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The Hindu :

Amitabh Bachchan takes time out to talk of Bigg Boss, his films, fans and more

PHOTO: SHASHI ASHIWALWELCOME BACK Amitabh Bachchan: `I call it the Hindi film industry, not Bollywood. I don’t like the term’

It is a test of patience waiting for the Shahenshah of the Hindi film industry at New Delhi’s Taj Mahal hotel. Outside Diwan-e-Aam some 16 candles flicker in glass cases, reminding one of that sequence in “Sharaabi” where Big B waits for his special friend even as his birthday candles gradually burn away. Inside sits ‘Mehman-e-Khhas’. Meeting him is neither easy nor straightforward. Dodging a hundred-strong media contingent, and men in black, some of whom are polite but firm, others hungry and irritable, is a challenge. It takes me through the kitchen and a power point before I finally find Bachchan — charming as ever.

Big B is in town to talk of “Bigg Boss Season 3”, beginning this Sunday on Colors. He is being called “a pop philosopher” by the channel in a bid to strike a chord with the common man. Bachchan though will have none of it. “I hate the term,” he says, shocking with his honesty, then adds for good measure, “The term ‘pop philosopher’ was coined by the channel. I am partially to be blamed. I agreed because at the end of the day it is a job. But actually it is a balance of passion and job. If I don’t bring passion to my work I cannot do my job. I am not worried about over-exposure. I have not signed a new project for the past few months. I was away due to a friend’s illness.As of now, I am there only for three months, for this year’s duration of ‘Bigg Boss’.”

Almost nine years after he touched new heights with KBC, is it a risk worth taking at this juncture of his…More

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The Structural School of Fine Arts will present a classical Bharatanatya recital. The performance is sponsored by Bal Bhavan under its Bala Vedike programme.

Venue: Bal Bhavan, Cubbon Park

Date: October 4

Time: 4.30 p.m.

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The Hindu : C. LAKSHMI KUMAR

Another workout for impressive biceps

Photos: R. Shivaji RaoAmazing arms Two-arm high pulley curl (start position)

Method

Stand between two high pulleys, which are about 10-12 inches above your shoulders.

Attach two D-handles to the pulleys and hold them with yours palms facing up.

Ensure that you are standing equi-distant between the weight stacks on either side and your feet are shoulder-width apart.

Contract your biceps to bring the handles close to your head like hitting a biceps pose.

Squeeze the biceps and return to starting position.

Avoid

Finish position

Excessive weights. Locking-out your knees. Moving the elbows or rocking the body. Unduly extending the arm while returning to starting position.

Dropping down the upper arms from an “above-parallel position” to the floor. Looking at your left or right bicep while exercising, as it may injure your cervical spine.

Muscles targeted

It trains the biceps brachii, brachialis, brachioradialis and pronator teres.

Who benefits

It helps weight-lifters, gymnasts, wrestlers, golfers, cricketers, basketball and football players. It helps the bicepsdevelop a ‘peak’ lookin personswho are genetically inclined to building such height.

http://trainingmasters.wordpress.com

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Mocha and UTV have come together to start the Mocha Film Club and it will screen select foreign films at all Mocha outlets. This week you can watch the French film “Amelie” directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet.

Venue: Mocha, Lavelle Road

Date: October 4

Time: 12 noon

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The Hindu :

It’s a tasty potato and leek soup

WHY YOU’LL LOVE LEEKS They reduce cholesterol

Leeks are related to garlic, onions, shallots and scallions. They look like large scallions.

They have a small bulb and a long, white cylindrical stalk of superimposed layers that flow into green, tightly wrapped, flat leaves.Leeks should be firm and straight with dark green leaves and white necks. Good quality leeks will not be yellowed or wilted, nor have bulbs that have cracks or bruises. Since overly large leeks are generally more fibrous in texture, purchase only those that have a diameter of one and one-half inches or less. Before preparing leeks, clean them thoroughly to remove any soil that may have got caught within the overlapping layers.

