Ergo October 24

A BYTE OF LIFE

Friday, October 24, 2008

Have a blast! Ergo wishes all its readers a very Happy Diwali. Plus, a Happy Extended Weekend. Since Diwali without firecrackers is incomplete, we bring to you the latest to hit the market (Pages 4 & 5). Also, there will be no issue of Ergo on October 27 and 28 (Monday and Tuesday). We’ll be back on Wednesday. FREE CIRCULATION

Vol. 2

No. 204

02

ERGO Friday, October 24, 2008

Book release

Namma Chennai

Penguin Book India and Taj Connemera will launch the book ‘In the country of Deceit’ by Sashi Deshpande today at Binny Room, Taj Connemara at 5.30 p.m.

Television

Sister act 4 It’s Diwali time on ‘Nach Baliye 4’. And setting the stage of fire will be Karisma and Kareena who will be adorning outfits specially designed by Manish Malhotra. Both the sisters will be seen exchanging their places – Kareena will pose as the judge while Karisma will be the special guest. When: October 25 Where: Star Plus; 8 p.m.

Sale

Sweet surprise What can be the best surprise for your near and dear ones who are away from home for the festival? A box of sweets. Gati Limited, an express distribution and supply chain, has tied-up with Halidrams to send mouth watering delicacies. You can choose from an array of products – assorted sweets, hamper comprising soan papdi, aloo bhujia, rosgullas. The gifts range between Rs. 475 and Rs. 700. Log on to www.gati.com to know more or call 09860 354284. Hurry, orders need to be placed before October 24.

Cinema

Concert

Music for a cause Carnatic vocalist T.M. Krishna will be performing in the city on October 24 as part of a fund-raiser for REACH. The amount collected will be used to provide food to needy patients and meet their travel expenses to hospitals. When: October 24 Where: For invitations to the concert call 2861 0332/ 6521 1047

Television

Let the music flow It’s a musical Diwali on SS Music. Singers S. P. Balasubramaniam and S. P. Sailaja get together to pay tribute to the ‘Mellisai Mannar’ M.S. Visvanathan. Tune in on October 26 and October 27 at 9 p.m. and noon respectively. Also, if you have been banking on the new releases check this show on October 27 at 3 p.m. VJ Rajiv gives his predictions for Vaaranam Aiyaram, Aegan and others. There is lot more, so don’t forget to tune. When: October 25 to 27 Where: SS Music

Book my ticket, please Seventymm has introduced ‘Seventymm Ticket Counter’ -- a movie ticket feature on its portal. With this movie enthusiasts can book tickets through the platform as well as get latest updates about the movies running in theatres. Seventymm ticket counter is powered by www.bookmyshow.com For details log on to www.seventymm.com

Sale

Crystal clear Check-out some stunning pieces of Bohemian crystals from Czech Republic. Flower vases, table lamps, cutlery... each of the collection are a pretty piece to be gifted. When: Till November 12 Where: Hotel Ambassador Pallava, 30th Montieth Road, Egmore

03

Friday, October 24, 2008

Awards alert British Council India, in association with Oxford Bookstore is launching the Young Publishing Entrepreneur Award 2009, where the winner of the Indian award will take part in an all-expenses paid 10-day tour of the UK publishing industry in April next year. For details, please check out http://www.britishcouncil.org/india-arts-iypey2007.htm

Bookworm’s Corner Top 10 Bestsellers (Fiction) 1. The White Tiger - Aravinda Adiga. Rs. 395 2. Sea of Poppies - Amitav Ghosh. Rs. 599 3. One Night @ Call Centre - Chetan Bhagat. Rs. 95 4. The 3 Mistakes of my Life - Rupa & Co. Rs. 95 5. Brida - Paulo Coelho. Rs.295 6. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini. Rs.395 7. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini. Rs. 315 8. The Final Reckoning – Sam Bourne. Rs. 295 9. A Prisoner of Birth - Jeffery Archer. Rs. 270 10. Shantaram - Gregory Roberts. Rs.475

Top 10 Bestsellers (Non-fiction) 1. The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life - Alice Schroeder. Rs. 995 2. The Secret - Rhonda Byrne. Rs.550 3. Stay Hungry Stay Foolish - Rashmi Bansal. Rs. 125 4. The New Paradigm for Financial - George Soros. Rs.595 5. Hot Flat & Crowded - Thomas Friedman. Rs. 595 6. The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch. Rs.295 7. Business Striped Bare – Richard Branson. Rs.515 8. D k Eyewitness Travel: India. Rs.480 9. What the CEO Want You to Know - Ram Charan. Rs.480 10. Go Kiss The World - Subroto Bagchi. Rs. 399 Courtesy: Crossword

Little Babooshka’s Grind

Rock on! This weekend, original live music This weekend presenting at the Alliance Francaise October Dhamaka – a rock show featuring two of Chennai’s best original bands – Little Babooshka’s Grind (LBG) and Touchwood. LBG has been known in the circuit since 1996, playing original rock music. Having completed two full-length albums and one professionally produced video, the band consists of brothers Arjun (bass), Avnith (lead guitar) and Aum Janakiram (rhythm), Maynard Grant (drums) and Praveen Heinrich (lead vocalist). Touchwood is another band, hardly out of college, that be-

lieves in original music. What makes them stand apart is that this rock band has no electric guitarist and is not looking out for one. Comprising Arjun (bass), Vishal (vocals, acoustic guitar), Cherian (keyboard) and Avinash (drums), the band prefer to call themselves a ‘jam band’.

What, when, where? Event: Rock concert Timings: 7 pm, October 25 Venue: Alliance Francaise Contact: 28271477/ 28251165

Touchwood

PHOTO: S.R. RAGHUNATHAN

04

ERGO Friday, October 24, 2008

Big Story

Crack these crackers What’s a Diwali without the firecrackers! Ergo brings to you the new entrants to the market. Plus, some of the classics

C

ome Monday, it’s freedom from all your business meetings, client calls, brain-storming sessions and cab journeys to office. It’s the festival of lights and time to celebrate hard with a bang,

literally. The cracker fever is on, but the sudden spell of rains has dampened the firework sales to an extent. With the sun beating down once again from Thursday morning, the fever is back. Ergo visited the biggest firework sales den of the city, Bunder Street in Parrys Corner, to

check out a few new firework entries and the most sought-after ones. Over 80 per cent of the shops on Bunder Street have taken to selling fireworks on Deepavali, like every year for more than four decades.

Parachute Rocket

Panorama

For rocket lovers, there are Parachute Rockets in the mar-

bow colours, the Kaleidoscope isn’t bad either. The cracker also features one wick, which must be lit in a large, open area. Kaleidoscope is priced at Rs. 2,500.

ket. The advanced rockets, according to dealers, go higher and burst with a bang of colours. Not to miss is a glowing parachute that is visible in the night sky for a few miles. The extra-long rocket that comes with a colourful head (green, yellow and pink) is an old but most sought-after one in the cracker family every Diwali. A pack of five Parachute Rockets costs Rs. 181. ■

This year, the big daddy of firecrackers is the Panorama. Coming in a big, fat box, the piece is a guaranteed night sky entertainer with a whopping 500 shots with just one strike of a match to its single, thick thiri (wick). All one needs to do is take the cracker to an open ground and light the wick to enjoy an allcolour view. The price of the Panorama is Rs. 5,000.

Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope showers a display of 250 shots

If you think the Panorama could burn a big hole in your pocket, opt for Kaleidoscope. With 250 shots showering rain-

Firecracker dealer S.K. Jaffer with the gift box

05

Friday, October 24, 2008

Dine and Dance The Accord Metropolitan has a special Diwali offer at Pergola on October 26, 27 and 28. You can have a spectacular view of fireworks, while enjoying your food with your family. For reservations please call 2816 1000.

For the

FAINT-HEARTED

Dolphin and Butterfly Some of the innovative fireworks for this season are the Dolphin Dive and Colour-Changing Butterfly. These can be a cracker lover’s delight as both erupt creating an image of dolphins and butterflies in vibrant colours. The Colour-Changing Butterfly comes with 10 pieces in a pack with a price tag of Rs. 180. Whereas, the Dolphin Dive showers 12 shots displaying 12 shapes of dolphins in different colours. It is priced at Rs. 130.

