No Words needed !! - Sunset

 

peeping through the Windows !!!

Good Morning, Welcome to my pic-post – today a peep through the windows ! and a popular cartoon a couple of decades ago !!

 

In the mid-1950s, while recuperating after breaking his leg, professional photographer L. B. "Jeff" Jefferies is using a wheelchair, apartment-bound in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. His rear window looks out onto a courtyard and other apartments. During an intense heat wave, he watches his neighbors, who keep their windows open to stay cool, including a traveling costume-jewelry salesman, Lars Thorwald, with his bedridden wife, Anna.  Jeff is regularly visited by his socialite girlfriend Lisa Fremont and Stella, an insurance-company nurse. One night, Jeff, alone, hears a woman scream followed by the sound of breaking glass. 

Do you have grey hair ? ~ are you above 50 years of age ? did you use Computer in mid 1980s ? ….. [did you at some point of time say – no formal education in Computers but adept in handling ?!?!] …technology keeps changing and much water has flown under the bridge since … those days - handling a computer was  considered monstrous and complicated … with specialists keying in host of commands to make it respond ? … to put it mildly, to make use of the mighty giant with hoards of data, one needed closer to a magic wand to make it respond …. It required inputting in computer language – which was more than Greek and Latin to many …. those were the days of DOS.  Then came WINDOWS 

ஜன்னல்   -  சாளரம் (ஜன்னல், யன்னல், Window) என்பது சுவரில் வெளிச்சம், காற்று உட்புக அமைப்பது ஆகும். தொடக்க காலத்தில் சுவர்களில் சிறு சதுர, நீள்வட்டத் துளைகளாகவே சாளரங்கள் அமைக்கப்பட்டன. தற்காலத்தில் நீள்சதுர சாளரங்கள் பொதுவானவை. ஆயினும் சாரளங்களை எந்த வடிவத்திலும் அமைக்கலாம். 

For centuries, to commoner, a window was an opening in a wall, door, roof, or vehicle that allows the exchange of light and may also allow the passage of sound and sometimes air. Modern windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material, a sash set in a frame  in the opening; the sash and frame are also referred to as a window.  Many glazed windows may be opened, to allow ventilation, or closed to exclude inclement weather.   The English language-word window originates from the Old Norse vindauga, from vindr 'wind' and auga 'eye'.   

MS-DOS was an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system during the 1980s -  till the arrival of the marvel called GUI (graphical User interface) (which was a repeat Q in most competitive exams and Quizzes)… the MS Windows stormed over……….. MS Windows is a series of graphical interface operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Microsoft. Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows in Nov 1985, 1985 as a graphical operating system shell for MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces (GUIs). Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal computer market …. 

For those older than the third para – an operating system (OS) is a collection of software that manages computer hardware resources and provides common services for computer programs. The operating system is an essential component of the system software in a computer system. Application programs usually require an operating system to function. For hardware functions such as input and output and memory allocation, the operating system acts as an intermediary between programs and the computer hardware. GUI was a great relief as it allowed User to interact with electronic devices through graphical icons and visual indicators such as secondary notation, as opposed to text-based interfaces, typed command labels or text navigation. 

Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal computer market with over 90% market share, overtaking Mac OS ~  the most recent versions of Windows for personal computers, smartphones, server computers and embedded devices – the issue is Windows of Microsoft keeps changing !

 

Turns out that Microsoft is announcing the rollout of 24H2 not with a bang, but with a whimper. The company has officially confirmed when it plans to begin upgrading people's computers to the newest version of Windows 11. It was tucked away within a pretty standard announcement on the Microsoft website.  Windows 11 24H2 is a weird one, as it was long-rumored to arrive as "Windows 12." However, since those rumors began to circle, it seems that Microsoft didn't want to make the jump to the next level of Windows just yet.   

For ordinary mortals, the cost of Windows 12 would be beyond our means and right now we may not have to worry about the technological changes. 

Described in 2^nd para is the theme of 1954 Alfred Hitchcock mystery thriller movie ‘Rear Window’ written by John Michael Hayes based on Cornell Woolrich's 1942 short story It Had to Be Murder.     

 

With regards – S Sampathkumar

20.9.2024 

Ashwin sparkles again at Chepauk !!

Gone are those days when Chennai would host Test match during Pongal ! – MA Chidambaram stadium perhaps no longer is the preferred Cricket stadium .. .. yet  Test no.2550 got underway in weather conditions that threatened to rain, but in the end it was another hot summer day in mid Sept.!!!

 

Will local lad Ravichandran Ashwin emulate once again the feat of JH Sinclair dating back to Apr 1899 in Test no. 59 ? 

