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Madhya Pradesh Farmers Were Given Rs 2,000 Notes Without The Gandhi Image And Told It's Not Fake

January 4, 2017, 7:59 pm
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At a time when there's a growing voice against black money that the demonetisation move apparently intends to clean up from the economy, two farmers in a remote village in Madhya Pradesh were handed Rs 2,000 notes that didn't have the image of Mahatma Gandhi.

In Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district, the farmers received the apparent fake notes rom a State Bank of India branch, reports Times Of India.

When they approached the bank officials, they were told that the notes are "genuine". The bank, however, took back the notes.

The farmers were told that the missing Gandhi image was because of a "printing error".

"The incident took place at Shivpuri Road branch of SBI. The notes were not counterfeit, but probably there was some printing error. They were taken back as soon as it (the error) was detected," Sheopur district manager of SBI, Akash Shrivastav told ToI.

Fake Rs 2,000 notes have been doing the rounds for a while now. In fact, the first of its kind was reported just two days after the new notes went in circulation. Last month, Odisha police recovered Rs 4.8 lakh in the new currency, all in fake notes. Yesterday, three people were arrested after police recovered Rs 7.64 lakh in Rs 2,000 fake notes in Kanpur.

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From Brewing Beer To Photosynthesis: 25 Experiments Competing To Get On TeamIndus' Spacecraft

January 4, 2017, 8:07 pm
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BENGALURU -- An experiment seeks to study photosynthesis on the Moon, and yet another proposes brewing beer to study yeast formation. These are just a couple of the 25 ideas that Bengaluru-based TeamIndus has shortlisted in its bid to find suitable experiments to fly aboard its lunar spacecraft scheduled for launch in 2017.

More than 3,000 teams participated in TeamIndus' Lab2Moon competition, a global challenge for students under 25 years of age to imagine, design and build a project that could accelerate human evolution into a sustainable multi planetary species, the company said in a statement.

"We are absolutely thrilled that as many as 3000 teams from all around the world participated in this race to the Moon," said Rahul Narayan, TeamIndus Fleet Commander.

The shortlisted teams have each been assigned mentors from TeamIndus, each of whom will work closely with the teams to ensure that the standards needed for space grade experiments are observed and maintained, the statement added.

The winning experiments will be announced in March 2017, said TeamIndus that recently signed a launch contract to land a spacecraft on the Moon with Indian space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

TeamIndus is the only Indian team competing for the Google Lunar XPrize. For demonstrating its landing technology, TeamIndus has already won a $1 million milestone prize.

The goal of the $30 million Google Lunar XPRIZE is to ignite a new era of space exploration by lowering the cost and inspiring the imagination of the next generation.

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Welcome Move To Keep Religion And Polls Separate But More Explanation Needed, Says Yogi Adityanath

January 4, 2017, 7:54 pm
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GORAKHPUR -- Hailing the Supreme Court's ruling on no vote for religion, Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) MP from Gorakhpur Yogi Adityanath has asserted that the provision needs more detailed explanation.

"It is a welcome move and Representation of People's act ( RPA) already limits politicians from asking for votes on the basis of religion, but this provision needs to be explained," he said.

Adityanath added that India's Constitution is secular and the practice of seeking vote on the basis of caste, creed, religion, community and language should be stopped.

The Supreme Court, on Monday, in its verdict on 1995 Hindutva judgement said no politician can seek a vote in the name of caste, creed, or religion.

The seven-judge constitution bench of the apex court further stated that election was a secular exercise and therefore, the process which follows it should also be adopted.

"Election is a secular exercise and thereby its way and its process should be followed also. Function of an elected representative should be secular," it said.

"Relationship between man and God is an individual choice and state is forbidden to such an activity," the apex court said further.

Earlier, during the hearing by a seven judge Constitutional bench, the apex court had said that it won't reconsider 1995 judgment which defined Hindutva as "a way of life and not a religion."

The observations came after an on interlocutory application filed by social activist Teesta Setalvad requested the bench to reconsider the 95 judgment.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur, said the court will not go into the larger debate as to what is Hindutva or what its meaning is and will not reconsider the 1995 judgment.

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10 Indian Fishermen Apprehended By Sri Lankan Navy In Palk Strait

January 4, 2017, 8:28 pm
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NEDUNTHEEVU (SRI LANKA) -- As many as ten Indian fishermen were apprehended near Neduntheevu in Palk Strait along with two boats by the Sri Lankan Navy.

The fishermen have been taken to Jaffna Naval camp for investigation.

Immediate release of the fishermen presently in custody has been announced following the ministerial level talks between Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of India Radha Mohan Singh and Minister for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development of Sri Lanka Mahinda Amaraweera in Colombo.

The talks were held on Monday following the first meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on fisheries held in New Delhi on December 31.

While the fishermen from the Southern states have been demanding release of their fellow fishermen and trawlers, their counterpart in Sri Lanka asserts that bottom trawling used by Indian fishermen has caused extensive damage to the marine eco system.

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Shahid-Mira Love Arranged Marriage But Many Quora Users Beg To Differ

January 4, 2017, 3:50 am
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In a recent episode of Koffee With Karan, the television talk-show hosted by Karan Johar, Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor and his wife Mira Rajput spiced up an otherwise snooze-fest of a season. This was the couple's first appearance on a talk show and they spoke candidly about their life together.

But the candid talk left many viewers with a not altogether pleasant aftertaste, after they heard Shahid Kapoor's views on arranged marriage. Kapoor confessed that he is a big supporter of the institution. "It's unlike a romantic relationship where you always feel like the peak of the love was in the beginning," he said. "And after[wards] you're left wondering, 'When will those times come again?'" The couple also said that they fell in love only after Mira had conceived.

Many people were thankful to the couple for publicly coming out in support of arranged marriages. And then, there were some who said that the decision of whom to marry and how should be left on the not-so-tender shoulders of consenting adults. There were also people who were troubled because they felt that the institution of arranged marriage did not need any more advocacy. Many consider the idea that it is one's right to choose her or his children's life-partner quite regressive.

