Ergo June 29

A BYTE OF LIFE

Monday, June 29, 2009

11 TERMINATOR: SALVATION Leaves little to salvage FREE CIRCULATION

Vol. 3

No. 120

Encouraging reading among children will result in their ability to learn better. It’s this vision that is taking this Ashoka Fellow and founder of Hippocampus Reading Foundation to the rural and semi-urban areas. Umesh Malhotra on his pioneering efforts. » PAGE 05

Are you an Orkut Hero? While it’s nice to get in touch with old school buddies, two Orkutians have started a blog to recognise people who have started online communities to help others.

» PAGE 03

02 NAMMA CHENNAI

ERGO Monday, June 29, 2009

Take me home Graceful Sparky has a fondness for human company, games with a ribbon and posing for the camera. To adopt her, call Ananya Ashok at 9952040339.

Thumbs Up Swine flue scare A senior officer with the Chennai Corporation was all set to go for a training programme to Korea but cancelled his trip. The reason – swine flu scare. Apparently, the officer and his team were warned by some health officers days before they were scheduled to board the plane to the republic.

Blitz-1 team from Kumararani Meena Muthiah College comes up trumps at the Ultimate Frisbee’s Agni Nakshatra competitions for first-timers

Good hero, bad politician An actor who recently turned politician is said to have kidnapped a journalist with the help of his gang due to a long-standing rivalry. As the matter created a flutter among media men, a top state politician was quick to jump in and release the abducted man. He also made a compromise between the two sides and closed the issue with a piece of advice for the actorpolitician.

Musical chairs Two senior cops who were previously in the city and now posted in other districts due to punishment transfers are now on a quest to get back to the city. Reliable sources reveal that both the khakis are gunning for one position and therefore the fight for the seat has intensified. The triumphant one is likely to be known in a month’s time.

PHOTO: BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT/ TAKEN BY SIDDHARTA GOVINDARAJ

DEEPA VENKATRAMAN

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seven-member team of rookies from Kumararani Meena Muthiah College of Adyar, led by their lecturer Janani Rangarajan, were the winners of the Agni Nakshatra newbies ultimate Frisbee tournament organised on the sands of the Elliots Beach over the weekend. Eight teams participated in the tournament organised by the Ultimate Frisbee Club over the weekend, specifically to introduce newcomers to the action-packed sport that combines fitness and fun. All the teams had been prac-

tising for a month now. The winners of the tournament ‘Blitz-1’ team from KRMMC won a closely fought finals against the ‘Whizbees’ team from Valmiki Nagar. Elated Janani said, “We enjoyed all our matches. All of us practised as a team only for the last three weeks. The passion for the game made us win the tournament. We are looking forward to play the next national tournament.” Although Blitz-1 were the winners in the finals, the nail biting and longest match of the tournament was the semi finals between Whizbees and ‘Stall 7’ that well lasted for 45 minutes.

Each time Whizbees took a point, the Stall-7 (freshers) caught up with them with their excellent dives and catches. Gopi, captain of the Whizbees, said: “We have been playing this sport to build and maintain our fitness and the tournament was very thrilling. The club has done an excellent work in organising such a kind of tournament where we could learn a new sport.” All the teams - Blitz-1, Blitz-2, Noobies, Whizbees, Bharani, Ram, Chapati tum jao and Stall 7(freshers) were given certificates. ■

03

Monday, June 29, 2009

Are you an

ORKUT HERO? MONISHA MOHANDAS [email protected]

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re you on Orkut? Are you unique? Have you created a community for the benefit of someone else? If your answer is a loud YES, you might be the next Orkut Hero. It’s not an award that Orkut honours you with; it’s two individuals’ effort to encourage your efforts. And to help those in search of people with certain talents. orkutheroes.com is a blog started by Zaheer Abbas, which contains write-ups about inspirational people. Media entrepreneur Zaheer Abbas (27), better known as Zazo, a native of Rajasthan, joined Orkut just to increase his network of friends and keep in touch with old buddies. But as he began to visit other communities, it opened his eyes to people’s contributions towards making of groups and communities. Zazo felt the media has many times projected Orkut as a culprit behind many nefarious activities. “After going through certain communities I found that not everyone is wasting their time on Orkut.

There are some who are friendly, trustworthy and successful and who have given a lot of their time building something inspirational and informative in the form of Orkut communities on different subjects,” adds Zazo. “But how will others come to know about them?” The question plagued Zazo and made him open two communities on Orkut – ‘Orkut’s Hall of Fame’ and ‘Rated Wow!’ But membership to these communities is on invitation-only basis. “Generally people gaze through communities and join them out of their own interest, but these two communities are dedicated to some outstanding personalities for their activities, profession and achievements, which can be a lesson in motivation, inspiration and knowledge to anyone. And we invite them,” says Zazo. In case you are in search of such people, a visit to these com-

While it’s nice to get in touch with old school buddies, two Orkutians have started a blog to recognise people who have started online communities to help others

Tarannum

Zazo, founder Orkut Heroes

munities with help you. Zazo is not alone in this whole process. His sister Tarannum (23), quit her job at IBM Daksh to join her brother’s initiatives. “I was very inspired by my brother’s initiative and decided to extend my full support to take it forward,” says Tara proudly. And there started their idea of expanding it outside Orkut. Zazo thought the hard work of Orkut members should be appreciated more. He started his blog in the year 2008 – orkutheroes.com – and that’s how the concept of Orkut Heroes came into being. This blog contains profiles of people who have achieved in different fields. “We select people from their active, useful and helpful contribution to any subject of interest like academics, social work, etc.” Due to complaints about fake IDs, he clar-

ifies with the friends in his/her friend list. “We see the types of communities he/she has joined and his/her participation by sending scraps, messages and community activities. After a thorough scanning we try to approach that person either by scrap or by email if possible.” After conducting more than 50 interviews and the going through responses he got from his readers he is now into upgrading his website. “Though I have won many notable awards for music I was more recognised among my online friends as a hero after I won the Orkut Heroes award,” says Sameep Kulkarni, a sitarist, one of the heroes of Zazo’s blog. Orkutheroes.com has become a platform for many online communities to take it further from mere online work to real meetings and groundwork. If you as an individual or as a community have done something motivating, you can contact Zazo at [email protected] ■

