VARTHAMANAM MAALA Newsletter

July 2016

Published by: The Malayalee Association of Lansing, Michigan, USA. July 2016 Submit info and queries to creative.maala@gmail.com

Disclaimer The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of MAALA. Therefore, The Malayalee Association of Lansing carries no responsibility for the opinion expressed thereon.

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July 2016

Volume 5, Quarter 2

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VARTHAMANAM

MAALA 2016 Executive

Board

Shoj M Rajan

President

Bino B Manjasseril

Secretary

Thomas Jose Junior

Treasurer

Sreelekshmi Rajesh

Ancy Abraham

Deepu Jacob

Robinson Robert

Creative Team

Sridevi Viswanath

Sreelekshmi Rajesh

Medha Parappurath

Jessica Manjasseril

Sandra Nair

Cover Photo Courtesy:

Rajeev Krishnan

Vishu/Easter program Photo

Courtesy:

Solomon Abraham

Dear fellow MAALA members,

It has been an amazing few months of working together for

the benefit of every one of us in the MAALA community. We

celebrated Vishu and Easter together, as we have been doing

every year. I appreciate and thank you for your heartfelt

support to make the Vishu/Easter 2016 program a grand

success. I was away on personal business. In my absence,

our Board Members worked very hard to make it into a social

event you all will remember for a very long time. I applaud

and congratulate them for the same. You can find a few

pictures put together from the event in this newsletter.

We are planning for a family camping and solicited our

community's interest to participate. We received an

overwhelming response from you and we are in the process of

finding a facility to serve about 25 families. Despite the

difficulty in finding a camp ground to accommodate so many

families (since most of the camp grounds are already been

reserved for whole of summer weekends and available spots

are limited) we are trying our best to start this tradition

this year and we will keep you posted on this.

I'm sure you all are looking forward to our Annual picnic

event. Please make sure to sign up on the evite as soon as

possible so that we can plan for ample food and events to

make it a memorable event.

We have our second volleyball and throw-ball tournament

planned for August 20, 2016 and we need our community's

whole hearted support to make it a grand success. We shall

update you with further details on this soon.

See you all on July 16th at Wonch Park.

Thanks and Regards,

Shoj M Rajan

President’s Message

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MAALA VISHU-EASTER PROGRAM 2016- Highlights

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Drawing By: Kalyani Sandeep

Drawing By: Shalini Shaji

New born

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Why do we use SOAP to clean? Taking a bath daily is one of the things we do as part of our daily hygiene. On a

sweaty summer day, some bathe at multiple times to feel better. After a bath with the

SOAP of choice, we feel refreshed and clean. So, why do we use soap to clean?

Soap is a cleansing agent with unique ability to remove “stuff” that are soluble and insoluble in water. Soap is a salt produced by reacting vegetable oil or animal fat

with sodium or potassium hydroxide (alkali or base). Oils and fats in general are

called glycerides or esters formed by the combination of an alcohol (glycerol) and

fatty acids. Mixing oil and sodium or potassium hydroxide yields soap (salt of fatty

acid) and glycerol (alcohol). Retaining some glycerol in the soap improves its

quality or feel on the skin. The potassium or sodium part of the soap can mix with

water while the fatty acid portion float on water. It is like a lollypop-the candy

portion, soluble in water, as the sodium or potassium end and fatty acids as the stick.

Our body excretes dead skin (not soluble in water), sweat (soluble in water), amino

acids (partially soluble) and oily substances or lipids (not soluble in water) at all

time. When we soap our body, the fatty acid part of the soap attaches to “stuff” or materials that are not soluble in water and carry it away from the skin when rinsed

with water. To see soap in action, take a bath in a closed tub and look back at the

floating “stuff” in the tub.

Washing hands and taking bath using a soap is highly recommended to stay healthy.

It is not necessary to have an antibacterial soap to wash hands since regular soap

always does an excellent cleansing job. Constant use of antibacterial soap could lead

to bacterial resistance and hence to health problems.