A report published on the Hindu in 2014, said that only 18 percent women knew their husbands before their wedding. However, on an average, the numbers were better for younger women and women who were better educated. The survey also threw up a revealing statistic -- in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Odisha, Gujarat and Maharashtra, 90 percent of the marriages were arranged.

So, post the Shahid-Mira television interview, many people on social media forums such as Quora voiced their apprehension about what they felt was an advertisement for a regressive practice. Quora turned into a forum for a lively discussion on the subject with many putting forth their views on this old debate.

"When you don't have anyone who asked you out, you easily make an excuse that you've to listen to your parents and agree to arranged marriage, etc," a Quora user wrote. "Also, when many alliances [have] rejected you, you have to accept the one who says yes to you because we are living in Indian culture wherein by certain age we need to get marry or you're a loser in everyone's eye."

"It is the competition of guesses where the best guess takes your one step close to your decision."

Ashish Rudraksh Kumar wrote that contrary to popular belief, arranged marriages are based on flimsy foundations. "Arranged marriages, as far as bride and groom is concerned, is an arrow in the dark (unless they've known each other before somehow)," he wrote. "It is the competition of guesses where the best guess takes your one step close to your decision. Because lets face it, everyone puts there best foot forward when it comes to impress your prospective bride or groom."

Another user wrote how he could not make up his mind about his fiancee and refused to marry the girl a week before the wedding. "I really feel sorry for the girl, her family, my family... but I feel crushed under my own fickleness or lack of assertiveness," he confessed.

But like Shahid and Mira, many strongly support arranged marriages. Gopal Sinha wrote, "We met in the vivah-mandap, before everyone, on the auspicious day of our marriage, never before and were quite unknown to each other. Since then, we are together through thick and thin of life."

"There's no perfect time that you should force yourself to decide within, for marriage."

Anagha Pande, like many others, believes that there are no simple answers when it comes to selecting a life partner. "There is no correct way or tried-and-tested way to go about this. People will always put their best food forward," she wrote."There's no perfect time that you should force yourself to decide within, for marriage. Take your time, get to know the people in person rather than too much of chatting or phone talk. Talking to a person face to face is totally different than chatting with him." Putting the situation in perspective, she added, "At the end of the day, its you who wants to get into a long term marriage and commitment, so choose wisely."

AJ Mishra had his own set of dos and donts for men looking at a prospective life-partner. "Irrespective of what your parents say & what her parents say, first try to learn her level of maturity, sense of humour & ability to do household works," he wrote. "Once you're done with this, take a walk with her, go to a movie with her. If she doesn't talk much, you may take the step to start conversations, make sure she is not hiding anything big. After spending some quality time with her if you believe that you can spend your life with her then go for it, otherwise reject her, because this is a big decision."

The 'arranged vs love marriage' goes back to our parents' and grandparents' times and is unlikely to be settled anytime soon. At the end of the day, however, everyone has the right to marry the person of their choice. They also have a right to listen to their parents' advice and wishes on the matter and act upon it, and not just because an A-lister couple is endorsing arranged marriage.

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RSS Muslim Wing To Launch Campaign Against Triple Talaq, Reach Out To Muslim Voters In Uttar Pradesh

January 4, 2017, 8:20 pm
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The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's Muslim affiliate, Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), has announced its plans to target Muslim women in a 'nationwide campaign' against triple talaq. The campaign will begin in Uttar Pradesh, where RSS national executive member and MRM member Indresh Kumar and MRM national convener Mohd Afzal will address these meetings in different districts.

While the organisers reportedly claimed that the exercise is not political in nature, the outfit's national co-convener Mahirajdhwaj Singh told The Indian Express that they would also urge Muslim voters in these meetings to vote "in the name of the nation" rather than based on religion or caste. They would impress upon these voters that all communities have benefitted under the NDA government, he told Express.

"Muslim women will be told there that the triple talaq was not exercised during the period of Hazrat Muhammad because Hazarat Muhammad was against it," said Afzal to Express. He has earlier called triple talaq a "social disaster".

"Hazarat Muhammad was against triple talaq."

Earlier, Kumar had criticised the Muslim Personal Law Board's support of triple talaq, alleging that it seemed to be standing alongside "Shaitaan" instead of "Rahman". The organisation leaders have said several times in the past that any amendment to the triple talaq law should come from the Muslim community. Its leaders had given examples of several countries which had made amendments under provisions of the Quran.

The organisation's campaign comes at a time when Uttar Pradesh is readying for the state assembly elections. MRM has earlier held national conventions in support of the Modi government.

While polling in UP will take place in seven phases from 11 February to 8 March, counting of votes will be on 11 March, the Election Commission announced on Wednesday.

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50-Year-Old In UP Allegedly Commits Suicide After Killing 10 Members Of His Family

January 4, 2017, 8:46 pm
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In a shocking incident, a 50-year-old man in Amethi in Uttar Pradesh was found dead along with 10 members of his family.

Jamaludeen, who allegedly hanged himself from the ceiling, is suspected to have drugged and killed the 2 women and 8 girls while they were asleep. Preliminary investigations reveal he had given them a medicine after dinner, presumably a sedative, saying it was good for their health during winter. It is believed he slit their throats once they were unconscious, before proceeding to commit suicide.

According to the Hindustan Times, two daggers were found on the spot, raising suspicions that the killer could be someone other than Jamaludeen. Except for his second wife and her daughter, who are "unhurt but disoriented", Jamaludeen's brothers and one of their wives are alive, who were all away from home.

The dead include Jamaludeen's five daughters, four of his brothers' daughters, and one of his sisters-in-law. Although he was the main earning member of the family, Jamaluddin was allegedly mentally disturbed and often acted funny. He had divorced his first wife 20 years ago.

The discovery of a second bloodstained butcher's knife has puzzled the police, who are waiting for the autopsy report to ascertain whether the family and Jamaludeen was killed by someone else, who then hanged him from the ceiling to make it appear like a suicide.

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Two People, Including Congress Leader Raju Mishra, Shot Dead In Jabalpur

January 4, 2017, 8:47 pm
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JABALPUR (MADHYA PRADESH) -- As many as two persons, including Congress leader Raju Mishra were shot dead by unidentified gunmen last night in Cherital area of Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur.

