Holy month of Ramadan begins today at sunset

Sunset today will mark the beginning of the month of Ramadan for the world’s 1.2 billion Muslims -- a special time of fasting, spiritual reflection and togetherness. For Muslims in Turkey, the advent of the month means an increase in worship, social gatherings and community events in addition to the perpetuation of age-old traditions and customs.

Ramadan is the holiest month of the year in the Islamic calendar, on the merits of it being the month in which the Muslim holy book, the Quran, began to be revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. However, the month is perhaps best known because for Muslims it is the month of fasting, one of the five pillars of Islamic practice.

As the Islamic (Hijri) calendar is lunar-based, Ramadan begins about 10 days earlier each year. This year the fast will begin amidst a scorching August, and the long summer days mean that the first fasts -- observed from dawn until sunset -- will be about 16 hours long. In the Islamic tradition, fasting involves abstention from food, drink (including water) and sexual intercourse from daybreak until sunset. It is also recommended that fasters put forth extra effort to avoid sins, such as lying and cheating, during the holy month. Muslims who are sick or have a medical or physical condition that would make fasting harmful for them (such as pregnancy, diabetes or mental illness) are religiously exempted from fasting Ramadan.

A typical day for a faster in Turkey begins before dawn with suhur, a pre-dawn meal eaten to fortify an individual for the upcoming day without food or drink. The fasting individual abstains from food, drink and sex until after the sun has set, whereupon they partake of a fast-breaking meal known as iftar. The iftar marks the end of a day’s fast and leaves the worshipper free of the restrictions of the daytime (except, of course, for sinning) until the next dawn. Suhur and iftar meals are generally eaten in company if at all possible, whether in family homes, school dorms or workplaces. In Turkey there are many special dishes and drinks that are traditionally prepared during Ramadan, such as güllaç and Ramazan pidesi.


For Muslims in Turkey, the advent of Ramadan means an increase in worship, social gatherings and community events in addition to the perpetuation of age-old traditions and customs.

Fasting is a physical act with deep intended spiritual meaning, as fasters take a step toward understanding people in need by depriving themselves of essentials -- like food and water -- for a brief period of time. In addition to fasting, many observant Muslims spend more time during this month focusing on the Quran and performing extra prayers, as Ramadan is known as well as a great time of forgiveness from God for transgressions.

At mosques, believers gather nightly for a special prayer performed only during Ramadan -- terawih. Preferably offered in congregation, the prayers precede each day of fasting. As days in the Islamic calendar begin at sunset, tonight will be the first night of terawih prayers at mosques, preceding tomorrow’s first fast.

Although focused around a serious spiritual element, in Turkey Ramadan is also a time of festivity. Friends and relatives visit one another frequently for iftar dinners and even suhur meals, and municipalities and civil society organizations organize iftars, festivals, book fairs and other activities for children and adults after the sun has set.

Charity is also a major characteristic of this month -- believers with sufficient financial resources must donate a minimum amount in charity (this year around TL 7), but many donate much more than this, and Turkish charity groups organize successful drives for monetary and food aid that is distributed in Turkey and around the world during Ramadan. Many individuals, businesses and even municipalities also host public iftars to feed those who are unable to afford a decent iftar meal.

Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new moon, and ends with the sighting of the new moon that marks the beginning of the next month in the Islamic calendar, Shawwal. The holy month culminates with a three-day holiday, Eid al-Fitr, known as Ramazan Bayramı in Turkish. On the first day, believers gather at mosques in the morning for a special prayer, before dispersing to visit family and friends. Small amounts of money and sweets are distributed to children, and in Turkey schools and official institutions have the entire break off, while many businesses are closed on at least one of the three days.

What should be your Priority: Build Muscle or Lose Flab?

You are so desperate to get rid of that abhorrent flab in the body.
Okay, this if fine. But now, you also want to put on muscle. And the problem is that you can't possibly achieve the two goals at the same time. So how do you go about the entire thing then?
Well the answer to this question can be a bit tricky. It totally depends on two things: a) your honest assessment of what you look like now and b) what you hope to look like in the not-too-distant future. Every guy wants to look like the award-winning bodybuilder on the day of the contest. But the fact is that even seasoned bodybuilders don't look the same every time of the year. Experts say that professional bodybuilders usually build up a lot of muscle before cutting down and dehydrating just before a contest.

Know your Goal
What you really want to do is carve a physique with which you can love day in and day out. It should be sustainable. Take a look at yourself in the mirror: Do you have a decent amount of muscle but too much fat? Or are you pretty defined but lack any real muscle? Once the goal has been determined, your next step is to kick-start a disciplined fitness-and-nutrition plan that will change your strength accordingly. If you have respectable strength, then go straight for a cutting programme. If you've got a six-pack but want to get bigger, you're going to have to put on some fat along with that new muscle.
First, Get the Diet Right
If your goal is to get lean, you must consume six small-and-balanced meals/snacks every two to three hours in a day. The meals should be rich in protein and should contain low-glycemic carbohydrates. Take extra care to incorporate fruits, lots of veggies, fiber-rich foods and plenty of water in these meals.
If your goal is to build some muscle, experts recommend at least 2 grams of protein per kilo of body weight. Those six meals per day must be sizable, and one should include a post-workout whey protein recovery shake. While you don't need to eat as clean (very less fat, no junk) as those trying to shed pounds, you must carefully aim for a nutrient-rich diet. Even if you're consuming calorie-rich foods, make sure that they also have some nutrients. For example, you should go for “paneer tikka” rather than “shahi paneer”. Make sure that you don't miss workouts because with all that food, your body will be generating both muscle and fat, and intense workouts will be instrumental in ensuring that much of it is the hard stuff.