04 KALEIDOSCOPE

ERGO Monday, June 29, 2009

Mini Quiz 1: How much tax does one need to pay when the taxable income level is between Rs. 1.50 – 3.00 lakh? (For all except senior citizens) a) NIL b) 20% of income exceeding Rs.3 lakh c) 10% of total income exceeding Rs.1.50 lakh d) 5% of total income exceeding Rs.1.50 lakh 2: PAN Stands for? a) Payable Account Number b) Permanent Account Number c) Permanent Access Number d) Preferred Access Number Send your answers to [email protected] or SMS your answers to 92813 98889. For example if you choose A as the answer to question 1 and B as the answer to question 2 type it as 1A2B and send it. Winner will be chosen by lucky draw from all correct answers.

Answers for last week’s quiz UTI Bank New Fund Offer

News you can use Depositors to become shareholders of Saraswat Bank

Keep your eyes open His first book ‘Stocks to Riches: Insights into Investor Behaviour’ is into its sixth reprint, two years after its release. With ‘Value Investing and Behavioural Finance’, his latest release, Parag Parikh hopes to tell a large audience that the financial market is a safe place for investors. The Founder-Chairman of Parag Parikh Financial Advisory Services answers basic queries for first-time investors:

India’s largest urban co-operative bank Saraswat Co-operative Bank is on its way to make 50,000 of its depositors into shareholders in the company. Depositors who have been the bank’s oldest customers would be made shareholders in the company. It has received 70 proposals from cooperative banks for mergers, of which two-three are under consideration. The bank had acquired South Indian Co-operative Bank and Kolhapur Maratha Co-operative Bank in 2008-09.

Future Generali eyeing sales via malls Future Generali India Life Insurance Company Ltd will focus on selling insurance products through malls of Future group.While they are open to partnering with banks, their inhouse network of 192 malls across the country will take more critical roles as alternative distribution channels. The company, in the second year of its operation, has no bancassurance portfolio, as most banks are already in tie-ups with other insurance companies. IRDA currently allows a bank to sell policies of only one life insurance and one general insurance company.

TATA Motors-Bank of India tie-up Bank of India has entered into an understanding with Tata Motors to ensure consumer finance for Fiat cars, which are available through the Tata-Fiat dealer network. Those willing to buy Linea, Palio and Grande Punto can get special interest rates for loans up to Rs. 10 lakh at 9.75 per cent to 10.25 per cent. Bank of India offers car loans up to 90 per cent of invoice, for loans up to Rs 10 lakh for tenure ranging up to 6 years. This facility will be available at all metro, urban and semi-urban branches of Bank of India.

LIFFY THOMAS [email protected]

a) You must not make profit in your first investment. Be ready for a loss and thank God if you made some loss. It is only then that you will be cautious while investing. b) Don’t enter the market with the aim of making money. Let it be a process of making money. c) Investing in stocks means buying part of a business. Therefore, the longer the period, the greater the gain. Be patient. d) Investment opportunities do not come everyday, so keep you eyes wide open. Do not blindly listen to what everybody has to say. Make your own wise decisions while investing in the market.

Which sectors to invest in When one should invest The government is talking big about infrastructural growth, but for me infrastructure is a big no. The sector holds no value. Real estate also holds no good. Some technology stocks, multinational pharma sectors and credit ratings are worth giving a shot.

Short-term or long-term stocks A value investor will never go for short-term stocks.

Advice to first-time investors

Once you start earning and have a disciplined life, be prepared to put your money in the market.

Why one should read your book If you are interested in the stock market and wish to understand the follies an investor makes, my book is a must-read. It advices on how to spot investment opportunities and pitfalls in commodity stocks, growth stocks, PSUs, IPOs, sectors and index stocks. It is aimed at stockbrokers, bankers, students of finance, finance

professionals and anyone dealing with money. Value Investing and Behavioural Finance is published by Tata McGraw Hill.

Musings My first investment: I was around 22 years old when I tried my hand at the stock market. I bought stocks of Sehgal Paper (it does not exist anymore), which was available at Rs. 6 to Rs. 7 those days. My first investment was the greatest lesson I learnt about the market. I lost Rs. 25 to Rs. 30,000 in the market, for which my father went wild. Lesson learnt: Never put all your eggs in one basket and always keep your eyes open. I hold shares of: I trade with 15 to 20 stocks at any given time. ICRA, CRISIL, Mphasis BFL, Oracel, Sonata, Bharat Electronics and Container Corporation are some of them. I never change my portfolio.

05

Monday, June 29, 2009

While most associate Hippocampus with its learning and activity centres, it is also engaged in pioneering work in semiurban and rural areas to promote reading habits in children

We consider ourselves an organisation that conceives, pilots and shares ideas

Growing by reading LIFFY THOMAS [email protected]

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B.Tech in Metallurgy from IIT-Madras, a nine-year stint with Infosys, a threeyear entrepreneurial spell with Bangalore Labs and now six eventful years with Hippocampus. Umesh Malhotra, founder of Hippocampus, is a man on the move, quite literally. The Bangalore-based firm is into reviving interest in reading in children, which it achieves through unique programmes crafted for different socioeconomic strata of society. While in cities, mainly Bangalore and Chennai, Hippocampus is famous among children as a playing, meeting and learning centre. In semi-urban and rural pockets of India it is winning a silent revolution by promoting reading through various friendly initiatives for children. In cities, it mooted the idea of starting for-profit libraries, through which it generates money, whereas in villages it initiatives are completely social and

work predominantly on donations from people and institutions. “We consider ourselves an organisation that conceives, pilots and shares ideas. We today run over six libraries in Bangalore. Our efforts to take reading to rural segments have us reach from the slums of Kolkata to Cambodia and we are working in village schools from Hassan to Tiruvannamalai,” Malhotra briefs about their reach.

ban government school with 300 children it costs around Rs. 30,000 and in a village it is between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 5,000.” Malhotra believes that “children want to read and to inspire them to read more, they must enjoy it”. Some of his challenges are to involve parents in all segments of society as they don’t read much; confronting parents who are very academically-focussed and countering many other modern distractions children have, including television

and video games. “In fact, working with rural India is a lot easier than urban slums,” he says.

