Branded for life

SHE walks into the room, her striking red frame glasses perched on her head to hold the hair back. A trademark of sorts, she's never seen without them. We are short on time and expecting to see a no-nonsense corporate honcho. She is the no-nonsense person but not without the fun. "Is it necessary to look all serious and business like for the pictures? I mean it's really not me," and that's Punita Lal for you.

Executive director, Pepsico, Lal, 48, is the marketing head for the beverage for South Asia, responsible for the over $1.5 billion market in the region. Aptly so as she represents every bit the brand's youthful, fresh, fun image. Buzzing with energy 24/7, she is spontaneity at its best.

For a person who was extremely shy while growing up and intimidated by public speaking, marketing seems an odd choice. Which is why it's not where she started. An alumnus of St. Stephen's College in Delhi where she grew up, Lal was interested in advertising and knew well that that was what lay ahead. "I was always fascinated with consumer behaviour and the psychology behind it, so it was only natural to choose the field," she says.

Catch these features:

Slice of life

Branded for life

Eat Neat

Silent kill

Road less travelled

Feeding them right

Graduating in Economics, she moved on to the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, for her MBA, specialising in marketing and behavourial sciences. Coming from a sheltered upbringing, it was a time of realisations. "The huge accumulation of talent makes you realise you're only a small fish in a big pond. It's really made me what I am today," she says of her years there. It's also where she met her husband, Ajay Lal, now managing director of the private equity firm, AIF Capital, and a classmate then.

The two got married the following year while Lal was working with Lintas (now Lowe Lintas) as an account manager in Chennai before heading to JWT where she became part of the team that launched Pepsi in India. "I used to watch reels of the 'Best of Advertising' and coming across the Michael Jackson ads for Pepsi, I thought, I would give my right arm to work on something like this."

Before she knew it, Lal was on the Pepsi account. Her first assignment there was the beverage's launch commercial in 1989, the iconic "Are you ready for the magic?" ad that had musician Remo Fernandes and actor Juhi Chawla in a jugalbandi. "Pepsi being a western brand, the idea was to amalgamate it with the Indian ethos." It is also the campaign she counts as her most memorable.

"It was such an exciting time. There was creativity in the air, it was one of those zipping offices." Lal was so engrossed in it that since she was pregnant with her first child, colleagues joked that the baby would only respond to the tune of the commercial. Her colleague at JWT and long time friend, Pooja Kapur, vice president at the advertising agency, Draftfcb, in Hong Kong says, "I think her biggest strength is that she is very decisive and carries the team together, nurturing those working under her."

In 1993, Lal moved to the Unilever account, handling their dental business and later launched Kellogg's, the breakfast cereal in India. By now she had had adequate experience in the FMCG segment and in 1998, when her husband moved to Hong Kong, Lal decided to switch to marketing. It was a brave decision considering that although she knew the sector, she had never worked on the other side and giving up an established reputation was a gamble. Moreover, it was a culture she did not know. She took on the challenge, joining Coca Cola Inc.

"Yes as a lot of people would say-I have slept with the enemy," she says with a laugh. But being the marketing director for Hong Kong, Macau and Mongolia and working on 14 brands of the company was a great learning curve. After five years in the job, Lal thought it was time for a break and in 2002, took a sabbatical for more than a year. It was the best thing to have happened to her, she says.

"As working people, our work becomes our persona and the reason to exist. We forget that there are things beyond it." That's what she learnt during the time. Not only did she rekindle her love for travel, exploring nine countries, she also took pottery classes and did everything she hadn't been able to while she was working. It was rewarding and liberating.

However, the last five years in her current assignment at Pepsico in Delhi have been about juggling balls and not let any of them drop. Her day starts at 6.30 a.m. and she heads off for her 'interrupted' morning walk as she comes back halfway to see off her children, 18-year-old Sidhartha, who's now preparing for undergraduate studies in the US and daughter Anjali, 14. It's the only time she sees them in the day before dinner.

The housekeeping is handled over breakfast. By 9 a.m. she is in office and wading through a day of meetings, to be back home only by 7.30 p.m. for an early dinner. She makes sure the family is always together over the meal and spends at least an hour or two catching up. The schedule is tight but she makes the most of it.

"My work's like a drug, it's my daily dose of adrenaline. Though it leaves me with very little time to indulge in anything else, I just can't do without it." A trained classical singer, for an hour every week, she heads to her music class. It's the only time that is completely hers.

Her music collection is enviable and favourites include polar opposites -old Hindi film songs by Hemant Kumar, Talat Mehmood and Geeta Dutt, as well as jazz. Besides music, pottery is a passion and Lal's creations on the walls of her home are evidence of it. She finds cooking therapeutic too. Baking cakes are almost a Sunday ritual.

It seems like the perfect life but Lal has had her share of glitches. Probably, the toughest time she has encountered professionally was the pesticide controversy in 2006. "It was the most stressful time in my career. Though the industry had seen an earlier problem on the same lines in 2003, it was a first for me. I saw the reverse side of consumer loyalty."

She handled it with confidence, quickly briefing the press, sharing facts and in five days flat had a commercial running, showing Pepsi CEO Rajiv Bakshi in the bottling plant and assuring customers of the product's safety. Accordingly, the woman behind Nimbooz, India's most popular and first packaged nimbu-paani drink, has been far less worried about the recent rumours of the product causing 'high-bone fever'. "There is no such disease, in fact even AIIMS has denied its existence. It's an absolute hoax," she says.

It is this certainty that her husband reaffirms. "Punita as a person is very confident and extremely comfortable with herself," he says, recounting their 20th anniversary dinner in Paris. "Her luggage had not arrived by then and all she had were her travel clothes but she did not let that impact the evening at all. It's amazing to be with someone who doesn't need much in life to be happy."

For Lal, family is paramount and travel is a shared love, so a camping or trailer holiday is an annual event where the family is just on their own. "The best ones have been in Canada and New Zealand," she remembers fondly. "I guess I love the hills because of all the childhood trips to Kasauli." Another special childhood memory is that of devouring alphonsos in the summer holidays in Mumbai, where her grandparents were. About holidays, Lal now wants to head off to one in the Mediterranean.

In the future, she sees herself living a peaceful retired life doing the things she loves and giving back to the community. "Or maybe I will visit my children, wherever they are. If they will have me, of course," she adds with a laugh.

5 Bonding tips for busy couples

1. Try to have lunch with each other, at least once in the week.

2. Do yoga or go for morning walks.

3. Make sure you have dinner as a family and catch up at the day's end.

4. Go on annual family holidays.

5. Remember the special occasions like anniversaries and birthdays and make them memorable.

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

So Now You're the Boss

You finally got that promotion and now you're the new boss. Things might not feel much different in the beginning, but managing former peers requires a major adjustment on both ends. How you handle the change at the outset can affect the long-term harmony and productivity of the group.

• Embrace change. Accept that your relationships with co-workers will inevitably change, say experts. This can be hard if you were friends with someone you now supervise. You don't have to give up the friendship, but you do need to have a frank discussion outlining the new parameters of your relationship in the office. "This includes what you can and can't do," says Stephen Xavier, president and CEO of Cornerstone Executive Development in Chapel Hill, N.C. "Obviously, you can't participate in workplace gossip or any negative talk about co-workers." You also can't be as chummy as you were before and you might, say, have to give up your regular lunch dates with your former peer.

• Get educated. If the company doesn't provide management training, take a class, get a coach, read books and observe how other bosses handle subordinates. You want to strike a good balance of authority, says Bonnie Hagemann, CEO of Executive Development Associates in Oklahoma City, Okla. There's a tendency for new bosses to manage too harshly or be too lenient.

• Establish your role. Early on, step forward and demonstrate how you will handle your role as boss. Be firm but open to feedback and talk through what you expect from employees and vise versa. Make clear what you'll be doing differently from your predecessor, if anything. Remember, rank-and-file employees tend to be focused on their jobs, whereas your role as boss means doing what's best for the department and company. You may be forced to hold employees who you worked alongside just weeks ago accountable in ways that can influence their job standing and pay.

• Address concerns. Introduce changes gradually since big, sudden changes can create a lot of stress—especially if they are complex. Give employees a role in the decision-making process when you can and help them understand why any changes are necessary. A good way to discuss individual concerns with other former peers is to take them aside one by one and privately explain how things will change, suggests Mr. Xavier.

• Be careful not to play favorites. It can harm your credibility as a fair leader and can backfire with friends who may take advantage of you.

"Familiarity breeds a potential for some complacency and that can make it more difficult for the manager who's promoted internally," says Paul Winum, senior partner at RHR International, a management consultancy in Wood Dale, Ill. "When somebody comes in from the outside, and there's not a pre-existing relationship, people are on their toes a little more."

• Head off problems. Manage the disappointment of peers who didn't get promoted by finding new opportunities or challenges for them in the restructured team, suggests Mr. Winum. "You want to forge some kind of positive, constructive relationship," he says.

Try to talk through any concerns or issues of those who might have wanted to be boss so you don't end up being blindsided by a bigger problem or an employee resigning.

Source:http://online.wsj.com/

Is Twitter Losing Steam?

