CARACAL FACTS

CARACAL FACTS

Caracal caracal

1. Caracal comes from the Turkish word "karakulak" meaning "black ear."

2. Caracals' ears are each controlled by about 20 muscles.

3. The pupils of a caracal's eyes contract to circles rather than slits.

4. Active at night; solitary or paired.

5. Caracals are found in a variety of habitats.  They appear to prefer more open areas to forested habitats.

6. The ears of these cats are black and topped with long black tufts or tassels about 1 3/4inches long.  There are many theories about the function of the ear tufts. Some researchers say the tufts act as antennas to help the cat hear, offering an added advantage in pinpointing prey. Others say the tufts keep flies out of the cat’s face. It is also believed that the ear tufts help to camouflage the animal in tall grass by breaking up the outline of its head. The most widely accepted theory is that the cat twitches the ear tufts as a means to communicate with other caracals.

7. A caracal’s hind legs are noticeably longer than his front legs.

8.  The caracal is well known for using its agility and superior jumping ability to catch birds just after take-off. Caracals can jump up to 10 feet (3 meters) to catch flying birds. They often make vertical leaps several feet high in pursuit of birds, to knock them down.

9. Melanistic or all black caracal have been reported.

10.  Caracal mothers will make a den in an abandoned aardvark or porcupine burrow and will have a litter of several kittens born tiny and helpless with their eyes sealed shut.

11. Like the rest of the small cats, they may purr when content and make a variety of other mews, growls, and hisses to express their mood.

12.  Can also bring down the larger reedbuck and duiker. Much in the way of the leopard, the caracal will sometimes cache its larger prey up in the lower limbs of trees and return to feed on its kill over several days.

13.  Called the desert lynx, medium-sized caracals have no spots or stripes and have longer legs than a true lynx and a slimmer body. They are the heaviest and also the fastest of the small cats.

14. Their distinctive and contrasting ears are used to accentuate facial expressions, an “ear-flick” is used as a mild threat gesture.

15.  Africa’s other cats  
Everyone has heard about Africa’s big cats: lions, leopards, and cheetahs. But few people know there are seven other species of cats in Africa. Can you name them? In addition to the caracal, there’s the sand cat, serval, golden cat, African wild cat, black-footed cat, and swamp cat All these cats are small (the caracal is the largest of them), but like their big relatives, they hunt for a living.

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FACTS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT SEX

FACTS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT SEX

Sex Facts Checklist 
Directions: Discuss each of the following generalizations about male/female sexuality with your partner to find out if any are accurate to your relationship:
Sexual Drives, Desires, and Rejection 

1.   Men need sex to feel connected.
     Women need to feel connected (through talking, romance, or affection) to want  sex.

2.  Men are usually aware of sexual urges prior to sexual contact.
    Women often are not aware of feeling aroused until they are sexually stimulated.

3.  Tension and stress can trigger a man’s arousal system and aid performance.
    Women need to relax and open up to enjoy sex.  Stress and constantly caring for  others can inhibit sexual     responsiveness.

4.   Unusual ideas or waking a man up to have sex can excite him because of the above.
     Pressuring a woman to try “unusual” activities or waking her up to have sex can   kill her desire.

5.   Sexual rejection will feel doubly painful when a man is aroused. After too much  rejection, a man may           lose his sexual desires.
     A woman needs to feel safe to say “No” to sex, or she may lose her desire to say  Yes.”

6.   When women initiate sex regularly, men can feel worse about themselves (due to  performance pressure)       and eventually lose all interest. A man needs clear  messages that his partner loves sex with him (without         feeling pressure to perform) to maintain interest.
     Women may appreciate a man regularly initiating sex as long as he can read her “signals” when she is too      exhausted or tense and be willing to settle for hugs  and cuddles.

7.   Expressing confidence in a man’s sexual expertise can arouse him.
     When a man appears confident in his sexual expertise, a woman may feel aroused.

8.   Sexual discussions can turn a man off if he isn’t in the mood.
     Talking about a woman’s feelings without pressure to have sex can help her mood.

Arousals and Orgasms 
9.   A man first needs direct stimulation of his penis to “wake up” other erogenous  zones (testicles,                      perineum, or other areas.)
     A woman may first need her least erogenous zones (feet, thighs, etc.) caressed  for her to be comfortable      having her breasts, nipples, or clitoris stimulated.

10.  Men need a direct approach for an orgasm, which can take five minutes or less.
     Women need an indirect, teasing approach (moving toward and away from erogenous zones), which can       take 20 minutes or more.

