When we think of holes, most of us think of digging a hole to plant a flower, drilling a hole to finish a construction project, or even hitting a hole in one at the next golf outing. There are places in the world, however, that give the word “hole” a whole new meaning. These holes are so large it would be hard to believe they were real if you weren’t able to see them.

Kimberley Big Hole, South Africa

Kimberley Big Hole

Kimberly Big Hole, located in South Africa, was a diamond mine over 1,097 meters deep. The mine was closed in 1914 but was later reopened as a tourist attraction. The site is now a major tourist attraction, featuring a bar, small hotel, shops, and eateries - all in the same area that these things would have been located while the mine was active.

Kimberley Diamond Mine

Workers will be dressed in period garb and visitors will have the opportunity to participate in a simulation complete with dynamite blasts and dusty explosions – all designed to give visitors a feel for what it was like living in mine town.

Glory Hole – Monticello Dam, California

Glory Hole – Monticello Dam

The Monticello Dam, which holds back Lake Berryessa, features a morning glory spillway. This type of spillway is basically a giant cement funnel. Rather than spilling over the dam, high waters spill into the funnel. Morning glory spillways are also known as bell-mouth spillways.

Monticello Dam view of spillway

The Monticello Dam’s spillway is otherwise (and affectionately) known as The Glory Hole. The glory hole is located about 200 feet from the dam. Water spills over its lip when the lake reaches 1,602,000 acre-feet. The funnel’s largest diameter is 72 feet and narrows to about 28 feet. It is designed to handle a maximum of 362,000 gallons of water per second, which occurs when the lake level rises to 15.5 feet above the level of the funnel. For more information about the glory hole (as well as photos of its construction in the 1950’s).

An Aerial View of the Glory Hole – Monticello Dam

For obvious reasons, swimming near the glory hole is both prohibited and stupid. There are buoys strung across the lake to discourage boaters and swimmers from approaching the glory hole and the dam. Furthermore, the glory hole is well fenced off from the land.

Rumors claim that a woman jumped down the hole thinking she would come out the other end but never lived to tell the tale – I’ve seen no proof, so take that story or leave it.

Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah

Bingham Canyon Mine-Utah

The Bingham Canyon Mine (image center) is one of the largest open-pit mines in the world, measuring over 4 kilometers wide and 1,200 meters deep. Located about 30 kilometers southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah, the mine exploits a porphyry copper deposit, a geological structure formed by crystal-rich magma moving upwards through pre-existing rock layers. As the magma cools and crystallizes, it forms an igneous rock with large crystals embedded in a fine-grained matrix, known as a porphyry. Hot fluids circulate through the magma and surrounding rocks via fractures, depositing copper-bearing and other minerals in spatial patterns that a geologist recognizes as a potential porphyry copper deposit.

Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah

Mining first began in Bingham Canyon in the late nineteenth century, when shafts were sunk to remove gold, silver, and lead deposits that played out by the early 1900s. It would take the advent of open-pit mining in 1899 to turn the Bingham copper deposit into an economically favorable resource. In open-pit mining, the copper-containing rocks are excavated from the surface downward in terraces. By the 1930s, open-pit mining had turned “the Hill” at Bingham Canyon into “the Pit.”

Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah

This astronaut photograph of the Bingham Canyon Mine shows parallel benches (stepped terraces) along the western pit face. These benches range from 16 to 25 meters high, and they provide access for equipment to work the rock face and maintaining the stability of the sloping pit walls. A dark, larger roadway is also visible directly below the benches. Brown to gray, flat-topped hills of gangue (waste rock) surround the pit, and are thrown into sharp relief by shadows and the oblique (from the side) viewing angle of the photograph. Reservoirs for leach water (associated with ore processing) are visible to the south of the city of Bingham Canyon.

Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah

Today’s copper market is booming thanks to global demands from construction, telecommunications, and electronics sectors of the economy. The Kennecott Utah Copper Company removes about half a million tons of material from the Bingham Canyon Mine every day for processing. In 1906, the rate of removal was 100,000 tons of material per month. Over 17 million tons of copper have been removed to date. Geological and engineering models suggest that the mine can be deepened by an additional 200 meters before extraction costs become greater than the value of the remaining copper.

Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah

The geological and chemical processes that produce copper deposits also produce minerals such as iron sulfides, which react with water or oxygen on the surface to produce colorful minerals.

Geologists can sometimes use satellite observations to identify places where the topography and the rock types on the surface suggest copper ores might be present below ground.

Great Blue Hole, Belize

Great Blue Hole, Belize

The Great Blue Hole is a large underwater sinkhole off of the coast of Belize. It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 100 kilometres (62 mi) from the mainland and Belize City. The hole is circular in shape, over 300 metres (984 ft) across and 120 metres (394 ft) deep. It was formed as a limestone cave system during the last ice age when sea levels were much lower. As the ocean began to rise again, the caves flooded, and the roof collapsed. It is part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System.

Great Blue Hole, Belize

On-shore caves of similar formation, as large collapsed sinkholes, are well known in Belize.

Great Blue Hole, Belize

This site was made famous by Jacques-Yves Cousteau who declared it one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world.

Great Blue Hole, Belize

In 1971, he brought his ship, the Calypso, to the hole to chart its depths. Investigations by this expedition confirmed the hole’s origin as typical Karst limestone formations, formed before rises in sea level in at least four stages, leaving ledges at depths of 21, 49 and 91 meters (69, 161 and 299 ft). Stalactites were retrieved from submerged caves, confirming their previous formation above sea level. Some of these stalactites were also off-vertical by 10°-13° in a consistent orientation, thus indicating that there had also been some past geological shift and tilting of the underlying plateau, followed by a long period in the current plane.

Bell 212 Helicopter from the British Army, takes a flight over the Blue Hole, Belize

This is a popular spot amongst recreational scuba divers, who are lured by the opportunity to dive in crystal clear water and meet several species of fish, including giant groupers, nurse sharks and several types of reef sharks, such as the Caribbean Reef Shark or the Blacktip Shark.

120 feet down the Blue Hole in Belize

Other species of sharks, like the bull shark or hammerheads, have been reported there, but are not regular sightings. Usually, dive trips to the Great Blue Hole are full-day trips, which include one dive in the Blue Hole and two further dives in nearby reefs.

Mirny Diamond Mine, Serbia

Mirny Diamond Mine, Serbia

The Mirny Diamond Mine is located in Eastern Serbia near a small town known as Mirna. The mine itself is over 525 meters deep and more than 125 kilometers in diameter.

Mirny Diamond Mine, Serbia

The hole is so wide and so deep it is believed to cause a suction effect, which has caused several aircraft accidents in the area. The Mirny Diamond Mine is now considered a no fly zone!

Mirny Diamond Mine, Serbia

I’m pretty sure most people have seen this one. It’s an absolute beast and holds the title of largest open diamond mines in the world. There’s even a no-fly zone above the hole due to a few helicopters having been sucked in.

Diavik Mine, Canada

Diavik Mine, Canada

The Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada is one of the most amazing diamond mines in the world. It is believed that within the mind are over 90 million carats worth of rough diamonds.

Diavik Mine, Canada

They’re contained within three main kimberlite pipes, otherwise known as ore deposits.

Diavik Mine, Canada

While the pipes at this mine are considered small, the quality of the diamonds contained within the pipes is above average. The mine is so large, in fact, the owners have built their own private airport at the site. Mining began at the site in 2003 and is expected to continue for at least 15-20 years, if not longer.

Diavik Mine, Canada

The Diavik Diamond Mine is a diamond mine in the North Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada, about 300 kilometres north of Yellowknife.

Diavik Mine, Canada

It has become an important part of the regional economy, employing 700, grossing C$100 million in sales, and producing 8 million carats or about 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) of diamonds annually. The area was surveyed in 1992 and construction began in 2001, with production commencing in January 2003.

