"Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't."      VBA's Positive News Australia: Collecting blitz uncovers 45 new animal species in Tasmania  Every few years, taxonomists and other scientists from universities and museums join up for a bush blitz. They meticulously comb a certain region and note everything they come across. Catherine Byrne was part of the blitz at Skullbone Plains on the central Tasmanian Plateau in 2011. The group discovered 45 new animals, new plants and collected 2,000 specimens which were then described and classified. The knowledge is important in uncovering rare and endangered species and seeing how plants and animals move over time in response to a changing environment. US: Paul Frank teams up with Native American artists After last year's fashion faux pas by Paul Frank Industries that angered Native Americans, the company spent nearly a year working with its most vocal critics and a diverse team of Native American artists and designers to create a new collection of merchandise with a distinct Native flavour. This time, it was done right, said Elie Dekel, president of Saban Brands, the parent company of Paul Frank. The beaded sunglasses, brightly coloured handmade accessories, tote bags, and graphic T-shirts were set to be unveiled Friday evening at the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in Santa Fe as part of the annual Santa Fe Indian Market festivities. Netherlands: Design your ideal electric vehicle with Tuk Tuk Factory's new online customization tool  All vehicles are not created equal - you wouldn't take a sports car off-roading, or use a sedan as a food-truck. It's important to choose the right vehicle for the job, although we usually just have to pick from what the manufacturers give us. That's not the case with the adorable electric vehicles offered by a Dutch company called Tuk Tuk Factory. The company specializes in three-wheeled, electric-powered versions of the traditional tuk tuk, and it recently launched a handy web tool that allows anyone to build their own e-Tuk with customized colours and features.  Singapore unveils master plan for port, airport, waterfront The Singapore government unveiled a master plan on Sunday to double capacity at Southeast Asia's busiest airport, build a new waterfront city, move its massive port to free up land for development, and make changes to the country's health-care and education systems. 'This is how we can stay the hub in Southeast Asia and create many more opportunities for Singaporeans,' he said, citing competition from Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.           Video of the Day:

World Round-Up

Political + BJP state units shouldn't pass resolution for Narendra Modi as PM candidate: Rajnath         New Delhi: A day after the Bihar unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party passed a resolution demanding the party's Central Parliamentary Board to announce Narendra Modi as the prime minister candidate without delay, BJP President Rajnath Singh on Sunday passed a virtual gag order on state units not to pass such resolutions. Singh announced that a decision on the issue will be taken after consulting all top party leaders. He passed the strictures at a meeting of the Modi-headed BJP Election Campaign Committee, state unit presidents and organisation general secretaries in New Delhi. Modi was also present in the meeting. Singh also reprimanded the Bihar unit office bearers, including Leader of Opposition in the Vidhan Parishad Sushil Modi, for passing the resolution. The BJP chief said he is aware of his responsibilities and knows what decisions he needs to take and when to take them, party sources said. Other state units were specifically asked by Singh not to pass such resolutions. Party sources said the top leadership is worried that state units might start naming their own preferences for the prime minister nominee. The standard official line of the BJP has been that the decision on whether to declare a PM candidate, or whether it should be done before the Lok Sabha elections, as well as who should be the candidate, will be taken by the Central Parliamentary Board at the appropriate time. Though there is an overwhelming demanding across the party cadre in favour of declaring Modi the PM candidate, some leaders are reportedly opposed to the idea. BJP Parliamentary Party Chief LK Advani and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, among others, are said to be against declaring Modi's name. While most party leaders feel Advani and Swaraj are opposed to Modi as they fancy their own chances of becoming PM, their argument - according to party sources - is that due to his 'Hindutva' hardliner image he will scare away prospective allies. The Janata Dal United, which was a part of the NDA for 17 years, quit the alliance when Modi was made BJP's Election Campaign Committee chief. Shiv Sena is also opposed to Modi - mainly due to his proximity with MNS chief Raj Thackeray - and has said Swaraj would be a better candidate. Advani had earlier resigned from all party posts in protest against Modi's elevation as Election Campaign Committee Chief and took it back only after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat intervened. Singh is reportedly making all efforts to build a consensus on Modi's candidature. Astrology Aries March 21 to April 19 Perhaps life has been so busy lately that you have lost contact with friends. Today will be a good day to reach out to them and catch up. With the full moon in Aquarius, friendships are emphasized and extra effort can be applied to maintaining those connections with the people who support your actions and allow you to be yourself when you are around them. You will especially enjoy social interactions tonight if you make plans to go out.                                                    