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Kanu Patel

Introduction to epsilon Aurigae

World's tallest, coldest, greenest hotels

A view of the Burj Al Arab Hotel and Palm
Island Jumeirah (background) in Dubai...




For travellers who like a hotel with a superlative attached, online hotel specialist hotels.com has come with a list of record-breaking hotels.
The hotels featured by Hotels.com (http://www.hotels.com/), part of the Expedia Inc group, all have the "-est" factor. Reuters had not endorsed this list:
1. World's Tallest Hotel: Burj Al Arab - Dubai
Currently the tallest operating hotel in the world until it is surpassed by Dubai's Rose Tower later this year, the Burj Al Arab stands 321 metres (1,050 feet) high. A self-rated 7 star hotel built on a man-made island 280 metres from shore, Burj Al Arab also boasts its own Rolls Royce fleet, Versace bedspreads, and private shopper and helicopter landing platform.
2. World's Largest Hotel (by no. of rooms): The Palazzo Resort Hotel & Casino - Las Vegas, USA
The Palazzo Resort Hotel & Casino, which operates under the same license as The Venetian hotel next door, has 8,108 rooms combined. The hotel is like a mini city, with a large selection of restaurants, fashion stores, its own casino, and seven pools.
3. World's Oldest Hotel: Hoshi Ryokan - Komatsu, Japan
The Hoshi Ryokan has been in operation for over 1,300 years. The 100-room hotel has been run by the same family for 46 generations.
4. World's Most Expensive Hotel Room: Royal Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi - Athens, Greece
Featuring a dedicated butler, chef and pianist, the Royal Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi is the world's most expensive hotel room at $50,000 a night. The room overlooks the Aegean Sea, which you can view from a private pool with a hydro massage device. The resort also has a private Lear jet.
5. World's Most Expensive Hotel to Build: Emirates Palace - Abu Dhabi
The Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, which opened in 2005, cost over $3 billion to build with silver, gold and marble used throughout the hotel and the 1,002 chandeliers made from Swarovski crystals.
6. World's Largest Hotel Room: Royal Suite in the Grand Hills Hotel & Spa - Broummana, Lebanon
The Royal Suite in the Grand Hills Hotel & Spa is set over six floors for a total 8,000 square metres (86,110 sq ft) with half of this living space and the rest two swimming pools, a garden, terrace and pavilions.
7. World's Coldest Hotel: Icehotel - Jukkasjarvi, Sweden
The Icehotel has rooms built entirely from ice and snow, decorated with handcrafted ice art and sculptures, an ice chapel licensed for marriages and baptisms, and two restaurants serving a range of Lappish and Swedish dishes. Activities include snowmobile trips, northern lights tours, and dog sled tours.
8. World's Highest Hotel (floor height): Park Hyatt - Shanghai, China
The Park Hyatt in Shanghai occupies floors 79 to 93 of the 101 story Shanghai World Finance Centre with views over the Huangpu River and the city skyline and located in the heart of Lujiazui business district in Pudong.
9. World's Highest Hotel (altitude above sea level): Hotel Everest View - Nepal
The Hotel Everest View is 3,880 metres (12,730 ft) above sea level and is set in the Sagarmatha National Park. All rooms have views of Mount Everest standing at 8,848 metres (29,030 ft) and the only direct access is by chartered helicopter.
10. World's Most Eco-Friendly Hotel: Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa - Queensland, Australia
Set in the world's oldest rainforest, Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa has 15 villas nestled inside the Daintree Rainforest, and is committed to complying with sustainable tourism standards. Practices in place include using solar power, low energy lights and an organic farm to grow its own produce.

Dark

It's already too much dark,

The dogs are fierce to bark,

The wolves are near to howl,

Some fools think themselves as owl,

The darkness darkness everywhere,

Where can we run to escape nightmare,

The lord commands us to have faith,

But the world has fallen into ugly wraith,

Every moment of love and faith,

Is now taken as a big mistake,

The lord now needs to come down,

Let out his anger and frown,

He needs now to send a new arc,

To bring an ending to this dark,I

ts along since we have seen light glow,

Long since music from heart may flow,

Its been time that love has lost,

Its time to stop everything frost!!

