Good Housekeeping mag recruits volunteers to test vibrators!

London, Sept 9 (ANI): Good Housekeeping magazine bosses have recruited a group of 100 women to test the best vibrators on the market.

They have asked the women between 30 to 65 to test the vibrator and rate them on ease of use, instructions, noisiness and, most importantly, satisfaction rating.

The magazine will feature five of the best sex toys, each scored out of 100.

Of the five most famous devices, S-shaped ‘Delight’, came at the top with a score of 74 out of 100.

The second came a ‘Bedside Bullet’, which scored 68 out of 100, warming vibrator came third with score of 66 out of 100.

However, ‘Rabbit’, came 4th out of 5, scoring 61 points out of 100.

The test also showed that 87 per cent of testers had used a vibrator before and 52 per cent of testers’ husbands suggested they should try one.

“Even though ‘Sex And The City’ has removed the ‘guilty’ tag from owning a sex toy, and it’s widely recognised that many young, single women own vibrators, our survey discovered that they’re just as popular among our readers – only 13 per cent of our testers were vibrator virgins,” the Telegraph quoted June Walton, Deputy Editor, Good Housekeeping, as saying.

All testers except five felt that women should talk more about sex toys with friends and 84 per cent were encouraged to buy a vibrator on the basis of the Good Housekeeping test. (ANI)

Soon, MJ’s ‘Thriller’ doll

London, Sept 8 (ANI): Michael Jackson has come alive in a new avatar – a lifelike doll.

The doll is inspired by the King of Pop’s 1983 Thriller music video, which showed him turning into a zombie.

The Hong Kong-based Hot Toys is the creator of the doll, which emphasizes most aspects of the late pop legend’s personality, even his trademark white socks, reports the Daily Star.uyers also have the option to exchange the doll’s head and clothes for the sinister, hollowed-eyed undead look.

The toy has 32 movable points, which enable it to reproduce MJ’s dance steps.

The doll will be available to MJ’s fans in Hong Kong and Japan only, where it will be released later this year. (ANI)

Google developing online version of Monopoly

London, Sep 7 (ANI): Google will be working with giant toy company Hasbro to produce a spectacular online version of Monopoly, say reports.

The game uses Google Maps as a board, allowing players to choose from millions of streets worldwide in their bid to become virtual property tycoons.

The rules are almost the same as the traditional board game, where only one person can buy an address, and then build on the plot to earn extra rent and increase their fortune.

However, the online version also lets players build skyscrapers, football stadiums, and other buildings as well as the usual houses and hotels.

And the ‘Chance’ cards give players the chance to ruin rivals by building prisons, rubbish dumps and sewage works on their streets.

Players start with three million Monopoly dollars, with Downing Street costing 231,000 dollars, and Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, where the White House stands, costing two million dollars.

Rent is paid automatically each day, from 50,000 dollars for a house to 100 million dollars for a skyscraper.

The free game, which has no real cash prize, is being run to promote the new 3D Monopoly City game.

“It’s a chance to escape the harsh reality of recession and enjoy building up an empire,” the Sun quoted Hasbro as saying. (ANI)

Malaysian Indian Congress Youth demands apology on ‘cow head’ issue statement

Kuala Lumpur, Sep. 6 (ANI): The Malaysian Indian Congress Youth has asked Selangor Mentri Besar Dr Mohammad Khir Toyo to apologize for his comments on the “cow head” incident, which, they said, has hurt Hindu sentiments.

“He must immediately retract his statement and issue a public apology,” The Star Online quoted MIC leader S. Subramaniam, as saying.

Subramaniam expressed shock at Toy’s statement that he was “not a religion-conscious person.”

Subramaniam warned Toy that his comments could further damage Barisan Nasional’s image.

Subramaniam, accompanied by several supporters, also lodged a police report on the matter at the Sentul police station. police spokesman confirmed receiving both police reports. (ANI)

Goody’s grave lies lonely and forgotten as Tweed continues to party

London, August 31 (ANI): Jade Goody’s grave is said to be lying “lonely and forgotten” while her husband Jack Tweed has been snapped continuing his hard-party lifestyle.

