Now, kiss for better health!

Exercise. Dieting. Various therapies. When it comes to healthy living, you are always a sport. Now here is something else you can try: Cheeky kisses!

The next time you greet a person, make sure you avoid shaking hands. Instead give a peck on his or her cheek -- it's healthier for you.

A team of international researchers has carried out a study and found that people who greet each other with handshakes are much more likely to pass on germs, such as flu and stomach bugs, than those who settle for a kiss.

According to lead researcher Prof Sally Bloomfield of the London School of Hygiene, "The hands are critical in the chain of infection as they transmit infections from surfaces to people and between people.

"Shaking hands is the main form of physical contact with each other but you don't know what the other person has been touching before you greet them. People avoid kissing each other when they have a cold, but in fact they are more likely to pass on an infection by shaking someone's hand." In fact, the researchers, whose study has been funded by the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene, came to the conclusion after analysing the effects of handshakes and kisses on a group of people, according to media reports.

According to co-researcher Carol O'Boyle of the School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, "Hand hygiene is just as important when we are outside the home -- on public transport, in the office, in the supermarket, or in a restaurant.

"Quite often it is not possible to wash our hands in these situations, but carrying an alcohol-based hand sanitiser means we can make our hands hygienic whenever and wherever the need arises."

Bajaj to offer preview of small car at Auto Expo

Delhi's Auto Expo, starting January 9, is attracting more attention than usual this year because, among other things, Tata Motors will be displaying its much-discussed Rs 1 lakh car, the world's lowest priced car. Now, sources in Bajaj Auto have confirmed that it is expected to offer a sneak preview of its small car, priced at roughly Rs 1.17 lakh, at the Expo.

The country's second largest two-wheeler company had announced a tie-up with Renault and Nissan in October to develop an ultra-low cost small car for India. The Tata offering is expected to hit the roads in September or October this year. Bajaj's car will be ready for commercial production after two years.
Renault and Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, who visited Bajaj Auto in October, said he hoped the prototype will be ready by the end of this year.

A Bajaj Auto spokesperson declined to comment. Senior company sources, however, said that Bajaj Auto Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj, who will address a press conference on January 8, will discuss some details of the small car and the road ahead with the partners.

Depressed women wear more perfume

Women who wear too much perfume may be suffering from depression. A new research shows that women suffering from depression tend to lose their sense of smell, thus wearing too much perfume.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University have discovered a link between depression and the loss of a sense of smell. They showed those who are depressed lose sensitivity in their olfactory glands at the same time and thus unwittingly splash too much scent about.

''Our scientific findings suggest that women who are depressed are also losing their sense of smell, and may overcompensate by using more perfume,'' the study leader, Professor Yehuda Shoenfeld said.
''We also believe that depression has biological roots and may be an immune system response to certain physiological cues,'' he added.

The research could lead to the development of a ''smell test'' to help diagnose depression. Researchers found that in cases of various ulcerous skin diseases , a particle known as an 'autoantibody' attacked the immune system, making the patient feel low, and affecting their sense of smell as well. It is the first time that depression has been linked to smell in ulcerous skin diseases patients. The report published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism also suggests that aromatherapy could be a powerful weapon against depression, and actually helps patients regain their sense of smell.

''People who are depressed seem to respond well to aromatherapy. Certain smells seem to help them overcome the effects of the biological factors,'' Professor Shoenfeld added.

The power of a superstar can never be underestimated. Viswanathan did it for chess, Sania Mirza is doing it for tennis in India. Apart from making the game popular they have galvanised a generation to pick up the sport, infuse confidence, given a reference point.
Baichung Bhutia has been the face of Indian football for long. Now, a 23 year old who answers to the name of Sunil Chhetri looks ready to take on the mantle.

"It's a great compliment for me," says Chhetri, who was named Indian NFL player of the year last season after scoring 12 goals. "I don't believe in all the comparisons but the expectations have definitely increased. There is the pressure to perform; it only pumps me up to do better whether I am playing for the country or club."

