MANCINI: UNITED STILL FAVOURITE FOR TITLE IF CITY WINS DERBY

MANCHESTER, England - Manchester City could win Monday's crunch derby against archrival Manchester United and still miss out on the Premier League title, manager Roberto Mancini said Saturday.
City can regain top spot on goal difference with two games remaining with a win at the Etihad Stadium.
But Mancini, who looked relaxed and joked with reporters at a packed news conference Saturday, said City has the more difficult run-in and United will still be favourite to take the title whatever the result Monday.
"They have more chance than us because we play the derby on Monday and after we play Newcastle. That will be a very tough game and after QPR," Mancini said. "United will play against Swansea and Sunderland. I think for them it will be two easy games.
"I think (even) if we win this (derby) game, they are favourite."
Mancini has no injuries and has maverick striker Mario Balotelli in contention again after suspension ahead of the big match.
"All the players are available," he said. "I have 48 hours to the game. I have time to decide whether he (Balotelli) plays or not."
Underlining the intimate nature of the derby, United and City train at complexes next door to each other in Carrington, on the outskirts of Manchester.
United, however, is expected to escape the pressure of the derby by taking a short training break to Wales this weekend.
"If they want to stay there until Tuesday, for us that's OK," Mancini joked, adding that his team would prepare at its Carrington base as normal. "We go Monday, if they don't come, we win the game."
Joking aside, Mancini agreed with Ferguson that Monday's match was "the derby game of all derby games," but said the pressure was on United.
"We don't have any pressure because we don't have anything to lose," the City manager said. "For them, I think a draw would be a good result ... but I don't think they have this mentality. Like us, it's difficult for us to play for a draw, we want to win always — also when we play against a better team than us, like in this moment, like against United."
Despite leading the Premier League for most of the season, City looked to have spoiled its title chances with patchy away form culminating in a loss at Arsenal earlier this month.
That defeat helped United take an eight-point lead in the standings, but the defending champion has stuttered with a 1-0 loss at Wigan and 4-4 draw against Everton to let City back into the race.
"I'm not surprised, because this is football," said Mancini. "Until you finish the championship and every game, anything can happen. Like we lost seven points in four games, this can also happen to the other team."
Mancini acknowledged that while he may be calm, City's supporters are reaching fever pitch as they try to capture a first league title since 1968.
"I didn't see any City supporters," he joked. "They are at home, I think, they are afraid. All the City supporters are at home to prepare for this game on Monday."
Whatever happens, City's status continues to rise thanks to the multi-million-pound investment from its Abu Dhabi-based owners, and the club's points total at the end of the season will likely be enough to have won the title most years.
"I think we should be proud for our season," Mancini said. "I have a big respect for United because for me they are the best team here and maybe in Europe, with Barcelona and Real Madrid. They have fantastic players and incredible support.
"I don't know what can happen Monday."

Katrina Kaif becomes Sheila once again for Zoya Akhtar

Katrina Kaif took Bollywood by rage with her sizzling number ‘Sheila Ki Jawani’. So, when Zoya Akhtar started her documentary project on 100 years of Bollywood titled ‘Sheila Ki Jawaani’, it was but natural for her to rope in Katrina as Sheila for her film.
Since the documentary tells the story of a guy who is a huge fan of the item number and dreams of meeting Sheila in reality, Zoya chose this particular song from ‘Tees Maar Khan’ as she felt it was just perfect to describe the glamour of the industry and the craziness of the fans for films and stars. Also Katrina Kaif shares a wonderful rapport with Zoya Akhtar with whom she developed god bonding during ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’.
The film will be shot in Mumbai. The film will borrow some portions of the song from the original and Zoya may also shoot the song again if required.
Confirms Katrina, “Yes, I am part of the documentary.”

Man City v Man Utd

TEAM NEWS

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has completed a three-game ban, but is unlikely to start given the form of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez.

Defender Micah Richards is available after missing the win at Wolves because of a knee problem.
Manchester United have reported no new injury concerns, so long-term absentees Nemanja Vidic, Darren Fletcher and Anderson are the only players missing.
Phil Jones or Chris Smalling could replace Rafael at right-back.

MATCH PREVIEW

"The most eagerly-awaited Manchester derby in years". That's how I started the preview for the October meeting of United and City at Old Trafford.
I somehow think that this one has gone up a couple of notches even from that. Even Sir Alex Ferguson has called it "a derby of amazing proportions… probably the most important in my time".

Conductive Blanket Makes 3-D Images

For those who never jumped on the Snuggie bandwagon, you were wise to wait. There's a smarter, more advanced, self-aware blanket from the University of Toronto that will put all other wraps to shame.
The prototype, dubbed the “IM Blanky,” is made of a conductive fabric and contains tilt sensors. Clusters of sensor-embedded petals gather information about their respective angles and send the position information to an Arduino computer, which calculates the slopes between the flowers. This results in a 3-D picture of the blanket’s state no matter how crumpled or folded it may be.