Bored, where are the interesting people, had a Twitter overdose, sick of Twitter — these are just some recent status messages I noticed on Twitter. This brings me to the subject of my post: Has Twitter become boring already?

The microblogging site that almost became a phenomenon in social networking, thanks to its speed, efficacy and brevity of news suddenly seems to be losing its charm. And to think, Twitter once grew at 1,382 per cent between February 2008 and 2009 without even having a business model, and even till recently saw a 1500% growth in registered users with 300,000 sign-ups every day and 55 million tweets a day. Here’s a quick guide to the Twitter numbers so far.

The statistics are unbelievably different in 2010, suggesting that Twitter might be losing steam. There’s been a mere 3.5% growth between Oct 2009 and Jan 2010 even though study shows the Twitter users are ‘more engaged’ now than ever before.

The smart, funny, intelligent, Twitterers or the popular professionals such as journalists, PR, techies, authors and film stars have a regular, dedicated fan following. But I guess it’s tough being smart, intelligent, humorous, whacky and productive everyday. So even if you are regular, you may not be able to sustain the same quality and quantity of tweets to hold your audience in thrall. Besides, after the initial enthusiasm dies down, users tend to become irregular, or too used to a certain brand of humour, news analysis, theories, jokes, etc., to be enticed by it anymore. That perhaps leads to the boredom.

Then there’s another lot that uses Twitter to settle their own scores publicly – like film stars and movie critics (read Big B-Rajiv Masand), who even have to resort to extending their tweets using Twitlonger to put their point across. Doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of Twitter? Honestly, who cares about these ego clashes?

A quick search revealed that people have been getting bored of Twitter from late last year. Since there are no specific reasons outlined for the sudden slowdown, we can only speculate. And it appears to be largely personal behaviour. Apart from sharing news, interesting reads and search results, there’s only that much tweeple can say 140 characters. And after a while it maybe noticed that they rehash the same old jokes and hashtags. In fact, a couple of popular Indian tweeple were recently feeling nostalgic about the ‘good old days’ of tweeting when hashtags used to be ‘more fun’.

Source:http://in.yfittopostblog.com/

Silent kill

If you thought coughing and breathing problems were the only symptoms of tuberculosis and that it affected just the lungs, here's a reality check. Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection caused by bacteria and can affect several other organs in the body.

Pulmonary TB or tuberculosis of the lungs accounts for 85-90 per cent of the cases but the rest 10-15 are the infection of other parts such as bone, stomach and even the spleen.

Of these, the one that most affects women in the reproductive age and is the cause of rising infertility numbers is pelvic or genital tuberculosis. Over 10 per cent infertility cases can be attributed to it.

What are the symptoms?

A silent disease, pelvic TB may be present for 10 to 20 years without showing any symptoms and the woman remains in apparent excellent health. Infertility is often one of the symptoms and sometimes, the only reason to investigate for the presence of the condition.

Other symptoms could include lower abdominal pain, chronic back pain and irregular periods. Sometimes though, pelvic pain could also be a symptom of other kinds of abdominal tuberculosis such as intestinal or stomach.

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

Men dread their wives' driving, finds survey

Believe it or not, one in three men dreads getting into the car if his better half is driving, a new survey has revealed.

Wondered why?

Well, many say wives and partners brake too late and they find themselves pushing their feet down into the footwell or gripping the edges of the passenger seat, according to the survey by British market researchers 'OnePoll.com'.

One in 10 of the 3,000 male respondents said he had been forced to grab the wheel as his partner took her eyes off the road and careered towards the central reservation of a motorway, the 'Daily Express' reported.

They say women are too easily distracted by children, other drivers, even scenery.

The website said: "Most men believe they concentrate a lot better than women, read situations quicker and have better reactions."

But female-only motor insurers Sheilas' Wheels spokeswoman Asia Yasir said: "Claims data proves women are statistically safer."

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

Fix-anything makeup tricks

Let's face it-not all women in the world are lucky enough to be born with perfect features, hell, even A-listers claim they hate their noses, or hips, with amazing regularity! That's why some genius somewhere invented make-up! No matter what you want to hide (or enhance), used the right way, make-up can produce magical results! So, Cosmo got top celeb experts to give us tips on how they work their magic to make all those women on screen look pretty-darn-perfect. Follow expert instructions to transform your face without going under the knife!

Bigger, Sexier Eyes
First, reach for liner. Skip black-like an LBD, it narrows your shape-and use a coloured one to define your top lash line, says celebrity make-up artist Carmindy. (Blues and greens not your thing? Reach for slate, which looks awesome on everyone.) Now, swipe a shimmery white sha dow onto your inner corners in a sideways V shape to catch light, which widens eyes. Finally, make your eyelash curler your BFF. Crimping the top lash line angles hairs so tips are closer to your brows, expanding the entire eye area. Immediately lock in the curve with two coats of lengthening mascara.

Plush, Pillowy Lips
Grab a colourless lip balm with shimmer and apply it to the skin just above your cupid's bow-the area below your nose and between the peaks of your top lip. Adding light to that area creates the illusion of larger lips, explains Carmindy. Then apply a moisturising lipstick. Hydrating ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, bind pout-plumping water to your mouth. Make sure it has a high-shine finish ; matte versions don't reflect light. Finish with as wipe of the shimmery balm on the centre of your bottom lip.

Killer Cheekbones
To make round cheeks look more chiselled, you'll need a highlighting powder and a bronzer that's two shades darker than your skin tone. (Get both in a multi-colour palette, like the one at left.) Make a fish f a c e , and dust the bronzer on the hollows of your cheeks. Smile, then brush the highlighter from the apples of your cheeks to your temples. "The contrasting t o n e s d e f i n e and shape cheekbones," says Los Angeles makeup artist Joanna Schlip.

A Slimmer Nose You Want
Shrink a larger or wider nose with this two-pronged attack: apply your usual foundation to your nose, then swipe a streak of highlighter down the centre of its bridge and back up in a straight line. "The paler colour sandwiched between the foundation-coated skin will make the sides of your nose appear darker and slimmer in seconds," says Carmindy. Set with translucent powder, which won't darken the illusion.

Uniform Brows
If you've tried filling in a brow scar without much luck, check this out. "The skin on a scar is smoother and has fewer pores, so pencils and fine powders just don't adhere," says Carmindy. Tinted creams are a bettersticking option. Choose one in a shade that matches your brows and make short, light strokes in the direction of hair growth. Finish by blending colour through the entire brow (not just the bald spot) for an even shape.

A Tinier Forehead
Bangs will instantly fill the gap between your brows and hairline. But if you'd rather not make the cut, reach for a matte bronzer (shimmer will spotlight the area's size) and a big powder brush. "Bronzer creates a shadow, helping a too-large area appear smaller," says Schlip. Swirl bristles into the bronzer and tap off any excess to keep the shade light and natural. Sweep the brush along your hairline from temple to temple several times then in circles to blend.

And Speaking of Brows...
Just how common are scars? Chris McStay, assistant director at Bellevue Hospital Emergency Department in NYC, sees about four lacerations a day. Three Cosmo staffers spill their scar stories. " The eyebrow ring that made me look so cool in 1999 left behind two not-so-chic scars on my left brow. " -Ashley, 29 " A couple of days before my Cosmo interview, I whacked my head on a table and cut my left brow. I got clear stitches, so no one saw!" -Jessica, 26 " My guy and I were having a pillow fight in bed. He hit me a little too hard and I banged my head on the nightstand. My right eyebrow split open...and he spoiled me rotten for months." -Nikki, 34

Source:http://cosmo.intoday.in/

What does it take to date the modern Indian woman

Five sexy women share their secrets on how you can get them. From the horse's mouth was never this prettier!

Stake your claim

Even modern women want a man who respects and protects and here's where Indian men are falling short. Catch up. Dear Men-Who-I-Sometimes-Come-Across-As-A-Single-Woman. Hi! I hope you've all been well, and hale and hearty and all those things men should be. In fact, I especially hope you've been hale and hearty, because, darlings, we need to talk. About you.

Here's the thing. You ask me sometimes, with an air of wounded innocence, why so many of our fellow countrywomen are choosing to date non-Indian men. And I hem and haw and tell you it's not you, it's them, and all those sweet little lies we say to make the other person feel better. But, since we're having a woman-to-man chat here, let me drop the bullshit. The truth is: It is you. It's always been you.

See, it's not like we want to date foreigners. Really. I mean, we're not xenophobic or anything, we like our boys in all shapes and sizes, but at the end of the day, we like easy options. People you don't have to explain Hindi curse words to, people who understand how to dance to Bollywood music, people who get that we don't hold hands or smoke cigarettes in front of our grandparents. See? Easy! Less explaining! What's not to love?

But then, time after time of being with an Indian man, maybe even with one of you, has left us, sadly, wiser and more jaded. (I'd like to add a tiny disclaimer here and point out that I'm not talking about all of you, only some of the people I and my fellow defectors have dated.) We feel like you're always trying to control us, the way you have for generations. We feel that you're not quite as, shall we say, open minded as your foreign brethren. We feel that maybe, if you found out we weren't as pure as driven snow, you'd be happy to have your fun with us, but ultimately wouldn't see this as a long term prospect.

