The growing vegan community in India will soon have more access to vegan and dairy-free foods thanks to the new Mumbai-based food tech startup WeganFoods. WeganFoods recently landed funding from Her Highness Sheikha Arwa Al Qassimi, a member of the royal family of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

According to CEO and Founder, Kinjal Darukhanawala, the funding will be used for scaling the commercial kitchen, inventory and brand building. The food tech ompany plans to launch its offering in Mumbai through modern trade, food delivery apps, and by partnering with other businesses within the food sector.

The startup will be offering a variety of vegan, dairy-free, and nutritious pantry staples starting with Dairy-Free Cheese. Darukhanawala stated, The first product development took close to six months. The idea is not just being vegan but also carrying a line of products that are delicious and nutritious for all age groups to devour. A lot of people have preconceived notions about vegan food; they think it is boring, tasteless and far from original taste and flavor. Our brand plans to banish these notions.

Wegansvegan cheese is reportedly soy-free, gluten-free, and even melts, slices, stretches, and shreds, just like regular cheese. The diary-free cheese is set to launch in October of this year.

This is great news considering India is second behind China to become the largest consumer of meat and dairy by 2050 which will contribute significantly to current health and environmental issues worldwide.Though a large portion of India takes part in milk consumption with over 75 million dairy farms, the rise of the vegan food sector is a good sign for things to come. According to a 2014 report by the RegistrarGeneral of India, though 70 percent of Indians above 15 years of age are still non-vegetarians, the numbers are expected to decline. Other Mumbai-based restaurants have even included vegan options on their menus and several strictly vegan restaurants have opened in recent years such as Vegan Bites and Vegan Tiffin.

This slow but rising trendoffers a hopeful future for more plant-based options being made available to consumers in India and, hopefully, other countries worldwide.

Image Source:Y Photo Studio/Shutterstock

See the rest here:

Arabian Princess Invests in Indian Vegan Food Startup - One Green Planet

Most readers of this article are familiar with the term ADHD which is defined as a brain disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.

What is less familiar is the term, intention deficit disorder, a different way to look at the problems associated with attention deficit disorder. What is intention deficit disorder and how can it be helped?

Before delving into intention deficit disorder, it may be helpful to review symptoms commonly associated with ADHD:

The upsides of ADHD include:

This condition impacts children and adults through the life cycle and may go undiagnosed, even in the face of disruption in activities, relationship dysfunction, and feelings of personal disempowerment.

As a come clean, this clinician with nearly four decades of experience working with clients who exhibit these signs, carries some of them as well. As I writethis article, I have taken two phone calls, checked emails, signed up for an on- line course, responded to text and Facebook messages, and have contemplated other article ideas. I have been listening to music which inspires me. My mind is like a computer with several applicationsopen simultaneously.

There are times when I believe I can multi-task successfully and others whenI drop some of the plates I am spinning. It is then that I refocus, with the use of re-directive self-talk that sounds like, Okay, we need to pay attention to the task at hand. Once were done, we can move on the next thing on the list. I also imagine how good I will feel when I have completed what I have set out to do. I have become my own cheerleader, rather than hyper-critical detractor.

I have also discovered that when I engage in mindfulness practices, such as deep breathing, listening to relaxing music, meditating and spending time in nature, I am able to get back on track.

Celebs with ADHD

There are numerous notables with the diagnosis of ADHD including Justin Timberlake, Jamie Oliver, Will Smith, Michael Phelps, Jim Carrey, Paris Hilton and Solange Knowles. Each of them taps into the creativity that comes as a gift of the diagnosis. If a person with this condition can harness the positive aspects, they are often equipped to hyper-focus on a project until it is completed. Like any skill, it takes practice. One thing to keep in mind is that the ADHD itself may not pre-dispose these people to succeed, but rather it is inherent talents on other levels that may have them do well in spite of the condition.

ADHD is not an attention disorder. It is a blindness to the future, according to Russell A. Barkley, PhD This experienced clinician, researcher, and author has expounded on the concept of Intention Deficit Disorder which he graphically describes in a video on the topic.

