IN THE QUEST FOR THE AMERICAN PIE
DEJA VU... FILMY ISHTYLE
American Pie was the quintessential sex comedy which inspired several other spin-offs in the last decade. On the eve of the release of American Pie Reunion, we trace the journey of these coming-of-age films which thrived on the quest for a P15 slice of the American Pie.
There has been a long debate about whether art imitates life or life imitates art. Whatever it might be, one look at lives of some of our politicians, there's at least one film which you can relate to each one of them. Here's our pick of politicians and the films their lives closely resemble. P16&17 Hyderabad’s first compact afternoon newspaper
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012 HYDERABAD
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UNEASY CALM IN CITY
BUTCHERED In a brutal sequel to baby Falak’s death, three-month-old Afreen, who was battered by her father as he wanted a male child, died today following a massive cardiac arrest. The baby was admitted to a Bangalore hospital on Sunday with cigarette burns on her head and a dislocated neck.
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Part of the Old City continued to be astir with violent incidents though the overall situation remained under police control. In a serious bid to stoke communal fire, criminals threw remains of a butchered dog in a place of worship in P3 Bahadurpura last night.
FLASH
BALLOON SPARKS UFO RUMOURS A balloon released by Planetary society of India for an experiment led to panic and excitement among City residents this morning. Many residents mistook it for an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) or flying saucer as it was beaming light. Some others thought it was a spy satellite.
NO RAGING BULL CAN STOP HIM
PAWAN KALYAN SINGS IN GABBAR SINGH
When the bull that he was fighting was done with him, Juan Jose Padilla was blinded in the left eye and suffered severe facial injuries. But five months later, the Cyclone of Jerez was back in the ring “to win, to triumph, to be a better man”.
Pawan Kalyan’s upcoming film Gabbar Singh might very well turn out to be a box-office monster, if the buzz surrounding the film is anything to go by. Pawan Kalyan is doing a fullfledged mass entertainer after a long time. To give his fans more reasons to celebrate, we hear that he also has sung a song in the film. In the past, he had sung in Khushi, Jhonny, Gudumba Shankar and Panjaa. P21
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
Spirit of Twin Cities
WATER RIDES
Trendz exhibition Head to Kalinga function hall for the Trendz Exhibition, a summer special shopping festival. The exhibition is on till April 11. Where: Kalinga function hall, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing, 10am-9pm
SRINIVAS SETTY
martinis and aperitifs. Where: The Westin, Mindspace, Madhapur When: Monday - Friday, 5pm - 10.30pm Weekends, 8am - 10.30pm Contact: (040) 6767 6828
Womanhood
Parenting discussion
A painting exhibition by Priyanka Poogalia is being held at Beyond Coffee. Where: Beyond Coffee, Jubilee Hills, Rd No 36 When: Ongoing, 11 am onwards Contact: (040) 2354 5359
On the occasion of completing 15 years of it’s inception, Gitanjali Devshala is conducting a panel discussion on good parenting with various eminent personalities on April 11. Where: Fortune Katriya, Somajiguda When: April 11, 5.15 pm
Angkor Wat
Water colours
A painting exhibition based on the Angkor Wat in Columbia is being presented by Kalakrithi Art Gallery and ITC Kakatiya. Where: Hyder Mahal, ITC Kakatiya, Begumpet When: Ongoing, 11am-7pm Contact: (040) 2340 0132
Iconart is hosting Aquarelle as a part of it’s Buy Art initiative. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing, 11.30 am onwards Contact: 98499 6879
Crepes and waffles Lover of waffles and crepes? Deli9 is offering a crepe and waffle festival. Taste a variety of waffles such as fruit waffle and the classic waffle or a variety of exotic crepes such as caramel apple. The festival is on from April 7-April 21. Where: Delhi 9, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: Ongoing, 8am to 8pm Contact: (040) 6550 6662
Goan food festival The Momo Cafe at Hyderabad Marriott and Convention Centre is hosting a Goan food festival. Where: Hyderabad Marriott and Convention Centre, Tank Bund When: Ongoing, 12.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999
Unique buffet Yellow Chilli is offering a lunch buffet which is truly different. The buffet costs `199 (Monday to-Friday) and `249 (Saturday and Sunday). The dinner buffet costs `299 and `349. Where: Yellow Chilli, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 2338 3838
Every Rupee counts Syn at Taj Deccan is offering interesting meal options. The concept behind Calorie for a Rupee is to enjoy a great meal priced according to it’s calorie count. Where: Syn - Asian Bar and Grill, Taj Deccan, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: Ongoing, 12 pm to 3.30pm Contact: (040) 6666 3939
Combo platters Deli 9 is offering combo platters in it’s lunch and dinner menu. Choose from various salad and sandwich combos also. Where: Deli 9, Banjara Hills, Rd No1 When: Ongoing,
CINEMAS
Exhibition and sale
11am to 8pm Contact: (040) 6550 6662
Hard rock and games The IPL T20 games are on. Head to Hard Rock Cafe to enjoy some matches, great food and interesting drinks all through the IPL season. Where: Hard Rock Cafe, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: Ongoing, 4pm-8pm Contact: (040) 4476 7900
Being ’together’ Together, an exhibition of paintings by Shravan Kumar GK will be on display from April 6 onwards. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing Contact: 98499 6879
A suitable lunch Syn at Taj Deccan is offering Syn-to-suit you lunches. Various lunch offers for various require-
ments from the quick 15 minute lunch to the healthy and long lunches. Where: Syn - Asian Bar and Grill, Taj Deccan, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: Ongoing, 12 pm to 3.30pm Contact: (040) 6666 3939
IPL special Truffles Cafe is offering a great way to catch the live telecast of IPL season 5. Head to Truffles Cafe for IPL special mocktails, beverages and starters and various other foodie delights. Where: Truffles Cafe, Jubillee Hills, Rd No 36 When: Ongoing, 8am onwards Contact: (040) 2355 0105
Go Splash Splash lounge is the perfect leisure destination for you to unwind. There is also great music,
60 master designers will be showcasing 1,00,000 designs of blouses, dress materials, imitation jewellery and much more. Where: TTD Kalyana Mandapam, Himayathnagar When: Ongoing, 10am onwards Contact: 94411 83981
Aagam Live Catch popular band Aagam performing live at Hard Rock Cafe on April 12. Where: Hard Rock Cafe, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: March 12, 9pm onwards Contact: (040) 4476 7900
Asian barbeque The Square, Novotel, Madhapur plays host to an Asian barbeque. Sample grilled specialities from around the world — from Lebanese to Japanese. Where: The Square, Novotel, Madhapur When: Every Saturday, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 6682 4422
Big Cinemas, Ameerpet: 30581470; Cinemax, Banjara Hills: 44565555; Cine Planet , Kompally: 61606060; INOX, Banjara Hills: 44767777; Prasads, Tank Bund Rd: 23448888; PVR, Punjagutta: 8800900009; Talkie Town, Miyapur: 40214175; Tivoli, Secunderabad: 27844973
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Satta on IPL, four held Police raid Tollywood director’s flat in Punjagutta
CRIME Mohd subhan mohd.s@postnoon.com
P
olice on Tuesday night surprised a satta gang from Kadappa that has been conducting illegal betting on the ongoing IPL 5. The flat belongs to Tollywood director Rajender Reddy. He had rented it out to the arrested, police said. The police team led by ACP Panjagutta Venkat Narsimha closed in on Flat No 404, Shanti Apartments at Errammanzil Colony in Punjagutta on getting a reliable tip-off that two gangs of 4 men each hadset up two big satta centres in Punjagutta. Besides the raided flat, another gang of four is reportedly oper-
ating from MS Makhta. But the police could catch only the Shanti Apartment men while the other gang bolted. Seized: `3 lakh in cash, 21 mobile phones 4 colour TVs Innova car Furniture, cash boxes The arrested gang was betting on the Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Daredevils match for no-balls, wides and catches. There were also betting on fours and sixers. A large amount had been collected from different bookies in Nagpur, Mumbai and Ahmedabd. The flat was rented out to the men four months ago on a rent of `29,000 a month, the police gathered.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
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Uneasy calm in City Though curfew is relaxed today from 11am to 3pm in Madannapet and Saidabad, new areas face violent incidents in the City N SHIVA KUMAR
CRIME Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com
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art of the Old City continued to be astir with violent incidents though the overall situation remained under police control. In a serious bid to stoke communal fire, criminals threw remains of a butchered dog in a place of worship in Bahadurpura last night. Five parked bikes were set afire in Padamashali Colony in Musheerabad area while an autorikshaw was torched by mob after dragging out the driver near Akbar Tower in Malakpet area early this morning. In a fresh incident reported this morning from Shankar Nagar, groups belonging to two communities indulged in stone-throwing in after miscreants tore some flags and banners. Panic spread as a woman, aged 22, was stabbed near Yadgiri the-
atre on DRDL road last night. She was returning home after studies when unidentified men attacked her. With her hand bleeding, she screamed for help. Passersbys rushed to her help as the attackers fled on bike. She was shifted to the Osmania Hospital. In another incident, criminals set fire to two parked bikes belonging to a businessman in Santosh Nagar. Neighbours gathered and put out the fire but one bike was completely gutted and the other
was partially burnt, said Santosh Nagar ACP S Saikrishna. An agitated group of Sikhs at Kishanbagh Sikh Chawni gathered after they heard a Sikh was attacked. Without verifying, theybegan attacking passing vehicles and created tension for an hour. Police later found that the rumour was baseless. Meanwhile, the police continued to force closure of shops after 9pm. Even in peaceful areas, police shut down shops.
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
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Water recedes, scramble continues Alarming depletion of groundwater in the City has not caught the attention of authorities or the people. Ignorance about groundwater, geographic distribution and methods to replenish it are leading to a waste of money and water M ANIL KUMAR
WATER
What is the AP WALTA act? n Registration of wells n Prohibition of water pumping in certain areas n Permission for well and permission for well sinking near drinking water source. n Over-exploited areas n Protection of public drinking water sources n Distance and depth for sinking wells n Registration of drilling rigs n Closure of wells n Taking-over of well to ensure drinking water n Compensation for closed wells n Rain water harvesting structures n Re-use of water n Prohibition of water contamination
Osama Salman salman.o@postnoon.com
T
he Hyderabad City is defaced with countless holes as people dig for water and all they get in return is loss of money and a whiff of dry air. Ground water levels have depleted beyond belief. While this is happening the officials who are supposed to regulate and guide people sit tight saying they are helpless as numerous people do not care for their advices though law allows the authorities to prevent this disaster. Groundwater level is going far down because we have destroyed all water sources and preserving system like lakes, marshes, trees and rivers. “Why cry now?” asks an environment activist in anguish. “Hyderabad is an over-exploited region,” says S Harish, revenue division officer of Hyderabad region, speaking on the digging of bore- wells at the domestic level. This brings to the fore the most abused practice that people indulge in. Hundreds of thousands of bore-wells have rendered useless. The groundwater level is consistently decreasing in the city and with many households practicing this activity especially as water supply has been badly hit, this will only worsen the situation. Before digging a bore well, an applicant must take prior permission from the counselor at the local MRO, who comes and studies the area to see if it is feasible to do so. It should also follow the norms laid down by the AP Water, Land and Trees Act (WALTA). Only then can a bore- well be dug. Unfortunately, not many are aware of the Act and are digging bore- wells at their convenience. What is worse is that the district collector office in Hyderabad does not have data on how many domestic bore wells exist now. Nor does it have data on the number of bore- wells being dug. In fact, the
Helpline GAS BOOKING IVRS NO: HP 9666023456 Indane 9848824365 BSNL Complaints HMWS & SB Complaints
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POLICE CONTROL ROOM: Hyderabad 27852435 Traffic Control Room 27852482 DCP Traffic 23234065, 23243499F Pollution Control Board 23887500 ELECTRICITY: General Complaints Breakdown Section
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Repairs to No of No of be taken borewells borewells up dried up defunct
No of bore wells existing
No of borewells working
1
99
66
7
8
10
2
327
254
31
35
7
20 Nos. repaired in March 2012
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111
99
46
6
6
43 repairs are taken up
4
202
170
24
6
2
15 repaired
5
77
72
5
30
0
3 repaired in March 2012
6
95
64
15
12
4
Division
7
118
64
17
18
19
1029
789
145
115
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sole water authority in the City, Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HWSSB), too does not have any statistics. “When we get to know that there is an illegal domestic bore well, we ask them to produce per-
24166666R ENC 23225267 Engineering 23220418 MCH Tankbund 23225397 Emergency MCH Circle I&II 24525842 MCH Circle III 24736912 MCH Circle IV 23326975 MCH Circle V 23326976 MCH Circle VI MCH Complaints 1100 Head Office 23225397 IVRS CUM MANUAL ENQUIRY PHONE NUMBERS (TRAIN & RESERVATION) RAILWAYS Rail Nilayam 27833169, 27824216 Railway Information 131 Reservations 135 Recorded Information 1345 Enquiry (IVRS) 1331, 1332, 1333
mission documents. They have about 10 days to do so failing which we seize the bore. We urge people to register their bore-wells if they haven’t done it yet,” said Harish. There is no monetary penalisation.
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Remarks
Aniruddh Singh, who runs a small 20-room hotel in Punjagutta, dug a bore- well last month. He said, “I did not know that I had to take permission.“ The previous bore- well that he dug dried up.” He lost a large amount in the vain
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AMBULANCES Apollo 23548888, 23607777 Kamineni 24022222 Medwin 23202902, 23204616 Smile Line Dental Hospital 23747979 Red Cross 27627973 Niloufer Hospital 23314095 Gandhi 23320332
effort. “Illegal drilling of bore- wells is creating a lot of problems to the groundwater level. The extraction of water is a lot and there is no proper method to replenish it as well. The population is increasing and so is the water consumption,” said K Dhananjaiah, deputy director, ground water level department. As of March 2012, the ground water level in the City measured by 11 piezometers across the city is currently 9.94 metres, down by 2.23 metres from 7.71 metres in March 2011. There is an acute water problem and the bore wells are only making it worse. “Digging a bore well is alright as long as it isn’t for commercial purposes. In some areas, digging a bore well is necessary and can’t be avoided. People should not misuse or waste water. Rainwater harvesting is the key,” said R Gopalakrishna, a rainwater harvesting activist. Thankfully, digging a bore well for commercial purposes is banned, but the business is booming in summer. “Many establishments sell at least 60 tankers of water daily. We are tracking them and curbing this,” added Harish.
