Tips for finding The ideal neighborhood for your family

• Contact the community association for the neighborhood you are considering. Often, it publishes newsletters, holds meetings, or sponsors community activities, all of which hold potentially useful bits of information about your neighborhood.

• Subscribe to the local paper or call and ask for a sample of back issues.

• Locate the community hang-outs. Is there a neighborhood pool or community center? If so, try and visit so you can get a sense of who lives in the area and whether there is a strong community feel.

• Look for sidewalks. For us, living in a part of the neighborhood with no sidewalks means many things — we don’t go for as many walks (and therefore don’t meet and greet the neighbors as much as we’d like), our young kids have fewer safe places to ride their bikes, and it seems to prevent other folks from walking our way much, too.

• Visit the neighborhood at different times of the day and at least once on a weekend rather than a weekday. Are most of the folks working out of the home? Is the neighborhood composed of retirees? Are there loads of school-aged children? Are there many young mothers with babies and toddlers?

• Study a map of your neighborhood to see the proximity of parks, libraries, the nearest hospital, and other amenities. Likewise, try driving different routes to the home so you can see the good, the bad, and the ugly in the surrounding area.

• Arrange a visit to the school your children would attend, check out the school’s test scores, and find out how many veteran teachers are on staff.

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Even In Recession Stars Are A Handful

We all have been affected by recession in one way or the other. Savings have become primary and budgets being reinforced like never before. But in the world of glitz and glamor, how are the stars handling their money? With producers and multiplex owners on an indefinite strike, not only the current but even the scheduled movies seemed to have stopped from going on floor.

Lets have a look at the movies that some famous stars have signed for this year.

Priyadarshan’s De Dana Dan, Vipul Shah’s Action Replay, Sajid Khan’s Houseful, Kambakht Ishq which has hoard of international stars. A long pending Hello is also due this year. Seems like this year too this macho man would churn out a lot of hits and become the highest tax payer yet again…

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No Indian Show At Cannes 2009

India is the biggest movie producing nation in the world. With over 1000 films being made every year, quite a few make it big at the Box Office. Multiple story lines are explored, various new themes are introduced, all because of very creative endeavors.

Yet there is not a single film to compete for the top honor Palme d`Or at the prestigious 62nd Cannes Film Festival.

20 films from different countries have made their way to compete at the 12- day French Riviera starting May 13.

Almodovar’s “Broken Embraces”, Campion’s period film on poet John Keats titled “Bright Star”, Ang Lee’s “Taking Woodstock”, Spanish filmmaker Isabel Coixet’s thriller “Map of the Sounds of Tokyo” that centres on a fish-market employee who doubles as a contract killer. Chinese filmmaker Ye Lou too is competing with his secretly filmed “Spring Fever”. This year, American filmmaker Pete Docter’s animation film “Up” will be the opening film and Jan Kounen’s “Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky” has been selected as the closing movie.

Nepal’s film industry Kollywood is not heard of in the international film fraternity. “Himalaya,” a Nepali movie in collaboration with France, brought Nepal’s movie industry into the limelight by entering the best foreign language film category at Academy Awards in 2000. Nearly about a deacde later, Nepal is set to debut again and this time luck has been smiling– thrice. Three of Nepal’s films have made it to the non competitive section of the festival; Manoj Babu Panta’s film “Where Is The Story” alongside Deepak Rauniyar’s debut film “Chaukhat” and Binod Paudel’s “Awaken Eyes”….

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Proposed H-1B Visa Reforms & Its Restrictions

What Is It?

In what could turn out to be a big blow to H1 B holders and those who wish to apply for it, a legislation has been introduced in the US Senate which would require American firms to first recruit qualified local workers, discouraging to employ H1-B or L1visa holders.

The bill, prevents the employers from hiring H1-B or L-1 visa workers, if they amount to more than 50 percent of the total employee strength in the company. In other words only those companies who would employ a large number of Amercian workers will be eligible for H-1B visas.

Senator Dick Durbin and Chuck Grassley, who has introduced the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act, claims that this reform would help crack down on fraud that allows U.S. companies to hire foreign workers even when U.S. workers are available. He calls this bill an important step towards a stop to outsourcing of American jobs and discrimination against Americans.

How Will It affect Indian Companies?

