Happy Birthday to Daggupati Rana...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOL0aL9moVO1pKNVRxrUHzfMC2Af6tmpcNxVA_ySgOfxErHm3Hxg7Ne0RV5kkcoN6g65DqpMjDfO2N3-h2FEWuZGP1wo7BO0SdwaC07ZZBKacNl0H6rY89WbkF2KnQBxkVjGZBZIm69OL/s1600/Rana.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOL0aL9moVO1pKNVRxrUHzfMC2Af6tmpcNxVA_ySgOfxErHm3Hxg7Ne0RV5kkcoN6g65DqpMjDfO2N3-h2FEWuZGP1wo7BO0SdwaC07ZZBKacNl0H6rY89WbkF2KnQBxkVjGZBZIm69OL/s320/Rana.png" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="kno-card" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"> <br /> <li class="mod" style="border: 0px; clear: none; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div aria-level="2" class="kno-ecr-t kno-ecr-t-w-st kno-fb-ctx" data-hveid="133" data-ved="0CIUBEIcoKAAwCg" role="heading" style="margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 9px 0px 0px;"> <div class="kno-ecr-ts"> <div class="kno-ecr-pt" data-ved="0CIcBENwdMAo" style="color: black; font-size: 30px;"> Rana Daggubati</div> <div class="kno-ecr-st-c" data-ved="0CIgBEIYoMAo" style="margin-top: 4px;"> <div class="kno-ecr-st" style="color: #999999; margin-top: 2px; overflow: hidden;"> <span class="kno-ecr-st-val" style="padding-right: 5px;">Film actor</span></div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </div> <div class="kno-card" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"> <br /> <li class="mod" style="border: 0px; clear: none; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="kno-fb-ctx kno-desc" data-hveid="138" data-ved="0CIoBEM4gKAAwCw" style="margin: 10px 0px 13px; overflow: hidden;"> <div class="kno-rdesc"> Rana Daggubati better known as Rana, is an Indian film actor and producer. He made his acting debut with the Telugu film Leader for which he received the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut – South. <a class="fl q kno-desca-lnk" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rana_Daggubati" style="color: #999999; cursor: pointer; font-size: 11px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="kno-desca" style="white-space: nowrap;">Wikipedia</span></a></div> </div> </li> </div> <div class="kno-card" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"> <br /> <li class="mod" style="border: 0px; clear: none; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></li> </div> <div class="kno-card" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"> <br /> <li class="mod" style="border: 0px; clear: none; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="kno-fr"> <div class="kno-f kno-fb-ctx" data-ved="0CJEBEMsTKAAwDQ" style="margin: 7px 0px 0px;"> <span class="kno-fh" style="font-weight: bolder;"><a class="fl" href="https://www.google.co.in/search?q=rana+daggubati+born&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgxoHnxCXfq6-gWV6elZxspZYdrKVfkFqfkFOKpAqKs7Ps0rKL8q7qV9zcV6LW0LRJRXJE7J-R7fvCY0BAPCVBPhDAAAA&sa=X&ei=TgCsUoLSO4eYrAe0-oC4Cw&ved=0CJMBEOgTKAEwDQ" style="color: #1e0fbe; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Born</a>: </span><span class="kno-fv"><span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?q=%22rana+daggubati%22+%22born%22+%22december+14,+1984++%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgwAHsxKXfq6-gWV6elZxsgPj7lWFHTfC01cvdbS1TtCKnbLJkl8KAGFO9zUtAAAA">December 14, 1984 (age 28), <a class="fl" href="https://www.google.co.in/search?q=chennai&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgwEHnxCXfq6-gWV6elZxshIHiJ1sUZKtJZadbKVfkJpfkJMKpIqK8_OskvKL8vrelUbvezNhRYmPvFblL-1TCUxhcgDrbd0XTQAAAA&sa=X&ei=TgCsUoLSO4eYrAe0-oC4Cw&ved=0CJQBEJsTKAIwDQ" style="color: #1e0fbe; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Chennai</a></span></span></div> </div> </li> </div> <div class="kno-card" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"> <br /> <li class="mod" style="border: 0px; clear: none; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="kno-fr"> <div class="kno-f kno-fb-ctx" data-ved="0CJYBEMsTKAAwDg" style="margin: 7px 0px 0px;"> <span class="kno-fh" style="font-weight: bolder;"><a class="fl" href="https://www.google.co.in/search?q=rana+daggubati+height&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgwYHnxCXfq6-gWV6elZxspZEdrKVfkFqfkFOKpAqKs7Ps8pIzUzPKDHLPvHuA7eu3Z-Ty_-9Kmu73_TXKhcAHGBtUkUAAAA&sa=X&ei=TgCsUoLSO4eYrAe0-oC4Cw&ved=0CJgBEOgTKAEwDg" style="color: #1e0fbe; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Height</a>: </span><span class="kno-fv">1.91 m</span></div> </div> </li> </div> <div class="kno-card" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"> <br /> <li class="mod" style="border: 0px; clear: none; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="kno-fr"> <div class="kno-f kno-fb-ctx" data-ved="0CJoBEMsTKAAwDw" style="margin: 7px 0px 0px;"> <span class="kno-fh" style="font-weight: bolder;"><a class="fl" href="https://www.google.co.in/search?q=rana+daggubati+parents&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgyYHnxCXfq6-gWV6elZxspZkdrKVfkFqfkFOKpAqKs7PsypILErNKynet2ZKkdqkM2bLhSIOCuxp3VMuMbcPADwhlzVGAAAA&sa=X&ei=TgCsUoLSO4eYrAe0-oC4Cw&ved=0CJwBEOgTKAEwDw" style="color: #1e0fbe; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Parents</a>: </span><span class="kno-fv"><span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?q=%22rana+daggubati%22+%22parents%22+%22daggubati+suresh+babu%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgwAHsxKXfq6-gWV6elZxsgPj99niN6vSfNUeFfk6_J7nWnX5a3YKAEjvTlYtAAAA"><a class="fl" href="https://www.google.co.in/search?q=daggubati+suresh+babu&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgykHnxCXfq6-gWV6elZxshKYnZFeWJwUryWZnWylX5CaX5CTCqSKivPzrAoSi1LzSoqD2hzXxHFsflYgPIvRJH3n3yCZmgQA7nYHwVIAAAA&sa=X&ei=TgCsUoLSO4eYrAe0-oC4Cw&ved=0CJ0BEJsTKAIwDw" style="color: #1e0fbe; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Daggubati Suresh Babu</a></span>, <span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?q=%22rana+daggubati%22+%22parents%22+%22lakshmi+daggubati%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgwAHsxKXfq6-gWV6elZxsgMj89brcb_-6zY69V3dfvzImq5V3wp9AHbi1CQtAAAA"><a class="fl" href="https://www.google.co.in/search?q=rana+daggubati+lakshmi+daggubati&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgykHnxCXfq6-gWV6elZxshKYXV5pYVZWpiWZnWylX5CaX5CTCqSKivPzrAoSi1LzSopLnaLn_bEJDwlq7Ba0uXv_N6uKhR4Arztl3VIAAAA&sa=X&ei=TgCsUoLSO4eYrAe0-oC4Cw&ved=0CJ4BEJsTKAMwDw" style="color: #1e0fbe; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Lakshmi Daggubati</a></span></span></div> </div> </li> </div> <div class="kno-card" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"> <br /> <li class="mod" style="border: 0px; clear: none; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="kno-fr"> <div class="kno-f kno-fb-ctx" data-ved="0CKABEMsTKAAwEA" style="margin: 7px 0px 0px;"> <span class="kno-fh" style="font-weight: bolder;"><a class="fl" href="https://www.google.co.in/search?q=rana+daggubati+awards&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgy4HnxCXfq6-gWV6elZxspZsdrKVfmJ5YlEKhIwvz8zLSy2yAnOKp3hzvJr0mXvzu1mpx2TNjgrc1k08DwDH2hIuSgAAAA&sa=X&ei=TgCsUoLSO4eYrAe0-oC4Cw&ved=0CKIBEOgTKAEwEA" style="color: #1e0fbe; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Awards</a>: </span><span class="kno-fv"><span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?q=%22rana+daggubati%22+%22awards%22+%22filmfare+award+for+best+male+debut+%E2%80%93+south%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgwAHsxKXfq6-gWV6elZxsgNj4DaWD0evvtVfa-CQFKCSsWRySvtZAKhi1BEtAAAA">Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut – South</span>, <span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?q=%22rana+daggubati%22+%22awards%22+%22zee+cine+award+for+best+male+debut%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAAEtANL_AHvTx-gAAAAQCAMiCi9tLzA5Z2dqc2NAAfDAwdz6rGX6c-H_T6USM0-amQ877PvI9S0AAAA">Zee Cine Award for Best Male Debut</span>, <span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?q=%22rana+daggubati%22+%22awards%22+%22apsara+award+for+best+male+debut%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgwAHsxKXfq6-gWV6elZxsgOjtHJEEIud6-KpxxO1A5cFzft_iiECAIZ9je4tAAAA">Apsara Award for Best Male Debut</span></span></div> </div> </li> </div> <div class="kno-card" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"> <br /> <li class="mod" style="border: 0px; clear: none; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="kno-fr"> <div class="kno-f kno-fb-ctx" data-ved="0CKQBEMsTKAAwEQ" style="margin: 7px 0px 0px;"> <span class="kno-fh" style="font-weight: bolder;"><a class="fl" href="https://www.google.co.in/search?q=rana+daggubati+nominations&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgxEHnxCXfq6-gWV6elZxspZSdrKVfmJ5YlEKhIwvz8zLSy2yysvPzcxLLMnMzyu-1r6i9-2pnFurH7z_zVj29v-Eq8bmAH4qGOJPAAAA&sa=X&ei=TgCsUoLSO4eYrAe0-oC4Cw&ved=0CKYBEOgTKAEwEQ" style="color: #1e0fbe; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Nominations</a>: </span><span class="kno-fv"><span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?q=%22rana+daggubati%22+%22nominations%22+%22filmfare+award+for+best+actor+%E2%80%93+telugu%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgwAHsxKXfq6-gWV6elZxsgPjasW5v8JPCKd80H3Swu-1PuryQk1mAJsUytQtAAAA">Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu</span>, <span class="kno-fv-vq fl" data-vq="/search?q=%22rana+daggubati%22+%22nominations%22+%22apsara+award+for+best+actor+in+a+supporting+role%22&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAGOovnz8BQMDgwAHsxKXfq6-gWV6elZxsgNju8ylgJ_fXzb9ZNb35JijN7NxZaURADncTQ4tAAAA">Apsara Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role</span></span></div> </div> </li> </div> <br /></div> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RRzUJSLev1E?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe></div>

