Flying Car- When Will It Be Available

Days are not very far when cars will fly over our head! The world's first flying car, which was caught in a legal snarl in the US, has finally been given the green signal. Being developed by Boston-based Terrafugia Transition since 2006, the dual-purpose car-cum-plane vehicle called 'the flying car' has got the waiver on its weight from the American Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).Under FAA rules, the flying car -- categorised as a 'light sport' aircraft -- was required to be strictly under 1,320 pounds in weight. But with the addition of car safety features such as airbags, crumple zones and a safety cage, the vehicle overshot the weight-limit. With the FAA now relaxing the rules for its weight, the decks have been cleared for the flying car - a two-seater named Transition - to take-off next year.
Our schedule calls for the first delivery to be made prior to the end of 2011. We currently have in excess of 70 orders, which is about a two-year backlog,' Richard Gersh, vice president for Terrafugia, told IANS. Asked whether it was big corporates or individuals who have placed orders, Gersh said, 'They are generally pilots who either own planes or have owned planes in the past.' About about their plans to raise production, he said: 'Low volume production will take place in the Boston area. No decisions have been made for other production plans.'Costing about $200,000, the flying car will travel up to 725 km in the air at a speed of more than 115 km per hour. Fuelled by gasoline, it will have front-wheel drive on the road and a propeller for flight. With its wings folded, it can be parked in an ordinary car garage. The company claims the flying car has been successfully test-flown many times. It says tests have shown that the vehicle can drive, fly and switch from being a plane to a car in just 30 seconds.

Fascinating, isn't it!

World Cup Football Makes Cricket in India a Backbencher

Like what it does every four years, world cup soccer 2010 has created a sensation in India also and it has managed to push cricket(Asia Cup- Sri Lanka) in the backseat.
Watching two sets of eleven men competing with each other while chasing a rotund ball with the sole aim of creating space and time to score a goal, enthralls the world as no other sport does. The audiences keep growing as the on-going World Cup viewership suggests and even in a country like India, whose obsession with cricket is well documented, soccer mania grips it once every four years. This is the time when cricket takes a backseat and all that matters -for not just the well-bred and well-heeled, but also those on the margins - is to get glued to TV sets. We all soak in a spectacle, which combines fluid, feline movements with aggression and speed that weave magical patterns on the field to leave us spellbound. If you still care to surf channels while The Game is on, you will find familiar figures on your screens contesting a sport involving bat and ball in which one team is trying to score runs and the other trying its best to prevent that from happening. In contrast to football, this is a much more complex activity to understand, as the skills required for playing and the rules governing them are not easy to comprehend, unless the watcher has been formally trained to do so. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand why football is and will continue to grow in popularity and cricket will remain a game played by a minuscule number. It is far easy to get mesmerised by Leo Messi's dexterity and control, his nimble movements, understanding of spaces and his selfless play which makes him part with the ball at the right time so that his team benefits from his delectable skills. It is not difficult to admire the ball skills of a Robinho but also realise that he hangs on to the ball for too long, depriving his team of those precious seconds which turn an opportunity into a waste. In contrast, you cannot enjoy cricket unless you figure out the numerous ways in which the ball deviates in the air, off the wicket, the various speeds at which it is bowled and the varied responses of the batsman in an effort to not only safeguard his wicket but also hit the ball in various directions.
Football is a game which may intimidate you at first with the sheer physicality involved, but once the match begins the same big, strong and "brutal" men, in reality don't always kick the ball. It is a 90-minute courtship in which they cajole the ball, caress it, entreat it and plead with it in an effort to direct its movements towards the goal.That is possibly why a Maradona will remain a figure to idolise for the world and a Sachin Tendulkar for a few.

The Phenomenal Success of InterMilan in 2010

2010 is the year of astonishing success of Italian Football Club InterMilan. This year they had won three titles:
*Italian Cup
*Serie A Championship
*UFEA Champion's League
Last year also, they had won the Serie A Championship Title

What are the reasons behind their success:

* A group of talented and experienced players like Lucio, Mycon, Samuel, Snijders, Milito and Eto.
* Not relying on any spectacular or flashy tactics but a disciplined and calculative approach.
* Jose Mourinho- not only one of the best coach of all time but also a great tactician and reader of the game of football

Really it was an amazing success story!

Jose Mourinho- What a Coach He is, Mourinho- a Class of His Own

Jose Mourinho had really silenced his critics. Under his coaching, Inter Milan has won the Champion's League Title, Serie A title and Italian Cup in 2010. It was a spectacular success story. There was no superstars in his team. He banked on team game and a very disciplined as well as organized approach. Earlier in 2004, Porto F.C. had won the Champion's League Title. He is one of the very few coaches who had won the Champion's League Title for two different sides. And F.C. Porto was not a star-studded side too. This time there was Samuel Eto, Diego Milito , Lucio Snijder and Mycon in his team but according to many fans and critics, Mourinho was the real star! After completing his task in Milan, he moved on to Real Madrid to achieve a new target. One man who can brought some trophy to Madrid's star-studded yet under performing team... he is none other than Mourinho!