The suave, energetic player from Delhi, who speaks faster than he dribbles the ball, is, like Bhutia, a fleet-footed striker with a boyish face and floppy hair. Like Bhutia, he has his roots in the foothills of the Himalayas -- his forefathers came from Nepal. "He has the talent to make it big," says JCT Coach Sukhwinder Singh. "Whether he will remains to be seen," says Singh, whose team's colours Chettri currently dons. "We have to understand that people like I M Vijayan and Bhutia played consistently at that level for a long time. Chhetri has to do a lot and work harder." "(As strikers) you can't compare Bhutia and Chhetri. Bhutia is more explosive; they are two different, class players." Singh took Chhetri under his wing more than two years ago when he came to JCT after three seasons with Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan.
"I didn't have to change around with his style; all I told him was what to do and what not to do with the ball. When you talk of skills, there are two parts to it: one is basic talent and second is decision-making. We have helped him in decision-making, the tactical side, and improving his concentration."

"He has football in him," added the JCT coach. "I had football in my blood, since my parents also played it," Chhetri says. "When I started playing football I wasn't aware of the format or what the future holds. It was just a passion; I didn't work too hard for it. "First it was the passion; when he played for Indian schools it was "for a certificate", and then it was the money and fame that made Chhetri stay with football. "Five hundred bucks pocket money for a 17 year old is not bad!" he exclaims at the memory, when he was thrust into a professional set-up when he signed with Mohun Bagan in his teens. "Till then I didn't know football was so big. When I was playing for Indian schools they (Mohun Bagan) saw me and called me for trials. That time it was just fun, but in the past two, three years I have started taking the game very seriously."

Just like the club call-up, an India call-up happened to Chhetri early.
"That felt like a dream come true. I think wearing an Indian jersey, whichever sport you play, gives a different high. Playing in the senior team is a great change, the teams are tougher -- that's where the big boys play!"
"Earlier, I used to be too excited and thrilled and nervous just to be playing in the team. But now that the expectations are greater I am working harder."
For a person whose "dream came true" at 17, he is startlingly realistic. Ask him about his European (the ultimate in football) ambitions and he replies sheepishly, "Indians can't choose! I'll take whatever they give me." After some pushing, he comes up with an answer: "Barcelona!" "I am not thinking too much about it. I want to go out for sure; I am preparing a CV to send out. There are so many things to learn." Though he laments that not many people recognise football players beyond traditional centres Kolkata,

and Kerala , Chhetri says it is time the players, media and public give up the blame game and come together.

"The Nehru Cup was a huge tournament. Football is not very popular from where I come, but the stands were full during the matches. Every time I scored the crowd would go crazy. Zee Sports did a great job telecasting that tournament. It just shows that for football to develop everyone has to come together."
"We are all to be blamed for the condition of the game in India. Football is the best game, it's enjoyed all over the world, but it's not given due respect in India."
"If people stay awake to watch a Chelsea versus Manchester United game late at night, I am sure they'll appreciate if we play good football. Even I would love to stay awake and watch Baichung Bhutia play. We need the right players, the right media, the right television coverage, grounds, jerseys; combine all departments to do well."
Apart from his obvious ball skills, Chhetri's understanding of the arena he operates in is different from the normally myopic football vision. He voices his concerns without an edge of cynicism, and is ready to work on the solutions.
He has the game, the attitude and the marketable 'X' factor.
Move over Bhutia, Chhetri is here!

Wipro launches video interviews to save cost

The next time you get that interview call from India's third largest IT services provider, Wipro Ltd ,you will probably be asked to do it via video.
Wipro has already screened hundreds of applicants through video kiosks it has set up at three of its campuses - two in Bangalore and one in Chennai. The company shortly plans to extend this concept, and install over 1,000 video phones at all its 20-odd campuses across the country. Each campus accommodates over 2,000 people.

The process is simple, according to Dhananjay Ganjoo, vice-president (enterprise), Nortel India. The kiosk comprises a video phone, provided by Nortel Networks, with a 4x4 inch screen. The cost of each phone is around $250.
The candidate walks into a video kiosk and dials a pre-determined number at the given time. The human resources (HR) person or panelist at the other end picks up the phone and the interview starts.
"We implemented this to save on costs, time and eliminate impersonations, given that we recruit nearly 5,000 candidates every quarter," explains Jethin Chandran, GM (IT Planning & PMO), Wipro.

