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Get trendy
Fashion changes with a bat of eyelid, fashion has seeped down to the villages, Indian fashion has already hit the international scene, fashion is a passion for some…it is nothing short of a gospel truth!
And with the opening of Fashionista, a fashion school under the guidance of Honii Sandhu, this truth will come within the reach of students who feel strongly for 'fashion'. The launch of the school on Monday had supermodel Jesse Randhawa, fashion designer Abdul Halder, Fashionista managing director Neetu Pavan Manikatalia, Sukhpal Khaira, Punjab MLA, Kewal Dhillon, MLA Barnala, sew a glamorous picture of fashion, which we know is a fact - Fashion drives. What say? Abdul Halder
Before we got down to the drill of a question and answer round, we were curious to know his experience of dressing the king of pop Michael Jackson. "He wanted me to design an exquisite range on Maharajas of India in 2002. He specifically liked the Nawab of Avadh style," shares Abdul, who was awarded by the government of Queensland, Australia, for promoting Indian culture and tourism. Back to the world of styling, fitting, frill, sequins and designs. His take on the fashion scene in the city and India finding acceptance in the international circuit. "It is too early to compare Chandigarh fashion scene with Mumbai or Delhi. It has its own style and with Fashionista we plan to bridge the gap." He adds, "Global fashion is nearly 1,290 years old, whereas we are barely 25 years old. It will take another 10-12 years to reach that level," he adds. Bollywood actors taking to the ramp as showstoppers, designer's choice or a marketing strategy? "The masses want to see them on the ramp, which is why they are there. Besides, they make news, can't ignore the commercial aspect." The way we can't ignore the changing trends. " There has been a marked growth in the trousseau market in India. The lenghas have become modern more like the Victorian style." Neetu Pavan Manikatalia
"I do not believe in conventional style of teaching, I want them to get their laptops to the classroom and make their own points and presentations," adds Neetu, a fashion and art graduate. "There is no dearth of talent but the students lack expression. Fashionista aims to provide the same." Honii Sandhu
“Fashionista will equip students with technical skills so that they get ready to work in the changing fashion scene. The school gives an international edge by providing the students with final training in Singapore.” |
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Breathe easy
A deep breath - the answer to all her (and our) questions lie in 'her' deep breath — is the fulcrum of her existence, food for her soul and the funda of her survival.
Jesse Randhawa holds her breath for a couple of seconds and then releases it slowly. There it goes… all the stress, bad energy and unsure thoughts. Wow, she looks radiant and so much in control of herself! "Yoga is the answer to all problems. This is my funda of survival in the industry, which is nothing short of a world of mysteries. Yoga allows me to be in touch with myself and helps me handle the toughest of situations without losing my calm. It keeps me going," she smiles, her body in perfect sync with her thoughts. In city for the opening of Fashionista, a fashion school in Panchkula, Jesse feels it is a proud moment for her. "Honii has done a great job by getting Fashionista here. Many aspiring students will benefit from this. Now, they can boast of being a part of fashion school that guarantees the best," she says. The words of appreciation come from the lady who has hogged all the limelight, whether it is walking the ramp for top-notch designers, playing small yet substantial roles in movies like Gulaal or facing challenges in Khatron Ke Khiladi Season II. But we are interested in knowing where her calling lies. "Honestly, I want to do whatever substantial and good comes my way. Having said this, I don't mean that I will do everything and anything. I am reading scripts and if a role is appealing, I wouldn't mind taking it up whether it is small or big. In the end, I need to feel satisfied," shares Jesse, who was nominated for "The Most Promising Newcomer Female" for Filmfare 2010. Running around trees, shedding glycerin tears, planning, scheming, and wooing the hero. We see Jesse doing all this? She replies in a calm and confident manner (as if she knew we would ask this!), "You never know? I don't want to block the work coming towards me. I believe in quality work that gives me satisfaction. I did a small role in Gulaal because it was a strong and convincing one." Small and roles, is no longer an issue. With a fleet of young experimental directors, character roles will not be a problem. "I like to bring about variations in my work. I agree that new directors are making some fabulous movies," she says. Jesse we have heard is not a drama queen, so how will she manage to pull through? "The real answer lies in yoga. It gives me the strength, confidence and hope. Ya, she laughs (for once), I am not a drama queen. My friends were disappointed that I didn't do any drama in Khatron Ke Khiladi. But this is what I am. Drama, is the basic ingredient of many reality shows, but, honestly, it isn't my cup of tea." And could this be the reason why Sandeep Soparkar fell for her? Flashing a broad smile, she answers, "I and Sandeep were doing a lot of professional dancing shows together. It is good to be married. We still dance and rehearse together. Shift in the residence is the only change that has come to me after marriage," adds Jesse, who is also a martial arts expert. "I have been practising marital arts for almost 15-16 years now. This is a form of mediation for me and the best form of self-defense," she signs off jasmine@tribunemail.com |
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Study it seriously!
