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The nex-gen Intel Classmate is out with an attractive swiveling touchscreen! Built on Intel Celeron M processor with Wi Fi and mesh network capabilities, the tablet-PC comes with a 9-inch LCD screen, 6-cell battery, 512 MB memory and an integrated webcam. What’s new is the accelerometer it packs; it automatically adjusts screen orientation. Like in any other netbook, you can opt for either Linux or Microsoft Windows XP. Intel offers some education software, available in more than 8 languages; ideal for classroom-learning.

Price: Rs 26,500

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There will be a story carnival for children called Hoo’s Tales. Organised by Hippocampus it aims “to promote books and reading among children”.

Date: February 28

Time: 10.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Venue: Activity Area, Bal Bhavan, Cubbon Park

Entry: Free

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HP was among the first to follow the iPhone and bring touch to the desktop; now it’s come up with its second-gen PC. The TouchSmart IQ500 looks just like a flat-LCD screen with a stand – and packs in the entire ‘touch’ tech with the stunning 22-inch display. Tap, drag and drop: it’s almost like a bigger version of the iPhone, with a Microsoft Vista interface. Powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, the IQ500 has all features of your regular PC — built-in DVD reader/burner, hi-end stereo speakers, webcam and a microphone. You also get a wireless keyboard and a mouse.

Price: Rs 87,990

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Reliance TimeOut Book Club, in association with Penguin Publishers, launches Suchitra Krishnamoorthi’s first book “The Summer of Cool”. The launch will be followed by a book signing session.

Date: February 28

Venue: Reliance TimeOut, Cunningham Road

Time: 12.15 p.m.

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The Hindu : y>Seasoned actor Achint Kaur onRanbir Rano

Reel life Achint Kaur identifies with the conservative way of living

There is an insane rush ofsoap operas on the innumerable television channels.And it has been long since people got tired of glycerine tears. So, the channels are gradually moving away from the much hackneyed saas-bahu sagas.

One such attempt is Zee TV daily“Ranbir Rano” (Shreya Productions) aired at 11 p.m. from Monday to Thursday. The love story set amidst the greenery and vibrancy ofPunjab is inspired from the epic love tales of Sohni-Mahiwal and Heer-Ranjha. It explores a love story that grows amidst class battles which still exists in Punjab.

Actor Achint Kaur, who portrays the role of Preet Behenji in the soap, says that though her role may seem negative atfirst , she has worked hard to let the character remain grey and not negative. he artiste who has carved a niche for herself with strong and bold roleslike “Banegi Apni Baat” and “Kitty Party”, says: “The reason to choose the show was because a lot of people would be able to relate to it. The show carries a message. It speaks of the baggage a lot of people carry in the name of culture, religion and rituals and how it can sometimes pose a threat for the individual living within the society.”

Having born and brought up in a small town like Meerut, Achint can identify with the conservative way of living.

Coupled with her sharp features, it helps her not just in the essaying of the character but also lends credibility to it.

Negative or positive, her choices of roles have always been of women who are strong and determined, she sums up. Achint however feels that the television industry should open avenues for more experiments and challenging scripts.

DEBARATI ROY

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Wisdom Lounge organises a Poetry Evening – Hindi and Urdu — by Sandeep Shikhar on February 28, 6.30 p.m. on the premises of Wisdom Lounge, Koramangala. Call 080-22722009.

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Sultan of Sound, a part of the White Sound Project, will be held tonight at Olive Beach. The evening will feature DJ 22ROCKETS from Berlin at 8 p.m. Call 41128400 for reservations.

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Ananya, in association with Shivapriya School of Dance, is organising Nrithya Vaibhava on February 28, 6.30 p.m. at Sevasadana, 14th Cross, Malleswaram. There will be Bharathanatya by P. Praveen Kumar, Kathak by Murali Mohan and Kuchipudi by Sanjay Shantharam. The event is supported by the Directorate of Kannada and Culture.

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Christ College is organising a film festival on Kashmir called “Para-Dies on Earth”. The films will be screened at St. Joseph’s Arts and Science College, Shantinagar on February 28 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on March 1 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

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The Hindu : y>Prabath Saranga loves the positive energy in the city

Snippets Prabath Saranga loved playing with his grandmom’s hair as a child

Prabath Saranga came to Bangalore “five years ago for a shoot. It was January and was cold. I come from hot and humid Colombo and I thought to myself, oh my god! the weather is wonderful!”

The extremely-talented stylist of Salon Nayana exclaims loved the street food as well. “I went with my friends to Viveknagar. There was the most amazing kebabs being served on the street. My shoot was over in a week. When I returned to Colombo, I told Nayana (the owner of Salon Nayana) I want to go to Bangalore.”

The celebrity stylist’s wishes came true when Salon Nayana was set up in the city six months later. And since then Prabath calls the city home. “We get a month’s leave. But after two weeks at home, I want to come back here. Everything is here for me. The energy in the city is exhilarating. If ever I am feeling tired or weary, I just have to step out onto the streets and I am all charged up.”

The 25-year-old says: “I was always into beautiful things and not guns and trucks. As a child I loved to play with my grandmother’s hair. My mother would not allow me to touch her hair. So I would comb my grandmother’s hair and she found it soothing.” Prabath started working immediately after his O levels. “Salon Nayana was my first job.”

Prabath, who counts cricketer Dhoni and actor Abhishek Bachchan among his clients, says in the five years he has been here, “Bangalore has changed big time. The road in front of Forum Mall for instance has changed radically.”

The ever-smiling Prabath admits to missing his family and home-cooked food. “I am a good cook so I rustle up Sri Lankan delicacies at home. My mum…More

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FitnessOne is organising a contest for women called Dancercise to celebrate Women’s Day. The prelims will be held on February 28 and the final is scheduled on March 7 at Pink, Indiranagr. Registrations are open.

Venue: FitnessOne, Koramangala.

Contact: 25521222

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The Hindu : y>How good are men at handling the grocery shopping list?

Photo: S. Siva Saravananshopping blues Only some men have a yen for buying groceries

Ha, the grocery shopping list! Can men be trusted with it? Do they deliver or need a helpline of sorts? Is it a woman’s domain and too much for the men to handle?

Let’s start with the bachelors. Vijay Anand, a chartered accountant, says: “Everything is taken care of by my parents. I may accompany them for shopping, but I don’t have much idea about the lists or the purchases.”A problem with pulses

But things may change a little with marriage. Says Dorothy Ravindranath, a part-time teacher: “Sometimes, men get what we want. But, condiments and pulses tend to confuse them.I think women just assume that men know certain things. Men too come up with excuses such as ‘I did not pass through the shop’ or ‘could not pick it up’.”

Her husband E.I. Ravindranath, an executive, chuckles: “Honestly, I don’t read my shopping list. I just slip it into my pocket, and, invariably, lose it. After a couple of days, and a phone call from my wife, I bring what she wants.” But, having gotten smarter with experience, Ravindranath says his wife makes a copy of the list she gives him! In his opinion, women such as his wife are great believers in lists and are meticulous. “They don’t like to waste their time and resources.”

Karen Rudhra, a software engineer, says her husband calls her from the shop if he has a doubt. “If I just write down an item such as coffee powder without any specifics, he may call me up to ask if I meant instant coffee or filter coffee powder, and, how much should be bought. Men don’t realise that certain items such as tamarind and pulses are bought in larger quantities, whereas spices and condiments…More

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Join the dots is organising a theatre workshop Katha Kahani, where you narrate a story and also see it come alive in a performance.

Date: February 28

Time: 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Venue: Cubbon Park

Registration fee: Rs.500

Contact: 9845570014/9845014330

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