10 Things you never knew about Christmas

Every year Christmas comes around and we, by default, go into a celebratory mood.
How many of you have really cared to find out what led to the starting of these traditions? Do you know how your favorite old man Santa Claus came into being? Why we kiss under the mistletoe? Christmas has been a part of generations which is why you ought to find out 10 things you never knew about Christmas.
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10. It was illegal to celebrate Christmas in England from 1647-1660 as, according to Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan leader, it was immoral to indulge in revelries on a holy day.

9. 'Jingle Bells' was the first song ever broadcast from space. Astronauts Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford smuggled a harmonica and bells aboard and proceeded to sing the song on December 16, 1965.
8. The word Christmas originates from the old English term "Cristes maesse" which means "Christ's Mass".

7. One of the earliest known decorations for the Christmas tree were apples.
6. The Statue of Liberty was reportedly given as a Christmas gift to England by the French. That makes it the world's largest Christmas gift ever.

5. The original Santa Claus was St. Nicholas, a Bishop of Myra who used to distribute sweets and gifts among the poor children.
4. Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was invented by an American firm in 1938 as a part of its Christmas promotions.

3. 25 December started being celebrated as the birthday of Christ only after AD 440.
2. Before turkey made its way into the Christmas dinner, the tradition was to eat pig's head and mustard.

1. Christmas Carols were introduced to church services by St. Francis of Assisi
We'vw completed 10 things but we can't stop without telling you about the good old custom of hanging stockings, can we? So, here it goes:

* The custom of hanging stockings originates from the Dutch custom of leaving shoes filled with food for St Nicholas's donkeys. In return, he would leave small gifts inside them.

5 foods for a healthy digestive system

Your science textbooks told you time and again to include those precious fibers in your diet in order to keep your digestive system healthy.
Since, as a child, you naturally avoided them, you have probably only realized the real deal only after being plagued by a weak digestive system. The digestive system is strengthened, not by pills, but by a healthy food chart. We bring to you 5 foods that will result in a miraculously healthy digestive system.
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A normal avocado is said to contain 15 grams of fiber and is reportedly the most fiber-rich fruit we know. The fruit is rich in healthy raw fat which aids in the digestion process. Very few fruits or vegetables can match the goodness that this small fruit boasts of, which is why you should add it to your diet.
Spinach

Easily available all over, spinach has always been known to be a master-food with regards to a healthy digestion. Though most leafy green vegetables are considered good, spinach is the one that rules this group. Apparently, half a cup of spinach has about 3.5 grams of fiber, hence, making it a great choice.
Oats

Oats are good for digestion because they are rich in soluble fiber. They also contain Vitamin E, thiamine and zinc, and whole oats are the best variety. When choosing between quick oats and rolled oats, it is better to choose the rolled variety as they have more of their nutrient value intact.
Ginger

Finding something as commonplace as ginger in the list might be surprising to you but it is, indeed, packed with health benefits. Ginger aids in the digestion process by quickening the movement of the food from the stomach to the intestines. Either add it to your daily cup of tea or include its products in your diet,
Water

The goodness of water is something we can never deny. This colorless and tasteless liquid plays a vital role in improving the digestive system of our body. Drinking more water means making the navigation of food through the system a lot more easier. Also, certain foods contain vitamins and minerals that are soluble only in water. Therefore, increase your daily water content and see yourself getting healthier by the day.

Aakash tablet goes on sale for Rs 2500 online

DataWind, the Canadian company that is manufacturing Aakash, has started the online booking and pre booking of the much anticipated low cost Android tablet. Online booking is for students' version of the tablet and pre booking is for UbiSlate 7, the upgraded version of Aakash.

Students' version of Aakash will be available for Rs 2,500 and will be delivered in seven days. The commercial version, UbiSlate 7 is priced at Rs 2,999. The payment mode for both the tablets is cash on delivery.

The commercial version of Aakash tablet will be powered by Android 2.3 and will have a resistive touchscreen, Cortex A8-700 MHz processor and graphics accelerator HD video processor, 256 MB of RAM and 2 GB of internal memory.

Other specifications are a one standard USB port, 3.5 mm audio jack, a 7 inch display with 800 x 480 pixel resolution, resistive touchscreen, GPRS and WiFi support.

"The improved version of Aakash tablet will be available in retail outlets by January end," a spokesperson of DataWind told The Mobile Indian.

The tablet was to be made available in retail stores by the end of November. "The delay in the availability of the tablet has been due to upgradation in the tablet and some unforeseen delay in manufacturing," the spokesperson said.

To book and prebook student and commercial versions respectively of Aakash tablet, users have to visit DataWind's website and fill up the required form. In case of booking they will get a booking ID and a message which will state, "You will shortly receive an email confirmation from our support team with further details."

