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The Hindu : y>HOT GIZMOS Phone, printer, PVR and a monitor scream for attention

We have a soft spot for all things instant- instant coffee, instant messaging andinstant pictures. But Epson’s latest offeringtakes our fetish to a new high: aestheticallydesigned, the TX700W not only boasts of allthe trappings of a good printer- a 2.5-inchLCD screen, integrated Wi-Fi and Ethernetconnectivity and print quality that is said tolast up to 200 years – but can also print ona variety of media from paper to CD to DVDswith a print rate of 10 seconds fl at. Bring it on!

Visit www.epson.co.in

Price: Rs 13,999

G-TALK

Revamping isn’t the forte of only

FMCGs, tech companies too take this little management cookie seriously. After all, anupdate always has a better chance at leaving the shop rack sooner than the firstlaunch. Now, that should explain BenQ’s new line. A true aspect ratio of 16:9,dynamic contrast ratio of 40,000:1, screen options from 18.5 inches to 23.6 inches andresolution of 720p to 1080p – it’s great on paper, but given the serious role that amonitor has to fulfill, we’re still looking to test the Senseye+photo to give BenQG-series LCD monitor the thumbs up, so it can become the object of our affection.

Visit www.benq.co.in

Price: Rs. 6,500 onwards

PVR IN A BOX

TViX’s R-2200 is tagged as the smallestPVR box in the world, capable of capturinganalogue streams to MPEG2 format. PVRfunctionalities aside, it can also play XviD,MPEG4 and MPEG2 vids at 1080i resolution. Itallows creating a virtual DVD library by storingDVDs in ISO format. There are two USB hostsports, which allows you to connect other USBdevices to it and copy data directly.

Visit www.jaymm.co.in

Price: Rs. 14,625

AND(ROID),IT’S BACK! 

It’s finally a (paper) reality! After months of wait, Samsung has made a “European launch” of its first Android-powered mobile, the i7500.

Dressed as a candy bar, Sammy’s young one packs in the full suite of Google services, a 3.2-inch, 320×480 pixel AMOLED…More

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Kuchipudi School of Dance is presenting a lecture-demonstration on Kuchipudi by Vyjayanthi Kashi. Checkwww.schoolofkuchipudi.com for details

Date: July 4, 8 to 9 a.m.

Venue: Sri Vani School

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The Hindu :

Zambian Dumisani continues to be amazed by his experience of the country

GETTING USED TO IT Dumisani

Dumisani, a consultant manager at The Bison Resort in Kabini, is fairly new to India and has been floored by the vibrancy and cultural differences that India boasts.

“It continues to amaze me everyday. It makes life in India very interesting. You take time to get used to these diversities.”

He contends, “I would like to travel more and explore more of India. When I first arrived, I was in for a huge cultural shock, but have become acclimated since.”

This Zambian native splits his time between Bangalore and Kabini. He is scared of facing Bangalore’s traffic. “Commuting in Bangalore is an absolute nightmare. It takes ages to cover even small distances. The city is growing fast and needs better infrastructure. But I think it will emerge as a world city soon, with the Metro Rail and the new flyovers that will make commuting better.”Many misconceptions

Before coming to India, Dumisani thought of India as an overpopulated country, brimming with people and full of poverty.

He says, “I have changed my view since. It is a vibrant and diverse country. Poverty does exist, but with the correct policy decisions and a mix of development economics, things will improve. Liberalisation and globalisation have helped the Indian economy grow. It must help bring about economic parity also.”

He finds the work culture very professional and the people friendly. “That makes work a lot of fun.”

As far as his tryst with Kannada goes, Dumisani says, “I have been making efforts to learn the language and have picked up some Kannada. My mobile phone ring tone is a Kannada song; I enjoy listening to it a lot.”

He has always enjoyed Indian food and is particularly fond of Biryanis. “Indian food is wholesome and is very similar to African food. The flavouring and…More

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THE FACE Of Tibet

The Foundation for Universal Responsibility of His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Alliance Francaise, Bangalore Film Society, Charter for Human Responsibilities and Students for A Free Tibet are presenting the Tibetan Film Festival 2009 on July 4 and 5.

On July 4, at 12 noon Werner Herzog’s “Tibetan Chanting”, 2.30 p.m. Emma Hindley’s “The Lost World of Tibet”, at 3.45 p.m. Tashi Eugyalaversion’s “The Lute”, 4 p.m. Khyentse Norbu’s “The Cup”, at 6.15 p.m. Martin Scorsese’s “Kundun” will be screened.

On July 5, 11.45 a.m. is a discussion with Tibetan artists, followed by Nidhi Tuli and Ashraf Abbas’ “Art in Exile”. At 2.30 p.m. Paul Wagner’s “Windhorse”, 4.30 p.m. John Bush’s “Vajra Sky over Tibet”, 6 p.m. Dhondhup Wangchen’s “Leaving Fear Behind” and at 6.30 p.m. Tian Zhuangzhuang’s “The Horse Thief” will be screened.

The films will be screened at Alliance Francaise, Thimmaiah Road, Vasanthnagar. Call 9964533379 / 9886213516.

