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JUNE 16, 2012 HYDERABAD
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Unidentified bodies rot at the Gandhi Hospital mortuary as the blame game continues with no solution in sight. REPORT ON PG 4
32 SHIRDI-BOUND PILGRIMS DIE AS BUS CAREERS OFF BRIDGE
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n a pre-dawn tragedy in Osmanabad district of Maharashtra, 32 pilgrims from Hyderabad, were killed and 14 others are struggling for their lives in various hospitals when their bus careered off the road. The bus, owned by Kaleshwari Travels, was on a journey from Hyderabad to Shirdi when it went off a bridge around 450km from Mumbai at around 3am, Osmanabad Police said. PG 3
IT’S SWEDE SUCCESS FOR ROY’S BOYS
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ngland remained on course for the knockout rounds of Euro 2012 after coming from behind to send Sweden crashing out of the tournament with a 3-2 victory in Kiev. In the earlier game, France beat Ukraine 2-0 in their Group D clash. PG 31
`252cr
That’s how much the bypolls cost you, the taxpayer... Was it worth it? PG 5
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PAGE TWO SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
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Hyderabad Library services
M ANIL KUMAR
Library and librarian services offered to members and groups (institutions) at `3,650 per year (per member). It covers study, career, competition, business of research. Welcome to APSET enrolled. Where: Hyderabad library services, Sagar View Complex When: June 9 to July 8, Contact: (040) 2322 2247, 94412 37751
Serenity
Serenity- an exhibition of painting is being held at Kalakrithi art Gallery. The paintings are by artist Aninda Varma. The exhibition is on till June 23. Where: Kalakrithi Art Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No 10 When: Ongoing, 11am-7pm Contact: (040) 66564 466
Chai Pakoda
It’s monsoon. How we love to sit by the window sill, with a plate of hot pakodas and some chai. Arena at Taj Deccan brings that feeling to you every evening 3pm-7pm Where: Taj Deccan, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: Ongoing, 3pm to7pm Contact: (040) 6666 3939
Nirmal painting
A certificate course on Nirmal painting will be held by Literacy Houseat Andhra Mahila Sabha (AMS) from June 18. Where: Literacy House, AMS Academic campus When: June 18 onwards Contact: (040) 2709 6464
Madhubani workshop
The YMCA Secunderabad is hosting a madhubani painting workshop. The workshop is being felicitated by an artist from Madhubani. A part of the fees earned will be used to train underprivileged women. Where: YMCA Secunderabad, West Marredpally When: June 18-June 29 Contact: 98490 07736, 99595 57183
La femme
This one is especially for all the women, head to La Femme at Tease, Vivanta by Taj for an evening especially for women every Saturday.
Where: Vivanta at Taj, Begumpet When: Every Saturday Contact: (040) 6725 2626
NCC enrolment
A two-day session will be held at Alliance Francaise, Banjara Hills. Where: Alliance Francaise When: June 15, 9am-12pm Contact: (040) 2355 4485
No2 Air Sqn (Technical) NCC, Secunderabad is conducting recruitments for the senior division. Selections will be made from June 14 to 16 between 10 amand 4 pm. Where: Bison Polo training grounds, Secunderabad When: June 14 onwards Contact: (040) 2775 1703
Buy art
Sunday brunch
French classes
Iconart Art Gallery as a part of its Buy Art initiative is hosting an exhibition featuring abstract art, sculptures and paintings. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing, 11.30am onwards Contact: 98499 68797
Music and dreams
This is the story of Ashley, a hip hop performer at the Rhapsody School of Dance who takes the biggest decision of her life because of a prestigious dance competition titled - Of Music And Dreams. Where: Shilpa Kala Vedika, Madhapur When: June 16, 8pm onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999
Spend the perfect Sunday afternoon with Aqua’s special brunch. Where: Aqua, The Park, When: Every Sunday, 12pm to 4 pm Contact: (040) 2345 6789
DJ time
Head for one of the most musical and fun filled evening. We have DJ Shikar, DJ Sam and DJ Zeesh on the opening sets and DJ Zain Sabri & DJ Veer spinning hip hop and commercial music. Where: Cuba Libre, Banjara Hills, When: June 16, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 6776 7114
Vision of blue gold
Vision of blue gold, an exhibition of
CINEMAS
paintings by Pranay will be on display at Muse Art Gallery.The exhibition is on from June 9. Where: Muse Art Gallery, Lower Tank Bund When: Ongoing, 11.30am onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999
Abstract landscapes
A painting exhibition by artist Bhaskar Rao B titled A leaflet and a drop will be on display at Iconart Gallery. The exhibition will be on display till June 20. Where: Iconart Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No 12 When: Ongoing, 11am onwards Contact: 98499 68797
Musical evening
A musical event by Srinivas Srikanth will be held on June 16. Where: TTD Bhavan, Himayat Nagar When: June 16, 6.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 23220852
Friends with Bird
Friends with bird, a patining exhibition by artist Pallavi Wallunj is being held at Colours Art Gallery. Where: Colours Art Gallery, Chikoti Gardens,
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, JUNE 16, 2012
IT security job fair at JNTU
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ntersoft Information Systems (EIS), pioneer in network administration and IT security, is hosting a job fair from June 16 to 18 at JNTU, Kukatpally. All the graduates who are enthusiastic about a career in Information security and administration can attend the fair. The job fair is to fill the openings of network engineers, security analysts and web developers.
Rally against govt apathy
Water supply shortage
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ue to electrical shutdown at 33KV sub-station at Sadasivpet, from 11am to 5pm today, the supplies on Manjeera Phase-III and Phase-IV system will be reduced, due to interruption of pumping system at Singoor. As a result, there will be delayed and short supply of water today to areas under Lingampally reservoir, Khanapur reservoir and Hydernagar Reservoir.
he Network of Persons with disability (NPdO) will be organising Mahadharna at all district collector offices on June 18 at 11 am across the State, protesting against tardy implementation of government schemes in the last five years. NPdO president M Srinivasulu demanded the government provide full pension with arrears to disabled people.
Pilgrim tragedy, 32 killed N SHIV KUMAR
A A man collapsed outside the Kaleshwari office on hearing of his son’s death
Mohd Subhan and Inkeshaf Ahmed feedback@postnoon.com
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n a pre-dawn tragedy in Osmanabad district of Maharashtra, 32 pilgrims, all from Hyderabad, were killed and 14 others are struggling for life in various hospitals. The ill-fated bus, owned by Kaleshwari Travels, was on a journey from Hyderabad to the famous pilgrim centre of Shirdi in Ahmednagar district when it fell off a river bridge on the outskirts of Osmanabad town, around 450 km from Mumbai around 3am, the Osmanabad police said. A majority of the injured are in a serious condition and the casualty figure is likely to go up. Osmanabad additional superintendant of police Ravinder Singh Pardesi told Postnoon on phone that the spot of incident was between Jalkote and Naldurg. While brake-failure was quoted as the cause in the preliminary report, the ASP said it appeared to be sheer negligence by the driver. If the driver had dozed off or was in an inebriated condition is under probe. The two bus drivers too are said to be in a serious condition. The police have shifted the bodies of victims in Jalkote primary hospital for post mortem. According to sources, around 14 of the victims are IT employees and one is a teenager. Superintendant of police Osmanabad Dattatreya Karare said the bus of the Kaleshwari Travels bore the licence number KN01-DO245. It started
on Saturday at 9.30pm from Hyderabad. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and TDP chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu have expressed their shock at the accident. The CM has asked the City police and district officials to take necessary relief works. A team of RDOs has been sent to Osmanabad to help the survivors. In the meantime, the City police has arranged for a bus to take relatives of the victims to the accident site. (With inputs from Osama Salman)
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special control room in Osmanabad has been opened. The contact numbers are 02427222900/700 and the police are: SP Osmanabad 02472227620/8007040100 (Karare). Control room Osmanabad 02472222700. ASP Pardesi 9923103535.
Major road accidents involving people from the State Date
Place of Accident
No of Dead
June 17, 2012
Osmanabad, Maharastra
32
March 21, 2012
Kondagattu, Karimnagar
11
March, 20, 2012
Tungaram village, Khammam
8 children
February 28, 2012
Ganti Pedapudi village, East Godavari
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Shocked kin cry foul
s the holy trip turned a tragedy, hundreds of kin of those involved in the mishap rushed to the Kaleshwari Travels office in Lakdi-Ka-Pul. Each seemed to carry a faint hope of his/her relative surviving. But the shock of knowing most were either dead or battling for life turned the gathering into a moaning group. The scene was heart-rending. Despite a heavy police presence, the crowd surged at the counter shouting. Unable to bear the news of his kin being dead, a middle-aged man collapsed on the spot. Enquiries revealed that his 14year-old boy was among the dead. He was shifted to a hospital immediately.
“We are devastated,” remarked a Chandra Sekhar, a young techie who was present at the spot. A group of 14 friends, all with a leading IT firm had been on the bus. “We are told that four of them are alive but we’re still not sure.” “We are going to Osmanabad,” said another shocked friend Prithviraj. Another woman by name Aruna who is the sister of victim Krishna, said, “I don’t have words to say anything. It is a criminal negligence.” One Mohan Reddy, brother of a victim, Kehsav Reddy, also alleged that this was sheer negligence by the travels whose drivers are not properly trained nor taken care of.
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CITY SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
Rest in peace? Not really
Even as workers cram two bodies in one freezer and unidentified bodies rot in non-functioning pit rooms, the blame game at the Gandhi Hospital mortuary continues with no solution in sight OSAMA SALMAN
salman.o@postnoon.com
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here are people waiting outside to identify the dead bodies, some of them can be seen weeping, and others curiously peeping through the windows to catch a glimpse of an autopsy. Due to the overpowering stench most of the people stand covering their mouths with hands, tissues or even their own clothes. This scene can been seen in front of any mortuary but the Gandhi Medical College and Hospital mortuary has a much sorrier tale to tell. Of the 36 freezers to store the deceased bodies, only 12 are working. And for the number of dead bodies that are sent here for post mortem, this falls woefully short. In fact, six freezers
THE MORTUARY IS IN A PATHETIC CONDITION AND THE UNHYGIENIC AND DIRTY PREMISES ADD TO THE FOUL ODOUR.
tion. Often, due to the delay by the police to file a report or give permission for the foundation to take the dead bodies away, the bodies lie in the mortuary for up to a week. They become heavily decomposed and it is harder for them to be identified. As of June 14, seven bodies lie there rotting and unclaimed. “Sometimes when the freezers aren’t available to store the bodies, we store two in each freezer. The six freezers that are outside N SHIVA KUMAR
that don’t have air conditioning are placed outside the mortuary. The worst part, however, is that at times when none of the working freezers are available, they are used to store the dead bodies. This decays the bodies further. The freezers inside aren’t in a better condition either. In most of the freezers, the air conditioning doesn’t work, and even if it does work, it seems to be inadequate. The mortuary itself is in a pathetic condition and the unhygienic and dirty premises add to the foul odour. A total of 344 bodies have been bought to this mortuary this year (from January up to June 14). A considerable number of dead bodies are left unidentified. The Gandhi Hospital mortuary gets an average of seven bodies for autopsy, out of which at least three lie unidentified. Even the pit room, where the entire room acts as a freezer, does not suffice. For a long time now, the freezers have not been working, but are often used as an alternative to store the bodies. The unidentified bodies are treated with utter disregard. The absence of proper temperatures leads to faster decomposition of the bodies, adding to the stench. The unidentified bodies are then supposed to be handed over to the Sri Satya Harish Chandra Foundation that takes the unidentified bodies for crema-
Many a times, the police conduct a post mortem and forget about it. This delays the process. Having said this, the ACs will be repaired within two to three days. Worker, Gandhi Hospital Mortuary
the mortuary too are used, but then so is the pit room. The mortuary is in a pathetic condition. If all of them are working properly, including the pit room, there is no need for more. But nothing seems to be done here,” says Dr Vikram Aditya, a duty doctor at the mortuary. The blame game never ends at the Gandhi Hospital. “The problem with the mortuary is that the ACs don’t work and often break down. Because of
the foul smell, the company whose freezers the morgue uses doesn’t send engineers to repair them. The hospital administrative staff blames the company as it doesn’t send executives to repair or maintain them. They in turn blame the hospital for not clearing the bills. That is why they refused to renew their contract,” said Dr K Rajender Kumar, head of department, forensic medicine. Dr S Mahaboob, superintendent of Gandhi Hospital, remained unavailable for comment. One of the workers at the mortuary said that the reason why the unidentified bodies remain here is because the police don’t complete the formalities, and without that, the hospital cannot hand over the bodies to the foundation. “Many a times, the police conduct a post mortem and forget about it. This delays the process. Having said this, the ACs will be repaired within two to three days,” he added. Perhaps Gandhi Hospital can learn a lesson from the sign on the door to the mortuary— ‘The dead teach the living’.
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FOCUS SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012 NARENDRA B, retired school principal, social worker t was all sympathy vote for YSRC. He got votes because of his late father but not for his work. In fact, after Jagan’s arrest, the party used the opportunity to project itself as a political victim and gain votes.
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RITA CHOUDHARY, technical writer wish TDP had won. Hyderabad was a better place to live in during Naidu’s regime. Jagan is not an ideal candidate for the CM’s seat. He may win in the main elections too but it’s not going to be easy for him.
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NEELAM RAMESH, State general secretary, YSRC Seva Dalam e are very happy. It goes to show that both the Congress and TDP could not upstage the YSRC. We just wanted to show everybody that regardless of Jagan being free or imprisoned, he continues to be our leader. All the constituencies supported us.
