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Zipping into The future !
Sweet symphony
PACESETTER Avneet Sethi
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Zipping into The future ! So you thought people behind the James Bond series went overboard when they conceptualised cars that would fly, read an important e-mail message aloud to its occupant or slam emergency brakes on its own? Perhaps, not. Driven by priorities like fast-depleting petrol resources, ever-increasing traffic snarls, problems of parking and the need to make the automobile, a more environmentally friendly vehicle, car designers are back on their drawing boards trying to hit upon novel concepts that can and has completely altered conventional design. Most leading auto manufacturers agree that future cars will incorporate space-age features and a lot more use of glass to increase visibility and give a more open feeling inside a car. The specially fortified glass will be moulded like steel and will meet most roll over requirements. Automobile majors like Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Jaguar are churning out cars which would warn drivers if they took a wrong turn or unintentionally drifted into another lane and offer either a refreshing sonic blast or a reminder to pull over and take a nap at the first sign of droopy eyelids. Web-enabled cars
Be ready to step into an era where driving would not only be pleasurable but also a lot more comfortable and secure. At the centre of this revolution is the marriage between two of the greatest inventions ever — automobile and the internet. German giant Audi will have a completely revolutionary design in the future. The main characteristics of the design are the way its surface shapes are formed with a continuous flow from the front-end until the back of the car. The main inspiration, says an Audi spokesperson, is Nature: “We usually do not realise that everything in nature has its specific curves and flowing lines and it is very rare to spot perfectly straight lines. The main goal was to implement this design aspect into a car which creates a relaxing, energetic and vibrant feeling.” In a decade, Toyota will grab the attention of people with its unique spaceship styling that's both futuristic and aerodynamic. It would be one of the most efficient vehicles on the road and would deliver mind-boggling fuel economy. French car manufacturer Citroen's future designs will reflect the quest for outstanding aerodynamics, delivering improved fuel economy and lower pollutant emissions while also integrating the latest technological developments. The idea is to have the best of both the worlds — pleasure of driving and top performance. Breathtaking designs Honda's future cars will incorporate fuel-cell technology and a breathtaking design — that continues its tradition of fresh ideas, true safety and exciting drives. Because, as a spokesperson puts it, “Honda isn't about changing the look of a car, it’s about changing the world of the automobile.” The Lamborghini brand has come a long way since it began as a manufacturer of farm tractors and air conditioners in the small north Italian village of Sant'Agata during the 1960s. Today, the super car is among the costliest in the world and its future version will be the dream of every connoisseur. The Peugeot future car will be retro in design. Its stunning features will include an aerodynamic body, a super-cool look and high-fuel efficiency. It will be powered by hydrogen and made with plastic panels, polyurethane seats and lightweight aluminium mechanical and chassis components. In fact, technology will change the look and feel of car. Dashboards would resemble computer screens. Conventional gauges will be tossed aside in favour of flat-panel screens where drivers can arrange the controls of their desire. Experts say that in a decade or so, the modern automobile will be packed with more electronics than the average helicopter. The intelligent car of the future will revolutionise driving and be a marvel of modern technology.
Will smart cars be safe? With such speeds and technologies at their command will drivers run the risk of concentration lapses if their screens serve everything from traffic reports and street directions to e-mail and video games? The auto industry says no. Most future cars will have voice controls for everything from switching on the air conditioner to opening the doors. Smart cars of the future will offer ease-of-use and all possible facilities at the press of a button, they will be very safe vehicles. A host of technologies will contribute to what analysts call cocooning. The idea is to protect people inside the car with smart air bags while filtering out distractions for drivers. Sensor technologies are leading the way and adaptive cruise control is already available on high-end cars from BMW and Jaguar. Using radar (Mercedes-Benz) or lasers (Toyota) cruise control systems detect when a driver in front of you pulls into your lane. The systems automatically slow your vehicle. Sensors and radars will play a key role in collision-avoidance systems. The lane departure warning system uses a camera and computer to monitor lane markings while tracking them to your vehicle's speed. The computer then predicts when you are unintentionally drifting into another lane and emits a warning to the driver. If all this makes you feel you'll soon be sidestepped as a driver, well, you are right. In the times to come state-of-the-art technology will do the real driving and humans can as well be locked up in a glass case with the message — break in case of emergency!. On a wing & wheels! When was the last time you took off in your car? The answer would probably be 'this morning.' But this is a tricky question. The right answer is 'Never'! You drive a car, not 'take off'. But now an American company is all set to make your car take off literally. The Terrafugia Transition Flying Car created by designer Carl Deitrich and students of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, USA have successfully developed the world's first flying car. The Transition is just one of the innovative concepts that have become real.