It isn't about studies like spring onions may hold the key to beating hay fever. Nor about surveys trying to locate any correlation between heat stroke and lemon tea. The report 'Dark chocolate likely to lift the mood on first working Monday of every month' could still be in public interest of dark chocolate lovers or office-goers!
When researchers employ their faculties over trying to find if "Jokes on blondes suggest if men are scared of sexy women" or "Whether having a hubby, makes you chubby" "Or if men are reluctant to ask for help in the retail store", is it time to wonder if we're running out of concrete research issues? Or is reading material being confused with research titles? "Any good research, whatever the topic, depends on research model and the researcher. If the model and the methodology are faulty, it's not going to be worth it. These types of studies are in the nature of observations and explorations rather than those having any implications that are likely to change behaviour patterns," opines Dr Parmod Kumar, psychiatrist, consultant, Silver Oaks Hospital, Mohali. He adds, "For example an observation that goes like 100 girls go to college wearing black jeans on Monday doesn't convey much or give concrete results." Continuing with the studies, two non-blonde female researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem aimed at finding why men enjoy mocking the beauties. While another has an associate professor of hospitality management, discovering women were more likely to turn to interpersonal relationships for guidance while making purchases. Yet another survey by a consumer organisation, suggested bra-fitting services at high street stores in the UK fail to deliver right fit to customers. Whosoever needs the studies! Opines Rajesh Gill from Department of Sociology, "You see it's very fashionable these days to call anything a research, study or survey. Any study cannot be scientific until it has a proper sample, methodology or rationale. Who are the respondents in these studies and how were they selected?" If not the methodology, it's the effort and the purpose we're concerned with. She adds, "Yes, we first need to recognise whether these are even issues? How do they become important and what relevance do they have? In my opinion, research on frivolous topics need not be read, let alone taken seriously." Adds Dr Kumar, "As a reader one does come across many such studies in the media but they are mere casual observations rather than foundations for concrete results." Meanwhile, another report's out with results of how 10 per cent of British men admitted to slapping on make-up once in a while. While another claims to have discovered nine out of 10 couples lose their cool on the 'Doom Day' or last Monday before payday. The foreign origin of many of these theses can't be discounted. Says Rajesh Gill, "Probably in the West they can; we in India can't afford to be interested in such issues. Global warming, terrorism, poverty, inflation, economy, environment…yeah we have bigger, better things to worry about." manpriya@tribunemail.com |
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Big B meets Mohanlal
Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan will star with Mohanlal in a Malayalam film based on the hijack of an Indian Airlines flight to Kandahar in Afghanistan in 1999, the movie director Major Ravi said. The veteran actor held discussions in this regard with Mohanlal and Ravi recently. Ravi said the story of the film, presently named Kandahar was narrated to Bachchan. “Bachchan ji was engrossed in the story and after hearing it said I am doing it,” Ravi said. The shooting would begin by June, July or August this year as per Bachchan’s convenience, he said. Bachchan would be playing the role of the father of a hijack victim and his portions would be shot either at Mumbai or Delhi airport.