Employability ‘Grow by Reading’, an activitybased programme of the HRF that enables children to assess their own reading levels and improve reading skills, is showing the path in other states, too. “We have five women who have accepted to take up franchises in Chitradurga district,”

Start of a journey Hippocampus Reading Foundation (HRF), its social unit, works with disadvantaged communities to establish ‘Active Libraries’ in government schools and community centres or by engaging women as franchisees of the learning centres. In villages and slums it partners with NGOs to start a learning centre on a collaborative effort. “So far around 75,000 children have benefited through 150 libraries present in the two states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka,” says Malhotra. “A community library in a city costs between Rs. 7 and 10 lakh, in ur-

Inspiring a generation: Umesh Malhotra. FILE PHOTO: G.R.N. SOMASHEKAR

explains Malhotra. “They are women from self-help groups, who invest Rs. 5,000 to run the learning centres all by themselves.” Typically, these librarians are those with a Class XII qualification, who are trained and employed to take up the role of a librarian.

Women power Interestingly, the Ashoka Fellow 2008 has an all-women team supporting the different functions of Hippocampus. “I am actually the only man besides the admin manager. The women do everything from customer management, program development, buying of books, helping schools and all that. My job is more to ensure that they don’t have too much fun… I spoil their party.” So, what’s next on the cards? “Life is a journey for me. I have been lucky to do various things. I don’t know if this is the final stop, but work has to excite me.” To volunteer visit www.readforchange.in ■ (This column celebrates the spirit of entrepreneurship)

06 VILLAGE

ERGO Monday, June 29, 2009

Cop chase Five French tourists got a harrowing start to their New York visit when they found themselves embroiled in a wild police chase.

Priest blames Holy Wine for drinkdriving An Italian priest caught driving over the alcohol limit pleaded to police that it was only because of the Holy Wine he had drunk as part of the mass, Ansa news agency reported. Police rejected the priest’s excuse and revoked his driving licence anyway. Now the 41-year-old priest is set to appeal against the ruling, saying his alcohol consumption was not “voluntary” since it was part of the Catholic ritual in the four masses that he had celebrated during the day. AFP

Now, use Twitter to see ISS Two journalists have built an online service that would let Twitter users around the world to spot the International Space Station (ISS) without a telescope. The online service, built by Dutch science reporter Govert Schilling and journalist Jaap Meijers, would let people know when they have to look up to see the ISS pass. People using Twitter can now receive an alert when the ISS will be passing at the location in their Twitter profile. All they have to do is follow the Twitter account @twisst: www.twitter.com/twisst The website accompanying the Twitter messages will be launched in the coming week, with lots of extra information such as a manual ‘Spotting the ISS’. Twisst may even be the first service on Twitter that sends out such highly personalised information. Twisst sends an alert to every follower personally, wherever in the world that person may be.

Obama inspires Arsenal US President Barack Obama has become a significant talisman in Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s team talks in their quest to end their four-year run without a trophy. Dutch striker Robin van Persie, who is also fascinated by Obama’s incredible success, admits he is trying to copy the great man’s demeanour, reports News of The World. Wenger has introduced Obama’s ’Yes we can’ philosophy into the dressing room. The Gunners have been trophy less since they beat Manchester United to win the 2005 FA Cup, but Wenger believes Obama’s influence can provide the missing spark. Wenger loathes excess. “We fly to games in an ordinary plane, not a luxury jet. Air conditioning in hotels is banned, because it’s bad for sportsmen. We’re not even allowed a fridge. All drinks have to be at room temperature - ice-cold drinks are bad for you. These are things that could make that one per cent difference,” van Persie said. ANI

Man survives 4 days trapped in well An 84-year-old man escaped with only minor injuries after he spent four days trapped in a well shaft on his remote property on Canada’s Pacific Coast, police said. A search dog located Bob Bennett - after a friend of the elderly man became concerned that he had not heard from him in several days. Bennett, who lives alone at a former mine site at Benson Lake, British Columbia, on northern Vancouver Island, had entered the eight-foot deep well shaft while searching for a water source and got trapped, Royal Canadian Mounted Police said.

ANI

Reuters

Ivanovic serves an off-court ace

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Adam Scott. AFP

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES/

olfer Adam Scott has fuelled rumours of a romance with tennis glamour girl Ana Ivanovic after taking a court-side seat at her latest Wimbledon match. The Queenslander was a guest of the Serbian stunner and looked on admiringly as she advanced past her second-round opponent. After the match Scott did little to dispel appearances that the pair are an item, refusing to serve up any details on their relationship, the Herald Sun reports. “I met her in Australia, but I’m not going to say any more,” Scott said when asked if they

were an item. Asked if he’d be back to see more of Ivanovic and Wimbledon, he said: “I hope so.” With his Hollywood idol looks, success on the world’s golf courses, millions in prize money and links to stars, Scott is hard to fault as a bachelor. And Ivanovic is not the only tennis star he has caught the eye of. Russian beauty Maria Sharapova recently revealed she had a crush on the golfer. Sharapova put the Australian at No. 6 on her list of Top 10 Dream Mixed Doubles Partners on her website. ■ ANI

07

Monday, June 29, 2009

Dream job

University clutter

Unemployed Britons are being offered the chance to apply for a dream job - getting paid to go on holiday.

