So, who was first to invent the paper clip?

Well, it is thought to be Johann Vaaler. Drawings of his design date to early 1899, but since Norway had no patent law at the time he had to seek patent rights in Germany and the US in the following years.

Johann Vaaler was born on 15 March 1866 in Aurskog, Norway. Known as an innovator in his youth, he graduated in electronics, science and mathematics. He was employed by the owner of an invention office when he invented the paper clip in 1899.

Several designs followed the original. Only a few remain, such as the Ideal, Non-Skid, Owl and Gem. The first double-oval clip, the Gem, was launched in early-1900 by Gem Manufacturing Ltd of England. The paper clip remains as one of the most-used items of all time.

1. I have a chronic hair fall problem, How do I solve it?

Recipe: Soak the following ingredients overnight: 200 gms. Coconut oil, 25 gms. methi (fenugreek) seek powder, 100 gms. Grated green pumpkin, 2 tbsp. Castor oil. Soak all these overnight. The next day cook on a low flame till the pumpkin gets light brown. Cool and strain. Massage your scalp when clean at least 3 times a week using either a cling film, cap or steam towel to allow oil to penetrate the pores. Shampoo, finally rinsing with 4 lids vinegar in a tumbler of water.

2. How do I lighten my tan?

Treatment: Rub a slice of tomato immediately after you come in from the sun. Leave the juice on for 20 minutes; then rinse.

3. I have large, open pores. How do I remedy this?

Recipe: Blend 1 tsp. Tomato juice, with 2 drops of lime juice and ¼ tsp. Honey. Leave this on your skin for 20 minutes every alternate day. Rinse off with cold water.

4. How do I soothe tired eyes?

Treatment: Apply cool tea or camomile tea bags on your eyes daily, for 10 minutes.

5. What is an effective skin cooler in warm weather?

Treatment: Plain yogurt left on skin for just 15 minutes and rinsed off with mint tea water works wonders.

6. How do I treat warts?

Treatment: A little cauliflower juice applied on warts helps them drop off gradually.

7. My skin is always tired and dry. How can I make it glow?

Mask: 1 tbsp. Strawberry pulp with 1 tbsp. Almond powder works wonders when blended and applied on face for 20 minutes. Scrub off with cold water.

8. How do I cure acne?

Mask: Blend 1 tbsp. Crushed mint with enough oats powder. Leave the mask on your face for at least 20 minutes. This reduces pimples.

9. How do I enliven a dead, dull skin?

Mask: combine 1 tbsp. Egg yolk with ½ tsp. Honey, 1 tsp. Olive oil, and 2 drops lemon juice and enough almond powder to make a creamy paste. Apply on face. Remove once the mask firms by rinsing with cold water.

10. My skin is dry. How do I remedy this?

Treatment: Combine 1 tsp. Glycerine, 2 drops lime, ½ tsp. Olive oil, ½ tsp. Vinegar. Massage this on your face, leaving it for five minutes. Rinse off with cold water

Ingredients:

8 cups of cabbage (approximately 1 head, diced)
2 tablespoons minced onions
1/4 cup carrots (diced)
1/4 cup milk (2%)
1/2 cup mayonnaise (substituting will impact the taste)
1/3 cup sugar (granulated)
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup buttermilk (one of the secrets to the taste)
2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar

Instructions:

Take the carrots and cabbage and finely dice them. It is important for this recipe that you have very small pieces.
Get a large bowl and place the diced cabbage and carrots in it.
Add the minced onions to the bowl and mix thoroughly.
In another bowl mix the sugar, salt, pepper, milk, mayonnaise, buttermilk, ninegar, and lemon juice togehter to create the dressing. Keep mixing until it becomes smooth and creamy.
Take the dressing and pour it into the bowl with the cabbage and carrots and mix it thoroughly.
Cover and place the bowl in the refrigerator for several hours before serving.

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of ANNABEL LEE;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.