Now: Build Strength or Burn Fat
Strength building is all about hoisting heavy weights approximately three workouts a week. A good (and balanced) idea will be to have a variety. You can do a push day (chest, shoulder and triceps), a pull day (back and biceps) and a leg day. Consider major compound moves (involving more than one muscle group), such as bench presses, incline presses, military presses and triceps presses on push days; pull-ups, deadlifts, back rows and straight bar curls on pull days; and squats and lunges on leg days. Make sure you rest for 2 to 3 minutes between sets. And we strongly recommend doing all this under the supervision of a well-qualified trainer, especially if haven't spent much time in the gym in the past.

Now the fat-burning programme is not so different from this, it's just that everything is done at a faster pace and with a higher rep rate (repetition rate). While you'll still do three workouts a week, the breakdown will be chest/back, shoulders/arms and legs, which more freely allows you to superset exercises. For example, if you're doing three supersets of push-ups/deadlifts, you'll do the two exercises back-to-back (one superset) and rest 45 seconds between each superset. Aim to get at least 15 reps per exercise, per superset.

MTV music awards gets record 12.4 million viewers

The buzz-heavy 2011 Video Music Awards scored the biggest audience in MTV's history, MTV said on Monday.
MTV, owned by Viacom, said that a record-breaking 12.4 million people watched Sunday's live performance and awards ceremony from Los Angeles, where Beyonce revealed she was pregnant with her first child, Lady Gaga appeared in drag, and the late British singer Amy Winehouse was remembered in a moving tribute.
Last year's MTV Video Music Awards ceremony -- where Gaga appeared in a dress made of raw meat -- drew 11.4 million viewers -- the biggest audience since 2002.
MTV said that 8.5 million of those watching Sunday's show were 12-34 year-olds, making it the most watched telecast of all time in that age group.
Katy Perry and Adele were the biggest winners, taking home three awards each, but it was Beyonce who was the story of the night.
"Beyonce stole everyone's thunder by revealing she was pregnant," said Billboard. Entertainment Weekly said the singer's baby bump was the "one defining moment" of the evening.
Other reviewers and online fans highlighted the salute by Bruno Mars, Tony Bennett and Russell Brand to Winehouse, 27, who died of still to be determined causes in London in July, and a simple, effects-free performance by Britain's Adele.
The Los Angeles Times said Chris Brown's "career rehab" performance -- following his 2009 conviction for assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna -- was also a strong moment in what was "a wildly inconsistent evening."
The VMA show was broadcast on Sunday without a traditional host linking the various acts and presentations, but few critics seemed to lament the omission.

MTV said its pre-show, featuring red carpet arrivals and celebrity interviews, also fared well with audiences, drawing 7.3 million viewers -- a 16 percent increase on last year.

MTV music awards gets record 12.4 million viewers

The buzz-heavy 2011 Video Music Awards scored the biggest audience in MTV's history, MTV said on Monday.
MTV, owned by Viacom, said that a record-breaking 12.4 million people watched Sunday's live performance and awards ceremony from Los Angeles, where Beyonce revealed she was pregnant with her first child, Lady Gaga appeared in drag, and the late British singer Amy Winehouse was remembered in a moving tribute.
Last year's MTV Video Music Awards ceremony -- where Gaga appeared in a dress made of raw meat -- drew 11.4 million viewers -- the biggest audience since 2002.
MTV said that 8.5 million of those watching Sunday's show were 12-34 year-olds, making it the most watched telecast of all time in that age group.
Katy Perry and Adele were the biggest winners, taking home three awards each, but it was Beyonce who was the story of the night.
"Beyonce stole everyone's thunder by revealing she was pregnant," said Billboard. Entertainment Weekly said the singer's baby bump was the "one defining moment" of the evening.
Other reviewers and online fans highlighted the salute by Bruno Mars, Tony Bennett and Russell Brand to Winehouse, 27, who died of still to be determined causes in London in July, and a simple, effects-free performance by Britain's Adele.
The Los Angeles Times said Chris Brown's "career rehab" performance -- following his 2009 conviction for assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna -- was also a strong moment in what was "a wildly inconsistent evening."
The VMA show was broadcast on Sunday without a traditional host linking the various acts and presentations, but few critics seemed to lament the omission.

MTV said its pre-show, featuring red carpet arrivals and celebrity interviews, also fared well with audiences, drawing 7.3 million viewers -- a 16 percent increase on last year.

