Monday, October 31, 2016

Rail delays for Christmas travellers

Rail delays for Christmas travellers


Heathrow Express trainImage copyrightPA
Image captionFather Christmas may come, but not via the Heathrow Express
Rail passengers face significant disruption during the Christmas break as 200 sets of Network Rail engineering works are planned.
Some rail works begin on Christmas Eve, which falls on a Saturday, and are set to continue for four days.
London, Manchester and Cardiff are among the cities hit and the Heathrow Express will be suspended for six days.
Rail bosses recommend people plan their journeys using the National Rail Enquiries website.
It said major works take place during official holidays as up to 50% fewer passengers travel then.

Closures due

More than 95% of the network would open as usual, National Rail's England and Wales managing director Phil Hufton said.
"There's never a good time to impact on journeys and I'd like to thank passengers in advance for their patience, " he said.
Among the works:
  • No trains will operate to or from London Paddington, 24-29 December, because of work on Crossrail
  • The Heathrow Express will be suspended at the same time
  • And Great Western Railway trains will terminate at Ealing Broadway
  • Bus replacements and diversions will be in place to and from London Liverpool Street, 24 December to 2 January
  • Manchester's Oxford Road will have rail replacement buses and diversions from 18-28 December because of work on the Ordsall Chord link from Picadilly to Victoria
  • No late-night trains running between Cardiff Central, Bridgend, Newport and the Valleys on Christmas Eve and disruption from 27 December to 3 January
  • No Southeastern trains to London Bridge and Charing Cross, 24-28 December, apart from the Hastings service which will divert to London Bridge.

In cartoons: Doing Diwali Delhi style

In cartoons: Doing Diwali Delhi style


 Cartoonist Priya Kuriyan gives her unique take on how the festival is celebrated there.


Party people

Cartoon
People start partying at least two weeks before the festival, which is being celebrated on 30 October in the north of India this year. And in Delhi, families often try to outdo each other to throw "the best party in the neighbourhood". This usually translates to the latest Bollywood hit songs being played at deafening levels, some jaw popping - and bone dislocating - dance moves, and fabulous food.

Show me the money!

Cartoon
Another very Diwali tradition is gambling - a lot of people believe that winning money before the festival brings good luck. Teen Patti (Three Cards), a local variation of poker, is a favourite Diwali game, and the stakes vary from match sticks to some serious big bucks. People throwing their car keys and sometimes even their house keys on to the gambling table is not unheard of.
The cartoon above depicts a man all ready to play some "patti" accompanied by his wife (patni in Hindi).

Chinese boycott? Nah...

Cartoon
Some nationalist groups have been running a serious social media campaign exhorting "patriotic Indians" to boycott Chinese products this festive season to boost domestic manufacturing, but it seems their appeal hasn't worked. Chinese products, like decorative lights, are relatively cheaper than their Indian counterparts - and everyone knows most Indians can't resist a good bargain!

Sugar, sugar

Cartoon
Let's be honest. Sweets (or meetha in Hindi) are what Diwali is really all about. It's traditional to gift boxes of sweets to friends and family. And when offices, clients, acquaintances and the entire neighbourhood gets into the act, you're left with what can only be described as a tower of sweets.

Pollution prepared

Cartoon
Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world, but that doesn't stop anyone from going out to shop. People are on a mission and a tiny matter like smog is not going to deter them. And for those who are concerned, there are always masks.

