S T E S K A : Somethings That Everyone Should Know About

Bollywood's Hollywood connection

2011-11-13T13:00:00.001+05:30

"East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet," so wrote Kipling, but when you look at these stars, you are forced to believe the other way. Meet Bollywood stars' Hollywood lookalikes!

1.Camilla Belle - Katrina Kaif:

2.Bradley Cooper - Hrithik Roshan:

3.Shammi Kapoor-Elvis Presley

Shammi Kapoor’s body language and dancing style reminded many of Elvis Presley.

4.Dev Anand-Gregory Peck :

in the fifties, when Dev Anand ruled, many noted the resemblance he bore with Hollywood actor Gregory Peck

5.Aamir Khan - Tom Hanks:

6.John Abraham - Antonio Banderas:

The effortlessly sexy look makes us put John in Zorro's league.

7.Rakhi sawant -Hafia Wehbe

Rakhi Sawant's doppelganger is not from Hollywood, but from Middle East. Haifa Wehbe - Rakhi Sawant's Lebenese 'twin' is also known for her provocative numbers. It's hard to stay goody-goody when blessed with oomph, that too in abundance.

8.Debra Messing - Pooja Batra:

9.Phillip Rhys - Tusshar kapoor:

10.Alyssa Milano -Hrishita Bhatt:

Top 5 Foods for Healthy Hair

2011-11-08T22:50:00.000+05:30

While external care (shampoo, conditioner, keeping the scalp clean etc.) are a must for keeping the hair healthy, a balanced diet containing hair-friendly nutrients is also of paramount importance.

Minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, selenium, magnesium etc. play a vital role in keeping the hair and scalp healthy. Protein is also crucial for ensuring good healthy hair growth.Protein deficiencies or low-quality protein can produce weak and brittle hair, and can eventually result in loss of hair color.

Let’s take a look at five super foods for hair:

Whole Grains

It is widely known that whole grains have more nutrients per unit than their refined counterparts. Add to this the large quantities of fibre they have which makes them really good for our digestive system. They can be easily digested, contain a lot of antioxidants and help keep chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, obesity and constipation at bay. All these qualities also make them ‘super-foods’ for healthy hair.

Vitamin C Foods

Vitamin C is brimming with collagen, a protein which helps in maintaining hair follicles, blood vessels and scalp. Fruits like oranges, lemons, pineapple, strawberries, guava etc are great sources of vitamin C. Green leafy vegetables also contain vitamin C and iron which is another great nutrient for healthy hair.

Brown Rice

It is a good source of protein and it gives your hair the shine you’ve always wanted. Apart from this, it makes you feel full for longer durations and helps suppress your hunger pangs. Brown rice is also rich in vitamins and fibre.

Dal

Legumes are widely accepted as rich sources of protein. An ½ cup serving of dal can easily offer about 6 gm of protein. Besides, dals are rich in minerals like potassium and magnesium. However, you should not solely depend on dal for your daily protein intake.

Calcium-rich Foods

Calcium is also a key nutrient for maintaining hair health. Now a lot of calcium is used up by daily wear and tear and one needs to consume adequate calcium-rich foods to replenish lost calcium. Dairy products are excellent sources of calcium. So are grains. Calcium also makes your hair shine and not to forget that it also gives you healthy, stronger bones.

IS MUMBAI HAUNTED ??

2011-10-30T14:03:00.000+05:30

Haunted Mumbai:Guess which well-known hotel is missing a 13th floor

The Trident Hotel at Nariman Point -- a victim of triskaidekaphobia.

You can’t get to the 13th floor of the Trident Hotel at Nariman Point because there isn’t one. In fact, it is not uncommon for skyscrapers in Mumbai’s commercial district -- like Hoechst, Maker Chambers and Atlanta -- to exclude 13 when numbering their floors.

However, urban legends and local superstitions in haunted Mumbai go beyond mere triskaidekaphobia.

Stories of ghosts, unexplained serial suicides, abandoned mills, haunted houses and territorial widows in white saris determined to make people’s lives miserable from the afterlife, populate a large unofficial body of local folklore.

Despite the catalog of gruesome urban legends, Mumbai is a city with its head on its shoulders; a city with too much grit to capitulate to ghost stories

Grand Paradi Towers.
No one will ever stop driving down the winding road from the Tower of Silence that offers one of the best views of the city; and the price of an apartment at Grand Paradi will surely frighten a Mumbaiker before any old story about spiteful spirits.

A spate of suicides here makes the luxurious Grand Paradi apartments one of Mumbai most notorious residential …

Arguably the most famous haunted Mumbai house is situated in one of the city’s most affluent areas.

On the eighth floor of the Grand Paradi Towers in Kemps Corner, a series of freakish suicides drew attention to what appeared to be a gruesome pattern of deaths and accidents in the building.

In 2004 an elderly couple jumped out of the window of this apartment. Their children and their grandchild followed suit within the year.

“There was something unacceptable to our rational minds that a whole family, three generations, living in one house should commit suicide in the same way," says a resident who has lived in the building for 30 years. "There have been up to 20 fatal accidents and suicides since the building was constructed in 1976. Many involving children and even a maid who either jumped or fell out of a window."

After the series of unfortunate events the building society began to believe that paranormal forces were at work.
“After the suicides of the family the building society decided to do a puja and a havan (prayer ceremonies) and since then everything has stopped but the flat remains unoccupied," another resident tell us.

Sanjay Gandhi National Park

You think this gate could keep the phantom hitchhiker out?

Located on the northern fringes of Mumbai, this large protected area is usually where visitors go in search of wildlife.

There are rumors however, that at night people see a phantom hitchhiker.
Dubious as this sounds, forest guards insist it's true.

Mukesh Mills

For nearly 30 years the derelict Mukesh Mills was used by film and television crews. It's now making way for a …

Shut down in 1980, this enormous abandoned mill in Colaba has been the shooting ground for numerous Bollywood films and advertisements.

Deserted and rundown, Mukesh Mills is a ready-made set for horror films and Gothic shows, especially considering the mills are actually considered to be haunted.

Many directors, actors and producers refuse to work here past sunset.

One television actress claimed to have had a particularly bad experience when one of her female co-stars suddenly began speaking in a manly voice, as if she were possessed, telling the crew to leave the premises immediately.

Others say this haunted Mumbai area is jinxed and people are always losing their belongings, wallets and phones.
Mukesh Mills will soon be demolished and replaced by a new high-rise residential and commercial complex and a five-star hotel.

Tower of Silence

The Tower of Silence, a Parsi temple near Bombay, circa 1955.

Sounds ominous doesn’t it? The Tower of Silence is actually a Parsi cemetery situated rather picturesquely on Malabar Hill in South Mumbai.

Custom dictates that Parsis leave the bodies of their dead for vultures to feed on.

The graphic images that come to mind lend themselves to all sorts of horrifying stories.

The winding road that leads down the hill is particularly desolate and eerie at night and the place has become recognized as a kind of ghoulish hangout.
The weird happenings at the Grand Paradi Towers for instance, were blamed on spectral forces emanating from this cemetery.

10 facts about Muammar Gaddafi

2011-10-23T13:32:00.000+05:30

Libya's deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi was injured and captured by fighters of the Libyan National Transitional Council. Here are some facts about Gaddafi:

Muammar Gaddafi was born to a Bedouin herdsman in 1942 in a tent near Sirte on the Mediterranean coast. He abandoned university geography studies for a military career that included a short spell at a British army signals school.
Muammar Gaddafi is the longest-serving leader in both Africa and the Arab world, having ruled Libya since he toppled King Idris I in a bloodless coup at the age of 27.
Muammar Gaddafi embraced the pan-Arabism and tried without success to merge Libya, Egypt and Syria into a federation. A similar attempt by him to join Libya and Tunisia also ended in acrimony.
In 1977 he changed the country's name to the Great Socialist Popular Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah (State of the Masses) and allowed people to air their views at people's congresses
Gaddafi was shunned internationally because the West accused him of terrorism, abandoned his programme of prohibited weapons in 2003 to return Libya into international mainstream politics
UN sanctions, imposed in 1992 to pressure Tripoli to hand over two Libyan suspects for trial for the 1988 Lockerbie airliner bombing over Scotland, crippled oil-rich Libya's economy, dampened Gaddafi's revolutionary spirit and took the sting out of his anti-capitalist, anti-Western rhetoric.
In September 2004, US President George W. Bush formally ended a trade embargo as a result of Gaddafi's scrapping of the arms programme and taking responsibility for Lockerbie.
In August 2006, Gaddafi made a series of speeches scolding his nation for over-reliance on petroleum, foreigners and imports and telling them to start making things people need.
Gaddafi said in an interview that he feared the change of power in Tunisia was being exploited by foreign intervention
He also denied that he had invited deposed Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali to Libya. In a speech soon after Ben Ali's departure, Gaddafi said he was "pained" by the violent events in Tunisia, that people there had been too hasty in pushing Ben Ali out and that blood might have been shed unnecessarily.

Five Great Android Apps for Indian Users

2011-10-22T10:15:00.000+05:30

Guess what are making waves among the tech junkies these days? The myriad apps available for platforms like Android, BlackBerry, iPhone etc.

Out of these, Android is gathering steam like anything. Its popularity is soaring over Ios andAndroid Market is flooded with apps.

Below we discuss five great 'desi' apps for Indian users and they're totally free!

Indian Railways App

This easy-to-use app is designed to make the lives of rail passengers a little less tough. Users can search for trains, look up seat availability, check PNR status, inquire about fares and do all other things which can help them plan a good journey.

BookMy Show App

This app lets you browse for movies in the theatres in your area and then you can book directlythrough your phone. You can also search through listings for plays and other events. Currently, you can only book for movies and plays and other events will follow soon.

