Greatest Mysteries of Science

                                 By Swayam Ganguly

 

Ever since its evolution billions of years ago, Earth’s history has been home to life in one weird form or another (including men and women). There have also been various mysteries, which are still unsolved though science has been used as a tool to explain these mysteries from time to time. But there exist certain mysteries within the realm of science itself which continue to perplex and mystify. At the risk of sounding arty, I must confess that science has always been a mystery of consummate proportions to me. We shall explore three of these burning issues which though simple in nature are really rather complex. Just like science itself!

How did life arise on Earth?

Some scientists are of the view that the earliest evidence for life on Earth comes from fossilized mats of cyanobacteria called stromatolites in Australia that are about 3.4 billion years old.

Fair enough. But despite knowing approximately when life first appeared on Earth, scientists are still far from answering how it appeared. I mean, it’s cool to coin a term which is tough to pronounce but can someone answer the question please? There are several competing theories of course which only makes things even more confusing. Some say that life didn’t actually begin on Earth but came from a distant world or the heart of a fallen comet or asteroid.

Then there is the RNA World hypothesis which is my favorite only because it sounds so scientific. Most scientists are of the opinion that the RNA was the head-honcho molecule which guided life in its initial nascent stages. RNA is very similar to DNA, and today carries out numerous important functions in each of our cells, including acting as a transitional-molecule between DNA and protein synthesis, and functioning as an on-and-off switch for some genes. But the RNA World hypothesis doesn’t explain how RNA itself first arose. Like DNA, RNA is a complex molecule made of repeating units of thousands of smaller molecules called nucleotides that link together in very specific, patterned ways. While there are scientists who think RNA could have arisen spontaneously on early Earth, others say the odds of such a thing happening are astronomical.

“Many theories of the origin of life have been proposed, but since it’s hard to prove or disprove them, no fully accepted theory exists,” said Diana Northup, a cave biologist at the University of New Mexico.

Thanks Diana. Back to square one! But the answer to this question would not only fill one of the largest gaps in scientists’ understanding of nature, but also would have important implications for the likelihood of finding life elsewhere in the universe. But one thing is clear. The solution of a mystery of this magnitude is totally unpredictable. It might happen next week or it might take a thousand years. My guess is it won’t happen ever and coming from an eternal optimist, that does sound depressing. It’s like that classic question “What came first? The chicken or the egg?“ Ah, well! Science doesn’t have an answer for that one as well!

What Causes Gravity (the mystery force)?

Remember the time when you were kids playing war games in the yard? Your desire to be superman and fly like a bird was stifled and you wondered why till you discovered the concept of gravity in school.

What is gravity?

In 1686 Isaac Newton asked this question and reached the conclusion that it was an attractive force between all objects. The same force that caused an apple to fall to the ground also held the moon in its orbit. The presence of gravity is evident in the deepest depths of space where it tugs on matter to form stars, galaxies and black holes. But it is a mysterious force, as scientists can’t measure it in the laboratory as easily as they can detect its effects on planets and stars. Gravity holds us firmly on the ground and keeps the earth circling the sun.

This invisible force also draws down rain from the sky and causes the daily ocean tides. It keeps the earth in a spherical shape, and prevents our atmosphere from escaping into space. It would seem that this everyday force should be one of the best understood concepts in science. However, just the opposite is true. In many ways, gravity remains a profound mystery. Gravity provides a stunning example of the limits of current scientific knowledge. But kudos to Newton for exploration of thought post a fallen apple. Many I know, including myself would have been happy just consuming the apple.  

Xavier Siemens, a gravitational theorist at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee says, “At this point it seems like science fiction. Theoretically, however, we should be able to detect single gravitons. But how is the big question.”

Does Alien Life Exist?

This is the big question man has been asking for ages now. UFO sightings are often reported (mostly in the U.S.A but so what?) and most of us believe that there could be life out there. Aliens and their spacecrafts have been depicted in early cave paintings as well as popular culture.

Whether a bounty of life exists elsewhere in the universe is one of the oldest and most tantalizing questions of science. Considering the wide breadth of the universe and the countless stars it contains, the odds would seem in favor of the answer being “yes.”

Many scientists, such as Carl Sagan, believe that it is nearly impossible that no other intelligent life exists in the universe. “We are here, made of stardust. Therefore, it is at least possible that there are others,” said Jill Tarter, director of the Center for SETI Research in California. You know something Jill? This was pondered over by me when I was five years old. So how about an original thought?

Pointy- eared aliens traveling at light speed are staying firmly in science fiction, but scientists are offering fresh insights into the possible existence of inhabited worlds and intelligent civilizations in space.

There may be 100 billion Earth-like planets in the Milky Way, or one for every sun-type star in the galaxy, said Alan Boss, an astronomer with the Carnegie Institution and author of the new book “The Crowded Universe: The Search for Living Planets.”

The Boss man made the prediction based on the number of “super-Earths” – planets several times the mass of the Earth, but smaller than gas giants like Jupiter,  discovered so far circling stars outside the solar system.

The age old question- Are we alone in the universe? lies unanswered and is one of the glaring scientific mysteries. It does seem unlikely that we are the only life forms in this vast universe if we ponder logically but so far although planets have been discovered signs of life are still not visible.

