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Archive for January, 2012

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Strongest solar storm since 2005 hitting Earth

Posted by Admin on January 24, 2012

http://news.yahoo.com/strongest-solar-storm-since-2005-hitting-earth-163628746.html;_ylt=AkXNYCOMICT50Vbv2TVAMwSs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTQ3OG1vb3M3BG1pdANTZWN0aW9uTGlzdCBGUCBTY2llbmNlBHBrZwNjY2VkMjkzYS0wNDIxLTM2MWMtOWUzZC05NGJhOGExM2FiZjEEcG9zAzEEc2VjA01lZGlhU2VjdGlvbkxpc3QEdmVyAzU2ZmQ1MzcwLTQ1ZTctMTFlMS1iODJlLWJlZDIxMTFjYjNiMA–;_ylg=X3oDMTFvdnRqYzJoBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3

WASHINGTON (AP) — Space weather officials say the strongest solar storm in more than six years is bombarding Earth with radiation with more to come.

The radiation is mostly an issue for satellite disruptions and astronauts in space. It can causecommunication problems for polar-traveling airplanes.

The Space Weather Prediction Center in Colorado observed the flare Sunday at 11 p.m. EST. (0400 GMT). Physicist Doug Biesecker says the biggest concern is the radiation, which arrived on Earth an hour later. It will likely continue through Wednesday.

Biesecker said the storm’s radiation levels are considered strong but other storms have been more severe. It is the strongest level since May 2005.

Plasma ejected from the sun arrives Tuesday, but is not as strong. It can extend the visibility of auroras and disrupt the electrical grid.

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Beijing releases pollution data; US figures higher

Posted by Admin on January 24, 2012

http://news.yahoo.com/beijing-releases-pollution-data-us-figures-higher-021659057.html;_ylt=AlKJPQohYJ29ASKTCs8_U1Ws0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTQ3N29ramJpBG1pdANTZWN0aW9uTGlzdCBGUCBTY2llbmNlBHBrZwNhMmNiYTI2Ni1mOGEwLTNkNTAtOGU4Zi03ZDVjZGM3NGY4NzEEcG9zAzMEc2VjA01lZGlhU2VjdGlvbkxpc3QEdmVyA2E2MjQ0MDUwLTQ1ZTAtMTFlMS05ZWZlLTI2OTYwZjY4OWU2NQ–;_ylg=X3oDMTFvdnRqYzJoBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3

By LOUISE WATT | Associated Press – Sat, Jan 21, 2012

BEIJING (AP) — Caving to public pressure, Beijing environmental authorities started releasing more detailed air quality data Saturday that may better reflect how bad the Chinese capital‘s air pollutionis. But one expert says measurements from the first day were low compared with data U.S. officials have been collecting for years.

The initial measurements were low on a day where you could see blue sky. After a week of smothering smog, the skies over the city were being cleared by a north wind.

The readings of PM2.5 — particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in size or about 1/30th the average width of a human hair — were being posted on Beijing’s environmental monitoring center’s website. Such small particulates can penetrate deep into the lungs, so measuring them is considered a more accurate reflection of air quality than other methods.

It is the first time Beijing has publicly revealed PM2.5 data and follows a clamor of calls by citizens on social networking sites tired of breathing in gray and yellow air. The U.S. Embassy measures PM2.5 from a device on its rooftop and releases the results, and some residents have even tested the air around their neighborhoods and posted the results online.

Beijing is releasing hourly readings of PM2.5 that are taken from one monitoring site about 4 miles (7 kilometers) west of Tiananmen Square, the monitoring center’s website said Saturday. It said the data was for research purposes and the public should only use it as a reference.

The reading at noon Saturday was 0.015 milligrams per cubic meter, which would be classed as “good” for a 24-hour exposure at that level, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. The U.S. Embassy reading taken from its site on the eastern edge of downtown Beijing said its noon reading was “moderate.” Its readings are posted on Twitter.

Steven Andrews, an environmental consultant who has studied Beijing’s pollution data since 2006, said he was “already a bit suspicious” of Beijing’s PM2.5 data. Within the 24-hour period to noon Saturday, Beijing reported seven hourly figures “at the very low level” of 0.003 milligrams per cubic meter.

“In all of 2010 and 2011, the U.S. Embassy reported values at or below that level only 18 times out of over 15,000 hourly values or about 0.1 percent of the time,” said Andrews. “PM2.5 concentrations vary by area so a direct comparison between sites isn’t possible, but the numbers being reported during some hours seem surpisingly low.”

The Beijing center had promised to release PM2.5 data by the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year on Monday. It has six sites that can test for PM2.5 and 27 that can test for the larger, coarser PM10 particles that are considered less hazardous. The center is expected to buy equipment and build more monitoring sites to enable PM2.5 testing.