If voted into law, the new legislation could affect the Indian IT companies adversely. It would mean Indian IT companies in the US will need to hire locally for their work. This will also result in IT companies needing to alter their onsite-offshore mix…
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Dev And Freida Together- It’s Confirmed!

Their on screen chemistry made many a spark. Off screen though, rumors were bubbling whether they were dating or not. Multiple Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire stars Dev and Freida Pinto were under tight scrutiny ever since their co- actor Anil Kapoor hinted at their relationship on the sets of Slumdog Millionaire.

Dev (19) and Freida (24) have always denied their romance in real life. The couple were caught kissing during a romantic night out in Israel last week, raising eyebrows. Freida is shooting for her new movie Miral on location in Isreal and Dev had specially flown in to meet Freida. The two shared a few tender moments during a romantic lunch.

Dev’s mother Anita Patel confirmed the news in her interview to The Mirror by calling Freida really beautiful and that life couldn’t get better for her son. She seemed happy to see her son so in love.

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Politics In The Times Of Kats, Bips And Bebo

Just as Bollywood seems a granted choice for beauty pageant winners, politics becomes a natural regression for glamorous female actors. In the past actors like Jaya Bhaduri, Jaya Prada, Hema, Jaya Lalitha, Shabana Azmi and Nafisa Ali have proven that beauty does come with brains, the fresher league of women like Katrina Kaif, Bipasha Basu and Kareena Kapoor have also taken up to netagiri. No it is not about their campaigning for different parties but them playing powerful roles in their movies.

Kareena Kapoor - Dhruv

After crooning Marjaani in Billu and creating waves about sporting a bikini and saying yes to skin show in Kambakht Ishq, Bebo will be seen playing a politician in Sudhir Mishra’s Dhruv. The movies also stars Farhan Akhtar and Chitrangda Singh. Kareena will not only share a crackling chemistry with Farhan Akhtar in the film but also give this glamorous actress a little tuning down. Her role will be sans any make up and the director feels this movie will take her to another level….

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K3 Spouse Visa FAQ’s

1. What Is a “Spouse”?
2. Can a K-3 Visa Holder Work in the United States?
3. Can those with K-3 and K-4 visas change to another non-immigrant visa category in the United States?
4. Can I travel and re-enter the U.S. on my K-3 or K-4 visa?
5. How to Apply for a Social Security Number Card
6. If the child is not named on the I-129F petition, will that be a problem?
7. What’s the difference between immigrant and non-immigrant visa?
8. What Should I Know about International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA)?
9. What Are the Penalties for Giving False Information?
10. What Are the Penalties for Marriage Fraud?
11. How Can I Check the Status of My Application?
12. I have further questions or need further help.

1. What Is a “Spouse”?

A spouse is a legally wedded husband or wife. Cohabiting partners do not qualify as spouses for immigration purposes. Common-law spouses may qualify as spouses for immigration purposes depending on the laws of the country where the common-law marriage occurs. In cases of polygamy only the first spouse qualifies as a spouse for immigration….

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Your Health is in Your Hands - through Mudras

A Mudra, meaning ‘sign’ or ‘seal’ in Sanskrit, is a gesture or positioning of the hands. The positions of the fingers, lock and guide energy flow and reflexes, to the brain. By curling, crossing, touching and stretching the fingers and hands, we can “communicate” with the body and mind as each area of the hand corresponds to a certain part of the mind or body.

* The thumb represents the element earth, the stomach and worry.
* The index finger represents the element metal, the lungs, the large intestine and the emotions depression, sadness and grief.
* The middle finger is the element fire, the heart, small intestine, circulatory and respiratory systems, the emotions are impatience and hastiness.
* The ring finger is the element wood and is connected to the liver, gall bladder, nervous system and corresponds to anger.
* The little finger corresponds to water, the kidneys and fear.

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Charismatic Feroz Khan no more

The famous Indian actor, director and producer Feroz Khan, passed away early monday morning (IST) at his Bangalore residence. He was suffering from cancer for the past year. Although details of his ailment were little known in public, but the veteran was living in and out of the hospitals, for quite some time.

Feroz Khan is known for his remarkable style and dressing sense. Born to an Afghan father Sadique Khan and Iranian mother Fatima in Bangalore, Feroz Khan made his film debut as a second lead in Hindi Film, Didi(1960).

