Postnoon E-Paper for 19 April 2012 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012 HYDERABAD

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WEATHER: A MIX OF CLOUDY AND CLEAR SKIES; 35°C

CPDCL engineers say power consumption has dropped 20 per cent after the extensive use of CFL lamps.

32 PAGES

STUDENTS BLISSFULLY UNAWARE

According to the Right to Education Act, students will not be discriminated based on their socio-economic background. But City parents fear stratification in classrooms, and bullying of poorer students.

SO LONG DICK AND THANK YOU P13

ABSORBERS! REPORT ON PG 4

SHYLOCKS CLAIM ANOTHER LIFE, THIS TIME A LORRY DRIVER

A CRAFTY COLLABORATION Italian luxury house Fendi introduces us to the world of traditional arts and crafts with its latest project called ‘The Whispered’. P20&21

A young lorry driver who bought a lorry with private finance was driven to suicide, and despite the death-note found on his body detailing how he was exploited and tortured by financers, the Jeedimetla police are allegedly busy protecting the money-lenders. P3

Page Two

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Spirit of Twin Cities

Kids carnival

WE ARE FAMILY SRINIVAS SETTY

Love disney? Head to Landmark for the Disney quiz on April 20.Brush up your knowledge about disney characters and movies to win many exciting prizes. Where: Landmark, Banjara Hills When: April 20, 3.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 6463 1577

Goan food festival The Momo Cafe at Hyderabad Marriott and Convention Centre is hosting a Goan food festival. Where: Hyderabad Marriott and Convention Centre, Tank Bund When: Ongoing, 12.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2752 2999

Play time Biryani aur Haleem, an adaptation of the French play The Pie and The Tart will be held on April 20. Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills, Rd No1 When: April 20, 8pm onwards Contact: 96427-31329

IPL special

A matter of choice

Truffles Cafe is offering a great way to catch the live telecast of IPL season 5. Head to Truffles Cafe for IPL special mocktails, beverages and starters and various other delights. Where: Truffles Cafe, Jubilee Hills, Rd No 36 When: Ongoing, 8am onwards Contact: (040) 2355 0105

An art exhibition titled The Choices we make and other works by Ramakanth. Where: Muse Art Gallery, Hotel Marriot, Tank Bund When: Ongoing Contact: 939644 4424

Show and tell Books n more presents Show and Tell, an activity to promote good expression and communication for 3-8 year olds. The activity aims to improve your child’s ability to communicate well. Where: Books n more, Marredpally When: Ongoing, 5pm to 6pm Contact: 98859 56728

Bangla Ranna Bangla Ranna, a bengali food festival is being held at Aditya Park. Get a taste of the Bengal’s interesting cuisine along with mocktails and cocktails. The food festival is on till April 21. Where: Aditya Park Hotel, Aditya Trade Centre, Ameerpet When: Ongoing, 6pm-11pm Contact: (040) 6678 8888

Dance with me Love to dance? A contemporary dance workshop by French dancer, Solenn. will be held on April 22, 28 and 29 . Where: Alliance Francaise, Marredpally When: April22, 28, 29 Contact: (040) 2770 0734

Pratibimb 2k12 A six week acting workshop by Sutradhaar is being held. Where: Sutradhar Casting Agency, Himayathnagar When: April 12 onwards, 9pm onwards Contact: 98480 52541

CINEMAS

Hyderabad, The African Barbeque Festival is that one place where you can enjoy various delicacies. Where: Barbeque Nation, Banjara Hills, Rd No1 When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 6456 6693

Summer camp

IPL frenzy Mocha and Mocha Express is hosting IPL specials with live screening of the match and various pizzas paying ode to the IPL teams and their spirits. Where: Mocha — Banjara Hills Mocha Express — Inorbit Mall When: Ongoing, 4pm onwards Contact: (040) 23350144

Every Rupee counts Syn at Taj Deccan is offering interesting meal options. The concept behind Calorie for a Rupee is to enjoy a great meal priced according to it’s calorie count. Where: Syn - Asian Bar and Grill, Taj Deccan, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: Ongoing, 12 pm to 3.30pm Contact: (040) 6666 3939

Cool cotton Cotton King has introduced a range of summer special formal and tshirts for men. The collection known as Coolsubz is an exclusive range of shirts which are an ideal way to beat the summer heat.

Where: All Cotton King Outlets — Park Lane, Bowenpally, Himayatnagar, AS Rao Nagar When: Ongoing

Go Splash Splash lounge is the perfect leisure destination for you to unwind. There is also great music, martinis and aperitifs. Where: The Westin, Mindspace, Madhapur When: Monday - Friday, 5pm - 10.30pm Weekends, 8am - 10.30pm Contact: (040) 6767 6828

Mood for Mediterranean From April 13 to April 22, The Deccan Pavillion at ITC Kakatiya is offering a Mediterranean dishes. Lunch buffet is priced at `1,049, and dinner costs `1,149. Where: ITC Kakatiya, Begumpet When: Ongoing, 11am-7pm Contact: (040) 2340 0132

African barbeque fest Barbeque Nation offers you a chance to experience Africa right in

For children, summer implies freedom from studies and school, loads of games and fun filled summer camps. The Park is hosting a summer camp for children. Where: The Park, Somajiguda When: Ongoing, 7am onwards Contact: (040) 2345 6789

Photography workshop Treasure House is hosting a photography workshop for adults ( +18) from April18 to April 21. Where: Treasure House, Jubilee Hills When: April 18 onwards 8.30am-10am Contact: (040) 2355 0118

Crepes and waffles Lover of waffles and crepes? Deli9 is offering a crepe and waffle festival. Taste a variety of waffles such as fruit waffle and the classic waffle or a variety of exotic crepes. The festival is on from April 7-April 21. Where: Delhi 9, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: Ongoing, 8am to 8pm Contact: (040) 6550 666

The Artist French film The Artist will be screened at Alliance Francaise on April 20. Where: Alliance Francaise, Banjara Hills, Rd No3 When: April 20, 6.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2355 4481

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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THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities

Shylocks claim another life, this time a lorry driver A young lorry driver who bought a lorry with private finance was driven to suicide, and despite the death-note found, the police is not acting against the moneylenders.

CRIME Mohd Subhan mohd.s@postnoon.com

hile the government publicity department churns out success stories of self-reliant entrepreneurs with sarkari aid, here is a heart-rending incident of a young lorry driver, who was driven to death after the City Shylocks pressed him for their pound of flesh. This is the fourth death of debtors in the City in the past four months. On Sunday, V Srinivas Reddy, 35, wrote a detailed note on how he had paid lakhs of rupees to the five private financiers who included two women, and yet was being mentally tortured and threatened. So he was taking his own life, he said, before hanging

himself in his room in Jagathgiri Nagar under the Jeedimetla police station limits. The desperate decision to end all his miseries with a tug of the noose came after he had a

terrific fight with his wife Manjula who reportedly blamed him for all ills. Srinivas did not attack her but he was driven mad. He pushed her in a room, locked it from outside and went into another room and wrote the goodbye note for the law keepers and the society and ended his life. As he was struggling at the end of the rope and making guttural sounds, his wife suspected something amiss and she screamed for help. Neighbours rushed in and found an almost dead man hanging by the fan. They rushed him to hospital but was declared dead on arrival. Srinivas hails from Nalgonda district and came to the City long ago. He was a lorry driver, somewhere along, he got the idea that it would be more profitable to own a lorry and work for himself rather than toiling all

day long for a salary. With his savings and borrowed money he bought a lorry and for a while everything seemed all right. But soon he found that his financier was proving like black hole, sucking in and giving out nothing. He approached another financier to keep the first financier at bay. This worked for a short while. He repeated the same and got another financier. At the end he had five — Prabhakar Reddy, GVN Reddy, Mangamma, Savitri,and Fatima, all residents of Old City. SI Hanumaiah was irritated when asked what action was being taken against the financers. “If you take loan don’t you have to return with interest?” was his query. That the suicide note is a legally valid document and the police are obliged to act did not impress the SI.

Probe into cop’s death Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com

he Saifabad police have begun inquiry into the alleged suicide of Mohd Abdul Nayeem, 29, who was on guard duty at the in-charge police commissioner’s residence On Wednesday. The police have met the family members and assured the police will look into the matter. They are presently examining Nayeem’s mobile phone. The bullet has gone for a forensic examinations. The two other constables on duty are being interrogated. The funeral was conducted at Suleman Nagar.

Cotton unit destroyed Postnoon News feedback@postnoon.com

cotton unit situated at Chandulalbaradari colony under Kamatipura police station limits caught fire last night. Though no casualty was reported as workers were off for the night machinery and accessories were destroyed.

Hyper Local

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities

Post shock, Discom springs an absorber

Mayor raps officials for shoddy work

Habsiguda CPDCL engineer says power consumption in the division came 20 per cent down after extensively using CFL lamps

Inkeshaf Ahmed

POWER Inkeshaf Ahmed ahmed.m@postnoon.com

he Central Power Distribution Company Limited (CPDCL), which is responsible for supply of electricity to Hyderabad, RangaReddy and three other districts, has taken a new avatar as a salesman! Feeling the shock people are experiencing after the recent steep tariff hike, the power managers have stepped up the sale of CFL lamp that was going slow for a while. The lamps are sold at a handsomely subsidised rate. The sale is taken up with the zeal of a zealot and brisk business is reported. “This is the least we can do for consumers,” remarked a functionary at the CPDCL. The official admitted that this was not an exclusive company move but it was given a push after the recent hike. The sale is a scheme under Lamp Bachat Yojana of the Centre. The reason is that the CFL lamps consume only one-third of energy the conventional lamps used. The scheme says if you exchange the existing lamp, the CFL lamp would be for `15. If you buy afresh it would cost you only `25 per lamp which is far below the market rate. The company has tied up with a Malaysia-based firm CQuest Capital. The project was launched last year in Habsiguda on pilot basis. The experiment turned out to be a success as scores of consumers flocked to buy these lamps. Some 15 lakh lamps are to be supplied this year to half-a-dozen divisions including Gachibowli, Champapet, Kukatpally, Vikarabad. But, the point not yet clarified is that in the original scheme the lamp is supposed to be free in exchange.

Helpline GAS BOOKING IVRS NO: HP 9666023456 Indane 9848824365 BSNL Complaints HMWS & SB Complaints

198 155313

POLICE CONTROL ROOM: Hyderabad 27852435 Traffic Control Room 27852482 DCP Traffic 23234065, 23243499F Pollution Control Board 23887500 ELECTRICITY: General Complaints Breakdown Section

155333 23431178 23431179 MUNICIPAL CORPORATION: Commissioner & Spl Officer 23262266

nder the exchange programme, consumers can exchange a 60 W ICL for an 11 W CFL, and a 100 W ICL for an 18 W CFL. Consumers need to give their consent for the exchange under the scheme. CPDCL Director (Projects )G Raghuma Reddy told Postnoon that the company chalked out a detailed action plan to implement this scheme in a big way following encouraging results during the pilot experiment. “ The scheme is an excellent initiative for saving power. A CFL lamp can save 75 percent of the energy consumed by a normal ICL. And, a CFL lamp has longer life than the conventional lamp,” he said. The Division Engineer of Habsiguda where the project was launched on a pilot basis said that the power con-

24166666R ENC 23225267 Engineering 23220418 MCH Tankbund 23225397 Emergency MCH Circle I&II 24525842 MCH Circle III 24736912 MCH Circle IV 23326975 MCH Circle V 23326976 MCH Circle VI MCH Complaints 1100 Head Office 23225397 IVRS CUM MANUAL ENQUIRY PHONE NUMBERS (TRAIN & RESERVATION) RAILWAYS Rail Nilayam 27833169, 27824216 Railway Information 131 Reservations 135 Recorded Information 1345 Enquiry (IVRS) 1331, 1332, 1333

sumption in their division was reduced by 20 percent with the application of CFL lamps.

GHMC ahmed.m@postnoon.com

fter completing 100 days in office and doling out many much needed propeople programmes, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation mayor Mohd Majid Hussain is particular that hassle free delivery of services to the residents of the corporation is assured. He is not sparing errant employees and officials who neglect their duties and fail in delivery of services. Couple of days back, he launched a surprise visit programme to take stock of the services besides observing the functioning of municipal staff. GHMC officials of Secunderabad circle on Tuesday faced the wrath of the young mayor for negligence of duties. Majid was shocked to see the surroundings of the office littered with garbage and broken furniture. He lashed out at deputy municipal commissioner BV Gangadhar Reddy: "Do you also keep your house like this. Don't you clean if it is filled with garbage?"

A visibly shaken Reddy replied that they did not clean the premises as it was being shifted to another place to facilitate metro rail works. Majid was unimpressed. “You cannot ignore your duties by making such excuses. Keep the premises clean till it is shifted," he thundered. The mayor later visited Citizen Services Center of the corporation and realised that the center has failed to serve the residents within the stipulated time. He directed the officials to deliver the services within the prescribed time. “The basic objective behind setting up of Citizen Service Centres is to prevent corruption in delivery of services and reduce the delay in availing them. All of you must strive to achieve this objective,” he said. Delay in issuing birth certificates was another issue that irked Majid. He directed the officials to hold a special drive on the lines of polio immunisation programme, to issue birth certificates. The mayor directed the zonal commissioner to submit a detailed report on the failure of the corporation employees in discharging their duties, especially in Citizen Service Centre and issuing birth certificates.

STAR-STUDDED

Lamp Yojana scheme The main objective of Bachat Lamp Yojna launched by Union power minister on February 25, 2009 is to encourage of the usage of Compact Fluorescent Lamps is to replace the usage of existing Incandescent Lamps from the millions of households.The reason for this is that majority of Incandescent lamps are energy inefficient as 95 percent of the electricity is converted in heat and just five percent is used for lighting in these bulbs. Whereas CFLs reduces the consumption of energy to a greater level by using only one fifth of energy consumed by ICLs to provide the same level of illumination.

WATER SUPPLY: Complaint Cell Sewerage Complaint Hyd. Water Supply HOSPITAL: General Hospital, Sec-bad Niloufer Hospital, Red Hills NIMS, Director, Punjagutta Osmania General Hospital Railway Hospital, Lalaguda Apollo, Jubilee Hills Care Hospital, Banjara Hills Care Hospital, Nampally Care Hospitals, Musheerabad Care Hospital, Sec-bad Kamineni Hospital,

LB Nagar 155313 23307328 23313163 27505566 23314095 23390933 24600146 27001134 23607777 30418888 30417777 30419000 30416666

BLOOD BANKS: Blood Bank,Narayaguda Chiranjeevi Blood Bank Blood Bank Mediton Goal Red Cross, Vidyanagar ADRM Blood Bank Mythri Charitable Trust NTR Memorial Trust Care Banjara Hills

Daruvu’s cast and crew at the audio launch on Wednesday DEEPAK DESHPANDE evening at Prasad Labs.

