A BYTE OF LIFE Thursday, March 12, 2009

FREE CIRCULATION Vol. 3 No. 47

Open your
EYES
Vasavi Sundaram used the Internet to cre-
ate a forum that would link scribes to those
who require such services.
iScribe is now raring to go to other cities.
PHOTO: R. RAVINDRAN

Liffy Thomas reports.

» PAGE 03

JAI IN A SOUP
11
Comments anger
producers

08
JETTING AHEAD
Meet Chennai’s sole
Yamaha RD 350
motorcycle club
Chennai Jets
02 NAMMA CHENNAI
Beat the recession with
agile development
T he recent recession in the entire global
economy has hit the job market and has
also brought in a pall of gloom in the
productivity of companies. To help the IT
Industry the Government of India – Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises Development
Institute (MSME) along with the Yahovan
Centre for Excellence – is organising a one-
day workshop on “Cost cutting through
Agile Software Development Methods” on
March 20 at MSME premises, Guindy, from
9:30 a.m.
V.I.G. Menon, founder of Yahovan Centre
and event coordinator, says, “We finalised
on educating the growing IT companies on
agile software development techniques,
which will guide them to enhance their
interaction with their clients and
management, assist in cutting costs and
improve return on investment. This will also
help in delivering service effectively and
managing their deadlines in this crucial hour.
.”
The workshop is targeted at project
managers, team leaders in Java, Net and
Internet applications and even aspiring
software engineers. MSME has roped in their
sister concern - National Small Industries
Corporation located at Ekatuthangal – to
take part in the event. Agile experts will
address the participants on the business case
for Agile software development, adapting to
changing requirements and releasing quality
software, which will be followed by open
discussions and practical games.
Siddharta Govindaraj, founder of Silver
Stripe Software, a company that develops
tools for Agile teams, who has designed the
programme schedule says, “The group games
will illustrate various agile principles that
highlight the benefit of self organising
teams over traditional team structures and
methods for handling volatile requirements.”
The last day for registration is March 18 and
fee of Rs. 1,000 in cash or DD drawn in
favour of “The Director, MSME DI- PID
Account payable at Chennai. For further
details contact 2250 1011.
Deepa Venkatraman
HOW TO FIGHT
THE BAD GUYS?
What can we do
when we see animal
cruelty on the road?
Here’s practical
advice from a person
who’s been there,
done that.
J. PRAGADEESWARAN
reachpraga@yahoo.com
Step 1: Spare some time
Be prepared to spend a few
hours to solve the issue. Call an
animal shelter and ask if they’ll
accept the animal that you’re go-
ing to rescue. The law says the
animal needs to be given to a reg-
istered animal NGO for rehabil-
itation. Request them to send an
ambulance. If an ambulance is
unavailable, hire a vehicle de-
pending on the species and
transport the animal to the shel-
ter.
Step 2: Call 100
Call the police control room
number 100 and inform them
about the cruelty and the loca-
tion. The control room will tell
the police patrol vehicle from the
nearest station to rush to the
spot. Normally the police will
come within five minutes. With
their help, rescue the animal. Al-
ways have two copies of the fol-
lowing law sections related to
animals in your vehicle.
* PCA, 1960 - Section 11 (Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Animals Act)
* The Madras City Police Act,
1988
* The Towns Nuisance Act 1889
* Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
Four Legs Good’s Pick of the Week
The jumbos send a trumpeting thank you to Joseph Antony and the others who
signed the Stop Elephant Polo guestbook. The website www.stopelephantpolo.com
continues to welcome support from concerned citizens.
ERGO Thursday, March 12, 2009
* IPC (Indian Penal Code) sec-
tion 428 and 429: IPC sections are
used if the criminal is trying to
cruelly kill an animal
Tell the police that animal cru-
elty is violation of these laws and
an FIR needs to be registered.
Give them a copy of these laws (
You can buy the book “Animal
Laws of India” from Sitaraman
and Co, Ph: 2811 1516). In case of
wild animal issues inform the CF
(Conservator of Forests) of the
district.
Step 3: FIR
Please do not come out of the
station after just writing a com-
plaint in the police dairy. The
case will move to courts only if an
Take me Home
Velvette is a hyperactive
puppy who loves playing
with people. She’s around
two months old and in
perfect health. To adopt her
free of cost, get in touch
with Prakash at 2499 1330
or 99406 83582.
Cruelty
began
way
before
slaughter
for this
young
calf.
PHOTO: AKHIL
KANJIRAPARAMBIL
F.I.R. is available. Write a com-
plaint on a white sheet of paper.
The police will prepare an F.I.R
based on your complaint and will
mention the relevant law sections
given by you. The police have to
sign and seal (using rubber
stamp) the FIR and give you a
copy.
What happens next?
The accused is arrested and re-
manded. The police will provide
the FIR and case documents to
the court. The court will call the
accused for hearing. A public
prosecutor (representing govt.)
will present the case on behalf of
the animals. Please provide all
relevant law and earlier animal
case judgment copies to public
prosecutors.
If any individual/NGO is perso-
nally interested, they can also file
a legal case against the accused.
To download the detailed ver-
sion of this article, log onto
www.goergo.in for the link. ■
(The author is a management
consultant in an MNC and has
changed the lives of hundreds of
animals by ensuring that they also
get justice.)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
ON A WRITE NOTE
Vasavi Sundaram’s online platform for people who need scribes and who
want to scribe has won her recognition from Changemakers
LIFFY THOMAS
liffythomas@goergo.in
V
asavi Sundaram is your
girl next door pursuing
her third year Biotech at
Anna University with
dreams and ambitions like
any other girl her age. But
what makes her different is
that her brainchild, iScribe,
today has around 950 volun-
teers registered as scribes –
sensitising everyone about
the needs of the visually chal-
lenged.
iScribe is an online plat-
form that acts as meeting
place for those who need a
scribe as well as those who
want to volunteer. Launched
on September 5, 2007 in part-
nership with NGO Vidya Sa-
gar, the website is raring to go
places. Vasavi’s initiative re-
cently got her selected for a
seed grant for the ‘Staples
Youth Social Entrepreneur
Competition’ organised by
Changemakers, an initiative
of Ashoka – a global organisa-
tion that promotes social en-
trepreneurship.
Defining moment
It was during Vasavi’s Class
XII Board examinations that a
request came on the need for
a scribe. “I agreed, partly be-
cause I couldn’t say ‘no’ and
also because it came from a
friend,” she recalls writing MA
(History) for a visually-im-
paired teacher after finishing
her exam in the morning. “I
like seeing a neat paper and
that’s the best I could give to
the candidate whom I had to
listen and simply write.”
The day turned out to be
rather hectic for Vasavi as two
other students were left with-
out a scribe in the exam. “I
was tired after writing four ex-
ams a day but satisfied that I
could help,” she says on how
it’s a pleasure being a scribe.
In all during the vacations
Vasavi had scribed for over 10
persons, and that’s when she
realised the need to “connect
Need volunteers!
Spastn (The Spastic society of Tamil Nadu) is looking for a volunteer who can help raise funds for the organisation.
The volunteer must be enthusiastic, committed and trust worthy, with good communication skills and the knowledge and
skills to raise funds. Full time volunteers will be preferred but those who can volunteer part-time can also apply. For details
call Anusha at 98414 87984 or email anusha@ivolunteer.org.in
We write your exams, conditions apply: Vasavi Sundaram.
the requirement to volun-
teers”.
Vasavi is quite candid when
she says that the iScribe mod-
el was inspired by an Internet
blood bank and her observa-
tion to connect both volun-
teers and people. In her
journey so far Vasavi has been
supported by her father, who
kept ferrying her down from
once centre to the other, and
the various people who have
their own problems yet man-
age the website.
Maheshwari Narasimhan,
PHOTO: R. RAVINDRAN
for example, has multiple
psoriasis but works full-time
as a volunteer, taking care of
the functional aspect of
iScribe. Others including
Deepti and Rajiv lend their
support through their little
acts.
03
Who needs a scribe
According to NGOs,
educational
institutions and
people working in
the field, there is a
need for more
scribes to volunteer.
“People with
dyslexia, learning
disabilities,
neurological
disorders or an
accident victim with
a temporary
disability can
approach a scribe,”
says Dipti Bhatia,
deputy director,
Vidya Sagar.
Requirements:
~ You need to have
a legible handwriting
and speed to enrol
as scribe
~ You need to have
the determination to
take the person and
write
~ Don’t get taken
aback with the
person’s disability
~ For National Open
Schools, a person
who is two classes
young is only
eligible to scribe
Plans upfront
iScribe plans to expand its
base to other cities. “We are
also going to institutions ask-
ing them to get on to the data-
base, where they can use the
data to find scribe for their
need,” says the 20-year-old
who is also active with Rash-
triya Life Saving Society.
Vasavi isn’t asking people
to scribe. “We need people
who are aware of the chal-
lenges and can come to terms
before signing up.”
To know more log on to
www.iscribe.co.in
04 VILLAGE ERGO Thursday, March 12, 2009