Beijing wasn’t expected to include PM2.5 in its daily roundups of the air quality anytime soon. Those disclosures, for example “light” or “serious,” are based on the amount of PM10, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide in the air.

Beijing interprets air quality using less stringent standards than the U.S. Embassy, so often when the government says pollution is “light,” the embassy terms it “hazardous.”

“There has been tremendous amounts of attention in the Chinese media — whichever newspaper you pick up, whichever radio station you listen to, channel you watch — they are all talking about PM2.5 and how levels are so high,” said Andrews.

“What has been so powerful is that people are skeptical, and I think rightly skeptical,” about the government’s descriptions of data, he said.

___

Online:

Beijing center’s readings (in Chinese): http://zx.bjmemc.com.cn/

The U.S. Embassy’s Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/beijingair

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Gaddafi supporters seize control of Libyan town

Posted by Admin on January 24, 2012

http://news.yahoo.com/gaddafi-supporters-clash-pro-government-militia-154008446.html;_ylt=AhIc1EcnpCwFnW12rs4nC42s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTQ1bGZzNzNrBG1pdANTZWN0aW9uTGlzdCBGUCBXb3JsZARwa2cDNjgyN2E5OGItZTY1MC0zNDU1LTlmMmItYzRhZGQ3YTgxNjcwBHBvcwMzBHNlYwNNZWRpYVNlY3Rpb25MaXN0BHZlcgM1NzE1MmJjMC00NWU4LTExZTEtOWJmNy0wMGI4Y2U4NDRkM2M-;_ylg=X3oDMTFvdnRqYzJoBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3

By Taha Zargoun | Reuters – 27 mins ago

TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Supporters of ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi seized control of the town of Bani Walid on Monday after clashes with a militia loyal to the new government in which four people were killed, witnesses told Reuters.

A resident of Bani Walid, about 200 km (120 miles) south-east of Tripoli, said the sides fought using heavy weaponry, including 106 mm anti-tank weapons, and that 20 people were wounded.

Another witness told Reuters the fighting had now stopped but thatGaddafi loyalists were in control of the town centre, where they were flying green flags, a symbol of allegiance to the ousted administration.

“They control the town now. They are roaming the town,” said the witness, a fighter with the 28th May militia which was fighting the Gaddafi loyalists.

Bani Walid, base of the powerful Warfallah tribe, was one of the last towns in Libya to surrender to the anti-Gaddafi rebellion last year. Many people there oppose the country’s new leadership.

The uprising in Bani Walid could not come at a worse time for the ruling National Transitional Council (NTC). It is already reeling from violent protests in the eastern city of Benghazi and the resignation of its second most senior official.

An air force official told Reuters that jets were being mobilized to fly to Bani Walid. In Tripoli, there were signs of security being tightened, Reuters reporters in the city said.

FIGHTERS “MASSACRED“

The violence in Bani Walid was sparked when members of the May 28 militia arrested some Gaddafi loyalists.

That prompted other supporters of the former leader, who was captured and killed in October, to attack the militia’s garrison in the town, said the resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“They massacred men at the doors of the militia headquarters,” said the resident.

During Libya’s nine-month civil war, anti-Gaddafi rebels fought for months to take Bani Walid.

Local tribal elders eventually agreed to let NTC fighters enter the town, but relations have been uneasy since and there have been occasional flare-ups of violence.

In November last year, several people were killed in Bani Walid when a militia group from Tripoli’s Souq al-Juma district arrived in the town to try to arrest some local men.

Taking back control of the town will be challenging because it has natural defenses. Anyone approaching from the north has to descend into a deep valley and then climb up the other side, giving defenders an advantage.

It was this landscape, in part, that prevented anti-Gaddafi militias from taking the town during the civil war, despite the fact they were heavily armed and had superior numbers.

(Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Myra MacDonald)

 

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Syria rejects new Arab League plan to end crisis

Posted by Admin on January 24, 2012

http://news.yahoo.com/syria-rejects-arab-league-plan-end-crisis-070421433.html;_ylt=AnzTTNzI67qMmLNiaSP7YVas0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNsNHBjOTFnBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBGUARwa2cDOGU4ZjIxNGItMGJhZS0zNzUyLThlOTItM2Y1MWY1ZmY0ZTA4BHBvcwM3BHNlYwN0b3Bfc3RvcnkEdmVyAzEyNzc1ZTQwLTQ1ZGMtMTFlMS1hOTVmLWM3ODg2MWQ3YTgyNg–;_ylg=X3oDMTFvdnRqYzJoBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3

By BASSEM MROUE and BEN HUBBARD | Associated Press – 27 mins ago

BEIRUT (AP) — Syria on Monday rejected the Arab League‘s wide-ranging new plan to end the country’s 10-month crisis, saying theLeague’s call for a national unity government in two months is a clear violation of Syrian sovereignty, as violence raged.

