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கோயில்களில் தேங்காய் உடைப்பதற்கான தாத்பரியம்

2012-06-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

கோயில்களில் தேங்காய் உடைப்பதற்கான தாத்பரியம் என்ன? ஸ்வாமிக்கு சமர்ப்பித்த தேங்காயில் ஒரு மூடியை அர்ச்சகருக்குத் தரவேண்டுமா? எனில், இரண்டு மூடிகளில் எதைத் தருவது?

"தாவரங்கள் அவனது படைப்பு. ஓஷதிகளும் (அரிசி, கோதுமை போன்ற) பயிரினங்களும், தென்னை, மா, பலா போன்ற வனஸ்பதிகளும் மற்ற உயிரினங்களுக்கு உணவாகும் நோக்கத்தில் இறைவனால் படைக்கப்பட்டவை.

வனஸ்பதியைச் சார்ந்தது தேங்காய். அதை உட்கொள்ளும் தகுதி இருப்பதால், அதை அவருக்குப் படைத்து, அவரது திருப்பார்வை பட்டு சுத்தமான தேங்காயை நாம் ஏற்றுக் கொள்கிறோம்.

இறைவனுக்கு அளிக்கும் அளவுக்குத் தூய்மை பெற்றது தேங்காய். இயற்கையாகவே வளர்ந்து நாம் உட்கொள்ளும் அளவுக்கு முழுமை பெற்ற பொருள் அது. அப்படி, கடவுளுக்குப் படைத்து அவரின் பார்வை பட்டுப் புனிதமாகும் பொருளை, தனக்கு மட்டுமே ஒதுக்கிக்கொள்ளாமல் மற்றவருக்கும் பகிர்ந்தளிக்க வேண்டும் எனும் நோக்கத்தில், கடவுளை வழிபடும் பெரியோருக்குப் பகிர்ந்தளிப்பது சிறப்பு.

கண் இல்லாத தேங்காய் மூடியை அர்ச்சகருக்கு அளித்து மகிழலாம்

Breathtaking Landscapes Carved Into Books

2012-06-14T21:07:00.003-07:00

Fellow Canadian Guy Laramee was previously featured on the Sifter back in Jaunary. Laramee is an incredibly talented artist with a broad range of skills from painting and sculpting; to music, composition and stage direction.

In his two latest series entitled Guan Yin and El amor por las montanas, Laramee’s remarkable landscape book is on full display.

Represented by Galerie Lacerte, please enjoy this stunning collection below. An artist statement and biography can also be found amidst the gallery. Enjoy!

to read more click <> link

http://twistedsifter.com/2012/06/book-art-landscape-carvings-guy-laramee/

மூக்கையூர் கடற்கரையில் சுனாமிப் பொங்கல்

2012-06-01T22:12:00.000-07:00

இப்போதும் தோன்றும் நாட்டுப்புறக் கதைகள்!

ந.ஜீவாFirst Published : 20 May 2012 12:00:00 AM IST

நாட்டுப்புறமாவது? கதைகளாவது? அதற்கெல்லாம் எங்கே நேரம் இருக்கிறது? பிறந்ததிலிருந்து சாகும் வரை மனிதன் ஓடிக் கொண்டே இருக்கிறான். கதை கேட்கவும், படிக்கவும் யாருக்கு நேரம் இருக்கிறது? மனதிருக்கிறது என்று சொல்பவரா நீங்கள்?

நீங்கள் அலுத்துக் கொள்வதிலும் உண்மையில்லாமல் இல்லை. பிறக்கப் போகும் குழந்தைக்கு பள்ளியில் இடம் பிடிக்க அலையும் காலம் இது. என்றாலும், கதைகளும், கலைகளுமாக ஓர் உலகம் இயங்கத்தான் செய்கிறது.பாளையங்கோட்டை தூய சவேரியார் நாட்டார் வழக்காற்றியல் ஆய்வு மையத்தின் இயக்குநரான சேவியர் அந்தோனி, இதுவரை 20 ஆயிரத்துக்கும் மேற்பட்ட நாட்டுப்புற கதைகளை கேட்டிருக்கிறார். 25 புத்தகங்களுக்கு மேல் எழுதியிருக்கிறார். அக்கல்லூரியின் காட்சித் தொடர்பியல்துறையின் தலைவராகவும் இருக்கிறார்.

""நாட்டுப்புறக் கதைகள் என்றால் ஏதோ பழங்காலத்தின் கதைகள் என்ற எண்ணம் எல்லாருக்கும் இருக்கிறது. அப்படியெல்லாம் இல்லை. இப்போதைய சூழ்நிலைக்கு ஏற்பவும் புத்தம் புதிய நாட்டுப்புறக் கதைகள் தோன்றியிருக்கின்றன'' என்கிறார் அவர்.