 

Try and penetrate with our limited means the secrets of nature and you will find that, behind all the discernible concatenations, there remains something subtle, intangible and inexplicable.

– Albert Einstein

 

The author’s novel titled “Love Films and Rock n Roll” (Alchemy Publishers) has been released recently.

“Good, Bad and Ugly” (Supernova Publishers) is slated for release soon.

 

Greatest Mysteries of Science

2012 – END OF THE WORLD? THE MAYAN PROPHECY

 

 

 By SWAYAM GANGULY

 

There had been a fair amount of speculation when it came to the year 2012.Scientific experts from around the world had been genuinely predicting that all life on Earth could well perish. Some said that humans would set it off. Others believed that a natural phenomenon would be the cause. And some said it’d be God himself who would press the stop button…Hogwash! We still exist and so does the world. I personally wouldn’t recommend a Mayan Calendar if you ask me.

 

If having scientists warning us about the end of the world wasn’t bad enough there were religious folks in the scene as well. Interpretations of the Christian Bible reveal that the date for Armageddon, the final battle between Good and Evil, has been set down for 2012. The I Ching, also known as the Chinese book of Changes, agrees, as do various sections of the Hindu teachings. That raises only one question, Have the Mayans got their dates mixed up or has the Gregorian calendar screwed up the dates?

 

Hollywood had jumped into the juggernaut typically with the “2012” movie which served to alert a targeted 140 million people, in case they hadn’t already heard the news. The intention to profit through entertainment before the world ended could have been a factor as well. BO also stands for Box Office you know. Make hay before the world ends! Unfortunately, however, the movie did a disservice to the concept because it distorted the message of this ancient prophecy by associating it with fear and destruction, as depicted by the movie’s global disaster scenario, rather than the themes of transformation and renewal the prophecy is actually based in. December 21, 2012 is presented as a predetermined “doomsday” when the world is going to come to an end.

 

The first mob to predict 2012 as the end of the world were the Mayans, a bloodthirsty race that were good at certain things like building highly accurate astrological equipment out of stone and sacrificing virgins. Accuracy in calendar dates a Mayan forte? Bah!

But they were also great mathematicians and accomplished sky watchers as apart from the above mentioned two rather unusual talents they did manage to calculate the length of the lunar moon as 329.53020 days, only 34 seconds out. They just messed up big time with the virgin sacrifices and also the 2012 bit. Or did they? Read on!

 

The ancient Mayans, based on star charting, prophesied via the Mayan calendar that December 21, 2012 would be the end of the world. Did they mean the end of humanity instead? Is there a hidden meaning? Hmmm! Makes me wonder!

The Mayan Calendar was the center of Maya life and their greatest cultural achievement. Well, the accuracy with the lunar cycle was quite an achievement too if you ask me. No brownie points for sacrificing virgins you Mayans you. The Mayan Calendar’s ancestral knowledge guided the Maya’s existence from the moment of their birth and there was little that escaped its influence.

 

• The Solstice on December 21, 2012 ~ precisely at 11:11 AM Universal Time ~ marks the completion of the 5,125 year Great Cycle of the Ancient Maya Long Count Calendar.
• Rather than being a linear end-point, this cycle that is closing is naturally followed by the start of a new cycle. What this new cycle has in store for humanity is a mystery that has yet to unfold…
• 2012 is also considered the completion of the 26,000 year, Precession of the Equinoxes cycle, and some say it also signifies the end of a 104,000 year cycle.

 

You might dismiss the so called Mayan prophecies as nothing more than wildly speculative extrapolations and while many would like to sweep the end date question under the rug or sit on the fence, no one can do so with their intellectual integrity intact.

It is true that the Mayans were not prophets as they could not predict even their own cultural extinction (that was kind of strange as nothing escaped them) but there is no denying the fact that Mayan prophecies of events during this period have been astonishingly exact. The prophecies regarding the war in Iraq, the destruction of the Twin Towers, conflicts such as those between India and Pakistan and between Israel and Palestine, the tsunamis, earthquakes and floods are just a few examples.

One might wonder at the wondrous interest the ancient Mayan Calendar has generated in today’s times. After all, the Gregorian or Muslim Calendars are currently in use. So why do we need the Mayan Calendar?  In this regard, it is mentionable that the importance of the Mayan civilization cannot be denied, as at their height in the 5th to 9th centuries AD, the Mayan cities would be among the largest in the world and developed the most advanced mathematics and astronomy of their day.

Also unlike all other calendars the Mayan calendar has an end date. The answer to this is that the Mayan calendar expresses an entirely different kind of time than other calendars. Most calendars, such as the Gregorian, Muslim, Buddhist or Jewish ones, are based on astronomical cycles and reflect continuous time. They describe measurable mechanic time, the aspect of time that the Greek would call Chronos, which is also the only one that is recognized in the modern world. Since astronomical cycles will continue over the next billions of years or so there is however no reason that calendars based on them should ever come to an end. Since the Mayan calendar however, has an end date this must obviously be based on another type of time than mechanical time and its end date must be discussed against the background of consciousness-based time – what the Greek would call Kairos.

