We begin our new season at 99.94 with a solemn and sincere article written while South Africa were still celebrating their first series win in England during my lifetime. Our obviously disappointed contributor, a man who skillfully extracts the objective from the subjective, The Tooting Trumpet, put fingertips to keyboard and produced the fine unemotional piece below despite, I suspect, the urge to throw his laptop out the window in a pique of frustration. That's discipline, desire and dedication personified, something a few in the England shirt could emulate.

South Africa's first series win in England since Beatlemania

If you're a Son of the Voortrekkers or the Zulu or any other group of the Rainbow Nation, this is a proud day. Your captain, Graeme Smith, has emerged from the IPL winning Rajasthan Royals a less intense, but equally driven man, who has learned much from the greatest captain Test cricket never saw, one SK Warne, and delivered a series win in England for the first time since 1965. If you're a Son of The Old Dart, it's like the Fletcher years (1999-2006) never happened.

As series wins must, the South Africans' success was built on solid batting from experienced men. Up front, in every sense, Graeme Smith is a more rounded batsmen than the bludgeoner of two double-hundreds the last time he was in England. He is supported by the second coming of Neil McKenzie, which has echoes of Justin Langer's move up the order seven years ago. Amla at three is unorthodox, but effective; Kallis at four needs no introduction; then comes the counter-punching Prince at five and the mercurial de Villiers at six, backed up by South Africa's very own Rod Marsh, Mark Boucher at seven. That's an average of 67 Tests per man, with plenty of the ups and downs that build character - a batting unit to match any in the world right now.

The bowling was much vaunted before it arrived in England with wunderkind Dale Steyn leading a set of 140kph merchants. It didn't turn out that way. Steyn was quick at times, but was rendered toothless by good pitches. Pick of the bowlers was Morne Morkel, raw-boned and raw, but with something of his fellow right-arm giant bowler / left-hand useful batsman, Curtly Ambrose about him. Ntini, in the twilight of his career and Nel offered little more than enthusiasm, Kallis offered craftiness and Harris offered temptation but no spin.

But the plain fact is that batting from the top echelon of the international game and bowling from its mid-ranks was plenty enough to see off a poor England side on their home turf. All the "glass half-empty" pessimists were proved right. Strauss isn't over his technical problems, Cook is still more potential than results, Vaughan is in terminal decline, Bell and Collingwood capable of only one good knock per series and KP a great batsman who plays too many poor shots. Amongst the bowlers, Anderson and Sidebottom are no Harmison and Hoggard, Broad is no Jones (with the ball, though immensely promising with the bat) and Flintoff has too many demands placed upon his battered frame. Most disappointing amongst a disappointing bowling outfit, is Monty Panesar whose career, having stalled, is now in reverse with no discernible coaching offered to a still young and somewhat unworldly man.

Since the first innings of both teams in the Lord's Test when South Africa were just getting their eyes in, Graeme Smith's men have played some excellent cricket peppered with an occasional flat session. Conversely, Michael Vaughan's men have played some flat cricket peppered with the occasional good session.

From here (after this week's dead rubber at The Oval), South Africa go to Aus for an eagerly awaited series in December and January (alas only three Tests, with just three days of warm-up cricket). England, yet again, go back to the drawing board.

António Camilo, autarca de Odemira e presidente da AMLA, anunciou, em declarações à «Renascença», a emissão de um comunicado a pedir esclarecimentos sobre a prospecção: «Sairá ainda hoje um ofício da Associação de Municípios e, naturalmente, incentivarei cada um dos meus colegas a fazer, individualmente, o mesmo, perguntando, afinal, qual é a zona concessionada, a que distância é que está da costa e pedindo para sermos informados assim que isto for avante».

O autarca estranha o facto de os municípios não terem sido consultadas sobre as intenções da GALP e repudia o comportamento da petrolífera, que ignorou a opinião das câmaras.

