The Great White Pelican, not usually seen in southern India has joined the list of waterfowl that have made the waterbody their feeding ground. The bird roost in the Great Rann of Kutch and fly to different wetlands in North India as a winter visitor.
The waterfowl population here that had hit a low of 1,056 crossed 75, 000 this year.
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest A.V. Joseph said that recently about 50 Great White Pelicans were sighted and photographed on the West Godavari side of the lake.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
French diva
Carla Bruni -Sarkozy made her debut on British television, performing a live song from her new album. The super-model- turned singer, who married Sarkozy in February appeared on BBC's Later with Jools Holland alongside Mettalica singing Tu es ma come, a love song that has provided controversy because of its references to cocaine.
She told the small studio audience that Tu es ma came, a song from her third album Comme si de rien n'etat (Simply) was about a love addition.... being addicted to someone in a toxic way'.
She told the small studio audience that Tu es ma came, a song from her third album Comme si de rien n'etat (Simply) was about a love addition.... being addicted to someone in a toxic way'.
ISRO having to contend with storm
In countdown mode to launch its prestigious Chandrayaan-I, the Indian Space Research Organisation seems to be more worried about the vagaries of nature than about scientific challenges as the Sriharikota coast is prone to cyclones towards October end.
The window fixed for the Chandrayaan launch falls in the third week with ISRO scientists expecting it to take place between October 22 and 25. That this coincides with the cyclone phase has put the ISRO in a launch -or-not to- launch situation.
ISRO is planning to launch the PSLV carrying Chandrayaan from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Center.
ISRO,s concern stems from a past incident when a major cyclone whacked Sriharikota two Octobers ago.
Will nature have the last word again?
The window fixed for the Chandrayaan launch falls in the third week with ISRO scientists expecting it to take place between October 22 and 25. That this coincides with the cyclone phase has put the ISRO in a launch -or-not to- launch situation.
ISRO is planning to launch the PSLV carrying Chandrayaan from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Center.
ISRO,s concern stems from a past incident when a major cyclone whacked Sriharikota two Octobers ago.
Will nature have the last word again?
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Discovery of a new planet
Scientists have snapped the first images of a planet outside our solar system that is orbiting a star very much like the sun.
University of Toronto scientists said they used the Gemini North telescope on Mama Kea in Hawaii to take direct pictures of the planet, which is about the size of Jupiter but with eight times the mass. It is also much hotter than Jupiter.
This planet and the star it seems to orbit are located in our Milky Way galaxy about 500 light years from Earth the scientists said.
Of all known extra-solar planets, this one is orbiting the farthest from its star. It is located roughly 11 times farther from its star than Neptune- the outermost planet in our solar system- is located from the sun, the scientists said.
University of Toronto scientists said they used the Gemini North telescope on Mama Kea in Hawaii to take direct pictures of the planet, which is about the size of Jupiter but with eight times the mass. It is also much hotter than Jupiter.
This planet and the star it seems to orbit are located in our Milky Way galaxy about 500 light years from Earth the scientists said.
Of all known extra-solar planets, this one is orbiting the farthest from its star. It is located roughly 11 times farther from its star than Neptune- the outermost planet in our solar system- is located from the sun, the scientists said.
"Bandh" for 2nd successive day.
The city came to a standstill as buses remained off the roads for the second day following a strike call by protesting Christains.
Things took a violent turn as Christains lashed back for vandalised prayer halls. Shops and other establishments pulled down their shutters and en eerie calm has descended over the city.
Cattle can be seen tripping over roads when on normal days, only vehicles passed.
Autorickshaws took the day off as well and the roads were empty. Private vehicles though could be spotted as car-owners went about their business through the day.
The city experienced violence in some areas. Total 'bandh' was observed for two days. It promises to continue for the third day.
Things took a violent turn as Christains lashed back for vandalised prayer halls. Shops and other establishments pulled down their shutters and en eerie calm has descended over the city.
Cattle can be seen tripping over roads when on normal days, only vehicles passed.
Autorickshaws took the day off as well and the roads were empty. Private vehicles though could be spotted as car-owners went about their business through the day.
The city experienced violence in some areas. Total 'bandh' was observed for two days. It promises to continue for the third day.
Monday, September 15, 2008
'Bandh' call in Mangalore
The 'unofficial' bandh call given by Christian organizations on Monday brought the city to a standstill after 11.a.m.
The situation is likely to be the same on Tuesday. Section 144, which was clamped in Mangalore taluk will now be extended for two more days. Schools and colleges will remain closed on Tuesday as a precautionary measure. From the looks of it, normal life too is paralysed due to the bandh call.
Though some buses plied in the morning, stone-pelting incidents caused private buses to withdraw services. Most business establishments in the city had to close, with no customers due to the halt in bus service. Passengers who came from outside had a torrid time as those were only a handful of autorickshaws plying in the city.
Police had beefed up security at most places, but it fell short after incidents of sporadic violence were reported from parts of the taluk. Most schools and colleges remained shut on Monday. Christain institutions as a mark of protest. Others due to non-availability of transport.
The situation is likely to be the same on Tuesday. Section 144, which was clamped in Mangalore taluk will now be extended for two more days. Schools and colleges will remain closed on Tuesday as a precautionary measure. From the looks of it, normal life too is paralysed due to the bandh call.
Though some buses plied in the morning, stone-pelting incidents caused private buses to withdraw services. Most business establishments in the city had to close, with no customers due to the halt in bus service. Passengers who came from outside had a torrid time as those were only a handful of autorickshaws plying in the city.
Police had beefed up security at most places, but it fell short after incidents of sporadic violence were reported from parts of the taluk. Most schools and colleges remained shut on Monday. Christain institutions as a mark of protest. Others due to non-availability of transport.
Adorning the head
From father to son, from son to grandson..... such is the tradition of 'peta'making that Paramesh, a descendant of "Peta' Devayya has specialised in.
Mr. Paramesh, who has learnt the art of making 54 different 'petas' from his father, also makes 'zari' petas for the scion Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodiyar and other royal family members. 'Our job is to make 150 petas for private Dasara celebrations.
Rachavara, Kattige Peta and Pagu are a few types of 'peta' made for the palace staff depending on the job they performed at the palace.
Inside information about the petas reveal:The size and shape of petas differ from people to people depending on their post and the work entrusted to them during the private Dasara celebrations' he says.
On all days of the Dasara celebrations, the traditional rituals are observed at the palace.
Mr. Paramesh, who has learnt the art of making 54 different 'petas' from his father, also makes 'zari' petas for the scion Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodiyar and other royal family members. 'Our job is to make 150 petas for private Dasara celebrations.
Rachavara, Kattige Peta and Pagu are a few types of 'peta' made for the palace staff depending on the job they performed at the palace.
Inside information about the petas reveal:The size and shape of petas differ from people to people depending on their post and the work entrusted to them during the private Dasara celebrations' he says.
On all days of the Dasara celebrations, the traditional rituals are observed at the palace.
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