A six-foot-long snake and a life-size skeleton are among the bizarre items left behind as students leave university halls for the summer.

Women don’t share views on who they find hot

PHOTO: AFP

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en have the same taste when it comes to telling who they find hot, while women fail to agree with each other, suggests a study. Led by Wake Forest University psychologist Dustin Wood, the study has revealed that there is much more consensus among men about who they think is attractive, when compared with women. “Men agree a lot more about who they find attractive and unattractive than women agree about who they find attractive and unattractive. This study shows we can quantify the extent to which men agree about which women are attractive and vice versa,” said

Wood. During the study, over 4,000 participants, between the age group of 18 to more than 70, rated photographs of men and women (ages 18-25) for attractiveness on a 10-point scale ranging from “not at all” to “very”. In exchange for their participation, the raters were told what characteristics they found attractive compared with the average person. Before the participants judged the photographs for attractiveness, the researchers rated the images for how seductive, confident, thin, sensitive, stylish, curvaceous (women), muscular (men), traditional, masculine/femi-

nine, classy, well-groomed, or upbeat the people looked. Revealing those factors helped the researchers figure out what common characteristics appealed most to women and men. It was found that men’s judgments of women’s attractiveness were based primarily around physical features, and that they rated highly those who looked thin and seductive. Most of the men in the study also rated photographs of women who looked confident as more attractive. As a group, the women rating men showed some preference for thin, muscular subjects, but disagreed on

how attractive many men in the study were. “As far as we know, this is the first study to investigate whether there are differences in the level of consensus male and female raters have in their attractiveness judgments. These differences have implications for the different experiences and strategies that could be expected for men and women in the dating marketplace,” said Wood. Wood said that the study results could have implications for eating disorders and how expectations regarding attractiveness affect behaviour. He said: “The study helps explain why women experience stronger norms than

men to obtain or maintain certain physical characteristics. Women who are trying to impress men are likely to be found much more attractive if they meet certain physical standards, and much less if they don’t. Although men are rated as more attractive by women when they meet these physical appearance standards too, their overall judged attractiveness isn’t as tightly linked to their physical features.” Older participants were more likely to find people attractive if they were smiling. The study has appeared in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. ■ ANI

08 SPORT

ERGO Monday, June 29, 2009

Shiv tied 15th Shiv Kapur and SSP Chowrasia turned in identical cards of two-under 70 in the penultimate round to be placed tied 15th and 31st spot respectively in the BMW International golf tournament. Shiv was nine-under 207 after hitting four birdies against a couple of bogeys in the third round. Chowrasia, meanwhile, totalled seven-under 209.

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f the joy and emotion that lit up one of Wimbledon’s outside courts late on Friday was stored in a battery, it would probably have had enough power to run the much-talked about Centre Court roof. Courtesy of another epic fiveset encounter, Indo-Pak duo Prakash Amritraj and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi set up a third round tie against fourth seeds Mahesh Bhupathi of India and Mark Knowles of the Bahamas, to be played on Court 14 on Monday. Cue scenes of delirium among the spectators on the outside court as drinks went flying and strangers hugged. “Nobody cared about who was Pakistani and who was Indian,” Qureshi, Pakistan’s leading player said. “They were all just supporting one team. It felt so good. This is the first time there were so many people from Pakistan watching me live. Even my 18-

month-old nephew was there. Though by the time it was finishing he was sleeping,” he grinned. British youngsters, with barely any of their compatriots left to cheer, were so roused by the match that at the end they were scrambling for autographs and yelling; “You’re our favourite players now!’’ They weren’t the only ones caught up in the frenzy.

Forgetful Amritraj So focused was the 25-year-old Amritraj at the conclusion that he forgot what happened at the end of the match. “On all six match points they put in a good first serve,” he said, only to be corrected by Qureshi. “No the last one was a second serve. You hit a forehand down the line,” the 29-yearold said, playfully punching his partner’s arm. Amritraj’s father Vijay, twice a

Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 1973 and 1981 and who also featured in the James Bond film Octopussy, was courtside for the encounter and despite wearing a dark suit the heat was not the only thing getting to him. “He was pretty close to having a heart attack,” his son joked, making Qureshi burst out laughing. “He was getting a little tight. He had one five-setter two days ago and another one today.” Vijay was just thankful his boy came out on top. “Stressful game to watch, but a wonderful ending,” said the 55-year-old TV commentator for an Asian network.

Worlds apart Though the likes of Court 11 are a mere stone’s throw from the showpiece Centre and number one courts, those that get drawn on them are worlds apart from the top players. The Indo-Pak duo had to get through two qualifying matches and after overcoming 16th seeds Ross Hutchins and Stephen Huss in round one, are now the only qualifiers left in the draw.

Yet Qureshi, ranked 85th in doubles, enjoys his lifestyle and the companionship among the less talked-about players. “The funny thing is I know both of them so well,” he said of their second round opponents Philipp Marx of Germany and Rameez Junaid of Australia. “Two or three weeks ago I was playing in Germany, and we hung out in the evenings all the time,” Qureshi said. “They also cheered for us during our qualifying matches and they were cheering for us on the first day. That’s the beauty about this sport.” Amritraj and Qureshi are also familiar with Monday’s opponent Bhupathi, and will need to be at their best to derail the 11-times grand slam doubles and mixed doubles champion. “He’s a good player but we’ve played with each other so much. I think we have a really good shot,” Amritraj said, backed up by Qureshi. “We almost have nothing to lose. We can relax and they’ll have all the pressure,” the Pakistani added. ■ Reuters

India’s Prakash Amritraj (left) and Pakistan’s Aisam Ul Haq Qureshi discuss strategies during their doubles match in Wimbledon 2009 at the All England Club. PHOTO: AFP