Uma empresa da Noruega, fez, entre 1999 e 2002, na costa portuguesa, uma série de levantamentos que apontam para a existência de alguns indícios de crude.

De acordo com o Professor Luís Menezes Pinheiro, especialista em Geofísica Marinha, docente da Universidade de Aveiro, a GALP deverá agora estudar a viabilidade económica das estruturas encontradas.

FONTE

Bhringraj: also called as maka, the fragrant leaves of this plant are very useful as they can be used to make very beneficial herbal oil which has a strong cooling property. This oil helps the hair to grow as well as refreshes the eyes. Since it cools the scalp, this oil can be used for curing headaches.

Jabakusum: the common hibiscus is a great source of hair oil with excellent properties. The leaves as well as the flowers of this plant are used to darken graying hair and the oil made out of it helps in hair growth as well as the health of hair.

Neem: ever seen the western countries applied for patents of neem products, we have woken up to the benefits of this plant. Oils made out of the leaves and the barriers cure headaches, baldness, increase hair growth and strength.

Brahmi: It is an herb which grows wild everywhere in India. It is the commonest ingredient in hair oils. It cools the head, removes stress and helps hair growth.

Parijat: also called as harsingar, this tree has orange, white fragrant flowers. The juice of these flowers cures dandruff and strengthens hair roots.

Tulsi: the leaves of this plant when used in oil add luster to hair.

Castor seeds: hair oil made of these seeds brings about sound sleep and healthy hair.

Henna: henna leaves are used to darken the gray hair. They nourish and condition the hair.

Curry leaves: also called as meethi neem; the leaves when eaten regularly prevent graying. They nourish the roots and restore normal pigmentation of the hair. The leaves can be eaten raw in chutney or their juice may be added to buttermilk or yogurt.

Amla: enriches the hair growth and pigmentation. Amla water makes a good rinse for the hair.

Not to be as Doug Watson, the Dolphins' most experienced cricketer, was omitted from the semi-final clash against the Eagles at Kingsmead on Friday, April 18th.  Adding Hashim Amla to the team totalled 5 players of colour.  The player that Doug Watson was probably selected over was Imran Khan, the Durban High School oldboy.  I watched him bat against the Lions the week before and he top-edged a beautiful six over cover and another edge for four through the slips.  "Ah", thought KZN selectors, "Immy is playing well".  Doug Watson played and missed, before being dismissed for a low score.  He was subsequently dropped.  So much for loyalty. 

How dare Doug Watson play for the Dolphins for 14 seasons!  How dare Doug Watson not go Kolpak when turning 30 like all the other great batsmen in SA, discarded from the national setup! 

While the Dolphins pretty much hammered the Eagles in the semi-final and now have a home final, I suspect that the services of Doug Watson will be required in a crunch match.  Imran Khan is not a good limited-overs cricketer.  For 4 seasons I've been watching him prod, dab and edge balls for 4....and now 6.  That type of approach will not work against Dale Steyn, the Morkel brothers nor Andre Nel.  Doug Watson's cool head is what is needed for an important clash that if won, will return the respectability of the Dolphins - something which has been lost ever since the retirement of Jonty Rhodes and the strange selections by the selectors.

Regarding the match for which Jon Kent served his suspension, this was an opportunity to bring in Wade Wingfield or Kyle Smit, some of the seasoned big-hitters whose names have disappeared from all Dolphins team sheets.

Well, off to the final on Friday.....should be an excellent match.  Dolphins have a super bowling line-up, but the Titans have some good hitters at the top of the order.  If they get going, 200 look out. 

My winning team for Friday: Doug Watson, Grant Rowley, Hashim Amla, Ahmed Amla(c), Jon Kent, Pierre de Bruyn, Johann Louw, Daryn Smit(wk), Morne van Vuuren, Alfie Tomas, Yusuf Abdullah.

