Email replaces lipstick on the collar!

One in nine adults are caught cheating on their partners because they fail to delete double-crossing emails and text messages.

The finding comes from a new poll of 2,000 adults by moneysupermarket.com that found that emails and texts are the modern equivalent for the lipstick on the collar that once confirmed a wife’s suspicion that her hubby was playing the field. Computers and mobile phones, the survey reveals, are the new “smoking guns” in relationship breakdowns.

And, some wronged partners don’t even need to go looking for evidence, for four percent of those caught out accidentally forwarded a message from their lover to their partner.

There is a difference when it comes to the ages as well. People in their 50s are more likely to be caught out with a text or email, than 18 to 24-year-olds who are more likely to clear their inboxes regularly, thus destroying the evidence.

“People seem to forget their internet and mobile phone can become a library of undercover love,” The Sun quoted a spokesman, as saying. “We don’t condone having affairs, but those who are tempted to stray should practice safe text — they need to be careful what they say in messages and emails. You never know where they could end up,” he added.

Source: Indiatimes Lifestyle

Leo thinks the planet is doomed

Leo makes a documentary to highlight environmental issues.

The Blood Diamond star believes the world is on the brink of destruction because of global warming, and insists human beings face a very “bleak future” unless we change our ways. Leonardo — who has made a documentary film called The 11th Hour to highlight the environmental issue — said: “We find ourselves on the brink. We face a very bleak future, and to avoid it we need dramatic worldwide change. It needs to go way beyond politics or religion. It’s scary and it’s daunting.

Its clear humans have had a very devastating impact on our planet’s ecological web of life.” But despite his concerns, the 32-year-old insists there is still hope. He said in an interview: “When you look at the data regarding climate change it's hard not to be depressed but when you look at people, think about things like their resilience and creativity and determination, there is hope.” Leonardo has long campaigned on environmental issues and set up the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998.

The 11th Hour is written, produced and narrated by the actor and features top scientists investigating a number of radical solutions to global warming. The film enjoyed its Los Angeles premiere last week.

Source: TOI

Miss Australia is hooked!

Miss Australia in news again.
Miss Australia joined Aussie fishing expert Dan Burgess and model Dan Trotter to film the segment during a recent boating adventure Miss Australia 2006, Erin McNaught, is putting her angling skills to good use as the star of a new fishing video.
The stunning model and TV presenter landed a spotted mackerel during filming of new action angling DVD Angling Anonymous . She joined Aussie fishing expert Dan Burgess and model Dan Trotter to film the segment during a recent boating adventure near Coffs Harbour, according to the Sydney Daily Telegraph.

Source: TOI

Madonna's the bad girl gone good

Madonna top the list of 'bad girls gone good,' list compiled by a magazine. Drew Barrymore secured second position while Mary J Blige secured third.
The Queen of Pop, Madonna, has made it to the top of a new list of 'bad girls gone good' compiled by a magazine. The singer-actress was followed by Drew Barrymore who secured the second spot. Soul star Mary J Blige and singer Fergie secured third and fourth places respectively, reports a website. Genie in a Bottle singer Christina Aguilera rounded off the top five, at the fifth spot.

Top 5 bad girls gone good:

Madonna, Drew Barrymore, Mary J Blige, Fergie, Christina Aguilera

Source: TOI

'Rivals no match for iPhone'

The iPhone makes me mad. Not, mind you, at the iPhone itself, but mad at cell-phone manufacturers who have saddled us for years with interfaces that lure us into labyrinths of menus.

The buttons that are supposed to guide us through this maze do different things on every screen: a single button can mean "Back" on one screen, "Cancel" on another, "Exit" on a third.

The iPhone has one button on its face. It always does the same thing: takes you to the top menu, where icons representing all functions of the phone -- music player, Internet browser and more -- are laid out in a clear manner. Wham, you're out of the labyrinth.

This makes me mad, because this isn't just the way it should be, it's the way it always should have been done. This became clear to me as I set out to look at the iPhone along with two other top-of-the-line phones, the Nokia N95 and Helio's Ocean.

The Nokia N95 costs $750, even more than the iPhone, and is jam-packed with features like a high-resolution camera, radio receiver and satellite Global Positioning System receiver. There are 13 buttons on its face, and that's before you slide the screen out to reveal the keypad.

Two of the N95's buttons take you to a top menu. But each button takes you to a different top menu. The menus navigate differently. The first doesn't have all the options of the other and the second has all the options but hides some of them. How am I supposed to remember which menu has which option?

This wouldn't have bugged me before using the iPhone. But the iPhone has a way of opening one's eyes. After using its beautiful, logical touch-screen interface, I get the feeling that if an Apple designer had said "Hey, let's give it two top menus! Give the user more choice," Chief Executive Steve Jobs would have demanded not just his resignation but his left pinky finger. Just as a lesson.

As you probably know, Apple's first phone launched amid tremendous hype in late June. Since then most of the press has been about hacks and complaints, and speculation that it's not living up to sales expectations. Most recently, the news has been that AT&T uses too much paper to print bills for the iPhone (the company said it would shorten them).

Don't pay it any attention: the iPhone is the best phone you can buy right now.

The two iPhone models, with four and eight gigabytes of memory respectively, cost $499 and $599, and AT&T's plans start at $60 a month. Like the N95, its price is high partly because the cell-phone carrier doesn't subsidise the cost of the phone. Unfortunately, with the iPhone you're locked in to the AT&T plan for at least two years.

With the N95, you can sign up for any AT&T or T-Mobile plan, those being the two major US carriers that are compatible with the phone's GSM technology.

The Ocean is considerably cheaper, at $295, with monthly plans starting at $65. Helio's stated goal is to bring cool high-powered phones, as found in Asia, to hip, young Americans. It rents time on Sprint Nextel Corp.'s network, which provides broadband download speeds.

This gives it a leg up over the iPhone and N95, which both use slower data networks, supplemented by Wi-Fi where available.

But the Ocean's main claim to fame is that it's a "dual slider:" Push the screen up, and you reveal a standard numeric keypad. Push it sideways, and you get a qwerty keyboard.

The screen on the N95 slides two ways too: up to reveal the keypad, down to reveal a set of media-player controls: play, stop, forward, backward.

Three months ago, I would have found these Swiss-knife-type designs brilliant, or at least useful, but really, they're not the way to go. To do different things with them, like switching from typing an e-mail to listening to music, you switch between different modes -- slide parts of the phone this way or that, and see buttons change their functions.

Basic theory of user interface design states that you should keep the number of different modes to a minimum, for ease of use. This theory seems to have been hammered into the designers of the iPhone.

Sure, the iPhone has its annoyances. The headphone jack is deeply recessed. The only headphones I managed to use were the ear buds Apple supplied, which don't do justice to music or shut out noise. You can't use wireless headphones, at least yet.

You have to use Apple's iTunes application, which doesn't run well on PCs. In fact, my PC screen turned itself off, then back on a few seconds later, when the iPhone was connected. It's a phenomenon I have never before seen.

AT&T's EDGE data network can be painfully slow, taking minutes to load a Web page or load e-mail. A pity, since the iPhone's Web browser is the best ever.

The pictures from the 2-megapixel camera are fuzzy, and the lens smudges easily to make them even fuzzier.

Standby time is supposedly up to 10 days, but I found I had to recharge the phone at least every three days of light use, which isn't very good.

It has Google Maps, but it can't tell you where you are. The N95 can, if you manage to get the GPS receiver working, which was quite tough. The Helio can too, or is at least supposed to. It placed me half a mile off.

I could go on about the iPhone's flaws, but it doesn't really matter. When you're in love, you forgive the shortcomings of your loved one.
Peter Svensson

Source: TOI (Indiatimes Infotech)

1 in 5 women regret their choice of hubbies!

A survey shows that one in five British women thinks that she's married the wrong man.

And in what is sure to be a big morale damper to men, one in 12 women believes that she should never have tied the knot at all.

The findings are based on a survey of 1,250 women aged 35 to 44 by the Bradford & Bingley bank. The results also showed that only 58 per cent of the women were “very happy” with their choice of hubbies.

And while they may not want a man in their lives, most women do want kids, for one in five plans to have more children.

“Over 35s need not despair — as there is plenty of time for them to change their lives for the better,” The Sun quoted spokesman Paul Whitlock, as saying.

The survey also found that more wives than singles had savings, as well that a sixth of divorced women had wished that they had not relied on their ex to sort their finances.

Source: Indiatimes Lifestyle

Get a lift with a 'push-up bra' under your skin!

Now, you can shape up your breasts and get that enhanced cleavage without the services of a push-up bra.

Doctors claim that their new creation, an 'internal bra,’ can do away with the need for the lingerie version. The harness-like device is placed under the skin through a 40-minute keyhole operation performed under local anaesthetia.

