HOW TO LOOK SMART?

Many people  think of me as being carefree when it comes to my appearance.They say guys like me doesn't care about the way they look. But the reality is I spend plenty of time in front of the mirror. Some other guys care just as much as girls do about their appearance.

According to me "Body image is a perons's opinions, thoughts and feelings about his or her own body and physical appearance".  Having a positive body image means feeling pretty satisfied with the way I look, appreciating my body for its capabilities and acceipting its imperfections.

Body image is part of my total self-image.  So how I feel about my body can affect how I feel about myself.  If I do not like the way I look, a my self-esteem can take a hit. There is no problem when you wear a outfit which you deem to be comfortable and which would show you fashonable. The problem starts when someone forces you to wear a dress which you hate, say formals( I hate' em)

So, in the face of all the pressure society places on guys - and guys place on themselves - what can you do to fuel a positive body image?  Here are some ideas:

1) Recognise your strengths.  Just exploring talents that you feel good about can help your self-esteem and improve how you think of yourself.

2) A good body need not translate itself into atheletic success.  Be proud of what you are good at.

3) Don't trash your body.  Respect it.  Take care of it.  Smoking and other things you know to be harmful will take a toll after a while.  Treating yourself well over time results in a healthier, stronger body, and that contributes to a better body image.

4) Be yourself.  While it's important to have a posiitive body image, it can cause a guy to overlook the positive parts of himself.  If you're like most guys who take care of thier bodies, you probably look great to others.  You just might not be aware of that if you're too busy being self-critical.

COMMON!! LETS MAKE A GREEN INDIA

The main problem that gives grey hairs to most world leaders now is Global warming. The only way to counter that is to grow more trees. It can't be done overnight. Every one has to take on the responsibility. 

In Tamil Nadu alone there are about half a million students writing their standard 10 and 12 common exams. All of them have practical exams and they are being awarded marks fo that.  As part of their practical exam each one of them should be given a plant sapling at the start of the acadamic year and they should be asked to monitor the growth of the tree. For the exam they could be examined on the biological name of the tree, its qualities and its uses. This would create awareness among the students about the environment. Even if they don't like they would atleast do this for the sake of marks. Since they would take care of the plant for atleast ten months, the sapling would have grown to a certain extent from where it doesn't need the help of others.

By implementing this idea at least half a million trees could be grown in a year in Tamil Nadu alone. Imagine the situation if this idea is implemented all over India! We could see a GREEN INDIA in our life time.

HONEY,I SHRUNK THE FOOD!!!

If the rising cost of food grains and petrol isn't enough to drill a hole in my pocket here is another reason for my blood pressure to creap up.  Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) manufacturers have been quitely shrinking the size of their products.  Or even better, launching new variants that deviate from the standard packaging size so that you are tempted to try the variants that deviate from the standard packaging size, without even noticing that you you are getting much less for the same money.

That's right, my weekly bag of groceries is getting lighter.  To combat rising expenses and inflation, many manufacturers have started dropping a few grams from their packages without notice (of course, the fine print on the cover mentions the reduced quantity but who reads these things?)

Products hit by what I like to call "Honey! I shrunk the groceries" phenomenon includes milk products, cereal, chips, ice cream, soaps, shampoos and more.  Some products are shrinking by as much as 20 per cent. I am left with paying the same price or even a little less, but getting "significantly" less.  Looks like the geniuses in the marketing departments of these consumer giants have figured, "Geez!  I am going to insulate my customers from price increase: Imagine how many loyalty points our company can earn if only we can give less of the product for the same price".  Yeah! Right! Surely an innovation befitting the Nobel.

I have thought of some other ways this "Honey, I shrunk the food" idea could be leveraged for solutions to India's financial problems:

We won't have to pay Rs.50 a litre for petrol, if the amount of fuel in a "litre" shrinks down to only 750 ml.  It's a minor 250 ml difference and would lower the cost to Rs.37.5/ litre, which is even lsser than the previous prevailing price of Rs.45/ litre.  Wish our beloved PM had thought of this idea to appease the Left.  Think of how happy the lower price could make everyone feel! 

             Wow!!! I am beginning to think like a true politician!!!!!.

ROBOT TREE!! EVER HEARD OF IT?

While I was surfing the internet the other day, I came across a term called Robot tree. Perplexed by the term, I started to gather more information on this. I was deeply surprised because if implemented it would be a perfect solution to the problem the whole world is grappling with, GLOBAL WARMING. It is nothing but a synthetic tree invented by an American scientist named Lagner. Its main job is to absorb the carbon di oxide, a green house gas which is the main reason for the global warming. Due to chemical reaction this carbon di oxide is reduced to carbon and oxygen. Oxygen escapes in to the atmosphere and carbon combines with water to form carbonic acid (Urghh!! I hate this chemistry stuff), this carbonic acid is sent down to earth and it is said to be a very good manure. It is said that one robot tree absorbs carbon di oxide that is being absorbed by 1000 natural trees. Well, going by the statistics just 2,50,000 robot trees are enough to clear the whole world from excess carbon di oxide. Sounds good!!! Iam waiting for this trees to go on sale. I wanna buy one for my home

COLLEGE PROFESSOR'S DASAVATHAR

Dasavatharam, the recently released movie of actor Kamal Hasan had the actor playing ten roles for the first time in the history of world cinema. The following is my humourous take on all those ten characters by comparing them with the professors.