In case of pre booking users will get a confirmation message which will state, "The commercial version of the Akash UbiSlate 7 would be launched in early weeks of December. After the commercial launch we would get in touch with you to deliver your device as soon possible."

As a matter of fact, the confirmation message a reader will see is factually incorrect as The mobile Indian had reported earlier the Aakash tablet will be available only by January end.

Datawind has however not cleared how it is going to establish the identity of students who will book the cheapest version of Aakash tablet. When The Mobile Indian contacted spokesperson of Datwind he said, "Anyone can book the student version of Aakash tablet."

This defeats the purpose of providing students an affordable tablet as now anyone can place an order to get the tablet. Interestingly, now it has been revealed that the government has procured only 10,000 Aakash tablets for distribution in schools and colleges of the initial 1 lakh proposed.

It looks like the company was in a hurry to start the online booking process and has not done not proper homework before staring it.

India overcome Pollard scare, finish series 4-1

 India overcame an aggressive century by Kieron Pollard to defeat the West Indies by 34 runs in the fifth and final one-dayer in Chennai on Sunday to take the series 4-1.

Pollard smashed 10 sixes and four boundaries in his 110-ball knock before the tourists were bowled out for 233 in reply to India's 267-6 in the day-night match at the Chidambaram stadium.

Pollard was last man out, caught in the deep off Suresh Raina, to deny his team a win in the last match of the Indian tour, where the West Indies also lost the Test series 2-0.

No killer instinct: Pollard
'Australia series a different ball game'

The West Indies were reduced to 78-5 by the 16th over before Pollard and Andre Russell turned the game around by smashing 89 off 79 balls for the sixth wicket.

The pair pounded the Indian bowling with a flurry of fours and sixes before the hosts earned a lucky break when Russell was run out by a direct throw from Gambhir.

Russell hit 53 off 42 balls with five boundaries and three sixes.

Three more wickets fell in quick succession to leave the West Indies tottering at 213-9, but Pollard reached his maiden one-day century in the company of last man Anthony Martin.

Earlier, Manoj Tiwary smashed 104 as India recovered from a shaky start to post a challenging total.

The 26-year-old from Bengal, making his first appearance in the series, registered his first international century after India had lost two wickets in the first over of the innings.

Tiwary put on 83 for the third wicket with stand-in captain Gautam Gambhir and 117 for the fourth with Virat Kohli before retiring hurt in the 38th over due to cramps.

Kohli went on to make 80 off 85 balls.

India, already assured of a series win, rested three players, including skipper Virender Sehwag, who had compiled a world record one-day score of 219 in the previous match in Indore.

Sehwag, Ravichandran Ashwin and Vinay Kumar, who leave for Australia on Monday for the Test series starting later this month, made way for Tiwary, Irfan Pathan and Ajinkya Rahane.

The right-handed Tiwary, who had scored only 61 runs in five previous one-day internationals, seized his opportunity, hitting 10 boundaries and a six in his 126-ball knock.

Tiwary prevented a hat-trick when he came to the crease in the first over after Kemar Roach had trapped Rahane leg-before with his second delivery and bowled Parthiv Patel with his third.

Sehwag smashes Sachin's record, India seal series

Indore was home to two of India's greatest cricketers, CK Nayudu and Syed Mushtaq Ali. The two richly talented all-rounders were known for their fearless big-hitting that entertained Indian crowds.

How fitting was it that the most fearless of India's batsmen and the straightest of talkers — Virender Sehwag — paid rich tribute to those masters by breaking the record for the highest score in a one-day international at Indore's Holkar Stadium today.

After electing to bat against the West Indies, the Indian opener and stand-in captain made 219 off 149 balls, becoming just the second man to score a double-ton in ODIs. Sachin Tendulkar was the first in 2010, when he made 200 not out not too far from Indore in Gwalior against South Africa.

As you would expect in an innings of this nature, the West Indian bowlers threw everything they could at Sehwag to no avail. The Indian opener toyed with the field placements, picked up boundaries with ridiculous ease, prompting Chris Gayle to jocularly describe the innings as "child abuse."

Sehwag's form had been questioned after a string of casual dismissals and small scores. However, with this innings, he buried those concerns, powering India to a record 418-5, setting up a series win with a game left in Chennai. [See match scores]

West Indies at one point were in danger of being bowled out for less than Sehwag's score when their ninth wicket fell on 201. Denesh Ramdin's 96 and a last-wicket stand of 64 with Sunil Narine delayed an Indian win.

