FINANCE SPECIAL...Now pay more for banking

Now  pay more for banking

With most banks increasing charges or introducing fees for various services, find out how much more you will have to shell out.

Services is going to become costly

Revised minimum balance

If you had to maintain an average of 20,000 in your account in a quarter earlier, you will now need to keep this amount every month. If the balance drops even for two days, you might be penalised.

 Dormant accounts Credit card charges
If you have a credit card, leaving it idle may do you more harm than good.

Good news
There’s relief on some fronts as banks have waived some dues. Intercity clearing charges have been removed and mobile banking services are free.

The Banks’ Code of Commitment states,“If we have made any change, we will notify the customer about this within 30 days. If this is to your disadvantage, you may, within 60 days and without notice, close your account or switch it without having to pay any extra charges or interest.”

 One way to avoid or reduce transaction costs is to use phone banking, Net banking and ATMs for services such as duplicate statements and stop payment of cheques, as these are usually free or can be availed of at a reduced cost through these mediums

    After petrol, the price hike bug has bitten the banks too, with several of them raising their charges in the recent past. “Banks have increased the service charges as the RBI has imposed several conditions on services, such as the daily interest payment and five free ATM transactions. As a result, the interest outflow of banks has increased and added to the cash flow. This has to be recovered,” says K Unnikrishnan, deputy chief executive, Indian Banks’ Association.
    Banks have also introduced fees for services which were available for free till now. For instance, ICICI Bank had allowed inter-bank mobile payments for free, but will now charge 5 per transaction. Here are some services that will be more costly.
Revised minimum balance
A big change is that you will now need to maintain an average monthly balance (AMB) instead of an average quarterly balance (AQB). The amount, however, remains the same. So, if you had to maintain an average of 20,000 in your account in a quarter earlier, you will now need to keep this amount every month. If the balance drops even for two days, you might be penalised.
    The penalty for non-maintenance has inched up too. Kotak Mahindra Bank has increased the charges for non-maintenance of quarterly balance to 750-1,000, depending on the percentage of balance, up from 600 charged earlier. Some banks have shifted to a monthly system. From 750 a quarter, the penalty for non-maintenance has increased to as high as 350 a month. However, there’s a benefit here. “This provides customers a chance to reduce the penalty they pay. So if you had paid 750 for a fall in AQB in your account, you will now pay only 250 for a month if the AMB drops. Thereafter, if you correct the situation for the next two months, you save about 500,” says Anindya Mitra, senior vice-president, retail liabilities, HDFC Bank.
    Instead of quarterly, monthly is the new norm for most service charges. Earlier, you were allowed 12 branch transactions free in a quarter. However, now most banks have imposed a limit of four free transactions in a month, and all extra transactions will be charged. Even the fee for this has been hiked from 50-60 to 75-90.
    Keeping an eye on your branch transactions is even more important if you’re careless about the average balance in your account. For instance, HDFC Bank allows five cash transactions free in a month if you maintain the AMB, but if you fail to do so, you can only transact twice. Similarly,
ICICI Bank earlier allowed three free cash transactions at branches and charged 60 per transaction subsequently. Currently, the bank allows only two free cash transactions at a branch and levies 90 per transaction after this.
Dormant accounts
You will have to pay for nonoperational accounts too. HDFC Bank levies a fee of 50 per quarter if your bank account has been unused for a year, while HSBC Bank charges 150 per quarter if an account has been dormant for two years. Standard Chartered Bank charges 1,000 a year for such accounts and the same amount per quarter for unclaimed funds. Also, make sure you update your contact details, especially the address, because if a letter sent to you is not received, you will have to pay 50 per instance.
Credit card charges
If you have a credit card, leaving it idle may do you more harm than good. Standard Chartered Bank now levies a non-usage fee of 250 if a credit card has not been used for a year. If the card has not been swiped within the first three months of it being issued, you will have to pay 250. The bank has also upped its late payment fee in May this year from 350-500 to 500-600, depending on the outstanding amount. It has doubled the charge slip retrieval fee to 200.
    Banks have initiated a charge on credit card reward point redemption too. Currently, Axis Bank levies a fee of 30 for each redemption request, while Standard Chartered Bank has increased the reward handling charges to 99 from 50.
Good news
There’s relief on some fronts as banks have waived some dues. Intercity clearing charges have been removed and mobile banking services are free. At HDFC Bank and HSBC Bank, balance enquiry is free at all branches. In case of HDFC Bank, if your account balance is 50,000 or more, transactions like NEFT, RTGS, cheque deposit and fund transfer are free. “A bank will be willing to forgo charges if a customer has a good relationship with it. Usually, the criterion is a high minimum balance,” says Harsh Roongta, CEO, Apnapaisa.com.
    Earlier, charges were deferred if you had a fixed deposit equivalent to the minimum balance. However, if you want to avail of this benefit now, you will need to open an FD of a higher amount. For instance, ICICI Bank waives fees for a Silver account, where the AMB is 25,000 if you have an FD worth 1.25 lakh or more.
What you can do
If your bank has imposed a charge, tally it with the prescribed charges list, a copy of which is usually mailed by the bank to you at the end of the financial year. This is also displayed at the bank branch and on the website. Also, make sure that you were informed about the revised rates 30 days before you were asked to pay the new fee. Though you can’t complain about the charges being unreasonable, if you are unconvinced about the bank revising its charges, you can close your account. The Banks’ Code of Commitment states,“If we have made any change, we will notify the customer about this within 30 days. If this is to your disadvantage, you may, within 60 days and without notice, close your account or switch it without having to pay any extra charges or interest.”
    One way to avoid or reduce transaction costs is to use phone banking, Net banking and ATMs for services such as duplicate statements and stop payment of cheques, as these are usually free or can be availed of at a reduced cost through these mediums. It will also help to link your accounts and pay through ECS for bankrelated activities, such as demat account annual maintenance charges (AMC). Axis Bank, in its schedule of charges, states, “The customers who have not opted for direct debit of charges from the Axis Bank account will have to pay 2,500 instead of the regular AMC of 500.”

