Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

A streak of light emanates so bright,

In the clear sky at midnight.

I crane my neck out to see it clearly,

The light rushes at me, blinding me nearly.

‘We are not alone’ my mind tells me,

Out I rush to the spot where it fell to see.

A stunned- looking alien climbing out of the cockpit,

Of a giant lean and mean rocket.

It grabbed my hand and spoke in a language unknown,

Then its voice faded to a low-pitched tone.

I shrugged and indicated that I didn’t understand,

It zapped me and took me back to its land.

When I woke up, I could see the stars,

I don’t believe what I see, I think its Mars.

I was put on a float and paraded around,

I felt too terrified to realize what I had found.

They treated me well, gave me some water to drink,

‘Water on Mars?’ Strange but I started to drink.

Finding that the water was as pure as it could be,

To my surprise I splashed it all over me.

I sat up all of a sudden to find,

That it all had been a trick of my mind.

I could see my mother laughing in glee,

So, she was the one who threw the water at me.

I let out an inaudible scream,

With the realization that it all had been a dream.

Pranav R of XII B

The Railway Station

The big hunk of metal pulls in, its frame shuddering,

Passengers get down, some sleepy, some lumbering.

Porters mill about, hawking their sweat for money,

Against a few seats, piled up are sacks of gunny.

Children start to wail and cry,

Their gleaming eyes staring at passers-by.

And along comes an occasional dog or two,

They start to bark and snarl in protest too.

The vendors are busy, selling their wares,

Suddenly, to the train, a passenger tears

past ‘cause the train is leaving,

While the station gets busy for the next train to come calling.

Pranav R of XII B

Before It Rains

It is a dull blanket

A dirty white like a shawl across the sky

Its shadow projected upon the dry earth

While daylight is thinning.

The parched earth is filled

With much expectation

Its undying thirst

About to be momentarily quenched.

Yet the heavens do not share this joy

A monotone of moaning and rumbling

Set against the background

Of a sorrowful atmosphere.

Serene but sad,

The silence is hollow

The air, once filled with vibrant life

Is reincarnated as a stillborn.

The wind begins to howl

Like a wolf baying for the moon

From above, a monstrous cackle

Evokes nightmarish thoughts of witchcraft.

This gloom,  suffocating as it is,

Hypnotizes all life around,

Enticing all into a state of depression

Robbing the world of its colour.

There is one final manifestation

Of the emptiness embodies in this scene:

A swarm of celestial tears falls from the sky;

Messengers of the Lord's sorrow.

Anish Pratik Yayavaram of XI - A

Art III

Impact Of Media On Society

Living in a society that depends mostly upon technology for news, entertainment and education, the mass media is one of the greatest influential factors on the opinions and viewpoints of the younger generation. Some examples of media influences include magazines, internet, television, books and radio. All of these sources help shape the beliefs of what social life, culture, religion, or politics should be in the minds of younger people, sometimes at unrealistic standards. The mass media is a very helpful and relatively quick way to gain knowledge and insight as to what is going on in the world.

The media like television, radio and the Internet increase the overall awareness of the masses. They enhance the general knowledge by providing us with information from all over the world. News broadcast through different media helps us know about the day-to-day events in the world. News, tele-films and documentaries revolving around social issues increase a social awareness. Research has revealed that media is responsible for influencing a major part of our daily life. Media contribute to a transformation in the cultural and social values of the masses. Media can bring about a change in the attitudes and beliefs of the common man. The persuasive nature of the content presented over media influences the thoughts and behavior of the general public. Media has a direct impact over the lifestyle of society. The recent advent of blogging in the media world and practices like public polls and citizen journalism, have led to the achievement of a social control. These concepts have strengthened the relationship between the media and the common man. They have brought the general masses closer to their society. Media has brought about a major transformation in the way people think. Media has given them an excellent platform to present themselves before the world and contribute in their own way to the changing world scenario. Media has been responsible for making the world a smaller place to live.

Thus Media has served as a boon to mankind.but as every coin has two side media has its negative impact on the society also.

