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The Hindu : The question that plagues the minds of scientists about prehistoric times is: “What killed the dinosaurs?” Evidence suggests that 65 million years ago, the age of the dinosaurs ended with a gigantic asteroid. Could we be next? We don’t know when it will happen or where the asteroid will strike. All we know is that it will happen. Discovery Channel will prophesy the impact of comet collision in its special “Super Comet: After the Impact”, a two-hour special which will explore the future of mankind after an imaginary comet has struck.After the imaginary impact, the programme will observe the ensuing earthquakes, tsunamis and infernos at close range and also experience at first hand how the few animals and people that remain struggle to survive under adverse conditions. If the dinosaurs hadn’t become extinct, humans might never have had the chance to evolve.A new era will have to start – the era of the conquerors – in which humankind, too, has to find a new place. A comet is going to hit the Yucatan peninsular. Evacuation plans work well on paper, but when put into practice, lawlessness and anarchy take over.The programme follows these events as seen through the eyes of people in various locations word wide. The planet is dead, or is it? Not all life forms require light, fungi become the dominant force, and the earth becomes one giant mushroom farm.Find out more on January 13 at 8 p.m. on Discovery Channel….More

The Hindu : Documentary photographer David Trattles feels that his eyes are too small. Ten years ago, the Canadian, who has not studied photography, took his camera, two film rolls and took off on his bicycle for a 15-day trip in Turkey. He says cheerfully: “It was a great trip, but the pictures were awful.” Then, he went on “more bicycle trips across Asia and got into photography slowly.”For David, cycling is not about pedalling. “It’s about getting great stories about people who help themselves.” David knows that photography is not just about capturing individuals caught in time and space. “They are people who lead hard lives, and the photographic moment captures the process of their lives.” His photos are then “not news features, but social documentary.” Like the photographs of Muslim women boxers in Kolkata. “It’s not about the fact that they doing a ‘man’s job’, or ‘it’s boxing’, but about why and how they spend one-and-a-half hours everyday, in that club and street in that city.”If it’s not about the boxers, then it’s about a German cowboy employed to entertain tourists in Calgary. “It’s not in their culture – but they are a community that manages to adapt and survive in a global world.”He feels that cycling is a great way to meet people. “Most people would travel in air-conditioned trains or planes to their destination. But when I cycle, I get a completely different story as I have more time for people. Cycling is a great door-opener – it helps you interact better with people. They know that I must be serious about my work, and I’ve made an effort to get there.”“Cycling is also much cheaper! It’s a personal venture for me. I push myself physically and mentally. I work up an appetite for people and their stories.”David has travelled to 60 countries and he never means to stop pedalling. He’s also worked with…More

The Hindu : “Ballroom dance instructor needed; no experience required,” said the advertisement. He responded and Shaun Parry’s life changed forever.Now Shaun travels across continents using music and dance to light up the lives of the underprivileged. From playing Skimbleshanks in “Cats” to conducting workshops for the children of the leprosy afflicted in Kanchipuram, it has been quite a journey for the Broadway singer, dancer and actor.In his 20-year-old career, he has touched many highs. He has performed in the classic “Beowulf”, the spectacular “Phantom of the Opera”, the New York Theatre Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera. Shaun has also been choreographer and coach for MTV.“I was fortunate to be the first “haole” (white man) to dance in the Night Show at the Polynesian Culture Centre in Hawaii and to perform both on Broadway and for the Gekidanshiki which is Japan’s Broadway.”But it is easy to make out where his heart lies. Talk to him about the workshops conducted by him for his organisation Promethean Spark and the Rising Star Outreach of India, to benefit the children of the leprosy affected in the village of Thottanaval, and words fail this articulate performer. “I just … love it”, he manages and nods his head vigorously.How do the workshops help the children? “It changes their whole outlook on life. They have no self esteem. The training helps them focus on their lessons and also provides an outlet for their energy. When they start singing and dancing and experience the success of that discipline, they feel they can accomplish anything. It lights a spark in them that can be used in other endeavours,” he explains.This is something with which A.D.S.N. Prasad concurs. He is the Founder-Director of Pathway, the Centre for the rehabilitation of the mentally challenged, in Thiruvanmiyur where I met Shaun on the eve of his departure to Kenya. “We have children with autism and behavioural disorders and they…More

The Hindu : Eat out this SankranthiIf preparing an elaborate meal at home this festive season is daunting, but your tongue craves traditional festive fare, here are two optionsTRADITIONAL FEAST For that homemade tasteHalli Maney, the restaurant in Malleswaram, is hosting their annual Makara Sankranthi extravaganza, complete with time-honoured decorations, poojas and rituals of the harvest season. They will celebrate Sankranthi with an elaborate traditional spreadon January 14 and 15 for lunch and dinner. The menu consist traditional dishes of the season, including those made from avarekai. A variety of payasa, pickles, gojju, chitranna, holige, kosambri, ladoo, halwa, rasayana, happala, tambli, kootu, sandige, yellu-bella, and of course sweet and savoury pongal, form part of the menu. The menu is different on both days. Lunch is from noon to 3.20 p.m. and dinner from 7 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. Priced at Rs. 100, for adults, Rs. 50 for kids, the meal is also available as a parcel for Rs. 120. Call 99457-61283.Southindies, the restaurant in Indiranagar, relives and celebrates Pongal with a specially created elaborate spread from January 13 to 15. A delicious buffet with a wide variety of traditional dishes will be served. Steamed rice with Chettinad sambar, avarakkai kuzambu and urullai varuval with the famous paal pongal and kal kand pongal will be served.The buffet will also include a variety of rasams along with a whole lot of other famous dishes from Tamil Nadu.A lunch buffet comes at Rs.225 plus taxes….More