India Newspapers

This app is your key to unlocking the world of news. It allows you to read newspapers, magazines and news sites from India. The app offers great deal of customization. You can add and delete newspapers/magazines and share news stories with your friends. It also allows access to regional newspapers.

PaniniKeypad Hindi IME

Amazing app for all those who need to type in Hindi or love typing in Hindi. It also supports a number of other Indian languages.You can switch to the keypad by long-pressing the text input area and then selecting the input method.

Moneycontrol Market on Mobile

The official app for moneycontrol.com, India's leading portal of finance and stock market and other money matters. One of the best apps to stay updated with what's happening in the stock market. You can get the latest quotes of all the stocks and access other market-related news and advice from experts.

WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT WINES

2011-10-19T15:32:00.000+05:30

You have always wondered if your red wine would go well with tandoori chicken and if storing it after uncorking the bottle is a good idea. Craig Wedge, renowned wine connoisseur who is visiting at Renaissance Hotel, Mumbai bursts some myths.

Excerpts from the interview:
Why are so many red wines oak-aged?
Oak maturation happens in red wine 95% of the time and there is no partiality when it comes to country, region or variety of red grape. It is a tool of the wine maker, and the key influences of oak such as colour, flavour, tannins and the texture of the wine, are dependent upon the winemakers use of the oak and the coveted finished product. I further suggest a distinction between the term maturation and aging. Term maturation used for the changes during bulk storage (oak Barrel) and aging used for the changes during bottle storage.

What's the difference between 'New World' and 'Old World'
Old World wine refers primarily to wine made in Europe but can also include other regions of the Mediterranean basin with long histories of winemaking such as North Africa and the Near East. The phrase is often used in contrast to "New World wine" which refers primarily to wines from New World wine regions such as the United States, Australia, South America and South Africa.

How long will the wine keep after it is opened?
Wine should be consumed within 3 -4 days after the bottle has been opened. Once a bottle of wine is opened, the oxygen in the air starts a process that initially softens the flavours and opens up the aromas of the wine. As this process (oxidation) continues over many hours and days, the wine is ultimately made undrinkable.

What kind of wines improve with age?
The ability of a wine to age is influenced by many factors including grape variety, vintage, viticulture practices, wine region and winemaking style. The condition that the wine is kept in after bottling can also influence how well a wine ages and may require significant time and financial investment.
As a general rule of thumb, the following is the ideal guide.

Chardonnay (2—6 yrs)

Riesling (2—30 yrs)

Cabernet Sauvignon (4—20 yrs)

Merlot (2—10 yrs)

Barolo (4—20 yrs)

Chianti Classico (2—8 yrs)

Syrah (4—16 yrs)

Classified Bordeaux (8—25 yrs)

Grand Cru Burgundy (8—25 yrs)

Which wine goes best with Indian food?
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to food and wine marriage. I would suggest keeping your eyes and ears open and always be flexible when it comes to trying new things. As a great starting place, I would suggest for whites a Chenin Blanc from India's newest sensation Fratelli Wines, or a Chardonnay from Chile's Vina Caliterra. As far as reds go, the MTB Malbec from the Argentine producer Costaflores is a fabulous accompaniment to a spicy curry.

Does wine taste different depending on the glass it's served in?
Indeed it does. The shape and volume of the bowl, the width of the opening, the weight of the glass and the edge of the rim, all have an impact on the aroma profile and flavour components and the subsequent overall perception of the variety of wine being drunk.

What food goes best with red and white wine respectively?
The days of red wine with meat and white with fish have happily disappeared. The gloves are off so to speak and the world of food and wine is waiting. Try everything with anything. Sometimes it will work, other times it will fail miserably, but I have to tell you that it is the journey that is important, not the destination. And It can be so much fun.

What does it mean when a wine is sweet or dry?
Dry and Sweet wines are determined by the level of residual sugar left in wine after it has fermented. Other factors such as acidity, tannins and alcohol will affect the perception of what is sweet and what is dry.

THE WORLD'S LARGEST CRUISE SHIP

2011-10-18T17:16:00.001+05:30

Allure of the Seas

She’s the newest addition to the Royal Caribbean fleet and the world’s largest cruise ship. With 2,700 rooms spanning 16 decks, the Allure of the Seas is like a miniature city, travelling from Fort Lauderdale to the Carribbean at a comfortable 22 knots. Oh and there’s a Starbucks on board…

Below you will find a collection of images and jaw-dropping statistics in an attempt to put this behemoth into perspective. Enjoy!

THE ALLURE OF THE SEAS

- 225,282 Gross Registered Tonnes
- 1,187 feet (360 meters) long, 208 feet (64 meters) wide and 213 feet (65 meters) high from the water line
- 30 feet (9.1 meters) draft
- 22 knots cruising speed
- 16 passenger decks and 24 passenger elevators
- 4 bow thrusters with 7,500 horse power each
- 5,400 guests (double occupancy) 6,296 guests total, 2,384 crew (From apprx. 80 countries)

Staterooms

- Total: 2,706, Balcony: 1,956, Outside: 254, Interior: 496
- Staterooms with additional berths: 683
- Wheelchair accessible staterooms: 46

A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE

- Standing upright at 1,187 feet tall, Allure of the Seas is 124 feet taller than the Eiffel Tower.
- Allure of the Seas’ length is approximately equal to three and half regulation size soccer/football fields
- Allure of the Seas is 5.11 times longer than a Boeing 747 Jetliner
- Allure of the Seas was constructed out of 500,000 individual parts
- 158,503 gallons of paint was used
- The electrical cables onboard Allure of the Seas would stretch approximately the distance from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to Juneau, Alaska

ENVIRONMENTAL

- Oasis of the Seas is the first cruise ship to have achieved DNV (Det Norske Veritas) Green Passport designation. This is an important part of the voluntary Clean Ship Design certification

- Advanced Wastewater Purification System – Oasis of the Seas was awarded the first Clean Sea Award by NorShipping, thanks to an Advanced Wastewater Purification System, which was designed to be twice as stringent as U.S. Federal standards for in-port wastewater discharge

- Everything and anything that can be recycled, is recycled onboard Oasis of the Seas. The ship boasts state-of the art facilities, complete with shredders, bailers and compactors, as well as crushers for glass, light bulbs, tin and aluminum In addition, Oasis houses the largest cold storage room on any ship in the world to safely store all recyclables, special/hazardous waste, cooking oil, solvents, incinerator ash, etc.

- The coating on Oasis of the Seas’ hull was made of non-toxic, technologically advanced materials that reduce hull resistance, thereby increasing fuel efficiency

ALL INFORMATION COURTESY OF ALLUREOFTHESEAS

"TAJ MAHAL" MAY COLLAPSE

2011-10-17T21:00:00.003+05:30

The white marble complex is undoubtedly India’s most-recognizable monument, inevitably featuring in the itinerary of most tourists and visiting heads of state (with the exception of U.S. President Barack Obama.)

It is understandable, then, that when the Daily Mail, the British tabloid, reported last week that the Taj Mahal risked collapsing, panic ensued.

But is there really reason to worry?

The alarm bells were first raised by Ramshankar Katheria, Agra MP for the opposition
Bharatiya Janata Party. If he is to be believed, the monument built by Emperor Shah Jahan
for his wife Mumtaz could collapse within three to five years. It’s not just the future of the
monument that is at stake but that of India as a whole, Mr. Katheria told India Real Time in a
recent interview. “India’s pride is in grave danger,” he said.

WHY??

Mr. Katheria says the wooden foundations of the Mughal-era mausoleum, buried deep within the river Yamuna, are decaying due to the river’s receding water level. “The foundation is such that the water flow strengthens its hold to shoulder the monument,” he explained. “Not only are wooden planks loosening but ( they) are also rotting due to lack of moisture in their surface,” he added.

He is the pioneer of the “Taj Bachao Sang,” or “Save the Taj Together” campaign, an initiative launched last year to protect the memorial. The campaign’s team, which includes historians and archeologists, also allege that cracks have emerged on the monument’s surface and that several minarets are showing signs of tilting.
“Our conclusions are based on a systematic year-long research,” said the MP.

GOVERNMENT
This is an issue Mr. Katheria has discussed with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pratibha Patil. “Promises were made during these meetings but not
followed by tangible results from their end,” he said. “Our only request is that a strict enquiry is issued into the matter. Is that too much to ask for?”

Spokesmen for the Prime Minister were not immediately reachable for comment.

WORD FROM OTHER EXPERTS.....

Other experts, however, disagree with Mr. Katheria’s assessment. The Archaeological Survey of India, the state-run agency in charge of preserving the monument, slammed these claims. “These are shameless publicity stunts deployed to attract media attention,” a senior ASI official based in Agra told India Real Time. He said this was a “pointless alarm” and the issue of the foundations was being “over exaggerated.” The official said that, following media reports, an ASI team of engineers and archaeologists went to examine the site and that “no major threat was detected.” He said the ASI “is undertaking all necessary measures to safeguard the Taj Mahal.”

A spokesman for Mr. Katheria said that his Taj Mahal campaign is in the broader national interest and that there is “no political agenda” behind it. He declined to comment on whether Mr. Katheria plans to run for upcoming elections in his home state of Uttar Pradesh, slated for 2012.

Ruknuddin Mirza, a conservation archeologist at the Indian National Trust For Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), also questioned Mr. Katheria’s alarmism. “Though it is of utmost importance to investigate these allegations, time and again ASI has substantiated their worth in preserving cultural heritage” he said.

This is not the first time the Taj Mahal has fallen prey to controversy. In the early 1980s, activistMahesh Chander Mehta said pollution was damaging the white marble structure. It took around a decade before authorities backed his claims, with the Supreme Court ordering factories in and around Agra to be shut down.

