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The Hindu : y>

I am keen on buying the Fiat Punto 1.2 petrol variant, but am not too impressed with the features on offer. Is Fiat planning on upgrading the Punto anytime soon?

N Mahadik

Good news. Fiat recently launched two new Grande Punto variants: Fiat 1.2 FIRE Dynamic and Fiat 1.2 FIRE Emotion. In addition to tilt steering, front power windows, fire prevention system, the Dynamic will now offer additional features like rear power windows and central locking system whereas the Emotion boasts an integrated audio system with four speakers, electric mirrors, fog lamps, dual tone dashboard and split seats. 1.2 Grande Punto Dynamic now comes at the price of Rs. 4.57 lakh and the 1.2 Emotion costs Rs. 4.87 lakh (both ex-showroom, Delhi).

I have a BMW 325i and 520d. The 325i delivers a harsh and unsettled ride and the poor roads in Kochi further accentuate the problem. Recognising the culprits to be the run-flat tyres, I am now planning to change them to tubeless radial tyres.

A friend suggested I swap the current 225/45-R17 91w to a bigger profile 255/60-R17 radial tubeless.

Will this change affect the car’s ground clearance, which is already low, and will this size fit inside the wheel arc? Also, will there be any effect on handling, fuel efficiency, ride comfort or braking? If this size of tyre is inappropriate, then which one do you advise and which brand do you recommend?

Nithin

The overall diameter for the 225/45-R17s is 634.23mm; upsizing the tyres to 255/60-R17s would increase the overall diameter to 737.61mm, which is too large and not fir the wheel arc. You could try the 225/50-R17s instead, which would improve the ride height, subject to the body clearance. These tyres are available with most Indian and also foreign brands such as Michelin, Yokohama or Bridgestone.

I am keen to buy a hardcore SUV equipped with an automatic transmission and that costs not more than…More

The Hindu : y>

Healthy desserts Dig into gelato cakes

Mama Mia Gelato gives Bangalore a taste of the Italian experience of ice creams. Based on traditional recipes from Chef Danielle Ghisalberti of Bergamo, Mama Mia comprises a range of cream gelato and fruit sorbetto. The Mama Mia fruit sorbetto is fat free. Some of flavours contain up to 70 per cent natural fruit pulp.

The flavours include green apple, blueberries, Sicily lemon, raspberry and fresh alphonso mango etc.

The cream gelato includes exotic flavours like Irish coffee, strawberry cheesecake gelato, fudge brownies, Belgian dark chocolate, Fererro Rocher, Kit Kat etc. A range of frozen fruit yogurts are also available.

For the more adventurous, a range of thick shakes, gelato sundaes and dessert combinations are also available. The popular ones include cookie chip dip, black forest sundae, fererro rocher sundae and the traditional banana split.

The latest innovations are Gelato cakes- layers of cake and popular gelato flavours. It offers exotic varieties such as cookie crumble cake, choco-orange cake, wild berries and After Eight.

Mama Mia is located at 302, 6th Main, 4th cross, Indiranagar. Call 41149423 for more information.

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The Hindu :

One of the best looking models in the 110cc segment, the CB Twister boasts perfect fit and finish

The 110cc CB Twister is a commuter motorcycle that looks like no other Indian commuter bike to date. Honda claims that it has perfected every aspect of its new motorcycle but sales-driven companies usually have much to say at the time of a product launch. Therefore, it took a no-holds-barred road test to tell you what’s true, and what’s not.

Sharply styled with cues from the designed-in-Europe CB1000R, Honda’s new 110cc motorcycle does without the clutter of many decals. Much of its mass is concentrated forward and close to its centre of gravity. Six ‘V’-shaped spokes frame the CB’s attractive black alloy wheels, the same shade coating much of the bike including its front forks, handlebar, side and rear cowls, engine and stubby silencer. Honda is offering five metallic paint shades with its new bike.

