A BYTE OF LIFE Thursday, May 7, 2009

03
BY THE YOUTH
for the people

FREE CIRCULATION Vol. 3 No. 84

Sports Quota » PAGE 05

02 NAMMA CHENNAI ERGO Thursday, May 7, 2009

New animal shelter to be opened on May 17

The Dax Memorial Animal Welfare Center is in the process of being set up in
Urapakkam near Vandalur. The Center will rehabilitate abandoned birds and also
raise awareness on important animal issues. They’re starting from scratch and will
be happy to receive your help raising the seed money. If this sounds interesting,
get in touch with Ranjit Daniels of Care Earth Trust at ranjit.daniels@gmail.com.

Chennai to get a
professional music college
Marg Swarnabhoomi, an integrated
infrastructure company, joins hands with
Guitarist R. Prasanna of ’Smile Pinki’ fame
to start a professional music college in
namma Chennai.
According to G.R.K.Reddy, chairman and
managing director of MARG Group, the
Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music will open
in July 2010 with a one year diploma in
music and has plans of starting a full-
fledged 4 year degree program later. The
college will have renowned faculty of
reputed musicians from around the world.
As part of this ongoing initiative, the
college will present an intensive one-week
workshop on contemporary music with
international faculty during August 17 to 21
this year followed by a concert on August
22.
For further details, contact
music@margswarnabhoomi.com

Padmavathy of the Animal Welfare and Protection Trust surrounded by abandoned dogs at the
shelter run by the trust at Santhoshapuram. PHOTO : A. MURALITHARAN

(from left) Vivek Harinarain, executive director

- Industrial Clusters, MARG, GRK Reddy, chair-
man, MARG Ltd, R Prasanna, Guitarist and
Music Composer and his trainer A Kanya Ku-
mari at the launch of Swarnabhoomi Academy
of Music
In need of fans
The elderly people who have started a Trust for the voiceless
hope that some fans will come their way this summer
MAHALAKSHMI PARTHASARATHY of these animals. If you have an The Trustees are also in need of
mahaaparthasarathy@gmail.com extra fan or if you know any kind a basic model digital camera that
hearted people who might be they can use to take rescue pho-

I
have been associated with
AWPT (Animal Welfare & Pro-
tection Trust, Chennai), a vet-
erinary hospital cum shelter
serving abandoned and sick ani-
mals. Everyday, hundreds of
abandoned animals are treated
here for various illnesses.
AWPT has now extended their
hospital space by constructing
extra sheds so as to accommo-
date more needy animals.
They are in need of some new/
old ceiling fans (in working con-
dition) for their vet hospital.
Since the summer is at its peak
in Chennai, the animals that have
undergone surgery and are being
treated for other illnesses would
really love a fan for some relief
and a speedy recovery.
I am appealing to you on behalf
willing to donate fans for this no- tographs for their records and for
ble cause, please get in touch as adoption columns in newspap-
soon as you can. ers.
If you have a digital camera
that you aren’t using, please con-
sider gifting it to help them.
AWPT is in need You can contact Mrs. Padma-
vathy at 788 (New No. 3/140), Ka-
of some new/ laingar Karunanidhi Street,
Santhoshapuram, (Velacherry -
old ceiling fans Tambaram Road), Chennai - 601
302. Phone: 22781381 /
(in working 9962968265 / 9941597790.
condition) for Please do not worry about the
transportation as AWPT will col-
their vet lect it from you as soon as you
give them a call, wherever you are
hospital in Chennai.
Visit http://awptrust.co.cc for
more information on this organi-
sation and the work that they do.
■
 Thursday, May 7, 2009
By the youth
FOR THE PEOPLE
The Youth and Students Party doesn’t
want to be another of the have-runs
MONISHA MOHANDAS
A
s a result of professionals
like doctors, lawyers and pi-
lots coming together, Cen-
tral Chennai will be seeing a
new party contesting the 15th Lok
Sabha elections.
For the first time, Youth and
Students Party (YSP) will be con-
testing from the Central Chennai
constituency. Thomas T. Jacob, a
lawyer practising in Madras High
Court, will be representing the
party.
YSP became a registered party in
2004 and participated in the 14th
Lok Sabha elections for the first
time from the Nilgiri constituency,
where they garnered 0.84 per cent
of the votes and stood fourth.
Founded by P. Kumaran, YSP’s
major mantra is ‘Change’. “We en-
visage a political system infused
with youth from all walks of life.
We believe there should be at least
75 per cent representation of the
youth in Parliament, so as to in-
fuse fresh ideas and need-based
policies,” says Thomas.
As the name suggests, YSP is
keen on uplifting the nation with
youth as the pillars of upliftment.
“We believe that after 65 politic-
ians must have a more advisory
role in the party.
They can be involved in deci-
sion-making but young people
must get a chance to prove them-
selves,” says Thomas emphatical-
ly.
Ageing doesn’t make people in-
competent but it does slow them
down, feels YSP. “There should
definitely be a retirement age for
politicians so that new people can
03
participate,” adds Thomas.
YSP has more than 10,000 mem-
bers distributed in various districts
of Tamil Nadu, with nearly 300 ac-
tive members in Chennai. Anyone
who is above 18, is accountable
and patriotic and doesn’t have a
criminal background can join as a
member.
YSP members don’t intend to
align themselves with others as
they claim to stand for accounta-
bility in politics. “The primary du-
ty is to the people, not the party.
We believe in bringing about legis-
lation in which people who aren’t
happy with their elected represen-
tatives have the power to recall
them back,” says Thomas.
“Those who don’t vote are
usually those who are educated.
We want voting to be made com-
pulsory so that the educated come
out and vote,” he adds.
YSP uses new-age campaigning
tools like Twitter, YouTube, Orkut,
Facebook, SMS and blogging for
its urban audience and street plays
and theatre for the rural.
“I came across YSP’s activities at
various places and found that they
were not just there for the heck of
it but for a good reason. After en-
quiring in-depth I decided to join
them as I felt this is what India
needs,” says 24-year-old Anu Ge-
orge, who is an active campaigner
of YSP as well as a lawyer in Ban-
galore.
With the increasing entry of new
parties and independent contes-
tants, YSP is confident. “We won’t
repeat the mistakes that we and
others made last time. We learnt
from our mistakes and have cor-
rected ourselves,” says Thomas. ■
04 VILLAGE ERGO Thursday, May 7, 2009