Men of Style: Akshay Kumar

2011-10-17T12:59:00.004+05:30

Known as Khiladi Kumar throughout his career, Akshay has a side to him that is equally revered and followed by his fans, i.e. his style statement.

Initially known only for his martial arts skills and his controversial relationships, Akshay Kumar has slowly started to make his presence felt in the batch of the most stylish actors of the country.

Presenting the 'Desi Boy' Akshay Kumar's style story.

Style Evolution

Akshay Kumar wasn't really considered fashion forward and was happy keeping the tag of the numero uno action star. The most noticeable change in his avatar ws in the film 'Tashan' where Akshay totally went beyond himself and experimented with his looks. His makeover was well received by his fans and thus began Akki's 'real' tryst with style.

Wardrobe Basics

Being the 'man' in today's metrosexual world, Akki relies heavily on denims and cropped tees. Sunglasses are his best friend and no one plays with the scark as much as he does. Also, in Akki's words, 'When in doubt, wear blue jeans and a white shirt'.

Top Fashion Moment

When Akshay Kumar was signed on as the brand ambassador of Levi's jeans, things definitely changed for the better. The sight of him on the ramp, literally set hearts on fire and with Twinkle unbuttoning him in public he courted a huge controversy. Irrespective of the number of pricks he annoyed, it is a moment which his fans and fashion lovers won't forget too soon.

Trademark Style

Akshay's trademark style is rugged and nonchalant. He has been and will always be the ultimate action star of the country and his personal style, hence, reflects that part of him.

Best Feature

If we had to pick one feature as Akki's absolute high point, it would be his amazing fitness. Akshay has never been out of shape and that is purely because of his devotion to keeping himself fit. After all, there's nothing hotter than a man who sports the perfect bod and religiously follows a regime.

Hair Story

Akshay's hairstyle in the 90s was as static as his style. The longish mane stayed right on place until the above-mentioned film, 'Tashan' came along. In the movie he not only sported a crew cut but also dyed his hair rusty brown. He has stuck to cropped hair ever since and we're not complaining since he totally rocks the look.

Style Mentor

Not a mentor, but definitely a major influence on Akki's fashion statement is his wife, Twinkle Khanna. She is known for her sartorial sense of style in B-town and she has rubbed her amazing fashion skills on her husband too. If we compare Akki's fashion sense before and after marriage, we can easily spot the major change that Twinkle's presence has brought in his life and style.

99 FACTS ABOUT GUYS .

2011-10-16T16:49:00.001+05:30

HERE'S 99 FACTS ABOUT GUYS

1. Guys don’t actually look after good-looking girls. They prefer neat and presentable girls.

2. Guys hate flirts.

3. A guy can like you for a minute, and then forget you afterwards.

4. When a guy says he doesn’t understand you, it simply means you’re not thinking the way he is.

5. “Are you doing something?” or “Have you eaten already?” are the first usual questions a guy asks on the phone just to get out from stammering.

6. Guys may be flirting around all day but before they go to sleep, they always think about the girl they truly care about.

7. When a guy really likes you, he’ll disregard all your bad characteristics.

8. Guys go crazy over a girl’s smile.

9. Guys will do anything just to get the girl’s attention.

10. Guys hate it when you talk about your ex-boyfriend.

11. When guys want to meet your parents. Let them.

12. Guys want to tell you many things but they can’t. And they sure have one habit to gain courage and spirit to tell you many things and it is drinking!

13. Guys cry!!!

14. Don’t provoke the guy to heat up. Believe me. He will.

15. Guys can never dream and hope too much.

16. Guys usually try hard to get the girl who has dumped them, and this makes it harder for them to accept their defeat.

17. When you touch a guy’s heart, there’s no turning back.

18. Giving a guy a hanging message like “You know what? Uh…never mind!” would make him jump to a conclusion that is far from what you are thinking.

19. Guys go crazy when girls touch their hands.

20. Guys are good flatterers when courting but they usually stammer when they talk to a girl they really like.

21. When a guy makes a prolonged “umm” or makes any excuses when you’re asking him to do you a favor, he’s actually saying that he doesn’t like you and he can’t lay down the card for you.

22. When a girl says “no”, a guy hears it as “try again tomorrow.”

23. You have to tell a guy what you really want before he gets the message clearly.

24. Guys hate nice boy!

25. Guys love their moms.

26. A guy would sacrifice his money for lunch just to get you a couple of roses.

27. A guy often thinks about the girl who likes him. But this doesn’t mean that the guy likes her.

28. You can never understand him unless you listen to him.

29. If a guy tells you he loves you once in a lifetime. He does.

30. Beware. Guys can make gossips scatter through half of the face of the earth faster than girls can.

31. Like Eve, girls are guys’ weaknesses.

32. Guys are very open about themselves.

33. Its good to test a guy first before you believe him. But don’t let him wait that long.

34. No guy is bad when he is courting

35. Guys hate it when their clothes get dirty. Even a small dot.

36. Guys really admire girls that they like even if they’re not that much pretty.

37. Your best friend, whom your boyfriend seeks help from about his problems with you may end up being admired by your boyfriend.

38. If a guy tells you about his problems, he just needs someone to listen to him. You don’t need to give advice.

39. A usual act that proves that the guy likes you is when he teases you.

40. A guy finds ways to keep you off from linking with someone else.

41. Guys love girls with brains more than girls in miniskirts.

42. Guys try to find the stuffed toy a girl wants but would unluckily get the wrong one.

43. Guys virtually brag about anything.

44. Guys cannot keep secrets that girls tell them.

45. Guys think too much.

46. Guys’ fantasies are unlimited.

47. Girls’ height doesn’t really matter to a guy but her weight does!

48. Guys tend to get serious with their relationship and become too possessive. So watch out girls!!!

49. When a girl makes the boy suffer during courtship, it would be hard for him to let go of that girl.

50. It’s not easy for a guy to let go of his girlfriend after they broke up especially when they’ve been together for 3 years or more.

51. You have to tell a guy what you really want before getting involved with that guy.

52. A guy has to experience rejection, because if he’s too-good-never-been-busted, never been in love and hurt, he won’t be matured and grow up.

53. When an unlikable circumstance comes, guys blame themselves a lot more than girls do. They could even hurt themselves physically.

54. Guys have strong passion to change but have weak will power.

55. Guys are tigers in their peer groups but become tamed pussycats with their girlfriends.

56. When a guy pretends to be calm, check if he’s sweating. You’ll probably see that he is nervous.

57. When a guy says he is going crazy about the girl. He really is.

58. When a guy asks you to leave him alone, he’s just actually saying, “Please come and listen to me”

59. Guys don’t really have final decisions.

60. When a guy loves you, bring out the best in him.

61. If a guy starts to talk seriously, listen to him.

62. If a guy has been kept shut or silent, say something.

63. Guys believe that there’s no such thing as love at first sight, but court the girls anyway and then realize at the end that he is wrong.

64. Guys like femininity not feebleness.

65. Guys don’t like girls who punch harder than they do.

66. A guy may instantly know if the girl likes him but can never be sure unless the girl tells him.

67. A guy would waste his time over video games and basketball, the way a girl would do over her romance novels and make-ups.

68. Guys love girls who can cook or bake.

69. Guys like girls who are like their moms. No kidding!

70. A guy has more problems than you can see with your naked eyes.

71. A guy’s friend knows everything about him. Use this to your advantage.

72. Don’t be a snob. Guys may easily give up on the first sign of rejection.

73. Don’t be biased. Try loving a guy without prejudice and you’ll be surprised.

74. Girls who bathe in their eau de perfumes do more repelling than attracting guys.

75. Guys are more talkative than girls are especially when the topic is about girls.

76. Guys don’t comprehend the statement “Get lost” too well.

77. Guys really think that girls are strange and have unpredictable decisions but still love them more.

78. When a guy gives a crooked or pretentious grin at your jokes, he finds them offending and he just tried to be polite.

79. Guys don’t care about how shiny their shoes are unlike girls.

80. Guys tend to generalize about girls but once they get to know them, they’ll realize they’re wrong.

81. Any guy can handle his problems all by his own. He’s just too stubborn to deal with it.

82. Guys find it so objectionable when a girl swears.

83. Guys’ weakest point is at the knee.

84. When a problem arises, a guy usually keeps himself cool but is already thinking of a way out.

85. When a guy is conscious of his looks, it shows he is not good at fixing things.

86. When a guy looks at you, either he’s amazed of you or he’s criticizing you.

87. When you catch him cheating on you and he asks for a second chance, give it to him. But when you catch him again and he asks for another chance, ignore him.

88. If a guy lets you go, he really loves you.

89. If you have a boyfriend, and your boy best friend always glances at you and it obviously shows that he is jealous whenever you’re with your boyfriend, all I can say is your boy best friend loves you more than your boyfriend does.

90. Guys learn from experience not from the romance books that girls read and take as their basis of experience.

91. You can tell if a guy is really hurt or in pain when he cries in front of you!

92. If a guy suddenly asks you for a date, ask him first why.

93. When a guy says he can’t sleep if he doesn’t hear your voice even just for one night, hang up. He also tells that to another girl. He only flatters you and sometimes makes fun of you.

94. You can truly say that a guy has good intentions if you see him praying sometimes.

95. Guys seek for advice not from a guy but from a girl.

96. Girls are allowed to touch boys’ things. Not their hair!

97. If a guy says you’re beautiful, that guy likes you.

98. Guys hate girls who overreact.

99. Guys love you more than you love them if they are serious in your relationships.

CELEBRITIES REAL NAMES

2011-10-16T12:50:00.001+05:30

Born with a less than glamorous name, many of HOLLYWOOD's and BOLLYWOOD'S biggest artists have boosted their star potential by coming up with a new, more fame-friendly moniker. only on STESKA

HOLLYWOOD

MILEY CYRUS

Real name: Destiny Hope Cyrus

The former Disney starlet was named Destiny Hope by her father, singer Billy Ray Cyrus, but picked up the new name Miley when her childhood nickname "Smiley" was shortened.