Paraplegic Remotely Controls Robot with Thoughts

A professor at a Swiss university on Tuesday unveiled a robot that can be controlled by the brainwaves of a paraplegic person wearing an electrode-fitted cap, news agency ATS reported.
A paralyzed man at a hospital in the town of Sion demonstrated the device, sending a mental command to a computer in his room, which transmitted it to another computer that moved a small robot 60 kilometers (37 miles) away in Lausanne.

The system was developed by Jose Millan, a professor at the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne who specializes in non-invasive interfaces between machines and the brain.
The same technology can be used to drive a wheelchair, Millan said.
"Once the movement has begun, the brain can relax, otherwise the person would soon be exhausted," he said.

But the technology has its limits, he added. The brain signals can be scrambled if too many people are gathered around a wheelchair, for example.
Besides making paraplegics mobile, neuroprosthetics could be used to help patients recover lost senses, researchers said.
Professor Stephanie Lacour and her team are working on an "electric skin" for amputees, a glove fitted with tiny sensors that would send information directly to the user's nervous system.
Eventually, researchers say they hope to create mechanized prosthetics that are as mobile and sensitive as a natural hand, Lacour said.

Ah yes, the grocery store dilemma: How does this food item stack up against the rest? When the options are squinting at labels or using a special phone app on each package, sometimes good intentions get left behind. Maybe your grocery cart will have the answer.

Dad Builds Ghost-Hunting Gizmos For Late Daughter

Gary Galka knows better than most that a father's love lasts forever.

The Granby, Conn., dad lost his daughter, Melissa, eight years ago in a car crash. Galka says that his connection to Melissa remains strong, and that he constantly feels her presence. That connection led the electrical engineer to design what he says is a digital device for paranormal exploration -- or ghost hunting.

Origami' Aircraft Flies Inside Out

Inspired by geometry, researchers built an aircraft that propels itself through the air by turning itself inside out. The SmartInversion, designed by the German company Festo, is an airborne geometrical band with an inversion drive. The lightweight triangular-shaped craft is filled with helium and has electrically-activated joints controlled by a remote control. So-called "inversion kinetics" propel the contraption forwards. The video is mesmerizing. via Gizmag

Evans delighted with campaign

Red Devils stopper pleased form has improved

 onny Evans is delighted he has achieved his own challenge this season and performed more in keeping with a player of Manchester United's stature. The Red Devils stopper revealed last summer that his Old Trafford future could be on the line unless his displays improved.
Evans has seized his opportunity in Sir Alex Ferguson's team this term following Nemanja Vidic's season-ending injury and has been one of their more consistent performers since the turn of the year.
The Northern Ireland international is pleased he has emerged from his tough period a stronger player and has proved he deserves his place in the defending champions' starting line-up.

Too honest

"Maybe I was too honest and shouldn't have said that," he told the club's official website. "But that was an honest opinion of myself, I guess.
"Every player goes through that. It was up to me to find a way to get through it. It was a challenge for me and everybody needs to be challenged.
"You either rise to it or you don't, and if you don't then you don't deserve to be at a club like Manchester United.
"Those are the sorts of challenges everybody here faces - when that happens it's up to you to try and raise your game and get back into the team."

Surprise

Evans has been a regular in United's team in recent season and even he has surprised himself at how much he has featured.
"When I came back from being on loan at Sunderland [in 2007/08] I never thought I'd go on to play more than 30 games in my first season at United. That was crazy," he continued.
"And I don't think about how many games I might end up playing. My aim is always to just get into the next team and then play well.
"I've been here about four years and I've played 120-odd games - that's about 30 a season. Hopefully I can add a few more to that next year."

Vidya or Priyanka: Who would be a better ‘Parvati’?

Karan Johar is all set to make a film on the adaptation of the famous novel ‘The Immortals Of Meluha’ written by Amish Tripathi and he has zeroed in on Hrithik Roshan to play the lead role of lord Shiva. However, he is yet to finalize the actress for the role of Parvati. While he is interested in Vidya Balan, Hrithik is keen to have Priyanka Chopra on board.
Karan Johar is smitten by Balan’s performance in The Dirty Picture and Kahaani, and if his say holds, this will be the first time Vidya and Hrithik will be seen together. As for Priyanka Chopra and Hrithik Roshan, they exude a commendable chemistry on-screen and have worked together in Agneepath and Krrish. Now, they are also working together for ‘Krissh 3’.
Who would be a better choice for the role of Parvati opposite Hrithik Roshan as Lord Shiva. Let us know your say……..