The connoisseur of Test Cricket may not  have any  adverse comments to make –  for  the first time in seven years, a side chose to bowl in a Test in India involving India.   A perfect day for the Chennai duo - one by birth and the other via CSK. Both the morning and afternoon sessions saw 88 runs and 3 wickets. But 163 runs without a wicket in the final session ensured India were not just out of trouble 

In the morning when Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul failed – I thought of that  Test no. 787 – a 6 day match in Nov  1976 against New Zealand captained by Glenn Turner who had scored 2 centuries in inaugural World cup.    On the first day, no play was possible due to rain - Indians were off to a bad start as Sunil Gavaskar and Anshuman Gaekwad were out with only 3 on board, both out to big burly Lance Cairns.  From 181/7  India went on to make 298 thanks to a fluent 64 by Venkat who hit 4 boundaries and a six off Petherick. Gundappa Vishwanath made 87 like the many good innings he had played at Chepauk and Kirmani made 44. 

This morning when India struggled at 34/3, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant, playing his first Test in nearly 700 days, added 62 for the fourth wicket.  Jaiswal made this his sixth straight home Test in which he has gone past 50. Pant began to look dangerous but immediately after  lunch, though, Pant fell, Jaiswal followed and Rahul failed.  India was 144/6 !!! – what did you predict at this stage ? 

In the world of cricket, there were four superstars who ruled the game during the 1970s and 1980s. Imran Khan, Ian Botham, Richard Hadlee, and Kapil Dev were like the big bosses of cricket back then. They were the game’s best all rounders. Recapitulating their Test statistics, Kapil Dev scored 5248 runs and took 434 wickets with 6 centuries.  Imran made 3807 + 362 wickets and scored 6 test centuries.  Ian Botham was a far different batsman, who made 5200 runs + 383 wickets making 14 tons. Richard Hadlee made 3124 runs and 431 wickets, scored only 2 centuries. 

Whatever wished score was after 144/6 – India closed the day at 339 for 6 with Ashwin unbeaten on 102 and Ravindra Jadeja unbeaten on 86 !! – inching towards their 200 partnership. 

Ashwin despite his 500+ wickets has been kept out many a times and has been treated unfairly but the way he batted today with 10 boundaries and 2 over the ropes, he can certainly stake claim to play as a pure batter if not a quality allrounder.    With today’s Ash has scored 6 centuries.  One against Bangladesh, one against England (both at Chennai) and 4 against West Indies at Kolkatta, Gros Islet, Northsound and Wankhede.   

A perusal of the centuries scored by Indians reveal – Sachin Tendulkar at the summit with 51, Rahul Dravid 36, Sunil Gavaskar 34, Virat Kohli 29, Virender Sehwag 23 ….  ..and not many pure batsman too scored 6 centuries in Test.  No other all rounder other than legendary Kapil Dev (8) 

Jimmy Sinclair of South Africa bowled fast and hit the ball hard.  In Apr 1989 he made 106 at Cape Town (South Africa's first Test hundred) against the all-conquering England side led by Lord Hawke, also had a 5 wicket haul.  If Ashwin could take 5 he would make his record the 4^th time !! 

The other Chennai (rather CSK) boy Sir Ravindra Jadeja is close to achieving a rare milestone of 300 wickets and 3000 runs in Test cricket. In the history of Test cricket, only 10 players have managed to score 3000 runs and take 300 wickets. Jadeja needs just six more wickets to join this elite group. This achievement has been accomplished by only two other Indian cricketers, Kapil Dev and Ravichandran Ashwin.

 

With regards – S Sampathkumar
19.9.2024 

Pournami Sept 2024 ! ~ Second Moon tiny asteroid 2024 PT5

Sept. 17, 2024 was Pournami and we were able to see a full beautiful moon. Elsewhere in some other part of the globe it was partial lunar eclipse.  A partial lunar eclipse happens when part of the moon enters Earth's shadow - in this case, about 8% of the moon.  The 2024 partial lunar eclipse was  visible across North America Tuesday night  - not in Chennai ! 

இரவும் நிலவும் வளரட்டுமே..

