New York City Launches App For Free Condoms

Need a condom? There's an app for that. The New York City Health Department on Monday unveiled a smartphone application that will help users locate the nearest place in the area giving out free condoms.

"We want New York City to be the safest city in the world to have sex," said Dr. Monica Sweeney, the city's assistant health commissioner. "A lot of people come here for that, so we want them to practice safer sex."

The application, available for download on the iPhone and Android phones, taps into the city's database of over 1,000 different locations which offer free condoms.

It uses GPS technology or an address input to give users directions to the nearest five places in the city that are giving out free condoms.

The city is rolling out the application on Valentine's Day. For the past five years, the city has been giving out free condoms at an average of 3 million a month.

New York City has come under criticism in the past for its condom distribution program, especially from parents of younger children who claim the program encourages people to have sex.

"We're not promoting sex, we're promoting safer sex," Sweeney said. "In New York City and around the country, adolescents and pre-adolescents have sex whether you give them condoms or not."

Facebook Photos Get a New Viewer

Facebook is rolling out a new photo viewer to all of its users over the next few weeks.

Unlike the older version of the viewer, the user stays on the same page while viewing a photo from his/her wall or elsewhere on Facebook. The images get displayed in a pop-up with a lightbox-like effect. Comments viewing and sharing has also been made easier.

According to Facebook, over 100 million photos are uploaded to the site every day and they believe that the re-designed photo viewer will increase photo views by 5 per cent. This would calculate to about an additional billion photo views every day.

The new viewer was also necessitated because the older viewer was "supported by some of the oldest code in the system and was in dire need of an upgrade."

Users can easily browse through photos either by clicking on the icons or by using simple keyboard shortcuts: Press Escape key to close the viewer; click the right or left arrow keys to move to the previous or next images in the album.

Facebook had first announced its plans about revamping its photo viewer back in September 2010, when it had began support for high-resolution images.

I'm Loving it! McWeddings in Hong Kong

Burger and fries, anyone?

In the buzzing financial hub known for its fast living, young Hong Kong couples can now grab love on the run at the city's McDonald's outlets, which are offering a burgeoning new sideline: "McWeddings."

On Valentine's Day at a downtown McDonald's close to the financial district, the fast food joint was decked out with pink balloons, a "cake" stacked from apple pies, as well as a pair of tiny souvenir crystal M rings, for a surprise engagement bash thrown by Kelvin, a young model, for his girlfriend, Ashley.

Model Kelvin Kwong and nurse Ashley Tse share French fries during a surprise engagement bash thrown by Kelvin during Valentine's Day inside a McDonald's restaurant in Hong Kong February 14, 2011.

Model Kelvin Kwong and nurse Ashley Tse kiss in front of their friends and relatives during a surprise engagement bash thrown by Kelvin during Valentine's Day inside a McDonald's restaurant in Hong Kong, February 14, 2011.

Model Kelvin Kwong and nurse Ashley Tse stand in front of a "cake" stacked from apple pies during a surprise engagement bash thrown by Kelvin on Valentine's Day inside a McDonald's restaurant in Hong Kong, February 14, 2011.

Friends and relatives of model Kelvin Kwong and nurse Ashley Tse offer a toast during a surprise engagement bash thrown by Kelvin during Valentine's Day inside a McDonald's restaurant in Hong Kong February 14, 2011.

Model Kelvin Kwong and nurse Ashley Tse react during a surprise engagement bash thrown by Kelvin on Valentine's Day inside a McDonald's restaurant in Hong Kong February 14, 2011.

Model Kelvin Kwong and nurse Ashley Tse attend a party during a surprise engagement bash thrown by Kelvin on Valentine's Day inside a McDonald's restaurant in Hong Kong February 14, 2011.

A flower worn by model Kelvin Kwong is seen during a surprise engagement bash thrown by Kelvin to his nurse girlfriend Ashley Tse during Valentine's Day inside a McDonald's restaurant in Hong Kong February 14, 2011.

