HashOut

Start with a record

2008-02-19T09:59:00.000-08:00

How did you welcome the New Year this time? G. Navakumar of Vellore, India ushered in 2008 by painting the flags of 102 countries on two rows of paper -- each 185 feet long. He then inserted a new year greeting between the parallel rows. The Indian flag had a picture of a white dove, indicating peace. He plans to add flags of another 90 countries for a place in the Limca Book of Records.

Ad industry looks at 'cyberia'

2008-02-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

The face of Indian advertising is changing. The action has shifted to 'cyberia' and advertising firms are reorienting themselves for a toehold on the digital domain. Industry insiders say the country's ad landscape will see more "integration and people-oriented nice campaigns" in the digital age."This is the age of online communities, messengers, blogs and searches. Advertising agencies will have

Daughter speak

2008-02-16T10:59:00.000-08:00

One person who was seen in Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign trail is her daughter Chelsea. Though she mixes with the crowd after Hillary's speech, she is out of bounds for the press. In Iowa recently, a kid reporter of Scholastic News, nine-year-old Sydney Rieckhoff, asked her, "Do you think your dad would be a good 'first man'?" Chelsea brushed her question aside, saying, "I'm sorry, I don't

Conman in uniform

2008-02-08T10:27:00.000-08:00

Conmen love playing the role of a policeman, with whom they interact the most. Loorthanathan from Bangalore, India is no different. He specializes in duping the gullible wearing police uniform. When he was arrested recently, the license plate of his bike had the letter 'G', which suggests that it belongs to the government. Loorthanathan, who the police claim cheated over 70 people, even had a

Go slow, baby!

2008-02-06T09:47:00.000-08:00

According to health officials in Satara district of Maharashtra (India), the family way should not be treated as expressway. The officials are reportedly offering prizes to couples who take their feet off the libido accelerator. If a couple delays their first baby by two years, the prize is INR 5,000; a three-year gap will give them INR 7,500. Does infertility merit a jackpot?

Screened over

2008-02-05T09:37:00.000-08:00

Beijing now boasts the largest LED screen in Asia. The recently unveiled 'skyscreen' stretches 250m above the pedestrian walkway at a newly opened shopping mall in the central business district.One can sip coffee and watch the various crafty videos on show. And surprisingly, there is no advertising, at least as yet. As of now, the only 'advertising' on the skyscreen are the propaganda videos

Save up to £547 per year on shopping

2008-02-04T02:09:00.000-08:00

The average household could save up to £547 every year by switching the five financial basics to the best deals on the market, new research from MoneyExpert.com shows.And financial comparison websites are the ideal way to shop around for the best deals on car insurance, home insurance, personal loans, credit cards and mortgages.MoneyExpert.com commissioned researchers Canvasse Opinion to audit

What a bummer!

2008-02-03T09:27:00.000-08:00

Pull up your pants or be pulled up by cops. Youth who walk with their pants half-down in Atlanta had better watch out. On August 30, a ban was imposed on low-slung pants, or any clothing that exposes underwear in public. Very low-slung trousers are already banned in Delcambre in Louisiana, where cheeky offenders can be fined US$500 or up to six months in jail.

Google policing Gmail

2008-02-01T07:17:00.000-08:00

Google has been well known for policing click fraud on its AdSense service. But Digital Inspiration has recently unearthed information about Google policing its Gmail service.Google decides how many people you can send an email at a time. 100 from POP or IMAP clients and 500 from the web client. Also, Google will penalize your account if a lot of emails you send bounce back due to failed

Bettercaring discover new trends in care home diets

2008-02-01T06:39:00.000-08:00

In light of new nutritional government guidelines from the UK Department of Health and members of the Nutrition Summit stakeholder group, Bettercaring has discovered that there are many positive changes being implemented across care homes in the UK.Bettercaring undertook some research this month to try and discover what sort of systems care homes were trialling in order to provide nutritionally

Know your health, online

2008-01-31T06:46:00.000-08:00

The invitation on a website reads: "Use nutrition tools to assess your health risks." Enter your height, weight, waist and hip measurements. And it will tell whether you are overweight or not!The website, nutritionvista.com, recommends visitors to contact its online dieticians to analyse steps to improve their health parameters."You are what you eat," says US-based gatroenterologist and

Duchess of dregs

2008-01-30T10:28:00.000-08:00

Next time you drink coffee, don't drain it to the dregs. Leave some behind for Nawal Gani of Bangalore (India) to tell you something about what lies ahead.44-year-old Gani reads the future from the left overs in a coffee cup, and claims she gets it at least 60 per cent right. "I don't predict. I guide people to know themselves better," she says. The patterns formed on the interior of the cup are