Rafael Nadal is Back With a Vengeance, Rafael Nadal-The King of Clay Court

Rafael Nadal, the king of clay court is back and he is back with a vengeance. Nadal was a top class clay court player who was starting to establishing his supremacy in grass also. After winning Wimboldon in 2008 and Australian Open in 2009 by defeating all time grass court artist Roger Federer in two all time great epic matches, Nadal had become the no. 1 by dethroning the great Roger Federer. But soon after came the knee injury which made him go slow. He lost to Soderling in French Open in 2009 after that had to stay off the court because of injury. It posted a question mark over his Carrier. But in 2010 , he won back to back three clay court masters in Madrid, Rome and Monte Carlo. Most importantly he reclaimed his lost French Open by defeating the same Soderling in the final and almost completed a full circle. It is interesting to see whether he can get back the Wimboldon Title as well!

Indian Premier League(IPL)- How Much It Is Responsible For The Debacle of Team India in Twenty-20 World Cup

This is the picture of Indian Cricket Team winning the Twenty-20 World Cup in 2007 in South Africa. Will this sort of picture ever be seen in future? We have our doubts.

Cause of doubts:

Indian cricket team has failed miserably in 2009 and 2010 twenty-20 world cups in England and West Indies respectively. Both times, the team made shameful exit without winning a single matches in super eight stage. As a matter of fact, they have lost six matches consecutively. And both times one big common factor stands out-IPL just before the World Cup.

How much IPL is to be blamed:

> IPL is a long tournament spreading more than a month and consists of more than 50 matches.

> Rest between the matches are few and intensity and crowd expectation is high.

> As it is played over a big country, players have to travel a lot.

> There are after match parties and celebration. Young players can be easily distracted by bucks, booze and blondes. And as the younger players are mostly from India, they are the worst sufferers. Most foreign players are seniors and established.

> Some key players are injued like Sehwag or Gautam Gambhir.

> As players are getting big and easy money, they are not motivated enough to do well for thier country.

Well, there are all speculations and there are other views as well.

> Man of the Series in Twenty-20 2010 Kevin Peterson and The Winning Captain of English Cricket Team Paul Collinwood- both of them said that they were benefited from IPL.

From next year, there will more matches in IPL(~ 90) as two more teams have been included. What will be the future of Indian Cricket?

Viswanathn Anand- Is He The Greatest Sports Person in India

Viswanathan Anand has won the World Championship in Chess in Sophia by beating Vaselin Topalov of Bulgeria. He had won this prestigious title for the fourth time in his Carrier apart from winning six Oscars in chess also. In fact, he had won the world championship for the last three times in a row. In a country like India where cricket is not only a sports but also a religion, sports persons( even though they are world champions) belong to other sports do not get the spotlight like the cricketers do. Therefore a Viswanathan Anand or a Saina Nehawal never get their deserved credit. If we consider the achievements, Viswanathan Anand is a long way ahead than the others. The only one who comes in near comparison is none other than Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin needs no introduction. He has scored over 30000 runs and ninety centuries in international cricket. Besides he is the holder of several world records. The only feather which is lacking in his cap in a World Cup Title in any format of cricket. Incidentally they have many things in common:
* Both of them had won the Rajib Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
* Both of them are role models by their performance and attitude on and off their respective field
* Both of them had made their country proud!

Performance of Indian Cricket Team in Twenty-20 World Cup, India in Twenty-20 World Cup 2010 in West Indies

Performance of India in Twenty-20 world cup takes a roller coaster ride. In 2007 South Africa, when nobody gave India a chance, India was the eventual Winner by beating Pakistan in the final. But in 2009 England, when India was one of the favourite, it made unceremonious exit from the super eight stage loosing all the three matches.
What will happen in 2010 West Indies!
The picture is again the same. Indian Team started very well by defeating South Africa in the group league stage but it crushed to defeat in the first match of super eight against Australia. Now India is facing the daunting task of defeating both West Indies and Sri Lanka to avoid another early exit this time too.
Will they be successful this time!
The chances not looking bright at this moment. The main problem is the Kensington Oval Pitch at Barbedos which does not suit the Indians at all. The inability of playing short balls on a bouncy track is horribly exposed before the powerful pace attack of Australia and the other teams also employ the same tactics. As a whole, it will be a real test of character and applications to the star-studded batting line up of Indian Cricket Team.

Twenty-Twenty World Cup in West Indies, World Twenty-20 2010 in West Indies

Twenty-20 World Cup cricket is going on in West Indies since 30th April, 2010. The 3rd edition of Indian Premier league was just ended on 24th April in India. It was a fairly successful and popular tournament though marred with controversies towards the later part of the IPL3. And just 5 days off after the gruelling dose of twenty-20 and another twenty-20 cricket tournament is coming. Isn't really too much of twenty-2o cricket? Its reminding us the story of the duck that used to lay eggs of gold and that of the greedy farmer! At present, twenty-20 cricket is very popular and attracting good crowd but too much of any thing is not good! When first twenty-20 world cup was played in South Africa in 2007, it was more than successful. Its was decided that it will be played every 2 years and therefore, it was played in 2009 in England. But for some strange reasons, it World Cup Twenty-20 is back after some ten months. Again in September this year, Champions League Twenty-20 will take place in South Africa.
Really Too much twenty-20 cricket, don't you agree! ICC has to redefine its policy to keep some interest alive!

