M A R 1 9 -- M A R 2 5 2 0 1 0
VOLUM E 1 | I S S U E N O . 2 5 | 1 6 P A G E S
- S M A R T S H O P P I N G S TA R T S H E R E -
CHENNAI | PRICE Rs. 5.00
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Green politics
7
Wrap it up
In namma Chennai style!
Home makeovers
10
Get a fresh perspective!
13
Star Cars
Dive into the future!
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4
Eco-friendly secretariat
Believe and it shall be! Page 8... Tamannaah
16
Flying high!
R E V I E W S
.
O F F E R S
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C O U P O N S
ON SALE EXPRESS | MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2010
FRI
Hot ‘n’ Happening
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TUE
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24
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THU
25
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To Do List
Burger Delights Till Mar 31 Now who doesn’t like Burgers? And for you burger lovers, Cinnamon of Trident Hotel is doing a burger promotion. Get ready to open that mouth wide people. Cinnamon, Trident, 1/24, G.S.T Road, T Nagar, Phone: 22344747.
ibition Crafts Fair! An Exh of m Don’t Miss Orissa rafts from the land of various handic Orissa. 1st Kalyana Mandapam, Till Mar 21. Vijaya Raja i – 20. Nagar, Adyar, Chenna stri Sha d, Roa nue Ave by Joel moirs Photographs m Check Out Me on display. Suganth and others , 24/40, Francaise Auditorium Till Mar 31. Alliance i, Chennai. College Road, Anna Sala
Partly
@ chennai
p e o p l e . t r e n d s . e v e n t s
19
SAT
Vietnamese Food Fest Mar 22 to Mar 31 Lively, fresh flavours and artfully composed meals make Vietnamese food and cooking the true ‘light cuisine’ of Asia. Delicate soups, stir-fries, seasoned grilled foods and more at Hip Asia. Hip Asia, Taj Connemara, Binny Road, Anna Salai, Phone: 66000000.
Speed Dial
Game Zone Sun has started blazing. You, on the other hand or with both the hands, can set fire to the consoles. Try these gaming centres and chill out.
Little Angels Till Mar 23 Fashion for your loved ones. An exhibition of little girls’ fashion by Paracas. Also enjoy the special bargain offers from Tarun Tahiliani, Sunita Shankar, Indux Tex, A Small Shop, and more.
Blur Gaming Zone
43920326 (Sathyam Cinemas Complex)
The Den - Gaming Lounge
Amethyst, 14/30, Padmavathi Road, Gopalapuram, Phone: 28351143.
09841352859 (Shastri nagar)
Zapak gameplex
09884070742 (Velachery)
Reliance Web World 9381045254(Alwarpet)
Days of Summer
Zap
9840968021 (Adyar)
Now in store Delicate prints, subdued embroidery, chic texturing and innocent styling make the Spring Summer 2010 collection at Evoluzione a ‘plush-er’.
For Feedback & Suggestions, Contact us at 044-43590099 (or) Email us at in.editor@ingen.in
Evoluzione, 30, Khader Nawaz Road, Nungambakkam, Phone: 28333626/7.
Nook 'N' Corner DISCLAIMER
Costume Calling Searching for a suitable dress for dance or fancy dress competition? From the glittering tops to leather pants, Mother India to Mahatma Gandhiji, Dance Connexions has got everything for everyone. Hire any costume and dazzle everyone. Dance Connexions, No 177 SMS Centre Basement, Near Vivek & Co, Royapettah High Road Luz, Mylapore, Chennai - 600004. Ph: 66424243
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ON SALE EXPRESS publishes the advertisements & listings in good faith but does not hold itself responsible for the representations or claims made for the products and services in respect of which readers are advised to make their own assessment. COPYRIGHT © 2009 ON SALE EXPRESS. Reproduction of any material in whole or part prohibited.
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ON SALE EXPRESS |
MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2010
Melting
Moments The sun has come back on Chennai with a vengeance, but here’s a place that’ll make you forget the scorching heat while you melt in its arms. ithyathambool, does the name ring a bell? May be not, the rugged name board hardly stands out in the array of shops here. But the queue outside the little shop (dare we call it so) is sure to intrigue you. So, “What do they specialise in?” we queried a North Indian lad who was busy ordering something in Hindi. “Beedas, of course,” he gave us a juicy grin. This place is renowned in Chennai for the best beedas and stands out for its service, he added. Another college kid nearby announced to us, “we come here mostly for the kulfis.” That sounded promising enough for us to venture. We paid Rs. 20 and got a crunchy kulfi in hand. The taste has to be experienced to be believed. It was a heavenly experience to say the least, we got greedy and ordered two more. We cursed ourselves for having missed it on our regular gypsy shopping ventures. The outlet also polishes silver and copper vessels (we thought it was just that in the beginning!) and sells mughlai biriyani during the weekends. Paan Perfect! While we gorged in the amazing kulfis, the beeda loyalists informed us that the beedas were equally enticing. The owner sure seems to have magic in his hands, so we went on to investigate a little about the maker of these delights. Mohan, the owner of the shop, has been in this line of business for the past 30 years, the varieties of paan that he sells include sweet, regular and special. After leaving his job at Enfield, the owner V.M.
