AUGUST 2012

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SECRETARyS MESSAGE
Dear Fellow Members,

ALUMNI CLUB
No.1 Boat Club Road, R.A.Puram,Chennai 600 028 Phone No: 044-24322195, 044-24321233 Guest Room: 044-24351449 E-Mail: acau@ymail.com Website: www.alumniclubau.org

OFFICE BEARERS President Mr. C.S.Vijayaraghavan Vice President Dr. S. Sivanesan Secretary Mr.T. Swaminathan Treasurer Mr. C.A. Raj Mathivanan COMMITTEE MEMBERS Catering Mr. S.P. Chandrasekhar House-Keeping Mr. J. Ganesh Babu Entertainment Mr. D. Girish Library & Newsletter Dr.S. Natarajan Sports Mr. M.P. Premkumar

thank all the honourable members for the confidence reposed in me and to have elected me as the secretary of our club for the year 2012-2013. I am sure with the support of our esteemed members and the present Managing Committee, we will live upto the expectations. The Management Committee will do its best to improve quality of all the services and will pay more attention to all aspects of maintenance and upkeep. We are planning changes in the entertainment programme which will bring more members and their families. Members are requested to use the facilities to the best possible extent. Members can organize professional meetings, seminars as well as parties and family functions at our party halls which are available with good ambience and offered at a reasonable cost. Please suggest to your wards to make use of the coaching facilities available at our club for cricket, tennis and shuttle badminton. The guest rooms are well patronized, members can use it to lodge their guests. Reciprocal affiliation has been arranged with clubs listed below. Members can contact our club office for further details. Coorg Sports Club Kirgoor Road,Ponnampet, South Kodagu 571 216, Karnataka. Facilities: Bar, Badminton, Billiards, Capacity/Tariff: Four rooms `1000/-day (to be paid in advance by DD) Contact Info: Manager 08274-249074 www.coorgsportsclub.com The R.S. Puram Club, 1, Subramaniam Road, R.S. Puram, Coimbatore-641 002, Tamil Nadu Facilities: Bar, T.T, Tennis, Badminton, Billiards, Cards, Gym, Library, Carrom, Chess Capacity/Tariff: Eleven rooms A/C Deluxe to Non- A/C. Ordinary: Rs.1100 to Rs.415/- day Contact info: Hon. Secretary: 0422-2547021/22 info@rspuramclubcoimbatore.com Kodagu Planters Club, Gonnikoppal-571 213, Karnataka Facilities: Bar, T.T. Tennis, Indoor shuttle, Billiards,Cards, Reading room. Capacity/Tariff: Two deluxe rooms: Rs.600/- day+ tax Checkout - 12 noon. Contact Info: 08274-247077 We also request members to come forward with specific suggestions, if any, which our team can study and initiate action for achieving the objectives. Looking forward to a fruitful year enhancing facilities and quality of service. Cordially yours, T. Swaminathan

2 | SEPT | 2012

Enthusiasm is the yeast that raises the dough

SUB COMMITTEE MEMBERS

HouSeKeePIng / PRojeCT Mr. A. Murugesan Mr. P.Shanmugavel Mr. Titus King enTeRTaInmenT Mr. Allan D. Sousa Ms. Preethi Nedumaran Mr. Prasanth Nedumaran Mr. Saravan Krishna CaTeRIng Mr. K.G.Shreenivas Mr. Allan D. Sousa Mrs. Allan D.Sousa Mrs. Uma Ramesh SPoRTS Mr. R.Ramesh - Badminton Mr. P.Tyagi - Badminton Mr. K.Kanagaraj - Tennis Mr. N.Krishnamoorthy- Tennis Mr. R.Harirajan - Cricket Mr. G.Jothimani - Billiards Mr. A.Radhakrishnan - Cards - (M.No. 1319) - (M.No. 1600) - (M.No. 1855) - (M.No.1092) - (M.No.0723) - (M.No.0723) - (M.No.0476) - (M.No.0833) - (M.No.1092) - (M.No.1092) - (M.No.1171) - (M.No.1171) - (M.No.1810) - (M.No.1682) - (M.No. 1512) - (M.No. 1966) - (M.No.0454) - (M.No. 0127) Mr. K.Raja Mr. K.Anbuselvan - Carrom - Gym - (M.No.0929) - (M.No.1266) - (M.No.0387) - (M.No.1253) - (M.No.0418) - (M.No.0971)

LIbRaRy / newS LeTTeR Mr. J.Sriram Mr. R.Elumalai baR Mr. A.V.Jayachandran webSITe Mr. Dwarak Ethiraj

membeRSHIP & DISCIPLInaRy CommITTee Mr. R.Prabhu Kumar - Chairman - (M.No.0162) Mr. T.S.Dhanapalan - (M.No.0034) Mr. P.Venkatram - (M.No.0074) Dr. M.Madhusoothanan - (M.No.0549) new yeaR eve CommITTee Mr. D.Ranganathan Chairman Mr. K.Aravamudhan Mr. A.V.Jayachandran Mr. M.O.Ram Manoj Mr. A.Murugesan - (M.No.0416) - (M.No.0115) - (M.No.0418) - (M.No.1208) - (M.No.1319)

