Chennaiites turn to biodegradable plastic bags after apex court ban

In the wake of the Supreme Court ban on plastic bags less than 40 microns thick and retailers charging for plastic bags, biodegradable and compostable plastic bags may soon become an alternative to both plastic and paper bags. With increased awareness, says manufacturers and distributors, the demand for such bags is increasing.Biodegradable and compostable bags are made from renewable resin obtained from potato or soyabean and take around 90 days to degrade in the soil. "The bags are made with pure resin and don't contain any heavy metals.

The bacteria in the soil will be able to eat the plastic bags," said Y Goutham, consultant for Ecolife that has been distributing these eco-friendly bags to hotels, organic grain manufacturers and for packaging in the city for the last three years. "Awareness was very low when we started and there were hardly any takers in the first year. Now with increased awareness and the ban on plastics, we are getting a good number of enquiries," he said.According to ISO 17088:2008 standards that specify procedures and requirements for biodegradable and compostable plastics, over 90% of the organic carbon in plastic should be converted to carbon dioxide within 180 days and the plastic should degrade completely without leaving any residuals in the compost.

While normal plastic bags can stay around landfills for years and are associated with risks such as jamming of water bodies and ingestion by animals, paper bags also cause a lot of pollution and use up a lot of energy during manufacture and recycling. "These biodegradable bags may not be completely energy-efficient but they have a significantly small carbon footprint as most of the carbon is given back to the environment by aerobic decomposition," says Balakrishnan.Manufacturers say compostable plastic bags are as strong and durable as a normal plastic bag. However, prices are steeper with a compostable plastic bag costing anywhere between 2 and 5 times a normal plastic bag.


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Gossip Girl Goes Romantic With TZEN's Jewelry

 On Monday night's episode of Gossip Girl, "The Fasting and the Furious" the Waldorfs celebrate Yom Kippur and the announcement of Blair's pregnancy with Prince Louis. Louis (played by Huge Becker) and Blair find themselves in a power struggle with his family. Serena is put in an uncomfortable position with her boss (played by Michael Michele) involving her new job and Dan. Diana (Hurley) prepares to debut her company's gossip website, but the launch was delayed and Diana expects Nate to save the day. The bracelet worn by Blair is romantic and beautiful with rose quartz briolettes sprinkled everywhere throughout. Wear this bracelet for a special occasion or when you need a little pick me up of energy.

TZEN Boutique's jewelry has been showcased multiple times on the hit TV series Gossip Girl. Tonight's episode features Blair (Leighton Meester) wearing a TZEN bracelet with her simple pink dress. The pink, and white pearl multi-strand bracelet compliments Blair's dress perfectly during the final scenes of the episode. TZEN has also been worn by Blake Lively who plays Serena Van der Woodsen, Tika Sumpter who played Raina Thorpe, Kelly Rutherford who plays Lily Van der Woodsen, among other characters. TZEN Boutique offers an elegant collection of high-end limited collection jewelry that is a flawless fit with Manhattan's elite women. Fifty pieces are the limit for each style and custom designs are what make TZEN unique. All of the pieces bring a romantic feel to any outfit.

TZEN is an award winning collection of unique limited collection jewelry made with bold colored gemstones that fuses Italian couture with Asian intricacies. Pieces are meant to take you from day to night. Each piece is handmade and is available in luxury boutiques around the United States and online at TZENBoutique.com. TZEN is adorned by celebrities like Blake Lively, Kelly Rutherford, Rachael Ray, Tika Sumpter, Chelsea Handler, etc., and on TV series such as Gossip Girl, Chelsea Lately, Rachael Ray Show, WGN, NBC, Behind the Burner, etc. TZEN is a versatile jewelry line with a couture twist.

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Beauty of Slate Flooring

Slate stone is an excellent option for flooring. This natural stone is durable and has a smooth texture which makes it a suitable material for floors. With many stone floors available, slate flooring has today been considered as one of the best materials for flooring. It displays a classic beauty with aristocracy and luxury.The beautiful slate flooring is available in various designs, cuts, shapes, sizes and colors. Some of the colors of slate stones that you will find with stone manufacturers are charcoal blacks, rust red, blue, brown, gray etc.

They are just perfect to be placed in any corner of the house. These kinds of slate flooring give a very natural appearance which is why many people opt for it. This type of flooring is much better than wooden or any other type of flooring. They are perfect to placed in the kitchen, living room, bathroom and even in patio, balcony and outside flooring. Slate flooring installation is also very easy. You can in place the state in running or any other pattern depending upon the space available and your choice. The floors can also be coated to give a shiny appearance.

