Keep your dogs cool this summer

By following a few pet summer safety tips, you can keep your four-legged friends healthy and enjoy the upcoming months of sun and fun.

Published: 01st May 2019 04:08 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: It’s summer time, which means its time for activities such as hiking, swimming or afternoons out in the sun. Summer also brings unique risks to your dog’s health that you should keep in mind throughout the season. By following a few pet summer safety tips, you can keep your four-legged friends healthy and enjoy the upcoming months of sun and fun.

According to Dr KG Umesh , director , Scientific Regulatory Affairs, South East Asia, Mars India, “Dogs can’t perspire efficiently like us and can only dispel heat by panting and through the pads of their feet. Air moves through the nasal passages, which picks up excess heat from the body. As it is expelled through the mouth, the extra heat leaves along with it. Although this is a very efficient way to control body heat, it is severely limited in areas of high humidity or when the animal is in close quarters.”

Here are some tips for your pets: Never leave pets in the car
When traveling by car in summer, never leave your dog unattended. Heatstroke and death can occur within minutes of being exposed to warm temperatures. Make sure the crate is well ventilated; put a sunshade on your car windows. If you see other animal in a parked car during summer, alert the management of the shopping mall or grocery store.

Water, water everywhere Keep checking your pet’s water bowl to be sure it’s full.

Feeding

Dogs tend to eat less in summer but they end up spending more energy in an effort to lower their body temperatures. A lot of pet owners tend to feed home-made diets like curds and rice during the summers, but it is very important to note that this food contains more water (70-80 per cent) and does not have adequate levels of energy, vitamins, minerals, etc.


Dr Umesh also adds, “Dogs may spend more energy in an effort to lower the body temperature during periods of increased panting. The energy requirement increases with the rise in temperatures and therefore, it is important that they eat more during summer and if, their intake has reduced then they should be compensated by feeding energy dense or nutritional balanced pet food.”

Say no to tangles

Keeping your pet well groomed will help their hair do what it was designed to do — Protect them from the sun and insulate her from the heat. Furry dog breeds should be well clipped during this season as the thick coat makes them feel hotter.

Your pet doesn’t overexert

Though exercise is an important part of keeping your dog or cat at a healthy weight, which helps them body stay cool, overdoing it can cause them to overheat. Save exercise sessions for early morning or after the sun goes down.

Keep an eye on heatstroke

If you see that your dog is panting heavily, salivating or foaming, these may be the first signs of a heat-related problem.

Make this mobile app your go-to shopping directory

Push-cart vendors, who don’t use a smartphone can give a missed call to 8838333479 and the team will visit the vendor and register it for him/her.

Published: 02nd May 2019 01:58 AM 

By KV Navya

Express News Service

Whether it is the purchase of vegetables, clothes or furniture, consumer shopping habits have changed drastically over the last few years, thanks to the explosion of e-commerce. But the predominance of online retail giants has driven numerous small businesses to extinction. In a move to address this issue, 35-year-old Prathapraj Sekar recently launched CTONSHOP (Come To Our Neighbourhood Shop) mobile application, which works like a directory that provides information about all the retail shops in the city including pushcart businesses

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In CTONSHOP, vendors can
register for free 

Sampathkumar

“I worked as a user experience designer for ten years, understanding public needs and providing solutions by using technology. Years of research about the growth of the online retail scene in India left me wondering about the retail outlets in the locality. When I interacted with the local vendors, I found that their reach and income had drastically reduced. So, I came up with the application in March,” said Prathapraj.


In the CTONSHOP app, there are three categories — Cart Shops for pushcart vendors, Hut Shops for thatched roof temporary shops and All Shops for vendors doing business in permanent structures.
“Shop name, phone number, address, payment modes accepted, home delivery option, number of branches, reviews and ratings are some of the points mentioned about the shop. Also, unlike other similar platforms that charge exorbitantly for registration, in CTONSHOP, shops can register for free,” said the budding entrepreneur.

Push-cart vendors, who don’t use a smartphone can give a missed call to 8838333479 and the team will visit the vendor and register it for him/her. The public can also suggest a shop to be registered by sending a the details of the shop on WhatsApp to the same number.” Also, registered shops can display information if they need staff or suppliers. “Through this, we aim at providing jobs to the locals, primarily people from the disabled and transgender communities,” said Prathap. The application can be downloaded on GooglePlay.

