Avril Lavigne Baffled After Her 'Hello Kitty' Video Is Labeled Racist

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There's no such thing as bad publicity, and Avril Lavigne is back in the spotlight again after some fans complained that her new music video "Hello Kitty" is racist. In the promo, Lavigne prances around on a rooftop, in a candy store, and in a sushi bar as four expressionless Asian girls pose as her backup dancers, exaggerating Japan's kawaii (cute) culture. Some critics accused the pop star of perpetuating racial sterotypes, and the hashtag #avrilracist became a trending topic on Twitter. One user wrote: "Not sure if this Avril Lavigne video is terrible, racist, or terribly racist", while another tweeted, "Oh Avril, this is literally the worst music I have ever heard. And then you had to go and make it kinda racist. Why." Stunned by the backlash, Lavigne explained her decision to focus on Japanese culture in her video, writing: "Racist??? LOLOLOL!!! I love Japanese culture and I spend half of my time in Japan. "I flew to Tokyo to shoot this video specifically for my Japanese fans, WITH my Japanese label, Japanese choreographers AND a Japanese director IN Japan." Other fans have jumped to her defense. Another user wrote: "The background dancers with their serious faces seemed to be just like robert palmer's background band in addicted to love music video putting focus or attention on the main entertainer. This was a new style and a surprising style coming from avril lavigne which was truly enjoyable. Very Kawaii! Source: Starpulse.com

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Honda recalls 300,000 cars worldwide for faulty airbags

domain-b: In the biggest recall in the company's history, Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co's recall of vehicles for or faulty driver's airbag inflators yesterday rose to nearly 950,000. Tokyo-based Honda, Japan's second-largest automaker is recalling more than 300,000 cars worldwide of 10 models manufactured in 2001 and 2002, including models of the popular Accord and Civic. Of the latest recall, 280,000 were sold in the US, 27,000 in Canada, 2,000 in Japan, 359 vehicles in Europe with 200 in Germany alone, and 158 in Israel and one in the UK.  The expanded recall is for the following makes and model years: 2001 and 2002 Accord, 2001 to 2003 Civic, 2001 to 3003 Odyssey, 2002 and 2003 CR-V, 2003 Pilot, 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TL and 2003 Acura 3.2 C. ''Affected driver's airbag inflators may deploy with too much pressure, which can cause the inflator casing to rupture and could result in injury or fatality," the carmaker said in a statement. The latest recall is an expansion of recalls for the same problem in 2008, 2009 and early this year. In November, 2008, Honda recalled 4,000 Accord and Civic 2001 model, and then extended the recall in July 2009 to 440,000 and 378,758 vehicles in February this year.Read Full: domain-b.com : Honda recalls 300,000 cars worldwide for faulty airbags

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Solutions for An Aging Population

In Bolzano, Italy, almost a quarter of the population is over the age of 65. In fact, Italy, along with Japan, has one of the oldest populations in the world. As a result, Bolzano currently spends close to half of their social services budget on services for the elderly. This includes assisted living facilities where they receive around the clock care. But assisted living facilities can cost a city and the people who stay there vast amounts of
money that, within these economic conditions, municipalities and families just don't have. The solution: keep them in their homes where they are comfortable. IBM's Smarter Cities team partnered with the city to outfit a small group of elderly residents' homes with sensors which would in turn report data back to a central database closely monitored by the city. From there, the city could dispatch a care worker to visit the home. By allowing Bolzano to keep the number of their staff members the same, the program stabilizes the city's costs while simultaneously allowing it to care for its growing elderly population.

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Zara’s charm in Asia boosts Inditex sales by 12%

Zara's owner Inditex SA benefited from its flagship brand’s charm in Asian markets and saw a 12 per cent increase for its full year sales. Net income rose to 1.93 billion euros ($2.56 billion or Rs 13,216 crores) in the 12 months ended Jan. 31, the Spanish retail giant said Wednesday. Largest apparel retailer beat all estimates, as per instance, the average of 15 estimates compiled by Bloomberg was 1.92 billion euros (US$ 2.54 billion or Rs 13,112 crores), as opposed to the actual 1.93 billion euros ($2.56 billion or Rs 13,099 crores) Inditex reported. Zara plans to start online sales in China in the fall, according to Inditex, which gets about two-thirds of revenue from Europe. As of September, all of the retailer’s brands had online stores, and it offered e-commerce in 18 European markets, as well as the U.S. and Japan. The retailer said it plans to open 480 to 520 stores in 2012, including its first Massimo Dutti stores in the US The expansion will lead to an increase in capital spending to about 950 million euros (US$ 1.26 billion or Rs 6,504 crores) from 864 million euros (US$1.14 billion or Rs 5,885 crores) a year earlier. Net sales last year rose to 13.79 billion euros (US$18.29 billion or Rs 94,422 crores), representing growth of 10 per cent, or 11 per cent at local currency rates, Inditex said. Store revenue at constant exchange rates climbed 11 per cent from Feb. 1 to March 14, it said. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization climbed 9.8 per cent to 3.26 billion euros (US$ 4.32 billion or Rs 22,302 crores) as the company’s gross margin remained at 59.3 per cent of sales. "Like-for-like sales and gross margin seem healthier than expected in the final quarter. On every level of the high-quality indicators, it is a beat," Société Générale analyst Anne Critchlow said for The Guardian. Inditex rose 0.3 per cent to 71.94 euros (US$95.43 or Rs 4,926) right after publishing its full year figures, extending a seven-day winning streak. “Inditex 2011 earnings were really strong and sales performance at the beginning of this year is pretty good too,” said Jose Rito, an analyst at Banco BPI in Porto, Portugal, published Bloomberg. Source: Fashion United