With subtle colors and textures, they can compliment almost any interior decor scheme. The slate floors with eye catching designs enhance the look of any room. Though many prefer to go for the naturally smooth look, the rough surface finish of slate floor is equally appealing. This is mainly preferred in the high traffic areas and also exterior wall cladding. Because of its inherent qualities of non-staining, slip resistance and low maintenance, the slate stone floor is also an economically a viable option for home decoration. They are used in kitchen floors, counter tops, bathroom floors, shower wall, walkways, pool surrounds, waterfalls, pool linings etc. Slate stone flooring is indeed the most ideal option for your home, office or driveway.


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Blue Jackets Lose Again, Interesting Comments From RJ Umberger

After dropping a 4-2 decision to the Dallas Stars on Saturday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets returned home with hopes of having a better outcome. It didn’t happen, but it wasn’t for the lack of effort.  When it was all said and done, the Blue Jackets remained winless in the 2011-12 season due to a 3-2 loss to the Stars last night at the Nationwide Arena.Quickly getting to the action, the Blue Jackets and Stars were scoreless after one. Forward Cody Bass, who was summoned from the Springfield Falcons on Monday after Matt Calvert was re-assigned, introduced himself to Blue Jacket nation by exchanging punches with Stars forward Jake Dowell.

Asked by the coaching staff to provide energy on the forecheck or an occasional fight, Bass fulfilled his role, but didn’t receive a three-star award for it though.Heading into the second period, the Blue Jackets were looking to match their energy level in the first 20 minutes and finally find the back of the net behind Stars netminder Kari Lehtonen. Dallas forward Steve Ott had other plans in mind, giving the Stars a 1-0 lead. The Jackets outshot the Stars 12-7 in the second and 24-11 after two periods of play.

Stars forward Jamie Benn didn’t waste anytime in the final frame, giving the Stars a commanding 2-0 lead just 1:31 in. But it was Derek Brassard, making an appearance on the top line in place of the injured Jeff Carter, who finally put the Blue Jackets on the board at 5:06 of the 2nd period on the power play. Rick Nash and David Savard had the helpers on Brassard’s first goal of the season.Stars forward Michael Ryder and Blue Jackets defensemen Kris Russell exchanged goals, but nothing else came about in terms of offense, as the Blue Jackets remained winless through six games.


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AKOO Clothing Brand Held Star Studded Power & Beauty Private Book Event For T.I. In New York

Men's lifestyle fashion brand AKOO Clothing hosted a star studded dinner party to celebrate the release, Power & Beauty, the debut novel by AKOO's Co-founder, Grammy award winning artist, actor, and producer, Clifford "T.I." Harris. Held inside an intimate setting at the ultra-chic Philippe restaurant in Manhattan, 50 celebrity heavyweights from music, sports, film and fashion all came out to show support. During the affair, guests received signed copies of Power & Beauty along with a lavish gift bag courtesy of AKOO Clothing.

The celebrity filled evening event included Super producer Swizz Beatz, Young hip hop star J. Cole, BMX superstar Nigel Sylvester, Los Angeles Lakers Derek Fisher, New York Giants Deon Grant, rap icon Judakiss and many others. "We're happy and extremely proud of T.I.'s newest achievement adding novelist to his repertoire and seeing him grow into this multi-talented and inspiring individual," states Jason Geter, Co-founder of AKOO Clothing and CEO of Grand Hustle Records."Throughout the entire event, guests made their adoration known from the enthusiasm level and the amount of hugs to T.I. regarding his first novel debut. It goes to show we're all very excited about this new success with T.I. and more successes to follow," states Jeff Belizaire, Director of Marketing for AKOO Clothing.

AKOO Clothing is the new Americana fashion go-to brand for top fashion and innovation nationally and internationally. Global trendsetting celebrities, athletes, musicians, and actors have become fans of the brand including Larry King. Some of these prominent fans have even taken it a step further by aligning themselves and their projects with AKOO such as B.o.B, Curtis Granderson, Carl Crawford, Hosea Chanchez, Travis Porter, Tristan Wilds, Meek Mill, and Mickey Factz to name a few. AKOO has been featured in national print publications including VIBE Magazine and GQ, who also named AKOO's founder T.I., one of the "10 Most Stylish Men in America" in their magazine issue.


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Glam Cher Lloyd ditches tracksuits and trainers as she steps out with boyfriend Craig Monk

Cher Lloyd recently said that she couldn't imagine being in a band because she'd 'stick out like a sore thumb'.But the singer drew attention for all the right reasons last night, sporting a sophisticated look as she stepped out with her beau.The 18-year-old wore an electric blue jacket and vivid patterned skirt as she left London's May Fair Hotel with boyfriend Craig Monk.The singer was on her way to perform a showcase of her new tracks for fans at Soho's Profile bar.Her outfit, which she completed with blue ankle boots and orange socks, was in sharp contrast to the tracksuits and trainers she usually wears.Cher's beau, meanwhile, went for a more sombre look in a black and white small checked shirt, dark blazer and jeans.