Big events & your memory

2008-01-28T10:08:00.000-08:00

When you experience an emotionally-charged event, it's something that is etched into your memory, and now scientists think they know why. In experiments with mice, researchers found that powerful surges of hormone norepinephrine -- surges that occur during emotional episodes -- cause a series of events that strengthen the connections between neurons, sealing these events into memory. "The

Babies can tell friend from foe

2008-01-27T09:53:00.000-08:00

Infants who have not yet learned language can still tell friend from foe. Babies aged around six months prefer people who co-operate, rather than people who hurt. This ability could be the foundation for moral thought and action later in life, say researchers.Previous studies had showed that babies prefer physically attractive people, but there has been no data on whether babies judge people

Testing times

2008-01-26T08:07:00.000-08:00

Can extra-curricular test mean chastity test, too? The West Java province's plan to carry out virginity tests on female high school students was dropped after a public outcry. The test was planned after a video of two high school students having sex was circulated via mobile phones.

Sacred fig weds Neem!

2008-01-25T09:15:00.000-08:00

People of a village near Sirumuga in Coimbatore district (India) performed an unsual wedding -- they got a 'neem' tree married to a 'pipal' (Sacred fig) tree. The knot was tied in south Indian style in the presence of a priest and amid chanting of hymns and nadaswaram recital in early August, 2007. The ceremony was to protect forests and maintain world peace.

Tub boats

2008-01-24T12:22:00.000-08:00

What would you pack when going on a vacation to Dinant, an hour away from Brussels? Take a bathtub, by all means. This city on the River Meuse hosts La Regate des Baignoires or the International Regatta of Bathtubs!The event is open to 'river-worthy' bathtubs of all classes and nationalities. More of a joke than a contest, it allows vessels of any design, but at least one bathtub must be part of

Glass mates

2008-01-22T12:05:00.000-08:00

Heard of proposals during safaris, on airplanes and during candle-lit dinners. Rebecca Savoy was surprised when a huge W popped up on the screen during her vision-test. Then came ILL and the rest followed (in pic). Her boyfriend Joseph Wachtel had roped in the optometrist to help him pop the question.

Bid Daddy

2008-01-21T11:55:00.000-08:00

Daad Mohammed Murad Abdul Rahman, 60, has already married 15 times and has two more brides lined up. He divorced 12 of them to stay within the legal norm of four wives.The father of 78 is in a bid to reach his target of 100 children by 2015. His eldest child is 36 years old and the youngest, 20 days. The 'extended family' stays in about 15 houses in Ajman (United Arab Emirates).

Serving her majesty

2008-01-20T10:11:00.000-08:00

A 552-year tradition was broken in September last year when Moira Cameron, 42, became the first female Beefeater, taking up her post as a guardian of the Tower of London.She beat five men to secure the coveted position and has undergone two months of intensive training to learn the 21 separate duties that the Beefeaters perform each day, including guarding the crown jewels, participating in the

Astronomical off-season rates

2008-01-07T10:03:00.000-08:00

Russia may be known for its bitter, long winters but what many people don't know is that its summer can be scorching. That's something wealthy Muscovites don't want to deal with. To cater to their whims is the availability of summer snow, the latest luxury fad. The really lucky ones, however, are the snow-making machine producers who are making hay, sorry snow, while the sun shines. So far, at

Clear cutter, before it kills you

2008-01-06T01:17:00.000-08:00

It's called the disease of affluenza. Too much stuff owing to too much affluence. The result is a quagmire of clutter. Living in clutter is more than just a matter of aesthetics. It can be hazardous to your health. According to lifestyle gurus, clutter and disorganisation create a negative home environment that gets the blood pulsing through the body, sending people into a stressful state that

Pep up your office without burning a hole in your pocket

2008-01-05T12:29:00.000-08:00

It's a brand new year. So why not pep up the office (or the home office) for a brand new start. May be you could get some new office furniture, office supplies, a brand new Apple Macintosh or a nice comfortable ergonomic office chair for yourself! Ah, I know what you are thinking about. Don't you worry. You don't need to burn a hole in your pocket.Just visit OfficeDeals.info to grab thousands of

Well-watered

2008-01-05T06:54:00.000-08:00

Those who drink like a fish might be stopped from sailing. Madrid is considering breathalyser tests for inebriated yacht owners. The police found revellers sailing home to avoid being arrested for drunken driving. Spain's drunken driving rate is almost double that of Netherlands and Britain.

The A'cat'emy

2008-01-04T11:09:00.000-08:00

Meow Mix, a cat-food manufacturer, is starting the world's first feline-centred school (above) dedicated to teaching pet parents how to think like a cat. Based in New York, the school will feature a wide range of guest speakers and interactive courses that promise to cover everything from reading a cat's mind to studying the fine art of catnap. There is even a cat-cuisine segment!Among the

Women on stage? Nothing big

2008-01-03T08:55:00.000-08:00

But Guinness book of records says it's a feat, especially when 1,200 of them are on stage together. The performance was at Kochi (Cochin) on November 28, 2006 at Art of Living Foundation's silver jubilee celebrations. The women, all Mohiniyattam dancers, enchanted not just the over 1,00,000 crowd with the Dance of the Enchantress that Kerala's own art-form is, but the Guinness team, too.