The sight of fresh green Gooseberries always bring back my sweet childhood days at my grandparent's place. Unlike todays apartment culture , we had an independent house and a huge garden around it. There were quiet a number of coconut trees, sitapal, red guava, a couple of neem trees , and gooseberry. This was apart from a number of flowering shrubs like hibiscus and mesmerising manoranjitham .This garden was the favourite play area for all the neighbourhood kids. And our favourite in-between snack was nellikkai mixed with a pinch of salt and chilli powder.....wow!! it makes me drool even now :) .These days I do not get a chance to see the small tiny variety which we used to enjoy. What we commonly get in market is the bigger ones known as malai-nellikkai or Amla.The sourness is a bit more than the tiny one , but both are rich in vitamin C and anti-oxidants as most of you would know and relishing one everyday will definitely keep your resistance in check. I dont know whether Apple a day keeps the doctor away but this sour apple definitely does. Well....ok now i really dont understand why the good things are not always tasty....because even I do not have the grit to sit and enjoy this Amla everyday, i do not take a liking for this sourness. So you can imagine how kids will behave. Thats where this Chyawanprash comes to rescue, the sour taste is carefully camouflaged in this gooseberry conserve which can be bottled and kept.The recipe I have given here is the basic one which I learnt from my sister-in-law. With a 5 year old son, she tries all kinds of masking techniques like this to make him eat :)

Ingredients :

Malai nellikkai or Amla - 15-18
Sugar - 1 cup or as per taste
Ghee or Clarified butter - 5-6 Tbsp

To powder:

cardamom - 5-6 pods
Cumin seeds - 2 Tsp
Black pepper - 2 Tsp

Method:

1.Wash the Amla and then pressure cook them for a whistle with very little water, probably less than half a cup
2.Remove the seeds from the boiled Amla and then mash them nicely.Make sure you remove any excess water. If you cook them with less water, there will not be any need to squueze the water out.
3.Now in a wide mouthed vessel heat the ghee and saute the mashed Amla in it for about 5-6 minutes. This is to evaporate the moisture in the mixture.
4.Once you are sure the Amla ghee mixture is cooked enough add the sugar to it and keep stirring. I added around 1 cup of sugar , but you can reduce or increase the amount depending on how much sourness you like in you chyawanprash
5.Once you add the sugar , the mixture will loosen up a little bit , keep stirring it and within a few minutes all the mixture will come together without sticking to the sides.Now add the cardamom, pepper and cumin powder , give it a mix and turn off the flame.

Allow it to cool completely before bottling it.A spoon of this can be taken along with milk everyday. You can reduce the quantity of sugar in this recipe to half and substitute it with honey. But make sure you add the honey once Chyawanprash cools completely. The Chyawanprash stays good for almost 2 months.

The key is that this chutney has to be sour. You can use raw mangoes or gooseberries. Have not tried yet, but am toying with the idea of making arachu kalaki with granny smith apples. Will probably put it up as well if I try it out. Click here for the recipe of manga arachu kalaki.

It was a hot, energy-sapping day that saw a continuation of some ill-directed bowling, bad fielding, ill-tempered admonishment between some of the Indian players, some careful batting, a solid (if not spectacular) batting display by Hashim Amla, a solid (if not spectacular) bowling display by Harbhajan Singh and a confident response from Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag. All of this on a pitch that looked less interesting and more dead than it was on day-1 -- if that was at all possible!

Virender Sehwag admitted that the Indian fielding was somewhat shoddy. There were times when Kumble remonstrated openly with Laxman; Harbhajan with R. P. Singh; Harbhajan with Sree Santh; Dravid with Sreesanth... It seemed that it was open season on venting frustrations against anyone -- and the younger players seemed to cop it more than the seniors!

