One of the things January brings for kids — besides the New Year — is the season of coughs, colds, flu and ear infections. Our kids suffer through wintertime symptoms like runny noses, fever, body aches, coughs, headaches and ear pain. Children on average get between six and ten “colds” each year, which can last any where from one week to three. That’s over 200 days out of a year.

Schools and day care often have guidelines that don’t allow the child to attend if they have a contagious condition, fever, or require treatments during the day. So we bring our kids to the doctor’s office to quickly cure their illnesses with antibiotics to get them back to their classrooms.

But antibiotics most likely aren’t the solution.

Antibiotics are drugs that kill bacteria. However, antibiotics have no effect on viruses, the cause of colds and flu. Health researchers estimate that half of all antibiotics prescribed in the United States are used to treat conditions that don’t require them. Using antibiotics when you don’t need them could cause your body to lose good bacteria and develop a resistance to antibiotics, which may cause a problem when you need antibiotics in the future.

Many parents who come into my office believe yellow or green mucous indicates a bacterial infection and request antibiotics. But viral illnesses can cause yellow or green mucous, too. Treat colds and coughs with fluids, fever control, humidification of the air, decongestants, and cough suppressants. If your child continues to have fever higher than 101 degrees for more than 72 hours, contact your physician.

Ear pain, often occurring at night or during naptime, is a sign of an ear infection. In the past, that automatically meant getting a prescription for antibiotics. Studies show that most ear infections get better on their own without treatment. Since doctors have learned more about how unwarranted use of antibiotics causes resistant bacteria — and that most ear infections are caused by viruses, we’ve adopted a “wait and see” approach to treatment of ear infections. If you bring your child in for ear pain, your doctor may offer you a “wait and see” prescription for you to have, but not fill, unless your child develops a fever above 101 and continues to have ear pain after a few days. Waiting will allow the body to heal itself, and (unless the infection is severe and requires antibiotics) allows us to use antibiotics only when necessary.

In preparation for wintertime, set up alternative arrangements so that when your child is sick you don’t miss work. Check your medicine cabinet for expired medications from last year. Don’t forget to wash your hands frequently and keep surfaces clean, such as telephone receivers, computer keyboards and video game controllers to reduce the spread of the illness in your home.
|TOP|

If you stop — for just a moment — and look around in Truckee, you will see the largely untouched remains of one of California’s most dramatically visual, historical and important towns, writes Al Auger.


(Above): Truckee River.

(Right, top): Downtown Truckee. A stroll past well-weathered false-front buildings boasting fine restaurants, blue collar coffee shops and funky saloons still evokes the Truckee of old.
(Right, bottom): (L to R): A gold rush handbill dated March 23, 1849; Charlie Chaplin (l) and a co-actor in his Gold Rush. The film was made in Truckee, Calif.; and Douglas Fairbanks was another Hollywood celebrity who was in Truckee for a film shoot.

The fame, legends and myths of California’s Mother Lode country have been spread far and wide since the ill-fated Donner Party by such famed wordsmiths as Mark Twain and Bret Harte. Hangtown, Fiddletown, Delirium Tremens, Sonora, Jackson, Sutter’s Creek, Copperopolis, Murphy’s, the names immediately bring on visions of a hard-edged environment of saloons, brothels and lawlessness servicing coarse, violent, gold-obsessed men looking for that one big strike.

Today, these towns are little more than fodder for our imagination as the truths of the gold rush life withdraws behind the veil of fantasies nurtured by TV, the movies and books. Overlooked in most of the history books and certainly in the popular media is the tranquil mountain hamlet of Truckee.

The Truckee of the 20th century, though, is thought of not much more than an unpretentious depository for skiers after a tough day on the slopes or a way point to the fast running rivers of trout and high country playground for big game or casino game playing in Reno and Northshore. Truckee also has a vast array of historical sites to explore filled with Indian lore, its short, but glorious days as a movie set, Donner State Park (See sidebar). But, if you stop — for just a moment — and look around, you will see the largely untouched remains of one of California’s most dramatically visual, historical and important towns. Prospectors needed supplies and food; mines and the towns they gave birth to needed lumber. So the entrepreneurs turned Truckee into one of the most important of pioneer towns: A lumber and train center that centralized the needs of the burgeoning gold empires.

Over the years, some 10,000 Chinese workers were brought from their native land to build the railroad. As you cruise Interstate 80 on your way to Truckee, look to your right and consider the protective train tunnels sitting precariously on the slippery slopes of the surrounding mountains. Hundreds of these intrepid workers died in avalanches, falling off the mountainside and to disease to anchor this seemingly impossible task across the jagged and intimidating mountains.

Truckee today is a town of old timey railroad flats and cottages still being used by workers of the local businesses and “ski bums” at the surrounding ski resorts. Truckee is well stocked with once infamous houses of sin that now house fine restaurants or upscale lodgings. The lonesome wail of fast moving trains deadheading to rendezvous somewhere else reminds you of Truckee’s dominating role as an important railhead during California’s golden history. Main Street has yet to be inundated with cutesy boutiques and antique stores. There are some, to be sure, but a stroll past well-weathered false-front buildings boasting fine restaurants, blue collar coffee shops and funky saloons still evokes the Truckee of old.

We began our exploration of Truckee at the recently restored Richardson House. Not only is the Richardson House Bed & Breakfast a reason to stop in Truckee on its own, it’s also a standing metaphor for the seemingly bottomless well of history of the mountain town. Built in the late 1800s by lumber baron Warren Richardson — he and his brother George were pioneers in mining, lumber and railroading in northern California since they first came to the state in 1852 — the imposing house sits on a bluff above the town offering a nearly 360-degree vista.

In 1940 the granddaughter Sarah sold the house, and since then it was primarily a boarding house sometimes called the Flop House. In 1981 it was purchased and became a bed and breakfast inn, abused and treated to a series of construction misdeeds.

Jim Beck, of Santa Cruz, Calif., bought the dilapidated property in 1987, pledging to rebuild the Richardson House back to its former turn-of-the-century glory. And this has been done with the expert help of Jeannine Karnofsky, who did the exploration for authentic furnishings and amenities. All eight guest rooms, plus the downstairs living and dining rooms, are redolent with the charm and serenity of the Victorian times when the house was first built. Everything is an original restored to its former glory and in prime condition or a forthrightly hand-built replica. Fine linens, fluffy down comforters and beautifully wrought covered beds are dangerously seductive for washing away all the city baggage you may have brought with you.
Each room has a theme. I was snugly settled me in the Writers’ Room (a definite wry sense of humor here) with its beautifully appointed canopied bed and fluffy comforter. Others include the Tamsen and George Room, Bon Bon’s Boudoir, etc. Some have an amorous clawfoot tub for two, others modern showers.



The first night offered an unexpected gift: a roundtable discussion with four of Truckee’s eminent historians. Sitting in the glow of the setting sun off the deeply burnished woods of the living room, it was reminiscent of sitting in the Djemaa el-fina square in Marrakesh, Morocco, listening to the storytellers literally mesmerize their audience with hundred-year-old tales of glory, religion and myths.

The stories spun that night were as surprising as they were entertaining. Truckee, it seems, is a town loaded with a past. As late as 1950 it harbored backroom gambling and brothels were everywhere. There was even a hint of Mafia rule.

The law, up to that time, was fundamentally one of benign vigilantism. They called themselves the 601 Vigilantes, after a similar group in Colorado. Far different than the expected band of anarchistic, lawless gangs bent on vengeance, they even had the backing of the small police force with which they cooperated when needed. One of the storytellers, a longtime Truckee professional man, recalled many times he was called out of his office or warm bed to chase down a miscreant. The jail, which is now open for tours on appointment, once held the notorious Baby Face Nelson.

Truckee’s best known contemporary claim to fame, I guess, is its movie making history. Silent movie stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks were just two of many who used the picturesque town for background.

If you wonder why these romantic infrastructures are no longer in place, you can — according to the storytellers — blame the 1960 Winter Olympics. When the games were finally accepted as a possibility for Squaw Valley, the state politicians and Truckee fathers realized the colorful town was going to be a central point in the Winter Games for lodging, food, shopping, etc. And they felt the town should be “cleaned up” in order to put on a better face for the Olympic officials who would be checking out the ski area and the viability of the surrounding areas.

Forgive the historical digression. Coming back to reality and the present: After a hard day on the slopes, or biking the mountain trails or in town shopping, the Richardson House is a seductive retreat to re-energize with a grateful soak in the outdoor hot tub and a twilight stroll in the Victorian gardens. Before venturing to town for dinner, enjoy a glass of complimentary sherry while relaxing in the gingerbread gazebo.

