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  • Pollen Exposure May Harm Baby In Womb

    Pollen Exposure May Harm Baby In Womb

    Exposure to high pollen levels in late pregnancy significantly increases the risk of early asthma in the child, Swedish researchers have warned. A number of studies have previously shown that there is an association with being born during a pollen season and an increased risk of allergies.

    Although the pollen season is a regular annual event, there are large variations between years in pollen levels. Few studies have closely examined the significance of actual pollen content in different time periods before and after birth, but now, researchers at the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Umea University have conducted such a study involving 110,000 pregnancies in the Stockholm area.

    The researchers note that high levels of pollen exposure during the last 12 weeks of pregnancy resulted in a significantly increased risk of hospitalization for asthma symptoms in the first year of life for a child. The analysis was adjusted for factors such as maternal smoking and pollen season.

    There may be several reasons for the association. High pollen exposure of pregnant with pollen allergies can have allergic reactions and asthma symptoms that may also affect the unborn child’s environment and affect immune system development. It is also possible that pregnant women with severe reactions to pollen suffer complications and sometimes give birth earlier than they otherwise would have done, which in itself increases the risk of respiratory problems in the child.

  • Easy way to protect heart: Sip black tea

    Easy way to protect heart: Sip black tea

    Quercetin, a flavonoid abundant in black tea, has shown promise in protecting blood vessels against oxidative damage and lowering cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, said researchers who based their studies on mice. Flavonoids are common plant pigment compounds that act as antioxidants, enhance the effects of vitamin C, and protect connective tissue around capillaries (blood vessels).

    Natalie Ward, research fellow from the University of Western Australia (UWA) School of Medicine, and pharmacology professorial fellow Kevin Croft said although their preliminary study is based on cells and isolated mouse vessels, “our findings have suggested that quercetin is able to protect vessels against oxidant-induced damage.”

    The supervisors say there is evidence to suggest that other dietary flavonoids may reduce blood pressure as well as bring down the development of atherosclerosis (plaque build-up in arteries), the journal Biochemical Pharmacology reports. “Future studies looking at the effect of flavonoids on CVD should consider using combinations of flavonoids, as well as dietary sources of flavonoids, rather than supplementation with pure flavonoids,” said Ward and Croft, according to an UWA statement.

  • One In 25 US Teens Has Attempted Suicide: Study

    One In 25 US Teens Has Attempted Suicide: Study

    NEW YORK (TIP): About one in 25 US teens has attempted suicide, and one in eight has thought about it, according to a national study based on interviews with thousands of teens. Researchers, whose findings appeared in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, said those numbers are similar to the prevalence of lifetime suicidal thinking and attempts reported by adults, suggesting that the teenage years are an especially vulnerable time. “What adults say is, the highest risk time for first starting to think about suicide is in adolescence,” said Matthew Nock, a psychologist who worked on the study at Harvard University.

    The results are based on in-person interviews of close to 6,500 teens in the United States and questionnaires filled out by their parents. Along with asking youth about their suicidal thinking, plans and attempts, interviewers also determined which teens fit the bill for a range of mental disorders. Just over 12 percent of the youth had thought about suicide. Four percent had made a suicide plan and four percent had attempted suicide. Nock and his colleagues found that almost all teens who thought about or attempted suicide had a mental disorder, including depression, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or problems with drug or alcohol abuse. More than half of the youth were already in treatment when they reported suicidal behavior, which Nock said was both encouraging and disturbing.

    “We know that a lot of the kids who are at risk and thinking about suicide are getting (treatment),” he told Reuters Health. However, “We don’t know how to stop them – we don’t have any evidence-based treatments for suicidal behavior.” The findings leave many questions unanswered. Because most youth who think about suicide never go on to make an actual plan or attempt, doctors need to get better at figuring out which ones are most at risk of putting themselves in danger, according to Nock. Once those youth are identified, researchers will also have to determine the best way to treat them, since it’s clear a lot of current methods aren’t preventing suicidal behavior, he said. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 24, killing about 4,6000 young people annually. Although girls are more likely to attempt suicide – a patter confirmed by Nock’s study – boys have higher rates of death by suicide because they typically choose more deadly methods, such as guns.

  • A Platinum Solution To U.S. Fiscal Woes: $1 Trillion Coin

    A Platinum Solution To U.S. Fiscal Woes: $1 Trillion Coin

    WASHINGTON (TIP): If you had to flip a coin over whether Congress will raise the debt ceiling, here’s the ultimate one – a freshly minted trillion-dollar platinum coin. A formal petition has been started asking the White House to create such a coin in order to avoid another high-stakes fiscal battle to raise the debt ceiling. The Treasury secretary has the authority to mint platinum coins in the denomination of his choosing, but likely would run into stiff opposition from lawmakers who have been trying to reduce the budget deficits. Creating the cash would also completely override the independence of monetary policy, something the Obama administration has been very careful not to do in the past.

    The coin petition is one of many wacky requests to alight on the White House’s website. People have petitioned the President to nationalize the Twinkie industry, deport British CNN talk show host Piers Morgan for gun control comments he made on air, and give Vice President Joe Biden his own TV show. About 4,000 signatures have been collected for the coin petition, which was created two days after lawmakers passed a bill to avert austerity measures of higher taxes and spending cuts. Shown are the petitioner’s first name, first initial of surname, and in most cases, the city. In order to get a formal response from the White House, 25,000 signatures must be collected by early February.

    “While this may seem like an unnecessarily extreme measure, it is no more absurd than playing political football with the US — and global — economy at stake,” the petition said. The U.S. Treasury began shuffling funds in order to pay government bills after the country hit the $16.4 trillion legal limit on its debt Dec. 31. However, the Treasury’s accounting maneuvers will last only until around the end of February, giving Congress two months to raise the debt limit before the U.S. defaults on its debt. Last week’s deal forced Republicans to forgo their anti-tax pledges and give in to Democratic demands to raise taxes on the wealthiest. Now Republicans want to use the debt limit increase to win spending cuts from Democrats as well as major changes to Social Security retirement and Medicare health care programs.

  • Obama Cabinet Shuffle Takes Shape Amid Concerns About Diversity In Obama’s Inner Circle

    Obama Cabinet Shuffle Takes Shape Amid Concerns About Diversity In Obama’s Inner Circle

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The composition of President Barack Obama’s second term Cabinet became clearer on January 9, with Labor Secretary Hilda Solis resigning and three other members of the president’s team deciding to stay on amid concerns about diversity in Obama’s inner circle. Solis, a former California congresswoman and one of the highestranking Hispanics in the Cabinet, said she was departing after leading the department during the economic storms of the first term. She was the nation’s first Hispanic labor secretary. A White House official said three Cabinet members: Attorney General Eric Holder, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki: would stay on as the second term begins.

    It would ensure diversity among the president’s leadership team: Holder is black, Sebelius is a woman and Shinseki is of Japanese-American descent. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel changes, said the three remaining officials were not an exhaustive list of which Cabinet members intended to stay. Some Democratic women have raised concerns that the “big three” jobs in the Cabinet State, Defense and Treasury will be taken by white men. Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts has been tapped as the next secretary of state; former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican, was picked to run the Pentagon and White House chief of staff Jack Lew is expected to be named treasury secretary later this week.

    The White House is expected to announce more members of Obama’s Cabinet in the coming weeks, giving the president a chance to present a team that reflects the diverse coalition of women, Hispanics and minorities that helped give him a second term. Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and a close friend of the president, removed her name from consideration for the State Department last month following criticism from Republicans over her initial comments about the attacks on Americans in Libya. Several female House Democrats said the criticism of Rice, who is black, was indicative of sexism and racism.

    EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said last month she is stepping down after nearly four years as the administration’s chief environmental watchdog. No replacement has been named, although several names are reportedly under consideration, including Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and Jackson’s deputy, Bob Perciasepe. Gregoire is a longtime Obama ally who is leaving office next week after two terms, while Perciasepe is slated to take over as acting EPA administrator after Jackson leaves, expected in the next few weeks. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, meanwhile, is expected to leave sometime after the inauguration, while Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s plans are unknown. Contenders to replace Chu include former North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Gregoire.