Lady Gaga

Real name: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta

Eminem
Real name: Marshal Bruce Mathers III

Lil Wayne

Real name: Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.

Rihanna

Real name: Robyn Rihanna Fenty

Marilyn Manson

Real name: Brian Hugh Warner

Snoop Dogg

Real name: Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr.

BOLLYWOOD

Rajnikant

REAL NAME-Sivaji Rao Gaekwad

Sunny Deol

Real name- Ajay Singh Deol

Mallika sherawat

Real name- REEMA LAMBA

Akshay Kumar

Real name- Rajiv bhatia

Amitabh Bachchan

Real name- Amit Srivastav

5 Crazy Things You Could Do with Your iPhone

2011-10-15T22:22:00.001+05:30

The mixture of touchscreen technology with features like GPS and impressive on-board cameras makes the iPhone a virtual playground for clever developers with a novel idea.
Today we’ve compiled five crazy things you can do with your iPhone using various apps. Several of these apps seem too good to be true but they all work exactly as advertised. Intrigued? Read on!

Monitor Your Heart Rate

I was sure that this app was completely bogus when I first saw it, but after a quick trial run, it seems pretty convincing. The Heart Fitness app claims that it can effectively monitor your heart rate using only your iPhone. How in the world is that possible?

Heart Fitness

To accomplish this feat, the app takes advantage of both the camera and the bright LED on the back of your iPhone 4. First, you cover the light and the camera with your index finger. The light then illuminates your finger so that the camera reads that reddish color that results when you stick a flashlight up to your finger.
Here’s where the magic happens. As blood is pumped into your finger, the hue pulses. The camera reads this pulse and uses it to measure your heart rate! Pure voodoo right? Perhaps not. I tested the app on myself a few times and consistently came up with a measurement around 70BPM, which I confirmed by taking my own pulse manually. Then I got up and ran around for a while and used the app again, over 100BPM this time. As crazy as it sounds, it seems to work!
Now, many commenters note that they can get readings from every day items such as ketchup bottles, but this doesn’t prove anything. If you consider that the app reads pulses in color, pointing your camera at something red combined with camera-shake would produce a similar result. This proves that you can trick the app, but not that it doesn’t do what it claims.

Scan Documents

You know that your iPhone has a camera on it, so it’s no surprise that it can take a photo of a document right? The problem with this though is that a handheld camera is a far cry from a flatbed scanner. Holding your phone perfectly level isn’t easy, even if you can pull it off, it’s still a hassle.
Enter Genius Scan. With this app you can quickly snap a shot of any document without really thinking about how properly aligned it is on your screen.
Genius Scan will automatically detect the edges of the document and allow you to quickly skew the perspective so that you get a perfect shot every time.

Genius Scan

You can save your documents as a PDF or JPG and even share them over Wifi for quick access from any computer.

Measure Almost Anything

You’ve seen measuring apps that simply place a ruler on your screen, which are great if you need to measure anything less than a few inches, but what if you want to measure an entire person or even a tree? For this feat you’ll need something more.
Aim@ is a $0.99 application that pulls this seemingly impossible task off pretty well. By telling the app how tall you are and holding your phone at arm’s length, you can use your phone’s camera and a series of taps at strategic points to make approximate measurements.

I’ll warn you in advance, this app does work, but it’s a little quirky. If you’re not good at following directions, you’ll never get it to work. If you are reasonably patient, the app walks you through the specific processes for taking the height and width of an object, or even the distance from you to it. In my tests, when I didn’t screw up, I usually came within an inch or two of the actual size of the object.

Take 3D Photos

This is another app that sounds like it’s more gimmick than reality, but it actually works! In fact, the technology really isn’t that amazing if you think about it. Your two eyes work together to help you perceive depth. By taking two photographs at slightly different positions, you can mimic this functionality.
3D Camera does exactly that. You take one photo, move over a few inches, snap another, then combine them to create a three-dimensional illusion.

3D Camera

3D Camera gives you three different options for viewing the resulting 3D image. The first is an anaglyph, which you can view with your typical cheap pair of red/cyan 3D glasses, a stereogram, which works just like the old Magic Eye images (no glasses necessary), and a wigglegram, which simply changes from one image to the next quickly to simulate a 3D effect.
If you’re still confused and/or skeptical, check out the online gallery of images.

Spy On Your Spouse

Tracking someone’s every move is a myth taken straight from spy movies right? Today’s modern GPS technology actually makes it quite easy. In fact, I recently showed my wife how to keep track of me when I’m out. Luckily I’m a pretty trustworthy guy!
Apple’s Find My iPhone app allows you to track the location of any iOS device using a web browser, another iPhone or even an iPad. So if I take too long at the grocery store, my worrisome wife can pull my position (or at least that of my phone) up on our iPad to see if I’m lying dead in a ditch or merely made a pit stop at the Apple Store yet again.

Find My iPhone

WHAT TO WEAR ON A FIRST DATE

2011-10-15T16:43:00.000+05:30

The first date and the first impression definitely cannot go wrong. And that comes from one’s self presentation, which includes clothing, etiquettes, grooming…everything.

It actually shows how seriously you have taken the whole affair of things and thereby shows respect for the person, to whom you are going to meet. Now, let’s see the dos and don’ts of this particular state ofaffairs. Essentially, be what you are. Don’t fake. It really works.

Wear what suits you and appeals to your body type and personality. Choose the color of your shirt which goes best with your skin tone. It’s safe. Remember, to show your other (wild and experimental) side in the followed frequent meetings, if everything goes fine hereafter. Be easy
on the eye. If you have been wearing glasses and on the day you try for the contacts, remember your eyes might take time to adjust and might cause discomfort. So avoid this hassle on the first date. Be your natural self. Or else try them, few days beforehand.

Just to be trendy, don’t wear a colour which does not suit your complexion. If wide legged bottoms are in and you are of short stature, avoid wearing them.Dress as per the occasion or venue of meeting. Unless you are going to an opera or a theatre, don’t try on a tie. It will look to dressy for a date. If out to a high end formal restaurant, you can sport a casual jacket with a smart polo or a crew neck inside. So that if you progress to a more relaxed zone, can knock off the jacket and still be a part of the occasion and enjoy the moments.

Can’t ignore the accessories. Your belt, your watch, your shoes and if you have a liking for any sort of jewellery. Coordinate your ensemble keeping in mind the occasion and the venue. Matching your belt with your watch, are like basic etiquettes of dressing. Don’t wear something snazzy or loud. Avoid wearing floaters. They are too casual.

Don’t wear anything with words written on them. Play safe with plain tees and shirts. After all, you never know if it might strike the wrong chord on the very first day Wear clothes that fit you to the ‘T’. Ill fitted clothes are non impressive.
However, they should not be body hugging. Kindly do not try to impress too hard on the very first day. Wear what makes you feel at ease and lets you move around in comfort. You should be free to perform various functions, eat, walk, dance, etc. Please do not fidget with your fly, belt, tuck of yourshirt, constantly pulling your bottoms high up, as if they are slipping off. Avoid all this like a plague as they're a definite turn off.

Don’t try to fit in something which is not your body size- too small or enormous.

Do not try the cologne too hard. Smell good but be gentle. Be careful with your choice of fragrancealso. It should not pass off as a lady’s perfume. Keep the phone on silent. Don’t keep fumbling with your gadgets. It will pass on as, if do not much care the presence of the lady in front of you.

You should be well shaven and clean. Not many women appreciate the unshaven stubble look. Keep it for later. A french beard is one of the few looks, which some really find impressive; gives an intellectual appeal. Clip your fingernails and also your toe nails. Use the aftershave

7 SURPRISING SEX FACTS

2011-10-14T18:35:00.000+05:30

What you should know about sex, but don’t

We all do it, or at least want to be doing it, but do you know everything you need to? Even if you consider yourself to be a Karma Sutra king or queen, sex is a deep and complex subject and, quite frankly, there’s bound to be something you haven’t yet discovered. So, let’s talk sex:

Sex is good for you

According to male legend Arnold Schwarzenegger ‘The best activities for your health are humping and pumping’. In many ways this is true; safe sex does have lots of health benefits. Those who have sex once or twice a week have been shown to have higher levels of immunoglobulin A or IgA, an antibody which helps protect you from respiratory diseases like the cold and flu. Also researchers have found that men in their 20s who had five or more ejaculations per week were one third less likely to develop prostate cancer in later life. It would seem Mr Schwarzenegger is on to something.

Get more sex

Everyone wants more sex and we know how you can get it. Dr Helen Fisher, biological anthropologist at Rutgers University explains that ‘People fall in love when dopamine levels rise in their brains”. This is the neurotransmitter that controls the brain’s reward and pleasure centres. You can only get more dopamine by doing two things. The first is to have more sex. The second is to recreate a rush of dopamine by doing an exciting activity, such as bungee jumping, flying in a helicopter or even doing something simple like climbing a tree. Once you have raised your partner’s levels of dopamine, they will want to have sex with you more.

Sex o’clock

When we think of having a romantic encounter with that special someone, we often think of moonlight hitting silk sheets or candles flickering in a seductive, half-lit room. However, our bodies may be more attuned to having sex in the morning. Men’s testosterone levels peak in the morning and so men become more easily aroused at this time. Although many men wake up erect anyway, this does not actually mean they are sexually aroused – but what better way to start a day be it giving or receiving.

Who enjoys sex more?