He would be appearing in the second half of the film and has a ‘meaty’ role’, Ravi said. On the other actors, he said he was on the lookout for a young Tamil actor. Earlier, it was reported that Kamal Hassan would be acting in the film.
The female artiste has not yet been decided, though it could be Ananya of Naadodigal, who played the role of Nallamma in the Malayalam film. Ravi has directed films like Keerthichakra starring Mohanlal and Mission 90 Days with Mammootty. Earlier, while addressing a gathering, Bachchan was asked whether he would work in a Malayalam film, to which the actor replied, “somebody will have to make an offer to me”. —
PTI
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Sunny goes for funny bone
No fights, no melodrama. Macho man Sunny Deol is set to make people laugh. And he will do it with Yamla, Pagla, Deewana, also starring his dad Dharmendra and brother Bobby. “It’s more on the lighter side and we love the script. In fact, we loved the script extremely; so we wanted to do it straightaway. It’s one of those hilarious films which people will love,” Sunny said. After Apne, he was supposed to do Cheers - Celebrate Life first, but he has pushed the project to a later date. Cheers will go a little later. We’ve still not started that yet because there is Yamla Pagla Deewana. That’s the film which we are starting in another 10-15 days with dad, Bob and me.” Sunny said. “It’s a great subject and as the title says it’s absolutely opposite to what Apne was.” Sunny is also contemplating new banner names to present the film, which will be directed by Samir Karnik. Though the movie title seems to have been inspired from the popular song Main jatt yamla pagla deewana, which was picturised on his father in the 1975 movie Pratiggya, Sunny hasn’t “thought about using” it in the new film. —IANS |
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Nothing serious
shah Rukh It has some religion, a bit of politics and it’s set in the backdrop of a world shaking event, but for Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan his latest venture is not so much about Islam post-9/11 as it is entertainment. “The film is mainly entertainment,” Shah Rukh said in a telephonic interview from New York on a trip last week to promote his new film, My Name Is Khan (MNIK), releasing in the US on Feb 12. “If some issue is taken back home, I always tell people if they can take back a little more than an empty pack of popcorn, that’s interesting...that’s an added advantage to an entertaining film.” Shah Rukh, who plays a Muslim Indian with Asperger’s syndrome living in the US, finding his marriage to a Hindu single mother (played by Kajol) crumbling post-9/11, wouldn’t agree that it’s the Islam angle that is grabbing the most attention in the US. “A film normally deals with lots of issues, comedy, or it’s a tragedy or a serious film or a dramatic love story like ...Khan is meant to be,” he said. “If one starts talking or deciding on issues before a whole film is seen, it’s kind of not right to do, specially as a filmmaker. “Normally, a film is more than the sum of its parts. It’s not like it’s a love story, it’s got a Karan Johar touch to social cinema, it has an angle of religion, it also has a part of politics, it has a world-shaking incident as a backdrop, it also has a lot of sweet songs. It combines all that.
