Want to live a long life? Run

People who want to live a long and healthy life might want to take up running. A study published on Monday shows middle-aged members of a runner’s club were half as likely to die over a 20-year period as people who did not run.Running reduced the risk not only of heart disease, but of cancer and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s, researchers at Stanford University in California found.

"At 19 years, 15 percent of runners had died compared with 34 percent of controls," Dr. Eliza Chakravarty and colleagues wrote in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Any type of vigorous exercise will likely do the trick, said Stanford’s Dr. James Fries, who worked on the study.

"Both common sense and background science support the idea that there is nothing magical about running per se," Fries said in a telephone interview. "It is the regular physical vigorous activity that is important."

The team surveyed 284 members of a nationwide running club and 156 similar, healthy people as controls. They all came from the university’s faculty and staff and had similar social and economic backgrounds, and all were 50 or older.

Starting in 1984, each volunteer filled out an annual survey on exercise frequency, weight and disability for eight activities -- rising, dressing and grooming, hygiene, eating, walking, reach, hand grip and routine physical activities.

Most of the volunteers did some exercise, but runners exercised as much as 200 minutes a week, compared to 20 minutes for the non-runners.

At the beginning, the runners were leaner and less likely to smoke compared with the controls. And they exercised more over the whole study period in general.

"Over time, all groups decreased running activity, but the runners groups continued to accumulate more minutes per week of vigorous activity of all kinds," the researchers wrote.

"Members of the running groups had significantly lower mean disability levels at all time points," they added.

The team also set out to answer whether taking up running late in life would benefit, and whether people who stopped exercising began to pay a price as they aged.

Most of the runners have stopped running as they reached their 70s, Fries said. But it was difficult to find people who totally stopped exercising. "Almost all of them did something else. They continued their vigorous exercise," he said.

People who took up exercise when they were older also improved their health, he said.

The study also showed that people cannot use the risk of injury as an excuse not to run -- the runners had fewer injuries of all kinds, including to their knees.

Fit and fat: Study shows it's possible

It may be possible to be both fat and healthy, researchers reported on Monday, for at least half of overweight adults, and close to a third of obese men and women, have normal blood pressure, cholesterol and other measures of heart health.And being lean does not necessarily protect people, either. Close to a quarter of normal-weight U.S. adults in one study had risk factors for heart disease or diabetes.

"We really don’t know as much about obesity as we think we do," Judith Wylie-Rosett of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, who oversaw the study, said in a telephone interview.

"A considerable proportion of overweight and obese U.S. adults are metabolically healthy, whereas a considerable proportion of normal-weight adults express a clustering of cardiometabolic abnormalities," Wylie-Rosett and Rachel Wildman and colleagues wrote in their report, published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine.

Wylie-Rosett’s team looked at data on 5,440 men and women who were examined and filled out questionnaires for the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys between 1999 and 2004. Most did not exercise very much.

They found just over 51 percent of those who were overweight, and 31.7 percent of those who were obese, had healthy levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and other measures linked to heart disease.

These measures have been shown in many other studies to predict heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and other heart disease, although this particular study did not look at whether people suffered any of these problems.

OBESE YET HEALTHY

More than 23 percent of those who were at a healthy weight, as measured by body mass index, had two or more unhealthy readings, the researchers found.

"Our study shows you can still be healthy even if you are obese," Wylie-Rosett said.

Her team did not look at people’s diets, but she believes the location of body fat is as important as how much there is. Many studies have shown that having visceral fat, in and among the internal organs, may be more dangerous than having fat thighs or buttocks.

But when Wylie-Rosett’s team measured waist circumference, a common way to estimate visceral fat, more than 36 percent of the obese people with what should have been dangerously large waists had healthy blood test results.

A second study suggested that the liver may be the key.

Dr. Norbert Stefan and colleagues at the University of Tubingen in Germany closely examined 314 people, using magnetic resonance imaging to look at precisely how much body fat they had and where it was.

They also found that obese men and women could have healthy hearts and arteries and suggested that having fat on the liver may be what makes the difference.

"Altogether, 10 percent of the study population and 25 percent of the obese subjects had a high insulin sensitivity phenotype or ’metabolically benign obesity,’" they wrote in their Archives report.

