World Wide Trends: 02/08/09

Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline lyrics

>> Sunday, February 8, 2009

Where it began,
I can't begin to knowin'
But then I know it's growing strong
Was in the spring
And spring became the summer
Who'd have believed you'd come along.

Hands, touchin' hands
Reachin' out, touchin' me touchin' you
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I've been inclined
To believe they never would
But now I, look at the night
And it don't seem so lonely
We fill it up with only two.

And when I hurt,
Hurtin' runs off my shoulders
How can I hurt when I'm with you
Warm, touchin' warm
Reachin' out, touchin' me touchin' you
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I've been inclined,
To believe they never would
Oh, no, no

Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
Sweet Caroline,
I believe they never could
Sweet Caroline.........

51st Grammy Awards 2009 Winners / Results

51st Grammy Awards 2009 Winners and Results. The 2009 Grammy Awards Complete list of Winners. There are about 7,000 people who vote in the nominating and final voting process. These people are artists, producers, engineers, mixers and mastering engineers. Academy members are to vote based upon quality alone. They are not to be influenced by mass sales or personal friendships.

Stay tune on this blog for I'll post the 2009 Grammy Awards Winners below:
(The 2009 Grammy Awards Winners will be highlighted as announced)

Record of the Year

* "Chasing Pavements" – Adele
o Eg White, producer; Tom Elmhirst & Steve Price, engineers/mixers
* "Viva la Vida" – Coldplay
o Markus Dravs, Brian Eno & Rik Simpson, producers; Michael Brauer & Rik Simpson, engineers/mixers
* "Bleeding Love" – Leona Lewis
o Ryan Tedder, producer; Craig Durrance, Phil Tan & Ryan Tedder, engineers/mixers
* "Paper Planes" – M.I.A.
o Diplo, producer; Switch, engineer/mixer
* "Please Read the Letter" – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
o T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer

Album of the Year

* Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends – Coldplay
o Markus Dravs, Brian Eno & Rik Simpson, producers; Michael H. Brauer, Markus Dravs, John O'Mahoney, Rik Simpson & Andy Wallace, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer
* Tha Carter III – Lil Wayne
o Babyface, Brisco, Fabolous, Jay-Z, Kidd Kidd, Busta Rhymes, Juelz Santana, D. Smith, Static Major, T-Pain & Bobby Valentino, featured artists; The Alchemist, Bangladesh, David Banner, Vaushaun "Maestro" Brooks, Cool & Dre, Andrews "Drew" Correa, Darius "Deezle" Harrison, Jim Jonsin, Mousa, Pro Jay, Rodnae, Skillz & Play, D. Smith, Swizz Beatz, Robin Thicke, T-Pain & Kanye West, producers; Angel Aponte, Joshua Berkman, Andrew Dawson, Joe G, Darius "Deezle" Harrison, Fabian Marasciullo, Miguel Scott, Robin Thicke, Julian Vasquez & Gina Victoria, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer
* Year of the Gentleman – Ne-Yo
o Chuck Harmony, Ne-Yo, Polow da Don, Stargate, Stereotypes, Syience, Shea Taylor & Shomari "Sho" Wilson, producers; Kirven Arrington, Jeff Chestek, Kevin "KD" Davis, Mikkel Eriksen, Jaymz Hardy Martin III, Geno Regist, Phil Tan & Tony Terrebonne, engineers/mixers; Herb Powers Jr., mastering engineer
* Raising Sand – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
o T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineer
* In Rainbows – Radiohead
o Nigel Godrich, producer; Nigel Godrich, Dan Grech-Marguerat, Hugo Nicolson & Richard Woodcraft, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer

Song of the Year

* "American Boy" – Estelle featuring Kanye West
o Estelle, Keith Harris, John Legend, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, Kanye West & will.i.am, songwriters
* "Chasing Pavements" – Adele
o Adele & Eg White, songwriters
* "I'm Yours" – Jason Mraz
o Jason Mraz, songwriter
* "Love Song" - Sara Bareilles
o Sara Bareilles, songwriter
* "Viva La Vida" – Coldplay
o Coldplay, songwriters

Best New Artist

* Adele
* Duffy
* Jonas Brothers
* Lady Antebellum
* Jazmine Sullivan

Pop field

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

* "Chasing Pavements" – Adele
* "Love Song" - Sara Bareilles
* "Mercy" – Duffy
* "Bleeding Love" – Leona Lewis
* "I Kissed a Girl" – Katy Perry
* "So What" – P!nk

