DEAR DEEON pg (ii)

23-29 Oct, 2002 a NOW! supplement

MI TINgggggRESTAURANT

TIBET ROAD, GANGTOK

CALL

24101 FOR

HOME DELIVERY

THE Chinmaya movementstarted as a crusade forspreading the message of the

ancient scriptural texts of Hinduism.It branched out into various activi-ties of selfless service. Globally theChinmaya movement became syn-onymous with knowledge of thescriptural and a genuine concern forhumanity. The movement which hasjust completed 50 years has seen oneman’s indomitable urge to express hislove for people, leading to thousandstaking up the cause and working to-gether for the good of humanity.

The range of service that Swami

Before you buy a suit

this fall read this:If you’re top heavy go for –single-breasted jackets thatcover the hips (a long linedraws the eye downward)

Natural, not-too-paddedshouldersShort skirts (to draw atten-tion to good legs)Avoid: wide lapels, breastpockets, double breastedstyles.If you’re bottom heavy go for– fingertip-length (or longer)single or double breastedjackets with some waist defi-nitionSlightly padded shouldersFlat-front pants or taperedknee-length skirtsAvoid: patch pockets, pep-lums, cuffed pants.

If you’re short waisted: go forsingle-breasted jackets thatcover thehipsKnee length or shorter skirtsAvoid: boxy, cropped orbelted jeans

If you’re curvy all over go for:shaped single-breastedjackets (tapered at the waistor softly belted)Narrow pants or peggedskirts

Drapery or slightly stretchyfabricsCoat length jackets withsame length skirtsAvoid: big pockets, wide la-pels, pleated pants.

F A S H I O N

F U N D A S

with

Jyotsna

Periyar

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELEDAcharya Vibha Chaitanya

Chinmayananda did for more thanfour decades has inspired many a dedi-cated devotee to give up their entirelife to service of humanity. One suchperson is Acharya Vibha Chaitanya,the head of the Sikkim Mission Cen-tre. A former pathology technician,she had been practicing for 18 yearsin Mumbai before giving it all up. “Ialways asked myself why am I here.Is life only about getting a degree, ajob, marriage and family. Is there noother way?”

These questions continued tobother her and she searched for an-swers everywhere. “I was always dif-

ferent. My views did not match oth-ers. I was looking for something butdid not know what,” she adds. Soonshe found herself going to discoursesheld by the Chinmaya Mission andfound the solution she was searchingfor. She affirms “The spiritual wayattracted me strongly. It was like atouch that led me out of the dark-ness. I felt here was a way I couldlive my life.” Soon she joined theChinmaya movement and after a rig-orous two year Vedanta course, ac-cepted Deeksha and became aBrahmacharini. Today she heads theSikkim Centre “spreading the ancientspiritual knowledge of Vedanta,throwing light on self knowledge andproviding a key to happiness.”

This is done through many activi-ties at the grass roots level, throughstudy groups, yuva kendras, bhajan

groups and Gita chanting. These formthe backbone of the movement. TheSikkim Chinmaya Mission has someheavy weight patronage and is the head-quarters of the Chinamaya movementin north-eastern India. The centre hasset a 15 point programme as its actionplan which includes conducting ofyagnas and the setting up of a new in-stitute for rural welfare where the train-ing of rural people in various skills,crafts, yoga and Vedanta will be con-ducted. The centre also has to its creditthe planting of more than 10,000 treesin Chinmaya Smriti Van at Bulbuley.As for Acharya Vibha Chaitanya, thereare no regrets on giving up worldly lifefor this spiritual path. The Chinmayamission motto of giving maximum hap-piness to maximum people for maxi-mum time is what she lives by and ishappy with that decision.

Every branch of astrology takes the

moon into consideration. The moon

was always considered to be potent with

it’s own powers.

The new moon is considered auspicious.

Especially when you want to start a new

project.

The New moon augurs well for new begin-

nings. Pick a project that you are keen on.

Start working towards it on the first light of

the New Moon. The project is considered

blessed. And has promise to do well.

