Samsung asks U.S. to ban iPad, iPhone imports

SEOUL/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Samsung asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to ban the importation of Apple's iPhones, iPads and iPods, ratcheting up its dispute against Apple.
The filing, dated Tuesday, says Apple's iPhone, iPod digital music player and iPad tablet infringe on five of Samsung's patents involving telecommunications standards and user interface inventions.
Samsung also filed a new patent lawsuit against Apple in a Delaware federal court on Wednesday,
The complaints are the latest salvo in a growing legal battle between the two consumer electronics giants.
In April, Apple sued Samsung in a California federal court, claiming the South Korean firm's Galaxy line of mobile phones and tablets "slavishly" copies the iPhone and iPad.
Samsung then countersued in California, and Apple last week filed another lawsuit in South Korea. An Apple spokesman could not be immediately reached on Wednesday.
As well as its own phones and tablets, Samsung manufactures microchips for Apple's gadgets, a business that brought in about $5.7 billion in revenue for the South Korean company last year.
Before banning the importation of Apple's popular devices, the ITC would first have to agree to look into Samsung's allegations, a process that could be quite lengthy.
Apple is one participant in a web of litigation among phone makers and software firms over who owns the patents used in smartphones, as rivals aggressively rush into the smartphone and tablet market which the U.S. company jump-started with iPhone and iPad.
Samsung is one of the fastest growing smartphone makers and has emerged as Apple's strongest competitor in the booming tablet market but it remains a distant second in the space.
(Reporting by Noel Randewich and Miyoung Kim; Additional reporting by Dan Levine in San Francisco; editing by Carol Bishopric)

Supermoon leaves sky gazers spell-bound

An auroral and unusually big ‘supermoon’ was seen lighting up the sky Saturday night, offering a visual treat to an enthusiastic audience of curious sky gazers.

 

Google targets Facebook with new social service

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc, frustrated by a string of failed attempts to crack social networking, is taking another stab at fending off Facebook and other hot social sites with a new service called Google Plus.
Google designed the service, unveiled on Tuesday, to tie together all of its online properties, laying the foundation for a full-fledged social network. It is the company's biggest foray into social networking since co-founder Larry Page took over as chief executive in April.
Page has made social networking a top priority at the world's No 1 Internet search engine, whose position as the main gateway to online information could be at risk as people spend more time on sites like Facebook and Twitter.
To set its service apart from Facebook, which has more than 500 million users, Google is betting on what it says is a better approach to privacy, a hot-button issue that has burned Facebook, as well as Google, in the past.
Central to Google Plus are so-called "circles" of friends and acquaintances. Users can organize contacts into different customized circles -- family members, co-workers or college friends, say -- and share photos, videos or other information only within those smaller groups.
"In the online world there's this 'share box' and you type into it and you have no idea who is going to get that, or where it's going to land, or how it's going to embarrass you six months from now," said Google Vice President of Product Management Bradley Horowitz.
"For us, privacy isn't buried six panels deep," he added.
Facebook, which has been criticized for confusing privacy controls, introduced a feature last year that lets users create smaller groups of friends. Google, without mentioning Facebook by name, said other social networking services' attempts to create groups were "bolt-on" efforts that do not work as well.
Google Plus will be rolled out to a limited number of users in what the company is calling a field trial. Only those invited to join will initially be able to use the service. Google did not say when it would be more widely available.
LEARNING FROM BUZZ
Google's stock has been pressured by concerns about rising spending within the company and increasing regulatory scrutiny -- not to mention its struggles with social networking. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission, among others, is currently reviewing its business practices.
Its shares are down almost 20 percent this year after underperforming the market in 2010.
To create Google Plus, the company went back to the drawing board in the wake of several notable failures, including Google Wave and Google Buzz, a microblogging service whose launch was marred by privacy snafus.
"We learned a lot in Buzz, and one of the things we learned is that there's a real market opportunity for a product that addresses people's concerns around privacy and how their information is shared," said Horowitz.
Google, with $29 billion in revenue last year, drew more than 1 billion visitors worldwide to its websites in May, more than any other company, according to Web analytics firm comScore. But people are spending more time on Facebook: The average U.S. visitor spent 375 minutes on Facebook in May, compared with 231 minutes for Google.
Google Plus seems designed to make its online properties a pervasive part of the daily online experience, rather than being spots where Web surfers occasionally check in to search for a website or check email.
As with Facebook's service, Google Plus has a central Web page that displays an ever-updating stream of the comments, photos and links being shared by friends and contacts.
A toolbar across the top of most of Google's sites -- such as its main search page, its Gmail site and its Maps site - allows users to access their personalized data feed. They can then contribute their own information to the stream.
Google Plus will also offer a special video chat feature, in which up to 10 people can jump on a conference call. And Google will automatically store photos taken on cell phones on its Internet servers, allowing a Google Plus user to access the photos from any computer and share them.
When asked if he expected people to switch from Facebook to Google Plus, Google Senior Vice President of Engineering Vic Gundotra said people may decide to use both.
"People today use multiple tools. I think what we're offering here offers some very distinct advantages around some basic needs," he said.

Kashmir problem is Nehru's special gift to India: Advani

New Delhi, June 26 (IANS) As India and Pakistan restored peace talks over pending issues including Kashmir, veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Sunday slammed the country's first political family of late prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru whose 'lack of courage' led to the Kashmir issue remaining unresolved.
In the latest entry on his blog, http://blog.lkadvani.in, the BJP leader also slammed late chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah whose ambition to be the leader of independent Kashmir also contributed to the issue.
Advani said neither the government of Nehru in New Delhi nor the government of Abdullah in Srinagar believed that Jammu and Kashmir needed to be fully integrated into the Indian union.
'In the case of Abdullah, the problem was his ambition to become the unquestioned leader of a virtually independent Kashmir. In the case of Nehruji, it was a matter of lack of courage, firmness and foresight,' Advani said.
He said that Article 370, which gives a special status to Jammu and Kashmir in the Indian constitution, had 'emboldened' secessionist forces in the state to carry out their 'poisonous propaganda that (Kashmir's) accession to India is not final and that Kashmir, in particular, is not a part of India.'
Advani wrote that India had lost two opportunities to settle the issue once and for all with Pakistan -- one in the 1947 war when Nehru ruled the country and the other in the 1971 Bangladesh war when Nerhu's daughter Indira Gandhi was at the helm.
'Our countrymen should know that the Kashmir problem is Nehru family's special 'gift' to the nation,' he wrote in a sarcastic vein.
'Nehruji's blunder was totally avoidable. The consequences of this 'gift' are Pakistan's export of cross-border terrorism and religious extremism, thousands of lives of our security personnel and civilians and tens of thousands of crores of rupees spent on military and paramilitary defence.'
The BJP leader's comments come days after India and Pakistani in foreign secretary level talks in Islamabad discussed a range of issues relating to peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir and the promotion of trade.
Advani also warned against giving any autonomy to the state because 'the implications must be understood'.