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Bypolls cost you `252cr Political whims and direct election are haemorrhaging the State heavily. Urgent electoral reforms are required By-election statistics
n December 2006: 2 Lok Sabha seats n 2008: 16 Assembly and 4 Lok Sabha seats n December 2009: 1 Assembly seat n July 2010: 12 Assembly constituencies n May 2011: 1 Assembly and 1 Lok Sabha seat n October, 2011: 1 assembly seat. n March 2012: 7 assembly seats n June, 2012: 18 assembly and 1 Lok Sabha seat
Md INKESHAF AHMED
ahmed.m@postnoon.com
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he State has witnessed 65 by-elections in the last six years due to resignation of MLAs. This is resulting in wastage of public money in conducting elections besides paralysing administration and causing hardship to the people.” Andhra Pradesh Assembly speaker Nadendla Manohar made this statement on completion one year term in office on June 4, this month. These elections also include the just-concluded bypolls in 18 assembly and one Parliamentary constituencies. With the latest included, the election commission has spent a whopping `252 crore of public money to conduct these bypolls. While the regular, legitimate elections are part and par-
cel of democracy, most of these by-elections are thrust on people by the whims and fancies of some political parties. This is the saddest part of the story, officials point out. Expressing his displeasure over frequent bypolls, intellec-
tual and Loksatta party president Dr Jayaparakash Narayan said, “The bypolls are not only causing huge wastage of public money but also paralysing the entire administration.” He strongly advocates the introduction of election based on proportional voting system. “The introduction of proportional voting system in conduct
of elections would not only save huge public money but also help in avoiding by-elections. If any candidate quits, the next candidate in the list would be given the opportunity to serve the public. Most of these elections were necessitated for pure political opportunism,” he added.
`3 CRORE FOR EACH CONSTITUENCY
Election commission sources said that it incurred an expenditure of about `3 crore for each Assembly constituency election. The cost would include all kinds of preparation for elections. If we look at the statistics, since the 2009 general elections alone, a total of five by-elections were held at different intervals to elect representatives to 40 Assembly and two Lok Sabha constituencies. If we look at the figures since 2004 general elections, a total of eight by-elections for both assembly and Lok Sabha seats were held at different intervals for pure political reasons.
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NATION SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
25 killed in road mishaps
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wenty-five people were killed and 61 others injured in three road mishaps in different parts of Rajasthan, the police said. Nineteen passengers of a private bus were killed and 37 injured when the bus collided with a truck and caught fire near Sanchore area in Jalore district. Of the 19 passengers, four succumbed to their injuries in various hospitals.
Obama, Singh at La Cabos
SI refuses to file complaint
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een to forge deeper strategic and economic ties with India as the US draws down in Afghanistan, US President Obama may meet Indian PM Manmohan Singh at the La Cabos G-20 summit in Mexico. “I think he’ll have a chance to see Singh on the margins of the G-20,” Ben Rhodes, deputy national security advisor to the president said.
sub-inspector of police belonging to Krishnaganj Police Station has been suspended for notaccepting complaints of rape made by two women on Sunday. A housewife of Krishnaganj Monoharpur and her mother-in-law were allegedly raped by some youths who warned them not to complain about the incident to the police.
Guj publishing firm blacklisted for lewd joke
Kalam is the choice of millions, asserts Mamata
Didi pursues Prez poll war on FB KOLKATA: Taking up the campaign for APJ Abdul Kalam online, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today said that her choice of the Presidential candidate was the choice of millions of Indians. Debuting on social networking site Facebook, she wrote in her first post, “I gave voice to what millions of Indians want to see in a President.” Refusing to budge from her stand, she said, “My party is a small party. We are not a big party with none of the resources others possess. We are led by truth and conviction. All through my life I have stood by my principles. I stand by the position I have taken”. Stating that the will of the people is supreme in a democracy, Banerjee requested fellow citizens to petition their public representatives to stand up, support and vote for Kalam. “Let your voice be heard. I will bow to the will of the people,” she said. Describing the ‘mis-
“He is a seeker of truth, is above narrow politics. He is the kind of man all our citizens aspire to make President,” Mamata Banerjee sile man’ as a proud and distinguished son of India who continues to inspire all Indians, the chief minister said Kalam remains above narrow politics. “He is a seeker of truth, a fount of knowledge and an impartial voice of reason and sanity, who is above narrow politics. He is the kind of man all our citizens aspire to make President,” Banerjee said. The TMC chief had joined hands with SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to propose the name of Kalam. However, the SP later broke away and pledged support to Pranab Mukherjee, leaving the West Bengal chief minister totally isolated. Unfazed by the isola-
tion after Congress-led UPA named Mukherjee as its Presidential nominee, Banerjee said last night that her party remained firm on the candidature of Kalam and said “the game has just begun”. “We are firm on the candidature of Kalam. He is the fittest candidate. We are not shifting from our stand of what we have announced earlier,” Banerjee had said. Noting that she and her party has already given a clarion call to other parties to support Kalam as President, Banerjee said, “Along with my other fellow citizens I can only urge them to consider this call. Let our country be led forward by people such as him, people of free thought and honourable action who will not hesitate to do what is just and right.” By recalling Tagore’s famous lines of ‘Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high’ in her first posting on the site, she said, “I am a humble, transparent, common person like the vast majority of you.” PTI
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government on Saturday said that it had blacklisted a publishing firm for supplying a magazine to 35,000 government schools in the state, which contained lewd jokes. The May 2012 issue of Puzzle Magic magazine distributed to all the schools of contained four pages of lewd jokes. “The magazine is distributed in the schools under the ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ to develop reading habits of children, to improve their general knowledge and to increase interest in subjects like science and maths,” Gujarat minister of state for education Raman Vora said. The state education department had given the work order to Amisha Printers and Publishers to publish the magazine, he said adding the printer had sub-contracted the work to Golibar Publications, which had printed and supplied the magazine.
The government had issued a notice to the firm for distributing the magazine without the state government’s clearance. “The magazine was supplied violating the contract of work order, which said that the publishers will get the content of the magazine passed by the ‘Sarva Siksha Abhiyan’ officials. They did not do that and posted the magazine on May 19 to all the PTI schools,” Vora said.
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WORLD SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
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AUTOMOTIVE
Concern over ICC officials
Carlotta hits Mexico
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H
urricane Carlotta struck the coast of southern Mexico late Friday with sustained winds of 150 kilometers (90 miles) an hour, the US-based National Hurricane Center reported. Carlotta, a Category One hurricane on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale, made landfall just north-west of Puerto Escondido.
The UN Security Council expressed "serious concern" Friday over Libya's detention of four International Criminal Court officials and called on the country to work toward their release. A Security Council statement pointedly reminded Libyan authorities that they have to cooperate with the ICC under UN resolutions on the conflict last year.
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election-year move hailed by South Asian, Latino and other immigrant organisations, President Barack Obama announced that his administration will stop deporting talented young illegal immigrants if they pose no criminal or security threat. The changes caused by his executive order will make immigration policy "more fair, more efficient and more just," he said in a White House address Friday afternoon to praise from Latino leaders but outrage from opposition Republicans. "This is not amnesty. This is not immunity. This is not a path to citizenship. It's not a permanent fix," Obama said.
Aerialist Nik Wallenda tighropes over the Niagara Falls on Saturday in Niagara Falls, Canada. Wallenda walked across the 1,800 foot long, 2 inch-wide wire Friday night as the first person to cross directly over the falls from the U.S. into Canada. Wallenda, 33 and a father of three, is a seventh generation member of the famed Flying Wallendas who trace their roots to 1780 Austria-Hungary, when ancestors traveled as a band of acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, animal trainers and trapeze artists. ABC televised the event and insisted the daredevil wear a tethered harness to prevent live coverage of a potentially deadly fall 190 feet into the churning torrent below. JOHN MOORE/GETTY IMAGES/AFP
Murdoch pushed Blair
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upert Murdoch took part in an "overcrude" attempt by US Republicans to push Tony Blair into action before the invasion of Iraq, the former British prime minister's ex-media chief claimed Saturday. Alastair Campbell said the News Corporation media baron warned Blair in a phone call of the dangers in delaying signing up to the March 19, 2003 invasion, as part of an attempt to speed up Britain joining the mili-
IRAQ WAR
tary campaign. The claim came in "The Burden of Power: Countdown to Iraq" -- the final volumes of Campbell's diaries from his years at Blair's side, which are being serialised in The
Japan defies public protest, to run nuclear reactors TOKYO: Japan ordered nuclear reactors back online Saturday, defying public sentiment against atomic power following last year's meltdowns at Fukushima sparked by a huge quake-tsunami disaster. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Saturday received approval for the restarts from Issei Nishikawa, the pro-nuclear power governor of central Fukui prefecture, which hosts the plant. The premier then met three ministers — the minister of economy, trade and industry, the minister in charge of the nuclear accident and the chief cabinet secretary. "Now that we have the approval from the autonomous body where the reactors are relocated, the four ministers (including Noda) concerned made the decision to restart the reactors," Noda told the meeting on camera. Nishikawa told the prime minister he was happy with the restarts after he received safety assurances on Friday from the operator.
Guardian newspaper. Campbell suggested Murdoch made moves to help the right-wing Republican Party of then US president George W. Bush before the March 18 vote in the British parliament's lower House of Commons on deploying troops to Iraq, which was passed. On March 11, 2003, Campbell wrote that Blair "took a call from Murdoch who was pressing on timings, saying how News International would support
us, etc. "Both TB and I felt it was prompted by Washington, and another example of their over-crude diplomacy. Murdoch was pushing all the Republican buttons, how the longer we waited the harder it got." The following day he added: "TB felt the Murdoch call was odd, not very clever." News International is News Corp.'s British newspaper arm, publishing The Times, The Sun and The Sunday Times.
After 21 years comes Suu Kyi’s Nobel speech OSLO: Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was on Saturday set to deliver her speech for the Nobel Peace Prize she won two decades ago, on a Norway trip hailed as a sign of the success of her struggle. Suu Kyi's visit to Oslo after years of house arrest is itself testimony to the past year's sweeping political change in her Southeast Asian homeland, where the long-ruling generals have promised to follow a path to democracy. When Suu Kyi won the honour in 1991, she could not accept it in person, fearing she would be blocked from returning to the country also called Burma where "The Lady" had become a potent symbol of non-violent defiance. This week, back in Europe for the first time in 24 years, she is being celebrated by Western supporters and Burmese exiles on a whirlwind tour that started in Switzerland and will also take her to Britain, Ireland and France.
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COMMENT SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
The curse of dowry deaths
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In the dock was good
hen will the menace of dowry deaths end, I wonder? They say there are laws to teach greedy men like the one mentioned in your report, Greedy husband kills wife. It seems it’s been only a year and a little more since the couple’s marriage. Something must be done. Suraj Reddy Gandipet
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n the dock was superb. It’s sort of a refresher of the important cases that created history. I knew many of these cases, but had forgotten why were they pivotal in legal history. The one that angered me was Jessica Lal’s case, how the poor thing met her death at the hands of a callous rogue. Suresh Babu Gachibowli
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
Kalams best for Prez job
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here is nothing wrong in APJ Abdul Kalam becoming president a second time. Of the lot he is the most suited for the post with a clean image and is someone who has been truly instrumental in India’s rise as a developed nation. I hope that he becomes the president again. Anisha Dhawan Ameerpet
EDITORIALS PILGRIM TRAGEDY: When will we learn? The recent bus accident that killed 32 pilgrims might be shocking but is also a gruesome reminder of the negligence by most agencies when it comes to appointing and training drivers. Although the cause of this accident is yet to be established, there are rumours of it being caused due to negligence of the driver. Often passengers complain of drivers being in an inebriated condition or driving rashly, putting several lives at risk. While driving all night long can take a toll on anyone, drivers on long distance buses go without food simply to stay awake and ‘drink breaks’ come as a welcome respite. But given the large number of accidents caused by bus drivers be it the callous APSRTC drivers, school buses or long distance ones, it’s time agencies began ensuring that their drivers are well trained and more responsible in order to curb any further loss of human life.
WHY WE LOVE... Nik Wallenda They say Nik Wallenda ran the last few steps to become the first man in more than a century to cross the Niagara falls on a high wire. One can understand why he ran. He could not wait to make history, to be counted among those who amazed and inspired men to do the impossible. Nik could only see the mist before him as he embarked on his 45-minute history-making journey; he could sense the rush of the water falling down, ringing in his ears, with no one to turn to if he slipped. Only once did he give the spectators a chance for concern — 30 metres from the finish he bent down on knee; people suspected he was about to fall, but he reassured all by pumping up his fist. Next he plans to cross the Grand Canyon. Good luck, Nik.
