A BYTE OF LIFE Wednesday, July 1, 2009

05
WINDOW SHOPPER
Peek-a-boo Patterns for home
furnishings and furniture for kids

FREE CIRCULATION Vol. 3 No. 122

A group of software professionals is on a

drive to collect educational material, old
or new, to help corporation school
children this academic year

» Page 03
02 NAMMA CHENNAI
Explosive device
creates flutter
at airport
P anic prevailed for a short while
outside the Chennai airport on
Tuesday morning after a bomb was
found in the car parking area on the
premises. A police bomb disposal squad
rushed in to remove the explosive and
diffused it later.
According to police sources at the
airport, the bomb, believed to be used
for military training purposes, was found
by members of the public around 9 a.m.
in the parking lot between the domestic
and international terminals. The airport
authorities were alerted and a police
bomb disposal squad with a sniffer dog
was commissioned to the spot.
The explosive was safely removed from
the location and taken to an isolated
location and diffused, police added.
An investigation is underway on how
the bomb came to the airport premises.
■
The bomb that was seized at Chennai
airport on Tuesday morning.
PHOTO: A. MURALITHARAN
ERGO Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Online shopping store
Www.nightingalestore.com could be your new stop if
you are looking for Nightingale products like journals,
diaries, office stationary, etc.
SMS complaints
a big hit
Helpline 9500099100 received over
2,500 police complaints on day one itself
ERGO CORRESPONDENT
feedback@goergo.in
T
he short messaging service
(SMS) facility that helps
public lodge their com-
plaints instantaneously has
received an overwhelming re-
sponse from Chennaiites.
Launched on June 23 by the
Chennai City Police, the link re-
ceives over 1,500 texts messages
per day on an average.
Complaints like eve-teasing,
domestic violence, clashes in
public or any hin-
Even if a text drance to a law and or-
der situation can be
message is SMSed to 9500099100.
inarticulate or The message will be
automatically diverted
incomplete, to the concerned po-
the software lice limits inside the
has the city with the help of a
software named
capability to SMART SYS. The SMS
pick up key complaint facility has
been developed by
words and D3D Technologies,
segregate it to Chennai, in associa-
be forwarded tion with City Police.
A special control
to the room headed by an In-
concerned spector of Police and
15 police personnel
officer has been set up in the launched,” said an officer at- it to be forwarded to the con-
Commissionerate to tached to the control room. cerned officer,” added Priya.
attend to SMS complaints. Once According to V. Priya of D3D D3D Technologies also intro-
an SMS is received, the software Technologies, the mobile num- duced a similar SMS complaint
installed in the control room au- ber is a toll-free number linked facility in Madurai and Virudhu-
tomatically segregates the com- through a GSM medium. “The nagar districts in March 2008.
plaints and forwards them to the software SMART SYS works based City Police Commissioner T.
concerned police departments. on a public-police interface sys- Rajendran said that police have
“We receive lot of cases on eve- tem aimed at assisting the regular taken immediate action on some
teasing, petty clashes and even beat policing. Even if a text mes- specific complaints that were re-
domestic violence in the city. We sage is inarticulate or incomplete, ceived through SMS and have al-
received over 2,500 SMS texts on the software has the capability to so informed the complainant on
the very first day the facility was pick up key words and segregate the steps taken. ■
 Wednesday, July 1, 2009
03
For her
Titan Eye Plus has launched Enigma, a collection of optical frames that
celebrates the various facets of a woman’s personality. There are around
50 designs in the collection, with motifs like florals, polka dots, sinuous
curves and textured temples. It is priced between Rs. 1, 200 and Rs.
3,200, available across all Titan Eye Plus outlets.

BETTER USE
FOR YOUR
STATIONERY
A group of software professionals is on a
drive to collect educational material, old or software engineers who take time away school in Mint Street and the other in
new, to help corporation school children from work to give their mite to under-
privileged children.
Tiruvallur district. “We collect around
Rs. 50,000 per month as funds from the
this academic year. Could you help? Eight long years
group, but we still need more helping
hands to carry out our projects.”
Lending help for around eight years
is not easy, especially in a profession You can help
where everybody is on the fast lane. With the new academic year having
That’s where its Yahoo! group came of begun, members of Help to Live are on
LIFFY THOMAS material in the form of notebooks and great support. a drive collecting educational material
liffythomas@goergo.in uniforms. His four project-mates, who “Our core team comprises around 10 for the corporation children. The drive
were equally motivated to take up people and we meet every month, has already begun in some of the

