Cotton farmers in some Indian villages are busily buying Coca-Cola and Pepsi, believing that the sugar in the fizzy( ) drinks kills pests.

Farmers say scientists advised them to mix pesticides with a sugary juice to control pests, and they found the mixture cheaper and more effective than pure chemicals-- although soft drink makers and scientists dismissed the remarks. N. Hamunayya, who has become a famous person in his village in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, said his crop survived an attack of pests which had resisted other pesticides. "We found that all the colas had uniform effect on pests. The pests became dead and fell to the ground, "he said. He said the drinks had all the elements they needed : they were cheaper, sticky, fizzy, and attracted ants, which ate the young of the pests. But Thinupathi Reddy, assistant director of the Regional Agri-Research Station, Guntur, says tests had proved such results wrong. "We conducted some field trials on cotton crop at our research station. There was no obvious productivity or destruction of pests, "he says.

Statements from Pepsi and Coca-Cola said there was " no scientific basis" for _ . But their dealers are enjoying increasing sales. Mantan Wall, who sells soft drinks in 17 villages in the region, said sales rose up, thanks to the farmers. " For the 10 days between August and September I had successful business. Instead of just 30 cases( each containing a dozen one-litre bottles) of cola, I started selling almost 200 cases, "he said. " We expected the sales to drop after the news over pesticide residues( ) in the cola drinks. Now I have to keep extra supply for the cotton farmers, "he said.

In February, an Indian environment group made a report saying drinks made by Coca-Cola and Pepsi contained pesticides and called for tougher safety standards. The U. S firms strongly rejected the findings of the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment and said their products were safe. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. What are cotton farmers busy buying?
2. What are the farmers advised to mix with sugary juices to control pests?
3. What country rejected the discoveries of a New Delhi-located center?
4. What did the USA mention their sodas were?
5. Soda companies mentioned there was what for companies liking soaring revenue?
6. What type of areas were purchasing the sodas?
7. What type of environmental collective designed a summary?
8. What allegedly happened to the bugs?
9. Did the soda companies mention the analysis was strong?
Answer: 1. Soft drinks
2. Pesticides
3. The USA
4. Safe
5. unknown
6. Farming villages
7. A Regional Agri-Research Station
8. The pests became dead and fell to the ground.
9. No

(CNN) -- Look out Liverpool, Mario Balotelli has arrived.

As famous for his larger than life demeanor as he is for his goalscoring exploits, the mercurial striker has completed his move from AC Milan to the English Premier League club.

He joined on a long-term deal, Liverpool said on its website Monday wit the fee reportedly around $26.5 million.

"I'm very happy," Balotelli told the club's official website. "We've been talking about coming here and now I'm happy to be here.

"Liverpool are one of the best teams here in England and the football is very good here.

"It's a great team with young players, and that's why I came here."

The Italian is well known to English football fans after a turbulent two-and-a-half-year stint with Manchester City, where he helped the team to a first league title in 44 years while also gaining a cult following for his off-field antics.

But Balotelli could be just the man Liverpool needs to help spearhead its Premier League and Champions League challenge following the departure of last season's top scorer Luis Suarez to Barcelona.

"Suarez's exit left a hole in the side in terms of his goals but more than that, it also left a hole in terms of Liverpool losing a player idolized by the Kop," Jim Boardman, writer for Anfield Road and The Anfield Wrap websites, told CNN.

"Few players are idolized at Anfield to the same kind of level that Suarez enjoyed but Balottelli is in prime position to take that crown. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who resigned with a new soccer team?
2. For what team?
3. Where was he before?
4. Is he upset about the change?
5. What player left the team after last season?
6. What record did he hold for his team last season?
7. Where will he be playing next?
8. How long was Balotelli with his last team?
9. What did he accomplish while there?
10. How did he attract a following?
Answer: 1. Mario Balotelli
2. Liverpool
3. Manchester City
4. No
5. Luis Suarez
6. top scorer
7. Barcelona
8. 2 1/2 years
9. Helped the team to a title
10. off-field antics

(CNN) -- It used to be called "the love that dare not speak its name" -- particularly in Hollywood, where the revelation of homosexuality was believed to be a career-killer.

Clay Aiken recently announced he was gay on the cover of People magazine.

Now, out gays and lesbians are as casually visible as the cover of People magazine, which has recently run stories on Ellen DeGeneres' wedding to Portia de Rossi and Clay Aiken's decision to discuss his sexuality.

So, in a time when self-declared bisexual Tila Tequila can have a highly rated MTV show on looking for a partner of either sex, Lindsay Lohan talks about her relationship with DJ Samantha Ronson and "Star Trek's" George Takei can have a very public wedding with his longtime partner, is coming out still a big deal?

Publicist Howard Bragman, author of the forthcoming "Where's My Fifteen Minutes" (Portfolio), says that it is.

"Every person that comes out is another barrier coming down," Bragman, who is openly gay, told CNN.com. Acceptance by the mainstream public, he observes, is easier but by no means automatic, particularly when issues such as gay marriage are at stake. "I look at it as a long-term process. The revolution is over -- now it's an evolution." Watch "American Morning's" Lola Ogunnaike look at changing attitudes "

Bragman was around when a performer revealing his or her homosexuality could still shock. He helped guide Dick Sargent when the "Bewitched" star came out of the closet in 1989, and remembers when it was difficult to get support for movies such as "Philadelphia," the 1993 film that won Tom Hanks an Oscar as a lawyer dying of AIDS. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who announced their homosexuality freshly?
2. Who had a popular show on MTV?
3. Was announcing homosexual orientation for entertainers normal in the late 80's?
4. What movie was awarded in 1993?
5. Who starred in it?
6. Who else identifies as homosexual?
7. Who is she married to?
8. Who is the writer mentioned in the article?
9. What did he write?
10. Who was dating a disc jockey?
11. Who was her girlfriend?
12. Who admitted their orientation in 1989?
Answer:
1. Clay Aiken
2. Tila Tequila
3. no
4. "Philadelphia,"
5. Tom Hanks
6. Ellen DeGeneres
7. Portia de Rossi
8. Howard Bragman
9. "Where's My Fifteen Minutes"
10. Lindsay Lohan
11. Samantha Ronson
12. Dick Sargent