Quitting Facebook next week? - Courtesy: India Today

Tue, May 25 04:00 PM

The world's biggest social networking site Facebook faces a unique challenge next week when it will possibly get its 500 millionth user worldwide and India may get its 10 millionth Facebook account holder.

Soon after though, on May 31, hundreds of thousands of these folks are expected to quit their Facebook accounts. Not freeze, not suspend, just quit.

These folks may resort to that extreme step because they are angry with Mark Zuckerberg – Facebook's founder and CEO - and his merry band of privacy invaders. Some say Facebook deserves the quitters - it has been acting like an inveterate Web bully who steals your school lunch and then complains to your mother that there wasn't enough to eat.

This is what Facebook has done, according to the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington-based advocacy group: "Facebook now discloses personal information to the public that Facebook users previously restricted. Facebook now discloses personal information to third parties that Facebook users previously did not make available. These changes violate user expectations, diminish user privacy, and contradict Facebook's own representations." These allegations coincide with Facebook making several changes to its privacy settings on April 22 this year. In fact, users were shocked to see 50 different settings with 170 options easily making it the most complicated privacy settings form on the Web.

Ridiculous as these settings are, it drove millions of users to madness, if they weren't already rendered insane by the stupidity of Farmville and the absurdity of the hundreds of other games and apps that Facebook keeps encouraging you to play or share.

SO much is the furore online against Facebook that it is thinking of rejigging its privacy settings again. But would that be too little, too late? When Zuckerberg made the announcement regarding the new privacy settings, he said: "We think that the future of the web will be filled with personalised experiences.

We've worked with three pre-selected partners - Microsoft Docs, Yelp and Pandora - to give you a glimpse of this future, which you can access without having to login again or click to connect." What he forgot to mention is something that EPIC picked up and mentioned in its complaint to the Federal Trade Commission in the US along with 14 other groups. "Facebook has essentially forced many Facebook users to reveal personal profile information that they did not intend to make public," EPIC said.

A site called quitfacebook. com has been set up where users can pledge that they will delete their Facebook accounts on May 31.

Another site facebookprotest. com is doing something similar, but has asked that boycott day to be June 6.

The issue is more than just privacy; the Facebook case could define what information is made public in the future and what is not. It is, without exaggeration, our personal freedoms that are at stake here. With thousands of people opposed to Facebook's new privacy settings, it might well make it more "user-friendly". The only fear, however, is that it may remain so until the next change in settings.

The World's Highest Hotel - Courtesy: Forbes.com

Tue, May 25 02:34 PM

Hana R. Alberts, Forbes.com

At street level Hong Kong is a teeming cacophony. Double-decker buses weave around bicyclists toting chunks of meat from market butchers, while narrow sidewalks, inconvenient crosswalks and crowded luxury shops make walking a task best suited for the nimble and patient. But 1,600 feet above the hoi-polloi, the city seems different. It's bustling but serene, with boats criss-crossing the harbor against the topography of the glittering skyline, and green mountains rising up behind it all.

That's the view from the new Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong. When completed, it will be the highest hotel in the world. Set to open in December, it occupies the top floors of the International Commerce Centre, a skyscraper that is home to financial giants like Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank.

It won't open until December, but Forbes got a sneak preview.

Unsurprisingly, one of the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong's best amenities is the view. One hundred eighteen floors above the city's jam-packed roads, in one of the 312 guest rooms, even those double-decker buses look tiny. The panorama extends across the waterways of the South China Sea, teeming with signs of busy ports and international trade.

Where there are now bamboo scaffolding and concrete, guests will find several trendy restaurants with vast windows and high ceilings, an indoor infinity pool and a rooftop bar. The design as depicted in renderings will be varied but classic; the vibe bright and airy in some parts of the hotel and soft and romantic in others.

When it opens, the Ritz-Carlton will best the Park Hyatt Shanghai, which currently holds the world's-highest-hotel honor. The Park Hyatt occupies the 79th to 93rd floors of Shanghai's tallest building, the towering, bottle-opener-shaped World Financial Center. Luxuriously equipped with a tai chi courtyard and a spa, the hotel is located east of the city's Huangpu River, in the rapidly developing district of Pudong.

Other tall hotels dot the Asia-Pacific region, and there are a handful in Europe and North America. But the place with the highest concentration of skyscraper hotels is Dubai. The Middle East's capital of leisure and finance boasts the Armani Hotel Dubai, the Rose Rayhaan and the Burj Al Arab. The first, in the Burj Khalifa tower, is fashion designer Georgio Armani's first hotel. The hotel, though, only occupies lower floors of the 160-level structure. Standing at 1,093 feet, the blossom-shaped Rose Rayhaan is the flagship property of an alcohol-free company, so it caters to families and business travelers.

The most luxurious, the Burj al Arab, is located on its own man-made island. Visitors can arrive in style--either by helicopter or in the back of a Rolls Royce limousine. A brigade of butlers services the 202 duplex suites, in which guests can choose from 13 different pillows and quilts.

Global business and pleasure travel--and thus hotel revenues--took a hit during the recession. But Asia is on the go again, and the Ritz has taken notice. Of the visitors to the brand's Asian hotels, 70% hail from within the region. Of those, 60% are Chinese.

"The Chinese are traveling more everywhere," says the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong general manager Mark DeCocinis. "Their influence will be very important to us."

While the group boasted only one hotel in greater China as late as 2006, by the end of this year it will have eight. Ritz-Carlton has staffed Chinese speakers at its hotels in New York, San Francisco and Barcelona, DeCocinis says, and there will be a focus on providing food and amenities in Hong Kong that suit their expectations.

The Ritz's sheer height may beat its rivals in Shanghai and Dubai, but DeCocinis says service is his focus--not superlatives.

"This is what brings people back. It's the tallest hotel, spectacular views that we have here, but it's also an incredible product, and service, and facilities," DeCocinis, a 21-year Ritz-Carlton veteran, says. "We're not going to allow the views to take care of our guests."

Diamonds travel at 60 km per hour inside Earth - Courtesy: ANI

Monday, May 24, 2010, 6:11 [IST]

London, May 24 (ANI) Diamond infused magma travel to the surface of the earth from deep within the planet at a blistering 60 kilometres per hour.

It was known that kimberlite, which often contains diamonds, can rise more quickly near the surface, but its speed at great depths was unclear.

And now, Masayuki Nishi and colleagues at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, have used the mineral garnet as a speedometer.

Garnet inclusions that form inside diamond are stable at depths of between 400 and 700 kilometres, but partially degrade at lower pressures and temperatures.

The researchers synthesised garnet in heated, pressurised containers and measured how fast it degraded as the temperature and pressure were lowered, simulating ascent through Earth's mantle.

And the rate of decay suggested that for a garnet-infused diamond to reach the surface it must take between hours and days to travel from a depth of 400 km.

A rapid ascent mechanism may exist at greater depths than ever thought, New Scientist quoted Nishi as saying.

The study was published in Geophysical Research Letters. (ANI)

Addicted to Twitter? - Courtesy: HindustanTimes.com

Sat, May 22 09:05 AM

New Delhi, May 21 -- To say that Twitter's popularity has taken an all-new dimension with people spending their whole day over tweeting won't be an exaggeration. But what if online social-networking starts taking a toll on your actual social life?

Filmmaker Karan Johar admits, "I am obsessed with Twitter. Twitter has become my spouse as I can share every emotion that I want to with the people on it. And going by my fixation, I can say that I might need help to overcome it in future." Singer Lily Allen has branded the site as "very addictive and dangerous". "Anything which is done in extreme can be addictive.