I
t wasn’t another aimless stroll that
Priyesh C., then working with Sil-
verline Technologies in Teynam-
pet, had taken during a lunch break
between his office hours.
“A government-run school for men-
tally challenged girls, situated near
SIET College, had caught my attention.
For three-four days I kept insisting that
they allow me in but they wouldn’t,
saying it was only for girls. Finally, on
the fifth day I got in,” recalls Priyesh.
Moved by the plight of the children he
started by contributing educational
PHOTO: N. BASHKARAN
some social responsibility, joined Pri-
yesh.
The team made weekly visits, dis-
tributed stationery, contributed a
monthly fee for a child’s education and
conducted games. The support contin-
ued until their office shifted from the
locality and Priyesh got involved with
another institution. But their support
in terms of money, materials and time
continued and further expanded, and
Help to Live was formed.
The NGO is today eight years old, a
registered body and run by a group of
whereas we have around 350 software
friends as members, a majority of them
active on Yahoo!,” explain Priyesh, an
employee of Mphasis. Members chan-
nelise money and education material
for children’s education.
“In fact, we started our initiative
with an exercise of collecting uniforms
for a corporation school. It was purely
through word-of-mouth that we reac-
hed out and in the process many
joined us,” says the engineer.
Over the years the group has adopt-
ed two institutions – one corporation
members’ offices, L&T and Mphasis,
for example, where mailers are sent
asking employees to donate unused/
used geometry boxes, water bottles,
books and other stationery. But it is
still in need of more and wants all you
professionals to contribute.
Besides, the group is also looking for
volunteers who could lend a helping
hand any two weekends. ■
You could coordinate with Santhosh
(9840743066) to hand over your sta-
tionery. Visit them at www.helptolive.org
or email helptolive@yahoo.com

Priyesh, Karthik and Santhosh

04 KALEIDOSCOPE ERGO Wednesday, July 1, 2009

PHOTO: PTI

I
ndian pace star Irfan Pathan has decided to tie the nuptial knot with his long-time friend
Shivangi Dev, a chartered accountant working in Australia.
Irfan, 24, met Shivangi, 22, in Canberra in 2003 when the Indian team was touring Australia
and proposed to her when she was on a visit here three years back.
Shivangi, daughter of a diplomat now posted in Spain, promptly said “yes” when Irfan asked
whether she will marry him, Irfan’s father Mehbubkhan Pathan said.
Miya bibi razi to kya karega kazi (if the boy and the girl are ready to tie the knot, what can anyone
do), he said quickly adding the family has no objection to the marriage.
But Irfan will have to wait for some time as the family is looking for a suitable match for his elder
brother and teammate Yusuf Pathan, says his father.
“We are in search of a good girl for Yusuf and after his marriage, Irfan’s turn will come,” he said.
A sprawling bungalow is being readied for Irfan in the posh Tandaja locality on the outskirts of
the city, close to where the family is staying in a duplex house. The new house will have a ’cricket
room’. ■
PTI

Irfan’s mother Shamim Banoo is impressed with the simplicity and

good nature of Shivangi, who also runs a dancing school in Canberra
 Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Peek-a-boo Patterns
Address: 16/47, Kasturi Rangan Road,
Alwarpet,
Chennai – 600 018
Ph: 044 - 2499 2365
Website: www.peekaboopatterns.com
Email: peekaboopatterns@gmail.com
Store timings: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Monday to
Saturday)
A
t first sight it looks like a
cheerful, well-decorated
crèche. There’s one pink-
themed corner in one end
of the room, a Ferrari-inspired
corner on the other, and a garden-
themed place (appliqué flowers,
et al) near one window. Only, the
kids are missing and everything is
in perfect order.
Peek-a-boo Patterns on Kasturi
Rangan Road in Alwarpet, near
Chola Sheraton, specialises in
customised home furnishings for
children, a welcome break from
the Disney-dominated ready-
made ones you see in chain stores.
From furniture for kids’ rooms
to their bed linen, upholstery,
cushions and comforters, eve-
rything’s here.
While the store is a year old, Ga-
rima Agarwal had started Peek-a-
PHOTOS: R. RAVINDRAN
05
Small is big
For customised home furnishing for children,
Peek-a-boo Patterns is THE place
boo Patterns from home more
than four years ago.
“It was while doing my son’s
room that I realised there was no
place one could buy bed linen for
kids!” recalls Garima. While Gari-
ma was already armed with a
Fashion Designing degree from
Kolkata, a school friend helped
design the logo and Peek-a-boo
Patterns was born.
Prior to setting up of the store,
Peek-a-boo Patterns participated
in numerous exhibitions in cities
like Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.
“When we went back to the same
venues a year later, the old cus-
tomers came back. This proved a
major encouragement,” says Ga-
rima. “I don’t believe in a fish be-
ing a Nemo.”
Peek-a-boo Patterns has re-
cently started doing interiors for
children’s room, which means
taking care of everything from Everything is handmade at
wallpaper to flooring, lights and Peek-a-boo Patterns’ own work-
furniture. “Furniture should be shop, from the appliqué work on
built to grow, not something you cushions and curtains to the em-
would have to chuck after two broidery. Even the foam chairs
years,” she says. and bean chairs.
The focus is clearly on the chil-
dren. “I always ask my clients to
bring their kids to the shop, so
that they can choose for them-
selves. My main client is the kid. If
he wants a red bus with a piggy
riding on it, that is what he’ll get,”
says Garima. “Everything is custo-
mised, so what you see in the store
is only a small part of what we do,”
she adds, pointing out to some
Tinker Bell colour-themed prod-
ucts awaiting delivery.
Outside Chennai, Peek-a-Boo
Patterns also retails from Bumble-
bee and Sandbox in Mumbai and
Blissful Beginnings in Colombo,
Sri Lanka. ■
06 VILLAGE ERGO Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Thatched racer
A pub landlord from England has given
his car a rustic makeover - by giving it
a thatched roof.

