lifestyle tips: Lifestyle tops list when buying a home

lifestyle tips: Lifestyle tops list when buying a home: "PURCHASING a new home is one of the most exciting yet challenging tasks that people undertake. There are so many things running through..."

Lifestyle tops list when buying a home

PURCHASING a new home is one of the most exciting yet challenging tasks that people undertake.
There are so many things running through your head about accessability, costs, suitablility of the dwelling for the period of time you intend to live in it, and the quality of your overall investment.
The best advice I was ever given, just before buying my new home, was to keep lifestyle front and centre. It is the most predominant factor that should determine the choice of where you live.
Of course, you are purchasing a dwelling as an investment. Everyone expects that their housing investment will achieve capital gains in the short to medium term, and having those capital gains invested in a dwelling is a lifestyle choice just as much as having a savings plan.
However, short term gains associated with boom property times (such as in the early 2000s) would not be a wise ongoing expectation, nor would sacrificing your lifestyle in the hope of a quick windfall gain.
The location, price and other localised factors are also very significant. In general, new estates, and newer developments have been constructed with significantly higher building standards, in desirable locations and with modern lifestyle expectations in mind.
Choose wisely and carefully, ensuring that you ask questions about building standards and the unique circumstances associated with the area in which you are planning to buy. Further advice frequently given is to carefully examine the costs associated with your choice of dwelling (eg running costs).
With utilities charges for water and electricity seemingly going through the roof, these are obvious areas where you can consider whether the property has a rainwater tank linked to toilets, for example, whether there is a solar hot water system, and perhaps whether photovoltaic cells that generate electricity have been provided for your dwelling.
It is a well-known fact that modern homes perform significantly better by way of reducing living costs than do the vast majority of existing homes.
So, in conclusion, while making this important choice, try not to get swept away with the emotion (sometimes stress), or the pressure which can be felt when your situation may have become more urgent. Explore the history of the area, and the locality, and the street in which you plan to live. Question carefully whether it will meet all of your lifestyle needs for the period of time you intend to live there and finally, explore the costs of being a homeowner in this new age of changing lifestyles and expectations.

Unhealthy diet ups heart risk for obese teens

A new study has revealed that obese teens may feel healthy, but blood tests show they have inflammation, insulin resistance, and high homocysteine levels.

"The metabolic abnormalities suggest that the process of developing heart disease has already started in these children, making it critical for them to make definitive lifestyle and diet changes," said Ashutosh Lal, senior author of the study and a pediatric hematologist at the Children's Hospital and Research Center Oakland in California.

Researchers compared the diets and blood test results of 33 obese youths (ages 11 to 19) with 19 age-matched youths of normal weight.

Blood tests revealed that the obese teens had:
1 C-reactive protein levels almost ten times higher than controls, indicating more inflammation in the body.
2 Insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, with greater amounts of insulin needed to keep blood sugar levels normal.
3 Homocysteine levels 62 per cent higher than controls. High levels of the amino acid homocysteine are related to greater heart disease risk.
4 Total glutathione levels 27.9 per cent lower than controls, with oxidized glutathione levels 125 per cent higher, indicating oxidative stress. This in turn leads to more inflammation and an increase in blood vessel damage and stiffening.

"Looking at the numbers you would think these children might feel sick, but they did not," Lal said. "They are apparently feeling well, but there is a lot going on beneath the surface."

The obese children's diets were lower in potassium, vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin A, found in fortified dairy products and as well as in deeply colored fruits and vegetables.

lifestyle tips: Simple entertaining at home

lifestyle tips: Simple entertaining at home: "ENJOY a night of fine wine and food without having to worry about paying the bill at the end of the evening. How? Host an event in the..."

Simple entertaining at home

ENJOY a night of fine wine and food without having to worry about paying the bill at the end of the evening.
How?  Host an event in the comfort of your own home.
The idea of inviting guests into your home, whether it's for a formal dinner, barbecue or to celebrate a special event, can seem overwhelming.
But Juliet Love, who is a stylist, interior designer and host of the Lifestyle Channel's TV show The Party Garden, said the effort could be a lot of fun.
"Sometimes people let the 'stress' of holding an event in their own home interfere with their enjoyment of the process," Ms Love said.
"With good planning, hosting an event at home does not need to be stressful at all.
"My advice to those wanting to entertain at home is always the same: have fun with it."
Preparing the home and feeding a crowd of guests can sound expensive but Ms Love said most people were surprised to hear that the process did not have to be costly.
"You just need to be a little inventive and well-organised.  Research recipes that you can prepare in advance and ones that will feed lots of hungry mouths, have friends assist by bringing something to contribute - punch or dessert for example," she said.
"Some of the best events I have been to haven't been the ones with the biggest budget.  it's all about the atmosphere."
For those on a budget, Ms Love said working out a theme first and sticking to one or two colours to co-ordinate was a great way to cut costs.
"Use inexpensive fabric in a clever way: that is, as tablecloths, to drape walls or to wrap around glass jam jars with pretty ribbon to hold flowers or cutlery.  If you use the same fabric across those elements, it will all tie together.  Candles are also an inexpensive way to add impact to an event in the evening.  Candles lit enmass on tables, in hanging lanterns or lined up pathways look very pretty and are cost-effective," Ms Love advised.
She said party hosts should also pay attention to detail and 'create a welcoming environment' for your guests.
"Make an effort with invitations and decor, and tie all of your elements together - from colour scheme and music, food and beverages.  Guests will notice these touches and appreciate the work that has gone into them," Ms Love said.
She said de-cluttering and spring cleaning the house to have it looking its best, being a gracious, well-organised host, using background music to add atmosphere, plus great food and wine were all vital to successful entertaining at home.
The owner of Noosa's The Cooking Company and Food by The Cooking Company, Jeroo Pavri, said cooking for a crowd did not have to cost a fortune.
Learning how to cook cheaper cuts of meat well was one tip Ms Pavri gave.
"With the economy the way it is, a lot of chefs are going back to cheaper cuts of meat," Ms Pavri said.
To help save time in the kitchen and help avoid experiencing stress mode before any home entertaining event, Ms Pavri listed some must-have cookware items.
She said a Kitchen Aid mixer was a useful appliance to have in the kitchen, especially for those who enjoy baking.  She said the Kitchen Aid mixer could be used for a number of different purposes, from creating desserts to making pizza dough.
Ms Pavri said a quality set of knives was another kitchen essential.  She named Kasumi knives as a great buy and, although they may cost a little more than others, a good set of knives would last at least 10 to 15 years.
As a fan of slow-cooking, Ms Pavri said Le Creuset's cast iron cookware was also handy to own, as well as a MicroPlane grater and a quality anodised frypan.

Exercising with a friend can boost your drive

More than two years ago, the Oakville, Ont. resident decided to get moving.
"I wanted to get into some sort of shape," said Roach. "I'd gone for a physical and my doctor told me I needed to stop gaining weight. The most exercise I was getting at that point was walking around a mall."
Running seemed to be the easiest way to get a good cardiovascular workout and so she opened her front door and headed out.
Her enthusiasm soon evaporated.
"If it was raining or cold or I didn't feel like it, I wouldn't go. As a result, I wasn't getting better."
But rather than give up, Roach called her friend Marian McCabe and together they joined a running group. The friends continue to run three times a week to this day and have added a core conditioning class to their exercise regimen.

