Ergo June 30

A BYTE OF LIFE

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

02 THIEVES ON TRAIN Railway police arrest two for stealing jewellery from passengers FREE CIRCULATION

Vol. 3

No. 121

Indian soccer may have suffered its worst body blow yet with Bharti Enterprise, which promised to invest Rs 100 crore, now rethinking its investment following wranglings within AIFF, reports Ayon Sengupta.

» PAGE 09

02 NAMMA CHENNAI

ERGO Tuesday, June 30, 2009

20% off Fastrack is offering 20 per cent discount on all its watches and sunglasses. The watches post-discount are priced from Rs. 475 and sunglasses at Rs. 555. The offer is valid till July 26 and available at all World of Titan showrooms and Titan Plus outlets.

Once upon a time ... D

o you have a story to tell? Or, you have one but don’t know how to say. If you fall in the later category here’s an opportunity to master the art of storytelling. World Storytelling Institute is conducting a course in storytelling from July 11. You could be a parent, teacher, counsellor, tour guide or someone interested in becoming a professional storyteller to attend the course. Each participant is required to bring a traditional story that he/she would like to work on telling. It could be a grandmother story, a Raja-Rani story, a Tenali Raman story, a fairy tale or a story in which animals speak. What you will be taught? Styles of speaking, symbols in stories, types of stories, what makes a great storyteller, storytelling accompanied by illustrations, puppets and props, etc. The course is spread across eight sessions and is priced at Rs. 2,000. For details log on to www.storytellinginstitute.org or call Eric Miller at 98403 94282/ 4208 0890.

Two arrested for theft in trains The duo from Jharkhand stole jewellery and valuables from AC 2-tier passengers after boarding the train under false names ERGO CORRESPONDENT [email protected]

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Eric Miller (right), Director, World Storytelling Institute, at a workshop. PHOTO: V. GANESAN

he Government Railway Police (GRP) on Monday arrested two men who travelled in AC 2-tier train compartments and stole gold jewellery and valuables from copassengers. The men struck over 30 times in various trains in the state and had fled with 352 sovereigns of gold. A total of 285.5 sovereigns of stolen gold jewellery were recovered from the duo, making it the biggest seizure by GRP in the last five years. Following repeated complaints from train passengers over the loss of valuables from 2-tier AC compartments, special teams were formed under the supervision of the Superintendent of Police (Railways), Chennai, to nab the culprits. Meanwhile, on Monday morning two unidentified persons attempted to rob a 40-year-old women passenger at knifepoint on platform no. 1 of Chennai Central station. Police personnel on the premises rushed in to apprehend the duo after the victim raised an alarm. Upon questioning, the men admitted to the crime and also various other thefts from rail passengers in the state over the last two years. The duo from Ranchi in Jharkhand were identified by police as Rajan alias Rajan Ram Srivastava (47) and Amar

A section of the recovered jewellery. alias Amarnath Jaiswal (43), who used to buy AC 2-tier tickets in trains after registering fake names and addresses. “After boarding the train they would wait for the passengers to fall asleep at night and in the dark open their bags and extract all items of value from them, secure the luggage again to prevent any sign of break-in and decamp with

PHOTO: R. SHIVAJI RAO

the loot. The victims would not even realise that they had been robbed till they went home or opened their bags,” said S. Manoharan, Superintendent of Police (Railways), Chennai. The accused were remanded to custody and sent to Puzhal prison. Police is conducting further investigations to ascertain if more people are involved. ■

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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

With a devotional touch The second generation led by T.S. Raghavan is taking Giri Trading Agency places DEEPA VENKATRAMAN

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The stores in Mumbai and Chennai; (inset) TVS Giri, founder, Giri Trading Agency

Timeline 1954 – Footpath shop started in Mumbai near Matunga Railway Station 1976 – First shop in Mylapore 1983-84 – Gitaa Cassettes music company launched 1990 – First showroom in Mumbai 1991 – Radio station SS International launched 1993 – Giri Trading Agency Pvt Ltd registered 2007 – Mylapore shop expanded into 3 floors

harmo Rakshathi Rakshith – When you protect your duty, you get protected by the duty. This has been the philosophy of Giri Trading Agency Pvt. Ltd. – an epitome of rags to riches. The company was started by T.V.S. Giri and is popular for books on philosophy, mythology, slokas and devotional songs. Its first shop opened in 1976. Ranganathan Giri, MD of the company and youngest son of T.V.S. Giri, says, “It was during the early 50s. My father wanted to buy a sandhya vandanam book for one of his friend’s son’s thread ceremony in Mumbai. He couldn’t find one there and this triggered him to start selling traditional books in the city. He immediately took a trip to Madras and bought a few books to sell in the Matunga Railway Station and soon he had a shack in a nearby street. This went on for nearly 20 years.”