Indo-Pak juggernaut Indo-Pak duo set to light up Court 14

Paes-Bhupathi face off A rare Mahesh Bhupathi-Leander Paes face off is on the cards on Monday after the two, along with their respective partners, set up a third-round mixed doubles clash in the Wimbledon Championships in London. Bhupathi, along with compatriot Sania Mirza, beat local favourites Colin Fleming and Sarah Borwell 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 in a contest lasting more than an hour. In contrast, top seeds Paes and his Zimbabwean partner Cara Black didn’t even have to step on the court to advance as they got a walkover

from the Slovak-Italian pair of Michal Mertinak and Mara Santangelo. Seeded 13th the Bhupathi-Sania combine was in for a tough fight from the locals. In the first set, that lasted 51 minutes, both the pairs couldn’t notch a break point and it went on serve all along. The Indians, however, ended the deadlock by winning the tie-breaker 7-4 to go one up. Breakpoints were hard to come by even in the second set but Bhupathi and Sania managed to get the better of their rivals by converting one of the crucial two chances they got in the 36-minute affair. PTI

09

Monday, June 29, 2009

‘‘

I’m not proud of the times that I’ve drunk too much and been rude to someone or broken team rules. Now I’m out of that environment, that won’t happen anymore for those people in that team and for me. Andrew Symonds

Football in licence era

ERGO CORRESPONDENT [email protected]

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ven Sir Alex (Ferguson) will need a licence if he has to coach Mohun Bagan. If the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has its way, all I-League coaches in the country will need to have a minimum ‘A’ licence to take charge of their teams. Naturally, the diktat has sent India’s soccer coaches in a tizzy. A few of India’s multiple national league-winning coaches are likely to lose their jobs if the rules are implemented this year. “The AFC maintains that these coaches do not fit the AFC Champions League criteria. We have to take a decision whether to allow these coaches to function in the league,” All-India Football Federation secretary Alberto Colaco says. The federation had earlier approached both the FIFA and AFC for a rapprochement, considering the vast coaching experience of the persons concerned, but the ice didn’t melt. Taking a strong stand on the issue, AFC Champions League Project Department’s communication head Steve Kim says: “We understand the situation. However, by 2012 all coaches should have ‘A’ licence at least. In addition, from 2013 only coaches with ‘S’ licence will be acceptable. There will be no exceptions.” Although the AFC has made the coaches’ licensing mandatory for all participating teams in its premier club competition – AFC Champions League – many coaches in the richer European version of the Champions League do not have the necessary degree. Many famous European club managers fall in this category. But the AFC is

AFC’s mandatory ‘A’ licence policy all set to hit Indian coaches hard

From Left: David Booth, Subhash Bhowmick, Subrata Bhattacharya and Shabbir Ali.

adamant. “From AFC’s perspective, we are aware of the difference between manager in English Premier League and Head Coach in India. But in AFC’s system, they will be registered as Head Coach. Even Sir Alex (Ferguson) needs to have the coaching licence if he takes charge of Mohun Bagan,” Kim says. The hapless Indian coaches are now trying to find ways to hold on to their high-paying jobs. Chirag United coach Subrata Bhattacharya, who had earlier coached Mohun Bagan to national league glory, says: “I have an AFC ‘C’ licence and for the last couple of years I have been contemplating doing a combined ‘A’ and ‘B’ licence course. But I didn’t know who to approach and where these courses are conducted. The AIFF should have been responsible enough to furnish us with the necessary information. For their lackadaisical approach we are now going to lose our jobs.” He now plans to get his degrees in order before the next edition of the I-League starts a few months later. Current Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa, meanwhile, is expected to complete his ‘A’ licence diploma while vacationing in Singapore. The other Kolkata side, East Bengal, plans to appoint ‘A’ licence-holder Mridul Banerjee as their coach, with present coach Subhash Bhowmick taking over as technical director. “I don’t expect myself to go in for some diploma after tasting success at every level as a coach,” Bhowmick says. “Earlier I was interested but the federation or the AFC always kept us out of the loop. You cannot suddenly wake up and try to be too strict.” The inclusion of foreign coaches in the list – David Booth, Zoran Djordjevic and Bencherifa – upsets the AIFF more. All three have handled several continental bigwigs before taking a plunge into Indian football, but the AFC has refused to go by reputations alone. Mahindra United’s Booth, the former Vietnam and Brunei national coach, must take a UEFA ‘A’ licence course to be eligible since the FA Advanced Licence that he had has already expired. The Goan sides are better off with most of their coaches having the necessary diploma. National skipper Baichung Bhutia has, however, come out in support of the men under fire. “It is important to have a licence but degrees alone don’t make a good coach,” Bhutia says. “Coaches must be given one or two years to equip themselves. The federation must support them in this endeavour.” The AFC too says it’s ready to come to their rescue. “AFC provides an opportunity to coaches to get a licence through Vision Asia, AFC’s elite education programme and satellite programme (region basis). The concerned coaches can e-mail us inquiring about the details of the programme and enrol themselves online,” Kim says. “We will give time for head coaches to get ‘S’ license by 2012. But from 2013, there would be no exception.” ■

PHOTOS: THE HINDU

10 FLICK

ERGO Monday, June 29, 2009

Jackson children ‘fantastic’: grandfather Michael Jackson’s three children are in “fantastic” shape at the family’s compound in Los Angeles, the musical clan’s patriarch Joe Jackson said on Saturday. The King of Pop is survived by three children – Prince Michael (12), Paris (11) and Prince Michael II (7). In a brief interview with Fox News aired late Saturday, the children “are enjoying themselves with the other kids,” Joe told the network’s talk-show host Geraldo Rivera.

Michael Jackson tops charts, memorabilia sales surge

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A tribute to Mich ael Jackson is he ld up by a fan.