Nambi : Professor who teaches putting his heart out.

Fletcher: Professer who kills the students with his lectures.

Krishnaveni: Professer who black mails the students that he/she will complain to the principal.

(old lady)

Govind: Professer who tries till the last minute to teach correctly, but still fails.

Balram Babu(Balram Naidu): Professer who manages with his imperfect english.

George Bush: Professer who takes combined classes.

Narahoshi: Professer who throws dusters and chalk pieces accurately at the students.

Kalifulla Khan: Tall professer who doesn't allows students to proxy attendance.

Avtar Singh: Professer whose lectures are like a sleep song and makes students sleep.

Poovaraghan: Mr.sincere, Friend of students.

                                           God,I managed finally!!!!!

SHOP SMART AND LIVE SMART

Going to college would be exciting, but these days it is expensive too. For many, coming to college means the start of a new life. That means you just have to rush off to buy yourself new clothes, cellphones or laptops. I certainly was one of those many! But now things have changed. Its difficult to get money from my dad and he is asking me umpteen questions before letting out his penny. So I have started to reduce my shopping and let me tell you folks, "I am able to save quite a lot of money in the past month". So now I am eligible to advice to all those guys who spends lavishly and makes their dad's pocket dry and empty. Here we go!!!

Before deciding to buy a new product, be it a new cloth or a brand new laptop assess the pros and cons of each new acquisition.  Do you really need a new laptop when you have a perfectly good PC sitting at home?  Do you really need new clothes when no one has seen your old wardrobe anyway?  If the answer is still yes - then spend wisely.  With the inflation rate hovering around and above the 11% mark, you might find yourself a tad shorter in the pocket than you used to be.

So buying a second-hand lap-top in good condition is always a better option than going all out for a new one - the same goes for a new cellphone.  When it comes to new clothes, you don't have to head to the nearest designer store.  You can get perfectly good clothes at lower prices in a cheaper store. I buy most of my     t shirts and jeans in smaller shops. They're not only cheaper than most major stores, but I was able to bargain with them too.

Going to college means incurring lots of minor expenses, so with a little bit of careful budgeting, you will be able to weather the storm of rising prices.  For instance, curb your restaurant hopping. College for me was about trips to the newest pub or eating out newly everyday.  Now, with the prices so high, it's something I can rarely afford to do.But if you are tired of the same old fare at your canteen or mess, then try the street food instead - it's much cheaper - or else limit your trips to restaurants to once a week. From going to restaurants nearly every week, I now eat the local bhelpuri  when I want a bite outside.  "In fact, I'm now quite a fan!"

Be smart about your study materials.  If your professor tells you about books that you must read, first make sure that they are available in the library before rushing off to buy them.  Even if they aren't in the library, you don't always have to read the entire books.Find out how many chapters you have to read and have the requisite chapters photocopied.  If buying books is a necessity, find out about second hand bookstores where you can buy the books at half the original price and where, once you're finished with them,  you can sell the books back to the store.  By being a little clutch-fisted, you can get through the inflation and come out smiling.

These are things I am following and trust me you could save a lot on your pocket money.

ARE YOU A CHOCOHOLIC, SAY CHEERS!!

Chocoholics like me now have a justified reason to savour our favourite chocolate, for a new study has found that eating a small amount of dark chocolate every day for just two weeks could reduce the risk of heart disease. Common folks! Say Cheers!! According to the study, a couple of chunks are enough to cut high blood pressure and reduce the risk of Diabetis, both major factors in heart attacks and strokes. But folks, we have gotta make sure that we eat only dark chocolate made from cocoa rich in natural ingredients since only this chocolate has this special effects. So folks, hereafter while you are eating your favourite dark chocolate if some one advices you that it is not good for your health, tell them the above mentioned facts and force them to eat both their words and a bar of chocolates. "Social service"

FLYING ELEPHANT IN ANDAMAN

If you ever imagined flying with an elephant in a surreal world, you can surely realise your dream with the help of a male tusker called Rajan in the Andaman Islands which I saw while I was there on a tour recently. For a country that has an estimated 25,000 wild elephants and 3,500 domesticated elephants, there is always something happening with regard to the elephants. Even so, Rajan is a unique. He flies in the waters of the Bay of Bengal with the ease of a pelican in the air. He may be a majestic giant on land, but in the water he seems to transform into a weightless creature specially designed to fly in the sea. As he kicks his legs backwards, he puts out his tail and pushes out his trunk, frquently lifting it out of water for a breath of fresh air.

 When an unwary tourist comes his way, he swiftly moves away avoiding collision. The islanders think he is the only elephant who can swim in the so gracefully. Rajan is 57 years old, but his spirit seems to be that of a young elephant. He goes for a walk at 6 a.m. an returns to the nearby Barefoot Resort in the evening. When the weather is hot he goes doen to the Bay. Rajan's story goes back to 2004 when he was stranded on the Havelock island after a film shoot. His owner could not pay for the cargo vessel to ship him to a nearby island. He subsequently fell sick and the Barefoot Resort on the island took him under its care. His owner is now trying to sell him for Rs. 24,00,000 to a temple in Kerela. So the Barefoot is raising funds to save him. Rajan also does his bit. He occasionally swims with tourists and raises money. In performing the cosmic dance in tune with the twinkling sun on the water he seems to express his joy of being on the Havelock and finding his freedom.

