random thoughts – Sunil Kumar

just look up !!!

Posted by: sunil on: October 22, 2009

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Just look up!

THE BUZZARD (a bird/raptor)

Common in India

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet 20 by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

Buzzard in flight

Buzzard at rest

The Bat:

BAT

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

THE BUMBLEBEE:

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out.

Bumblebee

It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

PEOPLE:

In many ways, we are like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. We struggle about with all our problems and frustrations, never realizing that all we have to do is look up! That’s the answer, the escape route and the solution to any problem!

Just look up!

Leaf Butterfly

Posted by: sunil on: September 1, 2009

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Let me introduce the Indian Leaf Butterfly to you. This amazing creature looks just like a dry leaf. It often nestles amongst the dry leaves in autumn or perches on a drying twig. Master of Camouflage…eh..

: Dead leaf butterfly

: Can you spot the Butterfly??

: Almost like a real leaf

: An excellent painting

: Notice the Blue on the innerwings

This amazing butterfly looks just like a dead leaf from outside. From inside, if one is lucky enough to spot it, it is a beautiful shade of blue with a yellowish orange band.

I intend to look for this butterfly in Dudhwa and Corbett this winter. Wish me luck folks. Meanwhile enjoy this amazingly vivid photo I found on the net.

The Oleander Hawk Moth

Posted by: sunil on: August 3, 2009

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My Facebook friend Vikram Nanjappa posted this lovely photo on Facebook.

Oleander Hawk Moth

The Oleander Hawk Moth is scientifically known as Daphnis Nerii. It is common all over India. It is a lovely moth and is a delight to photograph. Some other photos are

oleander

The moth is large enough and looks good sitting on ones finger or palm.

The Oleander gliding past reminds one of those little WW-II flying machines.

mini-plane???

On the grass in the lawn, soon after it has stopped raining.

notice the pattern

Somehow, the Oleander Hawk Moth reminds me (and a lot of other people) of the Atlas Moth. Maybe there is some family connection.

Fighting Fibrosis- all guns firing

Posted by: sunil on: July 26, 2009

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I AM DETERMINED TO FIGHT THIS DISEASE. It plays havoc with my mind and body through the side effects of the steroids the doctors keep pumping into me. My blood sugar goes through crazy variations, it is 545 one day and drops to 55 a week later. Blood Pressure also varies erratically leading to bouts of temper which I am powerless to control. I am losing hair rapidly. My Kidney, Liver, Platelet, Hb etc are tested every month. Every alternate month I have to go through a gruelling Pulmonary Function Test which leaves me exhausted. But all thanks to Dr Jaiswal of LRS TB Hospital, Mehrauli, Delhi who has patiently monitored my disease and is moderating the treatment on a monthly basis.

Ramdev Ashram in Hardwar and Vaidya Rajendra ji have helped me in starting on a regimen of morning walks and Pranayam. An office colleague, Mittal Saab and Sharad (close as a son/younger brother) organised the Ram Dev scene. This Pranayam thing is good. I can feel power in my lungs. Rajesh from Jaipur has been asking me to try “Art of Living- Sudarshan Kriya” for a long time now. I have decided to complete this course in August.

Good friends Seema and Shaila have organised the Buddhist Chanting / Praanic Healing for my benefit.

Anurag Sharma and Poonam Sharma organised the Datia Trip where top class astrologers have provided the Tantric remedies.They also organised the meeting with the Vaidyaji in Jhansi who recommended the Shwas tablets.

Pathak ji, my friend in Varanasi organised the trip to that city. Maha Mrityunjaya in Varanasi, Abhishek at Kashi Vishwanath Temple and visits/archana to other temples were all handled by him.My sister organised the Maha Mrityunjaya in Indore. The local priests are helping with the Hanuman Pooja on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The Yogic exercises are being done every morning. Balloon inflation every day gives a visual indicator of the lung capacity. Spirometer test is also on at least twice a week. A 4-6 km walk routine daily helps conserve the stamina.

Roy Fallon in UK has a similar problem. He shall be here in October. His mails also cheer me up considerably.

But most importantly, it is my wife who deserves the thanks. Not only does she take care of the complex medication/tests/pranayam routine but also has to bear the tantrums, temper, other associated negative effects that I continue to inflict on her. I am sure that in her position I would not have been able to endure even ten percent of this. And hence, periodic outings,movies, icecreams & chocolates etc.are small attempts to compensate.

My collection of INSECTS- Part I

Posted by: sunil on: July 26, 2009

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I just love my insects. Gazing at my collection gives me the same kind of soothing relief that some people derive from live fish in an aquarium. Today permit me to introduce them to you.

1. Tarantula– The giant Tarantula spider is the pride of my collection. This species is also known as the Asian Bird Eating Spider. It is one of the “evil” tarantula varieties considered venomous.

Tarantula Spider

Tarantula

2. Beechhoo– Grand Scorpion

This variety of black scorpion is found in South/SouthEast Asia.

Grand Scorpion

Beechhoo

3. The five horned rhinoceros beetle is scientifically known as Eupatorus Gracilicornis.

Eupatorus Gracilicornis

rhino beetle

Eupatorus Gracilicornis

rhino beetle

4. Jewel Beetles : These lovely green beauties have an iridescent lustre and add glitter to any collection.

metallic green

jewel beetle

Green Jewel Beetle

NOIDA riverbank

5. Stag Beetle

I have a lovely pair of the most awesome stag beetles.These battle ready fighting machines are capable of scaring away any feeble hearted predator/ threat/ nuisance.