Facts and Information about the Diavik Diamond Mine:

• The Diavik Diamond Mine Country is found in Canada. The second diamond mine in Canada, Diavik, began production in January 2003

• The Diavik Diamond Mine Location: Lac de Gras East Island, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories and is 200km south of the Arctic circle and 20 kilometers distance from the Ekati diamond mine

• The Diavik Diamond Mine diamond source: Kimberlite volcanic pipes

• Formation of Diavik volcanic pipe: Shallow lakes formed in inactive volcanic craters

• Mining Method: Open pit mining

• The Diavik Diamond Mine diamond quality: Many large diamonds have been recovered

• Age of Diamonds: 45 to 62 million years old

• Age of the mine: The area was surveyed in 1992. Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. was created with head office in Yellowknife in December 1996

• Investors of Rio Tinto plc and Aber Diamond Corporation approve $1.3 billion expenditure to build  the mine in December 2000

• Construction began in 2001 and the first diamonds were produced in 2003

• The Diavik Mine projects an average of 7 - 8 million carats per year during the life of the mine

• Diamonds from the Diavik Mine are authenticated through the “CanadaMark” service

• Color of diamonds found at the Diavik Mine: Colorless, and very rarely, yellow.

• The Diavik Diamond Mine is joint owned by the Aber Diamond Corporation and Diavik Diamond Mines Inc., a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group

• Aber supplies a portion of its 40 per cent share of Diavik diamonds to Tiffany and Co. of New York

• The Canadian Diavik mine leads the world on environmental standards

Sinkhole in Guatamela

Sinkhole in Guatamela

A giant sinkhole opened in Guatemala City on February 24, 2007 and swallowed about a dozen homes. Officials said the 100 meter deep (330 feet deep) sinkhole in a crowded neighborhood of poor, concrete homes was caused by recent rains and an underground sewage flow from a ruptured main.

Sinkhole in Guatamela

City spokesman said the sewage main ruptured after becoming clogged, the city was aware of the blockage and the army had considered a controlled explosion to clear the pipe which carries both rainwater and sewage for much of the capital.

Sinkhole in Guatamela

City residents also knew that something was wrong, they had been hearing noises and feeling tremors for about a month before the ground opened up.

Sinkhole in Guatamela

From the air, the sinkhole looked like a bottomless black pit surrounded by concrete streets and tin-roofed shacks.

Sinkhole in Guatamela

The pit was emitting foul odors, loud noises and tremors and shaking the surrounding ground. A rush of water could be heard from its depths and authorities feared it could widen or others could open up. 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes and police cordoned off a 500-yard security perimeter around the hole.

Chuquicamata, Chile

Chuquicamata Copper Mine, Chile

Chuquicamata, or “Chuqui” as it is more familiarly known, is a large open pit copper mine in the north of Chile, 215 km northeast of Antofagasta and 1,240 km north of the capital, Santiago.

For many years it was the mine with the largest annual production in the world but was recently overtaken by Minera Escondida. Nevertheless it remains the mine with by far the largest total production of approximately 29 million tonnes of copper to the end of 2007 (excluding Radomiro Tomić).

Chuquicamata panorama, Chile

Despite over 90 years of intensive exploitation it remains one of the largest known copper resources. Its open pit is one of the largest at 4.3 km long, 3 km wide and over 850 m deep and its smelter and electrolytic refinery (855,000 tonnes p.a.) are amongst the world’s largest. Chuquicamata is also a significant producer of molybdenum.

Chuquicamata Copper Mine,Chile

Chuquicamata is now amalgamated with the operating Radomiro Tomic mine to the north (but still on the same mineralised system), the developing Alejandro Hales mine just to the south (formerly Mansa Mina, a slightly impolite description) and the recently discovered ‘Toki cluster’ of copper porphyries to form the Codelco Norte division of Codelco^.

Udachnaya Pipe, Russia

Udachnaya pipe, Russia

Udachnaya pipe is a diamond deposit in the Daldyn-Alakit kimberlite field in Sakha Republic, Russia. It is an open-pit mine, and is located just outside the Arctic circle at 66°26′N 112°19′E / 66.433, 112.317. Udachnaya was discovered on June 15, 1955, just two days after the discovery of the diamond pipe Mir by Soviet geologist Vladimir Shchukin and his team.

Udachnaya pipe, Russia

It is more than 600 metres deep. The nearby settlement of Udachny is named for the deposit.As of 2004^[update], Udachnaya pipe is controlled by Russian diamond company Alrosa, which plans to halt open-pit mining in favor of underground mining in 2010.

Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan

Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan

In 1971, geologists discovered a massive underground deposit of natural gas on this site. Whilst excavating the hole to tap the gas, the drilling rig collapsed leaving a massive hole. To prevent poisonous gasses from escaping, the hole was allowed to burn.

The "Door to Hell"-Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan

It continues to burn to this day and has done so without ceasing.

Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan

Derweze underground is rich in natural gas. In 1971, during a drilling, geologists accidentally found an underground cavern filled with natural gas. The ground on which the drilling rig was placed collapsed, leaving a large gaping hole exposed with a diameter of about 50-100 meters.

Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan

To avoid poisonous gases coming out of the hole, it was decided to let the gases burn. As of 2009, gases in the underground cavern are still burning without interruption. Locals have named the cavern The Door to Hell.

Top 10 Poisonous Plants

Top 10 Poisonous Plants..

Spring is in the the air, and blossoms and bulbs are beginning to bloom. Though deceptively attractive, some common flowers and plants can give you headaches, cause convulsions or simply kill you, according to the “Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants” (Springer, 2007). Children under 6 are especially vulnerable; they account for 85 percent of all calls to poison centers, though the most commonly consumed culprits in poison cases are cosmetics, personal care products, cleansers and pills. Most plants are safe, but here are some you need to know about. They might be in your own yard or even in the house.

10.Narcissus

Narcissus 'Mondragon'

These cheerful yellow and white harbingers of spring, aka daffodils and jonquils, are actually mildly toxic if the bulbs are eaten in large quantities (Narcissus pseudonarcissus is shown). Some people confuse them for onions. Daffodil bulb diners tend to experience nausea, vomiting, cramps and diarrhea. A doctor might recommend intravenous hydration and/or drugs to stave off nausea and vomiting if symptoms are severe or the patient is a child.

9.Rhododendron

Rhododendron repens

Rhododendrons and azalea bushes (a variety of rhododendron), with their bell-shaped flowers, look great in the yard come springtime, but the leaves are toxic and so is honey made from the flower nectar. Eating either from these evergreen shrubs makes your mouth burn , and then you’ll probably experienced increased salivation, vomiting, diarrhea and a tingling sensation in the skin. Headaches, weak muscles and dim vision could follow. Your heart rate could slow down or beat strangely, and you might even drop into a coma and undergo fatal convulsions. Before that, doctors will try to replace your fluids and help you breath more easily and administer drugs to bring back your normal heart rhythm.

8.Ficus

Ficus

Also known as weeping fig, benjamin tree, or small-leaved rubber plants, all ficus have milky sap in their leaves and stems that is toxic. There are about 800 species of ficus trees, shrubs and vines (Ficus benjamina is shown), many of which are cultivated indoors in pots and tubs and outdoors in warm areas where some varieties can grow to up to 75 feet tall. The worst that will happen is your skin will itch and puff up and your doctor will give you something for the allergy or the inflammation.

7.Oleander

Nerium oleander

Every bit of the oleander plant is toxic, unlike the case for other plants where just the flower or sap might be poisonous. Even accidental inhalation of the smoke from burning oleander is a problem. Other trouble comes from using the sticks for weenie or marshmallow roasts or drinking water in which the clusters of red, pink or white flowers have been placed. These evergreen shrubs (Nerium oleander is shown) are common as tub plants or in gardens in the Southwest and California, any locale that approaches the plant’s native Mediterranean climate. Typically the symptoms involve a change in heart rate, be it a slow down or palpitations or high potassium levels. A doctor might prescribe a drug to bring your heartbeat back under control and try to induce vomiting with ipecac, pump your stomach or absorb the toxin with ingested charcoal.