Picasso ceramics up for grabs Google unveils

A collection of ceramic plates and jugs by Pablo Picasso in
muted colours and a set of lithographs by Francis Bacon will SMS service
be the highlights of Bonhams sale of prints in London on
July 14. for Africa
The estimated price of Picasso’s collection is 1,000-6,000 Google unveiled a new
pounds. Alongside his ceramics there are also 11 pictures by service designed to
the artist, which range in price from 500-10,000 pounds. provide information
In 1946, Picasso visited a potter’s exhibition in Vallauris near via SMS text message
Cannes. The Madoura stall was of particular interest and he to mobile phone users
met owners Suzanne and George Ramie, who invited him to in Africa, where cell
their workshop. phones are prevalent
PTI but Internet
penetration is low.
“At Google we seek to serve a broad base of people - not
only those who can afford to access the Internet from the
Disney to get 30 new attractions convenience of their workplace or with a computer at
Hong Kong’s troubled Disneyland theme park is to be home,” the company said in a blog post.
expanded by a quarter with 30 new attractions to be “It’s important to reach users wherever they are, with the
added over the next five years, the city’s leader said. information they need, in areas with the greatest
The expansion plans followed two years of sometimes bad- information poverty,” Google said.
tempered talks between the government and Disney over “Most mobile devices in Africa only have voice and SMS
how to increase attendance at the park, the smallest capabilities, and so we are focusing our technological
Disney theme park in the world. efforts in that continent on SMS,” it said.
Visitors complained it had too few attractions to occupy a Google said Google SMS, which will be available first in
day despite high ticket prices, and the prospect of a new, Uganda, would provide information, via SMS, on a number
bigger Disney park opening soon in Shanghai added to of topics including health and agriculture tips, news, local
concerns over the park’s future. weather and sports.
Announcing the deal, Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald AFP
Tsang said the expansion would increase the number of
themed areas in the park from four to seven and give the
city tourism and jobs boost.
“Disneyland is a major tourism infrastructure of Hong This couple have same name, DoB
Kong,” he said. A Chinese man and his wife in Danjiangkou, Hubei
“During construction, province, have become quite famous because they have
the project will the same name and date of birth.
create more than Both are named Wang Yang and both were born on
3,000 jobs, and in full April 29, 1982, reports the China Daily.
operation, it will The two started seeing each other in 2007 when they
then provide 600 worked together at the same company.
more permanent The pair said they never fight because both feel they
employment would curse themselves if they fought and called out
opportunities,” he each other’s name.
said. ANI
DPA

Aussies send spy to assess Cardiff pitch

A
ustralian captain Ricky Ponting ap-
pears to be quite desperate to get as
much information about the pitch at
Cardiff, the venue for the first Ashes
Test against England that he is preparing to
send a spy to unravel the confusion sur-
rounding the controversial Sophia Gardens
pitch. Reports about how the new strip will
play in the first Test have been so contradic-
tory that Ponting is desperate for more in-
formation.
“We’ve been talking about trying to send
someone down to Cardiff this week so we can
have a look at what the wicket preparation
looks like,” the Herald Sun quoted Ponting,
as saying.
“Since we’ve been here (in England) we’ve
heard lots of stories about how dry it’s going
to be and how much it’s going to spin. There
was even talk a month ago about the Test not
going ahead there because of problems with
the pitch. But we had a closer look at some
stats last week and found that something like
only 14 of the 69 wickets taken there in the
last three county matches have been taken
with spin,” he added. Ponting’s concerns
were magnified when he spoke to umpire Ge-
orge Sharp, who officiated in Australia’s
opening tour match in Hove and umpired a
ODI match in Cardiff on May 12.
“George Sharp said that Kaneria was un- PHOTO: AFP
playable. He was turning them square,”
Ponting said.
“We need to get a closer look at it to make
informed judgments for the way we pick our
side for this Worcester game,” Ponting said.
■
ANI
 Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Websites of the day
Learn everything you need to know
about frogs: www.allaboutfrogs.org
While away boredom:
www.funquizcards.com
Motor racing goes green
C
ars powered by chocolate,
steered by carrots with driv-
ers sitting on soybean oil
foam seats - it’s motor rac-
ing’s cheap, cheerful and envi-
ronmentally-friendly series of the
future.
While Formula One stables
have not hesitated to spend mil-
lions of dollars on the latest thing
in ultra-high technology to gift
the likes of Lewis Hamilton and
Jenson Button a few milliseconds
per circuit, researchers in Britain
envisage an organic future for
motor racing.
The biodiesel WorldFirst F3
car, designed as a riposte to For-
mula One’s “carbon excesses,” is
the brainchild of researchers at
the Warwick Innovative Manu-
facturing Research Centre, who
developed the prototype for just
220,000 dollars.
The team, led by researcher
James Meredith and investigators
Dr Kerry Kirwan and Dr Steve
Maggs, say they are determined
to show the racing fraternity in
credit-crunched times that “it is
possible to build a competitive
racing car using environmentally
Centenarians learn to tweet
C elebrities and hip adults
aren’t the only people flock-
ing to Twitter, the social net-
working site. Even centenarians
have learned to tweet.
Three per cent of US cente-
narians questioned in a new
survey said they use the service
that allows users to send short
text messages, or tweets, of up
to 140 characters at least once a
week to keep in touch with their
friends and family.
Another 10 per cent sent
emails to stay connected, 12
percent shared photos on the
Internet and 4 percent down-
07
Soccer star at 70
A soccer manager in Britain is preparing for his 48th
season in charge of the same team - at the age of 70.
sed
The car, ba 05/30
The WorldFirst
ola B
Formula 3 racing car on a 2005 L biodiesel
drives down the
body, has a h runs on
straight of a test ic
engine, wh oil and
track at
Bruntingthorpe near vegetable aste
Lutterworth, in
fuel from w
chocolate
Leicestershire. The
WorldFirst F3 car,
claims to be the
first racing car
designed and made reducing the spread of ground-
from sustainable level ozone.
and renewable Meredith says it is hard to
materials. quantify in absolute terms how
PHOTO: AFP green the car is, given the depen-
dence on variability and sustain-
ability of supply of the green
sustainable components”. involved but we’re trying to get future research grant produce. These include the soya-
Some of those components companies expertise and keep applications.” bean seat, though he accepts that
come from the unlikeliest of plac- costs down,” says Meredith. The WorldFirst team insist “many green materials are not as
es. “But we have the advantage there is no need to compromise good as carbon fibre materials”
“At the moment we use all sorts now of being quite high-profile. on performance while at the because of their additional
of waste to turn in to biodiesel - We have had chats about spon- same time “effectively managing weight.
including excess fat trimmed sorship but there are no direct of- the planet’s resources.” “Certainly no F1 team is going
from operations,” Meredith ex- fers of cash yet.” Green credentials are further to use them unless you legislate
plains. “We hope to get further fund- enhanced by a radiator coated in for their use,” he opined. ■
“It’s been difficult to get people ing on the basis of a number of an emission-destroying catalyst, AFP
Spiritual jaunt
loaded music from the web.
“These centenarians are really
inspiring because they are start-
ing to embrace newer trends
and newer technologies,” said
Sherri Snelling, senior director
at Evercare, one of the nation’s
largest care coordination pro-
grams, which commissioned the
survey.
The link to new technology is
multigenerational with the cen-
tenarians’ grandchildren and
great-grandchildren introduc-
ing them to the latest gadgets.
The results of the survey of
100 centenarians challenge the
stereotypes of aging and show
that getting older does not have
to be a barrier to keeping up
with the newest trends.
Forget passing the day in a
rocking chair. Fifty per cent of
centenarians keep fit by walking
or hiking, 8 percent prefer cy-
cling and 3 percent break into a
jog or run. One per cent said 쒀 Tourists walk in front of a large Buddha statue at a pagoda on Ba Na mountain
they have tried Nintendo’s Wii outside the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang. The popular Ba Na mountain
Fit. ■ tourist spot is crowned with a pagoda boasting a 27-metre tall seated Buddha.
Reuters PHOTO: AFP
08 SPORT ERGO Wednesday, July 1, 2009