The Full moon on the other hand is supposed

to be ripe with magical powers. The effects

of the full moon start the day before and last

for a couple of days after.

The Full Moon, in all its glory, will bring

activity to a peak. Especially when it comes

to matters of the heart.

Astrologers, druids and other psychics

have capitalised on the power of a full moon

for centuries. And claim to have found a

substantial amount of success.

If you’re thinking of charming a man into your

life, the Full Moon is the day to concentrate on.

In life, there are always a few things that

you have to do and a few things that you

want to do.

Strike a balance between the two and get

cracking on your workload. Full moon day.

You’ll be amazed at just how much you

can accomplish. Especially if you meditate

on the moon before you start off.

THE

POWERS OF

THE MOON

NOW! profiles a former pathology technician who

gave up the lab for the robe of a Brahmacharini.

Meet Acharya Vibha Chaitanya...

DEAR DEE

WOMENNOW

ii23-29 Oct, 2002

SSSSSusongusongusongusongusongSAYS

BETTER GROOMING

The holidays are finally over and am I glad!

Did the whole gamut of puja celebrations –

visiting the Thakurbari Durga, the

Sarvajanik Durga and the neighbourhood

Durga. Even took the kids for the Ram Lila.

But all that shouting and clapping of Jai

Shri Ram reminded me of a certain Decem-

ber morning and spoilt things a bit. Talk-

ing of spoilt things, don’t ya feel bad for

poor Salman Khan not getting bail and all

that. All those mosquitoes and fellow in-

mates singing songs from his films. Life can

be really cruel. What with lost love Ash hav-

ing a good time in New York when the whole

nation wanted her standing outside the

thana with hot lunches. Wouldn’t that have

made a nice scene? Man – woman stuff con-

tinue to confound. Do you know that in a

recent Harris online poll 38,562 men across

the US were asked to identify woman’s ul-

timate fantasy. 97.8% of the respondents

said that woman’s ultimate fantasy is to

have two men at once. While this has been

verified by a recent sociological study, it

appears that most men do not realize that

in this fantasy one man is cooking and the

other cleaning. Wild.

Love,

Mia

IF YOUR HAIR IS CURLY –

Since your hair is prone to dryness,use a moisturizing shampoo and con-ditioner. After washing, gently blothair with an absorbent towel andapply 4 to 6 drops of silicone basedshine serum (the thicker the hair, themore you can use). Detangle hairwith fingers, and allow it to air dry.IF YOUR HAIR IS WAVY –

Lather up with a shine enhancingshampoo and conditioner. Rinsewell. Smooth and separate wetstrands with wide – tooth comb,then spritz a silicone based shineenhancing spray from ends to roots.Dry hair using a blow-dryer with atapered nozzle to direct air down the hair shaft and seal the cuticle.IF YOUR HAIR IS STRAIGHT –

Your hair tends to lie flat against your scalp, where it can accumulateshine dulling grease. To avoid this, use a deep cleansing shampoo dailyand apply a clarifying gel treatment to roots once a week to prevent oilbuildup. After blowing hair dry, use a flatiron to enhance sheen.

The World Health Organiza-tion defines health as a “stateof complete physical, men-

tal and social well being, not merelythe absence of disease or infir-mity”. And the role of anurse is best defined as fol-lows: “The unique function ofthe nurse is to assist theindividual, sick or well, inthe performance of thoseactivities contributing tohealth, its recovery, or to apeaceful death that the clientwould perform unaided if hehad the necessary strength,will or knowledge. And todo this in such a way as tohelp the client gain inde-pendence as rapidly aspossible.”