6.Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum

Also known as mums, orange and yellow varieties of these showy flowers often turn up in foil-wrapped pots on people’s front steps around Halloween and Thanksgiving. There are 100 to 200 species of Chrysanthemums, and they generally grow low to the ground, but can turn into shrubs. Gardeners plant mums to keep rabbits away. Guess what? The flower heads are somewhat toxic to humans too. But not terribly. Touching them can make you itch and puff up a bit, but probably the doctor will just give you something for the inflammation and allergic reaction.

5.Anthurium

Anthurium

The leaves and stems of these bizarre-looking plants, with dark green, heart-shaped leathery leaves and a scarlet, white or green spike surrounded by a red, pink or white “spathe,” are toxic. Also known as flamingo flowers or pigtail plants, eating tropical Anthuriums could give you a painful burning sensation in the mouth that then swells and blisters. Your voice might also become hoarse and strained and you might have difficulty swallowing. Most of this will fade with time, but cool liquids, pain pills and gluey herbs and foods like licorice or flax seeds may bring relief.

4.Lily-of-the-valley

Lily of the Valley

These darling droopers, also known as mayflowers, are entirely poisonous, from the tips of their tiny bell-shaped white flowers that coyly fall off like parted hair to the very water in which they might be placed. A little bit of Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis) probably won’t hurt much, but if you eat a lot, you’ll probably experience nausea, vomiting, pain in the mouth, abdominal pain, diarrhea and cramps. Your heart rate might also become slow or irregular. A doctor might decide to clean out your stomach by pumping it or feeding you absorbing charcoal, and might give you drugs to bring your heart rate back to normal.

3.Hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla

These poofy-flowered bushes (Hydrangea macrophylla) are popular yard ornaments that can grow up to 15 feet tall with rose, deep blue or greenish-white flowers that grow in huge clusters and look as edible as cotton candy or a big bun to an imaginative mind. But those blooms will give you a belly ache that sets in sometimes hours after eaten. Typically, patients also experience itchy skin, vomiting, weakness and sweating. Some reports indicate that patients can even experience coma, convulsions and a breakdown in the body’s blood circulation. Luckily, there is an antidote for hydrangea poisoning, and doctors might also give you drugs to address to ease your symptoms.

2.Foxglove

Foxglove

Foxglove is a magical looking plant that grows to 3 feet tall with drooping purple, pink or white flowers, sometimes dotted inside, along a central stalk. Its Latin name is Digitalis purpurea, which might sound familiar; leaves from the plant are a commercial source of the heart drug digitalis. If you eat any part of these plants in the wild, you too will likely have heart problems after a spell of nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea and pain in the mouth. A doctor might administer charcoal to absorb the toxin or pump your stomach, and might also administer drugs to bring your heart rate back to normal. Other names for this plant include fairy bells, rabbit flower, throat wort and witches’ thimbles.

1.Wisteria

Wisteria floribunda

Wisterias form romantic cascades of sweetpea-like flowers that fall in lush blue, pink or white masses from woody vines that grow mainly in the South and Southwest. The entire plant, also known as a kidney bean tree, is toxic, though some say the flowers are not. Better safe than sorry, because most reports are that eating this plant will cause nausea, vomiting, cramps and diarrhea that could require treatments such as intravenous hydration and anti-nausea pills.

Barack Obama

WASHINGTON : Barack Obama launched his presidency before an estimated 1.5 million people on the National Mall on Tuesday with somber yet confident tones, saying the country will overcome its serious economic and international challenges.

“Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real,” Obama said in his inaugural address. “They are serious, and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.”

US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle walk down Pennsylvania Avenue during the inaugural parade in Washington

Obama’s tempered optimism, however, was book ended by celebration in the Mall and across the country for the inauguration of the country’s first African-American president.

“This is America happening,” said Evadey Minott, a Brooklyn, New York, resident who witnessed the inauguration.

Barack and Michelle Obama walk out of the church

“It was prophesized by King that we would have a day when everyone would come together. This is that day. I am excited. I am joyful. It brings tears to my eyes.”

The Bushes and the Obamas pose for pictures outside the White House

Obama’s address came before a crowd that had been building since 4 a.m. Tuesday down the National Mall. People sang, danced and waved flags as his swearing-in approached.

US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk past the reviewing stand set up near the White House for the inaugural parade

Many in the crowd seemed moved as Aretha Franklin belted out a rousing version of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” before Joe Biden was sworn in as vice president.

Wearing a navy suit and red tie, Obama repeated the oath of office, his hand on the same Bible used in President Abraham Lincoln’s first inauguration.

When Obama took the podium, however, the jubilant crowd grew somber and quiet, hanging on his every word. There was only scattered applause — punctuated by an occasional “That’s right” or “Amen.”

Obama thanked those who sacrificed so much so “a man whose father, less than 60 years ago, might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.”

He promised to end petty squabbles on Capitol Hill, bring “old friends and former enemies” into the fold, and invoked the Bible, saying, “The time has come to set aside childish things.”

He also vowed to leave Iraq to its people, responsibly, and to finish forging “a hard-earned peace” in Afghanistan. To Muslims, he promised “a new way forward, based on mutual interest,” and to terrorists, he leveled a threat: “You cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.”

The challenges are daunting, he said, but anyone who underestimates this nation has forgotten about its past perseverance.

“Greatness is never a given. It must be earned,” he said.

Barack Obama takes the oath as the 44th US president with Michelle by his side

His words resounded with spectators and revelers who let out deafening cheers after his address. Spectator L.J. Caldwell likened Obama to some of the most heroic figures of the civil rights movement.

“When you think back, Malcolm [X] fought, then we come a little further. Rosa Parks sat, then come up a little further, and [the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.] spoke. Then today, President Obama ran and we won,” said Caldwell, of Somerset, New Jersey.

Celebrations weren’t limited to Washington. Across the country, friends and strangers gathered on the streets and in schools, bars and auditoriums to witness Obama’s inauguration, united in their hope that he will deliver on his promise of change.

In New York’s Bronx borough, students huddled in the halls of a school to watch the ceremony on a projection screen.

“They were cheering; they were clapping; they were in awe because everything we had talked about, they were able to see,” teacher Marta Rendon said.

Malia (L) and Sasha Obama watch the inaugural parade from their father's viewing stand

Leaders around the world offered their congratulations. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the United States expressed “its resolve to have an open, new, strong and caring America.”

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Obama is “the hope of our time.”

After Obama’s address, hundreds of thousands remained on Washington’s National Mall as Obama entered the Capitol and signed his first documents as the 44th president of the United States. Among those were his Cabinet nominations. The Senate approved most of those nominations later in the day.

Obama then lunched with lawmakers at the Capitol’s Statuary Hall, telling them, “What’s happening today is not about me. It is about the American people.”

Later, Obama’s motorcade carried him past barricaded crowds along Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House. He and his family watched the rest of the parade in a reviewing stand outside the White House. The president and first lady then began the rounds of 10 official inaugural balls scheduled over the course of the evening.

Many said before the festivities that they did not have tickets and would be happy to catch a mere glimpse of the nation’s first African-American president. Some spectators were more than a mile from the swearing-in ceremony, watching on giant TV screens erected along the National Mall.

At St. John’s Episcopal Church, where the Obamas kicked off a packed day, 9-year-old Laura Bruggerman waited with her mother, Wendy, and father, Jeff, of Bethesda, Maryland. The affable crowd tried to let shorter onlookers and children to the front for better views.

“I want to see Obama. I think that would be really cool. I could tell all of my friends that I got to see him,” the youngster said.

Security was tight in Washington. However, no arrests related to the inauguration were reported as of Tuesday evening, an FBI spokesman said.

The ceremony also drew celebrities like Dustin Hoffman, Denzel Washington and Steven Spielberg.

“It’s behind the dream. We’re just here feeling it with the throngs of people. It’s amazing grace personified,” Oprah Winfrey said, sitting next to actor Samuel L. Jackson.

