A BYTE OF LIFE Friday, September 26, 2008

12 18
VAARANAM AAYIRAM AUDIO LAUNCH
GO BOLERO!
The short jacket’s back Gowtham Menon turns a compere

FREE CIRCULATION Vol. 2 No. 187

ROOMMATE
FROM
HELL
Have you lived with one?
Or are you one?
» PAGE 06 Enchanting Kerala
Vipin Goni of Ford Business
Service sent us his travelogue
on his weekend trip to Kerala
02 ERGO Friday, September 26, 2008

Sing along

Namma Chennai
Madras Youth Choir is conducting a music workshop on songs on
national integration, folk songs, etc and on voice culture, from
October 2 to 4; between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at YGP’s School,
Calibre, 21/6, Krishnaswamy Avenue, Mylapore. It is open to all
above 16 years. Participation fee is Rs.150 for all three days.
Further details, contact 9841383421, 9840548073

Bookworm’s
Corner Nash and his
Top Ten Fiction
1. Sea of Poppies – Amitav Ghosh. Rs. 599
2. Brida – Paulo Coelho – Rs. 295
3. A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khaled Hos-
seini. Rs. 395
4. The 3 Mistakes of My Life – Chetan Bha-
gat. Rs. 95
STASH
This house music deejay mixes Latino
5. Unaccustomed Earth – Jhumpa Lahiri.
Rs. 450
sounds with African beats
4. A Prisoner of Birth – Jeffery Archer. Rs.
270
6. The White Tiger – Arvinda Adiga. Rs. 395 DJ Nash at OPM
7. Six Suspects – Vikas Swarup. Rs. 495 PHOTO: R. RAVINDRAN
8. One Night at a Call Centre – Chetan Bha-
gat. Rs. 95
9. You Are Here – Meenakshi Reddy. Rs. 199

Top 10 Non-fiction
1. The Secret – Rhonda Byrne. Rs. 550
2. The Last Lecture – Randy Pausch. Rs. 295
3. Hot Flat & Crowded – Thomas Friedman.
Rs. 595
4. Stay Hungry Stay Foolish – Rashmi Ban-
sal. Rs. 125
5. Go Kiss The World – Subroto Bagchi. Rs.
399
6. Execution – Larry Bossidy and Ram Cha-
ran. Rs. 695
7. Cold Steel: The Multi-Billion Dollar Battle
for a Global Industry – Tim Bouquet and
Bryon Ousey. Rs. 650
8. Men of Steel – Vir Sanghvi. Rs. 95
9. What to Expect When You Are Expecting
– Heidi Murkoff. Rs. 430
10. Black Swan – Nassim Nicholas Taleb. Rs.
395
Courtesy: Crossword

For those starved of on Wednesdays, the place was

late night shindigs,
this night was the
mother of all parties.
packed till the end.
Better still, the club stayed
open till 1.30 a.m., with the DJ
announcing at half an hour to 15
minute intervals towards the end
that the party was coming to an

I
f you missed DJ Nash and his
firefly trips across the nation,
he played in namma Chennai
at OPM, Accord Metropolitan
on Wednesday for the club’s la-
dies nights special.
The man specialises in house,
but is more electro with strong
jungle sounds infused with Latin
melodies. Listening to it the first
time, especially since the DJ start-
ed playing house first and then
moved on to hip hop, one has to
stand still and swill the sound like
wine before acquiring a taste for
it. At one point, there were trum-
pets blaring while African beats
took over to create a fusion sound
and a unique out-of-the-body
thumping experience – you
end. For those starved of late
know, that time you dance and night shindigs, this night was the
the feet move on their own. mother of all parties. ■
The crowd was a little reluctant
at first, especially when the DJ
played what came to him natural-
ly – starting with his signature set.
Shifting to hip house within an
hour, there was still no sign of life
on the floor, and any dancing was
around the bar. It was when the
In a nutshell
DJ Nash’s set is
DJ shifted to commercial hip hop, called Untamed and
playing Rihanna’s Umbrella and according to his
Daddy Yankee’s Gasolina that the Myspace site, he
club suddenly seemed to have a describes the sound
surge of partygoers. Of course, as, “Dirty house
some of the ladies in the house meeting the electro/
are regulars at 10 Downing Street, tech house sound but
and since OPM serves free alco-
remaining consistently
hol for women through the night
funky and melodic.”
 Friday, September 26, 2008
03
Dandiya nite
Catch the fun and excitement of
Dandiya Garba Raas happening at Taj
Connemara on Saturday at 7 p.m. For
passes call 98410 14925/ 98844 80228.

ergo Hand in hand

MOBILE
909401 3535
Thursday’s query
I am the best there is but my only fault is

I don’t like people finding fault in my work

even though committing errors is a human
nature.
Asareere, TCS
I always sleep at my desk
Maran
I forget my assignments, when I gossip with
GIRLS.
Goutam Dey, Hexaware
To be the smartest in the team
Vaidya, CSS
I tell lies very often
Rajagopalan S., CTS
My modesty
Ranjani, Infosys
I don’t tolerate fools
Thirumalaiselvi Nambivel
I don’t know to judge anybody (including
myself)
LAN, FSS
I m flawless
Anurag Garg
I don’t work for peanuts ... (I am too good for
my CTC)
9884024133
I am a consummate liar
R Suresh, CGSL
I am flawless, lawless and priceless, isn’t this
best less 쒀 Two brothers take a stroll in Perambur
Carl allsec High Road. PHOTO: V. GANESAN
I lie most of the time...
Aditya, Satyam computer
Not comparing myself with others surrounding
me
Nithyaalangaran S
Thinking that I am the best there

Being the best

Mohan, TCS

Rebecca, Allsec
I can’t stand my boss. Obviously when he is not
Celebrating
around

I don’t have a flaw! (isn’t that amazing)

9789090786

Krithika
Incredible
India
I tell a lot of lies
Radhika Santhanam
Living in this planet with you ... people!
S.Kannan TCS
Being
I am the best there is but my only flaw is I lie
like this often T omorrow (September 27) is World
Tourism Day and if you want to
catch up with some of the events
Thiru
and celebrations, then there is a
two-day extravaganza in the city.
Ergo Pick The travel and tourism expo is being
I seldom get to know I’m best in doing what!!! organised by The Hindu in conjunc-
Padmavijayan S tion with Tourism Department, Go-
vernment of Tamil Nadu. Tourism
boards from different states will be
Friday’s query part of the fair where a variety of
If the Superstar was a software programmes depicting every state
engineer, what would be his punch will be highlight.
dialogue? Drop in at Rajah Muthiah Hall, Eg-
more on September 27 and 28. ■
04
World Heart Day
Is your heart safe?
Cardiologist Dr. N. Kapadia
lists simple tips to save
your heart ahead
of the World
Heart Day
Pistachios good for heart
Pistachios bring down levels
of ‘bad’ cholesterol in the
blood, as they contain an
antioxidant called lutein
V.HARIPRIYA
haripriya@goergo.in
O
n a sultry Monday morn-
ing, Amit, a 25-year-old
software professional was
rushing to office as usual
to meet his deadline. A chain
smoker who is constantly under
work stress, Amit was un-
aware that the day will be his
last day in this world. He felt a
sudden pain in his heart and
breathed his last on the way to
hospital. The report cited
heart attack as the reason for
death.
Every 15 seconds some one is
dying of heart attack in
world. And in India alone, 25
lakhs of people (0.25% of
Population) died of Heart at-
tack last year, says Dr N. Kapa-
dia, a Cardiologist.
Dr Kapadia points out that
there are two types of heart dis-
eases.
Congenital heart defect: De-
fects in heart present since birth
like a hole or defective heart
valves making baby blue. About
8-10 of 10,000 children are born
with congenital heart defects.
Atherosclerosis: Heart gets its
nutrition and oxygen through
small arteries called Coronaries.
A handful of pistachio nuts a day can reduce
your chances of developing heart disease,
according to a team of American researchers.
The scientists have found that pistachios
bring down levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol in the
blood, as they contain an antioxidant called
lutein, also found in fruit and leafy green veg,
which cuts the build-up of bad cholesterol in
the arteries.
“Pistachios are very healthy in moderation.
A handful a day is very easily incorporated
into the diet and they are less calorific than
peanuts as you have to take the shell off,” the
Daily Express quoted nutritionist Angela
Dowden, as saying.
To reach the conclusion, scientists at Penn-
sylvania State University and Oklahoma Med-
ical Research Foundation chose 28 adults
whose average bad cholesterol level was ‘bor-
derline high’.
The study has been published in The Amer-
ican Journal of Clinical Nutrition. ■
ANI
ERGO Friday, September 26, 2008
My heart
When attempting to locate their heart, most
people place their hand on their left chest.
Actually, your heart is located in the center of
your chest between your lungs. The bottom of
the heart is tipped to the left, so you feel more
of your heart on your left side of your chest.
Angina or heart pain
is often due to block
with other mentioned
factors make them ex-
in one or more coro- posed to risk of sud-
nary arteries. If grad- den death from heart
ual, it gives heart pain attack as they have no
or Angina, if sudden,
it causes heart attack,
cardiac reserve,” Dr.
Kapadia says and sug-
which can be fatal. In
fact the tiny coronary
gests 10 golden rules
to prevent heart
arteries have inner
lining replaced by de-
attack.
Avoid or stop
posited Cholesterol,
known as Atheroscle- Dr. N. Kapadia
smoking.
Drink plenty of wa-
rosis, covered with a ter 2-3 litres per day.
blood clot in acute cases. Avoid Junk Food. Eat healthy
“Sedentary life style, stress, Meals with less fat, more fruits
smoking, obesity, diabetes, high and vegetables.
blood pressure, high cholesterol Eat Omega-3 daily (Sources:
level, family history and genetic Fish, Walnut, Almonds, and
causes are the well established Pistachio).
risk factors”. Walk or exercise for half-an-
“As far as IT professionals are hour daily.
considered, they are exposed to Use staircase instead of lift.
highly competitive, stressful work Reduce stress by doing Yoga/
environment, with long working Meditation/ Prayers/ going
hours and target fixing jobs. The holidays
biggest enemies causing heart at- Control High Blood Pressure/
tack are stress and smoking to High Cholesterol/Diabetes
which they are becoming more Regular health check-up for
friendly inviting trouble for heart disease, ECG / Echo /TMT /
themselves. Depression, stress, Cholesterol/Blood Sugar check at
anger with above factors specially least once in six months.
if there is family history of heart Do not neglect any chest dis-
attack, makes things worse. Ex- comfort or chest pain. It can be
cessive deviation from healthy heart attack and timely treatment
diet and normal sleep pattern, can save life. ■
 Friday, September 26, 2008
05
ECG Heart beat
The electrocardiograph (ECG) was invented
in 1902 by Dutch physiologist Willem In a 70-year lifetime, the
Einthoven. This test is still used to evaluate average human heart beats
the heart’s rate and rhythm. more than 2.5 billion times .

