up by a panel of star judges. The other finalists were Miss Alabama Madeline Mitchell and Miss Texas Ana Rodriguez.
Campanella replaced Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih and will be America's representative at Miss Universe in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 12.
After revealing on the show that she was a "huge history geek" with a special interest in the Tudor and Stuart period, Campanella added that her much loved monarch was Mary, Queen of Scots, who was beheaded in 1587.
The show had three competitions: swimsuit, evening gown and interview question.
The contestants were whittling to 16 after the show's opening number, in which the beauty queens introduced themselves one-by-one. The top 16 were picked by preliminary judges through competitions and interviews during the week before the broadcast. Celebrity judges picked the top eight after the swimsuit competition and the top 4 after the evening gowns portion.
This year's panel of judges included several well-known celebrities, including Dallas Maverick center Tyson Chandler, actress Mariel Hemingway, chef Rocco DiSpirito, magician Penn Jillette, rapper and producer Lil Jon, "Real Housewives of New Jersey" housewife Caroline Manzo and OPI beauty products founder Suzi Weiss-Fischmann.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

World Milk day celebration

World Milk Day highlights to hard work of farmers - The FAO said that in the context of poverty and malnutrition in Asia, milk had a special role to play for its many nutritional advantages with providing income for millions of small-scale farmers.
It said the dairy sector continued the income and employment of millions of farm families, provides milk for nutrition, and draught animal power and manure for agriculture.
Asia's milk production crossed the 250-million-tonne mark last year, indicates that the region's output increased five-fold over the last three decades, said the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
In addition, recent high prices for milk products have further induced renewed interest in dairy development in Asia, mainly in recognition of the nutritional importance of milk in rural communities, it said.
Nearly 80 per cent of fresh milk produced in Asia is supplied by smallholders for which women farmers play a main important role.
It said that over the same period, yearly per capita consumption of milk grew from 20 kg to 70 kg.
Across the globe, countries eagerly participate in World Milk Day every year, and through interactive activities with individuals of all ages, praise the benefits of milk and its role in a healthy diet.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

The city welcomes the world to marathon

The city didn’t just host the Ottawa Marathon on may29th. To a large degree, the city was the Ottawa Marathon.

When the world’s best hockey players come to city, it’s not actually Ottawa that hosts them - at least not in the same way. They use luxurious and exclusive amenities, of the similar type they use everywhere they go.

And except for those lucky residents who have Senators tickets, it’s almost a matter of trivia that a normal season game is happening here - unless you’re stuck in traffic on the Queensway on game night. By contrast, when some of the world’s best marathon runners come to city, they run on the same ground as the 5,000 other runners, the same ground all Ottawans walk and cycle and drive on every day.

Race Weekend as a whole pushed through lots of runners. Between seven events of various distances, almost 40,000 people participated. Together they took hundreds of millions of strides on Ottawa pavement. At a conservative estimate, more than $5 million worth of running shoes hit the ground. Organizers say the three-day event generate $25 million for the Ottawa-Gatineau economy.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

World's oldest panda Ming Ming 'died in aged 34' in China

The world's oldest panda, Ming Ming, has been died in China aged 34, reports say.
Ming Ming died last week at the Xiangjiang Wild Animal World in Guangdong region, Chinese daily The Global Times reported.
The female panda had lives at Xiangjiang since 1998, but had also travelled to zoos in London and Ireland through her long life.
Vets found that her organs had deteriorated as a result of old age, leads to kidney failure.
Pandas do not generally live past the age of 22 in captivity, or 15 in the wild.
Ming Ming caused something of a diplomatic thing when she was sent to London Zoo in 1991 to mate with Berlin panda Bao Bao. She had to be returned to China after the two fought and failed to make any cubs.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Stunning debuts from New York International Auto Show 2011



This year's New York International Auto Show had more than a few thrilling launches. While not all of these will go into production, the following are the six cars on show for their first time that we desire to drive. Stay tuned for auto news of the more abstract and unusual variety tomorrow.



The design of VW's new Beetle pays homage to the initial beetle profile. The selection is somewhat of a departure from 1998's New Beetle, drawing deeper on the brand's past but with plenty of details looking toward the future. We mainly love the turbo version, the new led lighting and the Gibson sound system.
As the most powerful Jaguar road car ever released it's no surprise that the updated XKR-S wows with 550 HP and a top speed of 186mph. plus, it's stunning.
The new Audi A7 drew our eye right away, but truly shines on close inspection. With the functionality of a sedan and the feel of a coupe it has all with the faultless craftsmanship for which Audi is known.
Mercedes-Benz's C63 AMG Coupe sports complicated bodylines and an aggressive stance that gets it just right. 0-60 in 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph seal the deal.
Striking lines and a shiny design come together in this nontraditional concept of the age-old touring sedan. The Lexus LF-Gh is probably the boldest mixture of latest times. Designed for the low emission standards of the future and the fashion, performance and efficiency demands of today.
The Porsche Semper Vivus was the world's first performance hybrid car 111 years ago. A product of collaboration between Porsche engineering and the famed German coachbuilding company Karosseriebau Drescher, this dazzling replica was built by a very dedicated Porsche engineer and is just as elegant as the original.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