Boy’s charity climb

A six-year-old boy has climbed the
equivalent of five Mount Everests to
raise money for the hospital that saved
his life.

Naked cop arrested in fishnet Man falls prey

stockings to lottery
A police officer has been arrested after being
caught naked in a park wearing only fishnet scam for 11th
stockings, a newspaper here reported. A pair of
high-heeled shoes was found next to the senior time
constable when police were called to the park by An elderly man in the
an alarmed passerby. The cop, who hurriedly put southern Taiwan city
on a jacket before his arrest, had driven to the of Kaohsiung has
park to seek thrills by dressing as a woman, fallen prey to
according to South China Morning Post. fraudulent lottery
DPA scams 11 times in two
years, police said. 66-
year-old Chang,
believed it was true
Disney to go carbon neutral every time he received notification that he had won a big
Entertainment giant Disney said it plans to halve its lottery prize, police said.
greenhouse gas emissions by 2012 as the first step towards “He has been cheated 11 times and swindled out of 3.45
its goal to become carbon neutral. The company said it million Taiwan dollars in the past two years,” said Chang
would reduce waste at its theme parks, cruise ships and Chin-lan, spokeswoman of the police anti-fraud hotline.
office and retail spaces to half of the 2006 level of 170,000 She said despite his record of being cheated, the man
tons by 2013. actually believed he could get all the money back if one of
Disney plans to reduce its electricity use by 10 per cent by the prizes would actually pay off.
2013. The goals were set even though the company plans “He kept coming back reporting yet another fraud,
to expand its California theme park and launch two new despite our repeated persuasion that he must seek our
cruise ships by 2012. Beth Stevens, senior vice-president of help for clarification before wiring out the so-called 10 per
environmental affairs, cent of the prize tax,” she said.
said it was too early for DPA
Disney to name a date
for going carbon
neutral.
“In the long term, Winemaker poisoned wife who
they’re going to help us
both with our growth worked hard
and our environmental A French winemaker has been charged with attempting to poison
goals,” Stevens said. his wife, whom he accused of working too hard in the vineyard
“We set those (goals) and of not doing enough for him, a prosecutor said on Tuesday.
because they were very 51-year-old Jacky Chatelain was held on Friday after a 4-year
aspirational. We thought probe into how his wife Josiane had fallen ill with arsenic
it was important to poisoning. Later, he admitted that he had tried to poison her
communicate a sense of because “she worked too hard in the vineyard and didn’t do
commitment.” enough to look after me,” according to prosecutor Francois
Perain.
DPA AFP

