MINIATURE BEAUTY
W
ith the Mini set to launch in India, we look at the classic’s evolution; a car that revolutionised small cars throughout the world.
SEARCH FOR THE SUITABLE BOY
CONNECTING THE THREADS
I PG 16&17
t isn’t easy to find ‘a suitable boy’ on matrimonial portals. Be prepared to kiss a lot of frogs along the way! Patience is the key to finding your prince charming!
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EVEN ANIMALS FEEL THE HEAT This summer, spare a thought for the City’s animals.
Hyderabad’s first compact afternoon newspaper
APRIL 14, 2012 HYDERABAD
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32 PAGES
ON SATURDAY
Tension built up in Hastinapuram today after the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar was found damaged: Hooligans broke its raised right hand. People began gathering at the scene but police cordoned off the area.
AMBEDKAR STATUE
DAMAGED
EGYPT LOSING ITS GRIP ON THE NILE
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olitical uncertainty in post-revolution Egypt is allowing other Nile states to wrest control of the world’s longest river. PG 5
N SHIVA KUMAR
BRANGELINA ENGAGED
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ollywood’s hottest couple has made it official, with Brad Pitt proposing to Angelina Jolie after six children and seven years of unwedded bliss, a spokeswoman said on Friday.
FL ASH MILD TREMORS FELT IN GUJ, MAHARASHTRA
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PG 4
wo earthquakes that measured 4.5 and 4.9 on the MMS shook parts of Gujarat and Maharashtra this morning. The epicentre of the first quake was Bhuj while the second was Satara. Mumbai and Pune also felt mild tremors. There are no reports of casualties.
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PAGE TWO SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
UP AND ABOVE
Vishu greetings Head to Dakshin to bring in the Malayalam New Year. The menu features a variety of festive delicacies from Kerala. Where: Dakshin, Begumpet When: April 14 Contact: (040) 2340 0132
M ANIL KUMAR
Go Splash Splash lounge is the perfect leisure destination for you to unwind. There is also great music, martinis and aperitifs. Where: The Westin, Mindspace, Madhapur When: Monday - Friday, 5pm - 10.30pm Weekends, 8am - 10.30pm Contact: (040) 6767 6828
Taste of Bengal Nobo Borsho feast will be held at Verandah and Aish from April 13April 15. Sample the best of East and West Bengal by The Park Kolkata’s chef. An a-la- carte menu is available at Verandah and an interesting Thaali at Aish. Where: The Park, Rajbhavan Road When: Ongoing (April13-15) Contact: (040) 2345 6789
Water colours 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
Taj Mahal Ka Tender If Shah Jahan was to build the Taj Mahal today it would be quite a herculean task. The play Taj Mahal Ka Tender adapted and directed by Nagaraj Pejjai deals with such a situation wherein Shah Jahan is out to build the Taj Mahal but gets stuck between corruption and bureaucracy. Where: Nift campus Madhapur When: April 15, 7.30pm Contact: (040) 2311 0841
Asian barbeque The Square, Novotel, Madhapur plays host to an Asian barbeque. Sample grilled specialities from around the world. Where: The Square, Novotel, Madhapur When: Every Saturday, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 6682 4422
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
Pregnancy tips The Birthplace is organizing a session on Diet & Nutrition for a healthy pregnancy by Dr Barbara Bjarnason, a German nutritionist. Where: Mosaica American School, Plot No 16, Kavuri Hills When: April 14, 4.30pm- 6.30pm Contact: 98855 69459
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
IPL special Truffles Cafe is offering a great way to catch the live telecast of IPL season 5. Head to Truffles Cafe for IPL
CINEMAS
When: April 14, 7.30 pm onwards Contact: (040) 2311 2121
Crepes and waffles
special mocktails, beverages and starters and various other delights. Where: Truffles Cafe, Jubilee Hills, Rd No 36 When: Ongoing, 8am onwards Contact: (040) 2355 0105
Mexican film festival World cinema? Head to Annapurna Studios Preview Theatre on April 14 for a Mexican film festival Where: Annapurna Studios Preview Theatre, Banjara Hills, Rd No1 When: April 14-15, 5.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 4914 1234
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
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
Pratibimb 2k12 A six day acting workshop by Sutradhaar is being held in Hyderabad. Where: Sutradhar Casting Agency, Himayathnagar When: April 12 onwards, 9pm onwards Contact: 98480 52541
Hard Kaur live Popular pop singer Hard Kaur will be performing live along with various other cultural events Where: Hitex exhibition Centre, Madhapur
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
Mood for Mediterranean From April 13 to April 22, The Deccan Pavillion at ITC Kakatiya is offering a Mediterranean dishes such as cheese, olives, wines and sangri. Lunch buffet is priced at `1,049, and dinner costs `1,149. Where: ITC Kakatiya, Begumpet When: Ongoing, 11am-7pm Contact: (040) 2340 0132
Solo painting exhibition A preview of Ramakanth’s Solo Painting Exhibition which deals with the loneliness of the long distance runner will be held on April 14. The exhibition features oil - on - canvas, acrylics and mixed media paintings. Where: Hyderabad Marriott, Tank Bund When: April 14, 6.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999
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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CITY SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012 M ANIL KUMAR
Be cautious on the road
T
he Cyberabad police is circulating a message for the safety of girls who travel to their college or office alone. It warns girls to be cautious of children on the road who show you an address and request you to take them there. It is advised to take them to a police station as this is a new method gangs in the City have employed to rape and kidnap girls.
Day curfew lifted in areas
Woman found murdered
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30-year-old woman was found murdered in a farm house at Bandlaguda which comes under the Chandrayangutta police station limits. The body was discovered last night. She is reported to have been wearing a white sari. Her head was smashed and the body was found in a pool of blood. Police suspect rape and murder.
ituation in the curfew-bound areas being incident-free, police have lifted the day curfew from today. Saidabad and Madannapet areas, the riot-hit localities, will now have only have night curfew, additional commissioner of police Amit Garg said. These areas had witnessed widespread communal unrest. But no major incident happened for the past three days.
A
Rivalry behind man’s death? MOHD SUBHAN
mohd.s@postnoon.com
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eath of a young businessman on Monday, a day after communal disturbances broke out in the City; in an apparent road accident is becoming a point of political dispute where the BJP alleges he was done away by the rival community. D Shivaiah and his nephew B Chandrasekhar were riding a bike (AP 29B-9349) at night. They were returning to their home in Santosh Nagar from their native place in Srinagar Tukkuguda village. When they reached near
Balapur Yard under Pahadish areef police station limits, a DCM van coming from opposite collided with the bike. The driver applied a sudden brake but a speeding lorry coming from behind hit Shivaiah who was pillion-riding. Both riders fell with the impact but Chandrasekhar who was riding the vehicle had helmet, and so escaped with injuries while Shivaiah got attached to the fender and was dragged some distance. He suffered injuries on his neck, head and died on the spot, police said. But, what was supposedly an open and shut case of a road accident turned out to be quite different when the BJP leader Baddam Balreddy and others alleged that Shivaiah was murdered as the
THE TWIST CAME WHEN CHANDRASEKHAR TOLD A LOCAL CHANNEL THAT SHIVAIAH WAS DONE AWAY WITH BY CERTAIN PEOPLE OR ELSE HE WOULD NOT HAVE DIED. communal violence was spreading by that time. They said that the police were misleading. The BJP leaders and cadres staged a protest in front of the Pahadi shareef police station and demanded the accused be arrested. But sub-inspector B Vikram Singh said it was a road accident. Agitators contacted the
Deputy Commissioner of Police Shamshabad, G Sudheer Babu but he too repeated what the local police said. The twist came when Chandrasekhar told a local channel that he was done away by some people or else he would not have died. Police counter-questioned him and is reported to have again gone back to his accident story. Shivaiah was doing brisk business in his native place but for the sake of his children’s studies he shifted the family to Santosh Nagar a year ago. It is said Shivaiah had gone to native place to buy provisions and vegetables and was returning without realising the City situation was turning grim with new
instances of violence spreading. Assistant professor for forensic medicine at Osmania Medical College, Dr P Devraj, who conducted the postmortem on April 10 recorded multiple injuries on skull and neck as the cause of death. What makes it mysterious is that there is no hint of the vehicles involved in the crime mentioned. Hadn’t anyone, not even Chandrasekhar noted the registration number of either of the two vehicles? Meanwhile, the grieving family of Shivaiah does not know what to believe. It is also alleged that the victim had land disputes with some who happen to be from another community and was killed behind the smokescreen of the City violence.
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CITY SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Games politicians play; who pays? U Srinivas srinivas.u@postnoon.com
A
sense of déjà vu has set among people of the State with political parties thrusting unnecessary by-elections on them and avoidable burden on the exchequer. The state faced 5 by-elections since this government came in and the sixth one is round the corner. Banwarlal, chief electoral officer, says each Assembly by-election cost the government `3 crore, while the
fact remains that many-fold of this sum is spent by candidates. The game of quit-and-get in again began by the TRS to prove a political point but other parties have now joined in. Now, 18 Assembly and one parliament seat in the State are going to the hustings soon. When it comes to bypolls more than `150 crore has been spent by the government in the eight year term of the Congress so far in the State. Besides, the pestilence of political betting claim another huge loss of
money and property. In the Kovur bypolls the public lost huge acres of land and money while betting on a winning candidate. Now one parliament and 18 assembly seats would require around `75 crore for the government and the candidates’ spending could be a few hundred crores apart from the regular betting money. But political leaders differ. TRS leader E Rajendar said it should not be looked into as a waste of money. This was the
only way to pressurise the government on the Telangana issue. To prove that people want a seperate state, the TRS has forced several by-elections in the Telangana region. However, public money has been wasted and TRS lost 10 MLAs to Congress in the process. But the Telangana is yet to come. BJP leader A Narendra agrees with Rajender. Congress MLC Sudhakar Reddy agrees that it is a financial burden on people. TDP leader V Ramaiah believes something should be
done to avoid wasteful expenditure. MIM leader Pasha Quadri blames the Centre for this situation. Varma of Loksatta believes as long as people participate, elections will continue. The most sensible suggestion came from the BJP and the MIM. Leaders of both while agreeing on the election as a democratic process say that those who quit proving a point should not stand again for elections immediately. They should stay quiet for the government’s term. Or else it becomes a practical joke. SEAN
Even animals feel the heat Tips for installing water pots ANUBHA K SINGH
anubha.k@postnoon.com
H
yderabad is reeling under the hot sun; so are the birds and animals. While human beings have at least a choice, birds and animals are left high and dry. Every year during summer, many birds die due to sunstroke and many of us aren’t aware of it. The lack of summer showers cause dehydration among birds and animals. As the mercury soars in the City it becomes tougher for these animals to quench their thirst. With commercialisation and heavy con-
n It’s always good to place the water pots and troughs on the terrace or under landscaped shades that can keep the water cold. n The pot should not be more than 1.5 inches and preferably should be earthen pots as birds prefer drinking more water from earthen pots. struction activity beasts and birds are struggling to survive. However, there are some good Samaritans who are providing drinking water to birds and animals but, sadly they don’t get help from the government.
n Plant as many trees and shrubs as you can. They provide shade and attract more birds. n You can place different pots for grains and other products to feed the birds. n Clean the pots once every two days and change the water in it every day to prevent mosquito breeding. “We are into this for the last one decade. Every year we install water troughs and pots in the City for birds. This year we have already placed 740 water pots and water troughs for birds and 18 vessels for stray dogs. We
get a lot of support from individuals and volunteers. Unfortunately, every year we approach the State government for help but we return empty handed as they never fulfil their promises. Many a time officials from GHMC destroys our pots and troughs claiming that they block the roads,” said Mahesh Agarwal, president AP Goshala Federation and secretary Bharatiya Prani Mitra Sangh (BPMS). Organisations like Activists from Animal Rights Organisation (ARO), People For Animals (PFA), and Jeeva Raksha Sangam (JRS) have come forward and urged people to put water pots in their balconies or premises for birds and stray animals.
Factfile In the year 2011 bird deaths
1,800 In the year 2011 stray dog and other animal deaths
235 Birds do not like to fly down when people move around and it is also difficult for them to drink from bowls so it’s always better to place the pots in the garden area or under the shade of a big tree,” said Asif Hussain from Birds watchers society, Andhra Pradesh.
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FOCUS SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
WATER POLITICS More than 280 million pelple live along the Nile River, a population that is expected to almost double in the next 25 years. No country is perhaps more threatened than Egypt, which, due to political instability, is now losing its long-standing grip on the famous waterway.
Egyptians will lose
EGYPT’S
19%
Population will
of the Nile’s water Resource.
23% by 2025 to
Egypt losing its grip on the Nile Political uncertainty in post-revolution Egypt is allowing other Nile states to wrest control of the world’s longest river
98.7 million Meanwhile
MAIN USES
Energy
2012
2025
Drinking
Crop Irrigation
While the Nile cuts through nine countries, Egypt has dominated the majority of its water since a 1959 treaty with sudan
may be BUT That CHANGING Egypt
Sudan
Everyone else
THE NILE BASIN INITIATIVE If a framework introduced in 2010 is ratified, Egypt would have to give eight other countries more access to the Nile’s water.