There has been an increase in complaints by parents about childs' obsession with social networking especially on Twitter. One of the parents came during their daughter's board exams saying that she wasted an hour every day Twitter and Facebook," says Dr Aarti Anand, consulting clinical psychologist, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

"The need for people to be connected with others and the high that one gets with knowing that so many people are reading what I tweet has people hooked on to Twitter. The celebrity presence adds to the damage. And the easy access through mobiles and through applications (like tweetdeck) on the iPhone and Blackberry makes matters worse," says Dr Amitabha Saha, senior consultant, psychiatry, Brainex.

Check for addiction Constantly feels the need to check Twitter and it hampers your day-to-day activities and productivity.

Keep refreshing the twitter page or checking your cell phone every now and then for new tweets. Have more Twitter followers than friends in real life. Avoid addiction Make some real friends. Schedule a specific time to 'be active' on Twitter.

Black box of crashed Air India plane found - Courtesy: Reuters

Tue, May 25 11:36 AM

A black box recorder has been recovered from an Air India Express Boeing 737-800 aircraft that crashed in Mangalore last week, killing 158 people on board, an official said on Tuesday.

The cause of the worst air disaster in India in more than a decade was still unknown, said officials.

"Yes, the black box has been found," Peter Abraham, director at the Mangalore airport, told Reuters.

The Air India Express aircraft, a budget carrier owned by state-run Air India and carrying 166 people and crew, crashed early on Saturday while landing at Mangalore city's "table-top" airport which overlooks a ravine.

Eight people survived, mostly by jumping out of the plane that broke into two after crashing.

While the cause of the crash has not been established, India's media and some aviation experts have said the runway at Mangalore was not wide or long enough and may have given little room for the pilot to react after landing.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has said the runway should not be blamed for the crash, adding the Mangalore crash should be seen as an isolated incident.

India has had several near misses in the past few years, underscoring aviation safety issues. (Reporting by Anil D'Silva; Writing by Rajesh Kumar Singh; Editing by Paul de Bendern and Michael Perry)

'Quantum dot' promises super-fast, super-powerful computing - Courtesy:ANI

Mon, May 24 02:25 PM

Melbourne, May 24 (ANI): Australian scientists have developed a new transistor in a computer chip that is 10 times smaller than those currently in use.

The invention marks the start of a new age of super-fast, super-powerful computing, has been described in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

At the heart of the electronic device lies a "quantum dot", measuring four-billionths of a metre - so small that it contains only seven atoms, compared to the millions that usually make up a laptop chip.

"We're basically controlling nature at the atomic scale," The Age quoted study co-author, Michelle Simmons, director of the University of New South Wales centre of excellence for quantum computer technology, as saying.

She added: "This is one of the key milestones in building a quantum computer."

According to Prof. Simmons, devices made at this scale would allow more complex computations at much greater speeds.

Their use would also improve database searching and eventually lead to "100 percent secure communication".

Prof. Simmons said: "It has many implications for national security and for the financial system and transferring information of any kind."

Explaining the reason for using silicon, she said: "All our computers contain silicon chips.

"Building transistors at the atomic-scale means that anything electrical like computers and mobile phones will get smaller and faster while their functionality increases dramatically." (ANI)

Don't bet on low prices - Courtesy: India Today

Mon, May 24 12:46 PM

Is there respite from inflation? Don't depend on predictions, just be prepared. Plan your finances by calculating its impact on your goals.

The weatherman has company. He is no longer the only one to be ridiculed for inaccurate forecasts - inflation experts have joined the ranks. It is not surprising given that the weather forecast has a deep impact on inflation prediction.

Even the Reserve Bank of India cannot say which way the wind will blow, literally. Its recent prediction of 5.5 per cent inflation by next March comes with a qualifier - normal monsoon.

Unfortunately, the capricious winds have no regard for the weatherman or economic experts. Compare the first monsoon forecast of 2009 with the end-of-the-season report and you will know why. The monsoon prediction for this year sounds ominously similar, with a mere two per cent difference in expectation offering optimism. So, irrespective of how meticulous the calculation, the inflation rate for the next few months is anybody's guess.

Why the fuss about the precision of forecasters?

It is obvious -each weekend trip to the market leaves you with fatter grocery bills, and not because you are consuming more.

According to the RBI's Inflation Expectation Survey of Households conducted in March this year, 70.4 per cent of the 4,000 respondents expected food prices to increase in the ensuing three months at a pace higher than the rate of inflation in March.

The WPI figures for April corresponded to this view. While fruits and vegetables became costlier by 6.16 per cent, the prices of pulses and cereals increased by 11.93 per cent and those of eggs, meat and fish by a staggering 32.24 per cent.

It is not just your budget that bleeds because of incorrect inflation assumptions. The impact on your goals is worse.

Let's assume you are saving to buy a car after three years; it is worth Rs 5 lakh now. While calculating how much to salt away every month, you assume the annual inflation to be five per cent and your investments to grow by 12 per cent every year.

Suppose, however, that the car firm decides to jack up prices by eight per cent a year due to a spurt in the cost of steel. So, though you have saved diligently, your corpus will fall short of the target by about Rs 51,000 (Rs 6.29-5.78 lakh).

Extend this logic to other aspects of your life, such as retirement nest egg, child's education, etc, and you realise why it is important that the inflation forecasters get their numbers right.

Unfortunately, monsoon is not the only unpredictable parameter that they have to grapple with. Global commodity prices, especially oil, can also spring nasty surprises. Crude oil hit a high of $88.94 per barrel between January and April 2010.

Steel prices are also rising - they shot up by 17.8 per cent between January and April 2010. This may upset the positive impact of the bumper rabi crop on stabilising food inflation, which registered only a small increase from 16.65 per cent in March to 16.87 per cent in April.

However, the long period of high food prices has already done some damage. "Due to sustained food inflation, wages and general industrial costs rise.As there was a demand slump, the industry did not have the pricing power to pass on the increase in costs to consumers. The situation has changed with the economic recovery. This is why inflation is becoming broad-based," says Ashima Goyal, professor at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research.

The RBI's decision to increase the cash reserve ratio by 25 basis points is expected to contain the spillover by sucking out liquidity from the system. However, as officials at the central bank say, "Associated structural issues also need to be addressed to attend to the problem in the medium term."

Does this mean no one can accurately predict inflation for the next few months? Yes. You will find many an expert making tall claims using his private crystal ball. But such claims are futile if they are conditional.

Low inflation hanging by several 'ifs' is hardly a prediction and is not useful to investors. So how do you incorporate headline inflation in your financial plan? By ignoring it. Don't predict, just prepare for inflation.

You won't lose out on much. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) does not reflect the real price rise faced by urbanites as their consumption pattern is different from the basket of items and weightages used to calculate the WPI. It is like analysing the weather in Shimla to predict rainfall in Delhi simply because the two places are geographically close.

Even the Consumer Price Index, which is aligned more to the urban consumer's spending, does not replicate it entirely. For example, it does not factor in the rise in prices of services, which contribute sizeably to your monthly household bills.

Swapnil Pawar, head of HNI Solutions, Karvy, suggests, "For goals that are about five years away, investors should calculate the future costs individually. For instance, the cost of education is likely to surge faster than headline inflation. On the other hand, marriage expenses will not increase much in this time frame."

If you use inflation assumptions as per the trends in specific sectors, you need not panic during phases of high headline inflation as it will be irrelevant to your plan.

Most experts think that in the long term, an assumption of six per cent annual inflation will keep you on the right track for achieving your goals.