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Worldwide electric vehicle sales to reach 3.8 million annually by 2020

Sales of plug-in electric and hybrid electrics, collectively referred to as electric vehicles (EVs), will reach 3.8 million annual worldwide by 2020, according to a new report from Pike Research. Dave Hurst, senior research analyst with Pike Research, acknowledged that overall sales of EVs have not lived up to automakers’ expectations in a written statement announcing the findings, but he stressed the market is has expanded steadily as consumers sought alternatives to internal combustion engines. “Indeed, sales of plug-in EVs will grow at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 40 percent over the remainder of the decade, while the overall auto market will expand by only two percent a year,” Hurst said. Growth worldwide for 
electric vehicles, with hybrids growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6 percent, and PEVs (combined plug-in hybrid and battery electric) growing at a CAGR of 39 percent between 2012 and 2020. While Japan is anticipated to be the largest market for hybrids in 2020, the United States is anticipated to be the largest market for PEVs that year. However, European countries, with the combination of high gas prices and supportive government policies, are anticipated to have the highest concentrations of plug-in electric vehicles. Despite the positive momentum for the market, it still faces hurdles. The report, “Electric Vehicle Market Forecasts,” provides forecasts, market sizing, and market share analysis for light duty hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric cars and trucks. The report includes comprehensive data for sales and underlying forecast assumptions for the consumer and fleet markets. Annual vehicle sales by electric vehicle segment and market share for key manufacturers are forecast through 2020, segmented by world region and key countries.Source: Renewable Energy Magazine

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First Photos of the Updated Acura NSX Concept II?

A Chinese  website  has  dropped  a  pair of  pictures of  what is claimed  to be the latest Acura NSX Concept, which the Japanese carmaker has already confirmed for the Detroit Auto Show. Acura itself has described the car as "the next evolution of the NSX Concept". While we can't see any differences on the outside compared to the original study displayed at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, there's a picture of the interior, which was not shown previously. The new NSX will enter production under the Acura nameplate in North America and as a Honda for the rest of the world within the next two years. It will be manufactured for the first time in model's history in the U.S. and will sport a mid-mounted naturally aspirated V6 engine aided by the firm's new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) hybrid system that incorporates three electric motors. Story References: Xgo via Source: Carscoop

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Will the world get new reserve currency?

Canadian-born Nobel prizewinning economist Robert Mundell thinks that the world is ripe for a new unit of account, and he even suggested a name for it – “device”.

Mundell, a professor of Columbia University in New York and one of the authors of the Eurozone, spelled out his idea at the Gaidar Forum in Moscow. He holds that in order to become an effective means of payment in the interests of the whole world, the future reserve currency should not be tied to any particular country. The “device”, as seen by Mundell, should be formed by merging the dollar, euro and yen into one unit of account that may exist in a purely virtual form or be converted into any of its three constituent currencies. Some experts find the project too bold to be achievable. Russian economist Mikahil Delyagin shares his view: "The dollar, euro and yen rest on three different economies with different growth dynamics. Therefore, attempts to create a common synthetic currency will run into big problems and will most likely fail. For some fundamental, rather technical reasons, a joint governing body involving Japan, the United States and Europe is impossible. So, it seems that Mr Mundell’s idea actually signals that the existing model has exhausted itself. The dollar is no longer able to cope with its function as a reserve currency." True, the dollar is losing its positions. But what are the alternatives? So far, only the euro meets the required standards. There is also the Chinese yuan, but it is still not fully convertible and therefore unable to challenge the dollar. Meanwhile, Russia has long been cherishing plans to make the ruble a reserve currency at least on a regional scale within the CIS framework. President Vladimir Putin thinks that the ruble has enough potential for that. Here is the opinion of Anatoly Aksakov, President of the Association of Regional Banks of Russia. "The ruble is already being used as a unit of account for transactions in some CIS member states. But this is not a systemic occurrence. For the ruble to become a fool-fledged regional currency, first, we need strengthen the economy and, second, to promote active use of the ruble in trade transactions with Ukraine, India and China. If these tasks and issues are solved, then the ruble will move faster towards becoming a regional currency." The ruble’s chances will strengthen considerably after Russia’s Central Bank switches to a free-floating exchange rate by 2015. Source: Voice of Russia

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Boeing Dreamliner: Not more ‘future of aviation’?