"Our data suggest that ectopic fat accumulation in the liver may be more important than visceral fat in the determination of such a beneficial phenotype in obesity," they wrote.

"That’s an area that we are very intrigued with as well," Wylie-Rosett said," adding: "If you start stuffing people with calories, it is very much like making pate from goose liver."

Geese are often force-fed to make their livers fatty and thus more suitable for pate-making.

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor

Now, a 'wine' drug for fatal diseases

A drug that fights aging and halts the onset of diabetes, cancer and heart disease, may hit market shelves in another five years, claim researchers.According to scientists, the magical drug can be used to prevent Alzheimer’s and can also reinvigorate patients giving them more stamina. The drug is made up of chemicals that mimic resveratrol, a compound which is found in the skin of red grapes.

Earlier studies have shown that resveratrol cuts the impact of a high-fat diet, doubles stamina and extends lifespan in mice.
However, to get the same benefits, a human would have to drink around 1,000 bottles of wine.

Now, Sirtris, a pharmaceutical firm has developed a pill based on two chemicals that act in the same way. In one study on mice, which was published last year, the drug was found to undo diabetes’ symptoms.

The first clinical trials on humans are now under way and the developers believe it could also help prevent diseases including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s. “The excitement here is that we’re not talking about red wine any more. We’re talking about real drugs. We will make a drug to treat one disease but it will, as an added bonus, protect you against most of the other diseases of the Western world. One of the drawbacks of resveratrol is that the doses need to be large,” The Daily Mail quoted David Sinclair, co-founder of Sirtris, as saying.

“Now this paper says you can reduce it into a little pill taken once a day. The chance of success in humans is estimated at 80 to 90 per cent,” he added. David’s researchers have tested around 500,000 molecules to find those that would have the same effect as resveratrol on genes known

Soaring inflation likely to hit India's power projects

To achieve the power generation targets fixed in the 11th Plan period, the government may have to revise the investment in power projects in view of 25 per cent rise in prices of key input materials including cement, steel, aluminum, copper and zinc over last two years, an ASSOCHAM Eco Pulse (AEP) Study has revealed.

With WPI based inflation rate hovering close to 12 per cent and expected to be in double digits for quite some time, the proposed power projects in India could take a hit from increased cost of inputs and a recent down-turn in the core infrastructure industrial productivity, according to AEP Study on “Impact of Inflation on the Power Projects”.

“The Planning Commission has estimated the fund requirement of Rs. 4,10,897 crore for the likely capacity addition of 68,869 MW during the 11th plan. However, considering the recent trends in inflation, this amount is now seen as substantially low. Therefore, there should be an upward revision for the funds to be invested in the power sector to ensure that 11th Five Year plan targets are met”, said Mr. Sajjan Jindal, President, ASSOCHAM.

The key input requirement includes Cement, Steel, Aluminium, Copper and Zinc. The weighted cost of these key input materials for the power sector in the 11th plan has seen an increase of 25 per cent over the last two years.

Steel and Cement being the most vital inputs for the planned capacity addition with a total requirement of 45.88 million tonnes, constituting almost 95 per cent of the total key input requirements, the rise in their prices may largely impact the costs of the power projects under construction. Between the period June 2006 to June 2008, the WPI for Cement and Iron & Steel has increased by 30.63 per cent and 11.73 per cent respectively.

Impacting the project cost significantly, the WPI for Aluminium, Copper and Zinc has also risen tremendously over the last two years. The prices for Aluminium and Zinc have increased by 17.75 per cent and 45.82 per cent respectively while the WPI for Copper has almost doubled. It has gone up by 99.08 per cent over last two years.

TOTAL REQUIREMENT & INFLATION IN VARIOUS INPUTS FOR
CAPACITY ADDITION PLANNED DURING 11TH PLAN (2007-2012)
Input 11th Plan
requirement
(in million tonnes) Proportion to
total input requirement % change in
WPI
(June 2006-08)
Cement 30.63 63.23 30.63
Steel 15.25 31.48 11.73
Aluminium 1.6 3.30 17.76
Copper 0.81 1.67 99.08
Zinc 0.15 0.31 45.82
Total 48.44 100

The project cost of the power plants might also see a big upsurge because of rapidly rising fuel costs in the recent times. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for Fuel, power, light and lubricant with 14.23 per cent weight in WPI, consisting of key inputs for power generation like coal, gas and oil, grew much faster than the over-all WPI. The over-all WPI growth for the first six months of 2008 stood at 9.41 per cent while the WPI for Fuel, power, light and lubricant registered a staggering sharp rise of 12.53 per cent.

