Northeast Girl Sings Upside Down, And Breaks Guinness Record

By Rajul Hegde

Sourabhee hangs upside down while Preity Zinta watches


Mumbai, Mar 16 : Colors TV's new show Guinness World Records -- Ab India Todega, which will be hosted by Preity Zinta, will see quite a few feats being performed.

The first episode, which will be telecast on March 18, will see former India Idol winner Sourabhee Debbarama attempt to sing a song hanging upside down. She has taken up the challenge to break the existing record of New Zealand's Rebecca Wright, who sang upside down for three minutes and 53 seconds.

Sourabhee did not know if such a record existed until she contacted the producers (Miditech) of the show. "I contacted the production house after watching the show's promos on TV to check whether they have any record on singing. I learnt about this record from them."

'I just concentrated on my singing, lyrics and breathing'

The 24-year-old singer claims it wasn't easy practicing singing upside down "On the first day, I got a very bad headache and couldn't sleep well," she said. "I practiced for five-six days and slowly got used to it.

"I would practise by watching TV while going upside down on the sofa. I practised on a chair as well. The final practice was during the technical rehearsal when I was hanging upside down wearing a harness."

Was she nervous? "Yes! I was praying that I don't get distracted with the audience and cameras. I just concentrated on my singing, lyrics and breathing," she said.

The singer was judged on her voice, singing and the pauses -- or the lack of it -- between the three songs that she sang: Kuch Toh Hua Hai and It's The Time To Disco (both from Kal Ho Naa Ho) and Bhumroo (Mission Kashmir).

"I think I performed well; I sang for about four minutes and 30 seconds," she said.

'I want to try my luck in acting'

Sourabhee raved about the show's host Preity Zinta. "She is very beautiful and bubbly. I was just staring at her without blinking! She was very supportive during my performance," she smiled.

Sourabhee claims she chose the songs to impress Preity, as all of them feature her.

Sourabhee was not visible much after winning Indian idol 4. She explains that stage shows in India and abroad kept her busy. I have sung for (Parineeta music composer) Shantanu Moitra's Bengali album and for some Assamese and Manipur album and films as well.

"I want to become a playback singer, and try my luck in acting also," she said. "I plan to enrol myself in an acting school. I will do television if I get interesting offers."

Image: Sourabhee completes her Guinness feat

Deepika Impressed By Mary Kom

Deepika Padukone is undoubtedly one of the hottest youth icons of today and the younger generation, particularly girls and aspiring actresses take inspiration from her amazing success story.

The 'never say die' spirit of a sportswoman, which Deepika has inherited from her father, ace badminton star, Prakash Padukone, is reflected in her approach to work as well, and despite two flops in the form of BREAK KE BAAD and KHELEIN HUM JEE JAAN SEY, Deepika is back in the limelight with her sizzling tattooed look in DUM MAARO DUM, that has captured the imagination of the youth and has made DMD an awaited film.

Interestingly, very recently a question was put forth to Deepika by the fourth estate as to who was her ideal woman?

And the answer had everyone surprised because it was not any of yesteryear's top actresses but a sportswoman who has done India proud on numerous occasions in the field of boxing that occupied a high place in Deepika's eye.

Yes, we are talking about Mary Kom, the wonder woman from Manipur who has won the world boxing championship five times. So what was it about Mary Kom that impressed Deepika?

Well, according to Deepika, Mary Kom is an ideal for many (especially women) and the reason is because of the way she has managed to maintain a fine balance between her work and her family and has excelled in her career and at the same time given time to her family coming out triumphant against all odds.

Deepika added that Mary was worth admiring because after getting married she took a two year break and came back and won the world championship title twice and did not let marriage affect her at all.

Certainly, she may have inherited the sportsman spirit from her father but an ideal like Mary Kom is definitely an inspiration that will drive many others too.

Indian Govt Can Switch Off Your Internet If Necessary

By Debjoy Sengupta & Harsimran Julka

New Delhi, Mar 16 : The Indian government has armed itself with powers to 'switch off' or kill the internet during times of national emergencies, becoming one of the first few countries to assume such far reaching authority.

Even as the US and other western nations debate the judiciousness of giving the government's complete control to shut down cyber traffic, India has moved a step ahead and incorporated a provision under the IT Act of 2008, giving the Central government, or any of its officers specially authorised by it, to block the internet if necessary.

The shutdown can happen in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, its defense, security of its states, friendly relations with foreign states or for public order. Failure to comply will result in imprisonment of up to seven years.

The implications of this move are immense as it gives the government overriding powers over a fast-growing and widely used resource, and one that is becoming increasingly crucial in conducting commerce and social interaction.

The country has about 70 million internet users. A figure growing at about 25% every year. "Where the Central government or any of its officer specially authorised by it in this behalf is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognisable offence relating to above, it may subject to the provisions of sub-sections (2) for reasons to be recorded in writing, by order direct any agency of the government or intermediary to block access by the public or cause to be blocked for access by public any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource," 69A of the Information Technology Amendment Act, 2008 says.