SCIENTISTS SAY THAT DARK CHOCOLATE MAY KEEP HEART DISEASE AT BAY

Chocoholics rejoice
C
hocolate has already been
linked to many health bene-
fits, and now, a group of scien-
tists has given chocoholics
another reason to savour their fa-
vourite sweet by suggesting that
dark chocolate prevents heart dis-
ease.
The Italian study, the first out-
come of a large epidemiological in-
vestigation, has found new
beneficial effects of chocolate in the
prevention of cardiovascular dis-
ease.
According to the researchers, 6.7
grams of chocolate per day repre-
sent the ideal amount for a protec-
tive effect against inflammation
and subsequent cardiovascular dis-
ease.
The population study was con-
ducted by the Research Laborato-
ries of the Catholic University in
Campobasso, in collaboration with
the National Cancer Institute of Mi-
lan.
The findings, published in the
last issue of the Journal of Nutri-
tion, official journal of the Amer-
ican So-ciety of Nutrition, come
from one of the largest epidemio-
logical studies ever conducted in
Europe, the Moli-sani Project,
which has enrolled 20,000 inhabi-
tants of the Molise region so far.
By studying the participants
recruited, researchers focused on
the complex mechanism of inflam-
mation. It is known how a chronic
inflammatory state represents a risk
factor for the development of car-
diovascular disease, from myocar-
dial infarction to stroke, just to
mention the major diseases. Keep-
ing the inflammation process under
control has become a major issue
for prevention programs and C re-
active protein turned out to be one
of the most promising markers, de-
tectable by a simple blood test.
The Italian team related the levels
of this protein in the blood of exa-
mined people with their usual cho-
co-late intake.
Out of 11,000, researchers identi-
fied 4,849 subjects in good health
and free of risk factors (normal cho-
lesterol, blood pressure and other
parameters). Among them, 1,317
did not use to eat any chocolate,
while 824 used to have chocolate
regularly, but just the dark one.
ANI

10 best ways
to cure a
broken heart
F inding it hard to get over a break-
up? Well, then all you need to do
is follow these simple tips, for they
at the point of orga-
sm, which give that
feeling of euphoria.
will help put the spring back into Clear the clutter
your step. Getting rid of those
Following are the ten best cures old love-notes and cosy
for a broken heart, reports the In- photos is extremely ca-
dependent. thartic.
Eat well Learn a language
A diet high in complex cabs, ome- Learning a new language
ga-3 and vitamin C will boost your is a great way of meeting new
levels of serotonin, which helps fight people and broadening your
fatigue and depression. horizons, as well as helping you
Go for a walk out of a mental rut.
A good walk in the fresh air can Write it down
help clear the mind. Writing down your thoughts on
Spa retreat paper is a great way of working
It’s a great way to relax your mind through emotions.
and work away any pent-up tension. Chocolate
Plan a holiday Chocolate is a true ‘positive indul-
Pack your bag and take yourself gence’.
on the trip of a lifetime. New outfit
Exercise A new outfit can give you a new
Exercise can help release endor- lease of life, at least in the short
phins in the body. These are the very term. ■
same chemicals released in the body ANI
06 ERGO Friday, September 26, 2008

Big Story
Roommate from Hell!

Are you one of those whose hostel or bachelor/spinster life COULD have been better were it not
for the annoying presence of that unforgettable someone? That roommate from hell who made
your stay miserable or unbearable. Remember the person who made coming back from college
or workplace an unpleasant experience? A general classification of annoying roommates (not
that all fall under these categories):

The Owl
She wakes up at midnight,
when the world (including her
unfortunate roomies) is asleep.
The lights go on, books that have
been gathering dust all day come
out of the cupboard, and a dull
buzzing noise of someone mug-
ging up text will form the back-
ground music for those in
dreamland (and those jolted out
of it).
The Untouchable
No one shall wander anywhere
near her. Her bed shall be barri-
caded with a dozen suitcases, the
clothesline is hers only. If you re-
ceive a phone call while Her Maj-
esty is asleep, you shall step out,
or remain inside at your own per-
il. If you’re about to cough please
proceed beyond earshot. This
one’s the other extreme of the
Owl. “The lights shall be switched
off at 10 p.m. Not my problem if
you work night shifts” is the in-
struction. Use a torch for light if
you have to.
The what’s-yours-is-mine
believer
This one is your friend in more
ways than you would like. Your
toothpaste is his, so is your sham-
poo, deodorant, towel, hair oil,
etc.
You will step into your room to
find him sprawled across your
bed and he will not need your
permission if he wants to raid
your biscuit jar. Fill up the buck-
ets for unexpected water shortag-
es and you’ll find this one doing
his laundry with it.
The animal lover
This one believes in peaceful
co-habitation and non-violence.
So what if it’s those lice roaming
freely on her head. And she likes
you, too. The more you try to stay
away, the more will she try to
come close.
The slob
The bedsheets are never
washed, neither are the utensils.
The clothes, too, never see deter-
gent. What comes out of the
shelves never goes back to its
proper place. You can never ex-
pect him to lend a helping hand
even if you offer to clean up.
Shabbiness is thy second name.
The snorer
Your room’s thief-proof, what
with the high-decibel snores of a
roomie who could scare away the
most strong-hearted of men.
Nothing dulls out that sound;
iPod on full volume or a fat pillow
that would snuff out the more or-
dinary breathing sounds.
The whiner
Nothing keeps this one happy.
It could be boyfriend/girlfriend
trouble, homesickness, bad mess
food, scheming roommates, the
weather, forgetful parents, hostel
deadlines, too little, too much…
everything. Life becomes one
long agony aunt/uncle session
and there’s no escape.
The show-off
The name says it. Sometimes
it’s the new watch that her par-
ents sent from the US, sometimes
it’s the chocolates some aunt sent
from Switzerland, sometimes it’s
some perfume another forgotten
relative sent from Paris, etc., etc.
The Whiner’s opposite. ■
 Friday, September 26, 2008
“H ell Was Full, So I Am Back” This was written on his
t-shirt when he came to live with me. After a short
stint in Hyderabad he got a project in Chennai and as I
was his only contact here, he moved in. I knew him from
my college days, when he was a hosteller and I a day
scholar. I did hear a few stories of him being a nasty fellow
to live with, so I was in quite a fix before inviting him in.
He came for three months as he was on a client assign-
ment. My other flat-mates straightaway declared that I
was going to be his roommate as I was the one to invite
him. The moment he entered the flat he started cursing
the city and its intolerable heat. He was sweating and
handed me his entire luggage as soon as he entered. Then
stated a three-month-long story of grief and suffering. As
he was here only for three months, it was out of the ques-
tion that he should buy a mattress for himself. “Hey, I
don’t need a mattress to sleep, chill” he would say every
time I suggested that he buy one. But he follows the oppo-
site of what he says. A 3x6 mattress, which was only wide
enough to accommodate one, bore the weight of two.
He used to talk to his girlfriend on the phone every night
at the top of his voice. Insomnia was a habit I developed in
those three months.
It was next to impossible for him to get himself and his
clothes ready in the mornings. Then there were my neatly
ironed and washed clothes which he would use. I would
have to find another set then.
He never purchased soap, toothpaste, razor or any article
which he could take from me. Now I wonder if he even
purchased his own toothbrush.
Two weeks after his arrival his white shocks had given up
their colour. They stank so much that even he refused to
use them.
We used to cook our own food after office and he never
gave a helping hand except for the finishing part, when we
all sat and ate.
Finally, the day arrived when he was supposed to leave.
He was on leave and I had to go to office. I took half day of
so that he could get a final ride on my bike to the railway
station. When I entered the flat at 3 O’clock he had already
left, leaving our room as neat and clean as possible. It was
hard to believe that he did it by himself. There lay a gift
box with a note on it: “You were the best roommate I ever
had. Thanks for your support. Even after my misdeeds you
never complained. I am leaving a few things for you which
you shared with me. Will always miss you…” It was
a kit carrying all necessary items like a razor,
soap, toothpaste and a new TOOTHBRUSH!
Sourabh Nirmal
Dear Ergo Readers,
Thank you for the tremendous response to ‘Roommate from Hell’.
Obviously, many share the suffering. However, due to constraint
of space, we’ll be able to carry only a few responses on the page.
I t was during my training period in Bangalore. I stayed
in a semi-furnished men’s hostel consisting of around
60-70 IT guys from various IT companies, all under one
roof. All from different backgrounds, states and languag-
es. It was a lot of fun. However, we had a roommate who
had a habit of chewing tobacco and drinking, which was
not allowed inside the hostel. He was friendly with eve-
ryone but the hostel guys avoided him due to this annoy-
ing habit. He would be chewing and spitting all over the
place. And the most disgusting part was that he kept a
plastic bag in the room and would keep spitting in it like
an old granny’s spittoon. It was really very, very annoy-
ing. We couldn’t stay in the room as the smell became
unbearable. Also, he used to wake up in the middle of the
night, go out and come back into the room late, leaving
the door open. The hostel warden had warned him many
times but he wouldn’t listen. After all the hostellers start-
ed complaining, he was asked to vacate immedi-
ately, which he did.
Anonymous
O n the first day of my college life I was told
that a guy would be joining me as room-
mate. He came after two days.
He bathed occasionally. I would buy perfume,
toothpaste and talcum powder and he used
mine without hesitation. The hostel provided
us a mosquito net for our window. He never
bought stationary, but that day he went to the
departmental store and came back with a Super
Max blade and torn the net. “Machi, we need
pure and fresh air to inhale,” he told me.
This was in the year 1999, when I was working
07
I was in Canada for four years and during my stay
I shared a house with a Canadian. I had a tough
time with him, an avid pet lover. The list of his
pets included a brown cat called Grumpy which
slept over the microwave all the time; and two
more black cats, one on the couch and another in
the basement. Then there was an iguana, 3 ft long,
which lived in the basement and was not properly
protected. So, quite often, he visited the other
rooms. Whenever the iguana was out, you can
imagine the fight with the cats. Apart from these
was one cobra (4 feet long) and two other snakes
grown in separate fish tanks, again in the base-
ment. The most horrible thing was having a pack
of frozen small white mice in the refrigerator – to
be fed to the snake and iguana. The funny thing is,
this roommate would take the mice out, warm
them in the microwave, leave it out for a
while and then feed his loving pets.
S.G.Umashankar
in Hyderabad. We were seven colleagues stay-
ing in a 2 BHK house. We were in the night shift
in a reputed BPO. Every morning, when we
were back from work, my roommate would
change into his night suit and lie down next to
me. We used to catch up on what happened at
work before sleeping. At least for a couple of
hours during this time, he would continuously
dig his nose till it turned red. I could not take it
anymore and ultimately had to shift elsewhere
because of this. We named him ‘The Excavator’.
R. Dhiraj Mathur

