Want to feel young? Get green fingers

LONDON: Want to feel younger and happier as you age? Tend your garden daily, says a new study. Researchers have found that a regular spot of gardening gives the over-50 s more of a "zest for life" than those who don't have green fingers, the Daily Express reported. Gardeners are also more likely to be organized and optimistic than non-gardeners , according to them.

The researchers from two universities in Texasanalyzed more than 300 people over 50, dividing them into gardeners and non-gardeners . They found that 71% of gardeners said they did not "feel old" compared to 57% of nongardeners . The former also felt more energetic, got more exercise and were shown to be more mentally active.

There were also higher scores for "life satisfaction" among gardeners while they were also more likely to eat fresh fruit and vegetables. "These factors result in healthier lifestyles," the researchers said.

See our Heroines without Makeup...

Mensxp - Friday 18 March 2011 6:11 PM IST

Bollywood actresses are known for their beauty and style. They are glorified on screens as demi-goddesses who are blessed with ethereal beauty.

But its now time for some reality check as the actresses don't really look like the perfect dreamgirls once they are stripped off their make-up. Lets take a look at how different actresses look without their usual dose of make-up.

Sonam

Bollywood's number one fashionista isn't very attractive to look at once her make-up comes off. In this pic, Sonam far from the glam diva that she always is.

Katrina Kaif

Katrina Kaif doesn't look much different without make-up. She is one naturally blessed woman in terms of beauty and, hence, can easily survive without make-up. She looks beautiful in her most basic and natural avatar.

Rani Mukherjee

Yes! The person you see in the pic is indeed Rani Mukherjee. And, she sure does look horrendous without her make-up on. Our advise to her would be not to step out of the house without any make-up or she might end up losing the few films that she's got in hand.

Deepika Padukone

Sans make-up, Deepika looks like any other face in the crowd. It is after a good dose of grooming that Deepika manages to look like the stunner that she always appears to be.

Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor also looks amazingly beautiful even without any trace of make-up. Guess its owing to her genes and a healthy lifestyle that always ensures that she looks radiant and glowing.

Priyanka Chopra

The glamorous Piggy Chops looks like as bad without make-up as as she looks good with it. She seems like a totally different person from the gorgeous star that we all know

Kajol

Kajol has always shocked us with her sense of style in the past and she does the same by coming forth without proper grooming. No matter what the occasion is, there can be no excuse for turning up looking like this in public.

Rakhi Sawant

Not that we consider Rakhi a Bollywood star, but the difference in her look with and without make-up is so startling that we couldn't resist including her in the list. On the transformation in her appearance, we have only one thing to say: Miracles do happen!

Which is the right credit card for you?

Given the profusion of cards on offer, picking one can be a difficult decision. Take this quiz to find out the one you should choose and the reasons for doing so.

Q1) I pay my bills on time...

a) Always

b) Sometimes

c) Seldom

d) Never

Q2) I roll over my credit card balance over several months...

a) Never

b) Rarely

c) Occasionally

d) Frequently

Q3) My bills are paid by...

a) Me

b) My spouse

c) My children

d) My parents

Q4) My monthly spending is...

a) Above Rs 35,000

b) Rs 15,000-35,000

c) Rs 8,000-15,000

d) Less than Rs 8,000

Q5) I spend above Rs 20,000 in a single transaction...

a) Once a month

b) Once in six months

c) Once a year

d) Once in two years

Q6) I transact online...

a) Weekly

b) Monthly

c) Yearly

d) Never

Q7) I spend most on...

a) Travelling

b) Fuel

c) Shopping

d) Food

Q8) I travel abroad...

a) Once a quarter

b) Once a year

c) Once in three years

d) Never

Mostly 'A's:

Shopping is your middle name and you have an expansive lifestyle. Yet, you are fastidious about finances and keep track of every paisa.

What you should have: Credit Card

If you're a big spender, carrying wads of cash can be cumbersome. Using a credit card will not only slim down your wallet but also provide a variety of benefits, from cash-back to reward points, which can be redeemed against air miles, shopping vouchers, electronic items, etc.