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Sweet symphony Sensual, lascivious, molten, erotic, pleasurable, exquisite, sinful, decadent, what would you associate these words with? The answer is chocolate. Whether it is Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Divali, an anniversary or any other happy occasion, there is just one preferred gift — chocolate. Variously called the food of the gods and black gold, chocolates are available worldwide as bars, truffles, candies, cakes, creams, brownies and cookies in various shapes and sizes. These are used in innumerable concoctions and desserts, and can be had solid, liquid, granulated, powdered, hot or cold. Chocolates are also associated with fantasies as these are reported to have aphrodisiac qualities. It is believed that Casanova, the Italian libertine, always ate a chocolate before his nocturnal adventures with high society women. Remarkable journey These have made a remarkable journey since these were first discovered in 1500 BC, by the Aztec Indians in South America. From Mexico to Spain, and then to the world, from being used primarily as liquid concoctions to the variety of bars available in most stores, chocolates can be found everywhere at a price to suit your pocket. The love for chocolates is global. All over the world, chocolates have become a pleasurable gastronomical pursuit. It will be hard to find anyone who has not been infatuated with sweet and crunchy chocolates or the preparations made from them. Whether it is a cake or a mousse, a scone or a tart, chocolates have the quality of completely overwhelming the tastebuds and senses. Besides the addiction, there is a certain romance associated with chocolates and this is because of their inherent ingredients. These contain mood-changing chemicals like phylethyalamine, amphetamine and anandamide, which make you feel euphoric. Chocolates also increase the levels of serotonin
(another feel-good chemical) in the brain. It is no wonder, then, that chocolate is the first and
automatic choice of the romantically inclined people. Burgeoning demand With the easy availability of global brands in India, the chocolate addiction seems to be catching on thick and fast. During the festive season, such is their demand that the neighbourhood halwai has already started feeling the pinch. Not that the chocolates have edged out the traditional mithai but designer chocolates, in an array of shapes and flavours, are making inroads into the festive gifting territory so fast that many traditional sweets shops have also started retailing chocolates. That’s because a box of chocolates, besides looking elegant, cost almost the same as sweetmeats, and it has a longer shelf life. “The trend has been catching on for sometime,” says a department store owner. “Even on traditional occasions like Raksha Bandhan, Bhai Duj, wedding-related functions, birthday gifting and success in examinations, people have started preferring presentation chocolates. The demand is growing every year.” Changing scenario The Indian chocolate industry scenario is changing rapidly. Over the past decade, the size of the market has burgeoned from around Rs 350 crore annually in 2001 to an estimated Rs 2,200 crore. It is growing at a healthy rate of 18 per cent every year although sales go up by close to 40 per cent during the festive season. Till about a couple of years ago, Cadbury’s Dairy Milk and 5-Star led the charge with around 55 per cent of the market share while Nestle’s Kit Kat, Munch, Bar One and Milky Bar had an estimate 28 per cent share with Amul cornering nine per cent, and the rest is shared by local chocolate manufacturers. Dramatic changes However, all this is poised to change dramatically. Seeing the market potential here, global leaders are moving in fast. With the easy availability of international brands like Ferraro Rocher, Toblerone, Galaxy, Guylian, Godiva, Lindt and more, an air of excitement and competitiveness has gripped the market. Though most of these brands are being imported and sold in India, Ferraro Rocher has set up its own manufacturing facility in Baramati, near Pune, in Maharashtra. In the second year of manufacturing, the company’s turnover has crossed $170 million, indicating the rising demand for premium chocolates. In the last couple of years, global players have already started impacting the Rs 250-crore chocolate gifting market and the impact is prominent during festivals like Divali and Christmas and other occasions like weddings and birthdays. Though the per capita consumption of chocolates by Indians is said to be a little more than 50 gm a year in comparison to around 10 kg in the West, the sweet temptation is catching on, and if industry green shoots are any indication, it is likely to grow into a full-blown obsession in the years to come. Not a common name in India but extremely popular in the West, the Ghirardelli products of milk, caramel, mint and dark chocolates are delectably luscious and many with real fruit. The American chocolate was made by chocolatier Domenico Ghirardelli more than 175 years