Who controls it now Nations vying for a share
Sources: Conflict Management of Water, Resources, M Chatteri et al., retrived April 3, 2012 Nile Basin Initiative, retrived April 4, 2012 World CIA factbook, retrived April 3, 2012 Designed by kyle Kim/GlobalPost
Erin Cunningham
A
mid the barren, earthdug canals and emaciated livestock that stalk the dirt roads of Ethiopia’s northern highlands, Teshale, a 25-year-old farmer, waits idly for the rain to come. His small, parched field of maize — sometimes wheat, if the weather permits — relies solely on the area’s seasonal rainfall to produce its harvest, which fails to turn in even a meager profit. If Teshale could just harness some water from the mighty Blue Nile River nearby, which eventually cascades north to meet the White Nile in Sudan, flowing onward to Egypt, he might finally be able to halt his endless cycle of poverty, he says. Until now, Ethiopia has lacked both the technical capacity and the diplomatic support to trap its Blue Nile waters — which give Egypt’s Nile 86 per cent of its own flow — for domestic use. A 1959 colonialera treaty brokered by Great Britain gave Egypt, and to a lesser extent Sudan, unrivaled “historic rights” over nearly all of the Nile River’s resources. But now all that could be changing as upstream states like Ethiopia and Burundi seize on Egypt’s postrevolution political uncertainty to finally wrest at least some control of the world’s longest river. Just 16 days after President Hosni Mubarak stepped down in February 2011, Burundi reneged on its erstwhile promise to Egypt not
to sign a new treaty that seeks to adjust water rights in the basin. If ratified by other basin states, the agreement would strip Egypt of its majority share of the river’s water. The most serious threat, however, comes from Ethiopia, already Egypt’s regional rival. In May 2011, Ethiopia announced plans to build a massive, $4.8 billion hydropower dam — known as the Grand Renaissance Dam — along the stretch of river within its own borders, despite Egypt’s opposition to the project. “Most of us here are eager to use the Nile. But every farmer expects Egypt to be the enemy,” said Manichey Abey, a 33-year-old Ethiopian farmer. “It will be a renaissance for the Ethiopian system,” Abey said. “The Nile is the main source of Egypt’s economy, and if the amount of water they use is reduced, it will be a big problem. But we have the right to use it.” Such ambitions by upstream states are contributing to the gradual loosening of Egypt’s 5,000-year grip on its nearly sole source of freshwater, threatening not only the desert nation’s ability to grow enough food for its expanding population, but also its political stability and regional hegemony. “Ninety-five percent of Egypt’s water comes from the Nile. We depend on the Nile more than any other country,” said Hani Raslan, an expert on water politics at the government-affiliated Al-Ahram Center for Political Strategic Studies in Cairo.
The importance of the Nile to Egypt is hard to exaggerate. Like a slender, green thread, the waterway fastens Upper Egypt in the south to Lower Egypt in the north, and has nurtured agricultural civilisations in its verdant Delta for millennia. As a result, and also because of significant US financial and military patronage over the years, Egypt has long been able to dominate the terms of Nile basin negotiations, thwarting independent water projects by other countries and manipulating international customary water law to maintain the status quo, water experts said. “They were able to frame the entire issue of Nile waters in their own context, both within the basin, but more importantly outside the basin and in international forums and so forth,” he said. Since Egypt’s revolution, however, its new rulers have made decisions that run afoul of the organizations that once helped it maintain its control over the Nile. Egyptian officials, for their part, remain defiant. “Egypt has been asking these countries to come together so we can reach an agreement on the Nile,” said Al Ahram’s Raslan, adding that because Egypt receives negligible rainfall, its water quota should remain the same under any new agreement. “But no one is responding to Egypt’s call. These countries, especially Ethiopia, are making a grave mistake,” he said. “Because Egypt is not a weak country. If it was ever in real peril, it won’t be silent.” GLOBAL POST
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NATION SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Chhota sharpshooter held MUMBAI: A sharpshooter allegedly
Delhi civic polls tomorrow
PIB to go on Twitter JAMMU: Using more of the new
associated with underworld don Chhota Rajan gang was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) sleuths who have seized four pistols, a revolver and 26 live rounds from him. 40-year-old Sharad Hiru Kolambe has revealed to the police that he was given contract to eliminate important people from Mumbai and Karnataka.
NEW DELHI: Delhiites will seal the electoral fate of 2,400 candidates when they hit the polling booths on Sunday to elect councillors for the newly-carved three municipal bodies in the capital, an election seen as a semifinal ahead of next year’s Assembly polls. The polls to the three civic bodies — East, North and South — is crucial for CM Sheila Dikshit.
media and technology to expand its outreach, Press Information Bureau will go for greater use of Internet, SMS alerts, social media like Twitter and a separate space on YouTube via which live feeds of events of the central government would be available for viewing and downloading by journalists, according to a report.
Twitterati targets Mamata
KOLKATA: “Extreme violation
of freedom of expression” and reminiscent of the Emergency days were among the barrage of angry comments made on Twitter, including by exiled Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen, following the West Bengal government arresting a Jadavpur University professor for circulating cartoons of some ruling Trinamool Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “Shame! Shame! A professor is arrested over a cartoon in Kolkata. It’s an extreme violation of freedom of expression!” tweeted Nasreen, now in New Delhi. Communist Party of IndiaMarxist politburo member
Satellite system to track giant squirrel PUNE: In an effort to ensure accuracy in the census of giant squirrel (GS), an endangered wildlife species found in the hilltop Bhimashankar sanctuary near here, Maharashtra forest department will use for the first time Global Positioning System (GPS) to collect data from April 20. In the dense forest of Bhimashankar, which also houses one of the 12 ‘Joytirlingas’, resides the animal enlisted in the schedule one of the Wildlife Act which was perceived to be on the verge of extinction, spurring a slew of measures for its protection. “The last census of GS done manually by locating their nests indicated that about 1200 of them still inhabit Bhimashankar although they are rarely seen,” said Rajendra Nale, range forest officer in charge of the new drive. PTI
Brinda Karat likened Banerjee’s action to the happenings during the internal emergency in India between 1975 and 1977. “The arrest shows Mamata’s mindset. This is very much like what happened during emergency,” said her tweet. Dripping sarcasm, Salil Tripathi said: “No Marx, no cartoons in Mamata-di’s Bengal. … Only Groucho Marx can make sense of the lady with hawai chappals (Banerjee).” The reference was to a recommendation made by a syllabus review committee appointed by Banerjee to “trim” the higher secondary history curriculum of “excesses” of Marxism. In another tweet, Sohini,
who apparently stays outside Bengal, said she was scared to go back to Kolkata. “Mamata Banerjee is Hitler draped in a cotton sari, with Tagore’s verses on her lips!” Nilanjana Roy was also forthright in her condemnation. “Mamata’s Bengal is rapidly
becoming one of India’s most intolerant, least free states.” Ambikesh Mahapatra, a professor of physical chemistry, in his 50s, was arrested early Friday, attracting criticism from all quarters. Another person, Subrata Sengupta, the secretary of Mahapatra’s housing society, has also been arrested as the professor allegedly used the society’s registered email id to send the cartoon strips. The collage of cartoons by Mahapatra allegedly includes the photographs of Banerjee and Railway Minister Mukul Roy and uses some dialogues of Satyajit Ray’s detective masterpiece “Sonar Kella”, showing the duo discussing how to get rid of
party leader Dinesh Trivedi, who was forced by the chief minister to give up the railways portfolio. ‘Mukul’ is incidentally the name of the child protagonist in the movie. Mahapatra has been booked under charges of outraging the modesty of a woman - punishable with one year imprisonment, defamation which carries a maximum term of two years and hacking, punishable with three years prison term and fine up to `2 lakh. Both Mahapatra and Sengupta were granted bail by the court of 2nd judicial magistrate (Alipore) Suparna Roy. Mahapatra was also beaten allegedly by Trinamool Congress IANS supporters.
GET... SET... GO!
Subscribe Today! PM Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi beat drums to inaugurate a programme in Panchkula, on Friday. PTI
1 Year
‘No profiling in SRK detention’ Arun Kumar
WASHINGTON: Caught on the wrong foot over the detaining of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan at a US airport twice, Washington has asserted it was not a case of racial profiling or a pattern. Suggesting that Khan was not “detained”, but “simply delayed”, State Department spokesperson Mark Toner told reporters Friday: “I wouldn’t necessarily look at this as some sort of pattern but rather
two separate incidents.” “Obviously, we’ve expressed our regret about the incident and recognise that he’s a very renowned artist and humanitarian,” he said. Toner also sought to paint the detaining of Khan at New York’s White Plains airport Thursday when he arrived to receive the prestigious Chubb fellow award at Yale University as a “delay”, saying “he was temporarily delayed before admisIANS sion” to the US.
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WORLD SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
CLASSIFIEDS
EDUCATION
FABRICATION
North Korea tests new missile
Brangelina engaged
N
H
orth Korea has been developing a new long-range ballistic missile in a separate programme from the one that led to a failed rocket launch this week, a South Korean TV station reported on Saturday. YTN quoted an intelligence source as saying N Korea carried out four tests over 16 weeks until early this year to develop an inter-continental missile at a test facility at Musudan-ri on the northeastern coast.
ollywood’s hottest couple has made it official, with Brad Pitt proposing to Angelina Jolie after six children and years of unwedded bliss, a spokeswoman said on Friday. “Yes, it’s confirmed,” Pitt’s manager Cynthia Pett-Dante told. “It is a promise for the future and their kids are very happy.”
Explosive summit start
CARTAGENA: Fears of vio-
NOTICE TRAINING
It is Notified for the information that my original/duplicate of main/supplementary secondary/sr.exam year-2008 roll no 4163929 pass out from CBSE, Delhi has been actually lost/destroyed/mutilated. Name of the Candidate-Rahul Rajendra Mobile no9985541094 Full Address, Plotno 16 Syndicate bank colony West marredpally Secunderabad -500026.
Books
Fear the weak pg 14
Guinea-Bissau army sets out terms after coup BISSAU: Leaders of Guinea-Bissau’s military coup have set out terms for a “unity government”, amid growing international condemnation of their seizure of the capital halfway through a presidential election. The coup leaders announced on Friday that the Prime Minister, interim president and army chief-of-staff general had all been deposed hours after the coup attempt was launched late on Thursday. They also imposed an overnight curfew.
lence marred Saturday’s opening of a summit gathering US President Barack Obama and Latin American leaders when four bombs went off here and in the Colombian capital. Two of the crude devices exploded in the resort city of Cartagena just hours after the US leader arrived for regional talks set to focus on the vicious drug wars stalking the region. Two other small bombs exploded near the US Embassy in Bogota, in an area which is also home to important government buildings. “Nobody was killed, nobody was injured, and there was no damage,” a police official told AFP on condition of anonymity. The incident occurred at around 7.30pm local time (0030 GMT Saturday), prompting police units to swarm into the area. But the explosions were followed by two similar ones in Cartagena, host of the twoday Summit of the Americas. “They occurred near a bus terminal and near a supermarket,” General Rodolfo Palomino of the Colombian police told reporters. “There were no injuries and no damage.” It was not immediately clear who carried out the bombings, but Bogota and other major cities have been the site of urban guerrilla attacks for decades. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) — now the Americas longest running insurgency — has been at war with the Colombian government since 1964 and is
Members of the Technical Investigation Corps (CTI) investigate the area where a bomb exploded near the US Embassy in Bogota, Colombia on Friday. AFP/GUILLERMO LEGARIA
Obama Secret Service agents sent home for ‘misconduct’, sex scandal alleged CARTAGENA: In a rare move, some Secret Service agents sent to Colombia to help protect US President Barack Obama at a regional summit have been sent home amid accusations of a sex scandal, officials and reports said on Friday. He did not specify what allegations had been made against the Secret Service staff, who were in
Cartagena ahead of Obama’s arrival late on Friday for the Summit of the Americas which opens on Saturday. But at least one of the agents had been involved with prostitutes in Cartagena, the Washington Post said quoting Jon Adler, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. AFP
believed to have 9,000 fighters in mountainous and jungle areas, according to government estimates. Two issues — the pros and cons of drug legalization and Cuba’s continued exclusion from the summit — were expected to dominate the sum-
mit agenda, highlighting the growing disconnect between Washington and an increasingly assertive and independent Latin American bloc led by powerhouse Brazil. Before leaving Washington, Obama made it clear in an interview with an
association of leading Latin American newspapers, that he rejects the idea of decriminalizing drugs. Washington would not “legalize or decriminalize drugs because doing so would have serious negative consequences in all our countries in terms of public health and safety,” he said. On Cuba, he insisted that Havana authorities “have shown no interest in changing their relationship with the United States, nor any willingness to respect the democratic and human rights of the Cuban people.” Cuba has never taken part in a Summit of the Americas. And in early March, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos traveled to the Cuban capital to explain that a lack of consensus had prevented Cuba from being invitAFP ed this time.
Russia’s vote on Syria in doubt
3 murderers confess to cannibalism
Sudan advance on Heglig oil field
UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council will vote on Saturday on a Western-drafted resolution allowing a ceasefire observer mission in Syria even though Russia’s support is in doubt. The US called for the vote after a second day of wrangling with Russia over security guarantees for the first 30 unarmed military monitors who UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan wants in Syria early next week. Russia also opposed the council demanding that President Bashar al-Assad carry out a promise to withdraw troops and heavy weapons from Syrian cities. Russia’s UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said he was not “completely satisfied” AFP with the talks held at the UN on Friday.
BRAZIL: Police in Brazil say three people arrested on suspicion of murdering at least two women have confessed to acts of cannibalism. The accused, a man and two women, allegedly said they belonged to a sect. Police said the suspects claimed “a voice” had told them to kill. Police found two female bodies buried in the grounds of the house where the suspects lived in the town of Garanhuns, in northeastern Pernambuco state. The two bodies were identified as those of two women who had been reported missing in Garanhuns earlier this year. The police were investigating whether the suspects could be linked to the murder of another six women in Pernambuco.
SUDAN: The Sudanese government says its forces have launched a counter-attack on oil fields on its disputed border, occupied on Tuesday by South Sudan. Sudan’s military spokesman told the BBC that troops began advancing at midday, aiming to retake the town of Heglig. South Sudan’s spokesman said he was not aware of the fighting, but said his troops would only leave if defeated. Earlier, South Sudan offered to leave the oil field on the border with Sudan, if peacekeepers were deployed there. In return, it wanted guarantees the Heglig field would not be used as a base for cross-border attacks.
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COMMENT SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Metro adds to water woes
Special ones get a voice
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am thankful to you guys for bringing up this topic in the newspaper. Our HMR department first constructs foot over bridges and then deconstructs them for the metro rail. Now they interfere in the water pipelines of various areas. That too during summer. Use some sense, I say. Gyanendra Shetty Begumpet
his Finally a sigh of relief for the 'special ones'. It feels good to know that parents’ attitude towards their mentally-challenged children is changing and they are not apprehensive of enrolling their kids in schools made, especially for such children. I feel elated for these children. Huda T Nampally
EDITORIALS Readers’ views We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033 or even by way of a call on 4067 2222.