First top ten and double score for Mahindra Racing

The Mahindra team was celebrating its best MotoGP result in the 125cc category so far at the Dutch TT today. In a race cut short by rain, both riders finished in the points – with 18-year-old Marcel Schrötter leading the team charge with a fine ninth place. The young German was still gaining places, finding extra inspiration as the track became more slippery with falling rain. Had the race been a lap longer, he would have been seventh. As it was, it was red-flagged on the 15th of 22 scheduled laps, with results taken from the end of lap 14.
Danny Webb finished 13th, the first time both riders have finished in the points in Mahindra’s first year in the highly competitive 125 class. The Indian-owned team is the only one on the 36-strong grid to make its own engine and chassis.
Speaking from Mumbai, where the Mahindra Group is headquartered, a satisfied team principal Mufaddal Choonia said: "This is an extremely proud moment for all of us at Mahindra. We have broken into the top 10 in just our sixth race. And what makes it more special is that both Marcel and Danny finished in the points. We have been working very hard to improve our bike over the last couple of months and I am glad to say that all that effort is gradually bearing fruit."
“I’m very happy with the progress, and with both riders,” added team manager Nicola Casadei. “Marcel has improved so much, and Danny was with him until he was forced out by another rider, and lost the slipstream. Also the bikes ran perfectly all weekend. Four or five races ago we were running around 20th. To have both bikes in the points is a good step towards our ultimate goal.’’
Marcel Schrotter who had ninth place said ``Danny and I both got a good start, but in the first three or four laps I made a couple of little mistakes and lost touch with the lead group. Then it started to rain a little, each lap a little bit more. I had a good feeling and I was closing up. I was trying to be fast but also safe: really concentrating. I gained some places, then I was behind two riders. I could have passed them for seventh, but I had no idea that the race would be stopped so I was waiting for a safe opportunity.’’
Danny Webb said ``The race was hard but the end result not so bad. At the beginning Marcel and I were with the front group and feeling comfortable ... but then another rider nearly hit me at the chicane and forced me to slow. After that I was stuck behind him: his bike was a little faster on the straight but he was slower in the corners, and the front guys got away. It was pretty frustrating – but the bike ran perfectly all weekend, and both me and Marcel were right up there. It’s proper progress.’’

Russian scientists expect to meet aliens by 2031

MOSCOW (Reuters Life!) - Russian scientists expect humanity to encounter alien civilizations within the next two decades, a top Russian astronomer predicted on Monday.

"The genesis of life is as inevitable as the formation of atoms... Life exists on other planets and we will find it within 20 years," Andrei Finkelstein, director of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Applied Astronomy Institute, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.
Speaking at an international forum dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial life, Finkelstein said 10 percent of the known planets circling suns in the galaxy resemble Earth.
If water can be found there, then so can life, he said, adding that aliens would most likely resemble humans with two arms, two legs and a head.
"They may have different colour skin, but even we have that," he said.

'UFO' spotted over LondonA 'UFO' has reportedly been spotted flying over London.

Finkelstein's institute runs a programme launched in the 1960s at the height of the Cold War space race to watch for and beam out radio signals to outer space.
"The whole time we have been searching for extraterrestrial civilisations, we have mainly been waiting for messages from space and not the other way," he said.

UFOsMost famous UFO? A mystery in Roswell 64 years ago still fascinates many. The Air Force says it was a crashed military craft -- but true believers insist that aliens landed in the New Mexico desert.

UK government leads world in web snooping, reveals Google

London, June 29 (ANI): Authorities in Britain are more likely to request details about internet users than in any other country, Google has revealed.
The online search engine's transparency report showed that in just six months, British intelligence agencies, police and other government bodies asked the company to hand over data 1,162 times, the Daily Mail reports.
When population sizes are taken into account, the figure puts Britain second in a table of 26 developed countries.
Singapore, which has been condemned by human rights groups for its authoritarian regime, topped the table while Australia came third with 345 requests and France came fourth with 1,021 requests.
The US was placed fifth in the table with 4,601 requests for information in the second half of last year, the paper said.
According to the paper, Britain asked Google to remove content 38 times, including one request by the Office of Fair Trading that more than 93,000 adverts linked to fraud were taken offline.
That compares to 118 content removal requests from Germany and 263 requests in Brazil, which topped the table.
Google has said that their report would shine some light on the appropriate scope and authority of government requests to obtain user data around the globe. (ANI)

Sakshat Tablet to be Launched in June 2011

The Sakshat tablet, which was once launched as the 1500 Rupee laptop will be launched sometime in June 2011, and been termed the Indian iPad, and MensXP.com gives you the Sakshat tablet specifications

Remember the Rs. 1500 Indian laptop? The one that got the world making fun of India in general and me never having faith in Kapil Sibal again?
The one that actually turned out to be an expensive storage device, and then somehow metamorphosed into a tablet?
It's being announced that the "Sakshat" (which sounds conspicuously dirty in Americanese), the $35 tablet codenamed 'Sakshat' is expected to launch by the end of this month.

While the Indian media is huffing up the desi-pride angle with talks of "Indian-iPad". there's very little for a complete tablet experience. And there's nothing desi about it; the tablet is made by Canadian firm Datawind Ltd.
The7-inch touchscreen tablet features a inbuilt keyboard, video conferencing facility, multimedia content, Wi-Fi, USB port, 32GB hard drive and a 2GB RAM. There's support for Open Office, SciLab and Internet browsing.

However, this means nothing for the aam-aadmi it was intended for, but there is a desi crop of real tablets worth checking out.
10,000 Sakshat tablets will be shipped to IIT Rajasthan by June-end, following by the launch of over 90,000 tablet units in the next 4 months.

Sakshat: Other Specifications

QWERTY keyboard, mouse and a minimum display of 7” colour LCD/TFT (touchscreen optional)
2 USB 2.0 ports and USB hosts
three hours
batteryless device
SD card slot (8GB expandable memory)
Support to connect LCD projector
Support for external hard disk drive (Minimum 32 GB)
Ethernet port
WLAN
80% shock resistant

While the tablets will be priced at Rs 2,200, there are reports of plans for later subsidies of 50%. The 1500 Rupee tablet might go for Rs. 1100, and has been developed as a part of the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology to bring together 25,000 colleges and 400 universities in the Asian subcontinent in an e-learning initiative. (MensXP.com)
Also read: Tips and Shortcuts Every BlackBerry User needs to Know, Why you Don't Need an iPhone 4: An Indian Perspective

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Cairo & Luxor & Aswan & Alexandria

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Day 1:

Arrival to Cairo airport, our representative will assist you & you will be transferred by a private A/C car to your hotelOvernight in Cairo.

Day 2:
Start your full day visiting the Egyptian Museum of antiquities. On display is a rare collection of 5000 years of art the largest most precious collection of Egyptian art in the world. Over 250,000 genuine artifacts are presented, including an exhibit dedicated to the Tutankhamen collection of treasures, gold, and jewelry, as it was enclosed in his tomb for over 3,500 years before it was discovered in the 1920s when his tomb was excavated. Visit the Great Pyramids – Cheops, Chephren & Mykerions. Cheops is the most colossal ever built. Next is a close-up look at Sphinx – a huge funeral complex guarded by the legendary lion body with the face of king Chephren. Transfers to the train station for your overnight Sleeper train to Luxor. Dinner on the train.Over night in Sleeper Train.

