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ADMIN

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Blog Entries posted by ADMIN

  9. ADMIN
    When most of us sit comfortably inside our air conditioned offices and crib about the poor sewage system, and the garbage thrown on the footpath (which some of us are partly responsible for), some people are busy running around in the scorching heat sweeping the roads. Or climbing down the sewers and gutters and picking garbage from the streets. They are the sanitation workers.
    While most of us give disgusting looks at the sanitation workers and the work they do, no one can change the fact that the entire country will come to a standstill if they stop working.
    They are the backbone of this country and Ratan Tata just reiterated the same and why it's important to give them the respect they deserve.
    © Instagram
    The 81-year-old tycoon shared a heartwarming video today featuring a young kid who begins with explaining how his father's job is as important as any high-paying so-called 'respectable' job.

    "Mera baba desh chalata hai (my father runs the country)," the kid says in the video explaining his father's job that no father would want.
    The kid says how his father is not a politician or a doctor, a cop or an army man, but without his father the country would come to a halt, "Agar nahi jaayega mera baba kaam par, to ruk jaayega India ka har ghar (If my father doesn't go to work, every household in India will come to a halt)."
    He further says, "Sometimes I worry my father will lose to these diseases."
    © Instagram
    So, how did Tata come into this whole picture? It's because the video is a part of Tata Trusts' campaign 'Mission Garima' that aims to "reduce manual intervention of the workers with sewage and waste."

    "Mission Garima, For our very brave sanitation workers #twobinslifewins. In Mumbai, a city of 23 million, only 50,000 individuals are employed as sanitation workers. They are working in difficult conditions every single day to tackle the enormous amount of waste that Mumbai generates,â reads the caption. 
    View this post on InstagramIn Mumbai, a city of 23 million, only 50,000 individuals are employed as sanitation workers. They are working in difficult conditions every single day to tackle the enormous amount of waste that Mumbai generates. As a @tata_trusts initiative, Mission Garima is working to provide safe, hygienic and humane working conditions for sanitation workers who are severely affected doing the unimaginable for the city so that we may find it clean! #TwoBinsLifeWins is a campaign urging citizens to segregate their biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste to help reduce the burden on these hardworking men and women. The links below will help you dispose of your waste responsibly and support our initiative. After all, this country is run by each one of us. https://www.tatatrusts.org/ #TwoBinsLifeWinsA post shared by (@ratantata)It further adds, "As a @tata_trusts initiative, Mission Garima is working to provide safe, hygienic and humane working conditions for sanitation workers who are severely affected doing the unimaginable for the city so that we may find it clean! #TwoBinsLifeWins is a campaign urging citizens to segregate their biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste to help reduce the burden on these hardworking men and women. The links below will help you dispose of your waste responsibly and support our initiative. After all, this country is run by each one of us."
    So, the next time you see someone cleaning a gutter, don't look down upon them. Instead respect their job because they are risking their lives to ensure that you live in a clean environment.

    View the full article
  10. ADMIN
    Indian dance crew V Unbeatables who previously rose to fame after appearing on Americaâs Got Talent wowed the audience again when they participated in the second season of Americaâs Got Talent: The Champions which had some of the best participants coming together to compete for a grand title. Their performance on âMarana Mass' left the judges and the audience speechless. It was loved immensely on social media as well. 


    After a long wait of all the votes pouring in, the heavily emotional finale saw the dance crew beat the other participants Duo Transcend and win the grand title of being the champions. The audience roared in chorus as the place was filled with cheers for the well deserved win.

    Give it up for your new #AGTChampion winners, @v_unbeatable! pic.twitter.com/Ov4gkqnaEm
    â America's Got Talent (@AGT) February 18, 2020
    Before the results were announced though, all the finalists performed for one last time on the show and while for their fans they were already the winner, V Unbeatables danced to a wonderful choreography routine on âTattad Tattadâ from Raam Leela . 


    In case you are wondering, they look unbeatable but what does the V in their name stand for, then let us tell you itâs not victory , even though they seem to be destined for it. The âVâ in their name stands for a team member named Vikas , who met with an accident while performing a stunt for a show and sadly succumbed to the tragic fate. This is a beautiful tribute and is a reflection of how united the team is. Well, Indians are born to take the world by a storm and an Indian dance crew winning a talent hunt in America proves India has truly got the real championship-winning talent. 

    View the full article
  11. ADMIN
    Both Huawei and its sub-brand Honor went through a rough patch in 2019 when the US ban was imposed. They've been fairly quiet with their launches in the country since then. But it looks like Honor is ready to bounce back in the market and they've kicked things off with the Honor 9X.
    The Honor 9X was launched in India last month and it's ready to go head-to-head with the likes of Xiaomi, Realme and more, with a starting price that's less than Rs 15,000. But is it really worth buying the Honor 9X in India now? Well, I've been using the top-end variant of Honor 9X for quite some time now and here's what I make of it.
    Design & Build Quality I've always been a huge fan of what Honor does when it comes to the design of its phones. I've enjoyed using both the Honor 8 and the Honor 8X that came back this phone and I had nothing but good things to say about their design. Well, the Honor 9X is no different.
    I've been using the Sapphire Blue variant of the phone, which looks something like this - 
    © MensXP/ Karthik Iyer
    Looks pretty awesome, doesn't it? You are looking at a plastic back with this unique pattern that's made to look like an X. Obviously, it's not a design that's going to impress everyone, but I think it looks pretty good. If you want a subtle tone, then you might want to check out the black variant of the phone.
    I wouldn't say it feels super premium since it's a plastic back, but it's not something to complain about, especially at this price range. You'll also see a fingerprint scanner at the back, which works just as advertised. There's a single firing speaker at the bottom and I'd say it's just average at best.
    There's also a headphone jack right next to the USB Type-C port. You know what? I am a huge fan of both of those things and I am glad Honor has decided to add that here at this price range. The phone also packs a decent sized battery inside, but it's not that heavy. It's very comfortable to hold and use. It's a fairly big phone, so you might have issues using it with one hand. 
    © MensXP/ Karthik Iyer
    Overall, the Honor 9X is a really good looking phone in my opinion. Yes, the design is not for everyone, but it's not bad by any means. It's got everything you need on a phone, including the long-lost headphone jack, so there's nothing much to complain about.
    Display On the front, the Honor 9X sports a 6.59-inch LCD with a resolution of 2,340x1,080. Unlike most other phones these days, the Honor 9X doesn't have a notch or a punch-hole. Instead, it sports a pop-up selfie shooter. Well, I don't really like phones with a pop-up selfie camera, but it's there and it works well.
    © MensXp/Karthik Iyer
    Coming back to the display, it's a sharp-looking panel and it's also big enough for media consumption. But it's not an AMOLED panel, so the colors aren't punchy. It gets bright enough to be used outdoors, but there's nothing much. During my usage, I used the phone to stream movies and TV shows from my Plex server, play video games, etc. and I'd say it was an enjoyable experience. The overall quality is definitely good enough to justify the price
    Performance The Honor 9X is powered by the in-house Kirin 710F chipset and it comes with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage. Like I mentioned earlier, I've been using the top-end variant of the phone with 6GB of RAM, which is on par with most phones these days.
    © MensXP/ Karthik Iyer
    The Kirin 710F chipset is more or less on-par with the Snapdragon 730 SoC, which is used on the Redmi K20 and the Realme XT. So, how's the phone's performance?
    During my usage, which I'd say is pretty heavy, the Honor 9X managed to hold up pretty well. I couldn't find anything to complain about while using the phone to casually browse social media. I used the Honor 9X exclusively for Twitter and checking out my daily list of websites that I follow, and it was a pretty good experience.
    Even when it comes to gaming, the Honor 9X managed to show pretty promising results. You may not be able to play PUBG Mobile on high settings and get good frames, but it works well.
    © MensXP/ Karthik Iyer
    If there's one thing that I don't like about the phone, then it's got to be the software. The Honor 9X runs on EMUI 9 that's based on Android 9. I don't mind using a skinned version of Android, but the EMUI is just too much for me. It's not as snappy as some other phones in this price range, which hinders the experience.
    There are a ton of pre-installed apps as well out of the box. Yes, it might come in handy for some people, but I think there should be an option to opt out of it. I'd also like to take a moment and point out that this phone is still not running on the latest version of Android i.e. Android 10. And apart from that, I am not even sure if it'll continue to get any major Android updates as such because of everything that the company went through last year.
    But strictly speaking about the performance, I don't have any complaints about the phone. I just wish the software experience was a little better than what we get here.
    Camera © MensXP/ Karthik Iyer
    The Honor 9X sports a triple-camera setup at the back which includes a 48MP sensor, an 8MP super wide-angle camera, and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there's a pop-up camera with a 16MP sensor. You also get a ton of software features inside EMUI 9 that can be used to make different kinds of shots.
    So, is the camera good? Yes, the Honor 9X can definitely take some good-looking pictures. I really like the fact that the pictures taken from the 48MP sensor don't take much time to process. It's almost an immediate response, which is great.
    The images taken during day time have good details and pretty accurate colors. The AI mode will enhance the pictures a little bit, but it's not too bad. The shots are pretty good enough to be shared on social media without any tweaking. You also get "Pro" mode which you can use to play around with the settings and get the shot right.
    There's also a night mode, which I'd say works pretty well. You can check out the images that I shot during my testing below -