Coffin carpenter
A carpenter has found a macabre way of getting into the Guinness Book
of Records - making record numbers of coffins.

Berry goes blonde Afghan’s

Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry, who was
planning to shave her head for a new film, has got only pig
herself a new look by going for blonde
highlighting. quarantined
The X-Men star’s newly-coloured locks were Afghanistan’s only
pictured while she was taking her young daughter known pig has been
Nahla out for lunch in Los Angeles, reported locked in a room, away
thesun.co.uk. from visitors to Kabul
“Halle’s new hair really caught the eye. The new zoo where it normally
look is a real winner,” an onlooker was quoted as grazes beside deer and
saying. goats, because people
IANS are worried it could
infect them with swine
flu.
“For now the pig is under quarantine, we built it a room
UK man lands world’s best job because of swine influenza,” said Aziz Gul Saqib, director
A British charity worker won “the best job in the world” as of Kabul Zoo. “We’ve done this because people are
caretaker of a tropical island on Australia’s Great Barrier worried about getting the flu.”
Reef after an unprecedented global search. There are no pig farms in Afghanistan and no direct
Fundraiser Ben Southall beat 15 other candidates selected civilian flights between Kabul and Mexico, the epicentre of
from around the world after Tourism Queensland received the outbreak.
more than 34,000 applications for the job on Hamilton “We understand that, but most people don’t have enough
Island. knowledge. When they see the pig in the cage they get
The 34-year-old will spend six months swimming, worried and think that they could get ill,” Saqib said.
snorkelling and sailing around the tourist paradise, earning The pig was a gift to the zoo from China.
105,000 US$ for blogging about his experiences and Some visitors were not concerned about the fate of the
promoting the region to the world. pig and said locking it away was probably for the best.
The judges said Southall impressed from his initial Reuters
application, when he said:
“The most important thing to
me in life is to have an exciting
job that makes me happy, puts Megan shoots for
smiles on peoples’ faces and
achieves challenging goals.” raunchy video
Queensland Tourism Minister Actress Megan Fox has shot for a raunchy home video
Peter Lawlor said he believed for the latest movie edition of Esquire magazine.
Southall, who described Shot by photographer Greg Williams with a hi-tech
himself as the “adventurous, RedONE camera, which boasts “four times the
crazy energetic one” in his resolution of hi-def images”, the Transformers star has
application, would build up a shot for ten minutes of a loosely scripted footage that
loyal online following after include getting out of bed, rolling around on a pool
taking up the position on chair and lighting a barbecue, reports the Daily Mail
July 1. online.
AFP IANS

First US face transplant recipient revealed

W
hen her husband shot
her five years ago, Con-
nie Culp was left without
a nose, a palate or lower
eyelids, but on Tuesday she re-
vealed her new face.
Culp’s was the world’s first
near-total facial transplant and
the fourth known facial trans-
plant to have been successfully
performed to date.
The 46-year-old mother of two
underwent a procedure last De-
cember that lasted 22 hours at
the Cleveland Clinic in the state
of Ohio.
Surgeons transplanted about
80 percent of Culp’s face using
facial tissue from a dead woman
that was placed like a mask atop
her own. Almost her entire face
was replaced, except for the fore-
head, upper eyelids, lower lip
and chin.
“We think this ... procedure has
changed her life dramatically,”
Maria Siemionow, the clinic’s di-
rector of plastic surgery research,
told a news conference.
Culp’s identity and the inci-
dent that had disfigured were
kept under wraps until today.
“Well, I guess I’m the one you
came to see today,” Culp said af-
ter being helped up to the
podium.
But, she added, “I think it’s
more important that you focus
on the donor family that made it
so I could have this person’s
face.”
When Risal Djohan, a plastic
surgeon at the clinic, first looked
at Culp’s injuries two months af-
ter she was shot, “he told me he
didn’t think, he wasn’t sure, if he
could fix me, but he’d try,” the
patient recalled.
“Here I am, five years later. He
did what he said - I got me my
nose,” she said with a laugh.
“We have transplanted for the
first time in the world the largest
scheme of the face, which was
combined with the bones, with
the entire nose and functional
units, including lower eyelids,
upper lip and including also her These photos obtained from the Cleveland Clinic shows Connie
palate,” Siemionow said. ■ Culp after an injury to her face (L) and as she appears today.
AFP AFP PHOTO / CLEVELAND CLINIC/ GETTY OUT
 Thursday, May 7, 2009
05

