Epileptic 4-year-old cured in rare surgery Can look forward to rejoining school

Epileptic 4-year-old cured in rare surgery

Can look forward to rejoining school



Thanks to doctors at Jaslok hospital, four-year-old Atharva, who till recently was taken by at least six epilepsy seizures a day, can look forward to rejoining school soon.
It was on last Tuesday that Atharva underwent an eight-hour marathon surgery, in which four parts of his brain had to be disconnected in order to cure him of what is known as intractable epilepsy, an unusual case that requires a special surgical procedure.
According to his father Nilesh Ahwad, Atharva had to stop going to school after frequent seizures began making him very sleepy. “We went to several doctors, who over the past two-year period administered him four types of anti-convulsion drugs, which would leave him dull and sleepy, But the seizures returned and nothing seemed to work until he was finally operated at Jaslok,” added Ahwad.
Born as a full-term caesarian baby, Atharva suffered from his first episode of seizure only on the third day, forcing doctors at the hospital to shift him to the neonatal ICU. “However, the seizures returned when he was one-and-a-half years old and ever since he was two, he has been having attacks off and on,” said Nilesh, an auto-rickshaw driver. Atharva had to undergo seven levels of testing, to confirm the focus of epilepsy, before being taken up for the surgery.

Dr Paresh Doshi, stereotactic and functional neurosurgeon who operated on Atharva, said, “The kind of epilepsy that this child suffered from required a specific procedure called hemispherotomy surgery. Hemispherotomy is offered to children with refractory seizures arising from one hemisphere of the brain, particularly if there is already a suggestion of impaired function of that hemisphere (such as weakness of the opposite side of the body). In this case, his right side was becoming dysfunctional, which meant the left side of the brain was affected and we needed to operate on it.”

What do I do?

What do I do?

We feel that elimination of our drinking is but a beginning. A much more important demonstration of our principles lies before us in our respective homes, occupations and affairs. All of us spend much of our spare time in the sort of effort which we are going to describe. A few are fortunate enough to be so situated that they can give nearly all their time to the work.
If we keep on the way we are going there is little doubt that much good will result, but the surface of the problem would hardly be scratched. Those of us who live in large cities are overcome by the reflection that close by hundreds are dropping into oblivion every day. Many could recover if they had the opportunity we have enjoyed. How then shall we present that which has been so freely given us?
We have concluded to publish an anonymous volume setting forth the problem as we see it. We shall bring to the task our combined experience and knowledge. This should suggest a useful program for anyone concerned with a drinking problem.
Of necessity there will have to be discussion of matters medical, psychiatric, social, and religious. We are aware that these matters are, from their very nature, controversial. Most of us sense that real tolerance of other people’s shortcomings and viewpoints and a respect for their opinions are attitudes which make us more useful to others. Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.
You may already have asked yourself why it is that all of us became so very ill from drinking. Doubtless you are curious to discover how and why, in the face of expert opinion to the contrary, we have recovered from a hopeless condition of mind and body. If you are an alcoholic who wants to get over it, you may already be asking - “What do I have to do?”
It is the purpose of this book to answer such questions specifically. We shall tell you what we have done.
Reprinted from the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, pages 19-20 with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.
If you have a drinking problem and want to attend a local AA meeting, call 022 2301 6767, email gsoindia@gmail.com or visit www.aagsoindia.org. AA membership is 100% free.

FITNESS QUERIES How to eat right

Q I am 21 years old and am 5.10 in height. My weight is 52kg. I am severely underweight. Please guide me and give me some tips, as I am usually out of the house for as many as 15 hours daily.
--Sunil Bharatdwaj.
Hi Sunil, to put on weight, exercise is a must.
You must undertake weight training. It's absolutely essential. So even if you work for 15 hours a day, try and work out three times a week. Weight training helps you put on some weight the right way, as it helps increase your muscle mass.
Also your diet plays a crucial role. Eating protein and carbs is equally important. If you are always on the go, you can have whey protein shake as not eating on time also results in breakdown of lean muscle tissues. Another thing is rest. So sleep well and eat well and exercise hard.

Q I am 25 years old and 5'8'' tall. I workout daily in gym and my weight is 75 kg.
I want to reduce my love handfles and gain muscle. Please suggest a diet and supplement that will help me Vikas more First of all congrats that you are working out.
However, you need to understand that there's no such thing as spot reduction. To reduce love handles you have to realise that you have to have a low fat diet. Cardio is very important for fat loss. So do any form of cardio such as swimming cyling jogging that you enjoy. Where diet is concerned, have a six meal pattern which is moderate carbs. moderate protein n low fat. Have three cups of green tea as that helps in fat loss. Q  
Hi, I am 19 yrs old and 5.2ft tall. I weigh 56 kg.
My habit are irregular which makes me suffer from gas problems, sleepiness, lack of concentration in studies. I am non-vegetarian Can you provide a proper diet chart that will that will help me get fit, reduce weight and increase my concentration?--Karishma 
Hi, as far as I can see you understand, your problems of irregular eating habits and less of water intake is leading to gas and lack of concentration n dehydration. Even if I send you a diet and give you the best diet it will not help you since you have to change your eating habits firstly.
Remember fitness is about lifestyle change and unless you do that no one can help you. Drinking 10 glasses of water is important. A good lifestyle not only helps you keep fit but also helps your skin glow.
So with regular and balanced diet, you can achieve your goal. Also when you exercise, you develop a positive attitude and better concentration automatically. So make these changes for a fitter and happier lifestyle.

Hollywood beauty Emma Stone says she has a sensitive skin and uses grape seed oil

Hollywood beauty Emma Stone says she has a sensitive skin and uses grape seed oil to enhance her beauty. The 23year-old SpiderMan actor says she is allergic to “almost everything“ when it comes to her sensitive skin and uses the oil instead of moisturiser, Femalefirst reported. “I just use natural grapeseed oil the grocery store on my face as moisturiser. After the shower, I pat it on, and then I use it throughout the day and night. But I pretty much smell like grape all the time,“ she said.

Top 10 Ideas or clues to Celebrate Your Anniversary with wife

Top 10 Ideas to Celebrate Your Anniversary

01. A Nighttime picnic



This could be a romantic experience past comparison. You just have to find a suitable spot with a beautiful view. Pack the picnic basket full of special goodies like chocolates, wine, champagne, hot chocolate, cookies and other romantic food. Let the locale handle the rest.