Why need we struggle? Soul Curry SUMAA TEKUR
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ften, I’ve heard friends ask: Why do I have to go through this? Why can’t it be a little easier for me? Why is it so easy for that other person? It seems appropriate at the time to give a spiritual explanation about becoming stronger so we have the will to fight the larger obstacles that are about to come our way. But this explanation is never really convincing enough, especially if one is going through a really tough time. I recently read this beautiful story about a butterfly and its metaphors for why we need struggle in our lives. A man once came across the
cocoon of a butterfly. He kept an eye on it. One day, a small opening appeared in it. The man sat patiently and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body out of that little hole. Then it seemed tired. It stopped making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. Or at least the man thought that’s how the butterfly must be thinking. The man decided to help the butterfly out of its misery. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. But this did not happen. Instead, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with
a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man did not realize that in his attempt to make life easier for the butterfly, he had actually crippled its future. Nature has its ways of doing things and going against nature is bound to lead to problems. The restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were nature’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings. This process, though extremely painful for the butterfly, would make it flight-ready. It was very important that the butterfly go through this struggle in order to achieve freedom and fly into the sun. The butterfly may not know this. The man who cut the cocoon certainly did not know it. Similarly, it’s possible that we don’t know why we go through certain difficulties in life. We may not always know what we’re up against and what our current experiences are
preparing us for. Maybe we are forced to take a few steps back, sometimes, only so we can charge ahead in full force towards success. Tough times and difficult experiences make us more resilient. We all, at some point or other, go through extreme struggle and stress (whether outward or within ourselves). This breaks down our inner equilibrium and makes us tired. But we have to get back up and continue fighting. People find their own ways of dealing with stress. Some of these are extremely helpful but some, in turn, cause more stress. Positive spiritual coping strategies do help in the process, making the individual feel better. The first step to dealing with struggle, though, is to understand that there is no way out and that one has to go through the struggles nature has decided put us through. Acceptance can be the very first step to healing.
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COMMENT SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
Is the new pessimism about politics or economics? India Issues JASON OVERDORF
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n case you haven’t noticed, the sky is falling in India, and everybody is complaining about it. But is the new pessimism really about economics, or just politics? As FirstPost reports, tycoons like Wipro’s Azim Premji and Infosys’s Narayana Murthy can’t say anything good about India anymore — though apparently their mothers never told them to keep quiet when that’s the case. “This is a whining and finger-pointing season for the economy. And there’s no need to blame it all on Standard & Poor’s free downgrade threat. The pessimism has been around for a while, but has gathered steam now,” writes R. Jagannathan. “Among the latest groups to join the hand — wringing brigade are businessmen. Both the optimists and the pessimists among them are whining – for opposite reasons. The former are probably seeking to curry favour with a spineless government by saying the S&P doesn’t know its oats, while the latter are moan-
Urban sketches VISWAPRASAD RAJU
ing about the invertebrates who are currently running the government.” Yep. And then you’ve got a bunch who want tax breaks, rate cuts, and a whole lot of stuff that — apart from various economic reforms that might
have longer lasting impacts — would put money directly in their pockets. Maybe that’s why the two top executives at ICICI Bank injected a note of optimism this week, according to Moneycontrol.com. “[ICICI CEO] Chanda Kochhar
Heritage
has said that people are talking more about challenges while taking the positives for granted,” the web site reports. Meanwhile, “ICICI Bank Chairman KV Kamath has also sounded an optimistic note. In his latest letter to ICICI Bank shareholders,
Kamath said he is confident about a ‘robust and sustained (economic) growth over the medium to long term’.” What about “policy paralysis?” Well... The scuttlebutt these days is that India’s demise has been greatly exaggerated. Coalition politics notwithstanding, gridlock will end in 2013 when the election is looming and the Congress won’t have to worry any longer about snap polls. The logic is that neither the Trinamool Congress’s Mamata Banerjee nor any of Manmohan Singh’s other allies will bother to pull out of the government if there’s only a few months remaining before the next scheduled election, and even if they choose to do so, the Congress will hardly have anything to lose. As a result, insiders say that Singh will push through everything but the kitchen sink — FDI for retailers like Walmart, FDI in aviation, pension reforms, and on and on — in his last months in office. And once the policies in place, they argue, the post-2014 government won’t be likely to repeal them, regardless whether it’s headed by the Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Global edits The Guardian (UK)
Egypt: dangerous tricks
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he Egyptian military and security establishment has not been a steady, skilled, or unbiased manager of the political process in the almost year and a half of post revolutionary ups and downs the country has endured. Its manoeuvring on the eve of the second round of voting in the presidential election risks creating fresh confrontations and uncertainties. Whether or not it is the case, few in Egypt seem to believe that the decisions to dissolve parliament and to give the police and armed forces wide-ranging powers of arrest are unrelated, or that they just happened in the normal course of the supreme constitutional court’s deliberations or the defence ministry’s planning processes. Coupled with the rigging which marked the first round of voting, and which is unlikely to be abandoned in the second, they point, many say, to a deliberate orchestration. It seems designed not only to ensure a victory for Ahmed Shafiq, the old regime’s presidential candidate, but to undercut the power of the Muslim Brotherhood in the other institutions of the state, and to further
marginalise the liberal and secular forces which carried so much of the burden of the revolution. At the far end of the trajectory there is no doubt a resolution in which the military and the Brotherhood come to terms and Egypt settles down to a new dispensation. In the broadest sense Egypt does indeed need such a settlement. Neither of the two big beasts of Egyptian politics is going to disappear, and an accommodation, which also includes a strong role for liberal parties, is desirable. But not like this. For one thing the Brotherhood, after initial confusion, has now thrown down its own gauntlet. Mohamed Morsi, their candidate, has said that foul play in the voting will be followed by massive revolt. This is an indication that the Brotherhood will not accept a Shafiq victory, even if, as is not impossible, such a victory were to be genuine. Morsi has also said that he does not accept the dissolution of parliament. Whether he is serious about revolt is something that events will test. The Brotherhood has changed its mind before and it has always appeared possible that they and the army would avoid real confrontation and do a deal.
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BUSINESS SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
FB CTO leaving for startup
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acebook’s chief technical officer Bret Taylor on Friday announced he is leaving the world’s leading social network to start a new company with a friend. Taylor revealed the move on his Facebook page less than a month after an initial public offering (IPO) of stock reported to have made millionaires of about a thousand of the California company’s employees.
Apple I fetches $374,000
Palm expo opens in UAE
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rare surviving first model of the Apple computer sold for $374,000 at auction in New York on Friday. The price was more than double the pre-sale estimate, reflecting a two-way bidding eventually won by an anonymous telephone bidder, Sotheby’s said. It was created by Apple co-founders Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs.
n exhibition of palm products opened in the UAE emirate of Ras al-Khaimah Friday. Crown prince of the emirate Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi said the palm tree is one of the pillars of economic development in the UAE. Forty-five types of palm derivatives are showcased in the expo.
Ruling the air waves Agni Puthra Varma chucked his job with a prestigious company to start his own online radio station. Within seven months of its launch, the station has over 50,000 listeners
PRUDHVI RAJU K
prudhvi.k@postnoon.com
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on’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally,” David Frost had once famously said. And that is exactly what Agni Puthra Varma did when he created Radio Josh, an online radio station. Launched seven months back, the radio station today has 50,000 listeners from 150 countries. The seeds for his passion for radio were sown in childhood itself, admits Varma. “I have grown up listening to the radio. My mimicry of what I’d heard on the radio would often earn me compliments from family and friends. This love for the radio drove me to become a radio jockey and eventually launch Radio Josh,” he says. After completing his Bachelors in computer science and an MBA course, Varma went to Dubai to work as an office and IT admin professional with an engineering company. He also worked with MeeRanjani, a Telugu AM radio station that broadcasts in Arab countries, part time. Over time he had a huge listener following. “It was around this time that I decided to launch an online radio station, after observing the internet trends. I chose the internet as the medium because it has a wide reach and low investment. The reach is not limited to certain locations like any FM and AM radio and the investments are ignorable, compared to starting a FM station,” he says. Talking about funds, he says, “It took me two years to plan and implement this business. I had a dream but did not have the funds to effectively
implement it. Luckily, I shared this idea with Saritha (IBM, Singapore), who was a regular caller on my radio show. She came forward and supported me without even knowing me. I started the station in late 2011 with an investment of `2 lakhs. However, over time, we have invested around `10 lakh to build the company.” “We play quality music by streaming at 128 Kbps with 5.1 surround sound. However, many online radio stations only play at 32 or 64 Kbps with a mono output. Also we limit our advertising to four to five times in a three hour-slot to make listeners stick to the radio,” he says. Fortunately, the revenues have been picking up for the radio station. “Initially, we thought that we would only earn revenues after a year but growth in listeners had brought
We play music by streaming at 128 Kbps with surround sound. However, many online radio stations only play at 32 or 64 Kbps with a mono output. Agni Puthra Varma, entrepreneur advertisements from various textile retail stores, jewellery outlets and telecom companies from various countries like USA, Dubai, Australia. There are also advertisements from local businesses in Hyderabad, Vizag and Anantapur. The company now has a tie-up with Andhra Mirchi, a radio station in USA for content syndication. They telecast our two hour live content for a fixed monthly payment,” he says.
The company now plans to launch RJ data cards in collaboration with mobile internet providers to increase their base in Dubai. “This will enable a person to listen to our station even while he is travelling. We also had a tie-up with Voice Service to bring radio to mobile phones. The listeners can soon listen to our station on their phones by dialling a number.” Currently, Radio Josh has 15 employees and plans to add another 10 employees for starting online Malayalam, Kannada and Tamil radio stations. The company is also starting an exclusive Telugu station for Dubai and Australia. It is expecting a break even by the end of the year by aiming to reach 1 lakh listeners per day. On the personal front,Varma enjoys listening to music by Ilayaraja, SPB, AR Rahman and writes poetry.
Euro rises in face of Greek vote NEW YORK: The euro pushed higher Friday seemingly impervious to the threat of more possible turbulence in the eurozone after the crucial election in Greece this weekend. Traders shrugged off the threat that Greece’s far-left Syriza party might abrogate the country’s massive International Monetary Fund-European Union bailout, raising the risk that Athens would default on its debt and exit the euro, driving more turbulence across the world. The Bank of England’s clear signal it would protect Britain’s banks and shore up the economy, and hints of similar possible interventions from other central banks, helped ease some of the deepest worries. Even so, the safe-harbour yen beckoned to the most nervous investors, picking up ground on the other major currencies. At 2100 GMT the euro traded at $1.2644, up from late Thursday’s $1.2630. The dollar slipped to 78.67 yen from 79.34 yen, while the euro fell to 99.47 yen from 100.21. Some traders said that despite the appearance of calm, all the warning signs of more instability ahead were in the market. “Upcoming Greek elections could force substantial volatility in the Euro and other major currency pairs, and a broad range of market indicators show that conditions show fears for the worst,” said David Rodriguez of DailyFX. “Forex options markets show that one-week volatility expectations are at their highest since the euro/US dollar topped near the $1.45 mark in October, 2011.” Simon Denham of Capital Spreads was more sanguine. “Which way will the Greeks vote and, even if the Socialists win, will the Euro elite actually kick them out? Whilst it is tempting to say that the markets are likely to go bananas on Monday, no matter which way the electorate jumps.” The British pound earned a strong boost from the Bank of England’s intervention, rising to $1.5714 from $1.5556 Thursday. The dollar also slipped to 0.9496 Swiss francs from 0.9507 AFP francs.
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MOTORING SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
50,000 Civic cars recalled
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onda Motor Co. will recall about 50,000 Civic small cars in the United States from the 2012 model year for a potential driveshaft assembly issue that could lead to loss of engine power. The Japanese automaker said it will inspect and, if needed, replace the driver’s side driveshaft that may not have been properly assembled.
VW pays $750 m for Porsche
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olkswagen may pay $750 million more than originally planned for the remaining 50.1 of Porsche’s automotive business that it currently does not own, the Financial Times Deutchland reported. The higher price is due to the achievement of cost reductions between the two companies earlier than planned, the FTD said.
Saab bought by Japenese
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Chinese-Sweden investment group with Japanese backing has agreed to buy bankrupt automaker Saab Automobile and plans to make electric vehicles, the winning bidder said . The first vehicle under the plan will be based on the company’s 9-3 car, and the model will go on sale early in 2014, the statement said.
DUCKING IT OUT The KTM 200 Duke rightly lives up to its name. Experience the thrill of racing in style while others turn green with envy
SIDDHARTH TSS
feedback@postnoon.com
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his tangerine monster comes from the famous KTM stable. KTM Sportmotorcycle AG is an Austrian motorcycle, bicycle and moped manufacturer and is most commonly known for its off-road motorcycles though in recent years it has expanded into street motorcycle production. Now the Austrian motorcycle maker aims to make India its largest market with the release of the KTM Duke 200. Most motorcycle companies prefer not to tinker with the set formula and especially with the looks of the bike. But the KTM is not your ordinary bike and even the most fastidious folks will be bound to praise this monster. Chiselled body, high performance and a light weight chassis, add all this and you get the KTM Duke 200 . The combination of brute force with perfect bike control is what makes the KTM Duke 200 click with the Indian crowds. Most of this bike’s performance comes from its well-planned but aggressive ergonomics and power to weight ratio. The
appearance of this naked bike has been designed to look as brute like as possible. The muscular curves, edgy and sharp monikers adorning the fuel tank and 25 horses in the engine make this bike a must-have. Watch this flash of orange on the city streets and the number of heads it turns is proof enough that it knows to get its own way. The handling and manoeuvrering of this bike is as simple as handing a bicycle, as its weight is just a bare 126 kilogrammes as compared to other bikes of this segment. Since it is a naked bike many ponder upon the question of its durability during extreme conditions, well KTM has considered that also as it has made it extremely water resistant. Well, what seems to attract most buyers is the absence of the exhaust canister on either side. It has been placed under the belly of the bike just adding to the motorcycle’s exterior makeup. The exhaust also has been designed in such a way to avoid any scope of water entering the engine. The body is
YOU BUY IT AT:
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he off-road Duke 200 is priced at `1,17,500, exshowroom, New Delhi.
a Tubular space frame made from steel tubes which are powder-coated to give it a matte finish sort of look. The bike can push itself to 140kmph at the max. Another interesting fact of this bike is that it can reach 0-100 in 9.3 seconds. As for the question of comfort, the seat of the bike can seat the rider comfortably; ironically the width of the fuel tank does not seem to hinder the riding experience. The front end of this
bike is supported by an inverted telescopic WP Suspension 4357 and the rear rides comfortable on a solo WP Suspension 4618 EM. The wide handle bars too do not cause too much stress on the rider or his spine. The short and stubby tail lights are enough to make heads turn. The engine of this beast is to be lauded as it produces 25BHP at 10000RPM. The bike also maintains its integrity in terms of mileage as it can run for 30-35 kilometers per litre which is commendable considering the power it can shell out. The bike is heavy duty with a high RPM which just seem to make the Duke’s case even stronger, but with all good comes a bad which in this case is the heat which emanates from the engine. The flat and wide saddle is a bit hard over long distances. But if you thought this is it— hold on, Bajaj Auto is already hard at work on developing a 350 Duke which will make its international debut soon and will hit the Indian roads by 2013. Till then this ruffian is enough to rule the roads.
