Dalvir Singh Goldy

'What has been your contribution to your farms,' we ask a no frill question to Manipal Singh Atwal, a 23 years old Law student from PU, enjoying a mini meal at StuC. Contrary to a predictable reply, which would be close to something like, ' I study here. How can I take care of the fields? I am busy with studies…Manipal's answer came as a surprise. "Thomas Jefferson said- Agriculture, manufactures, commerce and navigation, the four pillars of our prosperity are the most thriving when left to most free to individual enterprise. And there can't be any better enterprise than youngsters equipped with unconventional ideas," he offers. Manipal's answer is a pleasant surprise and we were ready for more. More young minds, which see agriculture as a field that needs to be improved and improvised with better technology. And they ready to spruce it with up with their state -of -art inputs.

Manipal Singh Atwal

To begin with, the boy who 'pleasantly' surprised us. Manipal Atwal. "No matter what profession I pursue or how much money I earn, I would want to return to my fields in Pondori Atwal, see the swaying good and healthy yield of crop," he puts in. "I can't separate myself from agriculture. I would do as much as I can to make it better," says Manipal, who feels that his knowledge of latest instruments used in farming has come as an added advantage. "I read on organic farming, medicinal plants, instruments used for cultivation that cost less, but have a double output as compared to the usual ones and lot more." In addition to looking up the Internet, Manipal also reads up journals, articles on farming and agriculture. "My father calls me whenever they have to buy something for the field. Otherwise, I spend an appreciable time in the fields, trying to use better techniques, which can increase production."

Ditto for Dalvir Singh Goldy. He too has made the best use of his education and has managed to bring about a healthy change on his fields at Dhuri, Sangrur. "Instead of fast cars, I am crazy about good farm machines, combines and tractors." Goldy also attends Kisan Melas and gathers information on good seeds, various pesticides, seasonal crops, to lot more. "Padai da kuch ta faida hona chahida hai." We talk about advancement, and agriculture is one sphere, which if equipped with better techniques and technologies can change the face of economy." He adds, "Fertilizers are the most important component of new technology that play an important role in enhancing the agricultural production. With the introduction of high varieties, the consumption of chemical fertilizers is increasing steadily. Instead, farmers should be encouraged to use bio-fertilizers."

Who says youngsters' spend their time either talking about Formula One, cricket or tip toeing at the discotheques. Here are young minds ready to revolutionise farming, and they have already taken a step forward. Harmanjeet Singh Deol, a PhD student from PU has bought a new soil-leveling machine for his land. "I read about it in the newspapers, asked my friends, did a small survey before going in for it. In 2003, I started fish culture, which is now doing pretty well," provides Harmanjeet. "Youngsters are brining in new ideas, which will certainly change the face of agriculture one day."

jasmine@tribunemail.com

Jennifer Aniston banked a whopping 27 million dollars in 2008. According to a magazine, teen country star Taylor Swift earned 5.5 million dollars - more than double the 2.25 million dollars Britney Spears made.

Jay-Z pocketed 82 million dollars, while his wife of a year Beyonce bagged 80 million dollars, reports a website. 

Tina Fey may resemble Sarah Palin, but there is a huge difference in their salaries. 

While the 30 Rock star earned 4.6 million dollars, the Alaska governor took home a whopping 125,000 dollars.  —ANI 

Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan has found a new way to beat the post split blues, as she has gone for a makeover to make herself feel good. The Mean Girls actress has got herself a new hair color along with a tattoo. Lohan went to Shamrock Social Club in West Hollywood for a new tattoo with her sister Ali, reports a magazine.

The next day she decided to change her hair color, hence was seen coming out of the Byron & Tracey Salon with her hair dyed in her trademark red hue. Later Lohan dined with family, including mother Dina and sister at Nobu in West Hollywood, where she politely greeted fans, who came up to her. -ANI

Three cheers, for they are the 'early brigade'. That is, even if you exclude the effort of getting up at seven in the morning on a Sunday. Hang around! Make that six in the morning, cause the walk began at dot seven, not even seven five. If not the thousand participants, the Silver Jubilee INTACH heritage walk by organization's Chandigarh chapter, could without hitches boast of the worth of endeavour.

For the uninitiated, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage is a nation wide non-profit organization founded in '84 to protect and conserve India's vast natural cultural heritage. As for the walk? It aims to raise heritage awareness. Seema Bhalla, member INTACH, says, "Antiquity is a passion for me, so precisely that explains why I am here." The effort doesn't end there, she writes and work for the similar cause. "We've been organizing many such events earlier also. It's about your legacy and the concept is to create awareness about its importance and value."

Bipin Kumar, manager of a city library, reasons, "We anyways walk. When in group there's an altogether different motivation apart from the ability to raise awareness and draw attention." Though culminated at Le Corbusier Center-19, many could be seen sauntering back to from where it began, the Sukhna Lake. Tapesh Sharma, with the Chandigarh Film Society, says, "I was in Delhi, was told about it by Vivek Atray and so came here," while listing out another invitation, "Tomorrow is the vintage car rally."

