Young adolescent fiction now teaches sex education

Teenagers are very curious about sex and discussing that with adults is not something they are comfortable with. But as more and more young adult fiction writers include bits of sex education in their books, teens have finally found a way to learn and are beginning to understand that it is alright to be curious.

Young adult fiction now includes a number of writers who seem to be at ease and have made it their mission to talk about sex, in a light-hearted yet meaningful fashion. Meg Cabot is the latest author to join the bandwagon, who imparts sex education without sounding preachy. American authors seem to feel there should be no age restriction when it comes to sex education. In Meg Cabot’s Mediator series, Suze, the main character teases her stepbrother about his relationship with his girlfriend. Their 12-year-old brother quips and tells him to be safe and even talks about the methods that can be used.

Such instances are not just limited to Cabots’ books. Even in Judy Blume’s Forever which was written in the 1970s, the protagonist Katherine is told about sexual responsibility and about the Pill. In a her website, Judy Blume says, “If this book was written today, Katherine would be told that it is essential to use a condom along with any other method of birth control. If you’re going to become sexually active, then you have to take responsibility for your own actions.” “Most of the older generation has grown up reading Enid Blytons, Franklin W. Dixons and Carolyn Keene, but times have changed since then. Even though sex education starts later in Indian schools compared to those in the US, I think books are a great way of educating yourself,” says Smriti Raheja, a college student.

Series such as the Gossip Girls by Cecily von Ziegsar, the A-list novels by Zoey Dean and even the Clique collection by Lisi Harrison are not just upfront about sex, but also talk about sex education in great detail.

“It’s great that authors now want to cater to the typical young adult who is curious and wants to explore. Earlier 14-year-olds would read Mills and Boon and get the wrong impression, these authors help teens understand that it is alright to talk about sex, pro vided you have the correct information,” says Nishant Varma, a class 12 student.

By:RUCHIRA HOON

New US citizenship test on Net

Washington
The federal government is disclosing draft questions it plans to try out on immigrants applying to become US citizens in hopes of making the citizenship test more meaningful.

Citizenship and Immigration Services, a division of the homeland security department, planned to post 144 questions it will be testing in 10 cities on its website on Thursday afternoon.

The agency provided a sneak preview on Wednesday. Applicants taking the test would need to know that President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, issued during the US civil war more than 140 years ago, freed black slaves in the rebellious Southern states.

But in a couple of years, that knowledge will not be enough. A prospective citizen will need a deeper understanding of the civil war and have to name one of the problems that led to it.

Citizenship and Immigra tion Service has been working to redesign the test for several years. A 2003 attempt also was given a tryout in some cities, failed and was scuttled.

Answers to the question about causes of the civil war could include slavery, economics or states’ rights, said Chris Rhatigan, an agency spokesperson.

Ms Rhatigan provided examples of the test questions to The Associated Press. The questions to be released will be for the civics portion of the test and will be given orally to immigrants who volunteer to take the new draft test.

The redesign is aimed at making sure applicants know the meaning behind some of America’s fundamental institutions, Ms Rhatigan said. “There’s not one, rote —Question and answer,” she said.

The questions will go into use in 10 pilot cities before advocacy groups get a chance to point out problems.

Modern Ravana...........

Rajinikanth to go bald for Movie Sivaji

Director Shankar is full of surprises when it comes to his films.
Though the unit has taken great pains to keep a number of details about his magnum opus Sivaji under wraps, the highlight of the film is out in the open now.

According to reliable sources, for the first time in his career spanning 30 years, superstar Rajinikanth has agreed to shave his head completely for a very important scene.

Even in Rajini’s earlier films where he had appeared with a bald head, it was done using make-up. This is the first time he’s shaving his hair off for a film. The shooting of this particular scene is supposed to start next month.

Shah Rukh is new Khon Banaega Carodepathi host

BOTTOMLINE - Shah Rukh is new KBC host
Mumbai

Nov. 26: The popular TV game show Kaun Banega Crorepati is back, but this time it is Shah Rukh Khan who will host the show. The format of the show is going to be the same and so will be the prize money: Rs 2 crores. “However, the personality of the show will be different as it will now be Shah Rukh Khan,” said Shailja Kejriwal, senior creative director of Star India. Asked why Amitabh Bachchan had been replaced by Shah Rukh, Ms Kejriwal said: “We wanted to air the show again owing to its immense popularity, but Mr Bachchan expressed his inability to do it. Hence we approached Shah Rukh Khan.” Shah Rukh Khan has been signed for two seasons, with an option to continue later. The shooting for the show will begin in early January and the show will be on the air by the end of January.
Shah Rukh is excited about the development. He said: “It is a huge act to follow, that of Mr Bachchan.” He is happy that through KBC he will get a platform to interact with his audience through the medium of television, where he began his career as an actor.

The chief executive officer of Star India, Mr Sameer Nair, said: “Since KBC has redefined television viewing in India... we are extremely delighted to announce the Next Gen avatar of KBC and promise to engage and deliver to our audiences a whole new entertainment experience.” KBC is being produced by Siddharth Basu’s Synergy Communications. Mr Basu said: “Except for the change of host, the nature of the show will be the same. Shah Rukh Khan was a natural choice for Star as he is smart, intelligent and has a huge star appeal.”

HUMAN TOUCH - Scientists make robots play games

SETH BORENSTEIN:

George the robot is playing hideand-seek with scientist Alan Schultz. George whirrs and hides behind a post until he’s found. Then a bit later, he hunts for and finds Schultz hiding.
If that sounds childish, consider that Schultz is working his way up to teaching the robot to play Capture the Flag.

What’s so impressive about robots playing children’s games? For a robot to actually find a place to hide, and then hunt for its human playmate is a new level of human interaction. The machine must take cues from people and behave accordingly.

This is the beginning of a real robot revolution: giving robots some humanity.

“Robots in the human environment, to me that’s the final frontier,” said Cynthia Breazeal, robotic life group director at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “The human environment is as complex as it gets; it pushes the envelope.” Robotics is moving from software and gears operating remotely — Mars, the bottom of the ocean or assembly lines — to finally working with, beside and even on people.

