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The Hindu : y>

Click away The site features information about Disney Parks and Resorts across the planet

Disney Destinations International has launched an in-country web site;www.disneyparks.in to provide a planning and research tool for travellers from India.

The site features information about Disney Parks and Resorts across the planet, which includes Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Resort Paris, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida etc.

By visitingwww.disneyparks.in, tourists can plan their vacation and also get aglimpse of the Disney magic.

The web site features a comprehensive one-stop hub for information. Easy navigation allows tourists to visit the individual web sites of each destination.

Throughwww.disneyparks.in, travellers will learn about all of the summer fun inside the Disney theme parks including Stitch’s Summer Party at Hong Kong Disneyland.

For more information, log on towww.disneyparks.in

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The Hindu :

Though hard-pressed for time, Nikhil Chinnappa is always ready for a chat with the media

PHOTO: K. GopinathanMULTIFACETED Nikhil Chinnappa

Waiting for Nikhil Chinnappa at the lounge in Accord Metropolitan, I was worried. Expected at the hotel well after 8 p.m., he would have little time for himself, let alone interviews.When he walked in with hurried steps, it seemed criminal to ask foran interview. But I did, along with another journalist. The next thing we know, we are all seated together for an unhurried chat. He responded to our questions as if we were the two most important people in the world. An MTV VJ, popular also as a DJ, Nikhil considers radio a wonderful medium. It was his long-standing desire to have his own radio station. Nikhil has not given up hope; he just thinks the time is not right for the plunge.“Radio stations don’t have identities of their own. They are just following the herd.” He says radio will be far better in another 10 years. Nikhil is keen on a radio station that caters largely to an English-speaking section. “The idea is not to be the most popular, but the best.”

You can trust Nikhil to strive for perfection. The annual Sunburn Festival (of which he is festival director) in Goa, and Submerge (submerge.in), a music movement he is steam-powering, are evidence. Started seven years ago, Submerge (which promotes dance music) is doing here on a smaller scale what the Ministry of Sound does in the U.K. “Last year, we organised 74 events,” says Nikhil. Submerge has launched three CDs, including one by his wife DJ Pearl. One of the singles to come out of Submerge, ‘Defected In The House’ (released globally) is on the top-100 on iTunes. Pearl has a hand in the success of his music initiatives. “For the way she carries herself and plays music, she’s the…More

The Hindu :

The National Aerobic Championship held recently had competitions and a workshop

It is a stretch Not only about fitness but also about improving self-confidence

What started as a fad has become very popular in Bangalore. Aerobics, once considered a girlish activity has emerged as a hot favourite among the cognoscenti. Bangalore boasts of several schools in aerobics and a fledged State and National bodies tosupervise the sport.

The National Aerobic Championship was conducted by the Aerobic Fitness Federation of India at Brigade Millennium in J.P. Nagar recently. The three-day meet comprised competitions for men and women and a workshop. Achieving excellence through perfection was the underlying mantra of the meet. The competitors did manage to achieve success invarious categories of aerobic contests. AFFI president, Prabhakar said, “Aerobics is not about fitness development alone, but it also improves self esteem, self confidence and brings about a balance between body and soul.”

About 15 teams participated in the championships. The highlight of thecompetition was a performance by Shreya Deshpande and Sriniketh Achar from the Sports Promotion Association.

The duo completed the routine in a dynamic and creative fashion.

Another aspect of the competitions was the duo performance by the twin ensemble, Archana and Chetana, to the tune of “Jai Ho”,.

A workshop was also conducted by an American expert, Christopher Riles, who talked about different aspects of aerobics including judging rules. Jayachandran Palazhy, Rukmini Jayakumar, Rajat Chauhan, Latha Pai, Praveen also offered their inputs in the workshop.

The AFFI also picked the Indian team, which will participate in the International Aerobic Championships scheduled to be held in the USA from August 21.

