Retropoplifestyle

Gurugram-based Young Teen, rises to the occasion in COVID-19 relief program

Supplies 2000 masks and dry ration to 380 families

With the COVID-19pandemic adversely affecting the country’s resources, many inspiring tales of resilience and solidarity are emerging from among India’s youngest generations. One such story is of a 13 year old, Ishaan Jain, whose self-initiated relief program has helped some of societies neediest in and around Gurugram Zone 3, to survive and overcome difficulties during these trying times. Ishaan, a student of Heritage Xperiential Learning School and a resident of Gurugram, has endeavored to support in the fight against COVID-19, by distributing masks and food kits to vulnerable families.

His initiative began on 1^stApril 2020, as he rallied contributions from family, friends and well-wishers. Dry Ration and masks were then procured and with the support from the Civil Defense Team, vulnerable communities were identified. Through his determination and the encouragement of his family, the drive has, thus far, supported 380 families and distributed 2000 masks.

The State Department has honored Ishaan’s valiant efforts, awarding him with ‘Icon of COVID-19’. Many of India’s youngest citizens have been showing the spirit of compassion, empathy and dedication, during this pandemic. Determined to do more and inspire his friends and peers, Ishaan will also be distributing 500 Hygiene Kits comprising washable reusable masks, sanitary pads, towels with soaps and cloth bags, in the near future.

Span Floors

The Outwud Vulcan Panelling collection is the gold standard in solid-wood wall and ceiling panels. Elegantly crafted from thermally modified FSC certified plantation timber, Outwud Vulcan Panelling is made using lightweight, stable timber with excellent aesthetic & thermal characteristics.

With a visually pleasing and distinctive straight grain, Vulcan introduces the rich feel & color of nature into the room or an exterior ceiling. Key features include high durability, resistance to sun, water & pests, natural color, non-arsenic with an unmatched ‘Built to Last’ Limited Warranty. The product is made extremely stable & durable with a patented process which includes treatment at very high temperatures, unique sawing method, anti termite treatment and an engineered construction. The wood is cut perpendicular to the grain, hence providing greater stability and less surface cracking.

Quote

Satinder Chawla, Managing Director, Span Floors

“Outwud Vulcan Panelling is a brilliant product in terms of responsible luxury. It meets our high technical and performance standards, and carries Forest Stewardship Council Certification. Not only the end users and architects be delighted with the beauty and ease of maintenance the product offers, all stakeholders can rest assured that what they are using actually helps improve the situation of the planetary environment.”

Availability: New Delhi and all major cities across India through dealers

Showroom: Span Floors, M-8, 1st Floor, M-Block Market, Greater Kailash-II, New Delhi-110048, India.

DIY AC Service & Maintenance

As you may be aware, The Lockdown has undoubtedly brought about a new set of challenges for everyone. Be it be a star or a businessman or an employee working from home everyone has taken to social media to express how physical distancing has had an impact on routine life.

https://youtu.be/j2orp_KiRXw

Recently, Tapsee Pannu, shared a post to talk about her leaking AC and how she could not get it repaired due to the lockdown. These problems are expected and various brands such as Voltas are addressing these with short DIY videos for a quick and easy fix to your AC.

https://youtu.be/Y8l3T8BTL-o

Destination for Art Lovers

Public Art in Beverly Hills

With some of the most acclaimed public artworks on display and a bi-annual art show that selects a new piece each year to be showcased on city grounds, Beverly Hills is the destination for art lovers. To enrich the cultural lives of its residents and visitors, the city continually collects a wealth of world-class art by way of the Fine Arts Commission. Members travel the world to purchase art that they feel would be an ideal fit for the city, and a Public Art Ordinance is mandated by the city, requiring developers to either purchase a piece of art for their property or donate to the Fine Art Fund.

All works of art must meet the following criteria: created by an established artist with an international reputation, possess an intrinsic quality that enhances the aesthetics of the building site and create visual excitement for the city. If the criteria are met, members of the city’s Fine Art Commission approve the piece, which is then brought to the Beverly Hills City Council for a vote and a site is chosen. Since 2015, over 70 pieces of art have been selected and adorn the city landscape. Below is the list of the top places to visit to see public art in Beverly Hills.