Sehwag had two big partnerships along the way: 176 with the opening wicket with Gautam Gambhir (67 at a run-a-ball) to kick off the run-fest and 140 with Suresh Raina (55 off 44) to keep the momentum strong.

The 33-year-old completed a hundred off just 69 balls and the double off just 140. He had some luck along the way. On 97, a difficult catch was put down at point as Sehwag slashed a four to get to his hundred. Later on a 170, West Indies captain Darren Sammy put down a sitter running back at extra-cover.

Sehwag completed the double hundred in just the 44th over, cutting Andre Russell for four. The shot took him to 201, beating Tendulkar's record.

Photos: Top 10 Scores in ODIs


This was Sehwag's 15th three-figure knock in one-day cricket and the first since making 175 against Bangladesh in the opening match of the World Cup in Dhaka in February this year.

Sehwag was closing in on the highest score ever in an ODI — 229 by Australian women's cricket legend Belinda Clark — when he was dismissed by Kieron Pollard, trying to hit a six over long-off.

Sehwag scored his 219 runs off just 149 balls, scoring 25 fours and seven sixes. The 32 hits to the boundary are also an ODI record.

Watch: The moment when Sehwag broke Sachin's record

Sehwag smashes double ton
India s flamboyant batsman Virender Sehwag strikes an explosive double ton in Indore.

Sehwag's innings was the third highest in all limited overs cricket. The record is still held by Alistair Brown, who had made 268 in a county game for Surrey against Glamorgan in 2002.

The only other score above Sehwag's is 222 not out by Graeme Pollock for Eastern Province against Border in 1974-75.

"I had never dreamt of doing this," Sehwag said during the innings break.

"The easy wicket and the short boundaries made it easier. I told Gauti (Gambhir) that if we showed a little patience we could get a big one. But I never expected to make a double century.

"The pitch was so true that one could play all shots. When Sammy dropped me, I knew God was with me. I am relieved but also tired because I am an old man now.

"I just want to thank my family and all those who have supported me in my career," he said.

Top 5 mobile accessories

A good set of accessories unleashes your phones' potential like no other enhancement. A nice speaker, Bluetooth handsfree or car kit enable you to use your phone for tasks other than the usual.

Here are some accessories that are available at a discount and will help you use your phone better.

Nokia BH-503 Bluetooth headphones

This Bluetooth handsfree has a very comfortable design and offers decent sound quality thanks to DSP (digital sound processing) technology. Both music and voice clarity are great and the neck band design means that you can wear this headphone without worrying that it will slip off.

The handsfree connects with any Bluetooth handset, and has call and music control buttons on the handsfree itself.

This Nokia device can be bought at IndiaTimes shopping for Rs 1,250.

West Indies beat India despite Rohit Sharma's 95

Ahmedabad, (Reuters): Rohit Sharma's sparkling 95 was in vain as West Indies beat India by 16 runs in the third One-Day International to stay afloat in the five-match series at Ahmedabad's Sardar Patel Stadium on Monday.
Having dropped Sharma on 33, West Indies skipper Darren Sammy redeemed himself with a direct throw in the 44th over as India, chasing 261 for a third successive win that would have sealed the series, folded for 244 in 46.5 overs.

Sharma's 100-ball knock, which included 10 hits to the fence and a six, was his third successive half-century in the series which his team lead 2-1.
Ravi Rampaul (4-57) derailed India's chase almost as soon as it began by removing the scoreless duo of captain Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir with his first two deliveries.
Sehwag edged to depart caught behind while Gambhir was trapped leg before, leaving India tottering on eight for two wickets.
Barring opener Parthiv Patel (39), none of the Indian top order batsmen could do justice to their reputation and it was Sharma's 91-run seventh-wicket stand with Ravichandran Ashwin (31) that took India near the target.
West Indies were put into bat and Marlon Samuels top-scored with a sedate 58 but it was the unbeaten 79-run stand between Sammy (41 not out) and Andrew Russell (40 not out) off 5.4 overs that helped West Indies to overcome a sluggish start and post 260 for five.
The visitors lost opener Lendl Simmons (1) in the third over and were also denied the service of another in-form player, Darren Bravo (26), when the batsman retired hurt with a hamstring problem.
Samuels tried to steady the innings but the run rate nosedived, prompting him to go after Umesh Yadav in the 19th over, hitting the bowler for a couple of fours and a six.
West Indies lost three cheap wickets to slump to 181 for five in the 45th over before Sammy paired up with Russell to provide the late surge to power them past 250.
Sammy hit Abhimanyu Mithun for two sixes and as many fours in the 49th over, while Russell struck two fours and a six off the final over sent down by Yadav.
West Indies milked 93 runs off the last seven overs and 43 off the last two. Indore hosts the fourth One-dayer on Thursday.