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Japan’s two main airlines have grounded their fleets of Boeing 787 Dreamliners after one had to make an emergency landing because of battery problems. It’s the latest and most serious setback for the Dreamliner, which Boeing has billed as the future of aviation. Tony Dixon, editor of Airliner World magazine, says an uncontrollable fire breaking out on board an aircraft represents more than just the usual teething problems suffered by new planes

By: Tom Spender, Boeing’s Dreamliner has only been in service for just over a year, but the aircraft’s debut is turning into something of a nightmare after Japan’s two main airlines grounded their entire fleets until further notice. Today All Nippon Airways flights from Tokyo were forced to make an emergency landing after a lithium battery began omitting smoke. Dramatic pictures showed the plane of the runway with its emergency chutes deployed and the fire engine in attendance. The airline said a number of people sustain slight injuries as 129 passengers and 8 crew members were evacuated. It’s the latest and most serious problem with the Dreamliner following complaints of fuel leaks and cracked cockpit window, break problems and an electrical fire. Japan’s Transport Minister Akihiro Ota told reporters that people might not want to travel in Dreamliners in the future. "Looking at this from the point of view of the average citizen, having this sort of incidents occur seemingly day after day, one could become very uneasy. We will convey the message to those who operate the plane that it is absolutely necessary to be safe." Even before today’s emergency landing Boeing was already facing an inquiry by Japanese and U.S. authorities over issues with the Dreamliner whose manufacture was beset by overrunning costs and production delays. And Tony Dixon, editor of Airliner World magazine, says the Dreamliner appears to be suffering more than usual problems that often occur with the new plane: There’ve been two or three instances now, and it’s the batteries that charge the APU. The problem is there’s no fire protection system at the moment. To solve it is probably not that difficult. It’s just the latest in what is becoming an annoying series of problems that Boeing has had with the airplane. All Nippon Airways says the Dreamliner’s pilots saw computer warnings of smoke inside an electrical compartment and problems with the battery in the forward cargo hold. That battery was of the same type as the battery involved in a fire on a Japan Airlines’ Dreamliner at an American airport last week. Lithium batteries in laptop computers and in mobile phones can spontaneously combust. In 2011 a U.S.-government study concluded that fire started by lithium batteries in laptops and phones would cause an American cargo plane to crush every other year. But Dixon doesn’t believe that passengers will boycott the Dreamliners over batteries’ fire fears. Unfortunately, public has a short memory and by the time the first aircraft gets to the UK, which is end of February – beginning of March, it would possibly be that all the problems have been sold. Although they’ll probably be other little things that happen, as in the first couple of years with the 838. But now the 838 provide excellent service to all its operators. It doesn’t help, of course, that Boeing is three years late with the delivery and they already had a lot of problems with the airplane. The Japanese Airlines say they’ll make a decision about future Dreamliner use tomorrow, but the difficulty the airline faces is that they don’t have an easy alternative, because of the lag time of several years between ordering a plane and its delivery. If you’re buying Dreamliner now, you’re going to get it in six years. Your minimum waiting time to buy an airplane is 3-4 years. You can extend the leasing of the ones you have, or you might be able to, but the leasing company expecting your airplane to be ready the end of this month, for instance, might already have leased it to another airline next month. They’ll demand compensation – anything to make the airplane cheaper, but that’s something we’ll never find out – how much compensation it already has been offered for a two-year delay, for instance. They tend to keep that quite close to their chests. The only time you find that is when a program starts. So far, there’re 49 Dreamliners in service around the world and Boeing says they’re the future of aviation. The 207-million-dollar aircraft is made of lightweight composite material and uses 15% to 20% less fuel than its predecessors, the 767 and 757. Source: Voice of Russia

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Google rolls out Street View's biggest ever update

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While Apple is apologizing for its new flop Maps app service in the latest iPhone, Google is hitting the nail in the coffin as hard as it can, by announcing its plans to release the biggest update ever to its Street View feature. The Internet search giant has announced that it will release a new update of its map service that would give users a view of what places actually look like from cars dispatched by the firm to photograph everything they pass. According to ABC news, Google has doubled the number of images in Street View images, adding 250,000 miles of road from around the world. Listed on Google''s blog are places where they have added more Street View coverage. Some are in the U.S., but most are abroad, in places like South Africa, Denmark, Japan, and Spain, the report said. The move come as Apple continues to apologise for its new maps app in iOS 6, and tries to mend the omissions and errors made in it. Apple introduced the new maps app after replacing Google Maps for the iPhone and iPad. It was quickly criticized by many users for its lack of certain features, mistaken locations and jumbled images.Source: Hindustan Times, Image: flickr.com

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Blink, and Your Brain Takes a Nap