PCB disbands selection committees

Pakistan’s cricket board said it had disbanded its senior and junior selection committees, with an
interim body headed by former captain Wasim Bari now overseeing selection for both teams.
“The PCB chairman (Ijaz Butt) has disbanded the national senior and junior selection committees
with immediate effect,” said a PCB statement. “The interim selection committee under Wasim
Bari will continue to work till further orders.”

Paes-Black beat Bhupathi-Sania

It was Leander Paes who won the much-hyped battle against
his estranged doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi in the
Wimbledon mixed doubles.
Paes partnering Cara Black of Zimbabwe
defeated Bhupathi and Sania Mirza 6-2,
6-7 (2) 6-3 to move into the quarter-final.
Top seeded Paes and Black with a double
break pocketed the first set for a 1-0
lead.
The second set went on serve till the
tie-break where Bhupathi and Sania
prevailed to draw parity.
The US Open mixed doubles champions
broke Bhupathi and Mirza twice in the third set to close the
match in just over two hours.
The loss spelt the end of Sania’s challenge in Wimbledon this
year. The 22-year-old Hyderabadi had bowed out of the
second round of both singles and doubles event.
IANS

Liu plans low-key return

Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang will ease back into competition at
smaller meetings as he continues to recover from surgery on
his injured ankle, the former Olympic champion’s coach said.
Liu underwent surgery on a damaged Achilles tendon at the
end of last year and had hoped to mark his return at the
Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in September, but the former
110 metres hurdles world record holder is
now expected to alter those plans.
“From what we can observe from the
current situation, we can say that Liu Xiang
is generally recovering well,” Sun Haiping
told a news conference.
“But if he wants to take part in big
international meets or important
competitions, he is not able to do so under
his current conditions,” the coach added,
ruling out the possibility of Liu defending his world
championship title in Berlin in August.
Reuters

