Dhaka Tribune
Tuesday, September 24, 2013 Volume 1, Issue 23
Hot Topic EMBRACING NOWNESS Written in the Stars
FARAH MALIHA
A weekly production of
DhakaTribune Editor Zafar Sobhan Magazine Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad TMAG Team Sabiha Mahmud Sumi Rubab Nayeem Khan Munira Fidai Natasha Rahman Azfar Rahman Saudia Afrin Tahsin Momin Contributors Imtiaz Salim Fardeen Ameen Arifeen Mahmood Khan SMMR Shaon Iftekharul Haque Graphics Mohammed Mahbub Alam Kazi Istela Imam Production Masum Billah Advertising Shahidan Khurshed Circulation Wahid Murad Email: tmag@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com
4 Look of the Week Bold and Bright
8 Written in the Stars
Mobilising youth: Farah Maliha
More inside GOSSIP 12 Dear Diary 12 Blush Much PICKS OF THE WEEK 2 Room of the week Rudaina Reaz 3 Doodle of the week Upama Kabir 10 Guitar tabs of the week “Apple and Cinnamon” by Hikaru Utada
YOUR WORLD 9 Fiction The Battle 9 Comic book Chacha Chaudhary 9 Book Goosebumps 5 Car KITT car from Knight Rider FASHION 4 Beauty check A letter to myself 4 Wardrobe check Timelessly chic Real Life 3 Event Tweets 6 Hot topic Embracing now-ness 9 Non-fiction Banking 101 12 He says, she says
TMAG SAYS 2 Funk up your room Ahead of time 2 FYI For your own good 3 School Survival Eco-friendly Habits 10 Playlist Top ten tomorrow’s tunes 10 Instrument Misa Kitara signature series 10 Music Rocknation II 11 Movie Elysium 11 Game The last of us HOROSCOPES 5 Your forecast
Status of the week Whoever said “sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you” has obviously never been hit with a dictionary
About the cover The future is now. TMAG shows you how Models Anabeel Sen, Samin Sababa Photographer Syed Latif Hossain Make-up Wasifa Ahmad (Sifa’s Corner) Wardrobe and Accessories Urban Truth
Quote of the week Dont be afraid to change. You may lose something good, but you may gain something better
Lingo of the week KMT Meaning- It’s a description of the sound you make when you want to be rude to someone Usage Girl 1- “Hey I heard you lost the match last night.” Girl 2 - Kissed her teeth in response
10 Spotlight Powersurge
Editor’s note Dear Readers, This week TMAG is boarding the time machine and fast forwarding into the future. Yes, we don’t know what’s going to strike us, but taking charge and being in control of our actions never harmed anyone. Flip through to (page 2) FYI to cultivate habits that shall give you a stronger grip on the world. Find our drool worthy car to look forward to (page 5 Car Talk), and groove to our pick of the “sounds of tomorrow” from our playlist (page 10). Our hot topic (pages 6&7) will show you how to live a better now for a superb future. Also, we have an awesome high flying Inspirator Farah Maliha on Written in the Stars (page 8). Sit tight while we dive right into the future. Do send in your thoughts, comments, and queries; TMAG loves to hear what you have to say! Love from the TMAG desk
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Your Life Tahsin Momin
TMAG’s Room of the week!
Funk up your room
Ahead of time Dreamer or Accomplisher? No matter which group you belong to, both have a huge contribution in making the world what it is today. Both require imagination and inspiration. Catch twisted space theme room ideas from TMAG to boost your craziest imaginations
A place for everything, and everything in its place. The neat, panelled arrangement of personal knickknacks gives this room a polished, urbane look Name Rudaina Reaz Area Gulshan
The most important and difficult job is creating the atmosphere. Moreover, a unique and fresh idea requires abundant research on Send in a picture of your room to tmag@dhakatribune.com and you may be crowned TMAG’s room of the week!
FYI
For your own good As you are literally growing a new personality every minute and tiffs and rough patches with friends are a common thing now. Nevertheless, it is very important for you to acquire certain set of social skills that will help you get through it all. Here is your guide to proper social etiquette
you seem funny as well as drive your point home without seeming overtly rude. Diplomacy, however, can be cultivated. It comes with thinking out consequences for you and others, weighing the pros and cons and speaking in a manner that does justice to both parties.