There is a growing body of research illustrating the importance of social networks in affecting eating and physical behaviours, says Diane Finegood, professor of kinesiology at Simon Fraser University in B.C.
"Perhaps the best work on the topic is a longitudinal study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007 that found that behaviours relevant to obesity can be influenced by friends."
"It's not a completely new idea. There has been different work around the social facilitation of eating, so that when you eat with friends it affects what you eat. The obesity work speaks to the outcome, not the behaviours. But logically, it's the behaviours that ultimately determine energy balance and energy balance ultimately determines weight, and so there must be some impact.
"But a whole host of things in our environment affect energy balance: media, the neighbourhoods we live in, advertising, how much we commute. That is the backdrop. So if we exercise with a friend is that a good thing? My answer is, for some people it probably is, for others it isn't."
McCabe said exercising with her friend makes her accountable and serves as motivation.
"I find exercising with a friend really motivates me," she said. "On those nights when my energy is low, I know left to my own devices I'd probably miss a run. But because I know Denise will be there, I go anyway and I'm always happy I do. I feel great after a workout. In a way, exercising with a friend builds in a layer of accountability because you don't want to let the other person down."
But other people are more successful exercising on their own. When she was in her 40s, Finegood weighed 250 pounds and made the decision to live a more healthy lifestyle - but she did it without involving anyone else.
She lost 70 pounds and has kept it off.
"I don't like exercising with others because I need to set my pace and behaviour for myself and not to measure against what other people are doing. The fear of being engaged with somebody else in that exercise, and how I will feel because I compare myself to them, has too negative a connotation for me. So I don't want to go there.
"I think the take-home message here is that for some people exercising with a friend is a great thing, for others it's not. The challenge lies in figuring out how to help people have healthy behaviours."
Simon Fraser University professor Diane Finegood suggest these strategies to build exercise into a healthy lifestyle.
* Think about developing a healthier lifestyle by shrinking the challenge into small behaviour changes. The prevalent message about losing weight is driven by the weight loss industry: just follow their plan and you will have success. That's the wrong message because it leads to failure. Understand specifically what is influencing you the most and work on that piece of the problem. * Start the journey of becoming more active by determining how active you are now. If you are not at all physically active, start using a pedometer. It will track how many steps you take in a day.
* Set a reasonable, small, sustainable goal as a starting point. Finegood went from taking 3,000 to 4,000 steps a day to 10,000 to 12,500. As she added more steps, she developed new strategies. She suggests taking the stairs instead of the escalator; parking the car further to help you hit your goal; once you've done that, expand the goal.

lifestyle tips: Dog owners lead healthier lifestyle, study shows

lifestyle tips: Dog owners lead healthier lifestyle, study shows: "People who have pet dog are found to be healthier compared to those who do not own dog for a pet. The new study by Michigan State ..."

Dog owners lead healthier lifestyle, study shows

People who have pet dog are found to be healthier compared to those who do not own dog for a pet.  The new study by Michigan State University revealed healthier lifestyle among dog owners than non dog-owners.
According to the study, dog owners are able to spend 30 minutes on the average taking their dogs out for a walk or a short run. This improves the pet owners’ activity level and allows them to follow a regular exercise program.
For five days a week, dog owners are able to spend half an hour which gives them an edge over others.  The study also claims that owners of dog are 34% more likely to achieve their exercise target.
The US public health department has suggested a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise per week. This study supports the health campaign of the department in that it has made it certain that keeping a dog increases the probability of following regular exercise.
Dr. Matthew Reeves from Michigan State University responded to the study by claiming that there is no magic formula to achieve the target.  He stressed, however, that having a dog results in significant affirmative results.
Dog owners have significant edge over others, but Dr Reeves claims that there are many who still follow their strict discipline to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The lifestyle of the rich and not-so famous

I am almost 40 and live in Las Vegas, a great city to be in when about to hit midlife. Let me explain – reminisce when you fell in love for the first time, now picture that you were in Paris for that milestone in your life. There, I just gave you an ‘ah-ha’ moment, Paris is to love what Vegas is to midlife, or better still midlife crises.
Vegas is a fabulous city, it promises and delivers a great time sans guilt. We Las Vegans believe and live by our city’s popular slogan, `what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,’ and expect our visitors to live by the same rules. The casinos, vibrant nightlife and the most expensive retail mile in the world make it attractive to the bold and the not-so beautiful. Therein Hollywood, thanks to its proximity, and Pakistanis, thanks to their shauqiniat, all make great use of what surrounds them. There is truth to this statement, I once spotted Jennifer Lopez shopping at LVL, Michael Jackson – when he was alive – was seen shopping at Versace, Mike Tyson lives down a few blocks from me, I sat next to Harry Reid, the senate majority leader, touched Bill Clinton’s shoulder, nothing scandalous I assure you, had lunch with Imran Khan, and as for Shaukat Aziz, I had tea with him a few weeks ago. Name dropping, Vegas style!
The city houses grandiosity, opulence and a complete show of money – that is just the nature of the beast – and if one chooses to live with and love Godzilla, one has to keep Godzilla happy. Cue for the Pakistani-American community, a perfect blend of beauty and the beast.
The Pakistani-American community here is affluent and influential, it rubs shoulder with scholars, politicians and powerful old-time mob lawyers, and therefore the chances of hosting the good, the bad and the ugly all at one event are always possible. There are fundraisers almost every other month, if not every month. Granted, some are held to increase the much needed legitimate communication between American politicians and the local Pakistani community, but there are many who entertain the powerful to gain personal glory and a one-up on their neighbour.
Not to put the local community down, it appears that immigrants all over the world behave in a similar fashion, they leave their home to achieve a dream and a few decades down find themselves in a nightmare called the rat race. The wise Englishman worded it so aptly, `remember, even if you win the race you are still a rat’.
Who has the bigger house complete with plush European car? Check to the European car. Which private school do your children attend? Check. Any international trips during the spring, summer and winter break? Summer, check. Isn’t it time you bought a bigger
home? Who has more handbags and shoes, Imelda Marcos or Me? Imelda Marcos. I have the incessant need to go to every show ever held on the Las Vegas Strip, don’t you? Nah, only the ones that interest me! These questions are thrown in randomly during conversations, and ducking them has become a ballgame for a few good men, a game of cricket, baseball, or sometimes both.
And then there are those who Plautus would have referred to as satellites. These are, for all practical purposes, self-respecting hard-working individuals who in all realms of life and relationships perform successfully until they find themselves in the presence of their Richie Rich and social demi god. The interesting thing about satellites, in Vegas or otherwise, is that they fail to see beyond the object of adoration, they refuse to acknowledge how pitiful they appear. And as for the subject of affection, sadly they put themselves on a pedestal and expect the best of us to agree with them at all times, but tragically most communities have a band of resistants who somehow spoil the equation with unnecessary ripples and nods of disapproval. A rebel with a cause is always a good thing!
The implication here is not that having money is bad or necessarily brings out the acquisition beast in all, but generally the greener the bank account, the greener the greed. Humility has taken a backseat or better still, has decided to stay silent and watch the money mayhem.
We have many reasonable international and national charitable causes with local Las Vegas chapters that do some fine work, but being on the committee or council comes with a perk called the Power Trip. Funnily enough, all and sundry have decided to partake in these causes, eliminating the fine line between a genuine and a bogus cause or a legitimate board member and phony one. I may be guilty of that, but the jury is still out on that one.
After a quick scan of the modern-day American dream and fond memories of balmy bygone Kolachi nights, I realise that an affluent expatriate lifestyle comes at a price. It is a high price to pay for those who consider themselves dreamers and romantics and find themselves faced with a dilemma at every crossroad. The American society is so materialistic and excessive that it is easy to lose sight of the dream and somehow fall into the reality of what is Las Vegas, big, obvious, opulent, fake, merely a mirage in a desert, or on the flipside home, my home, Elvis’ home, Liberace’s home, therefore party on….. Viva Las Vegas!