MORE SPECS Acceleration: 0-60 – 3.34s 0-100 – 9.01s Topspeed – 136km/h (Restricted) Fuel Economy: City: 29kmpl Highway: 37kmpl Overall: 33kmpl Fuel Tank: 10.5litres Range: 346.5km
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TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
GADGET OF THE WEEK
www.findmybeach.com e think there is a huge gap on the Internet for honest and accurate recommendations about great beaches. This website offers nearly 500 carefully selected and researched beaches of all kinds. Handy.
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Walkie Talkie Watches
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iFart and droidFart
Pimple Popper
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ust in case you miss those teenage years standing in front of the mirror popping zits, this app allows you to test whether you still have the knack. Do you have what it takes to be a master zit popper? Find out with this app.
Drunk Sniper
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Bic Concert Lighter
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iSteam
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his one is for iPhones and simulates the steamed up bathroom mirror. Yes, you activate it by blowing on the microphone and it automatically creates a steamed up display panel on your phone. Why? Well, again it’s slightly childish, but you can write messages or doodle on the display panel like you would on the fogged up bathroom mirror when you were a kid (or maybe still do, for all we know). When you want to re-steam the screen, just blow into the mike again. Hours of fun.
n Some of the richest, most complex fighting gameplay around THE B AD n Single-player mode is weak compared to previous iterations.
t doesn’t take a genius to work out what Walkie Talkie Watches could be. This is two watches that double up as walkie talkies. It might be an outdated concept, but it still is pretty retro to have one of these!
o surprises what these do. These emit any one of a series of pre-recorded fart sounds from your iPhone or Android. If none of these satisfy you or your friend’s ears, then you can even record your own or your friend’s farts and have them playback on command. Yeah, we know it’s childish but people are actually setting up “fart wars” to see who can produce the King of all farts. Don’t blame us.
ave you ever been at a concert and the band plays your favourite anthem and you wanted to join in with hoards of people down in the ‘pit’ with their lighters swaying in rhythm to the song – but you don’t smoke and don’t have a lighter handy? Problem solved with the Bic Concert Lighter app, which turns your Android into a simulated lighter, without the choking fumes! This app is available only for the Android, so iPhone users will have to choke away (and burn their hands!)
VIDEOGAME REVIEW THE GOOD
VIRTUA FIGHTER 5 FINAL SHOWDOWN
Fun at your fingertips Unique? Maybe. Fun? OSAMA SALMAN salman.o@postnoon.com Yes. Crazy? Most definitely. We bring to you the craziest apps on iPhone and Android
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f you thought the iTunes and Android market has meaningful apps that help you, and occasionally make you addicts of a few games, well, you couldn’t be more wrong. The
app market is filled with the most outrageous apps, some of whom are downright weird and yet so funny. We’ve compiled the best for you, and we can bet would you want them.
kay, so this might be disgusting at first, but it is a good app. This is a game that’s all about controlling your urine stream when you’re drunk — take aim and fire into the toilet bowl but be careful — the more drinks you have, the more the room sways. The developers promise ladies “a chance to try walking in men’s shoes.” Haha.
Cow Toss
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kay, here’s a really stupid app. Absolutely useless…which is why we quite like it. It’s one for the iPhone whereby you flick the image of a cow with your finger and send it flying. It has a completely arbitrary scoring system too, just to add to the sense of pointlessness. This is certainly not a definitive list! We could go on! There is plenty of idiotic lunacy out there we have missed in the world of smartphone apps. But while we continue searching, enjoy these.
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ANIMAL KINGDOM SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
PET NEWS Dogs at work
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Furry cat, furry cat
bout 1.4 million owners take some 2.3 million dogs to work every day, according to an American Pet Products Association survey last year. Keeping employees happy is one of the main reasons cited by employers.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Know your dog
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ooks like the National Zoo has two new young additions! Twinfishing cats were born May 18. The twin kittens were the first-ever fishing cats to be bred and produced in the D.C.area — making future breeding possibilities a more tangible option.
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he English Setter is a beautiful, long and lean, working gundog. A very gentle, calm dog. Friendly and excellent with children they are easy going, loving all the affection they can get. Exuberant and vivacious outdoors, but relatively inactive indoors.
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
Companions for life “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened,” goes a famous quote by Anatone France. Pet-lovers across the twin cities go on to vouch for it DIVYA NAWALE
feedback@postnoon.com
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rom cats and dogs, to turtles and parrots, Hyderabadis are now embracing their love for animals and keeping a variety of pets at homes more than ever before. This has led to a rise in consciousness for the city towards becoming pet-friendly and creating more animal-loving
LOVE IS A TWO-WAY STREET AND LOYALTY IS A SHARED BOND THAT NEEDS TO BE BUILT OVER A PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN THE PET AND THE OWNER WHICH TAKES A GOOD AMOUNT OF EFFORT FROM BOTH SIDES. communities in different areas like Banjara hills, Begumpet and even parts of Gachibowli, where these pet owners are choosing more and more places to hangout at places which are petfriendly and looked after as any other kid would be. And the trend is to adopt these animals, rather than to purchase breeds, a trait that is becoming very popular among the young and old Hyderabadis alike. Aruna Saha, an HR Manager
and a hardcore animal lover who has a dog, a cat, a turtle and 20 fishes living with her and her family under the same roof, just cannot imagine her life without them. “They are a part of the family, I know that I will never have to come back to an empty house.” she says, adding, “The animals know when you need them and you also begin to understand when they need you. Some bonds are difficult to explain and that’s exactly how I feel with all my pets. They are an important part of my day and I make sure that I am not only
concentrating on their cleanliness and hygiene but also keep a watch on how they react to my mood-swing. Just being around them helps me in uplifting my thoughts when I am down.” Aruna is one of those people who bought an abandoned dog home around seven and a half years ago and she says, “The loyalty and love I get from him is just inexpressible in words.” Amogh Panje, who works with ‘Make a Difference’ a nonprofit, has had about 12 cats as pets over the last 18 years and sometimes has three cats at
home at the same time. “I am definitely a cat person and can relate to them more than any other animal. Probably because they are very laid-back, affectionate, lazy and just uncomplicated creatures overall.” However, a thing that he says he has learnt from cats is that love is a two-way street and that the loyalty is a shared bond that needs to be built over a period of time between the pet and the owner which takes a good amount of effort from both sides. You might have heard the saying fighting like cats and
dogs. But research has proven that cats and dogs can live under the same roof. Nikhil says, “I had a pug as I was growing up while my sister had a cat for pet so we did have a few issues in the beginning. I had no problem with having a cat around but I understood the dynamics of it all pretty well. It actually depends on the personality of the dog really. A cat is very easygoing and doesn’t care about the dog being around it, while a dog, especially a pug can be really possessive and want more attention from you. Dogs can be trained to be around cats and then it’s fairly easy to hang around with them together. It can even be exciting to watch the two chase each other around and have fun on a lazy Sunday afternoons since they are such playful creatures. Just make sure you have enough space in your home to accommodate both.”
Pet friendly places in the city Ofen in Banjara Hills allows dogs if you to sit on their lawn at the back. Most of the open places around KBR park let you bring your pet along- Around the Corner and Organika for example. A lot of places in the city are making efforts to becoming more pet-friendly and café’s like Barista and Chocolate Room are also opening up to the idea of allowing pets along with families for a wholesome fun outing.
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BOOKS SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
SHORT READS Title: The Age of Miracles Author: Karen Thompson Walker Publisher: Random House The world is ending not with a bang so much as a long, drawn-out whimper.The looming apocalypse parallels the adolescent struggles of 10-year-old Julia, as her comfortable suburban life succumbs to a sort of domestic deterioration.
Title: Eat and run Author: Scott Jurek Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt In Eat and Run, Jurek tells the story of how an average Midwestern kid growing up on meat he caught or killed himself became a vegan elite athlete. Part memoir, part training guide, part vegan manifesto, Jurek’s is the most inspiring proposal.
Title: The Watch Author: Joydeep Roy Bhattacharya Publisher: Hogarth In Kandahar Province, having survived a firefight, the soldiers inside the compound are wary and edgy. That's the setup to a taut and gritty story that unfolds amid the dust, shadows, and unease of one slice of the war in Afghanistan.
Title: Fooling Houdini Author: Alex Stone Publisher: Harper Alex Stone discovers a vibrant underground magic scene exploding with creativity and innovation and populated by a fascinating cast of characters: from his gruff mentor, who holds court in the back of a rundown pizza shop, to one of the world's greatest card cheats.
In search of the truth
A story with a heart A young girl’s memories of her mother and the painful discoveries of the complexities of life is what makes this enchanting books a must-read FLEME VARKEY
fleme.v@postnoon.com
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mylia Hall is one of ELLE magazine’s ‘most anticipated debut novelists’ of this year. Let’s us see what is so enchanting about her book. The epigraph by WB Yeats sets the mood perfectly for this story. “When you are old and grey and full of sleep, And nodding by the fire, take down this book, And slowly read, and dream of the soft look Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;” We begin in London where Elizabeth Lowe, a worker in an art gallery prepares herself for a visit from her father. From her thoughts, we come to know that the visit is a highly unexpected one and reveal the extremely formal relationship the two share.
He brings along with him a parcel which threatens to disturb the rather drab life that Elizabeth was leading. The parcel was from her mother with whom her relationship was quite strained. But now that her mother is dead, she longs for closure. Once she opens the parcel, Erzi as her mother called her, gets to know her mother all over again. The scrapbook contains memories of seven glorious summers of her childhood spent in the idyllic countryside of Hungary, tightrope walking between her flighty mother, and a reticent father, apart from being enamoured by a vivacious artist. Sixteen years after separating from her mother, Beth finds it all too difficult to revisit the past. All these years she had only attached pain and denial with these memories. It is not just a coming-of-age story of Beth, it is also a love story. One can’t help but fall in love with the unspoilt world of rural Hungary and stringing along with it is a story of the
Name The Book of Summers Author Emylia Hall Pages 330 Publisher Hachette India
unique love between a parent and a child. Titled aptly, the book that Beth is reading contains snapshots of happy times spent with her mother in a Hungary. There the hills were bursting with rhododendrons and there were the mustard painted houses and the languid verandas and crooked-tiled roofs of Villa Serena where all her memories took birth. So we know what Beth felt each of the summers that she spent there. “Sometimes if you don’t go backwards, you can’t move forwards,” says Marika and this is how Beth gets back the childhood she had thought she had lost trying to revive the failed relationship of her parents. Hall’s writing is beautifully evocative. Earnest Hemingway talked about creating living people and not characters and by the looks of it Hall believes in it too. But this is not a story with a happy ending if you think it is, however. instead, there is a sense of loss, and wistfulness.
Name The Liquid Refuses to Ignite Author Dave Besseling Pages 336 Publisher Hachette India Hemanth Kumar
hemanth.k@postnoon.com
A
fter ten years of globe trotting, Dave Besseling comes face to face with the truth about what he has been looking all his life. The Liquid Refuses to Ignite is a part memoir and a part travelogue, which takes us through the lanes of Varanasi, hills of Manali and South East Asia, which is the result of Besseling’s desire to look beyond the obvious. When he arrives in India, the murkiness makes him quite repulsive, unlike most others who can’t see anything apart from the country being a spiritual destination. Besseling has a keen eye for observation which sets him apart from most other travel writers. The amusing part of this book is that Besseling doesn’t try to romanticise the places he visits. The wisdom which Besseling has acquired over the years by travelling to over 35 countries is palpable throughout the book. His alter-ego Dr Heagney stands out as the voice of reason, constantly challenging Besseling’s thoughts about everything in his life. The Liquid Refuses to Ignite is a thrilling read, albeit a bit too quirky for most of us.
15
BOOKS SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
Debut that hits a homer
MUST READS CLOUD ATLAS BY D AVID M ITCHELL A reluctant voyager crossing the Pacific in 1850; a disinherited composer blagging a precarious livelihood in between-thewars Belgium; a journalist in Governor Reagan’s California; a vanity publisher fleeing his gangland creditors; a genetically modified “dinery server” on death-row; and Zachry, a young Pacific Islander witnessing the nightfall of science and civilisation — the narrators hear each other’s echoes down the corridor of history.
Even if you had no interest in baseball, Chad Harbach’s campus-baseball novel, The Art of Fielding will be one of the most absorbing reads you are likely to encounter this year Padmini C
padmini.c@postnoon.com
I
f there’s something of a great story to be read in a book, its made greater only by the strength of its writer’s story. And what a story Chad Harbach’s life makes. Living in abject poverty bordering on destitution, for most of his adult life in pursuit of writing that one great novel, it took Harbach ten years and ten times as many rejections before things started to turn around. His debut novel – a tale of love, loss and triumph of the human spirit set against a backdrop of the diamond-- was an idea whose time had come. Literary publishers fought in a fiercely bid war from which emerged Little Brown and Co., that secured the rights of the book, thereby making Harbach an advance that would have been obscene if it was to one less deserved. Upon release, The Art of Fielding waltzed its way to the top of the bestseller lists in the US and the UK and never looked back.