 

The 2012 date indeed marks the completion of this World Age Cycle. But the need of the hour is to understand the 2012 prophecy as signaling us that we need to awaken and realize that these times on Earth are auspicious as we are living in landmark times in the history of our planet. Comprehension is the key word! The need of the hour is to live in harmony with ourselves and with nature so that mankind can continue to flourish.

 

Carlos Barrios, who was trained as an Ajq’ij in the Maya tradition, had this to share in regards to 2012:

“Our planet can be renewed or ravaged. Now is the time to awaken and take action…The prophesized changes are going to happen, but our attitude and actions determine how harsh or mild they are.

“This is a crucially important moment for humanity and for earth. Each person is important. If you have incarnated into this era, you have spiritual work to do balancing the planet…The greatest wisdom is in simplicity. Love, respect, tolerance, sharing, gratitude, forgiveness. It’s not complex or elaborate. The real knowledge is free. It’s encoded in your DNA. All you need is within you. Great teachers have said that from the beginning. Find your heart, and you will find your way.”

 

Viva Carlos Barrios!

 

 

The author’s novel titled “Love Films and Rock n Roll” (Alchemy Publishers) has been released recently.

“Good, Bad and Ugly” (Supernova Publishers) is slated for release soon.

 

 

THE BEST AND WORST OF COMMERCIALS OF 2009

THE BEST AND WORST OF COMMERCIALS OF 2009

 An overview by Swayam Ganguly

 

A brilliant ad campaign is reflective not only of great creative work but also of the creative standards of an entire region. 2009 had seen advertisers playing it safe in India because of the recession but yet there were many who feel that it was a better year than 2008 in terms of creativity.

McCann Erickson’s “Human Bulbs” for Happydent shone in 2006 and Pepsi’s “Youngistaan” campaign was the highlight of 2008 but 2009 will go down as the year of Vodafone’s Zoozoos.

When most of the agencies were dishing out the same staple fare, two thumbs up to O&M for some refreshingly fresh work. After the famous pug, the Zoozoos were created for a campaign featuring value added services. The timing was also impeccable as the spots were launched during the IPL series. One of the most interesting facts about this campaign is that even though the ZooZoo characters look animated, they have been played by real people dressed in white attire.

The media mix for the campaign included television, print, outdoor, radio and online. The ZooZoo community on Facebook features all the commercials.

 

Gillette Mach 3 – India Votes to shave or not to shave

 

The Mach 3 is a brilliant invention when it comes to a good shave but the trend observed was that men were not ready to invest in Gillette razors despite the “Gillette – The best a man can get” tagline. Despite spending much moolah on cell phones, watches and expensive perfumes they preferred to buy cheap razors. The campaign focused on a survey with a debate – What kind of men do women like – clean shaven or with a stubble and this spilled across media on “to shave or not to shave”

The good news for Gillette is that this campaign was effective in boosting up sales.

Surf – Playground is classroom

 

The idea: The agency came up with a ‘Surf Excel Children’s festival’ where children can play in the mud, getting dirty along the way, and let their creativity run free through clay statues, paintings and more. It used the Times of India as a pivot with 21 days of coverage allowing 45,000 kids to be part of the event. All this to drive home the point that getting dirty is a part of life, and playgrounds are classrooms without walls. The television commercials played on this very emotion “Daag acche hain” to further build up on the brand image.

Tata Tea – Jaago Re

The idea: To shake the youth of their slumber and lethargy towards elections and voting, agency came up with a special series on Channel [V] titled Vote Ya Vaat, that used popular icons, celebrities and common people to urge viewers to vote. A microsite called Jaagore.com was the focal point of the campaign. Also created a character called ‘Soya Soya Chand’’ on radio, besides a website whysosleepy.com. The television commercials focused on a number of issues ranging from exercise of voting rights to corruption in society with youth and tea being the focal point.

 

Dove Soap – The ultimate test

 

The idea: Popular insight remained that only soaps that smell good are good soaps.

The target group did not feel the need for a moisturizing soap. What’s more, a woman will allow only a trusted source to touch her face, and Pond’s set out to gain that trust. Hence the campaign, ‘Give us one half of your face. Take the Dove challenge’.

This campaign did wonders for the brand as many women turned Dove loyalists as the soap brought the concept of a soap and moisturizer together effectively in its advertising.

But what happens if pumpkins start thinking and bozos get paid for being creative director? What happens when nonsense and mindlessness get married? It is then that disasters of a short span of time happen that are known as bad television commercials. Here are 5 creative mishaps in no particular order.

Men’s fairness cream is a fairly new product in India. This is all the more reason for the advertising to be refreshing. Alas it is not so. Emami Fair and Handsome initially had a guy going to a girl’s hostel to steal cream with the irritating “Hi Handsome Hi Handsome” jingle. The new ad is no better with a stuntman trying to be a hero thanks to the fairness cream. Egad!

THIS IS THE PERFECT RESPONSE

They say Akshay Kumar is better at comedy than action. I fully agree as Thums up should have had him doing comedy instead of the stupid stunts in 30 seconds all to get a thums up bottle which makes me realize that it must be pretty difficult to get access to a Thums up bottle. Inane? Yes I’m afraid so.

As if buying foreign companies wasn’t enough. Rajnigandha pan masala has gone one step further to make the masala chewing hero go abroad to study and solve complex equations at the drop of a hat to a racist teacher. Setting a bad example for kids don’t you think?