WHISKEY OR BRANDY OR RUM...THINK BEFORE A PEG!!!

The next time you think the woman (or man) standing next to you could just be the single-most attractive looking person in the bar, gulp down gallons and gallonsof water. Alcohol distorts a person's vision, making unattractive people appear beautiful, or atleast passably attractive. When it comes to alcohol some say the more the merrier. However, that just leads to more mistakes. I'm too shy around women and having a couple of beers makes me feel like I own the room. Well, I don't mean to sound crrepy, but yes, every grl in the room starts looking hotter and within my reach.

While alcohol does lead to disinhibition, and a certain amount can help you relax, crossing the threshold of being in a normal state would make you lose control so much so that you don't care who's in front of you. With lack of better judgement, you wind up doing things inappropriate because while you may think you are aroused, your sexual desire and libido completely dies out. Rather than making the opposite (or same) sex look pretty, alcohol lowers your inhibitions. It's easier to submit to something you want at the time. That's why you see people are their honest best when they've had too much to drink. While we explore the potential of losing our higher thinking, rationality and of course our physical balance, alcohol might just be on its way to becoming the true litttle regret pill. Your (Our) call.

EAT HEALTHY, LIVE HEALTHY....

Every organism in the world live by eating. Some eat for living and some others live just for eating. But many of them doesn't know how to eat just like me. Let me just put down what my doc said to me

1) You should eat only after you are hungry which means the food you have already ate had              digested.

2) Don't eat less and don't eat more than your stomach's capacity.

3) Don't eat when you are angry or sad.

4) Don't eat fast and also make sure that you don't eat too slowly.

5) Don't eat any sweet before eating your food. If you ate the sweet first you won't feel hungry and you can't take your daily diet. Make sure that your food contains all kinda tastes.

HOSPITALS..GOING FROM BAD TO WORSE

The problems faced by patients due to the doctors' negligence is not uncommon. But until recently I have just heard them but recently I experienced a similar problem. My uncle, the sole breadwinner of his family was admitted to a famous hospital, to cure a abcess in the left thigh. He was first taken to a nearby clinic, but my aunt took him to the good hospital because it was difficult to conduct the required medical tests at different places. She was aware of the financial implicatins but there was no way around. My uncle was examined and was adviced immediate surgery and was later told to continue with the antibiotics prescribed. Even after six months the pain hadn't subsided and further tests revealed that a guage pack had been left behind while conducting the surgery. Then we took up the matter with the hospital but the hospital washed their hands off any responsiblity and said that the mishap occured due to the surgeon's fault and they had no hand in it. I sought a consumer organisation for advice and was informed about a recent ruling of the National Commission disallowing a similar defence of a hospital and holding that hospitals could not absolve from such liability, since doctors were engaged through hospitals and not due to any seperate contract between patients and doctors. Armed with these facts we approached the hospital hoping that justice would be rendered. But we are yet to receive a proper response.

All this is because hospitals work like commercial establishments and try to please their shareholders. It is high time that hospitals take their responsiblity seriously and turn accountable towards patients who repose faith in them.

FIXED MATURITY PLAN...SOUNDS NICE

Recently I read about an article stating that Indian are huge savers of money. But I feel that we don't save our money intelligently.All we Indians know is to make our money sleep in the bank lockers or in the post office. We ignore the fact that there are other worthy options to invest our money.Obviously there are people who makes intelligent investments. This post is not for them,but they don't have any harm in reading this!!

 For long term investments most of us prefer fixed deposits in any of the banks, preferably nationalised banks but the interest for our invested money in this scheme is comparitively very low. The better option for long term investments is to invest our money in mutual funds. This is getting popular among the investers because of its higher interest but there is a bit of a risk factor involved in this scheme too. For those who hate to take risks and still would like to get good returns on their investments, there is a plan called "Fixed Maturity Plan". This is nothing but a combination of the benefits of the fixed deposit plan and mutual fund plans. In this plan the money invested are used to buy Government bonds so the chances for their value to go downhill are remote which provides safety for our money. There are also numorous tax benefits one would get by investing in Fixed Maturity Plan and the interest for the money invested comes around 9.5% to 10.30% which is pretty high for a fixed deposit.

This plan is not just about positives. On the flip side unlike in fixed deposits it is not easy to open an account. It could be done so only when companies announce these plans and they don't announce them every other day, so we have to wait until they announce. But it is worth the wait. To invest our money safely in fixed deposits is a good move but when we have a better option we must certainly turn our heads towards that option

GANDHIGIRI OR VIOLENCE...CHOICE IS OURS...

The past couple of years have seen so many bitter verbal explosions in public that for the sake of our pluralistic society there is an urgent need to reinstate methods of dialogue, communication and patient listening to others. The "I've had enough, let's teach them a lesson" approach will only take us closer to the brink from wherebwe will never be able to retreat.

Every parent who struck a child knows the hollow feeling it brings even though it buys some sort of obedience or submission for a while. The truth about dealing forcefully with others- strangers and adults is no different. We may think we have won but it is only a temporary situation. The way of force, of exercising a sort of power and control over the other are all dusty roads to death. It only heightens insecurity: insecurity breeds fear: and fear leads to panic and loss of control

The way forward may not be easy. When differences drive people apart, when temperatures rise, it is easy to believe that a rapid solution lies at the end of a dagger and not a dialogue. Yet, we must think otherwise. There is a way out paved with negotiation, understanding and the strength that comes from a determination to achieve peace in our times. We don't need a better model for peace than our own Gandhiji and we are the only nation which attained independence through Non-violence.