Sachin Tendulkar- the Tragic Hero in IPL3

Sachin Tendulkar remains the tragic hero of third edition of IPL. He has played superbly throughout the tournament. He scored 618 runs( highest by a batsman in any IPL) in an average of 47 including 5 half-centuries and had won the prestigious orange cap. He was injured in semi-final match against RCB and had five stitches in his fingers. There was lots of speculation whether he will play in the final or not. Not only he played but also he scored 48 runs (highest for his team). His captaincy record for India is not great but in IPL3, he led from the front and taken his team to tea to final effortlessly. Under his guidance and encouragement, young players like Sikhar Dhawan, Saurav Tiwari and Ambati Raidu flourished.
But in the final match against Chennai Super Kings, there was a certain flaw in his captaincy. Man in dangerous form Kiron Pollard was sent to bat at eight down position when Mumbai Indians needed 55 runs in 18 balls. It was an impossible task and Kiron Pollard, though he tried valiantly, was unable to do it. According to any an experts, Pollard should have sent earlier so that he can face more ball. Who knows, the result might have been different then as Pollard hit 2 fours and 2 sixes in 18th over and things were looking ominous for CSK. The whole thing was a bit too late! And Sachin could be ruing this possibility to himself. Sachin played the IPL3 with all his passion and was determined to lift the trophy and in the end , he had to remain the tragic hero!

Chennai Super Kings Lifted the Indian Premier League Championship Trophy(IPL 3), Chenni Super Kings is the Most Consistent Team in IPL

Chennai Super Kings become the champion in the third edition of IPL. In D Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, they beat Mumbai Indians in the final by 22 runs. Mumbai Indians had a terrific run in IPL3 and they were favourite in final too. But Chenni Super Kings(CSK) made an upset win coming from behind. Not only that, considering the results of al the IPLs, CSK is the most consistent team. In IPL 1 also, they reached the final only to be beaten by Rajasthan Royals on the last ball of the match in a nail biting contest in 2008. In IPl2 also, they reached the semifinal stage of the tournament in South Africa.

Reasons behind their success and consistency:

* Suresh Raina is one of the key factor. He is the only player who scored more than 400 runs in each IPL. Man of the match in the final of IPL3.
* Mahendra Singh Dhoni- both as a batsman and as a captain. In IPL3, he single-handedly won at least 2 matches for his team: against KKR in Eden Garden and KEP in Dharmashala(where its impossible to forget his last over heroics- two towering sixes of Irfan Pathan!)
* Mathu Hayden who was in sublime form in IPL1 and specially in IPL2.
* Superb bowling of muralidharan in all the IPL. In the final of IPL3, he was simply briliant.
* The emergence of Rabi Chandra Ashwin as a front line bowler and Murali Vijoy as a batsman in IPL3. Both of them had surprised many by their performance and contributed in the success of CSK.

Barcelona FC- The Best Football Team At Present, Barcelona FC and Lionel Messi

Barcelona FC is playing sublime football for last two years. Last year(2009), the club has won La Liga( Spanish League), Kings Cup and most importantly the UFEA Champions League, In the final, Barcelona has convincingly defeated Manchester United( the defending champion) by 2-0.
The star performer Lionel Messi not only scored a superb goal in the final but also voted the FIFA Footballer of The Year. This year(2010) also, Barcelona is marching in both La Liga and and Champions League and till now, no team has shown slightest possibility to stop their advancement.

What are the secrets of the phenomenal performance:

* Lionel Messi in sublime touch, may be the form of his life. He is doing anything.... simply anything with the ball this year. Messi already scored 35 odd goals with 2 hatricks. But his 4 goals in Champion League quarterfinal with Arsenal was just divine. It was a terrific display of power, skill and class!

* Not only Messi, Barcelona is also starred by Theire Henri, Xavi, Iniesta and Ibrahimavich. The firepower is looking unstoppable!

* A young and imaginative coach- Pep Guardiwala.

Football fans all over the world are eagerly waiting for more mouthwatering soccer display.....
Carry on Barcelona......

Kolkata Knight Riders And Its Performance in Indian Premier League(IPL), Why Kolkata Knight Riders Performance is Not Up to The Mark in IPL

Kolkata Knight Riders is the most popular and most discussed team in DLF IPL. KKR has always hit the headlines but mostly for wrong reasons. The team has chronically underperformed in all the three editions of IPL. It is the only team which has never reached the semifinal stage in first and second edition and in the third, the possibility is looking bleak. Still the popularity of Kolkata Knight Riders is unchanged and unmatched!