Now I know….. Murali Nair

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Exposure Triangle

• ISO – the level of sensitivity of your camera to available light. It is typically measured in numbers, a lower number representing lower sensitivity to available light, while higher numbers mean more sensitivity. More

sensitivity comes at the cost though, as the ISO increases, so does the grain/noise in the images. Examples of

ISO: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600.General rules for using ISO: Use an ISO of 100 or 200 when taking photographs

outside in sunny conditions.

If the sky is overcast or it is evening time, then use an ISO within the range of | 400 to 800. Night time or in

case of low light you might need to set your digital camera ISO to 1600

• Shutter Speed – the length of time a camera shutter is open to expose light into the camera sensor. Shutter speeds are typically measured in fractions of a second, when they are under a second. Slow shutter speeds allow

more light into the camera sensor and are used for low-light and night photography, while fast shutter speeds help

to freeze motion. Examples of shutter speeds: 1/15 (1/15th of a second), 1/30, 1/60, 1/125.

Aperture – a hole within a lens, through which light travels into the camera body. The larger the hole, the more light passes to the camera sensor. Aperture also controls the depth of field, which is the portion of a scene that

appears to be sharp. If the aperture is very small, the depth of field is large, while if the aperture is large,

the depth of field is small. In photography, aperture is typically expressed in “f” numbers (also known as “focal ratio”, since the f-number is the ratio of the diameter of the lens aperture to the length of the lens). Examples of f-numbers are: f/1.4, f/2.0, f/2.8, f/4.0, f/5.6, f/8.0.

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Once upon a time there was lot of littering in 1843.There was a man named James Marshall and he saw that earth was changing. Then later on James Marshall

became the President and he was the man who made the Earth Day celebration. He made

the celebration at Washington D.C. So in order to save and protect our Earth, I

request each one of you to plant a tree once a year in your backyard. Also make

sure you dispose all plastic bags and other items properly. With our small effort,

lets save our planet.

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Collage on Paper Plate.

By: Naina Srijith

Save the Planet

Joel Manjasseril.

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I looked at the sky

to the heavens above Stars are shining up high

filling air with love The night tells me a story

Of dreams, of pain, of heart How an ordinary person

destined for bravery from the start A journey cross the universe

Planets one by one Secrets of the world are there

Hidden in the sun

Hopes and dreams disappear

In this world’s grace energy can’t be destroyed and neither can my faith

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Drawing by:Shreya Sanal

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A walk a day keeps the Doctor away

Dr. George Varughese

Walking is low-risk and easy to start. It can help keep you fit and reduce your risk of serious diseases, like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and more.

A regular walking program can also:

• Improve your cholesterol profile

• Lower blood pressure

• Increase your energy and stamina

• Boost bone strength

• Prevent weight gain

American Heart Association recommends that adults get 150 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week. Even short 10 minute activity sessions can be added up over the week to reach this goal. If you would benefit from lowering your blood pressure or cholesterol, aim for 40 minute sessions of moderate to vigorous activity 3 to 4 times a week. You could do this by walking 2 miles briskly (about 4 miles/hr). If that’s too fast, choose a more comfortable pace.

Get ready

All you need to get started are comfortable clothes and supportive shoes. Layer loose clothing, keeping in mind that brisk exercise elevates the body’s temperature. Shoes designed for walking or running are best. Make sure you have a little wiggle room between your longest toe (1/2") and the end of the shoe. Avoid cotton socks since they retain moisture and can promote blisters.

Work on your technique

Begin with short distances. Start with a stroll that feels comfortable (perhaps 5-10 minutes) and gradually increase your time or distance each week by 10-20 percent by adding a few minutes or blocks. If it’s easier on your joints and your schedule to take a couple of 10- to 20-minute walks instead of one long walk, do it!

Focus on posture. Keep your head lifted, tummy pulled in and shoulders relaxed. Swing your arms naturally. Avoid carrying hand weights since they put extra stress on your elbows and shoulders. Don’t overstride. Select a comfortable, natural step length. If you want to move faster, pull your back leg through more quickly.

