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Videos National 6500kg laddu offered in Surat's Atal Ashram Deccan Herald A 6500kg laddu was offered to Lord Hanuman on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti on Tuesday in Gujarat's Atal Ashram in Surat. Hanuman Jayanti 2017 was celebrated on April 11 and if priests and other astrologers were to be believed yesterday's ... Surat's Atal Ashram offers 6500 kg laddu to Hanuman temple on Hanuman JayantiFinancial Express Bhopal: Grand procession to 'Sundarkand'... Hanuman Jayanti celebration witnesses allFree Press Journal all 115 news articles »

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Videos National 6500kg laddu offered in Surat's Atal Ashram - Deccan Herald

I didnt know heat until I came to India. I was packing for a three-week trip and thought it reasonable to slip in a sweatshirt among the summery pants and loose, light shirts. Oh, my New Englanders folly. As I sit here writing this at 6:30 in the evening, the temperature has dipped to a pleasant 95 from the oppressive 104 that it reached at midday, and my sweatshirt remains safely stowed at the bottom of my luggage, having yet to make an appearance. Earlier in the day, while we were out with the rest of the crew shooting in a village, the water we brought turned to the temperature of tea.

My mom is an associate producer at Galen Films, operated by Len and Georgia Morris in Vineyard Haven, and the company was hired by a nonprofit based in Delhi called Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) to shoot an eight-minute documentary on their Bal Ashram, or boys home. BBA takes boys to Bal Ashram whom they have rescued from factories, stone quarries, and other places that employ child labor. Once there, theyre given an education, access to therapy, and the chance to play and have a childhood.

The ashram is about a five-hour ride from Delhi, on a stretch of highway that would test the nerves of even the most fearless daredevil. Drivers dart in and out of traffic and tailgate with inches to spare. Long-haul trucks careen down the highway without regard to the direction of traffic, and cows peruse the median, looking for a spare bit of grass to munch on. I find myself trying to rediscover any religion I may have let lapse and praying for my life.

Upon arriving at Bal Ashram whole and intact, we realized that there was more here than an eight-minute video, and any time that we expected to set aside for sightseeing in the nearby city of Jaipur was quickly eaten up.

They keep the boys on a rigorous schedule that runs from 5 am to 10 pm, and includes activities such as yoga, chores, and classes. There are about 57 boys living on campus, all of whom are former street children or child laborers. They look like happy, normal kids, and barring some visible scars, theres nothing in their behavior to suggest what they have been through. We have three weeks to document life at the ashram and hear the boys stories. As few Americans have extensive knowledge about day-to-day life in India, especially in rural villages, we decided that we needed to give the viewer context of that as well.

I expected India to be a world entirely opposite from Marthas Vineyard, and in many ways it is. There are houses that make up the villages that were intended to be grand homes. Money ran out, however, and the upper floors are unfinished, with metal support bars reaching up into the sky, holes where the roofs should be, and piles of old concrete lying on the dirt floor.

People live in the ground levels while trying to keep the dirt out of the blue barrels of water distributed by the government. Goats, pigs, and stray dogs root through piles of trash, and sewage runs along the sides of the street. Its a shocking comparison between these homes and even the most modest houses on Marthas Vineyard.

Even with this level of poverty, there is beauty in these villages. Young women dress in tunics and loose pants made from the brightest colors, with scarves to cover their heads when the sun begins to bake the air. Older women wear saris with vibrant colors and shiny embroidery. They hang pictures of Hindu gods over their doors, and sometimes there is ornate stonework on the outside walls.

At one point, I went off with the driver to explore the village we were in and shoot aspects of daily life. There is a culture of hospitality in India, and everyone was incredibly welcoming. Almost immediately I was surrounded by a crowd of people showing me around and inviting me into their homes. Even though they couldnt speak English or I Hindi, they made sure to express hospitality, and I can only hope that I was able to show how grateful I was.