The cost of getting a ‘Cup & Up bra,’ created by leading Israeli plastic surgeon Dr Eyal Gur, is around 4,000 pounds, an amount far cheaper than the traditional breast lift.

Similar in shape to a fabric bra, ‘Cup & Up bra,’ made of silicone cups, is inserted around 1cm below the skin. Following this, the surgeons fix fine straps or "threads,” which are attached to the ribs between the breast and the shoulder with a pair of titanium screws. These straps are then stitched to the cups and everything is tightened to lift the breasts into a more "youthful" position.


Dr Gur, head of microsurgery at Tel Aviv's Sourasky medical centre, said that the positive effect on the patient's look will be long-term, with a follow-up operation only needed ten years later, to tighten the device. He added that the new operation, known as minimally invasive mastopexy, has already caught the fancy of many women.

"I am being inundated by ladies who want to be the first patient to have this operation. There is real excitement. It is such a simple concept, it's surprising no one has thought of it before,” the Daily Mail quoted Dr Gur, as saying.

If the trials, expected to start in the autumn in Belgium, turn out well, Cup & Up could be offered for use by plastic surgeons soon. However, British experts have expressed their doubts about the internal bra, warning that there might be a possibility that the silicone cups harden under the skin and women with larger breasts feel the device pulling against their ribs.

"The problem is the type of skin a person has. If you haven't got good quality skin you can do what you want, but your breasts will droop again. You can't stop gravity,” Lisa Sacks, a consultant plastic surgeon and a member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, said.

Source: Indiatimes Lifestyle

Slimming tips from the past!

London: Now women are set to get slimming tips from the distant past.

A 17th-century English manual, to be auctioned next month, has thrown light on how women maintained their shape and looks during the reign of William and Mary and offers bizarre, and often hilarious, home remedies and etiquette tips to present day women.

The manual advises women to use goose grease on sagging breasts and warns against yielding too quickly to men.

The Ladies' Dictionary : being a General Entertainment for the Fair Sex , published in 1694, is expected to bring about 2,000 pounds at Bonhams, the London auction house.

Described as the Cosmopolitan magazine of its day, its pages include tips on dating, make-up, diet and expanding the mind. However, a large portion of the text gives advice on weight loss, with a further warning that women shouldn't become “too thin and scragged.”

To shed those extra pounds quickly, The Ladies' Dictionary advises bathing in claret wine infused with "wormwood, calamint, chamomile, sage and squinath.”
Those who wish to work upon particular flabby or sagging areas were told to brew up a foul mixture of chicken and goose grease, pine, rosin, pitch and turpentine in an earthenware pot. This was then mixed with wax, cooled, applied "to the place that languishes, or does not equally thrive", and allowed to set into a plaster.

The advice on wearing make-up is equally firm with the book saying, “A painted face is enough to destroy the reputation of her that uses it."

Addressing the question how far to go on a first date, the book says, “Is it proper for a woman to yield at the first address? You'll get better conditions if the enemy does not know how weak you are within.”

The author of The Ladies' Dictionary is identified only as HN.

"It's an extraordinary book, offering advice to women of all classes on a wide range of subjects. You could call it the Cosmopolitan of its day,” the Daily Mail quoted Matthew Haley, a book expert at Bonhams, as saying.

Source: Indiatimes Lifestyle

Gen X: Living life in the fast lane?

Fast cars, lots of ready moolah and a desire to live the good life are driving the young to live dangerously on the edge.

The murder of 16-year-old Adnan Patrawala has shocked the country and has once again triggered off questions about the lifestyles of youngsters, especially in big cities. Adnan, the son of a Mumbai-based businessman, was apparently fond of fast cars and big brands and loved to splurge money on his friends. Sadly, these very desires led him to a tragic death: Adnan was killed on Saturday night in a Skoda by his so-called ‘friends’ – young boys from similarly affluent backgrounds- for money.

Adnan’s untimely and rather macabre death may have shocked the nation, but brings to mind similar incidents involving the young living on the edge. Remember the BMW case in Delhi where six people were mowed down by a speeding youngster? Or the case of Borivili murders by teenagers who wanted money for drugs and dance bars? Or for that matter, the rising instances of drug and sexual abuse in BPOs that have been labelled as ‘hotbeds of sin’?

For experts, what’s even more disturbing is the fact that these youngsters show no signs of remorse about their acts and there are no limits to driving in the fast lane. “TV, media and everything else is to blame equally. Children are driving even before 16. Sometimes parents get them the license, sometimes they manage on their own. I know of a child who said he could manage his own license and didn’t need his ‘full of ideals’ dad to preach. He was stealing from his mother’s cupboard and had the money to bribe the officials. License authorities should realise what they are doing to such kids,” says Dr. Aruna Broota, clinical psychologist.

Not just authorities, but society and particularly parents need to realize just what they are doing to kids. According to Dr. Broota, “Parents’ fault is that they don’t stay in touch with the child more often. They don’t bother to meet the teachers and interact with them about the child’s behaviour and studies. As a child who is into negative things can’t be doing well in school either.”

“The problem is that children think ‘I’m old enough to take care of myself”, she adds. But are they really? Experts have slammed the rising popularity of social networking sites saying that it leads to loneliness and makes kids more susceptible to abuse. “This 16 year old was chatting with a 28 year old. What for? Are we so lonely that we need social networking societies? I think our society is surely becoming more lonely and sick by the day,” says Dr. Broota.

Sadly, experts feel that youngsters are considering the Internet as a cure to their loneliness, and money the answer to all problems. And what’s even more alarming is the fact that this fast growing phenomenon is not restricted to the big cities. The ubiquitous cyber cafes and the rapidly spreading mobile networks have made smaller cities very much a part of the ever growing ‘global village’, where Gucci shoes or a Blackberry are finding their place in social lexicons. The fallout of this change is even grimmer.

Another disturbing phenomenon, according to experts, is the lack of positive role-models or even scarier: the so-called ‘youth icons’ of today. It would not be wrong to ask here: Are Indian youngsters going the Paris Hilton or Britney Spears way? Ask Dr Aruna and she says, “Youngsters have to understand that it is not a part of the celebrity package, it’s a psychological problem.”

“Every kid is gifted with something special called a ‘Special Ability Factor’. In such cases these abilities often are not explored or positively utilized. When it comes to celebrities like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears their special abilities get reflected in their movies, songs, or serials ...but with such troubled kids there is no outlet for their abilities, which creates a worse scenario,” says Dr. Broota.

While we continue to debate what troubles the youth of today, it’s time to take young Adnan’s death as a wake-up call and realise that the problem, and the solution lies within each of us. Else, who knows how many more young lives are snuffed out before it’s too late.

radhika.das@indiatimes.co.in
deepti.malhotra@indiatimes.co.in

Source: Indiatimes Lifestyle

Maths gives proof Jessica Alba has sexiest wiggle

Hollywood actress Jessica Alba has the sexiest wiggle—according to a team of Cambridge mathematicians.

The academics say that the Fantastic Four beauty has the precise ratio between waist and hips for the ultimate sexy strut, reports the Telegraph.

Hair removal firm Veet commissioned experts from Cambridge University’s maths department to look at famous women to see what gives them their wiggle.

The academics found that it is the ratio between hips and waist that puts the sway into a woman’s walk—and the nearer that ratio is to 0.7, the better.

This ratio provides the body with the right torso strength to produce a more angular swing and bounce to the hips during the walking motion. Therefore, a woman with a 25-inch waist and 36-inch hips would have just the right proportions to carry off a sexy swagger as she walks, like Alba’s.

The sexy star’s wiggle beat off similar sashays from Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria, Tomb Raider star Angelina Jolie and even Marilyn Monroe.

While Monroe was a fraction off the target ratio with 0.69, the Cambridge team said that Alba had the perfect proportions.

Source: TOI

Superwomen or super vixens?

She is bold and loud. She is nasty and wicked. And she just loves it! But what she loves most is being called a 'bitch'!

Yes! The species of girls who love to be 'bad' is increasing and more interestingly, so is increasing their desire to be tagged as one.

You got it right. We are talking about modern day uber bitches who seem to be oozing with style and confidence and never lose an opportunity to pass a nasty comment on those whom they hate, or even those they don't.

Bitch types

Bitchiness has many nuances. The most popular and dangerous of all are malicious bitches. They are clever, manipulative and love to play games. On the outside, they might be friendly and jovial, but inside, they are always scheming and always seem to have some ulterior motive in everything they do or say.

Indiatimes spoke to model Mehar Bhasin on her experience with this species and this is what she had to say: “When I started my modeling career, a very well known senior model tried to discourage me by commenting on my hair and appearance and said that girls like me cannot survive in the industry. But since I was determined, I didn't listen to her and soon she realised that she was losing out in the game. I think you tend to go evil only when you are insecure about something. By being a bitch, you may stand out in the crowd, but only for wrong reasons!”