Cartoons in cartons For kids and those who are scared of fireworks, the assorted Cartoons could be a saving grace. With less sound and more fun, these come in boxes of 10 and 25. There is also the Apple, which is a bit on the louder side with a showy explosion in the sky. Apart from these, there are the conventional and well-known Lakshmi and Krishna vedi. Coming in bundles of 10 with a price

tag of Rs. 130, these are a few of the most sought-after ones for most sound-lovers after the double-shot cracker.

All-in-one If you want a piece of everything, the gift box of firecrackers can be the best pick. With 27 different items, including sparklers, chakras and bombs, the gift box is a good choice. The box is available in a price range of Rs. 525 to Rs. 1170. There is also a soundless gift box comprising only chakras, sparklers, flowerpots and pencils for just Rs. 320. Last, but definitely not the least, is the Lar, locally called the wala, which is always a showstopper. This ubiquitous, red-coloured chain cracker is a combination of thousands of shells capable of silencing its competitors for over 15 minutes. Starting from the ‘100 wala’ for Rs. 35, it goes up to the ‘10,000 wala’ for Rs. 3,300. (Prices may differ from dealer to dealer)

An unforgetable Diwali This incident happened when I was in Class VI. On the day of Diwali, my mom was busy in the kitchen, my dad had gone out and my little sister was watching TV. I was so very impatient to start bursting the crackers that I went on to light a candle in the landing room of our home. It had rained on the previous day and we had the clothes hung in that room. To my carelessness, the towel in the rope caught fire and started spreading rapidly to my uniform and to the window

nearby. Ours also happened to be an old house with good dry wood. I was so scared that I didn’t know what to do. I called out in a low voice to my little sister that there is a fire here. The moment she screamed and ran out of the home, it left my mother shocked. The tenants who stayed downstairs rushed to put the fire out and an accident was narrowly avoided. Though I was scolded then, we have a good laugh talking about the incident. Indhumathi, TCS

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ERGO Friday, October 24, 2008

Village

Louis XIV Louis XIV owned 413 beds.

Plastic clappers a must-have for Thai protesters

Y

ou can use it to cheer on a rock band, take to the mall or, why not, try to overthrow a government – the latest must-have among Thailand’s protest set is a plastic, handshaped clapper. The clack-clack-clack of the multi-coloured hands has resonated throughout Bangkok during the months-long campaign by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to bring down the nation’s elected government. In fact, it’s spawned a little bit of a minor industry: one vendor outside Government House – currently occupied by the protesters – says she sells up to 100 clappers a day. The average price is 25 baht (nearly one dollar), depending on the size. Or you can opt for the flashing light version at 35 baht. “I broke one clapper so now I have a new one. When you get very excited you wave it very hard,” explained a middle-aged woman at the grounds of the prime minister’s offices at Government House. The area, seized in August, has since taken on the air of an out-

Britain’s advertising watchdog raps Nepali TV

door music festival as the protesters press their campaign against government, which they say is a corrupt proxy for ousted and exiled premier Thaksin Shinawatra. “It’s the fashion,” said the same woman, who did not want to give her name. “You don’t have to use your hands – it’s easy and convenient.” Kiat Chan, proud owner of three clappers, says the protesters started using them about a week after their street demonstrations began in May. The ‘mue tob’ – Thai for hand clap – has become an unlikely symbol of the anti-government movement, and the clappers can now be seen at concerts, sports events and shopping malls across the capital. The Venetian-style Government House is now the centre of an organised tent city that stretches across blocks of the capital’s historic district. “You can use it to say to Thai ministers, ‘Get out and go to hell!” said PAD supporter Sui, holding an outsize clapper which cost her 60 baht. “It’s very, very fun and you use it very loud.” ■ AFP

Britain’s advertising watchdog has rapped Nepali TV, a satellite channel that asserts to broadcast to 58 countries, for violating the standards code for a recent advertisement that made unsubstantiated health and nutrition claims. Investigators of the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) spotted the recent advertisement related to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), maker of the Horlicks drink. The advertisement asserted on the channel that children who drank Horlicks were ‘taller, stronger, sharper’ than other children. However, ASA said that Nepali TV did not offer any comment during investigations but eventually withdrew the advertisement. PTI

White-powder letters hit more banks Four Chase bank branches in Phoenix and the New York Times headquarters in New York received envelopes containing a suspicious white powder on Wednesday as a wave of threatening U.S. mailings spread. More than 45 threatening letters have been received since Monday at financial institutions in at least 11 states, FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said. “Most of the letters contain a powder substance with a threatening communication,” he said. No harmful substances have yet been identified but more tests are being conducted at regional laboratories, he said. U.S. authorities are always on the alert for such letters after the anthrax threat in 2001. Reuters

Posh poses in sari Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham will delight Indian fans as cover girl for the Vogue India November issue dressed as an Indian bride in a sari. Commenting upon her new image, she said: “I’ve never played safe with my image.” Beckham has been living in Hollywood for the last 18 months with her family and has been working on her fashion ranges. The magazine will hit the stands within a week, reports thesun.co.uk. Meanwhile, David Beckham is set to move from the Los Angeles Galaxy football club to AC Milan in January. IANS

Obama graces lottery tickets in Colombia Barack Obama stands to win not only the White House – according to recent US opinion polls – but also the lottery in Mesa, Colombia, where his face now graces all the lottery tickets in the city. “We picked Obama’s portrait for our lottery because we’re always looking for somebody people are raving about. He’s ahead in (US) opinion polls and right now he’s the most popular guy around here,” Mesa Lottery manager Luis Enciso told AFP. He said Democrat Obama’s picture helped sell more lottery tickets. “We’d never think of using John McCain,” Enciso said referring to Obama’s Republican rival in the November 4 US presidential election. AFP

07

Friday, October 24, 2008

8 peas

This day, that year

On average, there are eight peas in a pod.

Black Thursday got its name on October 24, 1929, when Wall Street investors panicked and ordered their stock brokers to sell all their shares. Nearly 13 million shares traded hands, sending stock prices plummeting. By late afternoon, many stocks recovered, but the stage was set for the stock market crash on October 29, which would start the Great Depression.

The history of perfume F

rom ancient Egyptian ceremonial incense to pungent Mesopotamian ointments and lotions dating back to medieval France, a newly reopened French museum traces perfume’s lesser-known past. “The history of perfume is not only that of the industry linked to fashion or luxury, in which France has become the main player,” said the curator of the International Perfume Museum in Grasse, near Cannes in the south of France. “Since antiquity, perfume has also been at the crossroads of therapeutics, cosmetics, cuisine, even sacred uses,” said MarieChristine Grasse, according to whom the museum offers a unique collection in terms of size and scope. While the picturesque Pro-

From ancient Egyptian ceremonial incense to lotions dating back to medieval France, a newly re-opened French museum traces perfume’s lesserknown past

vence town that hosts the museum is no longer the heart of the perfume industry, officials hope it will now serve as a centre for history on the fragrance industry. After three years of renovations, the museum has been transformed from a dusty collection housed in an 18th century mansion, to a modern exhibition of artefacts spread across new inter-connected buildings. The chronological, interactive and olfactory – sense-driven – tour of perfumery is presented along three themes: seduction, healing and communication. The collection’s centrepiece is an 80-kilogramme ‘travel’ vanity case once owned by Marie-Antoinette, the French queen arguably best remembered for her extravagant tastes. Fashioned out of mahogany and leather, the case is riddled with compartments and drawers containing brushes and gadgets necessary for the young queen’s elaborate beauty regime. The story of perfumery further unravels in rooms devoted to the 19th century advent of the industry, in which Grasse played a major role. The town’s name will be familiar to viewers of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, a film based on a

he world’s first camel milk chocolate, Al Nassma, was officially launched in Dubai on Wednesday. Al Nassma the Arabic word for a cool desert breeze is being viewed as a significant development for the UAE’s camel milk industry as demand from the chocolate manufacturers is set to create a need for more camel milk. “We want to create a brand which has international importance. I believe this product has the power to become the sweet ambassador of Arabia born in Dubai,” Johann George Hochleitner, the man behind the idea, was quoted as saying by Abu Dhabi’s The National. The idea of creat-

novel by German writer Patrick Suskind and following a young perfumier’s search for the ultimate scent. Grasse was a global centre for producing natural extracts from the jasmine, rose and orange blossom plantations on its periphery.