Buchanan meets Flower

Unthinkable to an ordinary Australian, John Buchanan has
revealed that he has shared with England coach Andy Flower
some of the secrets of his long association with Ricky
Ponting’s men, which could be used in the home team’s
advantage in the Ashes beginning on July 8.
“I provided (Flower) with some of my thoughts. I’ve been
keeping a bit of a gaze on the Ashes build-up from a far
and passed on a few things I’ve picked
up as an observer now removed from the
team,” Buchanan said.
“We also talked about England’s trip to
Belgium, which was something I took a
fair bit of interest in. It was good to
catch up with him briefly, and was just
one of quite a few things I am looking
to accomplish on this trip,” Buchanan
told Cricinfo.
Buchanan earlier caused flutter in the Australian cricket
fraternity by giving his consent to work with the ECB during
the Ashes as sections of media even accused him of
committing “an act of treachery”.
PTI
 Wednesday, July 1, 2009
‘‘
After a great deal of consideration, I’ve decided that now is
the right time to retire from cricket. It has been an
enormous privilege to have played for and captained my country
and this is one of the hardest decisions I have had to make.
Michael Vaughan, Ex-England skipper
PIETERSEN
fires first salvo
Optimism blooms in England camp ahead of Ashes
K
evin Pietersen reckons En-
gland’s mastery of reverse-
swing will inspire the team to
Ashes glory just as it did four
years ago on home soil.
Pietersen, rejecting Australia
great Shane Warne’s claim that En-
gland are a “one-man team” who
cannot win without their batting
star, said pace bowling held the key
to England’s Ashes hopes.
In 2005 the ’Fab Four’ of Andrew
Flintoff, Stephen Harmison, Mat-
thew Hoggard and Simon Jones un-
dermined a strong Australia
top-order, with much of their suc-
cess down to the mastery of reverse-
swing.
Although, with Jones injured,
Hoggard long since dropped and
Harmison out of favour, only Flintoff
out of that quartet is on course to
start in next week’s first Test in Car-
diff, Pietersen is backing the likes of
James Anderson and Stuart Broad to
cause Australia problems.
The current dry and hot conditions
in England offer an environment
conducive to reverse-swing and Pie-
tersen said: “I am sure the Austra-
lians are probably hoping that the
weather doesn’t stay like this - be-
cause Anderson, Broad, Flintoff
bowling reverse swing ... I wouldn’t
want to be facing that.”
“We’re going to be really tough to
play against,” added Pietersen.
“If batters do conquer our reverse-
swing, I look forward to watching
them. It will take some serious bat-
Kevin Pietersen says Ashes will swing England’s way.
ting against those bowlers, all at
90mph reverse-swinging it both
ways.
As for the latest comment by the
now Test retired leg-spinner Warne,
his former captain at Hampshire, Pie-
tersen said: “It’s a compliment com-
ing from a legend of the game. But
England are certainly not a one-man
team.”
“We’ve got (Andrew) Strauss who
scored so many hundreds recently;
Alastair Cook has also scored hun-
dreds in the last six months; (Paul)
Collingwood the same, (Ravi) Bop-
ara three in his last three Test
innings.”
“I’ve scored a few; Flintoff has
come back into the team; Matty Pri-
or’s batting has been outstanding.”
“That’s without even talking
about our bowlers.”
As well as Warne, Australia are
now without several retired stars in
openers Justin Langer and Matthew
Hayden, fast bowler Glenn McGrath
and Adam Gilchrist.
Pietersen believes the absence of
Gilchrist will be an especially big loss
for Australia.
“The big one that we don’t see is
Gilchrist coming in at seven,” he
notes.
“In Perth (during England’s 2006/
07 5-0 Ashes defeat) when he came
in and hit one of the quickest hun-
dreds in history, that was just
demoralising.”
Just as a previous generation of
England fans worried about Denis
PHOTO: S. SUBRAMANIUM
09
Compton’s knee, so Pietersen’s
Achilles injury has become a cause
for concern after the South Africa-
born batsman admitted it could rule
him out at any time.
“I’m a really positive person. So
until I actually miss a Test match, I
will not start thinking about missing
one.”
“I’m ’rehabbing’ every single day.
I’ve been as professional as I can.”
Looking ahead, he added: “The
Australians are a fantastic side. Their
last series was in South Africa, and
they won. That’s not easy to do.”
“But our side has improved a lot,
and we are going to be a force to be
reckoned with.”
Meanwhile all-rounder Andrew
Flintoff, the star of England’s 2005
success, insists he has gotten over
the experience of captaining the
side when they were being subse-
quently thrashed in Australia.
Flintoff, on his way back from a
knee injury sustained while playing
in the Indian Premier League, said:
“The last Ashes was the low point of
my career.”
You experience the euphoria of
2005 and then the disappointments
of 2006-2007.
Probably the last series emotional-
ly was the stronger of the two.
“But all that is behind us. We have
got a very new team and, rather
than dining out on 2005 or dwelling
on 2006-2007, it is all about what
happens over the next six weeks.” ■
AFP
10 FLICK ERGO Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Johnny Depp won’t play Jacko in biopic

Johnny Depp had been rumoured to have previously expressed interest in playing
Michael Jackson on the big screen, reports Sky News. However, Depp dismissed
those reports when he spoke at the premiere of Public Enemies in London, saying
he doesn’t think the late singer “would want him to” don the famous white glove
and military jacket.
ANI

The concerts that couldn’t be

Michael Jackson’s London promoters promise full ticket refunds for all 50 ‘This Is It’ concerts

