Postnoon E-Paper for 23 June 2012 by Scribble Media & Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

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JUNE 23, 2012 HYDERABAD

police. e h t y sted b e arrested. u b s a ouse w workers wer h m r a f iglipur n and 20 sex P a t a me arty Fifteen A sex p REPORT ON PG 3

SEX ON THE FARM S

yria confirmed it had shot down a Turkish F-4 over its territory, sparking a fresh crisis between the two countries. The Turkish government has been locked in an emergency meeting to decide on a response. PG 7

FL ASH IS THIS DEPP’S NEW SQUEEZE?

e all love the gorgeous Amber Heard. But when freshly-single Johnny Depp (Heard’s Rum Diary co-star) bought the 26-year-old a horse recently, one thinks that there could be more brewing than just innocent horseplay.

ON SATURDAY

T US E

ARE THE DRUMS OF WAR BEATING?

32 PAGES

GERMAN FOURPLAY LEAVES GREECE BREATHLESS

ermany booked their place in the last four of Euro 2012 as Joachim Löw’s side hammered Greece 4-2 after dominating their quarter-final. Germany ran riot as captain Lahm, Khedira, Klose and Reus got onto the scoresheet. PG 31

PAGE TWO SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

BARE NECESSITIES DEEPAK DESHPANDE

Hyderabad Library services Library and librarian services offered to members and groups (institutions) at `3,650 per year (per member). It covers study, career, competition, business of research. Welcome to APSET enrolled. Where: Hyderabad library services, Sagar View Complex When: June 9 to July 8, Contact: (040) 2322 2247, 94412 37751

No Jazz, a funky, rocking Parisian electro-jazz five-piece dance band. The band mixes the original celebratory spirit of jazz with hypnotic rhythms and contemporary sounds. Where: Taj Deccan, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: June 25, 7.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 6652 3939

The play Hatt Teri Kismat is a political satire and a story of power. This story focusses on two characters one of a corrupt chief minister and the other of a common man. Where: Lamakaan, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: June 23, 7.30pm onwards Contact: 96427 31329

Aar Paar Guru Dutt’s comedy movie Aar Paar will be screened at Prasad’s Film Lab Preview Theatre on Sunday, June 24. Where: Prasad’s Preview Theatre, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: June 24, 11pm onwards Contact: (040) 2360 8015

Beginners Beginners, a movie by Mike Millis which is based on the, surprises and confusion about love will be screened at Sri Sarathi Studios on June 28. Where: Sri Sarathi Studios, Ameerpet When: Ongoing, 10am-7pm Contact: (040) 23732050

Chai pakoda

Where: YMCA Secunderabad, West Marredpally When: June 18-June 29 Contact: 98490 07736, 99595 57183

It’s monsoon. How we love to sit by the window sill, with a plate of hot pakodas and some chai. Arena at Taj Deccan brings that feeling to you every evening 3pm-7pm. Where: Taj Deccan, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: Ongoing, 3pm to7pm Contact: (040) 6666 393

Gods of Carnage

For the environment

Album launch

Sacred vanity

tain themselves. Where: Nift Auditorium, Madhapur When: June 23, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 2311 4537

Recent works by Rasika Reddy titled Sacred Vanity will be displayed at Kalakrithi Art Gallery from July 2 onwards. Where: Kalakrithi Art Gallery, Banjara Hills, Rd No 10 When: July 2 onwards, 11am onwards Contact: (040) 6656 4466

At the ark

Manoranjan tax-free

Madhubani workshop

The play Manoranjan-Tax-free, presented by ‘Sifar’ Theatre Group showcases a group of blind men trying to overcome their physical disability with an open-minded perspective towards life, and also about their fervent efforts to enter-

CINEMAS

The book launch of Romance on Facebook, a romantic novel reviving the old teenage spark with the help of a social networking site written by Amrita Priya will be held. Where: Oxford Bookstore, The Park, Somajiguda When: June 23, 6pm onwards Contact: 916014 8444

No Jazz

Hatt teri kismat

Mumbai-based band Blakc will be releasing its sophomore album Mothered land at Hard Rock Cafe, Banjara Hills on June 28. Where: Hard Rock Cafe, Banjara Hills, Rd No 1 When: July 28, Contact: (040) 6463 6375

Romance on Facebook

At the ark at eight is the story of the journey of three penguins who get tickets to sail on Noah’s ark. Where: Nift Auditorium, Madhapur When: June 24, 7pm onwards Contact: (040) 2311 4537 The YMCA Secunderabad is hosting a madhubani painting workshop. The workshop is being felicitated by an artist from Madhubani. A part of the fees earned through the workshop will be used to train underprivileged women in this form of painting.

The play deals with two set of parents who meet to discuss their children’s scuffle in a park. The conversation moves from civilised to childlike chaos. Where: Telugu University, Nampally When: July 24, 11pm onwards Contact: (040) 2329 7293

Japanese food fest Take a trip to Tokyo as you relish authentic Japanese cuisine. This Japanese food festival is on. Where: Ohri’s Far East, Banjara Hills When: Ongoing Contact: (040) 2330 2200

Waste as development aid,a film dealing with recycling and the third world countries will be shown at Goethe-Zentrum on June 24. Where: Goethe-Zentrum, Banjara Hills, Rd No 3 When: July 24, 5.30pm onwards Contact: (040) 2335 0443

Friends with bird A patining exhibition by artist Pallavi Wallunj is being held. Where: Colours Art Gallery, Chikoti Gardens When: Ongoing, 10am-7pm Contact: 93470 01275

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

CITY SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

Chain snatched

woman, Yadamma, was robbed by two unidentified people on Friday evening at Autonagar under Vanasthalipuram police station limits. Yadamma was walking to her relative’s house when two bike-borne men dashed past her and snatched her gold chain weighing four tolas. As it happened so fast, she was unable to note down the number of the vehicle.

Girl commits suicide

Left to launch stir

angamma, a class VIII student reportedly committed suicide by setting herself ablaze at her residence under the Ibrahimpatnam police station limits. Preliminary police investigation says that the girl was upset about the inability of her parents to buy her books. Her parents are labourers and hence could not afford them, it is said.

he Left parties— CPI and CPM are gearing up to launch a Statewide agitation against the liquor policy of the State government. The agitations will be organised along with Lok Satta party. The new policy based on drawing lot for licensing shops is fraught with dangers of liquor syndicates becoming more powerful. The leaders will hold a meeting today.

Police bust sexual high jinx

N SHIVA KUMAR

Piglipur farmhouse was the venue of a sex party last night, but the police spoiled the ‘festivities’ and took into custody 15 men and 20 sex workers

Mohd Subhan

mohd.s@postnoon.com

ifteen men, most of them said to be in the realty sector, along with 20 sex workers from different states, were arrested from a sprawling farm house at Piglipur, some 40 km from the City, where a sex party was to start at midnight. Of the men arrested, one happens to be a German working in Hyderabad. Hayathnagar police of the Cyberabad commissionerate raided the farm house just before midnight based on a tip off from some people in the neighbourhood. It is said that people had seen unusual activities going on in the farm house and informed the police. Piglipur’s abutting forested land, is

an isolated place hence the party organisers chose it, says Hayathnagar police inspector G Srinivas Kumar. He said the men were high and girls were dressed in skimpy clothes with loud music playing. The sex workers were brought from different places in the country — eight are from Andhra Pradesh, six from Delhi, five from Mumbai, and one from Sikkim. Their ages vary from 20 to 28 years. The girls were procured by a broker who is known to girls as ‘Mama’ only. It is said that he dropped them at the site yesterday and left. Each was promised `1,000 a night, police said. Later, the police seized 15 cars and SUVs belonging to the men. The police avoided giving out identities of the men involved, except for the German’s.

Psoriasis is a common chronic auto immune inflammatory skin disease marked by circumscribed scaly macules affecting chiefly the extensor surfaces of the body characterised by thickening of the epidermis, tortuous and dilated blood vessels, sharply demarcated erythematous plaque with silvery white scale. The three cardinal signs of psoriasis are plaque elevation, erythema and scales. Clinically psoriasis can be divided into several types: Gutted, Chronic Plaque, Pustular, Erythroderma, Nail Psoriasis, Flexural, Arthropathy psoriasis. n Guttate psoriasis occurs in children, adolescents, and youngsters. It manifests as an erythematous, papular eruption on the trunk. n Chronic plaque (psoriasis vulgaris) form comprising approximately 90 per cent of cases. Sharply demarcated erythematous silvery scaling plaques occur most commonly on the elbows, knees, scalp, sacral, and groin. n Pustular psoriasis is also an acute psoriatic eruption. The patient presents with fever and small painful sterile pustules. It can be localised to the palms and soles or it can be generalised and potentially life-threatening. n Erythrodermic psoriasis, also life threatening, involves the entire body and can result in hypothermia, hypoalbuminemia, anaemia, infection and cardiac failure. n Psoriatic nail disease occurs in approximately 50 per cent of patients. RISK FACTORS n Family history. Perhaps the most significan’t risk factor for psoriasis is having a family history of the disease. About 40 per cent patients have a family history. n Stress. Because stress can impact your immune system. n Obesity. Excess weight increases your risk of inverse psoriasis. n Smoking. Tobacco not only increases your risk

of psoriasis but also may increase the severity of the disease. n Viral and bacterial infections. People with HIV are more likely to develop psoriasis. Children and youngsters with recurring infections also may be at increased risk. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Skin is a primary lymphoid organ with an effective immunological surveillance system equipped with antigen presenting cells, cytokine synthesising keratinocytes, granulocytes, fibroblasts, and non-Langerhans cells. Together these cells communicate by means of cytokine secretion and respond via stimulation by bacteria, chemical, UV light, and other factors. Generally, this is a controlled process unless there is some prolonged continues disturbance which leads to imbalanced cytokine production leads to psoriasis. CLINICAL FEATURE Psoriasis signs and symptoms vary. Psoriasis is characterised by the development of erythematous (reddish), well defined, scaly, papules and plaques. Pustular psoriasis can be life threatening. COMPLICATION Depending on the type and location and how widespread the disease is, psoriasis can cause complications. These include; thickened skin and bacterial infections, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, low self-esteem, depression, stress, anxiety, social isolation. If you have psoriasis, you’re at greater risk of developing certain diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease and cancers. DIAGNOSIS Physical examination — carefully examining skin, scalp, fingernails, and toenails for reddening or scaling skin that is characteristic of psoriasis. Small pits on the fingernails are also signs of psoriasis. TREATMENT IN HOMOEOPATHY Based on case analysis, Genetic constitutional medicine is given along with other genetic combination medicines, which work on genetic level and therefore progress of disease and complications are nullified and leads to cure.

Dr. Nitin Hundre, Genetic Homoeopathy, Kondapur & Dilshuknagar, Hyderabad-60, Ph:- 8125 108 108, 9133 180 108

CITY SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

Illegal tankers bleed City

For those who don’t want to wait for the HMWS&SB’s water tankers, there’s always the private tankers that come for a staggering `1,000. The catch; they are illegal SRINIVAS SETTY

OSAMA SALMAN

salman.o@postnoon.com

n the backyard of the posh Madhapur area, on the road leading to Inorbit Mall from Jubilee Hills, flourishes a very profitable business. The small asbestos covered shed in a barren 600 square yard plot might not look as prosperous at first sight, but in reality, it is a pot of gold. The business is that of tankers supplying water, illegal of course, but minting money nonetheless. In the guise of private water tanker suppliers, many tankers, with names that range from Sai Water Supply to Sai Krishna Water Supply, the trucks are filled to the brim and sent off to supply to private residences and apartments. The price of each tanker? A staggering `1,000 for 5,000 litres. On the other hand, a tanker supplied by the HMWS&SB costs only `400. This activity is not hidden from prying eyes. In fact, the water tankers are filled with water in the open. Beside this plot, there are two other empty plots. Only here, the pipe that starts from where the tankers are filled, stretches to the third plot where there is a water tank. The water is pumped from

the water tank to the truck. In front of the shed, there is almost always a tanker waiting to be filled. A dhoti clad middle-aged man runs the show here. He helps the tankers fill up water and acts like a caretaker. His name: Jagdish. We approached Jagdish as a customer and asked him if he supplies to other areas apart from Madhapur. “No,” he said, “We supply only to Madhapur.”

When we said that we are ready to pay a little extra, over the price of a water tanker, Jagdish still did not agree. “We supply as much as 10 tankers a day and charge `1,000 for each,” he claimed. Ten tankers, and this when the monsoons have hit the City. In summers, that number went as high as 30. Finally, when we asked if this is illegal, Jagdish promptly dodged the question saying, “This is private.” “Illegally filling up water

tankers and selling them is an age old thing in the City. I pass by this area on my way to office every day. I spot at least two tankers carrying water day in and day out. I sometimes wonder if this will result in the bore wells drying up in the area. The worst part is that the residents nearby only promote this,” said G Kishan, an employee who works in Hitec City. At a time when people struggled with water problems, the

illegal water trade flourished, and keeps flourishing. Will this ever come to the notice of the authorities? Neelam Ravinder, corporator of Serlingampally, under whom the Madhapur area falls, said that he is not aware of the illegal tanker trade. “I will get it checked immediately, and if found guilty, we will take action. Once I check, I will get back to you,” he assured. A little too late, perhaps?