LIGHTS OUT IN WONDERLAND BY DBC PIERRE
It was being said with increasing regularity that wunderkinds of the contemporary literary novel like Jonathan Frenzen and Don DeLillo have company. Still, great reviews or not, one deterrent remained -- it was a book on baseball – a sport most of us have little interest in, or knowledge of. It’s a reservation that Harbach makes you soon forget. Henry Skrimshander, a prodigious talent, has just arrived to join the Midwestern Harpooners, a varsity team whose fortunes are going to rise. Because there are two things Harry can do with superhuman accuracy – to catch a ball and throw it. By all measures, he is seems destined to superstardom. Until a freak throw injures his teammate– it marks the beginning of Henry’s fall from grace. There on, Henry is too aware of his fallibility, paralyzed by thought, unable to act or react naturally. While his team wins, he suffers. But Henry’s crisis is not his alone, the fates of five others, hang in the balance. As
Name Art of Fielding Author, Chad Harbach Pages 528 Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
the final game arrives, all of them must face their deepest, darkest hopes and fears. To be sure, in Art of Fielding baseball is simply a prop. As Harbach admits in an interview, “The sport just fit the story I wanted to tell. I was interested in watching someone going through a purely psychological crisis in public. Lots of people have those breakdowns, but it’s less interesting when you can hide away. For Henry, anyone who wants to can come and watch him fall apart. No one had written fiction about that; it seemed a very good start to something.” And fiction, it is, of the finest quality. Harbach weaves his love for baseball with his love for literature. Besides Melville, to whom the book is an unapologetic tribute, playful references to Dickinson and Whitman, Emerson and Lowell are abound. Perhaps a tad bit too long, but warm, generous, engaging, readable, Art of Fielding is inspiring and transformative.
Gabriel Brockwell—aesthete, philosopher, disaffected thing decadent— is thinking terminal. He’s decided to kill himself—but not immediately. His destination is Wonderland. Travelling between London, Tokyo, and Berlin, Gabriel is in search of the bacchanal to obliterate all previous parties. Along the way, Gabriel falls apart, only to reemerge with a new outlook on the world. Lights Out in Wonderland is an allegorical banquet you can’t miss.
A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES BY J OHN K ENNEDY TOOLE A Confederacy of Dunces is an American comic masterpiece. John Kennedy Toole’s hero is one Ignatius J. Reilly, “huge, obese, fractious, fastidious, and a latter-day Gargantua, a Don Quixote of the French Quarter. His story bursts with wholly original character, denizens of New Orleans’ lower depths, incredibly true-to-life dialogue, and the zaniest series of high and low comic adventures”
WHAT’S SELLING Walden best in fiction
Walden’s best in non-fiction
New York Times’ best in fiction
New York Times’ best in non- fiction
n Ascend by Amanda Hocking
n Steve Jobs by Walter Issacson
n Stolen Prey by John Sandford
n The Amateur by Edward Klein
n Reforms 2020 by Express Group
n 11th Hour by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
n It Worked for me by Colin Powell with Tony Koltz
n Revolution 2020 by Chetan Bhagat n Secret Of The Nagas by Amish Tripati
n The 3rd Alternative by Stephen R Covey
n Time of my Life by Ceclia Ahern
n Great by Choice by Collins and Hansen
n Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
n Journey by Brandon Bays
n Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris n Calico Joe by John Grisham n The Innocent by David Baldacci
n The Passage of Power by Robert A. Caro n Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard n My Cross to bear by Gregg Allman with Alan Light
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WOMEN SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
APPS OF THE WEEK FatBurner 2k: It'sone of innumerable weight loss apps targeted to women that are like the DukanDiet of the interweb - designed to simultaneously make you feel bad aboutyourself while tempting you with a totally implausible means to get that"bikini body".
Contraction Calculator: This app monitors labour contractions. Paying to do something that your watch can do for free probably isn't that convenient but this app monitors your contractions per minute.
Snapdeal Data App: Ifall those daily chores leave you little time to indulge in shopping, then youcan turn to your smartphone for help. If you are looking for some deals thenthe Snapdeal Beta app can be of relevance.
From Stanford, coming to a screen near you Melanie Kannokada, a Standford graduate, left her plum job at McKinsey & Co to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. She talks to Postnoon about her life and career so far Hemanth Kumar
hemanth.k@postnoon.com
I
t wouldn’t be surprising if she was a character straight out of the TV series, Big Bang Theory discussing about Astro Physics and engineering with Sheldon Cooper. After all, she has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University to prove it. Meet Melanie Kannokada, former Miss India America, who left a plum job at McKinsey & Company to follow her dream of becoming an actress. “My parents migrated from Kerala to a suburb near Chicago a long time ago. I grew up in a conservative household and it was always a struggle for us in the beginning. My mother used to work as a nurse in a hospital and she would work for long hours to take care of my brother and me. Sacrifice was always deemed as important part of our lives because of our humble roots,” Melanie recalls. She confesses that she was interested in Maths and Physics when she was in school and from the age of nine, she began practising Shotokan Karate. “I have a second degree black belt in Karate,” she chuckles adding, “It was amazing because I got a chance to compete at the junior level in the Pan American Games.” So what else were you interested in? “I learnt tap dancing, jazz and how to play a piano. And I was part of the Cheerleading team in my high school,” she confesses. A cheerleader? Now, that’s interesting. “You know, when I tell people in the US that I am a cheerleader, they go ‘Oh...Wow’, whereas in India, when I tell the same thing, people have this ‘Oh...really’ expression. It’s essentially a combination of gymnastics, dance and stunts. I
The CV First Job: Business analyst at McKinsey Motto: Live simply. Dream big and work hard. Inspiration: My parents
Last movie seen: Gabbar Singh Last book you read: What I wish I knew when I was 20 by Tina Seelig.
don’t know about India, but it’s quite a big deal in the US,” Melanie quips. By the time, she graduated from high school, she had already turned down admissions from several Ivy League Schools on the East Coast and decided to go to Stanford University. “It was my first choice, afterall,” she says. While she was studying at Stanford, she co-founded a non-profit organisation, Hospital for Hope, to build a hospital in Jharkhand. “We raised a lot of money for this and I am excited that already 75 per cent of the construction of the hospital is complete,” Melanie says. Her Stanford experience, where she served as a Student Body President, landed her a job as at McKinsey & Company. "I moved to New York and began juggling between my job and modelling. This went on for almost a year, during which I even took up acting classes. One fine day, I decided to quit everything and followed my dream,” Melanie recalls. Soon she appeared in ads of leading brands like Nescafe, Verizon, P&G, LG and Verizon. From New York, she moved to Los Angeles and soon she got supporting roles in TV shows like Rules of Engagement and Parenthood. Earlier, Indian actors hardly used to make it big on American TV, but that seems to be changing now. How tough is it to find a breakthrough? “Indian characters are not stereotyped on TV, but still there’s a long way to go before lead roles are written for Indians,” she admits. Melanie was recently selected as the face of Bare Escentuals International, a beauty product and she recently made her debut in Love, Lies and Seeta, she’ll soon be seen in a Telugu film. “I just want to do good work, no matter where I go,” she signs off.
A song in Switzerland? All About Eve
INDIRA ATLURI
M
y fiancée’s visit to India,last year and his comment on the ‘stuff ’ he saw on Indian television is something I never will forget. “You guys are so funny,” he said laughing at the Indian songs and dances he saw. I had no explanation whatsoever, and in fact felt silly as Shilpa Shetty and Govinda proudly displayed their dancing skills to the song LML baba LML. LML to all those who didn’t know is short for ‘Let’s make Love.’ A year later, last week, I managed to dump a few movies onto my tab, and saw Shutter Island (albeit a bit too late) last evening. Intrigued and amazed, this movie made me reflect on the kind of movies we produce. And unfortunately when I switched on the TV, Rowdy Rathore was warning me with his ‘Don’t angry me’, remark. Not one to get into altercations, I moved on to the next channel only to find Shah Rukh Khan singing Main Hoon Don, Main Hoon Don. Well, he can just say that instead of singing it out to his enemies I thought, and for a second imagined Al Pacino, singing Io Sono Don in Italian! And yes, talking of our movies, how can I forget the item numbers! On one side, if the desi variants are enticing the men with their microscopic pallus and ghunghats, on the other side are the firang varieties — aka ‘Cheeni Bais’ asking us to watch their ‘imported kamariyas’. Well, entertaining they are for sure, but my problem is with the after-effects of the ladies’ overdose. The problem is when my friends and I walk in public, into the snares of the heroes of the gallis. Their stares are almost like expecting me (or my friends) to commence our item numbers! And when I go to see my fiancé in Switzerland, far away from the influence of the bold world of Bollywood, every new friend I make there has just one comment to make – ‘Ah! We know your Bollywood movies!’ Ouch! Now is it time to sing a song in Switzerland?
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SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
MONTE CARLO MAGIC
Michelle Borth, Ted Danson, Jacqueline Mac Innes Wood, Sandra Vidal, Don Diamont and several television actors pose during the closing Ceremony of the 52nd Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco
School of Thought
With much fanfare and celebrations, Foster Billabong High International School opened its doors on Friday
Talented Techies
Ascendas celebrated Livewire 2012 at The V, Cyberpearl showcasing unique talents of IT professionals
Culture & Couture
The Lakhotia Institute of Design held their annual fashion show at N Convention on Friday night
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RELATIONSHIPS SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
I
I AM ALL EARS
am a 28-year-old man. My parents are on the look out for a bride for me since the past two years. In this period many of my friends have got married. Now my relatives have started chiding me, saying that no girl wants to marry me. I usually laugh it off, but it has affected me. What should I do?
THE LONGEST RELATIONSHIP
Dear worried kid, We now know who is not getting the invitation to your marriage. Tell these relatives that good things to those who wait. Don’t let it be a bother, people will keep talking, since they are just waiting to have a lavish feast at your expense. And if you are worried why are you not getting the right girl, like I said, good things take time. It’s not as if its a sea of girls waiting to reel you in. So enjoy your bachelorhood.
T
here’s an old saying that true love lasts forever, but then it’s rarely tested as extremely as it has been by a pair of tortoises – who have finally called it quits after 115 years. An Austrian zoo dropped the bombshell of the fallout between giant tortoises Bibi and Poldi, both 115, after the two became increasingly hostile towards each other.
Square peg in a round hole The story of the single girl in the city is one that’s oft-told. But the insecurities and anxieties of the single guy, who feels like an odd one out deserves a mention
HEMANTH KUMAR
hemanth.k@postnoon.com
R
ight from our childhood, we are told to have dreams and goals and then spend 25 years of our life working towards achieving these goals. Studying in a premier college makes you all the more ambitious about what you want to do for the rest of your life and when you find your true calling, you feel like there’s no stopping you. The burning desire to be successful rages like an inferno, until the day your parents pop the question which you had been dreading since graduation — ‘So, when are you getting married?’. In a country like India, where it’s considered blasphemy to still be single at 30, this question changes the entire equation which you had worked upon so carefully since the age of ten. Have I been asked this question
before? Yes. And my replies have been consistent so far. “What’s the hurry? There’s still a lot of things I want to do, before I think about marriage,” I say, much to the chagrin of my parents. And the moment you realise that most of your friends are falling like a pack of cards in front of this institution, reality dawns upon you that life isn’t the same anymore. You can’t hang out with them like the good old days and imagine the prospect of dealing with loneliness when your friends are living a blissful life after marriage. There’s no denying that craving for company is on everyone’s mind, but what I don’t understand is why do people get married when they are at the cusp of laying the foundation for the rest of their life and living their dreams. Marriage changes everything and I have seen lots of my friends take a completely different path post marriage because they have to ‘settle’ down in life. Perhaps, their dreams of travelling the world and living a life devoid of
responsibilities was deemed to be too risky. But then, I must reiterate that I am not against getting married. The time lapse between graduating from college and getting married is what bothers me the most. Shyamala Chandrasekhar, who works in a consultancy firm, says,”A lot of my friends began feeling insecure when they saw their friends getting married soon after graduation. It was more about company than the idea of settling down in life. You don’t know whether you can relive the golden moments you had spent with your friends.” It’s quite a tricky situation for guys as well when they realise that their days of absolute freedom are numbered. When Rajeev, a communications consultant based in Hyderabad, sat together with his friends who got recently married, he began to have mixed feelings about marriage, “ When my friends tell me stories about their life after marriage, I always wonder how they are able to manage doubled expens-
WHAT I DON’T UNDERSTAND IS WHY PEOPLE GET MARRIED WHEN THEY ARE AT THE CUSP OF LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE AND LIVING THEIR DREAMS. es. There is obviously a lot of anticipation, introspection and sometimes people end up having cold-feet. When they narrate an incident involving their wives, I tend to connect it with my own life and think ‘what if I face a situation like this’, because I could be facing a similar issue soon. If not, that incident is passed off as ‘Thank God I’m still not there’.” Peer pressure to get married snowballs into constant nagging from your parents. ‘Look at your friends. Everyone is getting married and they are all so happy. When are you going to get mar-
ried?’ they ask, precisely when you are about to say, ‘I am not ready yet.’ Hemasundar Dhavili, an oilfield engineer, concurs, “Honestly it does get depressing, especially if you are single and have almost lost connections with your friends. To cope up, people tend to make new friends at work and take time out to travel and do different things rather than just relying on some get togethers with old friends. There’s also constant pressure from the family to get married just because all our friends are getting married. It’s tough to deal with a situation like this, especially when you are yet to completely understand the purpose of marriage.” As I sit back and ponder upon the mystery behind this phenomenon, I get an e-mail from an old friend. He has sent me an invitation for his marriage. A sense of depression clouds my thoughts. Why is everyone in a hurry? I sigh and resign myself to this inevitability which will change my life.
