A BYTE OF LIFE Monday, October 6, 2008

11 05
FILM REVIEW: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
DRONA The story behind Kanchana Paati
Junior B fails to sizzle
FREE CIRCULATION Vol. 2 No. 192

PHOTO: S.S. KUMAR

TAMANNAAH’S
TIME
Tamannaah will soon be seen
reprising Kareena Kapoor’s
role in the Tamil remake of
Jab We Met. The actor
speaks on movies, her best
critics and professional
‘rivalries’.
» PAGE 10
02 NAMMA CHENNAI ERGO Monday, October 6, 2008

Painting expo
Sarala’s Art Gallery is organising an
exhibition of paintings done by
M.Senathipathi from October 6 to 16.
Venue: Art World, 11/2, Ganeshpuram 3rd
street, off Cenotaph Road, Chennai- 18.

The nine stars

Radio City’s Vanakkam Lend a
helping hand
Chennai celebrates
Navarathri with women
achievers

Here are some of the options you can choose

from when you sign up to volunteer with
an animal welfare organisation
SRIYA NARAYANAN
pets@goergo.in

Listen to what Khusboo and Devyani have
got to say about their past and present in
Radio City from 7 – 11 a.m. on October 6
and 7.
In connection with the Navrathri festival,
Radio City 91.1 FM presents a nine-day
special series – Nava Natchathiram on
‘Vanakam Chennai’. The festive special
started on September 30 and features
interviews with nine successful women
achievers from different professions. The
show takes us on their journey, interests
and a lot more, with RJ Gobi playing host.
■ puppy or kitten is in safe hands.
I
f you’ve always had a philan-
thropic bent of mind, espe-
cially towards the furry kind
and were wondering how you
can make a difference, this list
could be a good start.
Adoption counselling
The primary goal is to find hap-
py homes for the animals. You
can help by interviewing poten-
tial owners. By observing how
they handle animals, enquiring
whether family members will ap-
prove of the pet and gauging their
capacity to provide long-term
care, you can ensure that the
Follow-up phone calls and house
visits are a great help too.

Feeding
You could syringe-feed the re-
ally tiny kittens and pups and
give Vitamin drops and tonics to
those that need it. Another option
is to supervise the feeding after
PHOTO: S.R.RAGHUNATHAN

checking with the staff about tim-

ings.
And of course, there’s always
the option of dropping in over the
weekend and feeding the boister-
ously cheerful adult dogs biscuits
and bread. Check if there’s
enough clean water kept in the
bowls inside the kennels /cages
or outside.

Special care
For those of you who want to
be completely hands-on, your
help in keeping the shelter envi-
ronment clean will be greatly ap-
preciated. If you spot sick or
injured pups/kittens, you can
separate them and bring them to
the doctor’s attention or leave a
message with the attendant in
charge. You could use disposable
gloves (available on request at the
shelter) and rub the animals dry
and change soiled paper in the
cages.
Socialise cats and dogs
All shelter animals long for hu-
man affection and will be grateful
for your company, even if it’s on-
ly for a short while. You can walk
the dogs, play with the cats (can
be quite addictive) and check in
on the ones that are particularly
lonely, like abandoned adult
dogs.
Fundraising
If you have a network of people
who can sponsor a day’s feeding
expenses (Rs. 15,000), get in
touch with them for help.
Log onto bluecrossofindia.org
and fill up the volunteer form.
They look forward to your sup-
port! ■
 Monday, October 6, 2008
03
Neeva Diwali Mela
Experience a shopping extravaganza at The Rain Tree, Alwarpet, on
October 10 and 11. Organised by Neeva Events, the exhibition cum
sale features items like silver and gold jewellery, costume jewellery,
kurtis, diyas, hand bags, kids’ clothing, footwear, household and
lifestyle products. The expo will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ale and hearty

Oktoberfest at Taj
Coromandel was
Chennai’s own way
of celebrating the
world’s biggest
beer festival
ERGO CORRESPONDENT

O
ktoberfest is the biggest beer fest
in the world, unfolding in Ger-
many in the month of Septem-
ber and the first week of
October. On Friday evening, Taj Coro-
mandel and Lufthansa together orga-
nised their own version of Oktoberfest.
Although a small affair, the event on
the lawns of the hotel witnessed a rea-
sonable turnout that included socia-
lites and German nationals in the city.
Some of the guests included Anand
Amritraj, Vidhya Singh and members
of the German consulate in Chennai.
The fest kick-started with Bavarian
band ‘The Moonlights’ enthralling the
poolside audience with some native
numbers. Popular hits like ‘Pretty
Woman’ saw some guests shake a leg
along with the band.
Interestingly, some guests sported
the well-known dirndl (traditional (Clockwise from top) Women clad in dirndl, the
peasant attire) and had some fellow traditional peasant attire; cheers to Oktoberfest;
guests conducting eager enquiries the Bavarian band, The Moonlights, performs at
about the attire. Taj Coromandel. PHOTOS: S.S. KUMAR
Apart from the free-flowing beer, the
star of the evening was some authentic
German cuisine, made with ingre-
dients specially flown down for the
evening. ■

War for a post
A key post in the city police has remained
vacant for quite sometime. A top IPS officer
is to fill the vacancy very soon. The officer is
known to have won a tug-of-war for the post
for which several top cops had also tried
their luck. Apparently, the triumphant officer
had ‘paid respect’ to a top state minister.
Personal grudge
A lady constable attached to the Ashok Na-
gar police station attempted suicide recently.
An inspector attached to that police district
is said to be the reason behind her taking the
extreme step. But some reliable sources say a
‘well-known’ corrupt lady constable from
Adyar is linking the two as she holds a grudge
against the inspector.
The matter has gone to the top brass and is
under scrutiny.
Clean and clear?
Interestingly, in the last few months there
has not been a single immoral trafficking
case registered by the city police. While the
police stand by their statement that ‘the city
is clean and clear of prostitution’, the inside
story is that the business is thriving in the
city like never before. Some corrupt officers
in the anti-vice squad are known to be col-
lecting a hefty monthly fee to stay off action.
United we stand
Some policemen who were previously part
of a special party under a former top cop in
the north zone are now a sad lot after being
sent to non-lucrative posts. Some have been
repeatedly lamenting “That was a life, man.”
But hope floats for these khakis as their for-
mer boss had gone after saying, “I will be
back and we will be together.”
04 KALEIDOSCOPE ERGO Monday, October 6, 2008

‘‘
More than anything else the sensation is one of
perfect peace mingled with an excitement that
strains every nerve to the utmost, if you can conceive of
such a combination.
Wilbur Wright

