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The Hindu : y>

The good news continues to roll in as car sales go up thanks to the lure of new models such as the Maruti Ritz, Honda Jazz and Fiat Punto.

The Hyundai i20’s popularity is on upswing with 3,330 units being sold in August alone, thanks to its stylish looks and the recent launch of a 1.4-litre diesel version.

The cute little Tata Nano managed to sell amodest 2,501 units in August, as Tata had trouble shipping enough cars to dealers due to issues with its transporter.

The just launched Toyota Fortuner sold 462 units in its first month in the market, with the Japanese carmaker saying that it has been surprised by the huge response to this much-awaited SUV. The Fiat Punto has also sold well.

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The Hindu : y>

Feeding frenzy The series binds different cultures with a fascination for food

National Geographic presents the second season of “Food Lover’s Guide to the Planet.” The show will gives viewers a unique cultural look at the world; from the Vietnamese street kids who empower themselves through the power of cooking to learning the secret behind Kimchi in Korea to sailing across the Mediterranean to enjoy Florentine street food.

This is a series that binds different cultures with a fascination for food.

The show will be telecast on 8 p.m. on Sunday on the National Geographic Channel. This Sunday catch Turkish delights at 8 p.m. to see the unification of many cultures. Watch Pepper Planet at 8.30 p.m. as it takes a look at the impact of the chilli pepper on global cooking.

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The Hindu : y>Extra power to engine, more features and better styling…the Zen Estilo puts its best face forward

Launched in 2006, the Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo was given a face-lift a few months ago. So what’s new on the Estilo — headlamps, a bigger grille and a new bumper as well. The bigger headlamps along with the wide grille give it a more purposeful look than before and complement the car’s tall stance. It looks more like a mini-MPV than a hatchback from a distancenow. The rear lamps have also been altered a bit.It’s not just the exterior that’s got a makeover, It’s the cabin that’s received a nip and tuck too. Though the basic design of the door panels and dashboard remains the same, Maruti has played around with the colour combination.

You get four different colours inside the cabin, which are a combination of black, grey, beige and a shade of brown. To keep costs down, Maruti has stuck to a lot of parts from its other models. For example, the steering wheel is from the Wagon R, while the gear knob, power window switches and circular AC vents are from the Swift.Another big change is the A-star’s spanking new 1-litre KB10 engine and gearbox replaces the F10D 1.1-litre engine in the Estilo.This means more power (67bhp), better efficiency and refinement. Another reason for the switch to this new powerplant is that itmeets BS IV emission standards, which come into effect in some major Indian cities from April next year.Though the new engine is just a three-cylinder unit compared to the earlier four-cylinder one, it was a major engineering feat to shoehorn the KB10 into the Estilo’s engine bay. Being an all-aluminium motor, the KB engine has bigger dimensions and hence takes up much more space than the cast-iron F10D. In fact, the increase in the cars length is mainly due to Maruti…More

The Hindu : y>Kiran Uttam Ghosh has turned 15 in the fashion industry. That’s quite something in a world where it’s all dazzle, sizzle and then quickly fizzle, writes BHUMIKA K.

Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.CODING IN THE DIVA CHROMOSOME Kiran Uttam Ghosh

M>y husband, a fanatic golfer, has this joke. He met another golfer who asked him what his wife does. And when he heard the answer, the fellow golfer said ‘Even my wife’s a designer!’,” laughs the wiry Kiran Uttam Ghosh. It may be a joke, but it’s as close as it gets to reality — today everyone you bump into is a fashion designer.

“If every Johnny come lately is a designer, what’s my USP?” is Kolkata-based Kiran’s argument when I ask her about her impeccable style — a whole lot of mixed genres of intricate hand-work on fabric. People buy her work for the details, believes Kiran, who’s right now celebrating 15 years of designing.

She was at Collage in the city to meet her clients with her autumn/winter collection that was flying off the racks, even as we spoke.