India concede last minute goal to lose Champions Challenge final

A last minute goal saw India lose 3-4 to Belgium in an exhilarating final of the Champions Challenge hockey tournament on Sunday.

India were comfortably sitting on a 3-1 cushion in the second half but a resiliant Belgium bounced back in the match.

Tom Boon scored the winner and in the process became the joint top scorer of the tournament along with Justin Reid Ross of South Africa with eight goals.

For India, VR Raghunath (23rd minute), Sandeep Singh (41th) and Shivender Singh (54) scored. Belgium, who defeated Argentina in a tense shoot-out for a place in the final, responded through Jerome Dekeyser's brace (44th, 57th) and Gauthier Boccard's strike (55th)before Boon (70th) separated the two teams.

Sandeep finished with seven goals, all through penalty corners, and won the Player of the Tournament award.

But it was hardly a consolation for India as their propensity to concede last minute goals came back to haunt them.

Belgium, who have already made it to the London Olympics, also qualified for next December's champions Trophy in Australia.

"It is a cherry on the cake," said ecstatic Belgian player Xavier Reckinger.

India wasted an opportunity to play in the elite Champions Trophy after 2005.

The eight-time Olympic Champion looked in fine touch at the start. India had their chances as SV Sunil, with his explosive speed and fine dribbling skills, troubled the Belgian defenders.

Raghunath converted a penalty corner to give them the lead. Belgium stepped up the attack, but failed to level the scores. On one occasion Boon shot wide and on another he wasted a ball right in front of the goal. Indian custodian Bharat Chettri also made some good saves.

But Belgium galvanised themselves in the thrilling second half that saw three goals in three minutes.

Though it was India who went 2-0 up with Sandeep drag flicking the ball home, after wasting the first penalty corner.

Belgium was not heartbroken and found their first goal as Dekeyser, latching onto a through ball, got past a defender and scored.

It was then the most exciting moment of the match. Shivender scored a brilliant goal. He dribbled down the line and got past the goalkeeper with his skillful stickwork just in time to send the ball in.

He got another chance immediately, but could deflect the ball.

Belgium, after wasting two penalty corners in the second half, scored two in the next two minutes through Gauthier and Dekeyser taking India by surprise.

With 13 minutes to go, the match moved into a tense phase. Both teams concentrated on effective build-up while making sure the defence stay enact.

Belgium though looked in better control. They got a penalty corner when Thomas Briels came close to scoring but his push hit the Indian defender. It was wasted with Belgium drag flick expert Boon sitting on the bench.

Shivender then latched onto a long ball, but Yuvraj Walmiki was not in control to score.

Belgium then made a fine move and Boon made it count.

"I am really happy. We fought back in the match. It was not easy. We have beaten one of the top teams of the world in the final," said Belgium's Australian coach Colin Batch.

Will 2012 be a year of big fat Bollywood weddings?

Kareena Kapoor-Saif Ali Khan: Ever since the couple fondly known as Safeena made their relationship official in 2007, the media has been speculating about their wedding. After the release of Kareena's each and every movie, the media would be busy speculating a 'secret wedding' for the couple. So, it did not come as a surprise when Saif announced that the duo will tie the knot soon after the release of 'Agent Vinod'

"Marriage", says Kareena, "will not really change our relationship. We both are neck deep in work and it would be the same even post marriage", she said.

Riteish Deshmukh-Genelia D'souza: They have shunned publicity ever since they have been dating. Now, we clearly do not know when they started dating, we think it was way back in 2003, there was no announcement you see. But never before have two couples lived so much in denial like Gen and Riteish.

It was just last year when they started appearing together at events. We are just friends, they said. But all that charades fell through when they got engaged - which they denied, obviously. We hear they are busy shopping for their wedding which is scheduled early in 2012.

Vidya Balan- Siddharth Roy Kapoor: Vidya wants to enjoy her courtship with her 'SRK'. Oh, there were reports of secret wedding, but no, says Vidya, 'I have a lifetime ahead of me to enjoy the joys of marriage.'

Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Khemu: Just like her big brother, Saif, Soha has decided to settle down too. She will be getting married to Kunal Khemu in 2012.

John Abraham-Priya Marwah: John has moved on after her break - up with Bipasha. They have not announced a date yet, but we hear they may tie the knot early in 2012.

Why this Kolaveri?

Superstar Rajinikanth's popularity in cyberspace has just been threatened. More than a million shares, more than 1.3 million hits and millions of likes - just for a song. And Rajinikanth's not even saying 'Mind It!' After all, 'Why This Kolaveri' has been sung by his son-in-law, Dhanush.