Top 10 Miss India Winners of All Time

Thursday 26 May 2011

Article on Top 10 Miss India winners. List of the 10 best Miss India pageant winners of all time. Includes Leela naidu, reita faria, zeenat aman, juhi chawla, madhu sapre, sushmita sen, aishwarya rai, diana hayden, lara dutta, priyanka chopra.


Girls who have won the coveted title have gone on to live glamorous lives with most of them opting for modelling or acting. We bring forth the list of the Top 10 Miss India winners of all time who were better, in one way or the other, than all the other winners.

1. Leela Naidu


The beautiful Leela Naidu won the Miss India title in the year 1954. She featured in the list of the "World's Ten Most Beautiful Women" as named by Vogue magazine. She starred in a few Hindi and English films and passed away in the year 2009.

2. Rita Faria


Rita Faria was the first Indian woman to bring home the Miss World Crown in 1966. However after the completion of her one year tenure asMiss World, she refused all modelling and film offers and opted, instead, for medical studies.

3. Zeenat Aman


Actress Zeenat Aman found fame after being declared the second runner up in the Miss India contest.She was later crowned Miss Asia Pacific in 1970. Aman, then, embarked on a journey of modelling and films and was one of those actresses who helped change the perception of Indian women as meek and submissive in the country.

4. Juhi Chawla


Juhi Chawla won the Miss India crown in 1984 and she is considered to be one of the finest of the lot. Juhi moved to a filmy career, during which, she captured the imagination of millions of fans.

5. Madhu Sapre


Madhu Sapre came close to winning the Miss Universe crown in1992 but she claims she could not do so because she wasn't politically correct and or proficient in English. She was crowned the second runner up and Madhu went on to become one of the most bold and iconic model India had ever seen.

6. Sushmita Sen


Sushmita Sen was the woman who ended India's drought at the Miss Universe contest in the year 1994. The first Indian to win the title, Sush was a cut above the rest from the very start. She not only established herself as an actress but also showed her mettle as a woman by single-handedly taking care of her two adopted daughters.

7. Aishwarya Rai


Aishwarya Rai was the second woman to win the Miss World crown. After coming second to Sushmita Sen in the Miss India contest, Ash did not let that happen again and brought the title home. Today, Ash is one of the most recognized Indian faces on the global platform and has lived yp to her title of being a 'Miss World'.

8. Diana Hayden


Diana can be termed as one of the most charming Miss India winners with her perfect poise andcrisp diction. She was also the only Miss World contestant to score a hattrick at the Miss World contest in 1997- Miss Photogenic, Miss Beachwear and Miss World.

9. Lara Dutta


Lara Dutta is the only other woman after Sushmita Sen to win the Miss Universe title. Lara won the title in the year 2000. She is, today, an actress, a producer and a very supportive wife to husband Mahesh Bhupathi.

10. Priyanka Chopra


Priyanka was the last Indian who won the Miss World title. Its been over ten years that India has returned empty handed from the international contests. Priyanka has created a niche for herself in the industry with spectacular performances in various films. At present, she is ruling the roost in Bollywood as she is amongst the top actresses.

Source: Yahoo.com

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10 Risk of Untreated Depression

Friday 6 May 2011

Many people, irrespective of age and gender become the victims of depression. Statistical data indicate that a good number of people -- including very young ones, adolescents and adults -- get depressed every year. Untreated depressions can cause serious damages like severing of relationships, interpersonal harmony at work places, developing undesirable addictions and suicidal tendencies leading to death.
10 Risk of Untreated Depression
The following are the risks of depression unattended or untreated.
  1. Physical Health: Studies relating to depression in patients recovering from critical diseases like strokes and heart attacks reveal that they have difficulty in making health care choices. These studies further point out that the heart patients with major depression have a higher risk of death in the first few months after a heart attacks.
  2. Insomnia and Daytime Fatigue: Depression can also cause sleeplessness or disruption in sleep known as insomnia. This may result in extreme tiredness, drain of energy and  difficulty in concentration and decision making. Further, on a day to day basis, the following disorders may also occur:
    • Irritability and lack of focus.
    • An unfulfilled sleep sensation.
    • Trouble falling asleep either directly or after waking up in the middle.
    • Waking up at odd hours or waking up even before the set alarm.
  3. Weight Loss and Obesity: Extreme conditions like excessive weight gain or excessive weight loss can also be the resultant symptom of untreated depression. Other emotional outcomes can be hopelessness, irritation, helplessness and frustration.
  4. Cardiovascular Problems: Depression may have serious impact on your heart health as it increases endothelial inflammation (inflammation of the thin layer of cells that lines the interior surface of blood vessels), which causes stress to the arteries and blood vessels. Depression also increases the stickiness of platelets, which in turn increases the risk for blood clots and heart attacks.
  5. Alcohol and Drug Addictions: Alcohol abuse and drug addiction are more common in clinically depressed people. In turn, these pave path for a series of health hazards like tremors, consuming alcohol in sly, inability to maintain relationships, memory loss, self pity and reluctance to talk or share the problems etc.
  6. Chronic Mental Illness: Untreated depression is likely to develop into serious mental disorders like bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.
  7. Social Withdrawal: Depression may create an imbalance in the serotonin, a crucial chemical in the brain which is responsible for being happy and social. This imbalance  will manifest in total withdrawal from the social activities to the extent of the affected people distancing themselves from others and any form of social interaction like meeting people, and responding to phone calls, SMSs and emails of even their loved ones.
  8. Risky Behaviors: People untreated for depression are likely to get into serious trouble by way of having unprotected sex, consuming spurious drugs, gambling, accident-prone driving and unmindful spending.
  9. Suicides: The biggest risk of untreated depression is suicide. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 90 percent of people who die from suicide have depression and other mental disorders, or a substance abuse disorder.
  10. Increased Mortality: Untreated depression becomes chronic and studies prove that premature deaths are the results of a chemical imbalance created in the brain and substance abuse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who suffer from chronic, untreated depression may die up to 25 years earlier than the average lifespan.
In spite of the dire consequences of untreated depression mentioned above, it is really heartening to learn that more than 80% of the people diagnosed to be depressed can be successfully treated, with early detection, intervention, and support. Family support and treatment will go a long way to resume normal life.

Source: Lifemojo

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The Pros and Cons of Sunscreen

With the advent of summer every year, we feel like turning into vampires who prefer to stay in the dark! These supernatural beings cannot tolerate or don't like the idea of getting "drenched" in sunlight. But staying away from sunlight is not our cup of tea as we, the humans, have to go out to earn our living! We cannot live on blood! But we cannot allow the sun to suck our blood either! So what can we do to protect our skin from the harmful UV rays? Change our attires to match that of the people living in the Middle Eastern countries? Or can we trust the television ads and try out some sunscreens?
The Pros and Cons of Sunscreen
Sunscreen, also known as sun block, sun lotion and sun cream, is a type of cream, lotion or spray that protects the skin and prevents sunburn by absorbing or reflecting the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. There have been different viewpoints, questioning the validity of sunscreen and whether or not it actually provides an adequate protection against the harmful rays of the sun.