    Battery Life The battery life is one of the strong suits of the Honor 9X. It packs a 4,000mAh battery, which is more or less what you get on budget phones these days. The battery life of the Honor 9X is good enough to easily last through an entire working day, even with heavy usage.
    I go hard on usage while testing phones and it was indeed a little hard to kill the battery of the Honor 9X in a day. It's actually pretty good because it takes almost two hours to fully charge the Honor 9X if you're running really low. That's a bummer because there are other phones in the market that support faster charging speeds.
    The Final Say The Honor 9X has been launched in India at a starting price of Rs 13,999 for the 4GB RAM variant. The variant that I've been using will cost you Rs 16,999.  At that price, you're getting a phone that looks pretty good and has a decent performance. Yes, battery life is also pretty good, but there's also a lot to complain about.
    The Honor 9X is a good upgrade from the Honor 8X, but it's worth mentioning that there are a lot of other good phones in this price range now, especially from Xiaomi and Realme. You're essentially missing out things like a good AMOLED panel, 64MP camera and an even beefier battery with faster-charging support found on phones like the Redmi Note 8 Pro and the Realme XT. Take all that into consideration, and the Honor 9X will start to lose its charm.
    I feel like the Honor 9X is a little too late to enter the market here in India. No doubt it's a good phone that won't disappoint you at any point. It's just that there are better phones available in this price range that offer much better specs to price ratio. So unless you're a hardcore Honor fanboy wanting to splurge some money, I'd say you should check out the other options as well.

    View the full article
  12. ADMIN
    Jitendra Kumar aka âJeetuâ has been quite a popular face among millennials, thanks to his run with TVFâs shows and the sketches he did for the platform. Most of us have enjoyed his performances but very little is known about his journey ever since he stepped into the city of dreams and struggles, Mumbai. 
    © TVF
    Taking his first step into the big world of cinema with Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Jitendra is trying to break stereotypes related to homosexuality with his upcoming movie.  

    MensXP got a chance to meet him while he was promoting the movie with Ayushmann Khurrana, Gajraj Rao and Neena Gupta.
    View this post on InstagramLove Express jald hi sabhi theatres me pahuchegi.. apni tickets book kara lijiye..ð¤ð¤ #shubhmangalzyaadasavdhaan #favpictureA post shared by (@jitendrak1)Just before this interview happened, I actually texted him for the same and as fate had it, the very next day I got to meet him in the capital city.
    For those who donât know much about him, he is an engineer with a degree in Civil Engineering from IIT Kharagpur, but he always nursed an inclination towards acting.

    So, everyone who has entered this industry comes with a story. On this note, I asked about his journey and how he landed shows with TVF.

    âEveryone has their own struggle story. Before moving to Mumbai, I had only acted in college theatre and I wasn't sure if people outside the college would like my work. I, firstly, wanted to give myself a reality check and see if people are actually ready to accept me. I was, in fact, quite lucky as back then TVF was at its height and I joined them. I did some videos and they started to get positive reactions,â he said.
    View this post on InstagramFollowing all the Directions by @shutter_keeda Cheesecake-days bts-1A post shared by (@jitendrak1)Talking about the struggle he endured, he added, âNow, I was sure that people are liking my craft and post this, it was time that I started reaching out to the big industry names and banners, which actually took time. I came to Mumbai in 2012 and now, it's 2020 so it took me 8 years to reach the big Bollywood makers.â
    If you have been a part of the creative field of acting, you might have an idea that it doesnât pay you initially so, out of sheer curiosity, I wanted to know how he managed his expenses in an expensive city like Mumbai.

    Jitendra, actually, feels quite lucky in this aspect as he had the tag of being an IITian, which helped him sail through crunch times when he didnât really earn much through acting.

    âThankfully, I am from IIT and that actually helped me with the finances as I started to take coaching sessions for Physics on Sundays and the rest 6 days, I used to act in TVF videos. My kharcha for a good two-to-three years was sorted because pehle acting ke paise nahi milte the. I have been lucky, actually, as the very first day I landed, I got to shoot a video with TVF that was out within one week and people started to react,â said Jeetu.
    © Jitendra Kumar Instagram
    The first thing that anyone hunts for when they move to a new city, is proper accommodation which makes you feel comfortable in the alien land.

    On this note, he added, âI wanted to stay in a good home in Mumbai because wo nahi milta toh I might have thought of going back. Thankfully, my friend's father had a flat in Mumbai so I requested him to let me stay in the house for lesser rent. I was lucky and people actually helped.â

    I wholeheartedly agree with this, as my profession also demanded me staying in Mumbai for a while and looking for comfortable accommodation was the ultimate deal.

    Furthermore into the conversation, I expressed that itâs actually quite surprising to see how he made his way into Bollywood through digital ventures, to which he had a very humble response.

    âSunne mein actually this is surprising but both the platforms are equally getting their own space. I can't really judge which is better. When we came, there was digital and it was TVF that actually started it. We came to do films as everyone wants to do a film as an actor but digital happened and made it big in that process. For me, it's a one up as I am finally getting to do a movie,â the actor stated.

    View this post on Instagramà¤à¥à¤ रà¤à¤ पà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤¨à¥ .. #kejri #salunkhe #sunny #siddu #srk #Imam #ChaplinA post shared by (@jitendrak1)Talking about him being a vital part of Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Jitendra was more than happy to share how he felt about it. âIt actually feels nice and I am equally excited about the movie because it's something different. As a romantic comedy, the concept is fresh and entertaining. I wasn't nervous earlier, but now, as the movie is nearing its release date, I am feeling the jitters.â 
    © Jitendra Kumar Instagram
    With Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan addressing a rather off-the-book topic, at least for Bollywood, like homosexuality, I asked him if he thinks Bollywood has actually evolved in terms of showing such aspects with more clarity and is it now celebrating homosexuality on the big screen.

    "Bollywood has always been accepting when it comes to homosexuality. We have been trying for a long time to portray this on the big screen. In my opinion, Bollywood has always been open about it but the audience has taken its due time. It was a criminal activity a few years ago. In fact, Article 377 ke hatne ke baad, people have started to talk freely. Now, we can actually think of making a more massy sort of film on the subject.â 
    View this post on InstagramDekhkar humara pyaar, hua judgemental Tripathi parivaar! Trailer out at 1.33 PM! #ShubhMangalZyadaSaavdhan ð¬ â¥ï¸ @smzsofficial @ayushmannk @gajrajrao @neena_gupta @manurishichadha @sunita_rajwar @maanvigagroo @pankhuri313 @neerajsingh5852 Written and directed by @HiteshKewalya @aanandlrai @cypplofficial @bhushankumar @tseries.official @tseriesfilmsA post shared by (@jitendrak1)Now that we were addressing the elephant in the room, I reminded him of a recent interview wherein Ayushmann had said that the makers were looking for a homosexual actor but they were not comfortable in revealing their real identities. Addressing this particular parameter, I asked him if the movie would help a lot of Indians in coming out of the break the closet and accept their real selves.
    âI feel this movie would surely be helpful but it's all about the perceptions of the audience. If this movie works with the audience, I am positive about the fact that it will bring in the change as then I believe the actors won't have an issue even if they are homosexuals. Hopefully, this movie becomes the first step in normalizing homosexuality,â said Jeetu.
    View this post on InstagramThank you for the love guys!! #ShubhMangalZyadaSaavdhan ð¬ â¥ï¸ @smzsofficial @ayushmannk @gajrajrao @neena_gupta @manurishichadha @sunita_rajwar @maanvigagroo @pankhuri313 @neerajsingh5852 Written and directed by @HiteshKewalya @aanandlrai @cypplofficial @bhushankumar @tseries.official @tseriesfilmsA post shared by (@jitendrak1)He also added, âIn the movie, people would also get to hear that this is quite natural as hume abhi mohollon mein sunne ko milta hai that it's not. It would be a sort of shock to the society but slowly and gradually, it would be accepted by the people. There is a kissing scene in the movie which people might have an issue with but it's a normal kiss between two people who are in love. I hope yeh logon ke normal lage.â 
    © T-Series
    I, then, panned the conversation towards legalizing gay marriage in India and wanted to know his thoughts on the same.

