Thursday, January 6, 2011

“Michael Bevan announced as coach of Kings XI Punjab” plus 7 more

“Michael Bevan announced as coach of Kings XI Punjab” plus 7 more

Michael Bevan announced as coach of Kings XI Punjab

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 01:07 AM PST


The IPL franchise of Kings XI Punjab has announced that Michael Bevan would be their coach for the fourth edition of the tournament. Punjab will be one of the ten teams to play in the IPL after the High Court had ruled in their favour despite the BCCI having banned them from playing in the tournament.

Bevan had earlier been associated with the Indian Cricket League as the coach of the Chennai Superstars. He was also a part of the Australian side winning in the 1999 and the 2003 World Cup, and announced his retirement from international cricket in 2007.

Bevan said that he was happy to be a part of the Punjab side and that he would look to be a part of the auctions and get the right balance between the players.

Telangana report: Chidambaram appeals for suggestions on the report

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 01:01 AM PST


On Thursday, the Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram, appealed the Andhra Pradesh political parties to read the Telangana report with an open mind. Chidambaram in a meeting with some eight Andhra Pradesh political parties has also asked for suggestions from individuals and groups over the report.

“I would urged you to read the report and the recommendations with an open mind and be prepared to persuade, and to be persuaded by, people who hold another point of view,” Chidambaram said. He also said that he expects for a positive and a healthy debate to be held as a response to the report.

According to the report, uniting Andhra Pradesh is favored, however there are also suggestions in the report to separate the Rayala-Telangana and Seemandhra (coastal Andhra). Suggestions are being made in the report to make Hyderabad the common capital of both states.

And in due course of time both the seperated states can decide on their own capitals. The committee had also suggested Hyderabad to be given the Union Territory status.

No One Killed Jessica: review, a reality

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 11:38 PM PST


Bollywood film 'No One Killed Jessica' though being based on a very sensitive topic, failed to grab much attention than was expected. The film failed to properly execute the real incident in 1999, when bartender Jessica Lall was shot in a Delhi restaurant by a Haryana based politician, after she refused to serve alcohol after the deadline.

The movie narrates the struggle of Jessica's sister Sabrina Lall, where she strives through for the sake of justice for sister Jessica. Actors Rani Mujherji, Vidya Balan, Neil Bhoopalam, Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub and Myra have undoubtedly performed their best, but may be the director Raj Kumar Gupta has failed towards the execution of the story.

Rani in the film has played the role of a journalist and has been applauded for her performance, but sources have added that Vidya has failed to bring out the role of the victim's sister in the movie.

Over all the movie is a must watch just for the sake of Rani's performance and to know about the actual story of Jessica Lall.

Foreigners select their ten most favorite Chinese cities

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 11:26 PM PST


Beijing in the top ten most attractive cities for foreigners.

Foreigners voiced which Chinese cities they  liked the most in a survey”2010 Amazing China – the Most Attractive Chinese Cities for Foreigners”.  The results were announced  in Beijing on January 5, 2010.

“The 10 Most Attractive Chinese Cities for Foreigners” were Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Qingdao, Xiamen, Yantai and Wuhu.

The second set of favorite 10 cities that foreigners nominated including Nanjing, Wuhan, Guilin, Sanya, Chendu, Changchun, Changsha, Lanzhou, Dali and Nanning.

Based on the results of 343 online questionnaires, the things which made Chinese cities  attractive were living conditions ; public safety and health care; long-term career opportunities and potential, work environment; public services for foreigners; international  environment; policies about talent and motivation;  business-friendly environment; long-term communication and cooperation opportunities.

If you live in China, which city is your favorite?   Any on this list?  Any not on this list?

2D cloak created to turn objects invisible to sonar

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 10:23 PM PST


The day is not far when humans can have the power to be invisible. Professor Nick Fang a scientist from Illinois has created a two dimensional cloak which can turn objects invisible to sonar waves.