GODS MUST BE CRAZY!!!

When some one close to you advices you to do something which you hate but is good for you, what you've gotta do? Imagine that person is the one whom you respect and whose relationship you value the most. I've been under going this trauma ever since my college is over and the close one is my uncle. He is a local businessman who would get me anything to see me happy. The problem arose when I got a job in a software company and he didn't like it. Why should he worry about where I work? Because he had heard from his friends that work in a software company is treacherous and is pressurised and he would like to see me happy. But it was my dream to enter in to a leading software firm and the person who stood  between my dream was none but my loving uncle. The most interesting fact was he was ready to get me a job with a similar salary but with less work. What should  I have done? Maybe hindsight says I should have accepted it. But things doesn't always work the way you want it to.Now since Iam jobless here he comes again.Now Iam planning to do MBA and he is asking me to assist him in his business or else work for a Mechanical company.I haven't yet decided but I hate God for bringing me to this situation.Crazy God!!!!

SPACE KEY FOR CHECK BOXES

While we are browsing through internet we may need to fill up various kinda online forms. While filling up those forms we may need to move between the tabs. Most of us know to use the tab key for this purpose. But the real problem is to fill the check boxes and bullet buttons. It will be tough to switch between the mouse and the key board ( not a problem for those who know, of course!).

But I have a solution for that (not invented by me...you'd believe that). All we have to do to fill the check boxes and bullets is to press the space key.  While pressing the space key a tick mark appears on the box and pressing it again will make the tick mark dissappear. This I hope is a very useful tip to all those ignorant guys like me.

ENJOY POWER CUTS!!!!

For the past 9 months, the disease which is torturing people in Tamil Nadu is the Power cut. First it was unannounced then the  Government said there will be no power for 5 hours in a day,now due to elections it is reduced to 2 hours a day. While everyone's talking about the menace let me come out with the positives.

1) First, there will be a big reduction in power bills. This will help people to tackle the inflation a bit.

2) There will not be any fight between the family members for the possession of TV remote.

3) No mega serial torture.

4) No sound from the nearby industries( Have a nice deep sleeep,Guys!).

5) Chance to enjoy natural breeze instead of that hot air from your fan.

6) People working in computer will have an off( If your office doesn't have a generator).

7) You can show your progress card to your dad and get his sign unscathed.

8) Your parents won't torture you asking you to study. Now you have got a reason for your low marks. Enjoy!

                  So Guys, Stop blaming the Government and start enjoying the power cuts. You may not get this chance in future.

LIVE IN: TEST IT BEFORE TRYING

Marriage is a gamble and it looks like Gen Y doesn't want to take any chances any more. So, more and more couples who are on the threshold of marriage wants to live together, assess each other's strengths' and weaknesses before saying " I do." It does appear like the trend of trial marriages- where couples who plan to wed opt out if things don't work out before a real wedding- is here to stay. While conservative India may baulk at this outrageous concept, the youngsters are rooting for it in a big way. Many marriages flop due to cultural differences which cannot be worked out. Therefore it is very important to live-in with your partner. It gives you an insight into the way you treat money, handle each other's sense of space or even deal with differences. Once the couple live-in they'd be able to pre-empt each other's reactions and also make allowances for their differences because they would be better tuned into each other after living together. With divorces on the rise, most youngsters don't want to end up with a failed marriage and feel that this is a great way to understand a prospective partner. It could also be due to the fact that the endurance level has come down in the youth and they don't realise that such short-cuts don't necessarily work. In their mind, they want to rule out all possible negativities like the partner turning out to be a psycho or a depressed individual etc. So going by the current state of affairs, this trend is here to stay despite the fact that parents are outraged by this new concept

LOOK SMART, PAY LESS

Next time when you gals go to a hair salon try the following to reduce your bills and still look gorgeous. 

1. Be honest about your bud-get with your hair salon and decide on color and maintenance beforehand.

2. Get "accent" highlights in between partial or full foil highlights.

3. Try polish changes every other week instead of full manicures or pedicures.

4. Ask your salon about training days when you can often get reduced prices on haircuts and color.

5. Book an appointment with the junior stylist on staff.

6. Try skincare regimens at home.

7. Choose spot massages, where one part of the body is focused on.

8. Take advantage of promotions and customer-loyalty programs.

9. Request free samples from the makeup counters.

10. Reward yourself with mini-splurges from time to time.

THE CRY OF THE CHILDREN...CAN'T WE DO ANYTHING???

You have heard about the French Revolution (1787), the Russian Revolution (1917) and the Chinese Revolution (1911). But do you know about the Industrial Revolution? It had a great impact in Britain especially, in the 1800s. Suddenly there was a big growth in industries. Machines were invented and more and more goods began to be produced thanks to the speed and efficiency of these machines. Lots of factories sprung up. And more and more people were required to work in them. They moved in droves from the villages (where farming no longer seemed to be enough to make a living) to the towns where they thought they would be able to earn better.Reality was very different. The towns were overcrowded, unhygienic and miserable. And, the children seemed to have the worst of it. Today, the world over, there are laws prohibiting child labour. Those days there were no such laws.

