NADAL VS

FEDERER
08 A BYTE OF LIFE Thursday, August 7, 2008
FREE CIRCULATION

Who will win the

Olympic gold?

MUMMY AGAIN
Review of The Mummy: Tomb
10
of the Dragon Emperor

Vol. 2 No. 154

TALE
SPIN She started storytelling
sessions at some of the city
schools years ago. Today,
Jeeva Raghunathan is
known as THE storyteller.
» PAGE 04
02 NAMMA CHENNAI ERGO Thursday, August 7, 2008

Meet Iliya Troyanov

The Collector of Worlds by Iliya Troyanov will be released today at
Goethe-Institut/ Max Mueller Bhavan. The book is a meditation on the
extraordinary life of the infamous explorer Sir Richard Burton. The
Bulgaria born author lived in Mumbai from 1999 to 2003 where he
researched the book. Drop in at No. 4, 5th Street, Rutland Gate at 6 p.m.
For details, call 2833 1314.

Give me a home
2 LTTE suspects held,
dragnet spread for
one more
Two LTTE suspects, Umaramanan (23) and
Amalan (27), were arrested and explosives
and bomb accessories seized from them at
Thiruvalluvar Nagar in Thirumangalam late Read on to see if any of these animals sound
on Tuesday.
Based on a tip-off, a team raided a house like your future pets
on Elango Street in Thiruvalluvar Nagar,
where three LTTE suspects were said to be
residing. However, only the two suspects
were present and the third was said to have
left the house prior to the cops’ visit.
The police raided the house and found 1.5
kgs of potassium nitrate, solar gadgets,
wires and spark plugs. Suspected to be in
the ammunition procuring division of the
LTTE, the two were held. A search is on to
nab the other culprit who is absconding. On
Wednesday, the arrested were produced in
court which remanded them to judicial
custody.

Kumaran Nagar murder

Four persons have been arrested for their
alleged involment in the recent Kumaran
Nagar murder case.
The muder case, in which a man was found
charred to death, was considered to be part
of the serial murders which rocked the city.
On Monday night, during their usual patrol
Pushkin the magnificent is looking for a home
duty at Saidapet, the police intercepted the
four. Two of them were nabbed while the
other two managed to escape.
Based on the information given by them,
ERGO CORRESPONDENT cat with grey stripes has been through
the police, on Wednesday, arrested the two
others who escaped.
pets@goergo.in very tough times and wants a good

The cops suspect them to be robbers
targeting people on the roadside during
the nights. The cops also suspect the gang
to be involved in the murder.
Further inquiry is on.
T
hese stories have come to Ergo from
shelters and individuals who rescue
kittens and puppies from cruelty and
abandonment, in the hope that they
will find homes some day.
Ergo readers have consistently pitched in
and made a positive difference to their lives.
The NGOs who gave us this information
hope you will rise to the occasion yet again.
Couple’s new members
The aged couple who run the Animal Wel-
fare and Protection Trust (AWPT) were agh-
ast to find eight tiny kittens in a garbage bin
in Sembakkam.
They took them in despite severe financial
and space constraints and found them to be
playful, healthy and affectionate. They’re
grey and black in colour and are between
one and two months old.
Contact awptrust@yahoo.com/awptshel-
ter@gmail.com if you want to adopt a mis-
chievous kitten.
From the Cattitude Trust
● Sher Khan, a male cat, was rescued
from the IIT campus with a leg infec-
tion. After having it amputated, he has
recovered completely. This tame tom
home.
● Pushkin, a four-year-old male cat,
rescued from a pet shop as a kitten, has
a soft voice, loves to climb trees, likes
being petted and is litter trained. Would
love a home with access to outdoors
and lots of attention.
● Two kittens that are being fed and
treated for malnutrition are perking up
and will soon be ready for good homes.
● A litter of cute and chubby black and
white puppies are also desperately
looking for loving families to be a part
of.
Contact Devika Khazvini, Cattitude’s Ma-
naging Trustee at 98840 97862.
Nitin and friends
A male Boxer dog aged three years has
been neutered and is very friendly.
Call Nitin at 98407 01110 if you want to be
his new owner. Nitin also rescued a one-
month-old multi-coloured kitten that is
energetic and friendly and is waiting impa-
tiently at a veterinary doctor’s clinic to be
adopted.■

Ergo Pets’ Pick of the Week

Anjali Sharma (featured in these columns on July 31st) thanks Chitra of
iNautix who is going to adopt an Indian pup and Prabha (also from
iNautix) who volunteered to help her with her animal welfare efforts.
Kudos to you good Samaritans!
 Thursday, August 7, 2008
03
MITHRA SURESH the main course, and this was partic-
mithra@goergo.in ularly true with the vegetable chim-
ichangas that were served with olive

I
t is believed that Mexican food was
passed down from Mayan Indians,
with whom corn and beans were a
staple diet. It is through the Aztec
empire that honey, salt, cinnamon and
chilli peppers made their way into the
cooking. The Spanish invasion in 1521 is
what brought the pork and beef in. The
Chinese influence on Spanish cuisine is
Ola Mexico!
salsa.
From the live station, the enthusiastic
gourmand will be able to taste vegetable
quesadillas, but most palatably the taco
shells with chilli con carne, which is a
mix made with minced beef.
More on the plate for non-vegetarians
– honey and cheese are substantial in-
gredients in this cuisine, so either try