Come join hands my intelligent friend,

Lets start the change as a trend,

May the good words of men prevail,

And the evil will soon face assail,

Let no religion be a block,

Mankind is together a flock,

Lets finish all borders tonight,

To bring tommorow with a bright new light!!

Hottest sports stars

Elena Isinbayeva:- Russian Yelena Isinbayeva, pole-vaulted glory during the 2009 Beijing Olympics. This two time Olympic gold medalist has several world records to her name and she is aiming for more. The World Athlete of the Year, Isinbayeva, experienced unusual defeat during the London Grand Prix recently, which ended her six-year winning streak but the confident unbeatable queen has already set her sights on Berlin.

Maria Sharapova:- A tennis ace, a model, a humanitarian Maria Sharapova is all that rolled into one. She packs the punch. Be it her powerful 'swinging' volley or her on-court 'grunting', this aggressive baseliner is all set for reclaiming her number one position after a long injury lay-off. She is the face of TAG Heuer Formula 1 Glamour Diamonds.

Roger Federer:- There is no stopping Roger Federer. Hailed by critics and admirers as the greatest tennis player of all times, he has 15 Grand Slam singles titles, the career Grand Slam, 20 career Grand Slam finals, Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for four consecutive years to his credit. This sure makes Fedex hot and happening. Fedex endorses Wilson tennis racquets and accessories with a lifetime contract and Nike footwear and apparel

Ana Ivanovic:- She is quick, agile and aggressive on the field. Ana Ivanovic shot to fame after she defeated the former World No. 1 Martina Hingis in 2006, she went on to be the world Number 1. This Serbian beauty is involved in humanitarian work in the field of education as well.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni:- He is the Captain cool of Indian cricket. MS Dhoni stands for victory and has always lead the team from the front. Never one to mince words, Dhoni stands out as a player who takes the responsibility. He is one of the best cricketers India has seen for a long time. The man also has a huge female following because of his simple charm and distinct style. Dhoni is big in the endorsement world as well and just falls one short of SRK's 21

Michael Phelps:- The 'Golden Boy', Michael Phelps swam across the unchartered waters to set the Olympic record of 8 individual medals, the highest for an individual in an Olympic game. Since then, he has broken more than 37 records and is all set to go for more. This great swimmer is one handsome hunk to watch out for.

Sania Mirza:- She is the first Indian women to be seeded in a Grand Slam event. Her fans across the country pray for her and worship her as a diva. In 2006, Mirza was awarded a Padma Shri, for her achievements as a Tennis player.

Cristiano Ronaldo:- Cristiano, is one of the most expensive player in football history after having been transferred to Real Madrid in a deal worth 80 million pounds. This FIFA player of the year is one of the hottest stars in soccer world and he likes it that way.

Stephanie Rice:- She streaked across the waters and into the minds of millions, to set the world record in the 400 m individual medley, and won three gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. This Aussie star, Stephanie Rice is a new star in the making. She has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia and still has miles to swim.

Kaka:- One of the best footballers of his generation, Kaka, was recently awarded with the 'Golden Ball'. He has taken football in Brazil to new heights with his aggressive technique. This footballer is also involved in humanitarian activities in his native Brazil.

Yuvraj Singh:- He is an all-rounder. A batsman India relies on during the tough times, someone who can send the ball galloping over the boundary walls. He is a bowler, and he is one of those sure hands when it comes to fielding. If all this does not make him hot, just ask his female fans what makes Yuvi click and you will be surprised at the replies they give.

Sarah Taylor:- This wicketkeeper-batsman is known for her free flowing stroke play. She opens the batting in One-dayers for England and is one of the most bankable cricketers in the England line-up.

Fernando Alonso:- This Formula 1 ace from Spain needs no introduction. This two-time World Champion, was also the first person to win a night race.

