A BYTE OF LIFE Tuesday, February 10, 2009

05 11
BACKPACKERS REPEAT PERFORMANCE
Battleground at Palamedu Slumdog Millionaire sweeps awards,
this time BAFTA

FREE CIRCULATION Vol. 3 No. xx

JANE OF THE JUNGLE

Ayon Sengupta in conversation with primatologist and author Jane Goo-
dall, who was in the city over the weekend, her friendly primate toy in tow.
» PAGE 03
PHOTO: R. RAVINDRAN
02 NAMMA CHENNAI ERGO Tuesday, February 10, 2009

For the valentine

Kirtilals is celebrating Valentine’s Day till February
14. Diamond jewellery sets, solitaire rings… there
are many more to choose from. Drop in at Kirtilals
Showroom, 38, C.P. Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet.

A memorable celebration youngsters with a penchant for

Transfer trouble
W e, the Mphasis CSR team, decided to
celebrate Republic Day with the
Panchayat Union School students at
A senior IPS officer who was re-
cently transferred from Chennai
easy money and posh living are
taking to snatching. The advent
of first-time offenders in this
Neelangarai. Our relationship with the is an angry man these days as he crime is leaving investigators
school started when our team volunteered received three transfers (one was baffled.
to take up computer, spoken English and a punishment transfer) in the last
moral science classes to the students of Money received, three months. The cop apparent-
Cine star’s revenge
classes VI to VIII. ly lashed out at his juniors, in-
The chief guest of the day was Mrs. Devaki but by whom? cluding his driver who drove him Police recently arrested two
from Aseema Trust, who is spreading A hefty sum for investigation to the railway station before he foreign nationals possessing co-
Gandhian principles to the modern world. expenses is being allotted an- headed to his next posting. caine following a tip-off by a well-
She gave a speech on patriotism, Gandhian nually by the state government to known Tamil actress. Reliable
principles and explained in length about
the spinning wheel.
junior cops in the city. But the
juniors complain that the money
First-time police sources reveal that the ac-
tor was in fact an acquaintance of
As part of the celebrations, we conducted
various contests like essay writing,
is never distributed by the top
brass. Reliable sources reveal that
snatchers the apprehended duo as they
were the suppliers of contraband
elocutions, poetry, quiz, drawing, and a ‘money received’ voucher is for- The escalating numbers of for the star. Later, when her rela-
games like running race, frog race and cibly taken from the juniors by chain-snatching incidents in city tionship with the two soured, she
skipping race for the students of classes I to some corrupt seniors for a sum limits have turned into a big hea- decided to land them in the po-
VIII. The students drew the portraits of which wasn’t distributed. dache for the cops. The reason – lice net.
great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi,
Jawaharlal Nehru and B.R. Ambedkar. A
drawing of Jallianwala Bagh massacre really
touched everyone’s
heart. The kids were
happy to receive the
prizes. Cats sleep anywhere ...
The students thanked
all Mphasis volunteers
for handling interactive
classes making it more
enjoyable with games
and other activities.
We thoroughly enjoyed
the day and were
willing to spend more
time with the students.
Of course, each of us
will realise spending
time with innocent kids always makes life
memorable and meaningful.
CSR Education Team, Mphasis an EDS Company