Children worked in mines, factories, as chimney-sweeps and coal bearers. Those who couldn’t find work roamed the streets, formed gangs and took to thieving (Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist gives you a graphic account of the lives of such vagabond children). In the mines they worked in cold and draughty conditions, in match factories they worked with poisonous and dangerous chemicals, and often, while working with big machines, they would get their hair, hands or legs caught in them and sometimes die of their injuries.Children as young as four or five years old were sent out to work. And work they did for long, long hours with hardly anything to eat, and certainly no fresh air or play time. Needless to say few of them had any schooling or education. The plight of these children is touchingly brought out in a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning called The cry of the children.

Things improved eventually and laws came to be passed that prevented the use of children for such hard and dangerous work. Sadly, though there are many laws protecting the rights of children to health, education and a decent life, we still see around us children doing menial jobs, dangerous chores and working as labourers.How many times have you seen young boys rushing around the shops serving tea, cleaning the tables or polishing your shoes? Shouldn’t they be in school like us?

                            Think about it and see if you can make a difference in their lives

HELLO AND GOODBYE DOOMED!!

Ocean’s 13”, the opening scene. The movie starts with a robbery at a store. Seconds before breaking open the vault, Rusty’s (Brad Pitt) rings and he answers it with a, “yeah”. Look at any number of movies, and notice the phone conversations. People just don’t say “hello” any more.Whether it is the movies that started the trend, or popular phone culture that prompted the shift in movies, “hello”, the most common verbal greeting in English-speaking countries, is being slowly relegated to history.Young people are forever looking for ways to rebel against the cut and dried rules that go with languages and any breakthroughs in the use of language would usually come from the young and the restless. The greeting can depend on various factors, including the attitude of the caller, whether the number is known, how busy the person at that moment, the location and the current relationship with the caller. Sometimes you can just say, ‘Man'.People tend to take more liberties with the greeting if the caller is someone they are comfortable with. The dudes said they tend to go give traditional salutations the go by if the caller happens to be a close friend. “Well, I’d usually pick up the call and go like, ‘Wassup!’ or ‘Yeah, temme...’ If it’s a friend calling after a long time, conversations usually start with, ‘Finally!’ or ‘Are you alive?’”“I generally say ‘Where are you?’ if it’s a close friend or if the call is expected. It depends on who is calling and the situation,”.

It is also not just the greeting that has undergone an overhaul. Even the traditional farewell phrase, ‘goodbye’ hasn’t survived the vicissitudes of popular language. It is increasingly being substituted with more popular phrases such as — ‘take care’, ‘later’ etc.Remember the 1968 Doors song, which had Jim Morrison crooning “Hello, I love you”? Ever wondered how the song would go if it were to be remixed today?

HANDLE MOBILES WITH CARE DUDES!!

We all own mobile phones don’t we? Maybe you are looking at one right now. Either admiring it or thinking you must update your farewell. Are you sure you know how to use the gadget? Talking about mobile phones, let’s begin with how to talk into a mobile phone. Or let me give you a small pointer about mobile etiquette...an incident might help, right?Just a few days ago I was sitting with family at a popular eat out. Behind me was a pretty girl looking impatient obviously waiting for some one. After a few minutes she picks up the phone and asking quite loudly in a sugar coated voice, drawing circles with her fingers on the table “where are you? Am waiting…” I just had this weird smile plastered over my face when I caught my mum looking at me saying “Why do they have to be so loud? Is this why they have mobiles….” then I drift off.

Are you thinking whether you are loud too? Perhaps a way to deal with this is to hold the phone away from your ear and closest to your mouth so that only you and the caller hear the conversation. It can be particularly embarrassing for everyone around you. Now let me draw your attention to yet another rather unpleasant incident. Isn’t it quite normal to borrow phones to make a call just because the call rates may be lower on your friends mobile or when your phone just went dead?That is perfectly alright provided you wiped the phone before you returned it. Hmm…You haven’t done that right?Well imagine how repulsive it can be when you would have spat over the mouthpiece of else’s phone while conversing? In fact recent research points out those acne outbursts on that good-looking face of yours could be directly transmitted by the lakhs of bacteria that live in your phone. are harbouring inside your phone. talky device. That brings us to the smses. I don’t know how many of you are fond of receiving those unlimited senseless forwards especially the ones that tell you that you come from animal planet...You are ugly...and the ones that say that you are just blessed to have the sender as your friend...yeah. Right! Neither are they original nor do they make any sense whatever. I am sure all of us get irritated when they come at an odd time when we are expecting an important message or we are in the worst of moods.Once it so happened that my friend who regularly sends me forwards just send me a forward with a “goodnight” at eight in the morning. I called him up and said that he should have taken minimum care to delete the goodnight!Oh… and don’t even think of saying to these regular forwarders that you loved a particular message. Because they will ensure that they spam your inbox!!The story doesn’t end with the ownership of latest N-series what really matters is decorum and the manner in which you handle your savvy-device is what really brings out the pizzazz in your cellular suite.Make sure you have your etiquette in place because if you don’t, you know who’s watching you!

WHEN YOU HOST A DINNER....

