The much anticipated drama, When Kiran Met Karen, (”WKMK”), will have its world premiere at the 2008 Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival on the directors’ fortnight, Saturday July 12th at 9:30 at the famous Prince Music Theater. Written, produced and directed by Manan Singh Katohora, the film explores the controversial theme of lesbianism, encapsulated by the canvas of South Asian conservatism, lifestyle and existence.

This film has garnered considerable attention worldwide over the past two years. “It is absolutely amazing how this movie has come together after two years of hard work and perseverance,” said Katohora, “I’m thrilled that we were able to put together such a talented cast and crew, and create a quality film. I’m just disappointed that there are not enough movies out there that showcase the honest exploration of a female’s sexuality.”

The reviews have been positively strong. Anytime an Indian filmmaker attempts to work outside of the perceived morality, there is sure to be controversy, explained PIGLFF senior programmer Kelly Burkhardt. Manan Singh Katohora has bravely pushed through borders to make a fantastic film.

WKMK stars Samrat Chakrabarti, Chriselle Almeida, Kelli Holsopple, Manish Dayal, Shetal Shah, Iggy Ignatius, and Emmy-nominated Tirlok Malik. Members of the distinguished crew include Production Manager Hiral Shah, internationally acclaimed award-winning Art Director Tushar Unadkat, acclaimed editor Matt Thomas and Cinematographer Punit Chhabra. The film also features the music of talented artists Deadbeat Darling and Katherine Almeida.

Promotional trailers for this movie can be viewed here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbQKaicKBfQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x75uGMGQBz8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVyC0AQK07Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Au8B8K06og

As a very special treat, Deadbeat Darling will be playing live at our after party!! Deadbeat Darling has been playing select dates throughout New York City, selling out clubs in the Lower East Side, Brooklyn and Chelsea. The band has recently finished its debut release with producer/engineer Chris Coady (TV on the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blonde Redhead, Grizzly Bear). The 4 song EP, titled “Belle Epoch”, was released in late September to a fervent reception from their buzzing fanbase….

In this day and age it is a rather unfortunate situation that almost 50% of the children in India attending 5th grade cannot read a a few sentences or do simple arithmetic! Imagine the future of a child who can’t read at age 10-12! Statistics show that most of these kids drop out of shool before going to secondary school. 

AID is a nonprofit that nurtures and supports various grass root level initiatives in India.  AID is hosting a dinner to raise funds and awareness for Eureka Child, a children’s education initiative, that targets learning quality improvement for millions of children in India through innovations in teaching methods and materials (www.goeurekachild.org).

 For more information, please contact Vijay Manghnani- 215 205 0264. and check out goeurekachild.org and www.eurekachild.org.

Date: June 7, 2008

Time: 6:00-8:00 pm

Location: Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall, UPENN

RSVP by sending an email to AID.Philadelphia@gmail.com with subject line “EurekaChild Dinner”

Hello NetIP Broad St. Runners,

The Broad St. Run is this weekend, on Sunday May 4th at 8:30 a.m.!  For those of you who are new participants, free parking is provided at the Wachovia Center.  The SEPTA-Broad St. Line will provide free rides to the starting line on North Broad St. from the stadiums for all competitors.  Personal belongings can be stored at the starting line, in numbered buses, and will be returned to you at the finish line.  It’s best to arrive early, so that you can warm up before the race.  Make sure to visit the Broad St. Run Expo on Friday or Saturday of this week so you can pick up your race number and other information.  And remember, when you’re done with the race, please e-mail me your name and race bib-number to be entered in the Ananda Spa raffle.  I will be at the American Cancer Society tent at the finish line, so stop by if you’re around.  Good luck and see you all on Sunday!

Weeks 11-12

Hello Broad St. Runners,

There’s two weeks left from now until the big day!  In the past, I’ve used these two weeks to maintain my endurance, without compromising my health.  In other words, I won’t be running hill workouts, sprints, or anything that’s too exhausting.  Make sure to get out 3 days a week for a nice, relaxing, distance run for the next two weeks.  In the meantime, if you have any questions about stretching or pre-race preparation, feel free to contact me and/or visit the Ananda Day Spa in Center City.  The management has offered to help Broad St. participants with stretching and basic exercise training as a service to NetIP.  And remember, sign-ups for the Broad St. Run have already begun on-line, so make sure to get registered!

www.broadstrun.com

I’m also going to be collecting $5 from runners and non-running members at the next few NetIP events, as a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Please look for the “donation-jar” at these events, and contribute!  As incentive to run, Ananda Spa in Center City has generously offered two prizes; a year long membership and a $40 spa gift package to two lucky winners.  To be qualified, you must register for the Broad St. Run, and provide me with your bib number after before/after the race.  Also, Ananda Spa has provided a discount coupon of 10% to NetIP members for spa services.  The coupon will be posted to the NetIP Philly site shortly.  Good luck to everyone!

