Actress Angelina Jolie says she is now looking to focus on her directing career. “I’ve never been comfortable as an actor — I’ve never loved being in front of the camera. I didn’t ever think I could direct, but I hope I’m able to have a career at it because I’m much happier,” Jolie told luxury lifestyle magazine Du Jour, reportsfemalefirst.co.uk.
Jolie, who made just one big screen outing this year as she took on the title role in Maleficent, will be donning the director’s hat with Unbroken, a biopic about Olympian and prisoner of war Louis Zamperini. She has just finished filming By The Sea, which will see her star and direct in the same movie for the first time. The film stars her husband Brad Pitt, whom she is directing for the first time.
Month: November 2014
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IT’S DIRECTION OVER ACTING FOR ANGELINA JOLIE
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Jennifer Lawrence credits Liam Hemsworth for ‘toughening her up’
Actress Jennifer Lawrence has credited Liam Hemsworth, her co-star in the film ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1’, for ‘toughening her up’. The 24-year-old said in an interview to Nylon magazine that she was surprised to find a lasting friendship with Hemsworth, and has formed an unexpected and strong bond with him, reports contactmusic.com.
The duo was last seen together on-screen in the fourth part of “The Hunger Games” franchise. Asked about her time working on the franchise, the Oscar winner said: “I guess the thing that surprised me is that I would never expect to ever have a man this good looking ever be my best friend. I just would never assume those things could happen, but he is. “He’s (Hemsworth) the most wonderful, lovable, family-oriented, sweet, hilarious, amazing guy. He actually taught me how to be fair and to stand up for myself.
It’s my biggest weakness: negotiating. “I’m a wimp about standing up for myself and Liam is always fair. He’s always on time, he’s always doing his job, and he’s good about making sure that things stay fair. He’s teaching me to toughen up a little bit. That was important, I need that,” she added. -
Penguins of Madagascar
Cast: [voices] Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Conrad Vernon, John Malkovich, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ken Jeong, Annet Mahendru, Peter Stormare
Direction: Eric Darnell, Simon J. Smith
Genre: Animation
Duration: 1 hour 32 minutes
STORY: Four penguins break into Fort Knox for what they consider to be worth more than gold – a vending machine of ‘Cheezy Puffs’. Once inside, they are kidnapped by the octopus Dave (Malkovich) who nurses an old grudge against them. They escape but now have to foil Dave’s master plan to disfigure all creatures cute and cuddly.
REVIEW: We start off with the origin story of the four. While very young, Skipper (McGrath), Kowalski (Miller) and Rico (Vernon) break away from the pack in order to save a penguin egg. When it hatches, they adopt the baby, who they name Private (Knights). Curious about what lies beyond their polar surroundings, they hitch a ride on a floating iceberg and set out to see what the world has to offer.
Years later, they escape a circus (where they are stars) and head to Fort Knox to buy packets of cheese crisps – Private’s birthday present. While clueless about why Dave has captured them and taken them to his headquarters in Venice, he tells the puzzled penguins that the public’s love for them at zoos meant that he was blatantly ignored every time. He’s therefore determined to disfigure them and all the cute penguins of the world (whom he blames for his misery) by zapping them with a ‘Medusa Serum’ so that people will then despise their appearance. Somehow, they escape Dave’s lair but after his minion octopuses chase them through Venetian streets, the penguins are saved by a mixed-species elite force called North Wind, comprising Classified (Cumberbatch), Short Fuse (Jeong), Eva (Mahendru) and Corporal (Stormare).
The penguins still need to stop Dave and North Wind too needs to apprehend him. After a few hiccups, the anthropomorphic animals pool in their efforts to bring Dave down. The pace is brisk – frenzied, even – the animation topnotch and the script is full of witticisms, puns (“Drew, Barry – more power!” Or “Nicolas, Cage – the penguins!”) and there are jokes aplenty for the kiddies as well as belly-busters for the grown-ups. And of course, the penguins are simply adorable. -
VERDICT DUE IN MURDER RETRIAL OF EGYPT’S HOSNI MUBARAK
CAIRO (TIP): An Egyptian court is to deliver today its verdict in the murder retrial of former president Hosni Mubarak, almost four years after he was overthrown in a popular uprising. Mubarak, 86, is accused along with seven of his former police commanders of involvement in the killing of hundreds of demonstrators during the 2011 revolt that ended his three-decade rule.
An appeals court overturned an initial life sentence for Mubarak in 2012 on a technicality. The new verdict was initially scheduled for September 27, but chief judge Mahmud Kamel al-Rashidi postponed it, saying he had not finished writing the reasoning after a retrial that saw thousands of case files presented. The court is also due to rule on corruption charges levelled against Mubarak and his sons Alaa and Gamal. If acquitted, he would not be released because he is serving a threeyear sentence in a separate corruption case, a judicial official said.
Today’s verdict comes as the revolutionary fervour that unseated Mubarak has largely ebbed across the country. Mubarak’s Islamist successor Mohamed Morsi was himself removed last year by then-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is now president, and put on trial along with hundreds of other Islamists. Morsi and several top leaders of his Muslim Brotherhood movement are accused of committing acts of violence during the anti-Mubarak uprising as well as during huge anti-Morsi protests which prompted the army to remove him.
Several top left-leaning youth activists who led the campaign against Mubarak have also been jailed by the authorities for staging unauthorised protests after the June 2013 overthrow of the divisive Morsi. Sisi, who won a presidential election in May after crushing his Islamist opponents, has made law and order and economic stability his top priorities rather than democratic freedoms – the key demand during the anti-Mubarak uprising. The police force, which Mubarak is accused of ordering to quell the 2011 uprising, is now feted in the largely pro-government media as it wages a deadly crackdown on pro-Morsi Islamist protesters and militants. At least 1,400 people have been killed in the crackdown, with scores of soldiers and policemen dying in militant attacks. -
Chinese tycoon hires 30 Phantoms for son’s wedding
BEIJING (TIP): A Chinese tycoon made headlines for hiring 30 Rolls-Royce Phantom cars for his son’s wedding and organizing a lavish dinner spending about a lakh of rupees per table amid the Communist nation’s crackdown against extravagance and hedonism. Chinese social media users were stunned by images of the lavish multimillion-yuan wedding of a mainland energy and real estate tycoon’s son showing a fleet of 30 Rolls-Royce Phantoms taking guests to the 9,999 yuan (about a lakh of rupees) per table, South China Morning Post reported.
Liu Baoli, a normally low-profile businessman from Hebei Province created national headlines after video and photographs of Sunday’s “most extravagant wedding”. Pictures posted online by spectators showed the newlyweds, Liu’s son Liu He and his bride, the daughter of a village chief driving to the wedding banquet in their bright red Ferrari followed by a fleet of luxury motorcycles. The tycoon spent more than 1 million yuan just on the 101-table banquet, staff at the hotel hosting the feast told the Huashang Daily newspaper. “The most expensive banquet on our menu is about 3,000 yuan per table,” one staff member said. -
Runner who drank urine, bat blood to survive in desert
ALGERIA (TIP): A marathon runner has revealed how he survived in the Sahara desert for over a week by drinking bat blood and his urine. The Marathon des Sables — a six-day, 155-mile race through the Sahara desert — is notoriously tough. So much so that former Olympic pentathlete Mauro Prosperi had to sign a form before he took part telling organizers where he wanted to be buried if he died.
