Wednesday, April 18, 2007

"Harry Potter" pre-orders break bookseller record

Reuters writes

He is not expected to ride his flying broomstick into bookstores for 100 more days, but already British boy wizard Harry Potter is whipping up some magic at bookstore chain Barnes & Noble.
Barnes & Noble Inc. on Thursday said advance orders for author J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" have topped 500,000 copies, breaking the bookseller chain's record for the most advance requests in its history.

"Deathly Hallows" is the seventh book in the series of hit novels that have thrilled readers and been made into big-budget Hollywood movies.

Speculation has been rife that Rowling, who became the world's first billion-dollar author on the success of the Harry Potter books and films, may kill Harry off in book seven, but confirmation of Harry's possible demise awaits publication.

Link Reuters

Saturday, April 7, 2007

Green Weddings for Environment Protection......
PTI writes

The World Wldlife Fund(WWF) has askes couples to plan ”green wedding”to save the environment, including selecting ecofriendly reception venues, flower arrangements and food catering.
It has also asked couples to encourage guests to make donations to the organization instead of giving traditional gifts” that would make the big day not only memorable but also environmentally friendly” it said.

And an added attraction: Guests can down load cards announcing their donations which can be displaced at the reception tables. WWF has a Website up and running which advises couples on planning a green –wedding and things to remember when going for ceremony.
The Wedding and Celebrations site and Registry” gift registry allows the couples to create a personalized web page and registry giving guests on opinion of donating to WWF’s worldwide conservation programmes.

Registry announcements can be e-mailed to guests and a link to their gift registry web page. Couples can also choose to make a donation to WWF in honour of their wedding guests as a party favour.


Link Press Trust of India
Link Greenweddings.net

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Agency France-presse writes

The publishers of the seventh and last Harry Potter book has unveiled the cover of new book, which featured the boy wizard with a hand stretched up into the orange sky. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the much awaited final installment of the hugely successful series by British writer J.K.Rowling, is due to go on sale on mid night on july 21, 2007.
The cover art of the new book is by illustrator Mary Grandpre, who painted the covers of previous six books in the series.”The structure around the Harry show evident destrucition and in the shadows behind him, we see outlines of other people” said the cover designer. Scholostic Creative director David Saylor ”for the first time the cover is a wrap around. On the back cover spidery hands are outstretched towards harry”.
Demand for organic foods and drinks…………….

Increasing demand for organic foods and drinks in the world market has out stripped supply despite growth in organic farming in Latin America, Asia and Africa since 2000.

Writes Business Line March 24, 2007

Short supply is felt in North America and Us based companies are currently scouring the globe for organic ingradients according to organic monitor.

Countries such as US, Singapore and Switzerland having consumers with high disposable income are pushing the demand

The G-7 countries, it said account for 80% of total sales even though they have only 12% of international farm land. In a report UK based consultancy has projected that the sales organic foods anddrinks may touch $40 billon soon as there is an increase in the number of consumers seeking healthy and nutritious products.

According to the consultancy, imports of organic ingredients such as nuts, beans and seeds from Turkey, China and Brazil have increased while herbs and spices are arriving from
Paraguay. India and Ethiopia. Organic fresh fruits and vegetables are increasingly coming from Africa and Asian countries.

Link Business Line