Designers are dishing out see-through suitcases and transparent totes. Is it for you?

It’s raining collabs in the fashion world. For the uninitiated, collabs is the kosher term for collaborations. And the man leading the pack is fashion universe’s current darling, Virgil Abloh. The first person of African descent to be heading a major French fashion house (Louis Vuitton menswear), Abloh’s own brand Off-White has become the last word on street style. For LV’s menswear range he came out with a series of transparent carryalls. Recently, designer Brandon Maxwell too showcased transparent purses.

Transparent bags have been in the news, fashion wise and otherwise. In March 2018, students in Florida district were asked to carry clear backpacks, as a move to prevent the growing gun violence in schools there. In fact, this is not even the first time that clear bags were sought as a solution to violence. Following the Columbine shooting in 1999, schools adopted similar clear backpack policies; by the early 2000s, some schools used clear backpacks to check for banned electronics, drugs/alcohol. Following terrorist violence at stadiums, many US stadiums also began adopting clear bag policies, and it’s also required at large-scale events.


In fashion, of course, transparent bags are considered cool. Abloh’s latest collab with luxury luggage company Rimowa carries this idea forward with the see-through suitcase called “personal belongings”. Speaking to The Business of Fashion, Abloh explained: “It’s like 3.0 of personalisation. It’s not just putting your initials on it... It’s like putting your items on display.” And people are lapping it up. But the question is: will you carry the transparent luggage? If yes, you better fold well.

Ganjis are one of the most essential yet underrated pieces in a closet.

Master the ganji game!

Ganjis are one of the most essential yet underrated pieces in a closet. We tell you how to make the most of it


Inner wear is finally getting its due. And with athleisure getting stronger, the ganji aka fashion avatar of the humble banian is becoming a mainstream staple for men and women. The charm of the ganji lies in its casualness. Designer Nikhil Thampi calls it the ultimate closet essential. “One of the best things about ganjis is that they are available in so many different colours and styles that you can build a whole collection – and mix and match them with tons of other items in your wardrobe,” he adds.

For designer Aniket Satam, a ganji has moved beyond being just a holiday essential. From gyms and beaches to casual Sunday brunches and dressy parties, ganjis are becoming an integral part of our clothing culture, especially considering our tropical weather.


VESTED INTERESTS

The classic ganji now comes in different lengths and fits. “Today, they can be body-hugging or loose and laid-back. This gives you a variety of options. There is also the choice to either wear the ganji in its basic form or opt for a more layered and fusion look that gives it more depth and versatility,” says designer Hemant Sagar. The best bit about ganjis is that it’s a basic piece of clothing and hence can be deployed effectively to create multiple standout looks. Designer Pria Kataaria Puri suggests experimenting with it. For a comfortable day outfit, she suggests comfy jeans with it and cute sneakers. For cooler days,

throw on a warm jacket or jumper. Layer them underneath your oversized or low-neck tops for a funky yet stylish look, suggests Puri.

Designer Karn Malhotra feels the ganji is a style chameleon as it can be dressed up or down. In fact, you can even wear it as a saree blouse or with a flared lehenga skirt for a DeBo (desi bohemian) look. Designer Arpita Mehta says that her favourite ganji look is to tuck it in a pair of high-waisted pants and team it with layers of slim gold chains in the neck. “It’s simple and understated yet looks so chic. For dressier occasions or party nights, a stylish racer back can be paired with a short skirt and stilettoes,” she adds. So get your ganji today.

5 MYTHS BUSTED

Carbs are bad. Eliminate carbs from your diet to lose weight

TRUTH: Ideally, a balanced diet, which is adequate in complex carbohydrates, first-class proteins and essential fatty acids will help in weightloss and maintenance for long term.


As long as you exercise, it’s okay to eat as much as you want

TRUTH: Calorie intake and output should go hand in hand. When calorie intake (eating) is much higher than the output (exercise), weightloss can be affected.

Drink a lot of water and you’ll lose weight

TRUTH: Water helps flush out the build-up of toxins from the body. However, it does not help in losing weight directly, it helps to eliminate toxins and hence quickens weightloss.

Eating only low fat foods is the best way to lose weight

TRUTH: On the contrary, fats in moderation are essential in weightloss. It’s always advisable to include essential fatty acids like PUFA (omega 3 and 6 fatty acids), MUFA and decrease the intake of saturated and trans-fats in one’s diet.

Juice cleansers are great for weightloss

TRUTH: Fresh fruit and vegetable juices are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.

They help cleanse the liver and increase basal metabolic rate. Though they help aid in weightloss, one cannot rely totally on a juice cleanse diet to lose weight, as it lacks proteins and essential fatty acids.

Ethnic foods dished out by immigrants who’ve made the city their home have given Dubai a culinary edge

A local once told me, “Dubai is exactly what you want it to be.” I understood the true meaning of this sentence on a short holiday in the Arab country that has something to offer every kind of traveller. Be it a Hummer ride across the sand dunes, an option to skydive from the Burj Khalifa, or even go deepsea diving in the Arabian Gulf. But what beats it all is the variety of food on offer in this vibrant country.

FOOD FOR THE SOUL


Most of the food consumed here has travelled a lot of food miles. Fresh food comes from Pakistan, Iran, Lebanon, Africa, Morocco, North and South America, New Zealand and the UK. One must try the traditional Emirati cuisine, also known as the modern cuisine of the UAE. Be it the Balaleet (saffron pancakes with vermicelli for breakfast), machboos (rice, lentil and meat preparation spiced with saffron, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon), meat-stuffed sambosas (that inspired our good ol’ samosas) or the luqaimat (deep-fried dough balls topped with sesame seeds and drizzled with a honey-date syrup), the rich flavours are a treat. Traditionally, camel meat was not eaten by Emiratis, but modern chefs in the city are increasingly trying their hand at cooking everything from camel sliders to camel biryani, burgers and stews.