MTV music awards gets record 12.4 million viewers

The buzz-heavy 2011 Video Music Awards scored the biggest audience in MTV's history, MTV said on Monday.
MTV, owned by Viacom, said that a record-breaking 12.4 million people watched Sunday's live performance and awards ceremony from Los Angeles, where Beyonce revealed she was pregnant with her first child, Lady Gaga appeared in drag, and the late British singer Amy Winehouse was remembered in a moving tribute.
Last year's MTV Video Music Awards ceremony -- where Gaga appeared in a dress made of raw meat -- drew 11.4 million viewers -- the biggest audience since 2002.
MTV said that 8.5 million of those watching Sunday's show were 12-34 year-olds, making it the most watched telecast of all time in that age group.
Katy Perry and Adele were the biggest winners, taking home three awards each, but it was Beyonce who was the story of the night.
"Beyonce stole everyone's thunder by revealing she was pregnant," said Billboard. Entertainment Weekly said the singer's baby bump was the "one defining moment" of the evening.
Other reviewers and online fans highlighted the salute by Bruno Mars, Tony Bennett and Russell Brand to Winehouse, 27, who died of still to be determined causes in London in July, and a simple, effects-free performance by Britain's Adele.
The Los Angeles Times said Chris Brown's "career rehab" performance -- following his 2009 conviction for assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna -- was also a strong moment in what was "a wildly inconsistent evening."
The VMA show was broadcast on Sunday without a traditional host linking the various acts and presentations, but few critics seemed to lament the omission.

MTV said its pre-show, featuring red carpet arrivals and celebrity interviews, also fared well with audiences, drawing 7.3 million viewers -- a 16 percent increase on last year.

Interesting Facts About Michael Jackson

It has been two years since Michael Jackson passed away but his glory has not at all faded from our hearts and minds.
Hailed all over the world as the 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson's fairytale life was always under the public scanner. Everything he did made it to the headlines while he lived, and he kept on making news even after his death. This can definitely be attributed to the impact he had and curiosity he generated on people.
On the eve of his 53rd birth anniversary, we take a look at some interesting facts about Michael Jackson.
1. Jackson was a vegetarian.
2. His iconic 'moonwalk' was inspired by street dancers. He had reportedly spotted them outside a hotel where he was staying.

3. Jackson's Billy Jean was the first video by a black artist to be aired on MTV.
4. Three of his albums, Dangerous, Thriller and Bad, are counted among the world's best-selling records of all time. Thriller still remains to be the biggest-selling album of all time.

5. He was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. He was first inducted as a member of The Jackson 5 on May 6, 1997 and as a solo artist on March 19, 2001.
6. Jackson's famous pets were a chimp called Bubbles, a ram called Mr. Tibbs, a python called Crusher, a rat called Ben and a llama named Louie. The most famous of them all was Bubbles, who was adopted from a cancer research centre in Texas. Bubbles even sat in during Jackson's recording sessions for the album Bad and also accompanied the singer on his trip to Tokyo.

7. As a child, his favorite comics were 'Rip Van Winkle' and 'The Old Man and the Sea'. His favorite cartoon character was Pinocchio and his favorite superhero– Morph from the 'X-Men'.
8. Jackson allegedly used to sleep in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber in order to enhance his beauty and slow down the aging process.

9. In 1984, during the filming of a Pepsi advertisement, Jackson sustained second-degree burns to his scalp after his hair caught fire due to an explosion.
10. MC Hammer once challenged Jackson to a dance off. Michael retorted back saying, "I've seen your videos and every single dance move you use, you got off me."

11. Jackson's performance during the half-time of the 1993 Super Bowl attracted the largest TV audience in American history.
12. He had several nicknames like 'The Gloved One', 'Wacko Jacko', 'Jacko', 'The King of Pop', and 'MJ' given to him by the media. He was called 'Smelly' by his close friends. The one he detested was 'Wacko Jacko'.

13. Jackson drank Ricola candy dissolved in hot water as a pre-concert ritual. It apparently made his singing voice and throat clear.
14. An obsessed Jackson fan from France committed suicide in 1984 after his mother refused to allow him to undergo surgery in a bid to look like the star himself.

15. Michael Jackson owns the patent for the shoe device that allows performers to 'lean forward' appearing to defy gravity à la Smooth Criminal.

Now, Katrina is a Barbie Doll

British-born actress Katrina Kaif, whose face will now adorn Barbie dolls, says contrary to what people believe her Barbie is not an Indian counterpart of the international brand. She also feels that in many ways it's an endorsement of how kids connect with her.

I'd call it a fun honour. To have your face on dolls that you've played with from childhood is quite flattering. We've been in negotiation for nearly six months. It finally came together for the 50-year celebration of Barbie,' Katrina told IANS.

'Contrary to what people believe my Barbie is not an Indian counterpart of the international brand. It's an honour because I'm the first Indian to be the face of Barbie. I'll be dressed the way the Barbie is all over the world.

'Contrary to what people believe my Barbie is not an Indian counterpart of the international brand. It's an honour because I'm the first Indian to be the face of Barbie. I'll be dressed the way the Barbie is all over the world.

'And I think in many ways it's an endorsement of how kids connect with me. You can't be the face of an international doll unless kids like you. I like that. The thought that kids like me enough to make me a part of their doll collection is very gratifying,' the 24-year-old said.

With the Barbie image coming to the surface, Katrina is a little worried about the bubbly-girl image that she'd like to change.

The doll's look and dress were planned in collaboration with Katrina. 'It is quite something, if you think about it. But I'd rather not. I don't want my head to get swollen. For me, it's enough that I was chosen because I reflect a certain bubbly wholesome personality, quite contrary to the 'sexy' tag that I get in net polls and which I'm not very comfortable with,' she said.

It seems that originally it was to have been Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who was to take to the ramp as Barbie. But she has pipped by Katrina Kaif.

I thought Mere Brother Ki Dulhan was a horrible title'

After Delhi Belly, Imran Khan is all set to deliver another hit with Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, co-starring Katrina Kaif.