A bright headlight nestles within the Twister’s angular front fairing, which houses smartly laid out instruments in an eye-catching and legible format. The Twister gets a bold speedometer and fuel level indicator. It has a pair of angular, functional mirrors and smooth-to-operate switchgear but the bike lacks a pass-light flasher. Soft palm grips and nicely shaped control levers add to the feel-good factor.

The Twister’s eight-litre fuel tank is muscular and attractive, providing adequate thigh support but lacks a hinged filler lid. The tank is home to a set of nice front cowls, which can sometimes interfere with a tall rider’s knees.

The CB Twister’s side panels and seat merge seamlessly into the rear, and Honda’s stylists have come up with a design master stroke which is evident in the brilliant manner in which the rear grab bar integrates into the fairing. The tail is handsome, with a smartly tapered mudguard and red damper springs. A sporty touch to the CB is…More

The Hindu :

It wasn’t difficult for Miracle Ward to go from being a physiotherapist to a music teacher, because she followed her heart

Photo: K. GopinathanIN THE GROOVE Miracle Ward enjoys the challenge of teaching children music

When at the crossroads of choosing a career, one usually traverses the beaten path. There are a few who choose the road less taken. And there are still others who decide to go down both paths, one at a time. One such person is 25-year-old Miracle Ward who worked as a physiotherapist, before she heeded her true calling to be a music teacher.

Miracle says: “As a little girl I had wanted to be a nurse. But one day my grandma had a stroke and so I used to visit her frequently in the hospital. I would see a physiotherapist making her do exercises and I was inspired to be a physiotherapist.”

On completion of her physiotherapy course at the HOSMAT Educational Institute, Bangalore, Miracle worked at the Sagar Apollo Hospital before she decided to dedicate herself entirely to teaching music at the Bishop Cotton Boys High School.

Her passion for music began as a child. Miracle started singing from the age of four and learning the piano when she was eight. She has completed her eighth grade in solo piano from the Royal School of Music and has taken exams in the Trinity School of Music up to grade five. Her father, Valentine Ward, identified her talent in singing at a young age and encouraged her to pursue training in piano.

This apart, the young singer has been a part of the Baldwin Girl’s High School music team, the Jyothi Nivas College Choir and Acoustic team that has performed in several national-level competitions. Miracle belonged to ‘Glorious’ choir for five years performing in different parts of the country. She used to be a part of the ‘Rhythm and Groove’ choir…More

The Hindu :

Sadanand Dhume’s book, My Friend, the Fanatic, traces the gradual shift towards Islam in Indonesia

MULTIPLE CULTURES A majority of Indonesians are secular and moderate, says Dhume

In Early 2002, Sadanand Dhume, a journalist based in Washington decided to write a book travelling across the Indonesian Archipelago in an attempt to understand the growing power of the Islamist fringe.

The book, titled “My Friend, the Fanatic” talks about the prospects of one of the largest and only Islamic democratic country being overrun by a radical Islamist organisations.

“In this book, I have made an effort to understand the reasons for the radical fringe in Indonesia becoming more powerful, even though they continue to be a small number. The future of Indonesia is very important, for the Muslim world and the rest of the planet.”

Dhume contends: “Till a couple of decades ago, most Indonesians were secular. However, slowly there was an Islamisation of society. One of the prime examples being the fact that Arab names have begun to outnumber Sanskrit names in primary schools. An old culture comprising elements of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam is being replaced slowly.”

Two reasons

He lists two reasons for this shift: “One of the major issues was the advent of Gulf money, which was pouring into mosques and madarsas.

“On the other hand, the economic crash of the late 90s resulted in a great deal of political and economic instability, forcing many people to turn to religion.”

A majority of Indonesians are secular and moderate. However, if one were to look at trends over the past few decades, you could see a small extremist fringe gaining a certain degree of power,” he says.

The secular ethos of the country remains largely untouched.

Sadanand explains: “The Garuda continues to be the name of the national carrier, western music still tops the bestsellers charts and short skirts are also seen in most of the towns and cities.