But which credit card is best for you? This will depend on your spending habits. If you drive to work every day, opt for a card that has a fuel surcharge waiver, so that you don't need to pay the 2.5% surcharge on your transaction. If your spending is skewed towards a single category, such as grocery or travelling, it will make sense to opt for a co-branded card.

Every time you swipe your card for a particular airline or at a departmental store, you'll earn more points than on a regular card. If your answer to question 5 is 'once a month', go for a premium credit card. While most credit cards are free, the premium versions come with an annual fee of Rs 500-3,000. But you also get more privileges, such as concierge services and double the reward points.

Mostly 'B's: You love the good life and can sometimes be extravagant. So you need to be wary about falling into a debt trap. what you should have:

What you should have: Charge Card

A charge card has no credit limit, so you can spend as much as you want. Yes, you can have the same facility in a credit card by enhancing the credit limit, but this will depend on your income and credit history. There's no such restriction on a charge card. However, the biggest advantage of a charge card is that you cannot roll over your balance. No matter how big the bill, you will have no choice but to pay the entire amount at the end of the cycle.

This might be painful if you land a huge bill and have to scrape money to pay it off. However, it will ensure that you don't give in to the temptation of rolling over the balance and, after a few months, end up with a big debt. This would, no doubt, be doubly painful. Also, after a few months of ensuring that you can pay off your entire bill on time, you will become more aware of your finances and turn into a more disciplined spender.

Mostly 'C's:

You are a conservative spender. The bulk of your payment is towards everyday needs, with an occasional luxury purchase.

What you should have: Debit Card

For those who prefer to pay by cash, mostly because the daily average transaction is low, and you occasionally buy affordable items on the Net, a debit card is a suitable choice. This card is not dependent on your income, so you can easily get one. In fact, you'll get one when you open a bank account.

A debit card gives you the freedom to switch between cash and plastic. So, you can withdraw money from an ATM whenever you require or make small online transactions, such as book movie tickets or gift a bouquet of flowers. Occasionally, when you have to buy an expensive item, such as a mobile phone, but don't want to carry a big bundle of cash, the debit card will be handy.

It's also a good choice for those who want to spend within their means as you can only swipe the card till there is money in your bank account. So, there's no risk of overspending or creating a debt trap.

Mostly 'D's:

You rarely buy expensive items and prefer to keep an eagle eye on your spending habits. You're also leery of online security and card fraud.

What you should have: Prepaid Card

How's this plastic version going to help you keep a tight control over your finances? Simply by ensuring that you can't spend more than the amount loaded on the card. You can buy a prepaid card from any bank for Rs 50-100 and load it for amounts ranging from Rs 500-50,000.

As you've already paid the money, there's no worry about ending up with a huge bill later on or risking debt. These throw-and-use cards are best for one-time costly transactions, such as buying a laptop or booking airline tickets for your family's annual holiday.

These cards have no hidden fees and are also the most secure plastic option as they aren't linked to any bank account. If you lose a card, you can have it immediately blocked and get a replacement by paying Rs 100. So, you can safely give one to your college-going kid, without having to worry that he'll empty your bank account.

Source --- http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

Ration shortage more in Jammu region than Valley

JAMMU, Mar 20/03/2011: The shortfall in demand and supply of ration is more in this part of State than Valley with Jammu region getting 69234 quintals of less ration every month as compared to 4330 quintals in Kashmir where only Kupwara, Bandipora and Srinagar are the worst sufferers.

Official figures revealed that as against requirement of 339344 quintals of ration every month on the basis of 2001 census population, the Jammu region is getting a total of 270110 quintals leading to shortfall of 69234 quintals while as in Kashmir valley, 360580 quintals of ration is being made available as against requirement of 364910 quintals every month creating a gap of 4330 quintals in the demand and supply.

Among the 10 districts of Jammu region, deficit in demand and supply of ration is in seven districts with Reasi, Ramban and Kishtwar getting more than the requirement every month. As against requirement of 17617 quintals of ration every month, Reasi district is getting 18377 quintals while as Ramban district is getting 17686 quintals against requirement of 16674 and Kishtwar is being provided 13202 quintals against the necessity of 11256.