The media affects the way we act and think. It has a profound influence on the behavior of its audience. When people try to imitate something we had seen or heard, are they capable enough to distinguish between right from wrong? Young people often imitate their role models blindly. What is being highlighted in the entertainment industry is the wrongdoings of these celebrities whom the young people idolize. And because they are heroes in the youth’s minds, they are still celebrated despite the bad behavior they have been showing to the public. This highlighting of the media is a negative effect on society. They satiate the people’s hunger for trivial information and rumors. They create buzz by hyping the issues with flowery words and provoking descriptions. Controversies are created left and right to get the attention of people. Another negative influence of media is eating disorders. A significant number of youth nowadays are suffering from eating disorders attributable to unhealthy lifestyles that are emerging. The television programs, movies, and even print materials often showcase this lifestyle as fun activities despite their negative effect on health. Media hypes the acceptability of vices.

It has also been observed that children nowadays do not do the same activities as children of before. Instead of reading books, studying, playing outdoors with other children, and engaging in social activities, they end up being cooped up in their rooms watching television. And because of technological advancements and the availability of gadgets to young people, these children end up spending a significant amount of time in front of their computers and handheld video games. Because Internet is readily available to children, they end up reading and learning things, which are not suitable for their age. They get exposed to indecency and inappropriate acts. They become wrapped up in a different world—a world of fantasy. The changes in the behavior and outlook of people towards life are attributable to the negative psychological effects of media. Changes in cultural and moral values have been observed. Many people believe that what is depicted by the media is true and acceptable, altering their judgment and causing altercations. The negative influences of media are vast. It affects the physical self, the emotions, the psychological aspect, and even the spiritual stand of many people. One negative influence can trigger another negative effect and this can cause a chain of reaction leading to destruction of relationships in society.

Contradicting, view inflicting, sharp vindicating that is you. Patronizing, soul disguising, yet appetizing that is you. Forming dusty, lusty dreams, ripping hope at the seams that is you. Complicated, aggravated, frustrated and hated that is you. Creating rebels, lovers, fighters and others that is you. Lying, prying and successfully dying that is you. Tantalizing, society miser, capitalizing that is sometimes you. Intrigue me, manipulate me, make my mind at ease What does the media do to you?

That is up to you to decide……

Henna K of XII - B

Word Search

Art - II

Art - I

The Fall Of The Great Rupee

When each of you were young you would have been least bothered by what value Rupee was to Dollar but now when you slowly grow up you know of its extreme importance to you and to the economy of India. Around two years back the rupee to dollar ratio was 45 rupees =1 Dollar (approximately). Which itself shows that India is not a very economically stable country. In light of recent events In India and the U.S.A the rupee to dollar ratio shot up. The rupee to Dollar ratio 65.56 = 1 Dollar (approx). There was 20 rupee gain in the dollar ratio but however small an amount you think it is, it is a great deal for our country as it affects our international trade.

          

The Indian government had to sell the dollars stashed away in federal reserves just to decrease the ratio by 2.30. The government or more specifically our finance minister has taken a few reforms to stem the growth of the fallen rupee by which they are going to mediate the demand of non essential imports which are of high costs and they plan on enhancing the capital flows in the country because the only way the value of rupee will increase is if people invest in it or else the value will go down. The value of one pound has shot up to 105 rupees. So you can see while all other economies are gaining we are depreciating which may cause a financial problem for the whole country and we might be in the same situation in which USA was for the past 5 years.

