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Europe's largest volcano Mount Etna

2013-11-26T00:25:00.001-08:00

Europe's largest and most volatile volcano Mount Etna spews molten lava from the earth's core thousands of feet above the Sicilian countryside

Mount Etna's latest eruption was caught on camera from Acireale, near Cantania, in Sicily
It spewed molten lava into the air and sent thick plumes of smoke and ash over the Italian island
Almost 1million years old, the volcano is currently standing at 10,925 feet tall and still growing

PUBLISHED: 17:40 GMT, 17 November 2013 | UPDATED: 17:53 GMT, 17 November 2013

Europe's most active volcano Mount Etna has erupted - spewing molten lava thousand of feet above the Sicilian countryside.

The eruption, which was captured on camera from Acireale, near Cantania, sent thick plumes of smoke and ash over the Italian island last night.

The breathtaking footage shows the volatile volcano emitting streams of hot lava from the earth's core.

Scroll down for video

Breathtaking: Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, spews molten lava thousand of feet above the Sicilian countryside during its latest eruption

Fiery sight: A group of men engage in conversation, seemingly unaware that the volatile volcano is emitting streams of hot lava from the earth's core

Explosive: The eruption was captured on camera from Acireale, near Cantania. It is the sixteenth paroxysmal eruption recorded this year

Powerful: The eruption sent thick plumes of smoke and ash over the Italian island last night - forcing airport officials to close airspace over Mount Etna

The explosion - which is the sixteenth paroxysmal eruption recorded this year - did not endanger any of the villages dotted around the slopes of the mountain.

However, staff at Cantania Airport have been forced to close airspace above Mount Etna, which is the largest and most active volcano in Europe.

This is because the vast ash clouds could be hazardous to aircraft, as they could potentially melt and coat moving parts with a layer of glass.

This would ultimately cause the planes' engines to shut down.

Incredible: The explosion - which lit up the Sicilian sky - did not endanger any of the villages dotted around the slopes of the mountain

Mount Etna's last major eruption was in 1992 - causing a fast-flowing river of molten lava to cascade down the slopes of the mountain.

Despite the town of Zafferana being endangered by the streams of the red-hot liquid, successful diversion efforts saved the town and only one building was destroyed.

However, the fiery volcano, currently standing at 10,925 feet tall, is still in constant activity. Astonishingly, it is steadily growing, and has been for 500,000 years, when eruptions began.

Its latest eruption was preceded by a violent tremour on Monday, which sent hundreds of perfect smoke rings into the air.

Risk: However, staff at Cantania Airport have been forced to close airspace above Mount Etna, which is the largest and most active volcano in Europe

Danger: This is because the vast ash clouds could be hazardous to aircraft, as they could potentially melt and coat moving parts with a layer of glass. This would ultimately cause the planes' engines to shut down

No signs of stopping: The fiery volcano is still in constant activity. It is situated on the geological boundary where the European and African plates collide

Experts believe the eruption may have sparked a change in the structure of a vent, perhaps into a particularly circular shape - allowing Mount Etna to spew the unusual smoke-like formations.

The volcano, which came into existence almost one million years ago, has been well-documented since 1500BC, when its eruptions forced civilians to migrate for safety.

Since then, there have been more than 200 eruptions - from the almost undetectable to the catastrophic.

In 122 BC, an explosive eruption spewed so much ash onto the town of Catania - crushing hundreds of houses - that the town's inhabitants were exempted from paying taxes to Rome for ten years.

Horrific: Mount Etna's last major eruption was in 1992, pictured, causing a fast-flowing river of molten lava to cascade down the slopes of the mountain

The most powerful eruption to date was in 1669, when the explosions destroyed part of the summit and the lava flows reached the sea more than ten miles away.

This disaster prompted town leaders to attempt to control the flows of lava - to no avail.

An extremely violent eruption in 1852 produced more than 2 billion cubic feet of lava and covered more than three square miles of the volcano's base, while the longest eruption began in 1979 and went on for thirteen years.

Near-miss: The town of Zafferana was endangered by the streams of the red-hot liquid; however, successful diversion efforts saved the town from much damage

Mount Etna's current activity consists of continuous summit degassing, explosive Strombolian eruptions, and frequent basaltic lava flows.

It has proved a constant concern for Sicily - with more than 25 per cent of the island's population living on Etna's slopes.

The volatile volcano is also the main source of income for the island due to a combination of agriculture - stemming from its rich volcanic soil - and tourism.

Rainbows of the Natural World

2013-11-16T07:22:00.000-08:00

China’s rainbow mountains

Imagine a world where the mountains are striped with candy colours and people are dwarfed by the landscape’s immensity. Such a place exists in China’s

northwestern Gansu Province, where 24 million years of vibrant stone and mineral deposits have created rainbow-striped mountains.

The tinted peaks were fashioned by uplift from the Earth’s tectonic plates – the same ones that formed parts of the Himalayan range – while rain, wind and erosion shaped them into the jagged world seen today. Located around the city of Zhangye, the area covers more than 10sqkm and the vista is most dazzling after a rainfall, when the colours glow even brighter than usual. (Melinda Chan/Getty)

Oregon’s painted hills

With the hipster amenities of Portland to the west and the national wonder of Crater Lake to the south, eastern Oregon’s John Day Fossil Beds often get overlooked. This 14,000 acre national park is a natural museum of geological eras, though it is the Painted Hills region that offers the most dramatic view. The spectacular landscape was shaped by numerous volcanic eruptions and extreme climate change around 35 million years ago. As time wore on, the lush vegetative climate turned more arid. Ash, clay, minerals and decaying plant matter all mixed into the soil, leaving pronounced streaks of gold, black, red – even purple and blue. The colours change according to the air’s moisture level, and are said to be most vivid come late afternoon. (Purestock/Getty)

Ethiopia’s alien crater

In the language of the Afar people, Dallol means disintegrated. So it makes sense that Ethiopia’sDallol Volcano is less a volcano than a sunken crater. Caused by

groundwater and magma colliding, sulphur, iron oxide, salt and other minerals have created the vivid greens and neon yellows that form one of the most remote, untouched and ethereal natural rainbows in the world.

Dallol lies near the border of Eritrea in an area that was closed to foreigners until 2001. Even today it is prudent to travel with an armed guard, as border tensions persist and kidnappings have been known to happen. Because of this, only a few hundred visitors make it to this remarkable landscape every year – which is probably for the best considering the fragility of the landform, the toxic gases and the temperatures that average above 30C. (Thierry Hennet/Getty)

Wyoming’s ultimate spring

Yellowstone’s Grand Prismatic, named for its brilliant colouration, is the largest hot spring in the US – its 370ft diameter put into perspective by the paved walkway visible near the photo’s top. The colour spectrum that ranges from deep blue to burnt red is the product of trillions of thermophiles, or bacterial microorganisms, which flourish in hot waters. Different temperatures determine the hue, and the centre’s blue is the result of extreme heat that leaves the bacteria sterile. Grand Prismatic is one of many coloured springs in Yellowstone and draws millions of visitors every year. (Werner Van Steen/Getty)

Light up the night in Iceland

The Aurora Borealis appears in a complete spectrum of colours, from light pinks, reds and greens to the yellows, blues and violets seen here on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula. The beams that dance against the night’s sky are the result of particles colliding, sometimes resulting in streams, ripples or arcs across the horizon. Despite a host of science to explain how exactly these lights come to fruition, there is an alien energy to the glow that makes this a mystery often better left unexplained.

Quilling Papers Art Designs

2013-11-14T02:21:00.002-08:00

Quilling Papers Art Designs

The Quilling process consists of cutting strips of paper, and rolling them with a special tool. Special skill is required to create more advanced shapes like marquises, arrowheads or holly leaves. All through the years, the ART of quilling has remained almost unchanged, but new specialty supplies now allow quilling masters to create anything from detailed 3-D figures to wall-sized museum installations. Quilling has been around for hundreds of years, but it’s still as impressive and popular. The art of quilling first became popular during the Renaissance, when nuns and monks would use it to roll gold-gilded paper and decorate religious objects, as an alternative to the expensive gold filigree. Later, during the 18th and 19th centuries, it became a favourite pass-time of English ladies who created wonderful decorations for their furniture and candles, through quilling.

Because it requires so few supplies, quilling is available to anyone with enough patience to give it a try, and with a little bit of practice you’ll be creating some pretty amazing paper artworks, just like iron-maiden-art, whose works show the beauty of quilling.

Food Carving Art

2013-11-14T02:11:00.000-08:00

Delicious examples of Food Carving Art

Ilian Iliev began his career in photography as a news photographer before moving to London and beginning a career in commercial photography. After a stint assisting several advertising photographers, Ilian went on to develop his own unique style, balancing commercial appeal with an artistic eye. Ilian now has over 10 year's experience working in studio and location settings specialising in food and drink, still life and product photography. A passionate and talented cook himself, the enjoyment Ilian takes from food and drink shines through in his images. In the series below titled Carving, Ilian shows his mastery of food photography. Unfortunately the Sifter was unable to determine if it was Ilian himself who did the food carving or if an outside artist was used. Regardless, the images are fantastic and the food carving is top notch.