Stag Beetle

Bharatpur with DickySingh

Posted by: sunil on: March 24, 2009

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White Ibis

: Grey Heron

: Pond Heron (Paddy Bird) & White Ibis

: Darter-The Snake Bird

: Sarus Crane

: Pelicans

: Lesser Spotted Eagles

Last Wednesday & Thursday were devoted to glorious birding in Bharatpur. We left Gurgaon at 5.45 a.m. , took a 45 min break at Mathura Mcdonalds, took two 10 min Birding breaks and finally reached Bharatpur by 10 a m. On the way there were some good sightings of storks, herons, cranes, egrets, ducks, grebes and a host of other birds.

Grey Heron

Success at Last…

Posted by: sunil on: February 26, 2009

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For many months now, I have been trying to figure out the natal chart (planetary position at birth) of a person on the basis of his facial features or palm readings. Basically one should be able to clearly locate these effects on the person himself. There should be no need of any Pothi/Patra/ Panchang or any computer program to in order to cast the Horoscope. During my visits to numerous Temples, Astrology Centres, Mutths, Taantrik Sadhna Kendras etc, I met some persons who had mastered these techniques. With their blessings and directions, I hope to be able to do the same.

Already, a beginning has been made. I am able to clearly figure out, the astrologically significant aspects from a persons face or palm. For example, for individual A, I might be able to get the astronomical position of the Surya(Sun), Shani (saturn), Rahu (N1 Node of the moon), Ketu (N2 Node of the moon), Guru (jupiter) at the time of his birth by study of physical features in a space of a few minutes. Given more time, the position of Mangal(mars) and Chandrama(Moon) can also be ascertained.

Also, in case the Ascendant is established (either through face reading or through birth data, the current planetary position w r t that individual can always be established with cent percent accuracy.

Chamatkaar!!!! No, it is just Mathematics coupled with Bhakti/ Siddhi or whatever you may call it.

Mazedaar Angrezi

Posted by: sunil on: February 5, 2009

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Samplettes of Desi English:

1.Principal to student…” I saw u yesterday rotating near girls hostel
pulling cigerette… ? “

2. Class teacher once said : ” pick up the paper and fall in the dustbin!!!”

3. once Hindi teacher said….”i’m going out of the world to America..”

4. “..DON’T TRY TO TALK IN FRONT OF MY BACK..”

5.Dont..laugh at the back benches…otherwise teeth and all will be
fallen down…..

6. It was very hot in the afternoon when the teacher entered.. She tried
to switch the fan on, but there was some problem. and then she said ” why is fan not oning”(ing form of on)

7. Teacher in a furious mood… write down ur name and father of ur name!!

8. “shhh… quiet… the principal is revolving around college”

9. My manager started like this “Hi, I am Pinky, Married with two kids”

10. “I’ll illustrate what i have in my mind” said the professor and
erased the board

11. “Will u hang that calender or else i’ll HANG MYSELF”

12. LIBRARIAN SCOLDE ,” IF U WILL TALK AGAIN , I WILL KNEEL DOWN OUTSIDE”

13. Chemistry HOD comes and tells us…. “My aim is to study my son and
marry my daughter”

14. Tomorrow call ur parents especially mother and father

15. “why are you looking at the monkeys outside when i am in the class?!”

16. Lab assistant said this when my friend wrote wrong code.. “I
understand. You understand. Computer how understand??

17. Seing the principal passing by, the teacher told the noisy class..
“Keep quiet, the principal has passed away”

18. TEACHER : ”Open the doors of the windows and let the climate come in..”

19. Teacher : “Write your name on a slip and slip the slip under my door..”

20.

Ranthambhore 2009

Posted by: sunil on: January 28, 2009

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We had a great and memorable trip to Ranthambhore on the 26 January Weekend. Saw many tigers (Baagh-panthera tigris), alligators (Gharial- gavialis gangeticus), crocodiles (Mugger- crocodylus palustris), Spotted Deer (Cheetal-axis axis), Blue Bull Antelopes (Neelgai- boselaphus tragocamelus), Sambar Deer (Sambhar- cervus unicolor), Wild Boar (junglee soower- sus scrofa cristatus) etc..

This was is addition to the rich variety of trees, plants, butterflies, birds, snakes, insects etc and the complete checklist runs to over 500 species. We also had a long motorboat trip on the river Chambal (at its confluence with Paar and Dwaar). This was at the border of Rajasthan and MP.

The highlight sightings were the pratincole, the little ringed plover, the Sind Krait, and of course, the tiger sightings.

Stayed in a great place- The Ranthambhore Bagh. A nice forest resort run by Dicky and Poonam- old friends.

Great fun for the whole family.

www.ranthambhore.com has all the details. Check it out.

Pulmonary Fibrosis

Posted by: sunil on: January 28, 2009

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PF- A killer disease- the median survival period is one to three years after diagnosis.

Basically, the lung volume starts decreasing due to scarring of the tissue. The rate of diminishing lung capacity is high. The disease manifests itself in the decreased stamina, breathlessness on the slightest exertion and persistent cough.

Apparently there is no medication or operation which can reverse Pulmonary Fibrosis, once it has set in. Once the disease has advanced sufficiently, the patient needs supplemental Oxygen (has to be hooked to an Oxygen Cylinder at all times). Doctors try steroids to halt the progress or reduce the rate at which Pulmonary Fibrosis is advancing. But steroids are also of little help. And steroids have side effects…

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