To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old

SEPT | 2012 | 3

ENTERTAINMENT
SEpTEMBEr 2012
1 SEPT 12 SATURDAY 8 SEPT 12 SATURDAY 15 SEPT 12 SATURDAY 21 SEPT12 fRiDAY 22 SEPT 12 SATURDAY 29 SEPT12 SATURDAY TAMBOLA

for the month of

NAAN EE TAMiL MOviE CLUB DAY - KARAOKE fOR ThE MEMBERS, BY ThE MEMBERS TAMBOLA 2 BiLLA 2 TAMiL MOviE MiRATTAL TAMiL MOviE

*IMAGES FOR REPRESENTATION PURPORSE ONLY

4 | SEPT | 2012

Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong

SPO R T S
CORNER
STATE LEvEL BRiDgE TOURNAMENT AT MADURAi ON 4Th AND 5Th AUgUST,2012 Six of our members (D. Ravi, V.K. Sadasivam, J. Sriram, Bridge Bhaskar (Coach), S. Srinivasan, NR Krishnaswamy and Dr.S Natarajan,) participated in the Tamilnadu Bridge Championship 2012 held in Madurai. iNDEPENDENCE DAY SNOOKER TOURNAMENT: 16 players participated in singles and doubles matches over 2 weeks. E. Sivakumar reigned supreme winning both singles and doubles. S. Nithyanandam gave him a good fight but that was not enough. Earlier E. Sivakumar and S. Nithyanandam had beaten R. Nataraj and P.R. Sridharan to come to the finals. In Doubles final E. Sivakumar and Bridge Bhaskar defeated S. Mothinath and Vimalraj.Prize distribution function was held on 18.8.2012 at 7.30 PM with Secretary T. Swaminathan,Treasurer C.A.Raj Mathivanan and sports committee member M.P. Premkumar giving away the prizes.Function ended with a vote of thanks from G Jothimani, sub-committee member (Snooker) and a social get together. TAKATA MYiND TROPhY Alumni Club beat Presidency Club comfortably in the first round of Takata - MYIND Trophy conducted by Mylapore Club and Indra Nagar Club. Winning the toss Presidency Club chose to bat but the innings was jolted by our wards Ashwin Premkumar and Nikilesh Raghunandan who took couple of wickets each. Their innings stuttered along the way to 91, thanks to some tight bowling by the father-son spin duo of Sivasubramanian & MS Suraj and Vivek who breathed fire. MS Suraj (52 no) and Abhinav Krishnamurthy (38) started the chase in sedate fashion but a flurry of strokes by Suraj closed the match in 13 overs earning us a bonus point. In Match #2, Nikhilesh Raghunandans all-round efforts were not enough to stop Indranagar Club from beating Alumni Club. Opting to bat first Alumni Club made 136/6 in 20 overs thanks to good knocks from Nikhilesh 30, Ryan 20, Prem 22 and Rajkumar 32. Wards Nikhilesh and Ryan gave a good start and the seniors Prem and Rajkumar accelerated the scoring in the middle.Indranagar Club made a slow start thanks to some accurate bowling by Nikhilesh and Ashwin.
Both optimists and pessimists contribute to the society. The optimist invents the aeroplane, the pessimist the parachute

SEPT | 2012 | 5

SPO R T S

Nikhilesh and Sivasubramanian picked a wicket each. But Indranagar shrugged it off to score 137/3 in 18.3 overs thanks to Shyamsundar 43 and Albert 35. In Match #3, a stellar knock of 81 by Venkat Kumar knocked Alumni Club out of contention as T Nagar Club easily defeated Alumni Club in the last league encounter. Winning the toss, T Nagar made 190/4 in 20 overs. Only Vivek offered some resistance picking up two wickets in an over clean bowling both of his victims. Sivasubramanian and Ashwin Premkumar picked up a wicket each.Alumni Club made a good start thanks to a classy knock by PC Prakash (47) and Abhinav (26). The innings stuttered afterwards with wickets falling in regular intervals. Only Nikhilesh Raghunandan stood tall scoring 51 not out. SOME MAiNTENANCE UPDATES We have started work of renovating our shuttle courts. We have repaired the roof to arrest leaks during rainy days. We fixed electronic chokes to tube lights to ensure adequate lighting during low voltage periods. We are also working to restrict access to birds via louvers so that they dont dirty the courts. We are also evaluating long-term measures to address the court 2 flooring problem. The cricket nets area has also been given a facelift by leveling the run-up and surrounding areas. New mat has been

procured and arrangements made to have a marker to support net practice. CRiCKET COAChiNg P.K. Dharmalingam, former Ranji Trophy Cricketer and BCCI Coach will conduct cricket coaching Monday to Saturday from 4 PM to 6 PM at Alumni Club Nets, from 1st September 2012. Boys and girls aged between 7 and 15 can contact club office or Dharma (97908-89820) for further details. BAhwAN CYBERTEK SPONSORShiP fUNCTiON Bahwan CyberTek re-iterated their commitment to Alumni Club cricket by sponsoring for the fourth straight year and also enhancing the sponsorship by 25%. CEO Mr. Durgaprasad handed over the sponsorship cheque to our Treasurer Mathivanan in a function organized by the club on the 17th of August. COO Mike Muralitharan recalled the last four years of Alumni Cricket and the commitment that club members and BCT have to identify and nurture young talent. Dr. Sivanesan presided over the function and Harirajan, Subcommittee member (cricket) gave the vote of thanks. Recently, the rather familiar name at our Alumni Club, Bahwan CyberTek (BCT), confirmed their sponsorship of our Club Cricket for the year 2012-13 for the fourth year