Reproduced From Mail Today. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

'Viagra' for women to hit the shelves soon ------ Courtesy: ANI

Mon, May 24 01:25 PM

Washington, May 24 (ANI): Good news for women who want to perk up the action in their bedroom-the Food and Drug Administration committee is thinking of endorsing the first pill designed to do for women what Viagra does for men-boost their sex lives.

A German pharmaceutical giant wants to sell a drug with the decidedly unsexy name "flibanserin," which has shown prowess for sparking a woman's sexual desire by fiddling with her brain chemicals.

The FDA's Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee will meet on June 18 to consider the request.

But the prospect of the drug's approval has already triggered debate over whether the medication, like others in the pipeline, represents a long-sought step toward equity for women's health or the latest example of the pharmaceutical industry fabricating a questionable disorder to sell unnecessary and potentially dangerous drugs.

"Achieving a happy and healthy sex life can be a real and important problem for some women. But we have lots of questions about the 'pink Viagra,'" the Washington Post quoted Amy Allina of the National Women's Health Network, a Washington-based advocacy group, as saying.

Viagra's catapult to blockbuster status after its 1998 approval set off a flurry of interest in me-too medications for women.

However, drugmaker Pfizer's hopes that its "little blue pill" would also ignite female libido fizzled, making it clear that a woman's sexuality is more complicated than a man's.

But, Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim is optimistic that flibanserin is on the verge of becoming the first prescription medication to tap what some have estimated could be a 2 billion dollar market in the United States alone.

"We believe women deserve options and we're hoping flibanserin may represent a safe and effective option for many women," said Michael Sand, who heads the company's clinical research on flibanserin.

Scientists found that flibanserin, developed as an antidepressant, was ineffective for treatment of depression.

But the drug appeared to produce an unexpected side effect: boosting women's libido.

This prompted the company to study it for hypoactive sexual desire disorder, or HSDD, an otherwise unexplained loss of sexual thoughts, fantasies and desire that can cause significant emotional distress.

Some research suggests 10 percent of women may suffer from HSDD.

"It's not that they are averse to sex. It's just that they don't care about it. They just stop thinking about it. It's like a switch has been flipped. It's a loss for them. They miss it. And they want it back," said Anita H. Clayton, a professor of psychiatry and neurobehavioral sciences at the University of Virginia who has studied the drug for the company. (ANI)

Passive income and wealth creation strategies --------- Source: iTrust.in

Monday May 24

Ever wondered how your colleague at work, who earns the same salary as you, has bought a BMW while you are still driving your 5-year-old Honda City?

Chances are your colleague has utilized his or her existing salary smartly to generate passive sources of income, on the back of which the car has been bought. By generating passive income you can achieve financial freedom and flexibility through the creation of alternative sources of income that can complement your salary income. People rarely achieve their financial goals and dreams only on the back of their salaries - one needs alternative sources of income that can increase one's wealth and consumption capabilities. Here we share with you some tips on how to generate passive income that can facilitate wealth creation.

What is passive income?

The salary you get from work is a direct result of your efforts at work, during your active working life. Passive income, on the other hand, is income that you can generate without having to directly work for it.

For instance, if you invest a part of your salary into instruments that will earn income for you without you spending any time on it, you can create passive sources of investment income for yourself. Apart from the act of investment, you are not directly doing any active work to generate investment income. In effect, your money works for you to earn more money for no incremental effort on your part. Over time, if you have invested smartly, you can have enough money through these passive sources to make a down payment on an apartment or buy that dream car.

Even if you start small, the idea is that you should start creating passive income for your self. Through the sheer power of compounding of capital, small savings today can grow into a large amount within just a short period of 4-5 years.

When can I start earning passive income?

You can start as early as today! All you need is a regular source of salary income and the discipline of setting aside a part of this salary, even if it is a small amount, towards investment purposes before you start spending your money on your lifestyle or your living costs.

This of course might not always be easy, and depends upon the state of your personal finances and your family situation. Also, if you are just starting out your career, you might not have the flexibility to invest immediately. To add to these is the peer pressure to spend money on items of conspicuous consumption like the latest mobile phone or a cutting edge flat screen LCD TV. The choice whether to invest or not is of course yours, but please bear in mind the tradeoff in the long term - you can either consume today, or save up to consume for later.

If, however, you are in your middle age, you might not be left with much of a choice and your key goal should be to use as much of your income as possible from your remaining peak earning years to create a source of passive income, which is often the only source of funds for most people during retirement.

What is the tax impact of passive income?

Like your salary income, any passive income that you generate will also create a tax liability for you.

Depending upon the source of the income there might be different tax treatment applied. For instance, dividends from equity instruments such as stocks or equity mutual funds are tax free in the hands of the investor. However, dividends distributed by a debt or a liquid fund will be subject to a dividend distribution tax paid out by the fund.

Further, the tax treatment also depends upon the time duration that you hold an asset or an investment. If you make a gain on a capital market investment, but hold it for less than 12 months, short-term capital gains tax rules will apply. If you hold the investment for more than 12 months then long-term capital gains tax rates will be applicable. Similarly, for property the holding period that determines a short or long-term capital gain is whether you have owned the asset for more or less than 3 years. The tax rates for capital gains vary by the type of investment in question. Sometimes you might also be able to use losses from your investments to offset your taxes from other sources of income.

Whatever be the source of your passive income, you will need to declare it in your annual tax return, and pay taxes on it according to the existing tax rates and rules.

By www.iTrust.in - India's leading one-stop financial supermarket for real estate, home loans, investments, taxes and financial planning.

Allowing women to be guardians: Panel examines bill

Sun, May 23 12:20 PM

New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) A parliamentary panel is scrutinising a bill aimed at giving Indian women equal rights as men in adopting children and becoming guardians of minors, including their own kids - something they are barred from under existing law.

The Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2010 seeks to entitle women to equal rights as men on the issue of guardianship of minor children by removing a gender-discriminatory clause from a law of 1890 vintage - the Guardians and Wards Act. The bill, which also seeks to amend the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956, was introduced in the Rajya Sabha April 22 by Law and Justice Minister M. Veerappa Moily.

As the first step to examine the proposed legislation, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Law and Justice, headed by senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Jayanthi Natarajan, has solicited public opinion on the bill. Public views and opinion were sought by the Rajya Sabha secretariat last week. These have to be submitted by the month end. The house had referred the bill to the parliamentary panel for scrutiny and fine tuning.

The bill seeks to amend the Guardians and Wards Act to entitle a minor's mother, besides the father, to be appointed as his or her guardian. The current provisions of the law authorise courts to appoint either the father or any other person, in case the father is not alive or not fit, as the guardian of a minor child.

The statement of objects and reasons of the bill explains that the amendment will 'include the mother along with the father as a fit person to be appointed as guardian so that courts shall not appoint any other person as a guardian of a minor if either of the parents is fit to be the guardian of such minor.'

This amendment is being made under a recommendation in the 83rd report of the Law Commission of India, the bill explained.

Similarly, the bill seeks to amend sections 8 and 9 of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act to give women equal rights as men in matters of adopting children or giving her children in adoption to others.

The bill entitles any major Hindu woman of sound mind to adopt a son or daughter.

However, if married, she will have to take the consent of her husband for adopting the children, 'unless the husband has completely and finally renounced the world or has ceased to be a Hindu or has been declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be of unsound mind', says the bill.

The bill also seeks to entitle the mother 'to give her child in adoption if the father is dead or has completely and finally renounced the world or has ceased to be a Hindu or has been declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be of unsound mind.'