The reality TV star’s final resting place was allegedly left untended, while the 22-year-old widower was photographed showing off his wedding band as he groped a girl pal’s breast at the recent V Festival.

“It’s not even been six months since she died but Jack is out behaving like a playboy while Jade’s grave lies untended. He was even caught groping one girl’s breast while wearing his wedding ring,” the Daily Star quoted Goody’s pal as saying.

The source added: “It’s such a shame to see Jack out living it up while Jade’s grave looks lonely and forgotten. Apart from a few items, including a plaque from her grandparents, a toy car on the cross from her two sons and some flowers, the grave looks really barren.”

Goody died at the age of 27 earlier this year, after losing her battle to cervical cancer. (ANI)

Photo exhibition showcasing 128-year-old past of heritage railway in Darjeeling

Siliguri, Aug 26 (ANI): To create awareness regarding the history and evolution of the heritage railway especially amongst schoolchildren, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) in collaboration with the Siliguri Science Centre has organised a week-long photo exhibition showcasing its glorious past of 128 years, in Siliguri.

The exhibition, which will conclude on August 30, depicts the evolution of the DHR from its inception to the modern times.

The DHR is an important landmark on the Indian tourism map especially after UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1999.

The DHR’s 82 kilometres of journey from Siliguri junction to Darjeeling is an enchanting journey offering a majestic view of the Darjeeling Himalayas.

The organisers believe that the exhibition will make young generation aware of the history of the DHR, an important part of their heritage.

“We have tried to display through photographs, through charts and through maps, the evolution of the DHR and also the different milestones and important events of the DHR. For example, when the Tindharia workshop (the workshop that undertakes major servicing of steam locomotives and coaches of DHR) was formed, how the monsoon disaster took place, and even the cyclone AILA has been put in,” said Subrata Nath, Director, Darjeeling Himalayan Railways.

Children, from various schools of the region, are thronging the exhibition and have been enthusiastic about it.

“It is an awesome feeling, because I have never experienced such a thing .I came here and saw the railways and the natural beauty of Darjeeling Himalayas. It was a fantastic experience,” said Rahul Sharma, a student.

The DHR toy train was the brainchild of Franklin Prestage, an agent of the then Eastern Bengal Railway, who foresaw the utility of a rail link between the hills of Darjeeling and the plains.

It was started in 1896 by the then British Lieutenant Governor Ashley Eden, offering riders an opportunity to enjoy the majestic beauty of nature along the Darjeeling hills. At the beginning, this railway was named as the Darjeeling steam Tramway Co. Later when India gained independence in 1947, the railway was renamed as the DHR.

The DHR was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO on December 5 at its 23rd session. By Taruk Sarkar (ANI)

History’s worst inventions revealed

London, July 14 (ANI): Exploding dogs, flying cars, and parachute suits are some of history’s worst inventions, according to a new book.

Authored by Eric Chaline, ‘History’s Worst Inventions’ describes some of the funniest and freakiest ideas that have gone awry.

Published by New Holland Publishers, the tome is priced at 10.99 pounds, reports the Sun.

Some of history’s worst inventions are:

Anti-tank dogs (1939-1945)

During World War Two the Russians faced the mechanical might of the German Army’s tanks, which made Soviet engineers to create canine mines or “anti-tank dogs”. The dogs, fitted with explosives, would be starved before battles and trained to search for food under vehicles, where they would explode.

But the biggest problem was the dogs often ran towards their own lines, blowing up tanks on their own side.

The Parachute Jacket (1912)

The “flying tailor” Franz Reichelt jumped from the Eiffel Tower to demonstrate his parachute overcoat. Huge crowds gathered to watch the magical event.

Sadly things didn’t go to plan, and he fell to his death.

The Flying Car (1930s)

Waldo Waterman created two Chitty Chitty Bang Bang-style flying cars between 1930-40. The American inventor’s 20ft-long Aerobile had a top air speed of 112mph and he flew it from California to Ohio.

It was never put into commercial production because of technical problems and flight regulations.