6 | SEPT | 2012

In matters of conscience, the law of majority has no place

BAhwN CYBERTEk CONTiNUES TO SPONSOR Alumni Club CriCket

running. At a friendly function that was held on 17th August evening, Mr Raj Mathivanan, Treasurer, presided over the function on behalf of the club. Our Club members Mr. S. Durgaprasad, Co-Founder & Global CEO, BCT Group, was the Chief Guest and Mr. Mike Muralidharan, Global COO, BCT Group, the guest of honour. Mr.V. K. Murthi, SVP, and Mr. P. Rajasekaran, VP, of BCT also graced the function by their presence. Dr Sivanesan, ,VicePresident, Chairman University Sports Board, Anna University & Dean- Alagappa College of Technology was present on behalf of Anna University. Mr. Premkumar, MIC-Sports, & Mr. Harirajan, MIC-Cricket, were also present. Mr. Saravan Krishna, Cricket & Entertainment Subcommittee member, was the MC for the evening. Mr Premkumar welcomed the gathering and announced that coaching sessions for young children in age group of the 8-14years, will be conducted by Mr. P K Dharmalingam at our concrete nets facility. He was in praise for our Club Team and the committee headed by Mr. Harirajan, for the success of Alumni Club Cricket. In his address, Mr. S. Durgaprasad elaborated on his companys involvement with our club. He expressed his happiness and wished that the Alumni Club-Bahwan CyberTek partnership helps nurture young talent by encouraging our wards to participate more.

Mr. Mike Muralidharan spoke about the proud history of Alumni Club Cricket and also stressed the need to play the game fair, in the right spirit. He was all praise for the Sub-Committee led by Mr. Harirajan and the passionate participation of Ranji Trophy winning team members PC Prakash and D Girish to the betterment of Alumni Cricket. To add to the existing nets, he suggested that we must look at initiating a Cricket Academy with a Turf wicket and requested these veterans to lead this initiative. Mr. Raj Mathivanan received the increased sponsorship cheque of Rs. 2 Lakhs from Mr. S. Durgaprasad. Dr. Sivanesan, expressed his happiness to see the sponsorship for the fourth consecutive year and thanked Bahwan CyberTek for the same. Mr. Harirajan delivered the vote of thanks. Apart from our Club Cricketers, many cricket loving members graced the function. Overall it was a fun-filled evening and it gave an opportunity for our members to share a few light moments with the Bahwan CyberTek management team.

Watch this space for monthly updates on Sports at the Alumni Club!
When you rehearse failure in your mind, you meet failure. When you rehearse success in your mind, you experience it in your life.

SEPT | 2012 | 7

Members warn in by 13th Sept 2012. Call. 044-24321233, 24322195

8 | SEPT | 2012

Your mental movies are the trailers of the future

Club news contunies on pg no 33

MELANGE

Use Email CommuniCation to BUild YoUr Professional Brand equity!

Workplace communication has evolved from a basic business need to an excellent personal marketing tool. Business communication i.e., conversation over phone, emails, conference/ video calls/web chats, has become a critical benchmark to determine professional etiquette. Organizations have become cognizant of the direct impact of external/internal communication on its brand image. The way you communicate with colleagues, teams, clients and vendors subtly helps build your own brand equity!

When it comes to business communication, some standard ground rules apply across organizations. However, it is your attitude, tone and content, which will become your positive differentiators. The first of this two-part series will focus on effective ways to manage Email Communication. Emails have become an inseparable part of our social and professional lives. They

account for nearly 80% of workplace communication. Official mails are a natural extension of your processes, organisational skills, acumen and experience. In most cases, emails precede phone conversation or meeting. This impersonal tool conveys a lot about you to a client, business associate or colleague. Here are few tips on how to use email communication to improve your professional image.

10 | SEPT 2012

ContEnt and StruCturE

on the bandwidth. It can be frustrating, if a huge graphics file download from a colleague is delaying an important incoming mail. Organizations spend fortunes to increase bandwidth and connectivity speed. Some companies even track senders of large, unofficial mails.

