TMAG Volume 1 Issue 46

Dhaka Tribune

CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET? Flip to our

Hot Topic for THE SCOOP

Tuesday, March 11, 2014 Volume 1, Issue 46

Status of the week If one door closes and another opens, you really need to get your car fixed.

A weekly production of

DhakaTribune Editor Zafar Sobhan Magazine Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad TMAG Team Sabiha Mahmud Sumi Rubab Nayeem Khan Munira Fidai Natasha Rahman Saudia Afrin Tahsin Momin Baizid Haque Joarder Fuad M Hossain Rad Sharar Contributors Zaki Adnan Azfar Rahman Afshan Sattar Shishir Hoque Khatidja Hussein Graphics Sabiha Mahmud Sumi Tahsin Momin Mohammed Mahbub Alam Colour Specialist Shekhar Mondal Kazi Syras Al Mahmood Production Masum Billah

Editor’s note Dear Readers,

Quote of the week Misers aren’t fun to live with, but they make wonderful ancestors.

Lingo of the week Mozzie Meaning An Australian word for mosquito Usage “I can’t sleep because of these darn mozzies”

More inside PICKS OF THE WEEK 2 Room of the week Mushahid Salman 3 Doodle of the week Natasha Ahmed 10 The goodsheet “Lost in you” by Three Days Grace

YOUR WORLD 5 Car talk Maserati GranTurismo S 5 FFPB Game week 28 9 Fiction The Gossipmonger’s Gossip 9 Non-fiction Let’s Gossip about Gossip 9 Book A Brief History of Time 11 Comic strip The Boy 10 Music News 12 A.M 11 Gadget Prolink PWP102G 11 Movie Captain Phillips 11 Anime Psycho pass

FASHION 4 Beauty check onning David Beckham’s Quiff

4 Wardrobe check YU+ME Dream by Megan Rose Gedris

Real Life 3 Event Tweets 6 Hot topic 12 Listology Types of friends 12 Choose/Lose TMAG SAYS 2 FYI The lost art of conversations 3 School Survival Rumours- put an end

Gossip. No matter where you go, you can’t escape it. People are social creatures, and when they get together, the one thing they love talking about, above all else, is other people. Of course, more often than not, this gets out of hand, and we tend to get all judgmental, to the point that we invade the privacy and restrict the freedom of the person(s) under disc. So yes, gossip has its dark sides.

However, is it all bad? We form our self concepts based on feedback we get from other people, and this is part of identity, so we can’t exactly do without it.

We’re debating the pros and cons of gossip this week.

Check out our take on the issue, and if you want to share your viewpoints, chime in on our Facebook page at www.facebook. com/dhakatribunetmag. Got artwork, room photos and flash fiction to share? Email us at tmag@dhakatribune.com Love from the TMAG desk

to it

10 Playlist Rumour mill mix 10 Spotlight Shayan HOROSCOPES 5 Your forecast

Advertising Shahidan Khurshed Circulation Wahid Murad Email: tmag@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

About the cover CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET? Illustration by RIO SHUVO

2 Funk up your room Anti snoopy

4 Look of the Week 47 Ronin

6 Hot Topic Talking the talk

8 Written in the Stars Kumar Sangakara’s vist to Sunbeams

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Your Life

FYI

The Lost Art of Conversation “Back in our times” is how this article should start but to get it to read a little less like a rant, let’s not. The art of conversation, of small talk, of constructive dialogue seems to have all but vanished. With the advent of social media and with it, a complete lack of personal space, nowadays, everything we talk about is usually about others. While it’s all good fun in small doses, let’s see how gossip doesn’t have to hog all your convo time

Books

Sharing common interests is usually what gets a friendship rolling. If you have friends who read what you read, conversations need never be boring.

Meet up for a cuppa and simply discuss what you have read and how relevant or irrelevant it is to your lives. Fictional characters are as colourful as real ones and will give you ample drama to keep that dialogue flowing.

Series

With TV series clogging internet space, watching TV according to schedule is almost down as an inconvenience.

Funk up your room

Anti Snoopy

bigstock

Whatever it is that you’re following on your favourite series, be sure to talk to your friends about it. These series shed light on some very real issues that pertain to our daily lives. Close friends, new ones or acquaintances, will all enjoy your insights and opinions about what you watch.

Knowledge

Knowing about the real world and keeping abreast of world issues is about as important in today’s world as breathing. Making you look smarter and more knowledgeable comes much later; for starters, this could be the perfect

bigstock

meat for small talk. Talking about the weather may get monotonous but talking about why this particular cold spell is here can give others knowledge that they will cherish and be able to use later.

Importance

Gossip, ie talking about other people and their lives is hardly constructive.

Unless done for purely selfless reasons

and with clear intentions, gossip is simply useless banter. With the world being so rich in diversity, one should never run out of decent topics to talk about. It’s never nice to be talked about and everyone deserves privacy.

By cultivating the above habits, not only will you save some people a lot of unease, but also give others a rare gift in today’s times - real conversation.

Munira Fidai

A gift, letter or dairy, whatever it is, hiding things become the hardest job ever, if you are living with pesky parents. On top of that, if you are sharing a room with a nosy parker sibling then life can turn horrendous.

Instead of worrying pointlessly, think like Sherlock Homes to unearth good hiding spots. This week, TMAG has some suggestions for you to consider Hiding places will differ depending on the snooper’s deeds. Before opting for a spot, wrack your brain to understand this person’s life practises and manner of thinking.

The second prerequisite is wiping out all the obvious places from your head.

