TIME TO COMPETE? Kareena Kapoor and Kajol

Turning rivals         When she was growing up, kareena Kapoor admired Kajol. She remembered to talk about Kajol with reverence in all her interviews. However, now that Karan Johar has pitted them opposite each other in his We are Family (the Hindi version of step Mom) that is due in September, the talk of the rivalry between the two actresses has already begun. Some kareena loyalists have seen portions of the film and they're saying that Bebo has over shadowed Kajol, and of course, the moment Kanol fans hear this, they will start an anti Kareena campaign. And the, ther will be soem others trying to douse these fires.

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A Still From Sex and the City 2

TWO-DAY TACTIC  Will the idea used in Sex and the City 2 work for couples in Chennai?      CarrieBradshaw's latest gem is creating ripples. No, not that dazzling black diamond ring the equally dazzling Mr Big gifts her . For famed as she is for her stunning. often-outlandish clothes, Carrie is also known for mulling over common/ complex relatiosionship issues and doling out advice that women the world over follow like it were from the Bible. In the movie Sex and the City 2 after a particularly caustic fight with her husband, Carrie scurries away to her old apartment for two days to clear her mind and get some work done. And when she returns, a visibly lighter Mr Big suggests that they take two days off every week to make the relationship work better. And that's all it took to get Chennaiites wondering about the pros and cons of the two-day-off concept.         So, if couples here were given the option of a two-day holiday from the relationship, would they take it? "Sure thing!" says stand-up comedian Cary, "I mean, unless you're using the two days off to do someone else, it is healthy to give yourself that space! Two people, however compatible, are bound to get irritated if they're in each other's faces all the time. That's why boy's nights, girl's nights and poker nights have become so popular."          Agreeing with him, for entirely different reasons however, is student Vishaka S who points out, "Men and women are always at loggerheads, with the slightest of peaceful moments in between. So, I'd be more than happy to have two days off from my partner. In fact, I'd be even happier if I had only two days a week wityh him. It would be better for world peace!"         And surprisingly, even experts have given the concept a thumb's up. Relationship expert, Brinda Jayaraman, feels that taking two days off is a very good idea because inter-personal space is vital for couples. ":However, if two days off a week seems like too drastic a step to take, then I'd say couples can try taking off a few hours every day to do their own thing," she suggests. But doesn't the whole idea seem a tad escapist? "Well, obviously if you use it to avoid confrontations, you're going the wrong way. on the other hand, after a fight, instead of taking a hasty decision, taking two days off to let off steam aned then address the issue will work wonders."          Sure, the concept might have worked wonders for Carrie who resides in the Upper East Side, but back home in Chennai, there are those who feel that it won't work. Edwin Matthews, consultant, fumis, "The whole point of a relationship is to be there 24/7 for your loved one. What next, weven days off a week?.         Radio jockey, Shivashankari concludes succinctly, "With the way work schedules look today, I'd say couples need to take two days off a week from office to make the relationship work. In this scenario, where is the time to take two days off from your partner?"

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DELIGHTED: Divya Spandana and Amitabh Bachchan Met IN Ooty

'BIG B Read MY PALM' Actress Divya Spandana met the Big B in Ooty recently...            Less than 24 hoursaftershe put up a staus message on a micro biogging site about her heading to Ooty in the hope of catching up with the Big B, who's alsoshooting in the hill town, Divya spandana met up with Amitabh Bachchan. Having previously shared screen space with the Big B in Nagathihalli's  Amruthadhaare in 2004, Divya also mentioned that she was looking forward to meeting All, besdes wondering if he'd remember her after all these years.         "He did remember me. And he did read my palm again," says the actress, reminicsing about the time the actor had joked with her about knowing how to read palms on the sets of Amruthadhaare Divya met AB on the sets of Major Ravi's Kandakar, in which he has a camera. "Sumalatha (Ambarish) aunty is playing the Big B's wife in the film and I was with her at the shoot. It was so much fun. And Mr Bachchan is still as charming and adorable as ever," she gushes.          And when it was time to click some pictures, there was a bit of an issue, "I wanted to stand on my toes and Mr Bachchan said no. He said, "Mera height kharab ho jayega," and we all laughed. He passed on the joke to Mohanla, too. he has an amazing charisma." she adds. Later during the day, the actress left the Big B a a message thanking him for being kind to her and even posted their picture on her profile.

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IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY: Aiswarya Rai and Saif Ali Khan and Mani Shankar Aiyar

'Asiwarya Rai  didn't deserve 4 cr!' Mani Shankar Aiyar expernditure on Bollywood by sorts ministry        It is three months to the Commonwealth Games 2010 in New Delhi, and former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mani Shankar Aiyar has raised his voice further against the "enormous waste of money on India's biggest sporting event to which the poor won't have access at all".        Mani, who is all in favour of the same money being spent on anti-poverty and welfare measures, has now voiced shrill disapproval about the organising committee's "obsession with Bollywood" on his blog. Speaking from his past experience of the Commonwealth Games 2006 in Melbourne, Mani says that crores of rupees were offered to Aiswarya Rai Bachchan who surely didn't need that money.         "I heard it was Rs 4 crore for a foru-minute appearance in that programme, which lasted 11 minutes. Then, Saif Ali Khan was also there, and yes, I've said this before too, that Saif got Rs 75 lakh for his performance," says the former minister. "All this Bollywood, glam and the tamasha angle are proof of the organising committee's obsession with Bollywood, Even the cheerleaders in the IPL failed. We have a 5,000-year--old civilisation, why limit its presentation, to just Bollywood?"         The Congress Party has distaneed itself from Mani's views and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit has been carrying out a spirited battle of repartee with him on the Commonwealth Games. But Mani remains indefatigable in his criticism. Over and above this wasteful expenditure, he points out with horror, the Delhi government is already saying that they would like to bid for the Olympic Games!