The Rupa Macroman ad has the hero going where no man has ever gone before. No not into space but the ladies loo. Get a life Macroman! Girls come in and out and the guy is mouth picked by them and has lipstick all over his body. Vulgar? Yes sir! Wonder what he was doing in the ladies loo in his undies in the first place.

Last but not the least is the Fair and Lovely commercial which shows negativity and gender bias. Use fair and lovely and you will become fair and successful and your family and friends will praise you. Is there no other way to sell fairness cream?

To conclude I would like to mention a commercial which was funny as well as bang on. The ING Vyasa advert for a lost/stolen debit card.

A person is running behind a thief who has stolen his debit card. After a while a postman joins the chase. Finally, the thief gets the better of them and the victim is left puffing and panting. The postman catches up and delivers an envelope which has a new replacement card in it.

THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY: AN OVERVIEW

 

 

THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY: AN OVERVIEW  

By Swayam Ganguly

 

Origin

The roots of the Black Panther Party can be traced back to October 15^th, 1966 in Oakland, California when Huey Newton and Bobby Seale founded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. (Yes, it does sound like a pop/soul/R&B duo doesn’t it? It’s nothing like it. More of metal! Read on!)

This however, was no Aam Aadmi Party. Instead it was a group absolutely loathed by the Aam American Aadmi. This African- American organization aimed at promoting civil rights and self defense and was active in the USA from the mid 1960s to the 1970s. The Panthers are more or less extinct today.    

Black Panther Theory:

Malcolm X was a huge source of inspiration for the Panthers and they followed his philosophy of international working class unity irrespective of color and gender.Mao was another inspiration and Mao’s Red Book came in handy when it was sold to university students to enable the purchase of shotguns.

The cause was perhaps not worthy enough but the sales were so encouraging that the party made the book an essential read for all members. The basic ideology of the Panthers was the practice of militant self-defense of the minority communities against the US Government as well as the establishment of revolutionary socialism with the help of mass organizing and community based programs. The ideological similarity with the Indian Maoists in today’s times is astonishing.

 

In January, 1969, The first Panther’s Free Breakfast for School Children Program was initiated at St. Augustine’s Church in Oakland. In 1969, the Panthers set up kitchens in cities across the nation, feeding over 10,000 children everyday before they went to school.

 

 

Black Panther History: 

April 25th, 1967 was a historic day as the first issue of The Black Panther, the party’s official news organ, went into distribution. In the following month, the party marched on the California state capital fully armed, in protest of the state’s attempt to outlaw carrying loaded weapons in public. Bobby Seale was arrested along with 30 armed Panthers. This early act of political repression kindled the fire to the burning resistance movement in the United States leading to the formation of new Panther organizations.

 

 

Original six Black Panthers (Nov, 1966) Top left to right: Elbert “Big Man” Howard; Huey P. Newton (Defense Minister), Sherman Forte, Bobby Seale (Chairman). Bottom: Reggie Forte and Little Bobby Hutton (Treasurer).

   

The Panthers consisted of two groups, the first being the millions of unemployed blacks forming the “industrial reserve army”, largely dependent on Welfare or State Aid. The second group was the “criminal element”, the gangsters, thieves, pimps and prostitutes who had been locked out of the economy. Indian voters disillusioned with their political leaders can take heart. Probably the lack of an intelligent wing like the Military Commission and the Politburo on the lines of the Indian Marxists in today’s times was needed then to save the Panthers from extinction. Gangsters, thieves, pimps and prostitutes can hardly be deemed capable enough to lead a revolution, after all.

Probably it was this factor that prompted FBI Director J.Edgar Hoover to describe the Panthers as, “The greatest threat to the internal security of the country.”

The Indian Prime Minister (or was it the Home Minister?) quoted Hoover word to word when it came to a quote regarding the Marxists. “Get original yo!” in original Panther lingo!

The FBI under Hoover began a program called COINTELPRO (Counterintelligence Program) to neutralize all such dissident hate groups.

Surgical assasinations would be followed by a series of arrests and psychological warfare to split the party morally and politically.

  

U.S. Police Terror and Repression

On April 6, 1968, in West Oakland, Bobby Hutton, an unarmed 17 year old kid was shot dead by Oakland police. In a 90 minute gun battle, an unarmed Bobby Hutton was shot ten times, after his house was set ablaze and he was forced to run out into a fire of bullets. Just two days earlier, Martin Luther King was assasinated. Two months later, Robert Kennedy, widely recognised in the minority commmunity as one of the only politicians in the US “sympathetic” to the civil rights movement, was also assassinated.

 

 THE TEN-POINT PROGRAM  

The Panthers created a Ten-Point Program, a document calling for “Land, Bread, Housing, Education, Clothing, Justice and Peace” and exemption from military service for African-American men, among other demands. The last one is a bit confusing. If the Panthers were a patriotic lot and not separatists why would they demand exemption from military service? To focus more on the job at hand, perhaps?