Obama and congressional leaders formally bade farewell to Bush, and the now-former president took a presidential jet to Midland, Texas, shortly afterward.

As Obama and his wife, Michelle, made their way to the White House, they stepped out of their limousine amid another round of boisterous hoorahs.

The first couple beamed as they walked down Pennsylvania Avenue, waving to the throngs kept back by police barriers. They walked a few blocks before returning to their vehicle to finish the two-mile parade that took them to the White House.

“I have a sneaky suspicion that Barack and Michelle will be out and about on the streets of Washington [during his term]. … You’ll see them again,” said Tracy Miller, who was watching the Obamas.

After arriving at the White House, Obama and his family watched the rest of the inauguration parade from a reviewing stand.

Barack Obama 2009 presidential inauguration At a Glance..

The 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama as the forty-fourth President of the United States took place on January 20, 2009, under the provisions of the Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The inauguration marked the commencement of the four-year term of Barack Obama and Joseph Biden as President and Vice President, respectively. The theme of the inauguration was “A New Birth of Freedom”, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.

Waves to the crowd after the closing of his speech

Official inauguration events commenced on January 17 with a train ride beginning in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and stopping in Wilmington, Delaware, and Baltimore, Maryland, before continuing on to Washington, D.C. According to Arizona State University professor Stephen Doig, an estimated 800,000 people attended the inauguration ceremony. Events were scheduled in Washington, D.C. from January 18 to 21, 2009^.

US President Barack Obama taking his Oath of Office

Preliminaries: Train Ride..

The commencement of inauguration activities was a tribute to Abraham Lincoln, a former Illinois politician and the sixteenth president of the United States.

President-elect Barack Obama waves from the back of a train to the waiting crowd at the Claymont Amtrak rail station as it moves through Claymont, Delaware, USA.

Lincoln travelled by a chartered train from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., in 1861. Lincoln stopped in 70 places along the way to his inauguration, but his tour began in Springfield, Illinois, on February 11, 1861, before arriving in Philadelphia on February 21.

Obama train ride

Obama began by holding a town hall meeting in Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station at 10 a.m. on January 17. At 11:30 a.m., Obama rode to Wilmington to pick up Vice President-elect Biden, riding in the Georgia 300, a railroad car used by past presidents, and continued to Baltimore where he spoke to a crowd of around 40,000.

President-elect Barack Obama walks out of the rail car to greet Vice President-elect Joe Biden at the train station in Wilmington

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prevented private planes, news helicopters, balloonists and others from getting anywhere near the airspace above the train. Obama and family departed from 30th Street Station at 11 a.m. and arrived at Union Station at 7 p.m.

Inauguration Ceremony..

The inaugural program began on January 20 at 10 a.m. EST (15:00 UTC) on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. The National Mall served as the public observation area, and a section of the Mall between 3rd and 4th Streets NW was reserved for ticket-holders.

From left to right: Perlman, Montero, Ma, and McGill performing "Air and Simple Gifts" at the inauguration

The program by the Congressional leaders included singing by vocalist Aretha Franklin, and a performance of John Williams composition “Air and Simple Gifts” by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Itzhak Perlman, pianist Gabriela Montero and clarinetist Anthony McGill. Other inauguration participants include the “The President’s Own” (the United States Marine Band) and the United States Navy Band.The San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus also performed^. Evangelical pastor Rick Warren delivered the invocation^, while civil rights activist Joseph Lowery of the United Methodist Church delivered the benediction for the inaugural ceremony^.

Vice President-elect Biden took his oath first from Associate Justice John Paul Stevens^, and after Ma, Perlman, Montero, and McGill’s performance of Air and Simple Gifts, President-elect Obama took his oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts. Because the ceremony ran longer than normal, Obama legally became President at noon EST, before being sworn in, per the Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution^. Obama was sworn in using the Bible used by Abraham Lincoln at his first inauguration in 1861, and used the phrase “so help me God” at the end of the oath^.

The oath of office was followed by a 21-gun salute to the new President from the members of the armed forces, as well as the first playing of four ruffles and flourishes and “Hail to the Chief”. Obama delivered his inaugural address as the President of the United States following his swearing-in ceremony^. Poet Elizabeth Alexander then delivered the Inaugural Poem, “Praise song for the day”^.

According to Arizona State University professor Stephen Doig, an estimated 800,000 people attended the inauguration ceremony. Doig calculated the inauguration crowd estimate after analyzing a GeoEye-1 satellite image shot at 11:19 a.m. EST (16:19 UTC) from a height of 423 miles (681 km). The image was taken 40 minutes before Obama’s swearing-in, but Doig adjusted his estimation to include people who were still coming in before the swearing-in^. Nielson television ratings indicated that 29.2% of televisions in the country were tuned to the inauguration. Four of the top ten markets for inauguration viewership were in the battleground state of North Carolina. The market with the highest ratings was Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area where 51% of televisions were tuned to the inauguration. 44% of televisions in Washington D.C. were tuned to the inauguration^.

Oath of office..

As Obama and Chief Justice John G. Roberts recited the Oath of office, Roberts interrupted Obama as Obama was repeating after Roberts^. Roberts then incorrectly recited the Oath of office, stating, “that I will execute the Office of President to the United States faithfully” (rather than “that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States”).

The crowd during the swearing-in

Obama began to recite, and paused, whereupon Roberts attempted to correct his mistake^. Obama then continued, making the same mistake that Roberts had made and attempted to correct. The rest of the oath was completed without trouble.

Oath on JumboTron with closed captioning

Although not required, several constitutional lawyers later said that Obama should retake the oath as soon as possible, as Calvin Coolidge and Chester A. Arthur did under similar circumstances^.

Swearing in

Although initially the Obama administration indicated that they did not plan to retake the oath of office^, Obama did retake the oath of office the next day, at 7:35 p.m. on January 21, 2009^. The retaking of the oath took place in the Map Room of the White House in a private ceremony administered by Chief Justice Roberts^.

Guests..

Former Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter, former Vice Presidents Dick Cheney, Al Gore, Dan Quayle and Walter Mondale, along with their wives, attended the inauguration of Barack Obama. Invitations were also sent to the chiefs of diplomatic missions to the United States and their spouses, but not to any other representatives of foreign countries. As a result, North Korea’s offer to send a senior envoy was rejected.

The Tuskegee Airmen were among the invited guests for the inauguration^. The five-person crew of recently crashed US Airways Flight 1549, including pilot Chesley Sullenberger, were also invited.

Inaugural Invitation Card

Eighty-seven year old Sarah Obama led a group of Obama’s Kenyan relatives from his father’s home village of Kogelo.^[32] Other relatives traveling to Washington from Kenya as guests included Obama’s aunt, Maggie Obama, and an uncle, Said Obama.^[32][33] The Kenyan relatives were expected to present Barack Obama with traditional Kenyan gifts, including a three-legged stool usually given to Luo tribal elders, a fly whisk crafted from goat hair and a warrior shield.^[33] Sarah Obama previously attended Obama’s swearing in ceremony as U.S. Senator in 2005.

Silver ticket for the inaugural ceremony distributed to the general public by the U.S. Congress.

Color-coded tickets to the inaugural ceremony with yellow, orange, blue, purple and silver borders were also distributed by members of the 111th U.S. Congress to guests for admittance to the U.S. Capitol grounds. Tickets with silver borders were either distributed to the general public by House and Senate congressional members by lottery or on a first-come, first served basis because of overwhelming requests from constituents to attend the inauguration of Barack Obama.^[34][35] Approximately 4,000 ticket holders were unable to get to their seats as the security gates were closed and were subjected to mass crowding, leaving many outside of the Capitol grounds to listen to the event on radios or cellphones. Senator Dianne Feinstein demanded an investigation about what is becoming known as Purplegate.

Celebrations..

