Postnoon E-Paper for 03 March 2012 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

VIKRAM VUPPALA

on making the move from engineering into healthcare, and realising a long-cherished dream.

JAGAN MEETS ‘AVAILABLE’ MLAs

A beleaguered YS Jaganmohan Reddy closeted with the available ‘ousted’ Congress legislators who have been sailing with him at his residence on Saturday morning to discuss the way forward. It is widely speculated that Jagan is being cornered by the Congress and that the inevitable is imminent. The legislators who attended the meeting included G Srikanth Reddy, Chennakesava Reddy, Srinivasulu and Konda Surekha.

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MARCH 3, 2012 HYDERABAD

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on daring to give up everything in pursuit of passion, and the magic that is theatre.

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PALLAVI VARMA

32 PAGES

ON SATURDAY

PAGE TWO SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

THREE’S COMPANY

Naveena awards TV 9 Naveena is organising The Naveena Mahila Awards on March at Prasad’s Preview Theatre to honour rural woman who fight against social evils. Where: Prasad’s Preview Theatre, Banjara Hills When: March 3, 10.30 am

N SHIVA KUMAR

Kalighat Victoria Memorial and London’s Victoria hall and Albert museum present Kalighat, an exhibition of paintings from Kalighat.The exhibition features 100s of paintings by 15 contemporary artists currently working in rural Bengal. Where: Salarjung Museum, Charminar When: Ongoing, 10am Contact: (040) 2452 3211

Art from the heart Muse Art Gallery presents a charity art show by Anjum Mohammadi (Karachi). Where: Muse Gallery, Tank Bund When: Ongoing, 11am Contact: (040) 2752 2999

Any doubts? A Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning drama set in 1960s in New York, Doubt is a strong drama about the conflict when the school’s principal suspects a beloved and progressive parish priest of molesting an altar boy. Where: ,Lamakaan Banjara Hills When: March 3, 7.30pm Contact: 96427 31329

Classical jugalbandi A Bharatanatyam and Kathak Jugalbandi by Nirupama & Rajendra will be held at Where: Ravindra Bharati, Saifabad When: March 3, 6.30pm Contact: (040) 2323 3672

Midnight Buffet Midnight hunger pangs? Head to Best Western for it’s midnight buffet where you can enjoy Hyderabadi dum biryani and live dosa with chicken curry every night. Where: Best Western Jubilee Hills When: Ongoing, 10.30pm-2.30am Contact: 80083 00373

Solo performance As a part of Rangsutra catch a solo performance based on the relationship between Krishn & Draupadi. Maiin Krishna Krish Ki is presented by Avitoko from Chennai.

CINEMAS

Where: Nift auditorium Madhapur When: March 3, 7.30pm Contact: (040) 2311 0841

Voice and Ventriloquy Gallery Space presents Voice and Ventriloquy- a solo show by Subroto Chowdhury . The exhibition is on till March 10. Where: Gallery Space, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing, 11am to 7pm Contact: (040) 6554 1836

Chowrasta Catch the painting exhibition Chowrasta featuring artistes such as Natraj S, Thirumala M Thirupathi, Srinivas Mouni and Subodh Singh. Where: Shrishti Art Gallery, Jubilee Hills When: Ongoing, 11am Contact: (040) 2354 0023

Go Splash Splash lounge is the perfect leisure destination for you to unwind at the poolside. During the evenings, the atmosphere gets romantic with great music, martinis and apertifs. Where: The Westin, Madhapur When: Monday-Friday, 5pm-10.30pm Weekends, 8am-10.30pm Contact: (040) 6767 6828

Momo Café Momo Café at the Marriot presents a new A-La-Carte Menu with delicacies such as Thai,Classic Western, Oriental and South Indian. Where: Hyderabad Marriot, Tank Bund When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 2752 2999

Food for thought Manthan along with Kalpana Sharma host a discussion on ‘What should we do about dowry?’ Where: Vidyaranya School, Saifabad When: March 3, 6pm Contact: (040) 2323-7789

Acting workshop Samahaara- an acting and dancing workshop is being held. The workshop focusses on a variety of topics such as understanding the basics of stage acting, character analysis, stage and rehearsal terms, movement and stage geography. Where: The Actor’s studio, Madhapur When: Ongoing, 7pm to 9pm Contact: 98854 04784

Silk Utsav Madhya Pradesh Khadi & Village Industries Board, Bhopal is hosting an MP Silk Utsav.Head to the exhibition for a variety of exotic &

colourful bagh Khadi sarees, Maheshwari sarees, cotton and poly khadi dress material along with products made by SHG’s. Where: Institute of Engineers, Khairtabad When: Ongoing, 10am Contact: (040) 2339 4969

Musical concert AnandaPriya Foundation for Arts and Learning present a Concert Lecture on Hindustani and Carnatic Melodic Structures by Shri Sriram Parasuram. The event will be held at the Amphi Theatre, Road No 8, Banjara Hills on March 5. Where: The Amphi Theatre, Saptaprni, Banjara Hills When: March 5, 7pm

Through her eyes Iconart Art Gallery plays host to ‘Through her eyes’- an art exhibition by Priyanka Poogalia. The exhibition is on till March 4. Where: Iconart, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing, 11.30am Contact: 98499 68797

Weaves Weaves — A Cotton and Silk spectrum is being held. Head there for your pick of sarees. Where: Imperial Gardens, Secunderabad When: Ongoing, 11am to 9 pm Contact: (040) 30522000

Big Cinemas, Ameerpet, 30581470; Cinemax, Banjara Hills, 44565555; Cine Planet , Kompally, 61606060; INOX, Banjara Hills, 447677770, Prasads, Tank Bund Rd, 23448888; PVR, Punjagutta, 08800900009; Talkie Town, Miyapur, 40214175; Tivoli, Secunderabad 27844973

CITY SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

Raids on excise officials

he Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) launched a major crackdown across the State on the liquor syndicates on Saturday morning. The sleuths have launched searches in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Khammam. Searches are on at the Hyderabad residences of senior officials of Excise of Warangal.

Man held with `6 lakh

ir Customs officials of the RGI airport detained a passenger bound for Malayasia carrying an unexplained cash amount of `6 lakh last night. The lawful limit is `1 lakh. Officials found that the passenger, Ganesh, 28, also held a Malaysian passport. He is suspected to be linked with the hawala racket.

FAPSIA stir enters third day

he relay hunger strikes by the Federation of AP Small Industries Association entered the third day and over 30 women entrepreneurs participated on Saturday. APK Reddy, president of the association, said that the government should ensure uninterrupted power supply to small and medium enterprises and also save 1.61 lakh SMEs across the State.

Decks cleared for arrest? A SAYE SEKHAR

saye@postnoon.com

s the stage set for the arrest of YS Jaganmohan Reddy? The acceptance of the resignation by Nellore MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy by Lok Sabha Speaker Miera Kumar two days ago; the disqualification of 16 Congress legislators owing allegiance to Jagan in a late night development just a day after Gali Janardhana Reddy was moved out of Chanchalguda jail to Bangalore are all pointing to the

imminent arrest of Jagan. Allagadda MLA Shobha Nagi Reddy told Postnoon on Saturday that the Speaker was taking decisions at the behest of the Congress high command. In case of Jagan’s arrest, sympathy from the people would engulf the State like a tsunami. One visit by the already-aggrieved YS Vijayalakshmi would result in a complete wash out of the Congress and the TDP. She exuded confidence that all the 17 MLAs and one MP of the YSR Congress would be returned with best-ever margins whenever by-elections were conducted. The Congress might be under the impression that it could buy time to undo the dam-

age it inflicted to its own vote bank. But that’s far-fetched. Official spokesperson of the YSR Congress Ambati Rambabu

sought to know as to how the CBI could arrest Jagan. “He never held any office in the State or the Centre. If they dare do it, the government will have to face the consequences.” The result of Kovur Assembly constituency would itself indicate that bell tolls for Congress. People began to believe that Jagan was being cornered, he said. The disqualification of the 16 legislators happened for the first time in the history of independent India after the advent of Anti-Defection Law. The disqualification was effected under Section 21 (A) and (B) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India on 13 MLAs, while three MLAs were

disqualified under Section 21 B. The MLAs actually resigned their membership of the Assembly on August 24 resenting the inclusion of the name of the late CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s name in the FIR filed by the CBI. The 16 Congress MLAs defied the party whip and voted in favour of the no-confidence motion moved by the Telugu Desam Party against the N Kiran Kumar Reddy-led Congress Government on December 5. The CBI will have to file a charge-sheet within 90 days of filing an FIR. The deadline for the charge-sheet is likely to end in the first week of April.

CITY SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

On top of the world

Grinding study, thinking, practicing writing and preparing one’s mind for rejection are, in sum, the mantra of the triumphant candidates of the civil examinations this year. Postnoon speaks with a few of them for the benefits of aspirants SUDESHNA KOKA

sudeshna.k@postnoon.com

spirations have come to a full circle. After being knocked off its high pedestal by the sunrise industry, the coveted civil services have once again captured the imagination of the young. A growing number of candidates are appearing in the examinations that included highly qualified techies. Andhra Pradesh has done well with 70 of its 550 candidates getting through, and Hyderabad takes the cake. It was no easy job to get in though. It requires a megaton of patience and interests to pursue the studies. Out of 12,993 candidates who appeared for the examination throughout the country, just 2,418 have managed to secure qualifying marks. Of these only 900 candidates are expected to be appointed by the UPSC. Unlike other exams, the process for UPSC takes more than one and a half years’ time. Given the tough competition one is more prepared for rejection that selection. We speak to some of them. Shivaji Anguru: A sales

SRINIVAS SETTY

executive in Reliance, he quit his job two years back to prepare for the exam. After failing in his first attempt he worked harder and success smiled at him the second time round. His only ladder to success was read less and think more. “The UPSC demands more of thinking than information. Unfortunately our education system gives us a lot of unwanted baggage. One first needs to unlearn what they’ve learnt in school and college,” he says. Talking about the mistakes he made last time, he says, “The biggest mistake that I made was failing to practice writing. This is a mistake most people make. Once they finish studying they think they know everything but the main catch is to practice writing. In 25 minutes one has to write 500 to 550 words.” He is spiritual but not religious and he says trust in oneself is the main asset. Guru M: After working for four years in the IT industry and saving enough to sustain him for a few years Guru quit his job to pursue his dream. “Psychological support from friends and family are important during the years of preparation. The preparation stage is very demanding. Many think that it’s like any other exam and one clears it in the

very first attempt.” This atheist, believes in hard work and self confidence. “While preparing there are several people who will give you advice. But you should your discretion. There are two things to keep in mind while preparing, one is to choose the right subjects. Basing on illusions one should not choose his subjects. Choosing a subject on the basis of marks is wrong.” And, of working under politicians he has no qualms. “People have chosen them and we need to respect their choice and work under them,” he says. Guru says mains are the most important section to clear. He is expecting India’s future in the next 30 years as the main topic in the forthcoming interview. Vijay Anand: Although this MBA graduate could not clear the exam this time, he takes it in his stride. “How will I grow if I don’t give myself the permission to fail?” he says, adding, “I made a mistake in choosing the wrong technical subject and not practicing writing.” “There are new trends being observed since the last five years. One is IT professionals are entering into this field and the other is the children of former civil servants succeed more in examinations, says Gopal Krishna, director, Brain Tree India coaching centre.

Parents cheer intermediate students from the bleachers N SHIVA KUMAR

Postnoon News

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he tension in the air was palpable. Some sat around biting their nails, a few just walked around listlessly, while others struck up nervous conversations with their neighbours. All the while though, there was just one thought on everyone’s mind — “I hope my child recalls everything he/she has studied and aces the exam.” Even as the students raced to complete their answer papers, parents waited anxiously outside exam centres in the City on the first two days of the Intermediate examinations. Unmindful of the blazing sun and sweltering heat, the parents patiently waited for their children to finish their exams — be it on the footpaths, air conditioned cars or under trees. As per the rules, parents who come to drop their children at

n n n n

exam centres cannot enter the premises. So they did the next best thing — wait right outside wishing their children luck and sending up silent prayers hoping for their children to emerge with

flying colours. “When I gave my first board exam my whole family came to the exam center for moral support. Back then I wondered why they were all so tensed. But today my husband

The intermediate exams commenced on Friday and the examination was conducted smoothly all across the State. Only one case of impersonation was reported. The incident occurred in Govt Junior College, Sathupally, Khammam district and a case was registered against the culprit, Karri Mallesh. No of students who took the test: 92.83 per cent No of students absent: 70284 Hall tickets denied: 20,000 Malpractice cases: 36

and I are waiting outside St Francis Junior College as my daughter is writing her Board exams. I now understand why my parents came along with me,” recalls Sudha K, a parent.

The fact that the parents didn’t mind waiting for three long hours goes to show the high expectations the children have to live up to. The stress of the competition is heating up not just amongst students, but their parents as well. “More than class X results, it is the intermediate board exam results that are more crucial. These exams will decide my son’s future hence I am here to offer him moral support and cheer him on,” says Krishna Rao, a parent. While for most of us these gestures may come across as touching, according to psychologists and counsellors, exams today have become testing times for parents more than children. “It’s not the college but the parents who stress their child. They just want to prove that my child is better than yours,” says Abhinav Reddy, a psychologist.

FOCUS SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

Revived and restored!

