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This is my news
Reaching out to the people has never been as easy as today
News is not a 'one-size-fits-all' business, confirms the presence of around 500 publications from our City Beautiful. Apart from major national newspapers, there are dailies, weeklies and quarterlies available for those in medicine, law, technology, education, business and almost every field to keep them abreast of the latest. What's more, you can pick your language too for there are publications in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. We tried to find out from those who took the initiative to start and run these periodicals, how is it to be in this business. "It all started as a joke, but now I am pretty serious about it," says Aneesh Bhanot, the man behind Sector News and Going Places. "Sector News was supposed to cover each sector for the latest happenings. But now, the third year down the line, it caters to the needs of travellers," he says. Sector News, a weekly, gets distributed in Shatabdi daily. Bhanot has another publication, Going Places. "This one started with an objective to persuade tourists come to Himachal again and assist in their trip to this hill state," says Bhanot. Going Places gives a glance at getaways in Himachal and all the information that could be useful to the travellers. December issue of this monthly has ‘Driving safely in the snow’ as the cover story. This monthly is distributed at the Parwanoo barrier as one enters Himachal Pradesh. As about the business these papers do, "We are lucky that we are able to break even," say Bhanot. "These are distributed free so the revenue comes from advertisements," he says. The idea to reach out and to prepare students for the job market in Chandigarh, Himachal, Punjab and Haryana became the reason for Amit Sharma, managing director, The Future India Group to start with Future Express. "We came out with a weekly with an aim to provide knowledge," says Sharma. Future Express apart from covering major regional, national, international, business and sports news gives information about interesting career opportunities, has features on self assessment, personal grooming, book reviews and the like. Jugnu- Voice of Bapu Dham is a paper managed by the children, for the children. An NGO Yuvsatta helps the kids to run this monthly with the help of volunteers. "I feel like a big reporter while I write for Jugnu," says Shilender Kumar, a 16 year old, student of class eleventh who is writing for Jugnu for the past two years. Making social service his anchor, this boy wants to become a magician. Surinder Verma, chairman, Citizen Awareness Group, is taking out two bimonthlies, Investors Update and Consumer Power with just a handful of people. "Our publications are an effort to educate consumers about their rights and general rules and regulations," shares Verma. This man aims to start another publication Readers Alert in Hindi and Punjabi now. Thanks to modern technology that has made printing simple and affordable, there are plenty of spirited ones engaged in the business of providing news in their particular fields."It's easy to start a newspaper today but difficult to run it, especially if you do not want to compromise on quality and content," points out Sharma. mona@tribunemail.com
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Something brewing
Coffee, chats and verses - the Sister Act by Kamla and Nirupama Dutt make poetry recital a casual and interactive affair It was a complete Sister Act, to be precise, to be apt! It's like being born to a best friend, a mutual admiration club sans stipulations, tete-a-tete personified and all things nice. Doing the act on Sunday for the literati of their hometown were Kamla Dutt, scientist, a poetess, short story writer, and her younger cousin Nirupama Dutt, a journalist and a writer. "Sister Act is actually a big trend in the US. Over there you have, mother daughter act, sisterhood of women, there's a circle of friends, women, sisters, getting together combining poetry, tete-a-tete, coffee," Kamla gets us started and releases Nirupama's book of poems, The Black Woman. Having said that, it's going to be weaving the wisdom of words, flipping back and forth from one sister to the other, just like the conversation, the recital of their latest poems. But before that, whose idea was it? Points Kamla, "Hers." Adds Nirupama, "She happened to be visiting Chandigarh, we've had this sort of thing before and this time too we thought of getting together." Back to the book and the thought-provoking name The Black Woman. Says Nirupama, "It's been used in a