It is the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la, so went the carol from the MP3 player filling the room with its sweet melody. Christmas greetings including the e-cards had been sent, not a single important carol concert missed, hopped from one party to another, and the Christmas tree was ablaze with ornaments and lights. Mom had put the final touches to the plum cake and pudding. The star atop the tree seemed to twinkle with an ethereal light. The brightly wrapped gifts were placed beneath it.
It was December 25. In a short while the family returned after attending the Christmas midnight service. The cake was cut and a little wine sipped. It was time to greet one another A Merry Christmas to you!
Aunty Coral asked little Roshan whose birthday he thought they were celebrating. "Santa Claus", came the answer, quick and sure. One look at the roly-poly figure of the red-clad Christmas Father placed near the tree, and Roshan was sure he had the right answer. The stocking seemed bottomless. Gifts, can't seem to have enough of them. Seven-year-old Shanthini was cross: "Why didn't Uncle Prem in Germany send those yum Hershey chocolates this Christmas?"
Mom thought it time to put the record straight. Pointing to the manger scene at the foot of the Christmas tree, where baby Jesus lay and to the halo all around, she said, "Christmas is Jesus's birthday. Roshan interrupted, "But isn't it Santa who gets us the gifts?" "True," said Mom, "but December 25 is Christ's birthday. The birthday baby himself is the greatest gift to all who will accept Him. He is the reason for the season." Shanthini remembered the lines from the solo she sang at the school carol programme and she began :
Christmas isn't Christmas till it happens in your heart.
Somewhere deep inside you is where Christmas really starts
So give your heart to Jesus, you'll discover when you do
That it's Christmas really Christmas for you.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Was it Santa's birthday?
The glitter and the gifts of the season seem to have sent the reason for the Christmas celebration into the background.
Friday, December 23, 2005
What happens on December?
December 22
Maths Genies Ramanujam Birthday.
Mother Saratha Devi Birthday.
December 23
World Farmers Day
Scientist Jahadesh Chandraboss Memory day.(He proved that like humans, plants also have feeling).
Tsar King first Alexander Birthday, 1777.
Geovainne Kasini discovered Saturn’s Reo Satellite in 1872.
BBC’s Daily News Radio service started in 1922.
Pirteein, Prattein and Chocla discovered Transistor Radio in 1947
December 24
Father E.V.R.A Periyar and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.G.R memory day.
Farmer Indian Prime Minister Narasimmaraw died, in 2004.
Portugal malume and sea inspector Vascodagama memory day.
Soviet Russia’s spaceship Luna landed in 3 moons.
December 25
Christmas
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee birthday.
Freedom fighter Mathan Mohan Malaviya birthday.
Rajaji memory day
Egypt President Anvar Sathath Birthday
Famous Comedy actor Charley Chaplin died in1918
Mikail korpasaave sworn as Japan’s emperor in 1926
December 26
Tsunami attack’s 15 countries, 3 lakh people have been died, including16,000 people died in India, in 2004.
Charles Babage discovered Computer in 1792
Chinese captain Ma Sa Tung Birthday, 1893
Mare Curie and Piare Curie discovered Radium in 1898.
December 27
World bank started in 1945.
Founder of dog bite medicine Louie Pastor birthday, 1822.
First train track was put in England, 1825.
Soviet Russia invaded on Afghanistan, 1979.
After 40 years the democratic rule begin in Spain, 1978.
December 28
Famous Hollywood actor Densil Washington Birthday, 1954.
Builder of Eiffel Tower, Kastave Eiffel died, 1923.
Sun Yatsen elected as President of Republic China, 1911.
Women’s give permission for putting Vote in England, 1918.
December 29
Discoverer of Vulcanizing method, Charles Good Year Birthday, 1800.
Cubic water discover was officially announced, 1931.
December 30
Nobel Prize winner and famous Writer Rupyarit Kipling, Birthday, 1907.
Sri Hanuman Jayanthi
Swanskin gets insurance rights for Electronic Television.
