All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.    VBA's Positive News Canada: Prosperity allows Edmonton to chart a clean, green future Faced with the prospect of an empty site in the middle of the city, with 300 acres of land ready to be developed, a lot of municipal governments would have seen nothing but dollar signs. Edmonton pictured families. The City Centre Redevelopment plan, scheduled to break ground in 2014, is an ambitious project that will turn what is now a functioning airport into a carbon-neutral residential neighbourhood for as many as 30,000 people.   UK: Crime hits 23 year low as murders plummet According to UK's Office for National Statistics, crime is at its lowest level for more than two decades due to homes and cars being more secure. Murders and other killings also fell to a 30-year low last year, possibly driven by a decline in domestic violence. Home Office figures in January showed incidents of domestic violence at their lowest for six years.    .     Solar powered government buildings coming for Barbados Barbados will shortly be replacing almost all its public street lights with energy efficient lamps, retrofitting at least 12 government buildings with solar power systems, and deploying energy efficiency and conservation technologies throughout the public sector. On a pilot basis, the programme will establish a government fleet of electric vehicles with charging dock stations and its own solar power system. Viet Nam: A green economy, why not? Vietnamese scientists believe that Viet Nam has all conditions needed to develop a green economy, urging the government to take the actions right now to lay the cornerstone for the Vietnamese green economy. Being a developing economy, Viet Nam has been obtaining great achievements in economic growth, hunger elimination, and poverty reduction over the last 25 years. However, scientists have affirmed that Viet Nam needs a sustainable economic development with high growth quality, saying that a green economy is what Viet Nam needs to strive for.        Video of the Day:

World Round-Up

Political + NCP to pull out, give outside support        Even as a member of the Congress Core Group that met on Friday evening at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s residence to discuss the crisis arising out of a rift with the party’s most reliable ally, Nationalist Congress Party, told journalists that “all matters stand settled,” the NCP decided to pull out of the UPA government and support from outside. NCP leaders Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel informed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that they were resigning from the government to protest against the way the Congress had treated their party. In a separate communication, they wrote to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, informing her that the NCP would support the government from outside. Meanwhile, in the past 24 hours — after it became known that the NCP was upset with the Congress — the party has gone into overdrive to mollify its junior partner from Maharashtra. Mr. Pawar met Dr. Singh on Thursday evening and Ms. Gandhi on Friday morning, and both urged him not to press his resignation. Through the day, the Prime Minister made a conciliatory statement about Mr Pawar, one that was echoed a few hours later by Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi. “Sharad Pawar is a very valued colleague of mine,” Dr. Singh told PTI, stressing, “whose knowledge, wisdom and experience are a great asset to our government.” Mr. Dwivedi said: “Mr. Pawar is a very senior and respected colleague and leader, whom we hold in high esteem.” He added that he was sure that whatever differences existed between the two parties would be resolved through dialogue. In the letters to the Prime Minister and Ms. Gandhi, Mr. Pawar has said the NCP would like to keep out of the government and focus on its growth since it is small, and elections are approaching. In his discussions with the two leaders, he raised lack of coordination within the UPA and the fact that the Congress did not think it necessary to discuss governance issues with its allies. After his meeting with Ms. Gandhi, Mr. Pawar met senior party leaders. Later, Mr. Praful Patel told journalists that the NCP was “unhappy with some aspects” of the functioning of the government and the larger coalition, and this was conveyed to the Congress leadership. He stressed that UPA-II was entering the last two years of its term, and the NCP wanted the government to be “more decisive” and “more committed” to the issues before the people. The NCP leader, however, rubbished reports that Mr. Pawar was denied the number two slot in the government. The NCP will meet again on Monday to discuss its future course of action — giving the Congress the weekend to come up with a solution. Meanwhile, sources in the NCP said there was no single issue that led to the two parties coming to breaking point: the sense is that as the UPA looks like a sinking ship, the NCP needs to either chart its own course so that it can stay afloat — and improve on its numbers — in 2014, when the next Lok Sabha elections are due, or shake the Congress out of its stupor to act “decisively” and give ballast to the NCP. The party is also upset that while allies such as the Trinamool Congress have forced the government on many occasions to reverse its decisions, the NCP’s cooperation has never been acknowledged. Astrology Aries March 21 to April 19 Although Mercury is retrograde, you can expect a fantastic week of communications-related developments that are most likely rooted in past events. On Sunday you and a partner may have a conversation about having more fun together - just like you did when you were first dating. Then, on Tuesday it'll be a spectacular day to express your creative ideas to others. You might even receive an opportunity to write or teach about a creative subject.                                               Taurus April 20 to May 20 Expect a week filled with positive vibes that center around hectic activity on the home front. For starters, on Sunday you'll likely be quite busy finishing up a work-at-home project that you may have started once before only to put on the shelf for a later time. You'll want to complete this endeavor now for you'll have plenty of motivation to get the job done! Also, on Tuesday you might discuss ways to revise finances with your family.                                 