Facts about Christmas

Christmas is not a holiday. Statue of Liberty was a Christmas present. Jingle Bells is not for Christmas.

   

1. Each year more than 3 billion Christmas cards are sent in the U.S. alone.

2. In A.D. 350, Pope Julius I, bishop of Rome, proclaimed December 25 the official celebration date for the birthday of Christ.

3. The Bible doesn't specify a date or time of Jesus' birth. Dec. 25th was chosen in the fourth century, most likely because it was also the day of two similar pagan holidays that influenced the formation of Christmas-- the birthday of Mithra and the Feast of Saturnalia.

4. Jesus was actually born in a cave. According to the gospel of Luke, the shepherds that helped find shelter for Mary to give birth kept their flock in a cave. The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is built over the cave (dubbed "The Grotto of the Nativity") where Jesus is believed to have been born.

5. The French gave the biggest Christmas present ever in 1886. It was the Statue of Liberty, and they gave it to the United States of America.

6. Christmas has many, many names. Do you know some of them—aside from, of course, Christmas? How about? Sheng Tan Kuai Loh (China), or Hauskaa Joulua (Finland), or Joyeux Noel (France)? In Wales, it’s Nadolig Llawen, and in Sweden, God Jul and many more.

7. The largest Christmas star ornament measures 103 feet and eight inches tall and can be found in India.

8. Japanese people traditionally eat at KFC for Christmas dinner, thanks to a successful marketing campaign 40 years ago. KFC is so popular that customers must place their Christmas orders 2 months in advance. 

9. According to the Guinness world records, the tallest Christmas tree ever cut was a 221-foot Douglas fir that was displayed in 1950 at the Northgate Shopping Center in Seattle, Washington.

10. The traditional three colors of Christmas are green, red, and gold. Green has long been a symbol of life and rebirth; red symbolizes the blood of Christ, and gold represents light as well as wealth and royalty.

11. The British wear paper crowns while they eat Christmas dinner. The crowns are stored in a tube called a “Christmas cracker”.

12.Christmas was not declared an official holiday in the United States until June 26,1870.Oklahoma was the last U.S. state to declare Christmas a legal holiday, in 1907.

13. Puritan Oliver Cromwell outlawed Christmas celebrations and carols in England from 1649-1660. The only celebrations allowed were sermons and prayers.

14. Santa has a real zip code in Canada so that children can post letters and they receive replies. The zip code? H0H 0H0, of course.

15. 'Jingle Bells' was written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas by composer James Lord Pierpont in 1850. Kids and adults loved the song and eventually changed the lyrics to fit Christmas.

Best Director passes away!

Iyakkunar Sigaram leaves the Earth!

Veteran director K Balachander who was recently admitted in Kaveri hospital in Chennai was diagnosed to have developed urinary tract infection after being admitted in ICU. The ace director who was stable and recovering after initial treatment seems to be in critical condition again.

In this condition, he breathed his last in Kauvery Hospital in Chennai.His Son Kailasam's demise in this year is a notable one.

K Balachander was instrumental in both Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan's film career. When he was first admitted in the hospital a few days ago, superstar Rajinikanth among the first to visit his mentor in the hospital.He directed many famous films including Ethir Neechal, Apoorva Raagangal, Varumayin Niram Sivappu, Ek Duje Ke Liye etc,. He also directed many TV serials and released many serials through his own production MIN BIMBANGAL. He was honoured with the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, in 1987, and is a recipient of the ANR National Award and Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award in cinema. K. Balachander is revered as one of the best directors India has ever produced. His ideas were original and his subjects were complex ideas expressed via art.

Whole South Indian Cinema is in shock on hearing about the demise of the great director who was an inspiration to many aspiring directors.

OnePlus One to retail for INR 21,999 in India

Chineese smart phone: OnePlus

OnePlus has launched the OnePlus One in the Indian market today in collaboration with Amazon India, who has exclusive rights to sell the device in the country. The 64 GB Sandstone Black variant is priced at Rs. 21,999 ($355), and customers interested in purchasing the device can request an Indian-specific invite from OnePlus' official forums. Both Amazon and OnePlus will be offering invites via their social media channels starting today.

Speaking at the launch event, Vikas Agarwal, General Manager OnePlus India, revealed that OnePlus will have a physical presence in the country — the first outside the company's headquarters — along with an after-sales service center network that will cater to customers in the country.

