|
|
|
|
|
After the break
So, with the summer vacations coming to an end we ask the educationists, how difficult is it to come out of the vacation slumber. "It's definitely hard, especially after long holidays. It takes quite a time to adjust to a new routine, even if you have been following the regime for years," says Aroma Dhawan, teacher at Govt Model School-34. And what does she finds the most difficult to cope up with? "Time management is the most difficult thing. After holidays, it's really difficult to go back to the real world." She adds laughing, "For me, work after vacation gives me a post-vacation depression." For Namisha, center head, INIFD-8, "It is difficult to go back to work even after a short break of two days (read Saturday and Sunday), what to talk of long vacations." She adds, "One has the Monday morning blues after a weekend and after a long break it's definitely difficult to go back to work. The body, mind and soul are so much relaxed that it's next to impossible to pull oneself back on track." Ask her how long does it take to come back to the real world and she says, "Atleast a week's time." Mona Rajwade, teacher with St. John's High School says, "It's a mixed reaction. Some like going back to work others don't. But for us teachers, it's a little easy as we keep getting short vacations after some time. And especially when it comes to St John's, our curriculum is so made that we don't have to wait for a very long time for holidays and this is one of the reasons why I choose teaching as a profession." Calling getting back to work a gradual change, she adds, "Of course one misses the free time, but too much of free time also troubles you after a time. So, work after holidays is also a pleasant change." Richa Taneja, teacher with a private engineering college says, "Time changes, but the child inside you still dislikes to go by the clock. And after vacations the thing that hits you back is- waking up early in the morning and then toil throughout the day." Well, we guess that's the case with all of us! Isn't it? jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com
|
|
Mango and more
The day started with a full display of the finest mangoes in the country, followed by a seminar on mango cultivation. Fun and frolic was provided by fancy dress and painting comptitions. Sweet indulgence and pure fun came with mango eating competition. A mango quiz too was held that teased and tested poeple's mango IQ. The evening saw prize distribution and cultural performances by traditional folk dancers from Haryana and Rajasthan. Renowned artist Haji Aslam Sabri enthralled the audience by his qawwali performance at the Open-air theatre.
— TNS |
|
Bollywood Hollywood
As Hollywood is fighting off a deep recession, more and more western producers and stars are trooping in to Bollywood film industry, which is booming.
Akshay Kumar-starrer Kambakht Ishq, is the latest example in which Hollywood's leading stars have appeared alongside their Indian counterparts.
Filmed at Universal Studios in Los Angeles and starring Sylvester Stallone and Denise Richards, Kambakht Ishq is an example of the growing desire among western actors, companies and financiers for a piece of India's multi-billion pound entertainment industry, a publication reported today. Sylvester Stallone Kylie Minogue Akshay Kumar For Akshay, who has worked in over 100 films to date, collaborations between the film industries of the west and the east are set to accelerate. Indian film industry, which has around 3.6 billion fans across the world, employs more than 6 million people. More than 70,000 Indian films have been produced since the advent of talkies in 1931. And, Bollywood films contribute over 200 million pounds to the UK's economy each year, the report said. Akshay has got his next collaboration with Hollywood singer Kylie Minogue for his film Blue. The singer has recorded songs for the movie, including its title track, all composed by Oscar award winner A R Rahman. Last year Disney took a 32 per cent stake in the Indian media company UMP, and George Soros spent 100 million dollars on a 3 per cent stake in Reliance Entertainment. The Indian entertainment group Eros International already has two joint ventures -- one with Lionsgate and another with Sony Entertainment -- that will see the two companies develop, produce and distribute Hindi films. The report quoted Kishore Lulla, chairman of Eros, saying the "cross-pollination" of Bollywood and Hollywood was inevitable. Lulla said, Kambakht Ishq is just the start. A lot of companies have already approached us. They are very interested in Bollywood. I think Slumdog Millionaire was a huge part of that." For Akshay, it is an opportunity to meet one of his greatest heroes. Remembering his days as a waiter in Thailand, the actor said, "I used to have a small cupboard on which I had a poster of Stallone and one of Sridevi. I am so fortunate in life that I have had the opportunity not just to shake their hands but to work with them both". He described Snoop Dogg, with whom he worked in the film Singh is Kinng, as a legend. "He's so chilled and laid-back, a complete family guy. He even brought his uncle to cook chicken for absolutely everyone on set." Akshay, who used to be a martial arts teacher, said he is keen to work with his another favourite hero Jackie Chan.