most obvious in rice. And so on and so
forth.
This is why Mexican food is a multi-
cultural cuisine, and agreeable to eve-
ryone. What was on display at Caramel
at Asiana Hotel for their Mexican food
festival was a sumptuous spread that is
a tribute to the historical influences on
Crispy Buffalo wings Mexican cuisine.
with honey and chilli To start with the appetizers, the sea-
and (right) lamb food ceviche, which had fish and prawns
empanadas with marinated in citrus juice, is a must-try,
tomato salsa as are the blackened prawns, which are
served with avocado salad. The accom-
panying dips or salsas lift the taste of
the crispy Buffalo wings with honey and
chilli or the honey glazed chicken breast
with avocado and lemon. Even the bar-
bequed pork ribs had a coating of honey
on them.
And now for the afters – Mexican
caramel custard, which has a spicier
tinge than its European cousin, because
of the added cinnamon and nutmeg.
Since stewed fruit is common in this
part of the world, the stewed fig with
cinnamon and walnut or the almond
and prune mousse fill fit just right into
that little space in your stomach, after
the fare is over.

The live
station,
serving
tacos with
chilli con
carne

When, where,
what?
Event: Mexican food
festival
Timings: 12.30 p.m. –
3 p.m. till August 9
Venue: Caramel,
Asiana Hotel
Contact: 67411000

PHOTOS: S.S.KUMAR
04 KALEIDOSCOPE STOCKTRACK ERGO Thursday, August 7, 2008
15073.54 4517.55

112.47 14.70

SENSEX NIFTY

Once upon a time …

Jeeva Raghunath and the art of storytelling
MONISHA MOHANDAS

쒀 it. They were basically artists and
A model is pictured on the catwalk at the
2008 Trend Show where creations from
different Danish designers are presented
during Copenhagen Fashion Week, on
Wednesday in Copenhagen. The
Copenhagen Fashion Week runs from
August 6 to 10, 2008. AFP PHOTO
S
torytelling, an ancient art of
conveying events through
words and actions, might be
a dying art. Or is it?
Jeeva Raghunath would beg to
differ. Even tell you a story or two
to explain why. This teacher-for-
a-lifetime has taken storytelling
as a profession and aims to use it
ways that granny’s tales were
meant to work: in improving the
pronunciation and communica-
tion skills of children.
In an interview to Ergo, Jeeva
said she started telling stories at
the age of 5. “I must thank my
genes,” she says. “My mother and
grandmother were great storytell-
ers and I developed a passion for
participated in dramas. We were
many grand children and she
used to make us sit in a circle dur-
ing dinner and tell stories while
giving us food in our hands.”
An alumnus of Vidyodaya, Jee-
va later graduated as a Home Sci-
ence student from the WCC. She
was a teacher for more than 20
years. As a teacher, she spent
most of her time with toddlers. It
was very recently and accidental-
ly that she considered story-tell-
ing as a profession. She considers
it a turning point in life. “Meeting
Radhika Menon, a friend from Vi-
dyodaya days, now the Managing
Editor of Tulika Publications and
director of ‘Good Books - Chil-
dren’s Book Store and Resource
Center’, changed my life. She of-
fered me the marketing manag-
er’s position at Tulika. Since it
dealt with marketing children’s
books, I immediately agreed and
it was soon a big success.”
I began storytelling sessions at
some of the city schools in what
was called the ‘Reading Corner’.
And that brought me more name
and fame” she adds.
Instant hit
Her first session was a grand
success and prompted her to be-
gin such sessions in ‘Good Books’
itself and now her weekend story
telling programmes have a long
waiting list of eager children.
She has represented the coun-
try twice at the Asian Children’s
Festival organised by the Nation-
al Library board of Singapore. She
has also authored a children’s
book and 17 translated books,
which include wide range of Indi-
an, Asian folk-tales and other
tales across the world.
Every sentence she utters is so
animated that makes the whole
story telling session lively. The-
rein lays her power to relate. One
can hardly recognize her voice as
she starts on her story. A swirl of
words sweeps the children off
their feet and carries them to an-
other world. Her voice comes
alive, her body following suit,
with the characters of the story,
be it majestic elephants or cun-
ning wolves, the honest Muthu or
the miser Servant of her story
‘The Magic Vessel’.
“I don’t speak like normal peo-
ple. I just can’t simply state a
thing. I begin at the beginning
and describe things in great detail
with actions and voices. I love to
narrate.”
She hates using props as she
feels it adds artificiality and is al-
so uncomfortable handling in it.
Her major props are her hands.
Her stories are just not for teach-
ing good morals but also to im-
prove on their language and
other skills.
The speciality of her story tell-
ing session is that she also allows
the children and the audience to
equally participate. This builds as
a bridge between her and the
kids. ■

쑸
A woman puts paper lantern floats on the
PHOTOS: M. VEDHAN

Motoyasu River beside the Atomic Bomb

Dome in Hiroshima on Wednesday. The
Japanese western city marked the 63rd
anniversary of the the world’s first atomic
attack on the day. AFP PHOTO
 Thursday, August 7, 2008
05

‘‘
Management is nothing more than US $ 42.00

SOURCE: RBI
motivating other people Pound 82.14
Lee Iacocca Euro 65.09
100 Yen 38.74

Anantharaman
Krishnan, Finance
Controller, India,
UST Global

I
allocate my financial assets into four equal
slots – 25 per cent each in fixed deposits,
chit funds, dept-based mutual fund, and
probably even 30 per cent in the equity
market. Once I see an uptrend in the market, I
change my portfolio accordingly.
Making an investment in
real estate is a wise deci-
sion today. Salem, Erode
or any of the Tier Two ci-
ties where SEZ status
has been given are my
favourite picks – these
are also the upcoming IT
destinations. The IT sec-
tor is going through a
rough patch and companies
are concentrating on these cities.
I prefer buying a piece of land than investing in
a property. A minimum of five acres is my ideal
choice, provided the scope of development is
high in the area.