Here (in India), we will establish the first OnePlus presence outside of headquarters and build a fully localized team to best serve and reach the Indian community. We have set up comprehensive and nationwide post-sale service. With an extensive network of 25 walk-in service centres, we'll have teams across the country ready to serve you in any way you need.

Amazon will also offer accessories for the device, including the flip cover, Bamboo StyleSwap cover and Silver Bullet earphones. Other accessories like the JBL E1+ earphones will be made available shortly. There wasn't any mention of whether the 16 GB version would also be available in the country.

In terms of hardware, the OnePlus One comes with a 5.5-inch full-HD display, 2.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 SoC, 3 GB RAM, 64 GB internal memory, 13 MP camera at the back, 5 MP shooter at the front, 4G LTE connectivity, Wi-Fi ac and a 3,100 mAh battery.

As far as the software is concerned, the OnePlus One in India will run CyanogenMod 11S update 44Sout of the box. Further updates will not be available from Cyanogen due to its exclusive partnership with Micromax in India. OnePlus has mentioned that it will be offering a custom build running Android 5.0 Lollipop to users in the country later this month.

Considering the aggressive pricing, how many of you will be looking to pick up the handset in India?

Source: Amazon India, OnePlus forums

World AIDS day 2014 : 

What is HIV? 

 HIV? 

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Unlike some other viruses, the human body cannot get rid of HIV. That means that once you have HIV, you have it for life.

No safe and effective cure currently exists, but scientists are working hard to find one, and remain hopeful. Meanwhile, with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. Treatment for HIV is often called antiretroviral therapy or ART. It can dramatically prolong the lives of many people infected with HIV and lower their chance of infecting others. Before the introduction of ART in the mid-1990s, people with HIV could progress to AIDS in just a few years. Today, someone diagnosed with HIV and treated before the disease is far advanced can have a nearly normal life expectancy.

HIV affects specific cells of the immune system, called CD4 cells, or T cells. Over time, HIV can destroy so many of these cells that the body can’t fight off infections and disease. When this happens, HIV infection leads to AIDS.

Attention Motor Vehicle owners!!

Petrol prices goes down in India after 4 years

Crude oil dropped sharply after the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) elected not to cut oil production.

Both Brent and WTI crude prices fell heavily after the meeting with Brent dropping below $75 for the first time since September 2010 as the Kuwait oil minister told journalists that the cartel's oil production target would remain unchanged at 30 million barrels a day.

One theory for why OPEC is allowing prices to fall is that the cartel (and particularly Saudi Arabia - it's largest member) is attempting to fight off competition from US shale oil and maintain its share of the US market. Keeping prices below $100 a barrel will put pressure on higher cost US shale producers and will prevent further erosion of OPEC's position in the Americas.

However, there may be a more fundamental shift going on in the oil market at the moment. The problem for OPEC is that it may no longer be able to control prices (as it has in the past) to avoid these problems.

Previously, OPEC members would agree to cut oil production if falling prices posed a threat. That may now have changed because of the shale oil boom in the US, which has dramatically increased supply.

 Source: Business Insider

Match might have been declared draw but Australia lost!

Australian cricketer Phil Hughes passes

 away after head injury

                Phillip Joel Hughes                                      Sean Abbott Crying Outside.

Australian cricketer Phil Hughes, who suffered head injury during a Sheffield Shield game between New South Wales(NSW) and South Phil Hughes on Tuesday, passed away on Thursday.

A press release by the Australian Team Doctor Peter Brukner said, "It is my sad duty to inform you that a short time ago Phillip Hughes passed away."

"He never regained consciousness following his injury on Tuesday. He was not in pain before he passed and was surrounded by his family and close friends." Australia's maverick batsman Phil Hughes gone too soon

"As a cricket community we mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to Phillip's family and friends at this incredibly sad time."

"Cricket Australia kindly asks that the privacy of the Hughes family, players and staff be respected."  Cricket fraternity condoles Phil Hughes death.

Few of his records to be noted:

Philip Hughes's Last Innings - 63*
Highest score in ODI's - 138*
Highest score in T20s - 87*
Highest score in First Class Cricket - 243*
Highest score in LIST A Cricket - 202*

He's Not-Out Batsman in people's heart too.

Captian Cool makes another Record

MS Dhoni sets a new record in his career!

MS Dhoni creates another record by doing most number of sumpings in his career.He did 131 stumpings including the dismissal of Joe Root, England batsman in the 3rd ODI between India and England. He did 131 stumpings including ODIs,Test Matches, T20Is. He stands number leaving Sangakkara behind with 129 stumpings.

