Woods closed the PGATour’s major championship season with a five-stroke victory on Sunday over Shaun Micheel, earning the 12th major title of his career and drawing ever closer to Jack Nicklaus’s record 18. Woods won his second major of 2006 and his third consecutive victory after wins at British Open and the Buick Open.
Woods became the first player to win the PGA Championship on the same course twice, adding to his victory here in 1999. Back then, he was still a skinny golfer not far from his days at Stanford University. Against Woods, it seems, the other guys always run out of holes. On Sunday, Woods showed just how versatile his game is, bringing it from a hard and fast links in England to a tree-lined, parkland course at Medinah, and outplaying opponents who have spent a decade running treadmills and beating balls on the range to match him.
Woods has won four of the last eight majors and will arrive at August National next April with a chance to win his third consecutive major title on a course that has given him four green jackets. Nicklaus’ mark is growing closer.
No matter what I think Tiger Woods is a master in the true sense. I am sure he is very soon beat the record of Jack Nicklaus’s 18 wins. He is only 30 now and he still has lots of time in him and guys i am sure he may rewrite many more records.
Ustad Bismillah Khan, Shehnai's purest note takes his last breath….
August 22, 2006 at 6:23 am (General)
Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan, 90, died of cardiac arrest at Varanasi’s Heritage Hospital early on Monday morning. A day’s State mourning has been declared in Uttar Pradesh and the national flag flew at half-mast. All government offices and schools and colleges in the State remained closed on Monday as a mark of respect to the maestro.
Thousands paid homage to ustad at Benia Bagh Park. UP governor T.V. Rajeswar, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, several ministers and other political leaders visited Varanasi to pay homage to Ustad Bismillah Khan. The ustad, who had been ailing for quite some time, was hospitalised on August 17 with age-related problems. He suffered a cardiac arrest at 1.45 am. Although he was put on the life-support system, doctors could not revive him. He was declared dead at 2.20 am on Monday.
Ustad Bismillah Khan had a keen desire to perform at India Gate in New Delhi. A recipient of the prestigious Bharat Ratna in 2001, Ustad Bismillah Khan had turned 90 in March this year, but he had refused to celebrate his birthday as a mark of protest against the Varanasi bomb blasts.
He was known for his secular leanings and had more friends in other communities than in his own. He was deeply attached to Varanasi and refused to leave the city even for treatment. He enthralled audiences at performances across the globe. He was conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Tansen Award and the Padma Vibhushan. He was also awarded the prestigious Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour. He was also conferred honorary doctorates by Benares Hindu University and Santiniketan.
Despite his fame, Bismillah Khan he led a simple life till his death. He always used the cycle rickshaw as his chief mode of transport which is an example of his simplicity. Born on March 21, 1916 in Bihar, the ustad’s ancestors were court musicians in the princely state of Dumraon.
Ustad Bismillah Khan gave a soul-stirring shehnai recital and poured his heart out into Raga Kafi from Red Fort on the eve of India’s first Republic Day ceremony. He also has the honor of performing in Indian Parliament. He was one of those rare
artistes who believed that musicians were supposed to be heard, and not seen. His Jugalbandi performnaces are one of the unforgetable moments for most of the people in India.
I would not say that Ustad’s demise has brought an end to Shehnai legacy in the country because there are lot of talented artists in India who can play this instrument but I am sure that it will really difficult for Indians to find one person who can match up with Bismillah Khan and continue his legacy and represent India and carry forward this culture.
Exercises to tone your Lower Abs
August 18, 2006 at 3:41 pm (Health and Fitness)
Flabby lower abs are a nagging problem for most of us and to get rid of it one must exercise. Nothing else helps, not even a starvation diet. There are a few basic steps one must do everyday. Remember, if you lift the leg too high or way far behind, the strain will be transferred onto the middle abs. Extend the leg too far out and you will risk injuring your back. Hence, do it with care.
1. Reverse sit-ups Lie on the floor, with palms under your lower back to avoid the arch. Lift the legs and bend the knee till your legs are at a right angle. From this point move your knees towards your chest maintaining the same right angle, till your waist lifts off the floor. (Not more than 4-6 inches). Hold for a count and return to starting position. Do 3 sets of 25 reps each. Hold a medicine ball between the knees for more strain.