Among the seven districts experiencing gap in demand and supply of ration, the situation is worst in Jammu district where as against requirement of 115307 quintals of ration every month, 70781 quintals are being made available thereby leading to shortage of 44526 quintals. The second top most affected district is Kathua, where deficit in demand and supply of ration is 15169 quintals every month, followed by Udhampur and Samba districts where deficit is to the tune of 5355 quintals and 3987 quintals per month.

The official figures said that there is shortfall of 277 quintals in Doda district where as against the requirement of ration is 27504 quintals, the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department is providing 27227 quintals every month. In the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, there is deficit of 1328 and 2309 quintals of ration every month (as per the population based on 2001 census).

The data revealed that barring three districts of Kupwara, Bandipora and Srinagar, there has been no shortfall in the requirement and allocation of ration based on the population enumerated during census 2001.

Justifying the protest demonstrations by the MLAs from Kupwara district, the figures said that as against the requirement of 39410 quintals of ration, this district is getting 35240 quintals thereby creating shortfall of 4170 quintals every month. In Bandipora district, there is a deficit of 390 quintals of ration with district getting 20080 quintals of ration as against requirement of 20470. In Srinagar, there is a shortage of 1680 quintals because against the requirement of 64230 quintals, the district is getting 62550 quintals every month.

Indicating that all other districts of Valley are getting more than the requirement, the figures said that Ganderbal is getting 18990 quintals against requirement of 18500 quintals, Budgam receiving 3828 quintals against requirement of 3766 quintals, Anantnag getting 46540 quintals against requirement of 46140 qunitals and Kulgam getting 21960 quintals against demand of 21070 quintals.

Baramulla district getting 55410 quintals while as requirement is 54090 quintals, Pulwama getting 26690 quintals against requirement of 26510 quintals and Shopian receiving 13940 quintals against requirement of 13330 quintals.

In Leh and Kargil districts, there is shortfall of 610 and 2010 quintals of ration every month.

When contacted, Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Qamar Ali Akhoon admitted that more than required ration was made available in some districts of the State, adding "the problems is being faced in those areas where there was earlier less off take as compared to present days demand like in Kandi areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts".

"Still we are taking all measures including lifting additionality from Government of India to meet the requirement of people", he said, adding "the problem is only vis-à-vis APL category while there is no shortage of supplies to other categories of rationees".

"The requirement of ration and allocation is being made as per population enumerated in 2001 census hence there are shortcomings. But, we are hopeful of getting rid of demand-supply gap problem by the end of current year when the latest figures of population would be made available", the Minister said.

Source -- Daily Excelsior

China's solution to worldwide energy crisis : solar greenhouses

WASHINGTON: Increased proliferation of efficient solar greenhouses in China may contribute to solving worldwide problems such as the energy crisis and global climate change , according to a new report based on 20 years of systematic studies.

Solar greenhouses have played a vital role in China's agricultural scene for years. New innovations in greenhouse design are allowing growers to produce more varieties of vegetables, even during long winter months.

In the recently published report Chinese scientists called solar greenhouses "the most important type of infrastructures for growing horticultural crops in China."

The team of researchers from the College of Agronomy and Biotechnology at China Agricultural University presented an extensive report on single-slope solar greenhouses in a recent issue of HortTechnology.

Single-slope solar greenhouses are built facing south using support and insulation walls on the north, east, and west sides. A short roof is installed on top of the north wall. The south side is supported by metal or bamboo frames (or a mixture of both materials), and is covered with plastic film and an insulating blanket. These energy-efficient greenhouses use solar energy as the only source of light and heat for winter crop production in the region between latitudes 32°N and 43°N for production of warm season crops such as tomato and cucumber.

As in other parts of the world, the feasibility of using solar greenhouses in China largely depends on the relative duration of sunshine in the winter and temperatures at the greenhouse site. Solar greenhouses are widely used in the regions north of Huai River and the Beijing area, where greenhouses usage has greatly reduced energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions. The success of China's solar greenhouse operations has contributed to the structures' adoption by countries such as Japan, Korea, and Russia.