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

* "All Summer Long" – Kid Rock
* "Say" – John Mayer
* "That Was Me" – Paul McCartney
* "I'm Yours" – Jason Mraz
* "Closer" – Ne-Yo
* "Wichita Lineman" – James Taylor

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

* "Viva la Vida" – Coldplay
* "Waiting in the Weeds" – Eagles
* "Going On" – Gnarls Barkley
* "Won't Go Home Without You" – Maroon 5
* "Apologize" – OneRepublic

Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals

* "Lesson Learned" – Alicia Keys featuring John Mayer
* "4 Minutes" – Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake & Timbaland
* "Rich Woman" – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
* "If I Never See Your Face Again" – Maroon 5 featuring Rihanna
* "No Air" – Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown

Best Pop Instrumental Performance

* "Love Appetite" – Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere
* "I Dreamed There Was No War" – Eagles
* "Fortune Teller" – Fourplay
* "Steppin' Out" – Stanley Jordan
* "Blast!" – Marcus Miller

Best Pop Instrumental Album

* Sax for Stax – Gerald Albright
* Greatest Hits Rerecorded Volume One – Larry Carlton
* Jingle All the Way – Béla Fleck & The Flecktones
* The Spice of Life – Earl Klugh
* A Night Before Christmas – Spyro Gyra

Best Pop Vocal Album

* Detours – Sheryl Crow
* Rockferry – Duffy
* Long Road Out of Eden – Eagles
* Spirit – Leona Lewis
* Covers – James Taylor

Dance field

Best Dance Recording

* "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" – Daft Punk
o Daft Punk, producers/mixers
* "Ready for the Floor" – Hot Chip
o Hot Chip, producers; Dan Carey, mixer
* "Just Dance" – Lady GaGa featuring Colby O'Donis
o RedOne, producer; Robert Orton, mixer
* "Give It 2 Me" – Madonna
o Madonna & The Neptunes, producers; Andrew Coleman & Spike Stent, mixers
* "Disturbia" – Rihanna
o Brian Kennedy, producer; Phil Tan, mixer
* "Black and Gold" – Sam Sparro
o Jesse Rogg & Sam Sparro, producers; Jeremy Wheatley, mixer

Best Electronic/Dance Album

* New York City – Brazilian Girls
* Alive 2007 – Daft Punk
* Bring Ya to the Brink – Cyndi Lauper
* X – Kylie Minogue
* Last Night – Moby
* Robyn – Robyn

Traditional Pop field

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

* Still Unforgettable – Natalie Cole
* The Sinatra Project – Michael Feinstein
* Noël – Josh Groban
* In the Swing of Christmas – Barry Manilow
* Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall – Rufus Wainwright

Rock field

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance

* "Gravity" – John Mayer
* "I Saw Her Standing There" – Paul McCartney
* "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" – Bruce Springsteen
* "Rise" – Eddie Vedder
* "No Hidden Path" – Neil Young

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

* "Rock N Roll Train" – AC/DC
* "Violet Hill" – Coldplay
* "Long Road Out of Eden" – Eagles
* "Sex on Fire" – Kings of Leon
* "House of Cards" – Radiohead

Best Hard Rock Performance

* "Inside the Fire" – Disturbed
* "Visions" – Judas Priest
* "Wax Simulacra" – The Mars Volta
* "Saints of Los Angeles" – Mötley Crüe
* "Lords of Salem" – Rob Zombie

Best Metal Performance

* "Heroes of Our Time" – DragonForce
* "Nostradamus" – Judas Priest
* "My Apocalypse" – Metallica
* "Under My Thumb" – Ministry
* "Psychosocial" – Slipknot

Best Rock Instrumental Performance

* "Castellorizon" – David Gilmour
* "Suicide & Redemption" – Metallica
* "34 Ghosts IV"[1] – Nine Inch Nails
* "Hope" – Rush
* "Peaches En Regalia" – Zappa Plays Zappa

Best Rock Song

* "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" – Bruce Springsteen
o Bruce Springsteen, songwriter
* "House of Cards" – Radiohead
o Radiohead, songwriters
* "I Will Possess Your Heart" – Death Cab for Cutie
o Death Cab for Cutie, songwriters
* "Sex on Fire" – Kings of Leon
o Kings of Leon, songwriters
* "Violet Hill" – Coldplay
o Coldplay, songwriters