UVA vs UVB Radiations

There are two forms of ultra-violet radiations (UV) that reach us via sun, tanning booths and sun lamps -- UVA (wavelength 320 to 400 nm) and UVB (wavelength 290 to 320 nm). Both UVA and UVB rays are harmful to the skin and damage DNA. Though not as powerful as UVB, UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and increases the risk of malignant melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Nearly 95 percent of the UV radiation that we are exposed to is UVA radiation. UVB rays, on the other hand, primarily affects the skin's outer layers, causing your skin to darken and burn. It increases the risk of squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, two forms of non-melanoma skin cancer.

The Top Brands of Sunblock Compared

Various options are available for the consumers and a comparison between the three leading brands will help you to draw some inferences.
1. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 55 
  Upside 
  • Has a high quality UVA/UVB protection to protect the skin from damage.
  • Water resistant, perfect for swimming or going to the beach.
  • Lightweight, non-greasy and non-scented
  Downside
  • Doesn't have any antioxidant.
  • It is not ideal for facial use.
2. No-Ad Sunblock Lotion SPF 45
  Upside
  • Cheap and inexpensive.
  • Broad-spectrum protection.
  • Water-resistant.
  • Has anti-oxidants.
  Downside
  • Contains fragrance that may not suit every individual.
  • Difficult to locate in stores.
3. Coppertone Sport Sunblock Lotion SPF 30 
  Upside
  • Good choice for sport players.
  • Lightweight and non-greasy.
  • Sweat resistant.
  • Broad spectrum protection.
  Downside
  • Unpleasant chemical odor.

The Facts

  • Various studies have suggested that the most common mistake people do is to avoid using the sunscreen lotion for which they get tanned.
  • Vitamin D plays a significant role and is an important ingredient in preventing cancer as well as heart disease, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis and even depression. Sunscreen may prevent Vitamin D synthesis by forming a barrier between the sunrays and the skin. According to the University of Calgary research, 97 percent of Canadians are vitamin D deficient at some point in the year.
  • The sun protection factor (SPF) is the laboratory measure of the effectiveness of sunscreen to block UVB rays - basically the higher the number, the more protection it offers against the UVB rays. It's also the sunburn fighter in sun block. There is no widely accepted comparable SPF rating for UVA sunscreens. The term 'broad spectrum' mentioned on the sunscreen refers to the UVA protection.
  • An SPF 30 product doesn't offer twice the protection as SPF 15 product. An SPF 15 product blocks about 94% of UVB rays, an SPF 30 product blocks 97% of UVB rays, and an SPF 45 product blocks about 98% of rays. None offers 100% protection.
  • The amount of sunscreen used is very important when it comes to getting the most out of the SPF. Applying an SPF 30 sunscreen in a very thin layer, will not get you the SPF 30 level of protection.

The Upsides and the Downsides of Each Individual Ingredient of a Sunblock

1. Mexoryl
  Upside
  • Stable, long-lasting.
  • Light, absorbs well.
  Downside
  • Chemical sunscreens can irritate the skin, especially at higher concentrations.
  • Protects against the shorter wavelengths of UVA, not so effective for longer wavelengths.
2. Avobenzone
  Upside
  • Light, absorbs well.
  • Absorb ultraviolet light over a wider range of wavelengths (up to 400 nm). Used in many commercial preparations marketed as 'broad spectrum' sunscreens.
  Downside
  • Chemical, may cause irritation.
  • Degrades after 30 minutes of sun exposure.
3. Titanium dioxide
  Upside
  • Mineral sunblock, will not irritate the skin
  Downside
  • Protects up to 360 nm, not effective for longer wavelengths.
  • Often leaves the skin white and pasty looking.
4. Zinc Oxide
  Upside
  • Mineral sunblock, will not irritate skin.
  • Anti-inflammatory.
  • Safe, even for small children.
  • Protects from 290 to 400 nm with recent research suggesting that it is superior to titanium dioxide at wavelengths between 340 and 380 nm.
  Downside
  • In most formulations leaves skin white and pasty looking.

The Positive Aspects of Using Sunscreens

The "mainstream" opinion is that you must wear sunscreen any time you go out in the sun. That's because, sunburn can greatly increase your risk for skin cancer. It can also increase your athletic performance. By blocking some of the sun's rays, sunscreen keeps your skin cooler. This, in turn, is supposed to keep your body up to 20 percent cooler than if you were not using a sunscreen. If you're cooler, you'll perform noticeably better.

The Negative Viewpoints Concerning Sunscreen Use

In an investigation concerning 952 name-brand sunscreens, the Environmental Working Group found that 4 out of 5 sunscreen products offer inadequate protection from the sun or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns. In an Australian study, adverse reactions from sunscreen ingredients occurred in as many as 19 percent of the individuals. Some of the ingredients are suspected to be carcinogens. The concern is about the tiny particles in the sunscreen lotion that have the ability to penetrate the skin, inducing free radical formation.

So, What's the Real Deal?

The key to getting the health benefits of sun exposure without risking skin cancer is to start slow. Play in the sun for a few minutes at a time and gradually work your way up. Use of sunscreen should not be seen as a replacement for sun avoidance measures, but as a tool that sometimes helps when used in conjunction with sun avoidance measures. Use a water-resistant sunscreen and apply it liberally, half an hour before going outdoors.
It's better not to get swayed away by provocative ads showing gorgeous women "daring to bare" in the sun! Using protective clothing is the safest way to prevent suntan or sunburns. It's just a matter of a few months and that too, during the daytime. Keep your sleeveless tops and minis or micro-minis reserved for the colorful evenings!

Source: Lifemojo

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Autism Symptoms and the Way Ahead

A child would show some typical signs of development at different stages of growth. But many parents express their worries on the fact that they are not observing proper behavioral patterns in their children. These problematic areas might include inability to express social skills and failing to communicate thoughts and feelings to others. Some children might even be noticed to be showing some stereotypical behavior in the form of flapping or toe walking. These are typical signs of autism, a complex disorder, which affects the way an individual communicates with the world around him.
Autism Symptoms and the Way Ahead

What is Autism?

Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of a child's life and hits roughly one in 160 individuals. Males have a greater probability of being diagnosed with autism than females. The condition also referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD, is characterized by an individual's difficulty in communication and social interactions along with the expression of unusual behavior and body movements. An autistic child typically shows lack of interest in other people and performs repetitive behaviors. Autism is believed to be caused due to neurological or genetic defects. But the definite causes have not yet been found out and there is no known cure as well. People with autism find the world to be a very confusing place. And others around him find it very difficult to interpret his behavior.

Developmental Areas Affected due to Autism

  • Communication: Language problem is very common among people with Autism. They cannot express their needs, wants, opinions, ideas and experiences properly. These individuals face difficulties in the construction of meaningful sentences with the proper use of grammar and vocabulary. They cannot understand the meaning of body language. They can even misinterpret the meanings of words and can find it really hard to understand the feelings and emotions of other people around them.
  • Social Interaction: Social interaction forms a very essential part of our lives. And autistic individuals find difficulties in their social skills. Lack of interest in social communication makes these individuals to stay aloof from any sort of social interactions. Interpretation of non-verbal communications like eye-contact, facial expressions and gestures is a problem area to them. These individuals find it difficult to make or maintain friendships because of their lack of interest in the emotions and feelings of others. Some autistic individuals totally get isolated from any sort of social interaction, while others struggle to initiate or maintain a social behavior.
  • Behavior: There are certain typical behaviors which are shown by autistic individuals. These include:
    1. Body Movements: These movements are stereotypical in nature and typically involve activities like flapping, toe-walking and hand biting.
    2. Rituals and Routines: Autistic individuals stick firmly to the routine and any change in the routine can cause stress and anxiety in them.
    3. Language: These individuals show abnormal patterns in the use of language.
    4. Sensory Sensitivities: These people show a tendency to react violently to certain colors, smells, textures, sounds and tastes.
    5. Obsessions: Autistic individuals show obsessive behaviors with their favorite topics, people, places and activities.
    6. Tantrums: These people find it very difficult to convey their emotions to others and they might resort to using tantrums to communicate their conditions of extreme anxiety, anger, stress, frustration and confusion.

Different Forms of Supports Available

Although there is no known cure, but still certain education programs can improve the communication skills of autistic individuals. The common forms of help include:
  • Assessment: This is the step normally performed by a team consisting of specialists from various disciplines. The assessment team would consist of a pediatrician, a psychiatrist and a speech pathologist. A proper assessment might not be possible until the child reaches three years of age. Research has shown that an early intervention would go a long way to develop appropriate skills in an autistic individual.
  • Educational Support: The educational needs vary with the severity of the disorder. Some individuals might require specialized programs while mainstream programs and services might be found to be suitable for others. The level of functioning of the individual would decide the type of education program that he requires.
  • Family Support: The parents and the siblings of an autistic child also need some type of support and training to take proper care of the child and to understand his needs and wants. Counseling is also necessary for the parents, who might react in a variety of ways like showing anger, guilt and frustration after the diagnosis. Parents who are taking care of an autistic child might also express feelings of stress, confusion and anxiety. Parents might require tips on child care, social skills and living skills. Joining a support group can help parents come out with feasible solutions to their problems. There are numerous support groups which can even train up siblings of autistic children to help them to easily go along with their autistic brothers/ sisters by overcoming stress and embarrassment.
Autism is a difficult concept to understand and there is no known cause or cure! But early intervention can lead to the development of communication as well as social skills in autistic children. But the real support should come from the family members. Parents should try to make life normal for the special child and for others in the family. Patience counts!

Source: Lifemojo

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Lactose Intolerance: Ways to Include Dairy

There are many unfortunate souls, who in spite of loving dairy foods cannot have one bit of it. They have a condition called "lactose intolerance." Apart from missing out on their favorite foods, they miss out on health as well. Milk is so full of essential nutrients like vitamin D, calcium, protein and riboflavin, and they end up suffering from deficiency of those. Not to forget the yummy goodies (dairy products) that they are missing out on. Not to despair! There are ways and means you can include them in your diet, at least in small quantities. Something is better than nothing, right? 
Lactose Intolerance: Ways to Include Dairy

What is Lactose Intolerance?

Lactose intolerance is the inability of the body to digest lactose, a sugar found in all dairy products. In lactose intolerant people, the small intestine does not produce lactase, an enzyme which aids in the digestion of lactose.

Ways to Include Dairy in Your Diet

  • Understand Your Limits of Lactose: Different people have different limits of lactose intolerance. Once you understand your limits properly, you can stay within those limits and not miss out on your favorite dairy products. To help you understand your limits, you can maintain a diary (or log book) jotting down what lactose foods you ate, how much and what was the reaction. This will help you arrive at an amount of dairy you can have.
  • Consider Lactose-free Milk: Lactose-free or low-lactose milk is available in the market that contains the same amount of calcium like traditional milk. So, all you milk lovers, go hunting for lactose-free milk at your favorite grocery store. Lactose-free cheese and yogurt are also available. Look for these in the specialty section of supermarkets, if you don't find them at your grocery store.
  • Consider Lactase Supplements: So, you have already tried lactose-free dairy and don't like the taste. Now what do you do? Have you heard of lactase enzyme supplements? These help you tolerate the foods containing lactose and are available in the form of caplets and chewable tablets. These are helpful when you are unsure if your food is lactose free (for example at a wedding reception or party).
  • Read Labels: It is always a good idea to go shopping for your grocery when you have sufficient time. Don't just heap your trolley without even giving a second glance at it. Read the labels carefully and stay away from those goodies that have "milk solids," "dried milk," "whey," etc. Apart from most dairy products, lactose is present in baked and frozen foods and dry mixes.
  • Seek Expert Advice: If you feel helpless in deciding what foods to eat on your own, take expert advice. There are many dieticians and nutritionists who will help chart out a well-balanced meal plan that contains lactose-free or low-lactose foods.
  • Take Small Portions: You are so fond of milk that you are "intolerant" to the very idea of foregoing it completely. Instead of drinking a whole glass of milk, try out with smaller portion, say 1/4th glass of milk. Gradually increase the amount of dairy you eat until you begin to notice unpleasant symptoms.
  • Combination Works: For some people, having milk with foods that does not contain lactose results in reducing or eliminating the intolerance felt. So, pour milk over your favorite cereals and enjoy, or have a piece of toast on the side. At least, you will not lose out on the nutrients.
  • Choosing Cheese: A variety of cheese options are available in the market nowadays. If you are a cheese lover, choose hard and aged cheese like cheddar and parmesan that are low in lactose content. Feta cheese and cottage cheese are made from goat or sheep's milk, which are also low in lactose content. Avoid soft and creamy cheese (like Brie).
  • Have Yogurt: Just one cup of plain, low-fat yogurt provides 415 mg of calcium! Howzzat!!...Just make sure you have yogurt that contains live and active bacterial cultures that help breakdown the lactose, or simply have lactose-free yogurt. But remember to avoid frozen yogurt as it doesn't contain enough live cultures.
  • Probiotics: Probiotics are live microorganisms (bacteria and yeasts) that benefit the body, when eaten or taken as a dietary supplement. These microorganisms restore the balance of "good bacteria" in your gut. Some dietary supplements, kefir (probiotic-rich milk), and yogurt contain probiotics.