Hosting a dinner for friends or going over to a friend’s place for a party is hardly a formal occasion. It is comfortable company, and the atmosphere is more relaxed. Yet, some rules of etiquette apply. As a host/hostess one needs to follow certain guidelines which will help in maintaining and strengthening the bond of friendship.

1 Discuss with your friends the date and time of the party, keeping in mind their availability and convenience.
2 Extend your invitations, naming all the people you wish to invite. Even if you take their presence for granted, you must invite them personally.
3 If friends offer to help, you may delegate responsibilities.
4 During the party, introduce them to the newer guests.
5 Never act too familiar or criticise them in the company of other guests.
6 Do not speak about their personal issues or problems at the party. For instance: Have you found a job? Has your daughter/son found a suitable boy/girl etc...
7 Do thank them and see them off with courtesy.

As a guest,

1 Offer to help wherever necessary, like decorating the house, setting the table etc.
2 If there is a shortage of staff then offer to bring yours along or help in the kitchen.
3 The least you can do is, not order the host/hostess around. Also take care of your family members.
4 As a friend and guest, carry a gift for the hosts (flowers,chocolates etc).
5 Do not criticise the food or pass negative comments on any arrangement.
6 Do not gossip in the presence of other guests.
7 Try your best to keep the party spirited and make your contribution worthwhile.

HAVE A COOL TEE SHIRT....OR A T-SHIRT MAYBE..

Ultra light is the word that best defines why teenagers love cool tees. Tees are our best friend in summer and when the question of T-shirts for girls arises, no one an question their comfort level. It’s not just a question of fabrics and colours, but of style, because everyone loves to feel fresh and light. And what can be better than flaunting an interesting one-liner on your chest?

Sporty Puma
Complete your stylish and sporty look with this brand which has grown to compete on the same level as some of the world’s largest brands in sports apparel and footwear since 1924. Puma offers all that you want from flowers and samba colours to tango black and red, white frills, siesta lace and so much more. Just walk into a Puma store and find what you need to give yourself a sporty yet elegant look.

Tantra mantra
Tantra is by far the most popular brand for T-shirts among teens and with its cult styling it has captured the imagination of T-shirt lovers in India. Tantra, an alternative form of casual wear, comes in some of the best sizes and patterns, with cool logos, which help you speak your mind through your T-shirt. It’s not a brand, it’s an ‘anti-brand’.

Rocking Reebok 
Reebok offers the best sport and gym wear. If you don’t have sporty tees to wear while working out, this brand has everything for you.

Perfect Miss Players
Be free-spirited with Miss Players’ feminine collection. The cool, comfortable and stylish collection of T-shirts this brand offers is a perfect tribute to the spirit of the new-age woman. Targeted at the vivacious young woman between 18-25 years, Miss Players offers a vibrant collection of tees with chic work-wear and cool casual-wear in earthy browns, pale pinks, fresh whites, sunshine yellows and emerald greens.

Stylish UCB
The United Colors of Benetton has done it again. The popular brand offers a great variety of teen tees to pick from. What makes it different is the range of tees starting from the code breaking urban tennis look to cool hues. It offers casual T-shirts with high-fashion cuts.

GO PEARL HUNTING......

Everyone’s in a pearly mood. The return of pearls is making a huge comeback. The trend dictators are reviving the pearl era created by priestesses of fashion like Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana, Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. So, ladies gear up for some pearl action!
Women in power are just drooling over pearls; recently Hillary Clinton sizzled the house with her sparkling pearls. Pearls are the fashion accessory of choice for prominent females in politics. Even Madeleine M Kunin’s new book on women in US politics is called Pearls, Politics and Power.
You can flaunt your pearls even with an Armani or Versace pantsuit. That’s why even Indra Nooyi never forgets to wear her pearl string necklace and earrings with her business suit. Pearls project a balance of both, power and beauty, that’s why it’s a must-have for all power-dressers. Pearls are subtle, yet they make a powerful style statement.
Be it a sari or a funky short dress, pearls are your perfect companion. They have a great rapport with the sari and even Maharani Gayatri Devi never steps out without her shimmering pearls. Personally I love Baroque and south sea pearls. You can wear them with an exquisitely embroidered sari. Forget the bling; we’re bringing back the old Hollywood glamour with pearls. Who can forget the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, in which Audrey Hepburn wore a Givenchy black dress and teamed it up with three strands of white pearls and crystal pendant.
Recently, Michelle Obama was wearing power pearls, interestingly her pearls were bigger than Condoleezza Rice’s, they became talk of the town and concern for the whole nation. One big pearl, be it Akoya, Tahitian, freshwater or south sea pearls and all eyes can be on you. Big pearls are in fashion and a single string of graded pearls in white and crème is must have. But if you’re skinny and lean, then the big ones won’t suit you.

BEFORE HEADING TO A INTERVIEW.......