02. Cook them Dinner



Cooking a person dinner makes for superb brownie points. Set the atmosphere. Place lit candles on the table, and decorate the room with flowers, play romantic songs on the stereo, scatter rose petals. These set the mood and heighten anticipation. 

03. Recreating Fond Memories



If you have a special day or time that you both remember, such as where you had your first date, or something relevant, you can try and reawaken fond memories by recreating the experiences. Take her or him to the place you met, concentrate on getting the details right, such as the music playing, the food you ate, the table you sat, the car you came in, all of that. Your partner will know how much thought you put in the matter. 

04. Surprise getaways



Plan a surprise weekend getaway to somewhere nice, and do not let her or him know until the last minute. Make sure you respect any commitments she or he may have regarding work etc, and book every thing in advance. Take her on a seemingly ordinary long drive, which ends up at the airport, and surprise her with the trip to the romantic destination.

05. Romantic Scrapbooks or Photo Albums



Making Scrapbooks or collages is another way of recreating fond memories from your time together. Collect all the photos you may have of special and memorable occasions. You can spring it on her when you are done, or spend a quiet afternoon making it together. The cherished memories that will awaken will be the objective here.

06. A Visit to childhood neighborhood



Consider taking your partner to the neighborhood where they grew up. The old home, the school and other locations will flood in a multitude of precious memories that they can then share with you.

07. Surprise him or her at work



Show up where your partner works with a huge bouquet of flowers or over sized box filled with chocolates. Present it to her or him with everyone watching, and proclaim your love for him or her. Of course, this could backfire if he or she is easily embarrassed by public attention. 

08. Deck your home up



Give your home a makeover as a surprise. Clean up stuff, make romantic additions like soft silk fabrics, scented candles, romantic music, rose petals everywhere. You can invite him or her to lie down and have a sensual massage

09. Photo shoot



Find a good photographer, and go on a romantic photo shot as a couple. Some sensuality in the pictures wouldn't be out of place here. It is also possible to opt for a photographer to follow you around discretely at a suitable park or some such location and click candid photos of both of you as a couple. 

10. Love Coupons



Love coupons are a flirty and really fun way of saying things. Print a big batch or two, you can make them yourself or professionally. You can print whatever romantic gesture you want.

Float, not Fight Swami Sukhabodhananda

Float, not Fight

Swami Sukhabodhananda

Enjoy this moment and do not waste time brooding over the bad yesterday. Tomorrow may be even worse. One should learn to enjoy little things, for they exist in abundance. Along with a few students of mine, I had gone for a holiday in Hawaii after a hectic tour of North America. I was enjoying the beautiful beach in Hawaii. My brother’s friend taught me how to float in the ocean. It was a great experience. In spite of being in the midst of huge waves, I relaxed and floated along with them. Prior to learning to float, I used to be hit strongly by the waves. The moment I learnt to float, I was able to easily dance along with the waves. Dead bodies do not drown but only people who are alive drown. That is because they fight with the ocean. In life, we should learn to float and not fight. This was a great learning experience. In martial arts like judo, we observe how humble and relaxed the fighters are. Learn to relax. Even if you have to fight, be alert and relaxed. For example, if you encounter a snake and are tense, you may fall on the snake and harm yourself. Alternatively, if you are alert and relaxed, you may not have to kill the snake; it may just pass away. Fight when required; your fight will then be from a flow of relaxation. Whilst learning to float in the ocean, I asked myself — when a powerful wave approaches shouldn’t I be running away from it? However, after having learnt to float, even when a powerful wave came, I was able to float very easily along with the wave. Similarly, when your boss is shouting at you, just keep your body relaxed and be alert to what he is saying. When you are alert, your mind is calm. Your body is a good anchor to play with. Just relax any tense portion in your body. The intention to relax, will make the body relax. Remember that a tensed body creates a tensed mind and a tense mind impacts the body again. Make relaxation a part of life even when you eat, take a bath, walk. Let all your movements have a quality of relaxation. www.prasannatrust.org

Thought pollution Yogi Ashwini

Thought pollution

Yogi Ashwini

Environmentalists across the world have been expressing concern over global warming, soil erosion, oil spills, deforestation, holes in the ozone, depleting ground water reserves, endangered species and like. While there have been campaigns to check pollution of air, water and earth, environmentalists have so far completely ignored the pollution of space. Space or ether is contaminated by thoughts. Just like air, water, earth and fire need space to come into contact and form physical objects, in the same way, the thoughts are the breeding ground for other contaminants to foster and cause pollution. In fact, any phenomenon manifests first in thought and later in deed. The atom bomb was first a thought that later translated into destruction of mankind. In this sense, if we check pollution at the level of thoughts, the need for conservation will never arise. Our physical body too is the five elements. Thus, the root cause of all bodily ills, too, is just a thought. Every time a thought is born, our eyeballs move. Eye muscles are the most volatile of all muscles in the human body. While the entire body is in a state of rest while sleeping, eye muscles work constantly, that is we are constantly thinking. How then does one master the thought? The Vedic masters had conquered the pollution of thoughts through what Patanjali calls chitt vritti nirodh. Quite simply put, through Yog and Sanatan Kriya. A simple yogic practice called tratak involves focused gazing and is an effective technique to purify and eventually still your thoughts. For this, sit in vajrasan. Take a lamp lit using desi cow’s ghee and place it at a distance of 2 feet, exactly at your eye level. Stare at the flame without batting the eyelids for 3-4 minutes. Thereafter, fill your mouth with water and splash cold water in your eyes a couple of times. After sometime the water in the mouth will become warm. Throw away this water. Mastering thoughts enable you to control thoughts and not let them control you. This facilitates the removal of internal and external pollution. Yogi Ashwini is an authority on the vedic sciences and the author of Sanatan Kriya- The Ageless Dimension. He can be reached at dhyan@dhyanfoundation.com

