Saturday, June 2, 2007
Nostradamus foreseen as third quarter release
New historical adventure underway from Kheops and partnersThere's something about the early 16th century that agrees with Kheops Studio and its development partners TOTM Studio and Mzone Studio. After having delved the mysteries of Leonardo Da Vinci in their last collaboration, now the trio are turning their sights to the famous seer in Nostradamus — The Last Prophecy.Following a similar pattern to The Secrets of Da Vinci: The Forbidden Manuscript, the new adventure tasks players with a series of puzzles inspired by the works of Nostradamus, covering a variety of topics like astrology and medicine. Set in Provence during a time of plague and religious warfare, former regent Catherine de Médicis has become a popular target of attacks by the French nobility, and when she discovers she's fallen victim to a curse, she requests the help of her doctor and astrologer, Michel de Nostre-Dame.Nostradamus cannot attend personally, so he sends his daughter Madeleine in his stead. In medieval times, however, a woman would never be recognized as either a doctor or astrologer, so in order to gain acceptance, Madeleine must disguise herself as her younger brother César. Players will alternate between the characters of Madeleine and César as they find themselves "plunged into a thriller where political scheming and ancestral prophecies are intertwined. The game begins as an initiatory adventure in the footsteps of her father, the prophet and astrologer, before creating all the suspense of a detective novel: from one murder to another, players make their way through a test-riddled forensic investigation."Nostradamus — The Last Prophecy will be published by Elektrogames in Europe and MC2 Microids in North America, and the game is currently targeting a release in the third quarter of this year.
Astrologer rapes woman client at work-station
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The future of a 32-year-old astrologer looks particularly bleak after he was booked for rape.
The future of a 32-year-old astrologer looks particularly bleak after he was booked for rape. Pandit Swamy Shastry alias Anju who runs his business from Pipeline Road, Sreenagar (Hanumanth Nagar police limits), is in the eye of a storm following the alleged rape of a housewife. The mother of two children was residing just a few steps away from his ‘work-station’ at Akka Mahadevi Street. At around 7.30 pm on Saturday, the victim's husband, a cook, was taken aback to find his wife absent at home. His search for her ended near the astrologer’s ‘shop’ where, according to the woman, she had gone to find a solution for a strange problem -- of late, while cooking, she finds the rice turning red. The astrologer, after apparently consulting whatever needed to be consulted in such cases, told her that an evil spirit was behind the problem and that he could fix it for Rs 3,000. And as the woman looked helpless about the payment, the man apparently took ‘full advantage’ of her plight. The astrologer, a Lingarajapuram resident, vanished soon after. The police have sent the victim for medical examination and a search is on for the astrologer.
The future of a 32-year-old astrologer looks particularly bleak after he was booked for rape.
The future of a 32-year-old astrologer looks particularly bleak after he was booked for rape. Pandit Swamy Shastry alias Anju who runs his business from Pipeline Road, Sreenagar (Hanumanth Nagar police limits), is in the eye of a storm following the alleged rape of a housewife. The mother of two children was residing just a few steps away from his ‘work-station’ at Akka Mahadevi Street. At around 7.30 pm on Saturday, the victim's husband, a cook, was taken aback to find his wife absent at home. His search for her ended near the astrologer’s ‘shop’ where, according to the woman, she had gone to find a solution for a strange problem -- of late, while cooking, she finds the rice turning red. The astrologer, after apparently consulting whatever needed to be consulted in such cases, told her that an evil spirit was behind the problem and that he could fix it for Rs 3,000. And as the woman looked helpless about the payment, the man apparently took ‘full advantage’ of her plight. The astrologer, a Lingarajapuram resident, vanished soon after. The police have sent the victim for medical examination and a search is on for the astrologer.
Astrologers are reinventing themselves to keep up with the modern times
Astrologers are reinventing themselves to keep up with the modern times. A report
A waft of incense greets visitors to the chamber of astrologer Bharati Bharadwaj (“Mataji”). Inside on offer are the integrated services of spiritualism. On a marble-topped table sit several idols of Ganesha and three Laughing Buddhas. Wind-chimes sway gently. Part of the chamber is done up like a shrine, where a large idol of a Dasha Mahavidya Shakti Roop is installed. Crystals, bells and Feng Shui accessories are displayed on a table.
