LONDON, June 28: Rapper 50 Cent has joined the cast of boxing movie ‘Southpaw’ as a promoter member of Jake Gyllenhaal’s character.
The ‘Candy Shop’ rapper will star alongside Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, Lupita Nyong’o and Rachel McAdams in the boxing movie, reported Contactmusic.
The 38-year-old rapper has already begun filming under director Antoine Fuqua in Pittsburgh.
The film centres on the welterweight boxer as he struggles to improve his career while battling with substance abuse.
Nyong’o’s social worker character will care for the sportsman’s daughter and her profession will eventually lead her to become involved in the life of the fallen boxer. (PTI)
50 Cent joins ‘Southpaw’
Carlos Slim buys out AT&T’s USD 5.6 bn stake in America Movil
NEW YORK, June 28: Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim has bought out US telephone operator AT&T’s USD 5.6 billion stake in telecommunications firm America Movil, the companies have announced.
The acquisition of AT&T’s shares in the company represent 8.27 per cent of America Movil’s capital stock, according to a company statement yesterday.
“Upon consummation of the transaction authorized today by the board of directors, AT&T will no longer be a shareholder of America Movil,” it added.
The transaction involved selling all of AT&T’s 72,822,656 Series L shares of America Movil and its 5,739,341,928 Series AA shares of the company to Slim’s holding company Inmobiliaria Carso.
AT&T had gradually reduced its stake in America Movil in recent years.
Last year, the American group sold more than 1.5 million shares.
The latest operation comes as AT&T seeks to acquire satellite television operator DirecTV for USD 48.5 billion.
The tie-up announced in May would create a potent rival to cable TV giant Comcast, which, itself, hopes to expand its coverage with the pending takeover of Time Warner Cable.
DirecTV has about 20 million customers, making it the number-two pay-TV company in the United States. It also has more than 18 million customers in Latin America.
The sale to America Movil gives AT&T more liquidity to finance its purchase of DirecTV.
America Movil, also known by its stock symbol AMX, has focused on transactions in Europe.
In May, it offered to buy the 45 per cent of Telekom Austria not owned by America Movil or its partner, the Austrian government holding company OeIAG.
The pan-American wireless giant has also struck a deal to combine its 26.8 per cent stake in Telekom Austria with the 28.4 percent held by OeIAG, giving it effective control.
Slim, one of the world’s richest men, was forced to abandon in October a multibillion-euro hostile takeover bid for KPN, one of the largest fixed and mobile telecom operators in The Netherlands and the third-biggest in Germany and Belgium. (AGENCIES)
^^^^^
horoscope
Sunday June 29-2014
Aries : You can make a difference to others’ lives. Considerate and thoughtful, today, you will be treasured more than ever as a boss, colleague, parent or beloved. Utilise this exchange of energy to sort out difficult issues. Ganesha gives a thumbs up to mega projects.
Taurus : There is a strong possibility of receptivity and sensitivity in your love life. On the down side, your negativity may lead to mediocre results. You are a fire-fighter when it comes to others’ problems, but can forget digging a well for your own home, says Ganesha.
Gemini : Today, you will toil as if you have to conquer Mt. Everest. And you will, says Ganesha. You may not get a standing ovation or a medal of honour for your hard work and dedication, but you will be lavishly appreciated by your superiors and colleagues. The task will require a lot of character and even a few changes in your disposition, but you will do this with ease.
Cancer : When the going gets tough, it’s better to go with the flow. But you belong to a school of thought that believes that in such troubled times, it’s better to stay out of water altogether. Since it is not your day today, you are likely to postpone all important decisions and work. Ganesha approves.
Leo : ‘One small drop at a time fills an ocean over time’. Remember this lesson, says Ganesha, and continue to concentrate your efforts on your goal without losing heart. There may be times when you sit back and think twice, but know that all it takes is a small effort and that is what shall enable you to reach the zenith. Ganesha advises you to keep on trying, and success shall indeed come to you.
Virgo : Today finds you ambitious and meticulous. Actions will not speak – they’ll roar! Your planning and scruples will set the pace at work. Expect pats on the back from your bosses and a round of cheers from your peers.