The With Ur Love star looked in high spirits, as well she might having recently released the title of her forthcoming album Sticks and Stones, due for release on 7 November.Cher has been working towards forging her own identity as a singer, and blending into the background certainly isn't part of her plan.Asked in a recent interview with WE Love Pop magazine whether she'd have considered joining a group during X Factor, the teen replied: 'Noooooo way! Two fingers up!'And she added: 'I just don’t belong in a band. I’d stick out like a sore thumb. I like doing my own thing. I like the stage to be mine and mine alone. Hahaha!'

Cher also spoke about how she is learning to establish an image for herself as she becomes bigger in the music industry.She said: 'We’re not all blessed with beauty. You have to work on it. I think I’m still finding my feet in terms of what I want to look like.'I’ve always been a bit of an odd-bod! I’ve always been one of the odd children. I was the kid at school the parents blamed for their kids turning out wrong.'The singer was equally vibrant for her performance at the Radio 1 Teen Awards on Monday, where she chose a pair of garish trousers for her performance at the Wembley stadium.



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Holden Gives Expo Overview; Shaw Previews Fall Colors

Hear what NWFA Chairman Rick Holden has to say about the renewed 2012 NWFA Wood Flooring Expo, which will be held in Orlando April 10-13, in this video.Shaw Floors (Dalton, Ga.) has produced a YouTube video to preview its fall flooring colors. "Boring beige is out," and its place are an array of vibrant gold, Dior-inspired grey, Amalfi Coast blue, French roast brown and timeless taupe colors "to provide inspiring design options for the home."The NWFA endorses the NBMDA & NAFCD Distributor Marketplace, which will take place Nov. 8-10 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

At the event, the latest products the floor covering, building material, and cabinetry/woodworking industries will be showcased.The new company will service retailers and contractors serving the commercial and residential building markets, along with high-rise developers. It will cover New Jersey, New York City and Long Island, along with Rockland, Putnam, Westchester and Duchess counties, and Fairfield County, Conn.HW Flooring LLC carries prefinished flooring lines Somerset Hardwood Flooring, Appalachian Flooring, Ark Floors, and DuChateau Floors.

It also carries unfinished flooring, as well as installation and underlayment materials like foam, adhesive, nails and other accessories. Its staff can consult with A&D representatives for clients in healthcare, hospitality, education, high-rise and new home construction.Their Swaledale, an 80 per cent wool/20 per cent nylon heavy 40oz carbon-neutral carpet, was 49 per square metre. IT readers can buy it for 29.50 per sq m. The second style, Curragh Twist, is an 80 per cent Wool/20 per cent nylon heavy 36oz twist-pile carpet that was 39 per sq m and is now 23.50 per sq m.

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Things to Be Remembered While Buying Newborn Clothing

Since past few years, the trend in newborn clothing has transformed and reached heights like that of adult clothing. Now even a newborn can look fashionable, all thanks to garment stores that have evolved baby clothing to an extreme end.Few years back, people use to purchase kids clothes made of cotton fabric, mild shades and generic designs. However, now they tend to experiment with colors and designs, and try something different when talked about newborn clothing.

This is the reason; many manufacturers have focused in creating a special infant clothing line for the infants. Even many fashion houses have lined up their own brands of clothes for newborns. They create fancy and exotic clothing like animal prints, computer prints and natural prints. Pink and blue, this used to be the traditional colors differentiating girls and boys, have also changed. Now these colors have become neutral and can be used for both the sexes.Although, it is nice to experiment with the toddler clothing, but there are certain factors that should be carefully analyzed before buying any clothe for your newborn baby. The common factors that should be considered are:

-Material: The skin of you baby is very delicate, therefore, it is always advised to select the clothes that are made of cotton or some other fabric, which can be soft on your kid's body. Selecting breathable fabric is also important, as it will make sure that your baby will not get rashes or prickly heat. The clothes should be lightweight as they are easy to carry and will not become a burden for your child to wear clothes.-Wearable: The most important thing while considering kids clothing is that, it should be wearable. No matter how expensive or beautiful a clothe piece may be, but if is not wearable, it is of no use. Make sure to select the clothes, which can be worn or removed with ease and should be hassle free.