The India bowlers toiled all day. They had to be extremely patient. It did not help that the umpires seemed to work against them too. I felt sorry for Sree Santh when what looked like a plumb LBW against Mark Boucher wasn't given by New Zealand umpire Tony Hill. "What was he thinking? Had the heat fried his brains?" were questions that popped to my mind! Replays showed the thinnest of inside edges! Similar questions with some choice expletives popped out when Asad Rauf did not spot a glove-deflection off Paul Harris to Rahul Dravid at slips off the bowling of Harbhajan Singh. The fact that Rauf did not spot the deflection or the accompanying dead give-away (batsman's head snapping backwards to see if the catch was completed) would have left the already enervated players even more deflated and exhausted.

The South Africans batted extremely well though and battled the hot conditions as well as steady bowling from Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. Hashim Amla, in particular, looked solid as a rock. Sree Santh bowled a good morning spell but fell away after that. R. P. Singh continued to bowl like a millionaire.

In reply, thanks to Sehwag's 61-ball 50 and Jaffer's patient 21 off 65 balls, India reached 82-0. There is still a huge total to overhaul though and it may be that India need to bat on and on and on for getting even close to manufacturing a result in this game. Either that or the Indian batsmen have to throw their wickets away in a stunning array of rash strokes. I can't really see the bowlers doing too much on this pitch!

I give the first two sessions of the day to South Africa and the last one to India and so the SBS at the end of day-2 reads: India, 1 : South Africa, 4.

-- Mohan

It was a terrible error of judgement by the world record holding keeper and it conceivably cost the bearded Amla a maiden Test double century.

Amla's knock was consistent and chanceless and it is obvious that he has the perfect temperment to succeed at the highest level in the toughest format the sport offers.

The supple use of his wrists was a highlight as was his ability to accumulate singles while waiting for the bad ball to dispatch to the fence.

India wilted in the oppressive heat and devoid of ideas they resorted to Kumble bowling around the wicket pitching a foot or two outside leg-stump while Harbhajhan bowled very straight with a packed leg-side field.

The seamers RP Singh and Sreesanth failed to move the ball in the air and with the pitch offering very little in terms of sideways movement all that was required for South Africa was to play straight and wait for the loose delivery. And to their credit they had the discipline to do just that.

The tale of the Test to date has been the Proteas ability to work as a team rebuilding partnerships at the fall of every wicket. In cricket, regardless of your talent, you must master the basics of the game if you are to succeed. Smith's team appear well-drilled, focused and remarkably well prepared considering all the drama about quotas and selection in the lead up to this tour.

Mornie Morkel smashed a four through midwicket off the last ball before tea to pass the 500 and the Proteas will, I expect, declare in the hour before stumps to have a crack at the tired and disinterested Indian top-order.

The pitch will only deteriorate from this point and if the South African bowlers show the same sort of application as their batting bethren, then India may well be in for a battle to save this match.

Tea Day 2, time for a well earned cuppa.

2. Washing hair and scalp with decoction of neem leaves helps to prevent hair loss and stabilizes color.

3. Boil few pieces of amla, curry leaves and neem leaves in pure coconut oil till it becomes crisp. Massage this oil on scalp. This is best tonic for hair growth.

4. Rubbing scalp with equal quantity of amla juice and lime juice after washing hair help in hair loss and increases the luster.

5. Consuming fresh lettuce leaves or lettuce juice helps in growth of hair.

6. After washing hair with cold water, rub the scalp vigorously  with finger tips till you feel the heat. This effectively controls hair loss.

7. Applying a pack of soaked and ground fenugreek seeds for half an hour help to prevent dandruff.
 

Hair can tell so much about our health. Check it up regularly and give it a regular massage to enjoy softness and strenght at the same time!