Aarogyashri is sick, insured suffer Kali Dayanand thought he was covered under the Aarogyashri medical scheme, but when he required a life-saving neurosurgery he found out otherwise... here’s his story Rahul Ramakrishna rahul.r@postnoon.com

ali Dayanand is a fruit-vendor from Puranapul, Pardiwada, with a tenuous financial background. He’s married and has two daughters. Tragedy struck his family when Kali Dayanand, suffered a brain haemorrhage on June 13. He was admitted to the Care hospital, Nampally, where the family’s troubles began. Being a beneficiary of the Aarogyashri scheme, he was entitled to all health care including neurosurgery and neurological treatment if need be. But he was refused treatment as the medical authority said that his particular case was not covered under the scheme and demanded that the family pay up. After a violent outburst by Dayanand’s neighbours and family, the doctors decided to oper-

ate upon him after taking an initial deposit amount of `15,000. He was operated on Thursday last but he was to remain in the hospital for six weeks. Meanwhile, the hospital began to bill him `20,000 per day. His cousin, Kali Sumanth Kumar said to Postnoon, “We have been given a bill of over `1 lakh so far and unless paid he will not be discharged. We are very poor. We collected money from the basti and that came to `20,000. More is impossible. It is unfair for the hospital to demand more from a poor man.” Dayanand’s family is at its wits’ end. A man moved by Dayanand’s plight lodged a case against the hospital with the State Human Rights Commission on June 21. While this is not an isolated case, it brings to fore that thee insured people suffer at the hands of the insurance compa-

WHILE AAROGYASHRI WAS DESIGNED WITH A NOBLE INTENTION, THE SCHEME HAS THROWN UP HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. MOST MAJOR HOSPITALS EMPANELLED WITH THE AAROGYASHRI BLUNTLY REFUSE TREATMENT FOR THE SICK BENEFICIARIES FOR ONE EXCUSE OR ANOTHER. nies and hospitals. The district officer of Aarogyashri, Srinivas, informed the family upon inquiry that the hospital has a history of cases of refusing treatment. While the Aarogyashri is a scheme designed with a noble

intention of taking off the medical worries from the poor, the scheme has thrown up hundreds of complaints. Most major hospitals empanelled with the Aarogyashri blandly refuse treatment for the sick beneficiaries for one excuse or another. The scheme’s insurance is backed by two private insurance companies. Dr G Sambhashiva Reddy, head of neurological department at Care explains, “While delaying treatment may depend on the doctor’s judgement, it is a common trend for most hospitals to not accept Aarogyashri beneficiaries for certain medical cases, like brain trauma or other neurological problems. That is because the fundamental operation cost is very high and its recovery is very little. Hence, a lot of the top multi-speciality hospitals avoid such medical cases.”

Despite neurology and neurosurgery being listed among the most important medical conditions that can be treated under the Aarogyashri scheme, everyday dozens of patients are refused their hope of treatment. Authorities at the hospital however say that the patient was admitted into the hospital only after being made aware of the fact that neurology is not covered under the Aarogyashri scheme. Dinesh, assistant manager at Care Hospital Nampally said, “Kali Dayanand was admitted with an IC clot in his head. We made his family aware of the fact that his case was not covered under Aarogyashri and yet they agreed to admit him by paying an initial deposit amount. Normally we advise patients and redirect them to other hospitals that have neurology covered under the Aarogyashri scheme.”

FOCUS SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

Adopt a Syrian rebel For just $1 a day, anyone can help a Syrian rebel oust President Bashar al-Assad Tracey Shelton

SYRIA: Ahmed Assi dodges bullets and missiles on a regular basis. The 24-year-old has been shot at, wounded, hunted down, imprisoned and tortured. He has spent many months camping in the Syrian mountains “Che Guevara style.” But Assi is not a rebel fighter. He is a Syrian journalist — with a political agenda. “I make my jihad by words, not by violence,” he said. His mission is not just to tell the world about the plight of Syria’s rebel forces, but also to raise money, which the rebels use to buy more of whatever they might need. Assi works for one of several dozen websites that have popped up in the last year to raise cash for activists and rebels working inside Syria to topple President Bashar alAssad. “We raise money for weapons, but armed conflict is not the objective — it is a necessity at this time,” explained Assi, who works with a team of volunteers on the shamfalcons.com website. “The

real value of my work will be after the revolution. Information is more powerful than a bullet.”But at $4 a bullet, the going rate inside Syria these days, it will take a lot of fundraising to power a revolution. Assi’s website posts news about the eight rebel battalions of Jabal al-Zawiya, known collectively as the Sham Falcons. Videos, photos and reports in English, French and Arabic

inform readers of checkpoint attacks, the seizure of armed vehicles and weapons, and the death of fallen comrades.Such stories are always followed with a plea to “donors, military experts and weapons merchants.” Abu Hajar, the website’s developer, said he now receives regular donations from within Syria and from a network of people abroad. Hajar said every-

thing is organized via Skype, which is encrypted, making it the “safest common form of long-distance communication in Syria.” The website is hosted outside of the country and material is uploaded via satellite connections using a virtual private network. “There are a lot of foreigners that want to come here to help us with our fight, but if they did they would be accused of being terrorists,” Hajar said. “So instead they send us money.” Many more websites like his are springing up to support Syrian rebel groups desperate for funding for everything from medicine and satellite internet devices to guns and missile launchers. Another website, Adopt a Revolution, is run by activists operating in Germany and Syria. It seems more like an international children’s aid group than a rebel fundraising organization. All it is missing is a pitch from Sally Struthers as the site pleads for regular sponsors of the “Syrian Spring.”“One activist in hiding

needs monthly about 100 euro for daily expenses,” the website reads. Elias Perabo, one of the websites founders, said the funds raised on their site are not used for weapons, but are instead focused on providing activists with the means of conveying what is taking place inside Syria. For this they need equipment, internet connections and safe houses. “We have three aims,” Perabo told GlobalPost in a Skype interview, “to bring support to the local communities in Syria, to bring activists abroad closer to Syrian issues and to build an emotional link so people here in Germany can connect with a Syrian community to understand the issues they are facing.” For the Sham Falcons, with an average price of $1,000 for a Kalashnikov rifle and $4 per bullet, the plea for funding is never ending. “Money is the heart of war,” Hajar said with a sigh. “Without it, we can not accomplish anything.” GLOBAL POST

NATION SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

PM in South Africa

Veteran journo BK is dead

urjor K Karanjia, renowned film journalist and former chairman of National Films Development Corporation (NFDC), popularly known as ‘BK’, died in Oune, a friend said. He was 92. Karanjia passed away late Friday evening. He is survived by two daughters and a son. Born and bred in Quetta, now in Pakistan, the Karanjia family moved to India after partition.

A resident throws an empty bucket to another resident for a refill of water as he helps extinguish a fire at a slum cluster in New Delhi on June 22, 2012. Around 100 dwellings were gutted in a fire at a slum cluster and in an adjoining scrapyard in the Indian capital June 22. No casualties have been reported thus far, according to local media reports. AFP/MANAN VATSYAYANA

44 Mumbai rave party accused face arrest tal after they were rounded up along with 46 others partying at Oakwood Premier Hotel on May 20. The rest were taken to JJ Hospital and Bhabha Hospital. The hospitals took urine and blood samples for alcohol presence testing and the same samples were also sent to Kalina Forensic Laboratory for drug tests. The results of 46 men were received today, police said. All those who tested positive would face arrest, another police official said, adding that the procedure to arrest

people rounded up during a high-profile rave party at a plush hotel in suburban Juhu last month have tested positive for drugs, making their arrest inevitable. “We have received samples for 46 of the 92 people who attended the sundown party at a hotel in Juhu last month. 44 of the 46 males tested positive for the drugs,” said police commissioner Arup Patnaik, but refused to divulge names. The results of the other 46 people, including two IPL cricketers, Wayne Parnell and Rahul Sharma (both played for Pune Warriors India), and 38 women, have not been received yet, he added. According to police, these 46 men were taken to the civic-run Cooper hospi-

ibyendu Nandi of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, has been awarded the prestigious Karen Harvey Prize for 2012. The first scientist from the Asia Pacific to get the prize, Nandy was awarded for his work in the use of kinematic dynamo models to explain the typical and atypical solar cycle.

K’taka minister resigns over illegal land

QUICK ACTION

MUMBAI: As many as 44 out of the 92

Indian scientist honoured

ndian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Pretoria late on Friday for a night halt on his way home after attending the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The Prime Minister will reach New Delhi Saturday. Manmohan Singh first took part in the meeting of G20 countries in Mexico before flying to Brazil.

BANGALORE: Karnataka minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development S Suresh Kumar resigned from his post today in the wake of charges that he had secured a residential site violating rules. “The minister has submitted his resignation letter (to the chief minister) and also written to the Bangalore Development Authority, surrendering the site allotted to him,” sources close to him told PTI here. Kumar decided to resign on moral grounds, they said. Gowda is yet to take a decision on Kumar’s resignation. Kumar was allotted a 4,000 sq feet site by the Bangalore Development Authority by former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa under the discretionary quota. He faced charges that he secured the allotment though his kin, including

his mother and daughter, who owned a house and two sites.

KUMAR WAS ALLOTTED A 4,000 SQ FEET SITE BY THE BANGALORE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BY FORMER CM S YEDDYURAPPA UNDER THE DISCRETIONARY QUOTA.

Kumar has confided to his confidants that he had disclosed these issues to the Lokayukta and that the site owned by his kin was not in the Bruhut Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (Corporation) limits. Kumar is perceived to be a man with a clean image in the political class in the PTI State.

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AMONG THE 44 WHO TESTED POSITIVE SO FAR, 27 HAD CONSUMED CANNABIS, ONE HAD MDMA WHILE 16 HAD CONSUMED MDMA AS WELL AS CANNABIS would start in a day or two. “There could be some foreigners and high-profile personalities among those who tested positive,” he said. Among the 44 who tested positive so far, 27 had consumed cannabis, one had MDMA (better known as ecstasy, a drug usually taken in pill form) while 16 had consumed MDMA as well as cannabis, PTI according to Patnaik.

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WORLD SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

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Sunita to return to space

A very rare birth indeed

ndian-American astronaut Sunita Williams is all set to return to the International Space Station, where she spent a record six months in 2006. Williams is currently making final preparations for a July 14 launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. She will be a flight engineer on the station’s Expedition 32 according to a Nasa announcement.

critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros gave birth Saturday at an Indonesian sanctuary — only the fourth birth in captivity in more than a century. Ratu gave birth to a male baby at 00.45 (1745 GMT Friday) on Saturday. Both the mother and the baby are all very well,”conservationist Widodo Ramono told AFP.

Phantom down! Drums of war?

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S.Korea, US launch naval exercise SEOUL: South Korea and the United States on Saturday launched a massive naval exercise in the tense Yellow Sea, ahead of the 62nd anniversary on Monday of the outbreak of the Korean War, a spokesman said. The three-day drill will involve 10 S Korean warships plus the USS George Washington aircraft carrier, 8,000 personnel and hundreds of combat aircraft, the defence ministry said. The joint naval drill, which comes amid high tensions on the peninsula, is conducted every AFP year.

DAMASCUS: Syria confirmed today, it had shot down a Turkish warplane over its territory, sparking a fresh crisis between the two countries, while accusing rebels of having massacred 25 of its supporters. UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan urged world powers to increase pressure on both sides in the Syrian conflict, which monitors say has cost more than 15,000 lives since March 2011. And UN aid officials said 1.5 million Syrians now needed their help, warning that the situation was still deteriorating. A Syrian military spokesman told the official news agency SANA that antiaircraft batteries opened fire on an “unidentified target” after it entered their airspace, bringing it down in

Syrian waters. They subsequently established it was a Turkish fighter and the two countries’ navies were now cooperating in an operation to find the two missing pilots, the agency reported. A short time earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a written statement saying Syria had shot down a Turkish fighter jet reported missing over the eastern Mediterranean on Friday. The statement came after an emergency meeting with military and intelligence chiefs and key ministers. “Turkey will announce its final position and take necessary steps with determination after the incident is entirely clarified,” Erdogan said. A spokesman for the UN

Secretary General Ban Kimoon said he was following the situation closely. “He hopes this serious incident can be handled with restraint by both sides through diplomatic channels,” said Martin Nesirky. The latest crisis will further test relations between the two neighbours, already strained over Erdogan’s outspoken condemnation of Syria’s bloody crackdown on anti-government protests. In the reported massacre, SANA, citing official provincial sources, said “armed terrorist groups... kidnapped a number of citizens in Daret Azzeh area in the countryside of Aleppo”.It added “The terrorist groups... committed a brutal massacre against the citizens... shooting them dead and then mutilating their bodies.” AFP

SATURDAY SCIENCE Nasa scientists reported last week that Voyager 1 may be very close to entering interstellar space and becoming the first human-made object to leave the Solar System. Here’s everything you need to know about our intergalactic pioneer. Launch date: 1977 Mission: To study the outer Solar System and interstellar medium. Operation time: 34 years, 9 months and 18 days as of June 23. Distance from Earth: 120 astronomical units (1.8x1010 km) as of February 2012 The cargo: Voyager carries a gold-plated audio-visual disc in the event that it is ever found by intelligent lifeforms from other planetary systems. The discs carry photos of the Earth and its lifeforms, a range of scientific information, spoken greetings and a medley, Sounds of Earth, that includes the sounds of whales, a baby crying, and a collection of music, including works by Mozart and Chuck Berry.

Refugee boat rescue off

Over 100 killed in Nigerian attacks

Obama attacks Romney on jobs

SYDNEY: Rescuers were making last efforts Saturday to hunt for survivors from a refugee boat accident off Australia’s Christmas Island as final hopes faded for some 90 people still missing. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said overnight searches of the sea north of remote Christmas Island had failed to find any more survivors, with the last living person plucked from the water late on Thursday night. The boat is believed to have originated in Sri Lanka and to have been carrying mostly Afghan asylum-seekers. The survivors include a 13-year-old boy. Around 90 peoAFP ple are still remain unaccounted for.

UNITED NATIONS: The UN human rights office has reported killing of over 100 people in Nigeria following attacks on churches by a radical Islamic group since last Sunday. The bombing attacks were carried out June 17 against churches in Nigeria’s northwestern Kaduna state. On June 18, Boko Haram, a militant Islamic sect that operates mainly in northern Nigeria and claimed responsibility for the attacks. “The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) says that more than 100 people have been killed in Nigeria since last Sunday after several churches were attacked by the Boko Haram group,” a spokesman said. AFP

WASHINGTON: On Friday President Barack Obama went into attack mode against his likely Republican rival. “Today it was reported in the Washington Post that the companies his firm owned were pioneers in the outsourcing of American jobs to places like China and India. Pioneers!” he said at a campaign rally on Friday in Tampa, Florida. Obama’s comments came hours after the Post reported that “Romney’s financial company, Bain Capital, invested in a series of firms that specialised in relocating jobs done by American workers to new facilities in low-wage countries like China AFP and India.”

