Valentine’s Day Special: What to not say on your first date

It’s not like you are faking it when you meet someone on a date for the first time, it’s just that you ought to know what works and not. Besides, you should behave in every way! We list out some topics that you shouldn’t dare to utter about:

Weight issues 

You are seeing each other for the first time and no matter how surprised or shocked you are, keep it calm! The weight or physique doesn’t give you the right to be impolite. Unless, yes, if the person was faking it with his/her picture especially in case of a blind date.

Over expressing

This can be different for different cases but no one likes you cheesy and over expressive. You shouldn’t ideally be saying ‘I love you’ right away. This is if you don’t know your date just as well. You may believe in ‘love at first site,’ but just give it a break. Your date might walk out on you, and you don’t want to shower them with rather lusty complements. This means you can’t blurt out thing on the lines of ‘you are fat!’ or ‘I want to kiss you.'

Random comparisons

These can be random and bizarre too. So you shouldn’t say, ‘you look like my mom’ or ‘oh my God, you smell like my ex!’ You’ll get a slap right across your face right then. Such conversations are beyond awkward and offensive (in a way), don’t touch them.

Personal talks

It’s really not cool if you’ve come with a questionnaire that you want to make use of, on your date. No questions about separated parents, divorce, money, earnings, properties and all of that. It’s just okay if you’ve shared a rapport since a while now, and it’s not the first time you are having a conversation about them. However, falling for your complete oppose has its own benefits too.

Sexist or racist conversations 

Whoever you are, however senior your designation, however high your status; none of it makes you complete if you think it’s okay to be sexist or pass racist comments. Your date is definitely not going anywhere if you cross the line. Not just for your first date but for the ones to follow as well, big no-no! Mind it!

Margot Robbie's pickpocket predicament

Margot Robbie accidentally felt up her assistant director while filming Focus.

The actress plays a pickpocket in the Will Smith crime-comedy, which meant she had to perfect the art of stealing.

She had training from the best, but still couldn't avoid an embarrassing moment while on set.

"I trained with Apollo Robbins, who is a pickpocket extraordinaire, and on day one, one of the ADs came into the room and Apollo was like, 'Steal his phone!'" she recalled to Empire magazine.

"I tried and suddenly the AD finds me with my hand in his back pocket; it was like I was grabbing his a**e! He avoided me like the plague after that, even after I'd explained. When he walked past me in the hallways he would put his back to the wall, worried that I was going to grab his a**e again. It was awful!"

The 24-year-old actress learned that pickpockets are "fearless" and asserts her character in the film is a very "ballsy" girl.

In her career, the blonde star hopes she shows some of that backbone. She certainly appeared bold in The Wolf of Wall Street, where she went fully nude in front of Leonardo DiCaprio.

"I was thinking, 'Oh no! My Italian teacher from school is going to see me naked. And my dentist, who I've known since I was a kid!'" she laughed.

It seems her bravery has paid off; Margot is nominated for the EE Rising Star BAFTA this year, alongside Jack O'Connell, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley

AIB Roast Runs Into Trouble With Maharashtra Government

The Maharashtra government has decided to investigate if a roast of actors Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor, held in Mumbai last month, was guilty of obscene language and content.

Maharashtra's Minister for Cultural Affairs Vinod Tawde termed the vulgarity of the show a crime.  "We will register an FIR against them as they appear to have performed without any performance license. Such vulgarity is a crime and based on facts which will emerge, the government will file a case against them," he said

The roast, the first of its kind in India, featured a panel of eight and 'Roastmaster' Karan Johar putting the Gunday actors through an expletive-laced hour-and-a-half of jokes about their on-screen and off-screen lives.

The  nearly 90-minute roast, was filmed in a Mumbai stadium with an audience of 4,000 last month. An edited version of the show was released on YouTube last week and has been watched more than eight million times so far.  

Audience A-listers included actors Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt and Sonakshi Sinha.  

AIB is a collective of comics Tanmay Bhat, Rohan Joshi, Gursimran Khamba and Ashish Shakya who show their sketches on a YouTube channel.

In response to feedback on twitter last week about some of the jokes going way too far,  AIB co-founder Tanmay Bhat responded,  "All the roasts I've seen online have all been equal opportunity offending."