Today , the Marathon des Sables has up 1,300 participants, but when Prosperi signed up he was one of only 80 participants surrounded by desert, and found himself running alone a lot of the time. Prosperi was making good progress at fourth place.But his luck changed when he was confronted with a violent 8-hour sand storm. For the next 10 days, he would have to fight to survive in the unforgiving desert using only a knife, a compass, a sleeping bag and a stash of dehydrated food in his backpack.
Prosperi’s survival instincts kicked in and he remembered that well-hydrated urine is the most drinkable. He was forced to urinate in a spare water bottle, which he didn’t touch until the fourth day he was lost. And to cook his rations, Prosperi urinated on the food in order to save his bottled pee to drink. On the second day , Prosperi’s launched a flare at a passing helicopter, but failed to catch the crew’s eye. After a couple of days, he discovered a marabout, a Muslim shrine where Bedouin nomads stop while crossing the desert, and stayed there for three days.
As he climbed the roof to fix his Italian flag to the roof, he discovered a colony of bats.”I drank their blood. I ate at least 20 of them, raw,” he said. Propser’s second attempt at being spotted by a plane failed, and the runner then decided to take his own life. But his suicide attempt failed and he decided to continue. During this journey , he devoured raw snakes and lizards, and tiny plants on dried riverbeds. Meanwhile, the organizers and his brother and brother-in-law were scouring the desert for him. -
Iconic Mexican comedian ‘Chespirito’ dies at 85
MEXICO CITY (TIP): Roberto Gomez Bolanos, the iconic Mexican comedian who wrote and played the boy television character “El Chavo del Ocho” that defined a generation for millions of Latin American children, died November 28, the Televisa television network said. He was 85. Known as “Chespirito” (ches-pee-REE-to), he changed comedy in Latin America, taking his inspiration from Laurel and Hardy as well as Mexico’s other transcendent comedian who eventually made it to Hollywood, Cantinflas.
The cause of death was not immediately announced. His two most famous characters were “El Chavo del Ocho,” who lived in the homes of Latin America and beyond with his barrel, freckles, striped shirt and frayed cap, and the naive superhero “El Chapulin Colorado,” or “The Crimson Grasshopper.” His morning show was a staple for preschoolers, much like “Captain Kangaroo” in the United States. He warmed the hearts of millions with a clean comedy style far removed from the sexual innuendo and obscenitylaced jokes popular today.
In a career that started in the 1950s, he wrote hundreds of television episodes, 20 films and theater productions that drew record-breaking audiences. His prolific output earned him the nickname “Chespirito.” It came from the Spanish phonetic pronunciation of Shakespeare —“Chespir” — combined with “ito,” a diminutive commonly used in Mexico that seemed natural for Gomez Bolanos because of his short stature. “Nicknames are the most essential in life, more valuable than names,” the actor said in 2011.
On Friday, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto tweeted, “Mexico has lost an icon whose work has transcended generations and borders.” Born Feb. 21, 1929, he trained as an engineer, but he was dedicated to writing from a young age. Talented both on the screen and behind it, he achieved smashing success in 1970 with the creation of “Chespirito,” a television show that included segments about “The Crimson Grasshopper.” The goofy superhero dressed in a red bodysuit and hood with antennae that helped him detect danger miles away. He completed the outfit with yellow shorts and boots, giving him the look of a red bumblebee.
The character, whose superpowers included shrinking to the size of a pill and dodging enemies, constantly repeated his signature phrases, “You didn’t count on my cleverness” and “All the good people, follow me.” In 1971, Gomez Bolanos wrote and acted as “El Chavo del Ocho” (“The Boy from the Eight”), a reference to the channel that broadcast the show. “El Chavo” proved so popular that reruns are still shown in multiple countries in Latin American and on Spanish language television in the United States. Many Latin Americans, living under dictatorships during the height of the show, found his underdog triumphs heroic in the face of authority. -
SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB
CONTD FROM Vol 8 ISSUE 46
|| 1 || THIRD MEHL: Service to the True Guru is fruitful and rewarding; blessed and acceptable is such a life. Those who do not forget the True Guru, in life and in death, are truly wise people. Their families are saved, and they are approved by the Lord. The Gurmukhs are approved in death as in life, while the self-willed manmukhs continue the cycle of birth and death. O Nanak, they are not described as dead, who are absorbed in the Word of the Guru’s Shabad.
|| 2 || PAUREE: Serve the Immaculate Lord God, and meditate on the Lord’s Name. Join the Society of the Holy Saints, and be absorbed in the Lord’s Name. O Lord, glorious and great is service to You; I am so foolish – please, commit me to it. I am Your servant and slave; command me, according to Your Will. As Gurmukh, I shall serve You, as Guru has instructed me.
|| 2 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: He acts according to pre-ordained destiny, written by the Creator Himself. Emotional attachment has drugged him, and he has forgotten the Lord, the treasure of virtue. Don’t think that he is alive in the world – he is dead, through the love of duality. Those who do not meditate on the Lord, as Gurmukh, are not permitted to sit near the Lord. They suffer the most horrible pain and suffering, and neither their sons nor their wives go along with them. Their faces are blackened among men, and they sigh in deep regret. No one places any reliance in the self-willed manmukhs; trust in them is lost. O Nanak, the Gurmukhs live in absolute peace; the Naam, the Name of the Lord, abides within them.
|| 1 || THIRD MEHL: They alone are relatives, and they alone are friends, who, as Gurmukh, join together in love. Night and day, they act according to the True Guru’s Will; they remain absorbed in the True Name. Those who are attached to the love of duality are not called friends; they practice egotism and corruption. The self-willed manmukhs are selfish; they cannot resolve anyone’s affairs. O Nanak, they act according to their preordained destiny; no one can erase it.
|| 2 || PAUREE: You Yourself created the world, and You Yourself arranged the play of it. You Yourself created the three qualities, and fostered emotional attachment to Maya. He is called to account for his deeds done in egotism; he continues coming and going in reincarnation. The Guru instructs those whom the Lord Himself blesses with Grace. I am a sacrifice to my Guru; forever and ever, I am a sacrifice to Him.
|| 3 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: The love of Maya is enticing; without teeth, it has eaten up the world. The self-willed manmukhs are eaten away, while the Gurmukhs are saved; they focus their consciousness on the True Name.Without the Name, the world wanders around insane; the Gurmukhs come to see this. Involved in worldly affairs, he wastes his life in vain; the peace-giving Lord does not come to abide in his mind. O Nanak, they alone obtain the Name, who have such preordained destiny.