CommuniCation

Keep your text crisp and concise. If the mail is long, divide it into relevant bulleted paragraphs. Avoid circuitous sentences. Follow a structured layout and writing style. Choose a relevant subject line. If the mail seeks answers, ensure that you have replied to all the queries. Avoid using advanced text enhancing tools. The receivers mail system may not support it. Adhere to the prescribed signature format. Avoid multiple fonts and colours. Choose universally accepted fonts like Arial or Times New Roman and single colour, preferably black/blue. Changing fonts and colours frequently indicates that you are moody, immature and unreliable. I had a colleague who would add wise quotes and emoticons with his signature. In a busy workplace, nobody has the time to appreciate your creativity. Such distractions can easily make a serious reply look flippant. Check for grammar, tenses, sentences and continuity. Read your mails before you send them. Refrain from using slangs/abbreviations. Writing in capitals, which indicates shouting or being rude, also makes readability difficult. Use active voice. You will come across as responsive and personal. The biggest downside of emails is bulky attachments. Lets face it! Large files are rarely business documents. Exchanging pictures, huge PowerPoint files, graphics/movie clips puts pressure When communicating with external entities, be polite and formal in your language/tone. Begin with Dear or Hello or Hi. Using Hi as salutation is acceptable among peers/colleagues. Use your discretion while communicating with senior members. It is safer to maintain formal protocol. If you are on first-name basis, then use a suitable salutation. If you are new to the workplace, understand norms of the new employer. In chain email replies, come directly to the point. It is not necessary to append Dear / Hi or signature in every response. However, keep the message thread as part of the chain replies. Message threads help in keeping track of previous communication. Check with the recipient before you send attachments. Many mail system firewalls do not allow attachments/bulky files from other networks. Check preferred file format. You will be unnecessarily wasting time (especially in different time zones) to just send a document. Official mails are company property. They can be rightfully accessed by the management. Therefore, avoid discussing confidential information, team/ subordinate performance and personal issues over office email. Use Cc and Bcc carefully. Ensure that you are not breaching confidentiality by marking

12 | SEPT 2012

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some people in the mail. If you are in Bcc list, it means that you are kept informed without others knowing about it. Therefore, do not embarrass the sender by sending a reply. Go over the Cc and Bcc list before you send out the mail. A colleague landed in hot soup, when she sent an internal mail, accidentally marking her client Anitha instead of her colleague Anitha. To make matters worse, the mail had unflattering content about the same client. Use Reply All only if absolutely necessary. I remember an instance, when our employee group received a common mail on vehicle insurance from finance department. What followed was annoying! There were series of query mails from across the country addressed to finance executive and the rest of us! The mail could have been marked only to the sender. We lose productive time and bandwidth viewing unnecessary mails. Do not allow a bad day to affect your communication. If content of the mail irritates you or if you just finished a heated discussion with your manager, dont hurry to reply back. Your reply is likely to be harsh, incomplete and will lead to unnecessary complications. If you are going on a long vacation/maternity leave, write separate mails to each of your business associates/clients. Keep the message brief with details of your colleague/team member who will handle your work. I think vacation/out of office responders effectively communicate your inability to reply. However, when you return, turn off the vacation message immediately. There is nothing more unprofessional than a vacation message reply even after you are back. Heres a tip: Just after you save your vacation responder, set reminder on your mobile to it turn off. It always works for me!

Response indicates professionalism. Do not take more than 24-hours to reply to an email. If your reply is likely to be delayed, send an acknowledgement and specify the time you will need. Ensure that you meet the deadline. Avoid sentences like I will come back soon or reply back shortly. I once wrote to a business partner seeking clarification on an issue. He wrote back saying Will get back in a couple of days. He never did. I had to send several reminders to receive a reply. Do not forget to reply to mails. Send reply to mails during civil office hours. One of my colleagues would reply to clients as late as 1.30 am. Please understand that you may be setting precedence of working late. Such expectations may be difficult to sustain in the long run. Remember, work-life balance is critical for a successful career Do not request for delivery/read receipts. It indicates that you do not trust the receiver to read your mails.

rESponSivEnESS As professionals, looking good, dressing right, networking and working smart are definite parameters for success. However, your workplace communication could easily be your best brand ambassador!

14 | SEPT 2012

COOK NOOK

Baking is so much fun! This summer, its time to don that apron and get ready to turn out yummy cookies and delicious cakes. Ms. Shyamala Shivaraman gives us easy-to-make recipes to quench your passion for pastries.

Butter Cookies
Ingredients: 125 gm chilled butter 50 gm powdered sugar 200 gm flour tsp baking powder tsp vanilla essence Method: Sieve flour with baking powder. Soften butter and add sugar, little at a time. Beat till light and fluffy. Mix in essence and beat well. Add flour and mix thoroughly. Little water may be added to form stiff dough. Keep in between two layers of butter paper and roll thick rectangle. Cut into shapes and place on trays. Bake at 180C for 15 minutes or till the cookies turn golden brown. Variation: Make salt butter cookies with 25 gm powdered sugar and tsp salt.

16 | SEPT 2012

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Butter Cake (Basic Egg Cake)

Ingredients: 100 gm butter 100 gm margarine 200 gm powdered sugar 200 gm flour 4 eggs 1 tsp vanilla essence 2 tsp baking powder 2 tsp lime juice tsp grated lime rind tsp salt Method: Soften butter and margarine. Gradually add sugar and beat till light and fluffy. Add one egg at a time and beat very well after each addition. Add essence, lime juice, rind and salt. Beat well. Sieve flour with baking powder. Gently fold flour into the batter. Pour into greased and dusted tray. Bake at 180C for 25 minutes. Reduce temperature to 160C and bake till done.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients: 125 gm margarine 125 gm powdered sugar 200 gm flour tsp baking powder 1 tsp vanilla essence 1 tbsp water cup chocolate chips Method: Sieve flour with cocoa powder and baking powder. Soften margarine and add sugar little at a time. Beat till light and fluffy. Add essence and mix well. Add water and beat lightly. Add flour and mix. Mix in chocolate chips and mix well. Form into small balls and slightly flatten within palms and place on trays. Bake the cookies at 180C for 10 to 15 minutes.