Poetic pill

2008-01-02T10:12:00.000-08:00

Prisoners in Kerala can cheer. They will soon get a 'release' -- into the world of poems, music and literature. Bringing it all to them will be poets, playwrights, novelists and musicians, who will present reading sessions and live concerts in prisons across the state. The first of these 'reform pills' will be 'administered' in the next few months. Poetic justice, indeed!

Stealthy death

2008-01-01T06:01:00.000-08:00

Russian roulette is passé; it is the Rangoon version that is becoming shocking. Thieves here are taking advantage of power-cuts, often lasting more than 20 hours a day, to steal the copper power cables. Sometimes they get unlucky as it is impossible to know exactly when the power is going to be restored. And the end is, predictably, macabre.

Cheers to the cup of tears

2007-12-31T20:55:00.000-08:00

For those who believe in drowning their sorrows, a bar in the Chinese town of Nanjing is just the place. Broken-hearted patrons are provided tissues and menthol drops along with their drink. Friendly bartenders also provide onions and red peppers for those who have some difficulty in letting out the tears.The mood is decidedly downbeat with sad music in the background and dolls available for

Tears of stone

2007-12-30T09:28:00.000-08:00

Photos fade, but memories in granite do not vanish. For the sculptors of Barre, Vermont, immortality is a perk of their job.The 85-acre Hope Cemetery, opened in 1895, is an example of their classic art. Every one of the 10,000 plus monuments here is made of Barre Gray granite.One carving has a couple sitting up in bed wearing pajamas and holding hands. A stone race-car celebrate local driver Joey

Hitching a ride

2007-12-29T08:59:00.000-08:00

When a ship carrier aircraft, you call it an aircraft carrier; and when an aircraft carries space shuttles? Yes, a shuttle carrier aircraft (SCA). In picture is the Atlantis riding piggyback on the NASA 911. The NASA's SCAs are two modified Boeing 747 jets. The SCAs are used to ferry shuttles back to the Kennedy Space Center from landing sites too distant for ground transport. The SCA-shuttle

Sacred odours

2007-12-28T20:45:00.000-08:00

Father Henryk Jankowski, popular for his support to the solidarity movement, announced that he planned to launch perfumes, clothing and cafes branded with his image.Jankowski already has a wine branded after him under the name 'Monsignore'. While many Catholics admire him for his role in ousting the communists, many do not approve of him being on the panel for selecting the waitresses for the 16

RoyalTube

2007-12-27T04:03:00.000-08:00

The Queen has a YouTube channel. As the Observer points out, she beat the White House. Sadly, they disabled embedding.

Don't say yech!

2007-12-26T08:55:00.000-08:00

Before you click away from the page, let me tell you that the cockroach is not that a scary or dirty as you think, says a Taiwanese study. To start with, its eye is an arrangement of around 3,000 lenses and it can smell food over 20 metres away.It breathes through body holes called spiracles that can be closed with a kind of hairy lid. So, if you flush a roach down the toilet, it doesn't drown;

Colonial Aroma

2007-12-25T20:03:00.000-08:00

Habana 1791, a perfume shop in Cuba, is thriving even though it sells just 12 fragrances. Its speciality is colonial fragrances, both perfumes and room fresheners. Rose, jasmine and lilac petals, Rangoon creeper and orange blossoms, tobacco leaves, lime peel, sandalwood resin and lavender oil go into these perfumes.The ingredients are crushed and soaked in an alcohol solution. This matures for

Signal Bench

2007-12-24T07:19:00.000-08:00

Residents of East Prawle village in Devonshire, UK have been queuing to use a bench on their village green. Apparently, it is the only place from where they can make a mobile phone call. Villagers discovered that by standing on the seat they could receive a signal from the nearest mast, which is 3.5km away. Now the parish council is building a 2ft podium for cell-phone users!

Speed trance to perfection

2007-12-23T20:36:00.000-08:00

Do you want to develop a great sense of humor or overcome your fear of dogs? Would you like to reverse the aging process, overcome an illness or improve your driving skills? You can find a solution to these and 300 other problems in Instant Hypnosis.It is a misconception that induction into hypnosis is time consuming and requires complete relaxation. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to

Genetic elixir

2007-12-22T05:48:00.000-08:00

It looks like genes will keep you in your jeans till kingdom come. The buzz is that a nematode worm holds the key to eternal youth. Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, California, have identified a gene that links calorie restriction to longevity. The over-expression of a gene, encoding the protein PHA-4, led to increased lifespan in worms. This might lead to development of

Just design

2007-12-21T06:11:00.000-08:00

They call it 'Design for the Other 90%'. The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum is holding the exhibition to emphasis that popular design benefits only 10 per cent of the world's population, as only they can afford most things. The exhibition showcases 30 design projects addressing basic needs in developing countries.The LifeStraw (in pic) is a water purifier which turns any surface water into

Love or war?