    âAap jab bhi experienced logon se poochoge, what is marriage? they will say it's about companionship and friendship. I think your partner can be of any gender whom you are comfortable with. I feel (gay) marriages should be allowed and it's my personal take. To add, the only love which is unconditional is basically your mother's love to you and rest everything is just companionship, so the gender shouldn't matter,â he stated his take on the same.

    Itâs, obviously, not that easy for an actor to portray himself as a homosexual in his very first movie and as we have seen it, people do tend to stereotype, particularly in Bollywood. Is Jitendra scared of getting stereotyped? Well, he gave an honest answer, âI know jis tarah people see you for the first time, they start perceiving you that way but I believe, I hope aisa na ho iss movie ke saath as the movie is quite normal and I also hope they give me straight roles post this.â 
    View this post on InstagramKartik-Aman ð³ï¸âð #shubhmangalzyadasaavdhan #filmfare2020ðâ¥ï¸ððððºA post shared by (@jitendrak1)
    Finally, after our serious conversation, I asked him about his familyâs reaction when he was approached for the role in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan.

    On this, he told me, âMy family has been watching me with Gajraj sir for a long time now. I think jaise I got confirmed for the part, the news was out on all platforms and they got to know about it, they were family. For me, it's a romantic movie and everyone connects to such movies. It's every actor's dream to do one romantic movie. I was quite excited and whenever I am happy, my family automatically feels the vibe.â

    âEven if there are at some places my parents and I differ, they eventually feel the excitement. When I was stepping out of my hometown for action, they were initially scared but slowly, they started to like my work. I feel parents khush rehte hai when their children are happy. It's just the society they feel pressurized from,â added the actor.
    Before we ended our conversation, I wanted to know what are his takeaways from the movie. 
     
    âWell, you obviously learn and yeh meri pehli film hai and pehla bada set tha. It was all the first time for me so I was understanding how a movie works. On the philosophical level, one day on the sets, I was thinking that everyone has issues with love. First, it was caste-related issues and it moved to religion being a problem in love. I feel the society has so many issues but everyone is concerned about creating issues in love. Why are we forgetting corruption, crime, global warming and more issues like these? I learnt that let people whosoever they actually want to,â Jitendra shared and signed off.
    All the best, Jitendra. Here is hoping the movie kills it at the Box Office and also leaves an impact on the masses.

    View the full article
  14. ADMIN
    The sport of Kambala is truly having its greatest week of all time right now. Records and history is being made and then broken in a span of days, it's harder to keep up with this that the Kardashians, tbh.

    A few days ago, Srinivasa Gowda, a Kambala jockey from Karnataka, made history by breaking, not just the sport of Kambala's thirty-year-old record, but technically was even faster than none other than Usain Bolt.



    View the full article
  15. ADMIN
    More often than not movies inspire us to do things that we wouldnât have imagined doing otherwise but we often forget that itâs all fiction. Also, actors usually have a team of professional people and other safety measures around them while performing dangerous stunts.
    However, recently a man was filmed on TikTok hanging out of a doorway of a moving train. 
    The seven-second-long video, filmed by a passenger travelling on the train, shows a man hanging out of the doorway of the moving train. Only a second into the video, he loses his grip and falls off the train, almost getting run over as people watching the stunt scream in horror. 
    Later at the end of the video, the man is sitting up as the train speeds past him and a passenger on it motions for him to stay still.
    This horrifying video has now gone viral on the internet and has shocked the people to the core.
    © BCCL
    Railway Minister Piyush Goyal took to his Twitter handle and posted this horrific video with a caption that read, "Showing stunts in a moving train is a sign of foolishness, not bravery. Your life is priceless, do not put it in danger. Follow the rules, and enjoy the safe journey."

    Checkout the video here-
    à¤à¤²à¤¤à¥ à¤à¥à¤°à¥à¤¨ मà¥à¤ सà¥à¤à¤à¤ दिà¤à¤¾à¤¨à¤¾ बहादà¥à¤°à¥ नहà¥, मà¥à¤°à¥à¤à¤¤à¤¾ à¤à¥ निशानॠहà¥à¥¤ à¤à¤ªà¤à¤¾ à¤à¥à¤µà¤¨ à¤à¤®à¥à¤²à¥à¤¯ हà¥, à¤à¤¸à¥ à¤à¤¤à¤°à¥ मà¥à¤ ना डालà¥à¤à¥¤

    नियमà¥à¤ à¤à¤¾ पालन à¤à¤°à¥à¤, à¤à¤° सà¥à¤°à¤à¥à¤·à¤¿à¤¤ यातà¥à¤°à¤¾ à¤à¤¾ à¤à¤¨à¤à¤¦ लà¥à¤à¥¤ pic.twitter.com/tauidfOqRj
    â Piyush Goyal Office (@PiyushGoyalOffc) February 18, 2020

    © BCCL
    The man in the video loses his balance, falls on the rail tracks and literally rolls under the train and then miraculously stands up just fine at the end of the video clip. 

    The video is nothing less than a seven-second horror story and hereâs what the people have to say about it-
    Satya Vachan.
    Chalti train se kudana murkhtaa toh hai hee aur saath hee mei tik tok ne bhi logo ko bigaarr rakhaa hai.

    Hero giri tik tok mei nhi hai, apne aap ki kamiyaabi ke jeetne mei hoti hai.
    â Ankit Verma (@1404ankitAnkit) February 18, 2020Hainah!

    Ye pagllpann hii .
    â Prince Sharma (@Princekr7677) February 18, 2020Really?

    Sir ye tik tok bna rhe h, tik tok k liye kisi hadd tk ja skte h@PiyushGoyalOffc
    â Ashish Jha (@ajkanpur786) February 18, 2020Makes sense.

    They need to introduce centralized doors similar to metro rolling stocks !
    â Nidhish ABRAHAM (@nidhishabraham) February 18, 2020Please donât perform such stunts.

    Horrible..Please don't do, otherwise next time you will be not available to do . #IndiaYuva
    â Shyam Gupta ð¦ (@shyamcdac) February 18, 2020Savageâ¦

    Horrible..Please don't do, otherwise next time you will be not available to do . #IndiaYuva
    â Shyam Gupta ð¦ (@shyamcdac) February 18, 2020


    View the full article
  16. ADMIN
    Yesterday, I wrote an article about how Karnatakaâs Kambala star, Srinivasa Gowda made the most sensible decision to respectfully say ânoâ to Kiren Rijiju and our Sports Ministry, that had announced his participation in the trial for the 100m sprinting event.
    He is Srinivasa Gowda (28) from Moodabidri in Dakshina Kannada district. Ran 142.5 meters in just 13.62 seconds at a "Kambala" or Buffalo race in a slushy paddy field. 100 meters in JUST 9.55 seconds! @usainbolt took 9.58 seconds to cover 100 meters. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/DQqzDsnwIP
    â DP SATISH (@dp_satish) February 13, 2020
    But clearly a lot of our readers did not agree with my views and called me out on social media and I completely understand where they were coming from.
    "How can somebody like Gowda say no to such an opportunity? He made the biggest mistake of his life declining this offer. He will regret this later," those were the most common comments amidst the mundane name-calling and abusing in the articleâs comments section.
    Our sports ministry is willing to give the opportunity to those who deserve it the most even on the basis of videos that go viral on social media; however, do the participants actually get a fair chance?

    The Kambala jockey was the latest example of this âactivityâ and people are going crazy over him, and are comparing him to the Jamaican Olympian and all-time great Usain Bolt.
    They have completely forgotten about those who have lived through the same week of stardom, only to be unremembered by everyone, including the ministry that promised them a bright future and the hopes of helping them participating in the Olympics one day.
    Donât believe me? Then hear it from the horseâs mouth himself.
    Seven months ago, a video of Rameshwar âBarefoot Runnerâ Gurjar, âwho covered 100m in 11 secondsâ, surfaced online and everyone wanted him to be Indiaâs Bolt back then. Unlike Gowda, Gurjar surrendered to all the public attention he was getting suddenly and even vowed to beat Boltâs record.
    India is blessed with talented individuals. Provided with right opportunity & right platform, they'll come out with flying colours to create history!

