CODA

OFFICE BEARERS President Dr. R. Chandra Sekaran Vice President Dr. S. Sivanesan Secretary Er. C. Balu Treasurer Er. E. Sivakumar COMMITTEE MEMBERS

We thank one and all for partnering the yearlong Memorable Journey through this in-house magazine. Every issue was carved carefully. In case of any wrong reporting, misspellings, etc. we are remorseful for the errors. The Karaoke Nite on 16th June had enthusiastic participation and singing (Photo courtesy: Er. Prem) This issue carries an article by our regular contributor Shimantini Banerjee on Cross Cultural Wedding. (Thank you very much Mrs. Shimantini) Concluding part of Aswaths Foul Play in Fun Land finds its usual place. (Thank you, Mr. Aswath for your regular Sports Round Up) Er. N. Seshadri Kumar, highlighting the issue of Mullai Periyar, stresses in his article that We really need a National Water Grid, not a Dam. By the time this issue reaches your hands, the new Management Committee would have taken charge of the helm of affairs of the club under the president ship of Er. C. S. Vijayaraghavan. We wish him and his team ALL THE VERY BEST in their endeavours. AGM had very good Member attendance and participation in the deliberations. We bring you some snaps of AGM and charge handing over moments. We thank Options Media for the wonderful cooperation and creative Layouts, especially to Ms. Shriya Suresh and later Mr. Anto Vijay and Mr. Augustine Team. Once again, A BIG THANK YOU.

Library & Newsletter Prof. N. Ramanathan Catering Dr. S. Selladurai Sports Er. TV. Satakopan House-Keeping Er. VBA Surya Prakash Entertainment Er. S.R. Murugadoss Anna University Nominees Dr. M. Sekar Dr. D. Arivuoli
New Bridge Room Inauguration New Bridge Table and Busy Players Children participate on Creativity and Painting Contest

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INDUCTION OF NEW COMMITTEE

by RETURNING OFFICER Er. V. H. SUbRAMANIAN

CHARGE HANDING OVER

Dr. R. Chandra Sekaran handing over to Er. T. Swaminathan on behalf of Secretary

Dr. S.Selladurai handing over charge of Catering to Er. S. P. Chandrasekar

Er. S. R. Muruga Doss handing over charge of Entertainment to Er. D. Girish

JULY | 2012 | 3

GLIMPSES OF ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING

24th JUNE

President Dr. R. Chandra Sekaran presenting the Annual Report

VIEW OF PARTICIPATING MEMBERS

Er. P. Ramaswamy placing a request for LIFT

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JULY | 2012 | 5

A REPORT - REvIEw & LEssONs LEARNT

by Er A. RAdHAkRISHNAN (M.NO. 127)

ALUMPICS

Scope: The scope of this note as indicated in the heading is to analyse the various aspects of Alumpics as a feedback for the future managers. Alumpics was conducted for the first time in the present format on the basis of suggestions of well meaning friends last year and was continued in the same form due to its success. Since there were no complaints on the format, team formation etc., the same form was continued this year also. This was also done to avoid delays of forming teams afresh etc. Alumpics was intended to start in October / early November but could be started only by late November due to various reasons. There were further delays due to weather, non availability of majority of members / captains due to various reasons, intervening external tournaments etc and against the planned completion by January 2012 could be completed only by 18th March. Nine games were included and the format was retained as last year but for some change in points system.

LeSSon 1: Alumpics must be started latest by October 15th giving about 3months for the newly elected committee to settle down and come to terms with the scenario and early enough for games to be completed before say January 20th. Schedule of external tournaments eg: TNTA , Cricket T-20, Bridge tournaments etc need to be conveyed in advance to the Alumpics Committee by the Sports Sub Committee (SC) Members to help the scheduling. Sub committee members involvement: In some quarters there was some reluctance on the part of the SC members to consider Alumpics as a part of the regular activities of the group and quite some persuasion had to be done before events could be planned. LeSSon 2: The MC / Sports Secretary need to ensure that all SC members are informed of their

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role of SC member and a written acceptance obtained on the same. There were instances of members saying that I am not the SC member. Three games, TT, Chess & Carrom have no SC member and all those activities had to be managed by the Alumpics committee resulting in extra strain. Members participation was very less compared to last year (100+ in place of 200+). While the concept was well received, when it came to participation there was a lot of reluctance. One reason could be that the Home team captains have not personally written / spoken to the individuals and obtained their concurrence before inducting them into the team or informed them of the schedule in advance. A high tea meeting of sorts with budget provision of about 5-7.K per team may have yielded better results. The initiative for this has to come from the house captain. The thinking that registrations should be called for before including them is rather not practical since even last year when registrations were called for only 20-30 members registered . About 1000+ mails, SMS & Phone calls (ID wise ) were sent by the Alumpics facilitator to all members but still the response was what it was. LeSSon 3: Communicate and earn the confidence of your team mates. Wards: All wards were permitted after some initial reluctance to participate but this led to some imbalance in some games / teams. While the intent was to promote wards participation and spot talents, wards above a certain age are much more stronger than the members leading to the imbalance and reluctance on the part of the members to compete against stronger opponents. LeSSon 4: Either wards should be completely excluded from Alumpics or an age limit of 15 years or

