MEET THE DAREDEVIL ROCK CLIMBERS THAT LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE

Ibex

Balancing a tiny ledge just big enough for all four hooves, it may look like the ibex is destined for a long and fatal fall. However, these mountain goats are equipped to navigate seemingly impossible slopes, and very rarely slip or lose their footing. 

Living in the mountainous regions of Europe, northern Asia and northern Africa, they can effortlessly leap up crumbling rock faces, gripping on to tiny footholds with their specially adapted hooves, and then run back down with just as much ease. This special skill is particularly useful for escaping predators, as very few creatures can follow their daring lead, but there are other benefits to living the high life too.

 Alpine ibex in northern Italy have been spotted scaling the near-vertical Cingno Dam to lick the rocks at the very top. The rocks contain salt, which provide the goats with essential minerals such as calcium that are lacking from their vegetarian diet. However, to get to them they have to endure a perilous ascent, climbing more than 30 metres with only tiny cracks and ledges to cling onto. 

This impressive climbing ability is mainly practiced by females and their young, as the larger body mass and cumbersome horns of the males make balancing on narrow ledges difficult.

Hooves made for climbing: Ibex hooves are well-adapted for climbing steep slopes, with two pincer-like toes on each foot. The top of each toe is made from hard keratin, the same material our fingernails are made from, making them incredibly strong, while the underside is soft and rubbery - this textured surface creates friction to provide extra grip. The hooves also spread when under load, distributing weight evenly.

The two toes of each hoof can move independently from each other, helping to compensate for uneven terrain and allowing the ibex to cling on to any protrusions in the rock.

Ibex anatomy 

How are mountain goats so well adapted to climbing sheer rock? 

Strong legs: Ibex can jump over 1.8 metres from a standing start, helping them leap from ledge to ledge.

Horns: Females are the best climbers, as their shorter horns do not get in their way on near vertical slopes.

Hooves: Two-toed hooves with soft undersides help them to grip onto the mountainside. 

Muscular shoulders: Strong shoulder muscles help ibex pull themselves up steep inclines with ease.

Stocky body: Their short height gives them a low centre of gravity, enabling them to balance on small ledges.

Dewclaws: These extra hooves found on the backside of the legs prevent slipping down a slope.

Did you know?

Ibex can balance on ledges no wider than a tight rope. 

Male ibex live in separate herds to females and their young, and only meet during the breeding season.

EMOTIONS AND CULTURAL SYMBOLISM

 Colours: In India and across the globe 

Red with anger, green with envy, white with fear.... these are just some of the ways we associate colours with our emotions. But every colour does have cultural symbolism attached to it and it is different in different parts of the world. 

Let us take a colourful tour of the globe to see what these colours mean to us Indians and other cultures of the world. 

White: in India is said to repel light and colours and is therefore kept away from all kinds of celebrations, and it categorically stands for mourning. In North America and Europe, white has been seen throughout the pop culture to symbolise purity, brides,weddings and peace. 

Red: In India, red symbolises fire and purity, like Goddess Durga, which is why it is a central motif of matrimony in Indian weddings. In North America or Europe, however, it stands for love, passion, excitement and danger. In South Africa, red is famously seen as a colour of mourning, often used as the theme in case of a death or loss.

Pink: in India, as in many parts of North America and Europe, symbolises feminine, young girlish charm and nurturing presence. In Korea, pink is a solid symbol of trust and is associated with security and nurture. 

Green: in India and a large portion of South-East Asia symbolises nature, harvests and new beginnings. It, therefore, reflects happiness and God himself. In countries like the USA, however pop culture has given the colour green a somewhat different image, with it being the colour of money and jealousy.

Yellow: As in most of the eastern world, yellow is a colour of honour --- sacred and imperial; it represents masculine power and wisdom. And it is also a colour of commerce  --- it represents a merchant.  These same colours however speak of cowardice and weakness in European countries. Also, in the western world, it represents caution. In Egypt, on the other hand, this colour is one of mourning and sadness. 

Blue: In India, blue is associated with Lord Krishna and represents riches and virtue. Still, more recently, it has also been taken to convey a sense of patriotism and community due to the colour of the Indian cricket team’s uniform. However, on the other side of the globe, blue is the colour of ill health, depression and sadness. 