Another type of bitch is the fun bitch. Her bitchiness is based more on her attitude towards life and less on the way she behaves with others. She may gossip about her friends behind their backs and flirt with their boyfriends, but does not step on someone else's happiness to climb up the success ladder. As model Joey Matthew puts it, "I think the word 'bitch' is more of a celebrated way of saying that you are cool, confident, fun loving and naughty.

All my friends call me a bitch with affection but to do something negative to get your work done is not how I define being bitchy." According to ad film maker Prahlad Kakkar, "A true bitch is someone who is extremely selfish, emotionally independent and sexually predatory. They are insecure women with supreme confidence, so much so that before other people can use them, they use other people, and it is their sexual promiscuity and availability that makes them bitchy." Then you have the sheep girls with bitch skin.

These girls are basically good at heart but portray a cunning and clever image otherwise. They may be dominating, intimidating or clever to deal with, but in their personal lives, they are the most affectionate people one can come across.

Why bitches?

So what is it with girls aspiring to be 'bitches'? Is it a kind of a mask that these girls put on in order to outsmart people or is their over ambitiousness that makes them play games or is it plain wickedness?

Kakkar puts it this way, "Being bitchy is a very unnatural phenomenon. This is basically a group of jealous and vindictive people who get pleasure by making fun of successful people. It is their way of saying 'so what if you are successful, it's not a big deal!' Also, they do it because they too have been hurt and faced rejection at some point of their life. So it is probably their way of protecting their safer and vulnerable side from others." Whatever the reason, the fact is that 'bitches' have their own reasons to be proud of what they are.

They are doing quite well in their respective fields and leading their lives the way they want to. Not many dare to mess with them and they live life on their own terms without caring much about others. Remember Miranda Priestly, the high-profile and fabulously successful editor of 'Runway' magazine in the book The Devil wears Prada and a prize bitch? In the end, bitches are not always easy to figure out.

Their wily and wicked ways are a source of misery to many Andrea Sachs (the victim of Miranda Priestly's bitchiness in The Devil wears Prada ) in workplaces around the world. And since it is difficult to outsmart them it is better to let them play their games and watch from a safe distance.

divya.kapoor@indiatimes.co.in

Source: Indiatimes lifestyle

Preity, karma and courage

Priety who was in Delhi to honour the recipients of bravery awards, talks about issues close to her heart.



Lord Krishna says that you should do good karma, and I feel you should get an opportunity to do that karma. So when I do get the chance to do some good, I am really, really glad!” That’s the socially aware, sensitive, braveheart avatar of Preity Zinta for you. In Delhi for an event to honour recipients of bravery awards, PZ went beyond lip service to communicate what causes and issues like this mean to her.
“Meeting a 17-year-old girl who has saved 10 men from drowning, or a woman who wrestled with a leopard to save a little boy, makes you feel humble. I don’t want the spotlight; I want their bravery to have a voice,” she explains. People say Preity is pretty brave herself. Is she? “It is very kind of people to say that. But if to stand for what I believe in is bravery, then yes, I am brave!” exclaims an enthusiastic Preity.
Some recent experiences have left a deep imprint on the mind of the actress whose social awareness quotient is pretty impressive. “Reading the paper in the morning about yet more rape and murder saddens me. I am glad that I am now part of a women’s empowerment programme. Recently, I was shooting for Mera Bharat Mahan in North India, near a village school. On the last day of shooting, there were some biscuits lying in our van. I called the children out to give them, and there were 50 boys and just eight girls.
I was shocked! What will happen 10 years from now?” The emotions reflected on her face make this more than a politically correct opinion. And she has more to share. “You have no idea what I have been seeing while working with NGOs.
I used to think that nothing could shock me... till I met this girl today who has got an award. In her town they have a practice that six-year old girls are married off to the statue of a god, and then they are molested, some are made to dance in front of dead bodies. This girl got pregnant when she was 11. She ran away and has been fighting for herself since then. Is this India?” she questions. “I always used to thank god, but now I also thank my parents. I guess my father knew that he would not live very long and that is why he always wanted me to stand on my feet, to be independent.”
There were rumours afloat on Wednesday that Preity had committed suicide. And she’s not amused. “Please, I would rather kill someone else than kill myself! Why would I die, I am a fighter. And the people who come out with these rumours must have very sad lives.” On that, we agree. And when are you getting married, PZ? “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...?!!!” This question renders her temporarily unable to either hear or speak. So obviously, an answer just isn’t possible. Now that’s Preity Smart Zinta for you!
Source: TOI

Romantic, that's me: Drew Barrymore

From being a star to a producer, the sexy actress has certainly proven time and again that she’s a force to reckon with

Wild women do, and they don’t regret it Wild women show, what they’re goin’ through, wild women do, what you think they’ll never..

The song by Natalie Cole, could very well be an ode to Hollywood’s wild child Drew Barrymore. From being the star kid of ET to posing nude in Playboy, Barrymore’s broken every rule there is in the book.

However, recent times have also seen a far more professional edge of the Charlie’s Angel star. From being a star to a producer, the sexy actress has certainly proven time and again that she’s a force to reckon with. And as her romantic drama Lucky You hits the theatres today, BT reins in the beauty for an exclusive chat.

Are you a hopeless romantic?

Sure. Always have been. Always will be

How do you feel now you're getting older?

I’m just starting my thirties and I loved my twenties. I’m excited for what this decade will bring for sure.

Is it difficult for a woman to combine a career and family?

I would think it’s the same for men, but we’ve seen them pull it off for many generations. I hope it will be another one of those eras now. It can be done! I believe that.

Do you still feel that romantic comedy is your forte?

I hope that I haven’t pigeon-holed myself into people thinking that I’m not capable of more. Because I have definitely had really wonderful experiences in the few more dramatic or independent films that I’ve been involved with, and I hope to do more of those in the next few years. I love seeing, watching and doing romantic comedies. They’re just a joy for me in my life. But I definitely want to express as much range as possible.

You also produce a lot now, for your company Flower Films...

I love being involved in every aspect. I think details in life are so exciting and I love films. When we do our films, I care about the coffee cup that’s on screen, and the name of the character, the production design and the casting process, the writing it’s all vital. I love fighting for that poster over this poster. As an actor, sometimes you don’t get that involved. So I just love every aspect of filmmaking.

So now that you’re a producer, does this mean you’re ultra-efficient?

No! I’m so irresponsible! I lose everything all the time. I lose one credit card every single week. I lose my house keys. I get locked out of my own car. I run out of gas. I’m completely a head-in-the-clouds type of person. But I think it’s because I’m always day-dreaming about creating things.

How was it working with Eric Bana and Robert Duvall in the drama Lucky You?

I love Robert Duvall; it’s so dramatic watching him. And Eric has no Hollywood bullshit about him. But I did the film, because I wanted to work with Curtis Hanson (director LA Confidential). On Halloween last year he took me to see the 1920 movie Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. It starred my grandfather John Barrymore and we both got really emotional. That’s why I love Curtis, he’s a real movie buff and I feel like his creative soulmate.

Source: TOI

Carey's emotional breakthrough

The Grammy award winner was treated for extreme exhaustion after a couple of eccentric public appearances Singer Mariah Carey has insisted that her 2001 nervous breakdown was an "emotional breakthrough ."

The Grammy award winner was treated for extreme exhaustion after a couple of eccentric public appearances. However, the singer said that she had to "hit rock bottom" to u n d e r - stand the "cost of fighting a g a i n s t the system." "I'm far from perfect . I'm still learning.

I overworked myself , and I paid a heavy price for that," a website quoted Carey, as saying. "I consider the breakdown as a breakthrough I needed to hit rock bottom. I also needed to understand the cost of pushing so hard, fighting so hard against the system. But was out of control at that moment ," she added.

Source: TOI

Eva Mendes to star in The Spirit

Sultry actress/supermodel Eva Mendes is to star in a multi-starrer flick with another hot beauty Scarlett Johansson.

Actress/supermodel Eva Mendes is set to star alongside Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L Jackson and Gabriel Macht in the upcoming flick The Spirit , to be directed by Frank Miller. The film written by Miller marks the start of a multipic pact. The story revolves around a rookie cop who fakes his own death to fight crime from the shadows.

The film will begin shooting in October at New Mexico’s Albuquerque Studios. Lionsgate has the domestic and UK rights of the film and has scheduled it for a 2009 release. Odd Lot’s Deborah Del Prete and Gigi Pritzker will produce along with Michael Uslan.

Benjamin Melniker and Steve Maier will be the executive producers of the film. Mendes is excited about the film, where she plays the woman who could break the Spirit’s heart.

Source: TOI

Playboy plans `sex' networking site

Playboy is heading back to school to boost the bottom line. Riding a wave of renewed popularity among consumers around the globe, Hugh Hefner's Playboy empire is set to launch a sexy social networking site dedicated solely to college students, its latest online venture as it tries to reinvigorate its stagnant finances.