“To me as a filmmaker, or part of a film, any aspect of the film can only be decided once one has seen the whole film. But there’s no denying that there is an aspect of religion in the film.” Nor would Shah Rukh look at this and other recent Bollywood films about the fate of Indian Muslims in the US post-9/11 as an effort to redress any negative images people may have formed about Islam over the last nine years. “Films normally are for entertainment. One doesn’t really make a conscious decision to make a statement with it. Within entertainment, if a statement gets made, it’s really nice for a filmmaker. “You know, maybe 3 Idiots talks about education, but it’s an entertaining film. Similarly Chak De India talks about patriotism, but it’s a sports film. “You can have issues related in a film, but when filmmakers of commercial proportions like Karan, myself and Kajol and all get together, it’s not to highlight an issue because it’s too expensive as a commercial venture to make a film about an issue and not entertain.” To Shah Rukh, “the most interesting part of the fact as an actor is that I’m playing a character who’s got Asperger’s. It’s also not in any which way to show it in a light which is not nice...but for an actor that’s a great thing to do, you know, to play a (person with a) disorder like this which very few people know about.” —
IANS |
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The new love guru
As Patel’s ‘Skins’ co-star Nicholas Hoult wants to ask his former for some dating tips. Hoult who will next be seen in Colin Firth starrer A Single Man said he will be asking Patel, whom he acted alongside in British TV series Skins, for advice on meeting girls, after Patel embarked on a relationship with Freida Pinto. “I haven’t seen Dev for a while. He’s obviously very loved up. I’ve met Freida. I haven’t hung out with them, that would be a bit third wheeling,” Hoult said.
“But she’s very nice. He’s done alright for himself there hasn’t he? I’m going to have to get some tips,” he added. While 20-year-old Hoult, is never short of female admirers, he doesn’t see himself as heartthrob for teenage girls like Twilight actor Robert Pattinson. “I realised quite early on that I’m quite odd looking, so it’s probably best not to aim to be a heartthrob. It doesn’t matter, it’s awful talking about appearances,” he said. —
PTI
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Bollywood hunk John Abraham is bowled over by his girlfriend and actress Bipasha Basu’s new chiselled figure and he now wants to follow her fitness mantra. “I have tried Bipasha’s workout DVD personally and found it to be equally good for men as well, although it is meant for women. I just think that I should follow her routine now,” John said. “She is in the most amazing shape. When I looked at her recently, my jaws dropped as I said this can’t be for real. This is the best; she is in the prime shape of her life.” Bipasha, who is known to be a fitness freak, has created a unique workout programme lasting 25 minutes in Love Yourself launched last week. Asked when would he launch his own fitness DVD, the 37-year-old actor quipped by saying he would take another 15-20 years to do it. “I won’t do it now. After 15-20 years, when I am fitter, I will launch my DVD,” he said. — PTI
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Work bonding
We must work together,’ Aamir tells Big B When Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan turned up to mourn Aamir Khan’s father’s death, the younger actor expressed a desire to work together. “We went across to Aamir’s place and spent time with him and his family. Tried to keep the atmosphere light and cheerful. It was pleasant.
As Aamir came down to see us off when we left his house, he expressed, ‘We must work together sir...’ I told him to direct a film. He has such talent for it. He nodded (in) approval,” Amitabh posted on his blog bigb.bigadda.com. Amitabh also expressed his grief on the death of yesteryear actor and producer Sujit Kumar. Sujit was 75 years old and is survived by two children.
— IANS
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Painting lost dreams
One morning, a group of fanatics barged into their house with a deadline, "You have 12 hours to leave Kashmir or else face the consequences." What followed was their joining the mass exodus and settling in the refugee camps in Jammu.
