Since 1999, August 12th has been known as International Youth Day (IYD2010). Each year, there is a theme associated with International Youth Day, this year’s being “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.”

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The Monster family introduces the 796, an exciting addition to the line-up that combines the user-friendliness of the 696 with the sports character of the 1100.

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The Winter Season which brings us the joy of fireside reading, snuggling close to the pillows wrapped from head to toe with a comfy quilt also

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Yes! By December the soft, tender fruits and vegetables are long gone. But that doesn't mean

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Christmas is celebrated with immense zeal and enthusiasm in every Christian family of the world.

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It’s hard to believe that it was just a year ago that the Android mobile OS reared its head. Today almost 10% of all handsets

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Regularly check tyre condition and air pressure. Optimum air pressure in the tyres of the bike

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ABCI award
Bharat Petroleum walked away with two prestigious Communication Awards

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Since 1999, August 12th has been known as International Youth Day (IYD2010). Each year, there is a theme associated with International Youth Day, this year’s being “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.”

Its slogan, “Our Year, Our Voice,” is a vivid reminder that in the new age of globalization young people can actively create development initiatives in their communities, in their respective countries and on a global scale.

To guide its efforts during the Year, the United Nations is focusing on three overarching objectives:

1. Create awareness. Increase commitment and investment in youth.

2. Mobilize and engage. Increase youth participation and partnerships.

3. Connect and build bridges. Increase intercultural understanding among youth.

The Year aims to promote the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and solidarity across generations, cultures, religions and civilizations.

Youth and India

Today, Indian flag is flying high in every field in the world.

The reason for this seems to be:
“The mind is like the stomach. It is not how much you put into it that counts, but how much it digests. The power of the mind are like the rays of the sun dissipated, when they are concentrated they illumine”.

These words of Swami Vivekananda are really true in this context.

Initiatives taken by the Youth

  • In the last few years, projects such as ‘Teach India’ (an initiative by the Times of India) came into light where in many college students actively participated. They taught the under-privileged street children and orphans at various schools, centers and NGOs.

    Many campaigns are coming up which deal with serious issues such as global warming, saving the wildlife, corruption and many more which involves active participation by the younger generation.
  • Grameen Surya Bijlee Foundation - A shining corner of India

    The innovative lighting system was brought to this remote village by Grameen Surya Bijlee Foundation (GSBF), a non-profit initiative spearheaded by two former IITians, Jasjeet Singh Chaddah and Kama Krishna.

    In this village, “After six o'clock, children in the nearby tribal areas were not able to study and adults could not do their chores because there was no light".

    And here began the search of the IITians for a low-cost energy source, which brought them to the LEDs.

    Chaddah imports the LEDs and amorphous silicon solar panels from China. At present, he funds Khadakwadi's installations.

    GSBF is pitching the project to central and state governments, besides corporates who can adopt a village, and banks, which have a long reach in rural India.
  • The ‘Jaago Re’ campaign initiated by the “Tata Tea” encourages the one billion citizens of the country to exercise their duty and to be committed. In one of the advertisements of the campaign, the actors have shown growing awareness amongst the youngsters who have taken the responsibility to awake the sleeping and warn the corrupt people to behave as a responsible citizen of the country. Today’s youth is now firmly following their latest mantra which is ‘to be the change’. The ‘Jaago Re’ campaign really helped creating awareness about the importance of voting.

Achievements of Youth

  • Saina Nehwal, is just one step away from being crowned World No 1, is one of the best sportswomen India has seen.
    The 20-year-old Saina had made a meteoric rise following her back-to-back title triumphs at the India Open Grand Prix, Singapore Open Super Series and Indonesian Open Super Series to reach the world number two spot and winning a gold medal in Common wealth games 2010. Now, being the source of inspiration and role model for the global youth.
  • India now shares the shining position of having the ‘youngest teacher in the world’ with Babar Ali from Murshidbad in West Bengal. He is also the youngest headmaster in the world. Babar is only sixteen years old who understands the importance of education in everyone’s life and so he took the responsibility of educating his village children in his backyard. At the same time, he has not stopped his studies. He goes to school in the morning and teaches in the evening. He is one amongst the responsible and aware generation who understands his role towards his nation. Also, Babar is the first person in his family who is receiving proper education and so he understands the role of education in one’s life. He is running his school with the support of his village people and government fund.
  • Vikas Krishan Yadav, has now become the Youngest Boxer Ever To Win a Gold Medal in Asian Games 2010 at the age of just 18. The Teen sensation ended the Indian boxing's 12-year-old gold medal drought in the Asian Games by winning the lightweight (60kg) title. He not only out punched his Chinese opponent Hu Qing to clinch top honours but also outsmarted him in the ring at the Foshan Lingnan Mingzhou Gymnasium.


