Top 10 hottest female tennis players

10. Serena Williams (America):

This black magic grabs everyone’s attention be it on grounds or away.

9. Ana Ivanovic (Serbia):

Wow..she’s got nice guns that makes guys drool. One may be inclined to think “WTF” after seeing this bombshell. Total package……..I’m left speechless.

8. Nicole Vaidisova (Czech Republic):

No worry. Some women’s tennis clothes now look like nightgown. Maybe soon they’ll become something look like bikini. This Big Babe of tennis is known for her skimpy outfits rather than her game.

7. Jelena Dokic (Australia):

Well, this gal is a combination of things. Jelena is talented, hard working, a great competitor and quite attractive. Nobody wears a tennis dress as well as Jelena! And oh, her incredible cheekbones! Fashion models would kill for Jelena’s cheekbones!

6. Martina Hingis (Switzerland):

This drop dead gorgeous is still adorning the walls of many college hostel rooms. This girl is pretty hardcore and tough to.  We have to admit Hingis is absolutely beautiful, look at this hardcore bombshell…she’s gonna be a heart breaker.

5. Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia):

Obviously a stunningly beautiful girl. I can’t explain it much better but it is surely off putting. Still very hot though. No one in this glam game can be compared with this seductive player. Amazing body, face, hair, everything! She’s like an angel, she’s just perfect.

4. Ashley Harkleroad (America):

Glamorous babe of the most glamorous game, she is perhaps more famous for her Playboy cover girl image than for her tennis skills right now. This stunning American Beauty has a smoldering exotic look. I personally think she looks great and there is nothing weird about her features.

3. Anna Kournikova (Russia):

Well,well, well here comes the Russian WOW gal and the sexy number 3 of our list. This gal with We are all sinners features is more about what she does for a living than all her body art.

2. Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark):

Tennis has a lot of beautiful players walking around and Caroline is one the perfect illustration. A beautiful long-legged Danish player, she has all the criteria to succeed as the glamorous girl of the new generation of sexy and hot tennis babes.

1. Maria Sharapova (Russia):

Hoochie mama! Here’s the hottest celebrity babe of tennis. The knockout package with a face of angel, the body is so shapely and the beauty is undescriptive.

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Top 10 famous love triangles

triangles, that are best remembered till the date.
10. Brian Jones, Anita Pallenberg and Keith Richards:

Italian born actress and fashion designer, Anita Pallenberg is better known for her romantic involvement with Brian Jones, founding member of Rolling Stones and Keith Richards, guitarist of the same band. Anita and Jones were in a deep relationship for two years but in 1967, she left Jones for Keith Richards. However, Anita and Richards never married but they were a couple until 1980 and together they parented three children.

9. Linda Ramone, Joey Ramone and Johnny Ramone:

Considered as the first punk rock group, this music band was worldwide famous for its guitarist Johnny Ramone and lead singer Joey Ramone. Despite of being a bigwig of the music industry, this band suffered a lot due to the mutual conflict between Johnny and Joey. Johnny was accused for stealing and marrying Linda, the then girlfriend of Joey.

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Top 5 Beginner Sport Bikes

When I first thought of compiling a beginner sport bike list, I thought, “Hey, what’s the big deal? I’ve been riding for a while; this shouldn’t be too hard.” But I didn’t realize how difficult it would be until I actually started to think about. I realized that the options for first time sport bike riders are truly limited. All I really have to do is go back to when I was looking for my first sport bike to remember that. I went to a few motorcycle dealers in town and I sat on various bikes such as the GSX, R1, R6, Ninja, and several other sport bikes, and they all had one recurring theme, an inherent feel to them that screamed, “Go fast!” I can see why manufacturers do this, however. It is all strategic, an effort to sell the maximum number of bikes as possible. It seems that first time riders are more prone to want something bigger, better, and faster, feelings that stem from subliminal and very obvious messages we get in society. But this is only part of the story. If manufacturers actually made an effort and offered beginner sport bikes that had that same feel, but with less umph, then they could also monetize off of the beginner sport bike niche. But that’s enough rambling; let’s move on to the bikes!

