Ergo December 18

A BYTE OF LIFE

FREE CIRCULATION

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Vol. 2

No. 241

CRACKS IN THE WALL

His bad run continues. But Ayon Sengupta argues that it is not yet time to give up on Rahul Dravid » PAGE 07

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PAINT JOB

Give your car the ultimate new look with pearlescent paints

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SEQUEL CHASER Will Smith is game for sequels of his hits and duds

02 NAMMA CHENNAI

ERGO Thursday, December 18, 2008

Filmy World Cinema Flowers of the sky/ Asasa Kusum (5.30 p.m.) and Same Old Song (7.30 p.m.) will be screened today as part of the 6th Chennai International Film Festival at Woodlands Theatre. Log on to www.chennaifilmfest.org or call 98401 51956 for more details.

Poets and poetry D

ecember is not only about music and dance in Chennai, if you thought so. The Prakriti Foundation is hosting ‘Poetry with Prakriti’ festival from December 16 to 30. The two-week long festival will feature 25 eminent poets, each of whom will present different readings of their poems to a small and intimate audience at different venues in the city. Poets taking part include: French poet Yusuf Kadel, Spanish rapper Jorge Figuera, Tamil poet Salma, Marathi and English poet and artist Dilip Chitre, musician poets Vedant, Roopa Mahadevan and Anand Thakore. English poets include Robin Ngangom, Meena Alexander, Anindita Sen Gupta, C.P. Surendran, Michael Creighton, Baiju Natarajan, Rumjhum Biswas, Rukmini Bhaya Nair, Prabhanjan Mishra, Bhoopathy, Monica Mody, S.S.Prasad, Gopikrishna Kottoor, Anupama Raju, T.P.Sabitha, K.Sachithanandan, journalist and poet Shruthi Ravindran and author Vasantha Surya.

Your small change can feed this dog PHOTO: JOHN IMMANUAL

25 eminent poets are taking part in ‘Poetry with Prakriti’ festival

Venues The session will be held at Oxford Book Store, AMM School, Kalakshetra Foundation, Vel’s Academy, Goethe Institute, MGR Janaki College, Meena Muthiah College, Loyola College, Madras University’s English Department, The Park, Apparao Galleries, The School KFI, Womens’ Christian College, Vastrakala, Shilpi, FabIndia stores, Prana, Sundari Silks, Subway, Chamiers, Padma Sheshadri Bal Bhavan School, Gallery Sumukha, Evoluzione, Cholamandal Artists’ Village, Forum Art Gallery and Madras Terrance House. For details log on to www.poetrywithprakriti.in

Make a big impact with little or no money because in charity, small things go a long way SRIYA NARAYANAN [email protected]

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hile donating your small change on international flights, have you ever wondered if it really makes a difference to the beneficiary? It sure does. Here’s how you can get the satisfaction of changing a life simply by emptying the bulky coins out of your wallet the next time you’re in a shopping mall or taking a few seconds to change your status on Facebook or Google Talk.

Magic Number 15 The Rs. 15 can buy you onethird of a chocolate smoothie at the café down the street, threefourth of a fruit and nut candy bar or a small can of aerated drinks. It’s also powerful enough to feed a dog for one day. The next time you see a donation box for an animal shelter, make a generous donation of 15 rupees and

walk out knowing that an affectionate shelter dog won’t go hungry today. If you’re short of change or would rather like to get it over with at one go, send a cheque for Rs. 450 and indicate in a letter that you’d like the money go towards feeding a dog for one month. If you’d like pictures of the dog you’re sponsoring, request the NGO to send a few. Write to [email protected] for more info.

Go Social If you’re a social person who loves hanging out in the virtual world, check out socialvibe.com. By getting sponsored by your favourite brands on your Facebook or Orkut profiles, you can raise funds for your favourite charities without spending any of your own money. There’s a long list of causes to choose from including World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Stand Up to Cancer, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and One Laptop per

Child. Like the concept? Spam your friends and colleagues for they’ll want in on this too.

Save the birds. Update your status message This month, change your status on Google Talk/Orkut/Facebook to vipulramanuj.blogspot.com. The blog, run by a volunteer from Ahmedabad’s Animal Help Foundation (AHF) educates the public about the large number of beautiful birds, including migratory flocks and endangered species that become victims of the yearly kite-flying festival in Gujarat (Uttarayan). It’s quite literally a ‘cut-throat’ event, says the blogger who hopes that people will choose to keep the skies peaceful and prevent dozens of tragic injuries and deaths. It’s the season of giving, so write to us if you have any ideas along these lines. We’ll feature them here with credit. Merry Christmas! ■