W e had just moved into a new house when I was

given an onsite assignment. As happy as I was
about it, I was worried about leaving my roommate
Manjusha alone in a new and unfamiliar place.
“Dont worry,” she said, “I will find another roommate
to stay here with me soon.” But then, within a week,
Manjusha was also given an onsite assignment. She
called me soon after the news came, “The house own-
er is a bit upset...he said he didn’t want the house to
remain locked. He feels it is not auspicious to keep it
unoccupied. Manisha has asked to live here...we won’t
be comfortable with her, I know, but we won’t be
getting another roommate in such a short time.”
“Oh, how bad can any roommate be?” I thought as I
told her to inform Manisha that she can move in.
One week. That’s all the time it took for us to realise
our mistake. Our house owner sent us mails saying,
“The current occupant is a very rude girl. I would
prefer the house to remain locked rather than have
her stay there. Please arrange it among yourselves.”
Eventually, these mails changed in tone: “Either you
move her out or you all move out. I will not be ordered
about and disrespected in my own house.”
There was nothing much we could do about it while
we were there, so we replied with apologies and prom-
ises that we will rectify everything once we are back.
Eventually, my return date came. The day I reached
home, my dearest roommate was away for the wee-
kend. I entered the house and realised what everyone
was complaining about. The whole house was in dis-
array. There were clothes on the floor, unwashed
plates in the sink with fungus on them, spilled food on
the bed, hair on the shelf, and the highlight...stagnant
water full of worms in the buckets in the bathroom.
After my initial bout of throwing up, I called up a
friend and asked to stay at her place for the weekend.
Monday evening, I returned home, hoping that things
would be better, now that Manisha was back and had
enough time to clean up. High hopes!
The girl was lying in the middle of all the mess, happily
reading a film magazine. “Hi Manisha, glad to meet
you!"(glad, indeed!) “Shall we clean up a bit and then
settle down?” “Clean up???!!! Why?” Well, what do you
say to that!!!
“Well, things kind of look out of control here...” “Real-
ly???!!!”
“Well, yes... come on, let’s clean up.” “No, I am tired,
you go ahead.”
That was new to me!
I went ahead and cleaned the whole place, thus re-
ceiving the full sympathy of our daily maid the next
day. “I have been telling her I won’t come to work here
again if she keeps the floor like this,” she informed me,
“the only reason I keep coming is because I need the
money very badly and I haven’t received my salary for
the last two months.”
I later learnt that the rent was also in a similar state,
due for the number of months we were not there.
It was a miracle that the house-owner hadn’t kicked
us out already.
After clearing all the dues, I calculated each person’s
share and sent a mail to Manisha and Manjusha with
all the calculations. An irate Manisha called me up.
“The maid didn’t do anything for me. She only swept
the house everyday. I am not paying for that,” Man-
isha told me.
As unreasonable as that sounded, I agreed so that I
would get at least the rest of the money.
She did give her share of the rent for the past few
months, but then, the next month was not far away.
“We need to pay this month’s rent. Could you give
your share now itself?” I asked.
“Just now you made me give you such a huge amount
of money, and now you are again asking for more?”
she retorted
I reminded her that the money she gave as a ‘bulk
amount’ was actually the money she should have giv-
en each month.
After I got tired of perpetually cleaning up after her
and getting insulted in the bargain, I confronted her.
“Manisha,” I said, “there is a limit to how much I will
bear with. I am not going to allow you to do this to me
anymore.”
Immediately, the response came, “Ok, I will move out
this week. I always knew you people are very selfish
and insensitive. As for this month’s rent, I will pay it at
the end of the month once my salary comes.”
I was happy enough with that deal. She eventually
moved out and went on a long-term assignment with-
out informing any of us, so we never received the rent
amount when salary day came. All the same, I don’t
regret it...my ecstasy was complete in itself at her
moving out, and I sent a mail to Manjusha who was
preparing to come back from onsite. “Congrats Man-
ju, you will return to a clean house.”
Anonymous
08
Village
Blind Muslims can take guide
dogs into mosques
In a move welcomed by many, the Muslim Law (Sharia)
Council UK has issued a ‘fatwa’ (edict) to allow blind
Muslims to take their guide dogs into mosques.
Mohammad Abraar Khatri, an 18-year-old blind Muslim
student in Leicester, is the first to be allowed to take his
pet into a UK mosque. Leicester has a large minority of
Indian origin. The announcement followed a series of
Why US is crazy about Palin?
Zardari says it’s because she is gorgeous
‘G
orgeous,’ this is how Pa-
kistan President Asif Ali
Zardari described Repu-
blican Vice Presidential
candidate Sarah Palin when she
met him at New York.
“You look so gorgeous. Now, I
know why the whole of America
is crazy about you,” Zardari said,
while receiving Palin, also the
Governor of Alaska, at the Mille-
nium Hotel here.
“You are so nice,” 44-year-old
Palin, a former Miss Wasilla run-
ner up in Alaska beauty pageant,
told Zardari, husband of slain for-
ERGO Friday, September 26, 2008
Websites of the day
Play pranks on your friends with this fake email generator:
http://deadfake.com
Check online weather forecasts so you’re not caught out by
summer showers: http://www.metcheck.com
Beer made from 45 million year Beatlemania in Israel as
old yeast McCartney plays for ‘peace’
A tiny colony of yeast trapped inside a Lebanese weevil
Beatlemania has taken
covered in ancient Burmese amber for up to 45 million
hold in Israel as Paul
years, has been brought back to life in barrels of modern
McCartney prepares to
beer. According to a report by ABC News, Emeritus
play his first ever
Professor Raul Cano of the California Polytechnic State
concert in the Jewish
University, originally extracted the yeast a decade ago,
state today, saying he
along with more than 2000 different kinds of microscopic
hopes to spread a
creatures. Today, Cano uses the reactivated yeast to brew
message of peace in
barrels of pale ale and German wheat beer.
the troubled region.
ANI
Four decades after the
Fab Four were forced
to cancel a gig over
official fears they
would pervert the
country’s youth, Sir
Paul will perform an
outdoor concert in Tel
Aviv, defying death threats from an Islamist cleric and calls
from pro-Palestinian groups who wanted him to boycott
Israel. Tight security will surround Hayarkon Park, where
tens of thousands of people, some paying as much as
1,000 euros for the privilege, will watch the legendary
left-handed guitarist belt out his tunes. “You have to
realise that any high-profile event brings with it some
discussions between the worries,” the 66-year-old said in an interview.
Guide Dogs for the Blind AFP
Association and the
Muslim Council of
Britain on Khatri’s
request. The association Sir Donald Bradman’s bat
said it was ‘a massive
step forward for other fetches US$ 145,000
blind and partially- Cricket legend Sir Donald Bradman’s first test
sighted Muslims’. Dogs cricket bat fetched a whopping US$ 1,45,000 at an
are still barred from auction in Melbourne. Bradman’s bat was snapped
entering the prayer hall up by an Australian bidder at a record price which
for the sake of hygiene was US$ 25,000 more than the upper pre-sale
but are allowed to estimate, a media report said. A spokeswoman for
guide their owners to Melbourne’s Leski Auctions said bat would remain
the area where shoes on home soil after being bought by a private
are placed. vendor.
PTI PTI
mer Pakistani Premier Benazir
Bhutto.
An aide of Zardari then told the
two to keep shaking hands for the
cameras.
“I’m supposed to pose again,”
said Palin, who has energised the
Republican Presidential nominee
John McCain’s camp.
“If he’s (aide) insisting, I might
hug,” 53-year-old Zardari replied,
for which Palin smiled politely in
response. The conversation was
captured on a camera and tele-
cast later. ■
PTI
 Friday, September 26, 2008
Gipsy predicts lottery win
A couple who run a snack bar in England won a
multi-million dollar jackpot on the lottery - days
after a gipsy predicted the win. Gary and Ann
Henry say the mystery gipsy woman read Ann’s
fortune after they gave her a free egg sandwich.
Do you have these habits?
Seven worst habits of workaholics revealed
Y
ou might be working harder
and longer in a desperate
bid to succeed, but if you
are doing so at the cost of
your health, then you need to get
rid of those workaholic habits.
“Many people feel like they
have to push themselves to un-
healthy levels in order to succeed.
But high-pressure jobs and long
hours take a real toll on your im-
mediate and future health,” said
George Griffing, M.D., professor
of internal medicine at Saint
Louis University.
These are the seven worst hab-
its of workaholics, according to
Griffing.
1. Forgetting to relax: While
some stress can be good because
it keeps you alert and motivated,
too much stress or chronic stress
will take its toll on your body.
2. Eating on the go: Between
meetings, conference calls and
deadlines, workaholics forget to
take out time to sit down for a
healthy lunch. But a good meal is
exactly what a person needs to
stay mentally sharp throughout
the day.
3. Putting off sleep for work:
Man asked to
pay Rs 78 lakh
under RTI Act
A n applicant in Bihar has been
asked to pay over Rs 70 lakh for
securing the information he
sought under the Right to Infor-
mation Act.
Gupteshwar Singh, a social
worker from Agiyaw in Bihar’s
Bhojpur district, had on June five
filed an application seeking date-
wise information about the dis-
tribution of foodgrains and kero-
sene through the public
distribution system (PDS) in Ud-
vantnagar, Agiyaw, Tarai, Garha-
ni, Sandesh and Saha panchayats
of the district between 2000 and
2008.
Talking to PTI, Singh said that
Bhojpur District Supply Officer
Jawahar Prasad informed him
that the desired information
would be made available only
when he would deposit Rs
09
This day, that year
It was in September 26, 1983 that sport’s longest winning
streak, lasting 132 years, was broken. It was held in the
America’s Cup race where the United States team, expected
to maintain the title they were defending for the 25th time,
lost to challenger Australia II.
Even busy professionals need
seven to nine hours of sleep every
night. Missing out on sleep can
lead to irritability, difficulty con-
centrating, memory problems
and poor judgment. It has also
been linked to obesity.
4. Not making time for exercise:
Getting at least 30 minutes of ex-
ercise most days is very impor-
tant to immediate and future
health.
5. Working even when sick:
Many people come to work de-
spite being ill. But there are three
common sense reasons to stay
home - Nobody wants your
germs, you’ll be less productive
and you need your rest to get bet-
ter.
6. Drinking (too much): Exces-
sive drinking can lead to alcoho-
lism, liver disease and some
forms of cancer.
7. Skipping annual medical
checkups: In order to detect
problems early, prevent others
from developing and get the best
treatment if you have a condition,
you need to know what’s going
on in your body. ■
ANI
Painting own life
78,21,252, estimated to be spent
on photocopying of the docu-
ments.
“I have also been asked to de-
posit money in the Bhojpur col-
lectorate by July 25,” Singh said.
“Otherwise it would be under-
stood that you are no more in-
terested for the information,” he
said quoting the letter of the offi-
cial.
Under the RTI act, the appli-
cants are required to pay Rs 2 for
each document being photoco-
pied.
Charging the district supply of-
ficer with being vindictive, Singh
said he had never sought the
photocopies of all the PDS docu-
ments for the last eight years. “I
쒀 An artisan paints an idol of the Hindu goddess Durga ahead of the upcoming
just sought information,” he said.
festival of Navratri in Mumbai on Thursday. AFP PHOTO
■
PTI
10 ERGO Friday, September 26, 2008

