Art – Page 58 – Take off with Natarajan

Message for the Day..” Need for Rigorous Practice of Right conduct in one’s life …”

January 28, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

If you are careless about the discipline of truth, every duty laid on you by dharma and every action prompted by dharma will hang heavy as a burden. Hence, you must search for the reality behind all these phenomena in your daily living, and that search will make all your duties, which are dharmic actions, light and pleasant. The Lord has designed people such that they are inclined towards God and are delighted at the expansion of their vision, and are happy when they are moral and virtuous. So, people must serve their own best interests by adhering to their basic nature, by concentrating on the Divine (Brahman), by assiduously cultivating truth, and by rigorously practicing right conduct (dharma).

Sathya Sai Baba

Neft Dasları: A City Built On Oil Platforms…!!!

January 28, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Far out into the Caspian Sea, a hundred kilometers away from the Azerbaijani capital Baku, lies one of the most incredible settlements in the world. A fully functional city of 3,000 living in a network of oil platforms and artificial islands connected by 300 km of trestle bridges. This is Neft Daslari, also known as Oil Rocks, and it lies fully within the world’s largest lake at an incredible distance of 55 km from the lake’s shore.

Azerbaijan has been famed for its rich oil resources since ancient times. There is evidence of oil drilling and actual trade in petroleum as early as the 3rd and 4th centuries. Historical accounts of the area’s oil and natural gas seepage can be found in old Arabic and Persian manuscripts, as well as in the writings of famous travellers such as Marco Polo. The Persians called the area the “Land of Fire”.

Photo credit: geozet.ru

Modern drilling began in 1870 after Russia conquered the territory. By the start of the First World War, Azerbaijan’s oil wells were already supplying 175 million barrels of crude oil a year, or 75 percent of the country’s entire oil production. After the war, while exploring for oil in the Caspian Sea, Soviet engineers struck top-quality oil at a depth of 1,100 meters below the seabed. Shortly thereafter, the world’s first offshore oil platform was built at the spot, and Neft Daslari was born.

The original foundation of Neft Daslari consisted of seven sunken ships including the world’s first oil tanker. Over the decades this grew to some 2,000 drilling platforms spread in a 30-kilometer circle, joined by a network of bridge viaducts spanning 300 kilometers. Over these platforms, workers built eight-story apartment blocks, a beverage factory, soccer pitch, library, bakery, laundry, 300-seat cinema, bathhouse, vegetable garden and even a tree-lined park for which the soil was brought from the mainland. During its heydays, some 5,000 workers lived here.

Neft Daslari’s decline began with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the discovery of new oilfields elsewhere. The workforce was reduced and many oil rigs were abandoned. Neglect and lack of maintenance caused many of them to collapse into the sea. Others are in the process of crumbling. Out of the 300 kilometers of roads, only 45 kilometers remain usable, and even they have fallen into disrepair. To the government, however, the place is still the proud, closely-guarded secret it was in Soviet times. It is still very hard for foreigners to gain access to the city. You can’t even zoom into it on Google Maps.

Photo credit: IPAAT/Panoramio

Photo credit: infoglaz.ru

Photo credit: IPAAT/Panoramio

Photo credit: geozet.ru

Sources: Spiegel / Wikipedia

Source……www.amusingplanet.com

Natarajan

Images of the Day…Animals on safari !!!

January 27, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Africa promises one of the best safari experiences in the world, enabling you to see the five big wild animal groups: the lion, the leopard, the elephant, the rhino and the buffalo. Capturing a good photo of these beautiful animals is not always easy, and very often, it comes down to being at the right place at the right time. But, the pictures below are pretty incredible. So, get ready to enjoy some animal watching with this great photo series!

Male lion ignoring a group of Thomson’s Gazelles.

safari animals

‘One day I’ll be tall like mommy’.

safari animals

Young male leopard watching the setting sun.

safari animals

Black-face Vervet monkeys as seen on safari in Tanzania

safari animals

The ‘painted wolf’, also known as the African wild dog, is Africa’s most endangered predator.

safari animals

Two male lions relaxing in the sun.

safari animals

Elephants playing in the red soil. Taken at Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi National Park in Kenya, Africa.

safari animals

A male lion getting some sun at the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Africa. This may be the best wildlife reserve in all of Africa, renowned for the variety and number of animals living in it, both predator and prey.

safari animals

A beautiful shot of two elephants at the Kruger National Park, another of Africa’s large game reserves, which covers 18,989 square kilometers (7,332 square miles), and is 360 kilometers (220 miles) long.

safari animals

Another resident of Kruger National Park slowing down traffic for a while.

