Ergo September 22

A BYTE OF LIFE

Monday, September 22, 2008

04 FREE CIRCULATION

Vol. 2

10

MR AND MRS IDLY

PAM’ MASKED PAL

Go places with their live kiosk in cities

could be Michael Jackson

No. 183

ON CLOUD NINE

Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy skipper Subramaniam Badrinath may at last get his dues after waiting in the fringes for the past three years. Drafted in as a replacement for an injured Sachin Tendulkar for the Irani Trophy tie, the technically correct right-hander may well find a spot in India’s Test side for the Australia series if the master-blaster fails to recover from his elbow injury.

» Page 09

02 NAMMA CHENNAI

ERGO Monday, September 22, 2008

Tax break on e-bikes Here is some good news for owners of e-bikes. Tamil Nadu government has slashed 50 per cent on road tax for electrical two-wheelers, making it more attractive and affordable to own one.

ergo

MOBILE 909401 3535

A day with Suriya and Jo

Friday’s Query “If I were the boss for a day”

Cancer Patients at Apollo Specialty Hospital celebrated Rose Day with the celebrity couple

My company won’t exist from the next day ... :-)

ERGO CORRESPONDENT

9789019141

I would approve my own release request :) 9884908700

If I were a boss for a day then there won’t be any dress code! All day casuals 9841617796

If I were a boss for a day ... I would give job to my Boss wife so he could nt flirt with my Girlfriend ANURAG GARG

If I were the boss for a day ... “I would make my Girlfriend as Personal Assistant” ;-) 9884626464

If I were a boss for the day, I would apply a long vacation and approve myself. :-) Sakthi Prakash, HP, Guindy.

I would give everyone free food coupons ... :) 9962790406

That day will be celebrated as my “Independence Day” and the next day will be “the judgement day”.

[email protected]

I

t was raining roses at Apollo Specialty Hospital on Sunday, as the occasion was Rose Day. Rose Day is a celebration of life for cancer patients, perpetrated in the name of Melinda Rose, a Canadian-born 14- year-old, who, though herself afflicted with cancer, spent her The day’s time spreading cheer and happiprogramme ness all around included a her. special event The special attraction of the planned for day was the visit the children at of celebrity couple Suriya and the hospital. Jyothika to the hospital. They gave away roses to patients at the hospital. The day’s programme included

a special event planned for the children at the hospital. The entertainment session included story-telling sessions, games and a special programme by Venky, the ventriloquist. The highlight of the

entire activity was a special entertainment programme presented by children who were treated at Apollo Specialty Hospital. Special gifts were given away to the children at the programme. ■

Manas Mohsin

If I were a boss for a day, I would assign my next week’s tasks to my original boss.. 9884616106

Reject my boss’s leave application ... 9003028708

Old computers?

Ergo Pick I would take a day off and spend it with my friends. Being treated as a boss by friends is a feel worth feeling and I would leave the people at office free to spend a day without a boss to boss them around. They can just be themselves. Haarika.K.P

Who is our VP? Today’s query The coolest cost-cutting advice you can think of? SMSs to 909401 3535 are charged only as standard SMSs.

Recently, the Vice President of India was in the city on an official visit. Interestingly, a few IPS officers didn’t know the name of our VP. And they weren’t alone in their ignorance either. A journalist asked some top khakis for the name, and the latter are known to have Googled the answer.

The state DGP and the City Police Commissioner inaugurated a computer training programme for Friends of Police in the Ice House area recently. Apparently, the five computers were outdated machines which were set up to function only for a few minutes, till the VIPs leave. At the time of the inauguration, a machine malfunctioned, forcing the functionaries to shift to an alternative machine, which luckily worked.

The frightened star A well-known Kollywood actress is a petrified one these days. The reason – she is known to have been close friends with two citybased businessmen, who are in a

soup after a fire accident. The actress, who is their business house’s brand ambassador, is known to have tactically enquired among some known cops whether the investigating team will knock on her doors for an enquiry.

Service charge for threat A father and son were stripped and beaten black and blue inside a police station in the Ambattur district by a lady Inspector after she received a complaint from the son’s wife regarding being harassed. Both the accused are known to have pledged that they will never again ill-treat the woman. It was a good work by the lady cop but it did come with a ‘service charge.’

03

Monday, September 22, 2008

Blood donation camp Under the healthcare team of CSR wing, about 220 employees of Mphasis donated blood at a camp held on September 19. The Blood Donation Camp was organised in coordination with Lion’s Blood Bank and Redcross.

Miscreants stone Vadivelu’s house The calm over Virugambakkam locality shattered after a sudden attack by a bike gang

PHOTOS: S.S. KUMAR

ERGO CORRESPONDENT [email protected]

A

n unidentified group of 20 men on motorcycles pelted stones at the house of Kollywood comedy actor Vadivelu in Virugambakkam on Sunday morning. No one was injured in the incident but the glass facade of the house was damaged. Police sources said over 20 men on motorcycles reached the actor’s house at the Lokaiya Colony in Virugambakkam around 10.30 a.m. and had yelled out for the actor to come out. The actor and his family, who were present at home at the time, bolted themselves behind doors fearing trouble. The gang continued to raised slogans against the actor and pelted stones into the house which and fled the scene. The attack damaged the glass windows in front of the house, police added. Actor Vadivelu called the police, who later reached the spot to conduct preliminary investigations. Speaking to Ergo, M S Muthusamy, Deputy Commissioner of Police (T Nagar) said that an investigation