less ( say 10-15 ) only should be permitted to participate. A separate tournament for wards only in specific age groups could be thought of. Some wards who participated were 25+ years. This could also take care of examination time blues. Some good young wards have been spotted in Chess Siddhu Pillai & Prajdev Pillai, Pooja Sukumar, Siddhu Ilango etc. Promoting / sponsoring them in external tournaments either by the club or members should be seriously considered. Team formation: Last year there was no complaint regarding team strengths. But this year there were complaints of some teams being stronger than others in specific games, at least vociferously in one game. This is bound to happen because once a member is chosen for a team for a particular game then he continues to be a member of that team for all games. It is impractical to have all teams equally strong in all the games and while one team may have a good team for game A for Game B another team may be stronger. In spite of the complaints it must be noted that in almost all the games / majority of the games, the last four comprised of one team from each house which is a good reflection of the relative strengths and the draws. LeSSon 5: To get over the difficulty all captains need to review their team strengths at first and come out with their observations for adjustments by consensus or by spotting new people. Schedules: The Chairman & House Captains along with the game SC members have to work out a schedule and try to complete the same. While postponements and last minute absence are inevitable there has got to be a give and take policy among the captains rather than insisting on scratches and / or asking for postponements on a quid pro quo basis. Conveying of schedules sufficiently in advance and confirming attendance shall be the responsibility of the SC member and

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the team captain respectively and in case of changes all must be informed in advance so that there is minimum disappointment for those who come and are told that the match is postponed. Some members putting conditions of availability only on certain specific times, days etc puts a lot of strain on the schedule and captains need to take responsibility to avoid such scenarios. The SC member is only responsible for scheduling, making the venue available organizing referees etc if required, but ensuring the presence of the participants is the sole responsibility of the team captain. This year at least two games were postponed by 1+ month due to the non-availability of the concerned players. While scratching can be resorted to it preempts the original intent of Alumpics: maximum participation of members in as many games as possible. Hence has to be avoided to the maximum extent possible unless the participating team itself recommends their being scratched. This year the number of scratches has been rather high points system: This year for some games (Rummy , Chess , Carroms & TT) the points were reduced from 8 & 4 to 5 & 3 respectively on a trial basis since a particular captain felt all games are not equal and these games are per se not popular etc . It is recommended that this decision be reversed back to the old system of 10 & 5 for all games. All games are equal and if some games are not popular giving equal importance would give them the necessary fillip. It also gives an equal opportunity to all teams to take a shot at the cup. If still desired for some games more events can be conducted viz., Billiards & Snooker as two events each having a total of 15 points , singles and doubles in Tennis , & Shuttle , Round robin in Cricket so that all teams get some point say 10/5/3/1 etc. LeSSon / MoraL 6: Winning is important but participation is equally important and the former is only a bonus. It is very sincerely hoped that the

future managers would be made aware of the issues , corrective actions as required be taken and ensure the continuation of the Alumpics ensured. The club spends a lot of revenue in maintaining the sports complex, about 4 to 8 lakhs per annum and the full benefit can be derived only if sports activities are given the necessary fillip by conducting more such tournaments, triangular (Club , Staff & Students of AU) not conducted for a long time now, inter club tournaments etc Viva La alumpics and espirit - De-corps of the alumni club. (With inputs / feedbacks from some Captains, Chairman, SC Members, Participants etc).

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CLUb NEWS CONTUNIES ON PAGE NO 33

Director: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath and Conrad Vernon Cast: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Frances McDormand, Martin Short, Jessica Chastain, Sacha Baron Cohen The third and seemingly last part of the Madagascar franchise, Madagascar 3: Europes Most Wanted, features our familiar band of New York natives, Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo and Melman the Giraffe, once again attempting to make their way back to their home the Central Park Zoo. After finding themselves in Monte Carlo, and with the help of their friendly renegade penguins, they are forced to go on the run, passing themselves off as circus animals to escape the clutches of Chantal DuBois, an animal control officer with a penchant for big game trophies. DuBois is determined to hang Alexs head over her mantelpiece and will stop at nothing to capture him. Part three of the series is definitely a step up from the lacklustre sequel set in Africa. Part Two featured a familial reunion, much like the Lion King but unfortunately, fell short of the epic mark. Part Three is much more promising, falling back into the familiar routine of adventures, fun new characters and a dastardly villain. The new continent hopping Madagascar is a fun, laughout-loud flick for all kids and adults alike.