Source………www.ba-bamail.com

natarajan

joke of the day…..” Dear Dad…” !!!

January 27, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

A father passing by his son’s bedroom was astonished to see the bed was nicely made and everything was picked up. Then, he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow. It was addressed, ‘Dad’. With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope and read the letter with trembling hands:

“Dear Dad,

It is with great regret and sorrow that I’m writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend, because I wanted to avoid a scene with you and mom.

I’ve found real passion with Stacy. She is so nice, but I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercing’s, tattoos, her tight motorcycle clothes, and because she is so much older than I am.

But it’s not only the passion, Dad. She’s pregnant. Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods, and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children.

Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn’t really hurt anyone. We’ll be growing it for ourselves and trading it with the other people in the commune for all the cocaine and ecstasy we want.

In the meantime, we’ll pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so that Stacy can get better. She sure deserves it!

Don’t worry Dad, I’m 15 and I know how to take care of myself. Someday, I’m sure we’ll be back to visit so you can get to know your many grandchildren.

With love,

your son, Joshua.

P.S . Dad, none of the above is true. I’m over at Jason’s house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the school report that’s on the kitchen table. Call when it is safe for me to come home!”

source……www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

The Circular Laguna Garzon Bridge in Uruguay……

January 27, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

When building bridges, engineers and architects don’t always look for the shortest possible crossing. The new ring-shaped bridge across Laguna Garzon in Uruguay’s southern coast is such an example.

The concrete structure consist of two semi-circular bridges, joined at either end to create a ring, and was built to replace a raft crossing between the cities of Rocha and Maldonado. On the bridge’s unusual circular design, its architect Rafael Viñoly has a perfectly logical and functional explanation: the curved design will force drivers to slow down the speed of their cars while also prove an opportunity to enjoy the panoramic views of this amazing landscape. The bridge also has a pair of pedestrian walkways.

Before the bridge was built, the raft crossing allowed only two cars to cross at a time. The raft operated only at certain times of the day, and during windy or stormy days it remained closed. The poor connection has kept the region of Rocha away from further developments compared to what Maldonado has been experiencing in the last decades.

The new bridge will allow some 1,000 vehicles to cross the lagoon, and is expected to help drive the development of Rocha’s coastline.

via Dezeen

Source…….www.amusingplanet.com

Natarajan

Message for the Day……..”What is being always with God …” ?

January 27, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Worship with deep-rooted consciousness on the Divine, purity of feeling, and being free from all extraneous thought, becomes itself mental union with the Divine (bhava-samadhi). As a result of this mental union, the Lord appears before the inner eye of the devotee in the form that they have chosen for worship. The vision is not merely a matter of imagination; it is a ‘face-to-face’ experience. Without changing location, the devotee can abide in the presence of the Lord in the self-same place. This is called ‘being always with God (salokya-mukti)’. Besides being always with the Lord, the devotee realises all that they see as the glory of the Lord. The experience is referred to as ‘seeing always the glory of the Lord (samipya-mukti)’. Existing ever with the Lord, witnessing always the glory of the Lord, and becoming suffused with God-consciousness is merger in the divine form (sarupya-mukti). This is the final fruit of devotional scriptures.

This 81-Year-Old Has Walked over 5,70,000 Km to Spread Awareness Against Tobacco & Alcohol…

January 26, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

At an age when many people want to relax and lead a peaceful life, 81-year-old Bagicha Singh is on a unique mission. He has been walking since the last 23 years and has covered the length and breadth of India more than 21 times. His aim? To spread awareness against tobacco and alcohol consumption, child labour, corruption, and other such social issues.

He has covered over 5,70,000 km till now, and won’t stop as long as he has the strength to serve the nation.

Source: Facebook

A resident of Panipat, Bagicha Singh started his non-stop journey from Jammu to Kanyakumari on February 22, 1993. After his Class 12 exam, he told his parents that he will never get married because he wants to dedicate his life to the country. He carries a 90 kg backpack with two Indian flags waving on 18 feet long poles.

Throughout his journey, Bagicha Singh met many people including politicians and celebrities. And he has several interesting stories to share:

“On my way from Tezpur to Guwahati in Assam, I had to cross a forest… One has to carry dozens of bananas to cross the forest, as herds of elephants stop their human counterparts and don’t let them go unless they are given their ‘tax’. I carried six kilo bananas, and indulged the elephants. Not far ahead on this journey, I was surrounded by a group of Naga tribesmen…They demanded that I hand over all my belongings…That’s when the elephants came to my rescue! The biggest one among them ran towards the group. The men panicked and fled. The elephant then picked up my bag with its trunk and the whole herd walked with me. Once we reached the road, I was given my bag and the herd walked back in,” he told The Time of India in November 2015, when he was on a break in Hyderabad during his 22nd trip.