Tens of thousands of people poured into the streets in a suburb outside the capital, Damascus to mourn for 11 residents who were either shot dead by security forces or killed in clashes between army defectors and troops a day earlier, activists said.

An activist group said 23 people were killed in Syria on Monday.

The crowd in Douma — which one activist said was 60,000-strong — was under the protection of dozens of army defectors who are in control of the area after regime forces pulled out late Sunday, said Samer al-Omar, a Douma resident.

The reports could not be independently confirmed.

In Syria’s north, opposition figure Radwan Rabih Hamadi was killed in an ambush by unknown gunmen in the rebellious Jabal al-Zawiya mountain region, activists said. Hamadi, 46, was a prominent figure in the revolt against President Bashar Assad.

Assad blames the uprising that erupted in March on terrorists and armed gangs acting out a foreign conspiracy to destabilize the country. His regime has retaliated with a brutal crackdown that the U.N. says has killed more than 5,400 people.

There is growing urgency, however, to find a resolution to a crisis that is growing increasingly violent as regime opponents and army defectors who have switched sides have started to fight back againstgovernment forces.

The Arab League has tried to stem the bloodshed by condemning the crackdown, imposing sanctions and sending a team of observers to the country. On Sunday, the League called for a unity government within two months, which would then prepare for parliamentary and presidential elections to be held under Arab and international supervision.

The proposal also provides for Assad to give his vice president full powers to cooperate with the proposed government to enable it to carry out its duties during a transitional period.

The state-run news agency, SANA, said Damascus considers the plan “flagrant interference in its internal affairs” and the latest turn in an international plot against Syria.

It was not immediately clear what steps, if any, Syria could take to counter the Arab League’s stance.

The European Union backed the Arab plan Monday, and it extended existing sanctions against Assad’s government by adding 22 more officials and eight companies to the blacklist.

In New York, German U.N. Ambassador Peter Wittig called Monday on fellow Security Council members to endorse the Arab League’s new plan to end the violence in Syria, including formation of a national unity government.

“The decisions taken in Cairo may be a game-changer, also for the Security Council,” Wittig told a small group of reporters.

Omar Idlibi, a spokesman for the Syrian National Council opposition group, said the Arab efforts do not go far enough. He and many other opposition figures demand Assad leave power and say anything less will just give the regime time to bury the revolt.

But there are significant splits in the opposition about the way forward.

Hassan Abdul-Azim, who heads the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria, or NCB, said the Arab plan is an “advanced step as the Arab League has started dealing with matters more seriously.”

Abdul-Azim told The Associated Press that the plan would put more pressure on Assad’s regime and “tells it that it’s impossible to keep matters as they are.”

Syria appeared to get a serious boost Monday from its powerful allies in Russia. Russia’s business daily Kommersant reported that Moscow has signed a contract to sell 36 Yak-130 combat jets to Syria — a deal that, if confirmed, would openly defy international efforts to pressure Assad’s regime.

The Arab League’s observer mission has come under heavy criticism for failing to stop the violence in Syria.

On Monday, the head of the mission defended the observers’ work, saying their presence had cut down on the bloodshed. Speaking at League headquarters in Cairo, Sudanese Gen. Mohammed Ahmed al-Dabi told reporters the observers have witnessed violence from both the Syrian security forces and armed opposition groups.

“When the delegation arrived, there was clear and obvious violence,” he said. “But after the delegation arrived, the violence started to lessen gradually.”

On Sunday, Arab League foreign ministers extended the mission for another month. The mission’s one-month mandate technically expired on Thursday.

Violence continued inside Syria on Monday.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said troops and army defectors clashed Monday near the western town of Qusair, close to the Lebanese border. It said five soldiers were killed and 13 were wounded.

The Observatory added that 20 civilians were killed by security forces in different parts of Syria, nine of them in the northwestern province of Idlib that borders Turkey.

The LCC put Monday’s death toll at 23.

It was impossible to reconcile the discrepancy.

Syria has prevented most independent media coverage and until recently has refused to issue visas for most foreign journalists. In recent weeks, the regime has begun to permit entry for journalists on trips escorted by government minders.

___

Hubbard reported from Cairo. Anita Snow contributed reporting from the U.N.

___

Bassem Mroue can be reached on http://twitter.com/bmroue

 

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Indian, 161 others die in Mumbai-style Nigeria terror

Posted by Admin on January 24, 2012

http://in.news.yahoo.com/indian-161-others-die-mumbai-style-nigeria-terror-113031590.html

By Indo Asian News Service | IANS India Private Limited – 12 hours ago

Abuja, Jan 22 (IANS) An Indian was among 162 people killed as heavily armed Islamists carried out a deadly Mumbai-style terror attack in Nigeria‘s second largest city Kano, media reports and Indian officials said Sunday.