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Woman gangster murdered The deceased Parameshwari of Elephant Gates was a small-time gangster in the area and was involved in various crimes, including extortion, and even ran a prostitution ring Parameshwari was found dead on the pavement on Adiappanayakan Street, where she usually spent the woman gangster from North night. Passers-by who noticed her Chennai was brutally mur- dead body with cuts and stab wound dered outside her house in Ele- on the face, hands and chest inphant Gates on Wednesday formed the police, who later recomorning by unidentified persons. vered the corpse and conducted Police say a gang rivalry had led to preliminary investigations. the killing. Police sources say she had a longThe deceased was standing rivalry with identified as Paramesh- A total of 18 another gang from the wari alias Paramu alias Mulakothalam area. A Mundakanni (40) of cases for various few days before the Adiappanayakan Street have been murder, a minor clash in Elephant Gates. Police had broken out besay Parameshwari was a registered tween Parameshwari’s small-time gangster in against her at gang and her rivals, the area and was in- the Elephant police add. volved in various crimes, There was widesincluding extortion and Gates police pread panic across even running a prostitu- station Adiappanayakan Street tion ring. A total of 18 and adjoining areas on cases for various crimes Wednesday morning including attempt to murder have and shops remained closed. been registered against her at the A special police team has been Elephant Gates police station. Her formed to investigate the matter and gang played a key role in managing it is known that police are on the looload workers in the area and also in kout for three key members of the some drug trade, leading to frequent Mulakothalam gang, who are susquarrels with rival gangs. pected to have committed the murOn the morning of the incident, der. ■ ERGO CORRESPONDENT [email protected]

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Margazhi Raagam to debut today ERGO CORRESPONDENT [email protected]

Margazhi Raagam, the innovative ‘on-screen’ Carnatic music concert, will premiere at Sathyam Cinemas on Thursday evening. The first kutcheri to be screened at the Seasons screen of Sathyam Cinemas will feature T.M. Krishna and Bombay Jayashri. ‘Margazhi Raagam’ is the brainchild of advertisement film maker Jayendra Panchapakesan who wanted to take the famous Carnatic music season kutcheries to the ‘next level’ of entertainment. The concert film has been filmed using high-definition Red cameras and will be presented in digital sound. So, if you are Carnatic music lover or just plain music buff, grab your popcorn and get the best seats. ■

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04 VILLAGE

ERGO Thursday, December 18, 2008

Nude opera A photographer is causing a sensation in China with a new exhibition combining nudity and opera.

Court to the rescue of dog, allows access to lift

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very dog has its day and this has literally come true for an aged canine in Mumbai. A 12-year-old Labrador Retriever weighing 35 kgs has been allowed to use the lift of a building after his owner won a case in the consumer court against his own residential society which denied the facility to the dog that was suffering from osteoartiritis. Ajay Marathe, a resident of Navi Mumbai, took the case to the consumer court after feeling helpless at the attitude of the society’s office bearers. Marathe, who resides in the fifth floor, used to take 12-yearold Shimu once in the morning and once at night for a stroll. “My dog has grown old and

since the past three years he is suffering from osteroarthritis and cannot climb down or up the stairs. I am too old to carry my 35-kg weighing labrador up and down the fifth floor everyday,” he said. Finding no solution to his problem, Marathe filed a case with the consumer court in Mumbai on September 26. The consumer court at CBD Kokan Bhuvan Navi Mumbai allowed Marathe to take the dog along with him in the lift. “The court has also asked my society to pay a compensation of Rs 5,000,” he said. According to Marathe, his woes began when he started filing RTI queries seeking details of the functioning of the society. ■ PTI

Man who snatched wig will have toupee A man was detained in Taiwan after snatching the wig of a member of parliament who had complained against the former president Chen Shui-bian’s release from jail, officials said on Tuesday. Chiu Yi, a ruling Nationalist Party lawmaker who has become a household name for his media-friendly offensives against the political opposition, lost his wig on Monday outside the Control Yuan, a government watchdog for state worker conduct. Reuters

The Queen calls ‘lights out at Buckingham Palace’ Queen Elizabeth has reportedly set yet another example to beat the economic slump by asking her staff to turn off the lights in empty rooms of the Buckingham Palace. According to British news outlets, the monarch is to continue her efforts to show support through recession and had allegedly ordered chefs to reuse leftovers from banquets. The Royal had previously urged her grandsons to avoid any public displays of extravagance amid growing unemployment and economic strife, reports the New York Post. The Queen had herself set mindful examples by cutting down her trip costs, recycling old clothing items rather than investing in a new wardrobe and meeting and helping those affected by the hard-hitting credit crunch. ANI

Burger King releases meatscented perfume! American fast-food chain Burger King has rolled out ‘Flame,’ a new men’s body spray billed as ‘the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat.’ Not recommended for vegetarians, the barbecue-scented cologne has been introduced just in time for the festive season, reports the Telegraph. The perfume is on sale for the credit crunch-busting sum of just 2.65 pounds, suggesting the Burger King promotions department has realised their contribution to the fragrance market might work best as a novelty stocking-filler. Flame was launched this week online and in a selection of US stores - it is sadly no available in the UK. ANI

No birthday cake for ‘Adolf Hitler’! A couple from New Jersey, who wanted to get a birthday cake for their 3-year-old son, were told by a store that it would not inscribe on it the kid’s name, Adolf Hitler. Deborah Campbell and her husband Heath Campbell were furious over the refusal of the ShopRite at a supermarket in Greenwich, New Jersey, to put in ‘Happy Birthday Adolf Hitler’ on the cake. When the 25-year-old mother called up and told the bakery department she wanted her son’s name spelled out, she was told to talk to a supervisor, who denied the request. A spokeswoman for the store said that they considered Campbell’s request inappropriate. ANI

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Thursday, December 18, 2008

Man dies in party stunt

This day, that year

A 60-year-old Japanese man who was thrown into the air in celebration at his retirement party died after his colleagues failed to catch him and he fell to the floor.