“I’ve watched my line evolve. When I started, it was a small set of people who bought designer wear. Now, it’s the aspirational woman. Or the kind whose husband shops for her, the young bride looking for her trousseau, the edgy young executive and thinking woman who looks for the quirky…probably like me,” she says, giving me a generous dose of her husky laughter. And then adds, to make it clearer than ever: “A non-conformist who catches me at fashion week, who looks up my collection on the net, who’s not about a body type, and who have confidence and dress for themselves…I dress for myself.”Confidence queen

Kiran Uttam Ghosh has an unabashed air of confidence — one that would only stem from 15 successful and sustained years in the industry. “When you walk into a…More

The Hindu : y>Hero Honda’s fuel-injected Karizma ZMR has got it all — refined styling, enjoyable rideand confident handling, writes Rishad Cooper

When Hero Honda launched the Karizma back in June 2003, the bike won accolades for its big-bike styling, refined and reliable 223cc engine, soft feel, confident handling and enjoyable touring ability. The Karizma heralded a new performance bike segment at the time and had little competition to contend with, barring Bajaj’s smaller-capacity Pulsar 180.

Fast forward to 2009, with Yamaha’s mini-sportsbike — the YZF-R15, Bajaj’s reworked flagship — the Pulsar 220, and TVS’ racy and exciting — RTR 180, quite frankly,the Karizma looked a bit jaded.

But Hero Honda has now rolled up its sleeves and got working on the next-generation product — the Karizma ZMR. Here’s our first impression.

Styling changes are smartly executed and there’s a new front fairing, along with a neat DC-powered headlight nestling within, and functional mirrors. The ZMR comes with chrome-surrounded indicators and catchy new digital instruments. The dual-colour back-lit unit scrolls out a message prompting riders to put on their helmets the moment the ignition key is activated. A white back-lit rpm gauge takes centrestage and is flanked by an accurate, contact-free, amber-set speedometer, odometer, twin trip gauges, fuel gauge, RTMI (Real Time Mileage Indicator) and clock, apart from the regulars. A highlight to the new model is its snazzy-looking alloy clip-on handlebars,comfortable grips and well-sculpted control levers.Black and gold

A slim tank and familiar mid-section are apparent, with the lightly stepped riding seat comfortably padded. The bike rides on smart five-spoke alloy rims, tubeless tyres and comes with a completely enclosed drive chain. The silencer now comes in black, while the engine and suspension bear a rich gold shade.

The ZMR houses Hero Honda’s trusty and time-tested 223cc, four-stroke, air-cooled power plant, adding on an oil cooler, with the big change being the introduction of a PGM-FI (Programmed…More

The Hindu :

Of course, you may not win the U.S. Open. But that does not mean after childbirth you must give up on doing what you love the most

PHOTO: APMOM AND HER PRIZED POSSESSIONS Latest tennis sensation Kim Clijsters with daughter Jada

From the assembly of screaming, shrieking, hard-hitting women rose the quiet, smiling Kim Clijsters, to win the 2009 U.S. Open Women’s Single — the first mom to win a Grand Slam since 1980. She played like she came back to attend an unfinished business. Her overhead smash that ended the match and made her champion demolished an enduring myth: women cannot concentrate on a career post childbirth.Close to the heart

Kim held one of the greatest tennis trophies, a cheque for $ 1.6m, and the world’s attention. And, said: “It’s the greatest feeling in the world, being a mother,” smiling at her 18-month-old daughter Jada, running around in the court. In 2007, Kim bade goodbye to a lucrative career, citing injuries. She also wanted to “settle down”, start a family, which, she assumed wouldn’t leave her time for the demanding tennis schedule of training and travel. “I just didn’t look at it as an option,” she said in her post-final press conference. And, then came the invitation to play at Wimbledon. She decided to give it a shot, two-odd years after she left the scene. “I think that’s how I got that competitiveness back. To challenge myself was the biggest thing.”

Remarkably, the come-back player was hitting the ball harder than before; Miss Clijsters would choke on closing shots. Motherhood seemed to have helped her get over her nerves. She discovered a formula for balancing tennis with picking up teddy bears. She also managed to shed, along with pregnancy fat, the stabbing guilt of being busy away from home and kid. And, post match, her priority was clear — “I’m spending the…More

The Hindu : y>

GET SET To teach Pilates

The Zone, Mind and Body Studio will conduct a Stott Pilates certification course. The Zone, Mind and Body Studio is a Pilates Studio and follows the Stott Pilates method, which is one of the leading schools of Pilates based in Toronto, Canada.

