Valentine's Day: The ₹. 1800 Crore That You Spend!

Happy Valentine's Day! The day when you can officially go and propose a girl. The day where a red rose gains respect like no other. The day when hearts bloom, the day when college is painted red. Also the end of the day where many late night calls happen and many broken hearts roam around.It is really a fun day. How can we miss, the day when you spend ₹. 1,800 crore!

A cozy gift for valentine's day, but if you are thinking of buying this then that would be heavy!

Surprised? Yes, that is what the Indian market alone gives to the Valentine market. You can expect that when you have billions of youngsters in the country, waiting for this day to spend money on their lover! No its not only India, world does it, TOI repors in the recent news says that a person from China did spend close to $30,000 to gift his lover and that too a bouquet of roses.

One start to think that is love measured in gifts? remember the famous line from TVC, atleast the market says it does. The valentine cards with most touching words will see a hike, and you can't avoid it go just because of its price! The soft toys that you purchase will be more heavy on your pocket than to the heart. But you still do it!

How did the world do ?

According to NRF research, spending for Valentine’s Day peaked around 17 billion in 2008, when the average expression of love cost a whopping $123 per person. Since 2009, consumers have been seeking more economical ways to show their loved ones they care. (Total Valentine’s Day spending for 2009 was estimated at $14.7 billion, or $102.50 per person.).

And in 2013, you will be surprised that we spent ₹. 1,500 Crore rupees on gifts(news here). The industry researchers say that its not the business of a single day, but this starts a week before and starts with Rose Day (Feb 7), followed by Proposal Day, Chocolate Day, Teddy Day, Promise Day, Kiss Day, Hug Day and Valentine's Day (Feb 14). How many more days do you want?

The Flower Shops

Its not only the soft toys, gifts that values. There are a large market which provides tour packages for the valentine's day outing. There are V-Day tour packages on offer -- priced between USD 100 (Rs.5,000) and USD 1,000 (Rs.50,000) -- to Kerala, Goa, Nainital, Mount Abu, Dehradun, Musoorie, Shimla and even Bangkok and Singapore, said the study.

The most of Valentine's day is acquired by the flowershops, to notch up business worth USD 4,089-4,647 (Rs.220 to Rs.250 million). The wholesale flower industry last year touched USD 3,347 (Rs.180 million) in sales during V-Day, the survey said.

Buying the best of red roses - a picture from upittoday.com

That is a lot of money for the Valentine's day!

The industry just blooms whether or not it is the case with your valentine. Even a broken heart is in more pain with a broken purse. But as with the attitude, most of the people think that its nothing. Renu, a software professional says " We will be spending close to ₹. 5,000 to 8,000 for gifts, chocolate cakes and a dine out, its not a big deal".

So spread love and gifts do matter but how much you spend is still within your control. Although with those ads of diamonds, cakes, photo frames, chocolates, dresses, diners, tour packages.... and a long list of stuff, its really hard to think small on Valentine's day! Everything goes fair in love! Sab Bikhta hai!!

Love doesn't take costly gifts to make happen, a smile or a rose will do much better!!

Once Again Happy Valentine's Day!

Unknown

- Unknown Updated at: Friday, February 14, 2014

Too Much Time On Social Media Results In Short Term Memory Loss - A Study

Always online? Take a break!People who spend too much time browsing social media could be squandering their memories or losing important information, a new study has warned.

Contrary to common wisdom, an idle brain is in fact doing important work - and in the age of constant information overload, it's a good idea to go offline on a regular basis, according to a researcher from Stockholm's KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

Erik Fransen, whose research focuses on short-term memory and ways to treat diseased neurons, said that a brain exposed to a typical session of social media browsing can easily become hobbled by information overload.

The result is that less information gets filed away in your memory.

The problem begins in a system of the brain commonly known as the working memory, or what most people know as short-term memory. That's the system of the brain that we need when we communicate, Fransen said.

"Working memory enables us to filter out information and find what we need in the communication. It enables us to work online and store what we find online, but it's also a limited resource," he said.

"At any given time, the working memory can carry up to three or four items. When we attempt to stuff more information in the working memory, our capacity for processing information begins to fail.

"When you are on Facebook, you are making it harder to keep the things that are 'online' in your brain that you need. "In fact, when you try to process sensory information like speech or video, you are going to need partly the same system of working memory, so you are reducing your own working memory capacity.

"And when you try to store many things in your working memory, you get less good at processing information," he said.

You're also robbing the brain of time it needs to do some necessary housekeeping. The brain is designed for both activity and relaxation, Fransen said.

"The brain is made to go into a less active state, which we might think is wasteful; but probably memory consolidation, and transferring information into memory takes place in this state. Theories of how memory works explain why these two different states are needed.