When you’re under the covers, who is enjoying sex more; him or her? Interestingly this is not a new debate. In Ancient Greek mythology Hera complained to Zeus that he got more pleasure from their sex than she did. According to a new study, it is possible that Hera was telling the truth. Researchers at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, found that nearly nine out of 10 young men reported having an orgasm most or all of the time they have sex with their partner. However, less than half of young women experience orgasm that frequently when they have sex with their partner.

Rules of attraction

It is possible that beauty is not in the eye of the beholder, but rather in the nose of the beholder. We have sex because we have an innate instinct to reproduce. Therefore we are attracted to certain people because they will produce a strong baby. We find out who will produce these strong babies through our noses. For example, when people sweat pheromones are released; revealing their type of immune system. If their immune system is the opposite to the person smelling them, the two will be a good match, and should find each other irresistible.

How to tell when she wants it

We all know women are hard to read, but there are several physical clues that can help you to know when a woman wants to have sex with you. Firstly, when a woman is aroused her pupils will dilate. If a woman sees a man who she likes when out, but does not know him, she will give him prolonged eye contact. Her lips will also purse and if you catch her repeatedly gazing at your lips then it is very likely that she wants you. However, if a woman crosses her legs or arms and repeatedly looks away from you, it’s time to leave.

We all had a clitoris

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to understand what it is like to be a member of the opposite sex? Once upon a time, it would seem we were not all that different from each other. In the first trimester of pregnancy, the fetus is gender neutral, being neither male nor female. However, the fetus has all the makings of a clitoris and vagina. It is not until eight to 12 weeks have passed that males become distinct.

TOP 10 HAUNTED PLACES IN WORLD

2011-10-13T19:51:00.003+05:30

Everyone seems to know of at least one haunted house; as kids there was almost certainly one in our own neighbourhood. This list contains the most famous and most haunted places in the world. If you have had any experiences of a similar nature, feel free to tell us about it in the comments. I should add, before starting, that I am a skeptic; I have written this list for entertainment value.

10. Berry Pomeroy Castle, Totness

There are a number of legends associated with this 14th-century castle, and it has a reputation of being haunted. It has 2 famous female ghosts; the White Lady and the Blue Lady. According to legend the White Lady is the spirit of Margaret Pomeroy, who starved to death while imprisoned in the dungeons by her jealous sister. Apparently she haunts the dark dungeons, and rises from St Margaret’s Tower to the castle walls. The Blue Lady is not confined to specific areas and is supposed to lure people into parts of the ruin. Apparently it’s a very bad idea to follow her!

9. Dominican Hill, Baguio City, Philippines.

According to some people the ghosts of people who were killed during the war haunt this place. Some say the patients who died here despite having the hope to be alive turned into ghosts. Hearing the banging of doors, windows, clattering of dishes and screaming voices during night are reported by people.

8. Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland

This magnificent castle is typically medieval, perched atop a rocky crag, giving it an amazing vista of Scottish hills. But inside the empty halls and narrow streets of Edinburgh, there are the echoes of the dead. At least, that’s what has been reported. Hot spots for specters include the castle’s prison cells, the South Bridge vaults and Mary’s King Close, a disused street used to quarantine and eventually entomb victims of the plague. There are also reports of ghost dogs, a headless drummer, and the bodies of prisoners taken during the French seven-year war and the American War of Independence.

7. Monte Cristo, New South Wales, Australia

Monte Cristo, Australia’s most haunted mansion is located in Junee, New South Wales. Mrs Crawley, the owner of the house never came out of her home after the death of her husband in 23 years of her remaining life except for two times. After her death her ghost haunts the place particularly her former room. Bodiless ghost, phantom face in the window, floating apparition, strange and ghostly voices, automatic turning on and off lights are some haunting experiences of the people. Some people reported that when they entered the boy’s bed room they were breathless and turned purple and almost died, they became normal after coming out from the room.

6. Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire, England

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, a trip to the Ancient Ram Inn is an unsettling experience. Its creaky floorboards, cold bare walls, musty smells and dimly lit nooks and crannies epitomise everything a haunted house should be. And the stories attached to this creepy building are not for the fainthearted: Murder, satanism and child sacrifice are just a few of the dark deeds said to have occurred here, oh and did we mention apparently it’s built on a pagan burial ground?

5. Highgate Cemetery, North London, England

By night, Highgate Cemetery is like something out of a horror movie. Eerie crooked gravestones, headless angles covered in ivy, dark overgrown passages between the tombs, it’s no wonder this is Britain’s number-one ghost spot. Despite it’s chilling atmosphere, by day Highgate Cemetery showcases some of the Britain’s most spectacular Gothic architecture, offers fascinating guided tours. It’s also the burial place of Karl Marx.

4. Bhangarh Fort, India

Bhangarh Fort is on way from Jaipur to Alwar in Rajasthan, India. According to a legend, Singhia, a black magic tantrik cursed the palace that everybody would die in the palace and their souls will stay there for centuries without rebirth. Another interesting point is, all the houses in this area are without roofs because whenever a house is built with roof, the roof collapses. This is the called most haunting place in India. People who visit this place experience anxiety and restlessness. It is said that nobody returns from this place that stays there after dark. Government prohibited this area from staying after sunset. You will find a board installed by Archaeological Survey of India displaying “Staying after sunset is strictly prohibited in this area”.

3. Screaming Tunnel, Niagara Falls, Ontario

The haunting of the Screaming Tunnel is one of Niagara Falls’ most enduring legends. Located off Warner Road, the tunnel runs under the railway tracks that link Niagara Falls to Toronto and New York City. According to local legend, over a century ago, a farm house located just past the south entrance to the tunnel caught fire one night. A young girl, her clothes engulfed in flames, fled screaming from the house. She ran through the tunnel in an attempt to extinguish her garments but collapsed and died on the tunnel floor. A variation of this story has the girl set ablaze in the tunnel by her enraged father when he learned his wife had won custody of their children during an nasty divorce battle. Another version tells of a young girl who was raped inside the tunnel and her body burned to cover the evidence. All these stories allege that if you stand in the middle of the dark tunnel at midnight and light a match, the flame will go out and a girl’s screams will be heard.

2. Ohio University, Athens, America

Ohio University is known in state folklore as the most haunted college campus. A large number of places on campus are said to be haunted, and numerous other popular tales are told about the university across Athens county. The British Society for Psychical Research claims that Athens, Ohio, is one of the most haunted places in the world. Wilson Hall, famous for a girl (a supposed witch)who killed herself moments after writing satanic and supernatural things on the wall in her own blood. The five cemetaries that form a pentagram that surrounds the campus, with the administrative building being in the center of the devil’s sign. Washington Hall, which is famous for housing a team of basketball players who all died in a terrible crashm their ghosts still haunt the hall, and you can sometimes hear them dribbling. The catacombs of Jefferson Hall, where numerous ghost sightings have occurred. And finally, for The Ridges, an abandoned insane asylum that was known for thousands of labotamies and electro shock treatments. Also, a patient who disappeared, and was found five weeks later, her body decomposed onto the floor and left a stain that outlines her body. This stain can still be seen today.

1. Changi Beach, Singapore

Changi Beach served as a popular killing ground for the Japanese during the Sook Ching massacre of The Second World War. Thousands of Chinese were tortured and killed during this Operation as they were suspected of being anti-Japanese. Strange crying and screaming are reported by people. The heads of the Chinese dead bodies are sometimes seen flying everywhere and headless bodies walk around the beach. The scariest thing is that the ghosts leave blood stains. During nights people observe dug holes that appear as if they were used for burying bodies.

HOW TO USE ATM

2011-10-12T13:47:00.000+05:30

ATMs, standing for "Automated Teller Machines", are an easy, convenient way to access your account from almost anywhere. If you're new to them, don't worry. It's easy. The instructions are right there, on the machine
STEPS INCLUDED ARE

1.Insert your ATM Card into the machine..

2.Select a language. Note that this option often only comes up where your card is registered as being from another country, unless you live in a country or region with languages other than English are in major use.

3.Enter your PIN (Personal Identification Number), then press Enter.make sure you enter correct pin.

4.Select a transaction. like you want to withdraw or check balance etc.

5.Withdraw money. to withdraw (take out) money, select or enter the amount to withdraw.

6. Choose whether to do an additional transaction. Select Yes or No.

7.Choose whether you want a receipt, select Yes or No. Take the receipt if you requested it.

8.Wait while the system processes your transaction(s).
When the machine beeps at you, take your card, cash, and receipt (if applicable). Always make sure that you have both your cash and your card

9.Use the receipt to record the transaction in your check register or passbook

TIPS:

If you make a mistake entering a number or you pick a choice you didn't mean, press "cancel" or "no". Most machines will ask you "is this correct?" to give you a chance to change your entries.
If you are still unsure how to use ATM, go inside the bank or ask an employee or ask someone you trust to help you the first time.
Practice using an imaginary ATM with the link at the bottom of the page.
If your card is lost or stolen, call your bank as soon as possible to tell them it is lost and obtain a replacement.

SOURCE:
an intractive ATM tutorial

THE DEBUT OF iPHONE 4S, iCLOUD and TIM COOk

2011-10-10T13:50:00.000+05:30

Tim Cook has marked his debut with the iPhone 4S.

The latest version of the iPhone range is better specced for battery usage, camera options and a feature that proves Apple is still magical - flawlessly efficient Artificial Intelligence.

The iPhone 4S is just an improvement on the original iPhone 4 (even the same screen) , but one that can save Apple- if only temporarily - in it's onslaught against products like the Galaxy S2 - one in a long line of 'iPhone killers' from the Samsung stable.

Physical Dimensions

The body hasn't changed - 3.5-inch screen and measures 4.5 x 2.31 x .37 inches.

Battery Life

Apple has finally addressed a common iPhone complaint, the low battery life, and the phone is rated at 8 hours of 3G talk time, 10 hours of video playback and 40 hours of music playback.