Ghouse (a.k.a Mohan) decided upon the beeda business with an initial investment of Rs.5000. Mohan had been observant of other types of beedas sold in different parts of India. Some of the ingredients used in his paan include fennel seeds, papaya muraba, gulkand, adhimathuram, mint chutney, betel nut, chopped dried nuts, cardamom and cloves among others. What’s in it? - The regular paan here is made of paan leaf, lime, fennel seeds, papaya maruba, gulkand(rose mixture) and vannathi paaku alongwith sugar, cashew and badam all placed together and bound in place. - The special beeda sold is made up of gooseberry, palm jaggery, cardamom, clove, Ginger maruba, fig, orange peel and a special mixture (consisting of raagi malt, fennel seeds, coriander dhal and silver foil). - Both the regular and special beeda contain adhimathuram and paan chutney. Mohan of Nithyathambool says that his USP is that he believes in quality, hygienic preparation and the fact that he loves his customers. He is known sometimes to prepare up
to 10-15 beedas for his customers. Earlier, Mohan had also learnt to make kulfi and sold his home-made kulfi to customers and their children. Now they both compete hard to give you a taste of heaven. A regular customer of Mohan, Rajaram from Abiramapuram says, “The paan is excellent and that’s why I am a regular customer here along with my wife.” Everything is prepared hygienically here and Mohan has many regular customers from Anna Nagar, Velacherry, Uthandi and the neighbouring Indira Nagar.
buy lanes
N
Nithyathambool is located on Second Avenue, Besant Nagar, next to Hotel Eden and Mohan can be contacted at Ph: 9281012742. He also takes order for biriyani with Mutton Biriyani costing Rs. 970 per kilo and chicken biriyani costing Rs. 775 a kilo. - Supreena Narayanan
Try it at home! Kulfi is usually prepared by evaporating sweetened and flavoured milk by slow cooking. Stir it continuously (to keep milk from sticking to the bottom of the vessel) till its volume is reduced by a half (semi-condensed state). It will form a thick paste. It will then have a distinctive taste due to caramelization of lactose and sugar during the lengthy cooking process. The semi-condensed mix is then frozen in tight sealed molds (usually sticks) that are then submerged in ice mixed with salt to speed up the freezing process. The ice-salt mix, along with its submerged kulfi molds, is placed in earthen pots or matkas that provide insulation from the external heat and slow down the melting of ice. Kulfi prepared in this manner is hence called ‘Matka Kulfi’. Kulfi, thus prepared by slow freezing, also renders a unique smooth mouth feel that is devoid of crystallization. Add cardamom, if you like the taste of it. Or just drop in to Nithyatambool and have the time of your life!
Badam Kulfi .............................................................................................. Contact us at 044-43590099 | in.editor@ingen.in
3
ON SALE EXPRESS | MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2010
The New Secretariat - an eco-friendly structure ell, looks like the Tamil Nadu administrators too have been bitten by the eco-friendly green bug. The new Legislative Assembly-Secretariat complex in the city, that was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on March 13 is said to be the largest green building by a State government – and comes fitted with several eco-friendly built-in measures. A quick look at what constitutes the structure: Area With about a million square feet of built-space, consisting of more than 1000 rooms – offices, waiting rooms and conference rooms, this is a six-storey structure referred to as TNLA-Block A. The total space allocated for the entire administrative block (inclusive of the TNLA-Block A) is 25 acres, though. Moving in The posh, completed structure currently holds offices for the Chief Minister, some senior ministers and the Assembly Hall. It will be the new headquarters of state administration, replacing Fort St George. Built by The building was designed by German architects, GMP International, with construction by East Coast Constructions & Industries Ltd - the principal contractor for the project. At peak construction time, about 4,500 workers and 200 technical staff were engaged in the project.
En3 Sustainability Solutions were the city-based green building consultants for the project. The building community states that the structure is a benchmark for green construction in the future.
1,900 control units are provided so occupants can turn off the AC in their rooms when they leave, and the centralised air-conditioning has a decentralised control.
Water conservation The Assembly building is estimated to require about 70,000 litres water a day at peak occupancy when over 3,000 people will use the facility with the Assembly in session. Provision has been made for water recycling, and will apparently result in 52 per cent lower use of freshwater. Water for the landscape and toilets will be reused, a rainwater harvesting facility has been installed on the rooftop, and so have rainwater recharge pits at the ground level. A 2.5-lakh litre a day sewage treatment facility is also on the cards.
Interiors
A chiller indeed! The design of this structure apparently provides for optimum use of natural ventilation and shade to bring down air-conditioned space to about 5.2 lakh sq ft out of the total built up area of about 9.5-lakh sq ft. Part of the roof has gardens or reflective surface instead of bricks. The exterior wall has been built in with granite and an air gap, followed by a cement concrete wall to insulate the interior. This way, by preventing the entry of heat, they hope to reduce the burden on air conditioning. Wait a minute?! Well, the logic here seems to be, as Deepa Sathiaram of En3 has been quoted as saying, “If you minimise heat coming in, half the battle is won.” To top that off,
eco zone
W
Low volatile organic compounds paint, natural coir carpeting for the interiors, a preference for MDF plywood and veneer instead of wood is also used here.