— PTI
|
|||||||
|
Open secret
"When we got into a relationship, we decided to be open about it. Otherwise there would be reports about us being spotted holding hands, kissing, hugging, etc. Since we were so clear about our relationship, we had nothing to hide. I thought people would respect that. But it didn't work out that way," Deepika said. Deepika was specially upset about the paparazzi pictures of her and Ranbir. "We both have families and very respectable families. People who take pictures of us secretly must have families and boyfriends and girlfriends. We've now decided not to talk about our friendship," said the actor who teamed up with Ranbir in Bachna Ae Haseeno. Any other film with Ranbir after Bachna Ae Haseeno? "We get offers every day to act together, but we're waiting for the right opportunity. But we're very clear about not mixing business with our relationship," she said. Tell her there was no upward movement in Ranbir's graph as an actor from Saawariya to Bachna…" and she protests: "His graph was already so high in Saawariya, where could he go? Bachna Ae Haseeno gave him a chance to do something totally different. Deepika has mainly worked with older actors - Shah Rukh, Akshay Kumar. In her next, "Love Aaj Kal", she teams up with another senior actor Saif Ali Khan. But she is not complaining. "Ranbir and I work like pals. But I wouldn't say I had more fun working with him. You are not on the sets to have fun," she said. Talking about her Love Aaj Kal co-star Saif, she said: "Saif is reserved. I've heard he wasn't like this earlier. I believe he has calmed down a lot because of Kareena or whatever. Saif and I just did our work on Imtiaz Ali's sets and went our separate ways. That's the way I like it."
|
|
Some reservations
Marley and Me star Jennifer Aniston is reportedly set to open her own restaurant, and is developing plans for one. Aniston, 40, is also reported to be testing her culinary skills on her friends, before she commits to following in the footsteps of famous restaurateurs, including Eva Longoria-Parker, Ashton Kutcher and Robert De Niro.
"Jennifer is really passionate about cooking. She recently had a new kitchen fitted and she loves it. She can cook anything from Mexican meals to Italian food to cakes," a website quoted a source as having said. "She does use cookbooks but mainly they are her own recipes. Everyone says she should open her own restaurant and she said she would love to," the source added.
— ANI |
|
Keanu Reeves has apparently set his sights on a new career, for the actor wants to get trained to become a chef. The Speed star was so impressed with a cookbook by famed French chef Herve This that he says that it has changed his life. This, who uses science to perfect his culinary skills, has written the book Molecular Gastronomy: Exploring the Science of Flavour. After reading the tome, Reeves has been spending his spare time experimenting with recipes. "I'm dabbling in it and looking at becoming a chef. He is fantastic. I didn't really cook before but this book may be changing my life," he was quoted as saying. — ANI
|
|
If sources are to be believed, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel's relationship is on the rocks. "Things don't look good for them right now - they've hit a really rocky spot," a publication quoted a source as saying. While rumours are abuzz that the singer cheated at NYC Nightclub Avenue late last month, pals say that the problems between the couple started much before in February. The source said: "Justin had to leave dinner once because Jessica was calling him incessantly. They got into a huge screaming match over the phone about how she's always 'checking up' on him. She's extremely needy and is always keeping tabs on him." The Illusionist star is, apparently, infamous among her friends too. The insider said: "All his friends think she's really annoying, she's always trying to be one of the guys. She and Justin have no chemistry." The source added: "Justin is partying in London right now, Jessica wanted to go with him, but he wasn't having it. He just wanted to get away with the guys. He needed his space from her." However, one of Justin's friend and former 'N Sync cohort, Lance Bass, disagrees. He says: "Jessica is really fun to be around. I haven't spoken to Justin in a while, but the last I knew, he really loved her." However, Timberlake seems to be having a blast in London. He was seen at Elton John's White Tie and Tiara Ball before going to a concert with Prince Harry and Chace Crawford in Hyde Park. He also launched his clothing line William Rast - sall before going out for a night on the town with Madonna's ex-husband Guy Ritchie. — ANI
|
|
Watch that skin
