Tagore Memorial Day...From the Hindu

Dated April 26, 1961:Tagore centenary

The Tagore birth centenary celebrations next month would mark the institution of several chairs in Indian universities and the establishment of permanent Tagore memorial theatres in every State. Disclosing this in an interview with newsmen in Madras on April 25, Professor Humayun Kabir, Union Minister for Scientific Research and Cultural Affairs, said the occasion would be celebrated all over the world in a fitting manner. The Annamalai University in Madras State had agreed to institute a Chair for Bengali literature, while other Indian universities would be opening Chairs for History, Philosophy, Banking, etc. The London University was also introducing a Tagore centenary lecture every year. In the United States, six universities had combined to establish a Chair for Indian Studies. Prof. Kabir said that translations of Tagore's works into various Indian and European languages would also be undertaken.

Significance of Mothers day in India and the Far East

Buddha's birthday, Mother's Day celebrated

By Grace Soong

Tens of thousands of believers gathered to celebrate Buddha's birthday, also officially known as Veska Day, along with Mother's Day and the 100th anniversary of the Republic of China on Ketagalan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office, yesterday.

Guests from around the globe and mothers from all over Taiwan congregated and “bathed the Buddha” in hopes of bringing peace and prosperity to Taiwan and the world through this spiritual gathering.

For the third consecutive year, the celebration of Buddha's birthday took place on Ketagalan Boulevard on Mother's Day. The event was arranged by the Executive Yuan's Council for Cultural Affairs and hosted by Fo Guang Shan (FGS, 佛光山) and the Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA, ). According to the BLIA, over 100,000 attended the event.

Vice President Vincent Siew encouraged the people of Taiwan by discussing Venerable Master Hsing Yun's philosophy of “three goods and five ways to be at peace” (三好五和), saying that doing good things, saying good words, and thinking good thoughts will bring peace within oneself and society. Buddha's teachings are long lasting, just like a mothers' love, Siew said, while wishing for long life for democracy and freedom of religion.

President Ma Ying-jeou, who was not present at the event, called and expressed his blessings for mothers and the spreading of Buddha's creeds to the crowd through a speakerphone.

The event was attended not only by politicians but also ambassadors and officials from Nicaragua, Swaziland, Nauru, St. Christopher, the Philippines, Mexico and various other nations.

Jeffery Huffines, Chair of the NGO / DPI Executive Committee & U.N. Representative for CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, commended the BLIA, which was acknowledged by the U.N. as an NGO in 2003. He also commended its founder Venerable Master Hsing Yun for promoting humanitarian relief efforts.

Huffines encouraged the creation of “a world in which material and scientific development is governed by ethical and spiritual principles that promote the prosperity of people everywhere.” He also commented that Buddha's spirit of compassion and Buddha's timeless teachings could navigate many global problems and serve as a platform, just like the U.N., for global coordination in this materialistic world.

Former Head of the Yamanashi prefecture parliament Fukazawa Toshio also attended the Veska Day event. He brought along a letter from the president of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party, Tanigaki Sadakazu, who expressed his gratitude to the Taiwanese public for all their financial and spiritual support following the March 11 Japan earthquake.

“Bathing the Buddha” is a traditional Buddhism practice for Veska Day, where believers scoop up water and pour it over the shoulders of a small-scale Buddha. Venerable Master Hsing Yun said that bathing the Buddha is not just to show respect for the spiritual leader — the source of Buddhist teachings, but also to cleanse the impurities within our minds. To pay tribute to Buddha and mothers for the love and warmth they have brought this world, Hisng Yun said, is the reason Veska Day is celebrated. “May Buddha bless you all,” he said.

Despite the heat, followers of Buddha, including mothers who were over 100 years of age, waited patiently in line for their turn to bathe the Buddha at the end of the ceremony

Another Five unexplained mysteries.

6. The Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle — located in the Atlantic between Bermuda , Florida and Puerto Rico — is a thief, stealing planes and boats right out of existence. The area got its name after Sgt. Howell Thompson (l.), along with 27 Navy airmen, vanished from the devilish spot during a routine flight in 1945. Rumors persist on a supernatural explanation, but many specialists blame hurricanes, a heavy Gulf Stream and human error.