  • Gurbaksh Chahal, in 1998, at the age of 16, Chahal dropped out of high school to work full-time at his first company, ClickAgents, an advertising network for performance-based advertising. Two years later, at the age of 18, he sold ClickAgents to ValueClick for $40 million. He went on to create another advertising network, BlueLithium, which he sold to Yahoo for $300 million when he was just 25 years old.
  • Mark Zuckerberg in 2008, at the age of 23, Mark Zuckerberg topped Forbes’ list as the youngest self-made billionaire in the world four years after creating Facebook.com.

    Today, it is virtually guaranteed that any 16-25 year old person you meet has a Facebook profile and uses it regularly as a vital part of their lives.


  • Globals Inc Suhas Gopinath, The youngest CEO of world. He is the founder, CEO, and Chairman of Globals Inc, an IT multinational company. Born in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Suhas Gopinath launched a web site in a cyber cafe called CoolHindustan.com at the age of 14 years, and incorporated his company at the age of 14, making him the world’s youngest CEO at that time. He is the youngest member ever in the World Economic Forum’s history. The other members include the Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, musician A R Rahman, Prince of Brunei.
  • Indian Politics - Leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Sachin Pilot and Jyotiraditya Scindia are actively taking new and creative ways for nation building. In fact, they are inspiring many youngsters who are now willingly looking forward to work for the nation. This has definitely opened the minds of the younger generation towards Indian politics who earlier used to run away from it.
There is no doubt that Indian youth is setting examples for everyone and they are proving themselves in every field, in home country and abroad as well. Despite so many problems like poverty and unemployment, the contribution Indian youth in the world is growing by leaps & bounds. And there is bound to be progress in the country if the youth would continue to move forward towards making a better India and World.

How can YOUTH promote and celebrate the Year?

  • Organize an event: The UN Programme on Youth has developed, together with NGO partners, an Activities Kit that provides guidance on organizing an event to celebrate the Year. The Kit includes practical advice and effective strategies on how to promote your event, engage the media, develop partnerships, build a constituency of supporters and much more.
  • Participate in local events: Visit the Calendar of Events to learn about activities taking place in your community and around the world.
  • Contribute to online discussions: Monthly consultations are held on Facebook to encourage youth from around the world to share their views on various aspects of the Year.
    Topics have included:
    - Contributions for low-cost ideas for celebration activities
    - Suggestions to increase the effectiveness of youth participation and representation at the community level
    - Ideas for engaging the media to raise public awareness and ways to increase dialogue and understanding among the UN, Governments and youth.
  • Raise public awareness
    Now that it has been proclaimed the Year in recognition of the need for dialogue between youth and other generations as well as among youth in different parts of the world, it is up to you to make use of this opportunity and make your voices heard.

    The International Year is a fantastic opportunity to advocate on behalf of youth in our country and to promote dialogue and mutual understanding among youth and the decision-makers in our community, region or country.

    The progress achieved during this Year in each of these areas will lay the foundation for further work in youth development, including the implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Source :
http://icicp.blogspot.com/2010/08/celebrating-international-youth-day.html
http://www.wfuna.org/atf/cf/%7B84F00800-D85E-4952-9E61-D991E657A458%7D/IYYmessage12August2010.pdf
http://social.un.org/youthyear/participate.html
http://www.udgaar.in/changing-face-of-the-indian-youth/
http://blog.abhinav.com/indian-youth-being-the-%E2%80%98change%E2%80%99/
http://www.zimbio.com/Mark+Zuckerberg/articles/QGaeUaFjMkD/Hot+young+tech+entrepreneurs+watch
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/new/Ndtv-Show-Special-Story-Sports.aspx?ID=581 StoryID=SPOEN20100161223
http://www.mid-day.com/sports/2010/nov/261110-Vikas-Krishan-Vijender-Singh-Gold-medal-Boxing.htm
http://www.zimbio.com/Mark+Zuckerberg/articles/QGaeUaFjMkD/Hot+young+tech+entrepreneurs+watch
http://www.educationindiaworld.com/2010/10/12/globals-inc-suhas-gopinath-the-youngest-ceo-of-world/
http://news4u.co.in/?p=74468
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/saina-nehwal-who-just-one-step-away-being-crowned-world-no-1-one-best-sportswomen-india-has-seen-it-

Christmas Recipes

Christmas is celebrated with immense zeal and enthusiasm in every Christian family of the world. Partying and feasting forms an important part of the celebrations. On the occasion of Christmas, umpteen numbers of delicious delicacies are prepared in every home. These delicacies may range from main course items to desserts and drinks. Sweet dishes like cakes, bars and fudges are vital items on the Christmas party menu.

