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Taking Chances By Celine Dion

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DUB Recommends:

Celine Dion’s latest English album called ‘Taking Chances’ is the artist’s first after her sabbatical for 5 years while performing at Caesar’s Palace in L.A. The album is a stark contrast to her previous albums. In one word its Edgy, combining her characteristic blazing Broadway magic with genres from across the music industry from soul to rock. Celine belts it out in Taking Chances and the namesake track of the Album is a must hear. The album is evolutionary, tracing the artist’s growth. While talking about the Album she says ‘It’s me, who I am today. I grew. I didn’t change. I evolved, which is different,’ Merging genres Celine is taking chances and experimenting with music having fun mixing it up, and the result really paid off, multiple collaborations, including Ben Moody from evanescence, and the one of a kind voice of Celine outside her safe zone all make this album like nothing ever before, a sensation!

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An Oscar Round Up

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By Anaita Sabhikhi

This year’s Oscars are being touted as one of the most boring ever…even before they’ve taken place. For starters, the movies that have been nominated were not very popular with mainstream audiences with the exception of Juno.

Also, there is that problematic little thing called the writers strike. While the Golden Globes were reduced to an embarrassing press conference, the representatives of the Academy Awards are adamant that the preparations are going on in full swing and the ceremony will be conducted as per schedule. High profile actors though, have said that they would be unwilling to cross picket lines putting the ball back in the writers court. If they picket, rest assured there won’t be a ceremony though that is unlikely and some sort of comprise is expected to be reached within time.

Regardless, for movie buffs everywhere, let’s take a closer look at the five films nominated for Best Picture.

Atonement: based on the book by Ian McEwan had everything right on paper – a good story, an excellent cast and the team up of Keira Knightley and Joe Wright that gave us Pride and Prejudice. Even though the camerawork is handsomely done and the dialogue very British, it fails to impress. The love story, which forms the crux, is unconvincing and the war scenes are poorly done with every set looking too much like a movie set. There is one shot, over 5 minutes long, spanning the beach where the defeated army is recuperating. It is supposed to make you go WOW. Instead you say thank god for the cut. Mention must be made of the music score by Dario Marianelli which is written into the script with the eerie click of the typewriter in the opening of the movie, setting the tone for the clever mixing of sound and dialogue.

Juno: is the underdog. (If there was one) The movie which was shot in just 20 days has quick sure fire dialogue and Ellen Page fits the character defining her rapidly changing generation so well, that Juno is much more than just heart warming and funny. With its quirky take on underground music and the Canadian towns providing a subtle backdrop, this movie has won audiences over everywhere. Will it win though? Unlikely.

There Will be Blood: is about a misanthropic oilman Daniel Plainview in the relentless pursuit of wealth. This story, about family, greed, religion and oil, has everyone talking about the performance by Daniel Day-Lewis making him the favourite to win the Best Actor Award.




Michael Clayton has the Oscar darling George Clooney in the title role. Set in the high power corporate law world of New York, Michael Clayton plays a fixer who’s called into a law firm to stop it from suffering a breakdown. This movie was very well received by critics and Time magazine’s Richard Schickel ranked the film #1 in the Top 10 Movies of 2007, calling it “a morally alert, persuasively realistic and increasingly suspenseful melodrama, impeccably acted and handsomely staged.” Whew! Just for that, it must be worth your time.

No Country for Old Men is the front runner for the golden statue and this movie has a lot more violence than last year’s winner ‘The Departed.’ It’s a must avoid for the easily spooked and ones with no stomach for blood and gore. The script based on Cormac McCarthy’s novel follows it almost scene by scene. The camera work is extremely tight and discloses exactly what the book describes; West Texas at it’s most unassuming – open trucks, men with cowboy hats, empty desert landscape and lots and lots of killing. The Coen brothers who must surely win the Oscar for Best Director, have taken the book and made it theirs alone, lowering the novel’s philosophical twists and highlighting its dark humour.

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NEED FOR POLICING

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-Navneet A Vasistha

I find it absurd…absurd that I am writing about why Campus should be made a no-smoking zone. It’s something that we all know the hazards of and yet we need reasons to do the right thing. We have all watched countless commercials about the ill-effects of the damned smoke. There have been countless legislations to chuck it out of sports and yet we sit here, debating on why such a move should be carried out.
I am sure that those who smoke would want some freedom. We all do. But what about the liberties of those who don’t? What about those who wake up in the middle of the night to reach for their inhalers simply because the people they are around smoke a lot.

We all aim for change, mostly for the better. Yet the cynic in us always speaks up when we’re forced to work for that change. It’s absurd that while we strive for clean air, we manage to let ourselves down this way.

I would have loved it if we didn’t have any such rules. If we could have had special smoking zones and no-smoking areas and we could conduct ourselves civilly in public. But the truth is that we don’t and thus somewhere there’s a need for policing.