The actor claims that even though both films are comedies, the latter was much more demanding -- and that had nothing to do with the fact that the director Ali Abbas Zafar was a first-timer.

Khan tells Sonil Dedhia how his mother played an important part in getting him the film, and what it was like to imitate the top Khans -- Aamir, Salman and Shah Rukh -- in the title song.

Will the success of Delhi Belly have a spill-over effect on your upcoming film Mere Brother Ki Dulhan?

Our industry is such that you have to prove yourself every time. Even if you are a superstar, every film counts. If your last film is a hit, that doesn't guarantee that your next film will be a hit too. You have to prove yourself with every film because you are as good as your last film.


This is your first film with Yash Raj Films. How has the experience been?

Yash Raj is unique in that their films have a certain style, on a different scale. Mere Brother Ki Dulhan is probably the first film where I have done so much lip-synching in songs and the dance steps are choreographed.

Even the comedy is louder than the other films that I have done. I am a shy person and never thought that I would be able to carry this off. It is a typical Bollywood film. Ali Abbas Zafar has brought out a side in me which people haven't seen before.

How was your interaction with Aditya Chopra?

There are a lot of stories that Aditya Chopra does not exist. When I met him for the first time, I realised that he is for real (laughs). I was amazed by the excitement and passion that he has for making movies. He loves to watch movies and his only goal in life is to make movies. He is so dedicated that he will listen to everybody's comments and try to include them to make the film better.

Your mother Nuzhat played an important role in getting you this film.

Yes, that's true. Aditya Chopra had called me last year and said that he wanted me to meet Ali Abbas Zafar who has assisted Yash Raj in a lot of films. When I met Ali, he told me that he was making a film called Mere Brother Ki Dulhan. I thought it was a horrible title. I heard the narration of the story and it sounded like a bad story. He gave me the script and I just said that I will call him.

The script was lying in one corner when my mother found it and read it. She told me that I should read the script and do the film because it was hilarious. So I read it, and loved it. His script just won me over.



Tell us about your character in the film.

The character is not very heroic. He is a simple Dehradun boy-next-door, very relatable. He wears simple jeans, check shirt, nothing fancy about him. He is a normal guy. When you see the film you will realise that the characters do not want to hurt anyone. We have treated the film with humour and with love.

The film is about how we get into a situation where a guy starts to like his brother's dulhan and we have shown it in a way that everyone will be happy in the end.

The film is a comedy, so how different is it from Delhi Belly?

MBKD was more demanding than Delhi Belly. As I mentioned, the film required me to dance, sing, and act in a completely different manner. For me, Delhi Belly was a film in a space which I understood inherently as it's the kind of movie which I have grown up watching. With this film, I had to rely on my director to guide me.

Have you helped any friend find a dulhan?

Not a bride, but, yes, I have helped a lot of my friends find their girlfriends. And let me tell you, I have never fallen for any of my friends' girlfriends!

You have worked with a lot of first time directors. Don't you feel sceptical that the film might not work?

If I don't feel comfortable with something, then I don't associate myself with it. I have rejected a lot of new directors because I did not have faith in them. I like working with people who I understand as we are on the same wavelength. There was a time when I was a newcomer in the industry and people supported me. I think I am in a position today where I can support a newcomer and his talent.


How was it working with your co-star Ali Zafar?

When I read the script, I told Aditya Chopra and Ali Abbas Zafar that we needed someone really good in my brother's role as the character in the movie is very strong. Ali Abbas told me he was looking for Ali Zafar who was in Pakistan at that time. Our director narrated the whole story on Skype and Ali Zafar agreed to do the film. He is very funny in the film.

There were rumours that we didn't get along well on the sets which are completely baseless. Ali, Katrina and I had a very good time shooting for the film.

You are paying a tribute to the three Khans (Aamir, Salman and Shah Rukh) by copying their dance steps in one of the songs. Whose idea was it?

It was a joint idea between the director, Bosco (choreographer) and me. The idea was to pay tribute to the three Khans who have inspired us and entertained us for so many years. Any actor working in the industry today would have to acknowledge that one of the three or all three inspired them at some point of time. They inspire me a lot and it was our way of saluting them and saying thank you.

Which one did you enjoy the most?

I enjoyed doing Salman Khan's steps. His steps are signature steps.


What do you appreciate or admire most about each of the three?

I appreciate Aamir's honesty. The most important thing in his life is whatever you do, you must do it correctly. What I have always admired about Aamir and what a lot of people are jealous about is his ability to figure out the pulse of the audience. He knows what is missing and delivers it bang on. It's a mystery how he does it.

Salman Khan's charisma is beyond anything. I don't think any other star has possessed it at any point of time in their career. With other stars, people see the posters, watch the trailers and the song and will question certain things.This doesn't happen with Salman. You just put Salman's face and the name of the film on the poster and people will happily walk into the theatres to watch the film. They don't care what the film is going to be about. He is just on another planet.

What has always inspired me about Shah Rukh Khan is the level of energy he possesses. Whether it's a film or a stage show he is crackling with energy. He has a 400 volt current running through him. You don't want to take your eyes off him when he is performing.

Is there any co-star who has inspired you?

I am very inspired by Katrina. The level of dedication that she has for her work is unbelievable. Katrina came here to work in Hindi films not knowing a word of Hindi and today, she speaks clean and fluent Hindi. The way she works on her character, dialogue, dance steps and fitness is amazing. The kind of effort she puts in is more than any other co-star I have worked with.