The present provision of the law entitles only men to adopt children, give them in adoption, albeit in consultation with their living wife and not vice versa.

Explaining the reasons behind seeking to change the law, the bill says: 'As per the census held in 2001, the female population in India constitutes about 48.26 percent of the total population.'

'The empowerment of women by various legislative as well as other measures is an avowed policy of the government and bringing complete equality for them in all spheres of life is a matter of utmost concern,' the statement said.

It added that while 'the constitution of India guarantees equality of status and equality of opportunity to all citizens, irrespective of the fact whether they are men and women, there is also a growing demand for making laws free from gender bias and to provide legal equality to women in all spheres of life.'

(Courtesy: IANS)

TV has more women viewers than men

Sun, May 23 09:35 AM

New Delhi, May 23 (PTI) Television is the most preferred entertainment medium and women have established their supremacy over men in living rooms, a media study has found. TV sealed the first slot with as many as 92 per cent of respondents voting for it in a survey conducted by commercial consultancy firm Deloitte on ''State of the Media Democracy Survey,''.

Among 2,000 respondents across the country, women were found to be watching more TV programmes (93 per cent), compared to men (91 per cent). Analysing the reason behind TV''s sway among respondents from cities like Bangalore, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Surat and Indore, the study said, "this may be because TV has a wider reach than any other medium and the ''visuals'' have a greater impact irrespective of their educational background, status etc."

It further said "in India, the growth of the DTH platform has ensured that the remotest corner of the country can now get hooked onto numerous soaps, sports, news and other powerful visuals that modern day television beams out". Even the senior citizens rate TV as the preferred entertainment medium, with their score being as high as 95 per cent.

Newspaper occupies the second position. "Indians, unlike the westerners, want to read dailies with their morning cup of tea. This reading habit is more visible in the younger bracket of respondents (those above 26 years), with 68 per cent of them preferring newspaper. Among the younger generations, going to the movies, listening to music and radio are high on their next preferred entertainment areas.

The tech-savvy generation is more inclined to Internet, gaming and cell phones as means of recreation," the survey said. Cell phone came out as the most preferred entertainment device as 64 per cent of the respondents falling in the age group of 14-25 voted for it.

(Courtesy: PTI)

Educated, unemployable

Sunday May 23, 02:54 AM Source: Indian Express Finance

A yawning gap

Why must Infosys (INFOSYS.BO : 2613.15 +27), one of the biggest names in the IT industry, which recruits the cr me-de-le-cr me of professionals from the best institutes in the country, spend $184 million on training programmes annually or invest up to 30 weeks of residential programmes on engineers it hires? The answer is simple the need to build employee competency levels. Says Srikantan Moorthy, VP and head, education & research, Infosys Technologies, "We recruit people on the basis of their learning ability. The investment is a non-negotiable. Besides training we conduct residential programmes to enable our engineers to meet client requirements. The need of the hour is not just for individuals to have strong conceptual knowledge, but also strong application capabilities." His information is, perhaps, an indicator of how inadequate India's education system is when it comes to preparing an individual for a job.

While unemployment cannot be brushed under the carpet, youth employability is no less a nightmare. A lot can be blamed on the education system. As many as 90% employment opportunities require vocational skills, but 90% of our college and school outputs are just cram experts, rendering no less than 57% of India's youth suffering with some degree of unemployability, reveals a recent TeamLease Labour report.

So, if you were looking at the bright side of the picture that just 8% of the youth in India are unemployed, there's hardly a reason to cheer, because 53% of the rest suffer from some form of skill deprivation. That sets back the demographic advantage India could hope to enjoy in future.

"India is coming into its dividend as an unusually young country in an unusually ageing market a young, fresh-faced nation in a graying world," Nandan Nilekani observed in his book, Imagining India: Ideas for the New Century. That's not just another observation. By 2025, 25% of the world's workers will be Indians, points out the TeamLease report. Three hundred and fifty universities, 18,000 colleges and 6,000 ITIs will till then continue to churn out five lakh technical graduates, along with around 2.3 million graduates (or maybe more). Unfortunately, just 10-25% of them will be 'employable', according to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

If that to you seems far fetched, consider this: according to a 2008 report of the Boston Study Group, India by 2012 will have 1.3 million surplus of un-trained and under-educated people and the country will fall short (by 5.3 million) of real talent.

An inefficient human resource development regime in the country, absence of an academia-industry interface, lack of focus on skill development of individuals and an almost non-existent quality assurance framework are the root causes of the poor outcomes of the current educational regime. With no returns expected in terms of jobs, there is a significant drop-out rate leading to an under-trained and under-skilled workforce.

"I opted to work right after graduation as I could see how my seniors were struggling to find a job of their choice and had to make peace with jobs that were underpaying and not worth their efforts," rues 23-year-old Jitesh Bhasin, a BPO employee. His fears are not unjustified.

This trend will result in a deluge of 'shall drop, will work' accumulating at the bottom of the education pyramid. The NSS' 61st round employment data hardly sprung up a surprise when it revealed that in urban India, 207 out of every 1,000 men who completed their graduation or went beyond that remained unemployed, against only 10 men out of a 1,000 who are not literate.

Skill deficit

Consensus on the lack of vocational training in the country impeding competitiveness and productivity of the workforce is easy to achieve among experts. How else do you interpret that only 25% of the engineering graduates, 15% of finance and accounting professionals and just 10% of professionals with any kind of degree are suitable to be employed in MNCs. Incidentally, that finding comes from an MNC itself (McKinsey).

India better pull up its socks. Close to 500 million people, says McKinsey, will need to go through skill development by 2020. As Dilip Chenoy, CEO, National Skills Development Council, says, "It's not education that is primarily responsible for lack of skills. It's probably the lack of systematic approach in skill development and building on whatever education one receives."

The 11th Plan document suggests that due to "the near exclusive reliance upon a few training courses with long duration (two to three years) covering around 100 skills, 80% of new entrants into the workforce have no opportunity for training in skills. 12.8 million population (sic) will enter the work force as new entrants per year. As against this, the present (largely government-administered) system of delivery can only provide training to 3.1 million per year".

The manner in which higher education institutes have grown in the past decade facing difficulty in attracting top-notch faculty, retaining them, and enhancing their skills is worrisome. "Quality has suffered a lot with this expansion," says Amit Bansal, CEO and founder of PurpleLeap, an Educomp-Pearson company that is into entry-level talent management. Many of them, therefore, do not have the ability to attract the best students. "It is the increasing number of students coming out of the neo- and non-academic managed colleges that contribute to non-employability or under- employability," says Srinivasan. With the dilution of entrance standards, the overall education quality is being compromised. K Pandia Rajan, MD, Ma Foi Management Consultants, adds how the academic infrastructure in engineering colleges has become very basic. "A quantum leap in engineering colleges due to poor accreditation policies is a big problem," he says.

Another area of focus is lack of soft skills. Shankar Srinivasan, chief people officer, Cognizant, feels that often students coming out of Indian institutes are technically proficient. "But they lack behavioural prerequisites such as communication, presentation, confidence and other soft skills," he says. Whether the reforms initiated by the government in terms of PPP model being adopted for upgrading ITIs and a modular employable skills programme with an objective to provide employable skills to early school leavers, existing workers and even ITI graduates works remains to be seen.

Undeniably, the need of the hour is to implement a skill-based education system in place of the degree-based system to sincerely solve the problem of educated unemployment.

Staying away from sun causes depression: Study

Sun, May 23 02:03 AM

London, May 23 (IANS) Hiding away from sun rays to protect oneself from skin diseases can harm one's health in many other ways, says an expert.