Taurus April 20 to May 20 Feeling a sense of connectedness among family and community will be especially important to you now. If you made an effort months ago to join new groups or connect more deeply with distant relatives, you could now see the value in those interactions. Any gatherings such as weddings or reunions that you attend now will fill you with more enthusiasm than usual. Today's full moon will signal a culmination of efforts you have made to fortify personal connections.                                      Gemini May 21 to June 20 If you implemented a plan some months ago to improve certain aspects of your life, now will be the time to notice whether those changes are producing the desired results. With the full moon today in your sector of spirituality, you will finally be able to determine if the changes support the general beliefs that serve as a compass for your life. You can also build strategies now to bring ideas to the next level and take action.               Cancer June 21 to July 22  Today could be a good day to think about whether you are on track with your goals. If you made some changes in your life about six months ago, now will be the time to determine whether those changes are consistent with overall plans. Thinking things through will come easily to you today with the full moon in Aquarius in contact with Mercury. Try to look objectively at whether things are working or if any adjustments need to be made.                                                              Leo July 23 to Aug. 22  Humanitarian pursuits will be emphasized today and your focus could be on finding some way to serve others in your work or social activities. With today's full moon in Aquarius in your relationship sector, you will enjoy your closest personal relationships. However, Aquarius is the planet of social consciousness, and you could also be looking beyond your intimate relationships and toward developing an identity within a community. People will be interested in the enthusiasm you bring to a group setting.                             BUSINESS+VE                                                                              How Abu Dhabi-based Etihad will digest Jet Airways       Abu Dhabi-based Etihad has a unique airline-cum-airport strategy that is likely to change the way Jet operates. It promises to be an interesting partnership Etihad Airways's Australian CEO James Hogan doesn't have to think too hard about what to say. This week, he said: "Etihad will discuss ways to further integrate the two networks and help the airline achieve efficiency, build revenue and reduce costs." He wasn't talking about Jet Airways , his most high-profile investment which is likely to be given permission for take-off any time now. He was speaking in Belgrade, where he signed an agreement with the Serbian deputy prime minister to pick up a majority stake in Air Serbia, the latest carrier to come into Etihad's embrace. When the formalities are complete over the next few months, Etihad will own 49 percent in the loss-making Serbian national carrier. At different times in the past two years, Hogan has made very similar statements about Air Berlin, Aer Lingus, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia and Jet Airways . Just a decade old, the mid-sized Etihad (70 planes, mostly wide-bodies) has been executing its own version of the 'string-of-pearls' strategy around the world, and Jet is only one of them. At the core is not just an equity holding, but a well-crafted airline-cum-airport strategy where Abu Dhabi becomes a crucial hub in this part of the world. Etihad's expansive web of bilateral agreements with many airlines is built on the reality that airline hubs bring economic prosperity. In many ways, Hogan is thus not only shaping the future of Etihad, but even the future of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. In financial terms, Etihad's investments have just begun to pay off. In 2012, revenue from codeshares with partner airlines was about 19 percent of total revenues. Codeshare and equity partnerships delivered close to $629 million. In terms of scale, though, Etihad is still far behind its older and possibly more glamorous rivals Emirates and Qatar Airways. Yet it is gradually making a mark through its unique model. It already boasts of the largest network for any Middle East carrier, even if less than a third of it is operated with its own metal birds. Rebuilding Jet Hogan's strategy for Jet Airways and India is unlikely to be very different from what he has done around the world. Though the Foreign Investment Promotion Board cleared Etihad's proposal to pick up a 24 percent stake in Jet, the deal drew much flak for being a sellout. Reality is that Naresh Goyal's business model was broken and would not have been able to last very long (see: Jet Airways: Heading South). Old Jet soldier Saroj Datta, who has been part of the airline since its inception, minces no words on the situation. "Raising funds was proving to be extremely difficult, and survival would have been tough if not impossible," he says. Datta had been part of Jet's senior management for 18 years and has been reading the writing on the wall for years now. Jet Airways lost its lead position in the Indian market over the past five years after low-cost carriers (LCCs) hit their stride. Goyal was unable to adapt to this shift in market preference for LCCs, but not for want of trying. In fact, he tried too hard and fell flat. From acquiring Air Sahara to fend off Vijay Mallya and Kingfisher, to lobbying fiercely against foreign airline investment, to trying to make his own low-cost airline Jet Konnect click, he tried everything in the book and outside it. Nothing worked. Jet’s debt mounted to $2.1 billion and needed rescuing by a white knight. HEALTH+VE                                                              10 foods that protect your heart       Heart disease is one of the most feared ailment and a side effect of sedentary lifestyle. You can control the effects of your lifestyle by eating the right food. It's quite often difficult to change your lifestyle drastically in this competitive world. But you can surely change a little bit of eating and ensure you are protecting your heart. Here's a list of food that can help you protect your heart. 