Processor

(image credit: apple)

The new A5 chip (seen on the iPad 2) makes the iPhone 4S seven times faster than the iPhone 4.

Camera

(image credit: engadget)

The iPhone 4S features an 8MP camera capable of shooting 3264×2448 images, an improvement from the 5MP shooter on the iPhone 4. The new lens also 73% more light than the iPhone 4 and is 33% faster, along with a redesigned Image Signal Processor, auto-face detection, 26% better white balance and a new f2.4 lens for wider shots.

Video recording is now in rich 1080p HD with video image stabilization and temporal noise reduction.

The new sensor is guarded by a hybrid infrared filter, designed to reduce chromatic aberration and ghosting in images, preventing distortion in extremely bright circumstances.

World Phone

A cool term, World Phone simply means the iPhone 4S is both GSM+CDMA compatible.

Intelligent Assistant

'Artificial intelligence' in the sci-fi sense of the word. Ask questions from Siri, the onboard assistant app and it'll fetch you answers from it's database. Still in beta -still awesome.

Models

The iPhone 4S will be released along with the latest iOS 5 OS in exactly a week's time (14 October 2011), and available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models - in both black and white.

New OS Features

improved, subtle push notifications that don't, iMessage (Apple's version of BBM) , Reminders, a location-based to-do list and Twitter integration that lets you tweet from any function on the iPhone, along with Newstand, an online subscriptions store for newspapers and magazines.

iCloud

The event also debuted iCloud, cloud sharing for the Apple device ecosystem. A handy iCloud feature is iTunes Match, syncing your iCLoud music catalog with your phone/tablet/Macbook.

TOP TEN HEALTHY BREAKFAST OPTIONS

2011-10-09T10:12:00.000+05:30

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so it’s essential that you make the most of it. But really it’s not that difficult to get a good deal of nutrition from your morning meal.

We’ve put down 10 healthy breakfast options to help you prepare a nutritional feast that will keep you going all day.

Porridge and berries

Use oats and skimmed milk to make your porridge, then add any berries such as strawberries, raspberries or blueberries and honey. This is a great way to start the day as the oats have a low GI (Glycaemic Index) this tells us that oats do not raise the blood glucose level very quickly, which is good as it can help stabilize the appetite. Just go easy on the honey!

Beans on toast

Beans (whether they are just ordinary baked beans or kidney, borlotti or black eyed beans) also have a low GI like oats. They are full of soluble fibre, which helps keep you full for longer and can therefore help you manage your weight. Serve the beans on granary toast and pass on the butter; a great, low-fat breakfast.

Bagel with reduced fat cream cheese and smoked salmon

Bagels are high in starchy carbohydrates, which help kick start the body into action for the day after a fast of at least eight to 10 hours. The smoked salmon provides the body with omega-3 fat which is essential for the body. Many of us eat far too much saturated fat (which is bad for us) and not enough omega-3 fat that is vital for our health.

Fruit and yogurt

Try adding your favourite fruit to a small pot of low-fat or diet yogurt for breakfast. A small pot of yogurt counts as one of your three portions per day of dairy foods, essential for the teeth and bones.

Bacon, tomatoes, beans, mushrooms and toast

For those of you who can’t resist a cooked breakfast at the weekends try this. It really is a healthy twist on a traditional fried breakfast; grill the bacon, tomatoes and large, flat field mushrooms.

Crumpets and fruit spread

Crumpets are a starchy food (they should be the basis of every meal). The only problem with crumpets is the tendency to add lots of butter to them. Try a fruit spread, a great way to top them without adding all the calories and fat in butter.

Muesli and soya milk or low-fat milk (such as semi-skimmed or skimmed milk)

Swiss-style muesli has milk powder added to it, which increases the calcium content of this breakfast cereal. Add calcium-enriched soya milk or semi-skimmed milk and you have a bone-friendly breakfast!

Pure fruit juice and iron-fortified breakfast cereal

Next time you are in the cereal aisle at the supermarket, spare a few minutes to check out the labeling on the packets. Not all cereals are equal when it comes to the vitamins and minerals that are added to them. Iron is a mineral that is added to many cereals, try sultana bran or bran flakes, drink a glass of pure fruit juice such as orange or grapefruit and the vitamin C that the juice contains helps your body to absorb the iron more easily.

Smoothie

If you really can’t face breakfast try to have a smoothie instead. If you fancy trying to make one yourself (easy if you have a hand blender) then fruits such as berries, apples and bananas are great with some milk. All those antioxidant vitamins in the fruit help boost your immunity.

Scrambled or poached egg on granary toast

Eggs are not bad for us! It is what you do with them … Poaching or scrambling eggs with a little milk is a good way to incorporate them into your diet — they provide valuable protein. Scrambled eggs on toast is a much better choice over a fried egg sandwich.

"THE DIRTY PICTURE"

2011-10-09T00:34:00.000+05:30

SNEEK -PEEK

The Dirty Picture is an upcoming Hindi language biopic on the life of Southern siren Silk Smitha, directed by Milan Luthria and produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor

Vidya Balan, Naseeruddin Shah, Tusshar Kapoor and Emraan Hashmi will be seen playing lead roles in The Dirty Picture. The film will be released nationwide on December 2, 2011 on the birth anniversary of Smitha.

Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Milan Luthria
Produced by	Shobha Kapoor Ekta Kapoor
Screenplay by	Rajat Aroraa
Story by	Rajat Aroraa
Starring	Vidya Balan Naseeruddin Shah Emraan Hashmi Tusshar Kapoor
Music by	Vishal-Shekhar
Cinematography	Bobby Singh
Editing by	Akiv Ali
Distributed by	Balaji Motion Pictures ALT Entertainment
Release date(s)	December 2, 2011
Country	India
Language	Hindi

SAKSHAT--THE INDIAN I-PAD

2011-10-08T19:54:00.000+05:30

REMEMBER THE Rs. 1500 Indian laptop? The one that got the world making fun of India in general and me never having faith in Kapil Sibal again?

The one that actually turned out to be an expensive storage device, and then somehow metamorphosed into a tablet?

It's being announced that the "Sakshat" (which sounds conspicuously dirty in Americanese), the $35 tablet codenamed 'Sakshat' is expected to launch by the end of this month.

While the Indian media is huffing up the desi-pride angle with talks of "Indian-iPad". there's very little for a complete tablet experience. And there's nothing desi about it; the tablet is made by Canadian firm Datawind Ltd.
The7-inch touchscreen tablet features a inbuilt keyboard, video conferencing facility, multimedia content, Wi-Fi, USB port, 32GB hard drive and a 2GB RAM. There's support for Open Office, SciLab and Internet browsing.

However, this means nothing for the aam-aadmi it was intended for, but there is a desi crop of real tablets worth checking out.
10,000 Sakshat tablets will be shipped to IIT Rajasthan by June-end, following by the launch of over 90,000 tablet units in the next 4 months.

Sakshat: Other Specifications

QWERTY keyboard, mouse and a minimum display of 7” colour LCD/TFT (touchscreen optional)
2 USB 2.0 ports and USB hosts
three hours
batteryless device
SD card slot (8GB expandable memory)
Support to connect LCD projector
Support for external hard disk drive (Minimum 32 GB)
Ethernet port
WLAN
80% shock resistant

While the tablets will be priced at Rs 2,200, there are reports of plans for later subsidies of 50%. The 1500 Rupee tablet might go for Rs. 1100, and has been developed as a part of the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology to bring together 25,000 colleges and 400 universities in the Asian subcontinent in an e-learning initiative.

APPLE HISTORY

2011-10-06T11:51:00.003+05:30

STEVE'S ROLE

I THINK THE NAME NEED NO INTRODUCTION .STEVE JOBS CHANGED THE WAY WE THAUGHT ABOUT TECHNOLOGY .HERE ARE SOME PARTS FROM HIS LIFE .

1976 - High-school buddies Steven Wozniak and Steve Jobs start Apple Computer. Their first product, Apple I, built in circuit board form, debuts at "the Homebrew Computer Club" in Palo Alto, California.

1977 - Apple II is unveiled, the first personal computer in a plastic case with color graphics.

1983 - Apple starts selling the "Lisa," a desktop computer for businesses with a graphical user interface, the system most users are familiar with today.

1984 - Apple debuts the Macintosh personal computer.

1985 - Jobs leaves Apple after a power struggle.

September 1997 - Jobs is named Apple's interim CEO after the company records losses of more than $1.8 billion.

November 1997 - Jobs introduces a new line of Macintosh computers called G3, and a website that lets people order directly from Apple.

1998 - Apple unveils the iMac desktop computer.
2001 - Apple introduces the iPod.

2003 - The iTunes Store opens, allowing users to buy and download music, audiobooks, movies and TV shows online

.

August 2004 - Jobs announces he underwent successful surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his pancreas.
January 2007 - Apple introduces the iPhone.
2008 - Apple opens its App Store as an update to iTunes.
January 2009 - Jobs takes leave for health reasons. COO Cook leads the company in the interim.
June 2009 - Jobs returns to the company after undergoing a liver transplant.

April 2010 - Apple begins selling the iPad, a 10-inch touchscreen tablet, and has an 84 percent share of the tablet market by year's end.

Jan. 17, 2011 - Jobs announces that he will take another medical leave.

March 2, 2011 - Apple launches the iPad 2.

Aug. 9, 2011 - Apple briefly edges past Exxon Mobil Corp to become the most valuable U.S. company.

Aug. 24, 2011 - Jobs steps down as CEO and is replaced by Tim Cook, Apple's chief operating officer.

Oct. 5, 2011 - Jobs dies at age of 56 after battle with pancreatic cancer.