Libra : Your concern for your family surmounts all else, that much Ganesha knows. Today, you will fulfil your filial duties in all that you undertake. As Ganesha rightly points out: All good things begin at home, including your fortune and good luck.
Scorpio : The target is locked in and the arrow is shot. It is only a matter of time before Cupid celebrates and hits the bull’s eye and you find yourself in the mush of things. Sentiments and romance will be the order of the day. There is a good chance that marriage proposals or new relationships will find their footing today, says Ganesha.
Sagittarius : The way you keep your interests alive will keep your mind occupied. Leisure activities and by-lines will by-pass the mundane routine today, foretells Ganesha. Pamper yourself by doing what you like, be it gardening, cooking or even plain old reading. Ganesha also sees a heavy meal with friends late in the day today.
Capricorn : New projects and partnership will keep you busy today, says Ganesha. If a meeting is scheduled, you may be praised vociferously for your ability to make the right decision at the right time. You may also bag rewards for the commendable efforts you’d put in the past.
Aquarius : You will prove yourself today by staying ahead of your rivals in all ways. You will conquer your frustrations, and will soon be raring to go. Your pleasing demeanour endears you to others and you win admiration from all quarters, says Ganesha.
Pisces : An action-packed day awaits you, busy as you will be corresponding with old contacts, telephonic interviews, organising meetings and scheduling tasks, says Ganesha. Do not forget to breathe!
MLA Surjit Singh Slathia addressing public gathering at Barota Camp on Saturday.
MLA Surjit Singh Slathia addressing public gathering at Barota Camp on Saturday.
Patients operated for SICS during eye camp organised by Dulhasti Power Station at NHPC Hospital, Kishtwar.
Patients operated for SICS during eye camp organised by Dulhasti Power Station at NHPC Hospital, Kishtwar.
Of Scent and Sex
Maneka Sanjay Gandhi
Unmarried women wear more perfume than married ones and the same applies to men. One of the obvious reasons is that the human uses odour to attract the opposite sex. The booming perfume industry attests to the belief that odours can attract potential suitors. Our sense of smell helps rule our love lives from the day we are born. Three month old babies know, long before their eyes reopen, whether they have been handed over to a nanny or remain nuzzled in their mother’s arms. Studies say women subconsciously use this sense more than men when seeking a partner. And the younger we are, the more acute our sense of smell.
Smell plays a large role in how we interpret the world. Our olfactory nerves that go to the roof of our nose are the only ones (besides our optical nerves) that go straight to the brain also use smells in different ways to attract and repel suitors. From February to March is mating season for skunks and that translates into “skunk smell”, considered one of the worst smells in the world! The stink occurs when males try to court females who may not be “in the mood.” When that happens, female skunks generate an aroma to repel their rejected suitors. Fortunately, the season for romance only lasts a short time.
Penguins use their sense of smell to determine whether they are related to a potential mate. Researchers from the University of Chicago say penguins’ sense of smell helps them find their way back to their nests and mates in crowded colonies. Penguins, although they live in colonies of thousands of birds, live in monogamous pairs, important for rearing of their young, since parents frequently take turns leaving the nest to gather food. Despite the size of the colony, penguin mates are able to locate each other even after being away for days in the ocean foraging for food. Because offspring usually return to the same colony for nesting, there is a possibility of inbreeding among penguin siblings, something that is avoided by using their smell mechanism.
Scientists believed that birds had no sense of smell. That view shifted only towards the end of the 20th Century, as researchers learned that vultures, kiwis and albatrosses use smell to find food, and homing pigeons used smell more than sight to find their lofts. Now it has emerged that birds use smells for mating as well. Crested auklets, small seabirds that live in the northern waters, produce a citrus odour from their feathers during the mating season – a sign that they are ready for a partner. Birds have preen-glands near their tails. These have oil and birds extract it to rub on their feathers and legs. It was thought till recently that this was done to make feathers stronger.