With few years’ struggle as a second lead, he finally hit the Box Office as a hero with Oonche Log and soon was earning accolades.

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Raw Food Anyone?

We all know how good those unprocessed foods, fruits and vegetables are to keep up with good health. But how many of us keep the count of five-a-day?

Being so used to cooking, our taste buds just don’t want that raw papaya or carrots until we have some thing to dip them in. But there are people around the globe who have given up cooking (how easy.. one may think). They believe cooking or even heating food over 116 degrees F destroys critical enzymes and the life force in food that actually assist in digestion and absorption of food.

One may want to eat out with friends and who’s got the time to prepare those raw food dishes? We love to surprise our taste buds with those starch rich food. Did someone say taste buds?

Our taste buds change every 250 hours– that’s ten days to be precise. As old cells die and new ones are born, the pores adjust to the shape of the molecules you’re eating.

Welcome to the world of raw food diet. A diet that is living. They follow a simple rule F-W-G-W.

NO FACES – Any food that was a face or comes from a being with a face is a no-no. So no more chicken, fish, meat, or eggs, cheese, milk, yogurt, ice cream, etc.; switch to seed and nut milks and yogurts…

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Take Care Of Your Skin This Summer

Summer is finally setting in. Sun’s high pretty early in the morning and nothing feels as refreshing as that morning breeze. But summer also means sitting in air conditioned rooms, allowing it to suck all moisture from the skin. With the tips listed below, you’ll not only feel as fresh as ever but also leave your skin pampered.

1. Before you apply any cream, spray rose water on your skin. Also Keep glycerin and rose water handy. Spray them on your skin from time to time even while make up to keep moisture levels intact.

2. If your skin is too dry, don’t use too much of soap to wash your face as soap snatches moisture from your skin, but do give your skin regular splashes of water.

3. Drink lots n lots of water. If your water intake is about 5-6 glasses of water then increase it up to 10-12 glasses of water in summer as water content gets reduce due to sweating.

4. Avoid going in the sun as much as you can, and when you are out in the sun make sure that you have applied sunscreen with SPF of 15 minimum. Use hats ,caps, umbrella to protect yourself from sun. Wear full sleeve shirt if possible….

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Worst Bollywood Strike in 12 years!

It was never heard of, it never happened before. Contentions were there but they were resolved with peace. But this time it seems to have gone too far. The strike is the first-of-its-kind in the history of the Hindi film industry since the first multiplex was set up in 1997.

The deadlock is already in its third week. With a drastic fall in theatre occupancy to below 20 per cent due to non-release of new films because of the stalemate between film producers and multiplex owners over a new revenue-sharing formula, films fail to linger on.
Whether its Akshay Kumar’s 8×10, Bipasha Basu’s Aa Dekhen Zara or Kamal Haasan’s Dashavtaram (dubbed in Hindi), none of the charismatic stars were able to retain their magic.
This week has for release just KOOL NAHI HOT HAIN HUM, a film that was supposed to have hit the screens last week itself but was postponed by a week. Rest of the list includes a host of dubbed films…

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A Little Bit Of France In Montreal

If you thought Las Vegas and New York were the cities that never sleep, add Montreal to your list. The second largest city in Canada is bound to surprise you for the vibrancy, cultural diversity and in being cosmopolitan for a city of three million plus.

Whether you want to shop around like in an American city, sip a cappuccino at an open cafe, gamble at a casino or simply explore the rich and distinct European history of Old Montreal, this city has energy that is inescapable.

Tourists come year around to enjoy this peaceful but lively city. Whether you want to ski through the vast winters, chillout in spring and summer or enjoy the breathtaking colors of fall;the city is complete with its splendorous restaurants, stores, walkways and Metro, this stupendous city has something for everybody in every season. The stunning and majestic backdrop of Brokeback Mountain is the fabulous natural park Southern Alberta in the Prarie province. For those who’d like to go off the beaten path, the Chateau Hotels built in the early 1900s by the railway companies are a national icon and a must see on the list.