The other victim has been identified as Kukku Sardar.

It was around 10 at night when the assailants opened indiscriminate firing at the victims, completing a total of 14 rounds.

It is being said the victims were standing at a food stall when the attackers started firing from behind.

The police have recovered bullets and blood samples from the incident site.

A forensic enquiry has also been launched into the matter.

The police are trying to know the motive behind the incident.

Sources said, the aggressors had come to attack Kukku, but targeted Raju as well on finding him there.

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This Guy Imagined SpongeBob In Iconic Bollywood Movies And It Is Spot On

January 4, 2017, 8:36 pm
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The gift that keeps on giving is the Internet. All you need is a Net connection and your unbounded creative genius and you can put your weirdest, wackiest, funniest imaginative vision, thought, spark, hunch, fantasy -- call it what you will -- out there for the world to see and react to.

In just one such instance, @MrKevinBedi took to his Twitter account to share random sequences from the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants, and gave Bollywood movie titles to perfections.

Here's the thread:

Naturally, others couldn't help but join in the party.

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This Heartfelt Poem Captures The Devastation Of Being Molested On The Streets Of India

January 4, 2017, 8:07 pm
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Over the last five days, people across the country have struggled to put into words the rage and despair they've felt over the mass molestation of women on New Year's eve in Bengaluru. Women were pawed, groped, cat-called and assaulted on the streets by drunk revellers, as they ran from one policeman to another for help.

As if the trauma of being sexually harassed was not enough, some politicians, and men's rights activists on Twitter shifted the blame on women, as always, for "inviting" the abuse by staying out late and wearing clothes not pre-approved by India's moral police. Politician Abu Azmi said India's "daughters" should take precautions not to get molested.

And we preached right back to him.

MRAs sanctimoniously trended the hashtag #NotAllMen and we clapped back.

Every time such incidents happen, social platforms bubble over with an outpouring of concern and anger. But the more things change in India, the more they remain the same. The same arguments are raised, mostly by men, about what women should and should not do to keep themselves safe. Instead of freeing the streets for all, women are being advised to stay off them.

In the cross-current of opinions, one poem stands out for it's raw, punch-in-the-gut honesty. This is the account of every woman, every day, every where in India. No, make that the world. The blogger uses a mix of pop-culture lyrical references (Queen, Bollywood films) to rhyme about anger and helplessness.

Here, read for yourself.

I have done my due

Time after time

And done this stupid old sentence but committed no crime.

I have thought this through now,

No more a fool.

Listen up, I give up.

I give up on Bangalore

I give up on Delhi

I give up on Mumbai

And Chennai

I give up on Indore, Jaipur, Shimla, Chandigarh

And of course I give up on Goa.

What good were those news debates I wonder?

How does it matter that my girlfriends and I

just had an intellectually stimulating conversation about this?

When it happened I was walking

home from work

at 6.30pm

fully clothed,

loose not hugging,

not modest,

without make up, not intoxicated,

not trying to prove a point,

not being bossy or opinionated or daring. Or independent

I was not even smoking a cigarette as I walked. Controlling urges.

Not cat walking. Not yawning.

A not-so-expensive-looking ring on my ring finger sat pretty.

To say out loud, 'some other guy's property'.

Phone in my bag.

Come on I wouldn't ever talk on the phone in an alley,

You know ants and sugar right?

My voice too is sugar.

Provocative sugar.

They gathered around me,

same old story, faceless men on a two wheeler.

Won't glorify what happened next.

It was only 2 minutes. Not noodles.

They got down, made advances, I fought back. Lol.

They kissed me kisses that felt alien.

Stranger things right in the feels.

But not the upside-down-demigorgan kind. Way worse.

It was like an out of the body experience.

It were as if I was up in the air

watching all these sensations happen to me

but still not feel a thing.

Beyond numb.

They pinned me down

Bang bang

I hit the ground

Bang bang

I was stripped off my clothes,

Of my dignity

Most of all I was stripped of my sense of self.

Of my truth.

Is this for reals? I thought.

Things like this go viral on the news,

On YouTube

And I win fucking battles in the fucking comment sections.

Can't be happening to me.

Fuck.

As I watched myself struggle, my mind wandered to the aftermath.

The shame the family would feel;

How my husband would be supportive but not quite understand.

His parents would confuse this too with some kind of issue with my modern life choices

The pain my mother would go through.

The price she'll pay for a raising an independent child.

Hushed conversations near the water cooler in the office.

As I am groped even more violently,

the gravel and dirt of the road in my mouth,

my brain has visions of vulgar displays of women empowerment.

On TV and web.

Shut up Tanishq with your prose about working women with views.

Right now respect for my views is the last thing on my mind

Shut up AIB,

Shut up Kalki Koechlin.

You think these guys understand sarcasm or the purpose of satire?

Shut up Da da ding.

Here's to India's favourite sport.

Shut up item numbers

And for heaven's sake,

shut the fuck up Bollywood.

This faceless mob has taken your ways too seriously.

No is yes.

Walking in the street minding your own business is also yes.

Coz SRK, Salman, Aamir, Ranbir say so.

Yeh uska style hoyenga, hoothon pe na dil mein haan.

Aaj na chodoonga tujhe, dam dama dam.

Dil mein hai toofan bhara.

Ha ha.

Shut up consent, for you don't exist.

If I get out of this,

I am giving up on risking my life every time I go out to work or to enjoy.

Or to fucking buy groceries for my future kids to get fucking nutrition.

If I get out of this,

I'm giving up on justifying men ogling at me in the metro, or at a friend's wedding.

If I get out of this,

I'm giving up on bringing a girl into this world.

Correction: a girl or a boy.

Because I'm also giving up on the whole raise your boy right.

It's too much.

Please let me go,

I will choose common sense over ideals.

I have learnt my lesson.

I won't go partying wearing clothes that make me happy,

even if it is New Year's Eve.

Especially if it's New Year's Eve,

The year's end is no reason to lose your fucking morals right?