HAUTE PICKS

Next on the must-try list is a meal of Levantine cuisine. Levantine cuisine, known in Arabic as the Bilad ash-Sham or Land of the North, is the true traditional cuisine found in the Levant region, which today spans the modern states of Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, southern Turkey and Cyprus. Think hummus, baba ganoush, dolma, baklava, falafel, ka’ak, kebabs, manakesh, muhammara dips. If you think you will get tired eating the traditional cuisines of the Middle East, Dubai boasts of some of the best international cuisine restaurants too. But on a balmy evening, a visit to a food truck is a must. From German doner kebabs, Indian curries, to BBQ steaks, the city has one of the largest food truck cultures. Trucks are modified into vibrant service models, each playing a character of the food they serve. Be it at Palm Jumeirah, the beachside or the Downtown area, your cravings will find a nearby food truck. To keep the good food habit going, make it a point to stop by the spice souk in the old part of town to take home some spices, salts and herbs.

GOURMET AFFAIR

There’s nothing like getting to know a place through its fresh food markets. Buy seasonal organic vegetables, dried fruits, delicious regional cheese, freshly baked bread, exotic raw honey and more at the city’s many colourful bazaars and gourmet grocers held across the city from Jumeirah Beach Road to Zabeel Park. For six months of the year, in the shadows of the world’s tallest building – Burj Khalifa, a group of the country’s organic farmers sell their best locally-grown produce. Once the taste buds and hunger pangs have been satisfied, the city offers a maze of malls, stretched across storeys and floors. Be it luxury shopping or flash sales to get the best buys on a shoestring budget, you have something for all kinds of shoppers. Don’t forget to sample some scents.

The Weightloss Challenge

Losing weight is easier than you think, but a short-lived burst of enthusiasm is not the ideal way to go about it. If you think you can lose weight, you will lose weight. But the thought has to be followed by action. The actual challenge is taking that first step and then it’s all about sustainability. It should be a journey rather than a destination. So, it’s best to make this journey as enjoyable and comfortable as you can.

While most fad-diets seem convenient to follow and may give you results, they’re simply not sustainable. Did you know that you can lose and maintain your weight just by eating wholesome, home-cooked meals? Just eat what you usually eat, but stay away from fried foods, complex carbs and hidden sugar found in breads and packaged food.


WHAT YOU’RE DOING WRONG

Weight gain can be a combination of many factors. Chief among them is lifestyle. We lead a contradictory lifestyle. It is sedentary, yet hectic. The hectic part ensures that we do not get enough time to look after our health. The sedentary part makes sure that we do not get enough exercise. But there are other factors which are responsible for a seemingly abnormal weight gain. These could be: Genetics Hormones Excessive sugar / fats Misinformation / Not reading nutrition facts on a label Inadequate sleep and rest. Add to this, untimely meals, junk food and other indulgences that disturb the body’s natural metabolism rate.

Most of us do not take weight management seriously until we end up being overweight. What we should be doing is take a preventive approach rather than curative.

SUPERFOODS FOR WEIGHTLOSS

Fruits and veggies high on fibre and some superfoods like goji berries, flax seeds, kale, spirulina, green tea and Garcinia Cambogia to name a few are also believed to super charge your weightloss challenge. Garcinia Cambogia is a small fruit that looks like a cross between a pumpkin and a tomato. It is native to Southeast Asia as well as India. In India it is also known as Malabar Tamarind. The fruit’s extracts have the ability to curb appetite. Which is why it is a part of many dietary supplements. Also, people have been using dried Garcinia Cambogia rinds for chutneys, curries and sometimes as an aid for stomach problems for a long time.

MOVE IT

There is no alternative to exercise. Your body has to use all the fuel you’re providing it. A simple 45-min brisk walk every day is the easiest exercise you could do. But extra efforts will give you better results.

BEST EXERCISES:

1. Walking: A 45-minute brisk walk is one of the easiest ways to stay fit.

2. Swimming: Swimming is a lowimpact form of exercise that is easy on your joints. A one-hour swim a day will keep you in the pink of health and help you in weight management.

3. Jogging: A jog every morning will increase your stamina and your capacity to exercise. Start small and gradually increase the duration of your jogs.

4. Jumping rope: Think of your favourite boxers, wrestlers, and fighters—they all jump rope. It’s cheap, easy to do, increases foot speed, and burns a ton of calories.

5. Kettlebells: Kettlebell workouts combine the best of both worlds: strength training and cardio. A recent study on the calorie-burning effects of this type of workout puts it at around 20 calories per minute!

PS: Consult a doctor/expert before trying any of the above



WHY YOGA WORKS:
Yoga can increase our mindfulness and the way we relate to our body. It makes us more aware of what we eat, helping us make better food choices and lose fat.

Surya Namaskar comprises a series of 12 different yoga asanas and helps strengthen the skeletal system and ligaments. Keep breathing in and out during the poses and lose kilos.

Regular yoga practice helps in enhancing the body’s metabolism and speeding up weightloss.

old Pomeranian which tries to chew everything

I have a three-month-old Pomeranian which tries to chew everything from footwear to people’s hands and feet, and sometimes, even clothes! She gets aggressive if I try to pull something away from her. What should I do?

Chewing is common among young puppies because of their strong desire to explore. As they grow older, this tendency reduces and they are less likely to be destructive. Until then, prevent access to footwear, clothes etc and instead, provide him with chewy toys. Exercise and play with your dog regularly to ensure he gets to spend his energy and also provide positive interaction. Keep an edible item like a bitter apple around so that he is not tempted to chew.

Is your social media persona an accurate depiction of who you are in real life, or have you oversold yourself?

What you see is not what you get. Applied to others, it’s an adage that we all have been quite familiar with; now, it applies to ourselves. What we build up as an image — on our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter accounts — is actually a carefully and consciously crafted appearance of ourselves that we want the world to believe.

Nothing bad so far. Who doesn’t aspire to be the best version of him/herself? But when we spend almost 90 per cent of our day surfing social media profiles, somewhere down the line we are bound to realise we are almost leading bi-polar lives – perfect virtual ones and flawed real ones. Says digital expert Chetan Deshpande, “To be successful today, you often have to be your own brand ambassador and have a network of followers on social media. Hence, our digital footprints are becoming part of our personality profile.”