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Director: Shankar Dayal Cast: Karthi, Santhanam, Prakash Raj, Radhika, Pranitha, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Roja, Kiran It had been a pretty dry period for Tamil movies after the memorable performance of Vazhakku En 18/9 the only void filler being the flamboyant advertising of Saguni. The trailers and promotions with the sprightly Karthi and ever entertaining Santhanam were everywhere, raising expectations from all sides. Could Saguni satisfy the high hopes? Well, it did try and manage for the first twenty minutes or so. Saguni is a classic case of a good actors potential going down the drain, no thanks to a bad script and redundant editing. In fact, it is one of those films where no amount of good acting can render any value because the characterization has been etched ineptly in the first place. The political scene in Tamil Nadu is going through some very bad times. Prakash Raj, the chief minister is not one known for his ethics. Meanwhile, Kamalakannan (Karthi), a simple lad from Karaikudi comes to the city with a personal agenda. Over the course of his struggle, he faces the wrath of the CM. In retaliation, he determines to bring the CMs regime down by helping some worthy opponents gain power, aiding them with his shrewd political advice and Machiavellian tactics. A kingmaker in Indian politics it is easy to empathize with the optimism that the team might have felt towards the concept. However, the first half of the film is unnecessarily stretched with little substance. Nevertheless, this part of the movie also offers some of the most enjoyable moments of the film with the brilliant chemistry of the Karthi - Santhanam duo. The movie could easily have done away with the heroines role and it would not have made an iota of difference. We are all aware that, barring a few exceptions, the Indian film industry is almost regressive when it comes to portraying women with strong characters. However Saguni takes that statement to a whole new level. On the bright side, Muthiah does a fine job with the cinematography and G.V Prakashs background score is mention worthy. Manasellam Mazhaiye is a heart stealer. For generositys sake, we could just about try being kind, keeping in mind that it was the debut venture of the director. However, in the end Saguni is a sad case of wasted possibilities. -Reviewed by Sinduja Raghunathan
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BEAUTY
Do you splurge a fortune on those fancy hair care products? So, you cant face yourself in the mirror with that frizzy hair? Wish you had long, gorgeous tresses which those awfully skinny models sashay in the shampoo advertisements? Yes, a great and healthy mane is the obsession of many women around the globe. But surprisingly, all you need to do is rummage through the kitchen cabinet and you are sure to find the secret to beautiful hair, naturally! EGGS This is a prehistoric remedy but still goes along brilliantly well in modern times. All you have to do is beat a couple of eggs in a bowl and apply it to your hair. You can wash it off once it dries followed by a mild vinegar rinse to remove the protein residues. This will ensure that your hair will be well conditioned and oh-so-soft! VINEGAR Frequent shampooing can leave your tresses absolutely lifeless. In such sordid circumstances, the humble vial of vinegar comes to your rescue. The ideal mix would be one part vinegar and three parts water to eliminate the traces of chemicals or pollution. Your hair will be easier to manage! MAYONNAISE As much as you love to gorge on mayonnaise, rubbing a bit on your hair can do wonders thanks to the fatty acids in it. But, keep in mind not to rub too hard on your scalp as its very oily. The best way to apply mayonnaise is to start from below the ear and gradually work your way downwards. This will take care of those nasty split ends and also serves as a deep conditioner for your hair. Yogurt Yogurt or curd is yet another good conditioner for your hair. Rich in proteins, this has similar properties like mayonnaise. Plain or mixed with avocado, a generous portion of yogurt can add the shine to your hair perfect if you are allergic to eggs.
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Oils Ancient Ayurveda has it that warm oil is not just therapeutic but also relaxing. Apart from the usual coconut oil, there are many more options which you can look towards, like canola oil for instance. Warm the oil and massage it gently to your scalp. This will help in better blood circulation and keep your hair lustrous. Watermelon and cucumber Yes, you heard it right! Mash either watermelon or cucumber and mix it with yoghurt for a replenishing hair mask. This combination will not just leave your hair silky smooth but the fragrance will linger around for a while. Smells good, eh?

Tame The frizz!

Are you tired of that frizzy mane? Help is at hand! Trim your hair regularly. Dont ever rub while drying your hair. Gently squeeze the water out. Protection from the sun a scarf or bandana works wonders. Use wide toothed comb to free the tangles. Avoid excessive styling and blow drying.

rEcipE

Classic
Continental cuisine is diverse by itself, distinguished by the condiments and seasonings used. From the quiet British Isles to the archipelago of Greece, Continental food has a wide range of delicious food. Deepa Sekhar dishes out a delectable Continental platter

Saffron Rice with Vegetable Florentine

A greek fare and a deadly combo of rice and vegetables Saffron Rice Serves 4 Ingredients 2 cups soaked long-grained rice (wash and soak the rice for 20 minutes and drain) 2 tablespoons butter 2 pinches saffron (mix it with a little with hot milk) 3 cups of water Salt to taste Method Heat the butter in a heavy bottomed pan When the butter begins to melt, add the rice and stir for five minutes on low flame Add the saffron and saut gently Add salt and 3 cups of water. When the water starts to boil, cover the mix and sim the flame. Let it boil for 20 minutes. Open and stir with a fork gently. Serve hot with vegetable Florentine. Vegetable Florentine Ingredients: 2 cups boiled mixed vegetables (carrot, beans, green peas, potato, cauliflower) 2 cups pureed spinach with salt For white sauce 2 cups boiled, cooled milk 1 tablespoon maida (refined flour) 2 pinches of nutmeg powder 2 tablespoons butter Salt and white pepper to taste
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For the topping: 2 cups grated cheese (pizza cheese) Method Heat the butter in a heavy-bottomed pan. Once the butter begins to melt add the maida and sim the flame for 2 minutes. Add salt, white pepper powder, nutmeg powder and mix well. Add milk and whisk the mix well without lumps Add the boiled vegetables. Stir and remove from flame. To assemble: Take a baking dish. Butter it well and spread the vegetable white sauce mix. Top with spinach puree. Top with grated cheese. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 160 degree Celsius, till the cheese melts and the top turns golden. Serve it with saffron rice.

Lasagne Parmigiana
An Italian pasta casserole dish that makes for an awesome vegetarian delight too Ingredients: 6 readymade lasagne sheets (available in all supermarkets) 1 cup finely chopped onions 4 flakes of garlic minced cup chopped aubergine (brinjal) cup chopped broccoli cup chopped red and green bell pepper cup sweetcorn kernels 3 cups of tomato puree teaspoon red chilli powder 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup crumbled paneer 1 cup grated parmesan cheese For the white sauce 3 tablespoons of butter. 2 tablespoons maida. 2 cups boiled and cooled milk Salt and white pepper to taste For the topping 2 cups of grated cheese (preferably pizza cheese) Method: Blanch the lasagne sheets in hot water and drain. Refresh it with cold water Heat oil in a pan and saut onions and garlic. Then fry aubergine, broccoli, bell pepper and sweet corn. Add salt to taste. Add tomato puree, chilli powder and crumbled paneer. Mix well and keep aside.
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For the white sauce Melt butter in a pan. Fry the maida over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add milk, salt and pepper. Cook them till the mixture thickens and keep it aside. To assemble: Take a square dish and butter it well . Spread a layer of lasagne sheets. Top the vegetable mixture. Top with lasagne sheets. Top the sheets with the vegetable mixture. Repeat the procedure till all the sheets are used. Finally top it with white sauce and sprinkle grated cheese. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 160 degree Celsius, till the cheese melts and the top turns golden. Cut and serve hot.