After years of lying in a dilapidated condition, the State Central Library in Afzalgunj has been given its due. Partly renovated now, the library is back to having students fill its halls. We take a look MARYAM SULTANA

Maryam Sultana & Darshani Nene feedback@postnoon.com

eing in the dumps for quite some time, the face of the State Central Library is changing for good, making students of all streams flock towards it. With its growing popularity among the young and old the glory days are here again The State Central Library located in Afzalgunj, is one of the most imposing structures in the city, and was granted heritage status in 1998. Constructed in 1891, of late the library is being renovated to suit the growing needs and demands of the rapidly increasing readers.

“I’ve been coming to this library for the last 6 months, I find it pretty good. The collection is impressive, especially in the text book section. I am really happy with the changes that are taking place here. Both the infrastructure and the collection is improving,” says Rakesh, an Engineering student from Sri Indu Engineering College. The setting of this library is beautiful, you can find many students spreading newspapers under the shade of trees in the lawn, sitting on them, and studying devotedly for their exams. Chetan, an engineering student says, “This place is very serene. It helps me take refuge from the constant hustle-bustle happen-

ing at the college. Here, I just feel like studying, the atmosphere is appealing for many students like me. You can find the library filled with students, both inside and outside.” Be it students of Arts, Commerce or Sciences, you will find all sorts under one roof on the eve of Exams. “I find all kinds of books here. SCL is very useful, the collection here is massive and broad. The renovations brought about last year has made this place more comfortable, I spend much more time studying here,” says Vaibhav, student of B. Pharmacy. Shankarappa, the in charge of the text book section at the Central Library, adds, “The new blocks have

been completely renovated, but for the main block there won’t be large scale renovations. Since it’s an old building, we have to be careful. But changes will be brought about. We’re looking at improving the condition of the building, and re arranging, cleaning up and adding more books to the library.” The library has an excellent collection of over four million books published since the early 19th century, including books in English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Sanskrit, Urdu, Arabic and Persian. Nearly 17,000 manuscripts dating to the fifth and sixth centuries were transferred to the Andhra Pradesh Oriental Manuscripts Library in 1967.

Other Libraries in the City

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Archeological Museum Library, Gunfoundry British Library, Secretariat Road City Central Library, Chikkadpally

Indo-American Studies Centre for International Studies, Osmania University Osmania University Library Vivekananda Library, Ramakrishna Math Campus NIMSME library, Yousufguda

NATION SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

CLASSIFIEDS FABRICATION

‘I have done no wrong’

Religious freedom

Brisk voting in Goa

MUMBAI: Beleaguered Mumbai

PANAJI: Around 20 per cent

Congress leader Kripashankar Singh, facing charges of amassing illegal wealth, today said he had done nothing wrong and will fight “as per law.” Accusing media of unfairly targeting him and his family, the former Congress president also said he was not absconding as being reported.

balloting was reported in Goa in the first two hours of elections to pick a 40-member assembly on Saturday. North Goa district which reported 21 per cent voting has 23 assembly segments, while South Goa district which clocked 17 per cent voting, has 17 assembly segments.

WASHINGTON: To mark the 10th anniversary of Gujarat communal riots, a Democrat lawmaker has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives urging the state government to restore religious freedom, recognising the suffering of the people affected by the 2002 violence in Gujarat.

UP to decide Azhar fate

LUCKNOW: Brisk polling took

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Prohibitory orders in B’lore courts

ll courts in Bangalore will remain closed on Saturday after Friday’s violence, according to reports. Advocates attacked media persons in the Bangalore civil court on Friday morning during the hearing of an illegal mining case against former minister G Janardhana Reddy. The violence left at least 32 policemen (including a deputy commissioner of police) —10 journalists and seven advocates injured. The violence started around 11am and went on all day. The police had to resort to lobbying teargas shells and baton charges to control protestors. Prohibitory orders have been imposed in and around the court complex for two days. While city police chief Jyoti Prakash Mirji failed to bring the situation quickly under control, chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda pleaded ignorance.

place on Saturday in the seventh and final phase of Uttar Pradesh’s staggered elections in 60 assembly seats across 10 districts. Two polling officers died of heart attack while 17 women constables going for polling duty were injured in an accident. Voting at 9am was 10.06 per cent. As many as 17 women constables headed for polling duty were injured on Saturday in Moradabad when a mini-bus carrying them overturned.

The women, who are undergoing police training, were on their way to polling stations for election duty when their vehicle turned turtle, police said. Deputy Inspector General of Police (Moradabad) Amitabh Yash told that while 14 were discharged after first aid, three women constables had “slightly serious injuries”. The returning officers at two booths — one each in Bijnor and Moradabad — died of heart attack late on Friday night. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)

Umesh Sinha said that following the deaths, alternate arrangements were made at both the booths so that the voting process was not hampered. The electorate numbering 18,227,281 — men 10,024,588, women 8,201,987 and others 706 — will seal the fate of 962 candidates, including 100 women candidates. The political parties contesting in this phase include Bahujan Samaj Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and Samajwadi

UP IN ARMS

Water levels of river ‘normal’: Indian official NEW DELHI: Water levels of a major river flowing through India’s northeast are “normal,” an Indian government official said Friday, denying claims a dam in neighbouring China had caused them to plunge. The senior official in India’s Ministry of Water Resources in New Delhi said there had been “no reduction in the flow” of water in the Brahmaputra River which has its source in China’s southwestern Tibet region. The Indian Central Water Commission, which measures the river, has found the levels are “normal,” the official told AFP, asking not to be named. “There have been no sudden changes in the river’s flow and there is no need for India to worry or press the panic button,” he said. The official’s statements came as China earlier on Friday denied allegations that a dam it was building on the river had affected the lower reaches of the waterway in northeastern India. “Our projects have not affected the lower stream regions, including those in India,” China’s foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters in Beijing. China pays attention to the impact on the lower stream regions when developing its water resources, Hong said. Tako Dabi, a lawmaker in India’s Arunachal Pradesh state, triggered concern on Thursday about water levels by claiming that they had dropped and accusing China of diverting the river water on its side.

Party. The number of EVMs being used in this phase is 48,533, while the total number of polling stations are 18,957. The assembly constituencies with maximum number of candidates are Bithari Chainpur and Bareilly Cantt, both in Bareilly district, with 27 in the fray while Gunnaur (Badaun) with seven candidates is the constituency with minimum number of candidates. Votes for the 403 assembly constituencies will be counted IANS March 6.

Likar Angu, chief engineer of the Arunachal Pradesh state water resources department, told on Friday that “one can see a few dry patches” in the Brahmaputra River but the river level was higher than last year. “This is a lean period and obviously the water discharge is lower, but compared to last year on this day, the water level is 80 centimetres more,” Angu said. The Brahmaputra River is known in China’s Tibet region as the Yarlung Tsangpo and it enters India in Arunachal Pradesh, where it is called the Siang. The 1,800-mile (2,900-kilometre) river then descends into the plains of adjoining Assam state and ends in Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal, along the way supplying water to hundreds of millions of farmers and residents. “To satisfy the needs the Tibet Autonomous Region, China has begun to build the hydroelectric power station of Zangmu in the middle part of Yarlung Tsangpo river,” China’s spokesman Hong said on Friday. “It does not have a big capacity and does not retain an excessive amount of water. It will not affect the downstream water regulation and environment.” Beijing has regularly faced complaints over its water usage from Southeast Asian nations for damming the Mekong and Salween rivers, both of which originate in China. AFP

Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists protest during the shooting of a film on Osama bin Laden by Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow in Chandigarh on Friday. Activists protested against the hoisting of Pakistani flags during the shooting of the film. PTI

Pakistan, India to normalise trade

akistan will normalise trade with India by the end of 2012, Islamabad announced, signalling its commitment to liberalising trade with its regional rival. Pakistan will normalise trade with India by the end of this year, the government announced, signalling Islamabad’s commitment to following through on a pledge last year to liberalise trade with its regional rival. A government statement said Pakistan will phase out restrictions on most imports from India by December 2012, the Associated Press reports, reflecting weakening opposition to trade ties between the two countries from Islamist groups and the military. Formal trade between the

Pakistan and India is worth $2.7 billion a year, according to the BBC. The World Bank estimates that trade could increase to as much as $9 billion if barriers are lifted. Islamabad currently imposes severe restrictions on a wide variety of goods, including sugar and textiles, and Pakistani traders can only legally import around 2,000 items from India. The decision now means that Pakistanis can import anything from India except for 1,200 items on a ‘negative list’ which is to be eliminated by the end of the year, according to The Hindustan Times. The push to remove trade barriers between the pair have fuelled hopes of closer political links.

WORLD SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

Obama warns Israel

Tornados rip central US

BP to pay $7.8bn in claims

Washington DC: Obama warned against

Chicago: At least six people were

a premature attack on Iran, while Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Israel had the right to self-defence and needed room to manoeuvre. But in an apparent nod to Netanyahu, Obama said if sanctions failed to curb Tehran's atomic ambitions, military action against Iranian nuclear facilities should not be ruled out.

killed and one small town was ‘gone’ as more than six dozen tornados tore across the central United States on Friday. Five other deaths were reported, but have not yet been officially confirmed. The latest wave of storms comes after a string of twisters killed 13 people earlier in the week.

Chicago: British Petroleum said on Friday it reached a $7.8 billion deal to settle claims from fishermen and other private claimants affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill ahead of the start of a blockbuster US trial. The settlement does not affect what is anticipated to be tens of billions in fines and claims from the US government and the coastal states and local governments impacted by the spill.

Syria targeting journalists Red Cross barred from Baba Amr

DAMASCUS: The UN demanded on Friday that Syria allow in humanitarian aid after a Red Cross relief mission to a vanquished rebel stronghold was blocked, as fears grew of brutal reprisals by regime forces. In New York, UN leader Ban Ki-moon demanded that Syria unconditionally let in humanitarian aid. "The Syrian authorities must open without any preconditions to humanitarian communities," Ban told a press briefing at the UN headquarters. "It is totally unacceptable, intolerable. How as a human being can you bear... this situation," he said. But Syria's UN envoy Bashar Jaafari accused the UN chief of ‘slandering’

President Bashar al-Assad's government with his accounts of the deadly crackdown on opposition protests. The United States called all countries to condemn the ‘horrific’ brutality in Syria as President Barack Obama declared that Assad's days were numbered. Syria has refused to let UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos into the country, but Ban said the UN still hoped to persuade President Bashar al-Assad to allow her entry to make an aid assessment. His comments came after the Red Cross said Syria had blocked an aid convoy from entering Baba Amr, which was overrun by regime forces on Thursday after rebel fighters retreated in the face of their AFP withering assault.

Journalist Edith Bouvier smiles as firefighters carry her into an ambulance. AFP/JACQUES DEMARTHON

PARIS: Syrian forces seemed to be directly targeting journalists in Homs, wounded French reporter Edith Bouvier and photographer William Daniels said on Saturday, after escaping the besieged city. "There were at least five successive explosions, very near. We really had the impression that we were directly targeted," the pair were quoted as saying after their return to Paris on Friday. The rocket attack on February 22 in the flashpoint Baba Amr area of Homs killed French photographer Remi Ochlik as well as veteran Sunday Times reporter Marie Colvin, and wounded Bouvier and British photographer Paul Conroy. Paris prosecutors on Friday opened

Photographer William Daniels on his arrival in France. AFP/JACQUES DEMARTHON

a murder probe into the attack. The bodies of Ochlik and Colvin were meanwhile formally identified in Damascus by the French and Polish ambassadors. Le Figaro reporter Bouvier sustained multiple fractures to her leg from the rocket attack on a makeshift media centre in Baba Amr. Bouvier, 31 and Daniels, 34, were smuggled out of Syria to Beirut by activists and were greeted by relatives and French President Nicolas Sarkozy when they arrived on Friday at a French airbase near Paris. The two Figaro journalists recounted their harrowing experience from the time on February 22 when Syrian rockets began hitting the ‘press centre’. Colvin and Ochlik were the first to leave. A missile landed in front of the press centre. The explosion was massive, Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik were practically at the point of impact. They were killed on the spot. The injured Bouvier couldn't move her leg. "I screamed" and Syrian insurgent fighters took the journalists to a field hospital in a nearby house. The two French journalists were trapped for days. "We didn't know anything... was the way blocked? Were the Syrian troops coming? I really wanted to flee, before remembering that I was immobilised," said Bouvier who was eventually moved out on a stretcher. Their exact route out remains a secret, though the two French journalists recounted how they were sheltered by locals along the way "despite the risks". They eventually reached Lebanon late on Thursday and were repatriated to AFP France the following day.

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COMMENT SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

Blind rush

A good initiative

orporate colleges in AP have been exploiting students in the name of admissions to top engineering and medical colleges. The latest trend of coaching students for UPSC exams is alarming given the lack of scientific approach in most of these colleges. Making students study for 12 hours will only stress them. Ritu Joshi, Jubilee Hills

he Central government's decision to amend the Motor Vehicles Act is a welcome move. Of late, the number of accidents has been on the rise in Hyderabad due to negligence and rash driving. The government and police department is sending a strong signal to motorists to get their act right or pay a hefty fine. Mohd Faizuddin, Mehdipatnam

BP’S PAY OUT IS not nearly enough

WHY WE LOVE... Taylor Kitsch Well for one he’s got a great surname. It conjures memories of tat that everyone wants, and Taylor is someone everyone wants. Many will remember his star turn in the superb TV series Friday Night Lights, but few know that life has been rather unkind to the hunk. Now, however, with John Carter ready for a huge release we can breathe easy in the knowledge that the man who made high school football sexy is going to be with us for a while. Having said that, we’re pretty sure even he can ‘t save the Carter turkey.

