A BYTE OF LIFE Thursday, May 14, 2009

FREE CIRCULATION Vol. 3 No. 88

BARRIERS TO VOTE

THE DIE
Pavithra from Vidya Sagar is a first-time voter.
Despite the Election Commission’s assurances
that the 2009 Lok Sabha polls would be the most
disabled-friendly ever, the T. Nagar booth from
where Pavithra had gone to cast her vote proved
otherwise. A makeshift wooden ramp was in-
sufficient and the voter needed assistance the
rest of the way. PHOTOS: R. RAVINDRAN

IS CAST

S.S.KUMAR/ PTI
02 NAMMA CHENNAI ERGO Thursday, May 14, 2009

Movie magic
The American Library invites enthusiasts to the Saturday
Film Matinee at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on May 16. Beyond
Belief and Rio Bravo will be screened.

Lesbian parade this

month-end?
Subject to police permission, Namma
Chennai could witness its first-ever lesbian
parade on May 30.
Organised by Indian Community Welfare
Organisation (ICWO), it could well see the
participation of over 300 persons from
across the country.
A.J. Hariharan, founder secretary of ICWO,
said the rally will primarily focus on
lesbian rights. “The campaign will be a
step towards making people understand
and accept sexual orientations of women
and also to stop violence against lesbians.”
The lesbian parade has planned in the
backdrop of instances of suicide by lesbian
couples in Chennai in the recent past.
“Following the launch of our lesbian
helpline (044-6551 5742) on February 7,
we have received an overwhelming
response from callers in India and overseas
as well. Therefore, seeing the need to
seriously address the lesbian cause we
have come up with the rally after a few
initial setbacks.”
Men Community Development Society
(MCDS), an Anna Nagar-based group for
gay men that has a membership of over
600 people, has already pledged support

New pets on
to the rally. “It is really good to know that
our city will host the first ever lesbian rally
in our country,” a member of MCDS who
identified himself as Lalitha said.
Parthasarthy, another member of MCDS,
added that only the homosexuals can
understand the plight of others of their
community. “We therefore decided to

the block
come forward in large numbers to support
to support ours sisters in Chennai and
other parts of the country for the
parade,” he said. ■
PETLEE PETER

Some tips on caring for your new best friend

SRIYA NARAYANAN gently) or rub their noses in the ‘sit’, ‘stay’ etc. It is better not to
pets@goergo.in mess to show displeasure. As train them to do unnatural things
they’re still adjusting, a good way like standing on two legs or shak-

I
f you’ve recently adopted a
pet, the first thing to do is to
find a trusted veterinary doc-
tor. It’s best to go to the same
vet consistently and ask for an
emergency number in case the
need arises after clinic working
hours. A vaccination card will be
given to you to keep track of im-
munisations that shouldn’t be
delayed or forgotten. Puppies
need to be collared for identifica-
tion and safety. Is the collar too
tight? Check by putting your
hand in. If you can’t, it needs to
be loosened. At the same time, it
can’t be loose enough for the dog
to slip its head out of it and run
away.
Young ones might make a mess
in their initial few weeks at your
home. Don’t smack them (even
to train them is to pick them up
and show them a litter box or take
them for a quick stroll outside. If
you’re travelling with them by
car, ensure that the pet is not left
inside (even with the windows
down) for even one minute as
temperatures can go up to a point
that can be fatal for them.
Never allow a third person to
train your dog in your absence.
Trainers often use harsh puni-
shment and cause extreme fear
that creates long-term scars.
Some trainers have blinded pup-
pies by tightening the collar and
cutting off blood circulation. Re-
ward-based training can be car-
ried out by the owners
themselves. Check with your vet
for low-cal treats that will motiv-
ate them to obey commands like
ing hands.
A designated sleeping area,
with a small basket or mattress
and a chew toy will provide a feel-
ing of comfort. Poisonous foods
for dogs include chocolate and
raisins. Medication without con-
sulting a vet can be a deadly mis-
take. Crocin and its equivalents
can kill cats. If your vet can write
down the list of prohibited foods,
it can be referred to in case of
doubts.
And finally, get in touch with
friends and relatives who can pet-
sit when you’re out of town. An-
other alternative is a commercial
kennel provided they come with
good references from other pet-
owners you know. ■
 Thursday, May 14, 2009
LIFFY THOMAS
liffythomas@goergo.in
N
either the politician nor
the party’s ideologies in-
terest them. They dread
the idea of somebody vot-
ing on their behalf. But they
speak their mind and are aware of
the need to exercise their fran-
chise, even if it means going to
the polling booth, standing in
queue, confirming their identity,
getting their finger marked with
indelible ink and conveying to
the presiding officer that “I don’t
want to vote for any political par-
ty”. The 49(O) option, which says
“I vote nobody”, has been in the
Poll violence at Ice House, 7 injured
Clash allegedly erupted when MMK and AIADMK members tried to stop DMK men from casting bogus votes
ERGO CORRESPONDENT
feedback@goergo.in
T
he Lok Sabha polls in Ice
House, Chennai, started on
a violent note, when a gang
of Dravida Munnetra Kazha-
gam workers lead by a Municipal
Councillor allegedly attempted to
cast bogus votes at a polling
booth here.
The biggest election violence of
the day unfolded around 11 a.m.
at the booth inside N.K.T. Thiru-
malachari School, which is locat-
ed just a few streets away from
Ice House police station.
According to some MMK (Ma-
nithaneya Makkal Katchi) mem-
bers, DMK functionaries Shankar
alias ICF Shankar and Cheran
(MC of Ward no. 89) came to the
booth with over 15 men and tried
to cast bogus votes. They were
First-time voters
show their fingers
marked with the
indelible ink at
Saligramam on
Wednesday.
PHOTO: S.S. KUMAR
Constitution since long but the
number of people going out
father, mother and brother – to
exercise the option. “Amma,
merely to say that they don’t sup- kaththaada….” the official said
port any political party only when I asked for the form. “He
seems to be an interesting mix,
thanks to the awareness created
probably did not want the wait-
ing party members to hear that…
by a few Election Officers in the ” she reasons.
recent past. Similarly, Srividhya S., a young
Deepika Elumalai, 19, is a first- IT professional, made up her
time voter. She is not satisfied mind a day before that she was
with what politicians have done going to the booth only to exer-
for the state and neither does she cise 49(O).
want to vote for an Independent “I went through the manifestos
candidate whom she is hearing of all major political parties; none
about for the first time. of them was promising enough. I
On Wednesday, Deepika not was also particular that nobody
only made sure she got the 49(O) casts my vote, so the best I could
form from the polling officials but do was to take the extra effort and
also convinced her entire family – exercise this alternative,” ex-
PHOTO: K.V. SRINIVASAN
Some
vote,
but for
nobody
49(O) is the best way to show your
dissatisfaction with the political system,
say voters who exercised the option
plains Srividhya.
According to reports from PTI,
till 3 p.m. on Wednesday around
100 people in Chennai alone have
used the no-vote option. A major-
ity of them were victims of the
land acquisition enforced for ex-
pansion of Chennai airport.
However, many others who
were keen on using the option
were disappointed when they
learnt that their polling booth did
confronted by AIADMK (All India
Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazha-
gam) and MMK members there.
“Soon, the argument turned to
blows and the gang attacked our
party men with swords and clubs.
A few of our members who had
come from other booths to help
party men here were also merci-
lessly attacked,” said an MMK
member at Ice House.
The gang also damaged three
cars of MMK members parked
near the polling booth.
MMK’s Central Chennai candi-
date Hyder Ali’s brother Asan Ali,
Jahid Basha, Meera Moideen,
Shamsuddin and three others
were injured in the incident. Eye-
witnesses said the injured men
had gone to Ice House police sta-
tion with blood dripping from
their wounds and lodged a com-
03
not stock the forms or there was
nobody to explain them that the
49(O) option is not listed on the
EVM.
“We had a lady who was agitat-
ed to hear that we did not have
the form. We pacified her saying
that we did not get them and con-
vinced her to make a choice
among the parties listed,” said a
presiding office from CSI Middle
School, Royapettah.■
plaint against the DMK members.
The injured were admitted to
Government Royapettah Hospi-
tal.
City Police Commissioner K.
Radhakrishnan visited the spot
and told reporters that immedi-
ate action will be taken against
the attackers.
Reliable police sources add
that DMK functionary Kamaraj
from Ice House, who is the broth-
er of slain gangster Veeramani,
played a key role in violence at
Ice House. Later in the day, a
group of MMK men retaliated by
ransacking Kamaraj’s house in
Ice House.
An investigation is underway
and no arrest was made till eve-
ning. Apart from this, minor in-
cidents of violence were reported
from T. Nagar and Tondiarpet. ■
04 VILLAGE ERGO Thursday, May 14, 2009