David Beckham:- David Beckham is one name in football world everybody is familiar with. The England's ace have fan following all over the world and had been the part of the prestigious clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid. He currently plays for Los Angeles Galaxy. Famous for his lethal free kicks and accurate passing, Beckham can strike like a lightning. The poster boy, at the age of 34, is continuing with his goal-scoring spree and is desperate to play for England in the 2010 World Cup. (Photos: Getty images)

Saina Nehwal:- Saina Nehwal created history by becoming the first Indian to win a Super Series tournament after clinching the Indonesia Open with a stunning victory over higher-ranked Chinese Lin Wang in Jakarta. She is also the first Indian woman to reach the singles quarterfinals at the Olympics. That makes her someone to watch out for.

Fernando Torres:- Liverpool striker Fernando Torres likes to score goals from unusual positions. The Spaniard was an instant hit upon his arrival at the Premier League club and fans just love to see him score at Anfield. Torres helped Spain win the Euro 2008 title.

India's movers & shakers

Ratan Tata, chairman of Rs 79,000 crore Tata group is considered as the doyen of the new era of business enterprises in the Indian mainland. He grabbed the headlines more than any other business tycoon in India in 2008, which was a year of cars for him. Nano, the dream project of Ratan Tata and the vehicle meant to herald a revolution by making it possible for the world's poor to purchase their first car, became a reality after meeting more than its fair share of potholes. Meanwhile, Tata's acquisition of British icons Jaguar and Land Rover was watched with envy and admiration everywhere.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan also known as Ash is often named amongst the most glamorous women in the world. She was crowned Miss World in the year 1994. After winning the Miss World title, she became one of the most popular stars in the Indian film industry. Ash is also referred to as the Queen of Bollywood. Through the years, Aishwarya Rai has been nominated for and received several national and international awards. She began her international career making an appearance in Bride & Prejudice and then grabbed a role in Pink Panther in 2008 to share screen space with Steve Martin. The gorgeous actress and brand ambassador of L'Oreal attended the opening night of the 62nd Cannes Film Festival.

The tide turned against the terrorists who attacked Mumbai on 26th November 2008 as soon as the NSG commandoes stepped in. They fought one of the harshest battles inside the Taj Hotel, Nariman House and other places in Mumbai. The scenes of commandoes dropping in from the heliocopter on one of the buildings near Nariman House. The NSG lost two men - Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Gajendra Singh. 14 Mumbai police personnel were also killed including the head of its Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) Hemant Karkare.

A well-known activist for social and economic justice, Suzanna Arundhati Roy won the Booker Prize in 1997 for her novel, 'The God of Small Things'. She is a well known activist for social and economic justice and has championed the cause of many. She has been vocal in campaigning against the Narmada dam project. Arundhati Roy has also been awarded the Sydney Peace Prize in May 2004 for her work in social campaigns and her advocacy of non-violence.

Known as 'Mozart of Madras', Allah Rakha Rahman has sold more than 100 million records of his film scores and soundtracks worldwide, making one of the world's all-time top selling recording artists. In 2009, for his score of Slumdog Millionaire, Rahman won two Academy Awards for the best original music score and best original song at the 2009 Oscars. His first soundtrack for 'Roja' was listed in Time's '10 Best Soundtracks' of all time in 2005.

Known as the 'King' of Bollywood, Shahrukh Khan is one of the few who has made a successful transition from television serials to films. He gave us memorable flicks like 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' and 'Om Shanti Om' to name a few. In 2008, 'Newsweek' named him one of the 50 most powerful people in the world. The marketing rights of his latest flick 'My Name Is Khan' has been bagged by Fox Studios for Rs 1 bn. SRK has been felicitated with many awards including 'Padma Shri'. He also owns the 'Kolkata Knight Riders' in the Indian Premier League. He is the new face of India across the world and has made a mark with his hard work and sheer charm.

He gave us the soul stirring blockbuster 'Rang De Basanti' for which he won the National Film Award for his flawless direction, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra started his career as an adman and directed television commercials for clients such as Coke, Pepsi, Toyota, American Express and BPL. Not just the film, Mehra was successful in showing the power on public anger. After that many struggles against injustice have taken the same shape as shown in the film. Though 'Delhi 6' could not rake much moolah at the box office, but Mehra's aim of films based on a message is clear. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is already working on a film titled 'Bhairavi' and is all set to woo the audiences with the magnum opus 'Paanch Kaurav'.