T
he organisers of Michael “The world lost a kind soul
Jackson’s comeback tour who just happened to be the
dates in London announced greatest entertainer the world
on Tuesday they would of- has ever known,” said Randy
fer full ticket refunds following Phillips, president of AEG Live.
his death last week. “Since he loved his fans in life,
“AEG Live (UK) Ltd., concert it is incumbent upon us to treat
promoters, announced that full them with the same reverence
refunds will be available to fans and respect after his death.”
who purchased tickets through AEG Live said the refunds
authorised agents for any of the would include all ticket service
50 Michael Jackson ‘This Is It’ charges and said all details
concerts which were to take would be available at www.mi-
place at The O2 Arena in Lon- chaeljacksonlive.com from July
don,” AEG Live announced in a 1.
statement. Fans who would prefer to
Jackson’s fans from around keep the ticket as a piece of
the world had rushed to snap up memorabilia will have the op-
tickets for the performances, tion to be sent the actual piece
which were due to start on July of paper, which AEG said had
13. been “inspired and designed by
British media reports said Michael Jackson”.
about 50 million pounds (59 mil- Trading website eBay, where
lion euros, 83 million dollars) has tickets had fetched prices of up
been spent on 750,000 tickets. to 1,300 pounds, has already
Fans had also queued for said that fans who had bought
hours to watch the reclusive seats for the shows through its
star’s final public appearance website would receive a refund.
when he unveiled the gigs here ■
in March, promising to play his AFP
classic tunes.

Fans who would prefer to keep the ticket as a piece of memorabilia will have the option to be sent
the actual piece of paper, which AEG said had been “inspired and designed by Michael Jackson”

‘Thriller’ voted Jackson will divides estate among

Jacko’s ‘Best Ever
Track’
F
ans of Michael Jackson have
voted ‘Thriller’ his best ever
track in a poll after his
sudden death.
The 50-year-old singer died
at his home in Los Angeles
last week on Thursday.
Fans flocked to AOL Radio
to listen to the legend’s
greatest hits in the hours
after his death was confirmed
and have made the 1982 hit
their Jackson number one.
‘Billie Jean’ came second
while ‘Beat It’ landed the
third spot, reports
Contactmusic.
‘Wanna Be Startin’
Somethin’ stood fourth and and ‘The Way You Make Me
Feel’ rounded off the top five. ■
ANI
mother, children: report
A 2002 will by Michael Jackson divides his estate between his mother, three children and one
or more charities, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
But his father, Joseph Jackson, apparently does not feature,
said the story.
A lawyer for Jackson could submit the will, which was
believed to be his last, to Los Angeles Superior Court as soon
as Thursday, said the Journal.
It names lawyer John Branca and a music executive John
Mclain, a friend of Jackson, as executors, according to the
Journal. The singer’s parents have not seen the will, their
lawyer said in an emailed statement to the Journal.
The report said Joseph Jackson, with whom the singer
reportedly had a troubled relationship, was not believed to be
included in the will.
It was not known what custody provisions the 2002 will sets
out for Jackson’s three children. A Los Angeles court on
Tuesday gave the singer’s mother temporary custody of the
children until a hearing in July.
The size and complexity of Jackson’s assets and debts is expected to pose a challenge in
unwinding his estate, the Journal said, estimating his debt at 500 million dollars.
His assets, which include a 50 percent stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing, could exceed his
debts by as much as 200 million dollars, it said. ■
AFP
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
11
Dilip Kumar’s condition improving
The condition of actor Dilip Kumar, who is undergoing treatment at the Lilavati Hospital
in Mumbai for malaria, is improving, doctors attending on him said on Tuesday. The 87-
year-old Bollywood veteran was admitted to the hospital in suburban Bandra on Sunday
and kept in the ICU after he tested positive for malaria with high fever.
PTI

Cine City

Namitha to send
200,000 e-mails
Namitha is leaving no stone unturned to create a
buzz for her upcoming Tamil film, Indira Vizha. She
will send two lakh email messages to fans,
requesting them to watch the film in theatres.
Directed by K. Rajeshwar, Indira Vizha also stars
Srikanth and newcomer Hemamalini.
According to Rajeshwar the emailing work has
already begun.
IANS

Trisha dumps Dhanush’s film

to work with Akshay Kumar
After shooting for more than 10 days, Trisha has
opted out of Dhanush starrer Aadukalam to work

Revenge in Bollywood star Akshay Kumar’s home

production.
Trisha was playing an Anglo-Indian girl in the film
to be directed by Vetrimaran.
Apart from Aadukalam, she also plans to quit a

of the fans
Telugu film in which she was paired with
Balakrishna. The actress was said to have informed
both –
Balakrishna
and Dhanush
– about her

L
eonardo DiCaprio was left barefoot after some of his fans stole his decision. She
sneakers from a Japanese temple. has also
The Titanic star paid a visit to a hilltop shrine in Kyoto last week, promised the
when he was asked by some of his fans to pose for pictures. producers
However, DiCaprio politely declined pointing to a sign prohibiting pho- that she will
tography on the premises. return the
Feeling slighted, the fans waited until he removed his Nike Dunks to advance
enter the temple and then stole them. money.
“They just ran off with them,” The New York Post quoted a source as According to
saying. the sources,
“The poor guy had to leave the place barefoot,” the source added. Tamannaah or
However, DiCaprio’s representatives had no comment. ■ Ileana may
ANI replace Trisha
in Aadukalam.
IANS
12 ERGO Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Tuesday’s Query:
What excuses would you give if you
forget your friend’s birthday?
■ Never admit. Just ask whether he or she received your
(unsent) greeting. If not, well, you can always go wrong
with email address! You can send again
Sridhar.R STG