Diabetes increases cancer risk - study

London - Heart disease is linked to just a few rogue genes as well as lifestyle choices, landmark research into Britain’s biggest killer has found.

The 18 genes that raise the risk of cardiac problems, from heart attacks to hardening of the arteries, have been pinpointed in three studies involving hundreds of scientists worldwide.

The breakthrough opens the door to ways of treating and even preventing heart disease, which is to blame for one in eight deaths around the world - including more than 90,000 a year in the UK.

Heart attacks alone kill one Briton every six minutes and cost the economy £9-billion a year.

The potential of the findings is so great that heart disease could be eradicated within 50 years, say researchers. The discovery, detailed in the journal Nature Genetics, more than doubles the number of known heart disease genes. Some of the newly discovered genes affect cholesterol, blood pressure and other processes important to heart health - but how many of the others damage the heart and arteries is, as yet, a mystery.

This has excited the scientists because it suggests there are important causes of heart disease yet to be found - and that drugs to combat the effects of the genes could one day make a huge improvement to health.

Dr Robert Roberts, of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Canada, said: “This is a landmark result because we have identified so many genes and most operate using completely unknown mechanisms to us right now. Now our job is to understand how these genes work, develop a new group of drugs to target them and identify people who will benefit most.”

Professor Nilesh Samani, of the University of Leicester, who co-led the largest of the studies, said: “Understanding how these genes work, which is the next step, will vastly improve our knowledge of how the disease develops, and could lead to new treatments.”

The 18 genes were discovered in three studies in which almost 300 scientists from around the world, including many Britons, analysed the DNA of more than 200,000 people.

They focused on genetic links to the narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood. This narrowing, caused by the build up of fatty deposits or plaques, raises the odds of a host of ills, from blood clots to angina, heart attacks, heart failure and irregular heartbeats.

Dr Thomas Quertermous, of Stanford University, in the US, said that drugs tailored to stop the blood vessels from becoming clogged up could “profoundly reduce the risk of a heart attack”.

Professor Hugh Watkins, of Oxford University, who co-led one of the studies, said the first new drugs could be on the market in under a decade.

Some of the North American researchers said the breakthrough meant we were “inching closer” to a genetic test that will tell a person their risk of a heart attack.

However, for most people, other factors such as smoking, poor diet and a lack of exercise can play a much greater role in causing heart attacks.

Arsène Wenger labels Uefa a 'dictatorship' and 'arrogant'

Arsène Wenger has accused Uefa of behaving like a "dictatorship" and of showing inexplicable "arrogance" in the wake of its decision to bring improper conduct charges against him and Samir Nasri following Arsenal's Champions League exit in Barcelona.
The manager remains furious at the Swiss referee Massimo Busacca for giving Robin van Persie a second yellow card on 56 minutes for kicking the ball away, a decision he maintains "destroyed" the last-16 second leg at the Camp Nou and allowed Barcelona to advance. Wenger and Nasri clashed after the tie with Busacca, who reported them to Uefa for their use of "inappropriate language". Yet it has been Uefa's subsequent actions that have deepened Wenger's sense of injustice.
He suggested that the governing body ought to have apologised to Arsenal for the controversial decision, rather than going on the offensive with the charges. The club have until Monday to submit their defence and Uefa's control and disciplinary body meets next Thursday to consider its verdict. If found guilty, Wenger and Nasri could be fined and banned for up to two European matches.
"Arsenal Football Club has been punished," Wenger said. "When you have a football game of that stature, you cannot come out with decisions like that and show a lot of arrogance on top of that. We can all understand that we can make wrong decisions but, after that, it becomes dictatorship. It's not common sense any more. A bit more humility would do Uefa some good. To apologise for what happened would be much better than to charge people who have done nothing wrong. Uefa has to have a little bit [of a] low profile after what happened. That would be better, more sensible and more adapted to the situation.
"We are out of the Champions League, we have lost one of our big ambitions, we have been punished with a lot of damages and, on top of that, we have to say sorry to Uefa. We have done nothing wrong. They organised the competition, they named the referees who come to the games. It's not to me [they should apologise]. They do not punish me. It's Arsenal Football Club that has been punished."
Wenger outlined his determination to fight the charge and he muttered darkly when he was asked whether he had sworn at Busacca. "I will keep that for Uefa if they really want to know because I will have some interesting statements to make about some statements made by people who were not supposed to say what they said," he replied. "Did Busacca say something back to me? I don't want to go public on that. Our not having a shot on target was our biggest problem but that would not have happened had we stayed 11 versus 11, believe me. We had already given a lot before being down to 10 men. The referee knew exactly at that moment in time and I knew exactly what would happen; that in the last 20 minutes, it will be too difficult."
Wenger must pick up his players for the FA Cup quarter-final tie at Manchester United tomorrow, when he will be without the injured Cesc Fábregas, Theo Walcott, Alex Song and Thomas Vermaelen, not to mention the goalkeepers Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski. Wenger said that he wants to make an emergency loan signing of a goalkeeper to serve as the understudy to Manuel Almunia.
"Cesc is very disappointed because it is becoming a little bit of a problem for him to have a recurrence of his hamstring. But it's a very superficial one. As for Szczesny, he has a dislocated finger with a tendon problem and we need the assessment of a specialist to see where we go from here." Szczesny believes his absence will be for between four to six weeks. He is confident that he will play again before the end of the end of the season.