‘Egg’ing on

is underway but there aren’t any suspects yet. An assault case involving actor Vadivelu and a relative of actor-politician Vijayakanth is coming for court hearing on Monday. Actor Vadivel, speaking to mediapersons, after accessing the damage, suspected

that the functionaries of the DMDK could have been behind the attack on his house. Meanwhile there are also speculations that the comedy actor’s role imitating a young top star in an upcoming movie could have sparked the attack by the latter’s fans. ■

쑸 A student busy painting on an ostrich egg on the theme ‘Appreciating Our Biodiversity’ at a competition organised by Enviro Club of Women’s Christian College in Chennai on September 19. PHOTO: S.S. KUMAR

04 KALEIDOSCOPE

ERGO Monday, September 22, 2008

‘‘

The Fact that our economical models at The Fed, the best in the world, have been wrong for 14 straight quarters, does not mean they will not be right in the 15th quarter. Allan Greenspan

MORE IN THE MAKING FOR

Mr and Mrs Idly This couple is into the business of making idlis, with kiosks in 30 major cities in India

Selling an idea “Idlis are healthy, hygienic and one food which has a wide appeal, so I started the business in Chennai with an aim to take the concept places,” says Vikash, who disapproved of entering his dad’s import business to take on the booming food industry. Raising strong objection from family and friends, the couple proved everybody wrong in the first three months of the venture itself. With Rs. 5 lakh, a humble

PHOTO: S.S. KUMAR

A

n array of shops, both big and small, vying for attention, and a teeming crowd of hungry shoppers and movie-goers around this 4-sqft kiosk serving piping hot idlis. I am inside Abirami Mega Mall in Purusawalkam on a Sunday morning, jostling for place before meeting Mr and Mrs Idly, and I’m amazed to see how a business as common as selling idlis can click even in Chennai. The young couple, Vikash Goenka and Megha Modi, is the brain behind these friendly kiosks which you see outside commercial complexes, inside malls, on the road or any busy junction, for that matter. In-built with an idli maker and space to accommodate three to four varieties of chutneys, these live kiosks sell over 600 idlis on weekdays and around 1,200 on weekends – running completely on electricity.

investment to start a business, pooled from both their savings, they started their first kiosk in Abirami Mall. “Our idlis were a runaway hit, especially for the freshness and the unique way we packaged, and in three months we made up for the capital we invested,” recalls the LIBA graduate who was dabbling with stocks before starting this as an indepen-

dent venture. Mr& Mrs Idly is less than a year old in Chennai but already boasts of around 30 franchise outlets across India. “We opened our second outlet in Hyderabad, one month after the Chennai store, and the third in Kolkata,” they say. Since then there was no looking back. Today, Mr and Mrs Idly kiosks are in all the major cities,

IN A MINUTE Company: Mr and Mrs Idly Started: November 2007 Founders: Vikash Goenka and Megha Modi Team: 32 Funding: Self Know Me Better: www.mrandmrsidly.com Email: [email protected]

except Mumbai. “We are mulling over opening in Abu Dhabi and China next,” says Vikash.

Starting troubles Megha, a graduate of Ethiraj College for Women, recalls selling idlis in the first four months. “It was during Diwali that we opened the kiosk and we were just about settling down. There was so much demand and we couldn’t afford to remain mute spectators,” says Megha, who now heads the franchisees. From branding the takeaway containers to ensuring a pan-India taste in every pocket (there is only one master kitchen in every city), they are happy with the progress being made.

Going mobile! The Goenkas will soon be ex-

panding their kiosks by adding dosas and Madras filter coffee on to their menu. There is more on the cards. As a social initiate they are looking at giving franchises to anyone who can afford Rs. 25,000, thus creating employment. “Here, I am looking at a mobile kiosk serving fresh food to corporates and others on the move,” he explains about starting it by January 2009. Meanwhile, it has also tied up with Big Bazaar and INOX. Until then, catch these kiosks in Shanti Colony in Anna Nagar or Vepery (the latter is opening soon) for some dry fruit idli, snow white idly or subz idly. Ever had them? ■ (If you are an entrepreneur with a successful business model or know one, write to us at [email protected])

05

Monday, September 22, 2008

Type something to see what it looks backwards http://bored.com/ writebackwards/index.html Get some inspiration naming new pets: http://www.petnamesworld.com

US $ Pound Euro 100 Yen

Mission Moon in December …If ISRO misses October launch

46.32 83.57 65.90 43.34

SOURCE: RBI

Websites of the day

YouTube to ban videos Video sharing site YouTube will ban footage showing weapons being used to intimidate people on its website in the U.K. The new policy was being introduced because of “particular concern” in Britain over the subject, according to site’s owners Google. MPs criticised video-sharing websites, including YouTube, saying they should be doing more to vet content. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith welcomed the YouTube ban and called on other internet sites to follow suit.

Google changes policy Work on at the ISRO centre in Bangalore.