The launch of Playboy U, which has similar features to those found on Facebook, comes as Playboy's 54-year-old magazine continues to lose money and readers. To compensate, Chicago-based Playboy Enterprises Inc is embarking on one of its biggest expansion efforts in years. "This is one brand that is relevant to 18 through 81-year-olds," said Scott Stephen, executive vice president of operations for Playboy's entertainment division.

"We're looking at this as a way to introduce and escort someone through their adult life." Playboy has cozied up to collegians before, featuring parties, promotional events and pictorials of student bodies from across the country. Now, executives hope Playboy U will help build brand loyalty among young consumers.

Backed by a hit cable TV show featuring Hefner's three girlfriends, a Sirius radio channel and the adoration of young Hollywood stars who are again flocking to parties at the Playboy mansion, the company is trying to grow its licensing business and online presence and build an international fan base that includes a surprising legion of female fans.

Thanks in part to those initiatives, Playboy is gradually returning to profitability after years of operating in the red. Last year the company eked out a $2.3 million profit, its second-best since posting a $47.6 million loss in 2000.

So far this year, Playboy has earned $5.7 million. But growth has been slow as Playboy wrestles with other struggling units, like its domestic television business that facing increasing competition and losing favor to other video-on-demand offerings. (Playboy executives said they're working to stabilize the TV unit by offering their own on-demand lineup.) "They definitely haven't had the blowout kind of success that you would expect a big brand like Playboy to have," said Rick Munarriz, a senior analyst with the investment advisory service The Motley Fool.

"The brand seems to be having some kind of renaissance around the world yet, financially speaking, it's not really contributing to the top and bottom line." The latest statistics compiled by the Audit Bureau of Circulations show the magazine's average paid circulation has fallen to just under 2.9 million readers, less than half of the 6.25 million readers who bought the magazine during its heyday in 1974.

During the first six months of the fiscal year, the magazine unit lost $4.7 million, 15 percent more than it lost during the same period last year. Playboy executives said there are no plans to eliminate the publication, even as the company turns its attention to other parts of the bunny empire that include Playboy-themed casinos, clubs and apparel. Next month, Playboy will open its ninth retail store, stocking jeans, jewelry, T-shirts and cosmetics.

After resurrecting its night clubs last fall with the Playboy Club at The Palms Casino in Las Vegas, the company is building "location-based entertainment venues." A 40,000-square-foot Playboy Mansion in Macau will open in late 2009 and Playboy is eyeing similar projects in London, Atlantic City, Eastern Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Executives declined to say how much they've invested in Playboy U, saying only that the effort is "sizable" and that the advertising-supported online community may ultimately bring in revenue. But when and how long that will take is anyone's guess, especially as more companies flock to compete with industry heavyweights Facebook and MySpace for the attention of fickle young people.

The Web site has managed to get 2,000 members from 500 colleges during early beta tests. "It's a very lucrative market," said Michael Kelman, senior media analyst at Susquehanna Financial Group. "The college kids, they're going to be better-educated and have higher disposable incomes. (But) it's been a very, very tough audience to grab."

The site bars nudity but leaves little to the imagination with pictures from the mansion's "Midsummer Night's Dream" party and message topics such as "What Do You Think About Penis Enlargement" and "How Many People Have You Slept With? To Lie or Not to Lie." The site has instituted a college-only policy, which bars anyone without an e-mail address ending in .edu from joining. And Playboy U says it will boot any university faculty, staff or alumni or other non-students that it discovers on the site.

In many ways its format is similar to Facebook and MySpace — people choose to "friend" each other, can post videos and photos or leave messages on a "wall." But users can also access university-specific pages that list campus events while viewing individual profiles of Playboy U members throughout the Web site. "Your little brother can't get in. Your little sister can't get in. Nor can your mother and father," Stephen said.

It's that exclusivity coupled with the Playboy cachet personified by Hefner that Adam Gibson, a 24-year-old public relations major at West Virginia University, likes most about the site. "They do a really good job at blending in the Playboy lifestyle with the student," said Gibson, who promotes the Web site to his classmates. "There's a level of exclusivity to it. And I think that keeps it cool."

Source: TOI

Strong Re slows down hiring in IT

The dollar’s roller-coaster ride — down 14% in the last 12 months even as the rupee appreciated 7% — is giving jitters to Indian IT/ITES firms. Many of them have reported lower margins last quarter, while their costs have moved north.
The fallout: Many of them have resorted to cutting costs to save margins. Now, it’s affecting their HR departments as well. Many IT firms have cut down their bench strength, while others are going slow on hiring plans. Some are avoiding lateral hiring, or even if they do, it’s completely need-based — they are keeping it to the minimum.
IT recruiters confirm that bench strength in some IT companies has reduced by almost 20-25%. “There is lot of focus on 100% utilisation of resources to save cost. Almost all major IT companies are cutting down bench strength,” confirms Nishu Miglani, general manager, IT, Manpower India. At Cognizant for example, the focus has been on increasing employee utilisation levels by two percentage points, from 61% to 63% in the second quarter of the year. “Every 1% appreciation of the rupee negatively impacts our operating margins by around 20 basis points.
The appreciation of the rupee versus the dollar in the second quarter of 2007 impacted our operating margin by around 150 basis points,” informs Bhaskar Das, V-P, human resources, Cognizant. At Infogain Corporation, bench strength has been brought down from 15% to 10%. “Most of our clients are US-based, so we are facing a lot of pressure.
We had to take certain steps to save our margins,” says Pankaj Shankar, global HR head, Infogain. What’s more, hiring too has gone down. “While we hired 30-35 people on an average every month, now their numbers have gone down. And it’s project-based.” IT recruitment firms say hiring across the board has gone down by 5% in the last two months. Most of them are now resorting to ‘just in time hiring’.
At MphasiS, the focus is on saving margins and pushing up efficiency. As Elango, chief HR Officer at MphasiS, explains: “Earlier, I would be easy about hiring, but now it’s about saving margins. Now we stick more to references, or go back to check those who did not accept our offers earlier.”

Source: TOI

Financial crisis not to hit global growth: IMF

Financial markets turbulence probably will curb global economic growth slightly this year, the International Monetary Fund managing director Rodrigo Rato said on Wednesday.
“It would not be surprising if (the turmoil) had a certain impact on growth, more intense in certain countries than in others,” Rato said at a news conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Asked whether the IMF will lower its 2007 global growth forecast of 5.2%, he acknowledged “it is possible, but not in a dramatic way,” suggesting a revision to “slightly above 5.0%.” “We are facing a major financial correction on the credit market, in the context of a good economic situation worldwide, that will have some consequences for the economy, probably more for some than others,” he said.
Rato stressed that “the risks have increased, but in the positive context of the world economy” where the fundamentals remain “good” regarding inflation, debt, trade and growth. The IMF last month hiked its 2007 and 2008 growth forecasts to 5.2%, from 4.9%, citing robust growth in emerging markets, led by China, during the H1 of the year. Fears of a credit crunch spreading from problems in the US housing sector have gripped financial markets around the world, triggering a series of heavy sell-offs.
The US Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and other central banks have pumped hundreds of billions of dollars into financial systems in the past two weeks to ward off a seizure that could threaten the world economy. Rato welcomed the interventions: “The central banks acted in a decisive and appropriate manner to guarantee the liquidity of the markets.” However, he warned that national and multilateral authorities “must remain very vigilant in the coming days”.

Source: ET

Egypt shortlists Tatas, Essar for $3 bn steel unit

India’s largest steel producer Tata Steel and the Ruias’ Essar Steel Holdings (ESHL), a unit of Essar Global, have been shortlisted by the Egyptian government to build a proposed $3-billion steel and billet plant in the north African country to meet growing demand in the West Asian region.

The two Indian companies are among seven global firms who have made it to the final list from the initial 24 bidders. “The seven names were disclosed by the Egyptian government last week. The winner of the bid will be announced by October,” a source close to the development told ET. Others in the fray include Ezz Steel, Suez Group and Egyptian Iron & Steel Company.

The development comes three months after reports from Egypt said the two Indian companies have shown interest to set up steel projects in the country.

The project includes two steel plants, each with a capacity of 2MT. The two billet plants, intermediate steel products, will have a capacity of 1MT each. When contacted, an Essar Steel Holdings spokesperson said, “As a group we keep looking at growth opportunities in sectors that we are in. However, it is not our policy to comment on any specific proposal.”

Essar Global also plans to invest almost $3 billion in setting up a refinery in Egypt. An email query sent to Tata Steel remained unanswered. Shares of the Jamshedpur-based steel major were down 1.6% at Rs 560 on BSE on Thursday, a day when the broader index fluctuated violently on concerns that the ruling government may fall. In comparison, the metal index was down 0.88%.