Brown is a colour of mourning and is seen as a manifestation of sadness, and its drab nature makes it a colour of dull despair. In the west, though, it is a colour of the Earth, health and stability. It represents comfort and dependability; it also is a colour of appetite and thus has had immense success in food packaging and advertising in countries like the USA.

Purple: In India, purple or violet is a comforting colour. It is associated with reincarnation. In Japan, as it is in the majority of the western world, purple is a colour of privilege, wealth and prosperity. It symbolises fame, high-ranking positions of authority and royalty. 

Black: In India, black is a symbol of barrenness, death and lack of energy; black has been used in India throughout the ages to ward-off evil as it is seen as an agent of evil. In Japan, the story is different. Black is the colour of the night, the colour of mystery, representing it as both a threat and a temptation. In Africa, on the other hand, it is seen as a symbol of experience and wisdom. 

TIE TALK

Hazards of wearing ties 

Today, let’s dive into the world of ties, those stylish accessories that adults wear around their necks. Did you know that while ties may look cool, they can also pose some hazards to our health? In this blog post, we’ll explore the surprising reasons why wearing ties might not be the best idea for our well-being.

The Stylish Culprit:

Ties have been a fashion statement for a very long time. People wear them to look smart, professional, and put-together. However, recent studies and scientific findings suggest that ties might not be as harmless as they seem.

Brain Blood Flow: According to scientists, wearing a tie might affect the blood flow to our brains. The tightness of a tie can restrict blood vessels, reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach our brains. This could potentially impact our ability to think clearly and stay focused.

Health Risks: Believe it or not, ties have been linked to various health issues. Some researchers suggest that wearing ties could contribute to discomfort, headaches, and even eyesight problems. The pressure from a tight tie might lead to muscle tension and strain, causing these health concerns.

Safety Concerns: Ties can pose safety risks too! Imagine a tie caught in machinery or doors – it could lead to accidents. Some experts argue that ties should be considered a safety hazard in certain work environments where accidents are more likely to occur.

Conclusion:

So, what’s the takeaway from all this tie-talk? While ties can add a touch of sophistication to an outfit, it’s crucial to be aware of their potential hazards. Adults might want to consider loosening up and opting for more comfortable alternatives. After all, being healthy is just as important as looking stylish!

Remember, it’s okay to question fashion norms and prioritise our well-being. 

HIGHEST CIVILIAN AWARD OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA

Bharat Ratna

The Bharat Ratna (Jewel of India) is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of "exceptional service/performance of the highest order", without distinction of race, occupation, position or gender. 

The award was originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science, and public services, but the Government of India expanded the criteria to include "any field of human endeavour" in December 2011. 

The recommendations for the award are made by the Prime Minister to the President. 

The recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal leaf-shaped medallion with no monetary grant associated with the award. 

Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence.

First Recipient 

The first Bharat Ratna was awarded to politician C. Rajagopalachari, philosopher Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan and scientist C. V. Raman in the year 1954.

Oldest Recipient 

Dhondo Keshav Karve, popularity known as Maharshi Karve, was the oldest person to receive the Bharat Ratna award. He was a social reformer and was awarded on his 100th birthday in 1958.

Youngest Recipient 

The youngest Bharat Ratna recipient in India is Sachin Tendulkar who received this award in the year 2014 when he was 40 years old. He is one of the finest Indian cricketers of all time and is considered as God of Cricket. 

Only Industrialist Recipient 

Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy (JRD) Tata was an Indian aviator, industrialist, entrepreneur and chairman of Tata group. He is the only industrialist to win the prestigious Bharat Ratna till date. He received the award in 1992 for his humanitarian work. 

Non-Indian Recipient 

While the award is not reserved only for the Indians, only two non-Indians have received it so far --- Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan or Frontier Gandhi of Pakistan in 1987 and Nelson Mandela of South Africa in 1990.

YEAR THAT COMES IN FOUR YEARS

A Leap Year

A leap year is called so because in such a year, festivals leap forward by two days.

If a festival like Christmas falls on a Thursday in one particular year, it will fall on a Friday the following year unless that year has 366 days, in which case the festival will ‘leap’ over Friday and occur on Saturday!

WE all know that the Earth turns roughly 365 times on its axis by the time it completes one revolution around the Sun. Hence a standard calendar year consists of 365 days.

However the Earth takes exactly 365.242days to complete its orbit around the Sun,which is approximated to about 365 ¼ days.