ongri man loses 107kg in 18 months

Dongri man loses 107kg in 18 months

Nazir Rehman gets new lease of life after obesity surgery, strict diet

In August 2010, a Dongri resident was pulled out through his tenement window with a crane because he could not squeeze his 190kg frame through the building’s staircase to visit a hospital. But these days, Nazir Abdul Ahmed Rehman, 53, is feeling quite light. Rehman, who recently underwent an obesity surgery, now weighs just 83kg, far cry from his older self. Before the surgery, Rehman had not left his 100sq ft tenement for five years. On August 28, 2010, DNA was the first to report on Rehman’s condition —— he had lost his job and was completely bedridden. His movement was restricted, and he was dependent on his family members for everything. Doctors had suggested an obesity surgery but had warned him about its high cost. Rehman could not afford the treatment, but after the DNA report, he got financial aid from a political party. It offered to bear the entire cost of the surgery, which took place at Breach Candy hospital. When Rehman stepped on the weighing scale last month, he couldn’t believe his eyes. “I can’t believe I have lost 107kg in a year-and-a-half,” he said. “Earlier, I hated my life.” But the weight loss seems to have given him a ray of hope and more confidence, as he said that he was planning to stick to the strict diet prescribed by the doctors. Rehman underwent sleeve gastrectomy, a restrictive form of weight-loss surgery in which approximately 85% of the stomach is removed, leaving behind a cylindrical or sleeve-shaped stomach. This removal results in the virtual elimination of ghrelin hormones, which stimulate hunger. It gives the feeling of instant fullness after a light meal. Dr Sanjay Borude, obesity surgeon from Breach Candy Hospital who operated on Rehman, said, “This is the advantage of this surgery; if the patient follows the prescribed diet, weight loss is substantial. This was a different kind of patient for me because we had to carry him down from the third floor of the building. Taking the fire brigade’s help for this was also a first for us.”

The best-known stanza in The Bhagavad Gita is the one where Krishna speaks of work - “To work is the sacred right of all, but none can claims its fruits as reward.” (2:47) - A radical concept, which has several implications…

Work as reward

Chandrika

The best-known stanza in The Bhagavad Gita is the one where Krishna speaks of work - “To work is the sacred right of all, but none can claims its fruits as reward.” (2:47) - A radical concept, which has several implications… Work is play. Is it? For work is serious and solemn. Play, however, is exhilarating and enlivening. Yet, in her book, “The Continuum Concept”, Jean Liedloff describes a tribe in South America, who had the same word for work and play. They insisted, “If you don’t enjoy work, why do it?” Hinduism has a similar notion. All creation is the Lord’s lila (play). “That’s frivolous,” said the disciple. The master answered, “Work becomes spiritual only when it’s transformed into play.” Work cannot be competitive. The best work is always achieved through co-operation. A farmer, who won the prize at the State Fair, shared his best seeds with his neighbours. “It’s actually selfish,” he said, “The wind picks pollen and carries it. If my neighbour grows inferior corn, cross-pollination will bring down the quality of my crop too.” Work cannot aim for success. It is its own end. A child, during rehearsals for a competition, sang most soulfully. The audience appreciated his performance. The teacher was unmoved. “Only if he wins the competition, will I applaud.” Sad that a prize should establishes the worth of work! Work cannot be compensated for. The value of work cannot be calculated in monetary terms. Work, well done, is always priceless. A filmmaker asked a woodcutter to go through the motions of cutting wood. “Use the reverse side of the axe. Pretend to chop, while I film you,” he requested. A little later the man said, “I quit.” “Why? Shall I increase your pay?” “No! It isn’t the money. When I chop wood, the chips must fly.” Finally, work is its own reward. When the saint Joneyed went to the barber’s dressed in rags, the barber shaved him first and gave him alms as well. So impressed was Joneyed that, in the evening, he returned to offer him, his earnings. Enraged, the barber yelled, “What kind of man would reward an act of love?” As Kahlil Gibran had said, “Work is love made visible.”

Budding artistes showcase their art at Thane Kala Bhavan

Budding artistes showcase their art at Thane Kala Bhavan





The 52nd Maharashtra State Art Exhibition for the year 2011-12, taking place at Thane Kala Bhavan, is displaying the works of budding artists across Maharashtra. The exhibition that kicked off from January 17 and ends on January 22 is one of the biggest platforms for the students in the state, to come and display their art.
There are around four art institutes in state, 31 government granted and 172 private art colleges who participate in this competition. The art works displayed at this exhibition are from different categories like architecture, abstract art, structures, modern art, and portrait among others. Four prizes are been given in each category including consolation prizes and the best ones.
“This is a platform for the students to display their art. Usually students from the colleges who wish to display their art in galleries are unable to do so due to the lack of exposure. Hence, this exhibition has proven to be one of the biggest platforms that students can get to display their works,” said Shardul Kadam, a professor at J J School of Arts.

Students, varying from first year in Arts to Masters in Fine Arts, are displaying their works in the exhibition.
Out of the 4738 entries for this painting exhibition, 904 were selected to be displayed in the exhibition. Of these artworks, 30 were awarded as best ones and 32 as consolation prizes in around six categories.
“Also students from around the state come together for this exhibition and learn intricacies in the art by observing the selected paintings. Observing and understanding paintings are a best way for the budding artists to know more about the art,” added Kadam.

CHILDREN’S FASHION WEEK — FINAL DAY

Sushmita Sen walked the ramp for Nishka Lulla on the final day of the kids fashion week. Also seen strutting on the ramp were her daughters Renee and Alisah. Pooja and Adam Bedi cheered for Pooja’s children who were also walking the ramp for another designer. Maria Goretti, Shruti Seth, Karishma Tanna and Sohail Khan were showstoppers separately while Genelia D’Souza, Sonu Nigam with wife Madhurima and son Nevaan, Namrata Baruwa Shroff and Padmini Kolhapure came in as guests.

बच्चों के खिलौने - कबाड़ से जुगाड़

Taylor Kitsch’s diet plan

Taylor Kitsch’s diet plan



Actor Taylor Kitsch, who plays the lead in the forthcoming film John Carter, shares his diet and work out plan and reveals his secret to the perfectly carved body.
 
ALWAYS START WITH PROTEIN
“I begin my meals with a lean protein and then work around that,” says Kitsch. What’s for breakfast? Mixing egg whites into his morning oatmeal to boost the protein content.
 