Nursing in its early his-tory began as a desire to keep

Nursing - A Noble Profession

people healthy and provide comfort,care and assurance to the sick. As timepassed the practice of nursing becameinfluenced by society’s changing

needs and thus evolved intoa modern profession. Asa profession nursing re-

quires that its memberspossess a significantamount of education.Training is important

to practise and it mustrespond to changes inhealth care created by sci-entific and technologicaladvances. Nursing knowl-edge has been developedthrough nursing theories.Theoretical models serveas a framework for nursingcurricula and clinical prac-tice. Nursing theories alsolead to further research

For best results after shampoo

Nizam Mir Osman Ali, wasthe most exalted among theIndian princes – he was

accorded the 21-gun salute by theBritish. He may have been betterknown for this fabled jewels – thegems, however, have gone. Whathasn’t is the food.

The Nizam’s penchant for ex-quisite food may not have been aswell known – but his spreads areremembered, cloned and it wouldbe no exaggeration to say thatthanks to his influence.Hyderabad’s dedication to fine din-ing has been unwavering over thelast few centuries. This deep devo-tion is really a matter of rejoicing,especially for those who have beenbemoaning the ‘neutralisation’ ofIndia’s other cuisines.

The city’s signature dish isbiryani. Hyderabadis boast thatthey make 26 varieties of biryaniand pulao – the two most famousbeing the Kachchi Biryani and thePakki Biryani. To the people of thisthe cockpit of India, biryani is muchmore than an exotic rice delicacy –

JASHN-E-HYDERABAD

Culinary Magic from the Nizam’s

Royal Kitchens

it is kushta or aphrodisiac. Thereis a saying here” “Jo Istimal kartahai, woh budha nahin hota” or, “Aperson who eats biryani does notage.”

It is hardly surprising that theDeccan boasts of, arguably, themost exotic cuisine in the land.Look at the rich influences: fromwithin – Moghalia, Konkan,Maratha and Tamilian, and without– Arab, Persian, Turkish Afghanand Turko-Afghan.

Let’s look at some of the sali-ent features of Hyderabadi food.The key flavours are coconut, tama-rind, peanuts and sesame seeds. Thekey spice is chilli, which is used inabundance and are the reason forthe sobriquet “Dynamite Food’.The Others are: Gosht, which is kidor baby goat, is, more or less, syn-onymous with Hyderabadi food.Khatta-sour-a part of all cooking ofthe city-rare is a dish without tang.Kali Gulaab or Rose Petals are,more for their therapeutic valuethan aroma. Last but not the least,long forgotten in the noodle warsbetween the Chinese and the Ital-ians, sevian-the deshi noodles. Thefinest example is of a sevian deli-cacy is Chillao. Hyderabadis giveit as much status as their wontedbiryani.

Courtesy Jet Airways;Hyderabadi cuisine will be served

to passengers flying on sectorssuch as Delhi-Mumbai; Delhi-

Hyderabad; Delhi-Kolkata;Delhi-Pune and Delhi-Bangalore

on Jet Airways

that increases the scientific basis ofnursing practice.

The goal of a nurse is to provideservice to individuals, families and tosociety. To be kind and caring as wellas intelligent, competent and techni-cally well prepared to provide theservices.

It is often said that nursing isnothing but 5 rights. Right patient,right bed, right drug, right dose andright time. But it is not as simple asthat. This is possible only when anurse is equipped with knowledge,attitude and skill to do so. Modernnursing involves many activities, con-cepts and skills related to basic sci-ences, social sciences, growth and de-velopment and contemporary issues.Nursing as a profession is unique andnoble because it addresses the re-sponses of individuals and familiesto actual and potential health prob-lems in a humanistic and holistic man-ner.

The writer works at the Cardiol-ogy Department, STNM hospital.

CHUNI DOMA is a nurse by profession and hereshe shares with the readers what it takes tobecome one...

NOW!can be reached at 70949 & emailed at

sikkimnow@rediffmail.com

WOMENNOW

iii23-29 Oct, 2002HEALTH&FITNESS

a NOW! guide to pet-care

READERS ARE INVITED TO SEND IN THEIR QUERIES RELATED TO CHILD

CARE WHICH WOULD BE ANSWERED BY DR. HK CHETTRI, CHILD SPECIALIST.