Every 3 cigarettes smoked equal one passive smoke. I hope that you’re not smoking one of them.

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Costa Coffee: An example worthy of emulation

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Nandini Swaminathan

The Indian economy is booming, and there is no dearth of jobs for whatever your background and interest, academic or otherwise. From BPOs to hospitality, there’s a place for everyone.
Everyone? Well, not quite.

The 2001 census shows nearly 70 million disabled persons in India, out of which only 2% are literate, and a mere 1% employed. A dismal picture indeed.
Also, there is still considerable stigma associated with employing the disabled on the grounds that they might be a burden more than a help.
For those who are deaf as well as dumb, things are even worse. Due to their inability to communicate, they are not suitable for most jobs today.
However, a little innovation can go a long way in finding jobs even for them – jobs that do not require too much effort and can be carried out easily by people with multiple disabilities like this.
And this is where Costa Coffee comes in.

Tucked away on the first floor on the right side as one enters GK-1 M Block market, it is a favourite hangout for youngsters, corporate employees, foreigners, or just those who want to try coffee at a different place.

Its polished wooden furniture and minimal lighting gives it a sophisticated look, and it offers everything from their special Italian coffees to muffins, cookies and other delicious confectionary.
But go to the counter and you will see what sets this coffee shop apart – all of its baristas are deaf-and-dumb. They communicate furiously with their fingers, taking orders and doing their work as efficiently as their so-called ‘normal’ counterparts. The owner of the shop is not disabled, so he handles any other problems or questions customers may have.

Being a fairly frequent visitor, I was struck by how sincere these young men were.
They offer customers a notepad to write their order down, read it, smile and go on to prepare it, reappearing to serve it with a warm smile.
There is very little occasion for complaint, and one can always approach the owner for queries the barista may not be able to handle.
Most of all, they look happy and proud of being able to work in a place like Costa and do well.

Jobs such as this do not require a high education or special skills that can’t be imparted through proper training, and hence are ideal for people who are disabled.
Employing the disabled is an excellent example of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) where their only criteria for employment is dedication, willingness to work and sincerity, irrespective of any physical shortcomings a prospective employee may have, unless it hampers productivity in any way.

This is an example that’s truly worthy of emulation. If more and more companies think as openly, we could ensure many more jobs for the disabled so that they feel as much as part of the mainstream, as opposed to feeling alienated and less deserving.

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Career Column: Indian Air Force

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You can join the Air Force in the flying, technical or the ground branches. Candidates short-listed after the initial selection procedure, go through a rigorous training regimen at one of the Air Force training establishments. Thereafter, they are commissioned as officers and posted at any of the Air Force Stations. As a graduate, you can fly into a challenging and rewarding career in the Air Force by applying for the suitable branch.

Flying Branch
You are trained either as a Fighter pilot, a Helicopter pilot, or a Transport pilot and are a part of various peace and wartime missions. As a graduate, you enter the Flying branch through the Air Force Academy.

The following are the three modes of entry for graduates to join the Flying Branch:

• Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE)
You can take the Combined Defence Services Examination (conducted by UPSC) to join the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force. Men can join the Air Force through this mode of entry and will be given a Permanent Commission.

• National Cadet Corps
As a senior division ‘C’ Certificate holder of the National Cadet Corps, you can apply to the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force. Men can join the Air Force through this mode of entry and will be given a Permanent Commission.

• Men & Women (Short Service Commission) with Term of Engagement of 14 Years with no extension
Both men and women are eligible to apply for short service commission in the flying branch.� Short Service Commission in flying branch is for 14 years with no extension.
To apply for this branch of the IAF, you must be between 19 to 23 years of age, unmarried, and have a Graduation in any discipline with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level, or a BE (4 years).

Technical Branch
As an officer in the Technical Branch, you propel and manage your team to ensure that the Indian Air Force remains airworthy. You can apply for any of the following streams through the Direct Entry Scheme. 1. Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) 2. Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical)

Ground Duty Branches
Managing human and material resources, the Ground Duty Branch is the mechanism that steers the Indian Air Force. There are numerous opportunities for both men and women to build a challenging career.
You can join as an officer in any of the following Ground Duty Branches:
• Administration Branch
• Accounts Branch
• Logistics Branch

For more information on the application process and eligibility for all branches, log onto www.careerairforce.nic.in.

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ORISSA: The State of Temples

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By Akshita Agrawal

Orissa, one of the 28 states of India, popular for its exquisite temples, superb monuments, inviting beaches, enchanting wildlife and natural landscapes is an inviting and soothing place that provides an ideal vacation- fun, enjoyment and spiritual enrichment.

