Sunday 21 June 2015

Villainous Smelly V/S Heroic Smiley...

"Scent is a powerful memory trigger." 

The sense of smell is the one with powerful might. For just like our other sensory organs, an interaction is powerful enough to leave an impression. 

An everlasting imprint always correlates. It forms an association between people, places, and situations for the brain to recollect and embrace or to be reminded of and avoid. 

The building which you call a house, that which is made a home by the presence of family members is also a bouquet of aromas. Or probably not?

For, as much as we would like to fantasize in the make-believe world of mushy fragrances, life at home in the real world is a bed of roses, albeit with thorns, and a map of pleasant scents, albeit with.

The house, which you call home is actually a battleground for mortal combat between Villainous Smelly and Heroic Smiley.

Each house has these latent elements battling to persist as an uninvited guest in the house.

Smelly comes armed with weaponry which aims to wreak havoc on the scales which maintain the olfactory balance inside the house, so to say.

Smiley comes armed with ammunition which aims to tackle and neutralize the damage caused to our delicate nostrils by these Smelly warriors.

The #SmellyToSmiley transformation inside the house takes place when the people living inside the house employ heroic Smiley tactics to outwit villainous Smelly spoilt brats.

*
#SmellyToSmiley needs to ensure airy, bright shacks.
Cross ventilation does the trick, it's a clever hack. :)
*

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
Suffocative homes, to live in. 

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
The decision to opt for cross ventilation and aeration, to allow for homes that breathe! :)

---

#SmellyToSmiley begins with clean steps into the house. 
Rule Uno: Rub muddy shoes on the carpet, lest 'Entry Not Allowed!' :) 

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
Stinky mud on shoes. 

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
Rubbing your feet on the carpet, before entering the house. :)

---

#SmellyToSmiley wishes for happy, smiley babies. 
Make sure that they're clean and comfy, no diaper mess be found. :) 
*

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
Overlooking the fact that the baby in the house feels uncomfortable. 

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
Apart from other factors which disturb a baby, one could be an irritating diaper. 
Realizing that and making the baby regain a smile on his face. :)

---

*
#SmellyToSmiley keeps a watch on the pets in the house. 
The litter box must be squeaky clean to fight stink without a pause. :) 

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
A forgetful experience, with our furry pals. 

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
A careful, mindful outlook towards their activities around the house. :) 

---

#SmellyToSmiley demands proper segregation of waste. 
Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable, so that we dispose of them, without haste. :) 

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
The ignorance to dump both dry and wet waste in one bin. 

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
Adoption of intelligent segregation strategies to separate the types of waste to avoid the filth and mustiness owing to the wetness of waste. :) 

---

#SmellyToSmiley yearns for a house minus the bathroom stench. 
 Trust AmbiPur's Set and Refresh's presence as your henchmen. :) 

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
An unclean bathroom and/or washroom. 

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
A timely check and schedule to see when the next round of cleaning stands due. Of course, these areas in the house must be cleaned periodically. 
Otherwise, AmbiPur stands there, as a reliable support! :) 



My AmbiPur Blossoms & Breeze and Lavender Vanilla & Comfort send Villainous Smelly's world spinning around in broad daylight! :D 

---

#SmellyToSmiley makes sure there aren't any leaky pipes. 
For you wouldn't want dampness and stinky molds to inspire sighs! :) 

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
One or more leaky pipes anywhere in the house. 

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
A watchful eye which is alert enough to notice such crucial giveaways in the house, to avoid stinky molds. :)

---

*
#SmellyToSmiley Sinks bear the brunt of body oils, hair, toothpaste, even food particles, all going down the drain
Unclogging regularly helps. :) 

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
Clogged sink drains which let the stench flourish.  

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
Timely unclogging to ensure squeaky clean sinks. :)

---

#SmellyToSmiley dislikes over-cooked, or burnt food. 
Make sure the exhaust fan is in action, to mask the odor. :) 

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
An inexperienced hand over all the equipment in the kitchen.  