•  We want power to determine the destiny of our black and oppressed communities’ education that teaches us our true history and our role in the present-day society.
• We want completely free health care for all black and oppressed people.
• We want an immediate end to police brutality and murder of black people, other people of color, all oppressed people inside the United States.
• We want an immediate end to all wars of aggression.
• We want full employment for our people.
• We want an end to the robbery by the capitalists of our Black Community.
• We want decent housing, fit for the shelter of human beings.
• We want decent education for our people that exposes the true nature of this decadent American society.
• We want freedom for all black and oppressed people now held in U. S. Federal, state, county, city and military prisons and jails. We want trials by a jury of peers for all persons charged with so-called crimes under the laws of this country.
• We want land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice, peace and people’s community control of modern technology.

 Quoting Bob Marley would be the best way to pay tribute to the positivity of the Black Panther Party: “Get up stand up. Stand up for your rights.Get Up Stand up. Don’t give up the fight! ”

  

                                                  MEMORABLE PANTHER QUOTES

 Bobby Seale: We not anti-white, we anti-oppression! You can’t fight racism with racism.

Tyrone: Uh, Alma is it? We don’t…
Alma: What? I’m black ain’t I, I wanna help my community right or do you think oppression ends with that thing dangling between your legs?
Tyrone: But…
Alma: But nothing! We want full-fledged membership in the Black Panther Party and none of that alright sugar as long as you play the background, rubbing my feet, getting my drink bullshit, you dig?

 

The author’s debut novel titled “Love Films and Rock n Roll” has been released recently. His second novel, “Good Bad and Ugly” is due for release soon.

 

WIMBLEDON: THE ULTIMATE SPORTING DESTINATION

 

WIMBLEDON: THE ULTIMATE SPORTING DESTINATION

 

                                                              By SWAYAM GANGULY

 

Twice upon a time in the valley of the tears

An auctioneer is bidding for a box of fading years

And the elephants are dancing on the graves of squealing mice.

Anyone for tennis, wouldn’t that be nice?

And the ice creams are all melting on the streets of bloody beer

While the beggars stain the pavements with fluorescent Christmas cheer

And the Bentley-driving Guru is putting up his price.

Anyone for tennis, wouldn’t that be nice?

(ERIC CLAPTON AND MARTIN SHARP: CREAM)

 

 

The Championships, Wimbledon is the most prestigious as well as the oldest tennis tournament in the world. It is the only Grand Slam still played on grass courts and has been held at the All England Club in the London suburb of Wimbledon since 1877, which is located 7 miles South West of Charing Cross. The tournament takes place over a period of two weeks between late June and early July.

 

HISTORY

 

The name Wimbledon means “Wynnman’s Hill” (not to be confused with Henman Hill) and the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club is responsible for staging the world’s leading tennis tournament.(arguably as the French, American and Aussies might have to say something about that) Its first ground was situated off Worple Road, Wimbledon. The lawns at the Ground were arranged in such a way that the principal court was situated in the middle with the others arranged around it, hence the title ‘Centre Court.’

In 1884, the All England Club added Ladies’ Singles and Gentlemen’s Doubles. Ladies’ Doubles and Mixed Doubles were added in 1913. (In our national obsession for cricket, we sometimes tend to overlook the significant contribution by two gentlemen named Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi in the Indian context)

Until 1922, the reigning champion had to play only in the Final, against whoever had won through to challenge him, unlike today’s scenario where the defending champion has to battle it out right from the first round. The term ‘upset’ has been therefore been created more by democracy than anything else.

 

WIMBLEDON ATTRACTIONS

Wimbledon Village is one of the loveliest cosmopolitan London suburbs and is a great place to visit any time of the year. It has some of the best restaurants and fashion stores in the city. Just down the hill in Wimbledon town is the famous Italian restaurant, San Lorenzo, where you can spot your favourite tennis stars, this joint being a celebrity and food lover’s pick alike. The original medieval High Streetincludes the Church, Old Rectory and several pubs. It links the wide open spaces of Wimbledon Common with Wimbledon Hill. This charming village offers a first class selection of shops, pubs, restaurants, wine bars, pavement cafes, boutiques and businesses. For designer wear shopping, head to Matches which stocks all the top name international designers. The New Wimbledon Theatre has a varied program of exciting productions and the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum is a must-see for fans of the sport. Explore the history of the tournament, see the celebrated trophies and tour the legendary Centre Court. And oh yes, while you’re at it, don’t forget to catch some tennis action as well!

 

WIMBLEDON TRADITIONS

STRAWBERRIES & CREAM

The playwright, George Peele, during Shakespeare’s time, wrote a song in his play The Old Wives Tale linking strawberries with summer and delight. The British obsession with strawberries continues till date.

“When as the rye reach to the chin,

And chopcherry, chopcherry, ripe within,

Strawberries swimming in the cream,

And schoolboys playing in the stream…”

The first strawberries were served in 1953 when the Queen issued a decree stating that anyone who didn’t buy any when watching tennis would lose their kneecaps. No wonder the Brits still take their Queen rather seriously. Cream was added to the traditional fare in 1970 when concerns were raised that strawberries on their own might cause heart and weight problems. (There was no threat from the Queen either then) Every year an astonishing amount of about 2,700 kilos of strawberries are consumed during the Championships along with 7000 litres of cream. Now of course, there is no more danger of losing your kneecaps if you do not wish to engage in the consumption of strawberries.

 

GRASS

N.B. Grass here refers to the playing surface and is not to be confused with anything else.