London: Blinking not only keeps your eyes lubricated, but also gives time for the brain to take a little nap, according to a new study. The human brain uses that tiny moment of shut-eye to power down, researchers from Japan's Osaka University found. In a new study, they found that the mental break can last anywhere from a split second to a few seconds before attention is fully restored. Scans that track the ebb and flow of blood within the brain revealed that regions associated with paying close attention momentarily go offline. The brain then goes into a 'default mode network', or idle setting. The same setting is engaged when our attention is not required by a cognitive task such as reading or speaking and our thoughts wander freely. During

The science behind why we blink

this mode people tend to contemplate their feelings. They wonder what a friend meant by a recent comment. They consider something they did last week, or imagine what they'll do tomorrow. While listening to another person or reading, that usually comes at the end of a sentence and while watching a film, people are most likely to blink when an actor leaves the scene or when the camera shifts. Most people take between 15 and 20 such moments of downtime per minute. Researchers studied 20 healthy young subjects in a brain scanner as they watched snippets from the British comedy Mr. Bean. When subjects blinked, the researchers detected a momentary stand-down within the brain's visual cortex and somatosensory cortex, both involved with processing visual stimuli, and in areas that govern attention. Separate studies on blinking have shown that while telling a lie, people have been found to blink less. In the seconds after telling a lie, however, the liar will blink far more frequently than a truth-teller. The new research was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academies of Science. Source: iTVnews

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13 Guinness World Records of 2013

Guinness World Records 2013 - "Guinness World Records" published today in more than 100 countries and in more than 23 languages. The first book was published in 1955 and immediately soared to the top of the British bestseller list. The most recent book in the series - "Guinness World Records 2013." Some records in this post. 1 - Most Little People: 18-year-

old student from India Jyoti Amge was entered in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest woman in the living. Her height is only 62.8 cm And the smallest man in the world of the living is a 72-year-old Chandra Bahadur Dungy (Chandra Bahadur Dangi) from Nepal. His height is only 54.6 cm.

2 - The World's Biggest Biceps: The world's biggest biceps belong to Mustafa Ismail of Egypt, and their dimensions are impressive: the left hand - 64.77 inches flexed and 62.23 cm are not bent, right arm 63.5 inches flexed and 60.96 inches is not bent.

3 - The Heaviest Female Athlete: Of living, the most serious athlete is Sharran Alexander from London. It is engaged in sumo and Sanchez is 203.21 kg.

4 - With Amaya High Horse: Horse named "Big Jake," he lives in the U.S.. His height without shoes - 210.19 cm.

5 - The Youngest Professional Drummer: He was born May 14, 2004, and lives in the U.S.

6 - The Largest Dump Truck: This American Westech T282C monster at a time can move 470 cubic feet of coal.

7 - Tallest Dog: The highest of living dog named "Zeus." Height of 1.12 m giant, and he lives in the U.S.

8 - The Smallest Bull: The smallest bull lives in Northern Ireland. Archie - the so-called bull growth - 76.2 cm.

9 - The Highest Donkey: Sam - the highest ass. His height is 155.45 cm.

10 - The Largest Collection of Barbie and the Highest-Mohican Hairstyle: Kollektsionersha 52, (left) began collecting dolls in 1993. Now her collection of Barbie has 15 000 different items. Japanese designer (right) are also distinguished: the height of his hair is almost 1 meter 12 cm in its laying out three cans of hairspray and a large bottle of gel.

11 - Most Age Gymnast: Most age gymnast lives in Germany. She is 86 years old (born November 20, 1925), and it frequently takes part in competitions.

12 - The Fastest Sheep: Fastest sheep live in the English county of Buckinghamshire. She regularly participates in races and won 165 of the 179 laps.

13 - The Biggest Hot Dog: 3.2-pound, 41-inch hot dog. It costs 1215 rubles on today's exchange rate.icePice.blogspot.com: 13 Guinness World Records of 2013

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Highway Passing through the Skyscraper in Japan

The Gate Tower Building is one of the wonderful building in Osaka. The Place of crossing highway and high-rise. In Osaka, Japan's 'Second City', space for offices is severely limited. So limited that the 16 story Gate Tower Building had to lose the 5th, 6th and 7th floors to the Hanshin highway. The elevator passes through the floors without stopping. The floors through which the highway passes consist primarily of elevators, stairways and similar things without stopping and also it has heliport on roof. The Gate Tower Building is the first building which utilizes the three-dimensional road system in Japan. Source: icePice

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Japan’s industry minister says being nuclear-free won't hurt Japan's economy

TOKYO — Japan’s industry minister stepped into the national debate on energy policy Tuesday, saying the nation could phase out nuclear power by 2030 without hurting the world’s third-largest economy. “We can do it,” Yukio Edano told reporters in Tokyo when asked about the impact of abandoning Japan’s stable of nuclear reactors. “I don’t think the zero scenario is negative for Japan’s economy. On the contrary, it can create growth as efforts to develop renewable energy and improve energy-efficiency could boost domestic demand,” he added. But according to government-chosen experts' forecast, a zero-nuclear scenario might cause Japan’s economic growth to fall between 1.2 and 7.6% by 2030 compared with returning atomic energy to pre-disaster levels. Last year’s Fukushima atomic crisis, forced Japan switching off its 50 nuclear reactors but two were authorized the re-start amid looming power shortages. The move has sparked huge anti-nuclear protests in the country. Source: Sam Daily Times