Forget about age-old hiding places like under the bed, between a mattress, and behind your closet. Similarly, stop thinking bookshelves, drawers, cupboards, and cookie jars because these don’t make good hiding spots, when you really want to keep something hidden.

However, what you should do is

try discovering easy yet tricky places to conceal a treasure or proscribed article from snoopers. Pick a place that people don’t usually think about, like a planter on the coffee table or beneath a pile of papers. Your article would be hiding right under their noses and they wouldn’t be any wise. Remember this, people subconsciously searching in the obvious places usually forget to look in places where they think it shouldn’t be.

Any electronic equipment is a good option to work with. Putting your gift inside the machine without disturbing any cables or electrical outputs is a worthy decision. Also, stuffed animals/

old coats can make worthy dwells for your treasure.

Spots outside such as under a rock, behind a bush, under a yard ornament or behind thefence are all good hiding places, but there is a risk of your things getting damaged. On the other hand, if your treasure is weather resistant then there is no need to think twice. Still hesitant? Fret not! Place all your stuff inside a plastic box and then, bury it!

Remember hiding is a creative endeavour, therefore, be creative and TMAG hopes that you accomplish your mission of concealment.

Saudia Afrin

TMAG’s Room of the week!

Name

Mushahid Salman Area

Gulshan

Under the spotlight We love how the toads are chilling in the corner of your bedroom Quamrul Abedin

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Schoologistics

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School Survival

TMAG’s Doodle of the week!

Rumours: put an end to it

The stuff said behind your back

“Omg, do you know where I saw him last night?” “You won’t believe how many guys she has been with!” “She takes extra tuition classes with all the sirs to get the grades she does.” If all this seems alien to you, then lady luck is surely right by your side. However, for a lot of teenagers, it isn’t so easy to simply slip between the cracks and go unnoticed. TMAG delves into how we can stop the bollocks some sorry mouths are spreading about you

Filter your friends

Natasha Ahmed doodled this while taking a break from her assignments

If you are a classroom doodler, email your doodle to tmag@dhakatribune.com and see it in our weekly!

EVENT Tweets Activity B: Free Seminar on University Search Process March 12, 3:30pm Venue EMK Centre

Raising Smart Capital for Your Venture March 12, 7pm Venue EMK Center

2nd ISPAHANI CORPORATE BADMINTON GRAND SLAM 2014 March 13, 10am Venue Officers’ Club, Bailey Road

CARNIVAL OF 730 DAYS March 13, 10am Venue Drik Gallery

UITS 2nd Convocation

March 15, 3pm Venue Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC)

VB ICC T20 WORLD CUP CRICKET MANIA

March 16, 1pm Venue Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium

ICC WORLD Twenty20

March 16, 2pm Venue Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Mirpur

Yes, easier said than done. But you gotta do, what you gotta do. Sniff out those friends who are a little too friendly, a little too confiding, and a little bit all over your space. Usually, this is the bunch you need to bolt from. Everyone enjoys a bit of gossip, but if a friend of yours is a walking-talking gossip station- then lace up your shoes and make a dash!

You never know when you’ll become the next target. However, this could be a little tricky because we are all trying to make friends in here, so cut down your time with him/her slow and steady. This way they will slowly get off your back and hopefully find another outlet.

Shout out to your folks

It can’t get better than this. Always introduce your friends to your parents; haul them into your homes and have

your parents talk to them. If you can introduce your folks to theirs, then that’s half the battle won. After that there will be a slim chance of them badmouthing you, ever!

Calmly talk it out

If that group of girls, or that jock from your class is talking nasty behind your back, take the high road and go ask them what their problem is - be firm yet gentle. If there’s a misunderstanding, try to resolve it then and there. At no point, lose your cool. Hopefully, they’ll back off.

If they don’t, then do what makes you more comfortable. You can ignore them altogether, which will eventually make them lose interest in you. However, if that doesn’t cut it, be sure to surround yourself with friends who won’t pay heed to their nonsense.

Natasha Rahman

Meena Bazar’s 5th annual art competition On March 7, Meena Bazar organised their 5th successful Annual Art Competition “Echche Anko” at Abahoni Field, Dhanmondi. More than 5,000 eager children within the ages of 6-15 participated in the event and illustrated their own perspectives on “Kolponer Bangladesh.” Renowned artists Hashem Khan, Rafiqun Nabi, Shubir Chowdhury,

Abul Barok Alvi, and Kanak Chanpa Chakma, were present to encourage and judge the children. The award ceremony is to be held on March 5 and 120 winners will be selected. Moreover, an exhibition of the selected paintings shall be held at the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts from March 5-7.

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FASHION FACE-OFF

Wardrobe Check

Colour of the Year - Orchid

The colour of the year 2014 is orchid, the one colour that is royal to the core. Royalty, however, is never easy to carry off and this colour is no exception. Having said that, teens are known to tread into the most evasive alleys of fashion and come out triumphant. Here are some suggestions on how to incorporate royalty into your dressing

The all-girl fad

This is something for all you pretty ladies. Purple and pink may not generally be a combination to die for but thanks to Barbie, no one really objects. Pair orchid leggings over a pink shirt, tee or kurta and you’re ready to rock. You can even sport a pink scarf over purple tops for that instant oomph factor.

Him and her

Orchid is not exclusively a girl colour, however. Both girls and guys can wear this colour over white pants for a simple, yet elegant look. White shirts look good on colourful pants too so reverse the look for a trendier impression.

Royal on royal

Every colour is as good as its lighter or

Look of the week

darker version. Pair a darker shade of purple pants with an orchid shirt. You can also wear an orchid coloured top with a dark purple shrug over it. Either way, this colour can glam up your outfit with a splash. No wonder it’s royal!