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CINEMA SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
T-TOWN TWEETIES @Shraddhadas43
@Tashu_02
@Actor_Siddharth
@sundeepkishan
Just came to Hyd n had a super meal of soup, ceaser salad n 4 d 1st time fruit yogurt n a bong sweet rajbhog!
Although had no shoot but still it was a hectic day for me. since morning was out, meeting people... So dead tired n totally sleep.
As you grow older you find more keys in the house than locks that they were meant to open. Age brings more solutions than problems?
Nag sir once again proves that he is the true King of Style... love his new look. would give most Hollywood stars a run for their money :)
@shrutihaasan
@LakshmiManchu
@purijagan
@ramsayz
Am I the only one who finds the music in angry birds in space extremely eerie ???! Brrr.
Happiest of birthdays 2 1 of the most coolest, sweetest,warmest person I knw... My bestfriend & sweetheart @premanand6.
Gabbar ki Faujiyo... Today CGR started. PK is in full mood. Darling Prakash Raj is playing da Villian role.. Get ready for Oct 18 th.
The true purpose of a Heart is 2 not only keep u alive, but also 2 keep Others happy while ure Alive- |2 #Randomthoughts.
Eega fly o t t e s 6 y l u J n o
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SS
Nag ups the style quotient
An unusual love story
N
ithya Menen, Nishan, Asif Ali starrer 50% Love is an unusual story about love and destiny featuring three youngsters. It’s a classic tale of how greed plays spoilsport even when two people are deeply in love with each other; however, the twists in the plot are said to be it’s biggest USP. Directed by Sibi Malayil, 50% Love is the dubbed version of a Malayalam film titled Apoorva Raagam. Vidyasagar composed the music and KK Radhamohan is presenting the film in Telugu.
agarjuna has always been rated as one of the most stylish celebrities in Telugu film industry and now he has the upped the style ante even further. He was the cynosure of all eyes at the reception of Ram Charan and Upasana. For the past few months, Nagarjuna was spotted at various events with a beard as he was shooting for K Raghavendra Rao’s upcoming film Shirdi Sai. Now that the film’s shooting is over, Nagarjuna went through a complete makeover and he dazzled everyone with his brand new avatar. We hear that people couldn’t stop raving about his new style— spiked hair and a goatee, as he went on stage to greet the newly married couple. Nagarjuna will soon join the cast of his upcoming film to be directed by Dasarath.
N
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CINEMA SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
B-TOWN TWEETIES @kunalkohli
@priyankachopra
@AnupamPkher
@shreyaghoshal
To delhi to join @PriyankaChopra & @ShahidKapoor for the#TeriMeriKahaani capital promotions.
Hey guys.. Shoutout to my childhood friend @rythmchugh ! Show her some love...
On my way to NCPA theatre, Mumbai to perform my play Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai. It is at 7pm. Chalo Mujhe wish karo.:)
We always have two paths to choose from. Which one we pick is what makes us what we are.
@SrBachchan
@ActorMadhavan
@sonamakapoor
@bomanirani
T 775 —The lemon ripens after it is plucked, the orange does not. Somewhat similar to life, depending where you get plucked from.
Okay can someone explain to me what the number is that appears under ones name on twitter like #7,76,88,809 can't figure out.
Driving and tweeting don't go hand in hand. Literally and figuratively...
Cast and crew party after FKS premiere: Priceless moments. A crew of youngsters unseen & unsung cheer the most.
Music is the real star Dipping into the 80s nostalgia, Rock Of Ages falls into a long line of feeble Hollywood musicals FAUSTINA JOHNSON
feedback@postnoon.com
O
ne of the many highly anticipated movies, Rock Of Ages set expectations alive with fantastic promos. Yet, ten minutes is all it takes to see through the glittering Hollywood machine that attempts to sail through on star power. The plot is made up of the most overused of Hollywood cliches — small town girl(Hough) with Hollywood dreams meets aspiring rockstar (Bonata), romance clicks. Gliding along on pulsating covers of Foreigner, Joan Jett, Bon Jovi, it is sweet and smooth, until an (unnecessary) intrusion from rock god Stacie Jaxx (Tom Cruise). Although it does nothing for the story, Cruise's character is a blessed break from what seemed to be an alarming transformation into High School Musical. Tattooed and as wild as his long mane,
A feel good film Siddharth TSS
feedback@postnoon.com
F
errari Ki Sawaari spins around the aspirations of a young cricket star, his dream to make it big and his doting father’s struggle to make ends meet. Kayo the sportstar of his cricket club is selected for a cricket camp in London and his merit can only take him so far. So to make his son's dream come true Rusy (Sharman Joshi) must attain a large sum of money, to perform this Herculean task he strides into a well known sports person's house and 'borrows' his
Ferrari for a few hours. The plot further moves into how the moolah is raked in, and the car is misplaced; the rest is the run around for setting the wrongs right. As the movie reaches its climax it leaves the viewer feeling warm and fuzzy. The movie scores well in terms of acting, script, screenplay and casting but lacks lustre in the development of the plot. Sharman Joshi has set a completely new benchmark in terms of portraying a fatherly figure in the film. An exceptional performance by Rithvik Sahore as Kayo. Boman Irani as the ever cynical grandfather of the Parsi
Movie: Ferrari ki Sawaari Cast: Boman Irani,Ritwik Shore, Sharman Joshi Directed by: Rajesh Mapuskar Rating:
family. One expects a lot from Vidhu Vinod Chopra and a Rajkumar Hirani combination since the Munnabhai movies, but Ferrari... needs a lot of work to be done.
Tom Cruise as Stacie Jaxx is every bit as atrocious as the promos hinted. Well, make the best of this oasis, its one of the few things about the movie that doesn't disappoint. Dipping into the 80s nostalgia, Rock Of Ages falls into a long line of feeble Hollywood musicals. Impeccable cinematography, editing and a collection of famous faces polish the glossy adaptation, but the absence of any coherent story line makes you wonder why Shankman even bothered. Its time Hollywood just left the 80s alone. Julianne Hough, with her blond curls, shining smile and vulnerable/ sweet character is rather reminiscent of a Disney heroine. Russell Brand, as the manager of the pub central to the plot, is perfect, as he always is, whenever rock and comedy appear on the same page. Catherine Zeta Jones' character suffers from a case of bad costumes and uninspired choreography. That said, she delivers as the vengeful ex
Movie: Rock of Ages Cast: Tom Cruise, Catherine ZetaJones, Bryan Cranston, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Julianne Hough, Directed by: Adam Shankman Rating:
lover, righteously condemning rock and roll and then drooling over Jaxx. Although technically perfect renditions, newcomer Bonata's numbers lack life, managing only faint foot tapping reactions. The soundtrack makes up what is the movie's feeble defense. It has bountiful servings of rock's greatest hits. Silly and outrageous, it is a movie which doesn't take itself too seriously. If you are faced with an empty weekend and desires of some light entertainment, this movie might fit the ticket.
CINEMA SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
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CINEMA SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
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THE SATURDAY QUIZ SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
IDENTIFY THESE ACTORS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Maneaters of Kumaon
2
Abasolom and Achitophel All quiet on the Western Front.
A. Painting, B. Films, C. Pop Music, D. Fashion Designing
Autobiography of an unknown Indian
3
Graham Green was associated with which of the fields? A. Science, B. Music, C. Painting, D. Literature
Anna Karenina
Bleak House
Catch 22.
Answers: 1. D 2. D 3. D
Children of the Sun
KNOW YOUR COUNTRY Which is the oldest paramilitary force in the country?
1.Thomas Mann 2.Jim Corbett 3.John Dryden 4.Erich Maria Remarque 5.Nirad C Chaudhari 6.Leo Tolstoy 7.Carles Dickens 8.Joseph Heller 9.Maxim Gorky
Which is the major mineral found in Punjab?
Which atomic reactor is used for studies of uranium heavy water lattice?
6
With which state is the Phulkari embroidery associated ?
with Santosh Ghule Who is scaring the birds?
Answer for
Zawar in Rajasthan is famous for?
PICTURE PUZZLE 20
19: The landscape around the boy depics the father
4 5
Answer: 1.Manisha Koirala 2. Mamta Kulkarni 3. Tabu 4. Sonali Bendre
Which Indian satellite had a main function to perform X-ray experiments in space and send back data to earth?
WHO AUTHORED THESE BOOKS? Magic Mann
The name of Pierre Cardin is associated with which of the following fields?
1 2 3
NAME THEM
WHO AM I? I am remembered as an Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer. My best knows works are titled the Pieta and David.I also painted the fresco on the roof of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. Who am I?
Answer: Michelanagelo
1
Jude Felix is a famous Indian player in which of these sports? A. Volleyball, B. Tennis, C. Football, D. Hockey
after? 14. The country also known as the country of copper is? 15. Where is the coldest place on Earth? 16. Who was the first Pakistani to have recieved the Nobel Prize? 17. Which tree's bark is used in making Quinine medicine?
Answer:
TAKE YOUR PICK
ing boats because it does not corrode by seawater? 10. Which of the following became the first black President of South Africa? 11. Which is the biggest literary award of Britain? 12. Which capital city stands on the River Danube? 13. Who was Mt Everest named
Answers
blow down the steep valleys in Japan are called... 5. Name the Continents that form a mirror. 6. When was the first Olympic day celebrated? 7. Contact lens are made from? 8. Why does the blackboard seems black? 9. Which metal is used for mak-
1. Australia 2.Costa Rica, EI Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua 3.Kathmandu 4. Yamo 5.Europe and Asia 6.1948 7.Polyvinyl Chloride 8.Because it does not reflect any colour 9.Nickel 10.Nelson Mandela 11.David Cohen Award 12. Belgrade 13.Sir George Everest 14.Zambia 15. Verkoyansk in Serbia 16.Abdul Salam 17.Cinchona
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
1. Where are The broken hills famous for zinc and lead located? 2. Which countries form the membership of CACM (Central American Common Market)? 3. Where is the permanent secretariat of the SAARC? 4. The warm and dry winds that
1.Assam Rifles 2.Salt 3.Aryabhatta 4.Zinc mines 5. Zerlina 6. Punjab
Answers
26
CHAI TIME SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 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.
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education. – Sir Walter Scott
QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Brief periods, briefly 5 Box-office failure 9 Beverage with a marshmallow 14 "Sack" attachment 15 It's not a good thing 16 Got word of 17 Leave the engine running 18 "I changed my mind" on a computer 19 Made a misstep 20 Exert one's influence 23 Improve, as cheese 24 Prefix with "plasm" or "type" 25 Broom accompanier 27 Archery bow wood 28 Decomposed 32 Card collection 33 "Significant" person 34 River to the Rio Grande 35 Ironic event 38 Commemorative pillar (Var.) 40 "Blue Velvet" actress Dern 41 Broken on the ranch 42 Deli cold cut 44 Be inquisitive 47 Less popular, as a restaurant 49 Achieve harmony 51 Blood classification letters 52 Star transport 56 Beyond the suburbs 58 Asian nursemaid 59 TV Batman West 60 About to blow 61 "Quo Vadis" meanie 62 Give up claim to 63 Allays 64 Homer's besieged city 65 "East of ___" DOWN 1 Peanut butter brand 2 Abide 3 Wet behind the ears
4 Hardy kind of wheat 5 "Sesame Street" straight man 6 Of higher rank than 7 Conservative skirt 8 A gentleman might prefer one 9 Activity requiring four bishops 10 "Above," in an anthem 11 Crab or turtle shell 12 A spice 13 Math problem numbers 21 Aerial combat mission 22 Big bang maker 26 Eighth Greek letter 29 Cries of understanding 30 Asian new year celebration
31 "The Lord of the Rings" beast 33 Avian baby 34 Persona non grata 35 Fleeting 36 Air traffic control agcy. 37 "Fee, fi, fo, ___" 38 Kind of acid used in cosmetics 39 Indian lute (var.) 42 "Quiet on the___!" 43 Downright 44 ___ oneself on (had an ego about) 45 Filmed a new version of 46 Palace
workers 48 Archipelago units 50 Candied, as fruits 53 Spud bud remover 54 Edible root 55 Bok ___ (Chinese vegetable) 57 "Fast cash" site PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
27
CHAI TIME SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
Aries Queen of Pentacles
W
ork – When you getthe wind of some gossip near the copier machine or the water cooler, try not to react to it. Gossip is good at the work place but is something that must be taken lightly. Romance – Present yourself better to the opposite sex. A wardrobe refresh may be in order. You may want to pay a visit to the spa, too. Health – Working like a robot according to a time table is killing your creativity. This is not good for your energy levels. Money – You may be overdoing the retail therapy by hoping it will compensate for how you feel. Not working. Tarot message – Your ego has to be kept in check. Do what makes you happy.
Taurus
Gemini
Page of Cups
Two of Wands
W
ork – You have been tense about a presentation. It goes very well and you put across your point exactly how you wanted to. Romance – A holiday to a new location with your partner will bring you two closer together. You can discover the place as well as each other. Health – Laugh a lot. Listen to good jokes and hang around with cheerful people. This will make you feel better. Money – A joint account may need attention. Keep a check on your finances and review your investments in a routine check. Tarot message – Go with the flow and use your intuition. Thinking or analyzing too much will not help get what you need at this point.
