Dr. Seuss - Short Biography

Theodor Seuss Geisel (2 March 1904 – 24 September 1991), better known by his pen name, Dr. Seuss, was a famous American writer and cartoonist best known for his children's books.

He published 46 children's books, which were often characterized by imaginative characters, rhyme, and frequent use of trisyllabic meter. His most celebrated books include the bestselling Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, Horton Hatches the Egg, Horton Hears a Who!, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. Numerous adaptations of his work have been created, including 11 television specials, four feature films, a Broadway musical and four television series. He won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1958 for Horton Hatches the Egg and again in 1961 for And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.

Theodor Seuss Geisel and his Signature.

Geisel also worked as an illustrator for advertising campaigns, most notably for Flit and Standard Oil, and as a political cartoonist for PM, a New York City newspaper. During World War II, he worked in an animation department of the U.S Army, where he wrote Design for Death, a film that later won the 1947 Academy Award for Documentary Feature.

Geisel's birthday, March 2, has been adopted as the annual date for National Read Across America Day, an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association.

Geisel died of throat cancer on September 24, 1991, after several years of poor health, in La Jolla, California. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered. On December 1, 1995, four years after his death, UCSD's University Library Building was renamed Geisel Library in honor of Geisel and Audrey for the generous contributions they made to the library and their devotion to improving literacy.

Dr. Seuss Biography - Youtube Video

Complete list of all the Dr. Seuss Book

1 -- And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street (1938)
2 -- Bartholomew and the Oobleck (1959)
3 -- The Butter Battle Book (1984)
4 -- The Cat in the Hat (1957)
5 -- The Cat in the Hat Beginner Book (1966)
6 -- The Cat in the Hat Comes Back (1968)
7 -- The Cat in the Hat Song Book (1967)
8 -- The Cat's Quizzer (1976)
9 -- Come Over To My House (1966)
10 -- Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? (1973)
11 -- Dr. Seuss's ABC (1963)
12 -- Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book (1962)
13 -- The Eye Book (1968)
14 -- The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins (1938)
15 -- The Foot Book (1968)
16 -- Fox in Socks (1965)
17 -- Great Day For Up! (1974)
18 -- Green Eggs and Ham (1960)
19 -- Happy Birthday to You! (1959)
20 -- Hop on Pop (1963)
21 -- Horton Hatches The Egg (1940)
22 -- Horton Hears A Who (1954)
23 -- How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1957)
24 -- Hunches in Bunches (1982)
25 -- I Am Not Going To Get Up Today! (1987)
26 -- I Can Draw Myself (1970)
27 -- I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today (1969)
27 -- King Looie Katz
27 -- The Glunk That Got Thunk
28 -- I Can Read With My Eyes Shut (1978)
29 -- I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew (1965)
30 -- If I Ran The Circus (1956)
31 -- If I Ran The Zoo (1950)
32 -- I Wish I Had Duck Feet (1965)
33 -- The King's Stilts (1939)
34 -- The Lorax (1971)
35 -- Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now! (1972)
36 -- McElligot's Pool (1947)
37 -- Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? (1970)
38 -- My Book About Me, By Me Myself (1969)
39 -- Oh Say Can You Say (1979)
40 -- Oh, The Places You'll Go! (1990)
41 -- Oh, The Thinks You Can Think! (1975)
42 -- On Beyond Zebra (1955)
43 -- One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (1960)
44 -- Scrambled Eggs Super! (1954)
45 -- The Seven Lady Godivas (1939)
46 -- Shape of Me and Other Stuff (1973)
47 -- The Sneetches and Other Stories (1961)
47 -- The Zax
47 -- Too Many Daves
47 -- What Was I Scared Of?
48 -- Ten Apples Up On Top (1961)
49 -- There's a Wocket In My Pocket (1974)
50 -- Thidwick, The Big-Hearted Moose (1948)
51 -- The Tooth Book (1981)
52 -- The Tough Coughs as He Ploughs The Dough (1987)
53 -- Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories (1958)
53 -- Gertrude McFuzz
53 -- The Big Brag
54 -- You're Only Old Once! (1986)
(* Note:- Book list and year it was published: In alphabetical order)

For more information about Dr.Seuss:
Wikipedia- Dr.Seuss: url http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Seuss
Random House, Inc. Dr. Seuss - url http://www.seussville.com/
Works by or about Dr. Seuss- url http://worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n79-53201
The Dr. Seuss Web Page- url http://www.seuss.org/seuss/seuss.home.html
Dr. Seuss at Internet Movie Database- url http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0317450/

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Twitter, Foursquare Guilty of Slurping User Data without user consent

Independent testing finds that Path isn’t the only offending iOS app uploading contact data from mobile devices without user consent. Foursqaure, Twitters and other are also guilty.

Several popular online services, including Foursquare and Twitter, are guilty of slurping up large amounts of personal data through their mobile applications without getting explicit permission from users. Now that they have been caught, these iOS developers, along with Apple, are promising to start warning users first.

Foursqaure, Twitters and other are also guilty.

On Feb. 8, Arun Thampi, a software developer, disclosed reported that the popular diary app Path was uploading the entire address book from the user's iPhone to the company's servers without warning users. After a widespread outcry about violating user privacy, Path CEO Dave Morin apologized later that day and announced the latest version would explicitly require the user to opt-in to upload the information. However, more research by Paul Haddad, a developer with Tapbots, shows that Path was not alone in this kind of behavior, The Next Web reported.