FRONT LOAD YOUR CARBS
“Throughout the day, I like to reduce the number of carbohydrates I eat, since I don’t need as much energy at night as in the morning.” So eat most of your carbs at breakfast and cut back on the amount at every meal thereafter. For Kitsch, dinner typically consists of meat and vegetables, which have very few carbs.
 
AVOID FAST-DIGESTING FOODS
“I stay away from sugar and flour,” says Kitsch. That’s because products that contain high amounts of these ingredients — such as most breads, pasta, and baked goods — are quickly digested, causing blood sugar to rise dramatically. This stimulates the release of the hormone insulin, which signals your body to stop burning—and start storing—fat.
 
STRIKE A BALANCE
“There are times when you simply can’t get to the gym as much as you’d like,” he says. “But as long as you’re eating right 85 to 90 percent of the time, you’ll be fine.

Emma Stone reveals her £2 beauty secret

Emma Stone reveals her £2 beauty secret



When most of the Hollywood stars turn to premium products to perfect their skin, 23-year-old actor Emma Stone has an altogether budget approach. The actress has revealed grape seed oil as the key to her blemish-free appearance.
Costing around £2 a bottle the vegetable oil, which is available in most supermarkets, is a must-have item in the star’s bathroom cabinet. Splashing it on several times a day Stone says that it acts as the perfect moisturiser, leaving it soft and silky. Almost odourless and light in texture, this natural product is said to be easily absorbed by the skin and is commonly used as massage oil.
The product is often made from wine grapes, since the seeds are discarded when alcohol is made. She told a website, “I just use natural grape seed oil from the grocery store on my face as moisturiser. After the shower, I pat it on, and then I’ll use it throughout the day and at night. I pretty much smell like grape all the time.”

SPIRITUALITY - Learn from your past

Learn from your past

Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj

There Is A saying that goes - “The past is already gone. The future is not yet born. Therefore, only the present is in our hand”.
The present is our wealth. If we become aware of it, there is a choice for us to enrich it, enhance it, invest it and increase it manifold. Living in the present ensures exploring the possibility of advantages, looking at the brighter side of situations and future advantages. In practical life, some situations are to be left alone so that time can heal such situations. One must focus on what is happening at the moment. Appreciate what is right about the situation and build on it. Pay attention to what is important right now. Somewhere it becomes necessary to forgive and forget. Compassion is a powerful tool to release us from the clutches of botherations of the past and some situations in the present too.
Whenever we become unhappy in the present or are unsuccessful, it is time to learn from the past. When we understand that something is interfering with our enjoying the present, it is time to look at the past and learn from it. When we learn from past, we can improve the present better than the past. Past is past. By conducting a postmortem of the past, we cannot make better the past. But the lessons we learn out of the past events can be applied in the present by doing things differently to enjoy the present. By fully living in the present, we are able to appreciate the world around and we become more effective and make progress.

Spirituality - The stop exercise

The stop exercise

We live in two worlds simultaneously. One is the physical world that we experience through our senses and the other is the psychological world of thoughts and emotions. Say, two people are seated together; in physical space, they are very close. One may be a doctor thinking of his forthcoming surgery while the other a politician whose thoughts are on how to trap his opponent; both of them are psychologically poles apart despite seated together.
When someone comes to our homes, we show them how well we have kept our living room, maybe even the new tiles in the bathroom. We pride ourselves on the beauty and cleanliness of our physical space but what kind of psychological country do we live in? Have we ever observed the thoughts and emotions that flow through our brains at tremendous speed, all day and night? If we could, we would see that they are loaded with aggressiveness, irritation, dislike, complaints, and sex. The dismal truth is that even though physically we may live in a lovely home, psychologically we live in a very dirty and untidy space. Is there a way to clean this space up?
One of the first things our teacher taught us was to Pause. It involved keeping an hourly alarm and every time it rang to note down what we were thinking about in a diary. After about three months if we were to classify our thoughts, we would be in for a very rude shock for we would see that most of the time they are loaded with negativity.
When we were kids we played ‘Statue’, where we had to remain completely immobile, not even to make our position comfortable. Just as our bodies and eyes remained motionless in Statue, is it possible to bring about a state of motionlessness within the mind? If at the hourly ring of the alarm, we just try stopping our thoughts for a few seconds, then we have taken a small step on a great journey. As we keep practicing, we will start experiencing moments of complete silence which slowly grow. Just as a cyclone is calmest at its core, the whirlwind of life will go on but deep within we will feel a joyous calm and peace.

It's About To Change Everything!

It's About To Change Everything! The idiot box is getting idiot-proofed ­ not only will it look super slick, it will also do unimaginable things MICROSOFT KINECT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF BODY GESTURE CONTROL

TECHNOLOGY CATEGORY revolutions take place every few years. The PC went from a huge klunky dump on our table to a sleek and portable laptop machine we could carry with us and with that our lives changed forever. Phones morphed from being wired fixed-line albatrosses chained to our homes and offices to revolutionising every aspect of our daily lives! These were game changers ­ that literally transformed the world as we know it. Your humble television is about to go through a complete change too ­ and that change is going to change everything else around it.

THE ZAPPER GETS ZAPPED The television has gone though many changes, yet the remote control has remained the same for the last 50 years. A bewildering array of buttons on a standard plasticky wand-like form factor. The reason is pretty obvious ­ there has been no compelling financial reason to change it. Nobody buys a TV based on its remote! At the shop you check out specs, screen, features and looks ­ never the remote.
Plus there hasn't been a reason to innovate around the remote as TV functionality has remained very static. From here ­ it all changes dramatically. Voice, Gesture and Touch will become huge. Siri on the iPhone has excited people a lot. Microsoft Kinect is a great example of body gesture control. And touchscreens have now become second nature. You'll hold a remote to your mouth ­ speak into it and change a channel. You'll wave your hands and control the volume and you'll touch a screen that dynamically changes control buttons according to what you're watching.

SECOND SCREEN Here's another revolution in the making. A lot of people watch television with their smartphone or Tablet cradled in their lap. They use social networks to chat about what they're watching, they fire up Google to get details of something they saw, they order food online after seeing a pizza commercial.
Thus you're watching TV but consuming it with two screens ­ but with your own efforts. That's about to change to automated mode. Imagine an app that `hears' what you're watching ­ analyses it and keeps throwing up relevant information on multiple windows. It shows you what Facebook and Twitter is saying about it, it opens up a fan page of the anchor, the restaurant that he is talking about, a travel agency booking page for the city he's in, alternate TV shows that are similar, plus reams of information and advertising that is cleanly focussed on what you're watching. The second screen is about to explode right beside your TV in 2012.