positive and liberating sense and has been named after the poem by the same name." She adds, "It's a collection of 30 poems translated into English, some of them from my own poems in Punjabi from the book Ik Nadi Sanwali Jahi." Adds Kamla, "Most people start in English and move onto regional languages but with her, it's been the opposite." Aren't poems an intersection of impulse and inspiration? Where do theirs come from? "It starts happening inside you, you take that line automatically, mostly the poems in this book are a personal, social and political journey," says Nirupama. Talk of inspiration. Kamla shares an experience, "One of my first few poems were a reaction to a tree being cut in front of Hotel Aroma around 35 years ago. That was the provocation and now it's more of an inner struggle, catharsis, kind of a release. But when I went abroad, I started writing poetry out of a sense of alienation that comes along with being in other country," adds the professor from Atlanta, Georgia, USA. A product of the Department Of Zoology, Panjab University, she's herself penned two anthologies of short stories in Hindi and is now compiling her poems in English. Scientist and a littérateur, zoology and poems? She laughs, "I consider it to be the same creative process, whether it's deciding on the experiment to conduct or deciding on the words. But I think it's more to do with the house that I grew up in where literature was a part of the culture." She adds, "But I was initiated into it by Nirupama's mother whom we used to call Biji." Told you it was a complete Sister Act. manpriya@tribunemail.com
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True calling
Here are a few brave hearts, who decided to cast aside their flourishing career in order pursue their true calling
The idea is not to encourage people to get off the corporate ladder and locate in the backwaters, but to appreciate those who felt like it and did it. Do we hear a big round of applause? Let's hear it for Pankaj Sharma. It was B. Tech, followed by studies in business administration, running a merchandising company for 11 years…and then. "I've been into yoga since 2003 and now I conduct seminars in India and abroad," he says and adds, "There was a time in life when I wasn't fully contented, wanted to do something fulfilling for the soul." Needless to say, he did what he loves doing, what he does best. "My family would say, they would want to see me happy, have a name, be successful, I'm already all that." It's not about consequences or logistics or economics. If it were so, there would be…. "It was quite an accident in Chicago, a really cold Chicago winter morning, participated in 42 km marathon, got hooked onto running," explains Rahul S. Verghese for the switch from a marketing career spanning 25 years to organising marathons all across India. "It was in a way a switch and not a switch, at the time I was with Motorola and got posted back in India and found no one really runs here. By the time, I had also met a lot of people into this sport, they were much self-confident, healthy, and less cynical. I thought why not just combine marathons and marketing." The inspiration, including the rest, as they always say, is history. And, so are the hitches. Shares Verghese, "Oh! Lots of them, right from family and friends asking to reconsider to myself going like would it work out? I knew the line I wanted to follow but the specifics hadn't been worked out." For others, it was always this only alternative, ever since. However, there's one converging point, an echo, a chorus, loud and clear, 'No regrets' "I'm involved with this NGO Humlog since past three years and am very happy," declares Dr Gaurav Chhabra, an MBBS. He adds, "I didn't see myself lead a typical doctor's life, follow the beaten path, I thought why not combine my passion and profession." Yeah, why not? He adds, "If you dream, the nightmares do come along with it, it's the persistence that matters." Heard that loud? Who all are giving it all up and for good? Do we hear a financial analyst with some investment bank opening his vintage souvenir shop? manpriya@tribunemail.com
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Hands up!
Shahnaz Husain
Among the parts of the body that become really dry during the winter are the feet and the back of the hands. Actually, the hands begin to show neglect and aging sooner than most body parts. The skin on the back of the hands is thin and has few oil glands. The hands also come in contact with soaps and detergents daily. These makes skin rough and dry. This is more so in the winter, when the skin loses moisture to the atmosphere.
