Ergo October 15

A BYTE OF LIFE

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

05

WINDOW SHOPPER

V2 Boutique for cool party wear FREE CIRCULATION

Vol. 2

02 TOO GOOD FOR THE CRITICS Chinese at Rangi’s

No. 197

While scrapping has been good enough to bridge the distance, several Orkutters turn to building neighbourhood communities to keep in touch with exhousemates or colony members. Ergo catches up with some moderators in the city who explain why these communities keep friendships going PAGE 03

Hey neighbour,get connected ! Wash your hands It’s probably one of the first things our parents and paati have taught or made us do as children. “Wash you hands before eating ...” Yes, we have heard that a hundred times! Just that now we have a day devoted exclusively for it. With 2008 being marked as the UN International Year of Sanitation, the authorities have decided to observe October 15 as the first-ever Global Handwashing Day. The day is being celebrated in 70 nations across all continents. Though most of us wash our hands with water, very few wash it with soap, leading to infections. So the challenge on hand-washing day is to make the practice of using soap a more automatic behaviour in homes, schools and communities. Cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh have been roped in as ambassadors for the programme in India. Hope each of you will be ambassadors in your own way to drive home the message. Listening? Ergo Correspondent

02 NAMMA CHENNAI

ERGO Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Accessories for your saree Aavaranaa, the saree boutique, has an astounding range of antique jewellery for Diwali. Crafted with adroit craftsmanship, the scintillating range of gold antiques is contemporary in design. Shop at 15 Asoka Street, Alwarpet.

Run on the ECR H

ello, folks. It is time to buckle up your shoes. ECR8, a quarterly run organised by the Chennai Runners on the East Coast Road, is back for the eighth time. This local community initiative aims to popularise long-distance running among the residents, where it covers 17.5 km on the East Coast Road. There are no winners or losers in this race. You could choose the distance you want to – 5km, 10km, 15km, 20km, 25km, 30km or 35km. Participants need to enrol by paying a registration fee of Rs. 250.

Chinatown in

CHENNAI Rangi’s has been serving Chinese fare since 1985

Chennai Runners They are a group supporting short or long-distance running, which was formed in 2005 to promote running and a healthier lifestyle. Today, they are around 550 in number. The event is organised by serious recreational athletes with marathon runners also under its belt. ■ Ergo Correspondent

What, When, Where What: ECR8 When: October 19, 5:15 a.m. Where: From Shore Resort, inside Mayajaal compound For further information contact Karthikeyan at 98842 17276 or email [email protected]

VIPASHA SINHA

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t was when the Udupi and Chettinad restaurants were storming Chennai’s food culture that a Chinese eat-out opened doors. Interestingly, though there are many Chinese restaurants around now, Rangi’s on Nungambakkam High Road is still going strong. Since 1985, Rangi’s claims to have remained the same, both with respect to the authentic Chinese cuisine it serves and the cosy ambience that draws people. “Rangi’s is like my baby. I did not want to dilute it by expanding it further,” says Jayakumar Govindaraj, the owner, as to

why the place has a seating capacity for only 37 guests. So, what’s it that has been attracting foodies? From hakka noodles, which it first started with, to a range of crispy items, the latest being crispy beef, the place has its signature dishes. For office-goers, students from the

How to get there: You cannot miss this place. Rangi’s is on Nungambakkam High Road, near Gemini Flyover, next to YES Bank. Must-try items: crispy lamb/beef (Rs.120), mushroom spring rolls (Rs. 75) Contact No: 42144933, 65192344

women’s colleges nearby and anyone wanting some cosy time, this has been a favourite hangout. Especially for non-vegetarians – its crispy lamp, lobster, varieties in chicken are best complemented with Schezwan noodles or rice – Rangi’s is a huge draw. “Though we have welcomed new dishes and cooking styles, we make sure the taste remains the same,” says Ramakrishnan, manager of Rangi’s. For vegetarians, it is crispy cauliflower and mushroom spring rolls which are the most optedfor items on the menu. ■ (Too Good for Critics is a weekly column to celebrate Namma Chennai’s ‘Kaiyendi Bhavans’ and small eateries. If you can think of a similar place, mail us at [email protected])

03

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

MY KINDA PLACE

What are those memories – sweet or bitter – that you share about your hostel, paying guest accommodation or the rented flat you share with a few friends? Write to us telling which one among the three was good, better or worst. Do not send us more than 150 words. Write to us at [email protected] with the subject line MY KINDA PLACE before Wednesday noon.

Gangs of Orkut

AFP

These days Orkut is gaining popularity among housemates, and even those sharing the same neighbourhood, for what it is best known for – communities

ERGO CORRESPONDENT [email protected]

Gil Nagar, Choolaimedu A group of girls have created their own community on Orkut called ‘117 Gil Nagar Gango’ to stay in touch, no matter which part of the world they have migrated to. They reside in Gil Nagar, which is off Nelson Manickam Road in Choolaimedu. Moderator Saritha Sreekumar, a game developer by profession, says she created the group because three of her housemates not only shifted residence, but also states and countries. “I was close to three of my housemates, one of whom is in Delhi, another in Singapore and the last one in Chicago.”

The idea was originally to keep in touch with just the three, but the community has grown in membership since it was created.