What to Choose While Eating Out?

While eating out, scour the menu card well. Find out what goes into your favorite food or food that you are going to try out. Have a detailed talk with your server to help you decide on the menu. Skip all creamy stuff (cream sauces, sour cream, etc.), or else, just take a lactase supplement wherever you are dining out.

What to Choose When Cooking At Home?

It is an accepted fact that home food is good for your health. But deciding what to cook each day (that too variety) can sure be a daunting task. Then, if you are lactose intolerant, you may feel you have very few choices to choose from. First get hold of a good cook-book that features simple lactose-free recipes. Use herbs and seasonings to flavor vegetables, fish and meat, and always stick to fresh ingredients. Use chicken or vegetable stock or almond paste instead of milk and cream. Try replacing milk and cheese with soy milk and tofu.
By being a little attentive to your body signals and being innovative in your approaches to food, you will come out a winner. So, don't just feel sorry about yourself and feel deprived in any way if you are lactose intolerant.

Source: Lifemojo

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Managing Sleep for Night Shift Workers

Dangers that Arise from Loss of Sleep

A number of studies indicate that health complaints ranging from the mild to the fatal may result from loss of sleep due to employees working night shifts. The studies also indicate that it also affects the performance levels of employees. A study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) has found that after prolonged exposure to night shift work, women are at a higher risk to develop breast and colon cancer. The study also found that men who work the night shift are at a higher risk to develop prostate cancer.
Sleep disruption first causes mild disorders such as:
  • Sleep disorders
  • Fatigue
  • Stress
  • Ulcers
  • Digestive problems
Soon more serious complication set in, such as:
  • Gastrointestinal complaints
  • High blood pressure
  • Obesity
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Breast and colon cancer in women
  • Prostrate cancer in men
Behavioral problems that could arise from such stressful working patterns are:
  • Mood swings
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of self esteem
  • Phobias
  • Withdrawal from social interaction
  • Depression
  • Substance abuse
  • Wallowing in unwanted thoughts
  • Phobias

The Importance of Deep Sleep

An analysis of the 6 to 8 hours of sound sleep shows how sleep can be divided into 'light sleep' and 'deep sleep'. During deep sleep, many of the brain's functions are at rest. This process helps the brain to restore itself and function well the next day. Throughout the time we sleep in the night, we constantly shift from light sleep to deep sleep and vice versa. The restorative deep sleep continues for around 45 minutes and when disrupted causes problems in normal functioning of the brain. The biological clock gets upset and we have trouble sleeping during the day.

Why People Working During Night Shift have Difficulty in Sleeping?

Those who work night shifts have trouble getting deep sleep during day time because of many reasons. First, the bright sunlight prevents them from falling into a deep sleep. Even when they manage to fall asleep, day time activity around them produces a lot of noise, in the form of car horns, dogs barking, people talking loudly, with grinders, mixers, vacuum cleaners adding to the din. How can a person sleep well under these circumstances?

What to Avoid?

  • Avoid rotating your shifts backward. Rather than do an afternoon shift and then move to a morning shift, move from morning to evening shift and then to night shift.
  • Don't do night shifts in a row. Try to take breaks in between to give rest to your body of working continuously through the week.
  • Don't change your shifts too often. Try to stick to the same shift, for at least a couple of weeks, for your sleep pattern to get set.
  • Avoid crashing in to bed the minute you reach home. Enjoy the cool morning hour with a simple breakfast and a newspaper. Listen to music and go to sleep in a relaxed state of mind.
  • Avoid and limit drinking coffee in order to stay alert, particularly during the last part of the night. You may find yourself unable to sleep once the shift ends.
  • Avoid excessive use of antacids, tranquilizers and sleeping pills.
  • Avoid meeting guests and tell visitors strictly that they cannot meet you during the workdays.

What Habits to Adapt?

  • Stick to a regular schedule, by going to bed and waking up at the same time.
  • Take the help of your family members in keeping a space for you that is cool and dark. Use dark paper, foil or tinting on the window to darken the room.
  • Ask your family members to keep their cell phones in silent mode and maintain low levels of noise.
  • If you have trouble falling asleep, learn some relaxation exercises and breathing techniques that help your muscles to relax and help you enjoy deep sleep.

Some Healthy Nutrition Tips

  • Drinking water can improve your digestion, and gives relief from fatigue and headaches.
  • Keep a check on your fat intake. Eating fried food, spicy snacks and red meat adds a lot of stress to the body. Lean meat pieces, egg white or fish can provide your body with nutrition.
  • Increase your fiber intake. Eating fibrous food such as oat bran and finger millet (ragi) improves your nutrition profile. Apples, guava and pears are examples of fibrous fruits. Complex carbohydrates are more nutritious than refined rice or wheat.
  • Have a light dinner at your office cafeteria. Eating light dinners keep you alert during night shifts and ready for a good breakfast at the end of the shift.
  • Prefer buttermilk over fizzy drinks because it is a healthier and cooler option.
As night shifts appear to be a necessary evil, we should adapt our lifestyles to rotating shifts. This would give us the opportunity to further our careers and remain healthy at the same time.

Source: Lifemojo

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Driving and Ergonomics: Prevent the Driving "Pain"

Driving is a pleasurable experience when you leave behind the lush meadows and hold your partner's hands! Driving is a memorable experience when it enables you to reach your destination just before the deadline after overcoming many obstacles! Driving is an enjoyable experience when you are able to defeat your friend in a "road rash"! Driving is a motivating experience when you drive your new car out of the showroom! Driving is a lovable experience when you bring your newborn baby home from the hospital. And driving is a painful experience when you start complaining about back pain, lower limb cramps, painful points in your legs and pains of the neck and the shoulder.
Driving and Ergonomics: Prevent the Driving
Common Problems Encountered by Frequent Driving

Back pain.
Neck and shoulder pain.
Trucker's shoulder, a repetitive stress injury. It is seen in long distance truck drivers. Shoulder, elbow and wrist joints are the most affected body parts.
Cramps in the lower limbs.
Long-term driving can lead to disc degeneration and discal hernia.
Tender points in the legs.
Poor posture.
Strain on the hamstrings.
Poor blood circulation in lower limbs.

What are the Factors Responsible for Driving Related Injuries?

