Postnoon E-Paper for 08 December 2012 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

Surf ‘em up

Twitter and Facebook were last year’s success stories. This year the trend moved beyond posting random thoughts and food pictures online. Here are the top sites that made it big this year.

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WEATHER: A MIX OF CLOUDY AND CLEAR SKIES; 24°C

DECEMBER 8, 2012 HYDERABAD

GACHIBOWLI SPORTS COMPLEX

TALE GETS

MURKIER REPORT ON PG 4

CITY BOXERS NOT WORRIED ABOUT SUSPENSION

n the wake of the IOA’s suspension by the IOC, the Indian sports fraternity was rocked by another suspension: the International Boxing Association, AIBA, provisionally suspending the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation. The reason cited by the AIBA is possible manipulations in the recently conducted IABF elections. But City boxers seem unperturbed.

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THE INGRESS HAS BEGUN

oogle’s latest game that mixes augmented reality with MMO tactics makes World of Warcraft look like an abomination from the ’90s.

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PAGE TWO SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

BLACK DAY PROTESTS

Chocolaty Sunday Oxford Bookstore Hyderabad is organizing a fun filled kids cookery workshop by Anuradha Vinod, education officer in AP Forest department. Kids will be taught to make chocolate mousses and sandwiches. Where: Oxford Bookstore, The Park 22 Rajbhavan Road When: December 9 10:30am onwards Contact: 9160148444

Silent party Smirnoff presents Silent night party, a headphone party for noiseless fun. Where: 10 Downing Street, Begumpet When: December 8 9pm onwards Contact: 9930666106

Photo exhibition A wildlife photography exhibition by Suheim Sheikh will be held from December 8 onwards. It was inaugurated on December 7 at 6pm. Where: Goethe Zentrum, Banjara Hills, Rd No 3 When: December 8 onwards, from 9:30am Contact: (040) 2335 0473

Tales of an idyllic world Alliance Française, Hyderabad, is hosting an exhibition of paintings: Tales of an Idyllic World by Bala Abhiram. The exhibition is on till December 14. Where: Alliance Francaise, Banjara Hills, Rd No 3 When: Ongoing, 9am onwards Contact: (040) 2355 4485

Po10tial A show of art works by artists like Anand Bekwan, Jinson Jospeh and Maredu Ramu. Where: Kalakrithi Art Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No 10 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 6656 4466

The last Christmas The last Christmas is a large-scale production featuring live singing, dancing and acting, is the heartwarming story of Retired Gen Roy who recounts his seven favourite Christmases. Where: RNR auditorium, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: December 8, 9 and 10 Contact: (040) 6515 7558

CINEMAS

BJP activists protest in Old City on December 6, the 20th anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition

Célimène & the Cardinal Alliance Française of Hyderabad and Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Foundation present Célimène and the Cardinal by Jacques Rampal. Where: Nift Auditorium, Madhapur When: December 11, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 2355 4485

1 Night 2 Give There is a gala dinner to raise funds for the “Girl child education” campaign. It will be launched by activist Amala Akkineni. Where: Park Hyatt Hyderabad, Road No 2, Banjara Hills When: December 12, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 4949 1234

Where:hyderabad.afindia.org When: December 3-January 6

Music workshop There is a 3-day workshop on Hindustani classical music and ghazal singing by Ustad Rajkumar Rizvi Sutradhar and Naadbrah. Where: 3-6-145/9/1/1, Himayatnagar When: December 12-14 6:30 pm - 10pm Contact:77990 00792

Story Writing Contest Annapurna International School of Film and Media has launched the preliminary phase National Level Story writing Competition. The story writing competition isopen to both unergraduate and graduate students. Where: www.script2screen.in When: Before December 10

Rajasthani food festival There is a Rajasthani food festival at Deccan Pavilion. Where: Deccan Pavillion, Begumpet When: Upto December 9 Contact: (040) 23400132

Photo competition Alliance Francaise, Hyderabad, is conducting a photo competition. The theme is Professions of the world. The winning entries will be sent to Paris.

Public speaking There is a four-day workshop from December 13 to December 16 at Media Junction. The workshop is on effective public speaking. Where: Media Junction, Parthani Towers, , Golconda Cross Roads, Musheerabad When: 13-16 December 6-9:30pm Contact: 98488 42471

N SHIVA KUMAR

Transpersonal session Art & Science of Self-Actualization is a foundation course in transpersonal counselling, by clinical psychologist Sujata Potay. Life skills, self awareness skills will be imparted, among others. Where: Center for Organization Development, Madhapur When: January 19-April 27 Contact: 98494 53045

Handloom exhibition Pochampally Handloom Park is organizing IKAT Mela, exhibiting handloom linen, dress material and saris, among others. Where: State Gallery of fine Arts , Department of Culture, Kavuri Hills, Madhapur When: 13-16 December from 6-9:30pm Contact:98488 42471

Sound of Music This musical drama is the theatre version of the 1965 classic performed by Oakridge International School. It is directed by Ratna Shekhar Reddy. Where: Shilpa Kala Vedika, Near Cyber Towers, HiTEC City When: December 11 7pm onwards Contact: 93965 55888

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, DECEMBER 8, 2012 N SHIVA KUMAR

Two held for killing panther

Train to Tirupati flagged off

he Secunderabad to Tirupathi Express was flagged off at 12pm at the Secunderabad Station, today. Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy was present on this occasion. Union minister of state for railways K Vijayabhaskar Reddy accompanied him. The train (Train No. 12770) will be operated twice a week between the two destination.

he Ranga Reddy district police arrested two people for killing a panther. The animal attacked one Gunnaiah Naik when he was working in his field. Two villagers, Ravi and Chandu, attacked the animal with lathis. The panther died on the way to Nehru Zoological Park. Forest officers lodged a complaint and the duo was produced in court.

Bike set ablaze

nidentified persons set a motorcycle ablaze on Thursday night at Warasiguda, Secunderabad. The bike owner, Mushtaq Qureshi, a businessman dealing in leather, had parked his vehicle on the road in front of his house. He was asleep when his bike was set on fire with petrol. Chilkalguda police booked a case and the investigation is going on.

No winter session in sight Opposition leaders claim the Congress won’t hold the session to avoid issues like creation of Telangana state.

INKESHAF AHMED

ahmed.m@postnoon.com

he fear of a fierce confrontation with opposition political parties, especially TRS, BJP and TDP Telangana Forum, over the Telangana issue and other civic problems seems to have forced the Congress to go back on its decision of convening the winter session of AP Assembly. The winter session of the

house was scheduled to begin from December 10. A decision to this effect was taken during a business advisory committee meeting convened on November 29 by Assembly speaker Nadendla Manohar. A special session of the House was already held from November 30 to December 2 to approve the SC and ST Sub-Plan Bill 2012. Reacting to questions as to whether the winter session was cancelled, APCC president Botsa Satyanarayana claimed that the State government never said that it would hold the winter session from December 10. He added that they are planning to

APCC PRESIDENT BOTSA SATYANARAYANA CLAIMED THE STATE GOVERNMENT DIDN’T SAY THAT IT WOULD HOLD THE WINTER SESSION FROM DECEMBER 10. hold the session after a proposed conference of the party, scheduled on December 16. “We never said that we would hold the winter session from so and so date. The winter session of the house can be held only after our

party’s meeting,” he said. On the other hand, TDP senior leader and MLA Jaipal Yadav said that the State government had no intention of holding a winter session. He alleged that the convening of the threeday session was part of the government’s strategy. “The Congress government played a smart move to avoid confrontation from opposition parties on various glaring problems, including recent imposition of huge burden in the form of fuel surcharge adjustments (FSA) on electricity consumers. Apart from this, the fresh issue of the all-party meeting by the Centre

on the separate Telangana issue added fuel to fire. I am sure the government will never hold the session after this shocking development," he said. Yadav added that if the government holds the meeting, they would press for creation of separate T-state. BJP floor leader Y Lakshminarayana alleged that the State government did not want to convene the Assembly session as it was scared of facing the wrath of opposition parties on T-issue. TRS MLA Koppula Eeswar expressed similar views and said they would continue to raise the T-issue whenever the session was held.

CITY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Complex facts come to light Here’s a sad update on the Gachibowli Sports Complex. Not all the furniture was stolen, it is now claimed, but relocated, and the elevators were dismantled by contractors due to unpaid bills. And yet, the government keeps paying `48 lakh per month in loan repayment. N SHIVA KUMAR

RAHUL RAMAKRISHNA rahul.r@postnoon.com

series of RTI queries has shed more light on SAAP Towers at Gachibowli Sports Complex (see Postnoon December 5). Sports authorities’ response reveals that the rundown state of this architectural marvel was a classic case of mismanagment of public money. This massive facility, built at an original cost of `70 crore (nobody knows what the final sum is), was nearly ‘ransacked’ by the SAAP and contractors soon after the Military Games. It was as if a crowd of creditors carted off whatever they could lay their hands on. SAAP took all the moveable furniture and moved it to its LB Nagar office, while some smaller pieces of furniture disappeared in the melee. Four elevators were dismantled and taken away by contractors, who accuse the SAAP of not paying their bills. Consequently, the building gives

against the SAAP for not releasing funds to finish the construction of the building. “A certain person, who was in-charge of the SAAP Towers, informed us during the inspection that the contracting agency was not given the agreed funds to finish construction. Which is why only nine out of the total 13 floors have been constructed,” said Sameer. SAAP vice-chairman TRK Rao was unavailable for comment.

The break-up of the funds sanctioned according to an RTI reply n Contracting agency payments paid directly by SAAP : `9,08,97,186. n Contracting agency payments paid directly through Punjab National Bank : `10,41,57,272 n Total payment: `19,50,54,458 out a ‘haunted’ vibe. The whole thing would have remained hidden if It’s Time to Make a Difference (ITMD) had not filed an RTI query and got a response. The organisation has now moved the Lokayukta, with visu-

al and documentary evidence, requesting a full-fledged inquiry. Sameer Nandan of ITMD said, “It is surprising how the State government continues to pay a monthly instalment of `48 lakh even after everything valu-

able from the building has been moved away, or as the authorities say, ‘put to a better use’.” Amidst all of this, it has been learnt that the contracting agency in charge of the building construction has also filed a case

Total abstract amount spent so far n SAAP: `19,50,54,458 n PNB: `44,03,50,877 n Total: `63,54,05,335

Urdu gives way to English in City Urdu schools in the City are losing out to English-medium schools. Parents say this is because Englishmedium schools offer their children a better future, schools say lack of infrastructure is the reason. Anubha K Singh anubha.k@postnoon.com

lame it on competition or compulsion of modern times; Urdu seems to be losing its sheen as a medium of education. The fall has been shocking: From 886 Urdu medium schools in the City in 2005, there are only 286 today. Enquiries reveal that while all other reasons are peripheral, the pivotal cause of this downfall has been the collective will of the community, which sees advantages in English-medium learning for their wards. All major careers are pursued in English and no loving parents want their children to suffer a disadvantage. But government Urdu schools blame bad infrastructure. “Most of the Urdu-medium schools are in rented buildings and that’s the reason they are in such a bad condition,” SQ Masood, a leading social activist, said, “True, many school buildings in the Old City are in a dilapidated condition with no proper facilities.”

Old City had a chunk of the Urdu-medium schools, of which many have now turned into English-medium schools or simply shut down. It’s not that parents do not want their children learning Urdu, but they believe English is the way forward. “We do want our children to go to Urdu-medium schools and learn our mother tongue perfectly, but we are forced to send them to English-medium schools because of the poor infrastructure in Urdu schools. In addition to the lack of infrastructure, in today’s competitive world, if you can’t speak or write English it means you can’t get a job in a multinational company,” said, Imam Qureshi, a parent. “Urdu is on its death-bed for sure. Many parents know that English is the need of the hour. There was a time when Urdu was mandatory for a Muslim child but it’s not the case now. Many parents think English language can fetch good government or MNC jobs for their children, which is good for their future,” Qureshi pointed out.

N SHIVA KUMAR

Fact sheet n In the academic year 2002-03, the total enrolment in Urdu-medium schools in the State was 3,66,057 but the numbers have come down to 2,28,684 in 2010-11. n 14 of the 1,800 private schools in Hyderabad

offer education in Urdu. n In 2005, there were a total of 886 Urdu-medium schools. n In 2012, that number has come down to 286 schools.

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otters Wheel, a group involved in pre-schooling, teacher training and corporate training, is conducting a programme on “Employability Skills Development,” for economically backward students, as part of their corporate social responsibility. The seven-day programme which began on December 5 is the first such initiative by the group. The programme was initiated in Mahindra Hills and East Marredpally areas. “30 students from various government colleges in and around Secunderabad have registered for the programme,” said Sanjay, the programme in-charge. Students will be trained on employability skills, with focus on spoken English, interpersonal and communication skills among others.The programme is being held at the Potters Wheel campus in Mahindra Hills. A specialised team of trainees will be interacting with the students. Sanjay expressed hope in having this week-long training programme every month.

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NATION SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Dikshit in hospital

Bank guard shoots cashier

security guard of a nationalised bank shot dead a cashier and another security guard inside a bank on Friday. The guard, Sunil Sarkar first shot the cashier in the SBI’s Bhowanipore branch (South Kolkata). “When locals and employees rushed to Sarkar, he told them that he has shot another person in an upper floor of the branch.

escribing the shooting to death of his son on November 30 as a ‘fake encounter’,the father of one of the main accused in the murder of a Sub-Inspector sought a direction to transfer the case to CBI for detailed investigation and sought compensation for the death. In his petition ,the father of Prabhu’s also sought to transfer to CBI the case filed by the police.

‘Guj earning through Central power proj’

Axl Rose of US hard rock band Guns N’ Roses performs during a concert in Bangalore on December 7, 2012. Guns N’ Roses, who have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, are touring India for the first time. AFP /MANJUNATH KIRAN

‘US supports India’

very much supports India taking a leadership in the security issues in and around the Indian Ocean and was looking for opportunities to interoperate with them, according to a top US commander. President Barack Obama has directed “all of the parts of our government to seek a long-term security relationship, a partnership with India,” Admiral Sameul J Locklear III, commander of United States Pacific Command (PACOM) told reporters. “And that covers a lot of different areas, but in the military area we look for opportunities to interoperate with each other,” he said. “And we are headed in that direction.” Locklear, who recently visited India

LIVE IN CONCERT

WASHINGTON: The US

‘Transfer case to CBI’

elhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was Friday admitted to a private hospital here after she went for a check-up, informed sources said. Dikshit had gone to the Escorts Hospital for a “routine check-up” but was instead admitted there, the sources saId. She underwent an angioplasty procedure at the same hospital November 27.

after taking over the PACOM command, said: “We very much support India military, India taking a leadership in the security issues in and around the Indian Ocean. “And we are looking for opportunities to participate and interoperate with them where we can.” The US, which has been recently invited as an observer to the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation has to rely on and support such organisations as the Indo-Pacific region was a vast region, he said. “It’s well over half of the people in the world live in that region. All the major economies are in that region, including ours. Seven of the 10 largest armies are in that region,” Locklear IANS noted.