Day 3:
Breakfast on the train. Arrival to Luxor, meet & assist by our representatives and transfer to the Cruise. Boarding before Lunch. Lunch on board. Visit The Temple of Karnak & the Temple of Luxor.Excursion to the Luxor Temple to see its courtyard and the granite statues of Ramses the Great Proceed by carriage or bus to Karnak, which is a serious of temples built in different reigns. Starting by the Avenue of Sphinxes visit the Unfinished Propylon, the Hypostyle Hall with it’s 134 gigantic columns, the Obelisks of Queen Hatshepsut and Tuhtomosis III, the temple of Amon adorned with lotus and papyrus designs, the Granite Scarbeus of Amenophis III and the Sacred Lake.Afternoon tea. Dinner on board & Belly Dance show.Overnight in Luxor

Day 4:
Breakfast. Visit The West Bank – the Valley of the Kings, the Colossi of Memnon and The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El Deir El Bahari. Excursion to the Necropolis of Thebes, on the Eastern bank. Crossing the Nile, drive to the Valley of Kings; visit the tombs of various Dynasties, The Temple of Deir El Bahari. On the return journey stop at the Colossi of Memnon which are two gigantic sitting statues representing Amenophis III facing the Nile and visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Lunch on board. Sail to Esna. Afternoon Tea. Disco Party.(Optional) Hot Balloon: Should you want to make your stay in Luxor an unforgettable. Drifting peacefully over the Valley of King, Valley of the Queens and the Mountain on the Nobles.Overnight in Edfu.

Day 5:
Breakfast on board. Visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu. Sail to Kom Ombo. Lunch on board. Visit TheTemple Shared by the Two Gods Sobek & Haroeies in Kom Ombo. Afternoon Tea. Dinner on board & Galabya partyOvernight in Kom Ombo.

Day 6:
Breakfast on board. Sail to Aswan. Visit The High Dam, The Granite Quarries & the Temple of Philae Excursion drive to the High Dam. After its visit proceed to the Granite Quarries, the unfinished Obelisks, and Old Aswan Dam for a motor – boat excursion to the Temple of Philae Island.Lunch on board. Sail on the Nile by felucca around Kitchener’s island and Agha Khan Mausoleum. Afternoon Tea. Dinner on board.Overnight in Aswan.

Day 7:
Breakfast on board. Disembarkation. Free dayoptional not included& Departures by air-conditioned bus, to Abu Simbel visit the Temple of Abu Simbel back to Aswan, The colossal Temple of Abu Simbel built by Ramses II (XIXth. Dynasty) and lately saved from inundation of the Nile waters in among the glories of ancient Egyptian monuments. The temples were built out of a sandstone rock cliff, and representation of the deities to which each was dedicated is carved on its huge façade. Nearby, also saved, lies the small Temple of the King’s wife Nefertari, dedicated to the goddess Hathor.Transfer to the train station for your overnight sleeper train to Cairo. Dinner on the train.Overnight on sleeper train.

Day 8:
Breakfast on the train. Arrival to Cairo then transfer to Alexandria by A/C car, meet & assist by our local representative and transfer to the hotel. Check in. start your Trip Visiting the Roman Theater (A theater with marble seats up to 800 spectators, Galleries, Section of mosaic flooring & a pleasure garden surrounded by Roman Villas & baths). Then visit Pompay’s Pillar, Followed by Visiting Montaza Garden& Alexandria Library& Also from out side you will Visit Qaytbay Citadel & El Mursi Abu Elabas.Overnight stay in Alexandria.

Day 9:
Breakfast. Transfer to Cairo by A/C car. Arrival, meet and assist by our representatives. Transfer to your hotel.(Optional) Start your Full day Tour Sakkara is 27-Km Southwest of Cairo. Including a visit to the step Pyramids of Sakkara (The first proper Pyramids built for the king Zoser, it is considered evolution of the Pyramid from the simple Mastaba to the Pyramid in its known form) Followed by a visit to The Pyramids of Unas & Oser-Kaf the Mastaba. Tomb of Mereruka, Ti & Pta-Hotep (carved and painted tombs), Then Memphis the ancient capital of Egypt where Colossal Statue of Ramses II and the great Alabaster Sphinx. Then we visit the Old part of Cairo, as Egypt was one of the first countries to embrace Christianity. We visit The Church of Abu-Sergah and St. Barbara, The Hanging Church; we will also visit The Old Jewish Synagogue Ben Ezra Synagogue. (Optional) Dinner Cruise including transportation, dinner, Belly Dancer, Tanura Show.Overnight stay in Cairo.

Day 10:
Breakfast at the hotel our representative will transfer you to the airport and assist you at the airport through final departure formalities
Note: Cruise schedule may change due to some sailingreasons, We grantee that you will do the mentioned sights, but order may vary

Price per person :

Price per person in DBL roomThe Cruise Is Always 5 Star	3 Star Hotel	4 Star Hotel	5 Star Hotel
USD ($)	829	899	1029
Christmas & Easter	20%	20%	20%

Inclusions :

1 2 Nights hotel accommodation in Cairo on bed and breakfast basis.
2 1 Night hotel accommodation in Alexandria on bed and breakfast basis.
3 4 Nights on Cruise board (Luxor & Aswan) full board (sightseeing included).
4 2 Nights on sleeper train board, dinner and breakfast included.
5 All transfers in Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Aswan.
6 1 Full day tour in Cairo visiting the Pyramids, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum
7 1 Full day tour in Alexandria ultilingual expert Egyptologist guide.
8 All your tours and excursions are with A/C bus.
9 The service of meet and assist at all your destinations.
10 All your visits include entrance fees.
11 Our prices include all taxes and services.
12 Transfer by A/C Car: Cairo / Alexandria/ Alexandria / Cairo.

Not included:

1 Visa Entry for Egypt.
2 Tipping
3 Any Optional tours.

America's Dirtiest Cities

Can clean be overrated? America's dirtiest cities happen to include some very popular tourist destinations.

How do you define a city’s soul? For a lot of travelers, it’s in the dirt.

Atlanta ad exec Patrick Scullin, for instance, loves Baltimore—but not because it’s particularly pristine. “Yes, there’s litter, smokers, and graffiti,” he says, “but that’s just life going on. The air sometimes offends, but a cool breeze off the harbor can ease all worries. It’s a gem of a city.”

While such sentiments don’t appear in tourist brochures, that glorious grit has landed Baltimore in the Top 10 dirtiest cities, as chosen by Travel + Leisure readers in the annual America’s Favorite Cities survey. Of course, visitors gauge “dirty” in a variety of ways: litter, air pollution, even the taste of local tap water.

This year’s American State Litter Scorecard, published by advocacy group the American Society for Public Administration, put both Nevada and Louisiana in the bottom five—echoing the assessment of T+L readers who ranked Las Vegas and New Orleans among America’s dirtiest cities.