2007-12-20T06:32:00.000-08:00

A British-made radio-controlled vibrator has been banned in Cyprus as a threat to national security. The Cypriot military is concerned that the sex toy's electronic waves will disrupt the army's radio frequencies.Makers Ann Summers said that it's Love Bug 2, a small, egg-shaped device operated by a remote control had a range of less than six meters! But the vibrator is sold in Cyprus with

Don't litter the 'living room', please

2007-12-19T09:43:00.001-08:00

Venice will deploy six stewards in St Mark's Square to prevent tourists from stripping off their T-shirts, taking a nap or dropping fast-food wrappers in the piazza that is a UNESCO World Heritage site.Bordered by St Mark's Basilica, the Clock Tower, the Doge's Palace and the Grand Canal, the square is one of the world's biggest tourist attractions.Wealthy tourists to the square sip their

Patsy makes us proud

2007-12-18T09:19:00.000-08:00

From Kochi to Ontario, a 28-day voyage to the US in 1960! From a naive college student, to the honoured Order of Canada in 2007 -- an award for exemplary achievement and service. Such has been the meteoric rise of Patsy George, 66, a retired public servant and social worker who lives in British Columbia.Parental pressure had made Patsy take a pre-med couse, only to drop it. "My professor asked me

Ancestor Tourism

2007-12-17T10:06:00.000-08:00

When other countries market desert tourism, eco-tourism and the like, Ireland is cashing in on 'ancestor tourism'! After centuries of emigration, an estimated 70 million people worldwide claim Irish connection. The first port of call for these tourists is the national library (in pic), from where they head to country offices and churches. Tourism Ireland estimates that one in four tourists has

Way to Antarctica

2007-12-16T08:13:00.000-08:00

If you would like to go to Antarctica where would you catch a ship from? Ushuaia -- the capital of the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego -- one of the world's southernmost cities.With scientists and environmentalists predicting that the white-continent would eventually dissolve, tourists are flocking to Ushuaia.Every year, about 50 ships cross the Beagle Channel and beat southwards to the

Standing guard

2007-12-15T05:45:00.000-08:00

For centuries they have been on guard. The Terracotta Army is a collection of 8,099 life-size terracotta figures of warriors and horses located in Shaanxi province. The ancients baked parts of each soldier separately and put them together like a modern assembly chain. Last year, a German art student, Pablo Wendel, infiltrated the exhibit. His disguise made it difficult for security to find him

Podcasting couch

2007-12-14T05:13:00.000-08:00

How to select and collect your own radio and video clipsPodcasting sounds like a tricky tech term, but put simply, it's a way of sharing audio and video files through the Internet. You simply download them to play on your iPod, MP3 player or computer at your leisure. Once you start searching, the volume and variety of podcasts available will seem mind-blowing.Why is it so popular?You can grab a

Visa Photos: The Rules

2007-12-13T05:06:00.000-08:00

Here are tips to help you pose for a visa or passport photo:No cheesy grins, as mouths should be shut. Adopt a neutral expression and look straight at the camera, so face and both ears are seen properly.Hair must not obscure your face, so keep those fringes in check. Make sure facial hair does not hide the outline of your nose or mouth. No head coverings, unless religious.Embassies usually

Scratch Those Allergies

2007-12-12T03:53:00.000-08:00

Does cuddling your kitty make you sneeze?No need to get rid of her, says allergist Clifford Bassett, MD. Take steps to ease symptoms:Ban pets from your bedroom, and get an air purifier.No pet is completely hypoallergenic, but those that shed more trigger more symptoms, says Shirlee Kalstone, author of Allergic to Pets?.Vacuum and dust often to eliminate sneeze-inducing dander and fur.Bathe and

Wedlocked!

2007-12-11T02:03:00.000-08:00

The big fat South Asian 'weddings' have managed to get under the skin of the liberal Brits. Reportedly, instances of forced weddings in Asian families settled in Britain are increasing. A Forced Marriages Unit (FMU) operated by the Home Office and Foreign Office has stepped in. In July, the British parliament enacted the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007.If you or someone you know is

Keep your breath sweet

2007-12-10T05:07:00.000-08:00

Would you tell your best friend if she had halitosis -- or bad breath? Most people wouldn't, according to a survey by the British Dental Health Foundation. Bad breath is mostly caused by poor dental hygiene, but can be triggered by a pungent meal or bad nutrition, or it can indicate medical problems.To test yourself, lick the inside of your wrist, wait ten seconds and then sniff! If the smell is