As is the case of many of my clients, Dr. Barkley has discovered that those with ADHD are intelligent people who have the cognitive ability to know what needs to be done, but not always the means to exercise theskills required to follow through. It is when a task must be accomplished that they may be able to rise to the occasion. As long as a deadline seems safely in the future, they practice cognitive dissonance, rather than act on the assignment ahead of them.

A few clients who are high school or college students have expressed that precise dynamic that has had them note an increase in anxiety and a decrease in self -worth when they label themselves for the inability to accomplish what is required as lazy, failures, and slackers, who have disappointed themselves and their parents. Living in the moment, the person with ADHD doesnt accomplish what they intend to do.

Dr. Barkley goes on to say, People with ADHD know what to do, but they cant do what they know. An illustration of the brain highlights the difference. The rear part of the brain houses knowledge, while the front part of the brain houses the practical application of said information. ADHD is, as he shares, like a meat clever that separates the two.

Barkley sees intention deficit disorder as a chronic condition that responds to stricter accountability and consequences and specific interventions.

According to Barkley, 40 percent of adults and 90 percent of children are not being treated for it and he sees it as one of the most treatable mental health conditions that therapists and psychiatrists see in their practices.

More:

What Is Intention Deficit Disorder? - PsychCentral.com (blog)

Music is the perfect word that describes the mood of a person; people prefer to listen music based on their mood. Some listen to rock and some prefer classic and some melody. Whatever the music it may be but it brings smile or tears on our faces. Someone somewhere is listening to the same music that we are listening right now. Yes, Music connects the people. Some lost in the imagination when they listen to their favourite music.

World Yoga Day : Watch Live Streaming of PM Narendra Modi Performing Yoga in Lucknow, list of Events World wide Live Updates

The annual music celebrations taking place on June 21st. This day is called as World Music Day and also called as Fte de la Musique or Make Music Day. Fte de la Musique is originated by the French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang. Total 120 countries celebrated World Music Day around the world. World Music Day Events observed on various cities. 30 plus events are listed for the international Music Day celebrations on June 21st. The UK world music day event will be part of a global phenomenon happening in over 100 countries and 700 cities around the world. We are celebrating 35th International Music Day.

Music connects us with the soul, while listening to slow music (relaxing music), we tend to begin the journey inward. Music is not only for human, every living being responds to music like cow used to respond to the call of Lord Krishnas flute, snakes respond to the sound of a flute from the snake charmer. Music has the healing power and helps us to relax. The melodious notes of music have the capacity to cure the mental and physical fatigue of a weary person.

International Yoga Day 2017: World Yoga Day Quotes Messages and Activities, Images Greetings

World Music Day 2017 date is June 21st. The Fte de la Musique was originated in France in 1982, since then the whole world is celebrating the music day with various World Music Day Events. The day is held on the mid-summer solstice and all the concerts and events are free and accessible to the public. Some share the World Music Day Quotes to their friends and family on facebook and whatsapp. Take a look at the best World Music Day Quotes in this page. The music day events are increasing day by day and the participation of people are also increasing; music day is the feast to the music lovers.

World Music Day Quotes

One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain. Bob Marley

Where words fail, music speaks. Hans Christian Andersen

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.. Victor Hugo

Without music, life would be a mistake. Friedrich Nietzsche

Music is the movement of sound to reach the soul for the education of its virtue. Plato

If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once every week.Charles Darwin

Everybody has that point in their life where you hit a crossroads and youve had a bunch of bad days and theres different ways you can deal with it and the way I dealt with it was I just turned completely to music..Taylor Swift

There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats. Albert Schweitzer

Im not a pretty princess, and Im aware of that, so I like music that is really intense, really bold, and characters that in a way almost have a dark side and are kind of evil because, for me, thats when I feel my strongest and fiercest, when Im not necessarily the good girl. .Ashley Wagner

Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman. .Ludwig van Beethoven

Music in the soul can be heard by the universe. Lao Tzu

World Music day List of Events In India:

The rest is here:

World Music Day 2017: Fte de la Musique Events and Music Quotes, List of Events In India - TFLive

On June 25, the Park Ridge Park District is launching a new concert series geared toward families and children who are 2 to 10 years old.

