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The Hindu :

The Karnataka Premier League, all set for its maiden run in September, is expected to showcase rural talent. However, questions remain over the tournament’s ability to strengthen Karnataka’s cricketing base

Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.Talking heads KSCA President, Srikantadatta Wadiyar and KSCA Secretary Brijesh Patel

The Indian Premier League’s brand-allure that whipped up frenetic cricket with money and glamour has tickled the grey cells within the Karnataka State Cricket Association ranks. The result: the Karnataka Premier League, smaller in scale but high on ambition.The KPL is all set to roll out in September and is tentatively scheduled from 9 to 23. The eight-team Twenty20 bash has got the investors’ thumbs-up as last week. A mix of real estate companies, corporates and politicians shelled out 35 crores to own the zonalteams with the amount being payable over five years. Brigade Group topped the charts, bidding for the Bangalore Urban team with a sum of Rs. 7.2 crore.

The KSCA secretary Brijesh Patel termed the response “excellent” and added that the money will be “ploughed back into the game.” The team owners beamed while officials of Frontiers India, the company that devised the concept, tried to scale down expectations. “There is no money to be made here. It has to settle as a brand first. The expectations are staggering and we are trying to tone it down,” said an official.The revenue model hinges on a 50 per cent share from gate receipts, television ad spots, co-branding on player apparel and other strategies. The avowed goal of most owners is to tap into rural talent but it remains to be seen whether they can accept victory and defeatwith equal grace when the tournament commences. For instance in the IPL, many owners displayed brittle egos when their teams suffered losses.

The KPL however has had its share of negative vibes. And when men of the stature of Anil Kumble…More

The Hindu :

The term Mom Jeans seems to suggest moms are shapeless and have no senseof aesthetics

PHOTO: AFPPREZ CODE Barack Obama unwittingly turns the spotlight on ‘Mom Jeans’

Have you come across the term ‘Mom Jeans’? It made headlines last week, and got a lot of moms fuming. Here’s why. The U.S. President Barack Obama, who made it to Vanity Fair’s ‘best-dressed celeb’ list this week appeared at the All-Star Game at St. Louis in — horror! — baggy jeans. The game stood forgotten as Obama’s choice of sportswear got dubbed ‘Mom Jeans’ — nota compliment! Soon, comments flapped around thick and fast. In a TV interview, the President said he looked a “little frumpy” in his baggy jeans. He sounded defensive when he said, the “jeans were comfortable”.

Mom Jeans (coined at Saturday Night Live), by the way, are high-waist denims with wide hips and tapered legs. They come in (gasp!) light colours, and won’t be seen on the young, anorexic crowd. They are unfashionable. Fine. But calling baggy trousers ‘Mom Jeans’ suggests moms are shapeless people with zero sense of aesthetics. And, deserve to be ribbed.

“But, moms today wear skin-tight jeans,” says Rachna Bathija of Just Casuals. “When they’re not in jeans, they’re in churidhar and long kurta that covers bulges. Hey, 50-year-olds keep themselves trim. So, what’s this thing about ‘Mom Jeans’?”

So, should I feel hopelessly out-of-sync if I’m not in skin tights? “The debate is inconclusive,” says Vrinda Varshnei of Soumya Boutiques.

“Pencil jeans are in vogue; wear them with a loose top. They make you look slimmer.” Her advice: Get yourself a pair of medium- to large-sized denims if you’re overweight. “I was against narrow jeans,” she confesses. “My 19-year-old daughter insisted I buy a pair; I’m slowly falling in line. I’m slim, so I guess it’s ok.”

Looks like the phrase ‘Mom Jeans’ is ripe for a fight.

FOR THAT PERFECT…More

The Hindu : y>

Lets Live Together is promoting a concept of people adopting homeless puppies. There will be a march for homeless dogs/ puppy adoption camp on August 16 called “March for Dogs”, which begins at Karuna office and goes up to Minsk Square. It begins at 10 a.m. at and will be followed by its third puppy adoption camp that will be held between noon and 5 p.m. at Karuna Office, near Cubbon Park. The march is a result of a project called “life on the street”, which is a “tribute to all the not-so-fortunate pups who don’t find homes mainly because they are born (homeless) on the street. The camp will offers 20 to 25 puppies “completely vaccinated and healthy” with ‘Lets Live Together’ merchandise for sale. Proceeds from the sale will support our future adoption camps, awareness programmes,” say the organisers.