December 31
The actor of Gandhi film, Pen Kingsele Birthday, 1943.
East Indian Company put there steps in India, 1600
Mary Quire gets Nobel Prize for second time, 1911.
Euro Currency came to circulation in 12 European countries, in 2001.
Panama canal rights came back again to Panama, 1999.
There is another post in Shyam'ssssss about 5 stars for Citroen C6
Maths Genies Ramanujam Birthday.
Mother Saratha Devi Birthday.
December 23
World Farmers Day
Scientist Jahadesh Chandraboss Memory day.(He proved that like humans, plants also have feeling).
Tsar King first Alexander Birthday, 1777.
Geovainne Kasini discovered Saturn’s Reo Satellite in 1872.
BBC’s Daily News Radio service started in 1922.
Pirteein, Prattein and Chocla discovered Transistor Radio in 1947
December 24
Father E.V.R.A Periyar and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.G.R memory day.
Farmer Indian Prime Minister Narasimmaraw died, in 2004.
Portugal malume and sea inspector Vascodagama memory day.
Soviet Russia’s spaceship Luna landed in 3 moons.
December 25
Christmas
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee birthday.
Freedom fighter Mathan Mohan Malaviya birthday.
Rajaji memory day
Egypt President Anvar Sathath Birthday
Famous Comedy actor Charley Chaplin died in1918
Mikail korpasaave sworn as Japan’s emperor in 1926
December 26
Tsunami attack’s 15 countries, 3 lakh people have been died, including16,000 people died in India, in 2004.
Charles Babage discovered Computer in 1792
Chinese captain Ma Sa Tung Birthday, 1893
Mare Curie and Piare Curie discovered Radium in 1898.
December 27
World bank started in 1945.
Founder of dog bite medicine Louie Pastor birthday, 1822.
First train track was put in England, 1825.
Soviet Russia invaded on Afghanistan, 1979.
After 40 years the democratic rule begin in Spain, 1978.
December 28
Famous Hollywood actor Densil Washington Birthday, 1954.
Builder of Eiffel Tower, Kastave Eiffel died, 1923.
Sun Yatsen elected as President of Republic China, 1911.
Women’s give permission for putting Vote in England, 1918.
December 29
Discoverer of Vulcanizing method, Charles Good Year Birthday, 1800.
Cubic water discover was officially announced, 1931.
December 30
Nobel Prize winner and famous Writer Rupyarit Kipling, Birthday, 1907.
Sri Hanuman Jayanthi
Swanskin gets insurance rights for Electronic Television.
December 31
The actor of Gandhi film, Pen Kingsele Birthday, 1943.
East Indian Company put there steps in India, 1600
Mary Quire gets Nobel Prize for second time, 1911.
Euro Currency came to circulation in 12 European countries, in 2001.
Panama canal rights came back again to Panama, 1999.
There is another post in Shyam'ssssss about 5 stars for Citroen C6
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Sachin’s World Achievement
A punch in the air and a half-relief-half-joy kind of look marked Sachin Tendulkar’s Test century no. 35 at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi on December 10. It was more than just a milestone for the maestro at the fag end of the first day of the second Test match against the Sri Lankans. It was the sum total of his 16-year international career punctuated with pleasure, pain, hardships and remarkable achievements, not to mention the odd disappointment. Fans for whom cricket is religion elevated him to the status of God and then questioned his greatness. They conveniently forgot his 72 international centuries and doubted his ability to make a comeback after a long lay-off, thanks to a tennis elbow.
Such was the inevitability of his breaking Sunil Gavaskar’s record for the most centuries in Test cricket that when the moment descended, it was almost an anti-climax. The achievement also opened a window into the Sachin of now more open, emotional, intense. Earlier, each achievement, each essay highlighted a man in total control of the action on the field and his emotions. Today, Sachin continues to perform but does not hesitate from talking about the difficulties he is going through. There have been very few moments when I have felt emotional, he admitted on that wintry Saturday in Kotla, but this time I felt very different.
