Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Close to A Lakh
Starting Aug, 2010 i have donated 97600 grains of rice to the hungry via WFP using beta.freerice.com portal.
In a day or two, i would be crossing 100000 border, pretty excited...hurrah!
http://www.thefreedictionary.com website has a big role in this success :)
Some tough words witnessed for the day are as follow:
1. lanceolate: Tapering from a rounded base toward an apex; lance-shaped
2. bongo: A large, forest-dwelling antelope (Boocercus eurycerus) of central Africa, having a reddish-brown coat with white stripes and spirally twisted horns
3. palaver:
a. Idle chatter.
In a day or two, i would be crossing 100000 border, pretty excited...hurrah!
http://www.thefreedictionary.com website has a big role in this success :)
Some tough words witnessed for the day are as follow:
1. lanceolate: Tapering from a rounded base toward an apex; lance-shaped
2. bongo: A large, forest-dwelling antelope (Boocercus eurycerus) of central Africa, having a reddish-brown coat with white stripes and spirally twisted horns
3. palaver:
a. Idle chatter.
b. Talk intended to charm or beguile
4. ort: tiny scrap
5. titutal: nominal
6. lenitive: soothing
7. jactitation: false boasting
8. supercilium: eyebrow
9. deracinate: uproot
10. wonted: accustomed, usual
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Insight to some Arab capitals
1. Sanaa:
http://www.answers.com/topic/sana
http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/asia/yemen/time.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sana'a
Capital and largest city of Yemen. It is a commercial and marketing center and is noted for the grapes grown nearby. Sana'a is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. At an altitude of 2,300 meters, it is also one of the highest capital cities in the world. It was declared a World Heritage City by the United Nations in 1986.Sana'a features the very rare mild version of a desert climate.
The country code is: 967
The city code is: 1
http://www.answers.com/topic/sana
http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/asia/yemen/time.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sana'a
Capital and largest city of Yemen. It is a commercial and marketing center and is noted for the grapes grown nearby. Sana'a is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. At an altitude of 2,300 meters, it is also one of the highest capital cities in the world. It was declared a World Heritage City by the United Nations in 1986.Sana'a features the very rare mild version of a desert climate.
The country code is: 967
The city code is: 1
Yemen Time = GMT+3 Time Zone
Yemen Time does not operate Daylight-Saving Time
2. Dushanbe:
Situated on the confluence of two rivers, Varzob and Kofarnihon, Dushanbe(دوشنبه) is the capital of Tajikistan, the name reflects the fact that the city grew on the site of a village that originally was a popular Monday marketplace. Dushanbe features a Mediterranean climate.
No daylight saving time in 2010.
International country code: + 992 (Tajikistan)
Area code: 372
Area code: 372
3.Ankara:
Ankara, formerly Angora, capital of Turkey and the country’s second largest city after Istanbul. The city was famous for its long-haired Angora goat and its prized wool (mohair), a unique breed of cat (Angora cat), white rabbits and their prized wool (Angora wool), pears, honey, and the region's muscat grapes.
Ankara has a continental climate, with cold, snowy winters due to its elevation and inland location, and hot, dry summers. Rainfall occurs mostly during the spring and autumn.Ankara has many parks and open spaces mainly established in the early years of the Republic and well maintained and expanded thereafter. Football is the most popular sport in Ankara.
Ankara code: +90 312
4. Islamabad:
When Pakistan gained Independence in 1947, Karachi was its first capital. In 1960, Islamabad was constructed as a forward capital.Islamabad has attracted people from all over Pakistan, making it the most cosmopolitan city in the country.Islamabad features an atypical version of a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers accompanied by a monsoon season followed by mild and wet winters.
Urdu is predominantly spoken within the city due to the ethnic mix of populations.English, being the official language of Pakistan, is also commonly understood. Islamabad boasts the highest literacy rate in Pakistan at 87%.Islamabad is connected to major destinations around the world through Benazir Bhutto International Airport, previously known as Islamabad International Airport.Taxis in Islamabad are abundant, popular and generally safe. The Margalla Hills are effectively foothills of the Himalayas – and are very easily accessible from Islamabad.