END OF PRIME TIME This has been spoken about many times but it's only now that it's really happening. Real high speed broadband, video on demand right from your set top box, show downloads straight from the Net, mobile phones that can stream HD video instantly, Tablets that give you a near TV experience and content that is now available when you want it, where you want it. Why would you waste time hurrying back home to catch your favourite show at a specific time on a specific day?
That is so 2011! Lots of innovation is happening in this space too with shorter versions of shows called `appisodes', fast packaging so that you can consume more in those five-minute breaks, different shoot formats and larger text and labelling to make sure you're not squinting at your small little screen. Prime time broadcast ­ your end is near!

THROW OUT YOUR BRAND NEW 1080P HD TV Well, don't throw it out just yet ­but it is on its way out. Yes, just when you saved up enough and bought your dream large screen TV with `full' HD ­ here I am telling you exactly how redundant it is. And before you shoot the messenger ­ do remember I don't invent the stuff ­ I just report it. Yes, the next big thing in TV technology is the 4K standard that has a mind-boggling resolution of 4096 x 2048. And it has a pretty mind bending name too ­ Ultra Definition TV. Just how much of a difference does this make? To put things in perspective ­ a normal DVD has just four per cent of the resolution this has, or if you really like your stats ­ 4K TVs will give you around 9,830,400 pixels ­ which makes the picture unreal in clarity and smoothness. 4K TVs and home theatre projectors are already appearing and the tipping point will be when there is source content that is also 4K. Like I said, don't throw your current state-of-the-art TV out ­ but do start looking for burial space.

Other innovations are around the corner. OLED TVs have been the dream and make the LCD/Plasma/LED trio literally pale in comparison. Till today OLED production has been tough and even the small ones cost big. But 55 inch OLED TVs are now at prototype stage and 2012 should see commercial release. Naked eye no-glasses-needed 3D is almost perfected and this may well be the final momentum that 3D content needs. Also look out for Google and Apple to make a bid for your TV wall space with the perfect integration of the Net and TV. Don't look now ­ your TV is changing ­ and it's going to change everything else around it.

Stop the sabotage

A fter the year-end binge, chances are you'd like to knock off the excess baggage you've collected. But when do you plan to begin? Watch out for these thinking processes that do nothing but sabotage your own self.

WHEN TO START SABOTAGING BELIEF SYSTEM:

The toughest part of any weight loss plan is the inertia in initiating it. We often tell ourselves that: I will begin after a friend's birthday.
I will begin after my child's winter vacation. I will begin after my cook returns from his holiday.
I will begin from Monday (next Monday, that is.).
The sabotaging belief system underlying this thought is that a weight loss plan should be followed perfectly and therefore, “I will only begin when the environment is more conducive to supporting my weight loss regime.“

MAKE THE CHANGE Being a perfectionist can be self-damaging. A better belief system is this: “I will give it my best and do things with sincerity.“ Unhealthy food is an intrinsic part of our environment and the only way you can follow a health plan is by realising that minor indiscretions will happen and make those part of the plan.

NO TIME TO EXERCISE SABOTAGING BELIEF SYSTEM:
“I need a minimum of a one-hour intense workout to get results, or else there is no point doing it.

“MAKE THE CHANGE For years we have heard that we should work out for an hour daily. How we perceive it is, if we don't work out properly for an hour, there is no point doing anything at all. But the reality is that every little action counts. Every small positive thing we do in our life is like lifting weights ­ begin small and keep increasing the load. Initially we need to do this consciously but later, it becomes effortless and very enjoyable.

LOSE FIVE KILOS IN ONE MONTH

SABOTAGING BELIEF SYSTEMS:

You believe:
1. That a weight loss regime is unpleasant.
2. You can change the state of your health fast.

MAKE THE CHANGE
There is no instant gratification with health. It must be made a habit. Plus, working out actually makes people feel good.

Fit for friendship

Don't just sit there while your pals pack on the pounds. Help them (and you'll help yourself) 

IF YOU are fit and healthy, that's great news. But if you have a friend whose flab looks positively unhealthy, then perhaps you shouldn't just let things be. A little encouragement from you could really make the difference. The best way to lose weight is to combine diet modification, exercise and behaviour therapy. It's all do-able, but some people could do with support. And helping your pal will have a positive effect on you too ­ it'll keep you firmly on track as well.
EDUCATE THEM Make your pal understand that: 1: Our bodies don't just define the way we look. They also clearly dictate the state of our health. And 2: Excess weight can have far-reaching medical implications that could, at some time, truly hurt. The fact is that nobody can lose weight for anyone else. So the only thing you can do is be the motivator.
REASON IT OUT Two heads are better than one when it comes to pinpointing the reason for a gain in weight.
Low physical activity, social eating, bad food habits, a hyper-response to the taste, appearance and smell of food rather than actual hunger are the usual triggers. Help your friend figure out her or his problem areas, then work together to chalk out a strategy that will effectively deal with them.
BE THE REMINDER Constant reminders about sticking to the regime from a friend (rather than family members or a significant other) do not hurt. Make sure you are tactful though. For example when you see your pal eying an ice-cream sundae at a restaurant, offer to fetch it for him or her and return instead with a fruit salad with a small scoop of ice-cream. (But make sure that you're having the same.) BE THERE FOR THEM A morning run or swim together, a partner workout at the gym, a game of tennis ­ these will help your pal get through the weight loss regime. And it'll all help you as well.
Remember: what works for your pal works for you too. It's what's called a win-win situation.

Windows to a fancy soul If eyes are the windows to the soul, eyeglasses speak a lot about the soul. Does it crave Prada? Or, Bvlgari?

Windows to a fancy soul

If eyes are the windows to the soul, eyeglasses speak a lot about the soul. Does it crave
Prada? Or, Bvlgari?