Apple founder goes

online to survive TV show

A
fter being compared to a bers and VoteWoz on Twitter had
Teletubby gone mad, Ap-
ple co-founder Steve Woz-
Wozniak will find out next week if his efforts to more than 1,000 followers on
Tuesday. Wozniak pushed his ef-
niak turned to Facebook
and Twitter to help him survive
court the online vote were successful fort on his own website, woz.org.
“Your support has made a huge
the first-round of the popular TV “overall it was a complete disas- difference in my outlook and
show Dancing With The Stars. ter.” The judges gave the pair a transition from fear to enjoy-
Wozniak debuted in the show in miserable 13 points out of a pos- ment, at least so far,” Wozniak
a playful appearance that saw sible 30 on the show, but Woz- wrote.
him twirling a feather boa and niak reached out to his geek fans “If you think that you cannot
performing a cha-cha-cha with on the social networking site Fa- possibly dance or that you are
professional dancer Karina cebook and the mobile-blogging the world’s worst dancer, I’m go-
Smirnoff. site Twitter to drum up the pop- ing to show that it’s not true.”
“It was like a Teletubby going ular votes that could help him “This is most incredibly fun thing
mad at a gay pride parade,” said advance. I’ve ever done,” said Wozniak on
Italian judge Bruno Tolioni, The Facebook page, Vote for the show. “Nerds can dance!” ■
while judge Len Goodman said Woz, had more than 1,600 mem- DPA
 Thursday, March 12, 2009
Websites of the day
Want to build a pond in your garden?
Here’s how: http://www.watergarden.com/
pages/build_wg.html
Kids with mullets:
http://www.mulletjunky.com/childmullets.htm
Lincoln’s watch carried
‘secret’ war message
The elaborate gold pocket watch was bought by Lincoln in the 1850s from a jeweller in Springfield
L
ong-defined by his role
guiding the United States
through its Civil War (1861-
1865), Abraham Lincoln
even had a pocket watch that
bore an inscription about the
conflict -- although the Presi-
dent likely never saw it.
Historians have uncovered a
secret message engraved by a
watch repairman 150 years ago
inside Lincoln’s timepiece,
shortly after his inauguration
and the opening salvo the Civil
War. The message notes the
April 1861 attack on Fort Sum-
ter, a battle that triggered the
bloody north-against-south war
that killed more than 600,000
people.
Uncovered by the Washing-
ton-based Smithsonian Institu-
tion, the message may reflect
concern about the rapid disin-
tegration of the Union after Lin-
coln’s election in November
1860. “Fort Sumter was attacked
by the rebels” the message
Girl survives after 6 organs
removed in surgery
A seven-year-old girl was re-
leased from hospital after a
ground-breaking 23-hour oper-
ation four weeks ago, in which
doctors took out six of her organs
to remove a cancerous tumour in
her abdomen.
Heather McNamara, from Long
Island, New York, is believed to
be the first child and only the sec-
ond person in the world to have
the surgery known as auto-trans-
plant, her doctors said. McNam-
ara’s pancreas, liver, spleen,
stomach and small and large in-
testines were taken out and put in
ice-cold temperatures so doctors
could take out the cancerous
growth.
Lead surgeon Dr. Tomoaki Ka-
to said the tumour was in the ab-
domen and pancreas and tangled
with two major blood vessels. In
order to remove it, a team of sev-
en surgeons and eight clinicians
This picture provided by the National Museum of American History in Washington shows a
"secret" inscription inside a watch owned by Abraham Lincoln. The engraving reads in part:
“Jonathan Dillon, April 13, 1861, Fort Sumpter (sic) was attacked by the rebels on the above
date...thank God we have a government." AFP PHOTO/NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERCAN HISTORY/HUGH
TALMAN/HO
removed six organs, but they
were unable to replace the pan-
creas, spleen and stomach.
The tumour could not be treat-
ed with chemotherapy or stan-
dard surgical techniques. “She
was really sick, she had fluid in
the belly,” he said. “She was at
risk of major bleeding.” McNam-
ara told reporters she felt ‘good’
and was looking forward to re-
turning home and to “play with
my dog Angel and with my sis-
ter.” ■
Reuters
05
Cat chase
Two dogs who chased what they
thought was a cat in West Yorkshire,
England had a shock when it turned
out to be a skunk.
carved by horologist Jonathan
Dillon read, “thank God we have
a government.”
Historians have long suspect-
ed that the 16th US President’s
watch carried a secret message,
but it was not until the brass un-
derside of the piece’s movement
was revealed that the text be-
came known.
In 1906, 84-year-old Dillon
told the New York Times he had
been working for M.W. Galt and
Co., on Washington’s Pennsyl-
vania Avenue, when he was re-
pairing the President’s watch.
Dillon said he unscrewed the
dial of the watch and with a
sharp implement made his en-
graving. “Lincoln never knew of
the message he carried in his
pocket,” Brent Glass, Director of
the National Museum of Amer-
ican History said. “It’s a personal
side of history about an ordinary
watchman being inspired to rec-
ord something for posterity.” ■
AFP
Master Macaque
쒀
This video grab image released by Kyoto University Primate Research Institute
shows Thailand’s long-tailed macaque (L) displaying how to floss her teeth in front
of her baby in LopBuri, Bangkok. AFP PHOTO / KYOTO UNIVERSITY PRIMATE RESEARCH INSTITUTE/HO
06 SPORT ERGO Thursday, March 12, 2009

Great Britain team for Olympics?

British sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe is confident that Great Britain will field a football team at the 2012 Olympics
despite opposition. The Scottish, Welsh and Irish Football Associations are opposed to a joint British team in case it
threatens their independent status within FIFA. However, Sutcliffe said FIFA had given written assurances that a UK side
in 2012 would not affect the national teams.--DPA

Olympic gold medallist

takes up politics
Chinese athletics hero Liu Xiang
Liverpool crush Real
has admitted having political
ambitions as he made his first Bayern, Chelsea progress
appearance at a parliamentary
body since being appointed a

L
delegate. Speaking to reporters as iverpool cruised into the the break. more difficult when defender
he joined delegates to the annual quarter-finals of the Cham- Mark van Bommel netted from Giorgio Chiellini was sent off with
session of the Chinese People’s pions League with a 4-0 vic- six metres on 74 minutes, a Mi- 19 minutes remaining after pick-
Political Consultative Conference, tory over Real Madrid, while roslav Klose penalty eight min- ing up a second yellow card for a
an advisory body to the Communist Party, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Vil- utes from time and an even later foul on Didier Drogba. However,
Liu responded to criticism over his non- larreal also progressed. strike from Thomas Mueller com- a penalty from Alessandro del
appearance last year. Fernando Torres, a brace from pleted the rout for Bayern. Piero briefly gave Juve hope be-
“As a new delegate to the CPPCC, I hope to Steven Gerrard, and a late score fore Drogba ended the tie as a
be able to propose and contribute to policy. from Andrea Dossena ensured a Close call contest with Chelsea’s second
To participate in politics is an honourable 5-0 aggregate win for Liverpool at Chelsea suffered a fright before goal seven minutes from time.
responsibility,” Liu said, according to the Anfield on Tuesday and it could eventually drawing 2-2 with Ju- With the tie finely poised at 1-1
China News Service. “It is the highest honour have been even more against a ventus to progress 3-2 on aggre- from the first leg, Villarreal struck
for me to make efforts to render service to poor Real side but for some goal- gate. A crisp finish from Vincenzo first thanks to a strike from Ariel
my nation and people.” keeping heroics from Iker Casil- Iaquinta put the Italian in front Ibagaza at the edge of the area.
Liu said preparations for the Beijing las. Torres opened the scoring for after 19 minutes levelled the tie Vangelos Mantzios equalised for
Olympics prevented him from attending last Liverpool in the 16th minutes, on aggregate but Michael Essien the Greeks with a header from six
year, while recent ankle surgery delayed his slotting home a pass from Dirk bundled home a vital away goal metres before Jose Llorente en-
appearance at the current session until Kuyt, although Real defender for Chelsea on the stroke of half- sured victory with the Spaniards’
Wednesday, the penultimate day, the report Pepe looked to have been fouled. time after Frank Lampard’s shot second goal, 20 minutes from
said. China’s state-run media had in recent was deflected. time.
days criticised Liu and other celebrities for Controversial spot kick Juve’s cause was made even DPA
not showing up at the meeting and There was further misfortune
questioned their commitment to the for Madrid 10 minutes later when
advisory body. Liverpool were awarded a penal-
Liu, 25, became a national hero at the 2004 ty after Gabriel Heinze was
Athens Games when he won the 110 metre harshly punished for handball by
hurdles, becoming the first Chinese man to referee Frank De Bleeckere al-
win an Olympic sprint gold medal. Due to though the ball came off his
his star status, Liu was appointed a member shoulder. Gerrard marked his
of the advisory body in 2007, and was due 100th European appearance with
to make his first appearance last year. the next two - the first from the
AFP penalty spot, the second calmly
side-footed into the top corner
from Ryan Babel’s cross.
The much-mocked Dossena,
Proud Ponting celebrates on as a substitute, made it 4-0
with two minutes remaining
special win from Javier Mascherano’s square
ball. For Madrid, this was their
Captain Ricky Ponting said Australia’s series biggest-ever Champions League
win over South Africa was among the best defeat. “The first 30 minutes we
achievements of his long career. The visitors were awesome,” Gerrard said.
avenged their 2-1 home series defeat earlier “We got the job done, and then in
in the year when they beat South Africa by the second half it was just about
175 runs in the second Test on Tuesday to seeing it out.”
take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three- For Torres, who played with
match encounter to decide the world’s top- heavy strapping on his injured
ranked team. ankle, the victory was particularly
“We have not given South Africa an inch sweet because of his ties with At-
and I’m as happy as I have ever been in my letico Madrid. “I was working all
career,” Ponting said after the home team week to stay fit,” the Spain striker
were bowled out for 370 on the fifth and said. “I wanted to play Madrid
final day at Kingsmead. “It’s as special a win because of my past with Atletico.
as I’ve experienced, The pain doesn’t matter. It’s a
certainly right up there massive game for the fans and it’s
with the 5-0 Ashes a victory for them.”
comeback win (in 2006-
07) and winning World Hail Bayern
Cups.” The 34-year-old Leading 5-0 from the first leg,
Ponting said he always Bayern thumped hapless Sport-
believed his new-look ing Lisbon 7-1 to register a record
squad were capable of 12-1 aggregate win. Lukas Podol-
winning in South Africa. “A lot of people ski netted a brace and an own
around the world thought this team wasn’t goal from Anderson Polga made
capable of achieving this but I always felt it 3-0 to the German champions
the Australian summer was a lot closer than after 34 minutes, although there Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard (left) celebrates after scoring
people thought and I knew we would be was still time for Joao Moutinho his teams second goal with his Spanish team-mate Fernando
very competitive,” he said. to pull one back for the Portu- Torres during their UEFA Champions League second round,
Reuters guese before Bastian Schwein- second leg match against Real Madrid at Anfield on Tuesday.
steiger made it 4-1 for Bayern at PHOTO: AFP
 Thursday, March 12, 2009
‘‘
I’m really happy, overjoyed. You just have to enjoy the moment. These things
don’t come around often and I just want to thank each and every player for
their efforts and the character they have shown. I’m really happy not just for the team
but also the people overseas. I’m sure they are jumping for joy.
West Indies captain Chris Gayle after winning a Test series at home after five years
I
ndia sealed a One-Day International se-
ries win against New Zealand after Viren-
der Sehwag smashed New Zealand’s
bowlers in the seventh fastest ODI century
ever in Hamilton on Wednesday.
India won the fourth rain-shortened match
by 10 wickets to go 3-0 up in the five-match
series as their openers Sehwag and Gautam
India seal Gambhir treated the New Zealand bowling
attack with disdain in a rain-interrupted
match. New Zealand scored 270 for five in 47
overs in their innings and more rain interrup-
ODI series tions saw India declared winners after reac-
hing 201 for none from 23.3 overs.
Brute force
Sehwag was brutal in scoring 125, reaching
three figures off just 60 balls to record the
seventh fastest one-day century ever. His ar-
moury of pull shots, drives and cuts saw the
opener finish with 14 fours and six sixes from
74 balls.
Gambhir was the perfect partner for Seh-
wag, turning over the strike with frequent sin-
gles while still finishing with 63 runs off 67
balls. New Zealand’s bowlers were grim-faced
after a nightmare match, finding nothing they
tried working against the rampant opening
pair. They have had a series to forget against
the star-laden Indian line-up, who hit 392 for
four in the previous One-Dayer in Christ-
Virender Sehwag rummages
through the Kiwi attack
during the fourth One-Day
International in Hamilton on
Wednesday. PHOTO: AFP
07
church at the weekend.
Debutant Ewen Thompson, Iain O’Brien
and Jacob Oram were all hit for at least 10
runs an over on Wednesday.
Earlier, New Zealand battled to 270 for five,
after openers Brendon McCullum and Jesse
Ryder got the home side off to a flying start,
putting on 102 for the first wicket.
Opening momentum
McCullum anchored the top of the New
Zealand innings, topscoring with 77 from 95
balls in a carefully paced knock, including
seven fours and two sixes.
Ryder followed his century in the third ODI
in Christchurch with 46, and was the first out
after skying an attempted sweep off part-time
spinner Yuvraj Singh to Suresh Raina at
square leg in the 20th over. India’s bowlers
were able to put the brakes on the middle
stages of New Zealand’s innings, restricting
the scoring as wickets fell at regular intervals.
As in Christchurch, where the opening pair
put on 166 runs, the innings lost its way after
Ryder and McCullum were prised apart, with
five wickets falling in the space of 73 runs and
17 overs.
But a late surge by Peter McGlashan –
standing in as wicketkeeper while McCullum
recovers from a thumb injury –with an un-
defeated 56 and Grant Elliott (35 not out)
added a valuable 95 runs in the last 11 overs.
McGlashan scored his first ODI half century
in just his third one-day international to keep
New Zealand’s hopes alive with six fours and
a six off 42 balls.
Pathan was the most economical of the In-
dian bowlers, finishing with one for 14 off five
overs, while Ishant Sharma, returning from a
shoulder injury, gradually found some
rhythm after a wayward start to end with two
for 57 from eight overs.
Brief scores
New Zealand 270/5 (B. McCullum 77, P.
McGlashan 56 not out) lose to India 201/0 (V.
Sehwag 125 not out, G. Gambhir 63 not out)
by 84 runs (under D/L method). ■
AFP
08 ROADSTER ERGO Thursday, March 12, 2009

