Live your dream with alternate careers and creative pursuits

Refreshing change – Try music, film making or pottery to recharge

Things are changing and this is the time to embrace changes whole heatedly, whether as investment options or as an alternate career. Rock is going great guns in the music scene of India. Also, we bring you comfort foods which are good for your body and stress levels and do not add to kilos, like ice cream or alcohol. Fliers to international destinations need not worry as more flights are being introduced. With Independence Day coming up, check this book on ancient and medieval history of India.

-Chillibreeze Business Research Team

Trends

Take a Break

Tired of your career? Then take a break and resume it after a while and while at the break, do something you have always wanted to do. This is the trend that is being seen in the top brass of the corporate population who are taking a sabbatical to follow an alternative career that is based on creative interests. Top CEOs are getting into the world of music, spirituality or pottery and pursuing a more refreshing career. Of course many of them do join back the original career track, but they do so after living out their dreams.

August 10, 2008
Source: Economic Times

Investment wise

If you are well heeled, loaded and have the creative instincts in the right place, go ahead and produce a film and you will be assisted by no less than India’s second largest lender. - ICICI Bank. The bank is offering its private banking customers the option of investing in film production and has formed an alliance with Cinema Capital Venture Fund that will raise 750 crores from its investors. This comes in the Bank’s initiative to encourage alternative investment options. So with the right script and your money backed by ICICI, you could have a block buster on your hands.

August 8, 2008
Source: Mint

Hi-Flying

While domestic airlines are pruning flights by almost 20%, International airlines are doing just the opposite because they feel that India’s air traffic is set to soar in a couple of years. British Airways and Emirates are increasing their flights to Indian cities and also introducing newer flights to newer Indian destinations. Smaller airlines like Garuda Indonesia and RAK Airways are starting to fly into the country giving Indian fliers lots to cheer about in the times of a global downturn.

August 7, 2008
Source: Mint

Made in India

Unconventional looks, a bug like face and a vintage roof line, Nissan’s Micra is still one of the most loved cars in the world. In fact, it has been hailed as Nissan’s little wonder. The Micra has had a face lift three times and in the latest lift in 2007, the car has been a world wide hit.

The news is that Nissan is currently developing the fourth generation of the Micra and will be made primarily in India - even for sale in Europe. It will, of course, be sold in India, too, in the Rupees 4-5 lakhs price bracket. The model will be a convertible and is expected to do blazingly well in India, despite the presence of heavyweights in the segment. It is confirmed that the new Micra will be the first of eight cars Nissan will have in its Indian portfolio by 2012. However all this is still a few months away, and will come at a price. This means similar Suzuki or Hyundai offerings will win in the overall price barometer.

August 6, 2008
Source: Mint

Health and Fitness

Comfort Foods

Foods do heal and how! In fact eating the right kind of food could do wonders for your soul and mind. Of course you have to be eating right for this to happen. Called comfort foods, they are good in more ways than one. Like berries which are especially good when you are tense; or avocados which deplete stress quickly. Nuts are known to boost memory and also aid in reducing stress. Other foods that truly qualify as comfort foods are oranges, asparagus, tea, dark chocolate. All of these are capable of fighting diseases, increasing immunity and providing relief under pressure.

August 11, 2008
Source: Times of India

Instant Messaging Woes

Sending text messages are a wonderful way of communication, except that it could be dangerous to your health if you are losing sleep due to it. In fact this is of special significance to teens who are into SMS-ing their buddies well into the night making them fall prey to sleep disorders and other ailments. Most of them are falling prey to exhaustion and more. Parents are unable to find time to have a lively conversation with them as they are always punching alphabets into their cell pads. As Dr Raghu, child psychologist says losing sleep can harm children’s health. “If a child does not get enough sleep, he/she might get stressed and lose concentration. This greatly harms their memory power. Moreover, it is best to keep mobile phones away from them. The radiation can cause severe headache and lead to other complications.”

August 9, 2008
Source: Times of India

Art and Culture

Rock On

The rock scene is hotting up in India. Event groups dedicated to importing and exporting ‘live’ rock acts are a reality today, Independent bands are releasing metal ballads, a concert by Parikrama is packed to capacity, and hard rock doesn’t mean noise any more. In fact ‘Rock on’, a movie on a rock band in India is slated for a big release.

Three years ago, the Mumbai police banned India’s oldest yearly rock festival, Independence Rock, from being staged at the Gateway of India. Following public outrage, the venue was shifted to the Andheri Chitrakoot Grounds and witnessed the largest ever turnout in the history of Indian rock concerts. Parikrama, Shaair n’ Func, Pentagram, PDV and Zero are drawing more crowds internationally and more festivals are coming up every year. This has been a huge turn around for rock enthusiasts in India. In fact labels are being launched especially for new sounds, hot spots like Blue Frog and Hard Rock Café are playing ‘live’ music, magazines like Rock Street Journal and community websites like gigpad.com spreading awareness about the rock scene in India. Another way things are hotting up is through bands traveling across the country, networking with each other and forming fan bases, all through the Internet. The rock culture in India is picking up for sure.

August 9, 2008
Source: Hindustan Times

Books

Tracing India

Upinder Singh, noted historian and the daughter of the Prime Minister of India has written a book on the history of India. This Tuesday she launched her latest book, titled A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India. It is an unusual history book for India, for several reasons — one, it derives its matter from archeological remnants, two , it tries to explain the fabrics of gender and religions, three, it does not gloss over controversial points and tries to take the readers through the factuality and realities, four, it helps readers take a deep view of the socio-political fabric of the state and lastly, it’s a treat to the eyes due to its emphasis on photographs, maps, colours, and the likes. This is history, seen as closely as much as is possible and minus colored lenses.

August 10, 2008
Source: Business Standard

Medal famine

When the grand daddy of games is on, then its time for all to take a hard look at the state of sports in India. This one is a scholarly look at India’s Olympics history. Written by Mehta and Majumdar and titled Olympics: The Indian Story, the book digs into sport archives to dig out the stories making this is a well researched book. However this book will make you frustrated and sad…such a vast country and an absolute dearth of medals. Perhaps it may also set you thinking.

August 9, 2008
Source: Mint