Is it true?

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:29:00 +0000

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

The Intelligent Dog

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:08:00 +0000

Border Collie is rated as the most intelligent dog. It is a medium-sized very energetic dog and a “workaholic. In fact, it is happy when working because it loves working whether it is herding, agility, dog sports, or even tasks such as search and rescue by the narcotics and bomb detection police. This breed can be easily trained in such activities too. In fact because of its craving for work, sufficient exercise must be provided to them.

Originated in Northumberland in England, this dog was earlier called the “Scotch Sheep Dog”.

Interestingly, its body is a bit longer that its height. While biting, its strong teeth meet in a scissor. Brownish eyes and erect/semi-erect ears, short hairs on the face, ears, and front legs are quite prominent.

Border Collie is bred mainly for its working ability and intelligence and not for its beauty. It very intelligent and is quite aware of its surroundings. This dog exhibits a high degree of skills and obedience; it has high stamina and is therefore energetic. It is an ideal pet in dog sports when provided with sufficient exercises. Interestingly, this breed will get along well with other dogs, children, and other family pets. It is very demanding in matters of attention and recognition from their masters. Its life span is 10 to 15 years.

These dogs are found to be unsuitable for apartment life; and unsuited for being chained.
Poodle, e German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Doberman Pinscher, Shetland Sheepdog, Labrador Retriever, Papillon, Rottweiler, and Australian Cattle Dog are some of the remarkable varieties of dogs.

Source: Google

Images: Google

Flowers Under Threat

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:51:00 +0000

“Plants are the basis for much of the life on Earth with virtually all other species depending on them.” But the plants are facing a loss of habitat threat and human activity. A rough estimate forecasts extinction of 25% of the flowers. The Royal Society B in its latest report warns that several flowers that are yet to be classified (around 35,000 to 70,000 plans still to be classified) are likely to be lost even before even before they are discovered.

This is so depressing, but each one of us can arrest this impending catastrophe by planting at least some native plants in our homes. This way, we can hope to live in sustainable atmosphere and leave a healthy Earth to our progeny.

Preservation of global ecosystem and eco-sustainability can well be achieved by educated and organized ecological resistance and protests against its damage by human activity due to unchecked population explosion.

Source: Google

Image: Google

China’s Supercomputer Power!! A challenge to the US?

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 04:33:00 +0000

Supercomputers are extensively used in complex projects such as weather system modeling, simulation of nuclear explosions, and designs of jetliners. China has now muscled into No. 2 rank among the world’s fastest supercomputer nations overtaking European and Japanese systems. It is just behind US Department of Energy’s Jaguar in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

China’s Dawning Nebulae system at the National Supercomputing Center in Shenzhen province reports an astounding computing speed of 1.27 petaflops, which is the equivalent of one thousand trillion mathematical operations per second. Last year, China came out with its supercomputer named Tianhe capable of more than 1 petaflop or 1 quadrillion operations per second. The latest version is a step ahead of this and costs 600 million yuan ($88 million). China-made CPU is expected to be added to the Milki Way supercomputer in the future for boosting its speed further.

The latest Chinese achievement pushes its ranking higher among the world’s fastest 500 competitors. This list was compiled jointly by Germany’s University of Mannheim, Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, US and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

This supercomputer was introduced to the world at the International Supercomputer Conference held recently in Hamburg, Germany. The use of the Nividia GPU (graphic processing unit) accelerator enabled this success.

But the US still leads the rest of the nations in the field of supercomputers.

Source: Google

Image: Google

Studies on Near-Death Experiences

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:10:00 +0000

Recent studies at the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington report quite interesting findings. A surge of electrical activity in the brain just moments before death is recorded by the anesthesiologist Dr. Lakhmir Chawla of the team that conducts the study there.

The study also suggests that about 15% of the patients who suffer cardiac arrest and clinical death experienced good thought process, reasoning, and at times recall vivid memories of their encounter with death.