SRK humiliation wrong
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hat is wrong with these Americans? And what is wrong with us? That country does not spare a former president of our country, nor the current heartthrob from wrongful discrimination. And we can’t stop ourselves from glorifying that country. Wonder who is worse? Niti Pandey Ameerpet
REBELLESFLEURS
EDITORIALS INSECURITY OF DIDI showing through Chemistry professor of Jadavpur University Kolkata Ambikesh Mohapatra was arrested and booked under various sections of the IPC and for cyber offences for posting cartoons of Mamata Banerjee Railway minister Mukul Roy and his predecessor Dinesh Trivedi on social networking sites. The CM of West Bengal justified the arrest with the reasoning that the caricaturing was the handiwork of CPI (M) to frame her. A few weeks ago it was the decision to ban English newspapers from public libraries. It looks like Didi has become very insecure if she has to impinge upon a citizen’s Fundamental Rights. Throughout the ages despots have tried to stifle criticism by way of muzzling public expression but in vain. People always come out with alternate forms of expression to communicate. Caricaturing generally is making a portrait that exaggerates the essence of a person. Citizens elect their leaders to represent them. It would be wiser if as a representative of her people she looked into the cartoons to see the perspective of those who voted her to power.
Why waiting is so painful Soul Curry SUMAA TEKUR
WHY WE LOVE... Brangelina We’ve had Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor and we’ve been through Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, but never has a celebrity couple quite captured our attention like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and their gazillion sprog. And now there’s news that the couple are one step closer to tying the proverbial knot... they’re getting engaged. As they say, you just can’t keep a good woman down. Brad just happened to be there when Angie decided to have a man under her thumb for good.
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n uncle recently fell ill and was admitted to a hospital. Phone calls and text messages were rapidly exchanged between extended family members. Since he was admitted to a super-speciality hospital with strict admission rules, we all had to wait to know when, and if, we could visit him. The wait grew longer by the minute, and that gradually grew into hours. Waiting can be extremely frustrating and painful, whether in such situations or in day-to-day situations like waiting for a bus, waiting for a text message from a loved one, waiting for the morning paper, waiting for a friend on the roadside, waiting for a new bestseller
book to be delivered, waiting for your name to get out of the waiting list and on to the confirmed list, waiting for the trailers to end and for the movie to finally start, etc. This wait, for whatever it is, need not be a passive process, according to our holy scriptures. It is, in fact, an active process even if we don’t acknowledge it as such because it’s in the middle of a beginning and an end. For example, the start has been made with the thought that you want to eat ice-cream with a friend. You call her and she agrees. You have reached the ice-cream parlour on time but she hasn’t arrived yet. You wait and the wait grows longer. But it needn’t be painful and frustrating because you know that your friend will either turn up or she won’t, which is the end result of your expedition. But your faith is in the fact that she will turn up and you will both enjoy your ice-cream. And this faith is the
WAITING FOR SUCCESS, FAME, LOVE OR THE RIGHT SPIRITUAL PATH, CAN BE EXTREMELY PAINFUL AND IT HURTS THE EGO THAT IT IS FORCED TO DELAY GRATIFICATION. secret of waiting. Active waiting, in this case, is to be fully aware of the possibilities and be open to all of them. This understanding applies even to the larger scheme of things. Waiting for success, fame, love or the right spiritual path, can be extremely painful and it hurts the ego that it is forced to delay gratification. Waiting for a very long time, especially with uncertainty for company, can be difficult because it leads to loneliness, fear, hopelessness and selfdoubt. It often leads us to ask
ourselves: What should I be doing instead of waiting? Trust plays a very crucial role in the waiting process. To begin with, it becomes easier to wait if we start to trust in our own abilities, strengths and commitment. It is difficult to surrender the ego; but if we change the way we look at life, it is possible. Why not try to detach ourselves from our own life stories and see it like a movie from a distance? This not just improves our sense of humour but also increases our interest in knowing what will happen to our lives tomorrow. And the only way to find that out is to wait. Trust leads to increased hope that the wait is almost over. Who knows, it might even make us relish the wait and we may begin to see the spirituality in it and the importance of waiting in the soul’s journey. The writer is a Bangalorebased commentator.
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COMMENT SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Of perfumes and high heels Quirky-side-Up ARPITA BHAWAL
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t is April 2012 as you may have noticed and yet if there is one thing that continues to be a force majeure in the workplace is every fool’s favourite subject: ‘Women in Leadership Roles’. Nobody seems to know what to do with these go-getting women. Put them under a Reservation Quota? No, not unless you are batting for Congress. Ignore them? No, it will become a diversity issue. Promote them? Possibly, but someone might think they are sleeping with the top bosses. Then? Let’s have a gender-related seminar to determine how women should improve themselves to fit into the workplace. Perfect! Well, apparently far from it. If you are a woman leader of any sort and in any capacity, you may have even been party to such deliberations and insinuations at some point in time. Perhaps, you even pretended to be ‘not like those women’ who don’t ever succeed at the workplace. I can’t blame you, because when I look back at some of my woman friends, I secretly cringe, too. Let’s say, my sweet friend Sunita doesn’t understand that while her male boss may allow
Urban sketches VISWAPRASAD RAJU
her to go home earlier than others (males!), it doesn’t necessarily mean he is being supportive towards her career. My other brave friend Gargi who stopped wearing feminine clothes to work in exchange for a hideous pair of pin striped pants, thinks the camouflage makes her be like a man. My hopelessly humble friend Preeti thinks she will get a promotion this year, because she didn’t get one for the past six years. Are women really not meant to lead, or are they just accepting that they won’t be taken seriously enough to lead? Recently, I read an article by Cheryl Isaac in Forbes titled ‘The Next Generation of Female Leaders Will Emerge at a Faster Pace
When Women Stop Trying to ‘Act Like Men’.’ With due apologies to anti-Feminists, that title is allwoman (as is evident from its sheer length) and it does pack in a punch. What’s more, Forbes didn’t edit it off saying it was unfashionably feminine. While I was never a bra-burning feminist from the Feminist Movements of the 19th and 20th centuries, writers such as Virginia Woolf, who are associated with the ideas of the first wave of feminism, aptly describe how men socially and psychically dominate women in her book called A Room of One’s Own. One has to agree with Cheryl and Woolf in the same breath. Women can’t be like men even if they were to act like men
because of their inherent nature, which is accepting and empathetic. They also can’t ignore the social domination of men in the workplace, which many a time has made them lose their dignity or their jobs. But even for a second, if one can ignore the ever-degrading questions around women’s capabilities in the workplace, especially around woman leaders lacking emotional intelligence or being overly protective of their teams, we can’t ignore the most irritating question of them all: Do female gender traits come in the way of their success? Not if you are my ex-boss — let’s call her Anu. Anu teaches us the classic lessons from yore. Use your gen-
der-specific traits the way nature meant you to use them — by being yourself ! Anu’s persona was amazing. People wondered how she rose so fast on the corporate ladder when she hadn’t even been in the corporate world for more than a couple of years. Her boss, the CEO, stopped midway in his sentences to compliment her about something totally unrelated to work; her peers envied her hour-glass figure; her colleagues (which included me) admired her for the ability to slog alongside hard-nosed male leaders at the office. And all this Anu did, while wearing perfume, high heels and designer clothes (no pinstripe business suits), with her hair done up, carrying a designer handbag and speaking in a soft, flirtatious tone. Basically, Anu did what Cheryl says would help women in leadership roles to succeed: Keeping their feminine qualities intact, while trying to develop leadership qualities of collaboration, empathy, inclusiveness and reciprocity. Why these qualities in particular? Because women have to play upon strengths and focus energies on developing their natural gifts and skills, instead of trying to morph men. So, if we work with our natural instincts and embrace our own natures, who would dare discuss the topic of ‘Women’s Empowerment’ ever again? No one! The writer is a communication specialist.
Global edits
Botanical garden
The Guardian (UK)
North Korea’s rocket launch: Damp squib
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orth Korea’s first reaction [to the failed rocket launch] took everyone by surprise; it publicly admitted that the rocket had failed to enter orbit. The public admission may not be good news for those deemed responsible for the rocket failure — the party official blamed for the doomed currency revaluation was executed — but it may mean there is a livelier debate going on about the merits of this project than anyone had imagined. The next time Pyongyang makes a grand gesture, it may feel more constrained.
China Daily
Negotiations are now needed in Syria
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estern countries such as the United States and Germany, which have pressured the UN to take “more resolute action” on Syria, should also treasure this hardearned chance for peace and add their
backing to a political solution. This is now a critical stage for reaching a political settlement and China is doing all it can to support Annan’s efforts.
The Globe and Mail (Can)
Falklands row: Argentina, shame on you
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rgentina has behaved shamefully over the Falklands. Thirty years ago, its dictator, who until that point had specialised in brutalising his own people, launched an invasion that killed and maimed many. The occupation of the Falklands ended with Argentina’s humiliation at the hands of the British military. That defeat, in turn, helped to end the dictatorship. You would think about the last thing any Argentine president would want to do is evoke such memories. You would think Argentina, with its high inflation and other economic challenges, would focus its national will elsewhere. Instead, it increasingly appears that the country, having pulled itself bloodied up off the mat once, is again picking for a fight.
10
BUSINESS SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Smartphones bridge divide
Clean energy centre
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n a significant development in the quest for clean energy, three top research institutions each in India and the United States have joined hands to form three consortia that will make up the $125 million US-India Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Centre (JCERDC), the US Department of Energy announced Friday.
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martphones are bridging a US digital divide as minorities tap into the Internet using mobile devices, according to a Pew study. "Groups that have traditionally been on the other side of the digital divide in basic Internet access are using wireless connections to go online," the study concluded. "African American and English-speaking Latinos are as likely as whites to own and use any phone.
Facebook buys startup
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acebook on Friday confirmed that it bought a San Francisco startup that helps merchants court shoppers with rewards for checking in with smartphones during visits. Facebook's acquisition of Tagtile for an undisclosed sum came on the heels of a billion-dollar deal to acquire the startup behind wildly popular smartphone photo sharing application Instagram.
Vamshi, the trailblazer Vamshi Krishna Reddy gave up a well-paying job in the US to launch a company with an entirely new concept. Now seven years later, the company is doing exceptionally well varying versions of different operating systems. We have nearly 105 people working in the company just to deliver television on a mobile phone. That shows the effort that goes behind the scenes.” Talking about future trends, he says, “Convergence will play a bigger role in the future. The content on your TVs by DTH operators will be delivered over the internet through your laptop
PRUDHVI RAJU K
prudhvi.k@postnoon.com
I
magine giving up a lucrative job in the US and moving to Hyderabad to test previously uncharted territory. But that is exactly what B Vamshi Krishna Reddy, co-founder of Apalya Technologies did. He gave up his well-paying job with Cisco to return to his hometown Hyderabad and set up Apalya in 2005, a service provider that delivers live and on demand video content from over 200 television channels through mobile service providers. The company recently started operations in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Incidentally, Apalya was the first company to offer live TV on mobile phones in India. Despite the uncertainty, it was love for his family and the City that Vamshi back to Hyderabad. “I launched the business along with Shiveshankar Byapunedi (Shiva), who was at the time working with Nokia in Finland. We were classmates during our engineering days and also great friends. Both of us wanted to return to India and launch a company of our own. And we did. Today, although Apalya has offices in major cities in the country, we’ve got our headquarters in Hyderabad,” he says. Didn’t they fear failure considering the concept was new in the country? “India is going through mobile revolution. I was surprised to see how people are using mobile phones in the country, compared to USA. People were still using landlines in the US at that time. However, Indians were extensively using mobile phones for everything from calling to text messaging. The idea behind our business is to offer value added service on mobile phones,” he says, adding, “We clearly knew that data (video) would be extensively used once high speed networks emerged in the country. At the time of our launch, networks were not ready for video stream-
Apalya Technologies 2005: The company was launched 2007: $0.5 million through Mumbai angles 2009: Series A round- $3 million dollars from IDG Ventures India and Qualcomm Ventures 2010: Series B round- $7.5 million from Indo-US Venture Partners, IDG Ventures India and Qualcomm Ventures Total InvestmentAround $11 million.
B Vamshi Krishna Reddy, co-founder, Apalya Technologies ing. The challenge was to provide a solution that can deliver video on edge network. We could achieve that through our technological innovations.” Fortunately, for them media companies and mobile service providers were both eager to give this concept a shot. Talking about the initial investments, Vamshi says, “The initial investment was `55 lakh, that was pooled in by Shiva, me and a few friends. When we started the business we had four employees
and we were operating from my old house. The major challenge we faced at the time was recruiting and retain quality human resource. People usually like working with big brands and sceptical about new companies. Even if they do join, they learn the ropes and then leave.” They overcame the problem by getting quality human resource from remote locations by having tie-ups with educational institutes like NIIT for the first two years. “Even today, 20-25
per cent of our employees are freshers. People are now very interested in our work because we use cutting-edge technology and get access to the latest devices from OEMs like Nokia, Samsung and Blackberry, much before they are available in the market,” he adds. As a medium sized company there are constant challenges that Apalya faces. “We have to constantly update our technology as it is challenging to deliver across many devices that run on
or mobile. Once the 3G and 4G take over the mobile data market, things will change. An estimated 160 million people will have access to high speed networks in the next four years. Tablets and mobiles will get much cheaper. Even if we are able to tap 10 per cent of this, we will have 16 million customers.” In the meantime, the company is growing at 200 per cent every year and got a break-even last fiscal. On the personal front, Vamshi is a movie buff and enjoys films in different languages, no wonder then he took to providing video content on mobile phones. “I was brought up on a staple of films at theatres at RTC X roads. Even today I go to the theatres there to watch a movie, while my kids would rather go to a multiplex. I also love to play badminton and tennis in the mornings with Shiva and I also travel to Mumbai and New Delhi frequently on business work,” he says.