  • Dr. Nori Gives Spiritual Touch To Professional Excellence

    Dr. Nori Gives Spiritual Touch To Professional Excellence

    Man does not liveby bread alone.What else doesone need depends on thethinking of the person. ToDr. Dattatreyudu Nori, it isa touch of spirituality thatlends strength to him as amedical professional. Aderivative of thespirituality that hepossesses and practices isthe desire to serve and helpthe less fortunate in society.In Dr. Nori one sees aglorious combination ofmaterial success andspiritual excellence.Dr. Dattatreyudu NoriM.D., FACR, FACRO, isProfessor and ExecutiveVice Chairman of theRadiation OncologyDepartment at TheNewYork-PresbyterianHospital/Weill CornellMedical College in NewYork City.

    In addition, Dr.Nori is Chairman ofRadiation Oncology at TheNew York Hospital MedicalCenter of Queens. He isalso the Director of theCancer Center at the NewYork Hospital Queens, inwhich capacity he headsthat organization’s cancerprogram. Dr. Noricompleted hisundergraduate training atKurnool Medical Collegeand received hispostgraduate medicaldegree from OsmaniaUniversity in India. Hethen joined the staff ofMemorial Sloan-KetteringCancer Center in New YorkCity, where he becameChief of the BrachytherapyService before acceptingthe current position asChairman of RadiationOncology at Cornell.Dr. Nori has aninternational reputation asa pioneer and authority inradiation oncology andbrachytherapy. He wasinstrumental inintroducing the currenttechniques and clinicalconcepts of High Dose RateBrachytherapy forgynecological,genitourinary, thoracic andhead and neck tumors.

    His research also included efforts to improve the outcome forpatients with prostate cancer,lung cancer, pancreas, breast andother cancers. Dr. Nori has servedas principal investigator fornumerous clinical trailssponsored by the National CancerInstitute and has received severalnational and internationalawards for his contributions tocancer research, including theDistinguished Alumnus Award ofthe Memorial Sloan-KetteringCancer Center Alumni Society. Hehas been called “a recognizedleader in his specialty” by theprestigious New England Journalof Medicine.Dr. Nori served in theAmerican Cancer Society invarious positions includingChairmanship of the ProfessionalEducation Committee. TheAmerican Cancer Societyhonored him with their highestprestigious award “Tribute toLife” for his accomplishments incancer research.

    Dr. Nori has trained more than150 residents and fellows, some ofwhom have become Chairman ofacademic departments in the U.S.Dr. Nori is a Fellow in theAmerican College of Radiology,Fellow in the American College ofRadiation Oncology, pastPresident of the AmericanBrachytherapy Society, and acurrent member of severalnational and internationaloncology societies. He is also anAssociate Editor of threeoncology journals as well as aVisiting Professor to manyuniversities in the U.S. andabroad. He has published threebooks and more than 200scientific articles. He has givenseveral prestigious lectureshipssuch as the Probstein Oncologylecture at Washington Universityin St. Louis.

    He received a GoldMedal from the Indian MedicalAssociation for his contributionsto cancer research and trainingIndian physicians in the U.S. Healso received the Excelsior Awardfrom the Network of IndianProfessionals in the United Statesand many Indian Organizationsin the U.S., such as the NargisDutt Cancer Foundation and theFederation of Indian Associationshave honored him for hiscontributions to cancer research.Dr. Nori has provided technicaland scientific help to manycancer centers in India, SouthAmerica and Israel, and he is alsothe Founding Member of theIndo-American Cancer Institutefor Women and Children, a stateof-the art 250 bed cancer andresearch institute located inHyderabad, A.P. which wasinaugurated by the PrimeMinister of India in 2001.

    In addition, Dr. Nori is a Consultantto the United NationsInternational Atomic EnergyAgency, advising on theformulation of guidelines for thetreatment of cancer in developingcountries. In a recent surveyconducted by the reputable CastleConnolly Medical Ltd andpublished in America’s TopDoctors, Dr. Nori has beenselected as one of the top doctorsin America. In this survey, morethan 250,000 leading doctors wereasked to name the nation’s bestphysicians in various specialties -those “to whom you would sendmembers of your family”. Themost important criterion forphysician selection wasexcellence in patient care,education, residency, boardcertification, fellowships,professional reputation, research,hospital affiliation, academicstature and medical schoolfaculty appointment andexperience.

    In a more recentsurvey done by the most popularwoman’s magazine in the U.S.,The Ladies’ Home Journal, Dr.Nori has also been named as oneof the top doctors in America forthe treatment of cancers inwomen. Dr. Nori was alsohonored by Senator Jon Corgine,Chairman of the DemocraticSenatorial Committee and byCouncil Speaker Gifford Milllerfor his contributions to cancerresearch.Dr. Nori continues to be activeas clinician, teacher, researcherand administrator of two largeRadiation Oncology Departmentsand the Cancer Center at NewYork Hospital Queens.As I write his profile here inNew York Dr. Nori is away toIndia where he is addressing aGlobal Health Summit in Kochifrom January 2 to 5. Dr. Nori isthere to talk about prevention ofCervical cancer in India.

    He isthere to give out the message thatit can be prevented in India justas well as it is prevented in USA.Dr. Nori is a visiting professor tomany universities across theglobe and is frequently traveling.In India, which is his countryof origin, he has helped set up anumber of hospitals. One suchhospital – Indo American CancerHospital with 500 beds is state ofthe art cancer hospital inHyderabad. It was founded in2002 and was inaugurated by thethen Prime Minister of India Mr.Atal Behari Vajpayee.Dr. Nori lives with his wifeSubhadra in Scarsdale, New York.His wife is a physician,academician and chairperson ofthe Department of Rehabilitationat Jacobi Medical Centeraffiliated with Albert EinsteinCollege of Medicine in New York.His son, Sateesh and daughterin-law Joy, are both attorneysand his daughter, Priya and sonin-law Himanshu, are bothphysicians.

  • Dr. Sukhvinder Ranu Nostalgic about India, Tradition, Values

    Dr. Sukhvinder Ranu Nostalgic about India, Tradition, Values

    Dr. Sukhvinder Ranu is among those successful professionals who fully enjoyed the love and affection of a joint family. A son of High School teacher, Sardar Gurnam Singh, Dr. Ranu grew up in a family that valued higher education. Inspired by family traditions and equally influenced by his elder brother, Dr. Amrik Singh Ranu who worked as a medical doctor, he not only chose the medical profession for himself but also excelled in it. Today he is settled in Garden City Park, Long Island, New York with his wife and two young children while maintaining a close contact with his 84 year old father who lives in Vancouver, Canada with Dr. Ranu’s sister and mother.

    Born in village Sarhala Ranuan in the famous Banga Tehsil of district Nawan Shahr in Punjab, Ranu completed his medical degree from Government Medical College at Patiala, Punjab and gave a helping hand to his elder brother in his private clinic. After a brief stint of working in a government hospital at Soondh in Nawanshahr district, Dr. Ranu moved to Canada in 1990 to join his parents where he soon realized that a better career awaited him in the USA. He moved to New York in 1995 to do his residency as a Pediatrician. He joined the State University Health Science Center in Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Ranu emerged as a respectable name in the field of Neonatology. Serving in the Department of Pediatrics at Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn, NY, he is helping the community as a specialist who takes care of the new born and the prematurely born babies. As a neonatologist, he evaluates, stabilizes, and treats infants who require medical intervention, including premature babies, babies who need help to breathe at birth, and babies born with lifethreatening medical conditions.

    Content with his professional life, Dr. Ranu is involved in a number of social and professional organizations. In recent years Dr. Ranu got increasingly involved in community service. He regularly participates in social and cultural celebrations organized by various organizations. Earlier this year he was elected as the president of India Association of Long Island, the premier organizations of Indian American population in Long Island area with a membership of 1600. The association is the largest group of Indian American population in New York Metro region

    representing people with roots in India irrespective of their religious or political affiliations .He is also a board member of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Queens and Long Island, which is a professional organization supported by more than two thousand physicians from Queens and Long Island. A cheerful family man Dr. Ranu attributes his successful medical career to his family. He likes to spend time with his wife Darshan, a housewife and sons Ashvinder who is doing major in Psychology and Business Administration at Stonybrook University, preparing to be a lawyer and Akaashdeep who is in High School and plans to go in to medical profession.

    Speaking about his wife, Darshan, Dr. Ranu said his wife enjoyed the role of a housewife. To her tending her husband and two young sons is a pleasure she loves to indulge in. However, she has diverse interests. As the First Lady of the India Association of Long Island, Darshan has been working closely with IALI’s Women’s Forum that aims at educating and updating women members on various important issues, including family’s health. Because of her leadership role, the participation of women in the Forum activities tripled. An achievement, in deed. The Ranu family is fond of traveling and seeing places. They have been to most parts of the US, Canada and Mexico. Dr. Ranu has a passion for nature photography and has a rich collection of photos on various moods of nature.