7. The Nazca Lines

The Nazca Lines cover more than 190 square miles in the southern deserts of Peru . The mysterious shapes etched into the land rival football fields and predate the Incan Empire. The ‘Las Manos’ figure (above) is 2,000 years old. Little is know about why the Nazca people constructed such vast pieces of sand art, some believe they are extraterrestrial in nature, while others claim they may have carried and pointed to sources of water.

8. Aliens

Area 51, located on Groom Lake in southern Nevada (c.), was founded in 1955 by the U.S. Air Force to develop and test new aircrafts – such as the U-2 Spy Plane, A-12 Blackbird and F-117 Stealth Fighter. The secretive nature of the military base, combined with its classified aircraft research, helped conspiracy theorists imagine an installation filled with time-travel experimentation, UFO coverups and alien autopsies

9. Sphinx of Giza , Egypt

Another Egyptian wonder, the Sphinx of Giza has the body of a lion and the head of a Pharaoh, believed by most to be that of king Khafre. It was carved from soft limestone, and has been slowly falling apart over the years. A popular theory of the missing nose claims Napoleon’s soldiers shot it off with a cannon in 1798, but early sketches discovered of the Sphinx without a nose predate Napoleon’s rampage.

9. Sphinx of Giza , Egypt

Another Egyptian wonder, the Sphinx of Giza has the body of a lion and the head of a Pharaoh, believed by most to be that of king Khafre. It was carved from soft limestone, and has been slowly falling apart over the years. A popular theory of the missing nose claims Napoleon’s soldiers shot it off with a cannon in 1798, but early sketches discovered of the Sphinx without a nose predate Napoleon’s rampage.

10. The Loch Ness Monster

According to Scottish folklore, a mystical creature called a water horse lures small children to a watery grave by tricking them to ride on its sticky back. The Loch Ness Monster became an English wonder in 1933, after witness accounts made newspaper headlines. No hard evidence of the creature has ever been recorded with several pictures, including the one above, being proven as hoaxes.

Five Unsolved Mysteries

1. The mighty Incan Empire of South America.

The mighty Incan Empire of South America flourished between 1200 and 1535 AD. They developed drainage systems and canals to expand their crops, and built stone cities atop steep mountains — such as Machu Picchu (above) — without ever inventing the wheel. Despite their vast achievements, the Incan Empire with its 40,000 manned army was no match for 180 Spanish conquistadors armed with advanced weapons and smallpox.

2.Ancient Pyramids in Giza , Egypt

Khafre (l.) and Khufu (r.) are two of the three ancient Pyramids in Giza , Egypt . Khufu is the biggest, consisting of more than 2 million stones with some weighing 9 tons. The Pyramids, built as elaborate tombs for divine kings, date back to 2,550 BC. Modern Egyptologists believe that the Pyramids are made from stones dragged from quarries and, despite ancient Greek testimony, were built predominantly by skilled craftsmen rather than slave labor.

3. The Mayan Temple

According to the Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar, made famous by the ancient Mayan people, December 2012 marks the ending of the current baktun cycle. This little bit of information has many archeologists spooked. Some believe the Mayans were warning of a coming apocalypse, while others insist it’s simply a mathematical misconception.

4. The Legend of El Dorado.

The Legend of El Dorado originates from the Muisca, who lived in the modern country of Colombia from 1000 to 1538 AD. In a ritual ceremony for their goddess, the tribal chief would cover himself in gold dust and jump into a lake as an offering. This spawned the legend of a lost golden city, which led Spanish conquistadors on a wild goose chase to nowhere.

5. Easter Island

Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, is remotely located 2,000 miles off the coast of Tahiti . The original settlers of the island were Polynesians who migrated to the far-off land between 400 and 600 BC. They built many shrines and statues, called moai, from stones quarried throughout the island including a volcano site. Researchers still question exactly how the large stones were moved.

Significance of Akshaya Tritiya

Significance of Akshaya Tritiya

Every moment is auspicious on the Akshaya Tritiya day, which falls on the third day of the bright half of Hindu month Vaishakh. ‘Akshaya’ in Sanskrit means ‘that which never diminishes.’ It is also the birthday of Parashurama, Lord Vishnu’s Sixth incarnation. Today, Akshaya Tritiya has become the ‘Hindu gold rush’ day.

