The dark horse

Tonight, I'm going to write an acrostic on, well this guy doesn't need any introduction to those who tune in to Star Sports on certain Sundays at about 5:15pm.

Vroom time is back and the first race is over. Fans are anxious as to who wins the 2010 crown, who is to become the next king of Formula1? Is it Schumi the most potential comeback, or is it Massa/Alonso?...They have got the best car.

However I'm going to write on the youngest and the first black driver who had become the world champion in 2008. What is my opinion on his potentiality? The following poem in free verse will bear testimony to it.

L: Lord thou art of the racing track
E: Ever on the move at race,
W: World champion 2008! racing is your only knack
I: Is this talent or simply God's grace?
S: Speeding cars take you to the ultimate chase.

H: Have the other drivers turned totally green?
A: Alonso, the Spanish saboteur
M: Massa, the Brazilian mean, (or)
I: Is it Button's rear diffuser?
L: O thou Jenson, involved in foul play
T: Totally devoid of any cunning and messenger of dark
O: Of all the drivers Hamilton will have his day!
N: Nevertheless with this prophecy, I end my work.

'Terminat hora diem, terminat Poet opus'.

Why Vote Earth?

 

 

 

WHY VOTE EARTH?

Put simply, because our future depends on it! It only takes a few minutes to vote, but it could help protect our planet forever. It's your chance to tell world leaders what kind of deal you want them to make at the climate summit in Copenhagen.

Earth Hour: A global vote for Earth

Since 2007, Earth Hour has gained worldwide support for positive action against global warming. It all began with 2.2 million people in one city using their light switches to have their say. By March 2009, hundreds of millions of people in over 4,000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to vote for Earth.

This monumental swell of support for the environment has been four years in the making. And it’s all building towards one decisive moment in history – the Copenhagen climate summit.

Copenhagen: a new direction

World leaders are set to discuss new ways to deal with climate change at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, 7-18 December 2009. This new deal will replace the Kyoto Protocol and set new standards for reducing harmful emissions and global warming.

Copenhagen is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to point our planet in a new direction. But if we don't urge world leaders to make things right now, it could all go very wrong for the future. Four possible outcomes from the talks could be:

• Foundation: leaders agree on ways to strengthen targets over the next five years, but it's only a slight improvement on current commitments.


• Greenwash: leaders pledge to review current arrangements and call it a success, but nothing really changes.


• Collapse: no agreement is reached and the problem is deferred indefinitely.


• Breakthrough: an agreement is reached with ambitious reduction targets to limit global warming to 2 degrees – the level scientists say will prevent dangerous climate change.

The more votes for Earth we get, the stronger our mandate will be to influence a 'breakthrough' result. It's the only outcome that will secure the long term sustainability for our environment and global economy.

The future can be bright

New economic modelling indicates the world has just five years to initiate a low carbon industrial revolution before runaway climate change becomes almost inevitable. But it can be done, and the long term benefits will be enormous.

So now's the time to give world leaders the mandate they need to make the right climate deal. It's time to Vote Earth!

A Hot Noon Somewhere

 

 

I was feeling tired and sleepy one afternoon watching my brother do some weeding in our garden. Suddenly I heard a soft but frightened tweet from the nearby curry leaves tree. It was at first hard to locate it amongst so many leaves. But finally my eye fell on it. A little birdie who had just lost its one leg in an accident. It was surely very frightened as well as in pain. Perched on a thin twig with its one leg it feared that the pinky-poo (the feline neighbour which has publicly declared our house as its permanent residency) might be waiting for it very hungrily, for her very cherished tea-time munch.

I felt sad at being unable to do anything for the poor chap. My brother suggested that we should try giving it some earthworms which he found in the earth while weeding. But it was too frightened to accept anything. It hopped on to another branch trying to camouflage itself from us as well as pinky-poo. I went to my room and brought my cell phone and took a snap, but couldn't get a clear picture as it was almost hidden from my view.

I prayed to God for its safety and quick recovery and left the place. My brother told me that he couldn't find it later. Perhaps it had flown away to another tree- probably a more safe place to her.

I don't know what had happened to her, whether it is still surviving or not, but surely it had made my day and helped me filling up some blank space in my blog after a long time. Now I'm thinking of giving a name to this short-time friend of mine though I may not see it anymore. I'll be very grateful if any reader comes out with an unique name for it. Please feel free to comment.

So long for now, lets see what else catches my imagination.

An universe to discover

On 19 December 2007, the United Nations’ 62^nd session took a colossal step, which said that the year 2009 would be celebrated as ‘International Year of Astronomy’. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) will jointly venture into this project.

Delving into the depths of time…some 400 years ago, we could visualize an Italian - an avant-garde, discovering the unknown and the unseen universe through his self-constructed telescope. He was Galileo Galilei, who definitely does not require an introduction here. He was the first man to let us know about the solar system and how vast the expanse of universe is. He was the pioneer of modern astronomy. To honour his contribution on the field, the UN has arranged this programme.

Based on Hans Lippershey's first telescope, Galileo constructed one about four centimetres in diametre. With the help of this instrument in 1609-10 he observed some conspicuous facts and compiled them in a book called 'The Starry Messenger'. Galileo's main discoveries were:

1. To observe the other side of the moon which is always hidden from Earth's view.

2. The waxing and waning of Venus.

3. Discovering the four main sattelites of Jupiter.

4. The rings of Saturn and

5. The existence of the Milky Way Galaxy.

The motto of the International Year of Astronomy is 'Universe - Yours to Discover'. The main idea behind this initiative is to make man more cognitive, and 140 nations and 38 astronomical research stations have come together hand in hand to make it successful.

An eleven-tier programme initiative has been considered.

Hundred hours of Astronomy: From 2^nd to 5^th April, people will have the advantage of observing the universe through telescopes for up to 100 hours. Various universities and research centres are coming forward for fulfilling this idea.

Galileoscope: Ten thousand high-end telescopes modeled on the one made by Galileo are to be distributed to children (One Telescope per Child) so that they can observe the universe properly.


 Cosmic Diary: Scientists and Astronomers will compile their findings in various books and will spread the word through various websites.

 
Portal to the Universe: A portal will be set up comprising the wherewithal recent findings by astronomers and observatories and will be published on the internet.






















She is an Astronomer: Special attention has been given to women who would otherwise remain involved in banal household chores and make them more conscious about astronomical inventions taking place all over the world. UNESCO has taken a step to inspire them take up astronomy as a career.


Dark Skies Awareness: People are not being able to watch the night sky because of the increasing pollution. The IAU will be taking a part to help people avoid this difficulty.


Astronomy and World Heritage Site: Plans are also in progress to preserve the ancient observatories and places of astronomical interest so that the future generation gets to know about them.




















 


Galileo Teacher’s Training Programme: By the end of 2012, about 5000 Galileo National Ambassadors will be appointed who would give proper astronomical training to the Galileo Master Teachers who would in their turn spread awareness.



Universe Awareness: UNESCO has promised to help financially those students who are interested in astronomical research work.

From Earth to the Universe: Good news for those who are not aware of this revolutionary initiative!
Now various parks, art galleries and kiosks will be embellished waith attractive photographs and paintings of the universe to help make people aware.


Developing Astronomy Globally: A three level concomitant programme has been taken, on the job-oriented front, the educational and the popular front where universities and research organizations will aid common people.

Last but not the least, let us all be aware of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 and help ourselves to be inspired by the man who will always be known as the father of astronomy.


Material collected on April 1, 2009