Protect your hands by wearing rubber gloves while doing washing. Massage a cream after your washing tasks, working it into the skin. You should also massage cream on the nails and the skin around the nails too. Massage the hands at night with a good nourishing cream. Apply the cream on the back of the hand. This area is prone to early wrinkling. Work down each finger, starting from the tip. Use tiny circular movements on the joints of the fingers. Massage the back of the hand, using strokes moving from the fingers towards the wrist. Bath time is appropriate to pamper the hands and feet and supply them with the oils and moisture they need. In fact, applying body lotions and creams soon after bathing, while the skin is still damp, helps to seal in moisture. Before your bath, apply oil on the hands and feet and massage it into the skin. This helps to soften the skin. Sesame seed (til) oil can be used, or you can use olive oil or pure almond oil. Warm the oil before use. I advise the use of a lemon-turmeric cream as a pre-bath treatment. It makes the skin soft, and also lightens the skin colour over a period of time and protects it from the drying effects of soap and chlorinated water. Turmeric has antiseptic properties too and thus provides protection from infections. A traditional home pre-bath treatment is to mix "besan" (gram flour) with a little milk or curd and a pinch or "haldi" (turmeric) into a paste. Apply the paste on the hands and feet. After 20 minutes, dampen with water and rub the paste gently on the skin and wash it off while bathing. You will not need to apply soap, as this cleanses very well. For bathing, soap-free shower gels are better in winter. Or, you can use a mild glycerin soap. For extreme dryness, it is better to avoid soap. Oil massage and wiping with a moist towel can help to cleanse the skin adequately. For dry and dark hands, take 2 tablespoons sunflower oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 3 tablespoon coarse sugar. Mix together till it becomes a paste. Apply and rub into hands. Wash off after 15 minutes. You can do this three times a week. For dryness of the hands and feet, add one teaspoon pure glycerin to 50 ml rose water. Apply on the hands and feet and leave on for half an hour. Then, wash it off . Among winter problems, cracked heels are quite common. The cold dry weather not only causes depletion of moisture, but also hampers proper blood circulation to the extremities. The skin of the feet suffers as a result. The skin on the heels is harder and thicker than most other parts of the body. Loss of moisture causes the living cells to change into dead horny cells. Therefore, there is a build-up of dead cells. If the lack of moisture proceeds unchecked, cracks develop on the heels and may even extend beyond the dead cells, causing pain. Cracked heels can be prevented by giving the feet daily care, by way of massaging the skin with creams and protecting them from the cold, dry air. The problem can also be tackled with proper foot care. At night, before retiring, soak the feet in hot water for about 20 minutes. Add, some coarse salt and shampoo to the water, before soaking the feet. Hot water helps to soften the dead skin on the heels. With the help of a pumice stone or a heel scrubber, rub the heels gently, in order to remove the dead cells. Avoid metal scrubbers. After washing the feet, massage with a good cream, rubbing it into the skin. Then, apply the cream generously on the heels. Bandage the heels with a clean cloth or cotton wool and surgical gauze. Wear cotton socks and go to sleep. This way, the cream will remain on the heels. Keeping the heels smeared with cream all night will soften the skin and replenish moisture loss. Repeat this every night for one week. Special preparations for the heels are also available, which may have an antiseptic effect too and prevent any infections. |
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Sweden-based artist Swarn Prita Anand's paintings are born out of joy and innocence
The young artist, who was born in Chandigarh and is now based in Sweden for the past 12 years now, comes with a reflection of her mind through her brush. "Spontaneity, innocence and joy are the key elements in my works. Before every painting session, I just let go and allow my inner space to reflect on the canvas. For me, every painting is a celebration and deep nourishment for my being," she spells out her passion for painting. Beyond Boundaries has 42 of her works done over the period of a year. Starting young, when she was seven, she realised her calling as an artist only after a management degree and a few other professional stints. "Everybody is born with something, for me it was painting. It was just another weekend thing for me to do until I felt that I must pursue a full time career as an artist. So, I started with small exhibitions in Sweden and interacting with other artists from Europe and other places for inspiration." Studying art from various teachers in India, Holland and the US and attending the Orebro School of Art in Sweden, Swarn has made nature her muse. "There are no mountains or landscapes or rivers in my paintings but vibrancy and dynamism of nature and its elements," she says. Her last show was in Sweden, just before Christmas last year, "It got a good response. My works come as a shock in Sweden, as their taste of art is very conservative and doesn't have large use of colours. But they appreciate art, be it amateur or professional." Having close interaction with the European art scene, she feels Indian artists still haven't been able to connect their art with Western art lovers. "Europe is undoubtedly the melting point of art, and it feels great to be in a company that constantly inspires. But, it is also disappointing to know that none of the Indian artists are even heard about in West, at a time when boundaries are disappearing as far as art is concerned. One or two established ones may get their share in the English art circuit, which is very open and multicultural but Europe still remains untouched." Well, for her sense as an artist does have a taste for innovation, as she shares her art with people via technology. "I sometimes put my works on Facebook and have inputs and comments from artists and appreciators across the world. It keeps you well-awared as an artist and saves the time and effort, rather than organising exhibitions which take months." Now, that's promoting art with smart sensibilities.