No. 1 New Orleans

Can you imagine the cleanup required after Mardi Gras? Both tourists and Mother Nature have sometimes been hard on the Crescent City, which readers voted the dirtiest in America. But that doesn’t stop the good times from rolling on. Voters embraced the city’s fun-loving spirit, ranking New Orleans first for its nightlife and eclectic people-watching.

No. 2 Philadelphia

Photo by: Kelly Kollar

No. 2 Philadelphia

The City of Brotherly Love was voted the fourth dirtiest city last year and just narrowly avoided the top slot for sloppy this time around. The locals may not be helping with those first impressions—they ranked near the bottom of the style category, as well as in the bottom five for being environmentally aware.

No. 3 Los Angeles

Photo by: iStock

No. 3 Los Angeles

That infamous rep for smog is tough to shake: the City of Angels, which is No. 3 for the second year in a row, continues to do poorly in national air-quality tests. AFC voters also put traffic-clogged Los Angeles in last place for being pedestrian-friendly and in the bottom three for overall quality of life.

No. 4 Memphis

Photo by: Gavin Hellier / Alamy

No. 4 Memphis

Nothing is tidy about barbecue or the blues, two of Memphis’s biggest tourist draws. This city on the banks of The Big Muddy has more to work on than dirtiness; it came in last place in the AFC for being environmentally friendly, as well as for feeling safe.

No. 5 New York City

Photo by: Kelly Bazely

No. 5 New York City

Last year’s dirtiest city is looking a little fresher these days. But AFC voters seem to champion New York because of its less-than-sterile vibe, and not in spite of it. There’s world-class culture, cool neighborhoods, and diverse locals. Just be prepared to pay for it: NYC ranked as the most expensive city in the nation.

No. 6 Baltimore

Photo by: Kelly Kollar

No. 6 Baltimore

The Inner Harbor is a crowd-pleaser, but AFC voters weren’t impressed by Charm City’s overall cleanliness or its more land-based features. Baltimore came in next-to-last place for its public parks, hotels, and even interesting people.

No. 7 Las Vegas

iStock

No. 7 Las Vegas

This is the No. 1 town for wild weekends, so it’s no surprise that Vegas makes it into the Top 10 for dirty disarray. Impressively, Sin City has actually improved its standing by two slots since last year. And if you’re willing to splurge, any semblance of grittiness may disappear: Vegas scored No. 1 for luxury hotels and No. 2 for both luxury shopping and big-name restaurants.

No. 8 Miami

Photo: iStock

No. 8 Miami

AFC voters loved Miami’s bar scene and its upscale dining, but all that hoopla takes its toll on a person—and on a city. AFC voters ranked the Florida hot spot poorly not only for cleanliness but for safety.

No. 9 Atlanta

Photo by: iStock

No. 9 Atlanta

Many cities that made the dirtiest Top 10 scored well for having a vivid nightlife, cool neighborhoods, or great live music. Alas, Atlanta couldn’t claim any of those in the survey. At least the city has its quality—and sloppy—barbecue going for it.

No. 10 Houston

Photo by: iStock

No. 10 Houston

This oil town could stand a green makeover, according to AFC voters. Its cleanliness score worsened by four spots since last year. The general vibe left AFC voters wanting, too. They ranked Houston near the bottom for its parks and weather. The city’s collective ego can take great pride in one thing: it topped the AFC charts for its juicy (and no doubt messy) burgers.

Investment in mutual funds and their types

If you plan to invest your money in mutual funds or have already plunged into the market with little research, you must read this. To begin with, you must understand the concept of mutual funds. Mutual funds collect money from investors and invest these funds in different avenues in order to earn money. Since the volume of transaction is high, mutual funds enjoy the benefit of lower transaction costs. Further, investors automatically get a diversified portfolio with mutual fund investments. This is because fund houses invest money in different sectors, different companies and different types of investments. So, if you are a novice to the stock markets, mutual funds are a better option for you.
How well a mutual fund does largely depends upon the performance of companies in which its funds have been invested. So, before choosing a mutual fund you have to understand the companies that these funds are investing in. Mutual funds are basically categorized into three: Small Cap, Mid Cap and Large Cap. Most fund houses offer products in all three categories.
Cap stands for capitalization. It is the market value of the total shares of a company. So, you can get the market cap of a company by multiplying the total number of shares by its current market price. As the name suggests, small cap funds invest in companies that have small market capitalization. Small, mid and large are relative terms and each fund house decides the limit for themselves. Some fund houses relate their cap with BSE cap index. For example, a small cap fund invests a majority of its funds( 65 - 100 percent) in companies whose market cap are lower than or equal to the market capitalization of the stock in BSE Cap Small Cap Index with the largest capitalization.
What you should know though is which funds are good for you? The answer to that question depends upon your appetite for risk and the current market situation. Small cap and mid cap funds are generally considered to be riskier than large cap funds. This is because the former invest in startups and smaller, less established companies while the latter mostly invest in blue chip, reputed companies.
Small and mid cap companies have a larger potential to grow hence they promise greater returns on your investment. Start ups generally fall in this category and offer the opportunity of greater capital appreciation. Here there is potential for high returns but they are unpredictable too. Large cap companies have generally established their growth and have stable, predictable pattern of returns.
Small and mid cap companies have the ability to instantly react to market situations. Large companies with tiered management may not have that ability built into their system. Hence, small and mid cap funds can react faster to market opportunities. However, they are more volatile too compared to large cap funds.
The advantage of large cap funds is that they invest in reputed companies with large profits. Hence the probability of regular returns is high! However, since these companies are giants in their sector, they are also priced higher. Further, they have a greater ability to stand thick in bad economic times.
Sundaram BNP Paribas Select Midcap, Kotak Indian Mid Cap Fund and HSBC Midcap Equity Fund are some of the popular mid cap funds in India. HDFC Top 200, Kotak 30, Reliance Growth Fund and UTI Large Cap Fund are some of the large cap funds. BNP Sundaram Paribas, HSBC Small Cap Fund etc are some of the notable small cap funds in India.