The amendment was pushed through in the weeks following the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. Supporters of an internet 'kill switch' .

As it is being popularly called ? say it will enable countries to prevent the spread of rumours and false information during times of national crisis and help coordinate a coherent response without any sign of public panic. But it can also be misused by governments to shut down legitimate protests and exercise illegal power in the face of public opposition. The governments in the North Africa and the Middle East have been resorting to this tactic during the violent protests triggered in January this year against despotic rule.

The plan has drawn predictable ire from bloggers, activists and lawyers but the government also has its supporters. "If it's in national security's interest, switching off the internet for a short period is not unwelcome," says Amrita Chaudhary, director at Cyber Cafe Association of India.

"It is not a bad idea to switch off the internet for security reasons. But we should distinguish between national security and privacy," Naresh Ajwani, secretary at Internet Service Providers of India, said. Not satisfied with this provision, India is now moving ahead to develop alternate plans in case the 'switch' does not work.

The draft plan by the Cabinet Committee on Security and Ministry of Home Affairs along with Ministry of IT & Communications to 'choke' the internet at will, which ET reported last year, is also learnt to be in its final stages.

Choking refers to handicapping the servers by subjecting it to multiple requests and attacks and preventing it from functioning effectively. Some experts believe that this may be easy to implement than a complete kill as the latter will be challenged in courts.

"Although it may be technically possible to block the net in India, theoretically it may be very difficult given the dynamic nature of the constitution and the judiciary," cyber law expert Pavan Duggal said. If the government decides to block the internet, it may be challenged in any Indian court and would be subject to judicial review.

Pepsi's Revolutionary New Bottle

PURCHASE, N.Y. (AP) -- Remember the Cola Wars? Get ready for the Bottle Wars.

PepsiCo Inc. on Tuesday unveiled a bottle made entirely of plant material, which it says bests the technology of competitor Coca-Cola and reduces its potential carbon footprint.

The bottle is made from switch grass, pine bark, corn husks and other materials. Ultimately, Pepsi plans to also use orange peels, oat hulls, potato scraps and other leftovers from its food business.

The new bottle looks, feels and protects the drink inside exactly the same as its current bottles, said Rocco Papalia, senior vice president of advanced research at PepsiCo. "It's indistinguishable."

PepsiCo says it is the world's first bottle of a common type of plastic called PET made entirely of plant-based materials. Coca-Cola Co. currently produces a bottle using 30 percent plant-based materials and recently estimated it would be several years before it has a 100 percent plant bottle that's commercially viable.

"We've cracked the code," said Papalia.

The discovery potentially changes the industry standard for plastic packaging. Traditional plastic, called PET, is used in beverage bottles, food pouches, coatings and other common products.

The plastic is the go-to because it's lightweight and shatter-resistant, its safety is well-researched and it doesn't affect flavors. It is not biodegradable or compostable. But it is fully recyclable, a characteristic both companies maintain in their new creations.

Traditional PET plastic is made using fossil fuels, like petroleum, a limited resource that's rising in price. By using plant material instead, companies reduce their environmental impact. Pepsi says the new plastic will cost about the same as traditional plastic.

The company, based in Purchase, N.Y., said it has had dozens of people working on the process for years. While PepsiCo wouldn't specify the cost to research and design the new bottle, Papalia said it is in the millions of dollars.

It's one of several steps PepsiCo has taken recently to reduce its environmental impact. The company created a fully compostable bag for its SunChips line. It cut the amount of plastic in its Aqua-Fina bottle in 2009. And its Naked Juice line is in the midst of switching to a bottle made entirely of recycled plastic bottles.

PepsiCo says of its 19 biggest brands, those that generate more than $1 billion in revenue, 11 are beverage brands that use PET. The company says the packaging will cost roughly the same as it does today.

PepsiCo plans to test the product in 2012 in a few hundred thousand bottles. Once the company is sure it can successfully produce the bottle at that scale, it will begin converting all its products over.

Is Avril Going Bad?

Avril Gets Neck Tattoo (PHOTOS)

Consider this the next step in Avril's bad girl makeover.

The singer tweeted on Saturday that "'I'm getting a f**ing neck tattoo." Very hardcore. She then tweeted "I did it," while seemingly in mid-ink.

Finally, she tweeted a picture of the finished product, with a very effusive, informative description: "Its a...... Safety pin b**hes!!!!"

Earlier in March, Lavigne released a new, rocking music video for her new single "What The Hell," showing off her discovery of certain parts of the Queen's English.

The Million Pound Mutt

Red Tibetan Mastiff Becomes World's Most Expensive Dog

They say money can't buy love – but £1million will get you man's most expensive best friend.

