Manchester United Transfer News - (Howard Webb Not for Sale)

Januray 31st 2011 marked the end of a very hectic transfer window in European football. Manchester United, however have been able to hold on to their most prized asset; Howard Webb. Howard Webb plays referee for Man United and has been subject of many transfer speculations. Many notable football clubs across Europe were eager for the signature of the coveted referee but the player has chosen to stick with his mentor Alex Fergusson. Webb has produced many impressive displays in recent years helping Man United to Premier leagur titles that has impressed coaches all around Europe. Our correspondent reports that John Henry the owner of Prestigious Liverpool football club was interested in Webb and made him his number 1 target after Striker Luis Suarez. Webbs eye catching performance in winning the early penalty against Liverpool in the FA cup match being the prime reason. Similarly Jose Mourinho of Real had shown interest in signing the referee considreing recent run of poor form in Spain and inability to cope with the pace set by Barcelona. However concerns over Webbs ability to gel in the La Liga prevented the move from going through.
Following intense bidding an speculations Man United issed an Hands-off warning over Webb and the FA fully supported this decision by issuing a statement on their website - "Howard Webb will remain a Man United Player till the end of Fergussons contract, and will officiate all games that could potentially affect the outcome of the premier league. Clubs are warned against Tapping the referee until released by United". With this ; came to an end the most sought after story of the 2011 Transfer window; to the great relief of Man united.

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For more news on Man United Referee signings read:

http://maheshsonawane.blogspot.com/2012/03/manchester-united-star-signing-referee.html

Who shrunk the pomfret?

I usually enjoy my trips to the My Hoa fish market in Houston. The place stocks Pomfrets (Marathi name Poplet / Paaplet), King fish (Surmai), Mackerel (Bangda) to name a few that makes sea food cooking possible the Indian way. However on my last visit the Pomfrets didnt quite look like the pomfrets - yeah they were silver and they were perfect diamond shapes but much diminished in size. Initially i mistook them for butter fish but upon questioning the owner it was confirmed thay were indeed the pomfrets. I let it go as an one off incident....
But the same thing today, the pormfrets were greatly diminished in size. I am keeping my fingers crossed that these are just random events of batches of teen / young, pomfrets making it into the nets; and not some ecological imbalance dwarfing the best and tastiest fish ever to swim across the oceans of planet earth.

Why are American freaking out about $5 gas?

If the media reports are to be believed $5 will be a reality by 2012. In an interesting debate on the Fox News Channel, Hannity took offense to the Kuwati oil ministers remark that the US should realize that days of cheap gas are behind them and should be ready to pay more for oil. Hannity went on to suggest, had it not been for the Americans the Kuwait nation would cease to exist and the US had right to all the oil and natural gas available in Kuwait, moreover the United states should send a bill to Kuwait for defending them in the Gulf war – so true; one thing I agree with Fox.

Coming back to the cost of gas, the cost of gas in many developing countries way too higher than that in the US. In India for instance one liter of gas costs around INR 63; that makes it approximately $5.04 per gallon. Now compare that to the per capita income of $2800 as opposed to $37000 in the US.

It’s time for the American nation to accept gas as a luxury and not a given. It’s time to carpool, galvanize the public transport system, built and use fuel efficient cars and cut down unnecessary travel. It is a pity to watch a 90lb American females drive 5000lb big-ass Tahoes and Expeditions. Why haul 300 hp, 5000 lb mass to and fro every day and harbor 10 miles to the gallon? Start thinking about 50 mpgs. A small car in India delivers around 28 km/liter equivalent of 61 mpg, produces 45 horsepower and hauls a family of 5. If Americans do half as much – use a 140hp Honda carrying 2 people and achieve 30mpg – they will remain energy independent and an affluent nation.