The majority of extracts today come from outside France, but Grasse has maintained a foothold in formulating perfumes and food flavours. Formulations from Grasse, where specialists also come to use the museum’s large research library, account for more than

AFP PHOTOS

half of France’s sales in these industries. Perfume professionals in the region – many of whom are partners in the project – hope the museum will give them a chance to exert a unique influence on the industry’s past and present. ■

Meeting of two stars

Camel milk chocolate debuts T

People look at perfume bottles at the International Perfume Museum.

ing camel milk chocolate dawned on Hochleitner, who is also a member of the company’s board of directors. Hochleitner, who has already created chocolate made out of sheep and goat milk, spent two years, travelling as far as Libya and Kazakhstan, to look for a suitable camel milk producer. His search ended with Dubai’s Camelicious and it took another two years to develop the product line. The chocolate is produced from camel milk powder made from Dubai-based Camelicious, the brand’s only camel milk provider. An Austrian firm, HM Chocolate Holding, has a 50 per cent ownership in Al Nassma. ■ PTI

쒀 Actor-turned director Nandita Das with actress Deepti Naval at the premier of the movie ’Firaaq’ at the South Asian International Film Festival in New York on Wednesday. PTI PHOTO

AFP

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ERGO Friday, October 24, 2008

Technorama ’Ntertainment assured Two new Nseries blowers crowd the multimedia phone bazaar The Nseries portfolio of Nokia’s multimedia phones welcomes two new members this month, making life difficult for those like us who can’t make up their minds on what they like. Both justify inclusion in the family by flaunting impressive features such as 3.5G HSDPA, WiFi, 5-meg snappers with Carl Zeiss optics, FM transmitters, N-gage gaming, geotagging and GPS navigation abilities. While the N79 can be customised using Xpress-on covers, the N85 boasts of a 2.6inch OLED display. Choices choices... TBC, www.nokia.com

Digit-al entertainment!

Scrabble for $20,000 A Scrabble board made with more than 30,000 Swarovski crystals and valued at 20,000 dollars is being auctioned online to mark 60 years of the popular wordbuilding game.

SNIPPETS SOURCED FROM T3 MAGAZINE OF INFOMEDIA 18 LIMITED

Cruise down avenue Q Audi’s new Q5 aims for world domination Surely only the criminally insane would launch a new SUV these days. Audi appear perfectly lucid, though, and the new Q5 is their dastardly masterplan to take the game to BMW’s ubiquitous X5. The Q5 might be an SUV but there’s more emphasis on sport than utility. The prole-frightening front grill sits in front of some serious planet-bothering muscle in the form of either a diesel or petrol engine. Packed full of tech, it’s superbly engineered. Just prepare to be pelted with organic dairy products if you use one on the school run. Top speed: 224kmph, 0-100 kmph in 6.5-seconds. Wheels: 19 inch A climate controlled drinks holder is available as an option, so your beverage of choice remains chilled (or hot) TBC, www.audi.com

Mini-keyboard, Max fun All rise. The ultra-sleek Logitech diNoVo Mini, a palm-sized keyboard with media remote and ClickPad is here. If you are the sorts who liaisons with two hotties - in this case your PC and TV - the highly compact keyboard will make your life easy. It features backlighting and an innovative ClickPad, which can be used as a touch pad to point, scroll and click or as a directional pad to navigate menus and make selections. The minikeyboard uses Bluetooth 2.0 wireless technology for unfettered use from the sofa or anywhere in the living room. Plus, it looks terribly cool. Rs 9,495. www.logitech.co.in

Mr Big screen True to life BenQ E2200HD, the world’s first 21.5inch full HD LCD monitor is making some impressions! It delivers 100% dot-for-dot rendering of full HD content and its Advanced Motion Accelerator creates true-to-life images with reduced visual noise. As for the ’Fun Friday’ in office, you can bank on its ’Senseye +photo’ tech that instantly optimises viewing and the integrated speakers. Fun? Check. Rs 13,500 www.benq.co.in

Have a blast Throw a tune Get Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Go! The USB device uses X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio tech to let you experience ultra realistic gaming with surround sound over headphones and on the go. You don’t even have to tag along a CD as the 1GB memory stores the essential software. An interesting aspect is the built-in VoiceFX technology that allows you to morph your voice! Go on, say it... All Your Base Are Belong to Us! Rs 4,699 in.creative.com, www.soundblaster.com

09

Friday, October 24, 2008

Super car A British team that already holds the world land speed record has planned to build a 1,000-miles-an-hour (1,600 kilometres) car in the next three years. The Bloodhound SSC (supersonic car) will be 13 metres long, six metres wide and be powered by a jet engine and would be faster than a bullet, covering the distance of four football fields in a second.

How much can you store? Holographic discs, the next generation of storage devices, make even Blu-ray seem like child’s play

H

olographic storage offers a way to cram hundreds of movies onto a single DVD-size disc, but the first commercial offering, due out next year, is a high-end archival system that costs tens of thousands of dollars and requires special playback machines. Now researchers at GE Global Research, in Niskayuna, N.Y., say that they are closing in on a mass-market version that would be compatible with older DVDs and CDs – technology that GE says could reach the market in 2012. If the project pans out, consumers could hold vast video libraries on a few holographic discs alongside the regular DVDs in their living room. GE expects an initial version of the holographic disc to hold 300 gigabytes of data, and future versions will hold as much as one terabyte – enough for 40 high-definition movies or 200 standard-definition movies. While the first buyers might be companies seeking simpler ways to ar-

chive their data, GE ultimately wants to target the broader market. “The average consumer will be able to buy a drive in the next three or four years that would have this technology, and they can play everything,” says Brian Lawrence, manager of GE’s Integrated Polymer Systems Lab. Information is stored

Eye candy 쑸 A student of Japan’s Keio University wears a special see-through coat made of movie-screen-like material which a background scene can be “seen” through the coat when a picture is projected onto it. Tokyo University’s Professor Susumu Tachi developed the optical camouflage technology in which the scene behind the coat is captured by a video camera and then projects that scene "virtually" onto the special material coat. AFP PHOTO

on a CD or DVD as a pattern on the disc’s surfaces. Holographic storage involves, instead, encoding data using patterns of light interference within the body of light-sensitive material. This leads to a much higher storage capacity, so holographic storage has the potential to eclipse even today’s leading

high-capacity optical storage format, Blu-ray, which can be used to store 50 gigabytes of data on a single disc. And yet, although several companies are working on holographic storage technology, the only imminent commercial offering is a high-end system from InPhase, of Longmont,

CO, a spinoff of Alcatel and Lucent Technology’s Bell Labs. GE is talking to several electronics companies about creating playback machines, and it wants the technology to fit well with existing discmanufacturing techniques. While the InPhase version sandwiches its special optical recording media inside another type of plastic, the GE discs are made from a polycarbonate that can be processed with conventional manufacturing methods. The material can be melted, injected into a mould, and cooled to form a disc, the same way that today’s optical media are made. InPhase claims to be unconcerned about competition from GE, arguing that each company is targeting a different market segment. “I think that’s a great design goal for GE,” Rancis says. “But for our particular customer base, none of those people have material on DVDs. We are only doing high-end customers.” ■ NYT News Service

Go with Poorvika The multi-brand mobile phone store is going strong with 250 employees in 22 outlets across the city and is eager to expand

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oorvika Mobile World boasts sales of 10 lakh mobile phones within Chennai alone. And why not, when the company is only four years old? The multi-brand mobile phone store offers recharges, servicing, every brand of MP3 and MP4 players, major mobile phone brands such as Nokia, HTC, Samsung, LG and many others while also providing prepaid and post paid mobile networks such as Airtel and Vodafone. So what is the difference between Poorvika and other multibrand sellers? N. Yuvraj, managing director of Poorvika says that customer care is their strongest point. “When a customer enters the showroom, we take full care of them. They just have to tell us what they want, and we keep the

promise.” In fact, Poorvika’s website (www.poorvika.com) is a testament to that, where a customer only has to choose what kind of phone he or she wants, for example, a business phone, and the comparative rates for each brand are stated in a grid format. “We will be launching a revamped version of the existing module, and this time introducing online billing where we promise to give the best price for a product.” While Poorvika is going strong with 250 employees in 22 outlets across the city, they are eager to expand. In another three months, one can expect to see 35 outlets and their aim is to make Poorvika a multi-brand mobile phone store to reckon with.■