Foursquare is another offender, as its iOS app uploads all the email addresses and phone numbers in the address book with no warning or asking users for consent, Haddad told The Next Web. The latest update, released Feb. 14, now warns users before doing so. Popular photo app Instagram did the same thing until Feb. 11, when it quietly updated the app to inform users that contact data will be uploaded when using the "Find Friends" feature.

Facebook's iOS app appears to send email addresses, phone numbers and names from the address book but warns users first, according to Haddad's analysis.

However there are a group of apps, such as Yahoo! Messenger, Google+, and Skype, that hooked into the Address Book framework in iOS but did not appear to be sending any information, Haddad found. These apps had the capability to grab the data and use it locally, but have not done so yet.

Twitter is another major company backpedaling after reports found that its iOS app is grabbing and storing user contacts information without explicitly warning the user. When a user selects the "Find Friends" option on the iOS app, the app uploads all the email addresses and phone numbers stored in contacts on the device's address book and keeps it on its servers for 18 months.

Twitter has promised to update the app "soon" with "more explicit" language on what the option does with user data. Users who don't want Twitter to retain the contacts data can request the information be removed by clicking on the tiny "remove" link on Twitter's Import page.

"Most of us would like to be explicitly alerted when an app decides to this," Carole Theriault wrote on the Sophos Naked Security blog.

Online services are "trying to take advantage of the naivety of their users, rather than look after them," Theriault wrote. When social media platforms depend on users to create accounts and use the services to be successful, then they should make more of an attempt to protect users, Theriault argued.

In a recent mobile threats report, Juniper Networks warned about a growing number of mobile apps that were "suspicious, but not malicious." These apps are likely to request more device permissions than they actually need, share excessive amounts of data with third parties, or access features and data without obtaining explicit consent.

Of the approximately 790,000 apps analyzed by Juniper, 30 percent obtained device location data without explicit consent, according to the report. A little less than 15 percent of the apps requested permission to initiate calls without user intervention, and 5 percent asked to be allowed to send SMS messages without user knowledge. Another 6 percent wanted permission to view all accounts saved on the device, including email and social networking accounts.

Apple has been roundly criticized for not explicitly building in controls in its iOS framework to make developers ask permission before grabbing user data. In response to Congressional inquiry, Apple has promised to update the iOS framework to require permission, Reuters reported.

@ By: Fahmida Y. Rashid

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Dimensions Of A Series Paper Sizes

Paper sizes are categorized into two standards, the ISO standard and the North American size standard. ISO standard has A, B and C series, while NA standard is based on inches.

• "A-series", for general printing 
• "B-series", for posters 
• "C-series", for envelopes, postcards, and folders

The "A" series is used most commonly with sizes ranging from A0,which is the largest, down to A8. The A-series sizes are represented as a part of the area of one square meter with a length to width ratio of 1.414. Size A0 is equivalent to the area of one square meter while each smaller size being 50% of the size of the preceding one. A1 is 50% of the area of A0; A2 is 50% of A1, and so on.  Another way to look at it is that when an A0 sheet cut in half yields two A1 sheets, and an A1 sheet cut in half yields two A2 sheets. 

ISO paper sizes (plus rounded inch values)

Format	A series		B series		C series
Size	mm × mm	in × in	mm × mm	in × in	mm × mm	in × in
0	841 × 1189	33.11 × 46.81	1000 × 1414	39.37 × 55.67	917 × 1297	36.10 × 51.06
1	594 x 841	23.39 × 33.11	707 × 1000	27.83 × 39.37	648 × 917	25.51 × 36.10
2	420 × 594	16.54 × 23.39	500 × 707	19.69 × 27.83	458 × 648	18.03 × 25.51
3	297 × 420	11.69 × 16.54	353 × 500	13.90 × 19.69	324 × 458	12.76 × 18.03
4	210 × 297	8.27 × 11.69	250 × 353	9.84 × 13.90	229 × 324	9.02 × 12.76
5	148 × 210	5.83 × 8.27	176 × 250	6.93 × 9.84	162 × 229	6.38 × 9.02
6	105 × 148	4.13 × 5.83	125 × 176	4.92 × 6.93	114 × 162	4.49 × 6.38
7	74 × 105	2.91 × 4.13	88 × 125	3.46 × 4.92	81 × 114	3.19 × 4.49
8	52 × 74	2.05 × 2.91	62 × 88	2.44 × 3.46	57 × 81	2.24 × 3.19
9	37 × 52	1.46 × 2.05	44 × 62	1.73 × 2.44	40 × 57	1.57 × 2.24
10	26 × 37	1.02 × 1.46	31 × 44	1.22 × 1.73	28 × 40	1.10 × 1.57

The tolerances specified in the standard are

• ±1.5 mm (0.06 in) for dimensions up to 150 mm (5.9 in),
• ±2 mm (0.08 in) for lengths in the range 150 to 600 mm (5.9 to 23.6 in) and
• ±3 mm (0.12 in) for any dimension above 600 mm (23.6 in).

