The other side of pandemic

This pandemic has proven dangerous to human breed, in the past two years the humankind has experienced a lot of negativities and we still are. When, a year passed into the pandemic people were like better days be coming. its just a phase, it will pass and we all will be back to normal but, somehow the flashing headlines on TV which are now forecasting third wave is making things complicated for many. Currently, every single person is been affected by the ongoing pandemic it can be in the form of financial loss or even the loss of mental health. During this whole time no matter how much, we try to get detached from that unusual feeling which can look like boredom, constant pressure and stressing about future or present or not trying to make efforts we often end up thinking about the same whole day.


This is the influence of a global pandemic. Just like social media can influence a person in a good or bad way same goes with the ongoing situation. We are experiencing some unusual changes in our daily life many people have updated their habits healthy eating, meditation, yoga etc. reason can be that they have observed that health is important than anything else on the other hand there must be people who used to be happy and cheerful can be sitting alone in the house, not in contact of any close friend and depressed. We can not say its totally normal because adapting to few things is still a difficult task just like taking online classes can be normal but, not when they are imposed permanently and there is no other option left Afterall we have to get our degree. Many people among us must be thinking that they are missing out so much by just sitting home and yes we are. Every age group is missing out on something or the other and also wondering how different I was two years back or how I was enjoying so much two years back. But, we should all be thankful and grateful for what we have right now. Yes we cannot go out and have fun but, at least we are able to afford the basic necessities of life, we are safe in our houses, we have family and friends. as there are people who are suffering right now who are in the worst situation.


We live on hope, it is what keep us alive and motivate us to keep going. As humans we are still hopeful for better days to come, things will be in better condition. The important thing is to learn our lesson and keep looking forward instead of stressing on past, present or future facing the current situation and accept things the way they are but, not forgetting to improve ourselves be it personally, professionally, mentally, emotionally or physical. Focusing on the positive aspect of life is the main aim, it will not only save you from negativity that can spread but, it will surely strengthen us inside.

10 Best Places to visit in Manali

Manali is a resort and tourism town in the Himachal Pradesh highlands of India. It is located in the Kullu Valley, which is created by the Beas River.

Some places you must visit if you are visiting Manali are –

Hadimba Temple

This historic temple, also known as Hidimba Devi Temple and Dhungari Temple, was built by Maharaja Bahadur Singh in 1553. The temple is devoted to Hidimba Devi, Bheema’s wife, as the name suggests. On the grounds, there is another temple dedicated to Hidimba Devi’s son Ghatotkacha.

Solong Valley

Manali is only a short drive away from Solang Nala. It’s a sanctuary for adventure and sports enthusiasts, and you can test your abilities on a pair of skis or go on a snowmobile adventure while you’re here. People come here to do zorbing and paragliding when the weather warms up. You may also take a cable car ride to see breathtaking views of the Himalayas. Winter is the greatest season to visit if you want to participate in snow-based activities and sports, while summer is excellent for other adventure sports.

Hampta Pass

The Hampta Pass walk offers spectacular views of the Kullu Valley and the Lahaul Valley. The trek’s main feature is Chandratal Lake, which is located along the way. The pass is located at an elevation of nearly 4000 meters in the Pir Panjal Range, and the path includes spectacular river crossings.

Arjun Gufa (Arjun Cave)

The Arjun Cave, which lies adjacent to the Beas River’s rushing currents, is linked to a legend from the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Arjun, one of the Pandava brothers, is said to have meditated here. Arjun Cave, one of the greatest spots around Manali for a basket picnic, offers breathtaking views of the surrounding hills and valleys.

Himalayan Nyingmapa Buddhist Temple

The serene stillness of Manali’s Nyingmapa Buddhist Temple can soothe even the most frayed nerves. This Shangri-La-style sanctuary is in the heart of the bustling city, with pagoda-style buildings and vivid colours adding a magical charm to the scene.

Vashisht Hot Water Springs and Temple

Vashisht village is home to a magnificent temple nestled within the spectacular Himalayan landscape, making it a spiritually significant location. The shrine’s interiors include wooden carvings, ancient figures, and paintings, and the temple is thought to have a history of over 4000 years. The existence of hot springs, which are thought to have therapeutic powers, adds to the uniqueness of this place.

Beas River

The Beas River is a natural icon in the area that will accompany you on your Manali vacation for the most of the time. Vashisht village is known for having some of the greatest views of the river valley, while a journey to Kothi will get you up close to its beautiful blue waters. Water sports such as kayaking and rafting are popular in the Beas.

Great Himalayan National Park

Many unique species, including over 1000 plants, 209 bird species, and 31 animal species, may be found in the park. The secretive snow leopard reigns supreme, with populations of Himalayan tahr and brown bears also present. Photographers will be fascinated by the variety of wildflowers and glacial valleys that dot the landscape.

Gulaba

A vacation to Manali should involve trips to surrounding villages to learn about the local culture as well as take in the breathtaking scenery. The village features some of Himachal Pradesh’s most fascinating trekking paths, making it a popular winter destination for those seeking snowy scenery.

Rohtang Pass

This high mountain pass in the Pir Panjal Range, at an elevation of 4000 meters above sea level, will take your breath away. Rohtang Pass is a haven for adventurous sports like mountain biking and skiing, in addition to being a favorite hub of nature enthusiasts, painters, and photographers for decades.