    Q. How do you describe yourself?

    DR. RANU: I am a physician specializing in Neonatology-looking after ailments of premature and newborn babies. I work hard to ensure that the society is blessed with healthy new citizens who could meet the expectations of the future. I am a family man who is blessed with two school going children. I am fortunate to be receiving the love and affection of my mother and father who live in Vancouver, Canada.

    Q. How do you define success?

    ANS: I think I am a successful professional working as an Assistant Professor in medical field. I enjoy my job teaching young physicians in New York. I have a happy family who make me feel very content with life.

    Q: What was your family’s contribution in shaping your life?

    ANS: I learned from my father that education is very important for succeeding in life. He retired as a principal of a High School and inspired me to do well in my school and college. I was a bright student who had not much difficulty pursuing the medical career. I also followed my elder brother, who owned his medical practice, and helped him for a few years in his clinic.

    Q: How did you arrive in America? What challenges you faced here?

    ANS: In the Eighties I graduated from medical school and got employment in a government hospital in Punjab. Meanwhile my father immigrated to Canada to live with my sister. He wished me to live with him. In order to get my father and mother’s affection and with a desire to stay close to them I decided to move to Canada. Afterwards I moved to New York to pursue higher studies in Pediatrics and specialize in Neonatology.

    Q: What is your future plan?

    ANS: I would like to continue working in the hospital but also would like to work towards setting up my own practice. I am also interested in social and community service. I want to spend more time in community organizations. As a leader in the India Association of Long Island I will continue play a role in mobilizing our people for good cause and hold meaningful activities.

    Q: Is there something you miss in your life?

    ANS: Our community is known for successful professionals. Indian American doctors and professionals are highly respected in this country.We are dedicated to our family values and keep our unique culture alive in this country. Though we are very successful in our professions we are deprived of the social warmth that is easily available back home in India. People of my generation clearly view the changing values in this country with a lot of concern. In spite of our commitment to Indian values I feel that the younger generation of Indians,who are born and raised in this country, are not fully aware of our traditions and care little about concerns and feelings of their ageing parents. This situation bothers me a lot.

    Q: What is your message for the younger generation?

    ANS: I would like to advise the younger generation to be sensitive about their family values and traditions. They shouldn’t deviate from the culture of their parents and grand parents. I would be very happy if the younger generation would continue our tradition to look after their elders without sending them away in long term care facility. Our elders deserve a lot of love and care because they had sacrificed a lot to ensure good future for their offspring.

  • Back from the Brink

    Back from the Brink

    What a cliff-hangar it was! Even Hollywood could not have provided this sort of dramatic script. First, it was Senate which passed, in the early hours of Tuesday, January 1 Fiscal Cliff deal potentially averting a disaster not only for the tax payers but for the US economy itself. Then, it was the turn of the House to pass this bill, also late evening on Tuesday, overcoming opposition from conservative Republicans. The month of December saw quite a bit of nail-biting drama as both the sides, Democrats and Republicans, tried to one-up each other in negotiations. Democrats wanted to hike taxes on those making more than 250,000 along with other items like hike in estate taxes but offered no spending cuts, while Republicans wanted to preserve all of the bush-era tax cuts while proposing serious curtailment to the entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare etc., items which were off limits to Democrats.

    The impasses in negotiations were making markets nervous – the Dow Jones index was see-sawing wildly. The confusion on tax rates was also beginning to grow. With the looming deadline of December 31, speaker Boehner tried to rekindle the negotiations by devising another plan – the so called Plan B -, which would permanently extend almost all of the tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush for all households under $1 million, thus sparing majority of the Americans from the expiration of the bush-era tax cuts while raising the taxes on those making more than 1 million per year. But the plan was doomed from the start. Not only Speaker Boehner failed to get the support from the anti-tax conservative members of his party, the plan would not have even passed the Democratic controlled Senate. In the end, realizing that the Plan B was not going anywhere, Speaker Boehner pulled it from consideration.

    With the House unable to provide any measure to avert the fiscal cliff, it was left to the Senate to craft a deal.Working directly with Vice President Joe Biden, Minority leader Mitch McConnell, in barely two days, formulated and passed the bill by a lopsided 89-8 margin in the early hours of Tuesday, underscoring the anxiety felt by both sides which would have not only plunged the economy back into severe recession but would have had disastrous and negative impact on the world economy. But what is Fiscal Cliff ? In short, Fiscal Cliff is the term, coined by Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke, that refers to major economic events that would take place in 2013 due to the expiration of the 2010 Tax Relief Act, which extended the Bush-Era tax cuts by two years and Budget Control Act of 2011 which was designed to tackle the Debt crisis of 2011 and which also included mechanisms to reduce the deficit by half by automatically triggering across- the -board cuts, called sequestration, in all domestic spending programs and defense. It was estimated by Congressional Budget Office that the automatic triggering of tax increases and sequestrations, the economy, which is slugging at less than 2 percent per year, would plunge back into recession with unemployment going up to 9 percent.

    What if there had been NO Fiscal Cliff Deal? According to CBS Money Watch, the expiration of the tax cuts would bring the system back to 2001 tax rates, Clinton-era rates, which would make everybody’s taxes go up substantially. The paycheck would be much smaller than the previous months. There would also be a lot of confusion in terms of withholding – whether to use 2012 tax rates or to use 2013 tax rates. IRS has issued guidelines that any paycheck cut in the later half of January has to assume that the Bush era tax cuts have expired. This would make paycheck smaller than previous months

    Another casualty would come in the form of sequestration, wherein automatic cuts triggered would reduce the budgets of government programs by 8 to 10 percent. Government workers could face furlough anywhere from less than 20 days to longer duration. The cuts would not have to be immediate and can be phased over several weeks by respective government departments. But the cuts would be divided equally between defense and other government programs, which mean everything from Homeland security, public schools to health to what is on the table. More than 2 million unemployed would also see the expiration of their unemployment benefits thereby throwing those more into misery, given the weak employment situation. Even doctors would not be spared. Physicians would see 27 percent reduction in the Medicare payments because congress failed to pass the Doc-Fix that would have addressed the scheduled cuts.

    Finally, the US economy would bear the massive brunt. According to Congressional Budget Office, not only it would slide back into recession but the unemployment would also go up to 9 percent. The economy would contract by 1.3 percent in the first half of 2013. Pretty grim. So what is next? Recognizing the severity of the situation, Senate passed with overwhelming margin of 89-8 the so- called deal. The deal would extend Bush-era tax cuts permanently for people making less than $400,000 per year and households making less than $450,000. It would also postpone the sequester for two months. The unemployment insurance has been extended for another year. The deal also affects taxes on investment income and estate taxes. But, still, the drama would not end. The deal passed by the Senate faced uncertain future in the House, where its passage was not guaranteed. Republicans were clamoring for more cuts in the form of amendments and send the bill back to Senate for reconsideration. That would have put the country over the Fiscal Cliff. But, in the end, realizing that they don’t have the votes for spending cut amendments and knowing that they would be blamed for the resulting budget chaos, Republicans reluctantly approved the Senate bill by a bi-partisan vote of 267 to 167, which included most of the house Democrats and less than half of the Republican majority.

    But the deal is far from being perfect. It has infuriated not only liberals but conservatives also. Even though Democrats are grumbling about the increase in threshold for tax hike, the Republicans are sore because it does nothing to address the runaway spending and the debt. The deal does not solve the fiscal problems entirely but promises a new, and bigger, battle in two months over the spending cuts and how to raise the debt limit beyond $16.4 trillion. Spending cuts to military and cuts to domestic programs have only been delayed for two months. Republicans have vowed to fight for a new deal that would include significant cuts in government benefit programs like Medicare and Medicaid health care for retirees and the poor, which are responsible for the ballooning federal debt. But, for now, the deal has averted the calamity in the form of immediate tax hikes and resulting economic recession, and has brought the country back from the brink.