Gemini May 21 to June 20 It'll be a week of communications revisions and by week's end, significant progress may occur in several areas. On Sunday you might have a conversation with a sweetheart or a child that helps both of you erase a past misunderstanding and move forward. By Tuesday it's possible that you'll be in the midst of a favorable negotiation. Although Mercury is still retrograde and it's not an ideal time to sign, keep discussing the terms of your agreement. Things appear to be in your favor.                         Cancer June 21 to July 22  This week, you might focus on ways to enhance your income opportunities as you revise your approach to expressing your talents and making money. On Sunday, expect abundant mental energy to scour through your home and find any possessions you're ready to sell. Consider a garage sale or listing items in online auctions. On Tuesday if there's someone you know in need, it's possible that you'll donate some funds to this charity or individual. Your generosity will come back to you tenfold!                                                         Leo July 23 to Aug. 22  Expect plenty of opportunities this week to mend communications mishaps. On Sunday Mercury, now retrograde, will be at a spectacular link to Mars in your message sector. You'll have the energy to backtrack over a vital conversation or plan in order to ensure it's exactly where you need it to be. On Tuesday Mercury and Jupiter will be at a gorgeous angle and you might reconnect with a friend from the past. You'll pick up exactly where you left off!                                BUSINESS+VE                                                                              Strategies take time to deliver       Infosys CEO and Managing Director S. D. Shibulal has defended the company’s performance in the last quarter saying that strategies take time to deliver, and the early indicators of its transformation in business model are good. In an interview with The Hindu, Mr. Shibulal pointed to three major reasons for the company’s relatively low-key performance and guidance in the first quarter of 2012-13. First, the company is in the midst of transforming its business model. Second, the transformation has “fortunately or unfortunately” coincided with a tough business environment. And finally, the fact that compared to peers Infosys derives a relatively high proportion of its revenues from discretionary spending by clients and on the vertical of BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance), which are the first to be affected in an economic slowdown. “In a volatile environment, the first thing to be affected is discretionary spending, which is about 30 per cent for us, and the second is financial services spend which is about 34 per cent for us. So, totally, about 64 per cent of our business is undergoing challenging times, which is reflected in our short-term performance,” Mr. Shibulal said. He refused to agree with the view that the focus on BFSI was excessive pointing out that the company’s objective was to have a balanced portfolio that will offer value to clients while delivering high margins. Talking about the impact of Infosys 3.0, the company’s new business model that was rolled out last year, Mr. Shibulal said: “It is three quarters since we rolled out our strategy. You have to give it time, right? Strategies take time to deliver. What we can do though is look at the early indicators, and see if the strategy is effective.’’ He explained that the company suspended the practice of giving quarterly guidance because of difficulty in predicting deal closures. “While we are confident of the yearly picture, quarterly we are finding it difficult to predict because even delay in one programme can upset the prediction,” he said. Talking about the cash hoard on its balance sheet, Mr. Shibulal said that the company would like to keep the powder dry for possible acquisitions. “There are some very strategic areas where we can look at inorganic growth. We have expanded our search area much wider in the last 6-9 months and we are at it,” he said. Asked whether the rotation in stewardship of the company amongst its promoters was affecting performance, Mr. Shibulal came out strongly pointing out that neither he nor his predecessors occupied the corner room by virtue of their being promoters. HEALTH+VE                                                                Good food vs bad food       Myths about some foods are passed around word-ofmouth and become deeply ingrained in our minds. Some of these beliefs can, in fact, backfire, and may prove to be detrimental to our health. Macrobiotic food counselor and chef Shonali Sabherwal challenges some of these misguided ideas. Myth : Grapes, lime and oranges delay healing post-surgery Fact : Citric fruits such as the above have Vitamin C, which helps stitches to heal. On the other hand, Carbonic acid, which comes from sodas, colas and carbonated beverages, weakens stitches. Just a word of caution: Citric fruits are not recommended on the very day of the surgery. Especially in case of ENT surgeries, their sharpness may sting when you swallow. Myth : Drinking coconut water at night causes acidity Fact : Coconut water cools the system. In fact, it is highly recommended for acidity and can relieve heartburn. It helps restore the stomach's PH balance and makes it more alkaline. Myth : Lentils and cottage cheese combined make you fat Fact : Both lentils and cottage cheese are good sources of protein and are recommended for muscle gain and fat loss. For a balanced weight loss plan, 25 per cent of your daily calories should come from concentrated protein sources and this combination would help. Myth : Chocolates cause acne Fact : Overdosing on chocolates may cause acne but it is largely the result of bad dietary (read: junk food) habits or hormones. Myth : Papaya causes miscarriage Fact : A ripe papaya is not harmful in small amounts. It helps control heartburn and constipation. An unripe papaya does contain a latex substance, which could cause uterine contractions. Myth : Almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts, pistachios and raisins are fattening Fact : Only if consumed in large quantities. Nuts