The declining growth rate of the six core infrastructure industries with a combined weight of 26.7 per cent in the index of industrial production (IIP) could also pose problems for the power projects. The core infrastructure industries providing major inputs for the power plants like cement, finished steel, coal, electricity have witnessed major slow-down in the growth rate for the first five months of 2008.

The growth rate of index for six core infrastructure industries has gone down considerably; the five monthly average growth rate for the six core infrastructure industries for 2008 is recorded at below 6 per cent level (5.92) while for the corresponding period in 2007 it was above 8 per cent (8.02).

This significant downturn in the industrial activity may also hamper the pace of power projects in India. On one hand it would dampen the supply of these key inputs for power projects and on another it may put further inflationary pressure on the prices of these inputs. The penultimate effect will be further escalation in cost of the power projects.

Bye cotton! Scientists make new material for garments

Here comes a big challenge to cotton as a fabric! Scientists have discovered a new material which can replace cotton in garments. Scientists have developed a new carbon nanotube-based material that is much stronger than traditional cotton fibres, and can be used in making garments.

According to a paper published in Physical Review Letters, a new material called porous colossal carbon tubes (CCTs) shows all the characteristics that could make it suitable for clothing and a possible replacement of cotton.

Compared to traditional carbon nanotubes (CNTs), these colossal carbon tubes have a much bigger size, in diametre and length. The walls of the colossal tubes are composed of macroscopic rectangular columnar pores and exhibit an ultra low density comparable to that of carbon nanofoams.

The scientists said that the created CCTs have a unique architecture with rectangular macropores across the tube walls and layered crystal structures in the solid walls.

The structure provides several interesting characteristics, such as ultralight weight, extremely high strength, excellent ductility, and high conductivity.

The researchers claim that the material has excellent electrical features, but the mechanics make these colossal carbon tubes especially interesting.

The researchers claim that material is 15 times stronger than the strongest carbon fiber currently known (T1000). The material also revealed 30 times the tenacity of Kevlar and 224 times of individual cotton fibers.

Under stress, the material can deform and can deal with a 3% strain before fracture occurs.

The scientists believe that the similarity to cotton fibres in terms of size are close enough to use conventional textile technologies to create CCT fabrics that are much stronger than any current fabrics.

The scientists also envision self-healing composite structures, medical devices to deliver/release multiple drugs simultaneously, and micro-electromechanical systems as possible application areas for the material.

Reliance to invest $23 m for work on Cauvery asset

Reliance Industries plans to invest about $22.75 million for work on its discovered deepwater Cauvery asset. The company, in its appraisal programme submitted to the block management panel, has proposed to drill more wells — one each in the ‘firm’ category and the ‘to mature’ segment.

Official sources told Business Line that the management committee of the block CY-DWN-2001/2 (CY-D5) has met already and the final approvals were awaited.

The appraisal programme enables the committee to review the discovery and assess its commerciality. It is prepared and submitted by the contractor within a stipulated time frame, outlining a work programme and a budget to carry out the work in the block.

The programme is submitted to the block management committee.

The management committee comprises nominees of the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons and the Government apart from the contractors’ representative. The proposal envisages RIL drilling a well under the ‘firm category’, involving a cost of about $14.45 million. The firm category is a commitment by the contractor to drill a well for appraisal of the discovery.

Subsequently, based on the results of the ‘firm’ category, the contractor carries out activities under the ‘to mature’ segment by drilling one or two more wells. The company plans to invest $8.3 million to undertake activities in the second category, sources added.

RIL had drilled three wells in the block and struck hydrocarbon in one. Based on the appraisal programme, there are plans to drill more wells in the area once the deepwater rigs are available, sources said. Currently, the company has deployed six rigs in the K–G basin.

In October 2007, RIL had re-entered the asset to carve out the third well, but without much luck. The company has struck hydrocarbon in the first well drilled in the block and had to abandon the second well due to a technical snag.