The people at the ashram extended their hospitality to us as well. Every day for lunch and dinner we were served potatoes, dal (a kind of lentil paste), rice, and a vegetable. After about two weeks, one of the cameramen we met in Delhi confided in us that the kitchen made the potatoes especially for us because they thought thats what Americans liked to eat; all the while we were thinking that it was normal Indian cuisine.

India has shown me how little I know, from technical things such as what makes a good shot, and how surprisingly difficult it is to hold a video camera steady, to peoples different ways of life. With a population of over a billion people in India, there are a lot of differences.

There are aspects of India that are beautiful and light, but there are also things that are dark and full of decay. Children are trafficked through learn and earn scams, where traffickers set up fake programs for parents to send their children to, to make money and get an education; once the kids are sent away, theyre forced into bonded labor. But then there are spontaneous dance parties that erupt in the middle of the street with a truck blaring music. There are the people who work at BBA and the people who run the factories they raid. One thing is for sure, it will take more than three weeks to understand this place.

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Passage to India - Martha's Vineyard Times

By Nicole Chavannes

NSU is a unique and lively campus, but that doesnt mean Sharks cant band together and take an afternoon to explore the South Florida area even if that just means finding a quaint place to study.

When youre searching for a trendy spot to read, study, spend time with friends or even fly solo, look no further than Atelier3: Coffee Bar & Shop. Located in downtown Hollywood, Atelier3 is a larger-than-it-looks coffee shop that somehow feels simultaneously cluttered and spacious.

The outside of the building, like many of the buildings in downtown Hollywood, features a large colorful mural that juxtaposes harsh black and white stripes with soft floral pastels. Similarly, when you step inside, it feels like the perfect cross between your artistic friends dream flat in New York and your grandmothers cozy living room. The dcor is a mix of contemporary and traditional styles. Once you walk down the hall past the ivy-covered wall youll find the counter to order food and drinks. The menu features caf staples, like lattes and croissants, and some non-traditional additions, like empanadas and cortaditos.

From Monday to Thursday, Atelier3 is a quiet place to grab coffee and lounge in the living room atmosphere the shop creates. Low, relaxing music of varying genres plays in the background and different forms of artwork cover the walls. Littered with eclectic furniture including anything from coffee tables made of artfully arranged crates to traditional loveseats the coffee shop has comfortable seating for any purpose.

Looking to pass the time with your friends? The large bistro tables available are ideal. If youd prefer a more intimate setting, there are cozy chairs arranged in pairs throughout the caf. The stage is a good option when you are by yourself. When not in use for entertainment, it has several armchairs perfect for reading a good book or even writing your own.

On Fridays and Saturdays, Atelier3 is open later and hosts events like open mic nights, live performances, art shows and musical improv nights. Gone are the cozy armchairs that normally inhabit the stage. Instead, youll find either the featured artist of the night or the patrons partaking in the open mic night.

Whether youre looking for a place to study that gets your creative juices flowing or you want to unwind with some local artistry and music, Atelier3 is the place to go. For more information, visit Atelier3s Facebook page: facebook.com/3atelier.

Atelier3: Coffee Bar & Shop

1901 Harrison Street

Hollywood, Florida

Hours: Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Price Range: $3-$12

Caption: From Monday to Thursday, Atelier3 is a quiet place to grab coffee and lounge in the living room atmosphere the shop creates.

Credit: N. Chavannes

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Places to 'gill' out: Atelier3 - The Current - The Student-Run Newspaper of Nova Southeastern University. (satire) (registration)

As a massage therapist, you sell every day. What do you sell? You sell your time, expertise and ability to identify and respond to clients needs. If you dont expand your sales into retail products, you will miss a valuable opportunity to better support clients while making more money.

During the California Gold Rush, it wasnt the people panning for gold who made the fortunes, says massage-business expert Irene Diamond, R.T. It was the smart retailers selling shovels, pans and blue jeans.

When you choose to add retailing to your business model, you add a higher level of customer service as well as increase your bank account, she said.

Here, Diamond and fellow business expert Cherie Sohnen-Moe give you 11 reasons to offer retail in your massage practice.