N. Yuvraj, managing director, Poorvika

10

ERGO Friday, October 24, 2008

BackPackers

On nature’s trail GETTING LOST IN SHARAVATI BACKWATERS RAMESHA JS

A

few days at the Nisarga Dhama (nature cottage) on the bank of the Sharavati River can be the perfect getaway from the busy city-life. Cottages, tents, neatly-cut logs as dining tables transform you to a whole new world and you are bound to fall in love with the place. A 360-km drive on NH206 from Bangalore takes you to Sagar, before you have to board another bus for a 22 km drive to your final destination, Nittur. The road ends abruptly at Hikkanamakki and River Sharavathi back water welcomes you. (This is the Sharavati River backwater which after some 25 km further crosses the Linganamakki Reservoir and creates the world famous Jog Falls). The state government runs a barge service to cross the river and after a 20 minute ride you are back on land and the journey continues to Nittur. After hours of tiring journey you at last reach Nisarga Dhama in early evening. After a short nap we are back on our feat and after aimlessly wondering around, soaking in the beauty of the place, we are at the dinner table, gorging on the jackfruit bhajji, sambhar and rice. The temperature drops down a few notches at nightfall and you are left with no other option but to retreat behind the safety of your quilts. After an early breakfast we are ready to hit the road and troop towards the Hidlumane Falls. It is on the Kodachadri hills on Hosanagara – Kollur main road. Our hosts had arranged for a jeep for six of us and after ranting through a few treacherous miles we reach the rest house at Hidlumane. From there you have to walk to the falls which falls on

the trekking route to Kodachadri hills. Passing through the green paddy fields, sugar canes we entered a dense forest, our guide warning us to keep an eye for leeches. Armed with a handful of salt we continued to trek forward, a sense of adventure filling our mind. But slowly our enthusiasm slackened as the going got tough. The leeches came from everywhere and the slippery and muddy trail made it difficult to keep your footing. But at last we succeeded and it was worth all the trouble. The waterfall cascades down the mountain slope forming a pool 80 feet below. The sprinklers hit you hard as if small stones are being thrown at you. After a while it was time to return and the way back was even more horrible as we slipped and rolled down. By noon we were back at Nisarga Dhama for our lunch. Evening came in quickly and it was time for us to bid adieu to our gracious hosts and grudgingly trudge back to our very own “concrete jungle”. ■ The author is a network engineer with Wipro Infotech

Main Highlights Beautiful Bamboo Hut, Trekkers Tent varying according to your need and number of people

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Activities Bird Watching, Water Sports, Camp Fire, Cultural programs

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Few places to see Kukkana Gudda, Barkana Falls, Dabbe Falls, Hulibai Halla, Jog Falls, Hidlumane Falls

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11

Mystic T PONDICHERRY

KYLE JARRARD

Learning yoga at the former French colony

he first sound in the morning is crows, right at five. Then we hear waves off the Bay of Bengal slapping the shore. In the garden, a man meditates while walking quickly over the lawn of the ashram guesthouse in the dark. Along the shore, other men pace the beach in the silver jetty light. Fishing boat lanterns like stars ride the black sea south to north. My wife and I have come to Pondicherry in southeast India mostly for the yoga. The classes used to be held in one of the many parcels of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram scattered across the colonial city. But for this retreat, there’s a new venue, and to get there you have to be on Ajit Sarkar’s bus by 5:45 a.m. There are 20 or so of us, nearly all from France. Ajit, in his 70s now, grew up in this famous ashram with his parents, who went into the retreat founded and inspired by the yogi and guru Sri Aurobindo and his vision of universal consciousness and peace. In this idyllic world, Ajit learned everything from ballet to

track to gymnastics, but especially yoga, a skill he has taught with acclaim for decades both in India and in France. His official retirement since 2003 is a fiction of contentment. It’s the school he’s building that keeps him going, in addition to being in top form himself. We, the chosen students, by contrast, can barely see straight in the shadowy dawn as the bus heads off through Pondicherry. For the first few blocks the streets have French names: Rue Dumas, Rue Suffren, Rue Romain Rolland. Then we leave town and head south over fetid canals and clogged streams, through trashheaped neighbourhoods thumping with all-night Hindu festival music while men in dhotis stand around sipping tea out of plastic goblets. Imagine going to a school named White Lotus. It’s not yet entirely finished but is supposed to be by January. Nearly every villager in Cinna Kattupalayam lines the road to greet our bus with cries of hello and bonjour. On a Monday morning, the children are beside themselves at the prospect of going to school. There are enough smiles for a

thousand mornings. We take our yoga classes on the roof of the new school, under a tall, thatched structure with open sides. Most of the people in the assembly know their hatha-style yoga; others stumble a lot – but soon everyone gets into the flow, despite the great sensual distractions: banana groves to the north wavering in the gold sunlight; rice paddies to the east where a few dozen women bend weeding at daybreak; thick coconut trees to the west that invite the eye to enter and roam; and to the south, the village, overlain with teak, drumstick and casuarina trees, where cooking-fire smoke rises and every dog yaps at everything. There’s a blessed break around nine to boat a mile or so down a green stream, which takes us to the sea for an hour’s swim in view of a towering blue Hindu temple. By the time we return, school classes are under way, and the air rings with voices of children shouting out their ABCs. The young Tamil teachers in dazzling saris instruct the little ones to greet the visitors as we fill the classroom doors and windows. ■ NYT News Service

PHOTO: SHAJU JOHN

Friday, October 24, 2008

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ERGO Friday, October 24, 2008

Portfolio Narendra Kumar

Shantanu & Nikhil Manish Arora with models at the end of the ’Circus’ show

Tarun Tahiliani for Levi’s

Madhu Sapre in a Payal Jain, creation

Falguni & Shane Peacock

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Friday, October 24, 2008

BULLETIN ‘Vest’ed interest Kangana Ranaut, Priyanka Chopra and Madhu Godse for Narendra Kumar

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he might have been on several ‘Worst Dressed Celebrity’ lists, but Britney Spears seems to have sparked a new fashion trend following the release of the latest ‘Womanizer’ video, reported to have attracted over seven million hits within the first 48 hours of its release. And basking in the attention is Syren Latex Couture. The cropped vest that Britney wears during her role as a seductive waitress, along with the Muir cap that she sports while playing a chauffer, is an instant hit. The album Circus, of which ‘Womanizer’ is the first single, will release on December 2, Britney’s 27th birthday.

Art in a handbag A

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fter all the hullabaloo, chaos and controversies, the Spring/ Summer 2009 editions of India’s fashion weeks are done with. We bring to you some snapshots – from Narendra Kumar’s bandaged men at Lakme Fashion Week to showstoppers from Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion walking the ramp for Narendra Verma, to Manish Arora’s ‘Circus’ at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, it’s all here. While Tarun Tahiliani for Levi’s changed the way denims are worn, ‘Shotgun’ Shatrughan Sinha’s daughter, Sonakshi, made her ramp debut. The ramps, certainly, had their festivities, too.■

Shatrughan Sinha’s daughter, Sonakshi, at the Lakme Fashion Week

mobile art exhibition inspired by the iconic quilted leather Chanel bag ‘2.55’ created in 1955 by Coco Chanel opens today in New York’s Central Park. Fifteen artists have been inspired to contribute to the exhibition set up in a glass fibre mobile gallery resembling a spaceship and designed by Iraqi-born British architect Zaha Hadid. Meandering through the pavilion, visitors discover installations by artistes from around the world, even though few share much with the signature handbag with its gold chain. The inspiration for the exhibition is only obvious in one of the pieces – a giant version of the open bag lying on its side. Coco Chanel, who died in 1971, “worked with artistes like (Jean) Cocteau or (Pablo) Picasso, and this pavilion continues this tradition,” said a spokesman for Chanel and its artistic director, Karl Lagerfeld. Shaped like a large white snail, the structure ends with a giant Chanel bag and a ‘wishtree’ by Yoko Ono, the widow of former Beatle John Lennon, where a wish can be written and hung on a branch. Central Park marks the third stop of a two-year global tour for Chanel Mobile Art that began on February 27 in Hong Kong. It will head to London and Moscow next year before ending in Paris in 2010. ■ AFP

Ergo Correspondent

Lohan’s leggings L

Malini Ramani

indsay Lohan sure knows how to create a scene. More than 300 fans recently packed Henri Bendel in New York City during the launch of the 22-year-old actress’s new line of leggings, 6126, and snapped up several hundred pairs of the leggings in the process. “This is crazy, I’m so happy so many people came,” Lohan said, looking out the front window at another 200 fans gathered on the sidewalk. “I hope they buy some leggings.” With her little sister, Ali, and mom, Dina, in tow, Lohan’s security guards stood by to keep onlookers at a distance. Lohan said she hopes eventually to launch a full sportswear collection, but most likely will start with “amazing tops to wear with the leggings.” Decked out in a Rick Owens dress, 6126 leggings and Yves Saint Laurent heels, she said Alexander Wang is one of her favourite young designers. “I wanted to go to his show so bad, but his publicist said they weren’t allowing any celebrities to attend,” she said. “So I said, ‘Consider me a normal person then!’ But they wouldn’t.” ■ NYT News Service