Cross-dressing crook
Police are hunting a criminal who got clean away with
more than $15,000 (GBP10,000) after robbing a bank
dressed as a little old lady.

Perry doesn’t like being single Robot teacher

American singer songwriter Katy Perry has
revealed that she finds it lonely without a man by takes class
her side to share her everyday thoughts. The age-old picture of a
Perry, 24, revealed her loneliness in an interview teacher has undergone a
with Cosmopolitan, before she reunited with her technological makeover,
boyfriend Travis McCoy. after a robot schoolteacher
“I don’t like being single,” the Sun quoted her as developed by Japanese
saying. scientists conducted a class
“I live this fantastic life, full of all these magical in a Tokyo school.
things, and at the end of the day all I want to do The female humanoid
is pick up my phone and share it with someone.” robot, called Saya, taught a
ANI science and technology
lesson to a class of 10-year-
old pupils at Kudan
Elementary School in Tokyo.
‘Obama loves tall women’ Saya uses a range of programmed movements from
It looks like US President Barack Obama has en eye for tall eyebrow arching to smiling, and her face can express six
women. Ace basketball star Lisa Leslie has revealed basic emotions in the classroom - surprise, fear, disgust,
Obama’s first words to her when the two met at his anger, happiness and sadness.
Inauguration, which were “You know I love tall women, Professor Hiroshi Kobayashi, the mind behind Saya, said
right?” that the robot’s main purpose was to highlight the joys of
The four-time Olympic gold medal winner, who is set to technology to children.
taste retirement, recalled her meeting with the President, “In the countryside and in some small schools, there are
who excels in the sport. children who do not have the opportunity to come into
“He was just really nice to me, like ’Oh my gosh, you know contact with new technology and also there are few
I love tall women.’ That’s really what he said,” the Politico teachers out there that can teach these lessons,” the
quoted Leslie as saying in an interview with ESPN. Telegraph quoted Kobayashi as saying.
“The first lady, she was walking by, and he was like, ’Now ANI
you know I love tall women, right?’” she added.
The 36-year-old further said
she was promised a game
of one-on-one at the White Man fined for beheading wax Hitler
House and could not wait A German court fined an unemployed man 900 euros for
for the moment to come. knocking the head off a waxwork figure of Adolf Hitler in
She continued: “I said, ’I a Berlin museum.
would love to play you Minutes after the Madame Tussauds museum opened in
one-on-one one day,’ and the German capital in July, the 42-year-old pushed past
he was like, “I’ll tell you security staff ripped off its head. The man, an ex-
what: When I put the court policeman, said he found it inappropriate to display an
up here at the White exhibit showing the Nazi leader only some 500 meters
House, I’m going to invite from Berlin’s Holocaust memorial.
you back out and we’re The restored figure was returned to the museum in
going to do that’. September and is now displayed behind a glass wall.
ANI Reuters