Breathe deeply. If you can’t talk or catch your breath while walking, slow down. At first, forget about walking speed. Just get out there and walk!

Pick up the pace

To warm up, walk at an easy tempo for the first several minutes. Then gradually adopt a more purposeful pace. A good way to add variety is to incorporate some brisk intervals. For example, walk one block fast, two blocks slow and repeat several times. Gradually add more fast intervals with shorter recovery periods. Concentrate on increasing your speed while maintaining good posture.

Walking hills is a great way to tone your legs. Using Nordic walking poles can help your burn more calories and give you better posture and overall muscle endurance. Treadmill walking, while not as scenic, can be convenient during bad weather.

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The end of your walk is an ideal time to stretch since your body is warmed up. Stretch your hamstrings and calves as well as your chest, shoulders and back. Hold each stretch for 15 to 30 seconds.

Track your progress. Although experts recommend walking at least 30 minutes a day, there are no hard and fast rules. Walking 60 minutes/day and brisk intervals will help you burn more calories. Fit walking into your schedule whenever you can. That may mean three 10-minute walks over the course of a day. The best schedule is one that keeps you walking and keeps you fit!

What is Nordic Walking?

Nordic walking uses two specially designed poles to work the upper body while walking. Like cross country skiing, the poles are used by the arms to match each step the person takes.

How is it better than Just Walking?

For a better but easier cardio workout, Nordic walking increases your heart rate without increasing your perceived rate of exertion. You get a better workout without feeling like you are working any harder. While you can get a similar heart rate effect by walking faster, there

are many people who do not want to walk faster or cannot walk fast.

Be safe

Avoid traffic accidents. Listening to lively music while you walk is a great way to energize your workout. But if you wear headphones, keep the volume down and watch out for traffic that you may not hear. Wear light colors or reflective clothing and carry a flashlight or glow stick if you walk when visibility is low.

Walking on sidewalks is best, but if you have to walk on the street, stick to streets with lower speed limits. Faster streets are riskier because motorists are less likely to see pedestrians and cannot stop as quickly. Accidents involving pedestrians have an 85 percent chance of becoming fatal if the car is moving at 40 mph as compared to only 5 percent if the speed is 20 mph.

Know your area. Pay attention to what businesses are open in the area you’ll be walking and know the location of emergency telephones. Walk on well-traveled streets rather than taking shortcuts in less crowded areas such as alleys or parking lots. If you give the message that you are calm, self-assured and have a purposeful gait, you’ll lower your chances of becoming a victim.

Two heads are better than one. Walking with a partner or in groups discourages crime and may help alert you to dangers such as speeding motorists or unleashed dogs.

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Ashna Cibin

Lansing River Trail and the Grand River Lansing river trail is a gorgeous trail through Lansing connecting so many attractions in Lansing.

The trail is almost 20 miles long, paved road. It passes through Potter Parker zoo, Lansing Old town, Hawk

Island, Lansing downtown and so many other such. This weekend we decided to hit the trail near the Lansing

city market and visit the Old Town. In most of the areas you walk through the side of Grand River enjoying the trees, river and the freshness.

The trail is very well marked too. How beautiful is it?

By around 3'o clock we decided to kayak the Grand River. We walked back to Lansing city center and rented a tandem kayak. They took us to Moore’s Park where we entered the water. This was the easiest stretch to kayak. We are supposed to paddle in the direction of flow of the Grand River. I think this was our second time ever,

kayaking. I was confident since I had done it once, and was very excited about doing it again to get the hang

of it. The entry point which we opted at the river was just directly after a dam and had a lil strong flow. As

we started we struggled to keep our kayak out of the flow of the water and as we progressed the river became calm and we started enjoying it. It took us almost 1:15 hours via Grand River to reach back at Lansing city

market. River was calm and except for the first few minutes the experience was great. We watched many turtles,

birds along the side of the river which sadly I couldn't capture a picture. After the kayaking was over we

visited the Lansing old town. The city is kept old with the treasures from old age. The stores you see would

carry the fashion and trends from the 1900s with many antique stores along the street. The Old town has its

own portion of Grand River. We walked along the trail for some time enjoying the nature. It has a fish ladder around the dam, which helps the fish swim from one side of the dam to other! The fish ladder is basically a

small diversion from the main river, to bypass the waterfall.