AIRLINES Airport Director 27903785, 27906001 For Air India Flight Information Toll free (from any network) for IC Flights 18001801407 And for All Flights: 1800227722 Air India has revised its flight timings. For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec’bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999
UK Visa Office VFS India Pvt Ltd Building, 8-2-542/A, Sunil Chamber, Road No. 7 Beside Meridian School, Banjara Hills34. Working hours are from 8 AM to 1 PM And 2 PM to 3PM. MUSEUMS Salar Jung Museum AP State Museum Nizams Museum
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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
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Lotus hopes to torpedo Cong can stop T suicides hand in Parakala O Postnoon News
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POLITICS U Srinivas srinivas.u@postnoon.com
T
he BJP hopes to repeat a Mahbubnagar in Parkala in the forthcoming byelections in 18 Assembly constituencies. Of the 18, only Parakala is in Telangana region and the BJP’s hopes hinge on cashing in on the T-sentiments, leaders agree. The BJP leader Kishan Reddy, fresh after the stunning victory it notched up in Mahbubnagar says his party will improve the tally and Parakala will be a BJP bastion. The party plans to field former DGP Pervaram Ramulu from Parakala. If it happens, it is surmised, it would be difficult for the ex-MLA Konda Surekha (Congress renegade shifted to YSRC) who is planning to contest as independent. Political observers agree that the situation in Parakala is something like that of
Adding one or two seats to the tally will not make a difference and that does not mean BJP is going to become an alternative force or third front in the State. Palvai Goverdhan Reddy, senior Congress leader
Mahbubnagar with Congress in disarray and YSRC stocks down. Surekha had won the last elections on Congress ticket with a margin of 12,800. “It’s not difficult to upset the Congress applecart,” is the observation. However, the party is far from making an impact in the State. The Congress and TRS continue to dismiss the Lotus as of no consequence. Talking to Postnoon TRS senior leader Nayani Narsimha Reddy who has fought many elections termed the BJP’s Mahbubnagar victory a fluke and not likely to be repeated elsewhere. Senior Congress leader and Rajyasabha member Palvai Goverdhan Reddy said that adding one or two seats to the tally will not make any difference and that does not mean BJP is going to become an alternative force or the third front here in the State. But the BJP leaders are confident, nevertheless. Even scraping through as it did in Mahbubnagar will be a big morale booster for the saffron party.
GHMC seeks CII help for world CBD of the City’s cultural heritage. The companies get the rights to advertise their wares or services that will capture the global eye. ot knowing from whether or how This step is initiated by the commissioner much it would eventually get MT Krishna Babu who is caught between from government to run the world the mayor who says he will not allow CBD conference in October, the Greater GHMC funds to be spent on CBD and the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation State government that asks the commis(GHMC) has began to court the corpo- sioner to use GHMC funds and spend for the event. rate support for the “We have already mega event. COUNTDOWN TO 11TH CBD written a letter to The CBD-COP11 Confederation of India will see leaders and Industry (CII), seeking activists from 190 counits support to make the tries gathering in arrangements for CBD. Hyderabad from We are waiting for their October 1 for 19 days to response. We are also discuss global initiative planning to hold a meetin preserving biodivering this week with the sity. This event requires representatives of all substantial funds but corporate companies the State government is this week,” GHMC addilooking to Delhi for tional commissioner funds and the GHMC is Anuradha told Postunsure if it will get any noon. money or if it eventually She has been get how much it would assigned with the be. The corporation responsibility of requires at least `400 liasoning with corporate crore, according to its big-wigs and convene a estimate. meeting with them. The They are now seekDetails of the work meeting will be ing help from corpoaddressed by commisrates to spruce up flyto be undertaken sioner MT Krishna overs, roads, parks, by GHMC Babu. fountains and portrayal
nly the Congress and TDP can arrest the suicides in Telangana said the chairman of T-Joint Action Committee professor Kodandaram. Before flagging off the bus yatra meant for creating awareness to stop suicides for Telangana, Kodandaram spoke at Gunpark in front of the Assembly today. He advised the leaders cutting across the party lines and said that the sincere efforts from the leaders of Congress and TDP
will definitely arrest the situation. The bus yatra was to educate the youth and the student community to see that they don’t take the drastic step of committing suicides in the name of Telangana.
Rains, hail may continue Sudeshna Koka sudeshna.k@postnoon.com
F
ollowing the blazing heat, the recent showers have come as a welcome respite. According to the Met department, a sudden incursion of moisture in the Bay of Bengal and the low trough are the main reasons for the sudden spells of rains in the City. “There is a low trough running through Karnataka and Tamil Naidu via Rayalaseema. Also, an incursion forming in the Bay of Bengal is the reason for the
rains,” said Met officials. Rain accompanied by hail is common in summers, say officials. “The first showers in summers will generally carry hailstorms. The change in weather is due to upper air cyclonic circulations flowing from the Chhattisgarh region to South Tamil Nadu through South Telangana,” said VK Reddy, director of the meteorological department at the Hyderabad centre. The rains are likely to continue for the next two days and hailstorms for the next one week.
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Hyper Local ‘TRS benefitting from sacrifices of students’
T
NSF president Nannuri Narsi Reddy has appealed to the youth and students not to sacrifice their lives, but live and fight for Telangana. In a statement, Nannuri alleged that the TRS was playing with the lives of youngsters and getting financial benefit through the sacrifices of these people. He said that as the party’s voting percentage has considerably come down and as there was a corresponding increase in votes of other parties, the TRS was now trying to encash the suicides of innocent people. TRS has taken advantage of the suicide of Bhojya Naik and started arousing the sentiments of people against other parties, Narsi Reddy alleged, adding that apart from TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao’s daughter coming in an expensive ‘Audi’ car and shedding a few glycerin-aided tears, the party had done nothing for the families of the martyred youth. He said that Harish Rao pouring petrol and trying to set himself afire was just a drama and KCR’s statement that it was better for people to die if Telangana could not be realised was a provocative statement. He also advised the TRS to desist from its habit of holding other people responsible for the suicides of innocent youth.
Cops examine Tara’s call list
T
he police have started examining the call list of actress Tara Choudary, who was arrested for running a sex racket. According to sources, Tara, who was in police custody since Monday, did not respond to their questions on the first day, stating that she was not well. Tara, who was remanded to police custody for four days, is being questioned in the presence of lady police personnel. Curiosity surrounds her interrogation, as she is expected to name some VIPs with whom she has contacts. Tara, a native of Kammavaripalem, was recently arrested after a TV channel telecast the interview of an innocent girl whom Tara had lured to Hyderabad with the promise of a lucrative job and then tried to force her into prostitution. Tara maintained that she was innocent and alleged that she was falsely implicated in the case by the police. It is learnt that police have been examining 48 audio and video recordings of Tara Choudary, who it is learnt, used to record every conversation she had with the VIPs that was friendly with.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities
6
‘Women are easy scapegoats’ ACTIVISM Rahul Ramakrishna rahul.r@postnoon.com
F
ighting for women’s rights is a tough, round-theclock job. Striking a balance between activism for women’s issues and family life is PA Devi, president of AIDWA, whose firebrand advocacy of women’s rights has earned her a prominent place in State politics. At any time of the day seeking her help against exploitation, harassment and violence are women of all ages. She handles all of this, her family life and the feminism, with elan. “During my childhood, girls would face indiscriminate harassment very often. I could never tolerate this and so, a few like-minded friends and I would gang up on those responsible for harassing the girls and teach them a lesson. What made an impact on me was my grandmother, who unlike any normal parent, supported my actions and told me that it was the right thing to do,” she said, reminiscing about her beginnings as an activist. “The mentality of men in our society has still not changed. The society, even today, expects that women ought to follow a rigid framework of discriminating characteristics, right from appearance to occupation and more. For instance, if a girl were to receive a love letter from a boy, it is she who will be blamed for being wayward and indisciplined and not the boy,” she said. PA Devi has studied about several hundreds of cases of girls not being able express their sexu-
It is an insult to the women, that the AP State Women’s Body has not had a chairman for eight years. Politics continue to stall what little progress we strive for. PA Devi, president, AIDWA
ality and the violent results it has had over them and their families. “Girls as young as 15 bore slash scars on their wrists because of their inability to vent their feelings. The number of cases of heterosexual and homosexual infatuation leading to self-destruction among women is on a steady rise. And this is not limited to the urban areas it is prevalent even in the rural and tribal hamlets.” So who is to be blamed for this state of affairs? “It is not one single entity that is responsible for the state of women today. This decadent issue has spanned over
ICONIC CITY Birla Mandir, Naubath Pahad
B
eing located on a plateau Hyderabad has a hilly terrain and this allows residents get a panoramic view of the City. Birla Mandir, the temple of Lord Venkateshwara is situated at one such spot. The temple is built on the Naubath Pahad in Lakdi ka pul. It is a must to visit the temple as you not only get to see the structure built out of pure white marble but also get a panoramic view of the Twin Cities. Since 1976, devotees and Hyderabadis
Aishwarya Yerra Hyderabad as a City has a lot to offer in terms of heritage and sights. We take a look at the various places that make this City so special
have been visiting this temple that houses not only Lord Venkateshwara’s idol but also Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh and Lord Hanuman among others. The temple is a mix of South Indian, Rajasthani and Utkala temple architectures. The temple propagates a secular belief, therefore it is open to people of all religions. One of the main attractions about Birla Mandir is the calm meditative atmosphere that prevails here.
centuries of human civilisation. Women have been picturised as commodities with little feelings for themselves in almost all forms of media. This is just one disturbing factor among many,” she said. Her field work that takes her in and around many districts of the State with school children shows that children at the age of 10 to 12 years have rather strong opinions about how and what girls should be and how they should behave etc. “Women like Tara Choudary are always made scapegoats. But nobody ever bothers to try and learn the story behind these women and how much abuse has gone down their lives while they tried to make a mark for themselves in the society. Not that Tara’s actions are pardonable, but the blame lies with both the sides,” she said. PA Devi was among the few women’s rights activists who has been involved in taking to court the infamous astrologer, Srinivas Gargeya for his recent wild views on women in the Panchang released for 2012. However, legal hurdles and politics with the rights commissions have ensured that the case takes a backseat. There is, however, another hearing on the case on March 16 and Devi is hopeful about justice being served this time. “It is an insult to the women in the State, that the AP State Women’s Body has not had a chairman for eight years. We have filed so many petitions regarding this issue but none of them failed to see any light. Politics continue to stall what little progress we wish to achieve for women,” she said.
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Grandparents’ day out A senior citizen day care centre run by Aasra is mired in confusion with no clarity on whether it is fully functional or not DEEPAK DESHPANDE
GHMC Sudeshna Koka sudeshna.k@postnoon.com
W
TRAINING
alk into the GHMC community hall in West Marredpally and you are bound to find diverse people congregating every evening. While a few come for walks, others come to relax and catch up with friends. Even youngsters flock for a game of basketball or cricket. But the most vibrant and lively group is the senior citizens group, who come together to regale each other with stories and celebrate life. “Just yesterday my friend turned 80, and we celebrated his birthday in the park, without sweets as most us are diabetic. We had a small party and celebrated it in our own unique way,” says B Gopal Rao, a retired accountant, who frequents the park. Interestingly, the Nehru Park in West Marredpally hosts the GHMC Aasra daycare centre. Nearly 190 senior citizens are registered. While it may sound like an interesting option for retired people, most of the time it is shut as their is confusion regarding the inauguration. “It’s open unofficially. We are yet to inaugurate it formally as there is some political conflict. Earlier, we wanted textile minister Shankar Rao to inaugurate it but other mem-
bers wanted MP Sarve Satyanarayana. All this is leading to a delay,” complains B Gopal Rao who is also treasurer of the club. The centre is frequented by two groups; the Senior Citizen Forum of Secunderabad and the Marredpally Senior Citizens’ Association. For senior citizens, this improper functioning is driving them to think of ways out. Venu Gopal, a retired bank manager and a visitor at the centre, says that he is ready to take care of the place and keep it open all day long. “How is it a day care center when it is open only for a few hours in the evening? All of us
are waiting for it to be officially inaugurated,” he adds. However, S Sree Ramulu, president of the club, rubbishes these claims and says that it was inaugurated two years back. He claims that the centre was recently renovated
from a one-room establishment to two rooms. “It functions well and is open from 7am to 12pm and 4pm to 8pm. Reports of it being closed is a rumour. Now the two-room day care centre has several games, tables, chairs and a library. All the equipment has been donated by the senior citizens themselves despite the confusion,” said Ramulu. Despite Ramulu’s assurances that it has already been inaugurated, the GHMC Aasra head, Mamta Bai, is also clueless. “After providing the facilities, we will let members decide who they want the club to be inaugurated by,” she says.
Emergency in hospitals — no EM doctors A shocking fact — Neither of the two leading public hospitals, Gandhi and Osmania, offer emergency medicine course, nor do they have trained EM doctors even as the number of accidents are on rise
HEALTHCARE Anubha K Singh anubha.k@postnoon.com
A
t a time when accidents are rising in City, the hospitals are dealing with acute shortage of emergency medicine (EM) doctors. The role of emergency medicine doctors becomes critical in saving precious lives. Emergencies mainly occur in cases like road accidents, cardiac problems, convulsions, and so on. In many cases, the duty doctors provide first-aid to the patient and then shift the patient to the doctors concerned. “Most of the times, patients in need of critical care are attended to by junior doctors, physicians or any other expert doctor in the casualty ward. Thus, most of the
emergencies are handled by the department after getting a call from a junior or an emergency medical officer. Even if the doctor happens to be competent, there is a lack of EM qualified doctors who
can manage patients of any emergency condition in a more professional manner,” said Dr K Suresh, president, Osmania Medical College Doctor’s Forum. Unfortunately, neither of the
colleges — Osmania Medical College or the Gandhi Medical College — offers a full-fledged course in emergency medicine. Some private colleges do offer the course but they are not fullfledged or postgraduation courses in emergency medicine. In the City, when it comes to an emergency case, especially those pertaining to road accidents, the patient is mostly taken to Osmania Hospital or Gandhi Hospital. The Osmania Medical College last year applied for the course but it was delayed due to lack of timely paperwork and this year again the course is missing from the list of courses offered by the college. “On an average, we get around 250 daily casualty or accident cases in Osmania hospital. It is not that the course has no demand. There are many students
who are keen on taking up the course but unfortunately nonavailability of the course is an issue. Surprisingly, there is no separate emergency department in many Indian medical colleges. “There is an urgent need for post graduation course in emergency medicine,” says Dr Suresh. This is a problem not only in City but the fact is that very few medical college or institutes in the country offer a full-fledged post graduation course in emergency medicine. The situation is similar in Gandhi Hospital too. Dr Rajender Kumar, head of department of the forensic department said, “We’ve sent a requisition for the course and hopefully the sanction may come this year. It’s a fact there is no emergency medicine doctor with Gandhi hospital now.”