Awash in Wash

2007-12-09T07:36:00.000-08:00

The average person generates hundreds of kilos of dirty clothes a year, but few of us wash them correctly. Simple steps for cleaner loads:If you use a top-loading washing machine, fill a few inches of water, add detergent and then the clothes. Few of us do it in this order, but it can make a difference to the cleaning.Wait five minutes to add chlorine bleach. Detergent and bleach fight each other

Surf safe and anonymous with VPN

2007-12-08T01:31:00.000-08:00

There are several reasons to consider browsing anonymously and through an encrypted Virtual Private Network (VPN), not just to access porn or log onto Second Life as the opposite gender. It's your financial information and career that could be at risk.Consider what would happen if your boss came to know your home IP address and searched the Internet for your postings and online activities by IP

The Dirty Kitchen

2007-12-07T04:42:00.000-08:00

In Europe they're called sculleries; in North America, dirty kitchens. Whatever the name, these rooms allow you to segregate the messy aspects of food prep from your eat-in kitchen -- a big selling point for people who entertain a lot.Often connected to the main kitchen, a dirty kitchen is generally smaller. Inside you put the gear you don't want guests to see: a second oven for sauces that

Sneaky sources of Caffeine

2007-12-06T05:35:00.000-08:00

You know you shouldn't have too much caffeine, since it can cause anxiety and insomnia. What you probably didn't know: Some foods pack a caffeine wallop nearly the size of your morning java jolt (a cup of coffee has about 80 mg of caffeine).Food manufacturers aren't required to list the amount of caffeine in a product, so many people are in the dark. There are no government guidelines on how much

Future Shock

2007-12-05T06:17:00.000-08:00

A Nostradamus act has landed astrologer Sivasamy from Tamilnadu, India in the dock. He predicted 'long life' for a dead man. Gopalakrishnan of Madurai wanted a peep into his future, but just to be certain of Sivasamy's skills, he first gave the astrologer the thumb impression of a man who was no more. Sivasamy predicted from the thumb impression that the man would live a long life. Gopalakrishnan

Want to improve the quality of your life?

2007-12-04T06:02:00.000-08:00

Go scrub the loo! Japanese fortune-tellers are now advising happiness-junkies to start by scrubbing the smallest room. A book titled Cleaning the Toilet to Attract Luck has been published to outline the correct method on how to attract good fortune using a brush and an array of cleaning fluids."Don't just wipe the floor, polish it," the book instructs. "It's important to maintain a positive mood

Send a hug

2007-12-03T04:55:00.000-08:00

Wish you could reach out and hug someone? With the Hug Shirt, you can. It uses Bluetooth technology to send and receive embraces. Wearing a Hug Shirt, the sender hugs herself. Sensors in the shirt send the data (hug pressure, skin temperature, heart rate, length of hug) via Bluetooth to her mobile phone which in turn sends it to the receiver's phone, which relays it to his shirt, replicating the

Picking up the right web host

2007-12-01T22:03:00.000-08:00

Do you host a website or a blog on your own? If yes, you should have gone through the confusing stage of choosing a web host. It could be very difficult to decide which one to choose due to the number of hosts and the number of plans that each one provide.However, it is really important that you make sure the plan you choose will meet your requirements. Comparing the plans based on just the price

4 Ways to Get Things Done at the Office

2007-12-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

Demanding job? Get it under control with these tips. After all, there is life beyond your desk.Get someone else to do it."Don't be afraid to delegate. Make sure you know who does what, so you don't waste time taking on work that someone else already does, or should be doing. Delegated work shouldn't be seen as a 'side-stepped' chore. It should help create a stronger, more effective work force.

Can doing laundry help make you fit?

2007-11-30T08:20:00.000-08:00

You'd better believe it, says Ellen Langer, PhD, a Harvard University psychologist. She told 44 hotel maids their job was a good workout. A month later, they'd shed about a kilo.They say they didn't work any harder, but their mind-set had changed: They believed cleaning could help them shape up, and somehow it did. "If you put the mind in a healthy place, the body will be in a healthy place,"

Wanna lose weight sleeping?

2007-11-29T06:53:00.000-08:00

Here's a weight-loss strategy that you might find relaxing. A large study has found a link between amount of sleep and risk of obesity. Study subjects between the ages of 32 and 59 who slept four hours or less a night were 73 percent more likely to be obese than those who slept between seven and nine hours. People who got five hours of sleep had a 50 percent higher risk, and those who go six

Keeping a tab on music tabs

2007-11-28T20:56:00.000-08:00

I was quite intrigued by the wide variety of tablatures available at tTabs.com. I found the selection of over 140,000 guitar, bass, and drum tabs to be quite useful.Once a dedicated fan of the Online Guitar Archive (OLGA) prior to its legal battles, the discovery of tTabs was music to my eyes. If you have any interest in music tablature, be sure to check out tTabs.com.An example of the quality