The keys to successful investing

A trust that pools the savings of a number of investors sharing a common financial goal: that is the simple definition of a mutual fund. And those who manage these funds know money is made only in the long term.
Does that contradict economist John Maynard Keynes who said: "The long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead"? Take the case of Reliance Growth Fund, an open-ended equity fund where investments grew 46 times in 15 years. Sunil Singhania, Head of Equities at Reliance Mutual, advocates long-term investing as a key to wealth creation.
What does one do when the external environment is choppy? Stay put and not get swayed by fear or greed, says Singhania, winner of Best Fund Manager award under Equity India category.
Take the great fall of 2008. From its peak of 21,206.77 in January 2008, the Sensex tanked to 8,000 levels by October. There was wholesale withdrawal of funds and mutual funds were no exception. But those who stayed put ultimately benefitted. Indeed fund managers believe that such slumps should not be seen as threats, but as opportunities.
"Every sharp fall is an opportunity to pick up quality stocks," says Singhania. The key to successful investing is picking the right stocks and ensuring they continue to add value. The secret of beating the markets, says Chirag Setalvad, Senior Fund Manager at HDFC Mutual fund, is: "Stay within acceptable risk levels and invest in quality companies." Setalvad is winner of Best Fund Manager award under Mixed Asset INR Balanced category.
HDFC MF's Prashant Jain, winner of Best Fund Manager award under Mixed Asset INR Aggressive category, is an advocate of long-term investing as well. Markets can move away from fundamentals in the short-to-medium term. "But in the long run, prices come to where they deserve to be," says Jain. Hot and volatile sectors should either be avoided or their stock movements watched very closely. In the bull run of 2007, for instance, Jain did not venture into realty, power utilities or select non-banking financial service companies. But neither did he panic during the downturn. "We did not go in cash when the markets bottomed out," he says. His fund stayed fully invested when the Sensex dropped sharply.
Life is simpler for a balanced fund manager than it is for those of pure equity or debt funds. A balanced fund has a cushion with its equity-debt blend, which others do not. A hike in interest rate by one per cent will have a five per cent impact on the portfolio, says Jain. During the 2008 crisis, even government securities showed four to five per cent intraday volatility.
"That was a cumulative of two years' volatility with the entire capital at risk," recalls Abhishek Bisen, Fund Manager at Kotak Mutual Fund, who won the Best Fund Manager award under the Bond Indian Rupee category along with Deepak Agrawal.
For bond funds, explains Agrawal, the fund size increases with a decline in interest rates and maintaining liquidity during such a situation is critical. For Kotak Bond Fund, the split between corporate bonds and government securities is 50:50. In the aftermath of the crisis, the fund opted to buy corporate and public sector bonds with a residual maturity of five and 10 years, respectively.
"Government securities add alpha while corporate bonds contribute to accrual," says Agrawal. Alpha refers to returns adjusted for risk. The last few years have also blown the old hypothesis that there is low degree of correlation between asset classes. "We have to deal with linkages of asset classes," says Amandeep Singh Chopra, Head of Fixed Income at UTI Mutual Fund and winner of Best Fund Manager award under the Mixed Asset INR Conservative category. "The job of a fund manager is to beat the markets," sums up Jain of HDFC MF. And that comes from the long term.

Tips to become an investing expert!

We all know that investing in equities is the key to build long-term wealth and become rich. However it is important to remember that not all stocks are created equal. While mid and small caps do have the potential to generate high returns, large caps do offer stability to your portfolio. But it does not mean you should ignore any of these stocks. So it is essential that you should benefit from the high growth offered by mid and small caps while enjoying the stability offered by the large caps.

Use these useful tips to become a master of stock market investing.
Be strict with your stop loss: It means when you are losing money, cut your losses and get out of the market. Similarly, if you are on a winning spree, setting a proper stop loss will protect your profits when the stock markets start going down.
Learn whenever you suffer a loss: We lose money in the market due to our mistakes. Find out where you went wrong and ensure you don't repeat it.
Avoid greed: It is easy to put money in a dud stock just because it is going up. But remember this price rise is due to market manipulation rather than any genuine change in the company's financial situation.

Avoid leveraging: Many people borrow heavily from others in order to maximize their profits. Though this may work in certain instances, it can also cause massive losses if the market cycle turns. This can lead to financial as well as mental stress, and can lead to destruction of family lives as well as suicides in certain instances.
Don't act if you are not sure which way the stock markets will move: In such instances, it is better to be a passive onlooker instead of participating in the market action.
Read a lot: There are many good books on investing available on the subject. Always keep on updating your knowledge. Also follow thoughts and opinions given by respected investors like Warren Buffet, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala etc. It will expand your knowledge and help you tackle any market situation comfortably.
Limit the number of stocks: Ensure your holding comprises not more than 20 stocks. Also ensure these stocks are from companies operating in different sectors to protect your portfolio from losing its value.
Don't use various investment strategies: If you are comfortable with buy and hold strategy, use the same one for all your stocks. Otherwise you might be confused with which strategy actually helps you make money.
Remain patient and disciplined, whatever the market condition: If the markets are crashing don't get out of the market, but wait for the market to go up. Also don't continue to invest in the stock, simply because it is going up.

Choose stocks as per your risk profile instead of the returns they generate: If you are not comfortable with the high volatility of the small and mid-caps, don't invest in them simply because they offer high returns.
Investing in equities is an enriching experience, both financially and intellectually. However it is a long-term process. Follow the tips above to ensure you get the most out of your stock market investments.

Actor Madhavan: "I didn’t want a 9 to 5 job!"

An electronics engineer, actor and producer R Madhavan speaks about life on and off the camera to Lata Khubchandani.

From TV to films, his career has been on a consistent upswing. A trained electronics engineer with passions like aero modeling and skiing, communicating and public speaking, Indian actor, writer, film producer and TV host R Madhavan is making the best of both worlds - life and his profession. Living life on ones own terms and still doing what is best for everyone around him, he share’s his tips with Lata Khubchandani, on living life optimally.
Q. What did you want to do, when in school?
A. I was aware of what I didn’t want to do – a 9 to 5 job! I didn’t want to stick to a routine.
Q. Why did you take up engineering then?
A. To satisfy my family’s protocol.
Q. How did education mould your sensibilities?
A. I had the good fortune of finishing my education across the world - Bihar, Kolhapur Canada, USA. I learnt how to fit into different groups. The lifestyle in Canada during high school was westernised. Kolhapur (engineering) was totally different. But I fitted in and achieved more here than in Canada. I took up public speaking, won a lot of competitions. A friend and I would decide, which competitions to enter depending on the prize money!
Q. Were your parents upset?
A. I got the Electronics Engineering Degree with a lot of hard work but when I didn’t take it up as a career, they were disappointed but not heartbroken. They knew I was a survivor. I was earning Rs. 60,000 to 70,000 a month teaching public speaking and communication skills in college. Plus I had been abroad so many times on so many scholarships including as an NCC cadet that they knew I’d be okay.
Q. Any memorable incidents while growing up?
A. On Republic Day, as an NCC cadet I was running a 40 km race. So, my commanding officer Colonel Sarkar, also my favourite teacher, stationed a truck 40 km away. When we reached, he’d move it further and further away till we were exhausted, cheesed off too! Finally we reached and Colonel Sarkar said, “Now you know that exhaustion can’t kill you. Only a bullet can.” Some lessons in life can only be learnt by going through them.
Q. Tell us about the dark side of acting if there is one…
A. When the slide down happens, the grace which is required to accept this, very few people have it…to know how to quit gracefully when you are not wanted.
Q. Any advice to youngsters about this profession [acting]?
A. I would certainly advice people to take it up. But if think it’s about money and glamour…no! You have to have enough life experience to be a good actor and enough God-given charm so that the public accepts you. If you can join the profession without the fear of not making it you might just make it.
Q. How do you cope with failure?
A. Exactly the same way that I cope with my successes. It affects me for that one day. It’s exactly like that with my films – whether it’s a hit or a flop I am euphoric or disappointed for that one day. Then I would completely move on.