I

ndia’s maiden moon mission could begin its space odyssey in December if it misses its launch window slated for October 19 to 26, former ISRO chief Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan has said. The cyclone season in the Bay of Bengal extends all through November which rules out the possibility of space launch, he said. Chandrayaan-I, which is being assembled at the ISRO Satellite Centre in Bangalore, will be launched from the Satish Dha-

PHOTO: AFP

wan spaceport at Sriharikota on the eastern coast. The spacecraft, which will orbit the moon at a distance of 100 km, was unveiled in Bangalore last week. It is yet to undergo vibration and acoustic tests. For the vibration test, the spacecraft integrated with all its components would be put through a simulated environment similar to the vibrations emitted while being launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehi-

cle. The acoustic test would simulate sound equivalent to 10 jet engines to ensure integrity of systems and to ensure that noise does not create any disturbance or affect the functioning of any component. “The mission is progressing as per the strict timeline,” said Kasturirangan, who got the mission going when he was at the helm of affairs at the Indian Space Research Organisation. ■ PTI

Oktoberfest, in full spirit 쑸 Children wearing traditional Bavarian clothes take part in the parade for the Oktoberfest beer festival on Sunday in Munich, southern Germany. Organisers of the world’s largest folk festival running until October 5 expect up to six million visitors to enjoy Bavarian beer in huge tents and fun rides on the fairgrounds. AFP PHOTO

Bosses at Google will change the company’s policy on adverts about abortion following a legal challenge from a Christian pressure group. It had refused a Christian Institute advert, saying it did not allow the advertising of websites with “abortion and religion-related content”. The institute threatened to use British equality laws to contest the decision. But after an out-of-court settlement, Google will now allow religious groups to advertise about abortion.

Japan tops broadband poll Only Japan has the broadband quality to cope with nextgeneration internet applications, a new study has revealed. Sweden and the Netherlands have Europe’s best broadband, according to the 42-nation study sponsored by internet equipment maker Cisco Systems. The UK, Spain and Italy fell just below the quality threshold for today’s web. The study aims to highlight each nation’s ability to cope with next-generation web applications such as high-quality video streaming. It was carried out by a team of MBA students from the Said Business School at the University of Oxford and the University of Oviedo’s Department of Applied Economics WENN

06 VILLAGE

ERGO Monday, September 22, 2008

Untouched cream A law in Illinois prohibits barbers from using their fingers to apply shaving cream to a patron’s face.

Man convicted of robbing toddler’s piggy bank

Unknown score written by Mozart found in France

A man convicted of stealing USD 20 from a toddler’s piggy bank has been sentenced to six years in prison. Four-time convicted burglar Ryan Mueller was convicted on Thursday of felony burglary as a repeat offender in a Sheboygan, Wisconsin court. Prosecutors say the 31-year-old Mueller broke into a home in August 2007 and stole money from a two-year-old girl’s piggy bank. They say the girl’s mother walked into the room and caught Mueller in the act. He also was sentenced to five years’ probation.

A French municipal library has discovered a musical score handwritten by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in its archives, the Nantes town hall said on Thursday. The one-page work, donated to the town by a private collector at the end of the 19th century, was until recently thought to be a copy rather than an original. The unpublished score, measuring 16 cm by 29 cm (6.5 by 11.5 inches), is thought to have been written around 1787, according to an expert musicologist from the Mozarteum University in the composer’s native city of Salzburg in Austria. The score is undergoing a second round of expert investigations, Nantes authorities said. “A Mozart autograph is hugely valuable,” said the head of the French centre for research on musical heritage.

PTI

An ad in space can come as cheap as 200 pounds! A firm in the United States is offering companies a chance to advertise themselves in space- with price ranging from 200 pounds to 2,100 pounds. JP Aerospace, which calls itself “America’s other space programme,” is using lighter than air balloons to carry packages into the upper atmosphere. The organisation involving voluntary staffers and plans to open up access to space to the general public, said that they have received requests to send toy figures, coffee beans, table tennis balls as well as advertising billboards in the space. The balloon carrying the platform reaches a height of 20 miles, which is high enough for the sky to turn black and the earth’s horizon to be a blue curve. JP Aerospace then takes hundreds of pictures of the balloon before returning everything to earth by parachute.

Reuters

A conference for womanisers Hundreds of would-be womanisers from more than 25 countries attended the opening of Amsterdam’s Real Man Conference on Saturday, billed as the ‘biggest event on seducing women ever.’ More than 320 participants gathered to hear pick-up tips from a range of speakers - advertised as ‘a dozen of the finest womanisers’ on the conference website - at the two-day event being held at the RAI Conference Centre in Amsterdam. Amongst the speakers were individuals such as AFC Adam, Sean Messenger, Zan Perrion and Johnny Soporno.

ANI

DPA

Bin Laden a poet?

O

sama bin Laden was once a ‘skilled poet’, a media report said on Sunday revealing a new facet of the world’s most wanted terrorist. The elusive al-Qaeda leader’s literary work will be published soon by an Oxford-educated academic expert in Arabic, it said. Bin Laden’s recitals at wedding banquets and other feasts during the 1990s were recorded on tapes recovered from his compound in Afghanistan in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks in the US. They were studied by Prof Flagg Miller, who teaches Arabic poetry at University of California, Davis, the report said. Miller first heard the tapes four years ago when FBI translators

were scrutinising them for coded messages to sleeper cells. He identified up to 20 featuring the ‘distinctive monotone’ of bin Laden. “Bin Laden is a skilled poet with clever rhymes and metres, which was one reason why many people taped him and passed rec-

Laden’s recitals at wedding banquets during the 1990s were recorded on tapes recovered from his compound in Afghanistan in 2001

ordings around, like pop songs,” Miller told ‘The Sunday Times’. According to the report, the first lines of one poem read: “A youth who plunges into the smoke of war smiling stains the blades of lances red. May God not let my eye stray from the most eminent humans, lest they fall.” The verse goes on to portray bin Laden himself as a ‘warrior poet’, whose words will lead his followers to an idyllic refuge in the Hindu Kush mountains. “He frequently uses mountains as metaphors,” Miller said. “As borders they separate Arabs from each other but mountains can also help them from the temptations of the secular world.”■ PTI

07

Monday, September 22, 2008

Bank robbing

This day, that year

A Spanish man swindled nearly half a million euros from dozens of banks to fund an anti-globalisation magazine distributed for free in Barcelona.