We returned from Old town in an hour and started exploring the Lansing downtown. We walked past the Capitol

building and rested beside the Grand River.

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Voices Sreedevy

I’m waiting for the rain. “We are all waiting...” shouts the woman reading the News on TV. As the nation swelter, I’m ardent to see a splash, a ripple and the breeze that only monsoon brings. Rain comes with abundance of happiness. I need it without much wait, because any day, any moment from now I may die, alone, just like my Johnny. “Johnny died of over expectations”, says his doctor. He was only 81. Is that an age to die? Maybe it is. After sixty, we all get that tag, don’t we? ‘The oldies crew who are truckin’ towards death.’ Johnny died in peace, but deeply yearning to re-live his youthful days as a father. Perhaps to silently correct our bad, very bad, parenting. We assume so, because they never come to see us. Our older son complains about sending him to a boarding school at the age of seven. The fourth child is much stricken about our age gap, too old to be his parents. One day Johnny breathed his last, looking at the raindrops that fell from our front yard mango tree. I found him lying under the tree with few mangoes and leaves around him. A very dramatic death. He was smiling. That was the moment I became fearless of death. Fearlessness comes with a strong will to live through many monsoons, or just one, it didn’t matter. I think of myself as a good mother. But, our children never come home. Johnny and I have two grandchildren. I have not seen them. I’m alone in this tiny house Johnny built when he was young and able, so handsome that all my women friends were jealous of me. I loved him dearly and we loved our children, we gave them our best. Maybe boarding school was a bad idea. Maybe, the fourth pregnancy, so late, was a bad idea. In one of my favorite Television program, a Yogi once said, “loneliness is divine.” I’m not so sure of that Mister, Yogi. I say, loneliness is divine only when we have hope for company of our beloved ones. Hope for a rain. “It has started raining in some parts of the state.” shouts the woman reading the News on TV. The rain is here, finally. The leaves on the mango tree started to slow dance in anticipation. “Peter is 71 years old. He lost his children to a largely spreading infection of greed and heartlessness. If you are willing to give him a home, please call the number on the screen 888-9494”, shouts the woman reading the News on TV. The new hit section of the News program in TV that connects older people to loving homes, makes me feel relieved that it’s not just my children who turned out to be smart and well off. The rain has come and along came thunder and lightning strokes. The earth sucked it all in tiny frequent gulps, and the breeze started splashing it to and fro. Everyone took shelter, the birds, the humans and the negative thoughts. I looked at Peter on the TV screen. His eyes had that mix of sadness and hopefulness which I found in my Johnny when we sent our first born away expecting to give him the best education at a prestigious boarding school. That was also the year I conceived out fourth child. We always thought our

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children would become our best friends, our four pillars through hardship and wealth, to maintain the happiness quotient at all times. Where did we go wrong? “We were not wrong, my dear, this generation of children considers it to be ‘cool’ to let us be alone. So, let’s stay cool enough for them,” my Johnny would say. I wonder when it will be cool again to love and cherish one’s parents in their older age. Johnny and I have made enough for our four children to come and see us, if only they knew of our secret wealth. Johnny was good with secrets. I would have given it all away just to see my children around. But, Johnny always says, “It’s not love, my dear. Love that anticipates money and wealth is not love.” I walked to the phone and dialed 888-9494. Rain always comes with a new zest for life, a reboot to our energy and to our forces within. Johnny came and sat near the mango tree, a bit jealous, but he smiled.