 

Playing on grass is a tradition here since all the other Grand Slams prefer different surfaces. This is probably because grass is abundant in England’s green and pleasant land. Grass is also a good excuse for big stars to explain their shock defeats as grass is always slippery when wet. Well, not always actually. But then again, it never fails to rain at Wimbledon.

 

THE WEATHER

It is summertime in England when Wimbledon takes place and one assumes that the event would be blessed by clear blue skies and sunshine. But alas, that is never the case. Some say that without inclement weather, Wimbledon would be as popular as baseball in Europe. They must be those crazy fans of Sir Cliff Richard who had those big chartbusters once upon a time but now seems to be performing whenever it rains at Wimbledon. Thankfully, a retractable roof has been installed in recent times and the most unloved tradition of ‘rain stops play’ is slowly fading. So are the songs of Sir Cliff Richard sadly.

 

HENMANIA

Britons are very proud of Wimbledon but it is a matter of national anguish that no British man has won the singles event at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936, and no British woman since Virginia Wade in 1977. (This article was written before Andy Murray did all the Brits proud and when Henmania was at its peak. Kindly adjust!)

So the Brits pin their hopes on the local hopeful every year. Henmania has nothing to do with an obsession for poultry as the name suggests. It all started when a tennis player called Tim Henman started winning games against some better opponents and most worse ones. Since he was English, it was enough to cause lonely housewives, sports journalists, teenage girls and a few boys to cheer, whoop, wave, sing and more importantly hope.

 

At the Northern end of the grounds is a giant television screen on which important matches are broadcast. Fans watch from an area of grass called Henman Hill named after…no prizes!

 

 

BBGs

Ball Boys and Girls, also known as BBGs, play a crucial role in the smooth running of the tournament. They are a traditional part of Wimbledon although they secretly fantasize like most Britons that a Brit would win the tournament.

 

 UNIFORMS

The traditional Wimbledon colours are dark green and purple. However, tennis players are required to wear white with a hint of colour. Green clothing was worn by the chair umpire, linesmen, ball boys and ball girls till the 2005 Championships, but the 2006 Championships saw officials, ball boys and ball girls outfitted in new navy blue and cream coloured uniforms from American designer Ralph Lauren.

 

ROYALTY

Earlier, players bowed or curtsied to members of the Royal Family seated in the Royal Box upon entering or leaving Centre Court. In 2003, this tradition was discontinued and now players are required to bow or curtsy only if the Queen or the Prince of Wales is present. There is no evidence to prove that this curtsy had been enforced in the early days with the famous ‘kneecap’ threat.  

 

WIMBLEDON IN POPULAR CULTURE

• Wimbledon is a 2004 film starring Paul Bettany and Kirsten Dunst as tennis champions. Film buff though I am, I still can’t visualize that one frankly. 

• In 2005, Snoop Dogg and Justin Timberlake collaborated on the music single Signs, which features the line “You’ll see Venus and Serena, in the Wimbledon Arena” as a reference to the Williams sisters. It is mentionable that the musical artists in question are American and not British. Hence the lyrical preference. Personally, British lyrics are so much better. Case in point- Scroll up to check out the ‘Cream’ lyrics in the opening credits. For the uninitiated, we are not talking about strawberry cream here. This one is a great rock band.   

• In the world of literature, Wimbledon is the setting for novels like The War of the Worlds by HG Wells and The Wimbledon Poisoner by Nigel Williams. Wonder what the second one is all about? Someone trying to poison the grass at Wimbledon?

 

• Tennis was not the first sport to bring Wimbledon national fame. The Wimbledon Football Club was pretty famous and had won the FA Cup beating Liverpool.But I think the club faded into oblivion as most of the football players lost their kneecaps after their refusal to consume strawberries as a dietary supplement before important matches.

 

The author’s debut novel titled “Love Films and Rock n Roll” has been released recently. His second novel, “Good Bad and Ugly” is due for release soon.

 

 

5 MOST HAUNTED PLACES IN THE WORLD (ARGUABLY)

 

By Swayam Ganguly

 

“Behind every man now alive, stand 30 ghosts, for that is the ratio by which the dead outnumber the living.”

Arthur C. Clarke, 2001 A Space Odyssey.

Here are some haunted places around the world, some famous and some not so well known-but all fascinating!

 

 

BORLEY RECTORY, ESSEX, ENGLAND

 According to local legend, a 13th century Benedictine monastery once stood where Borley Rectory is now located. A monk and a beautiful girl were caught while trying to elope from here. The monk was hanged and his ladylove was burnt alive within the walls of the convent.

In 1863, the rectory was built for the Reverend Bull who died in the Blue Room in 1892. The Blue Room became notorious as the most haunted room in the rectory when the reverend’s son Harry was found dead here later.   

 

1930 saw a massive rise in paranormal activity when the Reverend Foyster and his wife moved in. People were locked out of their bedrooms, windows were smashed and furniture was moved about. Poor Mrs. Foyster was the pick of the ghosts as she was thrown off her bed at night, physically assaulted by invisible hands and almost suffocated with a mattress once. A ghostly hand began to write a series of scrawled messages on the walls of the house.

 

The rectory was ravaged by a fire in 1938 and finally demolished in 1944 but still holds the reputation as one of the most haunted homes even today. Last heard, some of the ghosts have shifted base to Borley Church right across the road where paranormal phenomena is being continuously reported.