Model Kelvin Kwong and nurse Ashley Tse wear a pair of tiny souvenir crystal M rings during a surprise engagement bash thrown by Kelvin during Valentine's Day inside a McDonald's restaurant in Hong Kong February 14, 2011.

Poppy Farm Destroyed in Manipur

Imphal, Feb 15 : A combined team of Assam Rifles personnel and Narcotic Control Bureau officials destroyed an illegal poppy farm in the remote Chandel district, bordering Myanmar, during a week-long drive.

Drug analysts said crude products from these illegally-grown narcotic plants in Manipur reach the notorious Golden Triangle for manufacture of heroin.

Poppy cultivators in the state fetch around Rs 30,000 for a kg of the product, the analysts said adding that the quantity can be produced from the plants grown in 400 sq m.

The value of a kg of heroin in the local markets is Rs 10 lakh and it soared up to a crore in the international markets, they said.

To give a blow to the main source of funding for underground groups and save the society from harmful effects of drugs, 8 Assam Rifles personnel and Narcotic Bureau jointly carried out the week-long operation against poppy cultivation in the remote and inaccessible areas in Chandel district beginning from Monday last week.

AIIMS Specialists to Check Mamoni Health

Guwahati, Feb 15 : A team of specialists from AIIMS, New Delhi, is likely to reach the Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) on Tuesday to check on noted writer-cum-social activist Mamoni Raisom Goswami, who has been on ventilation since late Saturday night.

Considering the critical condition of the 68-year-old Jnanpith Award-winning writer, the hospital authority on Monday requested AIIMS to send two specialists to Assam by Tuesday. The eminent writer has been undergoing treatment at the ICU of the GMCH since Saturday night.

"We have asked AIIMS to send one critical care anaesthesia (medicine) specialist and one chest (respiratory) specialist for further investigation of Goswami's health. They are likely to arrive here on Tuesday morning here," said Ramen Talukdar, superintendent of GMCH.

A six-member specialist team of GMCH doctors is monitoring Goswami's health constantly. According to the hospital authority, the writer has been unconscious for more than 48 hours, which has caused her to lapse into a critical condition. Doctors attending to her have found infection in her lungs.

"Though her pulse and blood pressure are stable, constant high fever since Monday morning is a matter of concern. She's had high temperature since this morning and this is worsening her lung infection. We can't say anything right now; we are waiting for the specialists from AIIMS to come and check her. We hope for the best," Talukdar added.

In the meantime, governor J B Patnaik spoke to hospital authorities over phone, seeking updates about Mamoni's condition and wishing her speedy recovery.

The writers' community in the city has been thronging the hospital campus to enquire about her health. "She is an iconic litterateur of the state. She has inspired many with her writings and portrayed the Assamese society in all its colours. We all wish her a speedy recovery," said Pranab Barman, a noted poet of Assam.

It may be mentioned that Mamoni Raisom Goswami is also the recipient of the Principal Prince Clause Laureate Award.

Coca Cola Recipe 'Discovered'

A website claims to have uncovered Coca-Cola's top secret recipe.

Coca-Cola's top secret recipe has allegedly been revealed Photo: REUTERS

The ingredients of the drink, founded by John Pemberton, a medicinal pharmacist in 1886, have always been a mystery.

However, Thisamericanlife.org claims to have discovered a list in a photograph in a newspaper article giving the ingredients and exact quantities to make the drink.

The Feb 8 1979 edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a photo of someone holding open a book with a recipe claimed to be an exact replica of Pemberton's.

The recipe reportedly contains the exact measures of all the different oils needed for Coca Cola's secret ingredient, Merchandise 7X.

Despite making up only one per cent of the drink's total formula, Merchandise 7X is though to give the popular soft drink its unique taste.

