Ergo March 16

A BYTE OF LIFE

Monday, March 16, 2009

11 ‘BETTER AT ACTING’ Bebo not joining IPL bandwagon Vol. 3

FREE CIRCULATION

06 PAPA FEDEX Roger Federer to become dad

No. 49

Catch me if you can Augmenting the CCTV cameras installed at various traffic signals, Chennai City Traffic Police is introducing a new software that would come out with a printout of the traffic violators’ name, insurance holder, previous traffic bookings offences and what not in a matter of minutes. Moreover, the notice could be even emailed to those caught on camera! Page 03

PHOTO: R. RAVINDRAN

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FACTORY OVER KITCHEN Stories of simple homemakers who are successfully running their own enterprises in industrial areas that are generally dominated by men. » PAGE 05

02 NAMMA CHENNAI

ERGO Monday, March 16, 2009

Take me home Marigold is an adult Terrier dog, around four years old and in good health. He is alert, affectionate and ready for a home. To adopt him, get in touch with AWPT at 2278 1381 or 99629 68265.

Francophine Film Festival The Alliance Francaise of Madras (AFM) provides a rare opportunity to watch five classic movies from Lebanon, Bulgaria and Canada. As part of celebrating Francophine (French speaking) in the month of March, the AFM will screen the movies at its auditorium from March 17 to 25 at 6.30 p.m. The screening starts on March 17 with the movie West Beyrouth. Directed by Ziad Doueiri from Lebanon, the movie about the Lebanon Civil war and the life 3 teenagers will run for 110 min. On March 18, you can watch Afghan Chronicles. Directed by Dominic Morissette, the movie runs for 52 min. Monkeys in the winter directed by Milena Andonova would be screened on March 19. The movie which will run for 111 minutes tells the stories of three girls desperately looking for happiness. On March 20, the movie from Lebanon, Caramel, would be screened. Directed by Nadine Labaki, the movie runs for 95 minutes. And the film to be screened on March 25 is Under the Bombs directed by Philippe Aractingi. For details contact AFM at 2827 9803/ 28271477

Broken windshields and computer basics No problem, Your Honour

Computer course

A judge’s personal car parked outside his residence was found with its windshield shattered recently. The annoyed judge lodged a police complaint. Immediately, some khakis pacified him and assured him that they would get the window repaired. Reliable sources revealed that the car was repaired and handed over to avoid any trouble in the background of the ongoing police-lawyers problem.

A new email system is likely to come into effect soon for the use of police officers in the ranks of assistant commissioner and below. Since most of the junior cops are not very computer savvy, a training programme on the basics of computers and how to send emails is in the pipeline for the small khakis.

Dangerous driving A car rammed into a few vehicles on a main bridge in the city recently. Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident. Apparently, the driver of the car is mentally challenged and has a history of accidents, including one with two fatalities.

Back in trouble A leading hotelier’s son is back in the news for his fraudulent ways of sending manpower to his restaurants in the United States. He is said to be on the run but reliable sources revealed that the man is safe after acquiring an anticipatory bail from a court.

What, When, Where What: Francophine Film Festival When: March 17 -25, 6.30 p.m. Where: Alliance Francaise of Madras, New No 24 (Old No 40) College Road.

Ability and award

쒀 N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu, presenting The CavinKare Ability Award for Eminence 2009 to Javed Ahmad Tak at a function in Chennai on Saturday. C.K. Ranganathan (left), Chairman and Managing Director, CavinKare; and M.S. Sundara Rajan, chairman, Indian Bank, are in the picture. PHOTO: V. GANESAN

03

Monday, March 16, 2009

CCTV cameras installed at a traffic signal at the Vijayanagar junction in Velachery. PHOTO: R. RAGU

Catch me if you can! PETLEE PETER [email protected]

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new software capable of deriving in seconds the entire vehicle registration details of a traffic violator caught on Close-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras is now under development. The software, which has been exclusively opted for by the Chennai City Traffic Police (CCTP) to prosecute violators, is likely to be operational in the end of 2009. Sources in the city traffic police reveal that the software that can crack the whip on traffic lawbreakers is being developed by a leading IT firm in the country. The software would be installed in the Modern Control Room inside the police Commissionerate in Egmore. It will be linked to a database containing registered informa-

Road rash devils beware! Chennai City Traffic Police are developing just the infrastructure to nail you tion of vehicles running in the city, including the names of the owners, insurance holder, previous traffic bookings and offences. CCTV cameras now installed in 25 traffic locations (only 8 are operational) in the city on a 24-hour surveillance capture violators along with their registration plates. The footage is received at the control room, after which a police constable goes to the concerned Regional Transport Office (RTO) to get the information on the vehicle spotted on camera. A notice is later mailed to the violator to pay a fine amount ranging between Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,500.