Ashima further informs, “Exposure to sun for just a few minutes can be harmful to skin in monsoons. The dust particles in monsoons settle down with rainfall and thus there is no obstruction to the ultra violet rays of sun. The skin comes in direct contact with them and can cause skin tan, rashes and even serious problems like skin cancer.” Use of a high SPF sunscreen lotion to shield the skin is very important. “Also one should use only oil free sunscreen lotion, since the humidity is very high and that can lead to acne. Prefer wearing a full sleeves overcoat to cover your arms and cover your face with a light cloth when under the sun.” She further suggests washing face at least four times a day with oil free face wash. Those of you, who have party commitments, be careful with the kind of make up you use. Don’t use make up that is high in oil content. Harveen Kathuria, clinic manager, Cleopatra suggests, “Mineral make up should be preferred in monsoons which doesn’t cause any stickiness. Use non greasy and non oily pan cakes for the base make up and prefer only mineral based make up.” As for the colours, don’t wear dark shades or reds, purples or browns and avoid all glossy lip shades. Instead, go for pastel hues. Light pinks and peach would suit any occasion.” However, before applying make up, Harveen says, “Use a gel sealant on the face, which is oil free and would help keeping in the make up intact even in rains.” Diet also plays a very important role in maintaining a healthy skin tone especially in monsoons. Modify your diet chart to suit the humid monsoons. Dr. Sonia Gandhi, dietician, Fortis says, “Drink at least five liters of water in a day as the effect of dehydration also shows on the skin. Prefer only home made, well cooked food, avoid chocolates or any caffeine as that too can lead to acne.” Rest, enjoy monsoons! ashima@tribunemail.com |
|
Belly balance in monsoon
“A slight dip in the temperature is good news but humidity that comes along is killing,” says Dr Atul Sachdev, gastroenterologist, GMCH-32. Even after the first few showers, heat and humidity levels rise. And this is precisely what causes health trouble. “Simple changes in lifestyle can ward off these problems, which appear small but can become life-threatening if not attended to properly. We need to be careful with our food and water intake,” he says. It is prescribed to eat fresh and simple vegetarian food prepared at home. Stale and spicy fried food should be avoided. “These foods are an open invitation to diseases,” says Dr Sachdev. He said that the disease hits people of all age groups but infants, young children, pregnant women, elderly and people with lesser immunity are at the greatest risk. The situation becomes severe with excessive loss of water from the body and may even cause renal failure. If care is not taken, then complications may cause death and spontaneous abortions. Symptoms The typical symptoms of gastroenteritis are vomiting, fever, loose motions and giddiness. This is a reaction to the germs or the toxins (if they are not neutralised) present in the stomach. The body purges the system of this infection by way of loose motions and vomiting. But what happens during the process of washing the germs out is that the body also throws out essential minerals and salts. A great amount of water is lost in the process. This leads to dehydration, which may sound mild but can prove to be deadly. Hydrating the body should therefore be the first priority in such cases. And the surest way to do it, before medical assistance can be provided, is to give the patient the universally acclaimed hydrating solution: A glass of water, a tea-spoon of sugar and a pinch of salt. But the common mistake that people make is that they decide to wait and watch and let the motions subside on their own. But internationally approved statistics prove that prevention is better than cure: w If a person has not more than three motions, the infection is mild. w Between three and six motions, the gastroenteritis is bad. w Anything above six motions means severe gastroenteritis. Patients should seek medical assistance quickly, because this infection doesn’t take much time to turn into a severe attack. Precautions are therefore necessary to avoid falling prey to these ailments. Start Acting Now w Drink boiled or filtered water. w Avoid eating roadside foods – cut fruits, chaat or ‘pani puris’ etc, fermented and raw preparations like salads. w Clean your salads and leafy vegetables under running water. Steaming them is the best way to get rid of germs. Soaking the greens in salt water for about 10 minutes can help remove insects. w Avoid eating stale foods. Do not let food remain outside for long; store immediately in the refrigerator. w Clean chopping boards and dust cloths well before use. w Wash your hands before handling food, after eating food after visiting the toilet. Maintain good personal hygiene. w Avoid collection of stagnant water near your home – flower pots, coolers etc. Change water in your flower vase every day. w In the monsoon, keep dry; especially your feet. Do not wear wet clothes for long to stay away from fungal infections on the skin or nails. w Use insect repellents, use disinfectants and take precautions to stay away from insects etc. Dried neem leaves, camphor, or cloves emit fresh scent. w Carry out thorough pre-monsoon checks for any water leakages from faulty plumbing, electrical switches, clogged drains etc to avoid mishaps. anujaj@tribunemail.com
|
|
High school headache!
