Education

Image of the Day….

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Stairway to heaven

“I saw this stairway leading into the Milky Way and figured I would give it a try.”

Photo by Wesley Liikane, aka Cowboy with a Camera. Visit him on Facebook.

Wesley Liikane caught this shot on the last weekend in June, when he hosted a photography workshop at a very dark site, Algonquin Park in central Ontario, Canada. He wrote:

… at the second location I saw this stairway leading into the Milky Way and figured I would give it a try. I used multiple exposures, as I did not want to have light ruining the others night vision. One exposure was 155 seconds to let the natural light bring out the foreground while the other image was a 35-second exposure.

You can see the result here. Beautiful. Thank you, Wesley.

More photos by Wesley Liikane, aka Cowbody with a Camera

 

Source::::Earth Sky News

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Message For the Day…”Nothing Can be More Powerful Than Character …”

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It is often declared that knowledge is power. No! No! Character is power. Nothing can be more powerful on earth than character. Riches, scholarship, status, authority, etc. are all frail and flimsy before it. There is no dearth of books today; nor is there lack of gurus. Educational institutions spread knowledge everywhere. The Sun of Knowledge (Jnaana Bhaskara) is showering His rays in plenty to all alike. But, one can hardly find those who have imbibed the nectarous wisdom thus offered and are dwelling in the ecstasy it can confer. The mountain range with lust, anger, hatred, envy and pride as the peaks, shuts out the splendor of the Sun. Charity, compassion, fortitude, sympathy, and sacrifice, arise from the higher levels of consciousness while opposite tendencies breed in the lower levels. Remember, a strong virtuous character cannot be earned from any book; it is earned only through intimate involvement with society.

Sathya Sai Baba“

Image of the day… A Drone Flies Thro Fireworks !!!

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Jos Stiglingh captured this stunning video with a GoPro Hero 3 Silver, showing the view from a DJI Phantom 2 quadcopter flying in and above a fireworks display. He filmed it in West Palm Beach, Florida. Jos said:

Be sure to watch in HD!

Not everyone agrees flying a drone through fireworks is a good idea. Gregory S. McNeal said today (July 4, 2014) on Forbes that flying a drone through fireworks might land you in prison:

There’s no doubt that [Stiglingh’s] HD video is stunning. It’s also dangerous and likely unlawful (at least if it occurred in the United States). The flight is unsafe as the existence of the drone in the airspace above the fireworks display creates an increased risk of hazardous debris (from the fireworks or the drone) falling into spectator areas. There is also the possibility that a firework colliding with a drone may divert the pyrotechnic downward into spectator areas, causing it to detonate where it otherwise should not.

McNeal later adds that Steglingh’s drone might have been directed through a safety zone over the ocean, established by the coast guard.

Bottom line: Don’t try this at home! Jos Steglingh has captured a video of a drone flying through fireworks that many are viewing today. No wonder. It’s stunning.

 

 

Source:::: Earth Sky News

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Message For the Day…” Dedicate Yourself to the Progress Of Society and Your Country …”

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You must regard the prosperity and joy of others in the community as your own. Only then will India or any other country deserve prosperity and joy. Your happiness is bound up with the happiness of Society. Your physical, mental and intellectual strength and skills have to be dedicated, not merely to your own progress, but equally to the progress of Society. You must try to benefit yourself and the Society through such service. Use the strength, skills, and spirit of service for such work. A machine gets rested if it is not put to use; the human machine too gets rusted if it is not put to constant meaningful work. The pulse is not the correct indicator of your being alive; work and activity is the evidence and the value of real living. Your role is to translate your strength into activity along the path of duty.

Sathya Sai Baba

Stunning Aerial Photos of Brazil”s Soccer Fields …

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via The Creators Project

 

 

The community surrounding ‘The Beautiful Game’ is huge, and is a unifying force for countries all over the world. All that soccer requires is a ball, a couple goals, and some players—that’s part of what makes it so brilliant.