Pakistan ISD code: +92
Monday, October 18, 2010
Gaff vs Gaffe
http://www.answers.com/topic/gaffe
http://www.answers.com/topic/gaff
Gaffe:
He preferred fishing, because he knew how to handle a "gaff" (a hook used to land a fish), whereas he had bad memories of committing a "gaffe" (a social blunder) when spending time with others.
http://www.answers.com/topic/gaff
Gaffe:
- A clumsy social error; a faux pas: "The excursion had in his eyes been a monstrous gaffe, a breach of sensibility and good taste" (Mary McCarthy).
- A blatant mistake or misjudgment.
Gaff:
A large iron hook attached to a pole or handle and used to land large fish.
He preferred fishing, because he knew how to handle a "gaff" (a hook used to land a fish), whereas he had bad memories of committing a "gaffe" (a social blunder) when spending time with others.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
baleful vs baneful
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/baleful
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/baneful
http://vocabulary-vocabulary.com/dictionary/baneful.php
baleful:
Had it not been for the baleful star on the white tower that early walk would have been a delight to Anne and Gilbert.
Bill shot a baleful glance in her direction.
baneful:
destructive, poisonous, or fatal
My foible was patriotism; I was ruined by the baneful habit of trying to serve my country.
He made some commonplace observation upon the baneful effect of the night air at the season.
His baneful anger threatened all of their safety and security.
Summary:
Baleful and baneful overlap in meaning, but baleful usually applies to something that is menacing or foreshadows evil: a baleful look. Baneful most often describes that which is actually harmful or destructive: baneful effects of their foreign policy.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/baneful
http://vocabulary-vocabulary.com/dictionary/baneful.php
baleful:
1. Portending evil; ominous.
2. Harmful or malignant in intent or effect.
His companions in the baleful work seemed to have taken on something of his feeling.
Had it not been for the baleful star on the white tower that early walk would have been a delight to Anne and Gilbert.
Bill shot a baleful glance in her direction.
baneful:
destructive, poisonous, or fatal
My foible was patriotism; I was ruined by the baneful habit of trying to serve my country.
He made some commonplace observation upon the baneful effect of the night air at the season.
His baneful anger threatened all of their safety and security.
Summary:
Baleful and baneful overlap in meaning, but baleful usually applies to something that is menacing or foreshadows evil: a baleful look. Baneful most often describes that which is actually harmful or destructive: baneful effects of their foreign policy.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Tribes of India
1. Garo:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garo_(tribe)
http://westgarohills.nic.in/people.htm
The Garos are a tribe in Meghalaya and neighboring ares of Bangladesh. Most Garos are now Christians. The Garos are one of the few remaining matrilineal societies in the world. The individuals take their clan titles from their mothers. Traditionally, the youngest daughter (nokmechik) inherits the property from her mother. Sons leave the parents' house at puberty, and are trained in the village bachelor dormitory (nokpante). After getting married, the man lives in his wife's house. Garos are only a matrilinear society, but not matriarchal. While property of Garos are owned by the women, the men folk govern the society and domestic affairs and manages the property.In Garo customs it is the girls who propose a match to boys.
The staple cereal food is rice.Garos are very liberal in their food habits. They rear goats, pigs, fowls, ducks etc. and relish their meat.The common and regular festivals are those connected with agricultural operations.
2. Lushai:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lusei
http://www.india9.com/i9show/Lushai-Tribe-22453.htm
http://www.indiahotelreview.com/state-mizoram.htm
The Lusei (Old Mizo: Lushai) people are one of the eleven clans of Mizo tribe, native to Mizoram in Northeast India.The Lusei people are usually described as "short, sturdy and heavy people of Mongolian type." The average height of men was usually between 162 cm and 170 cm. The average women's height ranged from 140 cm to 160 cm. Their skin complexion varied between dark brown to light yellow.Infant morality is seen high among this tribe.