Reduced rest period of the working muscle group.
Number of times the same motion is repeated in a minute.
Sitting for long duration. Back ligaments help to hold the spine together during movement. These ligaments get slacked during prolonged sitting and cannot support the spine efficiently. There is posterior pelvic tilt in the sitting position and this brings lower spinal curve in a flattened shape, which in turn, increases the strain in the discs and the vertebra.
Vibration of the whole body. Bumps in the road can cause vibration of your vehicle along the length of your spine. This vibration tires the neck and back muscles quickly and decreases the support these muscles provide to the spine. This may lead to injury. Long term exposure to it can cause disc herniation (a common back condition that occurs when the cushion that sits between the spinal vertebra is pushed outside its normal position leading to irritation of spinal nerves).

Ergonomic Tips to Prevent the "Pain of Driving"

You should begin by adjusting your seat and posture. Your thighs should be comfortably supported by the seat base and your knees should be slightly bent.
Don't sit too far from the pedals. If your legs are stretched while driving, it can increase pressure on the lumbar spine and can stress your neck, shoulder and wrist. Slide the seat so that you can operate the pedals with just your foot.

Studies suggest that the back of your seat should be tilted between 100 to 110 degrees from your legs to reduce the extra pressure on the disc. This angle supports your upper body while maintaining an upright and attentive posture.

Your head and neck should rest on the cervical cushion or neck rest. Do no bend your neck while driving.
Avoid slouching while driving. Use a lumbar support during long drives, or if you suffer from back pain. Adjust the lumbar support so that the curve of your spine is evenly supported.
You can add up an extra padding or a pillow over your seat to absorb vibration.
Change your grip on the wheel occasionally and maintain the wrist at neutral.
Avoid locking of the knee joint. The edge of the seats should not press at your knee joint (i.e. your thighs extend pass the seat) as it can hamper the blood circulation in the legs.
Your legs and pelvis should have ample space to move and change positions without distracting you from driving. This helps to relieve pressure from the compression points and to maintain the blood circulation during a drive. Keeping the muscles in a cramped and contracted position for too long may lead to deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the long run.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers (and front-seat passengers) should buckle their seat belts and keep about 10 inches of distance between the center of the air bag cover and their breastbone to reduce the risk of air bag injury while still remaining protected by the air bag in the event of a collision.
You also need to make some adjustments on the steering wheel. Instead of holding on the top of the wheel positions, grab the steering wheel in its middle position with both of your hands almost opposite to each other like 3 and 9 positions in a clock. This position will relax your shoulder girdle muscles. Do not over turn your body other than turning the wheel. Avoid driving in a "one arm cool dude" attitude as it can cause the compression of soft tissues at the wrist joint.
While getting into the car, sit first and then bring your legs into the car. To get out of the car, bring your legs out first and then stand up.
Don't sit on a filled pocket. Remove items such as wallet or keys from your pockets. This can injure the soft tissue while sitting. This compression can reduce circulation and compress nerves and other tissues leading to low back and leg pain. It can also lead to the famous "Wallet syndrome".
Take short and frequent breaks (every 2 hours) during long drives. During the break, get out of the car and stretch your whole body. It is very important for your back as well as for your hands. Holding a steering wheel for a long duration can cause you to invite carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition involving pressing or squeezing of the median nerve at the wrist.
Adjustments of mirrors are also necessary to get you a good posture. Set your side and rear view mirrors such that you have a full 180 degree view without having to twist or turn your body for the back view.
A simple test can let you know whether you are seated correctly in your vehicle or not. Place your both hands on the steering wheel and look down between your arms and your legs. You should be able to see equal parts of each leg. Often the right leg is partially obscured by the right arm, suggesting that the shoulder girdle is rotated to the left in relation to pelvis.

One Important Note

Avoid lifting immediately after driving! Your muscles are tired and the ligaments are over stretched at this time. Hence there are greater chances of disc injury in your spine. Give yourself a break of one or two minutes to stretch and rest before trying to lift anything.

Driving is simply an entertainment and a fun to many of us. We do not need any objective to pull our cars out of the garage! We drive just to feel "driving"! We drive just to experience the feel of our car, which we have purchased with our hard-earned money. Hence, we drive for the "sake" of driving. It's all related to our achievement, enjoyment and of course utility! And in such cases, we cannot possibly afford to invite pains and injuries.

Source: Lifemojo.com

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Haunted: Movie Review



The prospect of getting horrified in three-dimension could be promising. But Indian horror films have rarely gone beyond chalk-faced spirits in Halloween costumes grunting like death-metal vocalists. Here you have just that, in 3D. And the most interesting thing that pops out of the screen is one character's nose. And as incredulous as it may sound, you can actually count the blackheads and even join them to form a shape, if you will.

The story is about Rehan (Mahaakshay Chakraborty) who has just returned from the US. Appropriate look: squirrel hairdo, leather jacket, neck scarf: check. He's headed to Ooty to sell off a family property (which is haunted), so appropriate expression: bewildered: double check. In fact he probably rehearsed the expression so well that his forehead is crinkled even in one of his intimate scenes.
Once he reaches the haunted house, Glen Manor, he is welcomed by a sound similar to Hard Kaur clearing her throat mixed with rodents making love. And if this wasn't enough evidence, the spirit actually makes an appearance in the form of a piano-playing-ceiling hanging damsel from the 1930s (Tia Bajpai), who communicates her sob story through a letter. Clearly moved by her story and smitten by her beauty, our American desi boy makes his life's mission to avenge her death. And of course, he also bumps into several chalk-coated severed heads lying at different places in the sprawling mansion. He tries to confide in a friendly neighbourhood Parsi gentleman, who calls him and idiot. He shoots back, "I'm not an idiot, I am an MBA!" Sure, you can't be an idiot, unless you've bought a ticket for this movie too.

And since no Bollywood horror film is complete without the interference of religion, our dazed hero heads to the closest church, where Father (Mohan-yes-my-child-Kapoor) briefs him on spirit behaviour. 1- Spirits are most powerful at 3am and weakest at 3pm (afternoon siesta?). 2. You must never take the name of the devil (pseudo-names, pronouns- good to go). 3. To capture this evil spirit, you have to go to a Dargah (why can't Father use his own God to solve this? He only caters to Holy Spirits?). And after a dreary monologue on good over evil, he sets Rehan off on his journey to fight the spirits, armed with wishes and a promise that he would pray for him.
This movie also involves some time travel, an evil spirit raping a cute spirit, a lot of heavy breathing and a chillum-smoking 'Baba' who magically blows away wounds, brings good luck and plays another secret role in the film.
The film paints a beautiful landscape and 3D enables you to relish the foreground even better. Also, the SFX will jolt you out of your seat atleast once in the film. But the effortlessly idiotic dialogues and overuse of the word 'spirit' all point towards a half-spirited writer. The film also includes veteran actors Arif Zakaria, who is most expressive in his spooky avatar and Achint Kaur who is scary enough as her natural self, let alone otherwise. The film's music doesn't pump up the spook value but is loud enough to keep you awake.