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MOTORING SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Ford drops price of Escape
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etroit: Ford Motor Co. has set the base price of the redesigned 2013 Escape crossover at $23,295, including shipping, which is $200 less than the outgoing model. A fully loaded 2013 Escape Titanium model will sticker for $31,195, including $825 shipping. The Titanium trim level is new for 2013. The previous top trip level was the Limited.
Wolff new development driver
Revised Mercedes G class
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ercedes has revealed an updated version of the G-class military grade off-roader that has just entered its 33rd year of production. Set to make its public debut at the Beijing motor show later this month, the reworked G-class gets a series of subtle exterior styling tweaks, a new range of engines mated to an updated gearbox and new electronic driver aids.
TM racer Susie Wolff has joined the Williams team as a 'development driver', the British outfit announced on Wednesday. Wolff, who raced as Susie Stoddart before she married Williams's shareholder Toto Wolff, will contest her seventh season in the DTM this year. She will work with Williams's simulator before she takes to the track in a test in the coming months.
Miniature beauty
With the BMW Mini set to launch in India, we look at the classic’s evolution; a car that revolutionised small cars throughout the world OSAMA SALMAN
salman.o@postnoon.com
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n the automotive world, manufacturers tend to develop a car model and then tweak it; re-inventing it to reflect the changing trends of the consumer. Occasionally, the design remains relatively untouched for decades. These gather a loyal band of supporters whose passion might seem to go well beyond the merits of the car itself. In England, the BMW Mini is one such car. Like the Volkswagen Beetle, the Mini's design barely changed in the 40 years of its production. In 2000, it transformed into the Mini Cooper, a car that promised to follow the footsteps of the original.
HOW MINI
INTO BEING
CAME
Mini Cooper's history dates back to 1957 when Leonard Lord, president of the British
Motor Corporation (BMC), decided to develop a reliable, efficient and small car. At that time, Britain was facing an oil crisis and fuel efficient cars became a necessity. Car designer, Alec Issigonis was given the task of creating a car which could fit in a box 10 feet long and four feet wide and tall. In addition, the passenger space had to comprise 60 per cent of the length of the vehicle. Issigonis and his team moved from concept to production in two years, an amazingly short duration for a new car. The secret to the size was a revolutionary engine layout which saw the engine being mounted sideways. It also featured a center-mounted speedometer, small wheels positioned at the corners of the vehicle, giving it a "bulldog stance". Lord looked at the second generation prototypes and decided to move the Mini into mass production. In August 1959, the first Minis rolled off the production lines. In 1961, race car builder, John Cooper, approached BMC intending to alter Mini into a
viable race car resulting in the first Mini Cooper — a car that won multiple races. In 1963, Cooper made further alterations and called the turbocharged design the Mini Cooper S.
In 2000, production of the original Mini came to an end. By when, more than 5,000,000 Minis had been sold. A panel of 100 automotive industry experts voted Mini as the most significant car of the century.
THE MINI FROM 2000- PRESENT
Upon taking over the company, BMW unveiled the new Mini Cooper concept at the Paris Auto Show. The vehicle was two feet longer and one foot wider than the original, retaining the bulldog stance and the front wheel drive. The centermounted speedometer remained part of the classic interior layout. The bet paid off; sales of the Mini Cooper
exceed BMW's projections. The first-generation Mini Cooper featured a 1.6 litre fourcylinder engine with 115-horsepower. The Mini Cooper S engine was more powerful with 168-horsepower. The standard transmission was a sixspeed manual transmission. The 2004 model featured few changes from the earlier. Drivers reported that the center-mounted speedometer was difficult to read without taking their attention off the road, so a digital speed readout was added. In 2005, BMW offered a convertible bodystyle for the Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S which featured a powertop with a heated glass rear window, rear obstacle detection and airbags. The 2007 Mini Coopers were the first models in the second generation Mini vehicles. These are slightly larger and more powerful than the previous generation, except for the Mini Cooper convertibles. The only significant change of the Mini Cooper 2009 was the standard stability control for the all Cooper variants. In 2012 the new two-seat Coupe and Roadster were additions to the line-up. Whatever the year and model, one thing's sure — the design is eternal and one will fall in love with it.
Mini recalls
2002: The shift cable for some 2002 vehicles would detach from the transmission shift linkage while the driver attempted to change gears. At that point, gear changes became impossible and the transmission stuck in the last gear selected. 2003: Some vehicles experienced a failure of the lower screw connection of the rear struts to the chassis. 2004: On some vehicles, the flat-tire monitoring system was not correctly programmed. The audible signal indicating a flat tire would not sound.
Famous Mini drivers n
The Beatles (each mem ber owned his own Mini)
n n n n n n
Steve McQueen Clint Eastwood Paul Newman Charlotte Church Jennifer Love Hewitt Sharon Osbourne
A remake for a remake
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n 1969, Peter Collinson directed a British heist film called The Italian Job. The movie featured Michael Caine as the star, but some argue the real celebrities in the film were the red, white and blue Minis used as getaway vehicles. The cars burned rubber in multiple stunts and chase sequences. In 2003, F Gary Gray directed the remake of The Italian Job. When the time came to select the getaway vehicles for the new film, Gray chose the new 2003 Mini Cooper from BMW as a tribute to the original movie. Both films helped boost Cooper’s popularity.
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TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK www.planetrider.com heck out the sections in the PlanetRider Travel Directory like destinations, weather, landscapes, activities etc. The Helpful Resources category features bargain travel, business travel, reservations etc. It is a perfect travel guide for all.
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VIDEOGAME REVIEW THE GOOD
APP OF THE WEEK
SKULLGIRLS
Black SMS
n Each character feels distinct n Excellent tutorials that teach fighting theory
T
his clandestine app keeps your juiciest texts hidden from prying eyes. Simply open the app, assign a password to your text conversation, and your messages will be safe.
THE B AD
n No spectator and replay support
Download happiness
With Facebook’s highly-publicised acquisition of Instagram, photo-sharing apps are back in focus. Here’s taking a look at some of the most downloaded apps TUMBLR
Osama Salman salman.o@postnoon.com
T
umblr fans with Android devices, hustle over to the Android Market: Tumblr has released an official Android app. With little or no fanfare, this application has appeared with handy tools for posting photos, links and more to your Tumblr. You can take pictures and record audio and video for your posts from within the
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t’s all over the news — Facebook buys Instagram, the photo-sharing company for a whopping $1 billion. Why Mark Zuckerberg would pay twice the evaluated value for the 17-month old company is a million (or literally a billion dollar) question! While we try to figure it out, check out the best five mobile photo-sharing apps available on the iTunes and Android platform.
app, which makes for a very real-time blogging experience that lends itself well to the mobile device. In addition to posting, you can also access your dashboard to read, like and reblog the posts of those you follow. We’re seeing some Twitter integration, as well; you can choose to tweet about your posts as you go.
PATH
P
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nstagram is a free photo sharing application that allows users to take a photo, apply a digital filter to it, and then share it on a variety of social networking services, including Instagram's own. A distinctive feature confines photos to a square shape, similar to Kodak Instamatic and Polaroid images, in contrast to the 4:3 aspect ratio
typically used by mobile device cameras. Instagram was initially supported on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch; in April 2012, the company added support for Android camera phones running 2.2 (Froyo) or higher. So good it is that it was Apple’s app of the year 2011. It’s little wonder than that Facebook paid a bomb for this.
PHOTOBUCKET
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hotobucket is a significant Internet photo-sharing site who has released an app for it. It allows you to upload pictures to the site or download pictures from it, as well as sharing them to the likes of Twitter and Facebook. The Photobucket Corporation have additionally released a separate application, called Snapbucket,
which lets you edit and add filters and frames to your photos. New users will note the rich UI the app offers and the ability to tag photos, which is superb if you have a lot of images. Viewing pictures is a genuinely pleasant experience on the app and there is an auto- upload feature — similar to that which is offered by the Google+ app.
ath should have been the ‘next big thing’. Lauded as such, the service was blogged about extensively and there was a genuine excitement about its release. The app lets you share photos with family and friends and interact around those pictures. This gives the pictures more meaning and it’s a great way of securely sharing apps with the people you want to share it with. However Path initially held off the release and then along came Google+. Path was launched two days after the search giant’s new social offering, and sadly it practically became irrelevant before it was released. If only they had released it a few weeks earlier! Nonetheless, the app still works fine, and for users who don’t have a problem with joining the Google+ revolution, the app is still a great way to share pictures with the people you care about. The user interface (UI) and options are quite simple but work well and the app is stable.
FLICKR
F
lickr is arguably the biggest and best known of the photosharing platforms and its Internet tenure totals nearly seven years. Owned by Yahoo, the service has only quite recently released an official Android app. The app includes an alternative camera with filters and useful tagging functions. Flickr is both smooth and
responsive and allows for a speedy turnaround from taking the picture to uploading. For someone who uses Flickr a great deal this would be an essential download, allowing access to pictures, albums and contacts in one easy-to-use app. For new users it offers the stability and support of an Internet behemoth.
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ANIMAL KINGDOM SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
PET NEWS Polar bears losing their fur
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olar bears in Alaska have been seen with missing patches of fur, and reports say it may be due to a "mystery illness" related to the nuclear accident at the Fukushima power plant in Japan.
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IMPORTANT NUMBERS
India's best zoo?
o you know which is India's best zoo? Soon you will, with the authorities planning to grade the nearly 200 zoos in the country based on their performance on different scales.
Know your dog
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he Chippiparai is a sight hound breed from the south of India. Thought to be a descendant of the Saluki, today it is found in the area around Periyar Lake. It is used primarily for hunting wild boar, deer and hare.
CATS AND DOGS The Animal Care Clinic 040-2335 2474 Pet’s World Dog Clinic 98856 46259 Blue Cross of Hyderabad 040-3298 9858, 23544355/ 5523 Vet-N-Pet 040-6553 9535, 93463 05890 Bluplus Pet Clinic 040-2712 1739, 2716 2636 Sri Sai Pet Clinic
040-2779 7458, 9848645350 Claws & Paws 98662 82772 All Creatures Animals Clinic 040-2773 0885 BIRDS Govt Veterinary Hospital 040-2331 9656, 2753 5755 Bird Watcher’s Society 040-2355 6166 Friends of Birds9391048315 SNAKES Friends of Snakes 8374233366
April safari With the onset of summer in most places across the world, animals too are adapting to the change. This week we bring you some pictures from the wild FRANZISKA KRAUFMANN
Mother Orsa (L) and her three young bears discover the open-air enclosure at the wildlife park Tripsdrill, on April 10, near Cleebronn, southern Germany .
PETER STEFFEN
ARIS MESSINIS
A mongoose peers out of a tube at the zoo in Hanover, central Germany, on April 6. The zoo is structured in seven thematic areas, among them is a farmers' village. KEN BOHN
INGO WAGNER
A two-week-old red river hog suns itself after spending Tuesday morning, April 10 running around a San Diego Zoo Safari Park exhibit it shares with its three litter-mates. A zoo keeper holds a three-month-old baby white-handed gibbon named Knuppy at the zoo in the northern German city of Bremen on April 9. The animals are found in Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand. KAREN BLEIER
A frog peeks from the water in a pond in Prince William County, Virginia on April 5.
A stork lands on its nest on a power electricity pilar outside Orestiada, northern Greece on April 10.
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BOOKS SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
SHORT READS Title: The Cove Author: Ron Rash Publisher: Ecco Deep in the rugged Appalachians of North Carolina lies the cove, a dark, forbidding place. Or so the townsfolk of Mars Hill believe– just as they know that Laurel Shelton is a witch. Alone she aches for her life to begin.
Title: A Natural Woman Author: Carole King Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Carole King takes us from her early beginnings in Brooklyn, to her remarkable success. The book chronicles King’s extraordinary life, drawing readers into her musical world, and into her journey as a performer, mother and wife.
LENA MARIE
Title: Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail Author: Cheryl Strayed Publisher: Knopf At 22, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. After her mother’s death her marriage also died. Four years later, she made the most impulsive decision of her life: to hike the Pacific Crest Trail through California, to Washington —and to do it alone.
Title: The Lifeboat Author: Charlotte Rogan Publisher: Reagan Arthur Grace Winter, 22, is both a newlywed and a widow. An ocean liner carrying her and her husband Henry across the Atlantic suffers a mysterious explosion. Henry secures Grace a place in a lifeboat, which the survivors quickly realise is over capacity. For any to live, some must die.