Heavenly Chipped Chocolate and Hazelnut Cheesecake

Ingredients

Semisweet chocolate chips 2 cups
Vanilla wafer crumbs 1 1/2 cups
Toasted, ground hazelnuts 3/4 cup
White sugar 2 tablespoons
Butter, melted tablespoons
Cream cheese, softened 3 (8 ounce) packages
White sugar 1 cup
Eggs, beaten 3
Hazelnut liqueur 3 tablespoons
Skinned, toasted hazelnuts 13
Sour cream 4 tablespoons
Hazelnut liqueur 1 tablespoon

Directions

  1. Using a blender or a food processor, finely chop 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips. Place in a small mixing bowl. Add vanilla wafer crumbs, ground hazelnuts, 2 tablespoons white sugar, and melted butter or margarine. Mix until well combined. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch springform pan. Bake in a preheated 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) oven for 15 minutes. Cool.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually add 1 cup white sugar; mix well. Add the eggs and 3 tablespoons liqueur. Mix until well blended. Coarsely chop 1 cup of the semisweet chocolate chips, and add to the cream cheese mixture. Stir. Pour batter into the cooled crust.
  3. Bake at in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 1 hour. Let cake cool for 1 hour. Remove outer ring from pan. Then let cool completely.
  4. Melt 2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips over hot (not boiling) water. Stir until smooth. Dip 13 hazelnuts into the chocolate, covering one-half of each nut. Shake off the excess chocolate. Place on a waxed-paper lined plate. Chill until set.
  5. To the remaining melted chocolate, add sour cream. Mix well. Stir in 1 tablespoon liqueur. Spread glaze on top of the cooled cheesecake. Garnish with chocolate dipped hazelnuts.

Source:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Heavenly-Chipped-Chocolate-and-Hazelnut-Cheesecake-2/Detail.aspx
http://festivals.iloveindia.com/christmas/christmas-recipes.html

Sugar Cookies with Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

Butter 1 cup
White sugar 1 cup
Eggs 2
Vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon
All-purpose flour 3 1/4 cups
Baking powder 1/2 teaspoon
Baking soda 1/2 teaspoon
Salt 1/2 teaspoon
Shortening 1/2 cup
Confectioners' sugar 1 pound
Water 5 tablespoons
Salt 1/4 teaspoon
Vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon
Butter flavored extract 1/4 teaspoon

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, mix together butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; gradually stir flour mixture into butter mixture until well blended using a sturdy spoon. Chill dough for 2 hours.
  2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
  3. Bake for 4 to 6 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove cookies from pan and cool on wire racks.
  4. Using an electric mixer, beat shortening, confectioners sugar, water, salt, vanilla extract, and butter flavoring until fluffy. Frost cookies after they have cooled completely.

Source:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sugar-Cookies-with-Buttercream-Frosting/Detail.aspx

Mocha Nut Fudge

Ingredients

Packed brown sugar 1 cups
Evaporated milk 1/3 cup
Light corn syrup 2 tablespoons
Semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup
Vanilla extract 2 teaspoons
Instant coffee granules 1 teaspoon
Walnuts 1 cup chopped

Directions

  1. In a heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, milk and corn syrup. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture comes to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in chocolate chips, vanilla and coffee granules with a wooden spoon. Continue stirring until mixture is smooth and thick, about 5 minutes. Stir in walnuts. Shape into two 9-in. logs; wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight. Unwrap and cut into slices.

Source:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Mocha-Nut-Fudge/Detail.aspx

New Year Recipes

New Year Eve – is a time for celebration and enjoyment. Call your friends and relatives, arrange for a get-together and make your eve this year memorable by whisking and baking some of the most delicious and scrumptious New Year Eve recipes. These recipes are very easy to make and all you require are some easily available materials that can be purchased from any local store or departmental shop. Read on the amazing New Year Eve recipes and prepare some mouth-watering dishes for your near and dear ones.

Appetizer (Mini Greek Pizza Muffins Recipe)

Ingredients

Whole Wheat Pastry Flour ½ cup
All-purpose Flour ½ cup
Onion ½ cup (finely chopped)
Baking Soda 2 ½ tsp
Olive Oil 3 tbsp
Sugar 1 tsp
Salt 1/4 tsp
Garlic Powder 1/4 tsp
Low-fat Milk 1/3 cup
Feta Cheese 1/3 cup (crumbled)
Tomato Paste 2 tbsp
Olives 2 tbsp (chopped)
Egg 1 (well beaten)
Red Bell Pepper 2/3 cup (finely chopped)

Directions

  1. In a big skillet, pour some oil and heat it over medium flame. Transfer the chopped onions and bell pepper to the skillet and keep stirring for a period of about 5 minutes, until the onions are tender and light brown.
  2. Once done, transfer the contents in a large bowl and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
  3. Preheat the oven to around 400°F and coat a mini muffin pan with cooking spray.
  4. In a mixing bowl, whisk in the all-purpose flour, whole wheat pastry flour, sugar, salt, garlic powder and oregano.
  5. Next, pour the milk, egg, cheese, tomato paste and olive in the onion mixture.
  6. Using a spoon, make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients in this well, stirring to combine them together.
  7. When the batter is formed properly, fill in the muffin cups to about two-thirds.
  8. Place the muffin cups inside the oven and bake for around 13 to 15 minutes or until they are light brown in appearance.
  9. Serve the appetizers warm, at room temperature.