Fashion special
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
RAF SIMONS
enters Dior’s fold Months after its star designer John Galliano was shown the door, the House of Dior has named his successor — Raf Simons
T
he year plus wait felt like a decade for fashion insiders, more so since the shoes to be filled were those of the larger than life John Galliano. The top design post at Dior, part of the luxury conglomerate Louis Vuitton-Moet Hennessey was finally filled on Monday with Raf Simons, former Jil Sander’s creative director. For months the fashion industry speculated over who would take over from the disgraced predecessor Galliano, who was fired after his anti-Semitic outburst in Paris. Names like Marc Jacobs, head designer for Louis Vuitton and Alber Elbaz of Lanvin were being touted as contenders for the position. After Galliano’s exit, the last year, Dior’s collections were designed by longtime studio chief Bill Gaytten. Born in Neerpelt, Belgium in 1968, Raf Simons graduated in Industrial and furniture design in 1991 and started working as a furniture designer for galleries and interior design projects. A sudden change of heart saw him become a self-trained menswear designer and launch his label Raf
Simons in 1995. A sabbatical in 2000 became necessary when he could no longer cope with the business side of fashion. Remerging in 2001 with new set of collaborators and restrategising his business in 2005, he launched a new line Raf by Raf Simons. Named creative director for Jil Sander (majority ownership by the Prada Group) in July 2005, Raf Simons bid a tearful farewell to the brand last season to make way for the return of the label’s founder. Raf Simons will be the Artistic director of Dior’s women’s wear Haute Couture, Ready To Wear and Accessory collections. He will continue with his own menswear line as well. For those who have worshipped his chic, minimalistic aesthetic, it is a restless wait to see how he marries his sensibility with Dior’s ultra feminine brand history. And, if he will rise well beyond Galliano’s shadow of ‘flamboyant and indulgent’ artistry, and succeed in making his own place in Dior.
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17,134.05 109.79
5,208.95 34.65
BSE
NSE
Business
10g= `28,900
GOLD
1kg= `56,400
Matters of saving and spending
SILVER
`51.48
DOLLAR
POUND WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012 9
Building on green boom SOURCE: CII
Prudhvi Raju K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com
there can also be savings on the electricity bills on account of airconditioning, he said. There is lot of alternative construction material available in the market like Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) and autoclaved aerated concrete block (AACB) for bricks for sustainable green building construction, said Anchuri. Real-estate developers are also keen on green building initiatives with increasing demand from the customers. The laws also making it mandatory to follow at least some green initiatives in the development stage like maintaining mini-
Asia to grow despite global headwinds: ADB LONDON: Emerging Asian economies will experience flat growth this year before recovering in 2013, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a regional report released Wednesday. The Asian Development Outlook report for 2012 said the region was shifting toward a “more sustainable long-run growth path” based on strong domestic demand instead of exports, which have been hit by wobbly Western demand. But the study also warned that the region’s rising wealth was fuelling inequality and income disparities, with the underprivileged at risk of being sucked into a “vicious circle” of poverty and neglect. The vast region’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth will “cool somewhat” to
NUMEROLOGY
10,000 is the number of ATMs operated by Axis Bank.
THUS SPAKE
A
dopting green and sustainable initiatives for office or house construction is becoming financially viable and attractive. The construction costs of green buildings are getting cheaper and affordable over time with growing demand for products, services and materials, according to a report published by CII Indian Green Building Council. The Wipro building constructed in 2005 has incremental cost of eight per cent, compared to Hyderabad Institute of Technology and Management 2007, which is just around 2 per cent. If the builder or the resident thinks of green or sustainability initiative from the design stage, the additional costs would be almost negligible. There are long term returns (energy savings) benefiting the resident forever, said SP Anchuri, chief consultant, Anchuri & Anchuri Architects and Engineers. The natural light can be utilised optimally with the designing (size) and placement of windows according to the climatology of the building. Balconies can be placed where there is natural breeze. Cavity walls or insulated walls can be used wherever there is heavy sunlight on the building. Though the costs of insulated walls are 10 per cent higher than normal walls, the comfort levels will be high and
`81.74
6.9 percent in 2012, down from 7.2 percent last year, before edging higher again to 7.3 percent in 2013. “Despite the weak global environment, developing Asia’s growth momentum continues,” it said. “Strong domestic demand provided necessary support in 2011, and this will need to continue in light of the soft export demand expected from the major industrial economies of the United States (US), eurozone, and Japan.” Even with a slowdown this year, developing Asian economies would easily outshine Europe, the United States and Japan where output is forecast to grow only 1.1 percent this year and 1.7 percent in 2013, the report said. AFP
mum side open spaces, 10 per cent area for growing plants, rain water harvesting for bore well water recharge and ground water recharge, said Anchuri. There is a misconception among people that all green building materials are expensive. There should be further awareness in the area which can accelerate the green building movement, he said. The average construction costs of a green building would be 5-8 per cent higher for a platinum building than a conventional building. These costs get paid back within three to four years with substantial reduction of operating
costs such as energy and water savings, according to CII Indian Green Building Council report. It is very important to understand the costs of energy (power) and water (buying water in tanks) are reaching sky high day by day. The industries and homes in India are thirst for energy (power). There are dangerous signs of depletion of underground water levels in the cities and in contrast, population is ever increasing. It is high time one should adopt sustainable and green initiatives not only to save money but also the important resource, ‘energy’.
Spain village votes to grow weed to boost economy BARCELONA: The Spanish village of Rasquera has adopted in a referendum a plan to rent out a field for growing cannabis in an urgent bid to create jobs and raise money to pay off its debts. Rasquera’s village council on February 29 approved the plan to rent seven hectares of public land to an association that promotes the legal recreational or therapeutic use of cannabis by its 5,000 members in a 4-3 vote. But since the plan was met with fierce opposition from some residents and opposition parties who fear it will turn the village into a drugs mecca, the council agreed to put it to a referendum on Tuesday. A total of 804 residents were eligible to cast ballots in the referendum which posed the question: “Do you agree with the anticrisis plan approved by the Ras-
“The extreme volatility of the price of food grains in the international market emphasises that future belongs to nations with grains and not guns. For young people to take to agriculture, farming must be both intellectually satisfying and economically rewarding,” MS Swaminathan Agriculture scientist
RUPEE FALLS The rupee today depreciated by 13 paise to trade at a fresh three-month low of `51.60 against the US dollar on the Interbank Foreign Exchange market in early trade, due to capital outflows and increased demand for dollar from importers. Apart from dollar gains against the euro, increased demand for the US currency from importers and capital outflows, mainly weighed on the rupee. The rupee had lost 33 paise to close at nearly a three-month low of `51.47/48 on Tuesday.
AIRBUS DEAL
quera town hall on February 29?” To the delight of Mayor Bernat Pellisa, 308 voters agreed with 239 against, a 56.3 percent “yes” which Pellisa described as a “magnificent result.” Earlier the mayor had threatened to resign with the entire council if the “yes” vote was less than 75 percent, but he happily brushed that aside saying: “Tomorrow morning we’ll take decisions after digesting the results.” AFP
Airbus is close to signing a deal with Indonesian airline Garuda worth around $2.5 billion, a source close to the matter said on Tuesday. “The negotiations between Airbus and Garuda are in the final phase and an announcement could come as early as Wednesday,” the source said. “The agreement involves the purchase of around 10 A330300 planes for an amount estimated at $2.5 billion dollars” at catalogue prices, it added. British PM David Cameron, who is visiting Indonesia, might announce the deal himself, the source said.
India‑View
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
India unveiled
Zoos to be graded soon Richa Sharma
NEW DELHI: Do you know which India’s best zoo is? Soon you will; with the authorities planning to grade the nearly 200 zoos in the country based on their performance on different scales. What’s more, those faring poorly could even be penalised. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA), which oversees the functioning of zoos across the country, is in the process of formulating a grading system which is expected to be in place within a month. The grading will be done on a scale of 100 under categories like sanitation, planning, environment, human resources, animal enclosures and health, education awareness among staff, administration, visitor facility and overall upkeep. All 198 CZA recognised zoos in the country will be graded by a team of experts and a certificate each based on their performance will be issued. “We are coming up with a grading system like the one prevalent in Western countries. All facilities in zoos will be measured on various indices and they will be rated accordingly,” BS Bonal, member secretary, CZA told IANS. The grading will be excellent (score of 90-100), very good (7089), good (50-69), fair (30-49) and unsatisfactory (less than 30). “The zoos falling in unsatisfactory category will be derecognised and would not be allowed
to stay open to the public. A timeframe will be given to them to improve facilities, failing which they will be shut down,” said Bonal. The CZA has already discussed the grading system with zoo directors and all have shown interest in ratings. The grading system will improve the upkeep of zoos as it is likely to develop a sense of competition among various zoos. The National Zoo Policy, 1998, gives clear directions for the functioning of zoos. It states
that the main objective of zoos shall be to complement and strengthen national efforts in the conservation of the rich biodiversity of the country. “To play the assigned role, the zoos need to have physically, genetically and behaviourally healthy and self-sustaining populations of desirable wild animal species,” he said. This is important not only for display but also as insurance against future exigencies and release/ introduction/ reintroduction operations in the wild, if
required. To provide financial support, zoos in the country have also been allowed to spend the revenue generated through sale of tickets for upkeep of the zoo rather than depositing in the state exchequer. The CZA was established in 1992 to oversee the functioning of zoos and provide them with technical and other assistance for their improvement. Accordingly, zoo rules were formulated to fix standards and norms for scientific management of zoos.
Swine flu: Delhi is ready NEW DELHI: With swine flu cases being reported from various parts of the country, the Delhi government on Tuesday said hospitals in the capital were prepared to deal with the virus. “Delhi hospitals are well prepared for swine flu. Hospitals have been earmarked for swine flu patients,” said Delhi Health Minister Ashok Walia. Walia said there was enough supply of ‘Tamiflu’, the medicine for swine flu. He added that six cases had been reported in the city so far. “In 2012, three cases were registered in January, two in February and one in March. The government is keeping a close watch on the situation,” he said. Swin flu killed 81 people in Delhi in 2009 and 56 in 2010. In 2011, only two deaths were reported from Delhi. Swine flu cases have been reported from at least 10 states this year. It has claimed 15 lives in Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra. Across the country, the disease claimed more than 2,700 lives from May to December last year. The peak season for swine flu infections starts in May as monsoon approaches. More than 46,000 people were affected by the virus from May to December 2011, according to health ministry figures. IANS
Summer heats up Pepsi Coca-Cola war Priyanka Sahay
NEW DELHI: With the mercury rising and the fizz getting louder, beverage makers are launching new products and campaigns with catchy taglines to grab a share of the $10 billion Indian marked, amid growing consumer base and fierce competition. PepsiCo, which has started the New Year with some productcentric innovations and big brand campaigns, has launched two new flavours of its soft drink Mirinda — Orange Masala and Orange Mango. “Through this unique local palette-led innovation, we expect to drive consumption frequency and penetration,” Deepika Warrier, executive director, marketing, PepsiCo Beverages, India, told IANS. “We have launched innovative and consumer-focussed initiatives to drive consumption. We
are also investing heavily in expanding distribution and have created a state of the art, segmented G2M strategy based on three filters — portfolio class, town class and outlet class,” Warrier added. Warrier refused to comment on the ad spend, but said PepsiCo is spending on 360 degree campaigns designed around all their brands. The firm has also started a new campaign, Change the Game — from cricket to football after the Indian team’s dismal show in England and Australia. Other players have taken the health route to lure customers. Cadbury India, part of USbased Kraft Foods, has launched Tang Mango focussing on the drink’s nutritional value. “Tang has yummy fruit flavours and is fortified with essential vitamins and minerals — thereby balancing refreshing goodness for the kids,” said
Which of the two is number one Pepsi and Coca Cola are two international soft-drink giants which control most of the softdrinks beverage business in the world. Pepsi and Coke command over 95 per cent of the soft-drink market in India. However, Coke continues to outsell Pepsi in most areas of the
world but in India and Pakistan and some other countries, Pepsi fares far better than Coke. Pepsi is the second-largest beverage business in the world after Coca Cola Ltd. Coke has around 43 per cent US beverage market share, PepsiCo has the figure at around 31 per cent.
Narayan Sundararaman, director, powdered beverages, Gum and Candy, Kraft Foods. The firm is also working on a range of flavours to suit local tastes. “The focus will also be on sampling for consumer awareness and trial generation.” The soft drinks industry in India is $10-billion-strong, and growing at 6-7 percent per annum, says the ministry of food processing industries. Yet, per capita consumption of in India is 5-6 bottles (same as Nepal’s) compared to Pakistan’s 17 and Sri Lanka’s 21. Both players and industry watchers expect the market to explode in the years to come, given the country’s young demographics and rising affluence. They say new drinks in the industry — energy drinks, flavoured water, sports drink — are all coming up because people want them. IANS
India‑View
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
India unveiled
Accused in Tiku murder case caught MUMBAI: Vijay Palande, prime accused in the Arun Tikku murder case, who fled police custody on Tuesday night, was caught again early today (Wednesday), an official said. Palande, one of the accused in the case along with Dhananjay Shinde, Manoj Gajkosh and small-time actor Anuj Tikku (son of the victim), were detained for the killing of Delhi-based businessman Arun Tikku (67) in Mumbai last Saturday, from different parts of the state. However, in a major embarrassment, Palande on Tuesday night escaped from police custody hours after he was arrested by the Mumbai police from Satara in western Maharashtra. Police sealed all exit points and launched a manhunt for Palande and finally succeeded in catching him again from the western suburbs, around 2am, the official said, declining to give details. Palande reportedly jumped over a compound wall and fled when he was being shifted from a vehicle to the crime branch lockup in Andheri east. It is not clear if Palande was tied, handcuffed or his face covered at the time of the incident and whether other protocols were followed, or why the cops accompanying him did not give a chase as he fled. A top official said that the trio, who had links with the mafia don Santosh Shetty gang, shall be presented before the court on Wednesday. IANS
Uncertainty prevails over Naxal hostages BHUBANESWAR: The Maoists holding Italian Paolo Bosusco hostage today welcomed ‘certain’ steps taken by the Odisha government to meet their demands while the fate of BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka held by another Naxal group was still unknown as the deadline set by both sides ended yesterday (Tuesday). In a fresh audio message to a section of the media, top leader of the Odisha State Organising Committee of CPI (Maoist) Sabyasachi Panda said contents of the joint statement signed by Odisha government representatives and Naxal-named mediators for Bosusco’s release were now known to them. The message came a day after the deadline fixed by both the Maoist groups behind abduction of the Italian and the Laxmipur legislator expired yesterday. In the first positive signal since the kidnapping of Bosussco on March 14, Panda welcomed some steps taken by the state government and said release of the Itaian would be facilitated if the decisions contained in the joint statement are implemented in a democratic way. The Maoist leader, however, did not indicate as to when, where and how the Italian national could be freed.