Happy Birthday to Daggupati Rana...

Rana Daggubati Film actor Rana Daggubati better known as Rana, is an Indian film actor and producer. He made his actin...

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She danced to conquer hearts

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFclpEAR1_f1t-_SLhSNCEVToMDuYW_hNQI9bpv2aEiqI9OLlKCdKx1yCiU5wJMlTOweTxSEVWiZqPJp0WwiVd77XEWjqnC-VEeiGe5NuMvO9loKPjo5henwl3KfO6UHjY5VgTKb3xviI/s1600/HYF13LEELA1_1682868g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFclpEAR1_f1t-_SLhSNCEVToMDuYW_hNQI9bpv2aEiqI9OLlKCdKx1yCiU5wJMlTOweTxSEVWiZqPJp0WwiVd77XEWjqnC-VEeiGe5NuMvO9loKPjo5henwl3KfO6UHjY5VgTKb3xviI/s320/HYF13LEELA1_1682868g.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 12px;">Leela Samson performing along with Spanda group. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 12px;"><br /></span> <br /> <div class="articleLead" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"> <h2 style="border: 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Event: Leela Samson’s dance piece was a perfect combination of raga and tala.</h2> </div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> It was an evening of remarkable charms of Bharatnatyam at Kalabharati Visakhapatnam. Dance lovers were treated to a piece by renowned dancer Leela Samson.’ The virtuosity capped Visakha Music Academy’s seven-day 44th annual festival of music and dance.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> It is one thing to have an illustrious guru and it is totally different to evolve into one and carry its worthy legacy. Leela Samson perfectly fits into it. A proud product of the maestro Rukminidevi Arundale’s Kalakshetra, she was impeccably imaginative in her approach and expression. It, in a way, is a manifestation of inside experience and expression. It was impeccably within the confines of classicality and novel in presentation. The novelty stood pronounced well in ‘Spanda matrike’, exploration raga Kalyani in the kinetic idiom of dance and Charishnu. These numbers, in a way, carried the feel of her ingenuity in every frame. The patterns of movement in perfect sync with lyric remained exhilarating all through. It opened with her disciples presenting a verse taken from Kalidas’s Malavikagnimitram in praise of Lord Siva. It was in quite a meditative mood which found extended to the rest of the session. Spanda matrike explored a series of rhythmic cycles and finely hooked up the patterns of movements. The choreographic floor designs were executed to a set of <i style="outline: 0px;">talas</i>. The adavus set in an aesthetic way of formations and vivacious movements were simply splendid.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> In ‘Charishnu’ was remarkable for its quick tempo set of adavus. The amazing team spirit of the dancers and their concentration on delectably diverse formations in sharp light and shade effects twinkled in electronic precision of movements. It in short encapsulated the spirit of the journey of life from despair to hope with love and compassion. From the traditional repertoire a javali and padam wove a magic of their own in a pretty presentation. Leela Samson presented the romantic import of javali ‘Era rara’ in subtle suggestiveness through apt sancharis and expressional élan. ‘Etuvanti vade vaadu’ a padam of Kshetrayya in a subtle and soft gestural interpretation found an excellent treatment brought out its nuances enhancing its emotional appeal.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> <br /></div> </div> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eIoZpWq0bqU?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe><br /> <h3 style="background-color: #e7e6e6; border: 0px; color: #373535; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 3px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"> <a alt="Updated: November 10, 2013 at 13:35 IST Published: November 10, 2013 at 13:35 IST in DANCE" href="http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/article5335119.ece?ref=video" style="color: #1f57a5; font-size: 16px; outline: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 5px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none;" title="Updated: November 10, 2013 at 13:35 IST Published: November 10, 2013 at 13:35 IST in DANCE">The Unseen Sequence - Official Trailer</a></h3> <div> <span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">In Malavika Sarukkai - an artist rooted in tradition but with a uniquely contemporary sensibility - one of India's most profound classical arts, Bharatanatyam, is being re-interpreted, renewed, invigorated. The film is not simply about Malavika Sarukkai; it deliberates the valuable connections and departures that the artist makes from a hallowed and, often, unforgiving tradition. The film will be screened as part of The Hindu Friday Review </span></div> </div>

She danced to conquer hearts

Leela Samson performing along with Spanda group. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam Event: Leela Samson’s dance piece was a perfect combinati...