Mary Bart, the event organizer, said the series will feature a concert once a month over the summer in June, July and August with a new children's entertainer at each event.

The series also will feature Jeanie B! and the Jelly Beans on July 23 and Istvan & His Imaginary Band on Aug. 27.

The June 25 event will start at 2:30 p.m. at Prospect Park with a 45-minute performance by Jamie Martin, a local children's performer known as Miss Jamie. Martin said that she loves Park Ridge and looks forward to seeing her fans there.

She said that music has always been a part of her life. She got into children's music four years ago after her daughter, Taylor, was born as a way of staying close with her while also putting her music skills to use.

"I noticed how the children were so taken by singers and people doing children's music classes," Martin said. Martin was raised on a farm in Austin, Texas so creating a country character seemed like a good idea to her.

Bart said that she got the idea for the program from the existing summer concert series and thought about how all of the music was geared toward adults. From there, she decided that she would create a series for younger kids to enjoy.

"We have an entertainment series for adults, and the kids come to it and love the music, but it's basically for adults. And I really wanted something that brought the families together with music for the children," Bart said.

"It gives them something else to do as family on a Sunday. During the summer, we're going to the pool all the time, or to the parks to play, but it's something different," she added.

Bart said that if it rains, the concert would be moved inside at Prospect Park.

Martin will be preforming songs like "Farm Hokey Pokey," "Wheels on the Tractor" and "You Are My Sunshine," as well as some originals. Martin said that she will also try to teach the kids positive messages through her songs.

"I want to impart lessons onto them through my music like eat healthy, exercise, work hard, be patient, be loyal, be friendly, and be nice to those around you," Martin said.

Martin also said that she tries getting the kids up and dancing during her performances so that they're exercising while also having fun.

"There's lot of music, lots of fun, dancing, singing along, and laughing and having a good time," Martin said.

Martin said that she enjoys performing because she loves to "do something that really bring parents and their children and their parents together in a way that's wholesome and healthy."

"I love it when kids come up to me and tell me that they read my books at night before they go to bed and they play my CDs every day in the car," Martin said.

Bart said that every family should take advantage of the free family concert.

"If you're looking for a fun and relaxing evening, enjoy our weather out here before the cold winter days come," Bart said. "Take advantage of listening to our music or our movies in the park with your families. It's intergenerational: for grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, moms, dads."

beberle@chicagotribune.com

See original here:

Park Ridge to launch concert series geared toward young children - Chicago Tribune

When was the last time you took a break for just yourself? When did you slip away to your favorite spot and just rest? Do you even have a place where you can retreat to when life just gets too much for your brain to handle?

Do you escape into the adventures of a book? Do you meditate? Do you put on the headphones and let your mind wander to the tunes of your favorite musical artist?

I have found the need to venture into my peaceful place more and more lately. If the weather is less than ideal or it's late at night, the relaxing music of the Piano Guys has done wonders for my soul. I will listen to them on an endless loop, letting the worshipful tones of the cello and piano take my mind away from what ever that day's stresses are.

Living within walking distance of the Fox River is a joy, so when weather permits and even sometimes when it doesn't, I make a beeline for what has become one of my favorite places on this planet. It is a small stretch of creek that empties out into the Fox River and it's just steps away from downtown suburbia. What makes this place even better is that this little piece of Heaven on Earth is just a couple miles from my apartment.

If you know me at all, you will know that I enjoy nature. I have a deep love for wildlife, even the creepy crawly ones. I find the same joy in spotting and handling wild snakes as I do when I have the honor of seeing a mink taking a dip in the creek.

Each trip down to the creek is a venture into the unknown. Every time I walk along the shore of the Fox River or dip my feet in the cool water of the creek, it is a different experience. In the past few years, I have seen animals and insects I have never seen before.

I treasure the moments and conversations I have with people of all ages while out on the river, whether it is helping educate them on the importance of the native snakes or holding a tiny Spiny Softshell Turtle for a young child to see for the first time. I often joke that this place is my anti-depression medication. But, that isn't far from the truth. More often than not, my physical and mental well being are drastically improved after an hour or so out in the wild.