Basic black

Black is as priceless as white and goes with just about any colour. You can never go wrong with basic black. Wear orchid as a top, or as pants, wear it plain or printed, anything will work with this combo.

Remember, orchid, belonging to the purple family was worn by many a king and queen before your time. Wear it with pride, wear it with confidence and wear it with simplicity. This colour will never disappoint! munira fidai

Beauty Check

Donning David Beckham’s Quiff

It is David Beckham with the free-kick, it looks good, the keeper dives, but it’s in! Beckham has won it for his team with his trademark shot.

If you are a football fanatic, you know the feeling. We might not be as talented as him on the pitch but we can try and replicate him with his oh-so-amazing hairstyle. TMAG tells you how to get it and take good care of it

47 ronin This week’s LOTW was a make-over created

by Japan-based make-up artist Shiri Farhana.

If you’re interested in sharing your Outfit of the Day or makeover photos, mail them to tmag@dhakatribune.com

Photo Courtesy Shiri Farhana

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We all have idols, and we try to imitate them, especially the ones who excel in their respective fields. And for football lovers, David Beckham may well be a demi-God. He has been known to sport interesting hairstyles all throughout his glorious career. Here are some easy steps for David Beckham fans to get the cut.

The haircut

The hairstyle donned by Beckham is called a quiff which is basically a combination of the pompadour, flattop and the Mohawk hairstyles.

The easiest way to explain the cut to your barber is to show him a picture. If you want to take things in your hand, remember to leave the mid-section of your hair untouched. Imagine an extended semi-circle that starts at the back of your head. There are three

levels of the cut. The bottom level for which you will need a number one transitioning to the mid-level which should be a number two, leaving the top being the longest and untouched. Work out how much length you want and go on snipping gradually until you reach your desired length.

But if you are not used to cutting your own hair, leave it to the professionals.

The styling

In order to keep it styled all day long, apply styling mousse on damp hair.

Then blow dry from a distance focusing on the top part. Once it’s dried, apply wax or medium hold gel.

The haircut suits people with defined jaw lines, like David Beckham. So if it doesn’t suit you, don’t opt for it.

Baizid Haque Joarder

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Street Car Talk

HOROSCOPE

Capolavoro One of the great things Italians have given us is the appreciation of beauty. To look at, all Maserati’s are exquisite. All the curves, all the proportions are so over the top that they are all exactly in the right place. But Maserati wasn’t content with simply creating a work of art, they wanted to create a masterpiece

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19)

Expect to feel a little frustrated midweek. Plans may not fall into place, but that doesn’t mean you should stop trying.

Taurus (Apr 20-May 20)

The week actually gives you the green signal to splurge on fancy things for a change. Dig deep to find out why certain people are keeping you at arm’s length.

Gemini (May 21-Jun20)

Avoid spilling the beans about anyone this week. You may get satisfaction from telling the truth but your friend may feel otherwise.

Cancer (Jun 21-Jul 22)

If you are wondering what difference there is between a work of art and a masterpiece, it’s this - the Maserati GranTurismo S. Under the bonnet, what you find is an engine built by Ferrari, that’s been bored out from 4.2-litres to 4.7-litres. Thanks to Paolo Martinelli, the V8 now has 453hp, which means it goes from 0-100kmph in 4.5 seconds. The engine and gearbox are sent straight from the Ferrari factory at the Maranello to the Maserati factory in Modena, where it is married to this Scarlett Johansson bodywork, resulting in the fastest production of a Maserati ever. It has a six-speed manual transmission, but weirdly enough, there is no clutchplate.

Instead, it is fitted with an electrohydraulic-robotic-transmission. It might sound fancy but basically it’s like having a little guy under the floor who will hold the clutch for you while you shift gears.

The GTS is a true grand-tourer; with four seats and enough boot space for things, this 2,000kg car loves the open road. The worst thing about driving this car though, is that you won’t be able to see it from the outside. If James Bond was created in Italy, then this is what he would drive.

Inside, it all makes perfect sense, everything falls to hand beautifully. The cockpit is full of bling gadgets; it looks

the business because it is the business.

Now, you may be wondering if there is anything wrong with this car. Well, not everyone loves the way the GTS looks.

Some people think it has an alarmingly aggressive face, like some deep sea creature that’s practically inedible.

Jeremy Clarkson described it as “pig ugly,” but you know what, he may want a closer look. This thing is stunning, exceptionally fast and sounds awesome.

What Maserati has successfully done with the GTS is blend the lines between a grand tourer and a sports car. At $79,000 it isn’t cheap, but it’s cheaper than other grand tourers, such as the Aston Martin.

Typically, an Italian masterpiece is something that you look at on the

walls of a museum but the Maserati GranTurismo S is one masterpiece that belongs on the road. Tahsin Momin

Leo (Jul 23-Aug 22)

You’ll feel a need to isolate yourself from socialising, but don’t be surprised if your mates invade your privacy. Don’t lose your cool, they mean well.

Virgo (Aug 23- Sep 22)

People around you want to tag along everywhere and anywhere you go. It’s not a bad thing; they just want your company. Try not to get worked up.

Libra (Sep 23- Oct 22)

You’re used to having things your way; that very quality in you will change at the beginning of this week. You’ll gain a different perspective about people.

Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21)

Multitasking may be your forte, but you might want to throw in the towel before you burn yourself out for good. Some rest and relaxation is due.

Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21)

Your self-confidence gets shot down at the beginning of the week. But you’ve still got some days left to pick up your slack. Don’t sweat it.

FFPB Fantasy Football Players of Bangladesh (FFPB)

Fantasy League Top 10 after Gameweek 28 Rank Team 1 Da_Dreamers 2 Dream United FC 3 Underdog FC 4 Firehouse 5 Tomahawk Galacticos 6 mclovin..

7 ABRAR FC 8 EBeastmode 9 Noob FC 10 FC Wenger 49

Suddenly you’re torn between career and duties. This could cause you to feel crabby this week.

Take a breather.

Manager Fazle Rabbi Fahim Al Ifran Rahim Shazzadur Rahman Quamrul Hassan_FFPB Rax Rahman Asif Khan Abrar Moeen Ibrahim Mohammad Fathin Shadman Priyo Z Mission

GW TOT 0 1,849 0 1,801 0 1,790 0 1,773 0 1,773 0 1,765 0 1,750 0 1,748 0 1,748 0 1,742

The code to join FFPB fantasy league is 975-707

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan19)

It’s a bad idea to take loans from friends this week.. Some people are very good at detecting deception; better watch your back.

Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18)

You’re really not the extreme type; something will bring out the inner loony in you.

Pisces (Feb 19-Mar20)

You’ll feel a little destructive midweek. If you’re handling various projects, better snap out of it.

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HOT TOPIC

TALKIN

THE TALK As long as people have the ability to speak, they will gossip. Love it or hate it, it’s here to stay. This week, we talk the pros, cons, and pitfalls of our national pastime

story By

Munira Fidai, Natasha Rahman, N Anita Amreen

Wikimedia/Normal Rockwell

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HOT TOPIC

NG

K

7

enough of that!

Whatever the time, whatever your circumstances, gossipers will be there.

However, it must be understood that gossip mongers only try to take the right of privacy away from you. Once you decide that you have let these nosy ones enough leeway into your life and have had just about enough of them, here’s what you can do to keep them at bay

In your face

When gossip mongers try to pry information out of you, put on your poker face. Pretend you know nothing about whatever they are hinting at and get them to spill all they have on you, instead. They will either get second thoughts and move away, or shy away from you altogether.

Spice it up

Ever heard of the saying “paying others back in the same coin?” When you see a nosy person coming to snoop around in your affairs, give them more, preferably irrelevant, made up meat to chew upon. Tell them outrageous things that no one in their right minds would believe about you. If they get that you’re trying to disillusion them, good for them, otherwise sit back and watch them make fools out of themselves.

Turn up the heat

There are times when subtlety needs to take a hike and words work best blunt.

Tell them, in so many words, that it is none of their sweet business. It may take some courage on your part and you may be coloured as snooty but it will put them off your backs forever and that’s a prize worth having. Munira fidai

time to change the mindset Gossip. It’s wrong and rebuked, but still very much a part of us. Whether you like it or not, someone is out there yapping about someone else. But is that always bad a thing?

During Shakespeare’s times, a “gossip” was someone who would be a confidante to a woman going through childbirth, in order to comfort her when she’s in pain, listen to her rant, vent and simply just talk about what she is going through.

If we think about it, not much has changed. Imagine living in a new city, joining a new school, moving up from one class to another- to forge friendships, you need to find people you can connect with.

We discuss the Olsen twins, The

Kardashians, George Clooneycelebrities we have never seen, yet we feel an intimate relationship with them. We analyse their lives with others, sparking up conversations.

Sometimes, being friendly with your teacher, helping him/her take her books to her room and having a good rapport with everyone, will earn you a few dirty looks. But what’s wrong with having good networking skills to get ahead?

Some want to study hard, work hard, and get ahead with their academic merits. Others may want to move ahead through their socialising communication skills.

Instead of turning against each other, let’s scoot over, grab a few cookies, and gossip, shall we? Natasha Rahman

four types of gossipmongers Despite the myriad distractions available for the sexes, somehow the guilty pleasure of gossiping turns out to be the most enjoyable form of entertainment.

Any information, no matter how dull, can be turned into a breathlessly exciting share-worthy escapade.

Whether it's a frantically whispered secret, or a late-night gabfest between two besties, straying away from the perils of gossipmonging can be quite a task for some. This week TMAG gives its readers a lowdown on four of the most cattiest gossipmongers:

The Gossipity

The Gossipity's probably the sneakiest of the lot. Forever upset and full of sympathy, this one casually begins the gossip fest with sullen-faced innocence. Every story, be it the ugly pants worn by your neighbour to the ghastly make-up of the bride-to-be is a reason for their misery. “I feel so sorry for ...” or “It broke my heart to see ..” are two common phrases their gossip sessions are injected with. Instead of openly demeaning others, these types use the clever tactic of pretending to “sympathise.”

Wikimedia/Thomas Derrick

The Gossipolice

When there's any piece of gossipworthy news, the first 911 call is made to the gossipolice. This one is always in the loop about everybody's break-ups and their makeups. Also known as the Perez Hilton of the gossiping world, this one knows it all, and dishes it all with shameless abandon.

The Gossipeeper

Much like the silent Facebook stalker who secretly goes through AND shares all your posts, the Gossipeeper is always found inconspicuously lurking in places they're not wanted. This peeping Tom will sneakily hunt for gossip like it's nobody's business. Once their armoury

of secret is well stalked, they'll carefully and slyly dislodge rumour balls in places they're most likely to cause damage.