“Robots have to understand people as people,” Breazeal said. “Right now, the average robot understands people like a chair: It’s something to go around.” The researchers who are injecting humanity into robotics are creating robots that can connect with humans in a more “thoughtful” way. They are building robot receptionists and robot physical therapists.

Angelina creates hassle in local train

Mumbai:
Angelina Jolie created a commotion in India’s financial hub on Monday by jumping on a packed local train while shooting for a movie based on a book by slain Wall Street Journal correspondent Daniel Pearl’s widow.

Angelina Jolie plays the part of Mariane Pearl who penned the book A Mighty Heart about the abduction and slaying of her husband in Karachi in 2002 by Islamic militants. The sultry actress Angelina Jolie, wearing a sea green T-shirt and khaki pants, bought a ticket from a south Mumbai commuter station and boarded a local train with four bodyguards, while the crew shot from outside. There was an immediate commotion inside the train compartment as one passenger shouted: “Hey Kamlesh (a friend), come quick, she’s here, she’s here”. Jolie’s bodyguards however prevented college students and eager autograph hunters from getting too close. Mumbai’s local trains, the lifeline of the crowded seaside peninsula city of 18 million, are used by nearly six million people daily. They were the target of deadly terror attacks in July this year when seven blasts ripped through the crowded compartments, killing 186 people and injuring more than 800.

Local photographers snapped pictures of Jolie early Monday morning, walking with her crew as they shot scenes of daily life at Mumbai’s tourist landmark, the Gateway of India.

The interlude was followed by a 10-minute real-life chase by newspaper photographers and paparazzi, who shadowed her on bikes and taxis.

Let Bob cut do up your crown

THE BOB HAIRCUTS OF TODAY ARE SIMPLY VARIATIONS OF THE LOOK CREATED IN THE 1920S. WITH MORE GEOMETRIC CUTS, THESE STYLES ARE VERY POPU- LAR TODAY HERE ARE A FEW POINTERS SUGGESTED BY THE ACE HAIR-STYLIST:

The bob haircut was simply a blunt cut in level with the bottom of the ears all around the head. It was worn either with bangs or with the hair brushed off the forehead. The Blunt Bob haircut is one of the classiest looks in history, and is flattering for many facial types. It can be worn with or without bangs, and many people who wish to shorten a long forehead prefer to have a bob with a fringe.

Some people who like the blunt style of haircut don’t like the hard line created by the basic blunt style. One easy way to get a softer, smoother twist to the style is to use a razor tool to texturise the ends of the cut.

The bob haircuts of today are simply variations of the look created in the 1920s. With more geometric cuts, these styles are very popular today. Some women still wear the traditional bob cut, while others choose the more popular style, with more angled sides, shorter bangs, or having the bangs longer than the back. These styles are very much in vogue due to their easy care for today’s workingwoman. The bob haircut is here to stay.

But experts’ caution on the manner in which a bob should be maintained. Hairstylists have added twists to the traditional styles to give the new woman a more chic and suave look.

? While opting for the bob cut it is impor tant to keep in mind that the length of the hair in front should be at the jaw level. The length of the hair at the back should be short. While the hair is shortened the exact line where the length is chopped off should n’t be visible. The bob should be a gradual one. ? Pushing the hair backwards with your hand will give it a new look. ? Taking side partitions would also look good. Once the side partition is made see that each time you push your hair backwards a little wave is formed.

? The hair should be given enough body so that a nice bouncy look is added. ? Make sure you do not wear a hair band. Also avoid taking middle partitions. ? For a formal occasion use stone studded booby pins placed neatly on the sides.

(The writer is a leading stylist)

Marriage doomed: Psychic

London: Actor Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ marriage is supposedly doomed, according to a top psychic Kenny Kingston. Kingston, who says Marilyn Monroe is one of his spirit guides, said that though the couple had picked a lucky date for the wedding, it wouldn’t really help them.

He said: “Nov 18 (the day Cruise and Holmes married) is a very special date because one and eight add up to nine and in the spirit world, it means the end of a problem, but the spirits do not approve of Tom Cruise or this marriage. “The spirits think this marriage is unusual and it’s doomed from the start,” he said. Kingston added: “The spirits tell me that it will be a very shortlived marriage. They are very displeased with this union and don’t like the fact that the couple’s child was born out of wedlock.”

THE BIG STORY: NEW YORK - Students rule: No grades, no homework, no tests

By NAHAL TOOSI
New York

One recent day at the Brooklyn Free School, the “schedule” included the following: chess, debate, filming horror movies, and making caves for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Not that the students had to go to any of these sessions. At this school, students don’t get grades, don’t have homework, don’t take tests, don’t even have to go to class. Unless they want to. “You can do basically anything at any time, and it’s just a lot more fun because sometimes when you need a break at regular schools you can’t get it,” said Sophia Bennett Holmes, 12, an aspiring singer-actress-fashion designer.

“But here if you just need to sit down and read and have time to play, then you can do that.” “Free schools”, which had their heyday decades ago, operate on the belief that children are naturally curious and learn best when they want to, not when forced to. Today, the approach is getting another look from some parents and students tired of standardised testing, excessive homework, and overly rigid curriculums in regular schools.

“Every kid here is definitely motivated to learn something, there’s no doubt in my mind,” said Alan Berger, a former public school assistant principal who founded the Brooklyn school, which launched in fall 2004. “Our belief is that if we let them pursue their passions and desires, they’ll be able to get into it deeper. They’ll be able to learn more how to learn.” Hundreds of free schools opened in the US and elsewhere in the 1960s and 1970s. Most shut down, but some, such as the Albany Free School and Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts, have persisted.

Overall, it’s unknown how many free schools operate today. The ones still in operation often use a “democratic” model, giving students a say in running the institution. At the Brooklyn Free School, much of that decision-making occurs in a mandatory (yes, as in required) weekly gathering called the Democratic Meeting. Here, students air grievances, pose challenges, propose rules and set policy. Even the youngest kids have a vote equal to staffers. One agreed-upon rule? No sword-fighting allowed inside. The school — granted a provisional charter in 2004 by the state to run as a private educational institution — occupies two floors of a Free Methodist church.

