The countdown has begun. Nine days to go until we know the winner of the Fifa World Cup 2006, which is currently underway in Germany. All thanks to media proliferation in India, the hype for football has never been as much as it is this time round.

While cricket still rules in the hearts of our top industry honchos; football has now managed to carve a niche for itself. What's more, many executives have either already been to Germany or are on their way there to catch the action live as it happens.

However, what better than mixing work with pleasure and that's what people like Sam Balsara (Madison Communications chairman and managing director), G Krishnan (TV Today CEO and executive director), Uday Shankar (Star News CEO), I Venkat (Eenadu TV director), Srinivasan K. Swamy (RK Swamy BBDO CEO), Madhukar Kamath (Mudra Communications managing director and CEO), Vinod Berry (Sony Entertainment Television (SET) India Ltd. senior vice president revenue management) and Joy Chakraborthy (Zee Telefilms executive vice president network sales) will be doing today (30 June).

The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) and Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) have their joint body meeting in Hamburg today and the Indian television and media team will head to the stadium to catch the Italy versus Ukraine match soon after wrapping up work. (We'll surely be watching out for them on television tonight!)

Now let's take a dekhho at what games drives our industry. Ever wondered what do Star India CEO Peter Mukherjea and SET India CEO Kunal Dasgupta have in common apart from each being the head of a television company? Here's what? they both love to play golf. But since we're kicking a bigger ball here, let's find out what their football mantra is.

Peter Mukherjea

While Dasgupta went to Germany to catch the Brazil versus Japan match, Mukherjea, on the other hand, despite having tickets for the semi-finals, is not too keen on going all the way!

"I do like football but I am not keen on going all the way to Germany for the matches even though I got the tickets for the semi-finals. I enjoyed the Brazil versus Ghana match, though the result was expected. I do catch up with most of the matches keeping aside the late night matches," says Mukherjea.

Dasgupta is gung ho over his experience in Germany. "The experience of watching the teams live is just awesome and amazing. My all time favorite team is Brazil but this time Portugal is gaining my attention. As far as players are concerned, there is no one who stands out this time but my favorite player is Miroslav Klose from Germany," he says.

However, both Dasgupta and Mukherjea believe that Germany stands a good chance to steal the show this time round as home ground and home crowd support plays a vital role.

Raveena Raj Kohlli

Sundial Creative Media Pvt. Ltd founder Raveena Raj Kohlli loves watching cricket, football and Wimbledon. "All the hype around football is because of great marketing and excellent presentation. It is a fresh and lively game. Even a person who does not know much about the game can watch and enjoy the matches," she says.

However, she regrets the fact that she can't go to Germany to catch the matches there unlike some of her peers. "Many of my friends did catch up with the matches there and according to them the place is unbelievably boisterous. The stadium is jam packed with people from all walks of life, enjoying, shouting and freaking out," she adds.

Commitments at work have even deprived Kohlli of watching most of the matches on TV. "I was not even lucky enough to catch up with the Brazil-Ghana match, which I wished to watch desperately. Of the others, I could hardly view a few. The Australia-Italy match was an awesome one," she

says. But she's adamant that she's not going to let anything deter her from watching the finale on 9 July.

Times Now vice president and editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami is another one of those die hard cricket fans but has been bent towards football lately, more likely due to the fatigue factor that has been surrounding cricket.

"People are hardly interested in the test series going on in West Indies after the Fifa World Cup began. They have sort off switched to a new game, which is more lively and exciting. It is also because of the cable and satellite penetration that the game is getting such hype. Even the news channels are doing two to three shows a day analyzing football and are neglecting cricket to a great extent," he says.

Due to incessant work demands, Goswami literally lives life in his office and hence catches all the matches there with the Times Now sports bureau. But the news man is now going to leave his abode and head to Europe to catch one of the matches - not in the stadium but in a London pub! "I was looking forward to the Brazil- Ghana match but it was a total disappointment. I was quite impressed with Ghana though but it has ruined my expectations," sighs Goswami.