A study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has revealed that applying sun screen can contribute to Vitamin D deficiency. Though it is vital to protect our skin from harmful radiations, experts fear some people are taking it too far, reports themirror.co.uk.

According to the study led by professors Simon Pearce and Time Cheetham, people are getting far too little sun exposure, which the body needs to produce Vitamin D. Staying out of the sun altogether can cause bone problems, and in extreme cases rickets and osteoporosis, depression and even weight gain.

However, the study does not suggest that one should not apply sun screens and let skin burn but to keep in mind that small doses of unprotected sun exposure are vital.

According to experts, we need about 20 minutes of sunlight a day to help bodies produce enough vitamin D, known as the 'sunshine vitamin'.

(Courtesy: IANS)

50 paise on its way to the oblivion?

Sun, May 23 12:13 PM

New Delhi, May 23 (PTI) The fifty paise coins may soon be thing of the past as there are few takers for them, despite they being a legal tender.

From small retailers, auto drivers, bus conductors, grocers to customers, everyone seems to be blocking the circulation of 50 paise. But if we go by the rule book, it seems that they are doing it out of ignorance or just for convenience.

They give a volley of reasons to justify their reluctance in accept the coin. "The government should publicise and communicate that the coins are still in use, then only shopkeepers and customers would circulate the coins," says Harminder Kaur, a confectionery owner at the Super Bazaar in the heart of the Capital.

What more, there is an online community to drive the no-50-paise-please gang! Recently a group of young people have launched a Facebook community titled "I hate when somebody gives me 50 paise as change!"

Some others who are still in the brick-and-mortar age, say since the coin has no value, people don't mind paying the extra. And it seems that they have a point in this age of skyrocketing prices as practically a 50 paise coin would get you nothing now, barring perhaps some cheap toffees for kids.

"50 paise does not matter to the rich to whom we cater. They do not mind paying 50 paise extra for a product," says Kamal Jain, who runs the Vardhan Juice Centre near the Shivaji Bridge Railway Station in the Capital.

The authorities, however, clarify that the coin is still a legal tender as the government so far has not expressed any intention to de-notify it.

"The 50 paise is not being de-listed to my knowledge. Not accepting the coin is a punishable offence and the violators could be booked under the IPC," a senior official at the Mint Cell in Mumbai told PTI.

When contacted, RBI spokesperson Alpana Killawala said, "all the banks and RBI counters do accept 50 paise coins when exchanged in lieu of currencies."

Customers, on the other hand, blame shopkeepers for blocking the supply of the coin. "They purposefully want to curtail the supply of 50 paise so as to increase their profit and are keen on giving you candies," says Carl Gracias, an employee with Wipro. Squarely putting the blame on shopkeepers, Manish Arora a regular buyer of groceries, says, "to ask for the exact change is your right; the shopkeepers are at fault here."

However, it can be noted that the Government Mint, which rolls out coins, has so far not received the annual indent from the government to mint 50 paise coins this year, indicating the declining demand for the coin.

"We have not received any indent for 50 paise for this fiscal, though last year we did mint these coins," the official at the Mint Cell in Mumbai told PTI. The coins are minted at the four Government Mints in Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Noida. It seems that the ''Attanni'' is going to be a part of history.

(Coutesy: PTI)

Now, a leaf-like car that absorbs CO2 and spews oxygen

Sat, May 22 04:30 PM

New Delhi, May 22 (ANI): Taking cue from the plants' ability to photosynthesise, Chinese automaker Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation has developed a new concept car that could take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.

SAIC, which has a partnership wtih General Motors in China, showed designs for the photosynthesizing YeZ Concept Car recently at Expo 2010 in Shanghai.

YeZ (pronounced "yea-zi") is Mandarin Chinese for "leaf," and it is the apt title for the open buggy-like vehicle, which has a roof shaped like a leaf only, reports Discovery News.

The technical details haven't been articulated, but according to a report in Xinhua, YeZ designer Ma Zhengkun has said that the roof "absorbs solar energy and transforms it into electricity while spinning rotors on the four wheels generate power from the wind."

According to CNET Asia blogger Juniper Foo, the two-seater car would have a "metal-organic framework," which would work to absorb CO2 and water, turning them into electricity that would get stored in a lithium-ion battery.

(Courtesy: ANI)

Say yes to no

Sun, May 23 09:40 AM

It's a fact that 'no' has always been the favourite word of any child – or at least that's how it seems to their harassed parents. But these days, unlike earlier generations, parents seem much less able to cope with the demands made by their children. As a result, any explosion of rage or crying bout from a child aged between five and 12 frequently results in parents hurriedly backtracking from their stance. Here's how to say no to your child – and mean it.

Keep it strict

According to Dr Archana Kavalakkat, consultant paediatrician and neonatologist at Hiranandani Hospital in Thane, the rise in the number of nuclear families and working mothers these days means that parents very often are not able to spend quality time with their children. As a result, in order to make a child happy, they give in to all of his or her demands.

"It is also possible that a mother may give in easily to a child's demands, however unreasonable they may be, merely to get the child off her back as she is tired," explains Dr Maya Kriplani, a psychologist at Jaslok Hospital.

Unfortunately, says Dr Kriplani, these days it is not possible to be as strict with kids as parents of earlier generations were. "My own parents were very strict with me," recalls Dr Kavalakkat. "But you cannot behave in the same manner with kids today. You need to keep the channels of communication open."

No means no

Consistency is the key to get kids to understand that no means no, says Dr Kavalakkat. "It's important to understand that you should not give in to a child's demand even if she or he is persistent," she explains. "If the parent gives in after some time, the child begins to feel that 'If I keep on asking and persist with my demand, mom or dad will give in'."

According to Dr Priyanka Goenka, clinical child psychologist at BL Kapoor and Gangaram Hospital, Delhi, it's the fear of a tantrum that often compels parents to succumb to their kids' demands.

She explains, "These days, kids are used to getting things their own way. At the slightest hint of opposition, they throw a tantrum, preferably in public, or in front of guests, because they know this is the fastest way to get what they want. Most parents would readily give in rather than get into a situation where they have to deal with their child's difficult behaviour."

Adds Dr Goenka, "Parents feel they will be labelled bad parents if their child is crying or making a spectacle of themselves in public. It destroys their own self-constructed image of themselves as perfect parents."

Her advice: remain strong and ask yourself what is the worst thing that can happen if you say no. "If the answer is that the child will indulge in bad behaviour, then realise that your child is already behaving badly, so there's no reason to indulge him or her still further," she says.

Stick to your guns

According to Dr Goenka, a perfect parent is one who can say no to a child, and mean it. "I tell parents that if they keep on saying yes to a child, who will teach the child that in the outside world, she or he will very come across situations where they will not get whatever they want?"

She adds that parents should never satisfy kids when they indulge in unreasonable behaviour, and should also dissuade other people – grandparents, friends and relatives – from butting in. "Inform them that it's your child and that you need to deal with the situation," she says, adding that parents should also present a united front to the child.

Parents who feel they are too lenient are sometimes confused about how to go about changing their behaviour. Dr Kavalakkat suggests, "If the child is old enough, first sit down with him or her and explain that things in life do not come easily. Tell them that you are going to be setting rules for their benefit, and that from now on, these rules will have to be obeyed. With a young child, change your system of behaviour systematically."

How to negotiate

According to Dr Archana Kavalakkat, consultant paediatrician and neonatologist at Hiranandani Hospital in Thane, there are ways to negotiate with a child, while still not giving in entirely.