Oracle’s comp

Technorama
Software giant Oracle announced its
entry into the computer hardware
business with a brainier, brawnier
machine crafted to manage the
explosion of digital data. It will be
partnering with HP.

Lasts long, really long

The new Dell Latitude sips energy drinks
There’s nothing worse than a dying laptop
battery when you are away from power Snippets
sockets and need to get some work
done. sourced from
The Dell Latitude E6400 solves that
problem with a whopping 19-hour T3 magazine
battery life. Seems as if it sips energy
drinks to stay alive that long, but this of Infomedia
14.1inch notebook actually does that
using a combination of various features Group
such as a 9-cell battery and SSD storage.
Imagine being able to work unhindered over
long haul flights and get that presentation in
shape before you land. Part of the latest
portfolio of Latitudes, the other new additions
in the range include the semi-rugged E6400 ATG,
the 13.3inch E4300, and the 12.1inch E4200, the
latter being the lightest commercial notebook
from Dell at just 0.99kg. Rs 54,990,
www.dell.co.in

Bargain-bin cam
Cheap clicks
Here’s a way to get 1080p for cheap: the Aiptek
PocketDV AHD Z500 Plus. It’ll give you full-HD flicks, and
you can film at 60 frames per second or 30 if you can put
up with a mere 720p’s worth of HD. Take it to the zoo
with a 32GB SDHC card, and you’ll walk away with a cool
eight hours of hi-def zebra action. Now that’s something,
isn’t it?Rs 20,000*, www.aiptek.com
Seven reasons to buy...
This earthquake-proof Denon sound system
1/Vibration-resistant construction means that, even if you’re
cowering under a doorframe during an earthquake, Denon
super audio CD receiver RCD-CX1 and speaker system SC-
CX101 will make sure that your music won’t skip a beat.
2/The power circuit maintains a stable current even during
.sudden peaks, so cymbal crashes will always sound
realistically annoying
3/It plays music in numerous formats, from iPods to Super
Audio CDs, to standard CDs, and MP3 and WMA CDs
4/Control your docked iPod using the supplied remote.
Physical effort is very overrated
5/A power output of 150W means you’ll wake your
neighbours’ neighbours
6/Switch input sources while a song is playing and it’ll fade
out gently
7/A double-layer cone in the woofer reduces magnetic
distortion, allowing for sound so spacious, it could fill an
average-sized department storeRs 1,00,000*, www.denon.com

Shoes 2.0
Smarties as sole-partner
This Supercup High racing
shoe has more tech
than most cars: a
shock-absorbing
heel that’s oil-and
fire-resistant, and
Zoomed-out snapper more padding than
Nikon shrinks one of its classic SLRS an airbag. The
At 1.65 lakhs for the body alone, you need to be pretty serious about International
your snaps to buy one of Nikon’s monster SLRs, but you get your Motorsport
money’s worth. The new D700 is a shrunk-down version of the pro’s Federation
choice, the Nikon D3, with the same 12-megapixel CMOS sensor, as well approved it, and
as an anti-dust system that uses high frequency vibrations to shake the there’s a casual street
image sensor clean - think of a dog shaking itself dry. Plus the shutter version for us non-professionals
release time lag is just 40ms, so you’ll be able to capture drops of water too.
in mid-air. Possibly flying off a dog shaking itself dry.Rs 1,65,000* (body TBC, www.porsche-design.com
only), imaging.nikon.com
 Friday, September 26, 2008
11
Computer treatment Google phone just ok
Researchers at the National Space Biomedical G1, the new Google phone is ’Nice try with
Research Institute (NSBRI) are developing an the new phone’ according to experts. Some
interactive, multi-media program that will assist analysts noted its lack of some typical
astronauts in recognising and effectively managing smartphone features such as corporate e-
depression and other psychosocial problems. mail and companion desktop software.

IP addresses running out warns

‘INTERNET’S DADDY’
IP addresses are as crucial to websites as street addresses are for businesses,
but some network engineers predict that we will run out of them in two years

V
int Cerf, the ‘father of the internet,’
has warned that the world is on the
verge of running out of the internet
addresses that allow computers to
identify each other and communicate.
Cerf, one of the world’s leading com-
puter scientists, has asserted that there’s
an immediate need for businesses and
consumers to switch to the next gener-
ation of net addresses.
Every computer and online device is as-
signed a unique IP address, but according
to estimates, the pool of unallocated
numbers will soon run dry.
IP addresses are as crucial to websites
as street addresses are for businesses but
some network engineers predict that we
will run out of them in two years.
However, Cerf has said that it’s high
time that preparations are made now,
otherwise some computers might not be
able to go online and the connectivity of
the internet might be damaged, unless
preparations were made now. He also
said that particularly Internet service pro-
viders are needed to prepare and that
time was running out for a smooth transi-
tion.
“This is like the internet running out of
telephone numbers and with no new
numbers, you can’t have more subscrib-
ers,” Times Online quoted him, as saying.
Cerf and his colleagues devised the In-
ternet system in 1977, and he set in place
“internet protocol version four” (IPv4)
But, scientists have already kept aside a new system,
called IPv6, which has been ready for implementation for
more than a decade.
which provided 4.2 billion addresses.
Each IPv4 address is a series of 32 binary
digits.
However, with the boost in the number
of internet-enabled devices, especially
mobile phones, less than 14 per cent of
those addresses remain vacant.
According to current figures, the exist-
ing IPv4 address will run out in 2010 and
possibly as early as next year.
But, scientists have already kept aside a
new system, called IPv6, which has been
ready for implementation for more than a
decade.
Under IPv6, each address has 128 bits
and so provides 340 trillion, trillion, tril-
lion different addresses. And it is believed
that this will meet humanity’s needs for
decades to come.
Both the protocol systems will run si-
multaneously and IPv4 addresses will still
work as normal.
But if the IPv6 is not widely adopted,
then those using it may find themselves
unable to connect across the whole in-
ternet.
The Organisation for Economic Co-op-
eration and Development has warned
that shifting to the new addressing
scheme was “critical for the future of the
internet economy” and was likely to affect
“all businesses that require IP addresses
for their growth”. ■
ANI