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Swearing kills Swear words are the norm. However, the less fluent you are in that aspect, the better. You never know when it slips out in front of a family member or close family friends. It not only reflects badly on your upbringing, but also triggers violence in your actions. A true gentleman/lady, that you are about to become, never swears. Conversation skills
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Read up on current events and keep abreast of what is happening with the world. Watch some good movies, read some good books and keep a journal. All this will give fluency to your thoughts and make you someone worth having a stimulating conversation with. Diplomacy skills Not everyone is blessed with a witty mind, quick on sarcasm, although this is one weapon that could make
Anger Management Imagine if we could all shoot whatever came to mind, out our mouths! It could create never ending strife. No matter where you go, you will meet people abusing the right to be stupid like it’s an addiction, you will have your own irritating moments and times when you’ll feel like some people are living on this planet illegally, they belong somewhere else altogether. Gulp down the glowers and suck it up. Avoid the person later or use the skill immediately above this one. Small talk There are times you will come across situations you are very awkward in, for instance, social gatherings where you do not know anyone. Conversation skills will take you a long way, as will your personality. But nothing will push you further than your ability to make small talk and endure it in return. Smiling at someone you hate isn’t called being fake. It means you are willing to hide your dislike and act mature. Munira Fidai
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previous space related work and it’s truly helpful to sharpen your imagination. The four walls of your room are the important places where your thoughts can fly. The quickest solution is a wall mural! Colour your wall in mysterious black or ocean blue. If you are good at painting, paint an entire solar systems over the foundation colour. Try to give it as much detail as possible. What about designing a spaceship bed? This will offer the sensation of your imaginary future world. Instead of putting an ordinary bookshelf beside the bed, give it a rocket shape. What’s more, a reading table can be the core operating set of your space. Over the table, paint a big window and adorn the insides with stars, plants and space figures. To reduce your renovating pressure and make the process a bit easier, instead of painting everywhere, paste stickers in one place. To give the room a more flawless look, endeavour to get the bed sheet and rug according to the theme. There is a long distance between glimpsing a dream and getting it done. So don’t put it off by planning, make it come true. Saudia Afrin
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Schoologistics
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EVENT Tweets
School Survival
Eco Friendly Habits The world we live in will not remain the same 20, or even 10 years from now. Simple habits that we have been used to for ages have long since become dangerous to the environment. As a teen, there is so much each one of you can do, to see a better, greener world than the grim vies scientists are predicting
Since the beginning of the millennium, video games have been all the rage. However, cutting down on electronic games and going out to play some actual sports is not just healthy for you but also a breather for the environment. It saves electricity by loads and leads to a lesser load on power plants that are already running on double capacity. Many of us are self-sufficient and used to doing our own laundry. Simply washing your clothes in lukewarm water (104 degrees) instead of hot water (140 degrees) can halve the energy wastage. Going meat free, at least one day of the week can work wonders for the environment. Since more than half of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions are caused by factory farmed meat industry, going veg for a day has bigger trade-offs than we can see just yet. Refusing to take plastic bags is probably the biggest favour you can do for your environment. Bio-friendly paper bags which decompose easily are the best alternative. Reusing materials that can be reused and recycling those that can’t is another habit you should get used to. Walk short distances instead of taking the car or automobiles. Cycle longer distances. This keeps you and the environment leaner and healthier.
Judo National Debate Championship 9am, September 24
Venue Jahangirnagar University Robotics
10am, September 25 Venue Daffodil International University
Seminar on Proactive and Positive Attitude
5pm, September 25 Venue University Campus, 33 Topkhana Road, Floor 12, Meherba Plaza
Shop it up
11am, September 26 Venue Drik Gallery
Back to the Foundry -2
1:45am, September 27 Venue Russian Cultural Centre
Workshop on Design and Implementation of Emerging Computing Systems 8:30 am, September 28 Venue BUET
Training on Social Business Development
9:30 am, September 28 Venue Conference Hall, 3rd Floor, UN Offices/ IDB Bhaban
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TMAG’s Doodle of the week!
Upama Kabir doodled this over three days of boring classes
If you are a classroom doodler, email your doodle to tmag@dhakatribune. com and see it in our weekly!
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FASHION FACE-OFF
Wardrobe Check
Timelessly Chic Trends come and go. That’s why they’re called “trends” to begin with. One minute the jeans are baggy, and the next, they’re skinny. One day the hemlines are barely grazing your hind-side, the next minute, they’re skimming your ankles. Keeping up with the latest fashions can be exhausting - and expensive. TMAG brings you a list of stuff that you can buy, that won’t break the bank, and will always be stylish Beauty Check
A letter to myself Dear Teenager Me, I am your 35 year later self, writing to you. Don’t try to make sense of how this is happening, or maybe just blame it on Dumbledore’s time-turner. I may be old now but you will not believe how youthful I still look and how great my skin feels! At forty-something, I have had people tell me I don’t look a day above 30! Here’s me, thanking you for the following skincare habits you initiated back in your teens, to keep me looking so lovely Eating well
I hated veggies just like everyone else and loved oily and sugary stuff. Thank you, for not indulging me often, and instead having me snack on almonds, citrus and other fruits and lots and lots of veggies. I remember grumbling a lot but my skin thanks you now.
Drinking right
Soda pop is a universal drink, to say the least. But you knew, that behind its bright colours and bubbly fizz, lurked caffeine and saccharine that would have aged me faster than anything. Thank you, for opting for water, lentil soups, green teas and honey-lemon drinks.
Exercising
Every teen wants to have the perfect skin without having to work for it. But you knew that nothing is gained without a little pain. You pushed me, day after day, for warm up exercises and an hour of brisk walking. It left me tired and my muscles sore, but you saw
the future rosy cheeks and dewy skin, and refused to give in to my physical pain. For this, I thank you.
attention to a great feature. Scarves are multi-taskers, and always chic.
Formal black pants These are dressier than jeans, and perfect in a pinch for work events, or even fancy do’s. Again, forget the trends and look for a fit and silhouette that flatters you. And then go to down with accessorising with whatever’s in vogue.
Ballet flats Straddling both comfort and style, a well-maintained pair of ballet flats will never let you down. While a basic black pair are a must, you can get them in any colour of the rainbow and still be able to wear them with most of your clothes.
Vibrant scarves These can dress up or down any outfit, and add a splash of colour to a blah monochrome palette. In a pinch, they can cover up and make modest a risqué number, or even call
Statement earrings They don’t need to be made of actual precious metals or stones. A pair of large earrings can instantly add glamour to any outfit.
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Sabrina Fatma Ahmad
Look of the Week
Sleeping tight
We have many more temptations now, but even back then, they were not so few. You pushed aside the tantalising You Tube, the beckons of the cell phone, the insistent beeps of whatsapp and instead, chose to sleep. I thank you for rewarding yourself to the uninterrupted 8 hour shut eye that increased the blood circulation under my skin and prevented dark circles.
Right skincare products
You resisted the temptation to use too much makeup, you brushed aside laziness to remove makeup before sleeping, you took the trouble of choosing the right cleanser for your skin type and you religiously applied sunscreen. Now my skin sags less, looks brighter and younger and the only wrinkles in it, are that of smiles! Thank you. Munira Fidai
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Regular fit blue jeans Washes will go from pale to dark, and the “in” style and fit may vary, but if you buy a regular pair of basic blue jeans, sans embellishment, in a fit that flatters your shape, it’s a keeper no matter what the current trend is.