The find in the first well showed there were two zones. In the first zone, according to the initial tests, RIL has found 550 barrels a day of oil and one million cubic ft a day of gas, while in the second zone it found 31 million cubic ft a day of gas and 1,200 barrels a day of condensate.

The block is 14,325 sq km in size. CY-D5 is a NELP-III block. RIL holds 100 per cent interest in the block.

Fertiliser shares find buyers on new urea investment policy

With the long-awaited new urea investment policy finally coming into place, fertiliser companies have more than one reason to smile, and which is clearly reflected in their share prices. The policy is expected to encourage fresh investments into the sector, leading to capacity expansion. It would also boost the flagging urea production, reducing the country’s dependence on imports.

"The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a new fertilizer policy which is long term, realistic and farmer friendly," said Shruti Bhargava, analyst at Networth Stock Broking.

The new policy aims at attracting investments in the urea sector by resumption and expansion of existing units to meet the set target of 40 mn of urea by 2012. This includes reviving eight units of Fertilizer Corporation of India and Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation.

At present, India produces 21 mn tonne of urea as against the rising demand of 27-28 mn tonne, which it has been filling through imports.

Under the new norms, the international price-parity formula for domestic urea manufacturers would be adopted for calculation of subsidy and cost of production. Existing units producing additional urea will get an import parity price of 85 per cent in the price band of $250-425 a tonne while that for expanding units it would be 90 per cent.

Analysts expect Tata Chemicals and Chambal Fertilisers to gain the most from the policy as the two have already initiated debottlenecking plans.

"Tata Chemicals’ new additional 0.2 mtpa capacity is coming onstream by October 2008 and Chambal Fertilizers’ new additional 0.14 mtpa capacity will come onstream by April 2009. Post expansion, Tata Chemicals’ capacity would be 1.06 mtpa, up from the current 0.86 mtpa and Chambal Fertilizers’ capacity would be 1.87 mtpa, up from 1.73 mtpa," said Bhargava of Networth.

Shares of fertilizer companies have been in the limelight since Friday after the new policy was announced. On Monday, RCF soared 3.78 per cent to Rs 71.40, Coromandel Fertilizers climbed 2 per cent to Rs 175, Chambal Fertilizers gained 1.47 per cent to Rs 82.75, Tata Chemicals was trading flat at Rs 348 after touching a high of Rs 361.

According to the policy, fertilizer producers will be given subsidy at Rs 8,000 crore per month from September 2008 onwards till February 2009. Till July 2008, the government has paid about Rs 28,000 crore towards fertilizer subsidy. The fertilizer ministry expects the amount to be mostly paid in cash and not more than 10 per cent will be issued as fertilizer bonds. Also, they also expect the subsidy to be borne fully by the government as it is an open-ended one.

The new policy states that the Department of Fertilizers will maintain a buffer stock of 3.5 lakh tonne of diammonium phosphate and 1 lakh tonne of mono ammonium phosphates as contingency. An outlay of Rs 429.85 crore was approved for launching a scheme for promoting the balanced use of fertilizers.

The government has also included two fertilizers-Triple Super Phosphate and Ammonium Sulphate-which will get 25 per cent subsidy on delivered cost under the concession scheme and fixed their maximum retail prices at Rs 7,450 a tonne and Rs 10,350 a tonne, respectively.

Triple Super Phosphate, being a cheaper substitute for diammonium phosphate, will provide access to alternative supply of phosphatic fertilizers, expanding the basket of phosphatic fertilizers.

"With this move, the government expects to save Rs 1,163 crore on its subsidy bill of Rs 95,000 crore, which is positive for all complex fertilizer manufacturing companies like Tata Chemicals, Coromandel Fertilizers, RCF and Zuari Industries," Bhargava added.

The incentive on import savings will be in ratio of 65:35 for the importer, which means if the importer is contracting at a price lower than the industry average, he will be eligible for 65 per cent of the difference between the higher industry average and the lower contracting price. The remaining 35 per cent would go to the government. This will encourage the industry to seek long-term import of fertilizers at lower prices.

Analysts expect the new policy to add 60-70 per cent to margins for large and efficient gas-based urea makers, even as low investments are needed to revamp or expand existing units. Realisations may also go up for cash-starved fertilizer firms.