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Organic farmer shows the way in paddy cultivation

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29tbJcGajjyhMM3V_K44GlP4C0tx_F_qUGeACBrsc6g0vbrs__rIOAkQrBowx1c7cWEbqxPgy_pGQRTXi3QylRNlI_6rz9me8K4vmFHozcZuH1dAu8M1GGucWjNXzyhcUv-Dfv6fANjU1/s1600/12VZELURUREG2_1682470f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29tbJcGajjyhMM3V_K44GlP4C0tx_F_qUGeACBrsc6g0vbrs__rIOAkQrBowx1c7cWEbqxPgy_pGQRTXi3QylRNlI_6rz9me8K4vmFHozcZuH1dAu8M1GGucWjNXzyhcUv-Dfv6fANjU1/s320/12VZELURUREG2_1682470f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="articleLead" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"> <h2 style="border: 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Innovative techniques have helped Satish Babu withstand the onslaught of successive cyclones</h2> </div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> Gadde Satish Babu, a graduate-turned organic farmer from Seetampet, under Denduluru mandal in West Godavari district, remains unaffected even as his counterparts elsewhere have been affected badly from a series of cyclones in the current kharif season.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> Swarna, the high-yielding paddy variety, which was flattened due to the swirling gales and turned susceptible to pests, dashed the farmers’ hopes. But Mr. Satish Babu, however, is sitting pretty even after raising the same variety in his field, thanks to the method of organic farming which he has taken to.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> He attributes his success to the soil health enriched by organic manures which helped him reap 29-34 bags per acre with no traces of chemical residues. He raises a single crop in his field in a year, leaving it to become fertile with organic manure in the rest of the period. He has about 50 buffaloes which are left to roam freely in the field, enabling it to get enriched with their dung and urine during the period of ‘crop holiday’. The same animals are then shifted to his other fields of coconut, paddy and maize at Signarajupalli near Nallajarla on a rotation basis for a similar purpose.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <b style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px; text-align: left;">Ryots wary of Swarna</b></div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> Farmers in the delta region are now wary of Swarna variety for its inherent drawbacks which make it prone to lodging at times of calamities. Yet they are still enamoured of it for its high-yielding properties. “It all (lodging and pest attacks in Swarna) happens in the soil when its health deteriorates because of use of pesticide and chemicals in heavy dosages. It is not the case in my field and that it is the secret of my joy,” says Mr. Satish.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> He said he could manage to save his crop from pests by applying neem cake. He has brought down the cost of cultivation by making his fields zero tolerant to chemicals and pesticides. In addition, he sells his produce (rice) at a price of Rs 99 per kg which is, still, in great demand.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> M. Bharatalakshmi, Associate Director of Research, Agricultural Research Station (ARS) at Maruteru, endorses the views of Mr. Satish Babu, stating that the field trials revealed that organic farming is a panacea to all the ills associated with the Swarna variety. An acre and half demo plot with Swarna developed at the research station yielded similar results, she added. Heavy use of urea in traditional farming resulted in vegetative growth in Swarna leading to lodging, she said.</div> <br /></div>

Organic farmer shows the way in paddy cultivation

Innovative techniques have helped Satish Babu withstand the onslaught of successive cyclones Gadde Satish Babu, a graduate-turned or...

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UPA to move Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha today

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJJUxJZ8XsIQZPBZTuc9c1REIkUSC3znEV8frYiRVBeJKA5yt-p-eN8KF0ZhNE1T4QqzfhxACIYgQMCZRlo_6g31t4lGq4UEmRv-OmYxpf3zqO247I-G10sOdnYLmH7PtdNhbbqn5Ct_k/s1600/th12-gargi-UPA-_TH_1683686e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJJUxJZ8XsIQZPBZTuc9c1REIkUSC3znEV8frYiRVBeJKA5yt-p-eN8KF0ZhNE1T4QqzfhxACIYgQMCZRlo_6g31t4lGq4UEmRv-OmYxpf3zqO247I-G10sOdnYLmH7PtdNhbbqn5Ct_k/s1600/th12-gargi-UPA-_TH_1683686e.jpg" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 12px; text-align: left;">BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj address the media in New Delhi on Thursday.— Photo: Rajeev Bhatt</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 12px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px;"> The government intends to table the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, although the Opposition parties have reservations over some of its provisions. The government plans to move 13 amendments to the Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha last year. The Bill has been at the centre of a national debate since social activist Anna Hazare launched an agitation over the issue in April 2011.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px;"> Two days after Mr. Hazare began a fresh indefinite fast in support of the Jan Lokpal Bill, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said on Thursday the Bill was a ‘priority’ for the government.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px;"> In response to questions, he dismissed the BJP’s charge that the government would try to curtail the winter session of Parliament to stall the anti-graft Bill.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px;"> The principal Opposition party, however, charged the government with wanting to run away from Parliament, embarrassed as it is over a no-trust motion moved by some Congress MPs. The BJP maintained it had told the UPA managers that unless the government ensured passage of the Lokpal Bill, it would not cooperate with its plan to get approval for supplementary demands for grants for the general budget and the Railways.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px;"> At a news conference here on Thursday, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her counterpart in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said they were ready to pass the Lokpal Bill without debate if the government agreed to incorporate all the amendments unanimously approved by the Select Committee.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px;"> They demanded that the amended Bill be passed in the Rajya Sabha on Friday and in the Lok Sabha on Monday.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px;"> The Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha has allotted six hours on Monday to discuss the Lokpal Bill when the Bill may be taken up.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px;"> Barring the Samajwadi Party, major Opposition parties are on the same wave length on the issue. The matter has assumed urgency as this is the penultimate session before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px;"> The Rajya Sabha’s proceedings have been disrupted every day since the beginning of the session on December 5, and by several accounts it may not function on Friday.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: 0px;"> Mr. Jaitley wanted the government to drop two amendments: one that states the Lokpal should be consulted before a CBI officer probing a case is transferred, and a second one that mandates the issue of show-cause notice to those against whom a complaint is lodged with the Lokpal.</div> <br /></div>

UPA to move Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha today

BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj address the media in New Delhi on Thursday.— Photo: Rajeev Bhatt The government intends t...

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Chennai International Film Festival gets off to a glittering start

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjZRf092z5oci7Qot1_fV0RzmjESlf0EhMF4869tASSFBq4ndRRt4tqMLsuczX7-_r4KCYfUMujRwSHK2uc3WRRtoXeO0fLpRxjAh4BQWdAL6bDgRElEkGtosyPVAiLcrVYE0xYHKcCa4/s1600/13TH_CHENNAI_FILM__1683084f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjZRf092z5oci7Qot1_fV0RzmjESlf0EhMF4869tASSFBq4ndRRt4tqMLsuczX7-_r4KCYfUMujRwSHK2uc3WRRtoXeO0fLpRxjAh4BQWdAL6bDgRElEkGtosyPVAiLcrVYE0xYHKcCa4/s320/13TH_CHENNAI_FILM__1683084f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="articleLead" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"> <h2 style="border: 0px; color: #999999; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> Kamal Haasan spins the focus on script writing</h2> </div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> The Eleventh Edition of the Chennai International Film Festival got off to a glittering start at a star-studded event in the city on Thursday. It witnessed the coming together of iconic Tamil actor film-maker Kamal Haasan and Hindi film star and path-breaking television anchor, Aamir Khan.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> While answering a question on censorship, Mr. Haasan, in his trademark, candid way, urged the film industry to take the responsibility of censoring films as those on the Censor Board were not qualified enough to do so. “They like cinema … they like to watch films ... there are Censor Board officials who sometimes tell young film-makers ‘you could make your film shorter.’ It’s ridiculous,” he said in an open stage interaction with actor Suhasini Maniratnam, who asked questions on behalf of many film personalities.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> To a question on closing the gap between Tamil and world cinema, Mr. Haasan said the industry was in need of new writers. “There are books, but books will not make cinema. Even Shakespeare will have to learn script-writing. The Malayalam industry is making films from books. I became a writer by default.”</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> <b style="outline: 0px;">‘Chain of theatres’</b></div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> Mr. Khan appreciated the efforts of the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF), especially its founder and general secretary E. Thangaraj, in bringing the Indian panorama and world cinema to the Chennai audience. He said sometimes he wished the country had a chain of theatres that showcased films from different parts of the world and the country … that have programmes for art house cinema. “There is a considerable audience for such cinema and it will be a step towards healthy cinema.”</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> The Festival presented by The Hindu and Pudhuyugam, will be on till December 19 and the films will be screened in eight screens at five venues — the Woodland Theatre Complex, Inox Screens, Abirami Mega Mall, Rani Seethai Hall and Casino Theatre.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> <b style="outline: 0px;">163 films to be screened</b></div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> A total of 163 films from 58 countries will be screened.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> Musician Anil Srinivas and playback singer Karthik presented a selection of songs from a few films. As an introduction to the music session, actors Rohini and Poornima Bhagyaraj read out poetry from a selection of Tamil film songs. Actor dancer Shobana and her students presented three choreographed pieces, including Vande Mataram. The event was compeered by actor Abirami and CIFF’s Ramya.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> Actor-dancer Swarnamalya and her students presented a thematic presentation on classical dance in Tamil cinema. Kasturi and Sons Chairman N. Ram, The Hindu Editor-in-Chief N. Ravi, actor Lakshmi, South Indian Film Chamber president Kalyan, ICAF president S. Kannan, vice-president B. Ramakrishnan, incumbent president of the Film Federation of India, Ravi Kottarakara, Pudhuyugam CEO Shyam Kumar and Mohammad Ali of SIS graced the occasion.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> The Tamil film competition jury was introduced and jury chairman, director R.V. Udhayakumar, and members, actor Sripriya and writer S. Ramakrishnan, were honoured. A souvenir was released to mark the occasion. Actors Sachu, Mohan, Y.G. Mahendra, Lissy Priyadarshan, Mohan Raman, and directors Balu Mahendra and Santhana Bharati, among others, were present.</div> <div class="body" style="background-color: white; color: #3b3a39; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; outline: 0px;"> Mr. Thangaraj thanked the Tamil Nadu government for its support for the festival.</div> <br /></div>

Chennai International Film Festival gets off to a glittering start

Kamal Haasan spins the focus on script writing The Eleventh Edition of the Chennai International Film Festival got off to a glitteri...

