Manikandan.A - Web Designer

இந்திய மக்கள் தொகை 121.2 கோடி!-கல்வியறிவு பெற்றோர் 74%

2011-03-31T18:43:00.001+05:30

இந்தியாவின் மக்கள் தொகை கடந்த 10 ஆண்டுகளில் 18.1 கோடி அதிகரித்துள்ளது.

ஒவ்வொரு 10 ஆண்டுகளுக்கும் ஒருமுறை நாடு முழுவதும் மக்கள் தொகை கணக்கெடுப்பு நடத்தப்படுகிறது. 2001ம் ஆண்டுக்குப் பின் 2011ம் ஆண்டுக்கான மக்கள் தொகை கணக்கெடுப்பு நடத்தி முடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதன் தோராயமான விவரங்களை இன்று மத்திய அரசு வெளியிட்டது. அதன்படி,

இப்போது நாட்டின் மக்கள் தொகை 121.2 கோடியாகும். இதில் ஆண்கள் 62.37 கோடி, பெண்கள் 58.65 கோடியாகும்.

2001ம் ஆண்டில் இந்திய மக்கள் தொகை வளர்ச்சி 21.15 சதவீதமாக இருந்தது. இப்போது இது 17.64 சதவீதமாகக் குறைந்துள்ளது. இது மாபெரும் சாதனையாகும். கடந்த 10 ஆண்டுகளில் மக்கள் தொகை வளர்ச்சி 3.90 சதவீகம் குறைந்துள்ளது. நாட்டின் மக்கள் தொகை வளர்ச்சி இதுவரை இவ்வளவு வேகமாகக் குறைவாக இருந்ததில்லை.

2001ம் ஆண்டோடு ஒப்பிடுகையில் கடந்த 10 ஆண்டுகளில் இந்திய மக்கள் தொகை 18.1 கோடி அதிகரித்துள்ளது.

இப்போதைய இந்திய மக்கள் தொகை அமெரிக்கா, இந்தோனேஷியா, பிரேசில், பாகிஸ்தான், வங்கதேசம் ஆகிய நாடுகளின் மொத்த மக்கள் தொகைகளைக் கூட்டினால் வரும் எண்ணிக்கையை விட அதிகமாகும்.

இந்தியாவிலேயே உத்தரப் பிரதேசத்தில் தான் மிக அதிகமான அளவில் மக்கள் வசிக்கின்றனர். அடுத்த நிலையில் மகாராஷ்டிரம் (11.23 கோடி), பிகார் (10.38 கோடி), மேற்கு வங்கம் (9.13 கோடி), ஆந்திரப் பிரதேசம் (8.46 கோடி) ஆகியவை உள்ளன.

உத்தரப் பிரதேசம், மகாராஷ்டிர மக்கள் தொகையைக் கூட்டினால் அது அமெரிக்காவின் மக்கள் தொகையை விட அதிகமாகும்.

நாட்டில் 1000 ஆண் குழந்தைகளுக்கு 914 பெண் குழந்தைகளே உள்ளனர். சுதந்திரத்துக்குப் பின்னர் இந்த விகிதாச்சாரம் இவ்வளவு மிக மிகக் குறைவான அளவைத் தொட்டது இதுவே முதல் முறை. இது பெரும் கவலை தரும் விஷயமாகும்.

கேரளத்தில் மட்டுமே 1,000 ஆண் குழந்தைகளுக்கு 1084 பெண் குழந்தைகள் என்ற நிலைமை உள்ளது. அதே போல புதுச்சேரியிலும் 1038 பெண் குழந்தைகள் என்ற நல்ல சூழல் நிலவுகிறது.

ஆனால் டைமன் டையு யூனியன் பிரதேசத்தில் 1000 ஆண் குழந்தைகளுக்கு வெறும் 618 பெண் குழந்தைகளே உள்ளனர். அதே நேரத்தல் தமிழகம், பஞ்சாப், ஹரியாணா, ஹிமாச்சலப் பிரதேசம், மிசோரம், அந்தமான், குஜராத் ஆகிய மாநிலங்களில் இந்த ஆண்-பெண் குழந்தைகள் விகிதாச்சாரம் நல்ல நிலையை எட்டி வருகிறது. மற்ற 27 மாநிலங்களிலும் பெண் குழந்தைகள் எண்ணிக்கை குறைந்து வருகிறது.

நாட்டிலேயே மிக அதிகமான மக்கள் தொகை நெருக்கம் டெல்லியின் வட கிழக்குக் பகுதியில் தான் பதிவாகியுள்ளது. இங்கு ஒரு சதுர கிலோ மீட்டருக்கு சராசரியாக 37,346 பேர் வசிக்கின்றனர்.

அருணாசலப் பிரதேசத்தின் திபாங் பள்ளத்தாக்கில் ஒரு சதுர கிலோ மீட்டருக்கு சராசரியாக ஒரே ஒருவர் தான் வசிக்கிறார். நாட்டிலேயே மிக மிகக் குறைவான மக்கள் நெருக்கம் உள்ள பகுதி இது தான். டெல்லிக்கு அடுத்தபடியாக சண்டீகரில் மக்கள் நெருக்கம் மிக அதிகமாக உள்ளது.

தாதர், நகர் ஹவேலி, புதுச்சேரி ஆகிய மாநிலங்களில் தான் மக்கள் தொகை கடந்த 10 ஆண்டுகளில் மிக அதிக அளவாக 55 சதவீதம் அதிகரித்துள்ளது. நாகாலாந்தில் மிக மிகக் குறைவான அளவிலேயே மக்கள் தொகை பெருக்கம் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.

கல்வியறியைப் பொறுத்தவரை இந்தியாவில் கல்வியறிவு பெற்றோர் எண்ணிக்கை 74.04 சதவீதம் அதிகரித்துள்ளது. 2001ம் ஆண்டில் இது 64.83 சதவீதமாகவே இருந்தது. பத்தாண்டுகளில் கல்வியறிவு பெற்றோர் எண்ணிக்கை 9.21 சதவீதம் அதிகரித்துள்ளது.

இதில் ஆண்களிடையே கல்வியறிவு 82.14 சதவீதமாகவும், பெண்களிடையே கல்வியறிவு 65.46 சதவீதமாகவும் உள்ளது.

இன்றைய நிலையில் உலக மக்கள் தொகையில் 19.4 சதவீதம் பேர் சீனாவிலும் 17.5 சதவீதம் பேர் இந்தியாவிலும் வசிக்கின்றனர்.

1872ம் ஆண்டில் தான் நாட்டில் முதல் மக்கள் தொகை கணக்கெடுப்பான சென்ஸஸ் நடத்தப்பட்டது. இப்போது நடத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது 15வது கணக்கெடுப்பாகும்.

Source:thatstamil

குள்ளநரிக் கூட்டம் - விமர்சனம்

2011-03-30T18:32:00.002+05:30

சிம்பிளான கதை... அழகான காட்சியமைப்புகள்... படம் நெடுக இழையோடும் மெல்லிய காதல், கிச்சகிச்சு மூட்டும் நகைச்சுவை என இரண்டரை மணி நேரம் போனதே தெரியவில்லை.

வேலை வெட்டி இல்லாத எம்பிஏ பட்டதாரி விஷ்ணு. 1500 ரூபாய் கொடுத்து செல்போனுக்கு டாப்-அப் பண்ணச் சொல்கிறார் அப்பா. ஆனால் அதை தப்பான நம்பருக்குப் பண்ணிவிட, வீட்டுக்குப் போக முடியாமல், அந்த நம்பரைத் துரத்தி பணத்தை வசூல் பண்ண முயல்கிறார் விஷ்ணு. அந்த நம்பருக்குச் சொந்தக்காரர் ரம்யா நம்பீசன். போலீஸ்காரர் மகள்.

இந்த துரத்தல் ஒரு கட்டத்தில் காதலாக மாறுகிறது. காதலியையே கரம் பிடிக்கலாம் என்று அடுத்த அடி எடுத்து வைக்க, ரம்யாவின் அப்பாவோ தனக்கு வரும் மாப்பிள்ளை போலீசாக இருந்தால்தான் கல்யாணம் என்று நிபந்தனை போடுகிறார். விஷ்ணுவின் அப்பாவுக்கோ போலீஸ் என்றாலே எட்டிக் காய் (மழைக்குக் கூட போலீஸ் ஸ்டேஷன் பக்கம் ஒதுங்கக் கூடாது என்பது இவர் பாலிசி!). அப்பாவைச் சமாளித்து போலீஸ் ஆபீஸர் ஆகிறாரா, ரம்யாவின் கைப் பிடிக்கிறாரா என்பது மீதிக் கதை.

க்ளைமாக்ஸும், அதில் விஷ்ணு டிஜிபியிடன் வைக்கும் கோரிக்கையும் கொஞ்சமல்ல, ரொம்பவே நாடகத்தனமானவை. என்றாலும், இந்தக் கதைக்கு வேறு யதார்த்த க்ளைமாக்ஸ் எடுபட்டிருக்குமா என்பதையும் யோசிக்கத்தான் வேண்டும்.

வெண்ணிலா கபடிக் குழுவில் அறிமுகமான விஷ்ணுவின் அடுத்த படம் இது. யதார்த்த நடித்திருக்கிறார். குறிப்பாக அந்த போலீஸ் தேர்வு தொடர்பான காட்சிகளில் ஒரிஜினலாகச் செய்திருக்கிறார் (இவரது அப்பா பெரிய போலீஸ் அதிகாரி என்பதால் கிடைத்த அனுபவம் போலிருக்கிறது!)

ரம்யா நம்பீஸன் தனக்குக் கிடைத்த நல்ல வாய்ப்பை அழகாகப் பயன்படுத்திக் கொண்டுள்ளார். 1500 ரூபாயை அவர் திருப்பித் தரும் விதம் கவிதை. அந்தக் காட்சிகளில் மனதைக் கவர்கிறார்.

ஹீரோவின் தாய் தந்தை அண்ணி அண்ணன் பாத்திரங்களில் வருபவர்கள் கவனத்தை ஈர்க்கிறார்கள்.

சூரி, அப்புக்குட்டி, ஐயப்பன் ஆகியோரின் இயல்பான நகைச்சுவை இரண்டாவது பாதியில் ஏற்படும் தொய்வை ஓரளவு சரிகட்டுகிறது.

செல்வகணேஷ் இசையில் விழிகளிலே பாடலும், பின்னணி இசையும் ஓகே. லக்ஷ்மணனின் ஒளிப்பதி பளிச்.

பெரிய எதிர்ப்பார்ப்பு இல்லாமல் போனால், ரசிக்க வைக்கிற படம் இது. சிம்பிளாக இருந்தாலும் ருசியில் 'ரிச்'சான இளநீர் மாதிரி!

Source:Thatstamil

Will your resume get you the interview call?

2011-03-26T11:06:00.000+05:30

IT is an act in creating your personal brand image. Your resume reaches the interviewer before you do. Yet, many people lose out on an interview opportunity thanks to a poorly written one. Your resume is the first step in projecting yourself effectively to the recruiter.

So create an image that you genuinely identify with – it is a sharp world out there and no one is buying false niceties. We address ten important issues related to your resume.

1. Should your resume have a career goal/ objective statement? A resume that is worthy of representing you, should clearly state your career objective. A career objective is an indirect way of advertising what all you would bring to the company/ role. It must display a ‘giving’ attitude and not a ‘taking’ attitude.

Take a look at this: “To achieve an appreciable status in an organization that offers full scope for growth and where I can fulfill my aspiration of becoming a world class software professional.”

And this: “Be a part of an organization that recognises my skills and provides me with suitable environment to perform to the best of my ability.”

Do either of the above display a ‘giving’ attitude? Your answer is correct. They don’t. So now you know how NOT to write an objective statement! It is advisable to keep the objective statement simple and specific. Let it focus on the direct value addition that you can provide.

Example: “A certified Software Programmer seeking opportunity in the area of Software Development in a competitive work environment to utilize my skills to deliver robust and innovative software solutions.”

2. What sequence should your story follow?

Be it work experience or education, always tell the story from the current/ most recent to the first. NEVER write it the other way round.

3. Does your resume need to mention your marital status?

The new age resume does not require you to mention your marital status. However, if the job advertisement clearly states this as a requirement, do fulfil it. Quick Take

* Include a sharp Career Goal

* Choose the pdf format with discretion

* Fonts: Use Times New Roman, Calibri or Verdana

* Run a spell check

* Tweak to suit position and company of a potential employer

* Your latest work stint must appear first

4. How should you treat references?

Unless you have been specifically asked to provide references, it is acceptable to state in your covering letter/ email that you will provide references on request. Usually, two references are sufficient. Try to provide references from the two most recent phases of your career.

It is a good idea to inform the referees that you are giving out their contact information. It will also help if they know what kind of jobs you are applying for.

5. Should you send the resume as an MS Word document or a PDF? Some organisations ask you to upload your resume. Usually they ask for an MS Word document. If you are mailing across your resume, you could choose either format.

A word of caution – do not get carried away if you decide to make it a PDF. Keep it simple – leave out visual histrionics. And whatever software you choose – send the resume in the most commonly used version.

The biggest advantage of using a pdf format is that it preserves the formatting irrespective of the version of the Acrobat Reader version or user settings.

In MS word, however, the formatting can change based on the MS Office version and User Settings, leading to awkward situations like a two-page resume becoming a 3 -page document. Or a section title like Educational Background coming on Page 2 comes with the details going to Page 3.

However, if the company insists on a word document, please send the resume in word format only. Lot of organisations have tools to extract information from Word documents and if you do not send your resume in Word document, your resume may not get processed at all!

6. Should you incorporate links in the resume?

If you are an engineer who writes a technical blog, go ahead and incorporate the link in your resume. If you are a website developer, the links to the pages created by you would certainly help. However, spare the recruiter from links of your personal blogs, photographs and anything and everything that you scatter on the World Wide Web. In fact, providing the link to your personal blog may even prove fatal if you publish office gossip or crib about your job!

7. What sort of job profiles demand a portfolio?

Artists, designers, photographers, models and those from the performing arts definitely need to provide a portfolio. An artist model/ photographer/ designer may want to include a Power Point or PDF, while a dancer/ actor/ singer may want to mention links from sites like YouTube. Irrespective of the type of portfolio, the intention is simply to showcase your best and most relevant work.

8. What fonts / presentation styles make sense?

Go easy on choosing fonts and presentation styles. The most acceptable ones are the simpler ones. It is advisable to use fonts like ‘Times New Roman’, ‘Calibri’ and ‘Verdana’. Do not get tempted by the fancier ones. The resume is not the platform to exhibit your artistic inclinations. Also, keep the fonts and font sizes uniform across different categories in the resume.

You should zero in on a presentation style with just one thing in mind – it should be extremely presentable. By creating minimum chaos, it should elicit the maximum attention.

Some people choose to give the resume a fancy header with their name and contact information in bold. This gives it a ‘letter head’ look. Some go for a more conventional style by listing out such information in bullet points. Either style is absolutely fine.

In writing about your project work, education and work experience, you could provide a box format or a neatly tabulated one.

9. What are the worst resume gaffes? The worst thing you could do is to send in a resume without running a grammar/ spelling check. In this age of MS Word, grammar/ spelling mistakes in a resume are just not tolerated. Needless to say, anyone would straight away trash a resume that is saved as supersexy2010.doc or rockstar.doc. One gentleman I knew failed to get a single interview call after sending out more than 80 applications. I probed a little and was shocked to find out why – he had sent out group mails! Do not try to pass around your resume/ covering letter without modifying it to suit the company / role you are applying for. It is offending if your application reads like:

Dear _______, I am applying for the role of ___________________ at your esteemed organisation _____________________.

It shows and it is NOT acceptable!!!

10. What is the difference in writing a resume for a BPO professional/ Engineer/ MBA? If you are a BPO aspirant, you need to highlight your ability to deal with all kinds of people, chase targets and work in shifts. If you are an engineer, your resume should clearly talk about your projects and internships. Expect a fair number of questions from these areas in the interview. An MBA student would also need to write about projects and training.

Source:in.education.yahoo.com

Laptop for Rs. 5000 thanks to these students

2011-03-24T20:15:00.001+05:30

It's a pretty incredible deal. A laptop that can potentially cost Rs. 5000 to produce.

Two young student-innovators from the Techno School in Bhubaneswar, Orissa have spent 10 months developing what they call the i-Webleaf laptop.

"You will get a 320 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM, Wi-Fi, LAN, 2 USB ports, printer port, and a VGA port for a projector. So you will get everything on this laptop," explains one of the innovators, Chandrasekhar Panda. It also features a 10.2-inch LCD screen and a web camera. To keep the costs low they have also designed the processor for this laptop in their college lab. They call it DXA 16 and claim that it is as fast as the Intel Atom processor.

Along with his partner, Saswat Swain, Mr. Panda hopes that the government can help find the funding to mass produce more of these machines, so that they can be used in schools all over the state.

"In case you are providing a laptop for Rs. 5000, each and every school can get 5 to 10 pieces of laptop easily. It will naturally help them to improve their education standard," says Mr Swain.

They have also designed a data card for Internet connectivity that costs Rs. 1300. Similar data cards from major telecom vendors cost more than Rs. 2000.

The two innovators are desperate to find financiers who can help mass-produce their laptop. They have approached the Orissa government to help them with their venture and are waiting for the government's response.

Source:ndtv.com

வதந்திகளை நம்பாதீர், பிற்பகலில் வேட்பாளர் பட்டியல்-அதிமுக

2011-03-21T14:22:00.000+05:30

ஆளுங்கட்சி டிவிகளில் அதிமுக கூட்டணிக் கட்சிகளின் தொகுதி என்ற பெயரில் வீண் வதந்தி பரப்புகிறார்கள். இதை அதிமுகவினரும், கூட்டணிக் கட்சியினரும் நம்ப வேண்டாம். பிற்பகலில் அதிமுக வேட்பாளர் பட்டியல் வெளியாகும் என்று அதிமுக அறிவித்துள்ளது.

அதேசமயம், வீண் வதந்திகளை நம்பாதீர்கள். தொகுதிப் பங்கீடு தொடர்பாக பேச்சுவார்த்தை நடந்து கொண்டிருக்கிறது என்று தேமுதிக கூறியுள்ளது.

அதிமுக, தேமுதிக இடையிலான குழப்பம் உச்சத்தை அடைந்துள்ளதாக கூறப்படுகிறது. மதிமுக விலகி விட்டதால் கூடுதலாக நான்கு தொகுதிகள் தேவை என்று தேமுதிக கூறியுள்ளதாக செய்திகள் வெளியாகியுள்ளன.

இந்தநிலையில் இவைதான் தேமுதிகவுக்கு ஒதுக்கப்பட்டுள்ள தொகுதிகள் என்று கூறி ஒரு பட்டியல் சில டிவிகளில் இன்று தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது. இதனால் அதிமுகவினர் மத்தியிலும், தேமுதிகவினர் மத்தியிலும் குழப்பம் எழுந்துள்ளது.

இந்த நிலையில், அதிமுக சார்பில் ஜெயா டிவியில் ஒரு செய்தி ஒளிபரப்பாகி வருகிறது. அதில், கூட்டணி தொகுதிப் பட்டியல் என்ற பெயரில் ஆளுங்கட்சி டிவிகளில் வதந்தி பரப்பப்பட்டு வருகிறது. இதை அதிமுகவினரும், கூட்டணிக் கட்சியினரும் நம்ப வேண்டாம்.

அதிமுக வேட்பாளர் பட்டியல் திட்டமிட்டபடி இன்று பிற்பகலில் வெளியாகிறது என்று தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அதேபோல தேமுதிகவின் கேப்டன் டிவியிலும் ஒரு டிக்கரை ஓட விட்டுள்ளனர். அதில், தேமுதிக தலைமை அலுவலகத்தில் கட்சியின் உயர் மட்டக் குழுவினருடன் விஜயகாந்த் அவசர ஆலோசனை நடத்தி வருகிறார். தொகுதிப் பட்டியல் குறித்த வீண் வதந்திகளை யாரும் நம்ப வேண்டாம் என்று கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அதிமுக, தேமுதிக ஆகிய கட்சிகளின் இந்த அவசரச் செய்தியால் கூட்டணி தொடர்பான குழப்பம் மேலும் அதிகரித்துள்ளதாகவே தெரிகிறது.