Best Rock Album

* Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends – Coldplay
* Rock N Roll Jesus – Kid Rock
* Only by the Night – Kings of Leon
* Death Magnetic – Metallica
* Consolers of the Lonely – The Raconteurs

Alternative field

Best Alternative Music Album

* Modern Guilt – Beck
* Narrow Stairs – Death Cab for Cutie
* The Odd Couple – Gnarls Barkley
* Evil Urges – My Morning Jacket
* In Rainbows – Radiohead

R&B field

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

* "Me, Myself and I" – Beyoncé Knowles
* "Heaven Sent" – Keyshia Cole
* "Spotlight" – Jennifer Hudson
* "Superwoman" – Alicia Keys
* "Need U Bad" – Jazmine Sullivan

Rihanna Beaten: Chris Brown Arrested

Rihanna who had seemingly a fairytale romance with fellow music superstar Chris Brown was allegedly beaten. What is known with certainty is that Chris Brown was arrested as a part of an investigation for alleged domestic violence felony battery. See photos and video here.

Both Chris Brown and Rihanna canceled their performances at the 2009 Grammy Awards. Replacing them was a duet of “Let’s Stay Together” by Justin Timberlake and Al Green. Ironic though coincidental choice of songs in these circumstances.

That same night, February 8, 2009, Chris Brown was arrested. The arrest was confirmed by LAPD and caught on tape by TMZ. However, as per law, the victim’s identity is not released as anyone involved in an incident of domestic violence is entitled to confidentiality. He was later released from police custody after posting $50,000 bail.

There was no confirmation or denial from Rihanna, only a vaguely worded statement from her publicist: “Rihanna is well. Thank you for your concern and support.”

Along with the aforementioned Grammy performances canceled. The singers had last appeared together Saturday night at the star-studded Clive Davis pre-Grammy party in Beverly Hills. Both of the chart-topping, internationally known singers are quite young; Chris Brown(”Forever”) is 19 and Rihanna (”Disturbia,” “Don’t Stop the Music”) is a few days away from her 21st birthday. Prior to this disturbing incident they had been the delight (and paycheck) of paparazzi with their occasional episodes of public affection, charming coyness and matching tattoos. The story is developing.

More photos and video are below.

Robert Plant reaps Grammy glory

The Grammy Awards have a funny way with vindication these days.

Four decades after his hard-rock howl earned the scorn of critics and the neglect of the rock establishment, Robert Plant got a little justice from his peers Sunday night.

With collaborator Alison Krauss, the former Led Zeppelin front man racked up five Grammy wins to assemble a quietly dominant night at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. The duo’s album of ethereal Americana music, “Raising Sand,” garnered solid reviews when it was released 17 months ago. Sunday it became the music industry’s focal point, providing Plant and Krauss with trophies for album of the year, record of the year and best pop collaboration, among others.

“Good things happen out of nowhere,” said T-Bone Burnett, the producer who groomed the Plant-Krauss collaboration and played guitar on most of the album’s tracks.

“I’m bewildered,” Plant said. “It’s a good way to spend a Sunday.”

Krauss’ five trophies propelled the 37-year-old fiddler ahead of Motown legend Stevie Wonder on the all-time winners list. The onetime teenage prodigy, who began racking up her Grammy wins in the early 1990s, now boasts 26 -- good for third best in history, behind George Solti (31) and Quincy Jones (27).

Plant’s triumph at age 60 fits an ongoing Grammy trend of atonement for older artists at the expense of top-selling younger acts. Led Zeppelin was the best-selling band of its era, but earned little contemporary respect beyond its massive base of teenage hard-rock fans. Sunday night was the latest in what’s been a gradual embrace of Zeppelin and Plant by the mainstream music establishment during the past decade.

Alison Krauss and Robert Plant arrive at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Sunday’s two runner-ups were the highest-profile acts of ’08: Lil Wayne grabbed four awards, including best rap album, for his stellar disc “Tha Carter III,” while Coldplay took song of the year for “Viva la Vida” and best rock album for the disc of that name.

The British quartet didn’t need an album of the year win to shore up its claim as the world’s biggest rock band, but it certainly wouldn’t have hurt the cause. Front man Chris Martin, meantime, seemed eager to preempt criticism of the group’s win in the best rock album category, where it topped such heavy hitters as Metallica.