Battling odds Ranganathan’s older siblings – Kashi Vishwanathan, T. S. Aiyapan,

Ram Narayan, Iyer Srinivas and T.S.V. Hari – felt the need to expand the business when they were in their early 20s. In mid-70s, T.V.S. Giri along with his sons and daughters – Sharada Prakash and Meenakshi Balu – opened a 200 sq ft shop in Mylapore, next to the Kapaleeshwar Temple. They got a small space inside the temple and sold minimal pooja items like camphor, kumkum and vibhuti along with books. However, the family did face their own hardships in nurturing the business. “My brothers used to cycle to Parrys Corner, Thiruvanmiyur, T. Nagar from Mylapore to buy goods from the wholesale market. The rest of the stuff was sent to Mumbai. And in Mumbai, my sisters used to take books in baskets to sell in stores,” recalls Ranganathan.

Branching out By late 80s, they got popular. Ranganathan says, “We opened our first showroom in Mumbai in 1990 and another shop in Mylapore in 1991. We began selling all pooja items, veshtis for Shabarimala pilgrims and eventually devotional

cassettes songs.” Since then there was no looking back and they opened up branches in Mumbai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai and Mylapore, Adyar and Nanganallurin in Chennai. The devotional song cassette business prompted one of the brothers, Aiyapan, to begin music company, Gitaa Cassettes, in the early 1980s. By chance they started a radio station, SS International in early 1991 and it ran until 1999. The Gitaa Cassettes Company also picked up simultaneously. “Till now we have together released over 300 cassettes and CDs of various artistes from Madurai Mani Iyer to M.D. Ramanathan to S.P. Balasubrahmanyam to Nithyasree to P. Susheela.” Giri Trading was registered in 1993 and from its inception they have clients from all over the world. Currently the company, handled by the second generation, is guided by Chairman T.S. Raghavan, COO E. Bala and CEO V. Subramanian. Ranganathan sums up, “We plan to go into private equity and we are seriously thinking of starting another branch overseas.” ■ (Made in Chennai is a column that showcases the evolution of homegrown businesses)

04 TECHNORAMA

ERGO Tuesday, June 30, 2009

‘‘ GREAT KIT FOR LESS

Bing is a competitor. We have absolutely looked at Bing; we have actually studied what they do as Microsoft studied what Google does Eric Schmidt, Google CEO

Can’t afford the best? Then check out the rest...

Technology snippets sources for T3 magazine of Infomedia18 Group

CANON EOS 500D Canon’s first DSLR to record HD video in full 1080p comes with an HDMI output, allowing you to watch footage on your TV. It takes 15.1-megapixel stills and has an ISO that can be pushed all the way to 12,800 – that’s enough to take snaps in a black hole. A 3fps burst mode and dustproof sealing complete the picture. It’s the boss. Rs 52,995, www.canon.co.in

1 NIKON D90 The Nikon contains 12.3-megapixels, a self-cleaning device for dust removal, and it starts up in a ridiculously fast 0.15 seconds. Not too shabby. Not too cheap, either … Rs 72,995, www.nikon.co.in

2 PANASONIC DMC-L10

3 Sony DSLR A350K

Here, your money gets you ten megapixels – that’s more than enough for most users – face detection for up to 15 visages, and a 2.5inch LCD to frame it all on.

At the more budget end of the DSLR spectrum comes this Sony, with a chunky 14-megapixels, a 2.7-inch screen and an anti-dust system. That’s value for money.

TBC, www.Panasonic.com

Rs 49,990, www.sony.co.in

4 Olympus E-520 Bargain seekers could do a lot worse than this ten-megapixel camera with a shooting speed of 3.5fps and a built-in image stabiliser to stave off wobblevision. Rs 39,990, www.OLYMPUS.com

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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Firefox add-ons available as collections It has just become easier for Firefox users to acquire helpful extensions for the browser. The creators of Mozilla have now released a series of add-on collections for free at http://addons.mozilla.org/firefox. Registered users also have the option of publishing their personal add-on packages on the website for others to access. That includes the option for commentary about why the extensions are so useful.

Health games become serious business

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ideogames were once blamed for rising obesity rates but are now being championed by the medical industry and for use by government departments for their health benefits. Games like Electronic Arts’ “EA Sports Active” and Nintendo’s “Wii Fit” have got players of all ages moving - and game developers and investors looking for hot new titles to cash in on this booming segment of the market. Big John Games’ upcoming “Butt Kicker” Nintendo DSi game will provide an actionbased environment in which players fight against cigarettes and "Karate Bears" for Wii teaches players real karate routines using the Wii’s motionsensor controllers. “Healthcare is 18 percent of the GDP of the United States and so games for health is probably the largest sector of activity in the serious games field long-term,” said Ben Sawyer, co-founder of The Games for Health Project. “If you add up the 18 month sales of “Wii Fit” and the sales of “EA Sports Active,” Konami’s “Dance Dance Revolution” and other healthy games, the worldwide retail numbers are over $2 billion.” Dr. Michael Levine, executive director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, which fosters innovation in children’s learning, has just released a report looking at how digital games can play a beneficial and educational role in health care. “States’ governors should direct their school technology officers to look at innovations like “Dance Dance Revolution” and “Wii Fit” as a way to extend the reach of physical education and comprehensive health education,” said Dr. Debra Lieberman, director of Health Games Research for the foundation.

