Cricket - Indian Premier League

The BCCI launched the Indian Premier League (IPL) on the lines of football’s English Premier League and the National Basketball League (NBA) of the US.
The IPL is a professional Twenty20 cricket league created and promoted by the BCCI and backed by the ICC. The Twenty20 league is set to debut in April 2008, with eight teams comprising a minimum of 16 players each. The league will last for 44 days and will involve 59 matches.
The IPL works on a franchise-system based on the American style of hiring players and transfers. These franchises were put for auction, where the highest bidder won the rights to own the team, representing each city.
The auction for the same took place on January 24, 2008 and the total base price for the auction was $400 million. The auction went on to fetch $723.59 million.
The Mumbai franchise owned by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) was the most expensive franchise - fetching $111.9 million closely followed by Vijay Mallya’s United Breweries which paid $111.6 million for the Bangalore franchise .
Media house Deccan Chronicle won the Hyderabad chapter of the IPL for $107 million, while India Cements’ Chennai franchise cost $91 million.
Bollywood also made its presence felt with two of its leading stars bagging the ownership of their respective teams - Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla’s Red Chillies Entertainment buying out Kolkata for $75.09, while Preity Zinta and her beau Ness Wadia bought the Mohali team for $76 million.
GMR , the infrastructure development group which who are involved in a project for revamping the Delhi airport, bagged the ownership of the Delhi team for $84 million and the Emerging Media , consisting of its CEO Fraser Castellino, Manoj Badale and Lachlan Murdoch and other investors won the rights for the Jaipur franczhise for $67 million.
IPL Teams:
1) Bangalore Royal Challengers: The Bangalore team was bought by Vijay Mallya’s UB Group for $111.6 million to own the team for 10 years. ‘Icon player’ Rahul Dravid is the captain of Bangalore Royal Challengers. Team India’s bowling coach, Venkatesh Prasad is the coach of the team.
2) Kings XI Punjab: The Mohali team was bought by Bollywood diva Preity Zinta, her industrialist beau Ness Wadia, along with renowned industrialists Karan Paul and Mohit Burman for $76 million for a period of 10 years. ‘Icon player’ Yuvraj Singh is the captain of Kings XI Punjab. Australia’s Tom Moddy is the coach of the team.
3) Chennai Super Kings: The Chennai team was bought by India Cements for $91 million to own the team for 10 years. Team India ODI and T20 skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the captain of Chennai Super Kings. Former South Africa cricket team captain Kepler Wessels is the coach of the team.
4) Kolkata Knight Riders: The Kolkata team is owned by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, actress Juhi Chawla and her husband Jay Mehta for $75.09 million for a 10-year period. ‘Icon player’ Sourav Ganguly is the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders. Australia’s John Buchanan is the coach of the team.
5) Deccan Chargers: The Hyderabad team was bought by Deccan Chronicle, a media house, for $107 million for a 10-year period. Team India’s Test player VVS Laxman is the captain of Deccan Chargers. India’s fielding coach, Robin Singh is the coach of the team.
6) Mumbai Indians: The Mumbai team is owned by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited for $111.9 million for a period of 10 years. ‘Icon player’ Sachin Tendulkar is the captain of Mumbai Indians. Former Team India manager, Lalchand Rajput is the coach of the team.
7) Delhi Daredevils: The Delhi team is owned by GMR Holdings for $84 million for a period of 10 years. ‘Icon player’ Virender Sehwag is the captain of Delhi Daredevils. Australia’s Greg Shipperd is the coach of the team.
Rajasthan Royals: The Jaipur team was bought by UK-based company Emerging Media for $67 million to own the team for a period of 10 years. Former Australian spin bowler Shane Warne is both the captain and coach of Rajasthan Royals.
More on IPL:
* Title Sponsorship Rights: On February 13 2008, Indian real estate developer DLF Universal secured exclusive rights to the IPL title sponsorship worth Rs 200 crore (over $50 million) for five years.
* Television Rights: On January 14 2008, it was announced that a consortium consisting of India’s Sony Television network and Singapore-based World Sports Group secured the rights of the IPL. The record deal has a duration of ten years at a cost of $1.026 billion.
* On February 20 2008 , the auction of 77 players took place in Mumbai. Team India ODI and Twenty20 skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds emerged the costliest Indian and overseas players respectively.
* Each team will play the other seven teams home and away, the top four teams at the end of the group stages will proceed through to the semi-finals. The first match is slated for April 18 between Team Bangalore and Team Kolkata.
* Team Composition: All teams must have at least four players from their respective Catchment Areas and four Under-22 players. The players from Catchment Areas could be an iconic player, a Ranji player or an U-22 player.
Each team can buy a maximum of eight overseas players but only four would be able to take the field in a match.