""நான் திண்டுக்கல் மாவட்டம் மிக்கேல் பாளையத்தில் பிறந்தேன். பி.எஸ்ஸி இயற்பியல், எம்.ஏ., இதழியல் மற்றும் மக்கள் தகவல் தொடர்பியல், ஊடகத் தொடர்பியலில் இளமுனைவர், முதுமுனைவருக்கான ஆய்வு என படிப்பில் ஒரு சுற்று வந்தேன்.

ஆனால் எனக்குச் சிறுவயதில் இருந்தே நாட்டுப்புறக் கதைகளிலும், கலைகளிலும் ஆர்வம் இருந்து வந்தது. அதிலும் நாட்டுப்புறக் கதைகளில் நிறைய ஆர்வம். அந்த ஆர்வத்தின் காரணமாக சுமார் 20 ஆயிரம் நாட்டுப்புறக் கதைகளைப் படித்தும், கேட்டும் தெரிந்து கொண்டேன்.

எனவே தமிழ்நாடு முழுக்கச் சுற்றியலைந்து நாட்டுப்புறக் கதைகளைக் கேட்டு, அவற்றை பதிவு செய்து கொண்டு வந்தேன். பின்பு அவற்றை நூல் வடிவில் கொண்டு வந்தேன். மாணவர்களுக்கு திசை வழிகாட்டல் நிகழ்ச்சிகளை நடத்துபவர்கள் பலர் என்னுடைய புத்தகங்களில் உள்ள கதைகளைப் பயன்படுத்துகிறார்கள் என்றால் பார்த்துக் கொள்ளுங்களேன்.

நாட்டுப்புறக் கதைகள் என்றால் பழங்கதைகள் - நீதிக் கதைகள் - பாட்டி காலத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவை என்ற எண்ணம் பலருக்கு இருக்கிறது. நாட்டுப்புறக் கதைகள் மக்களுடைய அன்றாட வாழ்க்கையுடன் தொடர்புடைய நிகழ்வுகளைச் சித்திரிப்பவை. உயிரோட்டமாக வாழ்க்கை நடந்து கொண்டிருக்கும் எக்காலத்திலும் புதிய புதிய நாட்டுப்புறக் கதைகள் தோன்றும் என்பதே உண்மை.

உதாரணமாக, 2004 டிசம்பரில் தமிழ்நாட்டை சுனாமிப் பேரலை தாக்கியது. ஆயிரக்கணக்கானவர்கள் உயிர்களை இழந்தனர். உற்றார், உறவினர்களை இழந்தனர். வாழ்க்கையை இழந்தனர். அதில் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட குழந்தைகளுடைய மனதில் பெரிய கேள்வி. சுனாமி ஏன் வந்தது?... சுனாமி ஏன் வந்தது?...

இந்தக் கேள்வியை அவர்கள் வீட்டில் இருக்கும் பெரியவர்களிடம் கேட்டார்கள். அதற்குப் பெரியவர்கள் குட்டிக் கதைகளைச் சொல்லி பதில் அளித்தார்கள். பாட்டிக்கு அவர்களுடைய பாட்டிகள் சொன்ன கதைகளை பேரன்,பேத்திகளுக்குச் சொன்னார்கள். அவற்றையெல்லாம் தமிழகம் முழுக்கச் சென்று நான் சேகரித்தேன். 350 கதைகளைக் கேட்டேன். அவர்கள் சொன்னதைப் பதிவு செய்தேன். அவற்றை பாளையங்கோட்டை தூய சவேரியார் நாட்டார் வழக்காற்றியல் ஆய்வு மையத்தில் உள்ள ஆவணக் காப்பகத்தில் பாதுகாத்து வைத்திருக்கிறேன். அதுமட்டுமல்ல, அந்தக் கதைகளில் 300 கதைகளைத் தேர்ந்தெடுத்து, அவை நான்கு தொகுதிகளாக வெளியிடப்பட்டு உள்ளன.

அந்தக் கதைகளில் இருந்து நான் தெரிந்து கொண்டது இதுதான்:

இந்த பூமி எவ்வளவோ பேரழிவுகளைக் கண்டிருக்கிறது. என்றாலும் அந்த அழிவுகளுக்குப் பிறகும், மீண்டும் உயிர்ப்போடு இயங்க பூமி தன்னைத் தகவமைத்துக் கொள்கிறது. அதுபோலவே பேரழிவுகளால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட மனிதர்களும் தங்களைத் தகவமைத்துக் கொள்கிறார்கள். அப்படித் தகவமைத்துக் கொள்வதின் ஒரு பகுதிதான் இந்த சுனாமி நாட்டுப்புறக் கதைகள்.

சுனாமியை நேரில் அனுபவித்துப் பயந்துபோன குழந்தைகளின் மனதில் இருந்த பயத்தைப் போக்கும்விதமாக, பாட்டிகள் நிறையக் கதைகளை குழந்தைகளுக்குச் சொல்லியிருக்கிறார்கள். கடலைப் பார்த்துப் பயப்படாமல், மீண்டும் கடலோடு நட்புறவு கொள்ளும்விதமாக அவர்களுடைய மனதைப் பக்குவப்படுத்தியிருக்கிறார்கள்.