Your parting lessons from this movie would be many. Spirits can't read, can be stabbed with wooden logs, are combustible and even though they can run on air, make and break brick walls, once left inside a latched door, they're, well, trapped. Moral of the story: if you're willing to put up with a few eerie scenes, you will be rewarded with many laughs.

Source: Yahoo.com

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IT & ITES sector to bring 183,000 jobs

Monday 2 May 2011


With the emergence of markets like India and China, global corporate companies are laying more stress on the strategies of growth and workforce.

The Ma Foi Randstad Employment Survey (METS) had predicted in 2010 that there would be creation of around 1 million jobs in the organized sector of the economy. At the end of the year it was found that 1.13 million jobs were created across 13 industries like Healthcare, Hospitality, Real Estate, Construction, IT and ITES etc.

Now for the current year i.e. for 2011, it is expected that the trend would continue and it is estimated that there would be a creation of 1.6 million jobs across various sectors. Industries like healthcare, non-machinery manufacturing, hospitality, IT & ITES and real estate & construction sectors would witness sharp rise in number of jobs.

According to the METS first edition of 2011, one see that there is continuation of momentum growth in the service sector. A positive trend is also seen in transportation and financial sectors according to the indicators. Employment generation has remained stable in most of the sectors.

It is likely that the IT & ITES sector would add 183,000 jobs in 2011. These sectors have remained been the major job providers during the fourth Quarter of 2010. It is predicted that the sector will keep growing in 2011 also.
IT-ITES industry is India's is regarded as one of the largest employment generators in the organized sector which creates jobs for over 10 million people both directly and indirectly according to NASSCOM. Since the rural BPOs have increased, so IT-ITES sectors are contributing more in the employment generation.

These companies are becoming more competitive and entering the area of outsourcing as well. This has brought about greater positive effect in the employment trends in this sector. Salary levels too have increases in this sector.

Total jobs in the sector:
Estimated December 2010:1,918,865
Expected June 2011: 2,019,665
Expected December 2011: 2,101,865

Source: DNA India

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Symbiosis International University to bring out liberal U-G course from June

A new course is going to be launched by the Symbiosis International University (SIU) in June this year. It is an under graduate programme in liberal education. It is expected to bring more flexibility in the teaching and learning process. The duration of the course would of four years.

The vice-chancellor of SIU said that the liberal education course would permit students to have a combination of unrelated subjects from science and arts streams while doing graduation.

A student could major in mathematics along with studying languages or theatre, or even music by choosing them as elective subjects. 60 are to be admitted in the first batch after a personal interview and group discussion by Symbiosis.

Symbiosis is known for collaborating with Indian institutes and foreign universities in the interest of students. Now the course is structured in such a way that there will be collaboration between intra- and inter-disciplinary departments.

Commenting on research activities, the Vice Chancellor said, “Research should start from under-graduate level itself and should not be restricted to just an activity, but should be spread as a culture.”

Source: DNA India

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Animation Career Information

Animation Career Information
A career in animation requires strong artistic skills and a solid familiarity with the latest in computer animation technologies. It also requires the ability to turn creative thoughts into compelling images, using them to effectively communicate an idea. Is this industry right for you? Could you become an animator?
animation careersThere are a number of different career paths for animators. We often think of animators as the talented artists who create the cartoons we love, either for film or movies. Animators continue to work in these areas, but increasingly, many are employed creating animated graphics for a variety of projects.
This can include websites, online advertisements and video games. Animators can find full-time employment with movie or television production companies, with advertisers, web design firms, video game companies or with animation firms. Free lance work is another option for animators, particularly those specializing in web animation. Most entry-level positions will require an animator to have a bachelors degree in a related field such as fine arts or media. There are a number of Computer Animation Schools that offer course work specifically in computer animation and associated technologies. In addition, a strong portfolio of work which a training program can help you to develop is an essential part of landing a job in computer animation and becoming an animator. 

Video Game Animation:
The video game industry is just exploding right now, with no slowdown in sight. Nearly all games will need a team of animators to bring the games to life. Motion capture often is being used here as well as in movies to nail down convincing character animation. But there is still a lot of work involved obviously. This is where you could come in. : ) But this of course is one narrow example. Texture mapping, lighting effects, and other special effects are just as important to the success of a video games attempt to draw you in and immerse you. It might sound like many of the same elements in a feature film. That's because technology is closing in the gap, and the paying consumer demands more.
There is an obvious bridge between animation and video game design. This connection is often reflected in video game design programs and degrees that have strong elements of animation in their coursework.

Movie & Television Production:
The full spectrum of animation in these areas is quite large. Jobs may include character animation in the form of a cartoon, logo, special effect and more. In case you haven't noticed, 3D really has taken off in the realm of computer animation and animation in general.Movies such as Lord of the Rings, Finding Nemo, the latest Star Wars prequels are all relying extensively on 3D computer animation. What would have looked fake and rigid a mere 6-7 years ago now looks photo realistic and seamless for 3D rendering and animation. A program like Maya can spit out amazingly detailed and convincing characters like Gollum (seen below), Ring Wraiths, and an insane amount of fighting, screaming Orcs. Exciting techniques involving motion capture can really add to the realism of characters. It really is an exciting time to be in the industry. Texture mapping, lighting effects, collision detection and special effects also need to be covered.

TV also offers a fair amount of opportunity in computer animation. Commercials are littered with animated logos, cats that sing, and bottles that dance. : ) Local News always has an animator of some kind doing the logo fly in or that kind of thing. There are also TV movies, and obviously shows that rely on a computer artist to do some digital special effects. Some may start their animation career this way.


The Internet:
More and more, you are seeing animated advertisements dance across your screen as you're on the Internet. You go to a movie site or a band site, and you have a very good chance of seeing a flash animation. Much like other media industries, the Internet is expanding at a mind boggling rate. And with it comes new websites and advertisements that need a way to stand out. Static images don't always cut it, so why not get the attention of the viewer with animated characters or text?


An Outlook on the Computer Animation Industry
Salaried animators and multi-media artists (grouped together) are earning an average of about $44,000. In the video and motion picture industry the median salary is higher, at around $60,000. As with every career, the salaries animators earned varied greatly with their employer and their region.
Computer animation, like many creative fields, is fiercely competitive. As the web, the entertainment industry, and other multimedia outlets continue to grow, there continue to be opportunities for talented artists to work as animators. But you really need to get the proper training at one of the strong computer animation schools to be on that cutting edge that these employers seek. Not only do you get hands on training with the best equipment, but you also rub shoulders with those who know the industry well. This is just as important as the training itself.