Dimensions of Paper Sizes

North American Size Standards

Although the ISO size standards are common in many parts of the world where the metric system is the established standard for measurement, North American sheet sizes are based on inches. The most common size of cut sheet for copier/printers is 8.5”x11” (Letter Size) that is based on basis size of 17”x22”. (Letter being the quarter of the size of the 17” x 22”). Other popular sizes are 8.5”x14” (Legal Size), and 11”x17” (Ledger Size). The other sizes such as 12”x18” and 9”x12” are becoming popular for color applications. These paper sizes are based on paper sizes used in offset printing.

Engineering paper sizes are also in this category with sizes such as 9”x12” (A size), 12”x18” (B size), 18”x 24” (C size), 24”x36” (D), 36”x48” (E size).

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Remove limitations from streaming platforms MegaVideo, Veoh and MegaUpload

It can be quite annoying when certain videos are available online only partial because of the restrictions that block users from viewing a certain point forward or after some time.

Bypass video watching restriction limits

The Illimitux extension removes limitations imposed by some streaming platforms like MegaVideo, Veoh or MegaUpload. With Illimitux, you can view these videos without any restrictions in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox browsers.

Once the extension is installed, it automatically detects any restrictions imposed for that video and allows the user to remove any barriers simply by pressing the button to remove the restrictions.

When a user clicks on the button for the removal of restrictions does nothing but redirect the navigation to the site where the video will show Illimitux without the usual barriers.
Download Illimitux extension

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Sachin Tendulkar's ODI Unbeaten 200 off 147 Balls Highlights Video

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar (सचिन रमेश तेंडुलकर; born 24 Apri 1973) created history by firing the first double century in one-day internationals as India put South Africa to the sword in Gwalior. The 36-year-old was in indomitable form as he bludgeoned 25 fours and three sixes in a stunning 200 off 147 balls.

It passed the previous best of 194, set by Pakistan's Saeed Anwar in 1997 and Zimbabwe's Charles Coventry last year.And it led India, aided by a fabulous cameo of 68 off 35 balls from Mahendra Dhoni, to a superb 401-3 from 50 overs.

Tendulkar, whose previous best one-day knock was the 186 not out he scored against New Zealand in 1999, is already the leading run-scorer in Test and ODI cricket.

But to have reached such a landmark, with a single in the final over, only serves to underline his class and add to the legacy that already surrounds arguably the finest batsman to have played the game.

His innings was typified by wristy strokes, trademark boundary shots and, above all, stamina as he batted through the entire innings.

He passed the previous best score in ODIs off 140 deliveries before taking his time over the final six runs, completing his double century with a single off Charl Langeveldt four balls from the end of the innings.

Despite clearly suffering with cramp towards the end, Tendulkar was not to be denied and the packed Gwalior crowd were in raptures as he brought up the record.

HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL ODI SCORES
200* Sachin Tendulkar, India v South Africa 2010
194* Charles Coventry, Zimbabwe v Bangladesh 2009
194 Saeed Anwar, Pakistan v India 1997
189* Viv Richards, W Indies v England 1984
189 Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka v India 2000

Sachin Tendulkar's ODI Unbeaten 200 off 147 Balls Highlights Video



Sachin Tendulkar's ODI Unbeaten 200 runs Match Presentation

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Google Buzz New Ways to share Updates

Google Buzz is a social integration tool by Google, designed to integrate into the company's web-based email program, Gmail. Shared links and messages show up in the user's inbox. Buzz focuses on integrating photos, videos, and links as part of the "conversations" aspects of Gmail like conversation threading.

Buzz allows users to choose to share publicly with the world or privately to a small group of friends each time they post. Picasa, Flickr, Google Reader, and Twitter are currently integrated. The creation of Buzz was seen by industry analysts as an attempt by Google to compete with social networking websites like Facebook.

Google Buzz How it works video


Buzz on Your Mobile Device


Google Buzz Launch Event Video


CNET first look at Google Buzz Video


Google Buzz official site

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About Norman Rockwell and his best paintings

Norman Percevel Rockwell (February 3, 1894 – November 8, 1978) was a 20th-century American painter and illustrator. His works enjoy a broad popular appeal in the United States, where Rockwell is most famous for the cover illustrations of everyday life scenarios he created for The Saturday Evening Post magazine over more than four decades. Among the best-known of Rockwell's works are the Willie Gillis series, Rosie the Riveter (although his Rosie was reproduced less than others of the day), Saying Grace (1951), and the Four Freedoms series.


He was also famous for his works in the Boy Scouts of America publication and for his iconographic advertisements for companies including Coca-Cola, Ford Motor Company and Sun-Maid Raisins.

He painted portraits for Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon, as well as other foreign presidents and movie stars of his day.

His art made him a bit of a celebrity and twice he judged the Miss America Beauty Pageant. He also endorsed products including after-shave, tombstones and wine.

He tried to enlist in the U.S Navy during the First World War but was refused entry because he was eight pounds underweight, at 6 feet tall and 140 pounds.

During the Second World War in 1943, Norman painted the Four Freedoms series, which he completed in seven months and resulted in him losing 15 pounds. The series was inspired by a Franklin D Roosevelt speech in which he described four principles for universal rights: Freedom from Want, Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship, and Freedom from Fear.