Rahman hates politics

M
usic maestro A.R. Rah-
man is critical of political
parties using for a poll
campaign the song ‘Jai
Ho’ that he composed for Danny
Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire.
“I was like in the bed, I was de-
hydrated, exhausted, and then all
these things happened, somebo-
dy told me these people are using
it. I hate politics. I just want peo-
ple to serve the people. I want go-
vernments, whichever
government comes in, to be un-
biased and say there should be
justice in the country and that’s
my purpose in life,” Rahman said
in an interview on CNN’s Talk
Asia. The interview will be aired
on CNN May 20 and there will re-
peat telecasts May 21 and May 23.
The Congress had bought ex-
clusive rights to the song "Jai Ho"
for its poll campaign but the jin-
gle was later dropped as the par-
ty’s theme song.
In the interview, the shy com-
poser also explains how his acco-
lades for Slumdog Millionaire are
also recognition for India.
“I got very emotional when
saying this is for India, when you
guys truly deserve it because
there are so many different film
industries in India, so many dif-
ferent markets, Hindi film indus-
try, Tamil film industry,
Malayalam, then Bengali, so in a
way I think it culminates all their
aspirations and so it’s here,” he
said.
When asked about his next
project post-Oscars, he said: “I
have a couple of offers from Hol-
lywood. Pure American movies
which I thought for the heck of it
let’s do it and a couple of other
surprises that you’ll know very
soon if it works out. Big surprises
I think.” ■
IANS
 Thursday, May 14, 2009
Rare blue diamond sells
for record $9.5 million
The previous record price for a fancy vivid blue diamond was $7.9 million
A
flawless vivid blue dia-
mond weighing 7.03 car-
ats sold for a record 10.5
million Swiss francs (6.2
million pounds), the highest
price paid per carat for any
gemstone at auction, Sotheby’s
said.
The rectangular-shaped blue
stone, the rarest to enter the in-
ternational market this year,
went to an anonymous buyer
bidding by telephone after hec-
tic bidding see-sawed between
two callers for 15 minutes.
It was the centrepiece of its
semi-annual sale in Geneva,
conducted by David Bennett,
chairman of Sotheby’s jewellery
department in Europe and the
Middle East, who said the re-
sults showed the market’s resi-
lience despite the economic
downturn.
“This is already a new world
record price for a fancy vivid
blue diamond and a new world
record per carat for any gem-
Kangaroo survives
arrow through head
A ustralian wildlife officers say a
kangaroo survived for up to a
week after being shot through the
head with an arrow and is expect-
ed to make a full recovery.
Wildlife Australia has posted a
10,000 dollar (7,600 US) reward to
find the people responsible for
shooting the kangaroo, which was
found in parkland near Mel-
bourne’s outer suburbs. Veterin-
ary surgeons from Melbourne Zoo
operated on the stricken marsu-
pial over the weekend and were
optimistic about his chances.
“This was a big injury, but be-
cause the arrow didn’t seem to
have been in there for a long time,
and the injury was fresh, hopeful-
05
Joking judge
A coughing Italian judge cleared a panicking courtroom when he told lawyers:
"I’ve just got back from Mexico."
stone (at auction),” Bennett told
reporters.
“It is fantastic in this market
and shows that these rare things
are very much in demand,” he
said. The final price includes a
commission paid by the buyer
to the auction house. The stone
sets a record price per carat for
any gemstone sold at auction of
$1,349,752, (882
pounds) Sotheby’s said.
million
The new owner will have the
right to name the stone, which
is mounted in a platinum ring.
The pre-sale catalogue estimate
was 6.8 million to 10 million
francs, excluding commission.
The hammer price excluding
commission was 9.3 million
francs.
“To have a stone mined last
year and cut the early part of
this year so it is absolutely virgin
coming straight from the mine
has never happened before,”
Bennett said. “This is one of the
extremely rare substances in
our universe.”
The sale fetched a total of 39.5
million Swiss francs (23.3 mil-
lion pounds) for 266 lots, which
found new owners, while anoth-
er 80 pieces were stranded on
the block.
“In this general economic en-
vironment to see $35 million
worth sold in a session shows a
lot about the resilience of fine
jewels no matter what the cli-
mate,” Bennett said. ■
Reuters
Respite from the heat
ly he’ll be okay,” Melbourne Zoo
vet Michael Lynch told reporters.
“I’m cautiously optimistic
about the kangaroo’s prospects
for a full recovery.” Wildlife Victo-
ria spokeswoman Fiona Corke
said the kangaroo was rescued
just days after another kangaroo
was found with an arrow in its
rump in the same location. She
said her organisation wanted to
catch those responsible.
“It’s just unbelievable; I just
can’t believe that anybody would
do something so cruel. It must be
a very cold-hearted person to do
쒀 A monkey leans over a pond to drink water at the zoological section of a public
that,” she told national news
park in Caracas. AFP PHOTO / THOMAS COEX
agency AAP. ■
AFP
06 SPORT ERGO Thursday, May 14, 2009

Gerrard wins player of year award

Steven Gerrard’s leadership of Liverpool’s most sustained title challenge in years has won him the
Football Writers’ Association (FWA)’s player of the year award for the first time. The Reds captain
saw off challenges from Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic and Rio
Ferdinand to secure top spot in a poll of FWA members.

Mind it!
Dhoni make way! Khiladi Kumar is on his way

AYON SENGUPTA come a regular Page 3 celebrity, life. That’s my mantra and that’s
ayon@goergo.in giving our cricketers a run for how I claimed my victory,” he
their money. says. “I know I am going to be