The new software will change all that by providing instant information in the form of a printout in the control room itself. There is also a possibility of emailing the notice to the violator if any e-mail ID

CCTVs are already capturing stop line violators in 8 junctions. They have been installed in 17 other junctions and those would go live soon.

was furnished in the vehicle records. CCTV cameras that are already in business at eight key locations in city, including Gandhi Statue junction, Spencer’s junction, Ega Theatre junction, Koyambedu junction and the junction outside Central railway station, have been trapping offenders for more than a year now. The installation has reduced traffic violations like rash and negligent riding, especially in the night hours. Mohammed Shakeel Akhter, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Chennai City, said that over 38,000 notices have been served to violators

spotted through CCTV at the eight locations and Rs. 6.23 lakh has been collected as fine last year. Akhter added that they had identified 17 more junctions in the city, including Madhya Kailash, Kathipara, Valluvar Kottam, Anna Statue, Vijayanagar, SIET College, Vadapalani and Greenways Road, and have installed CCTV cameras. “It is in its trial phase and will be operational in a week’s time.” Apart from the city traffic limits, the suburban traffic police are using CCTV technology at three junctions, including Porur and airport. Traffic police sources also revealed that 40 more traffic junctions in the city will also come under the traffic police’s CCTV surveillance apart from the 25 points by the end of 2009. ■

04 KALEIDOSCOPE

Ask your query I am working as an officer in the Navy and my annual income is Rs. 8 lakh. I am planning to buy a house in Bangalore with an outlay of Rs. 50 lakh. I require a bank loan of Rs. 35,00,000. Can you please suggest the Public Sector bank which offers the best interest? Commander Patil

We have analysed the interest rates quoted by Public Sector Banks with the information available in the website of the concerned banks and by crossing checking the information with the respective Branch Managers. Bank of Baroda offers the best rates and it is as follows: For Loan amount of over Rs.30 lakhs -9.5 % - for repayment period of over five years and up to 15 years 9.75% - for repayment period of more than 15 years and up to 25 years

Mini Quiz

ERGO Monday, March 16, 2009

Funding that billion dollar idea Some of these Government organisations could fuel your dream venture KARTHIKEYAN JAWAHAR

A. What is the new service tax rate? 1. 10% 2. 12% 3. 15% 4. 12.5% B. Expand PLR 1. Planning Long Range 2. Prime Lending Rate 3. Positive Liquidity Ratio Send your answers to [email protected] or SMS your answers to 92813 98889. For example if you choose 1 as the answer to question A and 2 as the answer to question B type it as 1A2B and send it.

Word in Word CBI clearance before settlement of bad loan! All public sector banks may need to take CBI’s clearance before allowing one-time settlement of bad loans by customers under a new direction likely to be issued by the Reserve Bank soon. The circular, the proposal for which was mooted by CBI, will ask all the banks to seek the clearance in all such cases where criminal proceedings were underway. They said there were instances where CBI had been prosecuting a company or an individual and it was found that those involved in the bad loans had already made a one-time settlement with the bank where by the bank had given them in writing that all criminal proceedings against them had been withdrawn. PTI

“I

have the next idea that is going to change the world. But I don’t have the money to make it a reality.” Have you said the above sentence or heard from somebody else? All of us have the idea to be the next Google or Facebook like company, but we are not in Silicon Valley, if that’s your one main grudge. Here’s hope for kindling the Einstein in you. There are a number of supporting agencies started by the Go-

vernment of India which support your ideas. We look at some such agencies: Technopreneur Promotion Program (TePP) is funded by DSIR (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research). It adopts a three-way approach in supporting budding entrepreneurs. (a) Micro TePP gives a grant of up to Rs.75,000 for developing proof of concepts. (b) TePP Phase – I where up to Rs.15 lakh can be given as grant for developing the concepts into prototypes. (c) TePP Phase – II where up to Rs. 45 lakh is given as grant with equal contribution by the innovator for commercialising the business. Visit http://www.dsir.gov.in/ tpdup/tepp/tepp.htm for more details. The other major funding organisation is Technology Development Board (TDB) of Department of Science and Technology. Here predominantly loans with 5 per cent interest but sometimes even equity

contribution are given for developing products that are import substitutes or develop the nation in a big way. The minimum support is about Rs. one crore without any upper limit. Some of the famous graduates of the TDB support are the indigenous diesel engine developed by Tata Motors for Tata Indica and the Reva electric vehicle. Check http://www.dst.gov.in/statuatory_board.htm for more details. Some of the other funding agencies are: Department of MSME (http://dcmsme.gov.in/Department for Biotechnology - http://dbtindia.nic.in); Software Technology Parks of India (http://www.stpi.in) offer incubation support in the form of office space and mentors are available from a network of science and technology entrepreneur parks and business incubators. Some of the leading STEPS in Tamil Nadu are TREC-STEP (www.trecstep.com), PSG-STEP and VIT-STEP. ■

05

Monday, March 16, 2009

She rules and rocks

The stories of women who’ve tasted success with their SMEs explaining how she was put to the grind. After some years of running, the company went through a very rough phase, forcing them to close down. “Our biggest challenge was to reopen the unit in the same area, after clearing all our debts from the previous business,” says Meena, on renaming the new company Supreme Industrial Heaters. Today, it talks of a different success story. “In 2008, we made a turnover of Rs. 1 crore, though the New Year hasn’t been good because of the recession,” says the 41-year-old who is next planning to take up nutrition-related business. Besides the confidence she carries on her sleeve, Meena updates herself on the industry needs by participating in expos, held in different states. “Call us even at midnight and we get your work done. It is hard work and the quality of work that speaks about us,” she says on being a rare face in the engineering industry.