Beautiful Royal Pigeons

2013-11-14T01:47:00.000-08:00

Carnivorous Beauty

2013-11-14T01:40:00.002-08:00

Carnivorous Beauty

They come in a large variety of shapes and mechanics, be that of vivid colors or appealing odors, all carnivorous plants share one common goal - attract the prey and ...

Mind-Blowing Car Cutaways

2013-11-14T01:38:00.001-08:00

Mind-Blowing Car Cutaways

A popular trend at car shows and launch events is to show a cutaway, revealing the intricate details and mechanics of these beautiful machines. By stripping away parts of the exterior and coverings, viewers can get up close to appreciate the sophistication and engineering of today’s automobile.Some of the examples below show cars literally cut in half (like the F1 Sauber), while others just show various cutaways and cross-sections of the vehicle. Okay enough talking, onwards to the awesome gallery below!

Audi R8 Cutaway

Lotus Hybrid Evora 414Evolution Cutaway

2009 Dodge Ram Truck Cutaway

Sauber F1 Car Cut in Half

Porsche Cayman S Cutaway

2012 Ford Explorer Cutaway

Aston Martin DBS Volante Cutaway

Nissan GT-R Cutaway

Ford Taurus Cutaway

Honda Insight Cutaway

Lexus HS250 Hybrid Cutaway

Ford F150 Truck Cutaway

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Cutaway

Porsche Carrera S Cutaway

Suspended F1 Car

Amazing above the Clouds Pictures

2013-11-14T01:34:00.003-08:00

Jakob Wagner is a photographer from Herdecke, Germany. After completing a three-year apprenticeship, Jakob has been living in Dusseldorf as a freelance photographer, image editor and photo assistant. When he's not on assignment, he devotes much of his time and passion to his personal photography projects that will eventually culminate in future books and exhibitions. Much of his work centers around aerial photography as well as nightscape, landscape and cityscape photography.

Shared by : K.G. Gopalakrishnan.

Amazing above the Clouds Pictures

2013-11-14T01:34:00.001-08:00

The Seville's Solar Power Tower — Spain

2013-11-03T01:26:00.000-08:00

The Seville's Solar Power Tower — Spain

The PS10 Solar Power Plant is the world's first commercial concentrating solar power tower operating near Seville, in Andalusia, Spain. The 11 megawatt (MW) solar power tower produces electricity with 624 large movable mirrors called heliostats. It took four years to build and so far cost €35 million (US$46 million). PS10 produces about 23,400 megawatt-hours (MW·h) per year, for which it receives €271 (US$360) per MW·h under its power purchase agreement, equating to a revenue of €6.3 million per year.

The mirrors were delivered by Abengoa, the solar receiver was designed and built by Tecnical-Tecnicas Reunidas, a Spanish engineering company; and the Solar Tower was designed and built by ALTAC, another Spanish engineering and construction company. Each of the mirrors has a surface measuring 120 m² (1,292 square feet) that concentrates the sun's rays to the top of a 115 meter (377 ft) high, 40-story tower where a solar receiver and a steam turbine are located. The turbine drives a generator, producing electricity. The PS10 is located 20 km west of Seville (which receives at least nine hours of sunshine 320 days per year, with 15 hours per day in mid summer). The solar receiver at the top of the tower produces saturated steam at 275 °C. The energy conversion efficiency is approximately 17%.

Owl Cafe in Japan

2013-11-03T01:43:00.000-07:00

Owl Cafe in Japan

Owl cafes like Fukurou no Mise “Owl Shop” and so far more owl cafes opened in Tokyo, such as Fukurou Sabou “Owl Teahouse” and Osaka – Owl Family. While some of the cafes allow their customers to hold the birds while they are having their drinks, others have harsher rules when it comes to touching the owls. Some of the cafes include in their menus owl-themed snacks, the international press reports.

The owl cafe store is located on Tsukishima island, in Chuo, Tokyo. Patrons can hang out with a variety of owls, feed them or shop for owl-themed goods.

Chinese stone masters of the scrumptious trinkets

2013-10-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

Chinese stone masters of the scrumptious trinkets

Boundary Lines Between Countries

2013-10-20T09:02:00.002-07:00

Boundary Lines Between Countries

Posted by OSMEB on Thursday, October 17, 2013 in World

An interesting collection of country borders photos, from which you will learn how to look borders of neighboring countries, The boundary between some countries - it is only a symbolic line separating pedestrian sidewalk cafes, house and among others - is a high fence with barbed wire.

Germany / Czech Republic

Germany and Czech Republic Country Border

Ukraine / Poland

Ukraine and Poland Country Border Line

China / Russia

China and Russia Country Border

South Korea / North Korea

South Korea and North Korea

Sweden / Norway

Sweden and Norway Country Border Rive Bridge Road

Canada / United States

Canada and United States Country Border Road

Italy / Switzerland (at an altitude of 3,470 meters above sea level)

Italy and Switzerland Country Border Road Line Mark

Mexico / USA

Mexico and USA Country Border

Netherlands / Germany / Belgium Triangle Point

Netherlands, Germany and Belgium Triangle Border Pint

Liechtenstein / Austria

Liechtenstein and Austria Country Border Road Line

Bangladesh / India

Bangladesh and India Country Border Barbed Wire Line

Syria / Iraq

Syria and Iraq Country Border Barbed Wire Line

India / Pakistan

India and Pakistan Country Barbed Wired Border Photo — Link

The Netherlands / Belgium

The Netherlands and Belgium Country Border House

Switzerland / Liechtenstein

Switzerland and Liechtenstein Country Border River Bridge

China / India

China and India Country Border Photo — Link

Portugal / Spain

Portugal and Spain Country Border Mark

Argentina / Paraguay / Brazil River Triangle Point

Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil River Country Border Triangle Point Photo — Link

Russia / Belarus

Russia and Belarus Country Border Road

Austria / Slovakia / Hungary Triangle Border Point

Austria, Slovakia and Hungary Country Triangle Border Point

India / Myanmar

India and Myanmar Country Barbed Wire Border Photo — Link

Fascinating Mummy Discoveries Still Now - Around the Globe !

2013-10-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

Fascinating Mummy Discoveries Still Now - Around the Globe !

Plomo Mummy

The Plomo Mummy, or La Momia del Cerro El Plomo in Spanish, is the well preserved remains of an Incan child found on Cerro El Plomo in 1954. It was the first frozen mummy discovery from an Incan high-altitude human sacrifice. The mummy is curated by the National Museum of Natural History in Santiago, Chile, while a replica of the mummy is on public display.

Rosalia Lombardo

Rosalia Lombardo (1918 – 1920) was an Italian child who died of influenza. Rosalia's father, General Lombardo, was sorely grieved about her death, so he approached Alfredo Salafia, a noted embalmer, to preserve her. Her body was one of the last corpses to be admitted to the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo in Sicily.

Sacrificed Inca Children

The maiden, the boy, and the girl of lightning were three Inca children entombed on a bleak and frigid mountaintop 500 years ago as a religious sacrifice. Unearthed in 1999 from the 22,000-foot summit of Mount Llullaillaco, a volcano near the Chilean border, their frozen bodies were among the best preserved mummies ever found, with internal organs intact, blood still present in the heart and lungs, and skin and facial features mostly unscathed. No special effort had been made to preserve them. The cold and the dry, thin air did all the work. They froze to death as they slept, and 500 years later they still looked like sleeping children, not mummies.

Strange Mummy Found by a 10 Year Old

A German boy discovered what appeared to be a bandaged Egyptian mummy inside an old wooden chest in his grandmother's attic. Experts were investigating whether the "mummy" was a genuine, ancient Egyptian relic, a replica, or something entirely different. It was inside a sarcophagus complete with a death mask, a canopic jar – used by ancient Egyptians to store removed organs – and other artifacts. The ten-year-old, Alexander, made the mystery discovery while searching around his grandmother's flat in Diepholz, Germany.

700 Year Old Mummy

These incredible pictures show a 700-year-old mummy in excellent condition, which road workers discovered by chance in eastern China. The corpse of the high-ranking woman is believed to be from the Ming Dynasty, the ruling power in China between 1368 and 1644. It was stumbled upon by a construction team that was looking to expand a street.

2000 Year Old European Found in China

An amazing discovery of 2,000 year old mummies in the Tarim basin of Western China occurred in the early 90s. However, more amazing than the discovery itself was the astonishing fact that the mummies were blond-haired and long-nosed. In 1993, college professor Victor Mayer collected DNA from the mummies and his tests verified that the bodies were all of European genetic stock. Ancient Chinese texts from as early as the first millennium BC do mention groups of far-east dwelling Caucasian people referred to as the Bai, Yeuzhi, and Tocharians. None, though, fully reveal how or why these people ended up there.