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ERGO Friday, October 24, 2008

Aerobics good for brain

Wellness

Regular aerobic exercise can not only stave off the decline in brain function that often comes with age, it can also help turn back the clock on brain aging. Reuters

Intense yet relaxed SADHGURU JAGGI VASUDEV he most wonderful things in the world have happened when man is relaxed, not when man is driving himself to madness. The most wonderful scientific discoveries also happened when man is relaxed. Somebody like Isaac Newton worked for 18 years in the laboratory without producing anything. One day, fed up with work, he goes and sits under a tree; an apple falls, there you have the laws of gravity. Somebody fed up with work wants to have a bath, goes and gets into his bath tub and the water over flows; there you have the laws of floatation. Somebody once again fed up with work wants to have a cup of coffee, the coffee kettle is boiling, there, you have the locomotives. The most wonderful things have happened when man is relaxed. Please see, in moments of relaxation, you are most intelligent. Why we are talking about effortless living is just this – to bring relaxation to every activity that you perform. Right now if I ask people to relax they will become lax. You know the difference? Or if I ask people to be intense they become tense. You have to learn to be intense and relaxed. If you can maintain your intensity and

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relaxation together, all your potential will be always used to its fullest. Your physical and mental potential can be used to this highest possibility, if you know how to be intense and relaxed at the same time. But this tension and laxity will not get us anywhere. Relaxation for certain people especially means going and sleeping. They don’t see that they can go to the garden, have a walk and relax themselves; they don’t see they can have a swim and relax themselves. It need not be so, you can relax in your study; you can relax in your work; you can relax in your walk . . . In everything that you do, you can relax. If you have love in your heart, life is relaxation. If you love what you’re doing, it’s relaxation. Yoga is to be in that state where you are Intense and relaxed at the same time and that is when you are at your peak performance.■

If you can maintain your intensity and relaxation together, all your potential will be always used to its fullest.

Mobile phones can fry up men’s fertility

Speedy eaters likelier to get fat

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en should stay miles away from mobile phones if they don’t want to screw up their plans of fathering a child, for a new research has shown that males who talk for hours on cellphones may damage their sperm. An experiment on semen revealed evidence of DNA damage after 16 hours of exposure to radiation similar to the output of a mobile phone. To reach the conclusion, researchers at the University of Newcastle built a device to irradiate sperm at the same radio frequency as mobile telephone calls. Professor John Aitken, director of the university’s Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development, said they were able to accurately identify high levels of DNA fragmentation in the sperm. . DNA damage in spermatozoa has been associated with decreased fertility, increased risk of miscarriage and various kinds of disease in offspring, including childhood cancer, and a number of neurological disorders such as autism, bipolar disorder and spontaneous schizophrenia.

eople who eat quickly until full are three times more likely to be overweight, a problem exacerbated by the availability of fast food and the decline of orderly dining habits, Japanese researchers said on Wednesday. The findings, published in the British Medical Journal, highlight how eating styles, and not just what or how much is eaten, can contribute to an obesity epidemic fueled by the spread of Western-style affluence in many parts of the world.

ANI

Reuters

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Friday, October 24, 2008

Boy or girl

Western diet may cause heart attack

Overweight women are more likely to have baby girls after IVF treatment, according to a new research. The study also found that mums with normal weight are more likely to have boys after the treatment.

The typical Western diet, which includes red meat, fried foods, dairy products and salty snacks, is responsible for 30 per cent of the world’s heart attacks.

Shed those extra pounds The miraculous anti-ageing-weight loss diet revealed

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ant to shed those extra pounds and look 10 years younger? Well, guess what, your desire has just been fulfilled, all thanks to a British nutritionist and his ultimate diet. Brainchild of nutritionist Carina Norris, the ultimate anti-ageing diet will not only help you shift 10lbs but will also take10 years off your face without using any of those anti-ageing lotions. “Food is a great way to ward off wrinkles and boost energy levels. If you choose wisely, your weekly shopping cart will be full of effective anti-ageing components, that help you boost your health and keep you slim,” The Mirror quoted Norris as saying. The anti-ageing diet suggests:

Tuck into oily fish

other liquid-facelifts like soy milk that is helpful in speeding up the production of collagen - the building bricks of skin.

Get a fruity facelift Gorge on fruits if you want to look younger. The best anti-ageing fruit is kiwi fruit - one of the richest sources of vitamin C, which is fantastic for skin because it helps build collagen and mops up ageing toxins. Also recommended are Avocados, as they are jam-packed with vitamins A and E, which are very effective at fighting wrinkles. One can even add a portion of berries every day, as they’re full of antioxidants called phytochemicals. Lastly, try some prunes and raisins.

New York skin doctor Dr Nicholas Perricone, the diet guru of Hollywood stars including Kim Cattrall and Heidi Klum, encourages his patients to eat plenty of oily fish because the essential fats found in them provide skin-loving antioxidants and mop up the free radicals that can cause wrinkles and prematurely aged skin. The best sources of this essential fatty acid include salmon, mackerel, fresh tuna steaks and sardines. The high protein content of oily fish also helps keep skin firm - and has the added bonus of keeping you slim.

Skin-loving carbs

Drink up

Age-busting superfoods

Water has been named as the biggest anti-ageing component. Essential for good health and good looks, water plumps up the skin and flushes out the toxins that cause a dull complexion and wrinkles. And dieticians claim room temperature water is best, but there are plenty of

Get your daily dose of Carbohydrates for getting that younger looking skin. Porridge oats are a great way to start the day and look younger. Oats contain high levels of a mineral called silicic acid that plumps up the cells in skin, creating a youthful bounce. It also slows down the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Multigrain bread, full of selenium, instead of white bread may act as a saviour preserving the elasticity in your skin.

Almonds They’re packed full of omega-3 fats and protein, which help skin repair itself. Plus they’re a great source of vitamin E, which studies show can prevent wrinkles. Have a

small handful every afternoon. Olive oil Scientists found that people living in hot countries with fewer wrinkles all had high intakes of olive oil. Swap vegetable oil for olive oil, or drizzle it cold on salads Adzuki beans These are a great source of zinc, a mineral that helps your skin repair itself. Studies show zinc can also help with acne. Buy them canned from the supermarket and add them to salads and stir-fries. Apricots They’re full of lutein, an antioxidant that helps fight off the ageing effects of the sun. Snack on them between meals, or slice them fresh on your porridge. Spinach Like apricots, spinach is also a fantastic source of lutein, which wards off sun damage and ageing sunspots. Add a handful to a stir-fry or use in place of lettuce in salads. Tomatoes Their magic ingredient is lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. As well as reducing the risk of certain cancers, lycopene also protects the skin against sun damage and keeps it looking younger. Slice them up in your food or add them to salads. Broccoli It’s great for fighting free radicals in the body. Free radicals are harmful substances found in the environment, such as pollution, which age us. Anything that mops up free radicals, like broccoli, is great at keeping skin young. Chop them up and add to stir fries and curries. Red wine It boosts circulation to the skin, plus it’s full of antioxidants. Enjoy a small glass of red wine a few nights a week. ANI

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ERGO Friday, October 24, 2008

Sport

Australian venue named after Rafter Brisbane’s new 82 million Australian dollar tennis centre has been named after two-time US Open champion Pat Rafter. The 5,500-seat Rafter Arena, officially named on Thursday, will open in January, hosting the Brisbane International men’s and women’s hard-court championships on January 4 in the lead up to the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Maradona backed as new Argentina coach Diego Maradona has won crucial support in his bid to become the next Argentina coach when the man charged with finding Alfio Basile’s successor threw his weight behind the World Cup winning skipper. “I’d like Maradona to be the next coach,” Noray Nakis, the president of the Argentina Football Association (AFA) selection commission said on Wednesday. Basile resigned last week after a World Cup qualifying defeat to Chile. Maradona faces competition for the job from Carlos Bianchi, the former coach of Boca Juniors, whom he led to four national league titles, San Lorenzo coach Miguel Angel Russo and Sergio Batista who took the under-23 squad to Olympic gold in Beijing in August. Despite his national popularity, Maradona admitted on Tuesday that his chances of taking over from Basile were slim “because Bianchi is in the lead of all the surveys”. AFP