If you are artistic, have an eye for detail, can meet tight deadlines, then maybe an animation career is what you have been waiting for. Do YOU have what it takes to become an animator?


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Osama bin Laden dead and buried at sea, Obama says justice is done


Obama makes it official, Al-Qaida leader Osama is dead
WASHINGTON: Osama bin Laden, the face of global terrorism and architect of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, was killed in a firefight with elite American forces on Monday, then quickly buried at sea in a stunning finale to a furtive decade on the run.

Long believed to be hiding in caves, bin Laden was tracked down in a costly, custom-built hideout not far from a Pakistani military academy.

``Justice has been done,'' US President Barack Obama said in a dramatic announcement at the White House while a crowd cheered outside and hundreds more gathered at ground zero in Manhattan to celebrate the news.

The military operation took mere minutes.

US helicopters ferrying elite counter-terrorism troops into the compound identified by the CIA as bin Laden's hideout _ and back out again in less than 40 minutes. Bin Laden was shot in the head, officials said, after he and his bodyguards resisted the assault.

Three adult males were also killed in the raid, including one of bin Laden's sons, whom officials did not name. One of bin Laden's sons, Hamza, is a senior member of al-Qaida.

US officials also said one woman was killed when she was used as a shield by a male combatant, and two other women were injured.

The U.S. official who disclosed the burial at sea said it would have been difficult to find a country willing to accept the remains. Obama said the remains had been handled in accordance with Islamic custom, which requires speedy burial.

``I heard a thundering sound, followed by heavy firing. Then firing suddenly stopped. Then more thundering, then a big blast,'' said Mohammad Haroon Rasheed, a resident of Abbottobad, Pakistan, after the choppers had swooped in and then out again.

The 54-year-old bin Laden's death marks a psychological triumph in a long struggle that began with the Sept. 11 attacks, and seems certain to give Obama a political lift. But its ultimate impact on al-Qaida is less clear.

The greatest terrorist threat to the U.S. is now considered to be the al-Qaida franchise in Yemen, far from al-Qaida's core in Pakistan. The Yemen branch almost took down a US-bound airliner on Christmas 2009 and nearly detonated explosives aboard two U.S. cargo planes last fall. Those operations were carried out without any direct involvement from bin Laden.

The few fiery minutes in Abbottobad followed years in which US officials struggled to piece together clues that ultimately led to bin Laden, according to an account provided by senior administration officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the operation.

Based on statements given by US detainees since the Sept. 11 attacks, they said, intelligence officials have long known that bin Laden trusted one al-Qaida courier in particular, and they believed he might be living with him in hiding.

Four years ago, the United States learned the man's identity, which officials did not disclose, and then about two years later, they identified areas of Pakistan where he operated. Last August, the man's residence was found, officials said.

``Intelligence analysis concluded that this compound was custom built in 2005 to hide someone of significance,'' with walls as high as 18 feet (5 1/2 meters) and topped by barbed wire, according to one official. Despite the compound's estimated $1 million cost and two security gates, it had no phone or Internet running into the house.

By mid-February, intelligence from multiple sources was clear enough that Obama wanted to ``pursue an aggressive course of action,'' a senior administration official said. Over the next two and a half months, the president led five meetings of the National Security Council focused solely on whether bin Laden was in that compound and, if so, how to get him, the official said.

Obama made a decision to launch the operation on Friday, shortly before flying to Alabama to inspect tornado damage, and aides set to work on the details.

The president spent part of his Sunday on the golf course, but cut his round short to return to the White House for a meeting where he and top national security aides reviewed final preparations for the raid.

Two hours later, Obama was told that bin Laden had been tentatively identified.

CIA director Leon Panetta was directly in charge of the military team during the operation, according to one official, and when he and his aides received word at agency headquarters that bin Laden had been killed, cheers broke out around the conference room table.

Administration aides said the operation was so secretive that no foreign officials were informed in advance, and only a small circle inside the US government was aware of what was unfolding half a world away.

In his announcement, Obama said he had called Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari after the raid, and said it was ``important to note that our counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding.''

One senior administration told reporters, though, ``we were very concerned ... that he was inside Pakistan, but this is something we're going to continue to work with the Pakistani government on.''

The compound is about a half-mile from a Pakistani military academy, in a city that is home to three army regiments and thousands of military personnel. Abbottabad is surrounded by hills and with mountains in the distance.

Critics have long accused elements of Pakistan's security establishment of protecting bin Laden, though Islamabad has always denied it, and in a statement the foreign ministry said his death showed the country's resolve in the battle against terrorism.

Whatever the global repercussions, bin Laden's death marked the end to a manhunt that consumed most of a decade that began in the grim hours after bin Laden's hijackers flew planes into the World Trade Center twin towers in Manhattan and the Pentagon across the Potomac River from Washington. A fourth plane was commandeered by passengers who overcame the hijackers and forced the plane to crash in the Pennsylvania countryside.

In all, nearly 3,000 were killed in the worst terror attacks on American soil.

Former President George W. Bush, who was in office on the day of the attacks, issued a written statement hailing bin Laden's death as a momentous achievement. ``The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done,'' he said.

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A massive house with no telephone or internet connection led to bin Laden

First visuals: Osama's mansion in Abbottabad
Washington: A large mansion in a massive compound with 12 feet to 18 feet tall walls topped with barbed wire. No telephone or internet connection to the house. And seldom seen residents who burnt their trash rather than dispose it as other neighbors did.

These were the slender leads that eventually took US spooks and seals to the world's most wanted fugitive. Osama bin Laden lived not in a cave in some frontier mountain redoubt, but in a suburban neighborhood in a million-strong city just an hour's drive from Islamabad, right under the eyes of the Pakistani military.

No one is particularly surprised about this. In fact, going by the track record of major al-Qaida and Taliban operatives captured so far, it would seem that images of them hiding in caves are overblown. Most of them have been captured in Pakistani cities -- Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in Rawalpindi, Mullah Biradhar in Karachi, and other operatives in places like Faisalabad and Multan. It would seem the terrorists like their comfort -- or at least they are kept in comfort.

Details of how the US homed in on bin Laden are still sketchy, but this much is known based on what President Obama himself said and background briefing by officials.

Right from the moment he took office, Obama resolved to hunt down bin Laden, a goal that his predecessor Bush (who once suggested he did not want to personalize the bin Laden hunt) appeared to have taken his eyes off from. The new President called in the CIA chief and told him to devote whatever resources were needed to nail bin Laden, even as he shifted the focus from the war on Iraq to the Af-Pak theater.