Also, speaking of long term prospects, honeys, commitment phobia is so not cool any more. You're in your mid to late thirties now! Stop being cliched, man up, and step up to the Relationship Plate. If you like us, tell us. Don't be scared that just that simple admission is going to make us want to drag you straight to the sacred fi re. Fact: It's a total myth that all we want is marriage and babies. Please. Personally, I think the two are a little overrated.

And let's discuss your relationship with your mummies, shall we? We're big fans of men who love their families, no doubt about that, but really, does she have to have the deciding vote on who leaves and who gets to stay in your life? You're (I'm hoping) an independent, 21st century man, the world is your oyster-and sorry to break it to you, lads, but Mother doesn't always Know Best.

So, the next time you see one of us at the bar, possibly looking happy and couple-like with someone who is obviously not Indian, don't just mutter into your drinks. Take a long look at what we get from them and what we get from you- and see to it that the next lady lucky enough to benefit from your charms will truly have a global relationship.

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

Here's how to stay healthy in monsoon

It's monsoon time and so, enjoy the rain, but don't forget to keep the mosquitoes at bay or to wash your hands frequently to ward off infections. For, the humid conditions and moderate temperatures create perfect conditions for the spread of diseases.

Experts also warn against the overuse of antibiotics and suggest boosting the immune system instead.

'The growth of bacteria is caused by high humidity and a temperature that is neither too high nor too low. It results in diseases like jaundice, malaria, typhoid, cholera, cough, cold, fever and flu,' Max Hospital senior physician Anil Gomber told IANS.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has so far received 12 cases of malaria and 173 of cholera. There have also been three cases of dengue in the capital.

MCD's chief medical officer N.K. Yadav said, 'People should ensure that the water they drink is pure. The household should be kept clean at all times and special attention should be paid to the hygiene of kids.'

There's indeed a lot you can do to keep infections away, say doctors.

'The cleaning up of stagnant water bodies, overflowing drains, leaky walls and roofs is a must during the rainy season. Use repellants to prevent mosquito bites and the most important is the drinking water should be clean,' Gomber said.

One should bathe regularly and wash hands with soap frequently to prevent fungal infections. Desert coolers should be cleaned once in a while and all water reservoirs and tanks should be covered, Gomber said.

Experts also suggest boosting one's immune system.

'The natural immune system protects us with its enormous variety of defence mechanisms. It becomes stronger and more capable of handling threats when it is successful in containing an infection on its own,' said Arun Diwan, a senior consultant (Internal Medicine) at the Batra Hospital.

Overuse of antibiotics, exposure to radiation, hazardous chemicals and widespread use of corticosteroids should be avoided, say experts.

Building natural immunity is especially important in children whose immune systems are vulnerable to a large number of diseases. Doctors suggest that choosing a healthy lifestyle and eating a balanced diet are the key to building a strong immune system.

'Eat foodstuffs with high fibre content and add barley, rice and wheat to the food as they facilitate digestion and also strengthen the digestive system,' Diwan said.

Immune-nutrients which are present in numerous food items should be consumed regularly as they help in building the body's immunity and enhance its ability to fight infection.

Natural herbs like ashwagandha, guduchi and kesar are rich in immune-nutrients. They help in controlling stress, energising the body and rejuvenating the immune system.

Foodstuffs like barley, rice, wheat, amla and shatavari facilitate and strengthen the digestive system.

Randeep Guleria, professor of medicine in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, said, 'Consuming fresh fruits and green vegetables help in boosting the immune system as they are rich in anti-oxidants and micro-nutrients.'

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

When to Invest?

Timing the market has long been a favourite sport of traders, market pundits, speculators and investors. This is notwithstanding the alarmingly high rate of failure- for veterans and novices alike. The current year has been particularly volatile, with a constant tussle between the bulls and bears. So, making the right calls has become all the more difficult.

But timing the market need not be an entirely futile exercise. Especially if the main objective is to minimise the risks. One strategy that can be adopted is to enter the market at lows and buy at dips. Usually, retail investors tend to do just the opposite and enter the market when it has run-up quite a bit. In doing so, they often end up catching the tail end of the bull run and substantially lose their corpus when the market is on its way down.

The key, therefore, is to zero in on days when the market would have the greatest possibility of hitting lows. We, at FE Investor have attempted to do just that. Our analysis of data from January 1982 throws up interesting facts that can help investors better their chances of maximising their returns.

Our analysis shows that the first five days of a month are the best time to invest in the market. This is because the market tends to be at its lowest during these days. Since 1982, out of the 342 months that the market has been in operation, it has registered the minimum value on these days for 101 months. This means the market has been at its lowest for about 30% of the time during the first five days.

This knowledge can be particularly useful for investors who take the route of systematic investment plan (SIP) to invest in the market through mutual funds. For instance, investors can opt to debit their account on the 5thof every month as the market will be at its lowest during the first five days and their chances of buying more number of units go up significantly. Investors are generally advised to buy through SIPs because of the advantage of 'rupee cost averaging', which means if the market goes up, the units one owns will increase in value and if the market goes down, the next monthly payment will buy more units. Buying at dips is an effective way of accentuating this process.

The next best chance of getting the maximum returns are the last five or six days of a month when the market is at its lowest for 27% of the time. You are likely to get the lowest returns between the 11thand 15thof any month when the markets are at their lowest for only 8% of the time. So, avoid putting in money during this period.

Our analysis shows that it doesn't matter whether one invests in the first half or the second half of a month. Of the 342 months, the number of months the first 15 days have edged past (in terms of returns ) the next 15 days is almost the same. And bull and bear markets have no bearing on the returns in the first and second halves of the month. In the year 2008, for instance, the market tanked in each of the halves thanks to the global economic crisis in the aftermath of the collapse of the investment bank Lehman Brothers.

The market has given higher returns in the second half of the year (60%) compared with the first half (40%). Furthermore, the market has given positive returns 16 out of 28 times in the second half of the year. This means the chances of the market rising are much higher in the second half of the year. So investors would do well to invest in the first half of the year when the Sensex (^BSESN : 18145.31 +159.41) values are lower as they can then see substantial returns when there is a run-up in the market in the second half.

If we look at quarter on quarter data for 28 quarters, the third quarter has outperformed while Q4 has lagged behind the rest. Since the fourth quarter comprises months of January to March, this once again brings to the fore the fact the market tends to underperform in the first half of the year. Q4 has also given an average return of 4.6%, which is behind that of Q1 and Q2. All this implies that the first three months of the year are perhaps the best time to invest in the market.

Source:http://in.biz.yahoo.com/

Television writing and Online screenwriting

Television writing

As the entertainment industry grows in India, students can join television writing courses to hone their skills.

Television in India is going full steam ahead with multiple soap operas, sitcoms and reality series running on a plethora of new channels. To cash in on the booming Television industry, one can take up a course in Television writing being offered by Whistling Woods International (WWI), Mumbai.

Television writing is a one-year programme. The in-house faculty provides relevant and in-depth training, with additional inputs from eminent guest lecturers.

Hot career: Forensic science

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Students are encouraged to ideate a concept and convert it into a story keeping in mind elements such as characters, teleplay and dialogues. The course also covers the importance of satellite channels, rating systems and the journey of Indian Television. Students are exposed to different genres such as soap operas, thrillers, paranormal series and reality. "There has been no structured course for Television writing till date despite this being a difficult subject," says Vinod Ranganath, project head and main tutor, Television writing, WWI.

The first semester consists of roughly 300 hours of instructions, analysis, foundation, training, workshops and writing under supervision. Time will be devoted to training in five other disciplines-direction, editing, cinematography and production. Workshops will be conducted for writing a sitcom and thriller as well. The rest of the semester will be devoted to Television writing. A six-week break between the two semesters will provide students an opportunity to intern with a leading production house. The second semester will have revision and analysis of the first semester, followed by work on their specialisations, which is either comedy or thriller.

With the internet and mobile phone, the scope of writing for Television is getting bigger. "Now the options for aspirants have increased as they can also write for mobile television or Internet Television. This course is a stepping stone towards the right direction," says Meghna Ghai Puri, president, WWI. For everyone who dreams to create characters and stories that people love or love to hate, this course seems the most logical option.

Eligibility

Applicants must have completed HSC or SSC. Need to be 21 years at the time of application. Work experience is not mandatory.

Institutes

Whistling Woods International, Mumbai www.whistlingwoods.net

Online screenwriting

Filmmakers are always on the lookout for skilled writers. Develop your art with this diploma.

Indian cinema is undergoing a transformation. Today, the importance of well-written scripts cannot be undermined. Foreseeing this progression, Whistling Woods International, Mumbai, has introduced a 40-week online diploma course in screenwriting. The course kicks off in August this year. Anjum Rajabali whose credits include films such as Droh Kaal, Ghulam, The Legend of Bhagat Singh and Rajneeti, will conduct the classes. A number of sessions from seasoned professionals in the industry will augment the learning process of all students.