She explains, "Say your child asks to watch TV while she or he eats a meal, but you have made it clear that you would prefer them not to do so. So explain to the child that while this won't be possible every day, you will permit her or him to watch TV while eating once a week. That way, the child recognises that the parents are being reasonable, but equally that they mean what they say."

When you don't want to give in to a child's demand, such as when she or he wants to go to a late night party, Dr Kavalakkat suggests you explain the reasoning behind your decision. "Tell her or him about instances where teens have been harmed at parties," she says. "Your child will understand you better."

Dr Priyanka Goenka, clinical child psychologist at BL Kapoor and Gangaram Hospital, Delhi, advises not negotiating with a crying child. "Tell the child there won't be any discussion until he or she calms down," she says. "Then wipe their face clean of tears, and only then discuss the matter."

(Courtesy: India Times .com)

Hair Care for Summers

While you are busy taking care of your skin during summers, don't forget your hair. Summer sun and humidity can damage your hair's cuticle and result in dry, brittle and frizzy hair.

As a hair spa or treatment is not possible every time, simple tips can help you a long way in keeping healthy and smooth hair during summers. Deep-conditioning is essential for hair at least once a week.

Hair tends to become dull if it is exposed to to much of sun. One way to keep your hair moist is to apply jojobaoil. Either use it as a treatment before shampooing or apply it to the ends during the day. Before you get in the pool, wet your hair with fresh water, as it will not soak up much of chlorine.

Baking soda is a wonderful inexpensive home remedy. Add 1/4 cup baking soda to your shampoo. You can also mix baking soda with your conditioner. It will give your hair more volume, body and health.

Look for essential oils, herbs and vegetable oils in your hair care products. Essential oils such as rosemary, ylang-ylang and West Indian bay help to stimulate hair growth.

Lavender and tea tree are naturally antiseptic and help to fight dandruff, which is a common problem during summers.Vegetable oils such as soybean oil, safflower oil and corn oil are moisturising and conditioning to the hair shaft.

Try using hair products that contain SPF protection. Hair products that contain moisturisers and SPF protection helps during summers. Dilute 2 teaspoons of SPF 25 sun block down with one cup of water. Using a spray bottle, spray the product into your damp hair before styling.

(Coutesy: Hindustan Times)

Can chocolate fight ageing and make your skin glow?

Thu, May 20 06:02 PM

The world's largest chocolate maker says it may have come up with a chocolate bar that could fight wrinkles and slow the ageing process, making it the latest food group to tap the appetite for healthier living.

Eating 20 g (0.755 oz) of specially developed chocolate packed with antioxidants, or flavanols, each day may help prevent wrinkles and make skin more radiant by boosting elasticity and improving hydration, studies carried out by Barry Callebaut showed.

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the nutritional value of what they eat, and Barry Callebaut's claims come as food giants such as Nestle and Danone also push into the healthy eating arena.

Dark chocolate has already been linked with certain health benefits, such as helping to lower blood pressure and reducing the risk of strokes thanks to its high content of antioxidants.

The Swiss group has developed a way of preserving the flavanols found in cocoa beans during the chocolate-making process, allowing them to produce a bar that is richer in flavanols, Barry Callebaut Chief Innovation Officer Hans Vriens said in an interview.

"Chocolate and health do not seem to fit together but it is a very interesting proposition: if I can eat something I like and it is good for me, that is great," Vriens said. "Chocolate is probably at the bottom of the list when you think about making food healthier."

Smoking, pollution, caffeine and a lack of sleep contribute to the creation of free radicals that can damage healthy cells in the body and accelerate the ageing process.

"There is a huge body of evidence that shows flavanols slow down damage caused by free radicals," said Kepler Capital Markets analyst Jon Cox.

"Food manufacturing companies are leveraging health and wellness into various products and there is definitely a market for chocolate in health and wellness. We have already seen how this has worked in dairy products, with products like Danone's Actimel and Unilever's Benecol," Cox said.

The functional chocolate market, which includes organic and diet chocolate, is seeing double-digit growth, easily outpacing the 1-2 percent growth currently seen in the rest of the chocolate market, Cox said.

But some experts are doubtful about the positive effects flavanols have on skin.

"There is quite a lot of evidence that cocoa flavanols have a positive effect on the blood flow. They could reduce blood pressure which could have a positive effect on cardiovascular diseases," said Richard Hurrell, Professor of Human Nutrition at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.

"The possible effects on skin and cognitive performance are less well established. There is evidence, but it is much less consistent. It may be that the effect on the blood flow is also what improves memory or skin health in some of the studies," Hurrell said.

(Courtesy: REUTERS)

Traditional art of letter writing 'dying out' among kids

Fri, May 21 01:45 PM

London, May 21 (ANI): A survey has found that the traditional art of letter writing is fast dying out among children, as they turn to email, text messages and social networking websites, to communicate.

The survey showed that one-in-ten schoolchildren have never written a letter by hand, and almost a third of teenagers have failed to put pen to paper for more than a year.

By comparison, almost half of pupils use website such as Facebook and Bebo to communicate with friends every week. he study commissioned by the charity World Vision prompted fresh fears over a decline in writing skills among a generation of schoolchildren.

A rise in the use of computers has already been linked to poor spelling, punctuation and grammar as pupils become over-reliant on electronic checkers.

"If children do not write or receive letters they miss out on key developmental benefits," the Telegraph quoted Sue Palmer, former head teacher and author of the book Toxic Childhood, as saying.

"Handwritten letters are much more personal than electronic communication.

"The effort of writing is a very real one for a child; painstakingly manoeuvring the pencil across the page, thinking of the best words to convey a message, struggling with spelling and punctuation.

"It is, however, an effort worth making, because it's only through practice that we become truly literate - and literacy is the hallmark of human civilisation.

"If we care about real relationships, we should invest in real communication, not just the quick fix of a greetings card, text or email," she stated.

In the latest study, YouGov surveyed almost 1,200 children aged seven to 14, and found that 10 percent of young people had never written a letter, rising to 13 percent among boys alone.

The poll, conducted to mark the charity's National Letter Writing Day, revealed children were less likely to write letters, as they got older.

Some 31 percent of pupils aged 13 or 14 had not written a letter for at least a year.

But in the last week, half of all children said they had written an email or a message using a social networking website, rising to around eight-in-ten among teenagers.

The study also suggested that many youngsters were leaving primary school unable to set out a letter, and that almost half of 11-year-olds said they were confused over the correct layout.

The findings come amid rising concerns over basic writing skills among children.

In 2008, it emerged that examiners were struggling to mark test papers because pupils' handwriting was so illegible.

One of Britain's biggest exam boards said some writing was now so bad that adults should be allowed to act as "scribes" during tests.

Pupils were also increasingly making serious spelling mistakes after relying on spell-checkers and on-line dictionaries to correct errors, it was claimed.

(Courtesy: ANI)

Artificial life? Synthetic genes 'boot up' cell

Fri, May 21 05:24 AM

Scientists working to make a synthetic life form reported a major step forward on Thursday, saying they had created an artificial genome and used it to bring a hollowed-out bacterium back to life.

They hope to use their stripped-down version of a bacterium to learn how to engineer custom-made microbes.

But some groups worried the technology might be used to make biological weapons and President Barack Obama asked his bioethics advisers to report on the implications. The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee scheduled a hearing for next week to discuss the implications, good and bad.

Others disputed just how far the researchers had gone in making artificial life.

"This is the first synthetic cell that's been made," said genome pioneer Craig Venter, who led the research. "This is the first self-replicating species that we have had on the planet whose parent is a computer."