Six other Indians, including two children, were wounded and panic gripped the Indian community as a small group of terrorists stormed Kano, split themselves into smaller groups and went on a killing spree Friday evening.

Kevalkumar Kalidas Rajput, 23, who hailed from Gujarat and worked for Kano-based company Relchem since March 2011, was killed, the Indian High Commission in Nigeria said.

He and two Nepali colleagues Hari Prasad Bhusal and Raj Singh died when their car apparently entered a scene of hostilities, the mission said in a statement.

The six Indians from two families were injured because of falling shrapnel and debris. They were taken to hospitals.

Although uneasy calm returned to Kano Sunday, the city of nine million was devastated. Smoke still billowed from buildings that caught fire after being bomb attacked.

The well-planned savagery was blamed on an Islamist group with known ties with Al Qaeda. It targeted security forces in Kano in northern Nigeria.

The main targets were government sites including police stations, the passport office, the state security headquarter and the immigration office — all symbols of authority in religiously-divided Nigeria.

The Indian community in Nigeria is estimated to be 35,000-strong. Most Indians in the country are well-off and enjoy non-controversial existence.

Nigeria is India’s largest trading partner in Africa. Bilateral annual trade exceeded $8.7 billion in 2009-10.

Ashish Kumar Verma, an Indian, told Times Now from Kano that the attackers were about 20 in number and “targetted different places in the city”.

“They blew up police headquarter, passport office… also attacked the IG house,” he said. He said Indians were trying to get out of Kano.

Another Indian, T. Pragnesh, too spoke of the horror. He said the Indian Association in Kano was trying to determine if more people had been killed or wounded.

“We have 162 bodies in the morgue,” a visibly distraught official said at Kano’s main morgue.

The wounded included foreigners from an area home to many expatriates, particularly Lebanese and Indians.

BBC reported that hospitals were overwhelmed with the dead and injured.

The attack left Kano residents terrorized and shocked, some of whom wandered the streets to look for loved ones. Many refused to leave their homes fearing more attacks.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen next, no one thought this would ever happen here. There’s despair,” said Faruk Mohammed.

CNN quoted him as saying that there were at least 25 explosions. “Then it went deathly quiet.”

A 24-hour curfew was declared in Kano, where search and rescue operations were underway for the killers.

Nigeria closed its borders with neighbouring Cameroon and Niger, claiming these countries allowed the militants to move freely into Nigeria, reported RIA Novosti.

Boko Haram, the group behind the attack, has been seeking to impose Sharia law in Nigeria, divided into dominantly Christian south and a largely Muslim north.

Boko Haram colloquially translates into “Western education is sin”.

It was formed in 2002 by preacher Mohammad Yusuf. In 2009, Yusuf was arrested and died in police custody. The death led the group to begin its attacks on police stations.

Boko Haram spokesperson Abul Qaqa said the attacks were in response to the refusal of the Kano state government to release fellow terrorists who had been arrested.

Hundreds of Nigerian troops have been deployed at major streets in Kano to enhance security, reported Xinhua.

President Goodluck Jonathan said that the perpetrators would “face the full wrath of the law”.

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The Kodak moment fades

Posted by Admin on January 23, 2012

http://in.news.yahoo.com/photos/the-kodak-moment-fades-1327072573-slideshow/

Eastman Kodak Co, the photography icon that invented the hand-held camera filed for bankruptcy protection. Some key events in the history of the company that brought photography to the masses:

Eastman Kodak Co, the photography icon that invented the hand-held camera filed for bankruptcy protection. Some key events in the history of the company that brought photography to the masses:

In 1881, George Eastman and businessman Henry Strong form a partnership called the Eastman Dry Plate Company. The name Kodak is born and the Kodak camera is placed on the market, with the slogan: “You Press The Button – We Do The Rest.”

In 1896 – the 100,000th Kodak camera is manufactured and the pocket Kodak camera sold for $5 and in 1900 the Brownie camera is introduced which sells for $1.

In 1929 – Kodak introduces its first motion picture film designed for making movies with sound tracks.

In 1932 – George Eastman, suffering from a painful spinal disorder, commits suicide with a bullet to the heart. He leaves a note that says: “My work is done. Why wait?”

In 1975 – Kodak invents the world’s first digital camera, a toaster-sized image sensor that captured rough hues of black and white.

In 1997 – Kodak stock touches all-time high of $94.38 and closes at $0.55 on 18th January, 2012, on the New York Stock Exchange.

By the end 2010, Kodak has equivalent of 18,800 full-time employees. Its digital camera market share has falls to 7 per cent, ranking seventh behind Canon Inc, Sony Corp, Nikon Corp.