The best way to boost your career – Executive MBA

In this world of cut throat competition, it is important to learn every new thing. The professionals already employed in big companies and earning high salaries have turned back to studies, thanks to globalization that more big companies need professionals with management skills and leadership qualities Unitedworld has attempts to hone these skills in professionals from various fields, with a 18 months programme of masters in business management. The curriculum is designed to fit the international business perspective. The professionals are trained in both the academics as well as the soft skills, which gives them a cutting edge, in this highly competitive world.

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Career in Agricultural Engineering

Career in Agricultural Engineering
Introduction

Agricultural engineering is an engineering discipline that applies engineering science and technology to agricultural production and processing. Agricultural engineering deals the activities which are related to agriculture and horticulture activities, like manufacturing of agricultural products, biogas technology, new technological inventions, improving farm structure, agriculture and horticulture for smooth functioning and efficient increase of food productivity, improvement in agriculture farm machinery, rural electrification, and conservation of soil and water are the tasks of an Agricultural Engineer.

The Field

Agricultural engineers apply knowledge of engineering technology and biological science to agriculture. They design agricultural machinery and equipment and agricultural structures. They develop ways to conserve soil and water to improve the processing of agricultural products.

Why this subject

Agricultural Engineering is a fairly known subject; its effect is being felt worldwide increasingly.
Agricultural engineers manage living things and life-giving resources. Agriculture plays a vital role to maintain our environmental Greens. Agricultural engineering addresses the interaction between man-made elements and the earth's living things, this subject makes the complete study to understand how to develop the agriculture and horticulture process of life sustaining resources like soil, water, plants, animals this subject is made of pure ideal of those students who wants to make career in this field. Almost every university has this subject in their academic course.

Requirements

Prospective agricultural engineers should be proficient in Mathematics and Physical Science since the application of these is important to all engineers. They must also work well with people, be creative, have an analytical mind and a capacity for detailing. The ability to speak more than one language is an advantage. They should have a keen interest in agricultural activities and recognize a challenge to improve agricultural production by means of better engineering methods and equipment.

Job Opportunities

Demand for agricultural engineers is supposed to multiply almost as quickly as the demand for all other occupation. The increasing demand for agro-products, the efforts toward attaining greater efficiency in the agricultural industry and the emphasis of conservation of scare resources would result in higher job opportunities in this sector. Also, additional jobs will be created by agricultural engineers who leave the profession due to retirement and transfers.


Pay Scale

The median earnings of agricultural engineering professional is $50,700 annually, salary survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers projected that agricultural engineers with a bachelor’s degree receive salaries averaging $42,987 annually and those with a master’s degree receive $54,000 on an average.So, to discuss and for further information you can log at www.eastudymasters.com or you can connect with us through social med

India's Top 50 Engineering Colleges 2011

Heavily dominated by public institutions, the top-50 listing is a roll call of excellence India’s top 50 engineering institutions 2011

Ranking the top colleges is a very difficult task. While it is relatively easy to create clusters of colleges, it is differentiating within clusters that became the most difficult exercise. So for the first time in the country we have used balanced scorecard methodology to arrive at the ranking of the top 50 colleges. Ranking methodology: We scanned the last five year rankings of about 241 colleges and normalised their ranks, by assigning differential weights to subjective and objective ranking. Such a process is used to develop clusters of institutions. The research standing of individual institutions were further used to refine the clusters and remove the odd men out. Individual clusters were ranked serially. In each of these clusters the differences in cut-off marks, wherever possible (like in case of IITs and AIEEE institutes and some States) were used to arrive at individual ranks. Heavily dominated by public institutions, the top-50 listing is a roll call of excellence India’s top 50 engineering institutions 2011

Does social networking help get jobs?

Gone are the days when the our very own consultant was the only option to find a good job. Nowadays employers are looking for job aspirants on social networking sites. And even the head hunters go on the likes of Linkedin to look for the right candidate. Do you think students should have their profiles on professional networking sites? Do you have your profile on such a site? Si it helping you? Tell us, respond to this post.

3 Everyday Food Ingredients That Make You Fat

Hidden sources of fat include Monosodium Glutamate, Sugar and sugar substitutes as they act like neurotoxins and cause a surplus of carbohydrates in the body, as well as cause cravings for sugar













There's a lot of ingredients in your food whose name you can't even pronounce. Those chemicals, disguised as food in your nutrition label are the tricky uns worth thinking about - most calorie-loaded loads are always rich in chemical additives, preservatives and artificial ingredients.
However, there's also the simpler everyday villains in your pantry.
MensXP.com tells you about the simple things in your food that will make you fat.

Monosodium Glutamate

Known as MSG, or Ajinomoto (the name of the company that produces it), Monosodium Glutamate is described as the "essence of taste". And if your potato chips are flavored, they contain MSG. MSG tells your brain that the food you are eating is tasty by exciting your brain cells. It also enters your brain that is known to correlate to obesity and other disorders (including short height and sexual issues)
Which in turn will makes you fat.
Secondly, it may also increase your pancreatic insulin, another reason behind obesity.
Directly injecting MSG into rats has increased their appetite and induce obesity.
What contains MSG: Maggi Noodles, along with a lot of other packaged noodles. MSG awareness is the reason behind the "MSG-free" you might see on new "Health soups"It's also in your chips, your salad dressing, It goes by names like Accent, 'Aginomoto, 'Natural Meat Tenderiser, Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein, and is in ALL your fast food (especially McDonalds and KFC)

Sugar

Sugar, especially of the refined variety is not good for you. It's carbs which you may not burn, and it also spikes your appetite. On nutrition labels, it might be named as flour, corn syrup, dextrose,Carob powder, Dextrose, Fructose, Fruit juice concentrate, Maltose.
"Most people probably have no idea how much sugar they're taking in," said Jo Ann Hattner, a San Francisco registered dietitian who teaches nutrition courses at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Sugar, by itself isn't bad. It's too much of it - more than 12 teaspoons a day. With your nutrition label in front of you, remember that 4 gram = 1 teaspoonful of sugar. This should include your daily consumption of juice, chocolate, lemonade, biscuits, and even your ketchup (yes!). Incidentally, if you eat ketchup everyday, you might be eating close to 200 grams of sugar every week.

Sugar Substitutes

If sugar is bad for you, surely an alternative to sugar won't be? Right?
Wrong!
Aspartame, responsible for "over 75% of adverse reactions reported to the US Food And Drug Administration…" is present in anything that begins with 'Diet' or substitutes sugar, including Diet Pepsi, Diet Coke, Nutrasweet, Equal, Chewing gum, breath mints
Aspartame causes carbohydrate cravings - specifically cravings for the sugar content. (MensXP.com)
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Management Tip of the Day: Ways to Turn Around Your Performance

No one likes to be an underperformer. But failing to meet expectations doesn't have to be the end of the world. Harvard Business Review says there are specific ways to turn things around.The Management Tip of the Day offers quick, practical manage…

No one likes to be an underperformer. But failing to meet expectations doesn't have to be the end of the world. Harvard Business Review says there are specific ways to turn things around.