Lifestyle intervention cuts pregnancy flab

A lifestyle intervention can help women control their weight gain during and after pregnancy, according to a new study.
It will also help normal-weight, obese and overweight women return to pre-pregnancy weight after delivery.
"This study suggests that a lifestyle intervention can help women manage their weight during pregnancy, prevent health problems during pregnancy, and reduce weight retention after having a baby," said lead author Suzanne Phelan at the Brown University and The Miriam Hospital.
The researchers, who conducted a randomised controlled study of 400 women, found that women whose weight was in a normal range before pregnancy were more likely to stay at a healthy weight if they received the intervention during pregnancy compared to women who received standard care.
The intervention also increased the chance of returning to their pre-pregnancy weight six months after delivery.
However, it did not help women who were obese or overweight before becoming pregnant to stay within the recommended weight gain goals during pregnancy, but it did help them return to their pre-pregnancy weight after delivery.
The team devised an intervention that they hoped would be effective, but also 'low-intensity' so that clinicians and patients could stick with it.
Patients randomly selected to receive the intervention went to an initial, face-to-face meeting with an interventionist and received scales, pedometers and forms for recording what they ate.
The intervention proceeded exclusively via the mail and by phone with weekly reminder postcards and three calls from a dietician to offer encouragement.
After each visit to their doctor's office, the women would also receive graphs showing them their weight gain compared to what would be ideal based on health guidelines.
Women who were gaining too much or too little received additional follow-up coaching calls from the study dietician.
Among normal-weight women who received the intervention, 40.2 per cent gained more than the Institute of Medicine's recommendations, but among comparable women who did not receive the intervention, 52.1 per cent gained too much.
Six months after delivery, 35.6 per cent of women who received the intervention were at or below their pre-pregnancy weight, compared to only 20.7 per cent who received only standard care.
Obese or overweight women struggled more to control their weight during pregnancy.
Exactly 66.7 per cent of obese or overweight women who received the intervention and 61.1 per cent of those who did not gained more than the 1990 IOM recommendation.
After birth, obese or overweight women did gain a statistically significant benefit from the intervention - 25.6 per cent of those in the intervention group returned to their pre-pregnancy weight or below, compared to only 16.7 per cent of women who received standard care.
Normal-weight women in the intervention group were nearly four times less likely to experience high blood pressure and three times less likely to have preeclampsia.

Football's lawmakers running out of time to introduce goal-line technology at 2014 World Cup

Football's rule-makers are set to approve more experiments with goal-line technology on Saturday, but time is running out to introduce it at the 2014 World Cup and prevent wrong decisions infuriating fans and players.
High-profile mistakes by referees at last year's tournament led to FIFA President Sepp Blatter reversing his long-held opposition to officials using high-tech aids to assist in decision-making.
But 10 systems investigated by FIFA last month all failed stringent tests, preventing the International Football Association Board on Saturday from approving trials in real games.
FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke told The Associated Press there should be "additional tests in the future, at least until 2012, to see if it works."
But FIFA is in a race against time to implement the technology in Brazil's stadiums by 2014 to prevent teams like England and Mexico complaining again about disputed goals leading to them being eliminated.
It will have taken almost three years of trials to get to the stage on Saturday when IFAB can approve UEFA's conservative alternative of using extra manpower to rule on disputed goals at the 2012 European Championship.
The use of an additional referee's assistant behind each goal is still only in its second season being tested in the Europa League.
Football has previously steadfastly refused to make changes while major sports including tennis, American football, baseball and ice hockey have employed video replay and other high-tech gadgets to help officials get calls right.
Any changes to football's rules must be made by the 125-year-old IFAB which comprises officials from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, who each have a vote and FIFA, which has four. Six votes are required for motions to be passed.
The Welsh and Northern Irish backed FIFA last year by voting to keep technology out of the game, with Valcke saying: "We should trust and keep football as a human game."
But Wales manager Gary Speed has provided an indication that the Welsh Football Association will be more supportive of non-human intervention at this year's meeting amid concerns within the organization about the pressure on referees.
"If the referee gets alerted, they can stop it straight away (and say) that it was a goal, then that's fine," Speed told Sky Sports. "I think it's time we went that way. You can't put the onus on officials any more. For an official to give that, they have to be 100 per cent sure it's in. If not, they can't give it. That takes it away from them.
"Hopefully it would make them perform better and be more relaxed in the job. We want the right decision."
While there are concerns that football would no longer have the same rules at every level, Speed pointed to how other sports have successfully implemented systems to eradicate errors by officials.
"It works in other sports, like cricket and rugby, and they don't have that at local level," Speed said. "I think there could be a trial period brought in on certain situations, like the Europa League. They can trial it to see if it's a success."
The errors that created a worldwide furor and put pressure on FIFA came in the first knockout round at the 2010 World Cup.
England was denied a clear goal when Frank Lampard's shot bounced down from the crossbar over the goal line. That would have levelled the match against Germany at 2-2. Germany advanced 4-1. Argentina led 1-0 against Mexico when Carlos Tevez scored while clearly offside. Argentina won 3-1.
The IFAB meetings on Friday and Saturday are being held at Celtic Manor in Wales, which was the site of Europe's Ryder Cup victory over the United States last year.
In other proposed rule changes, FIFA wants referees to be required to stop matches and restart with a dropped ball if stray objects, including an extra ball or animal, appear on the pitch.
Sunderland was able to score its notorious "beach ball" goal to beat Liverpool in a Premier League match in October 2009 when a shot by Darren Bent deflected off the object into the goal, having been thrown onto the field by a Liverpool fan.
Another change could see players banned from wearing neck-warming snoods. FIFA is concerned that the loose-fitting neck scarves could be a safety risk if a player was running through on goal and an opponent grabbed his snood.

lifestyle tips: Pato spurs AC Milan to crucial win

lifestyle tips: Pato spurs AC Milan to crucial win: "A brilliant performance by Brazilian striker Pato saw AC Milan inflict what could prove to be a fatal blow to Napoli’s Serie A title hope..."

Pato spurs AC Milan to crucial win

A brilliant performance by Brazilian striker Pato saw AC Milan inflict what could prove to be a fatal blow to Napoli’s Serie A title hopes in Milan, Italy, on Monday as the leaders cruised to a 3-0 win.
The 21-year-old — a somewhat controversial omission from last year’s World Cup finals squad — set up Ghanaian Kevin-Prince Boateng for Milan’s second goal and then added a glorious third two minutes later to give them a five-point lead over champions Inter, while Napoli are six points adrift of the leaders.
Swedish international striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic had opened the scoring for Milan early in the second-half from the penalty spot — a harsh call by referee Gianluca Rocchi for handball on Napoli defender Salvatore Aronica, who while the ball clearly hit his arm it did not seem to be deliberate on his part.
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said he believed from his viewing point that Rocchi had called it correctly.
“Seen from the sidelines it was a penalty,” he said. “But independent of that moment, Milan produced a good performance, and deserved the victory.”
“We really played very well, [Christian] Abbiati didn’t have to make a save and we created several chances,” Allegri said. “The thing that really pleased me was that the team was looking to make it 2-0, and even 3-0. The six point lead is a tidy advantage, but there are still a lot of matches to go, including the derby with Inter, and Napoli cannot be discounted yet.”
His Napoli counterpart, Walter Mazzarri, said that it was not a penalty and that his team had been unnerved by it. However, he said there was still a lot of water to flow under the bridge before the title was won.
“We lost a final, but there are still 11 remaining,” Mazzarri said. “We can lose at Milan, 1-0 or 3-0 changes nothing, now it is imperative that we get back to work and get back to how we were before this match.”
“We never spoke of a target, we are just trying to do our best. Losing doesn’t change our routine, we are preparing for our next match against Brescia,” he said. “They [Milan] were too strong, and we were unable to impose our style of play, to pass the ball as we know how to do, and also we were tired having played in the Europa League last Thursday.”