  • AS I See It:Restricting Guns: Now It Is Between Lawmakers And National Rifle Association

    AS I See It:Restricting Guns: Now It Is Between Lawmakers And National Rifle Association

    Adam Lanza, clad in ‘black battle fatigues and a military vest’ picked up the deadliest arms as if to wage a battle against his enemies and thus become a ‘martyr’ to the memory of his countrymen. The monstrosity and evil attached to his crime didn’t deter him the least from raising one of the fiercest guns on the weakest, meekest, and the most defenseless offspring of our society. He killed the very womb that engendered him and destroyed the very school that taught him to live his life. He inflicted unbearable pain on parents of twenty first graders, and family members of six adult women. The hurt that refuses to heal prompted American citizens to indulge in dillydallying debate over banning guns which many believe should not have been in hands of the civilians at all. The momentum of discussion fizzled out within a week after the tragedy. The menacing gun enthusiasts and their National Rifle Association lobbied for more guns both in hands of the bad guy and in hands of the good guy.The sheer apathy and cruelty of Lanza’s action stirred the emotions of the nation and choked the president who so far remained very careful and restrained in exhibiting his feelings in public. ‘The Slaughter of Innocence,’ however, has hardly prompted the lawmakers to stand for the weak and defenseless citizens. When the National Rifle Association commented on massacre of children, it appeared a reasonable solution could be found to the gross abuse of ‘the right to bear Arms,’ as provided in the American constitution. But the much awaited press conference of the NRA, proved a damp squib as nothing afresh could come out of its perception of the tragedy in Newtown. . Their wellknown recipe, “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” is nothing less than a sadistic understanding of the rising violence in public life. It is testing time for American legislature, the executive and the judiciary to frame suitable laws so that Americans never live under the reign of fear unleashed by some deranged lot of the society. At this time there are very few options. Mental health, guns, culture of violence in entertainment, and the media representation are some of the factors that have been blamed for the rising violence. The correlation of all these factors in so many tragedies can’t be wholly denied. But what are the possible solutions? It is true that had Adam Lanza not had access to the most dangerous weapons, he could not have killed 20 children and six adults. The case of a deranged man attacking 22 children with a knife on the same day in China provides a clear contrast. Had he access to AR-15, he would have killed hundreds of them. But fortunately, no children died in the attack. There is no doubt that worsening mental health of Americans is at an alarming point, but so is of many other industrialized countries. What can government do in the personal relations of husband and wife, their alleged paramours, children, stepchildren? Mental problems are most difficult to diagnose when 70% of the patients and their families remain in the denial mode. Many of the mentally unhealthy people show no signs of concern and even don’t have anything objectionable in their backgrounds. The point that mental situation can take U-turn in a flash of seconds is hard to tackle in the given circumstances. But what can be done during such a mental situation? Let’s keep guns like AR-15 out of the way of people who suffer occasionally from hallucinations and panic attacks. Culture of violence in entertainment industry and the media representation of it in actual life are said to cause tragic incidences of violence. But there are no immediate and foreseeable solutions to these problems. Even if we try to work on reducing violence in the entertainment industry, its real effect won’t be seen for years to come. The problem of gun violence in the meanwhile may become more intractable and cause more hurt on our psyche as a nation. Media representation of violence, indeed, is one of the problems that make gun violence representative in most news briefings, psychodramas, documentaries, and movies. But that alone isn’t the cause of rising gun violence. The problem of violence in media is undoubtedly worldwide, but why are Americans alone more affected than anybody else in the world? According to Washington Post columnist, Fareed Zakaria, the solution to gun violence isn’t complex at all, if there is a political will to solve it. The problem that stares in our faces is that we are 5 percent of world population, but we own 50 percent of world’s guns. Gun violence in America is thirty times that of Australia and France and twelve times higher that of other countries. The interesting thing is that American Bill of Rights by which second amendment ‘right to bear Arms’ was provided, is based on British Bill of Rights of 1689. In order to fully understand the intent of Second Amendment in our constitution, we should go back to all debates and views of the founding fathers. Their main concern was safety, security and freedom of speech so that organized government may not trample individual rights provided in the Bill of Rights. But such privileges were never unrestricted if some antisocial, instead of government, start threatening the very safety, security and freedom of speech. The Second Amendment should have occasioned some laws that would have checked any transgression to safety, security and freedom of speech. But in the absence of declared laws for more than two hundred years, frequent mass shootings are considered unrelated and isolated incidences. How can they be unrelated when access to the very automatic guns used in the crime has been made possible due to the Second Amendment? It is pertinent to dwell here on the British Bill of Rights, 1689 which founding fathers consulted to draft American Bill of Rights. John Lilburne (1614-1657), who was the background inspiration for philosopher John Locke, the key influence in ensuring individual liberties of common people states: For where there is no law declared, there can be no transgression.

    Therefore it is very requisite that the parliament would declare their privileges to the whole commons of England, that so no man may through ignorance (by the parliament’s default) run causelessly into the hazard of the loss of their lives, liberties, or estates.

    For here it is acknowledged by themselves that their power is limited by those that betrust them, and that they are not to do what they list but what they ought, namely, to provide for the people’s weal and not for their woe: so that unknown privileges are as dangerous as unlimited prerogatives being both of them secret snares, especially for the best-affected people. – John Lilburne, The 150th Page [1645] In the above statement made 367 years ago, Lilburne warns that Parliament’s failure to declare law and privileges to the whole commons of England may lead some men ‘through ignorance run ceaselessly into the hazard of the loss of their lives, liberties or estates. The English Bill of Rights that was adopted in 1689 reflects Lilburne’s viewpoints.

    In England, the Catholic King was replaced with a Protestant one. The rights of all protestants were preserved in the Bill of Rights adopted in 1689. The following text of clauses 7, 9, and 13 throws sufficient light on the intents and purposes of American Bill of Rights:
    7. That the subjects which are protestants, may have arms for their defense suitable to their conditions, and as allowed by law.
    9. That the freedom of speech, and debates or proceedings in parliament, ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of parliament.
    13. And that for redress of all grievances, and for the amending, strengthening, and preserving of the laws, parliaments ought to be held frequently.It is right time for Congress and the Senate to take up defining the Bill of Rights so that it becomes quite evident that the Second Amendment was designed for ‘people’s weal not for their woe.’

  • Former British PM Margaret Thatcher discharged from hospital after surgery

    Former British PM Margaret Thatcher discharged from hospital after surgery

    LONDON (TIP): Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher has been discharged from hospital after she underwent a bladder surgery early last week, a media report said on December 30. The 87-year-old baroness had spent Christmas in a Central London hospital after being admitted earlier this month. According to BBC, Thatcher was doing well and left the hospital to “convalesce privately.” It is, however, not clear whether she is now at home. The former Conservative leader was said to be ‘doing well’ after the minor operation. “She’s very tough. The doctors are perfectly happy. They say the operation has been completely satisfactory,” former adviser and friend, Lord Bell was quoted by BBC News as saying, following her operation. Earlier last week, the British Prime Minister David Cameron had tweeted a message to Thatcher after her admission, wishing her a ‘speedy recovery’.

    Thatcher was the UK’s first female prime minister and served three terms, between 1979 and 1990. The veteran ex-premier’s public appearances have been very restricted over recent years due to continued ill health. Her health was thrust into the global spotlight this year when Meryl Streep starred in a controversial Hollywood film about her. The Iron Lady drew criticism from Cameron and others for concentrating on the dementia she has suffered after a series of small strokes. Meryl Streep won an Oscar for the role. Her daughter, Carol Thatcher, has previously spoken of her mother’s struggle with dementia.

  • Want To Be A Doctor In Britain? Brace For Tougher Examinations

    Want To Be A Doctor In Britain? Brace For Tougher Examinations

    LONDON (TIP): Indian doctors wanting to work in Britain will face a more rigorous assessment in future. This was decided by the United Kingdom’s health authorities after figures showed a high proportion of doctors who lose their registration in UK are from abroad. Almost 36% of all doctors practicing in the UK are from abroad, with the largest segment coming from India. Without them the National Health Service (NHS) would collapse.

    But in the last five years it was found that 63% of overseas doctors either struck off from the register or suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC) are qualified for the profession outside UK. Dr Vivienne Nathanson, British Medical Association (BMA) director of professional activities, said, “It is clear that doctors qualified overseas are more likely to be subject to disciplinary action. However, more research is needed to understand why this is the case.