C. Viswesh Kumar of XI - B

Passion Unplugged

Never has such an event gripped a nations imagination so tightly. A heartthrob of a billion, a man so closely revered as god himself in his own right. A person who has probably shown our nation as a light burning bright. Donned the Indian responsibility at a mere age of 16, and showed the world something no man had ever seen. The tremendous skill and ease with which he wields his weapon of magnificence a simple humble piece of wood, which has humbled almost everyone who gazed upon it. This is the ultimate sign of passion that we can refer to Sachin Tendulkur the little master, master blaster. The scorer of 100 centuries a player of 100 test matches and the hitter of the longest six in the world not only was the ball lost also was a couple of breaths and hearts. A man ultimately who was true to himself more than anything else always aware that the ultimate witness to our life the conscience wasn’t lied to. Passion is like wildfire it consumes everything in its path. New growth isn’t possible in the jungle without a fire the same for us growth cant happen in our lives without passion fuelling it. Passion is like an itch that needs constant scratching and Sachin Tendulkar seems to have kept his scratches constant. A look at the marks on his scorecard shows how passion was for the game. This passion was for joy; this passion was ultimately for himself. Passion is all, passion is Sachin.

Hariharan of XII - B

The Syrian Civil War

I hope most of you students know the situation in Syria it was on March 15, 2011 that protests against Syria's authoritarian regime first erupted. The reason of these protest were because the Syrian government tortured 5 children below the age of 17. The incident provoked a huge number of nonviolent demonstrations, with Syrians demanding justice from the President Bashar al-Assad. Assad responded with using his army and entire military force to suppress this movement. Violence failed to crush the uprising. The regime military measures led not only to the protest movement’s spread, but also, over time, to its militarization. This shift from peaceful protest toward armed resistance occurred gradually throughout the first year and a half of the uprising until, in summer 2012, the world acknowledged that Syria had reached a state of civil war.

 You might ask how is this news relevant for you the children of India. Well as we are the children so are we the future of our country in each student in our school lies a potential business man, lawyer, doctor and the most important the politician of tomorrow. Hence we should know all details, which affect not only our country but our neighbors as well. In Syria right now around 500 kids might

have been killed in their sleep while you are in the comfort of your home. While your parents beside you in an A/C room their parents are out their in a war for protecting their children’s future so I ask

you to be aware and alert in all fields of importance and don’t turn a blind eye to which does not involve you because everything affects everyone somehow and always be grateful for what u have

because out there in the world people are dying and they don’t have half of what you have.

C. Viswesh Kumar of XI - B

My Experience As A Newcomer

I still remember the day I entered XI B, full of strange faces and a lot of lively noise. I bet everybody was excited and nervous about being in one of the life defining classes. A few days after sitting in the class recluse the silence started to break and I slowly began to converse with the new class mates sharing polite smiles and a few laughs. The friendship’s began that would blossom into something beautiful.  We passed into twelfth std. The class became known for its unity. Through thick and thin the tenth students are known to stick together. The class is made up with people with all different interest’s talents and sizes. There are jokesters , who crack jokes to keep he class lively, dancers, athletes, artists and “padipists” who make up the different colors of the class’s pallet. 

Sure there is a bit of resistance amongst people of different strata and a few strings that are still struggling to from the perfect knot. Yet the ones, which have tangled themselves in strong friendship, are a unique sort. We share a similar kinds of rebellious behavior towards particular subjects school including teachers decisions. In a way this adds to our unity. Our class strives towards fun entertainment and PT without doing this a few of us couldn’t smile. Our class is like people each of us are a vital part. We need everyone in order to be a whole.

Hariharan of XII - B

Animal Fun Facts

Large Kangaroos can jump more than  30 feet in one hop - that's the length of 12 skateboards ! 

A rabbit's teeth never stops growing !

An elephant's tooth can weigh as much as 5.4 kg !

Strands of spider web are stronger than the steel wire of the same thickness !

The favorite meal of whale shark, the world's largest shark, is microscopic organisms called plankton !

A blue whale's tongue alone can weigh as much as an elephant !

A newly hatched fish is called as "fry" !

Did you know that elephants can swim as long as six hours at a time and as far as 48 kilometers without a break?

Termites are actually cockroaches that evolved to eat wood !

The nine-banded armadillo always gave birth to same gender quadruplets from a single egg !

The highest known jump ever made by a pig is 27.5 inches - that's the height of St. Bernard !

The smallest shark species grows around 15 cm long !

Sharks go limp when turned upside down !