The Richardson House offers, in addition to the above virtues, their guests a choice of eight bedrooms, wedding party facilities and group packages (see sidebar) and inviting warmth in the embrace of the beautifully restored dining room or parlor. Here you can relax in a comfy sofa, watch cable TV or a video, entertain yourself with the player piano or cuddle up by a crackling fire with a good book.

The place is managed by Jeannine and Marv Karnofsky, both of whom were instrumental in creating the finished product, choosing the fine furniture, decorating in the style of its original days. The Richardson House has been lovingly crafted in its restoration, all of which is so obvious on first entering the striking doors under the finely wrought porch. The Richardson House is a bed and breakfast that proffers a cachet of elegance at a surprisingly nice price.

Things to do. In 1998, Mountain Sports & Living magazine named Truckee one of the Top Ten Best Mountain Towns in the U.S. Although primarily a destination points for skiers and outdoors enthusiasts, the “Gateway to the Sierra” is far from a sleepy town of little interest. In addition to skiing, fishing and hunting, Truckee is a center for much outdoor activity like mountain biking, canoeing or hiking.

Located on the Emigrant Trail, the route that opened up California and the West and is the backdrop for the famed Donner Party, a group of 87 California-bound American settlers caught up in the “westering fever” of the 1840s. After becoming snowbound in the Sierra Nevada, 41 died and 46 survived.

At Donner State Park, you can visit the site of the Donner Party encampment where the ill-fated pioneers became trapped by an early winter storm. At the entry is the dramatic bronze statue commemorating the struggle of surviving a 22-foot snowfall. The park features displays, photos and multi-media shows on the history of the area. There are also camp sites, picnic areas and hiking trails along the shoreline of Donner Lake.

Within minutes of central Truckee are 16 historical sites featuring self-guided walking tours, such as the Native American “Rocking Stone” where ceremonial rituals were held as far back as 15,000 years ago. The Swedish House, where Charlie Chaplin filmed one of his most memorable films, “The Gold Rush,” is also part of the walking tour. A tour guide is available at the Truckee Visitor Center on Commercial Row.

In the summer, outdoors people flock to the Truckee area for windsurfing, kayaking, boating, rock climbing, hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Fishing areas abound with such sites as the Truckee River, Donner Lake, Boca, Prosser and Stampede reservoirs. Alternative activities include bungee jumping, hot-air balloon, bi-plane and parasail.



Eating Out. Eating in Truckee is a surprising gustatory treat. Most of the buildings on the streets date back to the mid-and-late 1800s and house some of the finest dining experiences in the Sierras. The original gourmet dining establishment in Truckee is O.B.’s, who menu features an eclectic list of choices. Down the street is the Pacific Crest featuring continental delights; Around the corner is the Passage, ensconced in the upscale Truckee Hotel and just up the block is the down-to-earth Mexican restaurant across the street, featuring a filling and tasty array of traditional food from south of the border at very affordable prices. How about choosing a big, hearty breakfast at the Squeeze In (literally). This funky breakfast-only spa offers you the choice of over 50 different omelets, or you can customize your own, plus the traditional other breakfast favorites. These are only a few of the expansive choices available.

Truckee is also a gold mine (no pun intended) of special events throughout the year. The biggest is the North Shore annual Snowfest, a week-long ski-party at all the ski resorts, restaurants, lodgings, bars and in the street celebrating the glories of winter sports. Others include the Truckee Dog Sled Races, Windows on History, Truckee Tahoe Air Show, Cannibal Cruise Car Show, Truckee Championship Rodeo, California Trail Days and Donner Party Hike.

|TOP|

---

EVENT:
A Dash of Hollywood: South Asia Pageant
Hollywood star Steven Seagal added a dash of Hollywood glamour at the recent South Asia Pageant hosted at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif. Silconeer presents a photo essay.


(Clockwise from top left): Miss South Asia 2007 Renu Razdan; Mr. South Asia 2007 Nikhil Dhawan; Mrs. South Asia Milly Mohiuddin; and Hollywood star Stevan Seagal with pageant organizer Jinder Chohan (r).
|TOP|

---

COMMUNITY: News in Brief
Bandana Sen to Present Kathak Performance | Jaspinder Narula Concert | IVACC New Year’s Party | Punjabi Pageant | IAFPE Honor | Pak Beauty | Best Achievement | Konkan Christmas | Meeting with Rep. King | Bridal Showcase




Bandana Sen to Present Kathak Performance
Kolkata-based Kathak performer Bandana Sen
Kolkata-based kathak exponent Bandana Sen will present a performance with her U.S.-based students Jan. 14 at the Cal State East Bay auditorium in Hayward, Calif., according to a press release.

The performance, “Kathak Angik,” will include items like “Ghazal—Dard-e-dil,” “Bhor Bhai Rajani” and “Kathak.”

Sen is a disciple of legendary kathak exponent Sambhu Maharaj of Lucknow gharana. She had her early training in Jaipur gharana from Jaikumari Debi.

A recipient of a gold medal from Indian President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Sen is currently a judge for the National Program of Dance in India’s national television channel Doordarshan, and sits on the advisory committee member of Kolkata Doordarshan. She is also a judge on behalf of the federal government for the National Talent Search Contest, and a member of the board of studies at Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata.

Sen’s interpretation is impressive yet accessible, with particularly graceful and poetic exposition of bhava (expression). Her distinct bols on different talas, Urdu shayari and songs are also impressive.

In her career of 53 years, she has presented nearly 5,000 performances throughout India and abroad, including all prestigious music conferences of India. She went to East Germany as the cultural ambassador of India. She has also visited Austria, the erstwhile Soviet Union, Germany, the United States and Canada on several occasions.

Sen’s leading disciple Suchandra Banerjee assists her in running her dance school Nupur Dance Academy in Kolkata. Sen says of Banerjee: “Her devotion to dance and her guruji is so total, it is as if she has completely dedicated herself to fulfilling the aspirations of her guruji.”

Interested readers can call (408) 615-1761 for more information.
| BACK TO COMMUNITY NEWS INDEX | |TOP|

Jaspinder Narula Concert

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Bollywood singer Jaspinder Narula performed live at a sold out New Year’s Eve party organized by a local community organization IACSA. Accompanying Jaspinder was Mickey Narula and Bay Area-based singer Alka Bhatnagar. (Pic: Siliconeer)
| BACK TO COMMUNITY NEWS INDEX | |TOP|

IVACC New Year’s Party
Some attendees at the Indus Valley Chamber of Commerce yearend event. (Pic: Talat Sattar)
The Indus Valley Chamber of Commerce held its Annual New Year’s party at Laguna Town Hall in Elk Grove, Calif. Over 400 people from the Greater Sacramento area and the San Francisco Bay Area participated in the party which had a Hollywood theme including the décor, stage entertainment and non-stop dance and music.

The party featured a non-stop mélange of Hollywood and Bollywood performances including the stage production show presented by local talents and choreographed by community members.

The first item of the show was a Ribbon Dance performed by representatives of the Chinese community and the team was introduced by Linda Ng, commissioner, Fair Employment and Housing Commission. Sejal Vaidya presented a hit from the new Bollywood film Don, “Yeh Mera Dil.”

Speaking at the event, Lahori Ram, a commissioner of the state Economic Development Commission, stressed on unity among the Asian brotherhood for success and prosperity. “We became millionaires not by being lazy, all that we have to do is work hard and work smart,” Ram said.

Main sponsor Didar Singh Bains said the Yuba-Sutter area is not a hot tourist spot like the wine-producing counties to the west, but it has some of the best agricultural land in the United States, and a beautiful weather is one of the reasons that south Asian pioneers settled here.

The show ended with a song by IVACC president Poonam Malhotra.

IVACC is an organization people of Asian origin. It promotes trade, business, commerce and industry and protects the commercial, professional, educational, financial, recreational and general business interests of its members. — Talat Sattar
| BACK TO COMMUNITY NEWS INDEX | |TOP|

Punjabi Pageant
DBR Entertainment is seeking applicants to participate in the first ever Miss & Mr. Punjaban Global 2007 Worldwide Competition to be hosted Feb. 17 in San Francisco.

Conceptualized and directed by Indiva Productions, the contest is open to all Punjabi speaking male and female entrants, over 16 years, single, from around the world — religion is no bar. Contestants must be Punjabi-speaking to participate in the Punjabi segment of expression/ question answer. No prior experience is needed. Successful contestants will be offered free grooming and training.