    The UK is still short of doctors and so we must ensure that those coming from overseas are given adequate support to be able to practice medicine in the UK.” The GMC’s new reforms included an induction programme , better checks and a review of the present testing system. Niall Dickson, the chief executive of the GMC, said, “We absolutely acknowledge that when it comes to the serious end of the scale, those from overseas are more likely to appear, and we have set about a series of reforms to address this.” A pilot scheme of the new induction programme for all arriving doctors is scheduled to be launched in early 2013. This will combine online training in British medical practices with a one-day course covering some of the issues facing new entrants.

    The Performance and Linguistic Assessments Board test for applying doctors will be made more difficult then present. The doctors will have to demonstrate their clinical skills and competence before they are accepted for practice in the UK.

  • Developed world looks at India for investment, trade : US report

    Developed world looks at India for investment, trade : US report

    NEW YORK (TIP): As the global centre of economic growth moves to Asia, India has captured the attention of developed economies looking for new investment and trade opportunities, says a new report. Noting that recent growth in India has also emanated from a number of under-examined sectors other than information technology (IT) sector, it says, the Indian economy will need to continue to diversify in order to propel its development.

    And the US will need to pay close attention to all aspects of these changes in order to sustain strong bilateral economic ties, says the report by Wadhwani Chair in USIndia Policy Studies at the Centre for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS).

    Authored by CSIS fellow Persis Khambatta Karl Inderfurth, Wadhwani Chair and former assistant secretary of state for South Asia, the report lists some key recommendations from its year-long Emerging Indian Economy Signature Speaker Series.

    There is arguably no sector more critical to India’s future growth than energy, says the report, with a chronic energy shortage, inadequate infrastructure, and an insatiable demand coupled with environmental concerns.

    Vikram Mehta of the Shell Group of Companies (India) stressed that India must find a way to handle a surge in energy demand, highlighting that technology is underutilised, the environment is threatened, and New Delhi has an inadequate policy framework through which to address these issues.

    Rajiv Lall of the Infrastructure Development Finance Company used the term “infrastruggles” to describe the obstacles facing the private sector for the delivery of infrastructurerelated services.

    John Flannery of GE India suggested that governments should view infrastructure as a top national priority after national security. Innovative, efficient infrastructure enables many other vital sectors to flourish.

    Indian health care industry’s biggest challenges include ramping up capacity to serve hundreds of millions of citizens and a growing incidence of non-communicable diseases, according to Prathap Reddy of the Apollo Hospitals Group. India’s National Manufacturing Policy plans to increase the sector’s share of GDP from 16 percent to 25 percent, including creating 100 million new jobs.

    Explaining how India can accomplish this, Arvind Goel of Tata AutoComp Systems referred to a number of policy instruments, including the recent creation of National Investment and Manufacturing Zones, zones in which state and central governments modify regulations on difficult issues in order to encourage greater manufacturing growth.

  • Venezuela’s Chavez Still Has ‘Severe’ Respiratory Problem

    Venezuela’s Chavez Still Has ‘Severe’ Respiratory Problem

    CARACAS (TIP) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is still suffering a “severe” respiratory infection that has hindered his breathing as he struggles to recover from cancer surgery in Cuba, the government said on January 3 .

    The 58-year-old socialist leader has not been seen in public nor heard from in more than three weeks. Officials say he is in delicate condition after his fourth operation in just 18 months for an undisclosed form of cancer in his pelvic area. “Comandante Chavez has faced complications as a result of a severe lung infection,” Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said in the latest official update on the president’s condition. “This infection has caused a breathing insufficiency that requires Comandante Chavez to comply strictly with medical treatment,” the communique added, giving no further details. Vice President Nicolas Maduro had earlier returned to Venezuela on Thursday after visiting Chavez in hospital as rumors swirled that the president could be close to death.

    Flanked by senior government figures including Diosdado Cabello, the head of the National Assembly, Maduro toured a coffee production plant in Caracas – the type of visit that the president made frequently before he fell ill. “He is conscious of the battle that he’s in, and has the same fighting spirit as always, with the same strength and energy as always, with his confidence and security,” Maduro said. “We’re going to be alongside him with the same strength and the same energy.” Maduro said Cabello, Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez and Chavez’s elder brother Adan, among others, had all been with the president in the Havana hospital. Venezuelan bonds rallied to five-year highs earlier on Thursday on rumors that Chavez’s health had taken a turn for the worse.

    Foreign investors generally hope for a more business-friendly government in Venezuela, and its assets have rallied in recent months on news of his illness. In scenes that recalled Chavez’s hourslong televised visits to building sites, hospitals and oil refineries, Maduro told workers at the nationalized Fama de America factory that there was no “transition” taking place in the country.

    “The only transition in Venezuela is the transition to socialism,” he said in comments carried live by state television. “It began six years ago, ordered by Comandante Hugo Chavez as chief and president, elected, re-elected and ratified, much as it pains the bourgeois hucksters and the right, who have done so much damage to our fatherland.” Chavez’s abrupt exit from the political scene would be a huge shock for the South American OPEC nation. His oil-financed socialism has made him a hero to the poor majority but critics call him a dictator. His condition is being watched closely by Latin American allies that have benefited from his help, as well as investors attracted by Venezuela’s lucrative and widely traded debt.

    ‘MAKE NO MISTAKE’
    Chavez is still set to be sworn in on January 10, as spelled out in the constitution.

    If he were to die or had to step aside, new elections would be held within 30 days, with Maduro running as the ruling Socialist Party (PSUV) candidate. While the constitution gives January 10 as the start of a new presidential term, it does not explicitly state what happens if a president-elect cannot take office on that date. Top PSUV officials have suggested that Chavez’s inauguration could be postponed – while the opposition says any delay would be just the latest sign the former soldier is not fit to govern.

    Cabello said the “Chavismo” movement was in pain but remained resolute, and he issued a warning to the opposition: “Make no mistake about these people or this revolution. It is going to cost you very, but very, dearly,” he said. On Saturday, Cabello will likely be reelected as head of the Chavista-dominated National Assembly, a key post that could see him assume Chavez’s role temporarily while new elections are called should the president have to step down.

    In the past Cabello has been considered as a rival of Maduro, but the pair have been at pains to deny that. Their appearance side-by-side at the coffee factory on Thursday looked to be the latest effort to project a unified front. Last year, Chavez staged what appeared to be remarkable comeback from the disease to win re-election to a new six-year term in October despite being weakened by radiation therapy. But he returned to Cuba for more treatment within weeks of his win.

    Officials have said he suffered unexpected bleeding and then a respiratory infection after a six-hour operation on December 11. That respiratory infection caused further complications, they have said, without giving more details.

  • Beetroot Juice May Help Lower BP

    Beetroot Juice May Help Lower BP

    One quick way to lower your blood pressure could be as simple as drinking a glass of beetroot juice, researchers say. Researchers from Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia, found that within hours of drinking beetroot juice, a group of healthy men saw their blood pressure drop by an average of four to five points. While that number may seem small, WebMD writes that “on a public health level a reduction like that would equate to a 10 percent reduction in deaths due to heart disease.”

    “It’s promising that we can see an effect from a single dose,” the New York Daily News quoted Dr. Leah Coles as saying. “That effect might be even greater over the long term if they are drinking it day upon day,” Coles said. The study involved 15 men and 15 women who drank 17.6 ounces of a drink containing about three-fourths beetroot juice and one-fourth apple juice or a placebo drink. Among both men and women, blood pressure levels dropped six hours after drinking the beet juice.

    But it was the men who saw the most significant difference, an average of about 4.7 points among the beetroot juice drinkers. While beetroots contain hearthealthy compounds like vitamins C and K, fiber and polyphenols, scientists claim it’s the high nitrate content that’s likely responsible for the ability to reduce blood pressure. LOSE WEIGHT WITH NATURAL WEIGHT LOSS FOODS Weight loss foods are the first options that come to mind when we think of losing weight.

    And rightly so; food is crucial to daily living, and intricately tied to how much we do or do not enjoy our lives. But don’t look at newly concocted weight loss foods if you’re in the market to shop for weight loss. Natural weight loss foods are what you need, and luckily these are available in abundance. So what are these natural weight loss foods? We give you a variety of vegetarian and non vegetarian natural weight loss foods and solve all dilemmas about weight loss through diet. Let’s make a shopping list of these natural weight loss foods. But first let’s look at how one must consume these weight loss foods…

    How much harm does a skipped meal cause to the body? Skipping a meal is not the treatment for obesity. The body’s metabolism slows down in starvation due to which it goes into a conservation mode and hence it’s a natural process of the body to expend lesser energy. Besides, an empty stomach for a long period of time also causes increased acidity and discomfort. Boost metabolism by snacking piously Your love for chips and home entertainment is a combination that will either give you the apple or pear shape body. Have small snacks every two hours like nuts, fruits or low calorie diet.