Since many worlds have opened up via the media and the Net, the conjunction of planets has ruled that the home-grown astrologer take on other dimensions. New-age astrology in the city harmoniously combines traditional Indian belief, numerology, tarot card reading, Feng Shui and the western influence.
“The western way of predicting the future through birthdays is a little different from us, but a similarity runs through various disciplines,” says Bharadwaj, who has travelled to London, France and US cities for work. “I have tried analysing the future through jyotish, numerology, tarot and Feng Shui, and have got more or less the same results,” she says.
Bharadwaj is in a long yellow robe and just a hint of saffron tika on her forehead, a far cry from the stereotype of the dhoti-clad astrologer. She is fluent in English, patient and welcoming. “Recently I attended a conference on Indian spiritualism and its global reach. Religion or philosophy has two divisions, black magic and higher spiritualism. I have also made a documentary on tantra,” says Bharadwaj, who appears on several TV channels.
TV-savvy
Other astrologers may not be so intent on fusion, but offer smart, tech-savvy services. The office of Amritlal, a renowned astrologer, is an antithesis of Bharadwaj’s. The reception, with an aquarium and two women at the desk, may be that of a travel agent’s or a tax lawyer’s, except for a poster of planets and a rate chart announcing “Palm reading Rs 300, horoscope Rs 500”.
Amritlal might be mistaken for an ordinary office employee or a stock-broker, in his checked shirt and trousers. But he has his own channel called Fortune Channel that combines astrology, news bulletins, entertainment and politics.
Mobile network
The mobile plays a crucial role. With a worldwide clientele — “I often get calls till one in the morning from overseas,” says Bharadwaj — some have direct reach. But others have to grapple with a network of underlings and mobile phones.
A minimum of two mobile phones are de rigeur. Subhash Shastri has two, manned by different managers. Jyotish Maharaj, or Sri Bhrighu (Anadi), has several. One number leads to another. Sanjay Kapoor, who appears on Sristi TV, has several mobile numbers operated by several men who keep asking the caller to call back. Kapoor has little time to spare.
In Shree Bhairabananda’s green-and-white cramped chambers done up with pictures of gods and goddesses, four mobiles and a big magnifying glass rest on a table. Clad in a red robe with a tika on his forehead and sporting a full beard, he looks every bit the tantric and astrologer he claims to be. He has a programme on Sristi TV that is aired three times a week. He combines face reading, numerology, horoscope and tantra.
Talking the talk
The star-gazers speak a new language, with little jargon. “About 70 per cent of my clients are students. Questions vary from whether they should take up science or arts, to choice of profession. If one forgets for a while that I am using astrology, my chamber would look like a career counsellor’s,” says Jyotish Maharaj. Parents don’t always accompany the students. “I have to use their words,” says Bharadwaj.
Another common query is related to relationships. “Parents wanting to know when the girl will get married is not so common any more. But a young unmarried couple often approaches me to calculate whether the relationship will end up as a friendship, or culminate in marriage. Boys are a little more emotional. They prefer not to know because they want to hold on to a relationship, but the girls are very practical,” laughs Amritlal. Clients are from various strata, some even checking with the astrologer before raising a point in Parliament.
Amanath Mukherjee, a grandfatherly figure who taught geology at Ashutosh College, looks an unlikely candidate for the profession. “Earlier most came for matchmaking. Now people are more worried about their married or romantic life, careers and businesses,” says Mukherjee. He claims to have “shishyas” all over India and often flies to many cities.
New antidotes
Remedies, too, are new. While gemstones are common antidotes, Lal has special metal tablets and Bharadwaj suggests spiritualism, special pujas and yagnas. “How many people can afford to buy so many gems?” asks Amritlal. “So I give them metal tablets, made of different metals in desired proportions,” he adds.
“I prescribe tantra, mantra and yantra as solutions,” says Amanath Mukherjee, drawing charts in his writing pad. But tech-enabled yagnas are high on his agenda. He combines his advocacy of yagnas and his faith in Ma Bagalamukhi with CDs. “I have two cameramen who record my yagnas, pujas and teachings.” A series from the recordings called ‘Camera ekhane okhane’ has been aired on various channels. He says astrology is witnessing a boom these days, because people are more insecure and are looking for any solution. “That is what we make our living from,” says Mukherjee.