2. Alternate leg raisers Extend your legs till the knees are almost locked out, with toes pointing forward. Lift one leg till it is almost vertical holding the other leg a little above the floor always for a good stretch in the lower abs. Alternate the same movement with the other leg. Do 3 sets of 30 reps each.
3. Scissors Here the starting position is the same as in the above exercise. The only difference is that instead of moving the legs in a vertical position, here we do a criss-cross with the legs alternating the left over the right and vice versa.
Do 3 sets of 30 reps each. One can use ankle weights or an inclined abdomen bench for more strain. Always exhale from the mouth while lifting the leg for a better flex and best results.
Note: People suffering from a lower back problem must consult a doctor before doing these exercises.
Simple Ways to own a Six-Pack Abdomen
August 18, 2006 at 3:25 pm (Health and Fitness)
Ahh finally got time to update the blog and complete the exercise routines. In the earlier posts we have seen exercises for arms, chest, shoulder, back and Legs. These exercises are good. But the problem I reckon most people are facing today is the belly. Let us now see some simple measures to be taken to control belly.
Good Cuppa
Dandelion tea a few times in a day is good to have a flat stomach. Dandelion’s bitter compounds reduce water retention and spruce up digestion. It also acts as mild laxative, helping you to clean your system effectively.
Ball Game
We dont have to play any games 
. Sitting on an exercise ball is one of the easiest ways to tone your abs. You could do this at your desk while working or while watching TV at home. Do this for a fortnight and you will definately find the difference. You could also do some crunches on the ball but make sure that you balance yourself well before you start off. If you are not comfortable with the crunches on the ball, you can always do it on the floor. Remember crunches is really effective exercise for those who are having beer belly.
Take The Stairs
Next time you head towards the lift, turn back think of your belly and take good old stairs. Climbing makes your stomach muscles work harder. The result, a flat tummmy that makes you look leaner. Running and Skipping are also a very good exercises. They not only work on your stomach but also improve your stamina.
Yoga to the Rescue
Experts recommend yoga is great way to cut flab around the tummy. Also yoga gives you a good posture.
Arm Exercises
August 1, 2006 at 4:22 pm (Health and Fitness)
The arms are divided into biceps, triceps and forearms. I am mentioning only 3 variations for biceps, 3 for triceps and 2 for forearms. These I reckon will be enough for us to have good looking arms . We will start with tricep exercises then biceps and end the exercise with forearms.
Tricep Extension
- This exercise helps us grow the tricep muscle.
- Do 4 sets. 2 sets with light weight(12 repetitions) and 2 sets heavy weight(8 repetitions).
- If you are able to do more repetitions increase the weight.
Cable Tricep Exercise
- This exercise helps us grow the tricep muscle.
- Do 4 sets. 2 sets with light weight(12 repetitions) and 2 sets heavy weight(8 repetitions).
Dumbbell Tricep Exercise
- This exercise helps us defining proper shape to the triceps.
- Do 4 sets. 2 sets with light weight(12 repetitions) and 2 sets heavy weight(8 repetitions).
Now let us see the bicep exercises.
Barbell Bicep Curls
- This exercise helps us to build the bicep and also works on your forearms.
- Do 4 sets. 2 sets with light weight(12 repetitions) and 2 sets heavy weight(8 repetitions).
Dumbbell Hammers
- This exercise concentrates more on lower biceps and gives a god definition to it.
- Do 4 sets. 2 sets with light weight(12 repetitions) and 2 sets heavy weight(8 repetitions).
Dumbbell Exercise on a Bench
- This exercise isolates the bicep muscles and works on it.
- Do 4 sets. 2 sets with light weight(12 repetitions) and 2 sets heavy weight(8 repetitions).
Let us see the forearm exercises now
Dumbbell Excercise for Forearms
- This exercise works on forearms.
- Do 4 sets. 2 sets with light weight(12 repetitions) and 2 sets heavy weight(8 repetitions).
Barbell Exercise for Forearms
- This exercise also works on forearms.
- Do 4 sets. 2 sets with light weight(12 repetitions) and 2 sets heavy weight(8 repetitions).
This is not it there many other variations for arms. But these variations work well. You can always change the variations once you get experienced.