Now, according to the current issue of Animal Behaviour, scientists say it is done to communicate the state of health to potential suitors. “This study shows a strong connection between the way birds smell near the beginning of the breeding season – when birds are choosing mates – and their reproductive success for the entire season. Simply put, males that smell more ‘male-like’ and females that smell more ‘female-like’ have higher genetic reproductive success.” Dark-eyed junco females, for instance, go less for size and plumage and base their selection on how their suitors smelled. A study by Lund University, Sweden shows that Blue petrels, monogamous Antarctic seabirds, can recognise their mate and their nest using smell alone, and return to their nests under cover of darkness – and their nose are even capable of smelling which mate will produce young with the best immune systems.
Meadow voles give off a fragrance during mating season if they are virgins. So do lemmings, lizards, spiders and bees. According to the journal Biological Reviews, many males can smell whether the female is a virgin and if not, how many times she has mated. Virgin females smell very different from those that have had multiple partners because they produce very different chemicals.
Even the insect world is heady with the aroma of romance. Mated female leaf miner flies express their status by producing lower levels of an aromatic chemical called 3,7-dimethylnonadecane than unmated females. Mated bee females emit a chemical that virgin females do not.
Studies show smell is crucial for the successful reproduction of many species.
Animals waft the scent of their sexual status in three ways.
First, after meeting, female animals may produce a scent that repels other males.
Second, females stop emitting male-enticing pheromones after they have mated. The gypsy moth does this so the pregnant female can flutter away without being pestered by other amorous males.
Third, the male applies chemicals to females while mating so that other males are warned off. Fruit fly males transfer a chemical called 7-tricosene to the female. This makes the female far less attractive to other males.
One species of male bees coat the female’s wings with a smell, after they mate with her, that marks them out as ex-virgins.
Alas, in some insects it is impossible to fool the males because the changes of smell in the female are permanent. After mating once, female corn mealworms suffer a significant drop in the emission of pheromones they emit to attract males. The levels rise again during each day that passes, but they never again reach the levels expressed by virgin mealworms.
Radhay Sham Sharma, Vice Chairman, J&K State Advisory Board for Development of Kissans and others during the Kissan Mela.
Radhay Sham Sharma, Vice Chairman, J&K State Advisory Board for Development of Kissans and others during the Kissan Mela.
More with less…
Gauri Chhabra
One thing that we all are hard pressed on is TIME. We keep complaining and cribbing about the paucity of time and things keep piling on our plates. Have we ever though that there are so many things on our plate that can be done better and more efficiently by our team mates and it would give us the padding time to think and strategize.
Therefore, if you are a leader, do not micro manage, just let go and DELEGATE. Give away some of the repetitive redundant tasks. However, what you delegate, how much you delegate and how do you make others accountable is a tight rope walk.
Here are a few tips:
Delegate tasks that are tactical:
You should be using your time on the most critical tasks for the business, and the tasks that only you can do. Delegate what you can’t do, and what doesn’t interest you. For example, if you are not-tech savvy, you should consider delegating your social media, website, and SEO activities.
Pick the best person to delegate to:
Listen and observe. Learn the traits, values, and characteristics of those who will perform well when you delegate to them. That means give the work to people who deliver, not the people who are the least busy.Some tasks can go to a lower rung employee, or some might need to go to a supervisor. They just need to have the knowledge and skills to do the job. You want it done right. If the project is successful, the employee gets the credit. If it fails, you are accountable. This requires hiring people with the right skills, not the least expensive or friends and family.It always starts with trust. Along with trust, you also have to give the people to whom you delegate the chance to do a job their way. Of course the work must be done well, but your way or the highway is not the right way.
Delegate responsibility and authority, not just the task.
Explain the task thread bare:
The key is striking the right balance between explaining so much detail that the listener is insulted, and not explaining enough for someone to grasp what is expected. Think back to when you were learning, when you were a fresher.