13th Avenue, Harrington Road Another suburban loyalist is Prashanth Paul, who has created a community called ‘Avenue 13th of Harrington Road’. Prashanth works with event management company Showspace and says that the community has been active ever since it was started almost a year ago. “The idea to create an Orkut community for this area came to me when I met with a couple of friends who used to live on 13th Avenue, Harrington Road. Since all of us used to get along really well, we wanted to rope in others who used to live

here, but have moved away.” At this point, the community is going strong with 16 members, who reside across the world, from the northern (U.S.A) to the southern hemisphere (Australia). “Two are in Australia, then three in Dubai, and one in the U.S, but mostly they are spread out across Chennai.” Prashanth declares that they use the community site to fix get-togethers at his house on 13th Avenue, Harrington

Road.

Shanti Colony, Anna Nagar Rajesh, a call centre employee, has a number of neighbourhood community groups like these, including ‘Velammal 12 C1’ to bring classmates together to ‘Anna Nagar Blue Star’, which rates the best restaurants in the area and helps in networking. One of his communities, ‘Anna Nagar Shanti Colony’ was started for

The idea to create an Orkut community for this area came to me when I met with a couple of friends who used to live on 13th Avenue, Harrington Road. Since all of us used to get along really well, we wanted to rope in others who used to live here, but have moved away

precisely the same reasons as Saritha and Prashanth – to keep his friends together. With 31 members, he says that hosting neighbourhood communities is useful if the members are not residing in the area anymore. “It was a lot of fun starting it initially, but since all my friends live in the same area, we bump into each other anyway and don’t need to use the community as such.” Snigdha Singh, who is also a part of ‘117 Gil Nagar Gango’, agrees that a certain disconnect happens when housemates and friends shift out of a locality. “But even if I don’t go to the community site and check it out, I get updates, and that happens only when one of us has something important to say.” ■

04 KALEIDOSCOPE

ERGO Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Just DoIT The 500-odd techies who form DoIT aren’t Chiranjeevi fans. But they do see him as an inspiration for their social service activities V. HARIPRIYA [email protected]

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an film stars really be the inspiration for good deeds? Yes, says this group of IT professionals. DoIT, a social welfare organisation formed by more than 500 techies, draws inspiration from none other than actor Chiranjeevi. Though not actually fans of Chiru, these techies try to emulate the charity works the actor does. N. Murali Krishna, who heads the Chennai Chapter of DoIT, says, “We are a group of professionals who feel that sitting behind the glass doors, in AC cabins, taking good enough salaries, enjoying weekend parties,

filing IT returns, taking stress relief classes or attending yoga sessions should not be the lifestyle of techies. Instead, we have to shoulder some responsibilities for the betterment of society.”

Members DoIT, started in Hyderabad by Raja Suresh, managing director of Genpact, last April, has members from different MNCs like HCL, TCS, Intel, CTS and Infosys. The Chennai chapter was formed in the month of July. There are about 15 to 20 core members, who make sure that they meet at least thrice a month to discuss the agenda.

Visits “Basically, we visit three or-

Members of DoIT during the visit to Hands of Compassion phanages a month. We mail all the members regarding the details of the visit. Those interested in visiting the home will mail us back and then we pool the money necessary to buy materials for the home. We spend a whole day at the home,” says Murali Krishna. “More than the things we give to the home, it’s our presence which makes the kids feel happy. On October 2, we visited Hands

The Y of Reality

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hat would you do if you had a pink button which sweeps away a substantial population from the world, making it a better and safer place to live in? Such are the many thoughtprovoking questions evoked by Theatre Y’s realitY. In a preview of the play, excerpts of the five monologues were presented. Introducing themselves as a professional theatre group, Theatre Y awaits its first public production to be staged on October 17, 18 and 19 at Alliance de Francaise. Theatre Y was founded on August 15, 2003, but what took them five years to put up their first public performance? Says Yog Japee, director of the play, “We did commissioned plays and the returns I got from my association with cinema are

what I have put into Theatre Y and, so, here we are with our first public production, realitY.” realitY is an adaptation of playwright Manjula Padmanabhan’s book, Hidden Fires. She has also penned down a separate piece, ‘The Wish’, included in the play. Addressing issues like violence, overpopulation, denial of truth and patriotism, realitY gives us glimpses of the true world with a dramatic yet subtle simplicity. Be it the ‘Invocation’, in the memory of all those killed by violence, or ‘Know the Truth’, where a happy reporter denies the reality of the situation reported by panic stricken public, it is real indeed. A young theatre group, at their studYo presenting the excerpts, is as real as it gets. As one mouths the monologue, the others play xylophones and traditional instruments, creating a pleasant music akin to wind

Sponsors “We don’t have sponsors as such. We spare money from our own pockets. Our aim is to spread the culture of serving the society.” DoIT is open to anyone who has a passion to serve the society. Just visit www.doit.net.in or email [email protected] and get in touch with the organisation. ■

Five years after Theatre Y was formed, it puts up its first public production chimes, setting a contrasting mood to the dramatic monologues, which merge beautifully. This young group of batchmates from Theatre Y’s first acting and voice training workshop look promising. For the first time in Chennai, the night show at 10 p.m. has been introduced by Theatre Y. It is for all those busy bees that cannot make it during the day. With four shows per day, Theater Y aims at popularising the theatre-going trend. The show’s tagline reads ‘1000 names, 9 points, 5 voices and 1 pink button’. Indeed, watch reality being staged.