In the Pray section of Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestselling chick lit-meets-spiritual travelogue, Eat Pray Love, there is a line about Tulsi: “the cutest little bookworm of an Indian girl you ever saw, even cuter since one lens of her “specs” (as she calls her eyeglasses) broke last week in a cartoonish spiderweb design, which hasn’t stopped her from wearing them.”
“Specs”, if we stick with Tulsi-speak, and believe opticians across the city, have come of age. Best place to verify that is Khan Market, New Delhi’s jewel-in-the-crown piece of real estate. And a great place to spot a trend.
Naveen Kalra, the owner of the biggest big retail eye wear chain in Khan, Dayal Opticians, when asked what’s new in the world of eyewear says, removing his frames, “these”. The focus is on his retro-looking frames made with “the latest German technology.” My two questions: Would they break if you were to play basketball in them? Indignation in his reply: no, of course not, “they’re German”. Second question, how much do they cost. His reply, delivered straight: “Only 400 Euros.”
PP Singh, is the (very affable) former chairman of the Delhi Opticians Association, and owner of Paul Opticians (in Nehru Place, known more as a computer and electronics market than anything eye wear related). Asking him for “industry figures” is a lost cause. He’s amused: “Ji association toh picchle dus saalon se dead padha hai” — the association has been lying dead for ten years. He’s not enamoured by the idea that there might be trends in eye wear. What’s left are the following nuggets: All cheap good frames are imported from China. The biggest name to reckon with in premium eyewear is Luxottica.
At Sunglass Hut, the best-selling brand is Raybans, with Aviators and Wayfarers taking the lead. Oakleys has a sporty-man appeal: You’ve seen Yuvraj Singh sport the face-clinging frames on the cricket field. The frame is ‘nylon infused plastic’ — which means it has a gymnast-like tendency to contort any way you want. (“Don’t write plastic”, says Neeraj, the store manager of the Sunglass Hut outlet at a mall. “It sounds cheap. Write ‘acetate’”). And those UV-lenses he wears with the colour attributes of petrol? They’re called “iridium-coated lenses”.
Luxury shades are a different kettle of fish. Prada (non-sport) starts at Rs 12,000. “Prada,” I’m told, “is for working class women.” I’m stumped. Working class? He means corporate/ working women. Average Bvlgari buyer: 35-year-olds. The designs favoured: Butterfly (big ones that cover most of your face) and cateyes (pointed up at the edges).

Sisterhood of the coverall dress It’s more than a nightgown and reveals less than a sari. Women in maxi-gowns can be seen at the vegetable vendors’, bus stops and in orchards — in villages and cities alike. finding out why this unflattering outfit has become so popular

Sisterhood of the coverall dress

It’s more than a nightgown and reveals less than a sari. Women in maxi-gowns can be seen at the vegetable vendors’, bus stops and in orchards — in villages and cities alike. finding out why this unflattering outfit has become so popular



Rehana Sayyed, 31, yanks three year-old Rafiul’s hand as he picks up his toy truck to play. The Gurgaon housewife is hassled — the school-bus driver has already called. Satchel and water bottle on shoulder, she absent-mindedly flings a dupatta on herself, locks the door, grabs him, and runs for the lift.
In Karnataka’s Malenaad region, it’s the betel-nut season. Like most women in her neighbourhood, Ratna Gowda, 32, has finished her household chores and packed her lunch. She hitches her gown into her petticoat and rushes to work in the betel-nut orchard where she will toil for the day, sorting out small, medium and large nuts.
It’s 7am and the Veer Savarkar Udyan in Borivali West is already milling with morning walkers. Two reluctant rounds later, neighbours Jaya Barot, 62, and Arati Shah, 54, have other things on their mind. Barot wants to discuss her bahu’s shopping sprees while her friend wants updates on their favourite tele-soap Bade Achchey Lagte Hain which she missed while on a week-long pilgrimage. They gather their gowns and settle on bench for a chat.

In Vesave fishing village off Andheri’s Versova, crows and herons flock around the fishing boats being unloaded. Sandhya Bhoir, 41, pulls out a neatly-rolled tobacco-laden paan from the front pocket of her gown, tucks it in her mouth, and squats on the beach where her husband and brother-in-law have unloaded their catch to sort the fish.
The one thing that unites these vignettes is the humble gown or maxi-dress, to which the staple Bharatiya-naari wardrobe of saris and salwar-kameezes is losing its battle as home-wear.
Convenience is key
“Atloo badhu comfortable chhe (it is so comfortable),” says Borivali resident Barot, who, like her friend, wears her gown over a petticoat, with a full-sleeved sweater, one-toed socks and chappals. “The kids have asked me to switch to those bulky sports shoes but I’ve refused,” she grins and goes on to explain how she only drapes saris if she is out visiting someone or going to a function. “It becomes too unwieldy for my age — with my walking stick, managing the pallu and pleats mean I often need help. I switched to gowns four years ago after I was ill for a month.”
Barot’s friend and neighbour Shah took a while to adjust to what she endearingly calls ‘the mexi’. “I grew up in Rajkot at a time when even the salwar kameez was frowned upon. Now there too, women come to the neighbourhood grocers’ like this. After my initial shyness, now I often wonder why I can’t go everywhere wearing one.”
Nearly 1,400km away in Gurgaon, housewife Rehana Sayyed couldn’t agree more with Barot and Shah. “With two kids and no domestic help, it is a pain to change every time I step out. I usually just throw a dupatta or shawl over my head just in case I meet any elders, and go till the local shop nearby,” she says. “Once, the school bus broke down 2km outside the colony. Instead of letting our children wait in the bus, some of us decided to fetch them in an auto. That’s the farthest I have gone in my gown.”
Around summer in 2011, the convenience of the maxi dress helped it evolve from just a nightgown to a chic-yet-casual summer dress. But while those uber-fashionable summer dresses have a short shelf life, the nightgown is timeless.
Designer Nikhat Mariyam Neerushaa, who’s been designing for TV shows for over a decade, explains the universal appeal of this colonial hand-down in its convenience. “European women wore negligees over which they would throw on a home gown if they had to rush out of the bedroom for something. Instead of getting into such an elaborate fuss, Indian women began going in for a single body-length outfit. The Anglo-Indian and Catholic communities helped take it to places like BDD chawls where the outfit caught on. From lacy gowns, to ones with batik and even bandhini work, women today are spoilt for choice when they go to buy a nightgown.” Neerushaa feels that ‘love handles’ and ‘spare tyres’ are driving the change. “Unlike saris where the mid-riff is exposed, or the salwar kameez which emphasises the body shape because it is fitted, the maxi gown falls straight and effectively camouflages what you want it to.”
‘It reinforces stereotypes’
But Laxmi Lingam from the Women’ Studies Centre at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences believes that this covering up only highlights negative stereotypes about women’s bodies. “It reinforces to women that if they don’t have an hour-glass figure they are supposed to hide this under a coverall garment, making them look like floating unshaped masses in hideous designs.” She points out how, unlike other “convenient” outfits like jeans or shorts, this gown has not run into trouble with patriarchal satraps across religions. “The fact that it covers the woman sack-like seems to have met their approval. Yet some women feel constrained to wear a dupatta to cover themselves further,” she points out.
Aside from the fashion and politics of the garment, Kandivali resident Rupenbhai Shah gets it right when he tell us: “Jo bikta hai woh dikhta hai (What sells, shows).” Jokingly called ‘maxi king’ by the readymade garment trade circles in Mumbai, this 49-year-old sources his gowns from Ulhasnagar, Thane, Dharavi and the Behrampada slums in Bandra. “Earlier we used to trade in salwar kameezes too, but the trend keeps changing and there’s a greater chance we will lose money in keeping up. So 10 years back, my family decided to sell only gowns and we have never regretted this decision as they simply do not go out of fashion,” says the portly businessman as he meets us in his claustrophobic-kitschy Kalbadevi office. His phone almost never stops ringing. “We’ve been surprised by the demand from smaller towns like Nagpur, Pune, Jalgaon, Solapur and Kolhapur, and recently set up an office in Pune.” When asked about his rumoured turnover in crores, he simply points to the shrine in his office, folds his hands and cuts us off. “We do not talk about these things.”
Maybe he’s the only one who actually gets the meaning of why the garment is called the ‘maxi’.