“We know that migraine headaches can profoundly impact quality of life. Our study offers evidence that they are an important obstacle to long-term academic success. Our results show that migraine sufferers have trouble attending school and have trouble concentrating on the days they do make it to school,” said Sabia. Parental reports identified siblings raised in the same household with different migraine experiences. “By focusing on differences between siblings, we can rule out the possibility that family- level factors such as socioeconomic status are driving the relationship between migraine headache and academic performance,” said Rees. It was found that suffering from migraine headaches was linked with a 5 percent reduction in high school GPA, a 5 percent reduction in the likelihood of graduating from high school, and a 15 percent reduction in the likelihood of attending college. Thirty to 40 percent of these reductions could be attributed to excused absences from school, difficulty paying attention in class, and difficulty completing homework. Non-migraine headaches were not associated with reductions in academic performance.
— ANI
|
|
Body wise
But, do not despair. Knee injuries aren’t inevitable and there are ways you can slow down the wear and tear that exercise and daily life bring to these all-important joints. It doesn’t take a whole lot of effort to learn how to take care of your knees. And it certainly takes a lot less time than it would to rehabilitate them. Tips
to keep your knees healthy w Warm up before working out - Cold muscles are more prone injuries. Even if you’re just going for a walk, you should begin at an easy pace before picking up speed. Remember to start off slow and increase the intensity gradually. Always do a good warm up before beginning any stressful physical activity. w
Stretch your leg muscles when you have finished your work out- Like cold muscles, tight muscles are also likely to cause injuries. Stretch all the leg muscles in your thighs and lower legs - every last one of them has an impact on your knees. Keep your limbs flexible and you’re less likely to hurt yourself. w
Strengthen the muscles around your knee- This is one of the most important tips of all. Many knees are damaged because the leg muscles aren’t as strong as they should be, which puts too much stress on the knee joint. Strengthening the muscles around the joint protects you from injury by decreasing stress on the knee. Quads and hamstrings are the muscles that flex and extend our knees. Leg extensions and leg curls will strengthen these muscles and take some pressure off your knees. It is also important to strengthen the core muscles, like your back, abdomen and hip muscles, in addition to your quadriceps and hamstrings. w
Always use good form- Good form is very important and this goes for everything. It not only applies to exercising but also when you’re stretching or doing aerobic activities, which also include your normal daily chores. Never bend your legs to a point where your knees stick out past your toes. That puts a lot of pressure under the kneecap. Also remember not to remain in one position for extended periods of time. w
Avoid being overweight- Being over your ideal weight puts a lot of strain on your knees. So if you need to shed a few pounds, try to do so. Your knees - and many other parts of your body - will thank you. But weight loss isn’t easy for most people. If you have a serious weight issue, consider joining a weight loss program or consulting a dietician. w
Buy great athletic shoes- Get good shoes and tossing out the high heels can also eliminate some aches. It’s amazing what a difference a good pair of shoes can make - your legs will feel so much better. Make sure your shoes are right for your activity - shoes for aerobics offer a different type of support than running shoes. Many people don’t realize the importance of wearing right athletic shoes. And once you have experienced how much the proper shoe enhances your enjoyment of your favorite activities and how better your feet and legs feel, you’ll never go back to old, worn-out shoes again. w
Change your exercise routine- Your muscles get the most benefit when you keep them guessing and they also develop more evenly when they’re developed from all angles. When some of your leg muscles are overdeveloped and others underdeveloped, you are putting your knees at risk. Mix up running with weight training, yoga with swimming - or some variation thereof. A side benefit is that you’ll never get bored with your exercise routine and hence will always be motivated. w
Treat knee injuries promptly- An injured joint can be a lot of pain and trouble if left untreated. If your knee is hurt, immediate attention is necessary. Take the following
