News

The Hindu :

Bangalore’s finest turned up in full strength for the Sunfeast World 10K run

Photos: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Running surely has not garnered this much attention in Bangalore before. But come Sunfeast World 10K Bangalore and there is a definite buzz all around. It was just not the 24,000 participants or the US $ 155,000 prize money at stake. Everything about the event needs a mention. Maurice Green, the legendary American sprinter and former World champion and record holder who made Sydney Olympics his own with a stupendous 100 metres effort, was here as the event ambassador. He said his three days in the city, “were the most fulfilling.”

Deepika Padukone provided the star value with her Spirit of Bengaluru run while Milind Soman ran for Multiple Sclerosis Society of India. Bangalore Cares were the charity partners for the event while Nike India flew in their Singapore-based Director of Operations to launch a product in the run up to the event. Nike in fact conducted a Run Club for over 45 days to train and prepare the runners for D-Day.

Helicopters hovered around to beam pictures while CNBC showcased Bangalore’s sporting side to the world. Participants ranged from six to 87 year olds – all with a simple but significant message: “Run for fun and fitness”.

AVINASH NAIR

<FONT …More

The Hindu : y>Teenage comic hero Archie Andrews getting hitched to Veronica Lodge in the 600th issue of the series has triggered a tirade of debates. BAGESHREE S. mulls over the implications

Photo: APARCH-RIVALS Is Archie’s choice of Veronica over Betty an indication of what recession does to people?

There is no escape from growing up and getting on with life. Yes, we reconcile to this fact at some point, kicking and bawling. But is it fair to expect the same reconciliation from our comic book heroes too?

The news is that Archie Andrews, the forever-teenage hero (so we thought!) of the Archie Comic series, is getting hitched to the catty brunette Veronica Lodge in the 600th issue of the series, leaving the goody blonde Betty Cooper heart broken. That is a paradigm shift of sorts in the all-American, seven-decade-old saga, considering that the constant cold war between the two girls for Archie’s attention forms its central plotline.

The Internet is agog with debates on the implications of this twist in the tale. Hardcore Betty fans are shell shocked by Archie’s “stupid” choice of the “rich spoilt brat” over the “sensible” middle-class girl. Looking long and hard into the crystal ball, one reader has said that Veronica will eventually dump Archie for his rival Reggie,while Betty by then will be in White House! Veronica has a small but fierce fan following too.

Others are reminding their fellow-Archie readers that the 600th issue will only be the first part of a six-part story, and so, anything can happen by the end of part six. For all you know, the whole situation might be a “trick” on readers, and maybe, it will turn out to be something as inane as a dream Archie is having. Anything to get the sagging sales graph up!

But not everyone is as intensely involved with the life at Riverdale High. At least no longer. Many would…More

The Hindu : y>

PHOTO: AFPEpic Journey Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s documentary, Home, tracks the devastation wreaked by man

The human race has greatly upset the balance of earth. Showcasing the mutilation of the planet caused by man is a revolutionary documentary by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, “Home”. The show will premiere worldwide on June 5 and will be screened on Star World at 8 p.m. “Home” is an ode to the planet’s beauty in an attempt to draw attention to the current environmental and social issues.

“Home” is a visual treat with images gathered from over 50 countries. The two-hour documentary produced by award-winning director Luc Besson takes viewers on an epic journey around the planet via breathtaking aerial shots.

Catch the documentary on Star World on Friday at 8 p.m.

<FONT …More

The Hindu :

Fans eagerly await the eleventh big-screen avatar of popular sci-fi TV series, Star Trek

What started off in 1966 as a television series is now ready with its eleventh big screen avatar. Popular sci-fi TV series, “Star Trek” (listed by the Guinness Book of world records for having the maximum spin offs — five television series and 10 movies) is all set to capture the big screen again this weekend. “Star Trek” has its dedicated band of followers and each decade has seen a fresh batch trekkies enchanted with the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. There is the special salute, the famous dialogues of “going where no man has gone before” and of course “Beam me up Scottie” which has become part of the collective conscience. There are those who are eagerly awaiting this latest trip by Enterprise.