"When we max out our active states with technology equipment, just because we can, we remove from the brain part of the processing, and it can't work," Fransen said.

Shared From Indian Express

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- Unknown Updated at: Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Special Prayers For The Angel, Mother Teresa

Thousands of people from all walks of life paid homage to Mother Teresa on her 16th death anniversary on Thursday with special prayers and masses in the eastern metropolis.

Nuns of Missionaries of Charity, the Catholic Order founded by Mother Teresa to help the poorest of the poor, the infirm and the dying, held special prayers at their global headquarters Mother House.

Devotees thronged the central Kolkata building since dawn to offer floral tributes and prayers at Mother Teresa's grave.

People from rural areas were seen kneeling before the grave with candles in hand as they sang hymns in memory of Mother Teresa, who died Sep 5, 1997.

Remembrance programmes were held at various schools.

Mother Teresa -- born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia, Aug 26, 1910, to an ethnic Albanian family -- made Kolkata her home and workplace for 68 years since 1929.

She was given the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

Shared From Hindustan Times

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- Unknown Updated at: Thursday, September 05, 2013

5 things you should never share on facebook!

The social media has become an integral part of everyday life but users need to be aware of what and how much they share on sites like Facebook which might be used by malicious hackers.

Those users who use the name of their pets as password for their social media account should try and avoid revealing it online and a recent research by Google indicated that 1 in 6 people use their pet’s name as password.

Another of such social media shares which make a strict no-no is one’s mother’s maiden name, which is a security question asked by a bank and users who have their family added in their social media account should keep their privacy settings high in order to avoid any hacking, metro.co.uk reports.

Apart from mother’s maiden name, security question related to first school attended can also be used as a potential tool for hacking into one’s account.

The report said that revealing one’s birth date is equally sensitive to be put online and if someone wants to reveal, they shouldn’t mention the year.

Next comes announcing the web world about one’s trip out of town or display of expensive things which might be of interest to robbers or an active GPS.

Shared From DNA India

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- Unknown Updated at: Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Pepsi's style change - New Bottle

Pepsi changing the 17 year old traditional bottle

Pepsico has decided to change the 17 year old bottle of its with the new shape that is rolling out after a decade - The new bottle has a contoured bottom half that appears easier for holding, and the wraparound label is shorter so that more of the drink is exposed. The change follows a number of splashy moves in the past year by PepsiCo to improve results for its namesake soda, including a multiyear deal to sponsor the Super Bowl halftime show and a wide-ranging deal with the pop star Beyonce.

PepsiCo Inc., based in Purchase, New York, has been working to revitalize the brand after losing market share to Coca-Cola Co. in recent years.

Andrea Foote, a PepsiCo spokeswoman, said the new bottle is part of the company's ongoing update of marketing and packaging materials for the cola. The single-serve bottles, which are widely sold in coolers at drugstores and other retailers, will begin rolling out in April. Foote said it will take a year or two before the new bottles entirely replace the current bottles, which the company says were introduced in 1996.

Coca-Cola, based in Atlanta, says its current 567 gram contour bottle made its US debut in 1993. Small changes were made over the years, such as making the surface easier to grip and shortening the neck of the bottle.

The changes should soon be hit in Indian market as well as we are expecting a well built master strategy of ads that are rolling out for Pepsi and how less the ads for Coca Cola has come in.

Unknown

- Unknown Updated at: Friday, March 22, 2013

Social : The Republic Day

So here we are once again at the 63rd year celebration of National Republic Day. Although many would have forgot already what it actually means, some are too busy to let their children know what it is! Few will be sad that it did fall on a Saturday instead of a working day! But ask the 80% of the citizens, they would be still wondering what this celebration was about. I know you are among the lucky 20% but here I find my duty to spread the actual need of knowing what is it to be a republic!

It was on 26th January 1950 that the constitution of India came in to effect after three years of independence, our scholars had developed the set of rules and duties to each citizen of India. The date was chosen since, in 1930, January 26, the Indian National Congress had put forward the idea of "Poorna Swaraj" or Independence of India, so to give respect to the idea put forward by INC (Indian National Congress).

So what did happen in the three years post independence? Yes, we were still following the colonial Government of India Act 1935, which was set out by the British Government.  But that doesn't mean that we were going to follow the colonial rule moving forward, two weeks after the Independence,   On 28 August 1947, the Drafting Committee was appointed to draft a permanent constitution, with Dr.B. R. Ambedkar as chairman.

So although we were an independent country since 1947, we did become republic only three years later i.e, the constitution of India came into effect on 1950.

