THE MERCURIAN TIMES

‘Smelly Cat, smelly cat, what are they feeding you... ‘ Well I don’t think any of the F.R.I.E.N.D.S   fans would possibly forget this song where the singer shows great concern for a ‘Smelly Cat’ and when it comes to animal, there is no one more protective than PHOEBE BUFFAY. She is this girl who has got such a tragic past and has grown mugging people (even Ross) during her childhood,  but hey this doesn’t stop her from being the most wittiest out of the three girls. Since she is strictly against people harming animals, she is a strict vegetarian and this poor creature has to eat salads when Joey is busy eating turkey during thanksgiving. She is so smart that she uses her past – about her mother committing suicide and she living on streets to melt others heart and get things done. Even when she is funny, she is always true and honest to her values. She is the one who gives the final verdict when there is any arguments between the boys and the girls. She thinks of ...

  Monica I KNOW!!!!!! Her catchphrase says it all ! Monica is the “know it all’ , obsessive neat, control and winning freak of the gang. Loving and caring in her own ways , she simply loves it whenever she has any opportunity to take control over anything , be it head chef at Alessandros or being offered the job of taking every decision in Rachel’s life for a short while in season 5. Unlike her brother Ross’s unconditional love for getting married ( :-P ) , Monica believed very hard that someday she would fine her perfect guy and waits a long while to get married , leading to a series of rickety relationships ranging from Fun Bobby to Richard and to Pete. She ultimately found true love right next door in Chandler Bing , whom she started dating after her trip to London for Ross’s  comical wedding with Emily , and married . The craziest and also the coolest part I find about Monica is her obsession with winning...

RACHEL GREEN Spoilt by a rich dad from childhood, Rachel Green was glamorously oblivious about an independent life until she met the ‘friends’ after she ran away from her own wedding with whats-his-name. (Thank God!) Rachel was one of the most beautifully dressed "friend", who was also smart, sexy, funny and very caring. She was a typical girl, but with hints of  crazy.  She was never afraid of a fight and could easily be scary when she wanted.  Although Rachel’s relationship with Monica was very heart warming; nothing beats the  beautiful romance shared by  Rachel and Ross  that buds from season 1 and well, is still alive in our hearts. We loved our pretty girl, who was smart enough to take practical major life decisions as well as have a drunk wedding in Vegas.  Rachel is someone every girl relates with and wishes to look like.  From being filthy-rich to working at a coffee shop for about 2...

Janice! OH. MY. GOD No points for guessing who I am talking about. Yes, it is none other than Janice!   Maggie Wheeler hit the jackpot when she bagged this iconic role on the superhit sitcom “F.R.I.E.N.D.S.”. In 1994, during the first season of the show, the world was introduced to the unforgettable character of Janice Litman Goralnik along with her iconic and cacophonic   laugh. Not a central character though, Janice is a regular character , appearing in every season except for the fifth.  Chandler Bing’s long-time on-off girlfriend, known for her obnoxious and nasally voice and her trademark cry, “OH MY GOD!” , she even briefly appeared as Ross’s fling!   She was more like an imposition on everyone’s life, an annoyance and a mistake that Chandler couldn’t help but making. All the characters would greet her with eye rolls, looks of panicked dread and even sprinting to hide from her. So I’ll give you Janice and Chandler’s story in bri...

  CHANDLER BING When I was asked to write about Chandler I was like " could I be any more happier "  because each FRIENDS fan has their favourite character, and my favourite character is none other than Chandler Bing - the king of sarcasm . No FRIENDS character is full of more wit, saas and perfect line deliveries than Chandler. From his weird dance moves to his unknown job every single thing about him is unique and hilarious. Chandler was not only a funny person but a person with a warm heart .He showed us the value of true friendship. A sensible person who was always there for his friends. A person who hated thanksgiving but still would spend the day  with his friends and make them happy. From season 1 till season 10 Chandler's character has evolved and has helped and touched each character in the show- From being the college mate of Ross to becoming his brother- in - law, he was always there as a strong figure in Ross's life. In case of Jo...