W
ork – There are reforms needed in your attitude at work, and also your style of functioning. There are many ways you can deal with it. Romance – A romance refresh is in order. Doing the same old things in a new way will chart a new course for your romantic life. Health – Prepare for old age. Remember that you will be productive for more number of years than your parents. Exercise and take care of your health. Money – There may be a need to drill the idea of savings into a spouse of close family member who uses your resources. Tarot message – Be aware of the environment and circumstances around you.
Cancer The Wheel of Fortune
W
ork – Don’t take any rash decisions, like wanting to quit a job because someone said something. Take your time. Haste makes waste. Romance – One person may be dominant in a relationship and it invariably feels like it is the person who speaks louder. Need not be. Health – Get into the habit of eating healthy and build it into your lifestyle. You need to take better care of your overall health. Money – There may be some unforeseen expenses, like hospital bills or travel charges or extra taxes. Be prepared. Tarot message – Life will not be the same ever. Change is permanent. The only way to prepare for this by being open to it.
Leo Temperance
W
ork – Wearing formal clothes to work, despite what your office dress rules say, will put you in a professional frame of mind. Romance – There is something intriguing about a new relationship you have entered into. It leaves you with more questions when you try to get answers. Health – Take care of your teeth. Oral hygiene is very important to ensure good overall health. Money – There may be a need to lift some curbs you have placed on yourself when it comes to spending. Tarot message – Patience is important especially while trying something new. The results may not be immediate.
Virgo Three of Pentacles
W
ork – You may be feeling suffocated in a job and want out. But the money is good. So you’re feeling stuck. Stay on. Romance – You are jumping from one emotion to another without fully experiencing the beauty of it. Go slow in a relationship. Health – Stay hydrated at all times. Drink a lot of water and stay away from the harsh sun. As the harsh sun may cause you sunburns or stroke. Money – Be careful while transacting with large sums of money using new technology like the internet or mobile banking. Use only safe connections and websites. Tarot message – Money is your focus right now and you need not worry one bit about it. All will go as per your plan.
SUMAA TEKUR tarotreadhyd@gmail.com
Libra Three of Swords
W
ork – It may be a good idea to get out of your serious avatar at least for some time and crack jokes with colleagues and subordinates. It will lighten the mood. Romance – Wooing your lover in the traditional way with gifts, songs strummed on the guitar, and candlelight dinners, will never go out of fashion. Health – Use simple tactics to get health benefits in the long run. You could try chewing gum, for example, to lose face weight. Money – When one part of your financial goals are met, it is time to celebrate. Tarot message – There is bound to be grief and unhappiness. For, without it you wouldn’t value the happiness that is present in your life.
Scorpio Queen of Swords
W
ork – Take a leaf out of the book of someone you admire very deeply in your profession. It will be a good idea to emulate his/her ideals. Romance – A love letter will come your way. Expect some traditional romance and wooing. You should also play the part equally. Health – Protect your mind and body from extreme stress. Do what it takes to de-stress as much as possible. Relax and calm down. Money – Check the balance sheet for any discrepancies, especially if you have handed over the managing to someone else. Tarot message – It is lonely at the top. Keep this in mind while striving to be successful and get to the top quickly.
Sagittarius Three of Cups
W
ork –You will come out of the shadows. You have worked very hard and it is time to step into the limelight. Romance – Take a daytrip. Surprise each other and do unusual things. It will increase the passion and keep you interested in each other. Health – Stay away from very icy-cold food and drinks. Balance your diet well and plan it according to the changing weather. Money –There are ways to learn from big investors and their investing behavior. You cannot get that knowledge in a textbook. Tarot message – A celebration is round the corner. It may not be for a conventional cause but just that you are handling a tough situation well.
Date 17-6-2012
Capricorn Two of Pentacles
W
ork – You may be spiking your own ideas because of lack of faith. Have complete trust in yourself and bounce off your ideas with someone before chucking them. Romance – Singles are likely to meet someone interesting. When travelling, you also get interested in random conversations. Health – Don’t over-do consumption of non-vegetarian food, if you are nonveg. Even vegetarians should stay away from oily and unhealthy foods. Money – There is a rhythm to your financial cycles and you are used to it. Tarot message – Balance is needed in work and life. You have been achieving this rather well in the past few months.
Aquarius Five of Pentacles
W
ork – You’re being crabby and it’s unfair to show your emotions to your coworkers. They deserve better. Romance – Flirt a little. No harm in engaging in playful banter with the opposite sex. It will keep you occupied and engaged in light conversations. Health – Be careful of downing too much beer or eating too much. Binge-eating will also put all your fitness efforts to waste. Money –Keep a diversified portfolio and manage your money based on your individual needs. Stick to your annual savings goals. Tarot message – There is likely to be conflict and contradiction. Don’t worry. It will be resolved. You just need to do the right thing from your end.
Pisces The Lovers
W
ork – It’s a good idea to de-clutter your work desk and get rid of all the junk. It will also help clear your mind and focus at work. Romance – Candles are a romantic way of saying ‘I love you’. Do what your partner likes, but also make sure to communicate what you like. Health – There is trouble looming with the change in weather. But it can be easily tackled by exercising caution and care. Money –You may be feeling like a prison with your own EMIs and loan repayments. Living day to day should not become hell while repaying loans. Change conditions. Tarot message – Take some tough decision to make life simpler.
Vol: 1, No 335 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad–500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad–500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon.com and for subscription, please call 040-40672222, Fax: 040-40672211
2012 LONDON OLYMPICS
60 59 58 57 56 55
DID YOU KNOW...? n The Olympic Football tournament has been decided by a replay just once, in Amsterdam 1928: Uruguay beat Argentina 2-1 after the first match between the teams ended 1-1 n The only time a gold medal match has been decided on penalties was at Sydney 2000, when Cameroon beat Spain in a shootout.
LEGENDS OF THE SPORT Mia Hamm (born March 17, 1972) The most dominant women’s football player of the 1990s, Mia Hamm has been an inspiration to young players around the world. At the inaugural women’s Olympic Football event in ‘96, Hamm helped her team to the gold medal. Although the USA were beaten by Norway in the final in 2000. In ‘04 Hamm and the team won the gold medal, beating Brazil 2-1.
Patrick Mboma (born November 15, 1970) had already played professionally in France, Japan and Italy when he hit his peak in 2000. Early in the year, he led Cameroon to victory in the African Nations’ Cup, before the Sydney 2000 tournament kicked off. Considered outsiders, Cameroon went on a thrilling and unexpected run, with Mboma as a pivotal figure.
PERFECT KICK
53 52 50
28
DAYS TO GO
54
51
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
n Hungary has won three Football gold medals — more than any other country. n During the London 2012 Football competition approximately 2,400 footballs will be used.
49 48
TALLY 2008
47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31
FOOTBALL:
ARG USA BRAZIL
1 1 0
0 0 1
0 0 1
MEDAL EVENTS August 9 Women’s Football August 11 Men’s Football
TRIVIA
Numerous Venues
Due to the numerous large stadia required for the Olympics, venues in distant cities — often more than 200 km (about 120 miles) away from the main host — are typically used for the football tournam-ent. In an extreme example, two early-round venues for the 1984 Games were on the East Coast of USA, well over 2,000 miles (about 3,200 km) from the host city of Los Angeles. The next Games held in USA, i.e. in 1996, were unique. In that no matches were held in the host city, Atlanta; the nearest venue and the site of the finals was 65 miles (about 105 km) away on the University of Georgia campus in Athens. Counting the ‘12 and ‘16 Summer Olympics, there are 120 venues that have hosted Olympic football, the most of any sport. In the upcoming Games, the sport will be played at five different venues with both the men’s and women’s finals held at the Wembley Stadium.
The Football competition kicks off the London 2012 Olympic Games. Spread across six major grounds around thje UK, it offers all the drama that fans of the game have come to expect from major international tournaments
FIELD
OF PLAY
The football pitches are not exactly the same size in all the venues, but vary between 100m–110m long and 64m–75m wide. The penalty spot at either end is 11m from the goal.
FOOTBALL
AT
GAMES
Football was introduced as a medal sport at the Paris 1900
THE VENUE
O
One of the most famous stadia in the world, Wembley has hosted some of the most memorable sporting moments in history. Wembley is the largest of the six venues hosting the London 2012 Olympic Foot-
THE LINGO Foul: illegal interference with an opposing player, such as tripping Advantage: played by the referee after a foul if he/she feels that the team which has been fouled would benefit from a continuation in play Extra time: if a match in the knockout stages is tied at the end of 90 minutes, the teams play 30 minutes of extra time in a bid to find the winner Olympic Games. Great Britain won the men’s gold medal, then successfully defended their title four years later in Stockholm.
The sport has featured at every Olympic Games since, except for Los Angeles 1932. The first women’s competition was at Atlanta 1996.
THE
BASICS
The aim of football, to score more goals than the opposition, is simple and widely known. Teams with 11 players each compete across two 45-minute halves, with extra time and penalty shootouts used to decide the winner in the case of drawn matches during the knockout stages of the competition. At the London 2012 Games, the men’s Football is an under-23s competition, although each team is allowed to include three older players. while, tshere is no age restriction in the women’s competition.
Competition format The aim of football, to score more goals than the opposition, is simple and widely known. Teams of 11 players compete across two 45minute halves, with extra time and penalty shootouts used to decide drawn matches during the knockout stages of the competition. At London 2012 the men’s Football is an under-23s competition, although each team is allowed to include three older players. There is no age restriction in the women’s competition.
OFFICIALS
A referee on the pitch officiates each match with the help of two assistant referees, who are on either side of the pitch.
THE WEMBLEY STADIUM ball tournament. It is also the second largest of all London 2012 venues, after the new Olympic Stadium in Stratford. Wembley Stadium opened in 2007 on the site of the old 1923 stadium. It features an arch that soars over 130m into
the sky – more than four times the height of the towers of the old Wembley Stadium. With a span of
315 metres, Wembley arch is the longest single span roof structure in the world and is visible from across London. A truly iconic British building, the new stadium comes complete with a sliding roof to protect against bad weather.
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
SELECTION ROW NEW DELHI: Indian tennis chiefs on Friday opened the door for a major row after naming a reluctant Mahesh Bhupathi to play with former doubles partner Leander Paes at the London Olympics. The All-India Tennis Association (AITA) named the ageing duo for the Olympic men’s doubles even though Bhupathi publicly stated that he wanted to pair with his current partner Rohan Bopanna. Bhupathi and Bopanna issued a joint statement slamming the AITA’a selection, amid mounting media speculation that Bhu-pathi may opt out of playing with Paes in London. “We are saddened to learn of the decision to not nominate us for participation in the doubles at the Games,” Bhupathi and Bopanna said in the statement. The pair said they had requested the AITA consider them for selection only as a team and not as individuals to be “paired with any other players”. “It is indeed disappointing that the AITA has chosen to disregard our request. We believe that ignoring a combination that is fully committed, dedicated and prepared is an unjustifiable compromise,” the pair said. “This is a sad day for Indian tennis from all perspectives.
DAYS TO GO
Millar relieved at removal of the ‘final handcuff’ LONDON: David
“But we are hopeful that better sense will prevail before the team nomination deadline of June 21, 2012. We will continue to make our case to all concerned over the next few days.” AITA secretary-general Anil Khanna said the selection committee had picked the best combination. “We thought these two (Paes and Bhupathi) make the best players to win a medal at the Olympics. That’s why we have decided to field them,” said Khanna. “They have played four Olympics together. They played for India despite differences, so we expect them
We thought these two make the best players to win a medal at the Olympics. That’s why we have decided to field them Anil Khanna, AITA secretary-general to bury their differences and play for the nation at the London Olympics also.” Paes, who turns 39 on Sunday, and Bhupathi, 38, have won three Grand Slam
doubles titles — the French Open in 1999 and 2001 and Wimbledon in 1999. The duo went their separate ways in 2002 for yetunspecified reasons, although they continued to team up for India in the Davis Cup and multi-sports events like the Olympics. Bhupathi played with Paes at the 2011 Australian Open doubles event after nine years before partnering Bopanna this season. Paes, who won the men’s singles bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and Bhupathi have figured in the doubles at four Olympics, but failed to win a medal.
Cheruiyot aims for Olympic double NAIROBI: Kenya’s double world champion Vivian Cheruiyot beat a strong field on Friday to win the 10,000 metres Olympic trial race and moved a step closer to her bid for another double at the London Games. Cheruiyot, who was competing in her first 10,000m race since the world championships in Daegu last August, clocked 32:24.51 ahead of Joyce Chepkirui (32:24.71) and world silver medallist Sally Kipyego,
who was third in 32:26.82. Cheruiyot and Chepkirui clinched the two automatic places for the Olympics, with the third athlete to be decided by the selectors but Cheruiyot said she was now looking forward to be selected in the 5000 metres which will be held on June 23. “I am happy I have made the team in the 10,000m. I know the 5000m is my favourite event, but since I am considering to double up in the Olympics, it is satisfying to have already put one race in the bag,” said Cheruiyot.
