Interesting read – Page 504 – Take off with Natarajan

Why do Finnish Babies Sleep in Cardboard Boxes? !!!!!!!!

June 23, 2013June 23, 2013Natarajan1 Comment

Expecting parents are always excited, but can often get stressed out preparing for their upcoming new arrival. The Finnish government has an answer for its citizens, sending every new family a maternity package to help them ease into their new role.
The colorful box doubles as a crib, and contains a wide selection of baby clothes including a snowsuit, hats, socks, mittens, bodysuits, rompers, leggings and shirts.
Considering the freezing temperatures in Finland’s winters, there’s a stack of blankets thrown in there too, along with some childcare products and a bib.
The box has been a rite of passage for new parents since its inception in the 1930s, when it contained fabric for mothers to sew into clothes. Since then it has gone through a number of changes, from cloth to plastic diapers and back again, and the inclusion and subsequent exclusion of pacifiers.
Other perks in the box include a rattle and a colorful, illustrated book – a boost of encouragement for parents to teach their children to read.
The initiative aims to give all Finnish kids a fair and equal start in life, by providing them with the most essential needs: for body, mind and soul.!!!!

source:::::The Independent UK

natarajan

Why Plaster of Paris Called So ? !!!

June 23, 2013NatarajanLeave a comment

Why is the plaster of Paris called so?

Plaster is the common name for calcium sulphate hemi hydrate made by heating the mineral gypsum, the common name for sulphate of lime. Plaster was first made about 9000 years ago, and has been used by ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations. However, it wasn’t used on a large scale until 1700s, when it was required to be used in all construction in Paris. In 1666, a fire raged across London, destroying many parts of it. In its aftermath, the king of France ordered that all walls made of wood in Paris be immediately covered with plaster, as a protection against such fires. This resulted in large-scale mining of gypsum which was available around Paris in huge quantities. Thus, during the early 18th century, Paris became the centre of plaster production, and hence the name, plaster of Paris.

source::::unknown….input from a mail contact….

Natarajan

Message For The Day….Humility In Behaviour and Practice counts a Lot ….

June 23, 2013NatarajanLeave a comment

The gods once imagined that they were able to get victory over the demons because of their own prowess. When they were celebrating the victory, a deity appeared before them and cast a blade of grass on the ground. It asked Agni (God of fire) to burn it; but he could not. It challenged Vayu (God of Air) to lift it, but he could not. It provoked Varuna (God of Water) to wet it, but, in spite of his best efforts, he could not. Then when their pride had been pricked, the deity taught them the Brahma Vidya (science of Brahman), which reveals the inner source of all strength. This is no ordinary story; Agni is the presiding deity of vaak (speech) and so it tells us that speech has to be humble, that it derives its power only from the basic Universal Principle. Vaayu is prana (the vital air). Humility in behaviour and practice are all that count, especially in Sadhana.

Sathya Sai Baba

Wimbledon……A Flashback !!!!

June 22, 2013NatarajanLeave a comment

They are the kind of outfits neither Maria Sharapova nor Serena Williams would be seen dead in.

But the 1922 Wimbledon Women’s Singles final between Suzanne Lenglen and Molla Mallory was altogether more modest affair by the looks of it.

The French player Lenglen even turned up wearing a fur coat. It must have brought her some good luck – she went on to win 6-2, 6-0.

The image is part of a collection of rare and unseen photographs from the early days of the world’s most famous tennis tournament.
Smash hit: The finalists Suzanne Lenglen of France (right) and Molla Mallory of the USA (left) line up before the big match

Smash hit: The finalists Suzanne Lenglen of France (right) and Molla Mallory of the USA (left) line up before the big match

In action: French player Suzanne Lenglen went on to win the Women's Singles final in 1922. Outfits in the ladies' game have got somewhat racier since then

In action: French player Suzanne Lenglen went on to win the Women’s Singles final in 1922. Outfits in the ladies’ game have got somewhat racier since then

Entertaining: Suzanne Lenglen shows the players were just as athletic and competitive

Fair play: Australian tennis players Gerald Patterson and James Anderson hold up their mascots before their men's singles semi-final. Patterson went on to lose in the final