Manchester United striker Michael Owen hopes to play a part in final title push

Manchester United striker Michael Owen is getting ready to play a part in the Red Devils' final push for the Premier League title.
The 32-year-old has not featured for Manchester United since November 2 due to a thigh injury but is now back in full training.
Michael Owen said: "I can't imagine myself getting back and starting in the 11. My mindset has got to be get myself ready mentally, physically and everything else because I might be needed for 10 or 20 minutes at a late stage of the season."
He added: "Who knows? It could be the last game of the season at Sunderland.

"I might have built up enough, whether playing in a reserves game or two, and then that's fine.
"But I think the immediate thing is to get myself mentally ready, just in case the manager says, 'I'll put you on the bench' or whatever and I'll come on for 15 minutes and try to nick a goal if we're struggling."
Michael Owen has made just one Premier League appearance this season, in Manchester United's draw at Stoke in September, but scored three times in two Carling Cup outings.

Suuny Leone signs her second project with Ekta Kapoor

Ekta Kapoor’s ‘Ragini MMS’ had an optimum dose of sensuality and horror. So, when Ekta Kapoor decided to get a sequel done for the flick, she zeroed in on none other than the porn star Sunny Leone, the latest sex rage in our Tinsel town. Bollywood seems to have suited Sunny quite well as even before she finishes the first schedule of her debut Hindi film Jism 2 than she’s signed for the sequel of Ragini MMS.
Tanuj Garg, the CEO of Balaji Motion Pictures announced on Twitter, “It`s out. We`ve signed the sexy Sunny Leone for RAGINI MMS 2.(sic)”. Tanuj further tweeted, “A flood of feedback on my tweet about @SunnyLeone doing RAGINI MMS-2. Lunched with her recently & thought she was remarkably rooted & warm!(sic)”
Ekta Kapoor hints at the fact that the sequel will be a combo of scariness with sensuality and prefers to call her project as a scary date movie for youngsters. Like the original one, the sequel will also be based on a true story, only that the sex and sensuality will be higher.

Manchester United title win would be one of Sir Alex Ferguson's greatest triumphs says Bryan Robson

If Manchester United win the Premier League this season, manager Sir Alex Ferguson will view it as one of his greatest triumphs given the resources available at Manchester City.
That is the verdict of Bryan Robson, who expects Sir Alex Ferguson to overhaul his Manchester United squad this summer, whatever the outcome of the title race during the next three weeks.
Manchester United will hold only a three-point lead going into next Monday’s derby at the Etihad Stadium after losing at Wigan and being held to a 4-4 draw by Everton at the weekend.
Bryan Robson said: "If United pip City for the title, Sir Alex will take extra pleasure because it is at the expense of the local rivals.

"There has always been great rivalry between the two clubs but for the first time in many years, City are up there challenging for the title.
"That is why for Sir Alex, with it being Manchester City, it will be extra special for him, because of the resources City have got.
"They’ve got a great squad while Sir Alex has brought a few kids through and had a lot of injuries to contend with this season.
"It will be a great achievement if United win the title this season. It will give Sir Alex great satisfaction."
Bryan Robson expects Manchester City to continue to spend big money on their squad but expects Sir Alex Ferguson to also be busy in the transfer market this summer.
He said: "City can afford to do that (bring in top players) but the one thing Sir Alex will do, whether he wins the title or not, is to build in the summer.
"He will do that to try and compete and get back above, or to stay in front of Man City, depending on what happens during the next three games."
Bryan Robson believes the key to the derby clash could be how City handle the kind of pressure to which Manchester United have been accustomed at this stage of a season for many campaigns.
He said: "It will be a new experience for City and depends on how they adapt to it.
"It might be them saying ’let’s get out there, enjoy this and, if we do it, we do it, and if we don’t no one is really going to criticise us because United have been there, seen it and done it’.
"The players could get that response or do they go the other way and get nervous because they know how much is on this game."
Bryan Robson feels surrendering the two-goal lead to Everton will have hurt Manchester United more than the defeat at Wigan a fortnight ago.
He said: "I think sometimes people just get carried away and expect it too easy.
"United had been on an incredible run of 12 wins out of 13 so when they went to Wigan, it is not a shock that they had a bad night. That can happen in a season.
"The real disappointment to everyone at Old Trafford is being 4-2 up and not killing the game off against Everton. That was bad defending and that was a concern."