இன்னொன்றைச் சொன்னால் ஆச்சரியப்படுவீர்கள். உழவர்கள் பொங்கல் வைப்பது வழக்கம். வீட்டுப் பொங்கல், மாட்டுப் பொங்கல் என்று கேள்விப்பட்டிருப்பீர்கள். ஆனால் சுனாமிக்குப் பிறகு சாயல்குடியிலிருந்து ஆறு கி.மீ. தூரம் உள்ள மூக்கையூர் கடற்கரையில் சுனாமிப் பொங்கல் வைத்து, கடலை வழிபட்டிருக்கிறார்கள். புதிய வழிபாட்டுப் பழக்கம் ஏற்பட்டிருக்கிறது'' என்றார்

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

2012-06-01T21:01:00.005-07:00

Radhe Krishna All,

It is only through a Guru that we learn even a matter ('vidhya') that can be perceived with our physical eyes. From making a mud pot to matters relating to Science we need a Teacher.

Making a mud pot seems a trivial affair to us. But, unless we approach a Potter who is adept in making mud pots and learn the trick of the trade from him we cannot produce a mud pot.

If, even to learn worldly matters such as these, which can be perceived with our eyes, one has to spend some time, as in a Gurukula , with an expert in the field then what to speak of spiritual matters (God/Paramatma Swaroopa) that cannot be perceived with our eyes?

No one can learn a matter that is beyond the realm of this world ('amanushya', 'alaukeeka', 'adhyartmika') on his own. One has to definitely approach a Master and only through Him can he gain such spiritual knowledge.

In this world ('prãkrita loka') a child who has no parents is termed an orphan ('anath') and we sympathise with this child. Likewise, in spiritual matters ('adhyatmika') he indeed is an orphan who has no Guru!
One who has no Guru is also an orphan! No one can learn this 'Brahma Vidya' (knowledge of the Self) without the guidance of a Guru.

How should this Guru be? If one says, "I have a Guru" and we question him, "How do you call him a Guru?" he explains, "My Guru knows my past and can also read my future!" But one cannot attain the status of a Guru just because he is able to foretell your future or recount the past events in your life. This is because an expert astrologer has the capacity to read your future and recount the past events in your life. A person does not become a Guru for the mere reason of sporting a beard or adorning a garb of the dispassionate. Performance of miracles also does not confer the status of a Sadguru as even a magician is capable of performing miracles!

Then what is the sign ('lakshana') of a true Guru?
What kind of physical attributes does he possess?
How does he speak?
How are we to recognize the Master?

We can neither recognize nor understand the Sadguru through our intellect. This is because our intellect is a 'physical' attribute ('parichinamana vasthu'). It is subject to limitations. With the intellect that is subject to limitations it is absolutely impossible to comprehend the limitless, i.e. understand the Mahans who are verily the form of Bliss ('ananda swaroopa').

Well! It is said that one can learn 'atma vidhya' (knowledge of the Self) only through the guidance of a Guru. But at the same time it is also said that one cannot recognize a (Sad) Guru. Then what is the way to recognize the Guru?
If we truly pine for God, if we truly recognise the blessing of having acquired the human birth - 'janthunam nara janma durlabhah' - says the Achharya (Adi Sankara) in Viveka Choodamani and the Mahans have said (in Tamizh),
'aridhu aridhu manidarai pirathal aridhu' (rare indeed is it to be born as a human) the Sadguru will Himself come to us!

What is the greatness of this human birth?

When we study the hierarchy of creation we find that human birth is in the center of creation. If one has to explain this status of the human birth it could be shown that far below us are the innumerable germs, bacteria, etc. Just above them in the ladder of creation is the earthworm. Above the earthworm are creatures such as cockroach, lizard, etc. above these are rabbits, higher than them are the dog, the donkey and the like.

Higher still are animals such as horse, cow, and elephant. Higher than these is the mighty lion. But man, through his intellect, controls even this mighty lion. So, for the mere reason of his intellect Man is placed in a higher status than all these creatures.

Above Man are the 'Pitrus'(ancestors), above the 'Pitrus' are the Devas, Yakshas, Kinnars. Higher than these are the devatas(demigods), higher still is God and then highest is the Brahman ('atma swaroopa'). So, Man is in the center in the hierarchy of creation.

"Azhaikkindraan Arangan"

http://youtu.be/KYN7Eu8ind8 - (14-5-12)
http://youtu.be/eZhvEVM59vc - (15-5-12)
http://youtu.be/sjsl5TsXg_U - (16-5-12)
http://youtu.be/TRd3U-QHD2o - (17-5-12)
http://youtu.be/eVXz_NGdvZs - (18-5-12)

From 2nd April - 2012, Sri Swamiji's new discourse series "Azhaikkindraan Arangan" is been telecasted on STAR VIJAY TV from Monday to Friday at 7:15 AM.... For live telecast - http://livetvchannelsfree.in/starvijay.htm

Don't miss it!