THE ‘MARKETABLE’ YOU

Student Tanmaye Chadha, 18, is tired of everyone broadcasting every detail of their daily lives on social media. “We are presenting a hyper-idealistic version of ourselves – an image that the real us deep down finds hard to live up to. The

natural consequence of this is that we put excessive pressure on ourselves to live up to that virtual image, and in the process become anxious, aggressive and then fatigued.”

Elias Aboujaoude, author of Virtually You: The Dangerous Powers of the E-Personality, talks of the same malaise. She says, “We are living in an era where humans are putting forth these edited and inflated versions of their lives, this ‘idealised self,’ and then they are, quite literally, falling in love with themselves. This person, this you-but-not-you, seems sexier, healthier, and cooler, because they’re made up of only the good memories.”

A lot like a Bollywood or Hollywood superstar’s larger- than-life persona before the days of social media; where what we believed was what they projected through a carefullycrafted PR machinery working overtime on overselling the good and completely omitting even a single flaw. Except that these days, we are

all superstars in our own right – and with each social media validation, our own image becomes larger than life in our own minds.

WE SEE WHAT OTHERS SEE…

Life coach Ekta Sibal says by reshaping our image into one that we aspire to be, we are selfperpetuating a vicious cycle of validation. “We start to believe our own illusions because we see other people believing in them too.” It’s like they say: repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth.

Or, does it?


THE THIN RED LINE

Do you spend a lot of time planning to use social media?

Do you feel the urge to use social media more and more?

Do you use social media to forget about personal problems?

Do you become restless or troubled if you are unable to use social media?

SELF-PRESENTATION BIAS IS BASIC HUMAN NATURE

“We present ourselves in a more positive manner than is the case in real life, which in psychology is called the self-presentation bias. We do that both offline and online – the problem is that in an online environment you can enrich that information with emoticons, hashtags, pictures, videos etc. —Mischa Coster, psychologist

How much of your life are you willing to market?

Unfortunately, people are realising at the cost of their own sanity that believing a lie doesn’t make it the truth, that ‘likes’ do not automatically convert into ‘success’ or happiness or the truth.

EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED

One of the reasons this problem has multiplied in our age is the fact that we are a restless generation, and we expect all our emotions to be validated instantly – almost as instantly as we get fast food or a WhatsApp message. So, every ‘like’, retweet, becomes our instant ego booster, making us believe in our inflated image.

But with every negative interaction, we also fall apart and feel persecuted. Media technologist Deanna Zandt, also the author of Share This! How You Will Change the World With Social Networking, says this happens because the part of our brain that thinks logically or knows how to balance emotions has taken a backseat because in our own minds everything about ourselves is illuminated. “So, any online interaction that upsets us makes us feel like we are being chased by a cheetah – it actually feels like you are physically under attack.”

We have come to a point where everyone must decide what’s more important – our imagined lives or our sanity? Psychologist Gitanjali Sharma says, “For sanity to prevail, you need to have a solid grip on who you really are, and know how much to believe in your own virtual image.”


TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN VIRTUAL AND REAL YOU...

Stay away from social apps as much as possible

Turn off notifications on social apps on your phone

Make it difficult for yourself to log in to your social media accounts on office computers

Customise your feeds to keep away from unnecessary image boosters, like useless quizzes that make you feel like a grammar/maths/history expert

Curb your curiosity about the lives of others: humans are naturally curious, and social media feeds the habit

Limit your sharing Don’t feed your self-esteem with ‘likes’

31 things I wish I knew before I got to know them…

From respecting yourself to forgiving a friend – here are 31 things every young person should be told


1 Dignity is important. Do not ever make any compromises on that count. Don’t allow anyone to take you for granted.

2 Stand up for yourself. And always support what is right. It is not just important to be good, but also to support good.


3 Have a goal. It doesn’t matter if you change it along the way. These are milestones on the way to your real destination.

4 Keep a daily schedule. Respect and utilise the time you have; do not take it for granted.

5 Give yourself an altruistic daily goal – be good to someone. Treat that as a gift to yourself.

6 Things that are easily achieved are not necessarily the best. The best comes with patience and forbearance. Happiness and success follow hard work and strategising.

7 Try not to stress. Things that seem earth shattering right now will seem minuscule and irrelevant in the future.

8 Tomorrow is another day – almost nothing you did is so bad that it cannot be bettered the next day.

9 Don’t hurt others. You will not forgive yourself.

10 Don’t make a point of winning every argument. Let others win sometimes; they will love you for it.

11 Don’t respond immediately. Always take your time to consider before you react.

12 Do not worry about changing your mind. As you grow and gain experience, you are bound to change perspectives and decisions.

13 In a world where social media demands instant responses, don’t lay your heart bare for all to see. By being vocal about your feelings, you may allow a fleeting emotion to brand you for a lifetime.

14 Distance yourself from a problem for a fresher perspective. Just as the world looks more beautiful from an airplane, things will seem better from a distance.

15 Not everything is about you. Do not imagine people are targeting you. Quite often it is about them, not about you.

16 Never do something your gut warns you against just because someone is pressurising you. Follow your instinct.

17 Don’t let inertia stop you from living life to the full and making the most of experiences you are offered.

18 Do not blindly reject anything, You never know in what form Destiny may knock at your door.

19 Learn to accept people you love as they are. You will love them deeper that way.

20 Accept the wisdom of centuries – all research ultimately comes back in a big circle to what our elders tried, tested and passed on to us.

21 Forgive, but ensure the one who wronged you understands that you choose to forgive and move on. It isn’t a compulsion.

22 Make people feel cheerful and good about themselves. But don’t become a joker to make others happy.

23 Cultivate a passion. It will hold you in good stead through your highs and lows.

24 Read. Reading educates you and insulates you from the littleness of the world.

25 Don’t regret anything. What’s done is done. The only thing you can do now is atone, make amends – and there is great power in atonement. Today is important.

26 Learn to manage expectations. Reality brings grief or discomfort only when it doesn’t meet expectation.

27 Don’t worry about what others think of you. They will never like you as much as you like yourself – don’t waste your time.

