TMAG Vol 1 Issue 3

Dhaka Tribune

Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Volume 1, Issue 3

Funk Up Your Room Window Dressing Wardrobe Check The Baggy Pants Brigade Written in the Stars Foot Soldiers

Hot Topic The romance & reality of rain

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CHECK IT OUT

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Editor’s Note Dear Readers,

A weekly production of

DhakaTribune Acting Editor Zafar Sobhan Magazine Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad TMAG Team Sabiha Mahmud Sumi Tashhid Abdullah Rubab Nayeem Khan Munira Fidai Afshan Sattar Natasha Rahman Azfar Rahman Saudia Afrin Contributors Tanzia Amreen Haq Fahad Zaman Imtiaz Salim Iftekharul Haque Fardeen Ameen Tahsin Momin

It’s been a most eventful week. It was hard to escape the blow-by-blow development of the tragedy at Savar. As horrible as the recent accident has been, though, one thing is for sure; the spirit of the people who volunteered to help with the rescue efforts, was truly inspiring.

A big change often starts with a few small steps, and that’s what we’re focusing on in our “Written in the Stars” section in page 8 – a group of bright young minds trying to make a difference, one pair of shoes at a time.

We’re also segueing into Kalboishakhi weather, so look out for a rainy tribute as we cool off in our Hot Topic pages (4&5). Also, Mother’s Day is coming up, so if you have special plans for the most special woman in your life, do share them with us.

Send your street style photos, doodles, flash fiction, love letters, hate-mail and more to tmag@dhakatribune.com. l

8 Written in the Stars Foot Soldiers deployed to vanquish the bane of bare feet

6 Beauty Check Zap those zits for life

Love, From the TMAG desk

Graphics Mohammed Mahbub Alam Asmaul Haque Mamun Production Masum Billah

4 Hot Topic

Advertising Shahidan Khurshed Circulation Wahid Murad Email: tmag@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

Rainy reflections during Kalboishakhi season About the Cover This week, we’re all about thinking out of the box, in our Room articles, our Youth Icons, and yes, even on our cover.

Photo: Homayra Adiba Model: Abdullah Al Nahian

Status of the week ,‘,‘,‘,‘,‘,‘, , ‘ , ‘ , ‘ , ‘ , ‘, ‘ , ,__,____, /____,_/ \ l__[]__l_ l

Quote of the week “Nothing hurts worse than being ignored by cats on the street.”

Lingo of the week Low Temp: an abbreviation for ‘Low Temperature,’ Low Temp is now being used instead of the plain old “cool.” Popularised by electronica producer Gramatik, the word hit the streets a few weeks ago. TMAG’s advice on the matter, start using it before everyone else does.

Example: “That song is Low Temp.”

7 Look of the Week A pop of bright colour

More inside Gossip 3 Event Tweets 12 Teen Confessions picks Of the week 2 Room of the Week Anika Alam 3 Doodle of the Week Mayeesha Tasnubah 6 Chic of the Week Kavitha Urvasie 10 Guitar Tabs of the Week Deep Purple’s Soldier of Fortune 11 App of the Week PhotoGrid Your world 9 Fiction Bus Journey 9 Comic Book Batman: The Cult Series 9 Book The Fault in Our Stars 10 Music Homicide 10 Movie Oblivion 10 TV Raising Hope 11 Car Mitsubishi Mirage 11 Gadget hunt Sony Alpha NEX-F3 11 Web Critic ArchetypeMe

Horoscope 12 Your Forecast Fashion 6 Wardrobe check Drop it Like it’s Hot TMAG’s says 2 Funk up Your Room Window Dressing 2 FYI A Student’s Guide to Surviving Hartals 3 School Survival Winning Over Time 10 Playlist Top 10 Rainy Tunes 12 Choose/Lose Your Other Half Fun 13 Personality Quiz Real Life 8 Youth Icon From Ashes to Fire 14 Non-fiction A Series of Unfortunate Events

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Your Life

FYI

Funk up your room

A student’s guide to surviving hartals

Window Dressing Anwar Joy

It’s exam week, all the notes have been memorised, all formulae derived seventeen different ways back to the original equation, confidence is running on high.

But then the TV calls your attention: there’s going to be an ongoing 48 hours of hartals by one party.

Panic arises. Questions, confusions, lack of digestion and cursing that makes the household help blush.

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Sound familiar?

Hartals are a fact in a Bangladeshi’s life. All anyone can really do is be prepared. So here is a survival guide for the readers of TMAG. 1 A group on a social networking site goes a long way. Add friends, classmates, batch mates, teachers and university going relatives.

That way, updates and syllabus can be shared, queries answered, schedule-related confusion cleared and everyone is keeping everyone informed.

If exams continue despite 2 strikes, be prepared to use any mode of transportation. Avoid known trouble-spots, wear running shoes,

Last week, we talked about how to jazz up your walls. This week, we’re adding some oomph to windows with some cool curtaincouture. Let us show you the ways. deep breathing and an object of comfort like a lucky pen or charm.

Apply any method of stress relief that works long enough to clear out panic and nervousness.

tell accompanying mothers to keep calm, carry as little possessions as possible and practice your negotiating skills.

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Last minute class schedules, exam timetables, and angry mobs, almost always creates stress that makes it hard to remember stuff during the exam. There is no practical way of avoiding stress, but it can be relieved with screaming, running, stress balls, loud music,

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And finally, sleep in, relax and think about it as extended time for preparation for exams, provided all of the above points are taken care of and you know what’s happening when. Tanzia Amreen Haq

Nafeesa Binte Aziz

TMAG’s Room of the week!

