Manual
Ask him for his fashion mantra and all he'll say is "You gotta feel good to look good."
How to get the best out of your single malt
Sixth generation whisky-man George Grant of Scotland's Glenfarclas distillery shares a three-step process on getting the best out of your malt.
Choose the right drink: Carefully read the text on the bottle before you buy or open it; you'll know what to expect-from the flavour and aroma to the distillation process and the cask. If you're an amateur, start with light whiskies and slowly move to stronger ones.
Drink it right: Given its idiosyncratic character and lingering finish, a malt is made to be sipped. You also need to drink it at a strength that allows you to appreciate the subtleties in the flavour. Do not smother it with ice or soda water, but you can add a few rocks or cold water to bring it down to a favourable 18-20 degrees celsius. Spring water is ideal as it has a more neutral flavour than tap water. Since whisky doesn't freeze, you could also try the Russian way of putting the bottle in the freezer for 15-20 minutes before serving.
Pair with flair: Whisky goes well with Indian food. While strong 'uns such as the 105 cask strength Glenfarclas are best paired with spicy lamb kebabs and chilly pakodas, the 20-30 YOs complement hot gulab jamuns and rich dark chocolate desserts. The 10-12 YOs meanwhile go particularly well with entres like smoked salmon.
Designer Arjun Khanna is one cool dude. Ask him for his fashion mantra and all he'll say is "You gotta feel good to look good." He then picks the Royal Enfield Bullet as the accessory of the coming year. To get the retro vibe, we suggest you choose between the Classic 500 and the Classic 350. The 499-cc Classic 500 has a single-cylinder, fourstroke, OHV, SI engine, a maximum power of 27.2 bhp @ 5250 rpm and a max torque of 41.3 Nm @ 4000 rpm. The 346-cc Classic 350 also has a single cylinder, fourstroke, OHV, SI engine, but it has a max power of 19.8 bhp @ 5250 rpm and a max torque of 28 Nm @ 4000 rpm.
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A. Lange & Shne's 1 Daymatic features a mirrored dial and a heavy central rotor embossed with the logo. Go for yellow, pink gold or platinum
Baume and Mercier's Classima Executive chronograph features a silver dial, 18 carat red gold date hands, 30m water resistance and a black alligator strap
Greubel and Forsey's Double Tourbillon 30 skeleton watch has 43 olive domed jewels in gold chatons and a power reserve of 120 hours
Rolex's Submariner Date in steel, has a rotatable bezel, perpetual rotor, a green gold surface and luminescent hands and hour markers
Delhi veterinarian Dr Ramandeep Chaggar points out the benefits of getting a big dog
1. Unlike small dogs who are naturally insecure and need to make their presence felt by making a lot of noise, big dogs are sure of their position in the 'pack' and hence better behaved. Being good with children, they are perfect family dogs.
2. Though, typically, big dogs are happy creatures, they can look and genuinely be intimidating and thus make good watchdogs.
3. The bone structure and internal strength of a big dog gives him a better chance of survival should he have an accident or a fight with other dogs.
4. Since a big dog needs more exercise, you'll be forced to get your fair share of walks/runs too.
4. Being more intelligent, larger breeds understand and follow instructions faster.
Transforming a lacklustre space into a cheerful den needn't always involve refurbishing or splashes of wall paint. Large book racks placed against a wall can be made vibrant by stacking books by colour instead of subject, size or author. Supplement the books with paperweights and knick-knacks in matching colours. Toss in some cushions and a rug, and you're sorted.
Shital Kakkar Mehra of Soft Skills International highlights some business meal faux pas you should steer clear of: Arriving late. A big no-no, especially if you are the host. Avoid ordering anything before your guest arrives because a fresh well laid-out table is what they deserve.
Wrong choice of restaurant: Ask your guests for their preference of food: the best seafood restaurant won't impress a guest who is vegetarian or allergic to shellfish! Choose a restaurant where the seating is in discreet booths, making it difficult for the other patrons to see and hear you.
Wrong timing: The appropriate time to start business discussions is driven by culture. In the US, it is after ordering the drinks and starters, while in Europe you wait till the host raises the toast. Generally, breakfasts and lunches are business meals where you launch into business talk quicker than dinners, which are 'socio-business'.
Overdoing the alcohol: Several companies have a 'no alcohol' policy for lunch. If you decide to order a martini, go easy!
Weak follow-up: End the meal with a firm handshake and a warm 'thank you'. Handwritten notes stand out in today's paperless offices; send one to your host thanking him/her for the meal and one to your client thanking him/her for taking the time out for a meal with you. The gesture can also effectively act as a reminder of your discussions at the meal.
Curator Amit Kumar Jain, who runs an art consultancy named Navsar, offers advice on how to create an art collection from scratch, but says an emotional connect with art is a must to be a real collector.
1. Don't buy blindly: When starting out, it's more important to 'look' than to 'buy'. Let your senses learn what's good and what's not. Read up on various forms of art. Visit galleries like National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi and Chemould Prescott Road in Mumbai. Collect show catalogues and go through them at length. See all five seasons of the documentary Art21 to get a clear insight into 21st century art, through interviews with top global artists.
2. Diversify your collection: While it's interesting to collect different forms of art, ranging from classic forms of canvas and sculpture to post-modern video art and photography, having them revolve around a central theme like 'landscape' or 'gothic' adds interesting depth to a collection.
3. Keep space in mind: The size of your collection should be proportionate to the space you can afford it. If you're pressed for space, start with small canvases or video art DVDs that can be stocked easily. Those with larger houses and more space can consider buying and placing installations in rooms that go up to 20 ft x 20 ft.
4. Consider prices: Depending on the seniority of the artist, canvas prices typically start at Rs 40,000 and go into crores. Prints are cheaper alternatives and range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 5 lakh. In sculptures, the price depends on the size and material used. While ceramics can be bought at Rs 10,000, bronze sculptures can cost up to Rs 10 lakh. Video art prices range from Rs 40,000 to Rs 2 lakh.