Lynn de Souza

Goswami, like all Indians, is backing Brazil and his favourite player is Ronaldo. "I feel Germany and Brazil will reach the finals as many factors like local support and good performance count a lot for the two teams," he says.

A tennis player and a fan of the game (of course), Lintas Media Services director Lynn de Souza is clued on to tennis more than football. But being in the media business, one has to be abreast with the happenings all around and that's what de Souza does. "I don't really watch the football matches but I manage to keep a track about what's happening as people around me keep me in the loop and I also read up on it," she says. However, as the drama unfolds and becomes more exciting on the field, de Souza will be glued to the television to catch the live matches. Backing Brazil, she feels that either her favourite team or Argentina will grab the Cup this year.

She is of the opinion that because India did not play too well in the cricket World Cup, the viewership has drifted towards football. "Matches are being telecast in the primetime slots and this is affecting the regular viewership. This shows what a hype football has taken all of a sudden. The kind of promotion newspapers are giving Fifa is tremendous. Something of this sort has never happened before," de Souza says.

Here we have another die hard cricket fan in Buena Vista International Television (India) director Amit Malhotra but at the same time, he likes football too and prefers to watch it in a pub or bar with some like-minded people.

Malhotra feels that the sudden bent towards football is a combination of a few factors. "One of them is the way India performed in the last Cricket World Cup and also because we've had an overdose of cricket in the past four years. What's more, media is also giving hype to this cause. In the next two - three years football will be a very popular sport in India," he says.

Patronizing Argentina just this once, Malhotra (whose favourite team is Brazil) is looking forward to the Germany - Argentina match. "In the past, Brazil - Japan match was just too engrossing. The first goal made by Japan was heart-taking. My heart supports Brazil to all extents as the team is very talented. My all time favorite player is Ronaldinho as he rocks. I feel Brazil is definitely going to grab the Cup because it is the best and the most consistent team. It is one team, which plays without any pressure on their mind. They are the ones who enjoy the game to the fullest," says he.

Keertan Adhyantaya

Cricket has a fan club member in Vh1 general manager Keertan Adhyantaya too, who is of the opinion that no other game can create the fervor that cricket generates in India. "It's just the explosion done by the media that football is getting such hype. A few years ago, there were hardly two news channels and those too were not giving it so much of importance. But now with the phenomenal development in the cable and satellite industry, every sport is managing to find its place under the sun," he says.

However, notwithstanding that Adhyantaya has managed to latch on to the football fever with family, friends and colleagues. "For the finals, I will be going out with a few friends to a club and watch the event on the big screen," he reveals.

While his favorite team is Portugal, his gut tells him that Brazil will be taking the cake this time too.

So whether it's Brazil, Portugal, Argentina or Germany; one thing's for sure? however much our execs might love cricket? they are all clued on to football fever for sure!

Power or business dressing for women, is all about blending the casual with the chic. Nothing too loud or flashy, but definitely a criss-cross of buttoned-up business basics along with a weekend warrior full business attire. The rule of thumb here is to be a little conservative yet stylish without being completely casual.

Says Mita Mangaokar, a fashion designer from NIFT [National Institute of Fashion Technology who has worked for varied clients ranging from Kala Niketan to Scullers," just take a look around at the movers and shakers around you to evaluate your own dress code. I would say, there's no casual- chic look for those pounding the pavement for a new job.

She further elaborates, " Go in for a business look. Dress appropriately, so that one best projects the image of success in whatever one does. Just take care not to appear too flashy by wearing expensive clothes or a dozen pieces of jewelry. Your attire should send the message that you can fit into the work environment.

Sari, salwar kameez or shirt/trouser?
Some years ago, the sophisticated workingwoman waltzed into the boardroom in salwars and saris. Now, several summers later, she has done away with that six-yard mess and the noose e around the neck called dupatta. The working woman has said 'hi' to corporate dressing and slipped into trousers and shirts. On the roads, in your office, at your nearest cafe, she sports work wear that screams comfort and style.