If I get out of this,

I will never put that Oxblood red lip stick.

Or drink my favourite wine.

Or dance to that track I love.

Instead, I will lock the door and stay in at home.

And not call male friends over. Never.

If I get out of this,

I will never smirk as a man explains to me why #NotAllMen is logic.

If I get out of this,

I'll give up on this whole feminism thing.

I swear.

ACTUALLY FUCK THAT.

If I get out of this,

I will go around asking men if they are bored and sing to them

So baby, pull me closer in the backseat of your rover.

At least that way, there will be some twisted kind of consent.

Try me swines, I could stoop lower.

This first appeared here.

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'May Men Go Extinct': The Feminist Anthem Rocking Saudi Arabia

January 4, 2017, 9:31 pm
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"May men go extinct, they caused us psychiatric diseases!"

These are the lyrics, roughly translated from Arabic, of the feminist anthem "Hwages," which has skyrocketed to viral fame over the past month. The song ― whose title loosely means "concerns" ― is based on an older Bedouin folk song.

And if you think the words are provocative, wait until you see the music video.

Directed by Majed al-Esa of the Saudi production company 8ies Studios, the video begins with three women donning niqab loading into the backseat of a car while a young boy sits in the driver's seat. The women soon ditch the vehicle, however, for rollerblades and scooters, which they ride in candy-colored sneakers and brilliantly patterned dresses.

The video then relocates to a conference at the playfully titled "House of Men," presided over by a puppet simulacrum of ― who else? ― U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Very serious men wave signs with women's faces crossed out in the audience.

Our ladies, however, have no time for misogynist conferences; they're busy at a neon-kissed carnival, dancing the night away, playing bumper cars, and knocking over bowling pins plastered with men's faces.

Since it was uploaded to YouTube on Dec. 23, the video has racked up over 2 million views and plenty of praise on social media. The established Saudi newspaper Al-Bilad commented, as noted by The Washington Post, that the video highlighted "the rights of Saudi women in life, pointing out that the new generation of women is different from the past."

Not since Pussy Riot's "Straight Outta Vagina" has a music video made us want to dance our brains out and smash the patriarchy all at once. Whoever invents a dance move that can accomplish both, please alert us right away. Thanks.

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Unfortunate That It Is A Female CM Who Has Given A Free Hand To TMC Hooligans, Says Babul Supriyo

January 4, 2017, 9:10 pm
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KOLKATA -- Asserting that during the Communist Party of India (Marxist) rule there was free hand to goons, Union Minister of State and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Babul Supriyo on Thursday alleged that under the regime of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), hooliganism has been taken to another level.

"This is their tradition. What is most unfortunate is that a female chief minister has given a free hand to TMC hooligans and has kept them safe. During CPM rule, the condition was same but TMC has taken it to another level," Supriyo told ANI.

Supriyo also accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of tampering evidence related to Saradha and Rose Valley chit-fund scam.

"I have been urging Mamata Banerjee since yesterday not to act childish saying 'arrest Babul Supriyo, arrest Sujan Chakraborty.' You have been in politics since long. You never cooperated with central agencies. You got the evidence destroyed by police in the Khagragarh Blast...The SIT which Didi constituted was formed to destroyed the documents related to Saradha and Rose Valley. If Didi has evidence against us, why doesn't she produce them?" he added.

In contrast to the BJP minister's claim of TMC goons attacking his home, the ruling party in Bengal termed the entire incident 'concoctive' and that the attackers belonged to the saffron party itself.

TMC MLA Sovan Deb Chatterjee told ANI, "This is completely a blatant lie. There was no such attempt from the Trinamool Congress. The information which we have gathered... agencies tell us that this is their concoctive story. They built up the story to come in the limelight. From the agencies (police) we have come to know that the boys who demonstrated the action were their own men."

Deb asserted that if the TMC would initiate a fight, it would initiate it politically and would fight out with Prime Minister Narendra Modi instead of a 'tiny man' like Supriyo.

"They appeared to be from Trinamool Congress but there was no such attempt as we don't believe in such actions...We will fight politically. We will fight Modi. He (Babul Supriyo) is a very tiny man as compared to Modi. So, we are going to fight out Modi. We are not going to fight out Babul Supriyo," he added.

Supriyo yesterday alleged that TMC 'goons' tried to break into the apartment in Kolkata where his parents stay.

He took to Twitter to vent out his ire.

"TMC Goons trying 2 break into my Apartment in Kailash Bose Street where my MumDad are staying• How shameful is this," Supriyo tweeted.

Also on HuffPost India

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Donald Trump Sides With Julian Assange On DNC Hacks

January 4, 2017, 9:42 pm
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President-elect Donald Trump again cast doubt on U.S. intelligence officials on Wednesday, questioning their conclusion that Russia was behind hacks during the presidential election that boosted his candidacy.

In a series of tweets, Trump supported WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange, who denied in a recent interview that Russia was the source of a hack on the Democratic National Committee.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security released an extensive report last week, detailing their evidence that Russia was behind the attacks. President Barack Obama also announced new sanctions against Russia last week in retaliation for the hacking, which included expelling 35 Russian officials from the United States and closing two Russian facilities on American soil. Russian President Vladimir Putin said publicly that he would not respond to the new sanctions, which Trump praised.

Despite staunchly defending Russia from the hacking allegations, Trump said last week that he would meet with intelligence officials to discuss their evidence. He tweeted on Tuesday that the meeting had been canceled suddenly, although an intelligence official told CNN that it had never been scheduled.

In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity this week, Assange brushed off mounting evidence from the FBI and CIA when asked if Russia was behind the DNC email leak.

"Our source is not a state party," Assange said from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has sought asylum since 2012. "So the answer ― for our interactions ― is no."

He claims the Obama administration is attempting to "delegitimize" a Trump presidency by falsely tying Russia to the cyberattack.

In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, House Speaker Paul Ryan on Wednesday declined to weigh in on Trump's recent tweet, but called Assange "a sycophant for Russia."