The online effect: 4-fold rise in sonography registrations

The online effect: 4-fold rise in sonography registrations

The municipal corporation’s family welfare department has seen a four-fold rise in sonography registrations after it was made compulsory for doctors using these machines to give details of patients online. Earlier, doctors would report around 5,000 procedures with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in December, the number rose to 19,628. “We used to get 3,000-5,000 physical forms at our office. But, since the we went online, number of cases reported has increased significantly,” said Dr Asha Advani, special officer for the family welfare department. Since October 31, 2011, the department has been conducting workshops for doctors to educate them about the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act and how to fill Form F online. After the registration of sonography machines went online, doctors have to register themselves on www.savethebabygirl.com and fill Form F online in addition to maintaining a physical copy. “The online registration is compulsory. It has not only reduced manual error that led to seizure of a few sonography machines, we have been able to develop a monthly report based on the online forms by the first of the month and submit it to the state government,” said Dr Advani, Of the 1,000 sonography centres in the city, 534 have registered themselves online. “We have given the other centres three months’ time to register with us,” said Dr Advani.

Mia Uyeda, Video jockey

MY SPIRITUAL HIGH - Mia Uyeda, Video jockey

Mia Uyeda, Video jockey

I was brought up in the Roman Catholic tradition, but nowadays I am
more spiritual than religious. I believe in karma and the power of positive thinking and in radiating positive energies from one’s life into the environment. I also believe in the Law of Cause and Effect, in the sense that what goes around, will eventually come around.
Of course life is not easy all the time and one has rough patches, so it may not always be possible to remain a 100 per cent positive constantly. Yet I practice visualisation to improve my state of mind whatever the situation. If I am having a difficult time with a colleague or friend, I try and talk it out to clear the air. Or if there is someone I don’t know very well who’s in a nasty mood, then I give them their space. I don’t believe in holding grudges in my heart.
I was born in Vancouver and coming to India, where there are so many different faiths, has been a learning experience. Yet people need to believe in something and I respect all religions. It’s an individual choice, based on our different ways of thinking and I’m always keen on hearing about someone else’s faith.
I don’t have a daily spiritual practice as such. Neither do I pray nor do I chant on a regular basis. Yet I believe in the power of the real world we live in.
An incredible and spiritual place I visited was Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It’s so old but still so beautiful. I watched the sun rise over the temples on my last day. That was a magical experience. Everyone was completely silent and mesmerised.
It made me realise how small we are in
this universe and how everything is
connected.

Happy at every age? Is it possible that our idea of happiness may be related to our age and levels of experience? Celebs discuss

Happy at every age?

Is it possible that our idea of happiness may be related to our age and levels of experience? Celebs discuss

A recent survey has indicated that the idea of ‘happiness’ changes with age. And while young people tend to associate happiness with excitement and an adrenaline rush, older people define happiness as a feeling of contentment and peacefulness.

Designer Nisha Jamvwal, who counts herself among the married club, feels that for her happiness depends on her work and achievements. And she doesn’t exclude excitement from her idea of happiness saying that the adrenaline rush comes when she’s travelling: “I love adventure. I’ve just returned from a New Year vacation in Barcelona and spent my time exploring the city. The Robinson Crusoe kind of exploration gives me loads of happiness.”
Fitness expert Deanne Pandey, who’s within the same peer group, however agrees wholeheartedly with the results of the survey. “I have a 16-year-old daughter and a young son for whom happiness is shopping, going out to a nightclub, a new videogame or a new friend. That kind of happiness is so limited. As we grow older and wiser and go through life’s ups and downs, our idea of happiness changes.” Deanne, who’s just returned from a “noisy” New Year’s break in Goa, says that for her being away from the noise and in a quiet space equates with happiness.
“Or if it comes to people, it no longer matters whether a person is rich or not, what is important is that he is a good, clean human being in an inner sense,” says, Deanne adding that she’s grown less attached to the idea of having millionaire friends (of which she may have a few) and more attached to reaching out and helping other people. She says, “You realise as you grow older that happiness comes from within you. After you have been through the travails of life, you realise why billionaires are reaching out and giving large parts of their income to charity. Today I get so much happiness out of seeing other people happy, about putting a smile on the faces of those I encounter — whenever that is possible.”
Says pyschotherapist Seema Hingorrany, who deals with clients across all age groups, “I would say that the idea of happiness is directly co-related with age. From my observations the primary happiness for teenagers and youngsters is materialistic and based on external factors. However with age comes enhanced wisdom and an older person might realise, for example, that happiness is having a good spouse or good children. Some people in the course of life might equate happiness with good health. I have a 65-year-old client with cancer who says that for him happiness would be to be healthy again and spend time with his wife and kids. But you can’t expect teenagers or youngsters, who tend to be healthy, to understand that can you?”
Seema also adds that what one’s idea of happiness is based on, can depend largely on one’s family background and the influences one grew up with. For example, children in families that emphasise spiritual development may tend to seek their happiness in spiritual pursuits, sooner or later. Besides outrage, our ideas of happiness are also developed by our roots, our peer groups and the social circle that we move in, to a great extent.”