“We’re not, of course, the heaviest of rock bands, as you may have noticed,” he said. “We’re more of the limestone kind of rock: a little softer, but just as charming.”

It was an appropriately humble, milquetoast sort of moment for the 51st Grammys. Sunday was one of the most sizzle-free Grammy events in recent memory, marked by tepid live performances, unmemorable acceptance speeches and low-key presenters with dud jokes.

Fittingly for an era of splintered music tastes, it was a Grammy show with no overarching theme -- and few dazzling moments. A forgettable opening hour included a limp leadoff set by U2, which performed its go-nowhere new single “Get On Your Boots.”

This was mostly a night for familiar music figures, but there were a few new faces to be seen. British neo-soul singer Adele, chomping gum and choking back tears, took the best new artist trophy while giving props to fellow rookies Duffy and the Jonas Brothers.

Keeping with a tradition established earlier in the decade, the 31/2-hour ceremony was presented without a main host. The maneuver keeps the gala moving briskly -- and offers face time to a wider assortment of stars -- but it also leaves the Grammy show without a real center. Late-night comedian Craig Ferguson’s brief but spirited slot as presenter was a quick reminder what a charismatic emcee can bring to the affair.

The Jonases tried to grab an injection of credibility via Wonder, who manned a keyboard and swapped vocals with the teen sensations on “Burnin’ Up” and his own “Superstition.” Wonder seemed game for the moment, but the medley of chirpy funk fell flat.

Performance highlights included a lovely, powerful rendition of “You Pulled Me Through” by Jennifer Hudson, who capped a dramatic year by winning best R&B album. Iconic British band Radiohead, in its first U.S. television appearance in nearly a decade, delivered a pulsing, sublime performance of “15 Step” with -- yes -- the University of Southern California marching band.

Detroit’s Kid Rock once again got shut out by the Recording Academy’s 11,000 voters -- missing out on trophies for best rock album and male pop performance.

SMOKEY ROBINSON - SMOKEY URGES KANYE TO 'CHILL OUT'

Soul man SMOKEY ROBINSON has sent a stern message to KANYE WEST - "relax".The Motown great is disappointed West rages about missing out on Grammys and MTV music honours at big awards shows - because the rapper should be grateful he's in showbusiness.
Robinson admits he hasn't always been a winner, but he has learned to accept losing with grace - and he urges West to do the same.

In a pre-Grammy Awards chat with Los Angeles DJ Valentine, the Tears of A Clown singer said, "Showbusiness is not that kind of business. Showbusiness is up and down and in and out and over and under and you have to be prepared for that if you're gonna be a part of it.

"Kanye's a great young artist, so just relax... Even to be nominated is a blessing."
Rapper West has made a name for himself as a sore loser, threatening to boycott awards shows that don't honour him and taking to the stage to protest others' wins over him.

M.I.A. Pregnant (Pictures)

British/Sri Lankan star M.I.A. is pregnant, although her rep has not confirmed the pregnancy as of yet. M.I.A., 31, was photographed on October 11 in Brooklyn, New York performing with rapper T.I. and N.E.R.D. Obviously those rumors of M.I.A. being pregnant are true. The father is said to be singer and guitarist Benjamin Brewer.

M.I.A., whose real name is Mathangi Arulpragasam, performed at the 30th anniversary celebration of designer denim brand Diesel in New York on Saturday night.

The even photos show M.I.A., 31, holding her pregnant belly throughout her show, as she performed with T.I. and N.E.R.D.

There have been rumors of M.I.A.’s pregnancy after she canceled her European tour in June of 2008. Around the same time she said she planned to marry “The Exit” singer/guitarist Benjamin Brewer.

M.I.A.’s spokesperson has not yet commented on the pregnancy reports.

Click Thumbnails for Larger Images

Here’s a video of M.I.A. from the Diesel show:

M.I.A. Says Baby Was 'Getting His Swagga On' During Grammys

M.I.A. Says Baby Was 'Getting His Swagga On' During Grammys
Pregnant MC also discusses her 'Slumdog Millionaire' Oscar nomination on the red carpet.

Before a very pregnant M.I.A. graced the stage at the Grammy Awards on Sunday (February 8), she told us her baby was poised to be a hip-hop star. That makes sense, because he's already hit the stage with Jay-Z, Kanye West, T.I. and Lil Wayne (not to mention his MC mom) for their "Swagga Like Us" performance.