28 Believe in yourself. There is no such thing as lucky people and unlucky people. It is all a matter of being prepared to grab the opportunity when you find yourself at the right place at the right time.

29 Smile and show happiness when you meet people. Make them feel special. Hand out compliments and generally encourage and compliment them on their ventures.

30 Relationships are to be worked on. No long-lasting relationship has reached there without ups and downs and bouts of discussions, fights, understanding and forgiveness.

31 People will treat you as you treat yourself. It is important to respect yourself and keep improving. Take care of the body, mind and soul God has given you and actualise them all to their fullest potential. There can be no greater prayer than that.

A complete guide to make sure your fluffy friend grows up to be healthy and friendly

Bringing home a kitten may be exciting but it’s also challenging as it needs your full attention and care. While the adorable bundle of fluff will make hearts melt, it will need looking after for life. Whether you are an experienced pet parent or a first time pet owner, it is always best to do some research and know the basics of kitten care. Here are a few fundamental steps to keep in mind while bringing home a new kitten.

HOME SWEET HOME


Getting used to new surroundings can be overwhelming for the new kitty, so give her time to adjust. Allow your cat to spend time alone if she chooses – don’t rush into introducing your cat to other people or pets. Away from her mother, the kitten needs to feel secure as well as warm. Whether you provide a cardboard box or a fancy bed from a pet store, make sure it is cosy and is kept in a quiet corner.

It is also important to show your cat where her food bowl and litter box are kept. Let the kitten play and get acquainted to the things around her. The kitten adjusts better and becomes friendly when handled gently.

GEAR UP ON TRAINING TRICKS

Litter training is easy as cats are naturally clean animals and don’t litter the house as compared to dogs. Kittens should start to use a litter tray as soon as possible. You can start by putting the litter tray in a secluded place. Once the kitten has finished eating, place her near the litter box.

Let her dig and scratch the box, before she instinctively starts to use it. Praise her when she does but don’t punish her for not using it. Keep placing her near the box after her meals so she gets used to it.

Cats communicate via scratching as it leaves a visual message for them and helps them sharpen their claws. To discourage clawing furniture, provide a carpet-covered scratching post.

MONITOR YOUR KITTEN’S FEED

Kittens grow very quickly, so their appetite and need for food increases too. Make sure you increase the amount of food according to her age. Kittens generally gain 100 gm per week and by 6 months as s/he reaches 75% of adult weight. Thus, with their speedy growth, their diet intake has to be maintained alongside.

The easiest and most successful way to ensure that your growing kitten is getting a healthy, balanced diet is to feed a complete premium food for kittens. As your kitten is growing up, feed her four times a day at least. Whatever you are feeding her, remember, little and often is the order of the day.

Kittens should be offered as much food as they can eat, and fresh water should be available at all times. A good rule of thumb is to leave the food out for 20 to 30 minutes and then to dispose of the uneaten portion.

SHOP FOR QUALITY FOOD

Growing kittens need more calories and nutrients than adult cats. The simplest way to ensure s/he’s properly fed is to buy good brand food formulated for kittens. By 12 months, your kitten can be gradually introduced to a food designed for adult cats. A good diet should provide all the nutrients essential for a growing kitten to become a healthy cat. Ensure that your kitten has her own feeding and water bowls and that they are kept clean.

FIND A GOOD VET

Regular visits to the vet are a must, at least for the initial few months – to check for ear mites and fleas; vaccinate her for preventive care.

BE SOCIABLE

When you introduce the cat to the outside world, it is wise to ensure that she is completely adjusted to her new environment. Kittens should not be permitted to come in contact with other cats until they have completed their course of vaccinations.

GROOMING BASICS

Grooming your cat offers you an excellent opportunity to check her skin for lumps, rashes, discharges or any other signs of illness. If your cat is dirty, you may use a clean, damp cloth to wipe her down. Wet the cloth with warm water only and don’t use any soaps.

You can generally expect your cat to live between 10 and 15 years or longer, provided you can avoid accidents and disease. Although cats are very independent animals, the responsibility for their health and physical wellbeing ultimately lies with you – the cat owner.

Managing infertility issues under one roof

Established in 2013, with the promise of a safe, truthful, ethical and empathetic experience for to-be parents, Cocoon Fertility offers a complete range of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) services, all under one roof. Recently, they introduced new services at its Thane centre. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rajalaxmi Walavalkar said, “We are very excited today as we announce the start of Pre-Implantation Genetic Services at our Thane Centre. Our lab here is now fully licensed for offering PGD/PGS services in Thane. This offers complete range of solutions for couples wanting to avoid genetic disorders in their offspring and for couples who have had miscarriages and IVF failures. We are also delighted to introduce Lykos IVF laser at our centre to help in PGD/PGS.”

Actress Soha Ali Khan, who recently paid a visit to one of the centres, was impressed with the range of equipment and state of the art technologies available, which helps couples deal with infertility issues. She said, “This is my first visit to a fertility lab. I am happy to know that couples facing infertility issues have so many options today, thanks to IVF centres like Cocoon Fertility. I was also happy to note that, Dr Anagha Karkhanis and Dr Rajalaxmi and I share a common educational background in the UK. It’s a rigorous training ground and prepares one well for the challenges ahead.”


Said Dr Anagha, “Soha represents the educated aware woman of today and so, we are happy to have her with us. Thanks to the faith of our patients, we have succeeded with conception in cases where a couple was childless, even 21 years after marriage. It gives me great pleasure to announce that our centres will be opening up soon in Versova, Vashi, as well as Kochi and Pune.”

For details, Call: 022-7123 7070 Email: ask@cocoonfertility.com http://www.cocoonfertility.com

New polymer coating works like AC, cools down bldgs

A polymer coating that acts as a spontaneous air cooler and can be applied like paint on rooftops, buildings, vehicles and even spacecraft has been invented by scientists. The researchers from Columbia University used a technique that gives the exterior passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) polymer a porous foam-like structure. PDRC is a phenomenon where a surface spontaneously cools by reflecting sunlight and radiating heat to the colder atmosphere. They also created coloured polymer coatings with cooling capabilities by adding dyes.