NEW DELHI: The tag ‘expat artist’ sits on them like misnomers. Meet this band of painters who are of foreign origin but have been carrying indelible images of India abroad through their fascination with the mysteries, faiths and colours of the Orient.
Indian multimedia artist of Dutch origin Sterre Sharma, who made India her home in 1971, delves into Oriental spirituality and everyday reality to look for inspiration. “All my paintings are inspired by Indian spirituality and culture,” Sterre told IANS. She has painted anecdotes from the love story of Radha-
India says UN reform delay ‘at own peril’ UNITED NATIONS: India has reiterated that reform and expansion of the UN Security Council are essential if it is to reflect contemporary reality, warning any delay would be “at our own peril”. “Early reform of the council must be pursued with renewed vigour and urgently enacted,” India’s permanent representative to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri said on Tuesday at the eighth round of intergovernmental negotiations on the issue. “India wants structural reform of the Security Council that responds to the pressing need for credible improvements in the global governance architecture,” he said.
SBI official, 9 others to be charged for cheating NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has passed Panda’s message was significant as it came a day after release of his wife Subhashree Das alias Mili Panda from jail following her acquittal. She is
The Naxal leader welcomed some of the steps taken by the state government to ease the situation. one of the people whose release Bosusco’s abductors want. The Maoist leader said mass organisations like Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) should also be allowed to
function freely without any restriction or ban in a democracy, while alleged atrocities by the police must end. He also condemned Odisha Police Association opposing release of ‘hardcore’ Maoists. Panda had yesterday claimed that he was yet to receive a copy of the joint statement signed by government representatives and the Maoist mediators on April 7. Meanwhile, there was no word from another group, the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee holding the BJD MLA which had sought immediate release of 30 people and their presence for a swap. The deadline for meeting its demands ended yesterday. PTI
Carrying India abroad in foreign brushstrokes
Madhusree Chatterjee
NATION AT A GLANCE
Krishna, using the visual imagery of Vrindavan’s traditional peacock dance, and has interpreted the stories of Hanuman and the sacred Hindu symbol of ‘Om’ in mandala-like abstract compositions in her art. The Hindu epic Mahabharata which she read after settling down in the home of her Indian politician husband,
Satish Sharma, has been a lifechanging experience. She has been helping nearly 1,200 families of poor Indian performers from the slums in the capital to showcase the endangered Indian arts in Europe since 1992, besides her own international art shows. “I wanted to be an artist when I was seven,” said Sterre. British artist Olivia FraserDalrymple inherits her passion for Indian art from her ancestor, James Baillie Fraser, who painted Indian architecture during the East India Company Raj. Olivia paints in the north Indian miniature style and picks up her subjects from the folk cultures and streets of India. Olivia, wife of novelist William Dalrymple, said she uses an Indian vocabulary in her work. The fact that she started off as a linguist helps her approach her art as an interpreter — “to capture the meditative quality of Indian miniature art”.
an order for framing charges against a senior official of the State Bank of India and 10 others for allegedly using forged documents to cheat the bank’s Industrial Finance Branch to the tune of `30.5 crore. Terming the loss caused to the bank as “mammoth”, Special CBI Judge Manoj Jain said the charges were for cheating, forgery, using forged documents, criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
India’s first luxury river cruise ship, MV Mahabaahu that was launched at the river Brahmaputra in Guwahati on Tuesday.
Constable suspended for duping girl GHAZIABAD: A constable, posted here in Bhojpur Police Station, was today placed under suspension on charges of maintaining a physical relationship with a girl on the pretence of marrying her. Acting on a complaint by the girl living in Modinagar that Arun Sehgal refused to marry her after promising her to do so and maintaining a physical relationship, SSP Raghubir Lal suspended him and ordered a probe into the matter. He also warned that a criminal case of rape will be registered against Sehgal if he is found guilty.
Condition of battered baby deteriorates BANGALORE: The condition of threemonth-old baby Afreen, allegedly battered by her father for being born a girl, deteriorated slightly today with the child slipping into a semi-comatose state, hospital sources said. “The baby’s condition has deteriorated slightly. She had two more convulsions yesterday evening,” Resident medical superintendent (RMS) Somegowda told. The RMS said the hospital would seek an expert opinion from a doctor at NIMHANS.
Around the World
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
Beyond Borders
‘Little Paris Kitchen’ spells success for British chef VPARIS: From au pair to television chef of the moment, Rachel Khoo has come a long way since she landed in Paris from London six years ago, armed with schoolgirl French and a love of cooking. With a bestselling recipe book and BBC series, The Little Paris Kitchen, now under her belt, the 31-year-old looks well placed to be the next big thing on the television chef scene. Or rather, the next small thing. For Khoo’s new-found fame comes courtesy of the microrestaurant which the bubbly brunette ran in her tiny 21square-meter studio in the city’s bohemian Belleville district. Khoo explained that her bijou eatery was a side-effect of research for what would become The Little Paris Kitchen recipe book — her third after two volumes of cake recipes for a French publisher. “It was because I’m single! I live on my own and if you test 120 recipes — there’s so much food that goes to waste,” she said. “I wanted to be able to test recipes, not waste food, and have some money to cover the ingredients.” So in January last year the young chef decided to tap into the worldwide trend for home restaurants. Hugely popular with hipsters over the last couple of years, these lunch or supper clubs see amateur cooks play chef at their own tables to invited guests in return for a donation to cover costs. There was no shortage of Parisians willing to help with the leftovers of her experiments in bringing a British twist to Gallic classics. Dishes such as croquet madame muffins made with Anglo-style sliced white bread and French lamb stew with
British chef and author, Rachel Khoo poses with her latest book in her micro-restaurant named La petite cuisine à Paris (The Little Paris Kitchen) that she ran in her tiny 21-square-metre studio. AFP
I wanted to be able to test recipes, not waste food, and have some money to cover the ingredients Rachel Khoo, British Chef quintessentially English mint sauce were so popular that word-of-mouth and a buzz on the blogosphere soon had people clamouring for a space at her table. Despite the fact that even after folding away her sofa bed
to make space for the table, Khoo could only seat two guests at a time, 1,000 people joined her mailing list. “It kind of went crazy,” she said. “Some people were so desperate to come here, it was unbelievable. People would send me their life stories, saying please let me come, it’ll make my week — it’ll make my year!” On the back of this success, a deal with the BBC followed, and Khoo’s Anglo-French fusion dishes are proving something of a hit with British audiences too, with the series debuting with one and a half million viewers. Her recipe book, published last month, last week hit number one in the British hardback charts, and has been translated into nine languages.
Growing up in the London suburb of Croydon, the daughter of an Austrian mother and a Malay-Chinese father, Khoo studied at the prestigious Central Saint Martins art college before deciding to chase up her dream of living in Paris. Once there she au paired and worked in a cookery book store, before enrolling at the capital’s Cordon Bleu school to study patisserie. Central to her foodie concept is the simplicity of the recipes and the setting — Khoo can touch both walls of her kitchen if she stretches her arms out and she turns out flawless food on a two-ring stove. Khoo believes much of her appeal lies in her shabby-chic accessibility, a good pitch for a lifestyle show during a recession. AFP
An entire nation may jive to Gaga NUIE: The tiny Pacific island nation of Niue is attempting to lure pop star Lady Gaga to its shores for a concert by promising that all of its 1,600 inhabitants would attend. TVNZ says that the idea came from the Niue Tourism Development Manager Hayden Porter, who has sent a later of invitation to Lady Gaga’s record label executives and tour promoters. Porter reportedly said “Lady Gaga is crazy enough that she may just go for it.” Niue is about 1,500 miles northeast of New Zealand, where she is due to hold three concerts in June, 3NewsNZ reports. It would be great fun if it happened, but of course we are not holding our breath, but it is a genuine invitation,” Niue Tourism spokesman Mike Hogan told Radio Australia. “She’s tremendously popular in the island, particularly with the young people of course.” According to AFP Niue is “desperate for visitors", explaining that the population has dropped from a high of about 5,000 in the mid-1960s with many leaving to find better opportunities, mostly in New Zealand and Australia. GLOBALPOST
DOOMSDAY SHELTERS LINE KANSAS MISSILE SILO SALINA: Tucked deep beneath the Kansas prairie, luxury condos are being built into the shaft of an abandoned missile silo to service anxious — and wealthy — people preparing for doomsday. So far, four buyers have put down a total of about $7 million for havens to flee to when disaster happens or the end is nigh. These “doomsday preppers”, as they are called, want a safe place and he will be there with them because Hall, 55, bought one of the condos for himself. Built to withstand an atomic A sign on a rural road points the way to a site where survival blast, even the most paranoid condos are being built in a former nuclear missile silo in Salina. AFP
can find comfort inside concrete walls that are nine feet thick and stretch 174 feet underground. Hall is building condos right up the missile shaft. Seven of the 14 underground floors will be condo space selling for $2 million a floor or $1 million a half floor. The units are within a steel and concrete core inside the original thick concrete, which makes them better able to withstand earthquakes. He is also installing an indoor farm to grow enough fish and vegetables to feed 70 people for as long as they need to stay inside and also
stockpiling enough dry goods to feed them for five years. The top floor and an outside building above it will be for elaborate security. Other floors will be for a pool, a movie theatre and a library, and when in lockdown mode there will be floors for a medical centre and a school. Complex life support systems provide energy supplies from sources of conventional power, as well as windmill power and generators. Giant underground water tanks will hold water pre-filtered through carbon and sand. AFP
Around the World
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
Beyond Borders
Romney-Obama arena set as Santorum exits WASHINGTON: Rick Santorum’s exit from the White House race on Tuesday marked a symbolic starter shot for the general election campaign, allowing all-but-certain Republican nominee Mitt Romney to turn his full attention to President Barack Obama. Several analysts and experts told AFP it was game on in what is shaping up as a monumental battle between a challenger with the best ground game in the Republican field and the deeppocketed, well-organized machinery of a fiery incumbent seeking another four years in the White House. There are still nominating contests in 19 states including delegate-rich New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and California, and two other candidates stubbornly refuse to go away. But experts agree that the Republican race has run its course, with a Romney nomination a foregone conclusion. “Romney can focus on uniting the Republican Party and running against Obama now,” said Alan Abramowitz, professor of political science at Emory University. While he no longer needs to campaign for the Republican nomination, Romney can not rest on his laurels. “He does need to stay active, if only to keep President Obama from completely dominating the political news,” said professor
Jindal backs Romney for president WASHINGTON: Indian American Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has extended his support to Mitt Romney, who is expected to bag the Republican Party’s nomination for presidential polls. In a statement, Jindal said he looks forward to supporting Romney in the presidential elections in November. Jindal announced his endorsement of Romney yesterday, hours after former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania dropped out of the race. Jindal had initially endorsed Rick Perry, the Governor of
Bobby Jindal with his mother Raj Jindal.
PTI
neighbouring Texas. After Perry withdrew from race, Jindal was keeping quite. Mainstream American media has named Jindal among the list of possible vice presidential running mate of Romney.
John Pitney of Claremont McKenna College. “In 1996, Bob Dole stopped campaigning after he secured the nomination, and President (Bill) Clinton was able to increase his advantage in the polls. Romney does not want to face such a problem.” That means working to convince core Republicans like evangelical Christians — Santorum’s traditional base, many of whom are skeptical of Romney — as well more moderate Republicans and independent voters that Romney is their man. Meanwhile Romney must forge ahead with drilling into the president’s policies, which Romney argues have failed to speed up the recovery from the worst recession in decades. He did that straight away on Tuesday. Shortly after Santorum’s capitulation, Romney took to the stump, and while he applauded his Republican rival for making “an important contribution to the political process,” he swiftly pivoted to Obama. The president’s “policies have by and large been devastating to small business,” Romney told supporters in Wilmington, Delaware. Santorum bowed out before the key primary in his home state of Pennsylvania, pledging to do what he can to help defeat the Democratic incumbent in November. AFP
Pak loads up nuclear weapons WASHINGTON: Estimated to have more nuclear weapons than India, Pakistan is rapidly developing and expanding its atomic arsenal, spending about $2.5 billion a year to develop such weapons, a report has said. “Pakistan has been rapidly developing and expanding its nuclear arsenal, increasing its capacity to produce plutonium, and testing and deploying a diverse array of nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles,” said the report ‘Assuring Destruction Forever: Nuclear Modernisation Around the World’. “Pakistan is moving from an arsenal based wholly on HEU to greater reliance on lighter and more compact plutonium-based weapons, which is made possible by a rapid expansion in plutonium production capacity,”
said the 150-page report by Reaching Critical Will of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. “Pakistan is also moving
from aircraft-delivered nuclear bombs to nuclear-armed ballistic and cruise missiles and from liquid-fueled to solid-fueled medium-range missile. Pakistan also has a growing nuclear weapons research, development, and production infrastructure,” it said. According to the report Pakistan is estimated to have 90110 nuclear weapons. “A longterm concern now driving Pakistan’s nuclear programme is the US policy of countering the rise of China by cultivating a stronger strategic relationship with India. This may tie the future of Pakistan and India’s nuclear weapons to the emerging contest between the United States and China,” ,said the report. Pakistan has a number of short-range, medium, and
longer-range road-mobile ballistic surface-to-surface missiles in various stages of development. “It has developed a second generation of ballistic missile systems over the past five years. It is estimated that Pakistan could have a stockpile of 2750 kg of weapon-grade HEU and may be producing about 150 kg of HEU per year,” it said. Estimates suggest Pakistan has produced a total of about 140 kg of plutonium, the report said. While not much information is available on the funding of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons project, the report said estimates indicate that Pakistan spends about $2.5 billion a year on nuclear weapons. India, the report said, is estimated to have 80–100 nuclear warheads. PTI
GLOBE AT A GLANCE Lawyers for watchman who killed Martin quit MIAMI: The lawyers for the US neighbourhood watch guard who shot dead an unarmed black Florida teenager in February said on Tuesday they had dropped the case — and that their former client was not in the state. “As of today, we are withdrawing as counsel for Mr. Zimmerman. We’ve lost contact with him... He’s gone on his own,” Craig Sonner told reporters in Sanford, Florida.