Quit smoking

"Death of Innocence"

I lie in here, beside the whitewashed wall,

My hair is gone, my head is bald,

The room is sterile and it's very cold,

Wish you were here, Dad, I need someone to hold.
I can't breathe, I'm on a machine,

It goes whirr and click, it's such a din,

I've got lung cancer, it's all black inside,

When Mom says smoking causes cancer, Dad, I think she lied.
I never lit up, even when you did,

I just sat next to you, a small little kid,

You huffed and puffed through your life, Dad,

And Mom always looked so very sad.

My friends asked me to smoke, but I never did,

Because Mom told me from young: smoking is stupid,

it soots up your lungs and blackens your teeth,

So when I see a smoker, Dad, I anger and seethe.

You smoked two packs a day but you're still healthy and strong,

I hate smokers, Dad, but I never thought you wrong,

I love you, Dad, I always sat next to you,

And I know that you always loved me too.

The room here is cold, I see you through the glass,

And I think back to long ago, Dad, of times past,

Of the memories, I recall as much as I can,

There's always been a cigarette, Dad, stuck inside your hand.
I remember the fun things, Dad, all the times we had,

But as I look at you from here, you look so very sad,

You're not smoking, Dad, no cigarette I can see on you,

Maybe it's just the hospital, and this is the ICU.
My breathing becomes labored, I don't think I'll live,

Well, I tried my best, I gave all I had to give,

But one thing, Dad, I cannot comprehend,

I'm not a smoker, so why is my life about to end?

Author Unknown

Have you made up your mind to quit smoking?

Congratulations! You have made the first and most important step to beginning your life as a non-smoker. You understand that you need to quit smoking, and the following information can be used to help you through the next steps in beginning your life 'smoke-free'.

Effects of Smoking

Short Term:

Hair and clothes smell
Skin wrinklles

Teeth/Fingers stained
Bad breath
Taste buds deadened
Stuffy nose
Reduced sense of smell
Throat is irritated
Increases Blood Pressure
Stress on Heart
Lungs receive less oxygen

Long term

Heart Attack
Stroke
Difficulty Breathing
Lung cancer

Why Should You Stop Smoking?

1:To improve your personal appearance by eliminating such things as stained teeth and fingers, bad breath, coughing, and smokingodor on clothes. Prevent wrinkles and keep skin nice.

2:Regain the sense of taste and smell, feel more energized and active, sleep better, and eliminate 'hairy tongue' and 'smokers cough' or wheezing.

3:Regain control of your behavior, gaining a sense of freedom, and owning yourself again.

4: Reduce health risks, such as the risk of heart disease, cancer, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.

5:Reduce risks of heart attack or problems breathing.

6: Reduce risk to unborn children and provide a healthy environment for children and others living around.

7:Save money.

8:Increase productivity by regaining the time you now spend maintaining your smoking habit.

9:Avoid possible injury or upset to others by such things as smoking in restaurants or dropping ashes on them.

Tips for Quitting:

1:Quitting smoking can be a difficult but very rewarding decision for you and your friends or family. To help you begin living your life smoke-free, review the following tips for success.
Think about your reasons for quitting. Write them down and carry them with you. You can read them every day or when the going gets tough.

2:Choose a good time to quit and set a quit date. Stick with it. Sign a contract. Announce it to family and friends who support your decision.

3:Think about when and why you use tobacco. Do you use tobacco for a pick-me up? When you are bored? When you are angry, upset, worried? When you are driving your car? When you are with others who are using tobacco?A couple of weeks before your quit date, wrap your cigarette pack with paper, pencil and rubber band. When you smoke write down the time of day, how you feel, and how important that cigarette is to you. This can help you identify your reasons for smoking.