Regards & Chant the Maha Mantra:
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Pl visit: http://www.namadwaar.org/home.php

Political Cartoons

2012-05-31T05:38:00.002-07:00

Stay connected while you go: Bathrooms go high-tech

2012-05-31T05:04:00.003-07:00

Stay connected while you go: Bathrooms go high-tech

Not even the bathroom is free from technology these days.
Now it's becoming the iBathroom.
As bathrooms overtake kitchens as the nation's top remodeling priority, more consumers
are going high-tech: steam showers with built-in speakers, medicine cabinets with integrated
TVs, and toilets with MP3/phone docking stations.

Pricey new gadgets are making it even easier for people to stay connected. Already,
three-quarters of Americans say they use their smartphones in the bathroom, according to
a survey this year by marketing firm 11Mark.

STORY: Baths are popular remodel targets with practicality as goal

"They're for the guy taking his iPod into the bathroom anyway," says Home Depot bath merchant Jennifer Hartman. What's on tap?

•Programmable steam showers with built-in speakers for music from personalized playlists,
offered by Kohler and Steamist.

•Tubs that vibrate with the rhythm of music from invisible speakers. "It's like you're at
an underwater concert," says Kohler's Travis Rotelli of the $3,000-plus VibrAcoustic Bath,
launched last month. MTI Bath also makes one.

•Mirrors that double as flat TV screens, offered by Seura and Electric Mirror, speakers that
attach to existing medicine cabinets or cabinets with an integrated TV. "It's really slick,"
Tony Sweeney says of the $2,200-plus Robern TViD in his remodeled Chicago bath.

•Toilets, dubbed iPoos by critics, with automatic bidet-like cleansing, heated seats,
built-in speakers and smartphone docking stations. "It's completely unnecessary but just fun,
" Sweeney says of his $6,000-plus Kohler Numi. Inax's Regio Smart Toilet has similar features.

Not all are buying. Jerry Levine, a Washington, D.C.-area remodeler, says many clients want to

upgrade their bathrooms — the most common remodeling projects in a survey this month by the National Association of Home Builders— but still struggle with cost.

"We're still seeing more interest on the practical side," says Home Depot's Hartman.
She says $20 to $40 non-slipping toilet seats sell well, adding: "You never have to worry
about the seat shifting again."

Great British in Public

2012-05-30T21:09:00.001-07:00

Dudley, The Black Country, England. An area in the midlands, The Black Country gained its name in the mid 19th century due to the smoke from the many thousands of ironworking foundries and forges. Street games at the Black Country Living Museum. 2011

Read more: http://lightbox.time.com/2012/05/30/great-british-public/#ixzz1wPuhBhUw

Addiction to the internet could cause damage to the brain

2012-05-29T03:38:00.000-07:00

Addiction to the internet could cause damage to the brain similar to that by use of alcohol and drugs, a Chinese study has said.

According to scientists, the internet addiction disorder (IAD) is a recently recognised condition where individuals spend unhealthy amounts of time online, Sky News reported.

Researchers said internet disrupts nerve wiring in adolescent brains in a similar way to people exposed to cocaine and cannabis.

On being denied access to computers, people may experience distress and withdrawal symptoms including tremors, obsessive thoughts and involuntary typing movements of the fingers, the study said.

Earlier research on IAD have focused on psychological assessments rather than the impact on the human body.
The new study involved scans of the brains of 17 internet-addicted teenagers and 16 non-addicted individuals in China.

The scientists, led by Hao Lei from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, found in the IAD-diagnosed teenagers evidence of disruption to "white matter" nerve fibres connecting vital parts of the brain involved in emotions, decision making, and self-control.

Earlier studies have shown abnormal white matter structure in brains of people who were addicted to alcohol, cocaine and cannabis.

Unexpected allies aid ants at war with “zombifying” parasite

2012-05-27T22:17:00.002-07:00

Unexpected allies aid ants at war with “zombifying” parasite

May 4, 2012
Courtesy of Penn State University
and World Science staff

Tropical ants plagued by a parasite that turns them into “zombies” have unexpected allies in their struggle: other parasites, scientists say.

A group of “zombifying” parasites known as Ophiocordyceps are fungi that hijack ants' brains. The fungus them alters ant's brain mechanisms so that the insect marches to its death, all in an orchestrated process that facilitates the parasite's reproduction.

A dead "zombie" ant with the brain-manipulating fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis s.l. growing out of its head. Its stalk is in turn parasitized by another fungus, the whitish-yellow material, which scientists say castrates it. (Credit: David Hughes, Penn State U.)

But the fungal tyrant suffers oppression in turn from other fungi—which basically castrate it chemically and disrupt its reproduction, according to the researchers. The counter-parasites keep the first one in check and help prevent it from overrunning entire ant colonies.

It's truly a case where “biology is stranger than fiction,” said David Hughes of Penn State University, who led a research team that produced the findings. The research was published May 2 online in the scientific journal PLoS One.