2400 Year Old Egyptian Mummy with a Brain Removal Tool

In 2012, a brain-removal tool used by ancient Egyptian embalmers was discovered lodged in the skull of a female mummy that dates back around 2,400 years. Removal of the brain was an Egyptian mummification procedure that became popular around 3,500 years ago and remained in use during later periods. Identifying the ancient tools which embalmers used for brain removal is difficult, and researchers note that this is only the second time that such a tool has been reported within a mummy's skull.

Egyptian Mummy

"Dressed" in Roman robes, a 2,000-year-old coffin stares back from a rare Egyptian grave in the Bahariya Oasis, about 225 miles (362 kilometers) southwest of Cairo. On April 12, 2010, Egyptian officials announced that the unopened plaster sarcophagus, believed to contain a mummy, is among the ancient treasures uncovered at a newfound cemetery.

More Incan Children's Mummies

Archaeologists believe that many Incan mummies, including those of children, were human sacrifices to the mountain god Apus.

Most Inhuman Ways of Torture !

2013-10-20T08:23:00.004-07:00

Most Inhuman Ways of Torture !

The Middle Ages are infamous for having encouraged and implemented the most inhuman ways of torture to punish or make prisoners confess their crime. Have a look at the 10 most shocking torture methods from the Middle Ages.

Implant

Practiced in Romania during the 15th century, this torture method tops the list of the most shocking torture methods of the Middle Ages and when you have a look at its technique, you can realise its position on the list is not unjustified. The victim was made to sit on the top point of a sharp and thick poll. The poll would go through the body of the victim and then the victim was left to slide down the poll because of their weight. The legend has it that Vlad enjoyed inflicting this punishment on others. And he did this to about 20,000 to 30,000 victims.

Judas Cradle

Judas Cradle must also have been one of the most painful punishments of the Middle Ages as it would involve the stretching of the victim’s orifice and flesh was ripped off. The victim’s vagina or anus was placed right on the point of the pyramid-shaped cradle and then was lowered down on it with the help of ropes. To impale the victim successfully, weights were also added to the victim's legs.

Coffin Torture

Coffin Torture was all about torture in a metal cage and pecked at by the prey birds—another case of slow and painful death. The metal cage was roughly made in human body shape and the victim was placed inside it. The case was then hung from gallows or a tree. Generally, those convicted of blasphemy or heresy were punished this way.

The Rack

The Rack was a unique device to punish a victim by dislocating each joint of the victim. It was highly dreaded, and rightly so, and it is believed to be the most excruciatingly painful kind of medieval torture. Consisting of a wooden frame, two ropes fixed to its bottom and two tied to its handle made it a gruesome way of torturing the victims. As the torturer would turn the handle, the ropes pulled the victim's arms, dislocating the bones. Later, in a new version of the Rack appeared which had spikes to penetrate the victim's back, adding more pain and damage.

The Breast Ripper

The claws of the Breast Ripper would rip and mutilate a woman’s breasts. Often the claws were red hot as they were placed on the victim’s exposed breasts. Once the spikes penetrated the breasts, they were pulled to shred the breasts. Mostly the victim would die and even if a victim survived, she would be scarred forever.

The Pear of Anguish

Mostly the victims of this brutal instrument were homosexuals, blasphemous, liars and women who exercised abortions. The torture tool was pear-shaped and it was inserted into the victim’s orifices—anus of homosexuals, mouth of blasphemers and liars and vagina of women.

The Breaking Wheel

The Breaking Wheel can simply shock you at first sight because of its terrible design. It was designed to hurt the victim’s limbs in extremely painful way. Also named as The Catherine Wheel, it was a torture method to make the victim die slowly but surely. The victim was tied to the specially designed spokes of the large wooden wheel and then the wheel was slowly revolved. The torturer would smash the limbs of the victim with a heavy iron hammer. This would result in breaking of the victim’s limbs into many pieces.

Saw Torture

A medieval torture method which was executed as the victim’s body was sawed into two halves by first hanging the victime upside down. Mostly, the unfortunate victims of this easily available device were accused of blasphemy, adultery, witchery and also theft.

The Head Crusher

The Head Crusher would compress the victim’s skull, squeeze out eyes and shatter teeth. The torture device was more in practice in Spain for Inquisition.

The Knee Splitter

The Inquisition in Spain saw the use of another torture device because it was versatile and would inflict pain—The Knee Splitter. It had sharp spikes fitted on its both sides of grip. When the handle of the Knee Splitter was turned, the claws would slowly squeeze against each other resulting in the mutilation of the victim’s bones and skin.

Sculptures Under The Sea

2013-10-20T03:20:00.000-07:00

A real-life Atlantis: British artist creates stunning sculpture city under the sea off Mexico

Jason deCaires Taylor has unveiled his latest sculptures at the Museo Subacuatico de Arte in Cancun, Mexico
The eerie new pieces include the submerged heads of the anchors on an American television news show

By STEVE NOLAN

PUBLISHED: 16:22 GMT, 16 October 2013 | UPDATED: 20:39 GMT, 16 October 2013

He's previously caused a splash in the art world by creating a real life city of Atlantis, sinking a life-size sculpture of a Volkswagen Beetle and even a house.

And now British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor has unveiled his latest collection of sub-aquatic art - this time with a serious message.

The 39-year-old has unveiled a new series of works in the Museo Subacuatico de Arte, the subaquatic museum he co-founded back in 2009 off the coast of Cancun, Mexico.

The new pieces include the submerged cement heads of the anchors on American news show NBC Today, cast when deCaires Taylor appeared on the show, which sit eerily amid a bed of sea grass.

Under the sea: Jason deCaires Taylor's underwater sculpture 'Vein Man' at the Museo Subacu·tico de Arte. Over time bright yellow fire coral will travel along the stainless steel lattice and look like blood through veins

Life below the surface: 'The Anchors', a sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor, sits in a bed of sea grass

Living art: An underwater sculpture by artist Jason deCaires Taylor, entitled 'Resurrection'. The work uses live purple Gorgonian fan coral (Gorgonia flabellum), which had been displaced from the reef system in a storm

Man on fire: The artist's sculpture 'Self-Immolation', is made from black pH neutral marine cement, and depicts a solitary burning figure. Over time it will be overrun with fast-growing, bright yellow live fire coral

A number of the new works deal with the devastation of the natural marine habitat.

One of the sculptures, called No Turning Back, a cement cast of a hunched-over woman, alludes to the loss of Caribbean coral reefs, while Self-Immolation depicts a solitary burning figure - a reference to the practice of setting yourself on fire as a form of political protest.

Made from black pH neutral marine cement, the work is augmented with stainless steel spines, and over time it will be overrun with fast-growing, bright yellow live fire coral which will mimic flames.

Mr deCaires Taylor said: 'I try to use the work to highlight the huge losses we're having and how our blue planet is changing quite dramatically.

Talking art: 'The Speaker' stands in a bed of sea grass. The sculpture is planted with more than 200 cuttings of rare Acropora Prolifera coral

Stunning: The sculpture is planted with more than 200 cuttings of the rare Acropora Prolifera coral, in Cancun, Mexico

Prolific: DeCaires Taylor now has 510 sculptural works permanently on display at the site, many of which feature live coral

Latest additions: The 39-year-old has unveiled a new series of works in the Museo Subacuatico de Arte, the subaquatic museum he co-founded back in 2009 off the coast of Cancun, Mexico

'Future generations aren't going to see the same number of species and fantastic pristine reefs.

'But I want to balance that sadness - in order to inspire people, you have to offer them hope as well."

Another of deCaires Taylor's sculptures is Resurrection, a winged angelic-looking figure, which uses live purple Gorgonian fan coral, rescued after being displaced from the reef system and damaged during a recent storm.

Strong currents around the museum meant that the sculptures had to be craned from a bridge into a nearby canal and then toed out to the site.

The Dover, Kent, born artist said: 'Some of these were much more delicate than pieces I've made before, so it was difficult working in tough conditions.

Art with a message: A number of the new works deal with the devastation of the natural marine habitat

Natural subject: 'No Turning Back' in the Museo Subacu·tico de Arte in Cancun, Mexico, a cement cast of a hunched-over woman, alludes to the tragic loss of Caribbean coral reefs

Artistic installation: One of the artist's latest sculptures is pictured being lowered down into the water at the submarine park

Last light: The sculpture gets one last glimpse of daylight before being completely submerged by the water

Getting wet: No turning back is carefully winched into the water and placed on a rock at the bottom of the ocean

'I had to box some of them up in crates and then sink them underwater in their crates. Believe me, taking a crate apart underwater is difficult.'

DeCaires Taylor now has 510 sculptural works permanently on display at the site, although these are his final additions for the time being as he prepares to relocate back to Europe.

However, the museum has been a huge success, receiving 250,000 visitors each year, and deCaires Taylor is trying to secure funding to eventually expand it to include 8,000 figures - more than the famous Terracotta Army.

He said: 'I'm leaving Mexico, but I've got this legacy here, that my daughter can come back in twenty years time and it will still be there.'

Some of his more creative works include a life-size version of a Volkswagen Beetle and an underwater 'city' of homes.