Eating out is not much of a problem here. Montreal is one of those rare North American cities where you can eat out inexpensively without compromising taste or quality……

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Earth Day is Today April 22

Who started Earth Day is much debated, but who so ever did it, God bless his soul. For having people made conscious of what they do and how it effects the wonderful environment of the planet and making them conscious of their deeds. It started in 1970, in an age of Vietnam protests, era of love and hippy and most of all, the damage that we are doing to our environment. It has been 40 years since and what started as a protest movement become a global celebration of environment and commitment to its protection. The history of Earth Day mirrors the growth of environmental awareness over the last three decades, and the legacy of Earth Day is the certain knowledge that the environment is a universal concern…Read More


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Improve Your Credit Score With These Tips

You cannot improve your credit score overnight but a slow, steady and responsible approach could raise your credit score.

1. Make Payments On Time: This seems obvious but continue to pay your bills, even your rent, cell phone bills, utilities because these will be reported if late. If you have missed payments get current and stay current.

2.Don’t bounce checks : Although it may have nothing to do with credit score right on but banksa have a method to track customers with bad finance habits. It will show up every time you need an auto loan or mortgage through a credit union.

3. Be extra careful with credit cards: Keep balances low on credit cards. A high outstanding bill could have affect on the score. Pay off debt instead of moving it around. Don’t close unused credit cards. Don’t open a number of new credit cards that you don’t need, just to increase your available credit.
This approach could backfire and actually lower your credit score.

4.For building a new credit history, apply for a secured card with a bank. You typically will have to keep a deposit with bank that can cover the charges you make on the card. It will be a slow and steady way to improve your score and further build your credit. You many consider signing for a small loan with a co-signer but keep this as a last resort….

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L1 Visa FAQ’s

Q: What is an L-1 Blanket petition?

A: The L-1 Blanket petition allows to transfer people to the U.S. on L-1 visa quickly and on a short notice without having to file a separate petition for each employee with the United States companies that are branches, subsidiaries or affiliates of foreign companies that frequently transfer their non-U.S. employees to their related U.S. companies.

A U.S. company may qualify for an L-1 Blanket if it meets one or more of the following:

*U.S. company with at least 1,000 employees.
*The petitioner has three or more domestic and foreign branches, subsidiaries, or affiliates; and
*The petitioner U.S. company has obtained L-1 visas for at least 10 employees during the last 12 months
*The U.S. company and related sub organization have a combined annual sales of at least $25 million.

The initial validity of an approved blanket petition is 3. The U.S. company may file for an extension of the blanket petition.

Q: I have an L1 visa, can I also simultaneously do a part time job?

A: No you can’t.

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Asanas to beat the Blues

MOOD ENHANCERS

Millions of people participate in yoga classes to enhance their muscle strength and flexibility. But yoga may also be used as a complementary treatment for depression, according to David Shapiro, PhD, a professor on the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA).

“Yoga appears to be a promising intervention for depression. It is cost-effective and easy to implement. Most importantly, yoga produces many beneficial emotional, psychological, behavioral, and biological effects,” says Dr. Shapiro.

Yoga offers multiple health benefits, including stress reduction. It also requires sustained attention and concentration, which can help improve brain function. In addition, yoga is beneficial for older adults because some asanas improve muscle strength and balance, which can help prevent falls.

Yoga can also help alleviate pain and stiffness, as well as normalize body weight and improve energy levels. And although it is not considered an aerobic exercise, yoga does appear to regulate heart rate and improve circulation, studies reveal….

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Business Visa (B1) - List of required Documents

Based on the new process, applicable from Oct 3rd 2005, following is a list of documents, applicants needs to carry at the time of visa interview. Documents must to carry for interview:

*Completed Non-immigration Visa application form DS-156. Separate form for each applicant.
[Form filing Guidelines-help | Sample Form DS-156 ]

Note: Visa applicant in India need not to fill this form separately; if they have taken appointment through VFS, after Oct 3rd 2005. Since this information will be taken online by VFS while setting an appointment.
*Completed form DS-157, [ONLY required for all male non immigrant visa applicants between the ages of 16 and 45, Except New Delhi US consulate].

Note: Every applicant applying at U.S. embassy new Delhi need to fill this form irrespective of the age. (Separate form for each visitor)

*Application visa fee original receipt issued by HDFC bank.
*Copy of interview appointment letter which you get at the time of setting an appointment with VFS.
*Each applicant, including children of any age, must possess an individual passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond the intended period of stay.
*Two photographs 2 and 2 inches square (50 mm square) for each applicant, showing full face, without head covering, against a light background. To be used in the application Form.