Termites can build societies without any males: All-female termite societies have been discovered for the first time, according to a study published in BMC Biology. Among more than 4,200 termites collected from coastal sites in southern Japan, the researchers did not find a single male. All-female lineages have previously been documented in a few ant and honey bee species, but their colonies are already dominated by queens and female workers. Termites are known for having colonies in which males and females both participate in social activities. This research is the first to demonstrate that males can be discarded from advanced societies in which they once played an active role. Of the 74 mature colonies they studied, 37 were asexual and exclusively female.


TINY WRESTLING STARS: Mexico’s lucha libre, a popular form of wrestling, long featured dwarves in a deeply demeaning role: they were ‘mascotas’ — a word that can mean both mascot and pet — for full-size wrestlers. But a new generation of little people are now rising lucha libre stars in their own right, headlining the main events on their fight cards

2-second rule for distracted drivers

The large rubber strip that I was speeding toward on a Los Angeles freeway looked easy enough to avoid. I swerved, but not enough.

That strip was actually metal and it ripped through my right front tire. I had been looking at my wife for about four seconds before glancing back at the road. Had I just become a victim of distracted driving? The US National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration would probably say yes.


Drivers should never take their eyes off the road for more than two seconds at a time, the agency says. The Auto Alliance, a manufacturers’ trade group, agrees. “The odds of a crash double if your eyes are off the road for more than two seconds,” said Wade Newton, a spokesman.

In 2016, more than 9% of United States traffic deaths — or 3,450 — were linked to distracted driving. With these facts in mind, the government, automakers and tech companies are dreaming up new ways to keep drivers’ eyes on the road, at a time when there are more opportunities for distraction than ever.

One thing that does not work is an appeal to common sense. Asking people to just say no to their gadgets cannot overcome the temptation to check them.

Which is why many states now forbid the use of devices if they need to be held, unless they’re connected through the vehicle’s built-in screen or can be operated with voice commands. But even that may not be enough. “Laws against distracted driving do not reduce crashes,” said Jessica Cicchino, a vice president for research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Instead, they have come up with a set of voluntary design guidelines to limit distractions and make driving safer. Under these guidelines, makers are encouraged to design screens that do not obstruct the driver’s field of view, use internationally recognized icons and symbols, allow the driver to control the pace of input, and disable information not pertinent to driving when in motion.

Given that they’re suggestions, their use varies. Volkswagens lock out navigation input using the touch screen when the vehicle is in motion, while some Audis don’t.

Rather than try to stop distracted driving behavior, manufacturers are offering technological solutions to hopefully lessen the distractions.

They include features like head-up displays, which project speed and other information onto the windshield in front of the driver; and audio alerts when the vehicle drifts into another lane without signaling. Others include blind-spot detection and automatic braking when about to hit a vehicle or pedestrian.

Distractions like eating or grooming have a long history for drivers, and now smartphones are adding to them. “There is evidence to suggest that distracted driving is getting worse,” said Charlie Klauer, lead for the teen risk and injury prevention group at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.

Cicchino of the Insurance Institute said, “Distraction caused by electronic devices is replacing that caused by eating, drinking and talking to passengers while driving.”

Sailors who died of scurvy, a disease caused by the deficiency of vitamin C, between the years 1500 and 1800

Metro trains carried 5,400cr people in 2017; number set to multiply in next 5 years

Across the world, 30 new metro systems started during 2000-09. Another 45 will be completed by 2019, and more than 200 are expected to open in the next five years. Most of these are being built in Asian cities, and quite a few are in India. Cities are investing heavily in metro systems because of the increasing pressure of population. As large numbers of people in developing countries move to cities in search of work, the existing transport infrastructure based on private vehicles and buses is tottering. Pollution levels have also risen sharply. Metro systems promise a clean, efficient and fast alternative to the mess on city roads.

Cannabis is the new crypto on the bull run

As one speculative frenzy fizzles, another arises from its ashes. Marijuana Inc. is making more headlines than Crypto Corp. as the stocks of companies linked to the cannabis craze get caught up in a mania that’s sent prices surging.

References to “cannabis” in news articles nearly doubled the amount mentioning “crypto” this week, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.


Peter Atwater, president of Financial Insyghts, said that Google Trends data shows the real surge in interest “is among the novice wanting to know how to buy” marijuana stocks.

But the route to riches for weed stocks is far from a straight-line higher, with their fair share of potholes along the way. On Wednesday alone, shares of Tilray Inc, the first marijuana stock to go public on the Nasdaq stock exchange, nearly doubled, were halted on numerous occasions, dipped into the red, and proceeded to spike 40% in the final 20 minutes of the session.

Even Bitcoin hasn’t been as volatile as Tilray currently is since January 2014.

The Motley Fool has already issued a warning, “marijuana stocks are probably going to fall victim to a longperpetuated trend in the stock market of overestimating the impact and/or profitability of a high-growth or game-changing new technology or product.” So don’t go potty about these stocks. 

Why clever women don’t get a date online

Despite the success of dating apps such as Bumble — on which women are required to initiate conversation — traditional gender roles still dominate the world of online dating, according to new research.

A major new study carried out by the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) and eHarmony found that men are 30% more likely than women to initiate conversation, and when a woman does send the first message, the response rate drops by 15%.


The researchers, from Oxford University, analysed 150,000 profiles and over 10 years of eHarmony data, tracking changing preferences and communication patterns among single Brits.

The past decade has seen the rise of dating apps and the breakdown of any stigma surrounding looking for love online. But despite this — and progress being made towards gender equality — the researchers found that the number of men initiating conversations online has actually increased, from 6% in 2008 to 30% in 2018. The researchers looked into what would make someone more likely to receive a message. They found men were more successful when they had more photos on their profiles, as well as if they were perceived to be athletic, agreeable and altruistic.

Similarly, women who appear athletic, romantic and altruistic are more likely to be messaged on dating apps.

However, seeming anxious or — somewhat depressingly — clever decreases a woman’s chance of success.