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Apes have midlife crises too

A team of British scientists assembled data on more than 500 great apes from zoos and research centers in the US, Australia, Canada, Singapore and Japan. Caretakers and other observers had filled out a four-item questionnaire to assess the well-being in the apes. The questions asked such things as the degree to which each animal was in a positive or negative mood, how much pleasure it got from social situations, and how successful it was in achieving goals. The report says that captive chimps and orangutans do show the same low ebb in emotional well-being at midlife that some studies find in people. All this meaning that the midlife crisis largely stems from biological changes living beings go through. Voice of Russia, AP, Source: Voice of Russia

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World's tallest tower opens to visitors in Tokyo!! Want to see?

Tokyo SkyTree World Tallest Tower

The world's tallest tower and Japan's biggest new landmark, the Tokyo Skytree, opened to the public on Tuesday, May 22, 2012. Nearly 8,000 visitors were expected to take high-speed elevators up to the observation decks of the 634-meter (2,080-foot) tower to mark its opening. Some reportedly waited in line more than a week to get the coveted tickets for a panoramic view, though Tuesday ended up being cloudy in Tokyo. Skytree is recognized by Guinness World Records as the tallest tower, beating out the CantonTower in China, which is 600 meters (1,968 1/2 feet). Guinness lists the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, at 828 meters (2,716 feet 6 inches), as the world's tallest building. The world's tallest structure is Dubai's Burj Khalifa, 

World Tallest tower Opens on May 22 2012 for Public

which stands 828 meters (2,717 feet). That's in a different category because it's a skyscraper, not a tower. The Skytree will serve as a broadcast tower for television and radio, along with being a tourist attraction. It replaces the 333-meter-tall (1,092 1/2-foot-tall) Tokyo Tower — a symbol of Japan's capital since 1958 — as the broadcast hub. Michihiko Katsuragi, 27, has watched construction of the tower since moving to the area in 2009, according to a report in the Mainichi Daily News. "I felt like I was growing up at the same time," he was quoted as saying. Kazutaka Hasegawa got in line on May 16 and was the first visitor to the Skytree on Tuesday, according to the Mainichi Daily News."As a resident of Sumida Ward, I feel a sense of satisfaction in being the first person to ascend the tower," Hasegawa was quoted as saying. The Skytree has two observation decks, at 350 meters (1,148 feet) and at 450 meters (1,476 feet). The upper deck can hold

Burj Khalifa World Tallest Building 

900 people at a time and the lower deck 2,000, according to a report from the Japan Daily Press. Only 6,000 tickets to thedecks will be sold daily and they are sold online through a lottery system, the report said .The Skytree complex, which also includes a shopping area, was expected to draw about 200,000 visitors on Tuesday, according to the Daily Press. In 2014, China is expected to complete the Shanghai Tower, which at 2,073 feet will be the country's tallest building, and the world's tallest after the Burj Dubai. Source: Ananta-Tec

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80-year-old Yuichiro Miura to attempt to climb Everest

TOKYO — Adventurer and alpinist Yuichiro Miura has announced that he plans to climb to the summit of Mt Everest in 2013, at the age of 80. Miura, the Japanese alpinist and adventurer most famous for being the man who skied down Everest in the 1970 documentary, “The Man Who Skied Down Everest,” said he plans to climb the mountain from the north this time after completing two successful climbs on the south, Sankei Shimbun reported. In 2003, at age 70, Miura became the oldest person to reach the summit of Everest. After this record was surpassed, Miura once again successfully climbed Mt Everest at the age of 75 on May 26, 2008. Late last week, he again lost the record when Nepalese Min Bahadur Sherchan produced birth certificates to prove that he was 76 when he climbed Everest last year. In 1970, Miura skied down the Lhotse face using a parachute as drag. He skied 6,600 feet in two minutes and 20 seconds, and then fell another 1,320 feet. Eight sherpas reportedly died during the expedition. Miura told reporters, “I’m curious to find out how far mankind can push his limits. It’s now or never.” Miura has announced that he will start training for Everest with successive climbs of 5,000, 6,000 and 7,000-meter peaks, Sankei reported. “I want to show that you don’t have to throw away your dreams and ambitions when you hit 80. Eighty is the new 60,” he said. Miura is the son of Japanese skiing legend Keizo Miura, and father of 43-year-old freestyle skier and alpinist Gota Miura. Source: SAM Daily Times

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It is easier to be on mat rather than facing camera: Sushil Kumar