India building infra in Myanmar

Tourist saved on Goa beach

NEW DELHI: A concept of Asia as one entity, linked by road, rail and sea, is taking shape and India is contributing towards it by undertaking to build highways and bridges in neighbouring Myanmar. India has offered to build 71 new bridges in Myanmar on the Tamu to Kalewa highway, said foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai, and added that a team from the road transport and highways ministry is visiting that country as part of the project. The connectivity building should also be looked at as a “highway of mind and spirit”, said Mathai.

PANAJI: A tourist from Himachal Pradesh was rescued from drowning at Goa’s Baga beach by lifeguards.”Suresh Kumar (21) was rescued by lifeguards from the sea off the beach yesterday while he was struggling to stay afloat,” a lifeguard said. Kumar, along with two friends, had ventured into the sea ignoring warnings by lifeguards posted at the beach who had spoken about the possible dangers, he said. Kumar was rushed to a nearby primary health centre,where he is said to be currently recovering.

VADODARA: Union minister of State for power Jyotiraditya Scindia today said Gujarat has been earning `1,700 crore per annum by selling power to other states, which has been allocated to it from Central power sector projects. “The Centre has been allocating 3,000MW of power to Gujarat from its central power sector projects, of which it sells 835 MW of power to other states and earns an amount of `5 crore per day,” Scindia said addressing a poll public meeting in Elora park

area of the Sayajigunj assembly constituency. “The electricity duty charged in Gujarat is 20 per cent as compared to 5 per cent in neighbouring Rajasthan and other states,” he added.

In a veiled attack on Gujarat CM Narendra Modi’s development plank, he said the state was already developed on many fronts since ages. “Gujarat had been a developed state and it had been trading silk to China over a hundred years ago. Not only that, Ahmedabad was called Manchester of India because of a large number of textile mills in the city.,” the ,minister said. Scindia alleged there was a “high rate” of mortality, women’s death and malnourishment in Gujarat. PTI

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WORLD SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Rioting breaks out in Belfast

ioting broke out in Belfast late on Friday in the latest violence to flare up in Northern Ireland over a decision by councillors not to fly the British flag all year round. Tensions have risen since Belfast’s council voted to limit the number of days the Union Jack can fly over the City Hall to 17, outraging loyalists who believe it should retain strong links to Britain.

Psy sorry for anti-US lyrics

‘Miscarriage of justice’

lawyer for the family of rapper Notorious B.I.G. lashed out at a “miscarriage of justice” on Friday, as an autopsy report was released 15 years after his death in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. Attorney Perry Sanders lamented that nobody has been arrested over the 1997 killing, even though police had told that the murder has been solved.

orean singer Psy has apologised for the anti-American lyrics he had rapped in a song in 2004. The song, titled Dear American, protested the US presence in Iraq. "While I'm grateful for the freedom to express one's self, I've learned there are limits to what language is appropriate and I'm deeply sorry for how these lyrics could be interpreted,” he wrote.

‘LEAVE!’ Morsi told Several thousand protesters staged a noisy but peaceful demonstration outside the Cairo palace of President Mohamed Morsi, while the soldiers stationed around the residence looked on. AFP

Ines Bel Aiba and Mona Salem

Suspected terror leader held

CAIRO: Several thousand protesters broke through a barbed-wire perimeter protecting the Cairo palace of President Mohamed Morsi on Friday to stage a noisy but peaceful demonstration against his expanded powers and proposed changes to the Constitution. As the crowd shot off fireworks, blew horns and painted slogans on the palace walls for Morsi to “Leave!” his vice-president hinted at a possible compromise on a referendum for the draft charter aimed at calming the seething national crisis. A cordon of soldiers prevented the protesters from nearing the palace’s main gate, but there was no visible violence — unlike on Wednesday, when bloody clashes broke out at the same spot between pro- and anti-Morsi supporters that left seven people dead and more than 600 injured. Several army tanks were stationed in the square and nearby but made no movement against the protesters, some of whom clambered aboard to declare the army was “hand in hand” with them. That was reminiscent of the popular uprising that ousted long-time president Hosni Mubarak early last year, when tanks stood idle amid massive protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, as protesters mixed with soldiers. The crowd also shouted “We want to see the fall of the

WASHINGTON: Egyptian

Egyptian soldiers prevent demonstrators from crossing over a barbed wire fence as thousands gather near the presidential palace in Cairo to protest against a draft constitution and President Mohamed Morsi’s sweeping powers decree on December 7, 2012. regime” — a slogan common during the anti-Mubarak revolt. The interior ministry issued a statement late Friday urging the protesters to go home and saying extra security had been deployed around the palace to ensure calm. A few kilometres away, around 2,000 Morsi supporters demonstrated outside a mosque, an AFP correspondent said. “We’re with the president” and

“We love you Morsi,” the supporters chanted. Ayman al-Sawwah, a member of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, said he and his fellow demonstrators “won’t go to the palace unless they (opposition) try to enter it by force.” The opposition has been demonstrating for two weeks against bolstered powers Morsi decreed for himself putting him above the law, and against a

December 15 referendum on a draft constitution it sees as having been railroaded through by a panel of Morsi’s Islamist allies. On Friday, Egypt’s vice-president, Mahmud Mekki, told AFP that Morsi “could accept to delay the referendum” on the draft constitution, but only if the opposition guaranteed it would launch no legal challenge to the decision. The US and EU have called for dialogue to resolve the crisis. AFP

authorities have detained a suspected terror network ringleader whose operatives are believed to have carried out a deadly attack on a US mission in Libya, a report said on Friday. Muhammad Jamal Abu Ahmad — a former member of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, who was freed from prison in March 2011 following the ouster of Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak — was captured in the past week, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed US officials. One US official confirmed to AFP that Ahmad had been detained, without providing further details. US intelligence played a role in the detention, one official told the Journal. It was not immediately clear where or how the suspect was caught. Egypt has yet to announce Ahmad’s capture. US officials have not yet been able to question the suspect, the report said. AFP

Typhoon victims loot stores

Police clash with protesters in China

Royal hoax RJs suspended

TAGUM: Hungry survivors of a deadly Philippine typhoon looted shops and warehouses in a hard-hit town in a bid to stay alive amid stalled aid deliveries, a rescue official said on Saturday. Local officials monitored the desperate scenes in the early aftermath of Typhoon Bopha’s onslaught in the isolated southern town of Cateel, Cedric Daep, a provincial public safety official, told AFP. “The food aid took so long to arrive that the locals broke into whatever building was left standing in search of something to eat,” said Daep, a specialist sent to the south by the government to help rescue and relief operations. Warehouses and grocery stores were broken into in Cateel, a coastal town near AFP where the eye of the typhoon made landfall.

BEIJING: Police in a South China city bordering

SYDNEY: Two Australian radio presenters who made a hoax call to the hospital treating Prince William’s pregnant wife Kate have been taken off the air after the nurse who took the call apparently killed herself. Jacintha Saldanha answered the phone when presenters from Sydney’s 2Day FM called, pretending to be Queen Elizabeth II and William’s father Prince Charles, before passing it onto a colleague who divulged details of Kate’s condition. Saldanha was found dead on Friday. Her employers, London’s private King Edward VII hospital, refused to comment on media reports that she had taken her own life. The radio station said Saturday the presenters, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, “are both deeply shocked”.

Vietnam clashed with thousands of rioters who were protesting excessive brutality meted out to a suspected smuggler, the government and a rights group said. The incident occurred Friday in Dongxing city in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with rioters destroying numerous police and border patrol vehicles and clashing with security forces, local police said in microblog postings. “Five policemen were lightly injured and nine anti-smuggling vehicles were damaged... no one (else) at the scene was injured or killed,” the Fangchenggang prefecture public security bureau, which oversees Dongxing, said on its microblog AFP site late Friday.

COMMENT SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Password protected

What about Ranikhet?

propos What’s Beyond the password (November 24) We all need to be more proactive about our personal account security. If you don’t trust the site don’t use it. But one thing that can’t be stressed enough is taking advantage of the 2FA. Not enough sites are promoting this option. Pandora via e-mail

propos Winter is Coming (November 25). Surprisingly there’s no mention of Ranikhet. It is from here that one can see a 300km spread of lofty Himalayas. More than 21 major peaks can be identified. Ranikhet is known as a hill station of unparalleled pristine beauty. Lt Gen Dr Mohan Bhandar via e-mail

EDITORIALS Readers’ views We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint 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.

No dowry please, I’m Indian

would like to know which Indian men shaadhi.com interviewed for their socalled survey. Almost every Indian man I know is either apathetic about the issue of dowry or happily take it on the sly. But yes, I do agree with teh sentiment that those who ask for dowry should be punished. Jehangir Mythili via e-mail

EDITORIALS WHEN PRANKS turn cruel Not two days ago everyone was sniggering over how two radio jockeys, pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles, called up the hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated for morning sickness and tricked a nurse into giving them updates about Kate, who has been in the eye of news since reports emerged about her pregnancy. The jockeys were pretty impressed with their hoax, how neatly and easily it was done despite their poor enacting of Kate’s kin, with their terrible accents, over which one of them promptly picked on the other (both are Aussies). Now the situation has turned turtle. The nurse who was the object of ridicule has been found dead and though her employers deny suicide, such a scenario cannot be ruled out. Now there are widespread calls for the blood of the shock jocks who have been put under suspension following the tragic news of their victim. There may be opinions that it was just a prank which did not intend for anything tragic to happen, but then their prank caused immense hurt to a poor woman, which may have pushed her to extreme measures. Pranks and hoaxes of this nature are not new: there has been plenty ever since the advent of easy communication. However, the thing is those behind it must be careful of the effect their pranks may have on those at the other end. In this case the shock jocks misjudged it and now they confess that they are in “shock”. But that won’t undo anything, will it?

WHY WE LOVE... Jacob Zuma Carry on, Mr Zuma, with the tradition of many a leader who hangs onto power, despite nothing to show a country of gaping inequalities.

A spiritual connection Soul Curry SUMAA TEKUR

e often participate in a prayer or a puja without really knowing the significance of all the rituals. We just follow them because we’re asked to. With another year coming to an end, my parents decided to perform the Ganapathi homa to invite good luck, health and prosperity for all at home and outside. Hectic preparations were on and we sat for the puja. A young priest from the temple, a techie by profession and a Hindu temple priest by hobby, decided to give us a short lesson in Hindu rituals before we started the puja. Those words made the rituals so much more meaningful that even the Sanskrit verses that I otherwise didn’t understand made sense. Creation of the idol: While preparations were on for the

puja, the priest drew a perfect, colourful rangoli of Ganesha. An image to look to for worship gives our prayer focus and direction, he said. The unique appearance of Ganesha is also rich with significance. The large elephant-head signifies wisdom, understanding and intellect. These, according to Hindu dharma, are necessary in order to strive for perfection in life. The large ears signify that one must be willing to listen more than one speaks. It’s important to hear other people out before drawing conclusions. The trunk symbolizes twin qualities. One is the power of the human mind. The mind must be made so strong that it can face any obstacle and inconsistencies in everyday dealings. At the same time, it must also possess the delicate intuition to deal with the spiritual side of everyday life. The two tusks denote the yin and yang, in a way. The right and left sides of the brain must be equally balanced. There must be place for both emotion as well as intellect. All decisions must be

taken by keeping in mind a balance of the two. The broken left tusk indicates that too much emotion can also be detrimental to smooth living. One must conquer one’s emotions through intellect in order to attain perfect balance.

WE MAY NOT KNOW THE MEANING OF THE SANSKRIT VERSES BUT THE PRIEST’S EXPLANATION GAVE US MOTIVATION TO SIMPLY BE ‘HERE AND NOW’ AT THE HAVAN. Bell: The bell is common to almost all religions of the world. In Hinduism, it takes a prominent place. The ringing of the bell invokes the attention of the Gods. It also drowns out any noises and inappropriate environmental sounds so that the priest can focus on the prayers. The ringing of the bell produces the Om sound, the univer-

sal name of God. The havan: This invokes the Sun God in the form of Agni (God of Fire). A havan has neutralizing effects. It kills anger, tension and any other negative emotions not just within us but also in the environment. It reenergizes the body’s chakras and invigorates the mind by bringing peace and calm. An invisible protective shield is formed around the place where the havan is performed. It’s also an opportunity to get rid of any bad karma for those performing or participating in the puja. We may not know the meaning of the Sanskrit verses but the priest’s explanation gave us motivation to simply be ‘here and now’ at the havan. Our presence, and more importantly our faith, was enough to benefit us. It’s a physical way to re-tune the mind towards peace and tranquility. Meditation, no doubt, serves a similar purpose. But with the physical tools of fire, water, bell and verses, we perhaps find it easier to make that spiritual connection.