அதேசமயம், திமுக சார்பு டிவியான சன் டிவி செய்தி சேனலில் தொடர்ந்து அதிமுக, தேமுதிக கூட்டணிக் குழப்பம் தொடர்பாக செய்திகள் வெளியாகி வருவதும் குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

Source:thatstamil

Payanam Tamil Original DVD5

2011-03-16T20:57:00.003+05:30

Download

Azhivin Aarambam (Battle Los Angeles)

2011-03-16T20:49:00.003+05:30

Download Links

http://www.fileserve.com/file/n2Pac87

http://www.fileserve.com/file/QnfQfEJ

http://www.fileserve.com/file/w29FfbN

Don't Miss the Marriage Video

2011-03-16T20:25:00.001+05:30

Funny Videos

2011-03-16T20:22:00.000+05:30

வாக்காளர்களே விழிப்படையுங்கள்!!!

2011-03-16T18:31:00.000+05:30

இப்போது தேர்தலில் பிரச்சாரம் செய்ய அனைத்து தலைவர்களும் தயாராகி வருகிறார்கள். விரைவில் நம் தலைவர்கள் தொகுதி வாரியாக பிரச்சாரம் மேற்கொண்டு தங்களின் கட்சிக்கு வாக்கு சேகரிக்க வருவார்கள். இந்த பிரச்சாரங்கள் செய்யும்போது நம் ஆழ்மனதில் என்ன நடக்கிறது என்பது பற்றிய எனது சிந்தனைகள்..

இதுபற்றி சரியாகப் புரிந்து கொள்ள முதலில் நாம் விளம்பரப்படுத்துதல் பற்றி நன்றாக அறிய வேண்டும்.

இப்போது எந்த ஒரு பொருளையும் விளம்பரப்படுத்துகிறார்கள். அவ்வாறு விளம்பரப்படுத்துவதற்கு முன் நம் மனதில் அது பற்றி ஒரு அபிப்ராயம் இருக்கும். இந்த விளம்பரத்தைப் பார்த்த பிறகு நம் மனதில் ஒரு நேர் அல்லது எதிர்மறை மாற்றம் ஏற்படும். அதே பொருளைப்பற்றி மீண்டும் மீண்டும் விளம்பரம் வரும்பொழுது அந்தப் பொருளை நம் தேவைக்கேற்ப வாங்க தூண்டும். இதுவே விளம்பரங்களின் யுக்தி.

அதுவும் அந்த விளம்பரத்தில் ஏதாவது ஒரு பிரபலம் இருந்துவிட்டால் இன்னும் ஆழமாக அது மனதில் ஊடுருவும். இப்படி பலர் மனதில் அந்த விளம்பரங்கள் ஏற்படுத்தும் தாக்கம் அது பற்றிய ஒரு பொது அபிப்பிராயத்தை உண்டுபண்ணுகிறது.

நம் ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் ஒரு தனி மனம் இருப்பதுபோல ஒரு பொது மனமும் எல்லாருக்கும் பொதுவாக இருக்கிறது. ஒரு பொருளைப்பற்றி பெரும்பாலோர் மனதில் எழும் சிந்தனைகள் இந்த பொதுமனதில் பதிந்திருக்கும். அந்தப்பொருள் பற்றி ஒன்றும் தெரியாத ஒருவர் அந்த பொருளைப்பற்றி கேள்விப்படும் / சிந்திக்கும் போது அந்த பொதுமனதில் இருக்கும் ஒரு நேர் அல்லது எதிர்மறை அபிப்பிராயம் அவர் மனதில் தானாக பிரதிபலிக்கும். அதற்குமேலும் வலுசேர்க்கும் விதமாக மேற்படி விளம்பரங்களை அவர் கேட்க/பார்க்க நேரிடும்போது அந்த அபிப்பிராயம் மேலும் வலுப்பெறுகிறது. இதை ஆங்கில‌த்தில் "Brand Building" என்று கூறுகிறார்க‌ள்.

இவ்வாறு ஒருவர் ஒரு பொருளை சந்தைப்படுத்துவ‌தற்கு அதன் விளம்பரப்படுத்துதல் மட்டுமே போதுமானதாக இருக்கிறது. குறைந்தபட்ச தரம் அந்த பொருளுக்கு இருக்கும் வரை விளம்பரங்கள் அந்தப் பொருளை நிச்சயம் விற்றுக் கொடுக்கும்.

இந்த விளம்பரத் தத்துவத்தில்தான் நம் அரசியல் கட்சிகளின் பிரச்சாரம் நம் ஆழ்மனதில் செயல்படுகிறது. ஒவ்வொரு கட்சியும் ஒரு பிராண்ட் போல. அதற்கென்று ஒரு பெயர் (நல்லதோ கெட்டதோ, சூழ்நிலைக்குத்தகுந்தவாறு) இருக்கிறது. பொது மனதில் இந்த நற்பெயரை மேலும் வளர்த்து அதை வாக்குகளாக மாற்றவே இந்த பிரச்சாரப்போராட்டம்.

இந்த களேபரத்தில், இனிமேல் மக்களுக்கு நல்லது செய்பவர்களுக்கு வாக்களிக்கவேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணத்தை விட, இப்போது கெட்டது செய்பவர்களுக்கு வாக்களிக்கக்கூடாது என்பதே பிரதானமாக செயல்படுத்தப்படுகிறது. எனவே நம் அரசியல் கட்சிகள், நல்லது செய்வதை மறந்துவிட்டு, மக்கள் மனதில் ஒருவித மயக்கத்தை ஏற்படுத்தி, மாற்றி மாற்றி குதிரை ஏறிக்கொண்டு இருக்கின்றன. உஷார்....

எனவே, வாக்காளர்களே விழிப்படையுங்கள்.. போலி விளம்பரம் போன்ற பிரச்சாரங்களை நம்பாமல், உங்கள் தொகுதியின் பிரச்சினைகளைத் தீர்க்க முற்படும் வேட்பாளர் யார் என ஆராய்ந்து அவருக்கு வாக்களிக்க முன்வாருங்கள். அவர் எந்த கட்சியை சேர்ந்தவராக இருந்தாலும், அல்லது சுயேச்சையாக இருந்தாலும்.

நமக்குத் தேவையான உண்மையான மாற்றம் நமக்கு நல்லது செய்பவர்களாலேயே ஏற்படும். எனவே அப்படிப்பட்டவர்களையே தேர்ந்தெடுக்க நாம் முயற்சி செய்வோம்.

Source:anubhudhi.blogspot.com

பவானி புதிய திரைப்படம்- தரையிறக்கிக்கொள்ள...

2011-03-16T18:28:00.000+05:30

இதை நீங்கள் 12 வது நபராக வாசிக்கிறீர்கள்

நடிகர்கள்: சிநேகா,விவேக்,கோட்டாசீறீனிவாசராவ் ,சம்பத்,டெல்லிகணேஸ் இசையமைப்பு :தினா
இயக்கம்: கிச்சா

பாகம் 1 இங்கே அழுத்துக
பாகம் 2 இங்கே அழுத்துக
பாகம் 3 இங்கே அழுத்துக
பாகம் 4 இங்கே அழுத்துக
பாகம் 5 இங்கே அழுத்துக

Source:rajakeerthi.blogspot.com

முன்னாள் அமைச்சர் ராசாவின் நண்பர் சாதீக் பாட்சா தற்கொலை?

2011-03-16T18:27:00.001+05:30

வரும் 31ந்திகதி ஸ்பெக்ட்ரம் 2ஜி ஊழல் வழக்கில் சிக்கிய முன்னாள் அமைச்சர் அ.ராசாவின் மீதான குற்றப்பத்திரிகை தாக்கல் செய்யப்படவுள்ளதாக அறிவிக்கபட்டிருக்கும் நிலையில், இன்று ராசாவின் மிக நெருங்கிய நண்பரும், சிபிஜயின் விசாரணை வளையத்துக்குள் இருந்தவருமான சாதிக் பாட்சா தற்கொலை செய்து கொண்டுள்ளதாகச்

சென்னைத் தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன. கிரீன் ஹவுஸ் என்ற ரியல் எஸ்டேட் நிறுவனத்தின் நிர்வாக இயக்குநராக இருந்து வந்த இவருடைய இந்த திடீர் தற்கொலை விவகாரம் இந்த ஊழல் வழக்கில் மேலும் பலத்த சந்தேகங்களையும், சிக்கல்களையும் உருவாக்கலாம் எனத் தெரிவிக்கப்படுகிறது.

சென்னை தேனாம்பேட்டையில் உள்ள அவரது வீட்டில் இன்று பிற்பகல் தூக்குப் போட்டுக் கொண்ட சாதீக்பாட்சாவினை மீட்டு, அப்போலோ வைத்தியசாலைக்கு உறவினர்கள் கொண்டு சென்ற போது, அவர் இறந்து விட்டதா வைத்தியர்கள் தெரஜிவித்தாக முதற் கட்டத் தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன. ராசா மீதான குற்றப்பத்திரிகைத் தாக்கல் செய்யப்படும் என அறிவிக்கப்பட்ட சில மணிநேரங்களில் இத் தற்கொலை நடைபெற்றிருப்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

Source:4tamilmedia

வைகோ – ஒரு அரசியல் அனாதையின் கதை!

2011-03-16T18:24:00.000+05:30

ஒரு கோடி மக்கள் வாழும் சென்னை மாநகரத்தின் பரபரப்பிற்கு மத்தியில் ஒரிடத்தில் மட்டும் அமைதியும், சோகமும், ஆற்றாமையும் கடலென பொங்கி வழிகிறது. அந்த இடம் தாயகம். ம.தி.மு.கவின் தலைமை அலுவலகம். நேற்று முளைத்த காளான் கட்சிகள், லெட்டர் பேடு கட்சிகளெல்லாம் ஊடகங்களில் ஆரவாரமாக வலம் வந்து கொண்டிருக்கும் போது அந்த தலைவர் மட்டும் அவரது அண்ணா நகர் வீட்டில், தனிமையில் பேச முடியாமல், துக்கத்தை பகிர்ந்து கொள்ள முடியாமல் தன்னைத்தானே சிறைவைத்துக் கொண்டு அடைந்து போயிருக்கிறார். அவர் வைகோ.

தமிழக சட்டமன்ற தேர்தல் குறித்த வினவின் முதல் கட்டுரையே இப்படி ஒரு சோக சக்கரவர்த்தியைப் பற்றி பேச வேண்டியிருப்பதில் எங்களுக்கும் கொஞ்சம் வருத்தம்தான். ஆனாலும் கூர்ந்து கவனித்தால் இது சோகமில்லை, நகைச்சுவை என்பதறியலாம். என்ன, இந்த நகைச்சுவையை பார்த்து யாரும் வாய்விட்டு சிரிக்க முடியாது என்பதுதான் சோகம்.

வரலாற்றில் சோகம் என்பது ஒருவருக்கு ஒரு விடயத்தில் ஒருமுறைதான் வரமுடியும். ஆனால் வைகோவுக்கு மட்டும் அது தொடர்கதையாகி விடுகிறதே? நாளிதழ்களில் தேர்தல் குறித்த நவரசங்களும் விதவிதமாக ஊற்றி எழுதப்படுகின்றன. அரசியலையே மக்கள் நலன் நோக்கு இன்றி ஒரு பரபரப்பு, இரசனை, விறுவிறுப்பு கலந்த நொறுக்குத்தீனியாக கொடுப்பதையே ஊடகங்கள் செய்துவருகின்றன. அதில் கார்த்திக், டி.ராஜேந்தர், சரத்குமார் போன்ற நட்சத்திரங்களெல்லாம் பட்டையைக் கிளப்பிக் கொண்டிருக்கும் போது வைகோ மட்டும் பிலாக்கணம் வைத்து அழுது கொண்டிருக்கிறார். அந்த வகையில் இந்த தேர்தலில் ஊடகங்கள் உருவாக்கியிருக்கும் நவரசத்தில் வைகோதான் சோகத்தின் நாயகனோ?

சில வருடங்களுக்கு முன்பு அநேகமாக 2007 என்று நினைவு. சென்னை புறநகர் ஒன்றில் ம.தி.மு,க துவங்கி பதிநான்கு ஆண்டு நிறைவு பொதுக்கூட்டம். நட்சத்திர பேச்சாளர் நாஞ்சில் சம்பத் சிறப்புரை. கழகத்தின் கண்மணிகளுக்கு முகமன் சொல்லி பேச ஆரம்பித்தார். ” எகிப்து பிரமிடில் இருப்பது 14 படிகள், ரோமாபுரி பந்தய மைதானத்தில் இருப்பது 14 படிகள், தி ஹேக் நகரின் சர்வதேச நீதிமன்றத்தில் இருப்பது 14 படிகள், வெள்ளை மாளிகை, ராஷ்ரிபதி பவன் எல்லாம் 14 படிகள், ராமன் வனவாசம் 14 ஆண்டுகள், பாண்டவர்கள் அஞ்ஞாதவாசம் 14 ஆண்டுகள்” என்று பிடித்தவர் அது போல வைகோவின் 14 ஆண்டு வனவாசம் முடிந்துவிட்டது என்றார். இனி அவர்தான் தமிழகத்தின் தலைவிதியை நிர்ணயிக்க போகிறவர் என்றும் சொன்னார். ஆனால் அவர்தான் அடுத்த முதலமைச்சர் என்று சொல்லவில்லை. அந்த வரைக்கும் கொஞ்சம் அடக்கம் இருந்தது உண்மை.

அப்போதே யோசித்தேன். இந்த வனவாசம் இன்னும் 20,25,50 ஆண்டுகள் என்று போனால் நாஞ்சில் சம்பத் வாயில் உலக வரலாறும், உலக கட்டிடங்களும் என்ன பாடுபடும் என்று நினைத்தேன். அதனால்தான் வைகோவின் விசயத்தில் சோகமல்ல, நகைச்சுவையே மேலோங்கி இருக்கிறது என்று மீண்டும் உறுதிபடுத்துகிறோம்.

வைகோ குறித்து நடுநிலைமையாளர்கள் சிலரிடம் உயர்ந்த மதிப்பீடு இருக்கிறது. “அவர் நல்லவர், இன்னும் ஊழல்கறை படியாதவர், பேச்சாற்றல், தலைமைப் பண்பு உள்ளவர், இறுதி வரை ஈழத்திற்கு அஞ்சாமல் குரல் கொடுத்தவர்” என்று அவரை போற்றுகிறார்கள். வைகோவின் கூட்டணி மாற்றங்கள் குறித்து விமரிசப்பவர்கள்கூட இந்த விடயங்களை ஒத்துக் கொள்கிறார்கள். எனினும் இது மிகவும் பிழையான சென்டிமெண்டான மதிப்பீடு என்கிறோம். ஒருவேளை சென்டிமெண்டாக உணர்ச்சிவசப்பட்டு, படுத்தி பேசும் வைகோ குறித்து இப்படித்தான் எண்ணுவார்களோ தெரியாது.

சென்ற சட்டமன்ற தேர்தலில் அ.தி.மு.க கூட்டணியில் இடம்பெற்று 35 இடங்களில் போட்டியிட்டு ஆறு இடங்களை ம.தி.மு.க வென்றது. வரும் தேர்தலில் கூட்டணியில் மாற்றமில்லை என்றாலும் வைகோவிற்கு இரட்டை இலக்கில் இடங்கள் கிடைக்காது என்றுதான் ஊடகங்கள் செய்தி வெளியிடுகின்றன. அ.தி.மு.க கூட்டணியில் தே.மு.தி.கவுக்கு 41, சி.பி.எம்முக்கு 12, சி.பி.ஐக்கு 10 பிறகு சின்ன கட்சிகளுக்கு ஒரிரு இடங்களெல்லாம் முடிவாகிவிட்ட நிலையில் ம.தி.மு.கவின் இடம் குறித்து மட்டும் இன்னும் அறிவிக்கப்படவில்லை.

தே.மு.க.தி.க வந்திருப்பதால் அதிக இடம் கொடுக்க முடியாது என்கிறது அ.தி.மு.க. வைகோ இதை உணராமல் இல்லை. எனினும் அவர் 25இல் ஆரம்பித்து 20இல் நின்று இறுதியாக 15வது கொடுங்கள் என்கிறாராம். அம்மாவோ 5இல் ஆரம்பித்து 7,8 என்று நிற்பதாக தகவல். இதனால்தான் புரட்சிப் புயல், புரட்சித் தலைவியை பார்த்து ஒப்பந்தத்தில் கையெழுத்து போட முடியாமல் அண்ணாநகர் வீட்டில் முடங்கி கிடக்கிறது.

ஆனாலும் நண்பர்களே இந்தக்காட்சி இப்போதுதான் முதல்முறையாக நடக்கிறது என்று யாரும் தவறாக நினைக்க வேண்டாம். இரு வருடங்களுக்கு முன்னர் கூட அட்சர சுத்தமாக இப்படித்தான் நடந்தது. அதை கொஞ்சம் ஃபிளாஷ்பேக்கில் சென்று பார்ப்போம்.

2009-ஆம் ஆண்டு பாராளுமன்றத் தேர்தல். அ.தி.மு.க அணியில் ம.தி.மு.க, பா.ம.க, சி.பி.எம், சி.பி.ஐ முதலான கட்சிகள் சேர்ந்து போட்டியிட்டன. இதில் ம.தி.மு.கவைத் தவிர மற்ற கட்சிகள் சமீபத்தில்தான் சேர்ந்திருந்தன. அவர்களுக்குரிய தொகுதிகளெல்லாம் ஒதுக்கப்பட்டாலும் வைகோவுக்கு ஒதுக்கீடு முடியவில்லை. அ.தி.மு.க நான்கு தருவதாக சொன்னது. வைகோ கராராக ஆறு என்று கேட்டார். அப்போதும் இதே நிலைதான். சோகம்தான்.

அப்போது ஈழப்பிரச்சினை உச்சகட்டத்தில் இருந்தது உங்களுக்கு நினைவிருக்கலாம். தென்மாவட்டங்களை சேர்ந்த 200 மாணவர்கள் ஈழத்தமிழருக்காக சென்னையில் வந்து போராடுவதற்கு இரயிலில் வந்தனர். அவர்களை வரவேற்க வைகோ நிலையம் சென்றார். “ஈழத்தின் எதிரி ஜெயலலிதா அணியிலிருந்து வைகோவே வெளியேறு” என்று மாணவர்கள் முழக்கமிட்டார்கள். அதிர்ச்சியில் உறைந்த வைகோ செய்வதறியாது திரும்பினார். வெளியே நிருபர்கள் இன்னமும் தொகுதி உடன்பாடு முடியாதது குறித்து கேட்டார்கள். ” அது குறித்து பேசும் மனநிலையில் நான் இல்லை” என்று வைகோ வெருட்டென்று போய்விட்டார்.

இந்த மனநிலை ஈழத்தின் சோகத்தினால் வந்ததென்று நீங்கள் தவறாக கருதிவிடக்கூடாது. உண்மையில் கேட்ட தொகுதிகள் கிடைக்கவில்லை என்பதால்தான் இந்த வருத்தம்.

ஒரு வழியாக ம.தி.மு.கவிற்கு நான்கு தொகுதிகள் விருதுநகர், தஞ்சை, நீலகிரி, ஈரோடு முடிவாகி வைகோவும் சிரிக்காத முகத்துடன் உம்மென்று ஜெயா அருகில் போஸ் கொடுத்து ஒப்பந்தத்தை காட்டினார். இந்த தொகுதிகளெல்லாம் அ.தி.மு.கவிற்கு வெற்றி பெறும் வாய்ப்பு இல்லாதது என்பதால் இதில் வெல்ல முடியாதென்பது வைகோவிற்கு தெரியாமல் இருந்திருக்காது. இருந்தாலும் அவர் வேறு என்ன செய்திருக்க முடியும்?