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AMBULANCES Apollo 23548888, 23607777 Kamineni 24022222 Medwin 23202902, 23204616 Smile Line Dental Hospital 23747979 Red Cross 27627973 Niloufer Hospital 23314095 Gandhi 23320332

AIRLINES Airport Director 27903785, 27906001 For Air India Flight Information Toll free (from any network) for IC Flights 18001801407 And for All Flights: 1800227722 Air India has revised its flight timings. For more information call (Toll free) 18001801407, 1800227722 from BSNL/MTNL 04023430334 from other lines and mobile Website; www.airindia.in TOURISM OFFICES AP Tourism, Hyd 23262152/53/54 Sec’bad 27893100 Dept of Tourism 23453110 India Tourism 23261360 AP Tourism information Centre (24x7) 23450444, 23455999

UK Visa Office VFS India Pvt Ltd Building, 8-2-542/A, Sunil Chamber, Road No. 7 Beside Meridian School, Banjara Hills34. Working hours are from 8 AM to 1 PM And 2 PM to 3PM. MUSEUMS Salar Jung Museum AP State Museum Nizams Museum

24523211 232431300/7641 24521029

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

Hyper Local

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities

Ravi faces flood of complaints POLITICS

Apologise, says Danam

inister Danam Nagendar today found fault with MLA Damodar for making comments against Union minister Vayalar Ravi who is in Hyderabad as a special emissary for the Congress. Nagendar said that it was not right on the part of Damodar to criticise a leader of that stature. What is wrong if Ravi has accepted the invitation of Chiranjeevi and called him a leader with national importance, he asked. He advised Damodar to apologise to Ravi for making such rude comments against him. How can an MLA talk against a union Minister and an emissary of the AICC he questioned. Some of the Congress MLAs, though they support the cause of Telangana like Damodar, did not appreciate the criticism against Ravi. They pointed out that Ravi went to the residence of Palvai Goverdhan, who is a Rajya Sabha member and similarly he accepted the invitation of Chiranjeevi. Why should one object to this, they questioned. They opined that Ravi’s moves are part of strengthening the party. Meanwhile Chiranjeevi had a good word for Ravi and thanked him for accepting the invitation and making positive observations about him.

U Srinivas srinivas.u@postnoon.com

nion minister Vayalar Ravi, emissary of the Congress high command, is here to find some desperate measures to win the forthcoming by-elections but he is flooded with complaints, and there are few feasible suggestions. Ravi has been meeting a cross-section of party leaders from both Seemandhra and Telangana including YSRC. And his diplomatic way, as one observed the whole day on Wednesday, was to tell everyone that winning the election was paramount and all other things secondary. The problem, observers say, is that everybody agrees but disagrees on the modality. “Ravi saab is a complaint box and Botsa Satyanarayana the sentry,” said a Congress leader form RR district. “The box is overflowing,” he added. Both camps of Kiran and

Botsa, have their army of detractors. One suggestion was that Reddys alone cannot win the elections; all communities must be taken into confidence by the Congress leaders.

On the other hand the Telangana MPs led by Vivek, Gutta Sukhender Reddy and others openly told Ravi last night that only an assurance on Telangana before the by-polls

would salvage the image of the Congress in the State. The Telangana MLAs, advocates and intellectuals also met Ravi separately and impressed upon him nothing short of a sep-

arate state can save the Congress in the State. Postnoon met Ravi after he met the Telangana MLAs at the guest house. The query as to why he was meeting people in three different points — one at Gandhi Bhavan and two at City hotels— evoked a smile and a sudden frown. “You need not read too much into this. It is for the convenience of various leaders that the three meeting points are kept.” He said in a national party like the Congress divergent opinions are natural media go too far reading a lot between the lines. While Ravi was busy with varied groups, Botsa was having a wrestling with media corps outside. Botsa told the media to remain downstairs and not to come upstairs where Ravi was engaged in talks. “You must respect our word when we respect yours, please stay downstairs,” he said. More suggestions to get leaders reinstated have come forth, it is learnt. Some testy leaders who apparently got a rebuff from Ravi were heard saying that the Kerala model is not going to work in AP.

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Saroornagar lake victims belong to Asifnagar? CRIME Postnoon News

early 24 hours after the six bodies were fished out from the Saroornagar lake, the police have no definite clue about their identity. Sub-inspector of police S Ramesh told Postnoon that the victims seem to have belonged to a far away place and weren’t locals. However the latest infromation says that the victims belong to Asifnagar. The Saroornagar police have flashed

the details to all police stations in the State and are awaiting their response, Ramesh said. Police have formed two special teams for their identification and they have been sent to all police stations of City, Cyberabad commissionerate and the neighbouring districts for collecting the details of missing persons. Saroornagar police have found on the body of one of the victims, a small chit with some mobile phone numbers of a City nursing home, one Venaketshwarlu and a woman of Mehdipatnam area. On contacting them, they denied knowledge of the deceased.

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Hyper Local GITAM scholarships for students G

ITAM University is planning a scheme to encourage M.Tech and Ph.D students in Engineering programs from 2012-13 academic year. It will identify meritorious students from its 14 M.Tech programmess and they will be rewarded by a fellowship every month. The decision was taken in the recent academic meeting, Prof. G Subrahmanyam, vice chancellor stated. From each M.Tech program, four students will be selected on the basis of merit and will be given a fellowship of `8,000 per month. Fulltime Ph.D students in Engineering will also be awarded `18,000. GITAM University will spend `5.5 crore per annum. AGENCY

Summer special exhibition V

isalaandhra Book House is organising ‘summer special book exhibitions’ at it’s Bank Street branch and Yousufguda branch, from April 19 to 30, in view of the summer vacations. Announcing this, VV Brahmam, branch manager, said that VBH Manager G Eshwara Reddy has agreed to extend 20 per cent rebate on VBH publications and 10 per cent on other publications. Apart from Visaalandhra, alarge variety of books of nearly 100 other publishers, both in English and Telugu, would be available. Book lovers can take advantage of the expansive exhibition. AGENCY

Montek sets AP plan at `48,935 cr T

he Annual Plan for 2012-13 for Andhra Pradesh was finalised here at a meeting between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. The plan size has been agreed at `48,935 crore. Ahluwalia complimented the State government for its efforts to make development truly inclusive and also for the efforts aimed at promoting public private-partnership. He said that better involvement of private sector would be needed during the 12th plan period. He also said that the State governments should come forward with suggestions that can improve efficiency of schemes. AGENCY

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities

We party, but with caution A number of women in the City now throng nightclubs, but an increasing number of incidents involving women being harassed at these venues has made them more vigilant SRINIVAS SETTY

SAFETY Osama Salman salman.o@postnoon.com

he many incidents that are reported in newspapers about women being harassed in clubs by religious fanatics, drunk men, or hooligans, a feeling of discomfort has seeped in among women. The most recent incident of women prone to put their security in danger happened in Kolkata. A 37-year-old woman alleged that she was raped at gunpoint in a moving car in February while returning from a nightclub on Park Street in central Kolkata. The woman also accused the Park Street police of misbehaving with her when she had gone to lodge a complaint with them. The bigger question, however, is if women feel safe when they step into a nightclub or pub in Hyderabad. For many women, keeping a distance is the best way to avoid trouble. “When I go in a club with only my girlfriends, I am a little vigilant. Men tend to take advantage of the fact that there are no men to support us. However, if we assert ourselves, it usually works. But I somehow feel a lot safer when I have at least two or three male friends,” said Zareena Khan, a senior manager of a company who lives in Banjara Hills. Recalling an incident, Zareena said that on New Year's Eve in 2011, she attended a party in a nightclub in Jubilee Hills. “I was there with only my girlfriends and a group of five men kept

bumping into us intentionally. Even after moving away, they kept following us. We did not tell the bouncer because we did not want to create a scene. This was a scary experience,” she said. Supraja Koganti, an IT executive and a regular pub-hopper, had faced a similar experiences. “Many a times, when I go to the drinks counter in clubs, drunk men come and ask me for my BB pin to chat with me. Most of the time I ignore them, but somehow I don’t feel safe in a club after that, even though many clubs have bouncers who we can complain to,” she recalled.

On the other hand, Manisha Kunta, an IT employee, says that generally, women have nothing to worry about. “I have been to clubs a lot and apart from a few minor incidents, I haven't faced a situation where safety was of a concern. People are mostly here for the music, drinks and friends. It is, without a doubt, safer clubbing in the City than Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi,” she opined. “Clubs have a strict rule for letting in stags. This way, only a particular crowd is let in and clubs are a lot safer this way. Having said this, it is always better to take precautionary mea-

ICONIC CITY Salar Jung Museum, Afzal Gunj

ot many cities can boast of large museums that are equipped enough to house a variety of artifacts. But we Hyderabadis can proudly say our museum — Salar Jung Museum — is not only a source of pride for the City but is also a Hyderabad as a City national treasure. Established in has a lot to offer in 1951, most of the terms of heritage items in the museum and sights. We take are from the collection a look at the various of Salar Jung , the places that make prime minister of the Nizams. The museum this City so special has 38 galleries and

Aishwarya Yerra

has a total of 13,654 objects on display. What is remarkable is that the museum contains objects not just from India but also from the far east i.e Japan, China and ex-Soviet bloc countries like Russia, Czechoslovakia and the middle east countries. The Indian treasures belong to almost all states in India. Priceless treasures like ivory carvings, paintings, stone carvings, bidri etc can be found here. There is also a separate section for children which concentrates on providing an educational tour of the museum.

sures,” said Seema Menon, an advocate working in the City. Nightclubs in the City have provided their own security outside and inside the premises making them relatively safe for women. Take for example Bottles N Chimney (BnC), a famous nightclub in Begumpet. Apart from having a fleet of guards inside and outside, they have CCTV cameras installed and only couples are allowed to enter. “If there are only couples allowed, there are hardly any problems as the crowd is automatically better. We monitor the area often too,” said Sanjeev Mehta, CEO, BnC.

Hyper Local CLASSIFIEDS FABRICATION

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Campaigns, hard news and spirit of Twin Cities

Students blissfully unaware Sudeshna Koka Sudeshna.k@postnoon.com

Scene 1 (Kapoor mansion) Nikhil: Mom, Durgabai’s son, Umesh, will be joining my school from tomorrow. It will be fun, should we ask him to come with us in our car? Mother: It isn’t required, they will manage. But I was wondering if I should give your old bag to him. Nikhil: Yes, that would be a good idea. Scene 2 (servant quarters) Umesh: Amma now that I have got admission in the big school, can I go in the big school bus too? Durga: No Umesh, you can’t. I can’t explain why but dad will drop you and I’ll come to pick you up.

CERTIFICATION

ccording to the Right to Education Act, students will not be discriminated based on their socio economic background. The law also will do away with any hierarchy amongst students. Perhaps if Karl Marx would have been alive, he would have been happy to see his vision of a classless society getting a boost through the RTE. However, parents and school managements are worried about the stratification the Act would cause in classrooms. Possible divisions notwith-

hild psychiatrists believe that there is a good and a bad side to the Act. Children from the high income group live in a comfort zone and will receive a cultural shock when students from lower income group join them; they will not be in a position to accept them and will shy away. Over a period of time a few broad-minded children will adapt and accept them into their fold, they say. “Students from lower income group develop an inferiority complex. Until they join these schools they think all are equal but now they lose their confidence and fail. By the time

they understand that poverty and education are different, it’s too late.” said Dr Kalyana Chakraborty, child psychiatrist, Rainbow Hospital. He further adds that the teaching staff also faces problems. On the surface they accept it but in reality they also have their opinions and biases. “Initially it will be difficult for them to discipline these students and think of them as a disturbance. But I would say this is the time to mould the children. Teachers should also mentally prepare the rich students to accept the new ones and not bully them,” Dr Chakraborty adds.

standing, most of the students are blissfully unaware and happy to accept their new friends. “I am very happy if students from lower economic category join our school. In fact they are going to shuffle our classes so it’s the best time for them to join,” says Karthik K, a Class IV student of St Partrick’s High School. Elizaibith Rani, a watchman’s daughter, is a tad shy, “I have never thought about it. If given a chance I would like to go to a bigger school so that I can learn computers and play in huge playgrounds. I would love to go provided all my friends come with me.” On the other hand there are a few who are not to open to the idea. “I don’t know. They can if they want to. When they have their own school why should they come to our school? questions Shashank P of St Andrews High School. Students from the lower income group are also apprehensive about the new move. “No, I am learning a lot in my school and I do not wish to go to a bigger school. It’s very expensive and I don’t like them so much,” said Pupsha K, Class IX, Narayana Government School.

RTOs ‘rake in’ `51 lakh per month

EDUCATION

Like every other process in India, the procedure to obtain a driving licence is lengthy. But, if followed ‘properly,’ it is fast and easy. There is a lot of difference between rules and implementation. SRINIVAS SETTY

GRAFT Bhavneet Singh feedback@postnoon.com

Approach1

97 DAYS TO GO P30

n Go to the APT website and book a slot or directly go to the RTO n Download the license form or get it from the RTO n The candidate should have completed 30 days with a learner’s license before he/she could appear for the test. n The candidate then has to go through the test which is both theory and practical, which is taken by the officer. n If passed, the license is sent to the applicant’s residence within a month. n The maximum cost: `600 n Approximate time: 3-6 months.

Approach2 Brokers are galore in the City who claim to make your life “pleasant.” A veteran broker from Trimulgherry, who did not give his real name said,

“Pay `2,300 for two-wheeler license, and `4,000 for four-wheeler license including training. Within a month you will get the license.” On being questioned on how this was possible, He said, “It’s a simple process. We know people inside the office and by pay them, your application is given priority and done first.” Adding to this, He said “The driving test is also handled by our officer inside. You don’t need to worry

about it.” And if one does not pay? “Go round and round like the earth around the sun.” Sharat Chandra, a student, who recently got his license through the broker says, “It has made life easier. All I had to do was give my documents and pay the money, and be present on the day of the test. My license reached my address in about 40 days.” On the other hand, Amrit

Kosaraju, a software engineer tried get it the legal way. On the status of his application, he said: “It’s been over two months now, and I am still looking for a slot to give my test. Every time I go to the office, I am given a new date.” On being asked how many times he’s been to the office, he said, “I have stopped counting. Every time they have a new reason to delay it.” “I thought I would do it the right way. But looks like it never works,” he adds. The approximate number of learner’s licenses that are issued every day are 150 and permanent licenses issued are 250 according to the records. So, if on an average, out of the 150 learner’s licenses, 75 are illegal, then in a month, about 3,000 riders with illegal licenses are there. The total amount exchanged is around `51 lakh per month. The RTO officials claimed that everything goes on according to the rules and regulation. People who choose to be honest get nothing.“The whole system is rotten ,” bemoaned a middle-aged citizen at the RTO He too paid for it!