Twenty years after the unfortunate day, Kamal Nain Bhan doesn't need to rake his brains to recount all that happened, "How can I forget that we were pushed out of our native land; the humiliation we faced and the struggle we had to undertake to earn a living," says AK Bhan as he puts in words what his son Kamal Nain, hearing impaired, was expressing through gestures. This wasn't all. Kamal still had a lot to explain, some through his father and rest explained by the exhibition of his artworks at the Fine Arts Museum, PU. Titled Kashmir: Outpouring Emotions the paintings reflect his pain, sufferings and even the slightest hope of moving back to the roots. "The exhibition is the tale of Kashmir, with works on its unchallenging beauty, it temples and shrines; the beginning of turbulence, the war going on and its present state," explains Bhan on behalf of Kamal Nain. Mainly landscapes, the paintings are done in water colours and acrylic. As an artist, he feels he has a lot to contribute to bring back peace to the state. The paintings show Kashmir before and after terror struck it. In some works, nature is shown at its best, greenery and snow-clad mountains being painted and then in other works, cannons and smoke are painted. "Hopefully, the works will make people realise how ugly the difference is and the magnitude of what all we have lost because of persisting terror." His work Inferno as he adds, signifies the beginning of the end and Frozen Images depicts how violence in Kashmir has left a deep impact on his mind. The painting Haunting Ghosts shows ghosts of Kashmiris who had to leave the state but had their souls still there. 'Roots in Kashmir' takes his message forward, which depicts there is hope that the situation might get better in the coming times, "I have spent the most beautiful days of my life in the Valley and have even seen the worst times. The memories of good days are stronger than the bad ones, which makes me hopeful that someday the Valley will be as peaceful as it was before." Thus, part of the exhibition is Paradise on way to recovery which shows Kashmir as it was — green trees clad in snow. He has also painted the Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries titled as Faith Deserted. Besides the obvious issue of turbulent Kashmir, he has also taken up the present day concerns such as global warming. His painting Siachen shows the glaciers have melted to form lakes. "Kashmir is known for its scenic beauty, which shouldn't be compromised with the industrial growth." On till February 13 |
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Literatteur at her best
Negating the belief that authors are born and not made, city litterateur and critic Sharanjeet Kaur discovered a writer in her much after completing her doctoral thesis.
Thanks to the vision of her guide and great Punjabi literary icon Attar Singh, who after noticing the spark, advised her to concentrate and express her feeling through the medium of poetry or prose. Sharanjeet Kaur today has ten books, scores of articles and short stories in all Punjabi magazines to her credit. Born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, in 1947 she completed her schooling from Hoshiarpur and later completed her BEd, MA and PhD degrees from Chandigarh. The ever-smiling former principal of Senior Secondary School-20 was given the '21st Baba Bulle Shah' award by the Asian Writers Society, Copenhagen, Denmark, at the Punjab Kala Bhavan on Monday on the occasion of the release of her 10th book "Te Hunn Punjabi da Muddai Denmark Bich". The award carries a phulkari; memento and cash prize of Rs 5,100. SS Parwana, Manjit Singh from Denmark, Joginder Sigh from Jammu, poet Sham Singh, Goberdhan Gabbi and other writers from the region attended the ceremony. Sharanjeet Kaur, winner of many state and national awards in education besides Dhudike and Narichetna awards for literature, said it was in recognition of her writings on woman empowerment and related issues. Albeit she specialises in short story writing, she has a novel to her credit as well as books for children. Her creations portray middle class life in true colours. "A writer should be true to the self, reader and society. But the job of a literary critic is more demanding. A critic should be ideologically unbiased and must speak from a articulated standpoint," she says. |
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Design a trip
A trip to Milan, participation in I-Saloni (design and furniture fare) then off to Germany in a private jet, followed by a visit to Hansgrobe, world's leading designer furniture firm… are architects and those with design background paying attention? This roller coaster one-month ride is meant for them. Organised by Home Review, a publication on interiors, the programme, Design Quest, gives this opportunity to five people, who will be selected after winning an online contest and chosen by the design experts.
Anish Bajaj, MD of the group of the magazines, share the details, "The contest is split in an online and offline phase. Anyone who has academic and professional knowledge on interiors or architecture can create an account on www.thedesignquest.com." Depending on the person's profile, he will be voted by those visiting the site. To assure that the right person gets this break, the top 50 will be judged by experts from the field. "We do realize that online contests don't render very authentic results. Hence the offline phase was imperative," adds Anish in the city on Friday to educate students of Chandigarh College of Architecture about the contest. Another medium to reach out people was Facebook. "Forming a community on the Facebook was a conscious decision, since it the social networking site has maximum members," says Bajaj. The five-day course will require the participants to update their experience through blogging. "Which will facilitate the user base to understand the trends of the interiors and décor world." As for the I-Saloni, he adds, "It will give quality exposure to budding interiors designers and architects as they will get to meet experts from the field at the fest. The contest began on January 19 and the voting ends on February 28. The organisation has already reached out to 45 colleges and plans to cover 20 more. The age limit to participate is 18-35 years. —
Ashima Sehajpal |
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Know your plants
Satish Narula
You see a garden. You like it and get motivated. You go to buy plants from the nursery from where others also purchased them. You plant them like others do. You try to have the same effect that others have. But there is some difference. Other's garden is better. What could be the reason?