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In letter and spirit
How helpful are health and fitness books? We find out... We now have an idea why almost all English dailies have a page dedicated to health and fitness at least once a week and why there are half a dozen magazines on the same. For that matter even us, we are done with most of the health topics-- yoga, meditation, exercise, gymming, walking eating, diet…still the there's a lot left.
His reservations about following several other titles on yoga are, "You can't question a book. Most of the books educate as to how should an assan be done but very few inform about its advantages and if people suffering from certain physiological problems should avoid it." Another book, he recommends is, Assan, Pranayam, Bandh and Mudra by Bihar School of Yoga. He adds that even people wish to learn yoga from the text, they should take advice from the yoga experts as to which book is apt. Another drawback of the yoga books, he adds is, "It is seldom specified as to which body part an assan would benefit."
While modifying your diet as per the book, assure that the book is written by an expert who has to his credit some years of experience. Also take into consideration the research and case studies one has done to draw conclusions in the book," Sahni adds. What requires is utmost care while learning exercises from books. Gaurav Sanotra, a fitness trainer, Elemention Club, doesn't support learning gym exercises from books, "One shouldn't blindly follow these books as all exercises doesn't suit all body types. People have different metabolism rates and exercises should be done according to it, otherwise they can lead to internal injuries." Choose with care!
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Breathe easy
While a little care can save us from dangerous diseases in the winter, a little ignorance can cause diseases. "In asthma, the airways constrict due to inflammation making it difficult to breathe. If necessary precautions are taken, asthma can be managed well,'' says Dr S.K. Jindal, head of pulmonary medicine department of PGI. The winter is a tough season for asthma patients as the incidence of asthma attack increases drastically due to extreme change in weather. He says asthma patients should always carry an inhaler with them, especially during the winter, and should be well-covered. Elderly people are at a greater risk of having an asthma attack. Therefore, they should avoid early morning walks this
season.