Whoa! Battery charging points for electric cars and car pooling spaces in an effort to promote alternative transportation, have been provided in the building. What Next? In the second phase, over 30 government departments will be built over 70,000 sq m. Estimated to be fully ready by May, the building has received LEED gold certification from the Indian Green Building Council. All we can say is, this is one cool office for the administrators of the state, and a commendable green structure! - Krithika Sukumar
They Quoth Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi came down to Chennai to inaugurate TNLA-Block A, a momentous event indeed. Their arrival resulted in a flurry of excitement and more traffic snarls in our city. We bring you a bit of their speeches at the inauguration: “Through the decades, its (Tamil Nadu) political leadership has combined a profound commitment to social justice and empowerment of the weaker sections of society…a magnificent and resplendent structure…the spirit behind is that of Mr M Karunanidhi.” – Sonia Gandhi, UPA Chairperson “If Tamil Nadu is one of our foremost States, one of the most agriculturally, industrially and educationally developed States, it is because of the high quality of its political leadership and administrative machinery. On these new premises, we will witness new heights of legislative competence and legislative propriety.” – Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister “We have never forgotten our lofty objective of elevating our mother tongue Tamil to the top position and to celebrate its glory.” M Karunanidhi, Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu
Photo : Nagoor j
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MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2010
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5
ON SALE EXPRESS | MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2010
What can You get for
99
a year 6
?
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ON SALE EXPRESS |
MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2010
Petawrap At first it did seem like an auto-rickshaw parked at the Bharat Petroleum Gas Station, Mogappair, selling something to eat. But a closer look revealed a lot more than just to eat.
P
etawrap hit the streets of Chennai on March 11, 2010 and is the latest offering for all food lovers in town. Named after the popular Prabhudeva song- Peta Rap, the new form of street food would soon spread to all petais of the city. The brainchild of Rakesh Raghunathan, a young and ambitious MBA graduate, Petawrap is sure going to redefine street food, giving it a whole new dimension and making it a whole lot healthier, tastier, economical and stylish. As the name suggests the kiosks offer delicious and nourishing wraps (chapatti style flat piece of bread) with some interesting fillings to cater to your taste buds. Although the wraps are not particularly Indian in origin, the stuffings truly are. The Chicken Kebab Wrap, which had wholesome pieces of chicken kebabs and some mint chutney, was our favourite. It had a strong taste of barbecued chicken which is complemented best by the tangy chutney. But Rakesh recommends the Chettinad Chicken Wrap for the meat lovers. The Masala Paneer Wrap seemed apt for the vegetarians- methi or fenugreek flavoured wrap, filled with lots of masala paneer cooked in home style. It seemed to have a perfect balance of spice making it neither too hot nor very bland. Also for the vegetarians, there was a very interesting filling- the vada pav. Although, it is called the vada pav wrap, it has the vada stuffed in, minus the pav. Nevertheless, it tastes equally good. The recipe for all the wraps have been very carefully designed and created by Kaushik Shankar, who is also the man behind several coffee shops in the city. The best part about the wraps is that they are absolutely non-greasy and oil-free. This spells boon for the health conscious crowd, as they can now enjoy scrumptious tortilla sandwiches without having to worry about the calories. Also the fillings come with absolutely no preservatives and are prepared on a regular daily bases. The vegetarian and non-vegetarian food are cooked in separate counters and unlike other food available on the road side, the hygiene measure taken were mighty impressive. Although, the wraps were definitely very tasty, what really caught our attention was the auto-rickshaw styled kiosks. The counter is made to look like the back of an auto complete with a number plate and the ‘We two, ours one’ tagline. It captures the true spirit of Chennai and represents the local feel in the best possible way. The entire concept of the wraps is relatively
new to the city, but it sure is going to be a big hit among people who prefer hasslefree eating. College students and company professionals are soon going to flock the kiosks as the wraps are not only palatable but also nourishing, hygienic and light on the pocket. The only thing that Petawrap lacks is a little more options, with just six different varieties they sure can do better. A meal for two would cost Rs.50-80. - Ankit Bakshi
Petawrap Menu Veg - Masala Channa wrap - Masala Paneer wrap - Vada Pav wrap Non - Veg - Manchurian Chicken wrap - Chettinad Chicken wrap - Chicken kebab wrap
.............................................................................................. Contact us at 044-43590099 | in.editor@ingen.in
7
LET'S
Make it Pos
Want to take your challenges heads-on? Here’s some inspiration for the geniu
A
s we celebrate the birthday of the great scientist Albert Einstein this month, we bring you some simple inventions that have made our life a lot more bearable. And the next time you wear those tapered jeans or eat those two-minute noodles, remember innovations need not always come out of equations. So, bring them on! Blue the brunt! Are jeans your second skin? Here’s who you have to thank for this ultimate fashion garb. In the 1850’s, Levi Strauss noticed that miners’ pants could not bear the brunt of their stressful profession. So, he stitched some canvas and sold them as pants. He then got the denim canvas dyed into blue so that it could conceal the stains well. From the cowboy’s stable and miner’s cave, the jeans then slowly crawled its way to the fashion vistas and has stayed there ever since. So, don’t bother about the jeans being on your legs more than in the closet, for you are flaunting an eternal passion.