18 | SEPT 2012

SUNVILLE Old no. 20, New no. 463, Kilpauk Garden Road, Kilpauk , Chennai 600 010
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TRAVEL

Greece
Blessed with a classical past and known to be the cradle of Western culture, Greece does promise a once in a lifetime experience to anyone who warrants it a visit. The archetypal European culture and architecture, scenic beauty of the Grecian landscape, the Mediterranean charm of its islands and beautiful beaches Greece has all this and more to offer.
22 | SEPT 2012

Gorgeous

Located at the southeast end of Europe, it is the southernmost country of the Balkan Peninsula; Greece is best visited during the months of May, June, September and October. The weather during these months is just ideal for a perfect holiday.

GettinG to Greece

Ideally speaking, it would be just wonderful to sail into one of the many ports that dot the Grecian coastline. For those of you who cannot stand the sea, you could fly into Greece. The new Eleftherios Venizelos airport outside Athens receives the bulk of international flights. All major European airlines fly to Greece on a regular basis. The adventurous can even drive down to Greece from Italy or Turkey.

Where to stay

Based on the amenities they offer, hotels in Greece are rated either as LUX (Luxury) or A, B, C, D and E with A being obviously the best hotels. Staying in Greece really depends on which city you are heading out to. If in Santorini, you absolutely have to live in the traditional villages that dot the region. Fira, Oia, Kamari take your pick for a relaxing holiday with spectacular views and excellent food as an added bonus. Staying in Athens and looking for luxury? Head out to the Marriott Hotels at Athens. Prices vary from season to season. For a really good deal and for invaluable advice on where to stay, we suggest you consult one of the local travel agents in your town.

Must see Must do

Camping If you are an outdoorsy kind of a person who loves spending a night under the stars with the gentle sea breeze lulling you to sleep, then camping should definitely feature on your travel plans. There are plenty of organized camping grounds in Greece where you can pitch a tent, park your mobile home, or just snuggle in your sleeping bag. They are usually near the best beaches at their location, and most offer running water, showers, and toilets. at athEna (athEnS) From the Acropolis to the Parliament building at Syntagma Square, the Roman monuments and a dozen amphitheatres, Athens certainly does offer it all on an interesting palate. While in Greece, indulge in a DoIt-Yourself walking tour, which allows you to explore Greece your way. Be it shopping at the local flea markets (a treasure-trove of inexpensive but beautiful antiques) or taking a stroll after dinner, Athens provides just the perfect ambience for a romantic couple to fall in love all over again.
SEPT 2012 | 23

BEaCh Blitz Greece is not just about ancient history. For those of you who have an affinity for beaches, Greece definitely is the place to be this summer. Isolated and secluded or luxurious, take your pick from the endless beaches that dot the coastline. Balos (Chania, Crete), Sarakiniko (Elafonisos Island, Peloponnese) and Navagio (Zakynthos) are voted the top 3 beaches in Greece. tEmplE of apollo Located at Bassai, the temple of Apollo doesnt fail to instill a sense of charm and intrigue in an adventurers heart. An avant garde piece of architecture, this temple is not just a building of wonder but is rich in history too. If you love to discover things and have a passion for all things historic, head out to the Temple of Apollo at Bassai on a lazy afternoon. guidEd tour of olympia Greece is best experienced through guided tours any tourist would tell you that. From Athens or Pygros, take a guided, historical tour. The location for the ancient Olympic Games, Olympia is not only home to ancient sprinting tracks and old stadiums, but also the Temple of Zeus, which once housed the idol of Lord Zeus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient worlds. go Bird watChing Greece has 11 wetland areas that are of international importance, not to mention over 190 important areas for birds. Nestos Delta in Thrace and Prespa Lakes in Macedonia are the top places to bird watch in Greece. Rare species of turtle doves, peregrine falcons, magpies and red rumped swallows are known to inhibit the area. Be sure to grab your camera though. This is one experience youd want to capture forever.

24 | SEPT 2012

Director: Steve Martino and Mike Thurmeier Cast: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Seann, Wanda Sykes, Peter Dinklage Film series are as predictable as the moon; after the first couple of sequels, the substance of the storyline and the interest levels of the audience start waning as instalment after instalment bombard the silver screen. Ice Age 4 barely wheezes past the finishing line in terms of creativity and the appalling lack of funniness is not something we associate with a franchise which has had ample doses of both wacky humour and intelligent wit. The factors which save the movie from total wipe-out are the brilliant animation, the loveable characters and the intermittent lessons in geography and on life. The movie begins with our old friend Scrat who, in the process of storing his acorn, initiates the breaking up of the Pangaea landmass. Our much loved trio, meanwhile, is battling personal problems Manny (Romano) is facing mammoth difficulties in dealing with his teenage daughter, Diego (Leary) is battling the first fluttering of love and Sid (Leguizamo) doesnt quite know how to handle his wacky octogenarian granny (Wanda Sykes). The three heroes along with Granny get separated from the rest due to the continental drift and end up on an iceberg. They battle a bunch of ignoramus buccaneers headed by Captain Gutt (brilliantly voiced by Dinklage), the main antagonist. The conflict between the trio and Gutt sets the story rolling, an interesting twist coinciding with their pursuit of meeting the family. Martino and Thurmeier manage to create a sense of exhilaration and danger that sets the mood for the ensuing adventure. The era and the environs are depicted magnificently with the help of some brilliant visual effects. With the humour element falling flat, it is the animation and visuals which aid the movie to become a box office winner. It is worth a onetime watch for all animation lovers. With a possible sequel in the offing, all Ice Age lovers can only hope that moon waxes and does not wane.
26 | SEPT 2012

FOOD

MUst HAVe

Nutrients
oN YoUr PlAte

Impossible deadlines, unending commitments, mounting targets and the pressure to deliver top notch performance consistently, our lifestyles are moving at supersonic speed. The first causality of this multiple crunch is our health, which takes a severe beating.