In addition, 10 bhangra teams will be selected to perform for the Bhangra & Gida Competition.
More information and application forms are available by sending an e-mail to: punjabglobal@gmail.com.
| BACK TO COMMUNITY NEWS INDEX | |TOP|

IAFPE Honor
Dr. Sudhir Parikh flanked by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and municipal judge Savita Singh.
The Indian American Forum for Political Education, an organization that promotes
Indo-U.S. relations on Capitol Hill, has honored three Indian Americans including its own immediate past President, Dr. Sudhir Parikh, for contribution to the community, according to a press release.

While Parikh was felicitated for winning the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest Indian civilian award for a non-resident Indian, the IAFPE also honored eminent media person Aziz Haniffa of India Abroad and Sabita Singh, the first Indian American to serve as a municipal district judge in Massachusetts.

“I am really honored to receive this felicitation from the IAFPE, which has over time risen to represent Indian thought and viewpoint to the American government,” said Dr. Parikh in a short speech after receiving the award from Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., who was the guest of honor for the evening.

The IAFPE has been actively working to improve the bilateral relations between India and the United States by influencing policy decisions on Capitol Hill and the White House over the past two decades.
| BACK TO COMMUNITY NEWS INDEX | |TOP|

Pak Beauty
Sonya Zia
Sonya Zia from Lahore, Pakistan, made history at the World Miss University 2006 pageant by becoming the youngest Pakistani girl to participate in a beauty pageant, according to a press release from Canada-based pageant organizer Pakistan World.

The 18-year-old, studying law and security, represented Pakistan and her university. Having fast tracked high school and receiving her high school diploma at age 16, year 2005, she took part in various fund raising events in the community to support a number of organizations.

“I would like to carry my Pakistani culture and represent my country around the world,” she said. “Being World Miss University Pakistan 2006 is a personal achievement which I cherish.” Sonya previously won the Miss Photogenic 2006 title in the Miss Pakistan World 2006 pageant.

“This year has been a rewarding year for Pakistan in terms of beauty pageants. We started with only one pageant in 2003 and now we have sent our girls to four international pageants in total this year,” said Miss Pakistan World president Sonia Ahmed. “Sonya Zia, being the youngest, has proven once again that a Pakistani girl at the age of 18 can contribute to society and spread harmony and peace being together at pageants like these and being ambassadors of their country. Pakistan is changing at a very fast pace, and these young women are becoming role models for Pakistani girls from Pakistan as well as all over the world.”
| BACK TO COMMUNITY NEWS INDEX | |TOP|

Best Achievement
Sheeraz Hasan (r) with Academy Award-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley.
The Triangle Media Group honored Sheeraz Hasan recently at its bi-annual Global Mainstream Media Award ceremony at the University of Leicester in London, England, by presenting him with the Best Business Achievement Award for his entrepreneurial leadership as founder/CEO of www.hollywood.tv, a Hollywood’s entertainment portal.

The Triangle Media Group’s global awards were founded in 2003 by Australian media tycoon and legal scholar David Flint.

“Being recognized with the Best Achievement Award for Business was a tremendous thrill, especially when I was being honored in my home country, England,” Hasan said. “I am honored that I am being recognized as the founder of Hollywood.tv. We’ve built the bridge between Hollywood and Bollywood, the two biggest film industries in the world with Hollywood representing 3.6 billion worldwide fans and Bollywood representing 3.8 billion worldwide fans. In 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 I have received numerous government awards for building that bridge and also for representing Hollywood to billions of people around the world. What better way to end the year than to receive the Best Business Achievement Award from such a highly esteemed organization such as TMG?”

Hasan dropped out of school in 1991 at the age of 16 to take over his family’s struggling restaurant business. Renaming it the Tinseltown Cafe, he turned it into a 24-hour Hollywood-themed eatery. Then, with no experience, skills, or contacts in the entertainment business, he decided to move to Hollywood with limited finances from his family to get him started. His chance encounter with Rowland Perkins, founder of Creative Artists’ Agency, the biggest talent agency in the world, catapulted him into the Hollywood movie scene. Within weeks, he had his own TV show and was covering film premieres and interviewing the biggest celebrities on the red carpet. On July 4 2005, Hasan launched www.hollywood.tv.
| BACK TO COMMUNITY NEWS INDEX | |TOP|

Konkan Christmas
Some of the attendees at the MKCA buffet dinner.
Chicago-based Mangalorean Konkan Christians Association celebrated Christmas with all its festivities at Courtland Square Community Hall in Des Plaines, Ill., according to a press release.

Rev. Fr. Henry Sequeira celebrated Holy Mass in an interactive style in Konkani. In his homily Fr. Sequeira said that the joy of Christmas should be shared by every Mangalorean irrespective of differences. He told attendees they had to rejoice together and preserve and promote their prosperous cultural heritage as well as take what is good in other cultures and make it a part of theirs.

The MKCA Choir headed by Dorothy Rego sang hymns in Konkani, English and Kannada — “Jo Jo Jo Endhu Laali Haadiree, Kandaa Yesuvige Lali Haadiree” — a hymn in Kannada was joined by the young children by clapping hands to the beats of the hymn.

A Mangalorean-style dinner consisting of several main and side dishes along with dukra maas and sannam was arranged and presented by Mark Rodrigues and Terry D’Souza.
| BACK TO COMMUNITY NEWS INDEX | |TOP|

Meeting with Rep. King
The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin New York chapter Dec. 17 hosted a dinner and talk with Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., at its annual holiday party in Syosset, N.Y., according to a press release.. Addressing a full-house audience of over 100 people, King said that the United States and India face similar problems on global terrorism and must work closely together to defeat this crucial global problem.

“The Government of India is taking tremendous leadership as an example of how different people and communities work together and do it in a peaceful manner, while maintaining the basic principles of democracy,” he said. “Vibrant democracies such as the U.S, and India share common goals and should count on each other for support and cooperation.”

According to King, the basic three steps of cooperation between the U.S. and India are to keep the economy strong and vibrant, defeat terrorism, and maintain strong democracies. “As in the U.S., India is working hard to head off, stop, minimize any attack on itself as we are in this struggle together against global terrorism,” said King.

Chief guest and India’s Deputy Consul General in New York A.R. Ghanashyam provided some historical facts on terrorism and how it evolved in its current form.

Earlier, GOPIO-New York president Lal Motwani told the audience that the New York chapter organized several programs in 2006 including a demonstration in front of the United Nations against the government of Trinidad and Tobago for its complicity in not following rule of law in that country. GOPIO international chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham thanked King for his support for the U.S.-India Nuclear Cooperation bill. GOPIO secretary general Ashook Ramsaran said that GOPIO will continue to provide such platforms to the Indian American community to interact with elected officials.
| BACK TO COMMUNITY NEWS INDEX | |TOP|

Bridal Showcase
The Asian American Association of Wedding Professionals Dec. 17 hosted their Second Bridal Showcase at the Sheraton Parsippany in Parsippany, N.J., according to a press release. The show this year featured leading vendors from various categories of the wedding industry and had about 2,000 attendees.

New Jersey assemblyman Upendra Chivakula, who was in attendance congratulated the o organizers.

Leading wedding professionals showcased their products and services for the brides of 2007, not only showcasing the latest trends but also integrating the conventional, traditional practices to the present day.

Starting from wedding planning, invitation card and printing, mehendi and make-up, mandaps and decorations, photography and videography, DJ and entertainment, catering and banquets right up to carriages and favors, the AAAWP Bridal show was a one-stop shop for all wedding services.

AAAWP was established by leading professionals of wedding industry of the United States in 2004. The main object of the association is to provide organized support to each other in the industry and achieve great success in the business. The association holds seminars to educate all the members in terms of how to handle the business and their client, how to stay on top in terms of the latest of the industry, to get closer to mainstream.
More information is available at www.aaawp.net.
| BACK TO COMMUNITY NEWS INDEX | |TOP|

BUSINESS: News in Brief
N.J. Bank Offers Secured Credit Card |
Etihad Airlines: A Successful 2006 |
TiE: New Board | U.S. Asian Wire: Newswire Launch





N.J. Bank Offers Secured Credit Card
Iselin, N.J.-based Indus American Bank is offering a secured credit card, it said in an announcement.

Credit cards are now essential to make a hotel or plane reservation, or to rent a car. Many stores require a credit card to accept a check. Responsible use of a credit card builds a good credit rating, too, marking the owner as mortgage-worthy.

But students and recent immigrants, who have never had credit or individuals who need to repair a poor credit history may not qualify for a regular credit card. For them, a secured credit card may be the only way to establish, or re-establish, credit.

The bank grants a credit line based upon the level of deposit maintained at the bank. A cardholder may be able to add to the deposit to add more credit, or sometimes the bank will reward the cardholder for good payment and add to his/her credit line without requesting additional deposits.