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TrAVEL

In Wayanad
Offering a plethora of attractions to tourists, Wayanad district has become the most happening destination of Malabar. Suitably, Wayanad is the melting pot of the natural charm of Gods own country. Interestingly, though the district is called Wayanad, there is no place by that name. So if you scout for a place called Wayanad in Wayanad district, you are likely to be disappointed. Keeping Kalpetta, the district headquarters as the base, one can explore the myriad tourist attractions. For the adventurous, there are hills to trek, for the religious, there are sacred shrines, those who have a flair for history can explore the prehistoric caves, and for the laidback, there are lakes, mist-cloaked, undulating hillsides swathed in plantations, hedged by lush rainforests, rushing rivulets, and sparkling cascades that stun the eyes with their varying shades of green.

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Where:

It is located on the southern tip of the magnificent Deccan plateau. It is on NH 212 that connects Kozhikode to Mysore. Nearest airport and railway station is Kozhikode

hoW to get there: road:

Well connected by roads from Kozhikode, Kannur, Ooty and Mysore

Weather:

Summer is pleasant. Monsoon is from June to September. Winter can be cool. From October to May end.

Best time to visit: must see must do

Pookote Lake: Flanked by hills, the placid, picturesque freshwater lake gets its name from the hundreds of white and mauve water lilies that grow within. Pedal boats or rowboats can be hired from the boathouse on the banks of the lake. Take a stroll around the circular walkway around the lake or simply relax by the waters edge and enjoy the tranquil idyll. edakkaL Caves: If you have a flair for history, visit the pre-historic Edakkal Caves formed out of a strange disposition of three massive boulders on the crest of a hill known as the Ambukuthimala about 10 km from Sultan Bathery. These caves have become famous for their ancient carvings and pictorial wall inscriptions of human and animal figures with peculiar headgear and swastika forms and symbols. The end of these caves is situated between two mountains, both rising parallel from the ground with a gap between them. One can witness a magnificent view of the valley from this gap, full of unimaginable beauty. Ambalavayil Heritage Museum, near Edakkal, showcases artifacts of tribes besides engravings on stone slabs in the Vattezhuthu script and soft stone idols of tribal gods. suLthan Bathery Jain temPLe It was earlier known as the Sree Maha Ganapati temple. Its name changed after Tipu Sultan marched in with

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his troops and used the 13th century Jain temple here as ammunition dump. The town derives its name from that event. thiruneLLy temPLe Surrounded by the Kambamala, Karimala and the Varadiga hills, one can reach the temple hamlet of Thirunelly, through a meandering route, cruising past rich bamboo forests. The Papanasini River flowing downhill heightens the scenic beauty. A ritual dip in its crystal clear waters is believed to wash away ones worldly sins. Against the backdrop of the looming Brahmagiri Hills lies the more than 1000 years old Mahavishnu temple. Built in traditional Kerala style, it features 30 granite columns. Famed as the Thekkan Kashi (Kashi of the South), many legends are associated with the place and it has retained its natural charm. A famous pilgrim centre, the temple attracts hordes of devotees especially for performing ancestral rites.

shop for:

Fresh spices from any of the local shops. Tea, coffee, honey, bamboo products, carved coffee wood products, and native handicrafts are other must-buys from this spice-rich land. Check out a wide range of products made out of two dozen varieties of bamboo at the Uravu Eco Shop and also pickles, spices and honey.

eat here

Rain Country Resort serves traditional Kerala cuisine. Also try out the Malabar chicken curry with appams at Vythiri Resort.

Against the backdrop of the looming Brahmagiri Hills lies the more than 1000 years old Mahavishnu temple. Built in traditional Kerala style, it features 30 granite columns.

We recommend

For a whiff of raw adventure, take the 9-km trek through the dense forests to Pakshipathalam, a massive chain of caves crafted by nature millions of years ago in Brahmagiri Hills or climb up Chembra Peak, the tallest summit in this region and pitch a tent. Or, go island hopping to Kuruva Dweep, a 950-acre maze of islets. Or, clamber up a crane lift to Vythiri Tree House to have a birds eye view of the luxuriant forest. Listen to the sounds of the jungle and wake up to the musical chirping of birds