4:Have a plan before you quit. If you use tobacco for a pick-me-up, plan to exercise or take a walk instead. When you're bored, plan to call a friend, listen to music, go for a walk, play with your pet, JUST GET BUSY! When you're upset, angry, or worried, call a friend, write it down, or talk to someone you trust.

5:Think good thoughts. "I will do this." "I'm worth it." "I'm in control." "I'm proud of myself."

6:What if you smoke after quitting? This does not mean you're a smoker again- do something now to get back on track. Don't punish yourself- think about why you smoked and decide what to do the next time it comes up. You're still a non-smoker.

What Happens When You Stop Smoking?

Your body will begin to repair itself as soon as 20 minutes after you stop smoking. Here is a list of common changes that you can expect.

20 minutes after last cigarette:
Blood pressure drops to normal
Heart rate drops to normal
Body temperature returns to normal (hands/feet)

8 hours:
Carbon Monoxide level in blood drops to normal
Oxygen level in blood increases to normal

24 hours:
Chance of heart attack decreases

48 hours:
Nerve endings start to re-grow

72 hours:
Bronchial tubes relax, making breathing easier - Lung volume increases

2 weeks to 3 months:
Circulation improves
Walking becomes easier
Lung function increases up to 30%

1 to 9 months:
Lungs (cilia) begin to heal, increasing mucus, cleaning lungs and reducing infection

5 years:
Lung cancer death rate for an average smoker decreases from 137 to 72 per 100,000 people
Lung cancer death rate for an average smoker drops almost as low as the rate of nonsmokers
Pre-cancerous cells in the lung are replaced
Risk of other cancers decreases (mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas)

Health Tips

Enhance Your Appearance By...Maintaining A Good Health...


The way you feel about your body figure and the way you look has an effect on your weight loss success. If you do not love your body, then it will be hard for you to achieve your desired appearance.


The way you think about your body appearance relies on the practices that you use. Giving importance to your health is essential in improving your appearance. People who are healthy always look good; so if you want to look your best, you should start by maintaining good health.


Here are some factors that will lead you to a physically fit body to achieve your desired appearance.

1. Avoid eating foods that have refined carbohydrates. These may stimulate insulin spikes and acne break-outs. Acne on your face can cause embarrassment and be a burdensome problem.





2. Keep yourself active by enrolling in a weight loss program. Weight loss programs encourage individuals to set goals for having a healthy lifestyle and at the same time achieve the desired weight and figure.



3. You should have a healthy eating regimen that will reduce the calorie intake from some food sources. It is important to include in your diet foods that are rich in Vitamin A such as carrots that are rich in beta-carotene. Vitamin A and E is responsible for having a healthy skin.


4. You should have a regular physical activity or exercise. Involve yourself in outdoor activities and sports that will keep your body active and alive. Physical activity is essential for burning excess body fat.


5. You need to eat fruits and vegetables that are rich in Vitamin A, C, and E. These are important nutrients responsible for maintaining a healthy body and skin. You should measure the amount of food that you eat everyday so that you will know the number of calories that you absorb.


6. Drink plenty of water everyday - at least eight glasses. You must avoid alcohol as it will dehydrate your skin. Also minimize drinking beverages that have high sugar content.


You should always remember that having a good healthy lifestyle requires discipline and focus to achieve the appearance you want. Any individual in good health can enhance his physical appearance which leads to improved self-esteem and personality. You will have a positive outlook toward your body image and lifestyle.

Gift wrapping tips

GIFT WRAPPING IDEAS

If you're tired of your gifts looking like everyone else's, put some creative thought to it. Gifts don't have to just be paper and ribbon that you bought at the store. Let some of these ideas inspire you.

1. Name Tags - Instead of using name tags, use the front cover from leftover Christmas or other holidays. Just cut along the crease and glue or tape the card to the top of your wrapped package. Most designs have some unprinted space to allow you to write the name of the recipient and a short note.