Lushais build their house using bamboo and wood. The region being mostly of hilly nature, the houses are usually built on slopes. Wooden posts of different lengths are employed to provide the necessary support and balance. These posts are enforced with cross beams.The community members engage in the collection and gathering of forest products. For additional income, they make a variety of bamboo baskets and are sold in the market. Paikawng, Emsin, Paiem, Tlamen, Dawrawn and Fawng baskets are some fine specimens depicting the craftsmanship of the tribe.
Their tribe, also known as Mizo, in Kalemyo Sagaing division, western Burma is keen on contesting the forthcoming 2010 general elections for a seat in Parliament. They are now busy undertaking a census of community members. In the early nineteenth century the Lushai Tribe had a quarrel with the British. It was in the year 1895. British captured the province. When India developed into an independent country in 1947,the Mizo Hills were a part of Assam. In the year 1972, it was made a Union Territory and given the name Mizoram. In the month of February, in the year 1987, Mizoram was made the 23rd state of India.
3. Miri:
http://www.indianetzone.com/45/mishing_tribe.htmhttp://www.assamspider.com/resources/2401-The-Mishing-or-Mising-tribe-Assam.aspx
The Misings women are born artistes ,which reflects in their designs of their clothing. They wear clothes that they weave themselves which very beautifully designed. Their food habits also quite different from other tribes of Assam.
4. Lotha:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothas
http://www.india9.com/i9show/Lotha-Tribe-33476.htm
http://www.india9.com/i9show/Shawls-of-the-Lotha-Tribe-32221.htm
Lotha is the major tribe inhabiting in Wokha District of Nagaland. Wokha is the home of the Lotha tribes. Lothas are renowned for their colourful dances and folk songs. The male members of the Lotha tribe of Nagaland wear shawlsindicating their social status. The prestigious social shawl for women is Opvuram and Longpensu for men.
The male members of the Lotha tribe of Nagaland wear shawls indicating their social status. The social status of a person increases with the feast that he offers to the community.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garo_(tribe)
http://westgarohills.nic.in/people.htm
The Garos are a tribe in Meghalaya and neighboring ares of Bangladesh. Most Garos are now Christians. The Garos are one of the few remaining matrilineal societies in the world. The individuals take their clan titles from their mothers. Traditionally, the youngest daughter (nokmechik) inherits the property from her mother. Sons leave the parents' house at puberty, and are trained in the village bachelor dormitory (nokpante). After getting married, the man lives in his wife's house. Garos are only a matrilinear society, but not matriarchal. While property of Garos are owned by the women, the men folk govern the society and domestic affairs and manages the property.In Garo customs it is the girls who propose a match to boys.
The staple cereal food is rice.Garos are very liberal in their food habits. They rear goats, pigs, fowls, ducks etc. and relish their meat.The common and regular festivals are those connected with agricultural operations.
2. Lushai:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lusei
http://www.india9.com/i9show/Lushai-Tribe-22453.htm
http://www.indiahotelreview.com/state-mizoram.htm
The Lusei (Old Mizo: Lushai) people are one of the eleven clans of Mizo tribe, native to Mizoram in Northeast India.The Lusei people are usually described as "short, sturdy and heavy people of Mongolian type." The average height of men was usually between 162 cm and 170 cm. The average women's height ranged from 140 cm to 160 cm. Their skin complexion varied between dark brown to light yellow.Infant morality is seen high among this tribe.
Lushais build their house using bamboo and wood. The region being mostly of hilly nature, the houses are usually built on slopes. Wooden posts of different lengths are employed to provide the necessary support and balance. These posts are enforced with cross beams.The community members engage in the collection and gathering of forest products. For additional income, they make a variety of bamboo baskets and are sold in the market. Paikawng, Emsin, Paiem, Tlamen, Dawrawn and Fawng baskets are some fine specimens depicting the craftsmanship of the tribe.