The course offers 20 pre-recorded lectures of two hours each every fortnight by the head of the department, 20 interactive Q & A sessions of five hours each, along with ten personal mentoring and writing-evaluation sessions. These sessions will take place on e-learning or chat platforms in the form of text or voice. Threaded emails for 72 hours after every lecture are also available to clarify doubts.

The curriculum is designed to guide aspiring screenwriters to learn the basic principles of the craft. The aim is to encourage students to discover their stories, develop narratives and locate their unique voices.

The course entails an introduction to the elements of screenwriting and learning how to condense vast material into viable screenplays. It will also impart the craft of creating credible and multi-dimensional characters in a gripping plot, along with dialogue writing and scene design.

The unique feature of the course is that it helps the student create a full-fledged script that can be sold for a minimum of Rs 5 lakh upon completion of the course. "Filmmakers are always on the lookout for skilled writers and well-written scripts. If students grasp this subject properly and translate that learning into writing scripts, there is no reason why they can't make their mark in the film industry," says Anjum Rajabali, head of department.

Eligibility

Applicants must have completed graduation. They need to be 21 years at the time of application. Work experience is not mandatory.

Institutes

Whistling Woods International, Mumbai www.whistlingwoods.net

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

Dress to impress

Here are a few tips for women who are all set to go out on their first date!

Has your guy finally gathered the courage to ask you out? And is this your first date? Then, invariably you will be in a state where you feel your wardrobe is empty. Don’t worry! Help is at hand. We offer you a list of dos and don’ts on your first date.

A first date is an impression-maker. Remember, he’s already seen you and now wants to know you. Let your clothes speak for you. The way you dress can tell a lot about the kind of person you are. Make sure you dress elegantly on your first date. No skin shows please!

If you wear a skirt, make sure it reaches at least to your knees. To go with it, wear a top that is not revealing. The way you dress and carry it off should make an impression on your date. It should also ease the pressure that is bound to be there on a first date.

Do not try and squeeze yourself into an LBD (little black dress). It is for sure not going to impress him. Your best option will be a simple flare skirt or denims clubbed with a good tee.

Don’t dress casually or formally. Go for a smart informal look that makes you look just right – not too bold nor understated. Stick to beige, mild blues, blacks or greens. Do not overuse any colour.

Most men like simple accessories. Do not experiment much. A simple stud can do the trick for you. Opt for shoes or sandals in subtle colours and make sure they aren’t in the same colour as that of your dress. If you are wearing stilettos, carry yourself well.

Avoid buying a new outfit when you dress for a first date. This can give the impression that you are trying too hard and will make your date wonder what the rest of your wardrobe looks like.

You can also consider wearing your lucky or favourite outfit. This might leave you more confident and boost your self-esteem at a time when you are likely to be a tad nervous.

To conclude, when you dress for a first date, make sure you don’t under or overdo it. Always dress in clothes that are neat, clean and ironed and make sure you leave your ‘crazy clothes’ in the cupboard. Lastly, whatever you wear, do not leave behind your smile. Carry it along all the while!

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Management Tip of the Day: 4 things your employees need from you

The Management Tip of the Day offers quick, practical management tips and ideas from Harvard Business Review and HBR.org (http:\\www.hbr.org). Any opinions expressed are not endorsed by Reuters.

Traditional leaders see the employee-boss relationship as a transaction: money in exchange for labour.

Transformational leaders know and recognize that employees want much more than that. Here are the four things your people need to succeed:

Love. This may sound touchy-feely, but love simply means focused concern that is exclusively for that person's good. Show your employees you care about them and their futures.

Growth. No one wants to be exactly where they are forever. Create a culture that allows your people to grow and expand.

Contribution. To feel fulfilled, employees must know that they are contributing to the whole. Emphasize the ways that their work matters to the organization.

Meaning. We are meaning-seeking creatures. Share a vision that demonstrates that all of your employees are engaged in a larger purpose.

Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Four Things Employees Need from Leaders" by Cleve Stevens.

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

Can FIFA revive Mahindra Satyam's image?

Nearly 18 months ago, India's Satyam was rocked by a false-accounting scandal that threatened its very existence. But bosses believe the firm's image has been restored -- thanks to the World Cup. The software outsourcing giant, rebranded as Mahindra Satyam, has been the main IT services provider for the tournament in South Africa, ensuring the logistics were in place for the mega-event to pass off without a hitch. The firm's logo has been on pitch-side advertising hoardings at every match, while around 150 staff have been working behind the scenes to ensure fans, organisers, volunteers and the media are in the right place at the right time. "Our main goal was to show to the world that despite our problems we have been able to successfully deliver cutting-edge solutions at the highest, and most visible, level," said the firm's head of sports business, Dilbagh Gill. "We wanted to demonstrate to our customers, and give them confidence, that Mahindra Satyam, in spite of its resizing and its issues, is still a very strong technology player," he said in emailed comments from South Africa. Also Read → Satyam scam: CBI says it may or may not file fourth chargesheet → CLB gives Satyam time till Sept 30 to publish results → Mahindra Satyam to scale up South Africa presence → Satyam directors acted like 'rubber stamps' "We think this is coming across very well now in terms of us being able to deliver the solutions that continue to enable this World Cup to run successfully." Gill's optimism is a far cry from early January 2009, when the founder and former chairman of Satyam Computer Services Ltd, B Ramalinga Raju, admitted overstating profits and inflating the balance sheet by billions of dollars. The scandal at the Hyderabad-based firm -- dubbed at the time "India's Enron" after the US energy firm that collapsed in 2001 in the wake of false-accounting revelations -- was the country's largest-ever corporate fraud. It led to a rash of lawsuits at home and abroad. Raju and several former senior executives are currently awaiting trial. Tech Mahindra, a unit of Indian vehicle and farm equipment manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra, bought the company, allaying fears about its survival and whether it could fulfill the World Cup contract it signed in 2007. Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

IRDA to probe insurers axing cashless mediclaim

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDA) on Sunday said it has decided to examine the issue of insurance companies withdrawing the cashless facility for hospitalisation of patients to mediclaim policy holders.

IRDA chairman Hari Narayan told Mail Today that 'appropriate action' would be taken in the matter after discussing the issue with the concerned stakeholders.

"Let us examine the issue. We are gathering the background information from the insurers. We would then take appropriate action," J Hari Narayan told Mail Today on phone from IRDA's headquarters at Hyderabad. Asked whether there had been a breach of trust between the mediclaim policy holders and the insurers, he replied, "Let me first get into the issue. It would be too early to make any statement. The issue is being examined by us."

The move by insurance companies to withdraw the facility of cashless hospitalisation has left the middle-class in a lurch.

At least 18 insurance companies, including public sector entities, have withdrawn the cashless mediclaim policy facility and stopped direct payment of treatment charges to high-end hospitals in Delhi, NCR and at other metros like Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Chennai from July 1.

The policy holders are fuming. They feel cheated. "It's a breach of trust. I availed the mediclaim policy for a year and paid Rs 30,000 for my family members where they offered me cashless hospitalisation. How can they write-off the agreed contract," says Rajesh Kumar, a resident of North Delhi.

At least 100 hospitals in Delhi and NCR, besides other metros, have been taken off the designated list of hospitals eligible to extend the cashless facility of treatment. These hospitals include high-end ones like Max or Medicity, Apollo, Fortis, Ganga Ram and other big hospital chains in Delhi and NCR. Mediclaim policy holders who want to avail the facilities at these hospitals, will now have to pay. They can then claim the amount from the insurer with no guarantee that the entire amount would be reimbursed.

Taking serious note of the issue Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Sunday said the state government would take every possible step to ensure that people are not held to ransom in the fight between hospitals and insurance firms.

She promised to look into the issue. "We will hold talks within a week and try to find a solution to the problem," she said.

Terming it as a serious issue, Delhi health minister Kiran Walia said, "We are really concerned as we know the impact. We cannot allow somebody to hold the patients to ransom in the fight (between insurers and hospitals)," said the health minister.

Industry bodies too have reacted sharply to the development. The chairman of the Federation of Indian Chambers for Commerce and Industry (Ficci) health services committee, Anjan Bose, termed it a retrograde move.

" This will put the policy holders, particularly the middle class patients, who do not have ready cash available with them at a disadvantage. Such a step will have adverse impact on the penetration of the health insurance market in India," Bose said.

Insurance companies have been providing cashless services at over 3,000 hospitals across the country. Dr KK Aggarwal, president of the Heart Care Foundation of India, said the cap on charges for particular treatment by insurance agencies is a right move. "But why should the policy holders suffer," he said.

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

Why Men Prefer Bad Girls

This post was triggered off by something I heard on the radio last evening on my way back home. A lot has been said and many a storm has brewed over several cups of tea and coffee on what men and women want – not just in terms of each other or in a relationship, but in general. And, I for one, don’t have an answer yet. Don’t think any one of either sex does. There’s way too much oestrogen and testosterone on television for anybody’s good to make such a decision.

But to return to the discussion on radio, that, in turn, led to this post – do men prefer bad girls? Now this is as random as it can get, considering we’re not defining the term ‘bad’. Sundry men called in to say they’d prefer ‘bad girls’ because they’re ‘more fun’.