You filed a public interest litigation in June against the Maharashtra government's decision to up the drinking age limit to 25. Have there been any developments?

I don't want to talk about it right now. I will address a press conference in a week's time.  There has been a very interesting development. The law that the government is trying to pass is not what it seems. What they have said is technically not a law.

In 2001, too, they raised the legal drinking age to 25, but it was not enforced, and everyone forgot about it. Again this year in June they said they have raised the drinking age from 21 to 25. But there's a grey area on whether it's in effect or not. And if it isn't, then the PIL is not needed. I have filed a Right To Information and I will be getting the response in a day or two.

Facebook ending Deals product after four-month test

 Facebook is getting out of the daily deals business after four months of testing, a move that may ease some competitive pressure on industry leaders Groupon and LivingSocial.
"After testing Deals for four months, we've decided to end our Deals product in the coming weeks," the company said on Friday in a statement emailed to Reuters.
"We think there is a lot of power in a social approach to driving people into local businesses," Facebook added in the statement. "We've learned a lot from our test and we'll continue to evaluate how to best serve local businesses."
Facebook, the world's largest social network, launched Facebook Deals in April, bringing competition to daily deals leader Groupon and rival LivingSocial.
Facebook started making offers in five cities and had a small sales team arranging deals with local merchants. But the company also ran offers that were set up by 11 other daily deal companies, including ReachLocal, Gilt City and Zozi.
Facebook's exit means Groupon has one less major competitor as it prepares for a $750 million initial public offering later this year.
"It is surprising that Facebook ended their deals product after just four months," said Vinicius Vacanti, co-founder of Yipit.com, which aggregates daily deals and tracks the industry. "On the other hand, Facebook Deals had been an underwhelming product and experience."
However, Facebook's decision not to pursue the business may mean the company thinks the approach lacks merit.
"The Groupon group buying phenomenon is a commodity. There are no barriers to entry. It's just not going to work because everybody offers it and therefore the margins go down," said Jeremiah Owyang, a partner at research firm Altimeter Group.
The end of Facebook Deals is "certainly good" for Groupon and other daily deal services, Vacanti said.
"I don't believe this means daily deals are not a viable business," he added. "It more suggests that large media and tech companies can't just 'turn on' daily deals and expect them to work. It has to be more thoughtfully integrated into their existing product."
Facebook stressed on Friday that it is committed to developing other products, such as Ads, Pages and Sponsored Stories, which connect local businesses with potential customers.
The company also is sticking with its Check-in Deals offering. This lets Facebook users check in at local businesses and see offers from those merchants.

"Facebook is doing some major re-thinking around local," Vacanti said.

Pictorial Review: The new Indica Vista

The new Vista shares its front fascia with its elder sibling Manza. The chrome grille and larger triple barreled head lamps make its face more aggressive.

Tata has done justice to its attempt to create a sedan class segment among hatchbacks with the Vista’s new look, best in class interior space and groundbreaking features.
The face of the car is augmented with lavish chrome package - chrome grille, chrome hood strip, chrome lining on the bumper and around the foglamps.

The chrome lines that extend to the C-Pillar don’t go all the way to the rear. Instead, there’s a mirror-polished black garnishing below the rear windshield; a chrome variant of the same would have looked better there.

The higher two variants are equipped with intelligent rear wiper - the front wipers are on and you engage the reverse gear, the rear wiper switches on automatically.
The interior is where the new Vista makes the real difference. Available in four trims, the car offers integrated six-speaker music system with steering-mounted audio controls, USB support and Bluetooth connectivity on all but the base variant.
Tata has added a new feature called Clutch-to-Start, which means you cannot crank the engine unless the clutch is fully depressed; hence there is no risk of re-cranking if engine is already running.
Petrol buyers can choose from 90PS Safire90 and 65PS Safire65, while the diesel line-up consists of a 71PS TDi and a 75PS Quadrajet.
The Tata Vista comes in 4 trim levels- LS/ GLS (base version), LX/ GLX, VX/ GVX and ZX/ GZX (top-end version) and will be offered in 6 colors, Summer Sparkle, Porcelain White, Arctic Silver, Spice Red, Brilliant Blue and Cavern Grey.
Tata has competitively priced the Vista, starting from Rs. 3.88 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi) for the Safire petrol range and from Rs. 4.79 lakhs for the Quadrajet diesel range (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The Vista's roomy cabin has dual tone theme and looks much better now. Seats provide excellent thigh, back and head support. The instrument panel stays at the centre – whether this distracts the driver or not is open to argument.

Reasons why you should go on a “Mental Vacation”

After a heavy dose of office work, socializing and technology, who wouldn't love a relaxing vacation on a beach or a peaceful hill station?
Most people are left feeling exhausted after a long week of work - which includes traveling, meetings, presentations, mails, etc. Whether it's constant connectivity to social media, your BlackBerry, or never-ending computing, it's time you keep these things aside and took a “mental vacation” for a day. And what's more? You need not pack your bags and head to the hills for this. You can go on this mental vacation from right where you are - in your own city, even in your home.