Impact of Covid-19 on environment

The activities human does has its impact directly on the environment which in turn affect humans in the long term . In the last two centuries the concern for the environment protection arose first during the Industrial Revolution in Europe which changed the entire dynamics of the world leading to revolutionary changes but the burning of coal to run the machines in the industries led to smoke pollution. With time as the number of industries increased globally so did the number of harmful pollutants released in the air causing high smog level, acid rain , respiratory diseases among many other things. It was not just the air but also the water where the waste from industries was directly released making water misfit for humans as well as posing threat to the animals in there. Everything on the surface of earth is interrelated , the cycle of destruction which once starts consumes everything within it fueled by the human greed. Extensive mining , improper waste disposal, excessive noise from honking of cars and other sources leads to different forms of air, soil and noise pollution . Over the years, different governments have come up with different plans to preserve and protect the natural resources and environment along with various methods to reduce the negative impact of globalization and industrialization on the environment.

The covid-19 pandemic which hit the world in early 2020 and has claimed almost a million lives till now had the countries going into the complete lockdown to prevent the further spread of the disease. Lockdown ceased the normal routines of the people as everyone was caged inside their houses with many loosing their jobs, many getting rest from the normally hectic lives, the conditions of the medical professionalists being worse as they had to deal with a foreign deadly disease which they had no idea about. The lockdown which closed all industries and workplaces brought down the world economy to a major level. Despite all these hardships, the only positive thing which happened was the clearance of the environment such as air and water which had been polluted beyond repair by the humans.

Everything has its own pros and cons. This blogs will tell you about the positive and negative impact of covid-19 on environment.

Positive impacts

  • There was a phenomenal reduction observed in the emission of green house gases such as carbon dioxide , methane and nitrous oxides due to closed industries and shut down of transportation which led to cleaner air. According to a study, China which had an average of 2,00,000 metric tones of carbon dioxide emission saw the emission being reduced by 25% which according to the Earth system scientists saved the lives of over 77000 people in two months. The decrease in air pollution brought with it 50% reduction of nitrogen dioxide and oxides of carbons levels which also decreased the rain in that particular time period being acidic. Acid rain which had led to many diseases and corrosion of metals and monuments such as our mighty Taj Mahal is caused by the combination of nitrogen dioxide with oxygen and water vapor present in the atmosphere which leads to the production of the harmful nitric acid along with water.
  • India, where the AQI(Air Quality Index) had worsen in the last decade, saw a drastic improvement in the air quality. The AQI obtained by the Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB) was assessed by comparing the level of pollutants degrading the air quality( PM10, PM2.5, Carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide) in the unlock (pre covid-19) phase to that in the four lockdowns which the country experienced. It was observed that there was a gradual to rapid reduction in the level of these harmful pollutants and increment in ozone concentration due to the reduction in Nitrogen dioxide concentration by almost 80%.
  • Water Pollution which is a major problem in India and Bangladesh with industries releasing their waste water without its proper treatment in the water bodies causing the decrease in oxygen level in the water affecting the aquatic life present there and also making it unfit for human use. According to various reports, the Ganga and Yamuna rivers of the country which were one of the highly polluted rivers due to the dumping of garbage and industrial releases pre covid showed the signs of rejunevation during the lockdown. No discharge of harmful affluent in these water bodies led to the decline in nitrite concentration in water increasing the dissolved oxygen level. Further, it was reported that the districts in Ganga river basins experienced 60% more rainfall than what it normally experiences which led to the increased discharge of water in river further contributing towards the dilution of remaining pollutants.
  • Also, the animals which were rarely found in open such as the sea turtles finally retreated to their original natural habitant with many sea turtle and rare species of fishes being spotted in the open and on the beaches which were deserted in the lockdown.

Negative Impacts

  • People were advised to use masks and gloves as a precaution against covid-19. The inappropriate disposal of masks and gloves along with other bio medical waste which was used to treat the covid-19 patients will lead to more harm in the long term. Governments advised people against the open disposal of the bio medical wastes but lack of proper knowledge led people to do the otherwise contributing in the water and soil pollution.
  • Also, the flora and fauna which was protected by human guards against the illegal human activities was also at risk. As with lockdown, decrease in man power guarding the reserved forests and sanctuaries decreased which led to the increase in illegal deforestation, wildlife hunting among other things.

Covid-19 can be seen as the nature’s warning to humans to stop interfering in the natural things and to mend its relation with the environment , else the consequences will be terrible.

Dark Web

The term “dark web” sounds ominous, and there’s a reason for that. The dark web is a part of the internet and made up of hidden sites that you can’t find through conventional web browsers. Instead, you must rely on browsers and search engines designed specifically to unearth these hidden sites.

There’s also plenty of secrecy surrounding this corner of the internet. Sites on the dark web use encryption software so that their visitors and owners can remain anonymous and hide their locations. It’s why the dark web is home to so much illegal activity. If you tap into the dark web, you’ll find everything from illegal drug and gun sales to illicit pornography and stolen credit card and Social Security numbers.

Dissidents who fear political prosecution from their governments might use the dark web to communicate with each other. You might visit the dark web to get medical advice that you want to make sure remains anonymous. Sometimes journalists use the dark web so that they or their sources can remain anonymous.

Here’s a guide that will help you learn about the dark web, the sites that populate it and how you can visit it. Be careful, though: The dark web can be dangerous. And if you want to explore it for illegal activities, you could face prosecution and jail time. Depending on where you visit, and what you download, you could also be exposed to scammers and cybercriminals who could attempt to infect your devices with malware or steal your personal information.

What’s on the dark web?

The dark web has earned some of its seedy reputation. A 2016 report from researchers Daniel Moore and Thomas Rid, of King’s College in London, looked at 5,205 live sites on the dark web and found that 2,723 contained illicit content.

What does this mean? The report found that visitors to the dark web can buy and sell guns, drugs, counterfeit money, other people’s Netflix accounts, credit card numbers, and more. You can also find software that you can use to access other people’s computers.