KHYATI DHARAMSI  ETW120611

WEATHER SPECIAL ..When It Rains...

When It Rains...

It has inspired writers,, pepped up poets to write reams and has made songwriters put pen to paper. Look at the rains beyond the monsoon for all the fun

Rain Festivals in India

Throw a stone in India and you will probably hit someone dancing at some random festival. So, can monsoon be far behind

Teej
Where: North India, especially Rajasthan and Bihar

When: Late July The Haritalika Teej is a fasting festival for Hindu married women. Women get together, dress up and then swing, umm... on jhoolas. It’s the quintessential monsoon festival

Adiperukku
Where: Tamil Nadu
When: Mid July-August
Celebrated by women, the festival pays tribute to water’s life-sustaining properties. It’s always celebrated near river basins, water tanks, lakes and wells

Dree
Where: Arunachal Pradesh

When: July 5 Celebrated every year at Nenchaleya by the Apatani tribes to propitiate the Dree god to protect the crops from pests and diseases

Minjar
Where: Himachal Pradesh
When: July-August
Celebrated in Chamba, this seven-daylong affair is a thanksgiving ceremony to the god of rain and a prayer for good harvest

Behdienkhlam
Where: Meghalaya

When: July Pnar tribe celebrates this monsoon festival where young men make a symbolic gesture of driving away the evil spirit The North East has more monsoon festivals like Tuluni (Nagaland), Kharchi Puja (Tripura) & Mim Kut (Mizoram)

Thailand
Cat Procession
Central region of Thailand parades a female cat to pray for rain
Rocket Festival
North-easterners pray to rain gods by launching bamboo rockets
Phi Ta Khon
Three-day Buddhist festival is an old tradition in Dan Sai County

Vietnam
Rain Festival of the Muong
In the fourth lunar month, Don and Chuong hamlets hold a prayingfor-rain ceremony where the chief of hamlet lays the feast tray. The two arrange their troops to perform mock battle and pray for rain