“But the penalty dictated the outcome of the match, after it, my guys got upset and became disjointed, they played like kids, and that played into Milan’s hands,” Mazzarri said. “It is only by playing one discovers things such as happened tonight, that we must remain calm, but we are learning all the time.”

lifestyle tips: 8 ways to reduce the risk of a heart attack

lifestyle tips: 8 ways to reduce the risk of a heart attack: "LOSE WEIGHT The best way to lose weight is by reducing your kilojoule (energy) intake by cutting down on the fat and sugar and following a ..."

8 ways to reduce the risk of a heart attack

LOSE WEIGHT

The best way to lose weight is by reducing your kilojoule (energy) intake by cutting down on the fat and sugar and following a healthy, balanced diet.

Being physically active also plays an important part in losing weight as you burn up calories.

Try not to lose weight too quickly and avoid "crash diets".

Instead, aim to lose weight slowly and steadily. Between half a kilogram and 2kg a month is healthy, and you are more likely to keep the weight off for good.

KEEP YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE DOWN

It's normal for your blood pressure to rise and fall during the day, but if it stays high for a long time - usually for at least three months - then you have high blood pressure.

If your doctor says you have high blood pressure, you'll likely be encouraged to make some lifestyle changes.

They might include reducing the salt in your diet, keeping to a healthy weight, increasing your exercise, cutting down on alcohol and eating healthy.

If your blood pressure remains high, your doctor is likely to prescribe medication.

EAT HEALTHIER

Good eating can help keep your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol under control as well as prevent blood clots and fatty deposits building up in your arteries.

It's never too late to start eating right

Eating healthy includes what you choose to eat, how you prepare the food and the way these foods influence your heart health.

Changing the balance of the food you eat can reduce your overall risk of heart disease and improve your heart health.

Start by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, choosing low-fat milk, replacing butter with margarines and healthy oils, reducing your salt intake, and when choosing meat, make it lean and include fish as an alternative.

QUIT SMOKING
If you smoke, you are two to four times more likely to have a heart attack or a stroke.

There are thousands of chemicals in the smoke you inhale.

These can damage the lining of your arteries, reduce the amount of oxygen that your blood can carry, raise your blood pressure and make your blood more likely to clot.

lifestyle tips: Healing herbs

lifestyle tips: Healing herbs: "After a lifetime of dependence on modern medicine, it is a trifle difficult to think of ayurveda as a viable alternative or complementary ..."

Healing herbs

After a lifetime of dependence on modern medicine, it is a trifle difficult to think of ayurveda as a viable alternative or complementary option. But in Rishikesh, where swamis, healers and scientists were meeting and sharing experiences together with Indian and western ayurvedic experts, it was not all that difficult to get convinced.

We began to understand what ayurveda was all about. It was evident that with its stress on herbs, yoga, meditation, chanting and spirituality, ayurveda looked at the whole rather than the part and so is designed to enable followers achieve holistic well-being. There seems to be a kind of resurgence, a renewal of interest in ancient healing systems; both in India and abroad, Ayurveda is coming back in a big way, thanks to growing popular as well as scientific interest in its positive impact on lifestyle.

'Ayurveda and Yoga: Where Science Meets Consciousness' was the theme of a five-day international conference in Rishikesh, (February 17-21), organised by the Coimbatore-based Punarnava Ayurveda Trust. A yagna or sacred ritual fire was done to invoke Lord Dhanwantari, the god of healing, complete with the chanting of Vedic mantras and burning of incense, setting the mood.

Ayurveda's western face
The tall and willowy Robert Svoboda, the first licensed western practitioner of ayurveda in 1980 was clearly the star attraction at the conference. The Hindi-speaking, urdu poetry-quoting American Sanskrit scholar, yoga, astrology and meditation expert is a household name in the west.

Canadians Frank and his partner happily meditating in South Goa promptly enrolled for the conference when they learnt, on googling Svoboda, that he would be lecturing at Rishikesh. Ditto, Coen van der Kroon who runs an ayurvedic academy in Amsterdam. A dozen of his students were also in attendance.

Svoboda believes that allopathy scores in "trauma care and in a life-threatening crisis, but is of little help in teaching people to live healthy and avoid life-threatening crises. I salute modern technology, but air is still air, food is still food, and water is still water, and western medicine can't understand how these interact with living organisms." Ayurveda, on the other hand, encourages people to live right, to alter their lifestyle so that they stay fit. "Ayurveda would have been much more intact today if the British hadn't actively discouraged all forms of traditional knowledge," he adds.

If western science stymied ayurveda in the country of its origin, it was westerners who later rediscovered it and exported it back to their homeland. "India's richness of spirit", is what first attracted Hawaiin Myra Lewin to India to learn yoga and meditation. Soon, she was sold on ayurveda too.

"Don't sweat the small stuff," she now tells her students back in the US, while emphasising the importance of living a life in gratitude — for food and our health. "Treat food as something sacred, not as something mechanised and impersonal. Bring its richness back into your life," she advises. People are finally taking such advice seriously.

Ramkumar of Punarnava is grateful for this. "But it still needs a greater boost especially from the government," he stresses. "Conferences such as these inspire young ayurvedic doctors and students to delve deeper into ancient texts, while exposing them to the global need from ayurveda today," he says. "Look at lifestyle diseases today — allopathy hasn't a comprehensive solution," Ramkumar points out. "But ayurveda is excellent for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic conditions," he adds.

Mind, body and soul
"Ayurveda combines all three: sharira or body, manas or mind and atman or spirit. It emphasises that their symbiotic balance helps a person become stable and strong mentally, physically and spiritually," says ashtavaidyan AN Narayanan Nambi. To lead an ayurvedic way of life, you should know your dharma, fulfil kama or desires in a dharmic way, and practice sukha sadhanam — that is, live right. For good health, necessary for sukha sadhanam, ayurvedic specialists use special healing herbs.

"Besides herbs, Ayurveda also uses minerals, metals, animal products or anything in the world that can be understood in a logical way and can be utilised to treat a certain condition. Ayurveda believes that there's nothing useless in this world; all letters are mantras and all roots are herbs; only that the person who knows it all, is rare," says Nambi. The ancient healing system doesn't offer quick-fix solutions. It explores the real cause of the disease and attempts to eradicate it completely.

Also largely unknown is the fact that ayurveda has comprehensive treatment for emotional and mental wellbeing. Meditation, yoga, and herbs that make your brain strong is the treatment prescribed — not suppressants for the overactive brain as in allopathy.

Customised treatment
Modern biotechnology promotes designer drugs best suited to the genetic makeup of an individual. Interestingly, ayurveda has always advocated customised treatment. "The vaidya gives specific medication in specific doses in accordance with the specific needs of the patient after careful examination of his naadi or pulse, and his tongue, eyes and ears. Instead of relying on lab reports, the vaidya uses his mind and insight as a tool to test and investigate the problem at hand," says Nambi.

Ranjit Pawar, a delegate, who graduated last year and now practises ayurveda in Mumbai, says: "My treatment plan includes guidance on lifestyle and spirituality as suggested by ayurvedic texts".