COMMENT SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Maid for each other My World SHRADDHA JAHAGIRDARSAXENA

hey are often not permanent members of our household. And they are also not related to us in anyway. And yet, they seem to be an important part of almost all homes who can afford their presence. Almost all women – or even men – who run the daily operations of their homes will agree that it is almost impossible to get a house help. And if you do get a domestic, the perfect one proves elusive. For me, years ago, when I set up home to begin with in Bangalore (as it was called then), my help was one girl (Gauri was her name) who spoke basic Hindi and since I was not fluent in Kannada, we communicated in sign language. Smilingly, she did what I told her – and the minute my back was turned, she played around with the talcum powder on my dressing table. But having found her and feeling terribly sorry for her plight of having to work at an age when she should have been at school, I turned a blind eye to her childish acts. Back to Mumbai and an Anita entered my life. A top servant who arrived promptly at eight in the morning to mop, sweep, dust and wash clothes at a princely sum of Rs 1000 a month. Energetic and bustling, she raced through her tasks, completing her chores before I dashed off for work. The need to have more maids spiralled when I became a mother. And a morning to evening help became the order of the

Urban sketches VISWAPRASAD RAJU

day. A woman – thin, upright, clean and in well-draped saris – arrived at my household. Nicknamed Baby she remained a part of my life for almost a decade. At which point she remarried and left to set up home. I learnt much, much later to my dismay that she used to run the house with a hand of iron. And anything out of the ordinary routine was dismissed. The kids were told to clear up their own rooms and what not! But, she had been a pillar of support in the many daily crises that we had and in all the family turmoils that we went through. Post her departure several maids arrived and left – but the one stand out persona was a slightly plumpish, pleasant natured girl called Sunda. She came with strong references from a lady called Chandra who had helped raise me (believe

it or not we have kept in touch and even though decades have passed she is the first one I call when I need a new help). Sunda, believe me, was almost the perfect servant. You can delete the almost. It took her a few weeks to get used to our temperaments but she doted on my kids – played cricket with my son, drew drawings for him and cooked all their favourite food items whenever they wanted – and took care of my father in law with due attention and respect. I remember a trip I had made then to Malaysia, leaving the house in her care. In all the times I called, there was no cause for complaint. She smilingly held fort till I returned. After just a year with me, she got married and went off to her own world that alas was shaken with tragedy soon. Widowed in three months, she discovered she was expecting and is

now raising her own child with her characteristic gentleness and affection. I would give anything to have her back...but fate wills otherwise. So, I am still in search of the perfect replacement. Not to say that I don't have my share of help at home. But there have been those who promise to land up at eight thirty in the morning and keep me waiting till nine forty five...those who leave dust in all the corners to have it come out like an avalanche when I supervise work on weekends.... Each maid has a tale behind her. One whom I had no hesitation turning away was a lady who demanded Rs 12000 for a nine hour job. That was almost double the pay that homes in our area doled out. And for what work, pray? Today, I see my younger colleagues and friends looking frantically for maids to look after their infants and toddlers. There are new varieties available (like Japa maids), agencies have multiplied. But it is obvious that the mushrooming of malls and increasing education in the class of those who were previously servants and are now moving into regular respected jobs has reduced the workforce by a great deal. So, at the end of the day it is better to have one maid in hand rather than two in a bush. I am sure all who run their homes with a degree of efficiency will agree. And to those who don't – or have spouses or family members who feel a home can run without a maid and without others chipping in to do their share of work – my advice is just step into our shoes for a day. And you will realise why maids come with such premium price tags! The writer currently Executive Editor, VERVE magazine

Global edits

Food II

The New York Times (US)

Beyond the Fiscal Cliff

s Congress waits for negotiators to resolve the budget standoff, there is other worthy business that could be accomplished, particularly in political ethics. The four-year-old Office of Congressional Ethics — the quasi-independent watchdog and preliminary investigator of House members’ misbehavior — is one of the rare success stories on Capitol Hill. It needs reauthorization and four new appointees by the end of the month if it is to continue into the next Congress and keep the public better informed. Legislators, of course, loathe being investigated by the office. But it has a solid record of fairness in doing its job, which involves discreetly screening complaints for the House Ethics Committee. Any attempt to block renewal of this vital agency will not pass taxpayers’ muster. Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, should make clear his intention to join with Democrats who support the office. Two years ago, as members from both parties pressed to eliminate the office, Mr. Boehner admirably agreed with the

THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE

NOTHING IN HIS FIRST TERM, BUT HE NOW HAS THE OPPORTUNITY. House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, in reauthorizing it. Meanwhile, the Federal Election Commission, with a reputation as one of Washington’s most glaring failures, is also in need of attention — it needs fresh appointees. The commission is charged with being the enforcer of federal campaign spending rules, but it is more an enabler of laissez-faire machine politics. It has been withering as its three Republican members force 3-to-3 standoff votes against the Democrats that have effectively rendered the commission utterly toothless while candidates exploit loopholes favoring runaway “super PACs” and contrived “social welfare” campaign operations. Four years ago, Barack Obama vowed to reform the commission. The president has done nothing in his first term, but he now has the opportunity to propose truly independent replacements for five of the six sitting commissioners. He owes it to voters to do so.

BUSINESS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Oil prices drop

Canada okays $20b takeovers

il prices slipped on Friday as a dip in the US unemployment rate failed to allay skepticism about economic recovery in the United States and Europe and the strength of crude demand. New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate for delivery in January, finished at $85.93 a barrel, down 33 cents from Thursday's closing level.

Multiplying joy, subtracting fear To help students befriend the math monster, brothers Nishchal and Nikhil develop products that make understanding math easy and fun.

PRUDHVI RAJU K

prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

s your child finding it hard to understand complex math problems and the concepts behind it? If there is anyone that can help rid the math phobia, it is Nikhil and Nischal Narayanam. Nischal’s Smart Learning Solutions (NSLS) is aimed at converting mathematics from a scary monster to a friend. The brothers founded NSLS in 2010 and since then, they have been providing innovative products to help children and young adults perform to their fullest through handson learning. Nischal is a genius of sorts and has broken many world records in memorising things. The wonder boy even completed five standards of academic education in just one year. He is the youngest graduate and has topped many subjects at Osmania University. Interestingly, the business idea took birth from an issue that he encountered when he was in fifth standard. Nischal, who is now a CA, says, “I found it difficult to understand certain math concepts. I asked my mom and bother (Nikhil) to get some models and tools that are three-dimensional so I could understand the formulae. Since it was hard to find these models, we got them made by a carpenter.” In 2006, the brothers launched and marketed their unique products through a UK-based company for I to V standard students. Over time, the concepts were developed till IX standard and began to be launched through their own company – NSLS. Nischal says that with these tools, a child can understand the logic behind every concept. “People that are bad at math outnumber those that are good at it. More than 70 per cent students lack conceptual clarity in the subject. You cannot simply by heart; one must be able to know the concept through applying logic and then deriving the formulae,” he says. Although the company was officially launched in January 2010, it took the brothers almost 16 months

Trichet to be EADS chief?

anada on Friday approved two major takeovers of energy firms by the Chinese state-owned giant CNOOC and Malaysia's national oil company Petronas — deals worth more than US$20 billion in total. PM Stephen Harper announced approval for CNOOC's $15.1 billion takeover of Nexen, and Petronas' $5.5bn offer for Progress Energy Resources.

Fact file n n n n

Number of math lab units across the world: `75,000 Expected growth in revenues this fiscal: Around 60 per cent Course fees in a franchisee: `1,350 to `15,000 Number of schools using NSLS kits: `90,000

to develop the tools (products) with the help of experts from different fields, such as teachers, designers and animators. The company also practices eco-friendly methods of developing the products, so that they will be of no harm to the children. Often businesses target private schools first, where they generate revenues and then expand to government schools. “However, we targeted governmental schools first to make it accessible underprivileged children. We customised our kits for government schools and sold them for around `700 without looking for any profit margin,” says Nikhil. The duo found that private schools were very demanding. So initially they took their payment only after there was a marked improvement in the students’ grades. “Many private schools are only interested in marks and they

want to see clear ROI before investing on these products. We requested them not to pay us until they are satisfied with the results. We also gave them an option of returning the products if they don’t yield the desired results,” says Nikhil. The company also started a franchisee to make their products easily accessible to each and every child irrespective of the school and place. As of now, NSLS has four franchisees, which teach various short and long term courses in math, Vedic math and abacus. It also uses a ‘mathometer,’ which is a system that analyses the students’ understanding of different concepts and recommends a course accordingly. Apart from this, the brothers are also actively involved in philanthropic activities. “Although we started as a private limited company, our goal is to see students enjoying math. We promote education for rural children and give them a basic foundation in math, by conducting summer camps and free math tests. Almost 20 per cent of our profits are used for the Nischal Foundation,” says Nikhil. The business have invested around `6 crore in R&D and is expected to achieve an operational breakeven by March 2013. NSLS aims to grow 20 times by 2014-2015 and reach `20 crore.

he chairman of European aerospace giant EADS may stand down in March with former European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet as a possible replacement, Britain's Financial Times reported on Friday. Arnaud Lagardere, 51, may step down at an extraordinary meeting of the Airbus owner's shareholders.

Nischal's achievements n n

n n

Double Guinness World Record holder National Geographic Channel called him one of the "Seven brilliant brains of the world” National Child awardee for exceptional achievement, 2008 (gold medal) World's youngest mentor of a company (NSLS) Author of volumes of books on mathematics

MOTORING SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Korea market for Tata Motors

ata Motors is looking to source more auto components from Korea that are both good in quality and more cost-effective than those imported from the US, Europe and Japan. To offset the rising labour cost in Korea, the Indian auto major is also actively encouraging Korean auto parts makers to set up base in India, either independently or through joint ventures.

BMW renaming the 3-series

Nissan blasts Fiat

MW, in a major marketing shift, is renaming the next-generation 3series coupe and convertible 4series to create more exclusivity and command higher prices on some of its sportiest, high-volume models.The 4series coupe is expected to go on sale in mid-2013, followed by the 4-series convertible in the fall, the company said.

issan blasted Fiat for its recent dig at the Nissan Leaf’s looks and saying if any car is guilty of “visual pollution” it is some of the Italian brand’s own designs.”Let’s face it, Fiat has not shied away from controversial styling themselves,” an official from Nissan said. “Many would describe many of their products as visual pollution.”

BONDING WITH THE BEST With Mahindra & Mahindra tipped to be the frontrunners to buy the iconic Aston Martin marque, we take a look at the cream of a brand that oozes class. ONE-77

he Aston Martin One-77 is a two-door coupé. It first appeared at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, before being fully revealed at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. There was a limited run of 77 units (hence the name of the model). The One-77 has been awarded with several internationally renowned design awards including the Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award for Concept Cars and Prototypes, the GOOD DESIGN award by The Chicago Athenauem: Museum of Architecture and Design in North America and the ‘Best Design’ award by the UK motoring magazine Auto Express and many others.

t was recently reported that Mahindra & Mahindra group, the world’s biggest tractor manufacturer, is the frontrunner in a bidding war to buy a large stake in British sportscar maker Aston Martin. Mahindra & Mahindra is likely to pick up a 40-per cent stake in the British manufacturer, whose vehicles feature regularly in James Bond movies, for about $190-320 million. If Mahindra succeeds, it would be the second time an Indian company has snapped up a famous name in British motoring in recent years. Tata Motors bought Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motors in 2008 for $2.3 billion and has overseen a revival in the group’s fortunes on the back of strong sales in Asia. Aston Martin, which announced its entry into India in April 2011, expects to sell a quarter of its cars to Asian and Middle Eastern countries in the next five years. Along with China, India has become a key market for global car manufacturers after growth in Europe and the United States stagnated in recent years. Luxury car makers including

2012 VANQUISH

ston Martin unveiled the Project AM310 Concept at the Concorso

DB2

he Aston Martin DB2 was sold by Aston Martin from May 1950 to April 1953. It was a major advancement over the 2-Litre Sports model it replaced. The car featured a 2.6 L engine, and was designed as a closed coupé. The DB2 was extremely

successful in racing, setting David Brown’s company up for future success.

Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Bentley, Jaguar and Porsche already have dealerships in large Indian cities, attracted by the growing numbers of wealthy Indians. The group is currently owned by Kuwait-based finance firm Investment Dar, which bought it from Ford Motors for $767 million in 2007.

DB7

he Aston Martin DB7 is a grand tourer which was produced from September 1994 to December 2004. The sixcylinder DB7 was positioned as an “entry-level” model below the handbuilt V8 Virage introduced a few years earlier. This model was the highest production Aston Martin vehicle ever, with more than 7,000 built before it was replaced by the DB9.

D’Eleganza at Villa D’Este on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. The concept showed how the successor to the DBS would look. Aston Martin later announced that the concept would be put into production as the all new Aston Martin Vanquish. The car features an all new interior based on the one found in the exclusive Aston Martin One-77.

DB9

he Aston Martin DB9 is a GT sports car launched in 2004. On the British automotive show Top Gear the DB9 is thought of highly, notably on the show’s ‘Cool Wall’ segment, where the presenters considered it to be “too cool” for the wall and it received its own category, dubbed the ‘DB9 Sub Zero Fridge’ which was in fact a mini-refrigerator with the car’s card within it.

DB5

he Aston Martin DB5 is a luxury grand tourer. Released in 1963, it was an evolution of the final series of DB4. The DB series was named honouring David Brown (the head of Aston Martin from 1947– 1972). The

DB5 is famous for being the first and most recognised cinematic James Bond car, first appearing in Goldfinger (1964).

ANIMAL KINGDOM SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

PET NEWS Motoring mutts

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Know your dog

Canines and cakes

ather than chasing cars, dogs in New Zealand are being taught to drive them — steering, pedals and all — in a heartwarming project aimed at increasing pet adoptions from animal shelters.

apanese pastry chef and Italian restaurant owner Naohiko Nagatani came up with a Christmas cake, which is usually based on sponge and laden with whipped cream, that can be eaten by both dogs and their owners.

he Saluki is a slim, greyhound-like dog.The Saluki are gentle, friendly, eventempered and extremely devoted. Can be somewhat aloof, even with their family. The Saluki is not recommended for apartment life.

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

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

SAVING THE WHALE SHARK

Smaller fish like tuna congregate under whale sharks, so fishermen often seek the giants and set their nets under them to catch the other fish. As a result, whale sharks, which are considered a vulnerable species, often get entangled in tuna nets and die.

sia and Pacific nations agreed during a meeting in the Philippines on Wednesday to take steps to protect whale sharks in a victory for the world's largest fish, officials said. Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission nations agreed that tuna fishers must stop setting their nets around the vulnerable giants in order to catch smaller fish that gather underneath them, said Palau fishing official Nanette Malsol. She said the deal binds tuna-fishing nations such as the United States, China, and Japan, and was a victory for a coalition of small Pacific nations, called the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, that has been campaigning for this measure. "This rule follows negotiations by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement for three years to try and get the big fishing nations to adopt protections for whale sharks," said Malsol, who also heads the coalition.

WHALE SHARK FACTS n

With the exception of the Mediterranean Sea, whale sharks can be found in all temperate and tropical oceans around the world and migrate thousands of miles to different feeding grounds. The whale shark has distinctive light-yellow markings (random stripes and dots) on its very thick, dark gray skin. Despite their size, whales sharks are considered harmless and are often referred to as “gentle giants.” It is thought that whale sharks may have a lifes-

The small Pacific island nations said they already imposed such a rule on their own tuna fishers. Smaller fish like tuna congregate under whale sharks,

pan of 100 to 150 years. The whale shark is a filter feeder and can neither bite nor chew. Although its mouth can stretch to four feet wide, its thousands of teeth are so tiny that it can only eat small shrimp, fish and plankton by using its modified gill rakers as a suction filter. A whale shark can process more than 6,000 litres of water an hour through its gills. A whale shark’s mouth is at the very front of its head – as opposed to the underside of the head like most sharks.

so fishermen often seek the giants and set their nets under them to catch the other fish, said Angelo Villagomez, a spokesman of the US-based Pew

It is thought that less than 10 per cent of whale sharks born survive to adulthood. Upon giving birth, the mother shark leaves her young to fend for themselves. Whale sharks are slow swimmers, moving at speeds of no little more than three miles per hour. The main threat to whale sharks is the growth of unregulated and unsustainable fisheries to supply international trade demands for shark fins, liver oil (used to waterproof wooden boats), skin and meat in East Asian countries.

Environment Group. As a result, whale sharks, which are considered a vulnerable species, often get entangled in tuna nets and die, he said.

Fifty whale sharks were recorded having died from tuna nets in 2010 and 19 in 2011, said Villagomez, adding that there were likely many other cases which went unreported. Parties to the agreement reached at the Manila meeting Wednesday must free any whale shark that gets caught in their nets and must also record and report any incidents involving the giant fish, Malsol said. The Pew group, which is also attending the meeting, is pressing for other measures to protect 143 other threatened species of sharks that are affected by tuna fishers. However, Villagomez said he doubted they would pass as some fishing countries actively catch these sharks. Whale sharks measure as much as 12 metres (39 feet) long but are harmless to humans and feed on tiny marine animals. They have become popular tourist attractions in countries such as the Philippines, Mexico and Australia.

TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK www.coolestgizmo.com f cool gadgets are your idea of what makes a website cool, then this is the blog for you. CoolestGizmo explore the wonderful world of technology and brings back the coolest gadgets.

MOBILE GAME REVIEW

APP OF THE WEEK

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

500px

00px launched its first iOS app this week. The app gives you access to photos from the 500px community, allowing you to comment and like photos and add them to your favourites to view later.

Gameloft’s mobile movie adaptations this summer have all been pretty impressive, and The Dark Knight Rises continues that trend with its blend of action setpieces, side-scrolling brawling, and platforming. Go give it a try.

The Ingress has begun

Google’s latest game that mixes augmented reality with MMO tactics makes World of Warcraft look like an abomination from the 90s. NT BALANARAYANAN

balanarayana.nt@postnoon.com

he autorickshaw crawled through the traffic past Inorbit mall towards Gachibowli and as it approached Mindspace circle I could see a small blue flame like structure on the screen of my phone. I had been looking forward to this sight the whole day. I worked swiftly; a couple of taps on the screen and a few seconds later I had captured the first portal. I had taken my baby steps in Ingress and claimed the portal for the Resistance. None of the Enlightened were around and I hoped it would stay with us for a long time. The auto took a sharp turn and jerked me back to reality.

The beginning I don’t usually check my phone past 11 in the night, but on November 5 when my phone pinged me I knew it was the mail I was expecting for the past couple of weeks. ‘You’ve Been Invited to Play Ingress’ the alert read and now fully awake, at least mentally, I read the mail from the Niantic Project. Two sentences popped out at me “The Ingress has begun. The World is the Game”. My brain ordered my body to get into position and gear up for the global battle which I was now a part of. My reluctant body however won the mini-battle against the brain, may be it was the cool air and the warm quilt. I slowly slid back into dreams in which I collected Exotic Matter (XM) and converted more players to join my side. I woke up to the sound of screeching metal, which is the alarm tone of my choice as nothing else can generally wake me up from deep slumber. A few minutes later the phone was tethered to the WiFi and I was downloading the Ingress app —I should not waste any more time. “Can you hear me? It is important that you hear me. Do not be nervous. This is routine. You have downloaded what you

What is Ingress

ngress is a new mobile game set in real world where gamers have to capture portals — structures that are only visible through the game, but in set in famous locations. The gamers get to pick to pick two sides and it has become very popular in US and Europe over night.

believe to be a game, but is not. Something is very wrong. There is an energy of unknown origin and intent seeping into our world. It is known as exotic matter,” a sweet voice said with a sense of urgency and from that

moment on I was hooked. It urged me to walk around the neighbourhood and capture XM and sure enough, I could see a lot of blue, hazy dots all around the colony. Without wasting much time, I walked close to them and watched as the XM bar filled up. The voice then took me through a few more tutorials teaching me how to hack and

capture a portal, how to deploy resonators around the captured portal and how to link multiple portals to create fields. The sweet voice was suddenly interrupted by a rough authoritarian voice that asked me if I wanted to join the Enlightened — those who believe that XM is good for humankind. Since he had no scientific study to back his claims I decided to stick with the sweet voice and joined the forces of Resistance. Thus began my Ingress journey.

No time to waste I walked to my office that day, no portal was in sight but I captured all the XM I could find to fill up my reserves. I sat in office the whole day wondering where I would find portals in the City and left in the evening thinking there might be none. Why am I investing so much time of mine in it then, I thought

to myself. It didn’t matter, even without seeing a portal I was hooked to the game, I was engrossed in it in a way no MMO had managed to before.I hailed an auto and headed towards Gachibowli where I had to meet someone. The autorickshaw crawled through the traffic past Inorbit mall towards my destination and as the auto approached Mindspace circle I could see a small blue flame like structure on the screen of my phone. I had been looking forward to this the whole day. I worked swiftly; a couple of taps on the screen and a few seconds later I had captured the first portal. I had taken my baby steps in Ingress and claimed the portal for the Resistance. Maybe I should head to Charminar next, after all portals are found near landmarks and historical sites. We were almost there — the battle has just begun.

BOOKS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

SHORT READS Title: Grace, Glory and Gold Author: Gabrielle Douglas, Michelle Burford Publisher: Zondervan US gymnast Gabby Douglas isn't even 17 as yet, but she stole the show at the 2012 London Olympics. Gabby tells her story of perseverance, grit and glory and how she came to be part of the US gold medal winning women's gymnast team.

Title: Dogfight Author: Calvin Trillin Publisher: Random House If you've had enough of reading all the serious analysis of the 2012 US presidential elections, pick up Dogfight – The 2012 Presidential Campaign in Verse. Irreverent, hilarious and sharply satirical, Dogfight is probably the most entertaining account of the absurd campaign.

Title: The Revolution Was Televised Author: Alan Sepinwall Publisher: What's Alan Watching? 12 shows that changed television, brought to you by TV critic Alan Sepinwall. The critic chronicles the way these shows impacted pop culture and the way TV was changed by them in this concise guide to iconic small screen shows.

Title: I Funny Author: James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein, Laura Park Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers James Patterson sheds his mystery writer image for a sensitive tale of a wheelchairbound teenager, Jamie Grimm, who wants to be a comedian.

Cricket as Dawood played One thing is for sure: It will be very difficult for anyone who reads this book to watch a cricket match and not wonder if it is fixed. remuneration aspect alone: Who does not want to stay alive? And who wants to rub Dawood Ibrahim the wrong way? While Mahesh Bhatt’s Jannat glamorised match-fixing, this book tries to earnestly present to its reader facts of betting, without bothering about sensationalism that it could have provided.

SYED SHOAIB shoaib.s@postnoon.com

fter this revelation, even an ardent fan of cricket is going to watch every match with suspicion; every player is going to look across at his teammate with concern. Bookie Gambler Fixer Spy by Ed Hawkins is a story featuring politicians, illegal bookmakers, governing bodies and powerful players — as well as corruption, intimidation and murder. In the capacity of a sports journalist, the author had, on umpteen occasions, met and interacted with all and sundry connected to cricket, many from the cricket crazy nation that ours is. Like any journalist, he dwelled deep into his subjects and like all journalists, saw a great story when the darker shades came to the fore. An interesting story took a moralistic twist when he saw a tailormade match. To see live a ‘replay’ hit him hard. He decided he had to show to the world the underbelly of the gentleman’s game, to those diehard fans who did not want to accept this harsh reality.

Everything that happened from the Big Bang that led to the creation of the info-universe of today is relevant in this story. Rajesh Ravindran rajesh.r@postnoon.com

hose who have missed the tech bus must read Wave Rider: A chronicle of the Information Age. It’s not just the story of Ajit Balakrishnan, founder and the CEO of rediff.com, as told by him, for

Answers to how corruption in cricket worked, who the bookmakers were, how and where they operated, what markets they bet on, how players were targeted, what they were promised and how they were paid and how a fix was set up can be found in the book. Since hope should have an infinite value, these sentences were framed in the past tense.

The game that enjoyed ‘near religion’ status in India was actually being governed by the devil — money. Somehow, people involved with the game here, those that mattered most that is, were more gullible than in other parts of the world. The stakes here probably were higher. Mohammed Azharuddin, Ajay Sharma, Hansie Cronje,

Salim Malik, Mark Waugh, Shane Warne and more names spring up from the book for all the wrong reasons, and this makes for sad reading. When heroes come crashing down, on issues of virtue at that, their fans are devastated. The book also reveals that players mostly did not enter the field of match-fixing for the

An entrepreneur reasons there can be no fine line drawn between the developments of information technology and the story of a trendsetting Indian Internet company. Everything that happened from the big bang that led to the creation of the info-universe (that is still expanding as we speak) of today is relevant in this story. It’s just curious, the ways of fate, as Ajit Balakrishan recounts that he was not at all interested in the computer that he encountered at IIM-Calcutta. The machine was a mass of wires “nested on a one-foot square metal board” where the wires had to be connected to on the board to reflect the logical

Name Wave Rider: A chronicle of the Information Age Author Ajit Balakrishnan Pages 213 Publisher Pan Macmillan sequences in the operator’s mind. Balakrishnan was caught by his professor looking out of the window, drawn by the action on the football field. And he confesses that he had half a mind to say “no” when asked if he did not find the control panel inter-

Name Booker, Gambler, Fixer, Spy Author Ed Hawkins Pages 214 Publisher Bloomsbury

esting. The year was 1970. Now, Ajit Balakrishnan runs one of the pioneering Internet companies based in India. The book is peppered with Ajit’s insights into the world of technology that is extremely helpful to someone who has been in the dark about the explosion of information on the web. He extrapolates findings of case studies from the history of major industrial and technological developments to current trends to make sense of what’s happening today. Pages where Ajit introspects are very important because the reader gets to see from close quarters how functions the reasoning of an entrepreneur, his hopes, fears and the lessons learned.

BOOKS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Not just monkey business Meren Imchen’s artwork is the hero of this graphic novel, excellently supplemented by Rajesh Devraj’s simple yet heart-warming storyline. JYOTSNA NAMBIAR jyotsna.n@postnoon.com

cting is a brutal business. And no one knows this better than Sudershan (chimpanzee), who runs away from the circus to join the movie business. After years of being the hottest animal star in Mumbai, Sudershan now spends his time drinking tea at an Irani cafe, smoking his cigarettes and telling his story to anyone who’s willing to spare a minute. Sudershan (Chimpanzee) by Rajesh Devraj and Meren Imchen (illustrator) is a beautiful example of a graphic novel with an Indian storyline but global appeal. Sudershan, a chimpanzee, narrates the story of his entry, rise and fall in tinsel town, aided by inputs from other has-beens like Moti the Wonder Dog and Rakesh the Horse. The story is engaging, heart-warming and familiar — it is the story of fame and all its pitfalls. Sudershan’s fall, as with most people, comes when he falls

Name: Sudershan Chimpanzee) Author: Rajesh Devraj, Meren Imchen Pages: 112 Publisher: Hachette India

hopelessly in love with ‘South Ki Padma’, a budding actress. When Sudershan becomes more human than animal, all the people who praised and admired him start to reject him. In his rage, he unleashes his inner animal and finds himself unceremoniously

kicked out of the entertainment world. Devraj weaves in Hindi and English effortlessly, producing dialogues that sound natural and unaffected. The only problem is that it makes the novel difficult for non-Hindi speakers. Imchen’s

artwork, in shades of grey and black, are more powerful than anything in colour could ever be. The plot line might sound whimsical and child-like; but like the graphics, the story is a lot darker than you would expect. The book ends on a hurried

Brittle family ties Immigrant fiction always attracts a good readership, but Anne Cherian somewhere falls into a set pattern. Fleme Varkey fleme.v@postnoon.com

mpteen books have been written on the confused Indian in America syndrome. The Invitation by Anne Cherian belongs to that category. Thrown into the cauldron are a mix of Indians, influential and poor, a couple of stereotypes like Goans, South Indians, Jews and

the virginity factor. This mix is then garnished with the perennial Indian parent concern — Is my child doing better than the neighbour’s child? Added as spice is a generous dose of references like UCLA, MIT and Harvard. It also brings out the Indians’ obsession with big names. Frances and Jay is a couple struggling to come to terms with their daughter

Mandy’s sudden change of form from rank holder to Cs and Ds. Lali and her Jewish doctor husband, Jonathan are coping with the empty nest syndrome as well as Jonathan’s new fascination for the Jewish religion. Vikram and Priya are handling a rebellious son who despite being an MIT graduate wants to be a cook. An idea that Vikram detests.

Name: The Invitation Author: Anne Cherian Pages: 295 Publisher: Hachette India

note and loses the plot, leaving you slightly underwhelmed, especially considering the promising beginning. But as far as artwork goes, the book is consistently brilliant. It might not be the best graphic novel on offer, but give Sudershan (Chimpanzee) a shot for the simple story, lovely panels and sleek packaging. Vikram holds a party on his son becoming a valedictorian. This party becomes a reunion of sorts as the three families meet up after a 25-year-gap and there begins the tale of unravelling the slender threads that bind these families together. The party makes them face their fears, which so long they had hidden by keeping up pretences. The book, like I said, reads a lot like any other immigrant fiction, but Anne does deserve credit for making it poignant and interesting. The real-life resonances are too big to ignore. But yes, the ending deserves to be mentioned. Abrupt, yes, open-ended — No. So, take a chance if you must with this book.

WHAT’S SELLING Walden’s bestselling fiction

Walden’s bestselling non-fiction

New York Times’ best in fiction

New York Times’ best in non-fiction

n The Racketeer by John Grisham

n India Grows At Night by Gurcharan Das

n Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich

n Thomas Jefferson by Jon Meacham

n Turning Points by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

n The Forgotten by David Baldacci

n Killing Kennedy by Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard

n Agenda 21 by Glenn Beck with Harriet Parke

n Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard

n The Last Man by Vince Flynn

n No Easy Day by Mark Owen with Kevin Maurer

n Forgotten by David Baldacci n Red Sorghum by Mo Yan n Angel of the Dark by Tilly Bagshawe n Winter of the World by Ken Follet

n Land of the Seven Rivers by Sanjeev Sanyal n Jugaad Innovation by Radjou, Prabhu, Ahuja

n The Racketeer by John Grisham

n The Signal and the Noise by Nate Silver

WOMEN SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

WEBSITES OF THE WEEK ThirdAge.com: The website is one of the largest online sites for women over 50, and has been giving us great tips and information longer than any other. Look for my regular articles on ThirdAge!

LookBook: Draw inspiration from "street style" fashion photos uploaded by its members. Like and save outfits for future reference, or showcase your own "look" (outfit).

wowOwow.com: A group of very well-established and savvy women started this news/trends/opinions site for women. You’ll find yourself checking it out throughout the day.

Holding her own

Alien in my own land

Among the most accomplished female chefs in the country today, Madhumita Mohanta, Executive Chef at Ista talks about making her mark in a man's world. good as a man.