Costumes to go: Rolling out for Halloween

Costumes to go: Rolling out for Halloween

Keaton Weimer on his dragon
Halloween is big business and when you use a wheelchair you want your outfit to pack a punch when you go trick-or-treating.
In America, Ryan Weimer and his wife Lana, have tapped into that market by providing children with the 3D costumes of their imaginations.
Costing between $2,000 and $4,000 each, a team of volunteers spend about 120 hours building the costumes which range from aeroplanes to dragons.
Star Wars Tri-fighter
Image captionDaniel's tri-fighter from Star Wars has been getting some attention at various conventions in Portland
Four stages of the Tri-fighters being constructed
Image captionFour stages of the Tri-fighters being constructed by the team of volunteers
The Weimers, from Oregan, have five children and were inspired by three of their sons who use wheelchairs due to Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) - a degenerative disease which causes muscle weakness.
Ryan Weimer says: "My first son, Keaton, was diagnosed at nine months old with SMA and this diagnosis has forever changed our family and how we do things.
"We have to look at life through a different set of lenses than the average man or woman."
Weimer first made a costume for his son in Halloween 2008 when he requested to be a pirate.
Pirate ship
Image captionRyan Weimer thought: "Why would you wear a pirate ship when you could sail one?"
He says: "I realised, Keaton has this wheelchair he cruises around in, and every pirate needs a ship, so let's just build one around his chair.
"I drew out some rough plans and had to start over once or twice, but in the end we came out with a pretty awesome pirate ship for Keaton to sail around in."
He says every year he "can't help but cringe" at the thought of what his son might request but "it's always fun, frustrating, discouraging, occasionally painful, and expensive".
Hunter Power took deliver of his Quinjet, inspired by the Agents of Shield vehicle, earlier this year.
2015
Image captionHunter Powers cruises in his Quinjet from Agents of Shield
School students got involved in building the Quinjet
Image captionSchool students got involved in building the Quinjet for Hunter
His mum, Ginger, says it was "the best Halloween ever for Hunter".
She says: "Not even the pouring rain during the trick-or-treating could dampen his spirit.
"Hunter still couldn't get up to people's doors, but they came to him, completely amazed by his costume. "
As word about the designs spread so did the requests from other families wanting to create something special for their children and in 2015 Magic Wheelchair, a non-profit charity, was created.
Ryan Weimer
Image captionRyan Weimer has turned his passion into a US-wide business to help as many children as possible
Light-up ice castle
Image captionKayla opted for an ice castle which could light up having been inspired by the film Frozen
The funds to make each costume are raised through donations, but rely on a team of volunteers to give up their time to design and construct them.
Each year children are invited to submit a short video explaining why they deserve one of the bespoke costumes and what it is they would most like to be.
This Halloween designs will be rolled out in 11 States with 18 different teams having helped build 25 costumes including a Batmobile, Cinderella and Fire Engine.
Magic Wheelchair also has teams in Chile and Canada and is hoping to expand globally.
Ghostbusters truck
Image captionMelinda in Chicago really wanted to be part of the Ghostbusting squad
Two dragons roam the streets of America
Image captionDragons have proved a popular choice for many of the Magic Wheelchair recipients

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Silver-haired fashionistas a hit online

  • Author:zita
  • Source:www.seaartrhinestone.com/
  • Release on :2016-10-22


It's never too late to be chic! Four elderly folks, all in their 90s, have become instant online stars recently as they were photographed in stylish outfits: colorful jackets, blazers, knitted sweaters and denim, looking like they are ready to hit the runway. They are all from Pengzhou city in Southwest China's Sichuan province.


This photo unveiled on Oct 10, 2016, shows an elderly woman, in her 90s, in a stylish red jacket and a floral skirt.

A stylish elderly woman, in her 90s, is captured in a pleated skirt and a denim jacket, echoed with colorful socks.


A 90-year-old elderly man is photographed in a stylish pink knitted sweater, green pants and vintage glasses.


This photo unveiled on Oct 10, 2016, shows an elderly woman, in her 90s, in a stylish red jacket and a floral skirt.


Four elderly folks, all in their 90s, become instant online stars as they were photographed in stylish outfits: colorful jackets, blazers, knitted sweaters and denim, looking like they are ready to hit the runway. They are all from Pengzhou city in Southwest China’s Sichuan province. 

The space blue: China unveils new astronaut suits




China launched the Shenzhou XI manned spacecraft on Monday, sending two astronauts to the Tiangong II space laboratory - another step towards becoming one of the leading players in global space technology.
On Sunday morning, one day ahead of the launch, the two astronauts, 49-year-old Jing Haipeng and 37-year-old Chen Dong, met reporters during a news briefing at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. In addition to their space mission, the new astronaut suits they wore were also in the limelight.
The new uniforms, worn by astronauts while working on Earth, features different shades of navy blue - inspired by the color of the skyline and space, according to the the Astronaut Center of China's spacesuit laboratory. The V-shaped pattern on the chest carries an auspicious meaning of "victory" in each mission.
The suits are among the newly unveiled autumn and winter series for astronauts, using thick woolen fabric to maintain warmth. Others include outdoor training suits and winter coats.
Since May 2015, China's Astronaut Center has begun to design astronauts' attire, including on-orbit suits, on-ground suits and accessories.

Chinese brands shine at Milan Fashion Week



A model presents a creation of Chinese fashion brand Ellassay during the Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017 in Milan, Italy, Sept 26, 2016. The high-end fashion collections, themed "Fashion Shenzhen" from China, presented to the world a visual feast by fusing Chinese elements with modern aesthetic taste.

A model presents a creation of Chinese designer Xie Haiping, who took inspiration from Chinese calligraphy, during the Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017 in Milan, Italy, Sept 26, 2016.

