Google+ and Youtube

Google+ is now integrating with one more new Google service and it is Youtube this time.

As you all know Youtube is filled with tons of content from across the world - it may be music,lectures,amazing videos, etc...

As I saw my Google+ today, I found a new feature added to the top right corner in a square box. When you move your pointer, the YouTube logo will slide out asking "What would you like to Play?". You can type the music name or a song it will open in a new tab and give you the related search. A new playlist of video resulting from your search will automatically be populated.

Screen shot of YouTube play button

BARBET - THE KUTROO.... kUTROO.... BIRD.

One can find these many varieties of Barbets in India, namely

COPPER SMITH BARBET(Megalaima haemacephala).

WHITE CHEEKED BARBET(Megalaima viridia).

BROWN HEADED BARBET (Megalaima Zeylanica). 

CRIMSON THROATED BARBET(Megalaima bricapillus).

BLUE THROATED BARBET (Megalaima asiatica).

LINEATED BARBET (Megalaima lineata).

GREAT BARBET (Megalaima virens).

Crimson Throated Barbet
Anashi

Barbets are arboreal birds .Barbets have a leafy green coloured body with a rough plumage, having moustaches at the base of the beak, large head when compared to the rest of the body. They have a short curved beak, short and strong legs,wings are curved in shape. Sexes are alike among Barbets. Barbets are generally found in lush green areas or the area covered with more trees. I saw Copper Smith Barbet near my home and saw this in different places of Bangalore and more in Nandi hills. One can recognise a barbet's call very easily because of  its unique and loud call,  which is heard as two different calls like Kutrr. Kutroo...Kutrooo and Kut..knt...knt......

Copper Smith Barbet in Love
Mudumalai

According to Salim Ali the types of Barbets are

COPPER SMITH BARBETS found in - Dry and moist deciduous biotope. Subcontinent & Sri lanka. 

CRIMSON THROATED BARBET found in  Evergreen frest up to c.1200m Western Ghats complex from Goa south to Kerala and W.Tamil Nadu.

WHITE CHEEKED BARBET found in Evergreen and moist -deciduous forest,gardens and groves. Western Ghats complexes from River Narmada south through Kerala; Shevaroy and Chitteri hills.

BLUE THROATED BARBET found in Light deciduous and evergreen forest and groves. Lower Himalayas up to c.2000.m, from Rawalpindi and Kashmir east to Arunachal Pradesh;  South of  Maniour, Chittagong and Calcutta.

BROWN HEADED BARBET  found in well wooded moist and dry deciduous country, often entering gardens within city limits, Subcontinent; Sri Lanka.

LINEATED BARBET found in moist deciduous and light secondary forest, and gardens. Lower Himalayas up to c.1000 m, from Dehra Dun east through Arunachal Pradesh; NE. Hill states; Bangaladesh; N.Orissa.

GREATER BARBET found in Subtropical evergreen and moist temperature forest, c. 1000-3000m. Himalayas; NE. hill states; Bangladesh (Chittagong region).

White Cheeked Barbet
Theppakadu

For futher details please go through 

THE BOOK OF INDIAN BIRDS by Salim Ali.

Both male and female Barbets take care of their incubation, nesting and feeding of the young ones.They mostly roost in the holes of the trees.At a time they can lay three to four eggs.

In ANASHI I found Crimson Throated Barbets feeding on Fig & Peepal tree near the forest guest house. Most of the barbets I saw were feeding on fruiting trees. One is blessed to hear the cacophony of a group of barbets. 

Copper Smith Barbet is a bit larger than a Sparrow and smaller than Myna, it is grass green in color with crimson breast and forehead.with yellow throat and and green streaked yellowish underparts.

Crimson Throated Barbet is a bit larger than a Sparrow and smaller than Myna, it is  grass green in color with crimson fore crown, forehead, chin, throat and upper breast, crimson patch below eye and on cheek, the latter streaked blackish.

White Cheeked Barbet  is grass green in color with white cheek stripe and with white naked eye patch black,breast  streaked with brown and with white chin and throat and is about the size of a Myna. 

Blue Throated Barbet is about the size of a  Myna and it is  grass green in color with crimson crown and fore head,sides of head, chin, throat and fore neck are pale blue in color and it has a transverse black band above the eye, crimson spot on the each side of the neck and at the base of the bill.