Hands on: Vein Man sticks out of the top of the water as it is lowered down by a crane hook, left, while artist Jason deCaires Taylor gets into the water himself to help lower one of his sculptures into place, right

Preparation work: Jason deCaires Taylor works on his sculpture 'Self-Immolation' in his studio in Cancun

Expanding: The museum has been a huge success, receiving 250,000 visitors each year, and deCaires Taylor is trying to secure funding to eventually expand the site to 8,000 figures

Amazing Guinness World Records 2014

2013-10-20T02:49:00.004-07:00

Amazing Guinness World Records 2014

01. The smallest roadworthy car measures 63.5 cm (25 in) high, 65.41 cm (2 ft 1.75 in) wide and 126.47 cm (4 ft 1.75 in). It was created by Austin Coulson (USA) and measured in Carrollton, Texas, USA.

02. The most body modifications for a married couple is 77, held by Victor Hugo Peralta (Uruguay) and his wife Gabriela Peralta (Argentina), who married on 21 February 2008. These 77 modifications consist of 50 piercings, four microdermals, 11 body implants, five dental implants, four ear expanders, two ear bolts and one forked tongue.

03. The longest beard on a woman belongs to Vivian Wheeler (USA) and was measured at 25.5 cm (10.04 in) from the follicle to the tip of hair on the set of Lo Show Dei Record, Milan, Italy.

04. The largest rideable bicycle has a wheel diameter of 3.3 m (10 ft 9.92 in) andwas built by Didi Senft (Germany) and measured at Pudagla, Germany

05. The fastest crossing of a tightrope by a dog was 18.22 seconds and was achieved by Ozzy (a Border Collie/Kelpie cross) on 1 February 2013 at The fastest crossing of a tightrope by a dog was 18.22 seconds and was achieved by Ozzy (a Border Collie/Kelpie cross) on 1 February 2013 at F.A.I.T.H. Animal Rescue, Norfolk, UK.

06. Steve Sansweet (USA) has amassed an estimated 300,000 unique items at Rancho Obi-Wan in northern California, USA. As of 15 May 2013, only 90,546 items have been accurately audited and catalogued a number sufficient enough, however, to beat the previous Guinness World Records figure by a Steve Sansweet (USA) has amassed an estimated 300,000 unique items at Rancho Obi-Wan in northern California, USA. As of 15 May 2013, only 90,546 items have been accurately audited and catalogued a number sufficient enough, however, to beat the previous Guinness World Records figure by a factor of four. Sansweet estimates that the cataloguing process will take years to complete, as his collection continues to grow.

07. Leilani Franco (UK/Philippines) performed 25 full-body revolutions while in the chest-stand position in one minute at the Box Theatre in Soho, London, UK, on 11 March 2013. This physically demanding exploit requires the contortionist to lie with their chest against the floor and with their back arched in such a way that their legs stretch over the body and the feet touch the ground in front of the face; the legs then make a full revolution around the body before returning to the original starting position.

08. The shortest donkey in terms of height is KneeHi (born 2 October 2007), a brown jack who measured 64.2 cm (25.29 in) to the top of the withers at Best Friends Farm in Gainesville, Florida, USA, on 26 July 2011. A registered miniature Mediterranean donkey, KneeHi is owned by Jim and Frankie Lee (USA).

09. The largest living cat is Hercules, an adult male liger (lion x tigress hybrid) currently housed at Myrtle Beach Safari, a wildlife reserve in South Carolina, USA. In total length, he measures 3.33 m (131 in), stands 1.25 m (49 in) at the shoulder, and weighs 418.2 kg (922 lb).

10. The smallest dog living, in terms of height, is a female Chihuahua called Milly, who measured 9.65 cm (3.8 in) tall on 21 February 2013 and is owned by Vanesa Semler of Dorado, Puerto Rico.

11. The tallest ride able motorcycle measures 5.10 m (16 ft 8.78 in) tall from the ground to the top of the handlebars. It was constructed by Fabio Reggiani (Italy), and the motorcycle was ridden over a 100-m course at Montecchio Emilia, Italy.

12. The largest chair measured 30m (98 ft 5 in) tall. It was made by XXXLutz together with Holzleimbauwerk Wiehag GmbH (all Austria) and was completed and presented in St. Florian, Austria.

13. The tallest useable pogo stick is 2.91 m (9 ft 6 1/2 in) achieved by Fred Grzybowski (USA) at the Toronto International Busker Festival.

The Fallen — 9,000 Sand Drawings Commemorate the Fallen on D-Day

2013-10-17T04:47:00.001-07:00

The Fallen — 9,000 Sand Drawings Commemorate the Fallen on D-Day

Day of Peace - one of the major international festivals, which is held under the auspices of the UN and calls upon all States to give up weapons of warfare. Every year on September 21 held a variety of peacekeeping activities, creative people, of course, do not stay away from them. This year, one of the large-scale project was «The Fallen» by British artists Andy Moss and Jamie Wardley. Nine thousand silhouettes on the beach of Arromanches in France - a reminder of the tragic D Day that initiated the D-Day landings in Normandy during World War II.

Sand Artists Create D-Day Commemorative Piece with 9000 "Shadow" Drawings

D-Day - American common designation for any military operation, the artists Andy Moss and Jamie Wardley [more commonly known as the art duo Sand In Your Eye] decided to remind people of the terrible events of June 6, 1944. Normandy operation is considered the largest amphibious operation in history, as it was attended by more than 3 million people who have crossed the English Channel from England to Normandy.

9000 fallen soldiers commemorate Peace Day on the beaches of Normandy

The project is a nine thousand silhouettes created in the sand by means of ordinary stencils. The task that faced the artists was so extensive that for the realization of the project to life required the assistance of volunteers. A way to "draw" is simple: just dug silhouette on a prepared form.

9,000 sand drawings commemorate the fallen on d-day

The artist said that his project, he is not trying to condemn or to show admiration for the fallen act, rather it is - a reminder of the events of the past years, a statement of fact, a tribute to their lives and regret their premature death.

9,000 bodies stenciled on Normandy beach to honour WWII dead

The Fallen — 9,000 Sand Drawings Commemorate the Fallen on D-Day

Sand Artists Create D-Day Commemorative Piece with 9000 "Shadow" Drawings

9000 fallen soldiers commemorate Peace Day on the beaches of Normandy

Lost Egyptian City found After 1,200 Years

2013-10-17T04:43:00.000-07:00

Lost Egyptian City found After 1,200 Years

Amazing discovery of an Ancient Egyptian City Heracleion, who for centuries it was thought to be a legend, a city of extraordinary wealth mentioned by Herodotus, visited by Helen of Troy and Paris, but apparently buried under the sea. It is believed Heracleion served as the obligatory port of entry to Egypt for all ships coming from the Greek world.

The city, also called Thonis (by the Greeks), vanished from the earth about 1200 years ago, and is now found. The city is located within an overall research area of 11 by 15 kilometres in the western part of today’s Aboukir Bay, Egypt.

They found:
The remains of more than 64 ships buried in the thick clay and sand that covers the sea bed
- Gold coins and weights made from bronze and stone
- Giant 16-ft statues along with hundreds of smaller statues of minor gods
- Slabs of stone inscribed in both ancient Greek and ancient Egyptian
- Dozens of small limestone sarcophagi believed to have once contained mummified animals
- Over 700 ancient anchors for ships

Animation of the legendary port of Thonis-Heracleion

Astonishing Viewing Platforms and Skywalks

2013-10-16T07:11:00.002-07:00

Astonishing Viewing Platforms and Skywalks

Collection of the most spectacular lookouts, observation decks, and viewing platforms from all over the world. You’ll find the world’s most scary, bereathtaking, and awesome, the 10 astonishing viewing platforms and skywalks.

10. Grand Canyon Skywalk – United States

The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a transparent horseshoe-shaped cantilever bridge and tourist attraction in Arizona near the Colorado River on the edge of a side canyon in the Grand Canyon West area of the main canyon.
This steel and glass walkway extends 70 feet (21 meters) over the lip of the Grand Canyon, almost one mile above the valley floor. The 90 tons of glass were imported from Germany. The Skywalk, which is bolted to the canyon’s rim, can support the weight of 70 747 passenger jets.

9. The View from The Shard – England

London’s highest and best view. The Shard is the tallest building in Western Europe and The View From The Shard is located on floors 68, 69 and 72.
The best panoramas are from floor 72, at a height of 800 feet (244 meters).
This open-air observation deck offers 360-degree views of the city.
Visitors can also look up into the “shards” of glass that form the top of the skyscraper.

8. Stegastein Lookout – Norway

This lookout platform provides mind-blowing views of the surrounding mountains and Aurlandfjord. A must do if you’re not afraid of heights.The glass panel at the end of this walkway gives visitors the impression they could simply fall off the end.
Commissioned by the Norwegian Highway Department as part of a project to improve the appearance of the country’s tourist routes, the lookout allows visitors to look straight down into the Aurlandsfjord, 2,000 feet (609 meters) below.

7. Matteo Thun’s Viewing Platform – Italy

The best views of Italy’s Merano region are from this binocular-shaped viewing platform, high above the gardens’ huge oak forest.
The viewing platform is just one of several within the gardens, which were recently named Italy’s most beautiful gardens.
The platform is suspended over the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff and was designed by architect Matteo Thun in 2005.