Yeah sure! And might I ask, what their idea of ‘fun’ is? The excitement and thrill of doing ‘naughty’ things that ‘stuck-up’, ‘good girls’ wouldn’t do, like taking off on a bike to an unknown destination till the cops come after you? They say they get along better with the ‘bad girls’ — you know “great minds think alike” and all that; they’re an impulsive lot, don’t care much for a relationship and yet give the boys a good time. Whatever their idea of ‘fun’, this lot of men believe only ‘bad’ girls are good for them, as the cliche goes.

As Donna Summer’s critically acclaimed number goes:

mister, do you want to spend some time, oh yeah
I got what you want
you got what I need
I’ll be your baby
come and spend it on me

Download:

FLVMP43GP

Then there is the shameless lot that prefers a ‘bad girl’ as a girlfriend but would like a ‘good girl’ for a wife. And that’s the quintessential middle-class Indian guy for you. They desire the undesirable, they hanker for the forbidden fruit but when it comes to making choices, Mommy dearest will pick the ripest, prettiest, can’t-say-no-to fruit of the lot. They are the hypocrites who want the best of both worlds. And then as my colleague Tarun says: “Mature men don’t go for ‘bad girls’.” These are the ones that give gyaan on ‘responsibility’ and such like when they talk of ‘settling down’.

Unlike MJ, they aren’t man enough to say:

I’m Big, I’m Bad-
Come On
(Really, Really Bad)
You Know I’m Big, I’m Bad-
You Know It
(Really, Really Bad)

Download:

FLVMP43GP

But they want the ‘bad girls’ to liven up their lives just before they settle to a life of unadulterated, blissful domesticity. Really in this day and age, is there such a categorisation of good and bad? Or do you just do it? You know, go for the kill?

Maybe it’s time they think beyond just sport (no, I don’t mean football) – the good, the bad and the ugly part of it. Be the metrosexual man and own up, step out of the closet and talk about what you really like about the ‘bad girls’ apart from the ‘fun’ part of it.

Tell us, if you have the… oh, never mind.

Source:http://in.yfittopostblog.com/

Is your skin feeling clogged?

What: Rejuvenating Anti-pollution facial
Where: The Orange Tree Studio, Breach Candy, Mumbai
Duration: 1 hour 15 mins
Price: Rs1600

I love pampering myself. Who doesn't? Facials, foot spas, massages, anything works for me. So last week I headed to Breach Candy to the newly-opened The Orange Tree Studio. Located on Mount Unique Road, the small salon is easy to miss. But once I entered, I realised looks can be deceiving because the interiors were more than a little spacious.

Mamata Joshi the owner of the studio ushered me in and introduced me to one of her senior beauticians who would give me a facial. I was a wee bit apprehensive because this was my first facial ever!

Anyway, I changed into a loose-fitted gown and got ready for my skin analysis. According to the beautician, I had sensitive skin, highly-active sebaceous glands and my pores were clogged too! She recommended a Rejuvenating Anti-pollution facial as she noticed that my forehead was tanned and my cheeks are prone to acne. Accordingly, she picked an appropriate cream and face mask to suit my skin.

First off, she used honey cleansing milk to cleanse my face and neck. Then she used a fresh strawberry scrub which I must say smelled delicious. (I've tried numerous strawberry scrubs and face washes and not one has smelled so natural.) The only thing I didn't like about the scrub was that initially it caused a burning sensation that was so bad I had to wash it off. But a few minutes later, everything was fine.

After that, my skin was ready for a steam which made it easier for the beautician to clean out my clogged pores. I like the fact that she was gentle on my skin and the clean up did not hurt me one single bit. She then applied a refreshing O3 whitening cream and left it for a while to remove the tan off my face. I was treated thereafter to what she called an Indian face massage. It gives you a natural facelift without being invasive!

If you thought that was all, you're wrong. The beautician used used a skin polishing device over my skin and then applied a caviar tightening mask which apparently is rich in vitamins, proteins and fatty acids! A long while later (I lost track of time), the mask was taken off and well, I saw the entire shape of my face. It was super cool… lol!

To complete the experience, I was given the most awesome back, shoulder, leg and arm massage with a mix of olive and aroma oil. It left my skin feeling soft and supple and I was transported to La La land!
Source:http://www.idiva.com/

Europe woes may hit Indian IT cos

The earnings season has rolled around again and the eyes of investors instantly focus on Indian IT firms, which are considered the hallmarks of probity and their results are taken almost on face value to indicate the state of well-being of the sector in particular and the industry in general - the 'almost' has become necessary since the Satyam Computer scam broke.

* What: India's top software firms report April-June results

* When: From Tuesday, July 13

* Infosys expected to raise 2010/11 revenue growth f'cast

* Wage increases to hit margins; euro fall a worry

India's leading information technology exporters should report robust quarterly sales, thanks to improving demand from their mainstay financial clients, but Europe's debt crisis and rising salaries could cap their outlook.

Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys Technologies and Wipro Ltd face uncertainty on orders from Europe - the second-biggest market for the sector after the United States.

There has been no major impact on volume growth due to the crisis, said Harit Shah, an analyst with brokerage Karvy Stock Broking. It could have an impact going forward, especially due to the euro. We will have to watch for what the management has to say.

Indian software services firms are ramping up investments to grow their market share in Europe, which accounts for about a third of their revenue. The U.S contributes more than half.

Research firm Forrester said in a report last week that Europe's volatile economic situation and uncertainty about corporate IT budgets would result in possible delays or cancellations of some outsourcing projects.

Analysts expect Infosys, which sets the tone for India's $60 billion outsourcing sector and counts BT Group and Goldman Sachs among its clients, to edge up its dollar revenue growth forecast for 2010/11 to 17-19 percent from the 16-18 percent estimated by the company in April.

Investors will focus on management comments on deal flows, the outlook for pricing and technology spending by their clients.

Growing competition from IBM, Accenture and Hewlett-Packard also pose a risk for the industry, which manages complex computer networks and maintains technology operations for Fortune 500 customers.

On Friday, Infosys shares rose as much as 2 percent to a record high of 2,882 rupees ($62) on optimism about its results.

The indications we are getting is the pricing environment is stable and improving and the volume growth is good, said Jayesh Shroff, fund manager at SBI Mutual Fund.

Of course, the macro headwinds are there. America is still improving, Europe is in trouble. But the demand from corporates has improved.

Last month, Accenture posted better-than-expected results, indicating continued business momentum.

Indian IT firms are boosting hiring and have raised salaries by 10 to 20 percent on average to keep staff from being poached by global rivals on strong demand in outsourcing.

Brokerage Macquarie said profit margins at Infosys and Tata Consultancy could drop by 200 basis points and 250 basis points, respectively, in the June quarter due to the wage increases.

The Indian rupee's 3.3 percent weakness against the U.S. dollar in April-June should partially counter the impact of salary hikes and euro volatility for Indian software exporters.

Shares in Infosys, valued at about $35 billion, have risen 10.2 percent this year and Tata Consultancy (TCS) is up 3.3 percent, versus the 5.6 percent rise in the sector index and the main index's 2.1 percent gain.

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

Trick the mind into satisfying the belly

The key to weight loss could lie in tricking our mind into thinking about how filling the food will be before we eat it.

Test subjects were more satisfied for longer periods after consuming varying quantities of food for which they were led to believe that portion sizes were larger than they actually were.

Memories about how satisfying previous meals were also played a causal role in determining how long those meals staved off hunger.

'The extent to which a food that can alleviate hunger is not determined solely by its physical size, energy content, and so on,' said Jeff Brunstrom, reader in behavioural nutrition, University of Bristol, Britain, who led the study.

'Instead, it is influenced by prior experience with a food, which affects our beliefs and expectations about satiation.'

'This has an immediate effect on the portion sizes that we select and an effect on the hunger that we experience after eating,' added Brunstrom.

In the first experiment, participants were shown the ingredients of a fruit smoothie. Half were shown a small portion of fruit and half were shown a large portion, according to a University of Bristol statement.

They were then asked to assess the 'expected satiety' of the smoothie and to provide ratings before and three hours after consumption.

Participants who were shown the large portion of fruit reported significantly greater fullness, even though all participants consumed the same smaller quantity of fruit.

In a second experiment, researchers manipulated the 'actual' and 'perceived' quantity of soup that people thought that they had consumed.

Using a soup bowl connected to a hidden pump beneath the bowl, the amount of soup in the bowl was increased or decreased as participants ate, without their knowledge.

Three hours after the meal, it was the perceived (remembered) quantity of soup in the bowl and not the actual amount of soup consumed that predicted post-meal hunger and fullness ratings.

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

Now, iHand to end iPhone 4's 'death grip woes'

Even as Apple is busy looking for a solution to iPhone 4's signal problems, the technology world has found a way out - the iHand.

According to Scoopertino, the iHand is made from European beechwood, is swine flu proof and has adjustable fingers.

"You can grip iHand either of two ways: by placing your fingers around its palm, or by grasping the aluminized Extender that telescopes from the wrist socket," news.com.au quoted the website, as saying.