Wicker Chair Spaceship (1500)

A Chinese official named Wan Hoo dreamed up the idea of flying to the moon using 47 large rockets strapped to his wicker chair. For his first flight, he instructed his servants to light the rocket fuses ready for blast off. There was a huge explosion but when the smoke cleared Wan had disappeared.

Mythical tales told of him living in space but recent reconstructions show he was probably blown to bits.

Animal testes as cure for erectile dysfunction (19th Century)

Before testosterone was discovered, Mauritian-born Dr Charles-Edouard Brown-Sequard (1817-94) injected himself with his preparation made from the testes of guinea pigs and dogs.

He believed it would stave off old age and improve his potency, but his tests flopped.

The TWIKE (mid-1980s)

Short for two in a bike, the pedal-powered three-wheeler TWIKE looked like a kids’ toy. An updated Nineties version had an AC motor and could hit 53mph.

Despite sounding like a good idea, the Swiss firm behind the machine are said to have sold just 2,000 of their machines.

Betamax (1975)

Sony lost billions of pounds with their failed Betamax video format in 1975. It was blown out of business by the release of VHS a year later.

Sony’s 100 per cent share of the VCR market in 1975 shrunk to just 25 per cent by 1981 as a result. (ANI)

Dogs understand gestures as well as 2-year-old kids

Washington, July 14 (ANI): Dogs understand human pointing gestures as well as two-year-old children, according to two studies.

Also, the studies found that due to domestication, dogs appear to be predisposed to read other human visual signals, including head turning and gazing, reports Discovery News.

People often use baby talk, scientifically known as “motherese,” with both children and their pet dogs, allowing canines and kids to receive similar social stimulation.

Since chimpanzees and other non-human primates often fail to understand human pointing gestures, the studies suggest dogs may understand humans better than even our closest living animal relatives do.n the first study, Gabriella Lakatos, a researcher in the Department of Ethology at Eotvos University, lead author of the first study, and her colleagues used a combination of finger-, elbow-, leg- and knee-pointing gestures to help dogs locate hidden food and, for children, a favourite toy.

The researchers found that two-year-olds and dogs understood everything except knee pointing and when the experimenter’s index finger pointed in a different direction than the protruding arm.

For example, they were confused when the individual raised an arm in a certain direction, but used her finger to point the other way.

In the second study, Marta Gacsi, also of Eotvos University, and her team analyzed 180 dogs of various ages to see how development and individual differences affect their understanding of human pointing.

They determined “the dogs showed no difference in the performance according to age, indicating that in dogs the comprehension of the human pointing may require only very limited and rapid early learning to fully develop.”

Lakatos, however, warned in thinking that dogs are just like furry two-year-old children.

“Any behavioral similarity or similar performance between dogs and children should be investigated separately in each case,” she said.

“Just to give an example for a reverse case: nobody has tried to herd a flock of sheep with two-year-old (human children),” she added.

The study has been published in the current issue of Animal Cognition. (ANI)

New flick may make ‘Harry Potter’ one of the most successful franchises

London, July 8 (ANI): The latest instalment in the Harry Potter film could help make the franchise as one of the most successful franchises of all time, owing to the huge merchandising that comes with it.

The first five Harry Potter movies have been a massive source of revenue and profit for Warner Bros.

The franchise has earned a whopping 4.5 billion dollars, an average of 897 million dollars, at the box office alone, making it the most successful film franchise of all time, behind James Bond

And it is believed that the release of the new film, ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’, could push the Bond franchise back into second place.

In addition, it has earned 2.7 billion dollars from DVD sales, which makes for 211 million units, reports the Telegraph.

Video games have sold 1 billion dollars, more than 40 million units, while Warner Bros also makes hundreds of millions of dollars from merchandise and other sales such as downloads on iTunes.

After the DVD released of the ‘Half-Blood Prince’ later this year, a Lego video game based on Harry, Ron and Hermione’s first four years at Hogwarts, is due in 2010.

A theme park ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ is due to open in Orlando, Florida in spring 2010.

There is also the inevitable toy and clothing ranges which produce products such as interactive wands, Harry Potter-style glasses, Gryffindor scarves and a raft of action figures.