Growing wise
I have gone through both risks and benefits
making my financial plans. In the first two
years of my career, I started to invest purely for
tax benefits. The next two to three years is
where you have more disposable income – an
apartment is the most opted investment. To-
day, I am more matured and know the market
conditions better. I am slowly diversifying into
commodity and gold.
(As told to Liffy Thomas)
06 VILLAGE ERGO Thursday, August 7, 2008

Bow at five degrees

Japanese bowing carries different meanings at
different angles. A bow at an angle of five degrees
means ’Good day’ (simple greeting). A bow at an
angle of fifteen degrees means ’Good morning’ and a
bow at an angle of thirty degrees is a respectful bow
to indicate appreciation for a kind gesture.

Great Wall popular attraction Pub serves

in China customers a
The latest Visa survey conducted between March
and April with 4,556 people from nine Asia-Pacific prayer with
countries and territories, on Tuesday found that 69
per cent polled put the Great Wall at the top of their pints!
their list of places to see, followed by the A pub in St Austell,
Forbidden City (43 per cent). More than one-third Cornwall has started
(35 per cent) wanted to visit the Silk Road. It offering an informal
seemed that these top attractions are a strong pull worship to its
for Malaysians, Australians and New Zealanders. customers along with
ANI their drink. The
drinkers at the
nineteenth century
Seven Star Inn can now
Hong Kong International Airport have their drink and
take part in an
named world’s best informal worship on
The Hong Kong International Airport was named the Sunday nights. Reverend Patrick Bamber, who is the
world’s best for the seventh year in an annual survey of associate vicar of the town’s Holy Trinity Church, is holding
passengers, with Asian airports dominating the top the services. “It is a way of reaching out into the
positions in the list. The annual survey conducted by community with an informal service in a relaxed
Skytrax, a U.K.-based consultancy, judges airports on more atmosphere,” Daily Star quoted Bamber as saying.
than 40 categories, ranking them after collecting 8.2 Somehow this kind of worship seems to work as it
million questionnaires attracted 40 customers, who enjoyed their drinks while
completed by listening to some Bible readings and live music, in last
passengers over a 10- week’s session.
month period. The ANI
passengers judged 190
airports on factors like
shopping, dining, staff
courtesy, baggage Policewomen get ‘bullet-proof
delivery and wait-times
at security, reports the bras’
Age.com.au. Hong Thousands of German policewomen will receive what
Kong, with its media have labeled ‘bullet-proof bras.’ Made of white
reputation for cotton and featuring the word “Polizei” (Police) along
efficiency and comfort, the seam, the bras are meant to better protect police
bested airports in women who wear bullet-proof vests. “There was a
Singapore and Seoul, safety risk for women wearing normal bras with metal
South Korea, which parts underneath a bullet-proof vest,” spokesman said.
ranked second and Some 3,000 police women working for Germany’s
third. federal police will be equipped with the new bras.
ANI Reuters