1. Suzuki SV650

I list this bike first for a few reasons. First off, I owned a 2^nd generation SV650S and truly loved it. And second of all, despite its status as a 600CC + bike, it won’t get you in trouble like the other 600CC + bikes such as the GSX or Ninja. Compared to these bikes, the power output of the SV doesn’t come close, pushing about 72.5 hp and 47.2 ft lbs of torque and utilizing a v-twin engine design with electronic fuel injection.

2. Kawasaki Ninja 250R

This bike had to make the list. Kawasaki first made the 250R in 1983 and has been popular ever since. The generations prior to the 2008+ generation have all been mediocre in design and left much to be desired. But the revamped 250R is much more aesthetically pleasing, finally bringing it out of the 80’s and 90’s. And with peak torque at 16.2 ft lbs, there isn’t much of a chance for you to get into serious trouble with this bike, making it perfect for beginners wanting to get into the sport bike scene.

3. Suzuki GS500

The GS500 is a great first bike. The pre-2004 models are plain old naked sport touring bikes and have a good balance of performance, fuel efficiency, and aesthetics. However, if you want a bike that looks more like a sport bike, then check out the GS500F, a fully faired version of the GS500 that debuted in 2004 after a one-year break in production. Power is also limited with this bike, sitting at 47 hp and 29.5 ft lbs of torque. Again, enough power to have a little bit of fun, but nothing outrageous that will get you killed.

4. Honda VF500F Interceptor

The VF500F is perhaps the epitome of the 1980’s era sport bike. This is because of the unmistakable exterior styling of that generation, mainly the three tone color scheme that screams 1980s! This bike is comparable in power to the SV but utilizes a parallel v-twin setup instead of a single v-twin configuration. For power it sits at 70 hp and 31.7 ft lbs of torque. Again, enough to have fun, but not comparable to modern sport bikes running 10 seconds in the quarter from the factory. This bike was proceeded by the CBR600F Hurricane in 1987, another classic, but not suitable as a beginner sport bike.

5. Yamaha FZR 250R

I had difficulty adding a #5 to the list but decided on the Yamaha FZR 250R, a Japan only bike that was imported by illegal means in small quantities. It was designed as a race replica with a high revving, 4 cylinder engine. Power and torque aren’t that impressive for a 4 cylinder, 45hp and 18 ft. lbs respectively, but makes up for it in weight savings. It only weighs a little over 300 lbs, creating a power to weight ratio of 6.84, which is rather impressive. But don’t hold your breath on getting an FZR anytime soon as they are rather difficult to come by.

General Tips for Buying a 1st Sport Bike

• Find a bike that is comfortable to ride. If you have to hunch over to reach the handlebars, then consider something else until you become accustomed to riding a sport/touring bike.
• Make sure the bike is tame. You will not be able to handle a 1000cc bike, I promise you! I jumped on a friends GSX1000 for about 2 minutes once and it scared the hell out of me. I pulled it over right away and got back on my bike (SV).
• Get a fuel injected bike if you aren’t familiar with carbs. Having to deal with clogged carburetors is not a fun task. Spend your time riding, not trying to get the bike to run.
• Take a Motorcycle Safety Course (MSF) provided by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. The course is about 2-3 days long, is free, and you learn a lot about various riding techniques that could save your life. I highly recommend taking the course! What’s more is that you get your Motorcycle license just for taking this course!

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Top-10 Most Expensive luxury Car’s 2010

No. 1. Mercedes-Benz S Class

S65 AMG sedan, twin-turbo 6-liter V12 MRP $201,150
Total Five-Year Cost of Ownership: $233,731

No. 2. Mercedes-Benz CL Class

CL65 AMG coupe, twin-turbo 6-liter V12 MSRP: $207,170
Total Five-Year Cost of Ownership: $199,391

No. 3. Audi R8

5.2 coupe, 5.2-liter V10 MSRP: $155,100
Total Five-Year Cost of Ownership: $182,688

No. 4. BMW 7-Series

760Li sedan, turbocharged 6-liter V12 MSRP: $136,600
Total Five-Year Cost of Ownership: $166,232

No. 5. BMW M6

Convertible, 5-liter V10 MSRP: $107,900
Total Five-Year Cost of Ownership: $141,501