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Audi buys Italy’s Ducati BERLIN: Germany upmarket auto firm Audi, owned by Volkswagen, said on Wednesday it is to buy Ducati, the Italian maker of some of the most sought after high-speed motorcycles in the industry. “The deal will be completed as soon as possible after it is cleared by the authorities,” Audi said in a statement. It did not give financial details but press reports put the price at around 860 million euros ($1.12 billion). The deal will give Volkswagen an entry into the top-end motorcycle market, taking on its auto rival, BMW. Ducati, established in Bolgna, northern Italy in 1926, is famous for its high-speed road and racing bikes, of which it sold 42,000 last year worth 480 million euros. AFP

Coke teams with Spotify NEW YORK: Spotify and soda superstar Coca-Cola on Wednesday joined forces in a move that promises to put a global spotlight on the Internet music darling. The companies announced they will combine Coca-Cola Company’s reach and brand appeal with Spotify’s online music platform. “This is not an advertising deal,” said Coca-Cola head of global sports and entertainment marketing Emmanuel Seuge said during a press event in New York City. Spotify will provide the technology to power Coca-Cola Music offerings and be integrated into the global beverage company’s Facebook pages. AFP

POUND THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012 9

Mobile wars get smarter Prudhvi Raju K prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

$54

billion

THUS SPAKE

Smartphones sold in 2010:

25 lakh Smartphones sold in 2011:

Around 1 crore Laptops sold in 2011:

50 lakh Tablets sold in 2011:

3 lakh Smartphone market expectations 2012:

2 crore The smartphone sales are not just coming from the traditional smartphone buyers who want to upgrade to new ones (replacement market). Traditional feature phone buyers are also shifting to smartphones. The feeling of not to be left behind, hunger for content and being able to express oneself in the peer group with picture and video sharing are the important drivers in adopting smartphones.

Mobile companies are flooding the market with huge number of smartphones ranging from `7,500 to `54,500. It is not just the availability of choice at different price points to the customers; companies are also increasingly investing and working on value added services by bringing new content and applications. Nokia smartphone users and some feature phone users have access to almost 90 per cent of digital music content in India. They can download and transfer songs to their friends with the usage of service. However, Samsung is letting customers to have access to 3 lakh books, 26 newspapers and 28 magazines. The user can also listen to 1 lakh songs and download them. It also had tieup with Big flix to offer 600 films and the user can also enjoy 80 TV channels live on his smart phone.

Pakistan upbeat on trade with India WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s finance minister on Wednesday voiced optimism about trade with India, saying that he saw popular support for building ties with the historic foe and benefiting from its “dynamic” economy. India and Pakistan, which have fought three full-fledged wars since independence in 1947, recently approved a most-favoured nation accord to reduce taxes that hamper trade. Official trade is heavily tilted in India’s favour. “There was a time when I

NUMEROLOGY

is the fiscal deficit posted by Japan for the last financial year as exports of cars and electronics tumbled.

martphone market is exponentially growing in the country. The market has quadrupled and with the sale of 8-10 million units in 2011, compared to 2.5 million units sold in 2010 (calendar year). There are also expectations the market would double and touch 20 million mark this year. There are few concerns in the industry. Is the growth of smart phone market is any way taking a pie from tablet sales or laptop sales? “We don’t see any cannibalisation. Around 3,00,000 tablets were sold last year and its market is very small in the country. Around 5 million laptops are sold in a year. India is underserved in all three areas. Each of it has its own potential to grow without affecting the sales of the other segments,” Ranjit Yadav, country head, Mobile and IT business, Samsung Electronics. The smartphone usage is also wiping out the disparities in accessing to Internet in the country like in USA. “It is bridging the digital divide, people who were traditionally unable to accesses internet are able to access the internet with ever increasing smart phones users and easily accessible data networks. There are 100 million people access internet with the use of mobile device. Much of the access is happening in 2G environment, which is not the best of the experience. The need of getting an instant access to internet is so high, there will be leap in the growth in the usage after the expansion of 3G and 4G data networks,” said Yadav.

`83.12

used to evaluate Pakistan and I thought the best way for it to really develop is to relocate. I used to think that the best place for us to take Pakistan would be somewhere between Italy and Switzerland,” finance minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said in jest. “Now I’ve changed my mind because the parts that I thought we should be located in (Europe) aren’t doing that great in terms of growth and where we are is the most dynamic part of the world,” he said.

“So I think we should stay there, we should work and be good neighbours with each other,” Shaikh, who was visiting Washington for the annual World Bank/IMF spring meetings, said at the Brookings Institution think-tank. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, an eight-nation bloc, has repeatedly pledged to boost economic ties but such promises have made little headway amid the constant friction between India and Pakistan. AFP

“In spite of the macro economic uncertainty around the globe, we had a very good year in line with our expectations. We posted robust growth and higher profits because of customer centricity and long term growth strategy,” BVR Mohan Reddy, chairman and MD, Infotech

INFUSION The International Monetary Fund announced on Wednesday that Poland had pledged additional funding of about $8 billion to the global lender. “I warmly welcome today’s commitment by the Polish authorities to contribute €6.27 billion (about US$8 billion) in additional financing to the IMF,” IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said in a statement.

NEW ENTRANT South Sudan on Wednesday joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) when the country signed an IMF agreement here, Xinhua reported. Minister of finance Kosti Manibe Ngai signed the IMF’s Articles of Agreement. South Sudan applied for membership of the IMF in April 2011. It became an independent country in July 2011, and the IMF Board of Governors subsequently offered it IMF membership. It has some of the lowest education, health, and other human development results in the world, and more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. The country, however, has rich agricultural and forestry potential, and significant oil reserves.

India‑View

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

India unveiled

Machines edging out farm labourers

Rhino terror in Assam BARPETA (ASSAM): Local people in Sarbhog township of Barpeta district of lower Assam attacked forest guards and gheraoed a police station alleging inaction of authorities after seven persons were injured during last two days in attacks by a stray rhino. A rhino calf, which had recently got separated from its mother, strayed out of the Manas National Park and was creating havoc in human habitations, local people alleged. Local people attacked a group of forest guards this morning over their alleged failure to tame the animal and the guards took shelter at the local police station to escape the wrath of the mob. Director of Manas Tiger Project Anindya Swargiary said

the forest department was trying to chase the rhino from areas of human habitation into the forest. “We are trying our best to chase the rhino away from the human habitations without causing any harm to it and tame it and release it back at Manas,” he said. Locals gheraoed the police station for some time and lifted the siege only after they were assured of action. Meanwhile, the rhino has been sighted swimming in the nearby Beki river,the locals said. The state forest department had recently shifted 18 rhinos, including the one which strayed out of Manas, from the Kaziranga National Park and the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to Manas. PTI

CHANDIGARH: Majority of wheat growers in Punjab are going for mechanical harvesting in the current season in the wake of labour shortage and rising costs. Combine harvester not only helps small farmers in dealing with labour shortage problem but it also saves precious time in crop harvesting in order to clear land for sowing next crop, experts say. Reports pouring in from various districts including Patiala, Sangrur suggest that small farmers are now hiring self-propelled combine machines at a minimal cost of `600-800 per acre from big farmers or co-operative societies over the practice of manual har-

vesting. "I am not hiring migrant labourers for harvesting of wheat as it is cheaper as well as faster to get the crop harvested through combine machines," said Bhupinder Singh, who belongs to Mahesari village in Moga district of Punjab. Bhupinder even saves `1,000 per acre after deducting the expenses of combine harvester and reaper as he sells two trolleys loaded with wheat straw at a rate of `3,000. Straw, which is used for cattle feed, at present fetches `57 per kg. Corroborating that farmers are now switching over to combine harvesting, a senior agricul-

tural officer posted in Sangrur district of Punjab said farmers are increasingly using machines here in villages to harvest their crop this time in the wake of labour shortage. Punjab has been facing acute shortage of labour in the past several years, leading to adversely affecting farm operations including wheat harvesting and lifting operations across the state. Migrant labourers especially coming from Bihar now prefer to stay back at native places because of implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, which ensures work for minimum of 100 days, experts point out. PTI

Tagore, Bach and Beethoven to regale Germany Sahana Ghosh

KOLKATA: He regaled masses at the Kolkata film fest inauguration last year and will on Wednesday blend Tagore with masters such as Bach before highly discerning listeners at Germany’s annual Munich Philharmonic Orchestra festival. But Indian conductorviolinist Abraham Mazumder sees little difference and believes “the grammar of music is universal”. Mazumder, who has studied at London’s Trinity College of Music, says audiences of all classes are “receptive to good music”. East will meet west at the Munich fest when a 10-member ensemble of Mazumder’s Kolkata Music Academy’s (KMA) Chamber Orchestra teams up with musicians of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra to play Tagore’s Rabindra Sangeet in orchestral format, blended with works of European classical masters.

The concert, titled Tagore in Symphony, has been scored, composed and directed by Mazumder — founder-principal of KMA (a non-profitable organisation of European classical

music) and former founding member of India’s first rock band from Kolkata, Mohiner Ghoraguli, or Mohin’s Horses. “I am delighted and excited to share the new kind of music with the Germans and hope to bring them to India as well,” Mazumder, 52, told IANS in an interview. Tagore’s classics, including his last composition Oi Mahamanab Ashey, will be presented with preludes and interludes from symphonies of Handell, Bach, Mozart and Beethoven among others. “Hints of Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi and Puccini can be found in Tagore’s songs,” Mazumder says. This is why Rabindra Sangeet can be juxtaposed with European classicals. Having excelled as a student of western classical music at the Oxford Mission in Kolkata under British cellist Father Mathieson and being an ace violinist, Maz-

umder brushes aside the exaggerated importance of his certificates in a gesture reminiscent of a conductor. “They are to convince the listeners that I know something. We all know what we are inside.”

As a teacher, he believes it’s important to start young in order to develop a strong foundation and better sense of music and explains why it should be made compulsory in schools. “If you have a basic understanding then you can appreciate it more and most importantly music teaches you to share the wealth.” In early 1976, Mohiner Ghoraguli (the name taken from the poem Ghora by Jibananda Das), brought together Mazumder, Pradip Chattopadhyay, Tapesh Das, Tapas Banerjee, Ranjon Ghoshal and Bishu Chattopadhyay under the leadership of Gautam Chattopadhyay. The band created eclectic sounds like Baul Jazz — a blend of folk music of the wandering minstrels, or Bauls, with a hint of jazz. Mazumder’s baton is ever ready to lead on any musical army. IANS

India‑View

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

India unveiled

Agni V test successful, India can now strike all of China DHAMARA (ODISHA): India today conducted the maiden test of its indigenously developed nuclear capable ‘Agni V’ ballistic missile with a strike range of over 5,000km, from the Wheeler Island off Odisha coast near here. The three-stage, solid-propellant missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher from the launch complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 0805 hours, defence sources said. Soon after the maiden launch took place, Agni V witnessed a smooth and perfect vertical lift-off from the launcher and analysis was done to assess its health

India poses no missile threat: NATO BRUSSELS: NATO does not consider India as a missile threat despite the country’s advanced missile development programme, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said. India has just tested its domesticallydeveloped Agni-5 ballistic missile with a range of 5,000km. The three-stage solid-fuel missile was launched from a site on Wheelers’ Island in the Bay of Bengal aimed at a target area in southern Indian Ocean. The successful test of the Agni-5 missile has put India in the elite club of nations having Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM), which includes the US, Russia, China, Britain and France. Speaking at a news conference at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Rasmussen said the Alliance does not consider India as a threat to NATO allies and territory. IANS/RIA NOVOSTI

The nation stands tall today. We have joined an elite club of nations. The immaculate success of Agni-5 is a major milestone in the country’s missile research and development programme. Defence minister AK Antony parameters after retrieval of date from all the sophisticated wide range of communication network systems, they said. The test-fire of the first of its kind missile, which was originally scheduled for yesterday, had to be postponed at the last moment due to bad weather marked by

rains and heavy lightning, the sources said. The trial of Agni V, considered to be of the category of Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), demonstrates giant strides taken by India in its integrated missile development programme. Only the United States, Russia, France

and China possess the capability to operate an ICBM at present. “The sleek missile, within a few seconds of its blast-off from the Island launch pad roared majestically into the sky leaving behind its trajectory, a trail of thin orange and white smoke before disappearing,” said an eyewitness to the launch, conducted amid light drizzle. The surface-to-surface Agni V is capable of striking a target more than 5,000km away. It is about 17 meter long and two metre wide with launch weight of around 50 tonnes. The sophisticated missile can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one tonne. PTI

Former Goa ministers told to pay and fight litigations

Microsoft, Google win Indian developer prize

PANAJI: Former ministers in

BANGALORE: Global software major Microsoft and global search engine Google bagged the Great Indian Developer Awards 2012 for innovative products and applications at the IT developers’ fifth annual summit here on Wednesday. Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 has been selected in the development environment category and Google Android in the mobile development category for the prestigious awards, instituted by Saltmarch Media, a platform of professionals from diverse sectors with an objective of informing, networking and serving them with information, evaluation and guidance to excel in their jobs. The awards recognise the product and innovation excellence of software products and tools that aid developer pro-

Goa, who are fighting litigations of personal nature through government-paid advocates, will now have to shell out money from their own pocket. A circular issued by the Manohar Parrikar government to this effect this week states that there is no “justification” in providing state-paid counsels for the ministers fighting their personal cases. Law Secretary Pramod Kamat has ordered that all such lawyers be withdrawn forcing these ministers to foot the expenses on their own. “This order is not applicable where cases have been filed against the ministers or government servants for acts of commission or omission in the course of discharge of their duties,” Kamat has said. In such cases, the circular

reads, the government advocates will continue defending them in various courts. The Parrikar government which dislodged Congress to come to power in March has observed that scores of cases are pending against highlyplaced politicians, VIPs and others in the courts of Goa, including at the Panaji bench of the Bombay high court. The Law Department’s order has withdrawn all government advocates, public prosecutors, assistant public prosecutors and others from appearing in such cases. Several cabinet ministers in the Digambar Kamat government are facing cases filed by individuals, RTI activists and civil society groups. Even former chief minister Digambar Kamat himself was named in several cases. PTI

ductivity across 11 categories in terms of functionality, usability, bleeding-edge quotient and feedback from the developer ecosystem. “India like many countries skipped the mainframe, PC and internet revolution but went directly to mobile. The role of mobile and telecommunications has a direct impact on the GDP growth as research indicates,” Nokia India head of ecosystem Gerard Rego told the developers. If the 1.0 version of the mobile industry was unbundling of products and services via marketplaces, Rego said the 2.0 version would see countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China going mobile despite fragmentation and micro-scale of demand and supply chains from mum and pop stores. IANS

NATION AT A GLANCE Family of Indian woman killed file $40mn suit NEW YORK: The husband and daughter of an Indian woman, who died last year in a bus crash near here, have filed a $40 million lawsuit, blaming the driver and bus company for negligence. The suit was filed last week by attorney Michael Kaplen on behalf of Kaizar Master and his daughter Maryam Kaizar Master. Master’s wife Sakina was killed when the Niagara Fallsbound bus crashed into a wooded area.