Paris’ campaign against wrinkly white-haired guy

P
aris Hilton threw her hat
into the US presidential
race on Tuesday, declaring
her desire to campaign
against ‘that wrinkly white-
haired guy’ and vowing to paint
the White House pink if elected.
The blond socialite responded
to Republican candidate John
McCain’s controversial use of her
image in a campaign television
spot last week with a spoof ad
posted on the website Funnyor-
die.com.
In the ad, the 27-year-old ap-
pears beside a swimming pool,
dressed only in a skimpy leopard-
print bathing costume.
“Hey America, I’m Paris Hilton
and I’m a celebrity too,” Hilton
declares breezily.
“Only I’m not from the olden
days and I’m not promising
change like that other guy. I’m
just hot!
“But then that wrinkly white-
haired guy used me in his cam-
paign ad, which I guess means
I’m running for president. So
thanks for the endorsement
white-haired dude, and I want
America to know I’m, like, totally
ready to lead.”
“We can do limited offshore
drilling with strict environmental
oversight while creating tax in-
centives to get Detroit making hy-
Paris Hilton hits back
at McCain who
mocked her in
a recent ad
brid and electric cars. ... Energy
crisis solved, I’ll see you at the
debates, bitches!”
Hilton then signs off by declar-
ing that she is now mulling her
choices for vice president.
“I’m thinking Rihanna,” she
said, referring to the singer-song-
writer.
“I’ll see you at the White
House,” Hilton adds. “Oh, and I
might paint it pink. Bye!”
The McCain’s ad, entitled ‘Ce-
leb,’ flashes pictures of Paris Hil-
ton and Britney Spears, along
with images of the 2,00,000 peo-
ple who flocked to Berlin to see
Obama the previous week.
“He’s the biggest celebrity in
the world. But is he ready to
lead?” the narrator asks. ■
AFP Presidential ad by US socialite Paris Hilton. AFP PHOTO
 Thursday, August 7, 2008
Chopstick taboo
Japanese rules for the proper use of chopsticks are
many. Improper use includes wandering the
chopsticks over several foods without decision, and
is called mayoibashi. The unforgivable act of
licking the ends of chopsticks is called neburibashi.
Lack of chopstick etiquette is strictly taboo.
ALMOST HALF OF MONKEYS,
APES UNDER THREAT
A
lmost half the world’s mon-
keys and apes are facing a
worsening threat of extinc-
tion because of deforesta-
tion and hunting for meat, an
international report showed on
Tuesday.
“We have solid data to show
that the situation is far more se-
vere than we imagined,” said
Russell Mittermeier, president of
Conservation International and
head of the International Union
for Conservation of Nature’s
(IUCN) primate specialist group.
An assessment for an IUCN
‘Red List’ of endangered species
found that 48 per cent of the 634
known species and sub-species
of primates, humankind’s closest
relatives such as chimpanzees,
orang-utans, gibbons and le-
murs, were at risk of extinction.
In a previous report five years
ago, using different yardsticks,
just 39 per cent of primates were
judged at risk. The IUCN includes
governments, scientists and con-
servation groups.
Reasons
Habitat destruction, led by
burning and clearing of tropical
Manpower Inc
loves women
S taffing services firm Manpower
Inc has been ranked as one of
the top companies for women to
work with by a US-based publi-
cation. Manpower Inc is the only
employment services firm in the
list of top companies for women
compiled by Pink magazine. The
annual ranking recognises the
prominent role of women in top
leadership roles.
“To be recognised by Interna-
tional top magazine like the Pink
in their global survey on Top
Companies for Women is an
achievement for us. At Manpower
we believe that having women
workforce is beyond a doubt nec-
essary, as they bring together the
Manpower India has a
healthy ratio of 53 per
cent of women
forests for farmland, and the
hunting of monkeys and apes for
their meat were the main threats.
Some species were ‘literally being
eaten into extinction,’ a state-
ment said.
“Gorilla meat, chimpanzee
meat and meat of other apes
fetches a higher price than beef,
chicken or fish” in some African
countries, Mittermeier told Reu-
ters.
He said that deforestation was
aggravating hunting. Roads cut to
help loggers and burning of for-
ests to create farmland were
opening previously inaccessible
regions to poachers.
Asia worst
Primates were suffering most
in Asia, with 71 percent of all spe-
cies at risk, against 37 percent in
Africa. The report was to be re-
leased at a conference in Edin-
burgh, Scotland.
In southeast Asia, human pop-
ulations were higher than in Afri-
ca and habitats for orang-utans,
gibbons or leaf monkeys were
getting ever more fragmented.
Demand for pets and Chinese
hunger for traditional medicines
differences that make work atmo-
sphere stronger and richer,”
Manpower India MD Naresh
Malhan said.
Manpower India since incep-
tion has encouraged women at
workplace and currently we have
a healthy ratio of 53 per cent
which is far greater than most of
the Indian corporates, Malhan
said.
The full list of the top compa-
nies for women would be fea-
tured in the magazine’s
September/October issue which
hits newsstands on August 26.
Elaborating about the survey
pink’s founding editor, Cynthia
Good said, “These companies are
true leaders in the advancement
of women.” Pink solicited nomi-
nations from US-based compa-
nies before narrowing the field to
13 winners. ■
PTI
This day, that year
07
It was in August 7, 1992 that the public got its
first glimpse inside Buckingham Palace as people
were given the opportunity to tour the London
home of Queen Elizabeth the II. Proceeds from
ticket sales were earmarked to help repair fire
damage at Windsor Castle.
were adding pressures.
Among species most at risk, or
‘critically endangered’, were the
Bouvier’s red colobus, an African
monkey which has not been seen
in 25 years, and the greater bam-
boo lemur of Madagascar totall-
ing only about 140 in the wild.
“If you took all the individuals
of the top 25 most endangered
species and assigned each of
them a seat ... they probably
wouldn’t fill a football stadium,”
Mittermeier said.
Three-stage scale
Chimpanzees, the species most
like humans, stayed “endan-
gered,” the middle of a three-
stage scale of risk between crit-
ically endangered and
“vulnerable”.
The mountain gorilla, found in
jungles in Rwanda, Uganda and
Democratic Republic of Congo,
stayed critically endangered de-
spite a rise in numbers.
In Brazil, the black lion tamarin 48 per cent of the 634 known species and
and the golden lion tamarin were sub-species of primates, humankind’s closest
downlisted to endangered from
critically endangered after con- relatives such as chimpanzees, orang-utans,
servation efforts. ■ gibbons and lemurs, were at risk of extinction
Reuters
Sweet Antares
쒀 A baby tiger named "Antares" looks out of his basket at the Tierpark (animal park)
in Berlin on Tuesday. The six-week-old cub already weighs five kilogram. AFP PHOTO
08 SPORT ERGO Thursday, August 7, 2008

First Gulf woman flag-bearer

Sheikha Maitha bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, part of the
United Arab Emirates’ ruling royal family, will make history on Friday
when she becomes the first Gulf woman to carry a flag at an Olympics
opening ceremony. The 28-year-old is the daughter of the UAE prime
minister and will take part in the taekwondo competition.