“The offering of the secured credit card service is consistent with Indus American Bank’s mission of providing quality service targeted toward the South Asian community residing in the New York/New Jersey area,” says Kevin M. Lenihan, president and CEO of Indus American Bank.

Indus American Bank was formed with a vision to provide superior financial products and service to the local community, the release adds. More information on secured credit cards is available by calling the Indus American Bank at (732) 603-8200.
| BACK TO BUSINESS NEWS INDEX | |TOP|

ETIHAD AIRLINES: A Successful 2006
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airlines completed a successful year with a fleet of new aircraft, 16 new routes and the accolade of world’s leading new airline for the third year running, it said in a press release.

“The last 12 months at Etihad has witnessed a major transformation in all areas of the business, and strengthened our place at the very forefront of the aviation industry,” said Etihad CEO James Hogan.

“From the award-winning Pearl Zone business bed to a significant increase in routes and holiday destinations, Etihad really has set the benchmark for others to follow during 2006, and we are confident this trend will continue into 2007 and beyond,” he added.

At the World Travel Awards, Etihad won the title for the World’s Leading New Airline for the third year in a row, as well as the award for the World’s Leading Flat-bed Seat.

In 2006 Etihad launched 16 new international destinations which included New York, Paris, Casablanca, Khartoum and Jakarta. Passengers were also able to travel to Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Manchester, Doha, Jeddah, Muscat, Kuwait, Tehran, Dhaka and Manila.

A record four million passengers are anticipated for 2007, with tickets for 37 new routes now available — including the highly prestigious service to New York which opened in October. The Kuala Lumpur route is also set for launch on January 16, 2007.

Currently, 80 percent of Etihad’s fleet is brand new. The fleet is one of the youngest in the world with the twenty-third aircraft, a three-zone A340-500, arriving in Abu Dhabi in December.
| BACK TO BUSINESS NEWS INDEX | |TOP|

TiE: New Board
The Indus Entrepreneur’s current board of trustees marked the end of its term with a meeting in Kuala Lumpur, it said in a press release.

TiE has continued to grow, and has made enormous progress in strengthening the chapter network, the release added.

The incoming board of trustees met for the first time in Kuala Lumpur and agreed to operate the committees mentioned after their names. The board of trustees include: Raj Jaswa, finance; Shiv Grewal, governance; Naren Bakshi, chapter support; and Hemant Kanakia, global networking.

The chairs are currently forming their committees and are also preparing scoping documents setting out what they would like to achieve, which will probably take a few weeks. TiE’s aim is to involve as wide and as representative a group as possible and to do this it would welcome support from its charter members, the release added.

Members who would like to work with any committee can get in touch with Suren Dutia by email at suren@tie.org.

In addition Vinit Nijhawan, who has chaired the task force on TiE global systems, has agreed to continue and provide leadership to this important objective.

The new board of trustees has invited Narayana Murthy, C.K. Prahalad, Desh Deshpande and Kanwal Rekhi to join the board and provide TiE with leadership and institutional support.
| BACK TO BUSINESS NEWS INDEX | |TOP|

U.S. Asian Wire: Newswire Launch
News wire service U.S. Asian Wire, Inc. was officially launched Nov. 30, it said in a press release. Founded by Leslie Yngojo-Bowes, former media relations manager at Business Wire, U.S. Asian Wire, Inc. is a comprehensive newswire specializing in delivery of news releases and multimedia, reaching the Asian-American and Pacific Islander print, broadcast, and online media outlets.

“The diversity in America inspires our vision, expands our growth, enhances our education and drives our passion. We are extremely impressed with the quality, content and coverage of today’s ever-evolving Asian-American media climate. The overwhelming response and interest from attendees at the Public Relations Society of America’s recent convention confirmed a definite need for our journey and we’re excited to provide services for PR, marketing and media professionals that are essential in today’s global America,” said Yngojo-Bowes, U.S. Asian Wire president and founder.
| BACK TO BUSINESS NEWS INDEX | |TOP|

---

INFOTECH INDIA: Round Up
Reliance Mulls Buying $17 Billion Hutchison Essar | Andhra IT Exports May Reach Rs.190 Billion | CISCO: Grand Ambitions | INFOSYS: Targeting Hospitality | $80M Deal | LENOVO: Innovation Center | ANZ Bank: Aussies Eye India



Reliance Mulls Buying $17 Billion Hutchison Essar
Reliance Communications has declared its interest in mobile operator Hutchison Essar, as other bidders jostled for position in an estimated $17 billion takeover tussle.

Reliance Communications, India’s second-biggest mobile services provider, had been singled out by the Indian media as an early contender for its smaller rival, and chairman Anil Ambani said it had received commitments from global bankers for support for a potential bid.

“Reliance Communications, as part of its overall growth strategy, continues to examine all organic and inorganic opportunities. Hutch Essar is one such situation,” he told a news conference.

“A potential combination of this nature could create compelling value ... and fit nicely with our GSM strategy.”

Ambani said there was no certainty on the timing of a bid and declined to say how much the firm would offer, saying it would remain within a “conservative limit”.

Ambani said a “vast majority of the top 10 private equity funds” had aligned with it for a bid and Reliance Communications would not consider diluting founders’ stakes.

Sources familiar with the matter said U.S.-based private equity giants Blackstone and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts were working on bids for Essar and may team up with Reliance. One source added that KKR may yet choose to bid with another suitor.
KKR declined to comment.

Earlier, media reports said India’s Essar group, which holds 33 percent in the joint venture with main shareholder Hutchison, had approached one potential bidder, Britain’s Vodafone Group Plc, about a carve-up deal.
| BACK TO INFOTECH INDEX | |TOP|

Andhra IT Exports May Reach Rs.190 Billion
Andhra Pradesh is giving a further leg-up to the IT industry by creating six satellite towns around Hyderabad and pushing the creation of Special Economic Zones. These measures come in the backdrop of IT exports from the state positioned to clock a 51 percent growth in 2006-07 at Rs. 190 billion against Rs. 125.21 billion last year.

“The state’s share in national IT exports has increased from 8.62 percent to 12.39 percent in the last three years. Our immediate aim is to fill the gap between Andhra and other states in IT exports and to hike our share to over 15 percent,” Andhra IT secretary K. Ratnaprabha told the Economic Times.

The IT sector in the state has attracted an investment of over Rs. 61 billion in 2005-06 and employs over 150,000 people. By 2009, nearly 235,000 people will be employed in IT in the state. At present, the software segment accounts for 68 percent of the IT exports from the state while IT-enabled services contributes 32 percent.

The key role that the state is planning is to create infrastructure to fuel the growth targets. The state is keen on developing new IT growth centers near the international airport. To avoid urban clutter and to ensure uniform development in the city, the state is building satellite townships, which are away from the traditional IT centers. “We are developing six townships spread over 400 acre on the Outer Ring Road.

TCS, Novartis, Infosys and Genpact have showed interest to become the anchor clients in four such centers. We have invited bids for the other two,” she said. Estimates show that around 200 companies are knocking at the state’s doorstep for setting up facilities.
| BACK TO INFOTECH INDEX | |TOP|

CISCO: Grand Ambitions
Networking-equipment making giant Cisco is shifting 20 percent of top brass to India, in a bid to set up a global, developing-technology hub on the subcontinent Wim Elfrink, Cisco’s chief globalization officer, is at the vanguard of the new initiative. This January, Elfrink will relocate from his San Jose, Calif., headquarters to Bangalore, India. In a major display of commitment to the Indian market, Cisco plans to have at least 20 percent of its top executives working in India in the next three to five years, according to Elfrink.

After 11 years of low-key presence, Cisco is now investing $1.1 billion in India in a variety of initiatives. “This is the largest commitment outside of Silicon Valley, as India is important to our global strategy,” said John Chambers, Cisco’s chairman and chief executive officer, during a two-day India visit in December.

Why the huge ambitions? One reason lies in the size of India’s market. While Internet penetration in India stands at a mere 4.5 percent, the online market there is one of the fastest growing in the world and the Indian cellular market is white hot. Cisco has to have a major presence, says Ashok Jhunjhunwala, professor of electrical engineering at Chennai’s Indian Institute of Technology. “India has emerged as the largest telecom market today,” he says.
| BACK TO INFOTECH INDEX | |TOP|

INFOSYS: Targeting Hospitality
Bangalore-based Infosys BPO is targeting the hospitality industry for its outsources processes offering. The company has formed a strategic alliance with New York-based hospitality consultancy giant HVS International.

The alliance will help Infosys BPO, formerly called Progeon, to target hotels and other customers in the hospitality industry. HVS is a well-known consulting firm in the hospitality segment.