 Choose the oil which best fits your needs or use more then one solution alternatively. From left to right:

• Revitalizing: this oil of Himalaya line products from India is no-sticky, prevents hair fall and stimulates hair growth. Contains bhringaraja and amalaki, proven hair growth promoters, methi, which is ich in lecithin and proteins that nourishes the hair roots. Neem and bilva prevent scalp infections and keep hair helthy.
• Cooling: Amla by Dabur cools down the head area and makes the hair dark and shining.
• Healthy: Lavender hair oil, this quality product by Two Girls contains vitamin E, which nourishes the hair and keep it healthy, bouncy and lustrous. It's a no-sticky product.
• Medical: extrimely cooling and with a strong fragrance Navartran oil is not difficult to find in most of the Indian shops. With its composition of pure herbs is against headache and feelings of heaviness originated by the mind. Considering the packaging it is one of the first oil on the oriental market. it comes in glass bottles.
• Therapeutic: Mountain Ebony by Biotique is a poly vegetable compound. Non greasy. Everyday use hair vitaliser. Contains Melia Azadirachta, Piper Longum, Carthamus Tinctorius, Glycyrrhiza Glabra, Euphorbia Thymifolia, Brassica Nigra, Purified water. It is not a cosmetic product and promotes hair growth.
• Nourishing: Pure coconut oil by Parachute, inexpensive, manifactured in Mumbai. With  its delicate fragrance is the most favorite for kids and adults. 

Let nature take care of your hair!

HENNA, INDIGO AND AMLA

Lawsonia Inermis
(Henna)

Henna, otherwise known as Lawsonia Inermis, comes from a plant of the privet family, and has been known for 5,000 years for its superb hair conditioning and colouring properties. No other substance, whether natural or synthetic, will strengthen the hair and give it shine as effectively as HENNA. Henna contains "lawsonia". This substance provides the well-known conditioning and colouring properties associated with Henna Powders.

Henna Powder colours the hair in two ways; by penetration and by staining. Henna molecules have a chemical affinity with keratin (hair) molecules, and thus the pigment can pass freely into the hair. The penetration of lawsonia imparts colour and condition into the hair. It closes and strengthens the outer cuticle of the hair, thus giving the superb shine and conditioning effect, which is the unique feature of Henna.

People have used Henna, Indigo, and Cassia Obovata, to dye and condition their hair for thousands of years. These are all safe, natural, and make your hair beautiful and healthy. If you don't want to use dangerous para-phenylenediamine and formaldehyde products that are in commercial hair dyes and conditioners, use Henna, Indigo and Cassia Obovata to dye your hair.

Use Henna to dye your hair red or auburn beautifully, safely, naturally

Use Indigo to dye your hair black, beautifully, safely, naturally

Use Cassia Obovata to condition your hair, beautifully, safely, naturally

Do you want Cassia Obovata to condition your hair? Get it done at ekaeke!

Do you want Henna to give safe colour to your hair? Get it done at ekaeke!

Do you want to Indigo to give your hair a nature black colour or rid of gray hair? Get it done at ekaeke!

Emblica Officinalis
(Amla)

If you have a box of brown powder marked "Amla" (also called "Amalaki" and "Indian Gooseberry"), you have a box of the powdered dried fruit (perhaps with some twigs, leaves and bark mixed in) of the Emblica Officinalis tree.

Medicinal properties -

The medicinal properties of Amla have been widely mentioned by many experts. The fruits are diuretic and laxative. They are useful in the disorders associated with the digestive system and are also prescribed in the treatment of jaundice and coughs.

Amla is one of the three ingredients of the famous ayurvedic preparation, triphala, which is given to treat chronic dysentery, bilousness and other disorders. The plant is considered to be an effective antiseptic for cleaning wounds and it is also one of the many plant palliatives for snakebite and scorpion-stinging.

The leaves of Amla are used as mouth-wash and as a lotion for sore eyes. An ointment is made from the burnt seeds, and the oil obtained is applied to cure skin infections.

Amla powder is tan and has an acidic astringent smell like a combination of raw cranberries and oak tree bark. If you make a simple paste from the powder, it does not stain the hands but adds a cool brown tone to the hair colour. Emblica Officinalis is one of the Myrobalan species, all of which are used in tanning and natural colouring.