BabyBabytalktalk

Dr. HK Chettrion paediatric concerns

EVERYTHING ELSE STOPS ON WEDNESDAYS

HITSTHE STANDS

According to a recent study children with at tention deficit hyperac-tivity disorder (ADHD) oftenhave slightly smaller and lessmature brains than their peers,which may dampen the signalsbetween the brain’s regions. Thestudy sponsored by the Na-tional Institute of Mental Healthalso proved that the stimulantscommonly prescribed to treatthe problem were not to blamefor any brain shrinkage.

The study was carried out atthe New York University Schoolof Medicine, USA. Based onmagnetic resonance images madeof the brains of nearly 300 chil-dren over a decade, brain size wasfound to correlate to the disor-der’s severity and to persist withage. Brain development appearedhealthy in children with the dis-order, though the maturationprocess was on a lower track. Onaverage, the brains of childrenwith the disorder were roughly 3percent smaller than childrenwithout the conditions as con-trol subjects. Where the differ-ence in size might be importantwas in the cerebellum and thevolume of white matter. The cer-

According to the first compre hensive review of the global impact of violence pub-lished by the World Health Organi-zation (WHO), more than 1.6 millionpeople worldwide lost their lives toviolence in the year 2000.

The report was developed by theWHO’s Department for Injury andViolence Prevention, Geneva toraise awareness of the impact ofviolence and to encourage a muchwider role for public health in theresponse to violence. The reportanalysed data on morbidity and mor-tality associated with violence sub-

According to a recent study, people who suffer from

stressful demands at work,poor rewards and scant career op-portunities are twice as likely todie from heart disease.

Concern is increasing aboutthe adverse effects that workstress may have on health, par-ticularly the risk of cardiovascu-lar disease. Cardiovascular dis-ease is the leading cause of deathworldwide. Work stress modelsfocusing on aspects of theworkplace, work organisation,and labour market conditions canexplain deaths from cardiovascu-lar disease.

The study was carried out bythe researchers at the Departmentof Psychology, University of Hel-sinki, Finland, to examine the as-sociation between work stressand the risk of death from cardio-vascular disease. They monitoredthe health of 812 employees (545men, 267 women) of a company ina metal industry in Finland whowere free from cardiovascular dis-eases at baseline. Biological riskswere measured at 5 year and 10year follow up for an average of25 years. The team regularly re-corded the volunteers blood pres-sure, levels of cholesterol andbody fat, and participants filledout questionnaires about theirstress and sense of reward in theirjob.

After the figures were ad-justed for age and sex, employ-ees with high job strain, a combi-nation of high demands at workand low levels of control over theirjobs had 2.2 times more risk ofdying of cardiovascular diseasecompared with counterparts withlow job stress. High job strain andeffort-reward imbalance (high de-mands, low security, few careeropportunities) seem to increasethe risk of cardiovascular mortal-ity. This study adds to the factthat job strain and effort-rewardimbalance were each associatedwith a doubling of the risk of car-diovascular death among employ-ees who were free from cardiovas-

WHO report on the impact of violence on public health

My son has white patches onhis face. Is this because of lackof Calcium or some liver prob-lem. What should I do?

Dichen, MG MargThe causes of white patches onthe face are myriad. It is beyondthe scope of this column to dis-cuss all the causes, but a fewimportant ones are:1) Fungal infection, either Tinea (ringworm varieties) or Pityriasis(chuli).2) Vitiligo (leucoderma)Light coloured patches during the growing up period vitamin andmineral deficiency either due to inadequate intake or loss due tochronic diarrhoea. You should consult a doctor to find out the ac-tual cause before deciding it to be liver patches.

My daughter is 3-years-old. She refuses to drink milk. Is it verynecessary or can I substitute it with something else?