"Children are also prone to frequent respiratory infections. Coughing after crying or yelling can also lead to an attack. But here it does not mean that asthmatic children cannot play and stay active," adds expert deal with pediatric asthma patients. Though, in children, breathlessness is not always the most obvious symptom of asthma. Cough, especially at night and not responding to treatment are often indicative of asthma, said experts. All over the country around 3.5 crore persons suffer from some form of asthma wherein 82 per cent children are suffering from actual asthma, as per national figure. Stressing on the fact that asthma patients can lead a healthy life, Dr Jindal says asthmatics should take precautions. ''Simple precautions like avoiding allergens that can trigger attack, timely medication, avoiding extreme variation in temperature can help an asthmatics keep this problem at bay. The final goal of an asthma patient should be - to become free of symptoms, attacks, , decreased visits to the doctor and resumption of normal activity.'' anuja@tribunemail.com
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Healthy start
Sachin Kalra The start of another new year provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the past and look ahead to changes we can make today to improve our health tomorrow. Here are some relatively pain-free ways to a healthier life. If we take even some of them to heart, they really can improve our odds for a happy and healthy year ahead. Exercise more often
Exercise keeps your body toned and detoxified and is the healthiest way of de-stressing. You don't have to go to a gym or be an Olympic marathon runner. Simply walking a mile a day, or taking reasonable exercise three times a week, will substantially reduce the risk of heart disease, as well as strengthening bones and keeping them strong. In short, exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better. Tame the Bulge
Obesity looms large in today's society. So, it is not surprising to find that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions. Setting reasonable goals and staying focused are the two most important factors in sticking with a weight loss
programme. Eat a proper diet and exercise regularly. Keep away from various fad diets as they are harmful in the long run. Eat a balanced diet
Consuming the right proportions of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, etc is a must to stay healthy. Eat a balanced diet. Have four servings of fruits and vegetables daily to reduce the risk of developing heart disease, cancer, stroke and high blood pressure. Opt for fish, seafood, tofu, nuts and legumes as your protein source. Go for mono-saturated fats which are found in olive oil, avocados, nuts (mainly almonds, hazelnuts) as it helps to lower bad-type LDL cholesterol; contains antioxidants that discourage artery clogging and chronic diseases, including cancer. And, don't forget to drink adequate amount of water (8-10 glasses) to flush out the toxins. Take your vitamins
Take a multivitamin tablet every day, but be sure it contains at least 200 mcg of folic acid. It can substantially reduce the chance of heart disease, and has been shown to reduce colon cancer by 85 per cent. It may also reduce the likelihood of developing dementia. Folic acid is essential for any woman contemplating pregnancy as it reduces the chance of some birth defects. However, large doses of vitamins are also not recommended. Cut back on fats, sugar and salt
Saturated and trans-fats found in junk, processed foods can play havoc with your health. Eat a diet low in fat, to reduce cholesterol levels and the risk of developing heart disease. Lower your sugar intake as excess of sugar is not good and can suppress the immune system, upset the body's mineral balance, cause hyperactivity, anxiety, concentration difficulties. Cut back on salt. Limit it to one teaspoon per day (if you are 50 years of age or older, cut back to about half a teaspoon per day) to help lower blood pressure and decrease your chances of getting heart disease or having a stroke. Don't smoke
Smoking is bad for you and harms literally every organ of your body. If you are addicted don't despair, as there is a world of help and support available, nicotine patches, gums, inhalers, hypnosis and acupuncture. Do whatever it takes. But if all fails, do try to cut back, because the more you smoke, the more likely you are to develop cancer or heart or respiratory disease. Quit
drinking
While many people use the New Year as an incentive to finally stop drinking, most are not equipped to make such a drastic lifestyle change all at once. Taper off gradually, or learn to moderate your drinking. A healthy person should not consume more than 60ml of alcohol in a day. Get the right amount of sleep
Sleep primes the immune system. It's a myth that everyone needs eight hours sleep every day; some will need more, some less and it will vary from day to day. However, most people need between seven and nine hours of sleep a night. The right amount is when you wake up feeling well-rested and ready to go, and do not feel sleepy during the day. Learn to relax
Unwind, take up a hobby and start
socialising. Medicine is finally accepting that stress causes illness. It plays an important role in the onset of mental illness, including schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and depression. It makes people more vulnerable to physical ill-health and inflammatory conditions, such as allergic, auto-immune, cardiovascular, infectious and rheumatologic illnesses. Researchers have found that vigorous exercise three times a week can help with stress and depression. Be mentally healthy
Take care of your mental health to be physically healthy. Your mind and body are strongly linked. As your mental health declines, your physical health wears down, and vice-versa. To maintain mental health try to be happy by doing things which give you pleasure, cultivate a positive attitude and learn to meditate to relax yourself. Also keep your brain active, by challenging your mind. For example, learn something new, play a puzzle, etc. Social support network
Make time to develop and maintain meaningful relationships. Family ties, friendships and involvement in social activities can offer a psychological buffer against stress, anxiety and depression. Social support can also help you cope better with health problems. Cultivating a good support network will pay off in better health and will also give you a brighter outlook in life. Make friends with your doctor
To keep your good health you need to go for regular health checkups. Regular Health checkups identify potential risk factors and medical problems early and prevent potentially serious illnesses. Experts recommend a health check-up every three years for individuals under age 40, every two years between 40 and 50 years, and annually after age 50.