"I feel more confident and less conscious while attending a business meeting in corporate wear rather than a salwar. In fact, that makes me feel more assertive," says Janet GomGomes a business development manager, whose corporate wardrobe is sprinkled with Allen Solly and Scullers.

However, not all women are ready to do away with sarees and salwar-kameez, yet. "When it comes to Friday dressing, jackets and well-fitted shirts, make way for jeans and skirts, but I am not ready to write off salwar-kameez so soon. As a change from the corporate dress code, one can opt for salwars once in a while,"says Mohini Mehta , a 40 year old PRO working for a multinational. However, more and more women in twenties are opting for western attire. Semi formal is all time favourite with many as it suits many who attend meetings and then probably meet up for cocktails or dinner.

Adds Mita, " there's a wide range you can choose from. Arrow has launched blazers, knits and jackets besides the shirts and trousers. The range starts from Rs. 700 onwards. However, jackets come with an expensive tag. The range for jackets starts from Rs. 2500. Allen Solly, Scullers, Westside, Shoppers' Stop and Blackberries too are eyeing the working women. With emphasis on fabric, cut and colour, these brands offer a wide range of trousers that can be matched with shirts, jackets, knits and pullovers. Also, when it comes to fabric, the most preferred are polynosic, cotton, lycra and linen," says Mita

ACCESSORIES
Office wear jewellery should be minimal and should give a sophisticated and professional look. "I suggest ear studs or a single bracelet," says Pallavi a senior designer at Tanishq. "A small solitaire diamond looks classy and simple. Platinum goes well with office wear," she says.

Here, Mita offers some more pointers in accessories:

Handbags: A 'ladies special' leather brief case or a leather bag preferably in black/brown is ideal for carrying daily to the office. An elegant wristwatch will complete the look.

Sandals: The right kind of footwear is very important. Leather shoes would go well with semi formal western wear and sandals [not colorful though] would be fine for Indian outfits. They should not be so high as to cause discomfort.

Hair: Your hairstyle should be neat and your hair colour should be natural-and should also complement your complexion. Wild colours (blue, pink, platinum streaks, etc.) and hair glitter are a no-no.

Nails: Short, well-manicured nails in one tone, including French manicures, are ideal. Long exotic and colorfully designed nails send the wrong message to a potential employer. rk.

Make -up too should be minimal and naturalistic. Pastel shades of lipstick with a light eye liner should do fine.

Last but not the least, look like a winner, as everybody loves a winner.
* Act as if you are a very important person.

* Strive to appear like a person with a future.

* Try to show others that you are going up the ladder.

* Never lose your composure, even in difficult situations.

Groom yourself to be a person destined to succeed. And above all, be true to yourself and trust your instincts!

There was a time not so long ago when suits, ties, and sharp looking clothes were the preserve of a select few: those in the highest echelons of management. No more however. With the economy opening up, and an increasing number of foriegn companies coming into the country, and more Indians travelling globally, dressing sharp has spread. No longer are the Armani and Hugo Boss suits the preserve of the super rich or those in the glamour biz. Today even senior executives don a Ferrigno suit or wear a Givenchy perfume along with a Lanvin tie. The idea is to look good at work, to look competent and efficient, to look sharp, to look like an achiever.

Also a lot more care is being taken on ones overall appearance, on the frills and accoutrements, hair, skin, accessories and footwear. As long as it adds to that power Greek God look.

"Power dressing is here to stay," says Chirag Dattani, a fashion designer who runs a studio by his name at Laxmi Plaza in Andheri. "The best part about the whole exercise is that it is not so expensive as there are different ranges available in the market to suit different budgets. One doesn't have to hire a fashion consultant for furnishing one's wardrobe. All one has to do is befriend a salesperson at his/her favourite store to know about changing trends and get valuable suggestions that would enable one to pick up the right stuff. Being a loyal customer would also ensure that you'll be the first to know when new merchandise comes in, or when a big sale takes place," adds the man who has trained from Parsons School of Designs at New York.