It was in September 22, 1975 that Sara Jane Moore attempted to shoot United States President Gerald Ford outside a San Francisco, California hotel, but missed.

F

uture King Prince Williams has sought father Charles to help him decide the future of his shaky relationship with girlfriend Kate Middleton. The 26-year-old has had to face much difficulty in choosing between a blessed life with Kate and a career calling as a Search and Rescue Officer in the RAF. Following Prince Charles’ advice, Wills has decided to side with the RAF training and put his personal plans on hold. Prince Charles, who had faced the same situation many years ago, supported his son’s decision “He was never happier than when he was in the Navy and he wholeheartedly supports William’s decision. If the relationship with Kate is a strong one, it will wait,” the Daily Star quoted a family friend as saying. However, Wills’ decision has left Kate astonished who is now struggling to cope with it. ■

Prince Wills turns to dad for romance advice

ANI

IF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH KATE IS A STRONG ONE, IT WILL WAIT, SAID PRINCE CHARLES

AFP

Free hugs guy to donate kidney

Shilpa with her Raj

A

n Australian man known around the world for giving free hugs to anyone who asks has said he plans to go one step further by donating one of his kidneys to a stranger, a report said on Sunday. Juan Mann, who came to worldwide attention in 2004 after a video of him dispensing free hugs in Sydney’s central business district appeared on YouTube, expects to undergo surgery next year. “I am young, I am fit, I am healthy, I have two kidneys,” the 26-year-old, who does not use his real name, told the Sun-Herald. “I don’t really drink. I don’t need that second one and someone will be able to get out of hospital.” Mann will face psychiatric and physical tests in hospital before he can make the donation, the process of which will be filmed and later broadcast online, the paper said.

“I will never meet the (recipient); I will never know if the transplant is a success or a failure; I will never know if my kidney kills the person,” Mann said. "Apparently once you give your kidney you will never feel whole. (But) I’ll get a cool scar and apparently chicks dig scars.” Mann, who spends about one day a week holding a ‘FREE HUGS’ sign above his head in Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall, has inspired free hugs movements around the world. ■ AFP

쒀 Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and UK-based NRI Raj Kundra at the fifth day of the India Couture Week in Mumbai on Saturday. PTI PHOTO

08 SPORT

ERGO Monday, September 22, 2008

Stop gap In a stop-gap arrangement, the Sports Ministry has appointed an official to monitor the day to day affairs of Pakistan Cricket Board till a new chairman of the board is appointed. Sports Minister Najamuddin Khan said a notification has been issued after making a minor amendment in the PCB constitution to empower the ministry to monitor the working of the board until the appointment of a new chairman by the President of the country.

Cricket Australia hopes for return of cricket in Pakistan Cricket Australia on Sunday hoped the security situation in Pakistan will calm down soon despite the bomb blasts in Islamabad so that international matches could be played in the troubledtorn nation once again. At least 60 people were killed after a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden truck into the Marriott Hotel gate engulfing the building in flames on Saturday. “Our reaction is that it’s terribly sad and tragic news,” CA public affairs manager Peter Young said. “Australian cricket has got a lot of friends in Pakistan and I think everyone at the national level is really sorry to hear this sort of continuing news coming out of the place. We enjoy playing against them and we have tours coming up there next year of course,” Young was quoted as saying by Australian Associated Press. “Everyone is praying that the domestic situation there settles down so people can live their life in peace and hopefully we can start playing cricket there again,” he added. CA was criticised by Pakistan for withdrawing from the scheduled Test tour earlier this year because of security concerns. It is now expected to be held in 2009. Australia were also instrumental in postponing the Champions Trophy in the volatile nation until late 2009.

Resuming rivalry Hayden eager to renew rivalry with Bhajji

M

atthew Hayden may not be among the big admirers of Harbhajan Singh but the Australian opener has no qualms in admitting that the feisty Indian off-spinner would pose main threat to his side during their four-match Test series beginning October 9. Hayden had famously called Harbhajan “obnoxious weed” during India’s controversy-ridden tour Down Under early this year prompting the Indian offspinner to label the Australian opener one of the most reviled men in world cricket. Now among the four players from the 15-man Australian squad with Test experience in India, Hayden said he was all geared up to renew the on-field rivalry with Harbhajan on slow

PTI

Gough ready to call it quits Former England paceman Darren Gough hinted that he may have played the last match of his career. The 38-year-old had already announced this would be his final season and after suffering a series of niggling injuries in the county championship summer, he may skip the final game against Sussex next week. “I wanted to go out in style today - and that proved to me I am ready to retire, I am absolutely shattered now,” said Gough on Saturday after Yorkshire’s drawn clash with title-chasing Somerset at Scarborough. “I bowled as quick as I have for a long, long time in my first spell. I had the opposition saying that is the quickest they have faced all season and when they say stuff like that, I’d like to finish on that note. When I look back I’m glad my last wicket was Justin Langer. I’ve had some great battles against him and it’s nice to know my last wicket in Yorkshire was someone as good as him.” Gough will decide over the next few days whether he is fit to play at Sussex. “I will see how I rock up on Monday morning and how the other bowlers are,” he said. AFP GETTY IMAGES