“Indonesian…More

The Hindu : y>It is important to understand the need for space, particularly when you have just been married and have moved into a large family, says BINDU TOBBY

Photo: PTIGive it time Accepting and respecting each other’s differences is a gradual process

A friend was recently narrating the experience of her honeymoon where her husband’s family accompanied the newlyweds. The arrangement was simple and the logistics even simpler – the honeymoon destination was in the same State as the whole clan of relatives on the husband’s side. So the big `happy’ family travelled together, meeting (and celebrating) with all the relatives, while sprinkled somewhere inadvertently in-between were the usual romantic beachside moonlit walks or a quiet night in a houseboat for the newly-married couple. She admitted that while she did enjoy the love and doting from all the well-meaning relatives and the new `in laws’, the privacy and intimacy of the honeymoon was sadly missing.What is it about in-laws that makes so many of us (especially the women) start talking in hushed tones, with umpteen cribs and complaints? Is it the disinclination to accept them since they come as part of a quiet package deal the moment you exchange vows at the altar? Is it the difficulty to accept overnight a new human being as your own father, daughter or son? Or is it the unfortunate ego tussle? “The equation with your in laws works the same as in the case of any other relationship, wherein you need to identify areas of common interest, know your differences and while you agree to respect the differences, keep your focus on the common interest areas alive!” says Thomas Jacob, who is based in Canada. He also adds quickly that this works better only if you are living as a nuclear family, and don’t need to interact with your in laws on a daily basis. He laughs adding…More

The Hindu :

The writer goes under a profusion of fruits overlaid with flowers for a lush facial

AROUSING THE SENSES The facial leaves a lingering feeling

I know I’m in good hands. Those hands are softly ministering to my face, tip-tapping their way across the landscape of my cheeks, softly stroking my brow, leaving no part of my city-battered visage alone. My face flowers under this attention but there’s something else that adds to the delight of the experience: the fragrance of flowers, fruit and cream. I’m in good hands. The hands belong to Kulu Phokela, the owner of the Shahnaz Husain Herbal Parlour down Ali Askar Road, off Cunningham Road. And Kulu has only recently received official acknowledgement for those magical hands of hers: she has been awarded the Best Shahnaz Husain Herbal Franchisee award for south India.

I’m undergoing the fruit and flower facial at Kulu’s parlour. I’ve seen the faces of a brace of friends who have emerged from her parlour after a fruit and flower facial and nothing is going to sway me from that. Especially given that the fruits involved are a combine of apple, melon, banana, orange, papaya, with honey as the base.

The beauty of the facial lies in its simplicity. Kulu first cleans my face, neck, as well as my upper chest and back with Sharose cleanser (all Shahnaz products used here, of course). The delicate scent of rose wafts up to my nostrils. Next come the vegetable peel, Egyptian lotus cream massaged for a quarter of an hour.

Just as I sink into a pleasant stupor, a vibrator is applied to my face for about five minutes. It’s a very gentle motion which wakes the skin up. After the cream is removed, along comes the scrub, Shagrains mixed with Sharose.

The true magic of Kulu’s fingers come into play here, as she massages the scrub in, with just the…More

The Hindu :

Plain, fruit-filled or with a hint of spice, yoghurt is delicious anyway

FILLED With nutrients

Yoghurt is a fermented dairy product made by adding bacterial cultures to milk that transforms sugar and lactose in the milk into lactic acid. This process gives yoghurt its refreshingly tart flavour and unique pudding-like texture

The lactic acid bacteria ( Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) also lend yoghurt its many health benefits. Though yoghurt is available in a variety of flavours, plain yoghurt is the most wholesome and versatile. Some manufacturers pasteurise the yoghurt to kill any harmful bacteria present. But this also kills the beneficial bacteria, substantially reducing its health benefits.

Always check the expiration date on the container. Avoid yoghurts that have artificial colours, flavourings or sweeteners. While fruit-filled yoghurt can be a delicious treat, it often contains excess sugar. Look for yoghurt made from organic milk. Store yoghurt in the refrigerator in its original container. If unopened, it will stay fresh for about a week, past the expiration date. Yoghurt is a very good source of iodine, calcium, phosphorus, and Vitamin B2. It is also a good source of protein and Vitamin B12. Here’s a recipe with it.