Beverly Gardens Park

Take a stroll through Beverly Gardens Park and you’ll quickly find yourself running into an impressive collection of public works of art. Start east of the Beverly Hills Sign & Lily Pond to view Roxy Paine’s Erratic, a texturized stainless steel boulder that symbolizes technology’s impact on nature or Playground, the first Tony Smith piece commissioned by a city. Head west down the park’s jogging trail to view Barry Flanagan’s The Drummer, a whimsical bronze hare located in front of the Beverly Hills Sign and Lily Pond, Yayoi Kusama’s eye-catching Hymn of Life: Tulips and Takeaway by Tom Friedman, a 14-foot tall stainless steel sculpture of a man with takeaway boxes balanced on his head. Also on view along the park are Magdalena Abakanowicz’s Sitting Figure on Bench, Henri Alfred Marie Jacquemart’s Hunter and Hounds and Jaume Plensa’s Endless V.

Beverly Hills City Hall

Presiding over the city’s civic life since 1932, Beverly Hills City Hall has been a beloved local landmark designed by architect William Gage. Beautiful in pictures but even more stunning in person, explore the center’s terrazzo floors and intricate ceilings as you view several public works, including Joan Brown’s The Obelisk, a mosaic tower depicting a seagull in flight above green palm trees, Charles Arnoldi’s Home, located south of the Beverly Hills Public Library and Richard Serra’s triangular sheets of steel, Twins, created in dedication to the artist’s twin nephews.

Burton Way and Rexford Drive

Carefully make your way to the Burton Way grass median and you will instantly spot Sisyphus, a bright red modern steel sculpture by Alexander Liberman, a gift donated by the husband of the city’s former mayor, Vicki Reynolds. A few yards east of Sisyphus is William Kentridge’s World on its Hind Legs, the only major outdoor sculpture by Kentridge in the U.S. The three-dimensional work is meant to be observed from all directions, providing viewers “moments of dynamic abstraction and moments that appear to be almost two-dimensional,” as stated in an article by Beverly Press. Next, head to Rexford Park, where you will find Baile Oakes’ Spiral of Life gracing the lawn.

The Golden Triangle

Set between Santa Monica Boulevard, Canon Drive and Wilshire Boulevard is The Golden Triangle, a grid of seven smaller commercial streets that encompass the business district of Beverly Hills. Catch a perfect photo opportunity with one of the the sculptures by street artist Mr. Brainwash. His sculpture, Beverly Hills is Beautiful, located in Beverly Canon Gardens just outside Montage Beverly Hills, is an extension of of his piece, Life is Beautiful, located on Rodeo Drive, that debuted in 2008 on Sunset Boulevard.

Down Beverly Drive, viewers can admire Unconscious by Franz West, located at the “Gateway” of Beverly Hills at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Beverly Drive. The orange looping ribbon-shaped sculpture integrates three seats to encourage conversation, socialization and interaction.

Beverly Hills artSHOW

In addition to purchases through the Fine Art Commission, Beverly Hills acquires new art every spring by awarding The Mayor’s Choice Award during the bi-annual Beverly Hills art-show. Established to affirm the city’s commitment to and support of the arts, the Mayor awards a winning piece to be installed at a public city facility. The artwork is chosen among st the works of over 240 international and domestic artists who showcase and sell their creations during the art show in Beverly Gardens Park, an event that attracts as many as 50,000 attendees.

Winners from recent years include Flight of Spring by Steve Leclair, located in the Municipal Gallery at City Hall, Ball & Jacks by David Tanych, which can be spotted at the Beverly Hills Community Dog Park on Foothill Road and Alden Drive and Affirmation by Greg Clark, which hangs in the lobby at the Roxbury Community Center…..

Gautam Gambhir backs FYI Health

A health-tech community product that helps to create a safe environment within companies

Highlights:

FYI Health, a community health monitoring solution – exclusively designed for enterprise use has launched recently in India.

Backed by former cricketer and current member of the Lok Sabha, Gautam Gambhir, FYI Health allows companies of all sizes to create a safe environment for their workforce. This is done by enabling daily health check-in for employees, employers and guests visiting the corporate eco-system and contact tracing, if and when required.

Early adopters include the Radisson Blu Hotel in Dwarka, Delhi and educational institutions such as – Ramjas School (R.K. Puram, Delhi) and Lilawati Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School (Shakti Nagar, Delhi), that have committed to deploying FYI Health to secure their corporate environment and workforce.