Astrologically, it is believed that the sun and the moon are most radiant and best placed on the Askhaya Tritiya day. Many devout Hindus choose the day to conduct auspicious functions. There is no need to select a ‘muhurat’ on this day as the entire day is devoid of malefic influences. Large number of marriages and several new beginnings take place on the day.

There are numerous legends associated with Akshaya Tritiya. According to the Puranas, the day marks the beginning to Treta Yuga. On this day, Veda Vyasa began the composition of the Mahabharata. Another myth is that Kuchela visited Lord Krishna on this day.

In the Mahabharata, the Pandavas received the Akshaya Pathram (bowl) from Lord Krishna on this day. The Akshaya Pathram provided unlimited food for the Pandavas during their exile. Due to this reason, people believe that anything that is acquired on this day will be replenished. Therefore people conduct special puja for Goddess Lakshmi and buy new gold and silver ornaments and invest money in shares and real estate.

Nowadays, the media managers of various jewelry houses create hype around Akshaya Tritiya day. Due to this jewelry shops witness heavy rush. To add to the gold craze, many banks bring out special gold coins for the occasion.

Every moment is auspicious on the Akshaya Tritiya day, which falls on the third day of the bright half of Hindu month Vaishakh. ‘Akshaya’ in Sanskrit means ‘that which never diminishes.’ It is also the birthday of Parashurama, Lord Vishnu’s Sixth incarnation. Today, Akshaya Tritiya has become the ‘Hindu gold rush’ day.

Akshaya Trithiya was on 6 May 2011.

Yankee.

Yan·kee   /ˈyæŋki/

[yang-kee]

–noun

1. a native or inhabitant of the United States.

2. a native or inhabitant of New England.

3. a native or inhabitant of a northern U.S. state, especially of one of the northeastern states that sided with the Union in the American civil war.

4. a federal or northern soldier in the American Civil War.

5. a word used in communications to represent the letter Y.

6. Military . the NATO name for a class of Soviet ballistic missile submarine, nuclear powered, with up to 16 missile launchers.

Adjective

7. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a Yankee or Yankees: Yankee ingenuity.

Origin:

1750–60, Americanism ; perhaps back formation from Dutch Jan Kees. John Cheese, nickname (mistaken for plural) applied by the Dutch of colonial New York to English settlers in Connecticut Dictionary.com

Why do we use only red, blue and green colours in 3D glasses?..from the Hindu

Why do we use only red, blue and green colours in 3D glasses?


Presence of any object or image on a screen is perceived by the brain from the light reflected by it and received by the eye as stimuli in the human visual (neural) system. The human visual system basically splits the reflected light in to three components corresponding to blue, green and red regions of the visible spectrum.

Also it is possible to produce any colour just by mixing/ controlling the relative intensities of these three colors. Hence these three colours are called primary colours and are quantified in terms of tri-stimulus values.

In order to generate an illusion or impression of real space (both area and depth) of an object or image in a two dimensional projection, three dimensional (3D) glasses are used which is accomplished with the principle of binocular vision.

That is the two eyes of the human visual system placed apart ( about 5 cms ) perceive the object/image from different positions and angles in turn causing response or stimuli as two different images of the same object in the neural- visual system of the brain.

Binocular vision in our brain uses the difference to calculate distance/depth and has the ability to correlate the images it sees in its two eyes even though they are slightly different. In the binocular system, the same scene is projected simultaneously from two different angles in two different colors usually red and cyan (or blue or green). In order to see things in 3D each eye must see a slightly different picture.

The brain then puts the two pictures together to form one 3D image that has depth eventually generating a three dimensional impression. 3D glasses make use any two of these primary colors ( blue, green and red) one for each eye as the intensity of the third colour can be inferred from difference between total light and the sum of intensities of these two colours to get the complete information on colour of the object or image to be seen through the 3D glass.

All about Adhesives

An adhesive, or glue, is a mixture in a liquid or semi-liquid state that adheres or bonds items together. Adhesives may come from either natural or synthetic sources. The types of materials that can be bonded are vast but they are especially useful for bonding thin materials. Adhesives cure (harden) by either evaporating a solvent or by chemical reactions that occur between two or more constituents.

Adhesives are advantageous for joining thin or dissimilar materials, minimizing weight, and when a vibration dampening joint is needed. A disadvantage to adhesives is that they do not form an instantaneous joint, unlike most other joining processes, because the adhesive needs time to cure.