KALYAN ASHOK

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The Hindu :

Alcoholism wreaks havoc in the lives of not only the individual who drinks, but also society, government, the country, and future generations

Alcohol dependency It has far-reaching consequences on the life of the individual and his family

– Selvan topped his school in the board exams. He was eligible to study Medicine or Engineering. A college education and better employment prospects would have set him on the path to a successful and happy life. But, he had to settle for a lowly job at a mechanic’s. Because, his father had drunk the family savings away and a college education was out of question…

- Parameswaran had a prestigious job. He lost his job, alienated his children and caused his wife untold grief and despair. He spends most of his time with alcohol…

- Surabhi often witnesses her husband making a spectacle of himself in parties after a few drinks. . Surabhi has had the ignominy of having her hosts asking her to take her drunk husband home. If she tells her husband anything, he turns abusive…

Selvan, Parameswaran and Surabhi are victims of a disease called alcoholism.

Alcoholismis often defined as “Any condition that results in the continued consumption of alcoholic beverages, despite negative, personal and social consequences.”

For many, having a drink or two is a social affair. But, there are those of us who cannot stop even if alcohol is playing havoc with our lives. We are the alcoholics.Baffling condition

Alcoholism, experts say, is a cunning, baffling and insidious condition that creeps up on the person. In fact, the person is deep into the problem before he even realises that he has a problem.

So, how much alcohol is too much? When does a social habit turn into an addiction, or in politically correct terms ‘alcohol dependence’? What are the symptoms that point to alcohol dependence?

It is difficult to say and the lines are…More

The Hindu :

Just a serving of peanut butter helps you get your daily dose of nutrients

PACKS A HEALTHY PUNCH A daily dose of peanuts or peanut butter

You dig into it for its peanutty goodness. Spread it over crisp toast, garlic bread, roti or paratta, make it a dip for biscuits or banana chips — peanut butter (PB) is a show-stealer. For those who eat it straight from the jar, it is non-guilty pleasure.Peanut Butter packs a healthy punch. Researchers say a daily dose of peanuts or peanut butter helps you meet the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for nutrients.Studies tell us that a serving of peanut butter has 3 mg of the powerful antioxidant vitamin E, 49 mg of bone-building magnesium, 208 mg of muscle-friendly potassium, and 0.17 mg of immunity-boosting vitamin B6. Eating peanuts can decrease your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions.

Healthful fat

The oleic acid in peanuts is considered a healthful fat usually found in olive oil. It helps reduce the risk of colon cancer, especially in women. But wait. Isn’t peanut butter fattening? Not if you have a tablespoon with breakfast. It has the enviable combination of fibre (2 g per serving) and protein (8 g per serving) that keeps you feeling full longer, so you eat less overall. For all these reasons and the fact that his grandsons finish off a jar in under a week, Devidas makes it at home. For a demo, he opens a half-kilo packet of roasted, de-skinned peanuts into a bowl, microwaves it for a couple of minutes, transfers it into the mixie and sets it off. A minute or so later, he adds half a teaspoon of fresh pepper powder, a teaspoon of sugar and a bit of salt. In three, four minutes, he checks the content for consistency, and says triumphantly, “See? Here is fresh peanut butter!”…More

The Hindu : y>The 39 Clues series with its multi-platform approach involving books, an online treasure hunt, and a set of cards, has the Twitter generation agog, writes Nandini Hebbar

PHOTO: BHAGYA PRAKASH K.Page turner The books have a legion of dedicated fans

Meet the latest orphans on the literary landscape: Timid, stuttering 14-year-old Amy Cahill and 11-year-old math genius Dan Cahill. And like the long line of waifs behind them who have captured the imagination of whole generations of children, the brother-sister duo embark on an adventure that will change the rest of their lives.

Beginning September 2008, Scholastic Press, began a trend that will probably change the way children read books. Hoping to strike galleons like they did with the Harry Potter series, marketing wizards have a new formula to hold the hold the Twitter generation’s iPod-thin attention span: 10 books; 350 clue cards; $125,000 in prize money and 39 Clues.