Provide autonomy and fix accountability:
What tends to happen is the unsure or savvy person continually asks questions to the point where you end up doing most of the work. This is called “reverse delegation.” Through time, you end up taking on some if not all of the duties you gave the person. You end up spending more time on the project than you would if you have just did it yourself from the beginning. You get questions like, “Can you set that up for me?” even though they should be able to do it for themselves. If you come across this type of situation, instead of making the decision for them or taking back the task, go over the various possibilities and put the ball back into their court. If you ask for something and somehow you walked away with the responsibility, you have experienced reverse delegation. Don’t give in unless the person truly cannot do the task asked of them. If needed, assign the task to someone else without demoralizing the person.
Give the person the authority to take control of the whole project. This will show you trust the individual and not look as though you just dumped all of the work on them, yet take the credit. They should be able to attend meetings associated with the project even when upper management is involved. Make sure you stand by the person and their decisions. Also make sure they use their authority wisely and not abuse the power given.
Identify the stack rank:
It is up to you to determine the strengths and who can get the job done quickly. The good news about delegation is having someone you trust do the work, however, you are still held accountable for the outcome. Give a deadline when you expect the project or task to be completed. Set up a daily or weekly meeting to review if you feel it’s needed. Whatever you do, do not micromanage and watch over the employees shoulder every few minutes. You need to let them make, and correct, mistakes. It’s all about balance. Give them the space to be able to utilize their abilities to the best effect, while still monitoring and supporting closely enough to ensure that the job is done correctly. It is also their responsibility to report to you on the progress of the project.
Set proper expectations:
Establish a specific deadline at the beginning, with milestones. In this way you can check up on progress before the final deadline, without fuzzy questions like “How are you doing?”
Set clear and objective goals. Let them know exactly what you want. Do not just say something like, “Don’t worry about it, I’m sure you will be able to figure it out.” Ask questions, watch the work performed, or have the employee give you feedback to make sure your instructions were understood.
Share credit:
This is the simplest step, but one of the hardest for many people to learn. It will inspire loyalty, provide real satisfaction for work done, and become the basis for mentoring and performance reviews.
Don’t look for perfection.
Your objective is to get the job done, not create a masterpiece. Establish a standard of quality and a fair time frame for reaching it. Once you establish the expectations, let your staff decide how to carry out the project.
Review and provide feedback:
Make sure all was done correctly and to your satisfaction. If you accept incomplete work or a lack of effort, you will be hurting yourself and the employee. They will not learn, and you will always get the same results. It might take some extra time upfront, but the reward is a better future. Be sure to praise, when praise is due, when the job is completed up to standards. The easiest and simplest reward to give is a compliment to the completed delegated work. You both walk away feeling good and satisfied about the accomplishment.
Finally, you need to set aside your fear of delegating. If you do it right, as outlined above, every task will likely be done better than you could do it.
And you will be able to do MORE with LESS…
Religion or escapism
M K Bhan
If religion is a sacred belief, purify your inner self, if it is a moral code of conduct, develop value system and if it is a puzzle of supernatural objects, then understand the laws of nature. In simplest terms, our ‘Actions’ become our ‘Religion’ and ‘Inactiveness’ a way of ‘Escapism. Swami Vivekananda says that one can come nearer to god not by chanting of ancient scriptures, but by kicking a football in the play field. Passing this gifted life in wandering for the search of peace and happiness somewhere else, is only a way of escaping from the realities of life.
Religion can be found in only two forms in this entire universe:- Flexible Religion and Static Religion. Flexible Religion gets fitted in any body, space and time. It becomes adaptable to accept the changes and advancements taking place in social, political and scientific fields. It brings enlightenment, removes the darkness from the ignorant minds; thus, transforming people into materially, spiritually and humanly fit global beings. The Static state of religion on the other hand, propagates illogical superstitious theories and misguides the youth towards a bleak future. It makes its followers unproductive for the society and the nation. It creates an institution of idlers and gossip mongers away from the reality of God and realization of life.
God is inside and not outside. Recognise the inner self and do not move out of your body to find any specific definition of god or religion. God has no religion and no religion can bind God. God is goodness, do good to others and be near to God. God is the name of sensitivity, feel and understand that sensitivity in nature and life; you will find the delicacy of God in your heart. Respecting all flora and fauna means respecting God itself. God expects us to take care of all his creation and in return, shares our all burden. Religion is an honest and selfless deed to nurture, groom and conserve the sources and resources of nature. ‘Beauty of God’ can be found in ‘Beautifying this Earth’.