    Urge @IndiaSports Min. @KirenRijiju ji to extend support to this aspiring athlete to advance his skills!

    Thanks to @govindtimes. pic.twitter.com/ZlTAnSf6WO
    â Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) August 16, 2019
    The ministry offered him the same deal they offered Gowda but our âbarefoot runnerâ said âyesâ back then.
    âMy trial was organised in a hurry and I was made to run on the tracks with shoes even though I had an injured leg,â Rameshwar told MensXP. âI even told them that my leg was not healed properly but even then they made me participate in the race," he said.
    âYes, I was invited to the sports academy in Bhopal but there was no trainer assigned to me. I was left all alone and had to keep practising on my own,â he added.
    When the trial finally happened, Gurjar crashed and burned. He crossed the finish line last amongst the seven participants. What was the world expecting out of him? This was completely new and everything about this race was unfamiliar to him. The shoes versus his feet, the soft track instead of the hard and piercing asphalt roads, the stadium versus the village environment, everything was different.
    Kiren Rijiju posted the video of Gurjarâs trial and promised him that he will be given âproper time and trainingâ regardless of the disappointing race. But did he get all those things?
    Rameshwar Gurjar's trial run was conducted at T T Nagar Stadium by senior coaches of SAI and State Govt. Here, Rameshwar is seen running at extreme left. He is exhausted due to the glare of publicity so couldn't perform well. Will give proper time and training to him. pic.twitter.com/RQtkxWFDFR
    â Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 19, 2019
    âI got nothing. I had to come back home. Nobody was willing to take care of my expenses so I had to return,â said a disheartened Gurjar. âI try to get my training here only. I go to my ground and practice here and there," he said.
    When asked about what he felt about the Kambala jockey, Srinivasa Gowda said, âI saw his video and I was very impressed with him. He ran on mud with no shoes on so I could relate with him.â
    âI would request him to take his time before saying âyesâ to the trial. He should practice running while wearing shoes and on the race tracks for at least five to six months before thinking about whether he wants to continue,â he said. âI donât want him to go through what I did.â
    But he still has the same dreams of one day wearing the India logo on his chest and running for his country. 
    âI want to go on with my practice, if not the 100m category then I can even move towards longer races as well,â he appealed.
    âI request the sports ministry to help me. Here at home, I have no facilities that will help me in my training," he added. 

    View the full article
  17. ADMIN
    In a bid to end gender bias in the armed forces, Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Indian Army to grant permanent commission to women officers within three months, kicking aside the stereotypes that women are just meant to sit at home.
    Slamming the centre for not complying with the High Court as well as Supreme Court orders, the apex court said that the permanent commission will apply to all women officers irrespective of their years of service. 
    © BCCL
    In addition to that, in its landmark verdict, the Supreme Court also ordered that the terms of appointment for women officers will be the same as male officers.   

    Marking a milestone in gender parity, SC not only rejected Centreâs appeal against the Delhi High Courtâs order but also elaborated that reasons such as âphysiological featuresâ and other reasons are only perpetuating and giving rise to gender stereotypes. 
    SC says that the contentions of centre, regarding the issue of physiological limitations & social norms to deny an opportunity to women officers is disturbing & can't be accepted.

    Also says - Centre, by not giving permanent commission to women officers, had prejudiced the case. https://t.co/XvaHS4MNKy
    â ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2020According to Indiatimes, the Supreme Courtâs order said, âIt is an insult to women as well as the army when aspersions are cast on women, their ability and their achievements in the Army.â

    "Centre, by not giving permanent commission to women officers, had prejudiced the case," said the court bench comprising of Justices DY Chandrachud and Ajoy Rastogi. 
    © BCCL
    Justice DY Chandrachud also said, "Soldiers must have the physical capability to do one's role. Women in the Army is an evolutionary process."

    However, the bench clarified that the deployment of women officers in combat roles is a matter of policy as held by the Delhi High Court and the competent authority has to look into it.
    The SC order made people on the internet extremely happy and most of them laud this historical judgment. 
    Check out some of the reactions here:
    We agree.
    A historic judgment for #womenofficers #IndianArmy @adgpi https://t.co/bSr2simkDt
    â riya nehra (@riyanehra) February 17, 2020This made us very happy!

    A historic judgment for #womenofficers #IndianArmy @adgpi https://t.co/bSr2simkDt
    â riya nehra (@riyanehra) February 17, 2020Kudos!

    Cheers! #SupremeCourtOfIndia ! #WomenOfficers to #Command #Army #Units The Credit goes SOLELY To Supreme Court Let there be None to steal the thunder from #SupremeCourtOfIndia Cheers !!! https://t.co/wi6SD0Xitt
    â A Candle In The Wind Adventuring,Being,Caring, (@AshaaKiEkKiran) February 17, 2020More power to women warriors!

    When a women takes up such job we can't kill the warrior spirit in her. The maha kaali spirit in her. Allow them to grow in tat dimension. We need more women warriors become our enemy nations hate to die at the hands of women becoz they don't get heaven
    â Vandana (@Vandana788) February 17, 2020Woah..

    Army means it should be like kill attitude. Kill the enemy. This is a country where shaktism is celebrated. When women take up command jobs, especially the warrior mind they should think to be like maha kali. They should eliminate the enemy at the cost of anything than be POW
    â Vandana (@Vandana788) February 17, 2020According to a PTI report, the apex court said there is need for a change in mindset with regard to giving equal opportunity to women officers in the Indian Army even after 70 years of post-colonial era.

    There are 1,653 women officers in the Army, 3.89 per cent of the total number of officers in the Army.
    According to the court, women officers brought laurels to the country and won several gallantry and Sena medals as well as UN Peacekeeping awards for their contribution in armed forces. To cast aspersions on them on the basis of physiological features is wrong as it is based on fallacy, it said.

    View the full article
  18. ADMIN
    Days after the Indian crew members stranded on Diamond Princess, a luxury cruise ship quarantined near Japan's Yokohama port, sent an SOS to the Indian government seeking immediate help, an Indian couple has now reached out to the government pleading for help.
    Ashish Yadav and his wife Neha, originally from Uttar Pradesh, are stuck in China's Wuhan city, the epicentre of the deadly Coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 1700 people so far. And the numbers continue to increase with each passing day.  
    © Reuters
    Ashish is an Associate Professor at the Wuhan Textile University while Neha is a PhD scholar. According to a report in NDTV , the couple couldn't evacuate earlier when the government sent Air India flights to Wuhan because of Neha's surgery.

    So now they are appealing to the government to rescue them. The media outlet quoted Ashish as saying, "Namaste, my name is Ashish Yadav and this is my wife Neha Yadav. I am an associate professor in the Wuhan Textile University. I appeal to the Prime Minister to evacuate us from here soonest."

    His wife Neha said, "Our parents are very worried I would request that we should be evacuated soonest." They sent a video in which they are explaining how Wuhan has turned into a 'ghost town', the situation is getting worse day by day and that they are running out of supplies.
    Asish said, "You can see the weather is very bad today. There has been heavy rain and light snowfall since yesterday afternoon. There is no one in our building. Yesterday, I had just a few empty bottles of water (he shows the bottles) and I had appealed for some water to be given and so today (camera pans to new water bottles), I have been sent some water and this food by the authorities here. We have rations only for a few days so I again appeal to the Indian government to evacuate us soonest."
    GoI will send a consignment of medical supplies on a relief flight to Wuhan later this week to support China to fight the COVID-19 epidemic. On its return, the flight will have limited capacity to take on board Indians wishing to return to India from Wuhan/Hubei.(1/3) @MEAIndia
    â India in China (@EOIBeijing) February 17, 2020Meanwhile, the Embassy of India in Beijing, China has been tweeting to the Indians stuck in Wuhan, sharing helpline numbers so that people who wish to return can do so by contacting the officials.
    We urge all Indian nationals from Wuhan/Hubei who intend to avail this flight and have not yet contacted us, to urgently call our hotlines +8618610952903 and +8618612083629 or send email to helpdesk.beijing@mea.gov.in before 1900 hours today (17 February 2020) (3/3) @MEAIndia
    â India in China (@EOIBeijing) February 17, 2020