Dahi wala sattu

Ingredients

Roasted Bengal gram: 70 gm

Black salt: A pinch

Lemon juice: 10 ml or as desired

Yoghurt/curd: 100 ml

Chopped ginger: 3 gm

Green chilly (chopped): as desired.

Method

Grind the Bengal gram into a fine powder and put the masalas into it. Add desired quantity of curd and enough water. Check the seasoning and serve it chilled.

BHOLANATH JHA

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The Hindu : HORMAZD SORABJEE

Launchpad A cross between a SUV, MPV and a car, Tata Aria is a well-proportioned and lightweight vehicle writes Hormazd Sorabjee

The Aria is not just another new run-of-the-mill Tata model. This crossover is the first product in 22 years to be built on a brand new ladder-frame chassis.

Tata Motors began work on the X2 platform way back in 2004 and it has taken its time to come to market. The cause for the delay is the new (for Tata) processes and technology incorporated in the X2 platform. In fact, the X2 is the first chassis to use ‘hydroforming’, a specialised die-forming process that uses high-pressure hydraulic fluid to shape chassis components. The result is a structurally stiff and lightweight ladder frame, which is a great starting point for the Aria and future models. In fact the Aria, despite being longer and wider than the Safari, is around 200kg lighter thanks mainly to the new and lighter chassis. The five-link suspension at the rear is similar to the Safari’s and the engine and gearbox too are carried over. However, Tata claims that the Safari’s G76 gearbox has been updated for the Aria with a new casing and better shift action. The 2.2-litre Dicor engine develops an identical 140bhp but has been considerably refined with optimised rubber mounts, an aluminium cast sump, an improved acoustic package and a dual mass flywheel which, according to Tata engineers, has played a big role in cutting unwanted vibrations.

The Aria uses a full-time four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive (AWD) system developed by Borg Warner. This AWD system is one more on the list of ‘firsts’ for a Tata car. Through a set of differentials and coupled with traction control and ESP, the AWD system senses what the right amount of torque is to transmit to a wheel without causing the tyre to slip. AWD systems work…More

The Hindu :

The 15th edition of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, with a few surprises and additions, commences today

ELEGANT Meera and Muzaffar Ali’s creations showcased at WIFWlast year

The 15 {+t} {+h} edition of the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) kicks off today at Delhi. Some 75 designers are set to showcase their clothes on the ramp over 43 shows. Of the 19 designers making their debut at the fashion week, eight take the ramp and 11 will showcase in the stall area.

The ramp this time has been extended to 80 feet, says Sunil Sethi, president of Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), organisers of WIFW. “This is the largest ramp we’ve ever had,” he adds. The show format has changed too, with proceedings set to begin before noon.

The Mumbai pack is represented by Bollywood favourite Rocky S., resort wear specialist Nandita Mahtani and milliner-accessory designer Shilpa Chavan of label Little Shilpa, all showcasing at WIFW for the first time.

Biggies not there

While the absence of high-profile designers like Rohit Bal, Wendell Rodericks and Narendra Kumar has led to much speculation, Sethi says, “Four stalls have been booked for Rohit Bal. Regarding Wendell Rodricks, he’s been on cruise for two months and hasn’t taken part in any show this season. He’ll be showing in a stall in WIFW, though he is still in South America,” he says. Narendra Kumar, on the other hand, will be taking part in FDCI’s other event, the Men’s Fashion Week.

Don’t be surprised if you see a dozen highly-ornate autorickshaws in the exhibition area. Artists Dilip Sharma, Farhad Hussain, George Martin, Hindol Brahmbhatt, Jaishree Burman, Jagannath Panda, Paresh Maity, Sanjay Bhattacharya, Satish Gupta, Sudhanshu Sutar, Yusuf Arakkal and Nitin Bal Chauhan, have worked on an autorickshaw each, using them as a canvas to represent various facets of India.

Funds raised from the auction of these art pieces will go…More