With interest in health games rising, the fifth annual Games for Health Conference in Boston expanded to 390 people this year from 100, including developers, investors and medical experts

A guest tries out a Wii Fit Plus game at an expo in Los Angeles. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES/AFP

The Games for Health Conference also showcased how videogames are being used to help doctors and patients alike. Serious games developer Virtual Heroes is working on a new first-person shooter sequel for Hope Lab’s popular “Re-Mission” game, which has been distributed to cancer patients in 81 countries since 2006. “We’re taking their existing concept and trying to raise the fun bar and creating more lifelike and enjoyable environments within the human body,” explained Jerry Heneghan, CEO of Virtual Heroes. “Players will take control of Roxy, the protagonist, and have new weapons to battle cancer with thanks to input from cancer patients.” Virtual Heroes is also updating its HumanSim technology with a new human physiology engine, technology has been used by Duke Medical Center’s nursing school to train nurses virtually. Heneghan said he hopes this software will inspire gamers to turn to careers in healthcare and make people in the medical profession more proficient with more grants and funding flowing into universities for health games. ■ Reuters

06 VILLAGE

ERGO Tuesday, June 30, 2009

City is gay enough A UK city has been told it is "gay enough" after a two-month enquiry into Canterbury in Kent proved the local government had promoted lesbians, gays and bisexuals enough after a complaint by a gay group.

Davenport welcomes baby girl Former world number one Lindsay Davenport has given birth to a baby girl, her agent said. “Lindsay Davenport and her husband, Jon Leach, joyfully announce the birth of their daughter, Lauren Andrus Davenport Leach, who was born on June 27 at 11:04 am (PST) in Newport Beach, California,” Tony Godsick said in a statement. Davenport, three times a Grand Slam champion, returned to the competitive action just three months after the birth of her son Jagger in June 2007. On that occasion she won three of her first four tournaments following her maternity leave. Reuters

Soy protects lungs from chronic disease Consuming soy milk and tofu could cut down the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD, which develops as a result of smoking, can cause coughing that produces large amounts of mucus (a slimy substance), wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and other symptoms. The study was led by Curtin University of Technology’s (CUT) Andy Lee and his colleagues from Curtin’s Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI) and representatives from four Japanese hospitals. Lee, a professor, said the research, conducted in Japan, found that people who consumed more than 75 grams of soy products daily had the most health benefits. “We also found that people who consumed at least 50 grams of soy products per day reduced their risk of developing COPD and respiratory symptoms,” he said.

Mobile saves skier from death His cell phone saved him. Yes, a British skier, who slipped into a crevasse in the Swiss Alps, was saved from plunging nearly 700 feet to his death by his BlackBerry mobile phone. David Fitzherbert’s half-inch wide mobile handset in his breast pocket caused him to get wedged in a crack of ice, stopping him from falling further. And, incredibly, the device still worked after keeping him stuck for almost two hours till he was rescued. The 52-year-old finance worker was skiing off-piste down a glacier in the Matterhorn and Monterosa peaks in the Swiss Alps when the snow gave way. “The snow gave way beneath me and I fell down a very deep crevasse. After 70 feet it narrowed and I became stuck like a cork in a bottle between the walls. Fortunately the extra inches of the BlackBerry were enough to block the fall,” Fitzherbert told The Sun. PTI

Sony mum on reports of PlayStation phone Sony Corp. remained tight-lipped over reports that it may combine its PlayStation Portable game console with a mobile telephone into a new gadget to challenge rival Apple’s iPhone. Sony is considering developing a new portable game console with the added functions of a Sony Ericsson cell phone, the Nikkei reported without revealing its sources. The high-tech giant, which has faced tough competition in recent years from rival products such as Apple’s iPod and Nintendo’s Wii, will set up a team in July to look into the development of the new product, the Nikkei said.

IANS

AFP

What makes a great footballer?

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onder how star soccer players like Ronaldo and Beckham dazzle fans with their intricate footwork and amazing ball control? Their skill is just as important, if not more important, than athletic ability, according to a recent study.