Putting down your phone can help you live longer

Excess Screen Time Raises Stress Hormone Levels Which Can Affect Heart Rate, Spike Blood Sugar, Cause High BP

Catherine Price  2.5.2019

If you’re like many people, you may have decided that you want to spend less time staring at your phone. It’s a good idea: An increasing body of evidence suggests that the time we spend on our smartphones is interfering with our sleep, self-esteem, relationships, memory, attention spans, creativity, productivity and problem-solving and decision-making skills.

But there is another reason for us to rethink our relationships with our devices. By chronically raising levels of cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, our phones may be threatening our health and shortening our lives.

Most discussions of phones’ biochemical effects have focused on dopamine, a brain chemical that helps us form habits — and addictions. This manipulation of our dopamine systems is why many experts believe that we are developing behavioural addictions to our phones. But our phones’ effects on cortisol are potentially even more alarming.

Cortisol is our primary fight-or-flight hormone. Its release triggers physiological changes, such as spikes in blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar. These effects can be lifesaving if you are in physical danger. But our bodies also release cortisol in response to stressors where an increased heart rate isn’t going to do much good, such as checking your phone to find an angry email from your boss.

The average American spends four hours a day staring at their smartphone and keeps it within arm’s reach nearly all the time.

“Your cortisol levels are elevated when your phone is in sight or nearby, or when you hear it or even think you hear it,” said David Greenfield, professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

But while doing so might soothe you for a second, it may make things worse in the long run. Any time you check your phone, you’re likely to find something else stressful waiting for you, leading to another spike in cortisol and another craving to check your phone to make your anxiety go away. This cycle, when continuously reinforced, leads to chronically elevated cortisol levels.

And chronically elevated cortisol levels have been tied to an increased risk of serious health problems, including depression, obesity, metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, fertility issues, high blood pressure, heart attack, dementia and stroke. NYT NEWS SERVICE

Any time you check your phone, you’re likely to find something stressful leading to craving to check your phone again. This cycle, when continuously reinforced, leads to chronically elevated cortisol levels

More cellphones in world than humans

The world recorded more mobile phones than the people using it, according to the data from the UN International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the World Bank, and the UN. It estimated 107 mobile cellular telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in 2018. ANI

Auto driver buys ₹1.6cr villa, comes under I-T radar

BV.Shivashankar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:2.5.2019

A man, who drove an autorickshaw till two years ago and claims to have struck paydirt after an elderly American woman took him under his wings, is now under the scanner of the income tax department. Officials recently searched his ₹1.6-crore triplex villa in Whitefield.

According to unverified information, a whopping ₹7.9 crore, jewellery worth crores of rupees and property documents were recovered during the search at the villa of Nalluralli Subramani, 37, in the gated community of Jetty Dwarakamayi on April 16.

“We cannot disclose the details. The search was conducted based on reliable information,” said an official.

The investigators have issued a notice to the developer of the gated community of 15 villas, seeking details of the transactions pertaining to his property.

What is more intriguing in Subramani’s story is the role of a 72-year-old American woman, whose charity, he claims, is the source of his wealth, even as there are rumours of politicians parking illegal wealth with him.

“Subramani came to us driving his auto with the American woman in 2013, seeking a villa on rent. We gave it for a monthly rent of ₹30,000. In 2015, he showed interest to buy it. He paid ₹1.6 crore in 16 cheques, each of ₹10 lakh,” said Jetty.

As he started living a lavish life at the villa, he stopped driving auto. Sources said he would spend the day playing either cricket or badminton and the night, drinking with friends. Subramani’s daughter (class IV) and son (class V) are studying at DEANS Academy, an international school, in Whitefield.

“He used to hobnob with local politicians and even organise events at the gated community. But we never saw him going to work,” said a neighbour.

What is more intriguing in his story is the role of a 72-year-old American woman, whose charity, he claims, is source of his wealth

Twins get identical marks in SSLC exam

Bosco.Dominique@timesgroup.com

Puducherry:2.5.2019

Fraternal twins — Julia Gomez and Sofia Gomez — from a private school here scored identical marks in the SSLC examinations much to the delight of their parents, relatives, teachers and friends. They scored an impressive 484 out of the maximum 500 marks in the examinations conducted by the Tamil Nadu board.

Julia scored 99 in French, 94 in English, 95 in mathematics, centum in science and 96 in social science, while Sofia scored 97 in French, 92 in English, 98 in mathematics, 99 in science and 98 in social science.