Though much has been said about the cuts and folds, dos and don’ts of ladies’ officewear, there is little light on what the men should be wearing for office. We ask those in the know on how to walk into your office with style, and stay that way... without raising eyebrows.
It’s difficult to go wrong with formal pants. Just dark, solid colours can make it. However, Don’t ruin your look by faux pas like bulging pockets or wearing your pants too high. Also, be true to your frame while buying them. If you’re in a youngster-friendly company which doesn’t mind being ‘casual’, you still have to control the collegian in you. Though you may love heading to work with minimum luggage in hand and all your tools – cell, diary, water bottle and tabloid – stacked into innumerable pockets of your cargos, be prepared to be taken lightly at the cubicle. Roll up your sleeves to three-fourth level or team a short sleeve shirt with denims. A silhouette of six pockets under a chic formal shirt is the international cool factor now.
Sometimes, your belts, bags, watches and shoes will let out more than you can imagine. Mind them, Sling bags in leather or rexene offset by contrast trims worn across the shoulder is the perfect option for young professionals on the move. As for your footwear, pick a pair in a basic neutral colour such as beige or brown for easy combinations with your wardrobe”. Whether it's your wallet or your laptop bag, go the classical way to appear serious yet smart. Chunky belts and loose metallic watches are a no-no. Keep the wedding band on, but let go of the Goa beads and thumb rings.
Most of us do not get more than 45 seconds every morning to style our manes, but we can do better if we give it a thought. In office, it’s only logical to style your hair according to the season, “like a shorter crop for summers.”
What about those who can’t live without long manes? Long hair should be gelled and brushed back neatly. And please, only black rubber bands!, knowing that men with long hair can create an impression of being flippant. Unless you have greys, stay away from colour. Why invite undue attention to your hair at a place where you want people to listen to you? Also, keep the stubble till it looks like one, and not like the result of a rushed morning. Your beard should be neatly trimmed and combed. Use a product to keep it in place if you have to. 

HAVE A COFFEE AFTER WORKING OUT!!!!

Drinking coffee after a workout can help refuel muscles and recover quickly from rigorous exercising.
Glycogen, the muscle's primary fuel source during exercise, is replenished more rapidly when athletes ingest both carbohydrate and caffeine after rigorous exercise, thus improving their performance.
The researchers found that athletes who ingested caffeine with carbohydrate had 66pct more glycogen in their muscles four hours after finishing intense, glycogen-depleting exercise, compared to when they consumed carbohydrate alone. "If you have 66% more fuel for the next day's training or competition, there is absolutely no question you will go farther or faster," said Dr. Hawley, the study's senior author.

Despite coffee, caffeine is also present in common foods and beverages, including, tea, chocolate and cola drinks. The study involved seven well-trained endurance cyclists, wherein they were asked to ride a cycle ergometer until exhaustion, and then consume a low-carbohydrate dinner before going home.
The study was conducted in four sessions. This exercise reduced the athletes' muscle glycogen stores prior to the experimental trial. The athletes did not eat again until the next day for the second session, when they again cycled until exhaustion. The participants were given a drink that contained carbohydrate alone or carbohydrate plus caffeine and rested in the laboratory for four hours. Both the processes were repeated 7-10 days later.
The researchers found that one hour after exercise, muscle glycogen levels had been refilled to the same extent whether or not the athlete had the drink containing carbohydrate and caffeine or carbohydrate only. However, four hours after exercise, the drink containing caffeine resulted in 66 pct higher glycogen levels compared to the carbohydrate-only drink and caffeinated drink resulted in higher levels of blood glucose and plasma insulin. Several signalling proteins believed to play a role in glucose transport into the muscle also elevated to a greater extent after the athletes ingested the carbohydrate-plus-caffeine drink, compared to the carbohydrate-only drink. But the researchers warned that athletes who want to incorporate caffeine into their workouts should experiment during training sessions well in advance of an important competition to find out what works for them.

HAVE A NICE SCRUB ON YOUR FACE

No matter how meticulous you are with the cleanse, tone and moisturise routine, exfoliation has to be part of the deal. How else will the layer of dead cells on your skin be kissed goodbye in exchange for new skin cells that will grow in their place, hence leading to fresh and supple-looking skin.It is essential for one to exfoliate at least once a week. While using a face scrub, squeeze a pea-sized amount onto your palm and rub it on wet skin in a circular motion. Do it gently so that just the dead cells are removed from the top layer of the skin and the skin is not left irritated.Many of us are content using a scrub on the face, and go on to neglect the rest of the body. But using a good scrub for hands and legs and the back is as important as the face regime. Every pedicure must include a scrub so that the feet are exfoliated well. Any activity that involves a fair use of hands leads to stressed-out skin, more so if the individual work for long hours in the kitchen or is an artist. Hands look younger too when a scrub is used on them regularly. Sometimes, one is too lazy to use a scrub on the face or body. Only when you use it, will you know the benefits,It leaves your skin feeling truly silky and what can be nicer.The elbows, back, shoulders, knees and buttocks seem to be areas that are often neglected. Using a scrub helps buff the skin and is necessary.

A loofah, a bath sponge or bath gloves can be used for the same. The texture of these further assist the buffing process. The skin in these areas is more sensitive compared to the rest of the body. So take care to be extra gentle with the process of exfoliation. There are scrubs to suit different skin types and made differently for the face and other parts of the body. What has been created for the body may prove irritable for the face due to its abrasive nature .To make things less complicated, manufacturers have come out with soaps containing scrubs that perform the dual action of cleansing and exfoliating. Similarly, shower gels and face washes also contain a scrub these days.Some scrubs come with exotic ingredients on the lines of dead sea salt minerals, volcanic rock, cocoa, strawberry, pink grapefruit, Moroccan clay, coconut, figs and passion fruit apart from the usual walnut and apricot.If you are getting a massage in a salon, then be prepared to encounter even more fascinating ingredients. The dead sea mineral scrub is very popular with many.Using a combination of ingredients in scrubs can have greater benefits than just smooth and glowing skin. A coffee and pepper scrub is opted for by those looking for anti-cellulite treatment. Similarly, the seaweed-cinnamon scrub helps the skin go through complete detoxification,".Whichever scrub you choose for yourself, always follow exfoliation with an enriching moisturiser to replenish the natural moisture in the skin that excessive exfoliation can take away.