Students are required to show up for a minimum of five-and-a-half hours a day, partly so that the school can meet legal definitions, but what they do with their time is up to them. The student population — 42 students, ages 5 to 17 — is diverse racially, economically and in terms of ability, and the students are not separated by age. On any given day, a student may be playing chess, reading a book, practising yoga or helping mummify a chicken. The day after the November 7 US congressional elections, one group listened to President George W. Bush’s press conference on a radio, while the sound of the younger students’ feet rattled the ceiling. Even among some champions of alternative education, free schools are considered a bit too radical. “You don’t throw the baby out with the bath water,” said Jeanne Allen, president of the Centre for Education Reform, a leading advocate of charter schools. “You don’t get rid of all structure and standards if you want your child to be able to deal with all different settings.” Others say free schools could gain popularity if the emphasis on testing and regimented curriculums keeps up. “Not only is there more interest, this is the wave of the future,” said Jerry Mintz, director of the Alternative Education Resource Organisation. “The other approach doesn’t work, and everybody knows it.” The Brooklyn Free School isn’t free in the financial sense. Tuition is $10,000 a year, but many parents just give what they can. There’s a waiting list of about 35 students. Watching the change in her son, David Johnston, has been worth the risk for Randy Karr.

While David did well “statistically” at previous schools, he hated going, sometimes crying when she dropped him off. Getting him to do homework was a struggle, and in Mr Karr’s opinion, the homework was useless anyway.

“There’s very little about learning that goes on in school,” Mr Karr said. “A lot of it is being still, being quiet, not talking to your neighbour, not moving around too much. Especially if you’re a boy, it’s lethal.” At the Brooklyn Free School, David, now 12, is blossoming. He helps run a class on pharmacology and carries a notebook where he writes down things he’s learning.

But what about the basics? Long division, spelling, algebra? Is it enough to let a child to decide when to learn those things? This concern is there, and a few parents use outside tutors for their children, Berger said. Some students said the flexibility made sense for the youngest and oldest, but not as much for those in the middle.

“I feel like they’re definitely going to have a hard time with college, where you have to sort of do that sitting down and shutting up thing,” said Victoria Rothman, 17, a public school refugee who now spends much of her school day studying music. “There are kids who sit here and play video games all day.

Online access to Hindi films delights film buffs

Log on to rajshriproductions.com and you will come across India’s first web portal that allows you to watch the latest Shahid Kapur and Amrita Rao venture Vivah online. The film’s premiere on the net coincided with its release across theatres. Mainly aimed at the NRI and foreigners, any one can watch Vivah on the payment of $10 with a limited 72-hour license.

“If you do not watch the film within 72 hours then you will have to pay another $10 to watch the film,” says Rajshri Media Pvt. Ltd, managing director Rajat A. Barjatya.

But did they consider that allowing access to their film on the net would eat into their business in India?

“All mediums can co-exist simultaneously. The main purpose of premiering Vivah on the net was for those who did not live near a theatre that releases Hindi films. If someone from Scandinavia or Japan wanted to watch the film, he or she could do so on the net,” points out Barjatya.

He agrees that those with access to a theatre might not want to watch the film on the net. “The impact would be ruined! Can a PC replace the big screen euphoria?” he asks.

“Every medium, whether it is the theatre or the net, has its pros and cons. Our main purpose is to touch every nook and corner of the globe,” says Barjatya.

Echoing Barjatya’s opinion Rajesh Johri an avid film fan says, “I think the magic of watching the film in the theatre is something else. It leaves an impact on you which I don’t think a film watched on a computer would.” But for someone like Bhavit Parekh who keeps a close watch on his expenditure, watching the film on the net is cheap and falls within his budget.

“At a cost of Rs 450 my entire family can watch the film. I know it becomes slightly inconvenient as far as theseating arrangements are concerned but we somehow manage and I think this technology has turned to be a blessing for people like me,” he says.

While one could say that Rajshri Productions is the first to premiere their Hindi film on the net, Eros Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, the largest distributor of Hindi films in the UK, USA, UAE, Australia and New Zealand have already launched a portal beondemand.com that offers films online for its viewers.

Also, Eros Entertainment boasts of a library with the largest collection of Hindi films.

“If you log on to beondemand.com, you will see the list of Hindi films that it offers. You could watch the film by paying as little as three dollars per view,” informs a staffer.

He adds, “The time period within which the viewer has to watch the film depends on the film that he has chosen. A film that’s very old may have more than a week’s license to be watched. It may not be the same for a new film. In fact, the time frame for watching a new film is kept as short as possible.” While one can watch films on rajshriproductions.com and beondemand.com legally, there are websites like bulbule.com that allow you to not only watch but also download latest releases like Don and Jaan-E-Maan for absolutely free. In fact, this reporter even saw portions of Don on the net.

So much for the efforts made by the film industry to curb piracy!

Mani seeks Big B’s help for Guru?

Mani Rathnam’s much awaited magnum opus Guru has been making news since the film was announced. Touted to be based on the life of Dhirubhai Ambani, a large part of the film was shot in Chennai. Now almost ready for release, the film is believed to have made the elder Ambani brother concerned.

Initial reports said that Mukesh wanted to see how Dhirubhai had been portrayed in the film, but the latest rumours are that on hearing the character which is supposedly based on Mukesh Ambani is a negative one, he reportedly approached Mani Rathnam and requested him for a private screening.

The ace director however, is believed to have refused, and is determined to keep the film under wraps till its scheduled release. Sources in the production add that anticipating trouble between the brothers, because the film is to be released by Adlabs, (an Anil Ambani owned Reliance company), Mani had approached Amitabh Bachchan to mediate and ensure that there’s no trouble. The reason for Mani’s concern is because Guru has been described as his most ambitious film to date.

Will Big B agree? “He may,” said the source, “because Abhishek has a lot riding on the film and he (Abhishek) is very close to Mani Rathnam.” Abhishek Bachchan plays the lead in the film as a young and ambitious man who makes all his dreams come true. Paired opposite him, Aishwarya Rai essays the role of Dhirubhai’s wife Kokilaben. Madhavan plays an associate of Abhishek’s and Vidya Balan is Madhavan’s love interest. The twist is that Bachchan is shown to have twin sons.

Interestingly, this is not the first time Mani Rathnam has been pressurised to screen his film in advance. Before Bombay was released, Bal Thackeray was believed to have asked Mani for a preview, but then too Mani had refused.