The earliest known date for a simple glue is 200,000 BC and for a compound glue 70,000 BC.

NATURAL ADHESIVES

Natural adhesivesNatural adhesives are made from organic sources such as vegetable matter, starch (dextrin), natural resins or from animals e.g. casein or animal glue. They are often referred to as bioadhesives. One example is a simple paste made by cooking flour in water. Animal glues are traditionally used in bookbinding, wood joining, and many other areas but now are largely replaced by synthetic glues. Casein are mainly used in glass bottle labelling. Starch based adhesives are used in corrugated board production and paper sack production, paper tube winding, wall paper adhesives. Another form of natural adhesive is blood albumen (made from protein component of blood), which is used in the plywood industry. Animal glue remains the preferred glue of the luthier. Casein based glues are made by precipitating casein from milk protein using the acetic acid from vinegar. This forms curds, which are neutralized with a base, such as sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), to cause them to unclump and become a thicker plastic-like substance.

SYNTHETIC ADHESIVES.

Synthetic adhesivesSynthetic adhesives are based on elastomers, thermoplastics, emulsions, and thermosets. Examples of thermosetting adhesives are: epoxy, polyurethane, cyanoacrylate and acrylic polymers. See also post-it notes.

Mechanisms of adhesion:Adhesion, the attachment between adhesive and substrate may occur either by mechanical means, in which the adhesive works its way into small pores of the substrate, or by one of several chemical mechanisms. The strength of adhesion depends on many factors, including the means by which it occurs.

In some cases, an actual chemical bond occurs between adhesive and substrate. In others, electrostatic forces, as in static electricity, hold the substances together. A third mechanism involves the van der Waals forces that develop between molecules. A fourth means involves the moisture-aided diffusion of the glue into the substrate, followed by hardening.

Glue sticks are solid adhesives in twist or push-up tubes. The user can apply glue by holding the open tube, thus keeping their fingers clean. Because of their ease of use, and their economic value, glue sticks are a popular school and office supply.

A Post-it note is a piece of stationery with a re-adherable strip of adhesive on the back, designed for temporarily attaching notes to documents and other surfaces. Although now available in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes, Post-it notes are most commonly a 3-inch (76 mm) square, canary yellow in color. A unique low-tack adhesive allows the notes to be easily attached and removed without leaving marks or residue, unless used on white boards.

Left and Right in politics

LEFT AND RIGHT IN POLTICS.
In politics, the portion of the political spectrum associated in general with egalitarianism and popular or state control of the major institutions of political and economic life. The term dates from the 1790s, when in the French revolutionary parliament the socialist representatives sat to the presiding officer's left. Leftists tend to be hostile to the interests of traditional elites, including the wealthy and members of the aristocracy, and to favour the interests of the working class (see proletariat). They tend to regard social welfare as the most important goal of government. Socialism is the standard leftist ideology in most countries of the world; communism is a more radical leftist ideology.

left wing

The liberal or radical faction of a political group, as in Many consider him a leader of the Democratic Party's left wing. This expression originated in the seating practice of European legislatures, whereby those holding liberal views were assigned to the left side of the house. [First half of 1800s]

right wingn.

A former political party founded in 1948 by Southern Democrats to consolidate opposition to civil rights policies of the regular Democratic Party.

Civil Rights

 

Some records in cricket

Viv's slow start, and Ryan's awesome averageAlso, a first-class baby, Tendulkar's nineties, Murali's ducks, and a triple in the second innings.

May 3, 2011

 

Muttiah Muralitharan: the world record-holder for most ducks

 

Hammad Azam of Pakistan played his first ODI as an allrounder in the West Indies last week, but didn't contribute with bat or ball. How many people have done nothing in their first one-day international? asked Khurram Malik from Pakistan

Hammad Azam, who had a quiet debut for Pakistan in St Lucia last week, is far from unique. A total of 71 players - many of them wicketkeepers - neither batted nor bowled in their first one-day international, although 26 of them did take at least one catch, including Mohammad Salman, who made his debut in the same match as Azam. The most famous name on the list is the first man to suffer this fate: Viv Richards neither batted nor bowled - and didn't take a catch either - as West Indies beat Sri Lanka by nine wickets at Old Trafford in the first World Cup in 1975.