The adage health is wealth assumes a new meaning in this fast paced era. Apart from regular workouts, healthy eating patterns are of vital importance. Women, especially require their daily dose of nutrients abundantly present in the myriad food choices around to boost their bone density and increase general wellbeing and vitality. Here are 7 vital nutrients which you cannot afford to miss, even on a very, very hectic day!

Why: Calcium is primarily responsible for increasing bone density resulting in stronger teeth, bones and lower chances of osteoporosis as you grow old. Moreover, this magical mineral helps better functioning of muscles and nerves; prevents colon cancer and can keep many other diseases at bay. Recent research shows that regular calcium consumption along with Vitamin D (which enables better absorption of the mineral) can decrease the risk of type II diabetes. Daily dose: 1000 1200 mg Food Files: Dairy products, especially milk, yogurt and cheese are good sources of calcium. Fish, soya bean products such as tofu, sesame seeds, nuts, white bread, dried fruit, pulses and green leafy vegetables. Breakfast cereals and orange juice are also fortified with extra calcium.
28 | SEPT 2012

1 CalCium The Bone Builder

Ban t t he an

So, you get to have the vacation you dreamed of every minute, when you were looking up at the clock by your office cabin which seemed to go deliberately slow. The sun and beach combo sure is uber cool but can prove fatal by dyeing your skin a darker shade. First things first, all sunscreens work for two hours at the maximum. Sunscreens are not like clothes to be worn just like that. Use cleansing milk, followed by a face wash and then apply the sunscreen. For dry skin SPF 30 will do and for oily skin one may have notch it up to SPF 50. Switch brands once in a while so the skin wont get accustomed to the sunscreen. Keeping your body hydrated helps keep away tan. One more excuse for holding a hollow coconut drink with a cocktail umbrella poking about!

MUst HAVe

Nutrients
oN YoUr PlAte

Why: This mighty mineral is important for myriad metabolic processes. But, irons claim to fame is its importance in creating hemoglobin, a pigment which is an essential part of the red blood corpuscles (RBC) to carry oxygen in the blood. Iron deficiency leads to anemia with symptoms of fatigue, irritability, dizziness, headaches and lack of appetite in critical cases. Daily dose: 15 mg Food Files: Red meat is the richest source of iron, but fish and poultry also are good sources. Fortified breakfast cereals, beans and green leafy vegetables also contain iron apart from dry fruits like dates, prunes, almonds and raisins.

iron The mulTiTasking mineral

Why: Folic acid, a derivative of B-complex vitamin called folate is a vital component in the formation of red blood cells, protein metabolism and also DNA synthesis. Especially important during pregnancy, folic acid deficiency can result in a congenital defect called spina bifida in the unborn child. Generally, a dose of folic acid is vital on a daily basis to ensure a healthy body. Daily dose: 400mcg Food Files: Folic acid is found abundantly in citrus fruits, liver, lentils, rice germ, brewers yeast, soy flour, black-eyed peas, navy beans, green leafy vegetables, kidney beans, peanuts, spinach, turnip greens, orange, banana, red fruits, nuts, avocado, whole grains, lima beans, whole wheat, and asparagus. An incredibly fragile vitamin, food processing (for example, boiling, heating) can destroy folic acid.

Why: Vitamin A is very, very important for your eye sight. Deficiency of this vitamin can result in night blindness. Moreover, Vitamin A helps ensure that your skin, gums and teeth are in the pink of health. The immune system requires this wonderful vitamin to keep it fighting fit. Daily dose: 700mcg Food Files: Vitamin A is found abundantly in liver (beef, pork, chicken, turkey and fish), carrot, broccoli leaf, sweet potato, kale, butter, spinach, pumpkin, collard greens, cantaloupe melon, egg, apricot, papaya, mango, pea and broccoli.
30 | SEPT 2012

MUst HAVe

Nutrients
oN YoUr PlAte

Why: Vitamin D is very important for calcium absorption in the body. This vitamin also helps maintain adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentration to ensure normal formation of bone. Normal growth of the bone and remodeling are only possible when there is enough Vitamin D to aid the process. The deficiency of this vitamin can lead to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Daily dose: 400 IU (International Units) Food Files: Vitamin D is usually obtained through exposure to sunlight. Dietary sources rich in this vitamin are fish liver oils, such as cod liver oil, fatty fish species (herring, catfish, salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna and eel), egg and beef liver.

ViTamin d duke oF deVelopmenT

Why: Vitamin C or ascorbic acid helps in the production of collagen which is the vital component of connective tissues. Collagen is an important element in blood vessel walls, gums, and bones, especially important to those recovering from wounds and surgery. Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant, scavenging potentially harmful molecules called free radicals. Research proves that this antioxidant capacity may help boost immune function, protect against cancer, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration of the retina, and other chronic diseases. Vitamin C also enhances iron absorption. Daily dose: 40 mg Food Files: Vitamin C is present mostly in fresh citrus fruits like orange, lemon, tomato, pineapple, papaya and in fresh vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, green peppers and beans among others. Amla, guava, sprouted pulses and germinating grams are rich sources of vitamin C.