C
aptain Cool Mahendra
Singh Dhoni will now have
serious competition from
fiery-fist Vijender Kumar as
the new youth icon of the coun-
try. Throwing a knockout punch
on cricket’s dominance in the
endorsement circle, Vijender
has signed a deal with Pepsi and
would soon be hitting the air-
waves in an all-new avatar.
An excited Vijender is already
towing the multinational’s line
and says: “I am excited to be
associated with an iconic youth
brand like Pepsi. It is certainly a
great privilege to join Pepsi’s
league of eminent achievers. Be-
ing a sportsman, I have always
been a believer in Youngistaan’s
core philosophy.”
The boxer, who catapulted to
instant fame after winning a
bronze at the Beijing Olympics,
has since seen a string of high-
profile endorsements and be-
Detractors, though, are quick
to point out that Vijender is yet
to get into the ring after his
Olympic success. Since last Au-
gust at times it looked as if the
medallist was keener to cash in
on his popularity than contin-
uing what he does best. Former
Commonwealth Games medal-
list and Arjuna Award winner V.
Devarajan says: “Success may
have got to his head. He had
some injury but I am not sure if
it warranted such a long layoff
from the ring. It will take a lot
of hard work from his side to
regain touch.”
Vijender though is confident
of retaining his position and will
be taking part in a European
Grand Prix event in the Czech
Republic starting from Wednes-
day. “I strongly believe that a
winner is one who thinks big,
has self-confidence and follows
his dreams to be successful in
closely watched. But I want my
critics to judge me only after
they have seen me in the ring.”
Talking about his prepara-
tions, Vijender says: “I have
trained for one-and-a-half
months in Patiala. I am not
carrying any injuries and I’m
feeling fresh. The nagging pain
in my back has also subsided
and I am confident of doing
well.”
National selector Devarajan
feels that Vijender has taken the
correct decision to come back
through a mid-level competi-
tion. “We will see limited boxers
in the Czech Republic. And I
think it’s good for Vijender that
he won’t be facing top-class op-
ponents after such a long gap. A
few easy wins will help restore
his confidence.”
Indian boxers next head off to
Milan for the World Champion-
ships in September. ■
PHOTO: RITU RAJ KONWAR

Cricket in Asian Games Shuttlers sizzle

Cricket officially became an Asian Games sport on
Wednesday when it was approved by the Olympic
Council of Asia, with India and Pakistan pledging
to send their best available teams.
It will make its debut in Guangzhou next year.
Both men’s and women’s teams will participate in
a Twenty20 format contest, with India, Pakistan, Sri
Lanka and Bangladesh automatically qualifying,
along with host nation China.
Other countries will have to play a qualifying
round to fight for three additional spots. “India and Pakistan were the drivers. Pakistan and
India will come with their best teams because it will be a big competition,” said OCA
president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah after the organisation’s general assembly. “Asia’s four
Test-playing nations have committed to sending their best available teams,” he added.
The 2010 Asian Games will take place from November 12-27 in the southern Chinese city.
India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are all scheduled to play Test and one-day series that month,
but the OCA said once a schedule for Guangzhou was in place “truly the best players for
that format will be available”.
Cricket was last seen at a major multi-sport event at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in
Kuala Lumpur, but was dropped for the next two editions in England and Australia.
AFP
Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal rallied to tame Susan Hughes as India
spanked Scotland 5-0 to top the pool and qualify for the
promotional play-offs in the Sudirman Cup badminton
tournament on Wednesday. On top of pool
3B, India will now take on the country
which finishes on top of 3A and the winner
will be promoted to the second tier of the
prestigious tournament.
Saina and compatriots, including Arvind
Bhat, continued to sizzle and snatched their
third consecutive win in the biennial event,
after steamrolling Australia 4-1 and routing
Ukraine 5-0 on Tuesday. After losing the
first game 18-21, world No. 10 Saina got her act together to
stage a brilliant come back by clinching the next two games
21-13, 21-19 to wrap up the issue in 52 minutes. Arvind too
strolled to an easy 21-15, 21-16 victory against Gordon Thomson
in the second match. The mixed doubles pair of V Diju and
Jwala Gutta sailed past Andrew Bowman and Emma Mason
21-17, 21-12.
PTI
 Thursday, May 14, 2009
07

‘‘
I need some time for myself, to be honest with you. There’s always something
you have to go and do, you know, extra. Lunch or dinner, some other thing,
there’s always something for the captain. I’m not that type of person. I can’t take on too
much. So soon I will be handing over this captaincy. I soon finish with it.
Chris Gayle

Hail
Haydos
t o retirement
A
ustralian opener
olde n r u n
IPL g
Matthew Hayden has
credited his sizzling
y d e n a t t ributes
form in the Indian
Premier League to his inter- Ha
national retirement, saying
that being free from “never-
ending cricket” has helped him re-
main fresh for the Twenty20 event.
“The only reason that I’m playing
the way I am now is because I have
retired. I have been able to let go of
the fact that I don’t want to play in-
ternational cricket,” he said.
“I know that I’ve only got a very
short time playing cricket in this par-
ticular period, so I’ve got all my
mind, skills and fitness towards the
IPL,” he added. Hayden said many of
his peers’ form and fitness gets af-
fected by playing continuous cricket.
“This is not the case with most other
international players, who know
they will leave this tournament and
head straight to the Twenty20 World
Cup, and then another international
series, then the domestic cricket
next summer – it is just never-end-
ing cricket,” he said.
In nine matches for the Chennai
Super Kings, Hayden has scored 426
runs at an average of 47.33. “During
this tournament I’ve spent more
time on the ocean than I have on a
cricket field. It does give me an edge,
because in a tournament which is
played over half a day and when you
play every other day, there is a lot of
time spent on thinking cricket. You
need to have a balance in life,” he
said. ■
PTI

