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Now, a website to help dads read bedtime tales to kids even when not around

July 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Melbourne July 12 (ANI): Fathers who fear not being able to get home at time to read their kids bedtime stories can sigh in relief for a new website offers them the chance to do so with remote reading.

British website FiveDads.com prompts fathers to read one of 15 popular stories into their computer’s microphone for a fee of about 10 dollars.

Hi-tech software then records the voice of fathers reading a story along with addition features such as music and sound effects.

The audio file is then emailed to the child.

Audio editor Chris Coombs came up with the idea for his daughter when he had to shift to Canada after the New York terror attacks.

“We realised we could be providing something for people to make a connection with their kids that otherwise they could never have,” News.com.au quoted him as saying.

But relationship experts seemed less convinced, saying the alternative could not take the place of the traditional story telling techniques.

Newcastle University families and fathers research program leader Dr Richard Fletcher said: “Reading involves a whole lot of relationship building, that is why it is important. It is not just because that is a way children build up their word skills and language functionality.”

He added: “But you wouldn’t mix up the effect of sitting physically reading with your child to getting an email about it. We want dads to read to kids so that they become a part of that world that children inhabit.” (ANI)

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Monsoon break brings respite to farmers

July 3, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Jalpaiguri/Shimla, July 3 (ANI): After a long dry spell, farmers in different parts of the country finally heaved a sigh of relief as the monsoons arrived.

The onset of monsoons in Jalpaiguri in West Bengal raised hopes for the farmers waiting to sow their crops.

The region received almost 300 mm of rainfall in the past two days. The farmers were worried due to the delay in monsoons.

“I am happy that it has rained finally. The crops are more or less fine. We will start sowing jute. We were very anxious when it did not rain for a long time. We hope there will be a good yield and we can sell our crops in the market,” said Khagendranath Burman, a farmer.

With only 40 per cent of farmland irrigated, most of small farmers rely on the monsoon to water their crops.

The Indian Meteorological Department had mentioned that rainfall received for the month of June has been 45 per cent less than the normal.

In Jalpaiguri, the rain is still below average but enough for the farmers to start sowing.

“Average June rainfall in this area is around 650 mm, out of which we have received, in the last two days around 300 mm. Before that, in the last 25 days, we received around 150 mm. So 450 mm rain, we already received. So I think next one or two days, we will get little bit more,” said Subir Sarkar, a meteorologist.

Even in Shimla, the rain showers have brought much needed relief to the farmers. Now, they are ready to sow.

“We will start sowing maize. And amongst vegetables, we are sowing cauliflowers, french beans and tomatoes. It has rained enough for these crops.

We have started ploughing our fields and are ready for sowing.” said Swaroop, a farmer.

The monsoon is crucial for summer-sown crops ranging from paddy, soybean, sugarcane and cotton. (ANI)

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Arrival of Monsoon delights people in India

June 28, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Kolkata, June 28 (ANI): After enduring a long spell of scorching heat and apprehensions over the delayed monsoon, people in central and eastern parts of the country are hailing the first showers of monsoon.

In Patna, people were seen dancing to the tunes of raindrops while the street children enjoyed splashing in the waterlogged streets.

People termed it as a great blessing of Rain Gods since the soaring temperature over the past couple of weeks had been unbearable.

All heaved a sigh of relief after the arrival of showers, which lowered the temperature considerably.

“I am enjoying a lot. Although initially we were not in a mood to get wet but once it started, we couldn’t control ourselves because the temperature had been very high. Now after the rains, water would be logged everywhere but still we manage to have fun,” said Shilpa, a resident girl in Patna.

In Maharashtra’s Nagpur city’s drought-prone Vidarbha region people came on streets to enjoy the pre-monsoon showers that lashed various parts of the city.

No wonder, Nagpurians of all age groups enjoyed the rain beaming smiles.

“We have been praying for a long time for the early arrival of rains so that we can be relieved from the hot weather. It has been too late and we are receiving rains in the end of June. But today, finally after receiving rains it feels good,” noted Sharon Kerkar, a resident of Nagpur.

Although the monsoon hit the southern coast on May 23, ahead of the normal date of June 1, it did not progress as per expectations.

The June-September monsoon rains are a major influence on the economy, as two-thirds of Indians depend on agriculture.

Good rains also boost rural demand for a range of products and are a key factor in determining expansion in the larger economy.