According to sources, the alliance is on a revenue sharing basis. The majority of the revenues will go to Infosys BPO as they are going to provide services to the hospitality clients and will put in the cost for managing them too. HVS is likely to get a small portion of the revenue per client.

HVS International managing director Manish Thadani confirmed the tie-up with Infosys. “We have been in discussions for sometime now, an announcement may or may not be made as the papers have not been signed till now,” he said.

He refused to divulge any further details. An Infosys BPO spokesperson said in an email response: “As a policy, we can’t comment on speculative reports.”

Currently, Infosys BPO provides services to banking, capital markets, communication service providers, hi-tech and discrete manufacturing, insurance, healthcare, automotive, retail, energy and transportation.
According to sources, hospitality contribution to the total revenues is negligible. But with this alliance, the company expects revenues of $5 million to $10 million in the first year.
| BACK TO INFOTECH INDEX | |TOP|

$80M Deal
BPO firm Genpact has bagged a $70-80 million five-year contract from a U.S.-based healthcare information service provider for work related to medical claims, spend analysis, clinical data and healthcare claims, a company official said.

“This U.S. company is a healthcare information service provider which offers data to pharma companies and also supports insurance companies. The scope of the contract includes building a database of information based on healthcare coverage provided by their customers, and also review of medical bills,” Genpact president & CEO Pramod Bhasin said, but declined to divulge the name of the company.

The work will be done in India, from the Gurgaon centers and may later extend to facilities outside, including Kolkata and Hyderabad.

Genpact, which recently announced massive expansion plans in cities like Bhopal, Bhubaneswar and Jaipur, says it plans to utilize skills spanning statistics, analytics, data management and IT, for the new contract.

“Other aspects of the contract include identifying billing patterns and doing cost analysis. Also based on the illness and treatment, we will see the types of insurance packages that are applicable (healthcare insurance or workers compensation),” he said.
| BACK TO INFOTECH INDEX | |TOP|

LENOVO: Innovation Center
Lenovo has announced the launch of its first innovation center in India. The new innovation center will enable large enterprise and mid-market customers, business partners, solution providers and independent software vendors to collaborate on new personal computing solutions to address client IT challenges.

The center, spread across 4,500 square feet, is located at Andheri in Mumbai. This is Lenovo’ third Innovation Center after Research Triangle Park in Chapel Hill, N.C., and Beijing, China.

Intel, Microsoft, LANDesk, IBM and Cisco will partner with Lenovo at the India Innovation Center to showcase new-enterprise level PC solutions in areas such as hardware platform and application integration, active management technology, network connectivity and power management. The center will deploy globally developed solutions to specific customer requirements in India and also be capable of developing solutions when required by customers here.

Deepak Advani, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Lenovo, said, “With our third innovation center in India, we aim to accelerate innovation for diverse client challenges and developing markets.

“By collaborating with our partners, we will focus on solving customer IT problems with an emphasis on the end user. The India Innovation Center will serve as a collaboration venue for fully integrated solutions along with our alliance partners.”

The Innovation Center will include several components such as technology incubation, partner collaboration, solution development, imaging and training services, besides a solution showcase. Participants in the center will include professionals from Lenovo, Intel, Microsoft, LANDesk, IBM and Cisco as well as other technology companies, independent software vendors, and business partners.
| BACK TO INFOTECH INDEX | |TOP|

ANZ Bank: Aussies Eye India
Leading Australian banks, including ANZ and St George, are planning to send their back office jobs to India.

A report from Melbourne said that an analysis of the latest statements by the so-called “four plus one” leading Australian banks suggests there was a slow but growing movement to transfer processing work done here to lower-cost countries like India.

While ANZ, St George, National Australia Bank and Westpac have been sensitive to campaigns being waged by the finance sector union against offshoring by committing to keep their call centers in the country, the equivalent of several hundred jobs across the industry are now, or will shortly be, based outside Australia, The Age newspaper reported.

ANZ, St George and Westpac have vigorously defended the move in recent weeks, saying they needed to consider and, if necessary, act on plans to switch back-office work overseas to remain competitive. NAB is expected to follow suit.

Only the Commonwealth Bank has indicated that as “an iconic Australian company” it was committed to maintaining a work force in the country to carry out such work.

However, it has admitted to looking at offshoring in the past, especially given a looming recruitment crisis in the industry, but said it was not on its agenda at present.

ANZ has the most home-grown jobs based overseas, with its biggest presence in the Indian city of Bengalooru, where it has a long-established IT centre employing about 1,400 people.
| BACK TO INFOTECH INDEX | |TOP|

---

AUTO REVIEW
Quiet, Comfortable Ride: 2007 Honda Ridgeline RTL
Trucks, especially when they have crew cabs, are versatile vehicles. The Honda Ridgeline’s quiet, comfortable ride and its innovative in-bed trunk feature give it an added advantage, writes Sally Miller Wyatt.

Trucks were designed to be highly functional, but Honda takes the concept behind a truck to a whole new level with the newest member of the Honda family, the Ridgeline.

Introduced in March 2005 as a 2006 model, the Ridgeline is a mid-sized, half-ton crew cab truck with a host of innovative features to attract the attention of potential buyers. One of the most impressive features, however, can’t even be appreciated until you take that first test drive, and that is just how well the truck handles when you are driving it. If you didn’t know that this was a truck, you’d swear this vehicle rides with all the comfort and quiet of a car.

If that is impressive, so is the truck’s performance during the federal government’s crash tests. The Ridgeline received five stars — the highest possible — for how well it handled both frontal and side impact crash tests.



The Ridgeline is available in four trims: the RT, RTX, RTS and the RTL. All offer 3.5-liter V-6 engines, electronically controlled automatic transmissions and a driver’s side illuminated vanity mirrors, to name a few standard features. The list grows longer the further down the trim level you move. On the RTL, for example, the moon roof and XM Satellite Radio are standard.
Other standard comfort and convenience features on all models include air conditioning, tilting steering wheel, power windows and door locks, power sliding rear window, cruise control, keyless remote entry, automatic heated wipers, six-speaker 100-watt audio system with CD player. In the rear, the truck’s crew cab seating configuration offers seats that fold in a 60/40 split. They can also lift up to reveal under-seat storage.

Truck owners usually are in the market for a vehicle that can tow and haul, and the Ridgeline is equipped to do that. All models have standard transmission and oil coolers, heavy duty brakes, dual radiator fans, and exclusive fresh air intake system, all for improved towing performance even during hot weather conditions. They are also pre-wired for four- and seven-pin trailer hook-ups.

The Ridgeline also boasts a truly innovative truck bed configuration. This unique truck bed can be accessed through a “dual-action” tailgate, which can be opened via the traditional fold-down way, or by swinging out, making loading the truck bed very easy. The truck bed is also equipped with a “trunk” of sorts. Honda calls it an “in-bed trunk,” and it is actually a lock-able storage area that is large enough to store a 72-quart cooler, three sets of golf bags or other bulky items under the truck bed itself. A friend who recently purchased a Ridgeline says they’ve found that feature useful for storing away all their valuables when taking the truck to football game tailgate parties.

As for safety features, the Ridgeline has a long list. Every truck in the four-trim line is equipped with standard anti-lock brakes with Vehicle Stability Assist, traction control, brake assist, and plenty of air bags. There are the advanced dual-stage, dual-threshold drivers and front passenger air bags, and the driver and front passenger side air bags, as well as two-row side curtain air bags with rollover sensor and a tire pressure monitoring system.

Trucks are already versatile vehicles — especially ones with crew cabs. Their truck beds make trips to the garden supply store or up the mountains with loads of outdoor equipment a breeze. But, the Ridgeline’s quiet, comfortable ride, and its innovative in-bed trunk feature, gives it an advantage over others in the mid-sized truck market.

- Sally Miller Wyatt is a freelance writer who writes family-oriented auto reviews for newspapers, magazines and the Web.

|TOP|

---

BOLLYWOOD: Guftugu
The Real Reason ‘Guru’ Release Was Delayed | Star Antics Miff Malaysian Media | Deadly Kiss | Happy Birthday, Rajni | Colorful Shoes | ‘Big Brother’ | Similar Voice




The Real Reason ‘Guru’ Release Was Delayed
Abhishek in “Guru”
Bollywood is getting to be like Washington these days — there is an official version of what happened, then there is the real story of what actually happened.

Take Mani Ratnam’s Guru. The film was supposed to be released in December, it’s not going to hit the big screen till this year. So what gives? The film’s PR folks would have you believe that the film was delayed because of music director A.R. Rahman, but Bollywood thinks otherwise.