North Korea injects fuel, readies for launch PYONGYANGL: North Korea says it has begun fuelling its rocket ahead of a planned launch. Paek Chang-ho, head of the satellite control centre of the Korean Committee of Space Technology, said fuel was being injected “as we speak”. He did not confirm the exact timing of the launch, but it is expected between 12-16 April.
South Korean voters cast their ballots for the National Assembly elections at a polling station in Seoul today. AFP
China orders Philippine warship to leave waters MANILA: China accused a Philippine warship of illegally entering Chinese waters and ordered it to immediately leave the area, escalating a territorial dispute in the South China Sea. The Chinese embassy in Manila released a statement reasserting the country’s sovereign rights to the South China Sea, including the disputed area that is much closer to Philippine landmass.
South forces captured largest oil field: Sudan SUDAN: Sudan says its largest oil field is now controlled by South Sudan’s army. A Sudanese military spokesman said its forces had been defeated outside Heglig, and retreated north. South Sudan said its forces had advanced to Heglig, but stopped short of saying its forces actually controlled the oil fields. Clashes between the two sides started two weeks ago.
A member of the French scientific police inspects the scene of an overnight bomb blast in Ajaccio on Tuesday in Corsica. AFP
Comment
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
Fair, free and forthright
Editorials JUSTICE ELUDES Godhra victims
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he Special Investigation Team report has cleared Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi of any wrongdoing in handling the post-Godhra riots. However, the assertive BJP strongman has miles to go before he can win the trust of minorities. Instead of trying to heal the wounds caused by the massacres that took place in the state under his watch, Modi chose to continue his anti-minority tirade. Though voted back to power repeatedly, Modi’s path has created a schism between the majority and minority communities in the state that will be difficult to bridge. The Opposition Congress, instead of confronting the CM, has chosen to maintain deafening silence in fear of losing whatever support it has managed to retain among the majority community. Several top policemen and politicians who fell foul of Modi have said there has been lot of cover-ups and destruction of evidence. As the top-level masterminds and operators of the slaughter walk free for lack of evidence, it is only natural that wounds that justice would heal remain open.
WHY WE LOVE... IPL umpires
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thin line is that separates a loud appeal from an argument. Once that is crossed, the situation turning outright ugly is not far. To ensure that the gentleman’s game stays that, requires that the problem be nipped at the bud... even in the highly commercialised version of the game — the IPL.
Hand-outs shouldn’t be taken for granted Fusillade Arun Koshy Philip
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wo Indian greats, who walked this world 14 centuries apart, were apt in their summary of human nature of greed and avarice. For some, it is acquiring wealth in different forms; others seek pleasure in enjoying hand-out privileges that their positions command. There are two classes in the country to which expecting almost everything as complimentary comes naturally. Yes, they are politicians and bureaucrats. The former consider invitations and complimentary passes as their right for being the representatives of the people, while the latter seek it for being the indispensible cogs that ensure efficient governance. Both are under the grip of a post-colonial hangover, high on the nostalgia of the days when the ruling class enjoyed unfettered power, privileges and concessions for “bearing the burden of governing and civilising the ignorant masses”. We are 12 years into a new century, yet little has changed in the way politicians and babus think. Latterly, a national daily reported that the Karnataka State Cricket Association has been forced to outsource to private contractors the task of clearing about 18 tonnes of garbage from the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The BBMP, controlled by Bangalore corporators, that cleaned the stadium after matches till recently, has refused to continue their services. Why? Because the corporators were denied ‘complimentary’ VIP passes for the IPL matches held in the city. Also, officials have suddenly woken up to the Karnataka State Cricket Association’s long-pending tax dues to the tune of Rs6.5 crore. One cannot deny that the timing was excellent, or that it’s “sheer coincidence”. The corporators and babus deny that notifying the cricket body about the dues was done in retribution for refusing them passes. They claim that it’s all part of their smart plan of shaming the association into coughing up taxes, as it would not risk sullying its name during the IPL, for deals worth crores would
Trimming Marxism
Live and let live
Has anyone checked the WB HS history syllabus or at least one history book? Just because some Avik Mazumdar claims something, doesn’t make it true. It is time journalists did some fact check of their own to make news reports better. Current history syllabus and text books have no extra stress on any particular ideology. It is basically a controversy created by a politically motivated person — Avik Mazumdar who has neither read the syllabus nor a history book.
Shwetha Pai’s article on US versus Hyderabad was a well-written one. It makes me wonder at the daily problems members of the LGBT community have to face to live in any city. Ostracised as they feel, they are even deprived of the freedom to live. If they would not have declared their sexual orientation... then they could have easily hailed a cab or for that matter do anything, but just because they believe in living life their way, they are being victimised. It is really a sad state of affairs. While one cannot expect the NGOs to do the same thing here, I hope there are organisations working to make some difference. Girish S Kukatpally
Swetha G By email
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The ignorant mind, with its infinite afflictions, passions and evils, is rooted in the three poisons: greed, anger and delusion.
There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed. Mahatma Gandhi
Bodhidharma be at stake. Both parties may have several excuses. However, a bigger question emerges: Why present such freebies and privileges to politicians and bureaucrats? Government officials are paid for their service to the nation and its people. It is an open secret that apart from their salaries and perks, these mandarins amass wealth via bribes and other underhand ways. Yet they want more. There have been numerous instances where aircraft and trains were delayed to ensure boarding of politicians who turned up late. Recently a Union minister courted controversy when records revealed that an air-
TALK BACK 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
craft of the national carrier was diverted to fly a group of his relatives. Only a few may not have had to suffer for the reservations and concessions made for VIPs, especially at places of worship. The sight of a cop not paying for the food or tea he helps himself to at an eatery is far too familiar. It’s high time something’s done. The privileged ones may protest that they are entitled to such special treatment, for they bear the burden of leading and serving the nation. Well, no one asked these folks to lead and serve us. And if they cannot do without it, they may sit at home. The writer works for Postnoon.
Shun violence
Solutions to crisis
The incident narrated at the end of the article titled God and a great moral certainly requires thought. The recent incident in the Old City left me shocked. Reading the articles as written by your reporters, I too am forced to believe that the attacks were premeditated. Almost like a film were being played out. Shame on the people who indulged in meaningless violence; communal elements trying to cash in on these riots are fit for contempt nothing else. To justify God and his various ideals is a sham after all this communal drama. Sheetal Mahato Secunderabad
The article Recharging the elixir in the Sunday edition really caught the attention of many. But what about the actual execution of the steps mentioned in preserving water? Fear of falling short on one of the most essential elements for life can only take you so far for protecting it. We need to break it down and provide more simple steps that an individual can actually follow in his or her daily life. Tips that can actually be put to practice could help ease the crisis.
Vaijayanthi Kari By email
Cinema Paradiso
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
In the quest for T the American Pie American Pie was the quintessential sex comedy which inspired several other spin-offs in the last decade. On the eve of the release of American Pie Reunion, we trace the journey of these coming-of-age films which thrived on the quest for a slice of the American Pie
MOVIE OF THE WEEK
In search of Love
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he movie stars former High School Musical star Zac Efron. He plays Marine Sgt. Logan Thibault, an Iraq war veteran who returns to the United States, determined to find out one thing: the identity of woman in a photograph that he believes saved his life in Iraq. The marine locates the woman whose name is Beth (Taylor Schilling), and agrees to work at her dog kennel without telling her why he showed up at her door. When they begin a relationship, all sorts of hassles get in love's way. After three tours of duty, the Marine is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. And Beth, a
single mother, seems to be grief-stricken after her brother is killed in action. Blythe Danner plays Beth's understanding grandmother, Ellie Jay R Ferguson is Keith, Beth's dysfunctional ex-husband, and a deputy sheriff, who causes trouble for the Marine. The Scott Hicks-directed movie is a fairly loyal version of the Nicholas Sparks’s book, which means there's emotional turmoil mixed with love and modest lust.
Movie: The Lucky One Director: Scott Hicks Cast: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling and Blythe Danner
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Hemanth Kumar hemanth.k@postnoon.com
een comedies have been the staple of American filmmakers for more than 50 years. Back in the 50s, sex was still too much of a taboo to be discussed or shown openly in films and most films made before the 60s were modelled as musicals or love stories set in colleges. It all changed in mid-60s with films like Beach Party which struck a chord with the young generation. Frontal nudity was yet to go mainstream, but it didn't take too long for filmmakers in Hollywood to get the young audiences flocking to the theatres in massive numbers. John Landis' National Lampoon's Animal House was among the first big success stories in this genre. Made on a budget of $2.5 million in 1978, the film went on to gross more than $140 million dollars. The success of this film led to the emergence of a new genre of films named as gross-out films. Nudity and toilet humour were in vogue. In the 80s, grossout films like Porky's, Hot Bubblegum and Revenge of the Nerds continued the trend. Most of these films have few things in common — a bunch of friends who unsuccessfully try to lose their virginity and end up finding true love. It's not surprising then that this subplot became so critical to the success of some of the films later on, especially American Pie. Directed by Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz, American Pie stormed the box office in 1997 and almost everything in this film found a place in popular culture. It's essentially a coming-of-age story which follows the lives of four friends and their escapades to lose their virginity before they graduate from high school. Although such themes had been part of several other films in the past, American Pie rewrote the rules of this genre. It wasn't even the nudity or double entendre, which was ubiquitous in the film, that made the film click so much. Was it nostalgia that people had about their college lives? Most likely. American Pie captured the 'fun' part of high school so well that everything else was just icing on the cake. Adam Herz, the film's writer, once said that the title also refers to the quest of losing your virginity in high school, which is as "American as apple pie." And some people, in such films, would do anything for that. In American Pie it was Paul Finch, in Porky's it was Pee Wee and in Hot Bubblegum it was Huey. The entire cast of American Pie has reunited for American Reunion, the latest installment of the series. While Stifler (Seann William Scott) and Jim's dad Noah (Eugene Levy) were two pathbreaking characters in the film, Stifler's mom (Jeniffer Coolidge) has become an icon of sorts. If you haven't watched this series yet, maybe you'll never understand what the quest for the American Pie is all about. Sex comedies may have taken a new form, but they have not ceased to be fun.
H‑Factor
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
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LEND A HELPING HAND
Sometimes like minded people can be the best help, like support groups work for addicts
ECG can help monitor heart’s activity
Dr Sunil Kapoor
How is myocardial infarction diagnosed? To diagnose a myocardial infarction, a physician will conduct a thorough medical history (including a complete description of a patient’s symptoms), conduct a physical exam, and perform one or more of the following tests:
n Electrocardiogram
Suvarna Bhambure suvarna.b@postnoon.com
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n the battle against addiction, sometimes the best source of help is not trained clinicians or counsellors, but everyday people — people who have gone through the same trials and tribulations as an addict or their close ones. This type of help is often found through support groups. Whether you are battling addiction or are suffering because of a loved ones addiction, chances are you’ve felt uncomfortable or perhaps embarrassed about how unstable your life has become. This can sometimes cause a reluctance to talk about your life experiences, for fear of being judged. The beauty of support groups is that they are a nonjudgmental, safe place to share your thoughts, experiences and feelings. Addiction creates a wall surrounding our emotions, but that wall must come down, or the recovery will fail. Support groups can help tear down emotional barriers. By now we know how difficult it is to overcome drug addiction. Not only the addict but even his family and friends
are affected by this. And as we know people do not understand what they might be going through. To help them get through this situation there are various support groups around. These groups help us deal with the situation and also helps the addict to come to terms with themselves.
Advantages One advantage of a support group for addicts is that the person understands that they are not alone in their addiction. Addicts come from all sorts of backgrounds and economic strata, and most of them are very good at hiding their addiction from their families, friends, and employers. The support group is a place where they are accepted and feel safe enough to admit that they need help without fear of social stigma. Another advantage of an addiction support group is the educational aspect. Some groups invite guest speakers and experts to address the members about the different aspects of addiction. By understanding their condition, the addict can learn how to deal with it effectively.
Types of groups There are many. Alcoholics Anonymous has been the foun-
Support groups help drug addicts come to terms with their situation and deal with the problem they’re facing dation for many offshoots that deal with all sorts of addiction problems. Narcotics Anonymous deals with people who are addicted to narcotic drugs, Al-Anon helps family members who are trying to cope with a loved one who has an addiction, and there are many more.
Support for Family Friends and family members of addicts are affected by the addict’s actions as well. They may feel hurt, angry, or frustrated — all at the same time! They may also feel helpless and not know who to turn to. The family members may wonder what they did or said that may have contributed to their loved one’s addiction. Being able to share their thoughts and feelings with others going through a similar experience within a support group like Al-Anon, for example, can be helpful. They may not have many other places
where they can open up about what is going in their lives, and the fact that everyone in the room understands their situation helps them feel more comfortable. Family members can develop their own strategies to deal with addiction. There are several people who have gained a lot because of them. In the end, it all depends on your acceptance of the situation, your perception towards this whole thing. You may not need the help of a support group, but there’s really no harm to go and see how it works. Probably someone’s story may inspire you to deal with things. It’s not difficult to get in touch with these support groups. Almost all the rehabs, therapists, counsellors know about them. Take their help if you feel you need to be heard by someone who won’t judge you. You can also visit http://india.al-anon.alateen.org/ to get more information about Al-Anon support group in India. You can also visit http://www.naindia.in/ for information and meeting places of NA (Narcotics Anonymous) in India. Let’s help addicts get out of the mess and not blame them for getting into one. It’s your help and support they need.