PHOTO: GETTY IMA GES

ike Elvis before him, Michael Jackson is topping the charts in death as in life. And the King of Pop is rivaling the King of Rock ’n’ Roll in another category as well – posthumous sales of memorabilia. More than 15,500 Michael Jackson-related items were being offered for sale on Saturday at online auction house eBay.com, two days after the sudden death of the singer in Los Angeles at the age of 50. They range from Web domain names – michaeljacksonmemorial.com, for example – at hopeful prices of one million dollars or more to copies of US newspapers featuring front-page news of his death for as little as 99 cents. eBay’s home page displays a special ‘Remembering the King of Pop’ category offering ‘Memorabilia, Music, Autographs, Records’. The collectibles for direct sale or auction include Michael Jackson posters, dolls, ticket stubs, concert programmes, newspapers, magazines, tote bags, pins, badges, stickers, T-shirts and other clothing. And, of course, albums, hundreds and hundreds of albums. One of the more unusual items listed on eBay is a white glove doubling as an invitation to a ‘Michael Jackson party’. It can be had for 50,000 dollars with the money purportedly going to support an orphanage in Kyrgyzstan. A ‘rare and original’ black felt fedora said to have been autographed by Michael Jackson himself has attracted 14 bids, the highest 9,899 dollars. Dozens of replica red leather jackets like the ones Jackson wore in the music videos of Thriller and Beat It are on sale for prices ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Over at online retail store Amazon.com, the top 15 selling albums were all by Jackson including two made with his brothers when they were the ‘Jackson 5’. Nine of the top 10 selling albums at Apple’s iTunes music store were from the King of Pop with The Essential Michael Jackson leading the way. Seven of the top 10 songs being downloaded on iTunes were by the singer, with ‘Man in the Mirror’ currently the most popular. The surge in Jackson popularity was not limited to the United States. Jackson was also set to top the British album chart on Sunday. His greatest hits album, Number Ones, is set for top spot and up to half a dozen of the singer’s other albums could also make the Top 75, according to the Official Charts Company. “We always find where a great icon dies that there’s a massive uplift in their music sales as fans want to connect and express their grief through the records,” said Gennaro Castaldo of HMV. “We’ve seen this with people like John Lennon, Elvis, Johnny Cash and Frank Sinatra over the years. With Michael Jackson in particular, he was just on the cusp of a big comeback anyway and we were already beginning to see a lift in sales.” Jackson had been scheduled to play the first of 50 comeback concerts in London on July 13. ■ AFP

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Monday, June 29, 2009

‘‘

Back maybe in ’88 or ’89, he (Michael Jackson) came to Basel. I was outside of the stadium because there was such excitement that he would come. I was still very young. I think I went there with my sister and we just listened from the outside.’’

KARTHIK SUBRAMANIAN [email protected]

I

f you are as old as me and from Chennai, chances are you would have be an awestruck school kid who waited and waited at the erstwhile Alankar theatre on Anna Salai to get a ticket and watch the now Governor of California stride out butt naked in the opening sequence of Terminator 2: Judgement Day in easily what must be the greatest actioner ever. Few cult movies measure up to the Terminator franchise. The movie firmed up the cinematic genius of James Cameron – perhaps the only director who knows how to make really good sequels, examples Aliens and T2: Judgement Day – as well as the blockbuster hero status of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Which is where the problems lie – James Cameron has disso-

Roger Federer recalls a distant childhood memory of Jackson

ciated creatively from the franchise. To him, the series was over with Arnie signing off ‘Astlavista, Baby’ and being lowered into the smouldering liquid metal by young John Connor. But Hollywood seldom allows a good thing to be. Studio executives, greedy for the millions, came out with the pretty average follow-up, T3: Rise of the Machines, shunned by critics and fans alike. At least, it had Arnie in it. The big question now is whether Terminator: Salvation is worth the ticket price. Blame it on Judgement Day and the nuclear holocaust, the puny John Connor (played by Nick Stahl in T3: Rise of the Machines) has metamorphed into a grunting soldier. In playing the messianic leader of the rebellion against the machines, Christian Bale loses his cape and hood from Batman series but not his ridiculous voice as he looks per-

petually upset and suffering from a severe hangover. He grunts his motivational talk through radio, offering words of solace and hope for rebel factions all over the world who have been driven underground by the machines that haunt them. The action begins with the rebels launching an assault on a research and development facility of Skynet, the organisation that revolutionises artificial intelligence and manufactures terminators. Inadvertently the rebels free a prisoner Marcus Wright (played thankfully by a sober looking Sam Worthington) who seems to be following a pre-destined path towards the Skynet headquarters. The third protagonist of the tale is a teenager Kyle Reese (Anton Yelchin), the to-be father of John Connor. It’s best you don’t worry about this if you don’t already know the Terminator franchise.

Leaves little to salvage

The machines are hunting down Kyle Reese and John Connor to crush the rebellion. But the rebel headquarters – an undersea submarine commandeered by one General Ashdown (Michael Ironside wasted in an insignificant role) – think they have the ultimate weapon against Skynet. The destinies of all the protagonists are intertwined as they brave the onslaught of an army of machines and eventually end up with the classical explanation of: “what is it that makes us human?” Though visually far superior to its prequels, Terminator: Salvation suffers from a story and a script that shows incredible fatigue in trying to reinvent and reenergise a franchise. The first three movies were essentially chase-and-run thrillers. That the machines looked very human added to the intrigue.

But with Salvation, the franchise moves in another direction, that of post-apocalyptic drama. The movie looks more like the Mad Max series, more like a coming to terms with a post-apocalyptic scenario. Every thing – and I mean every single thing – looks bleak and lost. In ways similar to how the Jurassic Park series keep running by adding more and more of thrills – by way of introducing better looking dinosaurs than working on the plot – the Terminator franchise too seems to have lost its way. There are a whole bunch of new terminators around but somehow they hardly look threatening. The only cheering point for me at least was a 30 second cameo by you know who. So what if he comes by way of a digitally grafted image? I was sighing of what could have been or rather what should not have been. ■

Film: Terminator: Salvation Director: McG Cast: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin

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ERGO Monday, June 29, 2009

Friday’s Query: Recall those trade mark words/lines of your teacher/lecturer with which you associate him/her ■ Ponds company bcoz he uses powder in such a way that no one can identify him. Sohail, IBM