ASTON MARTIN

2011-10-05T15:28:00.000+05:30

The History of Aston Martin

It all started in 1913 when two cycling buddies, over a couple pints at the end of a long day on the hill climbs (ok, I'm embellishing the back story a bit here) decided to go into business together. The two men were Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. They started out selling Singer automobiles. They were both handy mechanics and Lionel was an accomplished driver. He was often seen racing at the near by Aston Hill Hillclimb races near Aston Clinton. In 1914 the two decided to start to build there own vehicles and Aston Martin was born.

The name came from the combination of "Aston" from the hillclimb races and Lionel Martin's last name. I could never find out how or why Bamford's name was not involved, I envision a nagging wife that didn't want to have the tax collector come pocking around the household finances, but I somehow think that Martin-Bamford's would have had the legacy that Aston Martin now enjoys.

As with all great endeavors there are successes and challenges. What makes Aston Martin such a great marquee is that even though the challenges always seemed to outweigh the successes the product was always notable. As such were the early years. Soon after the first Aston Martin rolled out of the garage he first world was started and the company shuttered up for the duration. Once the war was over, and with fresh cash from Count Louis Zborowski, the company started to roll out vehicles that competed in races such as the French Grand Prix and Brooklands.

The early racing successes didn't result in a beneficial partnership for the two founders and Mr. Bamford sold his interest to Mr. Martin in 1922. Money was tight and cash flow was kept positive by infusions by the Count. Unfortunately, in 1924 the Count died in a racing accident and the future of Aston Martin became uncertain. In comes John Benson, later to be named Lord Charnwood (I'm American so I have no idea what it takes to go from just John to Lord Charnwood. However, I imagine it to be quit painful). he Lord had the cash and the desire to continue Aston's reputation in the racing world. He, however, didn't care for Mr. Martin and in 1925 Lionel hit left the company.

Lord Charnwood didn't last for long. By 1926 he had sold Aston Martin Motors to Renwick & Bertelli, a recently formed engineering company, for 4000 pounds. It was at this time the company moved to Victoria Road, Feltham. These new owners where also not to last. About a year later Renwick and Bertelli broke up and had to seek outside investors to keep the concern running. By 1936 the Bertelli's had left and the largest investors, the Sutherland family, took control. Now things were to get bad - like I said, what makes Aston Martin so great is the blood and sweat it took to build it. From the beginning, Aston Martin was destined to become the world's greatest marquee. Even at the expense of it many many owners. It indeed had a soul of it's own.

During WW II Aston Martin was assigned to making tooling and spare parts for aircraft joysticks. It was during these years that in the back corners of the works one of Aston's earliest stars, Claude Hill, continued work on a sports saloon - the Atom. It was the Atom that would spring board Aston Martin back to it's intended path.

In 1946 David Brown saw a small classified ad in the London Times offering Aston Martin for sale for only 30,000 pounds. He went over to Feltham to check the place out and drive the Atom. He fell in love with Atom and bought the company for the discounted price of on 20,500 pounds from the Sutherland family. Aston Martin now had the leader it needed to become what it was meant to be. Mr. Brown's core business was tractor parts. Specifically gears and transmissions. At first he did little with Aston Martin as his attention was devoted to finishing a new gear design. However, a friend of his convinced him to buy another automotive company, Lagonda, and merge it together with Aston Martin. After some shrud positioning he acquired Lagonda for 52,500 pounds. Aston Martin Lagonda was born. Yes, now you know why this site's domain name is AML. In 1954 the company moved to its Newport Pagnell facilities.

With David Brown came the "DB" vehicles. First there was the Aston Martin 2-litre, later called the DB1, built between 1948 and 1950. In 1950 the DB2s started to roll out of the plant followed by "DB"'s up till the DBS V8 built from 1967 to 1972. For more information on each model built please see our Gallery section. Unfortunately, the company, which had always just squeaked by, could no longer go in alone. In 1972 Mr. Brown sold the company to Company Developments Ltd. Company Developments was a second string asset stripper - remember that crazy in the 80's (see Pretty Women, Other Peoples Money, and Wallstreet, for a refresher). Things did not look good. But before they could rip the company apart two American enthusiasts, Peter Sprague and George Minden, bought the company. They focused on the product. Streamlining operations and improving quality. By 1981 things had greatly improved at Aston Martin but the American's couldn't keep it going and sold the company to CH Industrial. Who then sold it to Automotive Investments in 1983. They lasted just a year before selling the company to Peter Livanos and Victor Gauntlett. Could you imagine working at this place! You would never know how the boss was. Then in 1986 Ford bought 75% of the the company and the future of Aston Martin started to look a bit more promising.

In 1993 Ford finally bought the rest of the company from Victo Gauntlett and took over complete control of the operations. Ford invested heavily into modernizing the plants and focusing on innovative designs and technologies. For a company that averaged only a few hundred examples a year started to produce hundred then thousands of autos under Ford's leadership. In 2002 the company produced 6000 DB7's. More than all of the previous "DB"s ever built.

Ford Sells Aston Martin!

On Aug 31st, 2006 Ford has announced that Aston Martin Lagonda is up for sale. Now we have been here before and sometimes we have been in much more dire straights. Since Aston Martin's humble beginnings in 1913 the company has been sold:

- 1946 Sold to David Brown
- 1972 Sold to Company Developments
- 1975 Sold to Peter Sprague and George Minden
- 1981 Sold to CH Industrial
- 1983 Sold to Automotive Investments
- 1984 Sold to Peter Livanos and Victor Gauntlett
- 1986 Ford buys 75%
- 1993 Ford buys entire company

This time it's Ford that is in dire straights. The automotive giant is struggling to navigate the new world economy with an old world pension, health care program, and union. Let alone a product line up only second to GM. It's time for Ford to streamline operations and generate some fast cash to fundamentally change their business.

The good news is that this is the first time in Aston Martin history that the company is set up to deliver consistent profits. The product line up includes the DB9, Vanquish, and the Vantage V8. Along with many specials like the upcoming DBS - which may pr may not become a production vehicle. This means that Aston Martin could be purchased and ran without the buyers taking on a company under water.

The bad news is that since Aston Martin is above water financially it may be purchased for investment reasons rather than the love of the marques. The worst case scenario in my opinion is a VW buyout, or similar company, that folds Aston Martin into it's current global supply chain. For example, is it me or is the Bentley Continental Flying Spur a VW Pheaton? (nothing against VW -my day drive is a Passat!) What we need is an owner that will fundamentally understand that Aston Martin is a brand that will only retain its status if it retains its exclusivity.

David Richards and friends buy Aston Martin for $925MM!

In early 2007 Ford sold 92% of Aston Martin to the Aston enthusiast and CEO of Prodrive, David Richards. The sale once again sees our cherished marque in British hands and being lead by true enthusiasts. Prodrive is the automotive technology and racing company behind Astons racing program. In addition to David Richards, the American John Sinders and two Kuwaiti investment firms where part of the deal -- a deal that went down just as Aston Martin started to turn a profit. The company now has 100 worldwide dealerships selling around 6500 vehicles per year. Considering that in the 1990's they were producing fewer than 50 examples per year I'd say Aston is on a roll.

Less famous star kids

2011-09-30T13:57:00.000+05:30

Don't mistake him for Ranbir Kapoor. Boney Kapoor's son Arjun has a striking resemblance to Ranbir. Arjun Kapoor is 20, and is interested in working behind the camera like his dad.

Chiranjeev- Ranjeet's son

Harshwardhan Kapoor - Anil Kapoor's son

After Sonakshi, her elder brothers - twins Luv and Kush
Sinha - too are going to hit the big screen

Malhar -Nana Patekar's son.

Mimoh Chakraborty - Mithun Chakraborty's son

Sanaa Panscholi - Daughter of Aditya Panscholi and Zarina Wahab

Siddhant Kapoor - Shakthi Kapoor's son.

Unlike his dad Dev Anand, Suneil Anand never made it big
in Bollywood,

Don't mistake him for Ranbir Kapoor. Boney Kapoor's son Arjun has a striking resemblance to Ranbir. Arjun Kapoor is 20, and is interested in working behind the camera like his dad.
Jackie Shroff's son Tiger Shroff is set to debut in Sajid Nadiadwala’s next film.
After Sonakshi, her elder brothers - twins Luv and Kush Sinha - too are going to hit the big screen.
After Akshaye andRahul, Vinod Khanna is readying to launch his teenage son Sakshi (from his second marriage) in Bollywood.
Zeenat Aman with her son Azaan.
Malhar -Nana Patekar's son.
Siddhant Kapoor - Shakthi Kapoor's son.
Chiranjeev- Ranjeet's son
Vivaan Shah -Naseeruddin Shah's son
1. Don't mistake him for Ranbir Kapoor. Boney Kapoor's son Arjun has a striking resemblance to Ranbir. Arjun Kapoor is 20, and is interested in working behind the camera like his dad.
2. Jackie Shroff's son Tiger Shroff is set to debut in Sajid Nadiadwala’s next film.
3. After Sonakshi, her elder brothers - twins Luv and Kush Sinha - too are going to hit the big screen.
4. After Akshaye andRahul, Vinod Khanna is readying to launch his teenage son Sakshi (from his second marriage) in Bollywood.
5. Zeenat Aman with her son Azaan.
6. Malhar -Nana Patekar's son.
7. Siddhant Kapoor - Shakthi Kapoor's son.
8. Chiranjeev- Ranjeet's son
9. Vivaan Shah -Naseeruddin Shah's son
  
  Don't mistake him for Ranbir Kapoor. Boney Kapoor's son Arjun has a striking resemblance to Ranbir. Arjun Kapoor is 20, and is interested in working behind the camera like his dad.
  
  Jackie Shroff's son Tiger Shroff is set to debut in Sajid Nadiadwala’s next film.
  