The Extender adds up to 60cm of reach and can even be used to hold the iPhone up to another person's ear.

Its flexible, hygienic and simple design ensures users of a phone call uninterrupted by reception problems.

The iHand is priced at 69dollars and is available in an assortment of pigmentations such as Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian and Kermit.

By the end of July, third-party skins like beauty marks, scars and a hairy hand will also make it to the stores.

Co-founder of Scoopertino, Ken Segall, said their offices have been "buzzing with excitement" over the iHand.

He said: "With so much controversy surrounding iPhone 4's antenna design, we set out to find the funniest angle on this topic.

"Since the reception problems occurred when the phone was grasped by the human hand, an artificial hand sounded like the most appropriate (and most absurd) solution."

Meanwhile, Apple has made it clear that "the (iHand) product ... is not an Apple offering." (ANI)

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com

Low-cost loans still rule home loan market

HOME loan companies are continuing to attract borrowers with ''concessional home loan'' packages despite the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) hiking the repo (at which it lends to banks) and reverse repo (at which RBI pays bank on their overnight deposits) rates and yet another rate hike evident on the horizon.

The rate war started when the country's largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI), launched the teaser scheme, which offers home loans at the rate of eight per cent per annum for the first year and then at nine per cent for the second and third years, irrespective of the market fluctuations.

According to Keki Mistry, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), HDFC Ltd, ''There is a lot of demand for affordable homes. These loan packages will free the new customers from the worries of fluctuation of rates, at least initially.'' Ironically, HDFC was initially critical of SBI's move. But as the public sector lender's teaser rate proved a huge success, HDFC was forced to follow suit.

HDFC introduced a home loan package for new customers at an interest rate of 8.25 per cent till March, 2011 and at 9.25 per cent in 2011-12, thus providing them relief for the initial two years. Afterwards their home loans become linked to rates prevailing in the market.

Mistry added that as the cost is low, the mortgage major deemed it right to pass on the interest rate benefit to the customers.

And as sales of residential properties are picking up, the home loan market is getting increasingly competitive.

According to industry experts, the home loan segment is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20 per cent and big lenders are aggressively looking to capture their share of this burgeoning market.

The latest one to join the bandwagon is Indiabulls Financial Services Ltd. It is offering a flat interest rate of 8.25 per cent till April, 2012.

''Introduction of this new concessional home loan scheme at 8.25 per cent augurs well for our aggressive growth plans. We have an annual target of disbursing new home loans worth Rs 6,000 crore,'' Gagan Banga, CEO, Indiabulls Financial Services Ltd said.

Indiabulls introduced the new concessional rates to beat competition as it is targeting to grow its home loans portfolio by 40 to 45 per cent. The company is eyeing to increase its market share in the home loan segment from the current four per cent to seven to eight per cent by 2014.

''It is not that suddenly all the lenders have become customerfriendly.

The banking companies are trying their best to lure home buyers. Moreover, there was hardly any growth in the last two years. As home loans are generally considered safe loans, banks will continue (with these lowcost loans) even after RBI goes for another hike,'' a senior official of LIC Housing Finance said.

LIC Housing Finance Ltd is offering home loans at 8.9 per cent interest rate up to March 31, 2012. Thereafter, the loans would attract the market rate of interest. LIC Housing has another scheme that offers nonfluctuating 9.25 per cent interest for the first five years.

These new home loan products are proving to be big hits with borrowers.

Giving another perspective, Anil Kumar Sharma, chairman and managing director (CMD), Amrapali Developers, told Mail Today, ''It is not the increase in service tax or marginal hike in home prices that deter the buyers.They are most bothered about the lending rates. If there is an increase or fluctuation in the lending rates it becomes a matter of concern for the developers (too) as it affects the sales of new homes,'' he added.

STORY SO FAR

RBI hiked repo and reverse repo rates

Home loan firms are still attracting borrowers with ''concessional home loans''

SBI was first to launch the teaser scheme

Though initially HDFC was critical of SBI's move, it was forced to follow suit. It introduced home loans at the rate of 8.25% till March, 2011 and 9.25% till 2011-12

Home loan segment is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate ( CAGR) of 20 per cent

Indiabulls Financial Services Ltd is latest entrant offering flat interest rate of 8.25 per cent till April, 2012

LIC Housing Finance offers home loans at 8.9% interest rate up to March 31, 2012

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

E-file your returns

On an average, an individual tax return prepared on paper requires around 20 sheets of paper for photocopies and print-outs. Physical (paper) filing not only involves queues and waste of core productive hours, it also involves huge wastage of paper. E-filing brings a refreshing savings of lakhs of rims of papers. Moreover, e-filing process does not require any physical helpdesk, and hence it completely eliminates physical queues.

E-filing of returns

Do you still stand in line to submit your IT return? Not anymore! Whether it is the queue at your office to meet the tax agent or the queue at the income tax office to deposit your tax return, you do not need to stand in line, if you are e-filing your return. An individual typically spends 10-20 productive hours to get his or her tax return filed. E-filing process saves tens of thousands of productive man hours.

This process does not require any physical helpdesk and hence completely eliminates physical queues, which tend to consume most productive hours. Physical (paper) filing not only involves queues and waste of core productive hours, it also involves huge wastage of paper. Printouts and photocopies typically run into 10-15 pages per employee. E-filing brings a refreshing savings of lakhs of rims of papers.

Now you can file your returns online in just few minutes. Either logon to any e-filing portal of an authorised e-return intermediary (such as www.taxspanner.com) or simply email your Form 16 by visiting www.taxspanner.com/ts/efilebyemail. You just need to enter a few details and return is e-filed automatically. This way, you can be sure that you're filing the accurate tax return - fast, easy, and convenient, giving you the peace of mind when most others are struggling with their tax returns, standing in the queues or running after consultants and signing blank return forms. Since the income tax returns are e-filed, you do not need to attach any investment receipts or any other document with your e-return. All electronically filed returns are processed on priority basis at the I-T department's centralised processing centre at Bangalore so that refunds can be issued faster.

Make sure that you file your return through an authorised e-return intermediary, registered with the Income Tax Department. When you provide your personal income tax information to unauthorised agents, your confidential data may be disclosed to agents or companies who may mis-sell financial or other products (such as insurance, mutual funds, ulips etc) to you. Unsolicited sales calls and spam emails are generally a result of compromising the confidentiality of your data. Availability of your income data gives these companies an opportunity to manipulate the sales process and to convince you to buy products which may not suit your actual financial needs.

By virtue of being an authorised e-return intermediary, registered with the Income Tax Department, Government of India, such companies adhere to strict confidentiality compliance provisions prescribed by the law. Under such provisions, such companies ensure the confidentiality of the information that comes to their possession, and do not part with, disclose or share the whole or part of the information with anyone. In particular, an authorised E-RI has to ensure: confidentiality, storage of data, timely filing of e-return, infrastructure, and, receipt and format of data submitted to income tax department's servers.

Common mistakes

A lot of people commit mistakes while filing their income tax returns (ITR) every year. While some of these mistakes would end up in you getting a notice from the income-tax department, others would expose you to risks. Some of the most common mistakes made by individuals while filing taxes are: not reporting income from previous employer, not reporting bank interest income, signing blank ITR forms, not reporting exempt income, and, not filing returns at all.

Penalty under the Income Tax Act is imposed for concealment of particulars of income or furnishing inaccurate particulars of income. It is advisable to disclose the same, as income tax authorities may take a stringent view in the matter.

Authorised e-filing intermediaries offer 100 per cent accurate electronic tax returns. While the computation is based on the data provided by the tax payer, there is no need to worry about the accuracy of computation, selection of appropriate return form, completeness, security, and confidentiality.

"Taxpayers are advised to file their income tax returns early to avoid the last minute rush. Taxpayers are also requested to use the e-filing facility of the Income Tax department to get faster and error-free services. It is easy, secure and can be availed of from anywhere anytime", as per the press release of Ministry of Finance.

"Efforts should be made to further popularise and increase electronic filing of tax returns and electronic payment of taxes to reduce paper-work and make taxpayer services environmentally friendly", said the Finance Minister in his speech on June 9, 2010.

So, why wait for July 31. File your tax returns online in just a few minutes and enjoy your weekends! u

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

3G services will not come cheap: Mittal

Market leader Bharti Airtel (BHARTIARTL.BO : 305.25 0) cautioned that 3G mobile services will not come cheap, especially for subscribers in metros, as service providers had to pay dearly for spectrum.

"Take the example of Delhi itself, or Mumbai. The amount for spectrum that has been charged is close to Rs 3,500 crore each... Just to recover license fees and input cost, it works out to be Rs 700-900 per month," Bharti Group Chairman Sunil Mittal said.

Amid highly aggressive bidding for 3G spectrum, Bharti Airtel won 13 circles, including Delhi and Mumbai, paying Rs 12,295.46 crore, the highest among service providers.

The company could not achieve the objective of a pan-India 3G foot print as the prices rose beyond a reasonable level due to various factors like the auction format, a severe shortage of spectrum and also ensuing policy uncertainty, it had said.