Fastest Bentley
Bentley has revealed its Continental
Supersports, describing it as the fastest
Bentley ever built with 630 hp engine
that propels it from zero to 100 km/h
in 3.7 seconds.

Jetting ah
PETLEE PETER
petleepeter@gmail.com

The Rajdoot 350, well-known as

Yamaha RD 350, is the fastest
motorcycle ever produced in In-
dia. Touted as ‘Road Death’ and
‘Racing Death,’ the two-stroke,
parallel twin engine power ride
may have failed to attract the
masses then, due to its poor mi-
leage and braking but has now
definitely established a cult fol-
lowing in the country.
In Chennai too, the RD has its
die-hard fan following and epi-
tome to that is Chennai Jets, city’s
sole Yamaha RD 350 motorcycle
club.
Formed in 2000 as an unofficial
group of 12 RD owners cum en-
thusiasts, the Jets (as they are
known) have evolved into a 72-
member strong team. Arun Krish-
namurthy alias Bobby, co-foun-
der and moderator for Chennai
Jets, who rides a 1985 RD low
torque model, says that the club
started to shape up after it went
online in 2003. “The online pres-
ence helped better interaction
and connectivity among more RD
riders and enthusiasts in the
city,” he says.
The name Chennai Jets was de-
rived from the RD’s powerful car-
burettors and the credit for
coining it goes to Ratheesh Ra-
machandran, a long-time Jets
member. “The name was unani-
mously accepted by all the mem-
bers as the carburettors are the
ones that makes or breaks an en-
gine,” adds Bobby, who is an IT
professional.
The Jets meet once a month at
a pre-planned location in the city
and throttle their twin-cylinders
all the way till Pondicherry or
even beyond, portraying sheer
RD camaraderie. A good number
of members even own two RD
350s, each to suit city and high-
way riding conditions. Jets say
that Mustafa Mohammed, a city-
based student and an active
member of the club, was the in-
spiration behind this after he
bought an additional RD in 2006.
C. Ganesh Ram, the senior citi-
zen of Chennai Jets, is the only
member in the club participating
in professional racing on his RD
350. “I race a 1984 model high
torque bike that I had customised
to suit race circuit conditions,”
says Ram, who runs an auto
workshop on the East Coast
Road.
Group rides are a must thrice
every year for the Jets. On June 1,
the anniversary of the club, they
organise a special riding event.
The last such ride was to Yercaud
in 2008 that witnessed a fat rider
attendance. ■
 Thursday, March 12, 2009
09
Insurance cover
The Madras High Court has made it clear in a verdict that
’gratuitous passengers’ travelling in private cars and pillion
riders of two wheelers were automatically entitled to
compensation by an insurer, if the vehicle was covered under a
package policy or comprehensive policy.