HBO presented the inaugural kick-off concert, entitled “We Are One”, at the Lincoln Memorial on January 18, 2009. It included performances by Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Jon Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renée Fleming, Caleb Green, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, Bettye Lavette, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Pete Seeger, Shakira, Bruce

We Are One Concert

Springsteen, James Taylor, U2, Usher, Will.I.Am, and Stevie Wonder. The concert was free and HBO broadcast it on an open feed, meaning that anyone with cable television could watch.Approximately 400,000 people attended this event. Jack Black, Steve Carell, Rosario Dawson, Jamie Foxx, Tom Hanks, Ashley Judd, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah, Laura Linney, George Lopez, Kal Penn, Marisa Tomei, Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, and Tiger Woods read historical passages. The Washington Metro set a record for the highest Sunday ridership of 616,324, which broke the 540,945 record set on July 4, 1999.

We Are One Concert

On January 19, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden hosted a “Kids’ Inaugural: We Are the Future” event at the Verizon Center. Miley Cyrus and Jonas Brothers honored military families in concert. The show was broadcast live on the Disney Channel and on Radio Disney. Other celebrity participants included Bow Wow, Corbin Bleu, Queen Latifah, Billy Ray Cyrus, Shaquille O’Neal, and Jamie Foxx.

Entertainers Faith Hill, Jamie Foxx and Beyonce onstage during the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington

Obama purchased his first new tuxedo in 15 years for the inauguration. The tuxedo was made by Hart Schaffner Marx, a Chicago-based menswear firm that uses union labor. First Lady Michelle Obama wore a white, one-shouldered, gown, designed by 26 year-old New York designer Jason Wu, breaking with tradition set by former first ladies Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton in showcasing designers from their home towns. For the daytime ceremony, Mrs. Obama wore a yellow-gold sheath dress with matching coat, made of Swiss wool and lined in French silk, by Cuban-born American designer Isabel Toledo for the inauguration of her husband.

People watching the inauguration ceremony on the National Mall

The number of official inaugural balls during inauguration week has not been confirmed, but the Obamas will attend ten official inaugural balls on January 20. The Obamas will begin Inauguration Day night at the Washington Convention Center as hosts of the “Neighborhood Inaugural Ball”, which will commence the evening of celebrations.

Obamas Home States Ball Dance photo

The Neighborhood Ball is scheduled to be the premier event of the evening. Numerous celebrities will participate. Obama will also host the “Commander-in-Chief’s Ball” at the National Building Museum for Purple Heart recipients, families of fallen heroes, and spouses of deployed military.

Performers Mary J Blige, Shakira, Sting and Mariah Carey watch the show during the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington

Musical performances at the various balls include Mariah Carey, Sting, Elvis Costello, Young Jeezy, Ashley Judd, Mary J. Blige, T.I., Chaka Khan, Melissa Etheridge and LL Cool J.

Barack Obama's Home States Ball

During the four nights of the inauguration celebration, District of Columbia bars will be permitted to remain open until 4:00 a.m., later than usual. Additionally, restaurants will be allowed to stay open twenty-four hours a day for the entire four day period. Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies Chairperson, Senator Dianne Feinstein and committee member Senator Robert Foster Bennett felt that the original 5 am liquor curfew and twenty-four hour food service would be a strain on law enforcement resources. The Council of the District of Columbia passed the extended curfews as emergency legislation proposed by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.

Security..

The District of Columbia police force doubled to 8,000 with police officers from around the United States added to the force for additional security. They were assisted by 1,000 FBI agents.The Secret Service Countersniper team was also assigned to hidden locations throughout the area.

US Secret Service agents scan the area from a rooftop along the inaugural parade route

10,000 National Guard troops were also on site including the 153rd Military Police Company of the Delaware National Guard, 5,000 in a ceremonial capacity, and 1,300 unarmed troops aiding Park Police in crowd control on the National Mall.

National Guard at 2009 Inauguration

The remainder performed other security functions.The FAA maintained airspace restrictions on the city from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the 20th. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was chosen as the designated successor to ensure continuity of government in case of catastrophe, and spent inauguration day at a U.S. military installation outside of the Washington area.

Schedule..

• Gates to the Inaugural Ceremony open at 8:00 a.m. EST (13:00 UTC)
• The inaugural festivities started at 10:00 a.m. EST (15:00 UTC) on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. Festivities included:
• Musical selections of The United States Marine Band, followed by the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus
• Senator Dianne Feinstein provides call to order and welcoming remarks, and introduces each participant.
• Invocation by the Rev. Rick Warren
• Musical selection, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” by Aretha Franklin
• Biden was sworn into office by Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens
• Musical selection of “Air and Simple Gifts,” by John Williams, composer/arranger with Itzhak Perlman, (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Gabriela Montero (piano), and Anthony McGill (clarinet)
• Obama took the Oath of Office at 12:02pm EST (17:02 UTC), administered by Chief Justice John Roberts using the Inaugural Bible of President Lincoln
• Obama gave the inaugural address
• Poem by Elizabeth Alexander
• Benediction by Rev. Joseph E. Lowery
• The National Anthem by The United States Navy Band “Sea Chanters”
• President Obama escorted former President George W. Bush to a departure ceremony before attending a luncheon in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol
• The 56th Inaugural Parade then made its way down Pennsylvania Avenue from the U.S. Capitol to the White House

Inaugural Luncheon..

Before the luncheon, President Obama entered an office in the Capitol building where he signed his first Presidential orders, per tradition. The first order was a proclamation “declaring a day of national renewal and reconciliation.” During the historic signing, he joked about his left-handedness, and also quipped, “I was told not to swipe the pen.” He also signed orders officially presenting his Cabinet and several sub-Cabinet officials to Congress for their approval.

US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama dance their first dance at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington

He then joined several Congressional guests for the Inaugural Luncheon in the Capitol building’s National Statuary Hall. Guests, who included top Washington lawmakers as well as former Presidents and Vice Presidents, were served duck and pheasant with Pinot Noir.

Inaugural Luncheon at Statuary Hall

The theme of the luncheon was based on Obama’s 2009 inaugural theme, “A New Birth of Freedom,” which commemorates the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth.The red and white china were copies of those used in the Lincoln White House.

Inaugural Luncheon at Statuary Hall

A luncheon at the Capitol has been part of the inaugural program since 1953 (before that, the luncheon was usually held at the White House and hosted by the outgoing President and First Lady). The menu often includes dishes representative of the home states of the new President and Vice President, and in 2009 included seafood stew, a pheasant and duck dish, and apple cinnamon sponge cake with sweet cream glacé for dessert. Since 1985, a painting has been chosen to serve as a backdrop for the head table. In 2009, it was Thomas Hill’s 1865 View of the Yosemite Valley, chosen to commemorate Abraham Lincoln’s 1864 signing of the Yosemite Grant, which was the first time the federal government protected park lands for public use.

During the inaugural luncheon, Senator Ted Kennedy collapsed. He suffered a seizure and was taken to a hospital to recover.Early reports erroneously suggested that Senator Robert Byrd also fell ill during the luncheon.

Parade..

The inaugural parade traveled along Pennsylvania Avenue northwestward from Capitol and ended at the north face of the White House. During the parade, Barack and Michelle Obama twice exited their limousine on Pennsylvania Avenue and walked a portion of the parade route, to the cheers of the crowds in attendance. Their second walk ended just before the gate to the White House.

Police wait at the ready before the start of the inaugural parade for US President Barack Obama in Washington

It has been traditional for the new President to walk instead of being driven, but the new armored limousine was used because of potential threats. Obama’s daughters, Malia and Sasha, traveled in his limousine and remained inside during the parade.

The cavalcade rolls down Pennsylvania Avenue following the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States

Joe and Jill Biden also walked at several points during the parade with their children, Beau, Hunter, Naomi and Ashley. Beau, Delaware’s Attorney General and a JAG officer in the Delaware Army National Guard, was given a special furlough from serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom to participate in the ceremonies.