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
A skilled hand over all the equipment in the kitchen. 
Also,  AmbiPur's Lavender Comfort comforts the family member who committed such a grave mistake. (especially, if you're a newlywed!) ;) 

---

#SmellyToSmiley says a big NO to some odor inspiring food items. 
Be it some under-cooked fish or constipating radish. :)  

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
Some not so pleasant food items being granted a place at the time of plating.   

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
A selective decision to avoid buying or preparing such embarrassing food items as much as possible. :)

---




For a scientific-minded me, there are some clever, handy chemical compositions which could act as Heroic Smiley in times of need.

#SmellyToSmiley Please deodorize your fridge.
Pour baking soda into a plastic margarine tub and poke holes in the lid. :) 

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
Some odor-inspiring food items, which possess a persisting and overpowering olfaction.   

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
Wiping the surface of the various partitions of the refrigerator, with such a concoction, or placing it in a container attached to the sides of the walls, which helps to rid it of some adamant smells. :)

---

#SmellyToSmiley knows that food splatters in the microwave.
Baking Soda + Water on HI in a microwave-safe bowl do the trick. :)

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
Splattering food stains on the walls of the microwave.   

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
Mixing Baking Soda with Water and heating it on High for a couple of minutes makes the soda neutralize the odor and the steam vapors work to clean the walls. A wipe afterward, ensures good-as-new.  :) 

---

#SmellyToSmiley gives a hack for ginger-garlic and fish smells.
The beloved Acetic Acid, Vinegar boils over other odors. :) 

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
The persistent smells of the homely तड़का or the fish that is being cooked.   

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
The humble Vinegar or सिरका, if boiled in a bowl, after the cooking is done, helps to soak the odor in.  :) 

---

#SmellyToSmiley eliminates damp carpet odors the 'Smiley' way.
Sprinkle baking soda over, seep it through, to dry overnight. :) 

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
The dampness and mustiness of a moist or wet carpet.   

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
Baking soda, has a multi-talented composition. It springs into action to absorb the moisture.  :)

---

#SmellyToSmiley conquers basement or store-room stench.
Activated charcoal adsorbs, ventilates this less frequented space. :)  

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
The stench and stink in the locked out basement or store-room.   

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
Charcoal is a magical adsorber. It neutralizes the stink in an area which is visited seldom, and after prolonged periods of time.  :) 

----

#SmellyToSmiley Soak bread in vinegar and set it overnight.
In a lunchbox, it removes built-up food odors, with all might. :)

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
The persistence of aromas of a particular food-item in those tiffins.   

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
Vinegar is a versatile acid. It serves the most useful purposes in the most unexpected places.  :)

~~~ 

#SmellyToSmiley adopts a simple routine every day.
Praying to God with fragrant incense sticks to keep stench and odor at bay. ;)

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
The entire army of Villainous Smelly and its warriors. 

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
Praying to God Almighty or even Lord AmbiPur, to keep recruiting Heroic Smiley rescuers. :)


Another of my trusted scents - AmbiPur Sky Breeze Car Clip-On. :D 

~~~  

#SmellyToSmiley knows that to 'Mask The Must' is a facade.
What you must root for, is to Eliminate. :)

Who is Villainous Smelly? 
All villainous Smeely spoilt brats which work relentlessly to wreak havoc on your peace of mind.  

Who is Heroic Smiley? 
Embracing the range of  assorted fragrances by AmbiPur, like I have, to let yourself and your personal space be at their aromatic best, always.
For, you must identify the source, and eliminate it from its root. :) 

~~~ 

I am blogging for #SmellyToSmiley activity at BlogAdda.com in association with Ambi Pur.  

Nioxin Works Its Magic!

Top post on IndiBlogger.in, the community of Indian Bloggers

~~~

I have had the pleasure of experiencing the products being offered by Nioxin, as a part of the #NioxinNowInIndia activity by BlogAdda.

Amy, Nikhil and Gaurav, on behalf of Nioxin and Ankita, from BlogAdda, made it worth the while, at the Wella Salon, Saket.


