IPL shifts out of India, Sharukh says elections is a bigger issue

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE (IPL) NEWS: Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners today said that they don’t have any problem with the BCCI's decision to shift the Twenty20 (T20) League matches out of the country because holding the general elections was a bigger issue before the Indian government.

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan who owns Kolkata Knight Riders said that he could understand the security constraints in holding the event during Indian elections.

He said after meeting IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi, "We have to respect the elections in the country. That is a bigger issue than our issue. By shifting the IPL abroad, we have tried to find a solution to the problem."

Sharukh Khan also added, "Off course the local buzz wouldn't be as strong as it is here but I guess elections will take care of the buzz."

When asked by the media that whether he would be there to watch all the matches featuring his team as was the case in the first edition then King Khan replied that it would depend on how the schedule pans out.

SRK also mentioned, "I will try to be there for as many matches as possible. Hopefully the schedule will help me."

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Preity Zinta, co-owner of King XI Punjab's also echoed Sharukh Khan's views and said that the general elections have to be given precedence.

She said, "As Shah Rukh said, we have to take elections into consideration. We have no problem with that"

Labels: IPL shifts out of India, Sharukh says elections is a bigger issue, Indian Election, Indian Premier League, IPL News, India News

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Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack

Hey, this is GREAT news, Emmy!



March 21, 2009
It’s too soon to celebrate.
Epi Curious
Sonoma Valley Sun
source

So says Emmy Kaplan, proprietor of the successful Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack in San Francisco, of the report that she’s just bought Deuce. It’s no secret, though, that Emmy wants to bring her signature style to the restaurant scene of Sonoma.



And, while she admits that she is currently negotiating with the owners of Deuce, she wants all to know that Deuce is still open while discussions are taking place. A proper press release will be available when any transaction occurs – and until then, Emmy urges the community to continue to support the current restaurant. After all, until the ink is dry on the contracts, there’s always uncertainty.

A single mother in her early thirties, Emmy, who grew up in the area, wants to bring to Sonoma what she has done so successfully in the City, an urban scene with comfort food and a fun nightlife with live music and dancing.

Epi has her fingers crossed that the contracts will soon be inked and we can all give Emmy and Peter and Kirsten Stewart, the owners of Deuce, a celebratory cheer.

I remain, yours truly, Epi Curious, your entrée to the best of food & wine in the Sonoma Valley.

--- end ---

Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack
3355 Mission St
San Francisco, CA‎
(415) 206-2086‎
photos

Deuce
691 Broadway
Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 933-3823

Mohan Bahgwat is the new RSS chief

INDIAN ELECTION NEWS: KS Sudarshan, chief of Rashtriya Swayayamsewak Sangh (RSS), announced his retirement today citing his health reasons. Mohan Bhagwat has succeeded him.

Mohan Bahgwat is the new 'Sar Sangh Chalak' (chief) of the RSS. His appointment comes with an expectation to redefine relations with the BJP at a time when the saffron party is trying hard to come back to power at the Centre.

Mohan Bahgwat has replaced KS Sudarshan who steps down after being at the helm of the Sangh Parivar fountain head for nearly nine long years when there were many ups and downs in its ties with BJP during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's term as Prime Minister of India of the NDA government.

The election of Mohan Bhagwat as ‘Sar Sangh Chalak’ came on the 2nd day of the 3 day RSS conclave that is expected to redefine its relationship with the BJP.

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Rajnath Singh, BJP president and Bal Apte, on deputation from RSS, were present on the occasion.

Mohan Bhagwat is now 59 years old and he has good relations with the BJP leadership including L K Advani. Bhagwat was replaced as general secretary by veteran ideologue Suresh Soni. Suresh Soni used to be in the BJP hierarchy a few years ago as a joint general secretary.

Labels: Mohan Bahgwat is the new RSS chief, K S Sudarshan, Mohan Bahgwat, BJP, Indian Election News

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Election Commission announced video tracing of top politicians campaign

After the issue of Varun Gandhi’s communal inflammatory remarks during his campaign meeting on March 6, Video tracking is in in this Lok Sabha election. Video tracking is aimed to stop politicians from violating the model code of conduct established by the Election Commission of India.

The Election Commission of India announced today that top politicians and key campaigners will be video tracked during this Lok Sabha election campaigns.