Women to Rule Boardrooms  SEBI has made it mandatory for all listed companies to appoint at least one female director before April 1, 2015, as per the tenants set by Companies act 2013.  It was found that India stands at position 120 among 131 countries regarding female work cooperation as per the International Labor Organization (ILO).  This rule was formed to increase and enhance female participation in the boardroom of companies in India.   Although the executives can appoint their relatives as directors in order to be done with the formality of this rule, but most companies are considering this as an opportunity and keeping the spirit of the rule alive, are appointing female directors who are worth the job. "Organisations are searching for particular ability sets while selecting ladies executives, contingent upon the boards of trustees she will sit on. The most well-known aptitude sets, which organisations search for are administration, HR, back...

HEAD FOR AN EXHILARATING DRIVE WITH FORD MUSTANG! First launched in 1964, the Indian enthusiasts had to wait for over 50 years to see the prolific pony car, the Ford Mustang GT ,make all its way to the Indian market. Starting at a price of Rs.65,00,000 ,the sixth generation Ford Mustang has managed to retain the cynosure of dynamism even after years of evolution. The 2×2 sports coupe is packed with features like selectable driving modes from a six-way adjustable driver seat, a cozy cabin draped in all-black interior with heated/cooled leather accented seats ,8 inch touchscreen infotainment system, tire pressure monitoring system, ABS and EBD along with other features like power folding mirrors, climate-control seats etc. A legend for its performance and style, the Mustang's technology is powerful too. What is also exciting isthat the incredible machine has been specifically tailored for the Indian market. For the first time, Ford Motors decides to produce the right hand v...

iPhone 7: Is it worth it? Apple’s iPhone 7 is surely the most talked about device of the year. Although iPhone 7 doesn't feel like a "whole brand new thing", Apple does bring some notable features in the new model: Improved Front and Rear Cameras In the smartphone industry, there has been a constant comparison between Apple and Samsung. Both the companies even out when it comes to the best camera, useful features and new launches. Now, with optical image stabilization, previously restricted to the 5.5-inch Plus model, iPhone 7 delivers much-improved photos, especially in low-light, which is an Achilles’ heel for most smartphones Stereo Speakers The speaker sounds are louder than before as there are two speakers now, instead of a single speaker down by the home button. It’s a good thing if you’ve forgotten your Bluetooth speakers at home. You can happy use the iPhone 7 to tune into some music by the campfire without it being drowned out by the crackling ...

India’s Ambitious win in the 2016 Paralympics . Rio Paralympics 2016 (7 th -18 th Sept) yielded the best results ever for India. FOUR medals- the most successful Paralympics game campaign for the nation. 19 athletes represented the country, the largest contingent in the country’s Paralympics history. India got its flying start when Mariyappan Thangavelu won gold in men’s high jump T-42 event. He made a leap of 1.89 metres. Varun Singh Bhati clinched a Bronze medal in the same event of men’s high jump. He jumped his personal best of 1.86 metres to finish third.  Deepa Malik bagged silver medal in the women’s shot put F53 event with a best personal throw of 4.61 metres. Not only the medal, she also attained victory as India’s first woman and oldest athlete ever to win a medal at the Paralympics. Devendra Jhajharia is the only Indian to have won a gold medal prior to 2016. He won his first Paralympics medal in 2004. He went on to break his own world record in the ev...

Found myself! It was a week back when Ananya and I were on our way to give our confirmation for the event. We've been the best of pals for quite some time and I knew she'd definitely agree to come along with me. She's a chirpy little girl, somehow always excited for everything that comes her way! As for me, the decision to go for a conference that seemed too wacky at first, comprised of excitement and anxiety both! On our way, I kept pinging and asking her ...so are you sure we're going? Every time she'd reply in a firm affirmative. Finally I decided to not give it another thought, and to go for it! 'It would definitely be a new experience', I calmed myself down. Finally, the day of departure arrived. It had begun. I was on my way to Jaipur for the Youth Leadership Summit by The Education Tree , among complete strangers, with sleepy eyes, constantly questioning myself if I'd made the right decision. Today, as I look back and rewind all...