Being in peak physical condition undoubtedly helps, yet few actually believe that intense physical training alone can turn an average player into a Ronaldo. Robbie Wilson of the University of Queensland (UQ) set out to pinpoint factors that go into making a stellar performance in soccer. “Our studies could help to streamline selection criteria and efficiency by providing a rank ordering of individuals based upon competitive one-on-one tasks,” said Wilson. Members of the quasi-professional UQ Football Club (UQFC) were recruited as exper-

imental subjects, and made to compete against one another in one-on-one football and tennis games, which require similar athletic and skill sets. The same players were evaluated for overall athleticism and skill in 16 different tasks. “There was no evidence of any correlations between maximal athletic performance and skill,” explained Wilson. “Our studies suggest that skill is just as important, if not more important, than athletic ability in determining performance of complex traits, such as performance on the football field.” ■ IANS PHOTOS: AFP

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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Websites of the day

Frogs legs mystery solved

Get your daily dose of Sudoku here: www.sudoku.org.uk Learn facts about the Guinness World Records here: www.guinnessworldrecords.com

Scientists think they’ve resolved the mystery surrounding why some frogs are born with only one leg - the deformed animals are the victims of dragonfly nymphs that eat the tadpoles legs.

Downturn creates more working moms in Asia T

he economic crisis is turning more Asian women into CFOs, or chief family officers, according to a new survey, juggling work and childcare as they try to boost the family income. Three in four people in Asia believe women are capable of juggling work and family successfully, the massive survey of 33,000 people in 16 countries showed. Asian women have long been part of the region’s workforce, but the global economic downturn has made having a job a necessity for most, according to the “Eye on Asia” poll by global marketing communications firm Grey Group. “This, however, has put a lot of pressure on many women, who in addition to having a career, must also take on the role of chief family officer,” Charu Harish, regional communications planning director for Grey Group Asia Pacific, said. “Because of the traditional attitudes, women feel they must be the picture-perfect wife, mother

This was particularly the case in the fast-paced economies of Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong, but less so in developing countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam

and employee, which puts them in an unfair, and little recognised position.” According to the survey, one of the largest snapshots of opinions and trends in the region, nearly

Queen orders count of swans

90 per cent said it was necessary for mothers to work to contribute to the family income, especially in the current economic climate. The same survey found that a majority - 86 per cent - of Asia

Pacific respondents worry about their finances and were saving for the future. Over three-quarters believed women were capable of doing both - taking care of the family

and having a job at the same time - even though, given a choice, many mothers would prefer to stay at home and watch their children grow up, Harish said. Some 81 percent of mothers surveyed said they felt so busy these days that they did not spend enough time with their children, which Harish said, led to many moms over-indulging their children to assuage their guilt. “In many ways, women have evolved, while many men still maintain a traditional attitude and do not acknowledge that they need to take part in the child-minding and running the house,” Harish said. Overall, nearly two-thirds of Asians said they felt society supported working mothers, which, in many cases, meant grandparents taking care of the children. The survey polled 33,000 people in 16 countries: Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. ■

I stare because I care

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uiet please - Queen Elizabeth is preparing to have her swans counted. Buckingham Palace has announced that the annual Swan Upping, a tradition dating back to the 12th century, which involves a census of the swan population on the River Thames, will be conducted by the queen’s official Swan Marker from July 20-24. “With the assistance of the Queen’s Swan Warden, Professor Christopher Perrins of the University of Oxford, the swans and young cygnets are also assessed for any signs of injury or disease,” Buckingham Palace said in announcing the count. The process involves the Swan Marker, David Barber, rowing up the Thames for five days with the Swan Warden in traditional skiffs while wearing special scarlet uniforms and counting, weighing and measuring swans and cygnets.

It may seem eccentric, but it is very important to the Queen. According to custom, Britain’s sovereign owns all unmarked, mute swans in open water, but the queen now exercises the right only on stretches of the Thames and its nearby tributaries. In medieval times, the Swan Marker would not only travel up the river counting the swans, but would catch as many as possible as they were sought-after for banquets and feasts. ■ Reuters

쒀 A chihuahua named Maggie (R) and an Irish wolfhound named Merlin take part in a dog show in the northern German city of Hamburg. PHOTO: AFP

Reuters

08 SPORT

ERGO Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Shiv signs off tied eighth Shiv Kapur (65) and SSP Chowrasia (68) turned in their best cards of the week to sign off tied eighth and tied 21st respectively at the BMW International golf tournament. While Shiv totalled 16-under 272 overall, Chowrasia ended with a four-round score of 11-under 277.