N Gopalaswamy, the Chief Election Commissioner of India announced that, "All high profile leaders, candidates and criminal elements will be video tracked during the electioneering for which adequate video cameras are being organised."

This announcement of the Election Commission comes after the recent controversy surrounding Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) candidate Varun Gandhi. Varun Gandhi was recently served a notice for making communally inflammatory remarks during his election campaign meeting at Dalchand recently.

Labels: Election Commission announced video tracing of top politicians campaign, Indian Election, Indian Election News, Varun Gandhi, Election Commission

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ENTROPIA UNIVERSE ONLINE GAME GETS BANKING LICENCE

Entropia Universe - an online game which calls itself "the first virtual universe with a real cash economy',has been granted a licence to be a bank.Issued by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority, the licence means the game can be more closely tied to the real world finances of players.

Mindark, the developers of the game, said it aimed to launch a fully-functioning in-game bank within the next 12 months.At current exchange rates, 10 PED (Project Entropia Dollars) are worth one US dollar. Unlike many other online games, which charge a monthly subscription fee, the software for Project Entropia is free to download and install.

However, players pay real money to get at in-game items, such as guns, armour and other gear, and the micro-payment system pays for Entropia's running costs.The licence will make it easier for players to convert real world cash into PEDs and sustain their characters in the game, said Mindark in a statement.

Jan Welter Timkrans, boss of Mindark,"We will be in a position to offer real bank services to the inhabitants of our virtual universe" . The in-game banking system plans to offer players interest-bearing accounts,depositting their salaries and pay bills or lending cash. The licence also means that each account is backed by deposit insurance to the value of $60,000 (£42,000).Regulators will get oversight of financial transactions carried out in the game world, so they can spot if criminals are using it to launder money.Mindark claims that more than 800,000 people have registered to play the game and 80-100,000 are regular players. About $420m of player-to-player transactions were carried out during 2008, according to Mindark figures.

IPL seeking for bullet-proof buses scheduled during the Indian elections in April-May

INDIA PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS: Indian Premier League (IPL), which was in news due to unavailability of proper security forces scheduled during the election months in India is now shopping for bullet-proof buses and cars to protect the star players. The fate of the IPL tournament still remaines uncertain on Friday.

Reports in media says that a South African private security firm hired by the multi-million dollar Twenty20 league had approached a local company to buy 16 buses and 64 SUV's. The vehicles are worth approx 3.1 million dollars in all.

Additional protection issue came last week in the wake of the deadly attack against the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan on 3rd of March this year. The attack killed eight Pakistanis and have also injured seven players.

News also comes that with demand high from Indian politicians campaigning for next month's Indian general elections, the IPL may not be able to buy shielded vehicles at such a short notice.

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The report comes as the Indian Premier League remained embroiled in a row with the Indian government over security issues.

The IPL scheduled opening is on April 10 and is scheduled to end up by May 24. The elections in India will take place in five phases from 16 April to 13 May and the vote counting date is 16 May.

Labels: IPL, Indian Premier League, India News, Cricket News, Indian Election

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S.KASHMIR SINGH PANJWAR

S.KASHMIR SINGH PANJWAR, originally uploaded by BAAGHI SINGH...

A true Lion of The Panth

Father of Shaaheed Bhai Rajwinder Singh Panjwar and Bhai Paramjit Singh Panjwar(Current Chief of "KHALISTAN COMMANDO FORCE" )

I asked Baaghi Singh, the photographer:

He has such a joyous, chardi kala face and a beautiful bearing. Just looking at his picture is an inspirartion.

If only we children all had such a parent! Then maybe all of us parents would have such children.

(Where is Bibi [Whoever] Kaur, their mother?)

BAAGHI SINGH.. says:
Bapu Kashmir Singh was sat in a gathering of elder Singhs in village panjwar, as I approached them and asked to take Bapu Ji's picture, he was overcome with joy, the glow on Bapu Ji's face is captured here...

During the Sikh struggle for independance, Bhai Parmjeet Singh Panjwar was (and still is) one of the most wanted Jujharoos, as the security forces could not capture this lion, they resorted to inhumane methods such as torturing and kiling family members, Bibi Mohinder Kaur Ji, the mother of Bhai Parmjeet Singh panjwar was picked up by the police from her home and taken to Jhabbal police station, where she was tortured & later attained Shaheedi.
Bhai Parmjeet Singhs brother, Bhai Rajwinder Singh Panjwar also suffered the same fate.