அப்போதும் ஏன் இப்போதும் கூட அவர் தனியாக தேர்தலில் நின்று பார்க்க முடியாது. அத்தகைய வெற்று சவடால் அடிப்பதற்கு அவர் ஒன்றும் முட்டாள் இல்லை.

ஆனால் அப்படி தனியாக வென்று காட்டுவதற்கென்றுதான் கட்சி ஆரம்பித்தார்.

1944-ஆம் ஆண்டு திருநெல்வேலி மாவட்டத்தின் கலிங்கப்பட்டியில் பிறந்த வை. கோபால்சாமி, மாணவப் பருவத்தில் இந்தி எதிர்ப்பு போராட்டம் மூலமாக அரசியலுக்கு அறிமுகமாகிறார். தி.மு.கவில் சேர்ந்து ஒரு குறிப்பிடத்தக்க இளைஞராக உருவெடுக்கிறார். 70களில் அவர் நாடாளுமன்றத்திற்கு தெரிவு செய்யப்படுகிறார். 80களில் ஈழப்பிரச்சினை முன்னுக்கு வரும்போது தி.மு.கவின் நிலைக்கேற்ப வைகோ அதில் தீவிரம் காட்டுகிறார். தனியாக சென்று பிரபாகரனை பார்க்கிறார்.

தலைமை பண்பு அற்ற மு.க ஸ்டாலினைவிட வைகோவின் செல்வாக்கு தி.மு.கவில் உயர்கிறது. பிரச்சினை வருகிறது. வைகோவா, ஸ்டாலினா என்ற போட்டியில் வைகோ கருணாநிதியிடமிருந்து விலகுகிறார். 1993-இல் ம.தி.மு.க உதயமாகிறது. எப்படியும் கருணாநிதி மரித்த பின் தி.மு.கவை முழுவதுமாக கைப்பற்றிவிடலாம் என்ற கணக்கு வைகோவிற்கு இல்லாமல் இருந்திருக்காது.

தி.மு.கவிலிருந்து ம.தி.மு.க பிரிந்தது கொள்கை முரண்பாட்டினால் அல்ல. அது தலைமையை யார் வைத்திருப்பது என்ற ஆதிக்க சண்டையின் விளைவாக நடந்தது. மற்றபடி கருணாநிதியின் உயிருக்கு வைகோவால் ஆபத்து என்ற புளுகை இப்போது கருணாநிதியன் பேரன்களே சட்டை செய்யமாட்டார்கள். இந்த பிளவுக்கு வைகோ காரணமாக இருக்கவில்லை என்றாலும் அவர் இதை ஒரு கொள்கை பிரச்சினையாக பார்க்கவில்லை. தி.மு.கவின் பிழைப்புவாதம், காரியவாதம், ஊழல் அத்தனையும் கொண்டிருந்த பத்து பதினைந்து கொட்டை போட்ட பெருச்சாளிகள்தான் அப்போது வைகோ உடன் சென்றனர். அவர்களும் கூட பின்னர் தி.மு.கவை வைகோ கைப்பற்றுவார் என்று கணக்கு பார்த்து சென்றிருக்கலாம். தற்போது அந்த கணக்கு பொய்த்திருப்பதால் அவர்களில் பெரும்பகுதியினர் ம.தி.மு.கவிலிருந்து விலகிவிட்டனர்.

மேலும் தி.மு.கவில் வைகோ ஒரு தலைவராக உருவானது என்பது தி.மு.கவின் எல்லா தலைவர்களும் தன்னை திட்டமிட்டே ஒரு தலைவராக உருவாக்கிய பாதையில் சேர்ந்ததுதான். படிப்பு, எழுத்து, செயற்கையான அலங்காரப்பேச்சு, உணர்ச்சிவசப்படும் ஆவேசப்பேச்சு, இத்தகைய மலிவான உத்திகளை வைத்தே அண்ணா முதல் கருணாநிதி வரை தலைவர்களாக உருவெடுத்தார்கள் என்றால் வைகோவும் அந்த பள்ளியில் வந்தவர்தான்.

உலகின் எல்லா தலைவர்களும் ஒரு போராட்டப்பாதையின் நிகழ்ச்சிப் போக்கில் ஆளானது போன்றுதான் தி.மு.கவின் ஆரம்பமும் இருந்த்து. என்றாலும் பின்னர் அது செயற்கையான உத்திகள், திறமைகள், சாதி செல்வாக்கு, பணபலம் என்று மாறிப்போனது. இவர்கள் யாரும் மக்கள் நலன் என்ற நோக்கில் புடம் போடப்பட்ட தலைவர்கள் அல்லர். அதை வேறு ஒரு சந்தர்ப்பத்தில் பார்ப்போம்.

வைகோ தி.மு.கவில் இருக்கும் போது இத்தகைய செயற்கையான தலைவராகத்தான் இருந்தார் என்பதையே இங்கு பதிவு செய்கிறோம். இத்தகைய தலைமைகளுக்குள் அதிகாரத்திற்கான சண்டை என்பது சாதாரணமானதுதான். எல்.கணேசனும், செஞ்சி ராமச்சந்திரனும் , மு.கண்ணப்பனும் எதற்காக வைகோவை விட்டு பிரிந்தார்கள்? “மத்தியில் அமைச்சராகும் வாய்ப்பை வேண்டுமென்றே பறித்துவிட்டார், இனி இவரோடு குப்பை கொட்டுவதில் பலனில்லை” என்றுதான் அவர்கள் பறந்து போனார்கள்.

அண்ணாவின் கொள்கையை உண்மையாக பின்பற்றும் கட்சி என்று வைகோ கூறிக் கொண்டாலும் அது இத்தகைய எதிர்மறை உண்மைகளைத்தான் பிரதிபலிக்கிறது. 1996 சட்டமன்றத் தேர்தலில் மூன்றாவது அணியாக ம.தி.மு.க போட்டியிட்டாலும் ஒருதொகுதியில் கூட வெற்றி பெறவில்லை. தனித்து போட்டியிட்ட பா.ம.க கூட நான்கு தொகுதிகளில் வெற்றி பெற்றது. அப்போது ஜெயா எதிர்ப்பு அலை தமிழகத்தில் வீசியபடியால் தி.மு.க பெரு வெற்றி பெற்றது. தி.மு.கவின் தலைமை தன்னை சதி செய்து நீக்கிவிட்டது என்பதையே மையமாக பேசிவந்த வைகோவின் பாதை அப்போது எடுபடவில்லை.

அந்த வகையில் தமிழக மக்களின் தேவை அறிந்து அரசியல் செய்யும் தலைவராக கூட அவர் இருந்ததில்லை. தி.மு.கவை வேறு வழியின்றி அந்த எதிர்ப்பு அலை ஆட்சியில் அமர்த்தியது.

இனி தனி ஆவர்த்தனம் செய்தால் மறைந்து மண்ணாகிவிடுவோம் என்று பதறிய வைகோ 98 நாடாளுமன்ற தேர்தலில் அ.தி.மு.க – பா.ஜ.க கூட்டணியில் சேர்ந்து மூன்று தொகுதிகளில் வென்றார். தமிழகத்தையே மொட்டையடித்து பாசிச ஆட்டம் போட்ட ஜெயா சசி கும்பலோடு கூடி குலாவுவதற்கு அவர் வெட்கப்படவில்லை. அவரது அரசியல் நிலை மாற்றங்கள் மக்கள் நலன் சார்ந்து எடுக்கப்படவில்லை என்பது நிரூபிக்கப்பட்டது. அத்தோடு ஒரிஜினல் திராவிட இயக்கம் என்று கூறிய வைகோ பார்ப்பன பாசிசத்தை அரங்கேற்றுவதற்காக அரசியல் அதிகாரத்தை கைப்பற்றத் துடித்த பா.ஜ.க கூடவும் சேர்ந்தார்.

பா.ஜ.க உடனான கூட்டணி 2003 ஆண்டுவரை தொடர்ந்தது. மத்தியில் வாஜ்பாயி அரசை விசுவாசமான அடியாளாக ஆதரித்தார். 2002 குஜராத் முசுலீம் மக்கள் இனப்படுகொலை செய்யப்பட்ட நேரத்தில் கூட பாரளுமன்றத்தில் வாஜ்பாயி புகழ்பாடும் பக்தராக இருந்தார். வைகோ இதுவரை பண ஊழல் எதுவும் செய்ததில்லை என்பதை விட இந்த நடவடிக்கை பல மடங்கு ஊழல் தன்மை வாய்ந்தது. பார்ப்பனியத்துக்கு பல்லக்கு தூக்கியது காரணமாக ஒடுக்கப்பட்ட மக்களுக்கு துரோகமிழைத்தார்.

தமிழகத்தில் பா.ஜ.கவை ஒரு கட்சியாக்கி நிலைநிறுத்தியதில் தி.மு.க, அ.தி.மு.க முதலான பெரியகட்சிகளுக்கும் பங்கிருக்கிறது என்றாலும் சுத்த சுயம்பு என்று கூறிக்கொண்ட வைகோவின் பங்கும் குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. ஏனெனில் தி.மு.கவெல்லாம் சிலபல ஆண்டுகள் கழித்து சீரழிந்தது என்றால் ம.தி.மு.க தோன்றிய வேகத்தில் அதை சாதித்தது. இடையில் அவர் தி.மு.க கூடவும் கூட்டணி சேர்ந்தார். 2001 இல் அவர் ஜெயலலிதாவால் பொடா சட்டத்தில் கைது செய்யப்பட்டு 19 மாதங்கள் சிறையில் இருந்தார். இத்தகைய சிறை வாசம் கூட அவரது பிழைப்புவாதத்திற்கு நன்மை பயப்பதாக இல்லை.

இருப்பினும் 2006 சட்டமன்றத் தேர்தலில் அதே பாசிச ஜெயாவோடு கூட்டணி சேர்ந்தார். அதுவும் தி.மு.க ஒரு சீட்டு கொடுக்கவில்லை என்ற வரலாற்று முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்த காரணத்திற்காக அணி மாறினார். முக்கியமாக 2009 பாராளுமன்றத் தேர்தலில் ஜெயலலிதாவுக்கு ஈழத்தாய் என்ற பட்டம் வழங்கப்படவும் காரணமாக இருந்தார். தமிழகத்தில் புலி பூச்சாண்டி காட்டி ஏராளமான தமிழுணர்வாளர்களை கைது செய்து அடக்குமுறை ஆட்டம் போட்ட ஜெயலலிதாவின் மூலம் ஈழம் மலரும் என்று பேசுமளவு சீரழிந்தார்.

ஈழப் பிரச்சினையில் கூட வைகோ எப்போதும் இந்திய அரசிடம் கோரிக்கை வைத்து சாதித்து விடலாம் என்ற அணுகுமுறையையே கொண்டிருந்தார். ஒரு சில லாபி வேலைகள் செய்தால் ஈழப்பிரச்சினையை தீர்த்துவிடலாம் என்பதுதான் அவரது நிலை. முக்கியமாக இந்திய அரசு தனது பிராந்திய மேலாதிக்க நலனுக்காக ஈழப்பிரச்சினைக்கு வில்லனாக இருக்கிறது என்ற முறையில் அவரது அணுகுமுறை என்றும் இருந்ததில்லை.

மேலும் 2009ஆம் ஆண்டு ஈழப்பிரச்சினை முன்னணிக்கு வந்த போதும் அதை வைத்து மக்கள் திரள் போராட்டங்களை கட்டியமைப்பதற்கு பதில் அதை தேர்தல் முழக்கமாக்கி ஆதாயம் அடைய நினைத்தார். அ.தி.மு.கவும், பா.ஜ.கவும் வென்றுவிட்டால் ஈழப்போர் முடிவுக்கு வரும் என்று புலிகளையும் அவர்களது ஆதரவாளர்களையும் தவறாக வழிநடத்தியதில் வைகோவுக்கும் பெரும் பங்குண்டு.

முத்துக்குமார் இறந்த பிரச்சினையிலும் அது பெரிய போராட்டமாக உருவெடுத்துவிடக்கூடாது என்பதில் குறியாக இருந்தார். பார்வதியம்மாள் சென்னை விமானநிலையம் வந்த போது கூட தனது இலட்சக்கணக்கான தொண்டர்களை விமானநிலையத்தில் திரட்டி போராட அவர் கனவிலும் கருதவில்லை. ஒரு அறிக்கையோடு முடித்துக கொண்டார். எனவே வைகோ ஈழப்பிரச்சினையில் நேர்மையாக இருந்தார் என்ற கருத்து குறித்து அவரைப் போற்றுபவர்கள்தான் பதில் சொல்ல வேண்டும்.

சென்ற சட்டமன்றத் தேர்தலில் ஒரு சீட்டு கிடைக்கவில்லை என்பதற்காக அணிமாறிய வைகோ இந்த தேர்தலில் கிட்டத்தட்ட27 சீட்டுகள் கிடைக்காது என்றாலும் அணிமாற இயலாது என்ற இழிவான நிலைக்கு உயர்ந்திருக்கிறார். இதில் ஆறு சதவீதம் வாக்குகளும், இரண்டு எம்.எல்.ஏக்களும் இருந்தால்தான் மாநிலக் கட்சி என்ற தேர்தல் க மிஷன் அங்கீகாரம் கிடைக்கும். சென்ற தேர்தலில் பறி போன அந்த அங்கீகாரம் இனி எப்போதும் திரும்பாது என்பதுதான் களநிலவரம். மக்கள் நலன் என்ற அங்கீகாரத்திற்கு துரோகமிழைத்தவருக்கு இந்த டெக்னிக்கல் அங்கீகாரம்தான் தற்போது மிகப்பெரிய கௌரவப் பிரச்சினையாம். எனினும் அவர் இதையும் கடந்து வருவார்.

ஆக கூட்டிக் கழித்துப் பார்த்தால் வைகோவின் இலக்குதான் என்ன? அவர் தமிழகத்தில் ஒரு தலைவராக உலா வர வேண்டும். ஊடகங்களில் அவரது கருப்பு மையடித்த மீசை கொண்ட படங்கள் வெளிவர வேண்டும். அவரது அறிக்கைகள் தினசரிகளில் இடம்பெறவேண்டும். சமீபத்தில் கூட உலக மகளிர் தினம், ஜப்பான் சுனாமி குறித்தெல்லாம் அறிக்கை வெளியிட்டார். அதே நேரம் உள்ளுக்குள் அ.தி.மு.க கூட்டணியில் ஒற்றை எண் தொகுதிகள்தானா என்று அவர் கொஞ்சமேனும் அழுதிருக்க வேண்டும்.

இன்று கழுதை தேய்ந்து கட்டெறும்பான நிலையில் ம.தி.மு.கவிற்கான தொகுதிகள் 5 கொடுக்கப்பட்டாலே அது பெரிய விசயம்தான். இதை இல்லை என்று வைகோவால் கூட மறுக்க முடியாது.

மக்கள் நலன் என்ற நோக்கில் வைகோவின் அரசியல் பயணம் என்றுமே நடந்தில்லை என்பதை வைத்து பார்க்கும்போது இன்று அவர் அரசியல் அனாதையாக ஓரங்கட்டப்பட்டார் என்பதற்கும் நாம் வருந்தத் தேவையில்லை. தமிழகத்தில் இரண்டு பெரிய கட்சிகள் எல்லா வகை சீரழிவுகளோடும் ஆதிக்கம் செலுத்தி வரும் நிலையில் அவர்களது நிழலில் தங்கி வேலை செய்த வைகோ அவர்களது செல்வாக்கை மிஞ்ச முடியுமா என்ன?

ஆக இந்த இடம் அவருக்கு விதிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது என்பதில் புறநிலையான காரணங்களும், அகநிலையான காரணங்களும் உண்டு. அதில் வைகோ விரும்பி செய்த பணிகளையே மேலே விமரிசித்திருக்கிறோம். ஆக வைகோ வாய்ப்பு கிடைக்காததால் ஒருபெரிய தலைவராக முடியவில்லை என்று யாராவது சொன்னால் அவர் ம.தி.மு.க கட்சியில் சேரும் தகுதியைக் கொண்டிருக்கிறார் என்று பொருள். அதாவது அவரும் அரசியல் அனாதையாக முடிவு செய்து விட்டார். நாமும் நமது அனுதாபங்களை அவருக்கு தெரிவித்துக் கொள்வோம்.

Source:Vinavu

Very useful info... Please share it...

2011-03-15T15:20:00.000+05:30

Kindly, share this valuable information wherever possible.

1. If you see children Begging anywhere in TAMIL NADU, please contact:
"RED SOCIETY" at 9940217816. They will help the children for their studies.

2. Where you can search for any BLOOD GROUP, you will get thousand's of donor address. www.friendstosupport.org

3. Engineering Students can register in www.campuscouncil.com to attend Off Campus for 40 Companies.

4. Free Education and Free hostel for Handicapped/Physically Challenged children.
Contact:- 9842062501 & 9894067506.

5. If anyone met with fire accident or people born with problems in their ear, nose and mouth can get free PLASTIC SURGERY done by Kodaikanal PASAM Hospital . From 23rd March to 4th April by German Doctors. Everything is free. Contact : 045420-240668,245732 "Helping Hands are Better than Praying Lips"

6. If you find any important documents like Driving license, Ration card, Passport, Bank Pass Book, etc., missed by someone, simply put them into any near by Post Boxes. They will automatically reach the owner and Fine will be collected from them.

7. By the next 10 months, our earth will become 4 degrees hotter than what it is now. Our Himalayan glaciers are melting at rapid rate. So let all of us lend our hands to fight GLOBAL WARMING.

-Plant more Trees.
-Don't waste Water & Electricity.
-Don't use or burn Plastics

8. It costs 38 Trillion dollars to create OXYGEN for 6 months for all Human beings on earth.
"TREES DO IT FOR FREE" "Respect them and Save them"

9. Special phone number for Eye bank and Eye donation: 04428281919 and 04428271616 (Sankara Nethralaya Eye Bank). For More information about how to donate eyes plz visit these sites. http://ruraleye.org/

10. Heart Surgery free of cost for children (0-10 yr) Sri Valli Baba Institute Banglore. 10. Contact : 9916737471.

11. Medicine for Blood Cancer!!!!. 'Imitinef Mercilet' is a medicine which cures blood cancer. Its available free of cost at "Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai". Create Awareness. It might help someone.
Cancer Institute in Adyar, Chennai
Category: Cancer
Address:
East Canal Bank Road, Gandhi Nagar
Adyar
Chennai -600020
Landmark: Near Michael School
Phone: 044-24910754 044-24910754 , 044-24911526 044-24911526 ,
044-22350241 044-22350241

12. Please CHECK WASTAGE OF FOOD. If you have a function/party at your home in India and food gets wasted, don't hesitate to call 1098 (only in India ) - Its not a Joke, This is the

number of Child helpline. They will come and collect the food. Please circulate this message which can help feed many children.

AND LETS TRY TO HELP INDIA BE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN

Please Save Our Mother Nature for "OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS"

Pay More, Earn More

2011-03-11T06:17:00.000+05:30

With banks raising their interest rates, your monthly outgo towards loan repayment will go up. However, there's some respite in form of higher deposit rates.

After the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised its policy rates in the third-quarter review of its monetary policy, banks have raised their lending and deposit rates. India's biggest lender, State Bank of India (SBI), raised its lending rates from 14 February 2011. SBI hiked its base rate by 25 basis points (bps), making loans costlier. Base rate is the minimum lending rate of a bank. SBI also raised interest rates on some deposits by 25 bps. It is now offering 9.25% interest on fixed deposits of 555 days and 1,000 days maturity. One bps is one-hundredth of a percentage point.