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YS RAJASHEKAR REDDY-biography

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuu9inTZU-pgx4pS3oIYEezmeskd_XN3OmKb5AUxFRLsAiArzYvH_IAVpuAyYql6navqNCziouQktMzD2_9EjMKPRQ-9fZQ8Z0lHQiMtG4JrxbT7NRrs1Ii3CcYIvESgvutt1azGiQU0zW/s1600/ysr_jayanthi_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuu9inTZU-pgx4pS3oIYEezmeskd_XN3OmKb5AUxFRLsAiArzYvH_IAVpuAyYql6navqNCziouQktMzD2_9EjMKPRQ-9fZQ8Z0lHQiMtG4JrxbT7NRrs1Ii3CcYIvESgvutt1azGiQU0zW/s320/ysr_jayanthi_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclRCTX7viYZYw_-k1yRkF76vZH12Pw9nyNWVqiLjelmEAm2NtK3G85ODQB8VCQj9jShfwpDisNf5TkZBRKaykdOeAxqEya62T8mXs7YcViSuFGq_Li3CCG6YGtWy4IRPrBBMiAJW96eKE/s1600/biography_03.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclRCTX7viYZYw_-k1yRkF76vZH12Pw9nyNWVqiLjelmEAm2NtK3G85ODQB8VCQj9jShfwpDisNf5TkZBRKaykdOeAxqEya62T8mXs7YcViSuFGq_Li3CCG6YGtWy4IRPrBBMiAJW96eKE/s1600/biography_03.gif" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <strong style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy</strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> was born at Jammalamadugu Mission Hospital near Pulivendula, Andhra Pradesh. His Father and MotherY. S. Raja Reddy and Jayamma .His schooling was in Bellary, He graduated with a degree in medical science from Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College (MRMC), Gulbarga University, Karnataka and completed his House Surgeonship at S.V. Medical College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. He was the elected leader of the House Surgeon's Association at S.V. Medical College, Tirupati</span><br /> <span class="bio_hed" style="background-color: white; color: #2967a5; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">PERSONAL LIFE</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br /> <br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">Y S R Rajashekar reddy was married to Vijaya Lakshmi. They have a son, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, a politician, and a daughter, Sharmila. His younger brother Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy is also an INC politician. </span><br /> <br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /> <span class="bio_hed" style="background-color: white; color: #2967a5; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">CAREER</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br /> <br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">In 1978 he contested from pulivendula on Reddy-Congress Party and won the elections, Later he joined in Indira Congress.From 1980 to 1983 he was a minister holding important portfolios related to Rural Development, Medical Health and Education under T.Anjaiah Cabinet. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kadapa constituency four times and was elected to the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly six times from Pulivendula constituency. Reddy was the leader of the opposition in the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly for five years. As an MLA he was influential in obtaining water from the Tungabhadra River for the Pulivendula Branch Canal (PBC) and fought for projects like RTPP (Rayalaseema Thermal Power Plant) at Muddanur and Proddatur Milk Foods and its ancillaries </span><br /> <br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /> <span class="bio_hed" style="background-color: white; color: #2967a5; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">POSTIONS HELD</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br /> <ul style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" type="disc"> <li>Minister of state for rural development (1980–82)</li> <li>Excise minister (1982)</li> <li>Education minister (1982–83)</li> <li>Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (2004–2009)</li> <li>Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (20-May-2009 To 02-Sep-2009</li> </ul> <br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /> <span class="bio_hed" style="background-color: white; color: #2967a5; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">PADAYATRA</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br /> <br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">In 2003, he led a 1400 km long Padayatracovering some of the backward areas in the state to understand the ground realities and living conditions of the people there and gave life to the Congress Party in Andhra Pradesh. As a novice in the legislature, Reddy rallied all the Congress MLAs from the Rayalaseema region and led an indefinite hunger strike demanding solution to the water crisis. He also led a paadayaatra from Lepakshi to Pothireddipadu in Kurnool district. This paadayaatra lead the congress party to a land slide victory in the assembly elections in 2004 when he won 186 seats in the state assembly. </span><br /> <br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /> <span class="bio_hed" style="background-color: white; color: #2967a5; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">AS CHIEF MINISTER</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br /> <br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">As the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy stands as an example for the down-to-earth administrative capacities while efficiently serving the interests of the people at large.</span><br /> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> <strong>Andhra</strong><strong> Pradesh State</strong><strong> Programme-wise Development</strong><strong><br /><strong>From May 2004 to May 2009</strong></strong></div> <div class="bio_hed" style="background-color: white; color: #2967a5; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> FIRST TIME IN THE WORLD</div> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="2" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><tbody> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>ITEM/SCHEME</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588"><strong>Achievement</strong></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Aarogyasri Insurance</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Medical treatment costingRs.2 lakh to Seven and half crore including middle class people.  2 lakh surgeries as of now.  A rare record in the world history. Treatment, Operations covering 942 diseases. March forward towards Total Health Andhra Pradesh.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>104 Rural Mobile Health Units</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Fixed Day Health Scheme through 104 mobile units to every village. 475 mobile health units availability to every village on a fixed day in a month.  Free health checkups, free medicines for entire month, quality healthcare at the doorsteps of 4 crore rural people.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Pavala Vaddi</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">For the first time in the world, differential interest rates to women. Interest is 3% only.  Applicable to farmers and weavers also.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Abhayahastham (IKP Life Insurance Scheme)</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Monthly pension ranging from Rs.500 to Rs.2,200 to all women over 60 years of age.  Life Insurance, Scholarships to their children.  Only one rupee per day to be paid by the SHG members.  Large scale benefit to One Crore 25 lakh women.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Projects</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">The life-line projects of Telangana region, “Pranahitha-Chevella” and “Devadula” are the world’s second highest level water pumping Lift Irrigation Schemes.</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /> <br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /> <span class="bio_hed" style="background-color: white; color: #2967a5; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;">FIRST TIME IN THE COUNTRY</span><br /> <br /> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="2" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><tbody> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Current charges, Taxes</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Not single Paisa enhanced in current charges since the last five years. Oath taken in the Assembly, not to enhance for the next five years.  No other tax was enhanced.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Additional power purhcases</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Rs.6,500 crore expenditure during the past two and half years. The 40% growth in power demand is the indication of the tremendous progress made in Agriculture, Industry and Service sectors.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Rajiv Udyogasri. </strong><br /> <strong>Jobs (Government and non-Government)</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">No Vacancy boards disappeared. Wanted Boards reappeared. 10 lakh jobs created in the past 5 years in Government and private sectors. Another 10 lakh jobs through Rajiv Udyogsri  in the coming two years.  55,000 jobs in SEZs as of now.  Ultimate aim is to create 25 lakh jobs.  11,000 vehicles utilised in one Jalayagnam programme alone.  Direct and indirect jobs and employment to more than one lakh persons.  50,000 teachers as of now.  17,000 Police recruitment completed.  Efforts are on for recruitment of 20,000 more police.  53,000 teachers recruitment would be completed in the coming 3 months.  Training in Mason jobs to 38,000 unemployed as part of INDIRAMMA housing programme.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Jalayagnam (Irrigation)</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Irrigated water provided to 19 lakh acres additionally as of now.  81 projects launched.  12 projects completed.  Another 13 projects under completion.  Remaining projects in fast progress by working day and night.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Free Power</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Uninterrupted free power supply to 30 lakh pump sets (families) since four and half years on record scale. 1500 crore units’ free power to Agriculture sector every year.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Agricultural Loans</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Loans worth Rs.22,650 crore distributed in 2007-08.  Rs.26,000 crore targeted for 2008-09.  The interest rate is only 3%.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Farmers’ loans waiver</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Rs.11,100 crore loans waived to 64 lakh farmers, highest in the country. Rs.1,800 crore distributed by State Government @ Rs.5,000 as incentive to each of 36 lakh farmers who were not covered under loan waiver scheme announced by the Centre.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Land distribution</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">6.04 lakh acres distributed to poor… Rs.500 crore for land development.  Six lakh acres Land ownership rights to Tribal’s.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Agricultural Laborers</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">All round benefit to more than one crore persons.  Full stop to migrations. Daily wage enhanced from Rs.20 to Rs.82.3… Likely to be raised  Rs.100.  Top rank at national level in the implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme by using Social Audit, Smart Card and e-governance.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Pashu Kranthy</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Purchase of 1,50,000 cattle at 3%interest and Rs.30,000 subsidy. White Revolution in villages.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Sheep Insurance</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">This scheme is being implemented in the State for the first time in the entire country.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Aarogyasri, 108 </strong><br /> <strong>Ambulances</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">108 Ambulances are made available to all at all times.  Ambulances were made to reach to any place in the State within 18 minutes.  Every day, 802 Ambulances with 6,000 emergency trips is a new record. Total Health safety to seven and  half crore people through Aarogyasri.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>104 Help Line</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">50,000 calls per day.  Tele-medicine.  Free Health information. Time to time counseling.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Houses</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">39 lakh houses were built since the past four and half years.  28 lakh houses under construction.  Indiramma target is 80 lakh houses.  With the construction of the remaining houses, Andhra Pradesh would emerge as the only State without huts in the coming two years. The housing budget rose 10 times from Rs.500 crore to Rs.5,000 crores since the last four years.  Check to irregularities through 24 hour help line, quick response teams and social audit. House sites were distributed to more than 20 lakh poor.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Self Help Groups</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">More than One crore women Self Help Groups joined as of now.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Loans</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Rs.16,535 crore  since the past four and half years (By December 2008). This year target is Rs.11,000 crore.  By March, 2009 the total loan distribution would be Rs.23,000 crore in five years period. The Government aims at making one crore women as lakhiers  in the coming four years.