The Management Tip of the Day offers quick, practical management tips and ideas from Harvard Business Review and HBR.org (http:\\www.hbr.org). Any opinions expressed are not endorsed by Reuters.
"No one likes to be an underperformer. Yet, failing to meet expectations doesn't have to feel like the end of the world. Follow these three steps to turn your poor performance around:
1. Accept it and ask for help. Don't be defensive. If the data show you are underperforming, accept it and ask for help to get better. Ask others to share insights about how you can improve.
2. Understand the underlying cause. Do you not have the right skills? Are you uninterested in the work? Whatever it is, get to the bottom of what's causing you to come up short.
3. Commit to change. Identify what it is you need to do differently and ask those around you to keep you accountable."
-Today's management tip was adapted from "Help! I'm an Underperformer," by Amy Gallo.

Google Quietly Launched +1 Globally

Google +1 is Google's way of getting social and beyond the mistake that was Google Buzz, and getting strong in the Google vs Facebook war by fighting the social network with a version of their own Like button

Back in December 2010, Google was reported to be toying around with a new social product ‘+1’ that was going to be like Facebook's Like button. This would make Google’s second attempt to expand their presence into social.
Today Google officially launched ‘+1’ as an opt-in social feature that resides on your Google searches. Simply share your google searches with your friends or everybody on the web. It gets better; Google, through +1 also seems to be rolling out social ads, which means users can recommend ads (or +1)

The +1 button h6

It’s a small +1 button that will sit next to all Google searches. If you like the result, you click +1 button & BINGO! This gets shared with your social circle & the rest of the web.

Social +1 Ads

So if Facebook is equal to social, this google’s new initiative is positioned to be social +1. The “social search” if u may call it, works with google ads as well. So’ lets say you like an ad and think that it may be useful for your friends, click +1 & highlight.
Will we ever end up using this ? We @ MensXP wonder!

The +1 data is public

This is where it gets slightly confusing. Google’s Matt Cutts in a recent statement made it very clear that +1 data is public. At the same time the + 1 button is positioned as a simple tool that lets users share with their social circles. This is confusing because Google isn’t really a social network. According to us @ MensXP, +1 would certainly enhance search results, and aggregated +1 data on Google India searches very shortly may perhaps highlight better search results.
While Google's social adventures (Google Buzz, Google Wave) were catastrophic, a soft-launch for +1 may help their social image issues.

+1 on MensXP.com?

For now, MensXP.com will not have a +1 button. Google seems to be taking things slow, and isn't releasing +1 for for publishers just as yet. But hold on to MensXP for India’s 1st rollout.

+1 on the Internet

Users may expect that google will be moving cautiously with this. Dont expect +1 smeared around your favourite websites just as yet. Come it will, but SLOWLY. Google expects the social search to be the eminent future of search. Since the roll out for +1 will be slow for bloggers & other content sites relying completely on “well done SEO” google just might be giving you a whole new set of tools to play with. (Just when you thought your content became social with the facebook like button & the retweet button) Are we likely to see a whole new industry “SSO- Social Search Optimization” come about ? MensXP is not sure of +1 being the answer to social search. Yet we remain positive.
Is +1 going to be Google’s magic number ? (MensXP.com)

Top 10 Green Choices to Improve your Life

Incessant urbanization is causing unprecedented damage to the environment It's time to go green now. It would not only contribute to the betterment of the planet, butwould also bring out a better man in you.

The planet is becoming complicated by each passing. We have over a billion people in the country snug.

Resources are scarce. Pollution levels have hit the roof. The noise and the crowd in the city intimidate us. Many countries are dying to get those goddamn nuclear weapons. Natural disasters keep visitng us every now and then. Meanwhile, you have enough problems just trying to remember your girlfriend's birthday. Amidst the entire mad urbanization spree we're on, the environment is being utterly disregarded.
It's time to go green now. And it would not only contribute to the betterment of the planet, it would also bring out a better man in you.
Here are top 10 green choices that will perk up your life. They're easy and effective, and each will make you a better man

10 Try Ecotourism

Aren't you bored from living in your city since ages? And then you're planning a trip to Dubai! It's time to connect with the nature and move away a bit from the “urban”. India has a number of good ecotourism spots. The Kumaon and the Garhwal regions in Uttarakhand and then there's HImcahal and Jammu and Kashmir. Down south, we have Nilgiri Hills and Kerala. And many more. Explore. Pack your bags. And make the move. During the trip, try and interact with the locals. You can find out about the flora and fauna of the region.

9: Get a Cool Travel Mug

Do you have any idea about how many paper cups get wasted each day in the offices in Delhi alone? The number would be in lakhs. And not all cups are made of recycled paper. It's time to upgrade to a stainless steel travel mug. It will be leak proof, durable and would retain more heat than paper.

8: It's Time for CFLs

There were times when compact fluorescent lamps used to be scarce. Even if you managed to find one, the price was extortionate. But that's history now. If you are studying under that age-old Philips 100 W bulbs, you need to come of age. You will be consuming (not you personally, but the bulb) a hell lot of energy rather than helping in energy conservation. CFLs have come way down in price, and their performance is on par with or even better than incandescent ones in terms of light quality. The best thing - they use 70% less energy.

7: Eat Local, Seasonal Food

We are generation obsessed with McDonals and Pizza Hut. People have forgotten local delicacies and seasonal foods. Eating local, seasonal foods means your body will be in tune with the environment. Also, if you procure stuff from the locals, farmers etc. you would be helping them in earning a livelihood and most probably save a lot of money for yourself. Lay a lot of emphasis on seasonal fruits and vegetables and resist the usual junk - burgers, fries, sandwiches etc.

6: Organic Underwear

Underwear is a good place to start when it comes to switching to eco-friendly apparel. The very idea of wearing that underwear made of plastic fibres in a factory with a chimney is er…disconcerting to say the least. You would be making your due contribution to the environment protection by bidding those harmful bleaching chemicals goodbye.

5 Keep Walking

For Good Lord's sake get rid of that habit of hopping on to you mobike for going the local shopping centre which is barely 100 meters away. Stop vrooming your SUVs for visiting a friend who lives in the next block. Walking down to nearby destination would be a great thing to do. Not only would it help in saving fuel, it would also let you stay healthy. It'll also save you money, open your world up to new places and give you time to reflect on life

4: Plunge into the 'Car Pool'

Rather than driving to your office/college in your sedan all by yourself, try going for a car pool. You have no idea how much fuel you can save this way. Besides, it would be an interesting drive. You guys can interact, indulge in meaningless blabber or even groove to the music. This way you wouldn't even mind the distance and traffic snarls. And of course, this will strengthen the bond of friendship.

3 Organic Wine

Organic foods are gradually becoming a mainstream food culture. You love the glitzy wine but please stop for a minute to ponder upon the fact that grapes, just like any other crop, require pesticides and chemicals to mass production. Now would you like to sip those darn chemicals by the candlelight? Organic wine is the solution to all this.