The Gossinvader

This over excited, overzealous one cares about everything and everyone. This parasite is ready to suck out gossip from everyone from the man standing next to them in queue to the aunty who complains about the rising prices of vegetables. Their main aim in life is to make it big in the gossip industry by becoming the next Gossipolice or die trying. Beware because their tongues are lethal weapons that spread rumours faster than you spread butter.

N Anita Amreen

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written in the Stars

Kumar Sangakkara’s Visit to Sunbeams

This week, TMAG has a treat for all the cricket fanatics out there. The celeb under the limelight is none other than KUMAR SANGAKKARA, the ex-captain of the Sri Lankan Cricket Team. Need we say more?

Read on, as MUNIRA FIDAI narrates his cricketing highs and lows

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who do more important things than I do, and the world needs all these combinations.” He believes “real life” for him, will start when his cricketing career is over. “I can either sit at home and think about my past glories in cricket, or I can pursue other things that school has helped me prepare for- something else equally meaningful for me.” He added that not all important things

“

nominated leadership role doesn’t mean you’re not a leader.” He shared that the Sri Lankan coaches encourage all players to think like leaders, which is why Lasith Malinga saved the day at the lower points of the Pak-Lanka match, this Asia Cup. “It’s all about situational leadership, and I believe that real life people are better heroes than anyone you see on TV.”

I wanted to be Brian Lara. At the end of the day, I am Kumar Sangakkara.

come on camera or are newsworthy.

But if you can change one life for the better, then life becomes worthwhile.

Unfortunately, not everyone makes it in their chosen field. “What happens if you don’t have one fall-back plan, or two fall back plans? This is where algebra, history, education in general will help you,” he concluded.

When asked why he stepped down from captaincy, he humbly replied: “It was time for someone else to take over.

It is very good to realise that your time is up and that you’ve got to move on.” He admitted Angelo Matthews was his first choice to take up captaincy. Speaking on leadership, he said “Not having a

“

The Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Friendship Cricket Association (SBFCA) organised a short visit by the wicketkeeper/ batsman of the Sri Lanka National cricket team, Kumar Sangakkara to Sunbeams On March 4. He was accompanied by his team manager, Michael De Soyza and Francis DeSilva, secretary of SBFCA. Sangakkara addressed an audience of over 500 elated Sunbeams students and answered questions with delightful humour and grace.

Looking back on his school days, Sangakkara reminisced that he had been interested in several different sports such as badminton, tennis, swimming, table tennis alongside cricket. He was a senior prefect at his school and received a gold medal as the best All-Round-Student of the Year in Trinity College. It wasn’t until he was 17 that he finally started focussing solely on cricket. When asked how he perceives the importance of education in life, Sangakkara answered that the foundational courses have helped him prepare for life in general.

He said: “You are never meant to be just one thing in life. There are many opportunities that life throws at you.

Education prepares you to handle it all.”

He admitted, surprisingly, that cricket may be his bread and butter for now, but it wasn’t his entire life. This is one part of his life.

He adds: “There are so many people

He said he grew up idolising Sir Vivien Richards, before Brian Lara came in. He remembered feeling like he had a real shot at national cricket when he saw the 1996 Sri Lankan team perform at the World Cup. “How do you deal with the mental pressure on the field and expectations of the crowd?” he was asked. He replied that expectations were a part of life as a cricketer, and a privilege. “If the public doesn’t watch us and expect things, we are nobodies. How you fulfil their adulation is up to each player, but it should be fulfilled on and off the pitch - by not living in a bubble, by understanding the reality of things. We

have a job to do at the end of the day and that is to represent our country with pride and display that pride on the field.

You need lots of self confidence.”

When asked what the highlight of his current trip to Bangladesh was, he said with a charming smile, “This visit right now, in Sunbeams.” After the loud jubilation over this answer finally died down, he continued on, “If you can be a part of an exchange of ideas that can help people later in life, I think that’s more important than any game of cricket.”

He shared that the best advice he received since starting his sporting career was from his father who said: “If you ever devote a lot of time to something, and have a passion for it, ensure that it is done, as best as it can be, by you.”

As a parting advice to students, he said: “Everyone is different, and different things will work for you. Be who you are, and get the best out of your individuality. You may want to be like someone else. I wanted to be Brian Lara. At the end of the day, I am Kumar Sangakkara. All everyone wanted from me was for me to be the best I could be.”

Aren’t we all glad that he is what he is now, dear readers? Needless to say, the students and teachers of Sunbeams had a grand, grand time.

TMAG believes our readers had as much fun reading! n

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YOU WRITE IT

non fiction

book

Cosmic Curios

fiction

Comic

“This book marries a child’s wonder to a genius’s intellect,” says Sunday Times on Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time. The international bestseller, published first in Great Britain in 1988, will surely offer a unique experience for many readers.

A friend had told Hawking that every equation that was to be

included in the book would halve the sales. Hawking resolved to only include one: E=mc^2. This made an incredibly positive difference on readers without a background in physics, as almost every concept could be non-technically understood.

As the reader flips through the chapters, one’s appreciation for Hawking goes beyond his work in quantum physics; the reader begins to respect the exceptional teacher behind the words. Complex concepts are explained through very clear descriptions, and literally a world of information is compressed into brief chapters of a 211-page book.

The read will become slightly challenging. This reader personally faced a few instances where a second skim of the page was required.

A Brief History of Time is both enjoyable and frustrating. The early chapters about the expanding universe and black holes are clear, and have a

seasoning of wit and humour.

Once a substantial amount of theories across history have been discussed, Hawking side tracks into a few of his own theories, and in the process, both compliments and jabs at the concepts of religion and philosophy.