COMMENT SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

Finally, some reaction

Leave no room for mishaps

t is good that at least now the media is waking up to the private bus mafia that has been operating without any challenge for over a decade in the city. They are a rule unto themselves and do not respect the road rules that govern everyone else. The ongoing raids must be followed up. Vijayanand Domalguda

t is a good thing you guys threw light on the illegal ways of the private bus operators. Hundreds of these massive and flashy vehicles operating daily like they own the roads is not a small deviation that the cops or RTA officials will miss. The culprits must be brought to book. Sanjay Reddy Gachibowli

EDITORIALS Readers’ views We invite you to write to us comments, suggestions, viewpoint or just about anything to feedback@postnoon.com or #1246, Level 3, Jubilee Casa, Road No 62, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad – 500 033

Three cheers for Ronaldo

true star raises the level of his performance when the situation demands. Cristiano Ronaldo has done just that in the quarterfinals of the Euro 2012 against Czech Republic. Drawing flak for underperforming in previous matches, he more than made up by scoring the winner. Md Majeedulla Khan Shantinagar

EDITORIALS THE WORLD WAITS with baited breath This could be the moment, a chance that fate offers for eventful things to happen. Syria has shot down one of Turkey’s warplanes with two crew members over the Mediterranean. The Syrian Defence Ministry explains its anti-aircraft gunners had hit an unidentified aircraft flying at “very low altitude and at high speed” over Syria’s territorial waters less than a mile offshore. It says the intruder was dealt with according to laws observed in such cases. Turkey— which has been one of Syria’s vociferous critics and has a history of hostility with it — has said it will react after being fully enlightened about the incident and then will take necessary actions. Syria is already burning under civil strife and with this it has put itself in a very precarious situation. Turkey seemed controlled in its reaction, but taking into account that the two nations don’t share any bonhomie, the world waits with baited breath for what is to follow. There has not been any news about what became of the pilots in the plane. If they have come to harm, then there may be a public outcry in Turkey that Syria must be taught a lesson. However, the world expects Turkey to show restraint for the moment. If war breaks out, all the work done till date by diplomats for Syrian people may go in vain.

WHY WE LOVE... Leander Paes The present crisis notwithstanding, Leander has been the mainstay of India’s Davis Cup chances for years, nope decades. In the 1993 Davis Cup quarter final against Arnaud Boetsche on clay — the very best slow clay the hosts could manage, to blunt India's artistry, still Leander Paes won.

How insecure are you? Soul Curry SUMAA TEKUR

ocial beings that we are, we instinctively catch on to the grapevine (or it finds us) for spicy stories of people we know, or many times don’t even know. Just last week, I overheard my house help talking to another member from the building’s housekeeping staff. They were discussing, in hush tones and in graphic detail, the lax attitude of Swamy, the security guard currently on night duty. “The advocate from flat 204 gets home from work at 12.30 am or later every night. This lazy man would be so drunk and asleep, he doesn’t even do his duty of opening the gate. The poor ‘saar’ has to get down from the car and open the gate himself,” one lady said to the other. The second woman

replied: “No, actually it’s Chandran’s fault. He hasn’t taught Swamy his duties…” Swamy was a wafer-thin uniformed security guard, who looked like a watered down version of Salman Khan in Dabangg, except one would wonder how capable he is of protecting the entrance to some 30-odd houses when it seemed like one strong wind was enough to blow him away. Swamy’s most visible manly feature was his moustache (Yes, just like the one Salman Khan sported in Dabangg but the similarity of physical features ends there). Later that morning, I asked my house help about Swamy and Chandran and what was brewing between the two. And so the grapevine spread when she told me this: “Chandran has been working in this building as a security guard for many years. He has become a default Man Friday for many house owners here. He knows the workings of this apartment and knows how to solve problems.” She continued: “But he has one major problem – night

blindness. So he cannot do night duty. That deprives him of the extra money he can make from overnight charges. But, he makes up for it by working hard during the day.” I asked her: “So what is the problem?” The house help explained: “Chandran doesn’t want to train Swamy or any other security guard and teach them all their duties properly because he is insecure.” She said that Chandran thinks that if Swamy learns the job well, he would do it better than him. This would make Chandran lose his importance in the building, especially given his night blindness. This is Chandran’s way of dealing with his own insecurity and thinking he is surviving. I thought about this later during the day and realized that Chandran has his reasons for denying Swamy his right. It’s true that Chandran is the most popular of all security guards that rotate on shifts. When there was a leaking tap in my bathroom, I called Chandran to fix it. When I wanted my plants watered when I was out of town, I asked Chandran. When I

wanted a loaf of bread from the corner store, I called Chandran. Did this story from the grapevine, however, change my perception of Chandran? Not really. We all want to be part of a group in which people like us and appreciate us for who we are. We want to share time with people who validate our beliefs, attitudes and politics. Home owners in the apartment building appreciate Chandran for his quick thinking and problem solving skills. He wants to protect that at any cost. Yes, he is feeding his insecurity by not giving Swamy what is rightfully his. Then again, it is Swamy’s learning curve to grow out of his inertia and be aware and open to his surroundings and arrive at his own solutions. Of lately, insecurity has been turned into a virtue. It’s insightful, what Daniel Taylor writes in The Myth of Certainty: “When people defend their world view, they are not defending reason, or God, or an abstract system; they are defending their own fragile sense of security and selfrespect.”

COMMENT SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

Yin or Yang in the boardroom? Quirky Side Up ARPITA BHAWAL

ecently, I surrendered to TED talks. The first one that caught my eye was the chat by Sheryl Sandberg — COO of Facebook — on the three reasons why there are few women leaders. Sheryl tries to succinctly latch on to the most comfortable portions of her observations to bring us three reasons why we have so few women leaders. She attributes fewer women in the big roles to the lack of a seat at the table. Mostly, women fear to take that seat. Young working women at times start to make choices about career vis-à-vis married life and babies even before they has found their significant other to marry and have children with! Sheryl also talks about how women fall off the work force because they simply can’t always seem to get everything done at home and work, because even if they are working at office, they still end up doing more at home than before. After working for almost 19 years, I am finding it increasing-

Urban sketches VISWAPRASAD RAJU

ly difficult to deal with women in the workforce, too. Each time I meet someone, she appears to be worse off than the previous time. The anxiety of choice, office politics, male egos and indifferent acceptance are driving women up the wall. All in all, the situation surrounding women, their roles in organizations, their value to the P&L statement, and what they bring to the decision-making table has clearly divided the world into two factions – Pro Women and No Women. This is strange because since time immemorial, the male and female have not been at loggerheads in any sphere of life. Like the Yin Yang in Asian and Chinese philosophy, they are not opposing forces or dualities, but complementary opposites. Yin is unseen (hidden, feminine) and Yang is seen (manifest, masculine) and together they interact within a greater whole, as part of a dynamic system. Sounds great, but in the corporate world of lofty boardrooms and loftier psyches the story makes an uneasy turn. Less than 16% of women on this planet make it to the boardroom. Sheryl’s reasons aside, the men need to fall in line, too. Men have

to realize that women have what noted anthropologist and author Helen E. Fisher, Ph.D, calls “Enlightened Power”. It means that women can actually transform the practice of leadership

in an organization not just with their higher education and a bunch a degrees, but also with their inbuilt natural leadership talents which Fisher describes as “biological underpinnings”.

To begin with, research shows that women are Web-Thinkers. In short, we get it – we are contextual, think broader, and exhibit mental flexibility for 90% of the issues we handle (no, we don’t get stuck to the guns like men!). We are more articulate; our executive social skills make us great at reading body language and we are keen thinkers. If that is not enough still, we are also excellent at networking, collaboration and empathy with different groups of species within a work environment. No, unlike men, we do not prefer drinks with the CXO Club over the HR Women’s Networking Group – yes, we are more than fair. All this goes to show that women can co-create a better work environment, and correct the balance of power and responsibility that usually makes men unnaturally aggressive or insensitive. We need both – Yin and Yang - in the boardroom. As Fisher says, “Men and women are like two feet – they need each other to get ahead”. I like the idea of having two feet. Who wants to walk with one? (www.arpitabhawal. wordpress.com)

Global edits

Heritage

The Telegraph (UK)

the Queen is in Belfast, it is expected that she and Mr McGuinness will shake hands, at an event also attended by the Irish president.

MANY WILL FIND IT DISQUIETING WHEN THE QUEEN SHAKES HANDS WITH MARTIN MCGUINNESS, PROVISIONAL IRA COMMANDER, IN BELFAST Handshake of history

hroughout a good deal of her reign, the Queen’s realm has had no greater enemy than Martin McGuinness. As a Provisional IRA commander, he was instrumental in devising its campaign to bomb the British out of Northern Ireland, despite the wishes of the majority of its population. The tragic futility of this strategy has been apparent since Sinn Fein agreed to enter the government of Northern Ireland under the Crown. But there was one final barrier to cross: a meeting with the Queen herself as the head of the state the movement had so violently opposed. Sinn Fein declined to do so when she visited Ireland last year. But next week, when

The republicans, for whom symbolism is of great importance, agonised over whether the meeting should occur, and should be given credit for agreeing to it. But so should the Queen. This will be the final act of reconciliation after a conflict that cost so many lives, including that of Her Majesty’s cousin, Earl Mountbatten of Burma – and many will find it disquieting that she should be asked to shake a hand so stained with blood. Still, as she said on her visit to Dublin, with the benefit of hindsight, there are many things in Northern Ireland that could have been done differently, or not at all. Perhaps Mr McGuinness can find the words to express the same sentiment.

BUSINESS SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

Hyundai’s new dealership

Euro gets bump from deal

he euro got a boost Friday as four European leaders pledged 130 billion euros to promote growth. The euro hit $1.2571, up around 0.3 per cent for the day after a slump on Thursday. The dollar was broadly weaker Friday as currencies reclaimed some ground lost against the greenback on Thursday. The pound fell 0.08 per cent to $1.5586.

yundai Motors had its new branch Kun United Hyundai at Shaikpet inaugurated by YS Lee, zonal manager. The 5,000 sq ft facility provides sales, service, spares and sale of used cars. “Hyderabad is an important market for Hyundai and the opening of this showroom strengthens our presence,” said Arvind Saxena, director, marketing.

HC suspends DRDA’s notice

he AP High Court issued a interim order suspending District Rural Development Agency’s notice cancelling SKS Microfinance’s registration in Mahabubnagar. There were reports that AP government has cancelled SKS’s registration to conduct business in Mahabubnagar. The HC says that there were no valid reasons to cacel the registerations.

Technology that suits you

N SHIVA KUMAR

If shopping online was a challenge simply because you couldn’t try clothes on, then latest technology by Hemant Satyanarayana and Pavan Kosaraju’s Imaginate will help you do just that Hemant’s CV PRUDHVI RAJU K

prudhvi.k@postnoon.com

ow often have you walked into a store hoping to buy your favourite brands, but unwilling to try on several designs before making your pick? Or have wanted to try on that dress or piece of jewellery that you’re buying online? Imaginate’s upcoming technology TRIALAR, that will be launched in August, will help you do exactly this. The company is built on virtual and augmented reality to develop innovative visualisation of products and services, which enhance the consumer’s experience of reality. Incidentally, the company, the brainchild of Hemant Satyanarayana and Pavan K Kosaraju, has won many start-up awards like Startup Chile and MIT TR35 2012 much before the product has even been launched. The idea for TRIALAR took seed when Hemant, the founder of the company, went to a store with his wife to buy saris and noticed the challenge she faced trying on so many different

Hemant Satyanaryana Education: n B Tech Mechanical, IIT Madras n Masters in mechanical and computer engineering, University of Buffalo, USA Work: n Consultant at Sovoz, USA n Lead engineer at Sovoz n Software engineer at IBM types of the garment. “I wanted to solve this with the technologies at my disposal. That is how TRIALAR came about, a virtual trial room that helps the user try the styles he/she wants in front of a 55 inch digital screen rather than a mirror,” he says. However, his decision to start a company was met with some resistance. After completing his Masters Hemant worked for nearly three years with Sovoz, where he worked on building the Virtual Locomotion controller by which the Armed forces can get trained and warmed up virtually without being on the battle ground. “Following this, I returned to

the country in 2009 to fulfil my long-term dream to set up my own company. However, many people suggested that I first work for a few years, earn a decent sum of money and then think about setting up a business. However, I was confident of my capabilities and knowledge in the field, nor did I require huge investments. After working for almost a year on the business plan and viability of the project, Imaginate was launched in January 2011,” he says. “I started off with Photoplay, a gester-based interactive game. There were endless possibilities and fun activities with the augmented reality technologies,” Hemant adds. Hemant was joined by his childhood friend and IIT graduate, Pavan Kosaraju in December 2011, who left a well paying job with KPMG, Germany. “Hemant used to share his business idea and vision with me. It intrigued me enough to make me give up my job in Germany and return to India to join him. It was risky but I understood the potential of the technology and knew it would reap rich dividends soon,” explains Pavan K Kosaraju, co-founder and COO. The duo invested `40 lakhs

with help from family and friends to build the business. While developing TRIALAR, they ensured that the technology was all in-house to gain expertise in the subject. They now plan to include a web plug-in of TRIALAR for e-commerce sites. The company also got a $40,000 equity-free seed capital to set up their business in Chile. “We are one of the five companies from India and the first from the State to be selected in Startup Chile. The business will be expanded to Chile. This will help us tap the US and European markets,” says Pavan. “We want to be a `100 crore company in three years time with an investment of another `10 crore in the business. The breakeven is expected for `10 crore within 18 months from the product launch. The business is in the process to raise `10 crore investments in tranches. It is also in talks with angel investors and early stage venture capitalists and is open for investments,” he says. “Initially, we are targetting high end apparel and jewellery showrooms and then plan to expand to medium size showrooms after reaching a sizable market. It is an advantage for the retailers who don’t want cus-

Pavan’s CV Pavan Kosaraju Education: n MBA, ESMT, Germany n B Tech, Civil engineering IIT, Madras Work: n Assistant manager, KPMG, Germany n Development specialist, SAP Labs India n Software engineer, Infosys Technologies tomers to try out vaguely, the most expensive apparel. Sometimes when people repeatedly try on clothes or jewellery, they may get damaged and results in loss for the retailer. TRIALAR will help the customer try on different cuts and styles of their choice of expensive clothes virtually and if he really likes a design then try it on in reality. The company aims to continuously develop the product and reach 6.0. version from its current 1.0 version in three years,” says Hemant. On the personal front, Pavan enjoys playing chess, watching movies and dining out, whereas Hemant enjoys travelling.