Readers’ views We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222.

Shame on us

fficials fumble, as city crumbles is a highly important issue that justifiably needs focus on the front page. The question is, is there an organised way of dealing with issues? I have complained to the authorities like GHMC, and the kind of response I got each time was enough to dissuade me from making any more pleas. Radhika Hari, Srinagar Colony

Spiritual over the sensual

EDITORIALS

This morning BP reached an agreement with a group of plaintiffs for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The sum was $7.5bn. But if BP thinks that this pay-out is the end of the affair then they are sadly mistaken. Along with Transocean, BP is responsible for the largest environmental disaster in history and while this money is ostensibly going towards helping out fishermen who lost their livelihood due to the spill, it does not take into account the massive loss of life under the sea. Hundreds of thousands of birds, fish and marine mammals have been affected by this epic tragedy, and no dollar number will make up for this loss. Big oil has run countries and governments for far too long, from the Exxon Valdez to Deepwater Horizon, we have turned a blind eye to an industry that wants, but fails to give back. After Horizon the US government was given an opportunity to redress past wrongs. They have failed miserably, and while $7.5bn will go a long way to alleviate human suffering, nature’s scars, however, will be far more difficult to cover up.

EDITORIALS

ANUP J KAT

SOUL CURRY

SUMAA TEKUR

’ve celebrated Holi and played with colours only once, as a teenager. I love to watch coloured powder thrown high up in the air. I love to watch how revellers smear these powders on each other that the colours lose identity and mesh into an altogether new shade. But I’ve largely stayed away from these boisterous celebrations. Once I even risked losing the friendship of a good neighbour by shutting the door on her face when she landed up unannounced (and drenched in coloured water that had turned black) to splash some on me. Holi is when we stop and pay attention to all the colours around us. It’s a festival that announces the end of winter and the arrival of spring. Although in South India, we don’t celebrate this festival all that much, the migrant population, the influence of Bollywood and TV soaps, and the enthusiasm of the youth, who are exposed to cultural fusion, have all made this festival more topof-mind today than it was even some 10 years ago. I won’t deny that I may be a bit of a control freak to celebrate Holi in its splendour without worrying about my clothes; without worrying if the colour will come off; without worrying how I look with all those colours of my face; and without worrying if I’m inhaling some poisonous particles in the powders. Yes, I admit to all of it. But I’m also wary of giving the licence to not-so-close friends, and sometimes complete strangers, to use this as an opportunity to touch me — in the name of celebration. When I look at the way Holi is celebrated in different pockets by various communities, I cannot help but wonder at the irony of why we celebrate this festival at all. Of course, there

are age-old customs associated with celebrating Holi. The bonfire signifies burning away our desires, ego, selfishness, impurities, evil thoughts, etc. But it also has the deeper significance of conquering lust. It’s about attaining the higher spiritual ideal over the sensual. News reports, almost every year, of unruly Holi celebrations gone wrong, should serve as reminder of why we celebrate this festival. Colour is an outward expression of our strongest and deepest emotions. Each colour

attracts a certain cosmic power. The seven colours of the rainbow are each associated with a chakra in the human body. Colours have vibrations and to know and understand them while using them is to be more sensitive, aware and alive to the world around us. Holi should be that time to make us aware of these meanings. The vibrations in the colours correspond to the body’s inner vibrations. Colours are, therefore, essential tools to harmonise the human body and restore balance. Colour therapy

is used to do this effectively, through which the individual can improve, both socially and spiritually. Whether to rein in lust or to celebrate colour, Holi is a good time to introspect on our desires and expectations. Symbolically, burning these desires in the Holika is one thing but moving on to lead a better focused life from the next day is the bigger challenge. It’s the challenge of the spiritual over the sensual. (The writer is a Bangalore-based commentator)

COMMENT SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

Heeding the roar: To be or not to be the Tiger Mum MINI SINGH

feedback@postnoon.com

s I hurried home from my morning walk, mind cluttered with a humongous to-do list; my thoughts were disrupted with a constant whining sound. I turned around to see what the noise was all about. It was a little four-year-old, dressed for school, persistently calling out to her dad from across the road, “Papa, idhar aao!” (Dad, please come here!) Equally persistently, the dad was ignoring her; absorbed in his newspaper. Surprised at the obvious risk the parent was subjecting his child to (she might just get it in her head to cross the street and go to her dad), I wondered what would happen if this scenario was played out in another country. I remembered an incident that my friend, Simi Dayal had recounted to me when she lived in New Jersey. After grocery shopping, she had asked her five-year-old to wait on the pavement, while she reversed the car. Immediately, she was approached by an

Urban sketches VISWAPRASAD RAJU

officer who warned her never to do that unless she wanted to lose custody of her child. Curious and worried for the safety of the little girl, I stood to observe. The dad reluctantly stood up from the kerb where he had been sitting, and sauntered over casually towards the child. Relieved, I moved on. Just another day in parent-land. Or was it?

Are we Indians really bad parents? Or are other people too stringent about what constitutes good parenting? Did the Bhattacharyas in Norway really deserve to have their children taken away from them? Even as we grapple with figuring out a balance between our parents’ authoritarian parenting style and a too-liberal parenting

No longer a 'Secret' lake

style, I feel Indians are not alone in this struggle. Everyone’s thinking, “Should I be a tiger mum, or a cool mum? Is Amy Chua just an out-of-control, control freak; or is she right?” It is transition time for parents all around the world; having rejected the model that includes corporal punishment and humiliation, we are now in the phase of

trial and error experimentation. What makes it more complex is the fact that times are changing like never before; and some issues are being faced by parents for the very first time. For instance, our parents did not have to deal with disciplining us in the face of unlimited satellite television with cartoon channels; nor did they have to figure out how to handle technology options that present unfiltered data indiscriminately. The biggest problem faced by the previous generation of parents was probably that the kid was at a risk of developing carpel-tunnel syndrome from playing too many video games. How does one decide what constitutes good parenting? I for one, think that if a parent is fretting over his/ her parenting style, that itself is a good sign. It means that s/ he is consciously thinking about what s/ he is doing right or wrong. Introspection is the starting point for evolution. I don’t think we’re gonna get it right just yet. A couple of generations will pass before people probably universally agree about the best parenting methods. Until then, I’m just happy that the poor Bhattacharyas’ nightmare is over. (The writer is a Hyderabadbased commentator)

American or Brit, a question of English Editor’s Note DEAN WILLIAMS

discussion has been raging in our newsroom about why we still continue to use British English when most of the world (read Internet) has adopted the simpler, though lacking in etymological heritage, American English. The younger members of our staff are not shackled by tradition and see no reason why American English should not make its way into their paper, the older ones though are clinging to the vestiges of an age where proper English used a ‘u’ in colour and relegated the ‘z’ to the zoos of the language. I, for my part, find myself agreeing with the youngsters. American English is a precursor to Lingua Webica. It compressed and simplified a language that over the early part of the 20th century was spiralling out of control.

English is a strange language, to say the least. It dangles its participles in a most obscene way and splits infinitives with gusto as it cribs its way through all the great languages of the world. The stoic and macho German has fallen under its pressure at a linguistic Gotterdammerung; the French beauty enthralled by its wily ways, and let’s not even get started on its destruction of Latin, that’s been talked about ad nauseam. Only the Spanish have kept the verbose English hordes at bay, giving them an Ole now and then to keep them happy. The question, however, is how will readers react to a ‘z’ displacing an ‘s’. Will they criticize the destruction of a dialect they hold dear? Or will they realize that times are changing and the shifting color of languages must not be held ransom to literary anemia? We want to know what you think. Is American English the ‘English’ of the future, or is it just an errant brat that must be kept in the corner, and allowed to only speak as a printer’s demon? (Write to us at feedback@postnoon.com)

BUSINESS SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

BharatBenz trucks launched

Budget tip

ndividual taxable income limit is likely to go up to Rs. 3 lakh from Rs. 1.8 lakh (Direct Taxes Code). Another Rs. 2.50 lakh ( Rs. 1 lakh under Section 80 C, Rs 20,000 under infrastructure and Rs 35,000 under mediclaim also would get exemption from IT.

K PRUDHVI RAJU

prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

n choppy trade, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex on Friday at the closing of the market gained 53 points on value buying in some stocks amid a firm trend in global markets. The Sensex rose 52.83 points, or 0.30 per cent to 17,636.80. Similarly, the National Stock Exchange index Nifty rose 19.60 points, or 0.37 per cent to 5,359.35.

Dialysis of thoughts

It isn’t easy for a hardcore engineer to drift into healthcare. For Vikram Vuppala it was a long-cherished dream to establish a business and he filtered out numerous options to launch kidney care centres SRINIVAS SETTY

very business takes birth from a dream — one that has been nurtured through childhood and pursued relentlessly till it is realised. This is exactly how Vikram Vuppala, co-founder, NephroPlus, a chain of kidney care centres, scripted his success story. For him, it was always about establishing a business and making an impact in the industry. “I always dreamt of establishing my own business. After I completed my high school, I decided to set up a business. I graduated in Chemical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur and did my MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business to realise my dream,” says Vikram. The idea to launch this chain of kidney care centres took seed in 2008, while Vikram was serving various hospitals in the health care industry. “Back in the US, kidney care centres are highly organised and consolidated with chains having more than 1500 units. I wanted to bring this same concept to India and make it successful,” he says. For someone who had lived for more than a decade in the land of million dollar dreams (US), was it easy making the shift back to his homeland? “There are two main reasons I decided to move back to India. First, I am an only child and I want to live with my parents. Second, I want to give something in return to my country which gave me everything. I received quality and subsidised education for Rs 1,000 a year from IIT. I want to serve my homeland by creating jobs and create an impact on the kidney health care sector,” says this passionate businessman. NephroPlus is co-founded by Kamal Shah and G Sandeep with an initial investment of Rs 1 crore and the first centre was set up in Banjara Hills. “I raised the funds by investing my life time savings. Three other friends in the US also pitched in. The two rounds of angel funding is supported by Prabha Sinha, an IIT Karaghpur alumnus, living in USA. The company also raised venture capital investment from Bessemer Venture Partners to expand to 100 clinics in next three to four years,” says Vikram. What really sets NephroPlus apart from other health care centres, says Vikram, is the value addition offered to its clients. “NephroPlus offers quality treatment at 30-40 per cent less cost, compared to corporate hospitals. The patient is treated like a friend in the hospital, we even address to them as guests. We celebrate their birthdays, anniversaries and even give them cards. It’s personalised. It is all about building relationships and trying to create a healthy environment in our health care centres. We also conduct an annual event — Asha — where around 500 patients participate

Sensex ends choppy

aimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) unveiled a new range of trucks under its brand BharatBenz on Friday. The nine trucks showcased included light duty trucks (LDT) and heavy duty trucks (HDT) in 9, 12, 25, 31 and 49 tonnes category. Marc Llistosella, CEO and managing director, DICV, said, “Daimler has invested Rs 4,400 crore in India. The company will launch 17 more models over the next 20 months.”

and play games,” he says. While most people may be obsessed with reaching targets and reaping profits, Vikram believes otherwise. “The group is not looking at margins for the next three years, but to build a brand and increase the volumes. It is working at very thin margins as of now but it will increase in the future. But at any time, the service offered would be 30 per cent cheaper than corporate hospitals,” says Vikram. Each centre will get a cash break even in a year and the complete breakeven would take three to four years due to lower margins. The group is aiming to launch 100 centres that include 1520 centres in Andhra Pradesh and 5-10 centres in other states. The company is currently focussing on all major cities and towns in South India. While his work might be his passion, Vikram also loves his travel. His favourite holiday destinations include Alaska and New Zealand, while back home it is the peaceful backwaters of Alapuzha in Kerala and the azure waters of the Andaman and Nicobar islands that steal his heart. Although his work takes up most of his time, Vikram makes it a point to catch up with his wife in his free time. “I don’t get to spend too much time with my wife because of my busy travel schedule,” says this businessman who also likes to turn to Facebook during a break at work to catch up with friends. Unlike most others, Vikram is not too brand conscious. It is quality that wins over labels for this down-to-earth lad.

Vikram Vuppala Age: 35 years Secondary School: Oxford Grammar School, Himayat Nagar. Senior Secondary: St. Mary’s Junior College Graduation: Chemical engineering, IIT, Kharagpur Post-Graduation: Masters in Computer Science from University of Illinois MBA, University of Chicago, Booth School of Business Experience: Strategy consultant at McKinsey & Company in US. Founded an internal management consulting group, Abbott Laboratories, USA Business analyst at ZS Associates, USA Founded: NephroPlus, a chain of Kidney Care Clinics in Dec 2009 It has seven centres in various cities of South India and plans to launch 100 centres across the country Hobbies: Watches Simpsons on Star World Adventure sports like Sky diving and rollerblading

MOTORING SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

Texting worse than stoned

ccording to the Institute of Advanced Motorists and the UK's Transport Research Laboratory sending SMSs (texting) while driving is more dangerous than driving while drunk or stoned on cannabis. Texting slowed the drivers' reaction times by an average of 37.4 per cent. Cannabis slowed reaction times by an average of 21 per cent.