Flying high with innovations

쒀 a repeat.
Japan’s Keio University Professor Hiroshi
Shimizu displays a design study model of
a personal electric vehicle at his
laboratory in Kawasaki, suburban Tokyo
on Saturday. The eight-wheel mobility
vehicle is powered by Lithium battery
and can drive at a maximum speed of
100 kmh. AFP PHOTO
H
undred years since the Wright
Brothers took wing many inven-
tions have taken place in the field
of aviation. Now, a website has
compiled a list of the greatest innovations
that have taken the world by storm.
■ Cabin pressurisation: The average
passenger doesn’t think about cabin pres-
surisation until their yellow safety masks
fall from the ceiling, but the reality is that
if the technology hadn’t been developed
during WWII, people wouldn’t be able to
fly much above 10,000 ft.
■ Black Box: Morbid but essential, the
black box was invented in the mid-1950s,
and not only helps investigators learn why
a plane crashed, but how that information
can be applied to other aircraft to prevent
■ The Concorde: It never delivered on
its commercial promise, and it was an en-
vironmental bad boy, but who can deny
that breaking the sound barrier aboard a
commercial aircraft is cool.
■ Radar: Sure, the airlines are dying to
replace it with GPS technology, but for
decades it’s been radar that helps air traf-
fic controllers locate and track planes up
to 200 miles away.
■ The jumbo jet
■ The hub and spoke system
■ The Very Light Jet (VLJ)
■ Winglets
■ The flying wing
■ Stealth aircraft
■ Jetway
AFP FILE PHOTO

■ Deicing
The list of top 12 inventions has
been amassed by aviation.com,
as reported by Wired News
ANI

Hi5 also translates
Social network Hi5 has
launched a translation project
powered by its own users. The
site is now available not only in
American English, but also in
Catalan, Danish, British English,
Finnish, Hindi, Macedonian, Slo-
쒀 vakian, Mexican Spanish, Colom-
The “Twist of Fate” balloon, piloted by bian Spanish, and Swedish. The
Stephen Andrew Coffing of Albuquerque, translations were produced by
soars over the Rio Grande during the community volunteers and veri-
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta fied by translation service Lion-
on Saturday in Albuquerque, New bridge. Later in October 2008, the
Mexico. Over 600 hot air balloons, site plans to include translated
representing 42 states and 24 countries versions of the site in Albanian,
are participating in the fiesta. AFP PHOTO Bengali, Bulgarian, Croatian,
French, Maltese, Norwegian, Ser-
bian, and several other Spanish
dialects. Many of Hi5 65 million
users live in South America.
Camera with govt
info sold on eBay
Police are investigating the
eBay sale of a digital camera con-
taining Secret Intelligence Ser-
vice images of terror suspects on
eBay. The 28-year-old bought the
Nikon Cool Pix camera for $31 on
the auction website before going
on a vacation to the U.S. When he
downloaded his photos, he dis-
covered images of terror sus-
pects, along with their names,
fingerprints and images of
launchers and missiles. “We can
confirm we seized a camera after
a member of the public reported
it,” a statement from the U.K. po-
lice reads.
A document marked “top se-
cret” revealing details of MI6
agents’ encrypted computer sys-
tem was also found among the
images.
Viagra to be sold
online
Anti-impotence drug Viagra is
to be prescribed online for the
first time to men in the U.K.,
which experts believe will en-
courage, embarrassed men to
seek treatment. Lloyds pharmacy
is prescribing Viagra online to
men suffering from erectile dys-
function using general practitio-
ners from health website
DrThom to determine if a patient
is suitable for the drug. Patients
will be given a trial course of eight
tablets, costing $83.25 for four
pills. Men will have to fill in a
questionnaire with details in-
cluding their height, weight, lev-
els of sexual desire and how long
he has suffered from impotence.
■
WENN
Monday, October 6, 2008
Websites of the day
Find out the stories behind people’s body art:
http://www.behindtheink.com/ Share your bad
boss experiences: http://
www.employeesurveys.com/bosses/badboss.htm
My paati strongest
A day care centre that left the Suris in a lurch prompted them to start their own,
thus helping many more working parents in similar situations
S
ample this: You are a married,
career-oriented woman jug-
gling work and family. The
company selects you for a
three-month on-site project to the
U.K. You are thrilled about this
dream assignment and leave your
toddler at the care of a day care cen-
tre, with your supportive husband
promising to take charge of the rest.
But before you settle down to the
new environment, there is some
not-great news from home.
Like this one incident which left
the Suris helpless. A notice caution-
ing them that the day care centre
was closing down and their two-
year-old daughter had to be taken
away in nine days!
Does this ring a bell? Have you
sympathised with your married col-
leagues, listening to similar stories?
It’s quite possible that you have
even seen women having to make a
choice between career and family.
Though the Suris did panic initia-
lly, they decided to sow the seeds of
an entrepreneurial venture from
their adversity.
“When I returned from the U.K,
my husband had already opened
our first centre,” recalls Preetha Su-
ri, then working with Siemens
as Senior Consultant.
Kanchana Paati – My Grand-
ma’s Place (named after Suri’s
mother) opened on August 15,
2006, with nine children in an in-
dependent bungalow.
“Thanks to my exposure to the
city, its people and the marketing
background I come from, I started
our Nungambakkam centre within
five days,” says Vridhachalam Ga-
napathi Suriyanarayanan a.k.a. Su-
ri, who has worked for companies
like Xerox, Canon and Toyota.
05
US $ 46.88
SOURCE: RBI
Pound 82.97
Euro 64.99
100 Yen 44.49
Grandma’s Care For Your Child: Suri and Preetha
have more plans and activities lined up for
Kanchana Paati. PHOTO: S.S. KUMAR
A place like your mother’s... bad and Cochin. quit as Director of
“Hyderabad should be Bhrigus Software India
That’s their catchline attracting our first centre outside to take up the business
many corporate working parents. Chennai, which we hope further, it took about a
Proof of which is the increasing to start between January and year for me to make up my
number of centres in the city – Anna March,” they say. mind. I had second thoughts about
Nagar, Velachery and Perungudi, Their emphasis in not calling quitting to do something on my
while those in Ashok Nagar and Kil- Kanchana Paati another school or own,” explains the Managing
pauk will come up soon. It is also day care centre but ‘My Grandma’s Director.
mulling over opening branches in Place’ is evident from the spa-
Bangalore, Hydera- cious bungalows they have re- Paati’s team
done for children. But, probably, The couple say that every staff
what caught the attention of who works with them is either a
many more working parents mother or a grandmother. Interest-
ute
In a Min hana Paati
was a centre functioning from 8 ingly, one of their first team mem-
a.m. to 8 p.m. – their USP even bers, Pamela Samuel, is a retired
: Kanc today. principal of Chellammal College for
Company So, was funding each of their Women. Today, the Suris claim they
006
Started: 2 and
centres difficult? “We had have a good number of mothers
: Preetha saved enough from our well- from the corporate sectors working
Founders paying jobs. Money was not a with them. “Our employees only
Suri problem,” says Preetha, who work six hours a day,” adds Preetha.
Team: 62 e, play resigned after 15 years of cor- ■
c u s A re as: Crèch fter- porate experience to turn (If you are an entrepreneur with a
F o a
re-school, entrepreneur.
school, p rt and leisure,
successful business model or know
o Was it a tough decision to one, write to us at
school, sp mp take? “While my husband firstinnings@goergo.in)
m m e r c a
su
e Better:
Know M hanapaati.in
c
www.kan
06 VILLAGE ERGO Monday, October 6, 2008

Must-watch for animals

Animal lovers in Holland have launched a national
campaign to start up a public TV channel for animals.
The network, Piep, will broadcast documentaries
animals can enjoy, as well as shows for kids about
animal rights.