He is the first Indian cricket player to reach this 3-figure mark.

Modi signs an MoU with Japan for Varanasi

Indo-Japan MoU takes Varanasi to Kyoto

India and Japan on Saturday signed an agreement to develop the age-old Varanasi city using the experience of Kyoto, the 'smart city' of Japan, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.

Varanasi, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi represents in the Lok Sabha, will be developed into a 'smart city' on the Kyoto model.

A Partner City MoU was signed by Indian Ambassador Deepa Wadhwa and Kyoto Mayor Daisaka Kadokawa at a ceremony witnessed by Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.

The MoU, which was signed soon after Modi's arrival in Japan, on a five-day visit, provides for cooperation in heritage conservation, city modernisation and cooperation in the fields of art, culture and academics, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin told reporters.

This will serve as framework for Smart heritage city programme between the two countries, he added. Kyoto, which is a heritage city with Buddhist culture, provides special symbolism to the visit as the Prime Minister has the vision of "rejuvenating" Indian cities.

Under the MoU, a detailed roadmap of cooperation will be prepared which will form the base for further understanding.

Both cities shall endeavor to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the agreed fields based on principles of equality and mutual respect and benefit and continuously exchange information and opinion in the agreed areas and cooperate in important fields.

After the signing of the pact, Abe hosted a dinner for Modi who has embarked on the visit with "great expectations" and hope that a "new chapter" would be written in the bilateral ties while taking the Strategic and Global Partnership to a higher level.

Before the dinner, Modi and Abe participated in a special ceremony called 'Feeding the Fish', a ritual in Japan because of the belief that it gives strength and perseverance to the fish.

Modi arrived at the Osaka International Airport earlier in the day to begin the first leg of his five-day visit to Japan, his first bilateral visit outside the subcontinent as

the Prime Minister.

Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will have substantive summit meeting in Tokyo on September 1 during which the two sides will look at ways to take the Strategic and Global Partnership forward.

Modi has a substantive agenda during the trip which he hopes will "write a new chapter" in bilateral ties and take the Strategic and Global Partnership to a higher level.

S.J.Suryah's Next Film to hit screens on December.

ISAI-A Musical Thriller

S.J.Suryah announced this movie in  the year 2004 along with his two more projects- Anbe Aruyire and a Simbhu and Asin starred project. All the three projects were supposed to be scored by A.R.Rahman. However the failures of S. J. Surya's films Vyapari and Thirumagan prompted Rahman reconsider his involvement in the project and subsequently opted out from the project in 2007.

In 2011, Surya announced that the film would restart and he would compose the film himself, describing it as a "musical".In May 2012, the film's first look posters were finally revealed, with Sulagna Panigrahi, an Oriya and Indian television and film actress in the leading role under the new name Savithri, who had made her Bollywood debut in the 2011 thriller Murder 2. The director confirmed that Prakash Raj, Ganja Karuppu and M. S. Bhaskar will feature in supporting roles. Prakash Raj left the project in January 2013 as a result of a busy schedule. Attempts to sign Gangai Amaren to replace him also proved to be unsuccessful. After a brief stall in the shoot, Sathyaraj was signed on to play the role, with Surya confirming that the film would be based on a tiff between two music composers.

Watch the Film's Trailer.

Bangalore does it after 18 years!

Judgement for Jayalalitha after 18 years

 After 18 years of legal battle, a court in Bangalore is expected to give its verdict in the disproportionate assets case against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on September 20. 
  

Putin's Warning to the World

Putin warns not to mess with Russia

President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia's armed forces, backed by its nuclear arsenal, were ready to meet any aggression, declaring at a pro-Kremlin youth camp that foreign states should understand: "It's best not to mess with us."

Putin told the assembly, on the banks of a lake near Moscow, the Russian takeover of Crimea in March was essential to save a largely Russian-speaking population from Ukrainian government violence. He said continued fighting in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists launched an uprising in April, was the result of a refusal by Kiev to negotiate.

Ukraine and Western governments accuse Russia of sending troops and armor to back the separatists in a conflict that has already killed over 2,000 people. Russia denies the charge.

"Russia is far from being involved in any large-scale conflicts," he said at the camp on the banks of Lake Seliger. "We don't want that and don't plan on it. But naturally, we should always be ready to repel any aggression toward Russia.