If you haven't already, you could read about and see how I was given a pleasant makeover by Nioxin, in May, here. 

Quoting myself from that post, 

" #NioxinNowInIndia will make a reappearance on the blog, some day in the week beginning 14 June when I give you a first-hand review of my Nioxin Kit, which I'm having a great experience trying out! 

Make sure to watch out for that post too...

And, here I am. :) 

The experts at Nioxin India are staunch believers of the fact that, the phenomenon of hair thinning stands to be attributed to the three factors of Derma, that is poor scalp, Density, that is fewer tresses, and Diameter, that is finer strands. 

Nioxin approaches the key work areas of its products by bridging together the factors which contribute to hair thinning and then formulating practical solutions which would nourish the scalp. 



Three essential therapies work in tandem to not regrow the lost hair strands but to prevent further loss of hair strands so that, in the long run, the hair enjoy good health. 

  • Derma Renew, or the  dermabrasion, in-salon approach. 
  • Density Protect, to condition and protect the scalp to help reduce hair loss due to breakage. 
  • Density Repair, to attend to each individual hair strand. 

The Nioxin products have been developed not as over-the-counter but as bespoke kits, to suit each individual hair type. 


The application of Henna on the hair was considered as a chemical treatment. And so, I was provided with Kit Number 5, for Normal to Thin-Looking Hair, Medium to Coarse Texture and Chemically Treated Hair. 

The kit contains the following three products: 

  • Nioxin Cleanser, to refresh the hair and scalp, as the first step. It cleanses the scalp thoroughly to rid it of any hindrances to obtaining thicker, fuller hair. Thanks to its botanical extracts of the likes of peppermint, the cleanser possesses a refreshing and cooling mint fragrance. 
  • Nioxin Scalp Revitaliser, with a lightweight formula which has been formulated to regulate moisture balance. The conditioner provided me with a light, bouncy feel to my tresses. 
  • Nioxin Scalp Treatment has been enriched with antioxidants and fruit extracts that refresh the derma layer. It is to be sprayed after a head wash has been done and the strands have been dried using a towel. 

Nioxin has lent the desirable, volume, fullness, bounciness and shine to my hair and I could not be happier!



However, according to the frequency of usage, being advised to you, it can be a breeze or a hassle. 
In my case, I had been advised alternate usage, so it was not so endearing, but if you're advised to use the kit daily, then it can be quite a daunting task. 

The perseverance would be all worth it in the end, though. :)

~~~

You can try and experience #NioxinNowInIndia at your nearest salon. This activity is in association with BlogAdda.com.

Saturday 20 June 2015

To Daddy Dear, Who Is A #DandyDad...

Top post on IndiBlogger.in, the community of Indian Bloggers


 ~~~ 

21 June 2015
12 AM
New Delhi

Dear Daddy

Even though we both don't believe in the concept of commemorating certain days of the year as a person's day because each day deserves to be celebrated in its entirety, this Father's Day is special. You would be able to comprehend when I say that you have been more than what they say, a father should be and have done more than what they say, a father should do.

Not only have you been an excellent friend, philosopher, mentor, and a guiding light to me and my brother but also, to both our daughters. It is in you that we would discover our crest of perfection. You were the epitome of perfection for both of us. It is in emulating your mannerisms that we would discover joy and bliss. It is in imitating your punctuality and discipline that we would absorb the subtleties of etiquette.  :)

Your experiences have endowed us with the most precious teachings of our life. Your anecdotes have been the exquisite pearls of wisdom to us, in this vast ocean of unknown, unseen people and places. Your impeccable sense of self-confidence, perseverance, and determination has served as our scout to lead us on the path to achieving our varied goals on the path of life.

You have been the superlative to our mediocrity. You have inculcated a sense of humility within us and made us realize the importance of being level-headed, whenever you would spot us floating in the air, with a hint of over-confidence. A spank on the back was as reassuring as a pat for it made us realize that you would always be there for us, come what may!