Quotable Quotes

Is Fed ex-cha
R
oger Federer will celebrate 2004 Games, did not help his “He’s going to be ready. It’s on
his 27th birthday by carry- mood. of his favourite tournaments fo
ing Switzerland’s flag at the Whatever the reason, the the year so he’s going to do th
Olympic opening ceremo- smooth-talking Swiss has main- best he can.” Federer also pre
ny. He has little else to cheer tained a deafening silence on Na- ferred to look ahead after a yea
about right now. dal’s coronation as the new that has gone from rough patch
Win or lose in Beijing, Feder- number one. to slump, to full-blown crisis.
er’s record 235 weeks as number “I don’t care,” he pouted last “For me it is really importan
one will end the day after the ten- week, when asked if he would fol- over the next couple of week
nis final, with arch-rival Rafael low the Spaniard’s all-important starting here at the Olympics, go
Nadal set to top the rankings on progress at the Cincinnati Mas- ing on to the US Open,” he sai
Monday, August 18. ters. The contrast between the separately.
And there are signs that after two camps could not be more “I still have plenty of tourna
Nadal ended Federer’s five-year striking as Nadal joked with Ana ments to do well in, and I hope
Wimbledon reign, and humiliat- Ivanovic and Tommy Robredo at can start here at the Olympic
ed him in the French Open final, Olympic Green while Federer and fulfil my dream to win gold
it is all getting a bit much for a stalked off to the showers. However, doubts are beginnin
man often billed as the greatest World number 10 Stanislas to crowd around Federer, whos
“I’ve done Playboy. I’m comfortable with my player in the history of tennis. Wawrinka said he did not discuss aura of invincibility has bee
body. I go to the office in a swim suit. I’m The usually suave ace glowered Federer’s demotion during their blown away by 11 defeats th
comfortable with shedding a few more items of at reporters and refused ques- hit-out here, but revealed his year.
clothing. I don’t think it’s too crazy or risque.” tions after a strenuous two-hour compatriot was determined to With Nadal, 22, and 21-yea
US swimmer Amanda Beard speaking to reporters at the practice session Tuesday at a get back on top. old Novak Djokovic among seve
Athletes’ Village after unveiling a nude photo of herself sweltering Olympic Green Tennis “He wants to improve and to top-10 players younger than th
as part of a campaign against animal cruelty. Centre. Perhaps the Centre Court get back to number one,” Waw- Swiss, the stage could be set for
“The reward is very open and tax-free. For a gold scoreboard carrying his name rinka said. “He’s going to do what new generation.
medallist, the reward is 5,000 euros. That is a alongside Tomas Berdych, his he needs to come back to number And while Federer remains ju
spiritual encouragement.” second-round nemesis at the one. two away from Pete Sampras
Pierre Guichard, France’s deputy chef de mission, clearly
believes that what’s good for your soul can also be good
for your bank balance too.
“This was our worst effort. I wouldn’t say effort,
this is our worst performance.”
US basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski slams his star-
studded side after a lacklustre 87-76 win over Australia
in their final pre-Olympic warm-up match in Shanghai.
“The thing that makes me really mad is that
we’ve got to give up our blood and our urine.
That’s our blood and our urine ... when they do
catch the drugs cheats they should boot them
out.”
Australian diver Robert Newbery reveals his frustration
with dope tests.
“The course is too hard for the body, but it is
good for me. I’m sure in the final there will be a
few riders left.”
Colombian cyclist Santiago Botero is confident
someone will take a medal in the men’s road
race.
“We firmly oppose any attempt to politicise the
Olympic Games. We have related laws in China.
We expect foreigners to respect those laws.”
Beijing Olympic organising committee spokesman Sun
Weide after British and American activists from Students
for a Free Tibet were arrested for unfurling banners near
the ‘Bird’s Nest’ Olympic stadium
“We are actually relieved it happened before she
reached here because it would have shamed the
country if she had failed a test at the Olympics.”
India’s deputy chef-de-mission Baljeet Singh Sethi on
why he’s glad that weightlifter Monika Devi was caught
doping before the Games got underway. WITH NADAL ALL SET TO TOP THE RANKINGS,
HOPING FOR A TURN AROUND IN FORTUNES A
 Thursday, August 7, 2008
09

‘‘
I am ready to go to Beijing where my dope test is sched-
uled for tomorrow. If I fail there leave apart banning me
for life, shoot me in public
Disgraced weightlifter Monika Devi

amp?
ne record of 14 Grand Slam titles,
or only three players older than him
he -- Sampras, Andre Agassi and Go-
e- ran Ivanisevic -- have won majors
ar this century.
h, It could be that Federer just
needs a successful Olympics and
nt US Open. Some say he could use
ks, a new coach after 16 months with
o- Spain’s Jose Higueras.
id Bjorn Borg, who never reco-
vered from seeing his own five-
a- year Wimbledon streak ended by
eI John McEnroe, and retired at 26,
cs did though back Federer to
d.” bounce back.
ng “Right now he’s going to have a
se tough time but I think he’s going
en to come back,” Borg, the last man
his before Nadal to win the French
Open and Wimbledon in the
r- same year, said.
en “For me he’s going to win
he many, many more Grand Slam ti-
a tles. It’s just a matter of keeping
playing. He’s not injured, he’s
st healthy and he’s motivated.” ■
s’s AFP

1 DAY TO GO....
FEDERER IS
AT THE OLYMPICS
10 FLICK ERGO Thursday, August 7, 2008

Another record
The Dark Knight has broken another
box office record after taking just 18
days to make more than $400 million
(£204m) in North America.

SHALINI SHAH victims one by one in a bid to

shalinishah@goergo.in bring to life himself and his be-
loved Anck Su Namun.