What are the main reasons of the popularity of KKR

* The team owner is none other than Shah Rukh Khan, who knows how to draw attention!

* The captain is Saurav Ganguli( except in IPL2) and whatever he does or dosen't is news!

* The Bengali sentiment; not only in Bengal but all over India and even abroad!

Still the team is under-performing. Its not that the KKR has not enough strength( Names like Saurav Ganguli, Chris Gayle, Brenden Macculam, Shane Bond and David Hussi are big enough)

Performance of KKR in IPL1 :

* Overall an ordinary performance. Reasons might be......
* Brenden Macculum in explosive form but was not available in after four matches.
* Chris Gayle unavailable due to injury.
* Bowling strength is not sufficient.
* Saurav Ganguli played his part but not enough support from others.

Performance of KKR in IPL2:

* A forgettable tournament, marred with controversial multiple captain theory of coach John Buchanon and a mysterious blogger sending dubious messages!
* A dethroned demoralized Saurav Ganguli performed below per.
* The make shift captain Brenden Macculum failed miserably.
* No unity in the team.

Performance of KKR in IPL3:

* This year starts with lots of promises, the joining of Dev Whatmore as coach, Wasim Akram as bowling consultant and Shane Bond as fast bowler increased the strength manifold.
* Result is similar as IPL1 as all the star players are not performing in unison.
* Inability to win away matches and big matches.
* Fast bowlers like Ishant Sharma and ajit agarkar failed miserably. Ashok Dinda is underutilized.
* Team is heavily dependent on Saurav Ganguli and Anjelo Mathews.

After 13 matches are completed, the possibility of reaching semifinal is bleak and dependent on lots of ifs and buts! The huge number of KKR fans along with the owner Shah Rukh have every reason to be disappointed!

The Power Crisis of Kolkata- What Lies Ahead

A girl preparing for her exam- this is just a symbolic representation of the city of Kolkata. During the summer season of Kolkata, power cut is a regular feature every year. This year(2010), from the very beginning of summer, temperature is touching 40 degree off and on. The citizens are suffering from the unbearable heat and humidity not getting any relief due to lack of uninterrupted power supply. The situation is getting worse day by day.
What are the causes of power supply failure:

* Excessive demand: The population of Kolkata is getting more and more. The use of A.C. machines are increasing drastically. The CSEC are trying its best to cope with the demand but at present the situation is bleak.

* The power stations( Kolaghat, Saotaldihi, Farakka) are all founded some years ago. Naturally their production capacity are sometimes affected by the age factor.

* Most of power stations in our state is thermal power station and the chief ingredient which is required to generate electricity is coal. But the supply of coal are frequently interrupted due to different reasons and the quality of the coal is not up to the mark. As a result, power generation is suffered.

* Due to water distribution treaty with Bangladesh, water supply is less in Farakka for 15 days of every month and as a result, one/two units in Farakka Hydrolic Power Project works suboptimally during that time period.

The situation is making the citizens of Kolkata suffer a lot. The Govt. is trying its best to cope with the situation.

Lifestyle Modification- What It Means And How It Helps

Healthy Food with low calorie


Doing Exercises

In modern era, life is very very fast and full of stress and strain. People are working hard and for long hours and time for relaxing is scanty. But this type of life pattern is taking its toll on our health. Headache, boredom or depression, insomnia and obesity are common now a days. Diseases like heart attack, diabetes and others are happening in increased numbers and at earlier ages. Situation is quite alarming.

What can we do?

It is always better to prevent diseases rather than to treat those after they actually happened. If we can bring some minute and subtle changes in our lifestyle, it will be immensely beneficial to prevent some deadly diseases and related morbidities. In a nut sell, it is nothing but 'Lifestyle Modification' we are talking about.

* Keep a few minutes time, that you will give to yourself. Just relax- listen music or have a few paces in open air or just lie straight on bed with lights are off.

* Quit smoking or any other nicotine containing addictives. It may just kill you!

* Limit your drinking 30 ml per day. It my be beneficial to your heart by increasing HDL level. Excessive drinking is as hazardous as smoking.

* Stay away from fast/junk foods as far as possible. Engulf healthy fibre containing foods like fruits.

* A few minutes of exercise like stretching/jogging/ swimming are of immense help.

* Increase social interactions/ friends circle. Go for a drive once a while.

* Laugh aloud. There are a lot of laughing clubs these days. Experts says that laughing is good for mental health.

Start from today. Don't leave it for tomorrow!

Know Your Child And Let Him Grow Up, How to Upbring Your Child- Some Tips

Parenthood is not an easy thing for sure. It is a balancing act, just like a trapeze player walks on a narrow rope in a circus. According to the medical science, a child upto 12 years are considered paediatrics. And during this long years, there are different problems in different age groups. Most of us have already faced those or going to face in some period of their life.

Here are some generalized suggestions that might be helpful:

* Keep your cool. Of course, it is easier said than done. But it will help you immensely in some difficult phases you are bound to face with your child.