BOLD AND BRIGHT The future is looking bright for dazzling neons Model Samin Sababa Photographer Syed Latif Hossain Make-up Wasifa Ahmad (Sifa’s Corner) Wardrobe and Accessories Urban Truth
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Street FFPB
Fantasy Football Players of Bangladesh (FFPB) Fantasy League Top 10 after Gameweek 4 Rank Team 1 FC Wenger 49 2 ENFORCERS FC 3 Gunner Till I Die 4 Team Masti 5 Tousif-PRO 6 A$ Monaco™ FC 7 Hall Of Fame 8 Liverbird 2013-14 9 #KORBANINMYHEART 10 Anfield Army
Manager Z Mission SHAKIL MAHMUD Tanvir Ahmed Shovon mirza mostafa Tousif Islam Lutfi Mostafa King of Kings Zonaid Shimul Islam Isham Ul Haque Asim Abdullah
GW 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TOT 292 290 288 287 283 282 282 278 275 274
The code to join FFPB fantasy league is 975-707
Car Talk
A Long-legged Swedish GT Long lusty curved lines may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Swedish marquee, but Volvo has a long and surprisingly lustrous lineage of coupes in its stable; the P1800, the 142, the Bertone 262C, the 780 Bertone and the recently departed C70
HOROSCOPE Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19)
People will try to barge into your personal life, do your best to keep it under-wraps. Taurus (Apr 20-May 20) Rack up your brain to find answers. It’ll help put confusions to bed. You’ll thank yourself later.
Gemini (May 21-Jun20)
Past mistakes will be back to haunt you. Running away will keep you safe, but it won’t help to simply bury them. Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22) New things can be started as soon as the old ones are finished. Don’t turn to multitasking this week.
Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22)
Damage control is a must if you have upset your loved ones. Do it, be the bigger person.
Few of those two-doors have stood the test of time the way the voluptuous P1800 has, a fact the company’s designers are apparently aware of. It is that exact model that Volvo says they have drawn upon for this new Concept Coupe, and while the showcar bears little resemblance to the smaller P1800 that inspired it, both cars have a visual charm and presence that has often evaded the brand’s grasp. While not completely ripping up the design language established by the 2001 S60 in 2000, the Coupe Concept is arguably the most radical
Virgo (Aug 23- Sep 22) You are more than entitled to seek for solitude this week. Remember to keep people in the loop before disappearing.
Libra (Sep 23- Oct 22)
Keep your eyes on the prize and you’ll be able to get what you want. Don’t let the details intimidate you. Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov
Kick start this week by socialising with different crowds. Just remember to keep creeps at arm’s length. 21)
Sagittarius (Nov 22-
A friend wants to help you set your priorities. You’d be a fool if you let this opportunity pass. Dec 21)
Capricorn (Dec
If the week doesn’t begin with glory, don’t be upset. Everyone has their not-so-proud moments. You aren’t the only one. 22-Jan19)
design statement we have seen from Volvo in well over a decade. Gone is the tone set by the drop-shoulder hood, and in its place is a more flowing bonnet, with the generous proportions of a grand tourer. The concept is a particularly nice piece of work, from its new T-shaped daytime running lamps to its pronounced rear fenders that subtly imitate those of the P1800. Interestingly, Volvo claims that the first production model of the nextgeneration XC90 crossover is to benefit from this new aesthetic – and judging by
the recent teasers, this language looks like it’ll translate nicely to the SUV’s larger shape. The Concept Coupe is powered by a through the road plug-in hybrid architecture composed of a twin-turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder powering the front wheels and an electric motor servicing the rears. All-in, Volvo says the system is good for 400 horsepower and 443
pound-feet of torque. Like this showcar, the previously mentioned XC90 is also expected to utilise Volvo’s new innovation, which will be used to underline a wide variety of models as the company’s Chinese owners continue to push for a bigger profit margin. We would love to see this concept go in to production but we have our doubts that the coupe will shape significantly in the company’s plans – at least in the short term – as Volvo clearly has more pressing needs to be taken care of.
Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb
People will have way too many expectations from you. It’s not necessary to answer them all at once. 18)
Pisces (Feb 19-Mar20)
Strangers won’t get your drift, hence there’s no point in getting into conflicts. Let this one go.
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Embracing nowness
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HOT TOPIC
When you get into a conversation about the future, it invariably takes a dark turn. We see the wars and poverty, the crime rates and pollution, and the appalling nosedive in the quality of popular music and lose all faith in humanity. At TMAG, we prefer to take charge of our lives instead of moaning and complaining, so this week, we bring you some trends to think about, as well as tips on how to invest in now to reap the benefits in the future
Our Choice of schools The first thing we did was to get in touch with officials at NSU, IUB and BRAC in order to find out which programmes get the most students. While they were reluctant to provide actual numbers and percentages, they mentioned that there are a good number of students who enrol into science departments such as EEE (Electrical Engineering) or CSC (Computer Science) and even Pharmacy. The same thing was mentioned for the Economics department. The English department had lowest enrolment rates, when compared to the rest of the department. The School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (SLASS) at IUB has seen a rising interest in the field of Media and Communications, but a little less in other Humanities concentrations. Upon talking to the registrar and some students of BRAC University, it was found that significant numbers of students are signing up for BSc (Economics) and also in Architecture. Despite the diversity of programmes, all three universities unanimously agreed that BBA (Bachelors of business administration) has the largest number of students.