Brazilian midfielder Gilberto Silva (centre) jokes with teammates after winning the Fifa Confederations Cup final match against United States at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday. PHOTO: AFP

Samba boys triumph again Brazil comes from two goals down to win Confederations Cup

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ive-time world champions Brazil came from two goals down to defeat the United States 3-2 in the final of the Confederations Cup in Johannesburg. Captain Lucio headed an 84th-minute winner after two second-half goals by Luis Fabiano on Sunday to ensure a successful title defence for Brazil, who had been stunned by first-half goals for the United States from Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan. The US came close to a first title in a senior Fifa competition, after taking a two-goal lead, but Brazil were rewarded for secondhalf pressure with Fabiano’s goals in the 46th and 74th minutes taking his tally to five for the tournament. Bayern Munich defender Lu-

cio then rose at the far post to head in a corner from substitute Elano to wreck US dreams and give the Selecao a third Confederations Cup title after wins in 1997 and 2005. “This means everything to me,” Lucio said. “When Brazil wins then I thank God. God is the only one who knows, I thank God for having the opportunity to give joy to the country.” American captain Carlos Bocanegra said that their side had simply run out of steam. “I think after putting in such a terrific first half performance, we simply ran out of steam in the second,” he said. “The Brazilians just came at us and that is why they are some of the best players in the world. It is very difficult to withstand that

kind of pressure.” A capacity crowd in Johannesburg’s Ellis Park stadium saw Brazil begin strongly, but then go behind in the 10th minute when Fulham midfielder Dempsey opened the scoring as he neatly glanced in a cross from Jonathan Spector for his third goal of the tournament. Donovan then stunned the favourites with a fine second on the break in the 27th minute, in which he fed Charlie Davies on the left on a run from inside his own half, took the return and cut inside Ramires before hitting a left foot shot past Julio Cesar in goal. At the other end goalkeeper Tim Howard kept the US ahead with a series of fine saves as Brazil desperately tried to get back in the game.

Robinho, Felipe Melo, Maicon and Andre Santos were all foiled by Howard, but the Everton keeper could do nothing to prevent Luis Fabiano getting Brazil back in the game in the 46th minute. Despite the close attention of Jay DeMerit, the striker swivelled on the edge of the area to find enough room to fire a shot past Howard into the corner of the net. Howard again came to the rescue when he dived to stop a Lucio header from a corner, but was fortunate when a Kaka header deflected off the keeper’s gloves onto the underside of the bar. Kaka appealed for a goal and television replays showed the ball had crossed the line before Howard got to it but Swedish referee Martin

Hansson waved play on. After Kaka’s effort, there was some desperate defending by the US as the Brazilians began to dominate, but the Americans enjoyed a brief spell of possession midway through the half and first Donovan and then Dempsey tested Julio Cesar with shots from outside the area. US resistance was finally broken in the 74th minute when Fabiano headed in after Robinho had turned a Kaka cross from the left onto the underside of the bar for his fifth goal of the tournament. With six minutes remaining, Brazil clinched victory when substitute Elano swung in a corner from the right and Lucio rose to head powerfully just inside the far post. ■ DPA

09

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

‘‘

I love Origin football and for me, with Origin football comes a few beers. I was wrapped up in watching football and then when I got back (from the pub) I knew then (my career was over). Andrew Symonds

Languishing nowhere AIFF fails to mend its ways as football in India suffers time and again AYON SENGUPTA [email protected]

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othing’s going to change for the better in Indian football. The irresponsible All-India Football Federation running the show in the same lackadaisical way for the last many years has again failed to hold on to an olive branch dangled by a sympathetic corporate. Bharti Enterprise had promised to pump in investment worth Rs. 100 crore for a modern football academy for the federation in Goa a year ago. But infighting between AIFF officials and their inability to acquire land had already landed the project in doldrums. And now, if officials from Bharti are to be believed, the project has been completely scrapped. “At this point we are focused on rolling out the Satya Bharti School Program through the Bharti Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bharti group. Under this programme we are providing free quality education to underprivileged

Indian players celebrate their AFC Challenge Cup win, which gave them a ticket to the main round of the Asia Cup in 2011. PHOTO: SANDEEP SAXENA

children in rural India,” a statement from the group read. “Given our deep commitment to the education programme, we have decided to put the football academy project on hold for now.” The proposed academy, which had also drawn interest from Manchester United on a technical level, had run into rough weather at the very beginning. A tussle between Goan football chiefs and also state ministers made it virtually impossible for the AIFF to take possession of the land. A decision to move the academy, first to Tamil Nadu and then Haryana, also bore no fruit. While no suitable land was found in Tamil Nadu, the Haryana Football Association headed by the state Chief Minister’s son Deepender Singh Hooda (a Lok Sabha member) also failed to allocate any land, months after they made a proposal to AIFF and Bharti. “It’s a big setback for us. The academy would have solved a lot of our problems and set an agenda for future growth,” an AIFF official said on condition of anonymity. “But we haven’t given up all hope. Our acting president Praful Patel is set to meet Sunil Mittal, chairman and CEO of Bharti Enterprises, to sort out the issues.”