Drawing by: Kalyani Sandeep

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Drawing by: Shalini Shaji

Drawing by: Ganga Murali

Friends, For our September issue, we are looking forward to receiving your art work,

articles and anything you would like to express

through this newsletter. Please email it to

creative.maala@gmail.com

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Anu’s Recipe Hut By: Anu Shoj

Chicken Kabob

Serves 10

Delicious and spicy grilled chicken

Prep Time1 hr Cook Time 20 min Total Time1 hr 20 mins

Ingredients

1. 5-6 Chicken Breast - cut to bite size pieces

2. Bell Peppers (choose any or all colors) - cut to square pieces

3. Onion - cut to square pieces (optional)

4. Shaan Tandoori Chicken Masala

5. 4-5 Tbsp Yogurt

6. 1 Lemon Juice

7. 2-3 Tbsp Butter

8. Food Color (Optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.

2. In a bowl add all together, mix well and marinate for 30-60 mins.

3. Brush little oil or butter on the skewers and insert bell pepper, chicken, onion and repeat these until you reach 2 inches top of the

skewers

4. Do the same above step to all the skewers or until you use all the chicken pieces.

5. Place these skewers on top of a lined baking sheet and bake them in the oven or on a grill each side for 6-10 mins and cook the

other side too.

6. Serve these with mint chutney or as is.

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MAALA Coloring Contest

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MAALA Coloring Contest

Rules and Conditions

Eligible for children below the age of 15, only one entry per child.

All entries should reach us by August 30th 2016.

All entries should be sent via email to creative.maala@gmail.com

Include the participants’ name, age, school and grade in the email.

Entries will be judged on colors used, neatness, and over-all appeal.

MAALA board’s decision is final.

Winner will be notified by email and will be published in the next newsletter.

Friends, we need sponsors for the coloring competitions. Sponsorship can be in the form of any of the below mentioned:

Cash (up to $5)

Books

Prepaid Coupons.

Gift Certificates

Help Us, Help our Children.

We received zero entries for the coloring contest this time

Ouch, we are sad

Kids, go to the coloring page and color away! Ask your

parents to email it to creative.maala@gmail.com

Parents, read out loud the above to your children

If you want to place your ad here please contact @ maalaorg@gmail.com

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Letters, Letters, Letters.

WE VALUE YOUR COMMENTS , SUGGESTIONS AND HARD TO

HEART CRITICISM ;)

EMAIL US YOUR FEEDBACK .

Email: creative.maala@gmail.com

Your Letters “Such fine and classy work!! Congratulations to the Maala creative team for putting out this wonderful issue. It was a real delight to read with my morning cup of tea!! Thank you again for inspiring the budding minds and creativity within our community.” George Varughese

“Nice work..!!” Rejoice Paul "Newsletter looks very good. Excellent work creative team.” Jino Manjasseril

Thank you all for taking the time to write in. We appreciate it!

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MAALA's vision is to provide a platform for our community to come together, enrich and empower each other’s life. It's an opportunity to celebrate, preserve and uphold the rich values and traditions of Kerala and pass on our heritage to our children. However, we cannot achieve this goal without your

support. As a non-profit organization, we solely depend on donations from the members for our financial needs. So if you are not a member yet, or if you have not paid the membership fee for this year, we would

kindly request you to do so at the earliest. Membership fee per family is $40.00. You may contact maalaorg@gmail.com if you have questions and/or comments. Upcoming MAALA Events of 2016- (Tentative Dates)

Medical Meet

TBD

Picnic/Food Fest July 16 Summer Fun Event August 6/7 Volleyball Tournament August 20 Onam Celebration September 17/24 Soup Kitchen/Charity Event Christmas/Newyear Celebration

November 19/20 December 17

For publishing your beautiful work in ‘Varthamanam’, please email us: creative.maala@gmail.com

Membership and fees

VARTHAMANAMMAALA - VARTHAMANAMPresident’s MessageNow I know…..Murali NairA walk a day keeps the Doctor awayDr. George VarugheseA regular walking program can also:• Improve your cholesterol profile• Lower blood pressure• Increase your energy and stamina• Boost bone strength• Prevent weight gainAmerican Heart Association recommends that adults get 150 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week. Even short 10 minute activity sessions can be added up over the week to reach this goal. If...Get readyWork on your techniquePick up the paceBe safe

Help Us, Help our Children.Letters, Letters, Letters.Membership and fees