For details contact: 9845380748/9945546013.

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The Hindu :

The Indian Court of Women on Dowry and Related Forms of Violence invited people to look at dowry, not as experts, but as witnesses

Photo: Shaju JohnBuilding bridges Feminism is not a movement against men but against mindsets

Two thousands people from different sections of civil society, 900 activists, academics, lawyers and media practitioners, 40 organisations extending support and solidarity, 28 testimonies of pain, survival and resistance and six round table conferences with an eminent jury. That was the magnitude of The Indian Court of Women on dowry & related forms of violence, conducted in the last week of July, which as an alternate space in civil society, invited people to look at issues related to dowry, not as experts but as witnesses to the related violence and its more insidious forms.

Right from the calling of the court, through the Song of the Cike, the opening event “Sva Kranti”, Poems of Resistance on trees (termed “Poetry”) in the bird park at the venue, every aspect of the court had a very original ingredient. The six sessions of the court named Daughters of Fire, Despair, Lost Wisdom, Hope, Daughters – Displaced & Dispossessed and finally Daughters of Dreamtime, were logical and lyrical at the same time.

The Indian Court of Women had a very atypical approach of communicating that feminism is not used to find problems, but to address them. While interacting with a handful of people from the team behind the event, certain buoyancy surfaced in all the responses.

Talking about the philosophy of such courts, International Coordinator of Courts of Women, Corinne Kumar quotes three simple words “Asking, we walk”, from the peasants in Chiapas, Mexico. “The asking in itself challenges houses of reason and universal truths, of power, of politics.”

“Among the audience were senior officials from various government departments including the police, prosecution and the judiciary. Those are sure signs of the…More

The Hindu :

PHOTO: S.S.KUMARLOSING HAIR? Don’t worry

If you’ve noticed a few hairs on your pillowcase or caught in the shower drain, don’t despair. In many cases, hair loss is entirely treatable, says dermatologist Diane Berson, MD, of Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.

Possible cause: Anemia

Why loss occurs: Iron deficiency lowers levels of red blood cells, which are crucial to the health of hair follicles.

Hair saver: Iron supplements paired with vitamin C, which aids iron absorption, are cheap and effective.

Possible cause:Certain meds

Why loss occurs: Antidepressants, diuretics, and other Rx pills may cause thinning hair as a side effect.

Hair saver: Adjust your dosage or try an alternative drug, but only after checking with your doctor.

Possible cause: Hypo- or hyperthyroidism

Why loss occurs: Hormone imbalances can raise levels of a chemical called DHT that attacks hair follicles.

Hair saver: Affordable prescription meds can help return your thyroid hormones to healthy levels.

Possible cause: Low-calorie diet

Why loss occurs: An overly ambitious weight loss programme can make your hair fall out — and cause fatigue, dehydration, and cramps.

Hair saver: Make sure to get enough protein every day if you’re trying to lose weight — it’s essential to keeping hair healthy and intact.

NYT

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The Hindu : y>The Swingers dance studio announces its dancers hunt

Shall we dance Rhythm and groove

The dance studio “The Swingers” has announced its Dancers Hunt. Applications for participation is available from August 10. The Dancers Hunt will be held on August 16, at The Swingers Studio, Indiranagar.

The Swingers dance studio is affiliated with New York based Broadway Dance Centre and is coming up with an innovative and exciting “Dancers hunt 2009”.

“Through Dancers Hunt 2009, Swingers is trying to do a city-wide search for talented dancers. All those aged 16 years and above with a special blend of talent and creativity are being called for the hunt. The winners will get an opportunity to be a part of the Swingers global performing community apart from the opportunity to teach dance, work under renowned choreographers, avail of scholarship dance programs abroad and perform with the best in the industry,” say the organisers.