Sachin has scored centuries against all oppositions, in all countries: 16 of them were scored at home just like Gavaskar and 19 away, one more than the predecessor. Gavaskar called him he closest thing to batting perfection this game has ever seen. Sachin has established his stamp over all types of attacks. In fact, some of his most memorable essays came in adverse conditions. There have been those rare occasions when he looked entangled at the crease. But largely, he has been the dictator, giving nightmares to bowlers like Shane Warne.
By the time he was 19 he had already scored six Test centuries in places like Manchester, Sydney, Perth and Johannesburg encountering the likes of Alan Donald, Merv Hughes and Craig McDermott. After century no. 35, the cricketing world has already started speculating on where he would stop. Gavaskar has put his money on 50 Test hundreds. Sachin is only 32 and should be able to play for another 6 years at least, if not 8," he said in a statement after the record was broken. The path from here on is one of endless possibilities for the little genius. He has already conquered the world and all he needs now is to conquer his own will and of course that elbow which made many speculate about his career.
Sachin's 10 golden knocks will come every day in the bottom of every post.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Child warriors
Many children in Jammu and Kashmir are being forced to work for terrorist groups like Suicide machine.
On July 12, 2005, Mohammad Akram (11) was on his way home from school when he was stopped by a group of terrorists. They asked him to throw a grenade in the local market place, and promised him Rs. 500 for the task. Terror-stricken Akram did not have a choice — he had to do as the men said. But before he could fling the grenade, it exploded in his hands, injuring him severely. A few days later, Tahira (9) from Pangai village, Poonch district, was seriously injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) she was handling exploded. She too had been forced by terrorists to place the IED on a road often used by the Indian troops.
Various terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir are using an alarming number of children as terror tools. The children are used as spies, porters and as guerrillas who throw grenades and plant IEDs. The children (some barely nine or 10 years) are even used as shields in encounters and deployed in operations against Indian security agencies. "The terrorists sometimes give Rs. 100 for throwing a grenade. In most cases, either the children get hurt or they miss their target (security forces), which results in many civilians being hurt. That's why there are so many civilians dying in grenade attacks these days. Srinagar Police said There are many examples where unsuspecting children have been used either as couriers to send messages or to ferry arms and explosives. A security patrol would never bother to search a child earlier. But now we need to change our strategy.
Increasingly, the army has been discovering several young warriors working for terrorist groups. Abdul Gafoor (12), from the remote Udhampur village, was recruited by terrorists and used for operations against the security forces. He travelled with the Hizbul Mujahideen men in the thick forests of Pakikot, Narla and Larki in the hilly belt of Udhampur. Terrorists killed his father in 2003 and his mother was kidnapped for allegedly having links with security forces. The first two months, he was made to wash utensils and carry their load as they moved from one village to another. Later, he was trained to use the AK-47 rifle and handle explosives, narrating his experience after being rescued by the security forces in 2004. Gafoor was also used as a spy and as a human shield during attacks on army patrols.
In June 2005, during an encounter in the Pir Panjal Mountains, the army found Muzaffar Iqbal, barely 11, working as a porter, guide and part-time guerrilla. Iqbal was recruited in February 2004 at gunpoint while returning from school. He was also made to carry sorties (raid or an attack)...he was not aware of the bigger game plan of the terrorists. Mohammad Altaf, 13, was with the terrorists for more than a year. Five other children and Altaf cooked for the terrorists and washed utensils. They were also trained in arms and sent to get weapons from hideouts. The security forces claim that along the Indo-Pak border, Pakistani boys, as young as 13-14 years, carrying deadly weapons, have been arrested. Recently, nine such children were picked up from the Line of Control. They revealed they had been trained at a madrasa (religious school) in Pakistan and were sent back to India territory after undergoing basic military training.
At times, these child warriors also get killed in encounters. On August 8, 2003, a 13-year-old boy was killed in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district while entering Indian Territory from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The child was among the seven other terrorists killed in an encounter. Most of the children picked up by terrorists are from remote areas of Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Udhampur and Kupwara, and belong to very poor and illiterate families. In fact, the Jammu and Kashmir police has noticed a clear trend since 2004 more and more children go missing from remote areas.