■ What happened to your mobile yaar, I tried calling

you to wish, but you were not reachable, I felt so bad,
Anyway belated wishes
Rabikala,
RR Donnelley

■ You don’t look old enough 4r me to remember ur

bday
P.Prabodh Aspire Systems
Sandeep Veer from HCL Technologies has nominated his team- The
■ I was out of station on day n kept my mobile in my Invincibles as Partners in Crime. This picture was taken at Queens Land
home during their team outing.
Umanath, Soundsudharsan Wipro,
Jayashudha Inautix

■ Un birthday gnyabagam vechikkara alavukku nee

enna en figure’a machaan. Feel happy that I didn’t dig
your purse for a treat
Mukund SCB Scope International

■ Sorry machi full tight that’s why I forgot

Harikrishna Sutherland, Balaji Infosys

■ Machi, friendskulla inda formality yellam

irrkakudadhu. Appidi irunda adhu frndship aga
irrukamudiyadhu kavalaiya vidu kalyani ye yedu
Sriram Cognizant

■ Machi how can I forget ur birthday. I phoned u

million times but ur num was busy
Hashim Allsec, Suhail TCS-eserve,
Vijay 3i-infotech, Dhivya Wipro,
Roshin Perotsystems, Karthick Hewitt Associates
Senthil Kumar from Caliber Point Business Solutions Ltd has nominated his
■ Just heee nu oru smile friends as Partners in Crime. This pic was clicked at E.C.R.
Rajesh Wipro

■ I was busy with my girlfriend

Venkatapadmaprasad Wipro
Rajkumar Dhamodharan Allsec

■ I thought no need of remembering u that u have

crossed one more year coz u r always young dear.
Eppadi yelam poi solla vendi irukku
Saranya.M Cognizant

■ Enala unaku vayasu adigam agarada etuka mudiyala

Valarmathi.V, Cognizant

Today’s Query:
One tax sop your sector needs and
which you are waiting to listen
from the Finance Minister on
Prasanthi from Applied Development Software India Pvt. Ltd has nominated
Budget day her colleagues as Partners in Crime. This pic was taken in Queens Land,
Chennai.
 Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Rajesh M. from Tata Con-
sultancy Services has been
nominated as Office Angel
by Ramachandran.
Rajesh is a very smart
looking guy in our office. He is
short-tempered but still he is a
good-hearted person with a
friendly nature. He is always
willing to help others and
loves each and everyone in the
team. He is a very calm and
quiet person and doesn’t give
any trouble to anyone. He is
very strong in the process also.
Sumayya
Parveen of
Cognizant
Technology
Solutions
doodled this.
1) Senthil Ean Adikkadi Chain kadikiraaru
Enna Avar oru Nagaichuvai Nadigar
2) What is the Difference between Ravi Sasthri and Gandhiji
Ravi Sasthri Off Spinner and Gandhiji Kai raatinam Spinner
3) What is the Word used to Hold my Cycle
Encylopedia
Jayaraman V.
HCL Technologies Ltd
13
■ Hi Anand GK true, because you deserve it
May this special day be filled with all...HAPPY BIRTHDAY.”
sweet memories and happy hours. Ever Loving Friends
Wishing you all the fun and Hema Thiyagarajan, Jaffer Ali,
excitement that only birthdays can Arun Kumar Maharajan,
bring! Nayagam MP, Vimala Devi Ponrangam
With Cheers, Infosys Technologies
Human Resources, ■ Dear Akils(Punctual) & Sugan
Coastal Training Technologies (Professional),
India (P) Ltd, Chennai All of us are joining here to say
“Belated Birthday Wishes” to U
■ Dear Gemini’s and Cancerians both!!We don’t want to separate our
[Meiyappan, Vishaka, Raghunath, eyes?!!!!thatsy wishing u both in
Harini, Hari and Naren (six pack)], same day even ur b’day s differ!!Got
Belated birthday wishes to all May it????ok Don’t cry.
and June babies!!!! May God’s blessings be with u all
Natpu enum aadayil irukkum Nool through the life .Happy
Engengo irunthalum…. day,month,year!!!!!!!!!!
Athan ninaivu ovvavoru izhaiyilum, P.S :Give us treat in FC Baskin
nirathilum milirum Robbins itself since we are having so
Athu thaan Nam anbu!!! much work to do.
Endrendrum marava ullam vendum With tons & tons of luv,
namakku!!!! Vidhya, Niveditha, Rashma, Vinitha,
Vaazhkaiyil men melum uyrara, Angella, Saranya, Subha n all……..
kanavugal ellam niravera en Infosys Technologies
manamarntha vazhthukkal !!!!,
Ur affectionately, ■ Dear Pavi,
Zylog Quality family A wish that is felt deep in the heart
all year long.....
■ Hey Bhu, This is a wish from all of us that
The more you praise and celebrate wishes for all the joy and good
your life,the more there is in life to things to always come your way!!!!!!
celebrate May your life be brighter as each
Wishing u many more happy returns birthday comes and goes
of the day!!!!!! With new happiness unfolding like
Yours Darling, the petal of a rose!!!!!!
Have a wonderful day and a fabulous
Viji, Wipro technologies year!!!!
■ Dear Swetha, Have a blast dear!!!!!!!!!
Wish You Many More Happy Return Sorry for the belated wishes......
of the day. With Love n Care
May all your dreams come true and Your Everloving Friends,
this be another fantastic year for Wipro Technologies
you.
With lots of love ■ Hi Sharath
MIS TEAM (TCS e-Serve) Wish U Happy Birth Day......
This is ur first birthday in corporate
■ Our Dear Mary, world.......
Many Many Happy Returns of the We all wish u .....not to get night
Day. Wishing a very happy and shifts anymore....
prosperous year ahead. may this Bday will bring the change
God bless you and may all your in your shifts.
dreams come true. Once again Happy Birth Day..dear.
With Love.. from
Amal and Vipin All the freshers of TCS Banks
Wipro Technologies
■ Sweet Sister
Many Many Happy returns of the
day, Have a special day and a
beautiful year ahead. "I wish you
Belated Wishes Many Many Happy Returns of the
dayJJJ" Let this day brings you lots of
■ Dear Archu… happiness and success in future….
May god make all your wishes May God keep you in good health
fulfilled and give you all the and spirit.
happiness and joy. Regards
“If there’s something that you’re Alfred Lord Tennyson,
dreaming of then may it all come Caliberpoint
14 TRAFFIC JAM ERGO Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Doormat danger
Residents in a block of flats in England have been told to
remove welcome mats from their porches - because they
are a health and safety risk.

