15:07:36

PRIDE AND JOY

"Just grab some leather and hang on," instructed Margaret Chester, revving her motorcycle with other Dykes on Bikes lined up and ready to lead Sunday's Gay Pride Parade in San Francisco.

Right on time, at 10:30 a.m., the 400 or so motorcyclists were off and roaring, marking the official start of the 37th annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Parade. Thousands of spectators lined Market Street. Stoplights were to be ignored. Helmets and clothing were optional.

The Harley-Davidsons were deafening. The Yamahas, Suzukis and Kawasakis sounded like a swarm of insects. Chester, riding a tricked-out, chromed-up 2003 Honda Shadow Spirit 750, allowed a reporter on board. The Dykes on Bikes are always out front. Next in the motorcycle contingent are other registered motorcycle clubs, then independent riders, followed by a few men -- allowed to bring up the tail.

19:38:11

CARE reaffirms rating Hero Financial Services

CARE has retained the rating assigned to the outstanding Fixed Deposits (FD) aggregating to Rs.0.14 crore (as on March 17, 2007), of Hero Financial Services Ltd (HFSL), at CARE BB+ (FD) [Double B Plus]. Instruments with this rating are considered to offer inadequate safety for timely servicing of debt obligations. Such instruments carry high credit risk.

The rating takes into account limited financial activities of the company, operating losses and sharp deterioration in asset quality. However, HFSLs satisfactory capital adequacy and support from the Hero Group cushion the fall in rating.

HFSL, a closely held company of the Hero group, was incorporated in 1987 to finance the sale of two-wheelers, namely Hero Puch and Hero Honda motorcycles. Currently, the operations of the company are negligible and it is concentrating on repayments to fixed deposit holders.

8:13:20

Els happy with renewed putting touch

World number five Ernie Els was relieved to regain some putting touch in the BMW International Open first round in Munich, Germany, on Thursday after what he called an awful time on the greens in last week's US Open.

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Els, who shot a five-under par 67 at Eichenried to feature among the early leaders, finished tied 51st at Oakmont, where in 1994 he won the major after a playoff with Colin Montgomerie and Loren Roberts.

"I didn't hit the ball too badly last week, hit quite a few fairways and greens, but my putting was just awful," the South African told reporters after his opening round at Eichenried.

"If you're off on any part of your game, it was really going to be exposed at Oakmont, but I played the course basically the same way I played it in '94, apart from the putting.

13:20:32

Putting Designers In The Driver's Seat

Clay Dean's bosses at General Motors Corp (GM ). have lofty expectations--perhaps insanely so--for the new Chevrolet Malibu. The family sedan, which Dean spent three years designing, must compete with the likes of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord and is supposed to sell 20% better than its predecessor. Even Toyota Motor Corp. (TM )would be hard-pressed to hit that target. .