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The Hindu : y>Head to Dharamshala for a retreat

Dharamshala beckons you to a five-day Buddhist retreat, organised by the Maitrim Poshas Trust, under the guidance of the well-known Buddhist teacher Tsokinyi Rinpoche. From November 12 to 16, at the Asia Health Resorts, Tsokinyi Rinpoche will speak on Dharma and the practice of guided meditation. He is from the Dzogchen tradition that appeals to both beginners and advanced practitioners.The intention of the retreat is to help people learn to dispel their problems and act with greater sensitivity and to demonstrate how this can be done in our everyday lives.

For details, visit Maitrim Poshas Trust, 29, Haddows Road, Ground Floor, Jayalakshmi Estates, e-mailsrividyatvs@gmail.com or call 99400-76400 or 01892-223546.

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The Hindu : y>Catch popular movies all this month

This month, HBO brings top-notch blockbuster premieres to Indian television, along with a host of popular movies, across genres.

“I Am Legend” starring Oscar-nominated Will Smith, premiers on October 17 at 9 p.m. Smith is in the role of a virologist in New York City under the siege of dark seekers. These are zombie-like bald, pale and extremely hostile humans who can’t tolerate UV radiation because of a deadly genetically re-engineered measles virus that mutated into a lethal airborne strain.

For all the horror movie lovers, there’s “One Missed Call” on October 10, starring Shannyn Sossamon. It is achilling ghost tale of cryptic cell-phone messages foreshadowing a series of grisly deaths.

Next in line on October 24 is the multi-starrer “Beowulf”. With Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie and John Malkovich among its talented cast, this fantasy film is a treat in terms of path-breaking animation and brilliant visuals.

It takes you on a roller-coaster ride to a daredevilry filled, magical, thrilling and awesome world of mummies on October 30, 9 p.m. with the screening of “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” starring Brendan Fraser.

Owen Wilson’s fans can catch the heart-warming comedy “Drillbit Taylor” on October 31.

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The Hindu :

Earl Hines: Fatha’s Blues

Tradition/ Music Gallery India; CD; Rs. 600

The importance of Earl “Fatha” Hines (1903-1983) in the history of jazz is difficult to overstress. He was Louis Armstrong’s pianist on the landmark recording of “West End Blues” in 1928 when Armstrong made solo improvisation an essential characteristic of jazz.

He went on to make his mark as a pianist in different settings: in bigger ensembles, whether or not as leader; leading a piano trio (with bass and drums); and as a solo pianist.

As this 1964 album shows, Hines was among the greatest solo pianists of swing or indeed any style in jazz. Within its rather short (and expensive) 36 minutes of running time, Hines packs in enough work on the keys to show off his distinctive style, marked by changes in tempo and volume, sudden rhythmic variations, and flashing runs with his right hand spanning much of the keyboard as he plays with the melodic line. His left hand is strong too, as can be seen from the rhythmic variations.

It is difficult to know when a solo pianist is playing the written score and when he’s improvising, or “soloing” as it’s known in jazz (when there’s an ensemble the others accompany the soloist as he improvises). But matters are fairly clear-cut on this album.

Even on the two tracks that seem to have been extemporised here (“Fatha’s Blues” and “Tosca’s Dance”, both composed by Hines but the latter based on a theme from Tosca) one can discern a basic melody which recurs and is distinct from the improvising.

The slow-paced “Fatha’s Blues”, with its extensive improvisation and its changes in tempo, the medium-paced “Undecided” with its dramatic intro and long solo after the theme, the fast-paced “I’ve Found a New Baby” and “Tosca’s Dance”, both with beautiful intros, and the slow “Black Coffee” with a dramatic intro and a percussive beat…More

The Hindu : y>He’s an entertainer all the way. Abhishek Bachchan’s dialogues off-screen drip sarcasm, wit, and therefore a high cool quotient, thinks BHUMIKA K. What really makes it work, though, is the thousand-watt smile he packs in

Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.GOING BEYOND COMPARISONS Abhishek Bachchan: ‘I am who I am’

He’s young. He’s hot. He’s constantly being watched and critiqued. And he knows it all for sure. That’s what makes Abhishek Bachchan the devilish darling that he is — a complete charmer, with all the old-world graces and manners, a generous dose of off-the-cuff razor-sharp wit and dry sarcasm, and a smart alecky attitude to boot.