No. 6. Jaguar XJ

Supersport LWB sedan, supercharged 5-liter V8 MSRP: $114,150
Total Five-Year Cost of Ownership: $140,939

No. 7. Mercedes-Benz CLS Class

CLS63 AMG sedan, 6.3-liter V8 MSRP: $97,950
Total Five-Year Cost of Ownership: $137,804

No. 8. Jaguar XK

XKR convertible, supercharged 5-liter V8 MSRP: $101,150
Total Five-Year Cost of Ownership: $128,458

No. 9. Chevrolet Corvette

ZR3 coupe, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 MSRP: $116,880
Total Five-Year Cost of Ownership: $125,615

No. 10. Land Rover Range Rover

Supercharged 5-liter V8 MSRP: $94,275
Total Five-Year Cost of Ownership: $117,191

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Fastest Cars In The World: Top 10 List 2010-2011

World's Fastest Cars
While most of us can only dream of owning the fastest car in the world, some will do whatever it takes to possess such speed and power. So, how fast are the fastest cars in the world? Here are the 10 fastest cars available on the market measures by top speed.
1. Bugatti Veyron: 267 mph, 0-60 in 2.5 secs. Aluminum, Narrow Angle 8 Liter W16 Engine with 1200 hp, base price is $1,700,000. Tested again on July 10, 2010 with the new 2010 Super Sport Version, the Bugatti Veyron once again claimed its title as the fastest car in the world at 267 mph.

2. SSC Ultimate Aero: 257 mph, 0-60 in 2.7 secs. Twin-Turbo V8 Engine with 1183 hp, base price is $654,400. Tested in March 2007 by Guinness World Records, The SSC Ultimate Aero was the fastest car in the world from March 2007 to July 2010 until recently it fell behind the Bugatti Veyron to take the #2 spot.

3. Saleen S7 Twin-Turbo: 248 mph, 0-60 in 3.2 secs. Twin Turbo All Aluminum V8 Engine with 750 hp, base price is $555,000. Smooth and bad-ass, will make you want to show it off non-stop.

4. Koenigsegg CCX: 245 mph, 0-60 in 3.2 secs. 90 Degree V8 Engine 806 hp, base price is $545,568. Made in Sweden, it is aiming hard to be the fastest car in the world, but it has a long way to go to surpass the Bugatti and the Ultimate Aero.

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The World’s Top 10 Ugliest Buildings

“The World’s Top 10 Ugliest Buildings and Monument.” General manager, Giampiero Ambrosi talks about the selections: “Some of these picks have all the charm of a bag of nails while others are just jaw-dropping in their complexity. Love them or hate them, the list is certainly entertaining.”

1) Boston City Hall; Boston, Massachusetts

While it was hip for it’s time, this concrete structure now gets routinely criticized for its dreary façade and incongruity with the rest of the city’s more genteel architecture. Luckily, it’s very close to more aesthetically pleasing attractions.

2) Montparnasse Tower; Paris, France

While it’s almost universally agreed that this ominous stick is a blight on the landscape of the world’s most stunning city, its detractors admit that there is one very good reason to take in the view from the building’s observation deck: it’s the only place you can go to get a view of the city without it.

3) LuckyShoe Monument; Tuuri, Finland

It may be over-the-top, but there is something to be said for the giant, golden horseshoe that looms over Finland’s second-largest shopping center. The shoe, and, in fact, the entire town in which it is situated, is said to bring good luck to those who visit.

4) Metropolitan Cathedral; Liverpool, England

The people who work here must be so sick of the space capsule jokes. Even those who find the building’s shell a little, well, “spacey,” have to admit the building’s circular interior is pretty spectacular.

5) Port Authority Bus Terminal; New York City, New York

Those who pass by this iron monstrosity might be tempted to ask about a completion date, but alas, this is the finished product. Hated by New Yorkers and tourists alike, this aptly named station is enough to make you take the train.

6) Torres de Colón; Madrid, Spain

Like a set of giant salt-and-pepper shakers, these matching towers loom over the city to the dissatisfaction of many area residents. Not surprisingly, the buildings are also known as “El Enchufe” or “The Plug” for the plug-like structure that holds them together.