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Download from Net at warp speed

Many parents will agree that when it comes to understanding and adopting new technology, they can learn a thing or two, or even three, from their teenage kids. I have such a person in my own home, who spends hours on the PC, trawling for new and free software from the Internet. And one such software which I found fascinating is LimeWire, which downloads from the Internet at warp speed. Well, not warp, but faster than some of the software we have been using for a while. The fun part of LimeWire is that its open-source-based, and the Basic version of LimeWire is free.

So, here’s the deal with LimeWire: It is an advanced file-sharing client/server software which connects computing devices over public and private networks. Lime Wire is scalable serverless networking software that enables entities on the internet to share, search for, and obtain files via the Gnutella Network.

According to a posting on the company's web site, Lime Wire will eventually enable content-serving entities on a peer-to-peer network to respond to queries with dynamically generated, real-time information. Search requestors will be able to query and draw data directly from one or more databases, without having to navigate through several bulky web interfaces. Search requestors will also be able to communicate with multiple computers simultaneously, and preselect the type and form of information they will receive in response to their requests. Till that happens, I am happy with the speed with which stuff can be download — songs and videos and movies.

Toyota is planning to set up 2nd India plant in 2009

Tokyo:
A leaked copy of Toyota Motor Corp.’s “global master plan” calls for grabbing 15 per cent of the world car market by 2010 in the company’s quest to unseat rival General Motors, a newspaper said on Monday.

Toyota declined to comment on the report in The Wall Street Journal, but confirmed that the world’s No. 2 automaker is betting on surging demand in Russia, India China and Brazil to fuel rapid expansion.

Toyota may add car factories in India, China and the US as early as in 2009, with a combined annual output capacity of 450,000 units, WSJ reported.

The Indian factory — slated to open in 2009 — may be opened in Karnataka where it already has its first plant in Bidadi. It will have a capacity of 150,000 low-cost cars a year, the Journal said. Toyota, on pace to end GM’s half-century reign as the world’s biggest carmaker, has mapped out plans to capture 15 per cent of the global market in the next three years, up from 11 per cent in 2005, the newspaper reported, citing a confidential document it said was circulated to top Toyota executives earlier this year.

The 15 per cent projection includes affiliates Daihatsu Motor and Hino Motors. Excluding those affiliates, Toyota is aiming for a 14 per cent market share, according to the Journal.

The plan predicts global auto sales by all carmakers to jump to 73 million vehicles in 2010 from 65 million in 2005, the newspaper said, adding that Toyota will likely boost production in India and China to meet demand. The company is already working on a new compact specially geared toward developing countries, where car ownership is on the rise but family budgets are still small, the report said.

In Tokyo, Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco said he could not comment on the report.

Google's Latest venture - Fashion Store

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Jackman is in awe of Caine

Australian actor Hugh Jackman missed getting acting tips from Sir Michael Caine on the set of The Prestige because the two were too busy ogling at their female co-stars.

According to contactmusic.com, Jackman revealed that he was initially nervous about meeting Caine. Jackman at the London premiere said, “It seemed to me that everyone was trying to do a Michael Caine impression when they met him but I never did it. I didn’t want to embarrass myself. I was in awe because he is so iconic.” Jackman added that he was upset that Caine was not a mentor to him on set, but preferred to stare at Scarlett Johansson instead. He added, “I wish he was, but we spent most of the time on the set ogling at Scarlett. She’s a very talented and beautiful woman.”

Shiney to essay Rajini’s role in Chandramukhi

R.K. MANIESHAA

HYDERABAD

Super Cassettes Industries magnum opus production, Chandramukhi, to be remade in Hindi and directed by Priyadarshan, will be budgeted at Rs 30 crores plus,

according to its managing director, Bhushan Kumar. “It will be our biggest production till date and also the first solo T-series production. The film will be replete with some of the best production values in keeping with its original version and will be shot entirely in Rajasthan,” Bhushan Kumar recently revealed. The rights of the film, which begins shooting in February 2007, were acquired by Super Cassettes at a whopping price a few months ago.

Kumar further added that the Priyadarshan was eager to give the film his best shot. “He wants to put his heart and soul into it and is eagerly looking forward to commencing the shooting. We have full confidence that Priyadarshan will do justice to the subject,” he said.

Chandramukhi stars Shiney Ahuja and Vidya Balan in the lead roles. It may be recalled that the original Tamil superhit starring Rajinikanth and Jyotika, did a record business when it was released, with several buyers vying with each other for its re-making rights.

Super Cassettes is also gearing up for its other production, a film to be directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s sister, Bela Sehgal. Sehgal had earlier confirmed a film with T-series but the project was kept on hold as she was busy working on Bhansali’s film, Saawariyan, which is being edited by her. “This film will also be budgeted in the range of 30-35 crores,” Bhushan Kumar informs, adding that Supercassettes was planning to go full steam with its production plans.

CINEMA - The makeup man whose art is death

Rob Wollard. Los Angeles:

Hunching over the semi-naked body laid out on a slab before him, Matthew Mungle inspects the bloody slit travelling up the bruised torso and admires his gruesome handiwork.

“Not bad,” Mungle says. “Not bad at all.” Anyone parachuting into this grisly scene could be forgiven for wondering if they were witnessing the depraved musings of a psychopath. And in one sense, Mungle is a serial killer.

But the illusion is shattered when the corpse-like body that Mungle has been deftly applying make-up to rises from the slab, dons a bath-robe and saunters off into the chilly dawn of the Universal Studios back lot.

“Another satisfied customer,” says Mungle as a fresh victim prepares to go under the paint-brush or spray-gun.

For the past three seasons, Mungle has worked on make-up for the hit television crime series CSI, part of a resume that boasts over 100 film and television projects.

He is the man entrusted with providing special effects that have helped make the show one of the most popular on US television and an international phenomenon.

Ironically for someone who spends his time dealing in death — even if it is make believe — Mungle cannot stand the sight of blood.

That makes the long hours he spends studying and researching photographs of real-life crimescenes in order to achieve the most realistic effects possible an uncomfortable occupational hazard.