It was on December 18, 1865 that slavery was abolished throughout the United States with the ratification of the 13th amendment.

90% of emails received are spam A

recent survey has found that 90 percent of the emails sent to a person’s inbox are usually spam. The survey report suggests that more and more hackers are devising new ways to send in spam emails, reports the China Daily. It further states that virus-infected computers are woven into ‘botnets’ used to attack more machines, Weak and to send sales pitches to passwords e-mail addresses in lowconsist of cost quests to bilk readers family names, out of cash. birthdays, “Every year we see home threats evolve as criminals discover new ways to exaddresses or ploit people, networks and other terms the Internet,” Cisco chief considered security researcher Patrick relatively easy Peterson, who was involved to deduce in drafting the report, said. According to the Cisco Annual Security Report, junk e-mail make up for nearly 200 billion messages daily, approximately 90 per cent of email worldwide. As per the survey, the US is the biggest source of spam, accounting for 17.2 per cent messages. Turkey and Russia ranked sec-

Christmas for a cause

Watchdog slams ad in London station hit by shooting B

ritain’s advertising watchdog on Wednesday slammed a movie poster claiming there was ‘nothing wrong with a little shooting’ in the London station where police shot dead an innocent Brazilian. The poster for ‘Righteous Kill,’ starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, was still stuck up in Stockwell underground station in south London during a visit in September by the jury hearing an inquest into the 2005 death of Jean Charles de Menezes. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said the poster – which included the line “There’s nothing wrong with a little shooting as long as the right people get shot” – could have caused serious and widespread offence. “We understood the siting of the poster at the station was unintentional but nevertheless considered that the text had the

ond and third, accounting for 9.2 per cent and 8 per cent spam respectively, according to Cisco. This year, botnets were used to inject an array of legitimate websites with an IFrames malicious code that reroutes visitors to websites that download computer viruses into their machines. “The botnet is, in many cases, ground-zero for online criminal threats,” Peterson said. “Using malware to infect someone’s computers is an incredibly common mechanism and harnessing them all together is a way they do their click fraud, spam emails, and data stealing,” he added. Online criminals are turning botnets on web-based email accounts. Hackers are “reputation hijacking” by using botnets to figure out weak passwords protecting web-based e-mail accounts, according to Peterson. Weak passwords consist of family names, birthdays, home addresses or other terms considered relatively easy to deduce. Once access is gained to legitimate e-mail accounts, a plethora of spam messages are sent in the owners’ names. ■

potential to cause serious offence in that location,” said the ASA. The film, also starring US rapper 50 Cent, tells the story of two New York policemen probing a string of murders by a serial killer. De Menezes was shot seven times in the head at Stockwell station on July 22, 2005, the day after a failed attempt to replicate the attacks of July 7 when four suicide bombers killed 52 people. Police had followed the 27year-old electrician onto a train in the mistaken belief that he was failed suicide bomber Hussain Osman, who lived in the same block of flats. Jurors at the inquest into the death of De Menezes recorded an ‘open verdict’ on Friday, meaning they rejected the chance to label it a ‘lawful killing’ by London’s Metropolitan Police. ■ AFP

쒀 South Korean children in Santa Claus outfits perform with hand-bells during a charity event to raise funds for the needy at a subway station in Seoul on Wednesday. AFP PHOTO

ANI

06 SPORT

ERGO Thursday, December 18, 2008

Pele set to dazzle again Pele is set to return to the field again, this time in an animation film to be made by an Indian company around the Brazilian soccer legend. Compact Disc India Ltd., have also acquired the rights to develop games and merchandising around the triple World Cup winner, according to a notice filed with the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Stanford set to walk away from cricket Texan billionaire Allen Stanford is set to turn his back on cricket after losing 40 million dollars on his million-dollar-a-man series, a report said on Wednesday. The Daily Mail newspaper said Stanford was poised to end his five-year-deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after just a year. A similar deal with West Indies cricket authorities would also be terminated, the report said. The report said Stanford had made heavy losses after paying his victorious Stanford Superstars team 20 million dollars for the Twenty20 showdown against England in Antigua last month, while another 20 million dollars went on television and sponsorship deals connected to the event. Stanford was expected to fund the competition for a further four years, while he was also expected to bankroll the England Premier League Twenty20 tournament from 2009. The report said Stanford axed his board of ambassadors for the event, including West Indies great Viv Richards, on Tuesday. The withdrawal of his high-profile investment would be a severe blow to West Indies cricket, which received millions of dollars from the billionaire in a bid to revive its flagging fortunes.

BOLT EYEING MORE WORLD RECORDS

AFP

Cricketers to figure in Harmony Cup A number of Indian cricketers from past and present including Murali Kartik, Nikhil Chopra, Saba Karim and Kirti Azad will be seen in action when alumni from city’s two most prestigious colleges – Hindu and St Stephens – lock horns at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground in Delhi on Saturday. Harmony Cup, which claims to be the country’s first Twenty20 championship, is being organised as part of the year-long golden jubilee celebration of Hindu College. The trophy made of crystal was unveiled at a function. “Both the colleges have produced a number of great cricketers who have represented India in different times. This initiative would certainly rekindle the spirit of sporting rivalry between the institutions,” former Delhi cricketer Vinay Lamba, who would lead the Hindu alumni side, said. Among other former India cricketers, Surinder Khanna, Rahul Sanghvi and Gagan Khoda are expected to turn up for the friendly match, proceedings from which would be utilised to establish a Braille library at the Hindu College. Former St Stephens student, Kirti Azad would lead the other side. PTI