A model presents a creation of Chinese fashion brand Ellassay during the Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017 in Milan, Italy, Sept 26, 2016
A model presents a creation of Chinese fashion brand La pargay during the Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017 in Milan, Italy, Sept 26, 2016
A model presents a creation of Chinese designer Xie Haiping, who took inspiration from Chinese calligraphy, during the Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017 in Milan, Italy, Sept 26, 2016
A model presents a creation of Chinese fashion brand La pargay during the Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017 in Milan, Italy, Sept 26, 2016
Models present creations of Chinese fashion brand Ellassay and La pargay during the Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017 in Milan, Italy, Sept 26, 2016.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

How Chinese spend their National Day holiday

How Chinese spend their National Day holiday


A young boy tries on an imitation of spacesuit at Ningxia Science and Technology Museum in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Oct. 7, 2016, the last day of China's National Day holiday. (Photo/Xinhua)
A young boy tries on an imitation of spacesuit at Ningxia Science and Technology Museum in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Oct. 7, 2016, the last day of China's National Day holiday. (Photo/Xinhua)
Kids play on the beach in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 2, 2016. Altogether 593 million people visited tourist attractions around the country and spent 482.2 billion yuan (about 72.3 billion U.S. dollars) during this year's National Day holiday, up 12.8 percent and 14.4 percent respectively year on year, according to the China National Tourism Administration. (PhotoXinhua)Kids play on the beach in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 2, 2016. Altogether 593 million people visited tourist attractions around the country and spent 482.2 billion yuan (about 72.3 billion U.S. dollars) during this year's National Day holiday, up 12.8 percent and 14.4 percent respectively year on year, according to the China National Tourism Administration. (PhotoXinhua)
Kids experience an adventure game at a mall in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Oct. 7, 2016, the last day of China's National Day holiday. (Photo/Xinhua)Kids experience an adventure game at a mall in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, Oct. 7, 2016, the last day of China's National Day holiday. (Photo/Xinhua)
People participate in a cooking contest in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 7, 2016, the last day of China's National Day holiday. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)People participate in a cooking contest in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 7, 2016, the last day of China's National Day holiday. (Xinhua/Lu Boan)
A woman takes her child to try a bike with square wheels at Ningxia Science and Technology Museum in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Oct. 7, 2016, the last day of China's National Day holiday. (Photo/Xinhua)A woman takes her child to try a bike with square wheels at Ningxia Science and Technology Museum in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Oct. 7, 2016, the last day of China's National Day holiday. (Photo/Xinhua)
People participate in a cooking contest in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 7, 2016, the last day of China's National Day holiday. (Photo/Xinhua)People participate in a cooking contest in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 7, 2016, the last day of China's National Day holiday. (Photo/Xinhua)
Tourists visit the Nanjing Confucius Temple in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Oct. 5, 2016. Altogether 593 million people visited tourist attractions around the country and spent 482.2 billion yuan (about 72.3 billion U.S. dollars) during this year's National Day holiday, up 12.8 percent and 14.4 percent respectively year on year, according to the China National Tourism Administration. (Photo/Xinhua)Tourists visit the Nanjing Confucius Temple in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Oct. 5, 2016. Altogether 593 million people visited tourist attractions around the country and spent 482.2 billion yuan (about 72.3 billion U.S. dollars) during this year's National Day holiday, up 12.8 percent and 14.4 percent respectively year on year, according to the China National Tourism Administration. (Photo/Xinhua)
Tourists walk on a rope bridge at Jiuxianhu scenic spot in Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Oct. 7, 2016. Altogether 593 million people visited tourist attractions around the country and spent 482.2 billion yuan (about 72.3 billion U.S. dollars) during this year's National Day holiday, up 12.8 percent and 14.4 percent respectively year on year, according to the China National Tourism Administration. (Photo/Xinhua)Tourists walk on a rope bridge at Jiuxianhu scenic spot in Shangrao City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Oct. 7, 2016. Altogether 593 million people visited tourist attractions around the country and spent 482.2 billion yuan (about 72.3 billion U.S. dollars) during this year's National Day holiday, up 12.8 percent and 14.4 percent respectively year on year, according to the China National Tourism Administration. (Photo/Xinhua)
Tourists ride camels at Yueya Spring, a crescent-shaped lake surrounded by deserts, in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu province, Oct. 1, 2016. Altogether 593 million people visited tourist attractions around the country and spent 482.2 billion yuan (about 72.3 billion U.S. dollars) during this year's National Day holiday, up 12.8 percent and 14.4 percent respectively year on year, according to the China National Tourism Administration. (Photo/Xinhua)Tourists ride camels at Yueya Spring, a crescent-shaped lake surrounded by deserts, in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu province, Oct. 1, 2016. Altogether 593 million people visited tourist attractions around the country and spent 482.2 billion yuan (about 72.3 billion U.S. dollars) during this year's National Day holiday, up 12.8 percent and 14.4 percent respectively year on year, according to the China National Tourism Administration. (Photo/Xinhua)
Tourists visit the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Oct. 3, 2016. Altogether 593 million people visited tourist attractions around the country and spent 482.2 billion yuan (about 72.3 billion U.S. dollars) during this year's National Day holiday, up 12.8 percent and 14.4 percent respectively year on year, according to the China National Tourism Administration. (Photo/Xinhua)Tourists visit the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, Oct. 3, 2016. Altogether 593 million people visited tourist attractions around the country and spent 482.2 billion yuan (about 72.3 billion U.S. dollars) during this year's National Day holiday, up 12.8 percent and 14.4 percent respectively year on year, according to the China National Tourism Administration. (Photo/Xinhua)