In 2012 – Kodak files a lawsuit against Apple Inc accusing it of infringing four patents related to digital camera images. Kodak later also files patent infringement suits against Fujifilm Holdings Corp and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.

 

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Top 10 inspiring women in the world

Posted by Admin on January 23, 2012

http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/photos/top-10-inspiring-women-in-the-world-1327031313-slideshow/

If you’re feeling down in the dumps or suffering from a serious lack of motivation, check out this list of 10 women who will leave you feeling inspired, confident, and ready to make your life the best that it can be.

Mother Teresa

The example set by Mother Teresa shows that no matter how humble your beginnings, you still have the capacity to help others less fortunate than you. After a life dedicated to charity and humanitarian work, she is regarded as one of the most selfless people to have ever lived, and her efforts were recognised in 1979 when she won the Nobel Peace Prize. However, one of the most admirable things about Mother Teresa is that she wasn’t doing it for the recognition – she spent nearly 30 years of her life helping others before anybody even knew who she was.

Joan of Arc

“Stand up for what you believe in” is a great phrase to live by, and nobody did this more so than Joan of Arc. She campaigned for the instatement of the ‘true king’ to the French throne because she believed it was God’s will, and led the French armies in fighting their English invaders. At a time when a woman on the battlefield was unheard of she eventually led her army to victory, fearlessly fighting and eventually dying to defend her country and strong beliefs.

Marilyn Monroe

Norma Jean Baker, or ‘Marilyn Monroe’ as she is better known, made a hugely successful career out of her good looks and uncanny ability to understand what the world wanted to see. Despite her ditzy blonde image and demeanour, she knew exactly what she was doing and it’s no coincidence that she became as famous as she did. Not content to let leading men hog the spotlight, she took extensive acting lessons to improve herself, because in her opinion; “Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.”

Oprah Winfrey

Simply through being compassionate, caring and charitable, Oprah Winfrey has made an astronomically successful career for herself. She shot to fame as an interviewer when her ability to emotionally connect with her guests struck a chord with the American public, and since then has gone from strength to strength. In 2003 she became the first African-American woman to be classed as a billionaire, yet in true Oprah style shares her wealth with those who need it most, having personally donated over $300 million to charitable causes.

Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart’s is a story of both success and tragedy, full of adventuring and pioneering for women’s rights. She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, and was rewarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross for her efforts – again, she was the first woman to receive this. While other women were being held back by a male dominated society, Amelia was soaring through the clouds, breaking records, and having the time of her life.

Billie Jean King

With 39 Grand Slam titles to her name and 6 separate spells as world number one, Billie Jean King is undoubtedly one of the greatest female tennis players to ever grace the game – however, it is her battle for equal rights for sporting women that she will be truly remembered for. In 1973 she took on and defeated self professed chauvinist Bobby Riggs in ‘The Battle of the Sexes’. A former world number one himself, Riggs’ defeat proved once and for all that women deserved both respect and equality in the world of sport.

J. K. Rowling

From single mother living on benefits to multi-millionaire author in the space of a few years; if ever you needed proof that you should follow your dreams, J. K. Rowling is just that. After multiple rejections from publishers she finally secured a print run of 1,000 copies for her first book, which you just might have heard of – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Fast forward a few years and the Harry Potter series has sold over 400,000 copies, spawned a whole film franchise, and almost single-handedly made reading cool again for kids.

Princess Diana

After marrying into the royal family, Princess Diana could simply have sat back and enjoyed a life of relaxation and luxury without a care in the world. However, she took it upon herself to use her celebrity status to help as many people as possible, becoming the figurehead for charity campaigns around the world. Someone who had everything and was eager to share it with is many people as possible, Diana was an inspiration to people in all walks of life, and her death was met with worldwide mourning.

Rosa Parks

Refusing to give up a seat on a bus may seem like a simple feat, but when Rosa Parks did it in 1955 it was nothing short of unheard of. As an African American, Parks was legally obliged to give up her seat at the request of a white person – something she simply wasn’t willing to do. The courage she showed in that instance sparked the civil rights movement in America, and her simple act of defiance changed the lives of millions of people.

Kelly Holmes

Kelly Holmes’ was a career full of set-backs and challenges, but one that ultimately had a happy ending. After years of trying for Olympic gold, her last chance came at the 2004 Games – a chance that was almost taken away from her by a leg injury. Despite suffering severe depression as a result of this, Kelly was able to battle through the injury through sheer determination, and ended up going above and beyond her wildest dreams by winning double Olympic gold in the 800m and 1500m.