After waking up at 5:00 each morning, he walks till 12:00 noon, rests for an hour, and again walks till 7:00 pm. Freedom fighters like Subhash Chandra Bose, Chandra Shekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh inspire this octogenarian, who takes a new route in every trip.

Bagicha Singh hopes that the country’s youth will slowly understand the ill effects of tobacco and alcohol. Watch him talk about his journey here:

Source…..Tanaya singh in http://www.the better india .com

Natarajan

India’s Cultural Diversity and Military Strength on Display at Republic Day Parade….In Pictures …

January 26, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Hello, India. It’s our 67th Republic Day today. The celebrations took place as per protocol. The Prime Minister offered tributes at the Amar Jawan Jyoti and the parade commenced from the gates of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. French President Francois Hollande was the chief guest for this year’s parade. For the first time ever, there was also a French contingent taking part this year.

Here are the highlights of today’s parade:

All photos: Doordarshan

Source……..Meryl Garcia in http://www.thebetterindia.com

Natarajan

” This Is the Place Where All Indian National Flags Are Manufactured…”

January 26, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

The Indian flags seen fluttering atop the Red fort, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Supreme Court, other government buildings, and many such places – they are all manufactured in Hubballi. The Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha (KKGSS) is the country’s only national flag manufacturing unit and it is located in Bengeri village of Dharwad district.

KKGSS has been certified as the sole manufacturer and supplier of the Indian flag to the entire country, by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission.

The flags are made in conformation with the guidelines laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

KKGSS’ khadi manufacturing units are located in Bagalkot, from where the cloth is first sourced. It is then divided into three lots, dyed accordingly and cut into the required shapes. The chakra is printed on the white cloth and the three pieces are stitched together. The flags are then ironed and packed.

Find out all about the manufacturing unit here:

Making Indian flags is a difficult job because manufacturers have to follow strict guidelines. According to the Flag Code for India, there are nine different sizes in which the flag is made. The smallest one is 6×4 inches and the biggest one – hoisted on buildings and forts with high mast – is 21×14 feet. The guidelines include that the width and length of the flag should be in the ratio 2:3 and that the chakra should be printed on both sides.

The flag hoisted on Red Fort, Rashtrapathi Bhavan and medium-size government buildings is 12×8 feet.

The original video was published here.

Featured Image Credit: Flickr

Source…..Tanaya Singh in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

” This Republic Day I Pledge to Uphold My Fundamental Duties….Do You …? “

January 26, 2016NatarajanLeave a comment

Nishant Gambhir talks about the importance of fundamental duties.

As a student of law, I have been trained over the years to work around and for equality. Equality is the result of a balance which is attained by creating a system of force and counter force. This is exactly how modern civil and sovereign societies are designed to function. Equality, liberty and sovereignty are the guiding principles of a good state. The other essential feature of modern day society is the rights which are given to the people. However, to establish a counter force as well as balance the rights, there are duties.

Jurisprudence, the science and philosophy of justice, says that rights are what the state owes it’s people, but duty is what the people owe the state in return. It’s a plain and simple barter which maintains equilibrium and helps society progress.

However, over the years there seems to be a constant degeneration of the idea of duties, and now an imbalance has come in to the picture. People are getting more and more protective about their rights, primarily because they’re more aware (and a lot of people like us at Lex Do It are working hard to make people aware of their rights). However, they’re getting more and more ignorant about their duties.

Have a look at how well people know their duties:

A worrying trend, isn’t it? We urge you to be aware of your rights. In fact, come to us and we shall help you with them. However at the same time, don’t forget your duties, they’re equally important. With a lack of balance in the functioning of rights and duties, we as a nation will not reach where we’re destined to reach, where we deserve to reach.

Let’s pledge to do our bit for the nation and abide by the duties. Let us be Indians before individuals.

The Constitution of India in Article 51A enshrines 11 fundamental duties upon all citizens of India, namely:

To abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem
To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom
To uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India
To defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so
To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women
To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture
To protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures
To develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform
To safeguard public property and to abjure violence
To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.

Let’s work together to make India a better place.

Wishing you all a very happy Republic Day. Jai Hind!

Featured image: Flickr/Sean Ellis

Source……..www.the better india.com

Natarajan