PHOTO: R RAVINDRAN

NANDHINI RAMKUMAR

of Compassion, a home inspired by Mother Theresa near Red Hills area. There were around 200 children from Manipal, Assam, Gujarat, Andaman and Tamil Nadu, all victims of the tsunami, earthquakes and terrorist attacks. Our next plan is to visit some government schools on October 15, the birthday of A.P.J Abdul Kalam, and stress on a uniform education for those kids,” says Krishna.

What: ‘realitY’ When: October 17, 18, 19; 1 p.m. 4 p.m. 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Where: Alliance Francaise For tickets call 98840 70796/ 97

05

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Websites of the day Adopt a monkey: www.monkeyworld.co.uk/ topic Make the perfect sushi: www.eatsushi.com/demos.asp

We for V2 Party wear for women doesn’t get cooler than what’s on the shelves of this boutique

PHOTOS: R. RAVINDRAN

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t’s hard to imagine that the confusing, dimly-lit corridors of Fountain Plaza lead to one of the coolest places you can head to when shopping for party wear or casuals. You’re most likely to miss it if you don’t notice what the mannequins are wearing. The shop is called V2 Boutique. “V2 is for ‘We two’ partners. My mom and I,” Bina Chugani tells you. Started about 11 years ago, V2 Boutique has built for itself a steady clientele over the years, mostly by word-of-mouth. From playsuits and jumpsuits to halters (from leopardprinted to the subtly sequinned ones), graphic-print tees in neon shades, skirts, bolero jackets, suspender tops and ponchos, there’s everything. Then there are tops in chiffon, velvet brasso and velvet. The jeans, the fast-moving item here, are known for their fit. Party dresses, priced Rs. 2,000 and above, including LBDs and ones in metallic, come with interesting details. The clothes are mostly handpicked from Singapore and Bangkok and you can find only one piece per design, assures Bina. With matching shoes, belts and bags under the same roof, finding those golden stilettos to go with the halter in the same hue you just picked up needn’t become a pain. Belts, the new must-have, range from those 6-inches broad to the slimmer metal ones. While the shoes are priced at around Rs. 1,200, belts come at Rs. 500 and above. Besides what you see on the shelves, the store also undertakes tailoring of ethnic and western outfits. “There are a lot of youngsters who’re going abroad to study and they come to us with orders for V2 Boutique trousers and suits,” says Shop No. 26, Basement, Bina. Fountain Plaza, Egmore, Chennai – 600 Ergo Pick 008 A full-length pencil skirt Ph: 98400 66749 that comes with paintings Store timings: 11 a.m. of ancient Egyptians, to 8:30 p.m. (Closed on available in navy blue Sundays) and cream. Price: Rs. 2,000. If you know of a place that stocks or sells something unique, do write to us at [email protected] with the subject line WINDOW SHOPPER.

06 VILLAGE

ERGO Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Squid pizza Food+Wine magazine reported that in Japan, squid is the most popular topping for Domino’s pizza.

106-year-old Obama-supporting nun shocked by fame

Madonna says she’s ‘a writer deep down inside’

A 106-year-old American nun who became a minor celebrity after she appeared on television saying she is voting for Barack Obama is ‘startled and a bit anguished’ by all the attention she is getting, her order said on Monday. Sister Cecilia Gaudette, born on March 25, 1902, has decided to step out of the limelight and back into the comfortable obscurity that characterized her life before the media discovered that she will be one of the oldest Americans to vote.

Queen of pop Madonna feels that she’s a writer deep within. The 50-yearold star took a break from her ‘Sticky & Sweet’ tour to attend the premiere of her directorial debut ‘Filth’ in New York, which she has also co-written. “Writing it was actually my favourite part because it is so different from everything I do and deep down inside I’m really a writer,” the New York Daily News quoted her, as saying. “I’m so happy with the finished product,” she said of her film. The cast members also said that Madge was a perfectionist in the director’s chair; however, the film has received lukewarm reviews from critics. “She knew exactly what she wanted and there was no in between. She made everything very clear,” said lead actress Holly Weston, who plays a pole-dancing ballerina.

Reuters

Half of China’s toy exporters out of business The rising yuan along with escalating production costs, drove half of China’s toy exporters out of the market in the first seven months of this year, the General Administration of Customs said in a report Monday. A total of 3,631 toy exporters or 52.7 per cent of the industry’s businesses shut down in 2008.They were mainly small-sized toy producers with an export value of less than US$ 100,000. Customs data showed 3,507 toy exporters still in business. China, the world’s largest toy exporter, saw a remarkable business slowdown as a result of rapid appreciation of the yuan, rising human capital and production costs and falling export rebates. Xinhua

ANI

Police hunt serial dog poisoner Police in Hong Kong on Tuesday were hot on the scent of a mystery poisoner who has been laying poison bait for 19 years and is believed to have killed more than 100 pets. Meat tainted with insecticide has been found at various spots in Hong Kong’s Mid Levels residential area where the poisoner has conducted his anti-dog vendetta for nearly two decades. A police spokesman said some spiked bait was found on Monday morning and police later found several more pieces of tainted meat. DPA

Teacher detained for beating students China has made corporal punishment against children in schools illegal, but it is still used in some institutions

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teacher in Beijing has been sacked and detained for beating his students, with the abuse including shoving one child’s head into a blackboard, local police and state media said on Tuesday. Gao Xiaopeng beat 11 of his grade three students at an elementary school in southeast Beijing on Tuesday last week for not finishing their homework, the official China Daily reported, citing local authorities. “He slapped us first,” the newspaper quoted one of the students as saying. “Then he used a paper fan and a broom to beat the students, and even shoved one student’s head into the blackboard.”