In ayurveda, costs are lower and remedies are non-invasive with very few side-effects, if any. Critics point out that random studies have shown high metal content in ayurvedic preparations. "However," says Renu Gulati, an Ayurvedic practitioner in Rishikesh who did her Masters in the UK, "metals have a powerful healing effect, but the process for preparing medicines with metals is time-consuming and intricate, and some fly-by-night outfits have bypassed ethical manufacturing guidelines and unwittingly increased the volume of such components that are meant to be just a miniscule part of the medicine. But such concoctions are exceptions." Gulati suggests that patients should avoid self-prescription and visit only a reputed practitioner who will prescribe safe brands.

Harmony healing
Ayurveda works at a holistic level, addressing the physical, mental, spiritual, social, and environment conditions — leading to complete mind-body harmony. Subhash Ranade from Pune has till now trained 3,000 European doctors in ayurveda, evidence that ayurveda is viewd as a serious option abroad. "Maharashtra had 16 ayurveda colleges earlier. Now it has 55," he says. Alternative healing systems like that of ayurveda can be complementary; there is no great divide that demands abandoning one system for the other. The good news is that they can all co-exist in a spirit of co-option, and not competition. It's all about achieving a comfortable rhythm that's life-enhancing.

lifestyle tips: 10 ways to keep your mind sharp

lifestyle tips: 10 ways to keep your mind sharp: "If you don't want your brain to lose its prowess as you age, better follow these tips. Do something Scientists are starting to think ..."

10 ways to keep your mind sharp

If you don't want your brain to lose its prowess as you age, better follow these tips.

Do something
Scientists are starting to think that regular aerobic exercise may be the single most important thing you can do for the long-term health of your brain. For mental fitness, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every other day, reports Live Science.

Eat, eat, eat
A low glycemic diet—high fiber, with moderate amounts of fat and protein—is broken down more slowly in the body than high glycemic foods, such as sweets and white starches. A steady pace of digestion in the gut gives a more reliable flow of energy to the brain, likely optimizing the organ's long-term health and performance.

Watch that diet
While overindulging can make the brain sluggish and lead to long-term detriments to your brain, too few calories can also impair brain function. Many studies have linked dieting with distraction, confusion and memory impairment.

Take care of your body
Largely preventable diseases — such as Type II diabetes, obesity and hypertension — all affect your brain, too. System-wide health concerns have been linked to an increased risk of cognitive decline and memory impairments.

Get your beauty rest
When we rest and dream, memories are sifted through, some discarded, others consolidated and saved. When we don't sleep, a recent study found, proteins build up on synapses, possibly making it hard to think and learn new things.

Enjoy your coffee
Growing evidence suggests a caffeine habit may protect the brain. According to large longitudinal studies, two to four perk-me-ups a day may stave off normal cognitive decline and decrease the incidence of Alzheimer's by 30 to 60 per cent.

Eat fish
Some theories credit the introduction of fish into the human diet with the evolution of our tremendous cognitive prowess. Essential fatty acids, such as Omega 3s, are critical to brain function and are proving beneficial for treating such brain-sapping ailments as depression.

Chill out
Stress takes a toll on the brain by washing harmful chemicals over the hippocampus and other brain areas involved in memory. Some scientists suspect that living a balanced lifestyle and pursuing relaxing activities such as yoga, socializing and crafting may delay memory impairment by reducing stress.

Skip the supplements
Supplements have been getting a bad rap recently, with even the familiar multivitamin now looking like a waste of money — or worse. Despite their 'natural' origins, they are not free of potential side effects, such as high blood pressure, digestion trouble, fertility problems and depression.

Tease your brain
Whether crossword puzzles, sudokus and other brain teasers actually keep your brain in shape, has not been well-established. However, lack of education is a strong predictor of cognitive decline. The more you've tried to learn, the better you'll be at mental sit-ups in old age.

Etuhu in fitness race for Bolton’s clash

Fulhman midfielder Dickson Etuhu is in the race to be fit for tomorrow's English FA Cup fifth round clash with Bolton at

Craven Cottage.

Etuhu, who has been sidelined since last month with a hamstring pull, returned to training early in the week, and Fulham coach Mark Hughes will decide on the Nigerian international’s fitness for the match.

Meanwhile, five lucky pupils from two Surrey schools had the chance to visit Fulham Football Club’s Motspur Park training ground, to chat the Super Eagles ace.

The pupils put their questions to Dickson on the subject of life, the Premier League and most importantly, his role as this season’s Kick-It-Out ambassador.

The Fulham Football Club Foundation set an assignment for pupils from the Holyfield and Southborough Schools during October’s Kick-It-Out week of action. The project, designed to help pupils identify the ways in which cultures unite within the football industry, led to the creation of some fantastic player profiles based on Fulham squad members born outside of the UK.

The task helped pupils comprehend different cultures and backgrounds and the ways in which people from other countries integrate into society and the football industry.

The winning project entries were selected by a panel of Fulham Football Club employees and the five lucky pupils were given the opportunity to be journalists for the day, by interviewing Dickson Etuhu in a press conference style format.

Dickson Etuhu, Fulham FC midfielder and Club’s Kick It Out Ambassador, said: "It was a real pleasure to meet with the pupils and to share their enthusiasm. A lot of good work has been carried out by the Fulham Football Club Foundation alongside Kick-It-Out, through education programmes locally. It’s important that key messages promoting inclusion and cultural understanding are communicated and I’m delighted to support this worthwhile campaign as an ambassador."

lifestyle tips: Andy Murray pulls out of Dubai Championships with ...

lifestyle tips: Andy Murray pulls out of Dubai Championships with ...: " By the time he plays again, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in the Californian desert next month, he will not have won a singles ..."

Andy Murray pulls out of Dubai Championships with wrist injury

 By the time he plays again, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in the Californian desert next month, he will not have won a singles match for six weeks, as on his first appearance since losing the Australian Open final in straight sets to Novak Djokovic, he crashed and burned in the opening round of last week’s Rotterdam tournament, with a heavy defeat to Marcos Baghdatis.

Though Murray’s trip to Holland was not a waste of time, as he reached the semi-finals of the doubles tournament with his brother Jamie, it looked as though he had returned too quickly to the tour, and that he should have done what he had said he was going to do, which was to take an extended break from tennis, spending time with his friends, family and Border Terrier.

This wrist injury is a long way from being a disaster for Murray, as it allows him to prime himself before the two Masters-level tournaments in the United States, the first in California and the second in Florida, and to avoid too many reminders of the episode in the Middle East last year.

Murray may not have endeared himself to the sheikhs last February with his concession that he had tried a few things out during his early defeat as, since it was not a grand slam, it was a good place to experiment with his game.

That mini-controversy in Dubai was just one part of Murray’s almost-five-month funk, when he lugged the after-affects of losing an Australian Open final around the circuit, and did not really look himself again until Wimbledon.