But, again, the dark web isn’t just for criminals. You’ll also come across online versions of books that have long been out of print, a collection of political reporting from mainstream news sites, and several sites run by whistleblowers looking to expose corporate and government corruption.

Drugs

The dark web might be most notable for providing black markets that visitors can use to buy illicit drugs. Silk Road is a good example. This site was famed for the drugs visitors could find on it. The FBI shut down Silk Road in 2013. A new version of the site came online later that year but was also shut down.

The founder of the site, Ross Ulbricht, who went under the false name Dread Pirate Roberts, was arrested in late 2014 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. AlphaBay was another popular online marketplace filled with illegal products. It was shut down in 2017.

Passwords and usernames for streaming services

If you don’t mind stealing, you can find the passwords to a host of streaming services — both those offering mainstream movies and those hosting pornography — on the dark web. Cybercriminals sell these passwords to those who want to skimp out on paying the monthly fees for streaming subscriptions.

Passwords and usernames available typically include those for services such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon Prime, and other streaming services.

Credit card and debit card numbers

Here’s a scary one: According to a report by Gemini Advisory, 115 million stolen debit and credit card numbers were posted to the dark web in 2020.

Criminals sell these stolen numbers to other thieves. Armed with these numbers, criminals can make unauthorized purchases online using your information. And, yes, you can dispute these purchases, but who knows how much damage these thieves can do before you catch these illegal purchases?

Bank account numbers and passwords

If thieves sell credit and debit card numbers on the dark web, you can bet that they’ll sell bank account numbers and passwords to online savings and checking accounts, too.

According to a report by cybersecurity firm Digital Shadows, more than 15 billion pieces of financial account details are now being sold in online marketplaces. According to the report, banking and financial accounts made up about a quarter of these online listings.

Again, criminals can do a lot of damage after buying your bank account details. They can use your account to make purchases and drain your savings or checking accounts quickly.

Social Security numbers

Criminals can also find Social Security numbers — along with other personal information like people’s birthdates, addresses, and phone numbers — for sale on the Dark Web.

Criminals can use your Social Security number to help steal your identity. That can lead to serious financial pain, as these thieves can use your identity to apply for credit cards in your name, apply for mortgage loans, and even file your income taxes in the hope of stealing your refund.

Difference between dark web and deep web

It’s easy to confuse the dark web with the deep web. But they aren’t the same.

The deep web is also hidden, in a way. But it’s home to benign sites, such as people’s password-protected email accounts, the intranets run by businesses, the online bank account pages of consumers, government databases, and private sites that require users to type in a log-in name and password.

Think of the dark web, then, as a small subset of the deep web that has become a haven for illegal activity.

Is it illegal to access the dark web?

Surfing the dark web isn’t illegal. Buying illegal drugs or firearms from a site on the dark web or downloading child pornography? That is illegal.

For instance, in the summer of 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service teamed up to arrest more than 35 dark web vendors of drugs, weapons, and other illegal products. The agencies also seized $23.6 million in illegal guns, drugs, gold, and Bitcoin.

An Application

Respected Sir/Madam

Education administration is a fast-changing field that requires knowledge of modern classroom practices and insights in student behavior. My experiences in education and administration make me the ideal candidate for this position.

The position listing for principal stated that you were searching for a candidate who could develop and maintain curriculum standards. I served as a teacher for seventeen years before entering administration and am keenly aware of the state and local standards for curriculum development.

I might not have sparkling marks and dazzling grades up to post graduation due to many reasons, but nevertheless, this lacuna always has kept me awaken and stimulated to impart updated education to my students at every level of their academic growth and aspiring career to score big, achieve high.

Close to 19 years of sound academic experience in more than one school has accustomed me to various teaching-learning and working experience. Employed in various capacity right from common teacher to HOD English to academic coordinator and finally to an esteemed post of a Principal has given me ample space, time, authority and opportunity to groom my pedagogic skill, academic quality, planning ability, leadership efficiency, administrative proficiency and management capacity, appropriately.

As a School Principal, I am nurtured, experienced and accumulated with vital information related to School leadership, Operation, Management, Administration, Marketing, Teaching, Training, planning and community relationship building. Being a priest of English, Sound writing and communication skills have always assisted me to be resourceful and updated at every level of my progress.

Educational requirements change quickly, and principals often act as liaisons between the state and the teaching staff. My experience in curriculum development has helped me be able to interpret state standards and communicate them efficiently to my colleagues. As a principal, I would be comfortable holding everyone accountable for these rapidly changing standards.

My resume highlights specific examples of my administrative and leadership duties, my strong problem-solving, creative thinking, and long-range planning abilities. Additionally, I am adept in communicating with a diverse population.

I relish the range of challenges that are part of this job and enjoy working with students, parents, and teachers. My interests, strengths and abilities, along with my experience, I believe, are exactly what you want for this position. I hope you will give me the opportunity of a personal interview to help me understand your needs better and explain to you in greater detail how I can contribute to your school system.

Thanking you in anticipation

Yours Sincerely

The Jagannath Rath Yatra

The Jagannath Rath Yatra is an annual Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath celebrated in Puri at the state of Odisha. It is celebrated on the Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya which is the third month according to the traditional Oriya calendar. A 9-day long event, it is celebrated as the return journey of Lord Krishna- who is known as Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra- also known as Balaram and his sister Devi Subhadra to Vrindavana . On their way back from the Shri Gundicha Temple, the three stop near Mausi Maa’s Temple (their aunt’s abode) where Poda Pitha is offered to them.