Fear the weak
A story that seems to revolve around a twisted concept of justice, Mice shows the darker side of humanity
FLEME VARKEY
fleme.v@postnoon.com
I
t had to be quiet. It had to be private. We are mice after all. We weren’t looking for a home. We were looking for a place to hide. The ‘we’ in the lines above are 16-year-old Shelley and her mother Elizabeth. Shelley is a teenager who has been left badly scarred by bullies at school. The bullies were girls and none other than her best friends from childhood. Elizabeth meanwhile is an abused, divorced, meek mother who is emotionally battered and
also faces bullying at her workplace. Together how the two manage to protect themselves, hiding from all formidable threats, giving into bullies, living like mice in their own world until a murder jolts them out of this state, is what is recorded in the pages of this book. Reece has tackled two very emotional situations in this book. His experience as a lawyer got him thinking about the subject. Girls bullying girls was much in the news in the UK at that time and also he found that the potential for explosive violence in individuals subjected to regular humiliation was great. Stringing in the two ideas, he decided to show it through the most delicate of all relationships — that of a
Name Mice Author Gordon Reece Pages 322 Publisher Pan Macmillan
Delayed adolescence Mon’s desire for love, her desolation after the break-up, her pain, her need to know more about herself disintegrates with every page Padmini C padmini.c@postnoon.com
O
n the jacket, Orange prize nominee Monique Roffey’s memoir With the Kisses of His Mouth promises to be “provocative and explicitly candid...story of an extraordinary love affair, a devastating break-up, and what happened next: a sexual odyssey.” Okay so first, there is nothing extraordinary about the love affair. Except maybe for the fact that it happened in the first
place. She is a not-so-young, moderately attractive, aspiring novelist. He’s a big, fat, bald, old, rotten-toothed destitute writer. They get along like a house on fire, except in bed. After six years, the “devastating break up” happens when she learns of his betrayal. The break-up pushes her to discover her inner-self and hunt for a lover. So on to the sexual odyssey (lasting close to 400 pages). What starts with meeting random men on Craigslist turns into a full fledged sexual rebirth
as she forays into tantric sex workshops, yonis and lingas, naked dances, erotic massages, lesbian encounters, sex clubs and more. If the book had ended three hundred pages before it did, With the Kisses of His Mouth would have perhaps made a decent read. Mon’s desire for love, her desolation after the breakup, her pain, her need to learn more about her self and her body, progressively disintegrates with every page. And with it, the reader’s empathy.
mother and daughter. What makes Shelley refer to her mother and her as mice is the inability to face the harsh realities of life, to cope with the severe psychological trauma of bullying and being scarred for the rest of her life. Elizabeth, on the other hand is like a ship without an anchor, trying to stay afloat in the midst of storm and finally giving in, fearing confrontation. Is it the case of good triumphs over evil? I would say ‘survival of the fittest’ best applies in this case. In Mice Shelley and Elizabeth upset a lot of moral codes to justify their act. Despite not having the odds stacked in their favour the two refuse to be buried under the blanket of self-pity and helplessness and finally emerge back to the surface just like mice. Shelley says something to this effect when she muses in the book: “We think we control the course our life takes, we think we’re the captain of the vessel with our hand on the wheel, but in fact it is luck( or fate or destiny or God or whatever we choose to call it) that’s really in control. We might as well
Name With the Kisses of His mouth Author Monique Roffey Pages 458 Publisher Simon Schuster Your admiration for her honesty and earnestness is gone. Her midlife crisis seems more like a delayed adolescence. It becomes increasingly obvious that there is nothing meaningful or spiritual about her sexual experiences, if anything, its just sordidness. And after 500 pages, you simply don’t care how many men have hurt her or how many orgasms it took her to find inner peace. You simply want the book to end.
take our hands off the wheel and go to the back of the boat and sleep, because it’s this other force that really decides whether we make it to the shore or we sink without a trace.” As the story unfolds one sees that the two characters are revitalised and not repulsed at the idea of murder. The murder becomes an opportunity for retrospection — the moment they realise that they have reached breaking point. What initially starts of as the weepy saga of two women struggling in the face of adversity, without anyone to look up to shifts gears in the middle of the story. The characters we start with at the beginning of the story are no longer the ones we end the book with. Mice shows the darker side of humanity, a story that seems to revolve around some twisted concept of justice. This psychological thriller has all the markings of being made into a cinema and we wouldn’t be surprised if a movie adaptation of this black comedy stares us in the face soon. A perfect summer read, the story stays with you long after the last page is read.
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BOOKS SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Busting the myths of urbanisation
ASHWIN CJ
Edward Glaeser’s Triumph of the City is a remarkable study of what makes cities the epicentres of growth and prosperity
HEMANTH KUMAR
hemanth.c@postnoon.com
F
or decades together governments all over the world have had to grapple with uncontrolled urbanisation. From Mumbai to Shanghai, there have been several instances where expansion of cities have led to discussions over how to stop rapid urbanisation. Mumbai stands as a classic example of this. But what if we were wrong? Is urbanisation a problem or the best thing that could happen to a country? Triumph of the City throws light on how cities thrived or declined over centuries despite radical changes in technology and communication. Edward, a Harvard professor of Economics, combines his in depth study in urban spaces with success stories of Bangalore, Silicon Valley and most importantly New York to back his argument that cities magnify human strengths by enabling collaboration, which is the reason behind their success. In many ways, New York has stood testimony to the remarkable achievements which were a result of urbanisation. In the
beginning it was the publishing industry which took advantage of the city's proximity to a harbour and later the garment industry followed suit in the early 20th century. Edward Glaeser argues that it was possible only because hundreds of small enterprises took advantage of a huge pool of talented workforce. However, New York has had its share of ups and downs especially in the 60s and 70s when the city had almost gone bankrupt. Before the city could reel under complete chaos, it reinvented itself as a hub of producing ideas. Other great American cities like Detroit haven't been so lucky. Edward makes Detroit a classic example of how a city can decline rapidly. Detroit's biggest problem was its dependance on a single large industry — automobiles. Since the mass production of automobiles didn't need a highly skilled workforce, Detroit attracted a large number of uneducated young men and women and over
Name Triumph of the City Author Edward Glaeser Pages 270 Publisher Pan Macmillan
a period of time it turned out to be the biggest curse of the city after the automobile industry declined. Urban poverty is usually seen as an eyesore. The sight of slums amidst skyscrapers in Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro can be very misleading according to Edward. He argues that urban poverty is a good indicator of the city's phenomenal growth. Poor migrate to the city believing that they can lead better lives and cities offer good opportunities to its people to move up the economic ladder. So how does one solve the problems associated with rapid urbanisation? Edward says that the biggest challenge is providing clean drinking water and keeping the streets safe from criminals. Slums in Mumbai, despite being extremely congested, are relatively safer because people take care of each other. It is this attitude of people which has helped cities withstand the test of time despite riots, outbreak of diseases and other issues.
The book is filled with plenty of examples from various corners of the globe about how urbanisation has become a defining indicator of prosperity and growth. As Edward Glaeser narrates various stories of people who fought for the well being of their communities, we are told that cities like New York and Chicago have resurrected because of tough measures initiated by officials keeping politics and bureaucracy aside. Can Mumbai replicate the success of New York? It's hard to say. Although Edward acknowledges the social issues which various cities have to deal with, there's no explanation given about how cities can thrive. Probably, that's the only drawback about this book. There are hundreds of ideas and case studies about what worked and what didn't. Whether they'll work or not in other cities is a million dollar question. Triumph of the City is an eye-opener and gives a whole new picture of urban spaces. A must read.
WHAT’S SELLING Walden’s best in fiction
Walden’s best in non-fiction
New York Times’ best in fiction
New York Times’ best in non-fiction
n Secret Of The Nagas by Amish Tripati
n Best Thing About You is YOU by Anupam Kher
n Lover Born by JR Ward
n Drift by Rachel Maddow
n ime Of My Life by Cecelia Ahern
n Journey by Brandon Bays
n Micro by Michael Crichton
n Confessions Of A Serial Dieter by Kalli Purie
n Lethal by Sandra Brown n Switched by Amanda Hocking
n Target 3 Billion by APJ Abdul Kalam n The Magic by Rhonda Byrne
n Guilty Wives by James Patterson and David Ellis n Betrayal by Danielle Steele n Stay Close by Harlan Coben n Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear
n The Big Miss by Hank Haney n Imagine by Jonah Lehrer n The Power of habit by Charles Duhigg n American Sniper by Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice.
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WOMEN SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
WEBSITES OF THE WEEK Women On the Fence: Torn between two things? Erica Diamond's site encourages women to "get off the fence" and act on their dreams.
WiserWomen: The nonprofit Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement offers the best steps for your financial future.
TrustLaw Women: The newest channel from TrustLaw, the international legal news and assistance hub sponsored by the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Fire in her belly
I work out!
Shailaja Rao exudes so much spunk and energy that she may easily pass off for a 14-year-old in the Future Kid's School of which she is the founder and director
All About Eve RIA GIRRI
DEEPAK DESHPANDE
N
SANA MIRZA
sana.m@postnoon.com
S
hailaja Rao’s childhood experiences led her to set up the Future Kid’s School in 1997. Her main aim was not to impart opinions but to kindle young minds. “I hated school. The teachers were boring as they had too many expectations. In fact, I was quite naughty in school and was one of the back benchers,” says Shailaja who grew up and did her schooling in Jamshedpur. “Back in school, there were too many students in a classroom who were subjected to things such as discrimination and corporal punishment. It may have been intended to better us but in my case, it only stifled me and killed my spontaneity. The school and teachers were a terror,” she recalls. Shailaja then went on to get a Bachelors in Home Science from the College of Home Science in Hyderabad. She admits that she intended to be a pediatrician or a micro-surgeon but fate had other plans in store for her and she ended up pursuing her love for teaching instead. At 23 she completed her Masters in Child Development at Nagpur University when she decided to be a teacher. “The University had organised a Balwadi which is an early learning day care center. I was teaching a bunch of kids and that's when I decided I wanted to set up a school,” recalls Shailaja. A single mother, she lived in Kuwait for a brief period and then moved to Hyderabad where she gave wings to her dream school. “When the school was being built, I used to be out all night watching over the construction. My family and friends used to tell me not to but then I was never scared,” she says going onto add, “There was a time when we couldn’t afford having a watchman so my fiveyear-old son and I used to pack in a blanket and pillows and sleep at the school premises.” So how did she manage it all? “I think it was the fire in my
THE CV First job: Nursery school teacher Motto: Be the change you want to see around you. Inspiration: I get inspired by a lot of people. To name a few— Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Narayana Murthy and of course, my father. Last movie seen: The Descendants Currently reading: Tagore's Creative Unity
belly that kept pushing me beyond limits and I never gave up because I strongly believed in what I was doing,” she exclaims. She, however, owes it all to her parents who had a major influence on her thinking.“My parents were quite encouraging. It was actually my father who pushed me to travel on my own and experience the world for what it really is. He believed that children learnt more by seeing,” remarks Shailaja. What most people don't
know about her is that she is also a splendid singer. “I have been trained in classical and carnatic music. I even produced an album for kids called “The Little People's Animal Dream” back in 2001. It was quite popular and we sold a few copies,” she informs. Even though, Shailaja was robbed of her memorable school years, she makes sure that every child in her school takes back with them not just their homework but rather a bag full of things to think about.
o I really do, at a gym with weights and everything. And it inspires me. As much as I’d love to deny the fact, I am someone people would call fat or more politely put, a little healthier than average. Hence, I managed to convince two of my friends to hit the gym with me (obviously I didn’t want to face the torment alone). So the routine is quite straight forward and it sounds very exciting in the beginning. I thought the same till I actually went through the torturous ordeal. No, no, I’m not trying to scare you. It’s a warning. Be prepared. I’ve experienced pain in parts I didn’t even know existed. But, thankfully, it only lasted a while. The three of us have now reached a stage where the routine is as good as a piece of cake. Why now we even compete with ourselves! Those two hours in the gym are an experience in itself. It makes me proud. I like to call it “the feel good experience”. The best part about the all girl gym’s atmosphere is the competition. I think of it as a battlefield where if I don’t perform better than the skinnier b***h on the cross trainer next to mine, pushing harder and faster on every pedal, I get the “look”. The “look” is basically what gym goers give to fellow gym goers that means “Hah! in your face loser.” Trust me you do not want to be in that spot. It may sound offensive but, it really works. You strive to do better than every other girl and at the end of it be known as Rocky. I love the jealous stares I get, I love how my trainer says “Wow!” after I tell her I burned 800 calories that day. I love how people come up to me and say I have lost weight and I explode with joy, but I manage to hold a serious face and say “Well, yeah, I’m working out.” So, even though you may hate the physicality of working out, an all-girl’s gym makes it totally worth it! So, girls, put on your hot pants, get your hair up, slip in to your exercise shoes, raise your eyebrow and say “I’m sexy and I know it!” Let this motto be egging you on. Oh! And please don’t forget to spray deodorant.
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SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
DEEPAK DESHPANDE
Akansha & Surabhi
Abhinav & Prachi
Nandini, Sweety & Muskan
An evening of poetry and Kaifi
Ashima & Neelu
Hosna & Shiman
The Qadir Ali Baig theatre foundation organised on Friday, the release and reading of noted poet Kaifi Azmi’s book Kaifiyath at Novotel. It was evening of music and entertainment. Actor Shabana Azmi was also present to release the book.
AK Khan
Rahul Sharma
AK Khan and Shabana Azmi release Kaifi Azmi’s book Kaifiyath
Shabana Azmi
Puma continues to add colour to the Deccan Chargers team by colouring the cricketing season red with its new Pulse footwear range.
DEEPAK DESHPANDE
Tapping the pulse Encouraging global cinema The first ever Mexican Film Festival was held in collaboration with Annapurna International School Of Film and Media (AISFM) and the Hyderabad Film Club(HFC) on Friday at Annapurna Studios. It is a three-day film fest being held from April 13th-16th. Amala Akkineni, was the chief guest.
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RELATIONSHIPS SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
I
I AM ALL EARS
’m 28. I have been seeing a girl for the past four years and I like her a lot and even plan to marry her. Two months ago on a business trip I met a girl with whom things got a little heated and now I can’t stop thinking about her. I am to get married later this year. What should I do?
Dear tormented kid, One roll in the hay with some stranger got you addicted to sex and attracted to the girl. You are willing to give up four years of a committed relationship to find out if your act of stupidity will bear fruit in future. As long as you long for that sexual pleasure from someone else, I believe marriage plans should better be put on hold. Think what is your priority and act accordingly. Just don’t enter marriage out of a moral compulsion.
T
he colour red has long been associated with women’s sexual attractiveness, but a new study at the University of Kent has shown that this is not linked to any association in men’s minds with the redness of women’s genitalia.The results showed that the men rated the reddest shade significantly less attractive than the three pink shades, among which there were no significant differences in rated attractiveness.