11.   Men are usually consistently capable of orgasms due to steady levels of  testosterone.
      Women are not always capable of having orgasms or enjoying certain types of  touch due to constantly          changing ratios of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

12.  Men may be more likely to have one routine sexual approach due to consistent hormonal levels.
     Women may need different types or amounts of stimulation because of varying hormone levels.

13.   Men need orgasms to be satisfied because sexual pleasure comes from releasing tension.
      Women can be satisfied with closeness without having an orgasm because they enjoy the building of               tension and like the intimacy that comes with penetration.

14.  Men need occasional quickies to maintain sexual interest and have the patience to regularly focus on              their partner’s needs.
     Women need quickies for times when they are not capable of having orgasms or when they are too                exhausted for longer lovemaking.

15.  Arousal enhances a man’s visual appreciation of his partner’s body.
     Insecurities about appearance unnecessarily inhibit a woman’s sexual desires.

16.  When a women responds with sexual sounds, men feel validated and aroused.
     When a man makes love verbally (“I love your . . .” “You’re so . . .”) women are  often aroused because       they feel a sense of connection and are reassured about  their bodies.

17.  A man can be pushed out of control or turned off if a woman takes charge and tries too hard.
       A woman’s sexual responses will arouse a man and help him last longer.
       A woman’s orgasms will be inhibited either by pressuring her to or by not giving  her opportunities to            have a climax.  If sex regularly lasts too long, passion can die for both sexes.

18.  After his orgasm a man’s desire disappears.
     After her orgasm, a woman can enjoy penetration. It will not matter to her how long her partner’s                  erection lasts if he gives her the opportunity to have an orgasm first. 

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DINING ETIQUETTE

DINING ETIQUETTE

What is etiquette?  It's a system of rules and conventions that regulate social and professional behavior. The whole point of the rules of etiquette is to make you feel comfortable, not uncomfortable.  When there are standards that people abide by, then you can have the confidence and assurance that you are acting accordingly.  It takes the guesswork out of your behavior in public.  There is no penalty for bad etiquette, but the result of bad etiquette lies in the disapproval of one's peers. 

General Banquet Etiquette:

1. Please turn off your cell phone. If you absolutely have to have your cell phone turned on, put it on vibrate mode. Under NO circumstance should you place, or receive, a call while dining. The same goes for text messaging. You never want to give anyone the idea that the person on the phone is more important than the person sitting in front of you. If there is no way to avoid making or receiving a call, excuse yourself from the table and take your call outside of the dining room.

2. If you arrive at the table before anyone else does, do not begin eating the bread, crudites or any pre-set food, such as appetizers, until everyone else has arrived and is seated.

3. Greet your co-diners with a smile and possibly a hand shake. Once everyone is seated at the table, the first thing you will do is place your napkin on your lap.  Unfold the napkin with as little fanfare as possible. Fold it in half and place it on your lap.

4. Please, no smoking at the table.

5. Practice good posture. If you are not eating, place your hands in your lap, or you may also rest your wrists on the edge of the table.  Never put your elbows on the table.

6. Never blow your nose at the table, especially into your napkin.  If a sneeze is unavoidable, try to grab a tissue, or remove yourself from the room.  Remember to wash your hands.  It is proper etiquette to avoid sharing germs.

7. If you cough, cover your mouth with your napkin to stop the spread of germs and to muffle the noise.  If you need to, excuse yourself to the restroom, and always wash your hands.

8. Ladies purses should not be placed on the table.  If they're small enough, you can place them on your lap.  If they're large, set them on the floor under to your chair.  Try to avoid having them out in the aisle where they can possibly trip someone.

9. Briefcases and meeting materials should also be placed on the floor under your chair.

10. You may begin to eat when everyone has been served in a fine dining situation. You may begin to eat when the host/hostess picks up their fork to eat.  Do not start before this unless the host/hostess insists that you start eating.

11. You should not ask to taste someone else's food, nor should you offer a taste of your food to someone else.  If you absolutely cannot resist this rule, you can request a small plate from your server and place a small amount of food to share.

12. In a fine dining restaurant is impolite to ask for a doggy bag. It is more acceptable if this is an informal dining situation.

13. Never chew gum at the table.  If you need to remove the gum from your mouth, excuse yourself to the restroom where you can dispose of it.

14. Combing or brushing your hair at the table is unacceptable.  As is putting on lipstick or make-up.  Excuse yourself to the restroom to take care of this.

15. Is it proper to pull the chair out for a lady?  For a business meeting or meal, no.  For a social occasion, i.e., wedding or date, yes.