PADMINI C padmini.c@postnoon.com How did you get into this? After my 12th grade, I was looking for some professional course to do, then hotel management came to me. At that time, it wasn't this common. So I went to the college and things started to fall into place. I'd never thought that I want to be a chef but six months into it, I knew that was what I wanted to do. What about being a chef appealed to you? I love food. I'm a great foodie. So when you love to eat, you end up paying more attention to food, your taste buds are more evolved, and you can judge the food better and I realised I had a knack for it. My mom's a very good cook, so that helped develop my love for cooking as well. And then... how was your journey? It wasn't a bed of roses, that much I'll tell you. When I entered the kitchen back in 1998, there were few women in the kitchen. So people would treat you very differently. There were other women in the college I came from but they were sure about where they wanted to go... front office, house keeping etc. I wasn't one of them. I got into management training programme and entered the field. Even then, I knew that every single day I'd have to work twice as hard to prove not that I'm better but just to prove that I'm as

What was your first break? I joined The Park hotel in Kolkata and I didn’t realise how the first three years passed. After that I went aboard. First for a brief stint at Ritz-Carlton in London and then to Singapore. Later, I stayed in Bahrain for 8-9 years, because there, you have very little discrimination. I worked with The Claridges in Delhi before taking over as The Executive Chef at Ista. Speaking of discrimination, is it why there's still so few women in the industry even today? In every profession, unless its woman dominated, this is the case. You have to work extra hard. But the mindset is changing. Also in this industry, it places a lot of demands on you, physically, emotionally and mentally. For a lot of women, they don't want these hectic lifestyles after a while and neither do they want to compromise on their personal lives. I can say I have given thirteen years of sweat, blood and tears to this job. So, it depends on your priorities. Do you regret the sacrifices? No. I bargained for

this. This is what I love to do, what I'm good at. In fact, I can't even think what I would have done, if not for being a chef. Was your family apprehensive about your decision to be a chef ? Initially, of course. But my mom stood by me through thick and thin. Even now, she's completely involved in my career. What has been your biggest challenge so far? Physically, I was never weak, so I handled it okay. But I had to work hard to get mentally strong and grounded. The initial years were dirty, ugly and so bad. Did you come close to giving up? No, even in the worst of days, I would cry and hate everybody. But I'd never say I won't come back to work. When did it become easier, how did you fit in? Initially, people would treat you as if you didn't deserve to be there. Or that, things were easier for you, or that you could get away with things, because of your gender or your looks. At the end of the day, its a man's world. So you take time to adjust. Eventually, you start to think and feel like a man.

Today, I can say, I don't think like a woman, maybe. My body language is different. Subconsciously, you pick up a lot of things along the way. You don't even know when you started standing a particular way, or speaking another way, or whistling when you wanted to call somebody. In a busy kitchen, you can't be fragile and delicate. After six months, you start saying and doing the very things that made your ears go red. Then, they stop bullying you. So you have to change yourself ? You tend to do it both consciously and subconsciously. You don't change simply to make it more comfortable for you but for others too. In peak hour at the kitchen, you don't want to make others conscious of the fact that you are a girl and therefore have to be treated differently or more gently. You might soon find yourself working in the morning shift. So, you have to fit the bill. Now when you run your own kitchen, are things different? I don't think so. But I try to be more sensitive if there's a girl in the kitchen. In fact, I think I'm overprotective. Sometimes, that's not good. I get very irritated also if they are not strong enough. Advice to aspiring women chefs? Take a reality check. There's no shortcuts. The initial years will be tough as nails but that's only way you'll learn discipline, your body will get used to long hours, grow accustomed to the pressure. You have to strong wrists, stronger mind and cannot crumble under stress. If you are willing to give everything to the job, you are there and nobody can stop you.

S. BALAKRISHNA

All About Eve

JYOTSNA N

fter having gone to my native place for a wedding, I was struck anew by how strange the concept of identity is. It’s not so much inclusive as it is exclusive in nature. In my home state, I’m a ‘fraud’ for never having lived there. In the city I’ve lived most of my life, I’m identified by my home state and its culture. I’ve never felt as alien as I did when I travelled through my native state in a bus. I looked the part, I spoke the language, I knew the culture. But in the eyes of my co-passengers, I was still an outsider. Children of vagabonds, like me, never know where we fit in. We’re constantly shunned by people in our overlapping identities, because we seemingly lack a single loyalty. Because of this, we take refuge in large cities, and melt away into the cosmopolitan crowd. People like me will never head back to our native states. Not because we don’t want to, but because we’ll always be treated different. It’s discrimination of a very particular kind; one that no one else can really see, but one that’s terribly obvious to you. The problem with aliens like us is that we’ll keep floating, searching for identity. In our quest, we’ll pick up a lot more tics and peculiarities to help us fit in. The next generation will have an even worse time. At least our parents knew exactly who they were. Our children are going to be twice as confused and half as content with their identities as we are. Maybe that’s the whole ‘globalisation’ issue. It isn’t so much that we’re being influenced by the West. It’s more that we’re leaving our homes to go out into the world and then realising that we can’t find our way back. This makes us more tolerant and global in our outlook, for sure, but it would be nice to have a definite answer when someone asks you where you’re from.

SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012 S BALAKRISHNA

S BALAKRISHNA

Taking a break

DECKING THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY 3

Radisson Blu Hotel too joined in launching the pre-Christmas festivities. They put the Christmas lights on in the hotel on Friday. The guests were seen soaking in the festive cheer.

Performers at the Seagramâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 100 Pipers Free Bird music festival strike a pose for the lensmen.

Inspiring music

Oakridge International School felicitated young artists who created a music album as part of their music workshop with music director Ramana Gogula.

1 Sharan,Saru 2 Mubashir, Zia 3 Rishitha,Manjula 4 Narayan,Arunima 5 Rakhi, Prashanth

6 Niyati, Nisha

7 Praveen,Shalo

M ANIL KUMAR

Designer dreams

The students of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Madhapur participated in their convocation ceremony on Thursday. The happy graduates were seen celebrating the occasion.

RELATIONSHIPS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

I AM ALL EARS

y ex-girlfriend and I broke up two months ago. She said she could not take my past. But I believe she still loves me. We still continue to talk everyday. She seems confused, as she is trying to move on, but doesn’t want to let go of me. Am I fooling myself that maybe she will come back?

Dear lovestruck kid, In such matters it is difficult to come to a decision. When she already took a step back citing these doubts, then do you think it is worth pursuing it In future this topic will come up and ruin your relationship further. There’s no two ways about it. Why is it so hard to understand? This girl is telling you exactly how she feels. Why are you hell bent on making your life miserable? Go try and clear your head and then move on.

s adolescents transition to adulthood, the pressure to meet adult expectations — such as speaking properly — may be greater than expected, according to a new study by a Michigan State University researcher. Suzanne Evans Wagner, assistant professor of linguistics in the College of Arts and Letters, has proven for the first time that language changes with age in addition to community pressures.

Is your partner toxic?

With few exceptions, human beings are in constant need of emotional and physical support from each other. Life turns sour without someone to share it with, but what if that someone turns toxic? Is he or she still worth suffering for, Postnoon finds out. NIDHI BHUSHAN

nidhi.b@postnoon.com

he one characteristic that binds us all is imperfection. Although, we might like to believe those close to our hearts are all happy and well-balanced individuals, most of the time, that's just not the case. Whether it’s our significant other, parents, relatives or friends, we all have our shortcomings. We are all thrown to co-exist with each other’s faults, moods and idiosyncrasies. And, even though most relationships, much like other things worth holding on to, require effort, there are those toxic relationships that are exhausting to say the least. Dr Lillian Glass, author of Toxic People, describes a toxic person as “anyone who manages to drag you down, make you feel angry, worn out, deflated, belittled or confused.” “Roughly put, toxic relationships are those that are a constant hassle. Relationships that leave no room for personal growth,” says clinical psychologist Dr Savita Date Menon. “Those in a toxic relationship find it very hard to live with or without each

other. Hence, the recipient of the toxicity equally shares the blame for making the relationship turn poisonous. For instance, a battered wife, who decides to stick by her husband in the hope that he would turn non-abusive some day, would unknowingly be reinforcing her spouse’s behaviour.” So, do we reach a dead end if our relationships turn toxic? “No,” Dr Menon is quick to respond. “Toxic relationships can also be worked out with the right kind of effort. Maybe, rational unbiased intervention by a third party like friends can prove to be helpful. Help from family members is not a great idea as family generally has a vested interest in the relationship.” Dr Diana Monteiro, a citybased counselling psychologist, who believes that “we are all bordering on toxic relationships”, says that communication between individuals is key to solving the problem. She says: “A great deal of introspection is required to hold a relationship together.

MOST RELATIONSHIPS, MUCH LIKE OTHER THINGS WORTH HOLDING ON TO, REQUIRE EFFORT. THEN THERE ARE THOSE — TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS — THAT ARE EXHAUSTING TO SAY THE LEAST. We must stop ignoring the little things that matter and have the potential of becoming something toxic later. For instance, I’ve often seen couples fighting over something that transpired 25 years ago. The only reason it keeps coming back to haunt them is because it was left unresolved quarter of a century back.” Dr Monteiro also blames the “sky high” expectations that people have today. She says, “We are living in a Bollywood world of expectations where Shah Rukh Khan would wait 10 years for the love of his life. Unreasonable expectations among couples who come together in an arranged marriage are a tad higher than those in a love marriage situation. The problem is that today people are looking for instant grat-

ification where there is hardly any room for proper communication.” She adds that all relationships stem from emotional needs, which can at times get us into a lot of trouble. Dr Monteiro says, “A toxic relationship is that in which one person is over-functional while the other is underfunctional. These relationships are addictive and don’t allow one to lead his or her life normally. Example is a mother-child relationship. In the growing years, a mother tries to fulfill the needs of her child, in the process she also fulfills her emotional needs which stem from her attachment to the newborn. But, when the child grows up and develops other interests and is no longer available to fulfill his or her mother’s emotional needs, the relationship can become problematic if the mother is not on the same page. If she continues to depend on her child for emotional support even when the equation has changed, it can lead to a toxic relationship.”

Your relationship is toxic if... Your partner puts you down verbally, in private or in front of others. n Your partner doesn't want you to see or talk to friends or family. n Your partner shows up often at your work unexpectedly or opens your mail. n You cry often or feel depressed over your relationship. n Your partner says you would have the perfect relationship if only you would change. n Your partner does things for you and then uses them to make you feel obligated. n Your thoughts, opinions, accomplishments, or words are devalued. n You have changed things about yourself to suit your partner, even when it is not your taste. n Your partner has made you feel afraid or unsafe, and you have been afraid to speak the truth at times for fear of upsetting him/her (walking on eggshells). n You can't remember the last time you felt happy for more than a few days straight. n

CINEMA SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

It’s double whammy for

Samantha!

amantha’s future line up of films just got bigger and better. In the past few weeks, she had signed two big budget films starring Pawan Kalyan and NTR. Now, she has been roped in for yet another film starring NTR in the lead role. Santosh Srinivas is going to direct the film and Bellamkonda Suresh is producing it. Just days after rumours began doing rounds that NTR has replaced Ram in Santosh Srinivas’ upcoming film, Bellamkonda Suresh confirmed the news and also announced that Samantha is going to play the lead

role. This film is likely to go on floors in 2013. Incidentally, Samantha has replaced Shruti Haasan, who was supposed to team up with Ram in this film. This will be the third time after Brindavanam and the untitled NTR-Harish Shankar’s film that Samantha will team up with NTR.

Trisha is quite popular on mobile phones

risha has emerged as the most downloaded South Indian celebrity on mobile phones in 2012. In a survey conducted by Airtel Mobitude 2012, Trisha’s images were downloaded 325% higher than the numbers seen for top five Bollywood actors including Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. On the other hand, Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma and Vidya Balan grabbed the top five places in the

list of most downloaded Bollywood female celebrities. It’s been more than 10 years since Trisha made her debut and she has acted with almost all the top stars in Telugu and Tamil cinema. Currently, she’s shooting for her upcoming Tamil film Endrendrum Punnagai and she is going to essay one of the lead roles in MS Raju’s upcoming female centric film. Her upcoming Tamil film Samar is slated for release later this month.

VISHWAROOPAM’S

PREMIERE ON DTH CONFIRMED?

amal Haasan is reportedly going ahead with his plan to air Vishwaroopam on DTH services like Airtel, Tata Sky, Dish TV, if the latest reports are anything to go by. After the theatre owners threatened to ban the film, Kamal Haasan met various producers from the Tamil film industry and explained

how his plan will open up a new revenue stream for the producers. By the end of the discussion, all the producers unanimously agreed with Kamal Haasan’s plan and this development has put the theatre owners in a fix. Moreover, there’s a buzz that Vishwaroopam will be premiered on DTH services eight hours

prior to its theatrical release, although a premium charge will be levied on the customers. The film stars Kamal Haasan, Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah and Rahul Bose in lead roles. Kamal Haasan has also written, produced and directed the film. Vishwaroopam will hit the screens on January 11, 2013.

CINEMA SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

True dhamaal, Akshay style The formula is simple. And stark. Get the audience to laugh at any cost. And some of it does work quite well.

hat can be said about a film where a couple named Mili and Bhagat conspire to bring their employer’s empire down? Mili? Bhagat? Get it? Khiladi 786 is the kind of comic orgy done in shades of green, orange and pink, which doesn’t require us to strain our brain. The kicks and grunts, guffaws and chortles, the antics raillery and tomfoolery flow out unstoppered like an uncapped toothpaste tube. We have a hero. No, make that a super-duper-hero, who flies across the air, pounds automobiles to a pulp with his bare fists, breaks down a jail cell’s stone walls with a flick of his manly fist, gets goofy or gooeyeyed depending on his co-star on screen. Akshay’s crazily improvised performance as a sham cop borrows dollops from Salman Khan’s Dabangg and Akshay’s own Rowdy Rathore. The deriva-

Movie: Khiladi 786 Cast: Akshay Kumar, Asin, Mithun Chakraborty, Himesh Reshammiya, Raj Babbar and Rahul Singh Directed by: Ashish R Mohan Rating: tive derringdo doesn’t diminish the impact of the italicised antics that range from the arresting to the exasperating. Sample this. Asin loves a lout who is chronically incarcerated. Each time the jailed loverboy (Rahul Singh, well-cast effectively played) is about to be released, he’s sent back packing for some unintentional crime or the other. Aa ab ‘lout’ chalen? The script seems to be written by someone who loves

Akshay’s humorous heroics and his emphatic but spoofy hijinks. Both the traits are amply accentuated in the script. Khiladi 786 ultimately becomes a showcase for its insanely successful superstar hero’s talents. Some things never change in our cinema. Heroines may come and go. Heroes live on forever. A sense of continuity runs through all of Akshay Kumar’s comedies. He doesn’t do anything here that he hasn’t done before. The trademark goofy grin and the self-deprecating humour are back. Here, the hero is desperate to get married . That’s a sporting part whose subtext screams, ‘Look, I am such a big star and I play a character who can’t get a woman to marry me, ha ha.’ It’s all done in fun, with plen-