ECG tests monitor the electrical activity of the heart. Physicians look for certain patterns on ECGs that suggest myocardial infarction. In many cases, the ECG can reveal which part of the heart is damaged, the extent of damage, and whether the heart attack has caused an abnormal heart rhythm.
n Cardiac blood tests
Cardiac blood tests look for evidence that a myocardial infarction has occurred and heart muscle has died. In some cases, several blood tests have to be checked over a period of several hours, since evidence can take time to appear in the blood.
n Echocardiography
An echocardiogram, or echo, is a test that uses ultrasound, or highfrequency sound waves, to take a moving picture of the heart. The physician uses it to evaluate the structure and function of a patient’s heart and surrounding vessels.
n Cardiac catheterisation
Physicians may recommend cardiac catheterisation and angiography, especially if the ECG and/or cardiac blood tests indicate the presence of a myocardial infarction. In this test, a catheter is inserted into an artery in the groin or arm and advanced into the heart. When the catheter is positioned near the arteries that supply blood to the heart, the physician injects a contrast dye. X-ray pictures are taken to see if there are any blockages. (The writer is a senior consultant cardiologist at Care Hospital, Hyderabad)
H‑Factor
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
Holistic view of mind, body and soul
Autism linked to obesity Researchers with the UC Davis MIND Institute found that mothers-to-be who were obese were 67 per cent more likely to have a child with autism
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n Keep an eye on nutrition:
What you’re eating and when can impact your anxiety levels. The more stressed we are the more likely we are to eat what’s “quick.” What we put into our body hugely impacts our brain chemicals as well as the rest of our body. The more refined the carbohydrate the greater the spike and dip in blood sugar. This causes stress on the system. Reduce caffeine and sugar because both are powerful and cause only cravings and disturbed sleep patterns.
n Take a walk:
Even if you can’t set aside time for yourself to exercise — find ways of building activity into your life. Park farther away at the shopping center, walk to the playground with your kids, meet a friend for a walk instead of coffee, do a walking meeting at work, designate an active family outing after work or on the weekends. You’ll be surprised how much less anxious you’ll feel if you stay keep your body moving.
n Breathe:
New Alzheimer’s scan approved The new test could enable doctors to detect Alzheimer’s earlier and more accurately.
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The scan uses a radioactive dye called Amyvid, which binds to beta amyloid, the toxic protein that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers,
You can beat anxiety hands down
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ew research suggests that autism is more likely to occur in children whose mothers were obese during pregnancy. Researchers with the UC Davis MIND Institute in California found that mothers-to-be who were obese were 67 per cent more likely to have a child with autism as opposed to normal-weight mothers without diabetes or hypertension, CNN reported. The study, one of the first of its kind, involved about 1,000 California children, ages 2 to 5. Researchers looked at their mothers’ medical records and examined the association between obesity and autism, CBS News reported. Researchers also found that pregnant moms with diabetes more than doubled their chance of having a child with developmental delays compared with healthy mothers, according to CBS News. Dr Daniel Coury, chief of developmental and behavioural pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, told MSNBC the results “raise quite a concern.” US autism rates have increased along with obesity rates, and this new research suggests that may be more than a coincidence, Coury told MSNBC. More research is needed to confirm the results. It’s unclear whether diabetes or obesity is actually impacting the growth of the fetus, but it’s always possible that the women have something else in common, the study’s lead author, UC Davis doctoral student Paula Krakowiak, told MSNBC. The study was published online in the April 9 issue of Pediatrics, according to CBS News. GLOBAL POST
new Alzheimer’s scan has been approved by the FDA, which may allow doctors to detect the disease earlier and more effectively, the Wall Street Journal reported. The test, developed by Eli Lilly & Co, scans the brain for the presence of proteins related to Alzheimer’s disease. It was approved on Friday by the Food and Drug Administration. “There are a lot of patients who have been groping in the dark for some time now, and here’s an opportunity to shine a light in their brain and find out if there’s amyloid or not,” Dr Daniel Skovronsky, who developed the test for Lilly, told the Journal.
GREY MATTERS
ow often have we all fought to keep that anxiety under control? Every little thing — be it an upcoming presentation or meeting somebody important, feeling anxious is a natural phenomenon. But do you realise we can get more done by worrying less? Read on for tips on how to keep anxiety at bay.
Sarah Wolfe
Talia Ralph
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Reuters reported. Doctors are then able to see the plaque on a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. If the scan is negative, “that gives the clinician a clue that Alzheimer’s is less likely to be the cause of those symptoms,” said Dr Skovronsky. Doctors can then look for other potential causes of the patient’s memory decline, he told the Journal. Last March, an FDA panel rejected Amyvid, amid concerns that doctors might have trouble interpreting scans of the plaque, Reuters reported. Eli Lilly said it has since worked to identify better training methods to ensure doctors use the test effectively, according to Reuters. Lilly, which will sell the drug
through its unit Avid Radiopharmaceuticals in limited quantities starting in June, also said the test should not be used to diagnose Alzheimer’s, because brain plaque can be a sign of other conditions or occur naturally in older people with normal mental states, the Journal reported. “The approval of Amyvid offers physicians a tool that, in conjunction with other diagnostic evaluations, can provide information to help physicians evaluate their patients,” said the company’s Friday statement. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, which affects more than 35 million people worldwide and slowly eliminates memory with age.
It seems so simple — yet it’s something we all forget to do. Research shows that people who are anxious do not breathe as deeply. As Americans we generally breathe shallow and fast. Many of us have never really learned how to breathe deeply. Find a quiet place even for 5 minutes a day and take 3 to 5 deep breaths. These will help you slow down and regain perspective on all the “What Ifs” haunting you. We have our breath available to us at all times. It can literally be a wonderful tool in slowing us down.
n Ask for Help:
If you’re trying all these suggestions and your anxiety is still strong that you’re making destructive choices that impact you and your family — remember that you are not alone. Help is available. Meet with a professional for a mental health, addiction or behavioural assessment and determine what additional support you may require to live a healthier life. Remember, asking for help does not make you weak. In fact, it shows you have the wisdom to know when handling a challenge on your own is not working. Source: www.psychologytoday.com
Spotlight
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
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DEEPAK DESHPANDE
Letting the music flow
Anjali & Micheal
Shradha Das
On a Tuesday night, when the sun is down and you need a place to go. Cuba Libre in Banjara Hills should be the place to go. It’s ladies night and fun is always on the house.
Habeeb & Arushi
Pamper your soul Actor Shraddha Das was the chief guest at the first anniversary celebrations of Soul fitness, spa and salon in Banjara Hills on Tuesday
Zoya
DEEPAK DESHPANDE
Ani & Siri
Aman & Sweety
Shafi & Sam
Joeeta
Taruna
Aachan
Chinmayi Chinmayi
Magic Screen
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
Pawan Kalyan sings in Gabbar Singh
T-TOWN TWEETIES
@tashu_02 Gudmorning... day 2 of my shoot!! Guys its not a film shoot... its a website shoot n m playing the host for this show...
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awan Kalyan’s upcoming film Gabbar Singh might very well turn out to be a box-office monster, if the buzz surrounding the film is anything to go by. Pawan Kalyan doing a fullfledged mass entertainer after a long time and to give his fans more reasons to celebrate, we hear that he has sung a song in the film. In the past, he had sung in Khushi, Jhonny, Gudumba Shankar and Panjaa. Gabbar Singh is one of the most awaited films of the year and the film is in the last stage of principal shooting. Right from the film’s first look to the recent audio teaser, everything about this film seems to have struck a chord with the audience. Shruti Haasan is playing the lead role in the film. Harish Shankar is directing the film and Devi Sri Prasad is composing the music. The film’s audio will be launched on April 15.
Amy Jackson is the new Barbie doll A
my Jackson is going places. She first came into the spotlight with AL Vijay’s 1940 A Love Story, the dubbed version of Madarasipattinam and later went on to star in Gautham Menon’s Ekk Deewana Tha which was the remake of Ye Maya Chesave. The latest news is that officials from Mattel, Inc., the manufacturer of Barbie dolls, have approached her to launch a new series of Barbie dolls inspired by her. The only other Indian celebrity who had her own series of Barbie dolls was Katrina Kaif and now it is Amy Jackson’s turn. We hear that Amy Jackson was thrilled with the offer. These dolls inspired from Amy Jackson will be unveiled both in the US and India later this year. Meanwhile, she has couple of big ticket films including Ram Charan Tej starrer Yevadu and AL Vijay’s bilingual film Thaandavam lined up for release this year.
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@Alwayscharan In Mumbai shooting for the first schedule of Zanjeer. Its a GRT team im working with.so pls wish them all the best !!!
Daruvu’s audio launch on April 18
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avi Teja is all set to make a smashing comeback with his upcoming film Daruvu. The film is being touted as a socio-fantasy and Ravi Teja is counting a lot on this film. “I have never done a role like this and I am sure that Daruvu will be a 100 per cent entertainer,” Ravi Teja said. Shouryam Shiva has directed the film and Burugupalli Shivaramakrishna has produced it. Taapsee has teamed up with Ravi Teja for the second time after Veera. The film’s audio will be launched on April 18. Vijay Anthony, a popular Tamil music director, has composed the music for Daruvu. Although Ravi Teja’s previous film Nippu failed to click at the box office, sources close to the film unit say that Daruvu will definitely strike a chord with the audience.
@richyricha Just finished up w day #1 of pre-release promos for Bikram Singha (bengali). Revealed first look in Sealdah & Howrah :) great crowd response
@ramsayz There r no Good & Bad ppl... just ppl who react differently to their Good & Bad experiences... #RAndoMthoughts
@LakshmiManchu It is really a curse being a producer and the lead actor in the same film. Ur crew is confused as to what to treat u like.
@Actor_Siddharth Wow! Harbhajan got off with just a warning ??? Guess the BCCI finally has competition in the bullying department.
@shrutihaasan Had such a fun productive day at work!! I loooove the feeling of being joyfully exhausted after a dynamite day
@taapsee I dnt really hav dat much interest in cricket but wen it comes to India in world cup or Delhi in IPL m really helpless.
Magic Screen
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
Madhuri to star in Vishal’s Dedh Ishqiya A
ctor Madhuri Dixit Nene has finally signed on the dotted line for Vishal Bhardwaj as the female lead in Dedh Ishqiya. Since Madhuri returned to India, there
were reports that she will replace Vidya Balan in the sequel to the 2010 hit Ishqiya. But the Bollywood diva vehemently kept denying it. Now that she has signed the film, the 44year-old confirmed it on
Twitter. She would also be judging the fifth season of dance reality show Jhalak Dikhla Ja for the second time. “Hey guys, back in action. On sets for Star’s Life OK. Am doing Dedh
Ishqiya. Jhalak right around the corner. More to come!," Madhuri tweeted. Madhuri’s last release was Aditya Chopra’s Aaja Nachle which did not fare well at the box office. PTI
22
B-TOWN TWEETIES
@SrBachchan T 709 - "In the rush of life where was the time to sit somewhere and think, whether what I did, said and believed in, was good or bad ...”~
@sonakshisinha Rainstorm in april in the middle of Punjab!! We need to stop messing with our planet... IMMEDIATELY!!
@realpreityzinta Sitting in yet another plane surrounded by a screaming baby, a lady talking loudly on her phone & a super serious man... Bachaaao !!!
@rampalarjun Yes Mumbai Indians super finish by Rohit Sharma. Yay congratulations. Dale Steyn also incredible and scary.
@bipsluvurself Its soooo hot!Wish I was in Goa!Swimming and chilling! Mumbai is Hot and Humid!N am shooting in a Blazer and denims!Ufffffff!
@NeilNMukesh
‘It’s important to maintain innocence in adult comedy’
Amitabh Bachchan likely to undergo a CT scan
A
mitabh Bachchan, who recently underwent abdominal surgery, has again developed excruciating pain and is likely to undergo a CT scan today. “So last night, just after I had finished with the blog, I rose from my desk to get to bed, but excruciating pain, stopped me in my tracks and I found it difficult to walk to stand to sit to lie down. Quite horrendous! This was not there post operation even.. so what really is the reason for it two months down the line?," Bachchan wrote on his blog.
ctor Riteish Deshmukh, who would be next seen in adult comedy, Kya Super Kool Hai Hum, says it is important to maintain some kind of innocence in such films without going overboard. After the success of Kyaa Kool Hai Hum in 2005, Riteish is again pairing up with Tusshar Kapoor in this sequel to tickle the funny bone of the audience. Also, both the actors are set to get dirtier with their acts in the sequel. “While we were enacting few scenes for Kya Kool Hai Hum we had no idea how the audience would react to those scenes,
as we were attempting something new and different. What happens is when you have a film like this...an adult comedy... to maintain innocence in it is important," Riteish said after unveiling the first look of the sequel.
A
Just saw the promo of “the three stooges” can’t stop laughing ! Hahahahahahaha ! Its hilarious.
@AnupamPkher Saw Chhodo Kal Ki Batein. Dir Pramod Joshi has made the most important film of our times. Pls see it & discover WHY. “I have no answer. But tomorrow there should be one as I prepare for a CT Scan, after devouring a large bottle or bottles of that yellow fluid, that shall line the internal organs so the scan can pick up any region that could be infected or being the cause for the pain," he said. PTI
@bomanirani Last night, 3 am, marine drive, while shooting saw: 15 young wild bikers crazily riding across,THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD, police stared.
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
The glamour behind the glitz
MILEY CYRUS
King pens another horror novel
M
any latter Stephen King novels have noticeably, mostly pleasantly eschewed all-out horror in favour of directions like romance, impenetrable domes amplifying smalltown politicking and neighbour-murdering, and time travelling adventures in getting JFK un-assassinated. Now King is pressing pause on all that messing about, at least for a moment. "He’s writing a book called Joyland, about an amusement park serial killer," Neil Gaiman almost notes in an amusing profile. With so much semiprestigious showbiz goodwill amassing around King lately — Ron Howard's crazy ambitious plans for The Dark Tower, Ben Affleck's potential trilogy adaptation of The Stand, John Mellencamp's Kingwritten stage musical, Showtime and Brian K Vaughan's Under the Dome miniseries, Jonathan Demme snagging the rights to 11/22/63, we could all use at least one more schlocky horror film based on a bloody work straight out of King's wheelhouse.