No water in world’s Couple told they’re ’too heavy

poshest new hotel for plane to take off’!
The world’s poshest new hotel that has stunning A couple weighing 38
water slides and aquariums has been labelled stone (241.31 kg)
‘Fawlty Towers’ by Brits after the place’s taps ran altogether was asked
dry. Visitors who flocked to be among the first to to move by the
stay at Dubai’s 750million pounds ‘Atlantis’, stewardess because
claimed to be left with dry taps for endless hours - they were ‘too heavy
even at the bar. Owing to the flawed plumbing, for the plane to take
the holidaymakers were left with dead flushes and off’. Alan Coupe and
showers, while some got stuck in the elevators. wife Jane, who were
ANI on their way to
Guernsey for a week’s
vacation with their son
Chris, were asked to
New Yorkers go caribou hunting change their seats
while the plane was
with Sarah Palin still stationed at the
Even if you can’t go on an actual caribou hunt with runway. Coupe, who
Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, you can was 20 stone (127 kg), shifted to the front of the plane to
certainly get shot trying. An artist in Brooklyn, New York, maintain an even-spread of the weight, following which
has created an exhibit where visitors can get photographed the plane took off. Mrs. Coupe, who runs a breakfast
for free - wearing a fake fur vest, brandishing a cardboard business with hubby, was so embarrassed that she couldn’t
rifle - with life-size cutouts of Palin and daughter Piper. A meet anybody’s eyes. “The stewardess asked one of us to
large, stuffed, slain caribou is thrown in for dramatic get up and move to the front, so Alan volunteered to
effect. The work by move," Telegraph quoted the 49-year-old as saying.
artist Dawn Robyn ANI
Petrlik is entitled ‘A
Photo Op with Sarah
Palin’ and features a
rifle-toting Palin and her
daughter kneeling in Australian hospital stops
the snow, with
mountains in the treating pets
background. A fluttering Dogs and cats with cancer will no longer be treated
US flag at the side at an Australian hospital because of concerns the
completes the picture. practice would be seen as inappropriate, a spokesman
“Humour is the best way said on Sunday. Pets suffering from cancer had been
sometimes to deal with treated with the same radiation equipment used on
very serious issues,” humans at Melbourne’s The Alfred hospital since
Petrlik told the New 2001. The hospital stopped using the cancer-treating
York Daily News of the machines on animals after a ban was imposed by
exhibit. Victoria’s Department of Human Services.
DPA AFP

Most annoying things for Britons

B
enefit scroungers have
topped the UK list of ‘100
most annoying things for
2008.’
The Lactofree survey for the
most irritating things this year
has claimed that people in UK
have high disregard for benefit
scroungers, followed by the credit
crunch, which stands at the sec-
ond place.
Irritating tailgaters claims the
Prime Minister Gordon
Brown also features
high above in people’s
hate-list, and has been
placed at number six
third spot, while those much-hat-
ed cold callers take the fourth po-
sition in the poll.
People who read over your
shoulder make many Britons fu-
rious and are standing at the fifth
position.
And ironically, Prime Minister
Gordon Brown also features high
above in people’s hate-list, and
has been placed at number six.
At number 7, is Fiona Phillips-
the 47-year-old breakfast presen-
ter who is known for her cringe-
worthy interviews, especially her
on-screen gaffes.
Rounding up at number nine
and ten are rising fuel prices and
falling house prices respectively.
■ they are fat, Queue jumpers,
ANI
Brits’ most annoying things
Benefit scroungers, The credit
crunch, Tailgaters, Cold call-
ers, People reading over your
shoulder, Gordon Brown, Fio-
na Phillips, Being bloated, Ris-
ing fuel prices, Falling house
prices, The wet summer, Mid-
dle lane drivers, Constipation,
Bossiness, Slow internet con-
nections, Being put on hold,
Pregnant women smoking, So-
meone nicking your parking
spot, Stepping in dog poo, Je-
hovah’s Witnesses, Debt com-
panies advertising on TV,
Skinny people who complain
Bullying, Noisy neighbours,
Nosey neighbours, People
parking in disabled bays when
they aren’t disabled, Junk
mail, Snobs, Noisy eaters, Dog
owners who don’t clean up af-
ter their pets, People putting
our Olympic achievements
down, Novelty ringtones, Au-
tomated phone systems,
Chavs, People who walk slow-
ly, People who take their kids
to shops and let them run riot,
Amy Winehouse, Sienna Mill-
er’s love life, Rude shop staff,
Wasps, Diarrhoea and Cristia-
no Ronaldo
 Monday, October 6, 2008
07
Condoms swiped
This day, that year Five thousand condoms have been stolen from a
It was on October 6, 1848 that ’condom-mobile’ in Mexico. The vehicle, which
Austria declared war on promotes HIV/AIDS awareness, was swiped from Mexico
Hungary. City but when it was recovered, the prophylactics - as
well as expensive sound equipment and a motor.

Oz for more ‘real’ models

Govt to ask fashion
T
he Australian govern-
ment may ask the fashion
industry to use less industry to use more nor-
mal-sized models as it
Barbie models battles to encourage a healthy
body image among young
people, a federal minister said
Sunday.
Youth minister Kate Ellis
said the government was con-
sidering introducing a code of
conduct which would apply to
the fashion, advertising and
media industries.
“It’s about representing
people of all different sizes
and all different looks and en-
suring people know that it’s
OK not to (be skinny),” she
told The Sunday Telegraph.
The code of conduct could
also require fashion maga-
zines to disclose which images
had been digitally enhanced
and limit the placement of ad-
vertisements for diet products
and cosmetic surgery.
“It talks about disclosing
when images are being altered
so that kids aren’t aspiring to
look like models that don’t
look like that in real life any-
way,” Ellis told the Australian
Broadcasting Corporation.
“It’s about transparency in
the media but also promoting
health, promoting healthy
body images and saying
healthy is beautiful.”
A generation of children
were suffering from eating dis-
orders as they tried to look like
catwalk models, said Ellis, who
is pushing for the national
code to be finalised by Janu-
ary.
The minister said such a
code could be effective even if
it were voluntary but that it
was important the govern-
ment worked with the media
and fashion industries to im-
plement change.
“We need to have them on
board and we need them to
recognise the importance of
making sure that we’re send-
ing out positive messages,”
she said.
But the editor of Australian
Vogue Kirstie Clements was
pessimistic about the plan,
saying the use of more nor-
mal-sized women in fashion
magazines had not been suc-
cessful in the past.
“It’s about beautiful young
girls creating beautiful fanta-
sies. It always has been, it al-
ways will be,” Clements told
The Sunday Telegraph. ■
AFP