* Spend quality time with your child. Believe it or not, your child needs you more than anything else. At least any one of the parents have to give him company. Even one/two hrs a day can be helpful.

* If you are late from you work, explain it to your kid rather than bribing him with toy/chocolate. He/she may be small, but don't underestimate them. They will understand your bindings. Give them a chance.

* Some children have tantrums during some part of childhood. You have to tackle tactfully. Beating ill not help. If you are unable to control, leave him/her alone for a while. If nobody gives attention, tantrum will automatically disappear.

* During holidays, take your child to zoo or museum or some good movie. That will be a quality time pass.

* Don't leave everything on tutors regarding your child's education. Keep an eye and if possible, take some active part. Attend the parent-teacher meetings at school and talk with the teachers. They can feed you something that you don't know about your child.

* If you can't solve any problem, don't hesitate to take professional help like counseling. It might help.

* Last but not the least, have patience. Time can solve many problems!

How To Beat The Summer Heat, Stay Cool In Hot Summer

Its Summer time again. Temperature is nearing 40 degree and somewhere it is well over 40. Apart from that, dry hot air/ high humidity are the associated evils. But in spite of the adverse weather, we have to go outdoor and perform our day to day work.

Here are some necessary tips to protect yourself in harse summer weather:

* Wear loose and comfortable dresses. Material got to be cotton and the colour should be light.

* Wear sun glass and use an umbrella or at least a hat in direct sun.

* Sun screen cream (with SPF) is helpful to protect from U-V rays.

* Do not consume fatty spicy food. Drink plenty of water is must.

* Between long hours under the cruel sun, a few minutes under a shed is very good.

* Bath at least 2-3 times a day.

* Take a glass of water or two before going out in sun. It reduces the chance of sun stroke.

* Fruits like cucumbers and guavas and coconut waters are delicious and good for health. But don,t consume cut fruits from road side!
Hope you will stay cool and healthy in gruelling summer season. All the best!

Indian Premier League, Indian Premier League(IPL)- It Has Brought A New Dimention To Cricket

Indian Premier League(IPL) has changed the way cricket is being played over past 100 years in just 3 years. IPL has started in 2008 and it was an instant and phenomenal success. IPL was the brain child of Mr. Lalit Modi who is arguably one of the most famous and discussed personalities these days. The first version of IPL got off to an exciting start when Brenden Macculum of Kolkata Knight Riders smashed an unbeaten 152 against Royal Challengers Bangalore and it reached its fitting climax as Rajasthan Royals beat Chenni Super Kings on the last ball. What an astonishing tournament it was!
The second edition of IPL(2009) had to shifted to South Africa due to some political problems in a very short notice, still it was a very successful tournament by any means of imaginations. Ironically, the Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers who were last and second last in IPL 1 turned out to be the champion and runners up in IPL2. You can well imagine the competition from this very fact.
IPL3 is going on successfully again on Indian soil in 2010. People all over the world are going crazy! TRP of the soaps are down and release of movies are seldom. Big money is flowing like anything!

Why IPL is so attractive and successful:

* People just love to see that best cricketers from all over the world are playing together for the same franchisee.

* City based franchisee are getting enormous support from the citizens.

* As the number of foreign players in the paying 11 in a team is restricted to 4, a good number of young Indian cricketers are bound to come in lime light. Its thus should be beneficial for Indian Cricket.

**** From next year, 2 more teams are added to the tally- Pune and Kochi. Be prepared!

Twenty-Twenty Cricket- is it The Real Cricket, Too Much of Twenty- Twenty Cricket - is it putting Test Cricket in Danger

The market of twenty-twenty cricket is booming. Twenty twenty cricket was played in the domestic circuits of South Africa and England. It is a relatively new item in the subcontinent.
First T-20 world cup was held in South Africa in 2007. India sent the team to participate without the big guns like Sachin tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguli and Anil Kumble. Who would have then thought that India will be the eventual winner! Next year in 2008, Indian Premier League started and the rest was history. Three world cups in four years( third one to be held in April-May '2010 in West Indiz) and three editions of IPL(2008-10) has taken T-20 cricket to its peak.
Problem is that too much cricket is putting the test cricket in danger, according to some cricket experts. Young cricketers do not learning proper techniques. The classy charm of test cricket is lost to the instant entertainment of T-20.

Why T-20 cricket is so popular?

* Duration is much shorter. It perfectly suits with the modern generation.

* Entertainment is at its very best. Actually it is a cocktail of cricket and entertainments.

* Big hitting (fours & sixes) are seen more frequently in T-20.

What are the drawbacks of T-20 cricket?

* Power hitting is more important than technique.

* Its an absolutely batsman dominated game. Bowlers are more prone to get a stick.

* The elegance and classic stroke play of test cricket is absent in T-20.

Test cricket is the real cricket. ICC should think how to protect and restore this original form of cricket. To much T-20 can actually destroy the beauty of this beautiful game and turn it to something like Baseball!