Sheela P., GangtokDuring early infancy, milk forms an important ingredient in dietbecause this is the sole supplier of all carbohydrates, proteins, min-erals and vitamins. As the child grows and starts eating normal,nutritious food, most of their requirements are met even withouttaking milk. However, if the child does not take enough cereals,vegetables, dal, meat/fish or eggs, then you need to substitute themwith milk or milk products. In a few cases, if children as well asadults cannot tolerate cow milk due to bloating or diarrhoea, thenone needs to find a suitable alternative. Cow milk has also beenimplicated in a few cases (although without full scientific evalua-tion) to exacerbate atopic dermatisis, allergies and bronchial asthma.

My son bleeds a lot from his nose, especially if he goes out in theSun. What do you think is the reason and what can I do about it?

LakpaIn small children, nose bleeds are generally associated with chroniccolds followed by excessive blowing and rubbing of the nose withhandkerchief and nose picking. Only rarely does frequent nosebleedsuggest haematological or clotting disorders or aplastic anaemia.Cold-sponging the nose during hot weather, nasal wash with di-luted saline water and occasional decongestant drops generally solvethe problem. If associated with sinusitis, doctors may prescribe acourse of antibiotics with anti-cold medication. For associated prob-lems like deviated nasal septum and nasal polyp, you need to con-sult an ENT specialist.

Patches,nosebleedsand aversionto doodh

mitted by different countries to theWHO. Data were also gathered froman extensive literature review of theimpact of violence on health. The re-port took more than three years todevelop, and 160 experts from aroundthe world participated. The reportanalyses violence in categories accord-ing to the person who committed theact, who the victims were, and whatkind of violence they were subjectedto.

They reported that around halfthe deaths in 2000 that were due toviolence were suicides (8,15,000deaths), nearly a third were homicides

(5,20,000), and about a fifth werecasualties of armed conflict(3,10,000). The highest homiciderates were in men aged 15-29 years.Rates in men tended to decline withage, but the rate for women wasaround 4 per 1,00,000 across allages. Suicide rates, in contrast,tended to increase with age for bothsexes. The highest rate of suicide44.9 per 1,00,000 was found in menaged 60 years or more, more thandouble the rate among women of thesame age.

Rates of violent death varied ac-cording to countries’ income levels,

with the rate in low to middle incomecountries (32.1 per 1,00,000) morethan twice the rate in middle incomecountries (14.4 per 1,00,000). Do-mestic violence seems to be a com-mon problem. Results from 48 popu-lation based surveys from around theworld showed that between 10% and69% of women reported being physi-cally assaulted by an intimate malepartner at some point in their lives.An estimated 57,000 children werekilled in 2,000 as a result of childabuse, with children aged four yearsor less at greatest risk. About 20%of women and 5-10% of men weresexually abused as children. Thereport also recognises abuse of oldpeople as a growing problem, with4-6% of old people, defined vari-ously according to country, experi-encing some form of abuse in theirhome.

Violence is clearly a major is-sue for public health. The physi-cal effects of violence are obviouswith millions of deaths and inju-ries each year. Taking a publichealth perspective on violencecould improve the situation as vio-lence is often predictable and pre-ventable. The report recommendsthat countries should create, im-plement, and monitor national ac-tion plans for violence prevention.

BMJ October 2002,Vol. 325(7367)

ebellum helps control physicalcoordination and may also serveas a ‘metronome,’ providing tim-ing information and coordinatingsignals between brain regions,which is found in all the four lobesof the brain. Children with the dis-order are often described as lessmature than their peers and thismay relate to delays in white mat-ter maturation.

Between 3 percent and 5 per-cent of American children are di-agnosed with ADHD, three timesas many boys as girls. But there isno definitive marker for the condi-tion other than a reduced abilityto concentrate, difficulty in organ-ising tasks and belongings, andhyperactive, impulsive behaviour.The study also provides a certainamount of reassurance that medi-cations are not reducing brain sizein children with the disorder. It ispossible that medication may pro-mote brain maturation. Since thedrug (Ritalin) was found not to beresponsible for brain shrinkage,the researchers concluded that thedisorder may be caused by an in-jury to the brain early in life or mayhave a genetic component. Thedisorder is known to run in fami-lies.

cular diseases at baseline. Alsohighly stressed employees nota-bly had higher levels of bloodcholesterol and put on weight asyears went by. The evidence from

Work stress doubles the risk of heart attackthis study suggests that attentionshould be paid to the preventionof work stress.