have good quality fats. Drying fruits does suck out nutrients and they then contain more sugar, calories and carbs per gram than their hydrated counterparts. Myth : Carbs are bad Fact : It's the quality of the carbs that holds the key to weight loss. We should stay away from highly refined carbohydrate sources such as white bread, sugar, refined white flour and white rice (simple carbohydrates). However, we need carbohydrates out of whole grain namely brown rice, nachni, millet, jowar and bajra (complex carbohydrates). The body needs glucose for energy. Half your daily requirement of this glucose comes from complex carbohydrates. These give us sustained sugars (good for our brains) and keep insulin levels in check. Balanced efficiently with other foods, they keep our energy levels stable. Myth : Eating curd at night causes breathlessness Fact : Curd is cooling and could lead to congestion that could interfere with sleep. Milk and dairy products cause a discharge in the lungs that could lead to breathlessness and chest congestion. According to Ayurveda, curd causes 'ama' the release of certain toxins, which block channels of the body. Myth : Tomato ketchup is good for the heart Fact : Lycopene, which comes from tomatoes, helps reduce heart disease. But unless the ketchup is home-made, it will not help the heart. Most tomato ketchups are high on sodium and sugar - both can be damaging for the heart in the long run. Myth : Fat free food has zero calories Fact : Packaged foods cannot be zerocalorie. To be labelled fat-free, packaged foods must have 3 grams of fat per serving. These are gimmicks used by manufacturers to sell products. A packaged food may say 'zero calorie' but will have unhealthy trans-fats used for preservation. It may even have a sweetener, which is bad for you. Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22  There will be an emphasis on behind the scenes communications this week, and luckily you'll have an opportunity to use time alone to think to your advantage. On Sunday you might reconsider a plan to help you cultivate a hidden talent in order to earn extra income. You'll have the confidence now to make this happen! On Tuesday you might receive recognition for a professional goal you achieved awhile back. Now, instead of feeling overlooked you'll get the honor you deserve!                                       Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22 Expect plenty of energy this week to devote to a cause you believe in or to reconnect with friends from your past. On Sunday Mercury and Mars will be at a friendly angle to one another, allowing you to speak with courage about a topic you once shied away from. You'll gain enormous respect from your peers as you convey your ideas. On Tuesday you might plan to travel overseas to a place you've visited before. The second time around will be even more enjoyable!                              Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21 If you've been meaning to have a discreet conversation with your boss about a troublesome matter that's been going on for some time, this week you'll likely make the kind of progress you've been hoping for. On Tuesday you might hear news that you've been approved for a loan or other venture capital connected to launching a new endeavor - however if you do, be patient. Mercury will continue to move retrograde until August 8 and delays are possible.                              Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21 If there's a media appearance on the docket for you this week, you'll absolutely shine! It's likely that whatever speaking engagement or interview you have scheduled is one you've done before so you'll have even more confidence this time around. On Tuesday you and your spouse or partner will likely take a second look at a joint financial matter and resolve it once and for all. You'll feel more comfortable with shared resources once this decision is settled.                                                  Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19 This week you'll have extraordinary mental energy to renegotiate terms on a retirement or benefits package connected to your career. It'll also be an excellent time to pitch a potential investor who may have rejected your ideas in the past. This time - particularly on Sunday - you'll have an edge. On Tuesday you may revise your approach to a health matter. It's possible that you'll go for a second opinion or will go back to have a treatment repeated. Don't worry - it'll go well.                              Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18  Early in the week you might renegotiate terms on a publishing or broadcasting deal with your agent or other representative. Whatever you go over now will likely prove to benefit you, so don't worry about voicing your honest opinion. On Tuesday it's likely that you and your spouse or partner will talk about ways you can reignite the sparks of love. You might even visit the place you went to on your first date - you'll enjoy reliving those memories together.                          Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20  It'll be easy to revise your approach to wellness this week with the help of research and a conversation with your doctor or other healthcare provider. On Sunday you might also decide to rejoin a gym if you've been off track with your fitness goals. This will be an excellent time to do so! If you do any work from home, expect a project to go particularly well on Tuesday. You might decide on a revision to this assignment that'll truly make it stand out.                                    Moral Story       SMS     If u never tasted a bad apple. You would never appreciate a good apple. Because, You have to experience life to understand life.. :-)         LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS       Make a Mind which never minds…Make a Heart which never hurts…Make a Touch which never pains..&…Make a ‘RELATION’ which never ‘Ends’.     LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS       The history of the world is full of men who rose to leadership, by sheer force of self-confidence, bravery and tenacity.           Wife: What is 10 years with me? Husband: A second.     Wife: What is $1000 for me? Husband: A coin.   Wife: Ok give me a coin. Husband: Wait a second.