Skill building for the future If you want to have edge in the rat race of life, you need to have the skills to help you get ahead. Start now and you'll be thanking TMAG by the time you have to apply for college and even beyond that in the future. 1) ECA Clubs Extra-curricular activities such as debate or community service help you go a long way. Both are a great way to boost your networking and leadership skills, and can open doors to many opportunities. In addition to these, there are a number of other specialty clubs, such as photography, theatre group, etc which come with added benefits of diversifying your CV, and will look really good in your college apps. 2) Learning to play an instrument Knowing how to play an instrument has multiple benefits. You’ll always be in demand for things like school productions, and this is a position of power. People naturally gravitate towards musicians, so if you’re the shy type, the music will do the work for you. Learning to play also improves your spatial and mathematical skills and coordination, so it is sort of like a health benefit. 3) Sports Athletic or not, it's never too late to learn a sport. Not only do you get fit from being involved with a particular sport but you get to be part of a team, and teamwork applies for both academics and career. 4) Second or third language Fluency in foreign languages helps you gain insight on other cultures. It increases employment opportunities and also enriches cognitive functions. Places like the Alliance Francais de Dhaka and Goethe Institute, or Russian Cultural Centre teach foreign languages. You can also teach yourself a particular language from sites like Duolingo.com. Rubab Nayeem Khan
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HOT TOPIC
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Staying Healthy Whether you’re 14 years old or 22, one thing’s for certain, you’re not getting any younger. It’s known that young people tend to think they are invincible, but life has its way of bursting that bubble when least expected. The simple truth is that if we don’t start leading a healthy lifestyle from a young age, it’s just going to get more difficult in the long run. When it comes to health, it’s important to learn how to take care of yourself early on and learning about how to prevent potential health issues is always the best way to go. Being healthy isn’t just about staying fit, it’s about mental, physical and emotional well-being. For ensuring a healthy lifespan, follow these simple guidelines: Eat Right The human body needs carbs, proteins and fat. Avoid junk food as much as possible; learn grocery shopping and how to prepare healthy meals. Cut down on sweets as well since they can easily damage your teeth. Avoid skipping meals and always drink lots of water. Sleep well A functioning human body needs at least 8 – 10 hours of sleep every day. The best way to ensure a goodnight’s sleep is to do it in complete darkness. Exercising also helps in aiding proper sleep cycles. Exercise Regularly This doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym and lifting weights. Find creative ways to give your body a regular exercise session; take the stairs, go for a jog, go play football, etc. Say No to your vices Smoking, drinking, drug addictions ... any kind of substance abuse will always hold you back from reaching your full potential, if not outright kill you. Learn to quit these habits; it’ll be worth it in the end. ECA Start taking up hobbies. Learn to play the guitar or start painting. Hobbies can help relax your mind. A healthy mind is the key to a healthy body. Be Hygienic This needs no explanation. Shower, brush, wear clean clothes. You’ll stop driving people away for one, and also boost your immunity towards a number of diseases. Regular Checkups Taking caution against diseases starts with going for regular physical, dental and vision exams. Regular checkups will always help you stay up to date with what’s going on inside you, as well as know what precautions to take if you’re at risk of getting ill. Vaccines are a vital part of ensuring a healthy life. If you haven’t gotten all your vital vaccines, then make sure to get them within the proper age limit.
rethinking success Students pursue their degrees of choice due to the existence of three core narratives – the story of how success in life is perceived, the perceived career path to achieve the perceived success and how the undergraduate degree they choose is perceived to play a part in their eventual achievement path. For the case of the BBA, money “seems” to be at the core of this narrative and besides the dream of creating your own business or becoming a CEO, the jobs that “seem” to pay off the most money, such as banks, consulting firms, accounting firms, tobacco companies, etc. are jobs that employ students with BBAs. Jobs requiring other degrees do not “seem” to provide equally competitive paths to money. To bring about reforms to what degrees students should pursue, the perceived narrative needs to be changed through a combined policy and community effort, which involves different stakeholders – media, employing institutions, political and religious institutions, universities, schools, government, NGOs, parents, students, etc. The media is key when it comes to changing the narrative, as for example, the intention of this very magazine article. However, an article is not merely enough – there has to be multiple media through which people can be reached out to and all other stakeholders should try to use the various available media to their advantage. Good stories in the form of movies, fiction, digital games, etc are pretty powerful tools, as can be realised in Aamir Khan’s attempt with Three Idiots and other similar works. In consultation with different stakeholders, narratives can be changed through any of these three ways – changing how success in life is perceived, changing the way how people perceive that success in life should be achieved and changing the way how they perceive the degree will become a part of their achievement path. Shakil Ahmed Educational researcher at the Institute of educational development, Brac University
Azfar Rahman
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written in the Stars
Mobilising youth: Farah Maliha
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From Tahrir Square to Shahbagh, from Occupy Wall Street to protests in Syria, youth around the world are beginning to rise, to voice their opinion about issues they believe in. How successful or effective they have been is a matter of debate. In a tête-à-tête with Sabrina Fatma Ahmad, young Inspirator Farah Maliha discusses the need for a more informed and constructive approach
what Activista is actually doing in the Arab nations, is that they are trying to provide the active youth there with a solid base of knowledge on campaign strategy, social media use, youth governance, public speaking, local rights and human rights. This is to enable them to form their own opinion on the most efficient way to organise their activities. The job isn’t easy: social unrest forms a backdrop to each of the countries, making the atmosphere volatile and adding an element of risk to the work. Success is measured in terms of social penetration and in each of the project areas, and the exposure received by the campaigns themselves. In her line of work, Farah Maliha has tackled some weighty issues head on. From tax justice, to urban security, to holding the parliament accountable for its actions, achieving Post 1215
Photos: Courtesy