6. Cliffwalk – Canada

The Cliffwalk is a 700-feet (213 meter) walkway attached to a granite cliff face above the Capilano River in British Columbia, Canada. The highest point is 300 feet (90 meters) above the river.
To attach the Cliffwalk, 16 anchor points were drilled 19 feet (six meters) into the rock face using 1,825 bolts, and 40 tons of steel were used.
The Cliffwalk also features two glass panels that have an anti-skid finish and were shipped over from Austria.

5. The Ledge – United States

At 1,353 feet and 110 stories above the streets of downtown Chicago, The Ledge at Willis Tower’s Skydeck will transform any visitor’s–or local’s for that matter–experience with the Windy City. The four boxes that make up The Ledge experience in Willis Tower, are made from half-ton panels of glass. The walls consist of three layers, each half an inch thick.
Visitors who step into one of the boxes can see for 50 miles across four states. Six million people have ventured into the boxes since 2009, 500 people have proposed in them and visitors can now even get married in them. The boxes retract into the building when the windows need cleaning.

4. EdgeWalk CN Tower – Canada

EdgeWalk is CN Tower’s most thrilling attraction in its history, and the first of its kind in North America. Located on the roof of the CN Tower’s restaurant at a height of 1,168 feet (356 meters), it is the world’s highest full circle hands-free walk.The EdgeWalk allows visitors to slip into climbing harnesses and walk around the edge of Canada’s tallest structure.
There’s also a glass floor 1,122 feet (342 meters) above ground level, and although the glass is only 2.5 inches thick, it’s reportedly strong enough to hold 14 hippos — if they could fit in the elevator. CN Tower also has glass-floored observation deck and outdoor SkyTerrace.

3. AlpspiX Viewing Platform – Germany

At the base of Alpspitze peak, visitors will find the AlpspiX Viewing Platform hovering 13 meters (42 feet) over an empty void in the shape of an ‘X’ with two protruding platforms.
The towering structure is situated in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen region of the country and provides panoramic views of surrounding Hoellental and Garmisch.
Visitors brave enough to walk to the end of the glass-walled platforms can look 3,281 feet (1,000 meters) down into the valley. The platform remains open in winter, when the grid flooring allows snow and ice to pass through.

2. Tokyo Skytree Observation Decks – Japan

The Tokyo Skytree is the world’s tallest tower, third-tallest structure, with a height of 2,080 feet (634 meters), and has Japan’s two tallest observation decks: the lower one is located at 1,148 feet (350 meters) and has a section of glass flooring. The upper one, which has floor-to-ceiling windows and 360-degree-views of the city, has a height of 1476 feet (450 meters). On a clear day, Mount Fuji can be seen from the observation decks.

1. Dachstein Stairway to Nothingness – Austria

Situated near the town of Schladming. The 100m long suspension bridge offers spectacular views of the Alps, but at such dizzying heights only the bravest are likely to test their mettle.
Visitors to Dachstein’s Stairway to Nothingness must first cross Austria’s highest bridge, with a 1,300ft drop to the bottom of the mountains. They then face 14 steps that descend from the cliff face and which are surrounded by glass walls.
The entire structure took six months to build and was created by an engineering firm specializing in high-altitude construction.The bridge that leads to the steps is the highest in Austria.

Huge Waves In Britain

2013-10-11T21:39:00.000-07:00

Wet and wild! Villagers are evacuated and east coast is put on flood alert as huge waves and 60mph winds batter parts of Britain

More than 30 people from village of Walcott on North Norfolk coast left their properties and headed to a local pub
Met Office issues severe weather warning along east coast of England, and urges people to avoid coastal paths
Environment Agency has 18 flood alerts and five flood warnings in place, all in Anglian and North-East regions
Forecasters warn of 'short, sharp shock' of cold, windy weather, as temperatures fell as low as freezing overnight

It was not a good day to ignore the weather forecast.

Right on cue yesterday, the Indian summer that had blessedly clung on earlier in the week finally gave way to a boisterous autumn.

Any traces of the warm, dry conditions were blown clean away as Britain was battered by rain, gale-force winds and even snow.

Those who left the house without a coat were in for a shock – in some parts of the country temperatures were ten degrees colder than just two days earlier.

Windswept: Strong winds whip up huge waves battering the coast at Seaburn near Sunderland, as Britain experiences a 'short, sharp shock' of colder temperatures

Alert: More than 30 people from the 400-strong village evacuated to the local pub after the high tide smashed over the sea defences at Walcott on the Norfolk cost

Preparations: A local resident in Walcott on the North Norfolk cost boards up a window to help save his home in case it is hit by the high tide

Getting ready: The last major evacuation in Walcott - which has a population of 400 - was in 2007, when 150 people went to the local pub at 3.30am

Whipped up: Stormy seas could be seen on the coast at Hunstanton, Norfolk, where some people braved the elements to go for a walk

Residents in Hunstanton, Norfolk, struggled along the seafront yesterday as the town was hit by near gale-force winds of up to 50mph.

Waves driven by the strong winds crashed against the promenade, drenching anyone who happened to be walking by the sea.

Michael Hemmings, 53, said: ‘The wind nearly blew me over when I got out of my car at the sea front this morning. It’s one of the strongest winds I have seen here for nearly 20 years.’

The blustery showers are expected to continue into next week.

Bird's eye view: Seaburn near Sunderland is pictured, two days after some parts of Britain basked in above-average temperatures as high as 22C

Danger: Winds whip up the seas into a frenzy at Tynemouth Pier. The gusts could cause disruption along coastal roads as waves breach sea walls, causing flooding

Whipped up: Forecasters said Britain would feel the contrast in weather after basking in above-average temperatures up to 22C in recent days. Seaburn is pictured

The Environment Agency said: ‘Strong winds and large waves could cause minor disruption along the North Sea coast from Yorkshire to Essex.

'The high winds and localised flooding on roads could make driving conditions difficult in coastal areas.’

Meanwhile, a beautiful set of photographs yesterday showed how trees were beginning to take on their autumn colours in a park in Bath, Somerset.

Although later than normal, experts at the Forestry Commission are predicting a spectacular autumn this year due to an ideal mix of sunshine and rain.

This has provided perfect conditions for sugars to build up in leaves, causing them to change colour and develop their vibrant autumn hues.

Making the most of it: A surfer braves the waves as vehicle-carrying vessel the 'City of Rome' edges out to sea behind at the mouth of the River Tyne today

Extreme sportsman: This surfer enjoyed the waves at the mouth of the River Tyne today

Frenzy: Strong winds whip up huge waves battering the coast at Seaburn near Sunderland, as Britain experiences a 'short, sharp shock' of colder temperatures

Rising up: Britain woke up to the news this morning that the Indian summer had come to an abrupt end, as parts of the country braced for flooding. Seaburn is pictured

Spooky: Strong winds whip up huge waves battering the coast at Seaburn near Sunderland. The Environment Agency had 18 flood alerts in place this morning

Impressive: A person watches the waves crashing over the seafront promenade at Seaburn in Sunderland. The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings

Crash, bang, wallop: Northerly gales create huge waves striking the sea wall at Tynemouth Pier in the North East at the mouth of the Tyne

Crash: Forecasters predicting severe weather were not disappointed as the morning high tide and strong winds whipped up the seas into a frenzy at Tynemouth Pier

Eerie: Strong waves at Tynemouth Pier this morning. The Met Office has urged people to avoid coastal paths in the affected areas of its weather warnings

Little chance of keeping dry: A member of the public walks along as waves crashing over the seafront promenade at Seaburn, near Sunderland

Spray: Northerly gales create huge waves crashing against the sea wall at Tynemouth Pier at the mouth of the Tyne. Temperatures will be chilly in the North

Caught on camera: A member of the public takes a photograph of the waves crashing over the seafront promenade at Seaburn, near Sunderland

Taking a snap: Temperatures will be chilly in the North and West, with a frost risk in western parts of Scotland. Strong waves at Seaburn are pictured

Looking over: A man watches at the waves crashing over the seafront promenade in Seaburn, near Sunderland. The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings

Breaking through: Strong winds whip up huge waves battering the coast at Seaburn. It will be blustery today, with winds reaching 60mph on the east coast

Watching on: The coast at Seaburn near Sunderland is pictured, as Britain braces for showers that may be heavy with the risk of thunder

Watch out: Heavy seas and waves crash over Roker Pier at Sunderland. The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings for low lying roads and coastal land

Ultimate Star AJITHKUMAR Biography

2013-10-08T01:46:00.003-07:00

Profile

Ajith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai (1995). A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with Kadhal Kottai (1996) and Kadhal Mannan (1998) being the most notable. He later forayed into method acting, as seen in Vaali (1999), Mugavaree (2000), Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000) and Citizen (2001) before establishing himself as an action hero with popular films including Amarkalam (1999), Dheena (2001), Citizen(2001), Villain (2002), Attagasam(2004), Varalaru (2006), Kireedom (2007) and Billa (2007).