As many cities in the World Cup’s current home country are occupied by the most famous soccer players in the world, Brazilian photographer and journalist Renato Stockler’s photo essay Terrão de Cima captures the pure democratic essence and simplicity of the soccer fields ensconced in Sao Paulo neighborhoods.

Stockler says in the project’s description that the fields he photographs, “Are a breath for the hard daily life of those who live in the outskirts of Sao Paulo. These fields show the urgency for public and communal places to practice sports, a portrait of those who fight for leisure in a city as Sao Paulo.”

The reddish dirt and uneven patches of grass that make up most of the fields are a harsh contrast to the soft greens that soccer fans are accustomed to watching. All the same, Stockler says that when the hard day’s work is at an end, it’s easy to find tight knit communities of players, friends, and family gathered around the sparse field to blow off steam.

Terrão de Cima, which loosely translates to, “The Ground from Above,” is a love letter to the rugged fields of Stockler’s home, which are fast disappearing due to land speculation.

Aerial photography is the perfect medium for the task, since it shows the incredible variance in color, shape, and texture of local soccer fields, yet also captures the players as a single unit—a culture, rather than just a bunch of people. We’re still not sure we’d want to slide tackle anyone on these fields, but we’re more than ok with ogling them from above.

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via The Creators Project

 

 

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via The Creators Project

 

 

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via The Creators Project

 

 

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via The Creators Project

 

 

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via The Creators Project

 

 

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via The Creators Project

 

 

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via The Creators

Source:::: Business Insider .com

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Read more: http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/see-the-soccer-fields-of-brazilian-favelas-from-up-in-the-clouds#ixzz36RuRAOD2

Message For the Day…” Who Is God … ” ?

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What or who is God? When the answer to this question is sought, one discovers that God is the glory immanent in Nature. The earth rotates on its axis at a speed of thousand miles an hour. As a consequence, we have alternations of day and night, which helps us to live on this globe. Besides, it moves around the sun at the rate of 66,000 miles an hour, causing the seasons which bring rains for crops and vegetation which sustain human life. The earth does not profit in the least by these rotations but human beings survive, enjoy life and prosper on account of them. Nature must indeed be laughing at the sterile frenzies, the endless pursuits, and the countless miseries to which human beings submit themselves to, in their search for achieving the unachievable! You must search in Nature the sacred lessons it holds for you; then, you will understand how deep and how everlasting is the Truth that it conveys to you!

Sathya Sai Baba

Image Of the Day… Upside-Down Rainbow !!!

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upside-down rainbow. What is it?

Circumzenithal arc by Dudley Williams

Circumzenithal arc by Dudley Williams
Circumzenithal arcs have been described as an “upside down rainbow” or “a grin in the sky.” They’re wonderful! See photos here.

Duke Marsh caught this circumzenithal arc on October 3, 2012 from New Albany, Indiana. Thanks, Duke.

People who look up a lot may occasionally see the rainbow-like arcs depicted in the photos on this page. They’re called circumzenithal arcs, and they’re not really rainbows. Instead, they’re caused by ice crystals in the upper atmosphere. These arcs are related to the frequently seen halos around the sun or moon. Les Cowley of the great website Atmospheric Optics says of these graceful and colorful arcs:

The circumzenithal arc, CZA, is the most beautiful of all the halos. The first sighting is always a surprise, an ethereal rainbow fled from its watery origins and wrapped improbably about the zenith. It is often described as an “upside down rainbow” by first timers. Someone also charmingly likened it to “a grin in the sky”.

Look straight up near to the zenith when the sun if fairly low and especially if sundogs are visible. The centre of the bow always sunwards and red is on the outside.

Les says that the most ideal time to see a circumzenithal arc is when the sun is at a height of 22 degrees in the sky. Look here to see Les Cowley’s illustration of the various kinds of halo phenomena, related to circumzenithal arcs. And enjoy the photos below, contributed by EarthSky friends on Facebook. Thanks to all who contributed.

Dan Szulewski captured a circumzenithal arc from Hermiston, Oregon on June 22, 2014.

Julie Gurnhill caught this one on February 27, 2013.

John Gravell captured this circumzenithal arc from Boston on October 17, 2012.