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HEalth Issue: Menopause origin

Whale study hints at menopause origin London: The evolutionary mystery of menopause is a step closer to being solved thanks to research on killer whales.        A study by Cambridge and Exeter universities has found a link between killer whales, pilot whales and humans, the only three known species where females stop breeding relatively early in their lifespan.       Despite very different social structures between the species, the study, byRufus Johnstone of the deparment of zoology at Cambridge and Michael Cant of Exeter, shows that in each case females become increasingly genetically related to those they live with as they get older.       Because of this, there is a motivation for older females to do what is best for the survival of those around them. This creates a "grand mother" role, where the success rate of breeding in the group can be helped by older females sharing parenting knowledge and stopping breeding to allow younger females easier access to resources.       The research, published in the proceedings of the Royal Society B, is the first to provide a plausible explanation as to why these species in particular are the only ones in which females finish reporduction while they still have decades left to live.        Cant, from the University of Exeter's school fo biosciences, said"Although the social behaviours of the three menopausal species are very different , there is a common link their social systems mean females become more relanted to those around them as they get older. This predisposes females. to the evolution of menopause and late-life helping."

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HEALTH ISSUE Drug too risky When is a drug too riskyto stay in the market?

When is a drug too risky to stay in the market?       The arthritis pill Vioxx was with drawn but menopause hormones were not,m eventhough both were tied to heart risks. A multiple selerosis medicine was pulled and later allowed back on.        So, when is a drug too risky to stay on the market? Drug safety questions arose again this week. as calls mount for the diabetes pill Avandia to be withdrawn Surprisingly. The Food and Drug Administration has no firm rules for deciding such cases - just a murky guideline of "when the risks exceed the benefits."        "Each drug has its own complex story,"so comparisons to previous decisions can't be made, said Dr joshua Sharfstein, the FDA's principal deputy commissioner.         The agency does need better criteria for weighing drug safety, he said, It has asked a group of outside scientists, the Institute of Medicine, to give advice. Areport is expected before the July 13-14 bearing on Avandia, a controversial pill whose maker, Glaxo Smithkline PLC, insists is safe.         The FDA can order a drug off the market, but that can be challenged in court. Usually, a company voluntarily withdraws thge medicine at the FDA's request. Many things influence whether such a request is made, saidDr Brian Strom, a drug safety expert at the University of Pennsylvania, He is a longtime FDA drug safety adviser who has consulted for Takeda Pharmaceuticals, which makes Actos, an Avandia rival.         Some factors to consider How serious is the illness being treated? Severe side effects are accepted for cancer drugs, for example, but not for an allergy drug such as Seldane, which on rare occasions caused sudden death and was withdrawn a decade agao, Strom said.          How big is the harm? "Causing a little nausea isn't so bad. Killing people is," Strom said. How frequent are the risks versus the benefits?         A large federal study was stopped in 2002 after researcher saw more breast cancers and heart problems among women taking estrogen-progestin pills. Yet the absolute risk of suffering one of these problems was relatively small, and hormones remain the most effective treatment for menopause symptoms.          The multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri was withdrawn in 2005 because of a rare but serious side effect, then returned to the market a year later under a restricted distribution system. There are few drugs available to heop people with that disease.

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News: Roadworthy Plane

Stuck in traffic? Turn your car into a plane in 30 secs Authorities OK 2-Seater That Spreads its Wings To Fly At 185Kmph  London: Your dream of a car that runs on road but can fly you out of a traffic jam could soon come true as the US aviation authority has given the green signal for the commercial production of such a vehicle.           The "Terrafugia Transition" is a two-seater car that can convert from road to air in just 30 seconds, without the driver leaving the vehicle. Developed by former Nasa engineers and built by a small American company from Massachusetts, Terrafugia Inc, the vehicle can travel at speeds of up to 145kmph in car mode with its wings folded.          The wings then unflod for flight mode in which it can cruise at the speed of 185kmph for up to 805km on a tank of unleaded gasoline, the Telegraph reported. With its wings folded, it can be parked in an ordinary car garage.          The company says tests have shown that the vehicle can drive, fly and switch from being a plane to a car in just 30 seconds. The company claims the flying car has been successfully test-flown many times. It will have front-wheel dirve on the road and a propeller for flight.         The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted the Transtition an exemption - allowing it to be classified as a "light sport air craft" despite being 54k over the limit.         The "roadable aircraft". which is powered by the same 100-bhp engine whether it is on the ground or in the air, will require a "Sport Pilot license" or higher to fly.         According to its manufacturer, one of the major advantages of the Transition over ordinary light aircraft is safety, as in the event of inclement weather, it can simply drive home instead of either being grounded or flying in unsafe conditions.         With a deposit money of $10,000. nearly 70 people have already booked the car which is expected to cost $194,000, the company said,"Our schedule calls for the first delivery to be made prior to the end of 2011. We currently have in excess of 70 orders, which is about a two-year backlog," Richard Gersh, vice-president for Terrafugia, said.

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