Several other banks were quicker to respond to the hike in the policy rates. They raised their rates without waiting for the country's largest lender to do so. Punjab National Bank, another public sector lender, raised its base rate by 50 bps from 9.00% to 9.50% with effect from 1 February. It also increased the rates for term deposits by 25-100 bps across various maturity buckets. Allahabad Bank, Punjab and Sind Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, Corporation Bank, IDBI Bank and HDFC Bank are among other banks that raised their lending rates.

"Although it is not necessary that banks will hike rates every time the RBI does, it depends on a bank's cost of funds as well as its liquidity positions," says I.C. Agasti, chief general manager, IDBI Bank. "Since the last quarter has seen more credit off-take, banks need to have adequate money to lend. This lead to an increase in deposit rates to attract depositors."

With the rate hike, your investments in bank fixed deposits will be able to beat inflation. Among banks offering one of the highest deposit rates is Lakshmi Vilas Bank, with an interest rate of 10.10% on deposits for one year, followed by Karnataka Bank at 9.25%. Most banks are offering highest interest rates for 1-3-year deposits.

"This is a good time for investors to lock in their money in deposits, say, up to three years, which offers the maximum interest rates," says Agasti. "There are less chances of deposit rates hardening from here, unless there is a huge credit outflow."

On 25 January 2011, the RBI increased the repo rate (at which it lends to banks) and the reverse repo rate (at which it borrows from banks) by 0.25 percentage points each to 6.0% and 6.5%, respectively. With this, the RBI has cumulatively increased the repo rate by 1.75 percentage points and the reverse repo rate by 2.25 percentage points since mid-March 2010.

"Clearly, the increasing inflation is the biggest worry for the RBI," says Gautam Kaul, fund manager (fixed income), IDBI Mutual Fund. "Earlier, the RBI was trying to balance growth and inflation. With growth already showing some strong numbers, the RBI's focus has now shifted completely to inflation."

"We expect further hikes by a cumulative 50-75 bps in 2011 and also keep liquidity in the deficit mode for at least next five-six months," says Vikram Kotak, chief investment officer, Birla Sun Life Insurance.

Source:Yahoo Finance

18 emergency, rough landing incidents in 2010

2011-03-11T06:16:00.000+05:30

A total of 13 emergency landing incidents and five instances of rough landing involving various airlines took place last year, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

"During the year 2010, there was one incident each of emergency landing involving aircraft of Air India Express, Kingfisher and Jet Airways, two incidents of emergency landing involving aircraft of Spice Jet and four incidents each of emergency landing involving aircraft of Jet Lite and Go Air," Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said in a written reply.

"During the same period, five incidents of rough landing involving aircraft of Spice Jet were reported," he said.

All the incidents including emergency landing and rough landing are investigated as per the provisions of Aircraft Rules, 1937. While the investigation of all the five rough landing incidents have been completed, investigation in 10 out of 13 incidents of emergency landing have been completed.

Safety recommendations emanating from these investigations are also implemented to minimise the recurrence of such incidents, he said.

Source:Yahoo News

Salaried class bears most of tax burden

2011-03-11T06:14:00.000+05:30

More than half of India's 3.4 crore income tax payers contribute insignificant amounts as tax, with figures ranging from a paltry Rs 50 to Rs 1,000 in most cases.

This reduces the effective tax base to around 1.5 crore tax payers, which includes mainly corporate houses and the salaried class, according to senior officials of the income-tax (I-T) department.

Well-heeled independent professionals, like chartered accountants, doctors, lawyers, big shopkeepers and wholesale traders make up the category of income tax assessees who add to the number of people under the tax net but contribute virtually nothing to the national exchequer.

Senior I-T officials are of the view that the cost to the department for maintaining these files would probably exceed the tax collections from this category.

While even the figure of 3.5 crore income tax assesses is considered small for the size of India's urban population, the fact that the number of effective tax payers is less than half this number makes matters even worse for resource mobilisation.

Independent professionals and traders with lavish lifestyles are reported to be filing tax returns that reflect incomes ranging from a mere Rs 1.5 to Rs 5 lakh a year. The big cars that they use are bought in the names of business entities.

"These assesses have been showing withdrawals from their bank accounts of a paltry Rs 10,000 or so to run their monthly expenses, which just doesn't make any sense," a senior official said.

Several big retail showroom owners in the Capital are reported to be showing losses on their accounts books. The financial figures indicate that the business should have been shut down as the premises would bring in a huge rent but this is not happening either, an official pointed out.

Senior officials say there has to be a culture of tax compliance that is missing in India. While tax evasion is widespread, the I-T department does not have enough manpower or resources to chase all the dodgers and make them cough up the due amounts. Since the black money transactions take place in cash it is difficult to track them down. A single assessing officer could be burdened with as many as 10,000 files and it is difficult for him or her to examine all of them in minute detail.

The extent of tax evasion is evident from the fact that when the investigation wing of the I-T department conducts raids on the premises of suspected tax dodgers, the income declarations result in tax collections of as much as Rs 100 crore.

In fact a Rs 5-10 crore collection is quite common, a senior official said. According to official figures released on Wednesday, corporate tax collections at Rs 2,78,411 crore, accounted for as much as 83 per cent of the total direct tax collections of Rs 3,36,117 crore during April-February of this fiscal.

The figure show that while direct tax collections grew by 21 per cent during this period, corporate tax went up by 24 per cent. Personal income tax increased by 15 per cent to touch Rs 1,12114 crore, which was mainly from the salaried class.

Source:Yahoo Finance

Supermoon may cause natural disasters next week

2011-03-11T06:00:00.003+05:30

On March 19^th 2011, the moon will make its closest approach to Earth in almost 20 years, possibly triggering earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other disasters.

The phenomenon, called lunar perigee or Supermoon, happens when the moon reaches its absolute closest point to Earth. On March 19, the natural satellite will be only 221,567 miles away from our planet.

There were Supermoons in 1955, 1974, 1992 and 2005, and these years had their share of extreme weather conditions, too. Although there are scientific laws that say the moon affects the Earth, it's still ambiguous whether the lunar perigee and natural disasters is coincidence or not.

British freelance weatherman John Kettley was quoted as saying "A moon can't cause a geological event like an earthquake, but it will cause a difference to the tide. If that combines with certain weather conditions, then that could cause a few problems for coastal areas."

Neo Earth Close Approach Tables By NASA

While hoping for a non-disastrous ‘moon giant’, point your eyes and camera lenses toward the night sky on 19th. If the sky is clear, you’re gonna get an exceptional celestial treat.

Source:Yahoo News

Make your exams easy

2011-03-04T12:26:00.000+05:30

If you could subtract examinations from student life, those years would add up to magic. Unfortunately, studies and evaluations go hand in hand and often lead to undue stress in your child. Fix it fast!

Stress is a vicious cycle: Once you start worrying, it can block the mind and make you forget faster than you learn. It manifests itself in inexplicable stomach pains, menstrual cramps, headaches, nausea, diarrhoea. It could express itself with sweating, irritability, insomnia, asthma and blackouts.

"High levels of stress lead to the secretion of the stress hormone cortisol which weakens your immune system," explains Dr PV Vaidyanathan, Mumbai-based paediatrician and author of two parenting books, Make Your Child Stress-Free and Managing the Unmanageable Child.

However, experts say some amount of stress is necessary for a student taking exams. This is called eustress or good stress which boosts performance. If your child is absolutely cool about the exams, her performance may not be up to the mark. So balance it out.

To help your child retain everything, perform well and keep upbeat in the run up to the exams and during those days you need to start ahead. Make sure her immunity is built with good food, exercises, enough rest and sleep and a happy environment.

Serve her the right food: She will not only be stronger and more energetic, but her memory will also be strengthened with the right foods. "Turn her plate into a colourful palette with a rainbow of fruits and veggies that includes a variety of colours-red, green, yellow and orange. Strawberries, tomatoes and carrots are all great immunity boosters," says Mumbai-based nutritionist Naini Setalvad.

"Serve up food rich in memory-boosting Omega-3 fatty acids such as flaxseeds, walnuts, almonds, etc," she says. Grapes, cherries, apples, spinach, broccoli and beet root are also great for memory.

"Vitamin B-complex is excellent for better memory too. So reach out for oats, bananas and avocados," adds Setalvad. Make sure she drinks enough water. Dehydration can play havoc with memory.

Allow her enough rest: Sleep rests the brain, sharpens concentration, boosts memory and retrieval of facts. So make sure that your child follows a healthy sleep pattern. "While eight to nine hours should do, some children may need 10 to 12 hours' sleep a day," says Vaidyanathan.

Leave her with free time: Stress and physical inactivity are directly linked. "Dance or a sport like cycling, skipping, swimming or a short sprint will not only give him a rush of happy hormones but also improve his concentration," says Dr Gaurav Sharma, sports medicine specialist, Holy Angel Hospital, New Delhi. Make sure that he gets enough free time and breaks. Sometimes indulging in a comparatively sedentary hobby like music can also lift his spirits.

Fight the fear factors: Identifying the exam fear factors that are stressing out your child and addressing them immediately are essential to steer through these days. We have identified some for you along with expert solutions. Don't hesitate to seek professional help if you think you can't cope alone.

I have sudden panic stations: Where it comes from: Inadequate preparation, poor time management, frequent comparison with others.

How to handle it: Comfort your child and try to cheer him up by chatting about lighter matters. Help her strategise well and seek tips from teachers. "Let her not waste time by discussing with friends or class mates over the telephone," says Jeromey Jaypaul, guidance counsellor, Bishop Cotton Boys School, Bengaluru.

Friends can mislead and want to distract and unnerve you. "Ask your child to avoid people who make him feel low," says Dr Jayanti Dutta, consultant clinical psychologist and associate professor, Clinical Psychology, Lady Irwin College, New Delhi.

I won't retain a thing! where it comes from: Poor sleep, bad eating habits, stress-induced panic.

How to handle it: Says Dr Jitendra Nagpal, senior consultant psychiatrist, Vidyasagar Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences, New Delhi, "Whenever memory blanks out, one should sit back, relax for a while, put one's head down and concentrate.

It may take few minutes to recollect the information but it is possible to get hold of it." The trick is to be calm and concentrate. Study hours should be punctuated with short breaks to retain and remember! To build memory for your kid, keep quizzing her with brain games and puzzles through the year.

There is an awful lot to cover,where it comes from: Disorganised, last-ditch study, lack of concentration.

How to handle it: Studying can be like eating a meal. Suggest that your child breaks it into different courses and goes systematically with bite-sized portions. Encourage studying in short bursts of 40 to 60 minutes.

Improve her concentration by de-cluttering the room she studies in. "It doesn't matter if you haven't covered all the topics. Select a few but be thorough. Think positive," suggests Dutta.

My parents will be embarrassed. Where it comes from: Unduly high expectations from parents or lack of communication, or both. How to handle it: Keep the talk lines open. "Tone down your expectations from your child and praise her for her achievements in other areas," says Dr Arvind Taneja, advisor and senior consultant, Paediatrics, Max Healthcare, New Delhi.

Rather, help her explore other career options if academics is not her strongest point. Ensure that she doesn't take poor academic performance as personal failure and loss of face socially. Also, don't compare your child with other children-this exacerbates fear.

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

What only your gynaec-pal will tell you

2011-03-04T12:23:00.003+05:30

[Q] Can the baby feel us if we have sex while I'm pregnant?
[Rankin] Uh, maybe. But the more important question would be, "Does the baby care?" If the baby is still a wee fetus, it probably doesn't even notice when the uterus rocks around a bit. After all, the same thing happens when you're running (bounce, bounce, bounce). As the fetus gets older, tickling its head during a pelvic exam produces reassuring signs in the fetus's heart rate. The heart rate rises, resulting in an "acceleration"- a sign of oxygenation that signals fetal well- being. So you might say that the baby likes having its head tickled.

Some couples worry that they will cause psychological damage by having sex during pregnancy. Actually, the fetal mind has no clue what's going on down there. For all the fetus knows, it's being rocked gently to sleep. So rest assured. Having sex during pregnancy will not mess up your baby's psyche. If anything, it will bond you to your partner, helping you endure the rough months of physical recovery, sleep deprivation, and life change that may lie ahead.

[Q] Does having kids really stretch out your vagina?
[Rankin] Yes, if you deliver vaginally, it usually does. And if you have a ten- pound baby or four kids, it may be even more stretched out than normal. How elastic your tissue is depends on many factors: genetics, whether you smoke or have other health problems like diabetes, how frequently you do Kegel exercises, age, and hormone status, to name a few.
I can usually tell whether a woman has had children when I perform a speculum exam. Women who have had children may require a bigger speculum, while those who have not often feel tighter when I examine them. For some women, the stretching caused by childbirth is a blessing. If sex has been a tight fit with your partner, leading to painful intercourse, having a baby may make more room and allow sex to be more pleasurable. And if Pap smears used to hurt, they might not anymore. But some couples complain that the vagina stretches out so much that sex feels less stimulating. If this is the case, Kegel exercises can really help. If this fails to help and if you have other symptoms of pelvic prolapse, talk to your doctor. She might be able to help you by performing surgery or inserting a pessary, which is kind of like a diaphragm you stick in to help hold things up.

[Q] Now that I've given birth, sex hurts like hell. I'm six-months postpartum. Will it ever get better?
[Rankin] Two of my close friends couldn't have sex without excruciating pain for over a year after giving birth. Both were first- time mums, and both tore during childbirth. One had a more serious third-degree tear, through the muscle around the anus. The other had the mildest first- degree tear, injuring only the mucosa of the vagina. Although their tears differed, their pain afterward was similar. In both cases, two factors were at play: The wound in the vagina and the vaginal dryness related to breast- feeding. Both had delayed healing of their tears. Rarely, the process of healing gets arrested, delaying wound healing. By six weeks postpartum, most tears will be completely healed. If not, we docs have some tricks up our sleeves to help finish the process, but it may take some time.

Once the wound heals, the other factor plays in. Because estrogen levels fall so sharply when you give birth and start nursing, the lining of the vagina can become very thin, dry, and fragile, making sex hurt. Using sexual lubricants while you're nursing can help. If your dryness is severe, talk to your doctor about whether estrogen applied locally in the vagina could help.
And yes, it does get better. Wounds heal. Estrogen levels rise when you stop nursing, and, barring some rare complication, your yoni will hit its stride once again. If time has passed and sex still hurts, see your gynecologist. You may have developed a gynecologic condition that needs treatment.
The good news is that things tend to go more smoothly the more babies you have. You're less likely to tear if you've had a baby before, and because the vagina tends to stretch out with multiple births, the vaginal dryness caused by nursing may not bother you as much the second time around.

[Q] Is there anything I can do to prevent breast cancer?
[Rankin] To decrease your breast cancer risk, here are some tips.
1. Have your children at a young age.
2. Breast- feed for at least six months.
3. Minimize the use of hormones after menopause.
4. Maintain a healthy weight.
5. Exercise regularly.
6. Practice monthly breast exams.
7. Eat five or more servings of organic fruits and vegetables per day.
8. Limit your intake of animal fats, particularly red meat.
9. Avoid alcohol, or limit it to no more than one or two drinks per day. If you do drink alcohol, take a folic acid supplement, which moderates this risk.
10. Increase your intake of superfoods high in antioxidants, such as kale, beets, carrots, beans, collard greens, brussels sprouts, and broccoli.
11. Drink green juice.
12. Avoid dairy or use organic butter, cheese, and milk, as they are less likely to be contaminated with human growth hormone or estrogen, which is sometimes used to stimulate milk production in cows.
13. Use extra- virgin olive oil, raw flaxseed oil, and cod liver oil.
14. Expose yourself to the sun, which increases your levels of vitamin D.
15. Get mammograms (or investigate alternatives).
16. Know your family history. If you have a first- degree family member who was diagnosed with breast cancer before menopause, consider talking to a gene tic counselor.
17. Be aware of xenoestrogens, environmental chemicals that act like estrogen in the body and may increase your risk of breast cancer. While you can only do so much to avoid xenoestrogens in your own life (eat organic, avoid plastic, et cetera), heightened awareness and caring for our planet may help save us all.

[Q] Even though my husband thinks I'm super-sexy, I always feel bad about my body and my ability to pleasure him. What can I do about that?
[Rankin] Why are we are own worst critics? We blame men for all the pressure we feel to be thin, beautiful, and sexy, but we women are just as hard on ourselves. I know I'm just as guilty. I get dressed up in lacy lingerie, hearing Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" in my head. I start to wiggle a bit, feeling sassy and sexy. Then I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I become a deflated balloon, with all the air squeaking out of me in one lame hiss. Or I'll be in the middle of going down on my honey when all of a sudden I get self- conscious and insecure. What if I'm not doing it right? What if he's comparing me to his ex-girlfriend? What if he's secretly fantasizing about Jessica Alba? What if he's just wishing I'd get it over with already so he could go to sleep? These intrusive thoughts are enough to knock the sails out of even the sexiest woman. Of course, if I talk about my insecurities with my husband, he looks at me like I have two heads. He thinks I'm gorgeous and sexy and have as many moves as I need to please him and his disco stick.

How can we expect to be sexy when we're busy obsessing about the cellulite on our thighs, our pathetically small (or monstrously ginormous) boobs, our sagging butts, or the stretch marks on our bellies? Even those of us with seemingly perfect bodies will find minor imperfections to obsess over. My friend Laura Fenamore, founder of OnePinky.com, used to be very overweight, with the crappy body image that tends to accompany obesity. Then, she lost over a hundred pounds. But after losing the weight, she still hated her body and realized that the issue was much more than skin- deep. A while later, she met a gorgeous woman with a perfect body, who, as it turns out, despised her body, too. The two women made a "pinkie promise" that they would start to love their bodies by loving just their pinkie finger.
After all, what's not to love about a pinkie finger?

Maybe we can all start, one pinkie finger at a time. After you've made peace with your pinkie, your thumb, and your left elbow, try moving on to more difficult body parts, like your thighs, belly, and butt. How can we expect mind- blowing sex if we can't learn to love our own bodies? What kinds of messages are we sending to others in our lives if we constantly criticize ourselves?

Sheila Kelley recommends this self- touch exercise as a way to learn to love your body:
[Rankin] Put your hands lovingly on top of your head and let your hands drift slowly down your body. Let your mind stop and appreciate each part of your beautiful body. When you hear the voice of judgment, be kind to yourself. If your body were your child, you wouldn't say to the child the awful things you say about your body. It would constitute child abuse. Those negative words live in the bones, in the muscles, in the very cells of your body.
Positively reinforce your body. Spoil your body as if it's a gifted child you adore.
As for your husband, don't worry so much about how you make him happy. Think about how he makes you happy and let your bodies begin to talk in their own beautiful language. If that's not working for you, try some sexy affirmations: "I am luscious." "I bring rapture to my partner." "I am as super- sexy as my husband thinks I am." Say them hundreds of times. Write them on your walls. Leave yourself sticky notes on the toilet.
Over time, you just might start to believe it.

[Q] Why in the world would anyone ever want to be a gynecologist?
[Rankin] I know what you're thinking. We spend all day looking at naked women, so we must be a bunch of perverts, right? Does a woman do it because she's a closeted lesbian? Does a man do it because he's a sex fiend? But it's not like that. I swear. Nobody chooses this field because we get to stare at naked ladies all day long.

My call to medicine came early. I was only seven when I first started nurturing injured baby squirrels back to health, feeding them dog's milk with an eye-dropper every two hours throughout long nights. Plus, my father was a doctor, so I grew up in hospitals. By the time I was twelve, I scrubbed in on my first surgery, a hysterectomy performed by one of my dad's friends, who graciously let me, little punk that I was, don a pair of surgical scrubs and stand back with the anesthesiologist with my washed and gloved hands. When the uterus came out, the surgeon handed me the rose- colored chunk of bloodied tissue and said, "The uterus." I held it in my gloved hands, with a mixed feeling of repulsion and pride, and when we did rounds on the patient later that night I blurted out, "I held your uterus!" She looked at me like I was the fungus on a moldy piece of pizza, but I bragged about it for weeks at school, as if it was something I did every day.
"Oh yeah. I had to do surgery on Friday. Just a uterus. Not heart surgery or anything." So I guess gynecology coursed through my veins early on.
By the time I was a twenty- two- year- old medical student, I decided I would be an ophthalmologist, mostly because every doctor I met tried to talk me out of becoming an OB/GYN. "Terrible hours. No life. Crazy malpractice." The rant rang in my ears. But once I jumped in during my first clinical rotation in labor and delivery, there was no turning back. I became a junkie, and labor and delivery was my drug.