AKSHAY’S CRAZILY

IMPROVISED PERFORMANCE AS A SHAM COP BORROWS DOLLOPS FROM SALMAN KHAN’S DABANGG AND AKSHAY’S OWN ROWDY RATHORE. ty of unzippered zest and a comforting absence of vulgarity. The ensemble cast, particularly Mithun Chakraborty and Raj Babbar, catches on to the shrill sur of a music that suggests a blend of parody and homage to the Formula Cinema. So, we have long-lost brother of the hero showing up in the climax with a mocking mawkishness that Manmohan Desai would have approved of. The music by Himesh Reshammiya is splendidly in-sync with the film’s wacked-out mood. He often uses standard background effects from old Hindi films to remind us that we are laughing at conventions that never grew outdated in our cinema. Oh yes, Reshammiya also plays an important part in the film as a hopeless inept wedding planner. It’s good to see Reshammiya doing a Gujju act. He was born to play Mansukh. As for Akshay Kumar’s ‘Khiladi’ act, he can do the parodic paces blindfolded. Adding adrenaline to the antics are the crashing, tumbling somersaulting cars, which provide thrills in a very Rohit Shetty way. Khiladi 786 is an oddball of a dhamaka that blends slapstick with stunts. It is farcical fun from first frame to the last. Go, have a blast. IANS

Why Remo chose to go 3D with ABCD C

horeographer-director Remo D’Souza says he chose to make his dance film ABCD - AnyBody Can Dance in 3D because he wanted to portray a very common thing as dance in a very special manner. “I could have made it a normal film, but I chose 3D because you see dance everyday. In India, every other day something happens around dance, at home or on the TV. So how could I portray it as something

different? That was the reason I went with 3D because I had to show dance in a new way,” the 38-year-old said on Thursday in an interview. “When I started writing the film, I knew I will make it in 3D and I wrote the script keeping that in mind,” he added. Remo says there was a time in Bollywood, when dancebased films and musicals were not uncommon. He just wanted to revive that. IANS

CINEMA SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

ENTERTAINMENT SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Invading the band’s space The arrest of vocalist Randy Blythe, charged with manslaughter, by the Czech police has raised many questions, the foremost being — how to deal with unruly fans? ELIZABETH SOUMYA

elizabeth.s@postnoon.com

n June 27, 2012 when the American heavy metal outfit Lamb of God arrived at Ruzyn Airport, Prague, for a concert, their vocalist, Randy Blythe, was arrested on arrival by the Czech police. This was pertaining to the death of a fan during their 2010 concert in Prague’s club Abaton. The death was caused when the fan was pushed by the band member after the fan tried to get on stage. On November 13, it was announced that Blythe is to be officially indicted on charges of manslaughter. Reactions from fans and rock stars from around the world have poured in in favour of Blythe’s innocence. In India, Arpan Peter, of Overture, was one of the men responsible for

having Lamb of God perform twice, once in 2010 and in May this year. A friend of Blythe’s, Peter says he has spent enough time with Blythe to know his temperament. “Randy’s a friend, he doesn’t have one violent bone in him,” he says of Blythe. “What one must understand is after Panthera’s guitarist, Dimebag Darrell was shot by a fan in a concert, it’s nobody’s business to get on stage.” Peter who has seen Blythe perform to packed audiences in Bangalore says, from the video online, it is clear that Blythe did it in the interest of his own personal security and also points out that the fan died much later. Peter says in the gigs he’s organised, he has faced no issues related to security. In both the Lamb of God concerts in Bangalore, he feels that the audience were experienced with being at concerts and knew what to do and what not to. Security at music concerts is outsourced to a security agency. Salman U Syed, artist manager

for some of India’s most promising metal bands and also responsible for the upcoming Bangalore Open Air, that’s going to be India’s biggest metal festival so far, points out that security personnel in India are not trained specifically for concerts. “Abroad there is security that is accustomed to concerts,

it’s not just people who are looking to fill any job. In India, the security is usually facing the stage, enjoying the performance of the band, but elsewhere the security faces the crowd,” he points out. Syed says following basic security protocol is adequate in India. There always must be a 20 feet barricade between the crowd and the band, the strength of the security staff should at least be 100. He also feels that people have the wrong notion about metal heads — “they are not harmful, in fact they’re mellowed”. Never having faced any security issues, he says that unlike Europe where there’s a lot of crowd surfing, there is adequate safety for everyone here. The concern more is ticket validation and to ensure that people don’t get in without tickets. While he agrees that the incident of a fan losing his life is extremely unfortunate, he feels that Blythe was only defending himself, the death was unintentional and it’s sad that the fan

fell down head first. Vehrnon Ibrahim, vocalist, Millennium, which is perhaps the first metal band to come out of India, reminisces concerts when they first began. For one, “they were nothing like concerts, these days,” he admits. Ibrahim recalls gigs where there were string barricades between the crowd and the band, while in college gigs, there were no barricades at all. Things began to change in the 90’s, especially when DNA Networks started doing big events. “They copied the international formats, including backstage, green rooms etc,” he says. But Ibrahim says that fans who turn up at a metal concert will already be aware of the atmosphere. Bands can seem violent on stage and there is an amount of intimidation that performers can project, but it’s all a positive thing, he says. Even though there are mosh-pits, one can even to stay back and just enjoy the show. There’s space for everyone, he says.

Powerless fangs T It’s perhaps not quite as much fun as Madagascar and Frankenweenie but it is inventive. A late Halloween treat for most kids.

wilight seems to be attracting a lot of flak even though now it’s dead and gone (thankfully). Count Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) expresses concern at the way vampires are now being portrayed on television. A champion for the monsters’ cause Dracula opens up Hotel Transylvania, which is a lavish hotel catering to the needs of its scary residents. The hotel’s inauguration scenes have a lot of fun to offer, what with the Big Bad Wolf and his brood, an abominable snowman with an upset stomach, Frankenstein, the Mummy and a lot more. This Dracula has no need for human blood (“it’s so fatty, and you don’t know where it’s been”). He relies on synthetic.

Movie: Hotel Transylvania Voiced by: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Cee Lo Green, David Spade, Fran Drescher, Kevin James, Molly Shannon, Selena Gomez, Steve Buscemi Director: Genndy Tartakovsky

All he wants is to take care of his guests, give his daughter Mavis (Selena Gomez) a wonderful 118th birthday party, make sure she never leaves home, and never, ever see a human. But then, a human also walks in for the party. His name is Jonathan (Samberg) who thinks monsters are cool, and he likes Mavis’

goth-girl vibe. What scares Dracula the most is the prospect of his daughter falling in love with a human. And once he comes to know, all mayhem ensues, he will go to any lengths to stop this disaster. That’s about it. It might be fun for the younger audiences, but considering the number of vampire movies they have been subjected to, it could be possible that even this could border on boredom. For the adult audiences, it’s better to stay away than yawn through the whole thing. And if you are like one of those who like watching the trailers before you go to a film, well then be warned, you have seen the movie. No surprises in store.

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

SUDOKU

If life is a waste of time, and time is a waste of life, why don’t we all get wasted and have the time of our lives?

Play & Win

voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally

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 voucher from VENKEY’S VEG Restaurant, Nampally number 11.

Play & Win

Please send in your filled-in entries to Postnoon, #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033. The winners will be announced on this page in Sunday’s edition.

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Workout sites, at times 5 Shakespeare or Browning 9 Assemble 14 It may be stashed at a hideout 15 Plant used in cosmetics 16 Coat with a metal alloy 17 Shrek, famously 18 What picky people pick 19 Mountain ridge 20 Motorcycle club wear 23 Zip 24 Where to spend kips 25 Some supermarket offerings 27 Worried walker 30 Orator’s delivery 32 Company that introduced colour TV 33 More than suggestive 36 Sound in a long hallway 39 Mischief-makers 41 007, eg 42 Destine for destruction 43 Satisfy, as a deadline 44 Western dry lakes 46 Penny prez 47 Part of a pistil 49 Russian playwright Chekhov 51 Highest orbital point 53 Mumbai

wraparound dress 55 Roll of dough 56 Item in Dracula’s closet? 62 Walk leisurely 64 Chills and fever 65 A buck abroad 66 Does a vet’s job 67 Phony display 68 Group of three singers 69 Helen, Isaac or Gabby 70 Former Soviet news org 71 ‘This tastes gross!’ DOWN 1 Lump of clay

2 He’s smarter than the average bear 3 Robin Williams, when from Ork 4 Brosnan’s Remington 5 Bluegrass instrument 6 Name on a police blotter, maybe 7 Mil org on campus 8 Office necessity 9 Sculptor’s work 10 Always, poetically 11 Attire for Columbo 12 Free, in a way 13 Orange discards 21 Far from plentiful

22 Volcanic spewings, eg 26 ___ tea (summer beverage) 27 Dainty 28 Very top 29 Massachusetts

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

KAKURO

How to play kakuro

– Tom Robbins

inlet 30 Great bargain 31 Like a Maine forest 34 Descend, in mountaineering 35 Stare amorously 37 Ticketless rail rider 38 Sign of things to come 40 For fellows only 45 ‘Two Mules for Sister ___’ 48 Break for young students 50 Degrees in a right angle 51 Teeming 52 Argentine grassland 53 Some Arctic seabirds 54 ‘Pardon me’ grunts 57 Hops-drying oven 58 Turkish general 59 Hindu spiritual leader 60 Holder of a cabinet position? 61 Castle, in chess 63 Caustic solution

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Four of Wands

The Fool

Seven of Pentacles

Nine of Swords

Judgement

The Wheel of Fortune

ork – You need to pick up new skills along the way if you want to grow in your career. Learn to adapt to new demands of your profession. Romance – Singles may bump into an interesting person from the opposite sex. Turn on your charm and go on to have a good time. Health – You’re thinking too much and getting anxious over the question of “what if ”. Though it’s good to prepare for the future, it also spoils your present. Money – Money is not a problem at all with your income covering all your current needs. You feel content and stable. Tarot message – Learn a new skill or upgrade your knowledge by attending conferences and workshops.

ork – This is not the best of times when it comes to team work. Talk to your boss and figure out a way to work by yourself the next few days. Romance – Misunderstandings and seemingly silly arguments could blow up into big fights. They’re unavoidable. Keep your cool. Health – Weather change may bring some health irritants and they cannot be ignored. You have to pay attention to your body’s care. Money – Don’t get perturbed by ups and downs in the stock market. They are bound to happen. Keep your faith and belief. Tarot message – Pay attention to your dreams. You’re likely to feel disturbed and mentally tired. Unwind before you go to bed.

ork – This is a good card for career matters. You’re probably being supported by your boss and will be given a prestigious project to handle. Romance – if you’ve been thinking about a potential partner for a long time, you reach a decision and plan to either take it forward or ditch it. Health – The medical reports are out and now there’s a clear path as to what you need to do. Don’t sit on it. Take action immediately. Money – You’ve tested a few investments and found out whether they serve your purpose or not. Re-visit your finance portfolio based on this knowledge. Tarot message – Be proactive with decisions and take responsibility for your choices.

ork –You’re in a stable and comfortable position where work is concerned. There’s no hurry to change jobs or look for better opportunities. Romance – The relationship is fast reaching a monotony where you can predict your lover’s actions and reactions to accuracy. Bring spice into your courtship. Health – Take a second opinion if you’re not convinced with what one doctor is telling you. It doesn’t mean you don’t respect them. Better be safe than sorry. Money – There’s unpredictability and change on the money front. You may have to move your portfolio around to ensure profits. Tarot message – Don’t change anything that is going well. Review and work towards improvement.

ork – You’re likely to get a job opportunity in an area that’s not your forte at all. Decide if you want to stick to what you know best or plunge in. Romance – You discover new things about your lover and that is a source of continued interest in the relationship. Health – You try out alternative therapies to tackle those chronic headaches and joint pains. You learn something new, too. Money – This is a prosperous period and you’re calculating your profits if the good period lasts. Take calculated risks, if at all. Tarot message – This is a time for discovery. Learn more about yourself and understand your environment better.

SUMAA TEKUR tarotreadhyd@gmail.com

Libra

Scorpio

Ten of Swords

Eight of Pentacles

ork – Your boss trusts you with a new job and although you have little experience in it, you do extremely well. Romance – It’s the small things that matter in a relationship. Bring your partner flowers, cook for them or woo them again if it improves your chemistry. Health – You’re feeling slightly off balance given the demands of every other area of life. You haven’t been paying attention to your health. Money – Your loan is approved or you are able to arrange the finances you needed to start a dream project. Now, there’s no looking back. Tarot message – Live in the moment and enjoy what you do. Your choices will not feel like a burden.

ork – Someone at work is playing a double game with you. Don’t trust anyone easily. Watch your back all the time and don’t drop your guard. Romance – There’s hurt, grief and disappointment in a personal relationship and you’re unable to trust easily again. Health – You’re unhappy with the results of your medical treatment. It’s not really making the impact you hoped for. Money – Bad advice may turn around what were to be profits into losses. You have to stay positive and keep going. Invest again. It’s only money. Tarot message – You’ve gone through some tough times and come out of it successfully. Now, there’s nothing you should fear.

Sagittarius Two of Pentacles

ork –Travel on work is indicated. You might reach a few glitches but you eventually get to where you need to be. Romance – Plan a weekend together with your loved one to rekindle the chemistry. It will be worth the effort and you will both understand each other better. Health – All your aches, pains and minor illnesses are related to mental stress. Take up yoga or meditation to manage this stress. Money – You’ve kept your investments fluid enough so they can be moved around to increase profits. It’s all thanks to your smart moves. Tarot message – What’s needed is an act of balance and you manage beautifully well. Time to unwind and have some fun.

Capricorn

Date 9-12-2012

Aquarius

Nine of Wands

Three of Cups

ork – You’re being recognised and appreciated for your talent and hard work. You use this success as a springboard to other ventures. Romance – You find the perfect balance and harmony with your partner. You know when to give each other space and when to stay close. Health – You listen to your doctor’s advice about maintaining your diet and exercise and it bears good results. Money – You’re offered a raise and a bigger position. You feel ecstatic and want to continue doing what you’re good at. Tarot message – You learn to celebrate life and share all the joys it brings with those around you. You’re also headed to finding inner peace.

ork – Your work is recognised and appreciated. But one final test remains. Keep up the momentum and you come out with flying colours. Romance – Take some time out from your partner and spend time doing things that you like. You need breathing space. Explain your need to your partner. Health – Cold, sore throat, fatigue and plain irritation may make you feel out of sorts. Take a break from routine and do things you enjoy. Money – You might reach an obstacle where money is concerned. Something that had to reach you hasn’t, and that bothers you. Tarot message – Spend time with yourself and do things that you enjoy – whether it’s cooking or gardening or playing with a pet.

ork – Always maintain cordial relations with your coworkers. You never know when you may have to work with them and would need their support. Romance –You’ve been experiencing a few ups and downs in the relationship. At least you know that change is constant. Health – Push yourself to manage your diet and workouts better. You have to gather your willpower to make it happen. Money – A bad financial situation will also give way to a better situation. Be patient and take careful risks. Don’t go overboard with the spending. Tarot message – Life is all about the ebb and flow. Nothing ever stays the same, and there’s comfort in knowing that.

