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 Chennai,
it is said has only two seasons – the hot and the hotter. However
last week was witness to incessant unseasonal rains that battered
the city, thanks to a low pressure area that formed over the
Lakshadweep and the Maldives islands. Such rains are rare for this
time of the year. Several low lying areas of the Metropolis
including a few spots on the arterial roads – and that includes Anna
salai – were under water. The problem was compounded by the fact
that several roads have been dug up by the Corporation for the sake
of Storm water Drainage projects and for building flyovers. The West
Velachery residents were the worst affected.
Although N Jothi says that he did not resign from
the AIADMK just because he was not given a ‘ticket’ for the Rajya
Sabha elections, one is unable to attribute it to any other grounds.
The speed with the DMK received him into its fold does not make the
cross-over as innocent as it is made to appear. And, Jothi says the
entire AIADMK will merge with the DMK. That part of his statement is
too much to digest. As Anna used to say, engirunthaalum vaazhga, let
him be happy, wherever he is.
 The visionary British science fiction writer
Arthur C. Clarke was buried in his adopted homeland Sri Lanka on
Saturday, amid tears and tributes. He had wanted the following words
written on his tombstone: 'Here lies Arthur Clarke. He never grew
up, but didn't stop growing'. All the English dailies of Chennai
paid rich tributes to Arthur C Clarke. One remembers the words that
he uttered as he was approaching his 90th birthday. ‘But there is a
sad side to living so long:most of my contemporaries and old friends
have already departed. However they have left behind many fond
memories, for me to recall’. Perhaps that is why the Tamil Poet
Thiruvalluvar termed death, ‘great’!!!!!!!
 Budget presentations are still a ritual that the
public look forward to, with crossed fingers. And finally, when they
are presented, they have nothing but the routine announcements. A
Daily described the latest Tamil Nadu Budget as a copy-paste of the
budget of PC. The officials of the Pondicherry Government were seen
at the TamilNadu Assembly premises to grab a copy of the State
Budget. The reason is obvious. Yes, another copy-paste?
This Krishna Sweets Murali gets some strange,
but noble thoughts now and then. The latest was the one to honour
and salute the mothers of well known personalities. The mothers of
Ustad Zakir Hussain, Viswanathan Anand, Indra Nooyi, Vijay Amritraj,
Vairamuthu, Suki Sivam, C K Ranganathan of Cavin Kare, Krish
Shrikaanth, Venu Srinivasan, Y G Mahendran and Mohan Parasaran were
honoured. Celebrating motherhood will definitely be an inspiration
to others. Let’s not forget that even Adi Sankara, after he took to
Sanyasa, returned to his mother during her last hours! And he
created the Mathrukashtaka.
 It is good news. Come April and the global food
giant McDonalds is finally setting shop in Chennai. It will be at
the Ascendas Technopark, which already has a lovely food court.
While on the subject of food, a well known
neighbourhood food outlet in the Perungudi area has decided to down
the shutters. “There are moments in life when the head takes
precedence over the heart”, the owner S Sukumar told the writer. “In
spite of all the passion and love I have for this project, I am
compelled by economic considerations to wind up this kitchen”,he
said. He didn’t have the sustaining power. Many residents of
Perungudi and surrounding areas will miss the dishes of Sukhi Sansar.
It did make a difference in lifestyle during its thirty months of
useful existence.
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