2009 Cadillac Presidential Limousine that debuted in the inaugural parade

The parade extended for over two hours in the afternoon and early evening following the inauguration. It included 15,000 people, 240 horses, dozens of marching bands, two drum and bugle corps, and a mariachi band.

A police motorcycle escort group riders ahead of the motorcade during the inaugural parade of US President Barack Obama

Obama invited the nine-time Drum Corps International (DCI) World Champion The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, the eight-time finalist Colts Drum and Bugle Corps from Dubuque, Iowa, and the VMI corps of cadets, as well as the high school marching band from Punahou School, his high school in Hawaii, to perform in the inaugural parade.

President Barack Obama waves as he and his wife Michelle walk down Pennsylvania Avenue during the inaugural parade

Vice President Joe Biden invited several groups from Delaware to march in the parade. The Delaware section was led off by the Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association of which Biden is an honorary member.

A marching band walks down Pennsylvania Avenue during the inaugural parade

Next was his alma mater’s marching band, the University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens, known as The Pride of Delaware. The Delaware State University Hornets marching band, known as The Approaching Storm, followed.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony

Jennifer Lopez and her hubby Marc Anthony continue to deny the incessant gossip that their marriage is on the rocks. Despite what the rumor mills say, J-Lo insists all is well at their house. If that’s true, then why would she make the rookie mistake of leaving her wedding band at home?

Jenifer Lopez

She also did it on one of the most publicized and paparazzi heavy nights of the year. When she was spotted without the ring at the 2009 Golden Globes, the media went wild.

Jenifer Lopez

Her response, according to In Touch? “It didn’t go with the dress.”

She went on to say, “Every time I’m not wearing my ring, people think I’m getting divorced.” Hmm.. maybe it’s because if history is any indicator, you probably are.

J. Lo: “Divorce is not an option”..

J-Lo and Marc Anthony

After weeks of speculation that Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony were on the verge of a split, J. Lo finally put the rumors to rest in an exclusive interview with In Touch on January 11.

Jenifer Lopez

“Every time I’m not wearing my ring, people think I’m getting divorced,” Jennifer tells In Touch. “Divorce is not — and was never — an option.” Jennifer’s close friend, Benny Medina adds that “Jennifer and Marc are committed to the future and to one another. All the rumors are just that — rumors.”

Are J. Lo and Marc Anthony Getting Divorced?..

J.Lo And Marc Anthony

Rumors have been swirling for months that Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have been having marital problems. This time around, the gossip mills seem to think that J-Lo and Marc could be headed for a divorce. The new parents have even been spotted without their wedding rings on more than one occasion.

A source told Page Six that “Lopez used to send her assistant on tour with Anthony while she stayed at home with their twins. She wanted reports back so he didn’t cheat on her.” It looks like that fancy little vow renewal ceremony in October didn’t take.

Milan Luthria

Well, no one can replace the legendary beauty of Bollywood, but the search is on for an actress who can play the character of the actress in a forthcoming film.

Ekta Kapoor and Milan Luthria are in search of an actress who can play Madhubala in the film inspired by the life of the underworld don Haji Mastan. It’s no secret he was madly in love with Madhubala.

The film stars Ajay Devgan, who plays the character based on Haji Mastan. He is shown to be in a relationship with an actress who is very beautiful and is the tragedy queen of the silver screen, quite similar to the life of Madhubala.

Milan Luthria is currently looking for an actress for this role in the film and is in talks with Katrina, Kangana and Priyanka for the role.

Katrina Kaif

Kangna Ranaut

Priyanka Chopra

Interestingly, Emraan Hashmi will play the role of the young Dawood in the film.

Asin Thottumkal

New Delhi, With another exciting Bollywood film in her kitty, South Indian actress Asin Thottumkal, who recently made her Bollywood debut with Aamir Khan-starrer “Ghajini”, says she has received a warm welcome by the industry.

Asin’s next Hindi film is Vipul Shah’s “London Dreams” which also stars Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan.

“I was approached for ‘London Dreams’ while I was shooting for ‘Ghajini’. I don’t know how they found out about me. I have just finished a long schedule of shooting the film abroad and some of it is still left.

Asin Thottumkal

“But I feel I have received a very warm welcome to Bollywood. Both my initial projects are with good banners, actors and filmmakers. I feel lucky and blessed,” she told IANS.

Biography on Asin Thottumkal…

Asin Thottumkal

Asin Thottumkal (born October 26, 1985 ) is an award-winning Indian film actress from the state of Kerala. Currently , she is considered to be one of the most popular actresses in the South Indian film industry.

Making her acting debut in Sathyan Anthikkad’s Narendra Makan Jayakanthan Vaka (2001), Asin had her first commercial success with Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi in 2003, and won a Film fare Award for the Best Telugu Actress for the film.

After a number of critically and commercially successful films, she received her second South Film fare Award for Best Actress for her performance in her second Tamil film, Ghajini (2005). She played the lead female roles in two consecutive top grousers, Ghajini (2005) which is her biggest commercial success to date, and the action comedy Varalaru (2006) and this way has established herself as one of the most prominent leading actresses of South Indian cinema. More recently, Asin made her debut in Bollywood, with Ghajini, the remake of its Tamil namesake.

Early life and Background…

Asin Thottumkal

Asin was born into a Syrian Christian family from Ernakulam in Kochi district, Kerala. Her father, Joseph Thotumkal, managed several businesses and was considered a prominent entrepreneur before he stopped managing his businesses and decided to manage his daughter’s acting career instead.

Asin Thottumkal

Furthermore Asin’s father accompanies her to all her foreign shoots. Her mother, Seline Thottumkal, remains a surgeon despite moving settlements from Cochin to Chennai to Mumbai to live with her daughter. Asin has quoted that her name “means without blemish and pure”. She claims that “the ‘A’ in [her] name is from Sanskrit and word ‘Sin’ from English”. She also mentions that she “has not come across anyone with same name.”

Asin Thottumkal

Success, 2008-till date…

Asin appeared in her first dual role in K. S. Ravikumar’s magnum opus Dasavathaaram opposite Kamal Haasan, who portrayed ten roles. The film, which was under production since September 2006, became Asin’s largest film till date. Despite being overshadowed by Haasan’s ten roles, Asin’s portrayal’s in the film were praised as her “best-to-date” with one of her roles being that of a Vaishnavite in the 12th century; whilst the other character was a Brahmin girl from Chidambaram.

Aamir Khan, Asin, Jiah Khan starrer...The A.R.Rahman musical - Mega Hit Movie GHAJINI

Dasavathaaram subsequently went on to become one of the biggest blockbusters in South Indian film history^. Since establishing herself as the leading actress in South India, Asin opted to move into Bollywood, to get nationwide fame. Her first film, Ghajini opposite Aamir Khan was the remake of her breakthrough film of the same name.

Asin Thottumkal

Upon release, the film garnered positive reactions from critics and masses alike, with Asin being singled out for her “fabulous” portray. Noted critic, Taran Adarsh describes her Hindi debut as “fabulous” and that “to share the screen space with an actor of the stature of Aamir Khan and yet remain in your memory even after the show has ended is no cakewalk.

She looks fresh and photogenic and acts her part brilliantly”, giving Asin’s performance a positive outlook^. Asin is committed to Vipul Shah’s London Dreams alongside Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan, in which she plays a member of a five-troupe band^. She is also committed to an International Project Titled 19th Step which is a trilingual to be made in English, Tamil and Japanese, in which she will star alongside Kamal Hassan and Japanese Actor Tadanobu Asano.

Asin And Her Line Of Cars..

Though she is only one film old in the film industry but Asin knows the art of bagging the news and dragging the media towards! She has been in news since the day one and this time around she is on the headlines again with the news that her convoy includes two cars, which have Kerela number plates. One is for her personal use and that is Toyota Camry. And the other is for her hairdresser, make-up man and assistants. Two other cars were also spotted, which carry Mumbai

numbers and they have her bodyguards on board. Wow…looks great…! She is only one film old and has a convoy of cars laced with hairdresser, make-up man, assistants and bodyguards like the big stars have.