A military baby, Farah Maliha has travelled far and wide at a very young age. Where a lot of young people her age (she just turned 24 last month) and in her shoes would be complaining about the constant transplantation, Maliha chooses to channel her experience and energies into shaping the voice of the youth through Activista. Activista, which is ActionAid’s youth network, spans 23 countries worldwide. Comprising of young activists, journalists, musicians and artists, basically anyone able and willing to pitch in, the network is currently involved with ActionAid’s international campaigns for issues such as tax justice, safer cities and emergency response programmes for Syrian refugees. Maliha, who is at present based in Amman, is in charge of the entire Youth programme in ActionAid’s Regional initiative. The objective of this project is to mobilise youth around the Arab region to institutionalise their activism, rather than merely engage in street protests. The route to her current role was an eventful one for Maliha. The feisty NSU graduate (she completed her undergrads in Environmental Management) was involved in a bucketload of volunteering activities, from United Nations Youth, to Student Association of Bangladesh, and of course, Activista. Her supervisor in Bangladesh was impressed enough to recommend her to try out for the Inspirator roster, and soon after she did so, she was approached by the Regional office of ActionAid Denmark Arab Initiative to help set up Activista in Arab nations. She went in and rounded up hundreds of activists from the region, and started the network up in Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon. As a Regional Youth Officer, she is now engaged in mobilising activists from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and Egypt. When asked about the response to her work, Maliha says “The youth of the region are very willing to be a major part of the change, and it’s something that I need to build on to capacitate them to take part in inclusive and constructive decision making.” What this translates to in terms of
Farah Facts * Thinks Arabs are the friendliest race she’s ever met. * Personal philosophy: “I met a man with a dollar, we exchanged dollar and we still had a dollar each ... I met a man with an idea, we exchanged idea and we both had two ideas.” * Role model: Aung San Suu Kyi - “a woman strong enough to wait patiently for years for what she believes in, and calm enough to wait non-violently” * Message to readers: “It will never be easy to convince the crowd that you are right, unless and until you please their leader - you. Believe in yourself, and nothing you do will ever be wrong” Millennium Development Goals, to name a few, that’s an impressive roster even if you don’t take her young age into
account, and more so if you do. Does this get overwhelming at times? Maliha prefers to concentrate on the positives and treat it all as a learning experience. “It taught me so much and I grow as a person every day” she states, adding that she is yet to develop a coping mechanism for all the challenges, and just takes each one as it comes. So far she hasn’t faced any security issues, but travelling as frequently as she does between Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt, she is often subjected to interrogation about her intent. When not travelling the world and empowering young people, the selfconfessed workaholic likes to power down with music and an outing with her close friends. The Dead Sea is a favourite haunt. She also enjoys watching movies with her brother.
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Book
YOU WRITE IT
HIS DARK MATERIALS TRILOGY Outstanding, fantastic, marvellous – His Dark Materials surpasses it all. A trilogy of fantasy novels, His Dark Materials is an epic by Philip Pullman. Comprising of the three bestsellers, Northern Lights (or the famous The Golden Compass) , The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, the series tells us the story of two children, Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry, as they travel through parallel universes and survives epic events. Witches, dæmons , armoured polar bears, His Dark Materials never ceases to surprise
fiction
Northern Lights (or The Golden Compass) Lyra Belacqua lives in a world where humans are constantly accompanied by their dæmons - the animal embodiments of their inner selves. When Lyra and her dæmon Pantalaimon accidentally discover a mysterious particle called Dust, she is sent away to Mrs Coulter who conducts experiments in the distant North, to separate the dæmons from the children, so that when they grow up, they will not be affected by Dust. When Lyra discovers that Mrs Coulter kidnaps children for her experiments, she escapes from her
The Subtle Knife A continuation of her journey, in the second book Lyra travels through a portal and reaches the alien city of Cittàgazze. While soul eating Spectres create a havoc in Cittàgazze, Lyra stumbles upon a twelve year old boy called Will Parry who is the bearer of the historic Subtle Knife – an ancient tool of 300 years, that can divide subatomic particles and create portals between worlds. Will is in search of his long lost father and together with Lyra, he finds his father, only to get Lyra kidnapped in the end.
his life abroad and gives unwanted advice about life and relationships to everyone he meets. Amreen brushes him off, smiling sweetly and courteously laughing at his jokes that boomerang off into nowhere, and she’s looking at him, disgusted. It hurts his wounded ego that his jokes don’t convulse a round of laughter every single time. Asif calls himself open minded and worldly and claims to read a lot, but once a small mind, always a small mind. To mingle with the girls, he sits uninvited with Amreen and the others at a coffee shop, and bonds with them. He sees them do a double take to check out the guy that enters the coffee house. As the man strides in, Asif instantly throws a comment. “Pretty boys like that don’t have any substance.” The girls look at each other trying to figure out his problem,
Sama E Deen
realising it must be his own insecurity kicking in about his twiggy appearance. One day Amreen’s in a huddled conversation with friends looking really distressed and lost. From the corner, Asif sees her, his ears perk up and he asks “Hey let me try to help you guys out, tell me what’s wrong. “ He’s armed with consolations and worries, and Amreen’s a little taken aback with his concern. The next day, Amreen goes to work and overhears her colleagues talk about her and is shocked to know how Asif twisted the truth. The moment Asif walks in and smiles at her like nothing happened, Amreen looks straight in his eyes and smacks him where it hurt the most. Asif falls flat on the ground groaning and moaning while Amreen walks away smiling at his misery. Natasha Rahman
Banking 101
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For some, banking might seem difficult but it is easier than you think it is. Get into the habit of saving early and the future rewards will be fruitful. However you won’t be able to save until or unless you have a bank account. TMAG walks you through the perks of having a bank account.
Access One of the most useful benefits of a savings account is that your money is out of your checking account, where you may risk spending it on nonessentials, but still easily accessible in case you need it, such as for an emergency.
balance or a minimum deposit to the account, you can reduce or eliminate monthly service fees. That means the interest you’re promised is the return you get. Be sure to check monthly maintenance fees so you understand how to help avoid these fees when you set up your account.