|| 1 || THIRD MEHL: The home within is filled with Ambrosial Nectar, but the self-willed manmukh does not get to taste it. He is like the deer, who does not recognize its own musk-scent; it wanders around, deluded by doubt. The manmukh forsakes the Ambrosial Nectar, and instead gathers poison; the Creator Himself has fooled him. How rare are the Gurmukhs, who obtain this understanding; they behold the Lord God within themselves. Their minds and bodies are cooled and soothed, and their tongues enjoy the sublime taste of the Lord. Through the Word of the Shabad, the Name wells up; through the Shabad, we are united in the Lord’s Union.Without the Shabad, the whole world is insane, and it loses its life in vain. The Shabad alone is Ambrosial Nectar; O Nanak, the Gurmukhs obtain it.
|| 2 || PAUREE: The Lord God is inaccessible; tell me, how can we find Him? He has no form or feature, and He cannot be seen; tell me, how can we meditate on Him? The Lord is formless, immaculate and inaccessible; which of His Virtues should we speak of and sing? They alone walk on the Lord’s Path, whom the Lord Himself instructs. The Perfect Guru has revealed Him to me; serving the Guru, He is found.
|| 4 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: It is as if my body has been crushed in the oil-press, without yielding even a drop of blood; it is as if my soul has been cut apart into pieces for the sake of the Love of the True Lord; O Nanak, still, night and day, my Union with the Lord is not broken.
|| 1 || THIRD MEHL: My Friend is so full of joy and love; He colors my mind with the color of His Love, like the fabric which is treated to retain the color of the dye. O Nanak, this color does not depart, and no other color can be imparted to this fabric.
|| 2 || PAUREE: The Lord Himself is pervading everywhere; the Lord Himself causes us to chant His Name. The Lord Himself created the creation; He commits all to their tasks. He engages some in devotional worship, and others, He causes to stray. He places some on the Path, while He leads others into the wilderness. Servant Nanak meditates on the Naam, the Name of the Lord; as Gurmukh, he sings the Glorious Praises of the Lord.
|| 5 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: Service to the True Guru is fruitful and rewarding, if one performs it with his mind focused on it. The fruits of the mind’s desires are obtained, and egotism departs from within. His bonds are broken, and he is liberated; he remains absorbed in the True Lord. It is so difficult to obtain the Naam in this world; it comes to dwell in the mind of the Gurmukh. O Nanak, I am a sacrifice to one who serves his True Guru.
|| 1 || THIRD MEHL: The mind of the self-willed manmukh is so very stubborn; it is stuck in the love of duality. He does not find peace, even in dreams; he passes his life in misery and suffering. The Pandits have grown weary of going door to door, reading and reciting their scriptures; the Siddhas have gone into their trances of Samaadhi. This mind cannot be controlled; they are tired of performing religious rituals. The impersonators have grown weary of wearing false costumes, and bathing at the sixty-eight sacred shrines. They do not know the state of their own minds; they are deluded by doubt and egotism. By Guru’s Grace, the Fear of God is obtained; by great good fortune, the Lord comes to abide in the mind. When the Fear of God comes, the mind is restrained, and through the Word of the Shabad, the ego is burnt away. Those who are imbued with Truth are immaculate; their light merges in the Light. Meeting the True Guru, one obtains the Name; O Nanak, he is absorbed in peace.
|| 2 || PAUREE: The pleasures of kings and emperors are pleasing, but they last for only a few days. These pleasures of Maya are like the color of the safflower, which wears off in a moment. They do not go with him when he departs; instead, he carries the load of sins upon his head. When death seizes him, and marches him away, then he looks absolutely hideous. That lost opportunity will not come into his hands again, and in the end, he regrets and repents.
|| 6 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: Those who turn their faces away from the True Guru, suffer in sorrow and bondage. Again and again, they are born only to die; they cannot meet their Lord. The disease of doubt does not depart, and they find only pain and more pain. O Nanak, if the Gracious Lord forgives, then one is united in Union with the Word of the Shabad.
|| 1 || THIRD MEHL: Those who turn their faces away from the True Guru, shall find no place of rest or shelter. They wander around from door to door, like a woman forsaken, with a bad character and a bad reputation. O Nanak, the Gurmukhs are forgiven, and united in Union with the True Guru.
|| 2 || PAUREE: Those who serve the True Lord, the Destroyer of ego, cross over the terrifying world-ocean. Those who chant the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, are passed over by the Messenger of Death. Those who meditate on the Lord, go to His Court in robes of honor. They alone serve You, O Lord, whom You bless with Grace. I sing continually Your Glorious Praises, O Beloved; as Gurmukh, my doubts and fears have been dispelled.
|| 7 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: Upon the plate, three things have been placed; this is the sublime, ambrosial food of the Lord. Eating this, the mind is satisfied, and the Door of Salvation is found. It is so difficult to obtain this food, O Saints; it is obtained only by contemplating the Guru. Why should we cast this riddle out of our minds? We should keep it ever enshrined in our hearts. The True Guru has posed this riddle. The Guru’s Sikhs have found its solution. O Nanak, he alone understands this, whom the Lord inspires to understand. The Gurmukhs work hard, and find the Lord.
|| 1 || THIRD MEHL: Those whom the Primal Lord unites, remain in Union with Him; they focus their consciousness on the True Guru. Those whom the Lord Himself separates, remain separated; in the love of duality, they are ruined. O Nanak, without good karma, what can anyone obtain? He earns what he is pre-destined to receive.
|| 2 || PAUREE: Sitting together, the companions sing the Songs of the Lord’s Praises. They praise the Lord’s Name continually; they are a sacrifice to the Lord. Those who hear, and believe in the Lord’s Name, to them I am a sacrifice. O Lord, let me unite with the Gurmukhs, who are united with You. I am a sacrifice to those who, day and night, behold their Guru.
|| 8 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: Without the Name of the Lord, everyone wanders around the world, losing. The self-willed manmukhs do their deeds in the pitch black darkness of egotism. The Gurmukhs drink in the Ambrosial Nectar, O Nanak, contemplating the Word of the Shabad.
|| 1 || THIRD MEHL: He wakes in peace, and he sleeps in peace. The Gurmukh praises the Lord night and day. The self-willed manmukh remains deluded by his doubts. He is filled with anxiety, and he cannot even sleep. The spiritually wise wake and sleep in peace. Nanak is a sacrifice to those who are imbued with the Naam, the Name of the Lord.
|| 2 || PAUREE: They alone meditate on the Lord’s Name, who are imbued with the Lord. They meditate on the One Lord; the One and Only Lord is True. The One Lord is pervading everywhere; the One Lord created the Universe. Those who meditate on the Lord’s Name, cast out their fears. The Lord Himself blesses them with Guru’s Instruction; the Gurmukh meditates on the Lord.
|| 9 || SHALOK, THIRD MEHL: Spiritual wisdom, which would bring understanding, does not enter into his mind.Without seeing, how can he praise the Lord? The blind act in blindness. O Nanak, when one realizes the Word of the Shabad, then the Naam comes to abide in the mind.
|| 1 || THIRD MEHL: There is One Bani; there is One Guru; there is one Shabad to contemplate. True is the merchandise, and true is the shop; the warehouses are overflowing with jewels. By Guru’s Grace, they are obtained, if the Great Giver gives them. Dealing in this true merchandise, one earns the profit of the incomparable Naam. In the midst of poison, the Ambrosial Nectar is revealed; by His Mercy, one drinks it in. O Nanak, praise the True Lord; blessed is the Creator, the Embellisher.