 

After 32 innings in 33 one-day internationals, Ryan ten Doeschate of Netherlands has a batting average of 67.00. Has anyone had a better average than this at that point in their career? asked Chris Laughton from Colchester

Excellent as Ryan ten Doeschate's one-day batting average is, he has to give best to Australia's Mike Hussey, who averaged 84.33 after 32 ODI innings. He holds the record for the best average from the 11th innings to his 72nd (55.98), at which point Michael Bevan takes over until the 196th innings (53.58). After that Jacques Kallis is on top until the 300th innings (45.45), being briefly supplanted for 228 innings by Sourav Ganguly (43.30). From innings 301 onwards it's Sachin Tendulkar all the way: he currently averages 45.16 after 442 visits to the crease. As a matter of interest, ten Doeschate's Netherlands team-mate Tom Cooper had the best average of anyone after two ODI innings - 167.00.

 

Is it true that Barney Gibson of Yorkshire is the youngest player ever to appear in English first-class cricket? asked Mick Simpson from Bradford

Yes, Barney Gibson from Pudsey was only 27 days past his 15th birthday when he played for Yorkshire against Durham MCCU in Durham last week. He settled any nerves by taking a catch in the tenth over, and held on to another one later on. Gibson became, by more than three months, the youngest player known to have appeared in first-class cricket in England, beating a record from 1867, when the appropriately named Charles Young played for Hampshire against Kent when 15 years 131 days old. Just six other Englishmen are known to have played a first-class match before turning 16, among them WG Grace's brother GF (Fred), in 1866. Only one - Roy Gabe-Jones of Glamorgan in 1922 - was in the 20th century.

Sachin Tendulkar has reached the nineties a record 26 times in international cricket without reaching a hundred. But which player has been stranded in the nineties most often without ever making a hundred? asked Keith D'Souza from Nigeria

You're right, Sachin Tendulkar has been stranded in the nineties on 26 occasions in all international cricket, in addition to his 99 centuries. He is way ahead on this list, with Rahul Dravid next on 14, one ahead of Jacques Kallis. As for the second part of your question, there are 13 men who have scored two nineties in internationals without ever managing a century (some are current players who may yet get off this list). Arguably pride of place should go to the West Indian Deryck Murray, who was twice out in the nineties in Tests, and also made 95 for the Rest of the World in one of the "Tests" later deemed unofficial in England in 1970. The others with two international nineties but no hundreds are the Australians Tommy Andrews, Alec Bannerman and Shane Warne, Geoff Miller of England (two 98s in Tests, one not out, both of them made before he'd even scored a first-class hundred), India's Chetan Chauhan, the Pakistanis Asim Kamal (both in Tests, including 99 on debut) and Azhar Ali, Adam Bacher of South Africa, Thilina Kandamby (both in ODIs, and both not out) and Chamara Kapugedera of Sri Lanka, another West Indian in Derek Sealy, and Zimbabwe's Andy Blignaut.

Has anyone ever scored a triple-century in the second innings of a Test? asked David Pelham from London

The only man to do this is Hanif Mohammad, who made 337 in the second innings to stave off defeat after Pakistan followed on 473 runs behind against West Indies in Bridgetown in 1957-58. Someone who came agonisingly close was Martin Crowe, who made 299 in New Zealand's second innings against Sri Lanka in Wellington in 1990-91. There have been only 28 scores of 200 or more in the second innings in all Tests, with Don Bradman, Sunil Gavaskar and Gordon Greenidge making two apiece. Only five of those double-centuries came in the fourth innings of the Test: George Headley's 223 for West Indies against England in Kingston in 1929-30 remains the highest.

Muttiah Muralitharan recently retired from international cricket having bagged 59 ducks all told. Has anyone made more? asked Jude Franco from India

Muttiah Muralitharan's haul of 59 ducks in all forms of international cricket - 33 in Tests, 25 in ODIs and one in a Twenty20 international - is indeed a record. Courtney Walsh, the leader in Tests alone with 43 zeroes, had 11 in one-day internationals as well, to make a combined total of 54. The name of the only other man with more than 50 international ducks is something of a surprise: Sanath Jayasuriya bagged 15 in Tests, 34 in ODIs and four in Twenty20 internationals. Glenn McGrath retired with 49 international ducks to his name.

Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket. If you want to ask Steven a question, use our feedback form. The most interesting questions will be answered here each week. Ask Steven is also now on Facebook