"He leaks, he steals data, and he compromises national security," Ryan said.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) broke away from the president-elect's aggressive position MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Wednesday, saying he trusts the FBI and CIA more than Assange regarding Russia's role in the cyber attack. He encouraged Trump to "be open to intelligence reports."

"I have a lot more faith in our intelligence officers serving around the world ... than I do in people like Julian Assange," Cotton said.

CIA Director John Brennan also refuted the accuracy of Assange's dubious statements on Tuesday during an appearance on "PBS NewsHour."

"He's not exactly a bastion of truth and integrity," he said.

Kate Abbey-Lambertz contributed reporting.

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Pot Activists Plan To Light Up Donald Trump's Inauguration With 4,200 Joints

January 4, 2017, 9:49 pm
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No matter where you stand on Donald Trump's impending presidency, pot activists promise his inauguration will be a "smokin' fun time."

A cannabis coalition from Washington, D.C., said it will hand out 4,200 marijuana joints for free to the public, as the group marches toward the National Mall on Jan. 20.

It's legal to give away marijuana as a gift in D.C., but it's against the law to sell it or smoke it in public. But that last part's not stopping DC Marijuana Justice's plans to publicly light up four minutes and 20 seconds into Trump's speech.

"If somebody wants to do it they are risking arrest but it's a protest and you know what, the National Mall is a place for protest," DCMJ founder Adam Eidinger told WUSA Tuesday.

D.C. Marijuana Justice helped legalize marijuana in the district. Now, it plans to hand out free joints just before Donald Trump's inauguration this month.

The public smoke-out aims to encourage federal legalization of pot. It comes amid concerns that Trump's pick for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions, will reverse the Obama administration's stance on allowing states to craft their own cannabis laws. Sessions has publicly opposed marijuana use previously.

"We legalized cannabis in Washington, D.C., and we are not going to let anyone take that away from us," reads a post advertising the event on DCMJ's website. "This is an outreach opportunity to show President Trump's supporters we are the marijuana majority! Join us for a smokin' fun time!"

Anyone interested in attending the inauguration and getting some bud can meet the group on the west side of Dupont Circle from 8-10 a.m. on the day. Participants must be at least 21 years old.

A word of caution: You could be arrested if you're carrying more than two ounces or found possessing marijuana on federal land within the district. Metropolitan police say that such places include the National Mall, Rock Creek Park, or any other National Park Service land.You can read more about D.C.'s marijuana laws here.

This story has been updated to specify where in the district it is illegal to possess marijuana.

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We Fact-Checked 15 Stubborn Sex Myths And This Is What We Found

January 4, 2017, 4:52 am
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When it comes to stuff that goes on between the sheets, it's better to know beforehand than find out later, as a rude surprise. With the number of weird stories and hearsay floating on the Internet, we decided to painstakingly fact-check and research the most enduring beliefs and myths about sex we've all, at some point or the other, wondered about. Here's what we found.

Myth: Women have the monopoly on multiple orgasms
Good news; men can have multiple orgasms too. The reason this myth exists is that most men are unable to de-link orgasm from ejaculation. In reality, orgasm is what happens before ejaculation, about 2 to 7 seconds before. After ejaculation, the male body goes into refractory mode, which is what makes a second orgasm (or more) seem impossible. Men can prevent themselves from ejaculating by clenching the PC muscles (the same that are used to stop urine). World renowned sex researchers Masters and Johnsons studied a man who could achieve three orgasms within 10 minutes.

Myth: Bigger is better
A big penis has an evolutionary benefit, and little more. A longer penis can displace a rival male's sperm in a woman's vagina, ensuring that his own genes are passed on instead. A 2002 study published in the journal, European Urology, found that only 1 percent of women consider penis size very important for sexual pleasure, and 31 percent felt that girth mattered more than length. According to a 2012 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, only women who preferred penile-vaginal intercourse said they climax more easily with longer penises. But considering that less than 20 percent women are able to climax with intercourse alone and that most women need clitoral stimulation to reach orgasm, the link between sexual pleasure and penis size is mostly in men's heads and egos.

Myth: Ejaculation = Orgasm
Although rare, a medical condition called retrograde ejaculation can make the semen travel backward into the bladder instead of coming out through the hole at the head of the penis, causing men to have what are called "dry orgasms".

Myth: 7 second "rule"
No one knows where this number came from, but all of us have heard that men think about sex every 7 seconds. If that were to be true, men would be thinking about sex 514 times an hour, or a staggering 7,200 times a day! According to a 2011 study at the Ohio State University, men think about sex about 19 times a day, while women think about it about 10 times a day.

A man's flaccid, maximally stretched penis is very closely proportional to the size of his index finger.

Myth: Tantric sex means earth-shattering orgasms
The mere mention of Tantric sex makes most people imagine endless orgasms and indiscriminate orgies. The reality is a lot less salacious. Tantric sex is simply about harnessing one's own sexual energy. When both partners engage in sexual activity after learning to modulate their breath with principles of tantra, it may lead to enhanced intimacy, arousal and an enduring orgasm, but the goal of tantric sex is simply to foster a deeper connection between partners.

Myth: Penis size = shoe size
We've all looked at men with inordinately large feet and giggled (in our heads, at least) thanks to this myth. Here's conclusive proof that there is zero correlation between penis and shoe size: A 2002 study conducted at the University College, London, showed that the average shoe size for men is 9, which is a little over 9.5 inches, whereas the average penis size is a little over 5 inches. A 2002 Greek study has, however, shown that a man's flaccid, maximally stretched penis is very closely proportional to the size of his index finger.

Myth: Multiple orgasms for all women
While physiologically all women can have multiple orgasms, with the Centre for Marital and Sexual Studies in California reporting the maximum number as 134 orgasms in an hour for a woman, other research has shown that only 15 percent of women actually experience more than one orgasm.