The latest move to build steel plants in Egypt is part of the two companies’ earlier plans to invest in the gas-rich West Asian region. Both, Tata Steel and Essar, have already announced plans to build steel plants in Iran. Interestingly, the two are also involved in similar greenfield projects in Vietnam, which also has one of the world’s largest deposits of natural gas.

It is a part of an ongoing trend by large steel companies to have operations spread out, so that after making steel billets in resource-rich regions, the companies can ship them to regions closer to consuming markets where they can be custom-made and sold. “Both Tata Steel and ESHL have global aspirations,” said an industry source.

“The two have also made high-profile acquisitions this year. Tata Steel bought the Anglo-Dutch Corus, and ESHL bought Canada’s Algoma Steel and the American Minnesota Steel. Essar Global wants to increase its capacity to 25MT by 2012, from the present 8MT. This is a step towards it,” the source added.

Source: ET

RIL, RNRL face off in court over KG gas

The final hearing of Reliance Industries (RIL) and Reliance Natural Resources (RNRL) ended in the Bombay High Court on Thursday with exciting arguments and counter arguments before Justice Anup Mohta. The judge asked counsels of both companies to give their submissions in writing in a week, following which the judgment may be pronounced.

RNRL counsel Mukul Rohtagi completed his arguments seeking a firm supply of gas (28 mmscmd or 40 mmscmd as the case may be) for 17 years at $2.34 per mmbtu as agreed in the demerger scheme. In his arguments in the rejoinder, Mr Rohtagi said that RIL has to supply gas to RNRL not only from KG-D6 field but from all its fields under exploration and development. “RIL has mischievously designed the entire agreement in a manner that gas can never be supplied to RNRL so that the power plants can never be set up,” he added.

RIL’s counsel Harish Salve started his arguments by stating that the breach of agreement is a hoax and sought RNRL’s petition to be dismissed. According to Mr Salve, RIL has only 4.4 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of certified proven reserves (CPR) as of today and is not in a position to enter into agreement to supply 28 million metric standard cubic meters per day (mmscmd) of gas for 17 years.
Mr Salve said that even if RIL produce gas at the rate of 28 mmscmd, the reserves would be exhausted in four years time. If proven reserves of 12 TCF are to be considered, half of it will go to government and its partner leaving RIL with only 6.14 TCF of gas. In the second case, if the NTPC contract does not materialise, and RIL agrees to sell entire 40 mmscmd of gas to RNRL for 17 years, RIL will have a deficit of 7 TCF of gas. If that happens, RIL will have to show $120 billion or Rs 60,000 crore as contingent liability in its balance sheet because of the liability clause. Citing the above examples Mr Salve suggested that the tenure and quantity of gas supply to be left open and determined as and when CPR goes up.
Countering this statement, Mr Rohtagi said, “RIL’s claim that based on CPR, it does not have adequate gas to supply 40 mmscmd of gas to NTPC and RNRL is shocking. This claim is totally false, and contradictory to the development plan and various letters filed by RIL with the government, which shows capability to produce gas upto 120 mmscmd.”
If RIL does not have the availability of gas committed to NTPC and RNRL, then how can RIL take approval from government for capex of $8.8 billion, Mr Rohatgi asked. On pricing, Mr Salve argued that if RIL agrees to sell gas to RNRL at $2.34 per mmbtu against market determined prices, RIL will lose $8 billion. “If I (RIL) sells gas to my brother (RNRL) at $2.34 per mmbtu and RNRL sells it to its power plants at $5 per mmbtu, a PIL (public interest litigation) will be filed saying that Ambani brothers are taking India for a ride,” Mr Salve argued.

Source: ET

War of formats: India shows thumbs-down to Microsoft

India on Thursday gave Microsoft a thumbs-down in the war of standards for office documents. In a tense meeting at Delhi’s Manak Bhawan, the 21-member technical committee decided that India will vote a ‘no’ against Microsoft’s Open Office Extensible Mark Up Language (OOXML) standard at the International Standards Organisation (ISO) in Geneva on September 2.

“We unanimously agree on the disapproval of OOXML with comments. The same will be submitted to ISO,” National Informatics Centre head and BIS technical committee chairperson Nita Verma said after a marathon meeting that lasted over six hours. There was no need for a voting as only Infosys Technologies and CSI supported Microsoft.

The Open Document Format (ODF) alliance, enjoying widespread support from academia and corporates like Oracle, IBM, Red Hat, Sun Microsystems, Google, were in a jubilant mood having succeeded in stalling OOXML from being accepted as a standard in India.

Microsoft said it respect’s the government’s decision. “There were only three options `Yes’, `No’ and `Abstain’ to be taken and we respect the government’s decision,” Microsoft’s legal affairs head Rakesh Bakshi said. He, however, added that India’s ‘No’ vote will become a ‘Yes’ if Microsoft is able to resolve all technical issues with OOXML before the ballot resolution committee of ISO. Prof DB Phatak of IIT Mumbai, who was instrumental in conducting the meetings, looked relieved after being flooded with calls from both camps over the week.

Speaking to ET outside the BIS premises, the Microsoft camp complained that when ODF was being standardised by ISO, they did not oppose it and now the ODF camp refused to return the favour. ODF supporters said they would have no problems with OOXML if all the 200 technical issues were taken care of. Amongst hectic lobbying from both camps, the US government on Thursday said that it will abstain from voting. China has already voted a ‘No’ against Microsoft, while Malaysia, Denmark and Switzerland are supporting the software major.

A global alliance of Sun-IBM, Oracle, Google, Red Hat have ganged up against Microsoft which is being supported by Apple, Quark, Accenture and Novell. On Indian soil, Infosys, HCL, Skelta, Sonata Software and Sify have come out in support of Microsoft. September 2 is the last date to submit the vote with comments to ISO. About 123 counties are participating in the vote. Votes from most are still to come. Canada, Czech Republic, Iran, Japan, Libya, Cuba, New Zealand, UK are likely to back the IBM-Sun’s ODF Alliance. On the other hand, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Singapore, Korea, France and Australia are likely to abstain from voting.

Source: ET

Sky pie: Desi airlines join advertising warfare

In a bid to grab the attention of travellers in the crowded skies, domestic airlines are upping their advertising and marketing spends while adopting innovative measures to stand out.

As domestic airlines spread their wings to international markets and connect to newer destinations in the country, over Rs 350 crore would be spent by domestic players alone through advertising and marketing activities in 2007, as per industry estimates. Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines top the charts with spends of over Rs 100-125 crore each.

Among low-cost carriers (LCC), Air Deccan leads the way with ad and marketing spends in the range of Rs 30-32 crore, followed by SpiceJet at Rs 18-20 crore. Premier carrier Paramount Airways, which plans to enter the western market next year, claims to have earmarked total ad and marketing communications spend of Rs 50 crore for 2007-08.

Even Air India, which spent mere a Rs 5 crore for advertising last year, has set aside around Rs 20 crore this year, with major chunk being directed towards its new international destinations. For Delhi-based IndiGo, the ad spend for the year remains at modest Rs 10 crore.

Apart from usual ad spend in print and TV, Jet Airways for the first time is organising road shows in the country and abroad to showcase its new first class and business class product offerings. There would also be specific campaigns in the domestic market as it upgrades its aircraft with the latest in-flight entertainment systems, Jet Airways marketing vice-president Gaurang Shetty told ET. SpiceJet, a low cost carrier, is also looking at reaching out to travellers through the TV. Similarly, JetLite, in its new avatar, is set to launch a new campaign by mid-September, highlighting its positioning as a value-based carrier.

“Our point of differentiation would be that we are the only LCC to offer food at no additional cost, and with full-fledged frequent flier programme,” said JetLite’s acting chief executive officer Garry Kingshott. Others like Paramount Airways are looking at using the internet extensively to target corporate clients. “Over 30-35% of our bookings come through the internet. We are seriously evaluating online advertising particularly through portals targetted at corporates. We have increased our total ad and marketing communications spend from Rs 40 crore last year to Rs 50 crore this year,” said Paramount Airways MD M Thiagarajan.

Air India, which has been doing several ad campaigns in the print media and outdoors centered around its recently launched Mumbai-New York non-stop flight is now planning to unveil TV commercial next month. The airline is planning to tap radio and internet for advertising internationally. The ad and marketing buzz can only get louder in the coming months as the peak travel months kick in. “Airlines have to come out with smart campaigns to stand out in the crowd,” said a senior advertising industry professional.

While the bulk of ad spend by airlines goes to schedule, promotions and brand related communications, many are devising newer ways to connect to travellers. For instance, Kingfisher Airlines is partnering with MSN messenger, wherein you can book tickets while you chat on the messenger. The MSN messenger will have the Kingfisher Airlines logo, which will direct you to their website.

Kingfisher is also launching an offline tool named King Click, which will act as a desktop personal travel assistant storing your past travel itinerary. King Click will also provide all the information available on the website without being connected to the net. “We are focussed on innovative brand building exercises to catch the consumers attention in their comfort environments,” said Vikram Malhotra, dy GM, marketing, Kingfisher Airlines. Internationally, South West Airlines provides a similar kind of tool.