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The Hindu : SHONALI MUTHALALY

An elaborate, overwhelmingly generous meal, wazwan is the soul of Kashmiri Muslim weddings

Photo: Ramesh SharmaFRAGRANTA plate of delicacies

Singing and spinach make for a charming, if unlikely, combination.

It’s a bracingly cool morning in Srinagar, where we’re attending a friend’s wedding. We’re cross-legged on the lawn helping her aunts and grand-aunt de-stalk crackly-fresh spinach leaves for the wedding lunch. As the community unites, from different parts of the country or city — which involves braving bandhs, curfews and random stone-pelting — to celebrate, preparations to feed about a thousand people are already in full swing.

The women sit in a circle singing beguiling folk songs,steadily working their way through baskets piled high with the leaves. All the while, a kahwa lady hands out cup after cup of the soothing sweet green tea, fragrant with saffron, spiced with cardamom and afloat with crisp almond slivers, from a silver samovar, which bubbles ceaselessly through the three-day-wedding thanks to cleverly concealed cavities holding glowing charcoal. Beside it, there’s a basket of tandoor-baked soft Kashmiri bread from down the road for breakfast. It’s necessarily light. After all, everyone’s gearing up for wazwan — an elaborate, formal, overwhelmingly generous meal integral to Kashmiri Muslim weddings.

A huge tent has been set up next door to the house for the preparation of this meal, which is served for lunch and dinner through the wedding and features anything from 20 to 44 different courses — most of them meat, mainly mutton. The mathematics is precise and has to be adhered to, following tradition. Shahid Mir, brother of the bride Shaila, explains it, as he walks us around the quaint kitchen-tent, which bustles with activity — hoards of oversized furiously bubbling pots, crackling wood-fires and about ten cooks preparing the meal with the kind of regimental precision, poise and co-ordination that can only come from having done this hundreds of times…More

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Kyra is presenting “Great American Songbook” with the Bangalore Expat Club band to celebrate American Independence Day and A Tribute to Michael Jackson.

Date: July 4 and 5

Tickets: Rs. 299 for July 4 and Rs. 399 for July 5

Venue: No. 2001, Katti-Ma Centre, 100 Feet Road, Indiranagar

Contact: 43419999/ 9632203333

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Concern India Foundation and Airtel are organising “Corporate Classroom”, a corporate quiz, conducted by Charu Sharma.

Date: July 4, 1 to 7 p.m.

Venue: Chancery Pavilion

Contact: 25549422 / 25305775 / 9845288225

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The Bangalore International Centre is presenting the Arts Appreciation Series with an illustrated talk on Monsoon Ragas by Mowna Ramachandra on July 4, at 6.30 p.m. at BIC auditorium, TERI Complex, 4th Main, 2nd Cross, Domlur 2nd stage. Contact 25359680.

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Ananya GML Cultural Academy is presenting “Nritya Chilume – 3”, a dance programme for budding young talents on July 4 at 6 p.m. at Seva Sadan, 14th Cross, Malleswaram.

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SurSagar will present a Hindustani Raag Sangeet by Shashwati Mandal Paul, accompanied by Gurumurty Vaidya on tabla and Vyasmurti Katti on harmonium. The event is on July 5, 6 p.m. at Canara Union, 8th Main, Malleswaram. Contact 23341611.

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Kara4Kids presents the Kara Katha Karnival, a story-based learning initiative with the English adaptation of the German story “The Little Pirate” by Rebecca Ann Mackay for children aged between three and seven. The Karnival is on July 4, 11.30 a.m. at Reliance TimeOut, Cunningham Road. Contact: 9844321212.

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Nityanjali Institute of Dance presents the Bharatanatya Rangapravesha of Priya Ashish on July5 at 6 p.m. at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Race Course Road. Contact 26724460.

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Smriti Nandan Cultural Centre and Dwaraka — People’s Livelihoods Upliftment Society are presenting “Kalamkari — The Revival”, an audio-visual presentation and exhibition on July 4, 5 p.m. at Smriti Nandan Cultural Centre, Nanda-deep, No. 15/3, Palace Road. Call 22258091.

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Hard Rock Café is celebrating American Independence Day with its cuisine on July 4, noon onwards. Call 41242222.

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Reliance TimeOut will present the Reliance TimeOut Rock Festival 2009 at its Cunningham Road outlet with a performance by city-based band Eveda Chechi on July 4, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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Samashti is staging “Suryana Kudure”, directed by M. Ganesh.

Date: July 4, 7 p.m.

Venue: H.N. Kalakshetra, National College, Jayanagar 7th Block

Tickets: Rs. 50

Contact: 9845163380

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Suspense, thrills, humour and a hearty dose of synthetic blood come your way as HBOlaunches the original series “TrueBlood”. This Golden Globe Award nominated television drama is created by “Six Feet Under”’s Alan Ball. The series is based on the popular Sookie Stackhouse novels of Charlaine Harris about Sookie Stackhouse, a perky waitress with telepathic gifts and an irresistible attraction to a vampire named Bill Compton. It stars Anna Paquin (The Piano, the X-Men films) as Sookie Stackhouse, Stephen Moyer (The Starter Wife) as Bill Compton. “TrueBlood” premieres on July 5 after the 9 p.m. movie.

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