Mattel are set to release a new version of their popular ‘Scene It?’ interactive boardgames.

Harry Potter lovers can also expect top trumps, sticker albums and costumes. (ANI)

Four killed, 20 injured in W. China ethnic riots

Beijing, July 6 (ANI): At least four persons, including three civilians and a policeman, were killed, and 20 were injured in clashes on Sunday in a regional capital in western China after days of rising tensions between Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese.

The rioting broke out Sunday afternoon in a large market area of Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang province, reports the New York Times.

It lasted for several hours before riot police officers and paramilitary or military troops locked down the Uighur quarter of the city.

Among the dead were three Han Chinese and one police officer.

Uighur men were led into nearby police stations with their hands behind their backs and shirts pulled over their heads, one witness said.

Early Monday, the local government announced a curfew banning all traffic in the city until 8 p.m.

The riot was the largest ethnic clash in China since the Tibetan uprising of March 2008, and perhaps the biggest protest in Xinjiang in years.

According to a Xinhua news report, initial investigation showed the World Uyghur Congress led by Rebiya Kadeer masterminded the unrest.

According to the government, the World Uyghur Congress has recently been instigating unrest via the Internet among other means, calling on the outlaws “to be braver” and “to do something big.”

Nur Bekri, chairman of the Xinjiang regional government, said in a televised speech Monday morning that the movement came after a conflict between Uygur and Han ethnic people in a toy factory in the southern Guangdong province on June 26.

Two Uygur workers were killed during the factory brawl, which was triggered by a sex assault by a Uygur worker toward a Han female worker. A total of 120 others of both Han and Uygur ethnic groups were injured.

Nur Bekri said some overseas opposition forces instigated Sunday’s unrest to undermine ethnic unity and social stability in the autonomous region.

“We should bear in mind that stability is to the greatest interest of all people in China, including the people in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,” he said.(ANI)

New pics of Jacko enjoying Christmas with kids at Neverland surface

London, July 2 (ANI): New pictures of Michael Jackson celebrating Christmas with his children at his Neverland Ranch have surfaced.

The King of Pop, who left his estate in a trust for his kids, Prince Michael I, 12; Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II, seven, in his will, can apparently be seen as a doting dad in the touching footage.

One of the pictures depicts Prince Michael II, also called Blanket, with rosy cheeks, fair skin, blond hair and aged one, reports the Sun.

The youngster can allegedly be spotted playing with a toy plane marked with the word “Prince” as the singer takes pictures.

Little Blanket was also seen unwrapping a Teletubbies present, wearing a white tuxedo with a black bow-tie while being surrounded by stunning decorations and lavish gifts. (ANI)

Deco to leave Chelsea

London, June 28 (ANI): Chelsea midfielder Deco has confirmed that he wants to leave ‘the Blues’, following his differences with decisions taken by club owner Roman Abramovich.

“Chelsea is kind of his (Roman Abramovich) toy. Sometimes Abramovich makes decisions that go over the head of the director of football,” The Sun quoted Deco, as saying.

The Portuguese star also criticised Chelsea for chucking Luiz Felipe Scolari.

“The exit of Big Phil was rash. Chelsea is a special club. . If Big Phil was perhaps at Manchester United or Liverpool, they respect the coach and give him time to work. But Chelsea is different,” said Deco.

“Honestly, I did not like the experience at Chelsea. I’m looking for another club where I can feel good,” he added. (ANI)

Dirty details of Kendra Wilkinson’s bachelorette party revealed

Washington, June 25 (ANI): Hugh Hefner’s ex-girlfriend Bridget Marquardt has revealed the raunchy sex game details of Kendra Wilkinson’s bachelorette party, reportedly held last week in Hollywood.

“There are two games that are kind of raunchy,” Fox News quoted Marquardt as saying.

The TV host revealed that a certain sex toy is passed between the legs and if you are caught when the music stops you’re out.