The federation, still headed by former Union Minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, who has been in coma for almost a year now, has also failed to appoint a CEO for its “professional” I-League. “A professional League needs a CEO and we have passed a resolution in this regard but we are yet to finalise a choice. We also discussed it in our last executive committee meeting in early June,” AIFF vice-president Subrata Dutta said. “We will sort it out soon.” Even the club licensing system, necessary for AFC Champions League participation, has not been followed thoroughly. According to AFC criteria, clubs in India have to be separate legal and commercial entities. But interestingly, I-League side Air India still hasn’t fulfilled the criterion of being an independent commercial entity and is still a government-owned club with AIFF acting president Praful Patel as its head. With problems on every side, the AIFF is desperately trying to find a silver lining, banking on the senior national team’s success at the 2011 Asia Cup. But with little government grants and practically no corporate support that too looks a distant dream right now. ■

10 FLICK

ERGO Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Anurag Basu to make film on his own life Anurag Basu, director of films like Gangster: A Love Story and Life In A... Metro, wants to make a film on his own life. “I’ve lots to say about my life… Maybe now it’s my own turn. There’s so much about my life to be told,” Basu said. His next directorial venture is the much talked-about Kites, which stars Hrithik Roshan and Mexican actress Barbara Mori.

‘Both Kareena and Katrina are really good’ Akshay Kumar on Kambakkht Ishq and his oft-repeated female leads

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fter a dull response to his previous releases 8X10 Tasveer and Chandni Chowk to China, Akshay Kumar is looking forward to Kambakkht Ishq to turn the tide. The film releases this Friday and stars Kareena Kapoor opposite him. Ask Akshay to compare Kareena with Katrina Kaif, his other favourite co-star, and he says, “Both Kareena and Katrina are really good but who is the better among them depends on their roles in the films. Otherwise, both of them have sexy bodies and are absolutely wonderful actresses,” says Akshay. Akshay has done four films with Katrina, including Namastey London and Singh Is Kinng, while he has worked with Kareena in five that include hits Ajnabee and Aitraaz. “In Kambakkht Ishq, Kareena has performed very well. Her character required to answer back at me and be strong and she has portrayed it in a powerful, yet lovable way. On the other hand, even Katrina was really good in Namastey London. So it’s not really about my choice... it all depends on their roles,” the actor says. Akshay, who has spent more than 18 years in the Hindi film industry, says acting with a new league of actresses is a learning experience. “As a senior actor, I don’t always have to give out tips to the younger ones. In fact, I feel I can learn a lot from the younger generation because they have new ways of acting and a different approach to work. I cannot particularly point

out what I have learnt from them (Kareena and Katrina) yet, but yes, working with them was a learning experience,” says the actor, who has also teamed up with Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone and Ayesha Takia. Akshay plays a Hollywood stuntman in Kambakkht Ishq, which also boasts of big Hollywood names like Sylvester Stallone, Denise Richards and Brandon Routh – working with whom has been a “dream come true” for the actor. In the film, Akshay has done what he is best at – action and daredevilry – something that had taken a backseat in his career for a while. “I decided to stop doing stunts till Aarav (son) turns at least six. Now I’m back at it again. In Blue, which is an action thriller, I have done some death-defying stunts, like the one where I had to swim 150 feet underwater with 30-40 sharks. But I will talk about it sometime later,” he said. At the moment, the 41year-old actor is pinning hopes on Sajid Nadiadwala’s Kambakkht Ishq. “I’m expecting great response for this film. Though I had worked very hard in Chandni Chowk... , the response didn’t turn out to be as expected. Some people and critics didn’t like it and 8X10 Tasveer was more like an art film, which has a niche market in India. Kambakkht Ishq is a complete entertainer and I hope the audience appreciates it,” he says. Apart from Kambakkht Ishq, Akshay will also be seen in Blue, De Dana Dan and Action Replay. ■ IANS

Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor pose during a promotional event of Kambakkht Ishq in Mumbai recently.

PTI PHOTO

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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Russell Crowe leaves 600-pound tip Russell Crowe left behind a 600-pound tip during a recent trip to a small bar in South Wales. He also gave a pleasant surprise to the people present by playing several songs on his guitar with his friends. The Gladiator star had gone with co-stars to Carew Inn near Tenby for a toast from his side.

