World’s First everything-proof underground Luxury Homes

To reach the world's first everything-proof underground luxury community, I drive east out of Barstow, California, 50 or so miles into the Mojave Desert, then turn down an unmarked gravel road, park in a barren lot surrounded by razor wire, enter what appears to be a small cinderblock garage, and walk down two steep flights of reinforced-concrete stairs, at which point the project's enthusiastic promoter, Robert Vicino, greets me with an outstretched hand, slams a 3,000-pound blast door behind us, and asks this question: "Do you have a family?"

Then: Do I have life insurance? Would I like to have 10 times the life insurance I already have? Would I like to have something even better? Because I can. The structure in which we are now standing was built by AT&T in 1965 to protect telephone infrastructure from a nuclear attack, but now it can protect something far more important: me and my loved ones. For just $50,000 each—half off for kids—I can buy a fractional share of the Terra Vivos underground shelter network, a project that will include at least 19 more "community bunkers," each of them located within 150 to 200 miles of a major American city. Terra Vivos is a concrete-and-steel solution to the end times, whether brought about by climate change or nuclear war or even an unavoidable realignment of the cosmic order. Wherever I happen to be at that terrible moment, I'll have a place to live the morning after. "I'm not selling life insurance," Vicino explains. "I'm providing life assurance."

The physical specifications required to assure life are striking. The Barstow bunker was built to withstand a 50-megaton nuclear blast 10 miles away, 450mph winds, a magnitude-10 earthquake, 10 days of 1,250°F surface fires, and three weeks beneath any flood. Vicino says that a soon-to-be-installed air-filtration system will also neutralize any biological, chemical or nuclear attacks. The Barstow branch will stock enough food and clothing to sustain 135 people for at least a year, and in a lifestyle that Vicino describes as compact but luxurious, like being on a cruise ship. Getting on board requires a $5,000 deposit, he says, to be held in escrow until the bunker is ready to move into, at which point the remainder is due. As of August, several hundred people had put their money down for a spot in one of his bunkers, he says; 75 for Barstow thus far

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Telangana government new Liquor Policy

 The Telangana government's draft liquor policy proposes to increase the number of liquor licences from the existing 2,200 to 3,000. The decision is in tandem with the government proposal to reintroduce sale of arrack as an alternative affordable liquor'. The government expects a lot of demand for arrack and would need additional licenced outlets to meet it.

"Increasing the number of licenced shops that will also sell alternative affordable liquor will help curb sale of illicitly distilled (ID) and non-duty paid (NDP) liquor," a senior official in the excise department said. Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was impressed with the draft liquor policy, which is likely to be approved after a review sometime next week, the official added.

On Saturday, principal secretary, revenue, Ajay Misra, reviewed the draft policy at a meeting attended by excise commissioner R V Chandravadan and excise deputy commissioners. As per the initial estimates, the increase in liquor shops will help ramp up the excise revenue at least by Rs 2,000 crore and help reach the excise department its revenue target of Rs 11,000 crore this year.

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Who is the 'Bromley Batman'?

A masked vigilante nicknamed the "Bromley Batman" has been saving local residents from gangs and muggers in South London.

The real-life superhero who is reportedly to be in his 30s, and has a "well-groomed beard" first made headlines when he saved a businessman from being robbed at knife-point.

The incognito superhero wears a mask, combat trousers and was also spotted rescuing a woman from being robbed at Lewisham DLR station.

The victim who has asked not to be named, told the Evening Standard that the 6ft mugger "didn't speak but made an angry growling sound", as he tried to grab her bag.

"It was a horrible emotion of feeling sick to the stomach," she said. "The force behind it was actually painful."

As the woman's assailant made to run off, the 'Bromley Batman' came to her rescue, tripping the mugger up and grabbing the stolen handbag in the process.

"If I could give him a kiss to say thanks, I would be a happy girl," she added.

The vigilante is thought to be skilled in martial arts after another witness in neighbouring Penge, saw him put someone in a "ninja lock".

The second victim named as only Ken said he had come out of nowhere to save him from the drunk thieves.

"He grabbed one of them, attacking him, and put some kind of ninja lock on him. He pushed him while twisting this geezer's arm into the other fella," added Ken.

Many people took to Twitter to express their excitement over the "Bromley Batman" and his kick-ass bravery.
                               

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