Source: ET

Left lobs ball in Cong court: Dump N-deal

The crisis gripping the Centre has reached flashpoint. Prakash Karat, who received the unanimous backing of the CPM central committee for his tough line against the Centre on Thursday, said the future of the Manmohan Singh regime is contingent upon the government’s willingness to put the Indo-US nuclear agreement on hold.

He also said it is for the Congress leadership to take a call on the Left’s “choose-between-the-deal-or-government” stand. “If the Centre decides to operationalise the agreement, the responsibility for its future will lie on the government,” Mr Karat said while addressing a press conference here. The CPM leader, who appears to have concluded that a compromise on the nuclear agreement is political suicide for his party, made it clear the Centre will have to blink to save the government.

Mr Karat reminded the Congress that there is no scope for unilateralism in the present arrangement as the Congress does not have a majority of its own. “It is incumbent on the government, which commands a majority in Parliament only with the support of the Left parties, to heed the voices of opposition,” he said. C PM, which put the onus of running the government on Congress, said it will not take any extreme step as long as the government does not proceed with the next step on the nuclear deal.

“We are in no hurry and it is for the Congress leadership to respond,” he said. But, the Congress has barely a week to decide on the issue as the Lok Sabha is expected to discuss the nuclear deal on August 29. Mr Karat has already threatened that the Left will join other critics of the agreement to demonstrate the majority backing for their viewpoint. Given this backdrop, the government will have to explain its position on the issue during the debate in Parliament.

The Congress leadership, which was banking on its ‘friends’ from CPM’s West Bengal unit in the central committee to force a review of the politburo decision, has begun conceding that the situation has now become ‘delicate’. Ms Sonia Gandhi, who is returning from South Africa late on Thursday night, is expected to hold discussions with the Left leaders. But the Left’s stand of “no further negotiations on the nuclear deal” has left no room for compromise with the Indo-US agreement on the table.

Mr Karat has said the constitution of an expert group to examine the deal will not do. “There can be an expert mechanism after stalling the negotiations,” he said. With the survival of the government clearly hinging on an acceptance of the Left’s demand, there is apprehension in the Congress that the allies may now put pressure on the government to revisit its position on the nuclear agreement. Although they solidly backed Congress at the last meeting of the UPA, the allies are wary of facing an election immediately.

A section of the UPA that has been discussing a ‘Plan B’, continuing at the Centre as a minority government, in the event of the Left withdrawing support, are now not quite confident of the shape of things to come. Mr Karat, incidentally, ruled out the possibility of a minority government. “Where is the question of a minority government. It is running on our support,” he told reporters.

Source: ET

Old folk are still having sex

Aging people in the United States are still having active sex lives, unrestrained by age-related sexual problems affecting around half of them, according to a major nationwide report published Thursday.
"A majority of older Americans are sexually active and view intimacy as an important part of life, despite a high rate of 'bothersome' sexual problems," the National Institutes of Health (NIH) said in a report on the new study.
The research found that sexual appetite declines only slightly between the ages of 50 and 70, with many men and women practising vaginal intercourse, oral sex and masturbation well into their 70s and 80s.
Researchers at the University of Chicago surveyed 3,005 people aged 57 to 85, said the NIH, part of the US Department of Health.
The study "suggests a previously uncharacterized vitality and interest in sexuality that carries well into advanced age," said Richard Suzman of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) which took part in the study.
Half of those surveyed up to the age of 75 admitted to having oral sex, said the summary report released here Wednesday on the study, which is published in Thursday's issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
More than half of men and a quarter of women admitted masturbating.
Nearly three-quarters of those aged 57 to 64 said they were sexually active. The figure dropped to just over half of those in the 65 to 74 age range, and a quarter of those aged 75 to 85.
Sexual activity was more common among older men than among older women.
The survey sheds light on the impact of physical health on people's sex lives, including sexual problems related to conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and hypertension, the report summary said. Overall health, it found, was more important than age in boosting a person's sex life.
The research may also help promote health education efforts to prevent sexually transmitted disease in older people.
"Sexual activity among older adults poses risks for new cases of HIV, as approximately 15 percent of newly diagnosed HIV infections are among Americans over age 50," the summary said.
About half of the sexually active older adults reported at least one "bothersome" sexual problem. More than a third of active men said they had erectile difficulties, and 43 percent of women reported "low desire."
American men spend more than a billion dollars each year on medications to improve their sexual function, the researchers said, with 14 percent of those surveyed taking medicine to boost their performance.

Source: France 24

Credit crunch may spoil Jaguar-Rover valuations

Valuations of the Jaguar-Land Rover deal are likely to get affected due to the raging subprime crisis in the US, which has hit global credit markets. The crunch is also expected to affect private equity funding, say industry sources. According to an MNC consultant, the crunch may impact the valuation of the deal itself. The deal size is valued between $1.5 billion and $2 billion.

“The credit crisis will hit everyone including private equity players who will be less disposed to be generous. Which means the deal valuation may come down accordingly.” However, according to another auto head of a Delhi-based multinational consultancy, the global credit crunch will not pinch private equity funding. So, if the Tatas or Mahindras are tying up with a PE player, their funding won’t be at risk. “On a macro-level, hedge funds are more at a risk. As far as the Jaguar-Land Rover deal goes, the only PE players interested will be those looking at a longer timeframe due to restructuring restrictions by unions and the British government,” he added.

But long-term players will not be affected by the short-term credit crisis. Industry sources, however, indicate that the credit crunch situation may push the date of closing the deal to the year end. Ford may have chosen the new owner for Jaguar and Land Rover by the time it reports its third quarter results in October. However, according to The New York Times website, Ford expects offers for the two British brands to come in by September 30, and could decide on the winning bidder within 10 days to two weeks after that.

Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra officials were not available for comment. Normally, PE players are more aggressive in leveraging their transactions than strategic players. While strategic buyers, especially from India, go in for a debt-equity ratio of around 1:1; in case of private equity, in some of the global transactions, it has gone up all the way to 70:30. The Tata group’s earlier big-ticket acquisitions were done on a non-recourse basis. “For the Corus acquisition, the group created an SPV and leveraged the cash flow of Corus,” says another consultant with a Delhi-based MNC consultancy. He added that the group is sitting on a billion dollars after Tata Tea’s Glaceau stake sale. If nothing else, they can sell a small portion of Tata Sons’ 80% stake in TCS to raise the required funds.
Sources indicate that earlier, if a company went for 90-95% debt, now it will go for less debt due to the high cost of borrowing. Also, many buyers cannot even tap the debt market and it is getting increasingly difficult for banks to underwrite debt.

Source: ET

Car that will drive you crazy (Amazing Tata's)

It’s the most talked about project in the auto industry right now. But there’s more to the Tata Motors Rs 1 lakh people’s car than just it’s eye-popping and jaw-dropping price tag. Despite the hush of secrecy surrounding the project, ET AutoMania spoke to vendors, suppliers, consultants and industry insiders to come up with details of what the car will pack in.

The Tata Rs 1 lakh car is undoubtedly the most talked about product that will hit the market in 2008. This despite the fact that the year will be choc-a-bloc with launches (see Local Launch) across the product spectrum . The company, understandably enough, has been tightlipped about the project but ET AutoMania spoke to vendors, consultants, analysts and auto industry insiders to cull information about this muchawaited people’s car. So here goes the details...

First things first... the Rs 1 lakh car will probably sport a 660 cc engine and crank out between 30-33 horses . And yes, it will offer both diesel and petrol drivelines. German Tier One component major Bosch is developing “a brand new” common rail direct injection (CRDi) solution that will be compatible with the Tata Rs 1 lakh car. “For the first time, Bosch is developing CRDi systems at that cost to suit the configuration of an extremely low cost vehicle,” said a component industry source. In June, Wolf Henning Scheider, president-gasoline systems division, Robert Bosch had announced the company’s intent to become “market and technology leaders” in the low price vehicle segment.

The company, he said, is supplying “alternators, brakes and gasoline and diesel en-gine management systems for the one-lakh car from Tata” and in four months, Bosch’s local engineers have “developed viable technical concepts and solutions” for the project.

That’s just the beginning. According to vendor sources, the Tata Rs 1 lakh car will be rear-engined (unlike most cars on Indian roads today which are front-engined ), four-door and four-seat . The strip down base variant will not offer air-conditioning or power steering, say sources. The prototype is ready and may world premiere at the Auto Expo next January.

Like the Indica, the new car is being designed by Italy's Institute of Development in Automotive Engineering (IDEA). And like the Indica, it will come in a cute egg shape with the same kind of rear light arrangement as the group’s first passenger car. And yes, it will sport a tall boy frame and may offer some “totally different” design cues like an aircraft-style storage space under the hood or a single wiper.