Asin Thottumkal

When asked her, she confirms the news saying, “Calling it a convoy would be an overstatement. But yes, I have a car in which I travel with my dad who also manages me. In another car I have my hair dresser, make-up man and other assistants. They go with me wherever I go. I’m a little bit of a perfectionist, so I like them being around and overseeing things for me.”

Asin Thottumkal & Amir Khan-Ghajini

As for the other two cars spotted? “I think you saw some other cars when I was traveling for Ghajini’s romotions…I didn’t get them (whatever you say Asin…but what media spotted is right).”

I’m also quite a perfectionist: Asin

Wednesday, 24 December 2008

People often call Aamir a perfectionist and a tough taskmaster, but I didn’t have any problem matching up to him because I’m also quite a workaholic. We gelled quite well as far as the demand of perfection was concerned. Even I like things to be the best,” Asin told us over telephone from Mumbai.

Dust made up of similar stuff as the Earth has been found in and around a handful of dead stars. The dust, which was left behind when the stars chewed up errant asteroids, suggests terrestrial planets may be common.

The Asteroid Belt

Six white dwarfs, the burned-out embers of Sun-like stars, showed heavy elements, or metals, in their atmospheres. That is unusual because white dwarfs contain about as much mass as the Sun squeezed into bodies the size of the Earth, giving them surface gravities 10,000 times stronger than the Sun’s. That should cause heavy elements to sink towards their centers - and out of sight.

In addition, the six stars also shine more brightly than expected in infrared light. That suggests the stars are surrounded by dust, which glows at infrared wavelengths. The dusty debris is thought to be the remains of asteroids that once orbited the white dwarfs but were gravitationally torn apart when they wandered too close to the stars.

Michael Jura of the University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues measured the infrared light from these stars using NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope.

Spitzer Space Telescope

Earth-like composition..

The team found the dust contains a glassy silicate material similar to olivine, which is common on Earth and has also been seen on the Moon and Mars.

OLIVINE (Magnesium Iron Silicate)

The dust also seems to have no carbon, consistent with Earth’s composition, which has little carbon compared to the Sun. The results were presented on Monday at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Long Beach, California.

Two previously studied white dwarfs have dust of a similar composition, bringing the tally of such stellar gluttons up to eight. “What was once kind of a freak is now a systematic pattern,” Jura said.

Rocky Planets..

Since asteroids form in the same way as planets, by bulking up through collisions between smaller rocky objects, they have a similar composition to their larger brethren. That suggests terrestrial planets might have once existed in these systems. “This strengthens suspicions that Earth-like planets are common,” Jura said.

Ring around white dwarf

Many white dwarfs may host rocky discs, but they may be impossible to detect because asteroids were not jostled out of position and sent careening towards the star, leaving traces of their existence in the star’s atmosphere and in surrounding dust.

And even when an asteroid has plunged into a star, the evidence of its violent end does not last long. Single asteroids no larger than 200 kilometres across could explain the dust around each of the newly studied white dwarfs, and their remains could be gobbled up and ‘digested’ - sinking to the star’s centre - in as little as 10,000 years. “In a way it’s amazing that any dust at all survives,” Jura told New Scientist.

Asteroid Defense..?

Experts say there are an estimated 1,100 known objects that are 1 kilometer (about a half-mile) or wider across — large enough to not only take out a sizable European country but threaten the entire world.

“The goal is to discover these killer asteroids before they discover us,” said Nick Kaiser of the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy, whose Pan-STARRS program will train four powerful digital cameras on the heavens to watch for would-be intruders.

NASA’s Spaceguard Survey, which already has identified 800 of the larger objects and has 103 on an impact risk watchlist, wants to find 90 percent by the end of 2008.

The U.S. Congress has asked the space agency for a plan to comb the cosmos for faint objects as small as 140 meters (153 yards) across and log their position, speed and course by 2020.

Astronomers will have their work cut out for them: Experts say there are about 100,000 such objects hidden among the haze of stars, and as many as 1 million half that size.

One known as the Tunguska object slammed into remote central Siberia in 1908, unleashing energy equivalent to a 15-megaton nuclear bomb and wiped out 60 million trees over an 830-square-mile area. Had it hit a populated area, the loss of life would have been staggering.

Giovanni Valsecchi of Italy’s National Institute of Astrophysics said the ultimate aim is a permanent warning system like those that now monitor the Pacific for tsunamis and keep tabs on volcanoes and earthquake zones.

The idea: Give the world enough lead time to come up with a workable response to a confirmed threat, such as sending up a rocket to deflect an Earth-bound object or a spacecraft to nudge it into a harmless orbit.

“Right now, unfortunately, there are no ‘asteroid busters’ or hotlines. Who ya gonna call?” said Andrea Milani Comparetti, a professor of mathematics at the University of Pisa.

The IAU offered some reassurance Thursday about 99942 Apophis, a smallish asteroid that will come within just 18,000 miles of Earth when it whizzes by in 2029. That’s closer than many commercial satellites, and 220,000 miles nearer than the moon.

Last year, scientists were concerned Apophis could come even closer in another fly-by in 2036, with a 1-in-5,500 chance of striking Earth with enough energy to wipe out New York City and its suburbs.

Asteroid Defense?

Bruce Springsteen won the Golden Globe last night (Jan. 11) for best song for the title track from “The Wrestler,” while A.R. Rahman won best original score for “Slumdog Millionaire.”

It’s Springsteen’s second Golden Globe; he won in 1994 for “Streets of Philadelphia” from “Philadelphia.” That year, the same song also won the best song Oscar. “The Wrestler” was released as a digital single last month and will appear as a bonus track on Springsteen’s new album, “Working on a Dream,” due Jan. 27 from Columbia.

It was Rahman’s first Golden Globe nomination and win. Long considered one of the masters of Bollywood music, he has won nine Filmfare Awards and four Silver Lotus Awards, India’s two most prestigious film ceremonies. Western audiences may be most familiar with his work in 2007’s “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” and 2001’s “Lagaan: Once Upon a Time In India.”

A.R.Rahman

Winners of the Golden Globes are determined by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and are often considered a precursor of contenders for the Academy Awards.

Nominations for the Academy Awards will be announced Jan. 22; the Oscars will be held Feb.22

Bruce Springsteen biography..

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949), nicknamed “The Boss”, is an American songwriter, singer and musician. He has recorded and toured with the E Street Band. Springsteen is widely known for his brand of heartland rock infused with pop hooks, poetic lyrics, and Americana sentiments centered around his native New Jersey.

Springsteen’s recordings have tended to alternate between commercially accessible rock albums and somber folk-oriented works. Much of his status stems from the concerts and marathon shows in which he and the E Street Band present intense ballads, rousing anthems, and party rock and roll songs, amongst which he intersperses whimsical or deeply emotional stories.

Bruce Springsteen (with Max Weinberg in background on drums) in concert

His most famous albums, Born to Run and Born in the U.S.A., epitomize his penchant for finding grandeur in the struggles of daily life. He has gradually become identified with progressive politics. He is also noted for his support of various relief and rebuilding efforts in New Jersey and elsewhere, and for his response to the September 11, 2001, attacks, on which his album The Rising reflects.

He has earned numerous awards for his work, including eighteen Grammy Awards, two Golden Globes and an Academy Award, and continues to have a strong global fan base. He has sold over 65 million albums in the U.S, and 120 million worldwide.

Background Information..

A.R.Rahman Biography..

A.R.Rahman In AM Studios

Allah Rakkha Rahman (born January 6, 1966 as A. S. Dileep Kumar in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) is a Golden Globe–winning film composer, record producer and musician. His work has garnered considerable acclaim and a large global fanbase since his career scoring film began in the early 1990s.

Working in several of India’s various state/language film industries, international cinema and theatre, by 2003, Rahman, in a career spanning over a decade, has sold more than one hundred million records of his film scores and soundtracks worldwide, and sold over two hundred million cassettes^[2] making him one of the world’s top 10 all-time top selling recording artists.