No reason
Prabir Ghosh of the Science and Rationalists’ Association of India says that the craze for astrology has gone down: “It only survives in Calcutta because astrology enjoys the support of politicians.” But the astrologers say their profession is thriving. Amritlal puts it down to the more hectic rat race and the need to prove oneself always.
So despite reason, the city is flocking to astrologers. “I have been to many astrologers for career decisions,” says Shuddhashil Mullick, who is doing his masters in economics. Says Nivedita Mitra, who works in a media organisation: “An astrologer claimed that I would not do well in my Maths pass exams. He turned out to be right.” A wannabe rock band guitarist sports three gems on his fingers — emerald for a cool head, ruby because he is a musician and a third gem he couldn’t identify, but which takes care of his “Brihaspati”. And have you counted the rings on Abhishek Bachchan’s fingers?
:-POULOMI BANERJEE AND MALINI BANERJEE
A waft of incense greets visitors to the chamber of astrologer Bharati Bharadwaj (“Mataji”). Inside on offer are the integrated services of spiritualism. On a marble-topped table sit several idols of Ganesha and three Laughing Buddhas. Wind-chimes sway gently. Part of the chamber is done up like a shrine, where a large idol of a Dasha Mahavidya Shakti Roop is installed. Crystals, bells and Feng Shui accessories are displayed on a table.
Since many worlds have opened up via the media and the Net, the conjunction of planets has ruled that the home-grown astrologer take on other dimensions. New-age astrology in the city harmoniously combines traditional Indian belief, numerology, tarot card reading, Feng Shui and the western influence.
“The western way of predicting the future through birthdays is a little different from us, but a similarity runs through various disciplines,” says Bharadwaj, who has travelled to London, France and US cities for work. “I have tried analysing the future through jyotish, numerology, tarot and Feng Shui, and have got more or less the same results,” she says.
Bharadwaj is in a long yellow robe and just a hint of saffron tika on her forehead, a far cry from the stereotype of the dhoti-clad astrologer. She is fluent in English, patient and welcoming. “Recently I attended a conference on Indian spiritualism and its global reach. Religion or philosophy has two divisions, black magic and higher spiritualism. I have also made a documentary on tantra,” says Bharadwaj, who appears on several TV channels.
TV-savvy
Other astrologers may not be so intent on fusion, but offer smart, tech-savvy services. The office of Amritlal, a renowned astrologer, is an antithesis of Bharadwaj’s. The reception, with an aquarium and two women at the desk, may be that of a travel agent’s or a tax lawyer’s, except for a poster of planets and a rate chart announcing “Palm reading Rs 300, horoscope Rs 500”.
Amritlal might be mistaken for an ordinary office employee or a stock-broker, in his checked shirt and trousers. But he has his own channel called Fortune Channel that combines astrology, news bulletins, entertainment and politics.
Mobile network
The mobile plays a crucial role. With a worldwide clientele — “I often get calls till one in the morning from overseas,” says Bharadwaj — some have direct reach. But others have to grapple with a network of underlings and mobile phones.
A minimum of two mobile phones are de rigeur. Subhash Shastri has two, manned by different managers. Jyotish Maharaj, or Sri Bhrighu (Anadi), has several. One number leads to another. Sanjay Kapoor, who appears on Sristi TV, has several mobile numbers operated by several men who keep asking the caller to call back. Kapoor has little time to spare.
In Shree Bhairabananda’s green-and-white cramped chambers done up with pictures of gods and goddesses, four mobiles and a big magnifying glass rest on a table. Clad in a red robe with a tika on his forehead and sporting a full beard, he looks every bit the tantric and astrologer he claims to be. He has a programme on Sristi TV that is aired three times a week. He combines face reading, numerology, horoscope and tantra.
Talking the talk
The star-gazers speak a new language, with little jargon. “About 70 per cent of my clients are students. Questions vary from whether they should take up science or arts, to choice of profession. If one forgets for a while that I am using astrology, my chamber would look like a career counsellor’s,” says Jyotish Maharaj. Parents don’t always accompany the students. “I have to use their words,” says Bharadwaj.