Product sales are a natural extension of the standard of care associated with massage therapy. Clients expect you to have more knowledge than they do about products and assume you will carry the best ones. They will trust your recommendations, especially for products used in the session.

2. Retail Sales Add Value to Sessions

You will increase the benefits your clients receive during massage by using appropriate products in the treatment, then offering those items for sale. Value is also added when you create packages in which you use specific products in a session and the client takes home those products.

Stock a small selection of products that solve clients needs. By researching and choosing products and brands you feel are best for them, clients can buy from you with confidenceand when you make it easy for them to walk out your door with items they need, you simplify their lives.

If a client purchases an item at a store without your assistance, she is on her own. It is less confusing for you to show her when and how to use it. Personalized hand-holding is great customer service and builds client loyalty.

Clients appreciate the convenience of purchasing from you. You save them time when they dont have to make a special trip, spend hours researching online, or wait for an item to be delivered.

Most clients would rather purchase directly from you, their trusted practitioner, than from an impersonal company. Plus, some are willing to pay a slight premium for the convenience.

Passive revenue is income generated from sources that are not dependent on your time. You may sell products as an add-on at the time of payment or as stand-alones, either in your physical location or online.

Youve heard of making money while you sleep, right? This is how you do it. Offer your products for sale on your website to increase passive revenue and engage clients with your brand between sessions.

As a massage therapist, you have access to many professional-grade products that arent available to the general publicthey must be purchased by a practitioner and then sold to the client.

When clients use a product at home, it reminds them of the treatment they receivedwhich may inspire them to book another session.

This is particularly effective when the product is used in the treatment, such as a topical, essential oil, hot/cold pack or even the music played.

If you stock a branded product line, people can often find your business listing on the main website for that line, if the site has a where-to-buy search feature. This will expose your practice to potential new clients.

Speaking with people about a product can provide a natural segue into discussing massage services.

If you ask clients what products they would like you to carry, you gain a deeper understanding of their needs.

Some might want you to sell healthy snacks; others may prefer heat or ice packs, relaxing music or topical analgesics.

Carrying a unique selection of productschosen with your dream clients in mindsets you apart from the competition. When you offer clients a product they cant get elsewhere, you become the go-to place to buy it.

When a clients session ends, his needs do not. What could you sell that supports his wellness at home, in his car, at his office or while traveling?

Retailing products such as a sleep pillow or self-massage tool can provide him between-session benefits.

Attend a free MASSAGE Magazine webinar, Retail Mastery for the Holidays and throughout the Year, presented by Cherie Sohnen-Moe, on Oct. 18 at 4 p.m. EST.

Irene Diamond, R.T., is the founder of Active Myofascial TherapyThe Diamond Method and creator of the Successful Massage Therapist online resource. Cherie Sohnen-Moe is a business coach, international workshop leader and author of several books, including Business Mastery, Present Yourself Powerfully and The Art of Teaching.

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11 Things You Don't Know about Retail Sales - Massage Magazine

Taiwanese researchers found that when pregnant women listened to relaxing music for 30 minutes each day, their scores on standard measures of stress, anxiety and depression were reduced.

The findings suggest that music could offer a simple, do-it-yourself way to manage prenatal stress, the researchers report in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.

"Pregnancy is a unique and stressful period for many expectant mothers and they suffer anxiety and depression because of the long time period involved," Dr. Chung-Hey Chen, study co-author, said in a statement.

"Any intervention that reduces these problems is to be welcomed," added Chen, who is now at the National Cheng Kung University in Tainan. The study took place at Kaohsiung Medical University.

Chen's team randomly assigned 236 pregnant women to either a music group or a group that stayed with standard prenatal care alone. Women in the music group were asked to listen to any of four CDs for 30 minutes per day over two weeks; the music included classical, lullabies, nature sounds and children's music.

At the beginning and end of the study, all women completed standard questionnaires on stress, anxiety and depression symptoms.

After two weeks, the researchers found that the women in the music group showed a general improvement on all three fronts, while stress, anxiety and depression scores remained virtually unchanged in the comparison group.

Music may provide "sensory input" that affects the nervous and hormonal systems, which in turn could calm the physiological response to daily stress, according to Chen's team.