“The 39 Clues” series begins on a rich premise: The Cahill family holds the sceptre of the whole world’s power. Therefore, all celebrated people in the world – past, present and future – from Ben Franklin to Bill Gates are Cahills.

When the Cahill matriarch, and the children’s grandmother, Grace dies of cancer, she leaves them a will with two options: inherit $1 million or compete with the rest of the family to find a treasure that will make them the greatest of all.

Scholastic approached San Antonio school teacher and author to write the main story arc and the first book “Maze of Bones”. The other nine books are written by different children’s authors.

“To maintain the pace of the game, the books are published once every three months,” says Riordon, “So it is impossible for me or any other author to write all the books.” The Scholastic editorial team works with the authors to ensure that the story and the characters remain consistent. Each book comes…More

The Hindu :

Ricky Ponting has had his bad patches but has always proved critics wrong

Top cat Ricky Ponting deserves credit as one of the greats

He presents one of the most unpleasant sights at the start of almost every innings. Awkward jabs, indifferent shuffle, playing strokes across the wicket — often giving the impression of a lost child. But once he settles down into his groove, hedictates his terms.

This is Australian captain Ricky Ponting. His stupendous record bears testimony to the hallmark of his greatness: 132 Tests, 11,110 runs, an average of 56.68 and 38 centuries. In ODIs, his statistics are 315 ODIs, 11,523 runs, 42.52 average and 26 centuries. It is a pity that Ponting’s name rarely figures every time there is a debate about the best batsman in recent times.

The ‘Punter’ may have hit 37 centuries before the ongoing Ashes series against England, but his 38th at Cardiff in the first Test was a very special effort indeed because he was under pressure. A string of failures pushed him into the firing line of the critics. This happens with the best of the cricketers when they hit a lean patch. Unfortunately for Ponting, it was too long to be ignored and he was clearly out of his comfort zone. However, like any champion, this Australian cricketer chose the best platform to prove his merit. . Considering that he hails from Tasmania, a state which is not a major force in domestic cricket, Ponting gave a special place to his state in the history of cricket.

Not that this Australian cannot be tied down. Ask India’s fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who had often pushed him in to the ‘horror zone’ on the off-stump with his late swing. But the beauty of Ponting is that whenever experts start wondering whether his reflexes are waning, he hits back at them with the willow. Even at…More

The Hindu :

The 17-year-old Gagan Ullalmath shows a great deal of potential and aims at participating in the Olympics

Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.Gold rush Gagan’s strength has been in the middle and long distances

His sights are set…and focus is unshakeable. 17 year-old A.P. Gagan Ullalmath was voted the ‘best swimmer’ in the Junior swimming Nationals, held at Jaipur recently.

He managed a golden sweep, winning five individual golds (200m 400m, 800m, 1500m – all freestyle – and 200m Individual medley), setting three National records and also winning two relay golds.

The B.E First year student at BMS College of Engineering had, as a curious five year old followed his his sisters – Kavya and Tejaswini – to the Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre (BAC). He chose swimming because “It is a healthy sport.”

He says, “I began my swimming career under coach Bhushan. The workload and regime was tough. Though the schedules are much better now, Pradeep Sir is the best in the business.” S. Pradeep Kumar is the National coach.

“It is a great feeling to have your coach accompanying you in International meets also. At the Asian Youth Games at Singapore recently, with Pradeep Sir watching, I was able to achieve thequalifying mark for the Youth Olympics to be held next year.” Gagan added.

Gagan, who has been practicing swimming for 12 years had won two silvers at the 2006 Chennai junior Nationals event, to kick start his career.

He says, “I managed to pick up bronze medals in school events and won three gold and a silver in an event at Surat in 2007. At the Amritsar Nationals in 2008, I bagged four golds and a berth in the Indian team for the Youth Commonwealth Games at Pune. Though I finished fourth in the freestyle relay in Pune, the experience was brilliant.”

Gagan also made a mark at the Hyderabad Senior Nationals last year and bagged a gold, two…More