Easy win for Bopanna-Mirnyi The combination of Rohan Bopanna and his new partner Max Mirnyi proved lethal as they accounted for the third seeded Mikhail Youzhny and Mischa Zverev in the opening round of the USD 1,049,000 St Petersburg Open. Indian Davis Cupper Bopanna and Belarusian Mirnyi took exactly one hour to script the ouster of Russian-German pair 6-3, 6-4 to move to the quarterfinals of the hard court event. The un-seeded Indo-Belarusian pair dropped their serve twice in the first set but compensated by breaking their rivals as many times to take lead. They then denied their rivals the one and only conversion chance in the second set and broke their rivals on the first opportunity in hand to move to the next level. They will fight it out with Russian pair of Igor Kunitsyn and Marat Safin for a place in the semi-finals. PTI

Paes-Dlouhy sneak into quarterfinal Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy survived a scare before beating Jurgen Melzer and Todd Perry in the first round of the Euro 891,000 Swiss Indoor ATP tournament. The third seeded Indo-Czech pair shrugged off the initial hiccups to beat the un-seeded Autrian-Australian pair 2-6, 6-3, 10-6 in one hour and nine minutes to advance to the quarterfinals of the hard court event. The winners saved one breakpoint in the first set but dropped their serve twice to hand the first set to their rivals. They had enough chances to draw parity in the second set but could convert just one of the five breakpoints. However that was enough to claw their way back into the match. The experienced duo then had no trouble in winning the decisive super tie-breaker to seal the issue in their favour. They next face German pair of Christopher Kas and Philipp Kohlschreiber in the next round. The second-seeded pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Bahamian Mark Knowles will open their campaign against Spanish pair of Feliciano Lopezand Marcel Granollers.

m o r f s d r o w g n i t r o f Com

e n r a W

ANIC P O T T O N TEAM S L L E T D N E AUSSIE LEG

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egendary Australian spinner Shane Warne has challenged the beleaguered Ricky Ponting-led team to standup and show that they were made of champions’ stuff by tactically fighting out the blues against India. “When the chips are down and you are challenged as a group and as individuals, the great players and the champions stand up. This is how you separate and define the good teams and individuals from the great,” Warne said. “Mohali’s gone, deal with it. Say well played and carry yourself well, hold your head high. But deep down use it as motivation and keep that hunger that’s inside alive,” he was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph. Warne, however, agreed it was difficult to beat India in India “even with the best of teams” besides the atmosphere was suffocating with fans and media crowding from every quarter. “This is where experience and calm heads rise to the top, and Ponting and (Michael) Clarke as leaders will become crucial, sitting around over a glass and chewing the fat with the team and coming up with some new plans. Talking tactics as a group is important,” he said. “Be the man to drag the team along and in the right direction, be prepared for whatever the opposition throws at you, fight and never give up, don’t be afraid and start thinking negatives and what ifs,” he added. Warne, who proved his captaincy skills in the inaugural IPL season by leading a bunch of dark horses to the title victory, said there was no need to write off any youngsters. “No need to sharpen the guillotine or write off any players just yet. Sure, India have had the wood on Australia in their last four Tests in Perth, Adelaide, Bangalore and now Mohali. The scoreline reads: India 2 wins, Australia 0, draws 2. Not great, but no need to panic,” he said. ■ PTI

PTI PHOTO: K. PICHUMANI

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Friday, October 24, 2008

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It’s (Brazilian GP) the last one, and I’m looking forward to the end of the season, as it’s been a long year. Interlagos is a good circuit, I really like it. Hopefully, we’ll have a better end to the season than last year, when I had a problem and had to retire. I really want to finish the race without any problems. Force India driver Adrian Sutil

PHOTO: AFP

Basel’s Ivan Ergic (right) vies for the ball with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, during their Group C Champions League football match at St. JakobPark Stadiu in Basel . PHOTO: AFP

CHELSEA, INTER WIN, BUT LIVERPOOL HELD

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helsea, Inter Milan and Barcelona won to stay on course for the knockout stages though 2005 winners Liverpool only drew at Atletico Madrid in a subdued night of Champions League action. Following Tuesday’s 36-goal spree, Wednesday’s eight matches offered less in that area with only Barcelona’s 5-0 thrashing of Basel in Switzerland of note in the goal-scoring stakes. Chelsea’s 1-0 home victory over AS Roma kept them well on course at the top of Group A, Inter Milan thanked Brazilian Adriano for their 1-0 win over Cypriots Anorthosis leaving them as pacesetters in Group B, while Barcelona topped Group C. Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari believed his side were in good form before the return match against AS Roma in November. “Roma need to pressure us to try to win more than they did on Wednesday, maybe there we will have more space to play,” Scolari said. “We only have one more Champions League game at home so this was a very important victory.” England skipper John Terry, who got the 77th minute goal, added, “They made it very difficult for us the whole game but thankfully we got the goal and picked up three points. They are a very good side; they have got some great players in their team and made it difficult for us. They worked very hard all night and maybe they deserved something but thankfully we got three points. I think in the first half we got a little bit frustrated and were maybe too keen to get a goal. We had to be patient and wait for a chance because sooner or later it will come.” Terry said of his goal, “I think it was my first goal at the Bridge for a couple of years now, so I’m delighted to get off the mark. I got a bit of cramp so I couldn’t celebrate but I am pleased we get the three points.”

Great start Teen sensation Bojan Krkic scored twice as Barcelona cruised past Basel to keep their 100-percent record. Goals from star Argentinian striker Lionel Messi, Sergi Busquets, two from Krkic and a fifth from Xavi Hernandez brought Barcelona up to an impressive 10 goals from their three victories. Italian champions Inter Milan were made to battle all the way by a spirited Anorthosis Famagusta at the San Siro. Adriano scored the winner late on in the first half to put Inter in control of the group with seven points from three games. Adriano had suffered from depression and a loss of form last season and was eventually loaned out to Sao Paulo but he has come back to form this season, looking leaner and more focused. ■ AFP

BARCA MAUL BASEL

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ERGO Friday, October 24, 2008

Big B unplugged

Flick

Catch all about the Shahensha-Badshah of Bollywood this Diwali; October 27-28 at 8.30 p.m. on Zoom. Amitabh Bachchan talks about his rise, decline and rise on ‘Bollywood Case Files’.

We do not have any clash of the titans like we witnessed last Diwali (Remember Om Shanti Om and Saawariya battling it out in Hindi, beside a number of Tamil releases). But we never know what some of these mid-budget movies have in store

Now showing

Barking dogs never bite Film: Roadside Romeo Director: Jugal Hansraj Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Jaaved Jaaferi Genre: Animation So, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor are made for each other. After Tashan, which failed at the box-office, the pair is back, though you won’t see them. Saif gives voiceover for a dog (Romeo). But there is lot more to expect of the film. Jugal Hansraj (the child artiste who later came to fame with Mohabbatein) makes his debut as director. Also, it is the first animated film that is an Indo-US co-production of Yash Raj Films and Walt Disney Pictures. This is the story of Romeo, a dude who was living the life. Until one day, when the family he was the favourite pet of decides to move and leave him behind – abandoned on the mean streets of Mumbai.

We are a family Film: Heroes Director: Samir Karnik Cast: Salman Khan, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Preity Zinta, Sohail Khan, Amrita Arora, Dino Morea, Riya Sen Genre: Patriotic Too many cooks spoil the broth. Hope this proverb does not holds true for Heroes, as the film is an attempt to bring out the new-age definition of patriotism. The film revolves around two men who travel a thousand miles on a journey that reveals to them a new meaning of life. Hope this proves lucky for Salman, this time at least.

Bold and beautiful Film: Seval Director: Hari Cast: Bharath, Poonam, Simran Realistic, bold, yet violent films have become the latest fad in Tamil cinema, especially after the success of Paruthiveeran and Subramaniapuram. From the trailers it looks like Seval is another film in the same genre. Watch out for G.V. Prakash’s music and Simran’s comeback (as heroine?).

Comeback pair Film: Aegan Director: Raju Sundaram Cast: Ajith, Nayantara, Suhasini Mani Ratnam, Nasser Less than a year after Ajith and Nayantara sizzled in the song ‘My Name is Billa’ from Billa, the pair will hope luck once again smiles upon them. And with Raju Sundaram making his debut as director, we sure can expect some great choreography at least. We also hear that Aegan is a remake of Main Hoon Na.