Set, Bump and Spike with NetIP Philadelphia as we play volleyball with the Philadelphia Sport and Social Club!

What can be better on a Wednesday night than spending the evening with your NetIP Philadelphia friends and burning a few calories while you’re at it? Winter leagues are now forming – the first game is on April 23rd or 31st. The league season is 7 weeks long and includes a single elimination play off tournament. Leagues are coed; games are played with a team of 6 (3 males, 3 females). Level of play is recreational – perfect for those who have never played before or who haven’t played competitively!

Join the NetIP Philadelphia team today so that we can leave our mark on the volleyball court with our sets, bumps and spikes!

The league schedule will be published in late April, but all games are played on Wednesday evening either at 7:00, 8:00 or 9:00 pm at the Aspiring Champions gym in King Of Prussia.

Cost is $65 which includes: League administration, equipment, one t-shirt per player on the roster, prizes for winners, specials at the league sponsor bar, 7-game regular season schedule, and single-elimination playoff tournament.

Contact khuram@netipphiladelphia.org for more information.

Weeks 9-10

Hello Broad St. Runners,

It’s time to sign up for the Broad St. Run!  If you click on the link provided, you’ll be able to register on-line.  I will also have registration forms at the next NetIP BCX and Meet Eat and Greet events.  Registration is $30.  Please make sure to register, and pick up your race bib at the Expo event a few days prior to the race.

www.broadstrun.com

I’m also going to be collecting $5 from runners and non-running members at the next few NetIP events, as a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Please look for the “donation-jar” at these events, and contribute!  As incentive to run, Ananda Spa in Center City has generously offered two prizes; a year long membership and a $40 spa gift package to two lucky winners.  To be qualified, you must register for the Broad St. Run, and provide me with your bib number after before/after the race.  Also, Ananda Spa has provided a discount coupon of 10% to NetIP members for spa services.  The coupon will be posted to the NetIP Philly site shortly.  Good luck to everyone!

Warm-up-

Weeks 9 and 10 should be run outdoors, unless weather does not permit.  Before each workout, please jog or ride a stationary bike for 2-5 minutes to get warmed up, to increase circulation, and to break a bit of a sweat.  Thoroughly stretch your legs and back to keep from being injured and to retain flexibility, then proceed with your workout.

Weeks 9 and 10-

Day 1:  3 miles at the pace you’d like to run the 10 mile race in.  If you’re running outside, chose a course that is relatively flat.

Day 2:  10 miles or 30 minute ride on a stationary bike.  You’re welcome to ride a bike outdoors if weather permits.  Alternatively, you can use the elliptical for 30 minutes.

Day 3:  3 miles at a moderate, but constant pace, on a course/route that has undulating hills. 

Day 4:  Same as Day 2.

Day 5:  3-4 miles at a moderate pace.  Find a course/route that has undulating hills.  Be sure to complete the entire run, and try to maintain your form and pace while running up the hills.  Run a bit slower on the flat parts, so that you have more energy and can maintain the same pace while running up the hilly portions.

Hello Broad St. Runners,
For the next two weeks, I’m going to work on building endurance for the 10 mile race. There’s two ways to do that- longer distance runs, or mid-distance runs with more challenging hills. I’d encourage you to find a friend to run with, as often as you can during your workouts. Running with another person forces you to run faster, keeps you from getting bored, and gives you more encouragement to complete the workout. Good luck, and remember, we’re a little over a month away from the race and you still have plenty of time to get in shape!

If you feel shortness of breath, light headedness, pains in your arms/legs/back, please slow down and recover before continuing. As with any workout and training regimen, please consult your doctor if you have any of these symptoms or predisposing conditions that will not allow you to train for this run.

Warm-up

Weeks 7 and 8 should be run outdoors, unless weather does not permit. Before each workout, please jog or ride a stationary bike for 2-5 minutes to get warmed up, to increase circulation, and to break a bit of a sweat. Thoroughly stretch your legs and back to keep from being injured and to retain flexibility, then proceed with your workout.

Weeks 7 and 8

Day 1: 4-5 miles at a moderate and comfortable pace, such that you can finish without walking during the run. If you’re running outside, chose a course that is relatively flat.

Day 2: 10 miles or 30 minute ride on a stationary bike. You’re welcome to ride a bike outdoors if weather permits. Alternatively, you can use the elliptical for 30 minutes.

Day 3: 3 miles at a moderate, but constant pace, while running up a gradual incline. Find yourself a subtle (gradual incline) hill/trail that is safe to run on

Day 4: Same as Day 2.

Day 5: 3-4 miles at a moderate pace. Find a course/route that has undulating hills. Be sure to complete the entire run, and try to maintain your form and pace while running up the hills. Run a bit slower on the flat parts, so that you have more energy and can maintain the same pace while running up the hilly portions.