PHOTO: AFP
08 ROADSTER
Ride to the top of t
Want to bike to the Himalayas
but don’t know how to? A bunch
of adventure tour operators will
accompany you all the way
PETLEE PETER
petleepeter@goergo.in
T
he ultimate adventure for
every avid roadie in the
country would be to ride to
the highest motorable road
in the India at least once in a
lifetime.
Khardung La (well-known as
Khardung Pass) that lies in the
Leh region in the Himalayan
range stands the highest motor-
able road in the country and ar-
guably the highest in the world.
Motorcyclists consider riding to
the pass an undisputed adven-
ture as one must overcome tough
terrain, chilly weather and winds
and acute altitude sickness.
In case you are clue-
less about how to get
there, what to carry
or how to ride in
extreme condi-
tions, there are
several organisa-
tions that can plan
your trip and help
you get there with
minimum chaos.
Bik Xpedition 2009 is
one such avenue to ride to
Khardung La this July. Organised
by Milestone Enterprise in asso-
ciation with BBC’s Top Gear mag-
azine, the motorcycle expedition
to Himalayas kick-starts on July
20 from Delhi via Manali, Darcha,
Sarchu, Leh and to Khardung La.
Participants can use any 150cc
motorcycle of their choice with
necessary documents including
the RC book and insurance policy
papers. “It is the 10th consecutive
year of Bik Xpedition, which is
thoroughly an adventure event
for riding enthusiasts. Only 25
riders will be selected on first-
come-first-served basis,” says
Mohini Nakwa, business head,
Milestone Enterprises.
The enrolment procedure is
now on and applications are
ERGO Thursday, May 14, 2009
Electrifying ride
A second-generation Subaru Stella EV (electric vehicle) is to
cities prior to a small production run planned for later this
lithium-ion battery unit has a range of 80 kilometres and a
available with the April edition of
Top Gear magazine. Aspirants
can also write in to milestoneen-
terprise@vsnl.net or call
09324521613/09892895954 more
details.
Himalayan Odyssey 2009 is In-
dian motorcycle company Royal
Enfield’s way of getting its adven-
ture-seeking customers to some
of the tallest roads in the country.
“The event thoroughly aimed at
building biker camaraderie is be-
ing subsidised for Royal Enfield
enthusiasts,” says Sachin Chavan
of Royal Enfield.
Applications to Himalayan
Odyssey this year have closed due
to overwhelming response.
This is not all. There are
several other adventure
tour operators which
will help you ride to
the snow-capped
peaks of the
country.
Bangalore-
based adventure
tour organiser Ge-
toff Ur Ass organises a
Ladakh motorcycle trip
that starts on July 20. En-
thusiasts can register by logging
on to www.getoffurass.com. Only
12 people will be selected on a
first-come-first-served basis.
Santosh Kumar of Getoff Ur Ass
says the 15-day trip starts in Ma-
nali and ends in Leh. “Riders
should preferably hire motor-
cycles in Manali to be part of the "Though the
trip. Though the distance can be
covered in a matter of three days,
distance can be cove
the entire trip is spread over 15 in a matter of three
days so that participants can see
the entire trip is sprea
visit a lot of places on the way and
spend more time to enjoy the 15 days so that participa
places’ beauty,” adds Kumar. see visit a lot of places
There is also White Riders,
which organises a number of
way and spend more t
trips for bike enthusiasts who enjoy the places
want to ride to the Himalayas.
For more details go to
www.wccindia.com ■
 Thursday, May 14, 2009
09
o undergo testing in five Japanese
year. The plug-in hybrid fitted with a
top speed of 100 km/h.
DPA

the world SNIPPETS

BMW developing cars that
’sense’ danger to pedestrians
BMW is refining a car-to-
car communication system
that offers more
pedestrian protection by
“sensing” situations and
persons that cannot
normally be seen by
motorists, according to the
car maker in Gemany.
In a typical situation a
child could suddenly jump
onto the road from
between two parked
vehicles. In such a case the moving vehicle would communicate with
an electronic transponder carried by the child or cyclist for
protection.
The project is part of the Amulett research project aimed at
preventing accidents with sensoring and tracking technology. On
board car systems are networked with those of other vehicles or
transponders carried by persons. These can be installed in school
bags, mobile phones or in a walking stick.
Should the system determine an impending collision or danger
situation, the driver is warned with a signal on the head-up display.
If he or she does not respond the system automatically triggers a
braking procedure.
According to German government accident statistics 48 percent of
child accident victims between the age of six and 14 ran onto the
road without observing the traffic. Other research has shown that
in 40 percent of fatal pedestrian accidents, the driver could not
react in time. ■
DPA

Skoda Fabia rolling

from Indian factory
The Volkswagen concern
has launched production
of the compact Skoda
Fabia from its new factory
in Pune, India, with the
small Polo car to follow
later this year, the car
maker has announced.
A second small vehicle,
also based on the Polo, is
planned for the second
ered half of next year. With an
days, investment of 580 million
euros in the Pune factory, Volkswagen is planning an annual
ad over production capacity of 110,000 vehicles annually for the Indian
ants can market.
According to Volkswagen the factory is among the most modern in
s on the the concern with a high percentage of local suppliers. It is the only
time to German car production facility in India including the entire
" manufacturing process. Skoda is the Czech subsidiary of the VW
concern. The luxury Phaeton and the Touareg SUV are also
available on the Indian market as direct import vehicles. ■
DPA
10 FLICK ERGO Thursday, May 14, 2009

I was doing a
musical in London
at the time, playing
‘Curly in Oklahoma’
so I had a perm in

Curly almost
my hair. So I put
the hat on to do
the audition and
about halfway

lost Wolverine
through, the casting
director was like,
‘That was great,
could you do one
without the hat?
Hugh Jackman nearly missed out on X-Men role
to Dougray Scott of Mission Impossible II

A
ctor Hugh Jackman almost
missed out on the chance
to play mutant Wolverine
in the original X-Men mo-
vie because he had to audition
with a perm.
The Australian actor reveals he
tried out for the action man role
nine months before filming for
the first X-Men series started that
was initially passed over to Brit-
ish actor Dougray Scott.
Jackman thinks it was his hair
that put the casting director off.
“I was doing a musical in Lon-
don at the time, playing ‘Curly in
Oklahoma’ so I had a perm in my
hair. So I put the hat on to do the
audition and about halfway
through, the casting director was
like, ‘That was great, could you do
one without the hat? I can’t really
see Wolverine wearing a baseball
cap’,” Jackman recalls.
“I took it off and I read about
two lines and she goes, ‘Cut, put
the hat on – now’,” he adds.
However things fell in his stride
after Scott, who was then also
filming for Tom Cruise’s Mission
Impossible II, had to continue
shooting the film, as it overran
its schedule.
Producers for the X-men
saga couldn’t wait and so
Jackman was called for a re-
audition for Wolverine’s
role.
Jackman got the part
and the film began
shooting four days after
the audition in 1999.
Jackman has since
then appeared in the
X-Men trilogy and re-
vived his roll as the
claw-handed mutant
in the recently released
blockbuster hit X-Men
Origins: Wolverine. ■
IANS