Sushil Kumar has been busy shooting for different brands following his record successive medal-winning performance at the London Games, but the unassuming grappler says it is easy to be on the mat rather than facing a camera. "I am adept at my art, but to face a camera was a bit difficult. It was very challenging to start with. But like I have mastered my trade, I am trying to cope with the camera also," Sushil said. Asked if Sushil Kumar the brand has made him to think differently, the modest-to-the-core wrestler from Delhi replied in negative. "I don't feel that should be a criteria to behave differently. I believe I am one among the family so there is no question of thinking that way," said Sushil, as he emerged out of the field after having a tough football match against his friend Yogeshwar Dutt and company at the Chhatrasal Stadium. The 29-year-old, who became the first Indian athlete to win back-to-back medals in the Olympics, after clinching a silver at the recently-concluded London Games, said that he has worked hard to get his share of endorsements. "A lot of effort has gone to reach to this stage. It has been a very strenuous journey. I don't think there is anything wrong in this as long as you are focussed on your goal," said Sushil, even as he failed to conceal the pain of losing out on the opportunity to win a gold at the Games. "There are still some years of wrestling left in me and my next aim would be 2016 Olympics. I would definitely wish to give my 100 per cent there," he insisted. Sushil lost 1-3 to Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu of Japan in the finals of the 66kg freestyle category after reportedly suffering from acute dehydration. Asked if the wrestlers need to guard against complacency, after their boxing peers drew a blank in London after finishing on a high in the previous Olympics in Beijing, Sushil said the next four years would in no way be different from the past. "We were extremely focussed at our job and practiced really hard for the London Games. I don't think the coming years would be any different. We have done it in past and I see no reason why we cannot do it at Rio de Janeiro," he said. Sushil also reposed faith on the pugilists saying that the likes of Vijender Singh will come back strongly in the next Games. Asked how life has changed after the London Olympics, Sushil said, "There is more recognition. People from all across the country have showered great love upon me. My phone has continuously been abuzz with congratulatory messages and requests for being part of various felicitation ceremonies." And what advice he would like to give the younger generation of grapplers, Sushil said, "Be disciplined, focus on your goal and work hard."Source: Indian Express

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First Dreamliner for Air India to land on Saturday

Air India's long wait for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is finally over, with the first of these long-haul planes set to arrive here on Saturday, sources said on Thursday. The national carrier, which had placed orders for 27 of these aircraft six years ago, would get its first Dreamliner on Saturday, which is to be followed by the delivery of two more within the next few weeks. However, the fate of the Delay Compensation Agreement, which was cleared by the Union Cabinet in August and is being fine-tuned by the Union Law Ministry, is still not clear, the sources said. The agreement, supposed to be signed between the airline and Boeing, is to finalise the compensation to be given by the US aircraft major for almost four-year delay in deliveries. The first batch was supposed to be delivered in September 2008 but design and production issues at Boeing delayed deliveries. With these new aircraft, Air India, which intends to get 14 of them by March next year, would launch flights on several long-haul international sectors, including new services to Australia, later this year. For the next few weeks, the Dreamliner would be operated on the domestic sectors, including Delhi-Mumbai, to enable the pilots and crew get accustomed to its landings and take-offs. Air India was the second world carrier to have placed orders for this aircraft. But due to delays in clearing of the agreement further delayed the plane's deliveries to Air India. Those airlines which have inducted and are already operating this aircraft are Japan's All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines and Ethiopian Airways. The plane is made of carbon composite material, which makes it light-weight and therefore is considered less fuel guzzler. Boeing claims the plane consumes 20 per cent less fuel compared with the similar-sized B-767s and better fuel efficiency implies lower flying costs. According to Boeing, as many as 47 airlines across the world have ordered nearly 900 Dreamliners. The long-range, twin-engine aircraft has four variants, with the longest-range variant capable of flying over 15,000 kms non-stop. Source: Deccan Chronicle, ***

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The art of making monsters

Creature feature: "Kyoshin Heizo" ("God Soldier") by Takayuki Takeya is on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo . © 2012 NIBARIKI·G

By MATT ALT: Good news for monster fans: Not one, not two, but three separate tokusatsuexhibitions are stomping their way through downtown Tokyo as you read these words.  While you may never have heard the word "tokusatsu," you are likely familiar with what it is. A contraction of the Japanese words tokushuand satsuei, it means "special effects." Although it can be used to refer to any effects-heavy production, in common usage it refers to the decidedly analog, handmade "rubber suit" effects seen in "Godzilla" movies, the "Ultraman" series, and "Power Rangers"-style shows. Long pooh-poohed by  Westerners used to higher  budget fare, it's easy to forget that Japanese tokusatsu once represented the cutting edge of special-effects technology worldwide. In fact, in the early 1970s director George Lucas reportedly visited Japan to brush up on the then-latest techniques before launching a franchise Western audiences still revere: "Star Wars." Computer graphics long ago supplanted the miniatures and