쒀
... any table, any chair. With summer setting in on the city, this empty
flower pot seems to be an oasis for this cat. PHOTO: N. SRIDHARAN
 Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Jane of the Jungle
In conversation with the enigmatic Dr.Jane Goodall,
who was in Namma Chennai over the weekend
Dr Goodall’s favourite stuffed monkey
Mr. H is heading to the hospital.
Travelling with her for the past 15
years to more than 60 countries, Mr. H
is suffering from a partly severed head
and will be heading off for surgery
once Dr. Goodall reaches England.
Couple of years back Mr. H had a
“nose-job” done after an over-zealous
puppy bit it off somewhere in Africa.
The last of Dr. Goodall’s earliest
subjects, Fiffy (daughter of the great
matriarch Flo) and alpha male Goblin
died three years ago. But Fiffy’s
children and grandchildren roam freely
in Gombe and Dr. Goodall shares a
special rapport with them.
PHOTO : R. RAVINDRAN
03
C
hasing hens as a four-year-old at her fa-
ther’s family farm in the English country-
side to following chimpanzees and other
apes in African jungles and now globe-
trotting 300 days a year, Jane Goodall has al-
ways been on the move.
At the ripe age of 75, she is still travelling and
sees no chance of slowing down in the near
future. “When in 2002 Kofi Annan (the then
UN Secretary General) asked me to be one of
his Messengers of Peace, I was flabbergasted. I
told him ‘Kofi you possibly don’t expect me to
travel more.’ And he replied: ‘No Jane, I just
want you to continue travelling because I know
I can never ask others to travel to places where
you go.’ And now I feel a compulsion to keep
continuing and I think I will go mad if I stop
suddenly,” she says in an exclusive interview to
Ergo during her recent visit to Namma
Chennai.
From facing initial opposition from the Brit-
ish home government allowing her as a 20-
year-old to travel into the uncharted Tanza-
nian jungles to facing stiff resistance from
conventional primatologists, Dr. Goodall has
seen a lot and has mostly come out on top and
it is safe to say that if there was any Tarzan (her
formative years’ hero) in Africa he would have
been bowled over by this “other Jane”. Recall-
ing her childhood, Dr. Goodall says: “At about
age 10, having discovered Tarzan in the books
and fallen in love with him and been furious
and jealous when he married that other wimpy
Jane – and that’s when the dream began –
when I grow up I shall go to Africa, live with
animals and write books about them.”
Her initial findings showing startling simi-
larities between humans and chimps created a
stir but her persistence and dedication paid off
in the end with all her views gaining gradual
scientific acceptance. Over the years she has
graduated into greater and bigger roles. Multi-
tasking as an author, naturalist, motivational
speaker and teacher over the past two decades,
Dr. Goodall is equally at ease in every sur-
rounding. “Gombe (in Tanzania) is my spiritu-
al home and I still do have my house in
England but I am just a visitor there. I can
never be well-settled in the U. S. But don’t ask
me why,” she explains. “I am comfortable do-
ing everything because I have let my life take
its course. I have never been excited or irritat-
ed. Following the chimpanzees for years with-
out any human contact and with no need for
spoken word has helped me be patient.”
Her youth initiative programme, Roots &
Shoots, is now in over 100 countries, engaged
in social, environmental and wildlife conserva-
tion work. “The young in the world has lot of
ideas. The problem is they are not always get-
ting a chance to bring them out. By bringing
them together we are giving all of us a chance,”
Dr. Goodall feels. “Working in war-torn central
African countries, Latin American rain-forests
and across Asia along with young leaders we
want to break all barriers and surge forward.”
■
04 TECHNORAMA
Technorama
Evil King
COMETH
Why abhor evil when you can play
them on your PC? King Ceville,
the PC game release this month,
allows user to be a little evil.
G
ames bring out all kinds of
traits in a person and this
applies especially to com-
puter and video games.
Sometimes, living virtually
means taking on the role of a
fighter for a good cause, becom-
ing a warrior slaying a dragon to
save a princess and other times it
means conquering the world. On
other occasions, it means shep-
herding a group of virtual people
through their everyday existences
and helping them realize their
dreams.
The opportunity of playing a
baddie does not come often - and
to have fun in the process. But
that is exactly what Ceville hopes
to accomplish when it’s released
in February. Another game,
Grand Ages: Rome, allows people
o take on the role of a city mayor.
Then, there’s the usual mix of ac-
tion and adventure titles.
The name, Ceville, probably
does not yet ring a bell for most
people as it’s a brand-new game
and not simply a sequel to a pop-
ular game series. But plenty of the
content will seem familiar to
anyone who has played a point-
and-click game that involves
searching rooms for clues to the
next step in solving an adventure.
But, unlike other games of the
genre, which focus on fantasy,
adventures or crimes, this one is
about experiencing life from the
perspective of King Ceville. His
brand of evil is not like that found
ERGO Tuesday, February 10, 2009
King Ceville
combines
some wacky
in a horror film. And the game’s
comic book-style art pokes plenty humour and
of fun at the evil king and a host of
other topics. role-play. For
Atmosphere is provided by the
game’s voice artists. The actress,
those who
who dubs Angelina Jolie’s voice in
German-language versions of
think that is
Hollywood movies, provides gaming for
some of them. Additionally, the
German actor, who provides the wimps, there
voice for Bilbo Baggins in the
Lord of the Rings movies, also is F.E.A.R 2
provides the voice for the king,
another sign that the game devel-
releasing this
opers at Boxed Dreams in Munich
have a sense of humour. Publish-
month, need
er Kalypso Media plans to release we say
Ceville on February 19.
Ubisoft is sticking to familiar another feel
territory with its CSI:NY game.
Based on the popular television good rip them
series, CSI:NY requires players to
solve murders in New York. A new
all off first
twist allows players to step into
the shoes of some of the series’
person
best-known characters. The game shooter.
allows you to listen to suspects’
testimonies and hunt for clues.
Additional mini-games allow
players to investigate shooting to set up manufacturing industri- various times and ages. Accord- is using supernatural powers to
angles or crack codes. The inves- es and take care of the workers ing to Kalypso Media, the game vent her anger on the town of Au-
tigations begin on February 12. there. Grand Ages: Rome might should be available starting Feb- burn. A special unit is set up to
Players of Grand Ages: Rome will be a new title, but it borrows ruary 26. But the pace may be too fight her and hordes of gruesome
not be able to build a metropolis heavily from city-building simu- slow for some gamers. They assistants. Producer Warner
like New York, but they will be lators set in the Roman era, like might want more action, which a Brothers promises that the game
able to build some nice settle- the Caesar series. Grand Ages is game like F.E.A.R. 2 - Project Ori- will be packed with action, mostly
ments in ancient Roman style. actually the successor to Imperi- gin is more than willing to pro- in the form of exciting battles.
Your job is to create a town out of um Romanum. The renaming vide. The sequel is a pure F.E.A.R. 2 is expected to hit
nothing. But after picking the site was needed to pave the way for a adventure offshoot from other shelves on February 13. ■
of the city, the virtual mayor has series of Grand Ages games in fantasy games. A girl named Alma DPA
 Tuesday, February 10, 2009
05
Backpackers
Hello Backpackers,
Send us pictures of your team or family
outing with a small write-up on the place,
mentioning why the trip was special, how you
got there or any interesting travel experience
for that matter. Email:snapshot@goergo.in
PHOTOS: SRIDHAR LAKSHMANAN

An encounter with the

bulls of Palamedu
SRIDHAR LAKSHMANAN charging some scampered under from the word salli (meaning
the poll barricade and some coins) and kattu (meaning bun-