Source:
http://festivals.iloveindia.com/new-year/eve-recipe.html

Nuggets with Chili Sauce

Ingredients

Chicken broth 1 cup
Green chilies 2 (4 ounce) cans chopped
Onions 2 medium, diced
Butter or margarine 3 tablespoons
Chili powder 1 tablespoon
Ground cumin 2 teaspoons
Garlic 2 cloves, minced
Packed brown sugar 1/4 cup
Orange juice 1/4 cup
Ketchup 1/4 cup
Lemon juice 2 tablespoons

Chicken Nuggets

Cornmeal 1/2 cup
Chili powder 1 tablespoon
Ground cumin 2 teaspoons
Salt 1/4 teaspoon
Boneless skinless chicken breast halves 1 1/2 pounds, cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces
Vegetable oil 3 tablespoons

Directions

  1. In blender or food processor, combine broth and chilies; cover and precess until pureed. Set aside. In a large skillet, saute onions in butter until tender. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, garlic and pureed mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Add the brown sugar, orange juice, ketchup and lemon juice. Cook and stir over low heat for 15 minutes or until thickened; keep warm.
  3. For nuggets, combine the cornmeal, chili powder, cumin and salt in a large resealable plastic bag. Add chicken pieces a few at a time, to bag; shake to coat. Heat oil in skillet; cook chicken for 6-8 minutes or until juices run clear, turning frequently. Serve with sauce.

Source:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Nuggets-with-Chili-Sauce/Detail.aspx

Best Android Phones in India

It’s hard to believe that it was just a year ago that the Android mobile OS reared its head. Today almost 10% of all handsets manufactured around the world sport Android and the OS is close to becoming the second most popular mobile OS in the world after Symbian.

In August of last year, Android first entered Indian markets through the HTC Magic. Since then handset manufacturers like Sony Ericsson, Samsung, HTC, LG and even Acer have released their own Android phones.

1. HTC Droid Incredible Android Phone

Its amazingly fast and first in the list of best 5 Android phones in India. HTC Sense enhances the features of Android 2.1, and the smart phones features an 8-megapixel camera and 8GB of internal memory. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and 3G are all on board. With fast speeds, the HTC Droid Incredible takes pole position as Verizon’s top smart phones and is now the Android device to beat.


2. Sony Ericsson Xperia X10

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Android Phones have a user-friendly design with a brilliant display. The feature set is generous, the internal performance is fast, and call quality is good. The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Android Phones offers a slick, user-friendly design with a solid feature set and good call quality. Data performance was uneven, however, and the Timescape application and keyboard miss some details.


3. HTC Legend

The HTC Legend Android Phones simply look stunning. Its unibody-style aluminum casing makes it look a like a cousin of Apple’s Macbook range of laptops – a good thing – and also means it’s rock solid. Gone is the snap off battery cover, and instead the phone opens up at the bottom where the battery slots out. It’s quite an elegant solution. The capacitive touch screen remains 3.2 inches (320×480) but this time it’s AMOLED, which looks stunning indoors and performs OK outside in sunlight. It’s very responsive too, on-par with the best of class i Phones.


4. Motorola Milestone XT720

Motorola Milestone XT720 Android Phones may appeal to someone looking for a high-end Android device. The most notable of the lot is the 8-megapixel camera complete with Xenon flash and HD-quality video-recording capability.


5. Samsung I9000 Galaxy S

Samsung I9000 Galaxy S are Android smart phones with the thinnest body of about 9.9mm. Samsung I9000 Galaxy S running on the Android platform 2.1 and equipped with 1GHz processor speed. Samsung I9000 Galaxy S phones also has a specification such AMOLED display super-sized 4-inch, 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and 720p video recording capability with a frame rate of 30 fps, the ability to play video format DivX and Xvid, connectivity Wi-Fi b / g / n , GPS, 3G connectivity with HSDPA support, USB and Bluetooth 3.0.

Source :
http://www.techjunoon.com/blog/5-best-android-phones-in-india/
http://www.pcworld.in/news/top-5-android-phones-india-30552010
http://www.pcworld.in/news/android-phones-india-latest-prices-reviews-33892010/tx
http://androidos.in/all-about-android-phones-in-india/

Ducati Monster 796

The Monster family introduces the 796, an exciting addition to the line-up that combines the user-friendliness of the 696 with the sports character of the 1100. Delivering 87hp (64kW), a dry weight of just 167kg (368lb) and optional ABS, the stylish new Monster 796 returns the magic of mid-range to the Monster family.

With the brand new Desmodue 796 engine at the heart of the machine, a single-sided swingarm and revised ergonomics, the Monster 796 perfectly balances lifestyle performance with everyday functionality to enhance the original Monster spirit.

Dressed in Ducati red, arctic white silk or diamond black silk with a bright red Trellis frame, the Monster 796 can be further personalised with an additional 10 colour schemes available in ‘Logomania' the innovative Monster Art program.