16. When you have finished eating your meal, do not push your plate aside or stack them on top of each other. It is proper to leave the plate sitting where they are currently.  Let the service personnel do their job.

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The Largest Library In The World-The Library of Congress

The Largest Library In The World-The Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest repository of knowledge and creativity, with a growing collection of more than 150 million items, including books, print materials, sound recordings, photographs, maps, sheet music, motion pictures, and manuscripts. Although books are the heart of the Library, from the volumes of American statesman Thomas Jefferson to the most current material that reflects contemporary culture, there is much more.  The Library supports research in its Main Reading Room and in twenty-one specialty reading rooms; archives millions of priceless objects, including the papers of key figures from around the world; gives a stage to performances of all kinds; creates exhibitions that explore historic and cultural themes; produces a wide range of books and teaching materials; and is a global leader in the science of preservation and information management.

The Library of Congress was established in 1800, when President John Adams signed a bill transferring the seat of the U.S. government to Washington. The legislation described a library of “such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress.”  The initial collection of 740 books and 3 maps was housed in the new Capitol Building until August 1814, when invading British troops burned the building, destroying the small library.

President Thomas Jefferson, then retired and living at Monticello, offered his personal library as a replacement.  In January 1815, Congress appropriated $23,950 to purchase Jefferson’s collection of 6,487 books, and thereby laid the foundation for a great national library. The Jeffersonian belief that all subjects are important to the American legislature is the philosophy that inspires the comprehensive collecting policies of today’s Library of Congress.  The Thomas Jefferson Library exhibition is on view on the second floor.

Facing a shortage of space in the Capitol and concerned about the safety of the collection after two disastrous fires, Congress approved the construction of a separate building for its Library. Opened on November 1, 1897, the new “Congressional Library” was hailed as a glorious national monument.  In 1980, the building was named for Thomas Jefferson in honor of his role in the Library’s history.  Between 1984 and 1997, the building was restored to its original nineteenth-century splendor.

Located in the heart of the nation’s capital, The Library of Congress stands out in many regards, but none as noticeable as its immense size. It is the single largest library in the world, “with more than 130 million items on approximately 530 miles of bookshelves. The collections include more than 29 million books and other printed materials, 2.7 million recordings, 12 million photographs, 4.8 million maps, and 58 million manuscripts.”

“It was hailed as a glorious national monument and ‘the largest, the costliest, and the safest’ library building in the world.”

The Library of Congress functions as a branch of the United States government. It is the principal library for the legislative body, though it does duty as a public library as well. Though books may only be used on site, unless by a member of the United States Congress, it is open to anyone above high school age without payment or special permission and it bills itself as “the world's largest library and a great resource to scholars and researchers.” The library is comprised of several divisions including, the Office of the Librarian, Congressional Research Service, U. S.Copyright Office, Law Library of Congress, Office of Strategic Initiatives and Library Services.

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Baroque Library Hall, Klementinum, Prague

Baroque Library Hall, Klementinum, Prague

A national library is a library created by a government for the purpose of preserving and protecting the nation’s cultural and historical heritage. They are typically found to be the largest most ornate and impressive examples of libraries within a country. Some of the most beautiful and historic libraries in the world are national. It could be argued that one of the oldest known libraries in the world the Library at Alexandria, was the national library of Egypt upon its conception. 

The Czech Republic has a national library, centrally located in downtown Prague. The library is commonly referred to as the Klementinum. The web site devoted to the library gives a detailed breakdown of its rich history. Historical documents show that in the 11th century there existed a chapel, St. Clements, on the site where the library stands today. In 1556, the Jesuits built a university on the ruins of the chapel and named it Klementinum. From that time until 1777 the existing Charles University of Prague transferred its libraries unto the Klementinum, a practice that still exists today. From 1773 to 1777 the Jesuits steadily abandoned the university and library, though both stayed open due to private patronage. It is not until 1990 that the library is given its current name, the National Library of the Czech Republic to honor its rich tradition and pay homage to its objectives.

The building itself sits on nearly five acres of land in the center of Prague. According to Dr. Stanley Kalkas of Charles University, it is the largest existing structure in all of Prague, excepting the Prague Castle complex. The current building was originally built upon the arrival of the Jesuits in 1556. They created a complex for the pursuit of religious and university studies. The building that exists today is an amalgamation of that original complex, complete with the original Baroque wing, and was built over a long period from 1578 to 1726. It is this Baroque wing that garnered the attention of famed architectural photographer, Guillaume de Laubier, in his work on the world’s most beautiful libraries. 