Brand ambassador of Omega watches, Abhishek Bachchan was in the city to launch a diver’s delight — the Omega Seamaster Plofprof, and a new boutique store of the brand at UB City. Making a very filmi entry onto the stage amidst red smoky lights and the constant glitter of camera flashes wearing a black leather jacket, black slacks and black pointy shoes, Abhishek dived right into his business of brand talk. The short and abrupt volley of questions that came next from the paparazzi saw Abhishek at his terse best:

How many watches do you own? “I was once told that it’s bad luck to count your watches.” Isn’t it ironic that you are one hour late for a watch launch? “Am I? I’m not. I was here the moment the organisers asked me to. What time did they ask you to come? You should ask them…”

Are you a party person? “Am I a party person? Hmmm…in what sense? That question can be misconstrued. Because today a ‘party person’ has many meanings.” Laughs at his joke. And then adds that he really doesn’t have the time for partying.

What look does your wife like? Clean-shaven or stubble? “What do you like?” Happy with the laughter he elicits, Abhishek continues: “Ask her…I…More

The Hindu : y>

Ganjam will conduct an exclusive exhibition,‘Ganjam at the Mantapa,’ on October 10 and 11 at Ganjam Mantapa, No.84, Bull Temple Road, Basavangudi.

Award winning designs and collections in various hues of gold and platinum embellished withdiamonds and precious stones will be on display.

Other collections include the Riverdance, Fire and Ice, Le Jardin, Exotica, Gerbera and Ikat.

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The Hindu :

The unobtrusive date is a gold mine of vitamins and minerals

Photo: Mahesh HarilalBunch of goodness A handful of dates can go a long way to keep you healthy

In 1824 AD, Abdel-Gelil laid siege to Suckna, a desert town in North Africa on the road to Tripoli, and it wasn’t going well. So he did what every frustrated besieger does – destroy the staple crop of the localsIn Suckna, it was the date palm, and Abdel-Gelil cut down 43,000 trees to weaken the town’s resolve

Unfortunately for him, date palms so plentifully grew in the area that there were still around 75,000 trees left after the hacking was done.

The date palm is a symbol of fertility in the lands flanking the Persian Gulf where it originated. Cultivation in the Arabian Peninsula began nearly 6000 years ago, and trade carried the fruit to the Indus River Basin in prehistoric times.

However, large-scale production began in northern India and Pakistan only after Bonavia (1869) introduced 26 varieties of seeds from the Arabian Peninsula.

FoodDates are eaten plain or as an ingredient in cereals, biscuits, cakes and ice cream. Soaked in hot milk, they make for a nutritious breakfast food. The fruit flesh can be turned into powder, syrup, jam,jelly, vinegar and alcohol.

During Ramzan, they are a high energy, light-on-the-stomach Sehri food that help the devout withstand fasting.

They are an ideal, guilt-free (for parents) snack for children, and an easily digestible food for the convalescent.

Nutrition 100 gm of fresh dates contain 140 calories, while the dried ones contain a whopping 275 calories.

Fresh dates contain more iron, phosphorus, niacin, Vitamin A precursors and Vitamin C, whereas dry dates are richer in calcium and potassium.

Medicinal uses The high tannin content of the fruit makes it a favourite traditional remedy for intestinal complaints and respiratory tract infections.

Dates can be a healthful part of the daily diet – even if you…More

The Hindu :

Nuwara Eliya is all about tea plantations, a splendid golf course and everything colonial

Scenic surroundings The Hill Club

After a week of splashing about in the seas and pools, sipping on King coconut and soaking in the sun in Sri Lanka, we finally get away from the heat and head to a cooler destination.We zeroed in on the hill station ofNuwara Eliya, 1,900 metres above sea level.

Established by theBritish in the early 19th Century, Nuwara Eliya is also known as Little England as it still retains itscolonial charm, replete with colonial-era hotels, tea plantations and a resplendent golf course.

As we drive up the spiralling route from Kandy to Nuwara-Eliya, we pass by well-manicured tea gardens, deep, dense valleys, waterfalls and a couple of temples. Our first stop for the day is the Mackwoods tea estate.