Why Priyanka Chopra at the Emmys is a BIG DEAL for us Priyanka Chopra has come a long way from winning the Miss World Pageant in 2000. She is a fashion icon,  a philanthropist, a fantastic actor and an inspiration for all us feminists and all Indians. Chopra has taken Hollywood by storm by featuring as the main lead, Alex Parish, in Quantico that airs round the world. She represents our country at a global platform and does a very good job. This year she entered the Forbes magazine's list of highest paid TV actresses in the world!! Last year, she was the eighth highest paid TV actor (female) in the world-the first Indian film Celebrity to do so. We are eagerly waiting for her Hollywood film debut in 'Baywatch' alongside Dwayne Johnson that comes out in May 2017. Chopra dazzled at the Oscars' red carpet earlier this year and continues to show our country in a good light. We can't wait for her next red carpet appearance!

GOLDISTIVE Gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity commenced the week higher at Rs 31,050 and Rs 30,900 per 10 gram. Bullion traders said increased buying by jewellers to meet festive season demand from retailers amid a firm global trend mainly led to recovery in gold prices. Bullion: Gold prices recovered at the bullion market during the week on increased buying by jewellers to meet retailers demand driven by festive season at domestic spot market amid a firming global trend. Silver, however, finished lower on reduced offtake by industrial units and coin makers. Bullion traders said increased buying by jewellers to meet festive season demand from retailers amid a firm global trend mainly led to recovery in gold prices. In the national capital, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity commenced the week higher at Rs 31,050 and Rs 30,900 and climbed to 30-month high of Rs 31,550 and Rs 31,400 per 10 gram respectively on global cues, a level last seen on February 26, 2...

  FASHIONDROBE                                 Yellow From mustard to chartreuse to bright, zingy lemon, yellow ran the gamut in New York. At  Tibi , Amy Smilovic was inspired by the photography of Julie Blackmon, whose pastel Fifties yellows she found arresting enough to emulate; while at  Sies Marjan , there were more of the fizzy sherbet yellows that brought designer Sander Lak’s debut collection such attention last season.  Alexander Wang  went all out with highlighter pen neon and  Thakoon  favoured a more muted mustard. It looks particularly fresh with statement gold earings   Deconstructed Shirting Shirts have got fussy for spring and  Monse  are partly responsible. The nascent brand, whose designers have just been appointed at Oscar de la Renta , made its...

HERE IS THE ANTI-DOTE FOR HOME-SICKNESS: PETS The expression 'dog is man’s best friend' might have more weight in case of first year university students suffering from homesickness. Students staying outside their homes, who often feel homesick, can now try the pet-therapy to get rid of this feeling. According to a research, pets can help first year students combat homesickness. Homesick students are more likely drop out of university than those who manage their homesickness. Pets enhance your mood. Whether you believe it or not, pets are a great way to improve your mood and temperament. Research has shown that people who suffer from various diseases have lesser chances of depression if they keep pets as compared to those who are suffering from similar diseases and don’t have pets. Pets are the perfect antidote for loneliness. No matter how low you keep, a pet will always be there for you whether you want to pour your heart out to them or tell your secrets as you kno...

Get ready to view degrees in digital form from end of 2017 The government has sent the ball rolling for the creation of an online database where all academic certificates will be available in digital format by the end of next year. Minister of Human Resource Development- Prakash Javadekar inaugurated national conference for generating awareness of the plan among stakeholders here on Friday "Establishment of a National Academic Depository is a step towards the Digital India vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi", Mr.Javadekar said.   " It is high time academic awards are verified and authenticated accessed and retrieved in a digital Depository". Secretary in the Ministry Vinay Sheel Oberoi said the idea was to make available information in any award to any person other than the student, " only with the explicit consent of the student ". He requested all academic institutions to get board promptly to make the NAD a reality. This database can a...

IT’S OFFICIAL! COLDPLAY IN INDIA! Brace yourself because they are better than the best! And this time they are in India!    Putting to rest all rumours, Global Citizen Festival (an annual not-for-profit music festival that started in the US in 2012) has confirmed that Coldplay will perform in Mumbai, in their first ever concert in India, on November 19.    This news is enough to excite anyone. But there's a slight catch. The ticket prices for their concert range from 25 grand to 5 freaking lakhs! The official tickets go live on Book My Show from September 12 at these prices. Nonetheless, there is a way by which you can get hold of some free tickets. This concert is a part of Chris Martin's Global Citizen Festival, created to mark the establishment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The fans can earn the free tickets by “taking actions in support of education, equality, and sanitation campaigns.” All y...