News

The Hindu : y>Yamaha has introduced new variants

Yamaha has launched Frazer and R-15 new variants. “Just like FZ16 and FZ-S, Frazer carries the Monocross suspension to ensure agile running performance and handling. The placement of this model’s ‘MidShip Muffler’ towards thecentre of the machine gives it a good concentration of mass, exhaust efficiency and handling,” say the makers.

Frazer also has the 140/60-17 size rear radial tyre with a 60 per cent aspect ratio that contributes to better grip and handling stability, they add.

The bike is priced at Rs. 72,000 and is available in the colours of electric blue, midnight black, lava red, and flaming orange.

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The Hindu :

Rahul Dravid revealed his lighter side at the launch of Cricketmatics

Photo: Bhagya Prakash k.It all adds up Rahul Dravid

The serious veneer slipped and humour sneaked in as Rahul Dravid got stumped by tiny tots at the Landmark book store. For many long-time Dravid watchers, he is the correct cricketer with an inscrutable public persona. Dravid’s press conferencesare known for political correctness but the man has a sense of humour that surfaces within his close circle.

During the launch of “Crickematics”, an audio-book authored by Anshumani Ruddra, narrated by Dravid and produced by Karadi Tales, the ace batsman revealed his lighter side. “When Shobha Viswanath, Director, Karadi Tales, approached me to read out the story, I had a lot of trepidation. I saw the list of others who had read out and you had people like Sanjay Dutt and Vidya Balan, who are good at this. However Shobha said that even if it is bad they will make me sound good! I guess that’s what they have done.”

The theme of “Crickematics”, deals with a student who is good in cricket but bad in maths, is close to Dravid’s heart. “I could identify with the story. I was never good in maths and it was a nightmare.” When probed about his grades in maths, he quipped: “I can tell you that I wasn’t Albert Einstein.”

The interactive session with the assembled children started with a preamble, “Don’t ask cricket questions”. The tiny tots nodded their heads and promptly fired the first question: “How do you hit sixes?” Dravid laughed and said: “I don’t think I am good at sixes though I keep trying. The key is to practice hard, be it cricket or maths.”

Another child asked, “Is cricket and maths fun?” Dravid said, “Cricket is fun, maths can be fun.” A mother asked, “Rahul, what is your advice to children who watch cricket…More

The Hindu : y>Car and bike questions? We have the answers

I am planning to buy a Maruti SX4. As I will be travelling about 1,500km a month, I am thinking of fitting an LPG kit in the car. Should I get in touch with an authorised centre? Is this conversion popular with the SX4? Will its performance and resale value be affected? don’t like driving diesel cars.

Vinod Kumar

Adding an LPG kit to a brand-new SX4 is not advisable. It will violate the warranty, which could prove costly for you in case you face some problems with the car within the warranty period. LPG kits are not popular with the SX4 as the car was launched in 2007 and is still relatively new — most gas conversions are done on cars which are old and have clocked lots of mileage. The resale value will definitely be affected as there is little demand for SX4s with LPG kits. Our advice is you go in for a diesel car that will give you comparable savings in running costs and the new generation of diesels are in many ways better to drive than petrol cars.I am planning a road trip to Leh via Manali in my 2005 model Hyundai Accent CRDi. Can you tell me how to undertake this trip? Also, is it feasible to drive an Accent to Leh? Are there any modifications that need to be carried out?

Rahul Dahiya

The road to Leh has greatly improved and is tarred for most of the part. Having said that, there will be broken sections and stream crossings. The Accent will do fine on the road, but be cautious about scraping its underside, especially if it is fully loaded. Carry an extra spare wheel. The CRDi is very fuel-efficient, yet it’s wise to carry about 20 litres of fuel for the 387km drive from Tandi — where the last fuel…More

The Hindu : y>

bag itTake your pick at The Ants Store

An exclusive exhibition and sale of genuine Indian handmade products will be held from August 1 to August 5 at the Ants Store. The exhibition brings together eleven craft groups from across the country. It will feature the best of fine Indian handicrafts. Each of these groups supports sustainable livelihoods, preserve cultural traditions and facilitate economic development.