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Harsh sun is just one threat the coming months will bring

Like most other people, El Paso Community College student Anel Covarrubias has never really thought about the importance of wearing sunglasses in the winter.Aside from the obvious reason -- to look fashionable -- she usually wears her Oakley sunglasses only when she drives."I'm guessing the UV rays would be just as strong in the winter as they are in the summer, right?"Covarrubias would be correct."The UV lights are still there in the winter," said Dr. Mark Gallardo, an ophthalmologist with El Paso Eye Surgeons. "UV rays can even go through clouds and still damage the eye."UV rays can lead to skin cancer on the eyelids, can damage the stem cells on the eyeball, and can lead to overgrowth of the skin on the cornea.

"There is some thought that it could lead to macular degeneration," Gallardo said.Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people older than 60. It occurs when the small central part of the retina (the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye), known as the macula, deteriorates.Macular degeneration is almost never a totally blinding condition, but it can cause significant visual disability.Gallardo said wearing properly fitted sunglasses is one way people can prevent eye injuries."In certain cases, like for individuals who ski, they can actually get a sunburn on the eyeball itself called photokeratitis, which can be very painful," he said. "A lot of individuals have a difficult time keeping their eyes open because it's so painful. Some people refer to it as snow blindness."

A recent national survey conducted by N3L Optics found that one in five American adults has experienced an eye injury while participating in outdoor sports or activities.The injury rate is highest for men (1 in 3) and those ages 25-34 (1 in 4).Many of these injuries could have been prevented by simply wearing sunglasses.But it's not only skiers, walkers, runners, cyclists and golfers who can experience eye problems."People still do a lot of yard work in the winter," said Gallardo. "Having any kind of eye protection can prevent having trauma in the eyeball itself. I can't tell you how many times people who were just doing yard work around the house have come in for cornea liberations or even penetrating eye injuries from tree branches."


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Dicken’s first start a mixed bag of good

It wasn’t the first pass 6-foot-3 true freshman Tyler Dicken has thrown this season, but his 19-yard strike to sophomore Nick Slezak on the second play of North Central’s 24-3 victory Saturday against Augustana demonstrated accuracy and a strong arm.He completed his first two passes, only to miss on his next four. He completed two more, including a 38-yarder to freshman Jeff Stolzenburg that set up the Cardinals only first-half touchdown. He missed on his next three passes.Dicken — starting in replacement of senior Brad Crackel — was 9-for-20 for 128 yards in the first half, and the benchmark for success in the North Central offense is a 60 percent completion percentage. Turns out he was doing just fine.

“I thought it was dynamite,” Cardinals offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jeff Thorne said about his QB’s performance. “They gave us a front we hadn’t seen. In every game they’ve played, they’ve played maybe two, three snaps of it. For a freshman to be in there in that situation with something he hasn’t seen yet, I thought he handled it well. We didn’t turn the ball over, and when you have a defense like we have … you have a real good shot at winning.”What Dicken did positively display was a strong awareness of the pocket. Twice he avoided first half sacks without hurrying from the pocket before protection broke down. The first bit of eluding resulted in a 19-yard run. The second, a pass for 13 yards to Joe Antonacci while running to his left.

The kid from Bloomington did it again twice in the second half, scrambling and finding Nick Hicks on a third down play and running for nine yards later in the drive that led to Nick Dace’s 24-yard field goal.“Coming in, we had a game plan of what we wanted to do and we come out and they’ve totally switched things up on us,” said Dicken, who finished 14-for-31 for 205 yards passing to go with 70 yards on the ground. “We had a couple passes early, then had to adjust, and hit a rough patch. We made some changes at halftime and towards the end we started to hit our stride, although it wasn’t pretty all the time.”


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iPhone 4S Camera

iPhone 4S Camera

One area in which the iPhone 4S has gotten a major update is its camera. All-new specs have led Apple to dub the upgraded snapper the “you-can’t-believe-it’s-on-a-phone-camera.”This improved camera, which has yet to be independently tested, could be big news. As Apple stated in its 4S presentation, the iPhone 4 is now the most popular camera for uploading pictures on Flickr with over 16,179,186 items uploaded. Apple is hoping the iPhone 4S will encourage even more people to leave their point-and-shoot cameras at home.

While Apple has been a little vague on the exact technical changes (which we won’t know before a tear-down report), and real-life results have yet to be seen, the new specs appear to promise compact camera quality from a phone.Take a look through the gallery of Apple’s unedited sample iPhone 4S shots below in which we highlight the major changes. Let us know in the comments if you’re excited by the photographic abilities of the 4S — or, if you’re using an older iPhone, whether you’re already satisfied.

To catch a glimpse of a mountain lion, automatic cameras seem to be the best bet, as the elusive wildlife are not much for interacting with humans and they prefer nighttime jaunts.New images and video from Stanford University's Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve have done just that. They've caught the wild mountain lions (also called pumas or cougars) making regular visits to the preserve.


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