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ARIES (22nd March- 21st April) Financially this is an excellent time for you to indulge in new investments and projects which require your investments. Professional parameters also turn in your favour and any adverse impact that you had undergone for the past few weeks seems to be dissolving and new growth patterns emerge bringing much awaited success and appreciation. A woman might cause you troubles in matters of heart. She is someone with a strong personality with an amicable charming aura around her but you might have difference of opinion with her as far as your love life is concerned. Health keeps you in good shape. New beginnings on the family front shall be pleasant and harmonious. An addition to the family is also indicated for some of you. Travel is best avoided during this month as you might become quite stressed out while on a trip. LUCKY COLOUR: Orange / Peach TAURUS (22nd April - 21st May) Professionally, a lot of good things take place in your life as the month progresses. There shall be a number of opportunities that will keep cropping up suddenly and shall benefit you throughout the month. Financial success shall be as per your expectations. A written document or a message brings good news related to your investments. Matters of heart show average happiness and a few of you will also want to either buy a property or think about settling down. Health keeps you in fit shape as proper guidance comes in your life through an expert who knows what shall be the best for you in this month. Holidays or trips with family or homebound trips shall be memorable and enjoyable although they too are a bit confusing in their initial stages. Travel otherwise should be avoided as this is not the right time for any transitions. You will be a lot relaxed as the month comes to its end. LUCKY COLOUR: Blue / Turquoise GEMINI (22nd May- 21st June) Professional success is all yours to enjoy as the month progresses. New creative ventures shall be extremely successful. All the new projects that you take up during this period shall bear you the right fruits. A youngster who has a charming personality shall be instrumental in improving your financial strengths. Matters of heart need a lot of quick thinking and fine tuning, along with backup plans to deal with difficult deadlocks. There could be some misunderstandings or renovating problems in the house that might demand a lot of your attention during this period. Family get-togethers and reunions are on the cards. Memorable moments and nostalgia are all yours to treasure as you meet up with old friends and family members whom you have not met for long. Travel shall be pleasant and memorable. LUCKY COLOUR: Green CANCER (22nd June - 21st July) Romance and love breezes into your life like a breath of fresh air. You are at your charming best and learn the art of making even small moments delightful ones to remember for a long time. Children shall bring happiness and love back in your life. They will be instrumental in cementing the family together and shall also create positive aura at the home front. Professionally, any transitions that you make during this time shall turn out to be extremely favourable. There is a Divine cycle that seems to be supporting you through your thick and thin. Business trips shall be favourable. Financial success shall be good as you will learn the art of turning the graph of your investments northwards. Health issues shall be subtle and yet give you better results than the last few weeks. You might feel a bit ignored or let down in life as the month comes to its end. LUCKY COLOUR: Black / White

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LEO (22nd July - 21st August) You shall be quite proactive in your professional dealings and shall benefit out of your projects as the month progresses. This is the time to take action and to be decision oriented to achieve your targets. Being too restless can cost you in your monetary matters. You also need to guard against sudden outdoor events which might turn out to be more expensive than expected. The cards also guide you to relax in matters of heart and to give enough breathing space to your partner so that you enjoy more peace and harmony in your relationship. Being too possessive of your loved one might create further deadlocks in your relationship. Health issues are a point of concern and even minor problems should be taken extra care of. LUCKY COLOUR: Wine Red, Lilac VIRGO (22nd August- 21st September) Blessings and help from a fatherly figure in your love matters shall make your love life blissful. Professionally, this is a new phase and the smart move would be to learn from your past experiences and explore fresh ventures. A part of your professional life ends and new beginnings are indicated. However, financial obligations seem to be quite high during this month. Expenses on a fatherly figure also can turn out to be on the higher side. Health shall keep you in fit shape and cardio exercises or long brisk walks shall do wonders for your health. Family bonding is meant for keeps and you shall enjoy being the focal point in bringing all of them together. You might indulge in a lot of home shopping like renovating the house or redoing it with new upholstery; decorative stuff etc. Travel shows average success and would give better results if planned properly. Your focus shall be more homebound and family-oriented as the month comes to its end. LUCKY COLOUR: Orange, Peach LIBRA (22nd September- 21st October) Matters of heart shall be pleasant and romantic. Outings or holiday plans with your loved one shall be memorable though initially you might feel a bit insecure about it but you would become more relaxed and happy with the way things eventually turn out. Old projects are in the revival zone and a lot of plans that you had thought of earlier and were not able to manifest will suddenly come to the forefront. There will be co-incidences which might help you in manifesting them. Financially, this is a time to reap the benefits of your investments. Making fresh investments will also give you positive output in times to come. Health should be taken seriously as few health problems might crop up like gastric burns, BP etc which can create serious trouble if not dealt with immediately. Family get-togethers shall be emotionally enriching and celebrations and fun times together are all round the corner throughout the month. Travel made during this month shall be positive and growth oriented. LUCKY COLOUR: Electric Blue/ Mauve

SCORPIO (22nd October- 21st November) Matters of heart shall be pleasant and romantic and a man who has an excellent PR skill shall help you in your love life. Professionally, this is the time for expansions and diversification. Business trips shall be prolific and chances are that you might meet up with an interesting person while on a journey and who shall be instrumental in enhancing your career prospects and will help you in the long run. Financially, there can be some setbacks and you might be let down by a person whom you had trusted blindly. Health benefits will be positive though a visit to a hospital to meet someone is a strong likeability. Travel or holiday plans with your family shall be quite pleasant and memorable. Children in the family shall have a therapeutic effect. Travel will be successful though a thoughtful and carefully planned approach towards your travel itinerary creates more positive benefits. LUCKY COLOUR: Pink, Cream