■ We used to call our sir as "lazy" sir. Bcoz frequently he uses that word as ’lazy fellow’ Lavanya, IBM

■ Shameless creatures! (High school history teacher) Vaishnavi Sowmya Narayn, TCS

■ Stop talking, and maintain discipline and his standing style was like Shaktiman, so we used to call him Major Shaktiman. Rahul Karmakar, Allsec

■ Once in college, chemistry sir said ’open the window let the air force come in’ from that day he was Airforce master Nikesh, Infosys

■ My PT Master used to say Make a Straight Circle Magesh, Polaris

■ My HOD "karuthu kandasamy" bcoz of his long lecture Karuvarasan, TCS-eserve

■ "I didn’t see this kind of worst batch in my life" Roshin, Perotsystems

■ Enga lecturer eppoparthalum what whatnu solvanga adhanala avanga eppo vandhalum ’vathu varuthunu’ comanddadipom Jayaprakash, Devi, Allsec

■ My programming madam used to tell "wat evr gvn in d double quotes it will b printed on monitor". So we called her double quotes

come to the point" so we called him "come to the point" Saranya.M, Cognizant

■ In my 1st yr, our mechanical sir was plumby. Hence v named him as "boiler" relating his appearance & subject taken (v had a boiler mechanics topic) Revathi, Wipro

■ Our maths teacher pronounces the word therefore as derbore so we cal him Durbar

Revathi, TickerPlant

■ My lecturer Sundari’s car was seized by the traffic police since she parked in no parking area, so we call her as no parking Sundari Vignesh Shanmugam, Allsec

■ "Aaa...Yes.. Yesterdays Absenteesss...... Yes....I know.... you pakka porikki.... International K.D... Taking leave aah...Bring your parents tomorrow... Otherwise you will be suspended for 1 week... Aaaa.... Yes..." This is the Trade mark words that My Principal used to tell, if a student (Let him/her studing in L.K.G or doing Engineering) takes leave without prior intimation... If we go with parents requesting him to grand leave for the next day.....then the dialog will be "You want leave....Y??? NO...No..no....Now I have noted you...If you are not going to come to school tomorrow... You will be suspended for 1 week.... Aaaa... Yes...." We used to call him "Bond".. "James Bond"....."Suspend Bond".... Siva FSS

■ My history teacher used to say "You are physically present, but mentally absent”

Arunkumar from Cognizant Technology Solutions has nominated his team as Partners in Crime. This photo was near a lake at Chembra Peak, Wayanad.

Geetha Lakshmanan from Perot Systems has nominated team members as Partners in Crime. This pic was clicked at their cafeteria.

Rabikala

■ This is the quote used by our Senthil sir at VIT, which we made famous during our college life. “Simply Coming Simply Sitting Simply Going. Doing Nothing!” Gopinath G. Siemens Building Technologies Pvt Ltd

Hariharan.R, Infoview Technologies

■ Collared attire was mandatory in our college, so if any student comes with a neck t-shirt my professor Maria Joseph would say Ur a scholar without a collar, his nickname was T.R for his rhyming dialogues Surul Paandi, CTS

■ My physics professor’s one liner "imagine Newton s taking the class n

Today’s Query: If you would to relate yourself to a comic character who would it be and why?

Arul Prakash from Allsec Technologies has nominated his team mate Thomas as Partners in Crime. This pic was clicked at Mamalla Beach Resort, Mahabalipuram during their office party.

13

Monday, June 29, 2009

■ Dear Prakash, On your birthday, I wish for you the fulfillment of all your fondest dreams. I hope that for every candle on your cake you get a wonderful surprise. I wish for you that whatever you want most in life, it comes to you, just the way you imagined it, or better. I hope you get as much pleasure from our friendship as I do. I wish we were twins, so I could have known you from the beginning. I look forward to enjoying our friendship for many more of your birthdays. I’m so glad you were born, because you brighten my life and fill it with joy. Happy Birthday! Lavanya Coastal Training Technologies

■ Dear Rahuf (Safarijv), Sending B’day blessings filled with love, peace and joy wishing sweetest things happen right before your eyes..... Happy Birthday to U....... with love and care SudhaKaran K. and Beyjaar Boys and Golden Girls from (PPS & Safarijv), HOV services

■ Dear Dhilma I wish you MANY MORE HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY...:):) Let this day brings you lots of happiness and success in future... May God keep you in good health and spirit. Have a blessed day dhil. wit loads of luv n prayers Sudha N Cognizant Technology Solutions

■ Hi Suyambu, Sorry for forgetting your birthday... Wishing you many more happy returns of the day. Sigma Team TCS-Ambattur

■ Dear Prabhu, Wishing you a very Happy Birthday. May Gods blessings be with u all through the Life. Wishing U all happiness and Prosperity. Best Wishes from iRonicz Spiders -Technologists. Tata Consultancy Services, iNautix, fidelity-Chennai & Mumbai . Musigma, NSN, Tata Elexi, EMC-Bangalore. Juno, Deshaw, Commvault-Hydrabad.

