Sachin back in action !

Many called for his retirement but Sachin is Sachin. He scored a glorious 76 which initiated Indian scoring over 300. England may lead but Sachin had a point to prove.

Why should he retired just because Ponting has retired ? Still runs can flow from his blessed bat !

India needs him and with him around Indian batting looks formidable ( particularly in India ).

Grape Juice, to keep the Cardiologist away !

It is said that a glass of grape juice keeps the Cardiologist away.

The resveratrol present in the seeds and skin of grapes and the flavonoids are responsible for this phenomenon.

Grapes , whether it is green, red or black, do reduce B P.

The antioxidants present in grapes removes free radicals ! Grapes is undoubtedly a divine fruit !

NE Monsoon graces Kerala !

Despite criticism that Thula Varsha or the North East Monsoon is far away, she is dot on time. It rained heavily in Trichur yesterday. It rained heavily in Madras the day before.

Tamil Nadu receives more rains than Kerala in this North East Monsoon phase. In Kerala rains are less this year, with the result we have unwanted power cuts. 

We hope it pours heavily again. If not Kerala is in for more power cuts. 

The N E Monsoon has a direct bearing on the economy, as Mr Monsoon is the Finance Minister of India !

Kerala graced by N E Monsoon

Despite criticism that Thula Varsha or the North East Monsoon is far away, she is dot on time. It rained heavily in Trichur yesterday. It rained heavily in Madras the day before.

Tamil Nadu receives more rains than Kerala in this North East Monsoon phase. In Kerala rains are less this year, with the result we have unwanted power cuts. 

We hope it pours heavily again. If not Kerala is in for more power cuts. 

The N E Monsoon has a direct bearing on the economy, as Mr Monsoon is the Finance Minister of India !

Kerala lags behind !

Shaw's definition of democracy ( Elected by Fools and ruled by rogues ) is true of Kerla. Today is a total hartal day. Nobody is working. The Keralite gets one more holiday in addtion to the 70 odd holidays he gets in one year. Kerala is only 9th, with her GDP stagnating at around 58 billion.


Hartals have become a common phenomenon. The Court banned Bandhs and so the politicians replaced it by an other word, Hartal.

"It is a game of force and fraud " said Veblen about democracy. It is a farce, as intuition and experience tell us.

Now it is a open confrontation between two groups and God alone knows what will happen.

When will India be liberated from this farce, which is goi in the name of democracy ?

Raina and Irfan pull India to victory. ( Hats off to Gautham too )

http://youtu.be/xTfrvWA9bhE




India needed a good allrounder at No 7 and Irfan proved just that. He along with Raina pulled Indian from a possible defeat into a victory.

Glorious batting by Gambhir ( 102 ) gave India the much needed start, as she chased 288 runs in the allotted 50 overs. 

India score 314./6.

Sehwag scored 96 and Kohli a dashing century in India's score of 314/6 off 50 overs. Raina was also belligerent at the end and smashed 50.

173 was the glorous  partnership between Sehwag and Kohli. One cannot say that 314 is a match winning score but then if India bowl well, the match can be hers !

Irfan has just trapped Dilshan lbw and the score is 7/1. India seems to be in the driver's seat !

Solar Transit of Pollux !

Right from morn, it has been raining. If not heavily, drizzling. More rains have to come. Otherwise Kerala is in for power cuts !

The Solar transit of Pollux ( Punartham Njattuvela ) will end on 19th and unless we have heavy rains, we are in for trouble. How ridiculous for a state to depend on rains for electricity !

An improvement in Punartham Njattuvela

We are receiving some of the fiercest rains for the last half hour, thus
proving the aphorism " Punartha thadiyan Poozhi therippikkum", as Punartham
Njattuvela is in full swing. We need more, more rains and the catchment
basins at idukki and Sabari Giri should be full. It seems Kerala is covering
up ! 

Climate Change ?

Even though it rained decently yesterday , still that feeling of alarm and despondency is not over. Now at the moment there are no rains in Gvr. There are reports from the North that Mausum has not even started ! That Monsoon is deficient by 31%. A scary prospect. More rains are needed in the next four days. Otherwise there will be power cuts in Kerala. If that is the situation in Kerala, what about the rest of India !

Global Warming may be affecting astro meterological trends and may be responsible for climate change ! Let us watch and see for the next four days !

Lack of heavy rains in Kerala !