For more info about the Shaheedi of Mata Ji and Bhai Rajwinder Singh, please read Zulaam Gatha by Baghail Singh Baaghi
Posted 7 hours ago.

Delhi High Court grants anticipatory bail to Varun Gandhi till March 27

Indian Election News: Varun Gandhi gets a relief, but only till March 27. Delhi High Court restrained police from arresting 29 year old BJP candidate from Pilibhit for making alleged inflammatory and communal speeches during his campaign.

Justice Reva Khetrapal granted Varun's plea. He rejected the submission of Delhi Police that the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the petition as the FIR against him was lodged in Uttar Pradesh (India).

Varun Gandhi in his petition before the Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) High Court sought quashing of the FIR registered against him in his Lok Sabha election contesting region, Philibit, for his alleged inflammatory and communal speeches.

The High Court today granted anticipatory bail to Varun Gandhi till 27 March. He has got a bail on personal bond of Rs 50,000.

In the morning the lawyers of Varun visited Election Commission’s office to submit his reply on making communal statements. In the reply to the Election Commission, Varun Gandhi maintained that the CD has been doctored.

Labels: Varun Gandhi gets anticipatory bail, Varun Gandhi communal speech, Indian Election News, BJP, India News

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Hair, Hair and Hairs

I had published this post in my personal blog, sometimes - 2, thinking it a bit too light for this blog. However a couple of readers of both blogs have suggested that my Khalistani readers might also enjoy it.

It has been suggested that it might even give nonSikhs a little insight into our attitude about hair. I don't know about that. This is just my experiences and my thoughts. Anyway, after dead children in Gaza, murdered girl-foetuses in Punjab (and elsewhere) and all that is wrong in India, maybe we Khalistanis need a little relaxation..

So here goes:


My husband is again annoyed at all the money I spend on my hair. I think this is normal. Women do tend to spend a lot of money on their hair.

I was discussing this with a friend online. What are the things most women do to their hair? Straightening, I mean, relaxing, perming, weaves, braids, extensions, all kinds of styling and, of course, cuts.






She said that she spends about $100.00 a month at the salon, in addition to home care products, such as shampoo, conditioner, gels, mousse, sprays and a weekly deep conditioner. That can easily add up to another $50.00 per month. Then there are brushes, combs, ties, and ornaments. I am going to disregard them, as I have no way to approximate that.


My expenses are somewhat less. In twenty years of marriage, I have been to a salon - not even one time. Wait, I was in a salon once. I'll tell about that later. I have never used or paid for the services of a salon even once. Well, once...I'll tell that story, too..

Given those figures, the average American woman would have spent about $36,000.00 over twenty years.

My expenses are somewhat less. I buy only three products for my hair: shampoo, conditioner and hair oil. Although I refuse to use that hair garbage from the dollar store - it makes my hair, which is very dry, break off and my scalp itch - I do not use the expensive salon items. I buy what is on sale at the local grocery/drug store. Shampoo and conditioner cost about $7.00 each for a bottle. One bottle will last me about a month. Hair oil, even imported from India is not expensive. The kind I usually use costs about $6.00 a bottle and lasts a couple of months. But let's say, I use a bottle a month. That all adds up to to $20.00 per month. Over twenty years, that adds up to a grand total of $4,800.



That means I have saved us about $31,200 over the twenty years of our marriage. I'd say I'm quite a bargain!

About that trip to the salon. A friend asked me to meet her there. With some misgivings, I agreed. I do not think any keshdhari Sikh could possibly feel comfortable in such a place. (For my nonSikh readers, being keshdhari means following the distinctively Sikh practice of leaving the hair unshorn and in its natural state.)

I am keshdhari. Going to a hair salon felt a little like going to a brothel. Interesting, a bit disgusting, quite daring and very uncomfortable. I was very much out of place, rather like a lioness at a dog show.

I first noticed the smell. A hair salon smells a bit like a chemistry lab without fume hoods. Ammonia seemed to predominate, along with some smells I couldn't identify. Someone had lit some incense, I suppose to cover up the noxious odours. It didn't work. Both my nostrils and my eyes were assaulted and I felt vaguely sick to my stomach.




The sights that met my eyes were a bit shocking. I mean, I know what goes on in these places, but to actually witness it! Here were all these women, all seemingly having a good time, mutilating their hair in various ways with these toxic chemicals. I could almost hear their tortured hairs screaming out in agony. And on the floor lay strands and strings of amputated hairs of all sorts of colours, some natural, most dyed. All dead.