Guaranteed returns Did you ever ask yourself, “What will my savings be worth?” With a savings account, your money will steadily grow according to your set interest rate.
Short-term or long-term Savings accounts help you save for shorter-term goals. But they’re also a great place to park your money until it grows enough for larger investments. A savings account may be a steppingstone to that investment, protecting and growing your money while you save for your next big goal. Tahsin Momin
Reduce or eliminate monthly fees Most savings accounts require minimal service fees. By maintaining a minimum
A New Breed of Darkness
The Amber Spyglass After Lyra’s kidnapping, Will, with the help of a local girl Ama, the Bear King Lorek and a few other companions set out to find Lyra and bring her back. When Lyra is found, all of them combine forces to fight against The Authority, who initiated the experiments regarding Dust, and set out to defeat this oppressive institution and clear its fear once and for all. If you have loved the movie of The Golden Compass, it is now your obligation to read the trilogy , because this is definitely an epic tale you just cannot miss.
The sneaky snitch
He enters surreptitiously and mingles with them all, smiling and laughing - thinking that they are all loving his company. His dead beat antics, his crude sense of humour and his overall personality reeks of a false phony reality. Amreen instantly knows that this newcomer is trouble and maintains an indifferent distance from him. If it’s one thing that Asif hates, it is being given a cold shoulder. He asks twenty questions, boasts about
nonFiction
house and sets out on a journey to free the stolen children and stop the dæmons from getting separated from them.
comic book
Geoff Johns is no stranger to the huge and ambitious overlapping storylines that have the comic book world holding their breath, having been behind iconic events such as “Brightest Day” and “Blackest Night” while also working on almost every iconic comic character and even penning episodes for “Smallville” and “Arrow”. Most recently, he played a part in the massive crossover event, “The Trinity War” which turned out to be a setup for yet another huge comic movement – The Forever Evil arc. We’ve always been treated to the origins of Batman & Superman but what happens when they’re out of the way and darkness consumes the world? Packed with an arsenal of impressive art, we get a mini-series where villains roam the earth in the absence of all the heroes, we get to delve into the background of sinister characters like The Joker & Lex Luthor while also getting a deeper understanding of some of the more cult favourite villains such as Cheetah & Killer Croc. Johns clearly has fun writing about the insanity that makes these villains so heinous and it’s shown in his work so far. Memorable cameos, constant camaraderie and interaction between these strongly developing characters means Forever Evil is an ambitious project on the cusp of becoming something special. Remember, TMAG told you about it first, when the arc becomes hall of fame material in the future! Fardeen Ameen
TM AG TU E SDAY, SE PTE MB E R 24, 20 1 3
10 tmag Guitar Tabs Artist Hikaru Utada Track Apple and Cinnamon Tuning D#G#C#F#A#d# (Half Step Down)
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This week’s best Instrument
Rock goes Dubstep!
Intro Em, G, C (x2) Verse Em G C Tell me what is on your mind Em G C Help me ‘cause I’d like to know Em G C What the hell is going on? A C Never thought I’d sing this song
Pre-Chorus
Em G C A Let’s not get started with the, he said, she said E G C A Sometimes it just doesn’t go as planned Em G C A Let’s not get started with the, he said, she said E G C A Sometimes it just doesn’t go as planned
Chorus
Em G Started out so simple and innocent, C A so simple and innocent Em G So simple and innocent, C A so simple and innocent
TOP
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That 90’s playlist
1 The Headstream Rasleela 2 Meddle Little Boots 3 Daniel Bat for lashes 4 Starry-eyed Ellie Goulding
Renowned as one of the best in the music industry, British rock band Muse is famed for its experimental sounds and intense live performances. Fusing alternative rock with the likes of electronica and opera rock, Muse doesn’t just experiment with sound but also experiments just as equally with
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Ready to Go Panic at the Disco
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Too Close Alex Clare
10 Electric Feel MGMT
TM AG TU ESDAY, SEPTE M B E R 24 , 201 3
Azfar Rahman
Rocknation II – Concerts Redefined LiveSquare organised ROCKNATION II on September 20 which indeed was a gig of a lifetime for music lovers. With Powersurge as the opening act, the gig started off with a blast. Monstrous guitar works with powerful vocals in songs like Cancer, and Opostrut Juddho with the new drummer; the thrash monsters pulled off a very heavy yet impressive act. Then came Indalo; Jon Kabir’s new hope for bringing back the grunge and gritty side of Rock n’ Roll with Zubair (X-Aashor), Dio (Nemesis) and Bart (Ajob). They are the band with the
perfect sound, which amazingly pulled off covers like Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll, Jeff Buckley’s Lilac Wine along with their own numbers like “Tomar Shokal” and “I.S.D” proving that there is still hope for Bangla Rock! Cryptic Fate next, taking the stage with a bang. From classics like Bhoboghure to their newest single Bichchu, the band burned the stage
down with a classic act! Chirkutt came in later with own numbers but ending with their groundbreaking hit “Jadur Shohor” and the entire crowd singing along was mesmerising. Arbovirus kept the crowd jumping with songs from their recent album along with a mash up of their old songs. Nemesis literally blew the crowd away with songs like Bir, Obocheton and Kobe and their oven fresh single “Ghuri”. Warfaze pulled off a pretty decent act as expected after being in the scene for generations. Thanks to LiveSquare for executing such a brilliant gig which we music lovers really were craving for a long time! Arifeen Mahmood Khan
Spotlight
Powersurge Insanity
6 Neon City Lights Grendel Cosmic Love Florence and the Machine
a MIDI controller, the Kitara touchscreen enables the user to set and play any set of digital effects or sounds using the builtin synths, either by sliding or tapping on the screen. With 6 rows of buttons on all 24 frets, each button can be manually customised to play whatever note the user wishes to set it to. An absolutely ingenious piece of creation, this mash up of a Status and Misa Kitara, can be titled as Chris’s new signature series because this bass guitar is not yet available in the market. This “one piece” equipment may not entirely be guitar-of-the-future, but it certainly does help composing music that could be titled as sound-of-the-future. If you’re keen on hearing what this baby sounds like, check out the live version of the track “Madness.”