Khuram Chaudhary
Community Service and Sporting Events Chair
Network of Indian Professionals- Philadelphia Chapter

What is Paintball?
The goal is to capture the other team’s flag. Each player has a gun that fires gelatin capsules filled with a water-soluble marking dye. If you’re shot and marked, you’re out of the game and have to wait until the next one starts. The most common variation is two teams at opposite ends of a playing field, each with a flag hung at ‘home base.’ The object is to get the other team’s flag and bring it back to your base. When you encounter people on the other team, you try to tag them out before they get you.

Does it hurt when you get shot?
The paint pellets break open upon impact, and generally cause very little pain. The pain one might experience is more of a stinging sensation from the pellet’s impact against the skin or through clothing. In general, one should expect coming off the field with a few welts from paintball impacts, but your most annoying injuries are more likely to be scrapes and bruises from the local terrain.

What should I wear?
Ideally, clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty: old, sturdy, dark clothes and shoes or boots with some sort of ankle support, as the terrain will be uneven & potentially muddy. Most people choose to rent camouflage jumpsuits for $6. Also, bring a hat or bandana, as the facemasks won’t cover the head.

Can I get the paint out of my clothes?
Hopefully you read the previous question and opted not to wear your 3-piece Armani suit or that new Vera Wang dress, but yes, the paint will wash cleanly out of your clothes.

Will there be vegetarian food?
There is a lunch truck which serves snacks and food, but stocked mostly with hamburgers, hot dogs and some light snacks. Therefore, vegetarians might want to consider bringing their own lunch for the trip.

What does the fee cover?
Fee covers gun rental, mask, C02, and 700 rounds of ammunition.
Additional (optional) costs:
Camouflage rental : $6
Pellet packs (to store ammo): $1 each

The Wharton School is proud to present the 12th Annual Wharton India Economic Forum
Theme: “India Imagine

Keynote Speakers

• A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Former President of the Republic of India
• Vinod Dham, Father of Intel Pentium Processor
• Tejpreet S. Chopra, CEO, General Electric, India

Saturday, March 22, 2008
The Park Hyatt at The Bellevue, Philadelphia
First set of tickets sold out! Second batch of tickets on sale now at http://www.whartonindia.org

Over the past few weeks, several of you have asked me about deviations and changes to the workouts depending on weather and/or fatigue…etc. I’d like to begin this training schedule by reiterating that the workouts I’ve posted are strictly a guideline, and represent what I will be doing personally to get ready for the Broad St. Run. Many of you are experienced runners and know your schedules, training regimes, and physical ability much better than me. For those of you have been training longer than others, please continue on your respective schedules. Always be mindful of the weather, fatigue, injuries, and pay special attention to whether you’re having fun through all of this!

At this point, we’ve done quite a bit of endurance work to build up stamina for the race. The total distance for each week has been around 10-15 miles. Beginning week 5, the distance will remain the same, but we will distribute the mileage differently. Many of you have asked about speed/strength work, and I promise to include those days in future weeks. However, I still want to build up some more endurance in anticipation of running the 10 mile race.

If you feel shortness of breath, light headedness, pains in your arms/legs/back, please slow down and recover before continuing. As with any workout and training regimen, please consult your doctor if you have any of these symptoms or predisposing conditions that will not allow you to train for this run.

Warm-up
Weeks 5 and 6 should be run outdoors, unless weather does not permit. Before each workout, please jog or ride a stationary bike for 2-5 minutes to get warmed up, to increase circulation, and to break a bit of a sweat. Thoroughly stretch your legs and back to keep from being injured and to retain flexibility, then proceed with your workout.

Weeks 5 and 6
Day 1: 4-5 miles at a moderate and comfortable pace, such that you can finish without walking during the run. If you’re running outside, chose a course that is relatively flat.

Day 2: 5 miles or 20 minute ride on a stationary bike. You’re welcome to ride a bike outdoors if weather permits. Alternatively, you can use the elliptical for 20 minutes.

Day 3: 2 miles at a moderate, but constant pace, while running up a gradual incline. Find yourself a subtle (gradual incline) hill/trail that is safe to run on, and run your 2 mile pace as you did on Day 3 of last week. Mark out individual miles in case you need help keeping track of your pace.

Day 4: Same as Day 2.

Day 5: 3-4 miles broken down individually as 1 mile, on a flat course. Mark out one mile on a safe, flat course, or run 4 laps on a high-school/college track. 4 laps on a track is equal to 1600 meters or one mile. Run each mile at or just above the pace you plan to run the 10 mile Broad St. Run in. For example, I’d like to run 9 minute miles or better during the race. Therefore, I will run each mile in 9 minutes. Take a 5 minute rest in between each mile. In summary, warm up, stretch, run one mile in your desired pace, take a 5 minute rest, and continue with the next mile.

Khuram Chaudhary
Community Service and Sporting Events Chair
Network of Indian Professionals- Philadelphia Chapter