7) Liechtenstein Museum of Fine Arts; Vaduz, Liechtenstein

Some feel the building’s minimalist box design is a triumph, others say it’s an eyesore. Luckily, here in this most mysterious of countries an equally mysterious building seems strangely appropriate.

8) Scottish Parliament Building; Edinburgh, Scotland

Stone, oak, and bamboo comprise the buildings that make up the Scottish Parliament, a building that is the subject of much debate. Hopefully the discussions that take place inside the building are more decisive than the ones that take place about it.

9) Birmingham Central Library; Birmingham, England

One look and it’s easy to see how this genre of architecture came to be known as the “Brutalist” style. Not surprisingly, the issue of its possible demolition has been looming over the town for years.

10) Peter the Great Statue; Moscow, Russia

Think Tim Burton meets Pirates of the Caribbean. Some 15 stories high, the larger-than-life monument was designed by controversial artist, Zurab K. Tsereteli, whose statue of Christopher Columbus was repeatedly rejected by the United States.

Vacation Ideas

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World's top 10 cities for 2011 named

Lonely Planet has drawn on the knowledge, passion and kilometres travelled by its staff, authors and online community to present the Top 10 Cities to visit in 2011.
From the new book, Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2011 – the best trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the upcoming year.
1. NEW YORK CITY

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Bright lights, big city ... Radio City Music Hall in New York. Photo: Corey Wise/Lonely Planet

Since 9/11, the site of the World Trade Center's twin towers has stood out as a closed-off, out-of-view, painful gaping void. This year that changes, as the former WTC site finally reopens to the public with the National September 11 Memorial, a 6-acre, tree-filled plaza with 30ft-deep waterfalls at the footprint of the former towers, rimmed by the name of each victim and illuminated at night (its museum will follow in 2012). For the city, this will be more momentous than if the Yankees, Knicks, Rangers and Giants won simultaneous championships while the ball dropped in Times Square on New Year's Eve. For all of New York, 11 September 2011 will be a defining moment.
2. TANGIER, MOROCCO
From its extraordinary position perched on the north-westernmost tip of Africa, Tangier looks in two directions: one face towards Spain and Europe, and the other into Africa. The 'white city' announces a culture excitingly different from that of its close cousins across the water. Tangier has always been of strategic relevance, but until recently it was considered sleazy, decayed and depraved. With the recent arrival of a new city governor, the town beach now sparkles, the hustlers are off the streets and even the taxi drivers are polite. A stylish new Tangier is being created with a dynamic arts community, renovated buildings, great shopping and chic new restaurants.

Rock the Kasbah in Tangier. Photo: Christopher Wood/Lonely Planet

3. TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
Tel Aviv is the total flipside of Jerusalem, a modern Sin City on the sea rather than an ancient Holy City on a hill. Hedonism is the one religion that unites its inhabitants. There are more bars than synagogues, God is a DJ and everyone's body is a temple. Yet, scratch underneath the surface and Tel Aviv, or TLV, reveals itself as a truly diverse 21st-century Mediterranean hub. By far the most international city in Israel, Tel Aviv is also home to a large gay community, a kind of San Francisco in the Middle East. Thanks to its university and museums, it is also the greenhouse for Israel's growing art, film and music scenes.
4. WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

For those who like to get in early ... Castlepoint, near Wellington, is one of the first places in the world to see the sunrise Photo: Paul Kennedy/Lonely Planet

Despite (or maybe because of ) its impetuous weather, Wellington is Cool-with-a- capital-C, crammed with more bars, cafes and restaurants per capita than New York, and a slew of gourmet producers including some 10 independent coffee roasteries. (Wellingtonians are modest-as; they just figure if you're going to do something, why not do it well?) Year-round you'll find arts and cultural events in abundance. Likewise, its film industry, 'Wellywood', centred on the Miramar Peninsula, is booming thanks in large part to the success of Wellingtonian Sir Peter Jackson. Locals love their city – jokingly likening it to a cult – and get a kick out of helping visitors fall in love with it too.
5. VALENCIA, SPAIN
While retaining its provincial charm, Spain's third city now mixes with the international crowd. Host of a couple of America's Cup yachting jamborees and an annual street circuit Formula 1 motor race, it's also European Capital of Sport for 2011 and a favourite destination for conferences and congresses. The sweeping lines of La Lonja, a Unesco World Heritage Site and once the meeting place of the merchant classes, recall the 15th century, when Valencia ruled all the Mediterranean. Half a millennium later, the soaring structures of the City of Arts and Sciences, designed in the main by Santiago Calatrava, Valencia's own son, speak of a new era of splendour.