Rihanna’s says Michael Jackson’s comeback concerts in jeopardy

it with a song M ichael Jackson’s much hyped comeback might end up as a dud, with an
entertainment company threatening to sue the star citing an agreement

S inger Rihanna has finally broken

her dignified silence after a long
time, as she has apparently lashed out
at her alleged attacker Chris Brown
through her latest track titled ‘Silly
Boy’.
Rihanna’s pal Kanye West has
posted the demo track ‘Silly Boy’ on
the Internet, which is about a woman
who refuses to take back her beau,
who does not know how to treat her.
According to the Sun, the lyrics of
the track are: “I said I’m not coming
back. You fooled me once but you
can’t have that ego turning. Just too
bad for you, that when you had me.
Didn’t know what to do, she’s over
you. Cause you had a good girl, good
girl, girl. That’s a keeper. You had a
good girl, good girl but didn’t know
how to treat her. So silly boy get out
my face. Why do you like the way
regrets taste?”
ANI
which bars him from performing.
New Jersey-based AllGood Entertainment has
claimed that the ‘Thriller’ hit-maker is not allowed to
conduct any shows before going on tour with
‘Jackson Five’ citing a contract signed by the singer’s
manager Frank Dileo, reported Ace Showbiz.
“We have a non-compete (clause). Prior to our
show (reunion tour with Jackson 5), Michael cannot
perform anywhere in the world,” said Patrick
Allocco, managing partner of AllGood
Entertainment.
Alloco said that his company had signed an
agreement with Jackson’s manager, Frank DiLeo, in
November last year committing the singer to
perform in July 2010 along with his brothers from
the Jackson Five and sister Janet Jackson.
Under the agreement, Michael Jackson cannot give
another concert until that reunion show.
Allocco said that AllGood Entertainment had sent a “cease and desist” letter
to DiLeo and to concert promoter AEG Live, which has signed Jackson to
perform a series of 50 shows at London’s O2 Arena starting in July.
But as a consensus could not be reached, the company plans to file a lawsuit
against Jackson by the end of this week, said Allocco. ■
PTI
 Thursday, May 14, 2009
Skunked!
Actor Tom Hanks is planning to move into a new home in California because his Los Angeles mansion has been
infested with a terrible stink due to a skunk attack – the actor’s German Shepherd dogs were sprayed by the
creature. “They say the only way to get rid of skunk smell is tomato juice. This is a lie. We have gone through vats
and vats of tomato juice. It’s sticky, I’’s like hair gel when the dogs leap up on you and spread the skunk goo on top
of you...,” Contactmusic quoted Hanks as saying.
Ashton Kutcher
Jessica Alba
GETTY IMAGES
Julia Roberts heads all-star romantic comedy
J
ulia Roberts will play an ar-
my officer on leave from
Iraq in an all-star romantic
comedy also featuring Anne
Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Shirley
MacLaine and Jennifer Garner, it
was reported on Tuesday.
Oscar-winner Roberts is one of
several A-list stars for the film,
titled Valentine’s Day, which fol-
lows the fortunes of several
characters as they search for love
in Los Angeles, according to the
Hollywood Reporter.
Jessica Biel, Ashton Kutcher
11
Cine City
Anne Hathaway
Voted out
All efforts of putting the day’s work on the
backseat became futile for Kamal Hassan, who was
all ready to exercise his democratic right. Hassan,
who had been advocating the right to vote
through the media, was frustrated to note that his
name was missing from the voters’ list. It seems he
had cancelled his shooting in Hyderabad just to
vote. The effort went in vain and he incurred a loss
of Rs. 10 lakh as he missed the shoot. According to
the actor, when the election officials visited his
house for verification he was not present and
hence his name was deleted from the list.
Apparently, even director Ameer, who was voicing
concern over the Sri Lankan Tamil issue, didn’t vote
as his name was not in the voters’ list.
Fear stop
Swine flu has
scared the Asal
crew. The crew
was all ready to
set out for
Scotland for
the shoot that
was going to
commence on
May 15.
and rising star Bradley Cooper However, the
are also set to star in the project. swine flu alert
MacLaine will play Roberts’s in the western
mother, a retiree who reveals an countries had
affair to her husband while Os- the crew in a
car-nominee Hathaway will play fix and they
an assistant at a Los Angeles tal- decided to
ent agency dating a mailroom postpone the
assistant. shooting and
The film is being produced by look for a new
New Line studio, which enjoyed location. If
recent success with another en- what we hear is
semble romantic comedy He’s true, Ajith and the film’s producer and actor
Just Not That Into You. Prabhu will fly to Malaysia to hunt for new
AFP locations.
12 ERGO Thursday, May 14, 2009

Tuesday’s Query:
If you were to start a new
political party what name
would you keep?
■ Varuthapadatha Vaalibargal Munnetra
Kazhagam
M.Laxmipathy RR Donnelley, Arjunkumar
Tickerplant, Kannan.NS, FSS

■ Varutha padadha valibar sangam

Saranya.M Cognizant, Raj, Ganeshbabu.K HCL

■ Tea Party
Dileep, Allsec

■ Republican League of India

N.Venkatnarayanan, Flsmidth Ram from Verizon has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. This pic was clicked at
Kodaikanal during a trip.
■ Software Supporting Party
Gomathi.NS, Servion

■ Manitha kula munnaetra kalagam

Lexsminarayanan, TCS-eserve

■ Makkal Surandal Katchi

Nivas, Srini Technosoft

■ Lanja Munnaertrta Kalagam

Murugan, Suthakar Technosoft

■ Kalaghamilla kazhagham
Ramya, Jayaseelan Cognizant

■ Virus ethiruppu kalagam

Savitha Servion

■ Jutt Sacha Bharath Party

Syed Billal TCS-eserve

■ Java Developers Kazhagam at least then I

will get IT people’s vote Santhoshkumar Poornachandran from CSS Corp has nominated his friends as Partners
P.Deepak, Aravind TCS in Crime. This pic was clicked during their team trip to Queenaland.