Pisces Page of Swords

ork – A fight over intellectual superiority is likely to break out at the work place. A coworker thinks you’re too big for your boots. Romance – If you cannot convince your partner about the need for something, stop trying. Back off and give each other some space. Health – You’re too stressed and are overworked with long hours and not enough relaxation time. Take an entire weekend off and do what interests you. Money – Your financial situation is looking great but you need someone trustworthy to manage it all for you. Delegate your responsibilities. Tarot message – You’re a powerful thinker veering towards the larger issues of life. You see life differently.

Vol: 2, No 142 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 040-40672222, Fax: 040-40672211

THE SATURDAY QUIZ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

IN THE NEWS

Hollywood produced film? 9. Walter Wagers novel 58 Minutes was the basis for which film? 10. N2O is more commonly known as what? 11. Pomona was the Roman Goddess of what? 12. Mozart wrote Ah, Vous DiraiJe, Maman. What's its

English title? 13. If you landed at Mirabel international airport, where are you? 14. Which novel opens and closes with the letters of Robert Walton? 15.In Greek mythology Deianeira was the wife of who?

DO YOU KNOW YOUR MUSICIANS?

CURRENT AFFAIRS 1

1 2 3 4 5

Which political leader called United Progressive Alliance a lame duck?

TEST YOURSELF NAME THE ARTISTS BEHIND THESE EXPENSIVE PAINTINGS?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Portrait of Dr. Gachet

Typhoon Bopha hit which country killing 475 people?

Eight Elvises

Who was named number one on the most powerful persons in the world list by Forbes magazine in its annual power rankings?

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I

The Scream

Where is the India vs England test series being held?

Who are the four athletes from the 2004 Athens Olympics who have been stripped off their medals for using anabolic steroids?

Answers

Paul II play for the Polish national team? 5. Which breed of dog gets its name from the French word for earth? 6. In the book Little Women, what is the sisters’ surname? 7. Who owned a sword called crocea mors or yellow death? 8. What was Bruce Lee’s first

1. Dominican Republic 2. Lake Nicaragua in the Republic of Nicaragua. 3. Charles Bronson 4. Rugby 5. Terrier 6. March 7. Julius Caesar 8. Enter the Dragon 9. Die Hard 2 10. Laughing gas 11. Fruit Trees 12. Twinkle – Twinkle little star 13. Montreal 14. Frankenstein 15. Hercules

1. Which is the only country in the world that sports the Bible on its national flag? 2. Which is the only lake in the world that boasts of having fresh water sharks? 3. Who is the only actor to appear in The Magnificent Seven and The Dirty Dozen? 4. What sport did Pope John

Irises The Card Players

Nude, Green Leaves and Bust

Woman III

1. BJP leader, Arun Jaitley 2. Philippines 3. Barack Obama 4. Kolkata 5. Ukraine's Yuriy Bilonog, Ivan Tsikhan and Irina Yatchenko of Belarus, and Russia's Svetlana Krivelyova

Dora Maar au Chat

Answers

No. 5, 1948

Which Australian cricketer will be replacing newly retired Ricky Ponting in the opening test against Sri Lanka starting next week?

with Santosh Ghule Are the horizontal lines in this picture straight?

Answer for 43:

PICTURE PUZZLE 44

Illusion makes it seem they are rotating at different speeds.

Apple launched its first ITunes store in which city?

Carly Rae Jepsen 4. Katy Perry

Which Bollywood actress was crowned the World’s Sexiest Asian Woman according to an online survey conducted by a weekly magazine?

Answers: 1. Rihanna 2. Taylor Swift 3.

WHO AM I? I am an American computer programmer and the founder of a computer antivirus company. I was on the run for allegedly killing my neighbour but was arrested in Guatemala recently. Who am I?

Answer : John McAfee

India entered the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy on the return to the tournament after a gap of how many years?

Answers:

1. Vincent van Gogh 2. Andy Warhol 3. Gustav Klimt 4. Edvard Munch 5. Vincent van Gogh 6. Paul Cézanne 7. Pablo Picasso 8. Willem de Kooning 9. Pablo Picasso 10. Jackson Pollock

KNOW YOUR COUNTRY

1. 6 years 2. Priyanka Chopra 3. New Delhi 4. Phillip Hughes

Answers

SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

'Schumacher return wrong'

Feng stays ahead in Dubai

Schwartzel in command

PARIS: Formula One supremo Bernie

DUBAI: Even a new tournament

CHONBURI, THAILAND: South

Ecclestone believes Michael Schumacher was wrong to return to the sport, claiming the German had severely damaged his legacy as a seven-time world champion. The 43year-old Schumacher quit the sport in 2006 before being tempted into an illfated return in 2010 at Mercedes where he raced three seasons.

record round of nine-under par 63 by Dutch woman Dewi Claire Schreefel could not reel in runaway leader Feng Shanshan after Friday's third day's play at the 500,000 euros Dubai Ladies Masters. At the par-72 Majlis course of Emirates Golf Club the highest ranked player in the field, Feng made three birdies in her last three holes.

African Charl Schwartzel seized control of the Thailand Golf Championship with a flawless second round 65 giving him an imposing four-shot lead over the chasing pack. The 2011 Masters champion, who has battled injury for much of the season, returned to the clubhouse at seven under for the day to declare "half the job is done".

Machiavellianism could pick up Guineas LVR Deshmukh’s Machiavellianism who is in pink of condition will be fancied in The Deccan Bookmakers Golconda 2000 Guineas (Grade III) race, the main attraction of Sunday races at Malakpet in the City. 1st Race: The Bobbili Plate (about) 1000 Metres,Cat-III. A handicap for horses, 3 year olds and upward,rated upto 50. 1-15 P.M. 1 Bold Attack 60 (N.Rao) P Sai Kumar 6 2 Dazzling Princess 59 (Fayaz) B Dileep 2 3 Molla 58.5 (A Sharma) C Henrique 8 4 Skander 58 (Laxman S) Deep Shanker 1 5 Komo Komo Komo 57.5 (Sequeria) MF Alikhan 4 6 Silver Arnage 57.5 (S’narayan) S Nayak 3 7 Hamilton 57 (Satheesh) K Anil 7 8 Chetak 56 (Kassam) RavindeR Singh 9 9 Allianz Arena 55 (S’narayan) P S Chouhan 5 Selections: 1 Molla 2 Skander 3 Bold Attack 2nd Race: The Royal Tern Plate (about) 1100 Metres,Cat-II. Temrs for Maiden horses, 2 year olds only. 45 P.M. 1 Fairy Boy 55 (Prasad R) N Rawasl 2 Field Smasher 55 (N Rao) G Sai Vamshi 3 Staminoizd 55 (Srinivas) PSChouhan 4 Symbol Of Victory 55 (A Sharma) C Henrique 5 Vijays Splendour 55 (Laxman S) Deep Shanker 6 Colorful Trip 53.5 (Satheesh) B Sreekant 7 Rainbow in the Sky 53.5 (S’narayan) Khurshad Alam 8 Roma Rouge 53.5 (A Sharma) Laxmikant 9 Tricks Of Gold 53.5 (Vatsalya) Ajit Kumar 10 True Haven 53.5 (D’Silva) MF Alikhan Selections; 1 Vijays Splendour 2 Symbol Of Victory 3 True Haven

110 5 6 8 7 3 1 2 9 4

3rd Race: The BOnzer Cup (Div-I) (about) 1200 Metres, Cat-III. A handicap fro horses, 4 year olds and upward, rated upto 50. 2-15 P.M. 1 Confidential 61 (Kassam) Christopher 2 2 StarValue 61 (S Abbas) A Imran Khan 9 3 Chemeli 58 (N Rao) G Sai Vamshi 8 4 Ice Rain 57.5 (Satheesh) B Sreekant 7 5 Golden Adagio 55.5 (Prasad R) P Sai Kumar 5 6 Mr.Khoashteep 54 (Hassan) M Mark 1 7 A Horizontal Urge 52 (A Sharma) Laxmikant 6 8 Cherry Hill 49.5 (D’Silva) Kuldeep Singh 3 9 Merry Maid 49.5 (Kassam) Ravinder Singh 4 Selections: 1 Mr.Khoashteep 2 Merry Maid 3 Golden Adagio 4th Race: The Hyderabad Cup (about) 1400 Metres,Cat-II.

Sweepstakes. A handicap for horses, 3 year olds only, rated upto 75. 245 P.M. 1 Always Bullish 60 (Netto) P S Chouhan 5 2 Snow Bird 57.5 (Satheesh) B Sreekant 9 3 Sheer Genius 56 (Sequeria) DK Ashish 1 4 Sweety Girl 54 (Hassan) C Henrique 10 5 Laurel Canyon 53.5 (D’Silva) Christopher 3 6 OceanSide 53.5 (D’Silva) Kuldeep Sinngh 11 7 True Friend 53.5 (Fayaz) AM Togrolu 7 8 Marquise 52 (D’Silva) K Anil 6 9 True Scholar 52 (Kassam) Ch K Chary 8 10 Prince Of Arabia 51 (D’Silva) A K Pawar 2 11 So Super 51 (S Abbas) Ravinder Singh 4 Selections: 1 Always Bullish 2 Sheer Genius 3 Snow Bird 5th Race; The Bonzer Cup (Div-II) (about) 1200 Metres,Cat-III. A handicap for horses, 4 year olds and upward,rated upto 50. 3-15 P.M. 1 Sea Runner 61 (D’Silva) AK Pawar 4 2 Jaden Gil 59.5 (S,narayan) P S Chouhan 5 3 Devils Advocate 57.5 (Silvester) Laxmikant 8 4 Striking Gold 56 (Prasad R) M Mark 3 5 Star Experience 54 (Kassam) Ch K Chary 7 6 Tripple Eight 53.5 (Z Shaikh) S Nayak 1 7 Seno Rita 53 (S’narayan) Ravinder Singh 2 8 The Best Man 50 (Satheesh) NitinSingh 6 Selections: 1 Sea Runner 2 Devils Advocate 3 Star Experience 6th Race: The Delhi Race Club Trophy (about) 2200 Metres,Cat-I Sweepstakes. A handicap for horses 3 year olds and upward. 3-45 P.M. 1 Vijayshaurya 60 (Deshmukh P S Chouhan 6 2 El Paso 59.5 (D’Silva) Christopher 2 3 Vijaykeerti 57.5 (Deshmukh) AM Togrolu 5 4 Toli Toli Toli 56.5 (NRao) K Anil 9 5 Vijays Jet 56.5 (LaxmanS) P A Culhane 3 6 Drayton 56 (Netto) Harinder Singh 1 7 Nano Storm 56 (Vatsalya) N Rawal 7 8 JabelQueen 55.5 (A Sharma) Ravinder Singh 10 9 Qinghuangdao 55.5 (A Sharma) Laxmikant 8 10 Suchiman 55.5 (A Sharma) C Henrique 4 Selections:

1 Vijays Jet 2 Vijayshaurya 3 El Paso 7th Race: The DeccanBookmakers Golconda 2000 Guineas (Grade II) (about) 1600 Metres. Terms For Indianhorses 3 year olds only (Foaled in 2009). 415 P.M. 1 Ananymous 57 (Dhariwal) R Vaibhav 5 2 Ashok Chakra 57 (S Abbas) DK Ashish 4 3 Ashwa Shakti 57 (Deshmukh) A Imran Khan 1 4 Machiavellianism 57 (Deshmukh) P S Chouhan 3 5 Maximus 57 (M Narredu) D Grant 7 6 Plenipotent 57 (Deshmukh) A M Togrolu 2 7 SanRamon 57 (D’Silva) Christopher 6 8Winds Of The North 57 Withdrawn Selections: Machiavellianism 2 Maximus 3 Ashok Chakra 8th Race: The Flying Treasure Plate (about) 1600 Metres,Cat-III. A handicap for horses, 5 year ods andupwar,rated upto 50. 445 P.M. 1 Airborne Magic 62 (Vatsalya) C Henrique 5 2 Anare 62 (Srinivas R) PS Chouhan 7 3 Bang On Target 62 (Kassam) S Nayak 9 4 Kansas City Mac 60.6 (Vatsalya) Ajit Kumar 4 5 Deccan Storm 57.5 (H’ibulla) Christopher 11 6 Imaan 56 (Laxman S) Harinder Singh 8 7 Romantic Champ 53 (Fayaz) Ravinder Singh 1 8 Original Gladiator 52 (S,narayan) Khurshad Alam 10 9 Victory Sky 52 (Kassam) AK Pawar 2 10 GreenGift 51.5 (Hassan) AM Togralu 6 11 Dartos The Muscle 49 (Silvester) Laxmikant 3 Selections: 1Aneres 2 Airborne Magic 3 Deccan Storm Days Best: Machiavelleianism Jackpot Race Nos: 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 1st TrebleRace Nos: 2, 3 and 4 2nd Trenble Race Nos: 5, 6 and 8 Tanalapool will operate onall races where there are five or more starters. No False Rails.

Montego Bay, Arabian Dancer impress HYDERABAD: Montego Bay, Arabian Dancer, Odalis, Combined Force and Bound for Glory caught the eye when horses were exercised at the Malakpet racecourse in the City this morning. Sand track 800 metres Greek Fire (rb) 1-1, 600/46 Easy. Star Striker (Dileep) 2y. Ice Barrier (Anil) 58.5, 600/45 Former finished in front. 2y.

Fearless Moments (Mukesh) 57.5, 600/43 Maintains form. Montego Bay (Sai Kumar) Arabian Dancer (N Rawal) 55, 600/40 They impressed. Nasheeta (Imran Khan) Dauntless (rb) 57, 600/43.5 Former finished 4 lengths in front Our Mascot (Imran Khan) 1-2.5, 600/46 Easy. Sand track 1000 metres Odalis (Laxmikant) 1-12,

800/55.5, 600/42 Pleased. Strategic Command (Joshi) 113.5, 800/57, 600/43.5 Moved on the bit. Combined Force (Togrolu) 1-11.5, 800/55.5, 600/42 Moved well. See My Style (Trainer) 1-14, 800/58, 600/44 Easy. Bound For Glory (Joshi) 112.5, 800/57.5, 600/43 Move dwell. Sporting Star (Dileep) 2y. Cold Smile (Anil) 1-13, 800/56.5, 600/43.5 Former finished in

front. 2y. Symbol Of Victory (Nitin Singh) Energetic Lass (Laxmikant) 1-13.5, 80/56, 600/41 They finished together. The Leader (Imran Khan) 1-16, 800/1-0, 600/43 Easy. Azaiba (Joshi) 1-16, 800/1-0, 600/44 Easy. Sand track 1200 metres 2y. Ben Hur (Imran Khan) Pavan (rb) 1-31, 1000/1-16, 800/1-0, 600/45 They moved together.

Pasha Beedi smokes away Raju CC A4 – 11 Division One Day League Championships

asha Beedi 339 (Prateek C 76, Faizan 95, Abhishek 54, Ravi 3 for 85, Babu 3 for 93) bt Raju CC 245 (Sirish 113no, Deepak 50, Mohd Ali Qureshi 5 for 86, Surya Mallu 5 for 72)

SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

City boxers not worried about suspension G APARNA SAI aparna.s@postnoon.com

HYDERABAD: In the wake of the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) suspension by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Indian sports fraternity was rocked by another suspension; the International Boxing Association, AIBA, provisionally suspending the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF).