The rath yatra begins at the Jagannaath Temple in Puri. The Jagannath Temple is believed to have been constructed by the king of Ganga Dynasty- Ananta Varman Chodaganga Deva in the 12th century(source-wikipedia). The image of Sri Krishna (Lord Jagannath) in the temple of Puri is made of wood and is replaced every 12 or 19 years by an exact replica. This temple is part of the Char Dham( that comprises of the temples of Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri and Rameswaram).

Every year, the rath of all three deities is newly constructed by a specialized team of carpenters from the wood of a particular type of neem tree and takes about 2 months to construct. They are given hereditary rights for the very same. A week prior to the Rath Yatra, the Jagannath temple’s doors are shut as the lord is believed to have caught a high fever during his annual bath. After the end of the 7-day rest period, the doors are opened and the 3 km Rath Yatra begins, where thousands of devotees from all over the world participate in pulling the raths of the 3 deities to Shri Gundicha Temple. It is a popular belief that anyone who participates in the Rath Yatra is blessed with a good fortune. During the festival, the king dressed as a sweeper, sweeps the area around all the 3 chariots with a golden broom and sprinkles sandalwood water and powder as a part of the Chera Paahara ritual held on two separate days that marks the beginning as well as the end of the Rath Yatra. This day of the beginning of Rath Yatra also marks the beginning of agricultural season and farmers start ploughing their fields. It also marks the beginning of a three weeks long Chandan Yatra.

This year, however, in response to the covid-19 pandemic that is spread across the country, the government said that the Rath Yatra will take place with only 5 vehicles including 3 chariots and no devotees. The Supreme Court also said that the Rath Yatra will take place in limited areas of Puri. It began on the 12th of July,2021.

To whom the world belongs?

Biggest Landowner

Owning a piece of land in the world is a dream for many people. People having their own place for settlement is the daily struggle. Many Country politics are revolving around settlements, refugees and Wars for acquiring other colonies are daily news.
But do you know who own not only a piece of land but multiple countries?

Owner of 16 Countries

The world’s biggest Landowner is Queen Elizabeth II, who legally owns about 16.6% of the Earth’s land surface. She is the only person on the earth who owns multiple countries.
Queen Elizabeth II serves as the Head of State of United Kingdom, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.
These nations are termed as “Commonwealth Realms”. These nations were former British colonies. The British sovereign retains the position she holds in the United kingdom that of the Head of State. As in Britain, this is largely a ceremonial role from day to day.

Many nations have withdrawn from the Queen’s rule before as like that from these 16 current nations, Barbados has announced that it will remove Queen Elizabeth II as the country’s head of state and become Republic by November 2021.
After which Queen Elizabeth II will own 14 Countries in addition to the home country United Kingdom. 

Sex Education

Indian wisdom holds Kama, love or desire of sensual enjoyment as one of the four ends of life. These are religion(dharma), wealth(artha), sex(kama) and liberation(moksha). India has dealt with the matter of sex most objectively and scientifically which is why there are temples of Khajuraho, Konark and Puri and a treatise like Vatsyayana’s Kamasutra. And yet sex has become a taboo now. Many parents, teachers and others find it embarrassing to talk of sex before children and students. In these days of much scientific, technological and industrial development, there still persist many superstitions, myths and much ignorance about sex in India. Because of this lack of scientific understanding of the procreation and it’s physical aspects, the adolescents and children suffer the most. Consequently, they are not able to develop healthy attitude towards sex and suffer from many sex related misconceptions. In the absence of right knowledge and healthy attitude towards sex they often become victims of sex abuses and suffer the ills mutely. In these days Web series, Western movies and liberal morals, the Indian children feel sexually excited and stimulated but cannot properly cope with the situation for want of sex education and start suffering from various sex related complexes. As such they commit many mistakes which often put them on wrong tracks and ruin their life.

The rapid increase in the cases of AIDS, HIV positive etc. are the direct result of this total ignorance about sex and the reproductive process. There is an urgent need to remove misconceptions about it by introduction of sex education on a wide scale in schools and colleges on scientific lines. It has become all the more important as coeducation is becoming more popular arid there is free and liberal coming together of the opposite sexes at schools, colleges, universities and social levels. Children are scolded or discouraged when found discussing sex. Then they try to obtain knowledge about sex from doubtful, ill informed sources, friends and books. This gives rise to obscene books, pornographic literature, blue films and such other trash material. Even many married couple suffer from sex guilt and think love making as something asocial, obscene and undesirable to be indulged into the darkness of their bedrooms at night. This unscientific and unhealthy attitude towards sex has been largely responsible for such evils as gender bias, sex abuse, prostitution, rape, homosexuality, unnatural sex and undesired pregnancy.

If the children are taught sex scientifically, naturally and as one of the school subjects many of the evils and complexes related with sex can be removed. Many of the diseases like syphilis, AIDS, STD etc can be prevented if sex education is imparted to the children by their teachers and parents with the help of models, charts, illustrations, slides etc. When properly informed, they would be better armed to guard against sex abuses and exploitations. Many young men and women become victims of evil sensual designs because of poor or unscientific sex knowledge. Consequently, there are many cases of unwanted mothers, children and pregnancies. No doubt, it is a very sensitive subject and needs to be handled very carefully and cautiously or else it may create another type of serious problems as is happening in many western countries where free love and sex prevails.