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lichés like ‘passion’ and ‘idea’ have little significance in their dictionary. Some of them have rebuilt their business after a hitting rock bottom. They are ordinary homemakers who are self-employed more out of circumstances and the confidence their spouses have instilled in them. But, they are masters in their own way, having risen out of sheer hard work and the many obstacles around them. International Women’s Day just got over last week and you might have attended a few seminars, did some male-bashing and read/seen many success stories of women heard and unheard of. Tucked inside Chennai’s industrial pockets are many who are making a mark with their small and medium enterprise (SME). First Innings profiles two such women:

Lady on the move

Perfect mould It is 4.30 p.m. and Poomagal Street, Ambal Nagar in Ekkattuthangal is abuzz with workers welding electrode plates, unloading goods and other trades you associate with in an industrial belt. A. Meena Mohan’s (‘Madam’ as she is better known as) credentials are known pretty well. The workers on the stretch will guide you to her plant and tell you if she is available at that point of time. After all, Madam has been a regular face in the area for around 20 years now. Meena, along with her husband, A. Mohan, runs Supreme Industrial Heaters, where they supply different kinds of industrial heaters and plastic auxiliary equipments to companies. If not for the initial push from Mohan, Meena, who was married at 18, would have been another homemaker running various errands at home. Their first company, Meena Industries, was started in a small way with four employees in 1989. “I was like any other worker. I was taught to do winding to later graduate to assembling, finishing, bending, etc.,” she says,

Women power: Meena Mohan (top) and Bharathi Bhaskaran (below, third from left) at their units. PHOTOS: R. RAVINDRAN AND R. SHIVAJI RAO

Empowering women through papads for 50 years A group of illiterate housewives with lots of time but no resources used to spend the day gossiping in their cramped, lower middle-class Mumbai building till they hit upon the idea of selling papads. Fifty years later, their entrepreneurial effort, Lijjat Papad, is an award-winning company with an annual turnover of Rs.5 billion. “The men would go to work, the children to school. After completing all domestic chores, we had almost the entire day to spare. But, unlike rich women, we could not indulge in luxuries like shopping or kitty parties. So we came up with the idea of making papads,” Jaswantiben Popat told. Popat is the only surviving member of the team of seven that set up Lijjat on March 15, 1959, armed only with rolling pins.

“We started by pooling in individual resources and managed to roll out 2.5 kg papad. It was sold to a local shopkeeper for cash. The inaugural day’s turnover was Rs.10,” said Jaswantiben, now a sprightly 80. As Lijjat marks its golden jubilee year with profit in billions of rupees, including Rs.250 million earned via exports, Jaswantiben continues to work in Lohana Nivas in Chira Bazaar - the place where it all began. Asked about the meaning and significance of the Lijjat brand name, Jaswantiben recalled that originally the product was sold in plain plastic bags. As business grew, people demanded the papad but it had no identity, bankers raised objections and dealers also wanted a name for the product. IANS

Bharathi Bhaskaran is the lady on the move. Being the sole propitiator of S.S. Graphics, a printing clinic she runs at Bharath Nagar in Adambakkam, Bharathi vividly remembers her early years marketing products. “For three years I went around on my two-wheeler around Ekkattuthangal convincing clients, winning their trust and bagging at least a trial order,” she recalls. Bharathi, however, says she largely took motivation by reading books and magazines. Her screen printing press started with Rs. 1,000. How easy has her journey been? “Ten years ago there was no awareness on what business a women could do, even if it was doing from home. We used to go around searching for a business that could click. Today, it is much simpler and I am happy that many women are becoming self-employed.” Bharathi also runs a cotton waste-management unit, where she sources raw materials that are used as cleaning material at chemical refineries. “We also offer five-day training to women, where we give them the machinery and skills to start an independent unit.” ■ (This column celebrates the spirit of entrepreneurship)

06 VILLAGE

ERGO Monday, March 16, 2009

Blundering doc apologises A Japanese doctor has apologised after saying that people should smoke themselves to an early death to save the country money on elderly care.

Kungfu shrine plans tourism scheme China’s Shaolin Temple, the legendary kungfu shrine, is planning a tourism project. “The project is aimed to inspire confidence in people struggling in the prevailing financial crisis, through perception of Zen’s wisdom and power”, said Shi Yongxin, the abbot. “The plan is to let tourists have a taste of living as followers of Zen Buddhism,” said Shi, and people can come to meditate sitting cross-legged and eat vegetables only like other monks. The temple receives over 2 million tourists every year. Xinhua

Meet Pinky, the parrot who thrilled Churchill Sixty-three years have passed since a Moluccan Cockatoo amused Britain’s wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill by riding a high-wire bicycle, but the parrot’s old age has not stopped her from drawing crowds as yet. Named Pinky, the parrot performed for Churchill in 1946 Miami’s Jungle Island. “Pinky was the number one star when Churchill came,” the Sun quoted bird show manager Ryan Prentice as saying. “Although the show’s changed over the years, one thing that’s never changed is Pinky’s bicycle ride along the high wire. “She sings and says some words. Imagine what she might say if she could talk properly! “Parrots can live to over 100. Maybe she’ll learn a few more words in her later years and tell us all about the meeting,” Prentice added.

Lion used for debt recovery seized A lion used by an ex-militia chief to threaten people for the recovery of old debts was seized from a cattle farm in north-western Colombia, EFE reported. The local residents claim that the big cat was used by Mario Jimenez’s men to threaten people to pay up their old debts. In a crackdown on drug traffickers, the Colombian police seized the big cat and various other assets owned by the ex-militias in north-western Antioquia and Cordoba provinces, the report said. IANS

Federer to become dad soon

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ing well.” The 30-year-old Vavrinec, who also serves as Federer’s manager, is a former WTA Tour player. The two Swiss met at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Federer, who has won 13 Grand Slam singles titles, is the reigning US Open champion. Federer will be back in action

A 45-year-old Indian woman has been arrested at the international airport in Colombo for possessing cocaine, police said. “The woman arrested with cocaine is an Indian national,” a Sri Lankan Police Narcotic Bureau official said. “She had already been produced before the Negombo Magistrate,” the official said. Senior DIG and Police Narcotic Bureau Chief Nimal Lewke said this was the first time that such a large stash of cocaine has been seized. According to Lewke, around 480 grams of cocaine worth SLR 7 million was found in the possession of the woman. Noting that measures will be taken to inform the Indian officials about the incident, the officer said that the woman visited the island nation on two occasions earlier. PTI