Myth: Lubrication means trouble
Lubricants are often associated with older women experiencing vaginal dryness due to menopause. In truth, most women experience vaginal dryness at some point or the other, regardless of age. This isn't surprising, considering the number of factors that can lead to dryness: stress, anxiety, hormonal changes due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, even menstruation, medical conditions such as diabetes and immunity issues. It can even be caused by chemicals in harsh soaps, powders and perfumes! Contrary to being something to be ashamed of, lubricants actually substantially enhance women's sexual pleasure. In a 2013 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, researchers found that 90 percent of women found sex more comfortable and enjoyable when using lubrication.

Men who blame condoms for difficulties during sex are more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction even when they weren't using condoms.

Myth: Withdrawal won't get you knocked up
Considering withdrawal as a viable method for birth control is the contraceptive equivalent of keeping your fingers crossed. A 2009 study at the Duke University Medical Centre put the failure rate of coitus interruptus at 18 percent. There's a reason it's called the 'pull out and pray' method, right?

Myth: The first time will always bleed or hurt
A woman's first time doesn't have to look like the red wedding. The hymen is simply a thin tissue. Women with a thin hymen hardly bleed while those with a thick membrane bleed more. It is possible for the hymen to break without a woman even realising it, during activities like swimming, exercising and horseback riding. While some discomfort is expected the first time, if it hurts a lot, it could mean lack of lubrication or a medical issue.

Myth: Condoms ruin the fun
No, no, it's nothing like showering with a raincoat on. According to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, 38 percent men said that condoms had no effect on their ability to experience sexual pleasure while 32 percent claimed that condoms affected their ability to maintain an erection. But here's where things get interesting; the study also found that men who blame condoms for difficulties during sex are more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction even when they weren't using condoms. Another study, at the Indiana University, found that most men who complained about condoms impairing sexual pleasure were young, sexually inexperienced and anxious about their performance. Another possible reason for condoms receiving a bad rap is that an alarming 30 percent men in the 2015 study claimed they had never actually been taught how to put on a condom.

Myth: Double-bagging means double safe
On the opposite side of the "pull and pray" spectrum are people who think using two condoms can lower the chance of pregnancy even more. Using a condom reduces the risk of pregnancy by 82 to 98 percent, but using two condoms can actually increase the risk because the friction between the two condoms while thrusting might cause both to rip and become ineffective.

Myth: Women don't watch porn
Not only are an increasing number of women watching porn, they're watching it for longer than men! A 2015 study by the website Pornhub found that the worldwide average for a woman watching porn was 10 minutes and 10 seconds, compared to 9 minutes 22 seconds for men. The same study put India's female porn-watching population at 30 percent, up from 26 percent in 2014.

Myth: Sex is better when you're younger
Sex might be more athletic, vigorous and frequent when you're younger, but multiple researches show that it's a lot better as we grow older and more confident about ourselves. A 2015 survey conducted by IllicitEncounters.com found that 37 percent of women and 34 of men described their 40s as the period when they had the best sex of their lives.

Myth: Too much sex can make the vagina loose
Rest assured, the penis has no superpowers that can permanently change the shape and size of the vagina in any lasting ways. The vagina is an elastic organ, programmed to go back to its original size after sex, no matter how much and how many times it stretches to accommodate a big penis or a toy. Unless a penis is the size of a baby, the vagina is not going to become "loose" or bigger due to too much sex.

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Trump Appoints Indian-American Raj Shah To Key White House Position

January 4, 2017, 10:02 pm
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WASHINGTON -- US President-elect Donald Trump today appointed young Indian-American Raj Shah, who played a leading role in the Republican party's anti-Clinton campaign during polls, to a key White House position.

Shah, whose parents immigrated to the US from Gujarat, has been appointed as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Communication Director and Research Director, as per an announcement made by the Presidential Transition Team.

Shah, who is in his early 30s, is currently head of Opposition Research in the Republican National Committee.

In this position, he led a team of experts to carry out research against Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate. Shah was behind all the anti-Clinton campaign during the presidential elections.

The announcement of Shah's appointment to this key White House position was made by incoming White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus along with other appointments.

"These individuals will be key leaders in helping to implement the President elect's agenda and bring real change to Washington," Priebus said.

A second generation Indian American, Shah's parents are from Mumbai having origins from Gujarat. First his father came to the US for studies in 1970s then moved back to India. But after marriage his father and mother moved back to the US in late 70s.

They lived in Chicago and then moved to Connecticut, where he was born and raised.

Also on HuffPost India

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Sachin Tendulkar's Heartfelt Note To Dhoni After He Stepped Down As Limited-Overs Captain Sums It Up

January 4, 2017, 9:04 pm
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On Wednesday, 35-year-old Mahendra Singh Dhoni stunned the country by stepping down as India's limited-overs captain, leaving his fans and colleagues in the cricketing fraternity sad but proud.

The country's most successful skipper led Team India to two World Cups and a Champions Trophy title.

Everyone was heartbroken that the captain had hung up his shoes.

Many came forward to congratulate Dhoni on his spectacular journey and wish him well, including cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar.

He wrote:

"Congratulations to MSD on a wonderful career as a captain leading India to success in both T20 and ODI World Cups. Have seen him emerge from an aggressive player to a steady and decisive captain. It's a day to celebrate his successful captaincy and respect his decision. Wish MSD the very best as he continues entertaining us on the field with his exploits."

Others from the cricket fraternity had something to say too.

Harsha Bhogle, as always, summed things up well.

From one sport to another!

Sakshi Rawat, Dhoni's better half joined in too!

Also On HuffPost India:

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SC Dismisses Sasikala Pushpa's Petition For A CBI Probe Into Jayalalithaa's 'Mysterious' Death

January 4, 2017, 10:16 pm
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NEW DELHI -- The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a petition seeking Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the 'mysterious death' of late Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa.

The petition was filed by expelled AIADMK MP Sasikala Pushpa.

An apex court bench headed by Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and also comprising Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman dismissed the petition filed by Pushpa after not finding any merit in it.

The lawyer appearing for Pushpa told the division bench of the apex court that Jayalalithaa was doing fine and suddenly the news of her death was given.

Earlier, a Chennai-based NGO Telugu Yuva Sakshi filed a Public interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court for a CBI probe into Jayalalithaa's death and recovery of all medical documents.