A draft constitution was prepared by the committee and submitted to the Assembly on 4 November 1947. The Assembly met, in sessions open to public, for 166 days, spread over a period of 2 years, 11 months and 18 days before adopting the Constitution. After many deliberations and some modifications, the 308 members of the Assembly signed two hand-written copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on 24 January 1950. Two days later, it came into effect throughout the nation.

So what changed since being republic, the power of government was given to citizens! (Really??) dont be amused, but that is what the constitution states. We elect our leaders to rule the country and the country has its supreme power resided on President instead of a Monarch, also that the president is nominated or elected by the leaders elected by citizens.


So be proud and enjoy the day saying that it is because of me that India has survived the 62 years of development and competition, it is me who has given into the progress of the Nation, be proud when you say it is because of me that the nation is so beautiful and still a place to live.

But never forget the fact and to say atleast silently, that it is because of me that the country has something bad, it is because of me that life is getting worst and it is because I elected the wrong people that I am suffering now. Once people tend to understand their rights and purpose, things will change. As in a cricket match, we dont loose hope until India wins.

So be it for our leaders, we have been ignorant, rather hypnotized with few weeks of campaign and forget the past. But as in cricket matches, one innings can change the match and similarly one tennure can change everything, imagine, if we get the good and non-greedy ones into power, we will fly sky high. Our country which has the potential to conquer any heights will find its way to the ultimate stand when we do get it right, till then, keep experimenting your voting rights.

Unknown

- Unknown Updated at: Monday, January 21, 2013

The Dream Jump

Unknown

- Unknown Updated at: Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Purpose : Of Religion

My Humble attempt to understand the very purpose of religion


A global 2012 poll reports that 59% of the world's population is religious, 23% are not religious, and 13% are atheists.

Religion is something sacred and rather it was intended to build love and harmony among human beings and it separated us from Chimps. The guide which was used to define the way of life that made sure that we do not fight among ourselves. But, on a long run, was justice done to this sacred guide? Did we follow what was written ? Or did we try to follow the easier interpretations by the preachers?

It is evident, the religion has changed a lot from what it used to be, now it is used to generate fear, to grab powers and much more ridiculous things. And if we are to continue with this trend, which makes you increase followers on to each religion and ultimately become the only religion in the world, would that be the best thing to happen to world? No system has survived so, and it will create a chaos. So why is it tough for more intelligent people to understand this?

Religion to me is absolutely personal, it is something which tells you how you can be in control of your mind and thereby your life, it is a book which has events, situations and probable consequences. How you get to face it without harming or causing least harm to your fellow beings. Religion is not to show off, but rather to finding peace when your mind is not at all ready for it and strengthening mind so that you can face any hardships.

Religion is not just the text book and it doesn't say that you should follow each of the words described there to be followed blindly, it should be marked as a reference to see what are the choices you have for a situation and also will define you with the probable outcome of your choice. And I am sure that is how Hindu religion evolved from its start - by Aryans, unfortunately the development was stopped successfully with the introduction of caste systems which did put a full stop to its development. The similar cases can be found with Christians and Muslims. The free thought was stopped and boundaries were laid.

I know you are aware, but just so that I dont miss them, here are some of the most important points to be noted about religion is that, Religion :

* doesn't say to kill someone and get your position secure in the next life or heaven.
* do not advise to build hatred, ego or cursing!
* doesn't say that it is the shortcut to meet god!
* do not preach to divide the society
* does not ask you to bribe god.
* does not guide you to follow the words literally.
* doesn't hide your crimes.
* does not to give you more powers than what is given to you by God himself
* Doesn't wash off your bad deeds unless you repent from heart

Believe in your religion, stop ego to get into the way. Imagine the religion as a text book full of events that will strengthen your mind and describes you with the outcomes of what is not to be done in a social life, if you hate it, make a forest around you and live in the jungle!

I will try to go through few more articles and put in my thoughts on how the very custom originated in second part of this article and will add in a link here. Till then, if I did give you a thought for atleast 5 seconds, then I am glad!

Unknown

- Unknown Updated at: Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Social: Delhi Gang Rape : 24 Hours

One of the brutal incidents in the near past happened in Delhi where a women was raped by a gang and her friend was brutally assaulted with an iron rod. Thanks to Delhi police it took only 24 hours to solve the crime and to get the culprits into the hands of law.

A 23-year-old, para-medical student was gangraped in a private moving bus on Sunday night between Munirka and Mahipalpur in south Delhi area. The girl was gangraped, brutally beaten, stripped and thrown out of the whiteline bus near Mahipalpur flyover along with her male friend, who managed to file a police complaint at around 1.15 am. The incident, according to reports, happened at 9.30 pm. The duo had boarded the bus from Munirka and were on their way to Palam, where the girl stays.