The official recipe is said to be guarded 24-hours a day in a vault in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 'secret recipe'

Fluid extract of Coca 3 drams USP

Citric acid 3 oz

Caffeine 1oz

Sugar 30 (it is unclear from the markings what quantity is required)

Water 2.5 gal

Lime juice 2 pints 1 qrt

Vanilla 1oz

Caramel 1.5oz or more to colour

7X flavour (use 2oz of flavour to 5 gals syrup):

Alcohol 8oz

Orange oil 20 drops

Lemon oil 30 drops

Nutmeg oil 10 drops

Coriander 5 drops

Neroli 10 drops

Cinnamon 10 drops

Cristiano Ronaldo's Girlfriend Scores 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover

The cover of the magazine's 2011 Swimsuit Edition featuring Irina Shayk pictured in Hawaii and the model in the Philippines

The most coveted magazine cover in the world - the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition- announced Monday that soccer star Cristiano Renaldo's Russian girlfriend, Irina Shayk, will be its  2011's covergirl.

While the official unveiling took place on "The Late Show With David Letterman," the sexy cover featuring a sun-kissed Shayk in a pink and yellow halter-neck bikini, was reportedly leaked to the Twitterverse minutes before the taping.The New York City billboard wasaccidentally exposed, allowing time for a few cell phone snap shots, before quickly being covered up again.

Nonetheless, the stunning 25-year-old brunette (who has now appeared in the famed swimsuit edition five times, although this is her first cover) is well-deserving of her moment in the limelight

"There were 10 models there to do the Top 10 List, and nobody knows until the last minute who the cover will be," Shayk said. "And then I saw it, and I couldn't believe it."

Shayk's covers also include GQ Spain, GQ South Africa, and Elle Spain. She and Renaldo have been item since 2010 after meeting through their Armani Exchange modeling duties.

Her regimen to get ready for the skimpy work doesn't really change from her normal beauty routine.

"I do work out five times a week, but I'm never dieting," Shayk said. "I try to be healthy because to be happy and healthy on the inside shows on the outside."

Other models in the running included last year's winner Brooklyn Decker. The issue hits newstands on Tuesday.

Who Is This Bieber Defeater, This Esperanza Spalding?

Esperanza Spalding. (AP)

Who is this woman who dare defeat tween heartthrob Justin Bieber in musical competition, sending shivers of dread through the hearts of his millions of pre-pubescent female followers?

Why she is Esperanza Spalding.

And it turns out Spalding, who was named Best Newcomer at Sunday's Grammy Awards, has performed for President Barack Obama, with jazz legends like Herbie Hancock, and before thousands of eager Prince fans.

The 26-year-old Portland, Ore., native became the first jazz artist to win the award in a stunner that saw her defeat Mumford & Sons, Florence and the Machine, rapper Drake, and the heavy favorite, teen pop phenom Justin Bieber.

"I feel really lucky that I got to be acknowledged on this stage in front of so many people who hopefully will get to experience my music, and I got there by doing what's really dear to my heart," said Spalding backstage after her win.

You could say Spalding is the jazz world's Bieber: a young sensation who has been a top-seller in the genre, and with amazing hair, usually worn in a huge Afro. Her talents are deep: she's also a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer and arranger; was the youngest instructor at the renowned Berklee College of Music; and counts Prince as one of her musical mentors -- not to mention that White House concert.

Her latest album, "Chamber Music Society," blended her classical background with her jazz material. She had hoped for a nomination in the jazz categories and was surprised to be nominated for best new artist instead.

Things were still surreal for her after her big win: "It's already weird that I'm here, sitting in front of you," she told reporters backstage.

Spalding said her Grammy win was just the beginning in what she hoped would be a rich, long career in jazz.

"In the world I come from, this is the beginning of the beginning. I'm 26 ... people (in jazz) are more older than me, and they're still ascending," she said.

Which may be another thing she has in common with Bieber, with whom she hung out backstage after her win.

"He has great hair, and I have great hair!" she joked.