Crack this interview
W ant to crack a job interview
without any blunders? Well,
then here are some things, which
the interviewers don’t expect you
to do during the one on one ses-
sion. The survey carried out by a
career website over more than
3000 managers and human re-
sources professionals brought
forth the worst interview faux pas
by job seekers that failed them to
land the job.
Fifty one per cent of managers
said ‘dressing inappropriately’ for
an interview was the biggest mis-
take a jobseeker could make.
Complaining about a former
employer can also land you in
trouble for 49 per cent of manag-
ers said that it was the biggest
mistake you could make.
While seeming disinterested
was third, with 48 per cent.
Jobseekers appear disinterest-
ed when they haven’t researched
the company and don’t have any
Get purified
questions - another thing inter-
viewers hate - said Connors.
Do not ask about your salary in
the first interview. Focus on sell-
ing the product, which is you.
Remember to turn off your
phone before entering the room.
Don’t be too friendly since inter-
viewers may try to draw candi-
dates into a ‘false sense of
security’ to see if they stay profes-
sional.
Avoid using slangs. Younger
generation make the mistake of
‘like this, like that’, which is un-
professional and annoys older
managers.
Connor said that telling too
many personal details when
asked ‘tell us about yourself’ is
another big mistake. Have a per-
sonal statement of two to three 쒀 A devotee of the Chinese shrine Toi Toi with his cheek pierced with umbrellas, looks
minutes prepared which high- on during a ceremony on Sunday at the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket. The festival
lights your key strengths and how celebrates vegetarianism and calls on devotees through acts of mortification to
they are relevant. ■ purify themselves as they take on the sins of the community. AFP PHOTO
ANI
08 SPORT ERGO Monday, October 6, 2008

Welcome Phelps
Swimmer Michael Phelps was formally
welcomed home in US with a two-
pronged celebration that began with a
parade and ended with a fireworks
show. The events cost an estimated
$300,000

Selectors in dilemma
over Akhtar
The national selection committee of Pakistan
has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to give
clear directives on whether fast bowler
Shoaib Akhtar should be
selected in the 15-
member squad to be
BEAT the
To
HEAT
announced on Monday
for the four-nation
Twenty20 event in
Toronto, Canada.
A national selector
confirmed they had
sought advice from the
Board since the team
had to be finalised
tomorrow and Shoaib’s
case pertaining to his payment of seven
million rupees fine would not be heard by
The Aussies have, on several past occasions, complained
the Lahore High Court before October 8.
The Lahore court is due to take up an
of the debilitating heat and pollution in India
application from the Board seeking
instructions on whether Shoaib should be

allowed to play for Pakistan and in Pakistan
without first paying the fine imposed on
him by an appellate tribunal in June.
The tribunal had reduced a five-year ban on
the fast bowler to 18 months but instead
added the fine.
The Board wants to know if the bowler is
eligible for selection without clearing the
fine as it is a legal matter and the court has
already suspended his ban till the hearing is
held on another writ petition filed by Shoaib
challenging the ban and fine.
PTI
Jankovic beats Williams to
reach final
Jelena Jankovic won a fierce scrap with
Venus Williams 6-7 7-5 6-2 on Saturday
to set up a Stuttgart Grand Prix final
against Nadia Petrova. Serb Jankovic,
seeded second but already assured of
taking over as world number one on
Monday, edged a classic encounter with
the sixth-seeded American in two hours
45 minutes despite being hampered by a
foot problem.
Reuters
F
rom stocking crates of bot-
tled water and energy
drinks to popping stomach-
lining tablets before their
meals, Australian cricketers are
doing all they can to beat the
heat in India as they prepare to
take on Anil Kumble’s men in a
gruelling Test series.
“Dealing with the stifling con-
ditions is the top priority. Litres
of Gatorade have been ordered.
Crates of bottled water will also
be used.
Players have their own individ-
ually marked water bottles.
Drinks and towels are left in Es-
kies at fine leg and third man for
the bowlers,” reported The Daily
Telegraph, while revealing the
Aussie plan to tackle the heat
during the four-match Test series
that starts October 9 in Banga-
lore.
DEALING WITH The Australians have, on sever-
al past occasions, complained of
THE STIFLING the debilitating heat and pollu-
tion in India and Michael Kas-
CONDITIONS IS prowicz had famously claimed to
have lost eight kg while bowling
THE TOP during a Test in Bangalore.
And in a bid to build up their
PRIORITY.
stamina, the touring side has hit
LITRES OF the gym in a big way.
“It is Stuart Karppinen’s job to
GATORADE ensure players are at peak phys-
ical fitness. Players have their
HAVE BEEN own specialist programs at train-
ing,” added the report.
ORDERED.
The spicy Indian food is anoth-
er aspect of the off-field chal-
CRATES OF
BOTTLED
lenges the Aussies claim to face
and to make sure their stomachs
don’t trouble them during what
WATER WILL is expected to be a nerve-wrack-
ing series, the visitors are pop-
ALSO BE USED ping the necessary pills.■
PTI