Web of wood

Traditionally, when we think “curtain” we think fabric. How about thinking out of the box and picking bamboo? Painted on both sides, bamboo bead curtains look exquisite. If that’s too hardcore, you can opt for jute curtains in vibrant colours for your window or doorway.

Mirror mirror

If you like your bling, try making a curtain out of mirrors. Hang circle or diamond-shaped mirror chains from your ceiling to make magic.

They’re great for lining walls and window spaces or the doorway of your room. If mirrors seem too heavy, you might also consider lightweight acrylic bubble-beaded curtains.

Sea beauty

Bring the beauty of the beach into your bedroom by hanging strings of shells to form a curtain. Mix and match shells of various sizes to personalise your curtain and relive your dream vacations.

Name

Anika Alam Area

Gulshan

TMAG loves how her love of art spills on to the surfaces in her room. The handpainted cabinets, the art projects tacked up to the walls, the little puppets hanging from her desk. You can tell that this is the room of a creative person.

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Glam fabric

Cotton, organza, embellished or plain? Instead of using one colour, get separate panels of fabric in contrasting colours, according to your room theme, and create a rainbow! You can choose to embellish the fabric, or leave it plain; in either case, this looks best on a white wall.

Place to get

Send in a picture of your room to tmag@dhakatribune.com and you may be crowned TMAG’s room of the week!

Curtain Park, Fabrics View, Window Fashion are some shops you can find in Gulshan 1, Gulshan 2, Elephant Road. Prices vary and totally depends on the material being used. Just go, pick, hang, and transform your room.

Saudia Afrin

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Schoologistics

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School Survival

Winning over Time

TMAG’s Doodle of the week!

This artwork was drawn and painted by a 17-year-old Mayeesha Tasnubah while studying for her Math test.

by Munira Ahmed

Wedding dances during exam week? Best friend leaving but you have a major test tomorrow? Already late for a family dinner but still undecided on what to wear? Following a few simple time management tips can ensure that you never have to face these daunting situations, again!

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1 Distinguish between the urgent

and the truly important While there may be unforeseen intrusions in your life sometimes, don’t let these keep you from what is truly important. While answering an insistent phone call may be urgent, let it go if it’s disturbing your studies, which is key.

2 Make a list

Make a checklist of everything you have to do at the beginning of the week in a diary and check things off as you do them. Make the list with the items in order of their importance. This helps you keep track of everything you have to do and lets you finish the most important tasks first.

3 Make daily routines

Make routines for each day. The routine should have a mix of difficult and easy chores so that it balances out your work without tiring you. Make the routine realBigstock

istic, incorporating “staring-at-the-walltime” and 5 to 10 minute breaks between hours. Also, find your productive time. If you work best at night, group the more difficult tasks toward the end of the day and so on.

4 Stay on top of news

Don’t be the one who’s always behind on the news. If there are rumours of a pop quiz, study ahead. Party this weekend?

Plan out your outfit beforehand. Remember, the news may not always come from the best source, so keep your ears open and your mind alert!

If you are a classroom doodler, email your doodle to tmag@dhakatribune.com and see it in our weekly!

5 Say NO: Don’t be afraid to say no if

EVENT TweetS

your friend asks you to go for a movie or a game night, days before a major test.

Instead, schedule a suitable time after the test when you both can equally enjoy the movie/game.

6 Don’t get side tracked

If you are procrastinating because you are unsure of how to proceed for a particular task, get help well ahead, so as to avoid the last minute struggles. Breaks are good but only as long as you stick to the task bit also. Taking breaks on schedule but not completing chores on time can have you falling behind fast.

7 Get your food and rest

Give your body plenty of sugar boost and stay hydrated, to keep up your energy. Also, a 7 to 8 hour shut eye is a must for your brain to function at its best!

Exploring Environment of BD: Towards Effective Actions Saturday, May 4, 9am Venue: Brac University, 66 Mohakhali Workshop; write-up competition; fieldwork

Pran Mango Juice 7th BDF Debate Festival Thursday, May 9, 2pm Venue: Bangladesh Shishu Academy Parliamentary debate; barwary debate; showcase format of debates; related films and documentaries

Trend to Wear 2 Friday, May 10, 10am Venue: WVA, Dhanmondi 27 Clothing exhibition; fair

Buriganga River Cleaning Project 2 Friday, May 17, 8am Venue: Buriganga river

Summer Solution 2013 Friday, May 17, 9am Venue: Road 23, Sector 14, Uttara and Mirpur near zoo Contact Person Shaba Binte Amin 01912766213

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HOT TOPIC

The Romance & Reality of rain The Romance

Whether you are a running-in-the-rain kind of a person or a watching-raindrops-on-the-windowpane kind of a person, we are all romantic at heart when it comes to rain. It’s actually quite amazing how a simple change in weather can do such crazy things to our senses and

emotions. Whether it’s writing a poem about your love life or experiencing your first kiss or just getting out and letting water trickle down your spine, there is a connection between romance and rain.

What love doesn’t flourish in the rain?

Think about all those movie love scenes where it starts pouring during a big romantic moment. More importantly most people have spent at least one rainy day in their lives with a hot cup o’ noodles, a blanket and ready-to-watch copy of The Notebook.

Rain is by far the ultimate muse. Without its inspiration, great poems would not have been written, great songs would not have been sung, great artworks would not have been painted, and definitely love letters or texts would not be

sent. Rain brings back the fondest of memories, and desires within desires.