Their tribe, also known as Mizo, in Kalemyo Sagaing division, western Burma is keen on contesting the forthcoming 2010 general elections for a seat in Parliament. They are now busy undertaking a census of community members. In the early nineteenth century the Lushai Tribe had a quarrel with the British. It was in the year 1895. British captured the province. When India developed into an independent country in 1947,the Mizo Hills were a part of Assam. In the year 1972, it was made a Union Territory and given the name Mizoram. In the month of February, in the year 1987, Mizoram was made the 23rd state of India.
3. Miri:
http://www.indianetzone.com/45/mishing_tribe.htmhttp://www.assamspider.com/resources/2401-The-Mishing-or-Mising-tribe-Assam.aspx
The Mishing or Mising Tribe is one of the most colourful tribes of Assam with their unique style of living and even unique culture. They are also known as Miris (as Indian constitution still refers to them as Miris . The Misings as they would love to be called are probably the mixture of East Asian and South Asian sub-race of the mongoloid race. The Misings live at the fertile land in at the bank of the mighty Brahmaputra specially in upper Assam districts specially in North Lakhimpur , dhemaji , Dirugarh , Sivasagar , Jorhat and Golaghat districts of assam . The Mising tribe of Assam has lots of similarities with the Hill Miri, and Dafla tribe of Arunachal Pradesh in terms of their language style of clothing and also their culture .
The Misings women are born artistes ,which reflects in their designs of their clothing. They wear clothes that they weave themselves which very beautifully designed. Their food habits also quite different from other tribes of Assam.
4. Lotha:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lothas
http://www.india9.com/i9show/Lotha-Tribe-33476.htm
http://www.india9.com/i9show/Shawls-of-the-Lotha-Tribe-32221.htm
Lotha is the major tribe inhabiting in Wokha District of Nagaland. Wokha is the home of the Lotha tribes. Lothas are renowned for their colourful dances and folk songs. The male members of the Lotha tribe of Nagaland wear shawlsindicating their social status. The prestigious social shawl for women is Opvuram and Longpensu for men.
Tokhu Emong and Pikhuchak are the main festivals celebrated amidst much pomp and splendor.
The male members of the Lotha tribe of Nagaland wear shawls indicating their social status. The social status of a person increases with the feast that he offers to the community.
A person who hasn’t offered a feast wears an ordinary shawl called ‘sutam’ which contains thick dark blue horizontal stripes on a white background. A man who has offered feast for the first time can wear the ‘phangrhup’ shawl, which contains some stripes. On offering the second feast, a shawl containing thicker stripes are worn. The third feast makes him eligible to wear the ‘ethasu’ shawl.
After giving a series of feasts, a ritual is held in which the man has to drag a stone. On the completion of this ritual, he is entitled to wear the ‘lungpensu’ which is an attractive costume containing 5 light blue stripes on a dark blue background and additional narrow strips on the borders.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Confusing Words
1. Appraise: To evaluate especially in an official capacity -:)
Apprise: to give notice to; inform; advise (often fol. by of ): to be apprised of the death of an old friend.
2. Exalt: to raise in rank, honor, power, character, quality, etc.;elevate: He was exalted to the position of president.
Exult: to show or feel a lively or triumphant joy; rejoice exceedingly; be highly elated or jubilant: They exulted over their victory.
3. Ordinance: regulation /direction: A law is an ordinance
Ordnance: A gun is a piece of ordnance
4. Prescribe: Recommend
Proscribe: Forbid
5. Yoke: link holding two oxen together
Yolk: yellow center of an egg
Apprise: to give notice to; inform; advise (often fol. by of ): to be apprised of the death of an old friend.
2. Exalt: to raise in rank, honor, power, character, quality, etc.;elevate: He was exalted to the position of president.
Exult: to show or feel a lively or triumphant joy; rejoice exceedingly; be highly elated or jubilant: They exulted over their victory.
3. Ordinance: regulation /direction: A law is an ordinance
Ordnance: A gun is a piece of ordnance
4. Prescribe: Recommend
Proscribe: Forbid
5. Yoke: link holding two oxen together
Yolk: yellow center of an egg
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