நம் இனிமை நினைவுகள் தொடரட்டுமே 

நிலவு என்றவுடன் உடன் நினைவுக்கு வரும் பாடல் – TM  சௌந்தரராஜன் பி சுசீலா குரலில், விஸ்வநாதன் ராமமூர்த்தி இன்னிசையில், 1964ல் வெளிவந்த கர்ணன் திரைப்படம் - BR பந்துலு தயாரித்து இயக்கிய படம் - சிவாஜி கணேசன், ராமராவ், சாவித்திரி, தேவிகா மற்றும் பலர் நடித்த படம்.   Read that this song is set to -  Shuddha Sarang.  Among the day time Raagas, Shuddha Sarang, a member of the Sarang Family, produces a strong and lasting impression. The Raag mood is at once menifested by the simultaneous presentation of both Madhyams followed by Rishabh in Avroh (M m R). !!! 

Earth’s only natural satellite is always exhilarating and mankind has been in love with Moon !!  - how it would be to have another moon ? ? – according to Scientists, the  Earth's closest celestial companion—shining light on the darkest of nights—faces rare competition, albeit for a brief amount of time.

 

This month, Earth will grab itself a second moon in the form of the tiny asteroid 2024 PT5.    This "mini-moon" will be with us for the next two months, but it's not its first visit and it won't be the last. This temporary mini-moon is actually a small asteroid about 10 meters (33 feet) wide. Officially known as 2024 PT₅, the rock was only discovered last month, and calculations of its path indicate it will become a satellite of Earth on September 29. It will be our little travel companion for 56.6 days, completing one full orbit of Earth in that time. After that, the rock will break free from our gravitational grasp on November 25, returning to its path around the Sun. 

Unlike the moon, Earth's primary companion which has accompanied our planet for around 4 billion years, this "new mini-moon" will stick around for just two months before it heads back to its home in an asteroid belt trailing our planet and orbiting the sun. A team of scientists well-versed in the study of so-called "mini-moon events " identified the forthcoming gravitational capture event. They spotted the peculiar dynamic properties of 2024 PT5 as they routinely monitored newly discovered objects for potentially interesting behavior. 

"The object that is going to pay us a visit belongs to the Arjuna asteroid belt, a secondary asteroid belt made of space rocks that follow orbits very similar to that of Earth at an average distance to the sun of about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers), research lead author and  Universidad Complutense de Madrid professor Carlos de la Fuente Marcos told Space.com. "Objects in the Arjuna asteroid belt are part of the near-Earth object population of asteroids and comets." Marcos explained that some of these objects in the Arjuna asteroid belt can approach Earth at a close range of around 2.8 million miles (4.5 million km) and at low velocities of around 2,200 miles per hour (3,540 km/h).  "Under these conditions, the geocentric energy of the object may grow negative, and the object may become a temporary moon of Earth. This particular object will undergo this process starting next week and for about two months," he added. "It will not follow a full orbit around Earth. 

"You may say that if a true satellite is like a customer buying goods inside a store, objects like 2024 PT5 are window shoppers."  The Arjuna asteroids (also known as "Arjunas") are a dynamical group of asteroids in the Solar System. Arjunas are near-Earth objects (NEOs) whose orbits are very Earth-like in character, having low inclination, orbital periods close to one year, and low eccentricity. The group is named after Arjuna, our  hero of the  epic Mahabharata. The definition is somewhat more relevant and overlaps the definition of the four well-established Apollo, Amor, Aten and Atira groups.  

 

2024 PT₅ will then swing past for a final goodbye on 9 January 2025, coming within 1.8 million kilometers (1.1 million miles) of Earth before heading back out into the inky blackness. It's not farewell forever, however – 2024 PT₅ is predicted to come back on November 8, 2055. It won't be quite as cozy next time though, flying by at a distance of 5.2 million kilometers (3.3 million miles).

 
Interesting ! 
 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
19.9.2024
  

Sarpanch leads to another title win - India wins Asian Champions Trophy 2024

 

In the Delhi Premier League last month, this man  began the 20th over of the chase with this routine. He put a lot of flight - maybe too much, it became a full toss - and got a lot of drift into the right-hander, presenting the opportunity for a simple tap to long-on for the match-winning single. This was day 596.  On December 30, 2022,  he was involved  was in a car crash and his survival was a miracle with Qs on whether he would be able to walk normally again.    Day 450 since the car crash, he  made his first runs. Day 457. He scored his first fifty. Day 523. He returned to the Indian team. Story of Rishab Pant, who when he plays at Chepauk tomorrow against Bangladesh would be returning to Test Cricket after 629 days !!!!  

 

Can you identify this gentleman whom hon’ble PM of the Nation mentioned as Sarpanch ?? 