He has won three Filmfare Best Actor Awards in Tamil, all for films which showcased him in multiple roles. Ajith performs predominantly in leading roles in major studio films, genres ranging from romantic comedies and drama to action thrillers. In addition to his acting, Ajith, in a sabbatical, participated in the 2004 British Formula Three season as a race driver for a minor outfit, and was ranked the third best motor car driver in India at his peak.

Early career

Ajith Kumar was born as the middle child in Secunderabad, a city north of Hyderabad to a Palakkad Iyer and a Sindhi mother, and was brought up in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He dropped out of Asan Memorial Senior Secondary School in 1986 before completing his higher secondary. He took up work as a two wheeler auto mechanic, and got himself a driver's licence to coincide with his interests, that of car / bike racing. At 18, Ajith had to take up a job to support his career in racing. Joining as an apprentice, he rose to be a merchandiser with a garment export company, doing small-time press ads and TV commercials occasionally. He had put a lot of money into racing and would borrow tyres from his friends who used to help when the chains wore out as there was no money in racing at that time. Following an accident, several business agencies pushed him into modeling for advertisements in print media. He had to make a choice between films and racing, and as the movies were happening and generating him some money, he began concentrating on it.

Aged 20, Ajith was selected by Telugu film producers, Lakshmi Productions, to star in their film; however shooting was stalled soon after filming began, following the death of the film's director. Ajith then started his film career at the age of 21 appearing in the low budget Telugu film, Prema Pustagam in 1992, which remains his last direct Telugu film to date. His first Tamil film Amaravathi, directed by then newcomer Selva, was a moderate success and his voice was rendered by fellow actor, Vikram. After the release, Ajith whilst training for an amateur motor race, suffered a fall, injuring his back and underwent three major surgeries resulting in a bed rest for one and a half years. Following the injury in 1993, Ajith played a supporting role in the Arvind Swamy starrer, Paasamalargal, before appearing in a supporting lead role in the family drama, Pavithra, which featured him as an ailing patient shown maternal affection from Raadhika.

Breakthrough (1995–2000)

In 1995, after a supporting role in the Vijay starrer Rajavin Parvaiyile, Ajith appeared in his first major success, Aasai. The film directed by Vasanth and produced by Mani Ratnam, featured him in the lead role opposite Suvalakshmi, whose brother-in-law infatuates about her. The film became a big success and established Ajith as an upcoming actor in the Tamil film industry. He later played the lead in Kalloori Vaasal co-starring Prashanth and Pooja Bhatt. Ajith's second blockbuster came in the form of National Award winning Kadhal Kottai, in which Ajith reunited with Agathiyan, the director of the earlier project Vaanmathi. The film which told the tale of two people falling in unconditional love without seeing each other until the climax.

After the success of his films in 1996, the following year saw a series of five failures, the most notable being Amitabh Bachchan's Tamil production Ullaasam with Maheswari, in which he was paid a salary of Rs. 2 million for the first time. Ajith returned with another successful project in Saran's Kadhal Mannan, with the "masala film" setting the foundations for an expanding fan base. Following films Aval Varuvala and Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen also became successes, with the latter featuring Ajith in a praised guest role. After a couple of average grossers in Uyirodu Uyiraga and Ramesh Khanna's Thodarum, Sundar C's romantic drama Unnaithedi opposite Malavika became another comeback film and set the tone for a series of big successes. S. J. Suryaah's thriller, Vaali, which portrayed him in dual roles opposite Simran, became a massive hit. The film told the story of a deaf and dumb brother setting his eyes on his younger brother's wife, with Ajith's portrayal of the two brothers winning him his first of many awards for Filmfare's Best Actor. Furthermore Ajith's portrayal of the brothers was also praised, with critics claiming that the film was an"instant classic" with Ajith showing that he is a "talented actor". The two following supporting roles in the drama films Anandha Poongatre and Nee Varuvai Ena also brought Ajith plaudits for his portrayals. His final film before the new millennium was another blockbuster, Amarkalam directed by Saran and featuring Shalini, whom he married shortly after the film. Amarkalam told the story of a negelected child who grew up and fails to show feelings of love or affection, becoming a gangster in the process, with Ajith's depiction of his rogue character appreciated by critics.

His next, Mugavaree, won him commercial and critical praise. The film revolved around the life of a struggling music composer who faces sacrifices to proceed in his career. The film featured dual endings, one with Ajith succeeding in his career, the other with Ajith dejected. Ajith's performance was yet again praised with critics from Rediff, claiming that "Ajith is the real winner", drawing an allusion with the film's script, whilst adding that "it is amazing to see how Ajith has grown as an actor. He brilliantly portrays the vulnerable and sad Sridhar". He also appeared in A. R. Rahman's 2000 musical Kandukondain Kandukondain directed by Rajiv Menon. The blockbuster featured Ajith alongside prominent actors Mammooty and Abbas and actresses Aishwarya Rai, Tabu and Srividya. In a similar role to his previous film, Ajith played a struggling film director facing an oscillating relationship with Tabu, with the pair being unanimously praised for their roles. His first failure in eight films, came in the form of the military based Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven co-starring Simran.

Ups and downs (2001–05)

In 2001, Ajith appeared in Dheena, A. R. Murugadoss's debut film co-starring Laila Mehdin and Suresh Gopi. The film, indirectly marked the beginning of a new image of Ajith, that of an action hero that would appeal to the masses. Furthermore from the successful film, Ajith's nickname in the film, Thala, Tamil for Leader, became a new identity for the actor amongst his fans. His next was the much-hyped thriller, Citizen, portraying Ajith in ten different get-ups and it became an above average success at the box office, despite being labelled a disappointment from critics. A role in the family drama, Poovellam Un Vasam followed opposite Jyothika and was a success commercially and critically earning a Special Best Actor Award from the Tamil Nadu State. The year ended off with an appearance in Santosh Sivan's Hindi project, Asoka, in which Ajith appeared in a brief negative role alongside Shah Rukh Khan. 2002 saw Ajith appear in three films, the first two; Red and Raja being average grossers, the former further building up his image as an action hero. The third film, Villain, in which Ajith appeared in dual roles, one as a mentally ill handicap, became a blockbuster and in return earning Ajith his second Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award.

The following years, from 2003 til 2005, saw Ajith appear in a fewer amount of films due to his career in motor racing becoming more prominent. 2003 saw the release of his long-delayed Ennai Thalatta Varuvala and the police-drama Anjaneya, both failing commercially. His next Jana with Sneha also became a big failure, with the Saran film, Attagasam being his only hit in the period. The film, saw Ajith portray dual roles, with a song, Thala Deepavali penned to promote his action image.In 2005, the failure of the Linguswamy film Ji, despite garnering positive reviews and taking a strong opening, saw Ajith take a sabbatical from acting to re-work his image.

Success and Stardom (2006–present)

During 2006, Ajith returned from his hiatus by appearing in P. Vasu's Paramasivan for which he had lost twenty kilograms to portray the lead role. The film enjoyed a moderate success, scoring over Vijay's Aadhi, which also released in the same week, at the box-office. Critics from The Hindu stated Ajith looked "trim and taut" in the film with "only his eyes seeming to have lost some of its sparkle", following the major weight loss. Furthermore, for Paramasivan and his two other projects in 2006, Ajith sported long hair, which was being grown for Bala's project, Naan Kadavul, which Ajith eventually opted out of. Similarly his next, AVM Productions's, Thirupathi directed by Perarasu performed above average business at the box-office, despite garnering poor reviews, with Rediff critics citing that the film is "anything but sensible" but that Ajith "salvages the situation with a spirited performance". Ajith summed up a successful comeback by the release of his long-delayed film, Varalaru which went on to become his biggest success til date. The K. S. Ravikumar film co-starring Asin, portrayed Ajith in three roles, including that of a classical dancer, with his portrayals being critically praised. Moreover, the film fetched Ajith his third Filmfare Best Actor Award, on its way to becoming a blockbuster. Ajith's first release in 2007, Aalwar became a debacle at the box-office, with his previous film still continuing to run in theatres even after Aalwar had stopped its brief theatrical run. Kireedam, a remake of the 1989 National Award winning Malayalam film of the same name was released to positive reviews, with the film also becoming a moderate success. During the shoot of the film, Ajith developed a further spinal injury, a recurrence of his problem earlier in his career.

Ajith then starred in Billa, a remake of the 1980 Rajinikanth starrer of the same name, which became a blockbuster. The Vishnuvardhan directorial fetched critical praise for Ajith, becoming a trend-setter for stylish art direction and cinematography in India. Billa, yet again, featured Ajith in dual roles one of a notorious don whilst the other played an innocent person who had to act as the don, following the former's death. After Billa, Ajith appeared in the film Ayngaran International production Aegan, directed by the choreographer turned director Raju Sundaram. The film, a remake of the 2004 Hindi comedy Main Hoon Na, only managed to do average business at the box office. Following a year's worth of production, Ajith's latest release, Aasal released in February 2010, taking a grand opening at the box office. The film, which also featured Ajith in dual roles, saw Ajith credited as a screenwriter along with his role of being a don neglected by his brothers in the quest for their father's will. After a second foray into motor racing, Ajith signed up to star in a film directed by Venkat Prabhu, titled Mankatha, which started in late October 2010.