The study’s findings come at the same time as Tinder announced it is trialling a new feature in the app in India that will allow female users to decide whether or not they want to be the ones to start the conversation when they match with a man.

The feature, called “My Move”, gives women the option in their settings on the app to decide if they want to let either party send the first message or if they want to be the ones to take control. It is designed to make women feel more secure when using dating apps.

Why don’t airlines board last-row passengers first?

Answer by HECTOR NEWMAN B737-800 pilot


It’s to do with balance. The plane has its wheels in a triangular shape: the nose wheel in the front and the main landing gear in the middle, under the wings. The rear of the aircraft has no support underneath it. Filling the back first risks tipping the plane like a seesaw. It happens a lot more than you think — just google for photos of a plane that has tipped. It can also happen when passengers are disembarking through an aerobridge attached to the front door. If the back rows haven’t emptied, cabin crew might ask other passengers to wait at the front.

Your eco-friendly consumerism will not save the Earth

Plastic is bad for the environment, but should you feel virtuous sipping your coffee out of a paper cup? Just because paper is biodegradable, it is not better for the environment. “The problem is not just plastic: it is mass disposability. Or, to put it another way... a four-planet lifestyle,” environmental activist George Monbiot writes in The Guardian.

Last month, some campaigners made a pitch for replacing plastic coffee cups with those made from corn starch, without considering “where the corn starch would come from, how much land would be needed to grow it, or how much food production it would displace.”


Monbiot says, “We cannot address our environmental crisis by swapping one overused resource for another... The right question is, ‘How should we live?’”

The real problem is an economic system that seeks endless growth. The belief that this system can give every person on Earth a yacht and a supercar, and a mansion on a golf course, is delusional. What we need now is not a better kind of consumerism, but an end to consumerism. “Disposable coffee cups made from new materials are not just a non-solution: they are a perpetuation of the problem.”

HOW DISGUST LEADS TO SILLY DECISIONS

A WEEKLY PICK OF STIMULATING IDEAS AND OPINIONS THAT HAVE APPEARED IN OTHER MEDIA, ONLINE AND OFFLINE

At Times, The Seemingly Gross Things We Reject Aren’t Bad In Themselves But Contaminated By Association With Unpleasant Ideas And Experiences

If you see a packet of potato wafers floating in an open sewer, will you fish it out if it is still tightly puffed with nitrogen? Probably not. But if a packet you have bought slips out of your hand, will you leave it on the shop floor, or pick it up, rip it open and start munching? The shop floor is as dirty as the street outside, and the wafers in both cases are uncontaminated, so why does only one packet seem yucky?

It’s because our perception of things is not based on their objective properties alone. For instance, “people refuse to drink orange juice from unused urine collection bottles, eat soup served in a brand-new bedpan, or touch delicious fudge baked in the shape of dog faeces,” says an article in The British Psychological Society Research Digest.


Our perception of things is often based on their history: “where they have been, what they have touched, and who has touched them — because we subscribe to the notion that objects have an underlying reality, an essence.”

What if you had dropped your sealed packet on the floor of a public toilet freshly mopped with disinfectant? This time again, the association with a repugnant place — a public toilet — might gross you out, never mind the disinfectant.

Experiments by University of Pennsylvania psychology professor Paul Rozin, who specialises in the study of disgust, show how irrational our perception of disgust can be. In one survey, Rozin and his colleagues asked 2,600 Americans if they would like to drink water that had been recycled from sewage. The water met all quality criteria and was perfectly safe to drink.

The group split almost equally between those who were willing to drink the water, and those who absolutely would not or preferred not to drink it. Further questioning showed how irrational the second group’s choice was: “Even though sewage water that is boiled, evaporated, and condensed is purer than tap water, participants overwhelmingly preferred tap water. Furthermore, compared to tap water, participants were more willing to drink bottled water that was filtered from tap water, even though the two are equally pure. It’s like running your clothes through the wash twice.”

Even quirkier was the respondents’ belief that the recycled water would become cleaner if it was left inside a reservoir or aquifer for some time “even though feeding recycled water back into a natural system actually decreases its purity.” Rozin inferred that this was down to the idea of spiritual purification from contact with nature. “Just like we’re more willing to wear Hitler’s sweater if it supposedly came in contact with Mother Teresa.”

Largely, it seems, people consider disgusting things irredeemable. What’s become dirty or contaminated stays that way. When they were asked in another experiment whether they would drink clean water that had touched a “heat sterilised” cockroach, everybody refused. Likewise, people were unwilling to drink out of a sterile glass previously used by a convicted murderer.

The latest Insta-inspired beauty obsession: Jaws

It was during a WhatsApp call that Debra Reynolds, a marketing executive in Manhattan, started noticing her softening jawline. “It was all I could see in the mirror,” Reynolds said. It was then that Reynolds, 47, turned to Matthew White, a facial plastic surgeon, to remedy the problem.

The surgery, which Dr. White calls the Golden Angle Lift, creates the tighter, more defined jawline and lower face that to many signals youth. “The day after surgery, when Dr. White removed the bandages, my jawline looked like Angelina freaking Jolie,” said Reynolds of her surgery, which she said cost about $18,000 (Rs 13 lakh).


Credit the rise of videoconferencing and social media for the new focus among women on their jawlines, long a key structural feature for men (as a sign of masculinity) and models (who rely on bone structure to be photogenic).

According to data collected by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, in 2017, 55% of facial plastic surgeons noted having seen patients expressing a desire to look better in selfies.

“People are seeing more pictures of themselves and becoming more sensitive to how they look,” said Dr. White, clinical assistant professor of otolaryngology — head and neck surgery — at NYU Langone Medical Center.

Dr. White said that his focus is on supporting the three key ligaments that define a youthful jawline and redraping the connective tissue rather than simply cutting and pulling back the skin.

While in years past, only a face-lift could do what was necessary to really reshape the jawline, doctors and aestheticians now have an arsenal of treatments, both surgical and noninvasive, at their fingertips.