Chinese soccer fans

protest player suspension
Tens of thousands of soccer fans marched
in the Chinese city of Wuhan, blocked
traffic and some charged a police blockade
in protest against an
eight-game suspension
of a star player, a Hong
Kong newspaper said.
The Chinese Football
Association suspended
defender Li Weifeng
and fined him 8,000
yuan ($1,169) on
Tuesday for a scuffle
with a player from the
opposing team who
was given the same punishment. The
September 28 game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Reuters
PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU
 Monday, October 6, 2008
‘‘
The last time I checked, I won the Tour de France seven straight
years and was never once found to be guilty of doping despite
seven years of intense scrutiny.
Cyclist Lance Armstrong hit out at organizers of the race who said his return to cycling was embarrassing.
Stoner wins Aussie MotoGP
C
asey Stoner salvaged a home triumph out of
the wreckage of losing his world title to Valen-
tino Rossi with a dominant all-the-way victory
in the Australian MotoGP on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Australian Ducati rider claimed
back-to-back Phillip Island GPs with a 6.5 second
victory over Rossi, with American Nicky Hayden
third on his Repsol Honda.
Stoner, who lamented his two crashes at the
Czech and San Marino MotoGPs in August, which
effectively handed his world title to the resurgent
Rossi, gave none of his rivals a chance after he led
from the pole to the chequered flag.
“Before the race I didn’t know what to expect,”
Stoner said. “A lot of people were going quick, but I
gave it my all and managed to pull a gap in the
middle of the race.
“It’s awesome to do it here again, two from two at
Phillip Island – it’s brilliant to win in Australia.”
It was Stoner’s
AFP
15th victory in his 50th MotoGP and followed his
success before his home fans at Phillip Island last
year.
Stoner powered around the 4.448-kilometre
Phillip Island circuit in a race time of 40 minutes
56.643 seconds over the 120 kilometre (75-mile)
journey.
Stoner’s fifth win of the year broke Rossi’s run of
five straight wins, but the Italian scored his 11th
straight podium in Australia.
Rossi had locked up the championship on his
Fiat Yamaha the previous weekend in Japan but
had to fight his way from 12th on the grid after a
crash in Saturday’s qualifying to overtake Hayden
on the final lap to capture second spot.
“I thought it would be a disaster when I woke
up this morning and I felt as if my head was go-
ing to explode, but the medical people
massaged me and it was
much better for the race,”
Rossi said.
“It was a very exciting
race from the beginning to
the end because I could not
relax.
“Unfortunately, with my
mistake yesterday when I
had a big crash and started
from the fourth row, (it)
made it very difficult.
“When I saw Nicky becom-
ing bigger and bigger I just
pushed and tried to catch him.
I think second place for us to-
day is the best result.”
Stoner’s convincing victory
lifted him to 245 points to all
but ensure him of fin-
ishing second in this
year’s championship
with two races left in
Malaysia and Spain.
AFP
09
McGrath, Richards,
Sehwag hail Sachin
Australian pace legend Glenn McGrath, West
Indian great Sir Vivian Richards and the man
who has been called a ’Tendulkar clone’ --
Virender Sehwag -- are unanimous in their
opinion that Tendulkar does not need anybody
other than himself to decide
when the time is right to call it a
day.
"I find such readings of Sachin’s
career to be a bit harsh,"
McGrath wrote in a column
published in the latest issue of
’The Week’ magazine.
Richards goes a step further and
says that Tendulkar’s refusal to leave the
international stage even after playing for 19
years is based on his love for the game and
instead of being critical of his continuation,
critics and fans should enjoy whatever is left of
his career.
Sehwag puts it rather bluntly and says
Tendulkar is "god of cricket" and should
continue as long as he wants.
PTI
Paes-Dlouhy falter
at Japan Open
Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy’s bid for a
second successive ATP title ended in
disappointment after the top seeds were
stunned by the Russian-German pair of Mikhail
Youzhny and Mischa Zverev in the
finals of AIG Japan Open in Tokyo
on Sunday.
The unseeded Youzhny and Zverev
beat the Indo-Czech pair 6-3 6-4 to
capture their second ATP title
together. Playing a solid service
game, Youzhny and Zverev
converted two of the four break
points that came their way and protected their
serve against four break point chances that
Dlouhy and Paes earned in the 58-minute
encounter. It is the second time this year that
Youzhny and Zverev have combined to deny
Paes and Dlouhy a title win, having also done
so when they claimed their maiden ATP title at
Halle in June.
PTI
Brand Mallya on a roll
Formula One team Force India’s owner Vijay
Mallya is expanding his football interest
outside India and is on the verge of inking a
shirt sponsorship deal with English
Championship club Queens Park Rangers,
according to media reports.
Mallya, who sponsors Kolkata
clubs Mohun Bagan and East
Bengal, is close to agreeing a
five-year USD 35 million deal to
advertise his Kingfisher beer on
the players’ shirts, and a
naming rights deal for the
Loftus Road stadium, to be
named after Mallya’s Kingfisher
brand, the ’Daily Mail’ reported. An
announcement about Mallya’s involvement is
expected as early as next week, the report
said.
PTI
 10 FLICK ERGO Monday, October 6, 2008

Broadway’s tribute
Broadway theatres will dim their lights on Friday
to honour the late Paul Newman, who first set
foot on a Broadway stage in 1953. The legendary
film star died of cancer last week at age 83.
Reuters

K. MALATHI

I
n the highly competitive world of Kollywood, the very
young Tamannaah has managed to be cast opposite
Kollywood’s top heroes like Suriya, Dhanush and Bha-
rath.
Ask her how it happened, and she smiles. “I was a great
fan of Suriya, especially after watching Kakha Kakha.
When K.V. Anand sir approached me for Ayan opposite
Suriya, I grabbed the opportunity. I am enjoying
working with K.V. Anand and Suriya. It’s a dream
come true.”
After watching Happy Days Dhanush
complimented her work in the movie and
I wouldn’t mind now she is acting in Padikkathavan with
working with her him. Padikkathavan is a comedy, Ta-
mannaah’s first.
(Illeana) if I get the Besides, Tamannaah is very excited
about acting in the Tamil remake of Jab
opportunity and time We Met. The pretty girl from Mumbai is
playing Kareena Kapoor’s part.
“I loved Kareena’s role in the original. Even
before I was signed on for the remake I made sure
that everyone I am close to watched the movie. I was
overwhelmed when I was offered Kareena’s role later. Here
I am starring opposite Bharath,” she says.
Tamannaah has her hands full nowadays, with projects
including Ayan with Suriya, Padikkathavan with Dhanush,
Anandha Thandavam with new-comer Sidharth and a Telu-
gu film, Koncham Ishtamga Konsham Kastamga.
When asked about media speculation of deliberately
avoiding the role in Puli, she says, “I respect S.J. Suryah a
lot, having worked with him in Viyabari. These talks are
baseless. I was busy with my other shoots and that is why I
did not sign Puli. He knew the reason and totally under-
stands.”
Despite her busy schedule, she manages to stay fit. “I
make sure that I exercise everyday in my gym. Apart from
that, I maintain a diet. I drink lots of water. I have a South
Indian diet. I eat well. I make sure that my stamina doesn’t
go down. I sleep well when I get time.”
“My dad is my best critic. He liked Kallori a lot because I
was without make-up and I really expressed myself,’’ she
says.
However, she claims that she is not just daddy’s girl, add-
ing that her parents are there for her always.
Tamannaah denies the rumour that she and Illeana do
not get along. “I wouldn’t mind working with her if I get
the opportunity and time,” she says.
Tamannaah’s dream is to act in Gowtham Menon’s mo-
vie. Ask her why and she tells you she doesn’t know. ■

n n a a h ’s
a
Tam st
wis h l i The young actor
on co-stars,
controversies and
PHOTO: S.S. KUMAR

dream projects
 Monday, October 6, 2008
11
Santana’s wish
Carlos Santana is on tour and has an album coming out, but in an interview with
Rolling Stone posted online on Friday the rocker said he sees himself one day heading
up a church in Hawaii. Santana also told the magazine about the pain of recently
going through a divorce from his wife of 34 years, Deborah.