ViTamin C Wizard oF Wellness

Why: Potassium does the much-needed balancing act, cancelling out the effects of sodium and maintaining a constant pH level in the body. A tip in this delicate balance can lead to disastrous consequences and a haywire blood pressure is the first indication. An electrolyte, potassium is the reason behind keeping your nervous system running in top shape and helps you tone those muscles. Potassium can get rid of acne (women, rejoice!) while banishing certain forms of allergy, fatigue and kidney stones. Daily dose: 4700 mg Food Files: Bananas, oranges, apricots, avocado, strawberries, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumber, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, bell pepper, eggplant, squash, mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, turmeric, parsley, spinach, broccoli, tuna and halibut are treasure houses of potassium.
32 | SEPT 2012

poTassium earl oF equiliBrium

Its Important to know how and when to eAt FruitS

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. Its not as easy as you think.. What is the correct way of eating fruits? *It means not eating fruits after your meals! * Fruits should be eaten on an emptystomach. *If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities. *Fruit is the most important food. Lets say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so. *In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.... *So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining every time i eat watermelon i burp, when i eat durian my stomach bloats up, when i eat a banana i feel like running to the toilet, etc actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat! *Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will not happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach. *There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to dr. Herbert shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight. *When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, not from the cans. Dont even drink juice that has been heated up. Dont eat cooked fruits because you dont get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins. *But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice
SEPT | 2012 | 33

To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old

throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look! *Kiwi: tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin e & fiber. Its vitamin c content is twice that of an orange. *apple: an apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin c content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin c thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke. *Strawberry: protective fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancercausing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals. * orange: sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer. *watermelon: coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin c & potassium. *guava & papaya: top awards for vitamin c. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin c content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes. *Drinking cold water after a meal = cancer! Can u believe this ?? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However , the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this sludge reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into
34 | SEPT | 2012

fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal. *A serious note about heart attacks heart aqttack procedure : (this is not a joke) women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. Sizty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Lets be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive. S.natarajan (m.no.876)

We never know the love of the parent till we become parents ourselves

BAR NITE
at alumni club

The recently held BAR NITE on 14th August was a resounding success with close to 100 people turning up for the event. The crowd was awestruck by the performance of the singers, Shafi & team, whose songs (Hindi & Tamil) ranged from the 1970 s to the 2000s. They sung non-stop for close to 4hrs with the same enthusiasm and energy. The members also gave their wishlist to the singers and they happily obliged. Kudos to Shafi & team! There were also exciting offers at the bar and the bartender was kept on his to toes. There were also exciting cocktails and the bartender apart from preparing some breathtaking cocktails also had the audience in awe with the jugglery of the bottles. The event was sponsored by Lanson Toyota and the all new Corolla Altis & Fortuner were displayed proudly at the entrance of our main building. Our members took the two beauties for test drives and the impressive smile on their faces said it all. We thank them for their support! This is the first time that the BAR NITE has been conducted at our club and it was great to the see the crowd turning up in large numbers. For those who missed it , please make sure you come next time!
Pain is inevitable; but, suffering is optional

SEPT | 2012 | 35

SUMMITAA
The mIT alumni association one of the earliest in its genre, conducted an international Get Together of MITIANS on August 10th &11th at Chennai. About 250 members attended the meet which was inaugurated by Mr. M.M.Murugappan Chairman of the Murugappa Group. Some of the other VIPs who attended the meet were Dr. Mannar Jawahar , former VC of the AU , Dr. Shanmugavel Registrar, AU and Dr. Thamarai Selvi Dean of MIT. Dr. Mannar Jawahar & Shanmugavel recalled with nostalgia their experiences as students at the Institute. Dr. Thamaraiselvi spoke about the milestones reached by the Institute over the years and the challenges faced in managing a large Institute with the ever increasing competition around and thanked the Association for their unstinted support in the activities of the Institute. The speech by Mr. Murugappan, himself an alumnus of AC Tech., was one of the best corporate speeches heard in recent times. He elaborated on the supreme sacrifices made by the Founder Sri. C.Rajam and the reputation of the Alumni of the Institute over the years which had been largely responsible for enhancing the image of the Institute worldwide. He cautioned that more needs to be done by all concerned if the past reputation is to be sustained and improved upon and that no time can be lost in this regard. Intellectual capital is as important if not
36 | SEPT | 2012

A REPORT ON

A GET TOGETHER OF MITIANS WORLDWIDE

more important than other capitals for the overall growth of the nation. The afternoon session was devoted to discussions among the alumni on means of improving the interactions between the various chapters and the Institute and the help that can be rendered in improving the overall quality of the Institute. The drama Chocolate Krishna was staged by the Crazy Mohan group in the evening. The former President, H.E.Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam addressed the gathering on the second day. He dealt on length about the Founder, the background of the Institute , its Alumni and called upon all concerned to improve upon the Institutes reputation and to leave no stone unturned in this regard. An exhibition was inaugurated by the first alumnus of the Institute Mr. Appa Rao , followed by felicitations of famous Alumni, academicians and entrepreuners. The two day meet brought forth the bondage of the MIT alumni and emphasized the need for all alumni to extend their full fledged support in helping the Institute in its pursuit of excellence. For a recorded webcast of the events visit: http://www.liveibc.com/summitaa Radhakrishnan M.No. 127 babuathreya@hotmail.com