More and more men have started building a 'correct corporate wardrobe' as it helps them to give the right signals. Chirag offers some pointers :

GOAL: Are you looking for a raise? Are you looking to impress your boss? Are you looking at giving your colleague an inferiority complex? Are you looking at making a client feel at ease with you? Are you looking at charming the lady client? These are questions you should mull over before making your sartorial choices.

JOB: Cut your cloth, tailor your clothes, depending on your job. Clothes definitely make a man - or a woman. If your job is in administration or finance in the back end of a company, don't dress like you are a yuppy film star. Even if you can afford it. Even if dressing down is in.

That is if you are working in a conservative job, dress conservatively. Mostly, this is to put your clients at ease and to build up their trust. Will an old lady entrust her life's earnings to a man in a bank who dresses up in frayed jeans (even if they are Ralph Lauren) and a crumpled shirt (no matter how snazzy it looks).

There are careers which call for a cool dressing approach. For instance in cinema or television, even CEOs such as Sameer Nair and Peter Mukerjea or Kunal Dasgupta don't go the whole hog in their daily corporate attire. Nair can be seen in a nice white shirt, with a smart jacket (no tie) and smart trousers in the corner office at Star House. On other days, one spots him in extremely casual attire, especially on weekends. Dasgupta and Mukerjea don't overdress themselves.

Says a fashion consultant: "Nair - though he looks like a lawyer - is one of the brightest creative professionals in the country and he deals with creative, business, legal, distribution executives in his company. His dress sense does not put off the creative programming guys nor the serious executive in Star India."

On the other hand, writers, directors, and actors are not taken seriously if they dress too seriously. Jeans, tight T-shrits, floral or striped shirts, with casual floaters or sneakers complete the look. The days of the jola and khadi kurta pyjama look have essentially gone.

BE BOLD WITH TIES
Ties, broad at the base rather than thin and slender ones are in. The colours: don't go for loud ones, dark blues, blacks, greens - as long as they match or contrast your shirt and jacket will make you look sharper. Striped ties too work well though full coloured ones are in these days. If you want to be more aggressive, pick out designer ties or funkier patterns. But be careful not to appear to be pretentious. Like there is this journalist turned entrepreneur in Delhi who claims to live in Los Angeles who normally sports a Marilyn Monroe tie no matter which shirt or jacket he is wearing. This definitely is making a statement but it leads to sniggers. Often time, colleagues and clients have remarked, smiled and guffawed loudly when he is out of ear shot about his strange sartorial sense.

ACCESSORIES
The package may look good but what's in it makes it look even better, more complete. Exercise is essential to make you look fit, stand erect, look like a man oozing power. But what makes you look more complete is the embellishments. Your cufflinks, your tiepin. Nice gold ones or black links can add to your appearance.The tableau of colognes and eau de toilettes and parfums has expanded in shopping malls. You have a variety of fragrances to choose from: be they woody or citrony. Take your pick depending on the occasion and your mood. Remember your cologne should be subtle and not be screaming for attention. Make sure your wallet is made of real leather not of a smelly plastic; everytime you pull it out people will appreciate your fondness for the finer things in life. Similarly, an elegant watch should complete your outfit. Brand names always leave an impression, but think sophistication first and foremost.

RIGHT SHOES
Again, your shoes must be stylish through and through. While comfort should definitely be one of the deciding factors, aim for leather footwear. If possible, avoid rubber soles and opt for leather ones instead. Black, brown and oxblood (i.e. burgundy) are your colors. Always make sure they are properly shined

Last but not the least, the air of confidence, elegance and comfort is what makes a man a winner all the way!

Car buyers crave the best deals on their purchases, but the best cars for the bucks are not necessarily the ones that come with the biggest discounts. After all, you can brag to your friends that you got a Saturn Ion with thousands of dollars on the hood, but you?ll still be driving a Saturn Ion.

In the slide show that follows this piece, we describe this year?s crop of the top cars in terms of value. We focus on vehicles that give you a lot of car considering their sticker prices?not on vehicles that have deep discounts because of inventory and/or sales problems.