Seducing the senses

You can touch my hair and kiss me everywhere... Does it sound too clichéd or rather boring way to seduce your partner? Are you tired of reading the same old techniques of seduction?

Well, what about going back to the basics? And nothing can be more basic than the five senses - sense of sight, sense of smell, sense of taste, sense of hearing, sense of touch. These can really keep things sizzling hot during sex. Vatsayan would have definitely vouched for that! We get modern day experts to share more on it...

To keep the flames burning in your sex-life, you must fine-tune your seduction skills. With fingers busy, mouths, lips, tongues, noses, and eyes enticed, sensuousness will linger in every move to make you the most desirable man or woman of seduction.

Rita Gangwani, an etiquette expert, shares, “Sometimes we take the senses so much for granted that we don’t really pay attention to them. Working to develop the five senses and focusing on them while making love, drawing attention to his/her sensuousness will not only enhance your own pleasure, but will give pleasure to your lover as well.”

Dr. Sanjay Chugh, expert on sexual issues, says, “The seduction tips that one can employ also depends on ‘overall’ quality of the couple’s relationship. If there is a healthy emotional and psychological bond between the two, the chances of a good sex life is high. And in case, if one incorporates a few out-of-the-box techniques, then it’s definitely some icing on the cake!”

Psychiatrist Dr. Samir Parikh supports, “Couples need to keep trying to make things work for them but the key is not just trying new things, its more to be attuned to each others likes, fantasies and pleasures so that a mutually satisfying relationship could result. They can try various permutations and combinations of these seduction ways on their personalities.”

On how these five senses work towards stimulating the libido of male/female partner, Dr. Parikh explains, “Most of these factors (senses) have an association in our mind, so they act as a conditioned stimulus, and can help creating the atmosphere. But the key would be the mutuality and the quality of the non-sexual life would have its direct impact on the sexual life.”

Rita adds, “One must be aware to the fact that human body is bristling with sensory receptors - God’s gift to humankind - it’s up to us to responsibly enjoy it. One must give body the permission to celebrate what’s inside; celebrate it with oneself, and with the partner. We must take time to really learn the subtle but very powerful art of seducing the opposite sex using all five senses.”

These are simple yet extremely seductive ways.

India Car Sales Fall for First Time Since 2005 on Loan Rates

India’s passenger car sales declined for the first time in more than two and a half years as higher interest rates and accelerating inflation damped demand at Tata Motors Ltd. and Honda Motor Co.

Sales in July fell 1.7 percent to 87,724 from 89,250 a year earlier, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers said in a statement today. That was the first monthly decline since November, 2005, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

A surge in gasoline prices has helped push inflation to the fastest pace in 13 years, forcing the central bank to raise interest rates to the highest in seven years, squeezing consumers. The slowing growth may risk a government target of tripling car sales to 3 million vehicles annually by 2015.

``Higher interest rates are hurting demand,’’ said Vaishali Jajoo, a Mumbai-based analyst at Angel Broking Ltd. ``Sales will slow down further in the next six months and we may end the year with just single-digit growth.’’

India’s central bank on July 29 raised its benchmark rate for the third time in two months to slow inflation. Consumers now pay more than 12 percent interest on auto loans compared with about 7 percent in 2003. More than half of the vehicles sold in India are bought on credit.

A decline in the stock market, with the benchmark headed for its first annual drop in seven years, is also hurting demand. The 14-member BSE Auto Index has slid 29 percent this year.

Maruti, Hyundai

Seven of the 13 carmakers in India posted declines during the month, according to the statement. Sales at Tata Motors, India’s third-largest carmaker, dropped 8.9 percent to 12,012 while Honda, the fourth-largest fell 7 percent to 4,006.

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., maker of half the cars in the country, posted a 1.5 percent gain in sales at 45,757, the statement said. Hyundai Motor Co.’s India unit, the country’s second-largest carmaker, boosted sales 0.5 percent to 15,061.

Car sales in India, Asia’s fourth-largest auto market, grew 12 percent in the year ended March 31 to a record 1.2 million vehicles, slower than the 22 percent pace a year earlier, according to the Society, a group of all carmakers in the country.