The Gartner Group estimates the procedure can reduce companies' travel costs for recruitment by 15 to 20 per cent.
Video phones also appear to solve the problem of impersonation or fake r�sum�s that have plagued the IT industry in particular, which loses crores of rupees in the bargain.

Last year, IT majors like IBM India, Wipro, Satyam , Infosys and TCS had to terminate the employment of thousands of such candidates. And a 2006 KPMG study revealed that 15 to 24 per cent of resumes in India are fake and one out of three r�sum�s mis-represents facts. The study noted that the IT, financial, entertainment and telecom sectors face the highest risk.
"To avoid impersonation, the video phone is equipped with a memory card that can capture the photograph of the interviewee," explains Chandran. The photo of the candidate and the interview results are then digitally sent to a central database.

Technology, note analysts, has been providing firms with innovative ways to cut hiring costs, and save time. Take, for instance, the video r�sum�s from Reliance World and Monster.
Reliance World, in association with Ilaza VDO, has VDO Resume - an online system that integrates a video file into the candidate's r�sum�. RWorld has over 240 outlets across the company.

Then we have video conferencing, which is done by companies like IBM, HP, Cisco, Nortel and Nike the world over.
"At Cisco, we use a lot of technology including TelePresence, IP phones, video conferencing, wikis, blogs, etc. to increase employee productivity," said Subash Rao, Director, HR, Cisco India.

He added that, till date, over 37,000 meetings were held, out of which nearly 8,000 meetings included participants who avoided travel by attending meetings over TelePresence, which meant savings of $62 million in travel avoidance.

Marion Jones:Glory gone

October 9, 2007

After years of denying the use of steroids, Marion Jones finally came clean last week.
The American sprinter, one of track and field's biggest stars after winning five medals at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, has long denied that steroids played a role in her success.

But she pleaded guilty in the Federal court in White Plains, New York, on Friday, to lying to federal investigators about her steroid use and admitted using performance-enhancing drugs.
Jones told the court she swallowed tetrahydrogestrinone, or THG, also known as "the clear," which she said had been given to her by her former coach Trevor Graham.

She has subsequently relinquished the five Olympic medals she won at the 2000 Sydney Games and retired from the track.

Why was Farhan Akhtar's Don better than RGV's Aag?

While many filmmakers boast of doing things out of the ordinary, some of them are drawn back to the age-old magic of Sholay, Don, Umrao Jaan , or then others are trying to bring to the audiences the once-upon-a-time black-n-white box office rockers in colour. But it is the Naya Daur , and it's best that age-old classics remain untouched on their thrones of gold, than adapting them to current day and age situations, and then going ballistic about their new avatar, which is hardly new at all.

And that, we think, is the mistake RGV made. The film was an exact replica of Sholay , but remained unmatched in class and performances. Farhan Akhtar, too, was tempted to make a tribute to the movie he had grown up watching – Don. And though we bashed it for casting SRK as Don in it, let us tell you that his twist-in-the-tale was far more exciting than the picking up of Sholay and placing it on a new canvas. The old wine in new bottles, is just not working! And more so if you have the exact same story to tell.


Take Umrao Jaan as yet another example. We watched it on a television channel recently and vowed that the film should've fared better than what it did. It was simply told and beautifully executed, but the shaan and ada of that era, was obviously missing. But our filmmakers won't understand, or maybe they do but are just trying their luck shooting in the dark. What was a success story once, may just create history again! But dear Directors, only if told with the same charm, magic and panache.

Of all the re-makes and colour re-releases, Farhan Akhtar's Don seemed to have 'donned' more colour than the rest. Reason? It had enough commercial value to hold the audience' attention. And the story left even the yesteryear audiences stunned at the end of it. The masses didn't feel cheated, and were happy to have got a whole new experience when they walked out of the theatres. This old wine in a new bottle was tweaked. And that made all the difference.