Thirakkatha (Malayalam) If you have been longing to catch a Malayalam film, Ranjith’s Thirakkatha is among the better of the films playing in theatres. The Prithviraj and Priyamani-starrer is a romantic film, which has celebrity marriage, divorce and other mysteries.

Body of Lies (English) This American thriller is based on Washington Post columnist David Ignatius’s 2007 novel about a CIA operative who uncovers a lead on a major terrorist leader suspected to be operating out of Jordan. With Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe the film is worth a watch, we hear.

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Friday, October 24, 2008

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To refuse awards is another way of accepting them with more noise than is normal. Peter Ustinov

Charlize Theron wins the Decolletage Award for her sultry shoulders

Aishwarya Rai – Miss Sexiest Eyes

Scarlett Johansson – Miss Best Breasts

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Eva Mendes – Miss Lovely Locks ishwarya Rai, known as the world’s most beautiful woman, has now walked away with another coveted title of having the ‘sexiest eyes’ in US TV E!’s Sexiest Body Parts List. Aishwarya’s dazzling eyes have been voted the sultriest, beating the likes of Hollywood superstars Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson. Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen walked away with the sexiest legs award. Monster star Charlize Theron took away E!’s decolletage award with her sultry shoulders. Eva Mendes lovely locks were voted the sexiest, reports News.com.au Taiwanese actress Shu Qi trounced Angelina Jolie for having the sexiest lips.

Pearl Harbour star Jennifer Garner’s sweet smile emerged victorious among Rachel McAdams and Sienna Miller. Scarlett Johansson has been voted the female celebrity with the best breasts. Among males, Mario Lopez won for best male dimples while, rapper LL Cool J walked away with the sexiest lips. Atonement star James McAvoy beat Johnny Depp with the sexiest male hair. Irish actor Jonathan RhysMyers won best male eyes award. Matthew McConaughey topped the list of the sexist chest, while Usher was named as having the best male washboard abs in E!’s Sexiest List. ANI

Shu Qi beat Angelina Jolie to bag the Sexiest Lips award

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ERGO Friday, October 24, 2008

Thursday’s Question: What are the two things that you hate about rainy days? ■ First thing is the damn filthy roads without proper drainage where its too hard to pass by and the second thing is going to office while its announced as a holiday for all schools and colleges

Manivannan P :-) CGSL

■ Wearing a rain coat and not dancing in the rain

Suresh Kumar CGSL

■ 1. News which we hear often, during rainy season people fell into dig unknowingly. Sometimes it leads 2 fatal deaths. 2. some of the car drivers make harsh drive in the water stagnated areas which splash rainy water over the ppl who walks aside of the road

Senthil Nathan, CGSL

■ In rainy days not announcing holiday to office, like schools and college. I manage to wear socks for a month without washing, but when it get smells bad after getting wet due to rain

Praveen, CGSL

■ The two things that I hate most is those drivers who get jealous on my personality at rainy days & those girls who don’t accept to come under my umbrella even at heavy rainy days.

S.Karu (CGSL)

■ The most hated are power cuts and travelling by auto as for bargaining for a best fare on a rainy day.

Noor, Wipro

■ Expecting to be on time to office when u have to almost swim all the way. Get locked up at home on weekendswatching rain drops and TV alternatively.

Dominic Xavier. CGSL

■Chennai roadways and Office AC Machines

■ Two things I hate are Water stagnation and water entering into slum areas which affects people life badly Sundar Narayan, Polaris

■ In Rainy Days, There will be "No power supply" and if power is available "Dish TV with No Signal" & Plan for Internet Browsing "Unable to connect" & Plan to call customer care "Phone not Working" due cable cut because of Rain... Etc…

Magesh, Polaris

■ Getting up early in the morning. Walking in rain water

Divya Moorthy, TCS

■ Going to work by public transport, inspite of holding an umbrella and getting wet

Praveen Kumar, Allsec Tech

■ I dont like morning shift (6am), formal wear

Maheswar, TCS

■ Damaged roads and improper drainpipe or outlet system co-operates with each other causing accidents risking precious life

Duraisamy

■ While in the rainy days we can’t wet our clothes and we cant roam with friends

Vasanth Kumar.K , Wipro Solinganalur.

■ ■ Coming to office. Carrying extra gadgets like umbrella and rain coats......where ever we go

Joe, TCS

■ Slushy roads. And of course going to work

Divya, HCL Technologies

■ To get up from bed in the morning. Going to office

Sangeetha – CSS

■ Water logged roads and cancel of local train

Sundeep, HCL Tech

■ Messy puddles. Wet newspaper delivered to the house. Other than this I love everything about rainy days

Shruthi, TCS

Jagan ALLSEC

■ Valuable things like mobile, money will get wet when I drench in rain

Krish, Wipro

■ I hate umbrellas & the persons who hate rains. Senthil Kumaran Sankaran, CGSL ■ Mosquitoes, hot sun in winter, Traffic and Transportation, Flood

Vinubalachandar of Infosys has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. This photo was taken at Munnar.

■ I hate poor drainage system which we have in our town and waste model MTC buses which will get stuck even for little rain

Harini of Zylog systems has nominated her team mates as Partners in Crime. They clicked this pic on their office trip to Kodaikanal.

Dhananjayan, Scope International

■ One is going to office. The second one is also going to office

Sridher, miva, Perot Systems

■Flooded roads and cold lunch (packed)

Priya, Mani, Vijay. CGSL

■ The first thing I hate is that the vehicles splashing out the water on us when we are neatly dressed up and next is I hate long hour power cuts

Satish Ramco Systems

■ Work, and Getting up early in the morning

Bhargavi, Perot Systems

■Office during rainy days, while school goers get leave

Shiva

■ Getting up early in the Morning and Returning from company when its raining.

Rajasekar, TCS, Siruseri

Rajan K S, Andhra Bank-DRC

Today’s Question: What would you say if you are caught sleeping at your desk? Henceforth, only SMSes with names of senders will be accepted, for the purpose of crossverification. Moreover, readers are requested to refrain from sending obscene and objectionable messages.

Saravanan S. of HCL Comnet, Chennai, has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. This Picture was taken in Mayajal.

21

Friday, October 24, 2008

Hi Ergo.... Thank you for publishing our article in the office angel and greetings column. We wanted to give a surprise to our friendly TL for his bday and ERGO came in as our first choice.... we sent our article very late and weren’t sure if it would be published. Thanks a lot. And yeah, our TL had wishes and mails flowing in from his other IT company friends after they read ERGO. THANK YOU ERGO .. KEEP IT GOING Lakshmi n Sharmila Ramco systems.

■ Dear Manjusha, “Our Heartfelt Birthday wishes to You . May this Birthday be just the beginning of a year filled with Happy memories, Wonderful Moments and Shining Dreams” With loads of love and best wishes, Your Team Mates, Satyam Computer Services Limited.

■ Dear Kitcha-The Scorpian, May god give you for every storm a rainbow, for every tear a smile, for every care a promise, and a blessing in each trial for every problem life sends, A faithful friend to share, for every sigh,a sweet song and an answer for each prayer. May your day be blessed as special as "YOU"!!!

Hearty Birthday wishes from: Sabari,Arafat,Prabha,Ramesh & Hari.

■ Dear Karpagam and Vijay (ABN Amro), Wishing you both a very very HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. May the Almighty shower his choicest blessing on you on this special day and forever.

Best wishes, Rohini, Sandhya, Ramji, Pushparaj and BCOE Team (Hexaware Technologies)

■ Liebe Indhu, Wish you many more happy returns of the day. May this year bring you a lot of happiness and joy. God Bless You dear. :-)

Ramkumar K of Changepond Technologies Ltd. doodled this.

Love, Sudha A, Tata Consultancy Services

■ Dear Gomathi...Chellam Every Little Smile Can touch Sombody’s Heart. May U Find Hundreds of resons to Smile today and May U be the reason for someone else to smile always!!!! have a Fun filled birthday and let all Your Dreams Come true on This Day 24.10.2008. Birthday Wishes From

Your husband Kalainathan.P Sundaram Business Services Ltd.

■ Dear Mercy (a) Thoongamunji, Let today at least be a wake up day for you!! Be awake and enjoy ur bday!! Happy birthday mercy!! No fighting for the cake!! On your birthday we wish you much pleasure and joy; We hope all of your wishes come true. May each hour and minute be filled with delight, And your birthday be perfect for you!