BMJ October 2002, Vol.325(7369)

Hyperactive children

have smaller and less

mature brains

Hyperactive children

have smaller and less

mature brains

Part VII - THE NAILS

The dog’s nails should be checked

periodically. In most breeds, nails are

kept naturally short by exercise on

hard surfaces and therefore need no

cutting. Many housedogs, however,

fail to wear down their nails naturally

and they can grow so long that they

spiral until they stick into the pad. Such

a condition is very painful and can

lead to permanent damage if not

quickly taken care of.

The normal, well-worn down nail

is about even with the bottom pads of

the foot, so that when the dog walks,

the nails just brush the ground.

Nails should have a blunt

appearance. A nail trimmer is a

handy and inexpensive purchase

and with little practice, almost anyone

can keep their dog’s nails trimmed

and neat. There is a vein that runs

down the nail and if the nail is clipped

too short, it will bleed. So, care must

be taken while clipping the nails.

NEXT WEEK: SPECIAL CARE

FOR THE AGED DOG

NOWWOMENiv

23-29 Oct, 2002

Home remedies, kitchen tips, beauty makeovers, recycling advice..... just about anything that makes life easier for the

housewife... Send in your tips and if adjudged the most useful tip of the week, you will win a Gift coupon worth Rs. 250/-

sponsored by Curtina, MG Marg.Send in your entries to: NOW! Near Ayurvedic Clinic, Gairi Gaon, Tadong, East Sikkim. Or

email us at sikkimnow@rediffmail.com

CBEST TIPS

Contest

urtina

the

S. PRADHAN, Gangtok

� Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half andrub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

� If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latexdishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip thatmakes opening jars easy.

� To prevent eggshells from cracking, add a pinch ofsalt to the water before hard-boiling.

WINNERS ARE REQUESTED TO COLLECT

THEIR COUPONS FROM NOW! OFFICE AT

GAIRI GAON, TADONG

DRAGON It is a time when you mustlearn to retreat. The negativeplanets cause wastage. Loveproblems become bad. The ca-

reer path shows a lack of harmony,so lie low.

SNAKE Many of your effort will payoff profits. You can multiply your

friends. The chances for travelis good. Make changes for the

better.HORSE Long-term opportunitiescome your way, but negotiate prop-

erly, and not hastily. Avoid quarrels. Achance to trade makes you successful.

DRAGON: 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000. SNAKE: 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001. HORSE:1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002. SHEEP: 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003. MONKEY: 1956,1968, 1980, 1992, 2004. ROOSTER: 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005. DOG: 1958, 1970,

THE WEEK AHEAD FOR THE ANIMAL SIGNS

etc.

SHEEP Past problems are seen to trou-ble you again. It is best not tocompete. Negotiate with su-periors. New friends cannot

be trusted.MONKEY Trouble comes unexpect-edly, and delays will frustrate you.Think short term, and minimize any

exposure to risk.ROOSTER Foreign travel, and foreign

people can cause problems. Nego-tiations will pay dividends, so con-

centrate on the opportunity.

DOG Reward and success come quickly,so concentrate on your motives.Follow up the plans. Anything crea-

tive can be attempted. Negotiatewith superiors.

PIG Most of the attempts you makewill have hurdles, so minimizeyour efforts, and concentrate onwhat is important.RAT Miscommunications comequickly, but it is best to retreat andallow superiors to have their way.Minimize travel.

1982, 1994, 2006. BOAR: 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007. RAT: 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996.OX: 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997. TIGER: 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998. RABBIT: 1951,1963, 1975, 1987, 1999

SamsaraTHE

Recipebar & restaurant

CONTEST

Recipes are not easily parted with, but share

one with us and if it is the most exciting one

for the week, you shall win a free dinner for

two at Samsara Bar & Restaurant at Nam

Nang. Send in your entries to: NOW! Near

Ayurvedic Clinic, Gairi Gaon, Tadong, East

Sikkim. Entries can also be dropped off at

Oberois, MG Marg

EGG FINGERSA quick and summery

beginning to afternoon teaof a picnic!