 

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Five Hoysala temples off the tourist map

Posted by Admin on January 23, 2012

http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/five-hoysala-temples-off-the-tourist-map.html

Belur, Halebeedu and Somnathpur might be big hits among tourists but the Hoysala dynasty was known to have built over 1,500 shrines, of which only 400 have been discovered. Lakshmi Sharath recommends five lesser-known but no-less splendid Hoysala temples that are off the radar of most tourists

By Lakshmi Sharath | Yahoo Lifestyle Entertainment – Tue, Jan 17, 2012 1:30 PM IST

The Hoysala temple at Hulikere

“Hoy Sala ” (Strike Sala!) said guru Sudatta Muni to his student Sala, who was in armed combat with a tiger. The beast had just attacked the duo, who were immersed in rituals at a Durga or Vasantha Parameshwari temple in the village of Sasakapura or Sosevur. The student struck the animal in one blow, immortalizing himself and his victim. Pleased, the guru instructed Sala to establish a kingdom. Thus was born the Hoysala dynasty, with Sosevur as the capital.

We are a country that loves stories. There are tales for everything from deities to devils, from demi-gods to mortals. You will often hear this story told and retold if you are in Malenadu in Karnataka. Almost every Hoysala temple has this tale carved in stone, making it a royal emblem.

The dynasty that ruled Karnataka for over 400 years is known more for its temples than its battles. It is believed that they built over 1,500 shrines, of which more than 400 have been discovered today. Of these only three have made it to the tourist map – Belur, Halebeedu and Somnathpur. My journeys have taken me to barely 30 of them, of which I would now recommend about five.

Angadi

When a dynasty owes its origins to a myth, one has to see the place where the story was set. It is believed that Sala’s Sosevur is Angadi, a small hamlet in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. Deep inside coffee plantations lies the temple of the Goddess, along with the ruins of more temples and Jain basadis. The priest will narrate the story and show you the temple where Sala killed the tiger. Although historians dismiss the myth, they do believe that the basadis here are the earliest of the monuments built by the Hoysalas. Small mud roads take you uphill into dense coffee plantations. As you follow the roads, you reach a rugged path that takes you to the basadis. Another path leads you to the three temples, which were completely in ruins when I chanced upon them. They are the Chennakesava, Patalarudreshwara and Mallikarjuna temples. Surrounding you are verdant plantations and all that you can hear is the chirping of birds, with hardly a soul around.

Doddagaddavalli 

On the route to Belur from Hassan lies a small green board that says “Doddagaddavalli”. Follow the arrow and drive through the detour and you will see lush fields and coconut trees all along the way. As the eyes get blinded by the greenery, you see the first glimpse of this beautiful 12th century temple, built by a merchant, with a lake in the background and fields all around it. A quaint hamlet with a handful of houses interrupts you, as you finally land right on the doorstep of the temple. It is a Lakshmi temple with shrines dedicated to Kali, Shiva and Vishnu and the only Hoysala temple with four towers or vimanas. A serene lake completes this picture-perfect monument as you look up to see the Hoysala crest basking in the sun.

Hulikere 

Hulikere is not a temple but the only Kalyani or step-well that I have seen in the Hoysala monuments. Located barely a few kilometers from the Hoysaleshwar temple in Halebeedu, the step-well has several shrines alongside it. The Pushpagiri hill looks down on this small dusty hamlet and Hulikere often becomes the playground for the village kids who head here to play “This is Queen Shantala Devi ‘s private pond,” says the watchman, adding that it is called Hulikere because the security arranged by the king for his queen was so secure that even a tiger could not walk around it. So much for names and myths!

Koravangala 

Three brothers competed with each other to build the most beautiful Hoysala temple right here in Koravangala, near Hassan. But all that we saw was a 12th century Dwikuta or a temple with two vimanas or towers dedicated to Shiva called Bucheswara. It was built by a wealthy officer Buchi after he won the war against the Cholas, although he lost his sons in the battle. The inscriptions here say that Buchi vied with his brothers Govinda and Naka, whose temples lie absolutely in ruins beside a dry lake bed.

Marle  

Twin temples dedicated to Keshava and Siddeshwara lie in a quiet remote village called Marle in Chikmagalur district. The village spoke of tribal chieftain Poysala Muruga, one of the earliest founders of the dynasty. Yet, today, you barely see a soul around you as you walk along dry fields and patches of land to see the temples virtually lost to the sky and earth. The two lie side by side, adorned with some flowers left by a priest from the neighbourhood.

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German company removes objectionable yoga mats with images of Hindu deities

Posted by Admin on January 23, 2012

http://in.news.yahoo.com/german-company-removes-objectionable-yoga-mats-images-hindu-131310254.html

By ANI | ANI – 9 hours ago

Nevada (US), Jan 22 (ANI): Germany based firm Yogistar has reportedly withdrawn from its websiteyoga mats carrying the images of Hindu deities, which upset Hindus had called inappropriate and asked for immediate withdrawal.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, has thanked Yogistar for immediate action and for listening to the sentiments of about one billion strong worldwide Hindu community.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, in a statement on this issue on January 19, had said that Hindu deities were meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not to be trampled under one’s feet while doing yoga, as in some of Yogistar yoga mats.

