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By
Toutatis!
Been an era since it all began. The series first appeared in 1959 in a French magazine Pilote and yeah those who love them, love them. "Anybody who has anything to do with comics, has to have hate them, love them, have an opinion on them. Aren't they a brand in themselves," Nischay Sood, B. Tech student, while at a city library questions and shrugs at the same time. Do we sense a lot many nodding? Let's face it, Asterix and Obelix are to comics what Agatha Christie is to suspense, Mills and Boon to romance, you get the point. He adds, "In any case, the ones addicted to reading any graphic genre will find other serious stuff as mundane as trigonometry!" But how many are these days hooked to the adventures of Asterix and Obelix? How many school kids are still hiding them under the blanket, away from the prying eyes of warden only to enjoy them during study hours? "They are still very popular, selling quite strong. They complete 50 years this year and the charm is still intact with youngsters as well as adults," says Ajay Arora, manager, Capital Book Depot-17. He adds, "It's like youngsters that read them as kids are still into them and those who can, don't mind shelling out for the whole set." Never mind the formidable price, a couple of hundred bucks and just about half an hour's gratification. There's as if an echo. Shares Anil Sharma, sales manager, Browser's-8, "They are quite popular rather extremely popular and no, not just among a particular genre. And how popular? He adds, "Every month we sell about three to four sets and every set combined has around 60 titles. To measure it, give it a rating, I'd say they find favour even more than Archies." By Toutatis! It's been half a century and not out. As for the party, all the fans and loyalists will anyways gatecrash, so everyone's invited.
manpriya@tribunemail.com
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Check mate
Rich guys for girls and any number of girls for a boy; infinite tales of infidelity and infinite false promises, swears, vows. I love you and 'you' love somebody and 'somebody' loves someone else's buddy… it continues minus any rues, someone's at someone's rescue all the time. It is a cold, emotionally barren world today and confirmation comes from Angad Bedi, "In a recently conducted survey, 66 per cent youngsters confessed cheating on their partners."
He explains with an example, "We were approached by a girl who thought her brother is cheating on his girl friend, who happened to be her best friend. She convinced her friend to allow boy's sting operation." The help was of course taken from another girl who approached the boy, "And, in no time he showed his true colours. The couple was going around for ten years and was even engaged but after the exposé, girl called off the engagement." From making couples (read Perfect Bride) to breaking couples in Emotional Atyachar, reality shows on the small screen are experimenting with all real emotions. Angad however supports the 'genuine' reality show causes, "If not for our show, the girl wouldn't have come to know about his fiancée's infidelity. We are ready to help any number of people who think their partner is projecting what he or she isn't." Before somebody actually wants to experiment with the relationship consider the vital information, the channel took 3500 subjects as a sample from six cities, including Chandigarh and asked them if they have cheated on their partners. Besides the reality show, what's keeping Angad busy is three films under the production banner of Suniel Shetty. He has already made his debut in Kaya Taran, that was only screened at the several film festivals. Next he will be seen playing the lead in The Little Godfather, based on the serial train blasts in Mumbai. The movie is scheduled for release next year. Angad has his priorities listed, "No more television except for this reality show, focus remains on Bollywood." Before signing off, he talks about the show once again, "It will test relationships and help people find true soulmates." The problem still remains the same, soulmates aren't 'solemates’ always. ashimasehajpal@gmail.com |
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Men shop on Mars, Women on Venus
Time flies when women shop. While they scourge store after store, look at every shelf and check out every item on display, men just get in and quickly get out with the relevant stuff. Ever wondered why?
"Gathering edible plants and fungi are traditionally done by women. When gathering, women must be very adept at choosing just the right colour, texture and smell to ensure food safety and quality. They also must time harvests and know when a certain depleted patch will regenerate and yield good harvest again. In modern terms, women are much more likely than men to know when a specific type of item will go on sale. They also spend much more time choosing the perfect fabric, colour and texture. However, men, on the other hand, often have a specific item in mind and get it," Kruger said "It's so very true," says Ritu Sandhu, who works with the AIR. "Women still do most of the shopping for themselves, family and household, while men shop occasionally. And, one needs lots of patience to do all that at which women are better adept than men." Agrees Dr Abha Taneja, a resident of Sector 22, "My husband encourages me to shop but his only condition is not to tag him along. He simply can't stand my long-shopping trips," she laughs. "Women need to dress up well and have an inherent compulsion to update their wardrobe. Then one needs matching shoes, bags and accessories. It in itself takes lots of time," she quips. SC Dhall from Zirakpur is among many who can never beat their spouses when it comes to shop-hopping. "Howsoever hard I may try, my wife is always a step ahead of me. Of course, she spends much more time than I do, but then she also gets the best deals," he says. "It's been very true of traditional society. Looking good was women's priority and they had lots of time at their disposal that they happily spent shopping," says city-based sociologist Rajesh Gill. "But in the changing society, working women have lesser time to spare and eventually to shop. Also, men are increasingly becoming conscious of how they look and are ending up spending more time shopping," she adds. mona@tribunemail.com |
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Pinkstinks
"It's about giving girls aspirations and challenging them to fulfil their potential," she said. The Pinkstinks website says girls are always expected to play the beautiful princess, whose only ambition in life is to marry the prince. "As a result beauty is valued over brains," Emma added. The activists' Facebook group thinks Kate Price a.k.a. Jordan is a poor role model for young girls. They allege that Jordan's range of riding clothes for girls promotes the obsession with "stick-thin models, footballers' wives, and overtly-sexualised pop stars". —
ANI |
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Motherhood
A new study by scientists in the UK has shown that raging hormones during pregnancy not only prompt mood swings, but may also lead to a heightened ability to recognise threatening or aggressive faces. This may have evolved because it makes would-be mums hyper-vigilant, yet it could also make them more susceptible to anxiety, according to the study.