Romantic holiday getaway ideas for couples during valentine

Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse for a getaway with your sweetheart.  In the United States, February 14^th is seen as a holiday for romance.  The restaurants nationwide are crowded with couples surrounded with flowers, romantic cards, chocolates and more!  But what about a change this year in the routine?  A nice Valentine’s Day travel getaway could be the ticket for you! Travel deals are hot around Valentine’s Day!
What are some places to turn up the heat in your relationship on Valentine’s Day?
Lots of places offer package deals for couples. Depending on what you are looking for, you will find packages that include hotel stay, car rentals, air fare, dining experiences, and more! Here aer a few ideas:
Jade Mountain in St. Lucia
Looking to be pampered with your honey? This is the place to check out.  Get a massage, indulge in vanilla champagne, as you relax together.  Breakfast in bed options are available for those couples that do not plan to spend a lot of time out of the bedroom!

The Blue Lagoon in Iceland
Here is something a bit different.   These waters are warm year-round, even if they are surrounded by snow.  You will find the visit refreshing. Suitablefor couples, it is a nice way to connect with nature and share some quiet time together.
Africa
How about getting involved in an adventure together, in Africa? Believe it or not, Africa has great potential for beige romanticfor couples .   With beautiful islands, vast landscapes, and great opportunities to interact with nature, couples are whisked away to another world. 
Niagara Falls
Looking for a classic escape?  Niagara Falls has the charm of a friendly town with the appeal of romance all in one.  During the day, catch the stunning views of the falls. If you are lucky enough to get a room close to the falls, you’ll be able to see them at night too!
What do you have planned for your sweetheart this year?

Spaghetti with Quick Meat Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 envelope(s) whole-wheat spaghetti
• 2 bar(s) extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1 large carrot, finely chopped
• 1 stalk(s) celery, finely chopped
• 4 clove(s) garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon(s) Italian seasoning
• 1 pound(s) lean (90% or leaner) ground beef
• 1 can(s) (28-ounce) crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup(s) chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1/2 cup(s) grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta until just tender, 8 to 10 minutes or according to package directions. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is beginning to brown, 5 to 8 minutes.
3. Stir in garlic and Italian seasoning; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add beef and cook, stirring and breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes. Increase heat to high. Stir in tomatoes and cook until thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Stir in parsley and salt.
4. Serve the sauce over the pasta, sprinkled with cheese.
   
   Exchanges: 3 starch, 1 1/2 vegetable, 2 lean meat Carbohydrate Servings: 3 Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (49% daily value), Zinc (34% dv), Iron (26% dv), Vitamin C (23% dv), Magnesium (21% dv), Potassium (19% dv). 

about the world: tips on how to take the right approach with diet ...

about the world: tips on how to take the right approach with diet ...: "It's that time of year again. The gyms are bombarded with new members working off the holiday calories, nutrition and fitness books are flyi..."

lifestyle tips: Reasons Why You Don’t Have to Go on Diet

lifestyle tips: Reasons Why You Don’t Have to Go on Diet: "Most types of diet are not healthy, such as the Atkins diet that encourages the perpetrators to reduce some of the groups that the body nee..."

Reasons Why You Don’t Have to Go on Diet

Most types of diet are not healthy, such as the Atkins diet that encourages the perpetrators to reduce some of the groups that the body needs food. If you really want to eat healthy, you need nutrients from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. But remember, you must limit your caloric intake and keep the balance.

• Weight loss will rise again. Even if you find yourself losing so many pounds by dieting extremes, do not fool yourself. You will add weight back after starting to eat normally. What everyone says is true, that to lose weight and stay healthy, you must change your lifestyle. Yo-yo dieting is more harmful than helpful. Focus on healthy in a moderate way to keep the body fit than lost 10 pounds just for momentary satisfaction.
• You will be very interested in food. Dieters often spend much time thinking about food and eating. Because you stand off from food, imagine the food is what you can do. This is actually a natural process. When food is limited, you are encouraged to eat as a survival mechanism against starvation.
• Diet is an eating disorder triggers. Some experts believe that the increase in eating disorders in part because of the high percentage of people on a diet that despise their bodies. Even if you think this will never happen to you, do not engage in behavior that puts you at such risk.
• You will lose energy. What good is the body section if you feel lethargic and tired all the time? Diets often do not include elements of the nutrients the body needs so it does not function properly. If you eat snacks (healthy snacks), it is much more healthful and provide energy for the body’s adequacy.
• You do not give a good example for children. Mothers who diet will become role models for the children if they finally chose to diets. Rather than focusing on appearance, your job to teach the children that every person is multidimensional and should not be judged solely on appearance. Make healthy eating part of your lifestyle and your family will see the benefits for the future of children.
• You will not learn to accept yourself. If you’re busy diet, you will never learn to accept yourself and others. Loss of 5, 10, or 15 pounds will not make you a better person. Do not make your life obsessed with thin.

Premier League - Denilson: Fabregas not a leader Related Links

The Brazilian, who has been a fringe player for the Gunners this season, said the club lacks strong characters. Denilson's comments risk destabilising Arsenal ahead of their FA Cup third round replay against Leeds, at a time when they are in contention for their first silverware since 2005. "Fabregas is the captain but he is not a leader," said Denilson. "It's a personality thing and a leader can be young. It's something they are born with. "We are lacking leadership and we need leadership to go forward. There isn't a leader. I don't see one player as a leader. "At Arsenal it's more of a collective team at the moment, everyone is talking - but a leader is always important for a team." Fabregas attempted to defuse the situation on his Twitter account, writing: "Abt (sic) what Deni said. I've been in his situation before, just a misunderstanding. Now lets win tonite! (sic)." Fabregas also attached a picture of the duo as they travelled on the train up to Leeds, both players all smiles and giving the thumbs up. The Spaniard criticised Denilson after the first meeting between Arsenal and Leeds, when Denilson conceded a penalty in the 2-2 draw. He said: "They scored from a penalty that, at this stage when you are a professional footballer you cannot give away this type of penalty so easily".

sports update: Premier League Team of the Week

sports update: Premier League Team of the Week: "In the tempestuous affair that is the Second City derby, Brad Friedel had little to do in a first half that saw the battle unfold in the mid..."

Premier League Team of the Week

In the tempestuous affair that is the Second City derby, Brad Friedel had little to do in a first half that saw the battle unfold in the middle of the park. But when the veteran American goalkeeper was called into action, he remained alert enough to pull off two world class saves - one from David Bentley and another from Matt Derbyshire - as Birmingham's attacks were thwarted by the still outstanding Villa No. 1.

PA PhotosRoger Johnson gave Birmingham the lead, but they were pegged back at St Andrew's

Branislav Ivanovic obviously likes to play against Blackburn. His composed finish and assist for Anelka set Chelsea on their way to a win that kept them in the top four of the Premier League; he also scored the winner against Blackburn in October which kept them top going into November. But it wasn't just Ivanovic's prowess in front of goal, but his commanding display alongside John Terry at the back that reduced Blackburn to feeding off scraps.

Against one of the best attacking teams in the land, Nemanja Vidic personified United's resilience. A man down and, for much of the game against Spurs, swimming against the tide, Vidic was dominant in the air and timed every tackle to perfection, ensuring Peter Crouch was unable to lead the line for Spurs as Harry Redknapp would have liked. Yet another superb performance by arguably the Premier League's finest defender.