ago. Price: pack of 263 gm ghirardelli chocolate squares
Rs 1,060 It is a favourite chocolate treat for most Indian children. Ferrero Rocher, the spherical chocolate made by Italian chocolatier Ferraro Spa is individually packaged in a golden wrapper and has a crunchy wafer shell has a creamy chocolate filling and delicious hazelnut at the
centre. Price: box of 300 gm Rs 750 Arguably the best chocolates in the world, the Lindt & Sprungli Company of Switzerland has a passionate following spawning chocolate lovers’ societies worldwide. Rudolphe Lindt is considered the father of the modern chocolate and Lindt chocolates are available around the
globe. Price: lindt milk chocolate Rs 255 The Hershey chocolates, which are today a universal favourite, are more than a century old and come from Pennsylvania in the US. These classic milk chocolates are widely used as an anytime snack by all age groups. The company is also known for its syrups, dessert toppings and
milkshakes. Price: 226 gm hershey’s milk chocolate Rs 390 CALLEBAUT — EXQUISITE CHOCOLATES Price: box of 24 chocolates $25
Rs 1,375 The name is almost synonymous with chocolates. Cadbury has been a market leader in India over the past six decades and has a variety of chocolates and gift packs. Apart from the popular Dairy Milk and its variants, its other brands include 5-Star, Perk and Bournville. Price: milk chocolate bar of 38 gm
Rs 22 Though not a well-known brand in India, the Russell Stover company is one of America’s most favourites chocolates and handmade confections. The largest manufacturer of boxed chocolates in America, the company’s unique selling point is chocolates with a personalised photo and message. Price: $13 for a 680-gm assorted chocolate box
Rs 715 Another example of the fine Belgian gourmet chocolates, Neuhaus creations are the culmination of more than 150 years of the art of chocolate making. These creamy and smooth luxury chocolates are made using traditional techniques passed down the generations of the Neuhaus
family. Price: 20 piece box $35 Rs 1,925 Gaining in popularity for its gift packs, Patchi chocolates are becoming a leading premium brand. One of the few brands that do not originate from Europe or the US, these Lebanese chocolates come in ornately decorated packages, specially designed for festive
occasions. Price: starting from Rs 1,100
DARK SIDE OF CHOCOLATES
The main ingredient of dark chocolate is cocoa beans. The chocolate processed from these fermented and roasted beans is said to have great health benefits as cocoa contains a flavonoid called catechin, which helps prevent heart disease and gives immune system a considerable boost. But the benefits don’t just stop there. Medical studies have shown that there may be much more to this about-to-be-designated superfood. According to leading researchers, the consumption of dark chocolate may be linked to the many health advantages. A study by Nestle Research Centre in Switzerland suggests that people who supplemented their diet with a small quantity of dark chocolate experienced significant reduction in the stress levels. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that eating a small amount of dark chocolate every day reduces blood pressure because of the polyphenols in cocoa. Studies show that dark chocolate can reduce chances of heart diseases by lowering the level of C-reactive protein responsible for heart inflammation. These contain the heart-healthy mono-saturated fat called oleic acid (an important ingredient of olive oil) that increases ‘good’ HDL cholesterol and reduces ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol. However, before you dump that a bowl of vegetables and fruits for chocolates, it must be remembered that though research is conclusive on the benefits of dark chocolates, it has yet to be done on a large scale to authenticate the findings. Till then, of course, you can indulge in the sinful pleasure but with caution.