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has been playing an active role in revitalising the fate of the party with his new brand of politics. His grassroots activisms have helped the party in building deep connections with rural India. Though some of his comments in recent times have landed him in a soup but he is credited with reviving his party fortune in Uttar Pradesh in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Referred to as RG, in his party circle, Rahul Gandhi has always condemned divisive politics in the country and has tried to reduce caste and religious tensions.

From playing an instrumental role in the passing of the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement to pulling up the sagging fortune of the Congress party, Dr Manmohan Singh has been pivotal in India's rise to a global power. During his tenure as the Finance Minister, Manmohan Singh initiated many economic reforms in India which resulted in the end of the infamous Licence Raj system in 1991. Even thou his adversaries have called him the weakest prime minister the country has ever had, Manmohan Singh has been widely credited in propelling the United Progressive Alliance to power for its second term making him the first Indian Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term.

He broke India's jinx at the Olympics by becoming the first Indian to win an individual gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics by winning the gold in the 10 m Air Rifle event.

'If cricket is religion, then Sachin is God', is enough to describe what Sachin Tendulkar is to his fans all over the world. The Master Blaster has been the pioneer of cricket and arguably one of the best batsmen in the world of cricket. He is the highest run-maker in both the One-Day Internationals and Test version of the game with highest number of centuries and he is raring for more. The little master has been the nemesis for bowlers all over the world and continues to haunt them on any surface. His ability to play according to the situation makes him almost perfect.

The only man in the history of chess to win the world title in all formats, Viswanathan Anand, always attributes his success to his family who stood by him on the way to realise his dream.

Mr G. Madhavan Nair, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation is over the moon these days. The India spacecraft called Chandrayaan-1, designed to land on the moon had a perfect launch and landed on the moon. Following the mission, India has emerged as an 'offshore' space services provider, showing that its talented race and culture can compete in this high value export market. Nair, during his tenure as ISRO Chairman, oversaw 25 successful satellite and launch vehicle missions.

Known for his efficiency and integrity, the Metro Man could not sit quietly as a span of the under-construction elevated route came crashing down in south Delhi killing five people and wounding 15. He submitted resignation, taking moral responsibility of the disaster. Such have been his credentials that that the government was hesitant to accept his resignation. No wonder he was even called to Pakistan for the development of the Lahore Metro. In the 1990s, Sreedharan built the 470-mile Konkan Railway on India's western coast, the first major railway project since the British left India. Moreover, Sreedharan is credited with introducing organisational values and a work ethic that have inspired his men and set a benchmark for others.

Few people could handle either the presidential or the chief financial officer job at a company worth $100 billion. But not only has Nooyi held both offices since 2001, but also named as 2009 CEO of the Year by Global Supply Chain Leaders Group (GSCLG) for promoting socially responsible business practices. Simple ideals, sharpness and conviction - that's the success mantra of the triumphant CEO of beverages major Pepsico, who was ranked No.4 on Forbes magazine's annual survey of the 100 most powerful women in the world.

'Rakhi Ka Swayamvar'

Thu, Jul 30 12:48 PM
Mumbai, July 30 (IANS) Samir Nair, CEO of NDTV Imagine, says that the police complaint filed against item girl Rakhi Sawant and five others linked to the reality show 'Rakhi Ka Swayamvar' for infringement of copyright won't affect the live telecast of the wedding Sunday.
'We're telecasting the marriage deferred - live (minutes after actual shooting) and we don't anticipate any trouble. This guy from Jaipur (Gaurav Tiwari) filed a case against us in a district court. They passed an order against him. Then he moved to the high court. His case was dismissed from there,' Nair told IANS.
'Now he has filed a criminal case against us. Our legal team is looking into it as we speak. Strange that the case has gone from civil to criminal. This guy runs a portal and claims he owns the word 'swayamvar'. It's like me claiming I own the word Ramayan or Mahabharat. There's shadi-com. So we can't do soap with the word shaadi?'
The show 'Rakhi Ka Swayamvar', through which Rakhi decided to find her life partner, is on its last leg now. She will be tying the knot with her chosen groom Sunday in the presence of family, friends as well as officials from the channel.

Who will be Rakhi Sawant`s husband?