8 held for net-banking fraud in Indore INDORE: Police today arrested eight fraudsters for allegedly hacking into bank accounts of users of net banking and siphoning off the money into their own accounts, and seized a number of ATM cards, mobile phones and important documents from them. They allegedly transferred amount to the tune of `25 lakh.

Daimler’s chairman Dieter Zetsche presents a symbolic key to an associate at the opening of Daimler’s new factory in Kancheepuram, near Chennai on Wednesday. PTI

Senior cop suspended for raping colleague MUMBAI: Maharashtra Home minister RR Patil on Wednesday said tainted police officer Anil Mahabole has been suspended for allegedly raping a woman police inspector. The victim alleged that Mahabole visited her house and offered her sweets laced with intoxicants, which made her unconscious and then raped her.

Mamata in Time’s 100 most influential people KOLKATA: Time magazine has listed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in its list for 2012, sharing space with the likes of US President Barack Obama and billionaire investor Warren Buffet. The magazine has described the people in the list as “who inspire us, entertain us, challenge us and change our world”.

College girls take part in an annual road race on the bank of Dal Lake in Srinagar on Wednesday. PTI

Around the World

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Beyond Borders

Winners’ secret to riches LONDON: When those magic lottery numbers come up, you might scream with excitement, sit in stunned silence or run to call a loved one. But sooner or later you will come across someone like Andy Carter. You could call him the man who makes dreams come true. Carter is a winners' advisor for Camelot, the organisers of the lottery in Britain, where three ticket holders have won huge EuroMillions jackpots since January each worth around 50 million euros ($65 million). It's his job to check your winning ticket and arrange for the funds to be transferred into your bank account. And then he'll hold your hand while you work out what on Earth you're going to do with the money. "People are in shock, and quite often scared of what's going to happen. They want reassurance that this is real, this is happening," Carter told AFP. His advice to every one of his winners begins with three words: "Take your time." By which he means, try to keep a clear head, take some legal and financial advice, and don't leave your job or your partner just yet. Hotel chef Neil Baker was put in touch with Carter when he won £1.6 million (1.9 million euros, $2.6 million) on the national lottery in February last year, and says his advice was invaluable — although he handed in his notice 24 hours after scooping the jack-

Colin Weir (L) and his wife Christine pose for pictures after winning a record 161 million GBP in the EuroMillions Lottery. AFP pot, and hasn't looked back. "I play a little bit of rugby, I quite enjoy going out fishing. It's just nice just to do what you want, when you want," he told AFP. But Baker is aware of the need to be careful with his winnings if he wants his life of leisure to last, and is full of praise for the support he received from Carter and his colleagues at Camelot. "They don't just turn up and say here's a cheque, off you go, have a nice life. I think they've learned that you can't just drop an amount of money in someone's lap like that," he said. The case of Michael Carroll, a former rubbish collector who won £10 million a decade ago, offers a cautionary tale.

The last piggy-back A photographer gets down low for a shot of the Space Shuttle Discovery after it's final landing on the back of a NASA's Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft(SCA), at Washington, Dulles (IAD) International airport. The shuttle is on it's way to it's new permanent display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. UdvarHazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. AFP/PAUL JRICHARDS

Then aged just 19, he bought a mansion where he held lavish parties and set up a demolition race track in the garden, but he also developed a drugs habit, had several run-ins with the police, and now lives on welfare handouts. "I think sometimes you can win too much on the lottery —you've got more money than you're ever going to need," Baker says. Carter believes most people are actually quite sensible, saying they often spend their money not on fast cars and a whole new life, but on a new home, helping out family and friends, and donating large amounts to charity. Many have modest ambitions for the cash. Catherine Bull, 35, who with

her husband Gareth won 48.9 million euros on the EuroMillions in January, said what she really wanted was to replace the carpet on the upstairs landing, as the old one was "terrible". People who win really big can face a wave of demands, however, particularly if they have gone public. When Colin and Christine Weir, an unassuming, middle-aged Scottish couple, announced they had won 185 million euros on the EuroMillions last July they were inundated by sacks of begging letters which forced them to move house. Carter advised the Weirs but won't discuss their decision to tell the world of their good fortune, a move that was clearly good publicity for Camelot but appears to have left the couple open to unwanted attention. However, he points out that it can be hard to keep the news quiet, a fact acknowledged by Christine Weir, who told her local newspaper: "If we hadn't told anyone, people would have thought we were laundering money." Carter is barred by company rules from playing the lottery himself, but the bond he forges with his clients — he is often invited to weddings or children's baptisms — means he can bask in their good fortune. "It's a strange job because by and large you only deal with very happy people in very happy circumstances," the 38-year-old says. AFP

How to thaw out frozen cows? US Forest Service considers blowing up cabin filled with frozen cows

he US Forest Service is considering using explosives to dislodge a group of cows that wandered into an old ranger cabin in the Rocky Mountains and now are frozen solid. Two Air Force Academy cadets discovered the animals at the cabin, near the Conundrum Hot Springs, a few weeks ago. Park rangers speculate the cattle were trying to escape a snowstorm. On Tuesday, a spokesman for the Forest Service, Steve Segin, said time was of the essence. "Obviously... we don't want them defrosting," Segin said. The Aspen Daily News quoted officials who were worried the hot springs could be contaminated if the cows start decomposing. Scott Snelson, AspenSopris ranger with the US Forest Service says “It needs to be done within weeks.” The animals came from a herd of 29 cows that went missing last fall. Rangers reported about six cows inside the cabin and several dead cows lying around the building. GLOBALPOST

Age drives belief in god WASHINGTON: The Philippines leads the world in the number of people who believe in God, while the elderly across all countries tend to be the most religious, according to a US study out on Wednesday. Belief in God tends to be strongest in the United States and Catholic countries and lowest in Scandinavia and former Soviet states, according to the survey carried out by the NORC research group at the University of Chicago. The study was based on data from 30 countries — nearly all with Christian majorities — in which surveys about belief in God have been taken since 1991. It found that 94 per cent of people in the Philippines said they had always believed in God, followed by Chile, with 88 per cent, and the United States with 81 per cent. Belief was lowest in the former east Germany (13 per cent) and in the Czech Republic (20 per cent).

The surveys found atheism was most widespread in Scandinavia and the former Soviet Union — with the exception of Poland — and that belief in God was generally declining worldwide, but not in Russia, Slovenia or Israel. The report found that senior citizens tend to believe more strongly in God. On average, 43 per cent of respondents 68 and

older are certain that God exists, compared to just 23 per cent of those 27 and younger, the report said. "Looking at differences among age groups, the largest increases in belief in God most often occur among those 58 years of age and older," said Tom Smith, who wrote the report, entitled "Belief About God Across Time and Countries." "This suggests that belief in God is especially likely to increase among the oldest groups," Smith said. In the United States, 54 per cent of those younger than 28 said they were certain of God's existence, compared to 66 per cent of those 68 and older, while in France eight per cent of young people said they believed in God, compared to 26 per cent of older citizens. The surveys, taken in 1991, 1998 and 2008, were mainly carried out in European countries, in addition to Chile, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. AFP

Around the World

Breivik: Death or acquittal OSLO: Anders Behring Breivik said on Wednesday he should be executed if found guilty of last year’s mass killings in Norway, telling his trial that other lone extremists were plotting to emulate his attacks. On day three of his trial, Breivik, who stands accused of committing “acts of terror”, acknowledged it was unrealistic to expect the death sentence in a country which does not allow capital punishment. But he derided the 21-year maximum prison sentence allowed in Norway in the event of his conviction for the killing of 77 people last year as “pathetic”. There are only two “legitimate outcomes of this case: acquittal or the death penalty,” Breivik told the court. “I embrace death. I looked at the action on July 22 as a suicide mission,” Breivik told the district court in Oslo. “I did not expect to survive.” Breivik, now aged 33, first killed eight people last July when he set off a bomb in a van parked outside buildings housing the offices of Labour Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who was not present at the time. He then travelled to Utoeya island where, dressed as a police officer, he spent more than an hour methodically shooting at hundreds of people attending a Labour Party youth summer camp. AFP

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Beyond Borders

Obama fails to win House backing WASHINGTON: House Republicans kept a key plank of their energy policy alive on Wednesday, defying a White House veto threat and passing legislation mandating the building of a controversial oil pipeline. The text calling for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the US Gulf Coast was inserted into a bill extending transportation funding, which passed 293-127 in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. About 70 Democrats voted for the measure in the House but it is considered unlikely that the bill — in its current form with the Keystone XL provision — would pass the Democrat-controlled Senate. Congress had already approved a 90-day funding extension last month, after the House refused to pass the Senate’s two-year, $109 billion transportation bill that had bipartisan support. The new House extension allows the party caucuses to gather together to hash out a compromise. While House Speaker John Boehner had worked in vain to get the House to pass a massive, five-year transportation bill, he was hailing the latest extension as a victory. “The House is on record

television presenter and producer Dick Clark, known for introducing rock and roll music to millions of Americans, died of a heart attack on Wednesday at age 82, his family said. President Barack Obama led the tributes to the entertainer, hailing his “groundbreaking achievements” which “reshaped (America’s) television landscape forever.” Clark, famous for shows including American Bandstand and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve suffered a cardiac arrest after being admitted to hospital in Santa Monica, California, on Tuesday. “Entertainment icon Dick Clark passed away this morning at the age of 82 following a massive heart attack,” said the family statement, released by his publicist Paul Shefrin.

Clark “entered St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica last night for an outpatient procedure. Attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful,” it added. The entertainer, whose Dick Clark Productions remains a key force in the industry, was known to generations of US television viewers as “America’s oldest

UNITED NATIONS: The UN secretary-general says Syria has failed to comply with its obligation under a peace plan to pull troops and heavy weapons out of urban areas. In a letter to the UN Security Council, Ban Ki-moon called for an observer mission to be expanded to 300 members. An advance team of six observers has already gone to Syria under the plan, negotiated by UN envoy Kofi Annan.

Bashir threatens to oust South government KHARTOUM: Sudan President Omar al-Bashir threatened to overthrow South Sudan’s “insect” government, as world powers tried to pull the rivals from the brink of war after the South seized a key oil field. Bashir was speaking at a rally Wednesday in support of troops who hope to reclaim Sudan’s oil field, Heglig.

again in support of the Keystone XL energy pipeline — a project President Obama blocked, personally lobbied against, then tried to take credit for, and now says he’ll veto,” Boehner said in a statement. Republicans have savaged Obama for suspending the project, under pressure from environmental groups, in January when he said the pipeline’s planned route was through environmentally sensitive areas. Boehner said the $7 billion project — part of an “all of the above” energy strategy that exploits traditional sources like oil and natural gas as well as newer technologies like

wind, solar and biofuels — would “create tens of thousands of new American jobs.” Environmentalists fear an accident along the 2,700 kilometre pipeline would spell disaster for aquifers in central US Great Plains states. They also oppose the project because exploiting the oil sands requires energy that generate a large volume of greenhouse gases. CNN, citing a spokesman for Nebraska’s environmental authority, reported that the company behind the controversial pipeline, TransCanada, has submitted a proposal for a new route that bypasses an environmentally sensitive aquifer. AFP

So long, Dick Clark no more LOS ANGELES: Legendary US

GLOBE AT A GLANCE Syria ‘failing to keep to truce’: Ban Ki-moon

teenager.” Clark suffered a stroke in 2004 which forced him into retirement, although he continued to appear on the New Year’s Eve special alongside celebrity host Ryan Seacrest. Seacrest, the host of “American Idol,” was among the first to pay tribute to Clark. In Washington, the White House issued a statement from Obama, saying that with American Bandstand, Clark “introduced decades’ worth of viewers to the music of our times. “He reshaped the television landscape forever as a creative and innovative producer. And, of course, for 40 years, we welcomed him into our homes to ring in the New Year. “But more important than his groundbreaking achievements was the way he made us feel — as young and vibrant and

optimistic as he was.” In Los Angeles, a wreath was placed on Clark’s sidewalk star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Verdine White, bassist for the band Earth, Wind and Fire who played on “American Bandstand,” said “He was a wonderful guy to work for... he gave you everything you needed so you could be the best you could be. "Dick was like another member of the band," he told CNN, adding that Clark was among the first to put African American musicians on national US television. “His legacy to rock and roll is unparalleled,” he said. Clark’s physical youthfulness was also astonishing. “He was ageless. He looked the same for 50 years,” said White. Clark is survived by his wife, Kari Wigton, and has three children from previous marriages. AFP

Indonesian militant Umar Patek arrive in handcuffs and escorted by armed police commandos at the Jakarta court today. AFP

Texas nurse shoots mother, steals newborn CHICAGO: A Texas nurse has been charged with murder for shooting a young mother and kidnapping her three-day-old baby outside a pediatrician’s office, officials said on Wednesday. Verna McClain, 30, had recently suffered a miscarriage but did not tell her fiance about it, police said. She allegedly kidnapped the baby in hopes of passing him off as her own.

Judge recuses herself from Travyon case MIAMI: The judge in the US trial of a neighbourhood watch volunteer charged with murdering unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin recused herself from the case. The defendant, Zimmerman’s defense team had asked for Recksiedler’s removal because her husband is a legal partner of a CNN analyst following the case, raising a potential conflict of interest.