TMAG is willing to bet that no one has lived their lives without having danced in the rain once, or stuck their tongue out to drink a few drops of rain, or enjoyed their food more because it was raining outside. Sabiha Mahmud Sumi

When you're enjoying a pleasant drizzle, head over to Smoke Lounge for a great view of the rain sprinkling into the cityscape.

“Nothing like enjoying a sizzling plate of khichuri with the tangy complements of kacha aamer aachar and the rain’s playful dance in the background to complete a perfect rainy day.”

Neetu Rahman Bigstock

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HOT TOPIC

‘twas a dark and stormy night ...

The dark clouds roll in, blotting out the sun. A flash of lightning. A moment of silence, and then a crack of thunder like the sky itself is about to split asunder. And whether you love rain or loathe it, for a brief second, you know a moment of terror.

Admit it.

Writers, poets and filmmakers tap into this psychology and use the dark symbolism of rain to great effect. The Greeks used to call the connection of place and climate the “arena of the gods,” because the elements are so out of our control. Here are a few ways in which rain is used in literature.

To create atmosphere A stormy night is often the setting for horror and gothic literature.

Think about Frankenstein coming alive to the strike of lightning.

To create foreshadowing “Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble,” said the three witches of Macbeth.

When it’s dark out and it starts to pour in the middle of a horror film or scary book, you immediately know All is Not Well.

Divine retribution Think of Hindi films and the protagonist or the mother of the same runs into the temple to scream for justice. It begins to rain, and the bells begin to ring, and you know that a Higher Authority has just picked up the phone. sabrina f ahmad

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The Realities of Rain

When it comes to Bangladesh, rain brings a lot of good and bad with it. For city dwellers, rain means everything from cool weather after months of the scorching sun and heat waves in the street, cleaner air, and a sudden vanishing of that painful itch! Sanchita says, “I’m so glad to be rid of the incessant orchestra in my ears every night”.

For urbanites, the first concern will always be about the numerous hours that are wasted sitting in traffic. Esha tells us, “Traffic in the rain is like a wasted moment. All that rain that you could enjoy with coffee on a veranda is wasted on mud stains and car fumes!”

In the villages, many celebrate the first showers as it re-hydrates the crops after months of drying out under the blazing sun. The fertility of the land goes up as the seasonal flooding provide water for the rice and jute. But at the end of the day, a gentle sprinkling can turn into a torrid downpour, leaving many in unfavourable positions.

Ultimately, it’s those people whose livelihoods depend on the weather who suffer the most.

TMAG heard from Rubel, a fruit vendor, how many farmers cringe at the thought of their hours of work and meticulous care gone to waste.

One who is both a city dweller and a farmer, Rubel had both good and bad accounts to share.

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“The short rains that we've had in the season have been good for crops so far, but on the few days I come into Dhaka to sell my stock and it rains, I don't get half the buyers I think I will. Rain makes life very difficult when one is dealing with perishables.” Rubel, a fruit vendor

Afshan Sattar

good to know

Foods people love on rainy days

Popular rain-related expressions

After a tally we ended with a tie between l Chocolate brownies along with a mug of hot cocoa l Khichuri followed by a cup of hot tea

l “Save it for a rainy day” - save something good to brighten up a gloomy day l “Don't rain on my parade” - rain as a spoiler l “Rain check” - postponement due to unfavourable conditions

What is that scent of rain that we all know so well and love so much? l Petrichor often accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather. The smell is an oily essence that is given off by vegetation during dry spells and is adsorbed on to the surface of rocks and soil particles, to be released into the air again by the next rain.

What effect does the rain have on the rivers of Bangladesh? l While 25% of Bangladesh is less than 1 metre above sea level, half of the country is less than 6 metre above sea level.

Heavy rains had caused peak flow simultaneously in the 1998 flood.

Anything else we need to know about rain? l Each second, appoximately 16m tonnes of water evaporates from the surface of the earth. This 16m tonnes of water is the same amount in raindrops that falls back to earth each second. l Rain drops do not fall in a tear drop shape, they originally fall in the shape of a flat oval. l Water generally falls to earth at a low speed, this is because raindrops have a special shape that increases the effects of atmospheric friction and helps the rain come down to earth at a lower velocity. If this wasn’t the case each droplet of rain could cause a lot of damage on earth.

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FASHION FACE-OFF

Beauty Check

Wardrobe Check

the baggy pants brigade

Keep off Pimples

For Good!

By Munira Ahmed

Sick of white and red heads popping up on your face at all the wrong times? Don’t blame everything on your age! Flawless skin can be had by keeping in mind a few simple rules, and they are all to do with habit!

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Harem pants were quite the rage a couple of seasons back, and they haven’t quite become passe yet. This is a style that’s never going to be quite mainstream because it’s a look that’s hard to pull off. If you went nuts during the peak of the craze and bought a bundle of them and are now stuck with a fading fad, worry not, we’ve got a few tips on how to recycle this look to work for you.

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The current trend for kameezes is for a hemline that falls well below the knee, so a lot of those short-short kameezes so in vogue just a few seasons ago are pretty outdated ... unless you re-imagine them as the longish kurtis that are also favoured right now. And you know what makes a good alternative to those boring old leggings that everyone wears with their kurtis? That’s right. Your harem pants.