The Tata group chairman has gone on record to say that the vehicle will “not be a scooter, threewheeler or an auto-rickshaw made into a car.” And it will not be a totally stripped down car either though in terms of finish or horse power, it won’t match up to the bigger cars in the marquee. Ratan Tata has been quoted saying that the car would have “continuously variable transmission (CVT) technology, ” which would mean driving without changing gear.Although Tata group is likely to source the CVT initially from a global Tier One vendor , it will develop the next gen version in-house to keep costs in check.

Of course the Tata stable isn’t just focussing on the Rs 1 lakh car project which has been code-named X3. According to sources in the auto industry , the company’s under-development new Indica platform (codenamed X1) will target the top-end of the B-segment to take on rivals like the Swift and Getz while the current product, in a tweaked avatar, will attack Maruti’s best-seller Alto at the lower end of the B-seg food chain. The company will use the new Indica , existing Indica and the people’s car to attack the entire small car price range.

As for the aggressive pricing, that isn’t something that the company has finalised though. Of course, vendors shortlisted for the project say that the company is demanding and getting a good 20% discount on current rates on the back of big volume orders. Which, analysts say, means Tata Motors is very serious about sticking to the Rs 1 lakh moniker.

However, sources indicate that the car may end up sporting an exshowroom price of close to Rs 1.25-1 .5 lakh. “It should bridge the gap between a premium motorcycle and an entry level car,” Tata had said in one of his earlier interviews. But even at that price it’s all about cost that’s driving the project.

Vendor sources say Tata Steel is slated to supply the cold-rolled steel for the car body from its Jamshedpur plant and Tata Metallics will provide the grey iron castings for the chassis.

As for its debut date, the group chairman has gone on record to say that the project is behind schedule because of the political problems at the proposed mother plant in Singur , West Bengal.

He however also added that the team was working overtime to make up for lost time. Which means the car will, in all probability, debut in 2008 though whether it will be in the first half or later that year or in the last quarter of the calendar is of course anybody’s guess.

As for its body specs, the car, say international media reports, will be as big as the Volkswagen Rabbit though one-fifth as powerful. And it will be cute if the Indica’s styling DNA is anything to go by. That’s about all that’s available on the people’s car right now. We promise to keep you posted on anything else that we can pick up along the way. Till the car actually premieres that is.

Source: ET

Skype For The iPhone is Out

The iPhone will now have a version of Skype from SHAPE services. This version is also specifically designed keeping in mind the iPhone’s touch screen feature. Initially this application will be available free for iPhone users. The IM+ for Skype for iPhone can be accessed through the Safari browser. So all you iPhone fans out there the Beta version of Skype with IM+ is out and up for grabs. Cash in now.

Now iPhone owners can log onto http://skypeforiphone.com/ using the device's Safari web browser and talk with their Skype contacts or call any landlines and mobiles in a cost-efficient way. "

Noticing the public interest for Skype on iPhone, we decided to use our mobile IM and mobile Skype experience and develop an application for them; this has also been a move towards our IM+ for Skype platform coverage. It is truly easy and convenient to access and use. We are looking forward to hearing some feedback from iPhone users", said Igor Berezovsky, the company's CEO. "No tweaks are necessary."

IM+ for Skype is the unique fully mobile application that uses SkypeOut credits for voice communication ensuring cost-effective calls to any number around the globe. For users of Skype Unlimited and Skype Pro plans IM+ enables almost free calling from the mobile device to any PC with Skype or any landline/mobile number. IM+ for Skype is already available for BlackBerry RIM, Windows Mobile Pocket PC, Palm OS, Symbian and J2ME devices. The application works in any network and doesn't require WiFi.

Source: Tech2 (Tv18 Network)

Nokia Launches 6555 Clamshell

Nokia has announced their new 3G enabled WCDMA and Quadband GSM handset – The Nokia 6555. This clamshell features a QVGA 16 million color internal display. The resolution of the screen is 240 x 320 pixels. It has an internal memory of 30MB and supports external memory through microSD cards. "Mobile-savvy consumers expect superior quality and design. We understood that need, and so created the Nokia 6555. The Nokia 6555 is a sophisticated accessory delivering the outstanding features that you expect from Nokia," said Markku Suomi, Product Group Director, Mobile Phones, Nokia.

Nokia doesn’t mention what type of camera is present but they did mention that it has 6x zoom. It also has an option for self-portrait and video sharing. The 6555 also has Bluetooth capabilities.

It’s priced at just around Rs. 11,100 (€200) and should be available next month.

Source: Tech2 (TV18 Network)

Top 3 Dual-Core Laptops Under Rs. 40,000

Last year we had carried a feature called “Laptops under Rs. 40,000”. To our delight, the amount of interest this straightforward story generated was phenomenal. It also strove to illustrate a point, we have mentioned in various reviews and features since then i.e. laptops are in! They are rapidly becoming the preferred choice of computing for not only experienced users, but first time buyers.

Since the original article was written, laptops have undergone a paradigm shift in computing power. Though dual-core laptops were around at that point, they were expensive and out of reach of everyone but well-heeled users and enthusiasts. However since then Intel has introduced two different generations of mobile processors. This has driven the price of dual-core laptops down drastically. Keeping these factors in mind, we decided to check out if on a strict budget of Rs. 40,000, we could find 3 dual-core laptops with good specifications and from good manufacturers. Please note that the 3 laptops we have chosen below are the base models inclusive of all taxes. Their prices can cross Rs. 40,000 if system parts are changed or swapped.
Here is the result of our search.

Satellite A100

Toshiba is a brand that is vastly under-rated. It does not enjoy the popularity or brand-name of the others in this round up, which is a pity considering the fact that they make some great products. The Satellite A100 is one such product. It is built on the older but still very competitive Core Duo platform (T2060 processor clocked at 1.6 GHz), 512 MB system memory and 60 GB storage space. Its LCD panel is a 15.4 inch screen with a native resolution of 1280x80 and is a Transflective screen. For its graphics, the laptop uses ATI’s Radeon series of chipsets and depending on the user’s budget it can range from the entry – level 1150 to the mid-level Radeon 1400 and more.

In the connectivity and peripheral options, this laptop shines. It offers 4 USB slots, 1 IEEE 1394 Firewire port, 1 VGA-Out and a 5 in 1 memory card reader with support for SD/MMC/MS/MS-Pro/XD Cards and full support for both 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The drive shipped with the A100 is a DVD-R/CD_RW combo. The OS used on this laptop is Windows Vista Basic.
The A100 is priced at Rs. 38, 000 and with its 15.4 inch screen, generous connectivity options and good graphical subsystem is a very a good buy.

Lenovo N100

Lenovo really needs no introduction. Having been built on the formidable Thinkpad brand-name, Lenovo today offers some of the best and most functional machines around. The N100 is one such candidate. Like the A100 this laptop too is built on the Core Duo platform (T2080 clocked at 1.7 GHz), has 512 MB system memory and an 80 GB HDD. It utilizes an Intel GMA 950 graphics chipset, has a 15.4 inch screen with a native resolution of 1280x800 and comes with a dual-layer DVD-RW drive.

In its expansion options it offers 4 USB 2.0 slots, a 4-1 digital media reader (SD/MMC/MS/XD),VGA out , IEEE 1394 Firewire slot and support for all Wi-Fi standards /Bluetooth. The OS choice for this laptop ranges from the cost saving FreeDOS to Windows Vista.
The N100 is available for Rs. 38,000.

Dell Inspirion 1501

We have featured this laptop in an earlier roundup too. At that time we had found that it offered an exceptional deal. Though it’s been some time since that roundup, we find that the good value and utility of this laptop has only increased with time.

For starters, its processor has been upgraded to AMD’s latest 65nm mobile X2 processor- TK53. This powerful new processor not only runs cooler, but consumes less power. This in turn increases battery life by a significant margin. Apart from that, the 1501 comes with a default 512 MB of RAM, a 80 GB HDD, a 15.4 inch LCD with a native resolution of 1280x800, an 8x dual-layer DVD-RW drive, a Radeon 1150 Graphics chipset with 256 MB of video ram and has support for Wi-Fi via the Dell 1390 802.11g wireless mini-card. For peripheral connectivity the 1501 offers four USB slots, 1 VGA out, headphone and microphone jacks, and a 3-in-1 memory card reader.

In a good move, Dell offers Windows Vista Basic as the primary OS with the 1501. This saves consumers the trouble of having to hunt for drivers or for purchasing a separate OS. Dell ships the 1501, with a 6-cell battery that gives it a good battery life of around 3 Hours 20 mins. In the accessories package, Dell offers a good nylon bag as the carry bag for the laptop.

Prices start at Rs. 35,000 for the Inspiron 1501.