The common query from the amateur gardeners is as to what could be the reason?
My advice is to them is to be patient, vigilant, attain some basic knowledge and be regular and timely with gardening operations. To get the best effect follow the following tips. The first and the basic thing to know about the plant is to know about its nature; whether it is a shade loving plant, could be planted in partial shade or needed the sun, essentially. Knowing this, you will be able to give it the best placement and save it from any drastic change in its basic biological needs. Only the write placing of the plant means getting best effect. Most of the time, I am asked which is the best fertilizer for the plants and my reply is the dust of your feet. If you are a keen observer, visiting your plant frequently will not only acquaint you with its growing nature but after sometime you will feel as if the plants talk to you, conveying about their needs. Initially, you can also seek the help of the experts to tell you about deficiency symptoms. They are very prominent and once you understand about these, you will meet their requirement with your own guess. Watering the plants appropriately is one of the most important aspects of successful growing of plants. You should put more stress on its regularity and appropriate observation. You cannot give the same treatment to all kind of plants. No doubt you learn it over a period of time but it is better to understand about it the day you put it in your garden. You should not forget asking about its watering needs from the nursery from where you get it or else you can consult one of your friends if an expert is not around. Most important thing about keeping the garden in good health is to save it from insects, pests and diseases. Whatever growth you get in a month maybe lost in a matter of few days due to various plant ailments. Moreover, especially in case of indoor plants, any damage to even a single leaf may spoil its get-up. You have to be very vigilant. It is better to give prophylactic sprays to save plants from the coming dangers. It is like having vaccine for future protection. Learn about a few basic chemicals, which we will deal in subsequent columns that you can keep for blanket protection against insects and diseases.
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Heal the world
Television advertisements, print media, street plays, candlelight marches, musical concerts…it seems the world has risen from deep slumber and is now busy scrutinising what is going wrong where!
The population of tigers has come down to 1,410; global warming is a stark reality; corruption is all-pervading; natural calamities are striking at the speed of light; leadership is 'already' in wrong hands… where is the world going? But it's better late than never. Many have now taken the onus upon themselves to make a difference through online social campaigns. 'Save the Tiger', 'Jaago Re', 'Fight terror', 'Haiti', the number of awareness campaigns are certainly grabbing attention with more and more celebrities joining in. Mohita Sharma, a student of chemical engineering, is a member of many social awareness sites. " I religiously followed the Jaago Re campaign and now I am the member of 'Save the Tiger' initiative." And if you are wondering what good online projects can do until and unless you go out in the field, Mohita has an answer. "Each one of us live with the realisation of what is going wrong where, some of us react to it while others sit on it. Now that the entire world is connected through social networking sites, this is the best way to spread the word and share information." And it is not the tiger campaign alone, but various others that have picked momentum. Blogs, discussion forums, Facebook and Orkut sites have gained impetus after the Copenhagen Summit. In addition, forums on consumer rights and the ones on Save Fuel, Say No to BT crops and Haiti are also very popular. Says Neeraj Sharma, a blogger-cum-biker from the city, "Celebrities around the world have joined hands for Haiti. As many as two lakh people were killed and another three lakh were injured in the earthquake. There are 18 Orkut groups supporting the cause. You can also see videos of celebrities generating funds for the same cause." Neeraj feels that people are aware but they don't have the time to sit and discuss issues that are disturbing the equilibrium of the society. "The online campaigns at least do the needful. We can get first-hand information on the cause; lend our support through kind or cash. And with celebrities joining hands, these campaigns are getting more support," he opines |
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SIM-ply great
Samsung Electronics has recently strengthened its dual SIM portfolio by announcing the launch of its first dual SIM-Touch Screen phone in the country. In line with the company's philosophy of 'Next is What' and in keeping with its thrust on innovation, the Samsung B5722 provides the user with a Dual SIM, Dual StandBy advantage, that is, the user can use two SIM cards with one handset, separate business and private calls and can also switch between SIM cards easily and without needing to reboot the mobile. In fact, features like WAP/MMS/email supported by both SIM cards, thereby providing full and convenient access to users.