Soon, cars
head that give
drivers fuel
saving advice
The best gear to be in, not putting your
“The online
presence
foot on the clutch too early, and not using
helped the accelerator when starting the car are
better some of the tips the car will provide
interaction
and
connectivity
among
more RD
riders and
enthusiasts
in the city"

C
ars that give owners tips on how to attain
maximum mileage while driving may soon be
reality, thanks to a technology that is due in an
Audi that will be launched in Australia early next
year.
The technology monitors driver behaviour and offers
advice to cut fuel use, in turn reducing emissions of
the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The advices it
gives include tips on the best gear to be in, not
putting your foot on the clutch too early, and not
using the accelerator when starting the car. It even
alerts the driver to how much air-conditioning, seat
heaters and window demisters add to fuel
consumption.
This technology, which may help reduce fuel
consumption by up to 15 per cent, will initially be
available only on the most efficient
If this Audi models. However, it can be
adapted to any vehicle.
experiment is “It’s a very new technology and
successful we’re not sure how the customers
we’ll bring it will react. We are not trying to be
schoolmasters. It gives you hints and
to market
Chennai has a dedicated fan tips about your driving style, so it
with all cars could be a bit dangerous (in how
some people accept such advice),”
following for the legendary the Sydney Morning Herald quoted
an Audi technical development engineer, Thomas
Yamaha RD 350 motorcycle and Kamla, as saying.
He says that their new technology offers a way to
involve drivers regarding the subject of fuel
an epitome to that is Chennai consumption. “We are convinced it helps drivers to
save fuel depending on your driving style, maybe an
Jets, city’s sole RD 350 club average between 10 and 15 per cent. If this
experiment is successful we’ll bring it to market with
all cars,” he added. ■
ANI
10 FLICK ERGO Thursday, March 12, 2009

Star attraction
Slumdog Millionaire actress Frieda Pinto came out to
be the star attraction at the Paris Fashion Week. She
was spotted sporting a big smile as she arrived for
the glitzy Chanel runway show, where she joined
fashion’s A-listers, reports the Sun.

Gurindher Chadha
to direct Shabana Azmi
The director of Bend It Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice is back to work

Gurinder Chadha
with her kids
Kumiko and
Raunak.
GETTY IMAGES

B
rit-
ish-
Indian
film-
maker Gurinder
Chadha is kept
busy looking after
her twins, but she has
decided to return to di-
rection with It’s An Afterlife
and is upbeat about signing
on Shabana Azmi.
“I’ve chosen to direct a rela-
tively smaller film. It’s just a sev-
en-week shoot and we’ve the
weekends off. And then there’s
three months of post-production
when I get to spend a lot of time
with the kids. The editing will be
done right next door. There’s also
a zoo-park nearby; so I can take
the kids there in between edit-
ing,” said Gurinder, who has di-
rected films like Bend It Like
Beckham and Bride And
Prejudice.
Gurinder admits she has been
wanting to work with Shabana for
a long time.
“Shabana Azmi is one classy la-
dy. I’ve been looking forward to
working with her for a long time.
Mine is an ensemble film. Six
characters are on screen all the
time. I wanted Kir-
ron Kher to play a fierce-
ly funny Punjabi character, which
I thought she’s very good at. But
it didn’t work out,” the director
said.
It’s An Afterlife is a tribute to
legendary filmmaker Frank Ca-
pra, known for his films like It’s A
Wonderful Life and It Happened
One Night.
So what made Gurinder get
back to direction, especially with
the twins to look after?
“I’ve to work because it’s ex-
pensive bringing up twins. I can’t
believe the bills. Everything costs
double,” she laughed.
“I can’t say my concentration
on my work is
not divided. Any working woman
who’s a mother will tell you the
children are a constant preoccu-
pation. It’s a natural motherly in-
stinct. No matter what I’m doing
I’m thinking of their lunch, nap
or bath.
“Our entire home looks like a
nursery. There are toys and books
in every room. But that doesn’t
mean I can’t do other things. In
many ways my duties as a mother
has made me more focussed as a
director. You learn to get on with
the job because you’ve to go
home as fast as possible,” she
explained.
Asked about her kids,
Gurinder said: “Kumiko is very
quiet, loves books and pictures.
The boy Raunak is a typical ma-
cho Punjabi man, screams and
shouts until he gets what he
wants. He’s a complete mama’s
boy.”
Making a film and looking after
two children are not an easy task,
but Gurinder says she has worked
out a way to do both well.
“Every director-producer
should look after kids and make a
film. One is a wonderful training
ground for the other. Raising
twins is like going into two pro-
ductions at the same time. Only
the hours
are long-
er,” said
Gurinder,
who is married
to Paul Berges.
She intends to
work the schedules
for her new film
around her motherly
duties.
“The twins’ timetable and
schedules are imperative. As long
as their routine isn’t broken
they’re happy. They’ve a wonder-
ful nanny to help me out. And of
course their daddy is there.
Among us we manage very well. I
make sure I’m home from the
studio by 5.30-6 p.m. Then I’ve a
good three hours of play and bath
time with them,” she said.
On Fridays, Gurinder takes her
twins to work and they are well
looked after by her cast and crew.
“Believe it or not I get more
work done on that day than any
other. Everyone in the unit just
takes over the twins. I don’t get to
be with them for even a minute.
They’re so much in demand. By
far Kumiko and Raunak are my
most prized productions.” ■
IANS
 Thursday, March 12, 2009
11
Miller’s parents happy with her new role
British actress Sienna Miller’s parents are happy with her new role
because in the past they had to watch her die on-screen or battle
drug addiction. According to thesun.co.uk, Miller’s parents are tired
of seeing her play tortured roles and are eager to watch her new
role in G.I Joe.

