Energyboostersblog: 'Little Angels' Korean Dancers!

Energyboostersblog: 'Little Angels' Korean Dancers!: A member of the 'Little Angels', a Korean folk ballet group formed in 1962, performs in New Delhi on Tuesday.Conceptualized ...

Apple plans to set up its own stores in India if Govt eases local sourcing norms!

Apple Inc, the maker of iPhones and iPads, is evaluating the possibility of setting up its own stores in India, if the Indian government eases local sourcing conditions, said two senior executives who have business relations with the California-based company in India.

It might be easier for Apple, the world's most valuable company, to set up stores if the government allows its IT outsourcing operations in India to be included as part of the mandatory 30 per cent local sourcing requirement, the two executives said.

Apple refused to comment on its India plans or whether it would ask the government to provide flexibility with regard to local sourcing norms."We don't comment on rumours and speculation," said a company spokesman in reply to an email query.

Traditionally, India has not been a high-priority market for Apple, and it takes months before its newly-launched products start selling in India officially through re-sellers.

CEO Tim Cook had told analysts during a conference call two months back that the multi-layered distribution in India adds to the cost of bringing products to the Indian market.

But one of the executives mentioned above said the growing popularity of iPhones, iPads, and other Apple products in India was prompting the company to explore the option of increasing its engagement with the country.

"Undoubtedly, Apple is interested in setting up its own stores now that the demand for its product has increased. But it wants some flexibility in the 30 per cent sourcing norms. At present, it does not buy anything from India nor is it likely to source anything immediately, apart from IT services," one of the executives said, requesting anonymity.

Apple is famously secretive about its outsourcing contracts. Arecent media report said the company undertakes annual outsourcing projects worth Rs 500 crore from India and this is expected to rise significantly.

Like Apple, many electronics and high-end brands such as Sony and Rolex may want to set up stores of their own in India for better control and distribution, but the stiff sourcing norms have held them back. Typically, these companies make their wares in one or two countries from where they are shipped across the globe.

"To think that Rolex will suddenly start sourcing watch parts from India is absurd," said a person working on a few single-brand proposals said.

Diljeet Titus, senior partner at law firm Titus & Co, who is also working with single-brand foreign companies, including IKEA, said there is a way out for such marquee labels. "We will seek clarity from the government on whether a singlebrand retail company can fulfil the local sourcing condition by sourcing unrelated items, not core to its business, for exports to third parties. After all, the government's main intention is to augment manufacturing in the country and this clearly addresses the issue," he said, adding that one of his clients is ready for this option.

'English Vinglish' is film with a golden heart: Anupam Kher!

Actor Anupam Kher is highly impressed with Sridevi after watching the special screening of her comeback movie 'English Vinglish' and says that the film marks the return of the 'original queen of cinema'.

Ad filmmaker Gauri Shinde is making her directorial debut with the film - a story of an Indian housewife battling language problem in the US.

"With R. Balki, Gauri Shinde and Sri (devi) at the special screening of 'English Vinglish' in Delhi. Watch it for million reasons," Kher tweeted.

English Vinglish' is spectacularly beautiful. Film with a golden heart. Take a bow Gauri Shinde. Sridevi, original queen of cinema is back," he further tweeted.

This is Sridevi's first release in 15 years. Her last film was the 1997 hit family drama 'Judaai'.

Did you know?

Strong and Healthy Nails :

1. To keep your nails hydrated, rub a small amount of petroleum jelly into your cuticle and the skin surrounding your nails every evening before you go to bed or whenever your nails feel dry. Keep a jar in your purse, desk drawer, car — anywhere you might need it. Not a fan of petroleum jelly? Substitute castor oil. It’s thick and contains vitamin E, which is great for your cuticles. Or head to your kitchen cupboard and grab the olive oil — it also works to moisturize your nails.

2. Wear rubber gloves whenever you do housework or wash dishes. Most household chores, from gardening to scrubbing the bathroom to washing dishes, are murderous on your nails. To protect your digits from dirt and harsh cleaners, cover them with vinyl gloves whenever it’s chore time. And for extra hand softness, apply hand cream before you put on the rubber gloves.