TO BE CONTINUED -
THE RAMAYANA
contined from vol 8 issue 46
By their faith and lofty penance heaven’s eternal bliss have won,
Holy is the fair seclusion for thy purpose suited well, Or if still thy heart inclineth, here in peace and comfort dwell!” Spake the rishi Bharad-vaja, and with every courteous rite,
Cheered his guests with varied converse till the silent hours of night,
Fourth night of the princes’ exile in Prayaga’s hermitage, Passed the brothers and fair Sita honoured by Prayaga’s Sacre.
CROSSING THE JUMNA–VALMIKI’S HERMITAGE
Morning dawned, and faithful Sita with the brothers held her way, Where the dark and eddying,
waters of the sacred Jumna stray, Pondering by the rapid river long the thoughtful brothers stood,
Then with stalwart arms and axes felled the sturdy jungle wood, Usira of strongest fibre,
slender bamboo smooth and plain, Jambu branches intertwining, with the bent and twisting cane,
And a mighty raft constructed, and with creepers scented sweet,
Lakshman for the gentle Sita made a soft and pleasant seat. Then the rustic bark was floated,
framed with skill of woodman’s craft, By her loving lord supported Sita stepped upon the raft,
And her raiments and apparel Rama by his consort laid, And the axes and the deerskins,
bow and dart and shining blade. Then with stalwart arms the brothers plied the bending bamboo oar,
And the strong raft gaily bounding left for Jumna’s southern shore. “Goddess of the glorious Jumna!” so the pious Sita prayed, “Peaceful be my husband’s exile in the forest’s darksome shade,
May he safely reach Ayodhya, and a thousand fattened kine, Hundred jars of sweet libation, mighty Jumna,
shall be thine, Grant that from the woods returning he may see his home again,
Grant that honoured by his kinsmen he may rule his loving men! On her breast her arms she folded while the princes plied the oar, And the bright bark bravely bounding reached the wooded southern shore.
And the wanderers from Ayodhya on the river’s margin stood,
Where the unknown realm extended mantled by unending wood, Gallant Lakshman with his weapons went before the path to clear, Soft-eyed Sita followed gently, Rama followed in the rear.
Oft from tree and darksome jungle,
Lakshman ever true and brave, Plucked the fruit or smiling blossom and to gentle Sita gave, Oft to Rama turned his consort, pleased and curious evermore, Asked the name of tree or creeper,
fruit or flower unseen before. Still with brotherlv affection Lakshman brought each dewy spray,
Bud or blossom of wild beauty from the woodland bright and gay,
Still with eager joy and pleasure Sita turned her eye once more, Where the tuneful swans and saras flocked on Jumna’s sandy shore.
Two miles thus they walked and wandered and the belt of forest passed, Slew the wild deer of the jungle,
spread on leaves their rich repast, Peacocks flew around them gaily,
monkeys leaped on branches bent,
Fifth night of their endless wanderings in the forest thus they spent.
“Wake, my love,
and list the warblings and the voices of the wood,” Thus spake Rama when the morning on the eastern mountains stood, Sita woke and gallant Lakshman, and they sipped the sacred wave,
To the hill of Chitra-kuta held their way serene and brave. “Mark, my love,” so Rama uttered, “every bush and tree and flower, Tinged by radiant light of morning sparkles in a golden shower,
Mark the flaming flower of Kinsuk and the Vilwa in its pride,
Luscious fruits in wild profusion ample store of food provide, Mark the honeycombs suspended from each tall and stately tree,
How from every virgin blossom steals her store the faithless bee! Oft the lone and startled wild cock sounds its clarion full and clear, And from flowering fragrant forests peacocks send the answering cheer,
Oft the elephant of jungle ranges in this darksome wood,
For yon peak is Chitra-kuta loved by saints and hermits good, Oft the chanted songs of hermits echo through its sacred grove, Peaceful on its shady uplands,
Sita, we shall live and rove!” Gently thus the princes wandered through the fair and woodland scene,
Fruits and blossoms lit the branches, feathered songsters filled the green,
Anchorites and ancient hermits lived in every sylvan grove, And a sweet and sacred stillness filled the woods with peace and love! Gently thus the princes wandered to the holy hermitage,
Where in lofty contemplation lived the mighty Saint and Sage, Heaven inspired thy song,
Valmiki! Ancient Bard of ancient day,
Deeds of virtue and of valour live in thy madying lay! And the Bard received the princes with a father’s greetings kind, Bade them live in Chitra-kuta with a pure and peaceful mind,
To the true and faithful Lakshman, Rama then his purpose said, And of leaf and forest timber Lakshman soon a cottage made. “So our sacred Sastras sanction,” thus the righteous Rama spake,
“Holy offering we should render when our dwelling-home we make, Slay the black buck,
gallant Lakshman, and a sacrifice prepare, For the moment is auspicious and the day is bright and fair.” Lakshman slew a mighty black-buck, with the antlered trophy came,
Placed the carcass consecrated by the altar’s blazing flame,
Radiant round the mighty offering tongues of red fire curling shone,
And the buck was duly roasted and the tender meat was done. Pure from bath,
with sacred mantra Rama did the holy rite, And invoked the bright Immortals for to bless the dwelling site,
To the kindly VISWA-DEVAS, and to RUDRA fierce and strong,
And to VISHNU Lord of Creatures, Rama raised the sacred song.
Righteous rite was duly rendered for the forest-dwelling made, And with true and deep devotion was the sacred mantra prayed,
And the worship of the Bright Ones purified each earthly stain,
Pure-souled Rama raised the altar and the chaitya’s sacred fane. Evening spread its holy stillness,
bush and tree its magic felt, As the Gods in BRAHMA’S mansions, exiles in their cottage dwelt,
TO BE CONTINUED -
WAYS TO INCREASE POSITIVITY IN HOME
Here are some tips from a Vastu and Feng Shui expert for a life full of harmony. In the present complex scenario, we do not find time for ourselves to analyze the various reasons that lead us to failures in health, wealth or relationships. Most of these problems are connected to major Vastu and Feng Shui defects.
Always stand in the centre of your house with a compass in your hand to find out the directions of your house. The main entrance is the mouth of a house which brings in the energy. Avoid a property which has a door facing south-west, as it is the entry of the devil energy and brings in struggle and misfortunes. If your house already has one, fix two Hanumanji tiles outside the door and see the difference.
