A Kolkata based group, Shree Ganesh Jewellery,  presented a signature piece of Paul the psychic octopus at the India International Jewellery Show 2010, held in Mumbai at the NSE Complex in Goregaon.

According to the group, the piece is crafted in 22k gold and weighs 3.3 kilos. About 30 craftsmen from Bengal have worked to put the piece together and it is priced at Rs 80 lakh.

The creators also displayed a solid gold replica of the Eiffel tower at the exhibition.

Paul, an octopus living in a tank at a marine life centre in Germany, shot to international fame for being able to correctly predict results of football matches during the FIFA World Cup this year.

However, it’s owners have said that Paul has retired and won’t be making any more predictions in the future.

[Source]

Movie: Aisha

If you thought you have left behind the hair-band and other colourful hair accessories in your teenage, chances are you are not tuned in to the latest fashion trends. Colourful hair accessories are back in vogue this season in quite a big way. While American sitcom Gossip Girl started the trend of chic hair accessories in the West, in India the upcoming Rajyashree Ojha-directed Aisha is making waves among fashionistas for its chic designer labels and its funky hair accessories.

“ When we were given the brief about Aisha’s look in the film, we were told to visualise something in the lines of Audrey Hepburn, particularly the way she did up her hair. Besides, internationally, hair accessories are quite huge now,” says Namrata Soni, 29, the hair stylist and make-up person for the movie. Likewise Kapoor’s character in the movie sports cutesy black sequin bow hair bands and silver linked hair piece while Ira Dubey’s character too sports hair-bands and other hair accessories. “We picked up most of the stuff from New York and LA, from stores like Accessorize and the legendary Henri Bendel. Besides, we shopped from Colaba Causeway in Mumbai too,” adds Soni.

Fashion designer Malini Ramani, known for her eclectic fashion sensibility, says it’s a trend from the seventies that’s on its way back. “Traditionally in India, we have always used flowers as hair accessories. I love hair accessories because it enhances the look. I usually use flowers or head gears in my shows and I design hair accessories which are available at my store in Goa,” she says.

Head gear designer Shilpa Chavan, known for her out-of-the-box creations, says that hair accessories are here to stay. “It’s more to do with a particular kind of attitude than with trends. I’ve always been in awe of Indian gods with their huge crowns and I grew up watching Mary Poppins, so my work is a juxtaposition of these influences. I don’t really block hat shapes as it’s something you can buy over the counter. I like to create something unique, which is why I do head pieces,” says the Goa-based Chavan, who trained under well-known British milliner Philip Treacy.

High-end fashion stores like Accessorize, Miss Jo and Forever New are bringing in new styles like meshed bow clips and hair bands with floral prints to their stores in the Capital. “We have neutral colours like blacks and creams that are more suited to formal events. Our range is quite popular with school and college girls. Also our prices are affordable at Rs 300-Rs 600,” said Anjani Ghai of Forever New.

Youngsters seem to love the trend. “I like the vintage feel that head-pieces add to outfits,” says 20-year-old Sachi Gupta, a Delhi University student, flaunting her ecru hair band with faux pearls.

[Source]

When you’re at the airport, excited about jetting off to the Maldives, the last thing you need is to be charged for excess luggage weight. It’s a sad fact of life that many ‘budget’ airlines will try and grab as much money off you as you can to subsidise your 17p flight to Gibraltar, so it’s just as well to save money where you can and weigh your bags first. This Balanzza Scale is most certainly the easiest way to do so – all you have to do is attach your bag to the strap, pick it up by the scales and read the display to see how much you’re carrying.

You can switch between lbs and kgs, so no matter what denomination you prefer (always a thorny issue) and there’s a handy ‘hold’ function so you can make a note of the display before you drop your bag. So if you’re going to pay an extra few quid to board the plane first or even use the toilet, you’d be better off making savings where possible – the Balanzza Luggage Scales will make sure you don’t end up paying for excess baggage. We can’t help you out with the six quid you’ll have to shell out to get a soggy egg sandwich on the plane, but it’s certainly a start.

Available here priced at Rs.1,219

Features:

* The Balanzza Scales let you weigh your luggage before you get charged at the airport.

* Weigh your bags in pounds or kilos.

* Hold function allows you to correctly note the weight.

* Never pay excess baggage charges again!

* Lightweight so you can take them with you for the return journey.

* Maximum weight it can take: 44kg or 111lbs.

* Requires lithium-ion battery (included).

* Suitable for ages 8 years +.

Size:-

* 12 x 4 x 4 cm.

[Source]

Looking for a striking new way to tell the time? Secretly harbouring pangs for a sci-fi tomorrow? Oddly attracted to LED lights and neon colours? Then the Neon LED Guru Watches are going to make you extremely happy (at least when you want to know the time). With their scrolling LED display, their amazing build quality and bold colours, you’ll have difficulty finding a cooler watch between here and, well, anywhere. What’s more, you can even programme them to display any message you want – simply input your message, press the button and watch it scroll across the display (as well as the time, obviously).

Don’t let those neon colours fool you – far from being the preserve of ex-ravers and nu-ravers, these unisex wrist-dwellers are perfect for any lovers of anything quirky and ever-so-slightly geek-chic. They’re manufactured by Black Dice, so they really are quite exquisitely made, as well as being water-resistant up to a 50m depth (in case you fancy taking a dip). The one-piece plastic strap is nice and chunky and perfectly adjustable if you have a particularly slinky wrist girth.

So if you want to have the upper hand (but obviously not – this is digital) over all your friends’ watches, then the Neon LED Guru Watches is the time-teller you need.

Available here priced at Rs.4,878

Features:

* A chic and stylish one-piece watch.

* Scrolling LED display.

* Press button to illuminate display.

* Programme your own short message (10 characters or under).

* Also displays date with a second button press.

* Unisex neon colour design.

* Available in yellow, pink or black, all with white LED.

* Stainless steel back panel.

* Water-resistant up to 50m.

* Excellent Black Dice build quality.

* Suitable for right-handed folk of all wrist-sizes.

* Suitable for ages 8 years +.

Size:-

* 23.5 x 0.8 x 3 cm.

[Source]