On another note...

The city is still in terror over the past week's horrific events, but with the Mumbai people's confidence and courage they can overcome the trauma caused by the attacks. Hundreds of innocent people succumbed to the terrorist attacks and now the city is coming together and launching an anti-terror campaign with the hope of recovery. Not to mention the roles played by the brave Mumbai Police, NSG and ATS leaders who stepped forward risking their lives to save the people brought down the death toll within this limits.
The city had funerals everywhere and it was indeed a mournful weekend for the city. It was on this note that I happened to read the news about the inhumane and insensitive comments made by the Kerala Chief Minister towards the mourning family of the slain NSG commando Sandeep Unnikrishnan. It has been all over the news, his words literally translating to "If it had not been (Major) Sandeep’s house, not even a dog would have glanced that way." Such was the height of the callous nature shown by the CM, that made Sandeep's father turn him and the home minister away and asked them to leave his house.


Happened to see this video and thought of sharing.

The other side of the sunlight

Today's total Solar Eclipse has made most of the news headlines from the scientific perspective. Not that there was anything particular or rare about it, but its just that science has developed so much in terms of predicting and studying the solar eclipse that its accessible to more and more people around the globe. The northern hemisphere eclipse had its path starting from the Artic/ Canada, and then passing through Siberia, Mongolia and China. It had its partial eclipse path affecting India also.

Solar eclipse (aka Surya Grahanam in Sanskrit) has much relevance in Hindu Mythology. The story goes on as during the Palazhi Madanam or the churning of the milky ocean, Rahu disguised himself as God and awaited to drink the nectar. When Lord Vishnu approached Rahu, Surya and Chandra (Sun and Moon Gods respectively) identified him as the demon and warned Vishu who then severed the head of the demon. Since the nectar had already been consumed partially, the demon did not die, instead the head and the body emerged separately to form Rahu and Ketu, who take turns to take revenge on Surya and Chandra for their betrayal, and thus the Solar and Lunar Eclipse occur periodically.
Though science has overtaken myths, Hindus till date believe the story and engage themselves in prayer and holy deeds during the eclipse time after which they are supposed to take a bath, purify themselves and prepare fresh food and consume it. Since eclipse can be seen as a time when the sun or the moon is covered, it is believed inauspicious to do any activities, and hence they pray.

The picture shows thousands of devotees taking a dip in the river Yamuna, in Northern India after the eclipse. (photo courtesy- yahoo news)

Elsewhere: - In China people believed that Solar Eclipse occur when the sun was being devoured by a powerful dragon and hence they would beat drums to create loud noises or beat on the mirror to ward off the dragon. This year the occurrence of eclipse right before the Olympics this year on 08-08-08 was seen as a potential danger, but luckily feng shui experts and astrologers have predicted that there's no need to worry about it.
In Africa, ancient people had a similar belief where it was said that a snake which emerged from the ocean grew so large that it swallowed the sun, and later had to be scared off by beating on the drums.
The Japanese would cover their wells to prevent any poison from dripping on to it from the dark sun.
The Tahitians on the other hand believed that the sun and the moon were so much in love when they got to meet during the solar and the lunar eclipse, which is similar to the ancient Arctic America believers that the sun and the moon would leave their respective positions temporarily to check out the happenings of the universe.
The Egyptians depict the solar eclipse as the victory of light over darkness. Even though the beliefs might be relevant, similar or contradictory, this amazing phenomenon proving Einstein's Theory of Relativity was confirmed by Sir Arthur Eddington in 1919. Eclipse is also interesting to the scientists in studying the corona of the sun, and its surface during this time.
Wait, here's more... According to NASA, the next total eclipse will occur July 22, 2009, starting in India and moving across Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, China and over the Pacific Ocean.

A pot of gold

Just as the saying, there was indeed a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow, just that it was too big a pot, which we could live in- our home.
Observed last week, this is the beauty of Tampa; when it rains, it pours, and then later the sun tries to poke his nose through the water droplets giving rise to a beautiful rainbow like this one.

In line too early

Its here, the much talked about Apple 3G iPhone, launched @ 8am EST. Its in the headlines catching everybody's attention as many apple fans flock the store as early as possible to get to their fancy love- the new iPhone- Twice as Fast, Half the Price* - haha, yet another hidden asterisk, for the high price you pay just for the plan. I remember when it was launched a year back, it created so much news, and yet people were ready to pay a heavy price of close to $600 for the older iphone- wow!!!
Reported in CNN by a fan, "It's driving a Beamer as opposed to a Chevy". Thank God that this person didn't say, "as opposed to driving a Hummer" with America's increasing Gas Price. So when another person commented, "Steve Jobs knows what people want", is it Steve Jobs knowing what people want or is it Steve Jobs knowing how to make profit?
So while in Rome, live like a Roman applies to me as well, and here I'm off to the nearest Apple store, to catch a glimpse of this new cutie.