On a different wicket
A bunch of
sporting heroes
hope to replicate
their on-field
success in the
election
battlefield
AYON SENGUPTA
ayon@goergo.in

S
ports and politics seem to
make a deadly decoction in
Election 2009. Wary of pop-
ular support, political par-
ties across all spectrums look to
have opted for the charisma and
popularity of sporting heroes to
get their job done. While cricket-
ers rule the roost here too, others
are not lagging far behind.
The most high profile of all is
former skipper Mohammad Az-
haruddin who is the Congress
nominee for Moradabad constit-
uency in Uttar Pradesh. Calling
his poll plunge his “second in-
nings”, Azhar says: “The grass is
always green on the cricket field,
but in politics you also need to
travel in barren lands. My con-
“A government stituency lags behind in basic fa-
without cilities like education and health
and I will give my 100 per cent
Congress and for the development of this re-
BJP will emerge, gion.”
as a wave in Although the Congress failed
to make any inroads in the re-
support of the gion over the past two decades,
Third Front is Azhar is ever optimistic. “It’s
heartening to see people cheer-
sweeping ing for me even 10 years after my
through the retirement. Their belief and sup-
nation” port is my strength,” he says.
Manik Sarkar, “No match is lost till the last
Tripura CM ball.”
The captain’s former team-
mate Navjot Singh Sidhu, who
won on a BJP ticket in 2004 and
also during a re-election in 2006 “It’s my turn to prove my mettle. Himachal Pradesh. “A person gress ticket.

7
from Amritsar, stands favourite
in the Sikh-dominated constitu-
ency. “A sportsman is a man of
character. It is often said that
sports help build character,”
says Sidhu. “A clean image al-
ways attracts the voter.”
World Cup hat-trick man Che-
tan Sharma will also test his po-
litical skills with the Bahujan
Samaj Party (BSP) and one
hopes he is better at it than his
death-over bowling. Sharma fa-
mously conceded a six to Pakis-
tani Javed Miandad in the last
ball to lose a game in Sharjah.
Faridabad is like a second home
to me as I run a business here,”
he says. “I am awake to the prob-
lems of the region and am ded-
icated to the cause of my
electorate.”
Other cricketers in the fray in-
clude Kirti Azad (BJP) from
Darbhanga in Bihar, Madan Lal
(Congress) from Hamirpur in
Himachal Pradesh and Chetan
Chauhan (BJP) from East Delhi.
Former Commonwealth gold
medallist Jaspal Rana, too, is
ready to make a mark as Mem-
ber of Parliament from Tehri in
who plays sports can definitely
make a mark in the game of poli-
tics. I have proven it through
games, and now I am going to
prove it here,” the BJP candidate
says.
Congressman Navin Jindal,
MP from Kurukshetra, and Rao
Inderjit Singh from Gurgaon are
also national-level shooters and
are in contention to make it to
the Indian side for the Common-
wealth Games in Delhi in 2010
along with Raninder Singh, who
is contesting from Bathinda con-
stituency in Punjab on a Con-
The Communist Party of India
(Marxist) is not lagging behind
and has nominated former Asian
Games double gold medallist
Jyotirmoyee Sikdar from the
Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constit-
uency. “Politics is a lot different
from sports. As an athlete, I had
to focus on my individual perfor-
mance. I only had to coordinate
with my coach and other people
helping me out with my training
and then do my best in the
events. As a politician, you have
to take everybody along,” the sit-
ting MP says. ■
06 SPORT ERGO Thursday, May 7, 2009

The next Robinho

18-year-old Wellington Tindurim has signed a contract that will keep him at Santos until December 31, 2010. Pele has
great confidence in the young player and has nicknamed Tindurim as “the next Robinho”.
Initially, the player will be used in the team’s base of reserve players. This will allow Tindurim to gain experience with
the rest of the veterans as well as prepare himself to be called upon to play in the team’s starting roster.

Safina blasts organisers

World number one Dinara Safina blasted
organisers for making her play
on a treacherous court after she
reached the third round of the
WTA Rome International in
Electrifying start
Shock of the new for Formula One
Rome. The Russian was initially
made to work hard before
coming through 7-6 (7-1), 6-1
against France’s Virginie Razzano
on Tuesday. Double reigning
champion Jelena Jankovic was
pushed to the brink by
Argentine Gisela Dulko before going
through 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) after her match had
been delayed for three and a half hours by
a torrential downpour.
But Safina, whose match started after the
rain, complained that the weather had made
the courts too soft and dangerous as it was
difficult to slide. “I was just so angry
because you can get injured,” said Safina,
who fell over twice during her match. “I
mean, it’s not funny. They tell us go and
play because they think the court is fine but
they are not playing on that court. Thank
God I didn’t break anything but if I broke
something, I mean, so many players get
injured. Then what should I say to the
tournament? I (should) say thanks for
pushing us to play? I mean, they would say:
‘oh, we are sorry.’ But it’s my career, it’s
three months off court (if you’re injured). So
they have to have a little bit of respect for
us as players.”
AFP

No triumphant return
The Philippine health secretary has urged
Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao to