"Russia's partners … should understand it's best not to mess with us," said Putin, dressed casually in a grey sweater and light blue jeans.

"Thank God, I think no one is thinking of unleashing a large-scale conflict with Russia. I want to remind you that Russia is one of the leading nuclear powers."

Putin spoke easily with the students, many of whom looked to be asking scripted questions about demography and history. Other times he accepted gifts or, smilingly, played down their praise.

When a student said that she had not heard a single negative comment about Putin's presidency from camp speakers, he responded with a grin that "objectivity" was important.

His tone darkened when speaking about Ukraine, blaming the United States and the European Union for the "unconstitutional" removal of Kiev's former Moscow-backed president Viktor Yanukovych and replacement with a pro-European government.

He said eastern Ukraine did not agree with Yanukovych's removal and was now subjected to "crude military force" from government planes, tanks and artillery.

"If those are contemporary European values, then I'm simply disappointed in the highest degree," he said, comparing Ukraine's military operations in the east of the country with the Nazi siege of Leningrad in World War Two.

"Small villages and large cities surrounded by the Ukrainian army which is directly hitting residential areas with the aim of destroying the infrastructure … It sadly reminds me of the events of the Second World War, when German fascist … occupiers surrounded our cities."

Lord Ganesh is not only worshipped in India, but many countries

Lord Ganesha: Various forms in various countries
In India, Lord Ganesh is worshiped as God of Knowledge. Every year people celebrate Ganesh Chathurthi with pompous and joy. Not only in India, Many countries worship Ganesha in different forms with respect to their religions. Here are some countries that worship Lord Ganesha.

Vijay takes his bat for ODi after 417 days.

Murali Vijay replaced for Rohit Sharma in the next 
ODI

A finger injury has sidelined India opener Rohit Sharma from the rest of the England series. M Vijay, who flew back home after the Tests, has been called up as his replacement.

"Rohit Sharma has sustained a fracture on the middle finger of his right hand, and has been ruled out of the ongoing ODI and T20 International Series against England, as a result," a BCCI press release said. "The All-India Senior Selection Committee has picked Murali Vijay as his replacement."

Murali Vijay who played his last match on 9th Jul,2013 was again called as an substitute for Rohit. Last time, when he played for India in celkon cup did not prove himself inspite of giving him chance after two years. Murali Vijay will be playing his first ODI against England. The Selection Committee has strongly picked Vijay even though there are energetic ODI players like  Ambati Rayudu and Sanju Samson is  noteworthy. 

TN CM opens bridges across Tamil Nadu worth 2287 crores.

TN CM opens Chennai Outer Ring Road and several other bridges

TN CM issues jobs for the kins of 16 deceased during construction

                                                                Chennai Outer Ring road 

Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalitha opened the Outer Ring Road Phase-1(27 Kms from Mannivakkam to Nemilichery) worth 1081 crores and 40 lakhs rupees from Chief Secretariat  through Television. She also inaugrated the construction of Outer Ring Road Phase-2(30.5 Kms from Nemilichery to Minjur) worth 1075 crores.

She also opened 34 bridges and 2 railway bridges in several districts including Vellore,Kanchipuram,
Thiruvannamalai, and Vizhupuram. Total expenditure for these bridges are around 129 crores and 49 lakhs rupees. She opened buildings worth 1 crore in districts of Thirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Thirupur, Vizhupuram.
She issued jobs for kins of  16 deceased people during their work period.

It is estimated that bridges which were opened and inaugurated by Chief Minister J Jayalaitha are worth to be 2,286 crores and 91 lakhs rupees.

Money rain in Coimbatore

Rs 15 crore note bundles fall on road

KOVAI: Several bundles of rupee notes, amounting to Rs 15 crore, apparently fell on the road when the vehicle transporting it overturned on Thursday. 

The cash was being taken to Thrissur in Kerala from here by officials of the private South Indian Bank when their vehicle overturned and the door opened, strewing the bundle of notes on the by-pass road near Madukkarai, police said. 

No one was injured in the incident, they said, adding, the sight of the several bundles of notes created a flutter among the public. 

A police team rushed to the spot and assisted the officials to retrieve the money, police said.

Husband and wife beats COP in Kolkata

Kolkata COP was  beaten up in public by a 

couple

A minor accident on EM Bypass on Tuesday evening blew up into a brawl in which a police constable was allegedly beaten up black and blue by three persons, including a woman. The latter, a former teacher, managed to escape taking advantage of the fact that no woman can be arrested after dusk.