It’s Raining Myths
Here’s splash of rain-related superstitions
On a rainy day a golfer must start the round with odd numbered clubs and not use golf balls numbered higher than four
If a donkey doesn’t stop braying and twitching its ears, it’s an omen that rain is on its way
Native American myth ‘Why it Rains’ tells the tale of Morning Dove and how the hatred and greed of warring tribes broke the hearts of the gods and manifested in tears of rain
The Balinese believe that when light rain falls during a religious ceremony, it indicates good luck. When rain falls in broad daylight without any cloud in the sky, it indicates a wedding of supernatural beings
Balinese also believe that lightning strikes because it’s destined to chase a stone called manik, which keeps shifting. To avoid a lightning strike, they throw a metal on the yard, preferably a knife In 2009, Reuters reported that farmers in Bihar asked unmarried girls to plough the fields naked to embarrass the weather gods to bring some rain
It’s believed that if rain falls on a funeral procession, the deceased will go to heaven. But rain in an open grave means someone in the family will die within the year
In Argentina, to avoid rain on your wedding day you can stick a knife in the ground. Or sprinkle salt in the shape of a cross in the yard or bury an egg
Cats can forecast weather: by clawing at carpets, they predict wind and by busily washing their ears, they predict rain. The Welsh believe it rains when the pupil of a cat’s eye broadens. Keep an eye on it!
Not just cats, all animals can apparently predict rain. If bees fly home and do not return or if horses are restless and shake their heads a lot or owls hoot more at night, it means rain is on its way

Rain at Random Fun facts about the rain
Raining Cats and Dogs
The phrase was said to have originated in the 1500s, when during heavy rain cats and dogs nestling on the thatched roofs would fall down
Smells Like Rain
That typical rain scent is petrichor, an oil produced by plants, then absorbed by rocks and soil. It’s later released during rainfall
Shakespeare & Showers
The rainstorm in K i n g Lear marked the high point of Lear’s madness. Throughout the whole of The Tempest, rain is seen as a negative thing, a sign of trouble
Rain as Currency
In Botswana, people greet each other by saying “Pula” literally meaning “Rain”. And their official currency, no prizes for guessing, is called “Pula”