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Micro loans-Total percentage in the country.</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">42 %.  The lion’s share out of the country’s micro loans is enjoyed by our State women only.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Cooking Gas</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Ours is the only State that has bore the entire burden of Rs.50 on Gas enhanced by the Centre.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Ration Cards</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">An additional 50 lakh new white ration cards sanctioned as of now.  Ration cards to all the eligible.  White cards to around 2 crore families including the middle class.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Loan waiver</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Rs.2,000 crore  waived to beneficiaries who have taken loans through S.C., S.T., B.C., Minorities’ Corporations.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Handloom Sector – Weavers</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Rs.327 crore loans of handloom weavers waived.  3 lakh families benefited by loan waiver. Pensions to 1.5 lakh weavers.  Budget rose to more than Rs.150 crore.</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="2" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><tbody> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Pensions</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Since the last five years, new pensions to 55 lakh…By 1st of every month, 71 lakh pensions regularly @Rs.200 each.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Education</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">University in every district.  17 new Universities established apart from specialized Universities.  Several new Universities like IIT, IIIT, BITS  established.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Fees Reimbursement for Students</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">For the first time in the country, 100% fee reimbursement to B.C., Minority, Poor among Upper castes (E.B.C) students including S.C. & S.Ts.  Free Higher Education. Rs.2,500 crore allocation made towards fee reimbursement during 2009-10.  26 lakh students benefited as of now.  7 lakh EBC students would benefit  additionally.  With this Govt. will be bearing the burden of providing higher education to 85% of the students. (11 lakh B.Cs., 5 lakh S.Cs, 1.8 lakh S.Ts, 7.4 lakh minorities and 25,000 disabled…in total around 33 lakh students would benefit under the scheme.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Welfare Budget</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">In 2008-09, budget was allocated to welfare sector on a large scale at Rs,30,000 crore.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>B.C.Budget</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Rs.1,600 crore was allocated in 2008-09.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Minority Budget</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Rs.200 crore allocated in 2008-09.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Mass Marriages</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Mass marriages were conducted through T.T.D’s Kalyanamasthu and to Minorities through Minority Department..</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Development, Plan, Welfare sector, Capital Expenditures.</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">As per the latest R.B.I. Report, the State ranks 1st either in absolute terms or on percapita basis in development, plan, social, capital expenditures. Agriculture registered two digit growth rate in 2007-08 as nowhere else in the country.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>sector, Capital Expenditures.</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">expenditures. Agriculture registered two digit growth rate in 2007-08 as nowhere else in the country.</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="bio_hed" style="background-color: white; color: #2967a5; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> First time in the State</div> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="2" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><tbody> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>I.T.  & I.T. Jobs.</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">New I.T. Policy formulated in 2005 for speedy progress and to reach top position in the country.  Steps initiated for I.T. development in the cities like Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Warangal.  1,584 I.T. companies established as of now. 1.53 lakh jobs newly in I.T.sector.  Rs.26,122 crore I.T.Exports in 2007-08</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>I.T.exports Percentage</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Andhra Pradesh achieved 15% of the National exports.  National growth  rate is 32% and the State’s growth rated recorded as 41%.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Industries</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Fast industrialization in every district.  Industrial development at cities like Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati and Warangal.  According to R.B.I. report, our State ranked 2nd in the country in attracting investments in 2007-08.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Employment in Industries</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Rs.16,700 crore investments from 2004 to 2008.  2.14 lakh jobs created.  Some more industries being established and fast completing at a total investment of Rs.38,600 crore… aimed at creating 1.3 lakhs jobs.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Subsidy Rice</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Rice made available to 2 crore families @Rs.2 per kilo only.  Government is bearing more than Rs.3,000 crore towards Rice subsidy.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Essential Commodities</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Rice, Red gram and palm oil monthly essential commodities being supplied at Rs.103 only.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Local Bodies Duties-Funds</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Janma Bhoomi-Nodal Agency cancelled.  Rs.6,110 crore spent in the last four years itself.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Production</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Agricultural production with 199 lakh M.Ts is a major achievement.  The State regained its lost glory as Annapoorna.  Farmers are well off and brimming with confidence.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Minimum Support Price Percentage</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Price rise and percentage in MSP in the last five years- Paddy-Rs.350 (64% raise), Cotton-Rs.1075 (56% raise), Jowar, Sajja, Maize Rs.355 (66% raise), Pulses Rs.1150 (84% raise), Ground Nut Rs.700 (50% raise) and Sunflower Rs.965 (77% raise).</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /> <table border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="2" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><tbody> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Universities</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Government took a policy decision to establish one University in each district.  18 new Universities established including Veterinary, Horticulture universities as of now.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Educational Institutions</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">New educational institutions like I.I.T, IIIT, BITS Pilani established.  I.T.education being imparted in 1,000 schools and computers supplied to Madras’s.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Rural Education</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">World-class education being imparted in the Rajiv Gandhi Triple ITs to 6,000 rural students in I.T, Bio-technology, Nano-technology sectors.  Free education to majority students.  11 Polytechnic colleges, 9 Junior Colleges, 31 Degree Colleges opened.  As part of SUCCESS School education scheme, English Medium education with CBSE syllabus imparted besides computer training.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Jawahar Knowledge Centres</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Training is being imparted to students of more than 1,000 vocational colleges as per the industrial needs, with the aim of creating employment to 5 lakh persons.  Already training/placement provided to 60,000 students.   Rural and backward class  students are getting jobs employment in multi-national companies.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Community Colleges</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Evening classes in Government Colleges/Universities…Diploma and Degree awards to working persons.  Evening Polytechnic courses in the existing Engineering Colleges. Diploma seats in the State doubled.  One I.T.I established in each of the constituency.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Education Budget</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Rs.35,000 crore spent in the past five years.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Higher Education Budget</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">Rs.1,500 crore in 2008-09 and Rs.2,383 crore allocated for 2009-10.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Co-operative Sugar, Spinning Mills</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">5 closed Sugar Mills and 2 Cement plants were re-opened.  The package of the State Government for merging BHPV in BHEL won accolades from employees and labour associations nationwide.  Government jobs provided to 1,486 employees due to the closure of Allwyn based on their efficiency and utility.  Pension facility to Allwyn employees on par with Government employees.  Several Public Undertakings like APGENCO, RTC, Singareni company etc. are running in profit path with the  support of the Government.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Rajiv Yuva Sakthi</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">80,000 youth trained in various sectors at a cost of Rs.21 crore.  Rs.20 crore financial help extended to 4,540 weavers.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>S.C.,S.T entrepreneurs</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">20% additional subsidy.  Additional reimbursement  at 0.25 paisa  on power unit.  25% additional reimbursement on Sales Tax.  Separate Trust established through which the entrepreneurs would be provided guarantee.</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" width="139"><strong>Rains</strong></td><td valign="top" width="588">For the first time in the history …Full rains in five years.  All dams full of water continuously for five years.  Water flows to tanks what were not full in twenty five years and heavy flows to Singur project that has not witnessed full waters for eight years.  Plenty of Agricultural production and hydroelectricity generation.</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> Apart from these schemes, his government stood as the role model in implementing the central governments flagship program – the<strong>NREGA</strong>.. The main thrust of his tenure was on social welfare with a majority of his schemes targeting at improving the lively hood of the rural masses.<strong>BBC</strong> has called him a champion of social welfare schemes.</div> <div class="bio_hed" style="background-color: white; color: #2967a5; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> DEATH</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy's Bell 430 helicopter went missing on Wednesday, 2 September 2009 at 9:35 am. and Air Traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at 9:02 am while it was passing through the dense Nallamala forest area. The Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh, P. Ramakanth Reddy, said that inclement weather had forced the helicopter off-course. Although the sparsely populated forest area is considered to be stronghold of the outlawed Naxal communist insurgents, the National Security Advisor of India ruled out the possibility of the Naxals bringing down the helicopter.</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> The Indian Prime Minister's Office confirmed the helicopter's crash on the morning of 3 September and the death of all aboard, including Reddy, his special secretary P. Subrahmanyam, chief security officer A. S. C. Wesley, Group Captain S. K. Bhatia and Captain M. S. Reddy. The Director General of Police said that the bodies of Reddy and others were charred beyond recognition and had to be identified on the basis of clothing. The autopsy of all the bodies was carried out at Kurnool Medical College.</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"> An investigation eventually concluded that the factors that caused that crash included the fact that the crew became fixated for more than six minutes in trying to find out what was behind a problem with their transmission oil pressure system, and they became distracted from the worsening weather. It was also noted that the pilots of the helicopter never discussed the bad weather, diverting, or returning to base.<br /> Y S Rajashekar reddy body was buried on 4 September at Idupulapai in Kadapa district .</div> <br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;" /> <br /> <center style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, verdana, tahoma; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"> <span class="bio_hed" style="color: #2967a5; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">Y S R AMAR RAHE</span></center> </div>