PHOTO: AFP

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riple Olympic champion Usain Bolt believes he could eventually duck under 19 seconds for the 200 metres. Speaking to L’Equipe sports daily the 22-year-old Jamaican, who holds the world record for the distance at 19.30 secs, said that despite also winning the 100 metres gold at the Beijing Olympics, he still preferred running in the 200 metres. “I feel more nervous on the blocks at the start of 200 metres because I expect a lot of myself and others expect a lot of me as well,” he said. “That’s my thing. I know that a lot of people will find that strange and that most sprinters prefer the 100 metres, but not me. My coach has told

me that I have another two years of progress in front of me and that I have room for improvement. He thinks I can run (200 metres) in under 19 seconds and I have every confidence in him.” Bolt, who was named as L’Equipe’s “Champion of Champions for 2008” also said that he felt he could better his 100 metres world record of 9.69 secs and confirmed that he is considering targeting Michael Johnson’s nineyear-old 400 metres record of 43.18 secs in 2010. “When I was at school, I ran 45.35 secs – that’s not bad. Although the intensive training you need for the 400 metres worries me.” ■ AFP

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Thursday, December 18, 2008

‘‘

Even though Harbhajan was in form, bowling at a ground he knows well and at batsmen short of match practice, he made little impression. I am not entirely sure that Harbhajan is the bowler he used to be, now that an overextended use of the doosra has affected his ability to drift and spin his stock ball, the off spinner. Former England skipper Mike Atherton

HOW TO TO MEND MEND HOW THE CRACK CRACK THE Although Dravid has struggled throughout 2008 it’s too early to call for his head AYON SENGUPTA [email protected]

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s Mahendra Singh Dhoni leads his Indian side into the second Test at Mohali from Friday, all eyes will be on Rahul Dravid who has been suffering from an ever-lasting loss of form. While a win at Mohali will catapult the Indians to second spot on the ICC Test rankings, cricket lovers will most definitely be more interested in seeing a brave resurgence from Dravid who has passed many a testing times. Mainstay of the Indian middle-order for the larger part of his 12-year-long international career, he has just amassed 453 runs in 11 Test matches since India’s tour to Australia earlier this year. His average has fallen down to 27.87 in this calendar year, way below his career average of 52.12. His highest score of 111 against South Africa in Chennai came 19 innings ago. Dravid is truly fishing for his form and his jittery stay and tentative pushes while at the crease betray an uncanny nervousness which was unthinkable even a year ago. With alarm bells ringing from all sides and every veteran cricketer calling for his head, the pressure is mounting and time is running out for India’s most technically equipped batsman. While former chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar has already sent him to the backbenches and wants him to toil it out in the domestic circuit, Sunil Gavaskar is a bit more lenient and feels that Dravid should go down the order to three down from his one-down slot to find some elusive form. “I would have him bat at number five. I will make him swap places with V.V.S. Laxman and I will pick him for Mohali,” Sunil Gavaskar told a private television channel. Dravid must also be feeling the heat but with backing from his skipper and also a new central contract he may walk into Mohali in a more relaxed state. Determined and working hard as usual in the nets, Dravid is one of the fittest of India’s “Fab Five” and with Anil Kumble and Sourav Ganguly already out of the equation post their retirement, India may well ill-afford to lose Dravid at this stage. With India unlikely to tour Pakistan after the recent escalation of tension, Dravid will have time to introspect and work on his game after the Mohali Test. India next goes for a Test series to New Zealand and the last time the Men in Blue were in Kiwi land in 2002-03, Dravid was one of the few batsmen who held themselves together in the cold and wintry island nation. He scored 131 runs in four innings and had an average of 32.75, the best among the Indian batsmen. ■

08 ROADSTER

ERGO Thursday, December 18, 2008

Feeling the crunch Nissan Motor Co. said on Wednesday it would cut its domestic production by 78,000 cars beginning January amid declining global auto sales. Five hundred temporary workers are also to be laid off, Tokyo-based Nissan said.

One for the shade, one for sunlight

Give your car that pearlescent paint job and watch it turn into a chameleon

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ou buy a car, drive it out of the showroom with all the glitter of a fresh paintjob and the nice, new smell in the interiors of the car that all of us try to maintain for years to come with little success. Our desperate attempts to keep the car fresh and new never end. Nothing is impossible; I know a friend

whose car still looks clean and new inside after many years of driving. How he did that, you may wonder. If you really want to know, you need six different types of soft fabric, wax polish and three hours of your time every Sunday. I don’t think I need to run a survey through everyone to determine if we have the time and patience to do the same, as the obvious answer would be a big NO. Let’s face it – the dusty conditions, the heat and some help

from a bunch of hooligans who apply their creative skills to leave a scratch on our car aren’t really conducive to a shiny car. So here you are, unable to tolerate the dull look of your car and making up your mind to change the paint and give the car that fresh new look and relive the excitement of driving a new car. Now that you have decided to paint the car, the first thing that comes to mind is the budget. After a decision is made to change the colour, why not spend a little more and get that pearlescent

paintjob done? It is a special paint where colour changes shade under different lighting conditions. To make it more comprehensible, what you see is a metallic-satin finish, where under bright sunlight you see a nice velvet fabric effect. Getting this effect involves a three-stage paint process. Select pre-defined colours that the manufacturers offer on their colour palette. Do not experiment with your unique colour combination as it would be very difficult to mix and get the same shade in

case of a touch-up. Here is a brief explanation of the three-stage process for a pearlescent paint job: Stage I: Base Coat – It’s a solid colour coat which gives the final hue which you normally see when the car is in the shade. Stage II: Ground Coat - This is the coat with the pearlescent tint in it which is responsible for the shifting effect. (The coat is available in colours like red, green, gold and other bright shades.) Stage III: Top Coat - The clear coat. ■