steps: n R.I.C.E.- that stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation, which should be done for 48 to 72 hours after the injury. Let the knee rest - don’t try to walk on it. Use crutches if you have to. Apply ice on the knee for 20 minutes three to four times a day (stop if the skin turns blue or white). Never use heat - this will make your swelling worse. Use compression - wrap the injured knee with an elastic bandage, which should be firm, but not too tight. Elevate the knee above the heart (obviously, this is best done lying down). This will help reduce swelling. n
See the doctor- if your knee does not improve greatly within a couple of days, or if you heard a pop or a tear when you injured it, if it swells or if you just know you’ve hurt it badly, see the doctor without delay. n
Be good to your knees- Cut back on extreme sports as you age. Don’t exercise to the point of pain or push past the pain: Sore knees are telling you to stop, so give them a rest. n
Go slow, but do ease back into exercise-Yes, it takes time to heal, but a knee injury doesn’t have to be the death sentence for being active. Even if your injury requires surgery, exercise can and should be a part of your life. It may be the best medicine for chronic achy knees. Focus at first on stretching and strengthening. Begin with very simple, muscle building exercises for your legs. Consult your doctor, or trainer, for suggestions. Start your favourite activities slowly and work at a comfortable pace. Don’t push yourself. n
If your knees are already bad there are many exercise alternatives that you can opt for. These won’t stress your knees. Stationary cycling is one option. So is swimming or walking. Any activity where there’s a reduced impact or you don’t have to worry about changing motion is ok. You can also try a supplemental conditioning program, which involves strengthening the core muscles: the hip, lower back, abdomen and any of the muscles around the joints that are being used. Supplemental conditioning is probably one of the biggest keys to maintain an activity or to get back to it. kalrasachin@hotmail.com |
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
The long hours of sleep, holiday at a hill station and those quiet days of leisure are soon going to be over. Yes, the time has come when the clock would strike 7 and you would be rushing of to your days work. Startling, it may read, but there is no escaping the fact that summer vacations are soon going to be over and so are the good times of retreat.
The ongoing Mango Mela has got the tricity mango lovers fall head over heels with the fruit. With huge crowd enjoying Sunday afternoon and the heat notwithstanding, it had visitors from as far as Ludhiana and Shimla to share sweet delightful moments with the king of fruits.
Deepika Padukone has everything going for her in Bollywood. She has worked with top stars and big banners. But she does have one regret - making her relationship with Ranbir Kapoor public.
We hate summers. It causes skin tan, acne and half a dozen other skin related problems. Monsoons aren’t better either. They too can result in the same set of problems. Or the situation can be worse as we tend to take extra care of our skin in summers but do the opposite in monsoons or winters. We just go on to apply any kind of moisturizer to keep skin supple or even better, don’t apply anything if not required. “That’s a wrong notion, skin requires maximum care in monsoons as it’s very humid,” says Dr Ashima Goel, a city based dermatologist. Here we talk to skin experts in the city to know what all can cause skin damage in monsoons and how we can avoid it.
Teens who suffer from migraine, headaches are more likely to get lower grades, and less likely to graduate from high school, or attend college than those who don’t have migraine, according to a study. Conducted by Joseph Sabia, a professor of Public Policy at American University’s School of Public Affairs, and Daniel Rees, a professor of Economics at the University of Colorado Denver, the study is the first to have examined effect of migraine in teens on future academic achievements.
Weak knees are a common problem. Many of us have bad knees from too much running, high-impact aerobics and sport in general. Sometimes the problem is structural, and sometimes it’s poor technique, bad shoes or inadequate conditioning. Bad knees are bad news when it comes to staying active. And once you have damaged your knee, you’ve compromised your ability to enjoy to the fullest whatever type of physical activity you love doing. You’ve also compromised your chances of having a vital and satisfying old age.