The Ferrari continues to haunt the Little Master. Sachin Tendulkar sneaked into the Andheri RTO at 6.30 a.m. on August 28 to pay a Rs 6.5 lakh registration fee to get the 9999 VIP number plate for his Ferrari. Unfortunately, the hacks caught on and Mumbai has been abuzz on whether he asked for a rebate on this too.

THE WAUGH ACT: Tendulkar at Parikrama, Bangalore

Tendulkar tried to deflect some of the bad press at a press conference where he talked about his "undercover" charity work for years. When Tendulkar spoke of his support to Apnalaya, an NGO that educates destitute children, it took even the Apnalaya officials by surprise. "He has never been vocal about the stuff he does here. Maybe it was the prickly questions that got to him," says Nina Joshi, director of the Mumbai-based NGO who approached Tendulkar 10 years ago for an aids awareness campaign. The ties went much beyond that. From supporting the education of 200 children to ensure proceeds from auctions and commercial events go to this NGO, Tendulkar plays an active role. His contribution accounts for Rs 5-10 lakh of its Rs 45-lakh budget.

Why Apnalaya you may well ask? Because ma-in-law Mehta is one of the directors and wife Anjali has been involved with the cause for many years. For now, Tendulkar is raising funds for the the development of the Municipal Sports Ground at Shivajinagar which the ngo supports. And yes, the children can't get enough of him. And er ... the Ferrari too.

— Nidhi Taparia

A Humanoid Hits India

RIGHT STEP: ASIMO at a demonstration in Delhi

It will not be the prize as much as the prize giver which will be star attraction at this ceremony. At a glittering finale of a science quiz for Delhi schoolchildren, a humanoid robot will give away the prizes.

Named ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility), the robot will also shake its legs at a live music show later this month. Developed over 14 years by Honda Motor Company, Japan, ASIMO is the only robot in the world that can walk without assistance, climb stairs, help the physically disabled, talk in various languages and do work unsafe for human beings.

Four feet tall and weighing 52 kg, ASIMO can be a perfect help in household work for the disabled. But it is not yet available commercially and its price tag remains undisclosed. The first such robot was unveiled in the US last year and is being tried out as a tourist guide there.

During the month-long stay in India, ASIMO will help raise awareness about robotics among children, academicians, scientists and the general public besides travelling to various Honda plants.

— Malini Goyal

Protocol vs Pretence

It came as a surprise when Vadodara Police Commissioner Sudhir Sinha ordered a Ganesh Chaturthi organiser last week to remove a tableau depicting Lord Ganapati tearing Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to shreds. His reason: "Musharraf is the head of state and it is improper to depict him in this fashion." Not all agree with him.

The hardliners are unhappy about it. "Modi was openly abusing Musharraf during the poll campaign last year. Was Musharraf not the head of state then? This smacks of double standards." Modi should answer this question. But as always he is keeping quiet.

— Amarnath K. Menon