Indian pitches. “Having played over there and played well over there, I think I’m going to be the obvious target,” Hayden said before leaving for India. “Harbhajan is very competitive, especially in his own environment. He’s a big threat to our side. He’s skilful and has got some weapons in conditions that will favour him. My job will be to combat that so for me it’s a battle I’m really looking forward to,” Hayden was quoted as saying by Courier Mail. “To be part of the number

cricket side in the world is always a big challenge. I expect no mercy from the Indians but that’s why I’ll enjoy this series. I’ll be right in the thick of it,” added Hayden who toured India in 2001. The Queenslander spanked 549 runs at 109.80 on that tour and his record against India is imposing, 1654 runs at 66.16 with six centuries. In the same series, Harbhajan took 32 wickets in a gripping contest that India won 2-1. “I think this series is tailor-made for guys like me,” said Hayden, who will turn 37 in India. ■ PTI

09

Monday, September 22, 2008

‘‘

I am receiving offers for modelling as well as from Bollywood. My life has changed drastically. I am happy that I could make my country proud. We are being acclaimed by every one for our performances in Beijing. Vijender Kumar about his new-found fame

BADRINATH READY TO SHOULDER RESPONSIBILITY

PTI

a Big b re k D

rafted into the Rest of India side for the Irani Trophy match in place of injured Sachin Tendulkar, hardworking middle order batsman Subramaniam Badrinath terms it a great opportunity coming his way to make it to the Test squad with a good knock against Ranji Trophy champions Delhi. Badrinath, who is captaining India A in a triangular series involving A sides of Australia and New Zealand before his inclusion in the Rest team, is itching to go out in the middle at Vadodara. “Maybe the time has come for me now. It’s a great feeling. I would like to make use of this opportunity; a good knock means chance to make the Test squad against Australia,” said the Tamil Nadu batsman who scored a match-winning 69 not out against New Zealand A on Wednesday. “I can’t ask for more, if I make a debut against the world champions,”

Badrinath said. Shrugging off the notion that luck plays a role in a cricketer’s career, Badrinath says he believes in hard work. “I am not somebody who is a firm believer in luck. I believe in hard work and wait for the right opportunity. The incidents in the past (of coming so close to selection but not making it) have made me strong mentally,” he said. True for somebody with a first-class average of 55.92 and 40-plus in List A matches — only Ricky Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar, among batsmen still active and with at least 50 innings, have a higher first-class average — but yet has been ignored in the last three years.

Golden opportunity Despite three successful Ranji seasons since 2005-06 when he averaged almost 80 scoring 636 runs from seven matches, Badrinath never made to

the playing eleven of the national side, though he was called up for the three-ODI Australia series last October. But the cool and soft-spoken Badrinath never gave up his unflinching will and showed his anguish. Call it luck or fate, Badrinath, having remained in the sidelines for about 10 months, was named Tendulkar’s replacement in the Sri Lanka ODI series. “A coincidence,” says Badrinath, who did not let the selectors down in his debut series. Batting at No 7, where batsmen hardly get to score big and sacrifice their wickets in throwing their bats in the slog overs, Badrinath played like an experienced batsman with a defying 27 not out, very crucial in the context of a low-scoring 143run chase in Dambulla, which India won by three wickets and the Tamil Nadu right-hander earned high praises from his skipper Mahendra Singh

Dhoni. “It feels great to have begun like that. Being a debut series, it was very important for me. I did not want to do anything extraordinary but played according to the context of the game and it worked as Dhoni and I scored the vital runs,” Badrinath said, recalling his 60-run sixth wicket partnership that took the team to a win in the second one-dayer. Badrinath acknowledges that he’s really going through a high at the moment and the selection to the Irani Trophy game has come at the right and opportune moment. “It’s important that the selection has come at a time when you’re at peak form. I have been batting well recently. I had a very good last year, scoring big in India A tours to Zimbabwe and Kenya, and in the home series against South Africa A. Moreover, I’ve been scoring runs in all forms of the game,” he said. ■ PTI

10 FLICK

ERGO Monday, September 22, 2008

New Bond theme song dubbed ‘worst ever’ The new James Bond theme song, which has been penned by White Stripes guitarist Jack White and crooned by Alicia Keys, has been blasted by fans as the worst ever. Fans have flooded websites with complaints about it. One said the chorus read like a “shopping list of ways to die”, others attacked the “dreadful” rhymes. ANI

The Mask Pammie’s masked Fashion Week pal may have been none other than Jacko joyed two dates in Malibu, California. “It was all arranged by their people in total secrecy, very cloak and dagger. Michael is such a private person. He gets nervous when he thinks people are following him around, so he chose somewhere neutral for their first date,” News.com.au quoted a source as telling Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper at that time. “They were very friendly. Pamela was being her usual flirty self and Michael seemed to be responding. They are such a strange couple but they seemed to really hit it off,” the source added. Other stars spotted at the show were London uber-model Kate Moss, actor Emma Watson, Pixie Geldof, burlesque performer Dita von Teese, Kimberley Stewart, daughter of rock star Rod Stewart, and singer Roisin Murphy. ■ ANI