■ Dear Nanthini, Many more happy returns of the day !! May the forthcoming year be filled with sweet memories and happy

hours.. Plz do keep enlightening the lives of others by involving yourself in social service activities as you do so now... Wishing you success in all your future endaevours... Have a blast !! Shiva, TCSL

■ Dear SM, Iniya piranthanal nal vazhtukkal. May this special day filled with sweet memories and happy hours. The happiest moment is when we both spent the time together. When you are by my side I feel like the luckiest person. Missing you very much in this birthday… Hope you remember the memories we spend together during your last birthday… We will definitely join together and celebrate your next birthday… No words to express my feelings… Many more happy returns of the day… Yours one and only, SM, Wipro Technologies

■ Dear Sharan, Your Birthday is a special day.. One that’s just for you.. A time for doing everything you specially like to do.. You’ve been best friends with someone since nursery school… It’s amazing how friendships last over decades We hope that ours too will last forever! May your birthday and the rest of your year be full of fun and surprises… For We as your friends, never forget to think of you And Care for you...! Happy Birthday Dear Friend..!!! With love, S20 Terrors CTS, Siruseri

■ To My Dear Friends Prathap (GTCB) & Prakash (WIPRO), Wish you both a many more happy returns of the day. May God bless you with happiness and everything else that makes this birthday, a happy one for you both. Dhananjayan Chandrasekar Standard Chartered

■ Hi Dinesh Kumar May this special day be filled with sweet memories and happy hours. Wishing you all the fun and excitement that only birthdays can bring! With Cheers, Human Resources, Coastal Training Technologies India (P) Ltd, Chennai

■ Dear Nelliyan, Wish You Many More Happy Return of the day. May all your dreams come true and this

be another fantastic year for you. With lots of love MIS TEAM (TCS e-Serve)

■ Dear Shyamala and Vinoth, A successful marriage requires falling in love many times,always with the same person. Wishing u both a Advanced happy married life. With Love, BT ISOOH2, Wipro Technologie

■ Dear Laxmi Deepika (Deepu) Wish you many more happy returns of the day. Happy Birthday!! From Rakhee, Sravanthi, Prasanna, Vinay, Kalyan and Shiva, Wipro Technologies.

■ Dear Gobi Side by side or miles apart True friends are always close to your heart Whether you’re turning five or fiftythree You know that I’m a true friend because you’re here beside me I’m here, right now, on your special day So lets give a cheer for you, hip, hip, hooray! I’m so lucky to have a friend like you. Wiah you Happy Birthday! With cheers Selva, Wipro Technology

Belated Wishes ■ My Cubby!!! I Love you a lot!!! You are invaluable to me. I thank God that he sent you to me... you are my Angel. I remember the way we met and i will never forget the beautiful times we spent together. I want to be with you forever and keep you happy always... Love, Gugu

■ Dear Anto, The Lord bless you and keep you! Hope your day is a delight... From the simplest joys To the Lord’s brightest blessings! Many more happy returns of the day!!" With love Lokesh, Prabhu, Ravikanth, Shyamala, Annie, Dan, Leena, Vandana, Debbie, Canada Sales & Lydia.

■ Dear Satish, Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of you to the world. Hope your Birthday gently breezes into your life all the choicest of things and all that your heart holds dear! Have A Fun- Filled Day! With love - Lokesh, Prabhu, Ravikanth & Anotony.

14 TRAFFIC JAM

ERGO Monday, June 29, 2009

Hitching a ride A bride in Suffolk, England rode to church on a tractor after her horse went lame just two days before her wedding.

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A.L.Suresh Babu from Indiabulls shot this picture at Besent Nagar beach using Sony DSC H9 8 MP camera Hobbies: Photography, Music

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15

Monday, June 29, 2009

Girlfriend stabs beau

High wallabies

A girlfriend stabbed her sleepwalking boyfriend after he urinated in their wardrobe.

Drugged up wallabies are being blamed for creating crop circles in Tasmania.

B.C ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 Your practical approach will help you handle routine activities with ease. You are likely to take up some additional tasks to . But this may leave you with too much work on your hands and your personal life stands to suffer from this overzealousness.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20 Assessing things in advance can help you finish the routine tasks. A boost to your confidence will increase your productivity and will keep you in a good mood. You may have to negotiate the matters of heart in a practical manner.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20 Today domestic issues will be on the driving seat, but the professional commitments will also loom large. However you will manage both departments with ease. A favourable day provided you don’t get into an argument with your boss.

BORN LOSER

CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20 Your focus will be high and this may help you augment your productivity at work. You may come across some useful data while carrying out research in your field. Save it for future. Today, love will take a beating from ambition.

LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20 Today you will be more than willing to lend your advice. Don’t get too upset if they fall on deaf ears. At workplace, you will finish work on time. Try to keep your mouth shut when with your sweetheart as your words may do more harm than good.

VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20

FREE RANGE

WORKING IT OUT

You’ll make separate things-to-do list for work as well as home. Ganesha feels that you are prone to being a bit judgemental at the work. As far as your personal life is concerned, the day is likely to bring a welcome change in your love life.

LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20 You are brilliant at solving problems, and you should remember that even if you fail to address them today. Office work may keep you occupied and your beloved may not like it. Try making some time for your beloved.

SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20 You will be able to get your work done at a very fast pace. Superiors will give you all the guidance and support you need for the disposal of pending projects. On the personal front, Ganesha advises you to let your lover call the shots from evening.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20 Today, you will be taking up a lot of high-priority tasks. The day will be hectic and it may get difficult for you to give attention to your beloved. But if you try hard enough, you may be able to strike a balance between your personal and professional life.

CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20 Important meetings are lined up as they hold the key to the door of opportunities. You are likely to lend an ear to other’s opinions and will show similar traits with your beloved. Both of you will spend a lot of quality time together.

PREVIOUS ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS

AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20 It’s about time you get rid of those files piling up on your desk. It’s a favourable day today. Be on guard against those who are jealous of you. The love life will be a little bit of a drag, minor confrontations may also be on the cards.

PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20 Your emotions may take over your practical side. Try taking criticism as an opportunity to improve. On the love front, it’s time to celebrate. Love life will be hassle free and you may be showered with TLC (tender loving care) by the one you love the most. Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni

16 !

ERGO Monday, June 29, 2009

Revellers walk through a camping area in the early hours of the second day of the annual Glastonbury festival near Glastonbury, Somerset. PHOTO: AFP

The "Gorch Fock" training tall ship of the German Navy takes part in the so-called Windjammerparade tall ship parade at the Kiel Week sailing event at the port of Kiel, northern Germany. PHOTO: AFP

Members of the performance group, "Sangre Fria" (Cold Blood) drag a truck by chains attached to hooks in their back, during a "Drum Parade" in Madrid. PHOTO: AFP