“FYI Health is a pioneering effort and is a much-required innovation in the fight against Covid-19 and the potential rebound if any. It provides companies and its employees a win-win, easy to use health-tech product. It gives employers the control to further their goal of keeping their workforce safe and to employees the privacy and control they desire over their own data”, said Gautam Gambhir. “We are in the thick of this fight against Covid-19 and all indicators point to this being long drawn. My personal backing and support to FYI Health comes from my own desire to contribute towards helping fight this crisis in whatever way I can. Testing and tracing are vital measures in helping reduce the virus spreading”, he added.

Available on Android currently and for iOS shortly, FYI Health is a subscription based pricing model and is available on its website at www.fyihealth.in.

Feel The Adrenaline Rush Sitting At Home

NO SMALL ADVENTURE

Welcome to Mammoth Lakes, where “no way” is never far away. Majestic in scale and awesome in its natural beauty, the year-round adventure land of Mammoth Lakes is one of those rare places that you have to see to still not totally believe. The name speaks to the size of the mountains, the expanse of the valleys, the incredible number of crystal clear mountain lakes and the endless opportunities for adventure just outside your door. But what makes this place really unique are the surreal storybook scenes that drop jaws, spark the imagination and make every moment feel like a brush with the truly incredible.

Adventure is available year-round in Mammoth Lakes. In fact, there is a lot of debate about which season is best. During winter you can ski and snowboard Mammoth Mountain or take off into the wilderness on your cross country skis. When spring hits, you can ski and also celebrate the fishing opener in the same day. The summermelts away the snow, opening roads to Devils Postpile National Monument, 101-foot Rainbow Falls and the gateway to Yosemite National Park. Some claim autumn is the best season because you get all of the sightseeing of summer PLUS spectacular fall colors and fewer visitors. No matter what time of year you visit, there are plenty of things to do in Mammoth Lakes.

Start your unreal journey by clicking here- immersive 360-degree videos.

Surround yourself with the unbelievable in these 360-degree videos. Adventure through the seasons, from snow-capped peaks to shimmering lakes and all the amazement in between. Make sure to keep an eye out for the seven unreal legends hiding along your journey.

TIP: View the videos using your headphones or VR headset for the best viewing experience! Be sure to click and drag to look around in 360 degrees, and pause to explore your surroundings.

Shaurya Mehta

Bringing Smile on People’s Faces
Singer Shaurya Mehta, who recently released a single featuring Bhagyashree, is currently in the process of releasing another single. He said, “It is not a love song but the work on this new project is slow because of the lockdown.” He added, “In this lockdown, most of us are bored being at home and unable to pursue much productive work or go out for a movie or a party. To help people in these tough times, I frequently do Instagram live sessions to entertain my followers by singing songs of their choices. It’s all about bringing a smile on people’s faces.”

He also shared how he enjoys his time at home catching up with his family and cooking. He said, “I’m appreciating the environment around me, the clean air, birds chirping, spending time with my family, watching TV shows, reading and cooking. I’m making the most of it by interacting with audiences on social media and entertaining people. I urge everyone to stay at home and be responsible. People should take government warnings regarding the extended lockdown seriously and maintain social distancing.”

Fight against Corona Virus

Actress Kressy Singh’s Noble Act

Kressy Singh has been following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s journey towards fighting Covid19 and is deeply inspired by him for doing the good. “I deeply respect Modiji and it gives me great joy to see a smile on the faces of people when they receive the basics they are currently suffering for,” says Kressy while shying away from speaking about the donations they have been making.

The actress has been going all out to help people in need by distributing groceries, sanitizers, masks and gloves to the needy. So much so, that it is learnt, Kressy donated her entire signing amount of a project she started shooting for just before the lockdown happened.

Right from featuring in TV Shows like Sasural Simar Ka, Saavdhaan India, Crime Patrol to various short films, print shoots, TV ads, music video etc, Kressy is also featured in the recent hit song Diamond Ring and just before the lockdown was also shooting for a Government Project – Khwabon Ka Karwaan. The show will be aired on DD National and has been produced by Dharamvir Singh and directed by Bhupender Singh .

AMFAH India Contributes Dehumidifiers for COVID-19 Hospitals in Mumbai

Air Products Company installs devices in war rooms at BMC Office

AMFAH India, a leading brand in air quality products, has contributed dehumidifiers in COVID-19 positive hospitals and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). This equipment will help in improving the humidity conditions at ICUs, war rooms and backup rooms at these establishments, reducing the spread of the dreaded corona virus here.