Miss. Happening
God-sent, literally!
Mother of invention
If not for a lady’s constant kitchen accidents, we wouldn’t have had the band-aid today. Here’ the story, Earle Dickson was employed as a cotton buyer for Johnson & Johnson. His wife Josephine kept cutting her fingers in the kitchen while preparing food. At that period, a bandage consisted of separate gauze and adhesive tape that you could cut to size and apply yourself. But he noticed that gauze and adhesive tape that his wife used fell off her fingers often. He decided to invent something that could stay in place and protect such small wounds better.
Those ‘post-it’ notes that remind you of everything from electricity bill to pending office work, has its humble origins in the church. Yes, in the early 1970s, Arthur Fry was in search of a bookmark for his church hymn book that would neither fall out nor damage the book. He noticed that a colleague, Doctor Spencer Silver, had developed an adhesive that was strong enough to stick to surfaces, but left no residue after removal and could be reused. Arthur Fry took some of this adhesive and applied it along the edge of a piece of paper. And voila, his hymn problem was solved!
He took a piece of gauze and attached it to the center of the tape, and then covered the product with crinoline to keep it sterile. His boss, James Johnson, saw Earle Dickson’s invention and decided to manufacture band-aids to the public and our hero was made the vice-president of Johnson & Johnson. Lesson learnt guys? Keep your wife happy!
Arthur Fry soon realised that his ‘bookmark’ could be used for other paper work too, as the demand for his new ‘book mark’ surged. 3M Corporation christened Arthur Fry’s bookmarks as ‘ Post It Note’ and it lives happily ever after in our offices.
Marion Donovan, a po and mother of two in C creative by nature. Fru annoying task of chan cloth diapers, sheets a invent a diaper cover t calm. She sat down at a shower curtain, and waterproof diaper cov ber baby pants that we design did not cause d snap fasteners in place that were commonly u named ‘Boater’ as she This was is not an elec lot of trouble and time little Einsteins a happy
Keep it cool
Dear Teddy
Did you know the air-conditioner we use today was actually invented to aid a printing press? Fluctuations in heat and humidity of a Brooklyn printing plant had caused the dimensions of the printing paper to alter slightly, enough to ensure a misalignment of the coloured inks. So, the new employee at the Buffalo Forge Company, Willis Haviland Carrier (who started on a salary of only $10.00 per week) found a way to keep his boss happy. He found the first (temperature and humidity) conditioning machine that a created a stable environment for printing and made four-colour printing possible. What was in 1902, a printing phenomenon soon become a must-have luxury in our world.
We all know that our heroines are notorious for their huge cuddly teddy bears, do you know who was the first teddy? Mr. Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, was the person responsible for giving the ‘teddy bear’ its name. In fact, it was a political cartoon that inspired the teddy series. In 1902, Roosevelt was helping settle a border dispute between Mississippi and Louisiana. During a hunt in that period, he had come upon a wounded young bear and had ordered the mercy killing of the animal. The Washington Post promptly ran an editorial cartoon created by the cartoonist Clifford K. Berryman that illustrated the event. The cartoon depicted both the state dispute and the bear hunt. The cuddly cub that Berryman drew became so famous that the cartoon bear soon became a toy for children called the ‘teddy bear’.
War against hunger Can you believe war inspired our ready-to-eat noodles? When the World War II had ended, Japan was suffering from a food shortage and people were forced to eat bread. An entrepreneur Momofuku Ando decided to find a cheaper and easier way of making noodles to deal with hunger. He finally came up with a method of making and moistening noodles, then drying and flash-frying them. Ready-to-eat in minutes after being covered with boiling water, these came as a boon to the war-torn country. Thus was born the Nissin Food Products Co., Ltd and with it the cup of noodles.
From
Now, are we inspir we are not born g be one, right?
Albert Einstein
The poster boy of science had an easier way of com This was his take on relativity! Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems l minute. That’s relativity.
And on radio, he had this to say: “You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operate there. The only difference is that there is no cat.”
One more gem for the genius: Only two things are infinite, the universe and human
8
ON SALE EXPRESS | MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2010
ssible!
us in you.
ns
ost-World War II housewife Connecticut, Donovan was ustrated by the repetitive and nging her young child’s soiled and clothing, she decided to to keep her baby dry and t her sewing machine with after several attempts, a ver was born.Unlike the rubere in vogue then, Donovan’s diaper rash. She then added e of the dangerous safety pins used. The first diaper was e thought it resembled a boat. ctric bulb, yet it saved us a e. And probably gave a lot of y childhood.
red enough? So, what if genius, we can choose to - Catherine Gilon
n’s Diary
mmunicating his complicated science principles.
like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a
g cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los es exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them
n stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.
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ON SALE EXPRESS | MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2010
Home ideas Inc. f a s h i o n . s t y l e . i c o n
H
ome decorating on a budget can be challenging, but can surprisingly turn out to be fun and easy. You don’t need lots of money to decorate your home with style and not all projects have to break the bank!
W’at an Idea!