MOTORING SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

Safari Storm’s launch in July

VW launches Jetta TSI

Duster launch on July 4

olkswagen has launched the Jetta with a 1.4-TSI petrol engine. The Jetta TSI’s petrol motor churns out 120bhp and 20.4kgm of torque and is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The petrol Jetta comes in two variants, the base Trendline, which is priced at `13.60 lakh, and the Comfortline that costs `15.07 lakh

ata Safari Storme and the Renault Duster, launches of both are due in July. The Duster with its compact dimensions has already become the talk of the town. Those waiting to buy a diesel SUV in the price bracket of `8-11lakhs, will have to hold on for a few more days, as two new exciting options are on their way.

he Renault Duster will officially be launched in India on July 4, 2012. The Duster will be available in eight trims and three engine options, which include a base 1.6-litre petrol at a starting price of approximately `7.2 lakh, and the 1.5-litre diesel that currently powers the Fluence.

The ultimate gift Jewellery, designer clothes and islands have become passé, it’s high-end sports and super luxury cars that make the ultimate gift, at least that’s what celebrities think. Take a look Compiled by Siddharth TSS

2. Kim Kardashian- Kanye West

3.Beyonce-Jay Z

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(Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4)

( Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport )

er love for all things flashy and good is well known. Well, her latest arm candy singer Kanye West got to know of it just recently. The singer was given this piece of art for his birthday by girlfriend Kim Kardashian. The Lamborghini Aventador LP 700 was made to replace it's ancestor the Murcielago and it rightfully does. This car manages to enthrall both visually and aesthetically. This two door coupe is a mid engined car with a four wheel drive and it uses Lamborghini's new 515 kW 700 hp 6.5 litre V12 engine. It can go from a 0 to 120 kmph in under 2.5 seconds. As fast as this car can go it also depletes your bank balance by $750,000.

1.Ram Charan -Upasana Kamineni (Aston Martin V8)

4. Nick Cannon- Mariah Carey ( Porsche Cayenne )

e stole a million hearts with his acting and now after he has got hitched to his childhood sweetheart, Ram Charan is basking in the wedding glow. But he has another reason to be all smiles apart from the gorgeous Upasana, he gets to lay his hands on another beauty— the Aston Martin V8 Vantage car. It was gifted to him by his father, Chiranjeevi, as a wedding present. The car is part of a series of hand built cars by the British automobile giant. The quad cam 32 valve V8 engine of this car packs a 4,300cc punch. The pinnacle of it's power is measured to be 400bhp and it's torque peaks at 420Nm.

his man knows to push all the right buttons. He's one husband many women will silently wish for. Actor Nick Cannon has gone ahead and gifted wife and singer Mariah Carey a custom-coloured pink Porsche Cayenne. This sleek looking SUV can hit 0-100 in under 6 seconds. With an all-wheel-drive system and a 3.6 litre V6 engine under it's hood this car has certainly had some heads turning on the streets, now is it because of because of the set of wheels or the lady behind the wheels, it's hard to tell.

he’s a gorgeous singer and he’s good at rapping. Well, their love for cars also resembles somewhat these characteristics. The bootylicious Beyonce gifted beau Jay-Z a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport. It is a mid-engine sports car and is said to be too fast for this world and that is not an understatement. This elegant looking beast can push through from a 0-100 in less than three seconds and can get to a top speed of 400 kmph. Everywhere you look the numbers are fantastical outliers: eight litres, 16 cylinders, four turbos, 365-section tyres. All this love will cost you only $2 million.

5. Jennifer Lopez- Casper Smart (White Dodge Ram)

he 'If you had my love' singer gave a White Dodge Ram to her new boyfriend Casper Smart on his birthday. She surely believes in living it large. The Ram stands true to its name because of its mean and muscular looks which also compliments the engine power the hood sheathes. The full size pick- up truck made by automobile giants Chrysler group LLC is powered by a 4.7 liter V8 engine and can put out to at least 310bhp effortlessly.

TECHNOLOGY SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK www.unlike.net uide books are old hat — or so online guides such as Unlike.net would have us believe. Unlike bills itself as ‘the definitive resource for exploring the world's most exciting cities’.

VIDEOGAME REVIEW THE GOOD

APP OF THE WEEK Carat

STEEL BATTALION

ill Pandora – Expected Battery Life Improvement: 1 hour 50 minutes” This is what you’ll learn from Carat, an incredibly useful free new iOS and Android app that gives you personalised mobile battery life-saving tips.

n Intriguing cockpit-based Kinect control schematic n Some neat crew moments

THE B AD

n Missions are poorly laid out n Enemy AI is erratic.

On the Surface Cyberspace is buzzing with one word—Surface. And the question on everyone’s mind is the same: Will Microsoft’s debut tablet be the iPad killer? PADMINI C

padmini.c@postnoon.com

t’s an exciting time to be a tech-freak. The Apple-Google, Google-Facebook wars have been interesting to watch, no doubt. What with each doing what it takes, to keep us happy and willing. But now, now is when things get hotter with the waking of the sleeping giant. Earlier this week, when Microsoft announced its entry into the tablet market with the Surface line-up, social networks went into overdrive, bloggers buzzed busily and tech gurus dissected the features of the tablet even as longtime Microsoft loyalists and

Apple fan boys watched closely. It might be the day of Apple, but history shows, it wasn’t always so. After all, it was Windows and Office that led to the near extinction of the Mac line in the ‘90s. However, since then Microsoft rarely if ever, seemed to be in the right place at the right time. “Look at it, while Apple reincar-

nated in 2001, taking over the digital music scene with the iPod and iTunes, Microsoft refused to let go of its flop acts —Windows Media Player and Zune. Then, of course the search engine fiasco. Meanwhile there was Apple again with the iPhone which changed everything, which Microsoft countered almost a decade too late with the admirable but insufficient Windows Mobile. The only redeeming move Microsoft’s made in the past decade, which can also be considered the proof of its hardware might was the Xbox 360. It’s probably the only reason I’m willing to give its Surface a chance,” says Vishal Jain, a software developer with a city-based MNC. Like it or hate it, there’s immense curiousity about Surface. Will Surface be the iPad killer is the question on everyone’s

mind. “iPad killer? Definitely not. Just to hope that it’s a worthy rival to the iPad is to be overly optimistic. Surface RT, which runs on Metro, an OS designed specifically for a touch interface and Surface Pro which runs on Windows 8 are being touted to bridge the gap between touch devices and personal computers. It’s a tall claim, that even Apple has never made. Besides, will the Surface ever be able to match the eco-system of apps that iPad has at its disposal? We’ll only find out when it releases later this year,” comments tech-enthusiast and blogger, Prasanth R. Surface will be the gamechanger. If it proves to be a winner, Microsoft shall regain its lost glory. While the final verdict is still awaited, there are those who warn against writing it off. After all, Surface does have some promising features. A source of endless frustration for many tablet, even iPad, users is to have to type on the screen. Surface responds to the challenge by including pressure-sensitive keyboards

in its models called Touch and Type Cover respectively, that come magnetically attached, making it a “killer attraction.” While the details are still sketchy, its price which is estimated to be comparable to, or less than, the iPad is said to be another redeeming feature. Next, the memory. Surface Pro will run on an impressive i5 Intel processor and is said to come with 128GB of built-in memory, a far cry from the iPads 64GB. Best of all, both the Surface models come equipped with full-scale USB ports which means easier storage and transfer, not dependent on cloud, wifi or an Internet connection of some sort. A Bengaluru-based management consultant and Microsoft loyalist, Rahul Sharma is vociferous in his defense of Surface. “Say what you will and make all the comparisons you want. But there’s no denying it. Microsoft makes the most user-friendly mass targeted products while Apple prides itself of its exclusivity and its incompatibility. Now, it’s going to pay dearly for it. Just you wait till Surface hits the shelves. Then, all bets are off.”

ANIMAL KINGDOM SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

PET NEWS Brain disease

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Saved by a whisker

subset of Finnish hound puppies need to be put down every year because they suffer from a degenerative brain disease known as cerebellar ataxia that causes uncontrolled movement.

ntonio M Rosario, a professional photographer based in Brooklyn, NY is a saviour for a female calico kitten dubbed Mercedes. The kitten was trapped inside the engine of a moving Mercedes when Rosario intervened.

Know your dog

he German Pinscher, is a medium-sized, tall terrier. It is an ideal companion dog. This rare breed is brave, sober, and has considerable stamina. It is lively but docile and quite versatile.

CATS AND DOGS The Animal Care Clinic 040-2335 2474 Pet’s World Dog Clinic 98856 46259 Blue Cross of Hyderabad 040-3298 9858, 23544355/ 5523 Vet-N-Pet 040-6553 9535, 93463 05890 Bluplus Pet Clinic 040-2712 1739, 2716 2636 Sri Sai Pet Clinic

040-2779 7458, 9848645350 Claws & Paws 98662 82772 All Creatures Animals Clinic 040-2773 0885 BIRDS Govt Veterinary Hospital 040-2331 9656, 2753 5755 Bird Watcher’s Society 040-2355 6166 Friends of Birds9391048315 SNAKES Friends of Snakes 8374233366

Believe it or not

Eager as a beaver, dead as a dodo, graceful as a gazelle, bald as a coot are similies that stand the test of truth. But how true are the tales about bats and goldfish? We investigate Blind as a bat

very book of idioms has this phrase as blind as a bat, but is a bat really blind? No. Bats primarily use a form of sonar to navigate through dark areas and avoid obstacles. However, their eyes, while small and sometimes poorly developed, are also completely functional, not to mention the fact that they have excellent hearing and sense of smell. So we should try and give the bats some credit and may become up with a new idiom — As smart as a bat?

Mother birds reject chicks touched by humans

f this were true then children would be blamed for making orphans out of all the birds. It was just a story told to keep people from harming the chicks and if anybody found one outside its nest, it would be safe. Parents especially made this up to prevent children from killing birds. Birds do not have very heightened olfactory senses and so it would be difficult for a bird to get the human scent. One exception is the vulture which sniffs out its dinner.

Penguins fall backward looking up at the sky

lright, alright. Make fun of the penguins’ gait all you want but trust us when we say all 17 species of penguins are perfectly capable of maintaining their footing, whether their looking upwards, downwards or sideways. They do not topple over like dominoes when planes fly overhead, as once claimed by Falkands pilots. A royal navy mission to the Antarctica, put the legend to rest when they conducted an experimental run with 17 flights flying back and forth across the Antarctica. But as it turns out low-flying aircrafts cause panic among penguins who leave their nests in a bid to run away from the noise.

The memory of a Goldfish

s not as shallow as you think. Next time anyone says you have the memory of a goldfish (who are famously thought to have a mere three-second memory), you should inform them, studies have shown goldfish can retain memories for as long as five months. Which is more than most of us can say. They have also shown to be able to recognise their masters. So show some respect to these beautiful fish, we say! By the way, if you were wondering, hamsters are supposed to have the shortest memories with the recall capacity of five seconds. Is that another myth? You’ll never know.

Hummingbirds eat their weight’s worth each day

nlike other birds, the very size of hummingbirds makes their survival a tale of adventure. Hummingbirds have to eat more than their weight in food everyday or risk starvation. Which means that they follow a frantic eating schedule and much like humans, they eat their food in meals. An adult ruby-throated hummingbird might eat as much as twice its body weight in food each day which helps fuel its rapid flight pattern. These little birds can beat their wings 53 times a second and fly in an acrobatic style matched by few other birds.

Postnoon Team

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BOOKS SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

SHORT READS Title: MBA at 16 Author: Subroto Bagchi Publisher: Penguin Books India What really makes an entrepreneur tick? And why do we need the world of business—is business good or bad for us? If you are curious, come join Subroto Bagchi and a group of smart teenagers on their exciting voyage of discovery.

Title: Once a Jailbird Author: Hans Fallada Publisher: Penguin classics For Willi Kufult, prison life means staying out of trouble, snagging a precious piece of tobacco - and dreaming of the day of his release. The novel brilliantly describes a seedy criminal underworld of shabby lives and violent deeds, showing how our actions always catch up with us.

Title: The Queen and I Author: Sue Townsend Publisher: Penguin The monarchy has been dismantled. Exchanging Buckingham Palace for a twobedroomed semi in Hell Close , caviar for boiled eggs, servants for a social worker named Trish, the Queen and her family learn what it means to be poor among the great unwashed.

Title: The Secret Life of Evie Hamilton Author: Catherine Ailott Publisher: Penguin Evie's an Oxfordshire wife and mum who's biggest worry in life is whether or not she can fit in a manicure on her way to fetch her daughter from clarinet lessons. One letter on a sunny day changes all of this.

A gentle social comedy A tale of ordinary folk battling with everyday issues that people have contended with for centuries no unnecessary frills. What the novel does reflect is his love for Vizag, despite being settled in the UK. Read it, for a glimpse into the simple, yet twisted life of a small town.

RANJANI RAJENDRA

ranjani.r@postnoon.com

et in sunny, cosy Vizag, Mrs Ali’s Road to Happiness brings to fore the underlying HinduMuslim tension, that just fails to sort itself out despite everyone’s claims of having a modern outlook. The book begins with Mrs Ali, the quintessential Asian matriarch, who only wants her family to be happy and content. Grappling with a newly retired husband, who now runs a marriage bureau for rich people, she goes about her daily chores with not too many complaints. But then their world is rocked, when they learn that a road extension project might just about wipe out their home and the marriage bureau, no laughing matter for a retired couple just wanting to spend a calm and relaxed life. In the backdrop of all this is Mrs Ali’s niece Pari, a widow, who adopts a young Hindu boy. Sounds like an unlikely combination? But the duo is inseparable, much to the dismay of the religious fanatics. While this move does draw many disdainful

Andrew Josef feedback@postnoon.com

he moon is so entrenched in our psyche that it’s surprising it hasn’t harboured more horrors. It’s vacuum-ridden wastes and ‘dark side’legend make it an ideal place in which to set a hairraising tale, and that’s exactly what Norwegian author John Harstad has set out to do. In his novel,ostensibly targeted at the young adult audience Harstad sends mankind back to the moon in 2019. This, however, is not just any journey. Alongside space-seasoned scientists and hard-boiled astronauts, there are also three teenagers whose closest encounter to space came when they tore themselves

glances, things snowball out of proportion when a hardline Muslim preacher and an ambitious Hindu priest train their guns on this unlikely combination, all in a bid to consolidate

their positions and personal gains. The Alis face social boycott and harassment. How the family faces this ostracisation and whether Pari and the boy can remain together forms the

rest of the story. While the plot is interesting and heart-wrenching, what it lacks according to me is pace. However, Farahad Zama’s style of writing is interesting and has

Carnage on the moon away from their iPads and looked up at the night sky. The teenagers, Mia, Midori and Antoine have all booked seats on the trip to the moon by winning a global contest. Nasa, the omnipresent conspiracy theory haven, has decided to go back to the moon in a bubble of reality television and lotteries to fund their more ‘serious’ projects; the teenagers are their meal tickets to the stars. But not all is at it seems on the moon. First we find that not only has Nasa been regularly making trips to the moon far from the watchful eye of the

global media, but they’ve also built a base up there — Darlah 2 (whatever happened to 1 we find out later). Harstad takes a while to get into his stride and the first half of the book is plodding and uneventful, but if you hold firm

Title 172 Hours On TheMoon Author Johan Harstad Pages 368 Publisher Hachette India

Title Mrs Ali’s Road to Happiness Author Farahad Zama Pages 307 Publisher Hachette India

and manage to get through to the actual mission, things begin to pick up at a brisk pace. Of course it is soon revealed that Darlah 2 and Nasa are keeping a big secret, one that is so intrinsically linked with the Japanese horror genre, that’s it’s hard not to think of scenes from the Grudge and The Ring while reading 172 Hours. Death one feels, is imminent at every corner. 172 Hours’ atmosphere, however, is as thin as the moon’s. The eventual premise is flimsy, but manageable, and the book ends in a flurry that almost leaves the reader breathless for more. It’s not that Harstad is a bad writer, it’s just that one senses this is the dumbeddown version of the book he wanted to write.