ANI

oger Federer has announced on his website that his girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec is expecting their first child this summer. “This is a dream come true for us,” Federer said. “We love children and we are looking forward to being parents for the first time. Mirka is feeling great and everything is go-

Woman arrested with cocaine

at Indian Wells this week following a six-week layoff, which started after he lost to Nadal in the Australian Open final in January. “I arrived in Indian Wells earlier this week and I am eager to get back out on court. My back is feeling much better and I am ready to go,” Federer said. ■ PTI

07

Monday, March 16, 2009

Websites of the day

Flossing monkeys

Find out what films are coming out in the U.K.: http://www.launchingfilms.com/index.php Join the campaign to remove cliches: www.defectiveyeti.com.

Thai monkeys have been observed showing their young ones how to floss their teeth.

When a cup of tea cost Brit taxpayers £7k W

hen a British councillor left a planning committee discussion for just 25 seconds to get a cup of tea, he would not have thought that he would land himself into an investigation, and 7,000 pounds of taxpayers’ money would be wasted on it. Tory Sean Holden had stepped out of a meeting on proposals for a new multi-million pound private hospital because he was feeling thirsty, but unknown to him he was followed out of the chamber by a monitoring officer. After Holden came back to the meeting, he was told by planning boss and fellow Tory Elizabeth Thomas that he would not be allowed to vote on the application because he had not been present for the entire debate. The ruling was not met with favour and sparked a row, with Holden refusing to back down and putting his vote in regardless. Thomas, the chair of the planning committee, immediately reported the matter to the council’s Standards Assessment Sub-Committee and demanded a

full investigation. The probe, which went on for eight months, and cost 7,371 pounds, ended this week with Holden cleared of all the allegations. “It was such a petty thing to cost so much - and

Apple in trouble over ‘explosive’ iPod

taxpayers will be footing the bill,” the Sun quoted Holden, on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Kent, as saying. “It was just a cup of tea. I hadn’t had a drink for an hour or so - I was thirsty,” he said. The whole investigation is said to have been wastage of taxpayers’ money. “This is a complete waste,” Mark Wallace, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said. “People want their council tax to be used on essential services not for politicians to squabble,” he stated. Councillor Roy Bullock, the leader of Tunbridge Wells Council, defended Thomas’ decision. “It is only right that if the chairman considers that a councillor did breach the Code of Conduct then the matter has to be tested by the Local Standards Board,” he said. “I would have thought that the councillor, whose opinion appears to be that he has been totally exonerated, would have welcomed the council expending this sum to clear his name,” he added. ■

Two to Caribo

The device’s battery is thought to have caused the alleged explosion

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pple has landed in legal trouble after a mother alleged her son endured second-degree burns when the company’s iPod touch music players exploded in his pocket. Lynette Antrobus, from Cincinnati, is claiming 75,000 dollars plus punitive damage after accusing the multinational corporation of “gross negligence and recklessness” and of behaving “maliciously and fraudulently”. Legal papers, filed with Ohio Southern District Court, said that while at school on December 4 last year, the child heard an “unexpected pop” from the gadget that was switched off, then a “burning sensation” followed by the realisation that his "pants" were on fire. “Plaintiff A.V immediately ran to the bathroom and took off his burning pants with the assistance of a friend,” the Telegraph quoted the document as saying. ■ ANI

쒀 Britain’s Prince Charles dances Caribo, an Amazonic traditional dance, with a local dancer during his visit to Maguari Community near Santarem, Para State, northern Brazil. Prince Charles is on a five-day official visit to Brazil. AFP PHOTO/EVARISTO SA

ANI

08 SPORT

ERGO Monday, March 16, 2009

Lightning Bolt Olympic star Usain Bolt ran his first 100-metre race of the year in 9.93 seconds and shared first place at the GC Foster College Classic. The Jamaican slowed before the finish, smiling and reaching out to congratulate training partner Daniel Bailey in the next lane as they crossed the line together on Saturday.

Jeev rolls on

Tied third after round three at World Golf Championships

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eev Milkha Singh hopped back into contention after carding a roller-coaster four-under 68 in the penultimate round to grab a share of the third place at the USD 8.5 million World Golf Championships in Dubai. The reigning Asian number one was four shots behind joint leaders Phil Mickelson (69) and Nick Watney (67) of the United States with a total of 12-under 204. Off the blocks with an eagle on the first hole, Jeev’s fortunes fluctuated slightly in between before he rounded off the day on a positive note. “It was a great start. I holed a great putt on the first hole and eagled it. After that, up and down in between, but I came back,” said Jeev. After the first-hole eagle, the Indian dropped a couple of strokes but made amends with an equal number of birdies to make the two-under. The back-nine didn’t start as well and Jeev stumbled to a bogey on the 10th before getting his act together to stroke in his second eagle of the day. “I think what got me going was on the 12th, I eagled it again. I made two eagles today, so that was good,” he added. He followed it up with a birdie on the 15th before parring the remaining holes at the Doral Golf Resort after starting the day tied for eighth. ■ PTI

PHOTO: AFP

‘Travelling goon’