Since levels of progesterone and other hormones rise dramatically in late pregnancy, Rebecca Pearson and her colleagues at the University of Bristol in the UK conducted a study to find out whether the ability to read faces varies during pregnancy. They found that faces expressing happiness and surprise tended to be correctly assigned at both stages of pregnancy, but for faces expressing fear, anger and disgust, the accuracy rates were higher in late pregnancy. According to researchers, this may increase the chance that the woman will spot potential threats to her and her foetus, and prime her to be hyper-vigilant once she becomes a mother. However, it could have a disadvantage. Pearson points out that people with clinical anxiety are also better at identifying negative emotions in faces. Pregnant women aren't clinically anxious, but 'they might interpret negative or emotional things around them in a slightly more sensitive way', she said.—
ANI
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Balvir & Madhu Mahajan
Relationship: Husband-wife Times together: 35 years
Yet different: Movie buff - Balvir Serial champion - Madhu Fondest memory:Our trip to Rohtang Pass way back in 1979 - Balvir My grandchild Manant's birth - Madhu Eagerly await: Trips to the hills Special something: My wife loves to receive presents. And, I also make sure to shower some on her every now and then. The very glow that appears on her face as she unwraps a gift is worth a million dollars. - Balvir (Balvir Mahajan retired as a professor from DAV College, Madhu Mahajan was a banker) — Mona
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I do forever…
Marriage really is good for you, with a major international study finding it reduces the risks of depression and anxiety, but these disorders are more likely to plague people once the relationship is over.
The study of 34,493 people across 15 countries was led by clinical psychologist Kate Scott from New Zealand's Universityof Otago, and is based surveys conducted over the past decade. It found that ending marriage through separation, divorce or death is linked to an increased risk of mental health disorders, with women more likely to resort to substance abuse and men more likely to become depressed. "What makes this investigation unique and more robust is the sample is so large and across so many countries and the fact that we have data not only on depression... but also on anxiety and substance use disorders," Scott said in a statement. "In addition, we were able to look at what happens to mental health in marriage, both in comparison with never getting married, and with ending marriage." Scott said that the study found that getting married, compared to not getting married, was good for the mental health of both genders, not just women, as previous studies had found. The study, however, did find that men are less likely to become depressed in their first marriage than women, a factor Scott said was probably linked to the traditional gender roles at home, as other surveys have shown that as women get better educated, depression rates tend to fall. The other gender difference the study found is that getting married reduces risk of substance use disorders more for women than for men. Scott said this may be explained by the fact thatwomen are usually the primary caregiver for young children. —
REUTERS However, the downside of marriage, the University of Otago study shows, is that ending it has a negative impact on both genders. "What our stud points to is that the marital relationship offers a lot of mental health benefits for both men and women, and that the distress and disruption associated with ending marriage can make people vulnerable to developing mental disorders," Scott said. -
REUTERS
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TV as a babysitter
No alternative Kids are glued to the TV all day long thanks to the cable network that provides various channels round the clock. Both parents these days are working and exhausted at the end of the day so even they do not deter their kids from watching TV. But in reality kids are becoming couch potatoes, munching junk food whilst sitting in front of the TV, endangering their eyesight by the strong rays emitted from the TV and most importantly they are sometimes left back in their studies. Also, interaction with the parents becomes limited and moral values are lost. Thus, to a limit watching the TV for entertainment and fun is okay but it should not become a babysitter as parents need to make a balance between their family life and professional life to make the future of their kids better in every sense. Dr Navneet Singh Chauhan Matter of
convenience
Before the kids learn to say Papa, Mama, Dada, Dadi et all they speak of Mickey Mouse, Mr. Beans, Pogo, Oswald, Pokeman and Shinchan. Kids keep themselves glued to this once so called idiot box which is now their best Friend, Philosopher and Guide.