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Hair products, for the hair only Keep hair styling products away from your face. They may be a primary reason for your acne. Also, keep your hair back from your face. If you have persistent pimples on your forehead, reconsider getting bangs. Hair can cause skin to itch. Dirt from under your nails and your fingers can cause pimples.

Sleep on your back When you sleep on your belly, your face is constantly exposed to the oils that have rubbed onto the pillow from your hair and face. This causes pimples.

Hands off Hands are exposed to a number of germs each second and touching your face constantly, using your hands to

Yesterday’s short kameez, today’s kurti

wipe off sweat, etc can cause pimple break-outs to occur.

The cell phone dilemma Do you push your cell phone up to your cheek every time you talk to someone?

If you’re a text addict, your fingers are constantly up on that screen. Clean it simply with a cotton swab and savlon to keep those chatting sessions skinfriendly.

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Seek balance

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High and low

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Faux pas

Harem pants by nature are baggy and voluminous, so if you try to match it by wearing something equally loose on top, you’ll end up looking like a shapeless potato sack.

Opt for a tailored fotua, a tank with a bolero, or a nice, snug long t-shirt and scarf.

Sleep in natural beauty If you’re too lazy to take off make up at night, don’t put it on in the morning!

It’s that important. Make up contains substances that are NOT meant to be left on your skin for too long. Moreover, sleep helps to rejuvenate your skin. If you sleep with the gunk on your face, you’re not letting nature help you.

Again, there’s a question of balance. If your harem pants are the full-length Jasmine type baggy ones, you’re better off wearing them with strappy sandals, embellished ballet flats, or some mad glads. If they’re more of the cropped MC Hammer pants, then you can make your legs look longer by teaming them with sky-high heels.

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Chic of the Week Kavitha Urvasie Age: 21 yrs Email your street style photo in to tmag@dhakatribune.com and be crowned TMAG’s chic of the week!

The defining feature of harem pants is their dropped crotch, and this is what makes them hard to style.

Just as you wouldn’t pair a crop top with your shalwar simply because the wrinkled pyjama crotch isn’t pretty to look at, if what you have are Hammer pants (distinctive from the Jasmine style by their tapered legs and the raised, pattiala shalwar style crotch) you want to team them with tops that cover your rear and camel-toe area so that you can maximise on the style without compromising on class.

Sabrina F Ahmad

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FASHION FACE-OFF Look of the Week

Between the Lines Brighten up a rainy day with a splash of colour and a bold graphic. You can amp up the glam factor of a simple jeans and shirt ensemble by opting for tall boots instead of flat shoes.

Take TMAG’s PERSONALITY QUIZ Now!

What kind of personality type are you? Do you have a fun personality or a boring one? An aggressive personality or an intellectual one? A funny personality or a emotional one? How do other people perceive your personality? Learn your personality type with this quiz.

Questions 1

Questions 5

How far ahead have you planned your life?

What’s in your journal?

A I have pretty much figured out the next year B I live in the moment C I have a strategic five-year plan for success D I daydream years into the future, but no real plans

Questions 2 If you had plans with a friend, and they cancelled on you, what would you do?

A Ask them why B Make fun of them and then call up someone else C Go out and try to have MORE fun than you would have had with them.

D Be sad because you were really looking forward to your plans.

Questions 3 Which of these best describes your bedroom?

A Very clean even though I spend a lot of time there.

B Messy. Tons of posters, toys and food everywhere.

C A bed, a dresser…it looks like a bedroom.

D I have pictures of friends and crushes all over the walls.

Questions 4 If you saw two close friends fighting, what would you do?

Top and jeans: Doja (Wholesale market opposite Dhaka College) Shades: Optical stores in Bashundhara City Boots: Celebration Point (Pink City) Photographer: Homayra Adiba Model: Nusrat Srabony

A Let them settle their dispute eventually.

B Talk through it with them. Help them understand each other’s points of view.

C Make them laugh so they stop fighting.

D Figure out who’s right and who started it.

A Thoughts on politics, the world, the universe, etc.

B I do not really keep a journal. I live in the moment.

C Secret stuff that I don’t share with others D Detailed descriptions of how I feel, whom I love, etc.

If your answers are : 80% A - Intellectual Person You’re really smart, obviously, but you are more book smart, than street smart. You like reading, watch the news, and love discussing whatever is going on in the world. You enjoy being around people who challenge you intellectually.

50% B - Funny Person You relate to people with laughter.

When you make friends, you crack a joke, if you are feeling insecure, you make fun of yourself before anyone else does, and when your date is laughing non-stop, you feel like you have made a good impression. You like having an audience. Humor is your greatest and most prominent gift.

70% C - Aggressive Person You are determined, strong-willed, and ambitious. When you have set your mind to a goal, no one can get in your way. You make it happen, and you make it happen big! You have a healthy ego and sense of selfconfidence.

80% D - Emotional Person You put your heart on your sleeve.

When you are sad, angry, or happy everyone knows it. You cannot help it!

You are in touch with your emotions and are not afraid to share it. You tend to have lots of crushes (celebrities, friends, neighbors, you name it!) and you hope to find true love someday.

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written in the Stars

From Ashes to Fire Foot Soldiers “Their cold shivering feet on the dusty grounds made us realize that we should seek a solution for this problem.” Read on with MUNIRA FIDAI to find out the amazing story of these four as they beat universities like Harvard, MIT etc to get through to the top five of the Dell Social Innovation Challenge, 2013, in Texas!