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Millar, who served a two year drug ban from 2004 to 2006, said on Friday being included in Britain’s Olympic cycling squad felt like “taking off the final handcuff ”. Following the end of his two-year suspension for taking a blood-boosting agent, he still remain-ed barred from future Olympics under the British Olympic Association (BOA) byelaw imposing a lifetime Games ban on anyone found guilty of, or admitting to, doping offences. But that ruling was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in April, paving the way for the likes of Millar and sprint runner Dwain Chambers to return to Olympic competition. Millar was named in an eightman road race squad from which five riders will be selected to compete at the Games on Wednesday. He said, “for eight years, I’d been through it all — bans, sanctions, bei-ng ostracised, legal problems — and the only thing left to hang over me was my lifetime Olympic ban and I didn’t realise how much I hated living with it until it was actually lifted.”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
London bus drivers to go on strike LONDON: London bus drivers will stage a one day strike on 22 June in a dispute over Olympic bonuses and have pledged to walk out during the Games if they do not receive a £500 payment reported The Guardian. The Unite trade union said it would disrupt the world’s biggest sporting event unless its 21,000 bus members were paid in line with tube and rail workers who have secured one-off rewards.
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SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
BEAUTY
&
Poland expels two Russians for rioting
Croatia have been fined $31,400 after crowd trouble at the country’s Euro 2012 opener with the Republic of Ireland, UEFA said in a statement on Friday. The fine comes after fans lit flares and let off smoke bombs to celebrate goals in the 31 win in the Polish city of Poznan last Sunday. A spectator also got on the pitch and missiles were thrown in one match.
Russia keen to win: Advocaat
Jonathan Fowler
WARSAW: Powerhouses Russia intend to win their final Group A match against Greece, coach Dick Advocaat said on Friday, as striker Alan Dzagoev said the team’s unruly fans should behave in the face of a threatened UEFA points penalty. The Group A leaders know that a draw against bottom of the table Greece will be enough to earn them a berth in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals, but plan to show their mettle, Advocaat told reporters on the eve of Saturday’s match in Warsaw.
Czechs not for a draw, says Rosicky Barnaby Chesterman
WROCLAW, POLAND: Czech captain Tomas Rosicky insists his team will not play for a draw when they tackle Poland in their final Euro 2012 Group A match here on Saturday. A draw will be enough for the Czechs to progress to the knock-out rounds unless Greece beat Russia in the other game. Poland have to win to reach the quarter-finals while the Czech Republic know only a victory will ensure their passage. “We can’t start the match thinking that a draw is enough, we have to go into it with victory in mind, otherwise we will have a lot of worries and concerns,” said the 31-year-old Arsenal midfielder.
Poland vs Czech Rep 12.15am (Sunday) Neo Prime
Russia vs Greece 12.15am (Sunday) Neo Prime for building a side with attractive, free-flowing play and blooding young talent such as CSKA Moscow’s Dzagoev. The 21-year-old has scored three goals so far at Euro 2012, with a double against the Czechs and one in the Poland game. There is an outside chance that Russia could fail to advance if Greece win and there is a winner between the Czechs and Poland in Saturday’s other match in the southwestern city of Wroclaw. But Dzagoev said he wasn’t reckoning on a nightmare. “I’m really sure that we’ll go through. We are very focused,” he said.
30
Croatia fined over crowd trouble at Ireland match
Poland ordered the immediate expulsion of two Russian citizens sentenced for rioting and a pitch invasion at Warsaw’s National Stadium during the Euro 2012 face-off between Poland and Russia. “Two Russian Federation citizens have been ordered to leave Poland’s territory... The banishment will take place today,” Ivetta Bialy, a spokesperson said in a statement on Friday.
After a 4-1 demolition of the Czech Republic in their tournament opener last week, Russia were criticised for getting ahead of themselves, allowing co-hosts Poland to fight back against them in Tuesday’s crunch match which ended 1-1. “I think that whenever you play a game, you have to win and want to win,” 64-year-old Advocaat said. “We are very confident in ourselves and I’m sure the Greek coach will say the same thing.” Advocaat, who took over from compatriot Guus Hiddink in May 2010, has won plaudits
THE BEST
Greece gung-ho ahead of Russia crunch
G
roup A stragglers Greece on Friday brushed off their underdog image ahead of their do-ordie match with leaders Russia which could seal their fate at Euro 2012 on Saturday. “Our team must respect its opponent, but never fear anyone,” their Portuguese coach Fernando Santos said at an eve of match press conference. “I really believe in my team,” he added.
“We don’t want to just defend for a draw, we have to be proactive from the beginning. We have to play as we did in the first half against Greece, without speculating (on the other result). We must play at 100 per cent or we could lose.” Rosicky himself may not play as he is struggling with a calf problem that has kept him out of training since Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Greece.
POLANSKI VOWS CZECH CARNAGE
TO WREAK
Midfielder Eugen Polanski says Poland will show no mercy to the Czech Republic when the two sides meet in an all or nothing Euro 2012 Group A decider on Saturday. Poland must win to reach the knock-out rounds for the first
Rosicky decision to be made today
A
decision on whether Czech Republic captain Tomas Rosicky can play in their final Euro 2012 Group A match against Poland here will be made on Saturday. Rosicky, who is crucial to Czech hopes as he is their creative force, said during Friday’s pre-match press conference that his calf problem has been improving but a decision would have to be left until the day of the game.
time in their history in the European Championships while the Czechs know that anything other than a win could see them eliminated. A draw might be enough for the Czechs, unless Greece beat Russia, whereas for Poland it’s win or bust. And Polanski promised a frantic effort.
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
31
It’s Swede success for Roy’s boys
LONDON: England remained
on course for a place in the knockout rounds of Euro 2012 after coming from behind to send Sweden crashing out of the tournament with a 3-2 victory here on Friday. Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck scored a welltaken winner for England in the 78th minute after the introduction of substitute Theo Walcott swung a see-saw Group D battle back in his side's favour. England had got off to a dream start when recalled striker Andy Carroll headed them into a 23rd-minute lead. But an own goal from Glen Johnson on 49 minutes followed by a header from Olof Mellberg in the 59th minute threatened to set up a disastrous night for Roy Hodgson's side. However, the substitution of James Milner for Walcott changed the game. The Arsenal winger lashed in a 64th-minute equaliser to make it 2-2 and then provided the run and pass which set up Welbeck's winner. Hodgson praised the way his side had fought back to win after trailing early in the second half. "It was a cracking game of football. We were reasonably comfortable at half-time and had a good control of the game
Goal celebration invites UEFA rap
co-hosts Ukraine in Donetsk next Tuesday. However, Hodgson will want to see a marked improvement from his side if they are to secure the draw they need after a performance littered with errors and shaky defending. England had started positively, Scott Parker forcing a fine save out of Andreas Isaksson after only seven minutes with a fine swerving effort. AFP
Rooney will return says Hodgson after win
E English forward Danny Welbeck (jersey number 22) scores against Sweden at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev on Friday. AFP/ JEFF PACHOUD before they rocked us on our heels," Hodgson said. "We knew how dangerous they were from set-pieces and they proved true to that. But it was very good the way the team responded to that. "It's difficult at this level, we're playing against good teams. Our attacking play showed good intentions and we looked dangerous." But Sweden counterpart
Erik Hamren was disconsolate after watching his side go out. "I feel really bad for the players," Hamren said. "They played a really good match but went out. The operation went well but the patient died. That's how I feel today," he said. England's first ever competitive win over the Swedes means they will qualify for the quarter-finals with only a point in their final group game against
ngland manager Roy Hodgson has vowed to pick Wayne Rooney for his side’s crucial final group game against Ukraine next week despite a pulsating 32 victory over Sweden. A night of high drama at the Olympic Stadium saw England’s youthful side haul themselves back from the brink of a potentially catastrophic defeat to leave them only a point away from the quarter-finals. The win came courtesy of three goals scored by the new generation of players, Andy Carroll, Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck.
France rain in Donetsk
Tom Williams
DONETSK, UKRAINE: France weathered a fierce thunderstorm that held up play for almost an hour to beat Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine 2-0 on Friday and claim top spot in Group D. An almighty deluge at Donetsk's Donbass Arena forced the players off the pitch after only five minutes and when the skies cleared it was France who prevailed through quick-fire second-half goals by Jeremy Menez and Yohan Cabaye. It was France's first victory at a major tournament since
their runners-up finish at the 2006 World Cup and it took Laurent Blanc's side a point above Ukraine ahead of the later game between England and Sweden in Kiev. Les Bleus' unbeaten run now stands at 23 matches, while Ukraine must pick themselves up after a reality shock that cut through the euphoria sparked by their opening 2-1 success against the Swedes. The first moment of drama occurred during the national anthems, as a sudden clap of thunder interrupted La Marseillaise. The match began beneath a
France’s Jeremy Menez (R) vies with Oleh Gusev in the match. AFP steady downpour but the rain quickly intensified, sending spectators scrambling for cover and obliging referee Bjorn
UEFA on Friday said that it was taking action against Denmark’s Nicklas Bendtner over his goal celebration against Portugal, when he flashed the waistband of his underpants showing an apparent sponsor. European football’s governing body said in a brief statement that Bendtner was facing disciplinary proceedings for “improper conduct (Law 4 of the Laws of the Game)” during Wednesday’s match in Lviv, Ukraine, that Denmark lost 3-2. “The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body will deal with this case on Monday,” the statement added.
Euro 2012 Standings Group D England France Ukraine Sweden
P 2 2 2 2
W 1 1 1 0
D 1 1 0 0
L 0 0 1 2
F 4 3 2 3
A 3 1 3 5
Pt 4 4 3 0
(played, won, drawn, lost, for, against, points)
TOP GOAL SCORERS 3 goals: Dzagoev (RUS, in pic), Gomez (GER), Mandzukic (CRO)
2 goals:
Bendtner (DEN), Fabregas (ESP), Pilar (CZE), Shevchenko (UKR), Torres (ESP)
Hairy Czechs hope to make the cut
Kuipers to order the players off the pitch for a delay that was to last 57 minutes. When play resumed, it was France who took the initiative, despite the roars of encouragement from the banks of yellowclad fans in the tribunes every time Ukraine crossed the halfway line. Ukraine goalkeeper Andrei Pyatov fielded a curling shot from Karim Benzema and blocked an effort from Menez at the back post, either side of a low shot from Andrei Yarmolenko at the other end that dribbled wide. AFP
Czech players are refusing to shave during Euro 2012 in the hope that it will bring them luck, a source close to the team told AFP on Friday, as Michal Bilek’s men gear up for a must-win match against Poland. Reserve goalkeepers Jaroslav Drobny and Jan Lastuvka came up with the idea of eschewing razors in the run-up to the competition. “It’s meant to cement morale on the team,” the source said. While players unanimously supported the idea to down razors, the idea has apparently met with stiff opposition — from their wives and girlfriends.
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SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012
Big names falter on tricky course
SAN FRANCISCO: Some of the biggest names in world golf were saying a not so fond farewell to San Francisco’s Olympic Club Lake Course on Friday after failing to make the cut at the US Open. Among them were the two top-ranked golfers in the world, the reigning Masters Champion and an assortment of top draws. They all came to San Francisco with hopes high and left with heads low as they
were bruised and battered by the par-70, 7,170-yards long layout known as “The Graveyard of Legends” for its canny ability to bring the best to their knees. Englishman Donald, who was nine over when the day began, shot a 72 and immediately said he needed three weeks away from the tour to recover, before defending his Scottish Open title. Asked to detail what was hardest thing about playing the Lake Course, Donald said just about everything. “Any time you have firm greens, that’s the hardest part,” he said. “If you ever want to make a course tougher you get the greens firm. We don’t play that many courses that of are this firm, not even close. That coupled with the slope of the greens make it’s tough. And other than that, there’s probably the rough around the greens is gnarly and then the rough off the tee.” Defending champion McIlroy ended the day and the tournament at 10 over after a 73 and that compared miserably to the 13-under position he had at the same stage at Congressional last year en route to winning his first major. The 23-year-old Ulsterman agreed with Donald that playing on a course like this took the world’s best golders out of their comfort zone. “This course is so tough with the reverse cambers and you hit it in the middle of the fairway sometimes it doesn’t hold and you’re in the rough and when you hit it in the rough it makes it difficult,” he said. “It’s just such a demanding golf course and just punishes the shot that’s slightly AFP off line.”
Despite loss, Nadal eyes Wimbledon HALLE, GERMANY: Rafael Nadal does
in nine meetings as his build-up to Wimbledon was cut short. He insisted he was right to play the tournament for the first time since 2005 even though world number one Novak Djokovic decided to rest and take the week off. “I have played the week after the French Open for eight years with the exception of 2009 when I was injured,” said Nadal, who has traditionally played the Queen’s Club grasscourt tournament in his Wimbledon preparation. “It has always worked out fantastically for me. Even if I lost, the two matches and the practice I have had here have helped me a lot. I hope to be back again next year. “On the grass courts, if you are not full of confidence, then all matches are a lottery, particularly over three sets.” AFP
Lu forced to quit at Queen’s LONDON: Taiwan’s Lu Yen-Hsun was forced to quit during his Queen’s Club quarter-final against Marin Cilic as the strain of playing two matches in the space of a few hours took its toll. Lu beat Janko Tipsarevic 6-3, 2-6, 76 (7/5) on Friday to reach the last eight.
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ROCKY COBRA RAMBO DAYLIGHT
Suduko
not regret his decision to go straight to grass from his historic seventh French Open triumph despite a shock quarterfinal loss at Halle, a key Wimbledon tuneup event. World number two Nadal slumped to a 6-3, 6-4 defeat to Philipp Kohlschreiber, his first loss to the German
India name Wim as football coach NEW DELHI: India named former Dutch international Wim Koevermans as their new football coach on Friday on a two-year deal in a bid to improve
their dismal fortunes. The 51-year-old replaces local incumbent Savio Medeira, who served as an interim coach for six months following the res-
ignation of Englishman Bob Houghton last year. “It’s an honour to be here in India,” Koever mans said. “I can’t wait to meet up with the boys.”