BOOKS SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

Ghosts from the past

MUST READS NIGHT BY ELIE WIESEL

In Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel's memoir Night, a scholarly, pious teenager is wracked with guilt at having survived the horror of the Holocaust and the genocidal campaign that consumed his family. His memories of the nightmare world of the death camps present him with an intolerable question: how can the God he once so fervently believed in have allowed these monstrous events to occur? There are no easy answers in this harrowing book, which probes life's essential riddles with the lucid anguish.

An amazing amalgamation of history, science and adventure ARUN KOSHY PHILIP

arun.k@postnoon.com

man-made monster from the past is about to be unleashed and apocalypse is around the corner. It will take all the brain, brawn and gizmos and two arch enemies to work together to avert the impending disaster. A plot that stretches across two millennia unfolds with a vengeance in a sleepy American town. An act of a teenage Native Indian boy costs him his life and sets in motion a chain of events that have international ramifications. Professor Henry Kanosh, an expert in Native American history and archaeology, is summoned, as a mass grave along with a huge treasure and several artefacts are discovered from where the subterranean structure where the youth was killed. Kanosh and his team stumble across a massive animal skull with intricate carvings on it. However, they are not alone. A militant Indian group has sent their operative to sabotage any attempt to excavate and thus defile their sacred burial ground. At the surface, an explosion lets loose from an ancient prison, a creation from the past which will stop before nothing in its path of destruction. It also sets in motion the countdown for a catastrophe which humanity has not witnessed in modern times. Unknown to the actors at the site, two organisations —a top secret government agency and a powerful secret society — too are very interested in the developments. For Painter Crowe, the head of the government agency, the incident takes a person-

ROOM

al dimension when his niece becomes a fugitive and a likely scapegoat for the scheme of all things gone wrong. He and his handpicked team have to work against heavy odds and a faceless enemy who are hot on their heels. The answers to their queries lie across thousands of years of history and their quest poses challenges that pit their wits and skills in a struggle to stay alive while fulfilling their mandate. The Devil Colony holds you in its suspense-filled grip at every twist and turn; the climax leaves you asking for more. James Rollins has demonstrated his story-teller’s skill yet again with a gripping narrative and realistic sequence of action in a tight plot. There is no American hero with superhuman skills — such a relief.

Title The Devil Colony Author: James Rollins Pages: 500 Publisher: Hachette India

Instead of taking the regular global goose chase, the focus is clear and the generous dose of history (or versions of it) keeps giving the links between events spread across space and time that would otherwise be difficult to connect. Team Bad is as good as Team Good and the author has smartly not decided for a macabre overkill to convince the reader of the necessity of the triumph of the good over the evil. The story has shades of black, white and grey, and it is up to the reader to decide which side is actually doing the right thing. The Devil Colony is a splendid blend of past and the present, with a message for the future. What the plot lacks in heavy-duty action is compensated by a brilliant plot, simple language and thrilling suspense.

EMMA DONOGHUE

In many ways, Jack is a typical five-year-old. He likes to read books, watch TV, and play games with his Ma. But Jack is different in a big way—he has lived his entire life in a single room, sharing the tiny space with only his mother and an unnerving nighttime visitor known as Old Nick. For Jack, Room is the only world he knows, but for Ma, it is a prison in which she has tried to craft a normal life for her son. When their insular world suddenly expands beyond the confines of their four walls, the consequences are piercing and extraordinary.

FREEDOM FRAZEN

BY J ONATHAN

An international bestseller and the novel of the year, Freedom is an epic of contemporary love and marriage. This is the story of the Berglunds, their son Joey, their daughter Jessica and their friend Richard Katz. It is about how we use and abuse freedom; about the beginning and ending of love; teenage lust; the unexpectedness of adult life; why we compete with our friends; how we betray those closest to us; and why things almost never work out as they 'should'.

WHAT’S SELLING Walden best in fiction

Walden’s best in non-fiction

New York Times’ best in fiction

New York Times’ best in non-fiction

n Calico Joe by John Grisham

n Breakout Nations by Ruchir Sharma

n Kiss the dead by Laurell K. Hamilton

n The Amateur by Edward Klein

n Thinking fast and slow by Daniel Kahneman

n Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

n The Great Destroyer by David Limbaugh

n Calico Joe by John Grisham

n Wild by Cheryl Strayed

n The Magic by Rhonda Byrne

n The Storm by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown

n Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

n Tainted Throne Empire of Moghul by Alex Rutherford

n Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews

n Sins Of The Father by Jeffrey Archer n The Innocent by David Baldacci n EM and the big HOOM by Jerry Pinto n Fifty Shades Of Grey by EL James

n MBA at 16 by Subroto Bagchi

n It Worked for me by Colin Powell with Tony Koltz

WOMEN SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

APPS OF THE WEEK Snapp: It stores all the necessary contact information for you and claims to do so in less than 10 seconds. The moment you add in a contact, they receive an automatic email with your Snapp!

Stylish Girl : Shopaholics may now shop online and browse Shopstyle.com to get fashion staples and more. One can virtually mix and match fashion options and accordingly decide what will suit you best.

Dinner Spinner Pro: You can turn to this app and create something new every time you enter the kitchen. It has direct access to Allrecipes.com, you can browse through.

A cradle of love

Where one would expect to see forlorn faces and sullen expressions, we are greeted with smiles. The reason being Sandhya Puchalapalli who has a heart that believes in giving unconditionally The CV First Job: Junior College English lecturer

t’s a shocking realisation that some of us only make charitable donations out of the fear of being termed as morally unconscious. A lot of you may never agree with the statement but it stands true. While some of us use various channels to help people in need, there are some of us who build those channels so that the rest of us may help the cause. One such woman is Sandhya Puchalapalli who set up Aarti Home in the early 90s as a shelter home for abandoned young girls. What happened after is no less than a success story. “I set up Aarti Home as a shelter home for abandoned young girls but our journey eventually led us to their mothers. Behind every abandoned child, we found a mother who was either unable to afford the extra cost or was unable to protect her. This made us rethink our approach. From addressing the symptoms, we began to look at solving the issues that lay beneath them,” explains Sandhya. The daughter of a retired chief engineer, Sandhya draws her inspiration from her mother. However, it was in 1977 when she moved to Kadapa after she got married that she could put to use what her mother had taught her. “What I saw in Kadapa appalled me. Girls as young as my five-year-old were being sent to work as domestic help. They were given less food and even provided lesser care as compared to the boys. What shocked me the most was that all of this was easily accepted,” she says, continuing, “I started to do my bit but it played out to nothing until my washerwoman bought Radhika to me.” Radhika was a scrawny two and a half-year- old who had witnessed the horror of her mother being killed by her father eventually abandoning her. Everyone in the village refused to take her in and she

Motto: To see that every girl feels as much wanted as the boy Inspiration: My mother Last movie seen: Chak De India Last book you read: White Mughals by William Darlymple

The moment, at which Radhika walked into my life, I decided that it was time we started an organisation in order to take care of such girls. I wanted to set up a home for orphaned girls Sandhya

was left on the road. “The moment, at which Radhika walked into my life, I decided that it was time we started an organisation in order to take care of such girls. I made a few phone calls to friends and suggested we pool in money to set up a home for orphaned girls,” Sandhya recalls. With great power comes great responsibility. While everyone agreed that setting up a home for abandoned girls was the need of the hour, they were only worried about their ability to continue. However after a lit-

tle persuasion, 10 of Sandhya’s friends donated `10,000 each and rented a small space. Word spread and soon enough there were five children in the first year and today they have 102 children, with their youngest being six-month- old. Today, Aarti Home works with both mother and child. Apart from providing shelter to both, it provides schooling to young girls while training in Livelihood and Awareness programmes for mothers so that they may have a sound economic and emotional background in order to make the right choices.

All About Eve

FIRDOUS MAJEED

SANA MIRZA

sana.m@postnoon.com

Why our bones ache at 30

Sandhya has recently been nominated for the Impact Award 2012 which is an award presented by the Global Women’s Network. Apart from this she also has a BBC documentary to her credit. “This award would mean recognition for the cause and for the organisation. I am hoping that this would enable us to generate more interest and funding and help us reach out to more people in need,” she says. While the organisation is funded entirely through private donations, they do seek support of donors and well-wishers.

t’s ironic, but as women in a society largely dominated by the ‘log kya kahengey’ culture — we give very little time to ourselves. What is it about Indian women that makes us look more aged and we suffer from migraine or high blood pressure related issues? I know most of the times some women have no idea they have a chronic issue till they’re 50 and the doctor gives them a rude awakening. But why are we so unaware? According to me, once a girl in our society gets married, we are taught to look after everyone else our whole life. We are trained to be good wives and mothers. But what happened to staying healthy and taking care of ourselves? So we grow up, raised kids, fed the husband, and some of us had our day jobs while some of us have kitchen jobs. Sixty per cent of Indian mothers are unaware of why their bones ache, or why their head hurts. It most often than not traces back to a time right after the wedding and goes right up to pregnancy. Did your mother know how to take care of herself while she carried you? Did she know what food would affect her own healthy adversely? No, because chances are the mother- inlaw was just so carried away in feeding the mother white food so the baby is fair, that taking care of her was not a part of the plan! A way around this common phenomena of ignorance and ‘it’s okay’ attitude is to understand why a woman’s health is so important in a house – it’s mostly because she holds the fort together. Her stress translates into children being stressed, and those poor kids have no idea why mummy’s screaming all the time! So if we must reinforce that it is okay to take care of yourself and relax, but there has to be an understanding of how our body is reacting, and why its reacting that way. Most importantly, how can we change this. So what’s the solution? An Ekta Kapoor serial all–nighter? I think not!

SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

A filmy evening

Friday night and movies go hand-in-hand. Movielovers gathered at PVR on Friday to watch a screening of Teri Meri Kahaani, organised by the Pink club.

A fling with bling

N SHIVA KUMAR

DEEPAK DESHPANDE

1. Rashleel 2. Poonam, Ashish, Anuj, Ekta, Saloni, Vibhoor 3. Pinky 5

4. Reena 5. Saloni, Dimple 6. Sheetal, Hitesh 6

A model at the Hyderabad Jewellery Pearl & Gem Fair at the HITEX Exhibition Centre. The fair will run till June 24.

Mass Maharaja strikes again The audio launch of Ravi Teja- and Ileana-starrer Devudu Chesina Manushulu was held at Shilpakala Vedika on Friday.

RELATIONSHIPS SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

I AM ALL EARS

am 21. I will be leaving for college to Kolkatta in the next few days. I have been in a relationship for the past three years and my boyfreind is moving to Mumbai for further studies. I am scared that this distance between us could harm our relationship. What can I do to save our bond?

Dear scared kid, How old are you again, my dear? You talk as if you are 30 and can’t bear the thought of being separated from your husband. There is still lots of time left for you. What are you scared about? That both of you will fall for someone else. If its meant to be that way, it will happen. By anticipating this will happen and by clinging onto each other maybe you are only going to damage the situation further. Take life as it comes. Don’t sweat it out.

imply saying 'thank you' to your partner can result in both a longer-lasting and more fulfilled relationship, according to a new study. It seems couples are taking the simple gratitude for granted, and are overlooking its many positive effects. Feeling appreciated by your partner influences how you act in your relationship, and how much you want to stay in that relationship, study researcher Amie Gordon, of the University of California. Berkeley, told LiveScience.

The empty nest syndrome “I burst with pride at seeing you go but I hide from you my loneliness and secretly scream ‘please don’t go’ these lines by LM Owens, a mother, sums up perfectly, what most parents feel once their children leave for college

FLEME VARKEY

fleme.v@postnoon.com

t was going to be difficult keeping a straight face, when old suitcases were being taken down and dusted, clothes were being sorted, papers strewn all over the floor, stuff being put into boxes and incessant phone calls of ‘what will you be taking along?’ started. If it were a camping trip, it would not have mattered, but Akshay was not going camping. He was going to Australia, to pursue a degree in hotel management. His mother Gayatri was fighting back tears. The house would become so quiet; for as long as Akshay was there, there was always music in the house. She used to nag him about lowering the volume, but now just hoped he would do that once more. Gayatri is suffering from what we call the empty nest syndrome. Most teenagers in the city will now be gearing up to go to college, as the new academic year begins. For many parents this time can prove to be quite difficult. As parents have to match up to their child’s enthusiasm, while at the same time have to keep their worries and apprehensions in check. Ankita has taken admission in Gwalior for a course in travel and tourism and this will be the first time she will be leaving home. Her parents are thrilled at her success but at the same time are scared. Mum Nandita Biswas says, “Gwalior is quite a notorious place. We are worried about her safety. How will she manage there? We will be going to Gwalior to see she is properly settled. I have told her to call me up every day. Hopefully, this way, I won’t miss her much.” If Ankita’s mum is worried about missing her, then Osama’s mum’s cause of concern is how her son will manage to stay away from the family. “It’s his first time away from home and I wonder how he will adjust. Our major concern is his life and

career. Though he will be missed terribly at home, we will have to cope,” says Rana Salman. The passage to a childless household is not a happy time for parents, especially for single mothers or fathers. However, it is a misconception that mothers are more affected by children leaving the home than fathers. In fact, fathers are more affected by the empty nest syndrome as they are not prepared for it. But leaving the nest is not so bad after all. Lily and George Thomas were initially depressed after their youngest daughter left for college in Delhi. Lily

IT IS A MISCONCEPTION THAT MOTHERS ARE MORE AFFECTED BY CHILDREN LEAVING THE HOME THAN FATHERS. IN FACT, FATHERS ARE MORE AFFECTED BY THE EMPTY NEST SYNDROME AS THEY ARE NOT PREPARED FOR IT.

would find herself looking at their daughter’s old pictures and George would be waiting by the phone, hoping that his daughters would call. “We had nothing to do, once both our kids left to pursue their career. Work was going on normally but coming back to an empty house meant a lot of sadness. Whenever we used sit, we began reminiscing about their childhood or what they would be doing at that time. We used to eagerly wait for the holidays, to see them again. Slowly, we adjusted to their absence, though they are sorely missed even now,”

says Lily. “But this period also brought us closer, gave us more time for ourselves. We started meeting old friends, or going on small trips, things which we had forgotten once our children were grown up,” adds George. Parents’ lives revolve around children and therefore sometimes they may feel their own life being derailed. But this phase comes with an advantage too, while children get to discover freedom, parents too can revive their life as a couple and develop new interests and hobbies so that the pains of separation can be tolerated.