F
postpone his triumphant return home to ormula One’s governing
help prevent the spread of swine flu from body hoped radical new
the United States. Health Secretary Francisco rules would shake up the
Duque III told reporters that the World sport this year and, more
Health Organization made the “strong emphatically than anyone could
recommendation” for Pacquiao — who beat imagine, it has got what it wished
England’s Ricky Hatton with a second-round for. The season-ending 2008 Bra-
knockout on the weekend — and his zilian Grand Prix, with the two
entourage to remain in Los Angeles and Ferrari drivers standing on the
observe self-quarantine until next week podium and McLaren’s Lewis
because the virus was found to have spread Hamilton crowned world cham-
to the California City. pion, looks like something from
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, the another era.
most senior member of President Gloria A quarter of the way through
Macapagal Arroyo’s cabinet, said he spoke the new season, Formula One has
on Wednesday with Pacquiao, who has not been turned upside down. Those
yet decided whether to postpone his return who were first are, if not exactly
or to fly back on Friday as last, now struggling while last
planned and then go into self- year’s no-hopers have been
quarantine. Ermita said the transformed into pace-setters,
“national day of celebration” for race winners and championship
Pacquiao, originally set for contenders. It has been six
Friday, will be postponed to months since Ferrari’s Brazilian
Monday, depending on Felipe Massa, winner at his home
Pacquiao’s decision. Duque said Interlagos circuit last November,
there are concerns that scored a point.
Pacquiao’s motorcade — which Britain’s Jenson Button heads
will drive through Manila in honor of his for Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix
victory — could pose a risk of spreading the with three wins from four races
virus if he or anyone in his group is and a 12-point lead over his
infected. The Philippines has no confirmed Brawn GP team mate Rubens
cases of swine flu, while some patients Barrichello. Last year, both driv-
remain under observation. ers turned up in Barcelona with-
PTI out a point to their names for the
now-departed Honda team.
Button and Barrichello, two
drivers whose careers looked to
be behind them only a few
months ago, scored more points
in this year’s Australian opener
than champions Ferrari and
McLaren have so far managed
between them.
In Brazil last year, Massa
banked more points in a single
race than Button collected from
all his starts in 2007 and 2008.
Neither Ferrari nor McLaren have
appeared on the podium or the
front row of the starting grid since
then.
Depressing reading
Barcelona may see another
shift, with teams bringing out
their first big upgrades of the sea-
son, but the current standings
make depressing reading for the
leaders of old. Of last year’s four
top drivers, Massa and BMW-
Sauber’s Robert Kubica still have
no points, Ferrari’s 2007 cham-
pion Kimi Raikkonen has only
three and Hamilton has yet to en-
ter double figures.
Button has 31, Barrichello 19
and Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel
18. Perennial under-performers
Toyota are another measure of
the changed landscape, dis-
mayed to emerge with “only” a
third place for Jarno Trulli in Bah-
rain after locking out the front
row. The Japanese team have al-
ready had as many podiums this
year as they had managed in the
past three seasons.
Lot to catch up
Ferrari president Luca di Mon-
tezemolo has no doubt as to why
his team, winners of eight of the
past 10 constructors’ titles, are in
such an unexpected mess. It has
nothing to do with the changes at
Maranello since the departures of
seven-times champion Michael
Schumacher, former principal
Jean Todt and ex-technical direc-
tor Ross Brawn, now owner of
Button’s team. For Montezemo-
lo, it amounts to a triple wham-
my: the radically revised 2009
regulations, the fact that Ferrari
and McLaren were fighting for
both titles down to the wire last
season while others had long giv-
en up and begun planning for
2009, and a dash of complacency.
McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh
would certainly agree with the
first two reasons, if not the last, in
relation to his own team’s diffi-
cult start. “I want to understand
why we are bad, why we are in the
middle of a black tunnel,” Monte-
zemolo said. ■
Reuters
 Thursday, May 7, 2009
07

‘‘
Probably we were 20 runs short in our innings. We needed to win each and
every game but it seems it is getting more a more difficult. "For most part of
match our fielding was not good. We can’t win matches if we dropped catches like
that.
Kolkata Knight Riders captain Brendon McCullum

H
olders Manchester United
sauntered into the final of
the Champions League with a
convincing 3-1 victory at Ar-
senal on Tuesday to seal a 4-1 ag-
gregate triumph. Cristiano Ronaldo
scored twice and Ji-Sung Park got
the other goal as United dominated
Arsenal to set up a final against ei-
ther Chelsea or Barcelona.
The only disappointment for Unit-
ed was the sending-off of Darren
Fletcher on 75 minutes which means
the midfielder will miss the final.
Fletcher was sent off for the chal-
lenge – Robin van Persie converted
the penalty – and though television
replays showed Fletcher had in fact
got the ball, the rules do not allow
an appeal. “It’s terribly unlucky,”
Manchester United manager Sir
Alex Ferguson said. “You can see
the ball moved in a different direc-
tion from Cesc Fabregas. I think the
referee (Roberto Rosetti) is one of
the best in Europe and he had a
view, but there is nothing we can
do. In all the big games over the
past few years, Darren’s been a big
player for us.”
Early goals
Arsenal had spoken in the build-
up about taking the game to United
and they did begin brightly but the
tie was over as a contest inside 11
minutes and it was two mistakes
from the Gunners that cost them
any chance. In front of a watching
David Beckham, who won the
Champions League with United in
1999, United took the lead on eight
minutes when Kieran Gibbs slipped
in the penalty box and allowed Ro-
naldo’s pull-back to find Park, who
dinked the ball over Manuel Almu-
nia in the Arsenal goal.
Three minutes later, Almunia was
the guilty party as he allowed a fier-
cely struck free kick from Ronaldo
to beat him at his near post to make
it 2-0. Wayne Rooney forced a good
save from Almunia, but the rest of
the first half was relatively unevent-
ful as Arsenal could not overcome
their early mistakes.
Last laugh
On the 61st minute, the match
was well and truly over. Ronaldo
set United on the counter-attack
with a neat flick, Park fed Rooney,
who found Ronaldo bursting into
the area and the Portugal forward
lashed the ball into the roof of the
net to make it 3-0. That was the
signal for many Arsenal fans to
head home, but they missed Fletch-
er’s controversial dismissal as he
hooked a foot around Cesc Fabregas
to toe the ball away, but referee
Rosetti ruled it was a penalty and
showed Fletcher the red card. Ro-
naldo said he was playing his best
football at the right time of the sea-
son.
“This period is crucial,” Ronaldo
said. “The last few games I have felt
very good, very fit. I try to play my
best every game, but sometimes it’s
not possible.”
The victory means United are now
one win away from becoming the
first team to successfully defend the
title since AC Milan followed up
their 1989 triumph with victory in
1990. ■
DPA