3. When pushing back your cuticles (it is not necessary to cut them) come in at a 45-degree angle and be very gentle. Otherwise the cuticle will become damaged, weakening the entire nail, says Mariana Diaconescu, manicurist at the Pierre Michel Salon in New York City.

4. Trim your toenails straight across to avoid ingrown toenails. This is particularly important if you have diabetes.

5. Dry your hands for at least two minutes after doing the dishes, taking a bath/shower, etc. Also dry your toes thoroughly after swimming or showering. Leaving them damp increases your risk of fungal infection.

6. Air out your work boots and athletic shoes. Better yet, keep two pairs and switch between them so you’re never putting your feet into damp, sweaty shoes, which could lead to fungal infections.

7. Wear 100 percent cotton socks. They’re best for absorbing dampness, thus preventing fungal infections.

8. Stretch out the beauty of a manicure by applying a fresh top coat every day, says Susie Galvez, owner of Face Works Day Spa in Richmond, Virginia, and author of Hello Beautiful: 365 Ways to Be Even More Beautiful.

9. Make your nails as strong as a horse’s hooves, and take 300 micrograms of the B vitamin biotin four to six times a day. Long ago, veterinarians discovered that biotin strengthened horses’ hooves, which are made from keratin, the same substance in human nails. Swiss researchers found that people who took 2.5 milligrams of biotin a day for 5.5 months had firmer, harder nails. In a U.S. study, 63 percent of people taking biotin for brittle nails experienced an improvement.

10. Add a glass of milk and a hard-boiled egg to your daily diet. Rich in zinc, they’ll do wonders for your nails, especially if your nails are spotted with white, a sign of low zinc intake.

11. File your nails correctly. To keep your nails at their strongest, avoid filing in a back-and-forth motion — only go in one direction. And never file just after you’ve gotten out of a shower or bath — wet nails break more easily.

12. Massage your nails to keep them extra strong and shiny. Nails buffing increases blood supply to the nail, which stimulates the matrix of the nail to grow, says Galvez.

13. Polish your nails, even if it’s just with a clear coat. It protects your nails, says manicurist Diaconescu. If you prefer color, use a base coat, two thin coats of color, and a top coat. Color should last at least seven days but should be removed after 10 days.

14. Avoid polish removers with acetone or formaldehyde. They’re terribly drying to nails, says Andrea Lynn Cambio, M.D., a New York City dermatologist. Use acetate-based removers instead.

Fish getting smaller as oceans become warmer!

A new study has warned that changes in ocean and climate systems could lead to smaller fish.

The study led by fisheries scientists at the University of British Columbia provides the first-ever global projection of the potential reduction in the maximum size of fish in a warmer and less-oxygenated ocean.

The researchers used computer modeling to study more than 600 species of fish from oceans around the world and found that the maximum body weight they can reach could decline by 14-20 per cent between years 2000 and 2050, with the tropics being one of the most impacted regions.

"We were surprised to see such a large decrease in fish size," said the study's lead author William Cheung, an assistant professor at the UBC Fisheries Centre.

"Marine fish are generally known to respond to climate change through changing distribution and seasonality. But the unexpectedly big effect that climate change could have on body size suggests that we may be missing a big piece of the puzzle of understanding climate change effects in the ocean," he noted.

This is the first global-scale application of the idea that fish growth is limited by oxygen supply, which was pioneered more than 30 years ago by Daniel Pauly, principal investigator with UBC's 'Sea Around Us Project' and the study's co-author.

"It's a constant challenge for fish to get enough oxygen from water to grow, and the situation gets worse as fish get bigger," explained Pauly.

"A warmer and less-oxygenated ocean, as predicted under climate change, would make it more difficult for bigger fish to get enough oxygen, which means they will stop growing sooner," he said.

This study highlights the need to curb greenhouse gas emissions and develop strategies to monitor and adapt to changes that we are already seeing, or we risk disruption of fisheries, food security and the way ocean ecosystems work.

Sridevi: I haven't done much as an actor!

It's hard to believe that it was 15 years ago when we last saw Sridevi on the big screen. It's like she hasn't aged at all.

The actress, who makes her comeback to the silver screen with Gauri Shinde's English Vinglish on October 5, insists that it is her debut film, not a comeback.