The content, quality and method of sex education should be proven standard. The men and women entrusted with giving sex education to children should be really well qualified mentally, psychologically and educationally. There cannot be any ad hoc or half baked things. Sex education should be suggestive, imaginative but of practical value based on scientific studies and attitudes. Such an explosive subject cannot be taken lightly nor can it be ignored. Children cannot be any longer brought up in ignorance of facts which so intimately concern them. Their questions, curiosity and doubts about the subject should be fully answered and removed. They should be encouraged to know more about it like any other subject. In the formative years of childhood and adolescence, it is very essential that they are well informed about sex. A lack of sex education or faulty education at this stage may result in various forms of sexual deviations and abnormalities later in adulthood.

To the unknown

The UNKNOWN

Maybe it’s some mystery or may it be what I have ignored.
In this luxury of hustling world, is it that we don’t take time to search or at least wonder about the unknown at.
In this society set ‘Pattern of Living’ and ‘Frame of Thinking’, do we ever care to get a glimpse of what we don’t know!?
Yeah,I agree with the fact that we aren’t able to harness we have grown already; what we have known already.
But why do we often let this ‘Want’ fade away, is it just because of the uncertainty of the next? Or too coward to take that one little extra mile?
No matter how efficiently I try to describe this unsettling situation, the quotation that, “Knowing that I don’t know, itself is an accomplishment”, is undeniable.

How beautiful would it be to able to reach that far fixed fence; but is it really how this is supposed to be?


The unknown as it pertains to me ,
is the horizon, it’s up to us to believe in or not but the run for eternity is happening constantly like it’s been always
Things do happen whether we acknowledge it or not , isn’t it?
But it’s just that my WANT TO KNOW THE UNKNOWN keeps rising. What about your want?

For more content catch up @shambhavimeti .

Is Pluto a planet or not?

Pluto – which is smaller than Earth’s Moon – has a heart-shaped glacier that’s the size of Texas and Oklahoma. This fascinating world has blue skies, spinning moons, mountains as high as the Rockies, and it snows – but the snow is red.

Soon after Pluto was discovered in 1930, it was designated a planet, the ninth in our solar system. After Pluto was discovered, many astronomers presumed it to have been responsible for the perturbations they have observed in Neptune’s orbit. It was these perturbations that actually prompted the search for a planet beyond it. However, further observations determined that it was smaller than initially assumed. Also, after American astronomer James Christy discovered Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, in 1978, astronomers were able to determine Pluto’s mass and realized that it was a lightweight and didn’t exert a gravitational influence powerful enough to have induced the observed perturbations. Pluto was found to be smaller and less massive than all the other planets. Moreover, its orbit is highly inclined (17 degrees) relative to the ecliptic, the plane defined by Earth’s orbit around the Sun. The other planetary orbits have smaller inclinations.     

As telescopes got bigger and better, and were able to take clearer pictures of distant bodies like Pluto, astronomers began to suspect that Pluto was much, much smaller than the other planets. By the time the second Kuiper Belt object was discovered in 1992, astronomers knew that Pluto was even smaller than Earth’s moon, but it had been called a planet for so long that it retained its planetary status.

Astronomers had also known for decades that Pluto’s orbit actually crosses Neptune’s orbit. None of the other planets cross each other’s orbits, so why was Pluto’s orbit different?

Over the next few years, dozens and then hundreds more Kuiper Belt objects were discovered by astronomers, until finally, in 2005, astronomer Mike Brown discovered Eris, which is even bigger than Pluto.

  

In the early 21st century, astronomers were finding bodies of comparable size beyond Pluto, such as Sedna, Eris, Makemake, and others. These discoveries prompted the question: should the IAU confer planetary status on all these other worlds? In August 2006, the IAU convened its triennial meeting in Prague. Toward the end of this meeting, they voted on the adoption of Resolution 5A: “Definition of ‘planet.” By this newly adopted definition, a body has to fulfill three requirements to be designated a planet. First, a body has to have established a stable orbit around the Sun. Thousands of bodies meet this condition. Secondly, a body has to have developed a spheroidal shape. When a body is sufficiently large and massive, gravity will mold it into a spheroid. Pluto fulfills this condition. Third, and finally, the body has to have cleared its debris field. It has to be sufficiently massive so as to incorporate all proximate objects into it. Pluto fails on this condition, as its orbit passes close to or even within the Kuiper Belt, a region from which short periods comets originate. By adopting resolution 5A, the IAU demoted Pluto, firmly established the other eight planets as planets, and disqualified all the bodies beyond Pluto, all in one fell swoop.    
 
Although the recent observations by the New Horizons craft has shown us that Pluto is larger, more geologically dynamic, and contains a thicker atmosphere than once believed, it still doesn’t fulfill the third condition within Resolution 5A. The IAU will have to adopt a revised definition of planet in order to confer planetary status back onto Pluto.

Of course, some defiantly maintain that Pluto is still a planet and no resolution shall induce us to change our minds. 

CHILDHOOD DREAMS

DREAMS AS A CHILD

Everyone has a profession or two that they aspire to be when they grow up. Some children, for example, want to be firefighters, while others want to be physicians or professors and lots more. This is where everything starts. Dreaming is what gives a child the wings to fly, the hope to survive and the will to become successful in future. Childhood and early adulthood experiences may mould and mould these dreams. Many of these children grow up to abandon their childhood ambitions whereas some of these children, continue on their road to pursue their aspirations and become the professionals they’ve always wanted to be.

My Childhood Aspirations When I reflect on my life, I realize how wonderful it has been. I had an absolutely fantastic childhood and consider myself to be quite fortunate. I grew up in a home with two loving parents who have been there for me through thick and thin, and for that I am eternally grateful, forever. My parents instilled in me the belief that I could be anything I wanted and that I could do everything I set my mind to, they made me believe that nothing is impossible and you can gain what you want if you work hard. As I grew older and developed into the person I am now, my dreams evolved.