Yamini .V of XI - A

Laws Of The Natural Universe

Law of Mechanical Repair:
After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.

Law of the Workshop:
Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

Law of probability:
The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

Law of the Telephone:
When you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal.

Law of the Alibi:
If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tyre.

Variation Law:
If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will start to move faster than the one you are in now. (works every time)

Bath Theorem:
When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.

Law of Close Encounters:
The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

Law of the Result:
When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.

Law of Biomechanics:
The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

Theatre Rule:
At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last.

Law of Coffee:
As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

Murphy's Law of Lockers:
If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.

Law of Dirty Rugs/Carpets:
The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich  landing face down on a floor covering...are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.

Law of Location:
No matter where you go,... there you are.

Law of Logical Argument:
Anything is possible... if you don't know what you are  talking about.

Brown's Law:
If the shoe fits, it's ugly.

Oliver's Law:
A closed mouth gathers no feet.

Wilson's Law:
As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

Muhilan of XI - B

Nails In The Fence

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.  His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.  Over the next
few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.  He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.  Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all.
 He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.
 
The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.  He said, 'You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence.  The fence will never be the same.  When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.  You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.  But It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound will still be there.  A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.

Remember that friends are very rare jewels indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed; They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.

Muhilan of XI - B

How Students Improve Their Study Skills

Without a doubt, studying for school work plays a vital role in the status of a student’s grade. Getting good grades is imperative in school, so that the student will be more prepared for college and the future. Study skills are important because they prepare the student for the test or quiz that he or she is going to take. Study skills, such as studying for a certain amount of time each day, doing
practice problems for the lessons learnt, and preventing procrastination can lead to a higher grade for the student. In general, students who prepare themselves and study for tests and quizzes will receive higher grades and learn more information than those who do not study or prepare. Study skills are necessary in order to receive satisfactory grades in school. One way to improve study skills is by studying for a certain amount of time each day in order to ensure that the knowledge will be retained. For example, if one wanted to receive a commendable grade in their AP Psychology class, then they would take a certain amount of time each night to study the proper terms and main points for the section for which they are learning. Spacing out your studying proves to be more beneficial
than studying the night before the test, as one has the opportunity to review class materials several times a week, focusing on one topic at a time. New information can be absorbed more easily when studying this way. It is evident that in order to improve study skills, one must allot time each night to study the information learnt throughout the course of the school day. Students who are optimistic towards becoming smarter and acquiring good grades need to improve their study skills by completing practise problems and exercises on a daily basis to ensure that knowledge is being retained.

N. S. V. Surya of VIII - A

iPhone 5s

The iPhone 5s is a smartphone developed by Apple Inc. It was released on September 20th, 2013 in the United States of America. Just like iPhone 4s, iPhone 5s is a revised model of iPhone 5. It has a new home button design using a laser-cut sapphire cover surrounded by a metallic ring. The iPhone 5s has a fingerprint scanner which will recognise only 5 people’s fingerprints which the owner of the phone has saved. The phone has also introduced the 64-bit A7 processor and M7 ‘motion co-processor’. The phone runs on iOS7 , the seventh version of Apple’s iOS system. The new
features in iOs7 are control center, Air Drop and i-Tunes Radio. Its weight is 112g.

K. Akila of VII - A

Lamp And Shadow

As the lamp fades

Its glow ever dimming

An aura of resignation 

Emanated from it.

It is the flame that feeds on the oil,

Yet it is the shadow that grows.

Their conflict fills the silence

The gray is more pronounced with each passing instant.

Yet the struggle persists,

There seems to be no near end

It is taxing on either front;

More so on that of Light.

The black cloak,

A shroud of evil,

Engulfs all that resist it's spread

In its unending oppression.

The white is no longer white,

Impurity is its disease,

Brought forth by the powerful plague

Remedy is an impossibility.

The oil is the flame's lone medicine,

To tide over the bitter struggle

Yet it doesn't heal; only gives longevity

To suffer the steady darkening.