Whatever the mechanisms at work, the researchers say, music may offer a simple, inexpensive way for women to deal with the stress of pregnancy.

"The value of music therapy is slowly being realised by nurses in a number of clinical settings," Chen said, "and we hope that our findings will encourage healthcare professionals to consider it when treating pregnant women."

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Music to soothe the savage beast - Independent Online

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. is turning to humor in its bid to win back customers lost over the past 18 months.

The Denver-based burrito chain on Monday revealed its first national television campaign in years, As Real As It Gets, with videos featuring comedians getting real in a lounge inside a giant burrito.

The ads feature Sam Richardson, Jillian Bell and John Mulaney sharing their fears, desires and secrets inside the burrito. The campaign, developed by Venables Bell & Partners, also features radio, outdoor, digital video and banners, along with social advertising.

In a world full of fakery and half-truths, its invigorating to hear a brand tell it like it is, Mark Crumpacker, chief marketing and development officer for Chipotle, said in a statement. The campaign challenges the conventions of fast food advertising by being completely real not only about our food, but about the world we live in and does so with an optimism and playful humor thats very much in line with our brand.

The national campaign is Chipotles first national television ad since it bought a two-minute spot during the Grammys in 2012 for its Back to the Start ad. Last year, the company tested television ads in some markets, but this represents a broader use of video, the company said.

Chipotles decision to go national with a television campaign follows a difficult 2016 for the chain. Same-store sales declined more than 20 percent, and revenues fell 13.3 percent, as Chipotle recovered slowly from the fallout of a series of foodborne illness outbreaks in 2015.

The company has focused on the quality of its ingredients as part of its comeback effort. Chipotle recently announced that it rolled out new tortillas used for burritos, tacos and chips that eliminated the use of preservatives. The company says it now uses only 51 real ingredients that are readily available at a farmers market or grocery store.

The lounge inside the Chipotle features a pianist playing relaxing music, along with a roaring fireplace and comfortable seating.

In one ad, actor Jeffrey Tambor, who is not seen, tells actress Jillian Bell that, Youre inside a Chipotle burrito, where everything is real. Bell responds by telling him about how she hates the ocean because sharks ate her entire family when she was a child, and the ocean keeps sharks alive.

In another, a nervous Sam Richardson tells Tambor that hes a terrible driver, an avid scrapbooker, doesnt trust the space program and that his socks get tight when hes nervous.

We set out to avoid all the conventions of fast food advertising, Will McGinness, partner and executive creative director at Venables Bell & Partners. Using humor and a commitment to telling it like it is, we cut through the clutter of confusing claims, limited time offers or farmers holding produce, and created a campaign that is very true to who they are.

Contact Jonathan Maze at [emailprotected]

Follow him on Twitter:@jonathanmaze

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Chipotle turns to humor for ads - Nation's Restaurant News

Location: Melody Key, FloridaPrice: $6.9 million

With pristine views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Florida Keys, this peaceful and relaxing home offers just what youd want in a magnificent, tranquil escape: Its perfectly located for everything from kayaking to paddle boarding to fishing, this luxury property sits on its own 5.24-acre private island.

Whats more, the home and islands energy needs are exclusively met by solar power, with a backup generator to boot. But just because its off the grid doesnt mean you have to make compromises. This system is sophisticated, said Bob Cardenas, of Engel & Vlkers Florida Keys. This retreat offers everything youd expect in a beautiful, high-end resort home.

The island is accessible by ferry, and with its own dock, boat lift, and space for parking, the property strikes a perfect balance between peaceful isolation and accessibility.

From the foyer on the ground level, an elevator serves this raised three-story house, leading to the bedrooms on the second floor and large open spaces for living and entertaining on the third. As stunning as the views are from the third floor and the houses many decks, a spiral staircase leads to an incomparable, 360-degree view of the island, the surrounding area, and the ocean from the observation deck above.

More:Buy Your Own Private Island in Vermont for the Price of a One Bedroom in NYC

The Stats

This 3,127-square-foot home, located on Melody Key, was completed in 1992 and has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, and one half-bath.