Nosebleed Alert

2007-11-28T05:20:00.000-08:00

People typically get nosebleeds from things like dry weather, blowing or picking. But some times a nosebleed can be more serious. Here's when to seek medical attention, says Dr. Michael C. Fabian, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist in Toronto:If the blood is still flowing after applying ten minutes of continuous pressure to the nose. Usually, pinching your nose should stop the bleeding

Create a classy and vintage habitat

2007-11-27T10:13:00.000-08:00

The Western cowboy theme is a great way to make your home fun, comfortable, and functional. One of the reasons people prefer the Western home decor over contemporary home decor is that it reminds them of a favorite trip to a place where nature abounds. It also brings to mind movies of old Westerns with tumbleweeds blowing around and rugged singing cowboys. A home filled with Western home

Going Loco

2007-11-27T06:16:00.000-08:00

If you visit Britain and fancy a trip through the countryside, one of the best ways is by train. These historic routes make a perfect weekend break.North Yorkshire Moors Railway Dating back over 150 years, this track runs through 29 kms of gorgeous landscape from Pickering to Grosmont, via forests, steep valleys and open moorland.The Royal Scotsman Ideal if you like history and outdoor activities

Free shopping worth Rs.250 x the number of mobile phones in your household

2007-11-26T03:42:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's true. You can do free shopping worth Rs.250 from a variety of online stores ...without any cheating. Here's how.GiftMate, a new mobile payment service launched in India, is offering free trial vouchers worth Rs.250 if you fill up an online survey form.Making payments through the mobile phone (not billed on your prepaid or postpaid mobile phone) is a relatively new concept in India and

Sending gifts to South Africa?

2007-11-24T01:56:00.000-08:00

Dos and don'tsIt's the season of gifting. However, if you are sending a present to someone in South Africa, make sure you comply with the following requirements:The gifts have to be sent from an individual abroad to an individual in South Africa.Any gifts sent from a company to an individual or an individual to a company will not qualify as a gift.All gifts are subject to Customs duties and VAT

Women are better multi-taskers than men

2007-11-23T17:15:00.000-08:00

Multi-tasking, or doing more than one activity at a time, is a way of life for everyone these days. Between work, family and social life, people are finding themselves busier than ever. But the results of a recent global online survey conducted by Nokia indicated that women are better at multitasking than men with 60 percent of respondents, both men and women. Only six percent of women believe

Help for pudgy pooches

2007-11-23T08:31:00.000-08:00

Even for our pets, losing weight isn't easy. To slim down a plus-size puppy, you must do away with table scraps and significantly increase her running or walking time. But more help is on the way: The [US] FDA recently approved Slentrol, the first canine diet drug. The prescription drops are administered once a day, either directly into the mouth or with food, and work by suppressing appetite and

ATM ...cash machine or a Magic Machine

2007-11-21T05:27:00.000-08:00

Mohammad Jamshed Khan replaced the ATM card in his wallet and counted the crisp new notes he'd just withdrawn from the cash machine. Rs.6000? This can't be right! thought the young Mumbai civil contractor. He counted again. It was indeed Rs.6000."All I'd asked for was Rs.1200," Khan told his friend Faisal Mukhi who was standing nearby."You pressed the wrong buttons, silly," said Mukhi."No way!"

Bean-anza

2007-11-20T04:33:00.000-08:00

As you make your way through the salad line at the cafeteria, do your heart a favour and ladle an extra scoop of beans onto your plate.Using data from more than 9000 people who were followed for 20 years, US researchers found that people who ate beans or peas four or more times a week were 20 percent less likely to suffer coronary heart disease than people who ate legumes less than once a week.

Romantic stories of the vikings

2007-11-19T02:09:00.000-08:00

Having been brought up listening to stories of a tall, blonde and handsome prince rescuing a fair and beautiful princess, historical romance novels have taken up a major portion of my book shelf. Johanna Lindsey's The Fires of Winter, one of the oldest in my collection, is a favourite.The novel portrays the strong character of Lady Brenna who is captured by viking Garrick Haardrad's father and

RupeeMail ...is it here to stay?

2007-11-17T19:22:00.000-08:00

RupeeMail launched by Hcitek Software Pvt Ltd, a Bangalore based start-up, is a recent addition to the "Get paid to read email" service, similar to that of Hits4Pay.The service is still under public-beta and there is a lot more to improve. For example their website does not clearly mention any restriction on how many accounts can be opened using a single computer or mailing address. Even though

The curious world of ...ADOLESCENTS

2007-11-17T07:23:00.000-08:00

Adolescents? ...'Scream foul play' was the first thing that came to my mind. It's difficult enough being one of three with siblings who seem permanently stuck in adolescence without having to explain and analyze their next to inexplicable behaviour. Still, I decided to actually try and understand what exactly makes an adolescent tick; after all it wasn't long ago that I was one myself.I spoke to

The flashing blade

2007-11-16T07:29:00.000-08:00

An expert explains the lost art of shavingMany men nowadays prefer the convenience of an electric razor, but British celebrity barber Daniel Rouah advocates the closeness of a traditional wet shave. Here's how to get it right:Wash your face with warm water and a mild soap. Apply a moisturizer, then brush on the shaving soap in circular movements, lifting the hairs into an upright position. Apply

New Job, First Day...

