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Spirited blighters
Here's an instance of human bestiality: A gang of revellers in Varanasi made a stray goat drink liquor. Over time, the goat became regular at the party, were it is also served meat. The goat, by now almost addicted to booze, attacks its 'glass' mates if it is denied its large share.
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Clothing a dream
Fame comes in different forms. For some, even in the form of a 'salwar kameez'! P.S. Vijayan, a tailor in Thrissur (Kerala), India, stitched a 47 ft long 'salwar kameez'. The apparel took 77 metres of cloth to complete and cost Vijayan Rs 35,000. The 'salwar' alone was 30 ft long. Vijayan hopes that his feat will get him into the Guinness Book of World Records.
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How to be a Champion Conversationalist
Whether it's a barbecue, a business lunch or a formal dinner, mixing with other guests is a done deal. Etiquette expert Patsy Rowe offers these handy hints:Have a great ice-breaker. "Where are you from?" is the all-round best. To discover that someone grew up in a small town, or has just returned from a Greek holiday, will pave the way for a whole host of secondary questions.
No-nos. In-house talk, photos of your kids, your worm-breeding hobby and your latest diet are conversational killers. Avoid gossip, details of your medical problems and personal money matters.
Curly questions. If someone asks you an embarrassing question about your age, your income or your marriage(s), smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
Don't be a bore. If your fellow guest's interest is waning while you waffle, stop talking about yourself and ask them a question immediately. » Continue reading
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Max the Micro!
To use your microwave oven even more effectively:- Cook in round vessels. Rectangular one are less effective because they come closer to the power source (on the oven's side) as the dish rotates, and may heat food unevenly, even burn some portions.
- Microwaves are more evenly distributed on a flat plate, and therefore cooking time is reduced.
- Use several smaller containers, instead of one large one, to speed up the cooking process. This way, you can also simultaneously hand out a number of small servings to family or guests.
Read more on Food, Gadgets, Home, Tips and Tricks
Perfect Pitch
It won't change the world, but it will change your voice. Canda-based IVL Technologies' On-Key Karaoke Hand Held Player looks like a simple microphone, but as you warble into it, a microprocessor "corrects" your pitch.The idea came to IVL's president Phil Scott in 1983 when he took up the flute. Frustrated by his own tin ear, he conceived an instrument-pitch detector that transformed musical notes into digital format. It didn't sell well, but it spurred Scott to search for other applications, including pitch detectors and harmonizers for commercial karaoke systems.
"Karaoke's the modern equivalent of the family singing around the piano," says Scott. » Continue reading
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Prevent Painful Hangovers
Everyone has his own hangover cure: caffeine, exercise, greasy food, Bloody Marys -- even the pills and potions sold in by chemists. But none have been proven to cure hangovers, says Jeff Wiese, an American associate professor of medicine who has spent several years studying the condition. Caused mainly by dehydration, hangovers are best treated by drinking water and taking paracetamol, which is easy on the stomach. (Heavy drinkers, who are at risk for liver disease, shouldn't take paracetamol without a doctor's okay.)Luckily, recent research indicates you can prevent post-drinking pain. Try these tricks before your next night on the town:
Bet on B. Swallow a daily multivitamin that contains B-6. It speeds the elimination of alcohol from the blood, leading to faster recovery.
Have an H2O chaser. Alcohol is a diuretic. It impairs the kidneys' ability to retain water, resulting in dizziness and nausea. The fix: Down a glass of water after each drink, and another before bed.
Cut down on congeners. These impurities from the fermentation process inflame your body's tissues, much like a virus does. Choose top-shelf brands, or clear drinks, like vodka, which have fewer congeners than darker booze, like whisky. » Continue reading
Read more on Lifestyle, Tips and Tricks
Good deeds do you good
Kindness not only makes life sweeter, it may make it longer, according to American researchers. Stephanie Brown, PhD, asked 423 older couples if they had helped a friend or neighbour just once in the previous year. Five years later, those who had were 50% more likely to outlive those who hadn't."Research has show that social contact is good for us, but we always assumed the benefits came from being on the receiving end," says Brown. "It turns out that the benefits may actually be roted in the contributions we make." We're not talking about donating a kidney here -- simply giving a friend a life could offer the life-lengthening benefits. » Continue reading
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