‘Jennifer Aniston’s simply a friend’

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radley Cooper has dismissed rumours that he’s dating Jennifer Aniston and requested the media to stop spreading baseless news. He said in a press conference in Paris, France: “She’s a friend of mine. Simply, simply, just a friend. In America, it’s not like it is here. She’s someone who is super, super known. Famous,” the Daily Star reports. Apart from regular gossips on the net, speculations of an affair between the two gained ground after they were spotted together at the romantic New York Italian restaurant, Cantinori. However, he insisted that there is nothing happening, adding: “If someone says ‘hello’ to her, it’s given that he’s fallen in love with her. So, no. No. She’s a very, very interesting woman, but she’s simply a friend.” The actor, who shared frame with Aniston in He’s Just Not That Into You, further explained: “We made a film together but we didn’t have any scenes together. I got hired in at the beginning of the casting, and my part was solely with Scarlett Johansson and Jennifer Connelly. Which isn’t bad at all.” Bradley Cooper was last seen in The Hangover. ■ ANI

Family plans to bury Jackson in Neverland

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he family of Michael Jackson is planning to bury the late ‘King of Pop’ at his fantasy themed abode, Neverland, on Wednesday. The family had earlier held a meeting to plan the pop icon’s last rites and they want to bury Jackson at the California ranch, a family member told British tabloid Sun. “We are making the arrangements now, we are not finished with it but we are gonna have it,” Jackson’s father Joe Jackson had told reporters. The Thriller legend’s brother Tito (55) had also earlier said that the clan had spent all afternoon deciding the arrangements. They met in the Los Angeles home of Jackson and plan to hold an intimate ceremony along with a public memorial. Family lawyer Brian Oxman told Jackson’s global legions of followers, “I can’t imagine that the fans would be excluded.” ■ PTI

Jacko wanted to star in ‘Phantom Of The Opera’

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heatre impresario Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed that Michael Jackson wanted to star in the movie version of the hit musical Phantom of the Opera. After watching the show, which debuted in 1988, numerous times the King of Pop discussed seriously with Lloyd about starring as ‘The Phantom’ in a big screen adaptation of the hit musical. However, when the helmer did make the movie in 2004, he cast Gerard Butler. “The story got to him. I think he had a connection with the lonely, tortured musician. He found the idea of somebody working through music and having a girl as a muse very intriguing – and he loved that there was illusion in the show,” Contactmusic quoted Webber as saying. ■ ANI

GETTY IMAGES

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ERGO Tuesday, June 30, 2009

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

C.S.Karthikeyan from Verizon has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. This pic was clicked at Munnar during their team trip.

■ Superman: to save this world from evils. Rajeshkumar D. Allsec Technologies

■ Spiderman because he had different type of journey in his life Sengunther Balaji Allsec Technologies

■ Scrat (ice age) bcoz I’m always risking my life while driving Saravanan TCS

■ Poppy the sailor he s really funny but clever too K.Sivaramakrishnan Allsec, Shajahan IBM

■ Pink panther Sai Wipro

■ Olive bcoz I’m so lean

Jayaraj from Sutherland Global Services has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. This picture was clicked from Topslip.

Rani TCS-serve

■ Tom n Jerry Arun Baskar Allsec, CP.Rajesh

■ Calvin bcoz I’m funny and imaginative Aravind Pandian Sutherland

■ Johnny bravo ena enaku girls mathilae avlo craze D.Ajay Kumar TCS

■ Kanni theevu laila Kalpana Wipro Technologies

■ Azhagiya Cinderella Dhivya Prabha Wipro Technologies

■ He-man I’m big like him Mohan Sridharan, TCS

Today’s Query: What excuses would you give if you forget your friend’s birthday?

Naresh Kumar.K from TCS e-Serve Limited has nominated his team as Partners in Crime. With a special mention about Janaki, the girl in the middle, she has been nominated as criminal of all criminals. This photo was clicked at Yelagiri during their trip.

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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Senthil Babu, Team Manager of HCL Technologies has been nominated as Office Angel by Ilangovan and his team. He is jovial and generous to all. It is very difficult to find such an easy going person in our life. He is known for optimistic, helping and masti in our team. His mantra is “Be happy; Take things easily” He is simply the best!

■ Dear (Hexaware Tester) Saravana & (Vetti aapicer) Nattu, Wish you a very happy birthday :-) May god bless you forever and shower you guys with loads of happiness and tonnes of love. Wish you a happy & prosperous life ahead. Let your drmz atleast love from any of your girl friends ) come true very soon !! :-) Have a bashing day ahead machissss ! Enjoy !! ** Note ** : Dont forget to give a treat today @ Rain forest Luving fnd, Karthik A, Polaris

■ Dear Reva, Wish You Many More Happy Returns of the Day ! Wishing you a lot of happiness and good health in the year ahead !! Keep smiling :) Lots of Luv , Ranjani, Revathy.G, Sowmya, Srividya, Samata Regards Ranjani.S Wipro Technologies

Amal Kuriakose from Wipro Technologies doodled this.