Baltan Seijin rough sketch, Shoji Otomo, 1966. © TSUBURAYA PRO

rubber-suited actors once used to create effects for science-fiction and fantasy movies. But there's a certain charm to the idea of tricking the eye using skillfully crafted props and camera tricks rather than computer techniques. With few chances to exercise their talents in the digital era, though, aging tokusatsu craftsmen are finding it hard to pass along their skills to the next generation. For all the monsters they've slayed over the years, could tokusatsu techniques be in danger of going extinct? Not if the people behind these exhibitions have anything to say about it. It's the sound that first hits you, walking into the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo's "Tokusatsu Hakubutsukan" ("Special Effects Museum"). A swirling, never-ending audio loop of lasers, monster shrieks and heroic shouts from the shows of yesteryear fills the air. Culled from the climactic scenes of '60s and '70s sci-fi productions, the soundscape lends a strangely intense atmosphere to the exhibition, as though a pitched battle between the Self-Defense Forces and some fearsome creature is unfolding just around the corner. Which it is, in a matter of speaking. The biggest and boldest of the three exhibitions now showing in and around the capital, "Tokusatsu Hakubutsukan" features room upon room of carefully restored props and

Ring the alarm: Three exhibitions in and around Tokyo are celebrating Japan's tokusatsu (special effects) films. A model from "Return of Ultraman" (above) is one of the items on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo's "Tokusatsu Hakubutsukan" ("Special Effects Museum") along with a miniature model of Tokyo. © TSUBURAYA PRODUCTIONS CO., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
monster suits. "Talented craftsmen made each and every one of these. It costs a lot of money and takes a long time to build things like this," explains display coordinator Tomoo Haraguchi, a tokusatsu expert who restored the vast majority of the pieces on display in the show with his own hands. "That's why tokusatsu has been replaced by CG (computer graphics). But the difference is, props actually exist. They have a physical presence that can be experienced. Data doesn't. And it's my hope that the people who come to the show will realize how much effort went into making these objects. To me, they're more than movie props. They're pieces of history. They're art." The show's centerpiece is a retro sci-fi short film produced especially for the exhibition and screened every 10 minutes in a small theater. Produced by Hideaki Anno of "Evangelion" fame, directed by special-effects master Shinji Higuchi and based upon a character from legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki's feature "Nausicaa," it comes with serious otaku (fanboy) credentials. The topic, of course, is a fearsome monster destroying a startlingly detailed model set of downtown Tokyo. Featuring everything from scale-model skyscrapers to playground equipment, the nine-minute short unfolds as a homage to the climax of every kaiju eiga(giant monster movie) ever made in Japan. Unfortunately for the monolingual, it isn't subtitled, but you'll be able to follow the plot, such as it is, without too much trouble. That said, even being able to understand it in Japanese, I found myself wishing for a poorly synched English dub like those shows I grew up watching as a kid. As well done as the short is, the highlight comes once the lights are back on. In an amusing twist, the entire set used in the film has been moved into the museum, and visitors are allowed to stroll amid the miniaturized cityscape. You'll have to control your inner giant monster as no actual building-stomping is allowed, but it's still a treat. In comparison to Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo's holistic approach to tokusatsu studies, The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama, laser-focuses on a single series in its "Ultraman Art!" exhibition. For those not in the know, Ultraman is the star of a long-running series of television shows, the first of which debuted in 1967. When giant monsters threaten Japan, the heroic Shin Hayata uses the power of an alien Beta Capsule to grow to titanic proportions and fight them on their own terms. The sleek red-and-silver countenance of the titular hero is as much a part of the Japanese collective consciousness as Superman is in that of the average North American's. "Ultraman" is also notable for being the first show to spark a toy craze; decades before the similar "Pokemon" fad, Japanese kids begged their parents for figures of the heroes and monsters of "Ultraman." The series has continued in fits and starts to this very day, more than 40 years later. Aired in the United States and other countries, it enjoys a popular reputation abroad as well. The "Ultraman Art!" exhibition is a one-stop shop for information about how the series was made. It features original concept art, props (complete with scuffing and damage from hard days' filming), and even monster-costume-fitting dioramas. Ever wondered how those suits were made? Chicken wire wrapped around an actor's body created the foundation. You learn something new every day. One of the highlights of the show comes at the very end, with a display featuring a close up of Ultraman flying through the clouds. The setup shows how a relatively simple arrangement of models, cotton batting and a cloud backdrop results in a captivating trompe l'oeil when seen through the camera lens. Curious as to what makes Godzilla tick? The "Otomo Shoji no Daizukai Ten" ("Shoji Otomo Diagram Exhibition," which is tucked away in the charming Yayoi Museum in the backstreets of Tokyo's Nezu district, is your chance to find out. You'll be forgiven for not knowing his name, but Shoji Otomo singlehandedly changed how monster movies were viewed in Japan. Dubbed the kaiju hakase(monster professor), his attempts to quantify the inner workings of imaginary things made him an otaku pioneer. Toiling as the editor of the kids' manga weekly Shonen Magazine in the late '60s, he hit on the idea of commissioning cutaway views that revealed the mysterious inner workings of giant monsters. Although not an artist himself, he conducted the research, prepared obsessive rough sketches and suggested the page layouts for the magazine's freelance illustrators. Otomo's efforts to bring a certain degree of reality to the monster world earned him legions of fans in the late '60s and early '70s. Most notable among them was Crown Prince Naruhito, who famously used his very first allowance to procure Otomo's "Kaiju Zukan" — "A Giant Monster Field Guide." (It's somewhat reassuring to know that a text like this sits on the bookshelves of the Imperial Household — you know, just in case.) Unfortunately, Otomo passed away in his prime, collapsing from an unexpected prescription-drug reaction at the age of 36 in 1973. The legacy he left behind lives on, though, inspiring legions of young fans and industry professionals to take monsters more seriously. His detailed explanations of the inner workings of strange beasts, futuristic vehicles and fantastic secret bases formed a cornerstone of the otaku culture that would eventually take Japan by storm. The Yayoi Museum collaborated with Otomo's mother, Ai Shishimoto, who is still going strong at the age of 102, to prepare the exhibition. (In fact, one of the more touching aspects of the show is a small photo, off in a corner, of Otomo's bedroom in her home, left all but untouched for close to 40 years.) The show features two floors jam-packed with original sketches, vintage books, photographs and expanded views of the finalized page layouts from the magazines. If there's any downside, it's that the materials are entirely in Japanese, but there's plenty to appreciate visually. "The era of handmade tokusatsu is essentially over," Haraguchi says. "But that doesn't mean it will never come back." Whatever the case, these shows are a step toward preserving some of the building blocks of postwar Japan's pop-culture aesthetic — and a lot of fun to boot. Or should that be claw? "Tokusatsu Hakubutsukan" ("Special Effects Museum") runs through Oct. 8 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo in Koto-ku (¥1,400 for adults, ¥900 for children; closed Mon., except holidays; [03] 5245-4111). For more information, visit www.mot-art-museum.jp. "Ultraman Art!" runs through Sept. 2 at The Museum of Modern Art, Saitama (¥1,100 for adults, ¥880 for students; closed Mon., except holidays; [048] 824-0111). For more information, visitwww.momas.jp/3.htm. "Otomo Shoji no Daizukai Ten" ("Shoji Otomo Diagram Exhibition") runs through Sept. 30 at the Yayoi Art Musem in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo (¥900 for adults, ¥800 for children; closed Mon., except holidays; [03] 5689-0462). For more information, visit www.yayoi-yumeji-museum.jp. Source: The Japan Times Online