Another common query is related to relationships. “Parents wanting to know when the girl will get married is not so common any more. But a young unmarried couple often approaches me to calculate whether the relationship will end up as a friendship, or culminate in marriage. Boys are a little more emotional. They prefer not to know because they want to hold on to a relationship, but the girls are very practical,” laughs Amritlal. Clients are from various strata, some even checking with the astrologer before raising a point in Parliament.
Amanath Mukherjee, a grandfatherly figure who taught geology at Ashutosh College, looks an unlikely candidate for the profession. “Earlier most came for matchmaking. Now people are more worried about their married or romantic life, careers and businesses,” says Mukherjee. He claims to have “shishyas” all over India and often flies to many cities.
New antidotes
Remedies, too, are new. While gemstones are common antidotes, Lal has special metal tablets and Bharadwaj suggests spiritualism, special pujas and yagnas. “How many people can afford to buy so many gems?” asks Amritlal. “So I give them metal tablets, made of different metals in desired proportions,” he adds.
“I prescribe tantra, mantra and yantra as solutions,” says Amanath Mukherjee, drawing charts in his writing pad. But tech-enabled yagnas are high on his agenda. He combines his advocacy of yagnas and his faith in Ma Bagalamukhi with CDs. “I have two cameramen who record my yagnas, pujas and teachings.” A series from the recordings called ‘Camera ekhane okhane’ has been aired on various channels. He says astrology is witnessing a boom these days, because people are more insecure and are looking for any solution. “That is what we make our living from,” says Mukherjee.
No reason
Prabir Ghosh of the Science and Rationalists’ Association of India says that the craze for astrology has gone down: “It only survives in Calcutta because astrology enjoys the support of politicians.” But the astrologers say their profession is thriving. Amritlal puts it down to the more hectic rat race and the need to prove oneself always.
So despite reason, the city is flocking to astrologers. “I have been to many astrologers for career decisions,” says Shuddhashil Mullick, who is doing his masters in economics. Says Nivedita Mitra, who works in a media organisation: “An astrologer claimed that I would not do well in my Maths pass exams. He turned out to be right.” A wannabe rock band guitarist sports three gems on his fingers — emerald for a cool head, ruby because he is a musician and a third gem he couldn’t identify, but which takes care of his “Brihaspati”. And have you counted the rings on Abhishek Bachchan’s fingers?
:-POULOMI BANERJEE AND MALINI BANERJEE
Friday, June 1, 2007
Ominous for the royal family
Published :24 May 2007,Thrusday (Jestha 10,2064)
There is a belief that when the idol of Bhimeswor sweats, it indicates greater natural calamities or greater political upheaval or greater crisis in royal family. It is widely believed if the idol sweats on left, it will do harm to the people. If the idol sweats in the right, it is ominous for the royal family. This time, the idol has sweat on the right hand side.
The idol sweated since last evening from 6:30 to 7:15 am sweated again from 7:45 to 9 ‘0′ clock on the left.
Local people have been flocking to the temple since evening to take sweated cotton. According to the locals, the sweated cotton if kept at the houses would be kept from misery and worry and tend to prosper. Especially, people from Newar community flocked to the temple of Bhimeswor.
There has been no scientific study as to why idol sweats. There was a big upheaval in the nation when the idol sweated in previous years and the nation had to confront great crisis.
According to old times, the idol had sweated before 1990 mega quake, 1997 and 2007, death of 2011, 2028, prior to quake in 2045, prior to 2047 and prior to royal massacre in 2058.
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There is a belief that when the idol of Bhimeswor sweats, it indicates greater natural calamities or greater political upheaval or greater crisis in royal family. It is widely believed if the idol sweats on left, it will do harm to the people. If the idol sweats in the right, it is ominous for the royal family. This time, the idol has sweat on the right hand side.
The idol sweated since last evening from 6:30 to 7:15 am sweated again from 7:45 to 9 ‘0′ clock on the left.
Local people have been flocking to the temple since evening to take sweated cotton. According to the locals, the sweated cotton if kept at the houses would be kept from misery and worry and tend to prosper. Especially, people from Newar community flocked to the temple of Bhimeswor.