DREAMS AS ADULTS

When people consider their life dreams, they frequently consider whether or not they are childlike fantasies. Adults are continually influenced by what is considered juvenile or practical, as well as how others would see them if they pursue their aspirations. Most people who are going to follow all of their childhood aspirations are emotionally immature in some way. Bringing this down to the level of students has a similar effect. After all, when children reach a certain age, the adults in their lives dismiss their dreams as infantile or kiddish which is very much seen among the people in the current generation. Despite the fact that it can drive someone’s willingness, childishness is usually regarded as negative or problematic in some way. People can be motivated by a variety of emotions that are considered juvenile, such as wrath, sadness and many more.

When broken down by gender, it appears that gender stereotypes were still present in the minds of today’s adults when they were children. Pilot (13 percent), Athlete/Olympian (10 percent), and Police Officer or Detective (6 percent) were the most popular dreams for boys, while Vet (12 percent), Teacher (11 percent), and Dancer/Choreographer were the most popular ambitions for girls (6 percent). I’ve had a range of interests and occupations throughout my life that have given me a lot of pleasure. But when it came to my work and something I’d be doing for the rest of my life, I couldn’t think of anything that would make me truly happy.

Some people have an easier time moving on from their “childhood aspirations” than others. As they become older, they develop interests behind the scenes or in theater administration, which they can turn into an internship, which could lead to a full-time job. That’s just fine with them but this is not fine by me.

Myths and Taboos around Menstruation

Menstruation has always been surrounded by taboos and myths that exclude women from many aspects of socio-cultural life. Not entering the temples and kitchens during menstruation is a major restriction for rural girls and women from orthodox families. They are believed to be unhygienic, inpure and unclean and hence their touch is considered to be contaminating.

“A menstruating woman is impure, she cannot enter holy places”

“Don’t enter the kitchen, don’t cook or touch the food, it will go sour”

Such taboos about menstruation present in many societies impact on girls’ and women’s emotional state, mentality and lifestyle and most importantly, health. About 23% of girls in India, mostly from less economically developed areas drop out of school when they begin menstruating. The monthly menstruation period also creates obstacles for female laborers. The gender – unfriendly work environment, infrastructure and the lack of adequate menstrual protection alternatives and clean, safe and private sanitation facilities for female workers undermine the right of privacy. Over 77% of menstruating girls and women in India use old cloth, which is often reused. This increases susceptibility to infection, putting them at the risk of being stigmatized.

The first and foremost strategy in this regard is raising the awareness among the adolescent girls related to menstrual health and hygiene. The need of the hour is to disseminate the same knowledge and normalize this concept among the male community, since most women shy away from discussing about it due to lack of support from their male partners and other family members. Provision of sanitary napkins and adequate facilities for sanitation and washing should be made available with the gender perspective.

We need to rise above all odds and link physical infrastructure and sanitation projects to health education and reproductive health programs and address the issue in more holistic ways because

Menstruation is a very normal biological phenomenon, and society should understand that women have the power of procreation just because of this virtue. TALK ABOUT IT!

The UNTITLED by Zuhair

It has been two hours that I have been sitting in a coffee shop thinking for a plot  for my dream story and drinking cups of coffee. But the idea is simply  not coming . It is tough to be an writer .

Since I have decided to be an writer  and make fame and money it is a compulsory thing to be creative. Finding a plot is a big task. I have been trying to find a plot for my debut movie but in spite of 3 months of breaking my mind, I am yet to make up  an original plot.

Suddenly my mobile rings, the caller is my  wife.

“Where are you?’’ she asks.

“I am just  relaxing out at a coffee zone in ECR. I’ll be here for  some time.”

“Don’t take much time. Please be in time for lunch at 1 p.m.” she abruptly ends the call.

I work as a  bank agent in SBI. Since the thought of becoming an writer has entered my head I have been looking to find the perfect plot. The coffee shop is half empty.  It is 11 a.m. on a  Sunday morning . I glance around at the people while having  my coffee. A young couple is sitting in a corner table. An old man in his sixties is reading a newspaper alone in a table. A family of three is sitting in a centre table. The child is crying. His mother is trying to stop the boy crying.

Half an hour passes. The cafe is almost full now. Suddenly a young woman enters the cafe. She is wearing grey trousers and black top with a blue scarf wrapped around her head. She looks around for any empty table.  There is none.  She looks at my table. The opposite chair in my table is empty. She comes straight towards my table.

“May I join you?’’ she asks.

I am amazed,  I realize that this is the only table that is half vacant. I just allowed her.

I notice she had a black bag hanging on her shoulders. She keeps the bag away from her.

She looks at me and says “Thanks for the seat. I hope I am not disturbing you.”

“No it is okay. I am sitting alone; it is nice to have a company.” I reply.

She orders for a apple shake . Then she gets busy looking at her messages in her mobile.

I am thinking of starting a conversation with the lady.

“This place is good. I often visit this cafe.”  I start to talk with her.

She does not reply.

“I am an  bank agent”.  I wanted to  continue the conversation.

“What about you?” I continue.

“My name is Priyanka “.I organize events. “she replies. She looks disturbed.

“You look troubled,is everything okay?” I asked. ” Just flush out your thoughts”, I continued.

“She remains quite for a minute then she answers  ” Yes I am a bit disturbed. But I do not want to trouble you. You are a stranger.”

“You can believe  me” I try to be charming.
She had a immediate reply ” How do I”.
“The reason is that coz I have heard Beleiver a lot of times.

She laughs at me as if I had cracked a joke. I was serious about it. I never spoke of it as she started a conversation.
“Well I have a friend who wants to kill her husband. She wants me to be a part of her plan.” She replies.