Brown Headed Barbet is about the size of a Myna and  it is grass green in color with head, neck,and breast brown streaked with white. Very clear orange bare patch around eye extended to the bill.

Linesated Barbet is about the size of a Myna and it is similar to Large Green Barbet and it has a small yellow eye patch and doesn't extend to nape and it is broadly streaked.

Great Barbet is about the size of a Myna and it is brightly coloured yellow bill with bristles at base  and it has maroon crown with violet blue , black head and bright scarlet patch under tail.

Your comments and suggestions on this post are welcome.

Anna Hazare

Here are a few links  about Anna Hazare. I have no words to say about this 73 years old young man,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=c8zUo9np1b8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahDK8uRd7JU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQyGZ3Q-2Wc
http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/docs/english-janlokpal.ppt

I think these links will be of great help to know what is IAC  movement and the sacrifice made by Anna Hazare ji for all of us.

I would like  to share a few things about Anna Hazare ji, I got this from Facebook,

10 things to know about Anna Hazare 'n Jan Lok Pal Bill.. !


1. Who is Anna Hazare?

An ex-army man. Fought 1965 Indo-Pak War



2. What's so special about him?

He built a village Ralegaon Siddhi in Ahamad Nagar district, Maharashtra



3. So what?

This village is a self-sustained model village. Energy is produced in the village itself from solar power, biofuel and wind mills.

In 1975, it used to be a poverty clad village. Now it is one of the richest village in India. It has become a model for self-sustained, eco-friendly & harmonic village.



4. Ok,...?

This guy, Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is a known figure for his social activities.



5. Really, what is he fighting for?

He is supporting a cause, the amendment of a law to curb corruption in India.



6. How that can be possible?

He is advocating for a Bil, The Jan Lokpal Bill (The Citizen Ombudsman Bill), that will form an autonomous authority who will make politicians (ministers), beurocrats (IAS/IPS) accountable for their deeds.



8. It's an entirely new thing right..?

In 1972, the bill was proposed by then Law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan. Since then it has been neglected by the politicians and some are trying to change the bill to suit thier theft (corruption).



7. Oh.. He is going on a hunger strike for that whole thing of passing a Bill ! How can that be possible in such a short span of time?

The first thing he is asking for is: the government should come forward and announce that the bill is going to be passed.

Next, they make a joint committee to DRAFT the JAN LOKPAL BILL. 50% goverment participation and 50% public participation. Because you cant trust the government entirely for making such a bill which does not suit them.



8. Fine, What will happen when this bill is passed?

A LokPal will be appointed at the centre. He will have an autonomous charge, say like the Election Commission of India. In each and every state, Lokayukta will be appointed. The job is to bring all alleged party to trial in case of corruptions within 1 year. Within 2 years, the guilty will be punished. Not like, Bofors scam or Bhopal Gas Tragedy case, that has been going for last 25 years without any result.



9. Is he alone? Whoelse is there in the fight with Anna Hazare?

Baba Ramdev, Ex. IPS Kiran Bedi, Social Activist Swami Agnivesh, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and many more.

Prominent personalities like Aamir Khan is supporting his cause.



10. Ok, got it. What can I do?

At least we can spread the message. How?

Putting status message, links, video, changing profile pics.



At least we can support Anna Hazare and the cause for uprooting corruption from India.

At least we can hope that his Hunger Strike does not go in vain.

At least we can pray for his good health.



Thanks for reading.



Please Spread This msg As Much As You Can 'n Tell Others To Do The Same.. !

By: (Vijendra Rasal)

Respect his age, he is giving unconditional sacrifice for Mother India. I love his innocent smile. His words never go from my mind.                                                      

Interdependence

Interdependence is an art of sharing a common set of principles with other without any conditional love. Its a beautiful art of living with each other. They should be responsible to  each other in an emotional way,and in all aspects, they should respect each others views,responsibilities, more importantly provide moral support.

Interdependent family members respect each others opinion, make moves so that it wont hurt any person in the family. I feel every human being is interdependent on others in a society. An Independent person is who certainly wont bother about others in a family, thinks of his own comfort,luxury,wont welcome a new person in his zone thinking that his/her independence will go,but an interdependent person welcomes any one with a smile.