Rs.s40 lakhs were raised at the event which, Roastmaster Karan Johar announced, would go to charity.

Is this tree the future of electricity?

From a distance this may look like an ordinary tree, but get closer and you will discover it is actually a power generator.

French company NewWind has created the "Arbre a Vent" or "Wind Tree," a 3-meter-tall generator designed for urban environments which makes the most of smaller air currents.

Operating in near complete silence, the wind tree consists of 72 micro turbine "aeroleaves" that rotate in the wind, generating an estimated 3.1. kW of power.

While this isn't much compared to industrial-sized turbines, which typically generate in the region of 1 - 3MW, having multiple smaller turbines has its uses.

"Urban wind is not very strong, but it is very turbulent," says "Arbre à Vent" engineer Julia Revuz. "These turbines need less wind to get started and produce around 3kW of energy, which could heat a small home, fuel lights or charge an electric car."

New wind was founded by Jérôme Michaud-Larivière three years ago when he had the idea for the Wind Tree while taking a walk. He saw the leaves on a tree moving in the wind and started thinking about the possibility of turning that kinetic energy into electricity.

The current prototype of the tree is steel and the energy made from it goes into the electricity grid and is used locally.

"We haven't yet optimized the structure," says Revuz. "We are hoping to make the leaves out of eco-friendly materials and for the tree to have as a low a carbon footprint as possible."

A 12-meter tall prototype of the tree will be on display from March 12 for two months at Place de la Concorde, a major public square in Paris.

This prototype, which weighs around 5 tons and costs roughly $35,000, is to be used as an educational tool and will aim to show the public the technology behind the structure. The wind tree will be mass produced for sale from March 2015 and newwind says it has raised €1.15 million ($1.34 million) to begin pre-production.

"The reaction has been very positive so far," explains Revuz. "People don't know how it works but they like it, they find it magical.

"There is a very negative view of wind energy, people think it's ugly and it ruins their landscapes. Then they see the wind tree and they think differently."

Newwind has had interest from local government in France and Europe, as well as real estate agents and businesses that want to have the tree on their land. There are even talks about another demonstration tree in London next year.

The Wind Tree may not be affordable and practical for everyone, but there are other applications that could be more accessible.

"Our technology is in the mini wind turbines (the aeroleaves)," says Revuz. "So we are developing other applications for them.

"Architects have been in touch and are interested in using them in their work, perhaps on the roofs of buildings. Mini turbines are cheaper to produce and buy than the wind tree."

Other ideas for the aeroleaves include rooftop foliage installed on buildings, foliage on roadsides and the smart balcony -- where the mini turbines are attached to balcony railings.

Do you want to know the calorie counts of your drinks, before you go partying?

Going for a party, worried about what to wear? Nah! I guess more people are now a days worried about how much calories they would be taking along with their drinks. Always worried how your strict diet plans are going to go in vain because of this one hell of a party. Well lets see how much calories do your favourite drinks carry. From a range of alcoholic drinks, cocktails and mocktails at your service, choose wisely and at your own rick.

As rightly said, in wine there is wisdom and in beer there is freedom. Wine is a favourite among the older crowd with a glass of red packing the most calories, followed by white wine whereas, a shot of whiskey has only 97 calories. Beer is highly popular among the younger generation as it is less alcoholic and also light on one’s pocket. A light beer is more helpful while watching your calories as a can of it only packs around 102.7 calories whereas, a regular beer has 153.1 calories.

Check them out:

Drink	Calories
Whiskey (1 jigger/shot/44 ml approx)	97 cal
Beer – Regular (1 can)	153.1 cal
Beer – Light (1 can)	102.7 cal
Rum (1 jigger/shot/44 ml approx)	97 cal
Tequila (1 peg)	69 cal
Bacardi Rum (1 shot)	65 cal
Red Wine (1 serving, 147 ml)	125 cal
White Wine (1 serving, 147 ml)	120.5 cal
Whiskey Sour Mix – Bottled (1 ml)	0.9 cal
Brandy  (1 peg)	65 cal
Bacardi Breezer, Orange (100 ml)	55 cal
Bacardi Breezer, Lemon (100 ml)	58 cal
Bacardi Breezer, Watermelon (100 ml)	36 cal
Bacardi Breezer, Pineapple (100 ml)	36 cal
Bacardi Breezer, Mango (100 ml)	36 cal

Take life with a grain of salt, a wedge of lime and a shot of Tequila, which has 69 calories. No wonder, it is called a polite drink as it tells you when you can’t have more. Another favourite is the breezer, variety of flavours, light on alcohol and great in taste and an average of 44 calories.