In Britain too, similar ongoing studies are reported. The Science Daily reported in September 2008 a similar study titled The AWARE (Awareness During Resuscitation) by the Southampton Hampton University under the guidance of the visiting fellow Dr. Sam Parnia and his teammates Dr. Peter Fenwick and Professors Stephen Holgate and Robert Pevler. Dr. Parnia is an expert in the field of consciousness during death.

There are numerous teams like Near-Death Experience Research Foundation (NDERF), International Association for Near-Death Studies doing research on the near-death experiences.

However, these conclusions do require further exhaustive studies before they are accpted by the competent experts and the society. for arriving at any scientific conclusions. Also these studies do not suggest or deny any afterlife. But these do seem to indicate that there could still be God!!!

Source: Times London
Source: Google

Dophin Therapy For Autism In Children

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:15:00 +0000

Dolphins as therapeutic healers to treat autism in children

Autism as we all know is a neural disorder with impaired social interaction, repetitive behavior, and communication deficiencies.. Chinese attempt to treat autism with dolphins is proving effective as per initial experiments.

An ocean amusement park, the Royal Ocean World (ROW) in the Northeast China bought four dolphins at a cost of $738,000 (five million yuan) for this therapy. After initial adaptation of the dolphins in their new home, the Dolphin therapy for a month to young patients aged between 2 and 10 years showed remarkable improvement in their reactions and behaviors. It is reported by the ROW that each child-patient undergoes 12 sessions of treatment for one month.

Many children would enjoy playful interaction with a dolphin because the dolphins are of their friendly appearance and loveable attitude. But no scientific proof is available to justify the efficacy of this dolphin therapy for autism.

The treatment which used to be free now costs 2000 yuan per month and less for patients from poor families. Many kinds of illness and disability are being treated with this therapy now. In addition to this Chinese attempt, a Florida-based program involves dolphins, sea turtles, otters, and fish to help treat the disabled children.

Source: Google

Simulated Mars Mission For 520 Days

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:31:00 +0000

“See you in 520 days!”, “Happy New Year 2011”. These are some of the pleasantries exchanged between the six men and a scientist who sealed the iron door of a mock spacecraft at a Moscow research center on June 3, 2010. These six men will be locked up in a simulated Mars cruise for 520 days. A Mars mission takes 250 for the onward flight, 30days on the Mars surface, and 240 days for the return flight.

Yes, six men from Europe, Russia and China were locked away for the next 520 days in a simulation of a manned mission to Mars. To be exact, one Frenchman, one Italian, one Chinese, and three Russians will spend the next one-and-a-half years in the mock spacecraft. They swill live on food rations like real astronauts. Their only source of contact with the outside world will be via the email but with a delay of about 40 minutes. The hatch will open only when the mission ends or when one member of the team dies in which case the body will be pushed out to the space.

The mission captain Alexie Sitev is newly married. Imagine the agony of his separation from his newly wed wife. All the members of this team are between ages 27 and 38. Their job will be divided into eight hours of work, sleep, and leisure.

LET US ALL WISH THEM GRAND SUCCESS.

Source: Google

Images: Google

Mission Clean Ganga

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:17:00 +0000

Yes, India’s famous river Ganga or the Ganges as it is known to the world is going to be a clean river by 2020. The river Ganga originating from the famous Gangotri glaciers of the Himalayas is pure till human population on this holy river’s course pollutes it extensively. The degradation of this river calls for urgent measures to clean it up and save the aquatic life.

The Indian Government has now called upon the group of seven IITs (Indian Institute of Technology) jointly to prepare a detailed river basin management plan for this river to clean up this river. The deterioration in the quality of the river’s water is due to toxic effluents caused by urbanization and industrial growth.

Dr. Vinod Tare of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India is heading this team. The National Ganga River Basin Authority headed by India’s Prime Minister is sponsoring this study with all the seriousness and urgency that the situation warrants. This ambitious project will cover 11 Indian States as well as some other rivers also and will cost the exchequer $8 billion (Rs. 40,000 crores). Its final report is expected in one year.

The team is expected to advise proper water use and also enough provision for water and energy in the Ganga basin for future population, industrialization, agriculture, and urbanization without ignoring the sanctity for the river system.