While goals for defenders don't necessarily ensure inclusion on this list, it certainly helps and Roger Johnson's ability to score crucial goals for Birmingham has dug them out of many a hole in the past. His strike against Aston Villa could have proved to be the winner but his success in keeping John Carew quiet - never an easy task - separates him from the rest of the pack.

While West Ham's Wayne Bridge may have endured the worst debut since Jonathan Woodgate pulled on the white shirt of Real Madrid, much of his nightmare was down to the outstanding performance of Arsenal's Theo Walcott. Walcott provided the pass for Robin Van Persie's opener, left Bridge on the seat of his pants to score Arsenal's second and won the penalty from the dishevelled defender for their third. A scintillating performance by a player who would be scarily good if he could only establish some consistency.

Although Roy Hodgson will not be remembered as one of Liverpool's great managers, he will at least take the credit for bringing Raul Meireles to the club. When Liverpool are without their captain Steven Gerrard it is painfully obvious, but Meireles helped fill the void with a dynamic display against a strong Everton midfield. The Portuguese linked well with Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt and, in addition to scoring his first Liverpool goal, was the spark of imagination in midfield that Liverpool crave without their skipper.

While it may be Gareth Bale and Rafael Van der Vaart that steal the limelight, their achievements at Spurs are almost always orchestrated by the diminutive figure of Luka Modric. Modric had his finger on the pulse for 90 minutes and reduced Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher to spectators as they toiled to get close to him. Such was Modric's influence, Alex Ferguson was forced into bringing on an additional central midfielder, Anderson, to prevent the Croatian running riot as he has throughout Harry Redknapp's reign.

As Stoke quietly march closer and closer to a Europa League place, Matthew Etherington was yet again integral to securing a win against a much-improved Bolton side. Etherington has played on both the right and left wings this season but it was his searing pace down the right that saw him win, and score, the penalty that secured the points for Stoke.

Central to Manchester City's ascent as not only top four regulars, but title-challengers, is Yaya Toure. And, more specifically, his ever-growing understanding with Carlos Tevez. Roberto Mancini is likely to use new signing Edin Dzeko as a central forward, with Tevez and David Silva in support, but tying the team together is Toure, who proved his quality again against Wolves. He started the move for his goal, City's third, in his own half before making up 90 yards to find the net, capping a fine performance that saw him cover every blade of grass.

What more can you say about Carlos Tevez? If he's not happy in England then he's doing a great job of hiding it. The Argentine scored twice against Wolves, including a fine solo effort which saw him beat three defenders before slotting home, upstaging his new strike partner Dzeko. Tevez already has 14 league goals this season and, yet again, proved why he is the first name on Mancini's teamsheet.

PA PhotosPeter Odemwingie celebrates his winner for West Brom

While it would be fair to say Peter Odemwingie had a mixed game against Blackpool, scoring twice but missing a handful of chances for his hat-trick, his impact since joining West Brom has been tangible, with his eight Premier League goals this season equating to 11 points. Odemwingie, who signed on transfer deadline day, has proved to be an inspired purchase by Roberto Di Matteo.

Tony Pulis knows Stoke's strengths, and he plays to them. Huth and Shawcross protect, Delap and Etherington provide and Jones and Fuller lead the line in what is always going to be a physical set-up. Huge credit must go to the manager, not just for what he achieved in the 2-0 win against Bolton, but in bringing Stoke up to the Premier League and establishing them as a very respectable force on relatively limited funds.

Aston Villa have surprise £18m bid accepted for Sunderland hitman - Sportingo

Aston Villa have surprise £18m bid accepted for Sunderland hitman - Sportingo

Haitian youths use hip-hop to inspire earthquake recovery

Laurent Koscielny: City and Arsenal to challenge Manchester United for the title

Arsenal centre back Laurent Koscielny believes Manchester City and Arsenal will be the two teams to challenge Manchester United for the English Premier League title.
Speaking to Arsenal TV Online, the Frenchman explained how the game against Roberto Mancini’s men was a frustrating experience as despite playing a very good game the Gunners failed to score and had to settle for a disappointing goalless draw. The ex-Lorient man believes Arsenal had plenty of chances to open the score but had to accept it was just “one of those days”.
On challenging Manchester United for the title, the 25-year admitted Manchester City – together with Arsenal – should be considered challengers this year with the Gunners yet to play the Red Devils at the Emirates, an advantage according to the defender.
The Frenchman concluded by saying how he believes Arsenal can win the Carling Cup this season after performing incredibly well in the defensive department as well as in the offensive department. The Gunners will face Ipswich Town tonight in the first leg of their semi-final tie.
On the title race, Koscielny said:

[Manchester City] was frustrating – I think it was one of those games and it seemed to be anything but a draw. It was an eventful game and there could have easily been a few goals. In the first half there were lot of chances to get that first goal and the game open up but we just couldn’t get the breakthrough.
I think the main teams to challenge Manchester United [for the title] are Manchester City and ourselves. Winning on Wednesday night against Man. City would have made it interesting for the title race but that’s over and done with now. We still got a game in hand on them and we still have to play Manchester United at home so we have to be consistent and try to keep it in our own hands.
We can go all the way in the Carling Cup. We are only two games from the final so we got very strong aspirations of winning it. We were very consistent defensively and have let in very few goals, only one I think, and scored goals as we normally do.
There are no bad players in the Carling Cup, everyone strives to win and now we’re in the semi-final against Ipswich and I know that everyone is motivated to win the semi-final and then the final as well.

sports update: Talk about a busy year: In July, Amar'e Stoudemire...

sports update: Talk about a busy year: In July, Amar'e Stoudemire...: "Talk about a busy year: In July, Amar'e Stoudemire—a powerful five-time NBA All-Star with the Phoenix Suns—signed a $100 million free agent..."

Talk about a busy year: In July, Amar'e Stoudemire—a powerful five-time NBA All-Star with the Phoenix Suns—signed a $100 million free agent deal with the New York Knicks. He then spent a few weeks in Israel, absorbing his newly discovered heritage (Stoudemire recently learned that his mother has Jewish roots). Since the trip, he's been working at staying officially kosher. "I've had no shellfish and no pork for quite some time," he says.

In the gym, Stoudemire hasn't changed a thing from the regimen that allowed him to thrive in the Arizona desert. He works out four hours a day, combining weight training, prehab exercises, and skill training. Typically, he does eight exercises, with three sets of 12 reps. Even during the season, he lifts four to five days a week (though cutting back significantly on the reps), mixing corrective exercises, like the rotational lunge, with heavier movements, like squats, deadlifts, and stepups.

"I want to reach my full potential," he told us. Long-suffering Knicks fans hope Stoudemire can do that and finally return the team to respectability. "It's a dream to play at Madison Square Garden," he says. "I love being part of this city."

High-Tech Hoops
The Knicks are one of the first pro teams to incorporate a new technology called The Catapult System into their practices. Players wear a chip on their backs, between their shoulder blades. The chips are accompanied by basic Polar heart rate monitors near the bottom of their chests. The system monitors the players' fitness and performance levels. "At the end of practice, we can download the data, study everything, and look for ways to improve," says Knicks head athletic trainer Roger Hinds.