Get style on the cheap when you decorate using these money-saving ideas:
Keep these ideas in mind as you refresh the look and feel of your home:
Paint Paint is very inexpensive and can transform a room into something spectacular in just a day. You can also makeover other decorating objects like furniture with a splash of the right paint. Learn to sew The hardest part about sewing on a sewing machine is threading the machine. By learning to sew and purchasing a second hand sewing machine, you can make curtains, tableclothes, duvet covers, pillows and more with almost no effort. If you want to save even more, look for discounted fabrics.
- Paint, paint, paint! - Make your own artwork - Keep it neat - Dress your windows - Try new and exciting places to shop - Add plenty of proper lighting - Don’t buy everything you see - Have a plan
Hit second-hand stores and sales You might be surprised at what you might be able to achieve with a little shopping and a little persistence. Remember that you can transform them into something as good as new! A little elbow grease can turn trash into treasure. Mix n Match Avoid buying sets of furniture and accessories that are designed to go together. This look is really not chic any more and can be quite costly. Instead, look for items that have a similar unifying element and purchase them when they’re on sale, piece by piece, rather than loading up all at once. Light right Lighting can make or break a room. Invest in energy saving bulbs to change a room’s mood immediately and yes, it won’t burn a hole in your pocket. Think outside the box Use found items as decorative elements rather than mass marketed items. Shells and stones collected in a jar are interesting but so are acorns, apples, limes, and other inexpensive found items. Any artwork is expensive, but framed seed packets and antique postcards aren’t and are just as interesting. Go green, go glam Having plants in any room makes you feel more alive. Simple green foliage often lasts longer than flowers, and the overall design of a single leaf can make more of a striking effect. The right plant will have a simple yet modern appeal. In your kitchen, add a small herb garden to your windowsill to add life to the room. Move everything One way to make your home look fresh and new is by moving your furniture, pictures and odds and ends around. Don’t stop at rearranging a room, but move a couch from the living room to your bedroom, move bookcases around, create a reading nook, see the house as a whole, not just room by room. Mr. Fix-it-all Consider simple fixes before you get rid of something. Bring life back to leather furniture with a little olive oil; make your kitchen chairs new again with a little spray paint and some fabric; get the scratches out of your wood floor and furniture by rubbing them with an almond. Don’t always discard something until you are sure it can’t be reused. Mirror magic Add dramatic flair to any room with a perfectly placed mirror. Mirrors can make a small space seem significantly larger and can really intensify light in a shadowy room. Try leaning a tall mirror against a wall to create an artistic focal point for the room. These smart and stylish decorating tools are sure to have a bold, eye-catching effect and don’t have to cost a lot of money. - Aishwarya Shankar
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- Re-use existing items
- Have Fun
ON SALE EXPRESS |
MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2010
Mouse Affairs Track, drag, select, move, draw...
T
his week, we are going to talk about mouse (no, not the one the one with the tail, well, not the one with its tail attached to a computer) and its types. Mouse is a pointing device in a computing system that functions by detecting 2D motion relative to its surface (you already know that but hey that’s my job). In its initial periods of appearance, it was commented as the thing that no one wanted to use. But ironically, everyone in the world using a computer will feel handicapped without a mouse. Flash Back The computer mouse was the creation of Douglas Engelbart and his team at the Stanford Research Institute in California in 1968. The first ever mouse was a carved wooden block mounted on wheels. Developed by Xerox during the 1970s, the mouse was first released as a commercial product in 1981 with Xerox Star computer system. But it was with Apple that the mouse started a revolution becoming a default option with computers. After 42 years, the mouse has evolved into various interesting forms.
Moves aplenty! Now that we are done with the history lesson, here we present you the various types:
Mechanical Mouse – you won’t get to see it nowadays, but they had their own period of glory. With a ball to move the cursor, the mechanical mouse requires a flat surface for more efficacies. Mouse pads came in to fulfil the necessity. Opto-mechanical Mouse – once a most commonly used mouse. The optomechanical mouse uses a combination of optical and mechanical technologies. It also has a ball, but detects the mouse movement optically. It uses an LED to illuminate the surface they track over. Optical Mouse – currently the most used type. The optical mouse uses an optical sensor, to detect the mouse’s movements. The advantage of the optical mouse is that it can be used in any surface.
Wireless Mouse – an interesting technology in recent times. The wireless mouse uses infrared, radio signals or bluetooth technology to communicate with the computer. Laser Mouse – it uses an infrared laser diode instead of an LED to illuminate. The laser mouse has 20 times more tracking power than that of an optical one.
Stylus Mouse – the mutated species of mouse. The stylus mouse looks like a pen and is used on a special pad to communicate with the system. These are just the types of mice upon which more options are available. Decide which one is best to make your move.
Trackball Mouse – it is just an ordinary ball mouse, but yes, it’s upside down! The trackball mouse requires minimal space as the rolling is done on top. While the traditional mouse needs space to roam around, the trackball can sit stationary on any surface without the necessity of moving at all.
Game Point Nowadays, mice are designed specifically for games. Coming to the fun part, we will see the most interesting kinds that have surfaced in the markets recently for gamers
Razer Mamba Wireless Gaming Laser Mouse A 5600 dpi engine powers the Razer Mamba providing the mouse with the best-in-class performance. The 1 millisecond response rate of Mamba makes you the fastest on board and a sensitive one at that. Built for both left and right handed gamers, the mouse has an on-board memory that lets you save customised profiles and settings.