Now what is the real need for going on a mental vacation? Our obsession with many things might give us some short-lived pleasure but it only adds to the stress in the long run. In the present times, stress can be a byproduct of almost everything we do - office life, personal life, financial crisis, marital problems, poor health, long hours of work, exam pressure, and a lot more thing. We often turn ton gadgets to stay away from things which cause stress. No doubt, gadgets give provide some entertainment but in many cases they might just be diverting our attention from the real problem. The result is that we get addicted to them and the regular stress anyway remains. Preoccupation or obsession with gadgets limits communication, social interactions and offers strained relationships.
Some people turn to alcohol to escape the troubles in life. Again, it might make them feel better for a short period of time but is bound to complicate family matters, social life and ruin the health if consumed heavily day after day.

It is only prudent to turn to gadgets for increasing efficiency. Being dependent on them all the time makes you closeted and cuts you off from the real world outside. Gadgets, drugs and parties can only offer some instant fun and temporary relief from stress. As soon as the fun ends, you'll be transported back to the real world where stress would be waiting to catch hold of you, not to mention that you'll be hampering your health as well. Now as the stress gets the better of you yet again, you will be again led to the same old gadgets, alcohol and even drugs. Before this becomes a vicious circle, it's important that you break free.

Having discussed what causes stress, let us explain what exactly we mean by a mental vacation. A mental vacation essentially means spending time without all the usual distractions, usual daily business, and connecting to your thoughts and feelings. No iPad, no office, no checking mails, nothing - just for a day, take out time for yourself. This would require a lot of will and effort from your side as you have to consciously disassociate yourself with all possible distractions. In turn, this provides the much-needed strength and vitality to your inner self.

If you want you can spend the day in a park or a zoo, but you can also go on this vacation while just being in your home. Of course, you would need to talk to your family members about this in advance so that they don't create unwanted distractions. While you have to keep yourself away from unnecessary distractions, if you want you can indulge in creative activities such as writing, dancing, music, drama and sports to deal with the stress rather than relying on passive means.

You'll soon find that solitude isn't that bad.

The Help' outflexes 'Conan' to win box office

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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The maids of "The Help" proved far mightier than muscle-flexing "Conan the Barbarian" and three other new releases at the weekend box office, taking the top spot with an estimated $20.5 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales.
"The Help" rose from its second-place finish last week to the top spot with rave reviews and strong word-of-mouth buzz, distributor Walt Disney Co said on Sunday. The drama chronicles the relationships between white women in Mississippi and their black housekeepers in the 1960s.
The movie's North American (U.S. and Canadian) receipts slipped 21 percent from its debut a week earlier, an impressive hold and more than enough to beat underwhelming performances from four new films. To date, "The Help" has beat expectations by ringing up a total of $71.8 million.
"We always hoped 'The Help' would be a breath of fresh air after a busy, sequel-filled, smash-'em-up summer. The way the public's embracing it indicates that is indeed the case," said Dave Hollis, executive vice president for motion picture sales and distribution at Disney.
Last weekend's box-office leader, sci-fi movie "Rise of the Planet of the Apes," fell to second place with a projected $16.3 million domestically during its third weekend of release. Total North American sales now stand at $133.8 million for the latest take on the classic tale about genetically enhanced chimps that launch a revolution.
Of the new releases, "Spy Kids: All the Time in the World," performed the best at No. 3 with $12 million, hitting the low end of forecasts. "Given the marketplace this weekend, I'm okay with that number," said Erik Lomis, president of distribution for The Weinstein Co, which released the film.
The fourth "Spy Kids" movie was presented in "4D," with scratch-and-sniff cards to add scents throughout, and was aimed at children ages 12 and younger. "It plays and it delivers to that audience," Lomis said.
Two remakes of 1980s films -- "Conan the Barbarian" and "Fright Night" -- fell flat.
"Conan the Barbarian," a reboot of the film that launched Arnold Schwarzenegger's career, was the No. 4 movie for the weekend with $10 million, short of forecasts in the low- to-mid teens. Jason Momoa, seen recently in HBO series "Game of Thrones," plays the lead role in the updated version.
"Overall, the weekend box office was disappointing" for new films, said David Spitz, head of domestic distribution for Lionsgate, which released "Conan the Barbarian."
"Fright Night," a remake of a popular 1985 horror film, finished fifth with $8.3 million, also below pre-release estimates. It stars Colin Farrell and Anton Yelchin and was targeted partly at young adults, an audience with "a finicky nature," said Disney's Hollis. Disney released "Fright Night" and "The Help," two films produced by DreamWorks.

"One Day," a new romance starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess, landed in the No.9 spot with $5.1 million at domestic theaters. Focus Features, a unit of Comcast Corp, released "One Day."

Yahoo! India Launches Catalogue of Full Length Bollywood Movies -Free!

Facebook and Microsoft might not be Google's only competitors.
Yahoo! India launched their version of the Youtube Box Office, MoviePlex for viewing Bollywood movies, free of cost.
Previously, Youtube had announced that they were working with Lionsgate, MGM and Sony Pictures to create an on-demand catalog of movies, followed an addition of more than 3,000 mainstream movies for users to rent. These include a mix of contemporary Hollywood blockbusters, independent and foreign movies, including the likes of Oscar winning movies like 'The King's Speech' and 'Inception' alongside classics like 'Scarface' and 'Taxi Driver', available at a rental price of $2.99.
(And when we last checked, Hindustan Unilever had sponsored 'Dabangg', making the entire movie available on Dabbang's Youtube India page for Indian audiences.)