Disaster Management in Kolkata- Are We Ready

On 23rd march 2010, a fierce fire broke out at a multi storied building named Stephen Court in Kolkata. 43 invaluable lives are lost. The role of concerned disaster management organizations have been severely criticized. The over all pandemonium has raised a lot of questions: Are we really ready for any such disasters!
No, unfortunately we are not! Otherwise many of those agonizing deaths could have been stopped.

What are the loopholes that need to be repaired?
[This article is not about to criticize the lack of awareness and efficiency of concerned authorities, but to highlight the infrastructural problems of our beloved city]

* Kolkata is a very old city. Its area has been increased without any proper planning. Many of its high rise buildings are also very old and not properly maintained.

* Lack of space- Total road area of Kolkata is only 6% whereas in case of Delhi, it is around 25%. Due to lack of roads and vacant spaces, its very difficult to move quickly in case of emergency.

* Lack of water source: The only sufficient water source is the river Ganges which is flowing on the western side of the city. At the heart of the city, source of water is scanty and sporadic.

* Lack of modern equipments- In case of fire in a multistoried building, equipments like jumping cushion or emergency escape chute are urgently needed and life saving. In high rise building of Delhi or Mumbai, 'Emergengy Escape Chute' are kept which is not the scenarioin Kolkata.

Hope the authorities will look after the shortcomings to make the city a safer place!

India in Twentyfirst Century- is it Going in Right Direction , Indian Economy and Development- What Lies Ahead

India is the largest democratic country in the world. India is growing thick and fast. Indian economy is becoming more and more developed day by day. Some exparts claim that India will soon become a super power like USA or Chaina. But are all these reflect the true story? What is the real picture in front of us?

Let us consider some unpleasant sides:

* Inflation is a real problem before the Indian economy. Steep rise of price of essential commodities is causing concern in the lives of millions of Indian population.

* Illiteracy- After 60 years of our independence, a huge percentage of our population is not literate. A true democracy is possible only in a country where literacy is high.

* Population Explosion- The population of India will be highest in the world overtaking Chaina in near future. It will not be easy, if not impossible to provide food , habitat and job to such huge no. of people.

* In an attempt to provide residence to all and setting industry, amount of forest and agrecultural land is rapidly diminishing. It will hamper our environment and could resulted in scarcity of food.

* So many races, cultures and languages in our country is not making the life of our administrators easier. Alwys there is a chance of clash of interests. 'Unity in diversity' is probably best suited in books.

* Terrorism- Now a days it is a global problem, but India is heavily affected by terrorist attacks different times. We had lost our two prime ministers which is a great loss for our country.

* Political instabitity- Over last 20 years, there are some unstable/ semi-stable governments in the centre and many a state. Its unfortunate that we, the Indians can't form a stable govt. and it is a definite hindrance to our developments.

Fortunately, amidst all the problems and short-comings, India is marching forward. Lets not loose hope!

Examination Oriented Education System In India- Is It The Right Way, Success in Examinations- is it by Luck or by Chance

Education system in India is entirely examination oriented. Depth and vastness of knowledge is solely determined by the numbers one candidate is getting in an examination. One has to deliver whatever his/her preparation is within those limited period when exam is held, its as simple as that! Whether this is the correct method of judging a student is highly debatable but one cannot ignore the fact that it is the most important aspect of a student's life to do well in examinations. Its simply the question of his/her survival and everyone knows that survival of the fittest is the rule of nature. So to be the fittest, or at least fitter, one must know and follow some basic guidelines...........

* Every success( whether related to exams or not) depends on four 'S' : skill.....stamina.....strategy......strength. Only a genius may have all these. Others usually have one or two. You have to identify which is your strong point. Once you have identified it, you are one step ahead.

* Be systematic and disciplined in your approach. Prepare a routine and try to follow it .

* Hard work has no alternative . It has to give dividend in the long run.

* Enhance your concentration power. Meditation or yoga might help.

* 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'. Relaxation is as important as your study. Give an hour or at least half to outdoor activities in open air or simply listening music.

* ' Practice makes a man perfect'. Practice, practice and more practice.......

* Keep faith in your ability. Don't disheartened by one or two temporary setbacks.

* Follow the advice of your teachers. They are experienced enough to give you proper guidance.

* ' Fortune favours the brave'. In exams( like every other steps of life), an 'x' factor is needed.You can call it luck. But you cannot do anything about it other than relying on that old proverb.

Best of luck to all!

Being A Woman- How Easy is That, Womanhood- What That Means And What Woman Should Know

Being a complete woman is not at all easy these days. Like Devi Durga, a modern woman has do perform several roles in her life. She has to be a daughter, she has to a mother, she has to be a wife, she has to look after her profession also. These days, woman are more and more coming in the front line, leading an institution, a state, or even a country also. But does every woman knows what a woman should know to be a woman!

* A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW......habit of staying alone is important. It reduces the dependency factor and brings freedom in her life.

* A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW......one looses her originality by following other blindly. Your beauty is in your hand. Be careful about what you are wearing and how much you can carry that.