Logitech G9X Laser Mouse Touted as the most customisable mouse, the G9X gives you the option to change the grip, weight, colour and sensitivity. This fact alone acts as the determining factor for the mouse to be the first choice of many gamers. With a 5000 dpi engine and rated as the best gaming mouse, the mouse works great for any playing style, from a slow and precise gamer to the fast and furious one.
Microsoft SideWinder X8 Mouse Powered by a 4000 dpi laser engine and partnered with a 2.4 GHz wireless connection, the X8 provides best-in-class tracking on any surface like mousepads, glass, carpet and wood. The hockey puck shaped charging unit doubles up as a wireless receiver. A very effective and a formidable piece of device, X8 will guide you to victory on your quest for dominance. So what are you waiting for? Get loaded with your favourite mouse and start gaming!
Contact us at 044-43590099 | in.editor@ingen.in
11
ON SALE EXPRESS | MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2010
Spurious drugs, a growing virus
Reward Scheme Two months ago, the Central Government announced a reward of Rs 25 lakhs to anyone who alerted government agencies about those manufacturing or selling illegal drugs. The Health Ministry’s scheme offered a reward of up to 20% of total cost
of consignment seized to whistle blowers. The amount should not exceed Rs 25 lakh in each case, a ministry statement said. The scheme is applicable to seizure of spurious medicines, cosmetics and medical devices. As an incentive, 25% of the amount will be given to informers at the time of filing of the charge sheet in a court of law so that they are not made to wait till the matter is disposed of. To deter informers from turning hostile during the trial, 25% of the reward money will be given after the case is settled in favour of the government. The remaining 50% will be paid only when the case has been finally disposed of in favour of the government and no appeal is pending in any other court of law in the country. Officials from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, if eligible for the cash rewards, will not get more than Rs 500,000 per case and Rs 20 lakh in their entire career, the statement said. Earlier, the Ministry had announced that offenders will face life imprisonment or fine of Rs 10 lakh or three times the value of the drugs confiscated, whichever is more. Fake drugs from China Spurious drugs are reported to be sent in large quantities by China to India through Chennai and other eastern ports. A few months ago, Nigerian authorities had intercepted a consignment of fake drugs supposed to have been marketed from India. However, a probe showed that the medicines had been manufactured in China with ‘made in India’ labels and exported through India. “There is an abject criminal and mala fide attempt to import spurious drugs in the country originating from different sources and from different places in China,” a senior Health Ministry official said. China has formally apologised to Nigeria for alleged
export of fake drugs and assured it that punitive action will be taken against those involved. World Health Organisation sources say that more than 50% of counterfeit drugs are from clandestine laboratories in China and India.
Pharma industry associations have repeatedly complained about the increasing menace of fake medicines and say that not enough had been done to root out the evil. Some drug manufacturers have come together under the aegis of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) and have hired the services of top retired police officials to help the pharmaceutical industry take on the spurious drug mafia. Tips to buy medicine - Buy only from established and registered pharmacies. - Always insist on a bill with the batch no of the drug entered. Check the expiry date. - Avoid websites offering to supply medicines without a prescription and making tall claims. - When you start taking a medicine, create a ‘baseline’ of the drug’s characteristics, including its appearance, taste, texture, reactions and packaging. Compare the medicine you receive with what it is supposed to look, taste and feel like. When comparing packaging, look for differences in paper, printing, colour, and fonts (i.e., is it the same size, raised print, embossed, etc.). You can easily find out if it is fake. If you have any suspicion, do consult your doctor. - Don’t use medicines that come without advice leaflets and instructions, or those that arrive in plain, unbranded packaging.
A consumer court in Coimbatore allowed the refund of Re 1 that Mr V.S. Ravi fought for after a local supermarket charged him Rs. 32 for an electric tester whereas its MRP was printed as Rs. 31. The court also awarded a bonus of Rs. 6,000 as additional compensation to him after turning down the supermarket’s defence.
legal jottings
k n o w . s p e a k . a c t
ccording to World Health Organisation, almost 10 per cent of the medicines sold throughout the world are spurious. One study says that in our country, pain killers, weight loss and anti-depressant drugs are some of the most common counterfeit tablets that are sold by unscrupulous traders to unwitting consumers shopping online. Sale of dateexpired drugs are also done to unlettered persons who come without a doctor’s prescription or seek medical advice for common ailments from the salesmen at pharmacies. The Tamil Nadu Government recently cancelled the licences of a pharmaceutical firm, which had allegedly supplied date-expired drugs that cost the life of a child. Similarly, action has been initiated against some wholesale drug dealers in Chennai and Kumbakonam for dealing in surgical items without a valid drug licence and maintaining expired stock. Of the 14 wholesale establishments inspected in Chennai, one was found dealing in surgical items without a valid drug licence. Syringes and needles worth Rs.2 lakh were seized. Two dealers were found having expired stocks and cosmetic items without proper label. Necessary action was initiated against them. It is alleged that India accounts for 35% of spurious drugs in the world.( But this figure is disputed by pharmaceutical organisations). Some fake drugs are passed off as life-saving ones and some as antibiotics and gastroenteritis tablets.