A parasite of a parasite, called a hyperparasite, “effectively castrates the zombie-ant fungus so it cannot spread its spores,” said Hughes. This saves not a few hapless ants from a horrifying death. After commandeering their brains, the zombifying fungus makes them march to a mass ant grave near the ants' home, where it drops dead. The fungus then promptly sprouts out of the ant's head—forming a stalk from whence it spreads its fetid spores to claim more victims.

But the battle—which the researchers studied as it plays out in the Atlantic rainforests of Brazil but which also occurs in other parts of the world—isn't so simple. Far from resting easy in its cadaverous new home, the zombifying fungus falls prey to its own tormentors. These parasites spread onto its own stalk and make their home there. “Because the hyperparasitic fungi prevents the infected zombie-ant fungus from spreading spores, fewer of the ants will become zombies,” Hughes said.

As part of their research, Hughes and colleagues created a detailed model to reveal details of the interactions between the fungus-infected ants and the parasite-infected zombie-ant fungus. Scientists previously had known that ants defend their colonies against microscopic enemies such as fungal spores by efficiently grooming each other. In this study, the researchers also modeled the effect of such ant behavior on limiting infection.

“Interestingly, beyond the well-known effect of defensive ant behavior, our new research reveals the added effect of the castrating actions of the hyperparasite fungi, which may result in significantly limiting the spread of the zombie-ant fungus,” Hughes said.

The scientists report that only about 6.5 percent of the spore-producing organs of the zombie-ant fungus were viable. “Even though there are a lot of dead and infected zombie ants in the neighborhood, only a few of the spores of the zombie-ant fungus will become mature and able to infect healthy ants,” Hughes said. “Our research indicates that the danger to the ant colony is much smaller than the high density of zombie-ant cadavers in the graveyard might suggest. This complex interaction between ant colonies, their brain-manipulating parasites, and other fungi capable of lending assistance to the colony underscores the need to study social insects under natural conditions.”

Art appreciation, self-reflection may go together in the brain

2012-05-27T22:11:00.001-07:00

Art appreciation, self-reflection may go together in the brain

April 26, 2012
Courtesy
and World Science staff

A network of brain structures activated during intense aesthetic experiences overlaps with another that’s associated with inward contemplation and self-assessment, researchers have found.

New York University scientists asked 16 paid study subjects, having slight to moderate levels of past exposure or education in art, to examine 109 images of pictures from museums in a database. The artworks were from a wide range of cultures, time periods and styles, including some abstract works; none were particularly famous.

Subjects were asked to rate each work based on how strongly it “moved” them—not focusing necessarily on beauty, but rather on what struck them as “powerful, pleasing, or profound.” During all this, their brain activity was scanned with a technology called functional magnetic resonance imaging.

There was little agreement among viewers in terms of which artworks received their highest ratings—fours, on a scale from one to four. But one consistent finding was that a specific network of brain regions went into action for viewers as they looked at those artworks that they found special, according to the researchers.

The network consisted of frontal areas of the brain, just behind the forehead, and “subcortical” regions, which are relatively deep in the brain. This activity also included several regions belonging to the brain’s “default mode network,” which had previously been associated with self-referential thinking, the investigators said.

“Aesthetic judgments for paintings are highly individual, in that the paintings experienced as moving differ widely across people,” they wrote, reporting their findings in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. “But the neural systems supporting aesthetic reactions remain largely the same from person to person. Moreover, the most moving paintings produce a selective activation of a network of brain regions which is known to activate when we think about personally relevant matters such as our own personality traits and daydreams, or when we contemplate our future.”

Loving the mountain trainsVM

2012-05-27T22:02:00.004-07:00

Loving the mountain trains

VM Govind Krishnan, a resident of Sector 13, Dwarka, grew up in Mount Pleasant, Coonoor, watching the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) chugging past his home. He distinctly remembers the first journey he took on that train with his grandmother. He was in awe of the way the little train climbed its way through the dense forest and steep hills.

“The sight of the train entering a tunnel and coming out bellowing steam was mesmerising. Even today, the sight moves me beyond words,” says he.

All his professional life (34 years) he worked with Air India, but his heart remained firmly on movement on the ground. He has been in love with trains in general and more specifically with the mountain trains in India.

He has travelled a number of times on all the five operating mountain trains in India and has written extensively on these journeys.

His book, Nilgiri Mountain Railway - From Lifeline to Oblivion, narrates the struggle to save the NMR and throws light on the importance of the railway, as an engineering marvel and from the heritage point of view.

A revised edition of the book, with more photographs, was released this year in February. The first edition of the book came out in 2008.

It took him 40 years to collect the material to write this book.

Says he, “I had started collecting material for the book when the Union Government had proposed to dismantle the scenic railway in 1968 as it was not economically viable. I just wanted this train to continue chugging along.”

He also took hundreds of pictures of the NMR covering all sections of its 46-km route. One of these pictures is displayed in the office of the station master, Coonoor.

“The efforts of train enthusiasts like me met with success when the NMR was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in July 2005. NMR has only one parallel in the world, in Switzerland. Today the revival of the NMR is truly on. The Southern Railways is building new engines that will continue to run the train in the times to come,” he says.