I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love-
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went envying her and me-
Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.

But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Edgar Allan Poe

2. Walk hand in hand in the rain.

3. Write a love poem.

4. Call a radio station and dedicate a favorite song.

5. Write “I Love You” in lipstick or shaving cream on the mirror.

6. Hide love notes in a lunch box, briefcase or purse.

7. Make heart-shaped cinnamon toast for breakfast.

8. Place a love note in the personals section of the newspaper.

9. Take a carriage ride around the city.

10. Plan a surprise getaway.

11. Do your mate’s household chores.

12. Write notes on future dates in their date book (“I love you,” I miss you,” etc.)

13. Make reservations at a favorite restaurant.

14. Let them choose the movie.

15. Give a foot massage.

16. Make a heart-shaped bookmark, and place it in their book.

17. Pop in a romantic music CD and slow dance.

18. Throw a just-because surprise party for two.

19. Buy a stuffed animal for your honey.

20. Read each other’s horoscopes.

21. Make a list of the top 10 things you love about your partner.

22. Display it in a prominent place.

23. Tattoo your mate’s name on your body.

24. Make an album or scrapbook of your favorite memories together.

25. Go camping together and only take one sleeping bag.

26. Send a mushy message in a bottle…a balloon…a sandwich…

27. Cut out a silly cartoon that you know they’d enjoy.

28. Shower together.

29. Dim the lights, and snuggle together on the couch.

30. Be the first to say “I’m sorry” and kiss and make up.

31. Give each other a full-body massage.

32. Kiss every hour on the hour all day long.

33. Send a gift basket of indulgent items.

34. Write “I’m hot for you” in the steam on the bathroom mirror.

35. Ribbon wrap your bed with a big bow.

36. Fill up the gas tank of your partner’s car.

37. Act like teenagers. Maybe even pierce something!

38. Show up with a bouquet of flowers — for no reason at all.

39. Play Scrabble€ ¦Â® together, using as many “love” words as you can.

40. Run a warm bubble bath for your partner, with lots of lit candles.

41. Meet in the park for a picnic.

42. Hold hands.

43. Leave a trail of rose petals through the house, leading to a romantic candlelight dinner.

44. Make a donation in your mate’s name to a special cause or charity.

45. Pick up their clothes from the floor — without saying a word about it.

46. Watch an old black and white romantic movie and share a bowl of popcorn.

47. Reenact your first date.

48. Surprise your partner with tickets to a special event.

49. An unexpected hug can brighten any day.

50. Buy a silly, impromptu gift.

51. Send an email just to say “I’m thinking of you.”

52. Bring home a balloon bouquet.

53. Serve breakfast in bed.

54. Make an ornament with a picture of both of you for the Christmas tree.

55. Play tag.

56. Wash and wax your partner’s car, and leave a little note on the dashboard.

57. Plant a garden together.

58. Leave a mushy message on voicemail.

59.. Stay at a hotel for the night, just because.