AirSculpt, a procedure invented by Aaron Rollins, a plastic surgeon in Los Angeles, is a more targeted form of liposuction. Unlike liposuction, which removes fat by scraping and suctioning it out, AirSculpt uses a smaller and more precise cannula that works in a superfast corkscrewlike motion to cherry-pick targeted cells. The procedure costs about $5,000 (Rs 3.6 lakh) for the jawline area.

For the surgically disinclined, Jeannel Astarita, an aesthetician andfounder of Just Ageless often recommends Ultherapy, a noninvasive therapy that uses ultrasound delivered through the skin to heat the deep dermis and is said to trigger skin lifting and tightening.

Amid all of the options, Gracia Tapia, a patient of Dr. Rollins, is glad she invested $5,000 (Rs 3.6 lakh) in her jawline procedure. “I always used to ask people to ask me before they posted a picture, and now it doesn’t matter,” she said. “I love how I look.” 

India issues demarche to Pak, asks it to withdraw Wani stamps

‘Were Reissued At Time When Delhi Confirmed Talks Between Mins’


After it called off talks between the foreign ministers, India last week issued a demarche to Pakistan over the issue of commemorative postage stamps glorifying Hizbul commander Burhan Wani, whose killing in 2016 had led to another wave of unrest in the Valley. Diplomatic sources said Pakistan was asked to immediately withdraw these stamps.


India had mentioned it as one of the reasons for cancelling talks between foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and her counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi on the sidelines of UNGA. While the stamps were first issued in July this year, Indian authorities have said that the stamps were reissued around the time India confirmed the Swaraj-Qureshi meeting after receiving a proposal for the same from Pakistan PM Imran Khan.

India said that the release of 20 postage stamps by Pakistan glorifying a terrorist had confirmed that Pakistan was not going to mend its ways. India had also blamed brutal killings of Indian security personnel by Pakistan-based entities in its statement, announcing cancellation of the dialogue 24 hours after it was announced.

India blamed Pakistan for the killing of a BSF soldier along the international border, but Pakistan continues to deny its role. While it had earlier been reported that the jawan’s body was found mutilated, DG BSF K K Sharma denied this Friday saying that firing by Pakistan’s Border Action Team had caused his death.

Pakistan though has denied its involvement altogether citing before BSF what it calls circumstantial evidence to claim the jawan’s death was probably a case of “fratricide’’. Pakistan claims to have offered a meeting to BSF between senior officers to cooperate on the issue and locate the exact spot where the incident might have taken place. Accusing India of having rejected its offer, Pakistan continued to maintain that it wouldn’t have been possible for anyone to kill an Indian soldier at a place located next to a manned Indian bunker. According to Sharma, the jawan had three bullets in his body and had his throat slit. The rest, he said, was exaggerated.

China defends blocking India’s bids at UN to list Masood Azhar as global terrorist

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has defended Beijing’s repeated blockage of India’s bids at the United Nations to list chief of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, arguing that the issue lacks “consensus” among the members of the UN Security Council as well as the “directly concerned” parties — India and Pakistan. Azhar is accused of several deadly terrorist attacks in India. A veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked India’s move — supported by the US, Britain and France — to designate Azhar a terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. 

IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN YOU WOULD WANT TO TAKE A BREAK AND RELAX

It’s that time of the year when you would want to take a break and relax, and go on a much-needed vacation. It could be with school or college buddies, with co-workers, close friends, family, or even solo. The adventurous may even want to go with a group of strangers on a conducted tour.

Because 2018 is going to be so much better, at least in terms of long weekends and holidays like Gandhi Jayanti, Dussehra, Diwali, and Christmas. From outdoor activities and suitable destinations for weekend getaways within the country, you can make the most of your long weekends.


Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibitions is organising the 108th edition of its ‘India International Travel Mart’, a three-day event, which will be held from 28 - 30 September, 2018 at MMRDA Grounds, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai. The event will have over 250 participants from over 8 countries and over 20 Indian states. The participants include Travel Agents & Tour Operators, DMC, Hotels & Resorts, National Tourist Organizations, Cruises, Airlines, Online Travel Portals etc.

A GREAT TRAVEL OPPORTUNITY

Rupam Basu, a software engineer with a multi-national company took up the job he’s currently in only because he can take time out to travel to some of his favourite destinations within India. An avid traveller, he makes it a point to visit every travel exhibition in India to look for newer destinations and the best of discounts on deals. “Travel and tourism expos give me a detailed view of what the world has to offer on a platter,” Basu says. “At the India International Travel Mart (IITM) expo in Bengaluru, I had the opportunity to interact with travel operators. The event provided unmatched networking opportunities to interact with travel-trade and corporate buyers alike,” he added.

Ankita, a frequent traveller says, “Dwarka is famed for its status as one of the ‘Char Dhaam’ destinations for devout Hindus. This is because Lord Krishna established his great kingdom here after returning from Mathura. Not being very religious, I wasn’t sure if Dwarka would find a place in my heart. But it did, not just because of the spiritual depth resonating in its temples and shrines but also because of the rare beauty of hidden beaches, gardens and a bridge that could give San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge a run for its money.”

No. of desis held in US for illegal entry triples

‘Mostly Economic Migrants With Fake Claims’
The number of Indians arrested for illegally entering the US nearly tripled to around 9,000 so far in 2018, making them one of the largest groups of illegal people apprehended, US Customs and Border Protection said on Friday.

Paying smuggling rings between $25,000-$50,000 per person, a growing number of Indians are illegally crossing the US-Mexico border and claiming asylum for persecution, CBP spokesman Salvador Zamora said. Many present viable claims, but a large number are economic migrants with fraudulent petitions that swamp the system and can cause legitimate cases to be “washed out” in the high volume of fraud, he said.


Around 4,000 Indians who entered the US illegally this year did so over a threemile stretch of border fence at Mexicali, Zamora said. “The word got out that Mexicali is a safe border city which favors their crossing into the US,” he said, adding the CBP expects the data for the fiscal year ending September 30 would show “around 9,000” Indian nationals had been apprehended versus 3,162 in 2017. However, Indians still have some way to go to outnumber the roughly 30,000 El Salvadorans who entered the US illegally in 2018. Asylum seekers range from lower caste “untouchable” Indians facing death threats for marrying outside class to Sikhs claiming political persecution, immigration lawyers said.