kalrasachin@hotmail.com |
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"Women are exposed to many contradictory messages. They are encouraged to lose weight yet also encouraged to eat for the simple pleasure of it," Gauvin added. Some 1,501 women took part in the phone survey on eating disorders. Not one participant was classified as anorexic. Their average age was 31, the majority being non-smokers and university graduates. Gauvin said the study sheds new light on binge eating and bulimia, which are characterised in part by excessive eating accompanied by feelings of having lost control. "About 13.7 per cent of the interviewed women reported binge eating one to five days or one to seven times per month," Gauvin says, with 2.5 per cent of them forcing themselves to vomit, use laxatives, or use diuretics to maintain weight. The investigation also established a link between problematic eating behaviours and self-rated health. In other words, deviant eating behaviours are more likely to occur in women who perceived themselves to be in poor health. Another finding was that 28 per cent of women complete intense exercise twice a month with the sole objective of losing weight, a Montreal Univesity release said. "We practice a sport for the pleasure it provides, to feel good, but when the activity is done to gain control over one's weight and figure, it is indicative of someone who could be excessively concerned about their weight," said Gauvin. The study was supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and the findings were published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders. — IANS
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India's consulate here
today organised a special screening of Amitabh Bachchan-starrer movie Paa
a film based on Progeria or premature aging. Directed by adman R Balki, Paa
explores the father-son relationship and depicts 13-year-old 'Auro',
played by Bachchan who is a victim of this 'rare' disease.
The movie
also stars Amitabh's son Abhishek Bachchan, who plays his father, Vidya
Balan and Paresh Rawal. A cross-section of Indian families and other
residents of Dubai converged at the local Grand Hyatt Cineplex in Dubai
to watch the movie. Amitabh was recently in Dubai to receive Dubai
International Film Festival (DIFF) Lifetime Achievement
Award. "Although there are linguistic differences, people in the
Arab world share cultural similarities and can associate well with
Indian films. This bodes well for the Indian film industry," he had
said on the occasion. The 64-year-old superstar was among the
celebrities walking the red carpet on the opening day of the
festival. He said the appeal of Indian films to global audiences is
because "our cinema offers poetic justice in three hours. You walk
away from an Indian cinema with a smile on your lips and dried tears on
your cheeks." Celebrating the honour for Bachchan, DIFF screened
two of his path-breaking films - Black and Silsila. —
PTI
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A
day after he lost his cool at a Noida press conference, the producer of
the film 3 Idiots, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, apologised for shouting at
a journalist. The debate began when author Chetan Bhagat, who claimed
that the movie made by Chopra is inspired by his novel Five Point
Someone and that he was not given credit for it.
Chopra lost his
cool when a journalist said the film was similar to the book Five
Point Someone and sought his clarification. When Chopra asked that
journalist whether he had read the book, the journalist gave a negative
response and the producer asked him to 'shut up'. Speaking to reporters
on Saturday, the filmmaker said he felt really bad watching himself
shouting at the journalist on television. "I have not slept the
whole night. I felt very bad because before sleeping I saw TV and saw
how I was shouting 'shut up' again and again and I felt really
bad," said Chopra. He later apologised to the media. "After
making such a good movie and after travelling the whole of India, I did
such a shameless behaviour for which I am deeply sorry," added
Chopra. When asked whether he would meet author Chetan Bhagat in
future, Chopra said that he does not wish to meet the author again as he
is doing all this to gain cheap publicity. — ANI
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Bollywood actress Priyanka
Chopra, writer, producer and actor Uday Chopra said here on Saturday that
love is always possible, while promoting their upcoming film Pyaar
Impossible. Addressing a news conference to promote the film, Priyanka
and Uday said it would attract an audience because of its
simplicity.