Regards, PLAN TEAM, SATYAM COMPUTERS!!

■ Hi Sat & Sway, Happy Anniversary!!! May God bless you both & your kid with Health, Wealth and Happiness. May your Anniversary grow happier by every minute and give you reasons to smile all year through.

Best wishes from, Suresh & Sudha. MphasiS

■ Dear Duddy Dumpy Kanth, Finally Yo’ Day Arrived. Its Time 2 Cherish. Its Yo’ Time 2 take "Bath". It’s Time 2 Party. Wish u a Many More Happy Returns of the Day Kanth, Happy Birthday...

1. Rendu balli sevuthula irunthathu oru balli keela vilunthiruchi konja nerathula rendavathu balliyum vilunthiruchi Why??? Why???? Yena antha balli keela vilantha balliya paarthu kai thattichi athanala keela vilundhiruchi, a a a!!!! 2. Yendha paravai mutta podathu??????? Yosinga... Simple, athu Aan paravai a, a, a....... M. Devendiran and TrTc 2 shift Caliber Point Business Solutions Ltd.

Luv, Marieswari, Infy & Ramkumar, Changepond (PS: Requesting the Accenture Guys to Give him Birthday Bumps... )

■ Hi Navin (Engal Surya)! ;) Wish you the best birthday you’ve ever had in ages (ALL the ages you’ve been on earth! Lol! ) together Advance Yappy Burthday!

With loadsa runs, wickets and stumpings J The Soooper 8’s Cricket Team ;)HCL

■ Hi Smriti Subramanian, My Advanced Birthday wishes for the special

person (Birthday is on 26th October), its true that I have never seen such a traditional girl in my life. May you have all the joy your heart can hold, All the smiles a day can bring, All the blessings a life can unfold. You must get all the God’s best in everything. Special Thanks to Articulation skill contact program and our Food Court. Wishes, Ganesh Prabhu, Infosys MCity

■ Dear Suji and Prakash/JP, Wish u a very Happy Birthday.. Have a splendid year ahead and have loads of fun.

Best wishes, Rohini, Raffie, Griffi, Satyam Computers

■ Hi Radha Krishnan, Advance "HAPPY BIRHTDAY". Wish you many more happy returns of the day. Wish your all dreams come true on your birthday.

Birthday wishes from Kannan.U, Perot systems. Shankar Ganesh, HP, Tamil selvi, Bhargavi, Wipro.

■ Dear Chander (Regulatory Affairs ), Advanced Birthday wishes (26th OCT). We are wishing you another year of joy, love and happiness on this special day.

Friends from ACTAVIS PHARMA, Thiruporur.

■ Dear Rambabu, We wish you a many more happy returns of the day. We hope all of your wishes come true. May God bless you and your family with Happiness ,Wealth and Health.

Best Wishes From, Container Centrallen team, TCS

■ Happy Diwali to all Wiproites,

Lukeson D, Wipro Ltd

■ Dear Fathima Sorry for the belated wishes!!!! A very happy birthday to you don’t think that we forgot u..we are always there for u da! Have a delightful year ahead! Happy diwali too… Always caring from heart Jaya,Raj,Dhanda, Thirdware ■ Dear Ganesh (MAMA), Wish you a happy birthday. May the year ahead bring more success and laurels to you. God bless you. Best wishes from SANGAM, HCL-Chennai

■ Hi Sangeetha, Wish you a Very Happy B day. May have a colourful and cheerful day. Also try doing some work for our team atleast today :)

With warm regards, Collections MIS Team.

■ Dear Deepan, Wine refines with age. We wish this applies to you too :-) So, don’t get worried that your age is raised by 1. May you be showered with blessings and god’s good creations in this world. Happppy Birthday.

Cheers,CAT Mfgpro Team Satyam Computer Services Ltd.

■ Hi everyone, HAPPY DIWALI Regards, Testing Services, MASTEK Ltd ■ Dear Nasty Jollu Mannan Naveen, Wish You Many More Happy Returns Of The Day! You are speical to us and you always deserve the best... We wish you a wonderful life filled with love and happiness always... On this day, may God shower His blessings on you to lead a happier, healthier and peaceful life forever... A Warm Birthday Wish from all of us... Your S4 frens,(Last 5 row terrors) Kotteeswaran B, Vijaybaskar, Prasanna N, Prasanna S,Venkat S, Dilip, Svettha, T.Vijay, Anand, Seshu, Karthik ,Devaraj, Sridhar, Mubina, Suganthi.

22

ERGO Friday, October 24, 2008

Traffic Jam

Sail in wooden boat A British adventurer has set sail from the U.K. for Australia in a wooden boat he built himself. His crew consists of his 14-year-old son and his two brothers.

sudoku

Prasath Kannan of TCS clicked this picture at Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Hobbies: Music, photography, computers

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]

TEAM Editor: Karthik Subramanian [email protected]

Sr Dy Chief Designer: J.A. Prem Kumar Dy Chief Designer: R. Ravi Kannan Illustrator: R. Venugopal Technical Support: V.R. Vasudevan, K.G. Gurumurthy N. Ravichandran, E. Baskar Head of Advertising: Sriya Narayanan [email protected]

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

KAKURO

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Friday, October 24, 2008

Mobile home

Word’s worth

A group of Danish artists have joined up with U.S. scientists to create a walking house built on six hydraulic legs.

"Oligosyllable" (ah-li-guh-si-luh-buhl) a word of fewer than four syllables. Oligo - comes from a Greek root meaning ’small, little, few.’

B.C ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 In first half of the day you may be enthusiastic at workplace but in second half, you may be practical. You will be more careful about health in second part. You may not be in a good mood while dealing with your life partner in second part of the day.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20 At the beginning of the day you may feel stressed due to workload but as the day progresses, you may feel relaxed. You will be developing new ideas in second half of the day. Towards end of the day, you may wish to go out with your partner.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20 You may remain focussed while at workplace and may not be interested in anything else. As the day progresses, you may work on new softwares. At the end of the day, you may feel like relaxing at home with your life partner or chat with your beloved.

BORN LOSER

CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20 You will be working on various money generating tools or ideas in the first part of the day and in the second half, you may be busy with implementation of ideas. At the end of the day you may be tired that you hardly want to interact with life partner.

LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20 You may remain optimistic. At the beginning you will have lot of energy so you may focus on work only but as the day goes ahead, you may spend time behind communication related to work. You may enjoy nice lunch or dinner with your beloved.

VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20

FREE RANGE

WORKING IT OUT

At the beginning of the day, you may not be in a very good mood but post lunch, you would be in a good humour. You will regain focus at workplace. At the end of the day, you may spend time with younger generation or life partner.

LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20 In first part of the day, you will be dealing with authorities for some important activities. Later you may just be waiting for the day to get over and wish to see your sweetheart. You will have great time in privacy with your beloved one.

SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20 It may be a hard day at workplace. You may put in lot of effort behind meetings. In the second half, you may remain busy interacting with colleagues. Ganesha finds you sharing your views with life partner in a very friendly manner.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20 You may set targets on some projects to finish them off today. Your abilities to motivate others will be at it’s peak today. At the end of the day, you may be in a mood to advise your life partner but ensure that preaching is in control and not overdone.

CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20 You could be trying to handle important issues but you may find the process very stressful. Technical difficulties may also bother you a bit. In second half, most of the problems will be sorted out. You may wish to spend some time with beloved one.

PREVIOUS ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS

AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20 The day may begin with some stress however, at office, you may remain focussed. Outside world will not upset you. Towards evening you may do some research on some electronic gadget. Ganesha finds you being physically attracted to life partner.

PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20 In first half of the day you might have to slog quite a bit at office. As the time goes, the burden may increase but towards evening you may find some solution. Ganesha finds you in a mood to spend good times with life partner or beloved one. Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni

24

ERGO Friday, October 24, 2008

! Diwali snapshots

An artisan giving finishing touches to designer Ganesha clay lamps for Diwali in New Delhi. PHOTO: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

A girl busy giving final touches to Laxmi and Ganesha idols ahead of Diwali in Patna. PHOTO: RANJEET KUMAR

A boy shows off his crackers in Guwahati. PHOTO: RITU RAJ KONWAR

Violinist travels with gun A concert violinist has been granted a gun permit so he can protect his US$ 11.1 million Stradivarius violin. Matteo Fedeli, 36, travels with the handgun and a team of bodyguards to protect his rare instrument.