You were never critical of our achievements, yet you never let the prospect of ego flourish.
You were the quickest when it came to condemning our mistakes, and always encouraged us to work towards improving them, thus polishing us like diamonds, as would a skilled craftsman in the long run. :)

It is imperative then, that we would attempt to flatter you, in imitating your qualities as the best parent, for our children. You have been the ideal father-figure to both your granddaughters. We strive to be the ideal parents to them, in the long run.

As much as we know that this is a herculean feat to achieve, you have always stood tall and firm as the pillar of strength and support to our family. It was in the realization of us drifting away to establish our own families that your belief in both of us grew stronger.

It is your belief which has anchored our ship of endeavors. It is this strong-willed attitude which has made us meet your expectations, every single time.

This Father's Day, we salute your indomitable spirit and your exemplary personality. :)

 ~~~ 



A man of his words, and his actions as well, my father deserves nothing but the best. For, he gave his family nothing but the best. 

Having witnessed his flawless code of conduct, as a man of his time, punctual to the tee, the one who was a disciplinarian, the one whose aura spoke of immaculate grace and brilliant class, if given a chance, I would want to revisit the alleys of bygone times, with my chivalrous man, my Daddy. 

My Daddy is my #dandydad. :) 

A custom made #dandydad graphic, by Yours Truly. :) 

My father believes that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. So much so, that it reflects in his dressing sense too. In spite of having attained the status of an octogenarian now, I have always witnessed him, dressed as the best man would, prim and proper. 

If you would ask me to detail a picture of his sophisticated outlook, I would choose the following from Jabong so that you would obtain a fair idea. More so, if I were to gift him a makeover, as far as his wardrobe is concerned, I would want him to be as he has been over the years, as that is way I have seen and admired him.

My father has always liked earthy browns and beige. He prefers donning his formal best whenever he has any social gathering, event or meeting to attend. Thus, I would present him with a gift of his liking, in the form of a look dominated by browns. :)

Please click on the images to visit the respective landing page for the product on Jabong. 



This formal shirt from Peter England and formal trousers from John Players, in my opinion, would  impress Daddy. It is his preferred color combination. 



A classic buckle Belt from the house of United Colors Of Benetton and a pair of seasoned leather Shoes from Aldo would complete his basic look.

To further accessorize his persona, I would opt for the following essentials: 



A suave, slim leather wallet from Louis Philippe and an elegant analog watch, courtesy Kenneth Cole would serve as the perfect companions for a person who believes that 'A penny saved is a penny earned' and that 'Time and tide wait for none'. :) 



A pen is a quintessential comrade to the teacher who imparts knowledge to one who yearns to pursue a discipline. This silver Ball Pen from Franklin Covey would lend the substance of finesse to his disposition, as an intellectual. 

The masculine fragrance from Versace would complement his courteous temperament.

 ~~~ 

If I were to design a look for my father, this is how I would do it, for the world to witness.