Vision of the future ... Valencia's City of Arts and Sciences. Photo: Greg Elms/Lonely Planet

6. IQUITOS, PERU
Pulsating with life, Iquitos' latest boom is tourism: visitors may flock to reconnoitre the rainforest but taking time to imbibe Iquitos itself is imperative too. This is a sultry slice of Amazon life: Brazilian, Colombian, indigenous and expat. Clubs bounce to salsa and rock until the early hours with the vigour you'd expect of Peru's jungle capital, but Iquitos is also a cultural hub: expect works by Peru's top artists, opulent rubber-boom mansions and a museum on Amazon ethnography for starters. As a trading post for rainforest tribes, market mayhem and riverboat bustle are part of the package, all conspiring to fill the city with an addictive, round-the-clock energy.
7. GHENT, BELGIUM

Many layers of attraction along Ghent's Leie River. Photo: Wayne Walton/Lonely Planet

Here's a secret within a secret: Ghent might just be the best European city you've never thought of visiting, in a country that continues to be criminally overlooked. Ghent hides away in the middle of Belgium's big three – Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp. Most Belgium-bound visitors rushing between these see nothing more than the stately fortifications of Ghent's St Pieter's Station. Those who do hop off the train and stroll along the Leie River to the historic centre will have their eyes out on stalks. Here hides one of Europe's finest panoramas of water, spires and centuries-old grand houses. And it seems the Belgians forgot to tell anyone.
8. DELHI, INDIA
The great metropolis of Delhi, encompassing Old and New Delhi and sprawling out for miles, has not looked this smart and sparkling in centuries. Huge preparations for the Commonwealth Games, which took place in October 2010, improved the city's infrastructure, cleaned up its streets and added to its accommodation options. Aside from, of course, a bounty of new or improved sporting facilities, there's the marvellous artery of the Metro – an underground transport system that's a futuristic, egalitarian world away from the sometimes chaotic, class-ridden situation above ground.

Take a load off at the sacred Jama Masjid in Delhi. Photo: Krzysztof Dydynski/Lonely Planet

9. NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA
For the best part of a century, Newcastle was dominated by its billowing steelworks until their closure in 1999 dealt a massive economic blow. But Novocastrians are a resilient bunch, and the dozen intervening years have seen an explosion of artists taking advantage of the cheap living costs. Newcastle now has the most artists per capita nationwide, and the most galleries – from acclaimed regional centres to independent, artist-run spaces and dozens of disused city-centre buildings occupied by photographers, fashion designers, digital artists and more as part of the inner-city regeneration scheme, Renew Newcastle. Today's 'new' Newcastle is a unique blend of imagination, sophistication and laidback surf culture.
10. CHIANG MAI, THAILAND
If Chiang Mai were a person, it would be Bob Dylan. With a history dating back further than anyone can remember, its influence remains enormous. And despite its great age, there's still a bohemian chic that makes it as relevant and hip as ever. Culture capital of Thailand, Chiang Mai was once the heart of the Lanna kingdom. Today those wanting to flee the bustle of Bangkok visit to lounge in coffee shops and drink in the city's artisanal atmosphere. With a friendly, cosmopolitan feel, this is one easy, safe and pleasant place to explore. There are dozens of well-preserved temples here, too.