A duty officer at the Xuxingzhuang police station confirmed that the teacher was in custody. “The police station has detained Gao for 14 days and given him a 500 yuan (73 dollars) fine for beating 11 students,” the officer, who refused to be named, told AFP. The school has also sacked Gao and apologised to the parents, the China Daily said. Gao has been ordered to pay the medical bills for those he injured, the China Daily quoted Jia Dawei, an employee at the local education commission, as saying. The incident was only uncovered when one of the students – all of whom would have been about 11 years old – was too afraid to go back to school, and his parents

asked him where he got his bruises. The newspaper report gave no other details about the extent of the injuries. China has made corporal punishment against children in schools illegal, but it is still used in some institutions, according to the Global Initiative to End all Corporal Punishment of Children, supported by UNICEF and UNESCO. A survey in 2004 of 528 students from a college and a technical secondary school in north Hebei province, for example, found that 57.6 per cent of students said they received corporal punishment at least once, the initiative said. ■ AFP

07

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Proposal on air

This day, that year

A TV weatherman stunned his presenter girlfriend when he appeared on her Texas morning news broadcast to propose live on-air.

It was in October 15, 1990 that Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev won the Nobel Prize for Peace.

Distractions at work can help you solve problems A moment spent working on something else or taking a break altogether allows the brain’s unconscious thought process to take over

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merican psychologists have given employees the perfect excuse for the much desired tea breaks or 15minute time out - the study has found that distractions in the workplace actually help in solving problems. The experts reckon that a moment spent working on something else or taking a break altogether allows the brain’s unconscious thought process to take over. They found that when the brain kicks back into gear, the conscious thought process picks up on the solution. The ‘god sent’ discovery was made after a team of scientists asked 130 volunteers to conduct a word association experiment. Half the group were told to break off from their test to concentrate on something entirely different for five minutes.

Soccer fan turns monk in protest T

he most famous fan of a Chinese Temple, the famed Buddhist shrine soccer club has decided to become and birth-place of kung fu, according a monk after the squad withdrew to local web portal Jingchu from the country’s professional (www.cnhubei.com). league last month in protest at the “My two sons have both died now,” suspension of its top player. Jingchu quoted Mei as saying, referWuhan Guanggu, a club based in ring to Wuhan Guanggu and the Chithe Yangtze river city of Wuhan, said it nese national team. “So you could would sue the Chinese Super League imagine how it grieves me.” after it suspended former China capThe national team, perennially tain Li Weifeng for eight matches for lashed by local media and soccer fans rough play during a game against for consistently disappointing on the Beijing Guo’an. world stage, was knocked out of the The contentious decision prompt- Asian group qualifiers for the 2010 ed tens of thousands of irate soccer World Cup earlier this year. Mei told fans in Wuhan to Jingchu that he had march in protest earlier been a home-practising Decision after the Buddhist since 2005, but this month. It also prompted Wu- squad withdrew would now become a han resident Mei Nanmonk. “I will from the country’s full-time sheng, commonly go to the Shaolin Temknown as the ‘Iron professional ple to live a peaceful Trumpet’, to pack his league last month life,” he said. ■ Reuters bags for the Shaolin

The results showed that those who spent time focusing on a different task were much quicker at solving the first task when they returned to it than the group that had stuck with it. The research has been led by a team at Northwestern University in Illinois. “Conscious thought is better at making linear, analytic decisions, but unconscious thought is especially effective at solving complex problems. Unconscious activation may provide inspirational sparks underlying the ’Aha!’ moment that eventually leads to important discoveries,” the Telegraph quoted Professor Adam Galinsky, who led the study, as saying. The study has been published in the September issue of the journal Psychological Science. ■ ANI

Play of clay

쑸 A potter makes earthen lamps used extensively during Diwali, at a workshop in Dharavi in Mumbai on Tuesday. AFP PHOTO

08 SPORT

ERGO Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Beckhams’ staff held over alleged theft Two housekeepers working at a mansion owned by former England football captain David Beckham and his pop star wife Victoria have been arrested on suspicion of theft, reports said. Newspaper reports said items belonging to the LA Galaxy star and his wife, a former Spice Girl, turned up for sale on Internet auction website eBay.

Cautious FEDERER makes no promises R

PHOTOS: AFP

oger Federer was making no promises as to how long his sudden return to tennis would last this season, saying he’s only looking as far ahead as this week’s Madrid Masters. Less than a fortnight after withdrawing from Stockholm to rest, the world number two faces a first-round clash on Wednesday night in Spain against Czech traveller Radek Stepanek as the Swiss tests the waters on his fitness. “The season was long and I felt very tired, I needed some rest,” he said. “But I’m still not sure how much I need. I took the time off, trained again (in Dubai) and looked at how I felt.” The 27-yearold with 13 grand slam titles evidently liked what he saw after the pause: “I’m feeling good enough now to win this event, so I came to Madrid and will play. I’ll see where it takes me; I’m going week by week. I’ve felt no sickness (he suffered with glandular season from late last year), no fallbacks. (The tiredness) was just everything together.” Federer, the Madrid titleholder in 2006 and losing finalist last autumn to David Nalbandian, said that the remainder of his 2008 season will be composed of lastminute decisions depending