2007-11-15T05:30:00.000-08:00

According to surveys, the toughest task for new recruits, particularly younger ones, is striking a balance between confidence and over-assertiveness. The solution is often just common sense -- observe the way things are done, show willingness and be honest about what you know and do not know.Don't be afraid to ask questions.Be friendly and enthusiastic, but don't overdo it -- no one likes a

A good, clean fight

2007-11-14T09:26:00.000-08:00

The sound of raised voices fills the air -- your children are squabbling again. Should you intervene? Here are tips from child psychiatrists:Don't stop every argument. Children need to learn to negotiate.Step in immediately if they are hurting each other or you suspect bullying.When you do intervene, describe what each child is doing to the other, what each might be feeling and what might be a

Estate Planning in a Pinch

2007-11-13T09:40:00.000-08:00

It's hard to think straight when a loved one is seriously ill. Martin Shenkman, an American lawyer and author of 32 books on estate and financial planning offers this checklist:Draw up papers.Everyone needs a durable power of attorney and a will. The first one names someone to manage affairs if the person cannot, the second specifies how assets are to be divided among heirs. In addition, a "

Living in style with a well furnished home

2007-11-13T08:52:00.000-08:00

Who wouldn't want to live in a posh, well furnished mansion? If you live in the US and are looking forward to furnish your home, you would want to consider checking out FurnitureFromHome.com, an exclusively online furniture store who claim that their prices are generally better than the brick and mortar stores. They have been into business since September, 2003.They have a neat website with

Midair Yoga

2007-11-12T10:26:00.000-08:00

Passengers on JetBlue, a low-fare US domestic airline, are getting a free lesson in stress management. The airline has introduced instruction cards produced by Crunch Fitness that depict four different yoga postures to unkink muscles and increase circulation. The yoga exercises include Bidalasana, which entails hunching over in your seat (sort of like you need the barf bag), and Uttita Hastasana,

Managing your core business

2007-11-12T09:52:00.000-08:00

Small and medium sized business owners have to take care of a lot of nitty-grittys of their business, taking away their precious time from the crucial aspects of the business or the core business activities. It is also impractical to outsource such not-so-important activities due to the size and nature of the business. Hiring employees to handle such tasks could be a little expensive and

Ordering up a healthy diet

2007-11-11T06:01:00.001-08:00

It's festival time, and restaurants dish out specialties. But that shouldn't mean blowing out your diet. Here are some ideas for staying healthy while dining out:Skip the buffet. Before going out choose a restaurant that offers healthy menu options. All-you-can-eat buffets and fast-food joints are diet-killers.Choose steamed, not fried. Look for dishes described as fresh, roasted, grilled or

The evolution of the garage

2007-11-11T04:53:00.000-08:00

The garage has evolved from just being a space to park and fix cars to your personal abode to craft home improvement projects, make wine, flex your muscles or even start up a business. In such a scenario, your garage deserves to look its finest.Cracks in the concrete floor and paint/oil stains are the most common problems with all garage floors. Such floors are sometimes easier just covered with

Great Group Photos in a Snap

2007-11-10T05:38:00.000-08:00

Use this portrait checklist from Ron Nichols, author of Picture - Taking for Mums and Dads, to ensure that this year's family photo is red-eye free and doesn't lop half of Uncle Sam out of the shot:Try tiers. Arrange people at different heights, some on the sofa and some standing, for a more dynamic picture.Ask "How's the view?" If someone can't see the camera, his face may be blocked.Leave

Finding best deals on Printer Cartridges

2007-11-10T05:05:00.000-08:00

When you are out to purchase a printer cartridge, do you check out every store in your locality for the best price? If not, you might be giving a lot more bucks than you should; and if yes, you know how tiring it is. Another option would be to check out the prices on different stores online. But that again would be time consuming to visit each store's website and comparing their prices. Wouldn't

Stand up and watch TV

2007-11-09T08:31:00.000-08:00

Since we all got cable connections, the average number of hours spent watching TV has shot up. A new study hints that the increased couch time could have a deadlier downside than anyone thought.French researchers in Nice reviewed more than 65,000 cases of deep vein thrombosis - potentially fatal blood clots in the legs -- and found that hospitalisation were 18 percent higher than average in the

Choosing a Broadband provider in UK

2007-11-09T05:47:00.000-08:00

Choosing a broadband service provider could prove to be a herculean task, given the number of options and providers. In the UK alone there are around 68 providers of broadband services. However, BT, the privatised UK state telecommunications operator, has a cut above the others.BT Group is currently the largest communications service provider in the United Kingdom and in Europe. It is also one

Daddy's got that glow

2007-11-08T06:55:00.000-08:00

Mummies aren't the only ones who ride the hormone roller coaster -- first-time fathers undergo similar changes. Canadian researchers observed that from the first trimester to a few months after birth, the 23 papas-to-be who were studied had lower levels of testosterone and the stress hormone cortisol, and many had higher levels of estradiol, a hormone linked with maternal behaviour. This might

Click, click and pack your bags!