Source:http://in.biz.yahoo.com/

''Most Indians feel job switch necessary to advance careers''

An overwhelming number of Indian employees feel that they must leave their existing organisations for advancing their careers, a study said. "India, as a matter of fact, is ranked the highest at 56 per cent where a majority of the employees feel they have to leave their organisation to advance to a higher job," a Towers Watson''s Global Workforce Study, said.

India is ahead of the US at 43 per cent, UK at 41 per cent, Brazil at 39 per cent, China at 38 per cent and Germany at 37 per cent in terms of the number of employees who felt they must switch jobs to advance their careers, the study said.

"The top management in India Inc needs to review the career advancement programmes for their employees if they have to retain talent in what promises to be a prolonged growth phase of the business cycle," Towers Watson India Managing Director Dhritiman Chakrabarti said. Towers Watson conducted the global workforce study in India between November, 2009, and January, 2010. It surveyed employees in the 25-35 years age-group, predominantly male, having less than five years'' work experience, in mid-management levels of medium-sized organisations with an employee strength between 1,000 and 4,999, a statement issued here said.

The survey observed seven principal elements that defined career advancement. These were making more money, acquiring skills to perform better, achieving higher status and recognition, advancing to a senior leadership role, acquiring skills to be eligible for other jobs, moving up a well-defined career path and making lateral career moves, it said. "Making more money was globally the number one element that defined career advancement except in the UK, where acquiring skills to perform better topped the list," the study said.

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

Best ways to shed extra flab revealed

Forget starving and gruelling gym sessions, just follow the Atkins diet or the calorie-counting `Weight Watchers` plan and do away with love handles, says a new study.
A study of four popular weight loss plans showed that dieters lost an average of 11 pounds over two months by following the Atkins plan, while the calorie-counting `Weight Watchers` method helped people shed more than 10 pounds. Individuals who followed the Slim Fast Plan and a Rosemay Conley diet plan, both lost on average between eight and nine pounds.

Despite claims that the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet could be dangerous due to its reliance on red meat and fat, researchers also found that all the diets tested were healthy.

Helen Truby worked with a team of academics from United Kingdom universities who studied the different diet plans. She said, "These disappointing findings suggest that people remain resistant to the advice to `eat more fruit and vegetables`, even when they are advised to as part of a modified weight loss programme".

However, the researchers said, "Atkins dieters tended to have a reduction in iron and niacin, probably due to a fall in the intake of cereal and flour. They also had a generally low intake of dietary fibre overall, which may have implications for bowel health in the longer term".

They also said that popular slimming programmes do result in reduced energy intake while providing enough nutrients. She described how the randomised controlled trial "provides reassuring and important evidence for the effectiveness and nutritional adequacy of the four commercial diets tested".

The researchers asked 293 people to keep a diary of their food intake before and during the two-month diet period. There was also a control group who continued to eat as normal. They found that following any of the four diets did result in a drop in energy intake.

The diets all resulted in a significant drop in body weight compared to the non-dieting controls, but there was no significant difference between the diets in the amount of weight lost. Based on their results, the authors suggest "commercial companies work in partnership with health professionals to identify high-risk clients and provide them with dietary advice that is tailored to their nutritional requirements".

Source:http://spicezee.zeenews.com/

New love police

If you are in love and the threat of 'honour killings' has been giving you sleepless nights, there's finally help at hand - in true comic hero style, there's now someone to champion Cupid's cause.

'Love Commandos', is a Delhi-based organisation that has over 2,000 young members, comprising teachers, lawyers, students and doctors who have come together to support young, helpless couples across the country. "The sudden spate of honour killings has compelled us to form this organisation", says founding member Sanjoy Sachdev.

They have launched a helpline number (9313784375) for couples who are harassed by relatives or strangers. "One can call any time and discuss their problem," he adds. Once the nature of the harassment comes to light, lawyers on the team jump into action, lodging a complaint and providing security and public support. Facilitating marriages is also on their agenda. "We received a case of a young married couple where the boy was being harassed by the girl's family. We have taken the case forward and the couple will soon meet the Head of Delhi Commission for Women," says Sachdev.

The group receives 300 calls a day, mostly from Haryana and UP. But, not all are to seek help. "We are now receiving threatening calls from conservative organisations and individuals who dislike the work we do." The Commandos remain unfazed. "Honour killings are a disgrace to our country, and we can't stand it," signs off a resolute Sachdev.

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

Monsoon, here they come...in shorts, bright colours, chappals

Lift your spirits with brightly coloured attire this monsoon, in case the dark clouds are making you gloomy. Splash around in puddles if you want, just make sure you have shorts or three-quarter pants on along with plastic chappals!

'Everyone loves the monsoon. It gives you such a relief from the sweltering heat. But at the same time, dark clouds do loom over and bring in a phase of depression,' designer Alpana of label Azara told IANS.

'To get rid of this feeling, one should opt for bright and citrus colours like yellows and oranges,' she said.

According to designer Nida Mahmood, one should team bright coloured tops with three-quarter pants.

'Shorts are definitely in, but you can't wear them to office. One has the option of wearing three-quarter pants to work. They look cool, chic and comfortable at the same time,' Mahmood said.

With unexpected monsoon showers, it is always advisable to carry an umbrella with you. But if you are one of those who like to get drenched in the rain, here are some more style tips.

Designer Amit GT said one should go for 'layering' during monsoon.

'Layering during monsoon works! You can simply wear a T-shirt and a nice jacket over or may be a shrug. This will allow you to get drenched in the rain without feeling guilty,' Amit said.

While cotton is the best fabric for summers because it soaks sweat and doesn't rub with the skin as well, he said, one should stay away from using 100 percent cotton clothes during monsoon.

'Pure cotton fabrics soak a lot of water and take a lot of time in drying up. So one should opt for dry fit clothing available in sports wear brands like Nike and Reebok,' Amit said.

Though these dry fit clothes are not fit for formal wear, Mahmood suggests one can opt for linen fabrics blended with cotton.

'Linen blends are becoming very popular. They are nice, airy and comfortable and you won't get the sticky and muggy felling as well - something you always feel when you wear nylons,' he said.

Now comes the most important item for the rainy season - the footwear.

According to footwear designer Swati Mehrotra, plastic chappals are your best friends for the season.

'There is a myth that feet get dirty if you wear slippers during this season. But the fact is, you can easily wash your feet, clean and dry it immediately - wherever you are,' Mehrotra said.

'But if you are wearing shoes, you have to wait till the time you get back home to clean and dry up your feet. As a result, one sees a lot of cases of foot infection and corns during this weather,' she added.

Mehrotra suggests to carry a pair of slippers in your bag, so that you can use it when you are out in the rain.

'One should also avoid wearing sandals during rains because you never know when you get stuck in a pothole. So better take precautions,' she said.

Designers also suggest that one should go less on accessories during the monsoon as too much of jewellery can lead to skin irritation.

Also, make sure you use minimal makeup.

'Minimal makeup is the key for the season. Try to be as natural as you can. Choose compacts over foundation because the humidity will spoil the foundation base,' said Nidhi Arora, owner of the beauty saloon Soft Touch in South Extension.

'One witnesses acne on the face at this time of the year. Make sure you wash your face every few hours to keep it clean. One can also go for face washes and soaps with medicinal value neem and aloe vera to clean the face,' she added.

Also, make sure you use waterproof make-up to have a long-lasting effect.

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

2500-year-old woman's face recreated

Scientists have reconstructed the face of a 2500-year-old Turkish peasant.

University of Otago researchers refined procedures they had previously used on an Egyptian mummy to reconstruct the skull of the woman whose full skeleton was found during an archaeological dig in Keltepe, near the site of the ruins of the ancient merchant city of Kanesh.

According to the New Zealand Herald, the face was reconstructed with silicone skin, real hair, and eyes, which have been aged with red veins.

The woman is believed to have been between 35 and 50 when she died.

Her teeth were in a perfect state at a time when teeth were cleaned with sticks.

A mathematical model was created with Associate Professor I.M Premachandra, of the department of finance and qualitative analysis, to provide accurate soft tissue facial depths, based on bone measurements.

Scientists hope that this technology could one day be used in courts as evidence, just as a fingerprint.

The reconstructed face is on display this weekend at Otago University's St David Street Lecture Theatre and will go on permanent display in Istanbul this year.

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

''India to surpass China in terms of population by 2050''

India's burgeoning population has seen a five-fold increase over the last 100 years and will surpass that of China by 2050. Projections made by the Government show that while India's population grew by 1.4 per cent over the last five years, China saw only a 0.6 per cent population growth for the corresponding period.

India's total population in 2009 was 119.8 crore, China's 134.5 crore and Pakistan's 18 crore. While India's population will increase to 161.38 crore by 2050, that of China will only reach 141.7 crore.

Interestingly, Pakistan's population grew at the highest rate in the sub-continent - 2.2 per cent over the last five years. India will have to share an additional burden of 371 million by 2026. Out of this, Uttar Pradesh will have a share of 22 per cent of the population, Bihar eight per cent, Uttarakhand one per cent, the four southern states 13 per cent and Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan 7 per cent each.