For any enthusiast looking to follow the thought process that runs through Hawking’s gifted mind, this is the book to read.

Disclaimer: this book is “not” an easy read, but it is definitely exceptional and worthwhile. Highly recommended for those students interested in physics or studying physics, the bigger picture might provide some much needed inspiration amid the formula filled textbooks.

A Brief History of Time is available for download in the form of an ebook, which is recommended, because five bookstores across three countries did not yield this reader a personal copy. afshan Sattar

Dream a little dream of me Meet Fiona Thompson, a misunderstood 18 year old who always seems to have a rain cloud above her head. Her misery comes in the form of a nagging stepmother, the family dog who keeps eating her dinner, and of course last but not least, her school where she is constantly picked on.

She seeks her father’s company but her stepmother manages to take away whatever is left of it. The rain cloud above her head starts thundering especially when she’s in school; the kids in her batch would frame her for things she hadn’t done, thus giving her a bad rep in front of their teacher, Sister Mary.

Her escape from reality gives her the peace of mind she craves for. She makes all the calls in her dreams, but unfortunately for Fiona, the only thing that is beyond her control is its length. Her wretched days soon come to an end when she meets Lia Riolo, a new student in West Catholic.

YU+ME Dream gives a basic concept of adolescence, peer pressure, and social stigma. The artwork is somewhat primitive, regardless; Megan Rose Gedris was able to capture the issues that crop up in the lives of young adults.

YU+ME Dream is an 850 page manga that is available for reading at www. rosalarian.com. Rubab Nayeem Khan

The Gossipmonger’s Gossip It was almost time for the weekly kitty party and Shiuli was getting ready. She got into her new red car and drove it to the party. She didn’t care about the fact that her registration papers for the car were incomplete, after all she hadn’t bought this car for the sake of travelling, but because now she could show something off. She was planning on making it the hot topic for this kitty party.

She is usually punctual, but she was running late today. But that was of course fine by her, as she was wearing her new red sari. Her late entrance would attract more attention and then she would have a chance to talk about her sari and how much it cost too.

She was planning it in her mind, as to how she would talk too, about her new clutch, which was imported from Bangkok.

All of this was very important for her because she didn’t want people talking about her sense of dressing, like she did about other people. As she entered the party she looked for her gossip circle and on the way, gestured hellos at everyone else. She reached their table where she stood behind Mrs Beauty.

Everyone but Mrs Beauty saw her, and thus they all stopped talking, except Mrs Beauty, of course.

“Have you seen the saris Shiuli wears? She does not even match her make-up with her clothes.” exclaimed Mrs Beauty.

Shocked, Shiuli stood there. After an awkward silence and much apologising, Shiuli walked out of the party, finally believing in karma.

Khatidja Hussein

Let’s Gossip about Gossip!

Gossip is like spreading Nutella on a piece of bread. We “enjoy” doing it, and we devour it hungrily, with pleasure. Gossiping prevails not only in school, but it becomes a part of our lives, as natural as having breakfast!

Be it in-between classes, in the cafeteria, at a party, or over the phone, through text or chat, we’re somehow always gossiping about something or the other. You just can’t restrain! Sharing that juicy detail that you’ve just heard is a must!

Why people do it?

It’s believed that girls are more prone to gossip than boys, but it’s undeniable that we have all felt this kind of impulse. But why do we do it?

Ridiculously enough, the foremost reason for gossiping is boredom. We just don’t have interesting enough topics to talk about and hence, we gossip about someone’s personal affairs. Gossiping has a domino effect; those who are gossiped about may, in turn, gossip to take revenge.

Other reasons include being the centre of attention by spreading a particular gossip, and indulging in it to feel accepted by peers. Some students have the notion that they have to gossip to be actively involved in whatever is going on in school, or rather, their friends’ lives.

Good or Bad? Generally, it is assumed that gossiping is bad. It leads to humiliation, tears, and exclusion of someone from a group, and bad choices in extreme cases. It has however been proved that gossiping can also be beneficial to society, when you’re expressing concern about an untrustworthy person and warning others of him/her. When you see others behaving selfishly, for example, your heart rate increases, which is then alleviated when you tell someone else about what you just saw. So in this case, the nobler people are more likely to gossip when they see something they disapprove of.

So stop and ponder on what you’re doing. Differentiate between the good gossip and the bad gossip.

How would you feel if someone ran all over school, using a personal detail of your life as their source of enjoyment? But would you judge the person who’s gossiping for what they do? Put yourself in their shoes, and you’ll have some food for thought! namira shameem

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10 tmag

stereo

The goodsheet Three Days Grace Lost in you

Tunes and tones music news

The midnight’s beats

Tuning: Standard (EADGBe) D A

I always knew you’d come back to get me

D B

You always knew it wouldn’t be easy

D

A

To go back to the start to see where it all began

D

B

Or end up at the bottom to watch how it all ends

Em B D

You tried to lie and say I was everything

Em A D

I remember when I said I’m nothing without you

Em

I’m nothing without you

D

B

A

Em

Somehow I found a way to get lost in you

DB

Let me inside

A

Em

D

B

A

Em

D

A

B

Em

let me get close to you

Change your mind, I’d get lost if you want me to

Somehow I found, a way to get lost in you

TOP The

10

Rumour Mill Mix

1. Rumours Lindsey Lohan 2. A Piece of me Britney Spears 3. Loke bole, bole re Hason Raja 4. Rumour has it The Glee Cast 5. Ajkal tere mere pyaar OST Brahmacharya 6. You tell me The Go-betweens 7. Whispering Grass (Don’t tell the trees) Windor Davies and Don Estelle 8. Round goes the gossip Focus 9. Talk on Corners

The Corrs

10. Something to talk about

Kelly Clarkson

TM AG TU ESDAY, M ARC H 11 , 201 4

The underground music scene in Dhaka is never a dull or dreary one. If anything, it’s a vibrant platform that’s given recognition to some of the most prominent bands in the scene today.