2 Go Paperless

From regular emails and discount coupons, from credit card bills to utility bills, everything can be managed online. Save paper, spare the trees and save the environment. Not only would you reduce the clutter around you, managing of all this stuff would become a lot easier.

1: The Veg Surprise

According to a 2006 United Nations initiative, the livestock industry is one of the largest contributors to environmental degradation worldwide, and modern practices of raising animals for food contributes on a "massive scale" to deforestation, air and water pollution, land degradation, loss of topsoil, climate change, the overuse of resources including oil and water, and loss of biodiversity. Turn into a veggie and make your valuable contribution in protecting the planet. (MensXP.com)

 

 

Six Foods to Help you Have Great Sex

MensXP tells you six great aphrodisiac foods. Devour them to add some zing to your sex life.

They say sex is a great stressbuster. They are right because love-making has been found to relive the pressure of the burdens of life, ease stress, soothe chronic aches and pains, spur creativity and rev up the energy levels.
Experts say that anything that makes you feel good, alive and physically excited will make you feel as if you've shed years. And all these things are associated with sex.
You are probably aware of the basics of terrific sex, but let us suggest you a few aphrodisiacs which can add zing to your sex life.
Figs have been found to be brimming with minerals like magnesium, manganese and zinc and also Vitamin E. All of them can do wonders to spice up your sex life.

The flashy-red watermelons contain a substance called citrulline, which sends the body the signals to release arginine, which relaxes blood vessels. This produces an effect similar to Viagra. And need we give you details about what Viagra does?

You've tried whiskly, you've tried wine but didn't feel the buzz. Pick a bottle of champagne and feel the difference. It enters the bloodstream faster than the wine does, so make sure you don't drink too much of it. Many champagnes have been found to have the same amount of antioxidants as red wine.

The Red Hot Chilli Peppers can bring out the hotness in you. They help recreate the symptoms of arousal: flushed cheeks, a quiver on your tongue, and more kissable lips. They also up the heat in the body.

Cheese releases 10 times more endorphins than the great ol' aphrodisiac - Chocolate. It will help you set the right mood.
Chocolate has been your trusted friend when it comes to having a great sex. You just need to maintain the bond. Its aphrodisiac property has been ascribed to two chemicals. One, tryptophan, which is the building block of serotonin, a brain chemical involved in sexual arousal. And two, phenyethylamine, a stimulant.
So the kind of food we gorge upon can do wonders with our sex life. Right food can make you positively sexual. (MensXP.com)

Sex begins in the kitchen

A diet rich in olive oil and almonds can enhance potency, drive and fertility. While green olives make men more virile, black ones increase a woman's sex drive.…

Oil is Well

A diet rich in olive oil and almonds can enhance potency, drive and fertility. While green olives make men more virile, black ones increase a woman's sex drive.

Layers of Pleasure

They may smell bad, but onions can work magic in your sex life. Peel off the white layer, crush and fry in pure butter. This is an excellent aphrodisiac tonic if taken regularly with a spoon of honey on empty stomach.

O for orgasms

Oranges and lemons have anti-oxidant effects. They help protect the sex organs, keep them working smoothly, and enhance arousal, sensitivity as well as orgasms.

Tropical Delight

Bananas can ignite passion in the bedroom. How? They contain bromelain, an enzyme believed to stimulate the male libido. Rich in potassium and B vitamins (particularly riboflavin), they're good for testosterone production.

The Nuts and Bolts of Better Sex

Ignore peanuts at your peril. They have all the zinc you need to perk up your sex life. Low zinc levels can lead to poor libido in women and low sperm count in men. The mineral also builds sex hormones. Nuts are generally good for sexual wellness.

Beans There Do That

Good for sexual stimulation, soyabean products contain chemicals that resemble the female hormone oestrogen. They also help protect against prostate and other cancers by preventing tumour growth.

Dates are Dandy

Their frequent use is said to be a factor behind the abundant libido of Middle-Eastern men. Soak them in honey if you are looking for a libido booster. An excellent source of iron, it also strengthens the ovulation process in women.

Beauty of the Indian Monsoons

Major quakes strike in Pacific off Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - A major earthquake of 7.4 magnitude struck in the Pacific Ocean more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) west of Anchorage on Thursday, prompting a brief tsunami warning for part of the remote Aleutian Islands chain.
No damage or injuries were reported. The warning, which extended for roughly 800 miles (1,300 km) -- from Unimak Pass, northeast of Dutch Harbor, westward to Amchitka Pass, west of Adak Island -- was canceled after a little more than an hour.

A tsunami wave measuring just 6 centimetres tall was recorded at Nikolski, a tiny Aleut village on the island of Umnak, and a 10-centimeter wave was observed at Adak, said Becki Legatt, a spokeswoman for the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska.
The coast of the entire Alaska peninsula and all of the Alaska mainland were never considered to be threatened.
The quake struck shortly after 7 p.m. local time (0300 GMT) at a depth of about 25 miles (40 km). A second tremor of magnitude 7.2 hit in the same vicinity of the Aleutians a half-minute later, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Quakes of 7 to 8 magnitudes and higher are relatively common in the Aleutians but are generally of little consequence because the island chain is so remote and sparsely populated.
"This is a very seismically active area," said Randy Baldwin, a USGS geophysicist with the National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colorado.
A tsunami warning means all coastal residents in the warning area who are near the beach or in low-lying regions should move immediately to higher ground and away from harbors and inlets, including those sheltered directly from the sea.

Indian cow, buffalo breeds give healthier milk: Research

New Delhi, June 26 (PTI) Indian cow and buffalo breeds possess a rich A2 allele gene that provides a better and healthier quality of milk than foreign breeds, according to a new study.
"The A2 allele gene in Indian milk breeds of cows and buffalos are 100 per cent, while in foreign breeds, it is around 60 per cent," scientists of the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) have said in a report.
Furthermore the frequency of this allele in Indian milk breeds is 1.0 (100 per cent), while in exotic breeds, it has been reported to be nearly 0.6 (60 per cent) or less, they added.
Set up in 1984, NBAGR is an arm of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and is based in Karnal, Haryana.
The finding was arrived at after screening the status of the A2 allele of the beta casein gene in indigenous cows like Red Sindhi, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Rathi and Gir etc, NBAGR Director B K Joshi said.
"The counter allele to A2 is A1, which is considered to be associated with diabetic, obesity, cardiovascular diseases etc," added Joshi.
"Although the foreign breeds of cows produce more milk than Indian varieties, but due to more concentration of A1 gene in those breeds, the milk is of low quality," the report said, adding that the long-term use of such milk may cause several health disorders.
The scientists scanned 22 breeds of Indian cows and found that in five milk yielding Indian cows -- Red Sindhi, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Rathi and Gir -- the status of the A2 allele was 100 per cent, while in other Indian breeds used for farming, its status was around 94 per cent, Joshi added.
The scientists also scanned the status of this allele in the two most popular foreign breeds in India, Holstein Friesian and Jersey, in which the status of the A2 allele was 60 per cent only.