    Choose wisely to boost the metabolism. Eating frequently will only boost metabolism if you eat the right snacks. What are the foods one must completely avoid to lose weight? There is no food that one should completely avoid since the body requires a certain amount of all nutrients, even fats as in essential fatty acids, carbohydrates for glucose, proteins for amino acids to build tissues and wear and tear, also a whole range of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients.

    Whole grains Whole grains are less processed than the refined starches we find in most bread and pasta products. Not only does the refining process remove a lot of essential nutrients from the grain, it breaks down the fiber before you eat it. Eating whole grains that make you feel fuller for longer may help raise your metabolism with the effort your body takes to break it down. Opt for wheat, oats, barley and brown rice. Foods rich in Vitamin C Apparently 500mg of vitamin C can burn 30-39 percent calories while you exercise. Bet you did not know this tiny fact about vitamin C.

    Load up on oranges and guavas on your next trip to the market. Foods rich in Omega 3 Omega 3 is responsible for controlling inflammation and rebooting metabolism. Mind you, these food products help you shed the kilos only if you combine their consumption with exercise. Besides fish, you can source Omega 3 from flaxseeds, walnuts and eggs. Drink plenty of water Water plays an important role for the body’s healthy functioning. Water aids digestion, lubricates the body’s joints and even makes calorie burning more efficient.

    Is that why we habitually sip on water after we eat anything? It is a good thing after all. But does that mean that simply drinking water is enough for weight management? Certainly not. Simply drinking water is not enough. Also, does this mean that you should drink at least eight glasses of water every day? The urine colour is the best test. If it’s translucent or has a tinge of yellow, your body is hydrated, if it is bright yellow, drink up. But excess water can lead to water intoxication and hyponatermia, so ensure that you sip one cup at a time at a regular intervals instead of guzzling bottles at a time.

    Have a good healthy breakfast No time for breakfast? You don’t have an appetite? Excuses, excuses! Here is a good excuse why you should have a healthy breakfast everyday. If you skip breakfast, your body thinks you are fasting, which slows down the metabolic process. Besides increasing your metabolism, breakfast stabilizes your hormones and blood sugar levels. Green tea Cardiologist, Dr. KK Agarwal reads between the lines, “While green tea may boost metabolism; this is not enough to make one lose weight fast, unless people complement it with physical workouts and other alternatives.”

  • Freezing Fat, Latest Rage In Weight Loss

    Freezing Fat, Latest Rage In Weight Loss

    Aplastic surgery treatment that uses extreme cold to blast away love handles and spare tyres is rapidly gaining popularity in America. The CoolSculpting treatment, which can be done during a lunch hour, is proving particularly popular with men who do not want surgery or liposuction, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. The procedure is done with a machine that uses vacuum pressure and deep cooling to target fat. It freezes unwanted fat cells in the waist, hips, thighs, buttocks, abdomen, arms and back.

    Patients can even read a book or watch a film while undergoing the treatment. It is used for small areas of fat that refuse to budge with exercise, and is done without anaesthetic or medication. Dr Grant Stevens, a plastic surgeon at Marina Plastic Surgery, which has so far done 4000 procedures in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, claimed he had his love handles done himself. After the treatment the fat dies, the skin tightens, and it’s incredibly easy only takes about an hour, he explained. He added the fat once frozen doesn’t come back. Moreover there are no incisions, scars or suction hoses, he said.

    Only 13 per cent of his usual clientele are men, but for fat freezing it rises to 45 per cent. The men have their love handles treated. The other place is the tummy, and they also have their man boobs done. Women go for love handles, muffin tops, the thighs and arms, Dr Stevens stated. Dr Mathew Avram, of the Massachusetts General Hospital, who helped to create the technique, said it targeted and cooled fat cells to temperatures that ””trigger their natural death””. But doctors have warned that the system, which was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2010, is not a weight-loss treatment.

  • Lose Weight With Natural Weight Loss Foods

    Lose Weight With Natural Weight Loss Foods

    Weight loss foods are the first options that come to mind when we think of losing weight. And rightly so; food is crucial to daily living, and intricately tied to how much we do or do not enjoy our lives. But don’t look at newly concocted weight loss foods if you’re in the market to shop for weight loss. Natural weight loss foods are what you need, and luckily these are available in abundance. So what are these natural weight loss foods? We give you a variety of vegetarian and non vegetarian natural weight loss foods and solve all dilemmas about weight loss through diet. Let’s make a shopping list of these natural weight loss foods. But first let’s look at how one must consume these weight loss foods…

    How much harm does a skipped meal cause to the body?
    Skipping a meal is not the treatment for obesity. The body’s metabolism slows down in starvation due to which it goes into a conservation mode and hence it’s a natural process of the body to expend lesser energy. Besides, an empty stomach for a long period of time also causes increased acidity and discomfort.

    Boost metabolism by snacking piously
    Your love for chips and home entertainment is a combination that will either give you the apple or pear shape body. Have small snacks every two hours like nuts, fruits or low calorie diet. Choose wisely to boost the metabolism. Eating frequently will only boost metabolism if you eat the right snacks.

    What are the foods one must completely avoid to lose weight?
    There is no food that one should completely avoid since the body requires a certain amount of all nutrients, even fats as in essential fatty acids, carbohydrates for glucose, proteins for amino acids to build tissues and wear and tear, also a whole range of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients.

    Whole grains
    Whole grains are less processed than the refined starches we find in most bread and pasta products.Not only does the refining process remove a lot of essential nutrients from the grain, it breaks down the fiber before you eat it. Eating whole grains that make you feel fuller for longer may help raise your metabolism with the effort your body takes to break it down. Opt for wheat, oats, barley and brown rice.

    Foods rich in Vitamin C
    Apparently 500mg of vitamin C can burn 30-39 percent calories while you exercise. Bet you did not know this tiny fact about vitamin C. Load up on oranges and guavas on your next trip to the market.

    Foods rich in Omega 3
    Omega 3 is responsible for controlling inflammation and rebooting metabolism. Mind you, these food products help you shed the kilos only if you combine their consumption with exercise. Besides fish, you can source Omega 3 from flaxseeds, walnuts and eggs.

    Drink plenty of water
    Water plays an important role for the body’s healthy functioning. Water aids digestion, lubricates the body’s joints and even makes calorie burning more efficient. Is that why we habitually sip on water after we eat anything? It is a good thing after all. But does that mean that simply drinking water is enough for weight management? Certainly not. Simply drinking water is not enough. Also, does this mean that you should drink at least eight glasses of water every day? The urine colour is the best test. If it’s translucent or has a tinge of yellow, your body is hydrated, if it is bright yellow, drink up. But excess water can lead to water intoxication and hyponatermia, so ensure that you sip one cup at a time at a regular intervals instead of guzzling bottles at a time.

    Have a good healthy breakfast
    No time for breakfast? You don’t have an appetite? Excuses, excuses! Here is a good excuse why you should have a healthy breakfast everyday. If you skip breakfast, your body thinks you are fasting, which slows down the metabolic process. Besides increasing your metabolism, breakfast stabilizes your hormones and blood sugar levels.

    Green tea
    Cardiologist, Dr. KK Agarwal reads between the lines, “While green tea may boost metabolism; this is not enough to make one lose weight fast, unless people complement it with physical workouts and other alternatives.”

  • Just Jazz Up Your Living Room

    Just Jazz Up Your Living Room

    Decorating your home doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, you may be surprised at how easy it is to create a new look for just about any room in your house simply by rearranging what you already have, or by purchasing a few inexpensive accessories. The possibilities for changing your decor are limited only by your imagination. But remember, generally speaking, less is more. Don’t cover every surface with pictures and knick-knacks, unless you’re going for the Victorian look. Besides, fewer knick-knacks mean less dusting!

    Photographs and artwork
    Try breaking up the monotony of books on a shelf by tucking photos between stacks of books, or propping photos on easels for display. You can also slip pictures under glass tabletops.

    A picture ledge (a narrow shelf specifically made for pictures) is a great place for displaying all sorts of artworkand it keeps you from covering your walls with nail holes. When hanging artwork on walls, be sure to hang it low enough so that your furniture and pictures are viewed as a unit. Consider grouping pieces together for an eye-catching focal point.