Announcing the launch, Ranjit Yadav, director, Mobile and IT, Samsung India Electronics Pvt. Ltd stated, "At Samsung, our endeavor is to continuously provide the market with superior, consumer friendly products and the Samsung B5722 is an example of the same .This phone aims to cater to the fast-growing Dual Stand by market, wherein the discerning consumers want the convenience of a single feature rich handset with two connections operating simultaneously. Samsung's easy access, touch experience and one click access to six networking sites , all serve to enrich the user experience ." The Samsung B5722 allows users to pre-set the SIM change-over time automatically, depending on economical operator tariffs or actually ensuring a Work Life Balance with the help of your phone. The dedicated SIM switching key and intuitive touch interface makes the changeover a seamless experience. Apart from the regular calling and texting with a Dual SIM advantage in a touch- screen phone, this handset provides the added benefit of one touch access through six SNS widgets on the home screen. Available at Rs. 11,680 Fly high
Fly Mobile, a brand owned by the Meridian Group, headquartered in the UK, has announced the launch and availability of its all-new QWERTY keypad dual-SIM phone, the Fly Circle in India. Fly Circle enables you to connect to multiple instant messaging and social networks as well as use other utilities and applications. It is available for Rs 3,849 only. Fly Circle is powered with Nimbuzz, a new-generation mobile service designed for the online age, making you more mobile. Social networks and communities supported by the multiple-award winning Nimbuzz application. At the heart of Nimbuzz is the live contact list-an always-on, hyper-connected, dynamic address book, enhanced with 'real-time-presence' showing at a glance who's online, offline, busy or away, their status messages, and social community activity. You can launch IM chat sessions; conduct offline and voice messaging; send photos, videos, music etc., besides various other communication and interactive features. As a Nimbuzz user on Fly Circle you enjoy the freedom of communicating with friends between any Internet enabled device, from mobile to mobile, mobile to PC/ Mac and vice versa, harnessing the power of the Internet. —
TNS |
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Get to Tweet on NASA
NASA is inviting the public to send questions for the astronauts abroad space shuttle Endeavour via Twitter and have them answered live from space. Endeavour's mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will take off on February 7. Astronaut Mike Massimino will be accepting questions for the crew from the public via his Twitter account until Thursday, Feb. 11. Massimino will be a shuttle Capcom, or spacecraft communicator, at NASA's Mission Control in Houston during Endeavour's flight.
On February 11, Massimino will host an interactive event with the crew from his console in Mission Control. He will ask the astronauts as many submitted and live questions as practical during the 20-minute event. The shuttle will be docked to the station during the live question and answer session. The event with Endeavour's crew will be broadcast live on the Web and NASA television. The public is invited to start tweeting questions for Endeavour's crew to Massimino's Twitter account, @astro_Mike, or add the hashtag #askastro to their tweets. Endeavour's 13-day STS-130 mission will include three spacewalks and the delivery of the Tranquility node, the final module of the US portion of the station. Tranquility will provide additional room for crew members and many of the space station's life support and environmental control systems. Attached to Tranquility is a cupola, which houses a robotic control station and has seven windows. The windows will provide a panoramic view of earth, celestial objects and visiting spacecraft. After the node and cupola are added, the orbiting laboratory will be approximately 90 percent complete.—
ANI
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Facing towards Facebook
Blogging by teenagers and young adults has dropped by half over the past three years as they turn instead to texting and social networking sites such as Facebook, a new study shows.