Perennial flow and clean water are the two thrust areas for this group of experts. The experts’ group will coordinate with the other related professionals in various related areas like ecology and diversity, socio-cultural aspects, public participation, etc. A basin-wise approach is proposed as against an earlier suggestion of city-wise approach.

Earlier efforts to clean up the Ganga did not yield much desired results despite huge expenditure. There is a general impression that such river-cleaning projects are a source of minting money.

Let us hope this latest effort will clean up India’s mighty river GANGA.

Source: Google

Image: Google

Human Brain Improves With Advancing Age

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 15:02:00 +0000

Yes, scientists have discovered this truth that is totally contrary to the popular belief that mental faculties decline with advancing years.

Of course short-term-memory dwindles as a person ages, but long-term memory remains unchanged or unaffected. In fact, it is observed during the study that as person’s vocabulary, emotional intelligence, and social skills may get better. Probably this conclusion is best explained by the number of successful elderly persons past fifty in business, science, politics, etc.

The study suggests simple methods to sustain and sharpen the mental ability in old age. Walking 40 minutes three times a week definitely improves the mental caliber greatly. Reaction time in critical situations is much less with such walking. Dr. Peter Connely an expert in old age at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the U.K. states that the old people can handle a situation objectively with their vast experience in life as against younger generation who only try to rush to conclusions.

Judges in the UK now want to work beyond the age of 70. While this sounds nice, the society at large may face greater unemployment among the younger generation, which may pose a problem to those in power.

Source: Times of India

From various sources

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 08:56:00 +0000

A postcard reached its destination after 95 years thanks to an American antique collector who delivered it personally to the addressee’s grandson in Sarajeva, Bosnia. It had been sent from Villany, Hungary and bore a Hungarian stamp. (Source AP)

Unlike a wound, you cannot see a heart disease. It is a silent killer, in a sense. We need to appreciate that the HEART is a gift of God. It beats 1,00,000 times a day. So take care of it.

Heart diseases and strokes can now be more easily avoided or reduced by taking beetroot juice, according to the study by a team led by Amirtha Ahluwalia (Indian origin) in Queen Mary University in London. The findings are available in the latest “Hypertension” journal of the American Heart Association. (Times of India June 30, 2010).

University of California in US and the Keio University of Japan have jointly developed a simple saliva test to detect a bunch of cancers like pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and oral cancer. The advantage of this test is that the saliva can be more easily sampled than blood and stool. (AFP)

Europe’s sophisticated GOCE satellite has now mapped the earth’s gravitational force, which reveals quite astonishingly that the gravitational force is not uniform throughout the earth’s surface. This is a real-time mapping.

A lock of Napoleon Bonaparte’s hair was auctioned in New Zealand recently for $1900 while his sketch on the death bed was auctioned for $21,000, as per reports from Radio New Zealand.

Source: Times of India

Huge Mineral Deposits in Afghanistan

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:01:00 +0000

Yes, Afghanistan is going to be the richest nation in the world with huge reserves of minerals discovered recently. These deposits reportedly include huge reserves of iron, copper, cobalt, gold, and lithium, all untapped till date. All these are of course essential in modern industry.

This recent discovery of nearly $1 trillion mineral deposits is going to change the politics of Afghanistan with vested political interests vying with each other to exploit them.

This discovery could distract and change the course of the present war and turmoil in Afghanistan, and instead attract huge foreign investments. New equations of war in this region are foreseen.

Will this discovery lead to peace in the region or will the Taliban fight more vigorously? Will this change the fortunes of Afghanistan with a GDP of only $12 billion? But this strife-torn nation is going to play a vital role in world economy. Let us watch and see how it goes.

Source: Google

Monkeys Enjoy Watching TV

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 06:44:00 +0000

Yes, human beings are not alone in watching the idiot box. Monkeys too enjoy the idiot box. This interesting report of the Kyoto University Primate Research Institute team led by Professor Nobuo Masataka is published in the Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, the Swiss online scientific journal.