Oz media slam Ganguly Intentionally or inadvertently, Sourav Ganguly continues to rub Australians the wrong way and the media in Australia poured vitriol on the former India skipper, accusing him of indulging in delaying tactics to ensure the Bangalore Test ended in a draw. The popular belief is that Australia were destined to win the Bangalore Test but the existing light rule, coupled with Ganguly’s delaying tactics, denied Ricky Ponting’s men victory in the first of the four-match Test series. A member of the National Nine News sports team took a potshot at anyone and everyone but was particularly harsh on Ganguly, whom he described as a “serial offender”. “Serial offender Sourav Ganguly firstly persuaded the umpires to go off. Then when play resumed, Ganguly made Australia’s fielders and partner VVS Laxman wait an eternity because he’d apparently forgotten to put his thigh pad on. Please! Can’t you be timed out in this game?” he wrote. Criticising umpire Asad Rauf and Rudy Koertzen, the writer said: “With the match in the balance, a crucial hour’s play on the final day was lost, with not one, but two stoppages for bad light – when at times the sun was shining.” PTI

upon his state of body and mind. “Anything is possible; there are some exciting events left. And I have a chance to make more points,” said the long-time number one now chasing rival Rafael Nadal who has held the top spot since August. “I got my start in the indoor season (his first title came in Milan in 2001). It’s not one that I like to miss. I love the game and I love to complete, that’s why I’m back on the tour again.” As Nadal primed the Monday crown with first-round doubles, non-seeds swung into action at an event which began on Sunday. Frenchman Gilles Simon, trophyholder at Indianapolis over the summer and Bucharest last month, started with a victory against Russian Igor Andreev 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (9/7). American Mardy Fish stepped on to court for the first time since the US Open and his last September marriage, defeating Belgian Steve Darcis in the first round 6-1, 6-4. Simone Bolelli carried his luck even farther after gaining an entry when Moscow finalist Marat Safin withdrew with a sore shoulder, defeating Spain’s Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7/4), 6-1. ■ AFP

AFC move causes rumbles of discontent Mooted plans to move the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) headquarters out of Kuala Lumpur have triggered discontent around the continent and concerns over a possible east-west split. The AFC is dissatisfied with its Malaysian hosts and sources say several cities in the oil-rich Gulf have shown interest in giving the AFC a new home, offering perks Malaysia has refused to grant. Malaysian soccer officials say the south-east Asian bloc ASEAN and several prominent East Asian nations vehemently oppose a move, fearing loss of commercial revenue and the growing Arab power and influence over Asian soccer. Azuddin Ahmad, secretary-general of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), said the AFC belonged in Kuala Lumpur, its home for 43 years. “People in the Middle East can plant money trees but they can’t just elbow us out,” he said. Japanese and Chinese officials would not reveal their stance but sources, requesting anonymity, said complaints had been made privately, some suggesting a possible east-west split if a relocation went ahead. South Korea said it was against a move from Kuala Lumpur because the city was perfectly located in a region stretching from Jordan to Australia. Reuters

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

19-year-old dies after heart attack Nineteen-year-old Russian ice hockey player Alexei Cherepanov died on Monday following a heart attack during a match in the Moscow region, Allsport.ru sports agency reported. The Avangard Omsk player collapsed and died while going back to the replacements bench towards the end of the third period of a match against Vitiaz Chekhov, the same source added.

ENGLAND TO REJIG DEFENCE

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oach Fabio Capello must rejig his defence as England head to Belarus for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier with John Terry and Ashley Cole both out of action while Germany have doubts over Michael Ballack in their fixture against Wales. A second away win to follow last month’s mauling of Croatia in their own backyard would give England a maximum 12 points from four games and maintain clear blue water between them and their Group Six rivals. But with Ukraine only two points adrift, England will not be counting any chickens, not least given the enforced changes and a Wembley 5-1 win over Kazakhstan last weekend, which showed up a raft of deficiencies. Capello is set to keep faith with Matthew Upson in the absence of back victim Terry and the West Ham man insists he can overcome the nerves he occasionally betrayed Saturday against the Kazakhs. “It’s disappointing to lose two very experienced players in John Terry and Ashley Cole for the game in Belarus,” Capello admitted. Upson, who has ten caps to date, insists he can handle the pressure against a side good enough to beat Holland last year. “You get injuries and loss of form. It doesn’t matter what someone else is doing, it is about how I am playing and I have to make sure I am ready. I gave 100 percent on Saturday. I’ve been learning and focusing on how we want and hopefully I can step in.” On the plus side for England is the likely absence of Belarus playmaker Alexander Hleb, who has been battling an ankle injury, which has hampered his adaptation to life in La Liga with Barcelona following his move from Arsenal. Hleb is in coach Bernd Stange’s squad for the match at the Dinamo Stadium in Minsk. Belarus have so far beaten tiny Andorra but lost unluckily to Ukraine after a last-gasp Andriy Shevchenko penalty in stoppage time. Wednesday’s other action in Group Six sees Croatia, still shell-shocked after their 1-4 loss to England and five points off the pace, host Andorra.