Science, got to love science, has proven what I have found empirically. Countless studies have concluded that time spent outside impacts our body in positive ways.

Connecting with nature can increase dopamine levels in the brain which in turn helps reduce pain. Being out in natural settings not only makes you feel better emotionally, but it also contributes to your physical well being by reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.

Some studies have even said that just taking a break in a quiet room and looking at pictures of natural settings can boost cognitive functions.

So with all this in mind, I wanted to share just a look at my little piece of Heaven. I hope that at least for the next four minutes, you can find a bit of relaxation.

Read more:

Retreating to nature for my mental and physical health - ChicagoNow (blog)

The Rockahock Bluegrass Festival drew guests from all over Virginia last week with vendors hawking wares, bands playing southern-style tunes and the campground offering its swath of summer activities.

The festival's masters of ceremonies, award-winning bluegrass radio hosts "Sweet" Brenda and Calvin "Him" Lawson, returned to the festival June 15-17. The couple hired what they said were the best bands from Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina to play under the Rockadome in the late spring days.

Sharon Silver, a longtime photographer for this festival, expressed her support for the Lawsons' choices.

"Any time Brenda and Calvin pick groups to be on that stage, they're going to be the best," Silver said. "They're always going to have good music."

John Bullard, a banjo player for the band Heritage, said their companionship with the guests wasn't just a comforting perk, but a factor that went so far as to influence the band's song list.

"Donald (Warthan) and his wife, Carol, know everybody down here," Bullard said of the Providence Forge-based singer. "That last song we sang, 'Mary Dear,' a lot of their friends really know that song ... they recorded it a long time ago. So doing that kind of thing really pleases a lot of these folks here, because they know it and they want to hear it."

Bullard said the venue, with its covered and paved amphitheater, was particularly rewarding to perform in. He said the combination of the partially enclosed setup and the campgrounds' sound team made the music appropriately balanced and broadcast.

Dennis Reamy, the dobro player for Virginia Central Bluegrass Band, agreed with Bullard on the quality of the venue and the community.

"I've been playing since the '70s," Reamy said, "so I know a lot of the people who come to these places all the time. This is like a social gathering."

One of the habitual guests at the festival was Randy Fitzpatrick, who said he had a permanent campsite at Rockahock, and was enjoying being off work in the perfect weather. Even though Fitzpatrick was raised in Michigan, he said his paternal grandparents were from eastern Kentucky, so bluegrass was in his blood. He said people who didn't have the opportunity to come out last week may be able to look at the schedule and know what music they missed, but would most certainly be shorted of the event's warm atmosphere.

"Camaraderie with the people everybody's just so nice," Fitzpatrick said. "It's just relaxing, calm. You gotta like bluegrass. A lot of people don't like bluegrass, but growing up like that, I love it."

More here:

Rockahock Bluegrass Festival draws loyal fans - Daily Press

Known for his work with A Place to Bury Strangers and The D4, musician Dion Lunadon has just released his debut solo album on June 9. Self-titled, the albumis straight out of the New York punk scene and brings the best parts of his First Wave predecessors.

Each track brings the same intensity to Lunadons variation on the first wave of the punk movement. The intentional guitar feedback, heavy bass lines and guttural vocals are very engaging; its really easy to experience a physical reaction to each song, to invest emotionally into them because Lunadon is also sincerely invested. Hanging by a Thread has a repetitive, upbeat, electronic melody with the occasional heavy guitar lick and almost spoken vocals appearing only at the close of the track, which made it seem more like an instrumental and calmer, kind of relaxing.

Most tracks feature guitar melodies in a lower key, intentional feedback and a vocal presence. These tracks get the listener emotionally invested in the album. The wall of sound behind the lyrics build in intensity as they progress, reaching Com/Broke. This song has a prominent guitar and the drums become more pronounced after which the more relaxed Hanging by a Thread, is like taking a calming breath.

Dion Lunadonbrings movement to mind, a room full of moving people having fun. The arrangement of the songs mimics the way the crowd moves from the initial quick tempo to almost a frenzy. The calm moment in the middle is like leaving the room for a few minutes, then coming back to join the movement again but faster. The feelings in this album are fun and a little intimidating, but its easy to feel connected to Dion Lunadon and the themes in his works.