” Want to crack a joke.” I reply.

“It is not a joke. “ She replies.

I may get some interesting plot for my story from this situation I think. I want to know her story.

“You can share with me if you want.”

“My friend that I mentioned is my best friend, we studied in the same school in Kolkata. Her husband is rude, she wants to get rid of him and has plans to kill him. I have tried to stop her but she is not willing to listen.”

“Why cannot your friend leave her husband and run away. “  I asked.

“She has tried a few times but he chases her and finds her always and brings her home. This time she wants to get rid of him fully so that he cannot find her again.”

How can I help her in this situation?  But a plot for my story  is coming to my mind. So I am interested to know what happens after? How does her friend attempt to kill her husband?  Does she kill?

I want to hear the full story. My phone is ringing again. My wife called. I will have to leave now as it is getting late.

“I am guilty that I cannot help you in this matter. But please let me know what happens next if ever we meet again.” I get up from the table.

“Oh I forgot to ask you your name.” she asks. I do not know why I shared my thoughts with you.”

I should not say my original name to her, I think, I do not want to get into any trouble   “Well my name is…forget it,that does not matters a lot. I will have to leave.  Bye”

I ask for the bill and pay and get into my car. Driving home to Palavakkam from Adayar.  I am thinking what if the lady is speaking the truth. What happens next?  Anyway it is too late now. I will have to reach home now. I have promised to take my wife out for dinner tonight. It has been a long time that we had gone out together.

But anyways I have got the plot of my story, I think.  My story will say of how a woman kills her husband. The suspense and the drama will make it a huge success, I think.

I reach home within half an hour. I drive my car in the parking lot of my area. Reaching my house I rang the calling bell. My wife opens the door.

“You are late.” She complains. “I have cooked your favourite dish for lunch today.”

It is fried rice and chicken gravy for lunch. That is my favourite dish and my wife cooks them really well.

“Thanks, I will be ready.” I said.

After freshening I came to the dining table.

“So have you got your plot?” she asks.

“Well, I have got an idea, it will be a thriller. I will let you know once I finish it.” I am scared from sharing the conversation with the lady in the coffee shop.

After half an hour I am sitting on the dining table.  She brings the chicken and fried rice to the table. There is only one plate for me. Normally my wife has lunch with me.

“Where is your plate?” I asked.

“First taste some chicken and fried rice to check whether the salt is adequate and let me know how it is. Then I will join you”. She replies.

I take some fried rice and 2 pieces of chicken legs and tastes them. “Awesome.” I reply.

After two huge spoons of fried rice I continue my lunch.

“Today after you finish your lunch, I will start my lunch. “ My wife says.

I continue my lunch. I am thinking whether it is any fasting today. No, then why she is not having her lunch with me, I try to think.

When I have almost finished my lunch suddenly I start feeling dizziness in my head. My head is spinning as if I had came out of a coaster, I had to vomit, as if something is stuck in my throat. I drink a glass of water, but I start feeling more dizzy.

“I am not feeling okay, my head is rotating. I think may be I had a heart attack.

“Please call the doctor”

My wife is standing still without any movements. Suddenly a smile comes on her face.  I try to reach for my mobile but cannot find it.

“ Call a doctor pls. where is my mobile?”  I ask.

“Is the lunch tasty?  Have you enjoyed your lunch“ She asks still smiling.

What was in lunch today I try to think. Did the lunch have  something to do with my sudden condition?

“ What was about the lunch today? Why have you hidden my mobile?”  I asked her again.

“Because my dear you had poison in your lunch today in your chicken gravy. That is the only way to get rid of you”. She replies.

My wife has poisoned me. Suddenly I remember the lady in the cafe. The friend she was referring is my wife. She is also from Kolkata.  It is my wife  who wants to kill me. I wish that I should have heard details from her. May be I could have got some clues.

The whole story comes in front of my eyes. That my had shared her thoughts with her best friend. Her friend had accidentally met me in the coffee shop.  I had got a chance to get to know the plan. But I did not hear. My eyes begin to close; it is getting very difficult for me to keep my eyes open. I collapse and faint while my wife keeps looking. Slowly my breathing is stopping and I am getting unconscious. I realize I am dying.

While passing out flashbacks comes to my mind. I was looking for a plot, a perfect plot,  a master piece that would make me a author. I got the plot but I did not realize that the dying character of my story will be myself, that I will live the life of the character of my story.

–END-

TVF: A platform as a symbol of common man’s life.

TVF (The viral fever) is an Indian over-the-top streaming service and YouTube channel. It is seen as the pioneer of web content in India. Their earlier shows like Permanent Roommates and Pitchers introduced the idea of serialised storytelling on YouTube to an average Indian consumer. The idea at TVF has always been to come up with original content that strikes a chord with the Indian audience. Whether it’s family, relationships or the difficulties of college life, the shows and videos have always been refreshing and yet relatable. When people hear the word TVF, they imagine the best storytellers in the country irrespective of the platform. There has to be something different about our shows.The Viral Fever was one of the early arrivals on the Indian digital entertainment segment with videos covering a range of topics on Indian politics, movies, lifestyle, and emerging social concepts.

The Viral Fever has etched its name in our hearts with some of the most relatable and quirky web series on the internet. Their relatable and rather hatke content has time and again won our hearts. Whether it’s something in drama or maybe a comedy, they have set the bar pretty high. Today, we’re here with a list of 5 tvf webseries that you must watch.