“I shudder a lot,” Mungle said. “I can only look at some pictures for about five minutes then I have to close the book. It’s pretty graphic. What human beings do to other human beings sometimes is pretty horrific.” And while Mungle is never fazed by the creative process — “It’s just makeup and latex” — he does reveal that the actors he works on occasionally prefer not to see themselves being transformed into a corpse.

“Sometimes they get squeamish,” Mungle says. “They ask to be laid down on the table so they don’t have to look at themselves in the mirror.” Having been responsible for so many dead bodies, Mungle has some personal favourites amongst the carnage.

“I remember one where we had to make up a guy who had been shot in the face and in the stomach,” he recalls fondly. “We had to do a time lapse of what had happened to the body and how it had decayed over time. So we had to do four different bodies: from the moment immediately after the body had been shot, to
the decay, the swelling, the collapsing of the corpse. It was challenging but it looked great.” Mungle divides his time between a Hollywood workshop and early morning starts on set.

A 28-year veteran of the industry, Mungle knew he wanted to be a make-up artist from an early age, when he became fascinated by the make-up processes behind some of Hollywood’s most famous monsters. “When I was 10 years old I watched monster movies — Frankenstein, Phantom of the Opera, stuff like that. I was obsessed with it,” he says.

The fact that Mungle now works where some of the legends of Hollywood’s golden era of horror movie stars plied their trade is particularly satisfying. “It still gives me chill bumps when I think about some of the great movies that were made here,” he says. “I’m like a kid — I’ll go over to the stage and say ‘Lon Chaney used to make movies here’.” Monster movies have given Mungle some of the most satisfying moments of his career, most notably work on Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula which won him an Oscar in 1992.

Under Mungle’s guidance, Gary Oldman was transformed into one of the most terrifying incarnations of the vampire ever seen on the silver screen. “It took us about four hours to get Gary ready for those scenes where he’s Dracula in his castle,” Mungle says. “Gary is such an amazing actor anyway but to watch him actually become Dracula in front of your eyes was extraordinary.” “Francis would shout ‘Action’ and you’d be looking at Dracula. Incredible.” Other notable projects he has been involved in include Schindler’s List and Natural Born Killers.

The one and only Amitabh Bachchan

Mr Bachchan has enriched our dramatic or cinematic vocabu- lary with artistic sophistication and in a voice that is at once recognisable and unique. He has coped with universal adulation and fame with amazing savoir- faire. He has kept a fine balance between this and the destructive elements of fragile fame, false glamour and frivolity Amitabh Bachchan’s great father was at Cambridge doing his doctorate, when I was an undergraduate. I did a talk in Hindi for the BBC on Jawaharlal Nehru at Cambridge. I went with my clumsy text to him. He could not have been kinder. Later he was selected by Nehru to be MEA’s Hindi K. NATaWAR SINGH.


University convocations do not generally create excessive excitement. Not even a mild stir. Broadly speaking, they are stale non-events, ignored by the media. However, there are exceptions.


The special convocation held by the University of Delhi last weekend was indeed something special. Something different.

The four individuals honoured are distinguished Indians. Here, one name stood out. Wherever Mr Amitabh Bachchan goes, he ignites, illuminates and inspires.

He does so with uncommon dignity, grace and style.
He is an artist of genius.
This word is rather loosely used to bestow respectability on second rate men and minds.

Real genius is a very rare commodity. Most of us know many brilliant, clever, gifted, celebrated, fascinating, inventive, notable, scintillating people.

If one were to be asked to name a genius friend or friends, one would be hard put to it. The dictionary meaning of the word genius is known to reasonably educated people.

I find it inadequate.

In my judgment he or she is a genius who converts the mundane into the magical, the ordinary into the extraordinary, the transient into the ever-lasting.

Am I going over the top? I think not.

Mr Amitabh Bachchan has enriched our dramatic or cinematic vocabulary with artistic sophistication and in a voice that is at once recognisable and unique. He has coped with universal adulation and fame with amazing savoir-faire.

Not many can take such adulation and fame with mature detachment. He has kept a fine balance between this and the destructive elements of fragile fame, false glamour and frivolity.

Above all, he has, for a quarter century, brought relief and joy for a few hours to hundreds of millions of human beings all over the globe whose cares and anxieties most of us ignore.

Joseph Conrad (1857-1924), the Polish born English novelist, puts it much much better than I have. Writing about the loneliness of the artist, Conrad appealed, “to that part of our being which is a gift, not an acquisition, to the capacity for delight and wonder ... our sense of pain and pity, to the latent feeling of fellowship with all creation — and to the subtle but invincible conviction of solidarity that knits together the loneliness of innumerable hearts ... which binds together all humanity — the dead to the living and the living to the unborn.” I claim no intimacy with Mr Amitabh Bachchan.

Know him I do. Who does not?

He is a national treasure. More than 20 years ago, I was in Dakar, Senegal, a French speaking country. One of his films was being shown to packed cinema halls — with subtitles.

We entered the formidable portals of Parliament the same day in November 1984.

His great father was at Cambridge doing his doctorate, when I was an undergraduate. I did a talk in Hindi for the BBC on Jawaharlal Nehru at Cambridge. I went with my clumsy text to him. He could not have been kinder. Later he was selected by Nehru to be MEA’s Hindi adviser.

Mrs Indira Gandhi in her generosity awarded the Padma Bhushan to me in January, 1984. Mr Amitabh Bachchan was also a recipient. I treasure the group photograph taken in the gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan after the award ceremony. I am sitting and he is standing. It should have been the other way round.

D elhi University needs to be congratulated for selecting Mrs Sheila Dikshit, Mr R.K. Laxman (younger brother of R.K. Narayan), Prof C.N.R. Rao and Mr Bachchan.

The University of Delhi is not among our oldest seats of learning, but it is old and distinguished enough.

On March 26, 1923, the Viceroy, Lord Reading spoke at the University — if I am not wrong — and a part of his speech deserves to be re-called:

“We shall welcome knowledge with open arms when she comes to our portals — but let us not make the mistake of forgetting her more bashful sister, wisdom. For knowledge and learning alone will not make the sum total that our alumni should take away with them at the close of their studies. We should have them go out into India, not only adorned with learning and replete with knowledge, but possessing those less easily acquired and more intangible qualities of the cultured mind, good judgment, wise tolerance and strong character...” These qualities Sheila Dikshit, R.K. Laxman, C.N.R. Rao and Amitabh Bachchan possess in ample measure.