Source: Tech2 (Tv18 Network)

'Denise Richards is jealous'

Sheen’s future mum-in-law blasts ex-wife Denise

Charlie Sheen’s future mother-in-law has accused the actor’s ex-wife for ‘acting up’ as he plans to wed again. Moira Fiore insists Sheen’s ex Denise Richards is showing signs of jealousy after her former husband proposed to real estate investor-turned-actress Brooke Mueller last month, during a vacation in Costa Rica. She says, “Denise’s just crazy. She tried to get Charlie back, but now that he’s engaged, she’s acting up again.” Sheen married Richards in 2002 after the couple met while filming Good Advice a year earlier. The couple have two children together Sam J Sheen and Lola Rose Sheen, but the couple divorced in 2006. His marriage to Richards was Sheen’s second. He married Donna Peele in 1995, but the marriage lasted just over a year. He also has another child with a former girlfriend

Source: TOI

Is Adrian Paris' new love?

Paris Hilton has been reportedly romancing Entourage star Adrian Grenier and he has been paying her midnight visits.
Paris Hilton has surprised everyone yet again with her latest scoop - Adrian Grenier .
The socialite is reportedly dating Grenier, who plays the hunky Vincent Chase in popular series Entourage . The two were spotted together at an LA screening of The 11th Hour recently. Adrian has been paying Paris secret midnight visits.
Before hooking up with Grenier , the hotel heiress was romancing rocker Cicso Adler, who dumped her after watching footage of her with Adrian. "Cisco was furious and ditched her before she got the chance to ditch him," a magazine quoted a source, as saying. "He thought something was up when Adrian kept cropping up in pictures," the source added.

Source: TOI

Meet another bikini bomb: Hrishitaa

Hrishitaa Bhatt (TOI Photo)
Flaunting a great shape.

Ever since news of her image makeover has been out, Hrishitaa Bhatt’s cell phone has been buzzing incessantly. Yes, there have been lots of congratulatory messages commenting her on her well-toned and sexy new look. But it is the industry people who have been taken by surprise, informs Hrishitaa. “They could not have imagined I would have made such a bold statement with my pictures. Yes, the buzz has been good and I’m glad that the ad world is taking keen interest. I’m sure I can manage both, films and commercials,” she says.

As for her bold statement, check out this picture in the bikini. Competition for the bikini brigade? (read Mallika Sherawat, Neha Dhupia, Tanushree Datta and gang?) “No yaar, there’s enough room for all that and more,” laughs Hrishitaa.

Source: TOI

For soft, young skin

Five minutes everyday is all it takes to pamper your skin, and keep it looking soft and young.

Work , stress, party nights, harried mornings , pollution, sun, dust - Every minute of the day your skin faces these challenges . Is it not fair on the skin's part to demand a little of your time? Five minutes everyday is all it takes to pamper your skin, and keep it looking soft and young.

For dark circles

Rose water helps get rid of these. You could also prepare some warm tea, dip a piece of cotton in it, and place it on your eyes. Change it thrice. Apply some eye gel as it helps keep the area moist. For dryness Excess makeup tends to make your skin dry and lifeless. A deep cleansing cream takes away all the dirt and pollution. You can also massage your face with almond oil along with a drop of essential oil like jasmine. Parties in air-conditioned rooms cause this problem too. For the skin to retain its natural glow, it's essential that you spray some rose water on your face and apply a lot of moisturiser.

For dull skin

Clean your face with a NH exfoliator. Scrub your skin well; exfoliate dead skin. Splash drinking soda on your face, apply a moisturiser and then do makeup. Once a week, apply a face pack.

For acne & pimples

Not everyone has the right skin to handle copious amounts of make-up , and the sweetmeat indulgence doesn't help either. Control skin break-outs by applying water based makeup and use a gel based moisturiser. Use a good cleansing face wash, a medicated toner and non-alcoholic toner.
Finally, remove your makeup before you go to bed. Apply a cleansing cream and wipe off with a damp cloth. Use a good face wash followed by a toner. And, while you sleep, your skin will do the rest of the work, so that you wake up with a glow in the morning.

Source: TOI

Blue-eyed people are more successful

Success lies in the colour of your eyes, and those with blue ones are likely to achieve more in life than their peers as they tend to study more effectively and perform better in exams, says a study conducted by US scientists.
The study did not mention anything about people with black irises. The tests showed that brown-eyed people had faster reaction time, but those with lighter eyes appeared to be better strategic thinkers.
Brown-eyed people succeeded in activities such as football and hockey, but lighter-eyed participants proved to be more successful in activities that required skills in time structuring and planning such as golf, cross-country running and studying for exams, the scientists said. Louisville University professor Joanna Rowe, who conducted the tests, said the results suggested an unexplored link between eye colour and academic achievement.
“It is just observed, rather than explained,” she said. “There’s no scientific answer yet.” Bedfordshire University senior psychology lecturer Tony Fallone, who has also studied eye colour, believed it should be taken more seriously as an indicator of personality and ability. Blue-eyed academic successes include Stephen Hawking and Marie Curie who twice won the Nobel prize, for physics and chemistry.
Blue eyes contain low amounts of melanin within the iris stroma. The type of melanin present is eumelanin. People with blue eyes are relatively common throughout Europe and other areas with populations of European descent, such as Canada, the US, Australia and some countries of the Middle East.
Afghanistan and Iran also have somewhat uncommon occurrences of blue-eyed people. There are also populations in northern India and Pakistan that have naturally occurring blue eyes, although this is extremely rare.
Throughout the rest of the world they are relatively rare. Around eight per cent of the world's population has blue eyes. As melanin production generally increases during the first few years of life (especially if exposed to the Sun), the blue eyes of some babies may darken as they get older. In the case of blue-green eyes, they must be more blue than green to be considered blue. Aqua blue is a good example of eyes that are more blue than green. Among Asians the predominant colour of the eyes is black.

Source: TOI

No US-Canada thaw on Arctic

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and US President George W Bush on Monday agreed to disagree in a newly hot dispute over control of the Northwest Passage, aides to both leaders said.
"I think it's fair to say that the president came away with a far better understanding of Canada's position," Dan Fisk, senior director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at Bush's National Security Council said.
"However, I will note that, from the US position, we continue to believe that the Northwest Passage is an international waterway, that there is international navigational rights through the Northwest Passage," said Fisk.
Canada is at odds with Russia, Denmark, Norway and the United States over 1.2 million square kilometers (460,000 square miles) of Arctic seabed, thought to hold 25 per cent of the world's undiscovered oil and gas.
Each nation is claiming flaps of Arctic seabed, believed to hold 25 per cent of the world's undiscovered oil and gas reserves. All of them, including its allies, deny Ottawa's hold on the famed Northwest Passage.
A top aide to Harper, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said it is "unrealistic to think that we are going to agree on absolutely everything but what is really important is that we are talking about even those things we don't necessarily agree on."
Of late, the international rivalry has heated up, with Russia planting a flag at the North Pole and Denmark reportedly on its way, as melting polar ice caps make the region more accessible to economic activity and shipping.
"The prime minister talked about the Northwest Passage, but he spoke more broadly about the Canadian Arctic and the recent announcements and the heightened level of activity in the 'Canadian Arctic,'" said Harper's aide.
"With respect to the Northwest Passage, the prime minister drew the (US) president's attention to the comments of former ambassador Cellucci and the president took careful note, (but he did not respond)," she said.
On Sunday, Paul Cellucci, former US ambassador to Canada, told broadcaster CTV: "In the age of terror, it's in our security interests that the (disputed) Northwest Passage be considered part of Canada."

"That will enable the Canadian navy to intercept and board vessels in the Northwest Passage to make sure they are not bringing weapons of mass destruction into North America." Cellucci said.

But the proposal was immediately dismissed by his successor as "not current US policy."

NRI set to convert daughter for UK school

The parents of a Sikh girl have said that they are ready to convert her to Roman Catholicism to ensure her admission to a school of their choice.
According to report in the Daily Mail, Baljit and Bal Singh have said that they will not hesitate to change their four-year-old daughter's religion if it means she can attend their favoured school next month.
Maya Kaur has been attending a nursery at St Paul's Roman Catholic School in Wolviston, Cleveland, for the past two years. But her parents have been told there is no place available for her when she starts full-time education in a few weeks.
After losing an appeal, the couple say they are seriously considering changing her religion in the hope she may be allowed into the school, which gives priority to Catholic children.
"We think Sikhism is similar to Roman Catholicism so we put her in that school. She's been there for two years, she goes to church with them, she says a prayer before she eats her dinner, said her father.
St Paul's admissions policy gives priority to children who have been baptised Roman Catholic, have been formally received into the Catholic church and live in the catchment area, or who have a sibling at the school. Priority then goes to other Christian denominations before children of other faiths.
The extraordinary proposal is likely to be frowned upon within the Sikh religion. The Singhs, however, insist that they are doing nothing wrong in trying to get the best for their daughter. Maya has been offered a place at William Cassidi School.

Source: TOI