Manchester United’s midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo (right) tussles

with Arsenal’s Swiss defender Johan Djourou (left) during their
UEFA Champions League semi final second leg match against
Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. PHOTO: AFP

Ronaldo
steals the
show

Manchester United cruise into final again

08 ROADSTER
Crank up your
G
one are the days of the
distributors having to go
through the arduous task
of timing the spark of the
ignition to get the exact curve
on the RPM band.
The technology has scaled up
and given us ECU that controls
everything on an engine and al-
so enhances the performance
with ease. So instead of mecha-
nically tuning the engine, we
now do it electronically.
We are talking ECU (Engine
Control Unit) here. It’s the com-
puter processor, a chip that
controls the ignition timing, tur-
bo system, air and fuel mixture
and many other core functions
of the engine. The ECU is pri-
marily driven by a computer
software embedded within the
chip which has values tied to
each components of the engine.
These values are called MAPS
and on modifying these values
the behaviour and performance
of the engine varies.
The ECU on cars when they
roll out from the factory are cars
tuned to perform and burn fuel
for ultimate fuel efficiency and
not compromise on perfor-
mance for road use. The MAP
on the ECU is exclusively pre-
calibrated for engines with the
specific configuration or power
and strictly complies with street
legal specifications.
Alright now let us get to the
interesting part – how do we
bypass the stock ECU and
squeeze the raw and real power
out of the engine. Re-maping or
ERGO Thursday, May 7, 2009
replacing an ECU requires an
expert who understands the
chip technology and software to
tune and calibrate the electron-
ics. The chip is re-programmed
using an emulator that simu-
lates a real engine which helps
the programmer to rewrite the
MAP values to achieve more
power from the engine. This can
also be done by plugging a lap-
top the ECU on an engine and
tune the car directly using the
software.
A car with a Turbo system can
really give you results by remap-
ping the ECU, but most of us at
least here in India do not own a
Turbo charged car. No. It does
not stop there the ECU upgrade
can still make a difference on a
non-turbo car but only after
modifying the compression ra-
tio, upgrade the air intake, ex-
haust system, performance spec
cams, pistons and large valves.
After these upgrades are done
then get your custom ECU in to
get the full juice and taste of
super power from your engine.
We have cars in India integrated
with re-maped ECUs for Indian
Diesel and Petrol cars. Taste the
meat already? ■
Thursday, May 7, 2009
09
Audi’s standard-sized sedan
Audi is launching its most efficient standard-sized sedan, the A4 2.0 TDI e, with a fuel consumption of
4.6 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres and emitting only 119 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre in
May. Audi describes the consumption figures as “the best value of any vehicle in its class”.
Performance is listed at 100 kW/136 hp with a top speed of 215 km/h and acceleration from zero to
100 km/h in 9.5 seconds.

drive
Karmann to build electric car
The German energy concern EWE has unveiled the model of an E3 electric car that it
plans to build with the niche car manufacturer Karmann. The vehicle will be equipped
with a lithium-ion battery unit giving it a range of 150 kilometres.
The E3 four-door sedan stands out with a futuristic design. In contrast to other e-
vehicles, which have batteries in the boot, the lithium-ions are positioned in the floor,
providing more interior space.
The top speed is listed at 140 km/h. Although the Karmann firm has officially filed for
bankruptcy, the prototype is scheduled for testing in October. The strategic
partnership between EWE and Karmann ncludes the manufacture of between four
and six research vehicles in the period 2009-2012.
DPA

With a little help from

an expert, you can
seriously enhance your VW brings out special edition Eos
Volkswagen is bringing out a special “Edition 2010” of the Eos with a package including a
car’s performance by chromed grille, LED taillights in ‘cherry red’ and numerous interior features such as leather
seats, the manufacturer has announced.
re-maping its Engine Other features include heated front seats to provide more comfort on cooler days, the
“Climatronic” air conditioning system and a radio-navigation system with a touch-sensitive

Control Unit screen.