25
SLAMS ANOREXIA RUMOURS
I
f you haven't already noticed, not only has Miley Cyrus been looking fierce, but she's also sporting a slimmed-down figure as of late. Thanks to Pilates and a gluten-free diet, the former Hannah Montana star has seriously toned up and she's not afraid to show off that abtastic belly in a bevy of crop tops. But after tweeting a photo on Sunday, haters harshed on Miley's slim-down, calling her anorexic and way too thin. So, has the adorable babe and role model to thousands taken her weight war one step too far? Miles quickly fired back, revealed she has a gluten allergy and insisted, "It's not about weight it's about health." And while we're proud of Cyrus for sticking up to her haters, we're concerned with the obsession over Miley's frame.
Chai Time
KAKURO
How to play Kakuro Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: ‘How do you play kakuro?’, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number. Within each collection of cells — called a run — any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.
SCRIBBLING PAD
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
Take a shot at the brain game while sipping your cuppa
26
QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Command to Fido 4 Winter accessory 9 Band of fighters 14 Lennon's wife 15 Mongol invader 16 Trout-fishing venue 17 Teen crush 19 Musician's transition 20 Biblical King of Tyre 21 A person's equal 23 Got more mature 24 Radio interference 26 Smart-mouthed 28 Matinee idols 32 Bugling mammal 35 Speak unclearly 36 Boise's state 38 Racetrack boundary 40 Luau 43 Word of mock horror 44 Bit of tomfoolery 46 Brown or scorch 48 Noted seashore vendor 49 Ambiances 53 Gossipy gal 54 Tilting 58 Thai coin 60 End-of-year season 63 Strictly verboten 64 Airport once called Orchard Field 66 Where one's first savings are deposited? 68 Leafy shelter 69 ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ actress Georgia 70 Elevator on a golf course 71 Wanda of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ 72 Examine again, as a patient 73 What's extracted from soil to get oil? DOWN 1 Frosh successors 2 Arctic native 3 Coconut meat 4 Baffles
5 ‘Iron Man’ Ripken 6 Over 7 All-night dance party 8 Least constrained 9 Letterman's turf 10 410 or 212, eg 11 Diners' requests, sometimes 12 Chap who plays the field 13 ___ out a living (barely got by) 18 Walk in a garden 22 Cheerleader's cheer 25 Baby elephant 27 Paranormal showman Geller 29 Be sorry about 30 Curbside takeout? 31 Exile of 1979 32 History chapter
33 Turner of Hollywood 34 Where headlines were made on Dec 17, 1903 37 Exalting poem 39 Certain citrus source 41 Wait and ___ 42 Fictional Georgia plantation 45 Scam 47 Fashion anew 50 Wallowing whereabouts 51 Tom Canty, in a Mark Twain book 52 Flat piece 55 Decrease 56 Ninth day before the ides
SUDOKU
57 Quick puffs 58 ____ and weaves 59 ‘Hey there!’ 61 Script segment 62 Poached breakfast items 65 Sounds of hesitation 67 Turn right, to a horse PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
THOUGHT OF THE DAY Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else’s can shorten it. – Cullen Hightower
Chai Time STAR POWER
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
Your tomorrow today̶Star Power and Tarot THIRUVAIKUMAR
As per Hindu panchang
FOR 12-4-2012
thiruvaikumar@yahoo.co.in 040-27177230 / 9177596118
TAURUS
GEMINI
An old‑age problem will get resolved. Unexpected financial fortune likely. Renovation of house will be undertaken and an annex will be added. In certain issues, you might get disappointed.
One of your future plans will be suc‑ cessfully completed today. Work that got delayed will resume and progress well. Children will act with responsi‑ bility. Sudden trips likely.
Your determination to complete work will increase. Friendship with VIPs like‑ ly. Some have bright chances to buy a house or land. Some might construct their own house with a bank loan.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
You will be stubborn in getting work do‑ ne. Your arguments will yield fruitful re‑ sults. Though income is abundant, expe‑ nses too will be more which upsets you. Employees will get new responsibilities.
Friendship with VIPs likely; it will be beneficial. Differences between couples will be over. You will buy a new vehicle with exchange of an old one. Your influ‑ ence amongst friends is set to increase.
You will think differently and imple‑ ment all work successfully. Purchase of house as per your taste will happen. Family will be in a happy atmosphere. You will fulfill wishes of your kids.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Your administrative capabilities will in‑ crease. Written off dues will get collect‑ ed and surprise you. A new asset will be purchased by selling an existing one. Daughterʼs marriage will be finalised.
You will adopt a right approach to get work completed successfully. Money from expected sources will come. You will guide your children better. Spouse's health will become alright.
All expectations will get fulfilled without fail. You will think wisely due to the fri‑ endship of knowledged people around you. Happy events to take place at home. Employees will get support.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Opposition will become weak and you will gain an upper hand. Political VIPs will extend help. Buying or constructing a house will become a reality. You will be entrusted with new responsibilities.
New and innovative plans will complete successfully. Money from expected sources will come. Marriage talks will become favourable and get finalised. Businessmen are assured of profits.
All work undertaken will get completed successfully. Sudden and unexpected inflow of money likely. Friends or rela‑ tives abroad will help you. Spouse's health will be a cause for concern.
SUMAA TEKUR
FOR 12-4-2012
tarotreadhyd@gmail.com
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
Eight of Cups – You have everything and your life is near per‑ fect. This is to the outside world. But only you know that youʼre missing some‑ thing.
Queen of Cups – You seem very vulnera‑ ble and those around you feel you might need to protect your‑ self better. What you feel is what you show on your face.
The High Priestess – You have the fear of being replaced – in your job or in your personal life as a par‑ ent or as a lover. The fear is genuine.
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
Eight of Pentacles – You need to do some‑ thing more in order to get ahead in career. Upgrade your skills, learn something new. Or just keep an open mind.
Strength – Finances need some attention. Look for good deals and discounts, espe‑ cially while making big purchases. Shop smart and make use of card points.
Five of Cups – Youʼre feeling low and out of sorts because of some disappointment. Someone you trusted has let you down. M‑ ove on, donʼt get neg‑ ative about anything.
LIBRA
SCORPIO
SAGITTARIUS
Knight of Pentacles – Planning is key today. Keep some buffer time between appointments and account for delays and disappointments. A tough, testing day.
The Chariot – Travel is on the cards. This will be an important journey when you meet interesting peo‑ ple who make an impact on your future life course.
Eight of Swords – Some bonds are being severed. But they may not be very strong ties. You will be forced to give up some friends because they are negative.
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
Ace of Pentacles – This is the meeting of the left and right brains. Youʼre able to use your creativity and make it work in a largely structured format.
Nine of Swords – Marriage needs atten‑ tion. You and your partner might want to take a holiday together and spend some alone‑with‑ each‑other time.
Three of Cups – A third person may be interfering in a romantic relationship. It could be a mother or a sibling, who is anxious and worried about you constantly.
For Better or for Worse Stone soup
SOLUTIONS
Boggle SHOE SOCK BOOT SNEAKER SANDAL
Number game
Suduko
Scrabble
Ink pen
COMICS
Fred Basset
ARIES
TAROT READ
27
Vol: 1, No 269 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad–500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon.com and for subscription, please call 040-4067 2222, Fax: 040-4067 2211
Playing Field
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
The games people play
28
No raging bull can stop him When the bull that he was fighting was done with him, Juan Jose Padilla was blinded in the left eye and suffered severe facial injuries. But five months later, the Cyclone of Jerez was back in the ring “to win, to triumph, to be a better man”.
J
uan Jose Padilla walked into the ring to the traditional “paso doble” brass band music amid the cheering of the crowd. Then two unaccompanied flamenco style “saeta” songs were played to honour him, a rare honour for a bull fighter. About 5,400 people, including models and celebrities, had occupied the stands in Olivenza’s historic bullring, built in 1854, to watch Padilla, the star attraction at the annual Taurine festival. “The Cyclone of Jerez” wore a “suit of lights” outfit that had been made for the occasion in gold braid and olive green. His tailor, Justo Algaba, said the design signified hope. And the stitching on the suit that resembled laurel leaves? “They (laurel leaves) were used to crown the brows of
audacious combatants and great heroes,” Algaba said. Five months ago, on October 8, 2011, Padilla, after piercing a bull’s back with two sharp, barbed “banderillas”, slipped in front of it in a bullring in Zaragoza, northeastern Spain. The bull plunged a horn into Padilla’s lower jaw and caused his left eyeball to protrude. Spectators screamed in horror as Padilla was seen getting up shouting, “I can’t see, I can’t see anything.” He was raced to Miguel Servet Hospital where surgeons performed a five-hour operation, fixing the broken parts of his face with titanium plates. Now Padilla wears an eye patch and speaks with a lisp and his face is partially paralysed, yet he fulfilled what he describes
ROONEY: YOLO, MARIO
GLITZ BITZ
W
as an unquenchable desire to once again face massive 1,100-pound (500-kilogram)
Band it like Beckham
W
AYNE Rooney has laughed off his “Sex God” battle with Mario Balotelli after they bedded the same vice girl. “Juicy” Jennifer Thompson, 23, tried to spark a feud by saying Mario was the best in the sack, reports the Daily Star. But Manchester United star Rooney refused to take the bait. He responded by firing off a light-hearted Twitter message to Balotelli, who often scrawls his thoughts on a T-shirt under his football top.Rooney, 26, Tweeted: “Gutted I didn’t get to see what Balotelli had on his shirt. Heard it said yolo. Haha.”
Top: Padilla back in action on April 6. Above: The fight in which Padilla was severely injured.
E’VE had The Bee Gees, Hanson and the Jonas Brothers – now it’s time for The Beckhams. David and Victoria are in for some serious earache as their kids are forming a band. Brooklyn, who has been repeatedly strumming The Beatles’ Here Comes The Sun, plays guitar while Romeo is on drums. Cruz, who is also mad on ballet, is the Bez of the group because he breakdances along to their efforts, reports the Sun. Victoria said: “As they go to bed the boys break into a chorus of Walk Like A Man. It’s their favourite song from the Jersey Boys musical.”
fighting bulls with the aid of only a cape and sword. The 38-year-old’s reason for his return is the need to “to win, to triumph, to be a better man”. It’s hard to judge distances and the speed of approaching objects without twoeyed stereoscopic vision. But Padilla had little trouble killing his first bull. The second kill was dedicated to his father who embranced his son after the kill. Padilla was carried out of the ring on the shoulders of fellow bullfighters. Ernest Hemingway said bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the fighter’s honor. Every bullfighter knows this. Padilla knows best. Agencies
LAMPARD GF DENIES ‘BRIBING‘
C
HRISTINE Bleakley has angrily denied claims that she and fiancé Frank Lampard tried to bribe other couples to give up their wedding venues, reports the Sun.The pair, both 33, are said to have offered fortunes to two brides and grooms to rearrange their big days so the celebs can grab the booking date. Dancing On Ice host Christine — set to wed the Chelsea ace this summer — raged: “I’d never in a million years ask someone to move a wedding.” Newspapers in Ireland have reported claims that mega-rich Frank gave a couple £100,000 to switch their day at Galgorm Manor hotel in Co Antrim, near Christine’s family home.
29
WEDNESDAY APRIL 11, 2012
METRE
We have the quality in the team, if we play to our potential, then we’ll be hard to beat. Balaji's bowling today was the best I have seen in a T20 competition. Gautam Gambhir, KKR Skipper
Ajinkya Rahane (RR) 98 runs K. Cooper (RR), L. Malinga (MI), M Morkel (DD), 7 wickets
BRIEF SCORES: KKR VS RCB
S
6 96
Dwayne Bravo (CSK), Rohit Sharma (MI)
5 4S214
Ajinkya Rahane (RR)
16
98
HIGHEST SCORE
Ajinkya Rahane (RR)
BEST BOWLER
5-16
Ravindra Jadeja (CSK)
Royals set for MI test
AFP/NOAH SEELAM
G Aparna Sai feedback@postnoon.com
I
t maybe too early to comment but Rahul Dravid seems to be following the footsteps of Shane Warne — Rajasthan Royals’ first captain cum coach who guided the team to their maiden IPL title in 2008. Present skipper cum coach of RR, Dravid, seems to be chalking out a similar plan with the present Rajasthan team. Having led his side to victory in both the matches they played this season and with the present form, one should not be surprised if the summer of 2008 is recreated in this edition. Although, not considered as the strongest team on paper, the Royals certainly have players worth a mention. With the present orange cap holder — Ajinkya Rahane — belonging to this team, RR will hope that his willow silences the opponents. Another player worth a mention is Ashok Menaria who has been in
good form in the recent past. Meanwhile, in the bowling department, Kevon Cooper, who is among the leading wicket takers this IPL season, would look to continue this form and torment the Mumbai Indians. However, MI who managed to sneak a victory from the jaws of defeat, when they played against the Chargers on Monday, earned two very useful points and would hope to continue this momentum.
RR VS MI AT 8 PM ON SET MAX Though Sachin Tendulkar is likely to miss out on this clash because of the injury he sustained during MI’s match against Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai is not a worried lot as they still have players to bank on. Rohit Sharma, whose knock of 73 saw MI sail to the coast safetly, is certainly a player who can trouble the Royals while Lasith Malinga and skipper Harbhajan Singh, on a good day at office, can spell trouble for the opponents.
KKR 165/8 IN 20 OVERS (GAUTTAM GAMBHIR 64, VINAY KUMAR 2/18) BEAT RCB 123/9 IN 20 OVERS (VINAY KUMAR 25, LAKSHMIPATHY BALAJI 4/18)
Rohit Sharma will be a key player for the Mumbai Indians when they take on Rajasthan Royals today.