All Bollywood is rife with the rumor that apparently it was Abhishek Bachchan who asked for the delay. Why? Get this: It was because his astrologer asked for it.

Apparently, the astrologer who told him that the year 2007 would be good for him and his career.

Numerologist Sanjay B. Jumaani agrees with this delay. “It is better that he postponed the release date of his film after his birthday (that is in February), as he will enter his 32nd year,” says Jumaani. “January is again a Capricorn period and the ruler of it is Saturn, whose number is 8.”

“This is an unlucky figure for Abhishek Bachchan. It may be noted here that 2006 was not very good for the actor compared to 2005 which was a turning point in his career. Both his age and the year 2006 add up to numbers 4 and 8 which is unlucky for the actor.”

There you have it. In Bollywood, astrologers and numerologists rule. Just ask Sonu Niigaam.
| Return to Bollywood | TOP |

Star Antics Miff Malaysian Media

Hema and Amitabh in “Baabul.” The film premiered in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia’s media is maha gussa after the antics of Bollywood stars. Though Bollywood’s lead stars have been wowing thousands of Malaysian fans over the past three days at an awards function, the media is less impressed.

“The antics of Bollywood stars have become legendary and as predictable as a bad film script,” the English daily New Straits Times said .

Salman Khan, John Abraham, Bipasha Basu, Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Hema Malini, Esha Deol and several others were in Kuala Lumpur as a part of the Global Indian Film Awards function. Ravi Chopra’s Baabul had its world premiere here to mark the occasion.

Almost all events have started more than an hour late. The media, a majority of them from all local newspapers and TV channels, waited for more than two-and-a-half hours for the stars to address a press conference Dec. 7 at the Palace of Golden Horses Hotel.

Event organizers Popcorn Entertainment added to the fun by arranging three events involving the stars on a single day. These included the press conference with the stars, red carpet walk of the stars at the TGV cineplex and later the world premiere of Baabul.

John Abraham and Ravi Chopra came met the restless journalists after keeping them waiting for two hours, but Salman Khan joined them after 20 minutes as organizers kept telling the media that Khan would be down in two minutes and then the press event would start.

“Apparently in Indian time, two minutes meant 20 and at close to 6 pm the all-important Mr. Khan — accompanied by about 10 burly men in black — deemed it a suitable time for him to come down from his suite,” the paper fumed.

Just as the first question was to be asked by a journalist, Ravi Chopra’s mobile rang and he decided to take the call, upsetting all the media personnel in the room.

“Now where else would you find something like this happening? Only in Bollywood,” quipped the paper.
| Return to Bollywood | TOP |

Deadly Kiss

Hrithik and Aishwarya in “Dhoom 2”
It may seem unbelievable, but the silliness continues, like an unfunny Bollywood comedy. Some rustic joker in an Indian hick town, apparently totally disconnected with the real India, has taken Hrithik Roshan to Aishwarya Rai to court for a kissing scene in Dhoom 2 for get this — promoting vulgarity among the nation’s youth.

Is this guy serious? Where has this guy been all this time? In ancient India?

An Indian court in Indore, in keeping with the limitless forbearance and patience of that vast country’s criminal justice system, is dealing with the case with due diligence.

After the case was filed in the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class R.K. Batham by advocate Shailendra Dwivedi under Section 292 (vulgarity) and 509 (derogatory to women) of the Indian Penal Code Act, its date has been extended..

The court extended the date to Jan. 4 for recording statement of the complainant.

The complainant’s advocate has alleged that women felt offended by the obscene scene and it has promoted vulgarity in the society, especially among the youths.

One wonders what the honorable court will do to promote the lofty standards envisaged by the plaintiff. Ban India’s movies, television and filmi magazines all in one fell swoop?
| Return to Bollywood | TOP |

Happy Birthday, Rajni
Rajnikanth
India’s highest paid actor and the super star of Tamil Cinema, Rajnikanth turned 57 Dec. 12.

This being Tamil Nadu, there were the usual scenes of fans going bananas. Fans distributed sweets and burst crackers on the occasion. Hundreds of fans also turned up at cinemas to watch his last release Chandramukhi, a box office hit, running in the state for over 600 days.

While his fans were celebrating, the super star was said to be having a quiet birthday with his newborn grandson at his farmhouse in the suburbs.

A veteran of over 160 movies, Rajnikanth was working as a bus conductor when he made his debut in K. Balachander’s Apoorva Ragangal which catapulted him to fame. After playing villain in about 20 movies early in his career, he turned hero and became the darling of the masses.

His film dialogues “En vazhi thani vazhi” (My way is unique) and “Naan oru thadava sonna nooru thadava sonna madiri” (If I say something once, it’s equivalent to 100 times) in the blockbusters Padayappa and Baasha are still fresh in the minds of film buffs.

Rajnikanth commands a fan following across the world. In fact, one of his films, Muthu, was dubbed into Japanese and went on to become a tremendous hit in Japan. A few Japanese fans even turned up for the special preview of his movie Baba.

According to industry sources, Rajni’s next venture under director Shankar, Shivaji — The Boss, to be released early next year, is expected to fetch the actor close to Rs. 400 million, the second highest in Asia for a star, next only to Jackie Chan.

Rajnikanth’s political ambitions in the 1990s and early 2000 gave sleepless nights to politicians in Tamil Nadu, with many of his films like Baasha, Padayappa and Baba having strong political undercurrents

However, his political ambitions fizzled out during the 2004 Lok Sabha elections and the star decided to shun politics, giving Tamil politicians a chance to breathe a little easier.
| Return to Bollywood | TOP |

Colorful Shoes
Zayed Khan
If I said Bollywood men are adding a colorful note to the festive season, you wouldn’t be thinking of shoes, would you? Well guess what, that’s exactly what men are doing — they have taken to brightly colored shoes this holiday season.

Gone are the days when guys stepped out in the predictable black, tan and brown pair of designer shoes.

Zayed Khan was recently spotted wearing a flaming red — yep, that’s not a typo — pair at a party recently and Arbaaz Khan was flashing a yellow pair at his film screening.

“I bought this pair because they were so different and cool and I think I carry them off pretty well. I don’t have a shoe fetish as such though,” says Arbaaz.

Like they say in the matrimonial ads, is Arbaaz saying: “color no bar?”

Not so fast. The guy hasn’t taken complete leave of his senses, thank God.

“Just because I bought a yellow pair does not mean I am going to be seen around town in a pink pair now! That would really be pushing it,” he laughs.

Fashion designer Surily Goel states that “it’s fun that men are wearing funky colored shoes. As long as they have the personality to carry them off and assemble the outfit right, it looks great.”

Well, call me traditional, but I am less sure.

But bandana-wearing Jackie Shroff has no doubts. He wears a pair of bandhni boots in all hues of the rainbow even to a wedding

“So who’s to say what color shoes or boots a guy’s gotta wear? It’s how you carry the shoes, bhidu. You can wear a basic black pair and look like a wimp anyway. I think color is in, be it in life or footwear,” says the bindaas actor.
| Return to Bollywood | TOP |

‘Big Brother’
Shilpa Shetty
Svelte Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty is raking in the moolah, but not from a Hollywood blockbuster. Rumor has it that she is getting paid a cool $680,000 for taking part in the U.K. celebrity TV show Big Brother.

Shilpa will apparently have a dinner date with another housemate, in which she will be encouraged to flirt. Oh, la la!

Shilpa — often the subject of marriage speculation — will dine with the housemate she finds the most attractive.

British newspaper reports say the show — already being screened in the U.K. — is setting pulses racing.

Housemates on the reality show — reportedly including former Miss Great Britain Danielle Lloyd — will be given the opportunity to pair up for dinner with the person they find most attractive.

“They will be fitted with special heart-rate monitors and must seduce, flirt and do whatever it takes to get their partners’ pulse rates soaring,” the British Sun newspaper reported.

It said that the courtship will be “performed” at a candlelit table for two minutes while fellow housemates look on.

The couple with the highest readings win the task.

Hmm, Shilpa, looks like you have got your work cut out, dear.
| Return to Bollywood | TOP |

Similar Voice
Next time you mistake ace Indian composer A.R. Rahman’s singing for pop king Michael Jackson — don’t blame yourself. Even Rahman thinks they sound alike!

“My voice and Jackson’s have the same range, which is higher than the normal male voice, hence the impression,” Rahman told reporters at the launch of his first ever English album “Pray for Me, Brother.”

Even the new video has shades of Jackson’s hit “Earth song.”

The album has been shot on mobile cinemascope format by Bharatbala of “Vande Mataram” fame, and will be available exclusively on Nokia ‘N’ series music phones before being released for television.