BREAK UP HUH??? DON'T WORRY.....

Finding it hard to get over a break-up? Well, then all you need to do is follow these simple tips, for they will help put the spring back into you.
Following are the ten best cures for a broken heart.

1. Eat well
A diet high in complex cabs, omega-3 and vitamin C will boost your levels of serotonin, which helps fight fatigue and depression.

2. Go for a walk
A good walk in the fresh air can help clear the mind.

3. Spa retreat
It's a great way to relax your mind and work away any pent-up tension.

4. Plan a holiday
Pack your bag and take yourself on the trip of a lifetime.

5. Exercise
Exercise can help release endorphins in the body. These are the very same chemicals released in the body at the point of orgasm, which give that feeling of euphoria.

6. Clear the clutter
Getting rid of those old love-notes and cosy photos is extremely cathartic.

7. Learn a language
Learning a new language is a great way of meeting new people and broadening your horizons, as well as helping you out of a mental rut.

8. Write it down
Writing down your thoughts on paper is a great way of working through emotions.

9. Chocolate
Chocolate is a true ''positive indulgence''.

10. New outfit
A new outfit can give you a new lease of life, at least in the short term. 

RENGANATHAN STREET....GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE

T. Nagar, Renganathan Street…… Anyone living in Tamil Nadu would be aware of this landmark. The recent fire accident in the famous Saravana Stores has made sure that all Indians are aware of this street. The accident happened early in the morning and if it had been a bit late, it would have been a calamity and it would have been popular all over the world. GOD… I was in that shop two days ago accompanying my parents and today that shop is under ruins. Imagine a 35 feet road where at any given time there are about 25000 people traversing. Baffling figures!!! According to Chennai corporation due to encroachments the width now stands at 25 feet. Even the number of workers working in the shop located in that street would amount to over 1000. In a street where the daily business would run in crores, there is no proper toilet facility. There is no parking facility in any of the shops here and Jesus, there are no emergency exits even! All these statistics were submitted in court two years ago and no action was taken till now. The condition will remain so even after 10 years because money plays big game here.

ANOTHER ECONOMIC DEPRESSION...BUT WHY???

The newspapers and news channels are all full of the mayhem in the financial world. In the past few months almost all the stock markets around the globe have crashed incurring huge losses for their investors.Many have lost their jobs.Even I was one of them!!! But what triggered the downslide? Let’s take a look…
It all started when two of world’s largest financial institutions — Lehman Brothers and Merill Lynch booked heavy losses due to their over exposure in ‘risky assets’. They had invested heavily in the real estate sector but due to the sub-prime crisis in the US over the past few months, the property market took a nose dive which was contrary to what these banks had expected. Sub-prime refers to a loan given to a borrower who does not qualify for a regular home loan, because of a poor credit record, low income and/or no job security.
The bottom line was that the US Congress was left looking at the lending practices of these financial institutions that had almost conned millions of people into homes they really could not afford. However, the loans were already in place and defaults on mortgages put pressure on the banks sending the economy into a tailspin. And even though banks and mortgage lenders scrambled for creative ways to keep people in their homes, the sup-prime market was teetering.
Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch gave out loans which became bad debts and these coupled with high unemployment resulted in major losses of income across the US economy.
The banks and mortgage lenders scrambled for money to keep afloat. Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch, were left holding billions of dollars worth of useless securities and looked for a rescue. Merrill found a buyer in Bank of America. No one wanted to touch Lehman Brothers, which finally went with a begging bowl to the government. The government refused, and as a result, Lehman declared bankruptcy.
Another company almost went under. It is AIG, the biggest insurer in the US, which had issued insurance cover to mortgage and housing finance companies against payment defaults by people who had taken loans from them to buy homes. Even AIG looked for help from the government. The Bush administration first refused. But then this is Presidential election year in the US and the government soon realised the potential damage it could cause to the Republican Party’s prospects in the election if AIG went down like another Titanic, taking with it millions of Americans.
So,when will the economy start its upward swing??? Hold your breath guys!!Experts says it might take atleast a year for the economy to get back to normalcy.Lets wait for the best....

Life moves on......

Life plays many a game,some of them pretty much tricky...Sounds philosophical eh???...Ya might be!!Just back home after 5 gruelling(!!) months in Infosys..Days just whizzed past..What did I achieve in these 5 months??Some bucks?maybe!!..Friends??Yup..Lot of them...But the most important of them all is I have learnt what life is all about..How difficult it is to be in a corporate world,How things work there..Yup,its different from what I have thought..I have grown from a boy to a Man.Now I have to move on..Life moves on.

My first post

This being my first post,I would not like to bore u guys with a pretty long one.This blog was created with a sole purpose of expressing my view to the outside world.Before getting much in to the details a brief introduction about myself.Iam Stalin,a Mechanical Engineering Graduate presently preparing for MBA,2010.!!!Let me get started........