OF ARRESTS AND SHORT CIRCUITS
F
our persons were arrested on Monday near the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium where they were allegedly selling IPL tickets in black, police said. With this, police have arrested six persons for black marketing IPL tickets in the past two days. The arrested have been identified as Ashok (28), Anil Saxena (35), Rajesh (42) and Ashraf (32). Fifty tickets were recovered from them. Meanwhile, The IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders was delayed by 20 minutes due to short circuiting of electrical wirings at the advertisement hoardings at the ground. RCB players had come out at the Chinnaswamy Stadium ground after their captain Daniel Vettori opted to bowl but the delay was long enough for them to return to the dressing room. Organisers said that a bag placed on the advertisement hoardings which had electric wires in them that led to a small fire due to short-circuiting. Karnataka State Cricket Association President and former India captain Anil Kumble and RCB owner Vijay Mallya were seen on the ground as the match could not be started on time. PTI
BRIEF SCORES: CSK VS DD
CSK 110/8 IN 20 OVERS (DWAYNE BRAVO 22, MORNE MORKEL 2/19) LOST TO DD 111/2 IN 13.2 OVERS (K PIETERSEN 43, R ASHWIN 1/21)
PLAYER OF THE DAY P W L T PT NR RR 2 2 0 0 4 1.325 PWI 2 2 0 0 4 1.250 DD 3 2 1 0 4 -0.82 MI 3 2 1 0 4 -0.018 KKR 3 1 2 0 2 0.206 CSK 3 1 2 0 2 0.04 RCB 2 1 1 0 2 0.55 KXIP 2 0 2 0 0 -1.325 DC 2 0 2 0 0 -1.95 P-played; W-win; L-lost; T-tie; NR-net run rate; PT-points
Owner of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Siddharth Mallya shakes hands with team captain Daniel Vettori prior to the IPL T20 match between RCB and Kolkata Knight Riders in Bengaluru on Tuesday. AFP/MANJUNATH KIRAN
LAKSHMIPATHY BALAJI: The Kolkata Knight Riders player tormented the Royal Challengers Bangalore batsmen to claim the man of the match title yesterday. The 30-year-old bowler whose bowling was filled with pace and aggression, saw him scalp four wickets giving away just 18 runs from his qouta of four overs. The former Chennai Super Kings player made life miserable for the RCB players. He struck in the fifth ball of his first spell when the ball came of the edge of Virat Kohli’s bat to be caught by Manoj Tiwary. His accurate bowling saw the opponents lose wickets at regular intervals. He was well supported by teammates Jacques Kallis and Shakib Al Hasan who claimed two wickets each.
Playing Field
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
The games people play
“Are you racing on the blood of martyrs?” SHANGHAI: Formula One looks set to come under fresh pressure to shelve Bahrain’s grand prix this week in China, where preparations have been rocked by ongoing protests and a hunger strike in the desert state. As teams and officials gather at Shanghai International Circuit, the focus is on events thousands of miles (kilometres) away in Bahrain, where activists have called for “three days of anger” during the April 20-22 race. Last year’s Bahrain race was postponed and eventually called off after violent antigovernment demonstrations and a deadly crackdown, and
30
NATIONAL SPORT Jeev, Jyoti in Malaysian Open Golf Seasoned pros Jeev Milkha Singh
and Jyoti Randhawa will feature in a strong contingent of Indian golfers who will be among the starters at the Maybank Malaysian Open starting on Thursday. Former British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen, who lost the play-off to Bubba Watson at the Masters play-off, the 2010 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, former PGA champion Martin Kaymer and Matteo Manassero are among the starters.
“
I will take nothing from Salgaocar as my boys showed a lot of character. We were better than Wehdat. Karim Bencherifa, Salgaocar coach. They lost 1-2 in AFC Cup
Mehta loses to Xiao Snooker India’s Aditya Mehta lost to
Commercially, they have to go, but whether they decide to or not is up to them. We’ve no way we can force people to go there. Bernie Ecclestone Formula One supremo
A Bahraini Shiite man walks past graffiti against holding the Formula One Grand Prix in Bahrain reading “Are you racing on the blood of martyrs?” in the village of Barbar, west of Manama. Bahrain’s Shiite opposition raised the pressure on Grand Prix organisers to cancel the ritzy Formula One show for a second year in a row, amid fears over the fate of a jailed hunger-striker. AFP/STR team officials have again voiced disquiet, according to British media. Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone admitted he could not force teams to take part — but he said only officials in Bahrain could decide whether the race would go ahead. “We’ve no way we can
force people to go there,” Ecclestone said. “We can’t say, ‘You’ve got to go’ — although they would be in breach of their agreement with us if they didn’t go, but it doesn’t help. “Commercially, they have to go, but whether they decide to or not is up to them. I’ve had no one say anything other than, ‘We’re going to be racing
in Bahrain’.” Teams are certain to face questions about Bahrain in Shanghai. This week, seven police were wounded in a blast and Denmark’s prime minister said jailed activist Abdel Hadi al-Khawaja was in a “very critical” condition after two months on hunger-strike. AFP
Aussies turn tables
Australia’s Ben Hilfenhaus in action on day four of the first-of-three Test matches against WI.
BRIDGETOWN: Some fine batting by Ryan Harris and an electrifying spell of bowling from Ben Hilfenhaus looked to have turned the first Test with the West Indies in Australia’s favour on an engrossing fourth day here Tuesday. West Indies finished the day on 71 for five in its’ second innings, leading by just 114 runs after Australia’s tail wagged and Hilfenhaus knocked over their top order. Earlier captain Michael Clarke declared Australia’s first innings at 406 for nine with his side still trailing by 43 runs.
It was an aggressive move allowing his bowlers to attack the West Indian batsmen either side of tea and Hilfenhaus took advantage in the 25 minutes leading up to the break removing the top three. Harris — who had earlier hit an unbeaten 68 — added the important scalp of Shivnarine Chanderpaul shortly after tea. “To get him out second innings for not many was a huge wicket because I think they batted around him a fair bit,” said Harris. AFP
China’s Xiao Guodong in the second round of the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield. In the first session on Tuesday, Xiao was took a huge 8-1 lead. But, Aditya started of very well with breaks of 70 and 140 to close the gap with his highly-rated opponent to 8-4. Aditya had a chance to close the gap further to 8-5 but Xiao held on to close the match with two breaks of 60 and win 10-4.
S
McDowell Mohun Bagan routed Shillong Lajong 6-1 during the I-League encounter at the Yuba Bharati Krinangan, in Kolkata on Tuesday. For Bagan, Sunil Chhetri and Odafa Okolie scored a brace while Syed Rahim Nabi and Jose Ramirez Barreto netted one apiece.
East Bengal lose 0-2 to Arbil East Bengal’s misery in the AFC Cup football tournament continued as they were beaten 0-2 by Arbil SC in Arbil, Iraq on Tuesday. Forward Abdullrazak Al Hussain scored both the goals for the Iraqi outfit. Al Hussain put the hosts in lead by scoring in the first half’s added time and found another immediately after the change of hands, in the 47th minute at the Franso Hariri Stadium. East Bengal’s chances of progressing to the next round had already suffered a jolt after they lost in the first leg in Kolkata last week.
Football
Playing Field
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
The games people play
31
WORLD SPORT Olympian Lenzi dies at 43 Mark Lenzi, who won Olympic diving gold for the United States in 1992, has died at the age of 43. "USA Diving is truly saddened by the passing of Olympic champion Mark Lenzi," USA Diving chairman Bob Rydze said in a statement posted on the federation's website. "As an Olympic gold and bronze medalist, Mark was one of our country's greatest divers, and he will be missed tremendously."
Diving
“
No female has ever done it, so I think that was in the back of my mind that it would be good to do something that no one has ever done. Jane Trumper, first woman to cross the Simpson’s desert in Oz
Abidal will return, says Pep Barcelona's French international defender Eric Abidal was nearing the end of a lengthy liver transplant operation Tuesday, club coach Pep Guardiola said. The 32-year-old defender — who received a moving tribute from the fans at the Getafe match in the 22nd minute the same number as his squad shirt — was to receive a liver donated by his cousin Gerard. "I am sure he will return,” said Guardiola.
Football
Liverpool’s Andy Carroll scores his team’s third goal past Blackburn Rovers’ goalie Paul Robinson during their English Premier League football match at Ewood Park in Blackburn, north-west England, on Tuesday. AFP/ANDREW YATES
10-man Reds pip Rovers
A
ndy Carroll struck a dramatic injury-time winner as 10-man Liverpool beat Blackburn Rovers 3-2 at Ewood Park in a rollercoaster Premier League clash here Tuesday. Liverpool looked to be cruising to victory after goals from Maxi Rodriguez fired them into a 2-0 lead early on. But a red card for goalkeeper Alexander Doni — himself filling in for the suspended Pepe Reina — changed the complexion of the game and thrust thirdchoice goalkeeper Brad Jones into the limelight. Jones promptly announced his entrance by saving Ayegbeni Yakubu’s spot-kick but Rovers hauled themselves back into the contest and eventually drew level. Yakubu made amends for his penalty miss to head home for 2-1 and then levelled from the penalty spot in the second half to make it 2-2 and give Rovers hope of pulling clear of
the relegation zone. However Carroll was to have the final word with his header a minute into stoppage time to give Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool manager, another Ewood Park occasion to put in his memory bank. It will always be a special ground for Dalglish after winning the Championship while in charge of Blackburn in 1995. And it became extra-special within 16 minutes as Liverpool’s lightning start eased the pressure on Dalglish. Only 13 minutes had gone when Blackburn went behind, with much of the credit going to Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel who speared a splendid 80-yard pass into the feet of Craig Bellamy. The winger charged forward before delivering a perfectly-judged cross that Rodriguez turned in from close-range. Three minutes later, Liverpool stretched their lead — and Rodriguez was again the scorer after impres-
‘This is for Luca’ Brad Jones dedicated Liverpool's 3-2 win at Blackburn to his son Luca, who died of leukaemia five months ago, after the goalie endured a bitter-sweet Premier League debut for Kenny Dalglish's side on Tuesday. Jones had only made two senior cup appearances for the club before he was unexpectedly called into action in Liverpool's last game before Saturday's FA Cup semifinal with Everton at Wembley.
sive work from Jonjo Shelvey. The midfielder won the ball in midfield and surged forward to force a save from Rovers’ keeper Paul Robinson. Carroll’s shot from the rebound was blocked, but Rodriguez was more clinical when the ball dropped to his feet and he swept it in. Liverpool’s stunning start came despite a much-changed side with Dalglish clearly eyeing this weekend’s FA Cup semi-final against Everton. Another regular missing was Pepe Reina, serving the second game of his three match suspension to give a rare opportunity to Brazilian Doni. Reina’s red card at Newcastle had presented Doni with the chance to play in Saturday’s semi-final — but his Wembley dream was shattered after just 25 minutes after he brought down Junior Hoilett. Third-choice keeper Jones replaced Jon Flanagan, the full-back whose mishit back-pass had left Hoilett racing clear.
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Intensive care nurse Jane Trumper, 51,said on Wednesday she felt "fantastic" but tired after becoming the first woman to run across Australia's Simpson Desert, enduring searing temperatures on the 660 kilometre journey.
Celtics beat the Heat Paul Pierce scored 27
Basketball points and Kevin Garnett added 24 on Tuesday as the Boston Celtics beat LeBron James and the Miami Heat 115-107, their second victory over the Heat in less than a fortnight. Garnett added nine rebounds and Rajon Rondo scored 18 points with 15 assists — his 18th straight game with double-digit assists — as the Celtics backed up their 9172 victory over the Heat on April 1. While that victory hinged on defence, it was offence that worked for Celtics this time.
Playing Field
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012
The games people play
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No more punishment for ‘bad boy’ Balotelli
Barcelona celebrate a goal scored against Getafe CF on Tuesday at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. AFP/ JOSEP LAGO
Real feel Barcelona’s breath on their neck D efending champions Barcelona upped the pressure on leaders Real Madrid on Tuesday as they moved to within a point of their bitter rivals after a 4-0 thumping of Getafe. Two goals from Alexis Sanchez, one from Pedro Rodriguez and Lionel Messi’s 39th in the league this season gave Barca a 10th consecutive league victory after another near perfect performance by the Catalans. In the 22nd minute the home crowd chanted the name of Eric Abidal, the French international who on Tuesday underwent a liver transplant, in recognition of the number 22 shirt he wears as part of Barca’s squad. Real can restore their four point advantage if they beat Atletico Madrid on Wednesday — they have not lost to their city rivals since 1999. The clash between Barca and Madrid on April 21st in the Camp Nou has become increasingly important as the Catalans have reduced the gap on Madrid from 10 points to only one in less than a
THE CLASH BETWEEN BARCA AND MADRID ON APRIL 21ST IN THE CAMP NOU HAS
BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT AS THE CATALANS HAVE REDUCED THE GAP ON MADRID FROM 10 POINTS TO ONLY ONE IN LESS THAN A MONTH.
month. Barcelona dominated Getafe throughout, controlling possession with their usual passing game and goalkeeper Victor Valdes summed up the situation on the final whistle. “Our work is done here, lets wait and see what Madrid do tomorrow night in their game,” he said. However coach Pep Guardiola was cautious about talking about his team’s title chances. “All we can do is think about our games, we have a big game away to Levante at the weekend
and then a Champions League semi-final, we have to focus on those games and nobody elses,” he said. Andres Iniesta had the game’s first chance when his shot was tipped over by Miguel Angel Moya in the Getafe goal on 12 minutes. A minute later and Barca were ahead. Iniesta started the move on the left for Messi to chest the ball into the path of the Chilean Sanchez who made no mistake from 20 yards out. On 17 minutes the lead was almost doubled when Xavi Hernandez had appeared to finish perfectly a neat passing move only for Argentinian centre-half Cata Diaz to scoop the ball clear on the goal-line. Barca continued to dominate but did not add to their lead until just before half-time when Iniesta supplied Messi with a delightful back flick for the Argentinian to finish with a powerful shot. On 72 minutes Alexis doubled his tally heading home an inch perfect right-wing cross from youngster Isaac Cuenca. AFP
LONDON: Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli will not face further punishment following his wild tackle on Arsenal midfielder Alex Song last weekend, the Football Association confirmed on Tuesday. Balotelli, who was given a three-match ban following his sending off for a lunge on Bacary Sagna later in the same game, had faced the prospect of additional punishment for a dangerous, studs-up, shinhigh challenge on Song. But because referee Martin Atkinson saw the incident —
while missing the extent of the challenge — and chose not to take any action at the time, the FA said they were unable to act retrospectively. “Retrospective action in relation to the incident involving Mario Balotelli of Manchester City and Alex Song of Arsenal, which occurred in the 20th minute of Sunday’s game, will not be taken,” the FA said. “Where at least one of the officials has seen the coming together of players retrospective action is not taken, regardless of whether they have seen the full extent of the challenge.”