It was all arranged by their people in total secrecy, very cloak and dagger. Michael is such a private person. He gets nervous when he thinks people are following him around, so he chose somewhere neutral for their first date

GETTY IMAGES

P

amela Anderson was noticed for more than her ensemble at this year’s London Fashion Week, when she was seen with a masked man rumoured to be King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Anderson was seen with a host of other well-known celebs sitting at the front row viewing the latest collection from London’s godmother of punk chic, Vivienne Westwood. The Baywatch babe caused quite a stir with the man in the white mask and gloves sitting beside her, and Westwood’s personal assistant was overheard telling members of the audience that the mysterious man was none other than the reclusive former King of Pop, The Weekend Australian reported. The two were rumoured to have hooked up earlier this month, with Jackson (50) and Anderson (41) reportedly having en-

Dope on George Michael, again

G

eorge Michael has been cautioned by police after being arrested in a public toilet in London in possession of drugs, police said late Saturday. “A 45-year-old man was arrested on 19 September on suspicion of possession of drugs in the Hampstead Heath area,” a Metropolitan Police spokesman said. The singer was taken to a police station and given the caution for possessing class A and class C drugs, police said. Under British law, class A drugs can include crack cocaine. Michael (45) has admitted using drugs in the past. In 2006, he was found slumped over the wheel of his car and last year he was given a two-year driving ban after pleading guilty to driving while unfit through drugs. Last month he wrapped up his first tour for 15 years with concerts in London and Copenhagen and said they were his last ever arena and stadium shows. On the tour, he wore a police uniform to perform his number one hit ‘Outside’ which refers to his arrest in 1998 when he made lewd advances to an undercover male police officer in a public toilet in Beverly Hills, California. ■ ANI

Not Godfather but still good

R

obert de Niro and Al Pacino star in John Avnet’s psychological cop drama, Righteous Kill. Turk (De Niro) and Rooster (Pacino) are two NYPD cops trying to stop a serial killer, who leaves a poem at the scene of each crime. The victims are lawbreakers freed on legal technicalities. Without a doubt, the film’s best element is the acting. Two of Hollywood’s greatest legends share screen time. Robert and Al are fantastic and have great chemistry together. It is their back and forth playful banter that makes the film worth watching. They turn an average script into an enjoyable crime thriller. Al’s smooth-talking Rooster complements Robert’s unstable Turk perfectly. The cinematography is dark, consistent with the mood of the story, and the tone is rather cynical. Rapper 50 Cent plays a drug dealing club owner. The story is not all that great and the movie is not a classic by any means, but it is entertaining. What it does have is a good amount of comic relief and a fair share of action. Rajesh Sampath Kumar, Software Engineer, Wipro Technologies

11

Monday, September 22, 2008

Katie Holmes debuts on Broadway amid protests Katie Holmes won praise for her debut on Broadway on Thursday night, where she was cheered on by actor husband Tom Cruise and shouted at by anti-Scientology protesters outside the theatre. The drama started before the curtains went up in the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater with a group of about 20 protesters, some masked, chanting “Scientology is a cult” and “Free Katie”, according to the New York Daily News. Reuters

Cine City

The doting father

Trisha undergoes training in Tamil We all know that Kamal Hassan’s next venture is Marmayogi, a period film. The news is that the actor has instructed his heroine Trisha to learn ancient Tamil so that there won’t be a problem in lip sync while dubbing. Though Trisha’s mother tongue is Tamil, the actress is not well-versed in the language. Now we hear that Trisha is undergoing training from a professional. Hope Shriya undergoes the same training, too, as even she is acting in the movie. www.cinesnacks.com

Ash to learn classical music If Trisha is going for Tamil classes, then our former Miss World, Aishwarya Rai, is planning to take classes in classical music. Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan will team up for Mani Ratnam’s next flick, Raavan. According to sources, the actress will start her classical singing lessons from a noted guru soon after her return from Peru. It is said that her character in Raavan demands that she learn classical singing to get the mannerisms of the classical singers.

Ajith’s friends reveal that the actor is showering his daughter with lots of gifts. The recent addition to the list is an expensive toy plane costing around Rs. 20 lakh, which is said to be controlled by remote control and can fly to a particular distance. Though, being too young, daughter Anoushka may not know how to operate it, she may start playing with it later. Ajith had earlier gifted his wife Shalini a remote-controlled plane costing around few lakhs.

12 SCAN

ERGO Monday, September 22, 2008

Book worm Bale? According to TV.com, Christian Bale is an excellent horseman and an avid reader.

PICK OF THE DAY

Zee Cafe

Star Movies

Discovery

Star World

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno – 11 p.m.

The Rock – 9 p.m.

Man vs. Wild – 10 p.m.

Friends – 7 p.m.

An action thriller starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage about a war hero who holds San Francisco to ransom, and the FBI scientist charged with stopping him. The deranged general and his men take the disused prison island of Alcatraz.

Panama. In the lethal mangroves and infamous viper pits of Panama, Bear Grylls tackles some extreme survival challenges and some grisly eats to show you how to get out alive.

Joey and Phoebe conspire to set up Rachel and Ross on their worst blind dates ever, hers being a pitiful lug, as they hope to reunite them out of mutual appreciation for what they had together.

An Emmy Award winning American late night talk show hosted by Jay Leno. Format of the show has an opening monologue by Jay Leno followed by comedy routines, interviews and performances.