Sania out, Paes advances Leander Paes advanced in men’s doubles but it was curtains for Sania Mirza who crashed out of the women’s singles event after a straight-set loss to 12th seed Italian Flavia Pennetta in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indiana Polis. Fourth seeds Paes and his Czech partner Lukas Dlouhy carved out a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 10-8 win over un-seeded Austrians Julian Knowle and Jurgen Melzer in the opening round. However, Sania lost 3-6, 4-6 after battling it out for over an hour against the Italian, who now leads the head-to-head record between the two players 3-2. The loss ends Sania’s campaign at the US$ 4.5 million event as she has already been ousted from the doubles event after suffering a first-round defeat. Paes and Dlouhy will take on another un-seeded team of Argentines Juan Martin Del Potro and David Nalbandian in the second round. Earlier in the tournament, the third seeded pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Bahamas’ Mark Knowles had edged past Russians Dmitry Tursunov and Igor Kunitsyn 7-5, 6-3 in their opening-round match. PTI

The BCCI’s insistence on giving a cold shoulder to any player associated with the Indian Cricket League has infuriated the media in New Zealand, which has described former Board secretary Niranjan Shah as a “travelling goon” for his comments against ICL’s Kiwi recruits. “India great team, shame about the Board they are representing” – read the headline of leading local daily New Zealand Herald’s write-up by Dylan Cleaver. “It’s one thing to pull two players out of a festival match in case they’re contaminated by ex-ICL bacterium Hamish Marshall. It’s two things to have New Zealand Cricket general manager of cricket Geoff Allott ring ICL virus Daryl Tuffey to ask him to withdraw from a State Championship match. But it’s a truly absurd thing to flex their muscles in the commentary box for fear that Ravi Shastri (IPL) and Craig McMillan (ICL) might accidentally exchange bodily fluids that could eventually infect all the right-thinking people of the cricketing world,” the newspaper wrote. “The BCCI’s travelling goon, Niranjan Shah, managed to keep a straight face when he told TV3: ‘As far as we are concerned any commentator or somebody involved with an unauthorised tournament declared by the BCCI, our people will not take part in it’.” PTI

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Monday, March 16, 2009

‘‘

Pakistan cricket is in its worst phase. Not a single foreign team is willing to play here. It has certainly affected our players’ motivation apart from the financial losses. Indian cricketers like (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni, Yuvraj (Singh), Irfan Pathan enjoy huge fan following in Pakistan. It will be a great help if India reconsiders its decision not to tour Pakistan. It will certainly help bring Pakistan cricket back on track. Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal

Real thrash Bilbao

Close in on Barcelona

Real Madrid players celebrate their third goal against Athletic Bilbao during their Spanish league match on at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP

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eal Madrid bounced back from their Champions League heartbreak by crushing 10-man Athletic Bilbao 5-2 on Saturday to cut Barcelona’s lead at the top in Spain to just three points. Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, top of the table for most of the season, can restore their lead to six points with victory over Almeria on Sunday. Real saw their Champions League dreams go up in smoke on Tuesday at Anfield as Liverpool overran them in a humiliating 4-0 win and they let out their frustration at San Mames. Dutch forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, cup-tied for the Champions League, scored twice (47min, 60) to turn the game in Real’s favour after Bilbao had come from two goals down to level. Arjen Robben put Real ahead before Argentine centre-back Gabriel Heinze added another heading in a 34th minute free-kick. Heinze scored an own goal minutes later and Fernando Llorente levelled despite Bilbao being reduced to 10 men with Francisco Yeste harshly

sent off for pushing goalkeeper Iker Casillas. “It was a tough game but we are on Barcelona’s heels now and we just have to see what they do against Almeria,” explained Casillas. “It was a good response (to the Liverpool defeat) at a very difficult ground to play at.” Huntelaar then took centre stage with a second half brace before substitute Gonzalo Higuain completed the scoring from the penalty spot. Casillas was hoping for a quieter evening after being overworked against Liverpool and was called into action early on to punch away a Yeste free-kick. Real looked fragile in defence but Robben shot them into a 22nd minute lead showing a terrific burst of speed to get behind the Bilbao defence before smashing home off the underside of the crossbar. Heinze headed Real 2-0 up after 33 minutes and celebrated wildy. However, his joy was shortlived as he scored an own goal three minutes later as he tried to intercept a cross.

It summed up an eventful week for the former Manchester United man who conceded a dubious handball penalty in the Liverpool game. Moments later, Yeste was red-carded for pushing over Casillas who made the most of the shove. Bilbao were furious about the decision believing a yellow was punishment enough and Casillas was jeered throughout the match. Llorente equalised close to half-time for Bilbao with Casillas at fault for not keeping out his header. Huntelaar then showed why Real paid Ajax 20 million euros for his services with two clinical finishes – especially his first which was a clever chip on the run – to keep Real on Barcelona’s heels. Earlier, a superb individual goal from substitute Pablo Hernandez saved 10man Valencia from defeat against Recreativo Huelva although the 1-1 draw does little to aid their Champions League push. Cash-strapped Valencia, who have collected just seven points from the last 30, are now five points behind fourth-

placed Villarreal who have played one game less. Valencia fell behind to a Javier Camunas goal in the 54th minute and then had centre-back Carlos Marchena sent off for two bookable offences. However, Hernandez netted an 82nd minute equaliser with a delightful chip to salvage a point at the Mestalla Stadium. “We didn’t win even though we deserved to when you consider the chances we had,” said Valencia coach Unai Emery. “We had a lot of chances and didn’t take them but I am more worried when we don’t create chances like in the first half.” Valencia were again without key striker David Villa through a knee injury and they may have to get used to it with the Spanish international set to be auctioned off to the highest bidder to ease the club’s acute financial problems. Villa’s agent has insisted that his client will be staying in Spain with the two powerhouses Barcelona and Madrid ready for a tug-of-war for his services. ■ AFP

10 FLICK

ERGO Monday, March 16, 2009

Jade Goody close to end Cancer-stricken Jade Goody has just few hours to live now, according to her pals. The British reality TV star has been in tremendous pain after cervical cancer spread to her entire body.