The Meteorological Department has said that the total rainfall from the crucial June-September monsoon would be 93 percent of the long-term average, coming in below normal for the first time in four years. (ANI)

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Monsoon reaches Orissa’s southern coast

June 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Bhubaneshwar, June 26 (ANI): People of Orissa can take a sigh of relief as the much-awaited monsoon touched its southern coast, and will cover entire state in a day or two, say officials.

“Monsoon has delayed, actually because earlier its ONSET was on 25th May. Now monsoon has revived and today it has covered some parts of south Orissa and conditions are also favourable for covering remaining parts of Orissa during next two-three days,” said S. C. Sahoo, director, Bhubaneswar meteorological centre.

Meanwhile, people in Bhubaneshwar enjoyed pre-monsoon showers.

“It’s raining after so many days so I am feeling very nice. It was difficult to move in scorching sun. Now its much better,” said Swagatika, a local resident.

Students and office goers felt respite after a long period of rising mercury and scorching sun.

“Even though its late, its better late than never. So just enjoy the monsoon. And it will bring relief to students and also to office going people and also to farmers out here,” said Sourav, a student.

According to the National Meteorological Department, the total rainfall from the crucial June-September monsoon would be only 93 percent of the long-term average, coming in below normal for the first time in four years.

Four of 36 national zones were still to receive any monsoon rain. Rains were normal in two areas and excess in three during the week, while 27 zones recorded deficit to scanty rains.

The monsoon hit the southern coast on May 23, ahead of the normal date of June 1, but has since progressed weakly. (ANI)

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Pet lovers happy with dignified burials of their loved ones

May 15, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Bangalore, May 15 ANI): Pet lovers are happy as their loved ones get a dignified burial at a cemetery in Bangalore.

A non-governmental organization – People for Animals (PFA) – has made a graveyard for pets giving a sigh of relief to all those pet lovers who cannot bear the pain of dumping their loved ones into garbage.

Several people flock the cemetery everyday to either give a dignified burial to their pets or remember the ones who left them years ago. They also planted trees on the cemetery.

Each tombstone explains a different emotion and abundant love. While some of the graves in the cemetery are simple plaques, others are marble epitaphs where the owners have poured their hearts out.

Some pet lovers claim that they feel comfortable in the cemetery as they can remain close to their loved ones.

“Till they are alive we love them a lot but at the end we usually cant give them a place like this. But now we found a place and it’s really nice. I think every person who has a pet should come here,” said Sahana, a pet lover.

S.V Prasad, manager of People for Animals said that many pet lovers appreciate the place.

“This has been well appreciated in the city by many pet owners. And we continue to improve upon this service so that a large number of people do come and have the facility,” said Prasad.

‘People For Animals’ organization also offers service to bring the dead pet to the burial ground and after doing all the ceremonies they are buried scientifically. By Jaipal Sharma (ANI)

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George Bush keeps busy cleaning former First Dog’s poop these days!

April 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New York, April 20 (ANI): George Bush revealed how he recently played top pooper-scooper after taking the former First Dog, Barney, for a walk.

At the Boao Forum for Asia, a gathering for government, business and academic leaders, the ex- President of United Stated cracked jokes about his changed role and revealed he had even carried plastic bags to pack the terrier’s dropping.

“I was picking up what I had been dodging for eight years,” the New York Daily News quoted him as saying.

The 62-year-old further shared jokes after giving up the Oval Office, narrating one incident when he had collapsed on the couch breathing a sigh of relief, saying: “Free at last”.

And his wife, Laura, replied: “You’re free to do the dishes.”

Bush later moved on to more serious topics like terrorism and the financial crisis, saying that he recalled calling Wall Street drunk and that it had given the country a hangover.

He joked: “Maybe the next time around, there won’t be enough booze.” (ANI)

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Michael Lohan takes a sigh of relief after daughter Lindsay’s split

April 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Apr 10 (ANI): Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan’s father Michael Lohan has taken a sigh of relief after her daughter split from her lesbian lover DJ Samantha Ronson, as he believed that the latter was just using his daughter for a career boost.

Michael had publicly disapproved his daughter’s romance with Ronbson, which initiated a war of words between him and his daughter.

“I’ve always believed that what Samantha has done, just dragging Lindsay around just to enhance her career, is wrong. It’s pretty evident now. So let’s see where Samantha’s career goes when Lindsay’s not around now. It’s cost Lindsay her emotions and her well-being,” Contactmusic quoted him as telling TV Guide.com.

He revealed that he was more than certain that Lindsay’s career would touch towering heights after her split from Ronson.