■ Democratic copy-paste programmers’

party of India
Ramesh Wipro

■ Anaithindia manam aaghatha software

engineers kalagam
Arunachalam Cognizant

■ All India Dacoity Party

Balaji Allsec

■ ACT Party - Anti Corruption Team

Seenivasan Technip

Today’s Query:
Your experience at the poll
booth during the Lok Sabha
Sasankreddy A. from TCS has nominated his team as Partners in Crime. This photo was
Elections 2009 taken at St.Joseph College of Engineering, Chennai when they won the runner up trophy
in the CITI CUP’09.
 Thursday, May 14, 2009
■ Dear Dinesh Reddy Alugubelli,
Wishing you all the best in the year
to come. May this year bring with it
all the success and fulfillment your
heart desires.
May your days be filled with sunshine
and beautiful colors.
And may your nights be filled with
comforting dreams and wishes to
come.
Happy Birthday!!!!
Friends:
Vijay Kumar.Y, Suresh.S,
Santosh Kumar.M, Sivaram Krishna.S.V.,
Infosys Technologies.
■ Dear Raju,
Happy birthday on this beautiful day,
There are so many things,
we just want to say.
You inspire many, with your
thoughts and actions,
We’re all so grateful, for your calm
reactions.
Best Regards,
Panasonic Team, R Systems Int. Ltd.
■ Hi PadmaPriya,
Happy Birthday to U. Many more
happy returns of the day.
May all your dream comes true from
this wonderdfull day..
Best Regards, Friend from TCS.
■ Hi My Sweetheart (Parthiban),
May this special day be filled with
sweet memories and happy hours.
My lovable and cute friend of mine,
you are such a wonderful person, a
Gift to me from God.
I cherish every moment with you.
On this birthday,
I wish you to be happy Always, as
you have made my entire life happy
by your presence.
Many Many Happy Returns of the
Day da chella kutty.
You live long healthy and happy life.
With ever loving Friend Aishu
with our adorable sister Sathya (Adventnet)
■ Dear Rupa Keasavan,
Lot’s of people are thinking of you
on your birthday,
because they are near by you in this
presence,
but not every birthday till your life,
because their path may vary,
Even though our path took us long
back in a different mode,
I just want to let you know I’m
always thinking of you every moment
as same like on your birthday.
Have a wonderful birthday!
May this birthday day bring you
endless happiness, prosperity, many
goodness, excitement, joy, and
laughter always!!!
Huma Shankar VJ,
Tech Mahindra Ltd
■ Dear Mother Chandrika,
Great Mom Happy birthday, Mom!
I hope everyone can see,
What a great mom you’ve always
been,
And how much you mean to me.
I always think about you,
In times both good and bad,
For the things you taught are with
me, In happy times and sad.
So on this day I wish you joy,
Just like you pass around.
May all your good times multiply,
And happiness abound.
Yours Ever-Loving Hubbi - Muthiyan &
Kids - Gerald, Gowri & Sharmila
■ Dear Abha (Hanumanth),
Many more happy returns of the day.
May your desire to get a dream girl
come true in this year.
Stop looking at Tomato, Onion,
Potato, Brinjal, etc., come to real life.
All banks and service providers are
searching U for!!!
In Bangalore you are Bhangaram in
Chennai you are...???
With Best Wishes
Non-Tandem Testing Team, FSS
■ Dear Pyla,
On your Birthday we wish you much
pleasure and joy;
We hope all of your wishes come
true.
May each hour and minute be filled
with delight,
and your birthday be perfect for you!
Wishing you a VERY VERY HAPPY
BIRTH DAY!!
Cheers, DCMS team
(FSS Tidel Park)
■ Dear Uma (Deshaw Girl )...
A Birthday s just the first day of
another 365-day journey around the
sun. Enjoy the Trip!
A Special person like u deserves the
best that each day can bring .
Happy Birthday!
Best Wishes from iRonicz Spiders Team,
Tata Consultancy Services - India.
iNautix,Fidelity - Chennai.
Musigma, NSN, Tata Elexi, EMC-Bangalore
Juno, Deshaw, Commvault-Hydrabad.
■ Hi Prathiba
Wish you many more happy returns
of the day.
This birthday will bring you a joy and
success in your life.
And the whole Team members
wishing you a prosperous birthday.
Sathish Kumar Babu , RBS
■ Hey Nithya,
On this special occasion we all are
delighted to wish you a very happy
birthday.
May all your wishes come true.
13
Enjoy the day with lots of fun.Dont
forget to include us. Belated Wishes
And a special advice for you on your ■ Dear Chaks,
birthday, keep smiling and make us Happy birthday!!! May u get ur
also smile by your singing. dreams and wishes come true this
With lots of care day!!
Susmita, Rajesh, Kaushi K. May ur day be filled with full joy and
happiness…
■ Hi Anusha (team lead), with ur face having an everlasting
Wish u many more happy returns of smile!!!
the day.. May god bless u with everything u
You make our Work much easier wish to have!!!
with your cool attitude by the way, Here this is me wishing u again a
We are eagerly waiting for your wonderful day ahead!!!
treat..! Many more Happy Returns of the
with regards, Day dear!!!
MP, Sumi, Dharni, Anusha, Abi, Priya and Sudha
Ravi, Mohana Priya Rajasekaran, Infosys Technologies Limited, Chennai
Tata Consultancy Services
■ Dear Ramya Teja,
■ Dear GomathiSankar, Side by side or miles apart
Wish you a very Happy birthday. True friends are always close to your
God Bless you with joy, happiness, heart,
health wealth and more of Whether you’re turning five or fifty-
everything that makes you happy. three,
Ever loving friend, We are here, right now, on your
Baththidevi, CTS special day
So lets give a cheer for you, hip, hip,
■ Dear Deena hooray!
Team DTCC Wishes you many more We are so lucky to have a friend like
happy returns of the day. you.
Have a great day and wonderful year Happy Birthday!
ahead. We look forward to enjoying our
Cheers from, Team DTCC friendship for many more of your
birthdays.
■ Dear Seenu, Janmadina Subhakankshalu.
You met the challenge with Many more happy returns of the
determination, strength, and total day......
confidence. with love and wishes,
Congratulations!!! Fameeda,Jyothi kumar, Deleep,
On your recent success- you deserve Suresh, Madhava, Mohan,
it :-) Naveen, Laxmi Narayana,
Keep Rocking at HCL Technologies Mohammed Uvaise
Limited Inter Globe Technologies.
Hearty wishes from, OMR Chennai.
Gopal, Sakthi, Sanju and
The Entire Family Members ■ Dear Senthil,
Wishing you a very happy birthday!!!
■ Dear Yamini, May God’s blessings be with you all
On this special day, we would like to through your life!!
thank you for the wonderful person Wishing you all happiness and
you are… Your smile will always prosperity!!!
linger in our hearts. Friends,
The comfort you extend in times of New Age Software and Solutions.
trouble is just incredible!! Ashok Nagar.
Wishing you a wonderful birthday!!
God bless you with all happiness ■ Hi Bala,
& prosperity… Belated Happy Birthday wishes to
Friends, you…..
New Age Software and Solutions. From
Ashok Nagar. Trizetto Product support
Infy.
■ Dear Chithuu,
We wish you a wonderful life filled ■ Dear Mom,
with love and happiness. iam very happy to be your daughter..
Your Birthday makes this day all the Happy mothers day wishes.
more special and beautiful !! You are the best!!!
Happy Birthday :-) With lots of love,
With best wishes, Eswari, Jothi, Pugazh
ZOHO- IAM Technosoft.
14 TRAFFIC JAM ERGO Thursday, May 14, 2009