Leeks are a good source of manganese, vitamin C and iron. Since leeks are related to garlic and onion, they contain many of the same beneficial compounds found in these vegetables. A high intake of these vegetables helps reduce total cholesterol and LDL, or “bad” cholesterol levels while, at the same time, raising HDL or “good” cholesterol levels.

Now, for a recipe.Potato and Leek Soup

Ingredients

Butter: 30 gm

Leeks, sliced: two

Onion, finely chopped: one, medium size

Garlic, crushed: two cloves

Potatoes, peeled and cut into small and equal size cubes: 500 gm

Vegetable stock: three cups

Cream: 150 ml

Method: Melt the butter and sauté the leeks, onion and garlic for five to ten minutes. Add the potatoes and cook for an extra five minutes. Add the stock and simmer uncovered until the potatoes are tender. Puree the mixture. Return to heat and add milk, salt and pepper. Bring it to a boil and serve hot.

BHOLANATH JHACHEF DE PARTIE TAJ CONNEMARA, CHENNAI

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There will be a special Sunday brunch with Greek food offering delicacies like chicken doners with pita, polpetters, fish plaki, Greek lamb chop kleftikos and vegetable moussaka. There will also be a live barbeque and some Indian fare. The brunch is priced at Rs. 750 per head.

Venue: Aqua, The Park Hotel M.G. Road

Date: October 4

Contact: 25594666 for reservations.

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The Hindu :

Too manydiscount the importance of hygiene

Photo: M. PeriasamyScrub and scour The most important yet the weakest link in the food safety chain is cleanliness

Cleanliness is the first and most important link in the chain of food safety. It is also the weakest link, because everyone involved in the making, handling and consumption of food has to practise constant cleanliness for it to make a difference. This is why restaurant food will always represent a health risk. Clean food, clean hands and clean surfaces sound simple enough, but achieving them requires education of the entire family, from the cook to the maid.

For clean food: wash meat, vegetables and fruit under running water to remove dirt and other contaminants. Peel root vegetables like carrots and potatoes because pesticides tend to concentrate in the outermost layer. Of course, one loses some nutrients this way, but the trade-off is acceptable. The wax on imported apples is food grade and one need not peel the fruit before eating.

For clean hands: wash hands with soap and water before preparing and eating food, and after handling food, using the toilet, handling chemicals, smoking, changing diapers, and so on. Wash hands under running water, scrubbing with soap for at least 20 seconds and dry them preferably with a paper towel. Change cloth towels daily. Keep fingernails trimmed. Change gloves frequently; gloves are no substitute for hand washing. It is not necessary to use expensive antiseptic soaps for hand washing – any regular bath soap will do. In fact, even coal ash will do in an emergency.

For clean surfaces: this involves two steps – cleaning and sanitizing. Most of us give the latter a wide miss. Cleaning involves the removal of obvious dirt and grime from the surface of utensils, cutlery and cutting boards. Soap and water will achieve this. Sanitizing is the next step and refers to antimicrobial…More

The Hindu : y>A play on the absurdity of war

The theatre group, Tahatto, will stage its first production “A Funny Thing Called War”. The play will be staged on October 10 at 7 p.m. at Opus in the Creek, Whitefield Road.

There’s humour in everything around us. And what better proof than this play, set bang in the middle of World War – I. The play brings on stage, one of the most loved fictional characters in British entertainment history – Captain Blackadder.This play explores the simplicity of the early 1900s and the absurdity of war. For tickets and other information, call 9901091091/9945799224, or visitwww.tahatto.com

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Learn belly dancing, hip hop, yoga and pilate. There will also be classes forchildren in creative movement.

Venue: Tarantismo

Date: October 5

Contact: 98860 74174

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Bombay Elektrik Projekt presents its second edition of Sunday Shorts, where short films will be screened.

The event is presented in association with Bacchus F&B on October 4 at 7.30 p.m.

Sunday Shorts, say the organisers, is a mission to unite audiences via the short films submitted each fortnight.

This monthly screening will allow directors, actors and audiences the opportunity to learn from one another through a wide array of artistic perspectives.

Interested people can also submit their films with a short description of the film along with the trailer and a movie poster if possible toshorts@bombayelektrik.com.

Entry is free

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