SHALINI SHAH the street by a bunch of black- through his entire role – peren- bines sadism with a distorted
shalinishah@goergo.in hooded evil incarnates. Enter nially grumpy, hardly larger- sense of humour, is reduced to a
Sonia (Priyanka Chopra) – than-life as the role demanded, poor imitation of the Joker. And

W
e’ve heard how Goldie
Behl, during a conver-
sation with buddy Abh-
ishek, narrated the
story of a breed of ancient war-
rior kings who’ve been assigned
the task of preventing evil from
taking over the world. Abhishek,
it seems, convinced Behl to
make the film and promised to
act in it to turn idea to reality.
After watching Drona, you won-
der why.
There’s a miserable Aditya
(Abhishek Bachchan) who’s
meted out step treatment by his
stepmom (Navneet Nishan) and
a SRK-look-like of a brother.
A chance encounter with ma-
gician Riz Raizada (K.K. Me-
non), an asura in human form
follows, and he is chased down
leather, black eyeshadow, flow-
ing chiffon, et al –and the goons
are driven away. Temporarily.
The rest is about how Aditya
discovers that he, in fact, is a
Drona, a race of people as-
signed the task of protecting
amrit from falling into the
hands of the asuras.
The film has its plus-points.
There are some eye-catching
special effects and stunts, and
the change in landscapes is
brought about with sheer bril-
liance. This interspersed with
the narration of myth in graphic
novel form would have
made for an interesting
watch. If only…
Abhishek sleep-walks
never making the transition
from Aditya to Drona. Close-up
shots of his kohl-lined eyes, at
moments supposed to show
Drona’s strengthening of deter-
mination, serve no purpose.
Priyanka Chopra carries her
warrior role with conviction and
is good in the stunt sequences.
Soon, she too is reduced to the
damsel in distress.
K.K. Menon has always been
known as an actor of subtlety.
However, Riz Raizada, the gar-
ish, evil magician who com-
Jaya Bachchan seems to have
taken a liking to playing the Film: Drona
lonely woman in the castle wait- Director: Goldie Behl
ing for the kadmon ke aahat of Cast: Abhishek Bachchan,
her long-lost son (remember Priyanka Chopra, K.K.
K3G?). Menon, Jaya Bachchan
The cliché called suspension
of belief is applicable to all fan-
tasy films – only as long as the
realm of fantasy has something
better to offer. ■

A DRONE called DRONA

Karthik Kumar to do
negative role
After Poi Solla Porom, Karthik Kumar’s next
venture is Ninaithale Inikkum. A remake of
Malayalam film Classmates, Ninaithale
Inikkum has Prithviraj and Priyamani in the
lead. Karthik Kumar will be donning the
negative character played by Jayasurya in the
original. Though Karthik had been part of
several films in the past, he has been
branded as an actor who was considered fit
to play an NRI or a foreign-returned youth.
Poi Solla Porom was a welcome change for
the actor.
12 SCAN ERGO Monday, October 6, 2008