The researchers noted that while solar greenhouses have many advantages-energy savings, reduced pollution, and improved economic development-the structures also have distinct disadvantages due to their heavy reliance on the sun and weather conditions. Especially during winter, less solar radiation and low temperatures can have a significant negative impact on warm-season vegetable productivity of the greenhouses, and addressing these issues can be challenging.

"Innovation and optimization of the greenhouse structure needs to continue. More work needs to be done on gutter-connected, double-arched, and semi-underground greenhouses. New wall insulation materials need to be developed to reduce the thickness of the wall while improving its insulation efficiency and expanding space utilization, said Zhen-Xian Zhang, lead author of the study.

The study also recommended that breeding new varieties of horticultural crops that can adapt to low light and winter temperatures in solar greenhouses would provide another strategy to ensure sustainable development of the greenhouse industry.

"The solar greenhouse has a very bright future, especially given the amount of concern over the global energy crisis and climate change. Additionally, significant energy savings can be realized from switching to solar greenhouses. We hope this technology can be applied to regions of similar climate to help reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions", Zhang said.

Global warming was 'more common 50m yrs ago

LONDON: Periods of intense global warming lasting tens of thousands of years occurred more frequently in the past than previously believed, according to a new study.

A team, led by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, said that releases of carbon dioxide sequestered in the deep oceans were the most likely trigger of these ancient 'hyperthermal' events.

The hyperthermals took place roughly every 400,000 years during a warm period of Earth's history that prevailed some 50 million years ago and lasted about 40,000 years before temperatures returned to normal.

The majority of these hyperthermals increased average global temperatures by 3.6 to 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

"These hyperthermals seem not to have been rare events. There are lots of ancient examples of global warming on a scale broadly like the expected future warming. We can use these events to examine the impact of global change on marine ecosystems, climate and ocean circulation," said Richard Norris, a Scripps geology professor who co-authored the study.

The strongest of them coincided with an event known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, the transition between two geologic epochs in which global temperatures rose between 7.2 and 12.6 degrees Fahrenheit and needed 200,000 years to return to historical norms.

The events stopped taking place around 40 million years ago, when the planet entered a cooling phase. No warming events of the magnitude of these hyperthermals have been detected in the geological record since then.

Norris and lead author Phil Sexton, now at the Open University in the UK, analysed 50-million-year-old ocean sediment cores gathered off the South American coast.

In the cores, evidence of the warm periods presented itself in bands of grey sediment layered within otherwise pale greenish mud.

The grey sediment contained increased amounts of clay left after the calcareous shells of microscopic organisms were dissolved on the sea floor.

These clay-rich intervals are consistent with ocean acidification episodes that would have been triggered by large-scale releases of carbon dioxide.

The authors concluded that a release of carbon dioxide from the deep oceans was a more likely cause of the hyperthermals than other triggering events that have been hypothesized.

Norris noted that the hyperthermals provide historical perspective on what Earth will experience as it continues to warm from widespread use of fossil fuels, which has increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere nearly 50 percent since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

The study appears in the journal Nature.

New York's most expensive house on sale for $90 mn

LONDON: A luxurious New York townhouse, believed to be the city's most expensive, has gone on sale for a staggering 90 million dollars.

It can also be rented for 210,000 dollars per month.

The 35ft wide mansion in Manhattan's opulent Upper East Side boasts ten bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, three kitchens, a wood-panelled library, an elevator, a gym and a garden, reports the Daily Mail.

If the mansion sells for the asking price it will beat previous New York record holder The Harkness Mansion sold for 53 million dollars in 2006.

The French Gothic mansion on East 80 Street was built in the early 1900s by dime store magnate Frank Winfield Woolworth for his daughter, Helena.

New York townhouse super-broker Paula Del Nunziom from Brown Harris Stevens, who will be attempting the massive sale, reasons the enormous asking price:

"This is the only mansion to be formally available that has been fully renovated in a traditional prewar style," she explained.