Over the years, several attempts were made to make up for this deficiency.

Ancient Egyptians noticed that the calendar year did not always match with the changing seasons and hence they would alter the calendar periodically. 

In order to catch up with the solar cycle, the practice of adding one extra day every 4 years (366 days instead of 365) was first introduced in 45 BCE by the Roman emperor, Julius Caesar. The Julian calendar which remained in use in some countries until as late as the 20th century had thus taken into account the yearly shortfall of 6 hours. 

A year that is evenly divisible by 4 is a leap year. But century years are not leap years unless they can be evenly divided by 400. This is because the exact period of 365.242 days has been rounded off to 365.25 for convenient measurement. However, over many centuries the difference between the approximate value (0.25 day) and the more accurate value (0.242 day), which is about 11 minutes, accumulates significantly. To compensate for this, the leap year is omitted three times every 400 years. Thus 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not leap years but 1600 and 2000 were. This change was incorporated in the Gregorian calendar that we use today which is actually a modified version of the Julian calendar. 

Time and Traditions: In olden times, when a woman had to wait endlessly for the man of her choice to propose to her, the leap year would come to her rescue! In many European societies, women were officially allowed to propose during a leap year. And should the man dare to refuse, he would have to compensate by buying her a newsilk dress or a pair of gloves! This tradition,which originated in 5th-century Ireland, was later legalised by Queen Margaret of Scotland in the 13th century.

In some countries a leap year was considered inauspicious. A leap year day baby was deemed to be unlucky in Scotland while Greeks would avoid getting married during the entire leap year!

Ageless!

◆ On an average, only one in 1461 babies has the privilege of being born on the special day that comes once in four years. Leaplings get to celebrate only a quarterof their birthdays on their birth date. And in the years when they don’t see their birth date on the calendar they celebrate either on February 28 or March 1.

◆ Anthony, a town in the US, is the self proclaimed Leap Year Capital of theWorld. The town throws a birthday bash on every 29 February which is attended by leaplings of all ages.

◆ Leaplings are quite unlikely to have a ‘golden birthday’, when one’s age is the same as the date on which one is born. They would have to be 116 years old before they celebrate their 29th birthday. 

Did You Know?

◆ Every year 1 January and 31 December fall on the same day of the week except in leap years when 31 December falls on the following day.

◆ The longest period between two leap years is eight years. The last time this occurred was between 1896 and 1904 and will again happen between 2096 and 2104.

◆ Former Prime Minister Morarji Desai and well-known Bharatanatyam exponent Rukmini Devi Arundale were born on 29 February.

◆ Sir James Wilson, the Premier of Tasmania, Australia was born and died on 29 February.

◆ Superman’s birthday falls on 29 February. TIME magazine celebrated his 50th birthday in 1988 by featuring him on its cover.

◆ The 2010 comedy film Leap Year, tracks the female protagonist’s frantic journey to Ireland to propose to her boyfriend on a leap year day.

A BIRD FROM GREEK MYTHOLOGY

Phoenix 

The phoenix is first mentioned in the works of ancient Greek writers. According to these accounts, the phoenix was a bird with feathers of red and gold and a melodious voice. It would arrive in the land of Phoenicia every 500 years, from the East.

The bird would make a nest of wild cinnamon in a palm tree. When it felt death approaching, it would break out into a sad song and the creatures around would be so enthralled by the beauty of its voice that some of them would be overcome by emotion and drop down dead. The phoenix would then set fire to the nest and burn along with it.

Three days later, a new bird would emerge from the ashes. This bird would make an egg-shaped mass out of the ashes of the previous bird using a sweet-smelling resin called myrrh and aromatic leaves and fly with it to the Temple of the Sun at Heliopolis in Egypt.

There, it would place the egg on the altar, bow to the Sun and fly away, only to return after another 500 years.

Some scholars are of the opinion that this fanciful tale was woven around a real bird—New Guinea’s bird-of-paradise. This bird with its resplendent golden plumage fits the description of the phoenix. In 1957, Australian anthropologists found that New Guinea aboriginals had been supplying bird-of paradise feathers to foreign traders for centuries. To make the feathers unpalatable to moths and other insects while they were being transported across sea and land to distant markets as far away as Arabia, the feathers were wrapped in myrrh and banana leaves that had been treated in fire to make them more flexible. The final result was a package with an egg-like shape.