His love for mountain trains does not end with the NMR. He has travelled extensively in other mountain trains of India and has written about them, besides coming out with a picture book on these other mountain trains to Darjeeling, Joginder Nagar (from Pathankot), Shimla and Matheran (Maharashtra).

“If you fall in love with trains, you will never come out of it all your life. A mountain train journey is the most beautiful and romantic journey one can take and we should make sure that our future generations do not miss out on that experience,” says he.

- Hindustan Times, New Delhi

கோடிகளைக் குவித்த கோபப் பறவைகள்! Angry Birds...

2012-05-08T07:16:00.001-07:00

கோடிகளைக் குவித்த கோபப் பறவைகள்!

Angry Birds... ஆண்டிராய்ட் போன்கள் அறிமுகம்போது, அதன் விற்பனைக்கு முக்கியக் காரணமான இருந்த மொபைல் கேம்!

சிறைப்பட்டிருக்கும் சிறு பறவைகளை விடுவிக்கும் வகையில் உருவாக்கப்பட்ட Angry Birds கேம்தான் முதலில் வ...ெளியிடப்பட்டது. இதற்கு கிடைத்த வரவேற்பைத் தொடர்ந்து, இரண்டாம் பாகம் அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. இம்முறை பச்சை நிறப் பன்றித் தலைகளை அடித்து வீழ்த்த வேண்டும் என்பதே விதிமுறை. இது, முந்தைய பாகத்தின் ரெக்கார்டை ஒரே நாளில் முறியடித்தது.

Angry Birds கேம் பாதிப்பில், ஆங்கிலத்தில் 'ரியோ' என்ற அனிமேஷன் படமும் வெளியிடப்பட்டது. இதுவும் ஹிட்.

இதனிடையே, Angry Birds Space புது வெர்ஷன் கேம் வெளியிடப்பட்டது. இதுவும் சூப்பர் ஹிட்!

தற்போது, ஆண்டிராய்டை தொடர்ந்து மைக்ரோசாப்ட், ஆப்பிள் கம்ப்யூட்டர்ஸ், பிளாக் பெர்ரி மொபைல் போன், கூகுள் குரோம், பிளே ஸ்டேஷன் 3 வரை சிறகடித்துப் பறக்கிறது, Angry Birds.
சுட்டிகளை விட, பெரியவர்கள் தான் இந்த கேமை அதிகமாக விளையாடித் தீர்க்கிறார்கள்.

இதெல்லாம் இருக்கட்டும்... இந்த Angry Birds கேம், ஒரே ஆண்டில் 100 மில்லியன் டாலர்கள் வருவாயை ஈட்டியிருக்கிறது என்பதே அண்மைத் தகவல்!

airport body scanners

2012-05-08T07:01:00.001-07:00

airport body scanners

Homeland Security investigators have found "vulnerabilities" with the X-ray body scanning machines that are replacing the traditional "magnetometers" at the nation's airports, Wired magazine reports.

Wired cites an internal report from the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general. The report is classified, but DHS at some point did quietly publish a summary of the report, actually dated in November, on its website. The summary mentions eight recommendations for improved screening, but those apparently are only available in the classified version.
The summary also says the "quantitative and qualitative results of our testing are classified."

"Exactly how bad the body scanners are is not being divulged publicly," Wired notes.

DHS has spent $87 million replacing magnetometers with the X-ray body scanners designed to detect items a metal detector could miss. Another $7 million is being spent to "remove the human factor from the image review process" and replace the passenger's image with an avatar.

Wired has found flaw with the body scanners before. "Even the Government Accountability Office — Congress' investigative arm — said the devices might be ineffective," Wired says.

she landed in wrong place at the wrong time.

2012-05-08T06:46:00.003-07:00

Melanie Marken was headed to her hotel to rest up for
a business meeting in Bloomington, Ind.,
last month when she made a discovery.

She was in the wrong Bloomington.

Marken's travel agent had mistakenly booked her on
a flight to Bloomington, Ill.
And she had to drive nearly five hours to make her meeting
in the Indiana city with the same name.
she landed in wrong place at the wrong time.

Even the most veteran of business travelers can inadvertently end up on the wrong flight — and in the wrong city. It's embarrassing, and even worse, it can foul up business meetings and potentially cost a company money.

Causes for a mix-up can range from the carelessness of a weary
traveler to a travel agent's error in booking a ticket to the wrong city,
Road Warriors and travel experts say.

"The traveler can e-mail a request for tickets to Philadelphia, for example,
and end up on a flight to Philadelphia, Miss., not the intended destination,"
says Kevin Mitchell, of the Business Travel Coalition. "Sure, there are opportunities
to catch such a mistake before leaving home or even at the airport.
However, sometimes a harried business traveler is operating on information overload,
or is just too tired to catch the error until an onboard announcement."