Among the innumerable artistes, one band distinctly shines out and over the past few months, 12 A.M’s name is on every music enthusiast’s lips.

12 A.M. is a Dhaka-based rock band founded in 2009 by Shaik Salekin aka the Bluesman, former guitarist of the renowned band Lalon. 12 A.M. was originally started as a musical experiment between Salekin and some of his friends.

Over a year ago, Salekin left Lalon and started focusing full time on 12 A.M. Since then, the band has been a regular in the underground rock shows, as well

as unplugged lounge gigs.

The band’s current line-up comprises of Salekin on vocals and guitars, Andy A Rozz on vocals and bass, Risul Islam Rimon on the keyboard, and Abrar Athar on the drums. Over the years, the band has featured many local artistes and musicians as guest members in their many performances.

Since coming into the scene, 12 A.M. gained instant recognition because of their funky and upbeat cover numbers.

And as the band’s sound moulded into a more mature form, 12 A.M. started focusing on their originals. In 2013, their debut single “Biporit” was released in the mixed band album “Rockaholic.”

“Biporit,” is a brilliant track that’s

spotlight

The Vehement Poetess Farzana Wahid – better known as Shayan, has blessed the Bangladeshi music scene with a distinctive dimension. Exclusive in its truest sense, her music will take you on an all-encompassing journey, touching almost every aspect of life. Politics, poets, philosophy, love, life, stress and setbacks, she sings about them all.

She might catch you off guard with her buzz cut and blackened attire, but soon enough she will mesmerise you with just a guitar, occasionally a harmonica and a sharp-witted, scintillating voice. Being labelled under the “Jibonmukhi Gaan” banner, listeners stack her albums next to the likes of Kabir Suman and Mousumi Bhowmik. With two solo albums, first being “Shayaner Gaan” and the second

being a double-disc maestro “Aabar Takiye Dyakh” and “Shopno Aamar Haath Dhoro,” she has established a great sense of poeticism, both lyrically and compositionally. Additionally, she has a third and a collaborative album called “Just Wahidz” which featured her brother and musical arranger Ershad Wahid, and her cousin, the musical genius, Habib Wahid. In that album, she pays her heartfelt tribute to her father, Khosru Wahid and her uncle, Ferdous Wahid. While she is currently working on two fresh albums, this will be a great time to catch up on her music; her stories; her work of art.

Zaki Adnan

bound to make a fan out of anyone who gives it a listen. It is definitely among some of the best alternative rock songs that have come out last year. While the band has already finished working on some of their tracks, “Smarto,” “Huhu,” and “Humayun” are still among the unreleased ones.

12 A.M. plans to further work on their singles and hope to release a debut album within the near future. If you want to find out more about the band, check out their Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/12ambd, or at www.dugdugi.com.bd/12am to get updates on their upcoming gigs, cause there’s no better way to see how good they are unless you see them live!

Azfar Rahman

tmag 11

playroom

WE RECOMMEND anime

Just imagine, an “electronic system,” becoming the judge, jury, and executioner of the society. Where every action of every individual is monitored and scored through algorithms to decide the kind of life a person can (must) live. This is the world of “Psycho-Pass,” where by scanning the natural imprints of the human brain (Hue), the Sybil system can crack the code to people’s inclinations, aptitudes, and psychological

Gadget

Taking justice to a whole new level wellbeing. As a result, crime has almost been eradicated, and employment is practically pre-determined based on the person’s metrics. It has become a world where law itself is life.

Though everything is controlled by the Sybil system, with the help of Hue scanners placed literally everywhere, there are still some things that required the human touch. And one of them is the crime investigation bureau.

Their job is only to locate the “latent criminals” (people who harbour conflicted feelings, regardless of their actions) along with the dogs and pull the trigger if the system allows it.

But what if someone can actually bypass these scanners, keeping their hue clear and commit crimes? Logically a human being would react, but would the system do anything which doesn’t consider human actions into it’s reasoning?

Nasif Chowdhury

Khandokar Ashif uz Zaman

WONDER WAND If you don’t have the patience to sit around and read reports, what do you do? You make presentations. But instead of moving around with a big portfolio to make your case, here’s an efficient way of going about it.

Meet your all-purpose presenter Prolink PWP102G. The name might catch you off-guard and make you think of the days when you were young and refused to associate alphabets with numbers while doing math. Don’t let the name scare you though, because the Prolink PWP102G makes an excellent case for itself.

Based on a simple plug and play interface, the wireless presenter has a transmission range up to 20 metres from virtually any direction. A brilliant laser light is there to help you highlight the important aspects in your presentation.

comic strip

This “bug” of the system becomes the catalyst for the most interesting character in the anime; Makishima Shogo, the serial killer antagonist. Shogo wholeheartedly rejects the notion of suppressing ones true self in the name of order and sees meaning in the vortex of chaos that exists inside the human mind.

At its core, the anime revolves around the question “do you want a free society or an orderly society?” And in the world of Psycho-Pass, that values order above all else, such thoughts are definitely considered as criminal behaviours. To talk about it without giving out spoilers is quite hard as it gets straight to the point only after two minutes into the first episode. Every moment of it is packed with nerve wrecking mysteries, and it is definitely worth watching.