2. Decoration - Instead of using ribbons and bows, make the decoration part of the gift. Tie a bunch of cinnamon stick on top with ribbon. Tie your package with satin or velvet ribbon and let the ends of the ribbon flow down the package. Add a silk flower inserted in the knot of the bow. If your recipient likes to cook, tie wooden kitchen utensils in the bow. Your ribbon or wrapping paper could be replaced with a decorative kitchen towel.

3. Festive boxes - For small items, buy small Chinese take out cartons, the ones that have a folded top and metal handle. Decorate the outside with brightly colored stickers of hearts, flower, or Christmas themes. Write the recipients name on the top flaps.

4. Original Wrapping Paper - At the craft store, buy sponges that have been cut into shapes of flowers, sailboats, etc. Dip them in paint and press them onto plain white wrapping paper or Kraft colored paper. Your decoration can fit the gift or the recipients taste.

5. Trimmings - Instead of using bows on every package, buy ornaments or small toys when they are on sale. Use these items that best fit your recipient's hobby or lifestyle and tie or glue them onto your package.

6. Name Sacks - Sew up some red, blue, yellow, and green velvet squares into sacks. Turn down the top edge, sew in place to allow a small opening for a drawstring. Write the recipients name on the bag with glue and sprinkle the glue with glitter. Fill the sacks with candy or small toys. Use more string to wrap around the package and through the drawstring to secure the sacks

True freindship -- A special gift

True Friendships Are Special Gifts That Last Lifetimes


"Savor your friendships as you grow old; many are silver, but one is pure gold."


This is sage advice for those who have been fortunate enough to find that one true friendship. Or perhaps you have maintained friendships from your days in elementary school. Whatever the case, friends are previous gifts we give to ourselves.

As children, friendships are vitally important, most notably as it relates to the socialization process. Meeting a new friend the first day of school is essential, especially if one is particularly shy. Perhaps another girl would sense the shyness and offer a hand in friendship. Forming friendships with others from different cultures enhances a child's early experiences as well, and plants a seed that is healthy and which can be nurtured throughout life. But, preserving friendships are often difficult, even under the best of circumstances. Whether a friend moves away; or leaves school; or becomes ill, it is especially hard on a child. They are resilient, however, and somehow cope with the loss.

As the child becomes a teen, the word friendship takes on a different connotation. While some teens exhibit the closeness and bonding prevalent during their parents' day; others are not so conducive to this type of friendship. Instead, they form gangs which they refer to as their family, and commit acts which were unheard of twenty or thirty years ago. It makes one wonder if this type of friendship is born out of a home where caring and nurturing is non-existent. Or has peer pressure to act and dress a certain way erased all that was taught in the early years of their childhood. Girls become vicious to each other; more so than boys, and it's inconceivable that a meaningful true friendship exists in that environment.

Perhaps as we grow older, the child in us returns to the very first day we attended school.
We appreciate and value the friends we've made in our adult life because they ground us; keep us balanced; watch out for us; protect us; care and help us when needed. True friendships require no expectations; they are unconditional by nature, and bring out the very best of who we are. We rely on each other for comfort; rant and rave knowing our friend will simply listen; discuss issues which we are passionate about, knowing we will be understood. Laugh together; cry together; then eat ice cream while laughing all the more. How rare is that kind of friendship? How blessed are we to have a true friend who will allow us to be who we are, without judgment. Yes, very rare indeed.

As we reach our golden years, our friends may have passed on, but the memories are still intact. We take out the old scrapbook and reminisce as we thumb through familiar pictures. Suddenly, we laugh and look to one side saying, "Remember " then stop. A single tear falls down our cheek. We look up and smile because the years have not taken away the recollections of our youthful days, nor has the light of true friendship been extinguished.

Greenhouse Flowers

Greenhouse flowers

Flowers are considered to be the most astonishing things the nature can offer the humankind. It is common knowledge that their popularity as a gift is growing day after day. An awesome and beautiful bouquet of flowers can even make miracles – touches our souls and hearts.

Nowadays the majority of flowers presented as a gift are grown commercially. It is not a secret that the flower industry can bring much profit and greenhouse flowers make up the most part of the presented flowers. In order to keep the beauty and preserve the life of flowers you should stick to some certain rules.

These are the following tips that will help you to care for greenhouse flowers properly and lengthen their life.