Images: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clementinum

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Circus Tree

Circus Tree

The Circus Trees were originally grown and created by Axel Erlandson, son of a Swedish immigrant. Inspired by observing a natural graft between two sycamore trees, Erlandson began to shape trees using intricate techniques. His techniques resulted in woven wonders made from living wood. The branches were carefully bent, rather than cut, and became complex and compound  designs.

Erlandson planted the “Four-Legged Giant” surprising his family when he brought the  four trees together into one. In 1946, Erlandson moved his family and his trees to Scotts Valley, CA. A year later he opened the “Tree Circus” for locals and tourists to experience the wonder of the “World’s Strangest Trees.” By 1957, Erlandson had created more than 70 unique trees. Ripley’s Believe it or Not featured them in the 40’s and 50’s. In 1957 a Life magazine article gave the trees notoriety. After Erlandson’s death in 1964, they became part of a Scotts Valley attraction known as “The Lost World”. In 1977 the property was sold with only 40 trees surviving. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axel_Erlandson

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100 YEARSOF INDIAN CINEMA

100 YEARS OF INDIAN CINEMA

About a century ago, in 1912, Dadasaheb Phalke completed the first Indian feature film, Raja Harischandra and released it in 1913. A silent film based on the legend of King Harishchandra, it was released for the masses on May 3, 1913. Dadasaheb Phalke was a visionary. After he had conquered obstacles, both social and technical, to make Raja Harishchandra, the result was simply unbelievable. Phalke’s film tells the story
of the noble and righteous king, Harishchandra, who first sacrifices his kingdom, followed by his wife and eventually his children to honour his promise to the sageVishwamitra. Pleased with him for what he does, however, the Gods restore his former glory. The film had an all-male cast because no woman was available to play any of the female leads. The reel was 3,700 feet long, and had a running time of 40 minutes. Because of his film's massive success, Phalke had to make more prints for rural areas.He came to be known as the ‘Father of Indian cinema’ later. The original film comprised four reels. The Na onal Film Archives of India only has the first and last reels, although some film historians believe they belong to a 1917 remake which shares the same title.

Indian fillm industry waited for almost 18 years before the first talkie got made. Titled Alam Ara and directed by Ardeshir Irani, the film debuted at the Majestic Cinema in Mumbai (then Bombay) on 14th March, 1931. It became so popular that it is said that the police had to be summoned to control the crowds.

Kisan Kanya was a 1937 Hindi feature film directed by Moti B. Gidvani and produced by Ardeshir Irani. It was India's first indigenously made film in color. However, V. Shantaram had produced a Marathi film Sairandhri (1933) earlier which had scenes in color. However, the film was processed and printed in Germany. Kisan Kanya was, therefore, India's first indigenously made color film.

Indian film industry was prolific in terms of the number of films being made every year. But the man who showed the power of Indian cinema to the world was the celebrated Bengali filmmaker Satyajit Ray. Ray’s epic Pather Panchali (1955) was awarded for being the ‘Best Human Document’ at the 1956 Cannes Film Fes val, establishing him as a major internatonal filmmaker. Till today, it is considered to be one of the greatest films ever made.

Chhota Chetan is a 1998 Hindi movie directed by Jijo Punnoose. It was dubbed from the 1984 Malayalam movie, My Dear Kuttichathan which was India's first 3-D film Chota Chetan was the first feature film to introduce DTS for a stereoscopic 3-D feature film.

At the turn of the year when it completes a hundred year journey, the Indian cinema with its wide popular appeal would have left an indelible influence on our polity, culture and society. In the process it would produce some of the finest internationally acclaimed auteurs and films.Indian cinema, the largest by volume and the second largest by value in the world, turns a grand and graceful old lady of 100 years

Ten decades have gone by. Today, the nation is paying a tribute to the date that Phalke had immortalized with the first public screening of his film. India being a nation where more than 1,000 films are made in various languages every year, the medium’s growth deserves a special narration for those who wish to understand what cinema in the country is all about.

Indian cinema encompasses regional films (Tamil,Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Bengali, Gujarath, Bhojpuri, Punjabi etc), but the most visible body of work is generated by the Hindi film industry. Right from romances, underworld flicks, hilarious comedies, well-crafted ofbeat films and jawdropping action films to social dramas and thrillers: Indian cinema includes just about any genre one can possibly think of.

Indian cinema, despite all its peculiarities, has been a reflection of the socio-economic, political and cultural changes that took place in the country. Here's hoping that Indian movies continue to entertain us the way they've been doing since 10 decades. 

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