Ash and smoke are spewed from Popocatepetl Volcano as seen from the city of Puebla, in Mexican state of Puebla on Wednesday. AFP

Comment

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Fair, free and forthright

Editorials ANOTHER ICBM IS another folly

Your today, tomorrow

nd so it begins again, the atomic cycle that never ceases to amaze those who believe that a country mired in poverty and buffeted by the high seas of corruption should spend so much money, time and effort on creating a weapon of mass destruction. With the launch of Agni-V, we have made sure that the continuing spectre of Mutually Assured Destruction is kept alive and kicking on the subcontinent. The whole point of having an ICBM arsenal is so that your enemies will think twice before launching a nuclear attack on you (at least that was the justification during the Cold War). But in a nuclear war no one really wins. If it does come to pass that we may actually have to use one of our missiles then we’re all up the creek anyway. Far better to make sure that your people have the basics in life like food, clean water, and an education while they’re still around to breathe the pre-apocalyptic air, rather than bracing for the day it all goes up in smoke.

WHY WE LOVE Dick Clark

o those of us who grew up and on Western music, TV host Dick Clark, who died yesterday, is a true icon. American Bandstand was the show that towered over Top of the Pops (although nothing could touch the Old Grey Whistle Test), and it may have been about the music, but it was all brought together by Clark. We will miss the world’s oldest teenager. So long Dick, and thanks you for the music.

But... Seriously Ajay Hotchandani

hree months ago my sister and brother-in-law had their first kid (congrats by the way). His name, Zidane Janet Bakshani (my sister was under the influence of anaesthetics when she named him Janet). In a couple of weeks I will be meeting him for the first time. I can picture the encounter. I’ll pick him up, hug him and tell him hi. He will gaze upon my brown face with a quizzical look wondering if I’m going to just stand there and look back at him or am I going to make myself useful and change his diaper. So he is three months and will have no idea what the world was like when he was this young. So I thought I would let him know. December 13, 2011 Dear Zippo, Let me now start of by saying that I’m your uncle (your mom’s younger brother). Last week my editor told me that I was late in turning in my articles to which I pointed out I had no idea it was due; because she forgot again to inform me of the deadline, to which she admitted she made the mistake. This is a rarity as no matter where in history you are/ were, it is universally known that a woman will almost never admit to being wrong, so that part you will have to deal with no matter what. But her putting me under the gun to have an article due had me thinking of what I would write and I thought why not write a letter to the future Zippo Janet (that’s you by the way) about what life is like right now — your third month of life. Electronics/ gadgets: Right now in a market that was dominated by Apple and its products such as iPod, iPad (not the sanitary pad), and iPhone (there is an app called iTouchMySelf) the new system putting up a fight is Andriodbased systems. Somewhere lingering in the back are few diehard BlackBerry fans, however their fate is that of the Betamax — dead before you know it. Phones have progressed to the point where they do just about everything but make a decent phone call. I’m pretty sure your phone will be able to make you coffee but you will still find yourself saying, “Can you hear me now?” Videogames: One of the most popular games is called ‘Angry Birds’. It’s basically a game where you launch birds into the air and have them destroy structures constructed of differ-

Let’s accept change

Not again!

Your articles on Right to Education are really good and informative. It’s time we accept new changes and not crib about every move our government makes. Right to education is a good incentive by the government. When on one hand when we are progressing I fail understand why we are cribbing so much about the new act. The act has been introduced in the interest of children, especially the underprivileged ones. Undoubtedly there are a few loopholes which can be discussed and changes can be made. Citizens need to accept this as a new change and work towards better execution thanks to the act. Nikhila H Masab Tank

FAIPT's decision to go on an indefinite strike from Monday comes as a big jolt to all of us. Already, we are grappling with several fuel price hikes, but an indefinite strike by petrol pumps will bring the city to a standstill. Last time when something of this sort happened, all the roads were nearly empty and prices shot up immediately. I hope the government is taking a serious notice of this issue and comes up with a solution to stop the petrol traders from going on a strike.

Shailendra Kumar Kukatpally

ent materials such as wood or glass. Ok this makes no sense to me, because if they were ‘angry’ why would you want to kill yourself destroying something; that sounds more like ‘Stupid Birds’. I would think that a better option for ‘Angry Birds’ is that they fly over and drop poop on the target. The other popular game is ‘Call of Duty — Modern Warfare’. I can vouch for this game being awesome. I’ve spent upwards of 100 hours playing this game online. When you are ready, I’ll show you how to play videogames and make it appear as though you are studying. Music: Every couple of years, the world has to

endure some ‘teen pop sensation’ that makes you want to vomit blood! Your mother made me sit and watch ‘The New Kids on the Block’ video just about every night for weeks, and I am still ‘Angry Brownie’ for that. Currently, the world is being punished for all its bad karmas by being forced to deal with a whiney little ‘girl’ named Justin Beiber. If you ever screw up, I’m going to lock you in a room and play his songs for one week straight. The classics you have to listen to are: Metallica, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, The Who, The Doors, Elvis, Tom Waits, Willie Nelson, NWA, Miles Davis and Pankaj Udhas. Things to stay away from — anything your mum listens to. World politics/ religion: Five hundred years later the Catholic/Christians and Muslims are still not seeing eye to eye about what to order at the restaurant. China is becoming a dominant force and the way I see it, pretty soon we all will be speaking English and Mandarin.

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

Not to be outdone by Harry Potter or The Twilight Saga, Saudi Arabia went old school and stoned a woman to death for ‘practicing witchcraft’. So if you thinking of being a badass and going to Saudi Arabia with a tshirt advertising you can do tricks, I suggest you think again. Plus, tricks are what whores do for money, magicians do illusions! Also, I never thought in my lifetime I would have seen it, but the US had its first black president, Bill Clinton. By the time things roll around for you, look forward to the first Black Lesbian Handicapped leader. White people still think it’s cool to put up statues of Buddha and get tattoos of the ‘Om’ symbol. Medicine: Just like the music scene, every couple of years the world pays for its sins by having to survive through another pandemic caused by some flu named after an animal, ie Swine Flu, Avian Flu, etc. One year they got creative by using random combination of letters and numbers, H1N1, but every time they mentioned it some old lady kept jumping up and yelling ‘BINGO!’ forcing the government to pay out large sums of cash. When you are old enough to realise what’s happening, they would have used up most of the animals forcing them to call the remaining pandemics Kangaroo Flu or Tyrannosaurus Rex Flu. TV: Shows you have to watch: Family Guy, Robot Chicken, Beavis and Butthead, Pawn Stars, Arrested Development, Psych, Castle, Firefly, Life on Mars (US version), Modern Family, M*A*S*H, Scrubs and House. Things to avoid — anything your parents watch as long as it doesn’t conflict with the list above. Sports: Football — Brazil wins the world cup on average once every four times, so if it’s been three times and they haven’t won, go bet $100 they will win. Cricket — India won one this century so nothing more until 2100. Baseball — Cubs still haven’t won a world series, don’t bet they will ever win until the Black Handicapped Lesbian is in office, and even then I wouldn’t bet too much. Boxing — people are still arguing who would have won if Manny Pacquio and Floyd Mayweather Jr would have fought. Final words of advice: Your mum has a really bad habit of finishing her beverage and reaching over to drink from your glass/ bottle, especially when it’s Coke/ Pepsi. From childhood she has been doing this and based on your cousin (Simran), she still does it! Zippo Janet Bakshani make me proud one day; when your parents are celebrating their anniversary and all their friends show up all dressed up, I want you to show up dressed as a pineapple! Keep em laughing always, Ajay

Facebook summons

CORRECTIONS CLARIFICATIONS

I have no idea why the government is behind social networking sites and other online sites which provide us with news when there are many other serious issues to be worried about. I mean people are starving to death but for our politicians that is not an issue to bother with and find solutions to. And the kind of corrupt things that politicians get involved with is a long list to say the least. Why does not the government take up these issues? They want to interfere in one source of getting information as well. Well done politicians... take the country to the dogs.

n the article A Blockbuster Summer Ahead published on April 18, we erroneously mentioned that Harry Potter and Half-Blood Prince would be releasing in cinemas this summer. As any Potter fan worth his weight in magic knows, it’s actually Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows 2. We regret the error, and would like to specifically apologise to all those who believe their school is secretly Hogwarts.

Priyamani Taj Banjara Hills

It is Postnoon’s policy to correct errors swiftly and fairly

Telly Tales

Small screen, big idea

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

MANHATTAN LIVING

At long last, a show on TV that's breezy and mindless but fun and entertaining at the same time Firm has shut down (on charges ofembezzlement, no less) and her flat has been sealed off. With nowhere to go, she is cast adrift, desperately scouting for roommates. After much searching, she seems to fall into an apparently ideal roommate arrangement that we quickly find out is anything but. Chloe (Krysten Ritter), who seems like a dream roommate turns out to be a New York party girl with “the morals of a pirate.” Through the course of the first episode, June slowly realises what she has let herself in for. To the point where an shocked June arrives home to find Chloe making out with June’s fiancée, on top of her birthday cake! Chloe’s straight BFF James Van Der Beek comes as a surprise add on, who plays himself as the incongruous hero unable rid himself of his Dawsons Creek’s days. Apartment 23 is delightful, it’s screenplay witty and full of gags. If the pilot is anything to go by, we strongly recommend, you keep an eye out for it.

Padmini C padmini.c@postnoon.com

s we have been saying repeatedly and incessantly cribbing about, it’s been a rather dull season on TV so far. Okay, maybe not so dull in the mystery, action and drama sections but among the sit-coms? Think about it. When was the last time you saw a comedy series that made your sides hurt? And before you say Big Bang Theory or How I Met Your Mother, consider the absolute disappointment the current season has been. In the light of such a traumatic summer, when we heard about the new series that debuted last week, Don’t Trust That B**** in Apartment 23, we just had to check it out. And we are glad we did. Now, all that we know, its from the pilot, but it’s pretty funny stuff. June (Dreama Walker), a trusty blonde from Indiana, has just arrived in Manhattan with the promise of a cushy job and a plush apartment. Not two hours in the city June finds out her

Series: Small Wonder Where are they now?

ngineer/ inventor Ted Lawson who works at United Robotronics created an android in the form of a 10year-old girl. His aim was that the robot would help assist handicapped children. The robot is taken home by Ted so that it can mature within a family environment. But the Lawson family’s nosy neighbours, the Brindles, try their best to know what is going on in the Lawson house. Harriet Brindle is one of the frequent visitors to their house, apart from nosing around she also harbours dreams of marrying Ted’s son Jamie.

Spreading laughter Dick Christie who plays Ted Lawson

Tiffany Brissette who played Vicki

Then: The genius inventor who created Vicki and the patriarch of the Lawson family. The show basically focuses on Ted’s attempt to hide Vicki from the big bad world, and allowing his son Jamie to learn the lessons of life. Now: Being a theatre buff, Dick went onto guest star in a lot shows after Small Wonder such as Who’s the Boss? The latest record about him is that he wrote a film titled Molly in 1999.

Jerry Suprian who played Jamie Lawson Then: He played the young man in the Lawson family, who tries his best to score a hit with the girls in school and tries his best to palm of the household chores to Vicki. When he is not trying to run away from Harriet he is found with his best friend Reggie. Now: He has been credited with roles in 19 television and movie performances, including guest-starring roles in several noted series of the era, including Little House on the Prairie, Mr. Belvedere, Newhart, Highway to Heaven, Trapper John, M.D. and St. Elsewhere. The last time he showed up on television was in 1989 and since then he has maintained a low profile.

Then: She's fantastic, made of plastic microchips here and there, she's a small wonder, brings love and laughter everywhere! The theme song of the serial defines completely Tiffany’s role in the series. Now: Brissette continued acting into the early 90s. She played Katie Rogan on Equal Justice. She also popped up in TV movie, Beanpole. As of February 2, 2000, Tiffany has been a missionary and youth counsellor and vocalist at the Solana Beach Presbyterian Church in San Diego.

Emily Schulman who played Harriet Brindle Then: She is best remembered for her role as the spunky redhaired pesky neighbour of the Lawsons. Now: In 2008 after 13 years as the head of Acme Talent & Literary's Commercial Division, Schulman relocated her department to its current home at Talentworks. After a coastal relocation, Schulman now teaches acting along and near the Connecticut shoreline.

H‑Factor

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Holistic view of mind, body and soul

WHAT A FAD! Cabbage soup diet Can you imagine surviving on nothing but cabbage for 10 days at a stretch? This is what the diet asks you to do. While the consumption of cabbage soup is constant, you can have an additional food item as mentioned in the food list which includes — bananas, beef, milk and vegetables. Claim: The diet claims to provide instant, short term weight loss. Expert speak: According to Ali Faraz, a fitness expert, “Cabbage contains a lot of sulphur which can cause hypertension. Even if a person is to have cabbage it should be very less. Although it may be low in calories, there are many things low in calories. Anything in excess is not good.” Celeb followers: Liz Hurley, Sarah Michael Geller

What connects Jennifer Lopez,Victoria Beckham and Renee Zellweger? Unique diets for their to-die-for looks. Anishaa Kumar anishaa.k@postnoon.com

veryone wants to flaunt that svelte new figure. Even if it means following crazy diets a la

Baby food diet We all want to remain young. But have you ever been charmed by the idea of eating the food that you had while you were an infant? If yes, the baby food diet is for you. The baby food diet involves eating just baby food instead of your regular food or having baby food twice a day and one regular adult meal. Claim: The diet follows the belief that baby food available is usually fibre and fat free. It contains basic fruits and vegetables and full of vitamins. So what can go wrong? Expert speak: According to Ali Faraz, “Baby food is for babies.

Ice-cube/water diet: The ice-cube diet is not as bad as it sounds. It may give an impression that the person following this diet eats only icecubes. It basically involves having ice-cubes whenever the person is hungry. On the other hand, in the water diet, the dieter drinks 64 oz of cool or cold water in eight servings over the day. This can be taken with or without meals. Claim: The ice-cube diet is basically said to be a replacement for unhealthy snacking in between meals and also reduces the appetite resulting in weight loss.

The water diet on the other hand follows the theory that when one drinks cold water, the body burns extra calories to heat the water up to a body temperature of 98.6 degrees fahrenheit. Having water between meals also helps to curb your appetite thus helps lose weight. Expert Speak: “Although water is good, one should not deprive the body of vital food. The body cannot take more than a certain amount of water per day. The body should have good food,” Ali says. Celeb followers: Renee Zellweger

celebrities. Be it the cabbage soup diet or that amazing algae juice. Did you cringe at the thought of the mentioned diets? The truth is that many celebs follow these diets and vouch for their effectiveness. We take a look at some unique diets followed by people to reduce that flab.