Nail it right Flaunt your nails in style, with these handy nail care tips

Nail it right

Flaunt your nails in style, with these handy nail care tips


- File your nails regularly and always keep them short.
- Do not use scissors to trim your nails, no matter how much of a rush you are in.
- Let not your nails be exposed to excessive chemicals, water or dirt. These things could react with the nails causing allergic reactions which could lead to split peeling of nails.
- If you are too fond of gardening, make sure you do not exploit your nails in the process. Always wear rubber gloves when working in the garden.
- Remove the dead skin cells from your hands and get rid of any kinds of discolorations by using a If going for a nail design, do not make use of glue. It can cause intense damage even if applied on polish layers.
- Do not make use of acetone based nail polish removers. Instead opt for the acetate ones.
- Give your nails some time out before you change your nail paint. Constant application of nail enamels can lead to development of yellowish patches on the nail plate.

- File your nails when the polish is already worn. This significantly reduces the wear and tear involved.
- Watch your diet. This is essential for the growth and strength of your nails. Have enough of Vitamin B to ensure that your nails do not go dull or brittle. Besides, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables as the right amount of nutrients, enzymes and minerals have a vital role in getting healthy nails. Have food rich in zinc (it helps add strength to your nails). Carrot juice also helps maintain nail health as it is rich in phosphorus and calcium.
- When going for a bath, or after washing your hands, wipe them well and dry them completely. It is also advisable to apply a light moisturizer on your fingers and nails each time.

Get rid of chicken feathers in 30 hours Kolhapur scientist discovers micro-organism that quickly disintegrates protein component

Get rid of chicken feathers in 30 hours

Kolhapur scientist discovers micro-organism that quickly disintegrates protein component

Good news for poultry farm and abattoir owners. Disposal of huge quantities of chicken feathers will soon no longer be an arduous task, thanks to a new micro-organism that can disintegrate the protein in them in just about 30 hours. Chicken feathers usually take five to seven years to disintegrate because of the keratin component in them. They can’t be burnt because the process releases large quantities of sulphur, compounds of which are harmful to animal and plant life. The micro-organism was discovered by Jyoti Jadhav, head of the biotechnology department of Shivaji University in Kolhapur, and her research student, Ranjit Gurav. “We were collecting micro-organisms from the soil and found six of them capable of disintegrating chicken feathers in various time-frames,” said Jadhav, who had been working with Gurav on this project for the last three-and-a-half years. Of the six, one was found to be potent and was deposited with the International Database Bank in the US. Little did Jadhav and Gurav know that they had chanced upon a new species of micro-organism, which was later named Chryseobacterium species Research Bio Technology. “Chicken feathers have to be placed in a liquid mixed with the micro-organism. This mixture needs aeration. This is a simple method and the technology can be easily transferred to laymen,” said Gurav. “The residue contains natural amino acids, which are much better biofertilisers than chemically-made amino acids. The trials of this liquid remains on plants has shown good results,” said Jadhav. The new micro-organism can also be used, instead of chemicals, in tanneries for removing hair from hide. Jadhav was recently honoured with the Young Woman Scientist Award of the Biotech Research Society India. A fellow of the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences, she has authored more than 50 research articles. She is also well-known for her work on bioremediation of textile dyes and effluents and their toxicity analysis. She has also been conducting research on medicines used to treat Parkinson’s disease and melanin. While speaking to DNA, Jadhav thanked university vice-chancellor NJ Pawar, biochemistry department head SP Govindvar and emeritus professor VA Bapat for assisting her in the project.

Makeup - Clean is the word for the year

DARING MOUTH: Use a striking colour on your lips. This style is best carried off by someone who does not have too big a mouth.

CLEAN LOOK: This requires the correct foundation, not a cakey look but a thin film, along with a little gloss and blush. The effect should be of a no-makeup look, but with some shine coming through. To highlight your eyes, add mascara and eyeliner.

THICKER EYEBROWS: The trend now is for healthy looking eyebrows ­ they should look natural but groomed.

CREAM-BASED PRODUCTS: Use them on your lips, cheeks and eyes ­ but not in a sweaty environment.

MORE EXPERIMENTATION: With more brands in the market, you can experiment with a variety of products. As you walk past the stores, keep trying products till you figure out what works for you. You're not supposed to show the makeup you wear, but it should make you attractive and confident. Also, if you use the right products in the right way, it will not harm your face.

Hair Natural is the way to look

WOMEN A NOT TOO STRUCTURED AND STYLED LOOK: Don't have every wave in place. Rather, go in for unstructured waves and aim for a clean, free, fluid look.

LOOSE CURLS: Both natural curls and a beehive backcomb are in, but keep the look unstructured.

CENTRE PARTINGS: They're back in a big way.

HAIRCUTS: The layered look is passé.
Opt for a one-length free-flowing look, a la Kareena Kapoor.

SHORT HAIR: No one look will dominate.

MEN THE STRAIGHT, LONG HAIR LOOK AND MESSY LOOK ARE DEAD: Go for the classic look, where the base is a little shorter, and the top fuller. Style your hair with a side parting and slick it down with a serum or gel. Or try the undercut and topheavy style with a quiff (a piece of hair brushed upward and backward from the forehead), like Yuvraj and Ranbir have.

LONGER HAIR: Keep it mid-length, touching the neck, textured and layered.

CURLY HAIR: Use curl lock-in products, an aim for a look a la Hrithik Roshan Hrithik Roshan (right).