The lamp bears the dark,

Like Atlas the sky.

The temptation to fall is felt,

But the Curse is honored instead.

Though its reserves diminish  

And the shadow conquers

The flame, though flickering,

Cuts through the dark with its glow.

The flame summons one last effort

To assert its defiance

It glows now brighter than ever

Even the darkness seems stunned momentarily

Passionate rage radiates from it

Pushing back the darkness

Like an order to kneel and cower

A compulsion to oblige.

But the dark recovers, no longer stupefied

The Light is weakened from its strain

This weakness thus exploited,

The flame is slain.

The battle is won,

The silence is no longer a void

As the Dark rejoices

Yet another triumph over the Light.

There is none to lament the flame

For the struggle is forgotten; only the victor is remembered.

Anish Pratik Yayavaram of XI - A

Indian PM's Visit To China

The Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh visited China on 23/10/13. He was welcomed by the Chinese Premier. They discussed about India and China’s problems. They agreed to solve the counties’ border problem peacefully without us of force. They also agreed that peace and tranquility of our borders must be the foundation for growth in both countries’ relationship. The Indian PM told Mr. Wen Jiabao about his concern over the dams to be built in rivers that flow to India. The Chinese Premier assured that the flow of the rivers to India would not be hampered in any way. Dr. Manmohan Singh then departed cordially with a guard of honor by the Chinese government.
We hope that this meeting strengthens the relations between China and India and also boosts peace among not only India and China but also that this be exemplary to rest of the world that peace can prove a better solution than war. After all , “War…… , what is it good for??........... absolutely nothing….”

M. Jagadish of V - B

From ATMs To ATFs

Ever wanted to book airline tickets or pay insurance premiums through an ATM? Wanted to advertise your business or pay bills via an ATM? Now that is all possible and more. Certain non-banking companies have rolled out white-label ATMs (non-bank affiliated) which facilitate all the aforementioned services and bus – cum – train ticketing, remittances etc.
Companies like Tata Communications Payment Services Limited (TCPSL), Muthoot Finance and SREI will set up financial service kiosks and will provide these services. When asked about the financial viability of this venture, they have responded saying that the operating costs will be less than the profits they’d make. They propose to make these services available within 2015. Whether or not they will succeed is too early to comment on but the consumer seems to be the clear winner.

Pranav. R of XII - B

Concerto

Concerto is a musical composition usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is usually accompanied by an orchestra. The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words ‘conserere’ ( meaning to tie, to join, to weave) and certamen (competition,fight): the idea is that the two parts in a concerto, the soloist and the orchestra, alternate episodes of opposition in the creation of music flow. It also includes cooperation and a sense of independence in the music flow. The concerto, understood in this modern way, arose in Baroque period side by side with the concerto grosso, which contracted a small group of instruments with the rest of the orchestra.

THE EARLY BAROQUE CONCERTO

The term concerto was initially used to denote works involving voices and instruments in which the instruments had independent parts – as opposed to the Renaissance common practise in which the instruments that accompanied voices only doubled the voice parts. Examples of this earlier form of concerto include Giovanni Gabrieli’s “In Ecclesiis”.

VARIOUS TYPES OF CONCERTO

There are various types of concerto. They can be broadly classified as

• Violin concerto

• Keyboard concerto

• Cello concerto

• Concerto for other instruments

• Concerto for orchestra

The popularity of Concert Grosso form declined after the Baroque period, and the genre was not revived until the 20th century. The solo concerto however has remained a vital music force from its inception to this day. 

CONCERTO IN THE 20TH CENTURY

In the first decades of 20th century, several composers such as Debussy, Berg, Hindemith, etc started experimenting with ideas that were to have far reaching consequences for the way music is written and, in some cases, performed. Some of these innovations include a more frequent use of modality, the exploration of non-western scales, the development of atonality, the wider acceptance of dissonances, the invention of twelve tone technique and the use of poly-rhythms and complex time signatures. These changes also affected the concerto as a musical form. Beside more or less radical effects on musical language, they led to the redefinition of the concept of virtuosity in order to include new and extended instrumental techniques as well as a focus on aspects of sound that had been neglected or even been ignored before such as pitch, timbre and dynamics. In some cases, they also brought about a new approach to the role of the soloist and its relation to the orchestra.