YS RAJASHEKAR REDDY-biography

Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy  was born at Jammalamadugu Mission Hospital near Pulivendula, Andhra Pradesh. His Father and Moth...

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Predator on 3D Blu-ray comes loaded with awesome extras

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhye7lGo9NEIuEDqZXDOQrKTqgdcLu_9zvtYETnuBdo_g9m-pjzTMXQEpucLjxvXNeZzub4wUVh9246PembWEOY_6gI-wqeaS0TnqtO7Tfrsiufsu2IsnEoXzMAionEX3-mMTbJckeFMD-s/s1600/predator-3d-blu-ray-comes-loaded-with-awesome-extras-149628-a-1385657988-470-75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhye7lGo9NEIuEDqZXDOQrKTqgdcLu_9zvtYETnuBdo_g9m-pjzTMXQEpucLjxvXNeZzub4wUVh9246PembWEOY_6gI-wqeaS0TnqtO7Tfrsiufsu2IsnEoXzMAionEX3-mMTbJckeFMD-s/s320/predator-3d-blu-ray-comes-loaded-with-awesome-extras-149628-a-1385657988-470-75.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <em><strong>Predator</strong></em><strong>'s release on gleaming, immersive Blu-ray 3D comes loaded with all the extras you'd expect from one of the most iconic action flicks ever made.</strong></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> But it's the additional extras that really thrill - return to the hunt, this time with an ace replica Limited Edition Predator head - Exclusive to Amazon - and a nifty game in tow!</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> The sci-fi class that started a global franchise and which stars the original action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger, is coming to Blu-ray 3D for the first ever time on December 16 2013.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> In case you've been hiding under a rock/camoflauged under some jungle shrubbery, here's the synopsis...</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <u>SYNOPSIS</u></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> Arnold Schwarzenegger wages an all-out war against an unstoppable enemy in this pulse-pounding action thriller — now in spectacular 3D for the first time ever! On a rescue mission deep within a Central American jungle, a team of U.S. commandos find themselves hunted by a terrifying creature more powerful and deadly than any on Earth... because the Predator is not of this Earth.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #1d1d1d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px;"> <br /></div> <br /></div> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/GYVsdrV5wIQ?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe></div>

Predator on 3D Blu-ray comes loaded with awesome extras

Predator 's release on gleaming, immersive Blu-ray 3D comes loaded with all the extras you'd expect from one of the most iconic...

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The Muppets: Most Wanted,Comedy, Kids/family,Director James Bobin

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkejhyphenhyphenQNlSx1zomfniAanrruo57ErBYbjdHAtf6K7CpVXbNfVKvOs1DismfI9JqHvQmmrNeT-6hOlkj5qJO8RSXetbaiDOJxkzq11FEPuwiQ1BvsyH-FaJepG7bVhCuP5W7-Ol3DfYVRfI/s1600/the-muppets-2-645-75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkejhyphenhyphenQNlSx1zomfniAanrruo57ErBYbjdHAtf6K7CpVXbNfVKvOs1DismfI9JqHvQmmrNeT-6hOlkj5qJO8RSXetbaiDOJxkzq11FEPuwiQ1BvsyH-FaJepG7bVhCuP5W7-Ol3DfYVRfI/s320/the-muppets-2-645-75.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> The Muppets: Most Wanted (AKA the working title The Muppets… Again or The Muppets 2) is the follow up to the 2011 film <a href="http://www.totalfilm.com/the-muppets" style="color: #c6170d; text-decoration: none;">The Muppets</a>.</div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-top: 18px;"> Jason Segel will not be present on writing duties this time around, having handed the reigns to his writing partner Nick Stoller (who co-wrote the first film). James Bobin, co-creator of television series Flight Of The Concords, will return to direct.<br /><br />Walt Disney have acquired the services of Ricky Gervais for a substantial role in the film. <a href="http://www.totalfilm.com/news/tina-fey-in-talks-to-star-in-muppets-sequel" style="color: #c6170d; text-decoration: none;">Ty Burrell and Tina Fey are also due to star</a> as an Interpol inspector and Russian femme fatale respectively. <a href="http://www.totalfilm.com/news/new-details-for-the-muppets-sequel" style="color: #c6170d; text-decoration: none;">The Muppets 2 will be a comedy caper set in Europe</a> and filming is set to commence in January 2013.<br /><br />After The Muppets took $160m worldwide in 2011, Disney should be looking to add plenty of cameo appearances to bolster the cast, with the producers aiming for a Christmas 2013 release.</div> </div>

The Muppets: Most Wanted,Comedy, Kids/family,Director James Bobin

The Muppets: Most Wanted (AKA the working title The Muppets… Again or The Muppets 2) is the follow up to the 2011 film  The Muppets . ...