Much before Cricket, it was Hockey – India dominated the game till 1980 Moscow Olympics.  By that time, India had won a record 8 Gold medals -  back in  1932 Olympics,   the Indian team put in a fine performance though the field was reduced to just three contenders, United States and Japan being the other two. India notched a record 24-1 win against the hosts and drubbed Japan 11-1 to win their second Olympic gold medal.  Hockey had debuted much earlier.  At the 1908 Summer Olympics, a field hockey tournament was contested for the first time. Six teams entered from three states. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was represented by a team from each of the four Home Nations: England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Germany sent a championship club team, while France sent a team composed of players from three clubs.  England won the gold medal.  The Summer Olympics in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, was golden for India as India took its first ever gold in the sport of field hockey, beginning a streak of six consecutive gold medals in the sport. 

The defending champions India got off to a winning start in the Asian Champions Trophy 2024  after beating hosts China 3-0 in Hulunbuir last Sunday.  The eighth edition of hockey Asian Champions Trophy got  underway in Hulunbuir, China.   India was the defending champion after it won the title for a record fourth time in Chennai in 2023.  

 

Good news is India has won again beating China in the finals.  Goals from Sukhjeet Singh, Uttam Singh and Abhishek sealed the deal for India as China struggled to create chances. The relief of breaking a 41-year-old drought in Tokyo replaced by the happiness of continued success. The emotions were the same, as India won bronze again at Paris Olympics 2024, making it India’s 13^th Olympic medal, their fourth bronze.    

The Men's Asian Champions Trophy is an event held annually by the Asian Hockey Federation since 2011. It features Asia's six top field hockey teams in the hockey season competing in a round robin format. India is the most successful team in its history with 5 champions trophy victories. India retained their Asian Champions Trophy crown with a 1-0 win over China in the final in Moqi on Tuesday evening. Jugraj Singh scored the only goal of the match in the 51st minute, after a frustrating game for India, as they came up against a well-organised, stubborn Chinese defence.

This was India's fifth Asian Champions Trophy title, and once again reaffirmed their status as the foremost hockey nation of the continent. That gulf between them and China -- the lowest-ranked side at this competition -- didn't really show that much during the game, even though the hosts were content to sit back and defend in numbers. 

Eventually, the decisive moment came with nine minutes to go, and it was a moment of pure quality from start to finish. It began with Harmanpreet Singh advancing deep into Chinese territory down the left flank. He didn't stop his run halfway through, and fully went through to the baseline. From there, he found Jugraj around the penalty spot, and his finish to Wang's left was unerring into the bottom corner. 

The man at the start – is Harmanpreet Singh , Indian Hockey team captain.  He plays as a defender, is a penalty corner specialist, and is regarded as one of the best drag flickers in the world.  He led the team to clinch the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Singh captained the team to win a gold at the 2022 Asian Games. He has won the Player of the Year title at the FIH Awards twice.   He earned the moniker of Sarpanch Sahib of Hockey (which refers to a leader of a village) by the media due to his performance and captaincy at the Olympics. After winning bronze medal Prime minister Narendra Modi called the team and congratulated them.

 
Happy days are here again for Field Hockey !!
 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
18.9.2024

 

not exactly a Cat-walk, quite attractive though !!

 

Today’s pic post comes at a time when most of you are likely to hit the bed ..  Good night message – with a photo of a walk !  ~  nay, not a Catwalk !! 

About two decades + ago, in the Cable TV – men would be watching this channel with most people at home sleeping – it was more of a fashion parade.  F TV.  Since its inception in 1997, FashionTV has set high standards of excellence in fashion and lifestyle broadcasting. The only TV equivalent to fashion print media appealing to everyone interested in fashion, style, beauty and trends, FashionTV  caters to its audience by providing lot of fashion shows.   

 

To them, fashion is the form of self-expression and self-celebration. It also implies the looks defined by the fashion industry as trending. The clothing, accessories, footwear, make-up, hairstyle, and body posture, all fall under fashion. The difference in cultures and countries lead to different fashion trends going around the world at the same time.  Fashion is generally distinctive and industry-supported expression and is conventionally tied to the fashion seasons and collections.   

FTV is in news for wrong reasons, as this month, Economic Offence Wing (EOW) has initiated a preliminary enquiry against Kashiff Khan, managing director of Fashion TV, based on a complaint filed by Indus Lexus Consulting Pvt Ltd, which represents Fashion TV in India, alleging fraud and cheating amounting to Rs 142 crore. According to the complaint filed by Yogesh Radhakrishnan, who took over Indus Lexus from Micheal Adam, Khan sold franchisees of Fashion TV to investors and duped them of their money. 

Moving away, Fashion shows attracted people.  In a typical fashion show, models walk the catwalk dressed in the clothing created by the designer. Clothing is illuminated on the catwalk using lighting and special effects. The order in which each model walks out, wearing a specific outfit, is usually planned in accordance with the statement that the designer wants to make about their collection. 