Last August or September, the CIA team tasked with the bin Laden hunt succeeded in developing leads obtained from a Guantanamo detainee four years ago about two brothers who had acted as couriers for bin Laden. It took several months to establish their identity and then their coordinates. U.S officials said this was because of ''extensive operational security on their part,'' but added that ''the fact that they were being so careful reinforced our belief that we were on the right track.''

In August 2010, the U.S team got to know with some degree of certainty that they were in Abbottabad, a military cantonment 60 kms north of Islamabad, where they had built a house in an ''extraordinarily unique compound.'' The design of the compound and the mansion, and the activities surrounding it, indicated it held someone important.

"Intelligence analysts concluded that this compound was custom built to hide someone of significance. We soon learned that more people were living at the compound than the two brothers and their families,'' one U.S official explained. ''Our best assessment, based on a large body of reporting from multiple sources, was that bin Laden was living there with several family members, including his youngest wife.''

"Everything we saw -- the extremely elaborate operational security, the brothers' background and their behavior, and the location and the design of the compound itself was perfectly consistent with what our experts expected bin Laden's hideout to look like,'' the official added.

Between March 14 and April 28, President Obama held five national security meetings with his top aides to decide on how to approach the problem at a time ties with Pakistan were at all all-time low because of the Raymond Davis episode. The incident made it all the more dicey to employ American forces for an airborne attack, particularly given past U.S experience in Iran and Somalia, and the Pakistani military's virulent response to any suggestion of U.S ground action inside Pakistan, much less at the doors of a military cantonment.

Still, Obama gave the go-ahead for the operation over the weekend. Three US choppers carrying elite Navy Seals were deployed on Saturday night/Sunday early a.m. No Pakistani personnel were involved.

Although the operation lasted just 40 minutes, U.S officials acknowledged the team ran into resistance. Bin Laden, who was living in the compound with his eldest son and his youngest wife, himself fought before being shot in the head in the firefight. The two couriers who were also with him also died, as did his son and another woman who was used as a human shield. Two other women in the compound, which also had children, were wounded. It is not clear if his wife survived.

There were other mishaps. A U.S chopper involved in the attack developed a malfunction at some point and crashed in the neighborhood. This was reported in the Pakistani media several hours before news of bin Laden's death emerged, with no mention of American involvement or the hunt for bin Laden. Pakistani officials had shut down the area and kept out the media on orders from the U.S.

Only in the morning in Pakistan, when the wreckage from the chopper (which the U.S reportedly destroyed) was cleared, did the story emerge that the smoldering house in the Abbotabad suburb had hosted Osama bin Laden. He has been shot and killed by U.S forces, who had even taken away his body from Pakistan. 
 

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US troops were ready to capture Osama alive: White House

WASHINGTON: The US troops were prepared to capture Osama bin Laden alive, but his resistance and use of a woman as shield forced them to kill the al-Qaida leader, the White House said.

"If we had the opportunity to take bin Laden alive, if he didn't present any threat, the individuals involved were able and prepared to do that. We had discussed that extensively in a number of meetings in the White House and with the (US) President," John Brennan, National Security Advisor for Counterterrorism and Homeland, told reporters at White House.

Bin Laden was killed in a pre-dawn operation yesterday in Pakistan's Abbottabad, 120 km from Islamabad.

"The concern was that bin Laden would oppose any type of capture operation. Indeed, he did.

"There was a firefight. He therefore was killed in that firefight, and that's when the remains were removed. But we certainly were planning for the possibility, which we thought was going to be remote, given that he would he likely resist arrest but that we would be able to capture him," he said.

The White House official said they were trying ensure that mission was accomplished safely.

"We were not going to put our people at risk. The president put a premium on making sure that our personnel were protected, and we were not going to give bin Laden or any of his cohorts the opportunity to carry out lethal fire on our forces.

"He was engaged, and he was killed in the process. But if we had the opportunity to take him alive, we would have done that," he said.

Brennan said Osama bin Laden was engaged in a firefight with those entered the house.

"Whether or not he got off any rounds, I'd quite frankly don't know," he said.

Brennan said the course of action and the subsequent decisions have been made over the course of the last several months.

"There was a working group that was working this on a regular basis, if not a daily basis, over the last several weeks, looking at every decision and based on what type of scenario would unfold, what actions and decisions would be made," the official said.

"It was looked at from the standpoint of, if we captured him, what would we do with him, where would he go. If he was killed, what would we do with him and where would he go?" he added. 


Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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CIA forms task force to study material recovered from Osama's mansion

WASHINGTON: The CIA has established a task force to study the material recovered from the mansion in Abbottabad in Pakistan where al-Qaida chief Osama Bin Laden was hiding and killed in a US operation.

"Quite a bit of materials that were found at the sight and collected: Those materials are currently being exploited and analyzed.

"A task force is being set up at CIA to conduct that task, given the volume of materials collected at the raid site," a senior intelligence official said yesterday.

The Deputy National Security Advisor for Counter terrorism and Homeland Security, John Brennan, told reporters at a crowded White House that US special forces people, who were on the compound, took advantage of their time there to make sure that they were able to acquire whatever material they thought was appropriate and needed.

"We are in the process right now of looking at whatever might have been picked up. But I'm not going to go into details about what might have been acquired," he said.

"We feel as though this is a very important time to continue to prosecute this effort against al-Qaida, take advantage of the success of yesterday and to continue to work to break the back of al-Qaida," Brennan said.

"We are trying to determine exactly the worth of whatever information we might have been able to pick up. And it's not necessarily quantity; frequently it's quality," he said in response to a question.

According to a senior intelligence official, it is a robust collection of materials that they need to sift through.

"We hope to find valuable intelligence that will lead us to other players in al-Qaida," he said. 


Source: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Bin Laden to join Hitler, Saddam on Time cover


WASHINGTON: Time said it was publishing a special issue of the magazine with a red "X" over Osama bin Laden's face, something it did previously with Adolf Hitler and Saddam Hussein.

Time said the special issue on the death of the Al-Qaeda leader, killed by US troops in Pakistan on Sunday, will appear on newsstands on Thursday.

It said the cover will feature a red "X" over a picture of bin Laden's face.

Time ran similar covers in May 1945 following the death of Hitler, in April 2003 following the death of Saddam Hussein and in June 2006 following the death of the Al-Qaeda leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

The New York Times said meanwhile that it had increased its print run of Monday's newspaper by an additional 165,000 copies to cope with demand for news on the death of the 9/11 mastermind.

The Times also said it was breaking with its usual style and dropping the honorific "Mr." for bin Laden, referring him only as bin Laden on second reference. 
 

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