The Supreme Court has banned
jallikattu, but alongside the restless
villagers who have to show their
valour through the rural sport, we had
a reader who captured it up-close
J
allikattu has been the event I
have been waiting for. Last
year, when I went armed
with my photo gear to shoot
the Alanganallur Jallikattu, I
hardly managed to capture any-
thing but the rear of more than a
hundred bulls. This year, I was
better prepared to shoot pictures
from a prime spot.
At 11 a.m., I was at Palamedu,
which is some 20 kms from Alan-
ganallur. The crowd had begun to
throng in large numbers to wit-
ness one of the most brutal con-
flicts between man and animal.
Initially, the bulls of Palamedu
were let loose and as tradition
goes these were not to be touched
let alone tamed. Later, the other
bulls were let loose. After some
caustic sarcasm from the com-
mentator to the sissy bull-fight-
ers, the action began. The men
started to hold the bulls by the
hump and run along with it,
some managed to catch it by its
horns. When the bulls came
climbed upon it. The Collector
was virtually pleading with the
tamers not to hold the bull by its
tail or use a lasso as it was a Su-
preme Court guideline, and if
they violated the game would be
suspended.
However, there was an emer-
gency ambulance and medical
officers nearby to help the in-
jured and a team from the Animal
Welfare Board to ensure that the
bulls were treated properly.
Thus goes history
The game was traditionally
meant to promote valour in
young men and as a means for
young women to choose their
husbands. Another story says that
some human sacrifice had to be
offered to the local goddess, and
fearing pestilence. If it was not
done, it was decided that the
most non-controversial way to do
it was to conduct a sport where
life was at stake.
The game derives its name
dle), signifying the bundle of gold
coins that used to be tied to the
bull’s horns, which the winner
could claim. Today, it is almirahs,
cycles, copper vessels, new
clothes and cash that are offered
as prizes.
Two strange events stand out
in my mind. One, where a bull
stood right in the middle of the
arena, surrounded by about 30
men but not allowing even one to
come anywhere near it. Inviting
them by digging the earth with its
horns and hooves. It remained
unconquered till the end and the
owner had to be called to take it
away.
The second was when a bull re-
fused to leave from the entry
point to the arena as it was abso-
lutely petrified. It was forced to
leave, but it only refused. Finally,
the owner had to come with a las-
so and drag it out of the arena. ■
(The writer works with Satyam.
For more photos visit
www.ecologin.ning.com)
06 VILLAGE ERGO Tuesday, February 10, 2009

World’s worst driver

An elderly woman in South Korea has failed her
driving test for the 771st time. But the 68-year-old
has no intention of giving up - despite taking and
failing a test almost every working day since 2005.

Zakir Hussain wins Grammy Alpine ice man was

Indian tabla maestro Zakir Hussain has won the Grammy
award as part of the winning team that created the bludgeoned and then shot
Global Drum project. The Global Drum was nominated The famous
under the Best Contemporary World Music Album Alpine ice man,
category. Hussain shares the honour with Mickey Hart, whose 5,000-year-
Sikiru Adepoju and Giovanni Hidalgo. The Global Drum old mummified
tour brought Hart, Hussain, Adepoju and Hidalgo body was
together in a reunion sparked by the 15th anniversary discovered in a
of the ground-breaking album Planet Drum. Released in melting glacier,
1991 on the Rykodisc label it went on to earn the first- was bludgeoned
ever Grammy Award in the World Music category. and then finished
IANS off with an arrow
by prehistoric
assailants,
according to a
Tamil Canadian watches TV for 72 team of German researchers.
Adding new clues to the Stone Age riddle, the paleo-
hours, sets Guinness record forensic scientists at Ludwig Maximilians University of
Sri Lanka-born, Toronto-based Suresh Joachim, who already Munich say they can now prove that the Oetz Valley
has 53 Guinness records to his credit, set another on Glacier man, dubbed Oetzi, did not die of exposure after
Sunday by watching television non-stop for 72 hours in having suffered a non-lethal blow with a blunt object,
Stockholm. In the process, the 39-year-old of Tamil origin possibly a stone from a slingshot. Instead, his attackers
broke his own previous record of 69 hours and 48 minutes shot him with a flint-tipped arrow to make sure he was a
established in September 2005 at the ABC studios in New goner, according to the experts. “He only lived for a short
York. A holder of many Guinness records, Joachim was time after the arrow impact,” said Andreas Nerlich, who
invited by Sweden’s headed the study.
television TV4 network DPA
to compete against a
Swedish challenger.
The shy unassuming
Joachim, who lives
with his wife in the Man dumps wife on Facebook
city of Mississauga on A British man ended his marriage by dumping his wife on
the outskirts of the social networking website Facebook. Emma Brady, 35,
Toronto, said he spent claims she only learnt her husband was divorcing her only
his time watching when he changed his status on the site to read: “Neil
episodes of a drama Brady has ended his marriage to Emma Brady.” She also
series and drinking claims she only discovered that she was being divorced
cups of coffee. His when she was telephoned by concerned friends who had
record-breaking feat read the update. The mother of one faced further
began at 8 p.m. humiliation when other users began adding comments.
Thursday and ended The couple no longer live together but have yet to begin
Sunday evening. formal divorce proceedings.
IANS Wenn

Thalidomide ‘was developed by the Nazis’

