Asteroid Can Narrowly Miss Earth In February 2013
Astronomers at the LaSagra Observatory in Spain have disclosed that a newly discovered 150-foot-wide asteroid may come so close to the Earth in February that it might hit satellites.
Unseen TiTanic
At 2:20 a.m. on April 15, 1912, the “unsinkable” R.M.S. Titanic disappeared beneath the waves, taking with her 1,500 souls. One hundred years later, new technologies have revealed the most complete—and most intimate—images of the famous wreck.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is one of the famous national park of the world and a beautiful sight of Sierra Nevada located in the east-central part of California, USA.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Chelsea plans for future as European champion
11:25 AM
FunFactWorldz
Chelsea plans for future as European champion
Munich: Chelsea can plan its future from an unexpected position of strength as champion of Europe following its dramatic upset of Bayern Munich.
Roman Abramovich has the Champions League trophy he had craved since buying the club in 2003 and a place in next season's competition, which is key to the team's business plan and status among Europe's elite teams.
Roman Abramovich has the Champions League trophy he had craved since buying the club in 2003 and a place in next season's competition, which is key to the team's business plan and status among Europe's elite teams.
Now the Russian billionaire and his advisers must decide if Chelsea's immediate future includes new contracts for inspirational interim coach Roberto di Matteo and star forward Didier Drogba.
The 34-year-old Drogba staked an emphatic claim to extend his eight-year stay on Saturday with an 88th-minute header that made a one-sided match at 1-1. He then stroked the decisive penalty kick in the shootout at Bayern's home stadium.
Di Matteo could hardly do more during his three-month audition since being promoted from assistant following the firing of Andre Villas-Boas. He has the most coveted club trophy in world soccer as well as the FA Cup.
"Roberto is certainly in the mix and he's done a great job for us and he has to have serious consideration," Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said Sunday. "We've put (the appointment) aside for the last five to eight weeks. Now in the next few weeks we have to sit down, figure it out and do what's best for Chelsea."
The American official said chief executive Ron Gourlay will speak with Drogba's agent this week.
"There's a number of things we've got to look at and we'll review where we are and take it from there, but it's a phenomenal turnaround really," Gourlay said.
Chelsea's players were united in their praise for Drogba after another unlikely win to follow the elimination of Barcelona in the semifinals.
"Of course, Didier is one of the best strikers in the world," said Chelsea forward Juan Mata, whose opening penalty kick was saved in the 4-3 shootout win. "He is very important for us. He scored a really important goal, so he deserves everything."
Drogba's financial demands would have been an expensive luxury had Chelsea lost and failed to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Chelsea earned about $77 million in prize money from competition organizer UEFA this season. Even a one-year exile in the second-tier Europa League would hit the club's accounts as "financial fair play" rules limit wealthy owners' ability to bail out clubs that spend heavily on transfers and salaries.
Abramovich has subsidized total losses of more than $1.2 billion, but Chelsea must generate more income than has been possible at its 42,000-capacity Stamford Bridge stadium.
The 34-year-old Drogba staked an emphatic claim to extend his eight-year stay on Saturday with an 88th-minute header that made a one-sided match at 1-1. He then stroked the decisive penalty kick in the shootout at Bayern's home stadium.
Di Matteo could hardly do more during his three-month audition since being promoted from assistant following the firing of Andre Villas-Boas. He has the most coveted club trophy in world soccer as well as the FA Cup.
"Roberto is certainly in the mix and he's done a great job for us and he has to have serious consideration," Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said Sunday. "We've put (the appointment) aside for the last five to eight weeks. Now in the next few weeks we have to sit down, figure it out and do what's best for Chelsea."
The American official said chief executive Ron Gourlay will speak with Drogba's agent this week.
"There's a number of things we've got to look at and we'll review where we are and take it from there, but it's a phenomenal turnaround really," Gourlay said.
Chelsea's players were united in their praise for Drogba after another unlikely win to follow the elimination of Barcelona in the semifinals.
"Of course, Didier is one of the best strikers in the world," said Chelsea forward Juan Mata, whose opening penalty kick was saved in the 4-3 shootout win. "He is very important for us. He scored a really important goal, so he deserves everything."