"He's getting ready for Jay-Z and Lil Wayne. So far, so good," she said on the Grammy red carpet. "I just don't know what labor is. It's my first baby. So I'm not walking around going, 'Maybe this is it.' The baby is just moving around, getting his swagga on."

On top of her performance, the mom-to-be was up for Record of the Year for her hit "Paper Planes" but lost out to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. She still has a chance to win at the Oscars for her contribution to the "Slumdog Millionaire" soundtrack.

More M.I.A. Pregnant (Pictures)

Blink-182 Make Reunion Official on Grammy Stage

“Isn’t it great to see the Jonas Brothers and Stevie Wonder back together again,” blink-182’s Mark Hoppus joked as his band — together again — took the stage at the Grammy Awards to present the trophy for Best Rock Album to Coldplay. “We used to play music together, and we decided to play music together once again,” added Travis Barker. The bottom line: “Blink-182 is back.”

A statement released just after their Grammy appearance reads, “Hi. We’re blink-182. This past week there’ve been a lot of questions about the current status of the band, and we wanted you to hear it straight from us. To put it simply, We’re back. We mean, really back. Picking up where we left off and then some. In the studio writing and recording a new album. Preparing to tour the world yet again. Friendships reformed. 17 years deep in our legacy.”

The band leave things with the words “Summer 2009. Thanks and get ready…”

The band has been officially on hiatus since February 2005; since then Tom DeLonge has gone on to form Angels & Airwaves, while Hoppus and Barker put together +44. In November 2008, after the jet crash that nearly killed Barker, Hoppus blogged that the threesome had resumed communication. “In the midst of everything else that has happened lately, Tom, Travis, and I have all spoken together,” he wrote. “First through a number of phone calls, and then a couple of weeks ago we all hung out for a few hours. … We’re just reconnecting as friends after four years of not talking.” The band’s next album would be their first since 2003’s blink-182.

Chandra Grahan in India on February 9 – Place and Timings of February 2009 Lunar Eclipse

Chandra Grahan, which according to NASA is a penumbral (partial) lunar eclipse, will be visible on February 9, 2009 in India. In penumbral eclipse there will be a partial shadow of earth on the moon. The Eclipse will be visible at Moonrise along the western coast of India in cities like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Cochin, Trivandrum, Pune and Chennai. Partial lunar eclipse will be visible in Kolkata, Patna, Hyderabad, Bhubaneshwar, Lucknow, Delhi, Shimla, Bhopal and Srinagar.

The timing of the Penumbral eclipse according to NASA in all places in India is given from 18:09 to 22:08. Middle Eclipse will be at 20:08.

You may also like to read

What to do during Chandra Grahan and the map of lunar eclipse in February 2009

Chandra Grahan timing around the world

Story of Eclipse in Hinduism

Mumbai police seeks FBI's help on VoIP proof in 26/11

As Mumbai police is finalising its chargesheet in the 26/11 terror strike cases, the crime branch has approached the FBI for help in attaching the proof of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services being used by terrorists of Lashkar-e-Taiba with their masters in port-city of Karachi in Pakistan.

While Mumbai's crime branch has maintained a studied silence over the filing of chargesheet, sources in investigating agencies said the US investigating agency's help had been sought in sharing the proofs like call details made through VoIP and from the Satellite phone.

Though the case is water-tight but these kind of proofs would further nail Pakistan's claims that the conspiracy of 26/11 was not hatched in that country, senior officials in the investigation agency said, adding the Islamabad's claims that the conspiracy was hatched in Bangladesh was absolutely wrong.

India and the United States share a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) which came into effect on December three, 2005.

According to the treaty, the ability of the two countries to pursue their common objective of law enforcement of putting in place a legal mechanism to enable them to provide to each other assistance in connection with the investigation, prosecution, prevention and suppression of crime including those relating to terrorism.

source

GATE 2009 Key | GATE 2009 Analysis | Solutions

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2009 will be held on February 8, 2009 from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm.

* GATE 2009 Answerkey, Solutions (IES made easy)
* GATE 2009 Answerkey, Solutions (Gatementor)
* Gate overview, Sample papers, analysis (Onestop Gate)

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an all-India examination administered and conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science and seven Indian Institutes of Technology
on behalf of the National Coordinating Board - GATE, Department of Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India.