Eye Candy Where do the candidates

stand? Ask Google
Program "Google In Quotes", displays statements by the
electoral candidates on whatever subject the user enters
into a search box
W ant to know where Barack
Obama and John McCain
stand on abortion, health care,
Iraq or any other hot button top-
ic?
Internet search giant Google
has developed an experimental
new tool which allows Web surf-
ers to compare quotations from
the US presidential candidates
side by side.
쑸 Called “Google In Quotes”
A model from Japan’s electronics giant Matsushita Electric (labs.google.com/inquotes), the
Industrial displays a new lightweight notebook computer program displays statements by
called "Let’s note F8", in Tokyo on Thursday. The new the candidates on whatever sub-
note book PC, designed with and integrated handle for ject the user enters into a search
portability is equipped with Intel’s Core2Duo processor box. Enter “Iraq,” and up pops
and a 14-inch LCD display, combined with long battery the latest quote on Iraq from the
life. AFP PHOTO candidates. A box labelled
“Spin” allows users to scroll
back through their previous
comments on the selected issue.
The quotes are drawn from sto-
ries which have appeared on
Google News.
For the moment, “In Quotes”
only provides quotations from
politicians but not all of them
are American. Google has also
created Canadian, Indian and
British editions of the program
featuring leading political fig-
ures in those countries.
The site created by Google
Labs is still under development
and carries a hefty disclaimer.
“Quotes and their speakers
are determined automatically by
a computer program and we
don’t guarantee the complete-
ness or accuracy of the informa-
tion you may see,” it says.
AFP
12 ERGO Friday, September 26, 2008

Portfolio

PPQ

Duyo

Prada
 Friday, September 26, 2008
13

MILAN MADNESS
Snapshots from the Milan Fashion Week:

THE BOLERO JACKET RETURNS WITH A BANG

Dsquared2 Marni
Did you know?
The bolero is a
type of slow
dance and
T
his is Fashion Week time. As catwalks around the world,
from New York to Madrid to London and Milan, got busy, a
60s-inspired garment yelled out its presence – the bolero
jacket.
musical form that
This short jacket (either waist-length or shorter, with sleeves or
extended flaps) is being paired with everything from evening
originated in
gowns to skirts and jeans.
At the London Fashion Week, feisty London label PPQ paired Spain in the late
the bolero jacket with tees, high-waist trousers and dramat-
ic headgear, while at Duyos at the Spring/Summer 2009 18th century,
collection show at Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week in Ma-
drid, ruffled chiffon turned into a bolero. performed solo
At Elio Berhanyer the structured look returned. Gucci Etro
The most noticeable appearance of the bolero or by a couple.
jacket, however, was at the Giorgio Armani
Spring/ Summer 2009 collection show-
cased in Milan. The mini jacket was
It’s to this dance
paired with shimmering strapless and
tube dresses in chiffons and silk, and
form that the
chic returned. At Just Cavalli, at Lon-
don’s Spring/Summer 2009 ready-to-
bolero jacket
wear week, it was again about animal
prints and the bolero jacket completed the owes its name as
ensemble, paired with leopard-print shirts
and pants and sporting cuffs in the same print. the jackets were
Prada and Blumarine, too, had their own ver-
sions of the bolero, the former indulging in mostly worn, and
crushed silk and the latter in beaded bling.
os At the time it originated in Spain in the consequently
‘60s, the bolero jacket was chiefly tai-
lored out of velvet or flannel. It has popularised, by Roberto Cavalli
obviously broken away from the
mould. While denim, woollen
and knitted cotton bolero
the female
jackets are ideal for casual
wear, ones in lace and
performers.
crochet look great on
dresses.
Eighteenth-
Not only does a bol-
ero jacket give you a century paintings
chance to make interest-
ing an otherwise dull outfit, of bolero dancers
it is also great practical wear;
something you can pair with will feature the
spaghettis and tube tops when
you’re not sure about the occasion. ■ bolero jacket.
Giorgio Armani
Salvatore Ferragamo. Bottega Veneta
AFP PHOTO
14
Honeymoon Island
BackPackers
Iraq unveiled plans on Sunday for a multi-billion-dollar resort with spas, golf courses
and a six-star hotel to revive a once popular honeymoon island on the Tigris River in
Baghdad. The potato wedge-shaped island overlooks Baghdad’s Green Zone, the highly
fortified area where the US embassy and most Iraqi government offices are situated.
Refreshing break
A weekend trip to Kerala leaves you rejuvenated
VIPIN GONI
O
ur most awaited journey to
the God’s own country
commenced on a Saturday
evening. We boarded our
train from Chennai Central and
after a good night’s sleep we reac-
hed Ernakulam in the wee hours
of the morning. After our morn-
ing cuppa we hit the road, driving
to our next destination – Athirap-
pally waterfalls. The place en-
chants you with its beauty and
with a heavy heart we moved to-
wards our next destination.
But after reaching
Kumarakom we were
quick to forget our
heartaches for Ath-
irappally and
cruising through
the backwaters we
felt that we were in
a different country.
Vast stretches of water
meandering along aim-
lessly helps you to lose your
sense of time and you are left
wandering in a dream world. We
made our way to Pathiramanal
and the scenic beauty of the place
was absolutely breathtaking.
Next morning we woke up early
to pay a visit to the famous Siva
temple at Ettumanoor. After an
early breakfast there we drove to
misty Elappara and the rolling
meadows of Vagamon. The mist
ERGO Friday, September 26, 2008
made it virtually impossible to
see five metres ahead of you and
we groped our way around and it
was fun as more often than not a
few of us stumbled over or
banged against each other. We
had lunch at the beautiful Sum-
mer Sand resort. The artificial
pond and the hilly surroundings
gave the pace a mystic elegance
and we were left spellbound with
the beauty of the place. We also
took a trip to the Suicide Point
which gives you a bird’s eye view
of Vagamon.
After making a fool of our-
selves at the near by pine
forest, it was time to
head to our base.
Back in Kottayam
few of us went on a
shopping frenzy
and packed our
bags with Kerala
chips, sweets and the
traditional dhoti and
saris. After two memora-
ble days in ‘Gods own Coun-
try’ we were ready to take on the
world again, completely revital-
ised and bursting with new found
energy.
We boarded a night train from
Kottayam on Monday and were
back in Chennai the next morn-
ing, already planning our next
trip. ■
The author works for Ford
Business Service Centre
 Friday, September 26, 2008
Hello Backpackers
Send us pictures of your team or family outings with a small write-up on the place,
mentioning why the trip was special, how you got there or any travel experience
for that matter. E-mail: snapshot@goergo.in
A LOOK AT ‘INDIA’S FIRST NIGHTCLUB’
GO COORG
T he Chennai Trekking Club is
organising a trek to Coorg from
September 30 to October 5. The
group is trekking to Thadiyand-
mol and Brahmagiri peaks, and
will be covering a total of 1,200
kms.
The trek holds special as the
club members are exploring the
Western Ghats after a long time,
where forests are deep and dense
with plenty to explore.
They will be travelling by car
from Chennai and will require
one person in each group to drive
the four-wheeler. Pick-up points
15
SOMINI SENGUPTA hanging like upside-down tulips,
cigarette smoke rising from the
European M
y mother went to Mo- tables. Fish a la Moutarde is
cambo to listen to Doris grilled bhetky, a Bay of Bengal
Day covers. I went to Mo- delicacy, drenched in a spicy
cambo for Fish a la Dia- mustard sauce, whose virtues a
na. Mocambo opened its doors in Bengali can croon about. Angels
1956, a European oasis of glam- on Horseback is chicken wrapped
our and jazz on Park Street, Cal- in bacon. Fish a la Diana is in-
cutta’s famous cabaret row. Its dulgence itself: bhetky, stuffed
ASIS
second-generation owner, Nitin with prawn and cooked in cream.
Kothari, called it independent In- The most expensive dishes
dia’s first nightclub, which is range around Rs 200 and the best
plausible, even if impossible to choices on the cocktail menu: In-
verify. dian-made Old Monk rum and
There was a German architect, Black Dog whiskey (splurge on
an Italian manager the 12-year vintage,
and, soon after its about Rs 200 a dou-
opening, a 17-year- ble shot).
old chanteuse
named Pam Crain,
The music The music
stopped 20 years
who wore a French stopped 20 ago. Kothari blamed
evening gown and years ago. Communists elected
sang standards with to power. They dis-
Anton Menezes six-
Kothari approved of bour-
piece band. “She blamed geois indulgences
had a good voice, Communists like dancing cheek
she was very good- to cheek, he said.
looking,” Kothari, elected to They raised the en-
61, recalled. “Very power tertainment sur-
glamorous.” charge to 30 percent.
My father would, Others on Park Strip
of course, wear only blamed power outag-
proper shoes, no matter the es. Despair – and then globaliza-
swampy Calcutta heat. I asked tion – hit the other clubs, one by
my mother if she danced in a silk one. The Blue Fox became a
sari. She denied dancing. So McDonalds and then closed after
many stripes of Europeans left a gas cylinder exploded. Magno-
their mark on this city – Dutch, lias Sunday afternoon jam ses-
Portuguese, Armenian, English – sions were abandoned. A
that it seems somehow fitting sprawling KFC opened across
that in cuisine and cabaret vibe, Park Street. The only restaurant
Mocambo is still an odd jumble to still have a live band is Trincas,
of Europeanisms: a mural of faux which began as a tea room.
Degas ballerinas, red vinyl ban- The government has since
quettes, red silk lampshades dropped the entertainment sur-
charge. But Kothari is wary of re-
turning to the past. “With God’s
Mocambo grace, we are doing OK without
25-B Park Street, Kolkata
music,” he said. “So why mess
Phone: (033) 2229-0095 or
2265-4300. around?” ■
NYT News Service
in Chennai, starting from 7 p.m.,
include Tidel Park, Taramani,
Madya Kailash, Guindy Circle
and Ramachandra Hospital, Po-
rur.
Log on to www.chennaitrek-
kers.org to know more about this
non-profit association, check-
lists and the latest updates on
their treks.
If you would like to be a part of
the trek, email them at
balsesh@gmail.com
People dropping out at the last
minute can call 99400 73713. ■
Ergo Correspondent
16
Sport
Kubica can win the
championship
BMW Sauber chief Mario Theissen is confident
his driver Robert Kubica still has a great chance
of overtaking Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa
and winning the world
championship. The Pole is
currently 14 points behind
leader Hamilton, in a
McLaren, and 13 behind
Ferrari’s Massa with four
races to go, starting with the
first-ever night race in
Singapore this week. Kubica
came in third at the last Grand Prix in Italy,
picking up valuable points on his main rivals
who finished seventh and sixth respectively.
“It’s a situation still offering Robert the chance
of making it to the very top in the world
championships,” Theissen said. The fact that
Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen closed a 17-point gap
on Hamilton with two races left to win the
championship last year is not lost on Kubica
and BMW.
AFP
Big break for Pak cricketers
The deal signed between Pakistan Cricket Board
and Dubai Sports City (DSC) is not only going to
reap rich dividends for the PCB, but also for
Pakistani cricketers as they will be earning
around USD 100,000 each for playing in the
offshore matches. According to information
received from well placed sources, under the
three-year deal signed between both the parties,
the PCB stands to get paid around USD 3 million
for each event they play in the DSC. For each
event to be played in the offshore venue, the
DSC will pay the PCB USD 1.5 million and USD
100,000 to each of 15 Pakistani players selected
for the tournament. “The Dubai Sports City
management will hold the broadcasting,
sponsorship and advertising rights of these
events planned in the next three years,” one
source said.
PTI
Platini to take on
Euro 2012 hosts
UEFA president Michel Platini is expected to take
a break from criticising Arsene Wenger and
switch to Poland’s and Ukraine’s
lack of progress in preparing to
host Euro 2012 at a meeting
starting on Thursday. Platini,
who made headlines by saying
in a newspaper interview this
week that Arsenal manager
Wenger cared more about
business than football, is likely
to make clear, however, that both countries will
keep the right to co-host the tournament.
The executive committee of soccer’s governing
body should also endorse an expansion of the
European Championship finals to 24 teams from
16 at its two-day meeting. The head of UEFA
may also get another chance to speak out
against the introduction of video replays to help
referees, a move asked for by many coaches
including Wenger. Platini has visited Poland and
Ukraine twice this year and warned officials that
they risked losing the right to stage the event if
stadiums and infrastructure were not ready.
Reuters
ERGO Friday, September 26, 2008
Moin slaps defamation notice on PCB
Former skipper Moin Khan has slapped a defamation notice on the Pakistan
cricket Board, seeking an apology for defaming him in connection with the
Indian Cricket League (ICL) issue. Moin’s lawyer, Imran Qureshi said that for a
long time Moin had been tolerating statements from the Board officials
regarding his involvement in the ICL.
o n
est v
p e s r e
d
o
H
m
his
superior-
o
ity. The number
two player (Crivoi) was
S
okay and to target him was the
key. Prakash played well in the sec-
his ga- ond set against him but then he got
me,”he said. tired. He (Prakash) is a player who
prefers grass and he lacked experi-
Clay feat ence on clay.”
The former Davis Cup player Like Team’s non-playing captain
strongly emphasised that Indians SP Misra, Bal also dismissed reports
I ndia
might
have swallowed a crushing
need to improve their game on clay
courts as Indian players more often
struggle on red clay. “We have to put
that it was due to the acrimony
among the players he and former
skipper Leander Paes missed Pra-
1-4 defeat against Romania in the them (Indian players) on clay. And kash’s match.
Davis Cup play-off tie but coach there are two ways to that. One is to “There was a plan. I was there
Nandan Bal asserts that the team did send them to Europe for two-three when Prakash warmed up and it was
not come back empty handed as it months in a year. Let them play and my duty to accompany Somdev
has found a future star in Somdev learn there. Secondly, if we can im- when he warmed up with Leander. It
Devvarman. port synthetic courts, we can import was my job to be with him. And as
Somdev, who is currently playing clay courts also. Put down 5-6 courts soon as we finished the practice we
an ATP Challenger tournament in here and let our players practice bet- came back to see how Prakash’s
Romania, had squandered a winna- ter,” he said. match has progressed.
ble position in his second singles Bal heaped praise on Romanian We could not get noticed as we
against Victor Crivoi but did trouble number one player Victor Hanescu, actually sat near the practice court
the higher-ranked player and im- who pummelled both Somdev and stands. There was no problem at all,”
pressed with his game. “In Somdev Prakash in the tie. “Hanescu was out he insisted. ■
we have found a player who is hard of reach. There was no doubt about PTI
working and keen learner. He is very
good. Let him play 2-3 more Davis
Cup ties and you will see him pro-
ducing results,” Bal said. “He just
lacked experience (in the dead rub-
ber) to put away a tie. But he is ready
to learn and I am sure he will win
many ties for India in future,” he
added.
Speaking about the second reverse
singles, which Somdev lost after
leading 5-4 in the second set, Bal
said Crivoi curbed his unforced er-
rors amazingly and clinched victory
from the jaws of defeat. “Apart from
a double fault, Somdev also commit-
ted a foot fault. This is something he
has to learn. He suddenly held back.
Crivoi on the other hand played an
aggressive game. The guy did not
make any mistake. Somdev started
playing safe, ultra-defensive in hope
that Crivoi will make some mistakes
but the Romania player did not give
Somdev any such chance. He raised
Indian Davis Cup
coach praises Somdev,
rubbishes claim of
factionalism within
the team
AFP
 Friday, September 26, 2008
‘‘Armstrong
A Test series on Indian soil is considered tough. It’s the toughest series, but it
gives you immense satisfaction if you are able to win it. The big strength we
have is the Indians might think we are inexperienced and perhaps in Test cricket in this
country we are, but the guys that have come in have played a lot of first-class cricket.
to ride with Astana
S
even-time Tour de France
champion Lance Armstrong
will make his cycling comeback
with the Astana team. The 37-
year-old Armstrong said yesterday
he will reunite with Astana team di-
rector Johan Bruyneel, who was the
team leader for Armstrong’s record
tally of Tour wins.
“While we looked at other teams
and talked to other teams, as a
friend and as a long time partner
and as somebody that really trusts
Johan on every little decision in the
program, I could not ever imagine
racing against him or racing without
him,” Armstrong said. The only ma-
jor race before the Tour that he
knows he will definitely compete in
is the Tour Down Under in Adelaide,
Australia, in January.
Kazakh Cycling Federation deputy
chief Nikolai Proskurin told The As-
sociated Press that Armstrong
agreed to ride for the Kazakhstan-
based team for free the first year
and has signed up to take part in five
races, including the Tour de France.
Armstrong said he has committed
only for next year, but he wouldn’t
rule out competing beyond 2009. He
has dedicated his comeback to rais-
ing global awareness for the fight
against cancer.
Establishing authenticity
Also, to try to prove that he is
clean to sceptics who doubted that
he could have achieved his feats
without using performance-enhanc-
ing drugs, he is adding a new mem-
ber to his team: Anti-doping expert
Don Catlin, who will run a program
to regularly test Armstrong. “I think
it’s the first time an athlete can ac-
tually be totally validated on the
chance he’s successful,” he said. “In
my opinion, Don Catlin is beyond re-
proach. When I began to think about
coming back, I knew there had been
questions in the past, many of which
we considered to be unfounded. In
the off chance that I do perform
well, I didn’t want to leave any
doubt,” Armstrong said.
“So I reached out to Don and
asked him to oversee this program
to be completely independent, to be
completely removed from me.” Cat-
lin will post the results of Arm-
AFP
17
Mike Hussey
TO HAVE ANTI-
DOPING EXPERT
ON BOARD TO
PROVE HIS
CREDENTIALS
strong’s tests on the Web.
Armstrong said he had given Catlin
permission to test him anytime,
anywhere. Catlin will be paid by As-
tana, but Armstrong insisted it
wasn’t a case of buying his approval,
because Catlin wouldn’t risk his
credibility by telling anything but
the truth. “I think this will be the
most advanced anti-doping program
in the world,” Armstrong said.
Question mark over teamamtes
What Armstrong’s Astana team
will look like is unclear. Alberto Con-
tador, the 2007 Tour de France
champ, might already be looking for
a new team. “I think I’ve earned the
right to be the leader of a team with-
out having to fight for my place,”
the Spanish rider said on Tuesday in
AS newspaper. “And with Arm-
strong some difficult situations
could arise in which the team would
put him first and that would hurt
me.”
Contador, signed with Astana
through 2010, won the Spanish
Vuelta on Sunday. Combined with
his 2008 Giro d’Italia title, he became
just the fifth cyclist to win the three
highest-regarded tours. “I think
there’s room for all of us on that
team,” Armstrong said. He called
Contador “the best rider on the plan-
et right now,” and questioned
whether he’ll be able to keep up. “I
would encourage him to give the sit-
uation an opportunity,” Armstrong
said, “and I’m looking forward to
racing with him.” ■
PTI
18 ERGO Friday, September 26, 2008

Brangelina and clan move to Germany

Flick
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have moved house from France to
Germany for a three-month stay. The Hollywood couple and
their six children left the French chateau they called home for 5
months and have arrived at the German villa Palais Parkschloss
on Wannsee Lake.