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merican pop girl group Pussycat Dolls has laid down some vocals on a remix of A.R. Rahman’s Oscar-winning song ‘Jai Ho’ from Slumdog Millionaire. With the song’s original beats and percussion in place, Pussycat Dolls’ version replaces the original tune’s Hindi words with English lyrics, thesun.co.uk reports. The group also filmed a Bollywood-influenced music video for the song “You are my destiny”. In the video, bearing similarities to the scenes from Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire starring Dev Patel and Frieda Pinto, lead singer Nicole Scherzinger is seen walking around a train station, followed by a mystery man, while his bandmates record him. “It’s such an honour to be able to collaborate with A.R. Rahman and be a part of the Slumdog Millionaire project in some way. I found the movie’s story and music uplifting,” the Sun quoted Nicole as saying. ■

Meow!

Pussycat Dolls lay down vocals for ‘Jai ho’ remix

Agencies

Case of the missing mink

What Tom Hanks hankered after

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indsay Lohan has settled her legal dispute with the woman who accused the actress of stealing her mink coat. The Mean Girls star was slapped with a lawsuit by Masha Markova for allegedly taking her 8,010-pounds coat during a night out at celebrity hotspot 1OAK in January last year, reports the Daily Express. Markova believed that she had lost the expensive mink – until she saw photographs of Lohan leaving the club wearing the fur. According to the New York Post, club owners have returned the coat back to Markova – although details about how the mink was recovered or any financial settlement Lohan had to pay have not been disclosed. ■ ANI

Tom and Colin Hanks

om Hanks was so desperate to team up with his son Colin on the big screen that he actually forced his way into his son’s new movie. The Oscar winner actor revealed that he was so impressed with the script for The Great Buck Howard that he decided he wanted to play his son’s dad whether he liked it or not, reports China Daily. “I selfishly attached myself as the dad. I didn’t even ask Colin, I just said, ‘Hey listen, I’d like to play the dad.’ He kind of rolled his eyes and said, ‘Well, yeah, I can see why.’ And that was that,” said Hanks. The plot of the film, which also stars Emily Blunt, revolves around a young man who accepts a job as the assistant to a jaded illusionist, played by John Malkovich. ■ ANI

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Monday, March 16, 2009

Highest paid foreign celebrity Australian pop star Kylie Minogue has become the highest paid foreign celebrity in Bollywood after pocketing more than $1 million for performing a single song. The Fever star lent vocals and shot for a dance number in Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd’s maritime feature Blue, reports contactmusic.com.

‘No plan to enter IPL’

Cine City Shammu in demand

B

ollywood beauties Preity Zinta, Juhi Chawla and Shilpa Shetty are trying their luck in the business of cricket through the Indian Premier League (IPL), but Kareena Kapoor says she has no such plans as she doesn’t have a business sense. Asked if she planned to enter IPL like other actresses, Kareena said: “I have no idea about business. I only know how to act. As for business, I will think about it five years later.” Kareena, who was last seen with Shah Rukh Khan in a song in Billu, is busy working for forthcoming films like Kambakth Ishq, Main Aur Mrs. Khanna, Three Idiots and an untitled Renzil D’Silva project. While Preity co-owns IPL team Kings XI Punjab, Juhi is part owner of Shah Rukh’s Kolkata Knight Riders and Shilpa Shetty joined the cricket bandwagon this year with beau Raj Kundra by buying a stake in Rajasthan Royals. ■

Shammu a.k.a. Shirin Sharmili is the latest fad of Kollywood. The actress who played the role of Prakash Raj’s daughter in Kanchivaram is actually based in the United States. At present doing Maathi Yosi, Shammu has already completed two movies, Mayilu and Malayan in Tamil. Daughter of a computer consultant, the actress is currently pursuing her studies in America.

IANS

I have no idea about business. I only know how to act. As for business, I will think about it five years later

Neetu of the lead roles N

eetu Chandra has come a long way from doing bit roles in films like Garam Masala, Traffic Signal and One Two Three to doing lead roles in Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye and 13B. The actress now has four films in her kitty and she can’t stop thanking God for her success. “I am doing lots of films. Four of them are lined up for release. I am getting solo leads now and it’s all because God has been so kind to me,” Neetu says. Among her forthcoming releases are Khussar Prasad Ka Bhoot, Mumbai Cutting and a film each with Vipul Shah and Raj Kanwar. ■ IANS

I am doing lots of films. Four of them are lined up for release. I am getting solo leads now

Kollywood’s star fan Witnessing the stupendous success of Ghajini, actor Aamir Khan has turned into an ardent fan of Tamil movies. Aamir, who saw director K.S. Ravikumar’s Varalaru, was impressed with the acting of Ajith Kumar, especially the role of the Bharatanatyam dancer that Ajith played in the movie. Also, Aamir recently met actor Vijay and told him that he and wife Kiran were spellbound by Vijay’s dancing skills.