The myth of the phoenix may have been created by an imaginative writer who saw the golden feathers being taken out of their scorched egg-like containers, in the land of Phoenicia (now southern Syria).

ANIMAL CARE AS LIFE’S WORK

A career in Veterinary Science

Dogs and cats, friendly horses, the animals in zoos — they’re a source of wonder to people of all ages. And at one time or another, many people have felt the pull of making animal care their life’s work.

The work: Veterinarians identify and treat medical problems in animals. They treat injuries, set broken bones, perform surgery, prescribe medicines and administer vaccinations. By these methods and by doing research, vets help to protect people from diseases carried by animals.

Veterinarians for large animals handle health problems of farm animals, such as cattle and horses. They are also involved in educating and encouraging farmers to build up the quality of their animal stock. The majority, however, treat small companion animals such as dogs, cats, and birds. They also advise pet owners on care and breeding of pets. Some veterinarians care for zoo or aquarium animals or for laboratory animals.

Several other career options are open to graduates in veterinary science. Dairy and poultry farms require the services of a veterinarian. The health of the animals on the farm is the responsibility of the veterinarian. They also advise farmers on the care, breeding, and maintenance of these animals. A veterinarian can also become a Meat Inspector for slaughter houses, or work at insurance and banking offices where he would have to assess the worth of animals. Livestock Inspectors are veterinarians who work with animals to be used for food to detect illnesses or diseases that might harm the animals or be passed on to humans.

In the pharmaceutical industry, veterinarians test new drugs, antibiotics, and surgical techniques on animals to determine their usefulness with humans. They can be part of the research in animal welfare societies or teach in colleges.

Taking care of animals is not as simple as it may appear to be. While a man can explain his problems to his doctor, you need extra perception to know what is wrong with animals. That’s why each day is a new challenge as every case is a new case. The working conditions are slightly more adversarial at animal clinics and hospitals — humans do not usually bark, bite, or chirp (though there are exceptions) while receiving treatment. 

Education & skills: Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry (BVSc & AH) is the basic requirement for becoming a veterinarian. The course is of four-and-a-half years followed by one year of internship. Eligibility is 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Like medical doctors they need training in subjects like anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, etc. Now multiply that by the number of different type of patients they see. A horse has different needs than an iguana, an elephant won’t respond the same way as a cat. Practical training is an important element of the course. Veterinary science courses are conducted in veterinary colleges which are located in almost every state. All India Quota seats in Veterinary Colleges are filled on the basis of NEET score and counselling is done by the Veterinary Council of India (vci.nic.in). For details, visit (cbseneet.nic.in). Remaining seats are filled on the basis of merit or through an entrance examination held by the concerned institution. 

To become a Vet, you need to have these skills:

1. Genuine love for animals and interest in their health and welfare. 

2. Quick body reflexes to tackle the animals’ moody behaviour. 

3. An inquiring mind. Organizational and supervisory skills. 

4. A responsible approach to work.Physical stamina, good vision and manual dexterity.

Institutes: 

Nagpur Veterinary College, Nagpur (nvcnagpur.net.in)

Bombay Veterinary College, Mumbai (bvc.org.in)

Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar (U.P.) (ivri.nic.in)

Tamil Nadu Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Chennai (tanuvas.tn.nic.in/MVC.htm)

West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences, Kolkata (wbuafscl.ac.in) 

College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur (kau.edu)

Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad (angrau.net)

College of Veterinary Science, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture of Technology, Pantnagar(gbpuat.ac.in/colleges/COV/index.html)

College of Veterinary Science And Animal Husbandry, Anand (aau.in)

Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat (aau.ac.in)

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana (gadvasu.in)

Remuneration: In a government job, a veterinarian gets a goodsalary. The earning in private clinical practice varies according to private location, type of practice, and years of experience. In metropolitan cities, private practice is lucrative, especially in dealing with pets.

Employment profile: A wide range of jobs is available for vets. Look to urban areas for smallanimal practices, and rural areas for large-animal practices. Some vets work for the government and play a leading role in public health efforts. Their services are used in zoos, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Defence Services also need the services of a veterinarian. The practice of keeping pets at home is growing and owners more willingly pay for intensive care than in the past. In addition, emphasis on scientific methods of breeding and raising livestock and poultry, and continued support for public health and disease control programmes will contribute to the demand for veterinarians.