Nissan to resurrect Datsun

Evoque set for Geneva

issan is set to revive the Datsun brand. The new Datsun, according to Nikkei newspaper, will be a no-frills cheapie, tailored for (and built in) emerging markets such as India, Indonesia and Russia. The paper says Nissan plans to launch the born-again Datsun in third-world markets in 2014, and hopes to shift about 300,000 a year.

and Rover is to unveil a Range Rover Evoque convertible concept car at the Geneva Motor Show this month. The bold concept marks the next step for the widely well-received Evoque crossover, which has been on sale for about six months now. The soft-top features a fully retractable roof system, a drop down tailgate and a comfortable four seat package.

DAN

MOTORCYCLE DIARIES

Going Solo! So, you have your Royal Enfield, you have the road and you have you. Here’s preparing for the Solo Ride.

BLACKJACK! A.K.A JACK JIGG

feedback@postnoon.com

Trails of Glory

The open road is always an invitation for biking enthusiasts. We ask three avid bikers in the city about the routes that make for a great riding experience Sheetal Iyer

started biking when I was 16. Born and raised in Hyderabad, I've seen myself grow as a rider. Owning a Royal Enfield made my travel on the roads of Hyderabad and many other towns and cities of India, more exciting and enjoyable. My favourite route in and around Hyderabad is the NH-7 route (The Medchal Highway). I've been riding on that route since a very long time and I've watched it grow better and better at every visit. Cruising on those roads due to its well maintained infrastructure and considerable movement of traffic, makes the ride an amazing experience. Apart from that, the roads to Srisailam also appeals to me because of the natural beauty that can be witnessed enroute.

Purnima Maudgil Bandhur Bajaj

or every biker a destination is just another reason to be witness to the beauty of the country. No matter how many times we ride the same route over and over again, there is always something new to it. Every biker has their favourite road which they can’t stop raving about. One such route is the Srisailam road. A 200-odd kilometres (one-way) road, it certainly gives riders a great high. The road to Srisailam has everything that a rider needs for a day’s ride. It’s got its share of straight roads to open up the throttle, steep climbs, bends and curves. The passage through the beautiful and dense forest is a sight and if you’re brave enough, you could also try off-roading into the forest and if it rains consider yourself lucky. The charm of Srisailam is irresistible during monsoons.

yderabad in all its glory has some of the dearest roads to offer. However, my personal favourite, post a recent ride to Aashique-e-Khwaja and Pahad-eShareef Dargah, is the Srisailam road. The people, the landmarks, the colours, the old city way of life and the rustic charm makes a picturesque environment to enjoy a nonchalant Sunday ride. The road slows you down to soak in the simple joys. It’s almost like indulging in a childhood fantasy.

ere we go... First and foremost do get your bike serviced and prepared. Carry essential spares and tools just in case.Oh! yes... do carry a first-aid kit as well as appropriate medicines. Riding gear is really important. A full face riding helmet. A good jacket that has multi benefits. Full trousers or jeans and ankle high riding footwear is always better. Rest. Make sure you are rested before the ride. I have crashed due to sleep deprivation. If you feel sleep coming on, stop, take a short nap. Do not drink or do any substances while you ride. Riding requires your complete concentration. Be wise. Water. You could buy a bag that you can carry and sip as you ride or store enough to stop, after every 75-100 km and rest your bike and drink. Overtaking. Never overtake on a bend. Often, while concentrating on getting ahead we miss out on oncoming traffic and other traps on the road like pot holes and stray rubble. Know your route. Lights also play a critical part. Do not stop in empty stretches and never hesitate to ask locals for help. Keep someone informed about your route and progress. Most of all, a lot of your safety and happy journeys depend on a prayer or three. It is always better to have a second bike and buddy along. Two bikes in a crisis are better than one. However if solo it is, then... off you go rider, the horizon is yours.

TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK www.instructables.com nstructables is a site where you can find and share tutorials on just about anything. If you want to learn something new or share what you know, this is the place to be.

VIDEOGAME REVIEW THE GOOD THE LAST STORY

APP OF THE WEEK Cinemagram for iPhone

inemagram is an easy way to create animated gifs. Just shoot a video clip, color in the part you want to move, add a filter and voila! The app makes you a gif.

The Tablet steals the show

Apple is holding a special conference in San Francisco this weekend. The invite promises there’s something we ‘really have to see and touch’. It’s time for launch of the iPad 3. Could this be it?

n Rich narrative n Beautiful visuals push the Wii to its limits n Heaps of side quests n Great localisation

THE B AD

n Minor frame rate issues

GADGET BAR

Sony Tablet P

he Sony Tablet P is a dual screen, multi-functional tablet which is perfect for mobile communication and entertainment (Sony says so anyways), and it will hit the market from March 4 onwards. This is a 4G capable tablet, so you can expect amazingly fast connection speeds whenever you are under the right network connection.

Organic Air Scrubbing Purifier

T OSAMA SALMAN

salman.o@postnoon.com

our days before the big launch, we talk to people who have moved on from age-old desktops and laptops and think that Tablet PCs are the way forward. Pruthvi Rajan, a student, swears by his Blackberry Playbook. “I can do anything and everything on my Playbook. It is far more portable and unlike the laptop, you don’t need to charge it every few hours. The battery is very long lasting. I now dread the thought of going back to a laptop!” he quips. “Even if I accidentally drop my BB Playbook, I would not panic because I know it can withstand the impact. I can’t say the same for a laptop or a desktop. Besides being more carefree, I can play music, games, browse the Internet anywhere,” he explains. It was love at first touch for entrepreneur Shravanth Kumar.

His Samsung Galaxy Tab became his most valuable possession. He was so enamoured that he wanted the Tablet experience even on his phone. And so he bought a Galaxy Note. “Tablets are made the right size. They fit into your hands and are the perfect weight as well. Activities like watching videos are a delight because most tabs have superior screen resolution,” he says. “Apart from scoring brownie points over the desktop for portability, browsing the Internet is a breeze. You can zoom in and out of a page with a touch of a finger. Tablets are becoming increasingly cheaper as well. Look at Aakash Tablet, apart from technical glitches, it’s an easily affordable item,” he points out. The soaring sales of Tablets in India is proof of the demand in our consumer market. In fact, India is touted to be one of the fastest growing markets of Tablet PCs this side of the world.

The way cassettes phased out CDs only to be replaced by DVDs, tablets are going to replace desktops and laptops. Nitin Bisain, IT Professional

Aditya Kabra, an iPad owner, says that if you ever kept a laptop and the iPad in front of him, he wouldn’t hesitate to take the latter. “It’s as simple as this. You can operate a tablet in a few seconds, whereas for a desktop or laptop, you’d have to wait several minutes for the it to boot up. When I have my clients and have to show them an area on Google maps, I can use the app on my iPad and show them where exactly it is,” he says adding that tablets are the best for personal use Nitin Bisain, an IT professional and a proud iPad owner, says that tablets are the way of the future. “As the Tablet market is growing, so are the options that consumers have. Cheaper tablets are being launched every other month. As a tablet owner, I would never want to go back to laptops or desktops,” he says and adds, “The way cassettes phased out CDs only to replaced by DVDs replaced; tablets are going to replace desktops and laptops. It’s only a matter of time until everyone has a tablet,” concludes Nitin.

his organic air purifier eliminates 99.9% of all pollutants, not to mention make short work of odours at the same time. How does it work? The air purifier will create a neutral ambient air which attracts positively and negatively charged airborne impurities, drawing them into the unit using a fan, while destroying them with a careful mixture of water and an organic enzyme.

Nokia 808 PureView

41-megapixel camera. Yes it’s true! Nokia unveiled the phone at Mobile World Congress 2012. Heck, even the yet to be released Canon EOS 1DX carries only 18-megapixels of shooting goodness. Can’t wait to see this, can you?

ANIMAL KINGDOM SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

PET NEWS Hero of the day

Know your dog

Panda privacy

aurice Holder, 73, was walking along a river when the ground suddenly gave way and he plunged 40 ft into the water. Monty saved his injured owner's life by dashing half a mile to a pub to raise the alarm.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

ong Kong's pandas Le Le and Ying Ying have been given some privacy away from the prying eyes of tourists this week in a bid to encourage them to mate, their handlers said Tuesday.

he Malinois Belgian Shepherd is a powerful and athletic dog. The Malinois is used extensively by the police, customs and excise, and the armed forces. This is an exceptional working dog.

CATS AND DOGS The Animal Care Clinic 040-2335 2474 Pet’s World Dog Clinic 98856 46259 Blue Cross of Hyderabad 040-3298 9858, 23544355/ 5523 Vet-N-Pet 040-6553 9535, 93463 05890 Bluplus Pet Clinic 040-2712 1739, 2716 2636 Sri Sai Pet Clinic

Passion for pets

040-2779 7458, 9848645350 Claws & Paws 98662 82772 All Creatures Animals Clinic 040-2773 0885 BIRDS Govt Veterinary Hospital 040-2331 9656, 2753 5755 Bird Watcher’s Society 040-2355 6166 Friends of Birds9391048315 SNAKES Friends of Snakes 8374233366

Q&A

Animals need no charity from man, what they need is our love and attention. Pradeep Kumar Nath, a dog-lover from Vizag tells us more PK SURENDRAN

pksurendran@gmail.com

“F

or a little love and a morsel of food the dog almost pledges its life to you. Which other animal will do that?” Asks Pradeep Kumar Nath, who’s known in Vizag for his love for animals. He runs some animal shelters and a hospital. Pradeep is a founder of

ABC India (Animal Birth Control) and is also the founderpresident of Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals Member, AP State Animal Welfare Board. Pradeep is no ordinary dog lover. He champions their cause. As a manager in a scheduled bank, he created controversy by walking into the bank with a couple of street dogs at his heels. The rule that animals are not allowed inside bank was for others. And wherever he got transferred his fame or defame as you view it preceded him and many

tried to stall his posting to the new branch for fear of it becoming an extended canine shelter! He later quit service to dedicate himself to the animal welfare. It has been 16 years since he and his wife have given their days to animal welfare. Four criminal cases have been slapped against him. He gets abused and has often been threatened for creating ‘nuisance.’ “But I keep doing what I believe is my mission— bring succour to the poor animals.” Today Pradeep and his wife live for animals. They make 80

packets of food every day and feed the street dogs. has its own pet hospitals and shelters. “I have converted many ossified dog haters including my father to dog lovers, ,” says Pradeep smiling as he recalls his feats. “My dad could not stand the sight of a dog. He would kick it and curse it. One day I put a baby Pomeranian on his desk. With its button eyes and white coat it looked like a tennis ball with two eyes. He took to it and fondled it. When it died, my dad could not control his tears! BILAL ERÇIN

What is meant by ethical treatment of a pet? Animals need no charity from man. The most tragic part is that many rich people buy exotic dogs. At the first chance of the animal contacting even a simple skin disease or old age they abandon the animals. About 30 per cent of street dogs we find today are pedigree dogs thus abandoned. What a cruelty! Culling or driving out street dogs, which are essentially Indian, is not the solution. Neuter and vaccinate them and leave the dogs back from where they were picked up. Dogs have a high sense of propriety over the area they grew up in. They won’t allow other dogs to come that part. So leaving them in the same place not only ensures their wellbeing but they also save you from varied marauders.

Could adoption be a part of the solution? It is. But by itself, it is not. Every residential colony could adopt a few dogs and rear them. They will guard you free of cost.

Who do you think do most harm to pets? Pet dealers. They are the perpetrators of crime against pets. They breed and cross breed the dogs to make money. And, they have no respect for the law

What is the remedy?

How to behave with a dog

Canine fact file

n Don’t walk into a nursing mother dog. n Don’t ever run when a dog barks at you. n If you are drunk and walk unsteadily the dog will protest. Don’t attack it, walk as steady as possible. n The only language a dog knows is barking. Don’t fret every time it barks. Give it a command to stop. It will obey. It’s only trying to get your attention.

treet dog brings security to your area. Dogs are territorial creatures and don’t allow new dogs into their areas. This also helps keep at bay dogs with diseases and chase away rats and other rodents. They also eat up leftover food keeping your area clean. If a street dog is neutered and vaccinated they are the best security against thieves and burglars. Trained street dogs have proved to be the best guarantee against intrusion or terrorism.

Which animals are the worst off?

he cat and bull, says Pradeep. Cats are being surreptitiously butchered and used in restaurants while bulls suffer throughout their lives.

GHMC and other municipalities have powers to impose a license fee on pets. They are not doing this. Today, the so-called pet lovers illtreat animals as they yap through the night disturbing people around. You know, if a neighbour complains of pets making noise the corporation can impound the animal and penalise the owner. In India people do not assert their rights.

BOOKS SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

SHORT READS Title: The Magic (The Secret) Author: Rhonda Byrne ISBN: 978-1451673449 Publisher: Atria Books For more than 20 centuries, words within a sacred text have mystified and confused, by all. Only a few have realised words are a riddle to unlock a new universe. In The Magic, Rhonda Byrne reveals this lifechanging knowledge to the world.

Title: The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin Author: Masha Gessen ISBN: 978-1594488429 Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover It is a chilling account of how Putin rose from a low-level KGB operative ascended to the Russian presidency and in a short time, destroyed years of Russia’s progress.

Title: House of Stone Author: Anthony Shahid ISBN: 978-0547134666 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade A story of a battle-scarred home and a war correspondent’s jostled spirit, and of how reconstructing one came to fortify the other. In this poignant memoir, the author traces his family’s journey to America.