09

Thursday, December 18, 2008

New infotainment for VW Phaeton Volkswagen’s luxury flagship, the Phaeton, will be fitted with a new infotainment generation and more fuel-efficient engines for the 2009 model year, the car maker has announced. The RCD 810 and RNS 810 infotainment systems were redesigned for the Phaeton with high-resolution 8-inch touchscreen.

SNIPPET

F Now, a car parts incubator The new kind of incubator costs 40 times lesser than the regular one, and is made out of car spares

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he heat source is a pair of headlights. A car door alarm signals emergencies. An auto air filter and fan provide climate control. But this contraption has nothing to do with transportation. It is a sturdy, low-cost incubator, designed to keep vulnerable newborns warm during the first fragile days of life. Unlike the notoriously highmaintenance incubators found in neonatal intensive care units in the United States, it is easily repaired, because all of its operational parts come from cars. And while incubators can cost $40,000 or more, this one can be built for less than $1,000. The creators of the car parts incubator – a project being promoted by the Global Health Initiative at the Center for Integration of

Medicine and Innovative Technology, or Cimit, a nonprofit consortium of Boston teaching hospitals and engineering schools – say it could prevent millions of newborn deaths in the developing world. Cimit hired Design That Matters, a non-profit firm in Cambridge, Mass., to design the machine. “The idea was to start with a 4Runner,” said Timothy Prestero, the firm’s founder and chief executive, “and take away all the parts that weren’t an incubator.” What resulted was a seriouslooking gray-blue device that conjures up a cyborg baby buggy, but fits comfortably in hospitals and clinics with few resources. For one thing, the supply of replacement parts is virtually limitless, because the modular

prototype can be adapted to any make or model of car. “Junkyards are great sources for parts,” said Robert Malkin, director of Engineering World Health, a program based at Duke University, who is not affiliated with the incubator project. “We have designs for pumps and a surgical aspirator that are based on car parts.” And the repair people will be right on the scene. “The future medical technologists in the developing world,” Malkin said, “are the current car mechanics, HVAC repairmen, bicycle shop repairmen. There is no other good source of technology-savvy individuals to take up the future of medical device repair and maintenance.” ■ NYT News Service

iat is set to revive another old name, the Topolino or “Little Mouse,” which it is planning to launch as a new mini car in 2010, Germany’s auto-motorsport magazine reports. The Topolino, built between 1936 and 1955, is considered the predecessor to the Fiat 500 - another name which the Italian company has revived with the new retro-look Fiat 500. Car artist Mark Stehrenberger, who has given a preview of motoring future for auto-motor-sport for the past three decades, showed a design of the Topolino with the typical “mouse” front married to a wedge-shaped body with large windows. The Fiat Topolino would compete in an already tight minicar market long dominated by the Smart ForTwo. Beginning in early 2009, Toyota will sell its iQ and VW is planning to launch its new mini car family the Up! in 2011. BMW is believed to be mulling plans to revive the Isetta name with an ultra-small city car, reports said. ■ DPA

Santa’s new ride

쒀 Santa Claus performer Frank Knorre rides his motorcycle after a press conference where the so-called "Santa Claus Code of Honor", to guarantee the quality standard for traditional Christmas celebrations, was presented in Berlin. AFP PHOTO

10 FLICK

ERGO Thursday, December 18, 2008

Citizen Kane Screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz wrote the balance of the screenplay for Citizen Kane (1941) from a hospital bed recovering from illness.

Primetime ‘crime’ NICOLE KIDMAN UPSETS ABORIGINAL GROUPS BY PLAYING DIDGERIDOO

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icole Kidman has angered Aboriginal groups by attempting to play a didgeridoo while promoting her new film, Australia, on a German television programme. The stunt flouts an Aboriginal custom that dictates women are forbidden to play the instrument. Kidman made the faux pas on the weekend during Wetten Das...?, a popular chat show. Kidman’s performance has been criticised by Aboriginal leaders, who said she should know better. Allen Madden, cultural and educational officer at Sydney’s Aboriginal Land Council, said the film’s director Baz Luhrmann should have educated his cast about Aboriginal traditions. “I presume she doesn’t know, otherwise she wouldn’t be playing it. But (I would have thought) the women on that set would have told her,” the NZPA quoted Madden, as saying. “Baz should know something about it, after working with those traditional fellas on the film,” Madden added. Richard Green, an award-winning actor, screenwriter and Dharug language teacher, said he was disgusted. The didgeridoo, or yirdaki, is said by some to make women infertile, and Green said he feared other women would imitate Kidman without realising its dangers. ■ ANI