Garbage helps power up part of this township

2012-05-06T06:52:00.004-07:00

Garbage helps power up part of this township

by Kiran Wadhwa, Hindustan Times

At Hiranandani Estate in Thane, wet waste is not just given away to the municipality garbage collectors. It is carefully segregated and sent to a biomethanation or biogas plant, where it is converted into fuel. This fuel is then used to power the sewage treatment plant in the estate. From solar lights in the compound to occupancy censors in common areas such as staircases and washrooms, where the lights only come on when people are around, the complex is a mix of fixtures that help save energy.

The biogas plant, for example, produces 125 units of energy every day, but has the capacity to do much more. "The plant can process five tonnes of biodegradable waste every day, but we only get a little over a tonne. Now, 21 more buildings are coming up in the estate so the plant will be sued to its full capacity," said Anant Palkar, general manager, Hiranandani Constructions Private Ltd. The plant was installed two years ago. "These systems are easy to maintain, but regular maintenance is a must," added Palkar.

Biogas can be used for anything from cooking to running motor vehicles. Biogas is the gas produced through the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen.

The company is now applying for carbon credits. But while the systems are in place, are the residents equally environment-conscious? "Residents of the complex are environmentally sensitive and work towards energy conservation. Without the support of the residents, all these systems would fail," added Palkar.

STOP WATCH AND WALK -fun video

2012-05-05T01:05:00.000-07:00

STOP WATCH AND WALK STOP WATCH AND WALK STOP WATCH AND WALK

how2 save pets from stray dosgs

2012-05-05T00:25:00.000-07:00

how to save your pets from stray dogs - video

Cat washes its own dish plate-video

2012-05-04T23:54:00.001-07:00

Cat washes its own dish - video

பூனைக் குட்டி ஒன்று தான் உணவு உண்ணுவதற்காகப் பயன்படுத்தப்படும் கோப்பையை தானே கழுவிச் சுத்தம் செய்கின்றது.

மனிதர்ளே சில வேளைகளில் இவ்வாறு சுத்தம் செய்வதற்கு தயக்கம் காட்டும் தருணத்தில் செல்லப்பிராணியாக வளர்க்கப்படுத் பூனைக்குட்டி மிகுந்த பொறுப்புடன் தனது கோப்பையை தானே சுத்தப்படுத்துவது ஆச்சரியம் ஊட்டும் வகையில் காணப்படுதுடன் சிலருக்கு இது ஒரு பாடமாகவும் அமைகின்றது.

Bowling with My Family

2012-05-04T23:33:00.000-07:00

I woke up at 5 am and screamed at the top of my lungs, “Today is bowling day”. My dad heard me and said in a grumpy voice, “Go back to sleep, Rahul. We are not going bowling if you don’t get into bed and sleep”.

I was very excited and I could not go back to sleep. So I tiptoed into the bathroom, brushed my teeth, took my bath, went to the garage to exercise, drank some milk with cereal and played a game alone.

Just then my mom came down and saw me. She asked me “Are you ready?” I said in a pleased voice, “Yes. I am waiting for everyone to get ready”.

Finally my mom, dad, uncle, aunt, sister and cousin got ready. We set out to the bowling alley. When we got there we booked the alley for one game and everyone rented a pair of bowling shoes. I got the shoe size two and half. The color of the shoes was green and it felt funny when I wore it. We got to our bowling lane. Then we typed in our names, youngest to the oldest. My youngest cousin, who is just three years old, was not included in the game. My older cousin, Esha bowled first and got eight points.

I took a six pound, green bowling ball and struggled to hold it. I managed to get enough strength to bowl it in the lane. Since there were no bumpers both my balls were gutter balls. Everyone at least put one pin down.

The same thing happened on the second round. I was very upset after that turn. Then, my parents saw me and said, “Don’t get upset, be a good sport and we will put bumpers for you”.

From the third round I scored some points but I still had to catch up with the rest of my family. Then on one turn, I made a strike without hitting the bumpers and gave everyone a high five.

Later by accident my youngest cousin threw the ball! Phew, no one got hurt. Because I was having so much fun, I did not realize the time passed by and the game was coming to an end. I was in the third place with 87 points and my aunt won with 97 points. It was the best day of my life!

The next time I go bowling I will make sure to put the bumpers before playing.

************

Prayer for Recovering Lost Items

2012-05-04T23:03:00.001-07:00

Prayer for Recovering Lost Items

(Posted June 5, 2009 by meeraghu in lyrics, Madhwa Calendar.)
This prayer was also taught by my Father. We however lost track of the prayer and just remembered the name of Raja Kartivirarjuna and just said his name. As I said earlier also, the Madhwa Calendar has this prayer and I typed the same word by word into Baraha. Here it is for your recital.
Hope you don’t loose anything, but if you do, just say this prayer until you find the lost item.
Recover Lost Items or kaLeda vastu prAptigAgi

kArtavIryArjunO nAma
rAjA bAhusahasravAn
tasya smaraNamAtrENa
gataM naShTaM ca labhyatE

Left Eye Twitching

2012-05-04T09:31:00.000-07:00

Left Eye Twitching Superstition - China

There is an old Chinese saying about twitching eyelids that says that "the twitching of the left eyelid indicates the coming of good fortune; while the right one is a warning about the coming bad luck." So while a twitch in the left eye indicates good luck or even a major gold rush, a twitching right eye is considered a bad omen which foretells of bad luck headed your way! In case of women the tables are turned, as a twitching right eye signifies good luck while a twitching left one is considered a bad omen. People also believe in other eyelid twitching superstitions where a twitch in the lower left eyelid means you can expect to cry soon or someone is gossiping about you.