Rajan Zed had argued that these deities were highly revered in Hinduism and inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the devotees.

Hinduism was the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and it should not be taken lightly. Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled, Zed had stressed.

Some of the products shown on Yogistar website on January 19 that Hindu devotees would find inappropriate included yoga mats carrying images of Hindu deities Shiva, Lakshmi and Ganesha, which were classified as “Yogamatte Getter-Edition” with each carrying a price tag of 24.90 Euros (about 1623 Indian Rupees); and these were reportedly no longer seen on the website today.

Yogistar Vertriebs with tagline “designed fur yoga”, which sells online at “yogistar.com”, in addition to yoga mats also carries yoga related tops, pants, shirts, leggings, jerseys, CDs/DVDs/Videos, blocks, belts, bottles, bags, stools, T-shirts, books; besides malas, meditationshockers, meditation timers, netis, teas, ayurvedic kajals, meditation cushions, etc. Based in Wiggensbach (Germany) with contact information given in Wendelins (Germany) and branch in Switzerland, its Geschaftsfehrer (managing director) are listed as: Matthias Beck, Uwe Haardt. (ANI)

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With heart-powered consciousness comes inspiration, love and creativity

Posted by Admin on January 23, 2012

http://www.infinitebeing.com/0604/hpc.htm

The pioneers within society – one in four adults – have already shifted to heart-powered consciousness while the others are finding their way and following suit as soon as they become ready.

The news media, meanwhile, appears to be under the impression that people find fear entertaining or compelling. They believe that a news story that engenders fear is exciting in that it grips the imagination. In reality, people are working through their fears rather than being held captive by them. When you have seen enough news stories and moved on to the next stage of consciousness, then you turn the news off and set yourself free from the stimulation of fabricated fears.

Society, as a whole, works through stages of consciousness. These stages, which were called memes by legendary social scientist Clare Graves, are patterns of development in social behavior. He discovered two tiers of memes and performed extensive research on the first tier of six memes.

This basic tier of six memes reflects the progress of mankind from the dark ages through modern times. In addition to this, today, the second tier has emerged in enough people for the first two of its memes to be identified.

Meme Keyword Attributes
          1 Survival Basic, personal survival.
          2 Safety Clans, superstitions.
          3 Power Courage, survival of the fittest.
          4 Truth Finding order and purpose in life.
          5 Prosperity Achievement, striving to succeed.
          6 Communitarian Community and caring.
          7 Systemic Responsible freedom.
          8 Holistic Global view, deep intuitive development.

In pre-medieval times, the predominant mindset in Europe was that of meme number two, that of superstition and tight-knit clans. Then, European civilization passed though the next two stages; tribal conflict (meme three), and then the seeking of order through a hierarchical, feudal system (meme four).

Three hundred years ago, social progress accelerated as meme number five, that of individual empowerment, came into vogue. While the engines of commerce and technology took three hundred years to develop, it has only taken the last forty years for the sixth meme, that of community and caring to appear and spread in the form of today’s ‘Cultural Creatives.’

In the 1990s in America, a study by Paul Ray and Sherry Anderson revealed that a huge 26 percent of adults have made a comprehensive shift in their worldview, values and way of life. These Cultural Creatives are people who love nature, respect the Earth and are deeply concerned about the environment. They like to develop close relationships with each other, and to help and encourage other people to develop their abilities. They care about personal and spiritual development, and want more equality for women and all cultural groups.

This means that if you are searching for better quality of life, less stress, better health, and a simpler lifestyle that includes more spirituality, then you are one of a growing number of people who have already become a part of the greatest social transformation of all time.

In my book, “The Shift: The Revolution in Human Consciousness,” I point out that these stages, or memes, correspond exactly to the stages of consciousness in the human chakra system. For example, the solar plexus chakra has two faces. The forward-facing solar plexus chakra has the characteristic of searching for order and purpose in life, just like meme number four. The backward-facing solar plexus chakra resonates exactly one musical half-tone higher in frequency and has the characteristic of striving to succeed in personal achievement, just like meme number five.

“The Shift: The Revolution in Human Consciousness” details my research on how the twelve memes of social progress correlate exactly with the twelve half-tones of the musical octave and also with the twelve faces of the seven major chakras.

The Twelve Chakra Faces 12 Chakras

Society, today, is working through its fears in its journey towards heart-centered consciousness. This level of consciousness is associated with meme number six, the receptive, sensitive, forward face of the heart chakra.