A parking assistant sounds an acoustic signal when driver nears an obstacle. A parking
distance display depicts the surroundings of the vehicle on the navigation monitor.
Customers can choose between four petrol-engined vehicles in the range 90 KW/122 hp to
191 KW/260 hp and a diesel version with a 103 KW/140 hp fitted with a particulate filter. In
Germany the entry model sales price starts at 30,550 euros (40,414 dollars).
DPA
10 FLICK ERGO Thursday, May 7, 2009

Docs insist Jacko to gain weight

Doctors have warned pop star Michael Jackson that he needs to gain weight ahead
of his 50 live shows starting July 8. Jackson, 50, who is undergoing antibiotic
treatment for a skin infection, still suffers pain from an old back injury and wears a
mask to avoid picking up bugs, reported thesun.co.uk.

Jessica
Biel is
new
face of
Revlon

J essica Biel has been named Global Brand Ambassador

for cosmetic giant Revlon.
The Illusionist actress, who is presently dating singer
Justin Timberlake, will feature in the new international
advertising campaigns in 2010.
GETTY IMAGES The former model recently ran in Revlon’s annual 5k
Run/Walk for Women, a charity race in New York
organised to raise funds for cancer research, treatment
and counselling, reports Contactmusic.
Previous faces for the brand have included names like
Halle Berry, Jessica Alba and Jennifer Connelly. ■
ANI

Britney to splash £15k

Case of the on oxygen chamber

B ritney Spears is getting her life back together,
and she’s leaving no stone unturned to make
sure her voice remains as it used to be.
While she has been lip-synching to virtually all her
songs on her Circus world tour,

elusive ring
the ‘Womanizer’ star is
planning to dish out
a whopping
15,000 pounds
on an oxygen
chamber.
“Since her
Vancouver gig,
You don’t commit and I’ll date others, Vanessa where she ran off
stage as it was too
Hudgens tells ‘High School Musical’ co-star Zac Efron smoky, she’s become
paranoid about breathing
in too much bad air,” The

H
igh School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens is believed to have told her boyfriend and Sun quoted a source as
co-star Zac Efron that she wants to date other men. saying.
Hudgens (20), who met her 21-year-old beau while on the show, was reportedly livid The source added:
after she learnt that Efron did not want to get married until he turned 40, reports the “She’s keen on an
China Daily. oxygen chamber that
Now, in order to make him jealous, the actress has decided to see other people. will reverse any smoke
“When Vanessa heard about Zac’s plan to stay single for the next couple of decades she was inhalation damage.”
shocked and shattered. She’d secretly hoped for an engagement ring within the next year or However, the 27-year-old
two!” a source told National Enquirer magazine. singer is not the only
Hudgens had decided on the freedom to date other guys after she had a talk with her friends. celeb to indulge in the
“Zac’s totally upset – he doesn’t want Vanessa dating anyone else. Even though he’s not expensive device – the likes
ready to commit himself to settling down at this stage of his young life, the thought of Vanessa of Madonna, Mick Jagger
in another man’s arms drives him crazy,” the source added. ■ and Michael Jackson also
ANI own such chambers. ■
ANI
 Thursday, May 7, 2009
11
Neha Dhupia is crazy about cricket
Beauty queen-turned-actress Neha Dhupia says she is a die-hard cricket fan and
doesn’t miss even one match of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) these days.
“When the matches are on, I am simply glued to the TV screen and in between if I
get any call, I avoid them saying that I am busy in a meeting,” she says.

Undercover Cine City

‘Accident’
any announcement in the wake
of the ongoing economic reces-
sion.
“At a time when no new films
are being announced and big
films are suffering for finances,
we don’t think it’s right to start a
film with any fanfare. Better to do
it quietly. We complete Accident
in 23 days,” Nandy said.
However, there’s a deeper rea-
son for Accident being shot in se-
crecy.
Apparently, the plot is a thriller
where the intricate twists and
turns could be revealed by
SUBHASH K. JHA Asked about the project, Pritish anyone who overhears a dialogue
Nandy said: “How did you hear or captures a shot on a mobile

A
ctors Soha Ali Khan and
Shiney Ahuja are back to-
gether as a pair on screen
after Khoya Khoya Chand,
but their new film is being shot
secretly and as quickly as possi-
ble in Goa.
Though it is being produced by
Pritish Nandy Communications
(PNC), the production house
didn’t make any announcement
about the film that is tentatively
titled Accident.
about it? Yes, we’re doing a start-
to-finish quickie with Soha and
Shiney in Goa. It’s tentatively ti-
tled Accident.”
The movie is being directed by
ad filmmaker Abhijeet Chaudhu-
ri, who had earlier made a Benga-
li film called Patalghar that won
him a National Award. Chaudhu-
ri has made ads for brands like
Bata, Coca-Cola and Castrol.
Nandy said Chaudhuri was
shooting the film quietly without
phone camera.
And the producers wanted to
avoid giving the plot away. In
fact, the entire cast and crew have
been sworn into secrecy and told
not to talk about the film at all.
Soha and Shiney were first
brought together by Sudhir Mis-
hra for his Khoya Khoya Chand in
2007. The film got critical acclaim Pasupathy in Vairam
but failed to make an impact at Actor Pasupathy, who made his debut in
the box office. ■ Malayalam film industry with Mammootty starrer
IANS Big B, is all set to do his second film there. The film
titled Vairam will feature Pasupathy in the role of a
bank employee whose girl child falls to trap. The
movie, based on a true story, is directed by M.A.

Manoj Bajpai in ‘Jail’ Nishaad and has actors Suresh Gopi, Jayasuriya and
Mukesh in the cast.