In 1943 a fire in Norman’s studio destroyed numerous original paintings, costumes, and props.He was commissioned to illustrate over 40 books including Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

If you visit Google.com today, you will see a special doodle, with a boy and a girl sitting on a bench together. The painting was one of Norman Rockwell’s most famous, which was on the front cover of the Saturday Evening Post on April 24, 1926. It was known as the “Little Spooners.”

Norman Rockwell Best Painting and illustrations
All Photos ©2009 Norman Rockwell Family Agency
For more Info visit http://www.nrm.org/

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2010 Grammy Awards Winners Complete List

The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards took place on January 31, 2010. CBS broadcasted the event, which took place again at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Neil Young was honored as the 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year on January 29.

Beyoncé Knowles led the nominees with ten nominations. Other nominees include Green Day,Taylor Swift with eight and the Black Eyed Peas, Maxwell, Kanye West with six nominations, and David Guetta, Jay-Z and Lady Gaga with five nominations. Colbie Caillat, Kings of Leon, Bruce Springsteen, T-Pain, and Keith Urban each received four nominations.

2010 Grammy Awards Winners Complete List

Album of the Year: Fearless, Taylor Swift

Record of the Year: "Use Somebody," Kings of Leon

Song of the Year: "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," Beyoncé

New Artist: Zac Brown Band

POP

Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: The Black Eyed Peas, "I Gotta Feeling"

Pop Vocal Album: The E.N.D., The Black Eyed Peas

Female Pop Vocal Performance: Beyoncé, "Halo"

Male Pop Vocal Performance: Jason Mraz, "Make It Mine"

Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden, Michael Bublé

Pop Collaboration With Vocals: Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat, "Lucky"

Pop Instrumental Performance: Bela Fleck, "Throw Down Your Heart"

Pop Instrumental Album: Potato Hole, Booker T. Jones

R&B

Female R&B Vocal Performance: Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"

Male R&B Vocal Performance: Maxwell, "Pretty Wings"

R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Jamie Foxx and T-Pain, "Blame It"

Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: Beyoncé, "At Last"

R&B Song: "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," Beyoncé

R&B Album: Blacksummers' Night, Maxwell

Contemporary R&B Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé

RAP

Rap/Sung Collaboration: "Run This Town," Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West

Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: "Crack a Bottle," Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent

Rap Song: "Run This Town," Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West

Rap Album: Relapse, Eminem

Rap Solo Performance: Jay-Z, "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"

Urban/Alternative Performance: India.Arie and Dobet Gnahoré, "Pearls"

COUNTRY

Country Album: Fearless, Taylor Swift

Female Country Vocal Performance: Taylor Swift, "White Horse"

Male Country Vocal Performance: Keith Urban, "Sweet Thing"

Country Song: "White Horse," Taylor Swift

Country Collaboration With Vocals: "I Told You So," Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis

Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Lady Antebellum, "I Run to You"

Country Instrumental Performance: Steve Wariner, "Producer's Medley"

ROCK

Rock Album: 21st Century Breakdown, Green Day

Solo Rock Vocal Performance: Bruce Springsteen, "Working on a Dream"

Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Kings of Leon, "Use Somebody"

Rock Song: "Use Somebody," Kings of Leon

Hard Rock Performance: AC/DC, "War Machine"

Metal Performance: Judas Priest, "Dissident Aggressor"

Rock Instrumental Performance: Jeff Beck, "A Day in the Life"

DANCE

Dance Recording: "Poker Face," Lady Gaga

Electronic/Dance Album: The Fame, Lady Gaga

TRADITIONAL/ALTERNATIVE/WORLD

Alternative Music Album: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix

Americana Album: Electric Dirt, Levon Helm

Bluegrass Album: The Crow/New Songs for the Five-String Banjo, Steve Martin

Traditional Blues Album: A Stranger Here, Ramblin' Jack Elliott

Contemporary Blues Album: Already Free, The Derek Trucks Band

Traditional Folk Album: High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project, Loudon Wainwright III

Contemporary Folk Album: Townes, Steve Earle

Hawaiian Music Album: Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2, Various Artists

Native American Music Album: Spirit Wind North, Bill Miller

Zydeco or Cajun Music Album: Lay Your Burden Down, Buckwheat Zydeco

Reggae Album: Mind Control—Acoustic, Stephen Marley

Traditional World Music Album: Douga Mansa, Mamadou Diabate

Contemporary World Music Album: Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From the Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3—Africa Sessions, Béla Fleck

New Age Album: Prayer for Compassion, David Darling

VISUAL MEDIA

Short Form Music Video: "Boom Boom Pow," The Black Eyed Peas

Long Form Music Video: "The Beatles Love—All Together Now," Various Artists

Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books and Storytelling): Always Looking Up, Michael J. Fox

Musical Show Album: West Side Story

Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Slumdog Millionaire

Score Soundtrack Album tor Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: Up, Michael Giacchino

Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: "Jai Ho" (from Slumdog Millionaire), A.R. Rahman, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer and Vijay Prakash

Instrumental Composition: Married Life (from Up), Michael Giacchino

Instrumental Arrangement: "West Side Story Medley," Bill Cunliffe

GOSPEL

Gospel Performance: "Wait on the Lord," Donnie McClurkin featuring Karen Clark Sheard

Gospel Song: "God in Me," Mary Mary featuring Kierra "KiKi" Sheard

Rock or Rap Gospel Album: Live Revelations, Third Day

Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: The Power of One, Israel Houghton

Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Jason Crabb, Jason Crabb

Traditional Gospel Album: Oh Happy Day, Various Artists

Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: Audience of One, Heather Headley

LATIN

Latin Pop Album: Sin Frenos, La Quinta Estación

Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album: Los De Atras Vienen Conmigo, Calle 13

Tropical Latin Album: Ciclos, Luis Enrique

Regional Mexican Album: Necesito De Ti, Vicente Fernández

Tejano Album: Borders y Bailes, Los Texmaniacs

Norteño Album: Tu Noche Con...Los Tigres Del Norte, Los Tigres Del Norte

Banda Album: Tu Esclavo y Amo, Lupillo Rivera

JAZZ

Contemporary Jazz Album: 75, Joe Zawinul & the Zawinul Syndicate

Jazz Vocal Album: Dedicated to You: Kurt Elling Sings the Music of Coltrane and Hartman, Kurt Elling

Improvised Jazz Solo: "Dancin' 4 Chicken," Terence Blanchard, soloist

Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group: Five Piece Band—Live, Chick Corea and John McLaughlin Five Peace Band

Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Book One, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra

Latin Jazz Album: Juntos Para Siempre, Bebo Valdés and Chucho Valdés

CLASSICAL

Engineered Album, Classical: Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Adagio From Symphony No. 10, Michael Tilson Thomas and San Francisco Symphony

Producer of the Year, Classical: Steven Epstein

Classical Album: Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Adagio From Symphony No. 10

Orchestral Performance: Boston Symphony Orchestra; Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé

Opera Recording: Britten: Billy Budd, London Symphony Orchestra; Gentlemen of the London Symphony Chorus

Choral Performance: Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Adagio From Symphony No. 10, Laura Claycomb, Anthony Dean Griffey, Elza van den Heever, Katarina Karnéus, Quinn Kelsey, James Morris, Yvonne Naef and Erin Wall; San Francisco Symphony; Pacific Boychoir, San Francisco Symphony Chorus and San Francisco Girls Chorus

Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (With Orchestra): Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3, Philharmonia Orchestra

Instrumental Soloist Performance (Without Orchestra): Journey to the New World, Sharon Isbin

Chamber Music Performance: Intimate Letters, Emerson String Quartet

Small Ensemble Performance: Lang, David: The Little Match Girl Passion, Ars Nova Copenhagen & Theatre of Voices

Classical Vocal Performance: Renée Fleming, Verismo Arias

Classical Contemporary Composition: Higdon, Jennifer: Percussion Concerto, Jennifer Higdon

Classical Crossover Album: Yo-Yo Ma & Friends: Songs of Joy and Peace, Yo-Yo Ma

Surround Sound Album: Transmigration, Robert Spano, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Choruses

CHILDREN

Musical Album for Children: Family Time, Ziggy Marley

Spoken Word Album for Children: Aaaaah! Spooky, Scary Stories & Songs, Buck Howdy

OTHER

Comedy Album: A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!, Stephen Colbert

Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): "Quiet Nights," Diana Krall

Recording Package: Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, David Byrne and Brian Eno

Boxed or Special Limited-Edition Package: Neil Young Archives Vol. I (1963–1972), Neil Young

Album Notes: The Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions (1935-1946), Louis Armstrong

Historical Album: The Complete Chess Masters (1950-1967), Little Walter

Engineered Album, Nonclassical: Ellipse, Imogen Heap

Producer of the Year, Nonclassical: Brendan O'Brien

Remixed Recording, Nonclassical: "When Love Takes Over" (Electro Extended Remix), David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland

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Solar eclipse of January 15, 2010 in google maps

The solar eclipse of January 15, 2010 is an annular eclipse of the Sun with a magnitude of 0.9190. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring Earth's view of the Sun. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is smaller than the Sun, causing the sun to look like an annulus (ring), blocking most of the Sun's light. An annular eclipse will appear as partial eclipse over a region thousands of miles wide.

It will be visible as a partial eclipse in much of Africa, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Asia. It will be seen as annular within a narrow stretch of 300 km (190 mi) width across Central Africa, Maldives, South Kerala (India), South Tamil Nadu(India), North Sri Lanka, parts of Burma and parts of China.

The eclipse starts at Uganda, passes through Nairobi, enters Indian ocean where the greatest eclipse is taking place in mid of Ocean for a maximum of 11 Mins and 7.7 seconds.

After that enters Maldives, where it would be the longest on land with 10.8 Min of viewing. This makes the tiny islands of Maldives the best spot for viewing this eclipse from land. The annular Eclipse at Male', the capital city of Maldives starts at 12:20:20 hrs and ends 12:30:06 hrs Maldives local time (GMT+5hrs). This is also the longest duration of any city having an international airport in the eclipse track.

At approx 13:20 IST, the annular solar eclipse enters India at Thiruvananthapuram(Trivandrum), Kerala and exits India at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. The eclipse is viewable for 10.4 minutes in India. The best place from India is Dhanushkodi in Pamban Island off Tamil Nadu coast. Dhanushkodi is about 18 km South east from Rameshwaram and 18 Km West of Mannar Island in Sri Lanka.

After Rameswaram, enters Sri Lanka at Delft Island, exits at Jaffna in Sri Lanka, cross Bay of Bengal and ends in Burma - China border.For best viewing of the January 15, 2010 Eclipse, Maldives is the best place.