During the study the Japanese scientists studied the changes in the frontal lobe of the brain of a three-year-old male rhesus monkey while it was watching TV. Quite interestingly, the study found out that the monkey thoroughly enjoyed a video of a circus elephant, giraffe and a tiger in action, and another monkey grooming itself. The technique used by the scientists is called the Near-Infrared Spectroscopy that enabled them to visualize the blood flow to its brain while watching TV. Its facial expressions also revealed feelings of anger and fear. The psychological make-up of monkeys and human beings is reflected in this study.

Of late, several zoos across the world are providing TVs for the animals to break up the monotonous living environment, and the effectiveness of this exposure to TV is confirmed by the research team. But the study states that feelings of joy could only be induced.

What more similar interesting studies are forthcoming? Let us wait and watch.

Source: Google
Image: Google

Oceans Are Affected By Global Warming!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:10:00 +0000

Next to overfishing and coastal pollution, global warming is causing great damage to the oceans. The damage is greater since the last 60years or so. The earth’s ecosystem is very fragile to withstand this onslaught by mankind. These revelations are brought out by two environmental organizations, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Marine Conservation Biology Institute. These reports clearly highlight the impact of global warming on tropical reefs, polar-ice edges, zooplankton, polar bears, and other marines.

A two-degree rise in temperature is sufficient to wipe out almost all the existing coral reefs, say the experts. It is authoritatively reported that the loss of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef due to global warming would cost a whopping $37.7 billion during the next century. The climate scientists predict that this reef could lose 95% of its living coral by 2050 if ocean temperature rises by 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The latest finding on greenhouse gases is startling indeed. Choking oceans due to rising greenhouse gases cause elimination of marine ecosystem thus affecting the food chain of millions of people. And the damages are irreversible. This affects the natural marine habitats and marine food supply in addition to changing the ocean chemistry. Migration of the marine life along the east and west coasts as also the extinction of some organisms are also happening now. Also the ocean circulation changes due to global warming would be disastrous for the marine fisheries.

Kelp forests, marine life and coral reefs decline. Disease among the marine life is on the rise.

Yes, such changes that have not occurred for millions of years are now happening due to global warming. Fossil records reveal a similar ocean warming about 50 million years ago and it was only after 100,000 years that the oceans recovered from this.

Can we prevent this and save the marine life? Yes of course, if only we implement some simple suggestions provided by experts.

These are: Eat eco-friendly fish. Avoid or at least restrict the use of plastics, disposables and single-use projects. Adopt energy-efficient measures. Do not release balloons, which are a danger to wildlife. Do not leave the fishing lines into the water as it takes about 600 years to degrade thus endangering marine life for 600 years.

And finally, try to take part in marine conservation efforts.

Image: Google

Source: Google

Rat-eating plant

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:57:00 +0000

Unbelievable carnivorous plants.

British scientists have now discovered a deadly plant that eats rats. This plant was discovered in Philippines by botanists. There are different varieties of this plant. The rat-eating pitcher plant is named to honor the British TV naturalist David Attenborough. The rat-eating pitcher plant was discovered on the Philippines Island in 2007

This plant attracts the rats into its mouth and dissolves them with acid-like enzymes. This dangerous plant is also called the “Venus Rat-Trap”

Source: Google

Image: Google

Empty one tank and fill up another

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:04:00 +0000

Use urine as fuel for your car.

Yes, your car may soon be powered by urine. Scientists from the Ohio University are developing the relevant technology for urine-powered utilities. Cars, homes, and numerous electronic devices are soon to be run on this energy. A nickel-based electrode generates plenty of cheap hydrogen from urine that can be burnt or used in fuel cells. An added advantage is increased cleanliness. And the cost is a fraction of the conventional production of hydrogen from water. As we all know, urine is the most abundant waste on Earth.

A new H2 converter invented now can turn any organic fluid into fuel, which is claimed to be for efficient than both diesel and gasoline. Thus instead of pumping fuel into the car, one can just pee into the gas tank and drive away. Waste from chicken farms could produce energy required to run the farm. Livestock farmers could benefit greatly from this invention.