There has been no scientific study as to why idol sweats. There was a big upheaval in the nation when the idol sweated in previous years and the nation had to confront great crisis.
According to old times, the idol had sweated before 1990 mega quake, 1997 and 2007, death of 2011, 2028, prior to quake in 2045, prior to 2047 and prior to royal massacre in 2058.
-->
it’s sun that shapes our destiny
:-By Amelia Hill, Social Affairs Correspondent
The time of year we are born really does affect the people we become. Butit’s nothing to do with the position of the stars or movement of the planets, as horoscopes would have us believe. Instead, says a new study, it’s down to how much sunshine a woman is exposed to during her pregnancy.
“We have linked a child’s season of birth with levels of certain chemicals in the body, which have powerful impacts on the way people behave,” said professor Jayanti Chotai, a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer at Umea University in Sweden.
Scientists believe that strong natural light boosts levels of serotonin, the brain’s natural ‘happy drug’ that seems to play a strong role in lifting moods. Chotai continued, “We made some very intriguing matches. Women born during spring have low serotonin levels because of the long months of winter during which they were in the womb.”
“Low serotonin levels are associated with impulsiveness and aggressiveness, as well as anxiety-related traits like neuroses, harm-avoidance and poor social skills. When combined into a particular temperament, these women are likely to be explosive, overly sensitive and passive-aggressive.”
Men born from February to April, on the other hand, are most likely to have high levels of dopamine, another mood-lifting chemical boosted by sunlight. “This means they will have impulsive and persistent character traits,” said Chotai, whose paper, published next month, is based on a Finnish study of almost 5,000 men and women.
Chotai also found that men born from October to January have low dopamine levels and are most likely to be gentle and reflective types.
Chotai insisted that astrologers should not seize on his research as evidence that personalities are predestined by star signs. “Our results should not be mixed up with astrology,” he said. “Only one heavenly body is invoked in explaining our results: the sun, because it is that which gives rise to seasons.”
“Characteristics do not change in jerks, day by day or week by week, according to the birth period. Rather, one’s personality is linked to the month of your birth in a curve, just as the curve in weather gently moves from cold to warm or from dark to light throughout the year, and not in sudden jerks
(OBSERVER NEWS SERVICE (SUNNYBABY)
The time of year we are born really does affect the people we become. Butit’s nothing to do with the position of the stars or movement of the planets, as horoscopes would have us believe. Instead, says a new study, it’s down to how much sunshine a woman is exposed to during her pregnancy.
“We have linked a child’s season of birth with levels of certain chemicals in the body, which have powerful impacts on the way people behave,” said professor Jayanti Chotai, a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer at Umea University in Sweden.
Scientists believe that strong natural light boosts levels of serotonin, the brain’s natural ‘happy drug’ that seems to play a strong role in lifting moods. Chotai continued, “We made some very intriguing matches. Women born during spring have low serotonin levels because of the long months of winter during which they were in the womb.”
“Low serotonin levels are associated with impulsiveness and aggressiveness, as well as anxiety-related traits like neuroses, harm-avoidance and poor social skills. When combined into a particular temperament, these women are likely to be explosive, overly sensitive and passive-aggressive.”
Men born from February to April, on the other hand, are most likely to have high levels of dopamine, another mood-lifting chemical boosted by sunlight. “This means they will have impulsive and persistent character traits,” said Chotai, whose paper, published next month, is based on a Finnish study of almost 5,000 men and women.
Chotai also found that men born from October to January have low dopamine levels and are most likely to be gentle and reflective types.
Chotai insisted that astrologers should not seize on his research as evidence that personalities are predestined by star signs. “Our results should not be mixed up with astrology,” he said. “Only one heavenly body is invoked in explaining our results: the sun, because it is that which gives rise to seasons.”
“Characteristics do not change in jerks, day by day or week by week, according to the birth period. Rather, one’s personality is linked to the month of your birth in a curve, just as the curve in weather gently moves from cold to warm or from dark to light throughout the year, and not in sudden jerks
(OBSERVER NEWS SERVICE (SUNNYBABY)
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