While I loved the adrenaline- pumped hustle of labor and delivery, what attracted me most was that I cared deeply about women and the issues we face. My chosen field is not about vaginas. It's about people. Even after all these years, I sit in awe of the beauty within each woman. Am I vagina obsessed? Well, I'm writing this book right now, so maybe. But really, being a gynecologist is about loving, empowering, and embracing women.
Vaginas are secondary. They just happen to need a little TLC from time to time.

Lissa Rankin is a practising Gynaecologist and lives in the US. She runs the Owning Pink Centre in Mill Valley, California.

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

Vijeta Engineering

2011-03-03T21:26:00.000+05:30

Company Profile

Trading and consultancy firm established in 2008 by experienced professionals.

We become single point contact for our customers to develop and supply international quality parts - Sample through mass production – A Complete solution at competitive "Total Cost of Ownership".

Our manufacturing resources are located in South India which has one of the fastest growing supplier market in PEM (Purchasing Emerging Market).

Parts developed and supplying to Automotive, Building and hardware industry.

Girish Educational and Charitable Trust

2011-03-03T21:22:00.000+05:30

Nature of Trust

The Trust shall be Private Charitable Trust having no commercial or profit motive. The properties, securities, moneys and income or profits thereof shall be applied in India solely for the purposes of the Trust without any discrimination of race, religion, caste or sex and no portion thereof shall be distributed among theTrustees.

Objects

The Trust is established for the Charitable and benevolent purpose of promoting the Physical, Mental, Social and Moral Advancement of all people without distinction of caste, creed, colour or community. This is proposed to be done in the following fields in the manner specified.

Branded for life

2010-07-22T09:32:00.001+05:30

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.

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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

2010-07-22T09:31:00.000+05:30

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?

2010-07-22T09:30:00.000+05:30

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

2010-07-22T09:27:00.001+05:30

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

2010-07-22T09:26:00.002+05:30

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

2010-07-22T09:26:00.001+05:30

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

2010-07-22T09:24:00.000+05:30

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

2010-07-14T09:12:00.000+05:30

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?

2010-07-14T09:11:00.000+05:30

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

2010-07-14T09:10:00.000+05:30

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

Aviation law and Management

Energy management

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

2010-07-14T09:09:00.000+05:30

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

2010-07-14T09:08:00.000+05:30

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?

2010-07-14T09:07:00.000+05:30

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

2010-07-14T09:06:00.000+05:30

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

2010-07-14T09:05:00.000+05:30

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:
FLV MP4 3GP

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:
FLV MP4 3GP

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?

2010-07-14T09:04:00.000+05:30

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

2010-07-14T09:03:00.002+05:30

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

2010-07-14T09:03:00.001+05:30

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'

2010-07-13T09:08:00.000+05:30

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

2010-07-13T09:07:00.000+05:30

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

2010-07-13T09:06:00.000+05:30

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

2010-07-13T09:05:00.002+05:30

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''

2010-07-13T09:05:00.001+05:30

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

2010-07-13T09:03:00.000+05:30

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

2010-07-12T09:06:00.000+05:30

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

2010-07-12T09:05:00.000+05:30

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

2010-07-12T09:04:00.000+05:30

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''

2010-07-12T09:02:00.002+05:30

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'

2010-07-12T09:02:00.001+05:30

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

2010-07-12T09:01:00.000+05:30

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

2010-07-12T09:00:00.000+05:30

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?

2010-07-12T08:59:00.000+05:30

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/

Solar plane takes off for 24-hour test flight

2010-07-09T09:09:00.001+05:30

An experimental solar-powered plane whose makers hope to one day circle the globe using only energy collected from the sun took off for its first 24-hour test flight Wednesday.

The plane with its 262.5-foot (80-meter) wingspan left Payerne airfield in Switzerland shortly before 7 a.m. (0500 GMT; 1 a.m. EDT) after an equipment problem that delayed a previous attempt was solved, the Solar Impulse team said.

Pilot Andre Borschberg will take the prototype to an altitude of 27,900 feet (8,500 meters) by Wednesday evening, when a decision will be made whether to fly the plane through the night using solar power stored in its batteries.

"The goal of the project is to have a solar-powered plane flying day and night without fuel," said team co-founder Bertrand Piccard, adding that this test flight - the third major step after its first 'flea hop' and an extended flight earlier this year - will demonstrate whether the ultimate goal is feasible: to fly the plane around the world.

"This flight is crucial for the credibility of the project," said Piccard, a record-breaking balloonist whose father and grandfather also accomplished pioneering airborne and submarine feats.

The team had hoped to make their 24-hour test flight last week when days in the northern hemisphere were even longer, allowing the plane's 12,000 solar cells to collect even more energy before attempting to coast through the night.

But there was a problem with a key piece of communications equipment, forcing the team to keep the plane on the ground while modifications were made. Every aspect of the aircraft is monitored by engineers on the ground, with much of it fed onto the team's website and Twitter page.

Borscherg, the plane's sole pilot, will decide by 8 p.m. (1800 GMT; 2 p.m. EDT) whether to continue through the night. If he goes ahead, the plane will slowly descend to 4,920 feet (1,500 meters) before midnight, where Borschberg will stay until attempting a dawn landing.

Piccard, who achieved the first nonstop circumnavigation of the globe in a balloon, the Breitling Orbiter III, in 1999, said that, if successful, the next step will be an Atlantic crossing. That will be done in a second, lighter prototype, involving new challenges and dangers, he said.

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

Interesting jobs and not big pay attract GenY

2010-07-09T09:07:00.000+05:30

It is not hefty pay packages but interesting job profile, faster career growth opportunities and comfortable work environment that drive Generation Y, says a new study by Steelcase Work-Space Futures, a US-based global office workspace solutions provider.

"There has been a large paradigm shift in the behaviour and expectations of young employees below 30 years of age. Good salary and brand attract them, but it takes a better working environment and fast growth opportunity to retain them," Sudhakar Lahade, senior researcher with the study said.

According to Lahade, most employers feel that paying good salary is not enough to keep the workforce happy. Though a good salary counts, it is the companies that offer them faster career growth opportunities, challenging assignments and interesting work profiles that attract them.

Also, the employees have different expectations from employers, who they feel should be sensitive to the employees' needs and comforts inside as well as outside the workplace. They also look to their employers to acknowledge the hard work they put in.

"Young people look for a workplace that is flexible, comfortable and relaxing so that they must be willing to spend time in office," Lahade added.

Also, unlike the earlier generation who had a rather detached approach to their office, the younger generation perceives the workplace as a platform not only to perform official duties but also for continuous learning and social networking, the study revealed.

"Workplace is not just a compulsive space but it's a refuge for them from the chaotic environment outside. So, they want facilities that are better than the outer world," he said. With 644 million people in India and China aged around 30, it is important for employers to understand the behaviour of the staff and create an amiable workplace.

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

Volkswagen unveils the New Volkswagen Vento in India

2010-07-09T09:06:00.000+05:30

Targeting the midsize sedan category, German auto giant Volkswagen on Tuesday unveiled its new locally manufactured sedan Volkswagen Vento in India.

It is expected to hit the Indian roads by October this year. "The mid- size market is doing very well in India and we are focusing on this segment. The car will have improved overall interior room, more powerful air conditioning systems, louder horn and suspension settings to suit Indian conditions.

For Pictures, Specs and More, Click Here

However, the company refused to divulge details about the price of the car. It said the price will be revealed only closer to the market launch of the car. "It will be Volkswagen's second volume model after Polo and will be coming as a premium entry- level sedan in the country. An official hinted that the price would be around Rs 9 lakh.

Polo is priced in the range of Rs 4.34 lakh to Rs 6.70 lakh ( ex- showroom, Delhi). The new Vento comes with a 1.6 litre engine in the petrol and diesel variants. It will be available in both manual and automatic transmission options. The new Vento is the seventh model in India from Volkswagen's stable. Currently, the company offers compact cars Beetle and Polo, premium sedans Phaeton, Passat and Jetta, and sports utility vehicle Touareg.

At present, the mid- size sedan segment in India comprises models like Hyundai Accent, Verna, Mahindra Logan, Ford Fusion and Honda City. Vento will be positioned above the Polo and below the Jetta. The car is being rolled out from the company's plant at Chakan, in Maharashtra.

Volkswagen has already invested 580 million euros for its Chakan plant, with an annual production capacity of 1.1 lakh units. The facility also manufactures the Fabia hatchback of group firm Skoda Auto.

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

First-ever total face transplant carried out in France

2010-07-09T09:05:00.000+05:30

A French surgeon has carried out the world's first-ever successful transplant of an entire face, the daily Le Parisien reported Thursday.

The 12-hour procedure was performed June 26 and 27 at the Henri-Mondor public hospital in Creteil, a suburb of Paris, by Laurent Lantieri.

The patient was a 35-year-old man whose face had been ravaged by neurofibromatosis, a genetic illness in which the nerve tissue grows tumours. It is also known as 'elephant man' disease.

The operation included removing the eyelids, their muscles and the tear ducts from an unidentified donor and grafting them onto the face of the patient, identified only as Jerome.

In April, a Spanish team of surgeons had claimed to carry out the world's first face transplant, but their procedure did not include the eyelids and tear ducts.

'He walks, he eats, he talks,' Lantieri said of Jerome. 'His beard has already begun to grow on his new face.'

The surgeon said Jerome was pleased with his new face. 'The first time he saw himself in the mirror, he raised both thumbs,' he said.

The risks for Jerome now are psychological and the threat of rejection of the new tissue by his body.

The operation took place five years after another landmark operation by French doctors, who transplanted the lower half of a face on a woman whose features had been disfigured by a dog.

Lantieri said his new project would be to carry out total face transplants on burn victims.

'I still have not resolved all the difficulties to carry out face transplants on this type of patient,' he said. 'That is my next challenge.'

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

China plans rail link to Pak via Karakoram

2010-07-09T09:04:00.000+05:30

After bringing a rail line close to the Indian border with Tibet, China is now gearing to push a rail link across the Karakorams into Pakistan through the Gilgit-Baltistan region that is part of the original state of Jammu and Kashmir.

As the first rail link across the Great Himalayas, the line running nearly 700 km from the historic Kashgar city in Xinjiang province to Havelian near Rawalpindi in northern Pakistan through the Khunjerab Pass will transform the geopolitics of western China. China also has plans to expand its rail links into Nepal and Myanmar.

According reports from Pakistan, Beijing and Islamabad are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding for a feasibility study on the rail project during the visit of President Asif Ali Zardari to China starting on Tuesday. The idea of a railway line that would link landlocked Xinjiang with the Arabian Sea has been under discussion for some years.

Back in 2007, China and Pakistan had signed a pact to conduct a preliminary investigation into the viability of the project. Chinese has completed a study on a rail project that must cross one of the most challenging terrains in the world.

If the two sides take the political decision to go ahead with the project during the visit of Zardari, a consortium of Chinese companies are likely to be constituted to explore the engineering and financial aspects of the project. China and Pakistan are also likely to approach various international lenders for financial assistance.

While the technical aspects of the trans-Karakoram rail link are indeed daunting, there is no denying the Chinese audacity in embracing difficult projects that are grand in conception and consequential in their impact.

Even before China had become rich, the People's Liberation Army had built at great cost the Karakoram highway between Xinjiang and Pakistan in the 1970s. The self-assurance of Chinese engineers and the geopolitical ambition of its security establishment has grown manifold since then.

India has traditionally objected to Chinese presence in the areas of J&K that are under Pakistan's control including the Karakoram highway. In recent years, India had renewed its protests as Chinese economic activity in PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan has rapidly increased.

While India's objections have not much impact on either China or Pakistan, other developments have cast a shadow over some of the trans-Karakoram projects. The unstable terrain of the Karakorams meant frequent landslides and the formation of artificial lakes that undermine the KKH and associated road networks.

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

Songs Women Like

2010-07-09T09:03:00.000+05:30

That saying men can’t live without women is stating the obvious. But it’s always nice once in a while to be serenaded and have your name shouted from the rooftops. And if our names weren’t shouted out loud, we took solace in shutting out eyes and imagining our names to be Suzanna, Carol, Chandni or Kiran.

Not lagging behind in matters of love was Hindi cinema. Growing up, these film songs were our daily staples.

Suzanna is what Hrithik sang to woo his wife. The song was originally sung by a Dutch band called ‘The Art Company’. It was an instant hit when it released in the 1980s. Almost two decades later, the song still rocks on.

Download:

FLV MP4 3GP

When Rishi Kapoor sang Chandni, o meri Chandni, most of our us wanted our names to be Chandni. If we can’t look like Sridevi or have a Rishi Kapoor woo us, the least we can close our eyes and pretend like the song is sung just for us.

Download:

FLV MP4 3GP

Aicha was sung in French by Algerian singer Cheb Khaled. But the language barrier didn’t stop the non-French-speaking world from singing along. Sing we did, even if we didn’t understand a word of what we were crooning.

Download:

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Humko Mary nahin Mangta
Humko Lily nahin Mangta
Humko Sandra from Bandra nahin Mangta
Toh kaun Mangta?
Julie Julie, Johnny a dil tum pe aaya Julie

The first time I heard this song was on a TV show Mithun was a part of. He danced to it at the request of Vivek Oberoi. I can’t help but gush, that even at this age, you watch him perform and fall instantly in love with him. I wonder how I missed this song while growing up. Mithun’s brilliant dancing makes you want to watch the song again and again.

Download:

FLV MP4 3GP

Oh! Carol, I am but a fool,
Darling I love you tho’ you treat me cruel,
You hurt me and you made me cry
But if you leave me I will surely die

Oh Carol has to be one of the most sung songs by lovers to their girlfriends or wives. Way back in 1959, Neil Sedaka knew what exactly to say, rather sing, to show his love to his then girlfriend, singer/songwriter Carole King. Can any woman resist a man after he professes such undying love?

Download:

FLV MP4 3GP

This song doesn’t really need an introduction. “I love you, Kkkkkiran” should be enough to tell which film I’m talking about. A crazy Shah Rukh sings his love for Juhi in this movie. Some of did wish it was us SRK was singing to.

Download:

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When these songs released, they became such sensations that parents named their daughters after them. And the rest of us wished our names were sung too.

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

IT firms get wiser to employees faking experience

2010-07-09T09:02:00.000+05:30

The Indian information technology (IT) industry is waking up to fight organised malpractices, especially after the recent exposure of 800 IT professionals in Bangalore with fake experience certificates.

To preserve brand image, top IT firms are even taking the legal route. Some companies have formed separate cells to audit internal hiring processes.

A senior executive from a large IT firm said, "We have been cautious about it, though cases of laterals showing up fake experience certificates isn't new. As a precautionary measure, we have banned employees coming from certain smaller black-listed firms."

There are no panic buttons on yet, but such scams can erode the brand value of IT firms that highly depend on clients based out of the US and UK-Europe.

At Wipro (WIPRO.NS : 395.4 0) Technologies, there is an in-built Talent Quality Group (TQG), which constantly evaluates the internal hiring process. "Since the inception of TQG, the background verification failures in the organisation have seen a drastic drop. However, if candidates are later proved with incorrect documents, we take it up legally," said Pradeep Bahirwani, vice-president, talent acquisition, Wipro.

At Mahindra Satyam (SATYAM.BO : 91.4 0), random audits and reference checks are a common practice, said Mukund Mennon, vice-president, HR. "Besides termination, we would look at legal action if the candidate has brought any material damage to the business," he added. Also, mid- tier firms seem to have witnessed certain instances.

Ganesh Natarajan, vice-chairman and CEO, Zensar Technologies, said: "We have a number of instances over the last two years. However, we have been able to keep a check on these. Only three cases in last two years came to light and we had asked them to leave immediately."

Nasscom, the industry body for the IT and ITeS industry, had formed a National Skills Registry (NSR) that develops a permanent fact sheet of information about each professional along with background check reports. Raju Bhatnagar, vice-president, Nasscom, said: "We started NSR in 2007. However, we are seeing it picking up with the IT firms now. At our end, we have ensured that primary requirements are not violated."

On a per employee basis, the cost involved at NSR is Rs 250 as one-time joining cost and Rs 50 as annual fee. Still, just over 6.6 lakh of the total 22 lakh professionals are registered.

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

Chocolaty boys or feisty girls?

2010-07-09T09:01:00.000+05:30

Your upbringing influences who you fancy? We tell you more...

If you had to choose, would you want your lover to be good looking or funny? Where does character fall in your check-list? Do you expect your partner to be romantic or loaded with money? It’s not a surprise to know that when it comes to choosing a partner, some women prefer men who make them laugh, some prefer them to be rugged, some men opt for those who catch their eye and some put brains over beauty. And thank god for this subjectivity.

What comes as a startling discovery is that some researchers have found a pattern in this subjectivity. The researchers had predicted that girls at single-sex schools would prefer more feminine boys, while boys at all male schools would prefer more masculine girls. Consistent with the predictions, the study suggests that female students surrounded every day by girls are more attracted to feminine looking boys, such as High School Musical star Zac Efron, while boys at all-male schools are more likely to go for girls with more masculine qualities.

This research work echoes previous research that has shown that exposure can affect people’s judgments of the ‘normality’, and attractiveness. Young sociologist Akash Acharya explains, “Our views and norms are shaped by our culture. It is not fixed and frozen in absolute. Just like when culture is in transition, social norms change. What was considered novel then is normal now. It’s all about the society you live in.” He also compares this understanding to the age old debate of nature versus nurture. He states, “Tastes, shapes, preferences are not only genetic but also shaped the way in which we live and the culture we live in.”

Furthermore, according to the research, the impact of this visual diet weakens if students are exposed to siblings of opposite sex at home. Explains psychiatrist Kammlesh Dave who deals with youth regularly, “Your taste does boil down to your upbringing. In my opinion, co-ed schools provide better understanding of the opposite sex. Single sex schools impact your understanding of the opposite sex and this could result in differences in the psyche.”

No wonder then that model Freddie Darruwala who has studied in a single sex school lists down qualities that are associated with men generally. When asked what were the qualities he would appreciate in his partner, he says, “The first thing is confidence. I look for the way she carries herself. And I know understanding and humour are a man’s traits but we men appreciate our women possessing them too.” Hoping he is not expecting too much, he adds, “I like women who are passionate about their career and well-aware.”

Unaware and unbiased about this study he also added he would love to meet women who drive well. And Sheela Nair, a convent student says, “Definition of attractive differs from person to person. As far as I am concerned, I was among the ones who were swooning over Craig Bond while many women were disgusted with a pouty bond. They thought pout was a female thing.”

Well, the research may have certain points of agreement or argument.

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

Do We Have The Right To Die?

2010-07-09T09:00:00.000+05:30

The other day as I was browsing through channels, I stumbled upon the heartrending story of Aruna Shanbaug, a nurse who has been lying unconscious in a vegetative state for the last 36 years at Mumbai’s King Edward Memorial Hospital.

Aruna Shanbaug who worked as a nurse was sodomized and strangulated with a dog chain on the hospital premises by a ward boy on November 27, 1973. The brutal attack had sent her into a coma from which she never recovered. The asphyxiation cut off the oxygen supply to her brain. As a result, she has become cortically blind – her eyes can see but her brain does not register the images.

She is now brain-dead. She cannot speak, hear or see; and she is force-fed everyday. Doctors who have been attending to her say that there is no hope of her recovery. What is more shocking, is that her assailant is roaming free after serving his term and continues to work as a ward boy in another city.

Pinki Virani, a journalist by profession, who followed Aruna Shanbaug’s story for years, had filed a petition with the Supreme Court to end Aruna’s life. She had asked the SC to order the hospital to stop force feeding her, allowing her to die in about four days.