Prof. Gerardine Botte of the Ohio University who is developing this technology reports that one cow can provide enough energy to supply hot water for 19 houses. One molecule of urea in the urine containing hydrogen and nitrogen bonded together can release hydrogen using a special nickel electrode into the pool of urine. Prof. Botte and her colleagues report they can store this hydrogen and then release it at lesser cost.

When this becomes a commercial viability, it will definitely be a great breakthrough towards greener world that we are all trying to create.

Source: Google

Odd and Strange Plants

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:55:00 +0000

The Zombie hand mushroom (photo, extreme left) looks like a dead hand with a bad smell like a dead fish or rat.

The pitcher plants (photo, middle) are carvinorous plants. Their pitcher-like shape attracts insects by their sweet smell and color. The liquid inside traps, drowns, and dissolves the insects.
Next t is the Venus Fly Traps. They catch and eat flies with their wide-open traps that react at speeds of ½ second to capture the flies!!! Earlier seen in South Carolina and North Carolina, its population is much less now. This can be grown at homes also.

The Corpse Flower of Indonesia (photo, extreme left). It stays for two days and will reappear only after 1-3 years.

Source: Google

Image: Google

Zero-emission car from Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:37:00 +0000

Yes, Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is to come out with its first zero-emission mini -car. The i-MiEV or the Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle” is run on electricity and not on petroleum and has no engine or a muffler. It runs quietly. The running cost is just one- third of that of a petrol-powered car or less which looks attractive. While it can run 160 kilometers on a fully charged lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged overnight on a domestic power source, right now, it takes 14 hours to fully recharge the battery aagain. Technological breakthrough in lithium-ion batteries is expected as a normal corollary to this project. Though the cost may be prohibitive now at around $47,000 or 4.6 million yen, it may come down with mass production. Mitsubishi Motors plans to sell this green car initially to corporate and government customers in 2010 and then to the general public. The company hopes to offer about 15,000 units to the general public by 2011. There is no carbon emission from this car at all, a sure way to curb global warming, which is the need of the hour. The Japanese government has offered tax concessions to potential buyers.

The present recession in world economy may not be a limiting factor in the success of this car as the emphasis now is on reducing carbon emissions. Efforts are on in Japan to produce fuel cell cars that produce electricity with hydrogen and oxygen with water being the only byproduct with no carbon emissions at all. The emphasis now is on clean cars that run on biofuel or clean diesel as well as electricity.

Source: Google

Image: Google

Malaysia’s Batu Cave Temple

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:34:00 +0000

Located in then Gombak district of Malaysia 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur, this cave was first discovered over 100 years ago. It is a limestone hill with numerous caves and cave temples. The cave derives its name from the Batu River that flows past the hill. A Hindu temple of Malaysia dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan here attracts over 1.5 million pilgrims during the annual Thaipusam festival During this occasion, ardent devotees go around with their cheeks pierced with sharp instruments apparently with no pain felt at all. Situated above 100 m above the ground level, this temple has three caves and a few smaller ones. The biggest cave has 272 steps to climb and has a 100-feet high ceiling The Dark Cave below the Temple Cave houses a variety of cave animals and admission is restricted. Gallery Cave at the foot of the steps houses statues and paintings depicting Hindu mythology. Quite interestlingly, Malaysia boasts of a fusion of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous cultures and customs.

Source: Google

Iamges: Wikipedia

India's Magic Observatory

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:44:00 +0000

India’s Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, the astronomical observatory will soon be a World Heritage Site. This recognition assumes greater importance as the year 2009 is being declared as the “International Year of Astronomy”.

This facility in Jaipur in the State of Rajasthan in India is the biggest of the five built by Sawai Jai Singh II, the erstwhile ruler of Jaipur. It is an astonishing collection of architectural astronomical instruments. This observatory has 14 major geometric devices for measurement of time, prediction of eclipses, tracking stars and other celestial parameters, and all of them are fixed tools. The largest of them, the Samrat Jantar is 90 feet tall at an angle of 27 degrees. Its shadow tells the time of the day with an accuracy of two seconds. A small cupola on its top is used to predict eclipses and monsoons. Its Giant Sun dial is the largest in the world, 27 meters tall with its shadow moving visibly at 1 mm per second, which is a profound experience for the people. This is already a national monument since 1948 now heading for world recognition.