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unayna Mirza, Azim Haider, Sakif Nayeem Khan and Tasmia Nahreen Jahangir - four young souls with one passion - to become problem solvers. On a road trip they took to rural North Bengal to help out with a clothing drive, they noticed that the rural folks had no foot protection through the harsh winter there. It was then that the idea of recycling potentially useless tires to produce cheap footwear came into being.

What sets this business plan apart from the numerous projects that were implemented in rural areas in

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the previous years? And why “Foot Soldiers?”

There are various merit worthy projects in the rural areas of Bangladesh in agriculture, healthcare and education. One area where Foot Soldiers bring innovative ideas to the table is that it considers a simple yet alarming issue “lack of quality footwear” and find ways to produce affordable handmade sandals to arm our country’s hard working citizens and help reduce environmental pollution.

What makes Foot Soldiers special is that it is simple, yet the impact that it can create is big. Although there has been a massive improvement in the non-profit sector in Bangladesh and there are a lot of development projects that are doing pretty well, what sets Foot Soldiers apart from other projects is the simple yet effective idea of turning a useless disposed item into a life enhancing material.

Do you think the Foot Soldiers will raise awareness about poverty and other setbacks in Dhaka amongst the new generation?

I really hope that it will. I have been greatly influenced by the teachings of our beloved Dr Muhammad Yunus. He always stresses on this particular point

that the young generation should get involved in social ventures and I truly agree with him.

The toughest item ever made was the space shuttle, and then comes the submarine and the micro-processor and so on. Each has solved a massive problem during their time. The beauty of Foot Soldiers is that it is very easy to produce and will be sold at a very low price. It will certainly encourage youngsters to come forward and understand that you don’t need to build a space station to make our nation smile again, there are millions in our country who would pay at least Tk10 for buying something that makes their lives better. Our business plan is simple, effective and attractive so I hope that this will nudge the youth and make them realize that they too can come up with simple ideas for social businesses that can change the lives of millions of struggling people in our country.

This will be the key driving force in making our new generation move towards becoming problem-solvers.

“An idea vegetates at home, but flourishes abroad.” What do you think?

I disagree; I believe our country is a

fighting nation. We survive floods, political instabilities and poverty issues to lead normal lives. It’s all about asking the right questions, creating solutions to tackle very specific problems and finding the right channels to create an impact.

Although our project has been appreciated in an international platform, I wouldn’t completely agree with that term. The point is, we live in a third-world country and if you want to do something different here, then you will have to seek help from people who are not frightened of new things and it is kind of tough to find people who are not frightened of innovative ideas here in Bangladesh. It’s difficult, but not impossible.

Win or lose: would you continue taking such initiatives which would take our country to the next level?

That is what we intend to do. We will definitely continue our initiatives. We also believe that we will encourage youngsters to come forward in the sector and provide for Bangladesh. We aren’t here to earn a big fat profit margin, we want our brothers and sisters working in factories, rice fields and tanneries, that they will never go another day bare feet on the roads burning in the scorching sun.

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Fiction

NON-Fiction

Batman redefined A reprinting of the orginal 1988 series, Batman: The Cult is a controversial but entertaining read since it deviates from the standard storyline of The Batman.

Writer Jim Starlin and artist Bernie Wrightson have created a graphic novel that is sure to stir a few questions. The series start with Batman abducted and made submissive by the Deacon Blackfire and his underground army of homeless soldiers. Tortured and starved, Batman eventually succumbs to Blackfire’s brainwashing. Batman even marvels at the fact that he has finally been broken by an adversary when he makes a temporary escape.

Starlin gives the readers a complete insight into the indoctrination of Batman into the cult, to show them the slow withering of Batman’s will through his colorful hallucinations. Blackfire is shown as an advocate of justice, just like the Batman, but his method is to use

violence to create order in chaos and the Batman comes to agree with that position during his isolation in torture.

The Cult is dark, violent, and controversial but quite the good read because a hero known for his high moral stance getting beaten down into submission undeniably raises interest in readers. The storyline certainly has some flaws, but it also makes good recovery.

The Batman series rarely takes a turn so dark that the character is close to becoming unrecognizable and it was a change to read about a story that didn’t involve Bruce Wayne’s childhood and showed other sides of the Batman that are closer to being human.

While Year One, Long Halloween and Dark Knight Returns are fan favorites, comic readers should check out this series for its compelling structure of writing and artwork that is almost symbiotic. Fardeen Ameen

a series of unfortunate events After a year of sitting around and waiting to hear back from jobs I applied, I finally had an appointment first thing Tuesday morning. Started my prep work the night before – ironing out my white shirt and my black formal trousers, conditioning my hair, wiping my black pumps clean, and prepping my face for a pimple-free morning. I was up by 6am, and spent about 2 hours perfecting a formal look – hair, makeup and what not – and then made myself a perfect off-to-work breakfast. The first set of bad news I received was that the car had decided

to break down. I stomped out, furious, and ended up stepping on a pile of cow dung strategically placed outside the front gate. Scraping it clean with the last pack of tissues I had in store, I stood on the curb for twenty minutes, trying to flag down an empty CNG. Instead of stopping to pick me up, the guy splashed muddy water from the only puddle on the street, giving my shirt a 3D-dirtlook. I had 30 minutes on the clock and no time to turn back. Just then a CNG pulled up and I hopped on. I reached the place with exactly 5 minutes left on the clock. Just as I was about to step out of the CNG the hem on my trousers caught

on a portruding nail ripped half the side of my trousers. Everything that could go wrong, had done so, so I decided to walk right through it. I must’ve turned at least a hundred heads by the time I got to the board room. All my responses were received well until they decided to ask “You sound like an intelligent, smart and professional woman but our question is why you look like the next beggar on the street?” I replied with a smile. A week later a woman called to tell me I had landed the job and I was exactly what they were looking for. I guess confidence can take you a long way.