German TV host Thomas Gottschalk (R) assists Australian actress Nicole Kidman as she plays the didgeridoo on German television show ‘Wetten Dass’ in the southern German city of Stuttgart on December 13. AFP PHOTO

Will Smith eyes Hancock, I Am Legend sequels

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ill Smith is reportedly planning sequels of his hit movies Hancock and I Am Legend. While a rep for the Men in Black actor confirmed “there have been talks about both of these projects,” an insider revealed that details had already been worked out. “He is ready to do both. Producers are just trying to get Charlize Theron to sign on for the Hancock sequel,” the New York Post quoted a source as saying. “As for I Am Legend, it will be more of a prequel as Smith’s character died at the end of the zombiestake-Manhattan movie. It will be about how the disease spreads and the fall of the last great American city. It will also develop the relationship between Will’s character and his wife,” the source added. ■ ANI

Jessica Biel slams ‘album with Justin Timberlake’ rumours

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essica Biel has slammed rumours claiming that she would be recording an album with beau Justin Timberlake. “I’ve heard all these rumours that we (Biel and beau Justin Timberlake) are doing an album together but it’s completely untrue,” Fox News quoted her as telling Tarts. Speaking of her charity work, the 7th Heaven star expressed her feelings behind the moral responsibility to contribute in the making of a constructive society. She said: “It’s an obligation as a human being, as a citizen of this country where we are in the climate of this world, with our new president and his initiative on community service and giving back, its just part of life. “It makes you feel incredible, if you haven’t volunteered or given of your time it’s really an incredible feeling and it’s made my life very full.” ANI

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Thursday, December 18, 2008

Artist’s touch Artist Pablo Picasso appeared in a crowd scene in Jean Cocteau’s 1962 film, The Testament of Orpheus.

Enemy lines Paul Newman, who starred in Cool Hand Luke, was one of the celebrities on the ‘Enemies List’ kept by Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A 65-YEAR-OLD ROLLING STONE ROLLING STONES’ RICHARDS TURNS 65

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amously drug-addled Rolling Stone Keith Richards turns 65 this week, but he remains tight-lipped about any wild party plans he might have to celebrate becoming a pensioner. The legendary guitarist, songwriter and archetypal wild rocker will reach the landmark age – more usually associated with gardening and cardigans – only a few months after Stones frontman Mick Jagger, who turned 65 in July. “He wants to keep it very private,” was all a spokesman for Richards would say when asked how the musician would mark his birthday on Thursday. Named by Rolling Stone magazine as the tenth best guitarist in the world, the shaggy-haired star has proved remarkably resilient to a lifetime of substance abuse, explained by his view that his body was a “laboratory”. Richards toured the world with the Stones last year, and continues to release music, although his image as a hellraiser was nuanced by his recent appearance in an advert for upmarket luggage-maker Louis Vuitton. But the myth surrounding him remains strong, reinforced by tales of him falling out of a coconut tree in Fiji in 2006, reports that he snorted his father’s ashes with cocaine and, for younger fans, his reincarnation as the father of Johnny Depp’s character Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean films. Born December 18, 1943 in Dartford, east of London, Richards was initiated into the world of the blues by his mother. In 1960, he met up with Jagger, an old primary school classmate, and with Brian Jones they formed Rolling Stones, named after the Muddy Waters song. Having built up a dedicated following, the band rose to prominence with the release of ‘(I can’t get no) Satisfaction’ – Ri-

There were plenty of times I could’ve given up the ghost. But it just seemed like such a cheap way out

chards said the song’s signature guitar riff came to him in the middle of the night. With the talent came turmoil, however. As the Stones’ success grew, so did their reputation as hell-raisers, with riots breaking out at many gigs as well as numerous drugs episodes involving Richards and Jones, who died in 1969. Speaking to Esquire magazine earlier this year, Richards was asked about his intake of cocaine, to which he replied: “After the first maniac year of taking it, my intake of cocaine was, yeah, once after a meal.” In 1967, a now legendary drugs bust at Richards’ Redlands home saw both him and Jagger given jail terms, although the guitarist’s sentence was quashed on appeal and Jagger’s was reduced to a conditional discharge. For Richards, this marked only the beginning of his close relationship with drugs, epitomised by his remark: “My body was sort of a laboratory. I wanted to see what I could do with it.” His partner in much of this was Anita Pallenberg, the ex-girlfriend of Brian Jones with whom Richards had three children, although one died as an infant. He had two others with Patti Hansen, who he married on his 40th birthday in 1983. In 1977, Richards was arrested for possession of heroin in Toronto, Canada, and in return for clemency, he and Pallenberg entered rehabilitation. But the respite was brief, with Richards later remarking: “I’ve never had a problem with drugs. I’ve had problems with the police.” After the Canadian episode, the Stones returned in 1978 with what many considered their best album so far, Some Girls. But in the early 1980s, Jagger moved the group towards a more modern pop sound, which Richards opposed. The future of the Stones seemed rocky when, in 1985, Jagger launched a solo career. Three years later Richards released his own solo album, the well-received Talk is Cheap, although this was not his first venture on his own – he released a version of Chuck Berry’s Run Rudolph Run in 1978. But talk of a break-up proved premature, and the Stones returned with a new album, Steel Wheels, in 1989, which kicked off a massive world tour. Through to the mid-2000s they continued to produce new music and kept playing live. Richards has since released several songs from his back catalogue and it has even been suggested that he is planning an easy listening album. Asked in an interview with GQ magazine in 2008 about his dances with death, Richards noted: “There were plenty of times I could’ve given up the ghost. But it just seemed like such a cheap way out.” ■ AFP