Awards won by Ajith Kumar

Bharatmuni Art Academy Best New Face Award - Prema Pustagam

FilmFare Best Actor Award – Vaalee
Cinema Express Best Actor Award - Ajith
Dinakaran Cinema Best Actor Award – Vaalee
Cinema Express Best Actor Award - Mugavari
FilmFare Best Supporting Actor Award- Kandukondein Kandukondein
Cinema Express Best Actor Award - Citizen
TN Govt Best Actor Award - Poovellam Un Vaasam
FilmFare Best Actor Award – Villain
FilmFare Best Actor Award – Varalaru
Vijay TV Best Actor Award – Varalaru
SICA Best Actor Award - Varalaru
Tamil Nadu State Honarary MGR Award - 2006/2007
Vijay Awards Favourite Actor - Varalaru
TN Cinema Fans Association Best Actor Award -Billa
Vijay Awards Favourite Hero Award - Mankatha
Vijay TV Best Villain Award - Mankatha
Chennai Times Best Actor (Male) - Mankatha

Movies

1992     Prema Pustagam
1993     Amaravathi
1994     Paasamalargal
1994     Pavithra
1995     Rajavin Parvaiyile
1995     Aasai
1996     Vaanmathi
1996     Kalloori Vaasal
1996     Minor Mappillai

1996 Kadhal Kottai

1997     Nesam
1997     Raasi
1997     Ullaasam
1997     Pagaivan
1997     Rettai Jadai Vayasu
1998     Kadhal Mannan
1998     Aval Varuvala
1998     Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen
1998     Uyirodu Uyiraga
1999     Thodarum
1999     Unnai Thedi
1999     Vaali
1999     Anantha Poongathe
1999     Nee Varuvai Ena
1999     Amarkalam
2000     Mugavaree
2000     Kandukondain Kandukondain
2000     Unnai Kodu Ennai Tharuven
2001     Dheena
2001     Citizen
2001     Poovellam Un Vasam
2001     Asoka
2001 Samrat Ashoka
2002     Red
2002     Raja
2002     Villain
2003     Ennai Thalatta Varuvala
2003     Anjaneya
2004     Jana
2004     Attagasam
2005     Ji
2006     Paramasivan
2006     Thirupathi
2006     Varalaru
2007     Aalwar
2007     Kireedam
2007     Billa
2008     Aegan
2010     Aasal
2011     Mankatha
2012     Billa 2
2012 English Vinglish
2012 Untitled - Vishnuvardhan Project (Shooting in progress)
2013 Untitled - Siruthai Siva Project (Announced)

A Must Read ... Difference Between ..

2013-10-08T01:28:00.000-07:00

Difference Between Buy and Purchase

Purchase is considered more formal than buy and is a word used more in contractual agreements than buying an ice-cream or a mobile from the market.

Purchase is used to refer to a contractual agreement such as purchase of property or a purchase order from a company to a supplier. You do not buy land; you purchase it along with an agreement. This means that you purchase everything but you do not buy everything.

Then there are differences pertaining to usage of these two words. For example, government always places purchase orders, and never buys. The government has decided to purchase anti missile tanks from the US.

Difference Between Dual Core and Quad Core �rocessor

Dual core and quad core are two processor types that fall in to the category of multi core processors. In a multi core processor, there is more than one core (processor) in the single integrated circuit die. A dual core processor has two cores in the same die and a quad core processor has four cores in the same die. Multi core processors are widely used in general purpose computers, embedded devices, network devices, etc. To get the best use of multi core processors, the software programs running on the system should be implemented in such a way that they are able to get the full use of the multi core setup.

Difference Between SD, DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 RAMs

SD, DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 are all different types of RAM (Random Access Memory). RAM is a kind of computer memory that temporarily stores information, improving your systems performance. Or in other words RAM simply holds data for the processor. The processor also has its own memory known as the L2 cache, the cache lies between the processor and the RAM. The processor sends and retrieves data from this cache, when this cache overflows data is sent to the RAM.

There are mainly four types of RAM; SD, DDR, DDR2 and DDR3. They differ in the way they operate and mainly in their operation speeds. All RAM's used in computers today have a synchronous interface meaning they wait for a clock signal before it can respond to clock signals.

SD RAM:

SDRAM stands for synchronous dynamic random access memory. SDRAM is Single Data Rate meaning that SDRAM can accept one command and transfer one word of data per clock cycle. As mentioned above SDRAM's have synchronous interface therefore they depend on the computer clock signals to perform operations. Typical speeds of SDRAM are 100 and 133 MHz.

DDR SDRAM:

DDR SDRAM stands for double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory. DDR RAM transfers data twice per clock cycle, hence the name double data rate. DDR clock speeds range between 200 MHz (DDR-200) and 400 MHz (DDR-400). DDR-200 transfers 1600 MB/s, while DDR-400 transfers 3200 MB/s.

DDR2 SDRAM:

DDR2 SDRAM stands for double data rate 2 synchronous dynamic random access memory.DDR2 is twice as fast as DDR which means twice as much data is carried to the module for each clock cycle. Also due to the design improvements DDR2 consumes less power as compared to the DDR memory. DDR2 speeds range between 400 MHz (DDR2-400) and 800 MHz (DDR2-800). DDR2-400 transfers 3200 MB/s. DDR2-800 transfers 6400 MB/s.

DDR3 SDRAM:

So by now after reading the above it is quite obvious what DDR3 SDRAM stands for, double data rate 3 synchronous dynamic random access memory. In theory DDR3 is supposed to act twice as fast as DDR2 memories. Thus DDR3 speeds range between 800 MHz (DDR3-800) and 1600 MHz (DDR3-1600). DDR3-800 transfers 6400 MB/s; DDR3-1600 transfers 12800 MB/s.

Only gamers may notice the difference between DDR2 and DDR3 speeds, while for everyone else, even DDR will be sufficient. But if you are buying a new PC spending a little extra for the increased speed is always appreciated.

But in the end it all depends on your requirements and your budget. DDR3 will cost a lot more than DDR2, also for DDR3 speeds you will also need a motherboard that can support it, so if you are planning on upgrading your RAM to DDR3 you should be certain that your motherboard can support it. If your requirements do not involve heavy gaming or video editing and video processing then you have no need for the powerful DDR3 memory.

Difference Between Google Earth and Google Map

• Google Earth is a desktop application while Google Maps is a web application.

• Google Earth has to be installed on the computer and can only be accessed through that computer while Google Maps can be viewed through any web browser without any restriction of the OS or additional software.

• Google Earth is presented as a 3D globe, and Google Maps is presented as a Mercator`s projection.

• Google Earth uses fly-by when transitioning from one location to another.

• Google Earth has extra-terrestrial maps (Moon, Mars, and Sky), and Google Maps do not have this feature.

• Up to a certain level, both applications provide the same functionalities, but the tools used are different.

• Google Earth is advanced and has more features and tools for navigation.

• Google Maps is completely freeware, but Google Earth is only partly freeware. There is no license or fee required for the basic version, but those are required for the Pro version which offers more functionality.

Difference Between WIFI and LIFI

In WIFI, modulated signal is radio wave where as LIFI modulated signal is light. It is visible electromagnetic spectrum and has higher bandwidth than WIFI but has Line of sight limitation.

Difference Between SSDs and Hard Drives

Hard drives have been the storage medium of choice for a very long time due to its very high capacity and endurance. Data on a hard drive is stored on metal discs called platters which are spun around in order for the moving arm to read the magnetic data on the disc. The current emerging technology that has begun to compete with hard drives are Solid State Drives or SSDs. These store data in flash memory modules giving them a lot of advantages over hard drives.

The spinning platters and moving arms in a hard drive create a lot of unwanted problems that are not present in SSDs. The first of which is the power consumption. Converting electrical energy into mechanical energy always consumes a lot of power and creates heat as a byproduct. The moving parts also make hard drives susceptible to impact damage. SSDs do not suffer from these problems because it doesn’t have moving parts making it ideal for laptops and other mobile devices.

The speed at which data is read and written from the drive is a very significant factor for drives. In this aspect, the SSD also wins by a large margin since it acts just like the RAM in your computer. Data is readily written and read from an SSD unlike in a hard drive where the arm needs to be positioned to the right spot then wait for the platter to turn enough so that the arm can read the data.

The limiting factor in the general proliferation of SSDs at the moment is its price. SSDs are a lot more expensive compared to hard drives per gigabyte of storage, though the advantages are outweighing the cost in mobile devices like laptops. SSDs also suffer from a limited number of writes before a certain memory element fails. This is a trait shared by all flash based memory, although the specific number of writes before failure can vary from one device to another. Manufacturers combat this by a method called wear leveling, where they find the least often used portion of memory to write new data to. This allows the drive to survive a lot longer and the individual memory elements to fail at roughly the same time.