Actor Sivakumar releasing the audio CD of the movie V̀aaranam

Aayiram at Satyam Cinemas in Chennai on Wednesday. (from
left)actors Ramya, Surya, Director Gautham, Babloo, and Music
Director Harris Jayaraj. PHOTOS: S.S.KUMAR

Gautham
Dipika Pallikal
keeps it personal
ANUSHA PARTHASARATHY dividually release the seven
songs. Other Kollywood

T
he audio release function of
Gautham Menon’s Vaaranam
Aayiram, which was held at Sa-
tyam Cinemas on Wednesday,
was a gala function with many artists
from the Tamil and Telugu film in-
dustry present to grace the occasion.
The album was released by the en-
tire unit including the technical staff
and all the other celebrities who
came. Gautham Menon himself
played host throughout, making it a
Meena very personal one. This is the second
time Surya has teamed up with
Gautham Menon and Harris Jayaraj.
The first was Kakka Kakka, which
turned out to be a runaway success.
“My first experience with Gauth-
am Menon was with Kakka Kakka. It
was an amazing hit and took to me a
different level in acting. The same
way, I think Vaaranam Aayiram will
take me up another level. Besides
this, Harris sir’s music in all my mo-
vies has been a hit. This time too, he
has really outdone himself”, said Ac-
tor Suriya, who has kept his own
name in the movie. The function was
attended by notable names such as
Dipika Pallikal, Major General
Bakshi, Ameer, Sasikumar, Sivaku-
mar, who were all called upon to in-
bigwigs namely Nazzar, Sa-
tyaraj, Meena, Naresh Iyer,
Devan, Benny Dayal and
lyricist Thamarai were also
present.
Veteran actor Sivakumar
was called upon to release
the first song, ‘Mundhi-
nam’. The proud father was
all praise for his son, who
had gone on a stringent diet
for 16 months for the movie.
“In the movie, there is a part
where Suriya is a 17-year-old. To get
that look, Suriya lived on a strict diet
of greens and salads for sixteen
months and I could see him suffer in
front of my eyes.
I have had 40 years of experience
in this industry and though Sivaji
and MGR are legends, I have not
seen even them attempt such a feat,”
he said. The last song of the movie,
‘Yethi Yethi’ was released by the chil-
dren of the various crew members.
The musical score by Harris Jaya-
raj has seven songs. ‘Mundhinam’
by Naresh Iyer and Prashanthini
starts off with a dialogue from a mo-
vie and progresses into a light num-
ber. ‘Adiyae Kolluthey’, also the title
track, by Krish, Benny Dayal and
Shruthi Hassan is peppy and fast
and is a good dance number. ‘Nen-
jukkul Peidhidum’ has a lilting tone
and is a song that stays for a while
even after it is over. ‘Oh! Shanthi
Shanthi’ is a faster version of ‘Nen-
jukkul Peidhidum’, Yethi Yethi; an-
other peppy one, that may take a few
times to like, Annul Maelae, by Sud-
ha Ragunathan; melancholic but
nice and ‘Ava Enna’ by Karthik and
Prasanna, which will premiere as the
first Ghana song in a Gautham
Movie.
The soundtrack is by Sony BMG,
which has released its second Tamil
sound track after Dasavatharam.
Three theatrical trailers and videos
of two songs were also shown at the
function. ■
 Friday, September 26, 2008
19
Aniston plans to adopt Hollywood’s hottest dad
Jennifer Aniston, who’s soon going to be 40, is Brad Pitt is Hollywood’s Hottest Dad,
considering adoption in her bid to become a according to a new magazine poll. The star
parent. The stunner is looking for ways to have a has beaten the likes of Tom Cruise and Ben
child without having to rely on a man. Affleck to land the honour.
ANI ANI

Britney’s Cine City

‘Womanizer’
delayed for
spruce up
B ritney Spears’ comeback single ’Wom-
anizer’, which was to hit the shelves
on September 22, has been held back in
a bid to put final touches to the song.
The singer’s label has decided to post-
pone the release of her new single after
a part of it was leaked online, along with
a secret recording of the singer practis-
ing her new dance routine in a studio.
The bit was picked up by a local US radio
station and evoked a disappointing re-
sponse.
“The label held the song back to make
it as good as possible,” the Sun quoted a
source as saying.
The pop icon’s ’Womanizer’ is now
scheduled to release on November 24,
while her comeback album ‘Circus’ will
be launched on 2nd December - her 27th
Sakkarakatti to release today
birthday. Sakkarakatti, starring Santhanu and Ishita, will hit
Britney, who recently gleamed at the the screens today. The film has been cleared by the
MTV Video Music awards winning 3 tro- Regional Central Board of Censors with a U
phies, may soon be performing at the certificate. Sakkarakatti is directed by Kala Prabhu,
British reality show, ‘The X-Factor’. son of producer Kalaipuli Dhanu. The music is
ANI
composed by A.R. Rahman and the audio of the
film has already made record sales.
www.cinesnacks.com

Endhiran team to
fly back to India
The Endhiran team, which has been
busy shooting for nearly a month in
the US and Peru, will fly back to India
on September 27. Endhiran is
produced by Ayngaran Films on a
mega budget crossing over Rs.100
crore. The songs are choreographed
by Raju Sundaram.
20 ERGO Friday, September 26, 2008

Angry in-laws

Scan
According to TV.com, Liz Hurley’s Indian father-in-law revealed
in April 2007 that he had cut ties with his son, Arun, amid
anger over their lavish wedding. Vinod Nayer told the media
that he and his wife Joanne felt "publicly humiliated" and
treated "like social outcasts" at the event.

PICK OF THE DAY - Friday

Star Movies Star World Discovery Travel and Living Zoom

War of the Worlds – 9 p.m.
An unthinkable and ultimately
unexpected, murderous machine
decides to take on Earth and its up
to dock worker Ray to save himself,
his children and the world from this
malformed monster.
Friends – 7 p.m.
Rachel dreams about a romantic
encounter with Joey after a visit to
the set of Days of Our Lives.
Chandler buys a non-refundable
weekend getaway for himself and
Monica.
A matter of taste with Vir
Sanghvi – 8-30 p.m.
Based on the writings of Vir
Sanghvi, one of India’s most
charismatic journalists, the series
showcases his opinion of the food
trends and styles of India and
contemporary Indians.
Let’s talk – 7-30 p.m.
‘Let’s Talk’ hosted by Omar Qureshi
sets out to have a heart-to-heart
chat with celebrities. Tune in to
catch them speak about themselves,
their forthcoming projects and the
hobbies they indulge in.

PICK OF THE DAY - Saturday

Animal Planet Zee Café National Geographic Zoom

In search of the giant
Anaconda – 6 p.m.
In Search Of The Giant Anaconda.
South African photographer and
adventurer Austin Stevens is
travelling to the Amazon to catch a
wild anaconda in the water, and
attempt to bring it to land.
Pain behind the fame – 11
p.m.
Watch as the deepest darkest
secrets of celebrities are uncovered
behing all the glitz and glamour.
Strange days on planet
earth – 4 p.m.
Troubled Waters. Series 1, episode
4. This series examines evidence that
toxins are being spread throughout
the world’s water systems and sees
what people can do to remedy the
problem.
The Rakhi Sawant Show
– 7-30 p.m.
Watch all the spicy gossip about our
colourful film industry via the bold,
brutally honest and much talked
about host, Rakhi Sawant!