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ERGO Monday, March 16, 2009

Friday’s Query: The most creative way you copied in exams ■ Write the contents in previous exam question paper. So that I can use the same. Squads used to think I’m working out in the question paper. Shankar Ganesh, TCS-SCB

■ I kept the bit inside my pen cap. Vasanth, RR Donnelley Prasanna Chakravarthi, Wipro Mohan Babu, Perot Systems, Lalith Kumar Saravanan, Cognizant

■ We used to take micro Xerox and we divided it among us. We maintain an index to refer which has what answers. We used rubber bands to tie the bits in the leg below knees and in our hand. Dhanapal, HCL Comnet

■ We used to follow girl’s formula, that is hiding bits in handkerchief and using it as if getting sweat. Lexsminarayanan, TCS-eserve

■ Using latest and advanced micro Bluetooth to share and get answers with friends. Basheer Ahamed A, TCS e-serve

■ Used micro Xerox technology. Senthil, Wipro, Franky, Sutherland, Shebin Benjamin ,Allsec, Rajasekar, TCS

■ Used erasers as our transmission media. Prathyusha, Wipro

■ My friend Elaya did this malpractice in almost all semester exams. He wrote all the formulae and derivations in long vest which was his dad’s, he tucked it. Whenever he gets chance he used to copy and tuck it back again. While tucking he pretend like scratching his hip. Mohan Kumar, TCS

■ I used to write important formulas in my pant near the pockets and tuck out my shirt so that no staff can catch me.

on my desk. He used to think that I’m so honest and never doubt me that I’m copying in the entire exam. Mainak, Accenture

■ I used to write in the finger gaps, when I group the fingers, it won’t be visible and for all exams I used to wear full sleeved shirt and I’ll write in fore arms and I used to write in the back page of hall ticket in pencil and also in plastic ruler, calculator. Suresh Kumar Rangasamy, HCL

■ I used to load all programs from my USB ported watch in computer lab exams and write the hints behind my hall ticket. Hashim, Allsec

■ I used to have a scale with white stripe at the backside. We friends used to pass it with equations & derivations written in it.

Amit Goyal from Infosys Technologies has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. This pic was clicked in Warangal.

Saranya M, Cognizant

■ I used to scratch my hair casually and play with it and in between I used to wildly search in my friends paper for the answer. Malicia Sutherland

■ I scribbled the key words on the bench and it was very useful to me whenever I forot something important. Mario, Sutherland

■ I had written Fleming’s right hand rule in my right palm, Fleming’s left hand rule in my left palm and successfully copied in one of my SSLC midterm tests. Krishnababu, HCL

■ For one word questions I used to mark a dot on right answers on question paper by pencil and pass it to friends. Writing on back side of hall ticket with pencil, copy it on last page of answer sheet and erase it within few minutes we enter the exam hall.

Ponmuthu from HCL Technologies has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. This pic was clicked in Kodaikanal.

Arun Kumar, Allsec

■ My friends used to write some hints in their foot, duppatta, kerchief and got good scores in our class. Roshini Rajmohan, TCS Kayatri, Infosys

Dee Jay, RSystems

■ I would copy by writing on the desk before the exam starts. Then just before the start, would call the invigilator to my place and tell him that something is already scribbled

Today’s query: The Pussycat Dolls are working with A.R. Rahman on a ‘Jai Ho’ remix. What is your favourite remixed song till date and why?

Prasad Shivaji Dhamal from HCL has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. This pic was clicked in Ooty.

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Monday, March 16, 2009

March 12 ■ Dear Saravana Bava, Wish you a very Happy Birthday. May god bless you with everlasting happiness and success. “Inniya Piranthanaal Vazhthukkal”. Wish you many many more happy returns of the day. With lots and lots of love from Mayalagu and Kalavathy Devi Abhirami Sivakumar (Hexaware Technologies)

■ Dear Nidhin (Kui) Your team (PAS Mechanical, TCS) wishes you Enchanting Birthday Wishes. Happy Birthday Regards Arvind

March 13 ■ Hi Yogesh(Danger), Advance Birthday Wishes!! 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". With Warm Regards, Route-15 Sangam members Prasath, Ashwin, Rajan, Senthil, Natarajan and Aneesh, Accenture.

■ Hi my dear friend, Congrats!! You have won again!!.. you have proved this world that your words will reach greater heights.. you have shown me how a women can be so powerful, caring and affectionate friend... And above all that I still admire your goodness.. Keep rocking.. Almighty god and your best friend (that’s me J) are always with you. Wish you all success in your future Endeavour’s. I wanna you see more of your success… TA TA Thank you and Best Regards Shankar Nagappan

■ Dear Siju, Birthdays are happy events, Times when dreams come true. So dream a good dream (and let someone know), It just might work for you! Have a happy celebration One you’ll always recall, And be aware on this day of days, You’re the most special person of all! Joycy and team, HCL tech

■ Dear Naveen, Some things r left undone, some words r left unsaid, some feelings are left unexpressed, but some ones as nice as you

could never be left unwished, Happy birth day to you!

March 15

With Cheers SOA Team – Sella Synergy India Limited

■ Hi Shobhna, Wishing you a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY and many more to come. We all join hands to wish you a great year ahead. Best Wishes, Financial Transaction & Goneaways Team TCS – Eserve ■ Hi Santhosh, Wish you Many more happy returns of the day. Let all your dreams come true. Have a great year ahead.

■ Dear Satheesh, Wish you a very happy birthday. Enjoy your birthday with lots of smile and happiness. With Love, Babi.

■ Dear Madhuvanthi, A greeting on your birthday For a very happy day And then a year That brings the best Of everything your way Enjoy your special day! Happy Birthday! Feliz Cumpleaños! With lots of luv & best wishes Suseendran, Hema & Parkesh

Happy Birthday ! from your beloved friends (HCL Technologies Ltd)

■ Dear Rahul Raju, Sending you Birthday Wishes filled with love and peace . Also Wishing you sweetest things happen right before your eyes ! Have A Fun- Filled HaPpY Birthday.