Popular pets
British gardeners are increasingly buying
wallabies as pets to trim their lawns.

sudoku

Jaiganesh
Padmanabhan
from Wipro
Technologies hs
clicked this pic
near his house
using Nikon P80
camera.
Hobbies: Still
Photography,
Shuttle, cycling
Entries to the
column will get gift
vouchers from
Bubbles Spa worth
Rs.1,000. Winners
can come to Ergo
office on weekends
between 3 p.m. and
5 p.m. to collect the
vouchers.
Call 2857 6688.
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

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

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

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

Printed and Published by S. Karthik on behalf of

KASTURI & SONS LTD., at Plot B-6 & B-7,
CMDA Industrial Complex, Maraimalai Nagar,
Chengleput Taluk, Kancheepuram Dist., Pin:
603209 & at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860,
Anna Salai, Chennai-600002. Editor: S. Karthik
(Editor responsible for selection of news under
the PRB Act). RNI No. TNENG/2007/24553
 Thursday, May 14, 2009
15
Monkeying around Word’s worth
An orangutan used a stick to short- Papabili (puh-pah-buh-lee) in the Roman Catholic
circuit an electric fence to try to escape church, the likely candidates for being elected Pope.
from a zoo in Australia. Now often used of contenders for any high office.

B.C

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

If at all there comes a time when you are confused,
don’t hesitate to ask for help. Your superiors will be
more than happy to come to your aid. On the love
front, the more candy-coated your words, the
sweeter will be your love life.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20

Today, your communication skills will help you do
well in meetings. Ganesha feels these meetings
might change your perception about other people’s
abilities. You might engage in a career related
discussion with your beloved.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20

It’s a day to handle both professional and personal
BORN LOSER issues with utmost care. Ganesha feels you should
avoid confrontation with colleagues today. Hence,
try to avoid direct talk with your peers, unless it is
unavoidable. Stop badgering your sweetheart.
CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20
Exercising patience will make your luck shine today.
Don’t coerce others into seeing things your way,
suggests Ganesha. Love life may not be free of
rough patches. Hence, Ganesha advises you to be
prepared for it.
LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20
Ganesha wants you to avoid getting caught up in
emotional soap operas during the first part of the
day. In the second half, you’ll act more practically.
Today, your love life will be on the back burner as
career growth will be the first thing on your mind.
VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20
You may feel like giving unsolicited advise today.
FREE RANGE WORKING IT OUT Though you are in a philosophical mood, you will
be mindful of your duties at work. On the
relationship front, you may wish to establish
spiritual relationship with your soul mate.
LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20
When the going gets tough, the tough get going,
believes Ganesha. You should focus more on
solutions than on problems. You will have a terrific
evening as Ganesha foresees you enjoying the
company of friends.
SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20
Ganesha foresees a positive change in your work
style at this time of the month. The good news is
that you will be able to perfectly balance your
personal and professional life. In your love life, try
to avoid arguments with your partner.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20
You will be in a mystical mood today. You may not
be too interested in taking up serious issues.
Ganesha wants you to synchronise your thoughts
and actions at the workplace. Your love life will be
as smooth as ever.
CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20
Ganesha foresees that the day is quite positive for
you. The wise Lord insists that you focus more on
long-term plans. Being realistic at work is fine, but
your relationship may suffer because of this, says
Ganesha.
AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20
PREVIOUS The day will see you in a chirpy mood. You may get
opportunities to learn or adapt to new things at the
ISSUE’S workplace. On the personal front, you may think on
developing new ways to maintain a harmonious
SOLUTIONS relationship with your sweetheart.
PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20
You may have to put in a lot of efforts to arrange
meetings and other office related work. Post lunch,
important discussions with colleagues will keep you
busy. You and your beloved will have a friendly
give-and-take of ideas and views.
Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni
16 ! ERGO Thursday, May 14, 2009

Actor Ajith standing in a queue to cast his vote at a polling station in

Thiruvanmiyur. PHOTO: M. KARUNAKARAN

Actor Surya shows the indelible ink mark on his

finger after voting at a polling station in T.Nagar.
PHOTO: R. RAVINDRAN

An elderly woman holds up her

ink-marked finger as she leaves after
casting her vote at the polling booth
at Gopalapuram in Chennai.
AFP PHOTO/SESHADRI SUKUMAR