Mandir or altar is the king of all Vastu rules – place it in the North- East and everything will start falling in place. Also, face the East while praying.
Kitchen is the symbol of prosperity and should be ideally placed in the southeast. Kitchen in the North or North-East may bring financial and health problems. In this case, hang three bronze bowls upside down on the ceiling but do not hang over the stove.
Master bedroom is the key to enter the door of stability and it must be in the South-West. You should sleep with your head in the South or West. But a breadwinner must never sleep in the North-East .
Bathrooms and toilets have the energy of ‘hell’ which are best in West or South. But should never be in North and North-East or they bring financial, health and educational problems.
Centre is the nose of your house from where your house breathes. It must be open and clutter-free. A wall here gives stomach and financial problems so fix a zero watt blue bulb on this wall and keep it on 24×7 .
Cuts in any direction make a house paralyzed, mainly cuts in South-West, North, North-East and South-East give serious problems. There are many mysteries and secrets regarding the cuts and their cures.
Tips
Never use too much of bright colors such as red and purple for decorating your house or they may enhance sickness energy in the house, if any.
Do not keep pictures of water or a fountain in your bedroom. It might adversely affect you.
Do not keep your mandir/temple under any beam or cupboard or you will be always under stress. -
BONDING TIME WITH YOUR KID
When was the last time you actually spent some time doing something different with your kid/ kids? While children today are even more busy than their parents — with school, tuitions, dance classes, extracurricular activities, birthday parties, school trips – don’t allow these things to take over your child’s life completely. And more importantly, don’t allow them to hinder bonding time with your kid.
Take them to a different place once a week – this could be a new garden, a new grocery shop or even a new mall. Encourage them to suggest different places.
Take up a hobby together with your child. Diya painting, paper mache, pottery, bicycling, badminton, stamp collecting, gardening – the list is endless.
Board games can be entertaining and educational as well. For example, through Monopoly you can teach your child the basics of finance. Encourage your child to express through drawing in the game of Pictionary. There are hundreds of fun board games in the family. Dedicate two hours a week to them and see how much the family will enjoy them. Even jigsaw puzzles are a great way to bond with your child. Start with small sized ones – 50 pieces ones and once you get the hang of them, move to the 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 piece puzzles.
Allow your child to make something in the kitchen. Small tasks like peeling fruits and vegetables, making sandwiches or rolls can be a lot of fun.
Take your kids to a theme park and sit on all the rides with them. This way your can sit on different rides together and make it a fun day out. -
STRETCH YOUR WAY TO GOOD HEALTH
Stretching is an important and oft neglected part of a workout. Not stretching enough can cause a lot of damage since your muscles get exerted during a workout. Experts say that not only does stretching correctly improve your flexibility, it also ensures that your exercise regime is more effective.
Instead of focusing just on cardio or resistance training, keep a few minutes aside just to stretch, both before and after your workout session. Stretching for about five to 10 minutes before exercising warms your body up for the impending workout. Here are a few things that you should keep in mind… Make sure that you’re relaxed while stretching. When you’re mentally stressed, it will reflect on your body as well, making it tight and unresponsive.
This, in turn, will make stretching rather painful. Be aware of your breathing – take deep breaths and never hold your breath while stretching. Start slowly, and increase the intensity gradually. You don’t want to pull a muscle in the very first week. As you stretch, feel the pull in your muscles and hold the position for at least 15 to 20 seconds.
As time passes, your body will get used to the stretching and you will become more flexible and will be able to challenge your body further. When you stretch, don’t move or bounce. You could end up overstretching the muscle and injuring yourself. While a little bit of pain is considered normal during stretching, if the pain gets intense, stop immediately. It could mean that you have overstretched a muscle.
Benefits of stretching include:
Lowers the risk of injury Improves posture and flexibility Lowers the chances of soreness in muscles. -
MUST-HAVE HEALTHY SPICES IN YOUR KITCHEN
Outlined below are some of the most commonly used Ayurvedic spices, which when used in cooking, not only enhance the taste of the meal, but also make it nutritious and balancing:
Coriander (Dhania)
The coriander seed is truly a cook’s best friend as it aids in the assimilation of other herbs and spices used during cooking. Known to be gracious to all the doshas, this spice is famous in Ayurveda for its use in balancing the body and mind. Coriander is also beneficial in digestive, respiratory and urinary disorders, as well as treating skin ailments caused by Pitta aggravation.
Ginger (Adrak)
An irreplacable spice in any kitchen, Ginger brings flavor and pungency to food and is used widely as a digestive. Known as ‘the universal medicine’ for its healing properties, Ginger provides an excellent remedy for respiratory conditions caused by aggravation of Kapha and Vata. Apart from vegetables and lentils, this invigorating spice is also used in herbal tea to treat common cold and cough.
Cumin (Jeera)
Widely used as a flavoring agent and condiment in curries and lentils, Cumin is known for its aromatic qualities. This spice is used as a stimulant for digestive disorders and even as an antiseptic. It also enhances the functioning of the liver and pancreas, enabling the body to cleanse accumulated toxins and absorb nutrients better.
Fenugreek (Methi)
Fenugreek is highly valuable for its healing properties. It is helpful in treating digestive, respiratory, nervous, and menstrual disorders, as well as purifying the skin and facilitating weight loss. Drinking water with Fenugreek seeds soaked overnight helps in reducing blood sugar levels in the body. Bitter-sweet in flavor, this spice is popularly used in Indian cooking for vegetables and dals.
Turmeric (Haldi)
Referred to as the Indian Saffron, Turmeric is bitter, astringent and pungent in taste. It has been known for centuries for its many therapeutic qualities, including anti-oxidant, antiinflammatory and anti-septic properties. Widely regarded as an indispensable part of Indian cuisine, Turmeric enhances metabolism and helps the body to reduce undesirable fatty deposits when used in cooking. -
CONSUMING YOGHURT DAILY COULD LOWER DIABETES RISK
Including yogurt in your daily diet could lower your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, a study says. Consumption of one 28g serving of yogurt per day is associated with an 18 percent lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, the findings showed. “We found that higher intake of yogurt is associated with a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes, whereas other dairy foods and consumption of total dairy did not show this association,” said senior researcher of the study Frank Hu from the Harvard School of Public Health in the US. The findings suggest that yogurt can be incorporated into a healthy dietary pattern, Hu added.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells develop resistance to insulin. It has been shown that probiotic bacteria found in yoghurt improve fat profiles and antioxidant status in people with Type 2 diabetes and the researchers suggest this could have a risk-lowering effect in developing the condition.
The researchers pooled the results of three prospective cohort studies that followed the medical history and lifestyle habits of health professionals. The study involved a total of 289,900 participants. Within the three cohorts, 15,156 cases of Type 2 diabetes were identified during the follow-up period.