SET120610

PERSONAL/GADGET SPECIAL.. SMARTPHONES

Absolute power Review of the two most powerful smartphones in India to answer which quad-core handset is the one for you     HTC One X     It’s big. It’s beautiful. And on paper, its hardware specs promise pure, unbridled power. But does the HTC One X justify its premium pricing? To begin with, this smartphone is easily one of the better-looking gadgets we’ve seen yet. Its polycarbonate unibody not only makes it sturdy, but also gives it a classy look while keeping its weight down to just 130 grams – this, despite its huge size.     The One X uses HTC’s proprietary user interface called Sense, which doesn’t employ onscreen buttons like other Android 4 phones. Instead, the device has three touchsensitive buttons—home, multitasking and back—under its almost edge-to-edge 4.7-inch screen. Aesthetically, Sense is elegant and boasts of lovely animations and graphics, such as its view of all open program windows (during multi-tasking) in the form of a stacked deck of cards.     Performance-wise, the phone is snappy: Scrolling is smooth, and there is zero lag in pinch-to-zoom while web browsing. GPS locks in an instant and apps are installed or launched quickly. Best of all, despite its top-of-the-line performance, the phone’s battery lasts a little over 12 hours when used on 3G.     To sum it up, the One X is a fantastic phone. Yes, it costs a lot and it has its relatively minor flaws. But then it is one of the few smartphones that comes tantalizingly close to perfection. Pros: The 720p Super LCD screen on the One X is one of the best to be seen on a phone: The text looks crisp on the display, while the colours are bright and vivid. And then there’s the quad-core Tegra 3 processor that smoothly carries out whatever task you might throw at it, whether 3D gaming, FullHD movies, multitasking or even multi-tab browsing. Cons: On the downside, the device’s 8MP camera output lacks detail and sharpness, and the colours tend to appear slightly oversaturated. In low light, however, the One X is an able shooter, producing pictures with less noise in situations where most other smartphones fail. And then, size could be an issue for people with smaller hands, making singlehand operations almost impossible. Specs: 4.7-inch capacitive touchscreen (1280x720 pixels resolution) | 1.5GHz Tegra 3 quad-core processor | 1GB RAM | 32GB memory | 8-megapixel camera, 1080p FullHD video recording | 1.3MP front-facing camera, 720p HD video recording | 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi Direct, NFC | 1800 mAh battery | Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich, HTC Sense UI Price: Rs 42,999     Samsung Galaxy S III     Its predecessor, the S II, had redefined the Android smartphone and there were expectations that the Galaxy S III would do the same. The device is finally here. But does it justify the hype? When it comes to fabrication, Samsung has used lots of plastic. Still, the gadget feels solid to hold and has a nice premium feel to it. We only hope that the gloss does not wear off the body over time. Also, unlike the somewhat straight-line design of the S II, the new Galaxy looks curvier and feels better to handle.     Now, the South Korean company has definitely not skimped on hardware: The quad-core processor humming under the hood is a workhorse and delivers on every practical level, whether multimedia output, gaming or multi-tasking. Its 720p Super AMOLED screen looks fantastic and its colours look bright and vivid. In short, it is in sync with what’s expected in a phone of this pedigree.     And then there is this new feature called Smart Stay that uses the front-facing cam to track eye movement and accordingly keeps the screen unlocked if the user is staring at it.     On the other hand, S Voice – an artificial intelligence voice-based software (like its iPhone counterpart Siri) – is more of a gimmick; while Smart Alert, a utility that lets a user know about missed calls and messages, seems quite unnecessary.     But if you’re looking for a device that does almost all those tasks that only your desktop PC could do till a few years ago, then this phone is definitely one of the top two contenders in the market today. Pros: The S III boasts of stellar camera performance, as pictures and videos shot with the device look detailed and sharp. In fact, its one of the best shooters we have seen in a mobile device. Another great feature of this new Galaxy is its battery. When used with 3G, in normal to high usage (including web browsing, email, social networking, casual gaming and photography) it allows for 14 to 16 hours on a single charge. Cons: Although it looks and feels good, we would prefer if Samsung moved away from the glossy plastic finish that has come to define its flagship products. Secondly, its Touchwiz interface—although packed with features that, for example, allow you to toggle 10 settings through the notification bar—lacks the finesse of HTC’s Sense. And yes, this device is as large as the One X, so it could be an issue for people with smaller hands. Specs: 4.8-inch capacitive touchscreen (1280x720 pixels resolution) | 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos 4412 processor | 1GB RAM | 16GB memory| Support for 62GB microSD card | 8MP camera, 1080p FullHD video recording | 1.9MP front-facing camera, 720p HD video recording | 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, NFC | 2100mAh battery | Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich, Touchwiz UI Price: Rs 43,180 HEAD TO HEAD If you are looking for the best smartphone, it is inevitable that you will consider either the One X or the Galaxy S III. And the gap is virtually non-existent between these top two devices. Where the One X scores: If you want a beautiful device with a more streamlined and intuitive interface, pick the One X. The HTC phone also has more default storage packed in. Where the Galaxy S III scores: For a better camera and battery life, the Galaxy S III is the way to go. Also, it gives enough control to the user, be it in changing the battery, using a microSD card for additional storage, or modding and customizing your phone for tinkerers. What TOI ratings mean Below 5: The product is poor and doesn’t offer the experience it promises. 5 and 6: The product works as advertised. It is functional. 7: The product is good; will not disappoint the buyer. 8: The product is very good; super value for money. 9: The product is exceptional. 10: You’re kidding, right? Quad-Core vs Dual-Core: What should you buy? A quad-core is the equivalent of running four processors, while a dual-core is the equivalent of running two processors. Needless to say, quadcores are faster and definitely more future-proof. But do you really need that extra speed?     If you are a power user who loves 3D gaming and if your multi-tasking has brought your smartphone to its knees, then the quad-cores won’t disappoint you.     If your needs are average, such as some light gaming, watching FullHD videos, web browsing, social networking, and basic photography, most dual-core phones will have you covered. Be aware, though, that future OS updates might be an issue. Javed Anwer