This was not the first time that a mercy killing petition has gone to the courts. In 2004, a terminally-ill Indian chess champion became a focus of an euthanasia debate before he died in a hospital.

Venkatesh, 25, was suffering from a genetic neurological disorder and was on life-support for more than seven months. Both the hospital authorities and the Andhra Pradesh High Court refused his request to turn off his life support system, saying that would amount to an illegal mercy killing.

Every few years, a mercy killing plea makes it to the headlines and there is a great deal of public debate, but nothing really changes. The moot question here is should Aruna Shanbaug be left in such a vegetative state rather than be allowed the right to die as doctors have already said that she has not the slightest chance of recovery?

Many would say that there is a difference when it comes to Venkatesh’s and Aruna’s case, as Venkatesh wanted to donate his organs as he suffered from a genetic neurological disorder and wanted his life support system turned off before his organs suffered irreparable damage.

But in Aruna’s case, one will never be able to say if she wants to die or live. Many of us can ask what right does Pinki Virani have to ask for a stranger’s death, no matter how noble her intention is. Only if Aruna would have left a will stating that she would want to die rather than go through the torment of being in a vegetative state, things would have been a bit easier for Pinki Virani as she could have turned to countries like Netherlands and Switzerland where mercy killings have been legalised.

But in India, we have no law that validates a living will where a terminally ill patient is allowed to decide whether he wants to live or die. Even proponents of Euthanasia or assisted suicides in India, feel that such a law if passed can be misused by the people where cases of honour killing make it to the headlines every other day.

An article in the Open Magazine, ‘The Death Debate’, states:

In Switzerland, the right to die is extended to tourists. In fact, a group called Dignitas organises suicides for foreigners for a fee. “The Indian Constitution speaks about the right to equality. If you are rich, you can go to Switzerland and get a dignified death. But a poor person cannot, and so isn’t his right to equality violated?”

But even in Switzerland, concerns have been raised as the Swiss Academy for Medical Sciences believes the process happens too quickly, and wants regulations requiring a patient to have repeated discussions with his or her doctor over an extended period.

Be it assisted suicide or Euthanasia, the act of killing if legalised will come under heavy criticism from religious groups who feel that the right to live is a gift of God and only God has the right to take away a life. There will be many who from the very onset will oppose such a law being passed in India and I have no problems against those who give thumbs down to such a legislation being passed.

But has the time not come where we can at least have a debate weighing the pros and cons of ‘Euthanasia’ and amend a special law where people in some special cases can be awarded the right to die? Whatever be the outcome of such a debate, one thing is for sure that a single ruling in favour of mercy killing could change the way we look at life, good or bad.

In the end, it is up to us to decide what is more humane – ending a life or letting someone live in a vegetative state.

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

No women in Army?

2010-07-08T09:03:00.000+05:30

THE Centre moved the Supreme Court on Tuesday against a March 12 Delhi High Court order to induct women as permanent commissioned officers in the army. The appeal was filed a day after the high court issued notice on a plea by some woman officers seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against army chief, General V. K. Singh, and others for not complying with the directions in the March 12 judgment.

All this time, the defence ministry had neither complied with the directions nor filed an appeal - till July 6 when the contempt petition came up for consideration before the high court. The army on Tuesday issued a formal press release stating that the high court had not issued any contempt notice but had only sought an explanation on the issue.

"In this matter, the ministry of defence has filed a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court," the release said. The army refused to concede that it had failed to act within a timeframe and taken a long time to arrive at a decision.

A senior army officer at the defence ministry's South Block HQ said: "We had to send our response on the issue to the ministry. It was supposed to file the SLP. It took some time to consult some people, including the solicitor general." He said even if the aggrieved women army officers had not approached the high court with the contempt-of-court By Gyanant Singh in New Delhi Woman army officers are demanding permanent commission case, the SLP would have been filed around this time.

Sources said the Centre, in the SLP against the verdict, had sought an interim stay on the operation of the verdict till the matter was decided. On a batch of petitions by serving and retired women officers from the army and air force, the court had ruled they had the right to be treated on a par with male officers. Though the IAF had complied with the order, the army was resisting it.

The army, opposing the petitions, argued that if permanent commission was granted to women officers, there would be a danger of coming in contact with the enemy. The court brushed aside the argument, saying that the plea had no basis "since the women officers are not being inducted in combat".

Allowing the petition by the women, the court noted that they had served the armed forces well in the areas of operation they were recruited for, and had worked for 14-15 years. "They deserved better from the respondents," the court said, noting that a permanent commission carried with it certain privileges of rank, including pension. "We end this judgment with the hope that, with the expanding horizon of women participation in different walks of life, the respondents would be encouraged to have larger participation of women in more areas of operation, both for short service commission and permanent commission," Justices S. K. Kaul and M. C. Garg had said.

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

Daydreaming is Good, Says Research

2010-07-08T09:02:00.000+05:30

“Priya, are you sleepy?” boomed the voice from the other side of the screen in the conference room where we were undergoing training via video conference.

“Err, why? No, am right here,” I mumbled vainly in defence.

I hadn’t even realised I had my head down on the table while I doodled away happily, oblivious to the technical jargon that zip-zap-zoomed over my head. Damn! It slipped my mind that even though it’s just a TV monitor, unlike in a television, in a video conference, the people on the other side actually get to SEE what you’re doing!

But I really wasn’t sleepy, I swear I wasn’t. I guess my mind just needed a break from work, so it wandered to somewhere more interesting. Of course, I must admit, this isn’t the first time that it has done so. Right from my chemistry and maths classes in school to boring press conferences when I started working, my mind has often ditched me for greener pastures – where I indulged in fairytale romances and Oprah Winfrey-esque success stories.

Psychologists have a term for it – daydreaming – you know the kind you do with your eyes wide open. And, they have theories on it ranging from neurosis to psychosis!

If an uncontrollable desire to escape from those complex chemical and mathematical formulae be akin to neurosis, so be it. What’s school if you can’t run away from it; or for a brief moment, dream? “By holding my arms out stiff and pushing down hard, I found I could suspend myself a few feet above ground. I flapped harder, and soon I was soaring effortlessly over the trees and telephone poles!” Or, at least, be transmogrified like Calvin to a world with imaginary numbers such as Eleventeen?

If a seeking spirit that transports me beyond the claustrophobic cubicles of an MNC and teleports me to a serendipitous world be psychosis, I’d rather be psychotic than a slave.

Daydreaming is an escapist’s haven, I tell you – where one can not just dream of the impossible but sometimes, even strike on a brilliant idea. You know, have that quintessential “dimaag ka batti jala de” moment. I have written a whole manuscript of ‘The Princess who Wasn’t'(working title) along several such wanderings during conferences and training sessions. Now if only that million-dollar book deal ‘really’ comes through, I’ll put it all down on my laptop.

The catch is, such creativity doesn’t flow when it comes to writing ‘real’ stories. A simple act of filing a news story proves to be a painful act of deliberation. But looks like now I can overcome such writers’ block with a little daydreaming. After all, researchers have “found daydreaming to be remarkably common — and often quite useful.”

See, I toldjaso! Daydreamers are the most misunderstood genius (with apologies to Bill Waterson).

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

Idea engineers, anyone?

2010-07-08T09:01:00.000+05:30

A few months ago, a United States-based global financial services firm was facing a sticky situation with its structured products. Its products were positioned as something that could be consumed only by high net worth individuals while the firm was keen to expand into the wider retail market.

Problem: Its stiff image was scaring away small-time investors. So, it decided to rope in SapientNitro, touted as a customer experience specialist, to attract retail consumers. The firm's brief: Take abstract values and make them look like tangible products in a digital environment.

At SapientNitro, a group of user-experience professionals, copy writers and art directors headed by Jyothish Nair, the Associate Creative Director, set an online design strategy that helped the financial services firm get retail customers.

Think next generation of creative teams. When an American shoemaker decided to roll out an application that would enable its buyers to customise shoes on their iPhones, who did it turn to? Or when a beverages giant decided to roll out themebased cans from its vending machines, who did it approach?

The answer to both these questions is customer experience creators, or idea engineers, as Sapient, an IT services firm that SapientNitro is a division of, calls them. And with a lot of this work being done out of India, talent is in demand.

Explains Prashant Bhatnagar, Director (Hiring) at Sapient India: "Digital is at the core of business. Companies in any sector require digital channels to engage customers." These technology platforms vary: it could be a website, social media, smartphones and even a mobile application.

Companies like Adobe Systems India, which has an experience design group, see big demand for this profile. "It's a growing tribe and getting talent is very difficult," says Jaleel Abdul, Director (Human Resources).

The line between creative and technology profiles seems to have blurred. Adobe looks at non-technology companies to hire from and visits campuses like that of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. "We are looking for left-right brain combinations," says Abdul.

These teams include brand strategists, creative experts, technologists and programme managers. Explains Gita Dang, technology hiring expert and Founder-Director of Talent Advisory Services, a boutique executive search firm: "These roles could vary, but almost always involve converting technology into a product offering for the user."

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

Time says sorry to Indian-Americans

2010-07-08T09:00:00.002+05:30

A humour column that appeared in the July 5 edition of Time magazine sparked outrage and allegations of racism among the Indian-American community, prompting the article's author, Joel Stein, and the magazine to issue embarrassed public apologies.

The article, titled "My Own Private India" was meant to be a funny description of how an influx of Indian immigrants has transformed Stein's hometown of Edison, New Jersey.

Click here to read the controversial column

Nearly a third of Edison's population is of Indian descent. But Stein's jokes - which include riffs on the spiciness of Indian food, large Indian families, hate crimes that occurred in the 1980s against Indian-Americans, and India's poverty - prompted furious petitions and letters from Indian-Americans.

The magazine ran an apology on the same day, saying, "[The article] was in no way intended to cause offense." Stein wrote in the original article: "When I was a kid, a few engineers and doctors from Gujarat moved to Edison... For a while, we assumed all Indians were geniuses.... In the 1980s, the doctors and engineers brought over their merchant cousins... In the 1990s, the not-as-brilliant merchants brought their even-less-bright cousins, and we started to understand why India is so damn poor."

But his most controversial joke took aim at Dotbusters, thugs who perpetrated violent hate crimes against Indian Americans in Edison in the 1980's. Stein wrote, "My townsfolk started calling the new Edisonians' dot heads.'... In retrospect, I question just how good our schools were if 'dot heads' was the best racist insult we could come up with for a group of people whose gods have multiple arms and an elephant nose."

The advocacy group South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) launched an online petition asking the editors of Time to organise a panel discussing the article's impact and to dedicate a special space in the magazine's upcoming edition to response from the Indian-American community.

Hollywood actor Kal Penn shot off a column in the online magazine The Huffington Post, in which he slammed Stein's article for using cliche jokes.

Click here to read Kal Penn's column

In an addendum dated July 2, Stein wrote, "I was trying to explain how, as someone who believes immigration has enriched American life ... I was shocked I could feel a tiny bit uncomfortable with my changing town when I went to visit it."

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

The Most High-Tech Green Buildings

2010-07-08T09:00:00.001+05:30

In England there is a building made with insulation that can be inflated or deflated to adjust to outside temperatures. In Germany there is a house designed to be easily disassembled and recycled. The New York Times Co. building is draped in shades that automatically adjust to the movement of the sun. In Milwaukee a museum changes its very shape to shade itself.

The point of a building is to keep its inhabitants comfortable: Humans want to be warm (but not too warm) and dry. The problem comes in providing heating or cooling, and replacing the light lost when the sun is shut out. The solutions are becoming ever more creative.

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"Heat and light are the things people are most concerned about, and they are the things that take energy," says Brendon Levitt, an architect with the San Francisco Bay Area firm Loisos + Ubbelohde, which specializes in so-called high-performance buildings. He also teaches construction technology at California College of the Arts.

To keep people comfortable and happy in a way that limits the amount of energy needed, architects and engineers are coming up with new materials, technology and approaches to building design, construction and management.

Levitt points to buildings that have been constructed over the last several years that automatically shade themselves with window devices or by changing shape; ones that filter wastewater through plants so it can be reused; and ones that document and broadcast information about how they are behaving.

Buildings are being powered differently, too, of course, by things like solar panels and fuel cells. Companies like AeroVironment are developing small-scale wind turbines for buildings, and companies like United Technologies are finding ever more clever ways to capture and reuse the heat otherwise wasted by a building's heating and cooling system.

Sensor systems designed by companies like Johnson Controls and Honeywell are being added all over buildings to track occupancy, carbon dioxide levels and lighting levels and adjust the environment accordingly. Data on energy and water management are being gathered and broadcast by systems like those created by Lucid Design Group in ways that allows owners to track and compare information.

According to Scot Horst of the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit membership group that devised the environmental and energy design standards known as LEED, the movement to make buildings more efficient was initially spearheaded by architects. Now, though, he says it is being driven by the architects' clients.

"We've been building bad buildings for so long that people realize they don't want to buy them or lease them because they cost too much to manage," he says.

There is also what he calls a healthy competition among companies to become and appear more green. PNC Financial Services built one of the first LEED-certified buildings, in 2000, and now claims to have more new certified green buildings than any other company. Bank of America completed a skyscraper in Manhattan last year that was the first to attain the highest LEED certification, platinum. Wells Fargo has announced a plan to certify its branches.

One big issue, however, remains. A building can be designed perfectly, but it can still waste a lot of energy if the occupants leave the air conditioning running with the windows open or don't shut the lights off. Horst estimates the responsibility for the performance of a building is split three ways: one-third is determined by the design, one-third by how it is managed and one-third by how people inside behave.

Levitt, the architect with Loisos + Ubbelohde, says there is plenty of technology already available for designers to use, but there are still a few things he'd like to see in the future. He has hopes for materials that could be used for insulation or even in windows that can change to let more or less heat or light through.

He'd like thermostats that can better evaluate human comfort, and perhaps expand the tiny range of temperature and humidity that buildings are designed to operate in. He'd also like to find efficient ways to customize spaces within buildings so a person wearing short sleeves isn't shivering from an overzealous air conditioner while the guy in the suit next door is sweating.

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

India Inc's hiring jumps 21% in June

2010-07-08T08:59:00.000+05:30

India Inc's hiring activity grew by 21 per cent in June this year compared to the year-ago period, led by the improving business sentiment, job portal naukri. com said in a report.

Naukri.com's monthly job index - JobSpeak - moved up to 947 in June this year compared to 784 in the same month of 2009.

Hiring activity in June also showed an improvement over the previous month, with the job index increasing by four per cent in June from 913 in May, the study revealed.

"Companies are actively hiring now and have shed their 'waitand watch' policy. The hiring growth in June is secular in nature, with a balanced rise seen across all sectors and cities," Info Edge (owner of naukri. com) chief operating officer (COO) and director Hitesh Oberoi said.

Meanwhile, according to Elixir, a leading recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) company, India is going to add about 11 million workforce annually and will have 574 million staff by 2015.

"The government has reportedly announced an estimated 2.5 per cent annual growth in employment and a possibility of creating 570 million jobs over the next five years," the company said in a statement.

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

Bosses Behaving Badly

2010-07-08T08:58:00.000+05:30

"She threw her computer monitor at me."

"She said she wanted a mentee, but she really wanted a slave."

Bad Boss Stories

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"I drove an hour across town to get her sushi. When I gave it to her, she threw it out and told me she'd changed her mind."

You don't have to watch The Office to know bad boss behavior when you see it. Sure, Steve Carrell's character is a textbook example of just about every boss don't: passive aggressive, micromanaging, insanely inane requests. But the premise of Michael Scott is real enough, and can be found in nearly every office.

No one has a better handle on bad bosses than their employees. Just ask them. We did, and we have nightmare boss scenarios from men and women who were eager to share their personal stories (provided we kept their names anonymous). We boiled down the most frequent offenses and asked executive coach Anna Marie Valerio, Ph.D. for her official stamp of (dis)approval and pointers for turning a bad work relationship around.

Micromanaging Our first case is a manager in the publishing industry who insisted upon being cc'd on every one of her employees' e-mail correspondences. "She would routinely respond to our e-mails correcting wording or chastising us for the smallest grammatical mistakes," an employee shares.

Resistance to TMS (too much supervision) is normal. While you have a responsibility to your boss, there are times when people ask too much from you without cause.

"The problem may be that she is paying too much attention to small details because she either has blinders on to the bigger scope of the company, or she is being kept in the dark by her own supervisors, which can create insecurity and bad behavior," says Valerio, author of Developing Women Leaders.

If you think your boss is asking for more information than you think is necessary, there is no inherent harm in asking why. In a proactive and positive way, that is, because there may be a legitimate reason she needs, in the example of one real estate broker's boss, "every detail about every client meeting she doesn't feel like attending."

Before you talk to your supervisor, though, ask a trusted colleague on another team if this micromanaging behavior is endemic to the company. Also, strategize some open-ended questions for your boss, such as "I'd like to talk about all the information you need from me. I'm wondering how you see it fits into your vision and the big picture of the company."

"It is a gentle yet proactive way to alert the manager to back off and it can drive the manager to seek out the big picture, which will ultimately help them to be a better supervisor," says Valerio.

Liar, Liar Lying is hard to tolerate in any circumstance, but when your boss is a liar it's sure to foul the workplace dynamic. One professional shares her tale of the time her boss's lies caught up with him: "He told me I could not take my approved vacation because his own supervisor had planned a retreat for the company during the same week. But my vacation had been approved months in advance and was paid for--and non-refundable." The worker was told the supervisor expected her to attend the retreat.

Not only was it infuriating, but it wasn't true. "He had never explicitly asked his supervisor," she says. In a show of boldness, she asked her boss's boss herself and was told, of course, that she could go on her vacation as planned.

This lied-to employee did precisely the right thing, says Valerio. "Lying is a symptom of unfair treatment in the workplace," she says, pointing out other similar types of unfair behaviors, such as favoritism and ignoring certain employees, or rewarding the work of some and not others.

Her advice in tackling unfairness is to work around the supervisor, and create your own networks at work. As a result, you won't have to rely on any one person, precisely what the vacationing worker did by circumventing her manager and heading directly to his boss.

"It's very difficult to confront a boss directly about fairness since it can easily come across as combative or accusatory," says Valerio. "Instead, look around to co-workers. If you're not receiving truthful information from your manager, you may be able to get it elsewhere if you've built a good network of peers within the company."

Aggression: Active and Passive "It was my first day on the job, and it was particularly stressful," shares a junior professional then based in Texas. "We were working hard to get a last-minute event ready, and by 6 p.m. I had finished the paperwork I was responsible for. I decided it would be best for me to get out of everyone's way and leave the office for the day. When I stopped by my boss's office to say goodnight, her response was to pick up her computer monitor and throw it at me. It hit the wall, but she threw a computer at me!"

Lucky for the crazed boss, no suits were filed and the young employee reported for work the next morning. Tail between her legs, the supervisor apologized for "unprofessional behavior," but the relationship between the two was never completely mended.

Workplace aggression appears in more insidious and more frequent ways than flying computers, as evidenced by this story from an advertising sales coordinator. "I'd send my boss an e-mail in the morning with a question or pressing issue that I knew was time-sensitive, and then spend all day waiting for a response," she begins. "I'd go to lunch, and come back. Nothing."

Her boss, she says, was in the office, and the two would exchange small-talk, but the e-mail would go unresolved. "She'd even e-mail me about other things, like lunch reservations or orders tracked. But it wouldn't be until 4:59 that I'd get a response--too late for me to do anything about it but just early enough to catch me before I left the office. It really was infuriating."

Here again, says Valerio, that's just plain bad form. "Bosses behaving badly would do well to remember that their reputation will get around," she says. Employees are quicker to gossip about bad bosses than good ones, and a reputation as a bad leader or a passive-aggressive supervisor could ultimately cost a manager top-notch employees who either leave or do B or C level work for them.

"A manager's ultimate responsibility is to manage talent within their team to better the company as a whole, a win-win," says Valerio. "When someone loses sight of that mission, that's most often when we see bad behavior. It's a losing situation for everyone involved--the employee, the manager, and most importantly, the entire organization."