 

 

 ST. JAMES’ THEATRE, WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

 

New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, houses the stage theatre called ‘The St. James’ Theatre’, which is said to have several resident ghosts. Most prominent is the ghost of Yuri, a Russian performer, who was pushed to his death from above the stage by a fellow Russian female performer. Yuri likes playing with the lights, switching them back on after the theatre has been locked up.

 

There’s also the ‘Wailing Woman’, a frequent apparition who is said to wail and moan throughout the theatre. She is said to have killed herself in the dressing room after being poorly received on stage.

A boys’ choir also haunts the theatre. This choir played their last song at this theatre before embarking on a tour during the Second World War. Their ship was lost at sea but their music was not, as it is often heard in the seating area. The reputed Ghost Hunt Group found some incredible paranormal evidence, including a picture of Yuri. Truly the most haunted theatre in the world!

 

BHANGARH, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

How many haunted places can boast of having the unique distinction of being acknowledged by the government?

Bhangarh, located in the state of Rajasthan is deemed ‘haunted’ by the ASI (Archeological Survey of India) which has put up a signboard at Bhangarh stating, “Staying after sunset is strictly prohibited in this area.”

Tourists are of the belief that there is a strange feeling in the atmosphere of Bhangarh, which causes symptoms of anxiety and restlessness. It is said that whoever stays here after dark never returns!

THE MYTH: THE DUAL CURSE

The tantrik, Singhia, had put a spell on some scented oil which would hypnotize the princess Ratnawati of Bhangarh, whereupon she would become his slave. But the princess came to know of his plan and threw the bottle away, whereupon it landed on a stone. As soon as the oil came into contact with the stone, the stone rolled towards the tantrik and crushed him. As he was dying, Singhia cursed the palace with the death of all who dwelt in it.

The very next year there was a battle between Bhangarh and Ajabgarh which left no survivors. The curse turned dual when the Prime Minister of the kingdom cursed Bhangarh saying no one would settle there in the future, and whoever dared to do so would die as well.

It is said that whenever a house has been built there, the roof has collapsed. In present day Bhangarh, all the houses are without a roof.

 

Many locals and visitors claim that they have witnessed paranormal activities like sounds of music and dancing as well as weird color spots in the photographs of the chambers.

 

VENICE, ITALY

Venice is one of the most haunted cities of Europe, and after sundown it is possible to get trapped in a time loop if one is not careful. Ghostly figures can be spotted in the shadows of old buildings, vanishing into thin air after being spotted.

 

The Island of No Return is a place where people are unwilling to go even during the day as a perpetual mist shrouds the place and ghostly voices and footsteps are heard. Another haunted Venetian island is Poyeglia where the dead bodies and the dying patients of the Black Plague were housed. Later, mentally misbalanced patients were kept there and experimented on. Today, Poyeglia is closed to the public but psychics who have investigated the island have been almost frightened to death by what they discovered. Not the ideal honeymoon destination after all!

 

THE ROCK: ALCATRAZ

Alcatraz, which earned the nickname of the ‘Rock’, was the ultimate American prison, housing well-known criminals like Al Capone, Alvin Karpis and Machine-Gun Kelly.

Alcatraz did not subscribe to the theory of rehabilitation. It was a place of minimum privilege and total punishment. Those who survived it did so at the cost of their sanity…and some believe their souls.

 

 

THE HAUNTINGS OF ALCATRAZ

An inmate was once locked in the cell and began screaming within seconds of being locked in. He claimed that some creature with ‘glowing eyes’ was locked in with him. The man’s screaming continued on into the night until finally, there was silence. The following day, guards found the convict dead. A horrible expression had been frozen onto the man’s face and there were clear marks of hands around his throat! The autopsy revealed that the strangulation could not have been self-inflicted. To add to the mystery, on the day following the tragedy, several guards who were performing a head count noticed that there were one too many men in the lineup. At the end of the line they saw the face of the convict who had recently been strangled. As they all looked on in stunned silence, the figure vanished abruptly.

According to one park ranger, he heard the distinctive sound of a banjo being played in the shower. Al Capone used to practice with his banjo during his last days in the prison. As the years have passed, ghost hunters, crime buffs, authors and curiosity-seekers have visited Alcatraz and have left the area with feelings of strangeness.

 

 

 

The author’s debut novel titled “Love Films and Rock n Roll” has been released recently. His second novel, “Good Bad and Ugly” is due for release soon.

        

FOUR MOST ROMANTIC GETAWAYS

1. By SWAYAM GANGULY

 

The romance of travel is more defined and joyous when the journey is shared with a loved

one. Every little milestone in the journey then becomes a memory to cherish forever. This

proximity can also add to the relationship and lovers who are good travel mates end up

richer for the experience.

Valentine’s day is just around the bend and there are many who might be considering the

combination of the most romantic day of the year with an overseas break. With the world

dotted with destinations ,which makes the choice particularly difficult, we try to provide

some answers.