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Beat The Heat

Summer is almost here. Back are the times to be with friends or family or even that long due break. Along with soaring temperates comes the feeling of icky and sweat that leaves you sticky and prone to sickness. Here are a few tips to keep you cool this summer.

Food

Summer foods should be eaten as fresh as possible. Cutting, cooking or mixing with spices tends to make foods ferment faster. Hence opt for minimum-cooking.

1. Keep high on salads, sprouts, raw vegetables and fruits. They are high in water content, nutrition, light and will also keep your metabolism in place. Enjoy your breakfast of a bowl of cereal, milk and fruit/juice. But remember not to add sugar. Water melons, yoghurt, cumin seeds (jeera), cucumber, raw mangoes, raw tomatoes and white gourd (dudhi) help to cool off your body.

2. Avoid filling and heavy meals. Instead get in the habit of eating little and often. This will help regulate blood sugar levels. Also avoid fried stuff like chips, junk food, white flour, sugar, spicy gravies, eggs, red meat, samosas, vada, bhajji, farsans bajri and makai as they increase the body temperature. Fat has a thermal effect. Jowar, wheat and rice are recommended as they are safer options.

3. Reduce intake of spicy vegetables & fruits like hot peppers, garlic, beetroot , grapefruit ,radish and ripe mangoes (if you cannot resist mangoes, soak them in water for few hours)

4. Minimize the intake of hot, spicy foods and extremely salty foods. The body retains salt in the organic form found in fruits & veggies; the inorganic salt, meanwhile, is digested and needs to be thrown out of the body. And this is why you need to drink water!

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Manage Work From Home With Kids!

Although everybody loves their children dearly, it becomes difficult to manage both work from home and kids. Until kids are 3-4 years old, they need utmost attention. The situation becomes very critical when you have something getting cooked on the oven, the baby screaming in the bedroom and the deadlines knocking your door.

The babies are too innocent to understand that their mom has important tasks left to finish as she is managing some work from home apart from looking after them. So a cranky and crying kid is perhaps the toughest challenge for a mom.

Don't expect yourself to be the super-mom, because work will then jostle between play dates and nap times-- and yes start getting used to the idea of productive working at 10 pm.

It's a real challenge to work at home while looking after toddlers, but it's also the opportunity of a lifetime. What other job would let you watch every milestone with your own eyes while still earning a living?

So just how can you keep those little devils busy on their own Here are a few ideas:

First of all invest in a wireless connection and laptop to run your work. So even if you have to run around the house with your laptop or monitor your kid in the backyard you can still work.....

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Organ Donation Myths And Facts

A single organ donor can help save over 50 people There is a long list of people who wait day in and day out for someone to come forward and donate their organs. Perhaps no other medical procedure has generated the amount of myth, mystery and even a sense of the macabre as organ donation. If you’ve delayed your decision to be a donor because of fear or a misconception, here are answers to some common organ transplant myths and concerns.

Myth: Carrying a Donor Card or Having Organ Donor noted on driver’s license is all one needs to be an organ donor.

Fact: These cards are definitely legal documents, but orgnan donation is an issue to be discussed with family before you make a decision. You family must understand your wishes so that they can turn your wish into reality when you are no longer there.

Myth: Only hearts, livers, and kidneys can be transplanted.

Fact: Apart from vital organs, pancreas, liver, lungs and intestines; even tissues like the eyes, skin, bone, heart valves and tendons….

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Yoga Is Fun With Kids

Our children live in a hurry-up world of busy parents, school pressures, incessant lessons, video games, malls, and competitive sports. We usually don’t think of these influences as stressful for our kids, but often they are. The bustling pace of our children’s lives can have a profound effect on their innate joy—and usually not for the better.