* A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW......childhood is extremely short. One should come out of that memory once it is over. Other it can be painful.

* A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW......youth is for enjoyment but that period dosen't last forever. Its practical to admit s one grows older.

* A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW......one must have the courage to overcome whatever(quarrelling/outburst of temper) happens in life. If one continue to drag those, it can spoil any relationships.

* A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW......your life is in your and only your hand. You should be the only controller of your life.

* A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW......life is for living. Enjoy every moment of it.

* A WOMAN SHOULD KNOW......she is lucky to be a woman.Therefore she must march in paths of her life keeping her womanhood intact.

Depression- How to Cope with it, Depression- is it the Most Challenging Vice We Are Facing Modern Times

Depression: This is a very very common problem in our life in modern days. Every one of us have been depressed in some times of our lives. In fact, it is spreading like an epidemic.

What are the causes of depression:

* Nuclear Families- Husband wife one child ( may be a doggy sometimes). There are no buffers within family ( grandfather/ grandmother/uncle/aunt/ other cousins) like it was in older days.

* Broken Families- Number of broken marriages and divorces on the rise alarmingly. All these broken relationship leads to depression. Separation of parents causes severe stress and depression to the off-springs.

* Rat Race- A bit of rat race is going on every aspect of our life. All of us want to be no. 1 and also want our children to be no. 1 which is physically impossible.

* Pressure to Deliver and become Successful in life- if fulfilled, well and good; if not- again depression.

What does depression lead to:

* Loss of energy, lack of desire to work, loss of interest in life.

* Several psychological and functional problem.

* In extreme cases, it may lead to suicide also.

What can be the remedy from depression:

* One have to be practical in their approach towards life. Everyone can't be a genius and it is also not possible to become successful in every aspects of life.

* Live in joy and happiness. Listening music or watching movies or getting involved in some sort of sports may help.

* Regular exercises like Yoga or meditation may help.

* Going out for a short trip whenever there is some time is a very good diversion.

* Keep yourself engaged in some social work. Regular interaction with friends and relatives is very good for social bonding.

* If nothing works, then one should seek professional help like counselling.

Most Successful Cricket Captain of India, Who is the Best Cricket Captain of India- Saurav Ganguli or Mahendra Singh Dhoni

M.S.Dhoni- Under his captaincy India has won the T20 World Cup and that was just a beginning. He has won the one day series in Australia for the first time, very few teams had succeeded to beat Australia in their den. He was the man with the 'Midus Touch' in Indian Crichet. A supercool attitude, consistent performing ability under pressure and courage to take hard desicions whenever needed makes him one of the most successful captain of India, if not the most.



Saurav Ganguli: He is a truely wonderful captain. His aggresive intent and sharp cricketing brain has brought a new dimention to Indian Cricket.He had led India to most no. of wins(19) in test cricket. His memorable wins include test series win against Steve Waugh's Australia in 2001.Under his captaincy, India had beaten Inzamam's Pakistan in their own soil. Besides, he won the Champion's Trophy in Srilanka in 2002 and Natwest Trophy in England.



Kapil Dev- An inspirational captain, always led from the front. Under his captaincy, India has won the World Cup in 1983, the greatest ever win in Indian Cricket. He also led India to a famous test series win against Enland in England.



Sunil Gavaskar: A calculative and and determined captain, his greatest achievement was to win the Benson and Hezes world Championships in Asutralia in 1985.



Ajit Wadekar- He was the captain of Indian Cricket Team in early seventy. He really brought a revolution in Indian Cricket. It Was under his captaincy, India had defeated mighty West Indies and England for the first time.

Success- Is It Just By Chance, Secrets of Being Successful

In this wicked wicked world, there is always a grueling race for success. Everyone wants to become successful in life, thats one thing for sure. But some becomes successful and some are not! What could be the defining factors that makes a huge difference in our life?
Let us give it some thoughts:

* The courage and attitude to make a progress constantly. Many of the successful men has started their lives from zero, but all they have was courage to take risk and march forward.

* Constantly thinking about him/herself. This is the only way one can know his/her strength and weakness as well. Don't loose sleep on weakness. Once they are identified, they can be taken care of. But Knowing about the strong points are really big thing. Once one knows his/her strength, he/she is always one step ahead.

* There are some moments in life, when lady luck favours and there are some openings. One got to grab those opportunities in both hand. As simple as that!

* Learning from old mistakes. This is very important to become successful in life.If one don't learn from his/her mistakes and keeps on repeating same mistakes, in the end it could prove costly!

* Last but not the least, two things have no alternative in any field of life ( and will not be in future also)
** Hard Work and ** Honesty

Good Luck!

The Number of Earthquakes Are on The Rise- Time to Think

The number of earthquakes are alarmingly rising. In 2010, there are already 3 big earthquakes. In January there was a earthquake in Haiti with devastating casualties.In February, same thing happened in Chile. Thousands of people died and injured and houses, roads and other properties destroyed. In march, another earthquake shook Taiwan. An earthquake is one of the biggest natural calamities. Well built cities with all its infrastructures can be demolished within seconds. And one of the main concern is that even after getting advance warnings, we cannot prevent it.
But we can at least give some of our thoughts about the reasons which are causing the increase in the number of earthquakes.