Engine

  • 796 Desmodue
    The 796 engine is a completely brand new, lightweight Desmodue power unit designed to provide the torquey, smooth and enjoyable character famous of all Desmodromic L-Twins.
  • APTC clutch
    The APTC ‘wet’ clutch gives a ‘slipper’ type action that prevents destabilizing of the rear-end under aggressive down-shifting and also gives the extra benefit of a super-light feel at the lever, a great benefit in stop-start city traffic or during longer journeys. The 21-plate oil-bath clutch (11 friction and 10 steel) represents a power-enhancing weight reduction over the ‘dry’ system as well as having a quieter operation and requiring less maintenance.
  • Lightweight crankcases
    The new crankcases hug the gearbox internals much closer to create a smaller and more compact outer profile and achieve considerable weight savings over previous cases.
  • Power & torque curves
    The Monster 796 produces 84hp (64kW)@ 8250rpm of power and a torque to 58lb-ft (78Nm) @ 6250rpm.
  • Exhaust system
    Providing a deep and rich exhaust tone within current noise and emissions regulations is no mean feat, but the Monster definitely provides the L-Twin sound famous of Ducati. Its bold, high-level twin mufflers also make a striking style statement.
    The exhaust system on Monster 796 has one Lambda probe dedicated to each cylinder, enabling precise fuelling for a smoother power delivery as well as complying with current emission regulations.

Chassis

  • Lightweight Construction
    Every carefully selected component of the Monster 696 has a net benefit to the overall light weight of the machine. The dry weight of 161kgs (355lb) has dramatic effects on not just manoeuvrability and ease of use, but also by contributing directly to increased performance, braking and acceleration.
  • Single-sided swingarm
    The beautifully shaped single-sided swingarm gives the Monster a ‘tough' look while ensuring higher rigidity, reduced weight and enhanced road holding.
    The swingarm is chill-cast using aluminium in its most noble form. Gravity cast and heat treated, the component achieves the best mechanical characteristics as well as reduced final weight for improved handling.
  • Sachs rear suspension
    At the rear, a Sachs monoshock unit with progressive linkage provide a wide spectrum of both spring and damping settings.
  • Brembo brakes
    The latest in Brembo braking hardware delivers exceptional braking power front and rear to improve rider safety. At the front, 320mm floating discs are gripped by four-piston, radially mounted callipers, while a 245mm floating rear disc works in combination with a twin-piston calliper.
    This powerful braking set-up offers unrivalled feel and feedback making the 796 safer across a broader spectrum of riding abilities.
  • Monster Trellis
    An immensely strong but light tubular steel Trellis frame with aluminium rear sub-frame is the visual and structural backbone of the Monster. Delivering unparalleled rigidity with minimal mass, the chassis design is pure Ducati in its ingenuity and simplicity. A separate, all aluminium sub-frame saves weight and adds a pleasing continuity with the aluminium footrest hangers and matte finished swingarm.

Equipment

  • Instrumentation
    Visually simple digital instrumentation provides an array of data on command or, at a glance, just speed and revs. Information available at your fingertip include: scheduled maintenance warning, oil temperature, trip odometer, lap time, fuel reserve, warning light for low oil pressure, turn signals, over-rev warning, immobilizer and neutral warning light.
  • Stopwatch
    The digital display is programmed with a stopwatch function that, when enabled, can be triggered by using the high-beam flash button and each recorded time stored in a memory. After your journey or track session, the times or lap times can be recalled from the memory and scrolled through by using the instrumentation buttons on the left-hand switchgear.

Source:
http://www.ducati.com/bikes/monster/796/index.do

Bike Maintenance Tips

  • Regularly check tyre condition and air pressure. Optimum air pressure in the tyres of the bike is important for maximum road grip, stability, riding comfort and longevity of the tyres.
  • While under-inflated tyres wear unevenly, adversely affect handling, and more likely to fail from being overheated, over inflated tyres make the motorcycle ride more harshly, and more prone to damage from surface hazards, and wear unevenly.
  • Check your tyres for cuts and scrapes on your tires, which could cause a blowout. Also check the tyre treads once a week and have the wheels balanced and the alignment checked if the wear is uneven.
  • Engine oil plays an important role in ensuring smooth operation and maintenance of the bike and maintaining a correct engine oil level is important. Check engine oil level each day before operating the two–wheeler. Oil level should be between upper and lower marks. Top up engine oil if required. Check for oil leakage.
  • Clean the two-wheeler body surface regularly to maintain the surface finish. Before cleaning the motorcycle, ensure that the ignition switch unit, H.T. Coil and silencer are covered using plastic sheets.
  • Clean the motorcycle using low-pressure water. All painted surfaces should be washed only with water, as kerosene or detergent will damage the paint.
  • The motorcycle battery needs periodical maintenance to ensure a long and trouble free life. Check the electrolyte level against the top and bottom markings on the battery shell. Always top up with distilled water whenever required.
  • Check for any leakage from battery. It should be clean and free from any leakages. In case of non-use of motorcycle, battery should be kept fully charged and electrolyte level should be at Top mark.
  • Clean spark plug regularly. Every 750 km for two-stroke bike and every 1,500 km for four-stroke bike. Clean spark points (electrodes) with emery paper.
  • Keep carburettor clean. Every 1500 km, clean out the carburettor float chamber and other parts. Clean jets by forcing compressed air through them.
  • Keep both brakes properly spaced. Keeping them too tight (too urgent), or too loose (too late) is dangerous. Brakes should be tightened as per the rider’s personal style and requirement.
  • Check cables regularly for kinks, bends and frayed ends. Especially check ends. If one or more strands appear broken, replace immediately.
  • Always ensure that the tax is paid and Insurance cover (Insurance policy) is within validity period. Keep Tax Receipt and Insurance policy at home and keep xerox copy in bike.