"We are very excited because we hope to start the year
off with a bang. And, I think, what the audience will like about the film
is the simplicity of it, as there are no complications," Priyanka
said. "Its not something not brainless comedy or brainless where you
have to leave your brains at home kind of film, its not like that. But
it's also not a film where you have to really think too much, it's not
cerebral. Its just a breezy, soft, sweet film," she added. Uday said
anyone who feels their love is impossible should definitely watch this
film. "The message I would like to give with this film is of course
is that don't believe your love is impossible if you do love somebody out
there, who you think is above your league, or for whatever reason you
think you cannot get her or him, just make the move, go out there, and
tell that person, or probably bring that person and watch the movie with
that person, and hopefully that love would become possible," Uday
said. The movie is directed by actor-turned-director Jugal Hansraj under
the banner of Yash Raj Films. The romantic comedy also features Dino Morea. The
film is slated for release on January 8, 2010. Pyaar Impossible is
said to be inspired by the hit British film Notting Hill, which
starred Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in lead roles. The film's official
website describes the film as the love story of a beauty and a geek. —
ANI
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Bollywood actress Shilpa
Shetty who recently tied the knot with NRI millionaire Raj Kundra is
reportedly planning to hold a grand reception at the House of Commons
here.
The 34-year-old actress had shot to fame in the UK after winning
the reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother in 2007, following a
headline grabbing racism row involving her and fellow contestant Jade
Goody. She was crowned the winner with 63 percent votes and went onto
meet the Queen and launch multiple business ventures, including a
perfume, yoga CD and restaurants. Now, she has chosen the iconic venue
for her wedding reception this week after tying the knot with Kundra in
Mumbai last year, The Mirror reported online. "The celebrations
have been organised partly by MP Keith Vaz and they are thrilled to be
holding their special day at such an iconic British location," a
source said. "Shilpa's had a ceremony in India too but the British
celebrations are going to be big and they've spent a lot of money
organising the grand affair," the source added. The couple who
started dating in early 2007 also share a seven-bedroom house in
Weybridge, Surrey. — PTI
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Rocker
Joel Madden usually sleeps on the sofa because long-term partner Nicole
Richie takes up so much room in the bed.
The 27-year-old reality star,
who has 23-month-old daughter Harlow and three-month-old son Sparrow
with Joel, loves stretching out in her sleep, leaving no room for the Good
Charlotte rocker, a website reported. "She takes up all the
space. Joel often wakes up to find himself pushed to the side of the
bed, while Nicole is sleeping smack dab in the middle. She turns herself
into crazy positions," a source said. However, Joel more than
understands his girlfriend's habit and is prepared to do anything to
ensure she gets enough rest. "He either crashes in the spare room
or falls asleep on the couch. He's so understanding!" the source
added. Nicole has admitted to being aware of how annoying her nocturnal
habits are for the singer. "Just heard that I've developed a new
habit of sleeping diagonally. Poor Joel!" Richie wrote on her
Twitter account. — PTI
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Beauty & the geek
She is one of the sexiest in Hollywood and is expected to romance only hunks but Megan Fox stunned everyone when she expressed a desire to date a geek.
The Transformers actress, who is in an on/off relationship with actor Brian Austin Green, says comic book fans make great boyfriends because they are well mannered. "I have been to comic book conventions a few times and even though there are a lot of guys here, they are always very polite and very kind," Fox said. The star claims she is keen to romance a sci-fan fan because they would have a lot in common. "Maybe it's because I'm a geek too but the kind of guys you meet at those conventions are very nice and very appreciative of what you do," she added. Megan's How to Lose Friends and Alienate People co-star Simon Pegg previously reinforced the actress' claims she is a nerd. "We wrapped early one day and went to a bar. Megan and I sat in the corner and had a good chat. She's really sharp and actually a bit of a geek. Queen of the geeks - the most beautiful geek I've ever met. Even if she did keep pointing out I was old enough to be her father," Pegg said.