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The arrested 32-year-old is the driver of the bus, Ram Singh. It was his brother Mukesh who was driving the bus at the time of the crime. He, along with four to five others have been detained and raids are on to arrest all the accused, sources added.

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The tracking was done in under 24 hours, however the Police is not sure what started the argument, but the bus was loaded with 7 passengers when the couple entered in and there are suggestions that there was an argument with the male passenger and others. However only four of them is accused of this incident. Here is the set of incidents which helped the police uncover the mystery:

* The CCTV cams on the highway showed the bus pass by at 9PM which indicated that the bus had written 'Yadav' on its side. With seats and blinds design visible.
* The police went to a bus stand in RK Puram sector 3, close to Munirka, where the victim and her friend had boarded the bus. About 40 white buses are usually parked at the stand and transporters there identified it as a bus used to ferrying children at a south Delhi school.
* The police then traced the bus to suburban Noida and tracked down the bus driver, Ram Singh, now the main accused in the case.

* The police were also able to track the remaining assailants via mobile and also that one of them had picked up the mobile of the victims did help.

What happens to them will be watched over the media as there is more row of people lining up to protest against this mishap, it has been put on to the government to analyze their security and to give a meaningful justification to why the capital city is being subjected to this violence.

What Should Be Done

We personally feel that the victims should be chemically castrated, as a fair warning to the future assailants who think that they can get away after having committed such an act.

There should be fair count of checking atleast in the city perimeter to avoid such an incident which happened just around the evening time.

As for women, please be equipped with a pepper spray or a similar safeguard material so that you can atleast make your way out when you can. As we are living in a free country, it is not advisable to stay back home, but please be safe than be sorry.

What we also advise is that be good enough or have a friend good enough to check the situation of your travel and if you have a slightest of doubts, get out of it as quickly as possible.

Be suspicious to anyone you meet and always be prepared. Sounds crazy but should help in avoiding getting into such.

These are just few crazy thoughts that we feel when we heard it, hopefully we will have a much tougher law passed on.

Unknown

- Unknown Updated at: Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Social : The missing innocence

Image Courtesy: www.wallcoo.net

Ofcourse, I am writing in this with shock - after the Connecticut mishap! The investigators are trying to find out the cause for this mishap, and we hope we do have a good reason why it happened. I feel for the parents who lost their young ones at such tender age, all killed were under 10 years of age, which makes this whole episode more brutal.

Adam Lanza, the assailant was also mentioned to have shot himself as soon as he heard the forces coming in. The youngster was also found to have extreme precision in firing his shots, which does prove that he was trained. The investigators also found that he had killed his mother, and shots were said to be fired on to her head, before Adam left for the school.



Nancy Lanza, mother of Adam Lanza and a divorcee, was a survivalist and had been preparing herself for the economical collapse. But it seems her strategy fooled herself. Investigators are assuming that it may have been the survivalist nature in her, that she trained her son Adam in using these deadly weapons, but this must be a wakeup call for all those who do practice with their kids claiming the 'survivalist' tag.

Just trying to find out what went wrong will not be good, but what can be done to prevent this from happening should also be included. The kid, if he had mental issues, as the schoolmates claim him to be, should have been watched more closely by the parents or his teachers, unfortunately this is still unknown whether a proper care was given to the kid.

I might be rambling but few things should have been taken care of :

* Kids are not good judges of using a weapon, so please keep that out of their reach and probably keep them locked so that it doesn't come out without your knowledge!

* Take care of your kid, talk to them understand what they are missing rather than leaving them alone to live with their own thoughts. There might be critics questioning this but, for me, I am sure only parents can understand what their child goes through and how they will react.

* Adams parents got divorced around 6 or 7 years earlier which should have also affected the mental health of the kid, so if it isn't too serious, avoid going to the position where you will have to see off each other, atleast have a thought about kids



* Money isn't the only requirement, if you ignore family for work and reach to the topmost position in an industry and still have your child missing you or caught up in a mishap, then the point of being successful just gets down to few books/magazine covers and die along - just ask richer people if they are truly happy!

Innocence is a boon given to every kid on this planet by God, and it is us who fill it in with the hatred, classifications and violence. So if a kid gets bad, be bold enough to take the blame and not just take it, try to correct it. No one else is as powerful as you in getting your kid alright, it has been happening for centuries and it will continue forward.



God Bless!

Unknown

- Unknown Updated at: Monday, December 17, 2012

Reservations In India - Some Insights

Facts Based on :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_India

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste_system_in_India

Also read : http://www.satyamevjayate.in/issue10/

Unknown

- Unknown Updated at: Monday, December 10, 2012