Jodha-Akbar angers Rajputs in Rajasthan

After people in Lucknow took an objection to J.P. Dutta’s Umrao Jaan, it is Ashutosh Gowariker’s JodhaAkbar that has stirred a hornet’s nest with Rajputs in Rajasthan. Sources reveal that the Rajputs are going to request the state government not to allow Gowariker to shoot his film in Rajasthan.

“According to them, Gowariker’s script misrepresents facts and they do not want Rajputs to be shown in poor light,” revealed a source. The Rajput community is planning to take legal action against the filmmaker to stall the film.

If reports are to be believed, Gowariker had a quiet mahurat recently and the lead pair Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan, who play Jodhabai and Akbar respectively, have begun shooting for the film in Rajasthan. Jodha-Akbar tells the story of a love affair that blossomed between the Hindu Rajput princess

Jodhabai and the Mughal emperor Akbar.

Revealing the story of JodhaAkbar, a source close to Gowariker said, “During that period, the Mughal emperor was reigning supreme. He had conquered many places, including some parts of Afghanistan. It was during this time that Akbar also had good relations with the Rajputs and was known to be loyal to them.

Jodha was a Rajput princess known for her fiery nature. In a bid to further strengthen his relationship with the Rajputs, Akbar proposes marriage to Jodha.

It was this political move that Jodha resented. She felt reduced to being a mere pawn in this political game. Akbar had to then prove that his love for her was genuine.” There were also reports that the Rajput princess Jodhabai was a fictitious character. Few know that in K. Asif’s Mughale-Azam, it was actress Durga Khote who enacted the role of Jodhabai while actor Prithviraj Kapoor played emperor Akbar.

Source:PARAG MANIAR

Timberlake bags awards

Pop idol, Justin Timberlake, host of the MTV Europe Music Awards, won two of the top prizes himself in front of thou sands of fans in the Danish capital.

The singer of Sexy Back picked up the Best Male Artiste and Best Pop Act awards, while pop diva Christina Aguilera won top female act. Red Hot Chili

Peppers, who had been tipped as favourites with four nominations, only picked up the Best Album award for “Stadium Arcadium”.

Madonna, up for three awards for her Confessions on a Dance Floor album, failed to take home any prize. Depeche Mode picked up the award for the best group,

while Las Vegas, Nevada band The Killers won the Best Rock Act prize. Kanye West took home the Best Hip Hop Act prize, and the English band Muse clinched the Best Alternative Act award. Gnarls Barkley picked up the Best Song award for Crazy, while Britain’s Rihanna won the Best R & B Act prize, and We are Your Friends by Justice Vs Simian was named the Best Video.

More than 8,000 fans braved the cold in the city center to see acts such as the British rock group Keane and US rap star Snoop Dogg, playing in a parallel show to the indoor awards ceremony. The MTV awards show was created in 1994 as an alternative to the Grammys, the US music awards show, and is hosted by a different European city every year. Last year it was held in Lisbon.

Death to Saddam Hussein, 2 others to hang

Deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was convicted and sentenced on Sunday to hang for crimes against humanity in the 1982 killings of 148 people in a single town, as the ousted leader, trembling and defiant, shouted “God is great!” As he, his half-brother and another senior official in his regime were convicted and sentenced to death, Saddam yelled out: “Long live the people and death to their enemies. Long live the glorious nation, and death to its enemies!” The trial brought Saddam and his co-defendants before their accusers in what was one of the most highly publicised and heavily reported trials of its kind since the Nuremberg tribunals for members of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime and its slaughter of six million Jews in the World War II Holocaust.

Nouri al-Maliki, Iraq’s Shia Prime Minister, declared the verdicts as history’s judgement on a whole era. “The verdict placed on the heads of the former regime does not represent a verdict for any one person. It is a verdict on a whole dark era that was unmatched in Iraq’s history,” Mr Al-Maliki said after the session.

Some feared the verdicts could intensify Iraq’s sectarian violence after a trial that stretched over nine months in 39 sessions and ended nearly three months ago. Clashes immediately broke out on Sunday in north Baghdad’s heavily Sunni Azamiyah district. Elsewhere in the capital, celebratory gunfire rang out. “This government will be responsible for the consequences, with the deaths of hundreds, thousands or even hundreds of thousands, whose blood will be shed,” Salih al-Mutlaq, a Sunni political leader, told the Al-Arabiya satellite TV station. Saddam and his seven co-defendants were on trial for a wave of revenge killings carried out in the city of Dujail following a 1982 assassination attempt on the former dictator. Mr Al-Maliki’s

Islamic Dawa party, then an underground opposition, has claimed responsibility for organising the attempt on Saddam’s life.

In the streets of Dujail, a Tigris River city of 84,000, people celebrated and burned pictures of their former tormentor as the verdict was read.

The death sentences automatically go to a nine-judge appeals panel, which has unlimited time to review the case. If the verdicts and sentences are upheld, the executions must be carried out within 30 days. A court official told AP that the appeals process was likely to take three to four weeks once the formal paperwork was submitted.

During Sunday’s hearing, Saddam initially refused the chief judge’s order to rise; two bailiffs pulled the ousted ruler to his feet and he remained standing through the sentencing, sometimes wagging his finger at the judge.

Before the session began, one of Saddam’s lawyers, former US attorney-general Ramsey Clark, was ejected from the courtroom after handing the judge a memorandum in which he called the trial a travesty.

Chief judge Raouf AbdulRahman pointed to Mr Clark and said in English: “Get out.” In addition to the former Iraqi dictator and Barzan Ibrahim, his former intelligence chief and half brother, the Iraqi high tribunal convicted and sentenced Awad Hamed al-Bandar, the head of Iraq’s former revolutionary court, to death by hanging. Iraq’s former vice-president Taha Yassin Ramadan was convicted of premeditated murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Three defendants were sentenced to 15 years in prison for torture and premeditated murder. Abdullah Kazim Ruwayyid and his son Mizhar Abdullah Ruwayyid were party officials Dujail, along with Ali Dayih Ali. They were believed responsible for the Dujail arrests. Mohammed Azawi Ali, a former Dujail Ba’ath Party official, was acquitted for lack of evi dence and immediately freed. He faces additional charges in a separate case over an alleged massacre of Kurdish civilians.