The incident was reported from Panchannagram crossing under Tiljala police station. The two men involved in the attack — the woman's husband and their driver — have been arrested. The woman's husband Rashid Reyaz is a leather businessman living in Mukundapur, while the driver has been identified as Subhankar Biswas.

According to DC (southeast) Gaurav Sharma, the couple's car was being driven from north to south on the western flank of EM Bypass by Biswas. "There was a slight jam near Panchannagram crossing and a private bus, while overtaking the car, brushed past it, breaking the side mirror. This infuriated the couple who told Biswas to overtake the bus and park right across the road so that they could pick an argument with the driver," said Sharma.

Within seconds, traffic was choked on the entire Bypass flank. Cops at a traffic kiosk located on the opposite flank noticed the incident and sent constable Kalyan Roy to the spot. Roy asked both vehicles to park at a side so that matter could be talked over. However, the bus driver took advantage of the commotion and drove away with the bus.

"This enraged the couple and the driver and the two men beat up Roy badly. His uniform was torn and he had to be admitted to a local hospital," said Sharma. When senior police officers finally intervened, it was already sundown and the woman could not be taken to Tiljala police station.

On Wednesday, when the cops went to her Mukundapur residence, they found the door locked. The two arrested men have been sent to judicial custody and Sections 352 and 353 IPC (punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation and assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) slapped on them.

src:tnn

Government asks for Sugar-less PEPSI.

Government asks PepsiCO to cut down sugar content.

The government is doing its bit to make the nation healthier. After levying an additional 5 per cent excise duty on carbonated beverages, the Processed Food Industries Minister has urged fast food giant PepsiCo to reduce the sugar content in their carbonated drinks.

After a meeting between PepsiCo CEO Indira Nooyi and Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the ministry issued a statement saying, "PepsiCo has been further requested to bring down the sugar content of soft drinks so that the health aspects of such products are duly taken care of,"

According to experts, high sugar levels can cause serious health hazards. India has nearly 3 crore obese people out of which around 20 lakh are adolescents.

The latest draft guidelines by the World Health Organisation recommend 25 grams or 6 teaspoonfuls per day as the ideal sugar intake for a normal adult. But just one bottle of a carbonated drink like this one contains almost double that amount of sugar.

A Harvard school of public health report cites several studies that indicate for each additional 355 gms carbonated drink that children consumed each day, the odds of becoming obese increased by 60 per cent. People who consume 1- 2 cans of carbonated drinks regularly, have 26 per cent greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Those who averaged one can of a sugary beverage per day had a 20 per cent higher risk of having a heart attack or dying from a heart attack than men who rarely consumed sugary drinks. Women who consumed a can a day of carbonated drinks had a 75 per cent higher risk of gout than women who rarely had such drink.

This change has not been formalized yet. Sources at the ministry say it was just a casual conversation that the minister had with the PepsiCo CEO.

src:ibn

Rat's dance in New Delhi

Bags destroyed by rats during journey; Railways to pay Rs 15,000

Indian Railways has been held deficient by a consumer forum here which directed it to pay Rs 15,000 compensation to a retired serviceman, whose bags were damaged by rats in a train.

New Delhi Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, presided by C K Chaturvedi, asked the Railways to pay the amount to Delhi resident R K Bansal.

"It has happened due to lack of proper maintenance of compartment due to loco shed staff where bogies are kept for cleaning and maintenance for further departure but they never bothered to care.

"Consequently such incident occurred which amounts to be deficiency on the part of Opposite Party (Railways) and lack of supervision of Railway authority," the forum's bench, also comprising its members S R Chaudhary and Ritu Garodia, said.

The forum said that Bansal "unnecessarily suffered loss during journey due to lack of proper maintenance and cleaning of compartment".

"Thus, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Northern Railway, is held responsible due to lack of proper maintenance at local shed staff or supervision lacking at big junction where hundreds of trains leave every day for journey in which lakhs of people travel for various destinations," the forum said.

Bansal had told the forum that he was travelling on October 8, 2013 by Kerala Express from New Delhi to Ernakulum.

During transit, his bag was damaged by rats in a running train and his clothes were torn into pieces.

Alleging negligence on the part of the competent Railway authority, he lodged a complaint with the forum seeking compensation of Rs 18,400 for damaged goods.

src:ibn