Rene Pennings captured this circumzenithal arc on May 21, 2012.

A lovely circumzenithal arc amidst high clouds by Dudley Williams on December 18, 2011.

Andrew R. Brown saw a jet pass in front of a circumzenithal arc, from Ashford Kent in the UK, on November 19, 2010.

Here's that same circumzenithal arc from Andrew R. Brown again, minus the jet!

Bottom line: When you see an upside-down rainbow in the sky, you are likely seeing a circumzenithal arc. It’s related the halos often seen around the sun or moon, caused by ice crystal in the upper atmosphere. The photos here are by EarthSky friends on Facebook. Thanks to all who contributed!

Gallery: Rainbows around the world

Source::::: Deborah Byrd In Earth sky news site

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Message For the Day…” Good Conduct Must be the Main Key to Your Life … “

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Lord Krishna declares in the Bhagavad Gita, “There is nothing in the three worlds that I am obliged to do, nothing unaccomplished that I have to accomplish, but I am still engaged in activity (karma)”. Lord Krishna says this, for, if God is inactive, the Cosmos will come to a grinding halt. You too, must take the lead and follow it. Translate your strength into activity along the path of duty. The young follow the lead of elders. So elders must consistently hold on to ideals and work towards their realization so that the entire universe can attain prosperity and peace. Mother Earth teaches her children this lesson of service and sacrifice. Good conduct must be the main key to the life of every being. Remember, it is the ‘way of living,’ the path of virtue, that keeps you in the memory of people long after death.

Sathya Sai Baba

Simple Story With a Strong Message… Gold Coins !!!

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AKBAR’S GOLD COINS

This Akbar – Birbal story is just one of the many stories, which are an integral part of rich Indian heritage.

The wisdom of Birbal was unparalleled during the reign of Emperor Akbar. But Akbar’s brother in law was extremely jealous of him. He asked the Emperor to dispense with Birbal’s services and appoint him in his place. He gave ample assurance that he would prove to be more efficient and capable than Birbal. Before Akbar could take a decision on this matter, this news reached Birbal.

Birbal resigned and left. Akbar’s brother in law was made the minister in place of Birbal. Akbar decided to test the new minister. He gave three hundred gold coins to him and said, “Spend these gold coins such that, I get a hundred gold coins here in this life; a hundred gold coins in the other world and another hundred gold coins neither here nor there.”

The minister found the entire situation to be a maze of confusion and hopelessness. He spent sleepless nights worrying over how he would get himself out of this mess. Thinking in circles was making him go crazy. Eventually, on the advice of his wife he sought Birbal’s help. Birbal said, “Just give me the gold cons. I shall handle the rest.”

Birbal walked the streets of the city holding the bag of gold coins in his hand. He noticed a rich merchant celebrating his son’s wedding. Birbal gave a hundred gold coins to him and bowed courteously saying, “The Emperor Akbar sends you his good wishes and blessings for the wedding of your son. Please accept the gift he has sent.” The merchant felt honoured that the king had sent a special messenger with such a precious gift. He honoured Birbal and gave him a large number of expensive gifts and a bag of gold coins as a return gift for the king.

Next, Birbal went to the area of the city were the poor people lived. There he bought food and clothing in exchange for a hundred gold coins and distributed them in the name of the Emperor.

When he came back to town he organized a concert of music and dance. He spent a hundred gold coins on it.

The next day Birbal entered Akbar’s darbar and announced that he had done all that the king had asked his brother-in-law to do. The Emperor waited to know how he had done it. Birbal repeated the sequences of all the events and then said, “The money I gave to the merchant for the wedding of his son – you have got back while on this earth. The money I spent on buying food and clothing for the poor – you will get it in the other world. The money I spent on the musical concert – you will get neither here nor there.”

The Moral:-

This is true even today.

The money you spend on friends is returned or reciprocated in some form or the other.
Money spent on charity gets converted into blessings from God which becomes your eternal property.
Money spent on pleasures is just frittered away!

So when you spend money, think a little, if not a lot!

Source::::unknown… Input From a Friend of mine

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