Wacky as hell NANDHINI RAMKUMAR

T

uning to radio on a lazy afternoon is not something out of the box. But calling the RJ and giving fashion tips for ghosts? Hello FM’s Rendu Mani Aatam is as funky as it gets and it was fun to go behind the scenes of the show. As we entered their studio, the bright interiors and wallpapers welcomed us. Splashed paint designs, with the colour theme of orange, spelt only one word‘lively’. Hosted by RJ Aloysius Rendu Mani Aatam is a two-hour-long show. The first hour segment is usually filled with satire, cine gossips or a dig at someone or something. Also ‘Mokka SMS of the day’ and ‘Bulb of the day’ are dedicated. The bulb for the day was a group of mobile thieves who did not ‘plan’ their plot and were caught by the police. The four apprentices laugh and snore, a sign of thumbs up or down. These segments are intercepted with songs both peppy and popular. The second hour segment is the call in segment where callers talk on a given topic. Spooky sound effects fill the room as Aloysius selects them. ‘Hard keys’ are used for special sound effects. They are listed and most relevant are chosen everyday as per the topics. Apart from this effects for regular sounds like the laughter, repartees and snores of the ‘four

apprentices’ and the ‘escape’ sound, a vehicle, with which the RJ escapes, like a helicopter or a bike are all listed. Calls are taken by 2. 45 by the RJ himself and the numbers are noted down for calling back. Be it a little boy of 12 or a housewife, the RJ speaks at ease. Ideas are at a galore for these callers. Party clothes, kanchipuram pattu, jeans and a tee, ghosts do need a makeover! Phones are kept outside the studio and the RJ calls from there during song transmission. Aloysius comes back and mimics a ghost and announces the number asking listeners to call. The second segment is a multi tasking one for the RJ, but a well received one too and that is evident with the amount of callers. But approximately only around 7 links are aired in an hour. Callers do call back to complain that their calls are not returned. But the RJ puts the blame on a ‘Sotta thala producer’! Other interesting concepts of Hello Fm like it’s satire on commercials and sparklers are pre-recorded and are aired throughout the day. Sparklers are links of made up characters like Katrikanth and Samayal Shakeela. These are done by the RJs themselves. The latest one they are working on is ‘Advice Annatha’. Advertisements and commercials are taken care of by the traffic department. While the creative concepts and jingles are taken care by the RJs.■

PHOTO: S.S.KUMAR

Hello FM’s Rendu Mani Aatam pushes the envelope on wackiness

13

Monday, September 22, 2008

Empty beer cans A man has been charged for nearly 250 empty beer cans from a convenience store in Detroit.

Greetings Hi Ranjini, It’s very difficult and sad to believe that this is the last week of you in Satyam. I and most of the people here in CMR will miss you very badly. Sorry for all the troubles and really cherish all the beautiful moments you provided. Do keep in touch and all the very best for all your future endeavors. God Bless. Regards, Karthik, Satyam computers

-----♥♠♥♠♥-----

Hi strcat(strrev(IAS),’ Krishna’); Wishing you many more happy returns of the day and also wishing you for all success in your life. With lotz of friendship Goutam & Muthu,Hewitt-BMO, Hexaware Technologies Limited

-----♥♠♥♠♥------

Dear Arun Prasad, A smile is a curve that sets everything straight and wipes the wrinkles away. Hope you receive a lot and share a lot of smiles today. Many more happy returns of the day! May u succeed in everything in you life! Cheers, Meena UV, Infosys Technologies.

-----♥♠♥♠♥------

Dear Boss, (Nithya) We all wish you Many More Happy Returns of the day!!! May this birthday filled with all joy and happiness and all ur dreams come true!!! Wishing you a day as special as you are....... Birthday Best Wishes from Shared Services Team TCS

-----♥♠♥♠♥-----Dear Amma & Appa, Happy 28th Wedding Anniversary. Happiness Always. You both have come a long way and today on your anniversary, nothing brings more happiness than congratulating the two of you, on the wonderful love you share. May you both enjoy perfect health, happiness and love. Have a Happy Wedding Anniversary. Yours loving daughter C. Vinodhini, Wipro Technologies.

-----♥♠♥♠♥-----Dear Sandy, We wish you many more Happy returns of the day. May happiness and joy fill your day. Have a great years ahead. Best Regards, Batch 5-2007, iNautix Technologies.

-----♥♠♥♠♥------

Dear Ma (Indra), Wish you many more happy returns of this day(Sept 21). May God bless you with Good health and prosperity. “A mother is a mother still, The holiest thing alive.” Enjoy your Birthday. Hearty wishes from, Gayathri(Hexaware Technologies), Balaji (Son-in-law), Pinku (Grand daughter) and the little one expected soon (?!)

-----♥♠♥♠♥------

Dear Saravanan, Wish you many more happy returns of the day. Let this birthday bring you a lot of joy and success in your life. May all your dreams come true. Have a fun-filled day! Hearty wishes from Aparna B, Steria (India) Ltd.

Frenzy Store The frenzy store is especially for the young ladies of Chennai. The store stocks and offers formal and party wear, western wear clothes like tops, tee shirts, tank tops, pants, skirts jeans etc. So young ladies, get ready to be frenzied! Where: Wellington estate, Opp Ethiraj College, Egmore

-----♥♠♥♠♥------

Dear Tabrez, Wishing you the treasure of happy yesterdays and the gift of bright tomorrows. Happy Birthday.