Title: Secrets of the Henna Girl Author: Sufiya Ahmed ISBN: 9780141339801 Publisher: Puffin Zeba Khan is like any other 16year-old girl enjoying herself, dreaming of the day she'll meet her one true love. Her future is threatened by a forced duty to protect her father's honour.

Outside the wire

In The Wreckage, Michael Robotham takes us on a thrilling and nail biting ride into the world of international conspiracy guaranteed to leave you asking for more zone in Baghdad is a fearless Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Luca Terracini who is also trying to follow the money. Different international governments using a deadly cocktail of money and power attempt to stop the investigation at all costs. How the duo overcome odds to solve the mystery forms the rest of the story. Robotham's story is based on real-life events. The idea of writing this particular book came to him when he read an interview of the head of the UN Office of Drugs and Crime. He learnt that during the height of the Global Financial Crisis, major western banks were on the brink of collapse and so desperate for funds that they laundered $352 billion for drug cartels and organised crime gangs. A second article on the details of the largest airlift of US currency in the history of the Federal Reserve, proved to be a goldmine. Slowly the threads fell into place and The Wreckage was born. Closer to the end, Robotham peels off the layers slowly exposing the truth in the most corrosive of manners, but one can’t hold it against him as by then you are too drawn into the plot to protest. To put it subtly, the author takes it upon himself in

FLEME VARKEY

fleme.v@postnoon.com

n the words of the author Michael Robotham The Wreckage is a big international conspiracy thriller set amid the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis and the War in Iraq. It features multiple storylines in Baghdad, London and Washington, which come together in a dramatic climax. Writing crime fiction is serious stuff and the author, a former investigative journalist in Britain, really knows his way around these parts. On one hand you have the dark alleys of London and on the other the danger zone of Iraq. Like a skilful artist at work Robotham begins weaving a tapestry with his most enduring character Vincent Ruiz, a 60-year-old retired policeman. Ruiz falls victim to a robbery in London, and his search for the stolen loot leads him on a thrilling trail. The threads then connects with the mysterious disappearance of millions of dollars in Baghdad. Meanwhile, living in the danger

Rajesh Ravindran rajesh.r@postnoon.com

ll memoir is prostitution, declared WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange after reading the first draft of his autobiography. About the time the book was to debut, he claimed that he felt “screwed over to earn a buck” and disowned it saying that it was not written by him. Of course, that is evident to anyone who reads Julian Assange: The unauthorised biography. Ghost writer Andrew O’Hagan has done a good job romanticising the story of the man who is seen by world powers as a threat to national security. Assange has a multi-faceted image in the world: there are several who see him as the bea-

Unplugging the leaks To some he is the apostle of truth and transparency, to others he is a terrorist. But Julian Assange’s story is intriguing

Name JULIAN ASSANGE: THE UNAUTHORISED AUTOBIOGRAPHY Author JULIAN ASSANGE, ANDREW O’HAGAN Pages 343 Publisher Canongate con of freedom of expression and truth.There are some who think he is just a cold geek who was irresponsible with state secrets, the leaking of which have apparently compromised

most parts to voice people’s disappointment and concern at the way the big banks brought about a full-fledged financial crisis, pushing them to the brink of ruin. He is often cynical and vociferous. Sadly, the book remains just a work of fiction.

Name The Wreckage Author Micheal Robotham Pages 533 Publisher Hachette India

the world powers and their soldiers fighting to liberate the oppressed. But O’Hagan presents Assange as a free spirit, who wants the world to be a fair and just place for all. The book begins with Assange’s account of his time in Wandsworth prison, the place where Oscar Wilde did time in 1897… in the same cell that Wilde was locked up — though Assange is not sure about the ‘cell’ fact, which was told to him by his lawyer. There is an interesting revelation about Assange’s surname,too: he got it from his stepfather, Brett Assange. He admits that it’s a strange name,which was once Sang or ah-sang in cantonese. Brett’s ancestor was a Taiwanese pirate. See any connection? His detractors would. Books available at Walden

BOOKS SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

Praying to the Supergods Supergods is an epic adventure, and one that could have only been written by someone who wrote his way into our imagination; capes, underwear and all

Dean Williams

efore there was the XMen film, way before Iron Man and Captain America stormed the screen and pulverised box offices across the world, one M Night Shyamalan made a film about a superhero. He wasn’t glamorous like Tony Stark; enraged like Wolverine; nor was he moral like Superman. In fact, David Dunn was a bald, slightly heavyset man with a child and a wife. There was no cape and no mask, there was only him and his insecurities. But while, through Bruce Willis’s character, Shyamalan channelled the god of a million fanboys; Unbreakable is now all but forgotten. But to those who live and breathe comic books, it stands head and shoulders above the pack. It is the definitive superhero film. When comic book writer Grant Morrison was given the task

of rejuvenating a Batman pigeonholed in a bleak universe by the superb Dark Knight series, created by Frank Miller, he thought about the psychology of the caped crusader. He delved into his mind and found a labyrinth of despair; a world of monsters and macabre maniacs; of jokers and soul thieves. He found the answer. In 1989 DC published Morrison’s opus, a 128-page graphic novel, entitled Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth. Frank Miller’s Batman may have been the template for Christopher Nolan’s hero, but Arkham Asylum was destined for greater things...it went on to become the highestselling graphic novel of all-time. In his book Supergods, Morrison takes us on a journey through comic book history. It’s a journey that begins with the advent of Superman, and drives relentlessly through the Silver Age, Golden Age and the Dark

Name Supergods Author Grant Morrison Pages 464pp Publisher Random House

Age of comics. Morrison is quite obviously a fan of the Silver Age, and he rails against the humanisation of superheroes, although strangely enough, some of Morrison’s best work was done on the uncannily realistic New X-Men in 2000. Morrison has heaps of praise for himself and his work, and while almost all of it is deserving, it should not put readers (especially Alan Moore fans) off what is essential reading to anyone who has ever looked at a Superman comic and wondered why he wears his underpants on the outside (Morrison, by the way, has the explanation). But it is his account of the Dark Age that is most interesting. The time when comic books started taking themselves seriously in the realisation that the world had changed and their characters had to change with it. Marvel’s Age of Apocalypse,

Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch’s The Authority, Pat Mills’ Marshal Law, and Morrison’s own Doom Patrol sent the bar into the stratosphere with artwork and writing the world’s current best would find hard pressed to outdo. Superheroes have come a long way since Action Comics #1 was published in 1938. They have morphed and reanimated themselves into a thousand avatars; and they have died, only to be reborn with the strength of a million suns. Although sometimes cheesy, and often unbelievable, superheroes have always been at the vanguard of popular culture, and Morrison has been an integral part of that revolution. Supergods is an epic adventure, one that could have only been written by someone who wrote his way into our imagination; capes, underwear and all. Books available at Walden

WHAT’S SELLING Walden fiction bestsellers

Walden non-fiction bestsellers

New York Times fiction bestsellers

n Secret Of The Nagas by Amish Tripati

n Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

n Can Love Happen Twice by Ravinder Singh

n Thinking fast and slow by Daniel Kahneman

n Private Games by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan

n Revolution 2020 by Chetan Bhagat

n Journey by Brandon Bays

n Incredible Banker by Ravi Subramanian n Zero Day by David Baldacci

n Great by Choice by Collins And Hansen n Best Thing About You is YOU by Anupam Kher

n Kill Shot, by Vince Flynn n The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice n I've got your number by Sophie Kinsella n Defending Jacob by William Landay

New York Times non-fiction bestsellers n American Sniper by Chris Kyle n Ameritopia by Mark R. Levin n Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard n Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson n Behind the beautiful forevers by Katherine Boo

WOMEN SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

WEBSITES OF THE WEEK WowOwow: This is a daily blog and news magazine written by an A-list cast of female writers and entertainment icons who share their opinions on news and women’s issues.

SheKnows: You have entertainment, beauty, parenting, shopping, health and more. The entire busy woman’s lifestyle hub wrapped up into a slick, searchable website.

Women Fitness: Aims to improve women’s nutrition and activity levels. “Wanting to look and feel good may feel shallow,” they say, “but if it means reducing body, it’s a wonderful thing.”

Building a world of her own

It’s not every day that you see someone that dares to give up everything in pursuit of their passion. Fortunately for us, theatre artiste Pallavi Varma is just that someone ISHA MUKOO

Isha.m@postnoon.com

comfy job in the corporate sector with weekends at your disposal and a healthy bank account, by all means life should look good. But that was not what Pallavi Verma, an MBA in finance, felt any of the three years she worked in the corporate sector. “I had jumped onto the bandwagon like everyone else. I finished my MBA in Mumbai and took the first placement offer that came my way without thinking about it. I started working with ICICI and later with Reliance Capital. But after a year of my professional life, I started getting disillusioned with the monotonous life,” recalls Pallavi. Today she has left all the trappings of the corporate world behind her to do what she always wanted to do— dance, write, act and a whole lot activities that she’s passionate about. A trained Kathak dancer, Pallavi joined theatre, started writing for a web portal besides pursuing photography. But did she ever regret letting go of the job that paid her bills? We figure that’s a no when she says giggling, “I had three credit cards before and now I just have one debit card. But that is alright because I am satisfied with what I am doing. I don’t deny that I don’t feel the crunch but the life that I was living before burned me out and was too mundane. I was not happy at all and having all that money and comforts didn’t bring that satisfaction that I have now. So, no, I don’t miss it at all.” Her love for theatre and writing is however not new.

Pallavi loved writing from childhood and also frequented theatres in Mumbai when she was working there. “I have been writing from my childhood about any subject that catches my fancy. It’s all about telling a tale just like in a play either through my writing or even through my dance,” she shares. Recognition and fame may have eluded her but these past years have been a great learning experience. “It feels good when people appreciate my work on social networking sites but that’s the only recognition I have got apart from friends, family and people I know. Also, I acted in a short film which was screened in IFFI Goa last year,” she shares. But in the process on getting here in life Pallavi inadvertently hurt her family who had hoped to see her climb the cor-

THE CV Full Name: Pallavi Verma Last Book Read: Life Is Elsewhere by Milan Kundera and Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut (simultaneously) Last Film Seen: Hugo. Or wait. I think it was The Artist. Motto in life: Go where the heart leads you! Inspiration: Dad!

porate ladder. However, they have always stood by her. While she talks about the choices she made, ask her about her future plans and it looks Pallavi has her plans in place. “I don’t think I will ever quit theatre but there were will be a lot more writing. I want to write a book; even make a movie some day. But one thing that I really want to do is travel writing. I want to travel and write about places and also work on my photography,” she says. While there have been people who want to pursue their passion but not everyone has the zeal to leave their cushy jobs and follow their heart Pallavi has gone ahead and done what few dare to do. And as they say, “Break the rules and stand apart, ignore your head and follow your heart.” It looks like Pallavi did just that.

Stranded on Venus All About Eve DARSHANI NENE

t was something I’d been trying to avoid all this while. After my tenth, I was given a choice, to join either an excellent all girls school, or join a comparatively less better, coed school. And I picked the coed. Being in an all-girls environment has always been one of my biggest fears. But after my 12th grade, I had come face-to-face with the enemy. Gathering up all my courage, I enrolled myself into one of the best all-girls’ colleges’ in the twin cities. And one and half years down the line, I realise it isn’t as bad as I imagined it to be. Let’s be honest, life without boys is pathetic. When you’re around them, you don’t have to think a million times before you say something. You can be yourself, no one is going to judge you (probably because they’re not even listening to what you’re saying half the time). As long as they’re having fun and are happy, everyone is happy, which is the absolute opposite case in an all girls environment. Or I’m saying all this only because I’ve been a tomboy all my life. Or maybe it’s just about how I perceive things. If I stop looking at them as girls and boys, and just as people, it’d get so much easier. The kind of friends you have, decides whether you enjoy this experience or not. What’s worse is that I know girls who’ve been in all-girls schools all their lives, and my heart goes out to them, truly. Put in a room full of boys, they just don’t know what to do. To all those parents who choose to keep their children in same sex schools all their life, please don’t. Getting back to the point, the only possible way of surviving in an all girls atmosphere is by not thinking of it that way, and keeping in touch with your male friends just to keep you sane. That’s what I do at least. But in the end, for me, all girls will only remain an experience. Give me a chance and I’ll gladly pick coed over same sex institutions. Any day.

SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

DEEPAK DESHPANDE

Rao Ramesh

Shilpi & Kajol

Balram Naik

Prakruti & Rajesh

Towards a better future Guests turned up in large numbers to share the happiness of the newly-wedded couple Madi Reddy Param and Madhu Kariappa at the Novotel on Friday.

Anusha & Sirisha

Adarsh & Shakuntala

Chaitra & Tilak

Madi Reddy Param & Madhu Kariappa

DEEPAK DESHPANDE

Poornima, Rajika & Hina

Zabeena & Namrata

Manjulla

Santha John

Journey through Vietnam Art-lovers in the city gathered at the Westin Hyderabad Mindspace on Friday evening for a preview of an exhibition of artwork from Vietnam. This is the first time such art has been showcased in the city.

Rummy Azad

Jette

Vishnu & Savera

Cate Vandehil & Rajika

Deepthi & Veera

RELATIONSHIPS SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

COMPUTERS RESPOND TO EMOTIONS

I AM ALL EARS

have been dating a guy for three years now. I am 20 and he is 23. We were engaged and are to be married soon however, I recently looked at his mobile phone and chanced upon some explicit messages he has been sending to another girl (who happens to be my best friend, who also has a boyfriend). I don’t know what to do. Please help.