Popcorn diet How we love to sit back with a bowl of popcorn! The popcorn diet has many versions, while one version involves having popcorn sans salt, flavouring and butter/oil as snacks when you are hungry and eating healthier food the

As adults we need complete food. A baby food diet will only make you lose strength and muscles. It has no effect on the fat.” Celeb followers: Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon rest of the time, the other extreme version is when the dieter eats only plain popcorn throughout the day and nothing else. Claim: Popcorn without salt, butter and flavouring is said to be low in calories. Eating low calorie food is what its claim to to fame is. Expert Speak: According to Ali, “A popcorn diet deprives you of the natural fibre in the food, hence it should be avoided.” Celeb followers: Virginia Madsen, Riya Sen

Algae juice diet The diet is a combination of algae juice and a variety of fruit juices along with yogurt. The dieter has to avoid all other foods. Here it is usually the blue-green algae known as Spirulina. Claim: This diet is said to help you lose 7 pounds in 7 days. The blue-green algae, which is usually Spirulina, is said to be an appetite suppressant and also is said to lower cholesterol. Expert Speak: “Algae is good as it has anti-oxidants. People go on these juice diets, but they are not really effective. A balanced diet is more effective in helping a person maintain a good weight,” says Ali. Celeb followers: Victoria Beckham

here are many more such as the sniffing diet which involves just sniffing grape fruit vapour and the sleeping diet which asks you sleep for longer. Ali says, “These diets are basically deprivation diets, they may help in temporary weight loss but also results in dark circles, bad skin and other health issues.” The credibility of these diets is controversial. Ali states, “To lose weight you should have patience, eat right and workout. You cannot lose weight overnight. If you eat right your body will take care of itself.”

Fibroids can affect a pregnancy

Dr Divya T Sudershan

I have a fibroid in my uterus, and my doctor told me not to delay a pregnancy for too long. Can you tell me why? Fibroids are basically benign tumours of the uterus, and can be found in and outside the uterus. Less than 5 per cent of fibroids actually cause problems in pregnancy. (I wish you had told me where the fibroid is.) Their location is very important to the outcome. The ones which are located on the outer surface (sub serosal) grow to huge sizes of more than 10 cm are usually the least troublesome,for pregnancy. It is the fibroids located in the wall (intra mural), within the cavity (sub mucous) which can influence a pregnancy. Fibroids that fill the uterine cavity may block implantation of a newly fertilised egg. Fundal fibroids located near the fallopian tubes that can interfere with getting pregnant, (infertility) by blocking one or both of the fallopian tubes may prevent sperm from fertilising an egg. Fibroids located in the cavity of the uterus-may increase the chance of a miscarriage or may cause a woman to go into labour before her due date, called pre term labour. Fibroids may also increase the chance of abnormal positions in babies, like breech/ transverse, increasing the need for cesarean section. Rarely, fibroids can cause complications of pregnancy called placental abruption (early separation of placenta) and postpartum hemorrhage (excessive bleeding after delivery, due to the inability of the uterus to tighten or contract). The reason your doctor is asking you to conceive early could be because of the location of the fibroid, its size and the possibility of increased complications over time. So voice your concerns to her and ask her about options too, like removing the fibroid if necessary.

(The writer is a gynaecologist and obstetrician practising at Happy Women Clinic. You can write in to her at happywomenclinic@gmail.com)

H‑Factor

Holistic view of mind, body and soul

‘One in three PIP implants may rupture’ PARIS: A pair of British plastic surgeons said Tuesday the rupture rate of PIP breast implants behind a global health scare may be as high as one in three, significantly more than previously thought. A study of 453 of their patients who had received PIP implants between seven and 12 years ago showed a rupture rate of between 15.9 per cent and 33.8 per cent. “Previous studies have typically reported failure rates of between two percent and five percent,” said authors Miles Berry and Jan Stanek of the study published in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. The new study had employed more conclusive ultrasound scans rather than the physical examinations typically used, they said. “All PIP implants, due to the high rupture rate and uncertainty about the nature of the silicone gel, may need to be removed,” Stanek was quoted as saying in a statement, adding that further research must be done. “Being only a single-handed practice, this initial study is the tip of an iceberg that may affect 40,000 women in the UK with PIP implants,” added a statement. More than 400,000 women around the world are believed to have received implants made by French company PIP, which shut in 2010 after it was found to have used substandard, industrial-grade silicone gel. Of them, about 47,000 were in Britain, 30,000 in France and 4,300 in Italy. France, Germany, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands have recommended the devices be removed as a precaution. Britain has not followed suit, but has said that women who had their implants on the National Health Service (NHS) could have them replaced without charge. More than a dozen countries in Europe and Latin America have urged women to seek regular checkups. Manufacturers and plastic surgeons say that breast implants have an expected, normal lifespan of about 12 years. Usually in the case of rupture the silicone gel does not leak, but even it if does should not cause tissue irritation. However, in the case of the PIP implants, the gel used was of a non-medical grade. “Those patients with ruptured implants will have to have them removed; those with no evidence of rupture will need to be monitored on a regular basis,” said Stanek. “Further research into the nature of the elastomer (outer casing) and gel filler will determine whether all PIP implants should be explanted in the future.” AFP

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Home remedies for burns

ot water or contact with fire can cause burns. While severe burns cannot be treated at home, minor burns can be treated by using a number of products that are easily present in our homes. Here is a list of home remedies to provide relief from minor burns.

Plantain leaves: This is believed to be a popular cure from burns.The leaves are said to contain antiinflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Just take a few leaves and smash them. Apply this directly over the burnt area.

MOTHER KNOWS BEST Cold water: Although this is not a home remedy per se, it’s the first thing one can do. Place the burnt area under a running tap or a source of cold water for 10-15 minutes till the burning sensation ends. One point of caution is to remember not to put ice on the burnt area immediately after the burn.

Vinegar: Another interesting home remedy is to use diluted vinegar. Dilute equal parts of vinegar and water. Using a clean cloth, apply the solution on the burnt area. If the pain becomes stronger after some time replace the cloth with a new one with solution on it. Vinegar acts as an antiseptic and astringent.

Honey: An alternative to vinegar is honey. Coating a layer of honey over the burnt area is said to promote healing and reduce the pain. Honey can also be applied using a piece of cloth or a sterile gauge bandage.

Tea bag: Tea bags are believed to be a handy method to treat minor burns at home. They are said to draw out heat from the burnt area. Apply a tea bag that has been dipped into cold water directly on the burnt area. Another method is to take two-three tea bags in four cups of boiling water. Add two cups of fresh mint leaves. Once it cools dab it on the burnt area.

Lavender oil: Lavender oil is said to help provide relief from the stinging pain associated with burns and also is said to prevent the inner areas from being infected. Source: www.healthmeup.com

F‑Folio

Because you are what you wear

ollaborations amongst brands give us new creations which have the best features from both its parents. When Italian fashion house Fendi decided to join hands with luxury car manufacturer Maserati, the result was expected to be thought- provoking and stunning. The Special Edition Maserati GranCabrio Fendi incorporates characteristic Fendi colours as well as its traditional aesthetic values in a car. So how does a clothing and accessories brand like Fendi create a product which is much more than a product, but a concept to provoke further ideas? Answer: ‘The Whispered Project’. The Whispered Project started off last year with the launch of Fendi’s Whispered Directory of Craftsmanship: A guide to the Italian handmaking ability Vol.1. This directory highlights various Italian craftsmen who are still running workshops and businesses based on the traditional techniques. Fendi’s own byproducts make a recurring appearance on this directory as well. The Maserati which originated in 1914 was also listed in Volume 1 which eventually led to the collaboration this year. The directory is supplemented by a The Italian Grand Tour Road Movie which is a documentary filmed entirely across Italy. It features the Maserati Gran Cabrio Fendi car in a four-part mini series. Inspired by the ancient tradition of the Italian Grand Tour, each of the episodes is 25 minutes in duration and draws inspiration from one of the four elements; fire, water, air and earth. The documentary is presented by Fiammetta Cicogna, a young Italian and it features internationally renowned faces that represent Italian excellence in various fields, such as Riccardo Illy, chairman of Illy Group and the famous sailor Giovanni Soldini, as well as Federico Bonelli, the principal dancer of the London Royal Ballet, the renowned chef Carlo Cracco and the actor Luca Calvani who stars in the latest Woody Allen movie. Fendi has in the past associated itself with various events to help promote the traditional art and crafts. At the Design Miami 2008 fair, Fendi supported the Design Talks with participation by

Silvia Venturini Fendi

A crafty collaboration

Surabhi Chauhan

feedback@postnoon.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

20&21

leading artists: Fernando & Humberto Campana, Arik Levy, Tom Dixon, Paul Cocksedge, Julia Lohmann, Ted Noten, Aranda/Lasch, Ross Lovegrove, John Maeda. In 2009, Fendi again worked with Design Miami with the "Stereo Craft Design Performances." Creative director Silvia Fendi and the technologically pioneering designer Moritz Waldemeyer collaborated to create customised Selleria leather (a stitched leather style derived from the artistic skill of the Roman saddlers, composing unique items produced in limited editions and numbered, entirely cut and assembled by hand) and furtrimmed Gibson guitars, which emitted laser light onto a video wall when played by the famous American rock band 'OK Go'. Silvia Fendi who represents the third generation of the founder family is the one who spearheads such collaborations with different art forms. “Fendi is a creativity factory that supports talent without boundaries,” says Silvia on the company website. At a time when being exclusive and protective of information is practiced by luxury brands to safeguard their expert know-how, Silvia opens up Fendi’s doors to artists from the fields of architecture, music, food, art, design, etc to work together with the fashion house on non-commercial projects. An idea which gets different audiences exposed to art forms they might not know existed. For example, with the Whispered Projects the Fendi customer will get to read about landscape architect Paolo Pejrone who uses traditional techniques to craft the most beautiful gardens in Europe. Or read about young chef Carlo Cracco who uses the philosophy of ‘haute cuisine’ research in which the quality and flavour are as carefully studied as the palette of colours used by a master of painting. Bringing these whispers from culture rich Italy, the project made its entry into India by travelling the Whispered Grand Tour to Delhi on April 11. The Maserati GranCabrio Fendi car was unveiled by the Italian Ambassador to India, H E. Giacomo Sanfelice di Monteforte. Also on display were the matching limited edition Selleria luggage and travel accessories designed by Silvia Fendi for the project. To know more about the project visit www.thewhispered.it ‘The Whispered’ can be purchased from the Fendi boutique for `5,800.

Italian luxury house Fendi introduces us to the world of traditional arts and crafts with its latest project called ‘The Whispered’

The writer

The Special Edition Maserati GranCabrio Fendi

is a fashion blogger (www.lovestruckcow.blogspot.com) who attempts to bridge the gap between creator and consumer. As a fashion writer, she hopes to promote Indian fashion among Indians and on a global level too.

Spotlight

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

The wedding reception of Devender Goudâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son, Tulla Virender with Tulla Divya was held at Gachibowli Stadium on Wednesday.

A grand reception

DEEPAK DESHPANDE

Jaya & Nikitha

Khusboo & Sidharth

Jhinak & Kalyan

Couples at the green carpet annual event that was held at Kismet.

DEEPAK DESHPANDE

A GROOVY KIND OF LOVE

Swetha & Samatha

Subhi & Suman

Sarita & Kishan

Taru & Sanjay

Rohit & Sunaina

Spotlight

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Magic Screen

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

The glamour behind the glitz

No Heroine at Cannes film festival: Bhandarkar

ilmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar has put a full stop to speculation that he is set to launch the first look of his ambitious project, Kareena Kapoor-starrer Heroine at the upcoming 65th Cannes International Film Festival. “Media reporting that 1st look of Heroine is going to be launched in Cannes are baseless,” tweeted Bhandarkar on Tuesday. “Me, Kareena and the whole team are busy shooting Heroine through the whole month of April and May, so no question of visiting Cannes,” he further added. The annual film extravaganza is to be held from May 16- 27. Bhandarkar had launched Heroine at the last edition of Cannes International Film Festival with Aishwarya Rai as the lead. But later, the actor had to opt out of the project after she became pregnant. Kareena replaced the actor in her role. Heroine delves into the behindthe-scenes life of an actress in the Indian film industry. IANS

I don’t believe in favouritism: Priyadarshan F

Dan dan is my best item song: RGV

am Gopal Varma is all for item songs. The filmmaker says the item number Dan dan cheeni from his upcoming film Department is his best offering in the genre ever. “Over the years,since Company, I have not been giving enough focus on the songs because I am doing very different kind of films. After Rangeela and Khallas songs, I think Dan dan is the best item song. I think this is the best item song of my career,” said Varma.” It features Nathalia Kaur.Varma acknowledges how important item songs have become nowadays, and believes they are like a moving portfolio for actors. IANS

ilmmaker Priyadarshan has worked with Paresh Rawal in most of his Hindi films, but he claims he doesn’t believe in favouritism. In fact, he says he casts actors only according to the script’s requirement. “I do not believe in favouritism. The actors are cast according to the script once it is complete. That is the way I always function,” said Priyadarshan. Such is the camaraderie between Priydarshan and Paresh, that the filmmaker had once said that if he was a woman, he would have married Paresh. “ Yes, I did. It is because he has been with me in almost 20 films. If he was a woman, they would have stated, we have an affair.” IANS

B-TOWN TWEETIES

@NeilNMukesh As usual none of my boys arrived in time haha ! Prepared my breakfast got ready and sat down. I love seeing their reaction when I do this !

@realprietyzinta I’m sure the #kxip boyz will move on after last night's game as a Big game coming up tomorrow with#Rcb. As 4 me...1 more flight n airport !

@juniorbachchan Phew! Barca are a great team. Very well played. But Chelsea are the ones who scored! #KTBFFH #Believe #CFC COME ON CHELSEA.

@DuttaLara May we all sleep like babies tonight. Our work fully done. Our conscience clear. A day lived 100%. G’nite Folks!

@SrBachchan T 717 — KBC meet went off well...cannot imagine it all started 12 years ago in 2000... and it still survives... some startling facts coming up.

@udaychopra Paris tip: when the Taxi light is on, the taxi is unavailable... exact opp of NYC... I was wet in the rain trying to hail all the occupied cabs.

@sonakshisinha These 2 killing me together in gym @vrinda_j_mehta and @crossfitom!! Bachaoo! Follow them fr all ur fitness and diet tips.

@RahulBose1 Wonderful time career counseling students from cathedral, my alma mater — consistently produces some of the brightest kids on the planet.