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PACESETTER Avneet Sethi At 24, Avneet Sethi decided to drop out of formal education in architecture midway and pursue her dream of running a company. Google was rather new back in 2003 and it is Internet Marketing that she opted to explore, along with her friends turned business partners Sarthak Aggarwal and Pancham Prashar in Chandigarh. The trio started from a bedroom with a loan sourced from families and in two months flat they repaid the loan as well as bought office space. CueBlocks Technologies Pvt Ltd has today a turnover in crores, a plush office in Mani Majra spread over 5,000 square feet with 50 employees. From internet marketing it has moved onto web development and establishing online stores. CueBlocks, a dream by three young friends, breathes their youthful energy. Their identity cards have caricatures rather than pictures. A whole section is devoted to entertainment with pool tables and huge screens for movie screenings that office enjoys together. The international employees bring their own work culture as two beagles Carlos and Chatur, who stay with Avneet and Sarthak at night, add warmth as they accompany them to work everyday. Avneet is Bachelors in Building Sciences and she initially built the online marketing division at CueBlocks that included search engine optimisation, online marketing strategy development, content strategies and corporate blogging. She is focusing entirely on the web development division of the company. Avneet learnt coding and programming and turned it into the most successful division of the company. What made her foray to uncharted territory? She gives the credit to her years at AIESEC, where she got a chance to lead teams, learn management skills and fulfill responsibilities at a very young age while working with this global youth organisation. That experience, she considers was very valuable in shaping CueBlocks, “AIESEC was one of the best and most educative experiences. Whether it was work ethics, work-life balance or sustaining a love for learning, it provided me with a strong foundation to build our professional lives.” CueBlocks employees as well as the company contributes monetarily monthly with Society For Rehabilitation Of Mentally Challenged (SOREM). Says Avneet, “I co-founded this company because creating life-changing experiences was my dream and I feel very passionately about it. Every day, I pursue my hobby of making a difference, a positive impact, in the lives of people involved with CueBlocks,” she shares. She love exploring new places and goes hiking, camping, taking road trips and lazy, luxury beach vacations. “Travelling allows me to clear my head, take a break, spend time with family and friends. It fills my head with lots of ideas.” Avneet loves rock climbing, cross-fit training, running and long walks. She has discovered her love for cooking too. Grit is required to see a story to its successful end. Avneet is looking forward to CueBlocks' e-Commerce stores that are being set up and are ready to go online in the coming months.
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Bling it on
COLOURFUL IPHONE-5 Price of colouring iPhone5: $1,700
(Rs 93,500) This truly is wearable technology. London-based futuristic fashion house Cute Circuit’s Twitter Gown displays live tweets streaming on the dress in real time. The dress is embedded with LEDs and recharges via USB. Tweets scroll across the dress and are readable even in a dark setting. Made of French silk chiffon speckled with some 3,000 glittering Swarovski crystals this it is a very exclusive piece of couture. And you would have to be both wealthy and geeky to pull it off. Price: Upon request
FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE
CRUISING THROUGH THE AMAZING AMAZON
Price: Three-night stay $5,670 per couple
(Rs 3,11,850)
SPREADING WARMTH
Price: $390
(Rs 21,450)
A TOAST TO SINATRA
Price: $150
(Rs 8,250)
JETTING THE WAVES
Price: $8,975
(Rs 4,93,625)
MOOD ROCKING BED
Price: $3,000
(Rs 1.65 lakhs)
‘DEAD’ DRUNK
Price: $45
(Rs 2,475)
MOBILE TO THE RESCUE
Price: $40
(Rs 2,200)
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Sonali Seth
GHIRARDELLI — DELECTABLY LUSCIOUS
FERRERO ROCHER
LINDT — PASSIONATE
FOLLOWING
HERSHEY — UNIVERSAL
FAVOURITE
Barry Callebaut is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of exquisite Callebaut chocolates. The present company is the result of a merger between the Belgian Callebaut and the French Cacao Barry. In 2005, it was honoured with the title of the “world’s biggest chocolatier.”