The guilty verdict for Saddam is expected to enrage hardliners among Saddam’s fellow Sunnis, who made up the bulk of the former ruling class.

The country’s majority Shias, who were persecuted under the former dictator but now largely control the government, will likely view the outcome as a cause of celebration.

Saddam’s chief lawyer Khalil al-Dulaim told AP his client called on Iraqis to reject sectarian violence and called on them to refrain from taking revenge on US invaders. “His message to the Iraqi people was ‘pardon and do not take revenge on the invading nations and their people’,” Mr Al-Dulaimi said, quoting Saddam. “The President also asked his countrymen to ‘unify in the face of sectarian strife.’” In Tikrit, Saddam’s hometown, 1,000 people defied the curfew and carried pictures of the city’s favourite son through the streets. Some declared the court a product of the US “occupation forces” and condemned the verdict.

US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad issued a statement saying the verdicts “demonstrate the commitment of the Iraqi people to hold them (Saddam and his co-defendants) accountable.” “Although the Iraqis may face difficult days in the coming weeks, closing the book on Saddam and his regime is an opportunity to unite and build a better future,” Mr Khalilzad said. US officials associated with the tribunal said Saddam’s repeated courtroom outbursts during the ninemonth trial may have played a key part in his conviction.

They cited his admission in a March 1 hearing that he had ordered the trial of 148 Shias who were eventually executed, insisting that doing so was legal because they were suspected in the assassination attempt against him. “Where is the crime?

Where is the crime?” he asked, standing before the panel of five judges. Later in the same session, he argued that his co-defendants must be released and that because he was in charge, he alone must be tried. His outburst came a day after the prosecution presented a presidential decree with a signature they said was Saddam’s approval for death sentences for the 148 Shias, their most direct evidence against him.

“Every time they (defendants) rose and spoke, they provided a lot of incriminating evidence,” said one of the US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. Under Saddam, Iraq’s bureaucracy showed a consistent tendency to document orders, policies and minutes of meetings. That, according to the US officials, helped the prosecution produce more than 30 documents that clearly established the chain of command under Saddam.

One document gave the names of everyone from Dujail banished to a desert detention camp in southern Iraq.

Another, prepared by an aide to Saddam, gave the President a detailed account of the punitive measures against the people of Dujail following the failed assassi nation attempt.

Angelina Jolie pregnant with Brad Pitt’s second child

Angelina Jolie is reportedly pregnant with her second child with Brad Pitt.

The Tomb Raider star, who is currently in India with Brad and their children filming A Mighty Heart, is said to have been trying to conceal a baby bump and her feelings of morning sickness.

A source told America’s Star magazine, “She was wearing a baggy outfit. When she got out of the car, she was messing around with the scarf, trying to cover herself with it.

I heard she’s not able to hold down food very well either.” It has also been claimed that Angelina, who wore similar baggy dresses and cover-up shawls when she fell pregnant with her fivemonth-old daughter Shiloh Nouvel last year, has stopped taking her birth-control pills and is instead taking prenatal vitamin supplements.

Liz Hurley, Arun Nayar to wed on Mar. 3

London:

Hollywood actress Liz Hurley and India-born businessman Arun Nayar will finally tie the knot twice — once in Britain on March 3 and once in India, according to a friend of the couple.

Two luxury hotels in India have reportedly been lined up to host the glamorous event. Two days after the English wedding, guests will be whisked away to India for five days of partying and celebrations.

Friends of the couple have reportedly been sent a “save the date” letter asking them to keep their diaries free. The Indian ceremony is expected to take place in the Devi Garh Palace Hotel, near Udaipur in Rajasthan.

While Liz’s family will stay in the hotel for the entire trip, the couple’s friends will be housed in the Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur.

AUSSIES REACH FIRST CHAMPIONS FINAL

Australia may have won their semifinal over New Zealand, but for many at the PCA Stadium here on Wednesday, it was Daniel Vettori who stole the glory. Walking in with his team tottering at 35/6 in the 15th over, the bespectacled spinner battled mightily to give the world champions the shakes, and his team the hope of a dream win, till reality returned.

For the record, Australia came through by 34 runs to qualify for the final of the ICC Champions Trophy for the very first time. Chasing 241 for the win after Australia put on 240/9, the Kiwis were bowled out for 206, their last four wickets adding an amazing 171 runs in 31-odd overs.

Australia made full use of rival skipper Stephen Fleming’s decision to bat second by ripping out the heart of the rival batting inside the first 15 overs, though the late heroics by Vettori and his partnership with Jacob Oram saved New Zealand the blushes. The Aussies were made to pay heavily for dropping Vettori, grassed by Michael Hussey off Nathan Bracken when on 5 in a score of 47/6.

The Kiwi duo thereafter put on a heroic 103 runs for the seventh wicket from just 126 deliveries — amazing stuff considering the circumstances — before Oram fell for 43. Vettori battled on till he was done in by the climbing run-rate for a valiant 79 and it is clear that Australia have some thinking to do before the title clash in Mumbai on Sunday. In many ways the game followed the pattern of the Pakistan-South Africa Group B league game played on the same pitch. The Proteas batted first, lost early wickets and thereafter made a recovery in the middle overs. When they batted, however, Pakistan were never in the hunt and were bowled out for a paltry 89.

It was almost exactly the same story on Wednesday, other than the Vettori-Oram twist in the tail.

The Kiwis made it to the sixth over without damage, and in the space of the next nine, lost the entire frontline. Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee used their contrasting pace and lines to deadly effect as New Zealand slid from 15 for no loss in the sixth over to 35/6 in the 15th. It was carnage, and superbly managed by McGrath (3/22) as Ponting went for the kill with a full 10-over spell for the canny veteran.

Earlier, skipper Ricky Ponting (58) and Andrew Symonds (58) scored contrasting fifties but tight bowling by seamers Kyle Mills and Shane Bond restricted Australia to 240/9 in 50 overs. Mills stuck to a disciplined line and reaped rich reward with figures of 4/38.