Chai Time

KAKURO

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

SCRIBBLING PAD

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Take a shot at the brain game while sipping your cuppa

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Slumbered 6 Deliverer of many pkgs 10 Spasm of pain 14 FDR's affliction 15 Casino card game 16 Apple orchard spray, once 17 Page of ‘Juno’ 18 Face-to-face exam 19 Civil rights pioneer Parks 20 Gets rid of 22 ‘Easier said ___ done’ 23 Paramedics give it 24 Seasoned seaman 26 Mule on the Erie Canal 29 Have trouble saying ‘S’ 32 ‘That hurts!’ 33 Nautical speed unit 35 Concerning the ear 37 Loses crispness, as celery 41 Lacking importance 44 Coin of Pakistan 45 ‘Knit one, ___ two’ 46 Angel's overhead item 47 What an obedient dog may do 49 Weakens, as support 51 Bodybuilder's unit 52 Evil 56 Corn byproduct 58 Malted beverages 59 Trashes 65 Goodbye, in Italy 66 ___ the line (obeyed) 67 Carefree song syllables 68 Neutral tone 69 ___ out a living (barely got by) 70 Certain Halloween vandal 71 Mailed 72 They assess penalties (Abbr) 73 Call again, in poker DOWN 1 Something to work on? 2 Entertainer Falana

3 Building wings 4 Michelangelo masterpiece 5 It's stuck in your throat 6 Sci-fi film vehicles 7 Rani's wear 8 Madrid museum 9 Exclusively 10 Gives away 11 Hawaiian greeting 12 Congested-sounding 13 Research funding 21 The Cisco Kid's farewell 25 Opposite of up 26 Decide not to attend 27 Role for Jodie Foster 28 Sets in geometry 30 Procedure part 31 Excite, as interest 34 Deep-sixes 36 Parallel-parking sidewall

scuffer 38 One with his pants on fire? 39 Uncle Remus offering 40 Barely edible fare 42 One wet behind the ears 43 Nudge 48 Nervous laugh 50 Title for a nun 52 Old battle clubs 53 Girl who chased a rabbit 54 Memorize, as lines 55 Fail in the clutch 57 Sweatshirt size

SUDOKU

60 Marine hazard 61 Numbers on horses 62 Wiggles, as a tail 63 Away from the wind, on a ship 64 Easily maneuvered, at sea PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

THOUGHT OF THE DAY History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives. – Abba Eban

Chai Time STAR POWER

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

Your tomorrow today̶Star Power and Tarot THIRUVAIKUMAR

As per Hindu panchang

FOR 20-4-2012

thiruvaikumar@yahoo.co.in 040-27177230 / 9177596118

TAURUS

GEMINI

Family will remain cheerful. Financially a strong position likely. Marriage talks will end favourably and quicker. House will be renovated with an annex. Property issues will get resolved.

Delayed work will pick up speed and progress well. Friends and relatives will extend help and support. Your inﬂuence will increase. New efforts will be ex‑ ecuted well. Avoid emotional conﬂicts.

You will start thinking in various angles and learn a lot of tactics. Those who are looking for a job will get favourable news. Your share of ancestral property will come. Loan will get approved.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

You will not give up the work despite lots of obstructions. With a determina‑ tion, you will struggle hard and com‑ plete all work. You will also understand strength and weakness of other people.

Pledged movable assets will be released and you will feel relaxed. However, you might have to spend saved money. In‑ come will be satisfactory. Politicians will earn conﬁdence of high command.

You have to struggle a lot for comple‑ tion of certain important work. Unwan‑ ted fear and tension likely. Brothers will put you in a ﬁx. You will have slee‑ pless nights. Sudden fortune likely.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Friendship with VIPs likely. Daughter's marriage will be performed in a grand manner. Journey will bring beneﬁts. Debt problems, tension because of ene‑ mies likely. Avoid anger, hasty decisions.

Some have bright chance to go abroad. Inﬂux of visitors will bring happiness to the family. Blood relatives will help and make you cheerful. Powerful post likely for some. Politicians will do well.

All your expectations will get fulﬁlled. Purchase of new assets likely. Paternal relatives will be more helpful. Recently married ones will be blessed with off‑ spring. Court verdicts will go in favour.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Obstructions in the way of certain imp‑ ortant work will be resolved. Some mig‑ ht change their residence. Friends will help in time of need. In‑laws will help you achieve important turning points.

Enemies will become friends on their own. Inﬂuence of politicians will incre‑ ase. You will meet old friends and feel happy. While signing documents, it is better to take advise of legal experts.

Obstacles cannot stop you from marching ahead. Happy events to take place at home. Debt problems will be under control. Avoid ego clashes with spouse and be cordial.

SUMAA TEKUR

FOR 20-4-2012

tarotreadhyd@gmail.com

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

Queen of Wands – You want to be left alone and wish to spend time thinking and planning your next phase of life. Your family, friends will understand.

Two of Cups – Sing‑ les will meet an attra‑ ctive person from the opposite sex. The chemistry is immedi‑ ate and you plan to tie the knot or deep‑ en the commitment.

Seven of Wands – Youʼre feeling tired and need to rest. Use the end of the year to look back, review your decisions and plan ahead for the year to come.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

The Star – There may be clouds of confu‑ sion but there is a crystal clear silver lin‑ ing that is showing you the way; that is giving you the conﬁ‑ dence to not stop.

Knight of Cups – Youʼre being emo‑ tional but may not be necessarily sensi‑ tive to other peo‑ pleʼs emotions. Take care to respect other peopleʼs time.

Knight of Swords – Check and double check if youʼve got all your tracks cov‑ ered. You may have missed something. Check payments, ﬁlled‑out forms, etc.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

Nine of Wands – Yo‑ uʼre reaching the end of a prestigious pro‑ ject and youʼve put in a lot of hard work. Itʼs showing and the bosses are extremely happy with you.

Five of Cups – Some form of loss is indica‑ ted. It could be mon‑ ey or some disappoin‑ tment. Take it in your stride. Donʼt worry too much because be‑ tter times are ahead.

Knight of Pentacles – Planning is key today. Keep some buffer time between appointments and account for delays and disappointments. A tough, testing day.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Four of Cups – A job offer makes it diffi‑ cult for you to decide between the familiar and jumping into the unknown. Weigh pros and cons care‑ fully.

Queen of Swords – You may be feeling lonely and yearn for some good company. But being the intellectual type, youʼre too choosy about who you want to spend time with.

Queen of Pentacles – Finances are in great shape. Think of all the wonderful dreams youʼve dreamt up until now. How will you make them come true?

For Better or for Worse Stone soup

SOLUTIONS

Boggle IRAN INDIA ITALY ISRAEL ICELAND IRELAND

Number game

Suduko

Scrabble

Ink pen

COMICS

Fred Basset

ARIES

TAROT READ

Vol: 1, No 277 RNI No: APENG/2011/39337 Published for the proprietors, Scribble Media and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, by V Harshavardhan Reddy, at #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500033 and printed by him at Jagati Publications Ltd, Plot No D-75&E-52, APIE Industrial Estate, Balanagar, Ranga Reddy Dist, Hyderabad – 500037, Editor: Dean Williams – Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. For feedback, please write to: feedback@postnoon.com and for subscription, please call 040-4067 2222, Fax: 040-4067 2211

Magic Screen

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

The glamour behind the glitz

RANA

T-TOWN TWEETIES

is back in action

@Actor_Siddharth My birthday gift to myself was a new percussion instrument. I see it as the start of a beautiful friendship... my Cajon... joy!!!

ana Daggubati is back on the sets of Krish’s Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum. Few days ago, he suffered an injury in his arm while filming some action sequences. The doctors had advised him to take complete rest for atleast three days and now that he has recovered, he has already begun lightweight training to get back in shape. “Continued shooting in 4 days with air-tight/waterproof medical dressing!! (sic)” Rana posted on Twitter. The film stars Rana and Nayanthara in lead roles and for the past few days, it’s being filmed in Hyderabad. MM Keeravani is composing the music and VS Gnansekhar is the cinematographer. Krish had earlier directed films like Gamyam and Vedam and his latest film Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum is being touted as his first action film

NNDD gets a new title

eeku Naaku Dash Dash, which opened in theatres on April 13, marked the comeback of Teja after a gap of four years. Before the release of the film, Teja, who had directed the film, was quite confident that it’ll impress the audience. In an interesting turn of events, less than a week after the film’s release, Teja has asked the theatres across the state to stop the film’s screening. We hear that he wasn’t too happy with the feedback on the sec-

ond half of the film. Already, his team had trimmed few scenes in the second half to make the screenplay tauter and now Teja has decided to add a scene featuring Dharmavarapu Subramaniam in the film. Moreover, the film's title has been changed to Neeku Naaku and Teja has announced that the new version will be released on May 4. It’s a bold move and probably the first time a director has taken such a decision in recent few years.

@_Hansika Wishing one of my closest frd @rishikaD many many happy returns of the day :D happpyyyyyyy birthday my pooh!! Have a fab year.

@shraddhadas43 Gals night out with @kamana10 and @SEIYAGAUTAM tonite! Superrrrrrrr excited! Gonna have a blast!

@actressanjjanaa In love wid La,beautiful weather n every thing hea looks picture perfect,im loving it :-) venice beach was lovely.

@tashu_02 A very gudmorning....m all set for darshan... shall pray for one n all... have a great day ahead and Stay blessed :-))

@shrutihaasan

DARUVU

Had the best time in aages crepes chit chat shopping and epic dinner with my lovelies @suku06 and @pujj girls rule forever !!! :D

has a political angle

@actor_Nikhil

Done with a hectic hectic day... Less than 36 hrs for the release of DISCO... I’ll b on several news channels 2moro.

he buzz is that Ravi Teja will be seen as a home minister in this film. The film's audio was launched last night and in a bizarre turn of events, T-agitators barged into the venue and demanded that the film's name should be changed as Daruvu is an integral part of Telangana's culture. However, they were whisked away quickly by the security. Prabhu, Brahmanandam, Vennela Kishore and Jayasudha have played important roles in the film. Shiva has directed the film and this is his first project with Ravi Teja and Taapsee. Vijay Anthony has composed the music. Daruvu will hit the screens on May 4.

@RanaDaggubati Doctors from the Emergency have now become a part of the #KVJ shooting crew ;-)

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

METRE

6 221

Chris Gayle (RR)

15 4S485

Ajinkya Rahane (RR)

103

HIGHEST SCORE

Ajinkya Rahane (RR)

BEST BOWLER

5-16

Ravindra Jadeja (CSK)

Daredevils, Bulls to clash I have always believed that if we play to our potential, we are a strong side to beat. The way we restricted them was an excellent effort on such a flat wicket.

G Aparna Sai feedback@postnoon.com

Gautam Gambhir KKR Captain

Ajinkya Rahane (RR) 304 runs

Munaf Patel (MI) 10 wickets

Sohail questions BCCI F

ormer Test captain Aamir Sohail has called on the PCB and the government to ensure participation of Pakistani players in the Indian Premier League. Sohail, a former chief selector and now a well-known cricket analyst and commentator, said while the IPL was a domestic event of the Indian board but it was sad that only Pakistani players were missing from the ongoing competition. "Players from all over the world are invited to take part in the competition. Why should only Pakistani players continue to be kept out of the IPL," he questioned. "The PCB and even the government should find out the cause for this issue.”

P W L T PT NR RR 6 4 2 0 8 0.646 DD 4 3 1 0 6 1.099 KKR 6 3 3 0 6 0.438 PW 5 3 2 0 6 0.342 MI 5 3 2 0 6 -0.088 CSK 5 2 3 0 4 -0.108 KXIP 5 2 3 0 4 -0.633 RCB 5 2 3 0 4 -0.80 DC 3 0 3 0 0 -1.366 P-played; W-win; L-lost; T-tie; NR-net run rate; PT-points

DC VS DD AT 4 PM ON SET MAX

t will be an irony of sorts when two teams with ontrasting fortunes clash today in Delhi. While the Delhi Daredevils are comfortably placed at the second position on the points table, a rung below the Rajasthan Royals, Deccan Chargers are yet to make any progress as they seem to have literally hit rock bottom, having failed to register a single win in the fifth season of the IPL. Delhi have won all their matches but one this season. Though not considered as the strongest team on paper, yet they have silenced all their critics with their allround performance. Their bowling has been upto the mark while their fielding and batting have not disappointed. While the Daredevils are on a high, the

Bulls have a completely different tale to narrate. They failed miserably in their first game when they clashed with Chennai Super Kings. Chasing a formidable 193, the Chargers were left struggling at 119 to lose the match by 74 runs. The Bulls got their act together in their next clash against Mumbai Indians. But they lost their way in last over which saw some stunning shots of Rohit Sharma cross the boundary rope to seal the match in the latter’s favour. A near similar repeat of events took place when the Chargers took on Rajasthan Royals two days ago. Posting a formidable total of 196, the Bulls failed to defend this total losing the match with two balls to spare. While Delhi would go into this match with a lot of confidence, the Chargers are left with little choice but to win this match as any other result would certainly jeopardize their position.

SCORECARD KINGS XI PUNJAB V KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS Kings XI Punjab innings AC Gilchrist*† not out 40 PC Valthaty c † Bisla b Lee 8 SE Marsh c † Bisla b Lee 33 Mandeep Singh c Bhatia b Balaji 6 DJ Husseyrun out (McCullum/†Bisla) 10 P Dogra c Kallis b Narine 6 AD Mascarenhas c Tiwary b Bhatia 9 PP Chawla b Narine 9 Extras (lb 1, w 2) 3 Total (7 wickets; 20 overs) 124 Bowling O M R W Econ B Lee 4 0 26 2 6.50 JH Kallis 3 0 23 0 7.66 SP Narine 4 0 24 2 6.00 L Balaji 4 0 20 1 5.00 YK Pathan 1 0 7 0 7.00 R Bhatia 4 0 23 1 5.75

Kolkata Knight Riders innings (target: 125 runs from 20 overs) BB McCullum c Mascarenhas b Chawla G Gambhir* not out MS Bisla† b Chawla JH Kallis not out Extras (lb 4, w 1) Total (2 wickets; 16.3 overs) Bowling O P Kumar 3 AD Mascarenhas 4 Harmeet Singh 2 PP Chawla 4 BA Bhatt 3.3

M 1 0 0 0 0

R 23 23 26 19 32

15 66 11 30 5 127

W Econ 0 7.66 0 5.75 0 13.00 2 4.75 0 9.14

CSK looks for revenge Rajesh Ravindran rajesh.r@postnoon.com

Kolkata Knight Riders won by 8 wickets

hree defeats from five games, two victories against teams that lag them in points, very unbecoming of a team that's become champions twice in a row. But Chennai Super Kings and their fans have seen this before. They appear shaky at times but when it matters most they do what's required. What's giving them confidence is the fact that they are back on their home ground. And they take on Pune Warriors from whom they suffered a surprise defeat. Their batsmen handled the Warrirors pace battery, but when it came to handling the spin triumvirate of the

Pune Warriors, they fumbled and paid for it. But now the scene's different. It's the Warriors who are on the backfoot now. SuperKings come with their spirits high following a thrilling victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore to whom the Warriors bowed. But

CSK vs PWI at 8pm on Set Max CSK has two things worrying them at the moment. Skipper MS Dhoni's participation is doubtful following a slight hamstring pull, and Albie Morkel has left for South Africa over presonal reasons. If Warriors’ skipper Sourav Ganguly is as shrewd as he is known, he would have noticed that he has a matchwinner in Ashok Dinda, who bowls superbly even in tight spots.