World Cup over, it’s time to welcome IPL

The hangover from all the revelries after India's World Cup win last Saturday was still eminent as Delhi got prepared to host the first match of IPL-4. On a lazy Sunday, where the sun preferred to play hide-and-seek every day, Delhiites slowly started to saunter into the Ferozeshah Kotla as Delhi Daredevils got ready to face Mumbai Indians.
Even the much hassled Delhi cops were not pleased with the prospect of another cricket match close on the heels of the World Cup. "We have been asked to report on duty at 7 in the morning and have been moving this gun around from 7.30 for a match which begins at four in the afternoon," a constable, manning one of the gates at the Kotla, rued.
A huge roar went up in the air as MI skipper Sachin Tendulkar walked out for the toss followed by a bigger roar when Delhi captain Virender Sehwag won the toss. That was just the beginning of the party as the crowd progressively started filling in the 48,000 capacity stadium. The Bhangra boys – Daredevils' cheer squad – got a lukewarm response but the MI cheerleaders were lapped up. As it is, there was not much to do for the 'Bhangra squad' as Lasith Malinga snuffed the life out of the Daredevils.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Earthquake and tsunami information bulletin n° 4 in Japan

The Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) has assembled its staff and resources nation-wide and domestic donations are being received to help affected communities.
As of 20 March 2011, the number of confirmed deaths was 8,133, with 2,612 injured, 12,272 missing and 362,887 displaced and/or abandon. In addition, 14,413 houses were totally damaged and another 98,466 houses were spoiled as a result of the earthquake and tsunami. Bad weather in the last few days is disrupting emergency relief efforts and evacuees are continuing cold weather. Priority requirements are fuel, temporary shelters, food, sanitation materials, clothing, medicines and household appliances.
Ten days into the tragedy, Japanese Red Cross continues to provide emergency relief, medical services and psychosocial support to exaggerated communities. As of 21 March, a total of 249 medical missions involving more than 735 persons were organized to the affected prefectures, with over 125,000 blankets and 20,700 emergency relief packs distributed at time of reporting.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

100th anniversary of International women’s day - women power

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, we have much to feel great about. Opportunities for women are greatly better today in 2011 than they were in 1911 - and since 1920, we have even been able to vote in the United States! Economic opportunities for women are also very much improved, as is political participation.
International Women's Day marks a milestone this year, celebrating 100 years as a day of international celebration of women.
Washington show off its woman power. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard expressed their delight at meeting on such a favorable day.
Britain’s former first lady Cherie Blair was also at the State Department for the 2011 global Women of Courage Awards ceremony.
And the first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, started her remarks with high admire for Hillary Clinton: “She is one heck of a Secretary of State. She has been a wonderful gift, not just to our country but to the rest of the world.”

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Obama hosts Hu as world powers look for common ground

President Barack Obama is granting a generous welcome to Chinese President Hu Jintao as the world's two top powers seek common ground on economic and security issues.
Hu arrived in Washington for a four-day state vacation on Tuesday.
Hu will hold talks with Obama on Wednesday, and for the first time in 12 years, the U.S. president obama will host a state dinner for a Chinese leader at the White House.
Analysts say both Obama and Hu will be looking to tamp down distrust.
Many Americans blame China for America's high unemployment, and lawmakers are pushing legislation against Beijing's currency policy which they say gives unfair assist to Chinese exporters.
The two leaders will also talk about security concerns including North Korea's nuclear program.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The £1million price to the British taxpayer of caring for the world's fattest man

The world's fattest man has told how the breakup of a relationship with an older woman spurred him to binge eat his way to 70 stone. But it is the British taxpayer who must be the one feeling heartbroken.
Paul Mason, from Ipswich, was given life-saving bypass surgery last year and now weighs a moderately slim 37 stone. But his care bill costs taxpayers an estimated £100,000 a year and is supposed to have topped £1million over the last 15 years.
The 50-year-old former postman, who now travels by motorized wheelchair after being bedridden for years, claims his gargantuan size was not down to greed but the heartbreak he went through in his youth. He ate 20,000 calories a day - 10 times the recommended intake for a man. £100k-a-year care costs have racked up £1m bill for taxpayers.
His breakfast alone would be sufficient to exhaust the appetites of most normal people, comprising a complete packet of bacon, four sausages and four eggs complete with bread and hash browns.
Lunch would involve quadruple portions of fish and chips along with two kebabs while Mr Mason would munch on roast dinners, pizza, curries and more chips for his evening meal.