Search for the suitable boy
NICOLAS
It isn’t easy to find ‘a suitable boy’ on matrimonial portals. Be prepared to kiss a lot of frogs along the way! Patience is the key to finding your prince charming! VINEETA MV
feedback@postnoon.com
A
fter years of holding up against parental pressure, I finally acknowledged that I wouldn’t be able to find a guy on my own and decided to get by with a little help from the matrimonial sites. I woke up early one day and sat down to create a profile that described me, and the qualities that I was looking for in a groom. Several versions later, finally pleased, I published it on
the portal. I spent a couple of very anxious days and I had received no ‘interests’. In fact only five people had even checked out my profile. That’s when I realised the importance of a mugshot! The most well written profile, would not get you any attention unless you have a nice picture to go with it. Shiny, happy pictures preferred; do not showcase your scowl on these portals. They’ll get you nowhere! I quickly recovered from my mistake and the requests started coming in… The first was a guy who stated very clearly in his profile that he wouldn’t want me to have any relations with ‘boys’
after marriage except on professional grounds. Thank God for small mercies! Then there came another with claims of a great sense of humour. Well, I was convinced because his profile said that he was 5ft 1 inch tall and that he was about to be crowned a Gladrags mega model. Another extremely impatient suitor reminded me of his ‘interest’ daily till I finally acted upon it and another stalked me online. He found me on every social networking site and diligently sent me friend requests. The guy who took the cake was the one who sent me a message saying, ‘Nice profile, Do you
know any other women like you, but a couple of years younger?’ The next step is when you accept the guy’s interest, If you think that the guy has some potential. That’s when you get talking to the guy. The very first guy I spoke to for all of one minute sends me a text message two minutes after hanging up saying that he was very pleased to “know me”! I made the big mistake of sending a courteous response only to be bombarded with 10 more texts! Finally there was a request from a really nice guy who fit my bill to the T. In fact, his parents had sent me the request which meant that I had passed
the first round. His mother called me up and to my utter shock her first question was, ‘What about your assets?’ ‘I have twin assets and they believe me, get me a lot of attention!’, I replied, tongue firmly in check. His mother was so shocked at my response that she hung up without another word! To sum up, it isn’t easy to find ‘a suitable boy’ on matrimonial portals. Be prepared to kiss a lot of frogs along the way! Patience is the key, one such frog just might turn into your prince charming! The writer is a 29-year-old Hyderabad-based professional
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CINEMA SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
T-TOWN TWEETIES @sundeepkishan
@RGVzoomin
@sneha_ullal
@Actor_Siddharth
Another early day for #GundelloGodari... its such a pleasure working in such locations... pure air, great food & amazing ppl around.
I don’t knw wht Brazil produces as agricultural products nd industrial products bt I wnt 2 thank Brazil for producing @nathalia_kaur
I can’t even feel my back... never felt this kind of pain before... Jess is fast asleep... praying and believing she stands up tomorrow... Gn
Thank god KKR cheergirls are in improved clothing!My mom is convinced SRK was detained in NY in connection with the last uniforms;)
@richyricha
@shraddhadas43
@tashu_02
@pnavdeep26
For all my Tamil tweeps who think I forgot to wish, please use the ‘scroll’ feature ;)
This tirupati, Kadappa, Ananthpur trip has become more of a pilgrimage for me! Tirumala, srikalasthi temple now off to ‘dargah’.
My best frnd is gettin married in a week’s time... m gonna fly to Muscat... Wat shud b the apt weddin gift for her... any suggestions?
A big shout out for a happy Tamil new year to all d lovely tamil ppl... :-) have a great year :-)
A little sweet, a little sour
Nathalia Kaur in Gabbar Singh
Hemanth Kumar
Movie
Hemanth.k@postnoon.com
N
eeku Naaku Dash Dash, directed by Teja, follows a classic screenplay technique of pitching ordinary people in a dangerous situation and narrating how they end up fighting for their lives. While some of Teja’s earlier films like Jayam, Nuvvu Nenu followed a pattern, the protagonists in Neeku Naaku Dash Dash get into problems with the liquor mafia. The story begins with Shiva (Prince) being forced to work at an illicit liquor syndicate. He meets a girl named Gayathri (Nandita), who falls in love with him. Bapineedu and Chitti Thalli (Theertha) rule the company with an iron hand and we are told that girls and boys are not allowed to talk to each other. When Shiva and Gayatri fall in love with each other, it triggers a sequence of events, which
Rana is excited about AMLOR
R
: Neeku Naaku Dash Dash
Cast : Prince, Nandita Director : Teja Rating
:
ana Daggubati is excited about his upcoming English film A Momentary Lapse of Reason. Aditya Bhattacharya is going to direct this film and it's touted to be a remake of his debut film Raakh. At a recent event organised by Moving Images Film Club, when Aditya was asked why he chose Rana for the lead role, he said, "To be honest, I hadn't even seen Rana's
threaten their lives. The rest of the story is about how Shiva and Gayathri achieve their goals and how they reunite. Newcomers Prince and Nandita deliver commendable performances for a debut film and kudos to Teja for that. The first half entirely revolves around the love story between the lead pair. The story unfolds at a good pace and the first forty minutes or so of the second half is quite gripping. However, proceedings take a downturn from then on and the film ends up testing our patience. On the brighter side, Rasool Ellore’s cinematography is good. Most part of the second half has been shot in a forest and Rasool has done a fabulous job in capturing the visuals. Neeku Naaku Dash Dash is not a bad film but it could have been so much better. It is emotionally charged but with everyone screaming all the time it is hard to sympathize with the characters. Neeku Naaku Dash Dash is a little dashing and a little dash.
films. I couldn't find anyone in Mumbai and when I met Rana, I was quite impressed with the journey he had taken to be the actor that he is. I think he'll fit into the shoes of the character quite well." On the other hand, Rana couldn't stop raving about Raakh, the film on which this film is based on. "I recently saw the film and I was blown away by it completely. Like I
N
athalia Kaur is going to make her debut in Tollywood in Pawan Kalyan's upcoming film Gabbar Singh. We hear that she's going to dance in the title track of Gabbar Singh and she'll begin shooting for this song later this month in Hyderabad. Incidentally, Malaika Arora is doing another item number in the film. Looks like producer Ganesh Babu is leaving no stone unturned to make Gabbar Singh, one of the most talked about films of the year. Nathalia Kaur has had a great year so far. Few weeks ago, RGV had cast her in an item number in Department and since then she has been in news thanks to RGV's tweets. The director hasn't stopped raving about his latest find and even made her join Twitter. After dancing for item numbers in Department and Gabbar Singh, she's all set to team up with Rana Daggubati in an erotic thriller to be directed by RGV.
always say, we don't choose stories, it's the story which chooses us. I am quite excited about the project," Rana said. The film will be shot in Los Angeles and currently Aditya Bhattacharya and his team are working on the film's script. Meanwhile, Rana is busy shooting for Krish's Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum, which also stars Nayanthara in lead role.
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CINEMA SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
B-TOWN TWEETIES @realpreityzinta
@kalkikanmani
@SrBachchan
@reddysameera
Time to tuck myself into bed and finally get some much needed quality sleep... Goodnight folks... Sweet dreams ! Lotza love.
Talk about Friday 13th bad luck, my tooth just fell off on shoot! Rushing to the dentist.
T 712 -After our tweetdebate on cell phone towers, WHO writes in to give information and clarification... the POWER of twitterworld !!
What fantastic weather in delhi!!! Cool breeze on a warm day! It’s shopping time At the emporio! :)
@TheShilpaShetty
@kjohar25
@sonakshisinha
@RahulBose1
Another day another match... Won the toss... Chosen to Bat. Have a good feeling abt this one;) Go Royals, Halla Bol:))
Close friend from school... one of the brightest girls!! Happy she is going to be in the film business as a producer... @madhubhojwani
Baisakhi di badhaiyaan, mubarakaan, pathake - from the entire team of Son of Sardaar!
After my super experience running at the race course (deserted, excellent natural track, great views), am itching to go again today.
Passable fare VAIJAYANTHI KARI
feedback@postnoon.com
T
he perfect venue, apparel, food, flowers, music and friends and family create the perfect atmosphere for a wedding. But all of this can be relived only when filmed. Bittoo Boss is the story of a videographer who shoots weddings for a living but dreams of being a filmmaker someday. To prove his worth to the girl he loves, he tries to make a quick buck by taking a short cut to success. A series of events after which the protagonist realises his mistakes, he returns home only to see the mess that he has created in his life. The dialogues are crisp but are strongly influenced by Punjabi. The film is a debut for its protagonist Pulkit Samrat, on the big screen, who has definitely done a good job with his acting. Playing opposite him is Amitha Pathak who has not appeared on big screen after her debut film Haal-e-dil. Amitha makes her-
Sajid’s hat-trick: Housefull 2
D
irector Sajid Khan hits hat-trick with Housefull 2: The Dirty Dozen, which has grossed `72 crore worldwide and become the second biggest opening of the year after Agneepath, which earned `75 crore. Released last Friday, the film, co-produced by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, grossed `57 crore in India and `15 crore overseas so far. "Despite releasing during the IPL cricket frenzy, Housefull 2 has opened well in theatres across India. With its strong weekend performance, we believe Housefull 2 has also lived up to its name like predecessor," Nandu Ahuja, senior vice president, India Theatrical, Eros International Media Ltd, said in a IANS statement.
self visible despite not having too much time on screen in the second half of the film. While the first half moves quickly and has the 'touch of romance' to it, the second half moves at snail's pace but the subtle humour helps break the monotony at all the right times. The cinematography and screenplay, both being good, help the film stick to the plot and never go off track. One might look forward to Raghav Sachar's music but its effect on the audience is almost negligible. The movie opened to an almost empty theatre on its first day of release but there are chances of it picking up in the following weeks, if there is any.
Movie: Bittoo Boss Cast: Pulkit Samrat, Amitha Pathak Directed by: Supavitra Babul Rating:
Lots of work left for Farhan E
ssaying the role of an athlete is not easy. After undertaking a rigorous regime to get into the character of Milkha Singh, Farhan Akhtar will now have to work hard to look like the 17-yearold sprinter in the film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. This is the time, during the 1950s, when Milkha Singh was a 17year-old army recruit. Said a source close to the project: "Farhan worked really hard to look at least 10 years less than his actual age to look like Milkha in the 1960s. Farhan would now have to knock off another 10 years from his real age to look like the 17-yearold Milkha, the army-boy in the 1950s." Farhan, who spent a lot of time researching the army for his war film Lakshya, would undertake at least a fortnight of on-the-spot training in an army cantonment to
get the hang of that particular phase of Milkha's career. Taking a breather from shooting in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra said: "We're not looking anywhere except at getting the on- screen Milkha as correctly on screen as possible. It's not about just looking like Milkha Singh or running like him. When persuaded to reveal more on how Farhan intends to look 17 as an army recruit, Mehra said: "We've shot the runner's phase. We will be going back further into Milkha's life. I'm sure Farhan would be able to pull it off with full conviction. We don't know how much of Milkha Singh's life we'd finally be able to get on screen. We are doing our job to the best of our abilities." IANS
CINEMA SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
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CINEMA SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
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CINEMA SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Sinks without a trace
Battleship is so loud and preposterous, its unintentional hilarity makes it worth a watch Padmini C padmini.c@postnoon.com
S
o no one expected it to be the best movie of the year. But we didn’t think it’d be the Aliens vs Cowboys of 2012 either. It is. And so much worse, we don’t have the words to describe it. And as alien invasion movies go, this one makes Battle Los Angeles and Independence Day look like classics. So let’s get the plot out of
the way before we get to the fun bits. An overenthusiastic scientist sends out feelers into outerspace to a planet that looks somewhat like ours. And whaddya know? The big bad aliens (as if on standby) are here and humankind is on the brink of extinction! But here’s the thing. It’s not. The damage the aliens seem intent on causing is to lifeless things and is mostly collateral, like when their giant metal-
Mark Ruffalo: I want my own Hulk movie!
M
ark Ruffalo is campaigning for his own Hulk flick… “I’m hoping we’re going to see a Hulk movie,” the hunky actor said at last night’s splashy Avengers premiere. “Why don’t we start an online petition for a Hulk movie?” It’s not like Hollywood hasn’t thrown the green muscle-head onto the big screen already. Director Ang Lee’s Hulk starring Eric Bana grossed a very
impressive $245 million worldwide in 2003. Five years later, Bruce Banner and his alter ego were played by Edward Norton in The Incredible Hulk. It took in $263.4 million. The plan was to have Norton reprise the role in The Avengers, but he was dropped by Marvel and replaced with Ruffalo after some nasty public mudslinging between movie execs and Norton’s agent.
Movie: Battleship Cast: Alexander Skarsgard, Brooklyn Decker and Liam Neeson Directed by: Peter Berg Rating:
lic balls roll over crashing into highways, bridges and military bases. Enter Alex Hopper (Taylor Kitsch), erstwhile rogue and now lieutenant in the US Navy signs up for the job and goes off to defeat the alien invaders, no prizes for guessing who wins. Except for a few scenes in the middle which are based on the board-game, it’s hard to reconcile this moronic movie with the game that we all played
as kids. The madness compounded only by the tiresome characters, the whatshername girlfriend (Brookyln Decker), her father Admiral Crane (Liam Neeson). The closest anyone comes to putting up a performance, even if it is blink-andmiss, is Rihanna as the ship’s petty officer. The movie is so in your face silly, so loud and so preposterous that its unintentional hilarity makes it worth a watch.
George Michael inspired Adam Lambert A
dam Lambert has revealed that his new record has been inspired by George Michael. The singer will release his second studio album Trespassing in the US on May 15 and the UK on July 2. Talking about the new material’s influences, Lambert told the Daily Star: “It can’t hurt me that the ‘90s are becoming trendy again. “I went there because that’s what inherently locked into my musical subconscious, as it’s what I grew up with. “This album borrows so much from my first pop influences. I was listening to George Michael, Michael Jackson,” Speaking about his new single Never Close Our Eyes, the star revealed that the track is slightly more dance-orientated than its writer — Bruno Mars — is used to working with. Lambert’s Never Close Our Eyes will be officially released in the UK on June 24.
26
CHAI TIME SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
SOLUTION ON PAGE 32
SUDOKU
KAKURO
How to play Kakuro
SCRIBBLING PAD
Kakuro is a popular game similar to sudoku in some ways. But is also suitably different. The key question: ‘How do you play kakuro?’, well here are the rules of kakuro. The answer: The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some cells will contain two numbers. However, in a crossword the numbers reference clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! They denote the total of the digits in the row or column referenced by the number. Within each collection of cells — called a run — any of the numbers 1 to 9 may be used but, like sudoku, each number may only be used once. Let’s have an example to explain this concept more clearly: In the image above, which shows a section of a kakuro puzzle, you will see the numbers ‘26’ and ‘14’ in the top row. Look at the 14. This means that the total of the three cells underneath must sum to 14. Therefore 9, 4, 1 could be the answer, or perhaps 7, 4, 3 and so on... So, how do you work out the actual combination? Well, this is done through elimination and cross-referencing. For instance, as you work out the answers for other kakuro clues, this will naturally limit the valid combinations, and hence the answer for this particular run. Note the second cell in row two — it contains two numbers, 30 and 11. The 30 refers to the vertical run underneath the number 30 and the 11 refers to the two cells to the right, horizontally, of the number 11.
Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in this world. – Helen Keller
QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Summer month 7 Tides favored for boating departures 11 Automated computer program 14 Site of much horsing around? 15 Moe Howard move 16 Unspecified quantity 17 Worthy of a TV movie, perhaps 18 Kind of proprietor 19 Fifteen percent, often 20 Track star's purchase 23 ‘Hey you, c'mere!’ 26 Wintertime on Cape Cod 27 Be in limbo 28 Greek wine 31 1952 Winter Games site 34 Zeta-theta link 35 Still-life centerpiece 37 Canadian buck 41 It can improve | circulation 44 A baseball, but not a football 45 ___ En-lai (Chinese premier) 46 UPS delivery (Abbr) 47 Abnormal body sac 49 Affluent 51 Singer's range 54 Activate, as a bomb 56 Ancient road to Rome 57 ‘Cinderella’ clue 62 A Bobbsey twin 63 Crab's sensor 64 Feeling during an upheaval 68 ‘Ammonia’ has two 69 Additive in skin lotions 70 Word in a Nicole Kidman film title 71 Thoroughfare 72 Darned right? 73 Act the aide DOWN 1 Remains of the tray? 2 Sport ___ (off-road vehicle) 3 Fish with bill-like jaws 4 Submerged threats of WWII 5 Thin incision
6 Georgia ___ (Atlanta univ) 7 ‘Sissy,’ mostly 8 Stewed 9 ‘___ Ha'i’ 10 Project detail, for short 11 Take to the tub 12 Bermuda or Vidalia 13 What blood has to be, before a transfusion 21 ‘... to say the ___’ 22 Frighten, as a horse 23 Weightlifting maneuver 24 Trap 25 Dangerous bacteria (Abbr) 29 ‘99 and 44/100 per cent pure’ soap 30 Blow holes? 32 Single-masted sailing vessel 33 Scene of any event 36 Computer ‘panic’
key retreats 38 Bite playfully, as a 59 Bargain event puppy might 60 Adidas alternative 39 Linen tape used for 61 Adam's grandson trimmings 65 ‘The Book of ___’ 40 Ham-and-___ (aver(Denzel Washington age Joe) film) 42 Legendary cowboy 66 ‘Boom-bah’ lead-in Bill 67 Dynamite alternative 43 Sound from a PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER poltergeist 48 Candle material 50 Wispy cloud 51 Veep who resigned in 1973 52 Andean source of milk and wool 53 Aster family perennial 55 Age 58 Health
27
CHAI TIME SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Aries
Taurus
Gemini
Cancer
Leo
Virgo
The Star
Knight of Cups
Knight of Swords
Nine of Wands
Two of Wands
Ten of Pentacles
W
ork – Find solutions to work related problems more intuitively rather than going by the book. You’d be surprised at how well they’ll work. Romance – You achieve a deeper, stronger connection with your partner. Singles are likely to meet someone at a workshop or class. Health –Pamper yourself. A body massage and a day at the spa may do what no shrink or doctor can do for you. Money – Lottery wins and surprise inflow of money will make you happy. High returns from an investment will take you by surprise. Tarot message – You develop a deep understanding of the connection between how you perceive life and what ultimately happens to you.
W
ork – You may be coming across to your colleagues as too aggressive. Watch your tongue and do what it takes to correct your image. Romance – You need some space for yourself to think things through. Explain this to your partner. If you’re single, you feel restless and uneasy. Health – Meditate or get into any alternative therapy that makes you feel more centred and connected to the world around you. Money – There are no major issues with finances with the inflow and outflow staying pretty much the same. You need to take proactive measures if you want to increase your income. Tarot message – Have faith in your abilities and this faith will carry you to new heights.
W
ork – You may have taken on too much work and it’s bugging you that you’re unable to meet expectations when it comes to quality. Romance – You need to spend quality time together. It can be just lazing at home with your partner or deciding to stay in bed longer. Health – The anxiety gets so difficult to manage, you begin to hyperventilate and feel like you need help. Meditate. Money – Beware of losses that can be avoided. Make a list of to-do things and stick to the deadlines. Plan, plan, plan. Tarot message – You’re mentally stressed out and it’s something you cannot avoid. You can lessen the burden by learning to deal with the stress.
W
ork – Your boss is happy with your work and has put you in a prestigious assignment where you need to collaborate with others. Romance – You and your partner find a new, happy and comfortable zone. You reach a deeper understanding of each other. Health – Your health is looking great and you are recovering well from minor illnesses. You need to do things you like in order to maintain good mental health. Money – Extra money comes your way either through an increment or through a freelance job. Tarot message – You have the power to steer your life the way you want to. Make sure to sit with yourself first before you decide anything.
W
W
ork – If you hate your job, or more specifically your boss, things will begin to look up. Either your boss leaves or you get another job. Romance – The committed will find deeper meaning in their partnership. Singles will change their expectations of love and marriage. Health – You discover a new treatment or an alternative solution to a chronic medical problem. Money – If money has been tight, don’t worry. You’ll find a new source of additional income that will ease the burden on your EMIs. Tarot message – There’s a silver lining to the cloud that has been threatening to take away your peace of mind. Don’t worry.
SUMAA TEKUR tarotreadhyd@gmail.com
Libra
Scorpio
Page of Pentacles
Five of Swords
W
ork – Avoid getting into the bad books of your bosses. Don’t rub them the wrong way by trying to argue without adequate information. Romance – Arguments, debates and disagreements will always be there in any relationship. It’s how you fight them out and reach a settlement is what determines the health of a partnership. Health – Focus on hygiene. Wash your hands regularly and take measures to keep away the winter bug. Money – Intellectual work brings in the money. This may not be the best time for creative ideas. Even if mundane, continue to do the daily jobs. Tarot message – Life is really all about surviving the mundane. You manage well by steering clear of fights.
ork – You might find a new project more demanding than you expected. Perhaps the client is just too difficult to please. Romance – Passion is taking your relationship to the next level. Though the chemistry is wonderful, there are other parts of life together that need attention. Health – Take up a running or jogging routine that’s both fun and will keep your interest alive. Maybe exercising in groups will help? Money – Investment in real estate is a good idea. Start shopping around for the right property and you’re likely to hit upon the correct deal. Tarot message – You need to take a break. Hit the sun and sands and rejuvenate all your senses.
W
Sagittarius Nine of Cups
W
ork –A dream project that had been delayed moves ahead in a steady, although unexpected, manner. Your dream is fulfilled and you get more out of it than you expected. Romance – A chance encounter brings to your life the person of your dreams. There is sexual passion. You also experience strange synchronicities. Health – You’re experiencing great health. Your inner contentment infuses energy to your physical body and you feel positive about everything. Money – Some kind of financial gain is indicated in the most unexpected and strange ways. Don’t look out for it. It will come when it has to. Tarot message – The power of your own will is at work now.
Date 15-4-2012
Capricorn
Aquarius
Five of Pentacles
Four of Wands
W
ork – Your colleagues or business partners may not fully agree with you on certain points in an important contract. Don’t lose heart. Romance – The time is not great. You have to work harder on your relationship to keep it afloat. You’re attracted to having short-term flings. Health – Worry and anxiety are causing problems and this is showing on your physical health. Don’t let the tension get to you. Money – You may have forgotten about some important investments you made a few years ago. Review your investment portfolio again. Tarot message – You need inspiration and guidance to start over. You’re tired and frustrated. Renew and refresh your life.
ork – A promotion has put in the place you have always wanted to be. You’re comfortable and are happy with the new challenges. Romance – Family and relationships are going good. You’re able to give time and attention, something you couldn’t give earlier. Health – Don’t lag on your exercise routine, even if it’s a half-hour walk daily. Completely stopping exercise will make it difficult for you to restart. Money – Money’s looking good. The raise that came with the promotion has given you new confidence and an extra spring in your step. Tarot message – The stability and comfort you have is a result of your own hard work and achievement. Enjoy it.
W
ork – You’re in a stable and comfortable position where work is concerned. There’s no hurry to change jobs or look for better opportunities. Romance – The relationship is fast reaching a monotony where you can predict your lover’s actions and reactions to accuracy. Bring spice into your courtship. Health – Take a second opinion if you’re not convinced with what one doctor is telling you. It doesn’t mean you don’t respect them. Better be safe than sorry. Money – There’s some unpredictability and change on the money front. You may have to move your portfolio around to ensure profits. Tarot message – Don’t change anything if it’s going well. But do review your situation.
Pisces King of Pentacles
W
ork – Your subordinates respect you for your experience and confidence in decision making. Romance – You come across as too cut and dried and totally out of touch with the romantic in you. How about living in a fairytale world, at least for some time? Health – Health is looking good. Just make sure to keep depression at bay. Undue anxiety and worry may be causing some stress on the body. Money – You have a single-minded focus on money, and want to secure yourself and your family financially before making any other decisions. Tarot message – You’re in a position of power and control. The way your life turns out from here will depend on how you use that power.
Vol: 1, No 272 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
28
THE SATURDAY QUIZ SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE 15. Mimi is the first name of which Warner Bros cartoon character? 16. Which singer was nicknamed by his fans The Lizard King? 17. What was Bruce Lee’s first Hollywood produced film? 18. In Star Trek Voyager what is the shuttle’s name?
SAYS WHO?
IDENTIFY THESE MUSICIANS
IDENTIFY WHO SAID THESE LINES
IDENTIFY THESE FAMOUS BETTER HALVES
1 2 3
1
An American actor and producer, he has won three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1987 for his role in Wall Street and received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2009. He shares his birthday with Catherine Zeta Jones. Who is he?
All I know is that I know nothing He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat
4
History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.
2
His first appearance was in 1981 Taps. He declared his love for his, the then girlfriend and current wife on The Oprah Winfrey Show famously jumping up and down on Winfrey's couch during the show. Who is he?
5
I do believe, that where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence.
3
She is the current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the second largest food & beverage business in the world. She even played guitar in an all-female rock band while studying at Madras Christian College. She is married to Rajkantilal Nooyi. Who is she?
6
I found Rome a city of bricks, and left it a city of Marble
7
I was born modest. Not all over, but in spots.
8
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work
1Michael Douglas 2.Tom Cruise 3. Andre Agassi
Answer:
KNOW YOUR COUNTRY
Veni Vidi Vici
1.Julius Ceasar 2. Socrates 3.Napolean 4.Winston Churchill 5.Mahatma Gandhi 6.Augustus 7.Mark Twain 8. Thomas A Edison
FAMOUS SPOUSES
10. In Shakespeare who is Romeo’s love before Juliet? 11. Which animals make a sound called nuzzing? 12. The Dove awards are presented annually for what? 13. Which country was the first to issue parking tickets? 14. Introduced in 1964 name Barbie's sister?
Answers
Oikologiost do? 6. What river’s name translates as river of hate? 7. Whose secretary was Loelia Ponsonby? 8. According to historians which is the oldest device still used? 9. What does a hygrometer measure?
1.Frank Sinatra 2.Herman Hollerith 3.Nestle 4.Pineapple 5.Housekeeping 6.Styx in Hades 7.James Bond 8.Toothpicks 9.Humidity 10.Rosaline 11.Camels 12.Gospel music 13.France 14.Skipper 15.Roadrunner 16.Jim Morrison 17.Enter the Dragon 18.The Delta Flyer
1. Fred Silverman invented the name Scooby Do. Who was his inspiration? 2. Who was the first computer millionaire? 3. Which is the world's largest food company? 4. Which fruit is the symbol of hospitality? 5. What job does an
Answer: 1 Bob Dylan 2 Englebert 3 Stevie Wonder 4.Frank Sinatra
1
In which city would you come across Sidi Bashir Mosque, famous for its Shaking Minarets (Jhulta Minar) ?
with Santosh Ghule Find out what’s on her mind
WHO AM I? I invented the one object that you can't do without. I was the odd one out in my family, interested in science and research. I was also one of the founding members of the national geographic society. Who am I?
Answer: Alexander Graham Bell
Shishu is the literary work of which author?
Lion and birds
Rouff is a folk dance. It has its origin in which state?
PICTURE PUZZLE 10
Answer for 9 : Fish, Horse,
2 3 4
Answer:
Name the latest UAV (unarmed air vehicle) of India after nishant and lakshya?
1.Rustom -1 2.Kashmir 3 Rabindranath Tagore 4.Ahmedabad
Answers
29
SATURDAY APRIL 14, 2012
METRE
6S 153
Faf du Plessis (CSK)
8 4S322
Ajinkya Rahane (RR)
23
HIGHEST SCORE
98
Ajinkya Rahane (RR)
BEST BOWLER
5-16
Ravindra Jadeja (CSK)
Confident CSK clash with PWI We always knew it was a competitive score, but they built up a partnership after an early wicket. We knew we had to go hard up front. I believe the experience to play on these tracks will help the youngsters.Although we are not comfortable losing two in a row but hope to bounce back soon Rahul Dravid, RR Captain
Ajinkya Rahane (RR) 157 runs
Munaf Patel (MI) 10 wickets
BRIEF SCORES: PWI VS RR
G APARNA SAI
feedback@postnoon.com
A
fter recording the highest run-chase in this season's IPL, Chennai Super Kings would want to believe they could waltz through in a similar manner when they encounter the other teams. Reaching the formidable target of 206 when they clashed against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Thursday, CSK are certainly a notch up in confidence in comparison to their opponents, Pune Warriors India, whom they take on today in Pune. Pune, which performed quite well in the IPL’s fifth edition, faltered in their last game against Kings XI Punjab. Asked to bat first, PWI were restricted to a paltry 115, a target which KXIP reached comfortably. Fall of wickets at regular intervals, occasional shoddy bowling and sloppy fielding saw the Warriors crumble under pressure. While most of the PWI play-
ers have played reasonably well, skipper Sourav Ganguly, who has not contributed enough with the bat this season, will have to improve his performance to help the team stay afloat. But it is not too late for PWI to get themselves back on the track. With only one loss behind them, they are still comfortably placed in the points table. On the other hand, CSK would certainly enter this match as Kings. Dhoni who seemed to be lagging behind in Chennai’s earlier encounters, hammered a note-
PWI VS CSK AT 8PM ON SET MAX worthy knock of 41 from 24 balls against RCB. Later, Albie Morkel went on to smash 28 of seven balls to swing the game in the favour of the Super Kings. Faf du Plessis is a player to watch out. His contribution to the team is phenomenal and if he gives the side a good start, then it will be difficult to apply the brakes to the Chennai innings. Ravindra Jadeja and Bravo are the other players who have the ability to turn the tide in Chennai’s favour with their allround skills.