N. Janani Hamsini of XI - B

A 3-D Printer Makes A Pizza

A prototype (or example) of a 3D printer that makes a pizza showed up in Austen. The printer isn’t quite at a stage where it can make a pizza from the beginning, but is capable of extruding dough, sauce, and cheese in a pizza-like shape. NASA is interested in this technology, which could allow astronauts to choose from a greater variety of meals and lower amount of waste.
 Amazing, isn’t it? A printer making pizza, but of course you need to provide all the ingredients. Next we will have printers making cake, etc.? What do you think?

R. Pratheeba of VII - A

A Wierd Pet

Not even a month old, and the Royal baby has already got himself a pet! He hasn’t even said his first word and a state in Australia has already gifted him a pet - a baby crocodile.
 This crocodile and baby George share a special connection. The crocodile was hatched from an egg on the same day the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced that they would be expecting their first child. Because of this coincidence. The croc was named George in honor of his owner.
 This gift also strengthens the bond between England and Australia. The crocodile also means a lot to Prince William. He loved visiting Alice Springs along with his mother Princess Diana. By this, we can understand that the crocodile will remind Prince William of his mother.
 The crocodile is set to live in Crocosauras Cove in Darwin city. Let’s hope that the Prince and his pet will be friends for life.

Ananya Yayavaram of VII - A

Time Management

Time management is undeniably the crux of planning and succeeding in all endeavours. The very Tantalising, Igniting, Motivating and Emphatic “TIME” has a role to play in the life of every individual. It is a deciding factor for every activity. It is hard to define time as is its management.
Time management is an art subjective to an individual’s ability. One who can successfully manage time without getting stressed and perturbed will inevitably be triumphant in every situation he confronts. In student life time management is definitely one of the toughest and challenging tasks to do because mastering it is an uphill venture. The habit of procrastination, laziness and lethargy, lack of punctuality are all the striking enemies of time management. Overcoming such practices and managing time definitely requires composure and maturity. Time management has numerous benefits. It reduces stress, boosts productivity and efficiency and helps to reclaim our personality. Prioritising is the core of time management. It develops our ability to analyse and realise the relative importance of various activities that are part of our routine. It’s wise to inculcate this habit early as it requires a lot of practice and patience.
Hence it is necessary that before it is “time up” we learn time management because time management is the road to success and it is time that differentiates the winner and the loser in the test of life.

Kaaviya Ganesan of XI - B

Chill Out With Some Brain Teasers...

1. Johnny’s mother had three children. The first child was named April. The second child was named May. What was the third child’s name?

2. A clerk at a butcher shop stands five feet ten inches tall and wears size 13 sneakers. What does he weigh?

3. Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world?

4. How much dirt is there in a hole that measures two feet by three feet by four feet?

5. What word in the English language is always spelled incorrectly?

6. Billie was born on December 28th, yet her birthday always falls in the summer. How is this possible?

7. In British Columbia you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg. Why not?

8. If you were running a race and you passed the person in 2nd place, what place would you be in now?

9. Which is correct to say, “The yolk of the egg is white” or “The yolk of the egg are white?”

10. A farmer has five haystacks in one field and four haystacks in another. How many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in one field?

Answers

1. Johnny.

2. Meat.

3. Mt. Everest. It just wasn’t discovered yet.

4. There is no dirt in a hole.

5. Incorrectly (except when it is spelled incorrecktly).

6. Billie lives in the southern hemisphere.

7. You can’t take a picture with a wooden leg. You need a camera (or iPad or cell phone) to take a picture.

8. You would be in 2nd place. You passed the person in second place, not first.

9. Neither. Egg yolks are yellow.

10. One. If he combines all his haystacks, they all become one big stack.

   

We have a very strong tendency to see what we want to see and what we expect to see. When we only see what we want or expect to see, we miss competitive threats because our brain tells us a threat couldn’t possibly come from that direction.Our brain doesn’t like information gaps, so we tend to jump at the first answer/solution that looks good rather than take the time to examine all the data. This is especially true in a world where we receive more information every day than we have time to assimilate. Finally, our brains love to see patterns and make connections. This trait serves us well in many ways as we move through the world. But the brain doesn’t always get it right.