12

ERGO Thursday, December 18, 2008

Wednesday’s Query: You wake up in the morning and see yourself shrunk to the size of a walnut. How would you react what would you do? ■ First of all, I won’t be visible for my dear mom. Escaped from morning scolding for getting up late Arunkumar Raja CGSL

■ I will be very happy and I’ll travel anywhere in the world without any cost Alamu, Bhanupriya - CGSL, Ashiq - TCS, Balaji - Perot Systems, Prabhu - HCL

■ I feel immensely happy as no credit card collection agents can identify me Joe, Perot Systems

■ I’ll call up my girlfriend & ask her 2 hang me in her chain as a pendant so that I’ll stay close 2 her heart Kalyan V, Infosys

■ Naan apadiyae shock aagitaen Lokia, Ford

■ I’ll follow the tiny species like ant and beetles and discover their life structure Satish, Ramco Systems

■ I would wear a lens before me as others would notice me and leave me without stamped Praveen, CGSL

■ I would break the mirror and shout "ennai yen alagai padaicha andava" Thara K, Wipro

■ I would be happy because I would be relished by people

who are pastry lovers Serena D’souza, Allsec Technologies

■ I will sit inside my boyfriend’s pocket and will spy on him Kavitha Priyadharsini, Cognizant

■ I will call and introduce myself to Vijay TV and will participate in Kutram Natanthathu Enna Hema Indus RSystems

■ I will be shell shocked at first. Then I will hop all the way to the Parliament to understand its proceedings Vignesh C, Cognizant

Vignesh of TCS has nominated his team TCS Night Riders as Partners in Crime. They clicked this pic at Kerala.

■ I will ask my friends to take me out and we will have fun playing pranks and scaring others! And at the end of the day, my bed time prayer would be to transform me back to my form Divya V, Polaris

■ I would sneak into rats house and I will teach rats to defeat cat Ram, Sutherland ■ I feel so excited and ask Manirathnam to take a movie Anjali part 2 Rajee Anand, Coastal Training Technologies

■ I would try to make some friends in the insect species as I don’t have dear one’s from them

John Sebastian of Infosys has nominated his team as Partners in crime. They clicked this pic at Ooty

Mukund, Standard Chartered

■ I will pray that I should be eaten by Nayanthara or Asin. Pora edathula punniyam theduvaen Arun Gopal J, Infosys

Today’s Query: Following Sania Mirza, which Sports person do you think should get a Doctorate?

Narasimhabala of HCL has nominated his team as Partners in Crime. They clicked this pic at Mahabalipuram.

13

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Thirumalai of TCS has been nominated as Office Angel by Viswanath P R and Sripriya G. Thirumalai a.k.a Thiru stands out for his hard work and sincerety. Very dependable & trustful person, he’s one of those people who always sports a smile.

■ Hi Ramya Bhaskaran, Although these birthday wishes Will arrive a little late You’re always wished Much happiness No matter what the date is. With Love&Care, Wipro friends,

■ Dear Keerthana.C, Fly free and happy beyond birthdays and across forever, and we’ll meet now and then when we wish in the midst of the one celebration that never can end. HAPPY BIRTHDAY With love, Sathya, Tamalika, Moutusi Poorani, Karthika.

■ Dear Vishnu Praveen Today Is Your Day To Celebrate Your Day To Be The Star So Let The Ones You Love All Cheer And Say How Special You Are :-)) We all Wish you a Very Happy Birthday !!! With loads of luv, "IgNiTe GaNgStErS" (TCS)

■ Dear Nirmala, This is a special birthday wish that comes with love to you. wish you many more happy returns of the day and happy married life. May god bless you.

Magesh from Verizon doodled this.

with love, Mohanraj K E, sridevi G, Citi group global service.

Kovil maniya namma adicha saththam varum... aana kovil mani nammala adicha raththam varum.... Rajee Anand, Coastal Training

Patient : Dr. Intha bucket ottai aagiruchu.. enna pannalam? Doctor : Yov itha en en kitta vanthu ketkura? Patient : plastic surgery la neenga than famous nu sonnanga. athan unga kitta vanthen.. Jubair,Cognizant

■ Hi Gokila, You think you’re special because its your birthday today. That’s complete nonsense... you’re special every day.... In this world, where everything seems uncertain, only one thing is definite. You’ll always be our friend, beyond words, beyond time and beyond distance. .... May today be filled with sunshine and smiles, laughter and love...... Many Many More Happy

Returns of the Day...... With Love & Regards FTP GT 2007, Hexaware Technologies

. ■ Hi Kokila (@kuyil), You are a little hyper. You will have psychic gifts. You have the ability to masteranything in life. Ur wise decisions will take you to newer heights in career as well as personal life. You will prove to b beneficial. Wish You Many more Happy Returns of the Day!!! (Kuyiluku Iniya Piranthanal Vazthukkal...) With Luv friends Sabarinathan.K, Ashok, Akilan, Sada, Sethuraman, Balaji, Mani, Raja md... and friends... Perot Systems.