1. Black beans: Black beans are packed with folate, antioxidants, magnesium which are good for lowering blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. This in turn keeps your heart in safe zone. But if you are planning to use tinned beans, please drain the liquid and wash them before use to reduce the sodium content. 2. Salmon and tuna: These two fish are rich in anti-oxidants and omega-3, two important candidates who help heart. 3. Walnuts: A handful of them a day helps lower your cholesterol and reduce inflammation in the arteries. Replace them as mid-meal snacks instead of chips etc. 4. Oranges: They contain cholesterol-fighting pectin. The fruit is also rich in potassium that helps control blood pressure. Antioxidant hesperidin also helps lower blood pressure. 5. Carrots: Though sweet, they are good to control diabetes, which increases heart attack risk. They also help fight bad cholesterol. 6. Sweet potatoes: They are rich in vitamin A, fiber and lycopene making them a healthy substitute for the white brethren. 7. Oats: Oats in all forms help your heart by lowering bad cholesterol. 8. Flaxseeds: Fiber, phytochemicals called lignans, and ALA - these three ingredients in these small seeds make them a powerhouse of health. Sure protector of heart if had spoonful in powdered form everyday in cereals or salads. 9. Chilli powder: Difficult to believe, but these Indian tasty spice actually protects heart and body from diabetes with its ability to spike up the natural insulin levels in the body. 10. Coffee: It can keep away type 2 diabetes, but people having high blood pressure should be cautious as it can have a counter effect.     Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22  Changes made recently in your work schedule may have been difficult to get used to, but you could finally be settling into a new routine. Check that your life feels balanced now between work and family, and consider what can be done if adjustments seem necessary. Today will be a good time to focus on diet and exercise and determine whether any small changes could be made now to create improvements in your overall health.                          Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22 You could be in the final stages now of creative projects that were started months ago and finally able to see what the results will look like. The full moon in Aquarius today will support your unique talents, and you may feel like your perseverance has allowed you to achieve results that demonstrate the fullest expression of your creative imagination. Perhaps some final steps will be necessary but it will be a downhill ride from now on.                                 Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21 Ongoing projects or slow changes to your home environment may finally be reaching completion now. If changes in living arrangements have been a focus recently, today's full moon in your home sector can indicate that your domestic situation will begin to feel more settled. Now will be the time to address any final details to take projects to completion. Mercury's influence with the moon suggests that siblings or extended family members could play a role in resolving family matters.                                Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21 You could feel overwhelmed today with catching up on life's more mundane details. Emails, phone calls, and errands will need to be managed. Devote some energy today to tying up loose ends and determining how your life could be made simpler so that you have time to explore more spiritual and meaningful aspects of your life. The full moon today in your communication sector could also suggest you will receive messages or phone calls bringing important news.                                              Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19 If some months ago you made changes to improve your general financial picture, you could begin to reap the benefits of those efforts now. Today's full moon in your financial sector suggests a level of success with plans that were laid out in the past. You could see the value of budgets or savings plans that were implemented. This is a time to recognize what makes you feel financially secure and how your cash management structure supports that.                                Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18  Today you might feel that you have finally worked your way out of a challenging personal relationship or made adjustments so that you feel better about the relationship. You should feel satisfaction for having brought the situation to a level where, even if there is no resolution yet, there is now a mutual understanding of what needs to happen. The Aquarius full moon suggests that improvements can be made today to support your emotional needs within the relationship.                              Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20  Both written and verbal communications are emphasized today. Mercury's connection with the full moon suggests that secrets could suddenly be revealed or situations that have been brewing quietly beneath the surface for some time could be exposed. Be especially clear in your communications, and take time to reflect on any news you receive before taking action. Run any new ideas by a trusted friend or partner to ensure you are being objective in your thoughts.         Moral Story     SMS   “Life has a value only when it has something valuable as its object.”      LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS   "True love doesn't mean being inseparable; it means being separated and nothing changes."   LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS      “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”        Santa asks Priest: Why did god make women so beautiful? Priest: So that you will love them. Santa thinks for a short time... Santa: But why did God make them so dumb? Priest: So that they will love you.