Dear spying kid, First of all it’s bad manners to read other people’s messages. Serves you right for playing detective. He was probably going to play both of you along. One for the fun and the other to entertain at home. Thank your lucky stars you found out in time. Hmm.. and as for your best friend, now you know who will not be invited to the wedding, that is, if there is going to be a wedding. In case you want to get back at him, why don’t you take those texts of his and forward them to all his friends in his list. Then leave him to save face.

motion-sensing computer software that models and responds to students' cognitive and emotional states — including frustration and boredom — has been developed. The new technology, which matches the interaction of human tutors, not only offers tremendous learning possibilities for students, but also redefines human-computer interaction. Tested on more than 1,000 students, AutoTutor produces learning gains of approximately one letter grade — gains that have proven to outperform novice human tutors and almost reach the bar of expert human tutors. Source: University of Notre Dame

Sticks and stones will break their bones ALONZO

Instances of children dying as a result of harsh punishments by parents are increasingly surfacing in the news. So today we put the spotlight back on why physical punishment is a bad way of instilling discipline in your child

Alternatives suggested by various psychologists 1. If your child refuses to listen, crouch down to his level, grasp his arms firmly so he cannot avoid looking at you, and then talk calmly 2. Since spanking does not occur in calm, rational moments, it is important to control your anger. Try distracting yourself. Once you have cooled down, you will probably feel less inclined to spank. 3. If you feel you must punish your children, make sure the punishment is logically related to the incident so that they can learn the lesson you want to teach. 4. Introduce the appropriate use of time-out. Time-out used as a punishment is controversial. When used to allow a few minutes for a child— and a parent—to regain control of their emotions, it can be effective in stopping a cycle of inappropriate behaviour. (source : kidsource.com)

SHIBA MINAI

shiba.m@postnoon.com

sychologists, counsellors and parents have always debated whether spanking children is an advisable medium of disciplining children? A search on the Internet can give total opposite arguments. The first of which is echoed by an IT professional and father of two kids Karan Singh. He says, “When I was in the US, I attended a parenting class conducted by my company. The counsellor said, a spank in time saves lot more than nine, while Indian counsellors said otherwise. I realised the reason behind the statement was that their society could do with such help and in our society it would be inappropriate.” The question remains, what is the right thing to be do?

Child psychologist and family counsellor Zenobia Rustumfram says, “I consider spanking as a violent act, having said that I would like to insist that a little pat, firmness or an action that asserts that you as a parent do not like what the child is doing and will not entertain it is a must.” She continues, “Not being able to do so in time, can make your child complacent, spoil him and he/she will never be able to take no for an answer.” Ayesha Khan, a Montessoritrained teacher and also a mother of three kids says, “During training, we were clearly told that even touching the child in anyway can be harmful and can affect their psyche, we were asked to use alternative methods of making the child understand that what they do is not accept-

able.” She adds, “Studies have proved that children who were hit in their childhood, turn out to be aggressive, unsure of themselves they either take themselves too seriously and worry endlessly or do not take anything seriously at all.” Zenobia sums it up by saying, “As parents and adults everyone is endowed with a certain decision making capacity it is important that we use common sense. We need to remember that handling a kid or dealing with them has no hard and fast way, and striking a balance is one of the most important things that need to be done. Being firm by holding the hand or giving a pat or a firm stare can achieve what you want and yield better results not just at the moment but even in the long run.

Twin tales Aishwarya Yerra aishwarya.yerra@gmail.com

“S

he stole my lip gloss again!” I screamed. That was the third time this week my younger sister had ‘borrowed’ my lip gloss, which obviously meant she also misplaced it. My mother brushed aside my rant saying, “Come on, she’s younger to you. Let it be.” Well yes, she is younger to me. Much younger to me. She is five and I am 21! And let me surprise you once more. She has a twin brother who is equally naughty. As I write this column they both are busy ‘browsing’ my room; in other words, thoroughly fiddling with stuff that is my property. Anyone who comes to know that I have younger siblings (twins mind you!) who are 16 years younger to me, they are instantly intrigued. A barrage of questions follow about whether they were planned or not, how do I bond with them? Am I like a second mother to them? etc. To be honest, when I came to know that my mother was pregnant I was extremely embarrassed. After all I was in my tenth grade! I did not tell my friends about the news until they were born. You can only imagine how shocked they were. They thought I was joking and it didn’t help that they were born on April 1! But once I first saw them, things instantly changed. No, I’m not talking about a Karan Johar kind of emotionally dramatic scene. First it started off as a fascination for babies that most people have. And seeing a pair of twins (even though they are fraternal) increased it. They were premature babies, so they needed extra care and soon I was also included in the baby-care routine. In no time I was changing the tiniest diapers available, mixing the formula milk, burping them after feeds and of course keeping them entertained. This was just the beginning of a relationship between a confused teenaged sister and two newborns siblings.

CINEMA SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

T-TOWN TWEETIES @urstrulyMahesh

@LakshmiManchu

@shraddhadas43

@devakatta

love failure is 1of the most innovative films i saw in recent times..congrats to sidharth n d entire team for pulling it off..

Listen to ur heart. Follow ur dreams. It is not enough 2 have ur acceptance speech ready. Learn 2 work towards it. Gn tweeples.life is good

Haha I lovvvv my twitpals,ul make me smile☺My mom came over today and cleaned my messy home for me while I was at work!

If you want to grow, don't trust the grown ups...better choose those who want to grow with you !!

@sundeepkishan

@me_sushanth

@PriyaWajAnand

@shrutihaasan

Ivvela telugu chedamani decide ayenu, ipuddu emantaru ani alochistunanu, leka pothe maneme oka padam shrustidam

Hmmm...India has been 'rested' for the cb finals :-p

Soo much fun hanging with my friends from childhood! Exchanging embarrassing stories from childhood has got me laughing..U? :)

Whoever princeofdjame is .. Thankyou so very much for your thoughtful and heartfelt birthday present!!:) xoxo

ALSO IN THEATRES

Clash of the clans

Eka Veera tries to recreate a part of our cultural history but the film's wayward screenplay plays a big spoilsport Hemanth Kumar

hemanth.k@postnoon.com

asantha Balan's latest period film, Eka Veera is set in 18th century in a hamlet where honour is valued more than life itself. Right from the characters' look to the locales used to shoot the film, you can see the effort that has gone into making of this film. However, the film is excruciatingly long and the wayward screenplay spoils the chances of having an overwhelming experience. The film opens with a robbery where a gang of

thieves manage to steal lot of gold from a wealthy man's house. Sambayya (Pasupathy) is the leader of this gang and one fine day he's shocked to know that a stranger stole the queen's necklace posing as one of the members in his gang. We are told that this stranger is Veera (Aadhi) and Sambayya finally manages to catch him. Impressed with his bravado, he invites Veera to join his gang. Veera has a past which he hides from the villagers until one fine day when he's caught by the royal guards. The rest of the story is about Veera's identity and why he has

Movie : Eka Veera Cast : Aadhi,Pasupathy, Dhansika, Archana Kavi Director : Vasantha Balan Rating :

been in exile for nine years. The film's principal cast including Aadhi, Pasupathy, Dhansika render commendable performances and Karthik's music is another highlight of the film.The action

sequences are well shot and full credit for the art department for creating the right look. On the other hand, the film's first half has no connection whatsoever with the latter half and it's never clear why Vasantha Balan chooses to delve into the lives of Sambayya and other villagers, when the film's central theme revolves around Veera. At a run time of nearly three hours, Eka Veera comes pretty close to testing one's patience. Perhaps this could have been a much better film had it been only about the clash of the clans.

A gut-wrenching tale of love

arthi, Priyamani starrer Malligadu, the dubbed version of award winning film Paruthiveeran, is definitely not for the faint-hearted. This intense love story narrates the emotional struggle which a couple goes through due to overwhelming opposition from the girl's family. Directed by Ameer, the film boasts of dazzling performances by Karthi and Priyamani, terrific cinematography by Ramji and good music by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Unlike most other entertainers, Malligadu ends ona gut-wrenching note and it leaves a long lasting impact; however, the excessive violence might be a turn off.

He's smitten, again!

GV has found a new muse and this time it's a Brazilian model named Nathalia Pinheiro. She came to India few years ago and this year she was in the news for winning the Kingfisher Calendar Hunt 2012. Recently, she changed her name to Nathalia Kaur. RGV was so smitten with her looks that he decided to cast her in an item number in his upcoming Hindi film Department. Talking about Nathalia, RGV tweeted, “I nvr hid a fact tht am a devotee of womans beauty..bt I hvn't seen nyone mre beautiful thn Nathalia kaur who did dan dan song in Department. We wr tryng fr Sunny leone bt by Gods grace it dint wrk out or else v wud hv lost out on smone as divine as Nathalia nd I thank God for that. I dint ever see a Nathalia kind of combination of a classically beautiful face with an angel like body nd then so highly expressive (sic).” In fact, the director is even planning to make a film titled Andham and cast Nathalia Kaur in the film. Whether he makes this film or not, RGV's confession on his latest muse has become the talk of the town.

CINEMA SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

B-TOWN TWEETIES @udaychopra

@RGVzoomin

@DuttaLara

@NeilNMukesh

Future news: In the future there will be only one emotion. Itll be called Sygerix. Its still undiscovered but will finally end all suffering

“@moriraj: Words may hurt, but silence can be a killer”

Good Morning Folks! And to some on a friday night, goodnight! :-). Here in lies the difference between youth and responsibility!:-)

Both his gorgeous show stoppers malaika arora khan and amrita looked out of this world.

@SrBachchan

@AnupamPkher

@realpreityzinta

@sonakshisinha

T 672 - booombadab boombada daba ... dabada ba boom di da .. huppidi whopidi hoopidi hap ha di padati tu .. JUST .. !!

Unhappiness indicates wrong thinking, just as ill health indicates bad regimen.:).

For all the new eager beavers on my home page.... The film I am producing is called Ishkq In Paris !

RT @FeminaIndia: Tomorrow we are conducting a Twinterview with the “Dabang” girl @sonakshisinha at 2pm.

Here, there and everywhere

IN THEATRES TODAY

A rebel speaks P

aan Singh Tomar is the true journey of a talented runner who turned into a rebel. It’s a story about a man from a small town of Madhya Pradesh who rose as an athlete and won the steeplechase event at the Indian National Games for seven years in a row. His record stood unbeaten for 10 years. His name was Paan Singh Tomar, belonged to rajpoot community of Madhya pradesh. But fame didn’t stop there-he became even more famous or rather infamous when he gave up his running shoes, took up the rifle and went on to become a baaghi and wreaked havoc in the Chambal Valley. Movie: Paan Singh Tomar Cast: Irfaan Khan, Mahie Gill Imran Hasnee Directed by: Tigmanshu Dhulia

John looked up Surve J

ohn Abraham says he has worked hard to get into the character of Manya Surve, the gangster who was shot dead by Mumbai police in 1982, for the movie Shootout At Wadala, inspired by the real life incident. “I can honestly say that I have put in every kind of effort to study this character, to work on the way he supposedly behaved. In fact, me and Sanjay (Gupta) went and met the people who knew him to find out how Manya Surve behaved and the way he spoke,” the 39-year-old said here at an event. IANS

It has spark missing. We suggest you give it a miss too

hat is it all about really? What’s happening here? Somebody tell me what’s the story please? These are the questions that come to mind when you watch London Paris New York. Nikhil Chopra (Ali Zafar) and Lalitha Krishnan’s (Aditi Rao) chance meeting at an airport extends over a few years — and each time, their meetings are simply put, unconvincing. Ali Zafar seems to deliver what he is asked to, but Aditi Rao falls short of convincing the audience. She is definitely a juicy treat to the eyes, no doubt, but so are Nargis Fakhri, Praniti Chopra, Amy Jackson

and a host of other new belles in Bollywood —so what makes her distinct from the rest is yet to be seen. The dialogues are supremely mediocre and drag a lot — enough to put the audience to sleep. What one fails to understand is, how does the heroine (and only the heroine mind you), fall in love with a guy, and never ‘realise it’, only to figure it out on the day of her wedding? It’s tiring, and actually sometimes scary to see this instability of the mind! The less said about the director Anu Menon the better. Go watch the movie if your friends insist, but go only to a good multiplex,

at least, you can spend your lazy afternoon sleeping in the air-conditioned hall after a long drive in the sun.

INDIRA ATLURI

Movie: London Paris New York Cast: Ali Zafar , Aditi Rao Directed by: Anu Menon Rating:

CINEMA SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

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For Further Details Please Contact Abhinay 9989399972 Nandlal 9951467988 Ravi Chander 8106039919

CINEMA SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

Demi Moore out of rehab A

ctor Demi Moore has reportedly completed her rehab stint and has gone on a vacation to an undisclosed place. The actress had checked into Cirque Lodge in Sundance, Utah, to deal with an eating disorder and addiction issues. “She’s in no rush to get back to LA. She's on total lock down and only talking to a small group of people,” E! News quoted a source as saying.

She’s in no rush to get back to LA. She’s on total lockdown and only talking to a small group of people Moore’s decision to seek treatment came after her hospitalisation after smoking an “incense-like substance” on IANS January 23.