After a tour around the place and some gyaan about the chai processed there, we are treated to some delicious brownies and tea. As we bask in the sunlight and sip tea, we are almost transported to an era, similar to the one Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was set in.The perfect cuppa

Only, I didn’t find a Mr. Darcy but the good thing is I finally found the perfect brew — Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings. Rich in flavour, the tea instantly turns me into a tea-totaller and I help myself to another cup and then buy seven packets of the same to bring back to Chennai.

Happy with the purchase, we speed off to the next destination — Sita Amman temple. A stream, where Sita was believed to have bathed, flows by the side of the temple. On a rock is a huge footprint that’s supposed to be Hanuman’s. As we step out of the temple, it begins to pour.

Hungry and cold, we drive into the Grand Hotel for lunch. The imposing façade of the hotel against…More

The Hindu :

People from all walks of life are now turning vegan to stay fit and healthy

Photo: V. RajuMake A startHaving a plant-based diet and avoiding refined foods, white rice, maida, oil and sugar is a good way to begin

A gentle, green breeze is energising Bengaluru’s gardens, college campuses, shopping malls, IT hubs, office spaces and living rooms with new vitality. It is sparkling dinner table conversations, giving people a healthy glow and a mental high, and best of all it is giving a new momentum to the word, ‘Earth Saviour’. Welcome to the world of vegans.

Veganism is a type of vegetarian diet that excludes meat, eggs, dairy products and all other animal-derived ingredients. People from all walks of life are turning vegan effortlessly and enjoying the health benefits.

So, what are the health benefits of being vegan? Amrita Dutta, a content writer with a corporate firm says, “I have been a vegetarian for the last 19 years. Early this year, I began transitioning into being vegan. Since then, my chronic wheezing has stopped and besides, I can concentrate better, I have become more energetic and my joint pains have disappeared”.

Gopi Shankar, a consultant, who has been vegan for a month now, says, “I feel lighter and more energetic and since I am an asthmatic, I wheeze lesser now”.

Arun R, a PhD student in Computer Science at IISc, and a vegan for two years says: “I have never felt more energetic, which I believe is due to my zero cholesterol and low saturated fat diet. I came second in the 10 km race and third in the four km race at IISc this year”. Says Shankar Narayan, President of the Indian Vegan Society who was in the city recently, “At 30, before becoming completely vegan, I was feeling 60, and now at 45, being a vegan, I feel 20. I…More

The Hindu : y>

It has been a crazy season, as far as the weather goes. While the spectre of drought had hovered around for nearly three months, many of the drought-hit districts in the State has been facing flash floods on account of flash floods in the northern part of the state. MetroPlus asked city residents on whether such freak weather conditions are a result of phenomena such as global warming or just a local issue, compounded by a low depression area in the area.

Many felt that the increasing freak weather conditions are indicative of global warming.

They felt that the need of the hour was for the world to come together and take manifold steps to conserve the environment, reduce carbon dioxideemissions and help stop the ruin of the planet. Many agreed that while global warming was a major issue, they felt the current spell of rain was caused by local factors and a depression in the nearby areas and could not be attributed to any global phenomena as such. As the topsy-turvy season continues, we sample some responses

The freak weather is not very unusual and occurs every year. It is unfortunate that it has resulted in flash floods in many areas. However, it has been caused by a combination of local factors such as the retreating monsoons and a low pressure zone.

Nitesh

Engineer

Heavy rainfall followed by a below par monsoon points out the fact that global warming has began to show its effects in this part of the world also. It is unfortunate that drought-hit areas are now facing the fury of flash floods.

Ahmed

Designer

I feel that ithappens every year. Instead of looking at the underlying reasons, the government and concerned authorities must take immediate steps to provide relief to those affected by these weather conditions.

Ram

Engineer

I feel that it is a combination of global warming and the local conditions that have resulted…More

The Hindu : y>

Chocolate indulgence Exotic flavours and mouth-watering delicacies

The Bliss Chocolate Lounge was recently launched at the Forum Value Mall in Whitefield. The first luxury chocolate destination in India, Bliss is designed to provide a luxurious ambience. It is a place to indulge in chocolate temptations and experience a whole new concept of chocolate meals prepared by international chocolatiers.

The menu includes mouth-watering delicacies like Spanish donuts, waffles and crepes, served with fresh fruit, ice cream and chocolate.

All Bliss products are custom made and fresh and boast of the highest international quality standards. Some of their specialties include a range of luxury chocolates in exotic flavours, coral of the ocean, royal velvet cakes and a range of hot-chocolate based presentations.

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