My father is my gentleman debonair. :)

~~~

This post has been written in association with Jabong's #dandydad. 


Monday 15 June 2015

#CarryYourCool With Lenovo YOGA...

What?
Launch of the next generation of YOGA, line of 2-in-1 laptops for students.

When?
Tuesday, June 9.

Where?
The Oberoi, New Delhi.

Last week, I had the privilege and pleasure of attending two tech launches, in a single day. Back-to-back.

One was about my favorite pass time and the Media Invite to the launch of revolutionary products in the digital imaging industry by Canon, and the other, another Media Invite to the launch of the Second Gen Laptop cum Tablets by Lenovo.



Lenovo stands as an  in-house preference, as I myself work on a Lenovo G series.

When I had blogged about Lenovo YOGA, incorporating technology and creative writing in the past, the time that they had just begun, I found the YOGA, as a Tablet, to be quite innovative indeed.

According to me, YOGA's flexibility and mobility are the ones to be envied. YOGA has always focused on user-centric design and that is what makes it appeal to me.

I had the good fortune of listening to Mr. Shailendra Katyal, Director, Home and Small Business, Lenovo India, and understanding the brand concept behind YOGA, who had the following to say:

"Globally we are the leaders in the consumer convertible PC space. We achieved this by constantly innovating and stretching the boundaries of what a PC stands for. The YOGA franchise the representation of this consumer-centric design and engineering. We are happy to make the YOGA franchise, through this new line of products, accessible to a much wider audience."

Since the YOGA is powered by Intel, Mr. Sandeep Aurora, Director, Marketing and Market Development, Intel South Asia, also commented:

"The rise of new personal computing experiences, intelligent and connected devices are redefining the relationship between consumers and technology. Our goal with Intel technology is to help solve real problems and enable experiences that are truly desired by people and businesses. We are extremely proud of our collaboration with Lenovo and are confident that the new YOGA series 2 in 1s powered by the Intel Processors will allow consumers to get the best of both worlds with a razor-thin laptop and ultra-fast tablet in one allowing users to easily switch back and forth from productive tasks to immersive entertainment in a flash."

I personally feel that the versatile convertibility of the YOGA allows room for adaptability, hence broadening the horizon of what 'more' could be done with the device in hand.

Tilt Like The YOGA 300


We were introduced to four key products in the new series.


  • YOGA 300 
  • YOGA 500 
  • YOGA 3 14" 
  • YOGA 3 Pro  


The YOGA 300, priced at ₹30,490, boasts of the following powerful specs:


  • Multi-mode doubling up as a Windows tablet 
  • 360 degrees of flexibility 
  • 4 innovative modes - laptop, stand, tent, tablet 
  • 11.6" HD display with 10-point multi-touch for a vivid visual experience 
  • Intel Baytrail Processor 
  • Pre-loaded with Microsoft 365 

Rotate A Little! :) 


The YOGA 500, priced at ₹57,990, on the other hand, matches up and even surpasses, gracefully. 

  • Multi-mode gaming powerhouse 
  • 360 degrees of flexibility 
  • 4 innovative modes - laptop, stand, tent, tablet 
  • 14" FHD IPS wide-view display with 10-point multi-touch 
  • Intel 5th Gen Core i7 
  • Integrated Intel HD or up to Nvidia GeForce 940M, backlit Accutype Keyboard 
  • Pre-loaded with Microsoft 365 
  • 1 Year Onsite Warranty, with optional 2 years additional warranty free, as a part of Back To College 


#CarryYourCool

The YOGA 3 14", touted to be the ultimate travel companion and the YOGA 3 Pro, designed to be one of the slimmest convertibles in the market, priced at ₹86,990 and ₹1,14,990 respectively complete the extended YOGA franchise that is now available in India. 

As goes for the availability, all the four models will be available at Lenovo Exclusive Stores and the Online Do Store

Saturday 13 June 2015

Like-Minded Travelers At The #HIQTravellerMeetup

Top post on IndiBlogger.in, the community of Indian Bloggers


Yauatcha Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

~~~ 

I spotted my favorite travel community @HolidayIQ tweeting about the #HIQTravellerMeetup - Bangalore Edition this evening.

Their tweets prompted me to reminisce the splendid execution of the Delhi Edition, which was held in April, and to which I had been invited exclusively. 

It was a pepped-up afternoon spent well, with like-minded globe-trotters, over anecdotes of  travel and some innovative gastronomic delights, courtesy Yauatcha, Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj. 

I will let this post be a photo-story of sorts and thus let the images do the talking. :) 

That's the first click of the day, proclaiming to us, the location of our venue in the mall's premises. 


One dim sum heaven, this! ;) 


See? The place had been all decked up! 



Listening, with rapt attention to the ideology behind the concept of HolidayIQ and the perspective of #HIQTravellerMeetup's on a pan-India basis. 

In between little chit-chats, I witnessed so many sumptuous avatars of the humble dim sum. 

Be prepared for some serious awe and drools, thanks to Chef Yap at Yauatcha. 


Spot him grinning at the ingeniosity of his culinary masterpieces. :D 

Now, for the Yauatcha trail... 