JOB SPECIAL...Resume Writing – Giving the final touch

Resume Writing – Giving the final touch

Here's a look at formatting and proof reading, action words, and the importance of stating the truth in a resume
Elements of presentation
One of the important aspects of writing a resume is using the right font size, type and colours. Font sizes between eleven and twelve are considered readable for a resume. You may want to avoid default font selection of your system. Select a font that is popular but not boring.
There are separate font types for printing and for internet resumes. Choose the font type based on your target usage. Do not have more than three font types in your resume. You can have one for the resume title, one for the section title and one for the body of the resume. Limit usage of italics, bold and all caps – use them to grab attention. Do not have entire sentences formatted with italics, bold or all caps.
Candidates tend to write long paragraphs about their experience or skills. Instead, use bulleted lists to depict skills and achievements.
There are no clear rules when it comes to use of font colours. However, it is good to be conservative and stay within black, blue and darker shades of grey. It is better to avoid use of red or have a resume that ends up looking like a print advertisement. You can use logos to depict specific qualifications and achievements. On a related note, photos are to be avoided unless the job position has a direct connection to physical appearance.
While presenting skills and achievements, imply the benefit of such skills using action words. Examples of action words are, target driven, self-motivated, team player, result oriented, hard working and many more. Use these words combined with keywords that depict your skill. Here are some examples:

• Hard-working network engineer
• Self-motivated learner of new technologies
• Goal-oriented sales team leader

This brings us to the topic of ‘resume lies'. Internet studies show that more than 40 per cent resumes have some form of a lie or other. Common examples of resume lies:

• Narrating a team achievement as individual achievement
• Exaggerating targets and achievements
• About academic qualifications
• About skills – exaggerating the level of proficiency

Stretching information is usually done to present a resume as a complete fitment to a given job position. This may get the candidate to the interview. Often, interviewers are trained to spot these lies and filter candidates out. Worse still is when a background verification check or a HR audit spots the lie. Such a situation leads to a black mark in the career.
Realistically, for a given job position very rarely there is a 100 per cent fitment. Mature organisations understand this fact and provide for a certain knowledge gap. A thorough analysis of job advertisements for the position will give you the right information.
Candidates who demonstrate an excellent ability to learn and deliver stand a good chance.
Focus more on demonstrating your learning curve rather than exaggerate aspects of your resume.
Here is a quick checklist of additional things to do:
1. Mention names of people who you worked with
2. Avoid usage of non standard acronyms, slangs and jargons
3. Do not state the obvious as in ‘references available', ‘available for interview'
4. Limit key information in the first page of your resume
5. Limit the resume to 2 pages – if you really have more information carry a separate document for the interview
6. If you have a serious hobby mention it, be informed to discuss it in detail
7. Avoid negative statements
8. Avoid writing in passive voice – use active voice, your grammar check tool can help you do this
Proof Reading – the Professional Touch
Proof reading should be done as a separate exercise and not along with resume writing. Give a time gap after writing, keep your mind fresh and concentrate. The objective is to find faults in your resume and clean it up. Write down mistakes that you see rather than correcting them immediately.
When proof reading:
1. Look for words that you do not understand and replace them
2. Ensure punctuation is right
3. Read the resume backwards and capture more mistakes
Once you have completed a review and written down the mistakes, do the exercise again. Once you are confident that you have captured all the errors, fix them. Time to go for the second round of proof reading, and may be use a senior colleague to review it for you.
Your resume makes your career so take it seriously
Your resume is a document that sells your skills. Be proud of what you have achieved and keep your mind open for more.

The author is Madhu Murty Ronanki, president,TalentSprint

FOOD/COOKING SPECIAL...Carrot Burgers

Carrot Burgers

Here is a  food that is vibrant and light, full of nutrients but by no means ascetic, fun to cook and to eat.

2 tablespoons peanut or canola oil
1/3 cup finely diced onion
1 cup finely diced carrots
6 ounces mushrooms, sliced or finely chopped
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
2 teaspoons cumin seeds, lightly toasted and ground
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
Pinch of cayenne (or to taste)
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1 cup cooked brown rice
2 1/2 cups cooked brown lentils, drained
1 egg
 