CINEMA SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

T-TOWN TWEETIES @actor_Siddharth

@RGVzoomin

@actressanjjanaa

@pnavdeep26

As an animation junkie, I’ve watched pretty much all... I’m not a Madagascar fan but this instalment was elevated by the madness!

Just saw Gangs of Wasaipur... brilliantly directedd by Anurag... Manoj is simply superb.

Day 4, Night shoot is on, started shooting the climax scene, director and co-star both are super charged.

Dear Radio, we want to hear music, not two idiots talking. Sincerely, very annoyed listener...

@tashu_02

@shrutihaasan

@snehaullalheart

@musicThaman

I am so messed up rite now... Got loads to pack and am totally confused...

Nominated for the debut award and performing!! So busssssssy night !!! Excitement !!!

Waiting to wear my costumes in #Action... so excited to look gorgeous.

Happy that I have won the best music director award for Dhookudu @ siima :):):):) thnx to the jury .

Sakuni is mildly entertaining Sakuni is Karthi’s weakest film so far. It does entertain to an extent, but leaves a lot to be desired HEMANTH KUMAR

hemanth.k@postnoon.com

akuni is Karthi’s show all the way and ironically, it’s also his weakest film so far. Fresh from the success of films like Awara and Naa Peru Shiva, Karthi had a lot riding on the success of Sakuni. There’s nothing wrong with Sakuni; however, a political drama with no complexity doesn’t merit accolades. Sakuni is what it is — a film which takes the easy way out to elevate the protagonist’s characterisation. Directed by Shankar Dayal, the film stars Karthi, Santhanam, Prakash Raj, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Radhika and Pranitha Subhash in lead roles.

Movie: Sakuni Cast: Karthi,Pranitha, Prakash Raj Directed by: ShankarDayal Rating: Kamal Krishna (Karthi) comes to Hyderabad to meet the Railway Minister to request him to save his ancestral home from being bulldozed.

Tuneega Tuneega pushed to July

he release date of MS Raju’s upcoming film Tuneega Tuneega has been pushed to July. Initially, the film was being planned for release on June 22 and it’s not yet clear why MS Raju decided to push the release to a later date. The film marks the debut of MS Raju’s son Sumanth Ashwin and VJ turned actress Rhea Chakraborthy. Karthik Raja has composed the music and Maganti Ramji has produced the film. With plenty of big films lined up for release in July, it’s unlikely that Tuneega Tuneega will get a wide release; however, MS Raju seems to be unperturbed by this situation.

However, his requests fall on deaf ears. He ends up meeting Rajini (Santhanam), an autorickshaw driver who later becomes his partner in crime. When

Kamal realises that only Bhupathi (Prakash Raj), the Chief Minister can solve his problem, he goes to meet him. Much to his shock, he realises

Vikram, Shankar’s film a romantic one

hankar has officially announced that his upcoming film titled I is a romantic thriller. For the past few days, there were rumours flying around that Shankar’s next is going to be a political film. Revealing the cast and crew of the film, Shankar posted on his blog, “Starring Vikram, Santhanam, Malayalam super star Suresh Gopi, Ramkumar. It’ll be my first venture with veteran DoP PC Sriram & writer duo SuBa.” Samantha is playing the lead role. AR Rahman is going to compose the music and Aascar

Ravichandran is producing it. Shankar has also roped in Mary Vogt, who designed costumes for the Men In Black series for the costume designing and Peter Ming to choreograph the action sequences. “Australian Rising Sun Pictures (RSP) who mesmerised us in the Harry Potter series are in charge of the VFX,and will be supervised by Srinivas M Mohan,” Shankar added in his blog. Apparently in Tamil, I means beauty, king, guru, astonishment,vulnerability. The film will go on floors in mid July.

that Bhupathi is the reason behind all his problems. How Kamal deals with the problem and teaches Bhupathi a lesson forms the rest of the story. Shankar Dayal leaves several loose ends throughout the film. Characters are introduced only to vanish without a trace and without a reason which surprisingly includes the film’s lead actor Pranitha. Since the entire film follows Kamal’s journey as he tries to reach the echelons of politics, the script takes a beating with several cinematic liberties being taken. Of course, the proceedings are fun to watch but it’s far from gripping because everything is made to seem like a cakewalk for Kamal. He believes that people have not completely given up on good politicians and urges Ramanakka (Radhika) and Perumal (Kota Sreenivasa Rao) to sincerely serve the people. It’s this inherent goodness in Karthi’s characterisation and how he carries the role which rescues the film. GV Prakash’s music is disappointing; however, cinematographer PG Muthaiah comes up with some top notch work. Sakuni does entertain to an extent, but the script is too flat to sink your teeth into. It’s a time pass flick and also a lost opportunity.

CINEMA SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

B-TOWN TWEETIES @kunalkohli

@sandymridul

@priyankachopra

@GulPanag

Wow. What a reaction Toronto. Love you guys. All the love you’ve given us at the premiere.

“Close to you is close to me And your absence is far from everything #neruda” #Sigh.

Landed in Toronto! Looking forward to meeting u all tonight! Thank u for the love.

So in search for wilderness, Chamba is worth exploring. Hopefully places to camp exist!

@SrBachchan

@deespeak

@imarshadwarsi

@bomanirani

T 782 - It takes your brain approximately 90 seconds to decide whether or not you like someone.

I can sleep now :) this was too much fun!!! Big jhappi for sharing this with me :) #EuroCup2012. #Ger.

Half of the things I am doing in my life r not worth talking about n the other half I can’t talk about.

Tomorrow morning will watch Ferrari Ki Sawaari with 120 kids frm Don Bosco Shelter.

Go Figure!

With what may have been the most expected movie of the week, Anurag Kashyap disappoints with this one, no matter what others say Sana Mirza

Movie: Gangs of Wasseypur Cast: Tigmanshu Dhulia, Piyush Mishra, Richa Chadda, Manoj Bajpayee, Reemma Sen Directed by: Anurag Kashyap Rating:

sana.m@postnoon.com

here are only two reasons why someone may be at a loss of words in describing a film. Either, it’s because the film was extremely well-written that a mere 250 word description wouldn’t do justice or it made absolutely no sense. Unfortunately Gangs of Wasseypur fits the latter. Though the film begins with a clip of Smriti Irani happily welcoming everyone in the serial Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, it changes to the Zee Horror Show in a heartbeat with gun fire as the background score. We are introduced to the main plot of the story with the end of colonial India, where Shahid Khan (Jaideep Ahlawat) impersonates the legendary Sultana Daku in looting British trains. A hot- headed man who is much too bold to be questioning the mafia that rules the feared town of Wasseypur. He eventually becomes an outcast and joins hands with Ramadhir Singh only to spur a revenge that is generations long. At the turn of the decade, Shahid's son, the philandering Sardar Khan (Manoj Bajpayee) vows to get his

father’s honour back. What follows is a series of blood curdling violence, narrating tales of vengeance. A movie at such a slow pace would have been well understood otherwise but the plot was weak even though it has been inspired by real life incidents. However the dialogues and the humour was what kept us to our seats. Sneha Khanwalkar’s folksy music and GV Prakash’s earthy background score is noteworthy too. If not for the storyline, I would recommend that you watch it for the actors. It’s Bajpayee’s comeback but Chadda and Dhulia give a splendid performance. From the trailer, the movie looked immensely raw, something on the lines of Black Friday which sent shivers down everyone’s spine.

Love you three times C

an we truly love one person throughout our life and hope that fate makes us meet them again, just in a different setting? Teri Meri Kahaani directed by Kunal Kohli sees Shahid Kapoor andPriyanka Chopra romancing a second time on the big screen (the first being Kaminey). With three different eras set as the backdrop, Teri Meri Kahaani is touted to be a romance drama. This story takes us through a journey of

ALSO IN THEATRES Movie: Teri Meri Kahaani Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Prachi Desai Directed by: Kunal Kohli

eternal love between a couple who have vowed to love each other not only in this life but in every life to follow. Will true love prevail? Or will destiny take its course?

CINEMA SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

THE SATURDAY QUIZ SATURDAY, JUNE 23 2012

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

TAKE YOUR PICK

Which foreign influence is seen in the rock cut architecture of India? A. Persian B. Greek C. Indo-European D. Arabic

which gas? 11. Which part of the body is the triceps muscles to be found? 12. What term is given to a piece of rock or metal from space that reaches the surface of the Earth? 13. To which animal does the word lupine refer?

14. Reed, Marsh, Sedge and Grasshopper are varieties of which bird? 15. Which mineral forms the lead in a pencil? 16. What creature is an ophidiophobe afraid of? 17. Which part of a horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anatomy is the equivalent of a human ankle?

IDENTIFY THESE FAMOUS WOMEN

Answers

supporting actor category? 6. Where does the River Volga flow into? 7. Which the world's oldest known city? 8. Which country is the largest producer of tin in the world? 9. New York is popularly known as the city of ... 10.Dry Ice is the frozen form of

1 September 2, 1969, HSBC introduced ATMs in India in 1987 2. Radioactivity 3.Bill Gates 4.Edwin Land 1948 5. Christopher Plummer 6. Caspian Sea 7.Damascus 8. China 9. Skyscrapers 10.Carbon Dioxide 11.Back of the arm 12.Meteorite 13. Wolf 14. Warbler 15.Graphite 16.Fear of snakes 17.Hock

1. When was the first ATM opened for business? 2. Gieger Counter is used to measure what? 3. Who is the author of the Road Ahead? 4. Who invented the instant developing film? 5. Who is the oldest actor to win an award in the best

NAME THEM WHO AUTHORED THESE BOOKS?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

A bend in the River

Blind Beauty

What does the Angstrom measure?

Ashtadhyayi

Farewell to Arms

A. Quantity of liquid B. Length of light waves C. Length of cables D. Speed of ships

Birds and beasts

Study of life in outerspace is known as A. Endobiology B. Exobiology C. Enterobiology D. Neobbiology

Childhood

Clockwork Orange

City of Saints

Answers: 1.A 2. D 3.B

Count of Monte Cristo

KNOW YOUR COUNTRY

Name the Indian tennis player who has turned a Hollywood filmmaker?

1.VS Naipaul 2.Boris Pasternak 3.Panini 4.Earnest Hemmingway 5.Charles Dickens 6.Maxim Gorky 7.Anthony Burgess 8.Richard Burton 9. Alexander Dumas

Rouff is a folk dance. It has its origin in which region?

Which Indian State is often called the heart of India?

with Santosh Ghule How many people are you looking at?

Answer for

Which ruler is called the Mad Monarch?

WHO AM I?

To infinity and beyond, that is what I believe in. My friends are Sheriff Woody, Mr and Mrs Potato head, Slinky the dog and many more. Together we have great many adventures and stay at Andy's house. Who am I?

Answer : Buzz Lightyear

Which king was the first to use rockets in warfare?

PICTURE PUZZLE 21

20: A man calling out to them from the edge of the ocean.

4 5 6

Answer: 1.Queen Rania 2.Condoleezza Rice 3.Jemima Khan 4. Jane Fonda

During the reign of which emperor is the poet Kalidasa accepted to have lived?

Answer:

2 3

1Ashok Amritraj 2.Kashmir 3.Chandragutpa Vikramaditya 4.Tipu Sultan 5.Mohammed Bin Tughlaq 6. Madhya Pradesh

Answers

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

SOLUTION ON PAGE 32

SUDOKU

KAKURO

How to Play Kakuro

SCRIBBLING PAD

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

As you walk down the fairway of life you must smell the roses, for you only get to play one round. – Ben Hogan

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Baby food 4 Baseball team less one 9 Oversentimental 14 "Flags of ___ Fathers" 15 Coen brothers film of 1996 16 Blender setting 17 Check text for errors 19 Accessorize, maybe 20 California ballplayer 21 Bathtub swirl 23 Storklike bird 24 Give an OK 26 "Fiddler on the Roof" character 28 American dogwood 31 A fairy may leave money for it 33 Ballplayer's headgear 36 About to snap 37 Three-note chord 39 Baby-feeding finale 41 Alpine echo 44 "... golden days of ___" 45 "Bottoms up!" 47 Dashing style 49 ___ and improved 50 Carpenter's fastener 52 Coated with hoarfrost 54 Downspout site 56 Desk chair feature 60 Ends' counterparts 62 Things you can connect 65 Easily taken advantage of 66 Common still-life subject 68 Manipulated, say 70 Strong suit 71 Fertile soil ingredient 72 Unit of work 73 Blender variable 74 Prognosticators 75 "Does she or doesn't she?" item DOWN 1 "Where's ___?" (George Segal film) 2 Indefinable somethings

3 Cattle zappers 4 Football side 5 One thing to travel by 6 Lemur's hangout 7 "Bejabbers!" 8 Hot winter drink 9 Hydrotherapy facility 10 Acoustic 11 Trial period 12 "Scope" prefix, in subs 13 Cravings 18 Filled cookie 22 "The best is ___ to come" 25 Well-ordered 27 "Death Be ___ Proud" 29 "Me, me, me" attitude 30 Winona of "Edward Scissorhands" 32 "The Tortoise and the ___" 33 Semi professionals

use them your window 34 Arctic seabirds 60 "Tip" or "rip" finish 35 Particular course of 61 Bit of medicine for action the eye 38 Glistening grass stuff 63 "I can't deny that" 40 Leech or tapeworm, 64 Unspecific amount e.g. 67 Kennedy or Danson 42 Wallach of film 69 Certainly not a pure43 Beats it bred 46 "My Name Is PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER Asher ___" 48 State of novelty 51 Commit matrimony 53 "Buenos ___!" 55 Secondyear coeds 57 Gripped on a bench 58 Partner of each 59 It may be just outside

CHAI TIME SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

Aries Six of Swords

ork – Avoid being ambiguous when you communicate with coworkers. If you aren’t sure of an idea, flesh it out in your head first before presenting it to all. Romance – A road trip with music you like will bring back the dying romance. Health – Avoid eating street side food. Eat healthy, exercise right and think positive. Money – You may not know the whole story about an investment. Tarot message – Overseas contacts bring new experiences and a cultural fusion you cannot ignore. Learn, adapt, grow and experience the new.