■ Dear Ganguly !!! Happy Happy birthday to u !!!!! Have a blast !!!! Let ur life be filled with happiness and gods blessings always !!! You deserve all the love and admiration that I have for you Because you’re the kind of person That I can turn to :))))

With loads of love, Priya

■ Hi RIA, MANY MORE HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY!!!!!! ENJOY U R LIFE,AND DANCE OF LIFE !!!! KEEP ON SHINING LIKE THE SUN , SPREAD THE PLEASURES LIKE MOON LIGHT….. WISH U SUCCESS FOR U R LIFE !!!!! BY, N.DOUGLAS HENRY

■ Dear Subhransu, Many More happy returns for your birthday. Hope your Birthday gently breezes into your life all the choicest things and all that your heart holds. Have a fun filled birthday. With love, Poornima, Viju, Purna, Vaibhav Hexaware Technologies

14 TRAFFIC JAM

ERGO Thursday, December 18, 2008

Expensive umbrella A British woman almost gave away an old umbrella, until she was told it was made by Faberge and was worth ($30,000) GBP20,000.

sudoku

Anil Jacob Thomas of Capgemini India clicked this picture in Switzerland. It shows Alps and Lake Lucerne.

KAKURO So you think you would make a terrific photographer but never really had the platform? Mail us your best work and we’ll publish it in this space, with credit. E-mail: [email protected]

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Printed and Published by S. Karthik on behalf of KASTURI & SONS LTD., at Plot B-6 & B-7, CMDA Industrial Complex, Maraimalai Nagar, Chengleput Taluk, Kancheepuram Dist., Pin: 603209 & at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002. Editor: S. Karthik (Editor responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act). RNI No. TNENG/2007/24553

15

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Scouts capsized

Word’s worth

Three British scout leaders were forced to trek through a jungle in Guinea for five days after a hippopotamus capsized their canoe.

"Trypall" (trye-pahl) a tall, lanky, slovenly person. See gammerstand.

B.C ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 Even though the day might begin on low note, there will be an augment in your energy as the day proceeds. With Ganesha’s grace the day will end on a positive note. You will share lovely moments like a romantic chat with your beloved one.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20 As the day begins there might be some unpleasant circumstances obstructing your progress. However in the second part of the day you will regain your confidence. In the later part of the day you will have share intense love with your loved one.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20 With the advent of the day, you might feel you are heading in the wrong direction but do not worry you will find the right direction later. You will be target-oriented in meetings. On romantic front, your sole attention will be on your beloved.

BORN LOSER

CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20 Sentiments might exhaust you in the morning, regardless of what you are dealing with. The noon may appear with a paradox. Ganesha says later during the day you will be more practical towards your final goal. Love life may be secondary.

LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20 At the beginning of the day, you might not be convivial at meetings and with superiors or colleagues. As the day progresses, you may change your views. Later during the day you will serve as a motivating source of inspiration for someone.

VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20

FREE RANGE

WORKING IT OUT

Today at work, you may lack fluency. However, lunch might just pump you up to get into the ‘daily businesses’ again. In the evening you may stay home at peace with your family. If you are in love, you might have a philosophical discussion.

LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20 At work, you will be raring to shoot the bulls-eye. However, routine communications might consume most of your pre-lunch time. In the later part of the day, you will witness success at your doors. Love life will be full of jovial and happening.

SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20 In the first half of the day, you might attempt to gain attention. In the later part of the day you will be successful in your attempt and be in the spotlight due to your proficiency. In you personal life you might try to woo someone today.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20 At the beginning of the day, you are likely to feel stressed out due to work load. However, your point of view might change post-lunch. Love life may experience a positive turning point. Ganesha feels you and partner would share a good understanding.

CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20 The day will start on a positive note, however later you might feel your work was not in the right direction. Ganesha suggests that it is best to rectify mistakes as soon as possible. . By evening, you might burst out your stress with your beloved.

PREVIOUS ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS

AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20 Tedious work will occupy you till lunch. But Ganesha finds you focussing only on fixed goals. It is recommended that you remain patient and completely concentrate on work. Evening will accompany pleasant time with friends.

PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20 You seem to be emotional about domestic issues in the morning. Fortunately, your mind will be preoccupied with. The upshot will be positive says Ganesha. In your love life, you will have a good moral support from your partner. Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni

16 !

ERGO Thursday, December 18, 2008

One look is all it takes NEWS AND NEWSMAKERS IN PICTURES Quote of the day

Actress Jennifer Connelly attends the ’The Day The Earth Stood Still’ press conference at Grand Hyatt Tokyo on Wednesday in Tokyo, Japan. GETTY IMAGES Hema Malini performs classical dance at the ’Science Conclave2008’ at Indian Institute of Information Technology in Allahabad on Tuesday night. PTI PHOTO

Actresses Nandita Das and Shahana Goswani attend the ’The Song of Sparrows’ premiere during day six of the 5th Dubai International Film Festival held at the Madinat Jumeriah Complex on Tuesday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. GETTY IMAGES

We do exchange gifts, although we don’t feel any pressure to make them big or expensive gifts. The kids don’t ask for big gifts for the reason that they don’t see a lot of the American cartoon television” ANGELINA JOLIE AND BRAD PITT’S WORDS ABOUT CHRISTMAS GIFT

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