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The world's top cities offering the best quality of life

(New York City is the base city with a score of 100 points) 2010 Rank 2009 Rank City Country 1 1 Vienna Austria 2 2 Zurich Switzerland 3 3 Geneva Switzerland =4 =4 Vancouver Canada =4 =4 Auckland New Zealand 6 6 Düsseldorf Germany =7 8 Frankfurt Germany =7 =7 Munich Germany 9 9 Bern Switzerland 10 10 Sydney Australia 11 11 Copenhagen Denmark 12 12 Wellington New Zealand 13 13 Amsterdam Netherlands 14 =16 Ottawa Canada 15 14 Brussels Belgium 16 15 Toronto Canada 17 =16 Berlin Germany 18 18 Melbourne Australia 19 19 Luxembourg Luxembourg 20 20 Stockholm Sweden =21 21 Perth Australia =21 22 Montreal Canada 23 28 Hamburg Germany =24 23 Nürnberg Germany =24 24 Oslo Norway =26 - Canberra Australia =26 25 Dublin Ireland =28 =26 Calgary Canada =28 =26 Singapore Singapore 30 - Stuttgart Germany 31 29 Honolulu USA =32 =30 Adelaide Australia =32 =29 San Francisco USA 34 32 Paris France 35 35 Helsinki Finland 36 34 Brisbane Australia 37 =35 Boston USA 38 37 Lyon France 39 =38 London UK 40 =35 Tokyo Japan =41 41 Milan Italy =41 40 Kobe Japan =41 =38 Yokohama Japan 44 =42 Barcelona Spain =45 =44 Lisbon Portugal =45 =44 Chicago USA =45 =44 Washington DC USA 48 48 Madrid Spain 49 49 New York City USA 50 50 Seattle USA Research by Mercer Consulting Comment on this article Read comments The Americas Canadian cities still dominate the top of the index for this region with Vancouver (4) retaining the top spot, followed by Ottawa (14), Toronto (16) and Montreal (21). Calgary ranks 28 on the overall quality of living ranking. Honolulu (31) is the city in the US with the highest quality of living, followed by San Francisco (32) and Boston (37). Chicago and Washington share position 45 and New York - the base city - is in position 49. Newly added cities Philadelphia and Dallas are ranked 55 and 61, respectively. In Central and South America, Point-à-Pitre, capital of Guadeloupe and new to the index this year, ranks the highest for quality of living at 62. San Juan in Puerto Rico follows at 72 and Buenos Aires at 78. Havana (192) and Port-au-Prince (213) are the lowest-ranking cities in the region. Canadian and US cities are strongly represented at the top of the eco-city ranking, both for this region and globally. Calgary grabs the top spot globally with a score of 145.7, closely followed by Honolulu (score 145.1) in second. Ottawa is in third position with a score of 139.9 and Minneapolis follows in sixth place (score 137.8). Mr Parakatil commented: “Calgary’s top ranking is down to its excellent level of service on waste removal, sewage systems, and water drinkability and availability, coupled with relatively low air pollution.” The highest-ranking Central and South American city is again Pointe-à-Pitre (49), followed by San Juan (69) and Montevideo (70). Europe Europe has 16 cities amongst the world’s top 25 cities for quality of living. Vienna retains the highest ranking both for the region and globally and is again followed by Zurich (2), Geneva (3) and Düsseldorf (6). The lowest-ranking Western European cities are Leipzig (64) and Athens (75). In the UK, London is the highest-ranking city at 39, followed by newcomer to the list Aberdeen (53), Birmingham (55), Glasgow (57) and Belfast (63). Levels of quality of living continue to improve in Eastern Europe, with most index scores increasing slightly. Prague is the highest-ranking city at 70 and its index score increased from 93.9 to 94.8 in 2010. Budapest follows in position 73 and Ljubljana in 77. In the eco-city index, Nordic cities fare particularly well with Helsinki (3) the highest-ranked in the region, followed by Copenhagen (8) and Oslo in joint ninth place with Stockholm. “Nordic cities do particularly well because the modern parts of most of them have been designed with potential environmental impacts in mind,” said Mr Parakatil. Aberdeen (19) is the highest-ranking UK eco-city, followed by Belfast (30), Glasgow (47), London (63) and Birmingham (64). Middle East and Africa Dubai (75) in the United Arab Emirates and Port Louis in Mauritius (82) are the region’s cities with the best quality of living. Abu Dhabi (83), Cape Town (86) and Tunis (94) follow and are, along with Victoria in the Seychelles (95), Johannesburg (96) and Muscat in Oman (100), the region’s only other cities in the top 100. Following the revision of the index a selection of cities from this region has been added, including Doha in Qatar (110), Rabat in Morocco (112), Banjul in Gambia (164) and Abuja in Nigeria (205). Baghdad (221) remains at the bottom of the table, though its index score has increased slightly (from 14.4 to 14.7 in 2010). A lack of security and stability continue to have a negative impact on Baghdad’s quality of living and its score remains far behind that of Bangui (27.4) in the Central African Republic which is second to last. In the eco-city index, most of the region’s cities rank below 100. The highest-ranking cities are Cape Town (30), Victoria (38), Muscat (48), Johannesburg (54) and Abu Dhabi and Dubai (in joint 65). Antananarivo in Madagascar (217) is at the bottom of the list with an eco-city score of 39.7, while Baghdad is at 214, scoring 40.5. Asia-Pacific Auckland (4) retains its position as the highest-ranking city for quality of living in the region. Sydney follows at 10, Wellington at 12, Melbourne at 18 and Perth at 21. At 26, Canberra is new to the index. Singapore remains the highest-ranking Asian city at 28, followed by Japanese cities Tokyo (40), Kobe and Yokohama (both at 41), Osaka (51) and Nagoya (57). The region’s lowest-ranking cities are Dhaka in Bangladesh (206) and two cities new to the list – Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan (209) and Dushanbe in Tajikistan (210). With a score of 138.9, Wellington (5) is the highest-ranking eco-city in the region followed by Adelaide (7), Kobe (9), Perth (12) and Auckland (13). Dhaka in Bangladesh (220) ranks lowest with a score of 30.9. 