EDUCATION +VE IIT-B launches National Entrepreneurship Challenge             MUMBAI: The entrepreneurship cell of IIT-Bombay Friday night) launched the National Entrepreneurship Challenge (NEC). Created with the vision of promoting entrepreneurship amidst all the campuses in India, and making people realise that coming up with an innovative idea is no rocket science, the challenge is the first of its kind pan-India competition undertaken by E-Cell. The challenge will ultimately direct participating colleges to establish their own E-Cells. It will include all the colleges spread across India. The participating colleges will have to do a series of tasks (around 40 tasks) which are broadly divided into these categories: Awareness: Generating awareness about entrepreneurship, which will include tasks like session on basics of entrepreneurship, debate on job versus entrepreneurship, India versus silicon valley, surveys in college etc. The idea generation category will include tasks like identifying problems in your ecosystem, solving the problem, proposing a revenue model, conduct what an idea sirji (the idea generation event) B-plan. Club Activities, this will include getting your entrepreneurship and business club registered, designing a logo, conducting speaker session, offline competitions etc. Stand up for society: environmental conservation, where students have to undertake tasks on conservation of resources, social issues, taking up a social cause and working for it. SPORTS +VE 18 Indians at Youth Games found overage        NEW DELHI/KOCHI: In a major embarrassment, 18 young Indian athletes have been asked to return home early from the Nanjing Asian Youth Games on Sunday after an official goof-up led to their disqualification as they were found to be overage. These athletes were required to be under the age of 16, but most of the athletes who were sent by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) were above the age limit. The athletes, part of the 27-member athletics squad, were already in the Chinese city when they were told to pack their bags and fly back home without competing in their events, leaving the squad in the important discipline severely depleted. Indian athletes are participating in the event as "Independent Olympic Athletes" as the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is under suspension. This setback has come just two days after four Indian badminton players landed in Nanjing to find that they had not even been entered in their respective events. They too are likely to return home without taking any part in the Games. "AFI thought that the athletics in the Youth Games would follow the International Athletics Federation (IAAF) rules according to which post 1996-born players were eligible. The players were picked accordingly. But the Games are being held as per the International Olympic Committee ( IOC) rules. I am sure the organizers must have sent the rules of the Games to every federation, but someone might not have bothered to read them," a source in the know of things told TOI. It was surprising that no one raised objections over their age when these athletes' names were sent to the IOA or the Sports Authority of India (SAI). Even the organizers did not reject their online application and issued accreditation to them, just days before disqualifying them. The athletics events are starting on Monday. "I got calls from the delegation about this issue. I am trying to confirm it. I have asked the AFI to explain as to what happened exactly," Vijay Kumar Malhotra, acting president of the suspended IOA, told TOI. Top SAI officials too said that if any athlete was disqualified then it was mainly because of AFI's mistake. "The athletes had a selection trial in Thiruvanthapuram. After that AFI picked the athletes for the Games. It's squarely AFI's responsibility, if anything like this has happened," SAI director general Jiji Thomson said. When asked why SAI did not cross-check the athletes' age and before clearing their names for the Games, Thomson said: "When a federation gives us a list, we never question it. It's entirely its job to pick a team, until or unless we have been asked by the federation to help it." AFI secretary CK Valson could not be contacted despite repeated attempts. Meanwhile, it has been learnt that four Indian shuttlers, who did not find their names in the entry list, could be heading back home too. According to sources, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) tried to help the Indian players and even asked other contending countries to agree to a re-draw but it did not succeed.   "What we have come to know is that eight of the participating countries agreed for a re-draw, but three others objected. So it could not happen," a source said. Badminton events began on Saturday.       Madras Cafe Madras Cafe Movie Name :   Madras Cafe Release Date :   August 23, 2013 Genre :  Political espionage thriller Producer : John Abraham,Ronnie Lahiri,Viacom 18 Motion Pictures Director :   Shoojit Sircar Music Director :  Shantanu Moitra Cast :  John Abraham,Nargis Fakhri   Synopsis: As per John Abraham, "Madras Cafe brings us closer to what changed the political history of India." The film, set in India and Sri Lanka, is a political spy thriller set against backdrop of the Sri Lankan civil war.Vikram Singh (John Abraham) is an Indian Army special officer who is appointed by the intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing to conduct covert operations in Sri Lanka shortly after Indian Peace Keeping Force was forced to withdraw.As he journeys to Sri Lanka, with the intention of disrupting a rebel group, he discovers the larger issue. There he meets a British journalist (Jaya) who wants to reveal the truth about the civil war, and in the process he uncovers a conspiracy.             the names of all continents both start and end with the same letter. " INSPIRING STORY "   Five More Minutes          While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground.    “That’s my son over there,” she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide.     “He’s a fine looking boy” the man said. “That’s my daughter on the bike in the white dress.” Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter.     “What do you say we go, Melissa?”  Melissa pleaded, “Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes.”    The man nodded and Melissa continued to ride her bike to her heart’s content.Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his daughter. “Time to go now?” Again Melissa pleaded, “Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes.”  The man smiled and said, “OK.”  “My, you certainly are a patient father,” the woman responded.The man smiled and then said, “Her older brother Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here.     I never spent much time with Tommy and now I’d give anything for just five more minutes with him. I’ve vowed not to make the same mistake with Melissa.  She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bike. The truth is, I get Five more minutes to watch her play.” Moral: Life is all about making priorities, and family is one and only priority on top of all other, so spend all time you can with loved ones.

“Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like no one is watching.”