My friend was in another room, but the receptionist recognised her name when I asked her. I left a note asking her to meet me at a near-by coffee shop and got out of that chamber of horrors. That was maybe 15 years ago; I have not been in one since.


I will be honest. Many years ago, while married to Mani, I did go to a hair salon for a service. I took it into my head that I wanted to get my hair professionally conditioned. I think mostly I was curious at exactly what went on in there. I found out.

I explained that I just wanted a deep conditioning. As this was in Montreal, of course it was all in French. I'll spare you and write in English. The young woman who was to serve me had bright blonde hair of an improbable shade puffed around her face to make her head look very round. She approached me. saw my neat bun and reached up to take out my kangha. I let out a yelp and fastened it to a sort of string around my neck. Jeanette - I don't remember her name, but that seems appropriate - loosened my hair which fell and fell and fell. She actually let out a little gasp and said she'd never seen such long hair. There was no approval in her voice; in fact her tone was accusatory. She picked up the ends of it and with several hmm, hmm, hmms, examined them closely "Virgin hair," she murmured.. "You have split ends. I'll have to trim them off before it can be properly conditioned."


"You'll do no such thing. Cut a single hair and I'll have your," I caught my breath and choked back the obscenity that had been on my lips, "cosmetology licence."

"Do you belong to some weird religious cult or something that won't let women cut their hair?"

"Or something," I growled. "And men don't cut their hair either."

"Well, you should break free and become your own woman." She picked up her scissors. "Long hair is really not becoming on you with that long neck. You have such a high forehead, you really need some cute bangs. You really need a sexy new hair style. Let me help you get free from all " - she held up my precious kesh - "this."

I admit that I sprang out of the chair and got out of there fast. I suppose she still thinks that I came from some strange cult and had inadvertently wandered into the Twentieth Century.

After that I conditioned my own hair - or rather Mani and I did each other's hair, which was not only safer, but also a lot more pleasant.

I have one more thought about long hair. I once watched on The Oprah Winfrey Show, an episode that greatly disturbed me. A bunch of women - and one man - with very long hair were to get makeovers. The main point was to cut off that awful, old-fashioned, ugly, long hair. Give these people a modern, "sexy" look. I admit they did look very different, but BETTER? Not in my opinion. I had the same reaction I have when someone suggests I'd look better if I wore make-up. I always respond,"Better? No, just different." The man went from a strong, masculine man with a full beard and mustache, and hair as long as - although not as healthy - as a keshdhari Sikh to a somewhat girlish metrosexual. I did not like at all.






At least the shorn hair was donated to Locks of Love, a charity that makes human hair wigs for children who have lost their hair, usually as the result of cancer treatments. A worthy cause.



Now, in case you are thinking that these Sikhs are a bit daft with this whole hair thing, allow me a brief explanation. We believe that our Creator knew what it was doing when it made us and we couldn't be more perfectly made. We have hair for a reason, in fact, several practical reasons which I am not going into right now. Even if we could find no practical reason for hair, the fact is that Akaal Purakh (God) gave us a gift of our hair and it is for us to gratefully accept and cherish this gift. (Of course, there's more to it than that, but I think that'll be enough for a start, eh?)

If we still seem a bit daft to you, that's OK. We don't mind. Most of us anyway.

WHY TRY TO FIT IN? YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!

India ‘fit’ PM says Varun Gandhi’s remarks unfortunate

INDIAN ELECTION NEWS: On the issue of Varun Gandhi’s communal speech, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh breaks his silence over the fresh effort of communalising politics in India on Thursday condemning the remarks that allegedly sought to target the minority community.

Manmohan Singh talking to media at the Defence Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan said, “It is unfortunate if Varun Gandhi had made these comments.”

Varun Gandhi is a BJP candidate from Pilibhit and is in a midst of a raging controversy over his alleged hate speech against minority.

In his brief to the press Manmohan Singh also sought to dismiss any apprehensions regarding his health. He said that he was fit to campaign for the party in the General Election.

Manmohan Singh is recovering after a cardiac surgery on January 24.

He further said: “The third front is our rival. It should not be underestimated. “The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) will win and I am confident that people will vote for UPA.

Labels: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Varun Gandhi, BJP, Indian Election, India News

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