Germans start favourite

group with a midweek win so will Germany as they prepare to see off Wales in Group Four. Germany coach Joachim Loew may have to make do without skipper Michael Ballack after he damaged a calf muscle in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Russia in which the Chelsea man scored the second goal to consolidate the three-times world champions’ grip on Group Four. Ballack sat out training in Duesseldorf on Monday as a precautionary measure. Loew, having seen the Russians – who on Wednesday host Finland – come close to bagging a point on Saturday, insists his men must step up to the mark with or without Ballack. “We watched the game against Russia again on Monday to make sure we don’t sit back again in the second-half. We want three more points, it wouldn’t be good if we take three points from Russia, but then lose to Wales,” Loew stressed, adding he expected the Welsh to be cagey and defensive. Germany lead Group Four on seven points with two wins and a draw, while Wales are second on six points after two wins and a defeat.

World champions Elsewhere Wednesday, world champions Italy, buoyed after taking a point in Bulgaria at the weekend, should see off Montenegro to increase their domination of Group Eight. In the same group, the Republic of Ireland must try to pare down a three-point gap with a home win over Cyprus, who shocked them in a Euro 2008 qualifier two years ago, albeit on home turf. European champions Spain will look for a fourth straight win in Group Five away to fellow unbeaten side Belgium while in Group Two, the match between Greece and Switzerland sees wily German veteran coaches Otto Rehhagel and Ottmar Hitzfeld – 27 trophies in Germany between them – go toe to toe. Whereas the Greeks top the table will three wins in as many games the Swiss are still recovering from a home loss to Luxembourg. In Group One, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal require three points at home to Albania to lift spirits after a shock early loss to front-runners Denmark as second-placed Sweden have a night off. France, who appear set to keep faith for now with coach Raymond Domenech despite their uncertain start in Group Seven, where Serbia travel to Austria, are also without a qualifier this week and were Tuesday filling the gap with a friendly against Tunisia. ■

Just as England expect to take command of their

GERMANY FRET OVER BALLACK

AFP

10 FLICK

ERGO Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Baddie good Metal-toothed giant Jaws has been named the ‘Biggest James Bond Baddie of All Time’. Jaws, played by Richard Kiel, was the first henchman to star in two 007 films – The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker.

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inger Jon Bon Jovi is being sued for 400 billion dollars over copycat issues. The claim was made by Boston musician Samuel Steele, who says that Jovi used his lyrics in his song ‘I Love This Town’, according to TMZ. Steele is ready to stake his claim that Bon Jovi used the lyrics from his Boston Red Sox album entitled (Man I Really) Love This Team to court. The frontman of a band called The Chelsea City Council believes that Bon Jovi had heard his song while campaigning in Boston for presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004, the Daily Telegraph reported. ■ ANI

To feel like a giant house

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wen Stefani, who delivered her second baby Zuma Nesta Rock in August, has been allegedly suffering from post-pregnancy weight woes that make her “feel like a giant house”. The singer, who shot to fame with rock band No Doubt, is said to be going ballistic over shedding her extra fat, and has even hired a personal trainer to help her. The 38-year-old mum is reportedly having much difficulty dropping her post-pregnancy bulges than she did earlier with her first child, the China Daily reports. “Gwen feels like a giant house at the moment,” a source close to her said. “She found this pregnancy hard and the weight just piled on. She hoped to shed 40 to 50lbs within three months and even lined up a personal trainer.” “But she is still suffering from sleepless nights and caring for Kingston as well as Zuma is really draining, so she has little energy left for high intensity workouts,” the source added. ■ ANI

Late late show for outback epic

T

Copycat, copycat! Jon Bon Jovi sued for $400 billion!

he movie Australia, an outback epic which tourism chiefs hope will spur visitors Down Under, is unfinished weeks before release and completion will be “very close to the wire”, its director said on Tuesday. Acclaimed film-maker Baz Luhrmann said he will finish the sweeping romantic film, which features Hollywood stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, in time for its November 26 release. But the director admitted that post-production would continue almost right up until then and that the movie, which has a budget of more than 100 million US dollars, would be delivered reel by reel rather than as a completed whole. “We’re probably going to hand reels over in a way which probably happens with no other film,” Luhrmann told the Sydney Morning Herald. “We have to be that inventive.” Australia is arguably the biggest movie the country has seen, thanks to its 40-million-dollar (28.3 million US) tie-in to a government-backed tourism campaign designed to lift visitor numbers. ■ AFP

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

McCain set for makeup appearance on Letterman show Looks like Republican U.S. presidential nominee John McCain is headed for rapprochement with late-night TV comedian David Letterman. The CBS network announced on Sunday that Letterman would welcome McCain back to his programme on Thursday, three weeks after McCain irked the CBS Late Show host by abruptly backing out of a scheduled guest appearance.

Cheque this out

Cine City

S

ylvester Stallone frequently ordered high-priced items he seemingly couldn’t afford, according to a tell-all book by New York restaurateur. In his tome ‘Dirty Dishes’, Italian-born restaurateur Pino Luongo recalls Stallone splashing out on dinner with U.S. tycoon Ronald Perelman only to have his assistant call to complain about his extortionate drinks tab. The businessman, who claims New York’s Il Cantinori among his celebrity-dining hot-spots, writes that the 61-year-old star raked up a bill of 800 dollars on dinner with Perelman at exclusive Upper East Side eatery Coco Pazzo. “Stallone was shocked to see that he had an 800 dollars wine tab,” Contactmusic quoted him as writing in the book. “If he can’t afford or doesn’t want to spend a lot of money on wine, then he shouldn’t order things without asking how much they cost,” he added. ■ ANI

No more skin show: Kiran Seems like actress Kiran is in despair over her career. Kiran made her debut as an actress in Saran’s Gemini, starring opposite Vikram. Later, she paired up with leading actors like Kamal Haasan, Ajith and Prashanth. As she didn’t get good offers after that, she started shaking a leg to item numbers. Now, with a suave new look, Kiran is sure of scoring big in her second innings. She has a handful of projects like Vaada with Sundar C., Rajathi Raja with Raghava Lawrence, Jakkubhai and Naalai Namadhe.