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Page of Wands

Six of Pentacles

Queen of Wands

Seven of Cups

Nine of Wands

ork – There are ways to put across your idea without seeming too bossy or authoritative. You can adopt a consensual approach to teamhandling. Romance – You radiate a beautiful sensual energy, which is great for attracting good vibes. Continue to do things you enjoy and you can make the most of it. Health – Although porridge and oats may seem boring, they have the ability to restore the balance in your body. Don’t shun healthy foods. Money – While taking a loan, make sure you are aware of the market conditions. Tarot message – Growth is indicated. You learn and grow at the same time by meeting new people and picking up new information from them.

ork – Life is a playground and you can choose to play fair or foul. Either way, your past will return to take stock with you, sometime in the future. Romance – You and your partner can consider getting a pet, if you haven’t one already. It will focus your love for each other. Health – Eat healthy nuts and snack on fruits and organic foods that will add extra energy to your body and mind. Money – You benefit from the investments you have made so far. You will be in a position to decide what you wish to do with your money now. Tarot message – Emotions are strong, and you cannot escape from them. But do think about the future, practically.

ork – It’s a pleasure to have the remote control in your hand, for once. But this also adds tremendous responsibility on you. You’ll be expected to behave maturely. Romance – A foreign holiday with a loved is on the cards. You discover new places and each other through this journey. Health – If digestion is a problem, it will be a good idea to treat it well. Use laxatives or natural treatment. Don’t ignore it. Money – There is redtapism in the companies where you have invested. And this is bothering you no end. Be patient. Tarot message – There is bound to be confusion even as you seek to clear your mind and find the right answers.

ork – You need to log in the required number of hours. But more than that technical detail, make sure you stay disciplined and stick to a schedule expected of you. Romance – You enjoy some rib-tickling laughter moments with your loved one. This is the trick to keep the romance alive. Health – Avoid putting that packet of chips in your shopping cart as you wheel it down the supermarket aisle. Add fruits, instead, to your basket. Money – There will be ups and downs. A fall in stocks may only be temporary. Don’t panic yet. Tarot message – You have many creative ideas and need to put them to good use.

SUMAA TEKUR tarotreadhyd@gmail.com

Libra

Scorpio

The Devil

Nine of Pentacles

ork –Document all your work in a neat way so you can present it to seniors in the industry when asked to share your work. Romance – You may have to make decisions very quickly when it comes to personal relationships. Don’t procrastinate or dilly-dally too much. Health – Hop across to a health store and stock up on healthy snacks instead of picking up fried foods and unhealthy ready-to-eat mixes. Money –By withdrawing limited amounts of money from the bank you can try to put a limit on your excessive spending. Tarot message – By being in the clear and doing what needed to be done from your end, you allow for good vibes to come your way.

ork – There are many different sections within your office or profession where you can explore new work. Do this with the intent to learn and not just to make more money. Romance – A smile can erase many negative feelings and also clear your mind instantly. Smile often and when with members of the opposite sex. Health – Be aware of pollution-related health issues like a sunburn or stroke or asthma. Protect yourself against harsh weather conditions. Money – Limit your spending when out with friends. You tend to get carried away and spend more when with other people. Tarot message – Temptations are hard to resist. But you ought to try for your own good.

Virgo

Sagittarius Six of Wands

ork –There is no guarantee on what happens on the job front, especially in these economically volatile times. Stay positive. It will all be fine. Romance – Give your partner a good body massage. It not just increases passion between you two it also burns calories for the person giving the massage. Health – You create barriers for yourself in the choices you make. Being healthy is a lifestyle choice and does not end when you enroll in a gym. Money – You may have gotten some insider information on investments. Verify it carefully before you jump in with your savings. Tarot message – There is need to balance the different aspects of your life. No point sticking to one perspective.

Capricorn

Date 24-6-2012

Aquarius

Ace of Wands

King of Swords

ork – There is a rat race in the office you have to deal with. You are in a position of power and need not worry. It will settle itself. Romance – You need an escape to a better place with your romantic partner. Take time out for each other, even if you don’t physically get away. Health – Focus on what you eat because it will determine how your health improves. Don’t ignore any aches and pains. Consult a doctor. Money – Time is money. If you are in business, make each meeting count. Be professional in your approach to work. Tarot message – You are in a position to take important decisions. This is a fortunate time when plans fall in place.

ork – File all your work and achievements in a place that is convenient for you to share with others. As you grow in the career, you would need to manage this more professionally. Romance – Some strong wooing is on the cards. You miss your partner when away and cannot wait to get back together to spend more time. Health – There are some harmful bacteria in the air, water and food. Don’t take it lightly and avoid unhealthy food habits. Money – Only when you trust a person completely should you lend money. Be fully aware of your actions with money. Tarot message – An intuitive time; you will do whatever needs to be done without anyone telling you.

ork – The amount of work you put in simply cannot be measured by the number of hours you spend at the office. It has everything to do with quality. Romance – Singles may walk down the altar very soon. It may happen suddenly and unexpectedly. But then, such is life. Health – An icon in the health field inspires you to take better care of your health and you match step to step. Money –Travel to foreign shores is indicated. It may be on work or some special assignment. You end up spending a lot on food and shopping. Tarot message – Don’t isolate yourself in the quest for creativity. You can be creative even while working in a group.

Pisces Eight of Wands

ork – When you have stray bits of information from here and there, you should make the effort to string the pieces together for it to make sense. Romance – When in a fight with a partner, don’t focus on whose fault it is. Instead, focus on what you can do to make the situation better. Health – In fitness levels, you are like a caterpillar waiting to become a butterfly. You’re on the right track and only need to continue working. Money – Make a concrete pension plan so you get the money you need for a rainy day. You shouldn’t have to worry later in life. Tarot message – This is a lucky phase when situations go in your favour.

Vol: 1, No 342 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 040-40672 222, Fax: 040-4067 2211

2012 LONDON OLYMPICS

60 59 58 57

DID YOU KNOW...? n The sport’s name was changed from Yachting to Sailing at the Sydney 2000 Games n Great Britain was the most successful nation in the Sailing competitions at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

LEGENDS OF THE SPORT

SHIP, AHOY!

50 49 48

Shirley Robertson (born July 15, 1968) is one of the greatest female Olympic sailors in history, competing in four Games. During the late 1990s she won silver medals in European and World Championships, and these were followed by a gold at the 2000 Games. Following her sucess, Robertson turned her attentions to a new challenge: the new Yngling class. She won a second gold in the ‘04 Games.

Paul Elvstrom (born February 25, 1928) won four Olympic gold medals over his 40-year Games career. Elvstrom first competed in 1948, where he claimed a gold in the Firefly class. This class evolved into the Finn monotype, which he then won at the next three Games in 1952, 1956 and 1960. Despite glory eluding him from this point, Elvstrom took part in another four Games.

DAYS TO GO

SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

n Crown Prince Olav of Norway won gold in the Six-metre Sailing class at the Amsterdam 1928 Games. n The most successful Olympic sailor is Denmark’s Paul Elvstrom. He won the first of his four gold medals at consecutive Games in 1948, and was still competing in 1988 at the age of 60.

TALLY 2008

47 46 45 44 43

GBR AUS SPAIN

MEDAL EVENTS

40 39 38 37 35 34 33 32 31

1 1 1

1 0 0

August 5 Men's Finn Men's Star August 6 Men's Laser Women's Laser Radial August 7 Men's RS-X Women's RS-X August 8 Men's 49er August 9 Men's 470 August 10 Women's 470 August 11 Women's Elliott 6m

4 2 1

FROM THE PAST

SAILING: The waters of Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour play host to 10 exhilarating Sailing events. Mastery over ever-changing conditions on open water requires skill and nerve. Both will be essential for competitors in the Sailing events at London 2012 over 14 days of competition that should offer plenty of excitement and drama in the beautiful but testing waters of Weymouth Bay, on the south coast of England.

ROWING AT GAMES

Sailing made its Olympic debut in Paris 1900 with both men’s and women’s competitions. With the exception of St Louis 1904, the sport has

hroughout history sailing has been instrumental in the development of civilization, affording mankind greater mobility than travel over land. The earliest representation of a ship under sail appears on a painted disc found in Kuwait dating to the late 5th millennium BC. Advances in sailing technology from the Middle Ages onward enabled Arab, Chinese, Indian and European explorers to make longer voyages into regions with extreme climatic conditions. There were improvements in sails, masts and rigging.

THE VENUE

ocated in Dorset on the south coast of England, Weymouth and Portland provides some of the best natural sailing waters in the UK, with facilities on land to match. The improvements to the existing facilities at Weymouth and Portland

THE LINGO Fleet race: Three or more competitors racing against each other Match race: Two competitors racing head to head, with slightly different racing rules that allow aggressive tactics. Port: When looking forwards, the left-hand side of the craft. Starboard: When looking forwards, the righthand side of the craft. appeared at every Olympic Games since.

THE BASICS

Each event consists of a

Points are doubled. The points total after the medal race determines the placings. Match racing: The women’s Elliot 6m event starts with a round-robin stage. The best eight crews progress to the knockout stage. Each series is won by the first crew to reach three points. The main difference to fleet is that only two boats ever race against each other. Boat speed can win you a fleet race but quick thinking and tactical judgment are required to for a match race.

series of races. With the exception of the women’s Match Racing event, points in each race are awarded according to position: the winner gets one point, the second-placed finisher scores two, and so on. The final race is called the medal race, for which points are doubled. Following the medal race, the individual or crew with the fewest total points is declared the winner.

COMPETITION FORMAT

Fleet races: In fleet racing, each event has a series of races. Points are awarded in each race. After 10 races, points from the worst race are discarded. The remaining points are added. The 10 best athletes/crews then advance to the medal race.

OFFICIALS

Officials include equipment inspectors ensuring all equipment is within the rules; international judges, international race officers and international umpires.

WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) include a new permanent 250m slipway used for launching and landing boats and 70 new moorings. A new commercial 560-berth marina has also been built nearby and 250 of these berths will be used during the Games.

The project was completed within the estimated budget and ahead of sched-

ule, providing world-class facilities for elite athletes and the local community, more than three years before the Games. It was the first sporting venue to be completed. The ticketed spectator area at Weymouth and Portland is called The Nothe.

SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

IDOWU WITHDRAWS LONDON: Phillips Idowu, one of Britai-n’s best Olymp-ic medal hopes, has withdrawn from the UK trials in Birmingham this weekend for the second year running, reported The Guardian. Britain’s head coach, Charles van Commenee, said he was unable to discuss the situation, but underlined Idowu’s status as a “strong medal hope” ahead of the Games. “As you know sometimes there is a fine line with medical confidentiality,” said van Commenee. “It’s not a worry.” The world triple jump silver medallist had raised concerns over his fitness after the 33-year-old landed awkwardly following his third-round leap at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon earlier this month. The Londoner then withdrew from competing in Oslo, but with just five weeks until the Games no official announcement has been made by his camp. When it was put to van Commenee that it was highly unusual for so many question marks to surround a British medal contender the Dutchman said simply: “I don’t know what his coach says, I just tell you what the situation is… This is all I have to say. I’m sure you can ask him yourself, maybe he twitters.” The Hackney-born triple jumper, who was at loggerheads with van Commenee

DAYS TO GO

Michelle Obama to lead US delegation WASHINGTON: First

over his use of the social messaging site just last year, indeed tweeted on Friday night replying to a message from the former 400m runner Alison Curbishley who wrote, “sorry not to c u in Brum big man, hope all OK! U better not be sneaking off to the hackney weekender instead,got my spies out!” Idowu replied: “lol, tell yr spies to come say hi.” Idowu is an ambassador for the music festival. His best jump of 17.31m this season leaves him trailing the world rankings in ninth place. Last year Idowu withdrew from the trials after claiming it would be disrespectful to compete in front of a paying crowd when he was not on form. In his first senior trials

I don’t know what his coach says, I just tell you what the situation is… This is all I have to say. I’m sure you can ask him yourself Charles van Commenee, Britain’s head coach appearance, the 18-year-old Adam Gemili blew away the rest of the field as the fastest qualifier in the 100m heats with a time of 10.27seconds. The teenager, who tops the UK rankings this season with a personal best of 10.08sec, was given special exemption from competing at the world junior trials in

Bedford last weekend so that he could run in Birmingham but insisted that he did not feel any expectation to perform here. “I don’t feel any pressure, I’m just coming here to have fun. It’s a good experience, it’s Olympic trials they come round every four years so it’s a good experience to race against the top men and see how I get on.” Sixteen years separate Gemili from Dwain Chambers, but while the young pup is enjoying the ride the older statesman is desperately in need of an A qualifying standard time – along with a top two finish in the final todayon Saturday – to secure his automatic place in the British team.

Kenenisa in top gear BIRMINGHAM: Kenenisa Bekele said he was “100 percent back” after running the third fastest 10,000 metres time in the world this year on Friday. Bekele, the reigning Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion, and the world record-holder over both distances, was running his first 10,000m of the year. He finished strongly to win in 27 minutes 02.59 seconds, a time he hoped would be enough to book his spot in the Ethiopian team for the London Olympics.