The situation is precarious in Kerala. The water catchment basins at Idukki and Sabari Giri have only water for five days. Heavy rains have not yet lashed Kerala. During the fag end of Makiryam Njattuvela, it rained, but there were no heavy rains. Fierce rains have not made their presence felt so far.

For 15 minutes, it rained cats and dogs in Guruvayur just now. But the duration was not long. If fierce rains do not take over, I shudder at the prospect of power cuts !

I wont to be able to work on FB for longish hours !

We hope the fag end of Thiruvathira will be characterised by heavy rains. If not, Kerala is doomed !

At night

Alarming situation in Kerala.

It rained decently from 0800PM to 0900 PM, but then this is not enough to fill the Idukki and the Sabari Giri reservoirs. It is drizzling now. Hope there will be heavy rains.

People will laugh when they come to know that a state depends on Monsoons to generate electricity. No monsoon, no power, that seems to be the situation in Kerala. 

Hail the voters who elected this Govt !

Solar Transit of Alpha Orionis or Aridra

It has been raining incessantly in Trichur. Not heavy rains. Those who yearned for heavy rains are disappointed. This is Thiruvathira Njattuvela in full cry. Heavy rains can destroy crops and houses. Crores of loss will be reported if heavy rains take over. But then drizzles are good, as it is good for groundwater recharge, No surface runoff ! Ideal climate is always sunny days and rainy nights !

Waste Recycling

This is how the Trichur Corporation is solving the problem of waste. Two tubes are given for less than 100 INR. The real cost is 893 INR.  90% is subsidy. 75% given by Shuchithva Mission and 15% by Corporation.

The householder gets two tubes for less than 100. He can put waste in one tube and close it with a lid. After one week when the tube becomes full with waste, he can fill the other tube. ( On top of that waste, buttermilk, cowdung, curd can be put ). Meanwhile the first tube will be full of fertiser and that fertiliser can be used as manure for farms ! Tubes have 8 inch diameter and 1.3 meter length. Initially tubes will be given to 20 K homes.

Distribution of tubes have begun. Not a great engineering idea, but maybe it will suffice !

About Monsoon Express

The famous Thiruvathira Njattuvela or the Sun's transit of Alpha Oriionis began today. There was a heavy downpour at 0700 AM for half an hour and then there is a sunny interlude now. Now it is sunshine , but at any moment the sky can go dark. Thiru muriyathe peythu nirayunna thiruvathira. It will rain ambrosia in Aridra !

Rains galore in the month of Gemini in Kerala

The rains have been continuing for two days and now there is a break. It rained almost for 48 hours. Unlike last year's Makiryam Njattuvela, there were no fierce rains. In some places in Kerala, the rains took on the Dance of Destruction, destroying some homes and wells. The dams must have got enough water. Kerala was under the threat of power cut.

Despite its demerits, Rain is a beauty Goddess, evoking memories of wet experiences. She generates beauty and is responsible for the green landscaping effectuated by Nature. She gives grace to this tiny province and is the manifestation of Grace !

.

Vizhinjam - The proposed ICTT Terminal

A 5500 cr Port is proposed. Vizhinjam is a Deep Sea Port. It is on the Asia - Europe route. There is a natural depth of 18 metres here. This Port will be able to accomodate ships with displacements about 300, 000 tonnes. Other ports are hard pressed to accomodate ships of even 200,000 tonnes ! A 5 metre dredging can mean that Vizhinjam can accomodate the biggest ship in the world, with a displacement of more than 564 K tonnes !

The Vizhinjam Port can handle supertakers and the biggest container mother ships with ease.  This Port is closer to the international shipping line than any other Indian port, which makes it all the more economical for ships to call here. This opens up avenues for refueling or bunkering of ships as well as ship repair. On the crude transshipment front, a transshipment facility with a storage complex and docking piers will reduce the turn around time for ships. Crude is India's biggest import and Vizhinjam lies very close to the Persian Gulf - Far East shipping lanes used by most supertankers.

VALLARPADAM, the Lovely Island

Vallarpadam is one of the two main islands of Kochi, the other being Willingdon Island. It is situated next to Bolgatty Island on the West and linked to the mainland by the Goshree Bridges. It is about 3.5 km in length in the north south direction and hosts a population of 10 K people. It is about one km away from the mainland.