Respect yourself if you want others to respect you

REFLECTIONS
Be Thankful
Natures gifts to man are bounteous and varied. They are countless, and humanity can never be grateful enough for all that is bestowed on it, most of which is unsought and unasked for. The thoughtful and grateful amongst us devote a little time everyday to some sort of thanksgiving. They start the day with a sense of gratitude, and when the day is done they bow their heads to acknowledge the mercy of the unseen force which saw them through the day. When a calamity is averted, or when something is gained, when one emerges unscathed through a crisis, the natural instinct is to thank ones stars and the numerous deities whom one propitiates. In everyday life too, expressing ones thankfulness to a benefactor is considered etiquette. If one pauses to think, one will realize that man has much more to be thankful for. The thousands of humble hands (sewage workers & sincere workers in the essential services) which make life for others possible, are often forgotten. The services one enjoys, though often paid for, are taken for granted. At times these are claimed in the name of rights and privileges. There are millions, like border security, who toil day and night so that others may rest. There are those who risk their lives and work in hazardous conditions in order to make life safe and secure for the rest of us. Thousands brave the fury of the elements to save lives and property. These are the unknown, and unsung soldiers of the earth, the faceless men and women who make life easy and comfortable for the rest of us. And dont they deserve the gratitude of the beneficiaries of their services? Let us silently thank them at least once in a while, if not every day, when the day is done and we have enjoyed the fruits of their labors. If our minds are filled with this sort of gratitude feeling, contentment and peace will prevail.

-Mrs.Radha Natarajan w/o S.Natarajan, Member No.876

Ive never been poor, only broke. Being poor is a frame of mind. Being broke is only a temporary situation

SEPT | 2012 | 37

News letter
Suggestions and articles are invited from members. Events planned for the year 2012-2013

Library

For the members wards - studying up to 5th Std. - (Stories taken from the books available in the Club Library)

SToRy TeLLIng

For the members wards - studying 6th to 10th Std (Articles taken from the Books, Club Library)

SCIenCe anD TeCHnoLogy PReSenTaTIon

Kindly register your name in the club office for various events, depending on the number of Persons registered for each event, the dates will be announced. Prizes For the Events 1ST Prize Rs-500 2nd Prize - Rs-300 3rd Prize - Rs-200 Contact: Mr. T. Dhanapal Senior Manager Phone: 24321233, 24322195 Members are requested to use the Library and also donate Books and Journals.

FamILy QuIz

Topics will be decided on the day of the competition

Laughter yoga -demo. and practice (Visit the site www.laughteryoga.org). These events are proposed - depending on the response from the members - dates and frequency of the events shall be decided.

joKeS CoRneR

Internet Broad band, Printing and scanning facilities are available for members use (with nominal charges)

38 | SEPT | 2012

Enthusiasm is the yeast that raises the dough

C R Y P T OGR A M
The answer to the cryptogram of august is: GOOD COMPOSITION IS LIKE A SUSPENSION BRIDGE EACH LINE ADDS STRENGTH AND TAKES NONE AWAY. 6 members gave all correct answers. M.No. 21 .Harish Santhanam Geetha Raghavan Spouse of C.S.Raghavan M.No. 1687 H.T.Rajan. M.No. 813 T.Ramakrishnan M.No. 299 Ap.Muthu M. No 587 Padmaja Rao spouse of Sudarshan S. Rao M.No.1355 winners decided by lots are: Geetha Raghavan , Padmaja Rao & Ap. Muthu. Congrats to the winners and all the best to the others next time
2012 AUGUST

PUZZLE
A limitation or obstruction to sight or A--------- cut ------------ at both ends

Fill up the blanks with appropriate words from the set given below. Match the resultant sentences with the meanings given in the right.
PERSIFLAGE FIDO MINCE BLINDER TREPAN EMOTICON CHEROOT SINKER SQUARE CHARACTERS CIGAR MINTING CHOPPED BORING DISCERMENT ERROR KEYBOARD SEINE MINE BITS FRIVOLOUS

A group of ---------------- -------------- representing an emotion a coin having a ------------- --------Small ------------ ---------- ( like food ) ------------- Bantering talk A weight for sinking a fishline , ----------- or sounding line A heavy tool used in ----------- ---------- shafts

Send in your answers captioned : b&b august puzzle to babuathreya@hotmail.com. Copied to natprof@yahoo.com. Three all correct winners chosen by lots will get a credit of ` 250/- Each in their monthly bill.
For advertising contact: Options Media Pvt. Ltd., Ph: 2435 2581 / 4211 2582 Published and owned by Maria Bina at E-6, CDS Avenue, 4 Cart Track Road, Velachery, Chennai-600 042 Printed by B. Ashok Kumar, at Rathna Offset Printers, 40, Peters Road, Royapettah, Chennai-600 014. Editor: Maria Bina. RNI No. TNENG/2007/20172