I
n The Mummy: Tomb of the Neither does Maria Bello have
Dragon Emperor, Rick O’Con- Rachel Weisz’s feistiness that
nell (Brendan Fraser) and wife characterised Evelyn so far. The
Evelyn (Maria Bello replacing saving grace, if you can call it,
Rachel Weisz) are busy lead- comes in the form of Michelle Ye-
ing ‘respectable’ lives of oh, who as the farsighted witch
the British upper class lends subtlety and class to a sit-
in 1946 England. Rick uation where everyone is harking
shoots fish when on melodrama.
he’s bored and Eve- The special effects here are a
lyn reads out extracts very paled down version of The
from her mummy chron- Mummy, which is sad consider-
icles to the lunching ladies. ing The Mummy came about nine
Add to this some exaggerat- years ago. Cinematography made
ed expressions of boredom The Mummy, along with the
with their new way of life. pharaohs, princesses and tombs,
And like his father (and look almost exotic. No such thing
without his knowledge), here except a firecracker-studded
son Alex is busy dig- sky over Chinese New Year.
ging up an empe- Even if you stop comparing
ror’s tomb in both films, The Mummy: Tomb of
China – an emperor the Dragon Emperor is dead fish.
turned to terracotta The biggest problem with the
along with his army by a film is it is caught between the
witch (Michelle Yeoh). As O’Connell family bonding drama
luck and the O’Connell in- and the matter of urgency at
tervention would have it, a hand. So in the end, both sides
very angry 2,000-year-old remain half-baked. The entire
emperor awakens. comedy-cum-action thing, like
Jet Li might be good at headless skeletons falling over
playing the good cop in each other trying to look for the
martial arts film but in heads, or Brendan Fraser making
his role of the Han em- funny faces at skinless men, is be-
peror lacks that intimi- ginning to wear off.
dating presence of Director Rob Cohen told MTV
Arnold Vosloo of The News that a fourth instalment of
Mummy. Not for once The Mummy is all but guaran-
do you see the savagery teed, depending on the response
with which Imhotep chose to Mummy 3. God forbid. ■

The Mummy: Tomb of

the Dragon Emperor is
worse than The Mummy
Returns, which, in turn,
was a poor cousin of
The Mummy

Film: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Director: Rob Cohen Cast: Brendan Fraser, Maria Bello, Michelle Yeoh, Jet Li, John Hannah, Luke Ford
 Thursday, August 7, 2008
11
Jacksons to be honoured Ash and Robot
Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Aishwarya Rai has said that she has
Michael Jackson will receive a lifetime earmarked the entire month of
achievement award during the September to shoot for Rajinikanth’s
performing rights group BMI’s eighth Robot.
annual Urban Awards on September 4.

A
newly discovered tape of The

Cine City
Beatles laughing and chatting
in the studio has sold at auction
for about 23,000 dollars. Cameo
Auctioneers said the reel-to-reel tape
was recorded in 1964 and had recent-
ly been discovered by a man in north-
ern England while he was clearing out
his father’s attic.
The tape was earlier expected to
fetch 16,000 dollars when it went un-
der the hammer at Cameo Auctio-
neers in Berkshire, England on August
5,2008, reports Contactmusic.
An Internet bidder bought the tape,
which features John Lennon and Paul
McCartney struggling to record ’I’ll
Follow The Sun’ amid a fit of the gig-
gles. ■
ANI

The tape Karthik, Manirathnam

features John team up again
Yesteryear hero Karthik is all set to make a
Lennon and comeback. Buzz is that the actor has been
roped in by director Manirathnam for his next
Paul McCartney
Beatles’ struggling to
flick. If sources are to be believed, Karthik will
be donning a powerful negative role. The
movie features Vikram and Aishwarya Rai in
record ‘I’ll prominent roles. Karthik, who floated his own

1964 tape Follow The

political party recently, had acted in films like
Agni Natchathiram and Mouna Ragam, directed
by Manirathnam before.
Sun’ amid a fit
sells for $23k of the giggles

Depp Dhanush, Selvaraghavan

join hands
Director Selvaraghavan and his brother

plans to set up actor Dhanush will come together again.

The movie, to be produced by
Kasthooriraja’s RK Films, will start after
Selvaraghavan completes Ayirathil

house in U.K. Oruvan. Dhanush is now doing a film

with Suraj. Sources say it would be a
costly film, to be made on a
budget of over Rs. 35
crore. It would have an
A merican actor Johnny Depp looks all set
to move off to the U.K., as he has report-
edly been house hunting in the English
innovative storyline and
set a new trend in the
countryside. Depp, who currently resides industry. Selva and
in France with his long-term girlfriend Va- Dhanush have teamed up
nessa Paradis and their two children, was to render hits like
rumoured to be looking into buying a Thulluvatho Ilamai, Kadhal
country estate in Norfolk, England. Kondein and Pudhupettai
The rumours were fuelled when he went before.
to view an 11 million dollars mansion just
outside the East Anglian city of Norwich.
But the reports have not been confirmed,
and the real estate agent handling the
property has refused to comment on the
rumours that Depp has put in an offer.
ANI
12 SCAN ERGO Thursday, August 7, 2008

Its Ashley, no, Mary-kate!?

According to tv.com, Mary-Kate Olsen dyed her
hair a darker colour so that people could tell her
and Ashley apart, although some people were
still unsure who actually dyed their hair in the
first place.

PICK OF THE DAY

Star Movies Sony Pix Discovery travel and living Zee TV

A good year – 11-05 pm
After years of no contact with his
Uncle Henry, London banker and
bond trader Max Skinner learns that
Henry has died intestate, so Max
inherits a chateau and vineyard in
Provence. Max spent part of his
childhood there, learning maxims
and how to win and lose.
American Psycho – 6 pm
Based on Bret Easton Ellis’
controversial 1991 novel, comes this
dark story of a young Harvard
graduate, Patrick Bateman, who has
all the accoutrements of a young
man,but with a twisted mind.
Floyd’s India – 10 pm
Chennai. This week, Keith travels to
Tamil Nadu, the earliest British
settlement where many examples of
British architecture still survive.
Kasamh Se – 9 pm
Bani is the eldest of three sisters
who assumes complete responsibilty
of the family after the death of
their father and migrate to Mumbai
as per his wishes.