CINEMA SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

Kim’s exboyfriend just wants to be friends

ocialite Kim Kardashian has been left devastated after being told by her ex-beau Reggie Bush that he just wants to be friends. The 31-year-old was trying to reconcile her romance with Bush following the collapse of her short-lived marriage to Kris Humphries, but he isn’t interested. “She thought Reggie would take her back after the

whole Kris Humphries debacle. Reggie’s her one true love. He could easily fire things up with Kim now, but he’s chosen not to,” contactmusic.com quoted a source as saying. “Reggie likes hanging out with Kim, but he’s not into all the publicity. He’s pretty much told her, ‘I don’t love you like that anymore; we’re just friends’,” the source added. IANS

Bruce to star in Five Against a Bullet B

LILO

says she’s learnt from the past

ctress Lindsay Lohan admits that she has learned from her bad decisions. The 25-year-old feels that she doesn’t need any more “negative stuff ” in her life and wants to put her bad times behind her. “I regret the choices that I’ve made, but I’m grateful for where I am today because of them. I don’t need to see any more negative stuff, I don’t need to put myself in those places anymore,” showbizspy.com quoted Lohan as saying. “It’s been a learning experience and I’m glad that I experienced it. I’m grateful that I’ve learned from it. It’s helped me, it’s humbling,” she added.

ruce Willis will star in Sony’s action thriller Five Against a Bullet, Hannah Minghella, president of production at Sony’s Columbia Pictures, said on Thursday. The movie, which Alex Litvak (The Three Musketeers, Predators) is writing, is about a Mexican politician who hires the five best bodyguards in the world after a drug cartel kills his father. Willis will play one of the bodyguards. Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Jordan Schur and David Mimran are producing the movie. “We have been excited about this project since acquiring the rights last year,” Minghella said in a statement. “Bruce Willis is the perfect actor to lead this cast. We look forward to moving Five Against a Bullet into production quickly. Willis will soon begin production on A Good Day to Die Hard, the fifth installment of the Die Hard movies.

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

SOLUTION ON PAGE 32

SUDOKU

KAKURO

How to play Kakuro

SCRIBBLING PAD

Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: “How do you play Kakuro?”, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number. Within each collection of cells — called a run — any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.

A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man. – Lana Turner

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Shampoo directive 6 Mason's Gardner? 10 Mimics 14 ‘It's been ___ pleasure’ 15 Utah park 16 Sound of a defective faucet 17 Oxymoronic group 19 Bygone Chevy 20 He's a deer 21 Feed-bag bit 22 More prevalent 23 Out of sorts 25 Enticing ads 27 Oxymoronic seclusion 32 Water container? 33 Nevada gambling haven 34 Moist 37 Compass reading 38 Predominant, as a ruler 41 Scare word 42 Hallmark product 44 Common street name 45 Rand McNally book 47 Oxymoronic ‘perhaps’ 50 Tummy scrunchers 52 Rep.'s counterpart 53 Carroll's adventurer 54 Hawaiian food staple 56 Uptown blowout 60 Exit the springboard 61 Oxymoronic physical description 64 Odd's counterpart 65 Speak angrily 66 Mountain nymph of Greek myth 67 Cram-session cause 68 Catch ___ (understand) 69 Fritter away DOWN 1 Reckless 2 ‘___ La Douce’ 3 Close by

4 Cracker type 5 Right-angle joint 6 Cornell or Pound 7 Event in a prison movie 8 Daily temperature extreme 9 Cease 10 Did some counseling 11 Rather 12 ‘The ___ Sanction’ (Clint Eastwood film) 13 Gaff and boom 18 Revolver inventor 22 ‘Go team!’ cheer 24 Sinister look 25 Landlord's supporter 26 Alma mater of Prince William 27 Baldwin of ‘The Cat in the Hat’ 28 Chanteuse Horne 29 Fifth gears, often

30 Church instruments Bismarck 31 Really smart people 57 Piles on birthdays 35 Lot's land 58 Chair-back part 36 Raise, as a question 59 Jekyll's alter-ego 39 Send out matter 61 ___-am (kind of golf 40 Make the wild mild tournament) 43 Mountain climber's 62 Took off on foot return 63 ‘Ouch!’ relative 46 Lutelike PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER instrument of Asia 48 Payment for services 49 Cut and splice 50 Citadel student 51 ___ branch (peace offering) 54 Confined (with ‘up’) 55 ___ von

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

Gemini

Aries

Taurus

Three of Wands

The High Priestess

The High Priest

The Sun

Seven of Pentacles

Three of Cups

ork – You may be asked to work with a lot of women around you. So much feminine energy may be clashing with your own energy. Romance – Love is in the air. A lot of romance, wining, dining will take up your time. Enjoy it while it lasts. Nothing will stay the same forever. Health – Look out for minor issues like sleep irregularities, acidity or throat infection. Take medication and do what’s necessary to correct it. Money – A freelance opportunity will help you make some extra cash. This will help reduce the stress with the EMI payments. Tarot message – Use your intuition to the maximum. Go by what you feel and not what other people will think.

ork – You have the solution with you but you may be afraid to voice it out. Speak bravely in meetings and let your bosses know of your ideas. Romance – A romance with an older partner is likely. This will work very well as you will complete the limitations in each other. Health – Beware of over-eating and putting on weight. Watch your diet but also indulge once in a while. Don’t binge. Money – You have the answers to what needs to be done to improve finances. You just need to put it to action. Tarot message – There are times when you have the answers but time or fear stops you from going down that road. Be patient.

ork – You are likely to get a little flirtatious with a coworker. Don’t take it to extremes, and don’t lead the other person on. Romance – This is a great time for sensual pleasures and all kinds of passions. You’re in the mood to explore all sensory pleasures. Health – You have a youthful energy and verve which will take you through even the most difficult times. Stay cheerful and spread that energy. Money – Finances are in good shape. Though you have little to worry about, keep checking in on your bank balance and assets once in a while. Tarot message – When the going is good, everything falls into place. Reflect on your life goals.

ork – You need to attend a workshop or seminar that will enhance your knowledge in your field. Pay attention to what industry leaders are saying. Romance – You may be neglecting your partner. Take a weekend off or spend a day with each other doing things you both like. Health – There’s some worry or anxiety that needs tackling. Take up a meditation course or something to destress. Avoid alcohol at all costs. Money – Your focus has been on making more money for some time now and it is working well. Don’t worry about the bank balance. Tarot message – You will get stuck in a rut if you do not get out of your comfort zone and move ahead full steam.

ork – Don’t spend too much time gossiping about unnecessary people and topics at the work place. You have to focus on more important things. Romance – Singles will find someone attractive and want to make the first move. Have some harmless fun but don’t get too emotionally attached. Health – Health is fantastic. You feel good about the choices you’ve made and where your life is right now. It reflects on your health. Money – You’ve made the right investments or are in the right direction putting your money in the right places. Good going! Tarot message – You have waited a long time for things to move. It is all going as per plan now. Don’t look back.

Cancer

Leo

Virgo ork – A project you worked on was successful. This gives your bosses more confidence in your ability and you’re able to pull off more than they thought you could. Romance – In a marriage be careful of the intervention of a third person. It could be an extra marital affair. It could also be a pesky in-law. Health – Your feelings of contentment spill over and your body responds in a positive way to the call of immediate needs. Money – A raise or promotion is likely. A celebration of some kind is indicated. You may even get a job offer from a rival company. Tarot message – Success is important to know you’ve done well and to know your own ability.

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Libra Queen of Pentacles

Nine of Pentacles

ork – You like to work alone but circumstances are forcing you to work with a team. Treat this as a learning experience. Romance – The significant other may be feeling left out and may want more attention from you. Carve out time to do things you both like. Health – In order to maintain good mental health, you need to socialize and talk to new and different people. Don’t get stuck in a rut. Money – Finances are good. The bank balance is healthy and it gives you the confidence to take a few risks with your career. Tarot message – In order to experience life fully, you need to sometimes get out of your comfort zone and do different things.

ork – You will have to deal with some jealousy from a coworker about you getting lots of pats on your back for a job well done. Romance – Your emotions are concentrated on making a good career path right now. Though you have it in you to be warm and caring, your partner may be feeling left out. Health – Watch the weight. Pay attention to diet and avoid bingeing, no matter how stressed you may be. Money – Finances are in great shape. You are managing your bank accounts and assets rather well and know how to manage money and time. Tarot message – Balance the different aspects of your life to experience it fully.

Sagittarius

Scorpio

Six of Wands

ork – This is the victory card and whatever it is you have been waiting for is now yours. Treat yourself for a job well done and celebrate! Romance – A chance meeting turns passionate and you two hit it off big time. It may even go on to turn serious with a deepening of commitment. Health – If you need to quit smoking and drinking, this is the time to put yourself on a regimen and do it. Money – That freelance project you work on brings in more money than you had imagined. A book sells well or a stock market investment grows. Tarot message – When the times are good, you look back and congratulate yourself on hanging in there.

Capricorn

Date 4-3-2012

Aquarius

Seven of Cups

Knight of Wands

ork – This is a creative time and since the work review results have been good, you also begin to plan your next moves. Romance – You may come across as quite the unscrupulous monster when it comes to expressing your feelings. You’re unable to do it with sensitivity. Health – You’re high on energy and feel the need to continue to march ahead on that adrenaline rush. Rest and relaxation are also equally important. Money – You’re creating the road to better financial security. In the process, you may have to make a few compromises. But the path is clear. Tarot message – There may be a few distractions but as long as you are focused on your goal, nothing can stop you.

ork – The focus is on making money and you’re now making all career decisions based only on the monetary returns. Romance – Love is in the air. Passions run deep. Though you and your partner discover each other, there is confusion about where the relationship is headed. Health – Confusion, anxiety and worry may be giving you sleepless nights. Don’t punish yourself by over thinking your actions. Money – With your focus on material possessions, you do well to amass whatever it is that you need at this point in your life. Tarot message – De-stress and do what it takes to see things clearly. Develop a healthy relationship with yourself first.

Pisces Two of Cups

ork – A business partnership will be more successful than you can imagine, especially if you thought you’re not cut out for business. Romance – Commitment in a relationship deepens and you decide to get engaged, move in together or tie the knot. Emotions run high. Health – Get a second opinion if a persistent health problem is refusing to let go. Alternative therapies may help. Money – Opening a joint account with a business partner or wife can bring in more luck. Try it out and see how it works. Tarot message – Two minds can do better what one mind can. Explore the possibilities of teaming up and the pleasures of working together with a like-minded person.

Vol: 1, No 230 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon.com and for subscription, please call 040-4067 2222, Fax: 040-4067 2211

THE SATURDAY QUIZ SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

Winston Churchill as a "seditious" and "half-naked fakir"? 13. What is the name of 0 degrees longitude? 14. What are the units of measurement for the height of a horse? 15. Who was the first animal film star?

IDENTIFY THESE CARTOON CHARACTERS

IDENTIFY THESE FAMOUS BETTER HALVES

IDENTIFY THESE COUNTRIES AND PEOPLE

She is the face of the modern woman: confident, intelligent, witty and pretty.She is a queen, but she has been a champion of women’s rights and empowerment of youth in the Arab region. Who is she?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The Grand Old Man of India The man of Blood and Iron

The girl with eyes of dawn, she was one of the greatest actors of Hollywood’s golden age. She married eight times, but had only seven spouses. No,we did not get our count wrong, it’s just that she married Richard Burton twice. Who is she?

The Land of the Golden Fleece The Island of Pearls

Hermit Kingdom

He descended on the tennis circuit with flowing golden hair, a winning smile and irresistible charm. He was the first tennis player and one of the only two men to bag a Career Golden Slam in singles: winning all the three Grand Slams and an Olympic gold medal. He is married to Steffi Graf. Who is he?

Queen of the Adriatic

City of the Dreaming Spires Land of Canals Granite City

1Queen Rania of Jordan 2. Elizabeth Taylor 3. Andre Agassi

Answers

KNOW YOUR COUNTRY

Who was the first Indian woman to win Miss Asia Pacific title in 1970 ?

Find the fish in the picture

Answer for

Who founded the Sevagram Ashram near Wardha in Maharashtra ?

with Santosh Ghule

WHO AM I? I belong to the fairytale world. My mother and two step-sisters used to treat me very badly. My misfortunes continued until a handsome and charming prince found me, but he could only do it thanks to a glass slipper I had left at his palace. Who am I?

Answer Cinderella

PICTURE PUZZLE 4

3: The sides of the glasses form the four faces.

Which Indian woman athlete is popularly known as the Idukki Express ?

4 Pink Panther

Which Indian city would you be in if you were standing on world's longest railway platform?

Answers 1.Garfield 2 Atom Ant 3.Popeye

What is the motto of the Asian Games?

Wizard of the North

Answers

1 2

NAME GAME

1. Dadabhai Naoroji 2.Otto Von Bismark 3.Australia 4. Bahrain 5. Korea 6. Venice 7. Oxford 8. Netherlands 9. Aberdeen 10. Walter Scott

FAMOUS SPOUSES

9. Name the procedure used to assist a person choking on food? 10. On the 100th Anniversary of American Independence in 1876, what did France give to America? 11. Which fictional character lived at 221B Baker Street? 12. Who was described by

Answers

5. In which film could you find the character Cruella de Vil? 6. For which newspaper did Superman work? 7. Which rock star wrote the book titled In His Own Write? 8. In which country are the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido?

1.Snoopy 2.Hockey 3. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 4. Dorian Gray 5. 101Dalmatians 6. Daily Planet 7.John Lennon 8. Japan 9. Heimlich manoeuvre 10. The Statue of Liberty 11.Sherlock Holmes 12. Mahatma Gandhi 13. The Greenwich Meridian 14. Hands 15. Rin Tin Tin

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE 1. Which cartoon character wears a flying helmet and takes on the Red Baron? 2. In which sport would you find a puck? 3. What is the full name of the MGM Company? 4. In Oscar Wilde's novel, whose portrait changes in a mystical way?