Detroit should focus on packing value into its cars from the beginning. Instead, starting with the initial business cases they make for new cars, American automakers count on offering incentives. The average offer from General Motors is $2,433; from Ford Motor , $2,612; and from DaimlerChrysler?s subsidiary, Chrysler, $1,969?all significantly higher than the offers made by foreign competitors.

See the best cars for the bucks.

Honda Motor is getting full sticker prices for its overhauled Civic line, and it can do that because the Civic is chock full of value. As you will see in our list, it is an affordable, entry-level car, but one that meets the highest standards for safety, reliability, build quality, accident-avoidance technology and fuel economy.

Honda avoids cash incentives, and fellow Japanese automaker Toyota Motor is cutting incentive spending. In the first quarter, Toyota?s average incentive offer dropped 38% to $816. Yet sales for both Honda and Toyota are up this year, and their profits never seem to stop growing, while GM edges closer to bankruptcy.

However, American-car inventories have declined this year, meaning that GM and Ford might be able to avoid the kind of blowouts they offered last summer, when they made employee pricing available to the general public.

The command that Wall Street likes to use when advising General Motors is, ?Shrink to a defensible position.? This means cut production, cut salaries and cut the workforce, and focus not on being the world?s largest automaker but on improving per-car and per-dealer profits.

Just look at Porsche, which is one of the world?s smallest automakers but one that is nearly untouchable in terms of profitability. Making fewer cars but making them better is the key to rehabilitating customers and getting them used to lower discounts.

In keeping with the idea that cheap doesn?t equal good value, when compiling our list of the best cars you can get for your buck, we looked for vehicles that offer power, comfort, safety technology, reliability, high levels of build quality, sophisticated accident-avoidance technology and more?all for less than you would spend on competing vehicles. The cars on our list range from the $15,000 Civic up to the what we think is the best bargain supercar around, the Chevrolet Corvette Z06, priced a little under $66,000.

And they?re from all over the map, which just goes to show that any automaker can offer an attractive car for an attractive price, and not just lure people into showrooms with cash on the hoods of its cars.

Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, the flagship Ms Amsterdam sets the standard for five-star cruise ships.

Ms Amsterdam blends the very latest in shipbuilding technology with the artistry, personalized touches, and superior service that has made Holland America Line one of the highest-rated cruise lines in the world.

At the heart of the Ms Amsterdam is the Planeto Astrolabium, a specially commissioned signature sculpture suspended and soaring in a three-story atrium. The stunning Astrolabe tracks constellations, the planets, world time and ship time.

With the capacity to carry 1,380 guests, the Ms Amsterdam features 172 staterooms with verandahs. The Ms Amsterdam completed all Signature of Excellence enhancements to her public rooms and staterooms in spring 2005.

In early 2007 she circumnavigates the globe on her Grand World Voyage.

Signature features include:

The two-tier La Fontaine Dining Room features impeccable service and an extensive wine list, and offers five-course menus, from continental cuisine to vegetarian and low-carb options.

The intimate reservations-only Pinnacle Grill offers an elegant, sophisticated dining experience and features premium hand-selected cuts of Sterling Silver beef, inspired seafood dishes and many select wines.

The Lido Restaurant offers a relaxed ambiance for all three meals and features a variety of fresh, cooked-to-order specialties.

The Culinary Arts Center, presented by Food & Wine magazine, is the setting for gourmet cooking demonstrations and interactive classes.

Explorations Caf?, powered by The New York Times, features the largest library at sea, as well as comfortable music listening stations and Internet access.

The Greenhouse Spa & Salon features thermal suites, hydrotherapy and thalassotherapy pool, heated ceramic lounges and more.

The Queen's Show Lounge features Las Vegas-style productions, talented vocalists, illusionists, comedians and variety acts.

The Crow's Nest, where sweeping views make observation lounge a top choice for relaxing during the day, and in the evening transforms into a hip, fashionable nightclub features top-notch DJs and live bands.