An estimated 100 children have been reported missing in Kashmir since 2004. "In the early 1990s, only a handful of children were involved. Last year (2004), around 200 were hidden in the mountains. The police only know of children missing when a complaint is registered. If police consider unreported cases, the number of children missing and recruited by terrorists may run into hundreds. The terrorist groups (many of whom have lost several members in recent years) want to save trained terrorists for bigger operations.
There was another post in Shyam'sss (petrol vs diesel)
On July 12, 2005, Mohammad Akram (11) was on his way home from school when he was stopped by a group of terrorists. They asked him to throw a grenade in the local market place, and promised him Rs. 500 for the task. Terror-stricken Akram did not have a choice — he had to do as the men said. But before he could fling the grenade, it exploded in his hands, injuring him severely. A few days later, Tahira (9) from Pangai village, Poonch district, was seriously injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) she was handling exploded. She too had been forced by terrorists to place the IED on a road often used by the Indian troops.
Various terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir are using an alarming number of children as terror tools. The children are used as spies, porters and as guerrillas who throw grenades and plant IEDs. The children (some barely nine or 10 years) are even used as shields in encounters and deployed in operations against Indian security agencies. "The terrorists sometimes give Rs. 100 for throwing a grenade. In most cases, either the children get hurt or they miss their target (security forces), which results in many civilians being hurt. That's why there are so many civilians dying in grenade attacks these days. Srinagar Police said There are many examples where unsuspecting children have been used either as couriers to send messages or to ferry arms and explosives. A security patrol would never bother to search a child earlier. But now we need to change our strategy.
Increasingly, the army has been discovering several young warriors working for terrorist groups. Abdul Gafoor (12), from the remote Udhampur village, was recruited by terrorists and used for operations against the security forces. He travelled with the Hizbul Mujahideen men in the thick forests of Pakikot, Narla and Larki in the hilly belt of Udhampur. Terrorists killed his father in 2003 and his mother was kidnapped for allegedly having links with security forces. The first two months, he was made to wash utensils and carry their load as they moved from one village to another. Later, he was trained to use the AK-47 rifle and handle explosives, narrating his experience after being rescued by the security forces in 2004. Gafoor was also used as a spy and as a human shield during attacks on army patrols.
In June 2005, during an encounter in the Pir Panjal Mountains, the army found Muzaffar Iqbal, barely 11, working as a porter, guide and part-time guerrilla. Iqbal was recruited in February 2004 at gunpoint while returning from school. He was also made to carry sorties (raid or an attack)...he was not aware of the bigger game plan of the terrorists. Mohammad Altaf, 13, was with the terrorists for more than a year. Five other children and Altaf cooked for the terrorists and washed utensils. They were also trained in arms and sent to get weapons from hideouts. The security forces claim that along the Indo-Pak border, Pakistani boys, as young as 13-14 years, carrying deadly weapons, have been arrested. Recently, nine such children were picked up from the Line of Control. They revealed they had been trained at a madrasa (religious school) in Pakistan and were sent back to India territory after undergoing basic military training.
At times, these child warriors also get killed in encounters. On August 8, 2003, a 13-year-old boy was killed in the Mendhar sector of Poonch district while entering Indian Territory from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The child was among the seven other terrorists killed in an encounter. Most of the children picked up by terrorists are from remote areas of Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Udhampur and Kupwara, and belong to very poor and illiterate families. In fact, the Jammu and Kashmir police has noticed a clear trend since 2004 more and more children go missing from remote areas.
An estimated 100 children have been reported missing in Kashmir since 2004. "In the early 1990s, only a handful of children were involved. Last year (2004), around 200 were hidden in the mountains. The police only know of children missing when a complaint is registered. If police consider unreported cases, the number of children missing and recruited by terrorists may run into hundreds. The terrorist groups (many of whom have lost several members in recent years) want to save trained terrorists for bigger operations.