1.Ever Onward 2.Kharagpur (West Bengal) 3. KM Beenamol 4. Mahatma Gandhi 5.Zeenat Aman

Answers

SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

France, Ireland to lock horns

rance and Ireland will at last lock horns at the Stade de France on Sunday with the hosts being warned that they must start with a bang if they are to keep alive their dreams of a Grand Slam. Coach Philippe Saint-Andre has guided the French to two wins in their first two games but was concerned by their lethargic approach last week.

Jelena Jankovic in semis

Wiggins to maintain form

econd seed Jelena Jankovic reached the semi-finals of the BMW Malaysian Open Saturday without having to pick up her racquet after Ayumi Morita pulled out injured, the second withdrawal in two days. Top seed and world number five Agnieszka Radwanska pulled out Friday due to injury after a string of rain delays caused a schedule pile-up.

ritish Tour de France hopeful Bradley Wiggins is aiming to maintain his solid start to this year's cycling season when the ParisNice event begins on Sunday. The Team Sky rider finished third in February's Tour of the Algarve and plans to carry that form into the first European-based World Tour race of 2012.

Murray has his revenge

GAME OF SHADOWS

MEXICO, Acapulco: The shadow of Italian tennis player Sara Errani is casted on the court as she prepares to serve during a Mexican Tennis Open match against compatriot Roberta Vinci, in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on Friday. AFP PHOTO/ALFREDO ESTRELLA

Top seed Isner in semis Top seed John Isner booked his berth in the semi-finals while former US Open winner Andy Roddick was sent crashing out of the ATP Tour's Delray Beach International tournament on Friday.

John Isner

DELRAY BEACH: Isner advanced on Friday with a brisk 6-3, 6-2 victory over eighth-seeded Australian Bernard Tomic. Fellow American and fourth seed Roddick lost his quarter-final in three sets to South Africa's Kevin Anderson 2-6, 7-6 (11/9), 6-4.

America's Isner, ranked 11th in the world, capitalized on four of his five break chances against the 19-year-old Aussie to claim victory in only 56 minutes. Isner, seeking a first title of 2012, will face seventh seeded Anderson who rallied to beat Roddick in a two hour, 33

minute marathon match. Anderson, of Johannesburg, put on an impressive serving display, beating Roddick at his own game. Anderson hammered 11 aces to Roddick's eight aces and won 77 percent of his first serve points. Roddick had four double

faults overall as he fizzled in the third set, winning just 65 percent of his first serve points. This marked the 25-year-old Anderson's second win over Roddick in four career meetings. They faced each other three times last year with Roddick winning the first two before Anderson won in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5, in the round of 32 at the Beijing hardcourt tournament. The 203 centimetre tall Anderson, who is chasing his second career title, raised his record this year to 6-4, while Roddick dropped to just 2-4. Israel's Dudi Sela booked his first semi-final berth of the year with a three-set victory over fifth-seeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber. After dropping a second set tie-breaker, Sela responded to post a 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-0 victory. Sela reached his first semifinal since Chennai in 2010. AFP

DUBAI: World number one Novak Djokovic was beaten for the first time this year when his first tournament since his Australian Open triumph ended in a straight sets semi-final defeat to Andy Murray at the Dubai Open. The triple Grand Slam finalist beat the triple Grand Slam title-holder from Serbia 6-2, 7-5 to earn a final against Roger Federer on Saturday. Federer reached his 102nd career final with a 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (8/6) win over Juan Martin Del Potro which earned him a chance of extending his record of Dubai titles to five. The Grand Slam record-holder from Switzerland beat the 2009 US Open champion from Argentina with a calm and solid performance in which he held all his service games throughout a fourth successive match. He also saved four set points in the second set tiebreak. Murray, who lost a thrilling Australian Open semi-final to Djokovic, gained revenge in an impressive display. It was an unpredictable match, with two or three surprising twists and turns, Djokovic attacking the net more than usual, but Murray being the better server and more consistent player. "You know some parts of this match I played well, but he was just the better player," said Djokovic. "So I have to congratulate him on that. "But generally I feel good, physically, mentally, you know. It's just the start of the season. You know, some 1000 events coming up which are really important (Indian Wells and Miami) and I need to get ready." AFP

Murray

SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

Indians on their way back

Down & out Down Under

Cavaliers gored by Bulls CLEVELAND: The Chicago Bulls breezed past the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-91 Friday with the help of forward Luol Deng's perfect four-for-four shooting from beyond the arc. The 26-year-old Deng scored a season-high 24 points, Derrick Rose added 19 points and nine assists and Carlos Boozer finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds for Chicago, who won their fifth consecutive National Basketball Association game. Antawn Jamison finished with 22 points and Ramon Sessions scored 16 for Cleveland, who lost their fourth straight. Cleveland played without first overall draft pick Kyrie Irving, who was suffering from a virus. Rose made a driving layup at the end of the second quarter to give the Bulls a comfortable 12 point lead at halftime. The Bulls then turned it up a notch in the third quarter leading by double digits the whole time as the Cavaliers failed to mount a comeback. Deng, of Sudan, nailed a three pointer in the final minute of the third quarter to extend their lead to 24 points, 94-70.

BRISBANE: The vanquished Indian cricket team, barring a couple of players, traced its way back to home on Saturday, drawing curtains on a disastrous Australian tour during which it lost more than it gained. As soon as Sri Lanka pipped Australia at the post in Melbourne last night, the reservation plans were put afoot and the players lost little time in leaving for home on Saturday. The players with bases in Mumbai and south India â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan, Rohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Vinay Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin and the entire support staff â&#x20AC;&#x201D; took a morning flight to Singapore

where they would board respective connecting flights to Mumbai and Chennai. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Praveen Kumar and Rahul Sharma left Brisbane this afternoon, again for Singapore where they would take the flight to Delhi. Irfan Pathan and Parthiv Patel, with bases in Gujarat, will leave for home on Sunday. The Indians were not exactly glued in front of their TV screens on Friday to watch the outcome of the Australia-Sri Lanka match which the latter won by nine runs in the final over. A few wandered around in

AS SOON AS SRI LANKA PIPPED AUSTRALIA AT THE POST IN

MELBOURNE LAST NIGHT, THE RESERVATION PLANS WERE PUT AFOOT AND THE PLAYERS LOST LITTLE TIME IN LEAVING FOR HOME ON SATURDAY. the market while a small group had dinner together. Only a few hooked themselves in front of television screens last night. India had raised hopes for making it to the finals of the one-day series with an astonishing chase of 321 in 36.4 overs

against Sri Lanka at Bellerive Oval, Hobart earlier this week. The Indians had finally liberated themselves on an otherwise suffocating three-month trip to Australia during which they were blanked 4-0 in the Test series and claimed just two matches in the triangular series. Batsmen and bowlers suffered collective failures and only Virat Kohli, and to a lesser extent Umesh Yadav and Vinay Kumar, redeemed themselves during the debilitating tour. The Indians would head for Bangladesh to play the Asia Cup, due between March 13-22. Post Asia Cup, it would be time for the fifth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL), starting PTI April 4.

Luol Deng

SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

Coach to Balotelli: Be good

Sunderland will look to dent Newcastle’s Europa League hopes and boost their own outside chances of playing in Europe next season

Black Cats out to catch Magpies MANCHESTER: Sunderland will look to dent Newcastle’s Europa League hopes and boost their own outside chances of playing in Europe next season when they travel to meet their local Premier League rivals Sunday. The Black Cats make the short trip to the renamed St. James Park aiming to avoid falling victim to a league double by their North-East neighbours, who won by the only goal at the Stadium of Light at the start of the campaign. A 52,000 sell-out, the Tyne-Wear derby is new ground for Martin O’Neill, the Sunderland manager, who has presided over a remarkable upturn in fortunes since taking over from Steve Bruce in December.

Despite the 4-0 reverse at West Brom last time out, the Wearside club have won 10 of the Irishman’s 16 games in charge. It’s seen them through to the last eight of the FA Cup while climbing out of the Premier League bottom three to sit ninth, 10 points behind Newcastle, who are sixth. Both clubs have 12 fixtures left to play. Former Celtic manager O’Neill tasted the unique atmosphere of Glasgow’s Old Firm derby on several occasions and said: “I’ve never experienced a North-East derby in terms of Sunderland versus Newcastle. By reputation, this one is right up there with the biggest in Britain. For generations, this area has been a hotbed of football this is a massive game, one

I’m looking forward to. “It’s a ferocious derby which I’m sure will be played at a great pace. We’ll be be ready for it, and if we perform to our capabilities we can win.” Sunderland haven’t won at their arch rivals’ for the last six visits, stretching back to November 2000. O’Neill added: “It’s a big occasion and a big game and we’ve got to be ready for it by applying the same approach which has seen us do relatively well over the last couple of months.” Newcastle, written-off by many before the start of the campaign for a season of struggle, have lost just twice at home this term to see them greatly over-achieve in their continued bid to return to European competition for the

MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini indicated Friday he has told striker Mario Balotelli he should heed a warning from Italy coach Cesare Prandelli to improve his disciplinary record. Balotelli was dropped from the Italian squad for the international friendly loss to the United States after Prandelli blasted the player’s indiscipline, noting the 21-year-old has been sent off twice for City this season and missed eight games through suspension - albeit three of those held over from last season. Mancini said: “I think it (the warning) is correct. We know that Mario is a top player - but he should improve his behaviour. “For the national team it is important. When you go to play in the European Championship and you only play three or five games, you should have good behaviour.” Balotelli did impress for Premier League leaders City in last week’s 3-0 win over Blackburn which encouraged Mancini to say that “Mario is the best Italian striker, for sure - 100 percent.” The former Inter Milan forward has scored 13 goals in all competitions this season, compared with 21 and 18 for fellow strikers Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko. Mancini also noted the return of another controversial figure in Carlos Tevez AFP now back in training.

first time since 2006. Alan Pardew is keen to atone for the disappointing 2-2 home draw with struggling Wolves last time out, and the Newcastle manager said: “We just want to get four points from the two home games, and on the back of the run we’ve had at home, that would constitute a success.” Sunderland have emerged victorious just once in the last 14 meetings with their local rivals, and were humiliated 5-1 on their most recent visit to Tyneside 16 months ago. Pardew warned his side not to rest on their laurels, and he added: “It doesn’t matter what’s gone on before, that’s irrelevant. What it will be about is the day itself and how we play.” AFP

Mario Balotelli

SPORTS SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012

AVB braces for Ides of March LONDON: Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas admitted on Friday that March will define the club’s season and shrugged off specualation that Jose Mourinho is poised for a dramatic return to Stamford Bridge. The under-pressure Portuguese coach faces two crucial Premier League games in the coming weeks and an FA Cup fourth-round replay, as well as trying to overturn a 3-1 Champions League last-16 deficit against Napoli. “They are key just because we can be

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson (centre) reacts during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg football match between Manchester United and Ajax at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England last month. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES

Spurs game key for us: Ferguson very important game for us. If you look at the rest of the season you would certainly say that building up to a game that could turn out to be the decider against Manchester City later in the season, Tottenham is our hardest away game but we’ll be looking to navigate it. “I’m looking at Manchester United. We realise how important it is on Sunday to maintain our challenge. “We’re not interested in anyone else’s challenge but to maintain our challenge we need to win on Sunday.” Ferguson feels that Tottenham managing to fight off Chelsea’s interest in Croatian midfielder Luka Modric last summer has been key to their successful campaign.

Boggle

The playmaker insisted he wanted to leave but Spurs rejected a string of offers from Chelsea. Ferguson said: “I think it swung the players around too that they decided to hold on to Modric against what we thought was a big Chelsea bid and it’s an indication that they mean business. “It’s worked because they’ve had a great season and up until about three weeks ago they were playing the best football in the league. “They’ve hit a little bit of a plateau at the moment but we know that going down there on Sunday is a big game for us and it’s the most important game for us so far.” Ferguson has a doubt over defender Chris Smalling, who sustained a head injury in England’s 3-2 friendly defeat to

ANGOLA FRANCE PANAMA POLAND UGAND

Suduko

Scrabble

SOLUTIONS

Number game

MANCHESTER: Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United’s trip to Tottenham on Sunday will prove pivotal to his side’s hopes of securing a 20th league title. United trail leaders Manchester City, who host struggling Bolton on Saturday, by two points going in to the weekend but will have Wayne Rooney back to bolster their challenge. Spurs’ own push for the top has come unstuck in recent weeks but they still represent a major test to United. Ferguson believes a win at White Hart Lane and keeping up with City at this stage could prove decisive, with United facing a game at City in the third last fixture of the season. He said: “It’s a very,

Holland in midweek. But Rooney, who missed the Dutch clash and sat out two United games with a throat infection, will play, Ferguson confirmed. “Wayne is fit.” AFP

out of or continue in two competitions,” he said ahead of Saturday’s league game at West Bromwich Albion. Asked if March was a defining month, he added: “It can define a ‘trophyless’ season for Chelsea, yes.” Adding spice to life at Chelsea this week were reports that Real Madrid coach Mourinho was spotted in London house-hunting. But Villas-Boas insisted he was unconcerned about rumours linking his mentor with a return to the London club.