Restaurateur slams Sylvester Stallone for ordering what he could not afford Kasthuri is back Actress Kasthuri, who decided to stay away form filmdom after a successful career a couple of years ago, is back to do a prominent role in Nootrukku Nooru. The film, to be directed by Selvah, is a remake of a yesteryear classic with the same title. Vinay and Sandhya play the lead roles in the movie. D. Imman is scoring the music. A popular song from the original Unnai Vazhthi Padukiren is being remixed for the movie by Imman. GETTY IMAGES

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Tuesday’s Question: The most hilarious incident you came across in office ■ The audit was already not going great. At that time my team mate came there and was commenting about the auditor in Tamil thinking that he doesn’t understand it. When we told him he knows Tamil, he turned and walked away without a word. All this happened in front of the auditor and the highlight was that the auditor was sitting there without any reaction :) Angel, CGSL.

■ The day we had a problem in call routing... Some tech error from both ends... Call count s more but no call resolved...only enjoyment! 9943958822

■ The most hilarious incident I came across in my office was me trying to peep at my boss’ desk, trying to check what he was doing exactly the same time when he was trying to peep at my desk. Ranjit Kumar L

■ 1.Not noticing the boss was around while mimicking his voice and he doesn’t realise what was happening. 2. Calling up wrong person’s home to enquire why xyz has not come to work for last few days (this happens when two or more people share the same first name) 3.Abusing your foreign clients in local language (at times in English) while the phone is on mute - only hope the mute button works properly! 4. Using your friend’s IM to flirt with the pretty girls in office while he is away. 9840155659

■ A hilarious conversation between my friend and my TL. Dont disturb me sir, I am not allowed to sleep in my house and in the office too. 9884086661

■ Considering me as a efficient and hardworking guy in my office Satish, Ramco systems

■ The lady security smiles at me and wishes me (me alone) when ever I come across the access door. Now, my envying team mates never leave me alone to the access door. (Kadavulay, enna yen ivvlav azhagaa padaicha) ;-) 9962576465

■ When I asked a friend of mine ‘dude,

what if a client questions you technically on the day of audit’ he replied, ‘ dude, lets ask the client to talk about the lighter side of life dude’ 9894369726

■ When I tried to swipe my temporary identity card (it was just a white paper covered by a transparent cover). Gaja Lakshmi, Cognizant.

■ Whenever my boss is getting nicely from his boss in front of me. 9962529670

■ Nothing was more hilarious than a Project manager trying to seriously help the team in fixing a bug :-) Jaya B0harathi, EDS

■ I was hurry to attain a client meeting in the mean while just before 5min I collide with my friend in cafeteria and tea has fallen on my shirt.

Ganapathi Masilamani of Financial Software & Systems nominates his team members as Partners in Crime. The picture was clicked on the occasion of Ayudha Puja at their office.

9962511966

■ When my friend by mistaken forwarded Diwali release Tamil movies to our US Client ;-).Jai, Infosys

■ When I played bubbles (LKG Kids game) game in front of my manager Manonmani, HCL

■ Friend’s trousers got torn during his dance performance on a New Year cultural event. John, TCS

■ Every time you do the fake laugh for your boss’s joke, your colleagues are laughing at your laugh.

Vennila from TCS Sholinganallur nominates her team mates as Partners in Crime. The picture was taken at Queensland.

R Suresh, CGSL

■ Aloo was not found in Aloo Parotta in my canteen Ganesh, Tcs

■ It was when my colleague typed ‘save me’ in d office msngr and sent me when my boss was eating his brain. He didn’t know that my boss saw the msg...A few minutes later he came to me and said ‘Ur friend needs some help from u’...I could not control my laughter :) 9940212246

Today’s question: Which celebrity’s shoes would you like to step into for a day, and why?

Bragadeesh of Verizon Data Services India nominates his friends as Partners in Crime. This picture was taken at Kodaikanal.

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

■ Hi Precious Priya (VP) Wish you a Many many many happy returns of day. also Congrats on your Promotion.... U deserve it... This is a special day as special as you.... May this day be the beginning of another special year.. Here’s wishing ... It unfolds many joys and happy moments for you to cherish It always been you for all the happiness... ■ Hi Subhalatha, English-Happy Birthday! Chinese- qu ni sheng er kuai le! French - Bonne Fete! German-Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! Okay! Now! Lemme get straight to the point.. wenz the Treat???

Love you... Venkat

wit luv, Amutha,Koushy,Prathipa,Nithya,M.M, Wipro Technologies

Natraj has been nominated as Office Angel by Ganapathi Masilamani of Financial Software & Systems (P) Ltd . Natraj (Nattu) is working as office assistant in FSS. He befriends everyone easily and is ready to work anytime. He enjoys every moment in life. He is also a good dancer. I am wishing him all the best for his future endeavours.