    View the full article
  19. ADMIN
    The novel coronavirus has claimed many lives and created havoc across the world. While the scientists are finding it extremely difficult to find an antidote to it, the Hindu Mahasabha recently stirred a controversy by claiming that the epidemic is not a virus but an âavatarâ to punish non-vegetarians.
    According to IANS, Swami Chakrapani, the National President of All India Hindu Mahasabha said, âCorona is not a virus, but avatar for the protection of poor creatures. They have come to give the message of death and punishment to the one who eats them.â 
    © BCCL/Virus
    As bizarre as it may sound, the National President also drew analogy of Lord Narsingh and said he has taken an avatar to kill people who torture innocent creatures and teach âChinese a lessonâ to not do this anymore. 
    Besides, Swami Chakrapani went on to claim that there is a way out of this epidemic, for the Chinese. He said they need to make an idol of Corona and apologize for harming and killing the innocent animals and and all non-vegetarian Chinese populace "pledge of not harming any innocent creatures in future, then the anger of Corona will come down". 
    © BCCL/Virus
    However, the Hindu Mahasabha Chief thinks that Hindu shouldnât fear the deadly virus as people who worship God and Gau Raksha believers are immune to the novel coronavirus. 
    National President of All India Hindu Mahasabha says #coronavirus is not a virus but an angry avatar to kiIl all non-vegetarians! There is a competition over buffoonery among Hindutva buffoons.https://t.co/OqGZCXXAKO
    â Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) February 16, 2020
    This bizarre theory has left many shocked and hereâs what people on social media have to say about the Hindu Mahasabha Chiefâs statement.
    Hahaha.
    Isko Chicken tangdi kabab with chicken biryani khila deo non veg ka supporter ban jayega.
    â Satish Kapur (@SatishKapur4) February 16, 2020
    Should we try?
    If this buffoon is so confident, let him go to China and preach the message.
    â Thomas_Paine (@SpockSpeaks) February 16, 2020
    Oh no!
    they are protected by pic.twitter.com/zj48asyf2w
    â amjad khan (@amjadal62590898) February 16, 2020
    Oh my god!
    Oh my God! I never seen such an ignorent approach.
    â Asif Khan Turk (@AsifTurk1015) February 16, 2020
    I think soâ¦.
    Oh my God! I never seen such an ignorent approach.
    â Asif Khan Turk (@AsifTurk1015) February 16, 2020
    Now, this one is really funny. 
    Will Vegetables take Happy Avtar to protect the world??
    â Idazaa (@Idazaa2) February 16, 2020
    Savage. 
    Trump is a non vegetarian....will this Corona virus punish him while he is visiting india....?
    â mahesh kumar bajaj (@mave_rick) February 16, 2020
    Got me thinking⦠
    except the entire world has been eating meat forever and avatar just got mad now.. in a place near a chemical lab.
    â MatsuyamaShinobu (@mrrmoosh111) February 16, 2020
    Screaming out loud.
    pic.twitter.com/QRYZGaKTUg
    â Khari (@Kel_Hari) February 16, 2020
     Hainah.

    Inki ek alag hi duniya h
    â мr ÑÑarĸ (@iamafzal27) February 16, 2020
    As on Monday morning, according to news reports, 70,548 confirmed coronavirus cases have claimed over 1,660 lives worldwide already and it isnât getting any better.


    View the full article
  20. ADMIN
    Siddhant Chaturvedi AKA Mc Sher has a demeanor that most of us relate to. That is to say, even his sartorial choices and sneaker collection are relatable and whatever he normally wears, comes at an affordable price tag.
    © Viral Bhayani
    When it comes to dressing up for the airport, his airport style can clearly be defined as dandy and relaxed. Here, Chaturvedi's oversized jacket is a swankier choice and it steps up his style game enough, without sacrificing on comfort level. But what actually grabbed all the eyeballs were his unusual pair of sneakers that made his lazy airport style look even more uber-cool than it already is. 

    © Viral Bhayani
    Before we dive into talking more about this zany pair of sneakers, let's take a look at this not-so-basic airport style.

    © Viral Bhayani
    The satin long jacket is oversized yet trendy. Due to its streetwear aesthetics, this jacket does the trick of adding more style points. A parka or a hoodie would have looked cool but this is a rather suave choice that brings out the flamboyancy quite well. Add to that, his lousy pants looked more pulled together along with this jacket, making it an apt choice to fly high in style.

    © Skechers
    Coming to his sneakers, Siddhant is wearing Skechers Monster sneakers. This pair has a soft textured knit fabric and smooth synthetic overlay. The slip-on style with laced front adds to the sporty appeal. Furthermore, this pair is super lightweight and the contrast coloured rubber outsole with side accents makes it an OTT pair.

    © Skechers
    These sneakers are unconventional and they have a quirky spin that adds more suaveness to Siddhant's effortless, airport style. If you are willing to splurge on this eccentric pair, you just got lucky as these are available for Rs 7,000 which makes for a great deal.

    © Viral Bhayani
    The best part about this outfit and sneakers is that it not only lets you fly in style but steers clear of the chaotic experience you might have at the airport. It's super easy and also ups the street creds while you are making a statement at the airport.

    On the work front, Siddhant is currently preparing for his next movie, Bunty Aur Babli 2, starring Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukherji, and debutante Sharvari Wagh.
    As for his outfit, it's certainly one way to bring the lazy style more into the limelight with a pair of zany sneakers. Keep up the game, Sid!


    View the full article
  21. ADMIN
    Every day we come across bizarre news from around the country that leaves us amazed. For example, recently a Madhya Pradesh BJP leader claimed that eating eggs can turn children into cannibals. We're not sure where his supposed research comes from but we hope there is immense verification conducted on this information and children eating eggs are being monitored closely, just in case they start eating humans next. Well, it only leaves us to imagine what would happen if people ate 'Ram Laddoos' on a  daily basis though.
    #WATCH Madhya Pradesh (MP) BJP leader Gopal Bhargava on MP government's proposal to distribute eggs at Anganwadis says, "Bharat ke jo sanskar hain, sanatan sanskriti mein mansahaar nished hai. Agar bachpan se hi hum ise khaayenge toh bade ho kar nar bhakshi na ho jaayen." (30.10) pic.twitter.com/s9INELUsYw
    â ANI (@ANI) October 31, 2019But leaving all this bizarre misinformation aside, we have something more spectacular in store for you, from the newly found and funded 'secular express'. Just recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Kashi Mahakal Express that links three Jyotirlingas in two states and we're not kidding when we say it's the holiest train running across the country. 

    For the first time in the history of Indian Railways, we'll have a deity onboard travelling with us because Lord Shiva is literally going to be our co-passenger if we ever decide to travel on this train!
    © Twitter
    Seat number 64, in coach B5 of the train, is reserved and left vacant for Lord Shiva, and we're quite astounded by the faith put in the Lord Almighty for people to assume he would need trains to travel around the country.

    à¤à¤§à¥à¤¨à¤¿à¤ सà¥à¤µà¤¿à¤§à¤¾à¤à¤ सॠलà¥à¤¸ बनारस सॠà¤à¤à¤¦à¥à¤° à¤à¥ बà¥à¤ #KashiMahakalExpress à¤à¥à¤°à¥à¤¨à¥¤

    à¤à¥ दà¥à¤¶ à¤à¥ धारà¥à¤®à¤¿à¤, साà¤à¤¸à¥à¤à¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤ à¤à¤° à¤à¤¤à¤¿à¤¹à¤¾à¤¸à¤¿à¤ महतà¥à¤µ à¤à¥ नà¤à¤° à¤à¥à¤¸à¥, पà¥à¤°à¤¯à¤¾à¤à¤°à¤¾à¤, लà¤à¤¨à¤, à¤à¤¾à¤¨à¤ªà¥à¤°, à¤à¤¾à¤à¤¸à¥, बà¥à¤¨à¤¾, सà¤à¤¤ हिरदाराम (भà¥à¤ªà¤¾à¤²) à¤à¥ à¤à¥à¤¡à¤¼à¥à¤à¥à¥¤ pic.twitter.com/2Z2ZPIdZVF
    â Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) February 16, 2020The deity's compartment is decorated with pictures and garlands, making it seem like a mini temple for Lord Shiva.