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The Long Breakup: Looking back at the fall of the Soviet Union

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h1 class="no-text-decoration" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.8em; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;"> The Long Breakup: Looking back at the fall of the Soviet Union</h1> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Mx0MNppwjWdgWCeevKJuzmpJxqR2HJKwz3ci2IUHTtnszyCSKKaZ-FyRDnjA1L6MaMPfH-id3a97ilm7uL_ttH-ufHYOqoBX9yj8DuoSJfj5fFRDXMqRc0catSJw-uj0oIKac6gs32Rz/s1600/SovietLead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Mx0MNppwjWdgWCeevKJuzmpJxqR2HJKwz3ci2IUHTtnszyCSKKaZ-FyRDnjA1L6MaMPfH-id3a97ilm7uL_ttH-ufHYOqoBX9yj8DuoSJfj5fFRDXMqRc0catSJw-uj0oIKac6gs32Rz/s320/SovietLead.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <div> <br /></div> <div> <div class="article" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.6em; padding: 0px 0px 18px;"> Twenty years ago, the Soviet Union came to an end. It was a drawn-out and difficult journey, full of passion, hope, anger, betrayal and re-awakening.</div> <div class="article" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.6em; padding: 0px 0px 18px;"> Between now and the end of the year, The Post will track the major developments, in real time, of the last six months of the U.S.S.R. With the benefit of hindsight, it's possible to see harbingers of the future: Russians alarmed by the sudden visibility of corruption, angry Muslims occupying a government office in Dagestan, disdain for democracy and fear of disorder.</div> <div class="article" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 1.6em; padding: 0px 0px 18px;"> Moscow correspondents Kathy Lally and Will Englund were there that year as witnesses. Now, together with readers, they will relive that dramatic moment of history.</div> </div> </div>

The Long Breakup: Looking back at the fall of the Soviet Union

The Long Breakup: Looking back at the fall of the Soviet Union Twenty years ago, the Soviet Union came to an end. It was a drawn-o...

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Today In History. What Happened This Day In History

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h1 style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1px;"> Today In History. What Happened This Day In History</h1> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvnfJV8lfipGqmvxhT54tLxdJgF-dc6tyzcy-rs4o17DmqzLtV055T0UNoth5_oELZ3XLQ7aUZZNwHU8qugFUVDzubR7XCJ9UqvNNi0R4QU7poZsbiJ03PqorPtr58zyiRxzJNtAaQwwU/s1600/download+(17).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvnfJV8lfipGqmvxhT54tLxdJgF-dc6tyzcy-rs4o17DmqzLtV055T0UNoth5_oELZ3XLQ7aUZZNwHU8qugFUVDzubR7XCJ9UqvNNi0R4QU7poZsbiJ03PqorPtr58zyiRxzJNtAaQwwU/s1600/download+(17).jpg" /></a></div> <div> <br /></div> <div style="color: #363636; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.03125px;"> A chronological timetable of historical events that occurred on this day in history. Historical facts of the day in the areas of military, politics, science, music, sports, arts, entertainment and more. Discover what happened today in history.</div> <div style="color: #363636; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.03125px;"> <span style="color: #990000;"><b>Today in History</b></span><br /><b>December 11</b></div> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="color: #363636; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23.03125px;"><tbody style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1688</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">James II abdicates the throne because of William of Orange landing in England.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1816</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Indiana is admitted to the Union as the 19th state.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1861</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">A raging fire sweeps the business district of Charleston, South Carolina, adding to an already depressed economic state.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1862</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Union General Ambrose Burnside occupies <a href="http://www.historynet.com/battle-of-fredericksburg" style="color: #2b1de4; font-size: 1em !important; line-height: 1.2em !important;">Fredericksburg</a> and prepares to attack the Confederates under Robert E. Lee.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1863</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Union gunboats <i>Restless, Bloomer</i> and <i>Caroline</i> enter St. Andrew's Bay, Fla., and begin bombardment of both Confederate quarters and saltworks.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1882</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">A production of Gilbert and Sullivan's <i>Iolanthe</i> at Boston's Bijou Theatre becomes the first performance in a theatre lit by incandescent electric lights.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1927</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Nearly 400 world leaders sign a letter to President Calvin Coolidge asking the United States to join the World Court.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1930</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">As the economic crisis grows, the Bank of the United States closes its doors.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1933</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Reports say Paraguay has captured 11,000 Bolivians in the war over Chaco.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1936</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Britain's King Edward VIII abdicates the throne to marry American Wallis Warfield Simpson.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1941</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">The United States declares war on Italy and Germany.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1943</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull demands that Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria withdraw from the war.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1945</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">A Boeing <a href="http://www.historynet.com/korean-war-the-boeing-b-29-superfortress-served-throughout-the-air-war.htm" style="color: #2b1de4; font-size: 1em !important; line-height: 1.2em !important;">B-29 Superfortress</a> shatters all records by crossing the United States in five hours and 27 minutes.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1951</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Joe DiMaggio announces his retirement from baseball.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1955</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Israel raids Syrian positions on the Sea of Galilee.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1964</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Frank Sinatra, Jr., is returned home to his parents after being kidnapped for the ransom amount of $240,000.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1967</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">The Concorde, a joint British-French venture and the world's first supersonic airliner, is unveiled in Toulouse, France.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1972</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><i>Challenger</i>, the lunar lander for <i>Apollo 17</i>, touches down on the moon's surface, the last time that men visit the moon.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1978</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Massive demonstrations take place in Tehran against the shah.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1981</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Military forces in El Salvador kill over 800 civilians in what is known as the El Mozote massacre during the Salvadoran Civil War.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1997</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">The Kyoto Protocol international treaty intended to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses, opens for signature.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>2001</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">People's Republic of China joins the World Trade Organization.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>2005</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Cronulla riots begin in Cronulla, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>2006</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">President of Mexico Felipe Calderon launches a military-led offensive against drug cartel violence in the state of Michoacan.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>2008</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Bernard "Bernie" Madoff arrested and charged with securities fraud in what was called a $50-billion Ponzi scheme.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td colspan="3" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><b>Born on December 11</b></td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1803</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Hector Berlioz, French composer and conductor (<i>Symphonie Fantastique</i>, <i>La Damnation de Faust</i>).</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1843</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Robert Koch, physician and medical researcher.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1882</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Fiorella H. La Guardia, mayor of New York City from 1933 to 1945.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1911</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Naguib Mahfouz, Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian novelist.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1918</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Russian writer and winner of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize. Famous for<i>The Gulag Archipelago</i>.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1922</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Grace Paley, short story writer.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1926</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Willie "Big Mama" Thorton, blues singer.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1937</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Jim Harrison, novelist and poet (<i>Legends of the Fall</i>).</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1939</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Tom McGuane, novelist and screenwriter (<i>The Sporting Club</i>, <i>Bushwacked Piano</i>).</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1939</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Tom Hayden, social and political activist; author, politician.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1940</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Donna Mills, actress (<i>Knots Landing</i> TV series, <i>Play Misty for Me</i> movie).</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1943</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">John Kerry, politician; unsuccessful Democratic nominee for President of the United States (2004); secretary of state (2013– ).</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1944</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Teri Garr, actress, dancer (<i>Tootsie</i>, <i>Mr. Mom</i>).</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1944</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Brenda Lee, singer; her 37 US chart hits in the 1960s is surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis ("I'm Sorry," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree").</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1950</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Christina Onassis, businesswoman; inherited and operated the Onassis shipping businessh.</td></tr> <tr style="margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top"><b>1981</b></td><td style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"> </td><td align="left" style="color: #333300; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" valign="top">Hamish Blake, Australian comedian, actor, author; won Gold Logie Award for "Most Popular Personality on Television"; half of award-winning comedy duo Hamish and Andy (Andy Lee).</td></tr> </tbody></table> </div>

Today In History. What Happened This Day In History

Today In History. What Happened This Day In History A chronological timetable of historical events that occurred on this day in hist...