“The other one is just a story-telling game! When you give Kendra her present you have to tell about how old you were when it was your first time, who it was with and where you were …” Marquardt added. (ANI)

Landslides disrupt toy train service in West Bengal

Siliguri, May 28 (ANI): Landslides in West Bengal have disrupted the movement of the world famous toy train, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The famous Darjeeling toy train runs between Siliguri and Darjeeling.

The train stopped operation from Tuesday as heavy rains and severe landslides washed away a huge portion of the railway track. A huge pile of debris has accumulated on the tracks, halting the operation of the toy train.

“In 80 km route from Siliguri junction to Darjeeling, we have got landslides at 41 spots and total amount of muds and boulders is about 3500 cubic metres. We also have tree fallen on tracks at 16 spots. Out of the 16 spots, two spots are very heavy because very big tree trunk has fallen on track. We have got one location near Ghum where a portion of our track is washed away in between two buildings,” said Subrata Nath, director, Darjeeling Himalayan Railways (DHR).

The DHR is trying hard to resume the journey at the earliest, but the service is expected to resume not earlier than seven to ten days.

“We are trying our best to resume the services between new Jalpaiguri, Siliguri to Kerseong by Saturday. That will cover around 50 km of our track. So around 60 km, we will be able to make operational by this Saturday. And for the other one it may take another seven to ten days,” added Nath.

The DHR toy train was started in 1896 by the then British Lieutenant Governor Ashley Eden, offering riders an opportunity to enjoy the majestic beauty of nature along the Darjeeling hills.

At the beginning, this railway was named as the Darjeeling steam Tramway Co. Later when India gained independence in 1947, the railway was named as the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR).

DHR was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO on December 5 at their 23rd session. (ANI)

Liev Schreiber livid over ‘squirrel like’ X-Men figurine

Washington, May 9 (ANI): Hollywood actor Liev Schreiber, who portrays Victor Creed in X-Men, is disappointed that his X-Men toy figure looks like an angry squirrel.

Live’s character eventually adopts the mutant alter-ego of Sabretooth, opposite Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in the flick, but the plastic figure of Sabretooth looks nothing more than an angry bushy squirrel, according to a disappointed Live.

“I have one complaint about it, not that I’m not excited to finally have an action figure after all these years, but I want to know what compelled the designers of this action figure to – I’m assuming they read the plotline for the movie and saw that I play this prehistoric game cat – but what possessed them to make me look like an angry squirrel. You can almost see the nuts (in the mouth)!” Contactmusic quoted Liev as saying.

On the other hand, Schreiber’s eldest son with Naomi Watts doesn’t hold the same opinion as his father, as he loves the toy and has a huge collection.

“He has a bag of toys, that he calls the turtle bag, that he puts his favourite toys in and it took a tense 15 minutes (before he put it in the bag),” Liev added. (ANI)

Simpsons memorabilia collecting fan runs out of place at home

London, May 7 (ANI): A Simpsons fan, who has been collecting their memorabilia, has run out of space at her home.

Catherine Murphy, 29, of Leamington Spa, Warwicks, is so obsessed with the cartoon characters that she has collected more than 400 items, including toy figurines, alarm clocks, calendars and a robotic Homer.

“Over the years I’ve amassed quite a collection,” the Sun quoted the mum of one as saying.

“To be honest the only place in my house big enough to stash it all is in the attic,” she added.

Murphy, a bar manager, fell for the show at the age of 16.

She has even flown to the US to visit the Fox network, which makes the hit.

“I started watching it when I was a schoolgirl and now I’m a 29-year-old mum I still find it hysterical. My favourite character would have to be Homer,” she added. (ANI)

The 9 things Lindsay needs to do to save her career

New York, May 1 (ANI): Lindsay Lohan was a superstar in the making at the age of 17-what with four major movies, followed by a hit with ‘Mean Girls’ and a platinum album and numerous magazine covers.

However, with her lifestyle turning towards DUIs, a series of tumultuous personal relationships, stints in rehab and a few ‘unregistered’ movies, she turned into media’s favourite toy.

But, many believe that at 22, Lindsay can still save the sinking ship of her career and put together her life again.