Drogba's financial demands would have been an expensive luxury had Chelsea lost and failed to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Chelsea earned about $77 million in prize money from competition organizer UEFA this season. Even a one-year exile in the second-tier Europa League would hit the club's accounts as "financial fair play" rules limit wealthy owners' ability to bail out clubs that spend heavily on transfers and salaries.
Abramovich has subsidized total losses of more than $1.2 billion, but Chelsea must generate more income than has been possible at its 42,000-capacity Stamford Bridge stadium.
"They need to do two things in the short term," says soccer finance analyst Kieron O'Connor, who writes the respected Swiss Ramble blog. "Improve commercial revenue through additional sponsorships; reduce the wage bill by offloading some of the more expensive players. Longer term it's all about the stadium."
Chelsea officials reportedly held recent meetings in Qatar to explore funding options. That follows a trail blazed by Barcelona, which signed a five-year shirt sponsorship deal with the spectacularly wealthy Gulf emirate.
Abramovich's admiration for Barcelona, on and off the field, hints at Chelsea's next steps. He is said to covet the Spanish club's former coach Pep Guardiola, who has left soccer after shaping the most admired team of modern times.
Guardiola seems unlikely to be tempted back so soon, even with Chelsea entering the Champions League and FIFA's Club World Cup for continental champions played in Japan in December.
Abramovich's desire for expansive, exciting soccer explained the hiring of Villas-Boas and the $80 million signing of Fernando Torres in January 2011. Torres was used as an impact substitute again in Munich.
The progressive young Portuguese coach unsettled Chelsea's old guard. He dropped Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole for the season-changing defeat to Napoli in a round-of-16, first-leg match in February.
Chelsea officials reportedly held recent meetings in Qatar to explore funding options. That follows a trail blazed by Barcelona, which signed a five-year shirt sponsorship deal with the spectacularly wealthy Gulf emirate.
Abramovich's admiration for Barcelona, on and off the field, hints at Chelsea's next steps. He is said to covet the Spanish club's former coach Pep Guardiola, who has left soccer after shaping the most admired team of modern times.
Guardiola seems unlikely to be tempted back so soon, even with Chelsea entering the Champions League and FIFA's Club World Cup for continental champions played in Japan in December.
Abramovich's desire for expansive, exciting soccer explained the hiring of Villas-Boas and the $80 million signing of Fernando Torres in January 2011. Torres was used as an impact substitute again in Munich.
The progressive young Portuguese coach unsettled Chelsea's old guard. He dropped Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole for the season-changing defeat to Napoli in a round-of-16, first-leg match in February.
Villas-Boas was doomed by that 3-1 loss in Italy. Yet those same players helped Chelsea win the return 4-1 for Di Matteo, and guided the team to its Champions League title more through dogged resistance than flowing play.
Bayern had 35 shots to Chelsea's nine, and 20 corners to just one, which Chelsea used to great effect. Mata's delivery was powered into the net by Drogba.
It was a triumph in true Chelsea style, and could yet prove the end of an era.
Buck said the club intends to appoint a permanent manager before a pre-season tour of the United States that starts against Seattle Sounders on July 18.
Di Matteo spoke with Abramovich in Munich's Allianz Arena but did not reveal details of the conversation.
"He looked very happy," the 41-year-old coach said. "Whatever the future holds for me I'd be happy. Whatever the club decides, I'll respect it."
Sharapova beats Li Na to retain Italian Open
11:14 AM
FunFactWorldz
Sharapova beats Li Na to retain Italian Open
Rome: Maria Sharapova successfully defended her Italian Open title on Sunday, beating Li Na 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) in a wild match in which play was twice interrupted by rain and the red clay turned to mud.
"The match was a joke," Li said. "It's tough to play in such heavy rain and then you go and rest for two hours and then play again in heavy rain. ... But I still have positive things to take away. She was just stronger and tougher."
The rain proved even more formidable for a men's final that never happened. Defending champion Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will have to wait until Monday to settle their championship.
Rome: Maria Sharapova successfully defended her Italian Open title on Sunday, beating Li Na 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) in a wild match in which play was twice interrupted by rain and the red clay turned to mud.
"The match was a joke," Li said. "It's tough to play in such heavy rain and then you go and rest for two hours and then play again in heavy rain. ... But I still have positive things to take away. She was just stronger and tougher."
The rain proved even more formidable for a men's final that never happened. Defending champion Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will have to wait until Monday to settle their championship.