S. Bhagavathy of XI - B

Problems Caused Due To Digital Messaging

In the present day, most of the people, especially school students, are busy with their messages and mails. Almost every day, from morning till late at night they sit in front of the laptop or are on their cell phones forgetting about the entire world. People get so addicted to these that they cannot live without these for even a minute.

Between their work, people surf the net and check for any of their mails or messages and stop doing other work. Due to this, others’ work are drastically getting spoilt. People should know to manage their time and leave a separate time for all the other work, or else, it is very difficult to complete other important work in time. School students are unable to finish their work and are not able to even study properly due to distractions caused by these. Sitting before computers and using cell phones also causes health problems. Eye sight is harmed and calories do not burn as a result of physical inactivity, leading to weight gain. Lack of sleep and lack of concentration in their work are also some symptoms. So, management of time for all these issues plays a major role in our day to day life. 

S. B. Gayathri of X - A

Appl Unveils iPad Air

Apple International Corporation on 23.10.13 took the wraps of a slimmer, faster tablet in the market called the iPad Air and announced it would give away Macintosh operating and work-software free to its users, challenging  Microsoft Corporation’s near strangle hold on personal computing. Apple announced the surprise offer, which will be available to all users of Apple Mac books and Mac computers at a product event on Tuesday at which is also unveiled a new line of Mac notebooks and computers.

”We are turning industry on its ear, but this is not why we are doing it “.  Apple CEO Tim Cook told media and technology executives at Buena centre. “We want our customers to have our latest software.” The iPad Air is 20% thinner than the previous generation of tablets but the new tablets will face stiff competition from Nokia, Microsoft and Amazon.com Inc. and all plugging rival devices for the coming months. But while Apple is leading market share to rivals, its superior library of apps and content is to safeguard its lead for years to come.

M. Subaruna of VII - A

A Leadership Stalwart - Whom History Remembers

Abraham Lincoln was the most effective and transformational leaders in world history. Often regarded as the greatest American president, Lincoln abolished slavery ended the civil war, saved the republic and led from the front in several circumstances, adding to his kitty numerous accomplishments. He was a self taught man and was moulded by several losses and difficulties. He had an indomitable self confidence and a heart full of determination and ambition. Lincoln was a thoughtful communicator and had the ability to listen to different points of view and arrive at comprehensive conclusions. The qualities that I find noteworthy in him are his ability to share credit for success and be aware of his weaknesses. He never compromised on his integrity and lived with the principle of “MALICE TOWARDS NONE AND CHARITY FOR ALL”. He knew to control his emotions and had incredible administrative and management abilities. Lincoln fundamentally cared about people and expressed them through his words and encouraging gestures. In short Lincoln, was a leadership genius from whom every person can definitely draw innumerable leadership lessons and look upon to with ultimate reverence and regard – for he was one unblemished LEADER.

Kaaviya Ganesan of XI - B

Academic Achievement - A Definite Path To Success?

It is an unannounced rule of both the social world and corporate world that a man’s acquisition of academic achievement or qualification is a giant leap towards opportunities and success in life.

You can always make  exceptions to the rule, but the rule is still the rule for a reason. Let me take it that : “success in life” basically means occupational and economic success, the two vital necessities of life, undeniably. It goes without saying that economic success implies – you have the means  to meet your ends in life. Academic  achievement makes the difference between working at a job that is barely enough to meet your ends and a job that you really enjoy. Academic achievement is necessary for finding and keeping jobs that provide a steady income, benefits and opportunities  for growth and advancements.