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

6 fair-weather summer retreats

2010-07-08T08:57:00.002+05:30

Asia's well known for its thermometer-busting temps, especially in summer. So if you're feeling the need to speed away to cooler climes, try these six refreshing breaks, sure to chill you out in more ways than one.

Dalat, Vietnam

They don't call Dalat "Le Petit Paris" for nothing. Just as French colonialists picked Dalat as their summer retreat in Vietnam in the 19th century, tourists and locals nowadays still swarm to the picturesque city to escape the sweltering summer heat.

Sitting some 1,500 meters above sea level, Dalat lures punch-drunk honeymooners all year round for its lush natural landscape, ersatz Euro vibes and moderate climes, which averages 17 degrees Celsius round the year. Many travelers love the city for its French colonial architecture, but if Dr Seuss-like surrounds are not your cup, head down to the serene Tuyen Lam Lake to unwind, or give yourself a visual shock at the Gaudi-like Hang Nga Crazy House.

Chengde Mountain Resort, China

Where emperors came to rest: Chengde Mountain Resort. Construction for the complex spanned the reign of three consecutive emperors.

It's all in the name: Hebei province's Chengde Mountain Resort is known to the Chinese as Bishu Shanzhuang, which literally translates as "Mountain Resort for Avoiding the Heat."

The summer palace provided solace and a whiff of cool air for Qing-era Chinese royalty when it got too hot and sticky in Beijing in the summer. The palace took 89 years to build and it's not hard to see why: at 5.6 square kilometers, it's the largest imperial garden in China, complete with 72 scenic sites that recreate famous landscapes and waterscapes from around the country. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

These days the mountain resort entertains tourists rather than royalty, with a smattering of snack vendors, a small airport outside town, and a kitschy yurt hotel inside the palace.

Manali, India

River Bea at Manali's Rohtang pass, fed by monsoon rains. For centuries, locals, trippers, and British colonials have been hiding away from the Indian summer heat at the Manali hill station.

Even during the summer months, the mercury rarely climbs past 20 degrees Celsius at Manali, which sits 1,950 meters above sea level some 550 kilometers from Delhi.

It's primarily known in the Western world for its adventure sports (there's even "extreme yak sport" on the menu), while honeymooners like it for its verdant mountain landscape, hot springs and Tibetan Buddhist temples.

Furano, Japan

Lavender fields forever at Hokkaido's Furano. Look no further than the city of Furano in Hokkaido for lavender fields, that enduring Japanese postcard motif.

Hokkaido is famous for being a top Asian skiing spot but in summer it's Furano, in all its blossoming glory, that draws travelers. Farm Tomita reliably showcases neat lavender fields every summer, and there are poppies, lupins, lilies and sunflower blossoms around town from July till September.

Hokkaido is the northernmost province in Japan and is generally cooler than other parts of the country, making it hugely popular with summer home buyers and vacationers.

Haputale, Sri Lanka

Hazy charms at Sri Lankan mountain town Haputale. Haputale, which perches on the southern edge of the Sri Lankian central highlands, is 1,579 meters above sea level, so travelers are guaranteed a pleasant chill all year round.

Traces of Sri Lanka's British legacy can be found in the numerous tea plantations around the town, among them the Dambatenne Tea Estate, which still processes tea leaves using Victorian machines.

Haputale is spectacular at dawn, with bundled-up Tamils selling English vegetables on the streets in swirling mist. The sheer mountain landscape also makes it the perfect setting for snap-happy tourists.

Doi Tong, Thailand

The Asian Switzerland? Much of Doi Tong has an Alpine-meets-Thai aesthetic. The hilly region of Doi Tong at the northern tip of Thailand is billed by the government as the "Switzerland of Thailand" and no, it's not an oxymoron: Doi Tong's architecture and greenery do evoke images of the Alpine country.

Make that mini-me Switzerland with a Thai twist. Wat Phra That Doi Tung, a circa-1000 AD Buddhist temple, reportedly contains the Buddha's collarbone. Doi Tung Royal Villa was the final home of Thailand's Princess Mother and was built in fanciful Swiss-meets-Lanna style. Doi Tong's elevation (which peaks at nearly 1,400 meters above ground level) and higher latitude makes it cooler than many other parts of the country.

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

Get your jeans right!

2010-07-08T08:57:00.001+05:30

1. Check your body type If you're thin or medium sized, opt for skinny jeans as these will instantly give you a taller appearance. However, if you want to look curvy, then try out low-rise jeans in a cotton and lycra blend. Even extra pockets and embellishments will help you add bulk to your frame.

2. Mind the colour Stick to dark colours if you want your thighs to appear smaller. They slim down your whole body and makes your legs look thinner. Stay away from gaudy and over-worked jeans.

3. Look for comfort Comfort is very important as jeans are usually worn for long hours. When you try on a pair, you should be able to comfortably slide the hand between your tummy and the jean. Also, try sitting down and make sure the jeans don't cut into your midsection.

4. Flat tummy If you want to flatten your tummy, then try medium to high rise jeans in dark colour. Choose jeans that are not too tight and do not grab too much from the waist side.

5. Hip issues Those who want to minimise wide hips should go for flare or boot cut jeans. If you're slim and have small hips, then skinny or even straight cut jeans can go well with your body type.

6. For short legs If you have short legs, then try out straight leg jeans as they will add inches to the upper portion of your legs and waist. Avoid wearing tapered and flared jeans.

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

Sometimes it is better to be asexual

2010-07-08T08:56:00.000+05:30

As I watched my friend walk up the road to where I stood, I couldn't help but take note of the vivid blue sari she was wearing and accessories that matched. There's nothing exceptional about a woman dressing up, except that most successful female professionals I've known wear clothes that they are sure will not draw attention to themselves. And at a time when the spotlight is on 'distracting' female attire, thanks to Debrahlee Lorenzana's claim that she got fired from Citibank because of her bodacious clothes, these professionals do seem justified in 'dressing-down'. My friend was a contrarian in that sense - just in her early thirties, she is hugely successful professionally and already the branch head of her company in Delhi. And she's anything but coy about her looks - she candidly admits that she gets a 'high' looking at herself in the mirror after she dresses up for work. "And if I feel good about myself, I'm confident and I know my day will go well," she said.

I couldn't help wondering how she managed to ward off unwanted attention with her stunning looks. With tales of sexual harassment spilling out of staid corporate offices, how did a head-turner like her manage in her dealings with politicians, industrialists and lawyers? "At work, I'm a completely asexual person," she said. I knew what she meant - for all her good looks, any expression of warmth on her face was reserved only for people she liked a great deal.

But even that ploy doesn't work always. Many successful women complain they can't go networking over beer in a bar, it just seemed to give out the wrong ideas.

My friend is lucky that her husband moves in the same professional circles, so they can do the beer thing together in a bar. "And once when I had an old fogey trying to flirt with me, I called out to my husband who was there and asked, "Hey, why don't you talk to me like that anymore?" The gentleman got the idea," she recalls.

But unlike my friend, attracting attention or being distracting - now that's something most women who want to make a mark professionally steer clear of. In a way, they try to be asexual too, especially in sectors which are very male-dominated and don't have women in the core areas. Only they don't describe it as being 'asexual'. An acquaintance, who is a consultant, remarked how she chose to wear only black silks with different-coloured borders to work. "I want the focus directed towards my presentations and so I avoid clothes that distract. However, I wear a sari and not business suits even when I attend conferences abroad because I like to draw attention to my nationality," she says.

Ask a senior woman executive on general tips for the female workforce and you can be sure there will be some advice on 'sensible clothes' too. There's something to be said in favour of these tips, perhaps.

Earlier, a law firm in the UK had tried to ban fishnet stockings to work because they were "distracting" - the ban was never enforced after a female employee blew the whistle on the proposal and invited a flood of furious protests. Would items from a man's wardrobe be banned too if the women found them distracting, they demanded to know. But till there's a sartorial revolution in the workplace, the most sensible of the lot will stick to being 'asexual', perhaps. Guess what? A UK law firm once tried to ban fishnet stockings because it 'distracted'. But it failed to do so

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

More Indian Americans contesting polls this year

2010-07-07T09:28:00.000+05:30

With the rise of 'desi power', as people of Indian origin call themselves, a record number of Indian Americans are running for public office this year.

In addition to Nikki 'Randhawa' Haley, who brushed aside allegations of marital infidelity and an ethnic slur to become the Republican nominee for governor in South Carolina, Indian Americans are campaigning this year for congressional seats in Pennsylvania, Kansas, California, New York and Ohio.

More than a dozen others serve in senior positions in the Obama administration, including US Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra and USAID chief Rajiv Shah.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, the first Indian American governor, made the Republican short list for vice president in 2008.

Like Haley, most of the politicians in races this year are second-generation immigrants who volunteered for local political campaigns, served in state legislatures or worked on Capitol Hill, the Washington Post noted Tuesday.

Manan Trivedi, a doctor and Iraq war veteran, recently won the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District. Before running for Congress, he served as a healthcare adviser to the Obama campaign.

Raj Goyle, who has served in the Kansas legislature for three years, is running in the Democratic primary in the 4th Congressional District, which includes his home town of Wichita.

Reshma Saujani, a Democratic fundraiser in the South Asian community, says she is the first Indian American woman to run for Congress.

'I always wanted to serve, but I never thought someone with my name could actually run,' Saujani, who is challenging Democratic House member Carolyn B. Maloney in the Sep 14 primary, told the Post.

The increased political involvement is an indication of 'successful assimilation into mainstream American society', Dino Teppara, chair of the Indian American Conservative Council and former chief of staff for Republican House member Joe Wilson, was quoted as saying.

The estimated 2.5 million Indian Americans rank among the most highly educated ethnic groups in the US, according to census figures, and they have the highest per-capita income.

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

Playing the energy game against China

2010-07-07T09:27:00.002+05:30

Yes, India has lost several rounds of the energy resources game -- as much to itself as to China -- over the last few years. In a recent, well-researched article Bloomberg's Rakteem Katakey and John Duce point out that in last year alone, companies controlled by the Chinese government spent $32 billion acquiring en-ergy and resources assets around the world. In comparison, India's Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), also a state-owned company, spent $2.1 billion. Like that kid who comes to school in his father's Mercedes, China's oil companies have access to a parent with far deeper pock ets. China's foreign reserves are ten times that of India's, the yuan is getting stronger and Beijing has purposefully used its financial strength towards buying up what it wants.

Does it mean that India has already lost the game? Not quite. Sure, China has a head start. It is exploiting this start to the fullest. From Kazakhstan to Australia, from uranium to natural gas, Chinese state-owned companies are grabbing as much of the world's natural resources as they can get their hands on, and reaching for more. Yet, while all this sounds like someone playing a real-world game of Risk, the question for India is not how much of the world's resources China ends up con-trolling. The question is whether India has access to all the resources that it needs.

Moreover, the "game" is not one-off. It is a continuous ongoing game that will be played for generations. Nor is it entirely "zero-sum". It is possible to envision a world where both China and India have access to the energy resources they need. Such a world is possible even when, perhaps only when, the two countries are competing (in a free market) for those resources. Such a world, however, will cer-tainly not come into being merely by wishing for it. It has to evolve, under the ten-der loving care of nuclear weapons.

The Indian government is trying to improve its score. It has set overseas acquisi-tion targets for state-owned corporations and permitted them to spend $1.1 billion 'without government approval'. This might yet produce some results -- especially if it is backed by political support. It is unlikely, though, that bidding wars with companies that have parents with the world's deepest pockets are winnable. That's not all. As India found out in Kazakhstan in August 2005, the kid whose dad drives a Merc can get the goalposts shifted after the game begins.

Clearly, India's strategy must be different. It must be one that plays to India's strong points. It must also be one that undermines China's advantages. The greatest asymmetries that are in India's favour are democracy and private enterprise.

Consider. It would be much harder for China to move goalposts by coddling the dictator if there were no dictator to coddle. It would be much easier for Indian companies to compete against Chinese ones if the former didn't have the Govern-ment of India as the single largest shareholder. In other words, in the long term, it is in India's interests for resource-rich countries to be democracies. It is also in In-dia's interests to facilitate its private sector to expand globally.

Now the idea of spreading democracy is highly controversial. During and after the Cold War, the United States used it as a slogan to install regimes that said they would do its bidding. India need not use that subterfuge, because it enjoys a bot-tom-up advantage in many countries. India's engagement of many countries in Af-rica has been decentralised and broad-based. Niranjan Rajadhyaksha, for instance, notes that because Indian firms tend to hire local labour "we could be making more friends among ordinary Africans but relatively few friends in governments."

India has not yet tried to make political power flow into the hands of ordinary Af-ricans. It should. Democratic governments are unlikely to necessarily prefer India over China. They are, however, likely to be less susceptible to being bought over.

The current thinking on energy security presumes that the Indian government and by extension, the companies it owns, must be the primary players. That leads to such astoundingly unsound ideas as the Iran-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline -- not only would it place a vital asset in the hands of the Pakistani military-jihadi complex, it involves a risky bilateral commercial deal with the Iranian regime. It is far better to purchase the same gas from Iran as LNG, invest in processing termi-nals all along India's west coast and make it available across India through a sys-tem of domestic pipelines. If India invests in LNG infrastructure, Indian energy companies can purchase gas as easily from Russia and Nigeria as from Iran. The government would still have a role, but it would be different. Instead of investing in pipelines, it would need to ensure that the international LNG market is competi-tive, and secure the world's shipping routes.

Before the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, you would have been laughed off if you had suggested that Indian companies would operate some of the world's biggest networks. Less than a decade later, Tata, Bharti and Reliance have large international footprints. Indeed, the Tata group turned VSNL, a state-owned company, into a globally competitive firm with assets across the globe. Why should oil & gas be any different?

If the Indian government cannot create the conditions for private companies to be-come global players, then it is hardly China's fault. Reliance Industries has already invested $3 billion in US gas assets, yes, 'without government approval'. So why not let the likes of Mukeshbhai take on the Chinese companies?

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

Unsporting? No porn @ Games Village

2010-07-07T09:27:00.001+05:30

A massive electronic network of computers will "protect" the 8,000 athletes and team officials staying at the Commonwealth Games Village from "inappropriate" content on the Internet whenever they log in. Those staying at the Village - near the Akshardham Temple - will not be allowed to access pornography, sundry downloads and gaming websites prone to contain malware and the like, not just at the internal cyber cafes but also on their own laptops if they use the Games WiFi network, sources at the Organising Committee (OC) said.

In fact to keep the network "clean", firewalls will be programmed to filter a predetermined list of objectionable sites and other streaming content. Accessories like headsets and microphones will not be provided in the cafes.

"While we cannot disturb the privacy of Internet users, we cannot also allow them to access content that is objectionable in the eyes of law," said a senior Organising Committee (OC) official. Ten cyber cafes will provide Internet facility to the Village residents 24X7.

The main cafe - in the International Zone - will hold 100 computers and nine "mini" cafes with 20 machines each will be installed at the residential quarters. But as a data security measure, only the main cyber cafe has the facility of printing.

No resident will be allowed to be logged in for more than 30 minutes at a time, after which they will be automatically signed out. The IT requirement at the Village is so huge that the organisers are considering establishing a bandwidth of 300-500 megabytes-per-second (Mbps) of data transfer.

An average domestic Internet connection has the speed of only 1 Mbps, and that is considered fast. "Around 300 kms of cables are being laid at all the competition venues and the Village.

It's a huge IT requirement," Lalit Bhanot, secretary general of the OC told HT..

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

Time on your hands

2010-07-07T09:26:00.000+05:30

IT'S ALL very well to talk about ageing " gracefully" but let's face it, there's no such thing. Anyone who is middle aged knows how typical it is to try and shrug off the changes that force us to pace ourselves. There's a kind of slowing down - we tire more easily; start gaining weight just eating the same meals we've always eaten and get high on two drinks instead of the three it used to take five years ago.

Ageing is essentially a process in which your cells lose their resilience and their ability to repair damage. This may be so dramatic that looking in the mirror at our sagging muscles, crinkling skin and greying hair may send shock waves down our spines! But at least one is mentally prepared for these changes, as they are an inevitable sign of ageing.

What you may not expect, however, are the long stray hairs that suddenly appear on your face, a receding gum line that makes your teeth appear bigger than they are, spots on your hands and bunions on your feet. Here we tell you about these and some other changes that are an inevitable part of ageing.

1. EXPANDING TEETH

IF YOUR teeth seem bigger and longer than they used to be, this is because your gums are deteriorating and have begun to shrink away from the crown portion of your teeth, exposing some of the root, say dentists. Recession and root exposure can increase the length of the front tooth by about 5-7 mm. Just as our skin loses collagen, our gum tissue loses mass. This changes you're appearance, makes your teeth appear to be jutting out, elongating your face. Gum disease can worsen the recession, so keeping your gums free of bacteria by flossing on a regular basis is important to reduce the risk. Also avoid overly aggressive brushing of the teeth, which can slough off the gum tissue.

2. FACIAL HAIR

DON'T BE surprised if you suddenly sprout some straggly white or black hairs on your upper lip or chin. Though a genetic predisposition does make more women prone to developing coarse dark hair on their chins and upper lip, hormones are generally responsible for too much facial hair, including that which sprouts later in life. Ageing causes a loss of oestrogen, which alters the hormonal balance, leaving testosterone unopposed, which causes us to grow more hair in the same places as men (on our faces rather than on our heads!). This hair is generally finer than that on your head, and may not be visible to the naked eye so dermatologists suggest that you leave it alone unless it really bothers you. Laser removal is not advised and may even leave post-inflammatory hyper pigmentation which looks like a large stain. Electrolysis is a good solution for small areas, say experts.

3. ENLARGED NOSE & EARS

YOUR nose and ears may appear to be larger than they were some years back. Don't worry; you haven't been singled out for this expansion: when you examine the ears of older women and men, you will undoubtedly notice how large they seem. It turns out that though our ears are ninety percent grown by age 6 and our noses are almost fully grown by the time we are teenagers, both do change shape and appear to enlarge as we age. This may be due to the high number of sebaceous glands, high cell turnover and growth potential, say doctors. Worse still, the nose and ears also droop, as soft tissue (skin, fat and muscle) relaxes and structural support changes (bone recedes with time so there's less foundation to hold the skin and cartilage up). Though you can't completely halt the drooping process, you can minimise it by staying out of the sun, avoiding smoking and weight fluctuation and using skin care products that including retinoids in your 20' s. Also avoid wearing overly heavy earrings as these elongate the ear lobes.

4. VEINY & SPOTTED HANDS

IF THERE'S one area of your body that won't escape the ravages of age, it's your hands. They are especially vulnerable since they are always in contact with the elements, household chemicals and extreme temperatures, which results in sun damage, dryness, chapped skin and age spots. Hyper pigmentation spots, veins that stand out and give them a knotty appearance and wrinkling are the common signs of ageing of our hands. If you want to avert or delay the onset of these and have youthful hands, you need to start applying the same anti- ageing products you use on your face on your hands too. These include a retinoid, an AHA product and sunblock. Laser treatment is useful to lighten the spots that appear because of sun exposure, and some go in for collagen injections to plump up hands that are very veiny.

5. GNARLED FEET

NO ONE tells us that we are going to lose the elasticity and flexibility in the soft tissues (tendons and ligaments) of our feet, which leads to increased stress on the bones, potentially causing them to change shape. When this happens, hammertoes and bunions are almost inevitable. You are at higher risk of developing these problems if you have developed a tightened Archilles tendon from years of tottering around in high heels. So if you want to maintain shapely feet, you will need to wear high heels less often and go for supportive shoes instead. Also, stretch your Archilles tendon and do some ankle/ calf exercises daily.

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

Coming soon: A football that powers cell phone!

2010-07-07T09:25:00.000+05:30

A football that generates electricity to charge a cell phone or power a light from a short kick is set for trial at the 2010 FIFA World Cup host South Africa.