Jackson Cine City

rents Stewart’s mansion

P
op
star Mi-
chael Jack-
son is renting rock
star Rod Stewart’s mansion
in Essex as he stages a 10-show
comeback at the O2 Arena in July.
According to the sun.co.uk, the mansion is three-
and-a-half miles outside Greater London. The house
is set in an 180-acre Copped Hall estate and has a
five-a-side football pitch.
Randy Phillips, the AEG boss, said: “There will be a Jai in a soup
new Michael Jackson single before the first date. Mi- We hear that the comments made by actor Jai
chael has got some new music and he is looking for a in an English daily has earned him the wrath
new way of disseminating his material to his fans.” of several producers. The actor who is
■ currently working in Arjunan Kaadhali, Adhe
IANS Neram Adhe Idam, Aval Peyar Thamizharasi
and Vaamanan has reportedly said that except
Vaamanan, all the others films wont reap
success at the box-office. He has also added
that certain films will not even rake a
collection for more than a week. Angered by
his comments, the producers have lodged a
complaint against him at the Producer’s
Council.

Live recording
Q ueen of pop Madonna might be
14 years older than her toy boy
lover Jesus Luz’s mother, but the
Director Venkat Prabhu’s upcoming flick Goa
will have a couple of songs that will be
recorded live. It is said that the first half-an-
two ladies indeed have certain hour of the movie is set in the 1980s. In order
things in common. to do justice to
Cristiane Regina da Silva the scenes, the
sports bleached-blond hair songs will also
just as the Material Girl, and be recorded as

What’s loves to wear tank tops to

show off her toned form, re-
ports The New York Daily
it was done
during the 80s.
Yet another
common News. Meanwhile, it seems
that Luz is leaving no stone
highlight of
this film will

between unturned to impress Madon-

na. If reports are to be be-
lieved, the Brazilian model has
be a song sung
by Karthik
Raja, Yuvan,
Madge, switched to Kabbalah faith -
despite being a strict Catholic.
He is now a fully-fledged
Venkat Prabhu
and Premji
together.
toy boy Kabbalah devotee, with the
proper wardrobe to match.
Gangai
Amaran and

lover’s He has been spotted look-

ing all white for the Sabbath
service, and was wearing a
poet Vaali
have penned
the lyrics for
mom trademark Kabbalah red
string bracelet. ■
the song.

ANI
12 ERGO Thursday, March 12, 2009

Wednesday’s Query:
Today is Dreams Day. Share S.Satgurunathan
from Steria has
your wackiest dreams here. nominated his
teammates as
■ One day I was in dream. Aishwarya Rai selected
Partners in
me as her "Veetodu Husband". Naan apdiye shock
Crime.
aayittaen. Morning I saw her marriage photos in
the newspaper.
OviyaVijay, RRD

■ Singing my debut in a Rahman musical in his

own high-tech recording studio for a Mani Ratnam
movie. Could there be anything more?
Mukund, SCB Scope International

■ Villu won Oscars! Vijayakant won the Parliament

election.
Dhilip.RR, Cognizant

■ I was having dinner with Kate Winslet and my

mom woke me up.
Senthil, Wipro

■ After watching Grudge horror movie that night

in my dreams I felt the same ghost forcing me to Ponniah from
open my eyes, but due to fear I didn’t open my Optimus has
eyes that full night. nominated his
Lexsminarayanan, TCS-e serve friends as
Partners in
■ A dream where I saw a different India. Where Crime. This
everything was as per Mudhalvan types. Hope we pic was
could see a India like that with in a few years. clicked at
Ashutosh Prasad Optimus floor.

■ When I batted with Sachin and was hitting more

boundaries than him. I woke up so happily and
was telling it to everyone I saw that day.
Arun Kumar, Allsec

■ I was a Project Manager and my PM was

working under me.
Vijayachakravarthy, Infosys

■ My husband and I were returning home in bike

at midnight and suddenly a group of ghost came
and started singing and dancing around us and I
started screaming avalo thaan dream over I woke
up. Manoj from
Anitha Kamesh, Infosys
Infosys has
nominated his
■ Me and my wife Anitha were going in a friends as
rollercoaster and suddenly the rollercoaster Partners in
derailed I escaped but Anitha fell down, I felt very Crime. This pic
happy, but when I woke up still she was lying near was clicked at
me, enna koduma sir ithu Kodaikanal.
Kamesh, Infosys

■ It was d judgement day n my sins r heavier than

d good deeds n god didn’t forgive me n I was
thrown to hell. I screamed a lot simultaneously my
alarm too screamed.
Hashim, Allsec

Today’s Query:
Your most memorable moments
from college trips.
 Thursday, March 12, 2009
13

■ Dear LS ,
Nee Nanbanaaai erupai enru
therinthirunthal..... Naangal sirithukondae
S.Gayathri of Sella Synergy India Ltd has been piranthu erupooom... ;) Many More
nominated as Office Angel by M.Ilayaraja. Happy Returns of the Day!!!
Cheers,
She is Project Co-ordinator of Finanza Business Workbrain, Verizon
Unit. She had put lot of efforts in SMIT Project
Production Release and she is playing tremendous role ■ Dear Ligi Mol,
in Finanza Business Unit. Wishing u a very happy b’day& many
more to cum. May the New Year be filled
wid fun n happiness.
Luv n Prayers,
Leo & Shaji

■ Dear Alisha,(Kuthira kari)