CADBURY — MARKET LEADER
RUSSELL
STOVER
NEUHAUS — GOURMET
CHOCOLATES
PATCHI — FESTIVE
PACKS
Leave alone the milk chocolate, it is the rich dark chocolate that is bringing a gleam in the eyes of researchers. Studies show dark chocolates contain as many anti-oxidants as an apple, guava, pomegranate, green tea and all other healthful foods and drinks.
Though the iPhone 5 will put you in an uber exclusive club, you can now go a step further by giving a colourful twist to Apple's stock black and white version. American company Colorware can ‘paint’ your iPhone-5 in hues that suit your lifestyle. It offers a wide variety of solid, metallic and pearlescent colours that can be applied to the back panel and frame of the iPhone. Add a dash of colour to your personality with a colourful smartphone. 
DRESSED TO TWITTER
Elegant styling, outstanding sound quality and innovative design. Ultrasone’s Edition 10 headphones are for people who want the best sounding ear pieces money can buy and which look great as well. Hand-crafted in Zebrano wood they have titanium-plated 40mm drivers, silver-plated copper wires and Ethiopian sheepskin ear-cup pads. These amazing limited edition headphones have been created 
The Peruvian Amazon River in parts is completely virgin and untouched and this tropical rain forest has been called ‘the lungs of the planet’. Now you can float through this last frontier of earth in a luxury sailing ship. Aqua Expeditions a Peruvian tour company has started a luxury cruise on the Amazon River. The ship provides the intimate atmosphere of a 5-star boutique hotel while you savour the stunning beauty of the Amazon replete with its wealth of wildlife, birds and plants. So go ahead, take this journey through history on a sailing ship.
In severe winters haven’t we often rubbed our freezing hands in despair? Now you don’t have to do that any more as American electronic company Chaval has developed gloves that keep your hands toasty warm the whole day. All you have to do is to wear them and press the ‘on’ button, and the gloves will maintain an even level of heat till they are worn. With the help of nanotechnology the gloves can read the temperature of your hands and adjust heat levels.
The glove that can be charged like a mobile phone promise a pair of warm hands in the biting cold weather.
His love for music was legendary and so was his love for booze. Frank Sinatra was one of the most admired popular western singers the world has ever seen. But what he admired most in life was American bourbon whiskey Jack Daniel's which he called the Nectar of Gods. Now the Tennessee-based brewery is returning the favour by paying tribute to one of its biggest fans with a special bottle called Sinatra Select. The Bourbon that comes in a gift pack is smooth and with bold flowing flavours--just like Sinatra himself!
Move over water surfing, skim boarding and parasailing, the ultimate water sport is here. The Jetovator may look like a motorbike, but is a high-speed craft that will blast you 30 feet above the sea/river level and then hurtle you up to 10 inside the water. It will then make you re-emerge from underwater at around 40-kmph. You can also do stunts like back flips and barrel-rolls. But don’t even try. This freaky gizmo is certainly not for the faint-hearted!
The pleasures of rocking are no longer confined to elderly people or to infants. Leading American furniture company Shiner Inc. has launched the Mood Rocking Bed suited both for indoors and outdoors. The bed lets you choose between a gentle rocking meditation mode to put you to sound sleep and it can also be simply frozen with its rubber stoppers and used as a normal bed. Available in King and Queen sizes this bed truly rocks!
Haven’t we all been warned that alcohol is poison and when recklessly consumed it can be fatal? Now, the famous Kah Tequila from Mexico is rubbing the point in. The tequila with its ultra smooth aroma of vanilla and caramel is a toast to its blenders. But it is the bottle that’s become a rage. The new bottle is a tribute to the Day of the Dead which is a 3,000 year-old Meso-American ritual honouring the loved ones who have passed on—though not necessarily from drinking this tequila!
Roadside Romeos given to eve teasing better take cover. With this gadget girls will not just be able to ward off molesters but paralyze them for a good half hour or more until the cops arrive. Arizona-based company Spraytect has launched a smart-phone case that contains pepper spray. This will allow girls to defend themselves with the one item they always have handy---their mobile phone. Not just content with that the company is now developing a spray with semi-permanent paint so that the attacker’s face is instantly blackened!