    Coach B4,Seat no.64, Seat of Mahakal in Kashi-Mahakal Express. First time Indian Railway history on seat will reserve for Mahakal. This train today inaugurated by pm Modi.@narendramodi @PMOIndia @RailMinIndia @PiyushGoyal @ZeeNewsHindi @RailwayNorthern @shaileshraanjan pic.twitter.com/GxIfRxmFc0
    â Bramh Prakash Dubey (@bramhprakash7) February 16, 2020"It is for the first time that a seat has been left reserved for a deity. Even a temple has been drawn on the seat to make people aware that the seat is reserved for Lord Mahakal," said the Northern Railway Spokesperson, Deepak Kumar, while speaking with IANS in an interview.

    © Twitter
    On February 16, Prime Minister Modi flagged off the Kashi Mahakal Express through a video conference while he was in Varanasi.

    पà¥à¤°à¤§à¤¾à¤¨à¤®à¤à¤¤à¥à¤°à¥ शà¥à¤°à¥ @NarendraModi à¤à¥ दà¥à¤µà¤¾à¤°à¤¾ #KashiMahakalExpress à¤à¥ हरॠà¤à¤à¤¡à¥ दिà¤à¤¾à¤à¤° शà¥à¤­à¤¾à¤°à¤à¤­ à¤à¤¿à¤¯à¤¾ ।

    यह à¤à¥à¤°à¥à¤¨ à¤à¤à¤¦à¥à¤° सॠवाराणसॠà¤à¥ बà¥à¤ 3 à¤à¥à¤¯à¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤°à¥à¤²à¤¿à¤à¤à¥à¤ à¤à¥ à¤à¤¨à¥à¤à¥à¤ à¤à¤°à¤¨à¥ वालॠà¤à¤§à¥à¤¨à¤¿à¤ सà¥à¤µà¤¿à¤§à¤¾à¤à¤ यà¥à¤à¥à¤¤ 3 à¤à¤¿à¤¯à¤° वातानà¥à¤à¥à¤²à¤¿à¤¤ हà¥à¥¤ pic.twitter.com/17W0GRZSqe
    â Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) February 16, 2020Apart from travelling with an honorary guest such as Lord Shiva, the train will have light devotional music, two dedicated private guards in every coach and only vegetarian meals. The train will also be decorated with LED lighting and will offer complimentary insurance of up to Rs. 10 lakh for the trip. That's a lot of perk up your alley, if you do decide to travel with God for company.

    People on Twitter though have a mixed bag of opinions.
    In A First, Indian Railways Reserves Seat For Lord Mahakal In IRCTCâs Kashi Mahakal Expresshttps://t.co/ogWlVCdYp2
    â Swarajya (@SwarajyaMag) February 17, 2020This looks ugly to say the least. I don't agree with this but even if they wanted to make a temple, why not give some importance to aesthetics!? It's a public property for God's sake.
    â Shubham (@ishubh4m) February 17, 2020Yaha ek confirm ticket k liye 3 months pehle booking karvani padti hai mahakal ji ko to lifetime confirm ticket mil gai..
    â shona Ghosh (@ruchighosh) February 17, 2020Kripya unhe @IRCTCofficial ka bhog na chadaanaa, varna Mahakalji bimaar padd jayenge
    â Halwa-e-Hind (@e_halwa) February 17, 2020Why?..it's a train, let it be like a train.
    â Ramkumar Shukla ï¸ (@RamShukla_) February 17, 2020The government is secular. Why have a temple in a train. Not done. @PiyushGoyal
    â Sanjay Parikh (@sanjaynparikh62) February 17, 2020 The train is set to run thrice a week between Varanasi and Indore. Timings of Kashi Mahakal Express via Sultanpur-Lucknow bi-weekly Kashi Mahakal Express train no. 82401 from Varanasi â Indore will depart from Varanasi at 2:45 PM every Tuesday and Thursday and reach Indore at 09:40 AM the following day from February 20 onward. We're sure, everyone who is an ardent Lord Shiva bhakt will definitely do this journey one way or another.
    In a rather swift yet witty move, following the news about the Kashi Mahakal Express,  the AIMIM President, Asaduddin Owaisi Tweeted a photo of the Preamble to the Prime Minister, reminding him of what the constitution states.
    Sir @PMOIndia https://t.co/HCeC9QcfW9 pic.twitter.com/6SMJXw3q1N
    â Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) February 17, 2020This isn't the only train that's streamlining Hindu religious sentiments through the Indian Railways. We also have  a 'Ramayana' themed train on the cards and we're not quite sure what to make of that just yet. But the railways have announced that the 'Ramayana Express' will have a Ramyana theme, while playing religious songs, so the passengers get the feel of travelling in a  temple.

    The train is likely to be launched after March 10, said Railway Board Chairman V.K. Yadav on Friday, adding that the train schedule will be released in the coming week.
    âThe train will originate from different locations, north, south, east and west, so that people from across the country can avail its services. The exterior and the interiors of the train will be Ramayana-themed. We can have bhajans playing on board .... IRCTC is planning the schedule and packages, and we are hoping to run the train after Holi,â he further added.
    So while both Lord Ram and Lord Shiva get their respective modes of transport, we're wondering why the other Gods have been deliberately left out of this wonderful reservation scheme. While secularism is the current flavour for the nation, we should probably be more explanatory about it so our authorities can understand what it really means. 
    Meanwhile, here's your chance to meet God and have a word or two while travelling with him.

    View the full article
  22. ADMIN
    Sometimes you wake up in the middle of a deeply gratifying dream and wish to drop dead asleep again to resume or finish the storyline that your subconscious mind was playing out. I was invited to London to watch an English Premier League game, and my consciously Manchester United-crazy mind demanded that I squeeze in a visit to Old Trafford, the Theatre of Dreams, to fulfil a lifelong dream of watching my favourite club play live. 
    And much to the dismay of my boss, thatâs exactly what I did. 
    View this post on InstagramIn need of some #WednesdayMotivation? Why not book a trip to the city of Manchester? ð ð¸: @asinglestepblogA post shared by (@nationalexpress)
    United were due to play Burnley in an English Premier League encounter (honorary mention to partners Budweiser 0.0, who made my trip possible) on January 23, 2020, having endured an eventfully ill-fated month till that point. Recent losses against Arsenal, Liverpool and (in the cup vs) Manchester City meant that tickets were easily available on manutd.com for this home fixture against a then-bottom table side. Little did we know that the game would end 0-2 in favour of the visitors and would trigger the infamous walkouts that might even continue after the ongoing winter break; but more on that, later.

    To buy tickets for home matches, follow these steps:
    - Sign up for a free membership on the website
    - Use the membership number to sign in
    - Visit the ticketing section on the website and select the game you want to watch
    - The blocks coloured in blue will have vacant seats
    - Upon selecting, the website suggests the best available seat
    - Among âadult,â âunder 16,â âseniorâ etc, pick the category that you belong to and proceed to pay
    - Tickets are delivered if booked well in advance, otherwise you can collect them on matchday at the ticket counters with valid ID


    Note: You can follow a similar process to buy tickets for the stadium tour. Categories include but are not limited to âEnhanced Tourâ and âLegends Tour.â