A first look at Yahoo! MoviePlex revealed a first set of 8 movies and no ads yet. The menu includes Aakrosh, Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji,Rock On!!, Rann, and Lamhaa, and Yahoo! India is working with Indian movie studios to expand the section to eventually offer "thousands of movies".

You'll need Adobe Flash for streaming the movies and a 2 MBPS speed for smooth viewing. However, users from Bengaluru and Mumbai have complained about restrictions on viewing the movies.

Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits which Disrupt Weight Loss Missions

At times, it is very difficult to kill a bad habit.
A good way out here is to replace bad habits with the good ones. Indulging in hot chocolate fudge once in a while or gorging on jalebis swimming in syrup once in a month will not make you unfit. However, if you make this a habit, then your healthy is bound to suffer.
We can fast-track our weight loss process if we get rid of unhealthy food habits. Let's see some of such habits:
Less Sleep
According to studies, partial sleep deprivation slows down your metabolism by 5-20% and alters your level of hunger hormones, making you hungrier all day. This may become a vicious cycle if you suffer from insomnia.

Eating in the Car
People travelling long distances often end up buying “ready to eat” foods like burgers, sandwiches, samosas etc. This way they end up getting their daily calorie quota in one go. If you do travel long distances, plan ahead and carry a healthy meal and a bottle of water with you.

Eating in Front of the TV
Food should be eaten patiently. One should chew properly, enjoy the flavours, textures and not just swallow it in one go. Eating in front of the TV makes you eat fast and you may not feel satisfied and might end up indulging in overeating. Same goes for eating while using a computer/laptop.
Food Rut
Even if you think that you are eating healthy, you could be stuffing yourself with too much of the same thing on a daily basis. This can again lead to gluttony which is indeed a very unhealthy habit. Try and explore different kinds of foods. Good for your taste buds and good for your health as well!

These were some of the unhealthy food habits which can throw our weight loss mission out of the gear. You must do a reality check and single out more such habits. Try this. At the end of the day, list every single thing that you did and every morsel and drop that went into your mouth, the amount of liquids you consumed, if you are a smoker, the number of cigarettes consumed etc. Also include the things you think are healthy, like drinking juice. Do this for 2-3 days and then approach a nutritionist to seek professional advice. (MensXP.com)

No Web Browsing, Facebook or Online Gaming Allowed in Government Offices!

After a Home Ministry notice to the Department of Telecom to monitor social networking sites for cyber security and intelligence,
the Union home ministry has banned officials and staff from Facebook, Google + and Twitter. Surprisingly, this notice also includes "websites of free online games” on official government computers.
This comes in the wake of cyber espionage attacks on sensitive government installations, including the servers of the Home Ministry.

The Home Ministry advisory blames “Google, Facebook and some other social networking web portals” in identifying "critical individuals” to “steal information and passwords for further espionage from the infected computer”. This was done by sending Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel File or PDF documents with titles that the target would be interested in.

These files were codes with malicious software, and “once opened, the attachment executed some of the malicious scripts and downloaded the second level of binaries from a URL. These binaries would act at the command of the attacker, including stealing some of the information and passwords for further espionage.”
All Home Ministry offices in New Delhi — at North Block, Jaisalmer House and Lok Nayak Bhavan - were sent this advisory two weeks ago.
In a lecture, National Security adviser Shivshankar Menon stated that the government is concerned with maintaining the security of critical data and networks used for storing information, referencing the 8,000 cyber attacks on the Delhi Commonwealth Games’ ticketing and scoring systems in a lecture.

Both the bureaucracy and government departments have successfully used social media to reach out to the public's concerns and woes - most visibly the Traffic Police and Municipal Corporation Facebook Pages.

mediabistro

Even personal email and computer storage devices and casual web browsing is under the purview of the new blanket ban. Further, officials have been asked to change their passwords every 15 days.

India 2011 main information.

2011 has been marked by lows and highs, gains and losses, anguish and exhilaration, despair and triumph. This has been the year that fearless whistle-blowers forced corruption out of the cracks. The year of the Jan Lokpal Bill. The year that terror reminded us of the tenacity we must summon up to fight it. The year that the World Cup came home. In telling pictures, we look at the events that defined 2011 in India.


2011 has been marked by lows and highs, gains and losses, anguish and exhilaration, despair and triumph. This has been the year that fearless whistle-blowers forced corruption out of the cracks. The year of the Jan Lokpal Bill. The year that terror reminded us of the tenacity we must summon up to fight it. The year that the World Cup came home. In telling pictures, we look at the events that defined 2011 in India.
On the night of January 14, pilgrims flocking to the hill shrine of Swami Ayyappan in Sabarimala, Kerala, were returning after witnessing the Makara Jyothi, believed to be a celestial phenomenon, when a stampede broke out in mysterious circumstances. One version of the story maintains that an SUV broke down amid the crowd of people that was trying to catch a bus and toppled over, while another holds that a collision between an autorickshaw and another vehicle triggered the stampede. Either way, it turned out to be the most horrific freak accident involving Sabarimala pilgrims in recent times, with 104 lives lost and nearly as many pilgrims injured. The dead and injured hailed from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. This was the third accident to occur during the Makara Jyothi festival and raised questions about the effective management of crowds by police and the temple authorities. About 50 million pilgrims visit Sabarimala every year in India’s largest annual pilgrimage.