The song was originally composed as an “anti-poverty anthem” for UN’s Millennium Development Goals. “We thought that the song deserved a great album and Nokia came forward to fund and also release on its phones,” said Rahman, who has both composed the song and lent his voice to it.

Vineet Taneja of Nokia said, “By offering the song, which is the world’s first-ever music video on the vertical cinemascope format, we aim to deliver yet another experience to our users.”

The funds generated from Rahman’s new English album will go to Rahman’s charity The A.R. Rahman Foundation.
| Return to Bollywood | TOP |

---

HINDI FILM REVIEW:
Implausible Buffoonery: Bhagam Bhag (Rating **1/2 Mediocre)



You could call this film The Case of the Missing Govinda. Here’s a film that’s been touted as the great comeback vehicle for Govinda — and, boy, could he use one — yet after seeing the film (if you are so unfortunate), you are left scratching your head.

Where in the world was Govinda? Of course, I am exaggerating, but just a little bit.

Directed Priyadarshan doesn’t realize that you can’t recycle old wine in a new bottle — the audience, even one as tolerant as the average Bollywood buff — unless you add some original twist to give the formula some freshness.

But with Priyadarsan, it’s the same old, same old. You get the idea: comedy of errors, slapstick humor and holes in the story so big you could drive a truck through it.

To make matters worse, in the second half the film veers off in an unexpected tangent when it becomes a (dull) murder mystery. Add to that the fact that script writer Neeraj Vora throws in so many characters in the pot that the viewer soon feels like a drunk asked to juggle balls.

Here’s the story: Champak (Paresh Rawal) owns a theatre company where both Bunty (Akshay Kumar) and Babla (Govinda) work. Both are compulsive flirts.

The company has a hit musical on its hands and goes on tour to London. However, the play’s heroine (Tanushree Dutta) disappears just before the troupe is about to board the plane.
Theater owner Champak is at his wit’s end. He decides to take a gamble, and goes to London without the heroine, and asks Bunty and Babla to come up with someone to play the heroine. The incentive: The one who succeeds gets to play the hero, the other will play the villain.

Bunty wins as after he saves Minni (Lara Dutta), a woman with suicidal tendencies, from death, he manages to convince her to star in the play.

Before you know it, a whole bunch of characters are introduced and you are too busy trying to keep track of who is doing what to whom to get any chance to laugh. Asrani, Sharad Saxena, Rajpal Yadav, Jackie Shroff and innumerable other characters keep running on the streets of London with sticks.

The climax is predictable and the holes in the story are glaring (How are the three main characters played by Paresh Rawal, Akshay Kumar and Govinda able to roam London without a care when London police want them for a murder and their pictures are flashed all over the local newspapers? How is a woman with suicidal tendency convinced to do the main role in a musical?)

Akshay hogs the best lines in the film and Govinda and Paresh Rawal are left high and dry. The film is moderately entertaining in the first half (admittedly the entertainment is of the brainless variety), but falls flat on its face in the second half.

Priyadarshan should realize one thing: Comedy is serious business. He better learn fast, or audience members of his film aren’t going to be the only ones with glum faces.
|TOP|

---

TAMIL CINEMA:
For Love of Tamil: Ilakkanamm
Director: Chandrajain
Cast: Ram, Uma, Vinu Chakravarthy, Kadhal Sukumar, Rohini

Here’s a film which seems to have been made for the sheer love of the Tamil language and to propagate values of tolerance, forgiveness, honesty, morality and standing up for one’s rights and beliefs. Produced by Mousi Shanmugham (an ex-MLA of the PMK party), the film is directed by debutant Chandrajain who earlier has penned a novel and some screenplays for TV serials.

Thamizh is an idealistic youth, an example to his colleagues at the magazine where he works as a reporter. His steadfastness in sticking to values he holds dear and his guts to express what he felt right makes him a figure who is admired and feared. While he is admired by his colleagues, he is feared by the thug whose illegal business he exposes. The director here makes a contrived attempt to push in a fight scene where Thamizh bashes up a gang of rowdies sent by the thug. Thamizh brings this idealism and progressive thinking to his personal life, where his relationship with his wife one of mutual understanding and respect. It’s a touching moment when the perpetrator of mindless violence that takes its tolI on Thamizh’s personal life himself becomes the recipient of Thamizh’s largesse.

Ram as Thamizh comes with the experience of working four years with the theater group Koothupattrai, and a Malayalam film, Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s Nizhal Kuthu. The actor has this scrubbed-clean fresh look which stands him in good stead as he plays Thamizh with sincerity and earnestness. Uma is aptly cast as his comely wife Kayalvizhi.

The film opens with PMK supremo Dr Ramadoss, talking about the film and the values it tries to portray, hoping that it would be an ilakkanam to film-makers. The PMK chief would surely have had no bones to pick with this film. With the pure Tamil names for the entire list of characters, and chaste Tamil throughout (even the mobile phone is called kai pesi), it should please lovers of the language.

The debutant director seems to have gone to great lengths in pursuit of this, with the characters and incidents a lesson in human bonding and values and taking pride in one’s language. But as a film, both the scripting and the style of presentation could surely have done with more finesse, in a way that would be more appealing to the audience.

— Malini Mannath/Chennai Online

|TOP|

---

RECIPE:
Traditional Meal: Tomato Poori with Aloo Ki Sabzi
This delicious, traditional meal can be made with simple ingredients. Seema Gupta shows you how it is made.

Ingredients

• For Aloo Ki Sabzi:
  
• 4-5 medium size potatoes (diced into 10 inch cubes)
  
• 1 tsp saunf (fennel seeds)
  
• 2 clove
  
• A pinch of asafetida
  
• 2-3 green chili, finely chopped
  
• inch piece of ginger grated
  
• 2tsp finely chopped, cilantro
  
• 2 tomatoes finely chopped
  
• 1/4 sp turmeric
  
• 1 tsp coriander powder
  
• salt to taste
  
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
  
• 1/2 tsp garam masala
  
• 1/2 tsp amchur
  
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
  
• 1 tbsp oil
  
• 1 1/2 cup water
  
  
• For Tomato Poori:
  
• 1 cup chapatti flour (whole wheat flour)
  
• 1/4th cup sooji (semolina)
  
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
  
• 1/2 tsp ajwain (carom seeds)
  
• 1 tbsp cooking oil
  
• salt to taste
  
• 2 tomatoes (put it in the blender and make into puree)
  
• 2 cups oil for deep frying
  

Method
Sabzi: Heat oil in a pan. Add green chili, ginger, clove, asafetida, saunf and cilantro. Stir for 1/2 min then add red chili powder. Immediately add 1/4 cup of water. Add all spices accept amchur. Stir till water dries, then add potato and remaining water. Cover and cook in low heat. When potato is cooked, add tomato and amchur. Stir in high heat for 5-7 min. ready to eat.

Poori: Mix all the ingredients and make into dough. Add water if needed. Take about half cup of dough and roll into round shape and make into flat, unleavened bread. Deep fry in oil and serve hot.

- Seema Gupta lives in Elk Grove, Calif.

|TOP|

---

HOROSCOPE: 2007 Yearly Forecast By Pandit Parashar


ARIES (March 21 to April 20): Saturn will transit fourth house till July 15th and stay in fifth for rest of the year. Jupiter will transit eighth till November 20th and move to ninth for remainder of 2007. Career wise, it will be a good year. Opportunity missed in October 2006 will be offered again with better perks some where around June. You will overcome many obstacles and even legal issues will be decided in your favor making room for big improvement in career. Worries about children will continue and may not get resolved the way you want. It will be better to compromise with situation rather than loosing them. Jupiter in eighth though little weak, but will aspect second house fully, resulting financial prosperity in 2007. You will recover old dues and may get big chunk of money from insurance in some way. In laws will be very helpful and may even help you with money for your ventures. A property stuck for long time will finally sell around June 2007. Career will be the main issue in 2007 and you will successfully achieve your goals. There may be another addition in the family after November 20 th when Jupiter moves into your ninth house.