BHUBANESHWAR
The capital of Orissa, Bhubaneshwar, is famous for its handicrafts of silver filigree, wood and stone carvings, patta paintings, Tie and Dye textiles, bamboo basketry, brass and bell metal work, and horn work. Important destinations in the capital are the twin hills of Udaygiri and Khandgiri that contain varieties of rock-cut caves and the best specimen of Pali records, the Cactus gardens near ‘Ekamara Kanan’ and the ancient temples of Lingaraja and Mukteswara.

PURI
Puri is famous for the Jagannath Temple, an important temple in Hindu Mythology which is considered as a ‘teerath dhaam’, and the sand art works of Biju Patnaik. The view of sunrise at the sea beach is a wonderful experience. Just one caution, beware of the guides!

KONARK
Famous for its Sun Temple, built in the form of a chariot, Konark is only half an hour away from Puri, connected by a road which runs along the sea and hence creates a beautiful ambience around. One can always stop and bathe in the sea under the warm sun!

CUTTACK
Not a very well known tourist spot, Cuttack which means an army cantonment where the British army was trained, is virtually an island surrounded by river Mahanadi. The Dhamleswar temple and the Chandi temple are a must for any visitor. The Dhamleswar temple is situated in the centre of the river and the only way to commute there is through boats.

NANDAN KANAN
Half an hour from Cuttack, Nandan Kanan, a zoological park, is the only one in India where white tigers can be seen. It has a wide range of deers, lions, reptiles and birds. A trip around the zoo includes lion safaris and deer safaris along with trolley and toy trains.

CHILIKA LAKE
An hour’s drive from Bhubaneshwar will take you to Samapada, which has the largest lagoon population of Irravati Dolphins in India. A boat ride takes you around the Chilika Lake, the largest lake in Asia, and gives you the opportunity to catch glimpses of dolphins around you and an island where the waters of Chilika Lake meet those of the Bay of Bengal.

OTHERS
Cities of Pipili and Daula Giri that are on the way to Konark and Puri are famous for their appliqué work and the Buddha Temple respectively.

The sunrise from the sea, the sunset behind the temple, the elaborate architecture, the warm sand on the beach…everything about Orissa is magnificent.

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LSR BLUES

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COMPLAINT CELL

– Agrima Bhasin

An institution par excellence, a red-bricked campus with gorgeous landscaping, a brilliant faculty worth envious admiration and a student crowd to reckon with; Lady Shriram College, the haven of intelligentsia, is not devoid of its share of problems.

Here’s a list of a mixed bag of heard and unheard problems plaguing this College. A good number of students feel isolated and cut off from college life, like that of North Campus. Also, the long distance between LSR and North Campus handicaps them, preventing them from meeting their old pals on a regular basis.

“Our college should participate in DUSU elections and not boycott themâ€?, says, Anupriya Malik… LSR students are not proud of the snob-value that other colleges attach to them and are willing and wanting to change the ‘Elitist’ tag that they’ve been given.

The College boasts of a library that can prove to be a paradise for bibliophiles. The LSR library does have the maximum collection of books in the whole of DU. However, the students say that despite knowing that they can access all the books on this planet, they find it extremely tiresome to hunt down books; this is because of an incomplete record of books in the computer and poor cataloguing. Those who have seen the College, are aware of the College’s long, beauteous ground-floor corridor that stretches from one end to the other (near the LSR Café).

Some students find their passage madly hindered when people block the corridor with their snail-paced walk. “It will be great to have another set of detour (entry/exit steps) somewhere in the middle of the corridor to facilitate better movement,” says, Ann Haokip, a student of the college. Some of the hostel problems include the following – dysfunctional door latches, a mess that can’t accommodate the entire hostel population, strict timings for obtaining superintendent’s sign and internet connectivity problem etc. No fixed time of classes and lectures till five in the evening prove strenuous for students.

The College loos have a jet facility, which is commendable, but the students would love to see the loos cleaner. “Loos should be cleaned more frequently even if we are responsible for dirtying them,” says, a second year student.

“Our college should participate in DUSU elections and not boycott them”, says, Anupriya Malik, a first year student at LSR. An interesting undercurrent concern that came to the surface, while DUB was researching, was that LSR students are not proud of the snob-value that other colleges attach to them and are willing and wanting to change the ‘Elitist’ tag that they’ve been given.

This concern was exacerbated by a matrimonial in an esteemed newspaper daily last year that mentioned – ‘LSR girls need not apply as prospective brides for this man’.

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Upbeat-Downbeat

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UPBEAT

DUSU PREPARES TO KICK BUTT

Screams the HT. We had expected this article to be wholly brutal report on the terrible arse-kicking some poor sod, stupid enough to cross swords with the DUSU, was about to receive. However, we were greatly relieved to learn this article was actually a dreadful pun on DUSU’s noble Smoke Free Campus Campaign, which is discussed, at length, on page 5.

DEAF MUTE GETS NEW HEARING IN KILLING
We unearthed this wonderful headline on the net.