When adjusting for chronic disease risk factors such as age and BMI (body mass index) as well as dietary factors, it was found that high consumption of yogurt was associated with a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The findings were confirmed when the authors conducted a meta-analysis, incorporating their results and other published studies up to March 2013. -
Nasal spray offers hope for Ebola protection
Anew study has revealed that a nasal vaccine in works has the potential for long-lasting protection from Ebola virus. Results from a small pre-clinical study at The University of Texas at Austin represent the only proof to date that a single dose of a non-injectable vaccine platform for Ebola is long-lasting, which could have significant global implications in controlling future outbreaks.
Researcher Maria Croyle and colleagues at the university developed a nasal formulation that improved survival of immunized non-human primates from 67 percent (2 out of 3) to 100 percent (3 out of 3) after challenge with 1,000 plaque forming units of Ebola Zaire 150 days after immunization. This is important since only 50 percent of the primates given the vaccine by the standard route (intramuscular injection) survived challenge. Jonsson- Schmunk said that Ebola causes devastating outbreaks with fatality rates of 25 – 90 percent in Africa and Asia and although progress has been made in understanding the virus’ biology, no licensed vaccines or treatments currently exist.
Schmunk added that there is a desperate need for a vaccine that not only prevents the continued transmission from person to person, but also aids in controlling future incidences and the main advantage of their vaccine platform over the others in clinical testing is the long-lasting protection after a single intranasal dose. Schmunk continued that this is important since the longevity of other vaccines for Ebola that are currently being evaluated is not fully understood and moreover, the nasal spray immunization method is more attractive than a needle vaccine given the costs associated with syringe distribution and safety. -
KODAIKANAL: THE HILL COUNTRY
One of Tamil Nadu’s most picturesque hill stations, Kodaikanal is located at an altitude of 7,200 ft in the Palani hills in the Western Ghats. Comprising of densely wooded jungles, cascading hill slopes, circuitous rivers and green rolling valleys, it is a favourite amidst tourists visiting the country’s south. Though a trip to Kodi—as it is popularly referred to—is all about revelling in nature, here are a few things to take in during your time there.
Kukkal Caves
This is one of the most interesting excursions from Kodaikanal. Located at a distance of about 40 km from the city, the journey will take you through thickly forested areas abounding with orchids and shoal trees.
Subrahmanya temple
Also referred to as the Karthikeya temple and the Palani temple, this place of worship is a major draw for tourists. Located about 65 km ahead of Kodaikanal, it is dedicated to Lord Subramanian.
Bryant Park
Named, conceptualised and landscaped after the British officer Glenn Bryant back in 1980, Bryant Park is a botanical garden located to the east of the Kodaikanal Lake.
Berijam Lake
Although it’s a bit of a trek (20 km) from the heart of Kodaikanal, Berijam lake warrants a visit for its spectacular surroundings and untouched beauty. While its more popular counterpart – the Kodaikanal Lake – is thronged by tourists, this is where you need to go if you prefer places that aren’t crowded and commercial.
Pillar Rocks
One of Kodaikanal’s most famous attractions, these three mammoth rock pillars stand shoulder-to-shoulder, looming 400-ft-high in the sky. Affording a bird’s eye view of the surrounding vista, these granite structures are located at a distance of about eight km from the lake tower, and encompass little hidden nooks and crannies within them, which are great to explore.
Solar Physical Observatory
It is situated 3.2 kms. from the lake. This observatory was founded in 1989, and it is located at an elevation of 2343 mtrs. This observatory is the highest point in Kodai. Visitors can observe the stars and the planets.
Coakers Walk
Er.Coaker identified this hill-edged pathway in 1872. About a kilometre from the lake, Coaker’s Walk runs along a steep slope on the southern side of Kodai. It offers some of the best views of the plains Entry fee is collected here.
Kurinji Andavar Temple
Situated 3 kms from the lake, it is a famous shrine dedicated to lord Muruga. This temple is associated with the kurinji flowers that bloom once in 12 years. Kurinji means the hill region in Tamil literature and andavar means god. Therefore Lord Muruga is referred to as the God of the Hill here. From this temple one can have a view of Palani and Vaigai Dam.
Telescope House
Telescope House at Coakers Walk was constructed to enable visitors to have a panoramic view of the valley and nearby towns. A fee is collected to use the telescope.
Green valley View
It is located a little over 5 kms from kodaikanal lake and close to the golf club from here,you can get a magnificent view of the vaigai dam below.
Moier Point
Moier Point provides a lovely view of the valley. It is just 3 kms from the Pillar rocks Berijam Lake road.
Silent Valley View
Just a little away from the Pillar Rocks and the Berijam Lake Road, is Silent Valley View, which provides a breathtaking view of Silent Valley. Children are advised to walk carefully. Chettiar Park Tucked away in the northeastern corner of the town on the way to Kurinji Andavar temple, the Chettiar park is a charming place.
Shenbaganur Museum
The Sacred Heart College maintains this museum. It is a Theological Seminary founded in 1895 and devoted to preserving certain archaeological remains and the flora and fauna of the hills. It houses one of the best Orchidariams in the country. It has over 300 species of exotic orchids are housed here. It is about 5.6 kms the lake. Father Ugarthe, a Spaniard contributed his many private collections to the museum.
Silver Cascade
It is 8 kms from Kodai lake. The overflow of Kodai Lake comes down here as a 180 foot high waterfalls. churchThose interested can have a bath here.
La Saleth Church
Kodaikanal, the hill country is no exception to this and she too hosts our lady of la saleth shrine possessing the traditional heritage of 150 years and it is one of the two shrines dedicated to our lady of La saleth in the whole world,one in french and the other in kodaikanal. it is near to Coaker’s walk. -
GOLD IMPORT CURBS EASED, 80:20 SCHEME SCRAPPED
NEW DELHI: The government on November 28 removed restrictions on gold imports, scrapping the controversial 80:20 scheme amid allegation of misuse by half a dozen companies. Bowing to pressure from jewellers, the previous UPA government had eased some of the curbs and private agencies were allowed to import gold under the scheme that mandated traders to export 20% of all gold imported while retaining 80% for domestic use. The move is expected to cut smuggling and raise legal shipments into the world’s second-biggest consumer of the metal after China.
“It has been decided by the Government of India to withdraw the 20:80 scheme and restrictions placed on import of gold. Accordingly, all instructions issued about the scheme from time to time… stand withdrawn with immediate effect,” the Reserve Bank of India said in a statement. Sources said the move to scrap the scheme was taken as the measure was intended tackle the widening current account deficit last year. “Now that CAD is under control why continue with an emergency measure,” a source said, adding that the measure had led to smuggling. Apart from opening the floodgates to import, the move had resulted in nearly half the imports being routed through six agencies, raising alarm bells in the government.