Source:
http://www.iloveindia.com/bikes/bike-maintenance-tips.html

Winter Care for All Types of Skin

The Winter Season which brings us the joy of fireside reading, snuggling close to the pillows wrapped from head to toe with a comfy quilt also hampers our body and hair with the cold winds. Overexposure to dry, cold wind damages the skin. As a result, the unprotected cells become inflamed, causing a tingling sensation on the skin, a problem that is particularly common among the elderly in cold season. However, a little care will keep the wintry troubles at bay. Dry skin suffers more than oily skin. However, the following measures are helpful for all types of skin.

  1. Your skin texture depends not only on external treatments, but also on the intake. A proper nutritious intake helps in rejuvenating the skin from within. Water plays an important role in keeping your skin alive. A good amount of water helps in retaining the moisture of your skin as well keeping skin disorders at bay. Fruits and vegetables in your daily diet release a lot of water to your system. Primrose syrup and olive oil in your diet also aids in softening your skin.
  2. Cold weather and cool winds aggravate dry skin condition; so adjust lifestyle and diet add warmth, lubrication, and moisture. Moisturizers and cold creams are a must in the winters Tone and moisture after each cleansing to preserve and replenish the moisture in your skin. Use a moisturizing night nourisher every evening. Apply a daytime moisturizer around your eyes and on dry-skin areas each morning.
  3. Use the paste of ground green gram powder instead of soap to work your way to a soft and supple skin.
  4. Pamper you skin with a little coconut oil before bath to heal dryness and chaps. Use a creamy soap that renders that extra suppleness to your skin.
  5. Wait 30 minutes after bathing, or washing your face, before going out into frigid air. Splash your face with cool water when you come back inside. Extreme temperature changes can burst capillaries near the skin's surface.
  6. Add a few drops of oil to the water that you are using to bath. This will help retain the moisture lost when bathing. Avoid using very hot water during winter as it can decrease the natural oils of your skin. Instead shorten your bath time.
  7. Although it doesn't taste very great flaxseed oil can moisturize your body from the inside. Since it is rich in vital fatty acids it can do a lot for your overall health. It is available in oil form as well as in capsule form.
  8. The pre-bath warm oil self-massage, called abhyanga, is a must-do in winter. The massage not only keeps your skin silky smooth, it also tones the muscles, calms the nerves and aids circulation. Pat excess oil off with a paper towel before you step into the bath or shower. Use a nourishing oil such as almond or sesame oil for the massage.
  9. Nourish you skin by adding a few drops of jojoba oil or sweet almond oil into your every day bath. It will do wonders for your skin.
  10. Give your skin lipid support from within by including soaked and blanched almonds, soaked walnuts, whole milk, fresh cheese, and ghee (clarified butter) in your diet. Drink a cup of warm milk laced with 1/4 teaspoon ghee at bedtime for a daily boost of lipid support.
  11. The Amla fruit (Indian Gooseberry) is the richest known natural source of vitamin C. Herbs such as Amla provide concentrated nourishment to the deeper layers of the skin. Take Amla, also known as Amalaki, on a regular basis to replenish skin from within.
  12. Zucchini and other summer squashes, tender asparagus, tender greens, and carrots make excellent vegetable choices. Sweet juicy berries, cooked apples and sweet grapes are good fruit choices. Drink lots of warm water through the day.
  13. Do not use harsh soaps to cleanse, as they will strip your skin of precious lipids. Use a non-soap cleanser or very mild soap to cleanse.

Source:
http://www.hindustanlink.com/beautytex/winter-skin-care.htm

Winter Fruits and Vegetables

Yes! By December the soft, tender fruits and vegetables are long gone. But that doesn't mean you have to shop in the refrigerated sections of your local supermarket. You might think summer is the best season to enjoy nature's bounty, but don't overlook what the colder months have to offer.