2007-11-08T06:47:00.000-08:00

Making hotel reservations for a city on the other side of the planet could have been a daunting task during the pre-Internet era. Thanks to over a dozen travel portals that have made the task as simple as a few clicks of the mouse.HotelReservations.com is one such portal which seems to be on top of the others. While a trial search for hotels in New York gave over a dozen results on a competitor

Travel only like this

2007-11-08T06:30:00.000-08:00

Betsy Wade was a travel columnist for the New York Times for 14 years. Here are her top tips for great trips.Carry two credit cards separately. If one is stolen and the account is frozen, you can still feed and house yourself.Don't pack more than you can lug up two flights of stairs.Airline pillowcases usually aren't changed every flight. If this bothers you, bring your own.Unless you're going to

Battling the termite menace

2007-11-08T04:58:00.000-08:00

Have you ever faced a termite attack at home? Hope not. But if you have, you know the kind of damage it causes. It's really very heartbreaking to see your expensive furniture reduced to dust.We faced a termite attack in our apartment building a couple of years ago. The wood work from the ground floor up until the floor below our's was completely eaten away. The termites had just reached our front

Meow if you hate smoke

2007-11-07T10:10:00.000-08:00

Smokers and nonsmokers alike have had their consciousness raised about the effects of secondhand smoke on humans. But, until now, no one had considered cats.A recent study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that cats living with a smoker are twice as likely to develop lymphoma, the most common cancer in cats, as are those in smoke-free homes. Felines living with two smokers face four

Have you found out your Dumbness Quotient?

2007-11-07T09:20:00.000-08:00

Did you ever check out how dumb you are? Or did you even ever think about doing so? I guess you might find it really very dumb but I would recommend you take it at least once at QuizRocket.com. It's nothing but a quiz to check your intelligence which gives you results inversed. I took the quiz and was pretty impressed with the questions.Once you are through with the quiz, you are given a badge

Quick fix your home

2007-11-06T11:45:00.001-08:00

These quick fix-ups favoured by contractors will leave any visitors -- from prospective buyers to holiday guests -- with a strong impression of your home:Knock, knock. Give the front door a polished look by applying two coats of stain finish paint. Flat paint is too dull and gloss too shiny.Enrich the sole. Insert extra rubber padding under well-travelled carpeted areas, so you get that luxurious

Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite

2007-11-06T11:09:00.000-08:00

In hotels, dormitories and even private homes, bed bugs are literally crawling out of the woodwork. Experts think the resurgence is due both to a lack of routine spraying for the pests and an uptick in international travel in recent years. The varmints, who feed at night and look for hiding places during the day, sometimes end up in travellers' suitcases and clothing.Follow your nose. The bugs

Recession-Proof Perks

2007-11-05T06:54:00.001-08:00

Raises are rare in a recession, but supervisors are more willing to keep to performers happy with benefits that might otherwise be tough to negotiate, says Lin Grensing-Pophal, author of Motivating Today's Employees. Perks worth asking for, and tactics to get them:A snazzier title"When raises aren't an option, I often give title increases," says S. Gary Snodgrass, a senior vice-president at an

Cyber shopping? Don't foget CouponChief.com

2007-11-05T03:53:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is just a few months away! First Halloween, then Thanksgiving, and before you know it, you will be stuffing stockings! Don't you worry, CouponChief.com is here for help.CouponChief offers over 2300 coupons and discounts. Whether you are shopping online or making a trip to your local grocery store, visit this site first. You will find printable coupons, coupon codes and links to

America's Best Spooks & Spirits

2007-11-04T03:51:00.000-08:00

Wandering through the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California, is a journey through an obsessive mind. The maze of some 160 rooms was built by the widow and heir of the Winchester rifle fortune. Saraw Winchester felt haunted by spirits of those killed with her husband's weapons. Warned by a medium that she would die if she stopped building, she kept labourers working day and night for 38

Got a negative credit rating? Here's rescue

2007-11-02T23:20:00.000-07:00

In the west, it's a popular trend to live a life on credit. With the advent of Credit Cards it has become still worse. People loose control over their spendings as they are tempted to swipe their card as soon as they find an opportunity. Eventually landing them into debt which they cannot recover from resulting in a negative credit rating.A negative credit rating is often considered undesirable