1.Panchayat

Panchayat, created by TVF for Amazon Prime Video, has been winning hearts since its premiere. Starring Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Panchayat follows a man who has been posted to a village as a part of his government job. The show follows his journey as he tries to make peace with his surroundings even though he feels like he is in an alien environment.A satire on the challenges he faces during his tenure in the office and the dry humour has won over countless people who have seen this show. A must-watch if you still haven’t seen this one. At the inaugural ceremony of Filmfare OTT Awards, the film won all the nominations under the Comedy Series category, except for Best Actress, which went to Mithila Palkar for Little Things. The series were also nominated for Best Original Story, Screenplay and Dialogues for Chandan Kumar, although it did not receive a win.

2.The pitchers

The plot of Pitchers follows the lives of 4 friends who’re pretty unhappy with their jobs. An inspirational story filled with some great comic scenes – it shows how these friends come together to start a company by quitting their day jobs. Portraying the struggle, hard work, sweat, tears and countless sacrifices that go into making a company successful – this show is a must-watch. The first season of the show was fairly successful but following the sexual harassment claims against creator-actor Arunabh Kumar, the show did not return for a second season.

3.kota factory

Kota Factory followed the coaching culture that’s prevalent in the city of Kota, Rajasthan. Starring Jitendra Kumar and Mayur More, Kota Factory struck a chord with the audience and was an instant hit on YouTube. The five episodes of the series have over 130 million views on YouTube collectively. It is hilarious, a little dark, bittersweet and very entertaining. Plus, the fact that it’s been shot in monochrome sets it apart from other web series.

4.Aspirants

This plot follows the lives of 3 friends – Abhilasha, Guri and SK living in Old Rajinder Nagar in Delhi. Showcasing the struggle and drama that goes on behind the making of an IAS or CSE, Aspirant brings forth this entire journey. Starring Naveen Kasturia, Sunny Hinduja, and others in significant roles, Aspirants follows candidates who are preparing for their UPSC exams in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar.

5.Hostel daze

Hostel Daze is an Indian Hindi-language comedy-drama streaming television miniseries created Saurabh Khanna and Abhishek Yadav. Directed Raghav Subbu, it stars Adarsh Gourav, Luv, Shubham Gaur, Nikhil Vijay and Ahsaas Channa in lead roles. Hostel Daze premiered on Amazon Prime Video on 13 December 2019. Hostel Daze can be described as a laughter ride through the corridors of hostel life that celebrates the catastrophe escapade of four students played by Adarsh Gourav, Luv, Shubham Gaur, Nikhil Vijay, and wing-mates, brought together by fate and later followed by forced friendships, heartbreaks, and flumping grades.

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How to Restore Our Sleep Cycle

Pandemic has a huge impact on the sleep pattern of the people around the world. Some of them are tossing side to side to get a proper sleep during night time, other stay long awake but unable to regulate their usual pattern. Many experts also suggested that these days people often faces troubled sleep, with many going to bed far later and sleeping longer than usual.

Image: Shutterstock

Our sleep schedules do vary from person to person, depending in large part on the environmental causes. Because according to our circadian clock , that control our sleep schedules are sensitive to light like things like how much sunlight we’re exposed to throughout the day and what types of light we’re exposed to at night affect our sleep schedules. It’s really a huge problem, having a disrupted sleep schedule can result in deteriorating sleep pattern. But this will led to severe health ailments linked to several chronic health problems, such as sleep disorders, obesity, diabetes, depression, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorders etc.

Image: Banala lite

But there are some suggested ways to get our disrupted sleep back on track:

  • A proper bed time routine: Try to stick to a schedule of sleep, like keeping your sleep-wake cycle the same. Our bodies have a circadian rhythm and walking up at different times disrupts it. The less you deviate from your normal bed and wake up times, the better you sleep. To get to sleep earlier, even doctors recommends going slowly and in small increments, adjusting no more than 15 minutes earlier every two to three days.
  • A touch of nature: Get a good amount of sunlight every morning. It serves an important purpose: it shuts down the release of melatonin, this hormone promotes sleep. Aim to get at least 15 minutes of sunlight every morning.

      Image: NPR

  • Cut off caffeine before sleep: Caffeine has a half-life of six to eight hours and a quarter-life of 12 hours. That means if you drink coffee at 4 pm, you’ll still have a quarter of the caffeine floating around in your brain at 4 am.
  • Limit your drinking habit: Alcohol suppresses REM sleep cause sleep disruptions. If you drink alcohol, limit that to two drinks or stop the intake at least three hours before bed.
  • Limit the screen timings: Avoid screen timings just before going to bed. As blue light of mobile screen interfere with sleep habits by sending wrong signals to stay awake. But many of us do it anyway. Avoid screen time before 2 hours of going to bed.
  • Journaling: You can’t get a proper sleep if something is bothering you, it’s always better to pen down your worries in a diary. Making this a habit can lessen your worries. Sit down with a blank piece of paper one to two hours before bed each night. Writing down your thoughts, especially anything that is bothering you. It will help you to schedule your activities and calm your mind.
Image: Unsplash

Meditation and Music: Meditation eases your woes by giving a direction to your thoughts. To get a proper sleep one should practice this 10 minutes daily routine. On the other hand, music calms mind and listening to a relaxing one will help to achieve sleep.

  • Avoid sleeping at day time: To promote better sleep one should avoid day time nap, so as to get a better sleep at night.
  • Environment: Make a good sleeping environment like switching off unnecessary lights and put on the curtains to prevent the entry of noise and lights. Take a warm bath and play some relaxing music, for instance. Make sure your bed is comfortable, the room is dark, and the temperature is not too warm.

These are the ways which enable us regain our disturbed sleep pattern. Sleep, itself promotes body healing. So, this is advised to get a proper 7-8 hours of sleep during night time.

Image: PBS