Oh god give me enough power to change

this Monday to Friday!
Friday’s question: Bit lazyness to move to office, but
9790609693
Today’s Ning Updates
enthusiastically plans for the upcoming
What is the first thought weekend with spirit Group Alert : Vinod Philip has created the group Changepond
Technologies.
Kumaresan G, Wipro Technologies.
on your mind when you Iniku school ku poganum, offshore Active Forum Questions : The right to education campaign for
corporates conducted by CRY posted by Diwakar of TCS
teacherum thituvanga,onsite teacher um
wake up on a Monday thittuvanga. Is Sakarakatti the first light-hearted romantic movie in Tamil?
posted by Mathivanan of TCS.
Ann, HEXAWARE
morning? Why there is such a long gap between Log on and register at goergo.ning.com
When would Friday evening come?? Monday and Friday. Check calendar for
9994238373 any national holiday that week.
Why God made Monday?? Vicky, csscorp
Sarat Rajan, TCS Vow if i work for 5 more days, I get 2 days
Just 5 more days for the next weekend to spend at my own pace.
… Viswanathan Iyer,Cognizant.
Kp of Cochin Sun raises everyday then y can’t we call
1st thought is to find a safe reason for everyday as Sunday.... At least Monday we
project delay in status meeting... 2nd can consider na.
thought i wish my manager’s car get 9962001668 Ashwani Gupta of Citigroup
punctured every Monday. Oh my weekend is over. has nominated the "Gangsta
Madhan HCL Tech Nithya Priya S Guys" as partners in crime.
How nice it will be, if this is a Saturday One week less to get the next salary credit They clicked this pic at Yela-
morning! R Suresh, CGSL giri Hills.
9962456567 First thing. Book tickets for the movies for
Should I brush ? next weekend. It’s always full on
9940050318 weekends, u know
Can it be another days off and can i go Shinodh from CGSL
to sleep again Do I want to wake up;-) John of Infosys Technologies
Rebecca allsec Kohila TCS has nominated his gang as
- Oh lord, 5 days to go for the I will compromise myself. We should need partners in crime. They
weekend!!! to wait for another 5 days for Saturday. clicked this pic at Vandalur
- let me call up my office and let them SIVA- PSI Team Perot Systems Zoo.
know I’m sick (start the week with a lie) Expecting when friday evening will come
- It’s not Monday today - it’s Mournday Viji, Satyam Computers
- Wake up on a Monday morning? I lose Another revolution 9*5 (9 hrs & 5 days)
my sleep every Sunday night. begins.
9840155659 Venkatesan, Technip. Prasanna Venkatesh of SCM
I would like to get a call from my Oh god! Why cant we have 5 days for the Microsytems has nominated
colleques, says, "Today is holiday da, weekend and 2 days as weekdays? his colleagues as partners in
come will go for movie". 9840524650 crime. They clicked this pic
Francis, TCS Can see two extremes of life in consecutive at Yercaud.
Which shift im in? Plan for the coming days, nethu sorgam inaiki(monday)
weekend. naragam!!Huh.
Vimal Raj Vijay Krishnan, Thinksoft.
Why company is not giving Sunday and Isn’t today a holiday? Sleep for another Send us your favourite clicks of your office colleagues/ gang and
Monday as holiday. one more hour get it featured in my.ergo pages. Email us at my.ergo@goergo.in
Satys, Interglobe Santhoshkumar, Satyam with the subjectline: "Partners in Crime"
Do i really need to go to the office, Oh god at least I Should reach Office On
thereby spoiling the mood of others on time tday
the very first day of the week? Praveen kumar.Allsec Technologies.
Nataraj, Changepond Tech. Oh oh I will sleep for ten more minutes. Its
5 more days to kill for the next weekend better i be late than taking off today
Jaya Bharathi, EDS Vikas IVS – Infosys
Ayyo kadavule No sweet dreams for the next 5 days
Monday vandhuduche Ezhil, HCL
Innaiku saturday va matthidu. Oh! God when the next weekend will
S.Ramesh Changepond tech come (for getting hangover)
Oh my god, let there be a bomb alert in Satish Ramco systems
my office.. So tat my pl calls me up n tell Freedom at last. No taking wife out. Dont
not to come to office.. have to listen to her. Come back late after
Deepa , TCS hanging out with friends and say project Navaskhan SM of TCS
Atleast today i should complete my work meeting doodled this.
without backlog. 9789798807
Ruba
To check the calendar for any function/
festival leave in this week days Today’s Query:
Pradha K, Changepond tech ltd. The most irritating behaviour of movie
How nice it would be if Saturdays and goers in movie halls?
Sundays are there, thrice a week?
Chandramohan, Hexaware
 Monday, October 6, 2008
Hi,
I would highly appreciate if you can brand your news paper in a
better way. We could see a lot and lot amount of tips which are
related to sex and adultery. It would be great and appreciated if
these articles could be avoided.
Vijay Mathews
We cater to office-going audience, adults who have relationships
and are mature enough to handle such content …what say?)
Harish has been nominat-
ed as Office Angel by Jeffreena
Miranda of Infosys Technol-
ogies Limited, Chennai.
Beyond Talent and Hard
Work there should be a positive
driving force behind for any
success, and this 2 successful
year of my journey in this IT
field is due to one of my friend
who had been my driving force
in my initial days at work. He
knows how to teach me, how to
get me away from a struggle,
how to refresh me midst of the
work pressure and how to
rejuvenate me in troubles and
he also did that. I thank him
for being my angel at my work
place.
Is there an angel in your office - ideally it could be a behind-
the- scenes staff - an office attender or a cleaner. Someone
who is there all the time, helping, but their presence is taken
for granted. Feature them here, and give them their due.
Send your emails to my.ergo@goergo.in with subject line:
"Office Angel"
Thookathula kosu kadikaamal iruka enna vazhi....????
its very simple...
kosu thoonguna pinnadi neenga thoonkuga..!!!!!!!
Suriyaprabha from TCS
13
Dear Annam, Paras kaushik, TCS
Wishing you a day as special as you Dear rekha(kaki),
are…. Someone like "TAKI" , someone like
Happy Birthday to you!!!! "SAKI" ...But i like you my
Regards, "KAKI"...’HAPPY BIRTHDAY".....
Aswini & Durga God Bless You My Dear...
Congruent Solutions Pvt Ltd With lots of love,
Hi Rajagopalan, (Admin - AMB4 ) Hema.
Wish you many more happy returns Dear Renu,
of the day. "Birthdays are nature’s way of telling
Have a great day and wonderful year us to eat more cake." Where is our
ahead. cake????
Shanmugam A "You are only young once, but you
HCL Technologies Ltd can be immature for a lifetime."
Dear Shivanarain, Many more happy returns of the day.
Wishing you a fantastic Birthday. May all your wishes come true this
May the year continue to be good to year..
U. From Friends,
U r not getting older, u r getting Krishna, Suresh, Arthi, Portia and Nimmy
better. (CSS Corp)
May this year bring with it all the Hey Subhra,
success & fulfillment that ur heart Many more happy returns of the
desires. day.Have a gr8 year ahead.
Happy Happy Birthday Cheers!!
Ur Beloved friends, Old Testing Team Buddies,
Rani, Vinu, Sowmy, Shobi n Sumi TCS
Dear Satya, Hi Vidhya,
Wishing you many more happy Wish you a very Happy and Heartiest
returns of the day. Happy Birthday B’Day. May all your dreams become
Satya!! true ..."
Don’t think of yourself as getting Regards
older :-) . . . You are, of course, but Ezhil
it’s best not to think of it! Happy Dear Sriram,
Birthday! Smile is a curve that sets everything
Manoonmani, Satyam Computers straight and wipes wrinkle away,
Hi Priya(FSS), hope u share a lots and receive a lots
Many more happy returns of the day. 4 days 2 come.
Dear I am so lucky to have you. By Many More Happy Returns of the
this happiest moment, I promise in Day…
behalf of ergo readers that I will not From,
smoke anytime in my life, this one R10 Friends,
should be the greatest gift I can give Cognizant
it for you on your birthday. .
Regards Hii Raj Kumar Anna (HP) ,
Manivannan Aasaithambi(Slash Support) Happy Birthday na..
Dear RenukaDevi Wish you live long with success, joy
Wish U Many more Happy Returns of and happiness..
the day.!!May the gift of blessings fill May you be the same active
your Birthday and the year ahead participant in “Chennai Rulez”
with Everlasting joys..!! Have fun and Community in Orkut.. Ha ha ha!!
enjoy your day!! Stay Happie, BeYoung (ungaluku
With Lots of Love and Care, kalyanam agiduchunu solla
Jennifer(Wipro),Nathiya,Pavithra(CSS maatom)..!!
),Priya(TCS) With Love,
Dear Heart Breakers, Savi Kutty (HCL Technologies), Arthi Kutty,
Hearty Congrats to "Heart Breakers" Amulu Kutty..
for their first year anniversary and Jayu Kutty ( Satyam Computer Services)
wish them to continue their journey Kanmani (Wipro )
with lot of joy. "Heart Breakers" Brindha (TCS)
include "Rajkumar, Kumar, Hiii Rohitha
Loganathan, Raviraja, Ravikumar, Happy Birthday dear. Wishing you all
Nithyanantham, Karthic and success in life, may all your desires
Sarvesh". come true.
Gayathri N Lot of love,
HCL Technologies Vaishu,
Dear Pinky, Gayu.
Belated Happy birthday.
We all wish you the best for your
days ahead.
Actually saturday ko ergo nai aata
hai, so late ho gaya.
14 TRAFFIC JAM ERGO Monday, October 6, 2008

Tubular getaway
American authorities are on the hunt for an armed
robber who used an inner-tube as getaway transport.
The man stole money from a security guard outside the
Bank of America in Seattle, Washington and proceeded
to jump into a river and drift off on the floating device.

sudoku

Ramesha J.S. of Wipro

Infotech (Network
Engineer) clicked this
picture during a recent
photo shoot at Tada
Forest near Sri
Kalahasthi. If you liked
the picture, do spot the
difference between the
home and forest spider.
Hobbies: Travelling,
photography and
blogging
(www.lensart.ning.com)

Click Pick is celebrating

Wildlife Week till
October 15. Make sure
you send your best
nature photographs
for the coming issues,
and also tell us why
the fauna is special.
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: clickpick@goergo.in

TEAM
Editor: Karthik Subramanian
karthik@goergo.in

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
ads@goergo.in

Head of Circulation:
M.G.M. Sharief
copies@goergo.in

SNAIL MAIL
859/860, Anna Salai,
Chennai - 600 002
mail your feedback to
feedback@goergo.in
FAX 2857 6691

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES
Call our
Advertisement Manager
at 2857 6695.
email: ads@goergo.in
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
 Monday, October 6, 2008
Word’s worth
"Barathrum" (barr-uh-thrum) a deep pit in Athens,
into which condemned criminals were thrown to
die. There are as yet no barathrums in Texas. Also,
any pit or abyss.
15
Soldier sent to Siberia
A young Russian soldier who made a rap video about poor
conditions in his barracks and posted it online has incurred the
wrath of army heads - and sent to Siberia as punishment. In the
video, Lieutenant Vitaly Efremov complains about his frustration
with his dilapidated accommodation near St Petersburg.