Li appeared on course for victory when she surged to a 6-4, 4-0 lead, but 24 unforced errors from the French Open champion allowed Sharapova to take the next six games and the set.
Sharapova then seemed certain to win when it began to drizzle. The second-seeded Russian took a 4-1 lead in the third, but Li fought back to win four straight games to lead 5-4. Both held serve the rest of the way, forcing a tiebreaker.
After waiting out the rain for two hours in the locker room, the third set was over in five minutes. Sharapova completed the victory in 2 hours, 52 minutes.
"It was a really difficult match what with so many swings and having to wait an hour or two hours and then a tiebreaker in the final," Sharapova said. "It almost feels difficult to have a loser and a winner as it all came down to one game, but I am happy.
"It's great to beat someone at the level she played last year and knowing how well she plays on clay and how she defends and get herself back in good positions."
Sharapova had the first break of the match. Li, however, broke straight back and did so again in the 11th game to take the first set.
Li was in control as she broke to love and raced to a 4-0 lead in the second set, taking 15 of 17 points as Sharapova struggled with the ferocity of her strokes. But the pressure seemed to get to the eighth-seeded Chinese, and Sharapova won the next eight games.
Li clawed her way back in when she got to 40-0 in the ninth game of the second set. But Sharapova broke following a couple of unforced errors and two double-faults and went on to serve for the set.
Li managed to even the final set as the rain lashed down. The match was delayed briefly at 5-5 and the players waited courtside for it to ease up before play resumed.
Sharapova almost handed the match to Li when she smashed the ball into the net, giving her opponent a championship point. But Sharapova persevered with a powerful forehand to the corner.
With rain pouring, the players were asked if they wanted to continue. Both said they did, but were eventually forced off court before the tiebreaker with the torrential rain leaving the court a mess.
Despite the outcome, Li liked her strokes and the way she moved. Now she's turning her thoughts to Paris.
"I think I am ready for the French Open," she said.
Texting Kills 5,000 People Every Year In The US
11:08 AM
FunFactWorldz
Texting kills 5,000 people every year in the US
**Please Avoid Cell Phones While Driving**
Washington: Texting and talking on cell phones behind the wheel kills more than 5,000 people every year on US highways. Teen drivers seem to be especially susceptible to distraction, a study says.
A 2009 study focusing on drivers of larger vehicles and trucks has concluded that texting raised the risk of a crash by 23 times compared with non-distracted driving, says an environmental report.
Environmental researcher Uvid Hosansky, who authored the report for the journal CQ Researcher, wrote, "Texting drivers took their eyes off the road for each text an average of 4.6 seconds, which at 55 mph means they were driving the length of a football field without looking."
**Please Avoid Cell Phones While Driving**
Washington: Texting and talking on cell phones behind the wheel kills more than 5,000 people every year on US highways. Teen drivers seem to be especially susceptible to distraction, a study says.
A 2009 study focusing on drivers of larger vehicles and trucks has concluded that texting raised the risk of a crash by 23 times compared with non-distracted driving, says an environmental report.
Environmental researcher Uvid Hosansky, who authored the report for the journal CQ Researcher, wrote, "Texting drivers took their eyes off the road for each text an average of 4.6 seconds, which at 55 mph means they were driving the length of a football field without looking."
Talking on a cell phone is also dangerous. "Experts say that talking on a cell phone while driving is far more distracting than talking with an adult passenger because it consumes additional cognitive resources, including creating a mental picture of the person on the other end of the conversation," added Hosansky, who was twice nominated for Pulitzer Prize.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, US, estimated that 16 per cent of all drivers younger than 20 years involved in fatal crashes were believed to be distracted, "the highest proportion of any age group," by texting and mobile phone use, reports the journal CQ Researcher.
"Although some people may think they can safely talk and drive, researchers who observe people in driving simulators as well as in actual cars on the road find that a cell phone conversation will invariably intrude on a driver's attentiveness," said Hosansky.
"The distractions don't stop with cell phones. Car makers are adding new technologies to the dashboard, such as Web browsers and GPS units.
Car makers say that such technologies are designed very carefully for safety, but safety advocates worry that they are creating even more
Drive Safe. Be Safe !!!
hazardous driving conditions," Hosansky concluded.