The study released this week by the Pew Internet and American Life project also found that fewer than one in 10 teens were using Twitter, a surprising finding given overall popularity of the micro-blogging site. According to the report, only 14 per cent of teenagers who use the Internet say they kept an online journal or blog, compared with a peak of 28 per cent in 2006 -- and only 8 percent were
using Twitter. "It was a little bit surprising, although there are definitely explanations given the state of the
technological landscape," said Pew researcher Aaron Smith. Smith said the report's authors attributed the decline in blogging to the explosion of social networking sites such as Facebook, which emphasise short status updates over personal journals. According to the study, 73 per cent of teens who were online used social networking sites. He also cited the ubiquity of cell phones. Much of the communication between young people now takes place on mobile devices, which don't lend themselves to long-form writing. He said teens may be shying away from Twitter because they see it as designed for celebrities, and because of reluctance to put their thoughts on such a public forum when they can post them to their Facebook page instead. "It was somewhat interesting in the sense that teens tend to be the early adopters," Smith said. "They were the first to use social networking and texting. Its certainly unusual compared to what we've seen with other technology." Blogging among adults has held steady since 2005, Pew found, but it has dropped among Internet users between the age of 18 and 29 -- while rising in those over 30. "Older people are becoming more comfortable with the online environment and young people in the meantime have moved on to social networking and text messaging," said Smith. The teen portion of the study was based on a
telephone survey of 800 people, aged 12 to 17, that was conducted from June to September
of 2009. — Reuters
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Solar system
When we talk about types of solar energy, there are many ways to look at it. We'll explore the two most common ways in which solar energy is
categorised. The first way to look at solar energy is by how it is converted into useful energy. There are two types in this group: passive and active solar energy.
The second way look at solar energy is by the type of energy it is converted into. There are three types in this group: solar thermal energy, photovoltaic solar power and concentrating solar power. Passive solar energy
Passive solar energy refers to the harnessing of the sun's energy without the use of mechanical devices. Using south-facing windows to provide natural lighting and heat for your home are examples of passive solar energy. There are several solar applications one can use to take advantage of passive solar energy such as passive solar heating, passive cooling and day lighting Active solar
energy Active solar energy uses mechanical devices in the collection, storage, and distribution of energy. For example, in active solar energy water heating systems, pumps are used to circulate water through the system. There are several solar applications one can use to take advantage of active solar energy such as active solar space heating, active solar water heating and active solar pool heating. Solar thermal energy
Solar thermal energy is the energy created by converting solar energy into heat. There are several solar applications one can use to take advantage of solar thermal energy such as solar space heating, solar water heating, solar pool heating and solar thermal cooling. Photovoltaic solar power
Photovoltaic solar power is the energy created by converting solar energy into electricity using photovoltaic solar cells. There are several solar applications one can use to take advantage of photovoltaic solar power such as solar electricity, photovoltaic cooling and photovoltaic solar lighting. Concentrating solar power
Concentrating solar power is a type of solar thermal energy that is used to generate electricity. This technology is aimed at largescale energy production. Because of this, as a homeowner, you won't use concentrated solar power directly. amitpalsinghgrewal@gmail.com |
Touch it!
The CVSF-E30, 12-inch LCD touch screen monitor for computers, TVs and DVD players can be used as a primary as well as secondary desktop monitor with full touch screen functionality. With VGA and S-Video to AV input, you can be sure to get the most out of this high performing touch screen monitor. With its 12-inch screen size, you can use your finger or the stylus comfortably. You can even use it with your surveillance cameras, computers or TVs. The CVSF-E30 touch screen monitor makes a wonderful addition to your editing suite or work desk. This model also comes with an adjustable stand, which makes it great if you want to mount it on the wall.
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