    Lamps and lighting
    Overall lighting sets the mood for any room. Step back and review the lighting in your living room. Most seating should have light available from a lamp or overhead fixture. While you’re looking, check out your lampshades. Do they complement each other? Purchasing a new shade is a quick and inexpensive way to update a lamp. If you have houseplants, consider adding twinkle lights. These lights add warm, subdued lighting when used alone, and great accent light any time.

    Window treatments
    Are your drapes older than you are? May be time for a change. If you want to make your room less-or more-formal, window treatments can do the trick. Look through catalogs and magazines for window treatments you like, and then figure out how to make them yourself.

    An inexpensive fabric remnant draped over a new curtain rod may be all you need. And don’t forget to consider sheets as window treatments. They’re inexpensive, and you can easily find something to complement your decor.

    Rugs, pillows, and throws
    Even if you have carpet, an area rug can be an easy way to mark off a conversation area in your living room. You can angle the rug for extra decorating drama. Purchase a few pillows in complementary patterns or colors and place them around the room for added color. Add a comfy chenille throw and make just about any piece of furniture look like a great place to curl up.

  • Oral Sex Enough For Women!

    Oral Sex Enough For Women!

    Men are more likely to orgasm when sex includes vaginal intercourse and women are more likely to orgasm when they engage in a variety of sex acts, a new study has revealed. Findings from the study of sexual and sexual-health behaviours conducted by Indiana University has provided an updated and much needed snapshot of contemporary Americans’ sexual behaviours, including a description of more than 40 combinations of sexual acts that people perform during sexual events, patterns of condom use by adolescents and adults, and the percentage of Americans participating in same-sex encounters.

    The National Survey of Sexual Health and Behaviour (NSSHB) is one of the most comprehensive studies on these topics in almost two decades and documents the sexual experiences and condom-use behaviours of 5,865 adolescents and adults ages 14 to 94. According to the study’s findings, one of four acts of vaginal intercourse are condom protected in the U.S. (one in three among singles).

    “These data about sexual behaviours and condom use in contemporary America are critically needed by medical and public health professionals who are on the front lines addressing issues such as HIV, sexually transmissible infections and unintended pregnancy,” said Michael Reece of the Centre for Sexual Health Promotion.Debby Herbenick, of the CSHP said Herbenick said: “Findings show that condoms are used twice as often with casual sexual partners as with relationship partners, a trend that is consistent for both men and women across age groups that span 50 years.” The report has also suggested that adults using a condom for intercourse were just as likely to rate the sexual extent positively in terms of arousal, pleasure and orgasm than when having intercourse without one. Many older adults continue to have active pleasurable sex lives, reporting a range of different behaviours and partner types, however adults over the age of 40 have the lowest rates of condom use.

  • Number of Indian students in US drops again

    Number of Indian students in US drops again

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The number of Indian students studying in the United States has dropped continuously for the second consecutive year while the count of international students in the country has now reached a record high with the maximum enrollments from China. In the year 2011-12, the Chinese student enrollments have increased by 23 per cent in total and by 31 per cent at the undergraduate level, according to the 2012 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange released November 14.

    The report finds that the number of international students at colleges and universities in the United States has increased by six per cent to a record high of 7,64,495 in the 2011-12 academic year, while the US students studying abroad increased by one per cent. This year, international exchanges in all 50 states contributed USD 22.7 billion to the US economy.

    Overall, China sends the maximum number of 1,94,029 students in the year 2011-12 as against 1,57,558 in the previous year. While China registered an increase in enrollment in American universities, it dropped for those coming from India by 3.5 per cent to 1,00,270 students. “The number of Indian students in the US in 2011-12 dropped 3.5 per cent compared to the previous year, marking two consecutive years of decline.

    India had been the leading place of origin for international students in the US from 2001-02 through 2008-09,” the report said. In 2000-01 there was a surge in enrollments from India, with an increase of 30 per cent, followed by two more years of strong growth (12 per cent in 2002-03 and seven per cent in 2003-04), the report said

    However, the increases tapered off in 2004-05 and then decrease slightly in 2005-06, before resuming much larger increases in 2006-07 and for the next two years. “In 2009-10, the increases leveled off, and China became the top sender and remains in that position. Students from India make up approximately 13.1 per cent of the total foreign student population in the United States,” the report said. In 2011-12 only 13 per cent of the Indian students were enrolled for undergraduate studies, whereas a majority of them (58.9 per cent) are graduate students and 26.7 per cent on OPT (optional practical training).

    According to Open Doors, nearly three-fifths of the total Indian students are enrolled in science, engineering or mathematics courses, while in China the focus is on business management. Higher education is among the United States’ top service sector exports, as international students provide revenue to the US economy and individual host states for living expenses, including room and board, books and supplies, transportation, health insurance, support for accompanying family members, and other miscellaneous items.

  • Liu delivers State of the City address

    Liu delivers State of the City address

    Calls for higher minimum wage of $11.50 Proposes small biz economic stimulus plan, elimination of corporate welfare; Outlines innovative educational policies

    NEW YORK, NY (TIP): New York City Comptroller John C. Liu reported December 20 on the health of New York City’s economy and put forth an ambitious plan to ensure that New York City’s future benefits every New Yorker, not just the well-connected few. During his State of the City Address, Comptroller Liu called for raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $11.50 per hour over the next five years in order to help the “working poor” climb out of poverty. Liu also outlined initiatives to sustain and rebuild the City’s middle class, including lowering taxes and fines on 90 percent of the City’s small businesses. In order to do so, Liu called for an end to the corporate welfare being doled out annually by the City’s Economic Development Corporation and the elimination of outdated corporate tax loopholes, which cost the City more than $500 million each year.

    In addition to putting forward innovative solutions to impending economic problems, Liu outlined educational policies that would better prepare our City’s youth for the challenges ahead, such as:
    1.Free CUNY tuition to the top 10 percent of every NYC public high-school,
    2.Using City schools as community centers during nonschool hours to offer services like health clinics and financial literacy classes, o Expanding of the Nurse Family Partnership, a program that increases children’s cognitive skills, producing higher reading and math scores,
    3.Expanding the “Computers for Youth” program to every middle school at which at least 75 percent of the students receive a free lunch, in order to provide computers to all low income families,
    4. Creating “sister college” relationships that pair every high school with one of the City’s many colleges and universities, so that college and graduate students can mentor our high-school students.

    Liu also highlighted a number of his office’s successes over the past year; such as the role his office played in the City’s recoupment of $466 million in cost overruns from CityTime, the identification of fraudulent billing on the City’s 911 call center upgrade, emergency spending approvals for the response and recovery related to Superstorm Sandy, and the more than $1 billion saved as part of City bond refinancings. Liu noted that the Mayor and City Council adopted his Capital Acceleration plan to rebuild City infrastructure and spur job growth, an idea he proposed in his last State of the City Address.

    Comptroller Liu also announced that, in the coming weeks, his office will launch Checkbook 2.0, an upgrade to the current online transparency tool, Checkbook NYC, making New York City the most financially transparent government in the United States.

  • Ban all AR-15 type Rapid Fire weapons

    Ban all AR-15 type Rapid Fire weapons

    In all the recent mass massacres including gunning down of 20 children & 6 adults in Newtown, the choice of weapon has been AR-15 Type rapid fire weapon. These weapons of mass destructions can fire 4-6 bullets per Second and around 100 in One Minute. President Clinton put a Ban on assault weapons & President Bush, the domestic pet of war industry, lifted it in 2004. Since then 5 mass murder incidents have happened; First, in March 2005 when 6 students and 2 school officials were shot dead at Red Lake High School in Minnesota and before that the 16yrs old gunman Jeff Weise shot dead his grand father and his girl friend. Second, in April, 2007 at Virginia Tech which left 32 dead and 17 wounded, making it the deadliest shooting incident by a single gunman in U.S. history.

    Third, in January, 2011. Congresswoman Gabby Giffards was critically injured by a gunshot wound in the head; thirteen people were injured and six others were killed in the shooting, among them federal judge John Roll by a lone gunman Jared Laughner. Fourth, Aurora Theater shooting in July 2012 in which 12 died and 58 were injured (11 critically). Fifth, on August 5, 2012 at a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin which left 6 dead in what was the first ever gun massacre in any Sikh Temple in US history. The sixth and the latest on December 7, 2012 in Newtown which left 20 kids in ages 6-7 and 6 adults dead due to the use of weapons of mass destruction.