focus
A
Claim for Re. 1
Two Wheeler firm pulled up The National Consumer Commission, restrained a two-wheeler manufacturing firm from making claim in Ads that their motorcycle would give a mileage of 80 km per litre under standard conditions unless they state what the standard conditions are. The manufacturers were also directed to pay Rs. 25,000 as compensation to the petitioner. A bench of the Commission stated that the advertisement was misleading and amounted to unfair trade practice. “When they claim that the motorcycle can give a mileage of 80 km per litre they can’t be absolved of their responsibility not to clearly indicate that this would be so only if driven at a speed of 40 km per hour and the load would be 130 kg,’’ the bench stated. Simply putting an asterix and indicating the condition at the bottom of the advertisement would be ‘deceptive’, the Bench added. Thus, it took M.R. Ramesh over ten years to fight his case againt this ‘twist’ in the advertisement. As his petition was dismissed by the district forum in Karnataka as well as the State Commission, he moved the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for justice.
- Don’t be tempted to buy large amounts of medication. - Never use medication prescribed for someone else. - A personal medication record of all medicines you have used will always be helpful. - Correspondent
Speak Out! Readers are invited to share with us their grievances about products or the outcome of any complaint taken to a retailer or service provider, for publication. E-mail us at in.editor@ingen.in
CMYK
Earth Hour 2010 Earth Hour 2010 takes place on Saturday, March 27 at 8:30 pm. Do put out all lights and non-essential lighting and see the difference you can make in the fight against global warming. Earth Hour is a symbolic event designed to engage people from all walks of life to send a strong message to political leaders to take meaningful action on climate change. It is the largest climate event in history where millions of people around the world will unite by turning off their lights for one hour, Earth Hour, to demand action on the climate crisis.
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ON SALE EXPRESS |
MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2010
Carzzz With the ripples of excitement of the vehicles displayed at the Detroit Auto Show in the month of January still to calm down, we now take a tour on the concept cars that were present in the venue.
Honda CR-Z Hybrid Sports Coupe Marketed by Honda as a ‘sport hybrid coupe’, the Honda CR-Z is a compact hybrid electric automobile. The CR-Z combines a hybrid gasoline-electric power train with traditional sport car elements. A successor to the second generation Honda CR-X in both name and exterior design, the CR-Z sports a 1.5-liter engine and Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system. After the Civic Hybrid and the Insight, CR-Z has become Honda’s third hybrid electric car in the market. CR-Z has got a maximum output of 122 hp and 128 lb/ft of pulling power. Cadillac XTS Platinum The plug-in hybrid power train from Cadillac uses a 3.6-liter V6 engine and an electric motor to produce a total output of 350 hp and 295 pound-feet of torque. The XTS Platinum provides a new design and strategy that would be incorporated in the upcoming models of Cadillac. The interiors also sport a new layout with orange LED displays replacing the traditional gauges and screens. The Cadillac XTS Platinum is expected to go into production by early 2012.
GMC Granite Aggressive looks and a bold front grille mark the GMC Granite. The Granite is a cross between a small utility vehicle and a minivan. The power for this new concept car from GMC comes from a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine that gives a maximum power of 138 hp. The Granite is based on Chevrolet’s model, Orlando, but unlike Orlando which seats seven, Granite seats only 5. With a 6-speed transmission, the four cylinder engine is highly efficient and should be approved for production anytime soon.
Audi E-Tron The E-Tron is Audi’s all electric ‘uncompromising purist compact sports car’. One for each wheel and each with its own cooling system, two electric motors power the back tires producing about 204 hp and can propel the car from 0 to 100 kph in 5.9 sec. The 880-lb lithium-ion battery pack can store 45 kw-hr of electricity that can roll the car for a 155 mile ride. The stunner from Audi is made of aluminum with doors, hoods, sidewalls and roof made of fiber-reinforced plastic.
Hyundai Blue-Will
Follow Traffic Rules
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Wear your Seat Belts
C MYYKK
The Hyundai Blue-Will is powered by a 152 hp 1.6-liter gasoline engine and a 100 kilowatt electric motor. The Blue-Will boasts of 106 miles per gallon. It can cover 40 miles on a single charge in the electric only mode. This concept from Hyundai also features a panoramic glass roof lined with solar cells for recharging the batteries. With sleek looks and sweeping character lines, the Blue-Will could be the start of more such models to come in the future.
Have a Safe Drive
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ON SALE EXPRESS | MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2010
I
am Suresh, working in a reputed hardware firm. Once, I went with my friends to a Tamil movie. As per the seat number, we got seated next to a set of college kids. From the beginning of the movie, those boys had lot of fun, commenting funnily even for the sad scenes of the movie. We were listening to the movie keenly, but were also simultaneously enjoying the comments from these guys. It was so entertaining, that it made us forget the time. The lights were ON, it was the break. As usual we had some snacks and returned to our seats. The movie resumed with a good comment from one of the kids. We were sincerely munching the popcorn that was bought in the break. Suddenly we heard a lady’s voice from the front row shouting aloud, “Don’t you have sisters?” We turned around to see who the perpetrator was. Then we came to know that the innocent ‘culprit’ was one of the college students who sat next to us. Actually, he had accidentally hit the leg of the lady in the front row while stretching his leg for relaxation. But the lady who came with her husband didn’t stop cursing him.