T halidomide, the morning sick-
ness drug which caused many
women to give birth to deformed
babies, was first developed by the
Nazis under Adolf Hitler as part of
their chemical weapons pro-
gramme, according to a new study.
It was earlier thought to have
been invented in the early 1950s by
German firm Chemie Grunenthal,
before its use by pregnant woman
worldwide from 1957 to 1961, lead-
ing to the birth of 10,000 babies in
Europe and Africa with deformities.
Now, a team has claimed that thali-
domide was tested on prisoners at
concentration camps in Germany
by the Nazis to determine whether
it could act as an antidote to nerve
gas in case of a chemical warfare.
According to Dr Martin Johnson,
the Director of the Thalidomide
Trust, who led the team, thalido-
mide was developed by Third Reich
scientist, Otto Ambros, as an anti-
dote to nerve toxins before he went
to Grunenthal after the war. Dr
Johnson was quoted by The Times
The drug was tested on
prisoners at
concentration camps in
Germany by the Nazis
to determine whether it
could act as an antidote
to nerve gas in case of
a chemical warfare
as saying: “It is now appearing in-
creasingly likely that thalidomide
was the last war crime of the Nazis.”
Moreover, Grunenthal’s 1954
thalidomide patent also indicated
that the morning sickness drug had
already been tested on humans be-
fore official tests began worldwide
for its use, he said. Meanwhile, Car-
los De Napoli, an Argentinean au-
thor of an upcoming book on Nazi
scientists has claimed to have
found a document which reveals
thalidomide has its origins in Hit-
ler’s laboratories in Germany.
“There is absolutely no doubt of the
Nazi development of and experi-
mentation with thalidomide in the
World War two camps,” he was
quoted as saying. ■
PTI
 Tuesday, February 10, 2009
07
Websites of the day
Explore National Geographic Online - a world leader in geography, cartography and exploration. http://
www.nationalgeographic.com
Lonely Planet offers travel advice, detailed maps, travel news, popular message boards and health
information. Also lists information and updates regarding guidebooks. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

Half of Chinese toy

makers wiped out in crisis
N
early half of China’s toy mak-
ers closed last year due to
shrinking exports brought
about by the global financial
crisis, Chinese media reported Mon-
day.
At the start of 2008, China had 8,610
companies that produced and export-
ed toys, but by the end of the year,
that number had declined by 49 per-
cent to 4,388, the Beijing Times said,
citing customs data. Chinese toy ex-
ports grew marginally in 2008 by 1.8
percent to 8.6 billion dollars, but the
overall figure masked a dramatically
worsening performance towards the
end of the year, according to the pa-
per.
In November, toy exports declined
by 8.6 percent from the same month a
year earlier, while December marked
a drop of 7.6 percent, the paper said.
China’s southern province of
Guangdong, which produces roughly
half of the world’s toys, has seen some
large-scale factory closures.
Smart Union, a Hong Kong-listed
maker of products for US giants Mat-
tel and Disney, shut down in October
last year, causing 7,000 people to lose
their jobs.
China’s toy industry had already
been facing problems before the eco-
Smart Union, a Hong
Kong-listed maker of
products for US giants
Mattel and Disney, shut
down in October last
year, causing 7,000
people to lose their jobs
nomic crisis struck.
Recalls around the world of danger-
ous Chinese-made toys severely tar-
nished the industry’s reputation,
while rising labour and land costs also
caused problems.
Adding to the woes, India banned
Chinese toy imports in late January
for six months, triggering trade ten-
sions between the world’s two biggest
emerging economies.
In reaction, Chinese officials are
now deciding whether they should
appeal to the WTO Dispute Settle-
ment Body, state media said last
week. Overall, China’s exports have
also been hit hard by the crisis, with
shipments abroad declining for the
first time in seven years in November
and December. ■
AFP

Salman Rushdie’s It’s celebration time

latest arm candy
F our failed marriages have not stopped Sir
Salman Rushdie from being a charmer or
so it seemed after the stunning Pia Glenn
was recently spotted on his arm.
The Booker prize-winning author, who
parted ways with the beautiful Top Chef
host Padma Lakshmi in 2007, was seen with
Glenn, 29 years his junior, at Mansion’s
opening-night party.
On being questioned what their relation-
ship should be called, Rushdie agreed to
nothing less than “lucky”.
“That’s a good word. She’s unbelievably
talented. She’s a show-stopper, isn’t she?”
the New York Daily News quoted him as
saying.
The 61-year-old has previously stated
that he no longer harboured intentions of 쒀
tying the knot again, though he did not rule The Booker prize- Villagers wear traditional costumes as they perform Zou Madeng to celebrate
out the possibility of falling in love. winning author was the Chinese Lantern Festival (Yuanxiao) in Hefei, central China’s Anhui province
The writer faced serious trouble with his seen with Pia February 8. Lantern Festival or Yuan Xiao, is one the key traditional Chinese
fourth novel, The Satanic Verses, in 1988, for festivals, which falls on the 15th day of the first month in the Chinese lunar
which he landed with death threats and a Glenn, 29 years his calendar, on the first full moon night of the new year. People celebrate the
fatwa from Muslim protestors. junior, at a party festival, by watching lanterns, guess riddles and eating dumplings. AFP PHOTO
ANI
08 SPORT ERGO Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Atwal finishes tied 53rd

Arjun Atwal signed off exactly the way he had kicked off,
turning in an even-par 72 in the final round to finish tied 53rd
in the USD 5.3 million Buick Invitational golf tournament in San
Diego. Atwal finished with an aggregate of four-over 292 to
pocket US$ 12, 270 apart from 16.50 FedExCup points.

Bichel calls it a day

Former Australian Test fast bowler Andy
Bichel on Monday announced his retirement
Barca
bandwagon rolls on
from first-class cricket after 17 seasons.
Bichel, 38, who played 19 Tests and 67 One-
Day Internationals for
Australia, said he had
been forced to quit
because of an ongoing
shoulder problem since
having reconstructive Hungry Eto’o keeps scoring
surgery 14 months ago.
“I don’t want to let
anyone down,” Bichel
said on Monday. “It (the
shoulder) is good
enough for grade (club)
cricket, but I didn’t want to get out there
(for Queensland) and not do what I used to
do.” Bichel captured 58 Test wickets at 32.24
and hit 355 runs with a highest score of 71.
He finished two games short of 100 first-
class matches for Queensland, but still
chalked up an impressive list of milestones
and achievements. He is the second-highest
first-class wicket-taker in Queensland history
with 463 wickets, behind only Michael
Kasprowicz (505) and is the third-highest
wicket-taker in Australian first-class domestic
cricket, behind leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett
and Kasprowicz.
Bichel played 176 matches for Queensland
(98 first-class and 78 one-day) and was a
member of four first-class championship
teams and three one-day title-winning sides
for his state.
AFP

Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o (left) is congratulated by team-mate Thierry Henri (right) after scoring during the
Underwater billiards Liga match against Sporting Gijon at the New Camp Stadium in Barcelona. PHOTO: AFP
Scuba diver Sabir Bux took on national-level
billiards player Ahsan ul-Haque during a

game under the surface of the Bay of
Bengal off the coast of Orissa, which they
say was the first such attempt in the world.
The game was played off the coast of
Gopalpur, some 180 km from state capital
Bhubaneswar, for over an hour on Sunday.
“It was a trial match. We will play a match
to set a world record later on,” Bux said. He
plans to play at least 10 more trial matches
before going for the final record attempt.
An 8x4 sq ft iron table weigh 62 kg was
installed about 20 feet deep in the water
and special balls were used. Four students
of the Kalinga Divers
institute assisted
them. The institute
was set up by 43-
year-old Bux to
provide training in
scuba diving. It has
produced over 100
professional divers
till now.
Bux, a man with a
fascination for both music and diving, has
already filmed music videos underwater,
both in the Bay of Bengal and in the
Mahanadi River.
IANS
S
amuel Eto’o scored twice as
Barcelona beat Sporting Gi-
jon 3-1 at Camp Nou to re-
establish their 12-point ad-
vantage over Real Madrid at the
top of the Spanish table. Eto’o
scored in the 23rd and 40th min-
utes on Sunday to take his perso-
nal tally to 21 for the season with
Valencia’s David Villa his nearest
rival on 17.
Brazilian Dani Alves added a
third in the second half as Barce-
lona eased to their 10th succes-
sive league win. “Alves never gets
tired and is an extraordinary
player while Eto’o is helping us a
lot with his goals and work rate,”
said Barca coach Pep Guardiola.
“We got our intensity back to-
night and switched well from de-
fence to attack. There are fewer
games left now but there are a lot
of things that can still happen.”
Winning ways
Champions Real notched their
seventh win on the spin with a
1-0 triumph over Racing Santan-
der on Saturday but they were
jeered off by their own fans for
clinging to the slender lead rather
than going for a second goal.
Guardiola reshuffled the Barcelo-
na backline with central defen-
ders Rafael Marquez and Gerard
Pique, called into the Spain
squad for Wednesday’s friendly
with England, both suspended.
Carles Puyol returned from in-
jury and Uruguayan international
Martin Caceres, a 16.5 million
Euro signing from Villarreal, had
a rare start in central defence. Ca-
ceres had a quiet night as Barce-
lona had Sporting on the back
foot from the start and deservedly
took the lead on 23 minutes.
Sporting had a corner but when
the ball was cleared the hosts
launched a lightning quick coun-
ter-attack with Andres Iniesta
carrying the ball at pace before
feeding Thierry Henry who
crossed for Eto’o to tap in.
Sweet 100
It was Barcelona’s 100th goal
this season in all competitions
but they weren’t resting on their
laurels as Eto’o scored again
shortly before half-time. Picking
up a Lionel Messi pass, Eto’o
jinked inside before smashing his
effort into the corner. Alves made
it 3-0 with a great solo goal before
Gijon pulled one back through
Kike Mateo three minutes later.
Eto’o was denied a hat-trick by
the post while Henry could have
got three himself after spurning
several chances.
“We came here with the idea of
giving them a fright but they gave
us a fright,” admitted Sporting
coach Manolo Preciado. “When
you are on the pitch you realise
that this (Barcelona) is the best
team in the world. They have eve-
rything - fighting spirit, physical
strength and the right attitude.”
New Atletico Madrid coach
Abel Resino had a memorable de-
but as his side defeated Recreati-
vo Huelva 3-0 to record their first
win in 2009. Resino replaced the
sacked Javier Aguirre this week
and the change of manager had
the desired effect as Atletico
closed to within two points of
fourth-placed Valencia. Sergio
Kun Aguero scored after just two
minutes and Diego Forlan hit a
quick-fire brace to wrap up the
points. ■
AFP
 Tuesday, February 10, 2009
09

‘‘
IPL has benefited players a lot and has provided opportunities to play as a
team with international players who come out with different tactics. The IPL
series would be ideal preparation for most of our guys before going for the
Twenty20 World Cup tournament a few weeks later.
Mahela Jayawardena on the role IPL will play ahead of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup to be held in England in June

Profitable International
sabbatical exile
promises rich
rewards for
E
xile from international cricket could make An-
drew Symonds richer by almost one million
dollars as the troubled Australian all-rounder,
if ignored for the April ODI series against Pa-
Symonds
kistan, will get to play the entire duration of the
lucrative Indian Premier League.
The 33-year-old is undergoing rehabilitation
and counselling after being declared unavail-
able for selection by Cricket Australia, which cit-
ed his lack of commitment as the reason to ignore
him for the time being. He will miss the Test tour of
South Africa which follows the ongoing One-Day
series against New Zealand. If he sits out of the
Pakistan series as well, he would be free to
play for his IPL team Hyderabad Deccan
Chargers for the entire duration of the
Twenty20 event.

Good for IPL

“Any decision by CA to block
Symonds from playing in the
Pakistan series – to be played
in the United Arab Emirates
– will enable the Queenslan-
der to be available for the
entire duration of the cash-
crazy Indian Premier League.
Symonds’ IPL deal with Dec-
can is valued at 1.47 million
dollars and he will pocket every
cent if he plays out the six-week
tournament,” the Sunday Herald
Sun reported.
“If he is not picked in the Aus-
tralian team, I would like to see
him here for the whole tournament.
That would be great,” IPL commis-
sioner Lalit Modi said. “He would be a
wonderful asset. If there was a ban on
him by the ICC, that is one thing, but he
has not made any derogatory com-
ments or done anything wrong as far as
the IPL is concerned,” he added.