A ctor Manoj Bajpai says he gave the nod to

filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar for Jail be-
cause he wanted to share the director’s suc-
cess.
“I know Madhur Bhandarkar since 14 years
now. We struggled together and I now feel
very happy for his success on a personal level.
When Madhur offered me this role, I said yes
without much thinking as I wanted to be part
of his success,” Manoj posted on his www.ma-
nojbajpayee-en.itzmyblog.com.
Now the actor, who has featured in films
like Satya, Shool and Zubeida, says he has left
everything regarding the shooting of Jail on
Bhandarkar.
“I know that he will honestly justify my role.
It has been a fairly good experience as of now
and I pray to god for the same ahead too.
Sibi plays baddie in
Though I won’t be able to talk much about the
film, my character is an introvert sort and it
Kallakadhalan
gives a totally different sensitivity being able Here is another film that boasts of a storyline from
to express such difficult emotions of this char- Ramayanam. Titled Kallakadhalan, the movie has
acter,” he added. actor Sibiraj playing a baddie. Vishal Hegde from
Starring Neil Nitin Mukesh in the lead, Jail the Koothu pattarai plays the lead, while Priyanka
traces the life of a middle-class family boy Sha, the winner of Channel V’s ’Get Gorgeous’,
working in the corporate sector and how after plays the female lead. Directed by Ramya,
one sudden incident he goes to jail. ■ Kallakadhalan will hit the floors in the first week
IANS
of July.
12 ERGO Thursday, May 7, 2009

Wednesday’s
Question: Neeta
Maheshwari
Do you think CSK is from TCS has
nominated her
fielding the best 11 team as Partners
in Crime. This
it could? If you were pic was clicked
at Rain Forest.
a super selector,
what advice would
you give Dhoni?
Dhoni should pick the best all-
rounders & big hitters who can
hit over the boundary rope for six
Prem, Technosoft

To cheer up guys when things are

going wrong
Lexsminarayanan, TCS-eserve

Dhoni’s guys should get practice

in gully cricket before the match Prayaga
Mani, Ford Purushotham
from Mphasis
I will chide him for not having has nominated
fielded Jakati and Tyagi all the her friends as
while. I will also ask him to try Partners in
out Bailley or Thushara in place Crim,e. This pic
of Oram was clicked at
Ahalya, TCS Karur.

Chennai has the right playing XI.

Hard hitter Albie Morkel should
play ahead of Dhoni to score
more runs
CP.Rajesh, Allsec

At present, inclusion of Ntini

would be best choice. He is a
dynamic speedster and very well
knows the pitch conditions. His
presence in d 11 would add
strength in pace attack
Don, Allsec
Sethu from
Ask Dhoni to bat at No.10 or Wipro has
No.11 nominated his
Kannan.S, TCS friends as
Partners in
Dhoni should give more Crime. This pic
protection near cheer leaders was clicked at
area Tiruchandur.
Rajadurai, CSS

Today’s Query:
Come up with an
election campaign
slogan for J.K
Riteesh
 Thursday, May 7, 2009
13

Future.
Dilip Shaw from
May 6 Best Wishes,
Dear Suja, DCMS –Team
HP has nominated
I have a simple calculation on Financial Software Systems
Mamta Jaiswal of
how long we will be friends.
Wipro Technolo-
count the stars in Hi Yuvaraj
gies as Office An-
heaven+sand on shore Congratulations for your
gel.
multipled by the heartbeats = Engagement
She is very
forever! Wishing u many May the light of loves embers
polite,humble and
many more happy returns of Fill your heart’s like the star
not a workoholic
the day..... May your Love
and brings a special
With love and wishes, Glisten like a candle
confidence in the
venkatesh HCL As it burns throughout the
team by her to do
night
nature and
Hi Karthik, May your Hearts always
motivation.
Wishing you a many more Be open for the essence of
happy returns of the day. your love
May this special day be filled Thanks and Regards
with sweet memories and Navic Team,
happy hours. Hope our little CSS Corp.
birthday wishes will make
you smile... Have a great year Hi Aquib Azeem(Polaris
ahead. Tiger),
Best Wishes from. Zindagi Ek Raat Hai, Jisme Na
RM , DM Teams and special Jaane Kitna Khwab Hai, Jo
wishes from (Madhavi and Sree). Mil Gaya Wo Apna Hai, Jo
Dur Gaya Wo Ek Sapna Hai &
Sabko Pyar Dene Ki Aadat
May 7 Hai Tumhe, Apni Alag
Pehchan Banane Ki Aadat Hai
Lasly
Hi Kadhir, Tumhe, Kitna Bhi Gehra
Fernandaz of
May good times and Zakham De Koi, Utna Hi
Wipro
great memories Muskurane ki Aadat Hai
Technologies
be the special gifts Tumhe & Fursat Kise Hai
doodled this.
that fill your Zakhmo Pe Murham Lagane
Birthday with Ki, Nigahe Badal Gayi Apne
happiness. Aur Begane ki, Tum na
By, Chodna Dosti ka haath kabhi,
Eshwar Warna Tamanna Na Rahegi
Naye Dosti Banane Ki &
Dear ANNAN ABJ (John) Kabhi Na Aaye Mere Sath
"Many more happy returns Chalke, Hamesha Gaye Muje
of the day" Naraz Karke, Meri Maut Pe
May your wishes and dreams Agar Woh Aaye To Keh Dena
of getting beautiful girl Abhi Soye Hain Tumhe Yaad
friends come true Karke & Ek Haseen Pal Ki
Let smile always flash on Zarurath Hai Hame, Beete
your faces and money full fill Hue Kal Ki Zarurat Hai Hame,
your needs Saara Zamana Ruth Gaya
Have a Bright and Flourishing hamse, Jo Kabhi Na Ruthe
Future., Aise Dost Ki Zaarurat Hai
Really happy to have you Hame.
with association. Ever Loving Friends,
Annan neer Vazhka pallandu Ismail(Smiley - CSS),Azeez(Smarty
!!! - Cognizant),Gani Basha(Anjathe
Valtha vayathilai Naren - Kumaran Systems),Sadiq
Vanangukirom !!! (Pudhu Mappilae),Zaid(Dubai -
With Lots of Love Ottagam).
Guess who is the partners in the
Alexander: Ennoda dictionaryla mudiyathu entra vaar- crime. Dear Soumya,
thaye illai. Sardar: Ippo solli enna pandrathu vaan- Many Many Happy Returns of
gumpothe parthu vanganum. Hi John, the Day. Wishing a very
Police: R u married ? Many more Happy Returns of happy and prosperous year
Sardar: S, to a woman. the day. ahead. :)
Police(angrily): Did u ever hear of anyone marrying a May god give all success in With Love..
man? Sardar: Yes, my sister!!!!!!!!!!!!! your life. Amal, Vivek and Navaneeth
Christina, STG Have a Bright and Flourishing Wipro Technologies, WaMu
14 TRAFFIC JAM ERGO Thursday, May 7, 2009