Four female undergraduate students, from Harvard University, who wanted to find a solution to the developing world's chronic power shortages, designed the ball named sOcckets.

The ball works by a 'shake to charge' torch, in which a magnetic ball rolls through a coil to generate an electric charge. The ball generates enough electricity to power an LED light for three hours in just 15 minutes of being kicked around. It can charge virtually any kind of mobile phone. "Soccer is something you will find in every African country," one of sOccket's inventors, Jessica Lin, said. "People play for hours days, so we thought, 'Why not try to get a little more out of that energy,'" she added.

Lin said that the main motive was to withhold the passion for football particularly among children in Africa's poorest communities to provide them with reading torches when the light fades.

Julia Silverman who also worked on the project brought the ball to South Africa's towns for trials to coincide with the World Cup. "The kids call it 'the magic ball'. Whenever you see a child plug in their ball for the first time and see the torch light up from the energy they've created, their eyes light up too it's a wonderful feeling," The Telegraph quoted Julia as saying. "If you think that the energy generated by a 15-minute kick around provides three hours of light, you can read a lot of pages from a textbook in that time," she added.

The sOccket ball may be available online by the end of 2010. The team intends to sell them to people in developed countries in a buy-one-give-one scheme in which the second ball will be sent to charities working in African towns. "Obviously, this won't be a regulation ball," Lin said. "But it's a big improvement over some of the makeshift balls the kids create from things like old plastic bags," she added.

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

Rules for a happy and healthy life!

2010-07-07T09:24:00.000+05:30

We tell you what these are...

They don’t say health is wealth just like that. If you’re among those who take their health for granted, it’s time you change your outlook. There are very few things in life that are as important as your health — so look after it well. Adopting good habits right now will make you thank yourself in the long run. And these rules will help you do just that...

Exercise
If you aren’t a gym person, there are plenty of exercises that you can do in the comfort of your own home. Try and get a couple of your friends together and workout in someone’s home a couple of times a week. Or join an aerobics or kick boxing class together. Having each other to motivate will be an added bonus. Another thing that you could do is go for walks. Walking for 30 minutes everyday has numerous benefits.

Dance
It’s okay if you have two left feet. It’s fine if you look funny when you attempt to dance. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. There are innumerable dance classes all over the city that offer to teach you different styles. Not only will you learn something, you’ll also stay fit.

Meditate
With the fast paced, stressful lives that most of us lead, it is important to slow down and give yourself some time everyday. Allow yourself at least 10 to 20 minutes to just sit and practice some deep breathing exercises. It’ll do you a whole lot of good.

Soak in the sunlight
Sunlight has numerous benefits. That doesn’t mean you spend hours under the sun without any protection. But a few minutes daily will help your body produce enough vitamin D that is so essential for good health.

Sleep
Cutting down on your sleep to get more work or chores done will eventually burn you out. On an average you need to get seven to eight hours of sleep every day. Make up for a late night by resting adequately on the weekend.

Don’t go on binges
Binge drinking is worse than being a regular drinker. Indulging yourself with huge amounts of alcohol after a long gap upsets and harms your body — skip it. The same goes with extreme diets.

Eat healthy
Do yourself a favour and cut out all the roadside and junk food from your life. It ain’t good for you and if you really can’t do without it, allow yourself to indulge on a rare occasion. Keep yourself hydrated with plenty of water throughout the day.

Laugh
Laughter has so many benefits. Watch funny movies, television shows, meet up with people who are positive and happy. Try to stay away from negativity.

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

Recap: Odd News of 2010

2010-07-07T09:23:00.000+05:30

Meet Paul the Oracle

Wherever I go, the only thing I hear is football. Bikash and Princy have in many posts over the last couple of weeks written about the players, the WAGs, body art and almost every controversy which has cropped up about the beautiful game. But no one has written about Paul, the very ‘special’ oracle who predicts the German team’s chances before each match. Paul, the two-year-old octopus, has correctly predicted Germany’s results in South Africa so far. He attained celebrity status by being 70% accurate in its predictions of Germany’s results during the 2008 European Championship.

Watch him make his prediction that Germany would trounce England in their World Cup match.

Read more about Paul here and here

Village and its people for sale

Ever since being out of my ‘own’ house, I’m hooked to two sign boards. One being ‘for sale’ and the other being ‘to let’. And they grab eyeballs even when I see them on news sites. This was why, the Reuters article on ‘For sale – village with pub, 40 people’ caught my eye. What made the owners Bill and Christine Hennah do it? More here.

Guillotine it!

French history has a close association with the guillotine. And I couldn’t but laugh out loud when I saw this news article, where in a bid to save money, President Sarkozy ‘axed the traditional lavish Bastille Day garden party in the grounds of his Elysee Palace residence as a symbolic savings measure.’ Read full article here.

Say ‘I do’ and divorce

‘I do’ – the words have a special meaning when it comes to weddings. Khristina has given us a list of questions to ask before marriage and Rummana discusses life after marriage but this news article was a bit different from the rest. With divorce on the rise in Japan, some couples are choosing to celebrate the end of an unhappy marriage by saying “I do” for the final time at a divorce ceremony before friends and family. Read more about it here.

Scent of Calvin Klein

Ask women which their favourite perfume house is, and chances are Calvin Klein will feature somewhere in the top. But perfume junkies, here comes a shocker. Scientists have discovered that they can use Calvin Klein’s cologne to lure jaguars! Surprised? Here are more details.

Ghosts for sale!

This definitely is not for the weak-hearted. According to reports, Avie Woodbury from Christchurch managed to bottle two ghosts, one of an old man and one, a young girl in vials after an exorcism session. Can’t really blame her for wanting to get rid of them, can I? But did she sell them? Find out.

A bite off the Great Wall

I love chocolates. Whenever I see an article on chocolates, I just can’t stay away from it. So when I saw this article, I was so happy. I would have loved to grab a bite off the Great wall of China if it were made of chocolate – would you have been able to keep away from the temptation?

For the love of pets

Here’s a story of a man who kept a tarantula as his pet and ran into trouble. Now, who would keep a tarantula as a pet? Jharna has in one of her posts told us the story of a snake who tried to swallow its owner. Reading this article made me decide against getting a snake for a pet. But, our tarantula did not do any harm, at least not directly. Here is what happened.

Whale poop to save climate

Did you know that whale poop helps fight climate change, whale vomit is sometimes used in perfumes and the Humpback Whale can beat Kelly Clarkson in a screaming match on American Idol? Here are some fun facts about whales which Vinay has put together.

Fly – to induce rains

Scientists say that they can ‘punch’ holes into clouds and induce rains. Know all about the weather modification exercises many nations are conducting.

How a star is born

In the Milky Way there is a pulsating, vibrant object that is pulling in matter from a surrounding envelope of gas and dust. It is emitting a thin ray of light. Is it a new star is being born? Find out.

Which is your favourite and why? Do you know of others? Let me know.

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

Just sniff him out

2010-07-07T09:22:00.002+05:30

DID YOU know that the odour of your man's body is probably what makes you want to touch him? You may scoff at the idea, especially since there is such a plethora of products to disguise this- deodorants, body washes and creams. But the reality is that the natural, unscented smell of a male body and sweat is far more sexually potent than the Axe spray he applies to mask it!

According to a study by the UK-based Social Issues Research Centre, females often get attracted to the scent of male sweat. Our bodies release certain chemical substances, called pheromones that are sensed through the nose and trigger sexual urges in prospective partners. These are secreted by sweat glands largely present in underarms, nipples, genitals, and outer ears."

Body odour often influences a partner's sexual behaviour and women are more receptive to it," says Dr ( Col) V K Wadia, consultant, psychosexual medicine. " During a sexual intercourse, specific odours are secreted by men and it's a woman's perception how she gets influenced by them," he adds.

Not only is body odour significant in sexual behaviour, it plays a decisive role in mate choice as well. "Men and women tend to prefer the odour of individuals who are genetically dissimilar to them," says Dr Anoop Misra, director, department of diabetes and metabolic diseases, Fortis Hospital.

This reduces the chances of inbreeding and renders offspring more resistant to diseases and infections. However, odour preferences can vary according to hormonal changes. "Studies say that women often prefer the odour of men with good parenting skills in the 'fertile period' or the postmenstrual phase," says Dr Misra.

ON THE other hand, men find women more attractive during ovulation. This is mainly due to the specific odour of women in that period. It has also been found that women who are emotionally bonded with their partners perceive the odour of other men less pleasant.

So, what makes our odour so specific? Usually when we perspire, sweat reacts with bacteria present on our skin. This releases some chemicals, hence causing body odour. But it's not just an outcome of sweat. "All of us have a signature odour. This uniqueness is marked by genetics, diet, age, gender, hormones, and environmental factors," says Dr Sushila Kataria, senior consultant, internal medicine, Medanta - The Medicity.

This explains why babies smell different from adults, and how odour changes with the onset of puberty. This also explains why some of us have specific unpleasant odours. Bad breath or strong sweat can be a sign of underlying physical problems. "Patients with diabetic ketoacidosis can have a fruity odour in their breath and skin," says Dr Misra.

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a condition of excessively high blood sugar level that leads to formation of chemical substances called ketone bodies. Their presence causes the typical smell. The best way to prevent is to keep one's blood sugar levels in control.

"In case of chronic kidney problem, or dysfunctional kidneys, the patient's body odour may resemble that of ammonia. This is because such patients retain more wastes or urea in the blood, that spreads to skin and evaporates with sweat," says Prof ( Dr) S C Tiwari, director, nephrology, Fortis Group of Hospitals.

Moreover, a musty odour in hair, breath or skin could be a sign of a genetic disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU). Left untreated in early childhood, it could lead to mental retardation or brain damage later. "Similarly, bad breath could be a symptom of non-healing ulcers in the throat, lungs or respiratory tract," points out Manoj K Goel, director, pulmonology, Delhi Heart and Lung Institute. Bad breath could also be sign of bacterial pneumonia and chronic bronchitis.

"Cough accompanied by foul smell may be a symptom of lung abscess. Such infections pose immense risks as these could result in cancer if left unattended," he cautions.

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

How Google searches

2010-07-07T09:22:00.001+05:30

In the beginning the Internet was but a confusing mass of documents. Finding information, by searching the World Wide Web, was nearly impossible until the first search engines came along. Early search engines were like rudimentary life-forms (Remember Yahoo! Search and Alta Vista?).

They got the job done, but as more people gained access to the web, their limitations and dependence on the information that content creators put on so-called meta tags (strings of text that identified the content of the page in the source code) meant that such engines were liable to be abused.

Into this fast-expanding, yet messy space came Google. To cut a long story short, what Google did was organise information a lot better. Instead of depending on the text of a web page to determine the search results, it determined the page's influence using a variety of factors-including how many times a page had been viewed or linked to. From those early days, Google made searching the Internet reliable and over the past decade has grown into the behemoth it is today.

But there is more to the Internet than Google and more to search as well. Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer told BT five years ago that Google was just a flash in the pan, as Microsoft readied its (then) latest search engine. Microsoft did not get too far then, but laid the foundation for an effort that churned out Bing, its search engine launched last year. The engine uses a process similar to Google's 'PageRank' algorithm and gets a boost from technology tailored to throw up relevant results. The result: it has garnered one-fourth market share in the United States.

Google is not standing still. "In the early days, much of the Internet was static, your 'web crawlers' would go out every few days, sometimes even weeks to find information. Today, in the age of Twitter, the Internet happens in 'real time' and we have to reflect that," said Amit Singhal, a Google Fellow, present at the company's recent Science of Search conference in Tokyo.

The way it delivers this is complex: New search technologies look for statistical patterns while determining the importance of one particular tweet message over thousands of others as well as the number of followers the person who wrote that tweet has. Juxtapose the volume of tweets - 2.7 million every hour-and the brute force of the new technology and servers that power it become apparent. That and Google's focus on search helps it stay top dog despite challenges in China (Baidu is No. 1) and Japan (Yahoo! is ahead in popularity).

Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have spoken of their fears of being ousted by a newcomer. That challenge could come in the form of the likes of Wolfram Alpha, which queries a structured database for answers. So, ask it about the 16th President of the United States and it throws up not a link but a page of facts on Abraham Lincoln. The scope of the engine's results is limited given it is still a project in progress. Example: A search for "World Cup" assumes it is a gene and gives you a reference genetic sequence. Still, structured searches are being closely watched.

Elsewhere, to catch up with Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! are touting new contextual search services that give you search results based on the page you are on. For instance, if you are reading about Barack Obama's actions in the Gulf of Mexico BP oil spill, highlighting "Obama" will not do a generic search for Obama but for the US President and the oil spill. This is still a beta (test) service rolled out to a few users.

Google, meanwhile, is also taking search to mobile devices - a trend that its executives underscored at the Tokyo conference. Google's voice search is today enabled on most smartphones. Goggles allows users to take a picture from a mobile phone and gives you a result on the image. Google plans to make both mobile voice and image search faster and is throwing a lot of its engineering resources behind that.

And its needs to. Google's biggest rival here is not Microsoft but Apple whose iPhone is the dominant smartphone platform in terms of mindspace. Apple recently bought Siri, which makes a "mobile personal assistant" application that works through voice commands. Silicon Valley is betting that the "human-computer interface" will increasingly move away from text to voice and images.

The world's top search engine also has on hand projects that revel in the technology they use even if the revenue upsides are not evident. In Tokyo, Alan Eustace, Google's Head of Engineering, talked about a "Universal Communicator", an idea rip-off from the Star Trek series. Here, an application on a smartphone, with the help of machine translation, will be able to translate any language spoken into it and into any other selected. Singhal was even more bullish.

He spoke of a future where all Google services seamlessly integrate into one another, where route-planning using Google maps will take information from the web and warn you in advance of traffic jams or deals at a mall five minutes ahead of you and the like. Online search clearly has some way to go.

Travel for this story was sponsored by Google

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

How to Get Your Groove Back

2010-07-07T09:20:00.000+05:30

When a Food and Drug Administration panel last month recommended against approving a proposed treatment for low libido in women from a German pharmaceutical company, it was billed as the latest setback for a "female Viagra."

Bernard Maisner

But contrary to popular belief, erectile-dysfunction drugs like Viagra don't fix male libido problems, either. By enhancing blood flow, ED medications may help create or maintain an erection, but they don't provide the desire for one in the first place. They don't deliver what Boston urologist Abraham Morgentaler calls "the hunger for sex—that grrrr."

Libido technically means the urge, instinct or psychic energy to have sex, and everything from falling hormones and child rearing to rising responsibilities and job loss can dampen it. Experts are pondering the distinction, in both men and women, between "desire" and "arousal."

"The relationship between what happens in the genitals and how people feel about it is more complex than we realized," says Erick Janssen, research scientist at the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction at Indiana University, in Bloomington. "You can, in principle, feel desire without necessarily showing any signs of physical arousal, and you can have signs of physical arousal without feeling desire." Yet, proposed changes for the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a psychiatric handbook, would combine a lack of interest in sex in women ("hypoactive sexual desire disorder") and difficulty being aroused into a single disorder. A similar change may be proposed for men.

As for sexual frequency, many people simply want to know: What's normal? But that's a trick question. Studies have found that American married couples on average have sex about once a week, but there's a vast range, depending in part on age. As many as 15% of married couples haven't had sex in the past six months to a year, says Denise Donnelly, a sociologist at Georgia State University. Wide variation exists among same-sex couples too.

"There are all different kinds of normal—the key thing is, what's normal for you?" says Mary Jane Minkin, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale School of Medicine. "There's really only a problem when there's an asymmetry" between you and your partner, she contends. "If it's peaceful coexistence, it's fine."

That's a big "if," though. An oft-quoted University of Chicago study from 1992 found that some 15% of men—and 30% of women—nationally reported a lack of interest in sex for at least some part of the previous year. In a relationship, when one partner's interest starts out higher or wanes faster than the other's, hard feelings can ensue.

The first step—and often the hardest—is honest communication. "Low libido can be a proxy for all sorts of other things, from 'I'm really angry at you and can't tell you' to 'I took care of the kids all day and I'm exhausted,' " Dr. Donnelly says.

"If the woman says, 'I love you, but I really don't have any libido,' look for medical issues," Dr. Minkin says. The same applies to men.

Heart disease, high blood pressure and other health problems can put the kibosh on desire. Medications from antihistamines to beta-blockers also can lower libido. Reduced sex drive is a common side effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as Prozac.

Getting older can dampen sexual appetite. In men and women, hormone levels drop naturally with age, often taking desire with them. In menopausal and perimenopausal women, falling estrogen levels can lead to vaginal dryness and make intercourse painful, Dr. Minkin says. In such cases, she recommends a topical lubricant. "Only a crazy person would have sex if it hurts," she says. If that doesn't work, she may suggest estrogen or testosterone replacement or both.

Several studies have shown that replacing the small amount of testosterone that women's ovaries make, and stop making at menopause, can lead to more satisfying sexual experiences. Since testosterone replacement isn't approved for women in the U.S., some doctors prescribe small amounts of products for men, or order gels or pills from compounding pharmacies. An estimated 1 in 5 U.S. testosterone prescriptions are written for women.

Doctors used to think women needed estrogen replacement to see a libido boost from testosterone. A study of 800 postmenopausal women, sponsored by P&G and published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2008 found testosterone alone brought a "modest but meaningful improvement in sexual function." "Have I seen testosterone transform women's sex lives? Occasionally," says Dr. Minkin. "Does it always? Not at all." Possible side effects—acne, unwanted hair growth, lowering of the voice—make it a difficult balancing act, though.

And many women aren't aware that some birth control pills—especially those that help reduce acne by lowering testosterone levels—also can lower libido,

Low libido in men is complicated too. Many men don't separate the desire for a sex life in the abstract from the desire for sex. "A man may say, 'I want to have sex very much. I've got a beautiful wife. It's important to me.' That's not what libido is," says Dr. Morgentaler, director of Men's Health Boston, which specializes in sexual and reproductive problems. Low testosterone is the No. 1 killer of male libido, he maintains, and as many as a third of men age 45 and older have testosterone levels low enough to diminish desire and interfere with erections.

Testosterone declines with age, and there is some debate over what is "low." In June, a New England Journal of Medicine study of 3,369 European men ages 40 to 79 found that unusually low testosterone, known as "hypogonadism," is related to fewer morning erections, lower sex drive and erectile dysfunction—but only about 2% of men met the criteria, the study concluded. Many doctors worry that testosterone replacement could raise the risk of prostate cancer or fuel existing tumors, but evidence is mixed.

The real libido killer may be the partners' relationship. "Women sometimes assume they're no longer attractive, or they've gained weight. But that's usually not it," says Dr. Morgentaler. "If there was one thing I could say to every female partner of the guys I see in my office, it's this: 'Let the man be the man in at least one area of the relationship, instead of always telling him what he's doing wrong.' " He adds, "Men need to feel powerful to feel sexy."

"Exactly the same thing happens with women whose husbands make every decision," counters Dr. Donnelly. "They're thinking, 'Hmm, sex is the one thing I can withhold.' "

A sex therapist can sometimes help. Those certified by the American Association of Sexuality Educators and Counselors usually start as psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, therapists or social workers and add training in sexual and relationship problems.

Carole Goldberg, a certified New Haven, Conn., sex therapist says the most common nonmedical problems she sees are stress, fatigue and lack of time. "I have couples who get out their day planners and say, 'How about Saturday at 6 o'clock?' "

One partner may simply want sex more often than the other. The one who wants sex less usually has the upper hand, notes Dr. Donnelly. She has studied "involuntarily celibate" marriages and thinks they are more common than generally believed. Many couples she studied said, "I love my partner. This is a perfect relationship in every way except sex." But uneven sexual appetites often make for unstable relationships. "One partner is always wondering what's wrong with them, and that makes them very ripe for the picking.," she says.

But maybe the problem is just the cat or the lumpy mattress. Conditions, and partners, need not be perfect, experts stress. "People can have absolutely nothing in life and still have a great sexual relationship," Dr. Morgentaler says. "The key is being really generous to your partner."

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