Sabiha Mahmud Sumi

Bus Journey Lewd. That was the perfect word for the stares. She got on the bus, alert the moment she noticed the first lewd stares. It was a daily struggle and it was unavoidable. Fight the masses, sit on a sweat clogged chair, fight the traffic and of course, fight the perverts. Today was worse. She had to sit at the back. She had wanted a spot by the gate near all the other women there. The gate was also a little closer.

But the press of the people forced her forward. Ajimpur seemed so far away.

Well of course it was. Her journey had begun in Gulshan.

Every bus stop reminded her that she was nearer to home. This thought brought with her a mixture of happiness and fear. The happiness came from the realization of being home. The fear came from the realization that it was very possible that she would have to be the last woman on the bus before hitting

the last stop. One by one all the stops passed by.

Then, suddenly, as if without warning, began the journey to last stop – towards her home. And surprise, surprise … she WAS the last woman on the bus.

So she began walking her way towards the exit. Time slowed.

She walked and all the faces seemed to swivel towards her. They were taking spasmodic turns. Her over-active imagination caught every grimace, every shaking hand, every curled lip and every stare.

Her heart almost stopped when she felt the breath of a man on the nape of her neck.

She sped up but could also feel the latter’s pace pick up. She imagined all sorts of vile acts in her head. The stares seemed to magnify into “snakish” wickedness. She almost became hysterical when another man got up and blocked her path.

She swallowed a scream as she halted. The man from behind bumped into her muttering ominously.

But all he said was: “Apa, can’t you see where you’re walking?”

It was her over-active imagination.

He was just a man minding his business, eager to go home.

She almost laughed aloud with relief.

The man blocking her path simply disembarked. She followed closely behind.

Her first step on to the road reminded her that home was still a dark road away.

She felt better that she was off the bus but not wholly comforted. She thought, a girl her age was right to be scared. It was paranoia but it was also a safety measure at the same time. Being like this did not mean that she could deter all perverts but it was the only option she had.

So, onwards she walked towards home bearing the curse of the independent girl, in a city of uncertainties and corrupted values. Tabeen Siddiki

book

comic

YOU WRITE IT

it demands to be felt As much as the cheesy rom-coms and Jane Austen stories will have you believe, love isn’t easy. And happily-ever-after is the stuff of fairytales. Sometimes, despite everyone’s best intentions, things just don’t work out. But for the brief moment where anything seems possible ... that’s what makes it worth everything. If you didn’t believe that before, then this book might just change your mind.

The skinny 16-year-old Heather Grace Lancaster is suffering from terminal lung cancer. Her life revolves around obsessively rereading a book called An Imperial Affliction, being a lab-rat for radical cancer therapies, and reluctantly attending Support Group meetings. She feels she has nothing to look forward to, until Augustus Waters, osteosarcoma survivor and amputee, shuffles into one of the meetings and into her life. There is instant chemistry, even though they both know that this is a romance that will only end in tragedy.

The pros Beautiful, quotable lines and dialogue; well-fleshed out characters. An honest portrayal of the trials of cancer and the terrible toll it takes not only on the patients, but everyone around them.

The cons Some may even argue this is a perfect book and has no cons.

Others may find it a bit depressing.

TMAG’s rating 5/5 Sabrina F Ahmad

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10 tmag Guitar Tabs Deep purple’s Soldier of Fortune

BUZZIN’

This week’s best music

Intro

Technical brutality will unleash homicide all over the world this June.

Don’t panic! I am just talking about the musical genre called “Technical Death Metal.” Homicide, a technical/brutal death metal band from Bangladesh has signed with Australia’s major metal music record label Infinite Regress Records to release their EP worldwide.

The band had earlier independently released their demo “Reign of Spartacus.” The song has earned massive response from several death metal fans here. The EP is titled “Annihilation Pit”. Infinite Regress

Gm F e|----------3--5--6/10-------| B|-------3--------------------| G|----3-----------------------| D|-5--------------------------| A|----------------------------| E|----------------------------| e|--8h10p8-6--5h6p5-----5-| B|-------------------8------| G|--------------------------| D|--------------------------| A|--------------------------| E|--------------------------| C Gm e|---8--6h8p6\-5------------| B|---8-----------8---5-8--| G|---9----------------------| D|--10----------------------| A|--10----------------------| E|---8----------------------| C Gm e|--6p5---------------------| B|-------8~~----------------| G|--------------7~----------| D|--------------------------| A|--------------------------| E|--------------------------|

TV

10 tunes 1 Boats and Birds Gregory and the Hawk 2 Banana Pancakes Jack Johnson

4 Paradise Coldplay 5 Knocking On Heaven’s Door Guns N’ Roses 6 Lucky Jason Mraz 7 Same Mistake James Blunt 8 Candy Paolo Nutini 9 5th Symphony Beethoven 10 I’m Only Happy When it Rains Semisonic

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MOVIE

Records has revealed the album artwork last week. With four extreme musical structures, the band will serve the death metal crowd some raw and brutal sounds.

Homicide official says, “The EP will contain three tracks along with an intro.

As we have finished all the recordings and mastering, it’s time to wait for the EP to be released worldwide. This will help us promote our music largely around the world and people will get to know about our local underground music scenario.”