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat in a heavy ovenproof skillet and add the onion and carrot. Cook, stirring often, until just about tender, about 3 minutes, and add the mushrooms, ginger, turmeric, cumin, curry powder, mustard seeds and cayenne and a pinch of salt. Cook for another 3 minutes or so, until the vegetables are tender and fragrant and the spices aromatic. Remove from the heat and transfer to a large bowl. Add the rice.
2. Purée the lentils with the egg and add to the vegetable and rice mixture. Stir together, season with salt and pepper, and shape into 6 patties.
3. Heat the ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the pan and, working in batches if necessary, cook the patties for 2 minutes on one side, or until nicely browned. Carefully turn the patties over and place in the oven. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, until the patties are lightly browned and don’t fall apart. Remove from the heat and serve, with or without buns, chutney or ketchup and the works.
Yield: 6 burgers.
Advance preparation: These can be put together and shaped up to 3 days before browning. They can also be cooked ahead and reheated in a low oven or in a pan on top of the stove. Keep them well wrapped in the refrigerator.
Nutritional information per serving (6 servings): 208 calories; 6 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 3 grams monounsaturated fat; 31 milligrams cholesterol; 29 grams carbohydrates; 8 grams dietary fiber; 33 milligrams sodium (does not include salt to taste); 11 grams protein
Martha Rose Shulman is the author of “The Very Best of Recipes for Health.”

PERSONAL SPECIAL...The Complete Fragrance Guide

The Complete Fragrance Guide

Christian Dior had once said: “A woman’s perfume tells more about her than her handwriting.” Why just women, even men qualify.

The most practical way to start describing a perfume is according to the elements of the fragrance notes of the scent or the “family” it belongs to, all of which affect the overall impression of a perfume from first application to the last lingering hint of scent.
First, How It Works
Perfumes have three sets of notes. The notes unfold over time, with the immediate impression of the top note leading to the deeper middle notes, and then the base notes gradually appearing at the final stage. While formulating a fragrance, the notes are created keeping the evaporation process of the perfume in mind.
THE TOP OR HEAD NOTES
These are the scents you get when you open a bottle or spray from it. Top notes form a person’s initial impression of a perfume and thus are very important in the selling of a perfume.
THE MIDDLE OR HEART NOTES
These are the scents that emerge just before the top notes dissipate. The middle note compounds form the main body of a perfume and mask the initial impression of base notes.
THE BASE NOTES
The base and middle notes together are the main theme of a perfume. Base notes bring depth and solidity to a perfume and are actually not perceived until 30 minutes after initial application.
Then, What Is It
EAU DE TOILETTE
Eau de toilette is a lightly scented perfume used as a skin freshener. It has high alcohol content and is usually applied directly to the skin after bathing or shaving.
AFTER SHAVES
An aftershave is a lotion, gel or balm used mostly by men after they have finished shaving. Most aftershaves contain an antiseptic agent to prevent infections from nicks and cuts.
FRAGRANCES
This is where labels and brand names matter. They are sharp, distinct and long lasting. Applied on the wrists, neck and body.

For Men and Women
While fragrances don’t have a distinct gender, they are divided into masculine and feminine. Generally speaking, masculine fragrances are deeper and stronger, with a hint of citrus, spice, wood and musk.
Feminine fragrances are generally floral, sometimes fruity and occasionally acidic.
Some scents (though not very popular and seldom in use) border on being unisex and can be used by either sex. The Verbena EDT by L’Occitane for instance has a rosy base of geranium and lemon tree with a strong undercurrent of Mediterranean Verbena.
When, Where and How to Buy

Some brands market their products geographically and for good reason — stronger fragrances do well in Asia while lighter ones do well in Europe and the US. This has to do with the climate, buying preferences and lifestyle patterns.
Interestingly, even with the same formulation — fragrances can smell distinctly different on each person. Therefore before you buy a new formulation, its important to test it on yourself.
Do not make impulsive decisions when buying fragrances. It normally takes a couple of minutes, if not longer for the scent to react and activate itself. Most ‘Duty free shoppers’ end up with the wrong bottle because by the time the base notes are evident, they are either strapped on to their seats or almost halfway to their destination.
Always ensure the bottle you are buying is fresh. The more recent the date of manufacture, the safer you are. Heat, humidity, power cuts, storage conditions, mode of transportation and weather extremities can play havoc with the scent, often resulting in a stale and rancid odour that cannot be masked, camouflaged or hidden.
At the risk of annoying shopping portals, I don’t recommend online purchases for fragrances, for the simple reason that you will never be able to test them or know the date of production and expiry (unless of course, it is clearly mentioned). A friend who recently splurged on a popular fashion website was disappointed to receive stock which was just a few weeks from the date of expiry. I had picked up the same make on a trip to Europe and when we compared our purchases not only did his smell different but the colour was evidently lighter and paler as well. Point made and to be noted.
Spray, Splash or Pour
There is no prescribed way to use a perfume, even though many self-proclaimed experts will argue and tell you there is one.
    A rule to keep in mind: never let the product come in direct contact with your clothes, jewellery or any other accessory. Besides leaving a stain on fabrics, it can react to spoil the polish of semi-precious and precious stones, metals and even the dials and straps of your watch.
    Fragrances are meant for the skin — nothing more and nothing else. Areas where fragrances can be applied are the wrists (but never rub them together) upper hand or forearm, behind the ears, below the neck or by simply walking through a spray mist of the fragrance. To put it simply — spray where it works for you, as long as it’s on the skin.
Mood Lifters
A well-stocked dresser needs to have an assortment of scents and brands. You need a variety to choose from. Always pick the bottle to use based on the occasion, time of day, weather and your mood.
    It’s also important for you to regularly change your brand. Very often we get type casted by the fragrance we wear or for that matter, the brand we choose to endorse. Until I discovered the art and educated myself in the science of fragrances, I did not know better either.