The other four Jantar Mantar structures are located in the west central India, one each at Delhi, Varanasi, Ujjain and Mathura all constructed during the period 1724-1730 AD and all of them were made in masonry.

The Delhi Jantar Mantar, also a great masterpiece of Indian architecture was used to observe the Sun, moon and the other planets, but after its erection in 1724, it functioned only for seven years. While the huge sundial with its 27m-high arm at an angle of 27 degrees tracked the Sun, the remaining structures here tracked the various starts and planets. One structure here called the Mishra Yantra determined the longest and shortest days in the year. Interestingly, in December, one pillar overshadowsd the other and in June, no shadows are cast at all. This is the best preserved among all the five ones. The Ujjain and Varanasi observatories are in a state of neglect and decay.

JantarMantar.org is a project initiated by Cornell University Professor of Arts, Barry Perlus. For more information, please contact him at bap8@cornell.edu
Also visit http://www.jantarmantar.org/.

Source:Google

Images: Google

Images: Wikipedia

LET US JOIN HANDS TO SAVE OUR EARTH

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 08:22:00 +0000

Global warming. Heed the warning. No procrastination, Concrete measures please.

Global temperature is forecast to rise 4 degrees by 2100 Around 200 million people are likely to be displaced from their homes by 2050 due to environmental reasons. The clear warning is that unless carbon emission is brought down drastically, global warming will become more hazardous endangering the world’s habitat and economy. As per NASA satellite images, nearly 94%of Rwanda’s Gishwati forest has disappeared mainly due to subsistence harvesting and cultivation by refugees after the notorious 1994 genocide now leaving only 600 hectares out of its original 100,000 hectares!!!

What is urgently required is a political goal to reduce carbon emissions 80% by 2050, but this needs to be transferred into quick results. Also the high level of carbon emissions does call for tougher law to reduce it to safer levels. Various studies do clearly emphasize the need for the nations to agree on this issue in order to avoid a rise of more than 2C in average temperature. Having agreed upon the urgency of the situation, you have to have appropriate technology and regulatory authority in place to assess and monitor carbon emissions from various sources.

While China, a rousing giant of global warming seems willing to limit its carbon emissions, this Asian giant may accord first priority to developing its economy. But it is considering imposing a pro rata carbon tax on coal and fossil fuels such as gasoline, jet fuel, and natural gas. Interestingly, China is committed to making the upcoming Copenhagen Climate Change Conference later this year a success.

Japan plans to cut its carbon emission by a modest 8%. Australia may postpone its planned carbon emissions trading scheme due to possible pressure from the opposition and industry though it is likely spend huge sums on tackling carbon emission issues.

Two billion tons of carbon generated by the US coal power plants constitutes about 27% of all its greenhouse gas emissions, and frighteningly this level is likely to go up by third by 2025!!!.

India can well cut 227 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in its power sector by reducing transmission and distribution losses as well as closing down the low-efficiency coal plants.

Source: Google

Images: Google

Big Buddha on Lantau Island, Hongkong

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:36:00 +0000

Traditional Buddha or the Tian Tan Buddha at Ngong Ping, Lin Lantau Island of Hong Kong is a large statue of Buddha completed in 1993. A major Buddhist center, this is a major tourist attraction and is one of the five large Buddha statues in China. Here Buddha sits on a lotus throne. This statue is 34 meters tall and weighs 250 tonnes and is visible from 40 km away. A circular walkway for the visitors to climb the 268 steps to reach this statue is provided. The site also offers a small winding road to accommodate vehicles for the handicapped. While the raised right hand represents eradication of affliction, the left hand rests on the lap indicating a gesture of giving dhana or gift. While all other Buddha statues elsewhere face south, this Big Buddha faces north. Several small statues surround the Big Buddha.