INDIA, PAK YOUTH THROW IDEAS TO STRENGTHEN TIES
Reports the TOI. We’re glad to learn that the subcontinents youth are so carefree with their ideas. Fantastic way to strengthen ties in the subcontinent isn’t it? Just hurl an idea at any unsuspecting person silly enough to come you way.

AUSTRALIAN PM CALLS NATIONAL SUMMIT OF ORDINARY PEOPLE
The TOI brings to our attention this rather ‘extraordinary’ piece of information. Well, we always suspected Australia was a nation of extremely ordinary people.

DOWNBEAT
FURORE OVER CHRIST’S CRUCIFIXION
The article reads – ‘A noted literary theorist has sparked fury among Christians by uttering that the Crucifixion of Christ was not as bad as it has been painted…It is learnt that he said that Jesus’s scourging was a “blessing in disguise” because it hastened his death. “The Crucifixion of Jesus wasn’t as bad as its been painted. All things considered, he got off pretty lightly,”… “If the New Testament account is to be believed it took him only three hours to die whereas a lot of those killed by this hideous mode of execution thrashed around on their crosses for days,” he added…. Eagleton concluded his talk with an attack on contemporary Christianity, claiming that it had abandoned the poor and dispossessed in favour of the “rich and aggressive”. “It’s horrified by the sight of a female breast but nothing like as horrified by the obscene inequalities between rich and poor,” the paper quoted him as saying. “By and large, it worships a god fashioned blasphemously in its own image and likeness,” he added…. Reacting to Eagletons remarks, Bishop Wright said: “It is all a bit tired, this rhetoric. It is all a bit sad. Of course, caricatures of Christianity are all over the place, but they do not reflect reality. He should get out more.” The bishop added: “Perhaps the professor might also like to get his facts straight. Jesus took six hours to die on the cross, not three.”’ Well, we are not amused either, Bishop.

MENTALLY IMPAIRED BOMBERS KILL 64 IN BAGHDAD
Don’t chuckle, it’s actually quite tragic.

DELHI BOY TO FIGHT OXFORD LIFETIME BAN ‘TILL VERY END’
Well, it is, after all, a lifetime ban. We wish the boy luck.

VIRAJ NAIR
IF YOU SPOT SOMETHING UNUSUAL, OUT OF THE ORDINARY OR JUST PLAIN DAFT, MAIL US AT [email protected]

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DUTA, Thampu Clash

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St. Stephens College is yet again the subject of controversy. This time concerning the legality of the appointment of the Principal of the College, Reverend Valson Thampu.

For a long time now, the validity of Thampu taking over as the Principal of St Stephens has been questioned. In 2006, when he joined as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of the college, he did not have a PhD, which was a prerequisite to hold the post.

In December, 2007, he secured a PhD in Theology.

However, DUTA (Delhi University Teachers Association) alleges that Valson Thampu secured a fake degree to retain his position in the college, and Theology is a subject not recognised by the UGC.

At a press conference in CP, Aditya Narayan Misra, the DUTA President, claims that he procured the degree from Allahabad Institute of Agriculture without even enrolling himself for two years, which is the rule.

This is nearly a month after Thampu issued show cause notices to two teachers in the History department of the college for participating in “anti-principal talks” in class.

According to Mishra, the show cause notices to the two teachers, Tasneem Suhrawardy and Sangeeta Luthra Sharma, on January 9 was “a senseless act of desperation springing out of his attempt to cover up the illegality of his own appointment�. The teachers claim that the action taken against them was a result of “personal, partisan and petty considerations�.

DUTA demands that Thampu give a written apology to the two teachers and has also asked DU Vice-Chancellor Deepak Pental to remove Thampu from the principal’s post. DUTA plans to hold a demonstration in the college on February 5 and at the V-C’s office on February 8.

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Side Stories

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Frames

The festival of the Photographic Society of St. Stephen’s is being held on 12th and 13th of February. This festival will showcase a two day exhibition of pictures taken by student photographers of DU. Prepare to visit a realm of dreams and vivid imagery as you walk through the halls of Stephens and get absorbed by the beautiful stills surrounding you. This fest is a must-visit!

Movie Accolades

It’s the time of the year when the Academy Award nominees are announced. To read more about the “not-so-great” Oscars…turn to Offbeat. We have a line up of the movies in the running and our guess as to who will win. Last year, most prizes were bagged by the Leonardo Di Caprio and Jack Nicholson starrer “The Departed”

Vote or don’t Whine

The period of filing claim and objections against the draft electoral rolls will end on February 5. The rolls are be available on the website of the office of the chief electoral officer (http://www.ceodelhi.nic.in/) and at the offices of electoral registration officers, assistant electoral registration officers and Voter Registration and Electors Photo Identity Card Centres. The electoral roll of all assembly constituencies are expected to be finalised and published by March 14.

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