While growing up, I associated my dad for instance with Brut, one of my uncles with Old Spice and another with Dunhill. Today you have a lot more options to choose from.

DAY
A day fragrance is normally mild and has an earthy or spicy undertone. Case in point — Woodspice by Marks & Spencer (with strong wood and spice undertones)

NIGHT
Scents for the evening are stronger and more long lasting like the powerful Armani Code by Giorgio Armani (a blend of lemon, aniseed, tobacco, leather & wood). Some night fragrances have a sensual edge — fragrances that arouse the senses and have aphrodisiac properties

SPORTY
Sporty fragrances are active and energetic quite like the Allure Sport Eau Extreme by Chanel (a refreshing formulation of Mandarin rind, cypress, clary sage, black pepper, white musk and cedar wood)

EAST IS EAST
The East is the flavour of the year — quite literally, as more and more brands are making formulations with an exotic old (not third) world accent. Case in point: Nomad by Crabtree & Evelyn (a heady mix of sandalwood, teak, green ginger and bamboo)

:: Yatan Ahluwalia ,Image consultant, fashion and grooming expert and Director, Y&E Style Media  SET120610

ECO SPECIAL....Turning Saltwater From Earth and Sea Into Water Fit to Drink

Turning Saltwater From Earth and Sea Into Water Fit to Drink

SAN ANTONIO — Drilling rigs in the midst of cow pastures are hardly a novelty for Texans. But on a warm May day at a site about 30 miles south of San Antonio, a rig was not trying to reach oil or fresh water, but rather something unconventional: a salty aquifer. After a plant is built and begins operating in 2016, the site will become one of the state’s largest water desalination facilities.
 “This is another step in what we’re trying to do to diversify our water supply,” said Anne Hayden, a spokeswoman for the San Antonio Water System.
More projects like San Antonio’s could lace the Texas countryside as planners look to convert water from massive saline aquifers beneath the state’s surface, as well as seawater from the Gulf of Mexico, into potable water. The continuing drought has made desalination a buzzword in water discussions around the state, amid the scramble for new water supplies to accommodate the rapid population and industry growth anticipated in Texas. But the technology remains energy-intensive and is already causing an increase in water rates in some communities.
“If you look around Texas and you look at the climate situation and the fact that the reservoirs are being drawn down, there just isn’t much of an alternative,” said Tom Pankratz, the Houston-based editor of the Water Desalination Report, who also does consulting for the industry.
Across the state, 44 desalination plants — none using seawater — have been built for public water supplies, according to the Texas Water Development Board. Ten more, including San Antonio’s, have been approved for construction by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Most projects are small, capable of providing less than three million gallons per day, often for rural areas. The state’s largest is in El Paso, where the $91 million Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant, completed in 2007, can supply up to 27.5 million gallons of water a day, though it rarely operates at full capacity because of the high energy costs associated with forcing water through a membrane resembling parchment to take out the salts. (Production of desalinated water costs 2.1 times more than fresh groundwater and 70 percent more than surface water, according to El Paso Water Utilities.) Last year, the plant supplied 4 percent of El Paso’s water.
Interest in desalination surged more than a decade ago, when the technology became more efficient and cost-competitive, according to Jorge Arroyo, a desalination specialist with the Texas Water Development Board. But the severe drought of the past two years has triggered extra calls to his office. Texas holds 2.7 billion acre-feet of brackish groundwater — which translates to roughly 150 times the amount of water the state uses annually — in addition to some brackish surface water.
The state water plan finalized this year envisions Texas deriving 3.4 percent of its water supply from desalination in 2060. (It is less than 1 percent now.)
Environmentalists argue that desalination is not a silver bullet because it is energy-intensive and requires disposal of the concentrated salts in a way that avoids contaminating fresh water. Texas should first focus on conservation and the reuse of wastewater, said Amy Hardberger, a water specialist with the Environmental Defense Fund.