There we go, with the gastronomic delights! ;) :D 

And, a little surprise... 



The Chinese Kettle adorned as the center of attention! 

I would like to sum this post up with a token of thanks for these beautiful snaps which have been captured by the ace photographer at HolidayIQ. 

Featuring Yours Truly. 

One... 



Peek A Boo! :) 

Two... 


Group-fie Fever! :) 

 ~~~ 


The entire Travel-savvy Radical in a single frame! :) 

And, before we bid adieu, 
We were given some memorabilia. :) 

There, you go! 




#ComeCloser to Radiance...

We are in the habit of taking our skin and its care for granted. We wash our face with soap or face wash and feel assured that once this is done, our skin will remain bacteria-free. But, that is not true.

Nature has blessed us with soft, radiant, and supple skin, by birth which remains so, for a few years, and hence in our childhood days, we don't develop the habit of practicing any special techniques to care for our skin. But the fact is that the skin needs constant care.


  • The first and foremost need of our skin is hydration. To retain the suppleness of our skin, we need to drink lots of water. If lemon and honey are added to it, it would be like icing on the cake, as honey retains moisture for a longer time. 



  • The next important need is exfoliation of the skin's layers to remove dead cells, which keep on accumulating and restricts the skin from breathing properly. For this, natural scrubbers are the best choice. Take two tablespoons of coarse gram flour (बेसन), add fresh malai and a bit of turmeric to it. Mix it well and massage it on your face, while scrubbing softly, in rotatory motion. The coarseness of gram flour removes dead cells, turmeric exhibits its antiseptic properties to remove bacteria and dust, and malai keeps the skin smooth and soft. The result is glowing, radiant skin, ready to breathe. 



  • Another important care is to protect the skin from harsh ultraviolet rays, when we step out, especially in the scorching sun. Instead of applying sunscreens available in the market and confusing ourselves as to which SPF would be safe for our respective skin type, nature itself has provided us with an effective remedy. Tomato contains lycopene, which acts as a natural sunscreen. Just take red tomato pulp and apply it gently on the skin. Let it settle for a few minutes and wash it off. Lo and behold, you are ready to face the SUN and its harshness. 



  • As we age, we tend to become a bit careless towards our skin-care regime. But still, wrinkles pose a grave threat which needs to be dealt with, effectively. In this case also, fresh tomato pulp helps, with its anti-oxidant properties. 


It is always better not to rely on products with various harsh chemicals as constituents but on our age-old natural kitchen remedies. Vicco, which also agrees with the same ideology, have been making natural products since long, incorporating sandalwood and turmeric. Their flagship product VICCO Turmeric Cream has been ruling our television sets since the past few weeks and their jingle which claims that their products are not cosmetic, but Ayurvedic has touched our hearts too.

My friends and I had been using Vicco's products when they were in their prime. Hence, I am glad that they have made a pleasant comeback to safeguard today's generation and their skin from chemically manufactured products.



Friday 12 June 2015

Canon And Their Delightful New DSLRs!

What?
Canon's Launch of Full-frame DSLR Cameras.

When?
Tuesday, June 9.

Where?
Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi.

Canon India Pvt. Ltd. claims to revolutionize the digital imaging industry with the introduction of deFINEd full-frame DSLR cameras - EOS 5DS and EOS 5DSR.




Canon, as a pioneer in the imaging industry, aims to provide photographers with unmatched image quality through their new EOS range. These would be best suited for commercial, studio, portrait, landscape and architectural photography. The ultra-high resolution of these cameras allows for large-format printing and extensive cropping capability while maintaining fantastic image quality.

We were also introduced to the XC10 4K Professional Video Camera, which features a versatile design for convenient 4K Video shooting and 12 MP digital still photography.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Kazutada Kobayashi, President and CEO, Canon India stated:

"India is an important market for us. We as a digital imaging leader in the region are committed to bringing innovation and advancement to the table. Canon's vision has always been to give the industry newer experiences of creating high-quality imaging, both in photography and videography.

Understanding the rapidly changing and ever increasing requirements of the imaging industry and professionals, Canon keeps launching more evolved and technologically progressed products.

With the introduction of the world's highest resolution full-frame camera, Canon has unveiled cutting-edge technology in the camera industry. With the launch of such evolutionary products, we foresee our numbers to grow and achieve a market share of 50% in the DSLR segment.

As technology innovators, we bring in strong brand equity and effective network management that help us retain most of the industry share. Given the demand of our products, we are also undertaking a robust retail expansion across the region to engage more closely with consumers."

Mr. Andrew Koh, Senior Director, Image Communications Products Group, Canon India commented:

"Rapid innovation is key to success in digital imaging industry and the launch of the EOS 5DS and EOS 5DSR cameras reassures our loyalists' trust in the brand, that is always ready to push beyond technology limits.

Market insight and strong R&D enabled us to develop many new technologies for the sensor to be used in the EOS 5DS and EOS 5DSR bodies. These products truly meet the demand for high-pixel and high resolution, with no compromise on high image quality.

The cutting-edge technology and exclusivity in products make Canon EOS series so successful. We are confident about the response of the new range and wish to consolidate our position as pioneers in the imaging space."

Left: Mr. Kazutada Kobayashi
Right: Mr. Andrew Koh


The EOS 5DS and EOS 5DSR boast of some very powerful specs:

  • 50.6 Megapixel 35mm full-frame CMOS Sensor 
  • Fine Detail Picture Mode, which allows to configure the sharpness level 
  • 1.5K dot RGB+IR Metering 
  • Automatic Exposure System 
  • DIGIC 6 Image Processors 
  • Maximum Continuous Shooting Speed of 5.0fps 
The XC10 4K Professional Video Camera features the following: 

  • Compact, lightweight and versatile design 
  • 12 Megapixel digital still photography 
  • Ability to extract 8 Megapixel still images in-camera from recorded 4K footage 
  • Genuine Canon 10x Wide-Angle Zoom Lens 
  • 2x Digital Tele-converter and Optical Image Stabilization 
  • Zoom ratio of 27.3-273mm for movies 
  • Zoom ratio of 24.1-241mm for photos 



As far as the pricing and availability are concerned, EOS 5DS, EOS 5DSR and XC10 4K Camcorder will be available at all Canon Image Squares. 



  • EOS 5DS at ₹ 2,52,995 
  • EOS 5DSR at ₹2,65,995 
  • XC10 at ₹1,70,000 

Thursday 11 June 2015

Focusing Our Attention Around Menstrual Hygiene...

Top post on IndiBlogger.in, the community of Indian Bloggers