Orthographic Map of Solar eclipse
Local Circumstances and Animations of the 635 locations

Solar eclipse of January 15, 2010 in Google Maps:

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Miss World 2009 winner

Miss World 2009, the 59th Miss World pageant, was held on December 12, 2009 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.112 contestants from all over the world competed for the crown, marking the biggest turnout in the pageant's history. Miss World 2008, Ksenia Sukhinova of Russia, crowned her successor, Kaiane Aldorino of Gibraltar, at the end of the event.


Mexico's Perla Beltran came second, with South African entry Tatum Keshwar taking third place.


Newly crowned Miss World Kaiane Aldorino of Gibraltar poses with second princess, Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar (R) and Miss Mexico Perla Beltran, who was crowned first princess, during the Miss World finals in Midrand, outside Johannesburg, December 12, 2009.

Continental Queens of Beauty

* Beauty Queen of Africa: Tatum Keshwar (South Africa)
* Beauty Queen of Americas: Perla Beltrán (Mexico)
* Beauty Queen of Asia & Oceania: Kim Joo-ri (Korea)
* Beauty Queen of Caribbean: Ingrid Littré (Martinique)
* Beauty Queen of Europe: Kaiane Aldorino (Gibraltar)

Sports
The Miss World Sports took place at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa on November 18.

* Winner: Japan
* 1st runner-up: Jamaica
* 2nd runner-up: Hungary
* Top 6 finalists: India, Latvia, Venezuela
* Top 12 semifinalists: Australia, Gibraltar, Puerto Rico, Sierra Leone, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay

NOTE: Singapore replaced by Uruguay after she collapsed during the sports final.

Talent
The Miss World Talent took place at Victoria Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa at on November 22, 2009.

* Winners (tied): Canada, Sierra Leone
* 1st runner-up: Korea
* 2nd runner-up: Norway
* 3rd runner-up: Australia
* Top 22 finalists: Albania, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Gibraltar, Guyana, Indonesia, Lebanon, Mauritius, Serbia, Spain, Suriname, Thailand, Zimbabwe

Beach Beauty
The Miss World Beach Beauty took place at Valley of the Pools, Zimbali Resort, Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa on November 25, 2009.

* Winner: Gibraltar
* 1st runner-up: Panama
* 2nd runner-up: Scotland
* 3rd runner-up: France
* 4th runner-up: Bolivia
* Top 12 finalists: Barbados, Indonesia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
* Top 20 semifinalists: Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Korea, Namibia, United States, Uruguay

Top Model

The Miss World Top Model took place at Turbine Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa on November 28, 2009. The event held together with the Miss World Dress Designer Final.

* Winner: Mexico
* 1st runner-up: Vietnam
* 2nd runner-up: Martinique
* Top 12 finalists: Barbados, France, Italy, Jamaica, Malaysia, Panama, Scotland, South Africa, Turkey

Beauty with a Purpose

* Winner: India
* Finalists: Barbados, Guatemala

Special Award
Best World Dress Designer

The Miss World Dress Designer took place at Turbine Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa on November 28, 2009. The event held together with the Top Model Final.

* Winner: Sierra Leone
* 1st runner-up: South Africa
* 2nd runner-up: Jamaica
* Top 12 finalists: Barbados, China PR, France, Italy, Korea, Moldova, Panama, Puerto Rico, Turkey

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Barack Obama's Interview on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Full Video

US President Barack Obama has appeared on a popular TV chat show to promote moves to resolve the economic crisis.
Barack Obama's Interview on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Full Video



He told NBC's Tonight Show he was taking full responsibility "to fix" the economy, in the first-ever appearance on the show by a serving US president.

Mr Obama said he was "stunned" by the huge bonuses that bailed-out insurance firm AIG was paying its employees.

The bonuses - totalling $165m (£113m) in a company now 80% government-owned - have caused outrage in the US.

On Thursday, US lawmakers in the House of Representatives backed a bill to levy a 90% tax on big bonuses from firms bailed out by taxpayers.

Mr Obama told programme host Jay Leno in Burbank, California: "The immediate bonuses that went to AIG are a problem but the larger problem is we've got to get back to an attitude where people know enough is enough and people have a sense of responsibility.

"And if we can get back to those values that built America, then I think we're going to be OK."

Promoting his plans for broad reform of financial regulation, Mr Obama said they were needed because "most of the stuff that got us into trouble was perfectly legal".

'Pretty cool'

The president also mounted a strong defence of his embattled Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner.

"This guy has not just a banking crisis. He's got the worst recession since the Great Depression," he said, adding: "I think Geithner is doing an outstanding job."

Mr Obama also exchanged jokes with Leno during the 35-minute interview.

Referring to his critics, he said: "I do think in Washington it's a little bit like American Idol, except everybody is Simon Cowell."

Questions veered away from politics and into the personal life of the president and his family in the White House.

He said it was "pretty cool" to fly on Air Force One, and that his daughters Sasha and Malia would get their promised pet dog "shortly".

For fans of the president it was an opportunity to see him looking calm and humorous, the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says.

Mr Obama's staff also felt that they needed to use any opportunity they have to allow him to explain himself to the widest possible audience.