60. Make angels in the snow.

61. Every time you say “hello” or “goodbye”, seal it with a hug and a kiss.

62. Take a drive in the country.

63. Spend the evening looking at the stars — and make a wish together.

64. Cast a playful wink any time, anywhere.

65. Think up a list of silly little pet names for times when you’re alone together.

66. Read poetry to each other.

67. Celebrate your half-birthdays together.

68. Put a picture of both of you in your wallet.

69. Buy that favorite book or CD for no reason at all.

70. Send a care package to work filled with treats like food, photos, candy, a love note, heart-shaped confetti, etc.

71. Go out for the evening and tell people you’re on your honeymoon.

72. Take a hike together and carve your initials in a tree.

73. Write a thank you note for all the things you take for granted.

74. Make a fire in the fireplace and roast marshmallows.

75. Tape your favorite TV show and spend the evening talking..

76. Do the dishes together, then apply hand lotion to each other’s hands.

77. Write a love letter to your partner and cut it into jigsaw puzzle pieces.

78. Decide on secret signals and use them to communicate with each other in large groups of people.

79. Schedule a regular mid-week “date night” for just the two of you.

80. Do the laundry together.

81. Romance Theater Weekend: reenact each other’s favorite love scene – hers on Friday, his on Saturday.

82. Call your partner at work and ask for a date.

83. Pretend you haven’t seen each other for a month. Act accordingly.

84. Send a written invitation to do something special.

85. Take turns reading to each other.

86. Stand outside the window and sing a romantic song.

87. Hide favorite candy in your partner’s coat pockets.

88. Put a tape recording of your voice (saying anything) in the car stereo and turn it on so it plays when the car starts.

89. Go to a drive-in movie.

90. Get up to turn off the last light after you’re both comfy-cozy in bed.

91. Hold each other tight during a thunderstorm.

92. Make a tape recording of favorite love songs.

93. Leave a bunch of bananas on the kitchen table with a note, “I go bananas over you!”

94. Hide love notes in a magazine.

95. Declare your undying love via a telegram.

96. Make a romantic dinner together, and serve it on your finest china.

97. Surprise your partner with a big kiss on the neck.

98. Give unexpected compliments.

99. Share an ice cream cone.

100. Have a picnic on the living room floor.

No hourglass physique
No sunbeam likened smile
No lingering mystique
No manicured nails to file

But what she had she flaunted
With the style of a fur- lined stole
With the chic of a runway model
She flashed her beautiful soul

Then- in my childhood- in the dawn
Of a most stormy life- was drawn
From ev’ry depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still-
From the torrent, or the fountain-
From the red cliff of the mountain-
From the sun that ’round me roll’d
In its autumn tint of gold-
From the lightning in the sky
As it passed me flying by-
From the thunder, and the storm-
And the cloud that took the form
(When all the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view.

Ingredients:
250 gms. paneer (cottge cheese)
3 tbsp. ghee or butter
1 onion chopped into strips
1/2″ piece ginger chopped fine
2 green chillies chopped fine
4 tomatoes chopped fine
2 cardamoms crushed
1/4 cup beaten curd
1/2 tsp. red chilli powder
1/2 tsp. garam masala
salt to taste
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp. tomato sauce
To garnish:
2 tbsp. grated paneer
1 tbsp. chopped coriander

Method:
Chop the paneer into 2″ fingers.
Heat half the ghee. Add onion,ginger, green chilli and cardamom. Fry for 3-4 minutes.
Add tomatoes and cook for 7-8 minutes, covered.
Add curd and cook for 5 minutes.
Add 1/2 cup water and cool.
Blend in a mixie till smooth.
Heat remaining ghee, add gravy and other ingredients except milk and paneer.
Boil to get a very thick gravy.
Just before serving, heat gravy, add milk and paneer fingers and boil for 3-4 minutes.
Garnish with chopped coriander and grated paneer.

Making time: 45 minutes.
Makes for: 6
Shelf life: best fresh.

Ingredients
1/2 kg. curds
300 gms. sugar
1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
few strands saffron
1/2 tbsp. pista & almond crushed

Method
Tie curd in a clean muslin cloth overnight. (6-7 hours).
Take into a bowl, add sugar and mix.
Keep aside for 25-30 minutes to allow sugar to dissolve.
Rub saffron into 1 tbsp. milk till well broken and dissolved. Keep aside.
Beat well till sugar has fully dissolved into curd.
Pass through a big holed strong strainer, pressing with hand or spatula.
Mix in cardamom powder and dissolved saffron and half nuts.

Empty into a glass serving bowl, top with remaining nut crush.
Chill for 1-2 hours before serving.

Making time: 20 minutes (excluding tieing and keeping time)
Makes: 6-7 servings
Shelflife: 3-4 days refrigerated

Variations: To make fruit flavoured shrikhand eg. mango, add pulp at the stage of adding cardamom and saffron.