    When are we going to wake up? How many more incidents of massacre by guns do we want to see? The British banned assault weapons right after the deadly shooting of 16 kindergarten-age children and their teachers in March 1996 by Thomas Hamilton. Australians banned assault weapons in 1996 within 12 days of the shooting spree in the southern state of Tasmania that killed 35 people. In all the 6 mass murders in America the killers used a similar AR-15 type rapid firing weapon. We have done nothing since 2005. We can learn from 1958 Gun Law of Japan. The only guns that Japanese citizens can legally buy and use are shotguns and air rifles, and it’s not easy to do that.

    Even Israel where citizens are prone to Terrorist attacks it is very difficult to get a gun. After 60 days’ training and mental health evaluation, one gets 50 bullets as life time supply. What is wrong with us the Americans that even after 5 mass killings, we are still having a debate whether to ban the weapons of mass destructions or not? Those who are hiding behind the 2ND Amendment should be ashamed of themselves. It is not only not being Americans; it is being unpatritic to support weapons of mass destruction. We must look at the death rate by Guns in UK that is 35 per year to our almost 12,000 gun related deaths per year. This has nothing to do with the 2ND Amendment or guns for sports. Even the 2ND Amendment is being misinterpreted. The word “State Militia” means “State Police” not the Lanza or Page or Holmes or Cho or Wiese.

    The Gun Lobby is free to keep their Air Rifles & Shot Guns minus the big magazines. We have became a Banana Republic with 300 milion weapons for 311 million Americans. This is despite the fact that United States has more Police Officers than anywhere else in the world. More than 30% US households have multiple guns including AR-15 type weapons of mass destruction. There are amost 140,000 GUN DEALERS as compared to 14,000 McDonalds & 56,000 Grocery stores in entire America. We must understand that the lives of our children and citizens are more precious and sacred than Guns. We must ban all kinds of weapons of mass destructions and big magazines NOW before another massacre takes place.

  • The Beauty Powers Of Tea

    The Beauty Powers Of Tea

    Acup of tea may provide a fresh burst of energy to the senses, but it also has certain beauty benefits.Read on to know them…
    Soothe tired eyes Spent long hours in front of the computer? Don’t fret if you have puffy, strained eyes. To alleviate the symptoms, just soak two tea bags in warm water, then cool them and put them over your eyelids for about 15 minutes. The tannins present in the tea work on reducing the redness and puffiness.

    Cool tanned skin
    That’s right, tea can calm down suntanned skin quite effectively! All you need to do is apply wet tea bags onto the area. Since it soothes the skin, tea bags can also be used to take the sting out of burns.

    Treat razor cuts
    To ease razor cuts and burns, just put a wet tea bag on the area that is hurt.

    Make a soothing mouthwash
    Who doesn’t want an odour-free mouth to add to a great appearance? Well, tea can give you that. Just rinse the mouth out with a cup of good-smelling peppermint or other tea mixed with some salt.

    Get lovely feet
    For some footsie pampering, give your peds a teasoak. Just brew tea and add it to a tub of water. Chamomile tea mixed with Epsom salts makes for a great soak

  • Orange, Honey For Healthy Skin

    Orange, Honey For Healthy Skin

    Who doesn’t like to have a clear complexion? Skin problems are nightmares for people of all ages. Everybody likes flawless skin.
    But with the cosmetic industry growing and with it producing numerous beauty products, it’s but natural to get confused on what’s the best. When you are spoilt for choice, then it’s even more dangerous as some products might not suit your skin type. The best solution under such circumstances is to play safe and opt for tried and tested home remedies. This also helps should you have a sensitive skin.
    Here are a few tips to aid your skin health
    1. It’s clichéd, the most popular and common advice that you get from people. Yet, drinking lots of water is perhaps the most workable way to keep skin healthy and glowing.
    2. Squeeze half a lemon and add to warm water with honey. Consume this on an empty stomach everyday. Besides other benefits, this also purifies the blood.
    3. If you have oily skin, apply a pack of multani mitti mixed with rose water. This not just cleanses the skin but also absorbs excess oil and keeps your skin neat.
    4. To remove blemishes/scars on your skin make a pack of tomato pulp, haldi, curd and besan. This acts as a natural scrub.
    5. For a natural bleach, rub lemon peel with honey on the skin and wash off after few minutes.
    6. Dry orange peel, grind and make a powder. Apply this with water on the face for a glowing skin.
    7. A pack of corn flour and curd applied everyday helps keep the skin clean.
    8. If you are going out in the sun, make sure you use an umbrella to shield yourself from the harmful effects of the sun rays.
    9. If you have a dry skin, massage your face with almond or vitamin e oil to keep your skin nourished

    All it needs is a few minutes from your busy schedule to keep your skin healthy and glowing.

  • BJP Retains Gujarat, Loses Himachal

    BJP Retains Gujarat, Loses Himachal

    NEW YORK (TIP): The recent polls for Legislative Assemblies in Gujarat and Himachal have mauled BJP and shown the party’s declining power. While the party managed to retain power in Gujarat, it has been routed in Himachal where it gained only 26 against the Congress that captured 36 seats in a house of 68. In 2007 elections BJP had won 41 out of 68 seats and formed the government, with Prem Kumar Dhumal as the Chief Minister. The much touted Modi magic failed to work in Gujarat where the party returned to power with 2 seats short of 2007 tally of 117. Modi enthusiasts had been speaking about a landslide for BJP (Modi) in Gujarat. They referred to ABP News-Nielsen Exit Poll that predicted landslide victory for Modi.

    Narendra Modi-led BJP in Gujarat is yet again set to trample the Congress party in the upcoming Assembly polls. ABP News-Nielsen Exit Poll has found that BJP will bag a landslide majority of 126 seats in the 182- member Assembly, a gain of nine seats since 2007. That did not happen. Instead Modi folded with just 115 seats. The ABP News-Nielsen Exit Poll predicted loss of seats for Congress. “The Congress which won 59 seats in the 2007 polls, is seen to win only 50 seats this time around, a loss of only nine seats compared to the last state elections However, the poll proved wrong here too. Congress won from 61 constituencies, adding 2 seats to its 2007 tally of 59 seats. Although BJP registered a victory, five of its ministers fell by the wayside.

    Those who lost included Agriculture Minister Dileep Sanghani (Amreli), Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas (Siddhpur), Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Fakirbhai Vaghela (Vadgam), Minister of State for Forest and Environment Kiritsinh Rana (Limbdi) and Minister of State for Agriculture Kanubhai Bhalala (Visavadar). In Himachal, Prem… Kumar Dhumal barely retained his seat, with a margin of just 9500 votes.

  • Foods That Help Burn Fat

    Foods That Help Burn Fat

    Forget fancy diets, the top flab busters can be found in your own kitchen. Metabolism is what converts food into energy. A slow rate means calories are more likely to be converted into fat. While exercise helps, and so does portion control, here are those foods that act as the the biggest metabolism boosters.

    Apples
    These are said to be nutrient-rich and contain enough fibre to keep the digestion healthy. A tip? Eating an apple just 20 minutes before your meal will make you eat lesser calories in your main meal.

    Turkey

    This is regarded as a good alternative to chicken as it is lower in calories and higher in proteins and nutrients. It’s said that 5 ounces of turkey contains just 175 calories and 10 grams of fat.

    Broccoli     Adding more broccoli to your diet can help you lose that weight as it is a lowcalorie food that can help you fill up quickly. A single cup of steamed broccoli gives you about twice the amount of vitamins C and K you need in a day. It also is a very good source of vitamins B6 and B2, phosphorus, magnesium, protein and omega-3 fatty acids.

    Almonds
    Almonds can speed up metabolism like no other. They are also associated with with reducing cholesterol and lowering blood sugar.

    Peppers
    Bell peppers are great for weight loss.They can fill out any dish without adding the calories and have a small
    amount of fat burning capsaicin in them.

    Pulses
    Legumes or pulses like soya beans and kidney beans have key nutrients like iron, vitamins of B group and dietary fiber. Pulses help maintain regular bowel movement because the texture of the fibre helps it move through the digestive system quickly.

    Green tea
    Is another substance that can be added to diet that can increase the metabolic rate. Green tea has EGCG in its composition. This substance helps to increase the body and the rate that the nervous system functions. It in turn increases the metabolism.