Fair play: Australian tennis players Gerald Patterson and James Anderson hold up their mascots before their men’s singles semi-final. Patterson went on to win the title

Rain stops play: In the days before Centre Court's retractable roof, fans had to wait patiently for clear skies to see their heroes

Rain stops play: In the days before Centre Court’s retractable roof, fans had to wait patiently for clear skies to see their heroes

Popular: The tournament drew huge numbers of fans who can be seen in their finest attire for a day out in SW19

Landmark: 1922 was the first year Wimbledon was held at its present Church Road location

Fast forward to 2013 and the outfits may have got a little racier, and the tennis a lot faster, but the inclement British weather still has the ability to play havoc with the tournament schedule.

Thankfully the forecast for this year’s tournament, which starts on Monday, looks positive with dry and sunny weather expected for much of the week.

Britain’s Andy Murray will be hoping to go one better after losing in last year’s final to Roger Federer.

And the World Number Two will be upbeat after winning Queen’s last week and a draw which means he will avoid Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals.
source:::::mailonline.com

Dazzling….Never Before Seen Images From the Archives of National Geographic !!!

June 22, 2013NatarajanLeave a comment

Dreamscape: A replica of the Mayflower sails into New York Harbor with a welcoming fleet, November 1957

National Geographic has earned a reputation as the epicenter of some of the world’s finest photojournalism, but few people known that the renowned magazine also has built up a vast collection of unpublished breathtaking images over the years.

To mark the magazine’s 125th birthday this year, its editors launched a Tumblr account to highlight some of the hidden gems that for one reason or another have been lingering in its photographic vaults.

The project aptly named ‘FOUND’ is NatGeo’s photostream, culled from its sprawling treasury of unpublished vintage prints.

Otherworldly beauty: Buckets of iron ore are transported to a major steelworks in Hunedoara, Romania, November 1975

Horsing around: This 1957 print of teenagers running and playing on large white sand dunes in New Mexico ended up in National Geographic's vast collection of unpublished photos

Horsing around: This 1957 print of teenagers running and playing on large white sand dunes in New Mexico ended up in National Geographic’s vast collection of unpublished photos

Among the previously unreleased photos are some true masterpieces, like the otherworldly sight of the Mayflower replica sailing into 1950s New York under the shadow of a zeppelin overhead, or the simple beauty of buckets of iron being transported to a steelworks in Romania in 1975 set against the dreamlike background of golden clouds fit for a Canaletto painting.

Other prints in the photographic backlog include a whimsical shot of women in 1960s London using compact mirrors to catch a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth II, and a print showing a group of teens horsing around on a sand dune in New Mexico back in the 50s.

The curator of the Tumblr account, young NatGeo designer Web Barr, explained that he chose this medium to release the once-forgotten images into the world in the hopes that a broad audience of people will be able to enjoy, appreciate and share them with others.

Barr compared the FOUND Tumblr to NatGeo’s Instagram account, which photographers working for the magazine use to upload pictures from the field.

To put the project together, Barr and a team of NatGeo staffers sifted through the magazine’s 11.5 million collection of prints, searching for unique, visually striking and slightly offbeat images that are in keeping with the magazine’s overall aesthetic.

Royal treatment: Women use compact mirrors in packed crowd to catch sight of Queen Elizabeth II in London, June 1966

Rustic: A man feeds donkey sulla flowers and foliage from its own load near Gangi, Sicily, Italy, January 1955

After spending decades collecting dust in the storage, many of the forgotten prints lack even the most basic information, so the team behind FOUND are hoping to harness the power of the masses to fill those gaps.

Tumblr users are encouraged to provide information on any of the images, and the staffers behind the photostream say they have already received a lot of feedback. In the future, they plan to feature the stories behind individual prints.
source:::::mailonline.com

Natarajan

Best Of National Geographic Photo Collection ….

June 22, 2013June 22, 2013Natarajan1 Comment

Lion’s leap, by guide Brendon Cremer. Photographed at Duba Plains, Okavango, Botswana.