Children derive enormous benefits from yoga. Physically, it enhances their flexibility, strength, coordination, and body awareness. In addition, their concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation improves. Doing yoga, children exercise, play, connect more deeply with the inner self, and develop an intimate relationship with the natural world that surrounds them. Yoga brings that marvelous inner light that all children have to the surface…

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Spring Festival Of Regional Films From India

Four outstanding films, over 10 hours of rich, diverse and powerful regional cinema from across India and four prolific independent directors; come to watch the great independent Indian cinema. The tales of old masters and bold newcomers, no matter how low their budgets are, no matter whether a big producer is backing them or not, the independent filmmakers have grown big and strong, carving a niche for itself in the international realm.

Asian American Theatre Project’s initiative New Jersey Independent South Asian Cinefest, an annual event of bringing the versatile culture of South Asia to audiences in America through documentaries, independent films and underrepresented filmmakers will venture into its third year. Due to huge response and support, the annual event has now become a bi yearly event. On April 18th 2009, Busch Campus Centre at Rutgers University will buzz with film enthusiasts who will gather to watch four rare gems in the one day Spring Festival; Mrinal Sen’s Genesis, Goutam Ghose’s Kaalbela, KM Madhusudanan’s Bioscope and Chitra Palekar’s Maati Maay…..

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Healhty Snacks For Kids

Teaching kids to eat healthfully at a young age will go a long way. It will help them develop healthy eating patterns for life. Instead of leaving them to munch on chips introduce a variety of produce—naturally lower in calories and rich in vitamins and minerals—early on to help develop food preferences that will lower their risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers later in life. Help your kids learn to love whole grains (most kids should be eating at least 6 ounces a day!), which can reduce long-term risk of cancer and heart disease. And don’t forget calcium-rich foods to build strong bones and prevent osteoporosis later in life. This collection of recipe is designed keeping kids of all ages in mind. Most of them are hassle free….

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L1 Visa Overview

L1 visa is an intra company transfer visa. It is a permit to work for a company in USA, to which you are transferred from the parent or the sister concern company of your country.

What are the required conditions?

L1 visa is filed by your company, and needs to be approved by the USCIS.
The requirements for L1 visa are:

1. It can be issued only to an L1-A(Executive, Manager) or to a person with L1-B(specialized knowledge worker).
2.Individuals cannot apply for an L1 visa. Your employer must file a petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on your behalf for L1 sponsorship….

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Mika Live In Concert- Co Hosted By Monadarling.com

Watch King of Bollywood and Bhangra Perform Live and blow your senses away: Featuring a Sensational Fashion Show, Mindblowing dance performances and ROCKSTAR Performance by MIKA SINGH Performing to his various hit tracks: Singh is Kinng Title song Bas Ek King , Dil Main Baji Guitar,Mauja Mauja, Bhootni Ke Tigerstyle Mix,Ganpath ,Khoka,Talli Ho gayi,Oye Lucky Lucky Oye,Dhol Bajake, Dil Tod Ke Na Jaa,Unke Nashe Main, Saawan Main Lag Gayi Aag and many more. Special Appearance By Mallika Sherawat

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DECIPHERING CREDIT SCORE

This three digit number known as the credit score is so important in one’s life. Right from buying a car, house to paying insurance, we depend on credit for so many important things. The credit score has the power to determine whether one can do these things and how much it will cost.

Your credit report contains a history of how you’ve paid your bills, each account you have how much open credit you have, whether you are under debt and these factors will determine whether you’ll get a loan or you may get but end up paying more interest. Information like your tax liens, court judgments and bankruptcies is also available form the public records…..

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TOP 5 YOGA DVD’S FOR HOME WORKOUT

Summer is here and so is the need to look fit to flaunt those oh so gorgeous clothes. What other way than to exercise your way out. Although nothing can beat a walk on a pleasant morning, the scroching sun makes it difficult enough. To exercise at home with yoga, with not only revitalize you but enlighten your inner self.

Choosing the best Yoga DVD will depend on the skill level and interest. Yoga is a total exercise system that encompasses the body, spirit, and the mind. Yoga offers a variety of benefits to the beginner as well as those who have been doing it for years. Yoga benefits include strength and flexibility through a variety of components: stretches, movements, and breathing exercises combined into forms by those people who practice it. Yoga has its roots in India during ancient times, and has spread through all parts of the world..

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SURYA NAMASKAR..!!

Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskar as its called in Hindi, is a sequence of yoga postures offers extraordinary fitness benefits! It consists of 12 mudras which when performed slowly gives it an impression of slow yoga dance, comprised mostly of forward and backward bending movements.