Howl, Insurance Rent and Taxes and Hanging by a Thread were definitely standout pieces in an album that came together very well. It is available on vinyl and on iTunes.

Read more:

Dion Lunadon: Music to Move to - Daily Utah Chronicle

One of the first times Ross Hoffman met Headspace CEO Rich Pierson when talking about a role running the companys business, Pierson was not talking a lot about business. Instead, he was peppering Hoffman with questions about himself, telling stories about users, and talking about work ethos.

The business questions came later, of course, but that kind of introduction and vetting for a company built around a meditation app might not be all that surprising. and Headspace has now hired Hoffman to be its first chief business officer. Hoffman, who was most recently Twitters VP of global content partnerships, is joining the company at the beginning of July.

What we spoke about was, revenue is important but not why Headspace exists and the job is balancing those two things to make sure were upholding the culture and the product, Hoffman said. Its ensuring you can do that while building a business and not interfering with that mission.

Headspace last raised $30 million in 2015amid a big focus at least, in Silicon Valley on solving the problem of promoting mindfulness through an app. Its a totalSilicon Valley-ish thing to do, but Headspace recently revamped its app in order to help build those small meditation sessions into a daily habit. The company also recently hired a new chief scientist and head of growth in order to scale it up. Hoffman said those kinds of moves, plus the activity he saw online praising the app, were what finally wooed him.

Im on a 100 day run streak [in the app] myself, Hoffman said. Theres a cool thing in the office, a map of the world, and different quotes from different usersIts really incredible. I went on Twitter and saw what people are saying about Headspace. 99% of the Tweets are overwhelmingly positive. To have a [net promoter score] of a product thats that high, I thought it was really special.

There may be an opportunity here for Headspace and Hoffman if the company is able to convince large businesses that meditation can be a helpful and healthy activity for their employees. These kinds of companies, with wellness budgets and other kinds of funding, may see an opportunity to work with Headspace directly in order to keep their employees happy and performing. To do that, itll need someone with experience dealing with partnerships like Hoffman.

Theres plenty of competition for Headspace, including Calm and Aura Health, as well as your Apple Watch periodically telling you to breathe (whether thats meditative or not is sort of subjective). But convincing users to carve out a part of their day every day can create a heavily engaged customer that will be willing to pay in order to keep and promote that habit if they think its healthy something that could easily branch into larger and larger groups of people, like in corporations.

For Twitter, thats another loss on the executive team, which has more or less become the norm these days (though it did bring on a new lead for its live video business in May). To be sure, Hoffman had been at Twitter since 2011, so a departure after that long a tenure doesnt seem too out of the ordinary. AndHoffman, to his credit, has not fallen asleep during one of the meditation sessions.

More:

Meditation app Headspace hires a new chief business officer ... - TechCrunch

Sacramento Bee

Face-down meditation in Yuba River leads to death of Israeli man Sacramento Bee Two young men apparently drowned in cold Sierra waterways, including one man who was practicing face-down meditation in the Yuba River. Yoav Timmer, a 33-year-old Israeli citizen, died Friday on the Yuba River at Rice's Crossing, northwest of Nevada ...

Read the rest here:

Face-down meditation in Yuba River leads to death of Israeli man - Sacramento Bee

PALERMO, Sicily This year marks a quarter century since Sicilys Cosa Nostra murdered judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino in the regions capital. Now Palermo wants to use its Mafia-stained legacy to start a cultural revolution that will put an end to political violence and extortion.

For years, the Mafias violent and dishonest practices were met with apathy. To overcome the Mafia phenomenon of power politics Palermos residents will have to break with that tradition and learn to speak out, says Daniele Marannano, coordinator of Addiopizzo (Farewell to racket), an anti-Mafia NGO.

Addiopizzo opened shop in 2010, using buildings confiscated from the Mafia by the state. It has since grown into a network encompassing more than 1,000 businesses, which collectively refuse to pay the pizzo a slang term for protection money paid to the Mafia under extortion.

The NGO, which receives funding from the Italian government and the European Union, works closely with local authorities to provide moral, legal and social support to businesses.