2011 has been marked by lows and highs, gains and losses, anguish and exhilaration, despair and triumph. This has been the year that fearless whistle-blowers forced corruption out of the cracks. The year of the Jan Lokpal Bill. The year that terror reminded us of the tenacity we must summon up to fight it. The year that the World Cup came home. In telling pictures, we look at the events that defined 2011 in India.The arrest of Andimuthu Raja by the Central Bureau of Investigation February 2 marked a significant turn in the investigation into the 2G spectrum scam. During Raja’s tenure as Cabinet Minister for Communication and Information Technology in 2007-08, the government issued 122 new telecom licenses. These licenses were acquired in violation of rules and provisions. Bribes were paid to favor certain players who had suppressed facts, had no experience in the telecom sector, or were otherwise ineligible to be awarded licenses. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s report held Raja accountable for the sale of 2G spectrum at 2001 rates in 2008. Despite the overwhelming demand for Raja’s ouster, he clung on with support from party chief M Karunanidhi. Eventually, he resigned from the Union Cabinet in November 2010. In 2011, an investigation headed by retired judge Shivraj Patil found Raja guilty of “procedural lapses” in the sale of 2G spectrum. The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate further estimated that Raja had amassed up to Rs 3,000 crore in bribes. Raja’s dubious achievement made the cover story of TIME magazine, which ranked the 2G spectrum scam just after Watergate on the list of “Top 10 Abuses of Power”.
Pagination


2011 has been marked by lows and highs, gains and losses, anguish and exhilaration, despair and triumph. This has been the year that fearless whistle-blowers forced corruption out of the cracks. The year of the Jan Lokpal Bill. The year that terror reminded us of the tenacity we must summon up to fight it. The year that the World Cup came home. In telling pictures, we look at the events that defined 2011 in India.When India opened its 2011 ICC World Cup campaign, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni declared that he wanted to win the coveted trophy for the tournament’s most seasoned campaigner, Sachin Tendulkar. Though India opened its account with an emphatic win over co-hosts Bangladesh, the rest of the tournament turned into an anxious roller-coaster ride as India salvaged only a tie against England and lost to South Africa. Eventually, India demolished sworn rivals Pakistan in a thrilling semi-final at Mohali and beat Sri Lanka in the final at Mumbai. For Tendulkar, who scored 482 runs in the tournament, the cricket-besotted nation’s moment of glory was extra-sweet. Cricket’s cup of cheer had finally come home after 28 years.


2011 has been marked by lows and highs, gains and losses, anguish and exhilaration, despair and triumph. This has been the year that fearless whistle-blowers forced corruption out of the cracks. The year of the Jan Lokpal Bill. The year that terror reminded us of the tenacity we must summon up to fight it. The year that the World Cup came home. In telling pictures, we look at the events that defined 2011 in India.Social activist and anti-corruption crusader Kisan Baburao Hazare, popularly known as Anna Hazare, became the face of a momentous public campaign to revive the Jan Lokpal Bill. Also known as the Citizen’s Ombudsman Bill, the first Jan Lokpal Bill was introduced by advocate Shanti Bhushan in 1968 and introduced in the fourth Lok Sabha the following year. Though the Bill was tabled subsequently on nine occasions, it was never passed. Forty-two years after its introduction, the campaign for the Bill’s revival in 2011 has been accompanied by a groundswell of public support. Drafted by former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde, the Bill was championed by Hazare, yoga guru Baba Ramdev, Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan (son of the Bill’s first campaigner), RTI campaigner Arvind Kejriwal and others. The Government of India, which rejected the Hazare camp’s draft of the Jan Lokpal Bill, introduced a revised Bill for the tenth time during the Monsoon Session of the Parliament. In response Hazare announced that he will go on an indefinite fast from August 16 in protest against the government’s tabling of a “weak” Bill.


2011 has been marked by lows and highs, gains and losses, anguish and exhilaration, despair and triumph. This has been the year that fearless whistle-blowers forced corruption out of the cracks. The year of the Jan Lokpal Bill. The year that terror reminded us of the tenacity we must summon up to fight it. The year that the World Cup came home. In telling pictures, we look at the events that defined 2011 in India.Sathya Sai Baba counted among his devotees India’s most influential politicians (including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee), sportspersons (including Sachin Tendulkar), industrialists and film personalities. Hailed as a godman by his followers, who by some estimates number nearly 100 million all over the world, he became an icon for spirituality, philanthropy and education. Puttaparthi, the small Andhra Pradesh town where he was born Sathyanarayana Raju in 1926, became a magnet for his flock. Here, Sai Baba established a charitable multi-specialty hospital, schools, an airport and a university. Controversy over his powers to materialize foodstuff, gold and other objects from thin air made him the target of rationalists who ascribed such phenomena to sleight of hand and mass hysteria of enraptured devotees. In later years, his establishment came under attack over allegations of sexual abuse. However, no charges were framed. Sathya Sai Baba, who claimed to be a reincarnation of the mystic Sai Baba of Shirdi who died eight years before he was born, had predicted his own death in 2019 but died this year on April 24. He had also predicted that he would reincarnate in 2023 in a Karnataka village, though his followers believe he might return as early as next year. Following his death, his trust has been embroiled in controversy over alleged unaccounted wealth. In three rounds of inventory, nearly Rs 59 crore worth of gold, silver and cash have been recovered from various institutions under the Sathya Sai Trust.