Pilates is a popular fitness regimen world-wide. It emphasises the development of the body’s core (the spine, abdominals, hips and lower back) through a wide repertoire of exercises. These should be practiced under the careful guidance of a certified Pilates instructor. Hence, there is a huge demand for certified instructors.

The certification course will be held between December 3 to 11. November 18 is the last date for registering.

For details contact 98453 91006 or 25529366. You can also log on tohttp://www.thezonestudio.com.

The Zone, Mind and Body Studio is at 1st Cross, 4th Block, Koramangala.

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The Hindu :

Sonia Jose captures the magic of Jayanagar 4th block

Snap shots Sonia Jose

In her old apartment block in Jayanagar, Sonia Jose was rather intrigued by old door latches, old paint breaking off from the ceiling, rusted nails and nail prints that damaged the walls etc. However, over a period of time, she started to like the air of antiquity that these objects managed to bring to the house.

“These objects were living proof that many people have used the space before and lived their own lives in these houses. I feel that these objects give an account of everyday life by those occupants. I have photographed many of these objects that add to the beauty and overall ambience of the house. Many of these objects may not appeal to a person as a singular entity, but will provide a small glimpse of life, when it is used in a collection.”

Sonia, a fine arts graduate, now plans to use photography and paintings as a medium to bring out the changes — geographic, environmental and social — that are affecting lives across the planet. She is currently working on a project funded by the Robert Bosch Art Grant Award.

She is occasioning on the manner in which economic and social changes in her neighbourhood has altered the landscape of the area. “When I was growing up, this was mainly a residential area.That has undergone a complete transformation in the last few years. Many of the older buildings have already been brought down and replaced by huge malls or office buildings.”

After bagging an award for her art work from Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions, she has decided to bring out an exhibition of pictures and images of her old neighbourhood, Jayanagar 4th block.

“It houses many beautiful structures that are a combination of many architectural styles. They are not only beautiful, but also very interesting…More

The Hindu : y>Will be available in petrol and diesel variants

Volkswagen is gearing up for the launch of the Polo and has firmed up the upcoming hatchback’s engine line-up and target price.

Jochem Heizmann, VW board member and responsible for ‘Group Production’, confirmed: “We have two petrol engines and one diesel engine with a variety of power outputs.”

The base Polo will come with a three-cylinder 1.2 litre motor with an updated engine management system to offer better response and marginally more power. This engine will be BS IV-compliant from the start.

VW has pegged the base Polo at a competitive price of Rs. 4.34 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), which puts it head-on against other premium hatchbacks.

A 1.2 TDI diesel developing 74bhp is also expected for Rs. 4.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). This all-new three-cylinder diesel motor promises class-leading fuel economy and is likely to be the mainstay of the Polo range.

The range topper will be a 1.6 petrol that develops a healthy 100bhp and is aimed at those looking for a fully loaded hot hatch. The Polo’s 1.6 motor is futuristic and meets the latest emission standards.

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The Hindu : C.K. MEENA

SOCIETY Our world is bogged down by numbers, and soon we shall all be reduced to a numerical identity

The news that I, as a citizen of Karnataka, will be among the first few million Indians to get a Unique Identification Number has brought me no cheer. In actual fact it has made me feel like an insect under a microscope. Or a prisoner in a World Warcamp. Or one of those sci-fi characters with a chip in her brain being monitored by aliens. Bad enough that my personal details are available on the Internet, and in every database sold to every passing marketing firm. Now the government’s going to keep an eye on me. Ooh. Someone’s walking over my grave.

Actually the UIN is not meant for people like me, privileged people who have never stretched out a palm for a government handout. Okay, so my family had a ration card when I was growing up but that doesn’t count. The UIN is meant for those who are eager to stand up and be counted so they can directly receive food or wages, bypassing the middleman. These are the impoverished and the dispossessed. Those who don’t count – if you catch my drift – are the ones who need to be counted. And we, who are constantly told that our opinions count, that our votes matter, and that our lifestyles reflect the healthy state of the economy, are the ones who don’t need a UIN, which is a kind of US-style social security number. Count me out, I say.

Those who boast that their opinions count usually spend their lives counting all sorts of inconsequential things, like points scored and calories consumed. They live in a world obsessed with measurements. Did you know you can strap a gizmo to your body and count how many footsteps you take in a day? There…More