Jayalalithaa breathed her last at Chennai's Apollo Hospitals on 5 December last year where she was admitted on 22 September with fever and dehydration.

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Mamata Might Be Upset With The BJP, But The Millions Scammed By Rose Valley Must Be The Focus

January 4, 2017, 10:16 pm
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Mamata Banerjee is a street fighter and her party is fighting on the streets these days.

The television screens are filled with images of young men with bandanas around their heads, sticks in their hand, smashing the windows of a BJP office. A straw effigy with a garland of sneakers around its neck and a Modi mask for a face is set ablaze. Trinamool Congress MPs are flabbergasting Delhi police by sitting in dharna and singing Ekla chalo re en masse. There's a full programme of resistance — rail roko, protest marches, road blocks.

Tollywood stars and political lightweights like Tapas Pal are one thing. But Sudip Bandopadhyay, Trinamool leader in the Lok Sabha, is another matter entirely. Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that she's not going to take his arrest lying down. She sees the CBI arrests of her MPs as pure vendetta by the BJP government — Trinamool-bandi after notebandi.

READ: Unfortunate That It Is A Female CM Who Has Given A Free Hand To TMC Hooligans, Says Babul Supriyo

The Centre will say the CBI is just doing its job, investigating a financial scam. Trinamool will say the timing of CBI's renewed vigour smells of vendetta. Both could be true. We will never know for sure what the CBI would have done or not done, if Mamata Banerjee had not been as vociferous against demonetisation.

But one thing we know sure.

That which we call a Rose Valley
By any other name would smell as murky.

Babul Supriyo meets the press at Press Club after attending

Mamata Banerjee is not defending Rose Valley or Saradha. She is claiming to be a victim of vindictive selective outrage. What about BJP and the Pearl group chit fund scam, she asks. Tapas Pal has named Union minister Babul Supriyo as being close to the Rose Valley boss. Supriyo has countered by threatening a defamation lawsuit against Pal. But Trinamool's Derek O'Brien posted a video where a smiling Supriyo poetically calls himself a flower in Rose Valley's garden. Aah, the good old days, when they all promised us a rose garden.

Saradha and Rose Valley are different schemes. Rose Valley had a plan where investors booked holidays or land by paying monthly instalments and at the end could opt for a return on the investment with annualised interest. Saradha was a consortium of over 200 companies running a Ponzi scheme promising astronomical returns of over 20% and generous commissions for its agents. Rose Valley is much bigger and far more wide-ranging than Saradha, some say seven times its size. But the booming success of both point to something rotten in the state of Bengal. This was not just naïve villagers tempted by get-rich-quick dreams. Everyone bought into it with gusto.

Mamata Banerjee is not defending Rose Valley or Saradha. She is claiming to be a victim of vindictive selective outrage

Like all Ponzi schemes, the main thing they sold was trust. That's where the politicians and film stars and television stars came in. Sudip Bandopadhyay is accused of giving speeches motivating the company's agents and vouching for its credentials. Tapas Pal was on the board of directors for a while at Rose Valley. Mithun Chakravarty returned ₹1 crore he had received from Saradha after the scam broke. Saradha claimed actor and MP Satabdi Roy was paid ₹2 lakhs a month as brand ambassador. The artist Suvaprasanna was quizzed by the Enforcement Directorate about his stake in a channel sold to Saradha. None of this necessarily implies some great web of corruption. Actor Aparna Sen who edited a magazine funded on Saradha money said she thought her magazine was being run by a publishing house.

It's understandable. Who wants to look too closely at where the money is coming from as long as it keeps coming? Who wants to look a gift horse in the mouth, particularly one that's pumping in money into a magazine or a film or a newspaper, especially in business-starved state?

What's most fascinating is how quickly Rose Valley and Saradha came to dominate the political and cultural landscape of Bengal. They were everywhere. There were Rose Valley resorts in beach towns. Rose Valley sponsored Durga Pujas across Kolkata. It was the principal sponsor for the Kolkata Knight Riders for two seasons at ₹5.5-6.5 crore. The cricketers had to wear Rose Valley logos on their t-shirts and Shah Rukh Khan shot ads for them.

Saradha sponsored NRI Bengali gatherings, set up a television channel, Tara Muzik, supporting local artistes. When Lionel Messi demanded ₹20 crore for an exhibition match in Kolkata in 2011, the sponsors went to Saradha. In its heyday, Saradha money was running eight newspapers and weeklies in five languages — Seven Sisters Post, Bengal Post, Sakalbela, Kalom, Prabhat Vara, Ajir Dainik Batori, Azad Hind, Parama. It owned FM radio stations and TV channels.

READ: Sudip Bandyopadhyay's Arrest Has Sparked An All-Out War Between Trinamool And BJP

Rose Valley launched Ruposhi Bangla television channel where Tapas Pal's genial wife hosted a cooking show. Its chairman said that they planned to set up four television channels for an investment of ₹500 crore. Rose Valley produced national-award-winning films like Moner Manush, Shunyo Anko, Ashchorjo Pradip with well-known directors like Gautam Ghose. More stories are tumbling out. The New Indian Express says a top Bengali actress will be summoned soon for allegedly enabling transactions worth ₹350 crore through hawala channels for Rose Valley.

Both Saradha and Rose Valley spent lavishly to keep the stars in its rolodex happy. Foreign trips. Expensive cars. Junkets. Posh apartments. It's not just a Trinamool story. Saradha started under CPM's watch. And as Mamata never tires of pointing out, "How many times has Rose Valley hosted Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo?"

What's most fascinating is how quickly Rose Valley and Saradha came to dominate the political and cultural landscape of Bengal.

Of course, they did. Rose Valley and Saradha wanted to become Brand Bengal. It wooed every celebrity and politician it could find. And a cash-starved Bengal lapped up the largesse. What was obviously more enticing, though unspoken, was that in a state where Marwaris dominated business, here finally were hugely successful Bengalis, and ones willing to spend lavishly on art, culture as well as real estate, jams and jellies and, of course, politicians. It's now a matter of deep chagrin to think that Sudipta Sen of Saradha and Gautam Kundu of Rose Valley are probably the most famous homegrown Bengali businessmen of recent times, although Kundu was technically from Tripura. But his Rolls Royce roamed the streets of Kolkata.