sudoku

Ramesh from
MphasiS
shot this
picture at
Masinagudi in
Ooty using
Olympus
SP550.
Hobbies:
Photography,
music

So you think you would make a terrific photographer but never really had the
KAKURO
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

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES:
Contact: 2857 5757
E-mail: ads@goergo.in
Website: www.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

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
 Wednesday, July 1, 2009
15
Worm charming winner Word’s Worth
A ten-year-old girl has won the World Worm Charming Lyssophobia (lis-o-foh-bee-uh)
Championships in England by enticing a staggering 567 a fear of rabies so extreme that the sufferer
of the wriggly creatures up from the soil. actually manifests symptoms of the disease.

B.C

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

You may be possessive about your area of work
and belongings so you may not be able to share it
with anyone. A favourable day for scheduling of
projects. You need to avoid negligence in personal
life. In short, the day requires careful handling.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20

You may be spontaneous today, which is good if
it’s in limits but while dealing with superiors, remain
low profile. Ensure that the hard work that you are
putting in doesn’t go in vain. On the personal front,
you may require lot of flexibility.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20

It is day to collect data and resources for your
BORN LOSER projects. You may try to gain as much as possible
out of the professional contacts. In personal
relationships, you may display moodiness. However,
love relationships may blossom today.
CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20
This day is favourable for all important activities
related to work. You may be insightful and your
instincts may help you take right decisions. On
personal front, you may display warmth so marital
life or love life may go smooth
LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20
It is most favourable day for beginning any projects.
Anything initiated today may have stable and
step-by-step progress. You may need to avoid
reluctance on the personal front, else it may create
problems between you and your spouse or beloved.
VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20
You have the scope of developing ’higher skills’ in
FREE RANGE WORKING IT OUT the area of work. There may be lot of enthusiasm
within to adapt new techniques. On relationship
front, you may need to avoid being ’over practical’
when someone very close to you approaches you.
LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20
It is a favourable day for meetings at office but if
you are planning a meeting outside office, Ganesha
suggests you to postpone it. On the personal front,
your focus will be on your beloved which in turn
will bless you with pleasant moments.
SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20
You may have the desire to get the work done by
someone else. Ganesha suggests you to avoid
escapism. On the relationship front, you may value
your beloved one’s emotions and try to do the
necessary to please him or her.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20
You may take initiative at workplace and no one
will have to provoke you or impel you for anything.
This attitude may increase your credit at workplace.
In personal life, you may love your beloved one
intensely and the response may also be equal.
CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20
Today, you are advised not to carry out important
endeavours, instead it is good to deal with what
you have done till now, find out your mistakes and
rectify them. At home, you may be at peace and
may wish to spend quite moments with your mate.
AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20
PREVIOUS Today you may remain busy with communications
and meetings. This is right time to convey your
ISSUE’S ideas and thoughts. Ganesha finds your personal life
relatively hassle free but you may need to avoid
SOLUTIONS aggressive statements which may hurt your beloved.
PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20
If you want to initiate dialogue with someone
important, it’s perfect day. Ganesha suggests you to
show due respect to the person you are
communicating with. In relationships you may feel
stressed, if your beloved one is ’over demanding’.
Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni
16 ! ERGO Wednesday, July 1, 2009

A pigeon flies away, after recovering from an injury for a

week, during which time it accompanied Slovak sports
fishermen at a pier Liptovska Mara dam, near the city of
Liptovsky Mikulas. PHOTO: AFP

French actress Marion Cotillard arrives at US President Barack Obama’s wax figure (C), Mannequins decorated with condoms for
London’s Leicester Square to attend the surrounded by extras posing as bodyguards, an anti-AIDS campaign, displayed at a
British premiere of her latest film Public is unveiled in front of the Eiffel Tower in restaurant in Bangkok. PHOTO: AFP
Enemies. PHOTO: AFP Paris. PHOTO: AFP