— PTI |
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A tiring job
Actor Ashton Kutcher has revealed that he grew tired of taking off his clothes and shooting sex scenes for his new film Spread. The 31-year-old star, who plays a bed-hopping socialite in the movie, said it initially took him time to adjust to shooting naked.
"I never thought in my entire life that anything related to sex in any way would be something I'd get tired of," the Mirror quoted him as saying. "But I was shooting so many sex scenes that I was getting tired of it. 'Do we have to shoot another sex scene? More attractive women naked all over me - oh, come on'. "We finally got to the point where we'd run out of positions. Everybody on the set was out of ideas, so we were consulting the Kama Sutra," he added.
— ANI |
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Women cry baby?
Women knew it all along. And now, a study has confirmed it to the entire world - nothing makes a girl cry as much as a man. More than three in four women blame their partners for making them cry, not to mention their fathers or sons. But 63 percent of men reckon their wives, girlfriends and even mothers can reduce them to tears, said the study by Rohto Dry Eye Relief.
The survey of 2,000 adults also found that when it comes to men, the pressures of work, being treated badly by the boss or horrid workmates can also bring on the tears. Work woes have left 32 per cent of Brit women and 22 per cent of English men in tears in the past six months. While family, work and friends are responsible for crying, then modern life has the opposite effect in general because it leaves eyes dry and irritable, said
Rohto. — ANI |
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Everyone
daydreams of living by the hills, fishing all day, bonfire at night, running own
restaurant, living life the laidback way. A tiny fraction contemplates the
logistics, ifs and buts, pros and cons. Then there are bills to be paid,
lifestyle to sustain, dream home to build, pending promotion, taxes to take care
of, EMIs to be adjusted and it's a quicksand of urban life. Even tinier decimal
fraction actually chucks it all up, never to return. 
"I was taught to play with colours, just throw them on canvas and allow
them to mould your thoughts into a visual extravaganza," says Swarn Prita
Anand, an artist who brought her first ever exhibition in India, Beyond
Boundaries at Punjab Kala Bhavan-16. 
In times when health is actually wealth, people are game for knowledge that would help them stay fit. So what if they can't get personal training from Rujutia Diwekar (Kareena Kapoor's personal trainer) or learn yoga from BKS Iyenger or take counseling from Deepak Chopra on the benefits of meditation? Solutions come in the form of ample books on health and fitness by experts available in the market. However, before you take your pick, experts from the city suggest to what extent the instructions in the books should be practically followed. Anil Juneja, a yoga instructor at FNY Studio, strongly recommends BKS Iyenger's books, Light on Yoga and Light on Pranayam for they elaborate on every assan, the body part they benefit and the right way to practice it. 
Books on crash dieting shouldn't be subscribed to at all. Nancy Sahni, dietician, PGI, strongly recommends a balanced diet to shed weight, "There are numerous books on crash dieting that mention what comprises of the protein rich and no carb diet. But, cutting on any element adversely affects the body. Fat in the right quantity is as important for the body as in proteins and vitamins, a fact usually ignored in the diet books.
As far as asthma cases are concerned, this year has been no different. Like always, the city has witnessed a spurt in the number of people suffering from asthma. According to experts, healthy people, who otherwise show no signs of breathlessness, feel the discomfort in the chest once mercury starts dipping.
Some 10 to 15 per cent women are affected by binge eating behaviours and attitudes, a new study says. "Our results are disquieting," said Lise Gauvin, a professor of social and preventive medicine at the Montreal University, who conducted
the study.