Winter is the peak season for citrus fruit like oranges, sweet lemons etc. Furthermore, winter varieties of squash contain more nutrients than their summer counterparts. The flavorful produce of winter can be used in so many great ways that you will never be bored. Here are some nutrient dense winter produce to awaken your taste buds and add some variety to your plate:

  • Cauliflower (phool-gobhi): It is a major source of folate, fiber and phytochemicals. Although it is available all year round, it tastes better when grown in a colder climate. When buying one, look for white or cream-colored heads that feel heavy for their size. You can store it for 2 weeks in a fridge.
  • Cabbage (patta-gobhi): Just like cauliflower, it too is available throughout the year but taste better in winter. It is a major source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Cabbage is remarkably flexible as it can be eaten raw or stir fried or even steamed. Look for brightly colored leaves with crisp, moist looking edges.
  • Broccoli (hari phoolgobhi): Another family member and very rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, fiber, magnesium, potassium and lutein. Choose broccoli heads with tight, green florets and firm stalks. The broccoli should feel heavy for its size. Avoid broccoli with dried out or browning stem ends or yellowing florets.
  • Mushrooms: Mushrooms are edible fungi although some varieties are poisonous and should not be eaten. They are a key source of riboflavin, niacin, and selenium. When selecting, look for firm, spongy and fleshy caps that are dry. Avoid any that look shriveled, wet or have any black spots.
  • Sweet potatoes (shakarkand): Excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin C and a good source of vitamin B6, fiber, copper and potassium, and best of all it's a low glycemic index (GI) food. When selecting, choose firm potatoes with unblemished skin without any cracks. Avoid any that have wrinkled skin or are beginning to sprout.
  • Radishes (mooli): Radishes have numerous varieties, varying in size and color. The daikon variety, native to Asia, is available year-round, but is most flavorful in fall and winter. They are very large, carrot-shaped radishes that are up to 18 inches. When buying, look for hard and solid root with a smooth, unblemished surface. Avoid soft or spongy radishes. Radishes are low in calories and high in Vitamin C, folate, and potassium. They are known to relieve indigestion and flatulence, as well as being a good expectorant.
  • Fennel (saunf): Fennel is a cool weather crop at its best from fall through spring. It adds a delicate anise flavor and satisfying crunch to fall and winter meals, and a fresh bright crisp to the salads.
  • Pears (nashpati): Pears are an excellent source of dietary fiber and a good source of Vitamin C. However, most of the vitamin C, as well as the dietary fiber, are contained within the skin of the fruit. So don't peel the pear or you'll miss out on most of the nutrients from pears. Pears are also full of the vitamin folate, which has been shown to prevent neural tube defects in infants, making them a great fruit for pregnant women to eat. Pears also have low glycemic index (GI), which means the natural sugars of the fruit are absorbed more slowly by the body, maintaining a more stable blood sugar level. Pears ripen at room temperature, so refrigerate them to slow further ripening. Because pears ripen from the inside out, the best way to judge ripeness is to apply gentle thumb pressure to the neck, or stem end of the pear. If it yeilds to gentle pressure, then the pear is ripe, sweet, and juicy.
  • Oranges: It is a good source of Vitamin C, folate and fiber. Choose fruit that has firm, smooth skin, is heavy for its size and has a healthy color.
  • Grape: Although it is available late in the winter, it is still a winter food. As with all citrus, chose fruits that are heavy for their size. It is a major source of Vitamin C and fiber.
  • Pineapples: A good source of Vitamin C and fiber. Pick fruit that is heavy for its size and has green leaves. It should have a fragrant smell.
  • Pomegranate (anar): Again a good source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C; Look for the one with heavy and plump; shiny skin. You can use seeds in salads or the juice can be used in drinks and desserts.

There are fresh produce in the winter months, no matter where you live. Search for the above produce and enjoy the delicacies of winter.

Source:
http://www.lifemojo.com/lifestyle/winter-fruits-and-vegetables-6950937

Outstanding achievements of BPCL employees in Sports Arena

Commonwealth Games, New Delhi 2010

Badminton

Gold Medal:

  • Ms. Saina Nehwal won the Women’s Singles Title which enabled India to finish second in the overall medals tally.
  • Ms. Jwala Gutta won the Women’s Doubles Title.

Silver Medal:

  • Saina Nehwal, Jwala Gutta & Aditi Mutatkar were members of Indian Badminton team which won the Silver Medal in the Mixed Team event.
  • Saina and Jwala Gutta contributed to the team’s Silver medal effort.

Table Tennis

Silver Medal:

  • Ms. Poulomi Ghatak was a member of Indian Table Tennis team which won the Silver Medal in the Team event which improved their performance compared to the previous CWG in which they had won the Bronze medal.

Bronze Medal:

  • Ms. Poulomi Ghatak won the Bronze medal Women’s Doubles Table Tennis Title.

Hockey

Silver Medal:

  • Tushar Khandkar and Ravi Pal were members of Indian Hockey team which won the Silver Medal. The Indian team lost to much fancied Australian team in the finals.

Cricket

  • S Sreesanth & Pragyan Ojha were members of Indian Cricket team which won the Test series against Australia.
  • Jaydev Unadkat, (age 18 yrs) who joined our Corporation recently was also in the Indian Cricket Test team against Australia.
  • Current, Mumbai Under 22 cricket team captain, Shri Surya Kumar Yadav who also played for Mumbai Senior team in the one dayers and India Under 19 player, Shri Gaurav Jathar were awarded sports scholarship under the recently introduced Sports Scholarship Scheme.