A red Tibetan mastiff has become the priciest dog in the world after being sold for 10 million Chinese yuan, or £945,000.

Big Splash, or Hong Dong in Chinese, was bought by a coal baron from the north of China.

And it's lucky his new master is a multi-millionaire, because the hefty price tag doesn't factor in Big Splash's diet – enough chicken and beef to fill a growing 180lb dog, spiced up with Chinese delicacies such as sea cucumber and abalone.

Pricey pup: A Red Tibetan Mastiff called Big Splash has become the world's most expensive dog

His owner will need a big house too, as adult Tibetan mastiffs have been known to weigh as much as 286lb – the same as a sizeable rugby player.

But according to breeder Lu Liang, Big Splash is a 'perfect specimen' and the extravagant price for the 11-month-old is completely justified.

He said: 'We have spent a lot of money raising this dog, and we have the salaries of plenty of staff to pay' – adding that the new owner could charge almost £10,000 a time for Big Splash to breed with a female.

The high price paid for the dog is a sign that the red Tibetan mastiff has become a status symbol in China, replacing jewellery and cars as a way for the super-rich to show off their wealth.

Ancient breed: The dog is a descendant of animals kept by nomadic Chinese tribes

Not only is red considered a lucky colour, but Tibetan mastiffs are thought to be holy animals, blessing their owners' health and security.

Tibetans believe the dogs have the souls of monks and nuns who were not good enough to be reincarnated as humans or into Shambhala, the heavenly realm. 

Owners of the breed have included Queen Victoria, King George IV and  Genghis Khan – who supposedly took 30,000 of the dogs with his army in his bid to conquer Western Europe.

These days there are only around 300 Tibetan mastiffs in the UK, and puppies sell for a more reasonable £850 to £1,000.

Nouveau riche: Red Tibetan Mastiffs have become a status symbol for newly wealthy Chinese, with the country's economic boom evident in the changing Beijing skyline

James Pally, a Tibetan mastiff breeder from Pantymwyn near Mold in Flintshire, North Wales, said:

'They are very smart and they think for themselves and can sense danger very acutely.

'Tibetan mastiffs were originally used to guard the livestock and they are very good with other animals and they love children.

'I have six of them and if you don't give them enough attention they sit in front of the TV.'

The title of most expensive dog in the world was previously held by a Tibetan mastiff called Red Lion, who was valued at £915,000 last year.

Kate Rocks in a Bikini!

Spain : Check out these pics of a shirtless Prince William and Kate Middleton on holiday in Ibiza, Spain.



The photos, which show Kate rocking a white bikini while lounging on a yacht, were taken back in September 2006 but recently re-surfaced.

William, 28, and Kate, 29, have been making appearances together in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and North Wales before their wedding next month.

The couple will tie the knot April 29 at Westminster Abbey in London.

Vanessa Hudgens Hated Her 'Tree Trunk Legs,'

Talks Cheetos Weight Gain

By Hollie McKay

Vanesa Hudgens in the April SHAPE.

Most young men (and women) would probably consider Vanessa Hudgens' petite physique close to perfect.

But it turns out there was one body part the star was particularly self-conscious of during her teen-age years.

"I grew up dancing a lot, so I was self-conscious of what I would call my 'tree trunk legs' because they are very muscular," she told FOX411's Pop Tarts while promoting her new film "Beastly." "When you are dancing a lot every day you become very muscular and I did not appreciate that at the time, but now I’ve learned to love them."

But apparently it wasn't just a lot of running and jumping that kept Hudgens' legs on the sturdy side.

The young star has gone from teen sensation to sexy actress right in front of our eyes.

She told the April issue of Shape that, as a teenager, "I used to go to Cold Stone Creamery, get a tub of Butterfinger ice cream, and eat it all before bedtime. And my fingers were permanently stained orange from Cheetos.”  Her aha moment? She was on tour with "High School Musical" and started popping out of her costume after the show took a short break.

“When I finally got it zipped up, my boobs were up to my chin!” she told the magazine. “The director, Kenny Ortega, saw me and said, ‘Whoa, mamacita, look at you!’ And I was like, ‘I don’t know where this came from!’ But I knew. I lived on Hot Pockets and never touched vegetables; I needed to do something about my diet.”

Hudgens got herself back in shape, and hasn't looked back since. She is currently starring in her first non-singing-and-dancing role in "Beastly." But it turns out she almost didn’t get that opportunity. Insiders tell Pop Tarts the leading lady role was initially offered to Blake Lively, who turned it down due to scheduling conflicts.

"There are positive and negative experiences with everything that you endeavor whether it’s business or fashion," Hudgens told Pop Tarts of her rough and tumble career choice. "It’s definitely a lot more cutthroat [in Hollywood] but it’s really exciting. I think its surrounding yourself with creative people and just staying true to what you are passionate about."