But his opponents say that the appearance demeaned his office and was a distraction from serious issues, our correspondent says.

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Maha Shivaratri Puja

Auspicious festival of Mahashivaratri falls on the 13th or the 14th night of the new moon during Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Phalgun. The Sanskrit term, Krishna Paksha means the period of waning moon or the dark fortnight and Phalguna corresponds to the month of February - March in English Calendar. Shivaratri Festival is celebrated on a moonless night.


Virtual Puja of Shiva

Karpoora Gauram Karunaavataaram
Samsaara Saaram Bhujageendra Haaram
Sadaa Vasantam Hridayaaravindam
Bhavam Bhavaani Sahitam Namaami

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Mesothelioma

Short note about Mesothelioma:
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma.Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases the risk of other asbestos-induced cancers. Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).

The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.

Large mesothelioma around the right lung (left side of image) on CT scan Pic

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FA Cup Winners List

The 1872 FA Cup Final was the first final of the world's oldest football competition, the FA Cup. The match took place on March 16, 1872 at the Kennington Oval, London, England, and was won by the Wanderers with a 1-0 victory over a team from the Royal Engineers. The winning team did not, however, receive the trophy until April 11, when it was presented to them at a special reception at the Pall Mall Restaurant


The Royal Engineers TEam of 1872 With eight of the players who took part in the first Cup Final at the Oval.
Post War - 1946 to present FA Cup Winner List

2007-08 Portsmouth 1-0 Cardiff City

2006-07 Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United (after extra time)

2005-06 Liverpool 3-3 West Ham United (after extra time, Liverpool won 3:1 on penalties)

2004-05 Arsenal 0-0 Manchester United (after extra time, Arsenal won 5:4 on penalties)

2003-04 Manchester United 3-0 Millwall

2002-03 Arsenal 1-0 Southampton

2001-02 Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea

2000-01 Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal

1999-2000 Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa

1998-99 Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle United

1997-98 Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United

1996-97 Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough

1995-96 Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool

1994-95 Everton 1-0 Manchester United

1993-94 Manchester United 4-0 Chelsea

1992-93 Arsenal 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday

1991-92 Liverpool 2-0 Sunderland

1990-91 Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Nottingham Forest

1989-90 Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace

1988-89 Liverpool 3-2 Everton

1987-88 Wimbledon 1-0 Liverpool

1986-87 Coventry City 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur

1985-86 Liverpool 3-1 Everton

1984-85 Manchester United 1-0 Everton

1983-84 Everton 2-0 Watford

1982-83 Manchester United 4-0 Brighton

1981-82 Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Queen's Park Rangers

1980-81 Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 Manchester City

1979-80 West Ham 1-0 Arsenal

1978-79 Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United

1977-78 Ipswich Town 1-0 Arsenal

1976-77 Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool

1975-76 Southampton 1-0 Manchester United

1974-75 West Ham 2-0 Fulham

1973-74 Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle United

1972-73 Sunderland 1-0 Leeds United

1971-72 Leeds United 1-0 Arsenal

1970-71 Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool

1969-70 Chelsea 2-1 Leeds United

1968-69 Manchester City 1-0 Leicester City

1967-68 West Bromwich 1-0 Everton

1966-67 Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Chelsea

1965-66 Everton 3-2 Sheffield Wednesday

1964-65 Liverpool 2-1 Leeds United

1963-64 West Ham 3-2 Preston North End

1962-63 Manchester United 3-1 Leicester

1961-62 Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Burnley

1960-61 Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Leicester

1959-60 Wolverhampton Wolves 3-0 Blackburn Rovers

1958-59 Nottingham Forest 2-1 Luton Town

1957-58 Bolton 2-0 Manchester United

1956-57 Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United

1955-56 Manchester City 3-1 Birmingham

1954-55 Newcastle United 3-1 Manchester City

1953-54 West Bromwich 3-2, Preston North End

1952-53 Blackpool 4-3 Bolton

1951-52 Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal

1950-51 Newcastle United 2-0 Blackpool

1949-50 Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool

1948-49 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-1 Leicester City

1947-48 Manchester United 4-2 Blackpool

1946-47 Charlton Athletic 1-0 Burnley

1946 Derby County 4-1 Charlton Athletic

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Photos of Olympic Medals since 1896

Photos of every Olympic medal ever made: SUMMER Olympic and WINTER Olympic










Source

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National Aquatic Centre

Venue: National Aquatics Center

Location: Olympic Green
Total land surface: 79,532 sq m
Seats: 6,000 permanent and 11,000 temporary
Competitions: Swimming, Diving, Synchronized Swimming
Groundbreaking date: December 24, 2003
Completion date: January 28, 2008

One of the dramatic venues of the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, the national Aquatic Centre will be hosting the swimming, synchronized swimming and diving events.

The National Aquatic Centre will be hosting the swimming, synchronized swimming competitions at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games. An architectural marvel of modern times, the National Aquatic Centre is popularly known as the Water Cube.


The National Aquatic Centre, Beijing was built by China Construction Design International, in partnership with PTW Architects of Australia. The total cost of the Water Cube was not made public though initially it was set at $ 100 million. Work on the National Swimming Centre, Beijing began on 24th December 2003 and was completed on 28th January 2008.