Currently, Maharashtra suffers from the severest onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, with 33,053 cases. The disease has claimed 1198 lives so far. Multiple hospitals have been set aside to handle COVID-19 positive cases exclusively.

“We wish to salute frontline fighters against the COVID-19 crisis like doctors, nurses and police officers. So, we’ve collaborated with government offices and hospitals like KEM Hospital, Kasturba Hospital, Sion Hospital (Sion), Nair Hospital, ENT Hospital (Churchgate) and ESI Hospital (Kandivali). We’ve also installed them at the Shivaji Nagar police station and Oshiwara police station”, shared Mansoor Ali, founder of AMFAH India and an industry expert in air treatment products.

Ali has been campaigning about the need to focus on humidity and indoor air quality in measures to combat the corona virus. Indeed, the WHO has also linked the spread of the corona virus to humidity levels. India, as a tropical country, needs to factor in multiple humidity levels for any successful COVID-19 strategy. Ali says his organization hopes to raise awareness towards this factor with their contribution.

“We’ve installed these devices in ICUs, war rooms and backup rooms at the hospitals, BMC, where people sit together and strategies. We’ve also set up a device at Savali, a shelter run by Sanyog Trust, which is offering living space to relatives of COVID-19 patients near KEM hospital”, he added.

“The corona virus has claimed thousands of lives, shaken governments and pummeled the market. It has, however, failed to crush the indomitable spirit of a few brave Mumbaikars who have been working inhuman hours, in conditions of extreme risk, to keep us safe. Our move is a simple salute to their immense contribution to our lives”, he said.

Deepika Padukone and Instagram Partner

Wellness Guide

Deepika Padukone and Instagram announced a unique initiative, wherein the actor has exclusively curated a ‘Wellness Guide’ on Instagram, as part of the ongoing global Mental Health Awareness month. The ‘Wellness Guide’ is Instagram’s new feature to keep people inspired during these tough times.

‘Guides’, from Instagram, is a new way to easily discover recommendations, tips and other content from your favorite creators, public figures, organizations and publishers on Instagram. With many people struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ‘Guides’ will first be focused on wellness and mental health content. Globally, Instagram is enabling public figures and creators to connect with expert organizations to share resources during this time, and for India, it is Deepika Padukone, along with The Live Laugh Love Foundation, that has curated this guide.

Deepika Padukone, who recently received a Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2020 for her leadership in raising mental health awareness, said, “I am sure we all agree that the past several weeks have not only been exceptionally unusual but also very difficult; uncertainty about the future, loss of livelihoods, and the inability to be around family and loved ones, are just a few of the challenges facing us. And situations such as these, often lead to or aggravate mental illness. I look forward to sharing with all of you some of the things I’ve been doing over the past several weeks to nurture my mental health, and I hope you find them useful too.”

Ankhi Das, Director, Public Policy, Facebook – India, South and Central Asia said, “At Instagram, we’re aware of the impact the pandemic is having on young people globally. We want to support their mental well-being by amplifying mental health resources and empowering creators to create inspiring, wellness related content. The Wellness Guide is a step in that direction and we couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with Deepika Padukone and her foundation, who’ve been playing a leading role in promoting consciousness and action on mental health.”

To view the Guide, visit the profile of @DeepikaPadukone or The Live Laugh Love Foundation(@tlllfoundation). Then, tap the middle icon to view the ‘Wellness Guide’. While viewing it, you can see posts and videos that she has curated, paired with helpful tips and advice. If you want to learn more about a specific post, you can tap on the image or video to view the original Instagram post. You can also share a Guide to your story or in Direct by tapping on the share button in the upper right corner. In the coming days,you’ll also be able to access Guides within the Explore tab. While everyone can view the Guide, creation currently has only been opened to a small group of wellness expert organizations, publishers and creators across the world. This may expand to additional focus areas in the future. This new feature is another step from Instagram to support the community during these times. In the past couple of months, the platform has launched the ‘Thank you hour’ and ‘Dhanyavad’ stickers to help you express gratitude towards those who’re helping you get through these times, new safety features to manage unwanted interactions and curating a series of ‘Live In Your Living Room’ series of Instagram Live music concerts to help bring people together.