* Deforestations- Unplanned cutting of trees are taking its toll. The balance in the nature is seriously disturbed. In hilly areas, its the trees that hold the earth firmly and prevent land slide/ earthquake.

* Taking out of excessive water from under the ground destroying the balance of different layers which are situated below the earth. Large cities are the main culprits. The more water is taken out, the area will be more to earthquakes.

* Building unplanned high rises irrespective of nature of earth.

* Scientists and researchers are looking for the relationship, if any, between global warming and increased no. of earthquakes.
Its time to be really concerned. Because the destruction and casualty are too massive to ignore!

Indian Hockey Team's Performance in World Cup in New Delhi- Will the Old Glory of Indian Hockey Will Ever Return

Indian Hockey Team is staying where it had been for last 30 years after winning the gold medal in Moscow Olympic in 1980. It was the last time when India won any major tournament. India beat Spain to win the gold. After that, 30 years has passed. Other countries have progressed and we are going backwards. As a result, the same Spain has drubbed us 5-2 in the ongoing world cup in Delhi. Though India has started its campaign brilliantly by defeating Pakistan 4-1 and avanged the defeat of 1982 Delhi Asian Games, in the next two games, it bowed down to Australia and Spain( both 5-2). There is not much hope left for our team in the rest of the tournament.
What may be the reasons so that we are not able to cope up with other top ranking teams:

* All the glamor and money is going the cricket way. So the young generation is not interested in coming to hockey.

* Lack of infrastructure- there is lack of enough astro-turf in major cities of our country, not to mention the smaller ones.

* Speed of the game has been increased tremendously. Indian players are finding it difficult to cope up with the speed and body fitness of Koreans and Western Countries.

* Certain rules of the game has been changed, which is also not helping our cause either.

* Lack of supply line. There is a village called Sansarpur in Punjab which alone has given India 14 Olympians so far. There is still not a suitable field where upcoming players can grow, not to mention an astro-turf. The results are showing.

The picture is not very bright. We can only hope and pray for Indian Hockey at the present moment.

Manchester United and English Premier League, Can Manchester United Retain Its Old Glory

Manchester United: One of the most famous and popular club in English Premier League. Ha won the EPL for last 2 years( total 18 times) and UFEA Champion in 2008, runners in 2009.
What will happen in 2010?



Manchestr United winning the World Club Cup in 2009. It was a terrific year for the prestigious club as it went to win the EPL Title and Carling Cup also!



Wayne Roony: The lion hearted English striker for Manchester United. He was over shadowed by Ronaldo for last 2 seasons, though his contributions can't be ignored. This year he is in prolific form and goal scoring touch. He has already scored more than 25 goals this season and helped his team to win the Caring Cup once again. The onus is on him now as there is no Ronaldo by his side this season. Will Roony make up the huge gap left by the famous No. 7 and carry on the responsibility to score goals for his team? The final rounds of English Premier League and UEFA Champions league is coming. We want to see his very best.



Cristiano Ronaldo: A prolific scorer for Manchester United for last two seasons. One of the most effective No. 7 jercy player of Man U. Without him, it will be difficult for Sir Alex Fergusson( Man U manager) to continue the same progress!

Is Age Really A Bar in Sports, Sportsperson Whose Achievement Has Crossed The Age Barrier

It is said that sports is an event of the youth and for the youth. After crossing 30, energy is on the lower side and reflex is on the slower side. But is it absolutely true? A few days back , Sachin Tendulkar set a new world record by scoring first double hundred in a one dayer, though he is only 37! He looked fitter and hungry for more runs even at this age. Here are some other legendary sportsman for whom age is no bar!



* Leander Peas: This ever green Indian Tennis player won his 11th Grand Slum in 2010 in mixed doubles in Australian Open at an age of 37! He is growing more and more agile with age!



* Michael Schumacher: The legendary seven times winner of formula one Grand Prix World Championship. He has won his last title at the age of 35!



* Gary Kasparov: He remained the world champion in chess till the age of 37!



*Jack Nicklaus: The Legendary Golfer. Many consider him even as superior to Tiger Woods. He won a Masters Title at an age of 46!



* Lance Armstrong: Another true legend and seven times consequitive winner of Tour De France(1999-2005). He has won his last title at the age of 34!



* Carl Lewis: The Champion Athelete, has won four gold medal at Loss Angeles Olympics in 1984. He has won his last Olympic gold medal in the long jump event in 1992 at the age of 35!



* Goerge Foreman: The legendary boxer, has won the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship at a staggering age of 45!

* Dino Joff: He was the captain of Italian Soccer Team at the age of 40 and helped his team to win the World Cup in 1982 by superb goal keeping!

* Ken Rosewall: This Australian Tennis Great has won a Grand Slum at the age of 37!