■ Dear Nagaraj, Hope your Birthday gently breezes into your life all the choicest of things and all that your heart holds as you step into the next part of your life. Let this day be very special to you and I wish you not only happiness and love, but all success in everything you do. May your life be even brighter as each birthday comes and goes! Have A Fun Filled HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Warmest greetings from C. Anantharaman, Kumaran Systems Pvt. Ltd., Tidel Park.

■ Hello friend (Joamy naye) Its a nice feeling when you know that someone likes you, someone thinks about you, someone needs you; but it feels much better when you know that someone never ever forgets your birthday. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY’’ dear. (marapoma treat kidaikumla) For u we are always here to stay, each year to wish Joamy (MP) happiest b day With Lots of wishes from, Krishna Priya, Sridhar Ganesan and from D/O Jeeva (kavitha)

■ Dear Deeps, "The journey is the reward." May the journey of your life be filled with adventures to thrill you, new roads to explore, new horizons to reach and may you achieve SUCCESS in whatever you do!

1.Teacher: Maria, go to the map and find North America . Maria : Here it is! Teacher : Correct. Now class, who discovered America ? Class : Maria! 2.Teacher : Why are you late, Frank? Frank : Because of the sign. Teacher : What sign Frank : The one that says, "School Ahead, Go Slow."

With Cheers, Mahesh, HCL Technologies. Prem Kumar, HCL Technologies

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ERGO Tuesday, June 30, 2009

$150K worth art found in attic A widower found $150,000 worth of art work in his attic in England after forgetting the items were there.

sudoku

Naru Bangi from TCS shot this picture at Tampa, FL in US using CANON S3 IS camera Hobbies: Outting with friends, Photography

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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Couple wed and split up on same day

World Dwarf Games in N Ireland

A Polish couple in Germany got married - only to decide to split up and asked for an annulment on the same day.

The World Dwarf Games will be held in Northern Ireland. More than 200 ’little’ people from 15 countries will compete.

B.C ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 With a practical attitude, you will speedily accomplish the routine tasks. Even if there is additional work, you should be able to finish it before the day ends. Your beloved may want you to express your love in a better manner.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20 Today’s astral configuration gives you confidence. So you will be able to make quick decisions, which will help you finish your routine tasks in advance. In matters related to heart, you will be hard-headed. Letters can help you get your message across.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20 Personal life may become a bit demanding today. Your pragmatic approach will help you handle issues with perfect ease. You steadfastly follow all the office rules, but you will refuse to work overtime. Avoid any confrontation with your superiors.

BORN LOSER

CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20 Activities related to Research and Development may captivate your interest. As your mind will be full of creative ideas, Ganesha suggests you to note them down for future use. With so many activities on your agenda, your love life will take a backseat.

LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20 The planets are focused on your vocal abilities. You may tend to be a little liberal while imparting your advice. But ensure that you don’t hurt anyone’s feelings. On the love front, your partner is likely to get upset by your unrelenting jabber.

VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20

FREE RANGE

WORKING IT OUT

You are likely to plan a schedule. Ganesha suggests that you strictly adhere to it. Proper time management will not only help you finish work but also give you ample time to spend with your sweetheart. Lovers may find the day very positive.

LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20 Today, your analytical skills will make a handy troubleshooter at workplace. However, don’t get disheartened for failing to solve a couple of problems. Though you are romantic, you may not find enough time to share with your beloved.

SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20 You will be able to complete your routine tasks with ease. The cooperation of colleagues will be invaluable. Support from superiors may also encourage you work on pending issues. And let your beloved pick the spot for today’s outing.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20 Your pending folder will be full and you need to be exceptionally pragmatic to meet the work deadline. Your love life will be demanding and you won’t be able to pay enough attention to it. Think of the different ways to appease your partner.

CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20 You may rely on your luck today. You are likely to lend an ear to other’s opinions and ideas. Meetings might keep you occupied throughout the day. On the love front, the time and attention you devote to your lover will bring happiness to your relationship.

PREVIOUS ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS

AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20 You’ll not only need to make a list of obligations but also fulfil them. At the workplace, you may try to find a solution to a pending issue by discussing it with others. Be wary of colleagues who envy your efficiency. Love life will be uneventful.

PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20 You will be quite receptive to others’ views. You are slightly more emotional than others and tend to take things to your heart. But today try to take criticism constructively. You will be on cloud nine with tender loving care showered by your lover. Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni

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ERGO Tuesday, June 30, 2009

A two-month-old baby wearing a T-shirt with a picture of late US pop icon Michael Jackson is held by his father in front of Jackson’s house in Los Angeles, California. PHOTO: AFP

A man performs a bungee jump from the top of a thermal power plant, closed 11 years ago, in Soweto. PHOTO: AFP

A Pakistani youth cools off in a canal during a heat wave in Lahore. PHOTO: AFP

A participant in a soapbox derby race competes in Berlin. The race takes place in Berlin for the 50th time. PHOTO: AFP