 

MARRAKECH, MOROCCO

 

 

Many cities are legendary for being the dream destinations for lovers but a romantic break

in Marrakech is the perfect setting. Especially if city life is to your taste and you enjoy

culture and shopping. The land of Alladin provides the perfect sanctuary for a pair of love

birds. It is a bustling city with it’s beautiful buildings,romantic accommodation in the form

of riads (homes converted into small hotels) and traditional Moroccan restaurants complete

with entertainment such as live music and belly dancing. There is something about

Marrakech which is both exotic and fascinating as it is home to fire jugglers, snake charmers

and carpet salesmen. Traditional Moroccan homes or Riads have been converted into

exquisite, romantic hotels and offer breakfast in a tiled courtyard, boast of a traditional

hammam ( sauna) and the rooms are elegantly decorated in traditional Moroccan style.The

famous market in Marrakech has stalls peddling exotic spices, magic potions, the finest

jewelry and the best hand made silks. At sundown the market is vibrant with musical

entertainment transforming itself into a giant outdoor eatery. For brave hearts the sheep

head soup is recommended to stir up the passion. Oysters are so very last season and

passé !

 

 

The icing on the cake is the caravan culture, a trip into the desert to sleep under the stars.

30 km away from Marrakech lie the stunning Atlas Mountains, in the valley of which the

Qurika river flows. Marrakech is like a spellbinding magic potion, an exotic destination

enticing lovers, poets, rock stars and hedonists on the hippie trail alike.

For it is a destination that fulfills desire.

 

BRUGES, BELGIUM

 

 

Paris and Venice immediately spring to mind when one thinks of romantic destinations in

Europe. However, there’s a smaller European city deserving as much attention due to it’s

romantic attributes. The Belgian town of Bruges (also spelled Brugge) is an infinitely

romantic place.

 

Picture this: Charming cobblestone streets closed off to traffic, horse drawn

carriages, swans, quaint shops, captivating art museums, cafes and hearty restaurants and

canals running throughout the city.

 

 

This mideval Flemish city carries a number of nicknames

including “city of romance,” “Venice of the north” and “the city that time forgot.”

Every Wednesday from 8 am to 1pm it’s Market Day in Bruges as the Market Square plays

host to a mind-boggling choice of local handmade produce.The Saturday Market on the

T’Zandt Square is also worth checking out.

There’s good news for chocoholics. Bruges is one of the centres of the universe as far as

chocolate is concerned. February is the chosen month when the city plays up to it’s sugary

heritage by staging a chocolate market in the heart of the city.For two days, local chocolate

makers will be touting their wares, showcasing their special creations and teaming up to

make the largest chocolate heart in the world. Bruges remains a stupendously love-tastic

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND

 

You might want to head to Reykjavik if you are looking for a different city break. The

buzzing Icelandic capital is located in an otherworldly landscape of soaring mountains and

volcanoes. It is also the home to impressive buildings like the huge Hallgrimskirkja Church

resembling volcanic basalt rock formations and seating over 1000 worshippers. You could

grab a meal after prayers at The Pearl- a massive glass dome covered rotating restaurant

serving fine cuisine. The glass dome is perched on top of five water tanks offering beautiful

panoramic 360-degree views of the city. But the most romantic restaurant would be

Restaurant Laekjarbrekka which couples swear by. Experience a part of history at the Hofdi

House, where presidents Reagan and Gorbachev held a meeting bringing about the end of

the Cold War.

The nightlife is happening for party animals with the numerous pubs and bars on offer.

The ocean around Reykjavik is a natural habitat for many types of whales and you can

indulge in a spot of whale watching thanks to the whale watching tours available.

You could take a swim in the naturally hot waters of the Blue Lagoon, or just hold hands

and take a relaxing stroll by the lovely Waterfront area. For the more adventurous there is

the option of horseback riding in the countryside and hiking tours.

For the more romantically inclined here are other ideas for Reykjavik.

• Book a summer cottage or a mountain hut exclusively for you and fill it with candles, roses and champagne.
• Plan a horseback riding tour through the lava fields and have a  picnic alone in nature.
• A helicopter flight for the two of you to a remote place, be it a glacier or a volcano or just a private sightseeing tour of Iceland from the air.
• Private fireworks and a Sea-kayak tour in the midnight sun.

SHIRAZ, IRAN

Last but not the least is the spellbinding destination of Shiraz which is considered the

cradle of Persian civilization.

Shiraz is the romantic capital of iran as well as a cultural and

intellectual center, enjoying worldwide popularity as the home of Persian culture and the

sanctuary of poetry and philosophy.Shiraz is also special because of it’s eye catching

attractions like the Tomb of Cyrus the Great, the ancient Congregational Mosque and the

mausoleum/ gardens of the great Iranian poets Hafez and Sa’di.Shiraz is the romantic

hometown of these great poets-who wrote of roses and nightingales and everything else

romantic.This romantic city has lovely gardens like The Bagh-e Naranjestan, Garden of Oranges

and the Bagh-e Eram, Garden of Paradise.The ice cream and lemonade here is simply out of this world.

Shiraz is also the starting point for an excursion to the mighty,historic ruins of Persepolis,

the most beautiful capital of the ancient world.

But before leaving Shiraz, do not forget to go under the Koran Gate, which is supposedly to

protect you during your travels.

Shiraz has been aptly described as the city of roses, gardens, and nightingales, in poems by

Hafez,Saadi and Ferdowsi.