Vallarpadam and the proximate island New Vypin holds tremendous development potential. because of its nearness to the international east west trade route between Asia and Europe. It is situated in the 200 km long Vembanad Lake, known as the Lake of Kochi.

Vallarpadam is connected via Rail with the Edappally Railway Station with a 4620 m long Rail Bridge. This rail connectivity is for transporting containers from the ICTT.

These are some of the photos of the ICTT at Vallarpadam

Vallarpadam is flanked on the east by Bolgatty Island.

and on the West by Vypin Island.

These are two beauteous islands  on the Kochi Lake, the Wembanad Lake. Tourists find these islands heavenly. Experience it for yourself !

How to make Dal Vada !

How to make Dal Vada

Grind the dal in a mixie ( not too much). Add sliced onions and chillies. Also curry leaves. Make it into balls. Flatten the balls and put it it boiling oil and lo ! you have Parippu Vada !

Roasted Peanuts !

Put peanuts in a glass bowl. Add red chilli powder, some oil and salt. Heat in the microwave oven for 3 minutes and roasted peanuts are ready !

A Prelude to Makiryam Njattuvela !

Tomorrow Makiryam Njattuvela starts. Now it is raining heavily in Guruvayur ! The sky was brimming with pessimistic prophecies and now the rains are coming.

Last year's Makiryam Njattuvela wrought havoc. For 36 hours it rained non stop and we had a darkened atmosphere. It devastated rural Kerala !

Tomorrow I am off to Thirunavaya for my Mother's Sraddham. Hope rains will not hit Thirunavaya tomorrow.

Rohini Njattuvela Strikes !

There were not much rains yesterday, but I awoke at 0300 AM to see the lights go off. The reason was obvious. It was raining. It rained for half an hour. This is characteristic of the solar transit of Rohini 4 or the fourth quarter of Alpha Tauri or Aldebaran. Makiryam Njattuvela begins on 7th and rains are expected to intensify.


On 21st, Thiruvathira Njattuvela will take over and there will be many sunny interludes to accompany the intermittent downpours. Thank God it is raining every month in God's own country !

Astro Meteorology is right again !

Astro Meteorology's prediction that rains will start from Rohini Njattuvela ( Solar Transit of Aldebaran ) cam true, as it rained well at night in Trichur. Now the sky is overcast and rains can come at any time in Kerala. The South West Monsoon hit the Andamans on 20th and is expected to reach Kerala on 29th. We will have torrential rains !

Karthika Njattuvela, the Solar Transit of the Pleiades strikes !

The Indian Astro Calender was proved right, as when Karthika Njattuvela began on 10th, it heralded the rains. It started raining at 0700 PM yesterday and rained continously for 12 hours ! I couldnt even work on FB, because of the heavy thunder and lightning. I stopped working on FB at 0900 PM.

Our Astro Calender says that it will start raining from 10th May and rains will intensify after 29th, when the Solar Transit of 15th degree of Taurus or Edavam takes place.

While this is Astro Meteorology's perspective, Meteorlogy will say that rains are due to depressions in the Indian Ocean or the Bay of Bengal, giving it some fancy names such as La Nina or El Nino !

Here is a photo of paddy fields inundated by yesterday's rains !

One yearn for rains !

It is a very hot day today and one yearns for the rains. The South West Monsoon will begin on 29th May, but before that rains are expected to appear after May 10th, when the Solar transit of the Pleiades or Karthika Njattuvela begins.


May there be plenty of rains and may be land become fertile, Kale Varshe thu parjanya prithvee sasya shalini !

Water Scarcity during Summer

Now there are newspaper reports that many parts of Kerala are facing acute water shortage.

Rain water harvesting is not done properly. The immense amount of rains received from the two monsoons goes out into the sea. There is no proper planning by the authorities.

During these three summer months, the shortage is going to be more acute.

Nature's reservoirs like paddy fields and forest like areas are being
destroyed by some people who do not believe in the wisdom of Nature.

I have a house in a village and there is no scarcity of water there. This is because of the proximity of the paddy fields, some canals and the large temple pond nearby, which act as Nature's aqua reservoirs.

Nature's water reservoirs are being destroyed. Wells are being covered, paddy fields are destroyed, sarpa kavus or serpeant troves are destroyed. No wonder this has happened.

Now till the Sun's transit of half of Taurus ( on May 29th ), Kerala is in for big trouble. Many are affected by sunstroke as well.