  After Sonakshi, her elder brothers - twins Luv and Kush Sinha - too are going to hit the big screen.
  
  After Akshaye andRahul, Vinod Khanna is readying to launch his teenage son Sakshi (from his second marriage) in Bollywood.
  
  Zeenat Aman with her son Azaan.
  
  Malhar -Nana Patekar's son.
  
  Siddhant Kapoor - Shakthi Kapoor's son.
  
  Chiranjeev- Ranjeet's son
  
  Vivaan Shah -Naseeruddin Shah's son
  
  Don't mistake him for Ranbir Kapoor. Boney Kapoor's son Arjun has a striking resemblance to Ranbir. Arjun Kapoor is 20, and is interested in working behind the camera like his dad.
  
  Jackie Shroff's son Tiger Shroff is set to debut in Sajid Nadiadwala’s next film.
  
  After Sonakshi, her elder brothers - twins Luv and Kush Sinha - too are going to hit the big screen.
  
  After Akshaye andRahul, Vinod Khanna is readying to launch his teenage son Sakshi (from his second marriage) in Bollywood.
  
  Zeenat Aman with her son Azaan.
  
  Malhar -Nana Patekar's son.
  
  Siddhant Kapoor - Shakthi Kapoor's son.
  
  Chiranjeev- Ranjeet's son
  
  Vivaan Shah -Naseeruddin Shah's son
  
  Don't mistake him for Ranbir Kapoor. Boney Kapoor's son Arjun has a striking resemblance to Ranbir. Arjun Kapoor is 20, and is interested in working behind the camera like his dad.
  
  Jackie Shroff's son Tiger Shroff is set to debut in Sajid Nadiadwala’s next film.
  
  After Sonakshi, her elder brothers - twins Luv and Kush Sinha - too are going to hit the big screen.
  
  After Akshaye andRahul, Vinod Khanna is readying to launch his teenage son Sakshi (from his second marriage) in Bollywood.
  
  Zeenat Aman with her son Azaan.
  
  Malhar -Nana Patekar's son.
  
  Siddhant Kapoor - Shakthi Kapoor's son.
  
  Chiranjeev- Ranjeet's son
  
  Vivaan Shah -Naseeruddin Shah's son
  
  Don't mistake him for Ranbir Kapoor. Boney Kapoor's son Arjun has a striking resemblance to Ranbir. Arjun Kapoor is 20, and is interested in working behind the camera like his dad.
  
  Jackie Shroff's son Tiger Shroff is set to debut in Sajid Nadiadwala’s next film.
  
  After Sonakshi, her elder brothers - twins Luv and Kush Sinha - too are going to hit the big screen.
  
  After Akshaye andRahul, Vinod Khanna is readying to launch his teenage son Sakshi (from his second marriage) in Bollywood.
  
  Zeenat Aman with her son Azaan.
  
  Malhar -Nana Patekar's son.
  
  Siddhant Kapoor - Shakthi Kapoor's son.
  
  Chiranjeev- Ranjeet's son
  
  Vivaan Shah -Naseeruddin Shah's so

Don't mistake him for Ranbir Kapoor. Boney Kapoor's son Arjun has a striking resemblance to Ranbir. Arjun Kapoor is 20, and is interested in working behind the camera like his dad.
Jackie Shroff's son Tiger Shroff is set to debut in Sajid Nadiadwala’s next film.
After Sonakshi, her elder brothers - twins Luv and Kush Sinha - too are going to hit the big screen.
After Akshaye andRahul, Vinod Khanna is readying to launch his teenage son Sakshi (from his second marriage) in Bollywood.
Zeenat Aman with her son Azaan.
Malhar -Nana Patekar's son.
Siddhant Kapoor - Shakthi Kapoor's son.
Chiranjeev- Ranjeet's son
Vivaan Shah -Naseeruddin Shah's so

Don't mistake him for Ranbir Kapoor. Boney Kapoor's son Arjun has a striking resemblance to Ranbir. Arjun Kapoor is 20, and is interested in working behind the camera like his dad.
Jackie Shroff's son Tiger Shroff is set to debut in Sajid Nadiadwala’s next film.
After Sonakshi, her elder brothers - twins Luv and Kush Sinha - too are going to hit the big screen.
After Akshaye andRahul, Vinod Khanna is readying to launch his teenage son Sakshi (from his second marriage) in Bollywood.
Zeenat Aman with her son Azaan.
Malhar -Nana Patekar's son.
Siddhant Kapoor - Shakthi Kapoor's son.
Chiranjeev- Ranjeet's son
Vivaa

Vivaan Shah -Naseeruddin Shah's son

Mahindra XUV500 launched at a really attractive price of Rs. 10.8 lakh

2011-09-29T23:56:00.000+05:30

Mahindra has just launched its global SUV, the XUV500 (pronounced “eks you we five double oh”) in three variants at a really attractive price of Rs. 10.8 lakh for the W6 base variant, Rs. 11.95 lakh for the middle variant W8 and Rs. 12.88 lakh for the W8 4×4 variant. Not only does the vehicle look aggressive, it’s priced aggressively as well and set to take a bite out of competition.

Aggressive pricing

At these prices not only does the Mahindra XUV500 give the Toyota Innova and Tata Aria a run for their money, it also puts pressure on its own stable mate, the Mahindra Scorpio as well.

With this aggressive pricing, Mahindra seems to have taken a calibrated decision to introduce a genuine value-for-money proposition with a product that meets the aspirations of the SUV buyer who cannot afford the Rs 20 lakh-plus SUV but wants features comparable to those.

The Tata Aria base model at Rs 12.6 lakh is almost at the same price as the XUV500. And the Mahindra Scorpio top-end 4X4 will cost more than the XUV500 base variant.

Not just the Yeti, even SUVs such as the Ford Endeavour and Toyota Fortuner do not have as many features and they are priced nearly twice as much as the XUV500. So in that sense, the XUV500 is absolutely good value for money.

Value for money

The XUV500 has many things going for it. For one, it outclasses many SUVs a segment or two above it in terms of features that it offers. The fully-loaded W8 variant (both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive) are high on comfort and safety features.

The XUV500 is spacious and can seat seven passengers. In terms of safety features, it has six airbags, all-round disc brakes with ABS, traction control and electronic stability program. It also offers driving aids like hill-descent control seen only in SUVs like the Skoda Yeti and above so far (which is priced a good Rs 3.5 lakh higher.)

Other features of the XUV500 include tyre pressure monitoring, cruise control, touch-screen integrated music system with steering audio controls, GPS navigation, Bluetooth phone connectivity, power-folding rear-view mirrors, puddle lamps, cooled glove box and plenty more. What Mahindra has done is to take all the best features offered in competing vehicles and include it in the XUV500. And then go and price it so aggressively.

There are some things that are unique in the build of this crossover sport-utility vehicle that are a first for a carmaker like Mahindra. It’s the first time Mahindra has developed a fully monocoque platform (all its other SUVs use a ladder-frame chassis with the body bolted on to it). It’s also the first time it has developed a front-wheel drive vehicle with a transverse-mounted engine. It’s also the first six-speed manual gearbox from the carmaker (the Scorpio automatic has a six-speed box though).

Mahindra is initially rolling out the XUV500 in five cities for the first month (Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Chennai), and will then take it across the country in the next 2-3 months. Stay tuned for more on the XUV500 after the national launch in New Delhi on September 30.

IMPORTANT MANNERS YOU SHOULD TEACH YOUR LITTLE ONES

2011-09-29T16:02:00.001+05:30

A young child usually takes great delight in the sort of habits that adults regard as bad manners: first, because they usually ease feelings of discomfort, and second, because of the response that greets them.

We all want to raise our little ones to be polite and well behaved, and learning those lessons starts at home. It's never too early to teach your little ones basic manners! Here are eight of the most important manners you should try to teach your little ones before they go to school. They won't remember them all, or get them right every time, but patience and perseverance should get you through:

1. Always say please and thank you.
Whether they're activities as small as giving your little one a snack, or them asking if they can play in the garden, always reinforce the importance of saying please and thank you. No matter how young your children are, you can't start enforcing this rule too early!

2.    Mind the language
There will come a moment every parent dreads: the moment your little one swears. And then finds it funny! The worst thing you can do in this scenario is laugh. Let them know that you already know that word, you think it's unpleasant, not funny, and ask your little one not to use it again!
3.   Play dates
When you're little ones go on play dates, or to birthday parties, remind them to thank their friends parents for having them over. If you aren't going to be attending the play date or event with your little one, ensure your little ones know they should treat their friends parents (and all grown-ups) with the same respect they treat you.
4.   Birthday party etiquette
It's often said that kids go wild at birthday parties - all the sweet snacks and fun can make little ones get excited, and sometimes forget their manners. But no matter how excited your little one is on their birthday, there are some manners they shouldn't forget: to open their presents thoughtfully (not ripping off the paper, or tossing the present to one side as soon as they've seen it) and to say thank you for every gift, and to every attendee.
5. Excuse me!
Once your little ones have mastered saying please and thank you, teach them to say excuse me. It's the polite thing to say when you have to interrupt someone, or bump into somebody.

6.   Don't be mean
Kids tease each other, and they find it funny. But this can sometimes go a step too far and lead to bullying. Make sure your little ones don't call others mean names, and don't make fun of anyone for any reason. Ganging up on someone else is cruel, not clever.
7.   Table manners
When your tiny tots are just learning to eat at the table, start teaching them the manners you'd like them to have for the rest of their lives! Rules like not eating with their mouths open, or not putting their elbows on the table, are good life lessons for your children to learn as soon as possible.

8. TMI!
There are some things that are too much information, and that your little ones shouldn't talk about in public! These include genitals, poo, nose picking, and all the other gory things that amuse kids!