Sources also ruled out any other curbs on gold imports for now. The scrapping of the scheme comes against the backdrop of expectations that the government will impose fresh restrictions to curb a surge in imports of the yellow metal in recent months. Data showed import of the yellow metal spiralled nearly four times to $4.2 billion in October from $1.1 billion in the same month last year. Gold imports have shot up to 150 tonnes in October compared to 24 tonnes in the same year ago period.In the April-June quarter of the current fiscal, the CAD narrowed to 1.7%, from 4.8% of GDP a year ago. -
ITC EYES A SLICE OF BRITANNIA COOKIE PIE
KOLKATA: Cookies, the new darling of the Indian biscuit market, look all set to see a big corporate battle between Britannia and ITC for leadership. The Rs 6,800-crore segment is the fastest-growing among different segments of the biscuit industry and has dethroned glucose as the biggest segment already. ITC plans to make inroads into the lucrative midpremium cookies segment, now ruled by Good Day of Britannia, the undisputed king of the segment with over 90% marketshare.
The FMCG-to-tobacco-to-hospitality conglomerate is introducing Sunfeast Mom’s Magic in the mid-premium cookies segment. Mom’s Magic is available in two variants — rich butter and cashew & almond, which is also available from the Good Day stable. The range is priced at Rs 10, Rs 15, Rs 20 & Rs 30. “Sunfeast Mom’s Magic is the brand’s endeavour to broaden its base in the cookie segment, the largest segment in biscuits,” a source in ITC said. According to an industry expert, Sunfeast is already the third largest player in the cookies segment in India and offers differentiated products across price segments.
The cookies segment is growing at a CAGR of 14% in India. The mid-premium cookies segment is relatively smaller in size with Rs 1,800-crore consumer spends, but has witnessed a CAGR of 20% in recent years. Britannia is also not sitting idle and to maintain its leadership in the lucrative cookies segment it has strengthened the Good Day portfolio with the introduction of a new brand in the family Chunkies. A Britannia spokesperson said Good Day is the largest brand in the cookies segment and has remained so ever since its inception close to three decades ago. It is also the largest brand in the Britannia stable.
“Business on Good Day is going great guns, clocking great growth numbers in 2013-14 and continuing to build on that in 2014-15. The brand is expanding its footprint in thousands of new consumer households. It is the most preferred biscuit brand in India and a new member — Chunkies — has now been added to the Good Day family to take this legacy forward,” a Britannia spokesperson said. -
GDP GROWS AT 5.3% IN Q2
New Delhi (TIP): Notwithstanding the improved business sentiment by the Modi government, improvement in economic activity on the ground is yet gradual with GDP growth for the July-September quarter coming in at 5.3%, lower than the first quarter putting the spotlight on interest rate cuts and bigger and speedier reforms. The GDP growth was better than expected due to improved performance of mining, power and certain services sectors. While business sentiment has improved dramatically since the Modi government took over, ground level and anecdotal evidence suggest muted business activity with the economy yet to recover from two years of slowdown.
The real estate sector for instance had its worst Diwali in many years. The Gross Domestic Growth in the second quarter was better than 5.2% of the same period last fiscal but was slower than 5.7% rate achieved in April- June quarter of the current fiscal. There were expectations that September quarter growth would fall to 5-5.1% range. There are worries for the government on the fiscal deficit front also.
The number touched 89.6% of the Budget Estimates for 2014-15 to cross Rs 4.75 lakh crore at the end of October. Assocham president Rana Kapoor said the GDP number has been completely on the expected lines and strengthens the cause for optimism of witnessing some economic recovery in the current fiscal itself. “However, the business confidence that has been generated needs to be converted into increased ground level activity,” he said.
Aditi Nayar, senior economist, ICRA, said the initial growth estimate for Q2 is favourable led by higher-than-expected growth of agriculture and allied activities and community social and personal services, in light of the unfavourable advance estimates for crop production for the 2014 kharif season and slowdown in growth of the Central Government’s revenue expenditure, respectively. Chandrajit Banerjee, Director-General, CII, said there has been a moderate decline in GDP growth over the previous quarter owing to a steep decline in manufacturing output but this does not alter the fact that the economy is on road to recovery as compared to the previous year.
This is borne out from the fact that the economy has notched up a growth of above 5% for the second consecutive quarter during the current year on the back of positive investor sentiment indicating that recovery could be taking shape, albeit gradually, he added. -
Grupo Nutresa buys Colombia’s biggest fast food chain for $383m
BOGOTA (TIP): Colombia’s food industry conglomerate Grupo Nutresa has paid 830 billion pesos ($383.3 million) to buy the country’s largest fast food chain, El Corral, as the producer of pasta, chocolate and coffee expands into out-of-home consumption. The El Corral burger bar chain has 340 outlets with a more up-market ‘Gourmet’ guise for some stores. El Corral also holds the franchise for international brands including Papa John’s pizza, Yogen Fruz frozen yoghurt and Krispy Kreme donuts.
“The acquisition of Grupo El Corral is of great relevance to Nutresa as it situates us as a leader in restaurant operations in Colombia, with exceptional brands,” Nutresa’s chief executive Carlos Ignacio Gallego said in a statement late on Thursday. He said El Corral offered attractive growth and profit levels. Nutresa will finance the take-over with its own cash and bank credit lines. The purchase comes on top of other take-overs it has made in the last few years including the $758 million purchase of Tresmontes Lucchetti in Chile. Nutresa operates in 12 countries in the Americas and produces meat, roasted coffee, pasta and chocolate among other foods. -
Govt plans to cut stake in PSBs, raise $14.4bn
NEW DELHI (TIP): The government plans to raise about 891.2 billion rupees ($14.4 billion) by reducing its stakes in state-run banks to 52 per cent, minister of state for finance Jayant Sinha said on Friday, sending shares of state lenders higher. The government holds stakes ranging from 56 per cent to 84 per cent in 24 state-run banks that account for 70 per cent of total outstanding loans of about $1 trillion in Asia’s third-largest economy.
The state-run lenders are estimated to need as much as $60 billion in capital over the next four years to meet upcoming global regulations and to build a buffer against rising bad loans. While the Indian government has traditionally funded the state lenders — to the tune of about $13 billion over the past decade — it is now striving to reduce the capital injections to lower its budget deficit. Cutting its stakes “would substantially reduce the requirement of budgetary provision for infusion of capital in public sector banks,” Jayant Sinha told the Lok Sabha in a written statement.
Bank shares, which were trading higher before the news as the market bets on an interest rate cut next week, extended gains. The index of state lenders rose as much as 5.8 per cent to its highest level in more than 3-1/2 years. Top lender State Bank of India (SBI) rose as much as 5.3 per cent, while second-largest Bank of Baroda jumped 8.3 per cent. Finance ministry officials say the Union Cabinet is expected to take a final decision on the issue of stake sale soon. A bunch of state lenders including SBI are awaiting the government’s approval to sell shares to raise capital.
Analysts say bigger state-run banks have a better chance to raise capital from the market, but remain sceptical of smaller lenders’ ability to attract investors. State-run banks have been burdened by high bad debt levels and corporate governance issues. A central bank-appointed panel this year recommended the government cut its stake in state lenders to below 50 per cent. -
NEW METHOD FOUND TO TURN SAWDUST INTO PETROL
LONDON (TIP): Your car may soon run on sawdust. Researchers have successfully converted sawdust into building blocks for petrol. Scientists at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) in Belgium used a new chemical process to convert the cellulose in sawdust into hydrocarbon chains. These hydrocarbons can be used as an additive in gasoline, or as a component in plastics, researchers said. Cellulose is the main substance in plant matter and is present in all non-edible plant parts of wood, straw, grass, cotton and old paper. “At the molecular level, cellulose contains strong carbon chains.