RR 131/5 IN 20 OVERS (OWAIS SHAH 31, SHAKIB AL HASAN 3/17) LOST TO KKR 137/5 IN 19.2 OVERS (MANVINDER BISLA 29, ASHOK MENARIA 1/3)
Chennai Super Kings batsman Ravindra Jadeja celebrates his team's winning shot during their IPL match against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai on Thursday. AFP/SESHADRI SUKUMAR
MAHMOOD TO JOIN KXIP
F
ormer Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, who is now a British citizen, has finally got an Indian visa and would be joining his IPL team Kings XI Punjab soon, said skipper Adam Gilchrist. "I have been told that he has received a visa," Gilchrist, whose side beat Pune Warriors on Thursday, told reporters. Gilchrist, who is also the team's coach, said Mahmood (37) should be joining the side soon and "that would be nice". On Wednesday when Gilchrist had been asked about the status of Mahmood, who was picked up by KXIP at this year's players' auction in joining the team, he had said, "It's up to the Government because he is not getting his visa at the moment. We bought a player we were told was available for every game and we are still unable to access our player. It's not in our hands." Mahmood, who has featured in 21 Tests and 143 ODIs for Pakistan, was bought by KXIP for USD 200,000 but had not been able to play in the IPL as he had not been given the Indian visa. Earlier, the team management had said Mahmood had himself taken a short break because of domestic reasons. The team is hoping to bolster their bowling and batting with Mahmood's presence as they are also without English pacer PTI Stuart Broad, who has been ruled out because of injury.
3 The number of wickets claimed by Kolkata Knight Riders bowler, Shakib Al Hasan when KKR played Rajasthan Royals in Kolkata on Friday
PLAYER OF THE DAY SHAKIB AL HASAN: It was the night
P W L T PT NR MI 4 3 1 0 6 0.361 DD 3 2 1 0 4 0.82 PWI 3 2 1 0 4 0.573 KKR 4 2 2 0 4 0.305 RR 4 2 2 0 4 0.183 CSK 4 2 2 0 4 -0.051 RCB 3 1 2 0 2 -0.417 KXIP 3 1 2 0 2 -0.583 DC 2 0 2 0 0 -1.95 P-played; W-win; L-lost; T-tie; NR-net run rate; PT-points
Kolkata Knight Riders bowler Yusuf Pathan celebrates after the dismissal of Rajasthan Royals batsman Ashok Mineria during the IPL match AFP/DIBYANGSHU SARKAR between RR and KKR in Kolkata on Friday.
of the Kolkata Knight Riders when they clashed with Rajasthan Royals on Friday for the second time this IPL season and one of the players who stole the limelight was Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan. The 25-year-old player bowled brilliantly to claim three for 17 from his quota of four overs to help his side restrict the Royals to 131. Touted as one of the key bowlers in the KKR side, Shakib’s accurate bowling saw him apply the brakes on the Rajasthan innings. The bowler from Bangladesh was well supported by his KKR teammate Sunil Narine who picked up one for 22 from this four overs. Shakib later went on to add 16 useful runs which came of just 10 deliveries and included a six and a four.
30
SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
McCoy, Synchronised, set for Miller feat
S
ynchronised will be ridden by National Hunt riding legend Tony McCoy in Saturday’s Grand National as he bids to become the first horse since Golden Miller in 1934 to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and National in the same season. McCoy, 16 times the British champion jockey, will team up with trainer Jonjo O’Neill and owner JP McManus just as he did in 2010 when Don’t Push It ended years of frustration for the Ulsterman in the race which is run over 4 1/2 miles and 30 imposing fences.
Canal Turn Foinavon’s Valentine’s
Becher’s Brook
Melling R oad
Synchronised Major wins
Midlands Grand National (2010) Welsh National (2010) Lexus Chase (2011) Cheltenham Gold Cup (2012) Earnings £510,775 While Synchronised was a surprise winner of jump racing’s Blue Riband event the Gold Cup in March - getting the better of last year’s winner Long Run while another former champion Kauto Star was pulled up McCoy believes he is fresh enough for Saturday’s challenge. “Jonjo is pretty happy with him so we’ll have to see. I’m looking forward to Tony McCoy kissing Gold Cup-winning horse Synchronised at the Cheltenham Festival
The Chair
it,” said McCoy. “He was obviously very tough and brave to win the Gold Cup. “He’s got a lot of weight but he’s a classy horse and he’s won a Welsh National and a Midlands National, so he stays well and if he does take his chance hopefully he’ll give a good account.” Aside from Golden Miller only one other horse has achieved the golden double, though Irish runner L’Escargot did it on different years, winning the Gold Cup on two successive occasions in 1970/71 and finally after several failures beating the incomparable Red Rum in the 1975 National. However, top weight Synchronised will face
The Water Jump
Tony McCoy (37) Career wins 3,542 (as of 26th Jan 2012)
Major wins Grand National, Gold Cup, Champion Chase, Champion Hurdle, King George, Ryanair Chase, RSA Chase, Tingle Creek, Arkle, Welsh Grand National, Scottish Grand National, Midlands Grand National, Irish Grand National, Lexus Chase, Galway Plate British Jockey Champion since 1996
a classy field including last year’s impressive winner Ballabriggs who would be an even more emotional winner this time round as trainer Donald McCain’s father Ginger,
Red Rum’s handler, died late last year. Another former winner Mon Mome, who caused quite a stir when he won at 100/1 in 2009, is also due to run while another that would provide a good story is the Irish raider Seabass. Unbeaten in his four starts this season and trained by Ted Walsh, who sent Papillon out to win in 2000, he has been rejected by the trainer’s son Ruby and is now the mount of his daughter Katie. Should Seabass prevail she would become the first woman rider to win the 950,000 pound race. Ruby, who rode Papillon to victory in his first ride in the race, has opted instead for another Irish runner and equally well fancied On His Own. There are still 48 horses entered for the race with only 40 allowed to run owing to safety regulations. The going on the National course was described as soft, good to soft in places on Tuesday.
Louis takes control KUALA LUMPUR: Louis Oosthuizen accelerated his remarkable comeback from US Masters heartbreak as he seized control of the rain-interrupted Maybank Malaysian Open on Saturday. The world number 19, completing his second round after a heavy storm on Friday, fired two birdies on his last six holes for fourunder-par 68 and a one-shot lead over a field containing four other major-winners. Oosthuizen lost out to Bubba Watson in a Masters play-off less than a week ago, and he has contended with a 30-hour journey across 12 time zones, plus extreme heat, a tropical storm and travelling with his two young children. But the unflappable South African has oozed class at the par-72 Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club and he followed up his first-day 66 for an aggregate score of 10-under 134 in the $2.5 million European and Asian Tour event. Fellow South Africans Jbe Kruger and Hennie Otto, and Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher, are a stroke back in joint second, while 2010 PGA Championship winner Martin Kaymer, a former world number one, is three off the pace. “It’s nice playing in the mornings here — you feel loose because it’s so hot,” Oosthuizen said. “I felt comfortable this morning, I had a good night’s rest, felt comfortable on the range.”
31
SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
In Bahrain, there may be blood H
uman rights activists fear further bloodshed and a violent crackdown by authorities in Bahrain after race organisers gave the green light to next weekend’s Formula One grand prix in the troubled Gulf kingdom, according to the Guardian. Fi chief Bernie Ecclestone’s cpmment that Bahrain is ‘quiet and peaceful’ and ex-policeman John Yates’s claims that it’s safer than London have triggered outcries of protest. As the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) said it was satisfied that all proper security measures were in place for the race on 22
April, Nabeel Rajab, from the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), said: “I’m afraid we might see local people who will be killed in the coming days because of the F1.” Anti-government protesters have called for the event to be cancelled, arguing that it lends legitimacy to a regime which continues to perpetrate human rights abuses. The FIA, the sport’s governing authority, confirmed that it would go ahead, with beefed-up security, after receiving reassurances. John Yates, the former assistant commissioner of the Met who is in Bahrain advising on
FI CHIEF’S COMMENTS PROVOKED A STORM ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES AS LOCAL ACTIVISTS SAID THERE WERE FEARS OF A CLAMPDOWN ON PROTESTERS TO PREVENT DISRUPTION TO THE EVENT. police reform, wrote to the FIA president, Jean Todt, to say he felt safer living in Bahrain “than I have often felt in London”. Bernie Ecclestone, 81, the F1
Isner packs off Sweeting
supremo, speaking at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, said of Bahrain: “I know people who live there, and it’s all very quiet and peaceful.” The comments provoked a storm on social media sites as local activists said there were fears of a clampdown on protesters to prevent disruption to the event. Pictures emerged of Ecclestone’s image being burned in Bahrain posted on a Facebook page called “Pearl Family Circle – Martyrs’ Square”. Protests by members of the majority Shia against the Sunni government of the Al-Khalifa royal family take place on an
almost daily basis, mostly confined to villages away from the capital where groups have clashed with police using water cannon, teargas, stun grenades and plastic bullets. Activists say there have been more than 70 deaths, 20 from teargas suffocation, since February 2011, when the Bahrain uprising began, with an estimated 600 “political prisoners” currently detained. Civil unrest has escalated in recent weeks, in part due to concerns for the health of imprisoned activist Abdulhadi alKhawaja, now 65 days into a hunger strike, being held in a military hospital.
BLADERUNNER
World number 10 John Isner beat defending champion Ryan Sweeting 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/4) on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the $442,500 ATP US Men’s Clay Court Championship. OUSTON: Isner, the second seed, fired 11 aces and saved all six break points that he faced in the allAmerican quarter-final to improve to 19-6 for the season and keep alive his hopes for a first clay-court title. Isner, a runner-up last month at Indian Wells, will next face Spanish third seed Feliciano Lopez, who led 6-4, 2-2 when Carlos Berlocq of Argentina retired injured. Lopez is chasing his third ATP title and his first on clay. The other semi-final will see Argentine fourth seed Juan Monaco, who edged South Africa’s Kevin Anderson 7-6 (7/4), 7-5, take on US qualifier Michael Russell, who outlasted Ryan Harrison 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 in another allAmerican quarter-final. Monaco, ranked 16th,
ISNER, THE RUNNER-UP AT INDIAN WELLS, WILL NEXT FACE SPANISH THIRD SEED
FELICIANO LOPEZ. won his fourth career ATP title, and first since 2007, in February at Vina del Mar and reached the semifinals last month at Miami, losing to eventual winner, world number one Novak Djokovic. Anderson, ranked 33rd, was denied a chance for his second title in as many months after taking his second career ATP crown last month at Delray Beach, Florida. Russell reached his first career ATP semi-final by holding off 19-year-old AFP Harrison.
South Africa’s double-amputee Oscar Pistorius competes during the men’s 400 metre sprints for the Athletics Championships in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on Friday. Pistorius ran 48.24 seconds in windy conditions to finish second in his 400 metres heat on the first day of the South PTI African championships on Friday.
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SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2012
Blues to silence Bale Roberto Di Matteo insists Chelsea will prove Gareth Bale wrong after the Spurs’ winger claimed his side are better than their opponents.
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ale backed Spurs to beat the Blues in a series of explosive comments just days before the London rivals meet at Wembley for a place in the final. But Di Matteo naturally disagrees and he is confident Chelsea will silence the Wales winger on Sunday. “We respect his opinion and we’ll see on Sunday. Obviously, I don’t agree with him,” Di Matteo said on Friday. The sides drew both Premier League matches this season and Di Matteo added: “We played them
Roberto Di Matteo gestures during a match.
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Focus, says Stevie
Liverpool’s English midfielder Steven Gerrard in action. sions picked up by firstchoice stopper Pepe Reina and his understudy Alexander Doni in recent weeks. It also comes after a tumultuous period in Jones’ personal life following the tragic death of his five-year-old son Luca from leukaemia in November and the birth of his second son Nico last week. Saturday’s clash at
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Wembley also carries an added poignancy as it coincides with Sunday’s 23rd anniversary of the 1989 Hillsbrough disaster, the same year that Liverpool and Everton met in the final at Wembley. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has urged his team-mates to remain tightly focused on the game rather than the occasion. AFP
RAMS JETS BEARS LIONS EAGLES GIANTS
Suduko
that the fabled romance of the FA Cup is thriving will be on display at Wembley on Saturday as goalkeeper Brad Jones prepares to turn out for Liverpool in the Merseyside semi-final against Everton. The 30-year-old Australian — Liverpool’s third-choice goalkeeper — has been propelled into the spotlight after the suspen-
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LONDON: Fresh evidence
AFP/BEN STANSALL
twice in the league and both games were quite balanced in that sense. “When you play a one-off game, it’s difficult to say who’s the favourite because of the form the team’s in. The dynamic of the game is different. This is a decisive game. We are in good form. We’ve been getting some good results and the players are confident.” Di Matteo’s hopes of making Bale eat his words were boosted by the news that captain John Terry and left-back Ashley Cole are fit to start following injuries.
The Chelsea interim coach could be forgiven for holding back most of the players he planned to use in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona. But he hinted that he would send out his strongest possible line-up against Spurs. “I will look at the team for Sunday and only think about what’s best for that game — to win that game,” he said. “Whichever team I select, they have to put in a collective effort to win the game. One player alone won’t be able to do that.”