As Gandhiji said

"Interdependence is and ought to be as much the ideal of man as self-sufficiency. Man is a social being. Without interrelation with society he cannot realize his oneness with the universe or suppress his egotism. His social interdependence enables him to test his faith and to prove himself on the touchstone of reality"

Interdependence is all about making and being in a beautiful world called relationship. You may think why am I suddenly talking about it, because I felt that every human being is in a hurry to achieve a great thing called independence which I am hearing almost every day in my surroundings that I am independent and no need to care for others, the fact is that we humans are never independent but we are interdependent with each other,

I think you need to learn to deal with ones own attitude, ego, selfishness and I am not asking you to sacrifice ones own personality but to see the things clearly,and more important form your allies, I mean make yourself friendly with all.

A tough task

During my afternoon walk, my lil one and myself found a beautiful squirrel coming down in a playful way. Both didn't know that it will be a prey for a grey one. In a glimpse of second we both saw it in the mouth of a predator, lil one don't know that the squirrel is no more, asking me again and again where is it amma? where is it? I tried several times to save the cute one.Unfortunately the dirty dog took it and went away. I couldn't control my venus instincts and came home by answering lil one's same question ."that kulilu is no more, bad ferosious jujja hupp madidey'.

Answering things to the kids is bit tough and when it comes to the things like this it is even hard.

Kolhapur

Kolhapura Mahalakshmi Temple

Kolhapur is famous for the Mahalakshmi temple, Kolhapuri chappals and its traditional jewellery like nuth and bugdi. The Kolhapura Mahalakshmi temple is one of the Astadala peethas.

Inside the temple premises
Something different

The Mahalakshmi temple is unique due to the fact that one can get darshana of the Devi even from outside without getting in the crowd, and the visibility is also very clear. There are six entrances and exits to the temple.  One can get the things to offer to the goddess inside and as well as outside the temple. We can find people buying sarees, flowers, bangles, beetelnuts and leaves,Kumkum,coconut and all the stuff needed to offer to the goddess in one place.

We can find Sakshi Ganesha at the entrance of the temple, there is a
belief that he counts all the visitors to the temple.


The time I visited the temple mangalaharati was going on and the custom is for all women folk should go before Garbha gudi and sit before goddess and sing the prayer songs once the aarathi is done.Everybody should clap then they will sprinkle the water on all the devotes, after that we can offer pooja.


After finishing the darshana of the goddess we came outside to buy the prasada. As a lady I am tempted to try new jewellery from all the places and I ended up purchasing a Bhugadi, nuth, a pearl necklace and antique jewellery. I also bought a pair of Kolhapuri chappels, keychains (for my son) and the most cute one was a keychain of kolhapur chappels.

Nath, Bhugadi, and antique jwellery.

Kolhapur chappels

Auto rickshaw drivers are much more sincere and honest in Kolhapur unlike Bengaluru(Bangalore).

My one year and seven month old son cooperated a lot during travel, He enjoyed his train journey,the hotel premises, auto, everything we travelled.He saw a Lion statue on the garuda gamba and started telling
us again and again about it and mimicing it. Even in sleep he was recalling the statue of the lion.

As soon as he entered the train he wanted to sit on the upper berth and slide from there, it became difficult for both of us to handle him. During the return train journey we saw a couple of Peacocks and he started to show both of us the way they were flying,

Anything new he finds he started imitating it.

Asian Paradise flycatcher

Asian Paradise Flycatcher

Asian Paradise flycatcher

(Singhad , Pune , Maharastra)

Asian paradise Flycatcher
Nandi hills, Bangalore, Karnataka

 Asian paradise flycatcher is a very cute and beautiful bird. Its tail looks like the dress of a bride. I found this lifer in Nandi hills, Bengaluru. Asian paradise flycatcher's scientific name is  Terpsiphone paradise , found in India and Asia. Paradise flycatcher is a medium sized bird with glossy black head and with a black crown and crest.

 Asian Paradise flycatcher (All the time bride).

(Anashi,  Dandeli , karnataka)

Too cute to this Asian paradise flycatcher. Male Asian paradise flycatcher changes color in first few plumage years. There is a small difference between female and male adult Asian paradise flycatcher. The color of male flycatcher changes to white when it becomes adult and female remains brown in color.

I found this beautiful flycatcher in Nandi betta and Anashi forest and in Singhad,Pune. It sits on the low branches of the trees and shrubs, and mainly fed on the insects. This is resident of southern India and the breeding period is winter in these places, and the nest of this cute paradise flycatcher looks like a cup. 

Chirp: Record bird sightings on the field on any mobile