 ~~~ 

What?
A Panel Discussion On Menstrual Hygiene, on the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day.

When?
Wednesday, May 27.

Where?
Mumbai.

This is the first event which I had attended with the aid of LIVE tweets from @sftimetochange. Since this was a topic which interested me, and which should ideally interest every woman in this world, it saddened me to learn that I could not be present at the venue in person, as the event was not being held in my city.

If you have not guessed already, @sftimetochange is the Twitter handle belonging to India's leading women’s health and hygiene brand, Stayfree. They focused on this event, with the hashtag #LetsStayfree.

Stayfree hosted a panel discussion on India’s least discussed topic ‘Menstruation’, with an aim to spread awareness around the need for educating young girls and women about menstrual hygiene. Following the panel discussion, Stayfree also announced the launch of its free educational YouTube channel that will assist women in getting a better understanding about menstruation.




The panelists included experts and well-known personalities in their fields such as:


  • Gul Panag, Actress, Activist & Former Beauty Queen; 
  • Kritika Kamra, Actress; 
  • Dr. Anita Soni, Obstetrics & Gynecology Consultant at Dr. L.H. Hiranandani Hospital; 
  • Sinu Joseph, Counselor & Menstrual Hygiene Educator; 
  • Lina Ashar, Founder & Chairperson of Kangaroo Kids Education 


I still remember my first association with Stayfree when I had blogged for the 'Stay Free And Healthy Day' Campaign, in my first year as a Blogger. 