Sun Salutation increases flexibility in the whole body. It is performed in the hatha yoga format of uniting breath, posture, and mindfulness. This unique combination helps in stress reduction, enhanced quality of breathing, relaxation, and increased vitality!

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CHOOSE A VEGAN LIFESTYLE - LOOK AND FEEL BETTER AND HAVE MORE ENERGY

It is said that you are basically what you eat!

A family can easily and safely avoid the chemicals, preservatives, growth hormones and other harmful toxins found in almost all of today’s meats and over-processed foods! If you are a meat eater and have continuously eaten meat, this might make you think.

After all, you got along so far by eating eggs, hamburgers, dairy products, hot dogs, poultry, beef, pork, fish - so why should you go vegetarian now? If you project to people that they don’t abuse their car like they abuse their bodies – they would perhaps get the message a lot better !

When we eat high fat meats, low fiber processed foods, and fill our bodies with preservatives and chemicals, we’re much more prone to high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and other serious health issues…

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A Guide to International Money Transfer

If you are living or working overseas or making a foreign purchase, finding the best way to transfer your money internationally can be a time consuming and costly exercise.
Remittances, the portion of migrant workers’ earnings sent home to their families, have been a critical means of financial support for generations. For the most part, these flows have historically been “hidden in plain view”, often uncounted and even ignored. All that is changing. As the scale of migration increases, the corresponding growth in remittances is gaining widespread attention.

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Earth Day April 22

Who started Earth Day is much debated, but who so ever did it, God bless his soul. For having people made conscious of what they do and how it effects the wonderful environment of the planet and making them conscious of their deeds. It started in 1970, in an age of Vietnam protests, era of love and hippy and most of all, the damage that we are doing to our environment. It has been 40 years since and what started as a protest movement become a global celebration of environment and commitment to its protection. The history of Earth Day mirrors the growth of environmental awareness over the last three decades, and the legacy of Earth Day is the certain knowledge that the environment is a universal concern…

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EXTENDING YOUR SPOUSE’S H4 STATUS BEYOND I-94 DATE

One of the most common mistakes that we do involves spouses and children with derivative statuses, such as the H-4, who assume that their statuses are valid simply because the principal beneficiaries in these cases have maintained valid status. This is not the case. The filing of an H1B extension (or any principal status extension) does not extend the status of the dependant spouse and/or children….

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Choose The Right Physician!

When it comes to choosing doctors, we tend to ignore some very important and basic information. Finding the right guide to your health might seem easy, but it is a feat in itself.

Here are a few tips that’ll help you find the doctor that best suits you.

1. A doctor should be the one with whom you feel comfortable and who gives the best medical care and advice. The first step towards this is to contact your health plan and find out the doctors which are ranked higher on quality, cost efficiency and hospital affiliation. Each plan’s website has this information. You can also inquire from your friends and family for recommendations. But do remember what might be good for one might not be as good for another…..

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Summer Getaways- Nantucket

The first time I saw Nantucket in pictures, I was swept away. This small island on lies south of Hyannis Port, southeast of Martha’s Vineyard and 30 miles off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The whole image of clear blues skies, windswept sea and sand dunes, took me by stride. The aura is strong and you just cant escape the beauty; time moves differently here. The land of fishermen and average Joes, its best visited in the month of May, early June or September. Tons of East Coast charm and history on the 50 mile island, its a unique experience…

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Power Yoga: A fast paced and strenuous approach to the traditional Vinyasa and Ashtanga- style yoga

Demi Moore swears by it so does Kareena Kapoor. Across globe many celebrities have made it their way of life. It helps them maintain their fit and fab figures. Suddenly the whole world seem to have awaken to a new style of the ancient technique– Power Yoga.

It’s a fast paced and strenuous approach to the traditional Vinyasa and Ashtanga- style yoga. It concentrates more on the physical aspect of the discipline than its philosophical side….

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Preity And Ness Hit Splitsville

They were caught outright in love for each other! They just nuts about each other and going out strong and prosperous! Bombay dying head Ness Wadia and bubbly actress Preity’s is a beautiful, ravishing and eye-catching couple. They caught the attention of all at the IPL bidding and were spotted hand in hand whenever their Mohali team owned by them jointly plays. During the performance of their team, they sat together; fed each other and hugged one another. But the latest gossip doing the rounds is that they both dumped each other.