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I, MIchaeL Bennett
by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
This latest collaboration of Pattersons and Ledwidges reintroduces Michael Bennett, the hardened NYPD detective who is hell bent on serving and protecting the crime ridden streets of New York City. The villain of the piece is a South American crime lord, Manuel Perrine, who goes by the name The Sun King. The entrance of this new player into the game has thrown NYC into chaos. With police officers being gunned down on the streets, judges being executed in their own courtrooms, the Mayor of NYC has demanded that Bennett hunt down the Sun King and restore peace. After confronting Perrine, Bennetts best friend and colleague, Hughie is killed. Perrine then makes it his mission to destroy Michael and his family. Bennetts family, a brood of 10 adopted children, his attractive nanny, Mary Catherine and his priest, Seamus, are all in danger. Devastated by Hughies death and worried about the wellbeing of his family, Bennett takes some much deserved time off and drives his brood down to Orange Country for a family holiday. Unfortunately for Bennett, his idyllic retreat is peppered with gang violence and other local crime. The issues become more personal when two of his sons are shot, ostensibly as part of the ongoing gang violence. However, with some digging, Bennett finds out that the hits were personal and ordered by Perrine. As usual, Bennett is an enthralling hero, just the right mixture of law man and renegade, his harsh edges smoothened away by his ever-expanding family. The highlight of the novel was the reappearance of the kids and Father Seamus all of whom are quirky and interesting characters. Mary Catherine makes a charged appearance, a good foil to FBI agent Emily Parker, who comes back into Bennetts life, re-sparking his long standing attraction to her.
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SAGITTARIUS (22nd November- 21st December) Matters of heart shall be extremely romantic and pleasant throughout the month. You enjoy the positive understanding and harmony that exists between you and your loved one. Financially too, this is a good time to reap the benefits of your investments though you shall be more focused towards your family as far as money matters are concerned. Professional decisions shall be more favourable when you listen to all the guidance you get and then take action on only the ones that you feel confident about. Being too restless can take a toll on your health. The cards guide you to take a break and take some rest before indulging in fresh ventures in your life. There shall be a number of opportunities throughout the month which will be instrumental in creating more peace and happiness in your family life. Travel in this month shall be favourable. LUCKY COLOUR: Magenta/ Purple CAPRICORN (22nd December- 21st January) Matters of heart shall be peaceful and show a lot of positive changes in your life. Professionally, whatever efforts that you make in this month shall give you benefits as the month comes to its close. Financial dealings shall turn out to be more positive as the month progresses. Health keeps you in excellent shape. A hardworking man who has a mature outlook towards life shall help in bringing the family together. His guidance shall help you in achieving more peace and harmony in your family life. Travel is best avoided during this week. You might feel a bit lonely and at loss while on a trip which might suddenly turn out to be disappointing. However, good things happen as the month comes to its end. LUCKY COLOUR: Peach, Green AQUARIUS (22nd January- 21st February) Professionally, things are taking shape but a little less than your expectations. Financial setbacks are likely to be there as obligations surmount as the month progresses. Health of a woman can be a cause of stress. Female Aquarians should take extra care of your health especially related to bone and muscular pains. You might also feel let down in matters of heart as situations suddenly turn out to be too demanding. Two decisions related to your family can confuse you a bit but both of them seem to be quite interesting ones to follow and opt for. Listening to your inner voice shall give you the right decision. Avoid travel as any kind of transition made during this month might not be as satisfactory as expected. However, you are undergoing a transitory phase and shall feel more at peace by the end of the month. LUCKY COLOUR: Turquoise, Aqua Blue PISCES (22nd February- 21st March) A sensible handling of your love life shall make matters of heart pleasant and enjoyable. Professionally, you shall be at your enthusiastic best and shall create further success in your life. A youngster helps you in achieving your professional goals and support from your team and your juniors shall provide quite a strong boost for you. Financial success shall be all yours to achieve. You shall look deep into your past savings and expenses and learning from your experiences shall make plans for further investments during this month. Health needs to be taken care of. Minor cold and cough can affect your health. A child can also turn out to be a point of concern during this month. Being too restless in matters related to family creates further vacuum in your life. Travel anxieties might be high and a woman who bonds well with you might be a cause of your worries while travelling during this month. LUCKY COLOUR: White

Financially, this seems to be a good year for you as a lot of positive growth factors emerges enhancing your monetary status. Matters of heart though require a lot of patient dealing and a lot of love and nurturing. Professionally too, a strong foundation is being created and shall give you positive impetus as the year progresses. Health shall be better if you are a bit more easy and relaxed about it. Travel shall be favourable throughout the year. You might be a bit more worried about your family especially if they are travelling out of station quite often

YEARLY FORECAST FOR CANCER

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Diary of
By Shimantini Banerjee d-i-l of Er. P Ramanathan, 1099 .

Planning and executing a wedding is nothing less than a high voltage, blood pressure raising, ulcer inducing feat of tactical and strategic finesse. Planning and executing an Indian wedding is exponentially tougher. In my unfortunate case, however, the octaves of general chaos and conundrum are a few pitches higher because you see, mine is a cross-cultural Indian wedding at that. An unlikely alliance of the North and South, where Macher Jhol & Bhat meets Idli, Dosa & Sambar. A Bengali Brahmin girl marrying a Tamil boy hailing from the uber conservative Reddy community of Andhra Pradesh -the lowest of the lowest rung in the ladder of all possible pre-approved permutations and combination of cross-cultural marriages. So when I announced my grand designs to marry this unorthodox groom, all hell broke loose as expected. My grandmother went into a religious overdrive, praying desperately that this is just a temporary fit of insanity and that the crazy fog lifts quickly. My mother went into denial and my father sat on the fence between cautious optimism and measured disappointment. In Muthus family the sentiments were mirrored. Aside from the fact that this is a love marriage (which is criminal in itself), how would such a wedding take place? Where will the ceremony be held, what customs would it follow, would we have to get

married twice to appease the religious rituals of both parties, what about the dress code and vows? And so on it went. Our horoscopes were consulted and found to be violently incompatible. Muthu and I were being tossed about like a volley in a tennis match between our respective families. At times of such comic upheaval, we turned to Chetan Bhagats middling novel The Two States our Bible as far as cross-cultural marriages are concerned. Taking a page out of this book, we decided to get our families to meet. Only this time we were decidedly absent in the entire proceeding rather than serve as a shining example of everything our respective cultures stands for. It was a gamble but one that paid off. Our parents may have had conflicting agendas for the marriage but they found common ground and solace in their identical sentiments in the logistical nightmare this wedding would inevitably turn out to be. That and also the fact that they did not vehemently despise each other as anticipated. In fact our delectable roshogollas went down very well with the Radhapurams as did the steaming rava idlis with the Banerjees. And so an auspicious date and time was finally set - the beginning of a happily ever after you say? It was just the calm before the storm!
JULY | 2012 | 33