Addiopizzos work is a blow to the countrys shadow economy, which according to a 2008 survey quoted in media reports, generated about 15 billion a year for the Mafia. Di Giacomo, the imprisoned boss of one of Cosa Nostras groups, has publicly railed against Addiopizzos operations.

The organizations slogan I pay those who dont pay encourages locals and tourists to choose businesses that dont pay protection money to the Mafia. With the help of EU money, the NGO also opened a travel company offering tours of racket-free activities that promote Sicilian heritage.

Whenever the Mafia was mentioned, one would imagine a man with an expensive suit, says Guido Agnello, who owns a store selling the flat caps that were once part of the Mafia uniform. It was cool, it was a compliment. We decided it was time for the Mafia to be seen as it was: crooked, just like their hats.

Despite efforts to revamp the region, Sicily still faces high unemployment and emigration rates, as young people leave the country to search for opportunities elsewhere. The region is also dealing with a high influx of migrants from Africa and the Middle East on its shores a source of tension that the Mafia routinely exploits.

In an insecure region uncertain about its future, organizations like Addiopizzo hope they can help residents break with a dark past.

Palermos central street, Via Maqueda, recently became a tourist attraction after it was made a pedestrian-only zone during daylight hours | All photos by Benas Gerdziunas for POLITICO

Hat store owner Guido Agnello has rebranded the coppola hat, and his shop was subsequently included in Addiopizzos EU-funded tourist guide promoting a racket-free economy. People would associate the flat cap with the Mafia. One would say the coppola is here referring to Mafia members.

Roberta De Grandi runs a cooperative jewelry store on Via Maqueda. They always come in twos to request money. You can tell by what they wear, how they act, that theyre from the Mafia. The street has changed in recent years, with more pedestrians and a heavy police presence, she says.

In May, students from the University of Palermos law faculty unveiled a bust of Pio La Torre, leader of Italys Communist Party, who was killed by the Mafia in 1982 for passing laws that severely hampered their operations.

A bannercondemning the Mafia hangs outside Palermos municipal building in Piazza Pretoria. The mayor, Leoluca Orlando, has been a vocal anti-Mafia campaigner and supporter of asylum seekers rights.

Outside of central Palermo, street signs are hard to find. Police officers, highly visible in the city, are few and far between.

Daniele Marannano, acoordinator forAddiopizzo, chats inhis office, where posters for the organizations advertising campaigns hang on the walls. The NGO hasa leaderless, grassroots structure, which Marannano says allows members to feel safer.

Addiopizzo runs a campaign called Consume Critically, whose mission is to educate locals and tourists about how to shopethically. The sticker, according to shopkeepers, gives them an upper handwhen dealing with the Mafia, who have recently started to bypass businesses in theAddiopizzo network.

Dario Bissos restaurant on Via Maqueda displays Addiopizzos logo on the window. The state needs to play a larger role in dissuading ablack-market economy, he says. We should not forget that it is convenient to pay the pizzo.

Addiopizzosoffices are located in a building that was confiscated from the Mafia by the city. Incidentally, its also next to a police station.

Lucia Sorce is the director of a school called Amari Roncalli Ferrara. Before, many children would leave school and become involved in criminal activities, she says.

Piazza Maggione near Palermos central railway stationis home to vulnerable families and creeping gentrification. Addiopizzo enlistslocal youth to build sports fields and playgrounds. It also organizes informal classes and activities in the square in an attempt to reintegrate children who have already left school.

The schooloffersan informal education with the help of several NGOs, including Addiopizzo, Sorce says.Sports help childrenfrom low-income families learn about teamwork and other important values.

A photograph of Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino two judges killed by the mafia hangs on a wall at the school. Not all schools [in Palermo] have the presidents picture, but all schools have one of them, says Sorce.

Andrea and Paulo, both in their early 20s and living nearby, use the playground built by Addiopizzo to excercise.Both work in the tourism and hospitality sector and complain of poor pay and a lack of opportunity. Maybe I will go abroad, saysAndrea.

Original post:

Palermo's 'cultural revolution' against the mafia - POLITICO.eu