Left Eye Twitching Superstition - India

In India, the left eye twitching superstition is the reverse of the Chinese version. It is again an old belief that if your right eye twitches, you are likely to hear good news. On the other hand, left eye jumping or twitching is considered inauspicious. At times, eyelid twitching can also be based on the gender as well. While left eye twitching is considered good for women, it might be a bad sign for men.

Left Eye Twitching Superstition - Parts of Africa

In certain parts of Africa, twitching in your lower eyelid signals that you will soon be shedding tears. When the upper eyelid twitches, it's a sign that you will meet someone unexpectedly. The Nigerians also follow the Chinese version of the left eye twitching and consider it to be a sign of bad luck.

Left Eye Twitching Superstition - Hawaii

In Hawaii, twitching in the left eye can signal the arrival of a stranger. In addition to these beliefs, there are some other versions of the left eye twitching superstition where a constant twitching of your left eye might signal a demise in the family and the twitching of the right may signal an impending birth.

Medical Causes of Left Eye Twitching

Although the left eye twitching superstitions might make for a good reading, there is a scientific reason behind left eye twitching. While the fluttering sensation that may sometimes be felt in and around the eyelids can certainly be irritating, it may not be a cause of serious concern. However, those who suffer from recurring episodes of constant repetitive contraction of the eyelid muscles must seek medical help in order to rule out the possibility of an underlying medical condition. Involuntary eye twitching, which is also referred to as eye muscle spasm, can be attributed to an eye problem known as benign essential blepharospasm. The condition is actually caused by uncontrollable contractions of the muscles around the eyelids. This chronic, uncontrollable blinking of the eyes could be the result of dry eyes, conjunctivitis or light sensitivity.

In addition to the aforementioned causes, eyelid twitching could also be attributed to neurological disorders like epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, Tourette syndrome or certain eye allergies and injuries. If it is an extreme condition you need to consult a doctor who might prescribe oral medications or certain eye drops. In an extreme case, myectomy or surgery for treating blinking eyes may have to be performed to cure the excessive twitching of the eyes. Eye twitches can also be triggered by eye strain. Watching television or working on a computer for long stretches of time can cause eye strain. Lack of sleep can also be a contributory factor. If excessive strain is causing twitching in the eyes, it can be cured by taking rest and cutting down on one's intake of caffeine or alcohol.

This was some information on superstitions associated with eye twitching. So the next time your left eye twitches, don't you worry about a catastrophe befalling you. Don't let such beliefs take away your peace of mind. Just stay calm and hope for the best.

giant whale shark near Karachi

2012-02-09T21:09:00.000-08:00

A giant whale shark near Karachi fisheries harbor in Karachi, Pakistan on Feb. 7 and was sold for 1.7 million PKR

அனைத்துமான இறைவனும் நம்மிடம்

2012-02-08T01:44:00.000-08:00

செய்வதெல்லாம் சரிதான்

முப்பொழுதும் எப்பொழுதும் நமக்கு

சற்று தள்ளிநின்று நாம் சரிதானா

என்று நமக்குள்ளே உற்றுநோக்குவோம்.

உயிராய் உயிர்ப்புடன் உள்ளவையனைத்தும்

மறு மாற்றத்திற்கு உரியன.

மலர்கள் கனியாகவும் விதைகள்

மரமாகவும் மாறுவது விதி.

நாமும் நன்மை கருதி நம்மை

மாற்றிக்கொண்டால் நன்மையே

பண்புடன் பணிவுடன் அன்புடன்

கருணையுடன் கனிவுடன் அன்புசெய்

இன்புசெய், இழப்பது ஏதுமில்லை

இனியொருமுறை வாழ்வு இல்லை.

உலகம், நட்பு, காதல், உறவுகள்

அனைத்துமான இறைவனும் நம்மிடம்

TREE IS OUR LIFE

2012-02-08T01:34:00.000-08:00

TREE IS OUR LIFE
In one day a human being breathes oxygen equivalent to 3 cylinders.

Each oxygen cylinder on an average costs Rs 700, so in a day one uses

Oxygen worth Rs 2100 and for a full year it is Rs 7,66,500. If we

consider an average life span of 65 years; the costs of oxygen we use

become a staggering sum of around Rs 5 Cr.. All this oxygen is derived

free of cost from the surrounding trees. Very few people look at trees

as a resource and there is rampart tree cutting going on everywhere

which should stop.

Blogger: Blogger Dashboard

2012-01-15T20:46:00.000-08:00

Blogger: Blogger Dashboard