With the standard “next,” “previous,” “on,” and “off” buttons, you even get volume buttons on the side to manage your audio. What’s more, you can start, stop, and hide your slides (black screen) at the push of a button. If all that isn’t enough, the presenter has an OFN (Optical Finger Navigation), which means that you can use your hand-held wireless presenter to move the cursor around.

Smartness can’t be measured in monetary value but if you put a price on it, it would most certainly be more than Tk2,500 right? Well, good news for us; Tk2,500 is all you have to pay if you want to get your hands on one of these “wonder” tools. You also get 36 months of warranty and a crafty little pouch to carry your presenter in. You can pick up one of these at your nearest Computer Source outlet. ASM fOYSAL

MOVIE

They are not here to fish Due to the recent Marvel phenomena, the Oscar nominated movie “Captain Phillips” does sound like something similar to Captain America; overflowing with patriotism, heroics, heart quenching suspense and flavoured with fiery action. In a sense, it is. But then again, it can’t be any more different.

The whole movie is a dramatic take on the real-life hijacking of an unarmed intercontinental container ship, Maersk Alabama (2009) by the Somalian pirates on the way to Mombasa, round the Horn of Africa. The captain of the Alabama, Captain Phillips was played by the renowned Tom Hanks who had to strategically think of the best possible way to get out of this mess without harming anyone, not even the pirates. And during the two hours of the magnetic screenplay, we can see him continuously trying and failing, which eventually lead to a traumatising experience.

This is not just a simple retelling of the actual events, but a masterpiece. The storyline makes you feel the hatred, the fear, the adrenaline, but especially the sympathy towards the Somalian pirates. The acting by the pirates’ leader Barkhad Abdi, as Abduwali Muse in the movie, was simply mind-blowing even though it is the first time we are seeing him on screen. He too shared the ideology of Captain Phillips, to get things over with as soon as possible without harming anyone. And at times, he would even go against his own crew of four. But what touches the heart most is the sadness in his eyes whenever he is forced to realise the purpose of his being.

When Captain Phillips asks him that there must be something else he could do instead of hijacking and asking for ransom, Muse calmly replied, “Maybe in America” with a faint hopeless smile on his face.

Throughout the movie, there are such lines and situations that just make you think otherwise; beyond the conventional thoughts. And as a result, the end product is something that one must watch, to know about the lives past the known borders. It is that good.

Khandokar Ashif uz Zaman

TM AG TU E SDAY, M ARC H 1 1 , 20 1 4

12 tmag

TEENARAMA

TMAG tells you to

Choose or Lose

Listology

My boyfriend and I HAVE BEEN TOGETHER for four years. Fights break out often, mostly because he feels suffocated. He thinks that I am the reason he can’t hang out with his friends like he used to. What should I do?

choose

He just needs his own space. Talk it out. If he misses his friends, tell him to hang out with them more often.

five types of friends It doesn’t really matter if you’re the most unpopular kid in school, or if you have fewer friends on Facebook than the hair on Vin Diesel’s head, you will have these categories of friends in your life. This week, we bring you five kinds of friends that you will need; the good and the bad

I love my girlfriend a lot but sometimes she blurts out comments in front of my friends, putting me in an awkward position and leaving me embarrassed. What should I do?

Rad Sharar

T

choose

Firstly, you should talk to her and address the situation. Make her aware of the things you think she is doing wrong. Correct her that she is not to do this in front of your friends. Remember, your partner always brings out the best in you and vice versa.

The superficial These friends will be by your side as long as you see them. In essence, compare them to the average pair of scissors; never there when you need them most. Otherwise, you’ll rarely find a selfie of yourself without them. However, unless you’re dependant, they mean no harm.

The secret keeper

Got a sticky relationship ish? Let us help you make up your mind. Email your story today to tmag@dhakatribune.com

These friends can be considered as your own, personal dropbox.

Usually the friend who knows you best and for the greatest period of time, you always tend to keep them updated on every second of your life, even your deepest, darkest secrets. They are the definition of relief, trust and support, made to last a lifetime. You definitely need them, to diffuse the bomb inside you whenever you’re ticking near nuclear.

The psychiatrist Whenever life’s spinning out of control and you feel lost like a Rebecca Black song, these friends shall be there to bring you back to Earth. They help you fix your priorities and give you that reality check you need.

Nothing gives them more pleasure than hearing the words “you’re right” from your lips. Thing is, they usually are. Keep them around; they’ll help remind you that life’s not all sugar, spice and everything nice.

The cheerleader

1

For the millionth time, I wore a printed bra underneath a see-through top.

2

I got told off in class for picking my nose.

3

Whether you’re breaking your best Flappy bird score, or going for an Oscar, these friends will never leave your side. They know your true potential, and force you to strive for it even when you didn’t believe in yourself. Simply precious, they’re always there cheering on when you need them.

4

The wild child

5

Late night parties, crashing weddings, or whatever crazy, YOLO ideas that you think of doing, they’re “in” without a second thought! These friends are exactly what you need after a long, hard week to blow off steam, and they never let you down.

TM AG TU ESDAY, M ARC H 11 , 201 4

Blush Much?

I had way too much chotpoti and fuchkas an hour before midterms and it gave me acidity. In my desperate attempts to hold back my fart, I let out a squeaky one in the middle of the exam.

A friend’s guardian came to pick her up from school. I pointed at her and said “Hey, you’re maid is here.” She replied “That’s my mother.”

I got kicked right between the legs by a female friend after I went through her bag without her permission.

Email your confession today to tmag@dhakatribune.com