We sought to conserve these chains, but drop the oxygen bonded to them, which is undesirable in high-grade gasoline,” said Professor Bert Sels. The new method to derive these hydrocarbon chains from cellulose was developed by researcher Beau Op de Beeck. “This is a new type of bio-refining, and we currently have a patent pending for it. We have also built a chemical reactor in our lab: we feed sawdust collected from a sawmill into the reactor and add a catalyst – a substance that sets off and speeds the chemical reaction,” said Dr Bert Lagrain. “With the right temperature and pressure, it takes about half a day to convert the cellulose in the wood shavings into saturated hydrocarbon chains, or alkanes,” Lagrain said. “Essentially, the method allows us to make a ‘petrochemical’ product using biomass – thus bridging the worlds of bioeconomics and petro chemistry,” he added.
The result is an intermediary product that requires one last simple step to become fully-distilled gasoline, said Sels. “Our product offers an intermediate solution for as long as our automobiles run on liquid gasoline. It can be used as a green additive – a replacement for a portion of traditionallyrefined gasoline,” Sels said. -
FIRST 3D-PRINTED OBJECT DEVELOPED IN SPACE
WASHINGTON (TIP): The world’s first zero-gravity 3D printer on the International Space Station (ISS) has created the first object made using additive manufacturing, paving the way for future long-term space expeditions. “This first print is the initial step towards providing an on-demand machine shop capability away from Earth,” said Niki Werkheiser, project manager for the ISS 3D printer at Nasa’s Marshall Space Flight Centre in Huntsville, Alabama.
“The space station is the only laboratory where we can fully test this technology in space,” said Werkheiser. Nasa astronaut Barry Wilmore, Expedition 42 commander aboard the ISS, installed the printer on November 17 and conducted the first calibration test print. Based on the test print results, the ground control team sent commands to realign the printer and printed a second calibration test on November 20. These tests verified that the printer was ready for manufacturing operations.
On November 24, ground controllers sent the printer the command to make the first printed part: a faceplate of the extruder’s casing. This demonstrated that the printer can make replacement parts for itself, Nasa said. The 3-D printer uses a process formally known as additive manufacturing to heat a relatively low-temperature plastic filament and extrude it one layer at a time to build the part defined in the design file sent to the machine. Wilmore then removed it from the printer and inspected it. Part adhesion on the tray was stronger than anticipated, which could mean layer bonding is different in microgravity, a question the team will investigate as future parts are printed.
Wilmore installed a new print tray, and the ground team sent a command to fine-tune the printer alignment and printed a third calibration coupon. When Wilmore removes the calibration coupon, the ground team will be able to command the printer to make a second object. The results from this first print are contributing to a better understanding about the parameters to use when 3-D printing on the space station.
“This is the first time we’ve ever used a 3-D printer in space, and we are learning, even from these initial operations,” Werkheiser said. “As we print more parts we’ll be able to learn whether some of the effects we are seeing are caused by microgravity or just part of the normal fine-tuning process for printing. When we get the parts back on Earth, we’ll be able to do a more detailed analysis to find out how they compare to parts printed on Earth,” said Werkheiser -
Now, synthetic platelets to help control bleeding
LOS ANGELES (TIP): Scientists, including two of Indian-origin, have developed new synthetic platelets that mimic and outperform natural platelets at controlling bleeding. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara turned to the human body’s own mechanisms for inspiration in dealing with the necessary and complicated process of coagulation. By creating nanoparticles that mimic the shape, flexibility and surface biology of the body’s own platelets, they were able to accelerate healing processes while opening the door to therapies and treatments that can be customised to specific patient needs.
“This is a significant milestone in the development of synthetic platelets, as well as in targeted drug delivery,” said Samir Mitragotri, director UC Santa Barbara’s Centre for Bioengineering. The plateletlike nanoparticles (PLNs) behave just like their human counterparts and can be added to the blood flow to supply or augment the patient’s own natural platelet supply, stemming the flow of blood and initiating the healing process, while allowing physicians and other caregivers to begin or continue the necessary treatment. Emergency situations can be brought under control faster, injuries can heal more quickly and patients can recover with fewer complications, researchers said.
“We were actually able to render a 65 per cent decrease in bleeding time compared to no treatment,” said graduate student researcher Aaron Anselmo, lead author of the paper. According to Mitragotri and colleagues Stefano Menegatti and Sunny Kumar, the key lies in the PLNs’ mimicry of the real thing. By imitating the shape and flexibility of natural platelets, PLNs can also flow to the injury site and congregate there. With surfaces functionalised with the same biochemical motifs found in their human counterparts, these PLNs also can summon other platelets to the site and bind to them, increasing the chances of forming that essential plug.
The platelets are engineered to dissolve into the blood after their usefulness has run out, minimising complications that can arise from emergency hemostatic procedures. According to Anselmo’s investigations, for the same surface properties and shape, nanoscale particles can perform even better than micron-size platelets. This technology allows for customisation of the particles with other therapeutic substances – medications, therapies and such – that patients with specific conditions might need. “This technology could address a plethora of clinical challenges,” said Dr Scott Hammond, director of UCSB’s Translational Medicine Research Laboratories. With optimisable PLNs, physicians would be able to strike a fine balance between anticoagulant therapy and wound healing in older patients, by using nanoparticles that can target where clots are forming without triggering unwanted bleeding. -
ASTEROID MADE BIZARRE DIAMONDS ON EARTH: STUDY
NEW YORK (TIP): Scientists have long argued about the existence of a form of diamond called lonsdaleite associated with impacts by meteorites and asteroids. A team of scientists largely from Arizona State University (ASU) now show that what has been called lonsdaleite is in fact a structurally disordered form of ordinary diamond. “So-called lonsdaleite is actually the long-familiar cubic form of diamond but it is full of defects. These can occur due to shock metamorphism, plastic deformation or unequilibrated crystal growth,” explained Piter Nemeth, a former ASU visiting researcher.
The lonsdaleite story began almost 50 years ago. Scientists reported that a large meteorite called Canyon Diablo, after the crater it formed on impact in northern Arizona, contained a new form of diamond with a hexagonal structure. They described it as an impact-related mineral and called it lonsdaleite – after Dame Kathleen Lonsdale, a famous crystallographer. Since then, lonsdaleite has been widely used by scientists as an indicator of ancient asteroidal impacts on Earth, including those linked to mass extinctions. The scientists re-examined Canyon Diablo diamonds. Using the advanced electron microscopes, the team discovered, both in the Canyon Diablo and the synthetic samples, new types of diamond twins and nanometer-scale structural complexity.