The applications are available at Swingers Studio, Indiranagar. The auditions are at 4 p.m. For details call 25203900/77.

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The Hindu : y>Youngsters feel inclusiveness is the way to go for Independence Day festivities, writes NEETI SARKAR

PHOTO: PTIColours of freedom One can go beyond face painting to express patriotism, insist the youth

Enough has been said about Independence Day being passed off as “just another holiday” and about today’s youth being lackadaisical when it comes to participating in I-Day celebrations. What Gen- X has to say now is that given a chance, they would indeed do something different, innovative and memorable to mark the day when India received her well-deserved freedom.

According to Daniel Samuel, an engineering student, “Not many colleges make attendance on Independence Day compulsory. Therefore, participating in a parade is out of the question. But I seriously wish a particular time was set to play the national anthem across different colleges throughout the country and it be made mandatory for every student to stand in one accord and sing this glorious anthem with utmost pride.”

His classmate, Manoj Vasanthraj believes, “Spreading happiness and cheer is what I-Day is about. Leaders of the past shared in the sufferings of our forefathers and they collectively won us our freedom. It would be good to do something similar in the present age, probably by spending the day at an old age home or at an orphanage.”

Having the tricolour painted across your cheek for a cricket match isn’t the kind of patriotism today’s youth is advocating.

Thanglen Soubam, a final year student of Communicative English reasons, “The capital of India showcases the grandest parade in the country and different States organize parades in which only the NCC and other uniformed services participate. In order to involve the masses, celebrations must go beyond the obvious.

“Staging cultural events is a good way to include more people in the celebration. However, organizing State and national level quiz competitions for students, based on India’s freedom struggle is a good way to make…More

The Hindu :

Soumya S. Ayer’s Dashavatar captures the timeless tales of Indian mythology

PHOTO : BHAGYA PRAKASH K.Revisiting myths Soumya S. Ayer

It is a collection of fascinating stories about the gods — Soumya S. Ayer’s “Dasahavatar” (Vakils, Feffer & Simons Pvt Ltd, Rs. 150). The ten stories talk about the 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu. “Nine avatars have already happened and the tenth— the Kalki (destroyer) is believed to emerge at the end of the present age of Kaliyug to rescue us,” says the author.

Launching her book at the Crossword bookstore in Bangalore, she says, according to Hindu mythology it is believed that when the world is on the brink of collapse, Vishnu takes on a variety of forms to save the world. While there are several incarnations, the Dashavatar or the ten manifestations become the main ones.

Written for children in an engaging style, the author relates these timeless stories to modern times. For instance, the first story about Vishnu taking the form of a tiny fish to save the Vedas, concludes with the moral— “Knowledge must be protected at all costs.”

“Relevance of all the stories is as simple as the victory of good over evil and they bear messages that are relevant today,” Soumya adds. Simple illustrations in black and white accompany the stories.

In the second story, he takes the form of a turtle (Kurma avatar), when the gods and the demons had to work together to churn out the nectar of immortality. “The demons were driven by desire and Vishnu was on god’s side and they win. And the message of the story is “A calm mind leads to good results in any effort,” the author adds.

“Power corrupts. Don’t be afraid to be stand up against corruption” is the moral told through the story of the warrior (Parasurama). The author says the stories also represent the story of evolution, beginning with…More

The Hindu : y>

Inside story Shahid Kapoor gets candid with Taran Adarsh

Catch Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor share anecdotes and tales from the sets of “Kaminey” with Bollywood trade guru Taran Adarsh.

Shahid will answer many questions including those that deal with his supposed rivalry with Saif Ali Khan and will clear the air on his alleged ‘fallout” with “Kaminey” director Vishal Bharadwaj,Catch all the action in the second part of the interview on “Bollywood Business” tonight at 8.30 p.m. on ETC.

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Watch Paul Merton as he takes viewers on a tour of the quirkiest things India has to offer. In this episode, Paul travels north to the prosperous state of the Punjab. Fabled for living life king-size, Paul embarks on a road trip in Punjab to find what that means tonight at 9 p.m. on Fox History.

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