Gourisankar T S Hexaware Technologies Ltd.

■ Dear Bujju, Never I saw, Never I felt for 23 long yr’s ,dull would be my soul if you had’nt come in my life...You’re so wonderful and I couldn’t ask for more. And words could never tell you, but here’s a special greeting on your birthday especially to show how much you mean. Have a wonderful birthday!!!

Cheers Jo :)

March 14 ■ Happy Birthday Mythili, It’s your birthday time again; It’s true; there’s no denying, Another year has come and gone; You know that I’m not lying. So for you, the birthday person, Here’s what I want to say: I hope this birthday’s the best one yet, In every delightful way. So happy birthday to you. Have lots of birthday fun! May your birthday wishes all come true, Even if you have a ton. From, Route 4 Gang, Excelacom Technologies.

■ Dear Shankar, Happy birthday, and have a great year Enjoy your life and the dance of life Keep on shining like the sun, Spread the pleasure like moon light. Happy birth day & Many more to come Urs, Srinivasulu P, Rajasekaran NRK, Krishnan V & Balaji S PMC P Ltd.

March 16

■ Hi Brindha, Wish you a Many More Happy Returns of the day. We wish you a wonderful & colorful life filled with love and happiness. May god bless you with health, wealth, happiness & guide you throughout to succeed in life. Very dedicated in her work. So childish in activities Hard working gal.. Happy Birthday Brindha.. Fondly, BP4 Track Members.

■ Dear Naveen, Some things r left undone, some words r left unsaid, some feelings are left unexpressed, but some ones as nice as you could never be left unwished, Belated Happy birth day to you! With Cheers SOA Team – Sella Synergy India Limited

■ Dear Banda, Wish You Happy Birthday ra.. You are always very precious to me in this world. Really very special ra.. My Sweet Bangaram... Many Many Happy Returns Of The Day.. njy today.. :) 4ever & ever Urz... only BujjiDear Brindha,

■ Dear Brindha, Once a year I get the chance To wish you birthday cheer.It pleases me no end to say,I wish you another great year.So happy birthday to you Brindha, From the bottom of my heart. And may your good times multiply,Till they’re flying off the chart! With Love, Bhavani Ananthan.

14 TRAFFIC JAM

ERGO Monday, March 16, 2009

TV troubles A German mathematician who died 450 years ago has been sent a letter demanding that he pay for a TV licence.

sudoku

Happy-Yuppy-Puppies Subhasri Jayaraman of TCS eServe caught this on her Panasonic camera

Preference this month is being given to photographs that talk about ‘happiness’, which you need to tell us in a line or two. Please do not repeat any of your previous pictures and also make sure that the photograph is people-oriented. Happiness is not always a smile, so put on your thinking caps and keep clicking! Winners can collect their gift vouchers on Sundays, between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at Ergo office

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

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KAKURO

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Monday, March 16, 2009

Mini pony

Word’s worth

Fire crews have been called out four times to rescue a tiny pony in Southampton, England - because its legs are so short people think it’s stuck in mud.

“Carriwitchet” (ka-ri-wich-it) a pun, a conundrum. The etymology is unknown, making the origin of the word itself a conundrum.

B.C ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 Day is going to be quite a busy one for you, predicts Ganesha. You will work hard to achieve the goals set by you. The hard you work, the better will be the results.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20 Think before you speak. Keep a check on your words, suggests Ganesha. You may be say something you don’t really mean. But it may spoil your relationship. Be calm and let the day pass, says Ganesha.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20 Your attitude of thinking that “my well wishers are my enemies” is wrong. There are people who really wish good for you. Its time for you to thank and appreciate them says Ganesha.

BORN LOSER

CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20 Love is in the Air, says Ganesha. For singles- find a match, for lovers, spend the maximum time together. Go for a candle light dinner and make the day a memorable for you.

LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20 Don’t let your head rule your heart. Take decisions according to what your heart feels. Anger always spoils the matter says Ganesha. Be calm in taking decisions.

VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20

FREE RANGE

WORKING IT OUT

A day full of joy is waiting for you. You will have the best time of your friends and family. An old friend will contact you, predicts Ganesha. It’s a time to be nostalgic so go ahead and have fun, smiles Ganesha.

LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20 Today is the day. Ganesha wants you to be alert. Decision on some pending issue is to be taken today. Delay will make the case worse. Think well and sign the deal today.

SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20 Your nature of getting jealous is making you feel insecure. It is better to clear out misunderstandings before it’s too late. Ganesha suggests you to have a discussion and clear the misunderstandings as soon as possible.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20 Mood swings is what is predicted to happen with you today. You may feel a little lazy. But as the day passes you will feel that you are being charged up. Ganesha wishes a calm and joyful day for you.

CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20 Your more attention to your professional life makes your family feel left out. Ganesha suggests you to spend some quality time with your near and dear ones. On professional front, you are likely to have profits by the new project.

PREVIOUS ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS

AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20 Finally you will get what you have been waiting for since long. You will be happy and joyful. It’s a time for celebration, call your friends and have a blast. Ganesha wishes you all the best.

PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20 You have got the charm and the quality of attracting people. You will be the centre of attraction today in whatever you do. So go ahead and enjoy it. Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni

16 !

ERGO Monday, March 16, 2009

Models showcase designer wear at Gabbana.life on Khader Nawaz Khan Road in Chennai on Friday. PHOTOS: S.S. KUMAR

Designer Rehane flanked by models at the preview of her Fall/ Winter 2009 collection held at The Park on Friday. PHOTO: R. RAVINDRAN