“I hope to show to the world great things. Absolutely I am back, 100 percent,” said the 30-year-old Bekele, who has been plagued by injury over the last two years. Bekele was running as one of several guest athletes in a race at the UK Olympic trials. He beat his brother Tariku into second with two more Ethiopians, Gebre Gebremariam and Sileshi Sihine, third and fourth. “I am very pleased, it was a very nice race,” said Bekele. “It was just a bit windy so it’s very difficult to AFP run faster.”

Lady Michelle Obama will lead a US delegation to the London Olympics next month featuring the famed double gold medalist woman footballer Brandi Chastain, the White House said Friday. “This summer, I’ll be cheering on Team USA at the Olympic Games in London with this distinguished group of champions who truly represent the best of our country,” Obama said. “Olympians and Paralympians are true American heroes and role models for all of us, especially our young people.” Chastain is best known for an iconic moment when she scored the winning goal in the Women’s World Cup Final in 1999, and she pulled off her shirt to reveal a sports bra underneath. Also on the US delegation were Paralympian Gabriel Diaz de Leon, who has won medals in the javelin, discus and shot put, and swimmer Summer Sanders, who won four medals, including two golds in the 1992 Games. AFP

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Syrian head denied visa for Games LONDON: Britain has refused to grant the head of the Syrian Olympic Committee a visa to travel to London for the Games, the BBC reported on Friday. General Mowaffak Joumaa’s application was refused due to his links to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which has launched a bloody crackdown on protests. The Home Office interior ministry, which deals with visa applications, and the Foreign Office, both refused to comment when contacted by AFP.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

BEAUTY

Blind players shine ahead of Euro quarter-final As Germany and Greece braced for their crunch Euro 2012 quarter-final on Friday, two teams of blind players showed off their skills in a match meant to show that lack of sight should be no barrier to sport. Organised as part of the “Respect” campaign run by, the five-a-side game was held on the same pitch where the professionals of Germany and Greece were to play.

THE BEST

Mole spies on England team at Euro 2012 The England football team narrowly avoided an unusual pitch invasion Friday, when a mole popped up at their Euro 2012 training session in southern Poland. “He wasn’t hit by any stray passes or anything from the players,” England team spokesman Stuart Mawhinney told AFP Friday. “He might have been trying to get a good view.”

Bosque admits Spain is uncertain Tom Williams

DONETSK, UKRAINE: Spain coach Vicente del Bosque admitted on Friday that he is still to decide how to configure his team for Saturday’s Euro 2012 quarterfinal against France. The reigning world and European champions, Spain will start as favourites at Donbass Arena in Donetsk, where both teams will be competing for the right to tackle Portugal in the semi-finals. France coach Laurent Blanc has vowed to change his line-up in order to counteract Spain’s likely dominance of possession, but his opposite number said he was in two minds over his own team selection. “They will be very difficult opponents,” said Del Bosque. “There are still doubts about the starting line-up, but that’s a healthy thing. “It’s not just today (Friday). I’ve always had 23 players at my disposal. All of them are great players and important players for their clubs, and I could use all of them. That’s why I have doubts. It would be bad to be sure of everything.” Del Bosque’s chief selection dilemma is thought to concern the team’s attack, with Fernando Torres hoping to hold onto his role at the tip of Spain’s formation despite competition from Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Asked to comment on the likelihood of France adopting a defensive approach, Del Bosque said he did not think Blanc’s side would be prepared to abandon their attacking instincts. “I have a hard time believing that they are just going to close up their defence,” he said. “They have players who like to play and take the initiative. They will want to beat us. I just hope the match will turn out well. France’s coach is a good coach. He has great players at his disposal. The match they lost against Sweden doesn’t count for anything.

Blanc to disrupt Spanish symphony DONETSK, UKRAINE: Laurent Blanc says he will “definitely” make changes to France’s starting line-up as they bid to contain the all-conquering Spain in their Euro 2012 quarter-final on Saturday. Having seeing his team’s 23-game unbeaten run ended by Sweden on Tuesday, Blanc believes it would be foolish for France to go toe-to-toe with the world and European champions. The France coach could decide to bolster his midfield Ramos wary of Madrid team-mate and in a bid to counteract Spain’s yet-to-score Karim Benzema notorious passing routine, while French sport newspaper With Spain set to tackle France in the Euro 2012 quarL’Equipe has speculated that ter-finals on Saturday, Spanish centre-back Sergio Samir Nasri could lose his Ramos is preoccupied by a friendly face in the French place to Jeremy Menez. front line. The 26-year-old centre-back will be in direct Blanc will already be withopposition to his Real Madrid club-mate Karim out the suspended Philippe Benzema at Donetsk’s Donbass Arena, barely Mexes and when he a month since they celebrated lifting the was asked if he Spain vs France would make further Spanish league title with Madrid. Although 12.15am (Sunday) changes, he replied: yet to score at the Euro, Benzema will be cen“Definitely.” tral to France’s hopes of springing an upset Neo Prime He added: “I often and Ramos knows it will be important to keep say that you should him under close surveillance. “Yes, I’ve spoadapt as little as posken to him,” Ramos said on Friday. “We have a great sible to your opponents and relationship. He might not have had a great beginning, play your own game, but we’re but I think he’s a great forward.” up against a strong team with a well-established style of play.

Spain vs France: Previous run-ins

pain have never beaten France in a competitive match. June 27, 1984: France 2 Spain 0 (European Championship final) June 25, 2000: France 2 Spain 1 (European Championship QF) June 27, 2006: France 3 Spain 1 (World Cup round of 16) February 6, 2008: France 0 Spain 1 (friendly) March 3, 2010: France 0 Spain 2 (friendly)

“They have players who are used to playing together for their clubs. Spain’s level of play is much higher than ours, so we’ll definitely have to adapt to their play. “But that doesn’t mean we’ll abandon our own strengths. We’ll have a team AFP/ TW that can do both.”

SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

Blood on the Gdansk floor Highest scoring European Championship matches

Ryland James

GDANSK, POLAND: Germany booked their place in the last four of Euro 2012 as Joachim Loew’s side hammered Greece 42 on Friday after dominating their quarter-final. Germany ran riot as captain Philipp Lahm, Sami Khedira, veteran striker Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus all got on the score-sheet to cancel out Giorgos Samaras’ and Dimitris Salpingidis’ second-half strikes for the Greeks. The Germans will now play England or Italy, who meet in Sunday’s Kiev quarter-final, in the semi-final at Warsaw’s National Stadium on Thursday as they inflicted Greece’s heaviest defeat at European championships, eclipsing the Greeks’ 3-1 defeat at the hands of Czechoslovakia in 1980. “I would like to congratulate the Germans, they were really good,” said Greece coach Fernando Santos. “They certainly have the game worked out. “We should have had a few more chances, but they had more possession and put us under pressure.” The Germans dominated at Arena Gdansk and their ball possession never dropped below 60 per cent. “That was a class performance from the team to reach the semi-finals for the fourth

TOP GOAL SCORERS 3 GOALS: Ronaldo (POR), Dzagoev (RUS, in pic), Gomez (GER), Mandzukic (CRO) 2 GOALS: Bendtner (DEN), Fabregas (ESP), Ibrahimovic (SWE), Jiracek (CZE), Krohn-Dehli (DEN), Pilar (CZE), Shevchenko (UKR), Torres (ESP)

1960

semi-final: France 4 Yugoslavia 5

1976

semi-final: Yugoslavia 2 West Germany 4

1996

Group match: Russia 3 Czech Republic 3

2000

Group match: Yugoslavia 3 Slovenia 3

2000

Group match: Yugoslavia 3 Spain 4 German defender Philipp Lahm is mobbed by his teammates after scoring in the Euro 2012 football championships quarter-final match against Greece on Friday at the Gdansk Arena. AFP/ ARIS MESSINIS time in a row,” said Löw with the Germans having reached the semi-finals at both the last two World Cups and lost the Euro 2008 final. “We can be proud of the team, it was clear that the Greeks could make something out of nothing. We failed to take an early lead. There were a few changes and I thought I had to change things after three wins.”

Match facts: Germany vs Greece GERMANY Scorers: Lahm 39, Khedira 61, Klose 68, Reus 74. GREECE Scorers: Samaras 55, Salpingidis (pen) 89. Booked: Samaras, Papastathopoulos. Man of the match: Sami Khedira. Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia) 6. Attendance: 43,000.

2000

Quarter-final: Netherlands 6 Yugoslavia 1

2004

Group match: Croatia 2 England 4

2012

Quarter-final: Germany 4 Greece 2

Santos proud of performance GDANSK, POLAND: Greece coach Fernando Santos said that his players would leave Euro 2012 having grown in stature despite being on the wrong end of a 4-2 hammering by a vastly Germany in Friday’s quarter-final. The 57-year-old Portuguese, who more than justified his 45 per cent pay rise in his recentlysigned contract as they qualified for the last eight at the expense of heavily-fancied Russia, said his side had never faltered during the match even when they were 4-1 down and took many positives away from the tournament. “I want to congratulate my players because they fought at this game until the very last moment, and of course they managed to make it

this far,” said Santos, who guided Porto to the 1999 league title and then to Cup wins in 2000 and 2001.

GREEK

FANS DOWN BUT PROUD IN DEFEAT

Greek fans voiced disappointment on Friday after losing to Germany in a Euro 2012 quarter final clash but said they were still proud of their team and defiant against German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The cafes in the Thissio neighbourhood near the Acropolis buzzed with anticipation ahead of the hotly anticipated game against debt-mired Greece’s paymaster and fell silent when Germany scored a first-half goal in Gdansk.

The fans exploded with joy, hugging, dancing and jumping on chairs, when striker Giorgos Samaras — who shares the same surname as the prime minister elected on Sunday Antonis Samaras — evened the score in the second half. “Greece ole ole! We’ll never stop singing Greece ole ole!” they chanted along with another slogan against the eurozone giant seen as being behind widely hated austerity measures: “This is how those who owe you screw you!” There was loud booing every time Merkel appeared on the screen and some of the fans held up their open palms — an insult in Greece where the gesture is seen as a way of cursing. AFP

SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2012

Paul di Resta was not surprised by the pace of his Force India car despite being very competitive during Friday’s practice sessions for Sunday’s European Grand Prix. The 26-year-old di Resta wound up sixth fastest, just 0.6 seconds slower than pace-setter Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull, while his Force India teammate German Nico Hulkenberg was second fastest, just over a tenth of a second slower than the defending champion. The Scotsman insisted he was not surprised by the overall pace of his car and hopes to prove Friday’s performance was not a one-off by staying competitive throughout the weekend.

Roddick racks up 600th victory EASTBOURNE, UNITED KINGDOM: Former world number one Andy Roddick racked up his 600th career victory on Friday, a timely tonic ahead of Wimbledon where he has been runner-up three times. The American did it the hard way, however, having to play twice in one day at the windswept southern English coastal venue of Eastbourne. First he beat Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 before making Saturday’s final when Belgian opponent Steve Darcis retired 6-3, 3-1 down in their semi-final as Roddick reached his landmark moment. “There’s a lot of times when you make plans where you draw the perfect scenario and you draw up a script and it doesn’t work out,” said the American, who will be seeded 30 at Wimbledon which starts on Monday. “That’s probably 90 per cent of the time in sports. This week has worked out. Regardless of what happens, I’ll go into Wimbledon with some wins behind me and some confidence on a surface I’m very comfortable on, so I feel like I got my game back a little bit this week,” he told

www.atptour.com. Prior to Eastbourne, Roddick had been sidelined from March to May with a hamstring injury. He returned in time for the European claycourt season where he lost all three of his round-robin matches in Dusseldorf as well as making a first round exit at the French Open. He also slumped to a first round loss on grass at Queen’s to Nicolas Mahut. As a wildcard in Eastbourne, he has made Saturday’s final, where he will face AFP defending champion Andreas Seppi.

SOLUTIONS

Boggle

full extent of Parker’s injuries but eye wounds “certainly don’t improve your outside shot.” Parker alleges in the suit that the club owners “were reckless, careless and negligent in permitting Drake’s entourage and Brown’s entourage to be in the club at the same time despite known tension between the two.” Drake briefly dated singer Rihanna after she broke up with Brown. “She’s been known, like Helen of Troy, to cause trouble,” Jaroslawicz said of Rihanna. Parker, who was at the WiP with Brown, is slated to play with the French national team at the Summer Olympics. He said he has been sidelined for at least a week as he heals with the help of a AFP “therapeutic” contact lens.

TWO TEN SIX FOUR FORTY SIXTY TWELVE

Suduko

Resta praises Force India’s speed

left scratching his head after struggling for pace during Friday’s opening practice sessions for Sunday’s European Grand Prix. The 27-year-old, and current championship leader, failed to match the pace set by rival Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull and, despite coming within a second of the German’s time, wound up 14th fastest. The 2008 champion had hoped to carry some momentum from his win at the Canadian Grand Prix two weeks ago and become the first man to win two races this season, but admitted that improvements must be made before qualifying if he is to reach his target. “We didn’t have a brilliant day today,” said the McLaren driver. “It was a bit of a struggle to be honest, but I’m quite confident that we can make changes overnight and get back into the hunt tomorrow. “I wasn’t totally happy with my car today, but, being realistic, you can’t always get it absolutely right, can you? This year, we’ve usually got the balance spot-on during practice, but we perhaps didn’t run precisely the correct set-up today. “We think we know what the problems were though, and how to put them right, so we ought to be fine for tomorrow - I’m quite confident that we’ll have improved things for qualifying.” His team-mate Jenson Button continued to struggle for pace and finished the day 12th fastest The 2009 champion, who has perhaps become accustomed to dealing with disappointment after a string of frustrating results, said he was feeling more positive about the balance of his car. He said he was optimistic that the changes his team have scheduled for Saturday could put him back in the runAFP ning.

Number game

VALENCIA, SPAIN: Lewis Hamilton was

suing the owners of a New York nightclub after suffering an eye injury in a bottle-throwing brawl between friends of R&B singer Chris Brown and rapper Drake, the New York Post reported on Friday. Parker, who plays for the San Antonio Spurs, is demanding $20 million from the owners of the WiP (Work in Progress) club in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan following the fight in the early hours of June 14, according to the newspaper. According to the lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Parker holds WiP’s owners responsible for a “corneal laceration of the left eye and other injuries.” His lawyer, David Jaroslawicz, told the newspaper that he did not know the

Scrabble

Lewis struggles to find pace

Parker sues New York nightclub NEW YORK: NBA star Tony Parker is