The exhibition is a collaborative effort between the NGO, All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association (AIACA) market access initiative Craftmark, The Ants Shop and Artisan producers groups.

The exhibition displays the full beauty, diversity of materials, products, craft processes and skills of artisans from across the country and provides a collection of exclusive and innovative handicrafts, artfully crafted by hand; an exquisite range of Chanderi’s and Tussar printed silks and stoles and a host of accessories.

The exhibition will be held at The Ants Store 2023 / B, Ist Cross, 14th ‘A’ main, Indiranagar. Call 41715639/ 41521742 for more information.

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The Hindu : C.K. MEENA

The money machine infantilises you. You press buttons, like you would in a toy, and out comes the treasure

Photo: K. PichumaniCough it up ATMs are so swift, so easy, and so thoughtless too

Whenever I use the ATM I am reminded of the pink hen of my childhood. It was small and made of smooth, hard plastic. Each time you depressed its underbelly it would lay a white plastic egg. There were only three eggs. Once you pushed them back inside the hen it was ready to lay them again.

The money machine infantilises you. You press buttons, like you would in a toy, and out comes the treasure. It gives you whatever amount you ask for. You are made to feel that there is an endless supply in there, but of course it is limited. You are also made to feel that someone else is giving you money, but in fact it is your own. You are only taking out the eggs you have put in yourself.

The money machine lacks gravitas. When you go to a bank and write on paper and wait your turn and ask the teller for specific denominations and count the money before you leave the counter, you become fully aware of the seriousness of a monetary transaction. You are in a different mood, quite unlike the blitheness with which you use an ATM – so swift, so easy, and so thoughtless too.

You might say that when it comes to encouraging irresponsibility, a credit card is much worse. I agree, and that is why I don’t own one. It has many hidden traps. My brother, for example, wrote out his prompt monthly cheque for an amount that ended with 30 paise. He naturally rounded it off to the nearest rupee. But the credit card company had its own views on what “nearest” meant. It penalised him…More

The Hindu : y>Rockers Junkyard Groove, who took the crowd on a magic swirling trip of adrenalin at a recent performance, share their laid-back mantra of success with ALLAN MOSES R.

PHOTO: MURALI KUMAR K.Musical cocktail The band believes team work, spirit and good humour are vital to keep a group together

The energy on the stage expands through the crowd as the band explodes into a synchronous display of music. Masterfully blending varied genres of music accompanied by skilfully-crafted lyrics, Chennai-based band, Junkyard Groove, proved music has noboundaries in their recent performance in the city at Opus.

With Ameeth Thomas on the vocals and rhythm guitar, Siddharth Srinivasan on the lead guitar, Craig Maxworth playing the bass guitar and Maynard Grant on the drums, the band packed an adrenaline–pumping performance.

The group says the name celebrates the fact that they like making something out of nothing. “Our music is synonymous with the name. You can find anything and everything in a junkyard. Our philosophy has always been ‘anything goes’ when it comes to music,” says Craig.

With a comic touch, eccentric lyrics and a captivating repertoire of sounds, the band has garnered a huge fan base, especially in Bangalore, with many in the crowd singing along enthusiastically.

Describing their music is a challenge in itself but their musical cocktail calls for alternative funk as one’s best option. Groovy with lots of life and deeply rooted in rock, jazz and funk tones, Junkyard Groove can dish out a one-of-a-kind musical performance.

The band had modest beginnings in 2005 with Siddharth and Ameeth deciding to put a band together and roping in Craig and a drummer called Jeremiah John who was later replaced by Maynard Grant.

“We have never walked away from a competition empty handed and always won something or the other,” says Ameeth.