We came out of the theatre just behind that ‘accused’ college gang. That innocent culprit was narrating the incident to his friends with a ‘why me’ tone, “When will a lady get angry da? If someone does it repeatedly, right?” Other friends answered him eagerly, “Yeah, so?”
“Machan, I came there only after the break da, that idiot was only sitting there before I came,” he pointed to an evilly grinning classmate.
LOL
@
- Suresh Raju,Thiruvanmyur
Do you recollect any such memories of goof-ups on your shopping expeditions, entertainment zones or eat-outs? Email us your mis-adventure at in.creativity@ingen.in and walk away with surprise gifts. Your story (less than 400 words) will be printed here with whatever name you choose to write under (little angel, drunken monkey etc). Now, go ahead and laugh out loud!
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That ‘culprit’ guy asked sorry and explained to her that it was unintentional. Her husband seemed to be polite and decent, and had understood the situation and made her calm. Then the comments stopped from their side and the movie went very slowly and calmly. The movie got over. We came out relaxed after watching a good movie. The movie was very nice as said in the review of ‘Onsale Express’. Well, you would have wondered what the joke here is. Here’s the climax or should I say anti-climax?
silly point
i n n o v a t e . i n t e r a c t . i n s p i r e
Anti-climax
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ON SALE EXPRESS |
MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2010
Color Craze INDIAN PREMIER
Dear Kids, Now that the IPL season has started, let us also get into the celebrations. Colour the Kolkate Knight Riders logo with vibrant hues.
Colour this picture and mail your artwork to
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Winner for 23rd Issue: V.Aparrajitha. Kilpauk. Std.II
oing on a holiday is fun. But dragging the luggage is surely a painful task. Scooter Bag puts an end to your problems. You don’t have to drag your luggage but wheel it to your place. Pack up your luggage and jump on the scooter to get away. A simple but effective invention, the scooter can also fold up allowing you to use as a normal luggage carrier. Get ready to scoot your way.
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RNI No. : TNENG/2009/30433
ON SALE EXPRESS | MAR 19 - MAR 25, 2010
Making Heads L
What’s Tamannaah like in real life?
How is 2010 treating you?
What’s the secret of your stunning looks and complexion?
It’s been fantastic so far. I am looking forward to the release of ‘Paiyya’ opposite Karthi, which is directed by Lingusamy. The songs by Yuvan are already chart toppers. Next in my kitty is ‘Thillalangadi’, directed by M Raja with Jeyam Ravi as the hero. It’s the remake of the Telugu hit ‘Kick’ and the film is about to roll out soon. Then of course, there’s ‘Sura’ opposite Vijay, so am obviously excited!
I am like any other twenty year old and I love life! But I guess I spend a lot of my time working. I am very analytical and I also get very critical of myself.
on sets
l i g h t . c a m e r a . a c t i o n
uscious and lovely, Kollywood’s beauty Tamannaah has an interesting list of films up her sleeve this year. From ‘Paiyya’ to ‘Thillalangadi’ and then ‘Sura’, her fans can catch her on the big screen in various avatars this year. She opens up to us on films, life and more…
Turn
It’s hereditary. However, when I get sun tan, I use a besan and curd mix to clear it. ‘Paiyya’ and ‘Thillalangadi’ are both love stories. What does love mean to you as a person? Love is a very important part of life and makes life beautiful and happy.
On the sets of ‘Paiyya’
- Rinku Gupta
It’s a beautiful travel story that was shot all over the country; we mainly shot on the highways. Karthi Vs Jeyam Ravi
Actress: Tamannaah
Karthi is very dedicated, quite obsessed with films and very involved with his work. Jeyam Ravi is very bubbly and energetic on sets and quite naughty too pulling everyone’s leg. You recently shot a song where you have donned 5 avatars. Tell us about it. Yes, in the song ‘Sol pechi kekada’, we used a robotic camera and in one song, you will see 15 Jeyam Ravis and five Tamannaahs. It involved a hectic schedule of 40 hours, several costume changes and loads of hard work since we had to shoot, change and get back to the next step in quick succession. It’s a new concept and we managed, thanks to director Raja, Cameraman Rajsekar and Shobi master. It’s been the most challenging song I have done! What does Chennai mean to you? Well, I have been shooting so much around here that Chennai has almost become like my home town now!
Tamannaah Talk Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s my favourite of them all? Attire desire: I like Indian clothes a lot, especially saris. I also love casuals. Well, I think I just dress according to the occasion. Gadgets and me: We are not meant to be. I am illiterate about gadgets! I just use my iphone a lot. Ma Cuisine: I love home-made food, especially dal chawal Secret of being ‘bodylicious’: Gymming, half an hour a day. Dream tour: Trip to Egypt! What’s caught my ear? ‘Thuli Thuli’ from ‘Paiyya’. Where can you find me? I hardly have time to hang out due to hectic shooting. So my hotel room is where you would find me after work!
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Published and Owned by Girish Nara and published from Flat-B, Plot-3, Nahar Garden Apts, Kannappa Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai - 41. and printed by Girish Nara at Vasan Print Products Pvt. Ltd., No.72, North Phase, SIDCO Industrial Estate, Ambattur, Chennai - 98. Editor: Girish Nara