Jagath R., an 18-year-old says, “I’ve watched the ‘Star Trek’ TV series, my favourite being ‘Star Trek Voyager’. I don’t quite remember the other series. I want to watch the film because there is a difference between watching a series for so many years and watching a power-packed movie in an hour-and-a-half!”Great expectations

Fifteen-year-old Dhanush, a fan of science fiction says, “I’ve loved the TV show a lot, which is why I’m waiting for the movie, expecting it to be full of suspense, adventure and fascinating technology.” His classmate Akash says, “I used to read a lot of ‘Star Trek’ comics so I’m looking forward to seeing my favourite characters come alive. It is going to be interesting to actually see missiles and warships on the big screen.”

There are others, who are sci-fi fanatics but aren’t too enthusiastic about “Star Trek” in particular.

Anjali Rameshwar, an engineer feels, “These are the kind of shows that have an effect on us when they are not overdone. I remember watching the TV series with my brothers when we…More

The Hindu :

Chitra Devnani offers free training in Falun Dafa, the Chinese answer to pain and stress relief through exercise and meditation

Photo: Bhagya Prakash k.FINDING RELIEF In Falun Dafa

Chitra Devnani, a Falun Dafa instructor suffered from back aches and spasms after a caesarean delivery nearly 16 years ago. She says, “I was on heavy meditation and antibiotics for a long time, since the back aches used to surface every couple of months. The doctors were unable to understand the root cause and gave me painkillers to beat the pain.”

“The medicines provided intermediate relief, but soon the pain would be back. I became irritable and frustrated.” Almost giving up hope, she decided to look for alternative methods of treatment such as power yoga, tai chi exercises etc. “In one of the exercise routines in early 2001, one of the participants introduced us to the basics of Falun Dafa.”

She explains that Falun Dafa is a Chinese exercise form that combines regular exercises and meditation. “It helps in reducing stress levels, relaxes the body and also makes you fitter,” Chitra contends.

“We read more about these exercises online and started following it religiously. The effects were almost instant. My back aches disappeared after only nine days of following the exercise regimen. Unlike earlier instances, the aches never recurred. I was soon able to stretch my back completely, which was virtually impossible earlier.”

Falun Dafa is usually taught by a master to a disciple, but Chitra managed to study it through literature available online. “We also took the help of other exponents of this form.”

Chitra currently conducts Falun Dafa classes at Cubbon Park and Kumara Park. “These classes are conducted by volunteers and are free of cost. It has helped resolve back aches, joint aches. It also helps in reducing stress levels and people with ailments like diabetes also gain a lot from these exercises.”

Chitra is currently devising…More

The Hindu :

Which young girl doesn’t love make up? Here’s a tome that changed a little one’s life overnight

PHOTO: R. RAVINDRANBeauty Secrets A young girl trying her hand at make-up

Where, did I leave the blessed bottle of olive oil? After a thorough search I was about to give-up and make do with sunflower oil, when the daughter appeared.

On one hand, she held the bottle of olive oil, now half-empty; with the other, she clutched to her bosom, her dearest possession — the large, fat, hard-bound “The Great Big Glorious Book For Girls” by Rosemary Davidson and Sarah Vine, which she carries everywhere, and consults, on an average, 48 times a day — on issues ranging from beauty-cupboard basics to Marilyn Monroe’s favourite scent.

It was The Book, by the way, that suggested she take the olive oil to the ‘home spa’ aka the bathroom, for a ‘mini manicure’… We were at the bookstore the other day, aimlessly browsing, when she spotted this thick tome. She spent the next 17 minutes admiring The Book from every angle, and the following 13 minutes convincing me why every girl had to own a copy, despite its cost (huge) and size (humungous). And so, we bought it and our lives changed, overnight…

To be fair to the book though, it isn’t as if it put ideas of lavender water and lip-gloss into her impressionable little head. Every pretty young thing absorbs all sorts of stuff (and some nonsense) from family and friends, from skinny super-models hobbling around on impossibly high-heels, from television ads that reinforce highly incorrect theories about beauty and skin tones.

Not surprisingly, every young girl goes through an ‘I-want-to-experiment-with-make-up’ phase, trying to look terribly grown-up, while every mother undoubtedly anguishes how she can tell her child that make-up is bad for the skin, even as she slaps on layers every single day!

This is where a book…More