Chess

  • Vaibhav Suri, aged 13 years who is the youngest Indian to hold the Grand Master norm was awarded sports scholarship under the Sports Scholarship Scheme.

Other Achievements

ABCI award

Bharat Petroleum walked away with two prestigious Communication Awards at the Golden Jubilee function of the Annual Association of Business Communicators of India (ABCI) Awards Nite held at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai on 11th November 2010. Every year, ABCI recognizes and rewards leading corporates for their excellent contribution in the field of Business Communication. In fact, it is a mark of prestige to get an ABCI Award.

BPCL won the Silver Award for our Inhouse Publication, Petro Plus and the Bronze Award for our Online Web Campaign

BPCL shines at Petrotech

Bharat Petroleum was awarded the 1st position under the “Best Display in Raw Space” category during a spectacular awards ceremony at the recently concluded Petrotech-2010 exhibition at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The theme this year was “Global Energy Equilibrium”.



India E Gov awards

Our corporate website www.bharatpetroleum.in bagged the first prize in the category ‘Most user friendly website’ (editors choice) in the India eGov 2.0 Awards 2010. The magazine eGov is Asia’s first and only print-cum-online magazine (www.egovonline.net) on e-Governance.

The Awards have been instituted to recognize the best websites for online initiatives by government and public sector organizations and to encourage them to adopt the best practices for making their online initiatives more user-friendly and accessible for all. Criteria for evaluating was identification and branding, appearance and design, ease of access or technical compatibility, ease of use, navigation structure and clues, Content relevance and interactivity.

BPCL Among Top 10 Valuable Brands

A brand led business design is a necessity to deliver on the business’ full potential. With a customer centric approach, Bharat Petroleum has over the years passionately nurtured Brands and this has resulted in our company enjoying a vaunted status in the Corporate world.

The Economic Times has prominently featured an exclusive Brand Valuation done by M/s. Brand Finance, a London based valuation firm. Evaluation of top 500 Indian companies (by market cap) was used to arrive at the top 50. Only public data – broker reports, annual reports and market research -- was used for this study. The valuation was done using the ‘Relief from Royalty’ approach, which assumes that a firm does not own its own brand and calculates how much it would need to pay to license it from a third party. The present value of the (hypothetical) royalty represents the Brand Value.

This year the Bharat Petroleum brand has once again featured among the top ten companies with a valuation of 2.945 billion USD which is an improvement as compared to 2.264 billion USD of last year. This is the fifth year in succession that Bharat Petroleum has figured in the top 10 list and was ranked seventh overall.

Bharat Petroleum receives Green Business Leaders Award: 2009- 2010

The FE EVI (Financial Express & Emergent Ventures India) Green Business Leaders Award were presented to various Corporate on 6th June’ 2010 at a glittering ceremony in Delhi. Mr. S.P. Mathur, ED (E&P) BPCL, received the prestigious award from Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Hon. Minister for New & Renewable Energy. The award recognizes the excellent Green Initiatives towards climate change.

Team FE EVI along with knowledge partner Indian School of Business, Hyderabad had conceptualised a unique model to award deserving Corporate Sector in India from the ‘FE 500’ list. The selection criterion for the awards was to carry out a study surveying 80 Indian businesses & evaluate performance of the company over an extended period of time. Selection was also based on a company’s initiatives towards becoming a ‘Green Company’. BPCL has been awarded in understanding of Climate Change, to cut down their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions & took necessary steps to find cost effective mitigation solutions.

Brand Bharat Petroleum Attains Global Hallmark!

With a brand value of 2.9 billion USD, Bharat Petroleum stands 305th in the list prepared by UK-based Brand Finance ranking the top 500 global Corporate brands of 2009. Only seven Indian companies feature on the list - the Tata group, Reliance Industries Ltd., Bharti Airtel Ltd., State Bank of India, BPCL, Infosys Technologies Ltd. and ICICI Bank Ltd.

Source:
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/cjeM5s_U_Xi/India+Headshots+ICC+U19+Cricket+World+Cup/F4Pce9-NxOl/Gaurav+Jathar
http://cricket.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/apr/17/slide-show-1-ipl-2010-images-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-rajasthan-royals.htm
http://bleacherreport.com/gallery/19th+Commonwealth+Games+Day+11%3A+Table+Tennis#page/14
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/8087364.stm
http://www.stick2hockey.com/HockeyPlayers.aspx
http://www.indianchessfed.org/News/2006/images/Junenews/December2006/VaibhavAsianSchool.asp
http://tprone.com/jwala-gutta-ashwini-ponappa-won-gold-in-badminton-doubles-at-commonwealth-games/
http://im.in.com/connect/images/profile/b_profile4/S_Sreesanth_300.jpg