No stopping him
CA spokesman Peter Young said the
Board would not come in the way of
Symonds’ IPL participation if he is ig-
nored for the Pakistan series. “We’re
not going to stop people going to the
IPL if they have IPL contracts. We have
our first claim over their time (re-
quired for Australia), part of the go-
vernance that the IPL accepts,”
Young said. “But if they are not play-
ing for us and choose to go to the
IPL, that is their business, so long as
they report back fresh for Australia.
Depending on the details we finalise
with Pakistan, Andrew could be
playing cricket for Australia for the
first part of the IPL,” he added. ■
PTI
PHOTO: ARUNANGSU ROY CHOWDHURY
10 FLICK
Robert PLant and
Alison Krauss
nabbed five
awards for their
album Raising
Sand
M
usical odd couple Robert
Plant and Alison Krauss
stole the show at the
Grammys on Sunday,
dominating the prestigious gala
with their groundbreaking rock-
country collaboration to nab five
awards.
Led Zeppelin frontman Plant
and country icon Krauss led the
field, winning the coveted Album
of the Year honour and Record of
the Year prize for work stemming
from their acclaimed Raising
Sand album.
Other big winners at Los An-
geles’ Staples Center included
British supergroup Coldplay,
which won three awards, includ-
ing song of the year for ‘Viva la
ERGO Tuesday, February 10, 2009
I do not want a Grammy
Sinead O’Connor is the only artiste to
refuse a Grammy, declining to accept
the award for Best Alternative Music
Performance for ‘I Do No Want What I
Haven’t Got’ in 1990.
Plant & Krauss,
Coldplay dominate
Grammys
Vida’, and rapper Lil Wayne, with Rock Album for ‘Vi- star-studded line-up of artistes
four. va La Vida’. due to perform.
“I’d like to say I’m bewildered,” “Thank you and Police in Los Angeles con-
Plant told the audience after col- sorry for blatantly firmed they were questioning Ri-
lecting Album of the Year, the fi- recycling the Ser- hanna’s boyfriend,
nal award of the night. geant Pepper al- singer-songwriter Chris Brown,
“It’s been a wonderful time,” bum,” Coldplay in connection with an allegation
added bluegrass queen Krauss, drummer Will of domestic violence.
who has now won a staggering to- Champion said The 20-year-old Barbados-
tal of 26 Grammys during her ca- after collecting born singer had been due to per-
reer, a record for a female the song of the form early in the show but orga-
performer. Plant and Krauss also year award, in nizers abruptly announced
won Grammys for Best Country comments directed her withdrawal just before
Collaboration with Vocals, Best at Beatles legend Paul the event.
Pop Collaboration, Best Contem- McCartney. Meanwhile, tragic sing-
porary Folk/Americana Album, Meanwhile, as the awards er Jennifer Hudson won
and Record of the Year. unfolded, a behind-the-scenes the first Grammy of her
Coldplay’s trio of awards came drama involving pop singer Ri- career after triumph-
for Song of the Year, Best Pop hanna forced organisers to make ing in the best R&B al-
Performance by a Group and Best an 11th hour change to their bum category.
Hudson, 27, who is
re-emerging into the
spotlight after the
Coldplay got three Grammys -- murders of her
Song of the Year, Best Pop mother, brother
Performance by a Group and Best and nephew last
Rock Album year, won for her
album Jennifer
Hudson.
“I don’t really
know what to
say,” said
Hudson, her
voice crack-
ing with
emotion
after she
received
the
award
from
Whitney
Jennifer Hudson Houston. “I
shows off her would like to thank
Grammy in Best my family in heaven and
R&B Album those that are here today. I just
category. PHOTO: AFP don’t know where to start. Every-
body, thank you all.” ■
AFP
 Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Slumdog, again
Mickey Rourke wins in
best leading actor
category for his role in
The Wrestler
Slumdog Millionaire wins five
awards at BAFTA. Many see
this as Oscar indicator
S
lumdog Millionaire swept seven, including best
the board at the British A-director for Danny
cademy Film Awards (BAF- Boyle, best adapted
TAs) in London on Sunday screenplay for Simon
with seven prizes including best Beaufoy and the music, cin-
film. ematography, editing and sound
In a star-studded ceremony, prizes.
Kate Winslet also picked up the Before the ceremony, fans
BAFTA for leading actress for herbraved the rain outside the Royal
role as a former Nazi prison campOpera House in London’s Covent
guard in The Reader, while Mick- Garden, jostling for a chance at
ey Rourke took the an autograph from one of the A-
leading actor listers present, including Brad
gong for The Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Robert
Wrestler. Downey Jr.
Slumdog Dev Patel seemed as star-
Millionaire struck as anyone – he was
had been nominated for leading actor
nominated but said he never expected to
for 11 awards
and took
win, and the main thing he
wanted from the night was to
home meet Pitt.
“I’m 18 years old and
I’m at the BAFTAs!’ said
Patel, who lives with
his parents and sister
in Harrow, north-west
London.
Winslet beat rivals
Jolie, Kristin Scott
Thomas and Meryl
Streep to take the
second BAFTA of
her career – she won
best supporting ac-
tress in 1995 – and
her second award for
The Reader after a
Kate Winslet with her Golden Globe last month.
best leading actress award
Billu minus barber
Shah Rukh Khan has decided to drop the word ‘barber’ from the film
posters of his home production, Billu Barber, after a section of
hairdressers objected to the word terming it as ‘derogatory’. “I
understand the emotions and I respect it… We will try and remove
the word ‘Barber’ from the posters,” said Khan.
Penelope Cruz chosen best
supporting actress. PHOTOS: AFP
She will be up against Streep and
Jolie again at the Oscars. Rourke’s
win secures his comeback after
years in the wilderness, and in his
speech he thanked director Dar-
ren Aronofsky. Heath Ledger was
awarded with a posthumous
BAFTA for best supporting actor
for his menacing performance as
the Joker in the latest Batman
movie, The Dark Knight.
Penelope Cruz won best sup-
porting actress for her role in
Woody Allen’s sparky romantic
drama, Vicky Cristina Barcelona,
an honour she said came as a
complete shock. “I’m so happy,
so excited, so surprised,” she
said. The BAFTAs have grown in
prominence in recent years and
are now seen as one indicator of
who will win the film industry’s
biggest gongs, the Oscars.
Last year, the winners of BAF-
TA’s four acting categories went
on to win the equivalent Acade-
my Awards – although Atonement
won best film here only to lose
out to No Country for Old Men in
Hollywood. ■
AFP
11
No cry baby, this
W ill Smith, Hollywood’s daredevil hero famous
for shooting down aliens and zombies,
admitted on Monday he found it more
frightening to handle the intense emotions
involved in his latest movie, Seven Pounds.
“It’s very terrifying for me as an artiste to make
a movie with no aliens, no explosions and no
special effects,” the 40-year-old told a news
conference in Tokyo to promote the movie. “I
generally do not cry in real life,” he said.
In the film, Smith’s character sets out on a
mission to change the lives of seven people
after feeling guilty about a car accident in
which seven others died.
The film has been
directed by Gabriele
Muccino, who also
worked with Smith on
the 2006 rag-to-riches
story, The Pursuit of
Happyness.
Smith said his
trick for crying
scenes was
actually to try
to hold back his
tears on
camera.
“When you’re
trying not to
cry it’s much
more painful
for the audience
than when you
watch someone who’s
trying to cry,” he said.
“It’s very rare in life
that you’re actually
trying to cry,” he said.
“The fight of trying
not to cry is what
looks powerful on
screen.” ■
AFP
Sons and fathers
J ean-Claude Van Damme
is planning to resurrect
his acting career in a bid to
win back his youngest son.
The hunk’s personal life
and career hit rock bottom
in the 1990s and following
a nasty divorce from his
fourth wife Darcy LaPier in
1997, he lost access to his
youngest son, 13-year-old Nicholas.
The star, who has been dubbed the ‘Muscles from
Brussels’, told Britain’s The Sun newspaper: “The
only way I can bring my son back is to be
successful again as they were saying to him, ‘Your
father is a loser.’” ■
ANI
12 ERGO Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Monday’s Question:
If you are asked to buy
one expensive accessory
with a 75% discount,
what would you like to
buy and why?
■ I’ll get a BMW.
Mohan Kumar,
Tata Consultancy Services