Dear Diary
In this week’s ‘Dear Diary’, racer Alisha Abdullah
talks about her training session at Thailand

I
am just back from Thailand.
The training sessions went on
really well. I had amazing fun
and also learnt a lot. I really
enjoyed the gruelling hours of
training mixed with unforgettable
memories.
Having learnt to handle 200
kilos bikes, I now feel on top of
the world. It was a little difficult
in the beginning but I picked up
after a while. The tracks, the
trainers, the competition, the
place … everything was so good.
It was a very different and an ex-
citing experience.
But you know what diary; there
were these two American guys
there. They were around 45 years
of age and they kept putting me
down. After a point I couldn’t
take it and was getting really
bugged with them. But I never ac-
tually told them anything be-
cause I knew that I would have to
beat them at the race to have the
last laugh.
Ultimately when the training
was over I did get to have the last
laugh. I managed to beat the both
of them and that too riding a 200
kilo bike (I repeat!). I was thrilled
and so happy. It lifted my spirits
and I felt so good after that. That
was one unforgettable thing
which happened in Thailand. Ac-
tually I realize that I have over-
come the phase of taking such
people to heart. Pushing it aside
and racing forward it the key and
I am happy am doing it. ■
Compiled by Nandhini
Ramkumar and Anusha
Parthasarathy
 Thursday, August 7, 2008
13
Extended bed
For Brazilian triple jumper Jadel Gregorio, who towers over the
average human being, Chinese hosts have arranged a bed after
figuring out his height. He is 2.03 meter (6 ft 8 in). They had
also raised his shower head - to as high as they could without
lifting the ceiling.

sticky@goergo.in

Greetings
Dear Uma,
Confluence
Wishing you all the good things the world has to offer,
An exhibition of designer
hoping that the love you share today and the kind
ceramic ware organised
blessings being sent your way follow you throughout
by Ishika will be held at
your years together to ease the struggles and deepen the
Amethyst.
joys of a lifetime!!! Happy Birthday Mom .. :-)
Where:
Loving Son Karthik,
Padmavathi Road,
Polaris Software labs
Jeypore Colony,
Hi Kavitha Rammohan,
Gopalapuram,
Wish You A Very Happy Birthday!!! A Very Best Of Luck
When:
For All Your Future Endeavours!!!
August 8 – 10
Hearty Wishes,
Contact:
Saravanan P, TCS
Vijaya - 9382713370
Hi Narmatha,
Wish you many more Happy Returns of the day. May all
you wish come true. Have a great year ahead.
Regards,
Alcatel 5620 Team,
Wipro Technologies
Hi Koushik,
On your birthday,we wish for you the fulfillment of all
your fondest dreams. Many more happy returns of the Autumn LADY’Z PASSION
day.
Best wishes from,
St.Peter’s and Infy Gang. Infosys Technologies Ltd
Fashion
Dear Ashok,
Congratulations!!! Keep Rocking with Wipro Infotech. All Festival ‘08
the very best.
with love,
Priya, IBM.
Hi Chanduudaykiran,
May your Birthday bring U as much happiness, As U give
to Everyone Who knows U Happy Birthday. Have a Blast.
Cheers,
Vetri, HCL Technologies.
Hai Karthik,
Wish u a happy birthday to u. Hope this birthday will
bring u happiness and prosperous in your life. Advance
thanks for publishing this greeting.
Loving friend,
Thilagavathi B, Tata Consultancy Services
"Lady’z passion" is a festival of workshops for women who wish to
Hi sathe, An autumn fashion festival will be learn something new apart from their daily routines. The work-
Wish you many more happy returns of the day. May all held at Hotel Chola Sheraton. The shop includes self grooming, mehandi and cookery.
your dreams come true.God bless you dear. two-day fashion extravaganza will Where:
Hearty wishes,
feature labels from Delhi, Kolkata, Abhiram Krishna Tulsi Apartments,
Poppu & Puppy, Wipro
Bangalore, Mumbai and Goa. Kasturibai nagar, Adyar
Dear Gayathri, Where: When:
Wish you a very joyful Birthday.May all your endeavors Chola Sheraton The Self grooming workshop: August 13 - 14
result in success. Have a wonderful year ahead. Cathedral Road, The Mehandi Designing workshop: August 18
Hearty wishes from,
Gopalapuram The Cookery Workshop: August 27- 28
Revathy, Gayathry devi, Senthil
When: Contact:
HCL Technologies Limited
August 8 & 9, 10.00 a.m. - Arva – 9884049371
Dear Barathi, 8.00 p.m.
Happy Birthday wishes to our Buddy Boy Barathi.
May all your Dreams come true with your efforts.

Dear Raj,
Regards
TEAM - PAREXEL, HCL Comnet
We would like to decorate your heart with colorful SAVING LIFE
flowers which has cultivated from our hearts for your A college physics professor
birthday was explaining a particularly
Regards, complicated concept to his
Butterflies,Wipro Technologies class when a student
Dear Srini, interrupted him. "Why do
Wish u many more happy returns of the day. May god we have to learn this stuff?"
bless all your needs and have a great year...... the young man blurted out.
With Love, "To save lives," the professor
TK SAMY, Changepond Technologies. responded before continuing
Hello Gang, the lecture. A few minutes
Send your greetings to sticky@goergo.in, with the word later the student spoke up
‘greeting’ and the preferred date of publication in the again. "So how does physics
subject line. Example: “Greeting: August 10”. This will save lives?" The professor
help us organise the column. said, "because it keeps the
Cheers,Team Ergo idiots out of medical school."
JOKES CORNER
COSMETICS LINE
A woman bought a new line of
expensive cosmetics guaranteed to
make her look years younger.
After a lengthy sitting before the
mirror applying the miracle
products she asked her husband,
"Darling, honestly what age
would you say I am?" Looking
over her carefully, he replied,
"Judging from your skin, twenty;
your hair, eighteen; and your
figure, twenty-five.""Oh, you
flatterer!" she gushed. "Hey, wait
a minute!" he interrupted. "I
haven’t added them up yet."
NEW PRISONERS
Two new prisoners
were shown to their
cell. "How long are you
in for?" asked the first.
"Eighteen years,"
replied the second.
"How about you?"
"Twenty-five years. So
since your getting out
first, you’d better have
the bed by the door."
14 TRAFFIC JAM ERGO Thursday, August 7, 2008