Buffalo herd chases lion, by guide Carl Walker. Photographed at Zuka, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. A buffalo herd interrupted a mating pair of lions. The pride male took offense at this and attempted to charge the herd males. They were oblivious to his growling and paw-thumping and chased him off.

Knee-deep, by Dana Allen. If you are a Red Lechwe (Kobus leche) the flood waters of the Okavango are your friend. Not only do these antelope thrive on aquatic plant species but the knee-deep marshy water provides them with excellent protection from predators who are unable to match their speed and agility in this aquatic environment. (photosafari-africa.net)

Inquisitive chimp, by Andy Biggs. Photographed in the Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania. (andybiggs.com)

A new generation, by Brendon Cremer. “A new generation of African jacana feed along a water lilly bank on the Chobe River, Botswana.”

The Chase 3, by Frederick van Heerden. Photographed at Etosha National Park, Namibia. “I was confident the ewe had now lived her final day, but to my amazement she was gaining distance between herself and the lions. Through the water, she made an exit on the other side of the dam where the zebras were standing. She switched direction and ran straight towards the motionless crowd. The chasing lions were now heading straight for the herd! Like an erupting volcano they all jumped around and started galloping away from the danger. Hundreds of them…stripes everywhere…. this was excitement at its best!”

Elephant tussle, by Craig Young, photographed in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Giraffe herd, by guide Andy Biggs. Photographed in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. (andybiggs.com)

The art of camoflague, by guide James Suter. “These animals have the uncanny ability of disappearing right before your eyes.” Photographed at Singita, Kruger Park, South Africa. (singita.com/ jamessuter.com)

Wildebeest battle for dominance, by guide James Haskins. Photographed at Nxai Pan, Botswana. “Rutting males will protect territory and females from intruders. They will not typically engage in ritualized challenges when with the females, instead resorting to a run and head-butt.

Fever tree lioness, by guide James Kydd. “This lioness climbed the fallen tree to look for some of her pride that were missing. The incredible luminous fever tree forests of Lake Nakuru provide an ethereal backdrop for the wildlife in this part of Kenya.

Cheetah hunting, by Pia Derickx. Photographed in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. http://www.nature-photography.be

Ambush, by guide Lee Whittam. Photographed in the Sabi Sands, Kruger Park, South Africa. “This young male was ambushing his brother early one morning and put on a great show for us as we followed him.” (essentialafrica.co.za)

White lions of the Timbavati, by guide Chad Cocking. Photographed at Motswari, Kruger Park, South Africa. Seeing these white lions in the wild was a childhood dream come true, but sitting at a waterhole one afternoon waiting for them to come and drink, and then having them line-up so perfectly was more than I could ever have wished for! (motswari.com

Blue-eyed elephant, by guide Richard de Gouveia. Photographed at Sabi Sabi , Kruger Park, South Africa. There are few records of blue-eyed elephants. This seems to be an effect of partial albinism, where some residual pigmentation has remained. (sabisabi.com)

Leopard and winter dawn, by guide Jason Glanville. “Perched on a termite mount this young female leopard was scouting for prey at day-break.” (kirkmanskamp.com)

source::::national geographic .com

Natarajan

Message For The Day….Trust Begets Trust…Love Begets Love…

June 22, 2013NatarajanLeave a comment

Cutivate Love (Prema) towards all, it will destroy envy, anger and hatred. God and Desire (Rama & Kama) cannot co-exist in the same heart. Trust begets trust, love begets love. If you talk to another with much love, they cannot develop any hatred towards you. Love makes the whole world kin. It is the greatest instrument of concord. The farmer plants the seedling and watches over it with great care. He removes the weeds, he destroys the pests, waters it as and when necessary and spreads manure and awaits the day when he can reap the harvest and fill his granary. So too, you must carefully nourish love and pluck out the weeds of hatred and envy within you. Wear the glasses of love and everyone will appear loveable and good. You will get what you search for, you will see what your eyes crave for. Develop a holy vision, you will then see holiness everywhere.
– Divine Discourse, Sep 1, 1958.

Sathya Sai Baba

Joke For The Weekend …. “Why Should I give Money to You ” !!!