Professor Nick has made the cloak using 16 concentric rings with acoustic circuits which has the ability to guide the sound waves. “Basically what you are looking at is an array of cavities that are connected by channels. The sound is going to propagate inside those channels, and the cavities are designed to slow the waves down,” Prof. Fang said.

The cylinder tank was submerged in the tank by the researchers with a sensor ray on one side and a ultra sound source on another. When the cylinder was kept inside the cloak, it disappeared from its sonar.

However the researchers faced some problems due to the cavitations or the bubbles formed under water. They said that such problems hamper the capacity of the cloak to balance energy in the areas causing cavities.

Chinese “Icemen” break the ice record

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 10:12 PM PST


Jin Songhao wearing monitors during his 120 minute ice bath. Xinhua.

This is taking the idiom “breaking the ice” to a new extreme.  Two Chinese “icemen” set the broke the existing world record for enduring an ice bath at two hours.

In Zhangjiajie City, Hunan Province two men, Jin Songhao and Chen Kecai staged a competition.  Clad only in swim trunks they stood in Plexiglas boxes filled with ice.    

Chen Kecai the current official  Guinness World Record holder beat his 2010 record of 108 minutes by an additional 10 minutes.   However, doctors yanked him from the icebox when his monitoring devices warned that his body temperature was dropping dangerously fast.

Chen Kecai endured an ice bath for 118 minutes. Xinhua

According to Xinhua, Jin Songhao, lasted another two minutes to make his icy bath a full two hours.   He will be the world record holder the Guinness World Record officials can confirm his feat.

Just several days earlier in Hong Kong, Wim Hof, a Dutchman, lasted 115 minutes in an ice bath.   He may not hold the world record for the longest ice bath, but he holds it for running the fastest half-marathon on snow,that is barefoot!

No One Killed Jessica review, watch online trailer video, songs

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 07:59 PM PST


Hindi movie ‘No One Killed Jessica’ starring Vidya Balan as Sabrina ,Rani Mukherjee as Meera Gaity and Neil Bhoopalam as Vikram Jai Singh will release on 7th January 2011. Watch the Trailer video and hear the songs of the movie.

The movie is directed by Rajkumar Gupta,  Produced by  Ronnie Screwvala and Music Directed by  Amit Trivedi. Photo Gallery

No One Killed Jessica movie is a fast paced thriller set in the hub of political power in New Delhi.

The movie is reportedly based on the controversial Jessica Lal murder case.

The director later clarified that the story is inspired by a headline reported by The Times Of India in 2006, when the accused in the infamous murder case were acquitted by the lower courts, leading to nationwide protests, reopening of the case and subsequent sentencing of the accused.

China prototyping J-20 stealth fighter?

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 01:52 PM PST


Photos of the J-20 stealth fighter have been posted online.

China’s state media discussed leaked photos of what appear to be the prototype of their first stealth fighter, the J-20, a tacit admission to the world that such a development is under way.

Chinese and English language editions of the Global Times ran stories about the photographs of what is believed to be a future J-20 fighter.  The stories also provided extensive reports on the commotion the pictures have generated overseas.

The timing of the photo’s release is interesting.  Speculation is that the Chinese government wants the U.S. to know about the J-20 fighter as US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates visit to Beijing before he arrives this Sunday.

The J-20 appears to be larger than the US’s most advance stealth fighter, the F-22 Raptor, fueling speculation that it can fly further and carry more weapons.   However, as a prototype, it may still be years before the J-20 makes it into production.

Vice Admiral Jack Dorsett, head of US Naval intelligence said, "We underestimated when they would be competent and capable of delivering a technological weapon of that type.  We've been on the mark on an awful lot of our assessments but there has been a handful of things we have underestimated."

China has been investing significantly  in new military equipment so it does not fall behind the US and Russia. It is well known that China has an aircraft carrier under construction and is also developing anti-ship ballistic missile.

Posted by Suresh at 4:03 AM

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