Hope your BIRTHDAY is a day
tht makes u feel full of ZEST &
ENTHUSIASM, because you are really
wished all the THINGS in life that will
give you HAPPINESS.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"...
Keep Smiling Always!!!
cheers!!!
1. Enna thaan fan speed a suthunaalum athuku mayakam varaathu! With luv,
Athe maathiri Light evlo thaan erinjaalum pogaiye varaathu! Praveen kumar, Serena,
2.Sardar: Hi! Sai & Vinoth Allsec Tech
Man: Hi! Why are you cutting the sides of the capsule.
Sardar: To avoid side effects!!! ■ Belated Happy Birthday Jagan,
Man: ?????? Wish you many more happy returns of
3. Thanga chain’a urukkunaa thangam varum.! the day !!! We all join hands to wish you
Velli chain’a urukkunaa VeLLi varum! aana, a great year ahead.
Cycle chain’a urukkinaa cycle varumaaaa? Best Wishes,
Saravanan.V, USAA DocFulfillment team,
HCL Technologies Ltd. TCS

Entries are pouring in, so buck

up before you miss the train.
Let your creative juices flow,
Art featured in this and for all you know, you
column will receive might become a writer on the
gift coupons from go! Ergo invites original litera-
Fruit Shop on ry pieces in the form of short
Greams Road. Send stories, flash fiction and poems
in your addresses so
that we can post the from its readers. Short stories
coupons. and flash fiction must not ex-
ceed 700 words. So, pick up
those pens and start writing!
Send in your entries to my.er-
go@goergo.in mentioning ’Er-
go Writer’s Club’ as the
Bismi Fathima from Cognizant subject. And keep watching
Technology Solutions doodled this.
this space every Wednesday for
your entries to be published.
14 TRAFFIC JAM ERGO Thursday, March 12, 2009

Gay ducks
A bid to save a rare species of
duck from extinction in the U.K.
seemed doomed after the last
two males fell for each other.

sudoku

Karthik Thyagarajan of TCS clicked this

picture at the Central Jail recently.
He describes: “These eyes do not know
of the camera or funny person, but it is
the innocence that fills the happiness.”

Preference this month is being given to

photographs that talk about ‘happiness’,
which you need to tell us in a line or two.
Please do not repeat any of your
previous pictures and also make sure that
the photograph is people-oriented.
Happiness is not always a smile, so put on
your thinking caps and keep clicking!
Winners can collect their gift vouchers
on Sundays, between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at
Ergo office

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

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N. Ravichandran, E. Baskar

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Anna Salai, Chennai-600002. Editor: S. Karthik
(Editor responsible for selection of news under
the PRB Act). RNI No. TNENG/2007/24553
 Thursday, March 12, 2009
15
Funeral plans Word’s worth
A Romanian man staged his own funeral “Acrophony” (ack-krah-fuh-nee) the use of a picture to communicate a sound.
while he was still alive to make sure From Greek words meaning ‘highest’ and ‘voice.’ The initial sound or syllable of
everything went to plan. the name of the pictured object is usually the one intended.

B.C

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

Ganesha promises today to be quite dynamic day
for people whose work involves communication. For
everyone else, new avenues might open up soon.
You may end the day with a nostalgic tour of fond
memories with your family. Love life is at its peak.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20

Personal interests may take up a lot of your
productive time. You are also likely to indulge in
over spending. On the professional front, people
planning to start a new business should consider
this as the right time.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20

The day marks the beginning of a new phase in
BORN LOSER your life. Nothing to worry about, everything will be
in your favour. However, advance planning is always
helpful. You will be in high spirits and may feel like
going for a drive later during the day.
CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20
A day to make your dreams come true. You will be
excited about new stuff happening around you. In
the entire hullabaloo, make sure that you don’t take
up more things than you can handle. The evening
calls for some celebration or a romantic date.
LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20
It certainly is the best time to socialise. Since the
work pressure may increase soon and you may not
be able to catch up with friends, why not utilise
today? Surprise your beloved or arrange a get-
together. Ganesha has the best option, do both!
VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20
This ‘too-good-to-be-true’ day comes only once in a
FREE RANGE WORKING IT OUT while. All your aims will hit the bull’s eye today. Do
not hesitate, just keep going. Personal life may be
invaded by guests or neighbours. Ganesha thinks
you should try to learn to enjoy every situation.
LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20
The day will put in some kind of a dilemma today.
You may have top pick and choose from many
options available. You may feel like pouring your
heart out to that special someone. There is no harm
in doing that either.
SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20
There is going to be some shopping today, whether
you like it or not. Why not make the most of it. On
the work front, things are quite smooth as
compared to last week. Same applies to your love
life, smiles Ganesha.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20
The day will be smooth as butter. An easy going
day at the office as well. You may be able to find
time to relax a bit and chat with your colleagues for
a while. If you keep your eyes open you will see
opportunities beckoning you.
CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20
On this rapid paced day, a quick decision may be
necessary to finalise a contract. Do not offer
financial assistance to any one, unless it’s in the
family. Your sweetheart may make some demands
today, which you should fulfil.
AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20
PREVIOUS Be patient and be ready to offer your support if
necessary. Financially the time is good for you.
ISSUE’S Ganesha feels you may get payments or you may
earn profit in your transactions. However, don’t mix
SOLUTIONS up personal life with professional life.
PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20
If you get a choice, choose hard work over luck.
Even if there are favours coming up for you, do not
wait for them to come. On the love front, Ganesha
feels you should stop predicting things and making
assumptions. Take life as it comes.
Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni
16 ! ERGO Thursday, March 12, 2009

A model
displays three
latest rings
named Macaron
designed by
FrEnch jewel
company
Boucheron
during a
fashion show in
Taipei on March
11, 2009. The
price for each
Victoria’s Secret
ring ranges
model Miranda Kerr
between 6,000
poses during the
and 10,000 USD.
launch of the
AFP PHOTO/SAM YEH
companies limited
edition fragrance,
ãHeavenly Bloom.ä
at The Grove branch
of the fashion house
in Los Angeles on
March 10, 2009.
AFP PHOTO/MARK RALSTON

Children spray coloured water and gulaal as they celebrate Holi,

the festival of colours, at Vepery in Chennai on Wednesday.
PHOTO : R.RAVINDRAN