INGREDIENTS6 Eggs, hard-boiled & chopped;¼ cup Mayonnaise; 1 table-spoon mustard; ¼ teaspoonchopped celery; 6 tablespoonbutter; 6 slices of whole-wheat/brown bread; Salt and PepperMETHOD:In a bowl, combine the choppedeggs, mayonnaise, mustard, cel-ery and salt and pepper. (Re-duce the salt if your butter issalted.) Mix well and set asidefor about 10-15 minutes.Lightly butter bread. Spread theegg mixture on 3 bread slices ,then top with the remaining 3bread slices, buttered sidedown. Press gently. Wrap in aslightly damp napkin or plasticand refrigerate at least 1 hour.Cut sandwiches into fingers.TIP : Fresh lettuce leaves lay-ered on top of the egg fillingmakes a great variation!

Rekha, Deorali

JERUSALEM: An Israeli bankwas robbed at gunpoint Sunday byits own security guard, who madeoff with 100,000 shekels ($21,000),police said.

A police spokesman said heexpected police to catch the guard,who fled on foot, soon because “weknow everything about him.”

The guard was employed by asecurity company that has a contractwith Bank Leumi, Israel’s secondlargest bank, a bank spokeswomansaid.

She said the guard went into theLeumi branch in the Tel Aviv sub-urb of Petah Tikva after the bankclosed to customers but bank em-ployees were still working and tolda teller to give him the money.

Carmi said the bank was inves-tigating the incident with the secu-rity company, whose guards are li-censed to carry weapons

MEXICO CITY: Mexico said onSunday it had banned toy guns thatlook like the real thing, because theywere being used by real bad guysto commit crimes and get away withlighter sentences.

The Economy Ministry said ithad issued a decree banning the im-port, manufacture and sale of repli-cas of assault rifles, submachineguns, shotguns and pistols.

The aim of the new law “is topermanently remove replicas offirearms sold in national territorythat are frequently used to commitvarious types of crimes, and to pro-tect people’s well-being andhealth,” the ministry said.

It said recent legal reforms re-quiring stiffer sentences for crimesin which firearms are used has ledto the use of fake guns by criminals.

Toy guns will still be allowedto be sold, however, if they are notthe same size and color as real mod-els, and that are preferably made ofclear or florescent plastic, it added.

Mexico City Police ChiefMarcelo Ebrard applauded the newlaw, telling reporters his forcewould seize gun replicas sold bystreet vendors and toy merchants inthe crime-ridden capital.

LONDON: Saddam Hussein, theIraqi leader dominating the world’snewspapers and television bulletins,registers less with Britons than soapstars and winners of reality TV shows.

A poll carried out for Whitaker’sAlmanac found that only a quarter ofBritons could name the Iraqi presidentcompared with 44 percent of peoplewho knew Phil Mitchell - resident bad-

King Caught

Speeding, but

Escapes FineOSLO: Norway’s King Harald wascaught speeding in his car but willescape a fine due to royal immu-nity, a Norwegian daily said on Sat-urday.

Verdens Gang said that KingHarald was stopped while drivinghis private car 10 kph over the speedlimit.

He will not pay a fine becauseNorway’s 1814 constitution grantsthe monarch blanket immunity fromprosecution for any crime ormisdemeanor. An ordinary citizenwould be fined about 1,000 crowns($130) for the infringement.

ROCKVILLE, Md.: In a tantaliz-ing turn in the hunt for the Washing-ton-area sniper, investigators saidMonday the killer apparently tried tocontact them in a phone call that wastoo garbled to understand. Theypleaded with the person to call back.

The announcement came hoursafter Virginia authorities sur-rounded a white van in Richmond,Va., and seized two men. Policelater said the men had nothing todo with the case and would be de-ported for immigration violations.