Cleanliness

After buying the greenhouse flowers or getting them as a present you should place them in a clean vase filled with clean water. Try to change the water in the vase with flowers every day. This will certainly extend your flowers’ life. Before placing the flowers make sure any leaves fallen into the water are removed by you. In case you do not follow these advices the greenhouse flowers may wilt faster. -

Heat

Undue heat will be the reason of the greenhouse flowers’ wilting as well. Once you get the flowers place them in a cool room. Thus you will lengthen their life.-AgeIt is not a secret that younger greenhouse flowers will last longer. That is why make sure you are buying young flowers, those that are half opened. Do not be allured by already fully blossomed flowers.

Note, the fresher the flowers are, the longer they will last; once a greenhouse flower reaches its full beauty it is all downhill. In case you still choose fully blossomed flowers you will be unable to enjoy their current beauty and feel the joy of watching a flower open fully. These types of flowers also last longer than those which have already full blossomed.

Ice Diving

ICE DIVING

Ice diving is a type of penetration diving where the dive takes place under ice. Because diving under ice places the diver in an overhead environment typically with only a single entry/exit point, it is considered an advanced type of diving requiring special training.

Ice Diving should not be attempted by anyone not trained (or in training) by a qualified instructor. This special training includes learning about how ice forms, how to recognize unsafe ice conditions, dive site preparation, equipment requirements, and safety drills. Ice divers are tethered for safety. What this means is that the diver is wearing a special harness under his/her scuba unit. A line is secured to this harness and the other end of the line is secured to the surface by one of a number of methods.

Ice diving is a team diving activity because the divers line requires a line tender. This person is responsible for playing out and taking in line so that the diver does not get tangled. Communication to the diver, or to the surface, is accomplished by pulling on the line. Each series of tugs means a different thing. There is a diver suited up and ready to enter the water at a moment's notice. This diver is a safety diver, and has his own tender. His purpose is to assist the primary diver in the event of a problem.

Training that deals with specific problems that can be encountered under ice can be: 1:How to impact the underside of the surface ice if the diver's weight belt falls off for any reason and the diver ascends uncontrollably and rapidly.
2:How to deal with a frozen air supply system using a redundant back up system.
3:What to do in the event the diver loses contact with the line or the line tender does not get feedback from the diver in response to signals given to the diver.
Since diving under the ice takes place in cold climates, there is typically a large amount of equipment required. Besides each persons clothing and exposure protection requirements; including spare mitts and socks, there is basic scuba gear, back up scuba gear, tools to cut a hole in the ice, snow removal tools, safety gear, some type of shelter, lines, and refreshment required.
Normal procedures and precautions for ice diving are:
1: Use a snow shovel to clear the snow and ice from the area.
2:Use an ice saw or a chain saw to cut a hole in the ice.
3:Use a weatherproof area for the divers to suit up.
4:Use a diving regulator suitable for cold water use.
NOTE: All regulators have a risk of freezing and free flowing - in this case the diver should immediately return to the surface. Some models fare better than others. 5: Connect the diver and tender on the surface with a rope and harness. The harness is typically put on over the dry suit but under the BC or other buoyancy device so that the diver remains tethered even if he or she must remove his or her air cylinder or buoyancy control device. The harness fits over the shoulders and around the back such that the tender on the surface can, in an emergency, haul an unconscious diver back to the hole.
6: Use rope signals.
7: Have a standby rescue, roped diver ready on the surface.
8: Have one or two divers diving at the same time from the same hole, each with their own ropes. Using two ropes runs little risk of getting tangled together, but using three significantly increases this risk.

Exposure Suits
Because of the water temperature (about 4°C in fresh water) exposure suits are mandatory. Some consider a dry suit mandatory; however, a thick wetsuit is also sufficient for hardier divers. A wetsuit can be pre-heated by pouring warm water into the suit. A hood and gloves are mandatory, and dry suit divers have the option of using hoods and gloves that keep their head and hands dry. Some prefer a to use a full face diving mask to essentially eliminate any contact with the cold water.

The biggest draw back to using a wet suit is the chilling effect of the water evaporating off the suit has on the diver. This can be reduced by using a heated shelter.