Design Pedigree

The property was originally built by Nick Hexum, of the band 311, as a getaway to write music, Mr. Cardenas said. The current owner has recently made many improvements. Extensively landscaped with lush vegetation and coconut trees, the home is very private, and was designed that way.

More:Click to Tour a Private Connecticut Island That Hosted Marilyn Monroe

Amenities

Exceptional outdoor spaces complete this off-the-grid getaway. An in-ground freshwater pool, hot tub, and outdoor kitchen and showerall run and maintained by solar powerlend themselves perfectly to getting away from it all and entertaining guests alike. Above, a storage area houses the sophisticated power system for the home, as well as another lounging area that also provides a space to sit back and take in the fantastic views.

Listing Agent: Bob Cardenas, Engel & Vlkers Florida Keys

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A Relaxing Escape in the Florida Keys, Island Included - Mansion Global

Papa John's has launched an organic produce pilot program in Lexington.(Photo: Courtesy of Papa John's)

A bin of fresh, organic produce from Green BEAN Delivery.(Photo: Courtesy of Green BEAN Delivery)

A Green BEAN Delivery associate makes a delivery of fresh, organic produce.(Photo: Courtesy of Green BEAN Delivery)

Better ingredients means organic ingredients in a new test taking place at Papa John's shops in Lexington.

For the past month, the Louisville-based chain has offered organic vegetable toppings at about 35 locations in the nearby city as part of a pilot program that's eventually intended to be rolled out nationwide.

The company's customers have been increasingly eating organic products for some time, and an annual growth in organic produce production over the past two decades shows the taste for healthier options isn't going away, chief ingredient officer Sean Muldoon said.

So last year, during an annual strategic planning process, Muldoon's department decided to see how some customers would respond to getting organic ingredients atop their pizzas.

"With the rest of our better ingredients position, we wanted to be the first in the pizza industry looking at this," Muldoon said Tuesday. "It's more than a trend, it's something that will continue to grow. We wanted to put a foot in the water by testing in Lexington."

To launch the program, Papa John's has partnered with Green BEAN Delivery to source Roma tomatoes, green peppers, yellow onions and mushrooms from certified organic farms in seven states, including Kentucky and Indiana.

Green BEAN Delivery is a family owned company that operates organic farms in Indiana and Ohio and that offers home delivery of fresh, organic produce in cities around the Midwest, including Louisville and Lexington.

Muldoon said Green BEAN CEO Matt Ewer and other employees have been working with Papa John's to make connections with certified organic farmers and will continue to do so as the program expands.

"I've been impressed with Matt and his vision around certified organic produce and his network of farmers," Muldoon said. "This is a complicated and challenging thing. ... If you think about produce growing cycles, we needed a partner who knew farmers in places like California, Florida, Arizona and Washington. We needed someone who could help us manage that cycle throughout the year."

Ewer and Muldoon said about 13 percent of produce currently grown is certified as organic, meaning no unnatural pesticides, fertilizers or other items have touched it.

By 2020, that number is expected to reach 20 percent, they said, proving the demand for organic produce isn't a trend.

"As the industry's grown, it's exciting to see a company such as Papa John's getting involved with supporting organic food, especially organic produce," Ewer said, adding that the business can have a lasting effecton the industry's supply chain. "... Even when you're eating a convenient product like Papa John's, it's exciting to see positive things come out of that."

So far, Muldoon said customers in Lexington have responded well to the use of organic ingredients, which have not changed the overall flavor of their pizzas and have not added extra cost.

There's no doubt the organic items cost more than traditional produce, Muldoon said, but Papa John's has decided to absorb the cost as part of its mission to provide better ingredients at an affordable price.

The next step for the company now is to continue monitoring the feedback and to plan additional programs in other cities, possibly including Louisville, Muldoon said.

"This is a very long-term initiative for us," Muldoon said. "It is going to take some time to read the tests, get the consumer feedback and, on the supply chain, work with Green BEAN Delivery to work with farmers directly," to purchase enough produce needed to serve organic items through the year.