part 3 of 3

australia vs India : 2nd Test Match January 2-6, 2008, Sydney cricket Ground, Sydney Mark and Steve win the game for Australia Andrew Symonds, batting on 29, nicked a Ishant Sharma delivery to MS Dhoni, who completed the catch. The noise was so loud that it would have been heard by the 30,000 spectators at the SCG, the entire Indian team and the entire television audience. Unfortunately, the man who mattered, Steve Bucknor, heard nothing. This left everyone watching the match, flabbergasted. Buckor had made his first blunder for the game. Symonds got another reprieve on 48, when the Australian third umpire, Bruce Oxenford gave him not out when he was actually out stumped by MS Dhoni off an Anil Kumble delivery. Australia won this match courtesy two people named Mark and Steve. No, they arent Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh but Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor. They were the two on field umpires and the number of poor decisions they made would later go on to have ramifications of extraordinary proportions. If only that test match had had UDRS, the Indian Cricket team would probably be among the strongest supporters of the system today. The Umpiring blunders started from the Australian first innings. Ricky Ponting was clearly out caught behind down the leg side to Sourav Ganguly. A huge appeal by the Indians was turned down by Mark Benson that left even the batsman surprised. He was batting on 17 then. However, as fate would have it, Ricky Ponting was given out wrongly (LBW) by the same umpire after he had inside edged a Harbhajan Singh delivery on to his pads. He had already made 55 by then. He got lucky for the third time when a Harbhajan Singh delivery down the leg side was collected by MS Dhoni who whipped the bails off in a flash. Symonds was outside his crease. Dhonis appeal was not even referred to the third umpire by Steve Bucknor who was standing at square leg. Why did he not use technology when it was available? Symonds, by then had already reached 148. Australia were finally bowled out for 463 and Symonds finished on 162*. The Indian first innings saw no major umpiring blunders but a controversy of a different kind the Monkey Gate scandal, the details of which are well known to one and all. India made 523 in their first innings thanks to tons from Tendulkar and Laxman. In the Australian second innings, Mike Hussey was caught behind off RP Singh and even this

34 | JULY| 2012

time, the umpire heard nothing. Hussey was batting on 45 at that time and added a further 100 runs after the lucky break that he got. Michael Clarke stood his ground after being caught at first slip. Why did he do that? May be he hoped for another blunder but this was far too obvious and Clarke was given his marching orders by the umpire. This was a prime example of unsporting behavior at its peak. The Indian second innings saw the umpiring errors continue to flow. Dravid was the victim this time, given out wrongly caught behind when the bat was nowhere near the ball. Steve Bucknor had struck again. Then a fiasco took place. Sourav Ganguly was given out caught by Michael Clarke off Brett Lee. Replays showed that Clarke had picked the ball up from the ground. Instead of asking the third umpire, Mark Benson went to Ricky Ponting (remember he had been dishonest and not walked when he had nicked the ball) to ask for his opinion and Ganguly was given out. Shameful were the scenes at the SCG. Ponting also later appealed for a catch that he clearly had grassed. With so many moments, the test match was marred by poor umpiring and controversy. In the end, Australia won the match by 122 runs. Umpire Steve Bucknor was removed from the next test by the ICC and rightfully so. India vs pakistan: 1st Test Match January 28-31, 1999, Ma chidambaram Stadium, chepauk, chennai One Pitch catches are not allowed in International Cricket

vs
This match is remembered for one of the finest test match innings of all time. Sachin Tendulkar made a brilliant 136, battling immense back pain, the fierce Pakistani bowling attack and the Chennai heat. Pakistan eventfully beat India by 12 runs in a nail biting encounter. They got a standing ovation from the wonderful Chennai crowd. Now, for the blunder. The match result could have been different if common sense had prevailed between the Umpires for the game Steve Dunne and V.K. Ramaswamy. Sourav Ganguly, batting in the Indian second innings, hit a ball into the legs of the silly point fielder. The ball then hit the ground, ricocheted off it and Moin Khan completed the catch. What was disheartening to see was the unsportsmanlike behavior from Moin Khan. There was no way that he did not know that the ball had not bounced. It happened right in front of his eyes. He appealed for a catch frantically. The umpires were unsure and instead of asking the third Umpire, they declared Ganguly out after deliberating for a while. God only knows what they discussed, but a wrong decision was made that turned out to be crucial in deciding the result of the match. play it hard, play it right As we have seen in the above matches, some unsavory incidents have marred an otherwise wonderful cricket match. If only the players play the game within the true Spirit of the sport, and other external factors do not hinder the games progress, the Gentlemens game would truly live up to its name.

aswath
JULY | 2012 | 35

Cheers,

NatioNal WatEr GriD aND Not aNothEr Dam!