Apart from the of course senior officials of the administration, distinguished guests and the obvious members of the INTACH, the first timers dotted the event. Vipasha, from Carmel Convent School, chose to be part out of own wish and will. Then there were 'got a call from friend' and chose to be a part category too. Vandana Aggarwal, housewife sums up, "Honestly I was not aware of it, came to know of it from my friend and participated, I'm glad and it felt really good." Either which way, a round of applause!

manpriya@tribunemail.com

Men who smoke should kick the habit if they want to maintain a good sex life, warned Prof SK Singh, Urology department at PGI. He said those who get through a pack of cigarettes each day are at higher risk to suffer from impotence than non-smokers.

The study of nearly 50 men by the Urology department, PGI also showed that men who smoked more than a pack a day were more likely to suffer erectile dysfunction, compared with men who never smoked cigarettes. However, there are no centralized figures available for the rise in male impotence. But as compared to last five years, the number of patients increased, said Prof Singh.

According to Prof Singh, smoking reduces blood flow to the penis thereby causing impotence. "Achieving an erection depends on maintaining sufficient blood flow through the arteries and veins of the penis. But smoking clogs up the arteries in the same way that it damages heart vessels, through the long-term build up of fatty deposits," said Prof Singh.

He adds, "Even smoking fewer than 20 cigarettes a day increased the risk of erectile dysfunction. Whereas lung cancer and cardiovascular disease can feel distant, impotence may be a more immediate problem for the age group of 30 to 60." Despite the well documented link between smoking and erectile dysfunction, few men are aware of the risks. Although ``smoker's droop'' is less serious than cancer or heart disease, he said.

Smoking also affects fertility by damaging sperm, cutting their number and reducing the volume of ejaculate. He suggests cigarette packs should carry the warnings, "Smoking damages sperm" and "Smoking can damage your sex life". By highlighting this link between smoking and erectile problems, we may be able to motivate these men to quit.

The reality is that smoking is one of the major causes of impotence that may also be an early indicator of coronary heart disease. Young men who want to avoid the embarrassment and distress of impotence can help themselves by quitting smoking, he said.

anujaj@tribunemail.com

A sparse form of fat that help keep newborns warm is more common in adults than previously thought and that discovery that could lead to a new way to lose weight, researchers said. Once activated by cold temperatures, so-called brown fat burns calories faster than regular fat. 

It is normally so dormant in adults that there has been debate over how much adults have or whether they have it at all.In three studies in Thursday's New England Journal of edicine, researchers report finding brown fat in most adults and discovering They can detect it by exposing people to cold. In some cases, adults who had more active areas of brown fat were thinner.

The hope is that if a way can be found to activate this brown fat and get the body to make more of it, people could burn off extra calories without additional exercise. "Fifty grams of maximally activated brown fat accounts for 20 percent of your resting energy expenditure," Dr. Aaron Cypress of the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, who led one of the studies, said in an interview. 

"If you add that up, that's 400 or 500 calories per day. "Practically speaking, we have a great potential to have a new treatment in our armamentarium against diabetes and obesity."

Dr. Kirsi Virtanen of the University of Turku in Finland and colleagues used positron emission tomography, known as PET scans, to find active brown fat deposits in five volunteers and also took little plugs of both types of fat. Brown fat became more active when the volunteers were cold, they reported.

"If the brown adipose tissue in this example were fully activated, it would burn an amount of energy equivalent to approximately 4.1 kg (9 pounds) of adipose tissue over the course of a year," researchers wrote. — Rueters

Hunter Douglas India Pvt Ltd, the Indian outfit of Netherlands based company also the world's leading producer of premium aluminium architectural products showcased its LUXALON, 3-FORM and Window Fashions range of products at The Taj on Saturday.

Rotterdam based Hunter Douglas manufactures and markets its two principal products lines - Architectural Products and Window Coverings in five geographic markets: Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and Australia. It showcased a remarkable array of classy Aluminium Interior and Exterior décor products.

The objective behind the meet was to enable the architects, engineers and consultants of the city to see, touch and feel high quality aluminium products. There was a whole range of metal ceilings, false ceilings, exterior claddings, façade and solar control systems - Aero fins, Sun louvers, Shutters - the first of its kind products being launched in the city by The Hindalco Gallery, Panchkula.

Hunter Douglas products are-excellent durability, no maintenance, flexible design options with acoustic control, global brand name - local service, wide choice of colours, easy to clean, capability to withstand high wind loads, innovative and environment friendly.

While dwelling upon the finer points of aluminum products, the franchisee owner and director Nitin Mehta of Mehta Resources Private Limited emphasised that aluminum products are being preferred because of their designer looks, durability in use and far higher strength quotient as compared to traditional wooden fittings. More over environmental friendly utility of aluminum is the bigger factor which is driving the advanced nations like Japan and Europe to embrace aluminum products, added Mehta. — TNS

Researchers in the United States have suggested that exposure to pollution during pregnancy could harm babies. "A body of evidence is emerging from several countries on the adverse consequences of ambient air pollution on fetal/birth outcomes, including pre-term birth and fetal growth restriction," said Prof David Rich, of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in the United States.

The findings, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, is based on almost 336,000 births in New Jersey between 1999 and 2003 and regular monitoring of air pollution around the state from the US Environmental Protection Agency. It suggested that restricted fetal growth might be linked to traffic pollution.— PTI