“What needs to be avoided is the, ‘Oh, we’ll just get more’ mentality,” she said.
But getting more is what many Texans want. Odessa, which draws water from dangerously low surface reservoirs, is considering a desalination plant that could ultimately become bigger than the one in El Paso. (Odessa’s deadline for proposals is next week.)
Separately, a planned power plant near Odessa is studying prices for the technology. John Ragan, the head of Texas operations for NRG Energy, envisions natural gas power plants along the coast that desalinate water overnight when they are not needed for electricity. (NRG is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune.)
The San Antonio project is estimated to cost $145 million in its initial phase, with a daily production capacity of 10 million gallons, and $225 million assuming it is built out to a daily capacity of 25 million gallons (which is possible by 2026). The cost is significantly higher than El Paso’s project, but San Antonio officials say that the figures reflect additional factors like acquiring land — and so far, the project is under budget. Local water rates, along with $59 million in low-interest loans from the Texas Water Development Board, are financing the project.
Desalination means “you’re going to have to spend some money,” said State Representative Lyle Larson, Republican of San Antonio. But it is worthwhile, he added, because “our whole economic future could be up in the air.” Texans seeking a model, Mr. Larson said, should turn to Australia, where a major drought last decade spurred billions of dollars of investments in desalination.
Australia’s focus has been desalinating seawater. That is an option for the Texas coast, but desalinating seawater generally costs more than twice as much as desalinating groundwater because seawater is saltier. Energy can account for 60 to 70 percent of the day-to-day operating costs of a seawater plant, estimated Mr. Pankratz, the Water Desalination Report editor.
The largest seawater desalination plant in the country, which is slightly larger than El Paso’s brackish water plant, operates in Florida. Proposals are inching forward for a seawater plant in Texas. The Laguna Madre Water District, based in Port Isabel, completed a pilot seawater desalination project two years ago and is now looking for property on the north end of South Padre Island to locate a larger facility, said Carlos Galvan, the water district’s director of operations. Desalination would reduce the utility’s dependence on the often-diminished Rio Grande.
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority is also mulling seawater desalination, perhaps in the greater Victoria area. It has asked companies to submit project proposals by mid-September, and it may try to locate the water plant with a power plant, as is done in Saudi Arabia, to boost efficiency and cut costs.
Officials with both Laguna Madre and Guadalupe-Blanco hope to acquire some financing from private companies. But government at all levels, from water agencies on up, will be the key player. In El Paso, the federal government contributed $26 million in grants — more than a quarter of the cost — for the desalination plant.
The Texas Water Development Board has issued $7.1 million in grants for desalination projects since 2000, according to Mr. Arroyo, the desalination specialist. But “we don’t have any more funds for desalination,” he said. The board asked the Legislature for $9.5 million in financing for seawater desalination last session but did not get it.
Gov. Rick Perry has advocated for desalination in the past, but he has spoken little on it recently. Expanding the technology “at a cost that is affordable to consumers will be an important part of any future water plans in the state,” Lucy Nashed, a spokeswoman for the governor, said in an e-mail.
Officials at the Texas Desalination Association, a new advocacy group, acknowledge that requests for money will probably fall on deaf ears. But they say that the state can help by easing regulations — for example, a requirement that every desalination project include a lengthy pilot study — and by doing more extensive mapping of Texas’ brackish water resources.
“If we eliminate some of the red tape and some of the permitting issues,” said Paul Choules, the group’s president, “it reduces a lot of the upfront cost.”

By KATE GALBRAITH The Texas Tribune Published: June 9, 2012