■ A helicopter due to Chennai traffic.

Kothandapani,
HCL

■ Platinum necklace set as that is

something valuable for future. Swathi Bonthala from TCS has nominated her team mates as Partners in Crime. This picture is taken
Serena D’souza,
at Boat House on ECR Road
Allsec Technologies

■ 100000 shares of Satyam, IT will

bounce back.
Wasi,
Wipro Technologies

■ Buy Innova car as it is my dream. I

want to achieve my dream in less cost.
Mahi, Anandhi,
Sangu, Pavi,
Wipro Technologies

■ I’ll buy diamonds.

Sahera,
Wipro Technologies

■ Car used in Karakattakaran film (which

is used by "soppana sundari"
Karthi,
HCL
■ A new brand Apache bike.
Suree,
Keshav from Wipro Technologies has nominated his friends as Partners in Crime. This pic was
Tata Consultancy Services
clicked at Kishkinta.

■ A high quality laptop with every latest

versions of all the software available and
with extreme configuration of high
performance hardware available.
R.Nagarajan,
InfoView Technologies,
Sivaprakasam.G,
Birlasoft

■ Gold – for the price it is being offered

and its resale value.
Saravana Kumar Y.V,
HCL

Today’s Query:
Of all the Indian cricket
captains who is your
favourite and why?
Karthic Ghanesh from iNautix Technologies has nominated his freinds as Partners in Crime.
 Tuesday, February 10, 2009
13

Sunil Kumar T. of Ramco Systems Ltd has been nominated ■ Hi Rajameenakshi,

as Office Angel by Ramprasad R. Engal Manamarntha Pirandha Nal Nalvalthukkal
Wish you many more happy returns of the day.
It is hard to see such a friendly person like him. Highly Live Long Life
motivating and would always be the centre of our group. His With Best Wishes
team spirit during working hours and during leisure is always From - WK-TCOE
the best. TCS

■ Dear DR Danapal,
A smile is a curve that sets everything straight and
wipes wrinkle away.
Hope you share lots and receive lots for days to
come.
Kick off your shoes;
Take a break;
Dance and Shake;
Light the candles;
Cut the cake make;
It is a day that is simply great.
Happy Birthday Dana alias DR. Vijay.
With Tons of Luv,
Art featured in this column will receive gift cou- Route No. 4 Friends,
pons from Fruit Shop on Greams Road. Send in Scope International
your addresses so that we can post the coupons.
■ Dear Archana,
Wish you many many more Happy Returns of the
Day and joy filled life!
Have a nice time at MGM.
Wishes from one and all!
With Cheers,
Vinothini Pachaiyappan of Ranjane, Balaji, et al.
Infosys doodled this.
■ Dear Affi,
Wish You a HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
May God shower all the blessings on you.
May the coming years bring lots of happiness and
cherish in your life. We wish that all your dreams
come true.
With Love,
PQS-PTD(team)
Wipro Technologies.