Other members of his research team said later they had taken only "baby steps" toward the goal of starting with a digital file and custom-making an organism.

Venter has said he would like to try to make bacteria to produce fuel or to use in making better vaccines or to design algae that can vacuum up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

"This becomes a very powerful tool for trying to design what we want biology to do," Venter said at a news conference.

Reporting in the journal Science, Venter's team said it worked with a synthetic version of the DNA from a small bacterium called Mycoplasma mycoides transplanted into another germ called Mycoplasma capricolum, which had most of its insides removed.

After many false starts, the new microbe came to life and began replicating in the lab dish.



THWARTED SUCCESS

It took years to figure out how to make an artificial chromosome with artificial genetic sequences. The researchers, who have spent 15 years and $40 million so far, then had to figure out how to transfer this into another bacterium.

At first, nothing happened. It turned out there was a single error in the more than 1 million "base-pairs" in the genetic sequence. "Our success was thwarted for many weeks," they wrote in their report.

Venter said the team consulted many experts in ethics before it started. The institute's Dan Gibson said they also briefed the White House because of the security implications -- the technique might be used to synthesize biological weapons, for instance.

Obama asked the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues to look at the issue.

"In its study, the Commission should consider the potential medical, environmental, security, and other benefits of this field of research, as well as any potential health, security or other risks," Obama wrote.

"Further, the Commission should develop recommendations about any actions the federal government should take to ensure that America reaps the benefits of this developing field of science while identifying appropriate ethical boundaries and minimizing identified risks."

Some environmentalists worried.

"We must ensure that strong regulations are in place to protect the environment and human health from this potentially dangerous new technology," said Eric Hoffman of Friends of the Earth.

The researchers do not claim to have created a completely synthetic life form but the experiment elicited some dramatic responses.

"Venter's achievement would seem to extinguish the argument that life requires a special force or power to exist. In my view, this makes it one of the most important scientific achievements in the history of mankind," bioethicist Arthur Caplan of the University of Pennsylvania wrote in a commentary in the journal Nature.

"Their achievement undermines a fundamental belief about the nature of life that is likely to prove as momentous to our view of ourselves and our place in the Universe as the discoveries of Galileo, Copernicus, Darwin and Einstein."

Jim Collins, a professor of biomedical engineering at Boston University, disputed that.

"Frankly, scientists do not know enough about biology to create life," Collins wrote in Nature.

"The work reported by Venter and his colleagues is an important advance in our ability to re-engineer organisms; it does not represent the making of new life from scratch."

(Editing by Peter Cooney)

(Courtesy: Reuters)

Italian food is very healthy: Chef Karan Mehta

Updated on Tuesday, May 18, 2010, 22:29 IST
Karan Mehta, the Chef De Cuisine of Le Meridien is a man, who at once draws your attention and makes you fall for his work, that he calls ‘art’.

In an exclusive chit-chat with Smita Mishra of Spicezee.com, Mehta talks about his experiments with food, the significance of his work and the magic that he can create in a clay oven.

What made you choose becoming a Chef as your profession?

A natural inclination, perhaps. I loved experimenting with dishes. Though adopting this as a profession some two decades back was a daring task as it lacked the glamour quotient it enjoys today and was looked at with scepticism.

I joined this industry in 1988, worked with Taj Grand for three years, and then joined the Meridian. Went abroad and learnt the art to perfection…and I am learning still.

How important is nutrition?

Immensely. It carries 100% significance in each and every recipe.

These days our work has become very easy because people too are opting for foods that are high in nutrition value. For this very reason, organic, grilled and fat free foods have become very popular.

Tel us something about fusion cuisine about which we hear so often these days?

Fusion cuisine, as the name says is actually the mixing of two different cuisines. It is generally offered in hotels that serve continental food. It is still not very popular, as people perhaps take time to shed their loyalty to a particular cuisine.

This kind of food is not just nutritious but also very digestible.

Are foods losing their originality because of fusion?

Not at all! There are some foods whose original recipes are used in hotels since generations without any attempt to alter or modify them. For example Rogan Josh.

So in India, kitchens believe less in experimenting?

There is nothing like that. We have experimented with a number of dishes. We try fusion also. It all depends upon what our guests desire to have.

How important is food styling in a dish?

Styling is the soul of food these days. Many chefs are specially trained for this. The taste of food no doubt holds prime significance, but its presentation too is very important. In fact it should be such that the very look of the dish should tempt you towards it.

There are chefs these days who have acquired world fame for styling kebabs in different ways.

Which do you think is the healthiest cuisine?

French and Italian. There was a time when French cuisine was the hottest and very popular. But somehow it is no more as fashionable now.

But Italian food is packed with calories?

Don’t just talk about Pizzas. They have pastas, risottos, salads that are so healthy. They use less oil and butter in their food.

Is there some particular reason why European food has become so popular in India?

People are traveling more now. They are visiting places and experimenting with various kinds of foods. Since European food is healthier, probably it is being liked more.

With emphasis gradually shifting towards diet food, how are you managing this zero oil, less spicy fare?

It’s not difficult at all. For heath conscious guests we use canola oil, olive oil. There are varieties of bakes, grills and salads.

What do you think you can make best?

European food, hot and cold.

Hot and cold?

Yes, hot means meats, soups, starters and cold refers to appetizers and salads.

How satisfying is your profession?

Immensely. In fact, the role of the chef is very important. He wields a lot of power as he can make people healthy and exercise power over their tastes and preferences.

(Courtesy: Zee News)

ICSE results reveal 'study in contrast' - Courtesy: India Today

Thu, May 20 01:59 PM

Girls stole a march over the boys in the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) for Class X and the Indian School Certificate (ISC) for Class XII exams - the results of which were declared on Wednesday.

But the toppers from the national capital region of Delhi - again girls - are two different personalities in terms of taste and temperament though they come from the same school, Holy Child School in Ghaziabad.

Ayushi Singhal, the Class X topper, and Kamelia Majumdar, the topper in Class XII, are "a study in contrast". Ayushi, daughter of Sanjay Singhal, a canteen owner at AKG Engineering College in Ghaziabad, has always been a grumpy little girl when it comes to studies. She would never dedicate more than three to four hours.

"I never give too much time to studies. But I go for quality studies," said Ayushi, who lives with her parents at New Ashok Nagar in Ghaziabad.

She plans join the navy and she likes to play football. "I also like to watch TV," said the girl who scored 96.80 per cent. She gave credit for her success to her parents and her chemistry teacher.

On the other hand, Kamelia Majumdar secured 98 per cent in the Class XII final and she is a darn serious soul.

Daughter of Kaajal Majumdar, a deputy manager with an Indonesian company, Kamelia wants to study statistics and do well in the banking and insurance sector. Her second choice is the railways.

She is now busy applying in Delhi University colleges for her graduation. "I will apply in Hindu College, Kirori Mal College, Ramjas and Lady Sri Ram College," she said.

She loves western music and dance. "I have dedicated a lot of time to my studies. I used to study for more than seven to eight hours," she added.

As for the statistics bit, the overall, the pass percentage in Class X is 98.77 for girls and 97.95 for boys. In Class XII, the girls' pass percentage is 98.26. For boys, it is 96.17.

In Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) also, girls performed better than boys. Students of over 29 schools for Class X and 17 schools for Class XII in the NCR appeared the finals.

While 98.29 per cent girls cleared their Class X exams, the boys are a little behind at 98.25 per cent. But in Class XII, the girls have a clear lead with a pass percentage of 98.25 per cent. The boys are way behind at 95.61 per cent.