“I hope Lindsay can move on. I know Lindsay’s upset over this, but it’s an opportunity for her to get on with her life and pursue her career and the goals she should’ve been pursuing all along,” he said. (ANI)

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GLOBAL MARKETS – World stocks rise after U.S. jobs data

April 5, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

European stocks rose, Wall Street was set for a firmer opening and government bonds slipped on Friday after closely-watched data showed the U.S. economy lost 663,000 jobs, not so far from the forecast.

The unemployment rate rose to 8.5 percent, its highest since 1983.

While the data highlighted the growing distress in the labour market, investors were relieved the economy did not lose more jobs than they feared.

“It gives the market a sense that we dodged a bullet in the very, very near term. It’s positive in that it wasn’t a blowout number of more than 750,000,” said Peter Kenny, managing director of Knight Equity Markets in Jersey City, New Jersey.

“All the indexes are higher because the market is breathing a sigh of relief because it wasn’t a blowout of market psychology. It indicates a slackening of the rate of decline and leaves the bear market rally intact.”

The MSCI world equity index was up a quarter percent. The FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.15 percent on the day, while emerging stocks were up 0.6 percent.

U.S. stock futures were pointing to a firmer open on Wall Street later.

Broad gains in the equity market come a day after Group of 20 leaders presented a united front to combat the financial crisis, sending risky assets higher.

At their London summit, G20 leaders pledged $1.1 trillion of additional funds to the International Monetary Fund and other institutions and to boost trade finance.

World stocks have risen more than 20 percent since hitting a 5-1/2 year low in March and investors are closely watching if the rally could be sustainable this time even with some consolidation.

“There is still a lot of volatility and I think these ambiguous ups and downs are typically what happens when the market is starting to turn around,” said Bernard McAlinden, strategist at NCB Stockbrokers.

“We had a good day yesterday. The G20 was less vague than probably the market had been expecting and the IMF deal will be good for European equities. There has also been a lot of mixed economic data.”

U.S. crude oil fell 1 percent to $52.16 after surging 9 percent on Thursday.

The June bund futures fell 42 ticks.

The dollar was steady against a basket of major currencies while the low-yielding yen lost 0.4 percent to 100.07 per dollar .

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Jade Goody’s lover to be released early

January 11, 2009 By Rajesh Leave a Comment

London, Jan 11 (ANI): Cancer-stricken Jade Goody can finally take a sigh of relief as her beau Jack Tweed is being released from jail early, according to reports.

The former Big Brother star, who has lost her hair to chemotherapy, will be all smiles when her 21-year-old boyfriend will be released in a week.

Goody insists that she’ll be the one to welcome her man the moment he steps outside.

Tweed will be on an electronic tag linked to his parents’ house in Essex.

He must keep to a strict curfew or risk being thrown back in prison.

“Jade can’t wait for Jack to get out – nor can her two boys,” News of the World quoted a pal, as saying.

“It’s been really hard for her, fighting the cancer and looking after the kids. Having him back will really help,” the pal added.

Goody was just beginning her battle against cervical cancer last September when Tweed got an 18-month jail sentence for attacking a 16-year-old lad with a golf club. (ANI)

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Parents of cancer-free baby plan more such kids

January 11, 2009 By Rajesh Leave a Comment

London, Jan 11 (ANI): The parents of Britain’s first baby selected genetically to be free of a breast cancer gene have expressed their joy of having the “beautiful” child – and revealed their plans of having more children free of the hereditary condition.

“She is a beautiful, healthy baby girl,” the miracle child’s mother told The Sunday Times in her interview.

“She has 10 fingers and 10 toes. She’s 100 percent healthy,” she happily added.

In a bid to protect the baby, the parents have chosen to be anonymous.

The couple is pioneer of a breakthrough in the fight against “hereditary” cancer. Though the parents could conceive naturally, they underwent IVF and genetic screening because three generations of women in the husband’s family had suffered from breast cancer, reports TimesOnline.

The method procedure promised that a gene associated with the cancer would not be present in the baby.

The 26-year-old mother said: “To be able to look at our daughter and to know that she doesn’t have the gene is a massive sigh of relief for us. We have eliminated that risk and that is priceless.”

She also said that the couple have a stock of healthy embryos in storage that they plan to use to have more kids sans the hereditary condition.

The baby’s 28-year-old father said: “A massive amount of credit has to go to my wife for undergoing what was effectively an invasive procedure of IVF for a problem which wasn’t her own but was from my side of the family.

Talking about how we felt about it probably brought us closer together.”

The child was created when doctors at University College Hospital used IVF techniques to harvest 11 embryos. (ANI)

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