■ Dear Deepa,
On your Birthday,here comes our hearty wishes…
May you achieve success and happiness in the year
ahead…
Wishing you a many more happy returns of the
DAY!!!!!!
Greets,
Meena, Karthi..
Wipro Technologies.

■ Dear Aryamol,
Wishing you a very Happy & Memorable Birthday.
May God bless you and all your dreams come true.
With Lots of Love,
Amal, Vinu, John & Midhun
Wipro Technologies

1. In a bakery shop: ■ Dear Britto,

Parthiban: Unga kadaila ella bun’num kidaikkuma? Happy Birthday to You & May God Bless you.
Vadivel: Hmmmm…. May this day be the beginning of another special
Parti: Ok 1kg rib’bon, 2kg Car’bon kodu… year.Let this birthday bring you lot of joy and
Vadivel: Avana nee……….??????? happiness in your life!
A Warm Birthday Wishes from All of us! I wish all
2. Principal: Eanda late? your dreams will soon come true!!
Student: Bike puncher sir With love,
Princ: Busla varalam la…. Bhavani Ananthan.
Stud: Varalam…. Aanna, Bus vanga vasathi illa sir….. Team Beacon.
Shiva Kumar A., HCL Technologies Ltd.
Accenture Services Pvt. Ltd
14 TRAFFIC JAM ERGO Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Baywatch Bilbo
Britian’s sole lifeguard dog Bilbo is starring in a Baywatch
style video appeal in a plea to get his job back. The 90kg
(14 stone) Newfoundland was banned from roving his
beach despite helping to rescue dozens of people.

sudoku

This spider has

built its web in
a hut thatched
with coconut
leaves. Karun
Palaniswamy of
Wipro
Technologies,
Sholinganallur
spotted its home
behind his
house in
Coimbatore.

KAKURO
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 Tuesday, February 10, 2009
New star-ff needed
A finance company is advertising for new staff
based on star signs. The firm wants only Ariens,
Capricorns, Taureans, Aquarians and Leos
because it says they are the best workers.
15
Word’s worth
“Eccaleobion” (eck-kal-ee-oh-bye-un) the name given to an egg-hatching machine invented
in 1939 by a W. Bucknell. The name is supposed to be the sentence “I evoke life” written
as one Greek word. It has been used figuratively; a citation from 1880 in the OED says that
a particular magazine was “at one time a very eccaleobion for young writers”.

B.C

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

You may remain very much focussed on work till
noon but after that you may start getting confused
about various issues related to your work. On the
relationship front, you might have to play with
words to convince your beloved.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20

It’s a day of mixed feelings for you, by and large.
Till noon you may remain very firm in your views
while talking to others at work but after that, you
may change your views about various matters
frequently.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20

At the beginning of the day you may not be in a
BORN LOSER mood to devote much time to work. After the noon
time, you will devote much time and energy to your
work. Your partner may find you very flirtatious, yet
the relationship may blossom very well.
CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20
You may be depending a great deal on luck till
noon. You should try not to take up important tasks
on hand today, advises Ganesha. In personal
relationship, your partner may doubt your integrity
which may hurt you.
LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20
Ganesha finds you distressed because of some
technical error or confusion at workplace. However,
post lunch time, you may be able to solve all the
problems. You will be able to have a very good
time with your life partner or beloved one.
VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20
It is a very favourable day at workplace. You will be
FREE RANGE WORKING IT OUT able to crack many complex issues very easily. The
day favours research and development activities too.
Your focus may not be on the personal relations so
your life partner or beloved one may feel neglected.
LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20
You may not need to crave attention at office,
everyone will be automatically asking for your
guidance and opinion. You will be able to solve
complex issues very easily. If you are in a
relationship, the day promises you romantic time.
SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20
It is slightly unfavourable day for you so you may
need to attend office work with lot of focus. In love
life, you may need to compromise and adjust, which
seems to be the best way out to handle your
partner’s emotions, as per Ganesha’s view.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20
Ganesha feels that your important task may get
delayed today. But with the passage of time, you
can find solution of problems. On the other hand,
your emotional bonds with opposite sex may
become stronger.
CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20
Ganesha suggests you not to take important
decisions related to work today. If you do so, you
may feel like rectifying your decision in second half
of the day. There may be emotional stress due to
some unforeseen reasons in love life.
AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20
PREVIOUS You may be very creative and innovative in your
work today, feels Ganesha. Stars are in your favour
ISSUE’S in the second half of the day. You may express your
love dramatically in front of your beloved one or life
SOLUTIONS partner.
PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20
At office, you may not be in a mood to handle
important tasks. If you do so, you may end up
committing some mistakes. In love life, you may be
completely submissive and may be in a mood to
compromise so your beloved. .
Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni
16 ! ERGO Tuesday, February 10, 2009

One look is all it takes

Snapshots from the 51st annual Grammy awards in Los Angeles and
the British Academy of Film and Television Awards nite in London

British actor Dev

Patel and Indian
actress Freida British director Danny Boyle (R) and
Pinto pose for Indian composer A. R. Rahman arrive at
photographers at the the BAFTA on February 8. AFP PHOTO
British Academy of
Film and Television
Awards (BAFTA) on
February 8.
AFP PHOTO

Actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

arrive at the BAFTA at the Royal Opera
House in central London on February 8.
Jolie was nominated for best leading
actress for her role in Changeling and
Pitt for best leading actor for his role in
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
AFP PHOTO

Actor Gwyneth Paltrow introduces Katy Perry performs her hit song ’I Kissed a Girl’ during the 51st annual Grammy awards. AFP PHOTO
Radiohead during the 51st annual
Grammy awards. AFP PHOTO