Tattooed body
A retired history teacher is donating his
tattooed body to an art gallery.

sudoku

Sasikumar K from
Cognizant
Technology
Solutions shot this
picture in Salem
using SonyEricsson
K810i mobile
camera.
Hobbies:
Photography,
Computer and
mobile games.
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 7, 2009
Twins marry twins
Two identical twin brothers
have married two identical
twin sisters in a joint
wedding ceremony in China.
15
Word’s worth
Macrosmatic (mack-rahz-mat-ik) an adjective meaning ‘having well-developed
olfactory organs.’ Also used figuratively, as in this citation from the OED (where the subject
is George Orwell): “(he is) a macrosmatic writer tracking down the stench of hypocrisy or
the gangrene of intellectual treachery.” From macro- plus a Greek word meaning ‘smell’.

B.C

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

You will start the day determined to fulfil all your
tasks. But as the day progresses, confusion may fog
your judgement and thought process. Rein in your
impulses! An exchange of heart-felt greetings via
e-mail or SMS is going to rev up your love life.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20

Your confidence will be your trump card today.
However, it may peter out as the evening
approaches. Read some inspiring books to gain
clarity of thought. You may try to woo your beloved
using sweet words, which will work in your favour.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20

It’s only after noon that you may feel you are on
BORN LOSER the right track. Today, you will be in the best frame
of mind to write complex codes. In the evening, a
steamy rendezvous with your soul mate will
rejuvenate your senses, foresees Ganesha.
CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20
It is a day to coordinate with peers and colleagues.
Your straightforward attitude will be very prominent
during meetings, predicts Ganesha. You will have a
mushy evening when you meet your beloved after a
hard day’s work.
LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20
You may start the day by attending to some crucial
tasks related to your job. Some important meetings
may be called for, wherein you may discuss and
reshuffle deadline of some projects, Ganesha says.

VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20

A great day ahead, says Ganesha. With the
FREE RANGE WORKING IT OUT importance you will gain at your work place, you
will surely enjoy your time in office. This good mood
will spill into your personal life and you may want
to take your beloved out for a candlelight dinner.
LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20
Worries about your work will fade away as the day
proceeds. Today’s the right time to communicate
with colleagues or associates who are staying
abroad. Ganesha promises you a wonderful evening
with your soul mate.
SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20
You may not be able to concentrate so well when
the day begins. Hence, Ganesha advises you to
finish off routine tasks that don’t demand too much
brain work. Physical intimacy with your partner will
certainly call for a steamy interlude, says Ganesha.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20
You will wake up today, thinking about the most
important matters that need your immediate
attention. As the day advances, you will complete
pending tasks. Giving romantic gifts is a perfect way
to express your love today.
CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20
It’s the right day to learn new things about your
personal and professional life. Your amazing creative
energy will be just about perfect for today’s tasks.
In the evening, your beloved may gift you
something that’s valuable and useful.
AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20
PREVIOUS You may not take any breaks today, at least not till
you finish all that pending work. You may feel
ISSUE’S apprehensive about fulfilling your primary
responsibilities. The way in which you’ll express your
SOLUTIONS love to your beloved will impress him/her.
PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20
The day finds you swinging into action to complete
your tasks as soon as possible. But slow down a bit
or else you may end up committing errors. A gift is
an emotive way to express your love to your
darling. So, what are you waiting for?
Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni
16 ! ERGO Thursday, May 7, 2009

Actresses Kate Hudson (R), Liv Tyler (L) and designer Stelle
McCartney (R) attend Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential
People gala at Jazz at the Lincoln Center in New York,
May 5, 2009. AFP PHOTO/EMMANUEL DUNAND

Actress Charlize Theron (R) poses with Will Smith and his
family as they arrive for the Simon Wiesenthal Center 2009
National Tribute Dinner honoring Smith and Theron in
Beverly Hills, California, on April 5, 2009.
AFP PHOTO/JEWEL SAMAD