Dedicated youth facilities and activities for kids ages 3 to 12.

The Loft and The Oasis, designed exclusively for teens to have fun, socialize and hang out with people their own age.

At the heart of the Holland America experience is a warm and unobtrusive style of service that is never in the way and never out of reach.

Expect excellence: sail with nearly one crew member for every two guests, for the impeccable service that has long defined classic cruising.

Rhythm of relaxing and inspiring days onboard, with a wealth of activities and enrichment programs for pleasure. One day opt for a hot stone massage in luxurious Greenhouse Spa and Salon, another day elect to attend a cooking demonstration in the world class Culinary Arts Center, improve golf swing or spend time at one of the pools.

Discovery, both of new countries and new places, is the true spirit of world travel. World of education, activity, enrichment and inspiration onboard Holland America Line ships.

Public rooms, with rich, polished woods and soft leather furniture create an inviting ambiance.

Staterooms filled with all manner of sophisticated amenities beckon to retreat for hours. There is a certain kind of elegance that never goes out of style, inviting to relax into a world of comfort and easy elegance aboard the spacious ships of Holland America Line.

An African safari, the romance of Venice, the grandeur of Asian palaces, the drama of Machu Picchu and the great pyramids, the exquisite pleasures of a transoceanic crossing.

In 2008, it celebrates the 50th anniversary of first world cruise.

It seems like every corporate honcho has been trudging on to that treadmill for decades now.

Exercise has become too monotonous,and boring,and well....who has the time? .Infact it's not far fetched to try and get clued into all the exciting avenues for working out that are jazzing up the calorie shedding circuit today.

Sweating it out has become monotonous, boring and well .....who has all the time anyway? So how about some jiffy exercise for the body and soul? Fitness mantras for the 'new age corporate' has to be as much about calming the mind as shedding those extra kilos.So get clued into the latest avenues on working out and jazz up that calorie shedding circuit today.

Power walking, power yoga, taichi, Pilates, spinning and Reebok core boarding are all just the front runners of a veritable exercise revolution which our executives have been trying there hand at out of their busy schedule.

Adding 'zing' to the fitness training coming to gym for the busy bigs

Versa training -while most regular gyms offer the same thing for cardio-a treadmill, cross trainer or stationery bicycle-versa training gives something different to do almost 365 days a year. Everything from aerobics to kickboxing, medicine ball, Swiss ball, trampoline, aqua aerobics, dandiya aerobics, jazz exercise, hip hop...to keep body challenged.

Zumba -it's very dancey and everyone can follow it and it's great for people at all level of fitness as there's no jumping involved. People are always looking for something different to try out not to get bored.

Bhangra masala DVD of masala workout in India is great as it concentrates on abs and legs and works for the upper body as well it's evident that there's absolutely nothing routine about exercise in India.

Swiss ball a primary benefit of exercising with a Swiss ball as opposed to exercising directly on a hard flat surface is that the body responds to the instability of the ball to remain balanced, engaging many more muscles to do so. Those muscles become stronger over time to keep balance.

Medicine ball also known as an exercise ball, med ball, or fitness ball is a heavy ball, roughly the size of a volleyball or a basketball used for rehabilitation and strength training.

Cardio hoops Hula Hoop is one of the few fitness that primarily targets your middle. With circular trunk movements, it directly works abdominal muscles, hips and waistlines. Gain for both a cardio and strength workout. (One minute of Hula Hopping burns as many calories as running an eight-minute mile or high impact aerobic class).

Thera band rotation movements are excellent for warming up the rotator cuff muscles of the shoulder joint.

Tae Bo means tae kwon do and boxing. Or called Total Awareness Excellence Body Obedience.

Krav Maga is a self-defense and military hand-to-hand combat system developed in Israel.

Urban rebounding in just 20 minutes a day, 3 times a week, the Urban Rebounding Workout melts pounds of fat away, without any pain or stress on your joints. Urban Rebounding is also safe. In proper form, your feet barely leave the surface. You don't jump high, you jump strong.