Summary:

1. SSDs have no mechanical parts like hard drives do.

2. SSDs can achieve much faster speeds compared to a hard drive.

3. SSDs can sustain a lot more force from impact compared to hard drives.

4. SSDs consume less power than hard drives.

5. SSDs have a very limited number of writes before it fails.

6. SSDs are more expensive than hard drives.

Difference Between Guys and Males

Guys and men are basically adult human males. They are differentiated from each other by certain traits which are not written in some book but are personal opinions of people. Boys who grow up to be less responsible and more fun; who take jobs rather than build careers, and have not yet decided to commit seriously to relationships or a career are guys; whereas, boys who grow up to become responsible and settle in life are considered to be men.

Top 14 websites for students

2013-10-08T01:24:00.002-07:00

Top 14 websites for students

If you want to a see a blank look on students’ faces, ask them about the Dewey Decimal library classification system. For better or for worse, the Internet has become the alternative to a library card catalog for browsing and locating resources. But how do you navigate that system, and how can you trust what you read on the web?

"Frankly, this is my main concern, along with stumbling onto inappropriate material," admits Bonnie Marks, a mother of two. "Just because someone publishes something on their home page, it doesn't make it gospel—many kids don't know this."

Learning how to find the information you need on the Internet, and how to evaluate and appropriately use the information you find, can be challenging for both parents and students. The following is a look at some of the most comprehensive—and reliable—educational websites a student can bookmark and use to research school projects and homework assignments.

Web literacy and general reference

Information Literacy

All students—no matter what age—need help navigating and evaluating the ever-growing store of information available on the web. This University of Idaho site is an information literacy primer that will quickly turn any half-hearted or random searcher into a savvy Internet detective. It guides students through a series of modules that teach them how to distinguish different kinds of information on the Internet, search for and select research topics, search databases and other collections, locate and cite sources, and evaluate the sources they find.

ipl2

A merger of the Internet Public Library and the Librarians' Internet Index, this site is a comprehensive source of "information you can trust." Thousands of volunteer library and information science professionals created and maintain the site’s reference collections—sets of links to websites on U. S. presidents, author biographies, museums, research and writing, literary criticism, and many more topics. The Ask an ipl2 Librarian reference service, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, provides individualized help finding authoritative, free online sources for specific topics.

Refdesk

Checking facts in Internet sources is one of the key ways to evaluate them, and Refdesk.com, which stands for "reference desk," simplifies this essential step. Since 1995, Refdesk.com has served as a one-click springboard to many of the web's top dictionaries, encyclopedias, calculators, atlases, news headlines, and search engines. The site also includes a handy Homework Helper section (under the Help and Advice column on the lower right of the page) that provides help in all subjects to students in every grade.

Fact Monster

For younger students who are not quite ready to navigate Refdesk, Fact Monster from Information Please is the tool to use. The Reference Desk on this site features a layout that is designed for easy fact-finding and includes timelines and an almanac, atlas, dictionary, and encyclopedia, as well as a Homework Center. Students can also search by visually identified topics or by typing in keywords. Check out fun features such as Biographies of the Presidents, the Geography Hall of Fame, and the Tallest Buildings Slideshow.

Microsoft Download Center

Consider the Microsoft Download Center your ultimate file repository. It links to tens of thousands of downloadable free or shareware programs. These include updates, utilities, applications, and extras for Windows, Macintosh, and other platforms; Internet tools; security essentials; developer resources; mobile devices; and, of course, computer games. You can search for what you need alphabetically, by product family, by download category, or by typing in a keyword. TheMicrosoft Worldwide Downloads site enables you to download files in more than 80 different languages.

Microsoft Student Experience

This site is the cool place for the technology leaders of the future. It offers student resources, helps students stay connected through its newsletters and technology clubs, and provides a career portal and Students-to-Business program. The links to scholarship competitions and to TechStudent—a site for website builders, designers, and software developers in training—encourage creativity and skill development. The Student Experience site also links to DreamSpark, which enables students not only to download professional software such as Microsoft Visual Studio, SQL Server, Visual C++ Express Edition, and Robotics Developer Studio for free but provides free training for using these tools as well.

English and history

FreeTranslation

Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Perfect for language studies, this handy website automatically converts text from one language into another, such as English to Simplified Chinese or French to English. You can type and paste up to 10,000 characters (about 1,800 words) into the search window and then select the desired language. Or cut and paste a web URL to convert the entire site.

Project Gutenberg

As every parent and student knows, books that are required reading are not always available, or if they are, students may misplace their copy before they finish the assignment. Project Gutenberg to the rescue. This site enables you to download more than 30,000 free electronic books to read on your computer, iPhone, Kindle, Sony Reader, or other portable device in a variety of file formats. You can search by title and author or browse their collection of classic works, many of which are available in audio editions as well.

Internet History Sourcebook Project

This site, sponsored by Fordham University and edited by Paul Halsall, provides older students with access to a collection of public domain and copy-permitted historical texts for educational use. It includes collections of primary sources in ancient, medieval, and modern history, as well as history of science, women's history, African history, and others.

Novelguide.com

The web's answer to those black- and yellow-striped Cliff Notes is Novelguide.com, a reliable and free source for literary analysis of classic and contemporary books such as Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn and Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Notes from the Underground. The site offers character profiles, metaphor and theme analysis, and author biographies.

Shakespeare Online

This website can be filed in the "where was this when I was a kid?" category. On this aptly named site, visitors can read every play or poem from the world's most celebrated writer and, more importantly, make some sense of his works with free analysis, Old English language translations, and famous quotes.

Math and science

Math.com

This site provides help in a number of mathematics-related subjects, including basic grade-school math, calculus, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and statistics. Practice exercises are automatically graded—and this free site also features a glossary, calculators, homework tips, math games, and lesson plans for teachers.

Science Made Simple

Science classes—including the ubiquitous science project—aren't as easy for some to grasp as they are for others. At Science Made Simple, elementary and middle school students can get detailed answers to many science questions, read current news articles related to science, get ideas on school projects, and take advantage of unit conversion tables. Users can also find out if their school's textbooks pass the test.

HowStuffWorks

Ever wanted to know why earthquakes happen? How CD burners work? What the sun is made of? These questions, and many others related to computers/electronics, automobiles, science, entertainment, and people, are all answered at this award-winning website. Simply type a query into the search window or peruse the topics by category. Extras include free newsletters, surveys, and printable versions of all answers.

Incredible views of rice terraces in CHINA

2013-10-08T01:17:00.000-07:00

Don't be fooled, it's not a painting: Incredible views of rice terraces that look like a stairway to heaven

These stunning images showing abstract swirls of colours and patterns could be mistaken for a collection of paintings.

But they are in fact photographs of the breathtaking Hani Rice Terraces, found in the mountains above Yuanyang, in south-west China.

They are often described as the 'stairway to heaven' because of the vast layers of land reaching heights of up to 2000 meters above sea level.

Stunning: Hani Terraces are located at Yuanyang County in Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province

Natural wonder: The site is protected by the laws of the People's Republic of China

The Hani people's ancestors came to the steep mountain area 2,500 years ago.

In their struggle against the difficult terrain they transformed the land into terraced rice paddies where they grew rice to make a living.

The creativity of the Hani people has not only transformed the area into a fertile area to grow rice but also a place of artistic beauty.

In recognition, the Ming Dynasty emperor granted the title of Skillful Sculpture to the Hani people and the fields have been officially acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site.

Hani people have created fantastic and perfect land art of vast terraced fields in the heritage site

Wonder of the world: Two thousand five hundred years ago, the ancestors of Hani people came from Tibetan Plateau to work this land

Beautiful: The Yuanyang Rice Terraces are situated in the southern Ailao Mountains, dug out by the Hani people

The entire field is irrigated with spring water from the forest above to rejuvenate and prepare for the next growing season

Over quite a long period of time the local people have cultivated a great number of rice species in their farming activities.

The site is protected by the laws of the People's Republic of China and support enough rice for hundreds of thousands of people.

Picture perfect: The water flows down the fields creating this amazing natural scenery

Stairway to heaven: The 1000m of mountain slopes of terraces are still in used today and were created by the people of Hani thousands of years ago

Like a painting: The water which flows down from the mountains are crystal clear while the air is incredibly clean

Yuanyang county lies at an altitude ranging from 140 along the Red River up to nearly 3000 metres above sea level in the Ailao mountains and is about 50km north of the border with Vietnam.

During the winter to early spring season the entire field is irrigated with spring water from the forest above to rejuvenate and prepare for the next growing season.

There is only one harvest per year for the Yuanyang Rice Terrace and planting occurs from March to November every year.

The amazing rice-terraces were built on the red-soil mountains by the Hani people

Without hard work maintaining the terrace walls and irrigation system, the precious top soil would wash down the hillsides into the rivers

The entire field is irrigated with spring water from the forest above to rejuvenate and prepare for the next growing season

Natural beauty: There is only one harvest per year for the Yuanyang Rice Terrace

Close up: The terraces were created by the Hani people thousands of years ago

During the winter to early spring season, the entire field is filled with spring water