Fraudulent asylum seekers often present ‘cut and paste’ evidence identical to other migrants, Zamora said. Some 42.2% of Indian cases were denied between fiscal years 2012 to 2017, according to Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.

The Indian embassy in Washington and Indian consulate in San Francisco did not respond.

Illegal MP lab manufacturing ‘doomsday chemical’ busted

In A First, 9Kg Of Fentanyl Seized, ‘America-Hating’ Scholar Held


In an operation spread over a week, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) with the help of a team of scientists from Defence Research & Development Establishment busted an illegal laboratory in Indore and recovered 9 kg of synthetic opioid, Fentanyl, that could have potentially killed 4-5 million people.


Run by a local businessman and a “US-hating” PhD “scholar chemist”, the fentanyl seizure, first in India, has raised security concerns in Delhi as it can cause large-scale casualties if used in chemical warfare, a scenario reminiscent of the plot in Alistair Maclean’s thriller “Satan Bug”. A Mexican national has also been arrested.

“Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin and even inhaling its particles can be fatal. This is the first significant seizure of Fentanylin India. It is a landmark seizure as DRI has been able to thwart first attempts to manufacture it in India,” said D P Dash, DG, DRI.

The discovery has baffled scientists because manufacturing the drug requires the kind of expertise available only to trained scientists and high-end research laboratories. It is a controlled substance used with other medication for anaesthesia and pain relief. The drug spreads easily. Absorbed through the skin or inhaled accidentally, just 2mg is enough to kill a person.

A team of experienced scientists dealing with protection against chemical and biological warfare was called from DRDE, a defence laboratory of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), to confirm and authenticate the seizure of Fentanyl.

The value of the seized narcotic, which is 100 times stronger than morphine, is Rs 110 crore. Usually Fentanyl is trafficked by drug syndicates to US where it fetches a high street price and is sold as pills mixed with other chemicals.

Sources said, quoting estimates made by US authorities, that more than 20,000 people have died by overdose of Fentanyl in US in 2016.

Recently, the Mexican drug cartels have started using India as a base to manufacture the lethal drug. Indian authorities are tracking the procurement of precursor chemical 4ANPP used to manufacture Fentanyl but it is not known how it has infiltrated into the illegal Indian market.

Blind women deploy their power of touch in fight against breast cancer

When her deteriorating vision finally ended in blindness two years ago, Neha Suri’s despair was complete. But just a year later, this lone breadwinner and mother of a teen, found not just a light in the darkness but a higher calling. For the past three months, she has been learning to use her highly developed sense of touch to detect those at risk of breast cancer.


She is now a medical tactile examiner, a job description coined especially for blind women trained to carry out intensive manual checks to detect lumps as small as 0.5cm. She is among the first batch of seven blind women trained over the year to conduct manual check-ups for prevention and early detection of breast cancer.

Starting next week, she will be part of a pilot that seeks to make inclusion of the differently-abled real. Neha will be working with a team of doctors at Fortis Hospital in Vasant Kunj to encourage women to undergo non-invasive preventive check-ups. Trained MTEs use “optimal sensory touch” which involves putting just enough pressure and releasing it with fingers that move from one centimetre to the other covering the entire breast region. The entire process can take anywhere between 35 to 45 minutes.

“Tactile tapes with specific Braille markings are used to define the breast region by dividing it into four parts. The examination involves the breast area, armpits, back and neck region to look for lumps and cysts,” tactile examiner Hasiba Rani, explained. She has examined around 30 women so far during her internship at Medanta super-speciality hospital in Gurgaon. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in India. It’s incidence rate is about 24 per 100,000 population. Early detection is key to successful cure and treatment of the dreaded disease.

Hasiba, who lost her eyesight completely when she was 21, said, “It is ironical but I don’t think I would be able to concentrate so much if I could see. At times while doing the examination, I close my eyes as a natural reflex action which people who can see use to focus or concentrate,” she said.

“Mammogram is not effective below 40 years, equivocal in the 40 to 50 age group and most effective after 50 yrs. Also 30% of Indian women have dense breasts not suitable for mammogram.. The only and most suitable option is MTE,” pointed out Dr Mandeep Singh Malhotra, head of department for head, neck and breast oncoplasty at Fortis, Vasant Kunj. He emphasised that manual check-ups by MTE should be seen as complimentary to mammogram and not a substitute.

“The good thing is that a check-up by an MTE can be done for women of all age-groups and at a lower cost. The focus should be on steering younger women towards prevention,” Dr Malhotra added. “If we detect a lump in the breast, we mark the exact point on the tactile grid. We carry out the examination under the doctor’s supervision. The doctor checks the accuracy of our findings and the information supplements the medical diagnosis and treatment,” Hasiba said.

Shalini Khanna, director, Centre for Blind Women of the National Association for the Blind, in Delhi, feels MTEs will fill a vacuum that currently exists in the preventive check-up category. “We will be focussing on reaching out to young women. We will be holding an outreach exercise in Vasant Kunj next week to begin with to tell women they need to choose prevention and in their 20s and 30s not just after they turn 40,” Khanna added.

On how patients respond to the fact that she is unable to see, Hasiba responded with a smile. “Not everyone is willing to put their faith in us immediately. So the doctor explains the process to the patient and then we show them how we will go about it. Most agree and feel comfortable when they undergo the examination. The fact that we cannot see allows them to shed their inhibitions and let us check them,” she said.

Centre for Blind Women started training women to be MTEs last year to empower them professionally and financially. The nine-month course is being conducted in collaboration with German gynaecologist Dr Frank Hoffmann’s project, “Discovering Hands”.

The training has been certified by Rehabilitation Council of Germany. “More than 12,000 successful examinations have been carried out by MTEs in Germany and Austria,” Khanna pointed. The first batch of seven girls who completed their MTE course have been doing an internship with a senior gynaecologist.