So it was all about  ‘Cat Walk’  - a ramp walk with models showcasing designs by walking on the raised walkway.    

A  girl with the animal virtues and with the vices of her instincts, one of the most stränge and fascinating psychological studies was the subject matter of a fiction written more than a century ago.  It was a fascinating, wild, weird, somber story of a woman – the novel  :  The Cats' Bridge (German: Der Katzensteg)   by the German writer Hermann Sudermann was written in 1889. It was published in English in 1898 as Regina, or The Sins of the Fathers, translated by Beatrice Marshall.  In 1927 it hit screens as ‘the Cat Walk’ – a   German silent drama film directed by Gerhard Lamprecht and starring Lissy Arna, Jack Trevor, and Andreas Behrens-Klausen.  The film premiered at the Capital am Zoo in Berlin

 

This morning attractive White pigeons staged a Cat-walk infront of me.

 

With regards – S Sampathkumar

18.9.2024

Shouxing - the Chinese God of longevity

Antique porcelain piece – wonder who ! or what this about ! ?

 

Canopus is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Carina and the second-brightest star in the night sky. With a visual apparent magnitude of −0.74, it is outshone only by Sirius. Located around 310 light-years from the Sun, Canopus is a bright giant of spectral type A9, so it is essentially white when seen with the naked eye. It has a luminosity over 10,000 times the luminosity of the Sun, is eight times as massive, and has expanded to 71 times the Sun's radius.   Canopus is a source of X-rays, which are likely being emitted from its corona. 

The highest excellence is like (that of) water. The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying, without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men dislike. Hence (its way) is near to (that of) the Tao. The excellence of a residence is in (the suitability of) the place; that of the mind is in abysmal stillness; that of associations is in their being with the virtuous; that of government is in its securing good order; that of (the conduct of) affairs is in its ability; and that of (the initiation of) any movement is in its timeliness. And when (one with the highest excellence) does not wrangle (about his low position), no one finds fault with him. 

Intriguing !!  -  Taoist story about water !!!  The Tao (or Dao) is hard to define but is sometimes understood as the way of the universe. Taoism teaches that all living creatures ought to live in a state of harmony with the universe and the energy found in it. Ch’i, or qi, is the energy present in and guiding everything in the universe.   Taoism is connected to the philosopher Lao Tzu, who, around 500 B.C.E., wrote the main book of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching.

 

Mount Laojun in Luoyan, Henan Province, China is a sacred site for Taoists. Hundreds of Taoists embark on pilgrimages every year along with tourists from around the world to see this spectacular site. Taoism  is a religion and a philosophy from ancient China that has influenced folk and national belief. Taoism holds that humans and animals should live in balance with the Tao, or the universe. Taoists believe in spiritual immortality, where the spirit of the body joins the universe after death. The Tao Te Ching, or “The Way and Its Power,” is a collection of poetry and sayings from around the third and fourth centuries B.C.E. that guides Taoist thought and actions. 

There is lot about Chinese dolls.  The Sanxing (lit. 'Three Stars') are the gods of the three celestial bodies considered essential in Chinese astrology and mythology: Jupiter, Ursa Major, and Canopus.  Their iconic representation as three, old, bearded, wise men dates back to the Ming dynasty, when the gods of the three stars were represented in human form for the first time. They are sometimes identified with other deities of the Chinese religion or of Taoism. 

Shouxing (also known as Shoulao) is the god of longevity, one of three star gods in Chinese beliefs. His most recognisable feature is his pronounced bald head and long beard, and he carries the ‘peach of immortality’. Statues of Shouxing are popular birthday gifts for elders.  The Old Man of the South Pole, Xian of Longevity   is the Taoist deification of Canopus, the brightest star of the constellation Carina. He is typically portrayed with long white hair and beard, a protruding forehead and a healthy pink complexion. His right hand often holds a peach and left hand a walking staff with a calabash gourd, which is said to contain the elixir of life.    

All the above were searched on web and read with some interest  – as  I was attracted by this Chinese doll, today I saw in MA Naraimhan’s gallery at Triplicane.  Intrigued by this Chinese, started with a search and ended up reading lot of what I have never heard.  It is a rare antique piece made in porcelain.

 
Interesting !
 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
17.9.2024 

Butterfly on flower !! ~ செந்தாழம் பூவில் வந்தாடும் தென்றல்

 

ஒரு பாடல் என்பது அப்போதுதான் பூத்த மலர் மாதிரி இருக்க வேண்டும்  !  -  இசைஞானி இளையராஜா

 

செந்தாழம் பூவில் வந்தாடும் தென்றல், என் மீது மோதுதம்மா

 

.. .. …. …..