'Greenest' cities In an innovation in the 2010 report, Mercer include a second table named Eco-ranking. It assesses the same 221 cities on different criteria. These are water availability, water potability, waste removal, sewage, air pollution and traffic congestion. North American cities dominate the top ten led by Calgary, Honolulu and Ottawa. Nurnberg and Zurich are the only non-Nordic European cities in the leading 20. This contrasts sharply with other published comparisons of sustainable or green cities. It is probably explained by the emphasis on congestion in transport rather than modal share and the absence of density as a factor. | Europe's greenest cities | Green capital challenge | The world's 'greenest' cities (Research criteria: Water availability, water potability, waste removal, sewage, air pollution and traffic congestion. New York City is the base city with a score of 100 points) 2010 Rank City Country 1 Calgary Canada 2 Honolulu USA =3 Ottawa Canada =3 Helsinki Finland 5 Wellington New Zealand 6 Minneapolis USA 7 Adelaide Australia 8 Copenhagen Denmark =9 Kobe Japan =9 Oslo Norway =9 Stockholm Sweden 12 Perth Australia =13 Montreal Canada =13 Vancouver Canada =13 Nürnberg Germany =13 Auckland New Zealand =13 Bern Switzerland =13 Pittsburgh USA =19 Zurich Switzerland =19 Aberdeen UK 21 Canberra Australia 22 Singapore Singapore =23 Brisbane Australia =23 Washington DC USA =25 Melbourne Australia =25 Geneva Switzerland =25 Boston USA =28 Düsseldorf Germany =28 Munich Germany =30 Cape Town South Africa =30 Belfast UK 32 Lyon France 33 Dublin Ireland =34 Hamburg Germany =34 Stuttgart Germany =34 Philadelphia USA 37 Yokohama Japan 38 Victoria Seychelles =39 Toronto Canada =39 Amsterdam Netherlands =41 Brussels Belgium =41 Leipzig Germany 43 St Louis USA =44 Vienna Austria =44 Luxembourg Luxembourg 46 Sydney Australia 47 Glasgow UK 48 Muscat Oman 49 Pointe-a-Pitre Guadeloupe =50 Nagoya Japan =50 Osaka Japan =50 Frankfurt Germany Research by Mercer Consulting Mercer Consulting largely collected its Data was largely collected between September and November 2009 and is regularly updated to take account of changing circumstances. In particular, the assessments are revised in the case of significant political, economic and environmental developments. Mercer’s database of cities contains more than 420 cities. For 2010, the number of cites appearing in the yearly published rankings was increased from 215 to 221. This new roster provides a more well-rounded global perspective. In particular, better coverage is now offered for African, Middle Eastern and Central Asian cities. Many of the additions are gaining popularity as expatriate destinations. Companies need to be able to determine their compensation packages rationally, consistently and systematically. Providing incentives to reward and recognise the efforts that employees and their families make when taking on international assignments remains a typical practice, particularly for difficult locations. Two common incentives include a quality of living allowance and a mobility premium.  • Quality of living or “hardship” allowances compensate expatriates for decreases in the quality of living between their home and host locations.  •By contrast, a mobility premium simply compensates for the inconvenience of being uprooted and having to work in another country. A quality of living allowance is typically location-related whilst a mobility premium is usually independent of the host location. Some multi-national companies combine these premiums but the vast majority of international companies provide them separately. The latter approach is deemed to be clearer and more transparent. Mercer evaluates local living conditions in all the 420 cities it surveys worldwide. Living conditions are analysed according to 39 factors, grouped in 10 categories: 1) Political and social environment (political stability, crime, law enforcement, etc) 2) Economic environment (currency exchange regulations, banking services, etc) 3) Socio-cultural environment (censorship, limitations on personal freedom, etc) 4) Health and sanitation (medical supplies and services, infectious diseases, sewage, waste disposal, air pollution, etc) 5) Schools and education (standard and availability of international schools, etc) 6) Public services and transportation (electricity, water, public transport, traffic congestion, etc) 7) Recreation (restaurants, theatres, cinemas, sports and leisure, etc) 8) Consumer goods (availability of food/daily consumption items, cars, etc) 9) Housing (housing, household appliances, furniture, maintenance services, etc) 10 Natural environment (climate, record of natural disasters) The scores attributed to each factor allow for city-to-city comparisons to be made. The result is a quality of living index that compares the relative differences between any two locations. For the indices to be used in a practical manner, Mercer has created a grid that allows companies to link the resulting index to a quality of living allowance amount by recommending a percentage value in relation to the index.