And leading publicists, agents, media insiders and career coaches have now enlisted the nine things Lohan should do to save her career, and they are:

1. Get behind a good cause

“She needs to get involved in charitable work,” The New York Daily News quoted Allison Kugel, President of Allison Dawn Public Relations, as saying.

She added that Lohan should publicly support a feel-good cause like children, animals or the homeless.

2. Develop self-discipline

World-renowned career coach Jim Fannin said that self-discipline is a key for Lohan to get her career back on track.

3. Focus on doing her job well

“Lindsay Lohan needs to focus on doing her job. She’s an actress, yet all we know recently are her DUIs and relationship issues. Maybe that means taking jobs that may not be the best paying, but can build her acting credibility and gain her respect in the industry,” said Joe Ciarallo, Editor of PRNewser.

4. Network

Lohan needs to attend industry events and network with industry leaders so they can “see that she’s changed,” said Melissa Schumer, Executive Vice President of Cohn and Wolfe.

5. Take a page from Angelina’s book

Angelina Jolie is a good example of how an actress can get her life and career back on track, said Kugel.

6. Use humour to her advantage

“It was smart for her to do the eHarmony item,” said Cooper Lawrence, author of the book ‘Cult of Celebrity’.

The eHarmony item was a video clip satirizing her life for the FunnyorDie.com Web site. She added that these kinds of things can help us like her again.

7. Tone down the edge

Lawrence said that Lohan should try to revive that sweet girl image; similar to the character she played in ‘Mean Girls’.

8. Take control of her personal life and how it’s portrayed in the media

Schumer added that her constant presence on the bar scene is not helping her image and she also needs to better control how her personal life is portrayed in the media.

9. Surround herself with the right people

The road ahead for Lindsay will have its bumps, and to endure it, she’s going to need to surround herself with the right people, whether its good friends or savvy publicists and managers. (ANI)

Dog eats Homer Simpson!

London, Apr 30 (ANI): Dixie, a ten-year-old collie-dalmatian pet dog, is said to have become ill after eating a plastic Homer Simpson toy.

When X-rays were taken, a very clear image of the TV star could be seen in the dog’s intestine.

The owner, Victoria Keir, 42, of Aberdeen suspects the dog must have eaten a chocolate Kinder Surprise egg with a plastic toy Homer inside.

“Dixie must have seen it on the table and gulped it down – she loves chocolate,” the Sun quoted her as saying.

“She became very ill,” she said.

Dixie, ten, is recovering following surgery to remove the toy at the PDSA’s hospital in the city.

“It is an unusual case,” surgeon Alison Hamel said. (ANI)

Pak Taliban behind NWFP toy bombing incident

Islamabad, Apr.26 (ANI): Pakistan has held the Taliban responsible for Saturday’s toy bombing incident in which 11 children were killed in Luqman Banda village in the Lower Dir area of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

Condemning the bombing incident, Pakistan Prime Minister’s Advisor on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik said that the Taliban has unveiled its real face by killing small children, and that it is now compelling the government to take stern action against them, The News reports.

Rehman told a private television channel that on special directives of the of the President and the Prime Minister, officials have been asked to probe the incident and find out whether the bombing was carried out in retaliation against the victims’ family members who might have refused their children to be turned into suicide bombers by the Taliban.

On Saturday, 11 children, all belonging to the same family, were killed when a explosive device with which they were playing suddenly exploded.

Local residents said that the bomb was planted near the wall of a girls’ school, but some of the villagers claimed that a street vendor while selling baby toys handed over the device to the children. (ANI)

Eleven children killed in Pakistan

Timergara(Pakistan), Apr 25 (ANI): Eleven children were reportedly killed and three others injured after a bomb explosion in Luqman Banda village in Lower Dir on Saturday. All the deceased were from the same family.

According to the Dawn, the children were playing with the explosive device thinking it was a toy. The device exploded and killed ten children on the spot and injuring four others.

The injured were rushed to DHQ hospital where one of them succumbed to his injuries.

Some villagers said the bomb was planted near the wall of the girls’ school. Others were of the view that a street vendor while selling baby toys handed over the device to the children.

Police and administration officials visited the area and have started an investigation. (ANI)