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A unique temple - dedicated to India's freedom fighters

The Asian Age, IANS, Agra: Indian Army chief General V.K. Singh  on  Sunday opened the first Rashtra Mandir, dedicated to freedom fighters and social workers, at the Mankameshwar temple complex here. The Rashtra Mandir is a unique temple in the name of people like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Annie Besant and Bhagat Singh. Mahant Har Har Puri, who is the brain behind the shrine, said: "Nationalism today has to be the foundation of religion. Those who sacrificed their lives preaching sermons and values to ensure freedom with dignity for us have to be revered like gods and it is our duty to inculcate these values in our younger generation." The temple was opened in the presence of Gandhians from America, Britain and Japan. "The idea is people who visit the temple should return convinced that violence does not pay, and there are more important things in this world to fight for than petty politics," said Yogesh Puri, a key organiser. The temple is designed simply with portraits of freedom fighters put up in the backdrop of the national flag. In the centre is a huge statue of Mahatma Gandhi with his famous three monkeys. "The moment you see all the great men together, your head automatically bows down in reverence and awe," commented culture critic Mahesh Dhakar. Agra is the right place to have a temple of this kind, as a large number of domestic and foreign tourists visit the city daily. "They should go back with intellectual inputs, of the seminal ideas that have stood the test of time and will continue to remain beacons of hope for a strife-torn humanity," said Har Har Puri. The inspiring portraits of Chandra Shekar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Ashfaq Ullah Khan, Tilak, Malviya, Mother Teresa, leave a deep imprint on visitors to the temple, which is walking distance from Agra Fort, right in the heart of the city. "Just as we revere and worship our ancestors during the pitr paksh, we must also do the same with these great men and women who have done so much for humanity. We look at them with respect as gods; their ideas will fuel our actions," said Vijay Kumar Handa of the Gandhi Hindustani Sahitya Sabha, Delhi. Handa said: "Very soon 100 Japanese kids will take to spinning on the charkha as a daily ritual. We are getting messages from China and other countries. Fed up with violence and senseless brutalities often resulting from mindless pursuit of materialism, more and more young people were seeing reason in what Gandhi said, did or wrote." "The momentum is now with the people and it is all the more necessary to educate people and guide them through propagation of Gandhian values," the chief of the centuries old Mankameshwar Matth said. General V.K. Singh had visited the Mankameshwar temple last year and conducted some special puja. The idea of a Rashtra Mandir had excited him and he promised to open the temple when it was completed. Source: The Asian Age ***

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