Res: Chelsea 1 United 4

Manchester United's Reserves put on a display worthy of champions with an emphatic 4-1 success at Chelsea.
Warren Joyce's side had the match effectively won inside the opening 45 minutes with Ryan Tunnicliffe becoming the 17th different scorer for the Reds at this level this term, excluding own goals, and Will Keane on the scoresheet for the 17th time in a productive campaign.
Tunnicliffe got the ball rolling with a 10th minute opener, striding onto an Ezekiel Fryers cut-back and planting a left-footed finish past James Russell from the edge of the area. It was largely one-way traffic, although Romelu Lukaku lashed one ambitious attempt off target for the hosts.
Aziz Deen-Conteh needed to make a goalline clearance, Tom Thorpe's volley was held by Russell and Will Keane flashed a drive over the top as the Reds dominated. Larnell Cole added a deserved second goal by slipping the ball under Russell from a crafty through pass by Jesse Lingard and the match was as good as over before the break when Will Keane showed great skill to lift the ball over Russell and beat Nathan Ake on the line after his twin brother Michael's long ball came off Todd Kane's head.
The relentless Reds went further ahead five minutes into the second half when Ritchie De Laet proved he's getting a thirst for joining the attack, embarking on a solo run through the home defence before nudging into the net for his second goal at Reserves level this season.
Davide Petrucci also went through on his own, but was denied by a Russell save, while Chelsea went close to pulling one back as Thorpe made an outstanding headed clearance to frustrate Lucas Piazon
Rooney.
The same scenario again at the same venue in a week's time would be perfect.
Stewart Gardner presents The Paddy Crerand Show, Monday evenings at 18:30 BST.

Where Your 2011 Federal Income Taxes Went

Here's a delightful way to present data... and you'll find some insights regardless of your political orientation.

One reason this visualization works (unlike our daily work in analytics) is that the data view is up-leveled and segmented. In our daily life we tend to be too down into the weeds, and even then sift through unsegmented data.

PS: Is it not sad that 33% of our budget is spent on military (military +veterans+intl), 15% on interest on debt (!), and our politicians are arguing about contraception and gay rights. On all sides we need people to hold this printout in their hands, show it on a giant screens behind them, and have a better discussion. 

Foundation making an impact

As the Manchester United Foundation published its Impact Report for the past 12 months, documenting how the club is helping to change lives in the local community, chief executive David Gill spent a day attending some of the key projects.

The trip started with a visit to Stretford High School to witness an Enterprise Academy classroom section and check out the impressive new facilities currently being built on site. After donning a hard-hat, David was then asked to shoot a few baskets at Trinity High School as part of the Premier League 4 Sport initiative, where Danny Welbeck was a pupil five years ago. The project also helps teach kids badminton, table-tennis and volleyball and was launched in advance of the Olympic Games later this year.
The Salford Cohesion project was next on the agenda as a trip to Ordsall enabled David to show off his football skills in five-a-side matches with local youngsters from the nearby estate, scoring a self-made volley reminiscent of Eric Cantona’s famous strike at Wimbledon! Finally, the evening was spent at Salford Sports Village watching the Disability Greater Manchester Ability Counts League.
United fielded a deaf team and two PAN-disability sides (physical and neurological) against the likes of Manchester City, Everton and Wigan, with David impressed by the high standard on show in the competitive seven-a-side matches.
“We've seen a whole cross-section of projects this afternoon,” said Gill. “You can read about them, talk about them in board meetings and get to hear about them in an Impact Report but to actually come out and meet the people doing them is fantastic. It's brilliant to speak to the coaches and young people.
It's interesting to hear the coaches when you speak to them about how they just love putting on the shirt and representing the club. When you see the standard of football, I think it's great and they put a lot of effort into it. It's important to them. I'm really, really impressed with what's going on.
"It's all extremely important. I know people say we're not in Manchester but we are. We've seen that today. Manchester City are as well, let's be honest, and there's no reason why they shouldn't be. It should be the case and I think we can all cater lot of people, with the disability section, disadvantaged kids and Premier League 4 Sport. There are a lot of different projects that use the great name of Manchester United and Manchester City to improve youngsters' lives and really play a part. I'm delighted with it.
“You know you’ve got to start from your home base and start in Manchester and then go around the world. There’s no point being huge in Asia, if you’re not big in Manchester, in my opinion.”

history Clock.....

amazing

Interesting clouds, aren't they? I've seen these kind of stretched out clouds before, but I'd never seen puffy clouds underneath these stretchers.. I wonder if that means the wind was at different speeds at different altitudes? Maybe a cloud expert can chime in here... :-) 

This shot was taken from the top of Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. Note:On the day G+ launched its new profile style, I was in LA. I went out to capture a cover photo and this was the shot I took. Some people had asked to see the full photo, here it is... (My cover photo is a really close-up crop of this photo.)

MAC ..PC..LINUX

SOLAR-POWERED FABRIC CHARGES PHONES ON THE TRAIL

When every ounce on the trail counts, outdoor adventurers dream about ditching batteries. They might not have to wait. Designers at Colorado State University are developing solar-powered clothes from natural fibers that can charge a number of devices, including phones, tablets and GPS units.

Professor Eulanda Sanders and associate professor Ajoy Sarkar in CSU's Department of Design and Merchandising, as well as four of their students, are making prototypes for solar-charging apparel that can be worn while biking, snowboarding, skiing or hiking.