The paste is an excellent conditioner which makes hair glossy and silky, enhances waves and curl, and leaves a clean, healthy scalp. When you scrub your face with the paste, your skin feels firm and tight.

Use for Hair:

Mix Amla powder with Indigo powder when dyeing hair black with Indigo to add gloss and curl to Indigo dyed hair.

A Suggestion - Use for Skin:

Mix Amla powder with hot water to make a paste that is about the consistency of yogurt. Let that sit for fifteen minutes. Use the paste as an exfoliating, astringent scrub for your face.

Indigofera Tinctoria
(Indigo)

Indigo is the color on the spectrum between about 450 and 420 nm in wavelength, placing it between blue and violet. Color scientists do not usually recognize indigo as a significant color category, and generally classify wavelengths shorter than about 450 nm as violet.

Indigo and violet are different from purple, which cannot be seen on the electromagnetic spectrum but can be achieved by mixing blue light with red light.

Where does Indigo Comes From?

Regardless of its origin, all indigo has the same chemical structure. The majority of natural indigo is obtained from plants in the genus Indigofera. These plants, native to the tropics, yield more natural dye than other indigo bearing species. Indigofera is a large genus including over 350 species mostly found in tropical and subtropical countries, not all of which bear Indigo. The primary commercial Indigo species is Indigofera tinctoria, native to India and Asia. In Central and South America the two species Indigofera suffructicosa and Indigofera arrecta are the most important native dye bearing plants of the genus.

Former Australian Test player Dean Jones was sacked as a commentator on Monday after referring to South African Muslim batsman Hashim Amla as a "terrorist".

Jones, who admitted making the comment and apologized, was on a TV team covering the second Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa in Colombo.

According to a statement issued by Cricket South Africa on Monday, viewers heard Jones say, "the terrorist has got another wicket" when Amla took the catch that dismissed Kumar Sangakkara.

Amla is a devout Muslim who wears a beard for religious reasons and has successfully negotiated with the South African team's main sponsors, SA Breweries, not to wear the Castle Lager logo on his playing and practice gear.

"We take the strongest exception to this comment, and we will lodge an official complaint with the host broadcaster, Ten Sports, that employs him," CSA chief executive Gerald Majola was quoted as saying.

"We will be asking for his immediate suspension and a full apology."

The match is being broadcast live in South Africa, which has a significant Muslim community.

"The switchboards of both CSA and SuperSport, that takes a feed of the broadcast to South African audiences, have been jammed with calls from some very angry people," Majola was quoted as saying.

"I'm gone, I'm on the 1 a.m. flight," Jones told reporters in Colombo where he issued a statement apologizing for his comment.

"It was a silly and completely insensitive thing to say and, obviously, it was never supposed to be heard over the air," Jones said.

'Truly sorry'

"I am truly sorry to have caused offense to anybody and the last thing I intended was to be disrespectful.

"Everyone needs to get away from perpetuating the myth, publicly and privately, that beards associated with the Muslim faith are somehow suspicious, and I intend to do exactly that.

"The irony is that I am great friends with most of the Pakistan team and they are all Muslims.

"I have no end of respect for the Muslim faith -- that's why I'm so sorry at making such a stupid comment.

"It does not represent who I am, how I think or what I believe.

"I will be the first person to apologize to Hashim as soon as I get the chance, and I will assure him that prejudice against anybody, on any basis, is unacceptable and not something I will ever condone."

The CSA statement said the incident would be reported to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"The ICC has strongly condemned racism and we will be discussing the matter with them," Majola was quoted as saying.

Jones, 45, played 52 tests for Australia between 1984 and 1992 with a batting average of 46.55.

In April 2004, former Manchester United soccer manager Ron Atkinson resigned from his analyst's job with ITV after a racist comment he made about Chelsea's black French international defender Marcel Desailly was inadvertently broadcast.

Source: CNN