There are three floors below this; The Hall of Universe, The Hall of Benevolent Merit, and The Hall of Remembrance. Another famous feature inside the site is the relic of Gautama Buddha consisting some cremated remains. Interestingly, there is a bell with Buddha’s images carved and this bell rings every 7 minutes or 108 times a day representing release of 108 kinds of human vexations.

Source: Google

Images: Google

Save Earth. Act Now or Perish!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:35:00 +0000

"Climate change is silent human crisis”, says Kofi Annan, the former UN head. Yes, look at the grim situation that confronts us. Here are the warnings from the experts.

Death of 300,000 people every year due to climate change, threats in the form of disease, starvation and conflict mainly due to damage to crops and homes that will around $125 billion every year. Further, floods, heat waves and forest fires will cause half-a-million deaths annually by 2030 and cost $300 billion globally. Developing poor countries like Bangladesh and Sudan will suffer more floods and drought. All these potential dangers call for a budget of $25 billion a year as compared to $14.2 billion in 2006. Further $50 billion a year will be needed to help poorer countries adapt to global warming as the poorer nations suffer more due to climate change as compared to fewer people suffering from floods in the rich countries.

Further potential damages? Recent study of Antarctica reveals that a huge ice shelf has become unstable due to global warming. And UK is planning to restrict tourism in the Antarctica. Arctic ice is now thinner than ever. Oceans may not be able to absorb increased greenhouse gases. Sea levels could rise by 10 feet by the end of this century. Migrating birds will have to fly 250 miles more due to global warming. Many animal species could become totally extinct due to rise in global heat. Natural disasters caused by climate change will affect about 400 million people within six years as warned by Oxfam of UK. Nobel Laureates warn the climate change to be as severe as nuclear warfare.

A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows a 7.4C rise in temperature would result in severe collapse of ecosystem as well as the economic system worldwide. Severe natural resource crunch will be the inevitable consequence causing large-scale migration and water wars.

In spite of all these potential dangers, it is feared that domestic politics in many nations may not allow immediate and effective measures to combat climate change.

According to Professor Steven Chu, the US Energy Secretary, climate change is a "crisis situation" that calls for a wide range of measures. The Obama administration encourages energy efficiency forms of renewable energy such as wind, wave and solar. Painting roofs white to deflect sun’s rays thereby saving substantial energy and money on air-conditioning. The Internet can be effectively employed to pass on the message across the entire world. In his opinion, the US and China should move first and fast in this direction and set example to the poorer nations. China is now a rousing giant of global warming. More fuel-efficient and less carbon-emitting cars and energy-efficient bulbs in the place of frosted lights can do wonders, but many nations do not act with urgency that the situation demands.

Lightening roof and roads in urban areas could effectively and easily offset the warming effect of all the cars all over the globe for 11 long years. The European Union proposes to replace frosted light bulbs and with more energy-efficient bulbs.

Is this thinking not a hope for mankind? Let us al think and act responsibly.

The solution? Rapid and massive steps as well as urgent and significant policy action by the nations.
So let us all wake up to the clarion call by Mr. Annan and keep the temperature rise below 3.6 degrees.

Source: Google

Images: Google

The Visayan Spotted Deer of the Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Sun, 24 May 2009 11:32:00 +0000

Classified as endangered, the Visayan Spotted Deer or the Philippine Spotted Deer is a small short-legged deer found in the forests of the west Visayan islands in the Central Philippines, and is one of the rarest mammals in the world. Easily distinguished by its distinctive pattern of buff-colored spots across its dark brown back, this deer is about 125 to 130 cm long, 70 - 80 cm tall and weighs about 25 - 80 kg. Its skull is narrow compared to its length and its face is pointed. A young/baby Visiyan deer is called a ‘fawn or ass”. While the females are called “doe, hind, or cow”, the males are called ‘buck, stag or bull.” A Visayan Spotted Deer group is a “herd”. Its normal habitat is open forest and dense thickets. It is mainly nocturnal usually wandering at dusk to feed on leaves, twigs, and grasses, and usually found in small groups of three to five.