"Girls have done better this year again. We are fairly satisfied with the results. The girl who has topped in the country is from Mumbai. She is Jhanvi Vipul Kusani with 98.80 per cent in Class X. She is from Smt Leelawati Poda High School. Shreya Daga topped the Class XII exam from Mahadevi Birla Shishu Mandir in Kolkata with 98.75 per cent," said Gerry Arathoon, secretary of the board.

"Sumedha Rai from St Anthony's Junior School in Agra was a fraction behind Shreya with 98.7 per cent," he added.

The country's southern region recorded the best results with 98.72 per cent students getting through the Class XII exam. This is followed by the eastern region where 97.69 per cent students were successful.

The western region witnessed topped this year with 99.62 per cent students clearing the Class X exam followed by students from the southern region securing a pass rate of 99.44.

Reproduced From Mail Today. Copyright 2010. MTNPL. All rights reserved.

Formula One to amend safety car rules

Thu, May 20 03:05 PM

Photo Mercedes Formula One driver Michael Schumacher of Germany takes a curve during the third practice

Formula One's governing body has moved to amend the sport's safety car rules after Michael Schumacher was penalised for an overtaking move at last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement on Thursday that there was "a lack of clarity" in the application of a rule prohibiting overtaking when the safety car was deployed on the last lap of a race.

"Adjustments to the regulations are necessary to clarify the procedure that cars must meet when the last lap is controlled by the safety car whilst also ensuring that the signaling for teams and drivers is made more clear," it added.

"The Formula One Commission, upon a proposal of the F1 Sporting Working Group will submit an amendment to the sporting regulations to address this issue."

The FIA said the amendments would be considered by its World Motor Sport Council at a meeting in Geneva on June 23.

Seven times world champion Schumacher overtook Ferrari's Fernando Alonso for sixth place at the final corner of the race moments after the safety car had turned into the pit lane.

The Mercedes driver, making a comeback this season at the age of 41, was then handed a 20 second penalty which demoted him to 12th.

Mercedes had planned to appeal the penalty but said on Tuesday they had decided not to in the best interests of the sport.

The team argued that while the rules state that no overtaking is allowed if a race finishes under safety car conditions, that was not apparent in Monaco with marshals waving green flags while race control sent messages declaring the track to be clear.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin; Editing by John O'Brien; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

(Courtesy: REUTERS)

'Wow' Aluminium bats hit Indian cricket

PTI, 20 May 2010

New Delhi: Get over mongoose and double blade bats as its time for eco-friendly 'Wow' aluminium bats to further revolutionise cricketing in India. Brain-child of an Indian IIT engineer, Wow aluminium bats are the latest innovations to hit tennis ball cricket and will be formally unveiled in the capital on May 21, while those to be used by leather ball cricket would be introduced three months later.
"Wow! Aluminium bats are made using aeronautical grade aluminium. Each machine-made bat is balanced so as to produce a perfect piece," said IIT Roorkee alumni Vivek Lakhotia, who is the designer and innovator of the bat.
Placed within the factory price range of Rs 500-800, Wow aluminium bats weighs less than the wooden bat and have a life which is at least five times more than a wooden cricket bat, Lakhotia said. These eco-friendly bats use recycled aluminium and will help save willow trees of Kashmir currently used in making of cricket bats, he added.
Lakhotia has also applied for four patents of the bat - cutting edge design, process, actual product and the innovation itself. "Patents, once granted will help in protecting the design and product from being copied by others", said Diljeet Titus, senior partner of law firm Titus and Co and general secretary of Policy Planning Group (PPP) under whose aegis the launch is being organised.
"It is a very good bat and all my wards have come up with good response to the bat. They said it doesn't feel like they are playing with an aluminium bat as they can play all their strokes easily with this latest bat," said Mansoor Baig, secretary of Rajasthan Tennis Ball cricket Association.
The Wow aluminium bat can also be used for training purposes by different age-groups as it provides the option of setting the bat at a preferable weight by putting extra grams. "Some players want to train with a light bat while some prefers heavy bats like Sachin Tendulkar. It can be used for both purposes as one can add extra weight to the bat and make its bottom heavy or light," Lakhotia said. Lakhotia has already given bats for testing to the various State Association.
"It is very good and the weight is also same as the wooden bat. I am very satisfied with it and I think it is a great concept. Since the boys have been using it for a few days now, I think within the next two months they would get more accustomed with the bat," said Mohd Latif, International co-ordinator of Tennis Ball Cricket Federation Of India.
Agrees Secretary of Delhi Tennis ball cricket Association, Usman Siddique. "It is a good creation and the first impression has been positive from the kids. We have a junior national camp here from May 25. I think the boys will get a better feel of the bat during the camp," said Siddique.
It was one-year ago that Lakhotia, who manages an aluminium company, had thought of this idea which can help young cricketers and lovers of the game to make a contribution to the environment.
"Around 25 crore children and adults in India play this game. There are 5000 tournaments of tennis ball in a year in India and if they continue to play with the wooden bat, it will lead to deforestation soon. I feel Aluminium bat will at least give everybody a chance to contribute to the environment by using an eco-friendly product," he said.

(Courtesy: Yahoo Cricket)

Next Indian Ocean cyclone to be called Bandu

Thu, May 20 01:58 PM

New Delhi, May 20 (IANS) It might not be known when the next cyclone will hit the northern Indian Ocean, but what is already known is its name - Bandu, an official said Thursday.

Cyclones derive their names through a systematic procedure laid down by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Cyclone Laila, which developed in the Indian Ocean off the Andhra Pradesh coast creating much havoc in the state, was named by Pakistan. The next to hit countries in the north Indian Ocean region will be called Bandu - a name given by Sri Lanka, and the one after that will be Phet, named by Thailand.

Eight north Indian Ocean countries - Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand - have prepared a list of 64 names.

'We give identity to the cyclones as per the list finalised by the WMO,' M. Mahopatra, director of the cyclone division of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), told IANS.

'The practice of naming storms (tropical cyclones) began years ago to help in their quick identification while issuing warnings because names are presumed to be far easier to remember than numbers or technical terms,' Mahopatra explained.

'When a hurricane hits these countries, the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC), housed in the IMD office in New Delhi, picks up the name next on the list. The RSMC has been set up by the WMO for forecasting tropical cyclones in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal,' he said.

The countries take turns in naming the cyclones. The last six were: Nisha (Bangladesh), Bijli (India), Aila (Maldives), Phyan (Myanmar), Ward (Oman) and the most recent being Laila (Pakistan). Local names are used for cyclones to make it convenient for use.

In the 1970s, the WMO in Geneva asked some countries around the Pacific Ocean to prepare a list of names. The decision to name the cyclones in the Indian Ocean was taken at a meeting of WMO/ESCAP in 2000.

(Courtesy: IANS)

ATM inventor dead

Thu, May 20 11:18 AM

John Shepherd-Barron

London, May 20 (IANS) John Shepherd-Barron, who invented the world's first automatic cash dispensing machine, better known as ATM, is dead. He had come up with the idea after wondering why banks couldn't operate a system like a chocolate-vending machine.

John had also thought of the four-digit Pin number.

He died in a hospital in Inverness Saturday after a short illness, Daily Express reported Thursday. He was 84.

John had reached his bank a little late and then thought as why there could not be a system to get cash on the lines of the chocolate-vending machines.

The first product was installed at Barclays Enfield branch in London June 27, 1967.

He then realised that he could still remember his six-figure Army number, and decided to test his wife Caroline's memory. But, she could only recall four digits, so that became the world standard for Pin number.

(Courtesy: IANS)