``High fuel costs, interest rates and rising raw material input costs are challenges,’’ Dilip Chenoy, the director general of the group, told reporters in New Delhi today.

Chaturvedi Panel for sharp increase in petrol prices

Petrol and diesel prices will rise every month while subsidised domestic cooking gas to households will be gradually phased out if recommendations of the high-powered B K Chaturvedi Committee are implemented.

The panel headed by Planning Commission member B K Chaturvedi has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to raise petrol prices by Rs 2.50 a litre per month till March 2009 and diesel prices by Rs 0.75 per litre till 2010 to eliminate subsidies on the two fuels.

The Committee suggested restricting LPG cylinders sold at subsidised rates to six per connection in a year and phasing it out over a three-year period.

The three-member panel, that was asked by the Prime Minister to go into the financial position of oil firms, also suggested levying a ’Metro Extra’ tax of Rs 2 per litre on diesel, in four instalments in large cities, as the fuel was being used in expensive cars.

The eleven cities where the ’Metro Extra’ tax would be levied are National Capital Territory of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kanpur, Pune, Surat and Agra.

It also suggested temporary reduction in excise duty on petrol by Rs 10 a litre from Rs 13.75.

While suggesting a Special Oil Tax on crude produced from fields awarded prior to the advent of the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) in 1999, the panel disfavoured any Super Profit or Windfall Profit Tax on private refiners like Reliance Industries.

"It is appropriate in our view that the Indian refining industry, which has world-sized companies, be placed on par with the international refining business," the report said.

Mind set: Ultimate meditation

Peace can sometimes be so far away and inner bliss, even farther away. To attain peace, spend some real quality time by going within and you will find the sense of peace that lies within. Visit the place where inner bliss dwells and waits patiently for your return.

Let yourself unwind and compose yourself for a few precious moments of peace. Remember that your mind is much more far-reaching than your physical brain. Your mind, as consciousness, is non-physical, while your brain is just the physical translator of your consciousness. Your mind, therefore, always has the ability to tell your brain: “Shsh! It’s meditation time!”

Focus your mind away from the clutter of day-to-day living and turn your attention inwards to the peaceful core of your inner being. Then think of the deepest possible state of consciousness. And what could that state be? It is the state of consciousness known as infinite being. The word infinite reflects the idea of ultimate, while the word being refers to a state of awareness, rather than a doing activity. Infinite being is infinite consciousness without a focus upon any specific activity. Infinite being doesn’t have to do anything, it already is everything.

It is important to appreciate that the state of infinite being is not ‘out there’ somewhere external to us. Infinite being encompasses all consciousness, including all manifestation. We are that consciousness, as is everything else in existence. In meditation practices, affirmations are often used to focus the mind. By simply repeating the words “I am”, you affirm your true nature as consciousness. In the case of infinite being meditation, we affirm our innermost identity as the ultimate, infinite consciousness.

The affirmation ‘I am infinite being’ is the most powerful affirmation possible within the English language. The phrase ‘I am infinite being’ is an affirmation of your oneness with the ultimate potential, the source of all life, the consciousness from which all life sprang. You are one with that universal consciousness. Everything in manifestation is one with that universal consciousness. Now is the time to consciously affirm your ultimate potential. It may take courage to begin with, but the results are more than worth the effort.

If you find issues arising, such as a feeling of unworthiness in your alignment with the all that is, with infinite being, just let those thoughts go, then gently bring your mind back into focus upon the affirmation. You do not have to justify the words, or settle any internal argument about them, just because of some prior conditioning as to how someone said you ‘should’ think in this life. Think independently, think infinitely, and you will connect with the consciousness of your ultimate potential

Have the inner discipline to stay with the affirmation and let any issues fade away unchallenged. Your inner self knows the meaning of the words and resonates in joy with their exact and literal truth. Every time you make this affirmation, you become more connected with infinite being. Any lesser thoughts are then healed within the light of greater truth. Find a quiet space to sit down for a few minutes, close your eyes, and start looking for the quiet space within. To keep your brain occupied with the task at hand, focus your attention on the even flow of your breath as it passes in and out of your nostrils.

As you breathe each in-breath, mentally repeat the affirmation ‘I am infinite being’. On the out-breath, simply allow your attention to follow the flow of air from your nostrils. To induce an immediate calming effect, allow each out-breath to take longer than each in-breath .