The same view persists even now. Periods are not taboo, and menstrual hygiene is a necessity. 

They presented some harrowing statistics at the discussion. 

  • Good menstrual hygiene is a critical indicator of the holistic progress of women, socially and economically because there is a very strong connection between hygienic menstrual practices and overall health. 
  • In India, despite the economic progress that has been made in the last several years, over 80% of women still do not have access to adequate sanitary protection during menstruation. 
  • In India, feminine hygiene and menstruation, being a sensitive topic, is not discussed openly, and women often continue to harbor myths and misconceptions about it, since no one amongst their family and friends is able to educate them. 
  • Additionally, mothers are often not in a position to guide their daughters correctly since their own knowledge is limited. 
  • Over time, unhygienic practices due to low awareness and education levels can adversely impact the health and productivity of these women. 
  • According to the report, awareness on basic health and feminine hygiene in India is very low, with 75% rural women lacking adequate knowledge on menstrual hygiene and care. 




On being asked about the #LetsStayfree campaign, this is what Ganesh Bangalore, General Manager - Marketing, Consumer Business, at Johnson & Johnson India had to say. 

"We strongly believe that education dispels fear and prepares young girls to recognize menstruation as being a natural process and face it with confidence. That’s why Stayfree is investing behind educating 100 million young girls in India over the next 3 years." 

Stayfree thus commits to the cause by pledging to educate 100 million young girls in India by 2018 on menstrual hygiene and protection. 

Speaking during the panel discussion, Gul Panag shared: 

“Menstruation is a natural process and is not something that a woman or girl should be embarrassed about. During my growing up years and even today, I see women and girls shying away from mentioning the ‘M’ word. 

Women try and come up with innovative ways to state the word in public, but you don’t see a man cringing publicly or feeling sorry about what he wants to say. 

And all this shushing and discouragement is affecting women and girls basic right to get educated on a topic that is a monthly occurrence till they reach menopause. I feel strongly about a woman’s right to educate herself and applaud Stayfree for holding this discussion.” 


Dr. Anita Soni, Obstetrics & Gynecology consultant at Dr. L.H. Hiranandani Hospital, stated:  

“Today, almost every household will have at least one woman or girl who suffers from irregularities in her menstrual cycle but the reported cases will be few due to the stigma associated with talking openly about the red-letter day. 

Most women and girls do not understand or give as much importance to their menstrual issues, hence a lot of women do not follow simple hygienic practices like use of sanitary napkins or the right usage of same.” 



Ms. Sinu Joseph, Counselor & Menstrual Hygiene educator, spoke about the need to start talking about menstruation. 

According to her:  

“When we don’t talk about it, we do not think enough about our body and miss the signs when we need attention. 

While education about menstrual hygiene is important, it is even more important to stop looking at menstruation as a disease needing a cure. 

Menstruation is the most ancient and reliable tool for women to assess their health and well-being, naturally. Beginning to respect your menstrual cycle is the first step towards being healthy. 

Menstrual Hygiene should be addressed at homes, schools, community centers, health centers, women hostels and at the workplace.”




Ms. Lina Ashar, Founder & Chairperson of Kangaroo Kids Education, stated: 

“Menstruation is not something that a girl needs to feel ashamed of. 

It is essential for schools to understand and make requisite arrangements so that a girl student need not skip school due to menstruation or drop out completely as soon as she reaches puberty. 

After all, it is a natural biological process and needs to be seen as such. 

There is nothing “dirty” or “unclean” about it; let’s stop treating it as a life-threatening contagious disease.” 



Kritika Kamra was quick to tweet: 

"Enriching afternoon. Learned so much about menstruation and menstrual hygiene when I thought I knew it all. #LetsStayfree" 

All in all, I found the discussion to be very enlightening, and educative. 
How I wish more such discussions are held openly and that we do away with the unnecessary hush-hush around the subject! :) 

~~~ 

P.S.: All images have been attributed to @sftimetochange.