The Water Cube in Beijing has a capacity of 6,000 permanent seats and 11,000 temporary seats. It is located very close to the National Olympics Stadium, which is also known as ‘The Nest’, and is built over an area of 79,532 square meters. Made of concrete and steel, the National Aquatic Center in Beijing has a blue-toned outer skin made of a Teflon-like material called ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene or ETFE. This skin gives the effect of natural formation of soap bubbles. The inside of the stadium will also have the similar effect.

Swimming will be held from 9th-21st August, synchronized swimming from 18th-23rd August while diving will take place from 10th-23rd August at the National Aquatic Center of Beijing. A total of 44 events will take place during this period.

Once the 2008 Summer Olympics gets over, the Water Cube will be converted into a shopping center. Restaurants, nightclubs, tennis courts and a number of other activities will also come up.

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National Indoor Stadium

Venue: National Indoor Stadium
Location: Olympic Green
Total land surface: 80,900 sq m
Competitions: Artistic Gymnastics, Trampolines, and Handball
Post-Games use: The venue, one of the best sports facilities in Beijing, can be used for sports competition, cultural and entertaining purposes, and will serve as a multi-functional exercise center for local residents.
Groundbreaking date: May 28, 2005
The National Indoor Stadium will be the venue for handball, artistic gymnastics and trampoline during the 2008 Summer Games.
The National Indoor Stadium is one of the 31 venues that will be used during the 2008 Beijing Summer Games. This state-of-the-art venue will play host to Artistic Gymnastics, Trampolines and Handball events. The National Indoor Stadium of Beijing will hold the Wheelchair Basketball event of the Paralympics, to be held immediately after the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The National Indoor Stadium in Beijing is built over an area of 80,900 square meters and is located inside the Olympic Green zone. Construction began on this stadium on 28th May 2005 and was completed in October 2007. Handball will be held from 9th-24th August, Artistic Gymnastics from 9th-19th August while Trampoline will be held from 16th-19th August.

The National Indoor Stadium, Beijing has a capacity of 20,000 spectators, which is the biggest for any indoor stadiums in China. The steel roof truss of double bowstring is one of the characteristic features of this stadium. The National Indoor Stadium boasts of having the biggest span of steel truss in the world. The stadium also has solar generating, natural lighting and steel scoria backfilling.

Once the 2008 Summer Games gets over, the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing will be used for other purposes like cultural and entertainment programs as well as sporting competitions.

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Beijing National Stadium "Bird's Nest"

Beijing National Stadium facts:

Stadium Name: Beijing National Stadium
Address: Beijing National Stadium, Olympic Green, China
Built: 2007
Capacity: 91,000
Gross floor area: 2,58,000 m2
Structure: 36 km of unwrapped steel length
Height: 69.2 m above pitch level
Designer: Jaques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron along with Arup Sport and China Architecture Design & Research Group

The National Stadium (Olympic Green) is better known as Beijing National Stadium. The stadium is also known as the "Bird's Nest" due to it's amazing design. This National Stadium, Beijing, is the main track and field stadium for the Beijing Summer Games 2008. This stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the twenty-ninth Summer Games. The stadium will be the venue of the athletics and football events during the Games. The National Stadium is being built at the intended location of the Guangdong Olympic Stadium. The stadium meets all the functional and technical requirements of an Olympic National Stadium.

Location of the Beijing National Stadium: The stadium is located at the Olympic Green in Beijing in the Chaoyang district. BaDaLing and JuYongGuan wall are the nearest part of the Great Wall of China from Beijing. Kempinski Beijing Lufthansa Center, Marriott Beijing Executive Apartments, Renaissance Beijing Hotel, Comfort Inn & Suites, Hotel Kunlun, Beijing Jing Gang Wan Hotel, Beijing Hua Tai Hotel are some hotels near the Beijing National Stadium in the Chaoyang district.

Description of the Beijing National Stadium: In 2002, Beijing Government officials held a design competition for architects all over the world to design the stadium for Summer Games 2008. Pritzker Prize winning architects Jaques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron in alliance with Arup Sport and China Architecture Design & Research Group won the competition. The construction of the stadium started in March, 2004 and is almost ready for hosting the Summer Games. The estimated cost in building this National Olympic Stadium comes to be around $500,000,000.

The Beijing National Stadium has a synergistic appearance. The superstructure has been made following the model designed. The only alteration is the omission of the roof in the new design. The structure of the stadium is built with 36 kilometer of unwrapped steel. The huge steel beams mutually support each other and converge into a grid-like formation. The formation looks like a bird's nest with the interwoven twigs. For this reason, the Beijing National Stadium is also known as the ‘Bird's Nest'. The stadium, in every sense, is the historical landmark for the Summer Games of 2008. The lobby of the stadium includes all the facilities – restaurants, suites, shops and restrooms. All these facilities are self-contained units in the stadium. The lobby functions like an arcade. The stands are divided in three tiers. The spacious ambulatory circles the stands.





Area and Capacity of the Beijing National Stadium: The Beijing National Stadium has a length of 330 meters, with the width of 220 meters. Height of the stadium is 69.2 meters above the pitch level. The gross floor area covered by the stadium will be 258,000 square meters. The capacity of the Beijing National Stadium is of 91,000 spectators during the Summer Games. However, after the games, the capacity will be reduced to 80,000 spectators. It is believed to be the world's largest enclosed space.

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