Preity is finally out of the long relationship with the Wadia scion. Ever since their relationship started there were periodic rumors of them calling it quits, but the couple was inseparable. This time around it seems serious. Although the romantic angle between them might be over they remain professionally with each other. Their joint ownership of King XI team of Punjab in the IPL, involves millions of rupees, which of course cannot be discarded for personal reasons.

The much lovey dovey couple were always seen hand in hand at every event. But rumors started making rounds when Preity showed up at the recent Filmfare awards, alone and also at Lakme India Fashion Week where she was seen cheering her Bollywood friends for the Manish Malhotra show minus Ness.

Although at the IPL press conference they did come together, there was a stark difference in the body language altogether.

On many earlier occasions too the relationship between Preity and Ness were on rocks. Her fondness for Yuvraj Singh, the captain of the Mohali team had become an issue a few years back but the relationship survived.

Preity and Ness had been going together for long, but she was never well received by his family, especially his mother Maureen Wadia, who’d rather avoid saying say anything about Preity.

There has been no confirmation from either of them, but when millions are involved, personal relationships can be put on the back burner.

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What Do Food Labels Mean?

The food aisles in the supermarkets are filled with tons of food varieties and sometimes a similar food type has different labels on them. What do these label mean and are they really worth our money?

The food aisles in the supermarkets are filled with tons of food varieties and sometimes a similar food type has different labels on them. What do these label mean and are they really worth our money?……

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Look Great On A Budget

Ok so the new season has come but the current economic scenario does not allow us to burden our pockets. Yes Clinique and Calvin are good but only if you have the money, honey! For the rest of us who believe in frugal spending, we better get off the brand.So try and make most of your purchases. Here are a few tips:

1.Go past trends! Trends change often and keeping pace with them is exhausting. Try and focus on colors and designs that suit you best. Figure out ndividual styles that make you look hotter instead of a carbon copy of some model. A mix of trendy pieces and classics always look better. Look for deals, clearances and barge the shops at these best times when you get great deals. You can good fashion stuff for as less as a $5. All you need is a great eye to sense the sales….

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Nagesh Kukunoor’s Action Packed Thriller: 8×10 Tasveer

Remember that NRI boy from Hyderabad Blues. Almost all who had come back from US around that time could relate with his confused sentiments and apprehensions. Who knew that this shy guy will become such an acclaimed director. Nagesh Kukunoor’s out of the box directorial films like Rockford, Dor, Iqbal, Teen Deewarein, each with their uniqueness, made for an audience who enjoys masala as well as off beat films alike. His films has this very eminent balance of story line and direction that makes his choice of characters very interesting….

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Tips For Traveling To India With Kids

Traveling to India for the first time since you became parents? You would not have to worry about a lot of stuff now. Indian metros are now at par with any international city and almost everything is available, of course you’ll have to flexible with the brands. A practical approach to your trip would be to see it from your child’s point of view. Here are a few tips….

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Making Healthy Restaurant Choices

When on a diet I dread eating out. It just turns out to be blind. What might look in that photo on la-carte, generally has no nutritional information attached with. So basically you skip realizing the potential of cheese, butter, oil, sugar and of course the over sized portions! If you do order veggies, they come dripping with butter and cream. The salad dressing has more calories than a cheese burger. And thanks to all the fat that is packed with whatever little options available, you generally cannot escape but eating heavy and feeling bloated there after….

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Slumdog Kids: Rags To Riches In The Making!

Their tragedy made our heart cry and we laughed with joy when the kids laughed in Slumdog Millionaire. The success of the Danny Boyle movie changed their lives. Coming from the slums of Dharavi they were seen sashaying down the ramp, in designer clothes for Ashima and Leena Singh at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. Much change has come Rubina Ali Qureshi’s & Azaharuddin Mohammed Ismail…

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Layoffs and health insurance, all you need to know about COBRA

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances such as voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in the hours worked, transition between jobs, death, divorce, and other life events. Qualified individuals may be required to pay the entire premium for coverage up to 102 percent of the cost to the plan…

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