Kavita Singh Parent trap
Dr Mamta Sharma |
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Weavers’ woes
Actor Kareena Kapoor advocated providing a proper platform to the weavers of the famous Chanderi sari so that they get the rightful for their efforts.
Draped in a black-gold, hand-woven Chanderi sari gifted by her Three Idiots co-star Aamir Khan, Kareena took to the stage along with four weavers, at a press conference organised to promote the movie here.
"The weavers should be
provided a proper platform so that they get due respect and wages for the labour they put in weaving a sari," Kareena said. One of the weavers present on the occasion, Hukum Kol, had the opportunity to host Aamir and Kareena at his home. Kareena, said she and Aamir had tried their hands at a loom and also learnt to design the famous sari at Koli's house near Pranpur (Chanderi) in Madhya Pradesh. Besides, they also enjoyed a puri and a curry of gourd at his house, Kareena said. Aamir also gifted Hukum a gold-ring and invited the weavers to attend the Three Idiots film
premier here. Referring to her role in Three Idiots, she said, "It was a dream come true for me to work with Aamir in the film. He is one of the best actors in the film industry." —PTI |
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Guided trip
As part of its effort to make people more friendly towards foreign travellers as well as domestic tourists, government on Tuesday launched new commercials featuring actor Aamir Khan as part of a social awareness campaign.
"These new commercials are meant to educate people as our aim is to make India a tourist friendly country, said Tourism Minister Kumari Selja here after launching the ad. There were three commercials featuring the Bollywood star, who is also the Brand Ambassador for Atithi Devo Bhava campaign, shown in the media. While two commercials are 60 seconds each, the third one is about 40 seconds only. About the safety and security of tourists, she said states have been told to do the needful so that a visitor feels safe in the country." The campaign strives to influence a positive change in the outlook of people and has been appreciated by the travel industry. Earlier, the ministry had launched two commercials in 2008-09 featuring Aamir Khan.
—PTI |
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Veer(y) stressful
Salman Khan who has turned script writer with his upcoming dream project Veer says the film has been a stressful experience for him as an actor and writer.
"It was a stressful experience for me. But Veer has shaped up well and I am happy with the final product," Salman told reporters last night at the music launch of the film.
The period flick, set in 1875, is slated for a theatrical release on January 22, 2010. Salman, who has further toned his body to suit the role, had first conceived the idea of making a movie on the exploits of a Pindari soldier 20 years ago. Speaking about his new co-star Zarine Khan, Salman said Zarine was a brilliant newcomer as she belongs to the new generation. Director Anil Sharma disapproved comparisons between Zarine and Katrina Kaif. "It is unfair to compare a newcomer with anybody. By doing this you are
belittling the efforts and hard work of a young actor," he said. Music composers Sajid-Wajid have given the music in the film while Oscar-winning lyricist Gulzar has penned the songs. —PTI |
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Warm up
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Something spa-cial
What? Another parlour or lounge or spa? Well, this one's called Spa Lounge, offers assorted services, of course there's spa and you can lounge as well! The just inaugurated spa salon at Sector 15 boasts of everything for Unique Selling Proposition. "Spas are especially good for all kinds of chronic problems, like insomnia, depression and the like," Madan Singh, spa manager, states the obvious.
As you check in, the beige and brown interiors (in contrast to the outside usual neighbourhood market surroundings) tend to do to you what all spas claim, relax, rejuvenate, restore. There you go. There's the usual like the fruit body scrub spa, the chocolate body spa, the Japanese massage, the Swedish massage, the mystic dreams, the rejuvenating massage therapy and it continues. But all of 10? He says, "Our signature therapy which is a mental stress booster for the body and the Sugandham Lepam body spa, a three course herbal detox therapy. And they are quite unique and not available easily elsewhere in the city." Those looking for interesting exotic high sounding names, there's more that caught the eye, the Kizhi with Abhyangam, a two course herbal fomentation and massage with pure herbs wrapped in a bun followed by steam. That's all right but what will be their USP? "We use only natural products, right from scrubs to creams to their ingredients and all the people who'll be giving you services are diploma holders in the related field," he adds. There's one more adding to the long long list of spa choices. |
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On the ramp
In a unique ramp show held at Fortis Hospital, Mohali as part of a maternity workshop and fashion show for expectant mothers, 35 moms-to-be sashayed down the ramp to vie for the 'Healthiest Mother-To-Be' title. More than 75 expectant mothers from the tri-city participated in the workshop. The workshop was organised by Fortis Paalna, the complete maternity and obstetrics unit of Fortis Hospital, Mohali.