    Next step was to find accommodation and stay, hostelworld.com and rome2rio.com always being my go-to websites. A four-hour non-stop bus is the most affordable and time-effective commute. Mine was a 12-pound National Express coach that drops you in the heart of Manchester, near Piccadilly Gardens. The dorm was at walkable distance, in the most hipster-ish neighbourhood on Hilton Street. 
                                 The ClubI checked in, lit a cigarette and immediately after the first drag, it sank in. I WAS IN FUCKING MANCHESTER! FOR REAL, I WAS GOING TO WATCH A GAME AT OLD TRAFFORD!
    At a loss for words, my overcome state of mind at this point is best summed up by a fellow Red Devil from USA, Chris Castaneda, who told B/R after visiting OT for the first time in 2015 : âThe buildup is incredibly unnerving, you struggle so much waiting for the moment that you show up at the stadium five hours before the match, when no one else is around, and just take the time to walk around and admire everything about the ground.â 
    © MENSXP/Alshaar
    After a quick kebab meal (I love eating doner kebabs in Europe), I was advised by the hostel staff to take the tram to Old Trafford. The tram was right next to Piccadilly Gardens. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines. Mine cost £ 2.40. I got off at Trafford Bar station and exited on to Warwick Road, Google Mapped my way down towards the stadium, passed the Old Trafford cricket stadium, bought a retro Eric Cantona scarf, and here I was (exactly five hours ahead of kickoff) â staring at the glass walls of my footballing mecca through the silhouette of the Holy Trinity.
    One big downside of travelling alone (apart from not having a personal photographer) though is that sometimes when youâre dumbfounded, getting a second opinion becomes a daunting task. Your mind simply goes blank and instincts take over. Some might call it âliving in the moment;â for me it translated into paying a father-son duo three pounds to click pictures of me with replica trophies in front of the stadiumâs main entrance â guilty pleasures; not complaining. 
    © MENSXP/Alshaar
    By the time I was done collecting my ticket, video calling loved ones back home, indulging in front camera vanity and realising that you should always book the stadium tour in advance, the sun had set and more matchgoers had arrived. A stadium parikrama was followed by joining the crowd in anticipation of the team buses. That would take another hour or so, but I encountered two very interesting young men from Nottingham leaning against the barricades. 
    In his late teens, Joe Roberto, a fellow Man United supporter, was here for the first time with his friend Antonio, who is half Italian and is more interested in the Serie A than the EPL. The duo was fascinated by my work that takes me around the world (very humbly; you can read about my trips to Russia , Italy , Vietnam , France etc and decide for yourself), but more so because they were both considering applying for police jobs given the high crime rate in their county. 
    © MENSXP/Alshaar
    So far, the day had only been about my dreams and my ambitions, but this conversation gave me a window inside the lives of the actual people living in this part of the United Kingdom. Thereâs sport, thereâs religion; of course money matters; and then, thereâs a growing sense of national pride, which one might not be unfamiliar with, irrespective of your current coordinates.
    The light-hearted banter, nonetheless, very much continued with Joe and I outnumbering Antonio. But the team buses had now arrived and the starting XI on the day would set the tone for the impending doom that awaited United and its frustrated fanbase, on the pitch. 
    View this post on Instagramð´ And in the red corner... #MUFCA post shared by (@manchesterunited)
    Up in Block N42 of the Sir Alex Ferguson stand, a few flights of stairs, a pint of beer and half an hour later, the chatter was about Mason Greenwood not starting, Phil Jones replacing an injured Victor Lindelof, and Andreas Pereira being given yet another shot at the #10 role. 

    The teams came out and bitterly honest words from a loyal United fan Steven Narloch, which I had read online in his Old Trafford testimony, flashed across my mind: âExit off the tram, see those huge white arches as I walk up Warwick Road, enter the ground, climb up a few flights of stairs, find my seat, and then do something that always baffles me; clap out the teams as they emerge from the tunnel, as if youâre thanking the highly paid people playing for the team of your choice just for turning up.â
    © MENSXP/Alshaar
    But despite a continuously intensifying grudge against how the club is being run, fans warmly welcomed the players onto the pitch. The game got off to a yawn-inducing start and all the frustration from watching United play on TV in the last few years started coming back to me. To make matters worse, the hosts went a goal behind by the 39th minute, after Chris Wood headed a free kick past David De Gea. 
    Nothing much changed in the second half and the 56th minute saw Burnley double their lead this time via Jay Rodriguez. My dream debut in Old Trafford started feeling more and more anticlimactic. But we hang on till Fergie time, donât we? Turns out, we donât because a) the tram gets super cramped if you leave late b) the commitment of the current lot doesnât live up to the indomitable spirit of Sir Alex Fergusonâs legendary United sides. 
    As I held back my tears and exited defeated, around the 80th minute mark, the turnout outside was astoundingly greater than what was left behind in the stadium. We would later learn that this was one of the most infamous walkouts in the recent history of the club and fans have in fact made a tradition of it since then. 

    Most of us have had enough; and itâs not just about this one loss. The way the club has been run since the Glazer takeover is appalling â from transfers and wages to ownership and fund allocation. Sir Alex Ferguson had preserved the old guard, but since his departure in 2013, the widening cracks at Old Trafford have now become full-sized craters. The big quandary is that the Glazer family borrowed a load of money to buy Manchester United in 2004 and shifted debts to the tunes of a billion dollars within 15 years onto the club. Misery is compounded by United announcing record high revenues in the 2010s, which has not really translated into on-pitch success â raising glaring doubts about the ownersâ vision for a club with arguably the richest history in the PL. 
    © MENSXP/Alshaar
    Gab Marcotti writes for ESPN: âThere's something doubly infuriating in knowing that even while you're suffering at your team's underachievement, the guys who own it and run it continue to cackle all the way to the bank. It's not that they don't necessarily care -- maybe they do, maybe they're fans too; they never speak, so we don't know -- it's just that you're left with the feeling that, however much it pains them to see United struggle on the pitch, when they put on their businessman hats, all that pain magically melts away.â 
    Depressed and feeling an existential sense of defeat, I took the tram back and my day ended in complete contrast to how it had begun. The club that I grew up watching dominate all of Europe has been reduced to a laughing stock and distressingly because of non-footballing reasons.
                                   The cityI woke up early next morning to typically gloomy Manchester skies. A septuagenarian gent was making breakfast â atypical of the most such lodgings â a recipe for some interesting conversation. Michael Celle Clarke had spent his young years in Manchester and his rendezvous with the city had stayed with him. Over a cuppa, he shared stories that involved women, odd jobs and finances. Now settled, with grandchildren and great grandchildren, he still finds excuses to visit Manchester, âthe city that has seen so much and has given people so much.â 
    © MENSXP/Alshaar
    So, what exactly is so special about this city? One of the better ways to find out was to sign up for a walking tour. Most such offerings are usually free â something that I absolutely love about European cities. The reception desk was handing out brochures for this one called the Free Manchester Walking Tour, which starts at 11 am from the Alan Turing Memorial in Sackville Park. On my way to the meeting point, I encountered this tiny, funny-named eatery called Pottyâs Kitchen, where a bunch of local construction workers were walking in and out of. Who knew you could get a fabulous full English breakfast for less than five pounds, with a bunch of pescetarian and vegan options. Quick note: having proper meals helps survive the cityâs windy weather, which suddenly started approaching zero-ish temperatures that morning.
    View this post on Instagram#Mcr #manchester #uk #2019 #stretphotography #travel #travellovers #love #welcome #home #keeptraveling #bee #documentaryphotography #gayvillage #alanturingA post shared by (@jose_marcilese_iglesias)
    A few smokes helped stay warm at the Turing Statue, before local lad Mike (25), another lifetime Manchester United supporter, from the Tour team greeted me, followed by around 10 more tourists, from Europe and South America. Aziz Ahammout from Lille was here for the previous nightâs game too, and has grown up supporting United from across borders like yours truly. Leeds-born Charlie Tatman also follows football and had even been to India (he fortuitously ended up playing a British officer in Aamir Khanâs Mangal Pandey: The Rising on the trip), before settling down with his wife and a set of twins. Czech student Laura, who resides in Poland currently, had been flatmates with Indians and of course proclaimed her love for curry with me.

    The three-hour tour began with a brief timeline of Manchester, through its multiple eras: of the Romans christening it Mamucium; of canals enabling it to become a global textile hub; of the bombing during the Second World War; of the abandonment of the textile mills and the subsequent rise of an underground music culture â notable Manchester musicians include The Smiths, The Verve, Oasis, The Red Army, Van der Graaf Generator among numerous others. Today, Manchester is the second most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom with more than three million people. The city bears unique distinctions for establishing a university in as early as the 1820s, producing around 25 Nobel laureates and a host of artists. Alan Turing, whose statue we met at, though remains the most controversially timeless figure. 
    View this post on InstagramReminiscing about the Parade and our Deep Space Pride: A Future World of Equality theme at this year's Manchester Pride Festival! The Parade was by far the biggest to ever walk the streets of Manchester and we cannot thank you enough for coming to support the community, whether you walked with us in the Parade or encouraged us from the crowd! ðð And can we just talk about some of these outfits?! Incredible! #MPFestival2019A post shared by (@manchesterpride)
    His genius, biographed in Benedict Cumberbatchâs (another University of Manchester graduate) Imitation Games, lies in being the father of modern computing. Even more relevant is his life as one of the first openly gay public figures in the history of the Western world. Despite playing a crucial role in cracking intercepted coded messages that enabled the Allies to defeat the Nazis in many crucial engagements, Turing was prosecuted under Victorian anti-homosexuality laws and is said to have not received enough respect before a premature death (allegedly suicide), at the age of 41. After widespread internet campaigns, he was retrospectively pardoned in 2013 and even features on the new £50 note now.