EDUCATION +VE IIM-Calcutta graduates to get tips from Mumbai dabbawalas         KOLKATA: The future managers of MNCs will get tips from Mumbai dabbawalas on July 24. Pawan Giridharilal Agrawal, the management guru specialising in logistics and supply chain management of dabbawalas, will help students of the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta (IIM-C) to hone their managerial skills. and graduates of It's time for graduates ofthe Indian Institute of Management - Calcutta (IIM-C) will get to hone their time management skills from Mumbai dabbawalas. The budding managers will have a date with Pawan Giridharilal Agrawal - the management guru, specialising on the logistics and supply chain management of the dabbawalas. "The young managers can learn a lot from the modus operandi of the Mumbai dabbawalas. I shall speak about supply chain and logistics in which I have specialised," Agrawal said on Friday from Mumbai. "It is amazing to observe how the dabbawalas work, in spite of them being not qualified. The commitment drives them to deliver on time. If the management graduates are more qualified, they should perform even better," he added. The dabbawalas work in adverse situations, carrying their tiffin boxes on their heads inside crowded local trains. They never fail to meet the orders. The managers in multinational companies are offered better facilities and good amenities. They should, therefore, be able to generate better business." Agrawal said, "I would want to offer them tips on methods to meet deadlines and deliver better. They are the best brains in the country and there is no reason for them to not manage time, meet deadlines and churn out better and a quality job. Customer satisfaction is the moto for students in marketing." Some of the finer nuances like dedication, commitment, passion and execution - driving forces for better performance - will be taught in the two-hour session to the budding IIM-C grads. "Some principles like customer is god, work is worship, no alternative to hard work, few human values and methods to deliver the best within constraints will be suggested to the students," Agrawal added he is ready to speak to the IIM-C students next week after delivering lectures to a number of eminent B-school students earlier. Agrawal runs Mumbai Dabbawala Education Center which teaches the children of dabbawalas without any fee. "He will speak on issues like six sigma achievers, small people great work, making a difference, Mumbai Dabbawala the great and unique working system," said a senior IIM-C faculty member. who has been instrumental in roping in Agrawal for the Institute Lecture series. He added, "Incidentally Mumbai's 5000 or so Dabbawalas, have been in action over 125 years without a single strike to deliver erroneously nearly 200,000 lunches to work on time everyday, have become a global business school example to follow. The Dabbawalas have a Six Sigma quality certificate and a global business fan club that includes Prince Charles and Richard Branson." SPORTS +VE London welcomes the flame   With the flame comes the games After years of preparation and months of buildup, London’s Olympic moment finally arrived Friday night. Royal Marine Martyn Williams carried the Olympic torch as he rappelled down from a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter into the Tower of London on the shore of the River Thames. The commando’s grand entrance plunged the symbol of the games into the city’s historic heart, bringing Olympic pageantry to the British capital that last held the event in 1948. Crowds lined the city’s famed river banks to see the torch arrive, while Yeoman warders the ceremonial Tower guards popularly known as Beefeaters looked on from inside the landmark’s grounds. For Londoners, the arrival of the torch ignites a time of excitement as well as four weeks of extreme crowds and transport strains. Organizers have tried to smooth the way. London Underground subway lines are festooned with large magenta and pink signs pointing routes to the Olympic venues. Cartoony ads with wide—eyed horses and beefy musclemen warn commuters to remember that Olympic competitions are taking place and to rethink their daily journeys. Barriers are being erected to mark the special traffic lanes for Olympic vehicles disparagingly dubbed “Zil lanes,” after the limousines granted exclusive use of special lanes on Soviet—era highways. Londoners who already struggle to get to work on any given weekday aren’t convinced all will be well and haven’t been shy about saying so. The atmosphere of gloom has been segmented by the never—ending rain and a constant stream of headlines about the failure of security contractor G4S to provide enough guards. The mayor has a message for the naysayers- “Put a sock in it.” Speaking at a ceremony at the Tower of