97 DAYS TO GO THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

China remains modest BEIJING: A top Chinese sports official has played down expectations at the London Olympics, saying it will be tough to repeat the medaltable-topping performance of four years ago on home soil. "Based on a study of the past five Games, the host country wins record high medals at their home Olympics, but their medal total drops dramatically at the next edition," said Cai Zhenhua, vice minister of sports. "Because a number of Olympic and world champions retired after the Beijing Games, a younger generation will form the bulk of the Chinese Olympic legion," Cai told the state Xinhua news agency. "Some of our young athletes lack international exposure and consistency, so we cannot be very optimistic about their performances," said Cai, with the Games less than 100 days away. At the 2008 Beijing Games, China won 51 gold, 21 silver and 28 bronze to top the medal table for the first time. China's rise as a world

Yevgeny wins Ntl title MOSCOW: Russian swimming team skipper Yevgeny Korotyshkin clinched the national title in the men's 100-metre butterfly on the second day of the country's championships here on Wednesday. The 28-year-old short-course world record-holder at this distance clocked a time of 52.07sec to win the right to represent Russia at the 2012 Olympics in London later this year. Nikolai Skvortsov, who finished second (52.08), will also compete at London. In the championships, which also double as Olympic qualifiers, Alexander Tikhonov of Moscow also obtained a ticket to London.

GAMES IN BRIEF Murmurs over inviting Syrian Olympics chief LONDON: Britain said on Wednesday it had the power to stop Syria's Olympic chief attending the London 2012 Games but stressed that it would not be an endorsement of the regime if he was permitted to come. Britain has been at the forefront of international condemnation of Damascus over its bloody 13-month crackdown on protests, including supporting European Union travel bans on members of President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Townsend misses ticket to London DURBAN: Former Olympic gold

sports power has been attributed to generous state funding for training in less prestigious sports such as weight-lifting, shooting, rowing, judo, taekwondo and fencing. The country has also consistently done well in diving, table tennis, gymnastics and badminton, but has failed to shine

in the blue-ribbon events such as football, basketball, swimming and track and field. "The United States has maintained its overall strength, and countries like Russia and Britain have increased their input in sports, while China is less competitive in some sports," Cai was quoted as say-

ing. "Our target for 2012 is just to remain in the lead pack on the gold medal table. "We will face strong challenges in London. It won't be an easy job." China is expecting to send up to 380 athletes to London. AFP

For Chinese, porkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a no-no BEIJING: Chinese athletes are swearing off meat ahead of the London Olympics out of fear that domestic pork, beef and lamb could contain substances banned under antidoping rules, a report said Wednesday. They are instead relying on protein powder and fish to meet the high protein needs of top-class athletes, the Yangtze Evening News reported, as China goes after another successful haul of medals. At least 196 competitors under China's National Aquatics Centre, which governs swimming, diving and other water sports, have been off meat for the past 40 days, the report said. The London

Games are 100 days away. China's food production industry is notorious for frequent scandals involving producers who illegally or excessively use various additives in the raising of livestock. Authorities are particularly concerned that athletes could

unwittingly consume clenbuterol, which is banned for food production in China but has been found in contaminated pork. Clenbuterol can speed up muscle-building and fat-burning to produce leaner meat but has also been used by athletes as a performanceenhancer. It is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. China's 2008 Olympic women's judo gold medallist Tong Wen was banned in 2010 for two years for testing positive for the substance. Chinese media reported earlier this year that national sports authorities had banned athletes from consuming meat outside of state training facilities.

medalist Darian Townsend had mixed emotions after winning the 200 metres freestyle Wednesday at the South African national swimming championships. His time of one minute 47.88 seconds was good enough to finish first, but 0.06 seconds outside the qualifying mark for the 2012 Olympic Games in London during July and August. Townsend, who won gold at the 2004 Athens Games in the 4x100m relay with Roland Schoeman, Lyndon Ferns and Ryk Neethling, will get further chances this week to get a ticket.

Vogt and Royg get wild cards for Games LONDON: Stephanie Vogt of Liechtenstein and Paraguay's Veronica Cepede Royg were on Wednesday handed the first two wildcards for the London Olympics tennis tournament at Wimbledon. Vogt was awarded a second invitation having had to withdraw from the Beijing Olympics though injury. The world number 258, who has played 12 Fed Cup ties, will be the first from Liechtenstein to compete in the Olympics.

Greece to keep historic Games trophy SYDNEY: The trophy awarded to Spyridon Louis for winning the inaugural Olympic marathon at the Athens 1896 Games will remain in Greece after a foundation bought it at a London auction on Wednesday. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation paid ÂŁ541,250 (655,454 euros, $861,129) for the Breal's Silver Cup during a sale at Christie's auction house.

Playing Field

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

The games people play

She started fencing for fun, now she’s a champ zenship. Because of which she represents India and not the US. It was during her 10th grade that she took up the sport for some entertainment but soon found herself on the path of carving a niche in the world of fencing. She was made the captain of her school (West Windsor Plainsboro High School, North) team in her 12th grade. She later went onto win the gold in the North American Division II games. Staying in one country and representing another, though exciting, is also a hindrance on more instances than one for this teenager. There have been situations where she felt neglected by the team and coaches; there have been times when coaches promoted other players but left her out. But this did not deter the young fencer’s dreams and is now glad with the team she currently plays with. An aspiring student of medicine, Mounica has many hurdles to cross to be able to play this sport, yet her love for the game takes precedence and this helps her play it every single moment she can.

G Aparna Sai feedback@postnoon.com

t is certainly a known fact that each one of us have nurtured dreams since our childhood and these include a few big ones. But it is only a few of them who manage to realise their dreams. While many out there prefer terming these dreamers as lucky, it is only they who fulfill them know about the hard work that has gone into making their dreams come true like in the case of fencer, Mounica Paturu. Currently representing India in the Epee event in the Second South Asian Fencing Championship, this fencer has participated in the Commonwealth Junior Fencing Tournament held in England earlier this year and won the third place. She then took part in the World Fencing Championships held in Russia but saw a drop in her performance as a bout of food poisoning left her indisposed. Unlike her counterparts, the 17-year-old player has lived in America for a major part of her life. Though a green card holder, Mounica is yet to get an American citi-

Oz takes lead even as rain stops play PORT OF SPAIN: Australia built up a lead of 127 runs over the West Indies on the fourth day of the second Test before heavy rain swamped the Queen's Park Oval and play was abandoned on Wednesday. Only 30 overs of Australia's second innings — and just 10 after lunch — had been possible before the rain came in the middle of the afternoon. When play was called off, Australia were 73 for three, with Ricky Ponting 32 not out and skipper Michael Clarke on three.

Seamer Kemar Roach, who took five wickets in the first innings, had taken all three wickets to fall. "I had my plans, it's a matter of executing," said Roach. "I know where I have a better chance of getting them out now so I'll be working hard in the nets to keep being accurate and consistent. Hopefully I'll keep blasting through the top order."The West Indies had added just four more runs to their overnight 253 for nine before Carlton Baugh missed a sweep shot off spinner Michael Beer that struck him

on the pad. Beer's lbw appeal was turned down but Australia successfully reviewed the decision. Baugh had made 21 and West Indies had lost their last six wickets for just 27 runs to be dismissed for 257, meaning they trailed by 54 after the first innings. Fidel Edwards opened the bowling as Australia batted again, but West Indies immediately used spin at the other end, with Shane Shillingford taking the new ball. Edwards, who had bowled with little luck in the

first innings, should have made the opening breakthrough. The first delivery of his second over was edged by Ed Cowan and went straight to Darren Sammy at first slip but the captain put it down and neither he nor wicketkeeper Baugh could quite grab the rebound. Roach replaced Edwards and his second delivery moved off the seam and David Warner's edge was held by Darren Bravo at second slip with the opener having made 17 and the total at 26.

WORLD SPORT Bader takes lead Beth Bader fired a fourunder par 68 on Wednesday to seize a one-shot lead over a quartet of players, including Taiwan's Yani Tseng, at the inaugural LPGA Lotte Championship. Bader, without a victory in 13 LPGA Tour seasons, teed off on 10 and had five birdies — including three in a row from the par-five fifth — before closing with a bogey at the par-four ninth at Ko Olina, where winds gusted up to 30 miles.

Golf

“

I trust in the FIA that they know all the information so we have to trust in their decision. Jenson Button, McLaren driver

Chiefs face tough test Super 15 leaders Waikato Chiefs face a challenge of "Test-match" intensity from the Coastal Sharks on Saturday as the ninth week of action rustles up a round with little margin for error. Four teams are within striking distance of the Chiefs while teams as far down as the 10th-placed NSW Waratahs have a chance of finishing the weekend in the all-important top six. The Chiefs continue their tough South African schedule against the improving Sharks.

Rugby

is Paul Pierce's tally including a key jump shot with 7.6 seconds remaining on Wednesday as Boston beat Orlando 102-98 to clinch the NBA Atlantic Division title. Pierce, who also handed out a career-high 14 assists, helped the Celtics overcome the absence of Rajon Rondo, who was still nursing a sore back.

‘J-league needs a Messi’ Football Argentine great Osvaldo

"Ossie" Ardiles urged JLeague clubs to spend big to lure the "very, very best" — even Barcelona's Lionel Messi — and warned they were now losing out to deep-pocketed China. The World Cup-winner and Tottenham Hotspur cult hero said the Japanese top division was very different from its glory days, when top stars such as Zico, Dunga and Gary Lineker went there late in their careers.

Playing Field

THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012

The games people play

Blood and money split F1 in Bahrain MANAMA: Formula One’s carefree millionaires come face-to-face with bloody, civil strife this weekend when the sport defies large sections of international opinion by racing at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The fourth round of the world championship returns to the Sakhir circuit, a year after it was cancelled due to the bitter political and sectarian strife which continues to rock the Gulf kingdom. Tensions have been mounting ahead of Sunday’s race. Protests have seen hundreds of people carrying banners calling for a boycott and a demonstration was staged near Bahrain’s international airport as

the teams began arriving in the Sunniruled kingdom. “Our demand: Freedom not Formula,” read one banner. “We are human without rights,” said another. The F1 circus has closed ranks, however, following the decision to proceed with the race taken last weekend by the sport’s ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA). Former world champion Jenson Button spoke for the majority when he claimed he had confidence in the organisers. “I trust in the FIA that they know all the information so we have to trust in their decision. I don’t think they will

ever want to put us at risk. They do a lot on safety for drivers,” said the McLaren driver. “That’s a priority for them. If everything is straightforward and nothing happens, it’s not even going to be in the back of my mind at all.” But Australia’s Mark Webber said the extra security arrangements laid on by the besieged authorities can’t guarantee total serenity. “I’ve tried to watch the news to get a balanced view of the Bahrain situation,” said Webber at last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. “I want to race but you can’t ignore what’s going on and we all hope things go smoothly.”

Ugly Chelsea beat beautiful Barça D

idier Drogba scored the only goal as Chelsea stunned holders Barcelona to score a 10 upset victory in their Champions League semi-final first-leg match here on Wednesday. Drogba left Chelsea dreaming of advancing to their first final since 2008 in next week’s return leg at Camp Nou after pouncing on the stroke of halftime as Barcelona suffered their first European reverse of the season. Drogba’s goal was Chelsea’s only attempt on target in a match where Barcelona carved out chance after chance only to be denied by some desperate defending by their Premier League opponents. “It’s a good result. Now we will go there and try and qualify,” said Drogba. “I am happy to play these games. We have had difficult times, but now we are winning games.” Skipper John Terry said the performance was one of Chelsea’s best in the tournament. “We had to ve very patient. They are a great side and we had to work hard in midfield,” said Terry. “Didier gave a tireless performance up front on his own. He works like a Trojan.” Chelsea boss Roberto di Matteo praised his side. “It was almost perfect. It’s a great result for us,” said the manager. “When you play Barcelona you have to do a lot of defending and they have all the possession, you have to limit their threat and be clinical when you get your chances.” Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola meanwhile said the defeat had left Chelsea as favourites to advance to next month’s final in Munich.

Barcelona’s goalie Victor Valdes (L) with Chelsea’s Ivorian forward Didier Drogba (R) during the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg football match between Chelsea and Barcelona. AFP/LLUIS GENE “They are favourites,” Guardiola said. “They have a good result but at least we have the challenge to play 90 minutes more. And in that time we have the opportunity to create chances. But 1-0 is a very good result for them.” Chelsea had taken the lead in

DROGBA’S GOAL WAS CHELSEA’S ONLY ATTEMPT ON TARGET IN A MATCH WHERE BARCELONA CARVED OUT CHANCE AFTER CHANCE BUT NOTHING FRUCTIFIED.

first-half injury-time after an opening 45 minutes in which they had been comprehensively outplayed. Frank Lampard released Ramires down the left flank with a superb cross-field pass and the Brazilian threaded his pass across the area to Drogba, who

swept a low shot past scrambling Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes. Until then, Chelsea had been clinging on as Barcelona dominated for long periods with their customary slick passing game. The Catalans might have taken the lead after only nine minutes when Andres Iniesta picked out Alexis Sanchez with a delightful chipped pass, only for the Chilean international’s lob over Petr Cech to hit the bar. Chelsea, who had opted for the muscular presence of Drogba in attack ahead of Fernando Torres, signalled their intentions early on, pumping a series of long balls forward for the Ivorian. However, genuine chances for Chelsea were few and far between while at the other end Cech was working overtime in the face of a relentless Barca. Cech had to be alert on 18 minutes after Lionel Messi darted into the box and cut back for Iniesta, whose fierce low shot was well saved by the Chelsea custodian before Cesc Fabregas scuffed his follow-up wide. Fabregas tested Cech soon afterwards, his angled shot beaten away on 26 minutes. Cech was pressed into action two minutes later, saving after Messi met a Sanchez cross with a downward header. A goal seemed a certainty two minutes from the half-time when Messi won the ball in midfield and raced forwards menacingly. The Argentinian threaded his pass through to Fabregas, who dinked his shot over the advancing Cech. The former Arsenal star’s effort just appeared to be spinning in but Ashley Cole was on hand to hook the ball clear. That appeared to be the final twist of the half until Drogba’s dramatic strike shot Chelsea into the lead two minutes into time added on.