PICK OF THE DAY - Sunday

Star World Discovery Animal Planet Sony Pix

Ghost Whisperer – 7 p.m.
Melinda finds that she is
investigating the intricate world of
gossip and romance within the high
school before she uncovers the
reasons for the hauntings.
Man vs. Wild – 6 p.m.
European Alps. Bear Grylls shows us
how to survive the Alps, Europe’s
greatest mountain range. Millions
visit every year, thousands becoming
stranded. Bear Grylls parachutes in
& demonstrates survival techniques.
Ghost of the Ganges – 2 p.m.
In one of the world’s most sacred
rivers there exists an almost
mythical creature. Seldom seen the
Ganges River Dolphin is a creature
from another age, and a creature
out of time.
The Man in the Iron Mask –
10-30 p.m.
The three musketeers reunite to put
the real Louis the XIV back in power
after he is shamelessly bound and
hidden by his twin brother. Staring
Leonardo DiCaprio and John
Malkovich.
 Friday, September 26, 2008
Greetings
Dear Saranya,
U might have received cards, Emails,
flowers and gifts as a birthday greeting,
but this special greeting comes from
special lovable hearts wishing u a very
Happy Birthday.
Ever loving friends, Preethi, Rajaprabhu and
specially suresh & team members, American
MegaTrends India Pvt LTD.
Dear Aarthi,
On your birthday, special one, We wish
that all your dreams come true. May your
day be filled with joy, Wonderful gifts
and goodies, too. On your day we wish
for you Favourite people to embrace,
Loving smiles and caring looks That
earthly gifts cannot replace. Happy
Birthday!
Best Regards GTM Team, Scope International
Hi Karthigeyan (HCL-cisco),
Wishing you Many more happy returns of
the day. Let all your dreams come true.
Have a great year ahead. Happy Birthday
from your beloved friends, HCL Technologies Ltd
Dear Vasanth Elango,
Faithful, kind and always true, reassuring
through and through, insightful in your
wise advice, enthusiastic, sweet and nice,
noted for your smiling face. Dear friend,
no one could take your place A very
Happy Birthday.
With Love, Hearty wishes from Kaeshiker &
Friends, Kumaran Systems.
Dear Banu,
Wish you many more happy returns of
the day . Happy Birthday Dear. Let this
Birthday bring all sorts of joy &
Happiness in your life... Enjoy..
With Love, PriyaManiDevi, Cognizant.
Dear Bond,
Wish u many more happy returns of the
day. I am always with u to care of u.
Mrs.King, TCS
Hi Lavanya,
Wish you many more happy returns of
the day. May god bless you with
happiness and success in your life.
Wishes from Giriprasath
Hi Revathi,
A Birthday is A million moments, each
holding a promise of fulfillment of UR
DREAMS, & accomplishments of some
special plans... Advance birthday wishes.
Best wishes from Shobana, Indra, Arul, Udhaya,
and Aparna, HCL
Dear Prasoon,
Happy Birthday to you! Hope you have a
rocking year!
Cheers! ASD & TYCO Team, Infosys
Dear Alapati,
Advance birthday wishes. Wishing you a
fun filled birthday!! God Bless you...!
Regards, Rajendraprasad Medepalle, TATA
Consultancy Servicves Ltd
Dear Vidya,
Wishing you a very ‘Happy birthday’ Let
this birthday bring all sort of joy n
happiness in your life.
With best wishes & Prayers, OMFC & OFFC
team, HCL Technologies Limited
21
Council bans clowns
Clowns in the U.K. have been silenced by a council which has banned them from
playing their trumpets at Zippo’s Circus. The circus said it was told by council
officials that the show could not go on unless the clowns dropped the musical part
of their act. The circus, which is currently performing in Birmingham, fell foul of the
Licensing Act 2003 which forbids the playing of live music without a licence.
Dear KOKILA,
Cinthol Deo spray
Advance birthday wishes. Wishing you all
success in future. Keep smiling always!!!!!
God bless you.
Cheers Sreepriya, Sandhiya and friends, Perot
systems
Dear Siddharth,
The secret of staying young is to live
honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your
age. Ha ha ha. Wish you many many
happy returns of the day and lots of
success in CITI (AGS).Enjoy the day... :)
Wishes from Nalini, Deepthi, Saroj, Pardhu,
Sonam, Tamil, Sankar n Krishna, Hexaware
Technologies
Hi Jinju,
Advanced birthday wishes. May this
birthday be filled with all joy and
happiness and all your dreams come true.
Take care with lots of love and affection.
Anitha, CSS Corp Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. has launched Cinthol Deo Sprays in a
Dear Jasmine Devi, special compact 75 ml. bottle, unleashing 24-hours confidence. The
Hearty wishes for our buddy. May this year Fougere aromatic fragrance of Cinthol’s Classic Deo spray and the
give you all the goodness you pray for.Our fresh spring aroma of Cinthol’s Cologne Deo spray makes for unique
best wishes for you to go high in life, get fragrances well-known for their long lasting nature and are available in
married this year and have child(ren) next handy compact sized bottles.
year...! Where:
From Murugan S, Ragavendran P, Lavanya G, All major retail outlets
Sasi G, & Vijayalakshimi, (Annamalai University), Price:
Hexaware Technologies. Rs. 80
Hi Da Logesh,
Many more happy returns of the day da...
Hope you enjoy this birthday in the way
you wish.
Cheers Shri, TCS
Hi Thatha (alias) Nambi, We don’t send
Tasara’s exhibition
birthday wishes to all nuts we know, only
to special nuts like you :-) Happy B’day
dude...wish you get your “DREAM” girl
soon
Luv, GBOSS buddies, TCS
Dear Sabari,
Advance happy B’day da. May all your
wish come true.
With the word Yesssssssss, Gnana Sekaran S, Tata
Consultancy Services Limited
Dear Buji,
I wish you many more happy returns of
the day. My love and wishes surround you
always. This day is something special for U
and also for me to celebrate the day with
U. This message is special and memorable
gift for U.
Ur Honey, PerotSystems.
SEP 27
Dear Ezhil, Tasara presents an exhibition and sale of exclusive handloom
Wishing you many more happy returns of block printed cotton saris at Fabindia. Tasara is a design studio
the day! May all your wishes come true! based in Chennai that works with handloom weavers and printers
Regards, Selva,Deepa and Haarish. in Tharamangalam near Salem. Simple lines and geometric pat-
Dear Muthulakshmi, terns combined with traditional prints on handloom cotton saris
May this day be the beginning of another in colours that range from earthy tones to vibrant hues comprise
special year. May God will shower all his this collection from Tasara.
blessings on you. Many more happy Where: Fabindia, No 3 Woods road, ILFORD House,
returns of the day dear. Off Mount road
Regards, Sathyaselvam, Tata Consultancy Services When: Sept 27- Sept 28
SEP 28
Dear Ikrah..
Sending You A Little Angel..
To Sparkle your way with Joy, Laughter &
Fun !.. What, when, where
Wishing you a Wonderful Birthday!.. If you have anything interesting or informative that can be
With Loads of Love, featured in these columns, mail us at events@goergo.in.
Wasim M (Wipro Tech) & Sara S (Lifeline Please send the release mentioning where and when the
Hospitals) event is happening, along with the contact details.
22 ERGO Friday, September 26, 2008

Escaped bird captured

Traffic Jam
A giant five-foot tall emu-like bird which escaped from a
house in Cheshire, England has been recaptured. The 5ft
female adult rhea, which has white feathers and large
claws is described by its owner as not aggressive. Police
previously urged local residents to be vigilant in case they
came across the creature.

sudoku

This is “the
miserable tale of a
pregnant male”
and we have
Ashwani Gupta
sending us proof of
it.
Yes, that’s what he
has captioned this
picture which he
shot on their recent
trip to the Yelagiri
Hills.
Ashwani works
with Citigroup.
Hobbies: Art of
Living, music,
movies, reading!

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
 Friday, September 26, 2008
23
Woman sues police after gaff Word’s worth
An angry woman driver is seeking compensation after British police said she "Weesle" (wee-zul) a very rare, underservedly
looked like a man. Short-haired Pauline Synnott, 59, was caught speeding and obsolete word meaning ’toooze.’
admitted it in a letter to police. She expected a fine and three penalty points
for doing 52mph in a 40mph zone. But officers who looked at the speed camera
photo were convinced the driver was a man - and wrote to her father instead.

B.C

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

Due to impetuosity you may spoil your relations
with superiors. You are advised to proceed with
your work slowly and steadily. This is the best day
to propose someone. If already in relationship, you
are likely to enjoy good time with the loved one.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20

If you are handling administrative part of job, day is
favourable. Your leadership qualities may help you
to handle others. Beware of technical problems in
your computers. In relationship matters, you may be
sensitive and may need attention of your partner.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20

Ganesha finds you communicating with many higher
BORN LOSER authorities today. Don’t be too authoritative while
talking to those working under you. You may
express your sentiments in front of beloved in a very
different way but you will get encouraging response.
CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20
Ganesha advises you to resist yourself from
meddling with others affairs. In short, it is day to
mind your own business. Your personal life may
require some refreshing experiences. Try to please
your partner by going for a long drive or walk.
LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20
Your self-esteem may help you handle everything
very efficiently. It is right day for negotiations. You
may be able to impress the person you like or love.
It is favourable most day for exchanging gifts to
instil good feelings in beloved one’s heart.
VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20
You may be calculative in your work today. This is
FREE RANGE WORKING IT OUT the best day to plan strategies. You may have good
going on the career front in general. You may wish
to analyse your life partner’s emotions but Ganesha
advises you not to get into any such things.
LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20
This is best day to arrange meetings. Your academic
interests may also develop today. Your family life
may remain smooth. You may wish to take your
family members out for dinner or some
entertainment programme.
SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20
You are advised to be very attentive. There are
chances of goof up if you are not careful. Double
cross check all the work done. You may feel that
your beloved one’s emotions are drying out for you
but this is a temporary phenomenon.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20
You may remain highly creative. It is best day to
carry out new projects. If you present a presentation
in a meeting, it will be appreciated. In short, it’s
favourable day at work. If you are already in a
relationship, you will enjoy company of beloved.
CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20
Today you may need to control aggression and
over-excitement. Your actions and reactions need to
be restrained while you are in a meeting. You can
expect full moral support from your life partner or
beloved one. On the whole, it is an average day.
AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20
PREVIOUS You may be highly concentrated on other people
and to help out others, you may also keep your
ISSUE’S own work aside. But make sure that your work
doesn’t suffer. In personal life, you may let partner
SOLUTIONS decide everything. Your mate will surely like this.
PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20
Today, you may face some hindrance in your routine
work due to some petty technical problem. On the
other hand, you may be trying very hard to finish
off pending tasks. At home, you may need to be
tolerant and adjusting, to avoid conflicts.
Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni
24 ERGO Friday, September 26, 2008

Pig holds woman hostage

!
A pig in Australia turned on a woman and effectively
held her hostage - after she tried to help it. The
creature in New South Wales held 63-year-old Caroline
Hayes captive, refusing to let her leave the house with
its aggressive behaviour.

Hugh Hefner and No. 1

girlfriend to split?
Hugh Hefner and his ‘No. 1’ girlfriend Holly
Madison have indicated that their relationship
won’t last forever.
Holly, who was recently snapped getting cosy
with illusionist Criss Angel, has claimed that
she wants to get married and have a family,
and thus Hefner may not be the man for her.
“I want to be with somebody who I can be
married to, and have kids,” Fox News quoted
Madison, as telling Usmagazine.com.
Also, Hefner (82) who is still legally married to
Kimberley Conrad (45), mother of two of his
four children, has admitted that he does not
want to marry her.
He said, “I love her very much, but she wants
very much to get married and have children.
That isn’t very much in the cards for me. So
there has to be a certain reality there. And I’m
sure the time will come when she’ll be dating
others. That’s part of the transition.”
Madison says, “We’re together. If I’m ever not
his girlfriend, he’ll be the first to tell you.”
ANI