June 21, 2013NatarajanLeave a comment

The Generous Lawyer
A local United Way office realized that the organization had never received a donation from the town’s most successful lawyer. The person in charge of contributions called him to persuade him to contribute.

“Our research shows that out of a yearly income of at least $500,000, you give not a penny to charity. Wouldn’t you like to give back to the community in some way?”

The lawyer mulled this over for a moment and replied, “First, did your research also show that my mother is dying after a long illness, and has medical bills that are several times her annual income?”

Embarrassed, the United Way rep mumbled, “Um … no.”

The lawyer interrupts, “or that my brother, a disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair?”

The stricken United Way rep began to stammer out an apology, but was interrupted again.

“-or that my sister’s husband died in a traffic accident,” the lawyer’s voice rising in indignation, “leaving her penniless with three children?!”

The humiliated United Way rep, completely beaten, said simply, “I had no idea…”

On a roll, the lawyer cut him off once again, “So if I don’t give any money to them, why should I give MONEY to YOU??”

source ::::babamail net

Natarajan

Joke for The Weekend ….Who was to Be Thrown Out ? !!!!

June 21, 2013June 21, 2013NatarajanLeave a comment

The train was quite crowded and a U.S. Marine walked the entire length looking for a seat,

But the only seat left was taken by a poodle belonging to a well dressed, middle-aged, French woman.
The war-weary Marine asked, ‘Ma’am, may I have that seat?’

The French woman just sniffed and said to no one in particular: ‘Americans are so rude. My little Fifi is using that seat.’

The Marine walked the entire train again, but the only seat left was under that dog.

‘Please, ma’am. May I sit down? I’m very tired
…….’

She snorted, ‘Not only are you Americans rude, you are also arrogant!’

This time the Marine didn’t say a word, he just picked up the little dog, tossed it out the train window, and sat down.

The woman shrieked, ‘Someone must defend my honour!

‘This American should be put in his place!’

An English gentleman sitting nearby spoke up:

‘Sir, you Americans seem to have a penchant for doing the wrong thing.

‘You hold the fork in the wrong hand.

‘You drive your cars on the wrong side of the road.

‘And now, sir, you seem to have thrown the wrong bitch out of the window.’

source:::::unknown….input from a friend of mine

Natarajan

Joke For The Day… “Shut Up You Idiot “!!!!

June 21, 2013NatarajanLeave a comment

One day an out of work mime is visiting the zoo and attempts to earn some money as a street performer. However, as soon as he starts to draw a crowd, the zookeeper grabs him and forcefully drags him into his office.

The zookeeper then explains to the mime that the zoo’s most popular attraction, a gorilla, has died suddenly. The keeper fears that attendance at the zoo will fall off. He offers the mime a job to dress up as the gorilla until they can get another one. The mime accepts.

The next morning, before visitors arrive at the zoo, the mime puts on the gorilla suit and enters the cage. He discovers that it’s a great job. He can sleep all he wants, play and make fun of people and he draws bigger crowds than he ever did as a mime.

However, eventually the crowds tire of him and he gets bored just swinging on tires. He begins to notice that the people are paying more attention to the lion in the cage next to his.

Not about to lose the attention of the adoring crowd, he climbs to the top of his cage, crawls across a partition, and dangles from the top to the lion’s cage. Of course, this makes the lion furious, but the crowd loves it.

At the end of the day the zookeeper comes and gives the mime a raise for being such a good attraction as a gorilla.

Well, this goes on for some time. The mime keeps taunting the lion, the crowds grow larger, and his salary keeps going up. Then one terrible day when he is dangling over the furious lion, he slips and falls. The mime is terrified. The lion gathers itself and prepares to pounce. The mime is so scared that he begins to run round and round the cage with the lion close behind.

Finally, the mime starts screaming and yelling, “HELP! HELP ME!”, but the lion is quick and pounces. The mime soon finds himself flat on his back looking up at the angry lion when he suddenly hears the lion whisper: “Shut up you idiot! You wanna get us both fired?”!!!!!!!!!!!!!

source :::::babamailnet

Natarajan