Imtiaz Salim

Slightly Eccentric for a Change Everyone wrinkled their foreheads and squinted eyebrows in the Chance household when they came to find that their dim bulb of a son had fathered a child. Jimmy had a one night stand with a girl named Lucy Carlyle which resulted in the birth of baby Hope. Lucy confided to Jimmy seven months later about their child, and then confessed to being a serial killer, which meant Jimmy was getting custody of Hope.

Jimmy’s parents Virginia and Burt Chance are quite young; Jimmy was conceived in haste and raised by trial and error and now there’s a new baby to contend with.

Money is tight, and then there’s Virginia’s 84 year old dementia-ridden

TOP Rainy

3 VCR The X X

Endless Homicide

grandmother Barbara June ‘Maw Maw’ Thompson, and Jimmy’s potential loveinterest, the affluent Sabrina Collins The show consists of rib-tickling humour coming from the pathetic conditions the family has to go through, but at the end of every episode Garcia provides a moral which touches the audience. The title of the show not only signifies the child’s name but also explains the irony that while they are neck-deep in problems and shortcomings, they still find a way to laugh it off. This series is a sure-fire cure for those of you who have been rolling in the doldrums this week.

TMAG rating 8/10 Rubab Nayeem Khan

Post Apocalyptic New York The Earth has been ravaged by thermonuclear war after an alien invasion in the mid-21st century, and Tom Cruise is a drone handyman, keeping the peace on the now-dead planet, that is being harvested for fusion energy from its oceans.

This is Joseph Kosinski’s biggest project since his entry into the big leagues with Tron: Legacy, and his work just screams “visionary.” The movie is very surprisingly well-paced, and has very little narrative flab and artistic over-indulgence (I’m looking at you, Guillermo del Toro, don’t think we didn’t notice). It also seems to have put in an effort to stay scientifically accurate.

Maybe this is an affliction all visionaries suffer from: their visions are ultimately too character-centric as opposed to delivering a logical,

satisfying climax. The cast in this movie was consistently under-utilised, the ending is utterly weak, and illogical, and the movie continues to play out some overused and hackneyed modern science fiction tropes that we should really start moving away from.

The Good l Good science gets bonus points l Good pacing, good structure, you won’t be bored l A for Effort, we need more good hard science fiction in the world The Bad l F for storytelling, the build-up should always be proportional to the payoff l Overused tropes l Another post-apocalyptic New York?

Beyond cliché TMAG rating 2/5 IFTEKHARUL HAQUE

tmag 11

TECHSTER

WE RECOMMEND Gadget hunt

Game

Sony Alpha NEX-F3 The compactness of the Sony Alpha NEX-F3 might make one wonder if the sensors are dynamic enough to shoot crisp and clear pictures.

This camera is aimed at SLR rookies. Amazingly compact with a variety of interchangeable Sony lenses available in the market, it is pretty lightweight for even these sort of mid ranged gadgets. However, after taking it to outdoor locations, skepticism may give way to pleasant surprise. The pictures are sharp

and well saturated. The light metre is sensitive and on the mark, the lens and the sensor proves to be capable of balancing a surprisingly wide range of contrasts. 1080p videos aren’t rare but NEX-F3’s control of zoom and exposure while live recording makes it a legitimate movie maker. It has a built-in flash system and an LCD screen which can be flipped in different directions, making it unique.

Tashhid Abdullah

A new dimension in horror Dead space 3 developed by EA and visceral games, has added a whole new dimension to arcade horror games. Here, the gamer plays the role of Isaac Clarke and his quest is to slay Necromorphs, human corpses reanimated by the signal of an alien artifact known as the Marker. Dead Space 3 features a large cast of new enemies. One example is the Waster, whose attacks change depending on how it is dismembered. While another is the Nexus, an insect-like giant that can crush or swallow people whole. Other obstacles in Dead Space 3 include a new human enemy, Unitologist soldiers, and environmental hazards like falling machinery and a giant mining drill.

Gamers can upgrade and craft new weapons and put two weapons together (for example, a plasma cutter and a flamethrower).

web critic

app of the week

Dead Space 3 has a drop-in/ drop-out online co-op mode for its campaign. It will unlock additional story details and gameplay mechanics only found when playing as the co-op character. Built weapons can also be shared in coop mode.

The intense graphics of this game are highly immersive. This thriller third person game has claimed the top spot in February game sales.

The game sold around 605,000 copies in February, knocking Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 down to second place. Other games Dead Space 3 beat include: Crysis 3, NBA 2K13, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Aliens: Colonial Marines 2013, Just Dance 4, Far Cry 3, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, and Madden NFL 13.

TMAG rating 8/10.

Apurba Karmaker

The Internet, customised for you From Linkedin to Tumblr, blogs and social networks have been merging in interesting ways to juggle between expressing yourself and connecting with others. There’s a sweet new site that mixes elements of StumbleUpon, online quiz sites, Pinterest and Flipboard. It’s called Archetypeme.

How it works You take a short personality quiz that determines what kind of personality archetype you fall into (there are various categories such as Creative, Artistic, Visionary and so forth). Once you’ve completed, you can sign up for an account, and will receive quizzes, polls, and news catered to your tastes, based on your test answers, all in the form of a “Daily Me” page.

You can “It’s Me” or “It’s not Me” a

news item with the click of a mouse, and the more you interact with the site, the better it gets to know you and looks for articles and stories of interest to you.