The most intriguing develop-ment came from MontgomeryCounty Police Chief CharlesMoose, who is in charge of the in-vestigation.

Moose disclosed for the first timethat a call had been received fromsomeone of high interest to investi-gators - but the call was muddled.

“The person you called could nothear everything you said. The audiowas unclear and we want to get itright. Call us back so that we canclearly understand,” Moose said.

He did not disclose who re-ceived the call, when it was madeor other details.

But investigators believe thecall may have come from the sniperand that the caller was the sameperson who left a note and phonenumber Saturday night at the sceneof the latest shooting, a law enforce-ment source said.

For the second consecutive day,Moose seemed intent on establish-ing a dialogue with the killer. OnSunday, he publicly pleaded withthe note writer to call authorities.

On Monday, he said: “The mes-sage that needs to be delivered is that

Montgomery County Police Chief Charles A. Moose walks past aMCPD sign prior to delivering another message to an unspecifiedindividual during an evening news conference Monday, Oct. 21,

2002 in Rockville, Md.

OX While you can make quickprogress, yet the ground forwardis slippery. Watch out for troubleif competing with anyone.

TIGER It is best to concentrateon the immediate task. Do it aloneif you have to. A past effort canpay off suddenly.

RABBIT Most of your efforts willnot be well received, so concen-trate on what you know best. Mini-mize travel, and be diplomatic.

SECURITY

GUARD TURNS

ROBBER

Police Ask Sniper: ‘Call Us Back’

we are going to respond to a mes-sage that we have received. We arepreparing our response at this time.”

Moose said he could not discussthe message further.

The flurry of activity raisedhope there had been a break in thesearch for the sniper who has killednine people and critically woundedthree others in Virginia, Marylandand Washington since Oct. 2.

The latest attack came Saturdaynight in a steakhouse parking lot inAshland, just north of Richmond. Thevictim, a 37-year-old man, was felledby a single shot to the stomach.

He remained in critical but sta-ble condition at a Richmond hospi-tal Monday after having his spleenand parts of his pancreas and stom-ach removed. Surgeons removed thebullet from the victim, and ballis-tics test linked the slug to the sniper.

Schools in Richmond and nearbycounties were shut down Monday,and there was heightened interestafter the two men were taken intocustody in suburban Richmond.

The white van, which had 30-day Virginia tags and a small Ma-rine Corps sticker on the back win-dow, had been idling beside a payphone at least 45 minutes, saidDavid Dunham, a mechanic at anearby car dealership.

Witnesses said officers inbulletproof vests converged on thevan and dragged out a man beforeslapping him in handcuffs. Authori-ties did not say how the second manwas arrested.

Hours later, the lead fell apart.A Justice Department official saiddeportation proceedings had begunagainst the 24-year-old Mexicanand 35-year-old Guatemalan.

REALISTIC TOYGUNS BANNED

Saddam Who? Most Britons Prefer Soaps - Surveyboy in the “Eastenders” soap.

The findings are unlikely toupset Saddam - who won 100 per-cent of the vote in an uncontestedelection last week in his homeland- but it will be unhappy reading forBritish politicians struggling tocombat voter apathy.

Turnouts for recent elections havebeen falling, perhaps unsurprisingly

given that the survey of 1,000 adultsfound nine percent - or 4.32 millionBritons, do not watch, listen or readany news or current affairs.

“As for those that say they doread or watch news and current af-fairs, they do not seem to be takingmuch in,” said Dr. Cherry Taylorwho conducted the poll.

Forty-two percent of Britons

could not name any cabinet minis-ters, Dr. Taylor disclosed. Con-versely just under a third of Britonscould name at least one winner ofthe “Big Brother” reality show.

“Only 12 percent of peoplequestioned could name five currentworld leaders compared with 46percent of people who could namefive Eastenders,” Taylor said.

NOW!can be reached at 70949 & emailed at

sikkimnow@rediffmail.com