TAURUS (April 21 to May 20): Raj yoga karaka planet Saturn will transit third till July 15th and will move into fourth for rest of 2007. Jupiter will occupy Kendra or the seventh house till November. As Saturn will continue to aspect house of luck completely, there will be steady improvement in life. This Saturn can cause change of residence and big victory in legal matters. The decision in legal matters will surprise every body around and shock the opponents. You will travel to distant places before July 2007. This year will favor more if you are connected to field of communications, advance technology or are in sales. Jupiter will provide the necessary divine help to escape all disasters minutes before they take place. Spouse will continue to have minor health problems off and on, nothing that can not be controlled with change of diet and little exercises. Saturn’s transit in fourth in July can cause much awaited move to a bigger and better place, surrounded by lots of greenery. Size of family will grow and money will come and disappear fast as usual. You will need to be more diplomatic when dealing with business partners or boss. You will also make big money through stocks and bonds this year.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): Saturn will transit second house till July 15th and move to third for rest of 2007. Jupiter will stay in sixth house till November 20 th. Saturn the lord of house of luck transiting the house of natural enemy Moon will drain you out money wise. You will need to control expenses and wastage and be content with basics. This is a real testing time of life as you will go through the last leg of what is known as Saturn’s 7 ½ year cycle. And once you pass the test, the world is yours. You will be actually running several shows simultaneously. You will not only fulfill your own commitments but also projects undertaken by other family members. Life will take of suddenly right after July when Saturn moves into third and completely aspect the house of luck. Change of residence to bigger and better place will become certain and it will be quick. You will go on an important trip overseas towards the end of 2007. There will be victory in ongoing legal issues and you will win several favors from government. There is a strong possibility that you may start another business or buy one for spouse. Chances of making money through speculation and lottery are very strong in July and August. Most of your plans will come through in second half of 2007.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22): Saturn will transit first house till July 15th and will move to second there after for remainder of 2007. Jupiter will continue to occupy fifth house till November 20th. Saturn’s transit in first will refine you and help become better person. It will make you work extra hard and teach you to have patience. Off and on you will feel exhausted but Jupiter’s aspect on Saturn will give you wisdom and determination to continue the fight. You will not loose the Midas touch and rise in life against heavy odds. Jupiter in fifth will keep health issues created by Saturn under check. Big and positive changes in career coming in March and May of 2007. Your desires to have another member in the family will be fulfilled with the blessings of a spiritual person. You will gain professional knowledge and may even finish a short term training program. Saturn’s transit in second will increase your financial commitments as your projects will need more than anticipated. Hard work will pay off and you will be rolling in money in second half of 2007. You will invest in properties and add another vehicle to your fleet.

LEO (July 23 to August 22): Saturn will transit twelfth house till July 15th and first house there after. Jupiter will stay in fourth house till November 20th. Ketu will occupy first and Rahu will occupy seventh house in 2007. You will need extreme patience with life and business partner or you will loose them quickly. People prone to litigations should be careful as Saturn in house of loss or expenses can drain you out with legal bills. It will be wise not to extend credit in business or risk almost every thing in too good to be true looking business proposals. Select your business partners and employees carefully. You will achieve few milestones in career in February or March this year. Diplomacy can help crush opponents during the same time frame. Off and on you will make several daring moves in career and may launch a huge project this year. You may invest in properties also just to make quick money and your attempts will be successful. Chance of an addition in the family becomes very strong when Jupiter moves into fifth house after November 20th.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22): Saturn will transit eleventh house till July 15th and twelfth there after for rest of 2007. Jupiter will be in third till November 20 th. Rahu will be sixth and Ketu will stay in twelfth. You will have to work very hard to make money this year. You will be on the move and try to sell your ideas or products to others. It will be slightly better for people doing job and tough for people in business. Rahu in sixth will help in getting better job in highly competitive market but it will be unstable. You will start to tilt towards in-laws more. You will become humble and perform many good deeds and become more spiritual. You will not waste money and also teach children not to do so. Spouse will be a great help and share your burden and always give good ideas as Jupiter will have 5 th aspect on house of partner. Once Saturn moves into twelfth on July 20th, you may have to answer few legal queries and people who are prone to litigations will see there legal bills shooting up all of a sudden. Though you will be helped by the enemies of your enemy but it will not be enough.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22): Saturn will transit tenth house till July 15th and eleventh for rest of 2007. Jupiter will stay in second house till November 20 th. Ketu will transit eleventh and Rahu will stay in fifth house. Your assets will multiply. You will buy another house and car. And of course Saturn in tenth will make you work hard and on a long term project. Rewards will be astonishing but they will come right after July of 2007 when Saturn moves into house of gains. You will profit from sale, purchase of properties. Your income will shoot up and there is a big chance of money coming through stocks market also. Jupiter the factor for wealth in general will give you plenty and you will find ways to spend it. Income will go up as well as expenses but all money will be well spent. You will help siblings and do lots of charity work. Blessings from a needy person you will help will bring financial prosperity. People looking for another child will have some frustration in the beginning but desire will be fulfilled ultimately.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 22): Saturn will transit ninth house till July 20th and tenth for rest of the year. Jupiter will transit first house till November 20th and second there after. Saturn as a natural malefic and enemy to the lord of your sign will try to create hurdles and unnecessary delay in almost everything but it can not supercede one of the Guru or the Jupiter. Jupiter’s presence in your sign and its aspect on fifth, seventh and ninth as well as Saturn will cause major prosperity. This transit will bring an end to your anxiety about children and will cause expansion in the family. You will receive help and blessings from a spiritual person. There will be big change in your personality. You will make a daring move in the early quarter of 2007. Gamble will pay off in riches. You will become very generous and content. Once Saturn moves into tenth from July, you will be looking for long term gains and not for quick ones. You will devote time and money for a charity and become interested in politics also. Legal issues will get settled as the justice would be served in your favor.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 to December 22): Saturn will transit eighth house till July 15th and will stay in ninth for rest of 2007. Jupiter will transit twelfth house till November 20th. Lord of Lagna in twelfth and Saturn in eighth is a sign of struggle and troubles. Lack of confidence and poor judgment can cost you dearly. You will need to be careful with finances and avoid company of undesirable people. There will be positive changes in career around June. You may spend money on construction of a new house or will definitely upgrade your existing home. You may have to buy another car for family member. You will have to make repeated attempts to get the jobs done. Children will do better and spouse will be a great support throughout. Saturn’s transit in ninth will bring financial relief. As income will rise the expenses will be under control and you will learn to save money for rainy days as a result the bank balance will grow from July and onwards. You will become more humble and religious. A clear victory with big rewards is indicated in legal matters after July 2007.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19): Saturn will transit seventh till July 15th and will stay in eighth for rest of 2007. Jupiter will transit eleventh till November 20 th. Rahu will stay in second and Ketu will be in eighth in 2007. You will continue to make steady progress in career but the new commitments you made in 2006 can drain you out financially. It will be hard to hold and preserve money in 2007. You will become more ambitious and focus on new ways to make money. You will definitely achieve major goals in career in between February and April of 2007. A change of job is imminent during this time for job seekers. A new member will be added in the family and you will take more than one trip overseas. You will make new friends and become more active in society. Dealing in stocks will be rewarding. You will escape few minor accidents also after July 15 th when Saturn moves into your eighth house. Any other health issues should be given top priority during second half of 2007. Jupiter in eleventh will keep the money coming. It will be better year for people in sales, marketing and field of communications and those dealing with overseas.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18): Saturn will transit sixth house till July 15th and will move to seventh for rest of 2007. Jupiter will stay in tenth till November 20 th. Rahu will stay in first and Ketu will stay in seventh in 2007. Saturn though in sixth will stay strong for most of the time, as a result you will keep doing better in career against all adversities and hurdles. You will get fed up with the existing job and start looking for a change very seriously. You will find another one but that too will not last long. Towards the end of 2007 is when you will find a stable job. Delays will opponents will not slow you down and on the other hand Rahu will give you the fighting spirit. You will ultimately crush your opponents and business competitors. Financially you will do a lot better in 2007 as your commitments and liabilities will decrease considerably from beginning of 2007. Listening to spouse will not hurt but help, you partner will share your stress and burden. You will win some favor from government also and the victory is definite in any ongoing legal battle.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20): Jupiter will transit ninth house or the house of luck in 2007. Saturn will transit fifth till July 15th and sixth house for remainder of 2006. Rahu will transit twelfth and Ketu will stay in sixth. You should be looking forwards to the transit of Jupiter in ninth with open mind. Jupiter will bring many fortunate changes in career this year. It will keep improving from time to time. Your image and confidence will shoot up. You will become more popular and do some serious religious work with local temple. Prosperity will be constant and ever lasting this time. Saturn in fifth will bring gains from distant lands but will keep you worried about children and may give you some trouble in stomach region till July 15 th only. Once Saturn moves into sixth house it will help you get the dream job. You will be selected for it among number of applicants. You may at the same time pass a very tough exam that will open doors for an excellent job in a totally new field. You will become little money minded and make a very good financial investment most probably in shape of property.

- Bay Area-based astrologer Pandit Parashar can be reached at: parashar@parashar.com.

|TOP|