இளைய பருவம் மலையில் வந்தால் ஏகம் சொர்க்க சிந்தனை

இதழில் வருடும் பனியின் காற்று கம்பன் செய்த வர்ணனை

ஓடை தரும் வாடை காற்று வான் உலகை காட்டுது

உள்ளே வரும் வெள்ளம் ஒன்று எங்கோ என்னை கூட்டுது

மறவேன் மறவேன் அற்புத காட்சி

 

இசைஞானியின்  இது போன்ற பாடல்கள் என்றென்றும் வாடாமல் புதிதாக நறுமணத்தோடே காதில் ரீங்காரமிடும்.

Varanasi flooding 2024 !! - Namo Ghat

Kashi, Varanasi, Benares – known by so many names is among the oldest living cities of the World.   Varanasi`s Prominence in Hindu religion  is virtually unparalleled !  Mark Twain, the English author and literature, who was enthralled by the legend and sanctity of Benaras, wrote : “Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together”. 

The land of Varanasi (Kashi) has been the ultimate pilgrimage destination  for Hindus for ages. It is firmly belived that  one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi dates back to many centuries.  The holy Ganges in  Varanasi washes away  the sins of mortals. 

புனித காசியில் 84 காட் எனும் படித்துறைகள் உள்ளன. இவற்றுள் - அசிகாட், கேதார் காட், தஷ் அஸ்வமேத காட், மணிகர்ணிகா காட், பஞ்சகங்கா காட், ஹரிஷ்சந்திர காட், ஆதிகேசவ காட் பிரபலமானவை. மணிகர்ணிகாவிற்கும் ஆதிகேசவருக்கும் இடைப்பட்ட பகுதி விஷ்ணு காசி எனவும் மணிகர்ணிகாவிற்கும்  ஆசி காட்டிற்கும் இடைப்பட்ட பகுதி  சிவகாசி எனவும் வழங்கப்படுகின்றன. இது காசி விஸ்வநாதர் ஆலயம் அமைந்துள்ள சிவஸ்தலம்

A pilgrimage  to holy Varanasi (Kasi) is complete with reaching the holy Ganges.  There were around 84 bathing ghats in earlier times and with passage of time, there are around 30 – among them the most important could be : Harishchandra ghat, Manikarnika ghat and .. Dashaashwametha ghat where Ganga haarthi takes place daily.   Ghats in Varanasi are riverfront steps leading to the banks of the Ganges river.  While most are ceremonial puja and bathing ghats, couple are cremation spots too.    Most of the ghats in Varanasi were rebuilt in the 18th century under the maratha patronage. The patrons of current ghats are Maharajas of Benares, Marathas, Shindes (Scindias), Holkars, Bhonsles and Peshwes (Peshwas).   Then there is ‘Namo Ghat’

 

Namo Ghat is a newly constructed ghat in Varanasi.  Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji  laid the foundation stone for the project in 2018. The ghat is located on the banks of the Ganges River and is spread over an area of 21,000 square meters. It is a modern ghat with facilities for tourists, including a viewing deck, a cafeteria, and a parking lot. This riverfront’s main appeal are three huge sculptures in the form of folded hands depicting ‘namaste’ which showcases the idea of “atithi devo bhawah” i.e. welcoming the guests always and treating them with respect.  Varanasi’s most famous Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya Bridge passes near the Ghat.

 

Following an alarming rise in the water of the Ganga, the water level crossed the warning level of 70.26 metres in Varanasi and started inching close to the danger mark of 71.26 metres on Sunday morning. With the rise in the water level, the flood threat has started started looming large in low-lying areas, especially in the localities along the Ganga's tributary river, Varuna. 

With continuous rise in the water level of the Ganga in Varanasi, a flood like situation has emerged in low lying areas along the Ganga and Varuna.  Here is a pic of the submerged Namo Ghat.   The flood affected areas are Chandan Shaheed, Sarai Mohana, Rajghat Bhadau Chungi, Konia, Vijayipura pipeline bridge, Kapildhara bridge, Khajuri Konia, Konia Tadikhan, Mangraha Veerbaba Temple, Maurya Basti, Saraiya Railway Bridge, Jalalipura via old bridge.   

 

The previous pics were taken at Namo ghat during our recent visit in July 2024

-the one above is media pic of date.