From sweeping away local competitions and headlining at many noted music festivals across India, Junkyard Groove made international headlines…More

The Hindu :

The original Honda Stunner that was known for its styling and fuel economy is back. Will it have a smooth ride?

Launched in July 2008, the Honda’s CBF Stunner offered buyers an irresistible combination of big-bike styling and 125cc fuel efficiency at a price that didn’t burn a hole in your pocket. Now, in an attempt to take the game further, Hondahas launched the Stunner with its proven PGM-FI technology.

Visually, minor details differentiate this fuel-injected Stunner from its carburetted sibling. For starters, the front forks, cylinder block and head have undergone ‘all-black’ treatment. The Stunner’s low-set handlebar sports end weights, which should reduce vibrations that usually make their way to a rider’s hands.

The malfunction indicator beacon is the only addition to the formers instrument console. However, the absence of a tachometer remains a glaring omission on this bike.

What gives the bike a stylish appearance is the black muscular tank, which now comes standard. The new Stunner does away with the prominent racy graphics on the original model’s tank and fairing.

A dull golden finish can be seen on the neat crankcase. The new bike doesn’t feature a kick start — relying solely on a thumb starter to spring to life. Towards the rear, the silencer heat shield has been given a brushed finish, while an attractive new sporty cover leaves most of the chain exposed.

The CBF Stunner PGM-FI’s 124.7cc single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke engine delivers a peak power output of 11.6bhp at 8000rpm, a negligible 0.6bhp more than the original Stunner.

Honda’s PGM-FI fuel-injection system supplies highly pressurised fuel for combustion while the ECU makes use of information from eight different sensors, including an oil sensor and oxygen sensor to calculate the quantity of fuel to be supplied. The bike also deploys a back angle sensor to safely cut its fuel supply lines to the engine in the event of an accident.

Honda claims the…More

The Hindu : y>The musical Breaking Up Is Hard To Do will be staged this weekend

bitter sweet The play provides a wry look at relationships

The CAUSE Foundation, a non-profit organisation, is back this year with a comedy – “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do”. CAUSE promotes local talent through its musical productions, with all profits from these ventures going to local charities.

This year’s musical contains familiar, nostalgic songs and vibrant dances that promise to be a visual treat.

The story is about the bittersweet emotions that accompany the break up of romantic relationships and the joy of rediscovering the beauty of love all over again. The music showcases 18 Neil Sedaka classics including “O Carol!”, “Stupid Cupid” and the chart topping title song “Breaking Up is Hard to Do”.

This event is sponsored by DSP Blackrock Investment Managers, and the play is directed by Leila Alvares. Music is directed by Vivek Menzel.

The play will be staged between July 31 to August 3 at 7.15 p.m. The venue is Chowdiah Memorial Hall. Tickets are priced at Rs. 500, Rs. 300, Rs. 200 and Rs. 150 are available at Supermarket (Brigade Road), Market Basket (Cox Town market) and online atwww.indianstage.in.

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The Hindu : y>

Bajaj Auto has re-entered the 100cc segment via its new Discover 100cc.

Like all new generation Bajaj products, the Discover 100cc also boasts of lots of kit. The Discover 100 is fittedwith an electric start, Bajaj’s Nitrox shocks at the rear and an auto-choke system for hassle free starts even in cold conditions. The Discover 100cc has a big bike feel as it shares its chassis and design with the Discover 135. This should translate into decent on-road behaviour.

Bajaj’s DTS-Si technology and a five-speed gearbox (a segment first) have been used to achieve class-leading fuel-efficiency.

The company claimed 80kmpl figure under real world conditions, which is exciting. The stunner in this package is the price tag — at Rs 40,000 (ex-showroom Delhi) the Discover 100cc is a promising piece of kit. The Discover 100cc was unveiled by R. Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government at Bajaj’s Chakan Plant and will roll into showrooms, across the country, by the end of this month. We’ll test it out and let you know how it fares. Stay tuned.

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