The reason cited by the AIBA is the existence of possible manipulations in the recently conducted IABF elections. While the country seems to have been rocked by this development, people closer to the sport in the city, do not seem to be too worried. Many believe that the decision of this suspension will be reversed, and it shall be done very soon. Few have even stated that recent suspension of the IOA has in a way influenced AIBA’s decision. “This provisional suspension is not a big problem and it

WHILE THE COUNTRY SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ROCKED BY THIS DEVELOPMENT, PEOPLE CLOSER TO THE SPORT IN THE CITY, DO NOT SEEM TO BE TOO WORRIED. will surely be resolved very soon. The Indian Amateur Boxing Federation has been associated with AIBA since quite sometime and they will certainly solve this problem,” said Ravi Raju, the General

Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Amateur Boxing Association. “The Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) elections have influenced this decision of the AIBA but we are confident that everything will be solved. We also had someone from the IOA overlooking the IABF’s elections,” he added. Voicing similar thoughts is Omkar Nath Yadav, a boxing coach at the Lal Bahadur Stadium. He also believes that the situation is not as grave as it is being made to seem. “There is nothing to be worried as this issue will be resolved

very soon and it should not be a surprise if it happens during this very month. India is an upcoming country (with regards to the sport) and this will surely be considered,” he added. Others, including many players in the city, believe that this decision would be revoked. Also, the fact that the next major event, which happens to be the Junior World Championships will be held in August next year and the Senior World Championships in October, seems to have removed reasons for them to be worried.

Marquez fans ‘drown’ Pacquiao Hundreds of screaming Filipino boxing fans tried unsuccessfully to shout down their Mexican rivals at the weigh-in for today’s welterweight fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Marquez. Greg Heakes

LAS VEGAS: Chants of “Manny, Manny” were answered with even more boisterous calls of “Marquez, Marquez” from the flag-waving Mexican supporters as a crowd of about 5,000 people squeezed into the MGM Grand Garden arena on Friday. “I am happy to give honour to my country in boxing,” the 33year-old Pacquiao told the crowd. Pacquiao, 54-4-2 with 38 knockouts, weighed in at the division’s 147-pound limit while Marquez, 54-6-1 with 39 knockouts, came in at 143 pounds. Pacquiao’s huge following in the Philippines was on display at the arena, with many of his supporters flying in from his home country and other parts of the United States. With the 16,000-capacity arena sold out for Saturday’s fight, this is as close as many will get to the fighters in person.

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson turned up at the weigh-ins for boxers Manny Pacquiao and Juan mauel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao and Marquez will fight each other today (Saturday) in Las Vegas. AFP/ GETTY IMAGES/ JEFF BOTTARI

Turner lifts 76ers past Celtics PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: Evan Turner (right) hit the go-ahead basket with 3.9 seconds left in overtime to lift the Philadelphia 76ers to a 95-94 win over the Boston Celtics on Friday. Turner finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds and Thaddeus Young had 17 points and 12 rebounds as the 76ers snapped a two-game losing skid. This was also the opener of a home-and-home series between the long-time rivals. Jrue Holiday contributed 15 points to the win at the Wells Fargo Center arena. Boston suffered its second defeat in its last three outings despite a triple-double from Rajon Rondo and a game-high 27 points by forward Paul Pierce. The Celtics got 19 points off

the bench from Jeff Green and a 17-point, 10-rebound performance from Kevin Garnett. Rondo, who was playing his second game after coming back from a suspension, finished with 16 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds. The 76ers closed out November with three-straight victories, but they had lost their first two games of this month. The Sixers, who visit Boston on Saturday, have won five of their past seven versus the Celtics after losing 12 of the previous 14. Rondo was handed his ban by the league for his involvement in a shoving match with the Brooklyn Nets on November 28. Boston have now won four of AFP its past seven overall.

One eager Filipino couple, who flew in from Hawaii, started lining up in the wee hours of the morning 11.5 hours before the doors were scheduled to open. The majority of the crowd was supporting Marquez, who walked to the scales first. He stood up there wearing nothing but a pair of boxer shorts, a thick gold chain around his neck and an orange paper bracelet. He still came in four pounds under the limit for the non-title fight. “It is going to be a war,” Marquez told the crowd. Pacquiao followed Marquez onto the scale, and then stepped off and posed like a body builder as his fans cheered and Marquez’s supporters booed. Marquez’s fans successfully drowned out Pacquiao with a chorus of boos as he talked about trying to help the victims of a typhoon that devastated the southern Philippines this week, killing hundreds and displacing tens of thousands. “This fight is

dedicated to those fans,” Pacquiao said, adding that he would try to be better focused on Saturday. When southpaw Pacquiao and Marquez enter the ring Saturday for their non-title bout, it will be the fourth time in eight years they have fought. Pacquiao, who is eager to redeem himself after suffering a defeat in his most recent fight to Tim Bradley, is tired of Marquez blaming his failure to win in their three previous fights on biased judging. Marquez claims he won all three fights -- although two were scored in favour of Pacquiao and one ended in a draw. “It is most important to show people who the best man is,” Marquez said Friday. The boxers were joined on podium Friday by former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, promoter Bob Arum and their trainers, Freddie Roach for Pacquiao and Ignacio Beristain for Marquez.

@#$%&! Murray swears off cursing

LONDON: US Open

champ Andy Murray (right) is cleaning up his act after promising to stop swearing while on court. The Scot has been warned about his language during matches in the past, but he believes non-Anglophone players get away with worse outbursts because umpires cannot understand what they are saying. “Obviously, me saying shit or whatever is bad and wrong, and it’s something I want to try to stop doing,” Murray said, according to Scottish newspaper the Daily Record.

“But it isn’t as bad as some of the stuff the foreign players come out with. I wouldn’t want to name any names, but some of what they say is ghastly. “It’s just that all of the umpires speak English.” Murray, who became Great Britain’s first male Grand Slam winner in 76 years when he won the US Open earlier this year, says his no-swearing campaign will begin at the Australian Open next month. The 25-year-old was given an official warning for bad language at the Rome Masters AFP this year.

SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

India facing big defeat! India were rattled after lunch by a spirited England bowling attack. Tendulkar fell cheaply after Pujara was run out, leaving England in a strong poisition to win.

World Jr TT battle begins tomorrow

KOLKATA: India were on the ropes in the second innings languishing at 107 for 4 after lunch after conceding a lead of 207 on the fourth day of the third cricket Test against England here today. Virender Sehwag (right) got out after a quick-fire 49 from 56 balls (7x4) while Gautam Gambhir was batting on 33 (70b, 3x4, 1x6) after the first session on day four. Earlier in the morning, India restricted the first innings lead to 207, bowling England out for 523 scalping four wickets in 4.3 overs with England managing to add just 14 runs to their overnight total. Pragyan Ojha, who was the most successful Indian bowler with 4/124, struck in his very second ball of the day when Swann (21) edged one at first slip to be dismissed without any addition to the total. Off-colour Zaheer Khan also got into the act, picking his first wicket of the match after bowling 30 overs when the leftarm pacer’s in-cutter took Matt Prior’s nick before being caught by Dhoni. The second blow for England with the addition of just one run to the overnight total of 509 opened the gates for India as Ravichandran Ashwin took two wickets — James Anderson (9) and Monty Panesar (0) — in succession to wipe out the tail. Ashwin’s second wicket, in fact, was a poor decision by umpire Kumar Dharmasena who raised his finger for an appeal of leg before that had a thick inside edge before hitting the pad. In reply, India in their second essay rode on a bit of luck as Sehwag got a reprieve on seven when Graeme Swann dropped a straight catch at the second slip, while Gambhir too survived on 12 when Ian Bell put down a difficult one at short leg. But barring the two miscues, Sehwag and Gambhir dominated the English bowlers.

Syed Shoaib shoaib.s@postnoon.com

HYDERABAD: Always a city

England looked to exploit the four-day old track with an all-spin attack by the 10th over in the morning but there was little on offer from the track as the Indians made a quick progress.

COOK

MISSES OUT ON A DOUBLE TON

Captain Alastair Cook continued to torment India with a monumental knock of 190 as England put themselves in the driver’s seat by taking a mammoth 193 runs first innings lead in the third cricket Test here on Friday. Cook produced another magnificent effort before was run-out in a freak manner

Scoreboard India 1st Innings England 1st Innings India 2nd Innings G Gambhir not out V Sehwag b Swann CA Pujara not out Extras: (b 4, lb1) Total: (1 wickets; 27 overs) Bowling O M R JM Anderson 5 1 18 ST Finn 6 1 11 MS Panesar 7 0 28 GP Swann 8 3 26 SR Patel 1 0 9

316 523 97 35 49 8 5 97 W 0 0 0 1 0

while Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen also made significant contributions with scores of 87 and 54 respectively with England reaching a massive 509 for six at the end of the third day’s play. At stumps, Matt Prior on 40 and Graeme Swann on 21 had added 56 runs for the undefeated seventh wicket partnership to compound India’s misery. On yet another frustrating day for Indian bowlers, Pragyan Ojha was the leading wicket-taker with his 3/140, while Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin managed a wicket each as seniormost pacer Zaheer Khan bowled 29 wicketless overs. PTI

that encouraged sporting events, Hyderabad has earlier been the home for several multi-sport gatherings such as the AfroAsian Games and the National Games, apart from many international cricket matches. Hyderabad will now host the World Junior Championships from 9 to 16 December, 2012. When the original host, South Africa expressed inability at hosting the prestigious event, Hyderabad offered to, and managed required preparations in a short span of six months. The 2012 World Junior Championships will feature the seven World Junior Title events. Boys’ Team, Girls’ Team, Boys’ Singles, Girls’ Singles, Boys’ Doubles, Girls’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles events in the junior category. A total of 19 boys’ and 19 girls’ teams qualify from the continental quotas plus India as the host. The International Olympic Committee rules are being followed for age verification of participating players. In addition to those players participating in the team events, 14 extra players are invited to compete in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. The criterion for selection is the Under 18 World Ranking list issued on September 5, 2012. Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh and Table Tennis Federation of India are leaving no stone unturned to use this opportunity to further table tennis at the grassroots level in the country.

Glowing stumps as Big Bash unveils latest gimmicks SYDNEY: Australia’s Twenty20 Big Bash season has begun in glitzy style, with LED stumps and bails flashing on impact and helmet cameras on batsmen. Shane Warne’s Melbourne Stars and cross-city rivals Melbourne Renegades opened the series at half-full Etihad Stadium late Friday when the technological innovations were unveiled for the first time. The Australian-designed Zing Wicket System has a sensor in the bails that can determine

within one-thousandth of a second when the wicket is broken. Once the wicket is broken the bails instantaneously flash bright red LED lights and then send a radio signal to the stumps which also flash. They are powered by low voltage batteries in each of the bails and also in the stumps. “These light-up stumps are all about enhancing the spectator experience during BBL matches and ensuring that the BBL remains highly entertain-

ing for the fans,” BBL senior manager Anthony Everard said. “This is exciting to have a world-first product being used in the T20 BBL.” This season’s matches will also feature a helmet camera on batsmen and wicket-keepers to give fans a close-up look. “I might be having a crack at that (helmet cam),” Australian Test batsman Shane Watson said. “As long as it doesn’t impair your vision of being able to see the ball, I think it will be great

to see what we go through. “Hopefully the viewer will see through our eyes what we are taking on.” Warne suffered the humiliation of conceding an Australian T20 record of 0-41 from his two overs as his Stars were upset by the Renegades. Warne’s team batted first and made 167 for five, only for the Renegades to take to the 43year-old legspin great in their innings for four sixes as they AFP reached 168 for two.

SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012

Five classic derbies Mother of club battles to be played on Sunday. AFP City in the close season. Wayne Rooney shot United into the lead before Gareth Barry drew City level. Darren Fletcher then put United ahead, only for Craig Bellamy to restore parity with a thunderous 25-yard effort. 23/10/11: MANCHESTER

Arsenal need feel-good factor: Arteta Jon West

LONDON: Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta admits his side desperately need to restore the feel-good factor at the Emirates Stadium with a victory over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. Arsene Wenger’s team are on a miser-

able run of two wins from their last nine matches in all competitions and, after seven years without a trophy, the club’s fans are growing increasingly frustrated. Before last weekend’s dismal 2-0 home defeat against Swansea, supporters protested against Arsenal’s board for their failure to back Wenger.

UNITED 1 MANCHESTER CITY 6 (EPL) Ferguson described it as his “worst ever day” in football, and few would be willing to quibble with that assessment after a remarkable mauling at Old Trafford that shocked English football. 30/04/12: MANCHESTER CITY 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 0 (EPL) United had seen a lead of eight points whittled down to just three after a shock defeat at Wigan Athletic and a damaging 4-4 draw at home to Everton in the weeks leading up to this pivotal Monday night encounter at the Etihad Stadium. Thirteen days later, an astonishing injury-time comeback saw City beat Queens Park Rangers 3-2 at the Etihad.

SOLUTIONS

Boggle

LONDON: Chelsea captain John Terry (above) will be unable to compete in the Club World Cup later this month because of a knee injury, interim manager Rafael Benitez revealed on Friday. The former England centreback has been told not to travel to Japan for the tournament so as not to jeopardise his recovery from the ligament injury he picked up in the 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool in November. “We’ve been talking with the doctor. The inflammation will not be the best thing for him so he will not travel,” Benitez said.

LIME LEMON ORANGE TANGERINE

Suduko

Even so, Law’s instinctive effort has become part of Manchester footballing folklore, almost as much for the Scottish striker’s crestfallen reaction after netting the winner. 23/09/89: MANCHESTER CITY 5 MANCHESTER UNITED 1 (English Division 1) A humiliating defeat at Maine Road that came as a bitter blow to visiting manager Alex Ferguson, who was struggling to mould United into a force after arriving at Old Trafford from Aberdeen less than three years earlier. 21/09/09: MANCHESTER UNITED 4 MANCHESTER CITY 3 (EPL) An extraordinary game that marked Carlos Tevez’s first match against United since his much trumpeted defection to

Number game

Manchester United visit defending champions Manchester City on Sunday as the Premier League’s top two clash in the first Manchester derby of the season. AFP looks at five memorable meetings between the cross-town rivals. Manchester City v Manchester United Overall head-to-head record Manchester United wins: 67 Manchester City wins: 45 Draws: 50 27/04/74: MANCHESTER UNITED 0 MANCHESTER CITY 1 (English Division 1) Denis Law’s back-heeled goal for City consigned his former club to defeat but, contrary to popular belief, United would have been relegated anyway.

Scrabble

MANCHESTER, UK: Leaders

Terry ruled out of Club World Cup