Due to rise in water level, all the ghats have submerged and places of Ganga Arti have been changed. According to Sushant Mishra of Ganga Seva Nidhi, which organises Ganga Arti daily, the arti at Dashashwamedh Ghat has been shifted to higher place as the arti platform is submerged.

 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
16.9.2024

 

 

  

Chess Olympiad 2024 : Ex-Hindu High School Triplicane student makes us proud

 

For several years now, defeating India in India is considered the toughest task in men's Test cricket, a claim which is backed by numbers: since the start of 2013, India have a 40-4 win-loss record at home, easily the best; in second place is Australia's 41-7. Over much of this period, India were extremely dominant with both bat and ball:  will they continue their dominance at Chepauk  against resurgent Bangladesh fresh from a Series win over Pakistan in Pak is the Q but more important is Chess Olympiad. 

 

Round 4 saw massive upsets in the Chess Olympiad with top seeded Team USA and defending champions Uzbekistan losing.  In case you are not following, the 45^th Chess Olympiad is now on,   organised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in Budapest, Hungary from 10 to 23 September 2024. It is the first Chess Olympiad that takes place in Hungary since Budapest hosted the 2nd unofficial Chess Olympiad in 1926.  The first unofficial edition, labelled as the "Chess Olympic Games", was held in Paris in 1924, and coincided with the Summer Olympic Games that took place in the city in the same year.  Despite that the event was not officially part of the Olympic Games and the winners were not awarded official Olympic medals, the rules of the Olympic Games applied. 

India’s men and women continued to impress at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest. They posted identical 3.5-0.5 wins in the fourth round on Saturday. In the open section, Arjun Erigais also made it four out of four, with his victory against Aleksandar Indjic.   

The most important happening for India  - after the fourth round there are only eight teams left in the Chess Olympiad standings that have eight match points: India, Spain, China, Vietnam, Azerbaijan, Poland, Hungary, and Ukraine (listed according to tiebreaks). India defeated Serbia 3.5-0.5 on Saturday with Gukesh (vs GM Alexandr Predke), Arjun Erigaisi (vs GM Aleksandar Indjic) and Vidit Gujrathi (vs GM Velimir Ivic) all winning their matches while Praggnanandhaa had accepted a draw on board 2 against GM Alexey Sarana. 

Gukesh grounded out a clinical win after nearly six hours of chess. His win saw him vault into the 5th spot in the FIDE live ratings (which are updated in real-time as compared to FIDE’s published ratings which are updated at the end of every month).  Seven rounds remain in the Olympiad.

 

Image and news :chessbase.in 

 

Here is a video shared by my classmate friend RR Vasudevan.  RRV resided in Triplicane,  studied in Hindu High School and later at DG Vaishnava.  He worked in Canara Bank.  He is a very talented Chess player, a coach, runs his Chess website and is an International Arbiter.  Here he is seen greeting Gukesh at Budapest.  Vasu is at Olympiad as a journalist, a specialist job.

 

International Arbiter is a title awarded by FIDE to individuals deemed capable of acting as arbiter in important chess matches. The title was established in 1951.  Other than possessing thorough knowledge of the game, nuances and laws, the Arbiter should be adept in operating clocks of different types, using different systems, have absolute objectivity and should know   at least one official FIDE language. 

Congrats Vasudevan – Triplicane, Hindu Higher Secondary school, DG Vaishnava college and all of us are proud of you.

 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
15.9.2024
 

Triplicane Ganesha Visarjana oorkolam 2024

 

Vinayakar Visarjanam - Triplicane 2024  :  https://youtu.be/zQordC0ZwVc

 

the grand procession of Vinayaka idols for immersion –

at Periya Vinayakar, Thiruvatteeswararpet.

சிட்டுக் குருவி ~ ஏறியக் காற்றில் விரைவோடு நீந்துவை

I’d rather be a sparrow than a snail

Yes, I would; If I could; I’d surely would.  !!!!

 

பறவைகள்  அழகானவை.  சிறு வயதிலிருந்து நம் வீட்டினருகிலேயே பார்த்துப் பழக்கப்பட்டவை சிட்டுக்குருவிகள். அவை சிறகடித்துப் பறப்பதையும், தத்தித்தத்திச் செல்வதையும், கூடு கட்ட இடம் தேடுவதையும், தானியங்களைக் கொத்திக்கொத்திச் சாப்பிடுவதையும்,  படபடவெனச் சிறகடித்துக் சுற்றி சுற்றி பறப்பதையும் கண்டு ஆனந்தம் அடைந்து இருப்போம். 