GATE - Websites :
http://gate.iisc.ernet.in/
http://www.iitd.ac.in/gate
Related : gate 2009 answers, gate 2009 answer key, gate 2009 solutions, gate 2009, gate 2009 solution

100% perfect Grammy Awards predictions

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
"Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends," Coldplay
"Tha Carter III," Lil Wayne
"Year of the Gentleman," Ne-Yo
X - "Raising Sand," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
"In Rainbows," Radiohead

RECORD OF THE YEAR
(Award to the Recording Artist)
"Chasing Pavements," Adele
X - "Viva La Vida," Coldplay
"Bleeding Love," Leona Lewis
"Paper Planes," M.I.A
"Please Read the Letter," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award to the Songwriter)
"American Boy," (Estelle Featuring Kanye West) William Adams, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, John Stephens, Estelle Swaray & Kanye West, songwriters
"Chasing Pavements" (Adele) Adele Adkins & Eg White, songwriters
"I'm Yours" (Jason Mraz) Jason Mraz, songwriter
"Love Song" (Sara Bareilles) Sara Bareilles, songwriter
X - "Viva La Vida" (Coldplay) Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters

The only suspense in the top Grammys races is which awards will be doled out to Coldplay and which ones to the duo of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Will Plant/Krauss claim best album, as seems logical, leaving the prize for best record to Coldplay? Or the other way around? Or will one team sweep both races?

Remember back in 2002 when virtually all Grammy pundits thought Alicia Keys would win best record for "Fallin'"? It was widely expected that she'd also win best song too. The two awards agree about 60% of the time. If those two Grammy categories split, pundits figured that Alicia Keys at least would keep best record and U2 would siphon off the song victory for "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of," which was Bono's lament of the suicide of his pal Michael Hutchence, late lead singer of INXS.

On Darwin's 200th, a theory still in controversy

It's well known that Charles Darwin's groundbreaking theory of evolution made many people furious because it contradicted the Biblical view of creation. But few know that it also created problems for Darwin at home with his deeply religious wife, Emma.

Darwin held back the book to avoid offending his wife, said Ruth Padel, the naturalist's great-great-granddaughter. "She said he seemed to be putting God further and further off," Padel said in her north London home. "But they talked it through, and she said, "Don't change any of your ideas for fear of hurting me.'"

The 1859 publication of "On the Origin of Species" changed scientific thought forever — and generated opposition that continues to this day. It is this elegant explanation of how species evolve through natural selection that makes Darwin's 200th birthday on Feb. 12 such a major event.

More than 300 birthday celebrations are planned in Britain alone, where Darwin's face graces the 10-pound bill along with that of Queen Elizabeth II. Shrewsbury, the central England town where Darwin was born and raised, is holding a monthlong festival for its most famous son. And a permanent exhibition re-creating some of his most famous experiments is opening at Down House, his former home near London.

Many more events are planned worldwide, including the Second World Summit on evolution in the Galapagos islands in August. In Australia, the Perth Mint is putting out a special commemorative silver coin.

Even Darwin's ideological adversaries concede that he was a towering figure.

Director Bob Bloomfield poses for a portrait by the statue of British naturalist Charles Darwin ahead of an interview with the Associated Press at the Natural History Museum in London, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009. Bloomfield, special projects director at the museum, said Darwin was cautious not only because he didn't want to offend his wife, but also because he understood that the concept of man's evolution from other animals was controversial. He didn't want to present it simply as a hypothesis, but as an explanation buttressed by many observations and facts. The 1859 publication of "On the Origin of Species" changed scientific thought forever _ and generated opposition that continues to this day. It is this elegant explanation of how species evolve through natural selection that makes Darwin's 200th birthday on Feb. 12 such a major event. (AP Photo/Akira Suemori)

"He was clearly extremely important, his thinking changed the world," said Paul Taylor, a spokesman for Answers in Genesis, a prominent group that rejects Darwin's theory of evolution in favor of a literal interpretation of the Bible. "We disagree with his conclusions, with the way he made extrapolations, but he was a very careful observer and we've got a lot to be grateful for."

Bob Bloomfield, special projects director at London's Museum of Natural History, said Darwin was cautious not only because he didn't want to offend his wife, but also because he understood that the concept of man's evolution from other animals was controversial. He didn't want to present it simply as a hypothesis, but as an explanation buttressed by many observations and facts.

"He knew he had to make an absolutely iron-cast case for his theory," Bloomfield said. "He was one of the earliest true scientists where everything he was prepared to write about had to be based on evidence."