Daughters of Michael Gomez, managing director of logistics firm NACA based in the US, and Mary Magdalene Anita, a primary school teacher at Petit Seminaire HSS, the twins had been scoring almost identical marks in all examinations. “Generally, the difference between our total scores in school exams would be about five to 10 marks. We have scored identical marks consistently. I expected 490 marks and above in the public examinations, while she (Julia) expected 495 and above, but we both could manage only 484 marks. The highlight is we scored identical marks,” said Sofia, who aspires to become an astrophysicist.

Julia aspires to pursue engineering and take up teaching. “We will opt for computer science group with mathematics, physics and chemistry in higher secondary,” said Julia.

DOUBLE DELIGHT

Former chief justice Subhashan Reddy no more

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai/Madurai:2.5.2019

Former chief justice of the Madras high court Justice Bollampalli Subhashan Reddy, who died in Hyderabad on Wednesday, is still remembered in the state as the architect of the Madurai bench. Close to his retirement in 2004, Justice Reddy was transferred to the Kerala high court as chief justice. After his superannuation in November 2004, he was chairman of the Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission and later Lokayukta of Andhra Pradesh. As human rights commission chairman, he is credited with foiling hundreds of child marriages. “He used to rush to different districts to stop such weddings,” recalls L Prasad of Guntur.

During his more than threeyear stint as head of the judiciary in Tamil Nadu, Justice Reddy handled with aplomb several Bar crises, biggest among them being the prolonged protests by a large section of lawyers against formation of the Madurai bench. Now, the bench serves the people of 13 districts. “Earlier, I remember how our relatives had to spend at least two nights on travel if they want to witness proceedings of their case in Chennai. Now even if a litigant is from the southernmost tip of the state, he can visit Madurai and return home by evening. We are ever grateful to Justice Reddy,” said B Palanivelrajan of Tirunelveli.

Much before the Bar Council of India came out with a code of conduct for lawyers, Justice Reddy had brought a 25-point code, which, however, triggered opposition from the Madras Bar. He even had to lock the gates of the entire court premises for a day to insulate it from disturbances from outside.

“Justice Reddy was a very active chief justice, but, unfortunately he had to battle a militant Bar leadership. He was, however, very popular among young lawyers, as he showered them with small discretionary reliefs,” said S Prabakaran, cochairman of Bar Council of India and president of Tamil Nadu Advocates Association (TNAA). “He forged an emotional bonding with members of the Bar and never missed an opportunity to interact with lawyers,” said RC Paul Kanagaraj, former president of Madras High Court Advocates Association (MHAA).

Madurai-based lawyer K Samidurai, who is secretary of Indian Association of Lawyers (TN Chapter), recalls how Justice Reddy had visited Madurai at least seven times and collected opinions from all stakeholders before taking up the cause of the Madurai bench. “He even chose the location for the Madurai bench and was actively involved in the design and construction of the building,” he said.

Subhashan Reddy

No place for people on T Nagar footpaths

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.05.2019

Pinjala Subramaniam Street in T Nagar was one among the 23 interior roads in T Nagar that got wider footpaths with bollards for easy pedestrian movement in the last one year under the Smart City Mission. But less than a year later, the footpath is being cordoned off to store construction material, besides being encroached with parked vehicles. With the footpath rendered useless, people living in the residential area have no option but to walk on the road amid vehicles plying non-stop.

“I have never seen this footpath devoid of encroachments. Sometimes piles of bricks are placed on it, else sand and cement are dumped along the space. If it is free, two-wheelers are parked here, so we are forced to walk on the road. Senior citizens are the worst affected. As this is adjacent to a commercial and shopping area, there is a constant flow of vehicles here, so pedestrians are put to peril and discomfort,” said Latha D, a resident of T Nagar.

People living in and around the area also said that several newly widened pavements had been encroached and misused in a similar fashion.

“Whenever a complaint is filed with the zone-level officials, no action is taken. So, we have stopped complaining,” said VS Jayaraman, a resident of T Nagar.

He added that other newly laid footpaths, such as that along Ramanjuar Street, are being used by eateries as an extension of their establishments.

“The eatery-owners lay chairs on to the footpath and occupy it. The footpath widening has been more beneficial to encroachers than for pedestrians,” said Jayaraman.

When an official from Kodambakkam zone was contacted, he said that he will inspect the footpath along Pinjala Subramaniam Street and have the construction material removed.

“Usually, if we confront workers storing such material on the footpath, they promise that they will clear the area in a day or two. So, no action is taken. But if it is an inconvenience, it will be cleared,” he said.