Music news
5 On Air VNV Nation
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its equipment. And with the release of the track “Madness” in their last album, bassist for the band, Chris Wolstenholme has put the spotlight on one of the most interesting instruments that have been seen lately. A double neck headless bass guitar, with the lower body being a 5 string Status Graphite S2 bass and the upper body being a Misa Kitara Digital Guitar Synth Controller, Chris definitely turned heads with this custom designed bass guitar during live performances. What makes this guitar so unique is the Misa Kitara, a string-less guitar body, fashioned with buttons on the fret board to act as notes, and the addition of a backlit touchscreen, with which the instrument is played. The touch screen is placed where the pickups are supposed to be. Combining the roles of a synthesiser and
Powersurge began fatality by being the champion of the popular battle of the bands called “DRockstar” in 2007. A masterpiece of modern Thrash Metal in Bangladesh consisting of five soars from Dhaka and influenced by various American and German thrash/heavy metal creators, Powersurge is now an icon in both the underground and mainstream scenes. In January 2006, Saimum Hasan Nahian and Samiul Islam wanted to form a thrash metal band. After the
initial forming, the band had settled the other members by March 2006 starting with Jamshed Chowdhury who delivers hitherto unheard of depths and maturity with his vocals. Nahian along with Samir Hafiz Khan have reached a new universe of blurred-finger brilliance, with instantly memorable riffs and ear-searing fretmelting solos where Samir delivers the heavenly melodious licks. Arefin Ahmed Saeed joined as the bassist. The band immediately started performing in underground shows, where they were gaining rapid popularity because of their aggressive style and insane stage acts. The underground crowds were overwhelmed and accepted Powersurge’s Thrash dominion for their rock solid performances and song qualities. In the mid-2006, Powersurge had their 1st single “Durboddho Monushotto” released in a mixed band compilation album “Underground”,
where the song itself was much more of an experimental track, quite different from the Powersurge thrash style. Now, the band was going forward with seemly success in the underground gigs, while the huge break was yet to come. In 2011, Samiul and Arefin left the band for personal reasons and Kawser Ahmed Pervez is the current bassist and Asif Mahmood, the drummer, of Powersuge. The band have released their first full length album titled “Auprostut Juddho” on September 2008. It has been much appreciated and has created a milestone in the history of Bangladesh by creating thrash metal music as a major part of the Bangladeshi music. Currently they are busy with creating their new music for the next full length. Besides that, they are doing several mainstream as well as underground gigs regularly. Imtiaz Salim
TMAG 11
PLAYROOM
WE RECOMMEND
GAME
LAST MAN STANDING
MOVIE DYSTOPIAN DIORAMA It is the year 2154, and most of the planet looks like a massive landfill. The rich have retreated to the safe confines of inner space, in a space station named Elysium, the paradise of Greek mythology. The poor live out their squalid lives on Earth, dying of hunger, disease and violence, a dystopia of hopelessness and human suffering. The 1% look on from above, as the 99% slowly consumes itself. Director Neil Blomkamp returns to the big screen with another science fiction epic, attempting to hone his arts after District 9. Framing the movie in the modern-day context of income
inequality and human exploitation, these themes take centre stage in the movie, but to no good effect. The allegory grates, as the Dick Cheney caricature Delacourt (Jodie Foster) ruthlessly kills a convoy of “boat people,” illegal immigrants trying to make it across the troposphere into Elysium. Max (Matt Damon), an ex-convict trying to do rights by the law to get the girl of his dreams, starts off as a sympathetic character, but the storytelling neuroses of Blomkamp muddy this character’s arc. He goes from sympathetic to irredeemable, to hero during the course of the movie, one arc too many for a thematically crowded blockbuster. After plenty of suspension of disbelief, the movie eventually becomes an exercise in exhaustion, as action sequence follows action sequence and the movie devolves into fist-fights and
rage faces. Blomkamp has an unhealthy relationship with his story climaxes, as District 9 also devolved from characterdriven narrative into CGI Monday night wrestling. Unlike District 9, though, this film ends with what is an unsatisfactory and truncated denouement in what is essentially a narrative cop-out. Ratings 2/5 IFTEKHARUL HAQUE
TUBE-WATCH
THE CULINARY CUTIE To make something so viral, the usage of the Internet has become very important throughout the globe. Online media is more important than ever among the youngsters. They spend more time on the Internet than in front of the TV! This wave of change is hitting Dhaka too and with that perception in mind, came the first ever online show in Bangladesh, “What’s Cooking?” Brought to you by Airtel, the show is produced by Sweet Potatoes Ltd. The show is about a young girl and her lifestyle. Istela, the protagonist of the show is an average everyday girl whose passion lies in photography, graphics design and mostly cooking. As we follow her fast solutions for a quick bite, we get lost in Istela’s witty approach to life. She just might be the inspiration for you to find out tiny escapades in the big city, or a great hangout for a boring day. The director of this show, Murshed Bipul says that
there is no reason to believe it’s just a cooking show. The hopeless chef among her friends just might come up with a bizarre result of her cooking experiment and you may see her ordering a takeout
or who knows, maybe you will find her moving around in the city on her bicycle in utter cluelessness. Okay, no more spoilers now! The brains behind the show, Sweet Potatoes Ltd, started rather humbly in the beginning of this year with the vision of producing exclusive content for various media. Piplu R Khan, director of Sweet Potatoes, believes the possibilities are vast for the team. Their main focus is to deal with an interesting idea and execute it perfectly as a mode of visual content. This is the time to be excited as they have a lot of first-of-its-kind content coming up. Airtel partnered up to present something totally new for their Buzz Page. The response for the show is unbelievable. The show helped AirtelBuzz getting 22 thousand likes in the first week for the What’s Cooking pilot episode. The show has more surprises on its way in the upcoming episodes. Join fb/airtelbuzz and find out what’s actually cooking! SMMR SHAON
APP OF THE WEEK
MOVIE MAGIC
Plarform iOS/Android Price Free Size 17Mb Magisto Video Editor & Maker automatically turns your video clips and pictures into beautifully edited movies, complete with your choice of music, cool graphics, and effects, in just a few magical minutes! You don’t have to be a video editor or know anything about video editing at all. Magisto will analyse your video and photos and splice it together for you, creating a professional looking movie— an edit that you’ll be proud to share with your friends.