London, Johnson said the arrival of the torch would “dispel any last remaining clouds of dampness and anxiety.” “It will spread the crackling bushfire of Olympic enthusiasm throughout this city and the country,” he said, as Kelly Holmes, a British double gold medal winner in 2004, toured the ramparts of the landmark, with the torch held aloft. Ready or not, the games are a reality. Olympic banners in hot pink, acid yellow and lime green have painted London in neon. The tubby Cyclops—like mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville, are dancing around central London tourist attractions in a desperate bid to be huggable. The city’s famous red double—decker buses are sporting ads flogging the last of the unsold Olympic soccer tickets. The stadiums themselves are nearly ready. At the athletes village, Cuba and Denmark have been the first to drape flags off their balconies. The Olympic clock ticking down the days in Trafalgar Square has reached single digits. Olympic historian David Goldblatt, co—author of “How to Watch the Olympics,” said the flame’s arrival in London marks a key turning point. “I think it signifies the moment when everyone, whether for, against or indifferent, is thinking ‘Oh Lord let’s just get the bloody thing started,’ ” he said. It was only weeks ago that celebrations marking Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee sent Britons into a spasm of patriotic flag waving and “God save the Queen” singing as they watched a flotilla of 1,000 boats on the River Thames. Will the flame’s arrival inspire the famously inhibited British to do it all again to cheer and wave and weep and be inspired as the torch relay winds through the city’s 33 boroughs?       Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum Movie Name :   Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum  Release Date :   July 27, 2012 Genre :  Comedy              Producer : Ekta Kapoor , Shobha Kapoor Director :   Sachin Yardi Music Director :  Meet Bros Anjjan Cast : Tusshar Kapoor , Ritesh Deshmukh , Sarah Jane Dias , Neha Sharma , Anupam Kher     Synopsis:   "Kya Super Kool Hai Hum" (a sequel to 'Kya Kool Hai Hum') comes with only four original compositions but surprisingly with three music directors being used, namely: Sachin-Jigar; Anjjaan - Meet Bros and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (S-E-L). Let's see if there is anything 'Kool' for the music lovers! Bang On..The first and only composition by Sachin-Jigar "Dil Garden Garden Ho Gaya" is addictive, catchy, funky and aptly written by guest lyricist Mayur Puri keeping in sync with the theme and content of the movie. Vishal Dadlani's voice is energetic and the auto-tuned effect is well used. The lyrics does gets a bit suggestive and double meaning at places but it's the beats and retro feel that works for the song and makes it the best of the four originals. Good start although the "Dil Garden Garden Ho Gaya Remix" wasn't required at all with few changes here and there as the original has enough pace and beats. Anjjan - Meet Bros brings "Shirt Da Button" which is a winner and takes only few hearings to adjust to the unusual lyrics by Kumaar. Sonu Nigam is magnificent as always and sings his heart out in this melodious composition which has a touch of qawwali provided to it. At first, one may get annoyed by the start where the lyrics goes a bit wayward as the title of the song says but as the song progresses, one hears some pretentious alaap’s and the unconventional lyrics catches attention, especially in the antaras. Go and hum around this hat-ke lovely romantic song! Moving on, a fusion of Indian-Western beats starts of "Shirt Da Button Version 2" where surprisingly Kailash Kher replaces Sonu and is joined by Anjjan-Meet Bros themselves for the chorus part. With Kailash Kher behind the mike, the composition is inclined more towards the Sufi zone, especially both the interludes with a fantastic harmonium in the second one. The focus shifts to the vocals from melody as in the original and there are enough variations to hear out for. A well handled alternate version which will certainly get listeners hooked.         honey is the only natural food which never goes off " INSPIRING STORY "         Bad Temper        There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.       The first day, the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.   He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.       Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.   The days passed and the boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.       The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence.   The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a       scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one."

An aim in life is the only fortune worth finding.