For sure you know this storyline ! :  Pakshi,  a passionate ornithologist has  a bird sanctuary at his house. He protests the excessive use of mobile phones, fearing that high-frequency electromagnetic radiation from cell sites threatens avian life. He loses  all attempts to warn the public about the harmful effects of cell phone radiation on birds, which led to many of his birds dying. He reports it to the authorities who show scant regard/ Deeply frustrated, Pakshi hangs himself to death from a cell tower. The  negative energy of deceased birds, becomes a vengeful orange-colored aura made of negatively charged ions who can control cell phones with electromagnetic radiation that goes on killing and destruction spree ! 

 

விட்டு விடுதலையாகி நிற்பாய் இந்தச் சிட்டுக் குருவியினைப் போலே

எட்டுத் திசையும் பறந்து திரிகுவை; ஏறியக் காற்றில் விரைவோடு நீந்துவை 

 என்ற மஹாகவி பாரதியாரின் வரிகள் மிகவும் பிரபலம். பறவைகளின் சுதந்திரம் குறித்து பாரதியார் எழுதிய அந்த வரிகள் இன்றும்  காலம் கடந்து நிற்கிறது.  

சிட்டுக்குருவி (House sparrow), (Passer domesticus) என்பது  ஒரு சிறிய பறவை ஆகும். பொதுவாக இதன் நீளம் 16 செ.மீ.ம், எடை 24-39.5 கிராமும் இருக்கும்.  பெண் சிட்டுக்குருவிகள் மற்றும் குஞ்சுகள் வெளிர் பழுப்பு மற்றும் சாம்பல் நிறத்திலும், மற்றும் ஆண் சிட்டுக்குருவிகள் பிரகாசமான கருப்பு, வெள்ளை, மற்றும் பழுப்பு அடையாளங்களுடனும் காணப்படும். 

 

The story was that of the much hyped 2.0 ~ the sequel to Rajnikant starrer ‘Enthiran’  that suffered  matching the expectations – as the original  kept the audience glued to its storyline – all credit to Sujatha, the great writer and the director Shankar.  Its storyline was :  Dr Vaseegaran, a scientist working on alternative intelligence develops a humanoid  robot  which gets rejected by sinister designs.  At a point of time, the robot ‘Chitti’ asks why he has not been provided with ‘emotion’.  Dr Vaseegaran reprogrammes it with human feelings and emotions so that it could  distinguish between right and wrong. However things go wrong when Chitti falls in love with Sana (Aishwarya).   The making of Chitti and developing its functions was well depicted – I felt saddened when Chitti is dismantled [rather asked to self-destruct] and dumped in Perungudi  garbage ! 

In 2.0 version, eight years after the events of the first film, Dr Vaseegaran creates an android humanoid assistant named Nila, which he introduces to a group of college students.  Shortly afterwards, all the cell phones in the city fly into the sky, causing a public panic. A council of politicians and scientists discusses the phenomenon, with Vaseegaran suggesting reactivating Chitti.  An upgraded Chitti fights the giant bird-shaped swarm as it wreaks havoc in the city. 

Moving away from the film, the city could have lesser of the flora and fauna than what it used to have a few decades earlier – much to do with the urban landscape change with more and more thousands settling in metropolis.  Modern urban architecture robs the birds and many animals  their nesting sites. Humans migrate from rural areas to urban. The birds have to take the  reverse route  Rapid urbanisation has accelerated changes to the biosphere, leading to the loss and homogenisation of global biodiversity.  Bird communities typically show reduced diversity and richness in urbanised areas  with most species generally exhibiting lower nesting productivity and survival in urban areas.  Urban habitats tend to favour bird species that are better adapted to survive under novel conditions.  In particular, non-native species (i.e. species introduced to a novel environment where they establish viable populations) often have greater success in exploiting human-dominated areas.

 

The diminishing trend is more attributable to dearth of food material, habitat loss, loss of greenery and too much crowds of human population and not to leave out the oppressive heat conditions that now prevail in Chennai and many other cities.  

 

"El Cóndor Pasa" is an orchestral musical piece from the zarzuela El Cóndor Pasa by the Peruvian composer Daniel Alomía Robles, written in 1913 and based on traditional Andean music, specifically folk music from Peru. Simon & Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They were one of the best-selling music acts of the 1960s. In 1970, the   duo recorded the Los Incas version, adding English lyrics which included Paul Simon in the author credits under the song name "El Cóndor Pasa (If I Could)" – and that is what you read in first para. 

Interesting ! – Good morning & welcome to my photo post – today house sparrows – சிட்டுக் குருவி.  Sparrows photographed in Triplicane yesterday

 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
15.9.2024