36 beers a day
A Brit woman has a job that might be the dream work
for most blokes - sampling up to 36 different beers a
day. Annabel Smith, who works for beer quality
assessor Cask Marque, has tried almost 26,000 samples
of 3,000 different brews in three years in the job.

sudoku

Tapan Kumar
Biswal of CDot
Alcatel Research
Centre Pvt. Ltd.
shot this picture
atop Yelagiri Hill.
This tree seems to
be a natural
honey factory –
count the number
of nests!

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

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Sriya Narayanan
ads@goergo.in

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RA. Babu Vijay
copies@goergo.in

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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, August 7, 2008
Dear brother
Ahead of the upcoming siblings’ festival ’Rakhi’,
scores of people are tying Rakhis around trees as
part of their attempt to preserve trees from being
felled down in the forest-rich Jharkhand state.
15
Word’s worth
"Naevose" (nee-vose) a rare adjective meaning
’spotted, freckled.’ A naevus is a raised red or
purple birthmark caused by hypertrophied blood
vessels in the skin. The US spelling is nevus.

B.C

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

You may be very assertive today. Because of your
boosted self-esteem you may behave differently with
others. Be polite and easygoing with your superiors
to avoid frictions over petty issues. Your romantic
life may play at a very higher octave today.

TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 20

Others can be jealous of your progress on the
professional front. It’s not your day so better to
refrain from arguments with others. Technical issues
will be solved. Your life partner may take the lead
and you have to just follow, for the sake of it.

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 20

It may be a demanding day at work front. You may
BORN LOSER be dealing with some complex issues but since your
technical mind is active, you will be able to find
resolution to persistent problems. Lovers may
experience some upheavals on the relationship front.
CANCER JUNE 21 - JULY 20
You may be very resourceful today, hence everyone
around you may seek your help. Knowledge of the
subject is your power today. The day may offer you
credit on the professional front. You will enjoy
harmonious love life, by the Grace of Ganesha.
LEO JULY 21 - AUG 20
You would be in a mood to discuss ’bottom lines’.
In personal life, you may remain guided by female
close to your heart, irrespective of your own gender.
On the love front, you are not in a mood to argue,
instead you will be in a mood to let things happen.
VIRGO AUG 21 - SEPT 20
You may enter office with a mood to finish off a
FREE RANGE WORKING IT OUT major part of your job. Ganesha finds you inclined
towards research based activities. You may be in a
mood to do something radically different. You may
exchange some emails or SMS with beloved.
LIBRA SEPT 21 - OCT 20
Money matters will be ruling your mind so while
putting in lot of effort at workplace, you may
constantly compare efforts and gains. You are
advised to avoid harsh speech. Ganesha finds you
becoming very possessive about your life partner.
SCORPIO OCT 21 - NOV 20
Ganesha foresees you dealing with everything very
confidently. Your concern for technical issues may
be high but you will be able to solve all the
problems. You may be feeling romantic so you and
your beloved may have a great time together.
SAGITTARIUS NOV 21 - DEC 20
‘There is no point in running after a mirage’, this is
what you may feel today. Ganesha finds you
becoming extra sensitive. It’s a stressful day but at
the end of the day, you may experience intense love
and may also receive the same from your partner.
CAPRICORN DEC 21 - JAN 20
You may be in a mood to knit every aspect related
to your work. You will expect the same from your
colleagues too. In personal life, you might show
some tolerance as expectation for perfection may
lead to differences between you and your partner.
AQUARIUS JAN 21 - FEB 20
PREVIOUS People holding similar designation as yours may be
jealous of you. Alternatively, you may have
ISSUE’S differences with them. Control your temperament at
office. On the personal front, you must avoid being
SOLUTIONS over-demanding to avoid some heart-burns.
PISCES FEB 21 - MARCH 20
It is a favourable day for you. Desire to do
something creative will be high. You may not be
willing to take risks in personal and professional
front. You may share your heart with your beloved.
In short, love life is likely to be good.
Predictions by Bhavesh N. Pattni
16 ! ERGO Thursday, August 7, 2008

Not now, honey!

A Brit man has been arrested for having sex with his wife -
while she was asleep. The 28-year-old was taken into custody
after his wife claimed that she had woken 30 times in the
past year to find him making love, reports the Sun.

BRASS TACKS DESIGN

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All the clothes are made out
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done to suit the
contemporary Indian woman
who likes to dress smart.
Anaka Narayanan, designer
and owner of Brass Tacks
make clothes that are simple,
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A cotton tie and dye kurta (Rs.1080)

paired with linen trousers (Rs.1830) just
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The Angarka top (Rs.1190) is tradi-
tionally a man’s wrap shirt, it has
been modified to fit a woman’s con-
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flare skirt (Rs. 1640) that flares out
from knee to ankle it is designed to
make one look taller and slimmer.

The gore flare skirt

(Rs.1270) has fun
cuts making the
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buttons running
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Brass Tacks 77/13 Corporation Shopping Complex, C.P. Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet, Chennai- 600 018 Phone: 044- 42081767 www.brasstacksmadras.com