The lanky quick struck twice in his second over to remove openers Adam Gilchrist and Shane Watson, but Australia rallied on the back of three successive half-century partnerships. Clever bowling in the last 15 overs then made sure Australia would not run up an even bigger total, but in the light of what was to follow, it really did not matter.

Pegged down by Mills, Watson tried to counterattack, only to put up the easiest of catches to Peter Fulton at mid-off. Three balls later, Gilchrist was done in by a trick bouncer and lobbed the ball to Oram. In the last ten overs, the Aussies could add only 52 runs losing four wickets.

HOW TO - Get out of Debt / Control - Heartburn

Get out of Debt -
STEP 1: Cut up your credit cards except for one or two to use for emergencies. Throw away the pieces.
STEP 2: Cancel all of your credit lines and request a lower interest rate on the debt you have left.
STEP 3: Transfer as much debt as possible to the credit card that has the lowest interest rate, or get a debt-consolidation loan from a bank at a lower rate.
STEP 4: Use cash for all your purchases, and only buy what you can afford.
STEP 5: Commit to start paying off your debts one at a time and do it. Pay off the credit card and loans with the highest interest rate first.
STEP 6: Double your payments on the next debt by taking the payment you made on the first debt and adding it to the current debt.
STEP 7: Triple your payments on the next debt by combining payment amounts. Continue until all your credit cards and other debts are paid off.

Control - Heartburn
STEP 1: Avoid large meals. Stuffing your stomach can make heartburn worse. Eat five to six small meals a day instead of three big meals. Take small bites and chew your food well.
STEP 2: Eat more during lunch than at dinner. Eating too much in the evening doesn't give your body enough time to digest foods before you go to bed.
STEP 3: Avoid foods that trigger heartburn. Rich, fatty and spicy foods will increase heartburn symptoms, as will carbonated drinks and any kind of coffee. Stay away from chocolate and citrus, too.
STEP 4: Drink water during meals. Water will help wash acid from your esophagus and dilute the acids in you stomach. Beverages like beer, soda and milk stimulate the production of excess stomach acid.
STEP 5: Chew gum (any flavor but peppermint). Some studies show that chewing gum will decrease the discomfort of heartburn.
STEP 6: Take a walk after eating. Gravity will help keep your stomach acids where they belong, and exercise will speed up digestion.
step 1: avoid large meals. stuffing your stomach can make heartburn worse. eat five to six small meals a day instead of three big meals. take small bites and chew your food well.
step 2: eat more during lunch than at din- ner. eating too much in the evening doesn't give your body enough time to digest foods before you go to bed.
step 3: avoid foods that trigger heartburn. rich, fatty and spicy foods will increase heartburn symptoms, as will carbonated drinks and any kind of coffee. stay away from chocolate and citrus, too.
step 4: drink water during meals. water will help wash acid from your esophagus and dilute the acids in you stomach. beverages like beer, soda and milk stimulate the pro- duction of excess stomach acid.
step 5: chew gum (any flavor but pepper- mint). some studies show that chewing gum will decrease the discomfort of heartburn.
step 6: take a walk after eating. gravity will help keep your stomach acids where they belong, and exercise will speed up digestion.

DIET - Eat better, feel light, live longer

In a laboratory at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Centre, Matthias is learning about time’s caprice the hard way. At 28, getting on for a rhesus monkey, Matthias is losing his hair, lugging a paunch and getting a face full of wrinkles.

In the cage next to his, gleefully hooting at strangers, one of Matthias’s lab mates, Rudy, is the picture of monkey vitality, although he is slightly older. Thin and feisty, Rudy stops grooming his smooth coat just long enough to pirouette toward a proffered piece of fruit.

Tempted with the same treat, Matthias rises wearily and extends a frail hand. “You can really see the difference,” said Dr Ricki Colman, an associate scientist at the centre who cares for the animals.

What a visitor cannot see may be even more interesting. As a result of a simple lifestyle intervention, Rudy and primates like him seem poised to live very long, very vital lives.
The approach, called calorie restriction involves eating about 30 per cent fewer calories than normal while still getting adequate amounts of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Aside from direct genetic manipulation, calorie restriction is the only strategy known to extend life consistently in a variety of animal species.

How this drastic diet affects the body has been the subject of intense research. Recently, the effort has begun to bear fruit, producing a steady stream of studies indicating that the rate of ageing is elastic, not fixed, and that it can be manipulated.

In the last year, calorierestricted diets have been shown in various animals to affect molecular pathways likely to be involved in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and cancer. Earlier this year, researchers studying dietary effects on humans went so far as to claim that calorie restriction may be more effective than exercise at preventing age-related diseases.

“The effects are global, so calorie restriction has the potential to help us identify anti-ageing mechanisms throughout the body,” said Richard Weindruch, a gerontologist at the University of Wisconsin who directs research.

Ageing is a complicated phenomenon, the intersection of an array of biological processes set in motion by genetics, lifestyle, even evolution itself. Still, in laboratories around the world, scientists are becoming adept at breeding animal Methuselahs, extraordinarily long lived and healthy worms, fish, mice and flies.

“In mice, calorie restriction doesn’t just extend life span,” said Leonard P. Guarente, professor of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “It mitigates many diseases of ageing: cancer, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative disease. The gain is just enormous.“ Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have been tracking the health of small groups of calorie-restricted dieters. Earlier this year, they reported that the dieters had better-functioning hearts and fewer signs of inflammation, which is a precursor to clogged arteries, than similar subjects on regular diets.

In previous studies, people in calorie-restricted groups were shown to have lower levels of LDL, the so-called bad cholesterol, and triglycerides. They also showed higher levels of HDL, the socalled good cholesterol, virtually no arterial blockage and remarkably low blood pressure.
Researchers at Louisiana State University reported in April in The Journal of the American Medical Association that patients on an experimental lowcalorie diet had lower insulin levels and body temperatures, both possible markers of longevity, and fewer signs of chromosomal damage typically associated with ageing.

Despite the initially promising results, some scientists doubt that calorie restriction can work effectively in humans.

A mathematical model published last year at University of California, Los Angeles, and University of California, Irvine, predicted that the maximum life span gain for humans would be just 7 per cent. A more likely figure, the authors said, was 2 per cent.