A panel of Obstetricians including, Dr Neerja Chawla, Dr Preeti Jindal, Dr Rashmi Garg, Dr Sarla Malhotra, Dr Shanujeet, Dr Sunil Agrawal (Neonatologist) and Dr Swapna Misra interacted with the audience on a number of topics, which included Anatomy of Childbirth, Diet and Exercise during Pregnancy and Do's and Don'ts in Pregnancy. Dieticians and Physiotherapists were also present to answer specific queries regarding related issues. According to Dr Ashish R Banerji, director, Fortis Hospital, Mohali, "The format for the Workshop and Fashion Show was carefully designed so that the ladies would get valuable information on important healthcare issues concerning them as well as their little babies in a fun-filled and interesting way." |
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Sing along…
The old black sole colour of headphones is out. Go in for turquoise, magenta, parrot green or yellow. Need more colours at the same time? Make a choice from stripes in several colours, CYMK or a combination of black and red, purple and yellow. Spoilt for choices? Anybody would be with the kind of options Skullcandy, America's most popular headphone brand is offering in India as well. Amlan Bhattacharya, CEO, MB Accessories Pvt. Ltd. (Sole India Distributer) while launching the brand in Punjab said, "Other than the colour choices, Skullcandy also gives options to choose from various designs, Skullcrusher, double agent, Low Rider (that Ranbir Kapoor wore in Wake Up Sid) or the SKPRO…"
Skullcandy hopes to find a large number of customers in Punjab for people love music here, "Punjab has always been known for its love for music. Also the brand would do well here since the NRI population is maximum from Punjab who would tell people back home about the headphones brand." Skullcrusher, one of the best buys from the brand, endorsed by Snoop Dog has a sub woofer installed inside. Also the headphones are I-pod and I-phone compatible. "The headphones market is growing with various music devices," adds he. Double Agent has MP3 installed inside with a ready memory of 1 GB, which can be extended to 4 GB. "It has thus the capacity to store around 1000 songs." The Skullcandy headphones come with a lifetime warranty. The price ranges between Rs 849 to Rs 7,300. |
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Happy Birthday Asterix and Obelix! It's time to place 50 candles on the cake, cheer out loud and celebrate. And Boy, what a ride it's been. Fifty years ago, two heroes were born and it's only natural they've traveled far and wide, have fought the Romans, hunted for wild boar, entertained all and sundry…Are there people still shuffling those pages, are the Gaulish heroes still ruffling hearts, while getting ready for the big branded birthday party, it's inevitable to explore a couple of issues.
For those, who aren't very familiar with the name, Angad Bedi is the son of former cricketer Bishen Singh Bedi. He has played cricket under 16 and under 19 Delhi team before deciding to make a shift from the pitch to the studios. Coming back to the betrayal vows, so what can be done, how to avoid emotional drain, check on partner's loyalty and expose unfaithfulness? In the city on Wednesday, Angad offers a tentative solution in the form of Emotional Atyachar, a reality show of UTV Bindaas that on your demand and approval will test your partner's loyalty. 
Well, a recent research claims that the answer lies in the genes. Daniel Kruger, lead researcher, from the University of Michigan, tracks a very interesting pattern in traditional societies and modern consumer environment. According to him different shopping styles date back to the skills that women used for gathering plant foods and men used for hunting meat. 
A Brit group called The Pinkstinks is urging parents to stop buying pink Christmas presents for their daughters, because they are sexist. Founders, twins Emma and Abi Moore, 38, are asking parents to boycott stores that sell "pretty" gear for little girls. And they have even managed to bag the support of Labour Justice Minister Bridget Prentice. Prentice believes girls' toys should be more "progressive".
Studies in the past have shown that a woman's ability to correctly identify fearful or disgusted facial expressions varies according to her stage of the menstrual cycle, with perception heightened on days associated with high levels of the hormone progesterone.
Same to same: Love for nature
You cannot blame the kids alone, modern parents find it convenient to leave their kids in the lap of entertainment offered by this box to pursue their daily chores. Off course it is the best babysitter available nowadays as it is the fountainhead of joy, excitement and action for our romping kids and toddlers who learn dishoom-dishoom faster than their lessons in school and learn the Ad jingles by heart faster than their nursery rhymes in books. Parents leave no stone unturned to flaunt the skills learnt by their kids in social gatherings and parties and feel a great sense of pride and accomplishment bestowed upon their kids by this best and convenient babysitter.
No one but parents are responsible for increasing TV viewing amongst kids. Parents don't want to compromise on their own entertainment and in the process make kids habitual of watching TV. And when they are busy in their working lives, TV overtakes the charge of being a babysitter. Sadly TV is addictive and it negatively influences kids' studies as well as social life.
