Who says that Reality Shows have no reality and are only for entertainment! South Korea recently selected its first astronauts from a televised reality show where 36000 participated. The first stage was a Marathon, where 26000 were discarded. The remaining 10000 underwent a series of physical- and later- mental tests- all of them televised- before they selected 10 finalists. Out of these 2 one boy one girl, were selected for extensive training in Russia, whose Soyuz space vehicle was to launch one of the lucky astronauts to the International Space Station in early April But following what are being described as breaches of protocol, the first South Korean in space will now be a woman, as Mr. Ko San is being replaced by his understudy on the training program, a twenty-nine year old engineer, Yi So Yeon. The Russian authorities say that Mr. Ko mistakenly sent a mission-training manual home along with his belongings, and then violated another rule by acquiring a document he was not authorised to see, reportedly a set of instructions for a spacecraft pilot.

Poverty and deprivation affects not just individuals, but also countries. How cities and countries fortified and defended themselves in days of yore is exhibited today by a three meter deep trench being dug around Chad's capital, N'Djamena, to force vehicles only through one of the fortified gateways into the dusty city. It is one of the latest initiatives to prevent attacks from rebels based in the east of the country. Sometime ago local authority cut down centuries-old trees that lined the city's main avenue for fear they could provide cover for attackers. This too is the twenty first century.

London has a swank new Air Terminal- Heathrow 5, heralded by the Queen as the 21^st century Gateway to Britain. Heathrow, which was aka Deathrow, has built this new terminal at a cost of US$ Eight Billion, the terminal promises a total clearance time of 10 minutes, including check in, b baggage handling, security, and walking to the Gates. The terminal shall be used for 35 million passengers per year. But talk is already on for a 3^rd Runway and a 6^th Terminal at Heathrow- does growth have no limits and can one carry on expanding an airport forever and ever.