Cocktails

These blends of different alcohols are a hit at any New Year party. Blended with some liqueur and sugar syrup, poured over some crushed ice, a glass of Margarita has a whopping  562.3 calories. Followed by a crowd favourite, the Pina Colada, made with pineapple juice and coconut milk, all contributing to its calorie content of 526.1 calories. A Martini or the humble Bloody Mary made from tomato juice are the best options with only 62.4 and 23.2 calories, respectively. Choose these drinks wisely and limit their consumption because they might give you a bad hangover. If you don’t want to wake up with the worst hangover the next day, avoid these  alcohols, whiskey, wine, rum, etc.

Drink	Calories
Long Island Iced Tea (1 glass)	226.1 cal
Bloody Mary (1 peg)	23.2 cal
Pina Colada (1 can, 200 ml)	526.1 cal
Mojito (1  glass)	102.8 cal
Martini  (1 peg)	62.4 cal
Margarita (1 glass)	562.3 cal
Sangria (1 glass)	288.1 cal
Shirley Temple (1 glass)	58.9 cal
Daiquiri (1 can, 200 ml)	258.8 cal
Tequila Sunrise (1 can,  200 ml)	232.1 cal

Mocktails:

For all those teetotallers or those who don’t want to get drunk but still want have fun on New Year’s eve, there are a variety of not-so-high-on-calories drinks. Giving your taste buds a surprise is the ginger fizz, which only adds 40.7 calories to your waistline. Another drink, favourite among the crowd, is fruit beer. It not only gives you that fizzy, beer-y taste but also adds 130 calories to your calorie intake. If you are planning a house party, here are some easy mocktail recipes that will surely make your party a hit.

Drink	Calories
Ginger Fizz (1 glass)	40.7 cal
Lemonade (1 glass)	106.5 cal
Peach Satin (1 glass)	113.2 cal
Bael Fruit Punch (1 glass)	97.7 cal
Fruit Beer (1 bottle )	130 cal
Virgin Mary (1 glass)	51.7 cal
Virgin Mojito (1 glass)	120 cal

Now you can party hard without being doubtful about the calories in your spirits. Choose wisely so you don’t end up with a with a hangover or a lot more calories in your kitty.

Why is alcohol bad for you?

I always wonder how much I am harming my body, with every sip I take. There are certain studies that say moderate alcohol drinking is good for health. But what are the negative effects of drinking alcohol? Does it cause long-term diseases or problems in sexual life? Lets have a look.

Time and again, there have been numerous studies stating the ill-effects of alcohol on health, but people still tend to consume it. Apart from this, drinking alcohol also affects your social life and behaviour. A glass of alcohol causes significant changes in the body, which most of us are unaware of. Here are some clinical and social complications due to alcohol consumption.

Health risks due to alcohol consumption

There is no doubt that drinking alcohol causes major health problems and increases the risk of various diseases.

Problems with liver: When you drink alcohol, the liver gets diverted from its other functions and focuses mainly on converting alcohol to a less toxic form. Absorption of alcohol by the liver causes fatty liver disease, inflammation of the liver and cirrhosis.

Disturbance in sleep pattern: Most people drink alcohol to fall asleep. However, research studies suggest that drinking before sleep interferes with the body’s ability to regulate sleep naturally (sleep homeostasis). If you continue doing so, over time the quality of sleep is diminished and it might lead to insomnia.

Affects sexual life: Long-term consumption of alcohol might affect your sexual health. Alcohol not only inhibits parts of the nervous system that play a key role in sexual arousal but also inhibits the flow of blood to the genitals. 

Interference with calcium absorption: As liver function is impaired inalcoholics, the synthesis of vitamin D in the body is also affected. Apart from this, the absorption of calcium by the body is affected. In the long run, this might result in osteoporosis as oestrogen and testosterone levels also affected due to excessive alcohol consumption.