In olden times, all houses were having a sacred grove/ sarpa kavu associated near it. No physical snakes are meant. Sir John Woodroffe's manum opus was the 'Serpent Power".This book is abound the Kundalini, the serpeant power coiled in mortals.

To awaken the Kundalini in us, the sarpa kavus were maintained. There is a saying that the ponds will dry, if we destroy the sarpa kavus. Some antipaganists, who do not revere Nature, destroyed these sacred groves and hence we are facing this problem !

Now the Sun is transiting Alpha Pegasi ( Pororuttathi ) and will be
transiting Alpha Andromed ( Uthrattathi ) from 17th onwards. These are dry spells and the landscape is having a
parched, semi arid look.

By 2015, many West Asian countries will be out of water. India also will be severely affected.

If Kerala's state is like this, what about the rest of India ?


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India lose heavily

Sachin seems to be in good nick, at 45 not out. Gambhir has just gone, out to Siddle for 83. India now are 173/3, still facing an uphill task ! Now Sachin is playing confidently and let us see whether he will get the coveted hundred.

Now India are 181/3 ! Laxman and Sachin are batting confidently and India are now 193/3! India were all out for 400, Tendulkar perishing in the 80s. Overall it was a lack lustre performance by the Indians. The only consolation was a 62 by Ashwin and 68 by Laxman. Kohli went out cheap.

 India has a lot of homework to do Down Under. Gavaskar was right when he predicted India has no chance Down Under.

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Aussies resume accumulating !

Aussies are now 484/4, with Clarke on 253, on his way to a triple ton.

Ponting, Clarke score centuries

Tons by Ponting and Clarke have destroyed India. Now India is fighting back to wall.

India face an uphill task Down Under. Against genuine pace bowling, their batsmen are faltering and except for some luck by the pacers, there is nothing for India to brag about

Clarke had progressed to 251 and Aussies are 482/4 !. India is flattened.

Gavaskar had opined that things look bleak for India Down Under and his prediction has been proved right. Indian batting and bowling Down Under gives scope for alarm and despondency. India is formidable in India and a paper tiger abroad !

An enthused Clarke said " "Hopefully, it would earn me respect. That's all I can do - to put the team in a good position to win another Test. Punter had told me while I was starting as skipper that as a leader, I should be standing up in the field, leading from the front and scoring runs. That's what I have tried to do".

Can he score a triple ?

A visibly overjoyed Ponting said "There have been plenty of frustrating moments. It's not when you get out early. It's when you have had a decent start and not capitalized. It's a game where the low scores are always going to happen. But when you are 40, 50 and 60, the great players make big scores. The last few weeks have been frustrating. I was getting starts but not capitalizing."

"I was probably run-out by two yards (if the throw had hit the stumps while Ponting ran for his 100th run). I had a brain fade. Thankfully, the ball missed the stumps or it would have been pretty sad end. When I got up, my shirt was destroyed, the grill was pressed against my face and I changed my shirt which probably made it the whole day out for the crowd," said Ponting, who was at his jovial best.

"It was an unbelievable day. To make 1 for 366 during the day was special. Michael (Clarke) batted as good as ever in any game. The way we batted, we repaid the bowlers in setting this game up," said Ponting.

"Michael came last night. It was a huge little period for us. We were three down for not many. The momentum had begun to swing in favour of India. We played our natural games, showed great intent and also managed to score reasonably quick. It was the same this morning. Our scoring rate was very good and we are taking the game forward all the time. That's the way we want to play." said the whirlwind master batsman. 

Dhoni and Ashwin block Aussies

At the moment, India are 30/2, having lost both Dravid and Gambhir to the Aussie quickies.

While Pattinson was responsible for the wicket of Gambhir, Siddle cleaned up Dravid.

The Little Master has just come in and everybody is looking forward to his century of centuries. Not possible this series, says McGrath !

Dhoni , 42 not out and Ashwin, 20 not out are blocking the Aussies and India are now 174/6 ! Sachin is gone for 41, as Pattinson and Siddle carved up India !

India declining ?

Are aging batsmen the problem? Is India like the West Indies side, a declining side in 1971 when Wadekar's team defeated them ?

What changes are to be made to the Indian team?

You decide. The 100th Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground begins tomorrow at 0500 AM IST sharp !



The Indian weakness against genuine pace has been exposed by the Kangaroos ? Will the Indian batsmen learn ?