There was another post in Shyam'sss (petrol vs diesel)
Monday, December 19, 2005
How the cyclone got its name?
Cyclones are named to provide easy communication regarding forecasts and warnings.
Those of you who live by the sea would know that the cool, sea breeze blows on land during the night. You must also have read about the devastating cyclones and hurricanes like the recent Katrina that sweep across the sea and strike the land without a warning. All winds are caused by changes in temperature. Whenever air gets heated, it expands and becomes lighter. The lighter air rises and the heavier cooler air rushes in to take its place. The speed of movement of this air makes the wind blow at varying speeds.
In 19th Century, Sir Francis Beaufort, a British Admiral, designed a scale to categorise wind. On this scale, zero represents absolute stillness, and five, a gentle breeze. Force 8 represents a moderate gale, which breaks twigs off trees, while a storm is a wind of Force 10. Storms of intensity between 11 and 17 are generally known as tropical cyclones. These go by different names in different parts of the world. In the West Indies they are hurricanes, while in the U.S, they are tornadoes. In the China Seas, they are called typhoons, while it is a cyclone in the Indian Ocean. Along the west coast of Australia, the tropical storms are known as the willy-willies.
Tropical cyclones are given names to provide ease of communication between forecasters and the general public regarding forecasts, and warnings. Since the storms can often last a week or longer and that more than one can be occurring in the same basin at the same time, names can reduce the confusion. During World War II, tropical cyclones were informally given women's names. Today, the lists of names generated by the National Hurricane Center, alternate between male and female.
The names are arranged alphabetically. The first tropical storm of the year has a name that begins with A. The second is given a name that begins with B and so on. The list continues to W, but Q and U are omitted. There are six such lists of 21 names that are rotated every six years. A name is retired or taken off the list if the cyclone bearing it was particularly notorious and caused loss of life.
Beginning on January 1, 2000, tropical cyclones in the Northwest Pacific basin are being named from a new and different list. The new names are Asian names and were contributed by all members of the Typhoon Committee.
Link to my Car blog Shyam'ssss
Those of you who live by the sea would know that the cool, sea breeze blows on land during the night. You must also have read about the devastating cyclones and hurricanes like the recent Katrina that sweep across the sea and strike the land without a warning. All winds are caused by changes in temperature. Whenever air gets heated, it expands and becomes lighter. The lighter air rises and the heavier cooler air rushes in to take its place. The speed of movement of this air makes the wind blow at varying speeds.
In 19th Century, Sir Francis Beaufort, a British Admiral, designed a scale to categorise wind. On this scale, zero represents absolute stillness, and five, a gentle breeze. Force 8 represents a moderate gale, which breaks twigs off trees, while a storm is a wind of Force 10. Storms of intensity between 11 and 17 are generally known as tropical cyclones. These go by different names in different parts of the world. In the West Indies they are hurricanes, while in the U.S, they are tornadoes. In the China Seas, they are called typhoons, while it is a cyclone in the Indian Ocean. Along the west coast of Australia, the tropical storms are known as the willy-willies.
Tropical cyclones are given names to provide ease of communication between forecasters and the general public regarding forecasts, and warnings. Since the storms can often last a week or longer and that more than one can be occurring in the same basin at the same time, names can reduce the confusion. During World War II, tropical cyclones were informally given women's names. Today, the lists of names generated by the National Hurricane Center, alternate between male and female.
The names are arranged alphabetically. The first tropical storm of the year has a name that begins with A. The second is given a name that begins with B and so on. The list continues to W, but Q and U are omitted. There are six such lists of 21 names that are rotated every six years. A name is retired or taken off the list if the cyclone bearing it was particularly notorious and caused loss of life.
Beginning on January 1, 2000, tropical cyclones in the Northwest Pacific basin are being named from a new and different list. The new names are Asian names and were contributed by all members of the Typhoon Committee.
Link to my Car blog Shyam'ssss
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