Life energy, also known as etheric energy, is conditioned primarily within the human spinal column. From there, it is distributed to the rest of the body via the subtle nervous system. Most key functions in the human body owe their operation primarily to the supply of etheric life energy, rather than to the supply of electrical energy. Etheric energy, like consciousness, is nonphysical and yet it is behind all life.

To help enhance the natural flow of life energy within your spine while performing this meditation, it is preferable to sit upright in an erect chair. As you progress with this meditation, the natural flow of life energy within your spine will become enhanced, bringing an enlivened awareness to your consciousness.

When distracting thoughts arise — which they will — treat them with patience and understanding. Put each distracting thought aside so that you can continue with the infinite being meditation. If a thought seems important or urgent, then it will be sure to return later, after your meditation session has finished.

There are a number of ways to enhance your meditation experience. One is to reserve a small space, such as the corner of a quiet room, where only meditation is conducted. That space then becomes more conducive to a meditation environment. A small table or surface can be covered with items that you connect with spiritual practice. Candles and incense are especially useful as they provide some initial focus for the senses.

It also helps to always use the same chair, one that is constructed of a nonmetallic material. Metal chairs attract etheric life energy away from you, which is great for the chair, but not so good for the meditation session. A small clock completes your setting, and clean, light clothing, reserved especially for meditation, further enhances the atmosphere. A shower or bath before meditation is very valuable, as water is a powerful cleanser. If, for example, you have just come home from a hectic day at work, then your energy body will be filled with the distractions of the day, stored in etheric energy form.

The water not only cleanses you of physical impurities, but also the etheric energy impurities that do not belong in your energy body. The reason that water is such an effective energy cleanser lies in its chemical composition. Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen. The greater role of oxygen is to carry lifegiving, etheric energy.

The best investment of your time each day is to spend 20 minutes in meditation. Make the time for this to happen. Make it the day’s first priority. The easiest habit to adopt is one which makes up the first activity of the day. Making it a routine will also reinforce the effects of the meditation.

(Writer has authored ‘The Shift: The Revolution in Human Consciousness’)

Google resolves Gmail access problems

Google Inc said on Monday it has resolved an issue with its contacts system that caused many users of its Gmail service to have trouble accessing their online e-mail.

The problems began at about 2100 GMT, or 1400 PST, and an announcement on the company’s Gmail "Help Center" site said the the issue is now resolved.

Google said an outage in the contacts system used by Gmail prevented the e-mail system from loading properly. The company also said that there may be minor delays in deliveries even though all mail is safe.

Users across the United States, Canada and India reported problems with Gmail and a Google employee also reported that the company’s own corporate e-mail account was down.

Singles as healthy as those married

Single persons are becoming almost as healthy as their married counterparts, according to a new study. ui Liu of Michigan State University and lead researcher of the study said sociologists since the 1970s have emphasised that marriage benefits health, more so for men than for women.

"Married people are still healthier than unmarried people," Liu said, "but the gap between the married and never-married is closing, especially for men".

Researchers analysed National Health Interview Survey data from a 30-year period from 1972 to 2002 and found that while the self-reported health of married people is still better than that of the never-married, the gap has closed considerably.

The trend is due almost exclusively to a marked improvement in the self-reported health of never-married men. Liu said that may be partly because never-married men have greater access to social resources and support that historically were found in a spouse.

Further, the research shows that the health status of the never-married has improved for all race and gender groups examined: men, women, blacks and whites. The health of married women also improved, while the health of married men remained stable.

"Politicians and scholars continue to debate the value of marriage for Americans," the researchers wrote, "with some going so far as to establish social programs and policies to encourage marriage among those social groups less inclined to marry, particularly the poor and minorities".

But the research findings "highlight the complexity of this issue" and suggest that "encouraging marriage in order to promote health may be misguided".

In contrast, the self-reported health for the widowed, divorced and separated worsened from 1972 to 2003 relative to their married peers. This held true for both men and women, although the widening gaps between the married and the previously married groups are more pronounced for women than for men.

The findings of Liu and fellow researcher Debra Umberson of the University of Texas will appear in the September issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behaviour .