Mamata Banerjee wants this to be a story of BJP vendetta. The BJP wants this to be a story of Trinamool corruption. None of that helps the small investors who bought into the daydream and lost their life savings, the ones who committed suicide. But this is not just a political story or a financial one. It's a story of a state that willingly suspended disbelief and went starry-eyed over the flashy wealth of businessmen who came in from nowhere. It shows a different kind of bankruptcy, of a state given little else to believe in. Now the Rolls Royce has turned into a pumpkin. And not just its politicians, but Bengal itself, has been left red-faced.

As the song goes:

When you take you gotta give so live and let live and let go oh oh oh oh
I beg your pardon I never promised you a rose garden
I could promise you things like big diamond rings
But you don't find roses growin' on stalks of clover
So you better think it over.

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5 Ways To Jazz Up A Salad And Make It SING

January 4, 2017, 9:53 pm
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5 ways to jazz up your salad

Everyone knows that salads are a great way to consume fresh produce—a hearty dose of greens, veggies, fruits and a smattering of other healthy ingredients. I stay away from salads in most restaurants. Most don't use the freshest of ingredients, which they can get away in an Indian curry, but in salads, there's no place for them to hide. Some also tend to smother the salad with an inane dressing. And a few others conveniently use paneer instead of feta. Gasp! And not to mention, you end up paying a bomb for it.

There is absolutely no excuse for a boring salad.

There's a whole universe of ingredients that can go into a salad, to add either flavour, or texture or colour, and that one ingredient is usually enough to take your salad from meh to wow. There is absolutely no excuse for a boring salad. You can make the best salads at home, and these 5 ingredients will add the necessary oomph that will make anybody a salad lover.

Fruit

5 ways to jazz up your salad

Fruit can be used as a pulp in the dressing or sliced up in the salad itself. Freshly muddled fruit pulp in the dressing adds a unique flavour to the salad. Passion fruit pulp adds a huge boost of flavour as well as acidity in this salad dressing. Even the usually ignored Indian fruits like ber or guava can be sliced up and added to salads, raw or grilled. Cherry tomatoes, halved and coarsely mashed, boiled with some red wine vinegar, garlic and olive oil, makes a full-flavoured vinaigrette. Season the vinaigrette with salt, pepper and flavour with a pinch of your favourite dried herb. This is not only great for salads but also over omelettes, baked fish or vegetables.

Recipe: Veggie salad with passionfruit dressing



Herbs

5 ways to jazz up your salad

Chop a big bunch of herbs and use that instead of, or along with, salad leaves. Sometimes, it is tough to come across a fresh bunch of salad greens but Indian markets sell piles of herbs such as dill, mint, coriander, spring onions etc. so coarsely chop these up as the base for your salad. Tabbouleh is one such salad made using a base entirely of herbs, such as parsley and mint. Herbs can also be chopped up and blended along with olive oil, garlic, salt and lemon juice to give you an intensely herby dressing. Ditch the mayo and try egg and potato salad with this herb-garlic dressing. Warning: You'll end up eating a huge bowl of this all by yourself.

Recipe: Arugula bell pepper salad with sour cream-herb dressing

Bread

5 ways to jazz up your salad

Ever bought that fancy bread from a gourmet store only to realise that it has dried out on you in two days? And because it was quite expensive, you don't have the heart to throw it away? Indeed, you must NOT throw it away. Chop coarsely, season with a pinch of salt, add some crushed dried herbs, a light drizzle of olive oil. Layer this on a baking tray and bake for 5 minutes at 180-190 C. You have crisp gourmet croutons (NOT the deep fried ones from the 80s Indian restaurants!) that will make your salad a full meal.

Toss these croutons with sliced cucumbers, onions and tomato wedges, along with some parsley, lemon juice and a generous dose of extra virgin oil to make your version of fattoush. Toss just before eating if you want the croutons to be crunchy.

Here are details on how to bake croutons from stale bread.

Cheese

5 ways to jazz up your salad

Cheese adds the right bit of decadence to any salad and oodles of flavour too. Top any salad with some good feta and I end up feeling this is my favourite salad. But I do have some favourite cheese-salad pairings.

Watermelon and feta is, of course, a match made in culinary heaven. Cheddar goes well with apples or pears. Shaved parmesan feels perfectly at home in a salad with tomatoes, walnuts, pasta or pears. Blue cheese pairs well with fig, beets, pears or even dried fruit. Goat's cheese can be crumbled on a bed of salad greens or on a grain-based salad. If you plan to make cheese the star of your salad, go easy on the salt in the dressing as most cheeses are quite salty. You can even cut down on the dressing to a great extent as cheese makes a salad quite rich.

Also, make sure you add in the cheese after you have dressed and plated the salad so that it does not become a mushy mess. Better still, top individuals servings of salad with cheese so that everyone gets an equal portion of it.

Recipe: Watermelon and feta salad

Nuts
5 ways to jazz up your salad

Biting into a well-toasted nut or a candied one is truly a happy salad moment. Nuts add crunch and much fun to a salad, not to mention upping the health quotient too, by way of healthy fats. Always toast the nuts until aromatic, either on a skillet or in the oven and add it in the end when the salad is ready to serve. Another way to boost flavour is to toss the nuts in some olive oil and dried herbs, and then toast in the oven until crisp.

If you don't mind the extra sugar, then candied nuts are the bomb. To make candied nuts, lightly toast the nuts until aromatic. Prepare caramel in a pan, toss the nuts in the caramel and remove on a baking paper. Break into small pieces when cool and top your salad with these addictive devils. You can also use coarsely pounded dry fruit chikki (praline) to top the salad.

Recipe: Roasted fig salad topped with praline.

Adding just one of these ingredients will add the necessary fun element to your salad. It doesn't mean that adding all five ingredients will make it five times the fun though, so do that at your own risk! Happy Salad Days!

PS: You may love this post on 10 tips to make a really good salad.

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