The company, of course, thinks the investment is worth it. But, "it's one of the more complicated solutions that I've had to deal with," Muldoon said.

Reach reporter Bailey Loosemore at 502-582-4646 or bloosemore@courier-journal.com.

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Papa John's testing organic toppings in Lexington - The Courier-Journal

My humble beginnings in the organic industry began in 1976 in a small co-op in Iowa. The people were eclectic, and I was drawn to the culture as much as I was the idea of providing healthy organic foods to my community. We were a nascent movement, getting back to the land and nature. Growing, selling and eating organic foodswe were a palpable crusade of Birkenstock bedecked folks who wanted to leave the world a better place through food and agriculture.

I was involved in a bit of midwifery helping to birth the organic movement. Fast forward almost 40 years later, has the organic industry truly grown up?

The state of the organic adolescent

Every year the Organic Trade Association studies and surveys the Organic Industry. According to their latest, sales of organic food and non-food products in the United States broke another record in 2016, totaling a whopping $43.3 billion, up double digits from the previous year.

In 2016 the USDA announced a significant increase in the number of certified organic operations, continuing the trend of double-digit growth in the organic sector. According to new data, there are now 21,781 certified organic operations in the United States and 31,160 around the world.

Organic continues its growth spurts despite the struggles we have with tight supplies in some sectors.

We have a long way to grow to adulthood

Back in 1997 when I was just starting my own business, organic food sales were just $3.4 billion and under 1% of total food sales. The hard work paid off and now organic is at 5% of total food sales. Today as I sit at my desk and I cogitate on the possibilitiesI wonder if we have really gone beyond juvenile delinquency. Should we be satisfied to be just 5% of food?

The spawn is growing, but it still represents only 2% of total agriculture in the US. Has my lifes work been spent for 2% of the total body of agriculture? What kind of incubator is this?

Think about the potential organic agriculture has. Shouldnt we be striving for more than 2% in this world of ecological woes? An increase in organic acreage has the potential to build and preserve our topsoil, clean up our nitrogen and pesticide laden waters. Studies show organic agriculture sequesters carbon, protects wildlife and pollinators, and definitely reduces our exposure to toxic chemicals.

A final push for organic maturity

We clearly need to induce a final thrust to help bring the organic industry into adulthood. We need more organic farmers, plain and simple. We must recruit young people and train existing farmers with more technical assistance to help them transition land into organic.

Its critical that we have the funds for more science and research to help organic farmers produce more efficiently with higher yields. Organic seed breeding and research are essential to helping producers succeed in the midst of a changing climate.

This can all be accomplished and much more if the organic community pools their funds and approves the GRO Check-Off Program. If everyone pays a little, we can have enough funds to match USDA research dollars at land grant universities. Transitioning farmers will have the technical assistance and training to bring more acreage under organic production. The public can be educated on the true meaning of organic.

If you care about the future of organic the time to act is now; the USDA is waiting to hear from you. They published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on the GRO Organic CheckOff Program that could provide funds for a stronger more resilient organic industry. The USDA needs to hear from everyonefarmer, consumer, manufacturer, and handler, thats YOU before April 19th.

If you believe organic food and agriculture needs another push to gain adulthood, please weigh in today.

The future is ours to create.

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One Final Push For Organic April 19th is Your Deadline to Act ... - Huffington Post

New York Times

Whole Foods Pressured by Activist Investor Jana Partners New York Times Whole Foods, the purveyor of organic food products, once shook up the grocery store aisle. Now it is facing pressure for its own shake-up. Jana Partners, the activist hedge fund founded by Barry Rosenstein, disclosed Monday that it was the second ... Activist Investor May Pressure Whole Foods to Sell ItselfFortune New investor suggests board consider selling Whole FoodsPress Herald Whole Foods stock jumps after investor suggests saleToledo Blade CBS News -Charlotte Observer -Wall Street Journal -SEC all 81 news articles »

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Whole Foods Pressured by Activist Investor Jana Partners - New York Times