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Top 5 Fastest Bikes in the World

Here is the brand new list of the top 5 fastest bikes in the world! Includes the BMW K1200S, Ducati 1098s, Aprilia RSV 1000R Mille, Yamaha YZF R1 and the Honda CBR 1100XX!

 

5. BMW K1200S 167 mhh (268 km/h)

 

With enough raw power to shock even the most seasoned adrenaline junky, the K 1200 S hurls you from a dead stop to sixty mph in just 2.8 seconds. Once you're over the whiplash, you'll keep climbing, topping out at speeds that run neck-and-neck with the fastest production motorcycles in the world.

 

4. Ducati 1098s 169 mph (271 km/h)

The Ducati 1098 is a 1099 cc L-twin sport bike manufactured by Ducati. It was announced on November 8, 2006 for the 2007 model year and replaces the 999. The 1098 makes a manufacturer claimed 160 horsepower, 90.4 ft-lb torque, and weighs 173kg. These figures gives the 1098 the highest torque-to-weight ratio of any production sport bike ever made.

3. Aprilia RSV 1000R Mille 175mph (281 km/h)

The RSV Mille and limited-edition RSV Mille Factory are high performance V-twin powered motorcycles made by Aprilia with a 143 HP 998 cc engine built by the Austrian company Rotax. For 2006. the RSV Mille Factory won the Maxisport category for Masterbike 2006 and overall Masterbike of the year.

2. Yamaha YZF R1 176mph (283 km/h)
 

The Yamaha YZF-R1 motorcycle, introduced in 1998, was the first significant motorcycle in the true litre class (1,000 cc) "handling arms race" between the Japanese Big Four motorcycle manufacturers (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha). When introduced, it took the class closer to a true racing motorcycle, and increased the handling capabilities.
 

1. Honda CBR 1100XX Super Blackbird 178mph (286 km/h)

Honda CBR 1100 XX Super Blackbird is a sport-touring motorcycle built by Honda. It combines big engine power, Easy operational error-tolerance with touring comfort. The Blackbird production started in 1997 and the last year of production was 2006. The Blackbird was the result of Honda's attempt to build the world's fastest production motorcycle, stealing the crown from Kawasaki.

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