She looks particularly fresh and radiant as she arrives for the interview. I can't help but ask her about the secret behind her glow.

She says, "Love gives me the energy. There is no secret; whatever you are inside will reflect on your face. Just be happy and positive. Just look for the basic things every morning. You have to be happy from within and enjoy."

In conversation with Sonil Dedhia, Sridevi explains the reason behind her long haitus and reveals what prompted her to get back to films.

You are back on the silver screen after 15 years. Why such a long break?

I ask the same question: why 15 years? (laughs). I wish Gauri (Shinde, the director) had met me before; I would have done this movie at any given time.

My fans used to always ask me, 'When will we see you?' I am so glad and thankful to my fans that I was always there in their hearts and they never forgot me.

Did you miss acting?

No. I was happy to spend time with my children and my husband. I was enjoying motherhood.

At the same time I never lost touch with films. As a producer's wife I was happy being behind the camera. I would often go on the sets to watch a shoot.

Heart-friendly foods and enemies of the heart!

Gone are the days when heart ailments were considered to be an old age disease. Today, people in the prime of their lives are suffering from the impact of an unhealthy lifestyle and bad eating habits.

We have read enough about how you should exercise, get proper sleep and lead a healthy lifestyle but what we don't realize is, how crucial a role diet plays. Before you look into what to stock up and what to throw out of the window, keep in mind, "He who can believe himself well, will be well." - Ovid

The enemies of the heart are those foods that increase your cholesterol levels, as they tend to be calorie-heavy too. So here is what you need to avoid:

Trans Fat
Trans fat is the biggest culprit. However, the question here is how can you eliminate trans fat from your diet? Simply by slashing foods that contain "hydrogenated oils" in their ingredients. So next time you go to that departmental store read labels carefully. Keep at an arm's distance packaged snacks and chips. Swapping full fat dairy products like milk and cheese with low/non fat options helps too.

Red meat
You might be a hardcore non-vegetarian but maybe it is time to make a change now. Red meat is known to have a whopping amount of saturated fat that raises your 'bad' LDL cholesterol level and has long been seen as unhealthy.

Eggs
This all time breakfast favorite can have more cholesterol than you'd ever imagine. Research proves that the more egg yolks you eat, the higher is the risk of inflammation of the arteries.

Salt and Sugar
Let's face it. We all crave for that sugary tart or a bite of the salt-crusted potatoes but have you ever thought how harmful it can be? Too much sodium and sugar intake is directly linked with higher blood pressures, as it retains the excess fluid in your body. The American Heart Association recommends consuming less than 1,500 mg of sodium in a day.

Now that you know what to cut off the menu, here are some heart friendly foods that you should gorge on:

Oats
Oats contain a type of fiber, which helps to bind bile acids and remove them from the body. These acids are made from cholesterol, thus oats aid in lowering the cholesterol levels in our body. Oats are also rich in Omega 3 fatty acids.

Nuts
Want a healthy heart? Trade your mid-meal snacks with a packet of assorted nuts. Once touted as high fat devils, today nuts are considered to be the super foods in promoting heart health. All nuts have high amounts of unsaturated fats, which is good for the heart as it helps in reducing the inflammation in the arteries. A handful of nuts every day, would help keep heart problems at bay!

Berries
Berries are the new power foods. Packed with anti-oxidants, they help to significantly reduce the blood pressure and boost the good HDL cholesterol levels, hence promoting a healthy heart. They are rich sources of powerful photo-chemicals that help in a having a better blood flow and fighting serious ailments.

Legumes
Eating legumes regularly is extremely heart healthy. The best ones are kidney beans, black beans and lentils. They are rich in soluble fibers that help to bind the cholesterol.  They are also rich in various nutrients like iron, calcium and protein thus help in maintaining a healthy heart. Like berries they also help in increasing the platelet activity.

Salmon
Salmon is a cold-water fish, with abundant amounts of omega 3 fatty acids, which are great to promote a healthy heart. It is very versatile and easy to cook too. No other common fish has such great amounts of omega 3 as salmon. A rich source of easily digestible protein, salmon aides in strengthening the heart muscles.