    Turing remains an accurate representation of Manchesterâs contribution to liberalism through the ages. Apart from housing the countryâs oldest public library (since 1652), it has also been at the centre of labour right activism in the 1850s, which eventually led to the repeal of the infamous Corn Laws; it has been home to remarkable feminist movements in the 20th century; and it has constantly rallied behind free trade, pacifism and the separation of church and state. In fact, even great men like Abraham Lincoln have written to the âworking men of Manchesterâ for their anti-slavery stance.
    View this post on Instagramð¸ 2019 has brought us some fantastic photography and illustrations! Here are some of our best ones - which one is your favourite?A post shared by (@officialuom)
    After walking past the university, the Royal Exchange Theatre, the Town Hall, the Bridgewater Hall, the Rochdale Canal and the library, we finally ended up at the Exchange Square. It was here where, according to our guide Mike, the latest, most modern, era of Manchester was born. A bomb explosion (planted by Irish right-wing militants during the Euro Cup â96; Manchester was one of the host countries) caused devastating and largely irreversible damage, estimated by insurers at £700 million (equivalent to £1.3 billion in 2019). The detonation, according to locals, ripped the heart out of the city centre but remarkably no-one was killed. Contrastingly, the blast has been viewed by some as a 'catalyst' for starting the city's mass regeneration by attracting hundreds of millions worth of investment and resulting in above national average economic growth in the 20 years following the bombing. Manchester received about £583 million in private and public funding towards its regeneration that completely transformed the business sector, the growth of which could have otherwise been much slower. At the 2002 Commonwealth Games, Manchester played proud host and set a worldwide example on how to get back on oneâs feet.

    View this post on InstagramNice + sunny in Manchester. âï¸A post shared by (@lucyygallagher)
    Goodbyes were said at this point, but the Man United supporters in the group â Mike, Aziz and I â stayed back and bitched about the previous night. Once Mike left to resume his dayâs routine, we ended up at Sinclairâs Oyester Bar, after a visit to the nearby National Football Museum. The rustic pub is located in one of the oldest buildings in the city, The Shambles. Usage of phones/electronics is strictly banned inside; an attendant is on the vigil at all times. But the upside â besides getting hammered for a mere £15 â is that you tend to initiate conversations with strangers. 

    Manchester serves up to be the perfect city for this kind of socialising, especially if youâre a United fan. Aziz and I ended up befriending almost each table adjacent to ours despite heated debates over Ole Gunnar Solskjærâs future as the boss. Most of these men and women were locals, ranging from ages between 20 and 70. My acquaintance with the city, from two decades of supporting United, was validated by the open arms that the locals offered towards my devotion. It was at this point that I realised what knits the bond between the club and its overseas fans. 
    © MENSXP/Alshaar
    My girlfriend, a distant observer of the sport, often asks why I donât support another club since Manchester United have been shit most of the 2010s? I couldnât offer a convincing response before visiting Manchester, but I can almost physically feel my connect with the city now. Itâs almost like a home away from home, and in its core value system, also resonates with my most fundamental beliefs in life. 
    Thereâs another club in the city and why I donât support them would require another article. But as I munched on my last kebab before taking off for India, and made peace with the clubâs fall from grace, the city, like few others, didnât make me feel alone as a solo traveller anymore â and despite the heartbreaking recent performances of Manchester United, ensured that I return one day regardless. Although more new signings will help.


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  23. ADMIN
    Google Maps is one of the most-used Google services out there. Literally billions of users across the globe use the maps on a daily basis in one way or the other. Google's navigation service uses Google Maps and even the maps used by third-party apps like Uber use Google's version of the maps.
    When you're talking about a service that is as big as Google Maps, generating billions of dollars in revenue annually, it goes without saying that even subtle changes will affect our lives. It's more obvious in the case of navigation because it's happening in real-time. This incident where a man created a virtual traffic jam on Google Maps is a great example of that.
    But when you're talking about something big like international borders, who don't really notice the difference until you go looking for them. That's exactly what a Washington Post report has uncovered.
    If I was to explain what's happening in simple terms, I'd say that Google is showing a different version of its map depending on who's looking. For instance, if you look at the Kashmir region on Google Maps from India, you'll see different borderlines from what Google will show to someone who is looking at the maps from Pakistan.
    Here, check out the difference yourself -
    © Washington Post
    Notice how the borders have been altered? In the Pakistan version of the map, the dotted lines suggest the disputed borders the two nations have fought over for decades. In the Indian version, however, there's just a single solid border to denote that the region is under Indian control. It's like showing a different reality to people in different areas of the world.

    It's not limited to the Kashmir region. There are a ton of other regions across the globe where the differences are subtle yet mind-blowing. The "Sea Of Japan" between Japan and Korea is shown as the "East Sea" when you look at it on the maps from South Korea. And there are numerous other examples like the border differences in Morocco, the water body between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and more.
    It's not just Google who's doing it, by the way. Even Apple and Microsoft are following the same practice. And why are they doing it?
    Ethan Russell, director of product management for Google Maps, said in a statement to Washington Post, âOur goal is always to provide the most comprehensive and accurate map possible based on ground truth. We remain neutral on issues of disputed regions and borders, and make every effort to objectively display the dispute in our maps using a dashed gray border line. In countries where we have local versions of Google Maps, we follow local legislation when displaying names and borders.â
    © Reuters
    This is, honestly, quite a common phenomenon and there's nothing to be surprised about. I am sure Google will keep doing this as long as there's a disputed view to suit the diplomats and policymakers. It's also really hard to get an accurate representation of the ground reality, so I think Google is just trying to stick to the data that's being given to it by the local talent working on the ground.

    That being said, there's no denying that it's indeed quite alarming. It's like showing a different version of the maps to people who are living in a disputed border and showing something else to the rest of the world. It's an alternate reality which the people living in that particular area are completely unaware of. 
    Source: Washington Post

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  25. ADMIN
    One of the most controversial seasons of Bigg Boss might have ended on the television screen but the hangover of the drama, that brewed in the house for months, continues to keep fans busy and entertained.
    After Sidharth Shukla was declared the winner on Saturday, Asim Riazâs fans were totally upset over the results. Adding to the drama, a leaked video from BB control room also fuelled rumours that the show was rigged and apparently suggested that both the boys got equal votes. 
    Now Shehnaaz Gill, one of the most entertaining contestants in the history of BB, is all set to continue entertaining us with her new show which will actually be her âswayamvarâ. 
    View this post on Instagram@shehnaazgill dhoond rahi hai ladka aisa jo ho dil se changa! Kis se poochengi woh #MujhseShaadiKaroge? Dekhiye aaj se, Mon- Fri raat 10:30 baje sirf #Colors par. Anytime on @vootA post shared by (@colorstv)Now while the fans of this âPunjab Ki Katrina Kaifâ are all ready to support her new innings, unfortunately Shehnaazâs father has expressed his disappointment over this new show which, according to him, will hamper her growth and her public image as well. 
    He feels that the channel didnât justify her talent and while some contestants were even paid a whopping amount of over Rs. 2 crore, Shehnaaz was compensated with just around Rs. 10 lakh. 
    In a statement to the media, he explained how he feels. âWe have a meeting with the channel. If the channel is not considered, then we will take help of Shiv Sena. I don't want to make my daughter Rakhi Sawant from Katrina Kaif. Will not let my daughter get married. These people knew that Shehnaaz could win the show, but the makers made this plan to win the show to Siddharth Shukla.â  
    View this post on InstagramPunjab ki #KatrinaKaif se Hindustan ki #ShehnaazGill ka yeh kaamyaab safar dekhiye aaj raat 10 baje. Anytime on @voot @vivo_india @beingsalmankhan #BiggBoss #BiggBoss13 #BB13 #SalmanKhanA post shared by (@colorstv)He feels that the makers have been unfair to her and the promos of her next show have already been released in order to cash in on her stardom. 
    âThey have made sure the (Swayamvar) promo is already out because they wanted the voting for Shehnaaz to stop so that they could make Sidharth Shukla the winner. My daughter has really worked very hard throughout the show but now she is just being given Rs 10 lakh as compensation,â he said.
    âThey have made her toil so hard. There are other contestants who have been paid Rs 2 crores but they havenât quite done anything in the show. But my daughter is just given Rs 10 lakhs. She has done so much in the show and now they are literally driving her mad and they are making her do things,â he added.


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