BY er. n. SeShaDrI KuMar (M. NO. 455)*

NEED
MULLAI PERIYAR

The Mullai Periyar Dam is situated in Peermadu and Devikulam taluks. The history is that this region was ruled in 12th century by Pandiyas and later by Cheras with 90% of inhabitants speaking Tamil. The British rulers in Madurai wrongly considered that these taluks as attached to the erstwhile Travancore Samasthanam, which later was merged in 1956 with Kerala. Geographically placed to the west of the Western Ghats, State of Kerala receives a copious 3000 mm rain annually. There are 44 perennial West-flowing rivers whose majority of the flood waters drains into the Arabian Sea. There was no problem till 85 years till 1979. It is indeed a sad state of affairs that good relationship enjoyed by the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala had been marred since 1980 and strained further since a decade due to this issue.
The front page news in major news papers(Jan,2012) that the Mullai Periyar (MP) Dam is safe was declared by Mr. K. C Thomas, then Chairman, Central Water Commission as way back as 16th Oct.79; but two days later after his visit to Thiruvananthapuram, he abruptly said it is better to strengthen it! Safety of this dam was well known to the engineers of both sides especially after agreement in talks in early 1980s between Tamil Nadu and Kerala on three-phased Measures (immediate, medium and long term) to be taken until which the height of storage would be maintained at 136 feet. These measures were fully implemented by Tamil Nadu. Being designed as a Gravity Dam, its weight will counter the water pressure, so that the resultant passes through the Middle third
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of the base. As an immediate measure to increase weight, a 3-feet thick concrete Cap along its 21 feet breath and 1200 feet length on top of the dam was caste. This consequently increased the dams weight by 35 tons/ meter or 12000 tons in total. As a mediumterm measure, cable-anchoring was done by pre-stressing method: From the top of the Dam, 5 feet from the front wall, 95 vertical bores spaced at 9 feet were drilled along the dams height and further up to 30 feet into the rock at the bottom of the dam. Concrete was poured up to 20 feet into the hole and bunched 34number- 7 inch high-tensile steel rods were pressed into each bore and the gap was filled with cement mix. As a long-term measure an RCC backing was also done. A 32 feet thick cement-concrete structure covering the length of the dam across its height from 10 feet to 145 feet also was cast, covering the Cap mentioned earlier.

(14th Dec 2011, The Hindu) could not have been more appropriate and timely that the inter-state river disputes can only be resolved by a National River Water Grid which has been advocated by many experts for over past decades, as having significant and multiple benefits. With the rivers networked through an elevated canal, there would no need for Dams! Thus, there will be NO need for any reservoirs or the associated inundation of forest and other areas. Also, the displacement of people will be less than 10% in case of the canal as compared to dams(reservoirs). Further, with the potential energy of water stored at a higher level, the potential for hydro-power generation and power-saving due to gravity flow is very high; the present installed capacity in India can be doubled! Again, there will be positive effects on Ecology, environment, flora and fauna. It is high time that the Centre and State Governments look seriously into the implementation of the National River Grid (which is possible in segments and stages requiring only a minimum budget) for an enduring and lasting solution, The results will be tangible within a decade. *The views expressed are of the author only.

MuLLaI perIyar DaM DurInG conSTrucTIon In 1887 Modern Civil engineering techniques were used to integrate this wall to the dam, for it to behave as a single monolithic structure. Drainage galleries were built to monitor leakage and were found to be much below the threshold levels (in fact certain minimum leakage is necessary for the health of any dam!). Additional flood water gates were installed to increase expulsion of water from 86000 to 1, 22,000 cubic foot per second. Thus, there is no chance for dam busting due to overloading from floods. The above measures were done from 1981 to 1994 at a cost of around 18 crores. Despite carrying out all these short and long term measures as mutually agreed in 1980 as well as the recent Supreme courts order, Kerala objected to raise the water level to 152 feet!. The Arch Dam at Idukki was built in 1976, 50 KM downstream 1200 feet long and 555 feet high to hold 70 TMC. It is SEVEN time the capacity of Mullai Periyar dam. For nearly three years Idukki could not get sufficient water from catchments for its designed capacity vis--vis poor generation of electricity. The eyes of Kerala then turned to Mullai Periyar dam for augmenting more reservoir capacity. If the real problem is Dam safety, it has been proved beyond doubt that it is safe and will be so for at least a few decades and there is no urgent need to build a dam NOW. The current Western trend is to avoid building new Dams. In the USA some dams have been decommissioned, where it was possible. The informed opinion of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

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YOGA CLASSES
For details contact Er. V. H. Subramanian (M.No. 23) Since 2002, Yoga classes are regularly conducted at our Club, three days a week in the evenings by an experienced Yoga Master from Vivekananda Kendra. You can hear the chirping of birds on their way to their nests, a whistle from a metro rail passing by at Adyar River and sometimes the captivating smell from our kitchens not to mention the sightings of Jumbo Jets to mini planes on their final approach to landing, amidst comparatively clean air and serene atmosphere. Relaxation is essential, but rest should be inbetween productive activities. In the practice of Yoga- Activity and Repose are two balanced components. Although there are divergent methods of practicing yoga, the final goal is the same: that is to attain individual fulfillment and harmony within oneself and with everybody else too!!!

at CLUB

38 | JULY| 2012

The effects of Yoga are multifold. It makes all parts of the body supple and flexible so that they aid in practicing Asanas which are designed to conserve the energy and transform the same into subtle forms of mental energy. The Asanas lead us to develop an inner awareness and aiding in calming down the mind. Many body ailments can be prevented by regular practice of Yoga and strengthen the body uniformly. Yoga mainly encompasses Asanas, Pranayama, Mudras, Kriyas to name a few. They are to be done in a prescribed manner and order. You shall refrain to attempt by reading Yoga postures from a book and self practice, without the guidance of a Yoga Master. Everybody learns to know the importance, effects of any Asanas or others and the perfect way to do it only from the Guru. Otherwise, the negative effects due to wrong postures might affect very badly. The Kriyas are Cleansing Techniques. The Pranayama teaches various forms of breathing exercises. The Mudras are neuro- muscular locks and gestures that help the aspirants to still the mind. All these are supplementary and inter related and inter dependant and should be practiced in the proper way and in order to get the full benefit. All Asanas, (including Surya Namaskaram), are required to be done in a slow and systematic manner without any over exertion.

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