B.C

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

It’s a lucky day to for career progress. You may
receive acknowledgement from superiors.
Responsibilities may increase but you will be duly
rewarded for the same. Beware of overconfidence.
Love life may be kept aside amid busy schedule.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20

You would not be able to focus on work at the day
start however you will regain the balance. You will
remain practical towards everything that you deal
with. This can be a good attitude at work but in
love life it may create disturbance.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20

Beware of those who are jealous of your
BORN LOSER professional progress. Others may try to find flaws
in your work. In later part of the day, frustration
may mount. Ganesha assures that you will find
required peace of mind in company of your spouse.
CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20
You may be taking your routine office work
easilybut as the day progresses, you will feel
enthusiastic. You are advised not to be too
’practical’. The emotional self will help you woo the
person you love the most in later half of the day.
LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20
At the beginning you may be very much charged up
so may finish off office work quickly. Meetings
arranged may be successful. You will be in a mood
to share your thoughts with your beloved one but
your partner may need ’emotional touch’ today.
VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20
You may have lot of new ideas related to work but
FREE RANGE WORKING IT OUT it may not materialise today. Ganesha suggests you
not to be disheartened. In second part you may
develop professional skills. Your beloved may expect
your attention but you may not be able to pay!
LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20
Every dialogue that you establish today is for a
purpose. You will be focussing on targets related to
work. In later part you may feel drained and wish
to push off home as soon as possible. To chill, you
may either take rest or speak with your sweetheart.
SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20
Be careful while talking to people around you. If
you remain too straightforward with others, they
will also be least bothered about your problems. In
short, it’s a day to handle with care. In the evening,
you will be sharing your ideas with the beloved.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20
All is well on the career front today, except your
overconfidence. Ganesha suggests you to take up
important tasks on hand right in time so that you
don’t have to rush later. You will try to motivate
colleagues. You will have merry time with beloved.
CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20
At the day start, you may be thinking about targets.
In the later part you may try to achieve all those
targets. Ganesha feels that you will be able to
accomplish with help of strong determination. You
may pay less attention to love life.
AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20
PREVIOUS You may feel the need to call for a meeting for
some specific discussion. In later part, you may feel
ISSUE’S a bit tired. Your beloved may feel ignored, for you
will not be in a mood to have long conversation.
SOLUTIONS Ganesha suggests you to handle this with care.
PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20
You will remain completely focussed on work. Your
target would be to reach at a better level on the
career front. Ganesha finds you receiving good vibes
about progress in later part of the day. Lovers may
enjoy greater intimacy by the Grace of Ganesha.
Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni
16 ! ERGO Monday, October 6, 2008

Frog hops into town

A town in Ukraine is marking its 299th
birthday by unveiling a statue of a
frog. The concrete sculpture was chosen
after a neighbouring village
constructed a smaller frog in bronze.

Shiny disco eggs

Researchers at the University of
Vigo in Spain have found that
female birds sacrifice their health
to lay colourful eggs.
The colour blue in many birds’
Good day to you, mate
eggs comes from the compound The Australian nasal twang could be on its way out
biliverdin - a breakdown product

of the heme unit in
haemoglobin - that circulates freely in the
blood.
However, biliverdin is not just a pigment, it
is also an antioxidant used by the body to
prevent cellular damage.
Previous studies have shown that when
females lay vibrant blue eggs, their partners
are more likely to stick around and help
rear the young one.
Therefore, researchers thought that since
the blue colour comes from an antioxidant,
it is an indication to male partners of the
female’s health status.
ANI
World’s tallest father
World’s tallest man has become the world’s
tallest father after the birth of his first
child, who is said to be on the middle
ground between his colossal father and
average-sized mother.
Bao Xishun’s son, born on October 2, is only
slightly taller than the average newborns
measuring 22 inches (56
centimetres) long at birth,
the senior doctor at Zunhua
Hospital in Hebei province
said.
The Chinese couple’s son,
who weighed 4.2 kilograms
at birth with a touch
heavier than average, fell
short of the 29.5 inches (75
centimetres) claimed as a
record birth length last year,
also in China.
ANI
Pig out on this
A 15-year-old girl, who asked for piglets for
her birthday, has become Britain’s youngest
pig farmer.
Emma Cianchi actually wanted to keep the
A
ustralians who sound like
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin
could soon be a relic of the
past, a report said Sunday. Cit-
ing a new book by Australian Na-
tional University academic Bruce
Moore, the paper said the change
would come about as the need for
Australians to distinguish them-
selves from their British forebears
faded.
“Australians are becoming more
confident with the standard Austra-
lian accent -- and that means there’s
no longer the need for those sorts of
extreme sounds,” lexicographer
Moore said.
Words like ‘mate’ would no longer
be pronounced ‘mite’ as some of the
unique characteristics of Australian
speech disappeared, he said.
Meanwhile, the so-called ‘cultivat-
ed’ Australian accent would vanish
as fewer people mimicked the En-
glish accent and moved toward a
‘standard Australian accent’, Moore
said. “There’s no doubt the broad
accent does carry cultural values. I
do not doubt that. That’s why it’s
used in advertisements,” said
Moore, whose new book is titled
‘Speaking Our Language: The Story
of Australian English’.
“But in the future that extreme
form of it won’t be so necessary be-
cause the standard accent will carry
those same values.”
Moore said the broad accents
came from the need for cultural dis-
tinction in the late 19th century There’s no doubt the broad accent
while the posh accents evolved from
the use of what is commonly known
does carry cultural values. That’s
as Queen’s English in education in why it’s used in advertisements
the late 1800s. ■
AFP

Learn to win an argument

two Berkshire piglets as pets, but after
attending a course on pig-
rearing, she is now
breeding them in a field at
the back of the family
home at Preston-on-Wye,
near Hereford.
The teen girl, who has 20
rare-breeds, spends an hour
every day looking after the growing herd
before and after school.
“I’m not sure what first attracted me to
keeping these animals. It certainly wasn’t
the early mornings I would have to get used
to - or the weird looks my friends would
give me when I told them what I was doing
- and it definitely wasn’t the money I would
make. I’m still waiting for that. My friends
think I’m mad,” the Telegraph quoted her as
saying.
ANI
H ate losing an argument with
your partner or a heated polit-
ical debate with friends? Well, a
new university course aimed at
boosting powers of persuasion
might just do the trick for you.
Called ‘For The Sake Of Argu-
ment’, the free day course is be-
ing hosted by Professor Laurence
Goldstein at the University of
Kent.
“Arguing is an intrinsically en-
joyable activity. Sometimes a
view may be put forward that is
so subtle and so persuasive that it
can be savoured just like a work
of art or a piece of music,” The
Daily Express quoted him, as say-
ing.
“It is a useful skill for politic-
ians, journalists and business
people. In fact it is invaluable for
anyone who wants to persuade
others rationally,” he added.
Arguing is an
intrinsically enjoyable
activity. It is a useful
skill for politicians,
journalists and
business people
One of the persons enrolling
for the course is Helen Ambrose,
23, of Canterbury, who wants to
try the course to help her stand
up to her husband.
She says, “If I can learn how to
win arguments with him then I
can watch Strictly Come Dancing
and The X Factor instead of
watching the football or making
the tea.”
“Then the course will have
been well worth my time. I’m not
telling my husband I’m going,
though - otherwise it would just
be a stalemate.” ■
ANI