FEATURES - Share videos to Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Email, and even YouTube - Automatic video stabilization, filters, effects, transitions, and overall production - Facial recognition detects the important people in your videos - Upload video and photos from your Gallery or use Magisto as a smart video camera - Add soundtracks from your device or from Magisto’s library of licensed music - Add Instagram photos, mp4 movies, and more! TAHSIN MOMIN
It has been almost two decades since a viral outbreak left the United States and society devastated. Its once great cities now lie in ruins as survivors cling to their humanity in harsh military quarantine zones. Either you endure the hardship of the apocalypse, or risk life outside, where the infected prowl in the shadows and ruthless zombies run wild. Expert survivor Joel has to escort Ellie, a young girl with an important secret, through this savage, unforgiving world, and it’s their relationship that defines the game. Years of struggling on the road have made Joel rough and practical, but he has likeable warmth in his brief Texas pronunciation. Ellie, born after the outbreak, is brave and humorous, indifferent to the misery around her. Neither character is a lazy cliché. They have flaws and fine distinctions and are brought to life by impressively natural voice acting. They feel like real people. Naughty Dog’s performance capture technology has improved since, picking up subtler movements and making faces much more expressive. Naughty Dog has proven itself again as one of the most accomplished development teams in the world. With The Last of Us, it has given us a consistent and interesting world that is supported by practically all of its game mechanics. From the rich complex combat system to the magnificent sound design; this game immerses the player in one of the most primitive plots in this generation. Maybe the AI could have been better, but, overall, this game proves how far the technique of making video games has come. TAHSIN MOMIN
TM AG TU ES DAY, SE PTEMB ER 24, 201 3
12 tmag
TEENARAMA
N2 O sEAS Dear Diary, September 20, 2013
Though my ex did confess that he loves me, I think he still isn’t sure of what he wants. May be that is why he wants to meet me and figure it out. Funny thing is, I always thought I am the most confused person. No wonder my heart still aches over our break up. Every night I fall asleep with my thoughts lingering on how I could have saved my relationship with him. Talking to my ex still gives me butterflies in my stomach. At times, I get so lost while talking to him that I forget I am with somebody else. That’s when my guilt takes over. I can’t tell my boyfriend that I speak to my ex because it would upset him and more to it, I am clueless as to why I have a strong urge to keep in touch with my ex. My conscience tells me that I am being unfair to my boyfriend but that is the only way I can be fair to my own feelings. It is devastating when emotion overtakes rationality. One thing is for sure, I still have inexpressible feelings for my ex or else I would not have been suffering from such emotional distress. For now the quote of current situation is, “The heart has its reasons which reason knows not.” Drama Queen
If you want to share your awesome or not-so-awesome life events email it to us at tmag@dhakatribune.com
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My brain wasn’t functioning when I woke up at 6am in order to reach classes on time. I ended up brushing my teeth with face wash and washing my face with toothpaste. My face was smelling minty.
Blush Much?
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My face was burning after I wiped it using a wet wipe, then I recalled that I had applied balm on my forehead.
3
My boyfriend managed to ruin an intimate moment by saying I had blackheads on my nose.
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I was sitting between my mother and my aunt, who were chewing paan. My white t-shirt turn into a polka dotted one.
5
I asked my friend to shape my eye brows and she literally butchered it using a trimmer. My eyebrows looked like a pair of crooked “U’s.”
Email your confession today to tmag@dhakatribune.com
TM AG TU ESDAY, SEPTE M B E R 24 , 201 3
s y a s He e says Sh Future plans between couples usually become a massive hindrance to their relationship. Living in the present is a farfetched thought and if one partner doesn’t discuss concrete future plans then that calls for never ending trouble. Here, TMAG explores why and how couples deal with discussions about their future together
The problem of making plans way ahead of time ... He says
My girlfriend is very meticulous about her plans. She even decides on what she’ll wear on a date that’s “scheduled” a week later. Surprises and doing things on an impulse doesn’t go very well with her strict personality.
She says
What is it with guys who don’t ever want to make plans? I feel lost when I wake up in the morning not knowing how my day will pan out, but my boyfriend sleeps on till 2pm and finally when I ask him what our plans are, he’s too sleepy to function and usually has no idea what we should do.
The problem of making serious future plans just because ... He says
I fail to realise why girls always have to discuss their weddings, the decor, the number of kids, etc, just when we are having a good time cuddling with each other. Its funny how we never talk about what we have now, and always of what it could be like in ten years.
She says
Unlike most girls, I am against discussions about the near future. I don’t even plan out what I am going to do tomorrow, let alone, a year later. I thought my boyfriend would appreciate that he finally found a girl that lives “in the present” but this makes him feel that I am not serious about him! Go figure.