■ Dear Mr.Wakeel N.M and M.Shagufta Nazneen To you two, We wish you a life of happiness, cheer, love, laughs, and good times. Marriage is a special thing and you two deserve each other. If bad-times come, you will pull through!!! We wish you all the happiness in the world!Happy married life.

Best Wishes from, Team PSI.......... (We Will Get It Done!!!) Bhuvanesh,Durai,Sakthi, Deva,Prabhakar,Pushpa,Geetha, Devi,Surya,Daniel,Shankar,Ravivarman,Sivanath.

■ Dear Mitu, We All wish you many many more happy returns of the day on your birthday...and wish you abundant luck, happiness and treasuries of knowledge wealth to give you success in your life and way ahead

With lots of Love - Bhavesh, Hetal and Family, CGSL

■ Hi Venki (Monkey), We Wish U a very Happy Birthday J J Give TREAT for us soon with ur 5GFs….

With Love, 12Bees, Hexaware

■ Dear Tharani, Many More Happy Returns Of The Day to the Non - Stop Animator..........Have a rocking year ahead.

Akila Rajaram of HCL Technologies doodled this

With love, TCS - BáNCS MI

■ Dear Prak, May this day and coming years fill you with lots of joy, happiness and prosperity. Wish you a very happy birthday..

With lots of love, Suchi (Satyam)

■ Dear porineetha Ruth, Many more happy returns of the day.May all your dreams come true. ■ Dear Shikha Wishing you a warm and sweet happy b’day May God bless you on this special day !!!!

Regards, Kalaiyarasi.T (FSS)

Yours’s Lovingly Anant Sehgal

■ Hello Gang, Send your greetings to [email protected], with the word ‘greeting’ and the preferred date of publication in the subject line. Example: “greeting: October 24”. This will help us organise the column. Also, those who want to dedicate greetings, please send your full name, company name and contact number for verification.

Which is the only animal that can dance?? Think.. Yosinga.. Therialaya? “AADU” Chandru, Hexaware

Cheers, Team Ergo

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ERGO Wednesday, October 15, 2008

School bans marmite Marmite has been banned from school breakfast club menus in Wales because it is too salty.

sudoku

De Python Power: Thamilventhan K of Cybernet Slash Support clicked this picture at his farmhouse in Dindugal. This reminds him of an angry python going to attack, though it is actually the bark of a tree. Hobbies: Photography, music and painting

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

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Candle light protest

Word’s worth

An East Yorkshire pensioner is living by candlelight after turning off all the power in a protest against high fuel bills.

"Ichnomancy" (ick-noh-mun-see) the science of making deductions about people and animals by examining their footsteps. The OED citation from 1855 seems to imply that you may find out ’figure, peculiarities, occupations, &c, of men or beasts’ by this method. From Greek words meaning ’track’ and ’divination.’

B.C ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 Your focus can be divided in two parts today – in the earlier part it is dedicated to work, while in the later part it remains on fiscal gains. Your concentration at work will be better in the second part. Lovers may exchange sweet words.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20 You may achieve your targets only after lunch time. Before that, you might just waste time. Ganesha further suggests that you should attend important meetings only after lunch time. Lovers and married couples will have a gala time with each other.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20 You may kick start the day with double speed to meet the deadlines. Such a positive start! However, some person might put you off post lunch. Ganesha suggests you control your emotions today. Grace of Ganesha will smile on you and your beloved today.

BORN LOSER

CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20 Ganesha thinks that you will be spending a lot of time to solve a critical technical error. This will get sorted only after an entire day’s effort. Married or love life will be smooth as butter provided inflexibility is avoided.

LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20 If you want to save yourself from the jealous eyes of your colleagues, maintain a low profile. Ganesha also warns you against any confrontation with others. However the evenings will be tension free. In love life, try to maintain compromising attitude.

VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20

FREE RANGE

WORKING IT OUT

Your hard work will surely be awarded at work but make sure that you don’t over exert and harm your health. You will spend the evening over a romantic dinner table or you lovers might go for a movie.

LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20 Ganesha does not find this day to be very favourable for you. Try not to confront anyone at your office today or else you might not be able to prove your point. Personal life too, faces a threat of stress. You might lose your temper on your beloved.

SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20 The long list of pending work might get done by the end of this day. Ganesha feels this is a favourable day for technical work like developing codes or installing new softwares. The evening will be a wonderful experience with beloved.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20 You might feel very restless in the morning today. Ganesha advises you to take up only one thing at a time, so that you don’t mess up. Proper planning is always advisable. On the love front, you may become more responsible, notes Ganesha.

CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20 Even if the first part of the day might seem tough, the later part of the day will be in your favour. Important meetings should only be scheduled only after lunch. Love life is full of charm and excitement as expression of love will take a new avatar.

PREVIOUS ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS

AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20 Attention seeking colleagues might disrupt you at work, but you will be able to gain control. The demands met by you on the domestic front will make your family happy. You may be in a romantic mood but the lover’s response will be cold.

PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20 The first half of the day indicates your active participation. However, side-talks and noise might irritate you. Maintain your focus on work and all will be well, advises Ganesha. Today is a favourable day for expressing your love to your beloved. Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni

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ERGO Wednesday, October 15, 2008