Our brain and heart are the real temples; philosophy of kindness-our religion. There is no need of any temple or complicated philosophy in the journey of human race on this earth. Religion is a personal set of beliefs, practices and principles in the ultimate path of life. Religion gives a new meaning and dimension to the human existence within these culturally constituted institutions. Religion is not at all confined to any particular concept or belief in gods and goddesses or any other spiritual being or incarnations that have transcended on this earth from time to time. How we respond to the set universal laws of nature becomes our religion and philosophy of life.
Religion and Escapism are like the two distant poles which can never meet and walk together in this cosmos. ‘The Religion of Escapism’ has flourished tremendously along with growth and development of civil society. True followers of the religion always move their steps towards starving, suffering and deprived souls- spread fragrant smiles and share their pain. No religion of the world propagates the philosophy of ‘Escapism’, it rather prepares the defeated minds to fight back and struggle for one’s survival and existence. The best way to establish a connection with the god is to remain always connected to the people.
‘Duty, Responsibility, Fear and Hope’ are the four pillars of any religion. No translation is required to define and understand it. Religion is truth, goodness, beauty and simplicity of life. It has been made complex by the people who for some specific motives have changed the course of spiritualism to materialism. Seats of great religions of the world have now become the flourishing trade centers. We are conscious about this fact that God never demands anything from its creation except, a peaceful world full of love and humanity. Therefore, to avoid plethora of conflicts created by care takers of different religious parties, the best way to show our faith and respect for Him is to have ‘One Belief, One Religion, One God’.
All religions teach the philosophy of humbleness, righteousness, love and serving the people. Where the seed of hatred are being sown in soil of brotherhood and wars are being fought in the name of different gods, we should understand that such people are far-far away from the basics of religion. Man cannot achieve peace and live a better life elsewhere in this world, if he has not learnt first lesson of human life i.e. “To Love” This word “Love” has been misrepresented by different preachers and teachers of this world. LOVE in simple terms means “Life Of Values and Enlightenment”. The people devoid of (LOVE) the life of values and enlightenment, cannot understand ‘God’ in true sense of term.
God never interferes in our life and we also have no right to interfere in his set norms, code of conduct and pollute his magnificent abode. God never wants his loving devotees to run madly in this universe to seek him. Let’s stop searching him in the extreme length and breadth; higher altitudes of this glorious universe. As has been rightly said that prayers do not change God, it changes him who prays. There is need to change our perceptions about God. Saint Kabira has rightly said, “Where are you finding me O’ man, I am right there within you; I’m neither in Mecca, nor in Kashi, but right within your faith…”. “Sat-Chit-Ananda” i.e; “Existence, Consciousness and Delight” emphasizes the direct perception of truth about God and the goal of human life
God is right there in the serenity of nature, silence of the seas and stars, the moon and the sun, green meadows, flowery beds and so on. A silent prayer reaches directly to the supreme soul that is within you. God can only be comforted by plain living and high ideals, never with the artificialities of life. Playing audio cassettes, offering prayers and Chanting in high confusing voices on noisy loud speakers disturbs the peaceful hours of the beautiful day and our heart and soul gets engulfed with foggy restlessness. Electronic media is not any substitute for awakening of the sleeping souls. It has become a great barrier in the spiritual path and human progress. Religion makes a man self-reliant and never propagates any theory and practice of dependence.
The creation of this whole universe as ‘VASUDEVA-KUTUMBHKAM’ was an innovative idea, a joint venture of God and Man. We have lost that connectivity in these ever widening gears of so called advancement and modernization. ‘Vasudeva’ still exists but his ‘Kutumbhkam’ is disintegrated and shattered in different directions. We have proved ourselves as misfits in it and what about God….? Yes!… ‘He’ is still there holding a key position to integrate the shattered pieces of that joint venture – ‘VASUDEVA-KUTUMBHKAM’. It is the question of OUR RELIGION now…!
(The author is Director-cum-Principal SGGJ Model School, Sunderbani)