The present estimated population of the Visayan Spotted Deer is less than 300. Hunting is a great threat to this rare and endangered species. Even though some legal protection is now afforded to it, the difficult terrain of its habitat renders this protection a difficult task. However, these are now held in captivity in the Philippines Conservation Center as well as a few zoos in Europe. The poor state of the Philippines economy is a risk factor for the survival of this species.

The Visayan Spotted Deer is also called the Prince Alfred's sambar.

Source: Google

Images: Google

Petronas Twin Towers and the Kuala Lumpur City Centre

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:45:00 +0000

Designed by the Argentinean-American architect Cesar Pelli and completed in 1997, the 1483-feet 88-storey twin-tower built on the erstwhile Selangor Turf Club grounds together with the Kuala Lumpur City Center or KLCC in short is an awe-inspiring sight revealing a beautiful blend of modern architecture and Islamic culture. A public park and gardens with wading pool are major attractions here. The towers are tapering connected by a sky bridge. The towers were opened on August 28, 1999. The identical towers are linked by a bridge at the 41st floor, creating a dramatic gateway to the city. The towers provide office spaces in each floor ranging from 14,000 to 22,000 sq. ft. Major attractions of the twin towers are a curtain wall of glass and stainless steel sun shades for efficient lighting, a double-decker elevator system with a sky lobby transfer point on the 41st floor that can accommodate the huge crowd that visits the towers daily. A shopping center of about 70 acres of public parks and plazas is another attraction here. Presently, this tower houses Malayasia’s government-owned oil company and numerous multinational companies. It is interesting to note that this tower stands at the end of the projected high-tech business zone or the Malayasia Multimedia Supercorridor. A concert hall and a business reference library function here.

Supporting the fight against global warming, this Twin Tower switched off its lighting for one hour on March 28, 2009 in support of the Earth Hour. All avoidable decorative lights and non-essential lamps are being switched off frequently.

Source: Google
Image: Google

The Kaziranga National Park and the great one-horned Indian rhino

noreply@blogger.com (Gopal) — Mon, 18 May 2009 06:10:00 +0000

Kaziranga in the North-East India is the homeland and shelter for the famous one-horned Indian rhinoceros as well as other wild lives. Lying across the mighty Brahmaputra river and covering an area of 430 sq.km, the Park is already a World Heritage Site since 1985. The one-horned Indian rhinoceros that roamed the north Indian plains in the wetlands of the Indus, Ganges and the Brahmaputra centuries ago now survives only in the north-eastern Assam and in the neighboring Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.

Rhinos are of five kinds. The white rhino and the black rhino are seen in Africa while the Indian rhino, and Sumatran rhinos are Asian rhinos found in North Pakistan, north-east Indian State of Assam, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. Weighing about 2000 kg, the Indian rhino has only one horn while the African rhino has two. Also the skin of the Indian rhino falls into deep folds at the joints as though it is a coat of armour. While the rhinos are vegetarians, the Indian rhinos mostly eat grass, fruits, leaves, and crop. Tall elephant grass available in the Park is its favorite food. Its thick lip helps it to reach the tall grass and to pull out the aquatic plants by the root. They roam about usually in the mornings and evenings avoiding the heat of the day. They live for about 40 years. Two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinos are hosted here.

In addition, this park is the home for large breeding populations of elephants, wild water buffalo, and the swamp deer as well as an important bird area recognized by the Birdlife International. The Kaziranga National Park is a birding paradise too. A children’s park is an added attraction here. Suitable accommodation is available for the tourists here.

The credit for the development of this park goes to Mary Victoria Leiter Curzon, wife of the Viceroy of India in 1905 whose initial efforts culminated into a great national park today. It is quite interesting to note that the centenary anniversary of this Park was attended by the descendants of the Baroness and Lord Curzon in 2005.

Guides accompany the tourists inside the park. Elephant as well as jeep drives are available for the travelers. The Park is accessible by road, rail, and air. A day’s outing is enough to see the variety of other species like the wild buffalo and the wild boar, the crested Serpant, the fishing eagle, a variety of water-birds like the parridges, geese, the Bengal Florican, storks, and pelicans.

Source: Google

Images: Google