Solar Eclipse 2010

Dear Friends! You would have seen the most fascinating celestial phenomenon of this century, Annular Solar Eclipse! The specialities of this were that it appeared after a period of 108 years. Again we will have the same on 2019 only. Further it was the longest annular solar eclipse that it lasted 11 minutes(approx). We will have the same duration on 2186 only. Hence in one sense we were lucky. Also ISRO had launched as many as 11 small rockets to research the changes in the atmosphere on 14th & 15th January. Again we Tamils are lucky that annular solar eclipse was seen for the full 11 minutes at our own Kanyakumari. The positive aspects are Science Forum at Vellore had issued special glasses at a cost Rs 10 each, all of those were sold and were not enough. School students numbering around 2000 were taught about the phenomenon of Solar eclipse, methods to see it safely and myths about it by the scientists at Kanyakumari. Food was provided at the venue to break the myth that eating during the eclipse is not good for oneself. Inspite of repeated attempts by the scientists to clear the myths and misconceptions about the solar eclipse people were still not ready to receive them. Temples were closed for worship during 11.00 am to 3.00 pm. People thronged holy tanks of temples after the eclipse to wash out the evil. Women, carrying mothers and children stayed indoors most of the time. Food was not cooked in most of their homes( including mine!). Special poojas after the eclipse at temples and homes. I wish that more and more eclipses of this kind should happen in India to clear out the myths and misconceptions from our minds.

Just to add, here is a simple way to watch the solar eclipse. You don't need special glasses. You don't need to go to Kanyakumari where special telescopes were kept. All you should have is a mirror and a cardboard. Make a pinhole in the cardboard and paste it on the mirror. Place the mirror now so that it reflects the sunlight on a screen or on to a white wall. Just sit and relax as you will see the eclipse on the screen or on the wall. Have some snacks and tea to break the myth. If you have time you can capture those images on your camera like me. Enjoy!

p.s: Please see the pictures in anti clockwise from below upwards

'Avatar' - Do you like it?

I am sure most of you have seen the multi crore movie 'AVATAR' directed by James Cameron. I had watched it on the day of its premiere 18 Dec 2009, the same day on which our own 'Vettaikaaran' released. The problem was both movies were released on the same theatre complex. So those who didn't get tickets for the Vijay's starrer thronged box office of the 'Avatar'- The result- We were among the group who unexpectedly and unwillingly paid for a movie which they didn't like. Everybody started smoking from the very first scene( I wonder whether the law against smoking at public places is followed). Just imagine you are sitting at the top of a chimney, that was my situation. With irritation of eyes, Avatar added headache. I don't think the movie is worth Rs 1200 crores which is its budget, four years time which is the production period of the movie and James Cameron who had given us 'Titanic' the epic movie of our times. It lacks the basic tone- Emotions which is vital for any story not necessarily a cinema. Just remove the backdrop of the movie Pandora planet & its inhabitants, Avatar has elements which are not new to cinema. Here is a story of tamil cinema in the 1960s- A soldier is sent as a spy to his enemy country. He mingles with the people of that country, falls in love of its girl, realises the innocence of its people and switches his side and starts his fight for them against his home country and finally wins over them. Just fit the enemy country as another planet and its people as having different phenotype. You get the movie Avatar. Except the hard work made by its technical experts( first 3D animation images), innovative flora and fauna you get nothing. I went with lot of expectations but was very much disappointed. This shows one thing. Whatever money you are spending if there is no strong story no movie will be interesting. Avatar is no exception.

p.s: O.K. friends! Are you happy? I have purposefully avoided day to day issues and had written my comments about a movie that too from hollywood.

Happy New Year Folks!

"Let this year brings you happiness and prosperity", is the usual greeting by all the ways of data transfer to welcome the new year! But this year faces tough seasons ahead like higher inflation rates for food items which directly affect 'The Common Man', guns at the border with their holders in tense moments, every politician asking for a separate state so that every party leader can become CM atleast once in their lifetime, lands being grabbed voraciously by the very people who has to deliver justice to the people of India, girls being raped just because they are poor and without support, terrorists in all states of India and politicians capitalising on their issue, communal riots for religious politics, provision of TV sets to those places where there is no power, deteriorating sports, increasing don't care attitude towards these menace by the general public as long as they are directly affected and many many, this one blog is not enough. Anyway "happy new year" and "let this year brings you happiness and prosperity"