His acclaimed music compositions have led TIME Magazine to declare him the “Mozart of Madras” and several Tamil commentators have given him the title Isai Puyal (English: Musical Storm).

Early life and influences..

A. R. Rahman was born to R. K. Shekhar, of Tamilian descent, who was a composer and conductor for Malayalam-language films in Malayalam cinema.^[3] His father died when Rahman was nine years old, and his family rented out musical equipment as a source of income.

He converted to Islam from Hinduism in 1989 along with his family. Rahman was also a student at PSBB for a short while before changing schools. During these early years, Rahman served as a keyboard player and an arranger in bands such as “Roots” with childhood friend and percussionist Sivamani, John Anthony and Raja. Rahman is the founder of the Chennai based rock group, “Nemesis Avenue”.^[6] He played the keyboard and piano, the synthesizer, the harmonium and the guitar. His curiosity in the synthesizer in particular increased because, he says, it was the “ideal combination of music and technology”. He began early training in music under Master Dhanraj. At the age of 11, he joined, as a keyboardist, the troupe of Ilaiyaraaja, one of many composers to whom musical instruments belonging to Rahman’s father were rented to. Rahman later played in the orchestra of M. S. Viswanathan and Ramesh Naidu, accompanied Zakir Hussain, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and L. Shankar on world tours and obtained a scholarship to Trinity College of Music in London, where he graduated with a degree in Western classical music.

Awards..

Rahman is the 1995 recipient of the Mauritius National Award and the Malaysian Award for contributions to music. He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for his first West-End production. A four time National Film Award winner and conferred the Padma Shri from the Government of India, Rahman has received six awards for Best Music at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and eleven awards for his scores at the Filmfare and Filmfare Awards South each. In 2006, he received an honorary award from Stanford University for contributions to global music.

Slumdog Millionaire

A 2008 Critics Choice Awards winner for Best Composer, Rahman became the first Indian national to win a Golden Globe — winning for Slumdog Millionaire in the category of Best Original Score.

Election Commission Logo

Asks for voters’ security in upazilla polls..

Bolstered by the success in holding last month’s credible parliamentary poll, the Election Commission (EC) is now ready for the upcoming upazila parishad polls, as it ordered all law enforcing agencies yesterday to ensure peace by any means during the local government elections.

“We’ve taken all preparations. We’ve decided to deploy the army to avoid any unwarranted situation during the upazila polls, although it was not our primary choice,” Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda told reporters coming out of a high-level meeting on poll security.

CEC Dr. ATM Shamsul Huda and others comissionsers..

The poll chief said being concerned by the recent post parliamentary poll violence, the commission decided to deploy the army during the upazila polls, asking them to intensify patrolling.

The CEC, who chaired the meeting, also asked all law enforcing agencies to perform their duties honestly and impartially as they had done in the parliamentary election, meeting sources said.

“He thanked us for performing our duties impartially during the national election, and requested us to do the same during the upazila polls,” a top police official attending the meeting said about the CEC’s gratitude towards the law enforcers.

The general election was held under a non-party military backed caretaker government while the upazila polls are going to be held under a government formed by a political alliance led by a party. In the past, ruling parties manipulated local government elections.

Mentioning 87 percent voter turnout in the last month’s general election, the CEC said it was possible because peace and security was ensured.

Peaceful Polls

He expected that the voter turnout in upazilla polls will be nearly the same, if the voters get the confidence that they will be able to return home safe after casting their votes without any intimidation.

“We don’t know what will be the voter turnout, but we want a turnout similar to the one in parliamentary election,” he said adding, the army will remain deployed from January 20 to 24.

ATM Shamsul Huda also said the commission already directed all returning officers to close down polling stations in case of any untoward incident, or if there is any apprehension of violence.

“We are always asking returning officers to take such measures, so none may manipulate voters’ verdict through violence or any other form of force,” the CEC said.

The meeting that finalized the steps for ensuring law and order during the January 22 upazila polls was attended by the chiefs of police, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), Ansar, and intelligence agencies, and representatives of the Armed Forces Division, superintendents of police of all districts, and other senior police officials. The meeting was held in the National Economic Council Auditorium at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar of the capital.

The hour-long meeting also reviewed the pre-election law and order situation, and decided on steps for maintaining post-election law and order including arrest of criminals, musclemen, and extortionists. It also took decisions on measures for ensuring security of election materials while being transported.

The home ministry already decided to deploy over five lakh security personnel across the country during the third upazila polls which for the first time are being held simultaneously in all upazilas.

The EC already completed printing 22 crore three-colour ballot papers to be cast for electing chairmen, vice-chairmen, and female vice-chairmen to reserved seats. Delivery of election equipment to the 481 upazilas is scheduled to start today.

For the first time transparent ballot boxes and indelible ink will also be used in the upazila elections.

January 22 will be a public holiday in the 481 upazilas, but it will not be applicable to city corporation areas.

A total of 8,131 persons are contesting for the posts of upzila chairmen, vice-chairmen, and women vice-chairmen in reserved seats, with a total number of voters standing at 7.36 crore.

Thirteen upazila parishad officials were already elected uncontested, two of whom were elected chairmen, three vice-chairmen, and eight women vice-chairmen to reserved seats.

Voters will vote in 1,74,763 polling booths in 32,381 voting centres. Each of the centres will have one presiding officer and one assistant presiding officer, while 3,49,526 will work as polling officers.

This illustration shows how the repulsive Casimir-Lifshitz force between suitable materials in a fluid can be used to levitate an object that is denser than the liquid. The figure is not shown to scale.

CHICAGO - U.S. scientists have found a way to levitate the very smallest objects using the strange forces of quantum mechanics, and said on Wednesday they might use it to help make tiny nanotechnology machines.

They said they had detected and measured a force that comes into play at the molecular level using certain combinations of molecules that repel one another.

How to levitate tiny objects..

The repulsion can be used to hold molecules aloft, in essence levitating them, creating virtually friction-free parts for tiny devices, the researchers said.

Diamagnetic Levitation

Federico Capasso, an applied physicist at Harvard University in Massachusetts, whose study appears in the journal Nature, said he believed that detection of this force opened the possibility of a whole new class of tiny gadgets.

Improving tiny machinery..
The team, including researchers at the National Institutes of Health, has not yet levitated an object, but Capasso said he now knows how to do it. “This is an experiment we are sure will work,” he said. His team has already filed for patents.

“By reducing the friction that hinders motion and contributes to wear and tear, the new technique provides a theoretical means for improving machinery at the microscopic and even molecular level,” Dr. Duane Alexander of the NIH’s National Institute of Child Health and Human Development said.

“The emerging technology of nanomechanics has the potential to improve medicine and other fields,” he said in a statement.

The discovery involves quantum mechanics, the principles that govern nature’s smallest particles.

By altering and combining molecules, tiny machines could be devised which could have applications in surgery, manufacturing food and fuel and boosting computer speed.

Quantum mechanical forces..
The discovery arose from Capasso’s prior work as vice president of physical research at Bell Labs, the research arm of telecoms gear marker Lucent Technologies, now Alcatel-Lucent.

“I started to think how can I use these exotic quantum mechanical forces for technology,” he said in a telephone interview.

Bell had been working on new devices known as Micro Electromechanical Systems or MEMS, the technology used in air bag sensors to measure deceleration of cars. “We started to play with nanomechanics or micromechanics,” Capasso said.

He knew that as devices became smaller and smaller, they would fall prey to what is known as the Casimir force, an attractive force that comes into play when two very tiny metallic surfaces make very close contact.

In very small objects, this force can cause moving parts to stick together, an effect known as stiction.

A Russian team had predicted this force could be reversed using the right combination of materials.

For Capasso’s experiment, the team immersed a gold-coated sphere in a liquid and measured the force as the sphere was first attracted to a metallic plate, then repelled from a plate made from silica.

Capasso said levitating is next. “We just have to do it,” he said.