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Gay sex, homosexuality is an offence: Supreme Court upholds Section 377. Black day for LGBT community

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Gay sex, homosexuality is an offence: Supreme Court upholds Section 377. Black day for LGBT community</span></span></div> <div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none;">  </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_33Nyk-DnPw18A-icfWHBR3oc1y5M4j9qDIcviXxbu01t82SVAwDizia35_aXf7HOzZnIql_is-jLHZmn_BbcBpokSHZZvfssWbZW5gkZamNaM-JkQkflsybljPBbd-pDECyxxDyL2u1c/s1600/gays-parade_660_121113104140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_33Nyk-DnPw18A-icfWHBR3oc1y5M4j9qDIcviXxbu01t82SVAwDizia35_aXf7HOzZnIql_is-jLHZmn_BbcBpokSHZZvfssWbZW5gkZamNaM-JkQkflsybljPBbd-pDECyxxDyL2u1c/s320/gays-parade_660_121113104140.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">In a blow to gay rights activists, the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the constitutional validity of the penal provision making gay sex an offence punishable with upto life imprisonment.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnXltfJAYO0XPE7dlkyY6Y2XvSJTFicIdfz0FWjNA0drEUO3zVXVqxyhKY2ISQf-8mJh0D3KuljZlb82EQBmvMP_iJ1c3BQ90CuyTdkuw82Nls-zilcSesfQyDkoF-bPE1ZTrCAcEVVzo/s1600/gay-sex2_660_121113024143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnXltfJAYO0XPE7dlkyY6Y2XvSJTFicIdfz0FWjNA0drEUO3zVXVqxyhKY2ISQf-8mJh0D3KuljZlb82EQBmvMP_iJ1c3BQ90CuyTdkuw82Nls-zilcSesfQyDkoF-bPE1ZTrCAcEVVzo/s320/gay-sex2_660_121113024143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">A bench of justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhaya set aside the Delhi High Court's verdict which had in 2009 decriminalised gay sex among consenting adults in private.</span><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">The bench allowed the appeals filed by various social and religious organisations challenging the high court verdict on the ground that gay sex is against the cultural and religious values of the country.</span><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">The bench, however, put the ball in Parliament's court to take a decision on the controversial issue, saying it is for the legislature to debate and decide on the matter.</span><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">With the apex court verdict, the operation of penal provision against gay sex has come into force.</span><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">As soon as the verdict was pronounced, gay activists in the court looked visibly upset. </span></div> <table align="right" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; width: 350px;"><tbody style="outline: none;"> <tr style="outline: none;"><td style="outline: none;"><b style="outline: none;">SC verdict must be respected by government: Sibal</b><br style="outline: none;" /><br style="outline: none;" />It is the Supreme Court's prerogative to test the constitutionality of the law and their verdict on homosexuality as an offence must be respected by the government, Law Minister Kapil Sibal said Wednesday.<br style="outline: none;" /><br style="outline: none;" />"It is the prerogative of the Supreme Court to judge the constitutionality and validity of the law. The opinion of the Supreme Court must be respected by the government. They have exercised their prerogative now, we shall exercise ours," Kapil Sibal told reporters outside parliament.<br style="outline: none;" /><br style="outline: none;" />Supreme Court Wednesday held that consensual sex between adults of the same gender is an offence as it set aside the Delhi High Court verdict of 2009. The Delhi High Court had decriminalised sexual relationship between adults of the same gender under Section 377.</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">The bench said Parliament is authorised to delete section 377 of IPC but till the time this penal provision is there, the court cannot legalise this kind of sexual relationship.</span><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">After pronouncement of the judgement, gay rights activists said they will seek review of the apex court's verdict.</span><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">The court passed the order on a batch of petitions of anti-gay right activists and social and religious organisations against the high court's verdict decriminalising gay sex.</span><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">The bench had reserved its order in March last year after granting day-to-day hearing of the case from February 15, 2012.</span><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">While hearing the appeal, the apex court had pulled up the Centre for its "casual" approach on the issue of decriminalisation of homosexuality and also expressed concern over Parliament not discussing such important matters and blaming judiciary instead for its "over-reach".</span><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">While pleading for decriminalisation of gay sex, the Centre had subsequently told the court that the anti-gay law in the country had resulted from British colonialism and Indian society was much more tolerant towards homosexuality.</span><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">The Delhi High Court had on July 2, 2009 decriminalised gay sex as provided in Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and had ruled that sex between two consenting adults in private would not be an offence.</span></div> <div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEQwZoOVmJP2ilCK_FMF9OBuhT0eC7umWbL-eb6oBWZxu7SEato881uQhXrb4Zn74RbyGwY2kxTaP-4GniOjDGr7pQMuMcdVhJR15QBsKiZujsODtPy1fs-alth2EcsF7A8IuVE2wwpPZ/s1600/gay-sex1_660_121113024143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEQwZoOVmJP2ilCK_FMF9OBuhT0eC7umWbL-eb6oBWZxu7SEato881uQhXrb4Zn74RbyGwY2kxTaP-4GniOjDGr7pQMuMcdVhJR15QBsKiZujsODtPy1fs-alth2EcsF7A8IuVE2wwpPZ/s320/gay-sex1_660_121113024143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">Section 377 (unnatural offences) of IPC makes gay sex a criminal offence entailing punishment upto life imprisonment.</span></div> <div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vXzIchOIOe_VLJ4lfSQ1HLMyl1x3tFu17s9-M3cN1ahyQjpd6Tde2rHHq28HZF22oI6Y2ha_sozUUD8NPsgDezXqqxVUn7YHyz0A7FL5Sv32_uNWFEz3WcsR5R5qD-etmmkLHndKYq6c/s1600/gay-sex_660_121113024143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vXzIchOIOe_VLJ4lfSQ1HLMyl1x3tFu17s9-M3cN1ahyQjpd6Tde2rHHq28HZF22oI6Y2ha_sozUUD8NPsgDezXqqxVUn7YHyz0A7FL5Sv32_uNWFEz3WcsR5R5qD-etmmkLHndKYq6c/s320/gay-sex_660_121113024143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">The petition seeking to decriminalise gay sex was filed in the high court by Naz Foundation.</span><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">Senior BJP leader B P Singhal, who died in October last year, had challenged the high court verdict in the apex court, saying such acts are illegal, immoral and against the ethos of the Indian culture.</span><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">Religious organisations like All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Utkal Christian Council and Apostolic Churches Alliance too had challenged the judgement.</span><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Right, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munn Kazhgam, SD Pritinidhi Sabha, Joint Action Council, Raza Academy, astrologer Suresh Kumar Kaushal, yoga guru Ramdev's disciple S K Tijarawala, Ram Murti, Bhim Singh, B Krishna Bhat had also opposed the verdict.</span><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><br style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">The Centre had earlier informed the apex court that there are an estimated 25 lakh gay people and about seven per cent (1.75 lakh) of them are HIV-infected.</span></div> <div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMhcIdjy9H_7qYfmvjdWtZOJ6zjqDehelLY-F_OZq6HDr1pSoLgtrpM-3Q_Jxv8v3FqmzXQfh7sv0bg3urxqFg-zmrLaKoQMnZL_LOduoH1C8e8FFCId5koBfqHeJYIr3vxJXaUEy_Hwz/s1600/gay-sex-3_660_121113024143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMhcIdjy9H_7qYfmvjdWtZOJ6zjqDehelLY-F_OZq6HDr1pSoLgtrpM-3Q_Jxv8v3FqmzXQfh7sv0bg3urxqFg-zmrLaKoQMnZL_LOduoH1C8e8FFCId5koBfqHeJYIr3vxJXaUEy_Hwz/s320/gay-sex-3_660_121113024143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none;">  </div> <div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none;">  In its affidavit, the Union Health Ministry had said it was planning to bring four lakh high-risk 'men who have sex with men (MSM)' under its AIDS control programme and it has already covered around two lakh of them.</div> <div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; outline: none;"> <br /></div> </div>

Gay sex, homosexuality is an offence: Supreme Court upholds Section 377. Black day for LGBT community

Gay sex, homosexuality is an offence: Supreme Court upholds Section 377. Black day for LGBT community   In a blow to gay rights ac...

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