Once people discover the freedom of heart-centered consciousness, the next step is what Professor Clare Graves called “a momentous leap” into the second tier of six memes. While the first tier of memes is one of basic consciousness, the second tier is one of spiritual awareness. By stepping from heart-centered consciousness to heart-powered consciousness, each individual reaches meme number seven, the first meme in that second, spiritual tier.

A world in transformation may seem chaotic at times because change does cause turbulence. When an established pattern of consciousness is disturbed by a rise in frequency, a choppy pattern appears, one which is searching for a new form. At this time, personal and societal discords can abound as old wounds arise seeking attention and resolution. As the frequency of consciousness rises even more towards the new level, the unsettled patterns morph into an entirely new pattern, one which is even more complex and beautiful than the one it replaces.

People reach heart-centered consciousness, the initial, meme six stage of heart consciousness in their own time. Then they take that next step into the spiritual tier of memes and experience the energy and drive of meme seven’s heart-powered consciousness.

With heart-powered consciousness comes the inspiration of a deeper sense of intuition, the emotional rewards of unconditional love, and a newfound level of inner creativity.

With inspiration, love and creativity, a new dimension of living is born, one which can truly help to create a new and heart-powered world.

The world is changing. Welcome to the New Reality!

This article was written by Owen Waters, author of
“The Shift: The Revolution in Human Consciousness”

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‘Aftershock’ Book Predicts Economic Disaster Amid Controversy

Posted by Admin on January 21, 2012

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Aftershock-book-predicts-economic/2011/07/25/id/404782?utm_source=outbrain&utm_title=?Aftershock?-Book-Predicts-Economic-Disa

Monday, July 25, 2011 04:41 PM

Robert Wiedemer’s new book, “Aftershock: Protect Yourself and Profit in the Next Global Financial Meltdown,” quickly is becoming the survival guide for the 21st century. And Newsmax’s eye-opening Aftershock Survival Summit video, with exclusive interviews and prophetic predictions, already has affected millions around the world — but not without ruffling a few feathers.

Initially screened for a private audience, this gripping video exposed harsh economic truths and garnered an overwhelming amount of feedback.

“People were sitting up and taking notice, and they begged us to make the video public so they could easily share it,” said Newsmax Financial Publisher Aaron DeHoog.

But that wasn’t as simple as it seems. Various online networks repeatedly shut down the controversial video. “People were sending their friends and family to dead links, so we had to create a dedicated home for it,” DeHoog said.

(Editor’s Note: Watch Bob Wiedemer’s Aftershock Survival Summit video)

This wasn’t the first time Wiedemer’s predictions hit a nerve. In 2006, he was one of three economists who co-authored a book correctly warning that the real estate boom and Wall Street bull run were about to end. A prediction Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and his predecessor, Alan Greenspan, were not about to support publicly.

Realizing that the worst was yet to come, Wiedemer and company quickly penned “Aftershock.” However, just before it was publicly released, the publisher yanked the final chapter, deeming it too controversial for newsstand and online outlets such as Amazon.com.

“We got lucky,” DeHoog said. “I happened to read the original version, which contained this ‘unpublished chapter,’ which I think is the most crucial in the entire book. Wiedemer gave Newsmax permission to share this chapter with our readers.”

With daily economic forecasts projecting doom and gloom and no recovery in sight, people need to learn how to survive economic disaster. During the past quarter alone, unemployment skyrocketed to 9 percent. Inflation continues to soar and the U.S. national debt crisis is still on the fence between raising the debt ceiling or massive budget cuts, with no resolution in sight.

During Newsmax’s Aftershock Survival Summit video, Wiedemer discusses the dire consequences of Washington, D.C.’s, bipartisan, multi-decade “borrow-and-spend” agenda. He also explores the inflation nightmare, the impending plunge in home prices, the looming collapse of the stock and bond markets, a possible historic surge in unemployment, and how to survive what life in America will be like in the days of the “Aftershock.”

Despite appearances, Aftershock is not a book with the singular intention of scaring the heck out of people. Although it does provide a harsh outlook for the economic future of America, the true value lies in the wealth of investment tips, analyses, predictions, budget advice, and sound economic guidance that people can act on immediately, offering a ray of recovery hope and an indispensable blueprint for life after shock.

Viewers of Newsmax’s Aftershock Survival Summit video heard detailed advice for handling credit card debt, home and car loans, life insurance, unemployment issues, how to beat inflation, making personal budget cuts and many more recovery tools to survive the economic aftershock. They also took advantage of a special Newsmax offer for a free copy of the new edition of “Aftershock,” which includes the final “unpublished chapter.”

(Editor’s Note: Watch Bob Wiedemer’s Aftershock Survival Summit video)

For a limited time, Newsmax is showing the Aftershock Survival Summit and supplying viewers with free copies of the “Aftershock” book (while supplies last).

© Newsmax. All rights reserved.

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