The report by the ''Janasankhya Sthirta Kosh'' under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said if India continues at the current pace it will double its population in the next 50 years making sustainable development unattainable.

Another interesting fact is that the individual populations of Indian states equal the total population of many countries. For example, Uttar Pradesh with a population 18.3 crore, nearly touches that of Brazil at 18.7 crore, Maharashtra's 10.4 crore is equal to that of Mexico's 10.4 crore and Bihar's nine crore is more than Germany's 8.3 crore.

Talking about aspects of family planning which have been initiated over the years, the report says the rate of sterilisation was the highest in Chhattisgarh at 74 per cent while in Jharkhand 68 per cent had been achieved. Rajasthan had 73 per cent sterilisation, Uttar Pradesh 43 per cent and Madhya Pradesh 58 per cent.

According to the document, the major factors fuelling population growth were the high infant mortality rate which leads to demand for more children, women being married off before the age of 18 and teenage pregnancies.

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

In-car kissing 'causes injury'

Although motorists enjoy getting romantic in a vehicle, nearly one in five people have suffered from an injury due to in-car kissing and cuddling, a new UK study has found.

The poll of 3,000 motorists by Elephant insurance revealed that head bang tops the injury list followed by a pulled muscle, and knocked elbows and knees.

A sprained neck and bodily harm caused by the gear-stick were also included in the poll.

More than half accepted being engaged in some four-wheel fondling and the back seat cuddling was the most popular spot, though six per cent admitted getting into action in front seat.

The most frisky in-car incidents seem to be reported from southwest England where 61 per cent confessed to some loving auto adventures.

Other confession who enjoys a rear-view rendezvous was they even like to do it with their favourite models of car.

Volkswagen camper vans came first followed by cars from Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Land Rover Discovery and Volvo estate.

"I was surprised to see so many people admit they've used their cars in this way," the Sun quoted the Elephant managing director Brian Martin as saying.

He added: "The results show people's passion is a spur-of-the-moment thing - it seems some people just can't wait for the bedroom." (ANI)

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

You snooze, you lose

Getting up and out of bed the moment your alarm goes off will definitely make you feel better. Don't groan and moan. There are several very good reasons why you shouldn't hit the snooze button but wake up as soon as your alarm goes off!
Metabolism problem
When you oversleep, your body does not get into its right rhythm. You have kept it starving for a longer period of time and this affects the pace of your metabolism.
Eventually, this makes you a few inches broader.
Lethargy

Oversleeping makes you feel lethargic since your metabolism is still working on the night mode. Your body takes longer to kick start its systems and is unable to function normally. If you really want to sleep a little longer, don't go over thirty minutes.

Loss of productive time

Experts consider early morning hours to be the most productive hours of the day since your mind is fresh. Even if this is not true in your case, you will end up losing a lot of time in the day.

You will have to stay up late or finish things in a hurry.

Disorienting

If you have overslept, you will find it hard to concentrate for a long time unless you start exercising. Again, since your metabolism cannot take off, your brain will feel starved. This will make it difficult for you to shake it into working.

Headaches

The spinal fluid moves to the brain when you oversleep. This condition, if persists for long can cause severe headaches and even lead to blindness!

Next time you want to hit the snooze button, think of all the harm you are doing to your body.

Source:http://www.idiva.com/

Human load is a growing threat to Taj Mahal

From three metres 25 years ago, the length of the 'chadar' offered by the devout at the annual Shah Jahan Urs in the Taj Mahal has increased to 450 metres this time. The number of faithful has risen from a dozen to nearly 100,000.

With thousands freely entering the majestic Taj Mahal for the three-day Urs celebrations that end Sunday, questions are being raised over the security of the white marble wonder that thousands come to see from all over the world.

This year, for the 356th Urs, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and tourism circles estimate that a record 100,000 people will have visited the 17th century monument. The Taj contains the graves of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal and putting a 'chadar', or sheet, over these graves is a Sufi way of honouring the departed.

Sandeep Arora, a former president of the Agra Hotels and Restaurants Association, says most ASI employees at the Taj are temporary workers, and those given the responsibility for checking the visitors have themselves not gone through the intelligence verification process.

Tourism industry leader Abhinav Jain sees three major threats to the Taj Mahal: from terrorists, from air pollution and from too many people.

Last year also the monument was flooded with tourists and the devout, causing additional stress and pressure on the monument. The ASI had come under considerable flak for overlooking security considerations.

No doubt the ASI has taken adequate measures to ensure the monument was not put to any risk, but the free flow of people into the inner chamber of the real graves with hardly enough room for free movement is a matter of concern, say conservationists.

It is not clear how and when the Shah Jahan Urs started. Earlier it used to be Mumtaz Mahal's Urs, says a Taj Ganj resident.

'Till a few years ago hardly a score congregated for Shah Jahan's annual Urs. But this year there seems to be no end to the celebrations. Each year the length of the chadar goes on increasing with rival committees competing with one another,' said a hotelier, who did not like to be named due to religious sensitivities involved.

In 1993, the Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee headed by S. Vardarajan had recommended restrictions and control on entry of visitors. For the first time in history, the Taj Mahal got a weekly holiday and visiting hours were restricted.

Historians and conservationists now feel the marble edifice is being endangered by a surfeit of love and interest showered by its admirers whose number continues to soar sky high. From a few hundred at the time of independence, the daily influx of visitors from all corners has now crossed 12,000. On some days it crosses the 30,000 mark. During the annual Urs it touches 100,000.

It is this increasing human load that is a cause for concern and has alarmed the conservationists who have now asked the Supreme Court to get this issue examined.

While the tourism industry and the government want more and more tourists, conservationists see alarming signals.

Surendra Sharma, president of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society, wants a graded system of entry tickets, with those paying the highest amount allowed to enter the mausoleum.

'Those who pay less should not be allowed beyond the central tank. And for the masses let there be free entry till the main gate or the forecourt from where they can have a distant glimpse of the Taj Mahal,' Sharma told IANS

Historian R. Nath and others also feel that some system has to be evolved to regulate the flow.

'My concern has increased after reports that no one has been inside the basement to see the state of the foundation for many years. With the Yamuna receding several hundred feet away and with hardly any water left in the river, we are inviting trouble,' warned Nath, Mughal historian and author of scores of books on Taj Mahal's architecture.

(Brij Khandelwal can be contacted at brij.k@ians.in)

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/

What came first the chicken or the egg?

British researchers may have uncovered a partial answer to the age-old question, "what came first the chicken or the egg?"

According to a team, comprising researchers from the University of Warwick and the University of Sheffield, the answer is "chicken" or at least a particular chicken protein.

There is, however, a further twist - this particular chicken protein turns out to come both first and last. That neat trick it performs provides new insights into control of crystal growth which is key to egg shell production.

Scientists have long believed that a chicken eggshell protein called ovocledidin-17 (OC-17) must play some role in egg shell formation. The protein is found only in the mineral region of the egg (the hard part of the shell) and lab bench results showed that it appeared to influence the transformation of (CaCo3) into calcite crystals. The mechanism of this control remained unclear. How this process could be used to form an actual eggshell remained unclear.

University of Warwick researchers Mark Rodger and David Quigley, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Sheffield, have now been able to apply a powerful computing tool called metadynamics and the UK national supercomputer in Edinburgh to crack this egg problem.

Dr David Quigley from the Department of Physics and Centre for Scientific Computing, University of Warwick, said: "Metadynamics extends conventional molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and is particularly good at sampling transitions between disordered and ordered states of matter."

Using these tools, the team was able to create simulations that showed exactly how the protein bound to amorphous calcium carbonate surface using two clusters of "arginine residues", located on two loops of the protein and creating a literal chemical "clamp" to nano sized particles of calcium carbonate.

While clamped in this way, the OC-17 encourages the nanoparticles of calcium carbonate to transform into "calcite crystallites" that form the tiny of nucleus of crystals that can continue to grow on their own. But they also noticed that sometimes this chemical clamp didn't work. The OC-17 just seemed to detatch from the nanoparticle or "be desorbed".

Professor Mark Rodger from Department of Chemistry and Centre for Scientific Computing, University of Warwick, said: "With the larger nanoparticles we examined we found that the binding sites for this chemical clamp were the same as the smaller nanoparticles but the binding was much weaker. In the simulations we performed, the protein never desorbed from the smaller nanoparticle, but always fell off or desorbed from the larger one. However in each case, desorption occurred at or after nucleation of calcite."

The researchers had therefore uncovered an incredibly elegant process allowing highly efficient recycling of the OC-17 protein. Effectively it acts as a catalyst, clamping on to calcium carbonate particles to kickstart crystal formation and then dropping off when the crystal nucleus is sufficiently large to grow under its own steam. This frees up the OC-17 to promote more yet more crystallisation, facilitating the speedy, literally overnight creation of an egg shell.

The researchers believe that this new insight into the elegant and highly efficient methods of promoting and controlling crystallisation in nature will be of great benefit to anyone exploring how to promote and control artificial forms of crystallisation. '

The study appears in the international edition of the journal Angewandte Chemie.

Source:http://in.news.yahoo.com/