Season special

Hearty wishes from your beloved brothers Babu Sridharan & Althaf Imran, POLARIS

Amethyst brings a wide range of gifts for the wedding season. Jewellery features as a significant and attractive option where the extensive jewellery line bedazzles with its exquisite collection of bangles, elegant neck pieces with pendants, rings, bracelets etc. Where: Padmavathi Road, Jeypore Colony, Gopalapuram Contact: 28351143 / 28311917

-----♥♠♥♠♥-----Dear Keerthi (HCL-cisco), Wishing you many more happy returns of the day. May God bless you on this day (20- sep). Let all your dreams come true. Have a great year ahead. Belated Happy Birthday from your beloved friends, HCL Technologies Ltd

-----♥♠♥♠♥-----Dear Amri, You are very special and you deserve the best. We wish you a wonderful life filled with love and happiness. We hope others bring you joy, just as you’ve brought joy to us, then you can weather any storm and be all you want to be. Happy Birthday. Best Regards, GTM friends, Scope International

-----♥♠♥♠♥-----Hi Sridhar, Many Many Happy Returns Of the day man! Have a Blast! & Enjoy to the extremes!! Cheers - NICE OM Team (Cognizant)

-----♥♠♥♠♥-----Dear Kavi, Hope your Birthday brings you all Smiles, Joy, Cheer and More. Wishing you a dazzling birthday!!! From F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Lakshmi, Lokee, Neetha & Rajul, Hexaware Technologies

Gypsy Caravan A movie named Gypsy caravan will be screened in the auditorium of Alliance Francaise of Madras. The movie is directed by Jasmine Dellal. Where: Auditorium Alliance Francaise of Madras College Road Nungambakkam When: 26 Sep, 6.30 p.m.

What, when, where If you have anything interesting or informative that can be featured in these columns, mail us at [email protected]. Please send the release mentioning where and when the event is happening, along with the contact details.

14 TRAFFIC JAM

ERGO Monday, September 22, 2008

Animal paintings auction Paintings by animals are to go up for auction. The pictures feature the brush strokes and paw prints of animals, such as snow leopards and sea lions from zoos.

sudoku

Griffith Alfred R of Satyam Computers clicked this picture with Canon Powershot. He captions it ‘Made for each other’. Hobbies: Driving, photography and looking after pets

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]

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]

Head of Circulation: M.G.M. Sharief [email protected]

SNAIL MAIL 859/860, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002 mail your feedback to [email protected]

FAX 2857 6691 ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Call our Advertisement Manager at 2857 6695. email: [email protected] Website: www.goergo.in

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

15

Monday, September 22, 2008

Gluing antique

Word’s worth

A museum curator in China was dismissed after gluing a broker antique back together instead of reporting the damage.

"Sarcinarious" (sahr-si-nair-ee-us) an obsolete word meaning ’able to to carry burdens or loads.’ From a Latin word meaning ’bundle.’

B.C ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 Your mood may play tricks on you. Ganesha feels that the day may not be exciting, but mostly will be occupied with regular activities. However, don’t try to refrain from new responsibilities if you get any. On the love front, old issues may get solved today.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20 Your decision taking power will rock your world. You will be able to rightly judge things long before they happen. This will help you in official matters. You will spice up relationship with beloved. Evening may be celebrated with family and friends.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20 Out of the three most important things; work, home and friends, you may have to prioritise. The good part is, you will feel wanted. Thanks to the good mood, your productivity will be double! Obviously, your love life will be no less colourful.

BORN LOSER

CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20 There is no end to knowledge, but you seem to be in a mood to digest quite a lot. Make sure it is ‘one thing at a time’. Record all the important information. So far so good, the day will end on a happy note. No major happenings on the love front.

LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20 Stretch your vocal chords to the fullest. However, don’t let your words affect anyone else. The easiest bet would be to choose words carefully before using them. In any case, words cannot be taken back and if harm done, may not be reversed.

VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20

FREE RANGE

WORKING IT OUT

Today you may require scheduling your timetable accurately. Ganesha predicts a busy day for you. Do not let this busy day disturb your relationships with close friends. Haste makes waste, advises Ganesha. Love life may experience a positive change.

LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20 Investments if made for a long term may prove very useful for you. Other than that, the day may be spending discussing money matters. You may not be able to find solutions to issues pertaining domestic life. Ganesha asks you to maintain your calm.

SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20 Everyone has to face rivals in life, in one form or the other. Ganesha warns you against first hand rivals, some of your colleagues. The only mantra to lead the ‘rat race’ is to work with cent percent honesty and devotion. Hard work always pays.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20 A pretty dull and boring day. You can spice it up by doing fun filled activities. At office there might not be happening much, so concentrate on pending work. On the love front, the day may be heavy on the emotional front. ‘Handle with care’.

CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20 Luck may smile upon you today, so be ready for surprises. A good day to take over new responsibilities. You may spend a lot of time in meetings and discussion for the betterment of the office today. Domestic life is smooth and in control.

PREVIOUS ISSUE’S SOLUTIONS

AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20 You health may be at its best, but Ganesha warns you against health disorders of your family members. At office, domestic issues may rule your mind. If the need be, take a leave or half leave, rather than not being able to concentrate.

PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20 Let mind take over matter. Simple meditation exercises may help you fight stress. Also, being emotional might not help today. On the positive side, you may get a lot of support from friends and family, in case you are really feeling low. Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni

16 !

ERGO Monday, September 22, 2008