There’s also a handy “Daily Me” button that you can stick on your bookmarks bar, as with Pinterest or Polyvore that allows you to add articles to your personalised Daily Me page, even when you’re not on Archetypeme.

The Community feature allows you to add friends and share all the coolness you’ve discovered, and to compare quiz results, etc. You can even meet new people based on common archetypes and interests.

If this grabs you, visit Archetypeme. com today and sign up for your free account. Sabrina F Ahmad

Photogrid Price: Free Platform: Android/iOS Create collages of your photographs in minutes.

PhotoGrid offers users predefined templates to choose from and the option to select multiple photos to go with the template. The templates include various styles of collages such as wide (landscape style strip), high (portrait style strip), Grid and the option to design your own collage. It also offers the option to crop, rotate, add text and stylise the photographs by adding funky borders to it. Photo Grid is the fastest way to make a collage in your handheld powerhouse.

Fahad Zaman

Car Talk

2012 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE

When it comes to hatchbacks, we have always imagined something very funky and stylish. But from the first glance at the new Mirage, it looks nothing close to being stylish or funky. Frankly it is mildly uninspiring.

Mitsubishi has gone old school on the new Mirage. Which means, there are no complicated electronic gismos fiddling around with the car’s performance and handling. The car still manages to go 22km/litre. You can go the extra mile without having to worry about refilling. Performance wise it is quiet below park with its 1.2litre 78Hp engine.

Inside, the dash is simple and easy to operate with decent leg room in the front. Features such as keyless entry, power mirrors, audio and 14” alloy rims come as standard. Prices start from 19lacs and onwards and have 3year/60,000km warranty.

If you live in Dhaka and in desperate need of a runabout car without converting it to CNG, you should go for it.

Tahsin Momin

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12 tmag

TEENARAMA

Aries: You’re not as impulsive as you think, however paying attention to your actions might help solve your concerns. Expect distractions from all angles; try not to succumb to them.

Taurus: There will probably be some drama with in your social circle.

You might want to clear the air, before they start pointing fingers.

You might get a little crabby and misinterpret people’s intentions; ease up a little!

Gemini: You will be embracing positivity a little too much.

Others are taking a little warming up to your new attitude. Feeling a little ‘loving and giving’? Helping people does have its perks.

Cancer: You will be attending to your priorities for a change- watch out for distractions. Expect a different kind of ‘pat in the back’ after your hard work pays off. It’s probably not the kind you expected, but it’ll still keep you in the good books.

Leo: Situations may not be all that great for you, but you’ll cope with it and live to tell the tale.

Things might turn around because of your good communication skills.

Say yes to invitations and outings with friends and loved ones.

Virgo: If you make bad choices, don’t beat yourself up. You are safe, as long as it doesn’t change your principals.

You can use your communication skills to do something stellar and when you have its okay to brag a little.

HOROSCOPE

Blush Much?

1

My mother caught my boyfriend’s text messages on my phone and grounded me for two weeks.

This was over the summer so I didn’t even have school where we could meet. The minute my two weeks were up, I logged on to Facebook to email my boyfriend only to see a picture of him and a girl from my class on my newsfeed saying they’ve been in a relationship for over a week.

2

An ex of a friend was asked in a Facebook thread whether he liked the beef at Nando’s. He replied enthusiastically that he once had this amazing beef steak there but he “couldn’t remember the name.” People kept asking him to remember and it was over an hour before somebody finally cracked and told him that Nando’s doesn’t serve beef.

3

I was shunned from my group of friends because I didn’t know at the time who Khiyo was.

4

Everyone knew I got caught passing notes to my friends in class, after the teacher had made a huge fuss about it in front of everyone. But no one knew that after he pulled me out to take me to the principal’s office, the teacher told me to beat it while he went to grab a coffee.

Email your confession today to tmag@dhakatribune.com

TMAG tells you to Libra: There’s a chaotic week ahead of you, and if you want to get things done you should start with a checklist. Finish up, and then run along to spend time with your mates.

Scorpio: You know what you want, and you eventually get what you want. But at least try to remember how you got it. You are full of confidence and some really digs you for that.

S agittari u s : Engage in a group discussion which sheds light on new issues; draw conclusion on the matter. There’s a lot going on with you and you might squint a little if your friends don’t understand your problems.

Capricorn: You can take on any problem, only if you are willing to compromise. If a friend wants help, go ahead but make sure you have enough patience left in order to deal with your own. Future is right around the corner; lay back and plan a little.

Aquarius: You’re all about what’s new; go ahead, take a leap.

Let others worry about right or wrong. Careful what you say, it might streak your reputation. If you feel a little ambitious at the end of the week, seeking advice from an adult might help solve the puzzle.

Pisces: Your hints to get noticed, keeps backfiring because that certain some isn’t even aware of the fact that you dig them. People’s weirdness might get in your way; duck and you’ll miss them!

Choose or Lose My boyfriend went on a vacation and ever since he has gotten back, he has been acting different towards me in a way. He has been back for a few days and he has gone and seen his friends but he hasn’t made an effort to even see me yet. Also last night, when he had to get off of the phone, he was about to hang up without saying I love you, which he always says to me.

So I had to stop him from hanging up and tell him I love you first. Should I keep him or dump him?

Lose!

We are both 17 years old and have been dating for over two years. We both love each other very much and know we have been drifting apart over the last couple months. Mainly because I moved to a different town and we’ve been seeing each other only once or twice a week when it used to be every single day. Should I dump him or keep him?

Choose!

Let us be the judge of your situation. Email your story today to tmag@dhakatribune.com

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