Beyond work and wages academic success is important because higher level of education will be necessary to tackle the technologically demanding occupations of the future.

Sound theoretical and empirical research has established that academic achievement is the critical first step in improving self esteem, confidence, critical and analytical thinking skills, interpersonal skills and shaping a person into a well rounded personality. So academic achievement not only has a direct effect on earnings but also plays an important role in the mental makeup of a person. Hence there Is definitely a positive correlation between academic achievement and success.

Critics would rightly point out examples of people who have made it to the top with bare minimum education or no academic achievement at all. Here I would like to draw their attention to the fact that such people who have made a mark in any field be it business, sports or entertainment. They all employ highly qualified professionals to manage their affairs, to build and strengthen their empire and to retain their success in life. For instance, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs may be drop outs but they surely did prosper only with the help and support of highly qualified professionals .

Barring a few noteworthy examples what about those millions of well qualified professionals? Isn’t academic achievement their only key which opens the door to all that which life has to offer? Academic achievement guarantees insured success. Academic achievement alone guarantees a safe and comfortable path to success in life.

Kaaviya Ganesan of XI - B

India Wealthier Than Europe In Languages

Here’s a bit of news to show that money and wealth does not always count.
A recent study by People’s Linguistic Survey of India (PLSI) shows that India’s children speak about 850 languages where as Europeans can speak only 250 languages.
 On the whole, Europe has only 3 languages that are doing well-English, French and Welsh, However, each and every state in India has a different language. A good example of a state doing well in terms of language is Assam, whose people speak nearly 52 languages.
However, a shocking thing about Indian languages is that they are rapidly dying. In the past 50 years, nearly 250 languages have been lost. This is very shocking news. All of us must work towards conserving out country’s beautiful languages.

Ananya Yayavaram of VII - A

Health And Science - Brains Flush Toxic Waste In Sleep

A new study has found out that the clean-up system our brains, responsible for flushing out toxic waste products that cells produce with daily use takes place when we sleep.
 Scientists say this self-clean up by the brain provides us with a good memory power and everything is retained whenever we read or study something.  Sleep puts the brain in another state of mind where we clean out all the waste products of activities done in the day-time. Staying up all night prevents the brain from getting rid of the toxins, and this can cause crankiness, mental fog,etc.
 So better stop staying up all night and get a good night’s sleep!

R. Pratheeba of VII - A

Onion Price Hike

Due to weather change and irregular rain, onions were not grown much as they could not be harvested at the right time. Moreover, quite an amount of produce goes waste as they begin to rot. For this reason farmers produce less of onion, and hence there is less supply to the market. Hence the shopkeepers increase the rate of onion. These prices are so high that cross the limit of affordability, and this is suffered mainly by the poor. Onion is used in day to day cooking. Non-procurement affects the business growth of traders. Some even hide onions in great volumes for their use, which is not good. The people hope that the prices soon fall so that people can get to use it without any hesitation while buying.

V. Varshitha of VII - C

Auto Rickshaw Meters Reintroduced In Chennai

After almost a decade, the auto rickshaw meters are reintroduced in Chennai with revised rates. A year-long campaign by the Times Of India, a PIL in the supreme court and an online petition have culminated in the state government announcing new fares. It is now mandatory for all the auto rickshaws plying in the city to install meters with GPS facility and electronic digital printers. The new fare structure came into force on 25th august 2013. The revised fare for the first 1.8 kms is Rs 25 and Rs 12 for every additional km. late night service charges will be 50%than day time which is applicable from 11pm to 5am.in addition to this, waiting charges is applicable at Rs 3.5 per 5 minutes. Meanwhile, the government has directed rickshaw drivers to collect the new rate cards from regional transport offices by September 15. The commuters welcomed the government announcement with cheers. The operation of the auto rickshaws will be monitored effectively. 
Now drivers cannot charge high rates. People no longer have to bargain with the drivers. If the auto drivers follow the new rates, there will be more commuters. With the increasing petrol prices, the government should also revise the fares.

Arya B. Nair of X - A