When thoughts took my time away

A long break from my blogspot, life was not that easy without it. Infact life has changed a lot over the past one year, coz its been almost a year since I've started working and it is not the same which used to be while I was in school. Not that I can blame "Time" as a cause for all this, its just that the lifestyle has changed, where I barely get time for my passions. I had mentioned in few of my blogs that nature watching, photography, reading, driving and adventurous hiking trips have been a passion for me. Of all these things, driving is not a passion anymore, or else why would I call something a passion, which takes my time, and ends up giving me tension and no relaxation.
Our trips have been continuing, but does not give the same feel of adventure and thrill to do it, rather it makes me feel, of another dreaded week ahead. Work has never caught me so busy that I failed to catch up on my personal life, but it definitely has taken some time off it. Oops !!!! I cant be a constant complainer, at this stage of life; life has just begun for me, giving me new challenges.
I have been away from this for almost 4 months, and am sure not many missed my absence, but this is something which my blog title says: - "Something to share" about my thoughts and feelings on happenings. OK looking at what all happened while I was away, there weren't many changes, just s things which caught my attention...

1. Gas Prices: Americans have always loved their cars especially big ones- SUVs, Trucks and Vans, but with the gas prices updating everyday, and getting over $4.00 a gallon, are Americans thinking of cutting their trips? At least I haven't seen a reduction in the travel and trips, with July 4th approaching, when the gas prices are predicted to be sky rocketing, doesn't seem like many changes in the driving/travel style has it? A CNN report says one in every three Americans say they'll drive closer to their home, within a 100 mile radius, since the gas is too pricey. When its time for inflation, there will always be every day new record prices for the oil per barrel; no complaints....
   
2. The Housing Market drop: While the gas prices reach the summit, there's the housing market which is hitting rock bottom prices, seeing an ever increasing concern over the fore closed home figures. News of people becoming homeless and having to give up their houses and jobs have almost been catching my attention lately, but has this changed? Its the same situation with the top states- Florida, Nevada, California except for the change in the declining figures.
3. Airlines rules: Oh here's something new, well the increase in oil prices directly influencing the air ticket prices, there are new baggage restrictions by many American Airlines, on the number and size of the baggage (yes the carry-on luggages are going to be screened for their size through special frames to check if they will fit the smaller overhead bins). So while that takes its time to come in effect, why not end up paying close to $50.00 for checked in luggages? Now thats a change.
4. Global Warming: When I say this, I might be the nth person talking about it in my blog, but since I decided to see what I missed to report in a few months, it caught in my attention today about the new "Green Cities". Now we are talking something innovative, by using clay, straw and slate as the building materials for small scale housing communities. Well, weren't those the same we used in primitive times, when construction wasn't so modern, and the times when concrete wasn't in vogue? This is an attempt to fight the global warming, by turning to more energy efficient and renewable forms of energy.
   
5. Some minor happenings: There was this big news about salmonella outbreak and the FDA is still fathoming the "root cause" of it, did it emerge from the fertilizer or from the plant itself? Looks like the answer hasn't been found yet, but life goes on the same without salsas, soups, salads, sauces which have tomatoes, or going for the pricey "FDA Approved" tomatoes, free of salmonella. Elsewhere news is either about the fatty nation, ever concerned about its citizen's increasing waist-line or its about fashion mags cover divas or about the iphone ( me being an ardent fan of fancy apple products, it does catch my attention for sure and here I am waiting for the new iph0ne 3G)

Coming to think about it, my absence from the blog world for a short time hasn't changed much in the world news scenario, just that few prices rising and few falling. I was just trying to find some "5 random things" happening around. After all, the world has to change slowly and steadily, for change is what is constant in life.

Leap with Joy

30 days have September, April, June and November,
All the rest have 31, except February Alone
And everytime when leap year comes
Thats when February has 29...
(guess thats how it goes)
That was the rhyme we used to sing to remember about the days of the year...
Hey just noticed today is leap day, or rather Feb 29 which is in a leap year. Why I am writing about this, and what's so special? Well, during the last leap year there wasnt any blogger.com and blogs introduced....
Did you know leap year is also called intercalary year; i.e. one containing extra days than the regular calendar year. Well, everybody does know the reason why it is so, and I dont have to go about explaining that...

The Super Week

Well, it started with the "Super"bowl on Sunday with the Giants beating the Patriots. Though am not a big fan of football, this is one event I like to catch up... just for the fun of spending time with my friends. We follow the American tradition of gathering at somebody's house, with the usual starters, appetizers and food: - wings, fries, soda, beer and pizza and our own Indian junk food like bhelpuri and bajji . The rest of the events include predicting the quarter scores, deviating from the football topics, catching up with friends and such. So the weekend ended with the giant superbowl win.
Today the super continues with "Super" Tuesday for the 24 states voting and candidates vouching for last minute "deals", well last minute appeals. I really am not sure why this has the super adjective tagged though (is it coz it follows superbowl... lol )
After this I was thinking what could be the next topic on the Super week... and while I was just browsing came across this... France today unveils The AGV (Automotrice Grande Vitesse) - a train which will travel at up to 360km/h (224mph) and can be compared to the world's largest airplane, the Airbus A380.
That was just an addition to the two big Supers happening in the US of A since I found a fancy to comment on the Superbowl and the Super Tuesday... Maybe there's more to come since the week has just begun...