Increased risk of lung ailments: Excess consumption of alcohol is known to cause Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a life-threatening lung disease. It causes buildup of fluid inside the air sacs, thereby preventing oxygen from passing into the bloodstream. The condition worsens as you drink, which may lead to long-term lung complications.

Impaired kidney function: The electrolyte balance of the body and hormones that influence the kidney function are disturbed due to excess consumption of alcohol. The long term effects of alcohol on kidney include increased risk of suffering from kidney failure and kidney stones.

Increases risk of cancer: Excessive drinking of alcohol increases the risk of various types of cancers, mouth, liver, oesophagus and breast. This is because, the body converts alcohol into a potent carcinogen, acetaldehyde, thereby increasing the risk of cancer in alcoholics.

Causes mental health issues: It is a known fact that heavy drinking leads to various mental health issues such as depression and dementia. Excess consumption of alcohol speeds up the shrinkage of the brain (which usually occurs as you age) and interferes with your brain’s ability to distinguish between judgments, solve problems and plan things.

High risk of birth defects (in pregnant women): Pregnant women who do binge drinking face a risk of birth defects known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) that leads to growth retardation, head and face abnormalities and neurological problems Apart from this, alcohol consumption during pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth, stillbirth and miscarriage.

Makes you fat: Have you ever thought the booze might cause you to gain weight, along with interfering in your weight loss goals. Alcohol has more calories than you think, it stimulates your appetite, triggers greater craving for calorie-rich foods the next day and stops using carbohydrates as an energy source.

Social ill-effects of drinking alcohol

A glass or two of alcohol is a sign of celebration and common at social gatherings and parties. However, alcohol consumption is found to interfere with your social and personal lives. This includes affecting your mental health, increasing your risk of injuries and being sexually abused.

Causes drastic mood swings: We all know that excessive consumption of alcohol affects the brain and parts of the nervous system that control your behaviour. This causes erratic mood swings such as happiness, sadness or anger, which might lead to severe consequences, such as trashing someone, arguing with people (even if you are wrong) and many more problems in day-to-day life.

Associated with domestic violence: In India, cases of drunk people beating their partners and children, abusing parents and creating ruckus in the society is quite common. This is because, as you get drunk, the ability to distinguish between good and bad is lost, you get into a state of unconsciousness.

Might lead to accidents: Although, we might find placards of ‘don’t drink and drive’ or ‘drive safely’ on roads, there has been an increase in the number of road accidents caused due to alcohol drinking. You might escape with a small injury or live with a disability for the rest of your life; chances of sudden death are not bleak!

Ab crunches are NOT necessary for six-pack abs (they are dangerous for your back too!)

With everyone from Shah Rukh Khan to Karan Singh Grover sporting perfect six-pack abs these days, the rage amongst youngsters to get a ripped and flat stomach has never been bigger. One of the most commonly known exercises to work your abs is abdominal crunches and a lot of people do it to in order to get the abs they desire. However, they may not be as healthy as you think and could damage your back.

According to Flight Lieutenant Akshay Chopra, fitness consultant and coach, ‘Abdominal crunches may be an issue if you have a slipped disc problem. Otherwise also, they are a waste of time.’

Certainly, you wouldn’t want to have six pack abs with a bad back. But that doesn’t mean you cannot have a great set of abs either. When asked about whether doing abdominal crunches was necessary for a set of great abs, Chopra said, ‘Not at all, they are not even required to work your abs. In fact, I have a sharp set of six packs and obliques being a sportsman and I don’t do any exercise for the abs. A heavy intense leg workout will stimulate your abs like no other.’

The Plank – The perfect alternative to abdominal crunches

A healthier alternative to abdominal crunches, the plank could be just the right answer for a set of great looking abs. According to Chopra, ‘The plank is a safer and better alternative, as it works your lower back and shoulders too.’

How often should you workout your abs?

While working out your abs is important, a lot depends on your diet. So, rather than working out too much, make sure you eat more sensibly.

According to Chopra, ‘You can workout your abs daily or just once a week, it is your wish. But working them daily with multiple sets in order to get a flat stomach is stupidity. For a normal person, I would advise not more than twice a week.’